HeARTworks

A poem conceived with lurking lies and birthed in pain, redeemed by grace. **** (Written on the year 2013) PINTADO ni Ruth N. Ibarrientos [audio] Ako ang Iyong papel Anong susunod nating kuwento? Ilang kulay ng tinta na naman ang idadampi dito? Mahapdi ang bawat halik ng ginintuan Mong pinsel Minsan ay hindi maiwasan ang pagdurugo nitong balat sa pag-ukit Mo ng bagong Pangalan Sa pagsulat ng maraming linya, kulay at salitang hindi ko maintindihan Lubos Mong kinagigiliwan ang pagtahak ng samu’t saring pangalan sa akin Sadyang hirap akong unawain Hindi ko malaman ang gagawin Mahapdi ang Iyong bawat pagguhit at pagkulay at pagsulat Ngunit matamis ang ngiti Mo habang ginagawa ito Ako ang Iyong papel Tumatagos ang tinta mula sa aking balat hanggang sa dugo patungo sa puso Tinatalunton Mo nga ba sa Iyong pinsel ang kabuuan ng aking pagkatao? Tinatalunton nga kaya ng samu’t saring kulay ang kalaliman ng aking katauhan? Kinu...

(A note I used to write at the very last page of old journals) (Written on the 7 th of September 2015 || Isinulat noong Ika-7 ng Setyembre 2015) Sinamahan ko si Kuya Vannie sa UP para kumuha ng mga kakailanganin at kurikulum sa DFPP. Kumain kami at nagkuwentuhan. Libre niya. J For self-check, humingi ako ng ng feedback kay kuya tungkol sa sarili ko. Hindi siguro matatawaran ang pagkamangha at pagpapasalamat ko na, akalain mo iyon, may humahanga sa akin? Ipinaliwanag ni kuya kung bakit niya ako hinahangaan, at ang mga pinakatumatak sa akin ay ang mga sumusunod… “Siguro, at oo, hindi maiintindihan ng lahat iyong pagiging jolly mo, iyong pagiging friendly at warm mo. Pero ikaw kasi iyong tipo ng taong wala kang masamang tinapay. Lahat bukas sa company mo, maging sino man sila. May innocence sa’yo na kaunting tao na lang ang meron ngayon. Hindi lahat maiintindihan o maappreciate ‘yung ganun, pero ako gusto ko ‘yun dahil kailangan iyong mga taong kagaya mo. Alagaan mo ...

Sometimes, to remind ourselves of what had been is all that we need to tell ourselves that everything will be all right. And that’s what I am doing and I will be doing. (A note I used to write at the very last page of old journals) **** (Written 23 rd of October 2015) “Success is not the position one has achieved in life. It is about how much obstacle one has overcome.” –Booker T. Washington They may not see but you know how far you’ve come . They may not know but you know—and I know . ~God Don’t let the small things take away your big heart. Pure heart of love. ~ Sir Jabs How?   I am just a human. I am prone to losing my heart in all possible ways that I am not aware of. God, You take good care of my heart... (Written 20 th of May 2017) I’ve always felt that I’m incompetent in Claret—a square peg in a circular hole. My strengths weren’t really acknowledged because it’s not what the institution needed after all. The Lord knows how depressing a...

Recharging to be able to get back on track meant a lot of going back, and moving forward afterwards when you’ve gained enough momentum and strength for the next leg of the journey. It’s resilience.                                                                                                                                                   (A note I used to write at the very last page of old journals) **** (Written 15 th of May 2015) I’ve had had lost tears and sleep that night. I thought, “Lord, it’s only You who can and have really loved me. You’re the only one who knows and understands. Thank You. I love You...

This rainy season for me, as the usual, meant going back to doing retrospections. So I started leafing through the pages of my journals, hoping I will remember back the things I have forgotten, I will remember who I am, and be able get back on track. The very first page of the very first journal which my eyes read already instantly spoke a magnitude of wisdom to me. (A note I used to write at the very last page of old journals) **** (Written 13 th of May 2015) I’ve been drained and emotionally unstable for the past month… I don’t feel like I’m a Christian these past days. I think that I’m not worthy of the name, of being called a “Christian”… But then, the Lord gently reminded me of this “In front of my house, someone is building her house. I remember when I remodeled my house two years ago: It was also a not a nice sight. It was dusty. It was noisy. It was messy. But when it was completed, it was absolutely beautiful.   Perhaps right now, you don’t like w...

(picture not mine; credits to the owner) This blog entry is taken from a series of final papers from our Values Education subject under Dr. Mike Muega last semester. The questions that was asked for this exercise are: (1) Who are your friends from the class? How did they become your friends?; (2) What are the common qualities of all of your friends?; and (3) What are the requirements a person must meet to win your friendship?  So here it is, ladies and gents, my "Miss Universe like" answer :P WARNING: I have not edited the grammar yet. SORRY. I hope you take off your 'Hitler-Hats' (grammar nazism) and... enjoy reading! --   A workmate of mine once commended me for being very friendly. He also warned me about that: “not everyone is a friend.” Well, every human being has a need and a desire for friends, as we are all social beings. Having said that, we all have our set of friends and has a standard for what makes good friends, with all the hopes tha...