Something new, something green...

 ...something beautiful and living!

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by PAM

'Mother and kids' - the green version.

The past months have been very busy.  I am happy though that despite this, there have been many opportunities that allowed me to work with my hands and with our natural environment.  It's 'grounding', very relaxing and truly satisfying.

A month ago, my sister trimmed one of our San Francisco plants (Codiaeum variegatum).  The name San Francisco is the common name in the Philippines of the plant (in many varieties, actually) pictured above.  Elsewhere, the plant is more commonly known as croton.  In our Home #2, we have four San Francisco plants of different varieties.  Three of them are located close to each other while the smallest one (the yellow and green variety) is located close to the gate, but they are all lined up at our open garage on one side of the house.  I am proud to have watered them for more

Colorful, vibrant, amazing!

than a year to become their 'mature' selves presently.  When a strong typhoon passed through our region last year, I thought the plants will not make it through all the rains and strong winds.  They did survive.  Now, they grew so big, so colorful... and yes, so beautiful!  

When the rainy season came in June, after a downpour, the thick leaves of the plants got soaked in rainwater.  This weighed them down, that their branches bent so much, they almost reached the ground.  I would usually shake the branches of the plants to rid them of rainwater.  When the sun heats up the atmosphere as the day progresses, causing the water to evaporate, the plants slowly regain their upright position.  However, when the rains came while I was at work, when I returned home, I would usually find the plants almost kissing the ground... and their branches almost breaking!  So, one weekend, when my sister came home and heard of the plants' 'ordeal', she decided to trim them.  I had mixed emotions about it.  So, I decided to pick up the trimmings.  I chose four that looked mature, and soaked them in water for a few days.  Once stable, I planted them on the ground on the opposite side of the house, and watered them 'religiously' twice a day for a few days. Although it's rainy season and it usually showered in the evening, it was quite hot during the day, and I wanted to make sure that the little 'clones' are given the fighting chance to survive.  

Two of the four clones kept their leaves although slightly drooping.  The other two looked struggling to survive - all their leaves browned and fell.  One showed shoots of leaves on its 'head' after a while.  The last one looked all dried out, I was resigned to seeing it perish.  After its leaves all fell, a couple of days later, green shoots showed, and I mean 'shoots' with an 's'... and it was happiness! 💚

Now, all four clones looked stable... and I feel that I have accomplished something.  It's a new nature of accomplishment.  These days, I understand why passionate plant growers and gardeners talk to their plants.  I found myself 'talking' to my San Francisco clones while coaxing them to 'drink up', and hold on to the ground... and live!  Fortunately, they did survive, and now, they look like they are on their way to flourish... and that's without the help of any inorganic fertilizer.  The 'mother' plant has bloomed so beautifully, too, with even brighter colors!  And it has become more resilient from the weight of rain water... its trunk and branches seemed thicker and stronger.     

As I care for our plants in our small garden plots around our home, I feel that I am extending my 'second parent' role with my students to our plants.  I feel responsible for their steady growth and beautiful flourishing.  Seeing the birds and the butterflies frequent our small garden plots with the former's cheerful tweets and the latter's pretty colors, invigorates me everyday.  I consider it my mission these days to see the plants, the birds and the butterflies thrive and flourish... and seeing them do so brings me so much happiness! 

Ah... God's creations... are, indeed, extremely beautiful, no matter how small and seeming insignificant!  They bring simple joys that fill my days with satisfaction and meaning.  I thank God that my simple heart remains tempered and content, and not desiring flattering gratification and over indulgence that corrupt.

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Image credit:  All the photos in this post belongs to me.  I took all of them and processed minimally for this post.  They may not be used by others for other purposes.

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Saturday photo

 by PAM

Nature... naturally!

I have a few places at home where I enjoy working (WFH whenever needed), or spending some quiet time - 'me time'.  One of my biggest favorites is our lanai area - pictured above.  It's like an extension of our dining area with only the glass doors and metal rails separating them.  So, when the birds start to chirp in chorus loudly, invitingly, in the morning, I'd usually bring my coffee outside and enjoy listening to the birds while I think about the day ahead.  I have to admit though that, these days, my 'me time' at the lanai is quite limited due to ongoing construction at our next-door neighbor, making the place quite dusty... and the noise of their construction equipment overpowers the melodious chirps of the birds.  But on Sundays and holidays, when the construction is paused, I'd take advantage of the chance to enjoy the place.  My old phone probably didn't do justice in capturing the coziness of the space but I tell ya, it's plenty cozy. 🪴💚 

These days, as one of the most undeniable causes of floods and what-have-you in Metro-Manila that are detrimental to all aspects of human health becomes obvious - garbage (and, yes, corruption, which is... uhm, yeah, the most repulsive kind of garbage!) - I thank God for the opportunity to have an option even when our 'home #2' is so humble that the space it provides is 'tight' even for our daily living alone.  While 'home #1' can be considered green, given its location - right smack in the heart of Metro-Manila - we make conscious effort to maintain the green nature of 'home #2' if it were to become our better option.  It is not just about caring for our plants but also about waste minimization, waste segregation, recycling and reuse, and everything that simplifies life, lifestyle and living.  

I hope that we, as a people, can turn things around as far as environmental degradation is concerned... and yes, as far as massive corruption in the government is concerned as well since corruption does not only lead to natural environment degradation but also to the degradation of our moral fiber as a society.  The solution is in our hands, it is within our power... and  it begins with the ballot in 2028.  We deserve a better alternative, a better life, better living conditions, better health and well-being.  We deserve so much more than what the incompetent people in our government (and, I mean, all three branches) presently can offer, given their foolishness and, yes, their inclination to corrupt acts and actions!  

So, yes, we must demand better public service from our public servants.  Let's make it work, fellow Filipinos!!  Let's seize the moment... let's choose wisely in 2028!  Let's pray for guidance, wisdom and the courage to choose wisely.

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Image credit:  The featured photo belongs to me.  I took it and processed minimally for the purpose of this blog.  It may not be used elsewhere.

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Hello, July!

 It's the middle of 2026 and you're looking... uhm, exhausted, er, excited!

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by PAM

Ambient temperature, check.  Ground nutrient, check.  Special occasion, check!
Finally completed all the 'permissions' to bloom!

My favorite month has landed!  Welcome to 2026, July!  Woohoo, let's go!  

I have been waiting for our Vietnam Roses to bloom since April this year, just like last year and the year before last, but they haven't.  Well, until today, that is.  It's wonderful that the 'pretty little  

things' showed themselves on the day that I am celebrating the anniversary of my introduction to the world through God's love and goodness.  This year... uhm, I move an inch closer to 'dual citizenship', which is closer than I ever imagined. I have mixed  feelings, but most of it is gratitude, a big chunk is happiness, and, not surprisingly, a considerable amount is excitement.  I can't wait, actually!  

The last months have been so 'chaotic' in the Philippines.  People in the government kept hurling extremely stinky rubbish at each other, while the Filipino people run back and forth to avoid getting hit by rubbish in the face.  And yet, no matter how much we avoid it, we get hit anyway.  It's incredible how utterly useless people in our government are... well, most of them anyway, especially those who have no notion of decency or self-awareness, and those who are so unfortunately devoid of common sense and the ability to think - and think well and intelligently.  The word 'service' is not in their vocabulary and mission in life even if they occupy the 'seats of public service'.  They turn the 'seats' to a place for self-indulgence and personal gratification... and, yes, corruption - exercised in the most brazen and extremely shameless ways!  

Lately, the whole country is being pummeled, too, by nature's forced reaction to humanity's unmindful actions to try lording over nature.  Filipino people are reeling over earthquake, typhoon, and what have you.  But the biggest hardships are the man-made ones, and the most catastrophic are those caused by people in our own government.  It has become so frustrating to watch them unleash one foolishness after another as if they have no responsibility to... at the very least, avoid being foolish!  I guess, this is the biggest peril of democracy.  We get the foolish leaders that foolish citizens choose... and the whole nation suffer the consequences.  

So, yeah, while July brings with it the freshness of our blooming Vietnam Roses, the country look exhausted, frustrated and ambivalent.  And yet, I believe that the very message of God in allowing our pretty little Vietnam Roses bloom at a time when I am beginning to feel disappointed is HOPE.  We must not lose hope.  There is hope... Jesus is hope, and He is alive!  He is in our midst, and our faith in Him shall see us through to this dark days in our country's politics.  One day, when the time is right, the Truth shall emerge from the darkness, and we, as a nation shall recognize it.  And the Truth shall unite us in hauling our country from the rut it's in, and we shall emerge victorious!

In the meantime, I shall celebrate this special day, rejoicing amid the colorful beauty of our Vietnam Roses.  I shall offer a prayer of thanks, and I shall allow God's grace to fill my heart with hope, faith and joy!

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Image credit:  All the photos in this post belong to me.  I took all of them, and processed them minimally for this post.  They may not be used for other purposes.

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