[Blog] MH Solo: Digging in the dirt

Art can be interpreted the way the audience view it. There's no right or wrong with it - only eyes, emotions and interpretations. In one of my conversations with Heidi, she said that art intends to arouse you (well, artistically) for it is the culmination of minutes of walking and stop overs from one to another.

I can say I am a visual artist but I am more inclined to stage. Every once in a while, I go to museums and galleries to see what's out there but I can be seen more often lining up for The Madz's concerts or stage plays. Just like today, I am at Rockwell to see Martin Honasan's gallery. I was looking forward to see his gallery because I like portraits and I would say, he did a good job at that.

Before these were hanged here, I was able to see his works in their house. I believe I have only been there 3 times and his works caught my attention already. As I mentioned earlier, I like portraits but I particularly like faces for this is where expressions are seen. But among the gallery of his works, the DETHORNED is what I love the most and this is the only work he has that focused on a hand.

True that I said I like faces but this one outshined the rest IMHO. I like how he intricately brushed one person's hand - the finger tips, the nails and the french tip, palm lines and the lines on the wrist. I said to myself: "this person really has a nice hand." But what really caught my attention is that red rose on the palm. I know that it is not just about a rose seated on the palm; I know there's more to it. The painting says something about Jesus. I thought to myself that the red rose is Jesus' blood and the hand was His flesh/body piereced on the cross.



True enough, on top of the painting, there is a verse from Isaiah 53:5 "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our inequities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." Wow! That painting was worth minutes of simply looking at it, trying to feel what the message was all about and admiring that person's hand. The card on top of it and verse definitely helped me understand what really was Martin's message to his audience. I may say that his art is a blessing from God and to his audience.

The gallery is a good 5-minute walk for passers by like me but if we stop for a bit while and try to feel what the artist's message really is, we would know that it goes beyond the canvass - it is more than the lines, the color and the texture. As for me, indeed, it was a success for he was able to make me think and feelings aroused after I view one work to another.

I may not be able to grab one for myself right now but if finances wouldn't be an issue, I will definitely bring DETHORNED home with me tonight. Kudos to you, Kuya Marts! Looking forward on your next solo.


God bless you!

[Blog] Teachable moments

"Every moment is a teachable moment." This still sounds fresh to me as Sandra Ratilla preached on 5/8/2011 during the 5pm service for Mother's day. I may not be able to remember everything that she said but that statement stuck in my head for months.

In life, whenever things seem to go wrong, we tend to get disheartened or worst, ballistic. Neither of the two will help you mature and grow as an individual. One person does not necessarily have to be a Christian to understand what I am saying. It's pretty much straightforward and there's no room for a lot of interpretation. The statement says a lot things to us no matter how much we try to deny it. Consider the following:

If you fail your exam, it does not directly translate that you're dumb or what. Exams are created to have a knwoledge check but if you fail to review then the outcome might also be a failure.
Lesson: Listen, understand and review

You just had a fight with your dad because you have gone home late once more. You went out with your friends then your dad talked about it and you got mad for picking on you. He is not picking on you, he wants to make sure that you are safe.
Lesson: Honor and follow you father and go home early.

You had a fight with an officemate because of a simple misunderstanding. You said this, she said that and both of you took offense of each other's words.
Lesson: Listen, do not interrupt and confirm your understanding.

On your way to work, you were caught in a Heavy traffic and you know you are running late. When you tried to overtake the car in front of you, your car was hit on the rear by another vehicle and you got mad so badly.
Lesson: Wake up early to avoid this.

You had a huge fight with you boyfriend and ended spliting up that night. He complained that you have been very intruding of his privacy and that you don't trust him so he called it quits.
Lesson: Anchor your relationships in God and He will bless them.


These are just a few of things that can be considered teachable moments. You may not agree with me on this but surely, there is a lesson in everything that happens to us. Let us not wait til we're grey and wrinkled up to say that we have learned from our past. Truly, the wisdom of life's lessons can shed light to the path of the succeeding generations.

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let every moment of their lives be their teacher but we should stand accountable of each other to get a better view of life. I encourage you to not just open your eyes for what He is teaching us but to also have an expectant heart for what He can do to better our lives here on earth.

God bless us all.

[Blog] One victorious day!

Today is the 1st of a number of 3-day mall sale and they are all strategically located where traffic is very prevalent. So let us define TRAFFIC. It is the output of this mega weekend sale. (wink) If you happen to be in EDSA earlier this evening, you can hardly see vehicles moving and I bet, you weren't in a good mood just like yours truly.

I planned to go to Rockwell to view a friend's gallery but thought of postponing it for tomorrow instead. My prior commitment was at The Fort and ended a little past 9 o'clock. After a couple of steps from the building, there I took a light dinner across the street just so that my focus will be the gallery then go home. Well, that was the plan. After my dinner, I went ahead to the bus stop then reached EDSA almost 20 minutes after.

Rockwell was still part of my plan when I saw EDSA - 'twas still crowded. I did a time check and decided on going there tomorrow instead and that was final. Why am I blogging this? Nada. This is the very first time I have spoken of how my day went. I find it cool because this is another victorious day for me and I have to remind myself (thru blogging) how God made it perfect for me.

Anyway, I bless all of you a good day ahead. Be wise with your spending for it is just the 2nd day of these mall sale. God bless us.

[Blog] Thank You, Lord

For everyday encounter we have with the people around us with the knowledge that God is the source of everything that we have, there is one thing that we forget to do - saying THANK YOU. As one individual, here are the list of things that I am thankful for every waking hour of the day:


I thank my family - Tatay, Nanay, Jesse, Abeng, Catherine and Butchoy
I thank my best of friends - Gin, Joice, Anny, Tony and Agie
I thank my spritual family - Victory Pioneer
I thank my 121 sisters - Dace and L.A.
I thank my work babies - Ochie, Jona, Marianne, Donna, Sharon, Robie, Emma Riza and Blessy
I thank my work brothers - Jeff, Ric, Rex and Kris
I thank my CVG babies - Mark, Paulo, Kate, Ron, Jellie, Astrid, Belle, Nigel, CK, KP, Mica, Rina, Eres, Jerlozalyn
I thank my Silver City VG Family - Patti, Heidi, Maan, Teplel, Marybeth, Pinky, Chloe, Yasmin, Tanya, Nix, Jerome, Angelo, Carlo, Nino, Dondi, Jairus, Martin
and I thank my critics and those who do not like me however, Jesus told me to love my enemies and so I did. :)


I thank the air that I breathe - it keeps me alive
I thank chirping birds that brings music to my ears
I thank the smell of the newly cut grass - it makes me breathe to the new dawn
I thank the sun that shines through the dark clouds of the night - it brings light to a new day

But most of all, I thank GOD for the renewed grace and mercy every single time. He is the reason why I am thankful for the ones I first mentioned.


There is just a great feeling when you are being thankful for all the things you have in your life. I thank God for bring these to my life and so I look forward on more years to spend with y'all.


I love all of you!


Disclaimer: If I forget any name, I apologize - it's the anaesthesia. :)

[Poem] HE changed me

Your love surrounds me
With people You put around me
Gives a feeling of security
No condemnation and eye of scrutiny.

Your kindness and mercy I ponder
In my heart leaves nothing in wonder.
You assured of Your slowness to anger
So I won't dig a hole of danger.

God I love everything that You are
You are everything set by par.
Such height no one can level
Not even a pile of sand and gravel.

Lord thank You for all of these
You took a heart of once a beast.
As You change my life as hard as stone
With a new me of flesh and bone.

[Poem] I am glee for Thee

Lord I lift my head up
To the heavens I raise my prayers up.
With my heart to You I shall sing,
All for You I will bring.

Listen to my voice oh God
WIth ears open, hear me, my Dad.
As Your child coming before You
With joy in my heart only for You.

I come running with glee
Towards You I bring indeed.
I beseech You, my God, my Father
Always leave me in awe of Your wonder.

[Poem] My Gracious God

Joyful as I am Lord
I am so filled by Your word.
With living water I'm refreshed,
As my thirst gets quenched.

Bread of life as You are
Keeps me going so far.
Indeed in You no sorrow
So I won't worry for tomorrow.

Seek only Your Kingdom
And so Your will be done.
This You said to Your people
So we'll enjoy Your grace in full.

Dad, You are so faithful
In awe of daily grace, I am full.
I fix my eyes only to You
With all praises, my heart's on You.