Love of another kind

Caught feasting on my potted hibiscus bud is this caterpillar. I understand that nourishment is badly needed for the transition of its life cycle. Into a moth? a butterfly? So, I transferred this voracious eater to another location to spare this flower.

Smiling Kalunggay in my garden

With a pair of eyes in the form of dew drops, it seems that this malunggay (kalunggay in Bulusan dialect) is smiling  and looking at me in a friendly way, recognizing the gardener in me. Touched.


Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Mimicry in my potted garden

Mimicking a bird dropping.

Feasting on a citrus leaf. 

Undisturbed because of its looks.

Would you transform yourself to look like a bird dropping to survive? This caterpillar just did. A smart survival tactic. By doing so, my potted garden visitor just protected itself from being disturb while eating the leaves of my citrus seedling. Who will dare touch a bird dropping?

Photos: Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

House cat portrait

Nginarat.

Rosal: Bulusan's heirloom flower

These rosal flowers sighted on a table in a senior citizens' Christmas party in Bulusan strengthened my view that this is the flower most loved by the lolas (grandmothers) of Bulusan. Not a surprise. Besides the most lovely scent it has the most elegant and exquisite form, like a fusion of a camellia and a white rose. Its petals have a leathery feel that responds to the touch.

The ornamental rosal is a shrub with a glossy evergreen leaves.

Rosal is known in the world as gardenia. Its fragrance is unforgettable. It is also one of the two of my favorites. The other one is camia.

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Moonlight Conversations

Every full moon I am a witness to the silent conversations of the palm by my window 

                                        

and the full moon that goes on until the peak of the moon rise. 

                                                           

The moon's ethereal whiteness illuminating my bedroom window

                                                                                  

also reflects sparks of shine from the leaves 

of the coconut palm as it sway in the soft night breeze.

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

No Trick or Treat in Bulusan's All Souls' Day

Trick or Treat what?

If you are a Bulusan kid the Trick or Treat Halloween activity of city kids is totally strange.

What is more familiar are the candle ball making in the cemetery and the prank play of being mischievous for a night during the 'tigkaralagan' when kids and teenagers (most often boys) are often tolerated whenever they do some 'harmless' tricks to their neighbors who were unfortunate enough to be the objects of this fun night.This is usually done on the night of November 1, All Saints' Day. Though All Souls' Day is a day after, the locals are more accustomed to celebrate these two occasions as one.

But for most kids the candle ball forming in the cemetery is an activity that is fun enough.

In Bulusan, the 'pwera sibang' prayer is obligatory when passing in known or unknown tomb. This will assure that no harm and no ire will befall to those who say this short prayer addressed to  the ghosts and spirits that may still be inhabiting the tombs.

No known incident though of  'sibang' in my entire stay in my hometown.

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines