Saturday, July 12, 2014

Luha soltero : Flowers for the broken hearted





Luha soltero (translates literally as single man's tears) is the local name of these flowers so said the two elderly women from Odikin (Barangay Santa Barbara, Bulusan) as they name one by one the masitas (ornamental plants) in a village garden. Why so? I asked. "The flowers are for  lovelorn men -- men with broken hearts," related the the two. But when I asked where are the flowers for women with broken hearts. The two seniors looked at me with a smile as if telling me that there is no such flower. We smiled at the thought.

Photos: Alma P. Gamil
            Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Bulusan Holy Week images of 2013

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. To Bulusanons this signals the approaching Holy Week observed with great devotion and religious events. These events are great time for photo shoots for both the locals and visitors.

I am posting some of my Holy Week 2013 photos in anticipation for a new batch of Lent photos in the coming weeks. All photos were taken in Bulusan, Sorsogon,





















Photos by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Bulusan boy photo op impromptu request




How can I refuse a boy's impromptu request for a photo shoot on the last day of the Christmas celebrations? I was taking photos of the altar adornments of the church after the mass (Feast of the Epiphany) when suddenly this boy was signalling me to take his photos too! I did. Not because I wanted to but because there was no way for me to refuse. Right there and then after making his request, he started posing for me to shoot his photos in his chosen spot. The boy's mood at that time was understandable since the other churchgoers were also busy taking photographs using their digicams and cellphones in front of the Nativity scene. The results were spontaneous though obviously posed (above and below photos).

I have no idea whose child is this boy neither his name and where he lives in Bulusan's 24 villages. But if anyone happens to know the boy's parents, please tell them they're free to download the photos.


Photos by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines, January 5, 2014

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Saint Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Sun


Original text in Umbrian dialect:

Altissimu, onnipotente bon Signore,
Tue so le laude, la gloria e l'honore et onne benedictione.
Ad Te solo, Altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ène dignu te mentouare.
Laudato sie, mi Signore cum tucte le Tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate Sole,
lo qual è iorno, et allumini noi per lui.
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cum grande splendore:
de Te, Altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora Luna e le stelle:
in celu l'ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Uento
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale, a le Tue creature dài sustentamento.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sor'Acqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per frate Focu,
per lo quale ennallumini la nocte:
ed ello è bello et iucundo et robustoso et forte.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per sora nostra matre Terra,
la quale ne sustenta et gouerna,
et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fior et herba.
Laudato si, mi Signore, per quelli ke perdonano per lo Tuo amore
et sostengono infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke 'l sosterranno in pace,
ka da Te, Altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si mi Signore, per sora nostra Morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo uiuente pò skappare:
guai a quelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali;
beati quelli ke trouarà ne le Tue sanctissime uoluntati,
ka la morte secunda no 'l farrà male.
Laudate et benedicete mi Signore et rengratiate
e seruiteli cum grande humilitate.
Notes: so=sono, si=sii (you are), mi=mio, ka=perché, u replaces v, sirano=saranno

English Translation:
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To You, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and You give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which You give Your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of You;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by You, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing Your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.

The Canticle of the Sun, also known as the Laudes Creaturarum (Praise of the Creatures), is a religious song composed by Saint Francis of Assisi. It was written in the Umbrian dialect of Italian but has since been translated into many languages
Source : Wikipedia

Photo : Image of Saint Francis from Kapangihan (San Francisco), Bulusan, Philippines
Note: October 4 is the Feast Day of Saint Francis

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Meditation


Don't pursue actions that can be repudiated, but don't resent it if people repudiate you. Cultivate virtues worthy of praise, but don't expect people to praise you.
You cannot cause calamity not to occur, but trust in yourself not to beckon it. You cannot cause fortune to arrive, but trust in yourself not to reject it. When calamity occurs, since it is not your doing you do not grieve when in straits. When fortune comes, since it is not your achievement you are not conceited when successful.
In this way you live at ease and enjoy effortlessness, yet there is order.

- Lao Tzu


[from 'Wen-Tzu : Understanding the Mysteries', translated by Thomas Cleary]. via Zen Poems, haiku and writings.

Photo: Ornamental plants and wild poinsettia by Alma P. Gamil 
           taken in Bulusan, Sorsogon
           Philippines

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Pili pulp oil: My Little Secret

Pili pulp oil with the upgraded label from Bulusan

The pili pulp is a by- product of the Pili. Its main product is the kernel  (pili nut) for confectionery uses.

My hair after a year of regular Pili pulp oil use, twice weekly.
I always regard my hair as my crowning glory. So when I hit the 50 mark and my youthful tresses started to show signs of the dreaded sign of age. I began searching for some remedies to slow down the process. I tried coconut oil and its great but the thing is, the stuff is not always ready (the freshly squeezed milk from the grated coconut) whenever it is time for my hair wash and bath. To make things easier, I experimented with the Pili pulp oil after reading an article about the olive oil as hair tonic. As a substitute for olive oil, I picked the locally produced Pili pulp oil which is always readily available at our neighbor's store. My choice turned out to be the perfect oil for my aging hair. The thick and richly nutritive oil seems to cling to every millimeter of my hair from tip to roots  making it bounce and shine after every regular shampoo. After using it (myself as the guinea pig) for a year, I am totally convinced of  its efficacy when the hair salon assistant quipped, "ang kapal at ang haba ng buhok mo" (your hair is so thick and long") as he gently shampooed  my hair during my recent hair cut visit.

Thanks to this Pili pulp oil - my hair will have its second wind hopefully stretching the youthful season of my crowning glory :)

Note: My back view 'selfie' photo with my hair that seems to be in an extended season of youthful glory was only taken a month ago (July, 2013).

Photos:  Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines