Wildflower

Let her cry for she's a lady

Let her dream for she's a child

Let the rain fall down upon her

She's a free and gentle flower growing wild...

~ Wildflower by Skylark

A familiar wildflower I spotted in Culion Island.  I don't know the name of this wildflower but I used to call it "Christmas" when I was a kid.  A wildflower from childhood---perfect for my birthday.:p

More beautiful flowers at Macro Flowers Saturday and Today's Flowers

Beef Wonton Noddle Soup

A friend who lives abroad was in town for a short visit recently.  We reminisced  the old times over bowls of noodle soup at North Park, one of our favorite late night haunts back in the day.

Join us at Food Friday

Signs: BAYANIJUAN

BAYANIJUAN is a project that leads government, NGOs and the private sector to work together in the spirit of Bayanihan to revitalize the Philippines, one community at a time.   "Walang Iwanan sa Bayan ni Juan" is translated to "We'll stick together in Juan's nation".  Juan de la Cruz is the Filipino symbol of identity representing "the average person" similar to John Smith. "Bayanihan" is a Filipino term taken from the word bayan, referring to a nation, country, town or community.  The whole term bayanihan refers to a spirit of communal unity.

Found this banner at the recently concluded Manila FAME.

Join us at Signs, Signs hosted by Lesley

Mellow Yellow Monday # 41: Make a move

Don't wait for the boat to come in.  Row out to meet it.

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Athens Blue Princess Flower

For what is to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?  And what it is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

~ Kahlil Gibran, On Death

Remembering my father on his 32nd death anniversary.

Tibouchina urvilleana, also called Athens Blue Princess Flower, Glory flower, a South American native, was blooming generously at The Ruins.

Join us at Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

Mellow Yellow Monday #40: Kayak

A yellow kayak at Atwayan beach in Coron Island.  The kayak was first made and used by the native Ainu, Aleut and Eskimo hunters in sub-Arctic regions of northeastern Asia, North America and Greenland.

No Monday blues at Mellow Yellow Monday

Pink Oleander

Pink flowers at my neighbor's garden.  The delicate petals were bruised by the rain but it didn't diminish its beauty.  I hope somebody would identify this flower.

Maria (Photo Cache) identified this flower as Oleander. Thank you, Maria!
Local name:  Adelfa

"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places."

~ Ernest Hemingway

Join us at Macro Flowers Saturday and Today's Flowers

Beef Pacham

This is something I concocted and my nephew called it Beef Pacham (patsamba).  It's marinated beef strips in salt, black pepper and soy sauce sauteed in garlic and onions.  Beef strips were cooked in the marinade until tender, added oyster sauce.  Added carrots, corn kernels, green peas and red bell pepper---aside from the fact that the mixture added texture, it also made my beef pacham colorful.  And it wasn't bad at all.:p

Join us at Food Friday

Signs: In memory of the unborn

Translation:  ...Even though a mother  can forget a child she has borne, I will not forget you, I will not forsake you, your name is engraved on the palm of my hand.

I found this memorial statue beside a Catholic church in Culion Island.  The correct verse, by the way, is Isaiah 49:15-16.:p

Join Lesley at Signs, Signs

Midweek Blues: Boats in Coron Bay

When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don't waste those tears on what might have been, just lie on your back and float.

Join Rebecca at Midweek Blues

Mellow Yellow Monday #39: Yellow bud

An unknown yellow flower at The Ruins.

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.

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Violet Allamanda

@ mirandablue
Violet or Purple Allmanda, Allamanda blanchetii

Allamanda is a genus of tropical shrubs or vines native to south and central America.  Its year-round production of large flowers have made the Allamanda a popular ornamental.  Bees, butterflies and birds are attracted to its fruity scent, the sap, however, is poisonous to kids and pets. More common is its cousin, the Golden Trumpet (Allamanda cathartica) which is notable for its medicinal properties. 

Found this climber on the arbor at Cafe Leon in Darayonan, the hotel where we stayed in Coron.

@ mirandablue

The most certain sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness; her state is like the things above the moon, always clear and serene. 

~ Michael de Montaigne

Join us at Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

Lunch on board [Food Friday]

@ mirandablue

This was the lunch prepared for us by our guide in Busuanga---fresh mango, tomatoes and cucumber, grilled fish and steamed crabs, complete with dipping sauces.  I forgot the name of the fish but it was huge and fresh and delicious.  The crabs were filled with aligue!  

@ mirandablue

We didn't expect to have lunch on board our banca.  Our boatmen brought us to Dynamite Point in Bogor Island to snorkel, but it was already around 12 noon.  We dropped anchor near the pearl farm and we had lunch..it was a new experience for me and my sister.

@ mirandablue

Good thing the water was so calm, eating on board a banca was a breeze.

@ mirandablue

Join us at Food Friday hosted by Maiylah

Sign @ the beach

@ mirandablue

A tarp at Atwayan beach in Coron Island.  A few meters from this white sanded beach is a shallow reef covered with colorful leathery and soft corals, sea stars, anemones--they were the only ones I could identify.  It was  an enchanted forest underwater.   We snorkeled with the small reef fishes. 

Join us at Signs, Signs

A woman in a canoe

@ mirandablue

A Tagbanua woman paddling a canoe through calm waters of Coron Bay on a rainy afternoon.

"Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted.  Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world." ~ Hans Margolius

Posted for Midweek Blues and Watery Wednesday

Mellow Yellow Monday #38: Rowing

@ mirandablue

Some people walk in the rain, others just row.

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Cadena de Amor

@ mirandablue
Cadena de Amor, Coral Vine, Antigonon leptopus

A tropical climbing, perennial vine I found at the back of an old church in Culion Island.  Cadena de Amor (Chain of Love) is used in folkloric medicine and wild-crafted all over the Philippines.  Studies have shown that extracts exhibit anti-thrombin, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and lipid peroxidation  inhibitory activities.

@ mirandablue

What would the world be, once bereft

Of wet and of wildness?  Let them be left,

O let them be left, wildness and wet;

Long live the weeds and wilderness yet.

~ Gerard Hopkins

@ mirandablue

Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest among the breaths of nature.  ~ Kelly Scheaffer

@ mirandablue

Join us at Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers