This is the cover of the last Earthsea book that I bought, "The Other Wind." I actually bought it ahead of "Tehanu" (the book released before "The Other Wind"). The story is close to my heart up to today.

The Earthsea Trilogy now a mini-series

My brother in San Francisco just texted me to say that The Earthsea Trilogy will be made into a mini-series. I'm really curious about it. My brother and I are fantasy novel buffs and that was one thing that we had in common since we were kids.

I read the Earthsea Trilogy when I was in Grade 3. It was my first taste of the fantasy novel genre (I hadn't heard of "The Lord of the Rings" yet) and I absolutely loved it. I became an Ursula Le Guin fan afterwards. The trilogy actually spurred me to write a fantasy story of my own (which I never quite finished). There were days that I would try to battle out what the "Great Quest" would be about. Would there be a dark lord? Would it be a wizard's internal struggle? I read in one of Le Guin's essays, later on, that her stories and themes really revolved around very human struggles, contemporary or otherwise. It was just the backdrop (fantasy, sci-fi) that dramatized those struggles. I agree. Well written Fantasy and Sci-Fi stories are no different from the great pieces of literature in The Canon. "The Lord of the Rings" is a shining example of this.

The Earthsea Trilogy actually evolved into a "tetralogy" as the original story in the first three novels (The Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore) has since expanded into two more succeeding novels (Tehanu and The Other Wind). I've read them all and I'm quite excited to see how the novel will be translated into film.

Family Lore

Just met up with Tita Florry, Bettina's mom and Tita Tina, Tita Florry's first cousin last night. Talking with them, I realized the need for knowing family, for tracing the deepest roots and tracking the farthest branches. It's important to know who you are. In this day and age, the satellite family, especially in some western countries, is in danger of losing its context.

Tita Tina's relentless pursuit of family history is quite admirable. Every family should have one such historian/ storyteller/ keeper of lore. It's amazing to see your life in that perspective.  A sweep of both the personal and the historic. It's material for a very long, very rich novel. I told her she should write a book. And no doubt she will.

I wonder about my own roots, especially on my mother's side. It goes all the way back to China, I'm sure. The history of Uy Pienco, perhaps from Xiamen. I'm not sure. All I know is that my great grand father sent my grandfather to study there. I gathered all of this only after his death, from the stories of Engineer Liu, his good friend. Even my maternal grandmother is an enigma to me. I just know that she was from Ilocos. And that's it. No other information. I feel saddened by this.

I'm glad I've written a lot of journals. Electronic and otherwise. That's a lot of history to pass on. The good and the bad. No apologies. That was my life. Or my view of it, anyway.

Seesaw Fun!

Some Tagaytay fresh beauties...

Me and Vier at Breakfast @ Antonio's

My sister-in-law, Bettina, with Yana.

My brother, Gus, with his daughter, Yana.

Passion

Was sitting in an empty pantry, preparing for a really long work week. Thought about the film I just watched last night with V, "The Girl with a Pearl Earring." And also thinking about me and V. Passion. A kind of passion that one takes to the grave. Death and passion. How ironic. But always, I think of them both at the same instant. How closely knit they are. To think of life at its most vibrant, most glorious, is also to contrast it to death. I love V. And maybe beyond the drumbeats of my heart, he has come to be a part of my soul. The smoke that rises from the heat in my veins. The steady, cool rock beneath my feet. I love him so. And then there... as I think of my love for him. I think of my own death. And how I will take his embrace to my grave. Like that Vermeer painting... beyond the moments that built up to make such a masterpiece, there is one image that remains. One smoldering, priceless image that survives separation, death, forgetfulness.

The Craft

Went out with the Craft last July 8. It was wonderful to be with them again. They are a group of friends I can bare my soul to completely.

We officially became the Craft several years ago. Around 1999 or 2000. It was so apt that we called ourselves witches (just the English version of the more colloquial 'bruhas') as our friendship is based on accepting each other for whoever we are. No matter what we were feeling or what we were going through, we are there for each other.

We understand each other and we understand the frailty of the human condition. That is precisely what makes us such good friends. No judgement. We listen to each other. We listen to each other tell the good news and the bad news, our joys and pains, our triumphs and trials. We don't necessarily agree on things but we support and accept each other no matter what. Unconditionally. That's what matters.

Craft members, I love you guys. :) Can't wait to see you again soon.

Pamanhikan Sunday

Our Pamanhikan happened on the 4th of July (just yesterday), a bright and sunny Sunday. It started out a very lovely day. V picked me up at 10:30 a.m. for our regular Sunday Mass. We went to the Church of Gesu (as it was the first Sunday of July). After mass, we passed by Shoppersville to buy ice and additional softdrinks. When we got home I realized that we forgot film for the camera so we ventured out again to buy it. We helped fix up the house (at this point, there wasn't much to fix up anymore as I already bought the ice bucket the night before -- the only missing item for the big lunch). First to show up was V's eldest sister, Eins, together with hubby Chris and their youngest daughter, Sabrina (whom we fondly nicknamed Snobrina as she's the most sungit and aloof of her siblings). Then Funfy and Tita Star arrived next while we were at the parking area in front of our house. Vier and I acted as the welcoming committee, introducing everyone to each other. My Manong Paul was also there as he happened to be visiting his daughter, Popi, (our resident niece studying at Ateneo). Zwei arrived with his wife, Tintin, after we had all settled in the sala and Drei arrived last with his wife, Yeng, and his kids (Thea, Miggy and little Matthew).

I remember that the highlight of the Pamanhikan was one of the first things my Dad said to Tita Star: "Star, I hear from my daughter that your kids love you very much." Tita Star smiled and said, "That's one of the things I'm blessed with. We aren't rich with material things, but our family is blessed with a lot of love and friends." That set the tone for the entire day.

Despite the heat we pigged out on Naty's fare: chicken asparagus soup, her famous bihon (of which Sabrina ate 3 helpings, a feat, considering that she's very picky with food), and her yummy dry adobo. As a bonus, she also made her special leche flan (which I didn't even get to taste). V's family brought most of the dessert: my favorite coffee crunch cake, pandan cake and 3 gallons of ice cream! (pistachio, cheese and rocky road). I think the only crisis we had was the lack of forks and spoons!

We realized that it was a small world because Tita Star and Manong Paul had lots to talk about, having both worked for Fortune Guarantee. Chris, Eins' husband, also could speak Bisaya since he was posted in Iligan for several years.

All in all, everyone had a great time. Everyone left at around 4:00 p.m. already. And boy were we stuffed! Not only did my Dad give my hand away, he gave my foot and some pabaon too (he gave them a box of Bacolod goodies since he just went on a business trip there). That was the joke of the day (my aunt from L.A. called in to say that my Dad had better give my foot together with my hand 'para tapos na.'). But that's not the end of the story. Tita Star invited us over to their house next Sunday for lunch. :)