Manang Lilian

Manang Lilian succeeding after many years of struggle in the Philippines.  Fighter, survivor and a woman of substance. She and and my nephews and nieces now based in West Covina, California. One of her daughters became Ms Philippines some years back.

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My classmate Professor Reuel Molina Aguila.

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This is a belated post about an idol, a high school classmate who's gone through everything in life - Reuel.  He was our class salututorian. He made UPCAT and together with the rest of us; Edita, the validictorian, Joy, Ofelia, Greg, Victor, Charlie, Sue, Hernani, Lito, Chuchi, Ed, Carolina sailed through the challenging UP Diliman brand of free and analytical thinking  university environment. Meanwhile, three of these classmates became firebrands. And one was Reuel. When Martial law was declared in 1972, he took to the hills to fight for what he believed in. It was a tumultuous era for students. Was it just the "in" thing? To rebel? To fight the establishment? In Reuel's case and the rest of many UP and Lyceum students, it was a fight worth fighting for. Soon,   the powerful military tentacles caught up. Reuel and a host of others were incarcerated. Fast forward, today, Reuel Aguila is now a Professor at UP Diliman; Phd candidate. Aside from this, and I was not...
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I love Paris in the springtime

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This is another place I dream of visiting. Actually, the photo bears the replica of the Eiffel Tower. It's a souvenir item given by a friend who was there recently. She tells me that specially at night, this amazing man-made structure oozes with life and light and when you're there on top, gives a fantastic and surreal feeling of giddiness. I can only imagine.
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Grandfather knows best

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I found this very, very old photograph of my grandfather. If I remember correctly this was taken in our house many, many years ago in 1970. (On the background is our stereo set which my father himself assembled with his own two hands). My grandad was a classic old schooled man. He was served, literally by everyone: my grandmother, his daughters, his sons, including us the grandchildren. His word was the law. No one dared disobey his wishes. That was his role in our patriarchal clan. The thing is all the men in this family acted like kings in a fiefdom, expecting everyone serving at their pleasure. I believe this mentality is now a thing of the past. Though, I am not really sure. Is it? I don't know if this is good or what. The system of change has changed. My grandfather's era was contrived. Nothing was spontaneous. Expectations were clear and expected to be fulfilled. You are told to do something? There is no way you will not acquiesce. My father's was that caught be...
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