Somewhere in Chiba: An Elegy

Somewhere in Chiba, 
A wholeness of a once 
Fruitful life is
now
kept in a single box. 
Why?, I asked the orchestra 
of the June rain. 
It took an image 
of a single box, 
for me to disembowel life
one of its secrets: 
We are all buds
Of a single tree. 
The tree is a plum blossom. 
A single bud fell somewhere in Chiba;
I felt its loneliness. 
I asked the tropical Filipino air
to heed fast, 
to grasp, 
and to take my little prayers 
somewhere in Chiba. 
I pray that 
soon, somewhere in Chiba,
a forever summer
will thaw the winter
in the heart of a friend.

Somewhere in Chiba, 
wander woman decides to go home. 
I think she, too, knows
that 
in Chiba
where my feet have never set, 
some hearts have wept.

(May 2020)
|| 💮🌸 RIP Camille-san. I placed your photo beside the Virgin Mary, Mother Mediatrix of All Grace so she may be with you wherever you are.

The Quarantine Playlist

    The month of May started hopeful, but it didn't burn wonderfully like the heat of the month. So much has happened and it wasn't all great. Much of them left me hanging in a higher level of anxiety. Most nights I just stare at the ceiling waiting for the dawn thinking about everything and nothing. Some days I don't know how to get through the day, but I'm grateful that today, even though everything doesn't feel great, I am alive and I think it's enough to be hopeful. Truthfully, I am not the optimist kind regardless of how much I wanted to be. However, it amazes me that after through so much I still find a sparkle of hope. I don't credit everything to myself for such. Maybe because I am a Sagittarius but that would be such a petty excuse. Seriously, it must be because of my mom's constant prayer or my best friends Hagie and Jong whom I can always rely on. They are some of my own proof that God exists and is with me - just like the art of music. 

    I like to think that music is one of God's purest way of communicating with us. It is such a powerful art that instantly overpowers me with relief. In these times where terror seems to sprout everywhere, I know how important it is to use our voice to reason with truth, but it is also in times like this where I can't seem to find my voice. Everything just feels like noise and it's only either silence or music that would put me at ease. These days when I don't like to talk to anyone else I just put on my earphones and go sound tripping. I feel so much better after a song or two as if a torn in my heart has been lifted or a cloud of negative dust in my brain has been collected. I do it often especially these days where work is halted by the quarantine. I know about findings ways to be productive, but there are just days when my heart just feels so heavy. I don't have the slightest clue on what's about to happen tomorrow. Nobody does - ever, but with music, everything is bound to be better even when uncertainty drowns the light. 

Here are ten songs that made my quarantine much bearable than it actually does. I made these alternative "song"  covers just because I needed some moments of creativity. 

Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey

Think I'll miss you forever

Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky

Later's better than never/ Even if you're gone I'm gonna drive (drive, drive)

I got that summertime, summertime sadness

Alaska by Maggie Rogers

And I walked off you/ 

And I walked off an old me/ 

Oh me oh my I thought it was a dream

So it seemed

Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens

How much sorrow can I take?/ 

Blackbird on my shoulder/ 

And what difference does it make/ 

When this love is over?

Let's Fall In Love for the Night by Finneas

Let's fall in love for the night/ 

And forget in the mornin'/ 

Play me a song that you like

You can bet I'll know every line

Circles by Post Malone

Seasons change and our love went cold

Feed the flame 'cause we can't let go

Run away, but we're running in circles

Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Yesterday and days before/ 

Sun is cold and rain is hard/ 

I know been that way for all my time

This Year's Love by David Gray

This year's love had better last/ 

Heaven knows it's high time/

 I've been waiting on my own too long

Level of Concern by Twenty One Pilots

Panic on the brain, world has gone insane

Things are starting to get heavy, mm

I can't help but think I haven't felt this way/  Since I asked you to go steady

Wonderin', would you be, my little quarantine? Or is this the way it ends?

Modern Loneliness by Lauv

And I've been tryna fill all of this empty

But, fuck, I'm still so empty/ 

And I could use some love/ 

And I've been trying to find a reason to get up

Start Over by Gaho 

Even if I’m running on one foot/ 

Like I’m broken I’m going to go my own way/ 

The promise I made with myself.

Let me know what you think of the songs especially if you've heard them. Isn't it a wonder to think that different souls listen to the same songs at the same moment regardless of spatial and circumstantial differences? Give me some songs in the comments section below. 

Love, Music, and Magic be with us these trying times.

love lots, Tin

RMANEWS.NET: BLAZING A NEW TRAIL FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION

A simple gathering of friends for a sikwate session upon the invitation of Cebu’s Chocolate Queen Raquel Choa at The Chocolate Chamber in Robinsons Galleria Cebu turned out to be an opportune time for the soft launching of RMANews.Net on June 4.

Cebu Chocolate Queen Raquel Choa and Mr. Robby Alugar 

RMA News was borne out of the growing number of stories in Cebu that need to be told to as much people as possible.

It features corporate news, food, entertainment, lifestyle, health, music and arts, people stories, and PRs about all that’s happening around town.

“I see this as a new and additional avenue to showcase more news, events, and relevant information in the digital media with immense possibilities in multi-faceted and creative executions and outputs that can reach people not just in Cebu, but all over the world,” said Robby Alugar, Founder & CEO of RMANews.Net.

The launch of RMANews.Net comes at a ripe time when the digital channel is today’s most effective platform under the “new normal”.

“As fake news continue to plague the internet channels, we urge online news agencies like RMA News to help the PIA and PCOO fight disinformation in line with our responsibility to inform and educate the general public through timely, relevant and accurate Information,” said Fayette Riñen, Philippine Information Agency 7 Regional Director.

The simple ceremonial switch on for the soft launching of RMANews.Net was led by Lilu Aliño, Managing Director of Lilu Advertising and District Governor Nominee Designate of Rotary D3860. The launching was also graced by Herminia Go, the Assistant Governor Area 1E Rotary District 3860, Joanna Fajardo-Salazar, Group Marketing & Communications Manager of Robinsons Land Corporation and Raquel Choa, President of Ralfe Gourmet and Founder of The Chocolate Chamber.

RMA News would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to friends who sent their greetings and congratulatory messages online.

Special thanks to David Buenaventura of Goodventure Multimedia Solutions for the wonderful video production during the launching.

RMA News will face challenges with strength, determination and confidence as we deliver accurate, balanced, and up to date news and information to the public.

 Visit RMANEWS.NET: https://www.rmanews.net/