Author Archives: Issa

A genre-busting book

May 24 2:02 am ,

book cover infographic“Wonderfully imaginative! “

The old stories of man’s rebellion against God to find himself are given a new twist in this novel which combines Greek mythology with the Book of Genesis set against a backdrop of modern technology.  Forces are at work to awaken the divine spark inside a seemingly ordinary girl:  goddess-incarnate-as-woman yet pawn of greater powers, Maia must tread carefully lest her search lead her to open doors that were not meant to be reopened.  Here is Eve again tempted to repeat the act which caused that terrible tragedy:  the Great Fall from Grace … or is it the path to redemption?

I am reminded of Tolkien’s Hiding of Valinor, of C.S. Lewis’ “Perelandra” and of Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’ Labyrinth.”  The book made me aware quite forcefully that another world does exist beside our own and only with eyes unveiled can we hope to get a glimpse of it.  But as there are those who would once more rip down the veil itself to reveal what lies hidden, the heart is suddenly gripped with foreboding lest the time be not yet ripe for such a revelation.  Are we ready to reclaim what we once rejected?  The story of the Seven Sisters is our story, too.  I can’t wait for the second book!” – Myra B.

Brimming with mystery and calling for adventure, P. Milisande’s first book ‘As Above So Below: Veil Over Atlantis’  will enthrall readers.

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Posted in: Book Review, Life Stories, The Secret , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Women Helping Women

March 20 1:31 am ,

In celebration of Belle De Jour’s 10th year, they are holding a summit entitled, BDJ Women’s Summit: Women Helping Women at Samsung Hall, SM Aura, on April 16, 2016.

It will be a day full of highly interactive and experiential learnings. In the summit, you will meet like-minded women who have the courage to talk about society’s issues—the good and the bad—that women encounter every day. You will also hear success stories, personal social causes, and inspiring initiatives on self-proficiency, anti-intellectualism, legacy-building, and meaningful social impact.

Here are the speakers. One of them is good, good friend Salve Duplito, ANC Host of On the Money. Hi Salve!

BDJ WOMEN'S SUMMIT_POSTER 3

This summit will give you a glimpse of what you, as an individual, and we, as a community, can do to inspire and empower women to help themselves and others, connect with other women and turn ideas into action.

As we celebrate the Women’s Month, here’s a special treat to the empowered YOU – GET your pass for the BDJ’s Women’s Summit at 20% off – PHP 600 ONLY! (Regular Price of Php 750) Inclusions: *Get a FREE access to ALL PLENARY TALKS with distinguished speakers *Lunch and PM Snack *Women’s Summit ID *Women’s Summit Kit (Booklet, Pens, Bag) *Certificate of Participation *and additional freebies from our partners!

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW at this link. Hope you can make it to the summit!

Posted in: Advocacies

Where is Conrado de Quiros?

April 27 11:17 am ,
Remembering.

Remembering.

Conrado de Quiros. Lost to the world but not forgotten. His was a mystery I wanted to solve.

De Quiros fell into a coma and has not woken up. No one knows if he will speak again in his voice, or if he will even remember or comprehend the visions he has painted with words, or love with passion – still – the country he has shaped with his pen.

He has, after all, put a president into power (which resulted in impotent uprisings against the writer).

I started to write because of him. With (and in) his writings, I found my voice – the first feigned interest (an opinion writer can write with an evocative, almost lyrical quality? really?), then the piqued longing to put thoughts into paper, test a storyline, hear it ring true. Like his. Although we were distant and unaligned, his writings always comforted me like an old friend. I – in my then-14-or-something years –somehow understood.

He inspired me without meaning to (or maybe meaning to). I found in his writing that putting words to paper could be solace, satisfaction, death, deliverance. That thoughts could brim until they overflow, speak a truth, be uncut, uncouth, yet strangely liberate.

I do not want him to be forgotten.

I will not forget.

We are grains of sand, soon to wither, weather, washed away by the sea/ocean/torrents of rain, tossed, forgotten, a fleck/dust/speck, imbued with meaning, meaning nothing, meaning everything, until we are hurled/guided/led – again – to shore.

Posted in: Mentors

Marco Delgado: Not given everything he wanted (and it was okay)

March 9 12:37 pm ,
untitled-1-01-copy

Wind turbines and Marco Delgado

Marco Deglado has a legacy to Philippine Christendom that not very many people know about.

It started with passion, and a mission. Ambassador Antonio C. Delgado, Marco’s grandfather and the First Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican, made it his personal advocacy to have a Filipino saint canonized. This became a reality with the beatification in 1981 and canonization in 1987 of San Lorenzo Ruiz. An issue came up, however, when the sculptor started work on the likeness—whose face?

It was then that Marco’s grandmother took out a picture of the boy Marco (who was then living with them) and thus, immortalized him as the face of the patron saint of the Philippines, the Filipinos and interestingly, the Overseas Filipino Workers.

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Posted in: Life Stories, The Basics of Finance, The Philippines , Tagged: , ,

Blank Space

February 22 3:03 pm ,

 

Joy

Joy

Taylor Swift sings about it but it does not exist.

At least not in the periphery of our minds.

We close our eyes and stem the tide but much as we try, images will begin to crowd our consciousness. Light filters in, a faint filtering of a prism, like waves breaking over mounds of hewn rock, and then a sound or two – voices that seem to belong to us but not – edging each other out until one or two take center stage and we are caught up in a story, much like a spider in its web.

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Posted in: The Secret , Tagged: , , ,

Life and its many victories: the story of Artist J.A. Tan

February 17 3:25 pm ,
The Artist.

The Artist.

J.A. held his brush as if it were a talisman and an extension of himself.

He then let the colours cascade on canvass, while the camera panned alternately to his hand, his brush, his face. He was immersed in the moment, caught in the words he was trying to speak.

It was at once stark and beautiful.

The video, shown to me after the interview, was made by J.A.’s brother, Thomas, a screenwriter by profession, and it spoke of J.A.’s journey, of his autism, of his art. Of how everything was difficult but perfect for J.A., because he found a way to speak his truth.

Sanctuary

Granville Island boasts of “fine waterfront restaurants, theatres, galleries, studios, unique shops, cafes and the most spectacular fresh food market you’ve ever seen.” It is infused with colour and energy and showcased Vancouver’s sea to sky magnificence.

It is also a hotbed for art.

For Jose Antonio “J.A.” Tan, however, it is a sanctuary. It is there—at the Saltwater Studios off of Duranleau Street in Granville—that he spends his days speaking his mind through expressions/explosions of wonder and beauty.

To him, it was the flowing water that surrounds Granville, which one could barely hear in the distance, that soothed him best (the False Creek Inlet was few steps, in fact, from his studio) and allows him to bring to life his inner world.

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Posted in: Art, Canada , Tagged: , , , ,

How to be a lawyer in Canada

February 6 3:53 pm ,
Grow.

Grow.

When one arrives in a new country, he has grandiose dreams.

Much like the dreams that he left back home. But only more vivid, more reachable.

Maybe it is earning more than he has ever dreamed of, or living a life of utter happiness or peace, contributing to his greater good, fulfilling his potentials.

Be what he was – doctor, teacher, lawyer, engineer, architect, scientist – learned, professional, respected.

He finds that in his new country, in Canada, it is not so easy.

It is not easy but it is possible.

If you are a foreign professional and you want to practice your profession in Canada, take heart from the fact that the path has been laid out for you. Some more clear than others, yes, but many have laboured long and hard so that the future will see that road.

The future is now. You are it.

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Posted in: Canada, Law , Tagged: , , , , , ,

A month into the year

February 1 1:41 pm ,
orange_harvest

Harvest Time

And a confession. I’ve always thought about a comeback.

I thought I had given up blogging, but it is a gift that keeps on giving. And one fine day, I thought, what would it take for me to go back?

Maybe it is the shedding away of a lot of responsibilities, a shedding away of writing as a career.

I was editor of a newspaper. Words were my life. Others’ words, some mine, but I was inundated with it that I wanted nothing to do with it.

The creativity was stifled somehow. Because of a perceived audience, because of being careful, because of what cannot be said, because of what should be said.

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Posted in: Random Thoughts , Tagged: ,