...But the Greatest of These is LOVE...

     The title for today's post comes from a verse in the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:12-13), and is one of my favorite verses. Today is supposed to be a day for love, but it seems to have become one huge commercial venture that may have lost its essence. So I just thought to share with you all some inspiring stories that I read in the February 2013 issue of Reader's Digest. These remind us that it's not just a day for couples but also for family and friends we hold near and dear.

"Love on Hangers"

image from http://www.floristsreview.com/main/FYISlider/120614Schwanke.html

     Mel and Jo Ellen (Joey) Schwanke have been dressing alike for fifty years. Whatever outfit Joey wears, Mel always made sure that his shirt or tie would be of the same material so he would be a perfect match. It all started with a black formal dress that didn't fit quite right on Joey's full figured frame. He then went and bought some material that he had custom made just for her. Since the mid 1950's they have accumulated 146 matching outfits. They're still dressing alike, and still do everything together. (Click here to read an article about them.)

"Love as a Hardcover"

image from http://i43.tower.com/images/mm107336014/oh-places-youll-go-mini-edition-seuss-dr-hardcover-cover-art.jpg

      Bryan Martin gave his daughter Brenna the sweetest gift a dad could ever give for her high school graduation. Using Dr. Seuss's book Oh, the Places You'll Go, Bryan started creating his one of a kind gift. He started when Brenna graduated for the first time (in kindergarten). He asked her teachers to take a page to write down comments about her at the end of the school year. He did this every year until her senior year in high school. Brenna was very moved by her dad's thoughtfulness and the nostalgia his gift brought.

"Love in the Mail"

image from http://www.13seventy-nine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/happy-birthday-cards-and-tags.jpg

      Jean Tiffin's daughter, Carol, was at a loss for a gift to give her on her 89th birthday. Previous gifts had been judged either too pretty to wear or too expensive. Then she remembered how excited her mother was whenever she got mail - even a simple store catalog made her so happy! So Carol decided to launch a campaign for her mother to receive as many birthday cards as possible by appealing to her church, on facebook, and even to Jean's favorite disc jockey. Jean was indeed thrilled when she received her birthday cards - all 136 of them.

      So there you have it. If these stories have touched you or even given you some ideas for Valentine's Day, then you are most welcome to try them. I'm very sure your loved ones will greatly appreciate it.

© Margj Castillo, Between You and Me, 2010 - Present.

Impressions

     I recently had a chance to take a quick trip to the Philippines, a place I still call home. Though the circumstances were less than ideal, I was still glad I had the opportunity to see what it's like after being away for five years.

banks at the corner one block away from our house

     Though others may disagree, I was glad to see that at least in our neighborhood there weren't any substantial changes. The people and places have essentially stayed the same. I could still get around without feeling lost and bewildered. Some establishments may have closed, but a lot more have opened. I was happy to see a lot more eateries, a few new grocery stores and a new bakeshop or two. I only wish there were a few more banks in the area, since one major bank has already closed. Farther afield, I was surprised by the various developments for high rises that seemed to be popping up everywhere. I was to learn later on that a major tycoon is the one behind most of these real estate projects. And it's not just residential but commercial development as well. I guess the rich really keep getting richer.

a new grocery store where a bakery used to be

     I felt proud of my ability to still travel like a native, using jeepneys, tricycles and fx vans. I even rode the MRT a couple times, but didn't feel brave enough to ride the buses. But I never had to take the taxi, unless it was truly called for. Oh yeah, I still got it, hehehe. One thing I do know I will never be able to do back home is to drive. Filipino drivers follow their own rules on the road, and I'll be too nervous to compete for space. One needs to be both truly confident and aggressive to drive there.

jeepney and tricycle

     No visit back home would be complete without meeting up with friends, however quickly and briefly. I am very happy to say that I got to touch base and reform bonds with those who are closest to me. In spite of feeling tired and sleepy at the wrong moments, I truly enjoyed and cherished having those overdue conversations that no amount of emails, messages, chats or phone calls can fill. It's very nice to know that no matter long the absence, these friendships remain strong and enduring. You all know who you are, and I definitely miss you guys already!

     On a side note, I was amused to find out that Marikina, the city where I live, seems to have captured the fancy of the entertainment industry. My town of Parang has become a go to location for some tv stations when shooting their soap operas. I actually got to see one particular shoot for GMA 7's "Luna Blanca" while I was there. Ah, the perks of living right across from the town hall. Hollywood has also come avisiting, as the latest Bourne Legacy movie shot some scenes in the city proper. Apparently, a long stretch of a main road running along a major wet market there was closed to traffic during filming. I can just imagine how annoyed commuters got from the traffic jams this caused. But anyway, for those of you who might watch the movie when it comes out, know that those scenes with jeepneys and tricycles were filmed there.

Jeremy Renner on location in Marikina City, Philippines

     I don't know when I'll be able to go back again. Whenever that may be I hope it'll be for a real vacation where I can relax and enjoy myself to the utmost. Until then, I'll keep these recent memories foremost in my mind.

© Margj Castillo, Between You and Me, 2010 - Present.

If I Just Click My Heels Three Times...

     ...maybe I'll be in the Philippines in the blink of an eye.  But I'm not Dorothy and I don't have the ruby slippers on me.  So if I want to get there, I'll have to do it the old fashioned way.  Too bad that costs a lot of money.  Not to mention all the other expenses included in a vacation.  But if money was no object, what would I do during a month long vacation?

     No trip to the Philippines is complete without a trip to the beach.  Every summer, it's de riguer to have a summer outing, either to a pool or to the beach, in some cases to both.  Sometimes even when it's not summer, if I was staying at my sister's place in Laguna we'd go to a pool for a neighborhood outing.  These outings are never fancy, more like plain and simple kind of roughing it type of thing.  The only extravagance, if one can call it such, during these affairs is the food.  We'd bring lots of food, either cooked or to be cooked.  There's always tilapia to be grilled, pork or beef to be barbecued, sometimes pansit, sometimes squid, maybe some mangoes with bagoong to dip them in or made into a green mango salad.  And of course, rice.  Mmmm...just mentioning all that food has made my mouth water, especially at the memory of green mango salad.  I'm not a fan of green mango per se because I don't like sour things, but the way this salad is made has me eating it until it's all gone.  Pairing it with grilled fish makes it even better!  Yum!!!  We also do  a lot of swimming, in all that lovely hot springs water.  That would be so nice right now.  So, yes, an outing to either a beach or a pool will definitely be part of my vacation.

     Another important part of this vacation would be making the rounds of my old stomping grounds.  First on the list is the neighborhood in Marikina where I lived almost all of my life.  I don't know what changes have happened in the years since I left so I'll want to check everything out.  I'm sure my husband will be happy to know that there is a Jollibee a block away from our house.  I'll also go to Cubao, Ortigas and Makati.  These areas were places where I either worked, played or both.  I'll make sure to check out the old and new shops, restaurants, buildings, all the sights and sounds.

     To round out my to do list is spending time with family and friends.  This is actually the most important item on my to do list.  Having been away for so long, I'll want to reconnect with my family, my nephew and nieces in particular.  They'll be so grown up, so different from when I saw them last.  I'll want to spend time with my dear, close friends and catch up on all the stories and news that no amount of chat or email can really cover.  It's quite possible we'll do a few slumber parties with just us girls.  I haven't done one of those in a long time.

     There will be a few other things I'll do on this vacation, what I've mentioned thus far is just half the list.  Hubby will surely want to see and do some things too, including a trip to Cebu and Taguig to catch up with his side of the family.  But I'm sure that whatever and wherever we might be, I'll soak up everything in the Philippines that I possibly can.  Because who knows when I'll be able to go back again.

     Ok, now back to reality.

© Margj Castillo, Between You and Me, 2010 - Present.