By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   This morning, I think of my mother. I think of the times that I have decided, on so many occasions I have taken personal decisions without much regard for her own sentiments. Not that it is intentional to disregard it, but worse, it seemed sometimes…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   LAST night, my sister noticed that there were piles of construction materials dumped on the adjacent lot we had maintained cleaning for several months now. The ampalaya (bitter gourd) was buried under the rubbles, and its leaves wilted from the weight carelessly dumped at its…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   I wake up to the dawn of calm, before the birds steal the silence, where I can only hear the sound of me. I listen to my breath, telling me, that the moment is precious, and each breath that passes is a moment gone, and…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   HE was, the son of a king, who was made by her mother, who made kings. They were immortals, biding time in the long sleep of a wink, and smelling blood, they resurrected. But he, coming out of his father’s bile, was not even half…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   OUTSIDE, the pink night sky is being scolded by lightning and thunder. In between, it gets a slight whip from the wind, and a lashing from the rain. Despite all these, the sky calmly weathers the elements, becoming the wind and the rain, the lightning…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   SUDDENLY, while walking, you can sense that someone is watching you from behind. You are tempted to look back, and you do, but no one seems to be looking. You continue to walk, that persistent feeling of being watched remains. Again, you are tempted to…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   OVER the years, we encounter people, people we like more than others, and build a closer bond for many reasons. Some for the ideals they espouse, some for their charm, others for the way they are. In my life, there are those I considered very…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   I was not supposed to be in this meeting. My tooth ached and my gums were inflamed. My face was swollen, like I just ate a female crab with all the red roe, prawns and other seafood I was allergic to, but addicted to them…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   PLACES of refuge and safety can be found in special places in the mind, as well as spaces where we experience peace and renewal. Mine is both in my mind, the vast silence of the atmosphere, the energy of a forest bath, and little corners…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   THE election is over. The winners had been proclaimed. For some it is a time to celebrate, for others to regain strength. Most of my friends are experiencing an extended hangover. “My candidate won! Who did you vote for? Aha, I know, you do not…