Day 27 - What They Say

Today is supposed to be the start of the Joy of Luck class, but I guess my time zone is quite ahead, so I still haven't received the first prompt yet. With that, I guess I don't have to make a two-in-one post, because if I receive the e-mail tomorrow, I will take my picture tomorrow, too, and share it the next day - meaning, I will share the last Joy of Love picture tomorrow, too.


Day 27 - What They Say.

Of all the prompts, I think this would be the most difficult for me. My sister isn't really verbal about her feelings - I don't expect to receive any cheesy text messages from her, and I don't expect post-its here and there containing notes, because she wasn't brought up that way. Actually, when she was in High School and College, I would call her "abnormal" because I never heard her go loco over some guy - be it a classmate or a celebrity. Totally different from what I was during her age.

Between the two of us, I am the more sentimental. I am the one who would insert notes into her books containing words of encouragement and how much I care about her. I am the one who hugs her more often and the one who would shower her with words describing how much I love her. Even if my sister isn't the cheesy-cheesy woman, I know she cares so much about me and the whole family, too, and yes, at rare times (when she is really tired), she would solicit hugs from us, too.

This picture was taken by our cousin Mhai. We were on our way home from a hike to Tangadan Falls, and our decision to take a different route back made us climb uphill nonstop. It was really tiring, and I found myself panting and asking them them to slow down a bit because my legs were burning. This was one of those "Wait for a while" moments I had... and us looking like this made cousin snap a picture using her cell phone. I thought she was taking picture of just sister so I didn't mind them - I was more concerned catching my breath - that when cousin gave me copies of pictures she took via Bluetooth, I was surprised to see this.

My sister would always go, "Kaya pa ba, 'te?" ("Can you still keep up?") I would always say "yes," because I can still keep up... but of course, given my weight, I just had to take my time. I felt a bit bad about the situation - I am the older one... the one who should encourage and guide her, but it was always her who would ask if I can still keep up - as her way of checking about my state. Between us, she's the one with asthma, yet in this instance, it was like I was the one with asthma who would always catch her breath. That moment, she became my older sister, and I became her little sis. It was a good feeling - sensing her concern and her care.

Of course, I know, I need to lose weight. :)

*** Jenn ***

Everlasting

This picture was taken when my sister and I went to the Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet. Well, it's not really just strawberry fields; a lot of other vegetables are grown there, too (like broccoli, leeks, cauliflower, lettuce, etc...), but because tourists mainly go there to see the strawberry fileds, the "name" just stuck.

Anyway, before leaving, sister and I checked the shops, and we saw one selling flowers and plants. Because of the cool weather in La Trinidad, it has been a great place to grow plants, and among the flowers I took pictures of where these everlasting flowers. Also known as Straw Flower or Paper Daisy, it is the flower which Baguio City (capital of Benguet) is well known for. Such a pretty flower, but people here offer this flower to altars and tombs because it still pretty much look the same even if it has wilted already - thus the name, "everlasting."

I have seen the orange ones... and I guess this would be the first time I have seen the yellow and pink varieties. So cute, wish I could take it home.

*** Jenn ***

Day 26 - BROmance

My sister was my main subject for this class, but towards the end, I have shared something about my dad, and now, as the prompt suggested, I am going to talk about my brother. Truly, this class is all about the joy of love for I have tackled the joys of loving my family.


Day 26 - BROmance

I was born a year and four months after my brother. I am considered the "unexpected" child because parents thought mom won't get pregnant right away because they heard breastfeeding moms won't get pregnant right away, so mom was surprised why her period didn't get back sooner than expected. It was obviously because she was already pregnant with me.

Parents welcomed me into the family, but because they still haven't fully adjusted with building a house after the marriage and welcoming their first born, taking care of two babies became a big challenge for them. They allowed dad's eldest sister to take care of brother in La Union, while I stayed with my family. I did have memories of brother early in my life, but there was part of my life where I got surprised learning that I have a brother. It was in 1984 when we got reunited - when parents took me to La Union for a summer vacation and to attend brother's pre-school graduation.

He then came home with us and moving to a new house (where we are living up to this day), it started my roller coaster relationship with brother. Maybe because we have different genders, which was why adjusting to each personalities was tough - or maybe because we were just kids - that we fought most of the time. Growing up, we would get irritated with each other and our fights would be very violent at times - him biting my arms (which would leave his impression as if my arms are something dentists use to make dentures), and me throwing stuff directly at him (making sure I'd hit his head or anywhere that would make him shout in pain). When we welcomed sister in the family in 1988, it somehow balanced the tension between us, and also, we were getting matured, so fights have lessened.

We are close, yes - we do share secrets at times - but I am not as close to him as I am close to my sister. Still, he would be there when I needed him - like when I needed to leave the house real early and needed some companion... or when I needed some help about something. What touches my heart the most would the very few times I'd have the flu and he would cook something hot - either congee or noodles - to comfort me. Our relationship wasn't really smooth smooth (sometimes buttons are pushed), but we do care and respect each other - him as my older brother, me as his younger sister.

- - - - -

This picture was taken last December, when the family celebrated sister's birthday. Well, sister might take a back seat for this joy of love class, but I could still say she is part of the picture, as this was her birthday party, and that she took this picture. Thanks sis!

*** Jenn ***

Day 25 - When

So... when do I feel my sister loves me?


Day 25 - When.

A lot of things made me feel that my sister loves me. Like when she would wake up real early to prepare mom's breakfast that would mean I don't have to get up anymore, or when she would do the laundry for the week. Of course I would do the chores the other time because I don't want her to do all the chores.

I also felt her love when she would give me advice or voice out her opinions about certain things I am having problems about... or when she would back up my decisions because she believes in me and my abilities. She may be eight years younger than me, but I do respect what she has to say.

In the course of this Joy of Love classes, I guess the biggest way I felt my sister's love is when she was game to pose for me. Never did she complained about being in front of my camera... and every time I would ask her for a picture, she would be quick to fix herself. As for posing, she is open to every suggestions, and she would really stay with me until I get the shot I wanted and needed.

Take for instance the picture above... it was freaking hot that afternoon, yet when I told her I would like to take a picture of her in a "perspective" mode, she was quick to put down the umbrella and pose for me.

In her many little things I felt my sister's love....and her being my sister is already reason enough to know I am blessed and loved.

*** Jenn ***

Day 24 - Where

I was thinking hard what to share for this day, but while washing dishes after eating dinner, I thought about this and decided to share it.


Day 24: Where.

For four years now, this is where I always go to every 5th day of March - the Forest Lake en Cielo cemetery in the town of San Juan in the province of La Union. This is where dad was buried, and even if I had to travel six to seven hours from Manila, I would always take this day as a day of remembering all the goodness my dad has given our family. He will always be my favorite man in the world, and nothing would take away the love I have for him.

I do understand that my family will not be there during his death anniversary. I always tell my family that as long as there will be someone lighting the candle on his grave, it will be okay, because it meant that we still haven't forgotten him.

This year, I was so happy that sister was able to travel with me. I am thankful that I have someone to share the day with, as last year, it was just I who went to light the candles. At least now, sister was with me, and we were able to give respects to daddy.

*** Jenn ***