Passionately Valerie

Democracy entails the freedom to speak one's mind and act on it if driven by conviction and principle, even if at times one must pay the price. Say what they want to say it is their right, it is even their privilege but in it is not only in school that we learn about the realities of this world, it is in the university of life; and it is sometimes far from what is ideal, from what is perfect. More often than not the theories that we learn in the four corners of the classroom does not always apply to what really goes on in the real world. In school we were never taught to become bad people we were always taught about good manners and right conduct, but in real life it is inevitable to encounter the worst of attitude in people. It is part of life. Occasionally when the wind gets too strong, just like a bamboo, one must learn to sway with wind or like a boat one must learn to adjust its sails in order to survive. Sometimes one does not even need to think too hard, one simply needs to ...

Just some random taughts... :) As the 25th celebration of my birthday comes closer in each day, my love for pink becomes insatiable. In fact as a gift to myself I planned on getting pink curtains to match with almost all the pink stuffs in my room. Pink? what is with this color that makes me so attracted to it. I remember in my younger years, I never liked this color. In fact I am intimidated by it as reflected perhaps by my insecurities in terms of capabilities and physical appearance as a youngster. I find this color to be too pretty, girly, and dainty. I have always been vertically and horizontally challenged, my hair was thick and unruly and I was morena hence I had a feeling back then that anything bright or colorful will make me bigger and darker. I went for black, brown or grey anything that is neutral. Anything perhaps that would make me unnoticeable in the crowd. This went on until about high school. My character may have evolved, I may have became more proactive and gained fr...

The past few days have been nothing but days of relentless waiting and suspense. A year of hard work and hanging on to dreams is slowly becoming a cold block of reality. Failure is nearby and I have yet to pull myself up, physically, mentally, emotionally; and most of all spiritually. How do I begin all over again? Looking from the vast nothingness of my blank stare, I felt tired. There is this pinching pain in my backbone due to the lengthy time spent on sitting, reading, memorizing, highlighting, taking notes and of course the stress that goes with it. On the other hand being tired is a good sign for this simply means I fought hard in battle and I did my best. Only to learn that best in not always what is best, for there are times I have to become a beast in order to survive. From the wrenched and exhausted physical composure of my body, I feel the fangs and wools growing in my heart. I have gotten much stronger, learned and wise. I learned it the hard way. I know many of 'us...

For Handsome, A walk back in years, i can remember... You and I met on a blistering summer Days, weeks, months and years together Seven summers now shares forever after For as long as it has been, we stood against time Gracefully ageing like a rich bold wine More vivid than the sun, we continuously shine A story of love uniquely, distinctly "Yours and Mine" Our battles were not in times of wars and in minefields Nor of conquest, nor of climbing the top of Mt. Everest Ours was a truss of amorous passion and adoration A tug of war of both revulsion and affection Our love story may not be that of an epic novel Nor a tale of immortal and undying lovers But ours is a love so genuine and real Beyond seven summers of love and survival Written by Valerie May M. Cruz For Patrick, Advance Happy 7th Anniversary *04/06/2005* 04/04/11

My favorite love song. The theme song of Patrick and I, The fundamental things apply as time goes by (",) "As Time Goes By" music and words by Herman Hupfeld Hear Dooley Wilson sing "As Time Goes By" (a .WAV file). [This day and age we're living in Gives cause for apprehension With speed and new invention And things like fourth dimension. Yet we get a trifle weary With Mr. Einstein's theory. So we must get down to earth at times Relax relieve the tension And no matter what the progress Or what may yet be proved The simple facts of life are such They cannot be removed.] You must remember this A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh. The fundamental things apply As time goes by. And when two lovers woo They still say, "I love you." On that you can rely No matter what the future brings As time goes by. Moonlight and love songs Never out of date. Hearts full of passion Jealousy and hate. Woman needs man And man must have his mate That no ...

Dalawampung taon… dagdagan pa ng apat ayan ang edad ko, daang liko-liko, hanggang saan kaya dadako ito buhay kong ito? O Diyos ko, gabayan niyo po sana ninyo ako sa paglalakbay, sa paghahanap ng saysay, sa pagbibigay ng kulay, sa bawat gawa ng aking kamay, sa inyo po aking inaalay. Isip, damdamin at mga gunita ko ay tila sali-saliwa, nagdudulot sa puso ng pagkabalisa. Ilan na ang nagdaang mga kabanata, idagdag pa ang ilang mga talata subalit landasin tila ba walang tanda, sapagkat bawat hakbang ibinatay ko sa tadhana. Ano kaya ang kapalarang naghihintay? Mananalaysay? Abogada? Historyador bang tunay? Guro nga bang nagbibigay gabay? Anak bang nagbibigay giliw? Isang mangingibig na hindi magmamaliw? Naway mga katanungan ko, mabigyan ng malinaw na kasagutan, dili naman kaya ay ilang palatandaan, hindi man sa kasalukuyan sana’y sa kinabukasn, upang sa halip na masiraan ay mabigyan ng kalinawagan. Valerie May M. Cruz

Matapos ang isang unos, matapos ang isang pagtutuos mga luha sa batisan ay patuloy na aagos at ngiti sa labi ko’y maaaninag kasabay ng mapagkalinga mong haplos Mga salitang mamumutawi sa bibig tila ba mga mahalimuyak na bulaklak, magbibgay galak sa damdaming busilak, magbibgay ganyak sa kapaligiran kong payak Ang minimithing liwanag, mula sa madilim na sulok ng isipan na aking binihag, mga malungkot na alaalang dati sa aki’y bumitag Tulad ng pitong kulay ng isang bahag-hari, katahimikang hatid ng payapang isipan ang mamamayani, sa puso ko nawa’y manatili upang sa gayo’y maligtas sa naranasang pagkasawi. Valerie May M. Cruz November 21, 2008

Beginnings - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

It is said that, "anything is possible for those who believe," I came across this amazing video of a one-legged dansieur and a one-armed ballerina through The Inspiration by God Newsletter. Their names are Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei. Their grace, passion and exquisiteness will cause a tear to fall down your eyes. Sometimes, we feel so belittled and limited because of the so many restrictions we put upon ourselves. Then one day we see people who surpass their disability and conquer something that seems to be physically impossible for them. It is truly a wake-up call that nothing so difficult nor challenging cannot be done if we give it all our best and more importantly if we leave the rest to God. Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Last Monday, (August 30, 2010), my mom and I put together a small thanksgiving with relatives and closest friends to celebrate my father's 64th birthday. We consider it special because this year we almost lost the head of our family due to respiratory failure last May. Within a short period of time from May until August there was a great improvement in his health. Our gratitude to the doctors who supervised his health and recovery. With that kind of experience in our family there are few things that I have realized. One is that nothing is impossible with God. Prayers can indeed move mountains. Many of our family members and friends joined together in prayer. I think that was one significant factor to his recovery. Second is "love is all that matters". Prayers together with the love showered to us by the people around us made the struggle a little lighter to carry. Everyday counts now to say I love you to the people we care about because in a brink of time the people that ...

Beginnings - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Matapos ang isang unos, matapos ang isang pagtutuos mga luha sa batisan ay patuloy na aagos at ngiti sa labi ko’y maaaninag kasabay ng mapagkalinga mong haplos Mga salitang mamumutawi sa bibig tila ba mga mahalimuyak na bulaklak, magbibgay galak sa damdaming busilak, magbibgay ganyak sa kapaligiran kong payak Ang minimithing liwanag, mula sa madilim na sulok ng isipan na aking binihag, mga malungkot na alaalang dati sa aki’y bumitag Tulad ng pitong kulay ng isang bahag-hari, katahimikang hatid ng payapang isipan ang mamamayani, sa puso ko nawa’y manatili upang sa gayo’y maligtas sa naranasang pagkasawi. Valerie May M. Cruz November 23, 2008

Maligayang Bati Dad (Para sa Nalalapit mong ika-63 na Kaarawan) Isang pagpupugay sa minamahal kong ama Sandigan kong tunay, tungkod ko ng pag-asa Sa paglipas ng mga taon; tikas at tindig angat pa rin sa iba Hangga’t hanggan runong at husay ay damang dama Kanyang isipan at mga kamay palagiang nagsusumikap Pagmamalasakit; pagmamahal sa ina ko’t sa aki’y kumikislap Kaya pasasalamat ko’y nag-umaapaw, tumatagos sa mga puting alapaap Sa puso ko tunay siyang walang kapantay maging sa hinaharap Ama kong mapagkalinga na sa aki’y laging umaagapay Salita’y di sasapat upang ako sa iyo ay magpugay Iyong pagkalinga sa akin mula pagsilang ay walang humpay Aking tatanawing malaking utang na loob, panghabang buhay Sa nalalapit at natatangi mong kaarawan ngayong buwan Payak na mga letra’y siyang tangi kong nakayanan Kasama ang hangga’t hanggang pagmamahal ko para sa ‘yo Nawa sa iyo’y magbigay ngiti at pumukaw sa iyong puso Isinulat ni: Valerie May M. Cruz

While reading my sources for my master’s thesis, I came across with one of Camilo Osias’ beautiful speeches. It has considerably touched my heart for it talked about something that is very personal to me. Although he delivered it during the 50s I consider it classic and timeless. Although I am not a lawyer or a law student even, my dream of becoming one is still unwavering. It gave me a deeper anchor and footing on why I dream of becoming one, he added it with a flavorful ingredient of love of country. I am thankful that I was able to read it. I am sharing it to those who dream of becoming a lawyer too someday ^_^ Speaking of Lawyers: Commencement exercises of the Philippine Law School April 8, 1951 By Camilo Osias-Educator, Legislator, Statesman “To be a lawyer is to be a leader. Intelligent leadership demands performing the duties and shouldering the responsibilities of citizenship. Ordinary citizens look up to a leader, and to merit their respect and confidence he must lead his fell...

How did life become so serious? Hmmm well I’d say just now. I am not saying this to complain, I simply want to ask it to the world and leave my questioning to hit someone with a giant question mark. (?) I thought that I didn’t seem to miss high school that much when I became a college student until recently. College provided less restrictions and regulations in terms of self-expression, values and faith. Freedom on one hand is not alone, it comes with great responsibilities. When I was granted with more freedom my responsibilities became greater as well. It multiplied twice, thrice and higher. Graduation came along; I became an adult granted with greater freedom and definitely with greater responsibilities. The only more serious thing about responsibility is actually being responsible. To have so many choices and options and still decide to choose the right thing, the valued decision, the moral, the upright. Then suddenly freedom became a serious matter. Little by little I reminisced m...

THERE HE WAS STANDING STILL EVEN IF HE WAS SURROUNDED WITH MAN IN STEEL SADNESS AND BETRAYAL IS ALL THAT HE FEELS BUT THE LAST THING IN HIS MIND`WAS TO KILL OUR NATION WAS CUT INTO HALF BY CRISIS AND PROBLEMS THAT ARE SO TOUGH PEACEFULNESS AND UNITY ARE SO FAR AWAY AS IF OUR COUNTRY WOULDN’T EVEN LAST A DAY THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS TO SAY THAT WAS NEVER SAID AND HAD FADED AWAY WORDS THAT MUST HAVE PREVENTED ALL THESE MOCKERY AND COULD HAVE POSSIBLY STOPPED ALL THESE FALLACY THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE GREEN WITH ENVY TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE GIVEN A COURTESY LIKE THIS MAN STANDING STILL AGAINST ALL THESE INSANITY AS I SALUTE TO HIM WITH HEAD UP HIGH I LOOK UP TO HIM HIGH IN THE SKY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT BENEATH ALL THESE IS EITHER TRUTH OR COVERED LIES VALERIE MAY MONTEMAYOR CRUZ

HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF LOST? LOST IN THE MIDST OF DEEP THINKING CAPTIVATED BY THE SHALLOW IMAGINATIONS OF THE MIND HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF CHASING YOUR THOUGHTS? THOUGHTS THAT ARE LIKE THE LEAVES BLOWN BY THE STRONG WIND LIKE A PAPERBOAT FLOWING IN THE RIVER’S CURRENTS LIKE A PARASAIL THAT CROSSES THE SEA WITH NO EXACT COURSE HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF CHASING YOUR THOUGHTS? LIKE THE STORM THAT CHANGES DIRECTION CONSTANTLY OR THE VOLCANO THAT ERRUPTS ABRUPTLY AN EARTHQUAKE THAT CAUSES AFTERSCHOCKS HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF CHASING YOUR THOUGHTS? ARE THESE THE TRAGEDY THAT WE AS HUMANS HAVE? THE THOUGHT ITSELF THAT WE HAVE IN HAND IS UNCONTAINABLE AS IF OUR THOUGHT HAS ITS OWN THINKING THEN IN THE END WE FIND OURSELVES BEING CHASED BY OUR OWN THOUGHTS…. WRITTEN AND CREATED BY: VALERIE MAY M. CRUZ UP DILIMAN BA HISTORY AUGUST 27, 2004

WHENEVER I NEED THE HEAVENLY FATHER I CLOSE MY EYES AND PUT MY PALMS TOGETHER I CALL ON HIS NAME AND NOTHING ELSE MATTER AND I TALK TO HIM IN THE POWER OF PRAYER IT HEALS MY WOUNDED HEART AND IT GIVES ME A BRAND NEW START AND IT GIVES My LIFE A SPARK WHENEVER I AM LOST IN THE DARK WHENEVER I SUFFER FROM MOCKERY PRAYER MAKES ME HEAR MELODY WHENEVER I AM LEAD INTO FALLACY IT SHOWS ME THE WAY TO HONESTY WHENEVER MY SKIES ARE GRAY AND MY HAERT IS FULL OF SORROW AND DISMAY AND WHENEVER I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY I CALL ON HIS HOLY NAME AND PRAY Written and created by: VALERIE MAY MONTEMAYOR CRUZ

THERE IS ONE PLACE THAT I ALWAYS DREAM OF BEYOND THE BLUE SKIES, BENEATH THE CLOUDS THAT ARE SO SOFT I ALWAYS WONDER WHAT THIS PLACE IS MADE OF THE RAINBOW IN THE SKY IS WHAT I ALWAYS THINK OF DIFFERENT COLORS THAT ARE PAINTED IN THE SKY THAT ALWAYS MAKE ME SAY, I WISH I COULD FLY IT MAKES MY SORROWS AND FRUSTRATIONS GO AWAY AND GIVES ME A NEW MEANINGFUL AND COLORFUL DAY IT SPARKLES AND SHINE UNDER THE BRIGHT YELLOW SUNHINE AGAINST THE SUN THAT FLOATS LIKE A YELLOW LIME EVERY MOMENT WILL BE TREASURED WITHOUT FEELING THE PRESENCE OF TIME SOMETHING THAT I CAN’T OWN BUT I WISH COULD BE MINE

TODAY WILL BECOME YESTERDAY TOMORROW WHAT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT DAY NOBODY KNOWS THE SEED THAT YOU HAVE PLANTED WILL SOON GROW CHERISH EVERY MOMENT AND GO WITH THE FLOW LEAD YOUR OWN LIFE, YOU HOLD YOUR OWN CLOCK MOVE FORWARD, DO NOT BE STUCK LIKE A ROCK THE SUN WILL SET BUT SOON WILL RISE TIME PASSES BY RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES YOUR DREAMS LIE ON YOUR HANDS YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN CASTLE OF SAND OPEN YOUR EYES TO A CLEARER VIEW THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE PROFOUND AND NEW YOU ARE A HUMAN WITH SO MUCH CAPACITY YOU KNOW THE MEANING OF DIGNITY AND INTEGRITY YOU KNOW HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE GOOD FROM BAD BECAUSE YOU RE CRATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD EVERYBODY IS GIVEN THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME TO BE KNOWN AND FAMOUS, THE OPPURTUNITY TO SHINE THE TIME TO LEARN FROM MISTAKES, TO BE DOWN FOE A WHILE BUT AFTER ALL THAT, YOU AR BOUND TO TRAVEL A THOUSAND MILE “TIME IS GOLD”, WHAT PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY IF YOU ARE YOUNG, ENJOY BEING YOUTH AND PLAY LOOK AT THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE AND DO NOT BE DISMAY FOR THERE W...