It was Middle America that voted. All of the winners look like cast members of Carrie.

As to those who did not win, they simply belong to other, horror movies.

Brief cloudburst over Cubao.

Back from jalan-jalan.

Got exactly what I wanted, and am very pleased.

In the 1960s, when a person was hired on a contractual basis, his salary was actually BIGGER than the salary of a regular employee.

Going jalan-jalan to pay our phone bill--and perhaps buy something for my mah jong oracle set.

Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in Barangay Kaunlaran. Last year a brass band did rounds for donations. This year an entire Zumba team is doing rounds for donations.

If people must sing for their supper, what happens when they can no longer sing?

We need to get rid of the door-to-door mentality.

The Filipino has a liberated spirit, but he is not an emancipated citizen.

At least, not yet.

https://mailchi.mp/singnet/live-laugh-and-love-with-theatreworks-this-20182019-season?e=a5730cc758

Worked an hour on eighth glaze on one painting.

Contractual labor, not poverty, is the form of slavery that will lead to revolution.

Every prankster ends up being an object of resentment.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is strung with green and yellow banners.

Calling it a day for painting.

Worked an hour on seventh glaze on one painting. Waiting for first layer on other painting to dry.

The April leaf falls off my planner.

Dinner in M.'s cafe with Aubrey and R.

So far I like the spicy, barbecued buffalo wings and the fried, dory fillet with tartar sauce.

The final objective of Labor should really be to get all employers to provide all their retirees a comfortable, monthly pension for the rest of their lives.

I am scandalized that many retirees I know of have to continue to scrounge for jobs.

Never accept group members who come to you with their personal ambitions.

It is when you try to control others that you are in for big disappointments.

Be an artist only because you enjoy doing what you do as an artist, and never to prove yourself to anyone.

Worked an hour on sixth glaze on one painting and construction lines and first layer on the other.

Worked an hour on fifth glaze on one painting.

First month into my Painting Year since my birthday in March, and I already have five, new, finished paintings.

Lunch alone.

Then worked an hour on fourth glaze on one painting and underpainting on another. Will commence construction lines on the latter piece once the underpainting is dry.

The sky is a canvas primed with titanium white.

Good noon, Cubao!

Home alone. Aubrey at university.

After this painting project I'll definitely watch the Grimm set and the Ghost Whisperer set that my sister Sylvia sent me from Sydney. Possibly in June.

Worked an hour on third glaze on one painting and thirteenth glaze on the other.

The painting with three glazes might have to take as much as 30 - 40 glazes in all.

The painting with thirteen glazes is finished. I am setting it aside and, since the first painting still has a long way to go, I will set up a new canvas beside it.

Dinner at M.'s cafe with Aubrey and R.

Aubrey and R. back from Gateway, and studying upstairs. They have school tomorrow.

Worked an hour on second glaze on one painting and twelfth glaze on the other.

Home alone.

Aubrey and R. went to Gateway.

Worked an hour on first glaze on one painting and eleventh glaze on the other.

Two more cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Lunch at home with Aubrey.

Waiting for fifteenth layer on one painting to dry before glazing.

Worked an hour on tenth glaze on the other painting.

Worked an hour on fifteenth layer on one painting and ninth glaze on the other.

Two more cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a necklace of faceted topaz.

Angelique, CatCat, J., and Ashraf are upstairs--either already asleep or sitting up for their 4:00 AM pickup to go to a beach resort in the north and afterward to Baguio City. Aubrey has classes on Monday and so cannot join them.

Thought of painting another hour, but it's past 11:00 PM and I'd rather snuggle in bed to read another chapter from _The Cat Who Said Cheese_.

Yesterday and today were too eventful for a retiree and a hermit like me. I'm surprised that I was even able to sneak in regular hours of painting. Might do some later or just hang loose.

An option for me is have a vodka night in my captain's cabin bedroom.

Ashraf usually takes a long walk after dinner. There is nothing to see in Sitio Catacutan, however, unless one's third eye is open. I finally recommended that he and CatCat walk to the Arayat Market area, which should be interesting for Ashraf to see. I am sure our local markets look like the marketplaces in Egypt.

Pork-free dinner at home with Angelique, Aubrey, CatCat, J., and Ashraf. It was interesting to have six at table for a change.

Worked an hour on fourteenth layer on one painting and eighth glaze on the other.

Washed twenty-six brushes.

Ashraf gave me a black djellaba (I'd always wanted one) made in Syria (exotic provenance), two more decorative sheets of papyrus with decorative images (he produces them), and two bars of chocolate.

Worked an hour on thirteenth layer on one painting and seventh glaze on the other.

Your Messenger message:

"Sir do you sense that I have a bad karma in love? I was involved with a married man during my teenage years though I did not know that he was married when he was just courting me

"I haven't had a relationship in 10 years. Not sure why. Sadness usually engulfs me and I have this drowning feeling most of the time which pushes me to think of suicidal thoughts but my daughter draws me back to reality

"The thought of her suddenly becoming an orphan keeps me sane"


My reply:

Hello ___!

What I see is that you have a subconscious sense of self-sabotage due to a fear of having history repeat itself. As a result, you tend to be attracted to men who are not attracted to you--latent homosexuals among them--for two reasons: 1) You like challenging yourself to play men who are impossible to get, and 2) Your low self-esteem wants you to keep proving to yourself, again and again, that the perfect man does not exist.

I advise you to seek counsel from a wise woman or a mature, female psychologist. I have always been brutally frank, and I will be frank enough to say that this issue does not interest me at all. I don't like giving advice to men and women on the subjects of love, relationships, marriages, and separations. So, kindly refrain from bringing such problems to my table in the future.

Thank you, and I wish you the best of luck.

https://www.facebook.com/tHEATREwORKS.Sg/?hc_ref=ARQKlnpbykCfwWAoKisHHrZw6BDqYTkk6yhJlVhQp6hcI3qx0TishOgXvBciLGdVljg&fref=nf

Yes, I am conducting a playwriting workshop in Singapore July 2 - 10, 2018. The workshop is titled "From Dreams To Drama", and will incorporate dreamwork and dream analysis as writing exercises. Participants are required to sign up a month ahead, join a facebook group on the subject, open a dream journal, and send me entries via e-mail before I arrive in Singapore.

Two more cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Back from jalan-jalan. Paid our cable bill, bought two packs of noodles and a pack of joss sticks, and couldn't resist buying four big tubes of oil paint.

Bumped into Angelique, Aubrey, CatCat, and Ashraf in the supermarket. The family picked up Ashraf at the airport, had lunch out, and bought halal food.

Ashraf is staying with us overnight because the family is going to a beach resort tomorrow, and then they go on to Baguio City. We didn't want Ashraf to see Metro Manila only.

Two cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Jalan-jalan afternoon. Paying our cable bill and buying a pack of joss sticks.

August dropped by but the gallery was closed and we couldn't go there.

"Hi sir Tony

"I wanna ask po sna s interpretation ng pnaginip ko. Ngising ako knina s panaginip ko

"i wanna ask whats the meaning of my dream regarding of a baby...nanaginip ako ng baby ,Nanganak daw ang mother ko ng 2 na mgkasunod. Kinausap ko mother ko why nganak p cxa n matanda n cxa. At may hawak akong panty n lace sbi ko daw panty ng baby yun at sabi ng friend ko ngwwork sa dubai sulatan /pirmahan ko ang panty Tas yung panty isinasayaw ko s ere. Can u please help me what's the meaning of this dream?"


My reply:

Hello ______!

In the Freudian context, this is a wish-fulfillment dream. It is your mother who gives birth rather than you only because of the defense mechanism displacement; your Ego cannot accept the image of yourself as pregnant. Your subconscious wish, however, should not be taken as the reflection of a desire to have an actual baby. It is more appropriately the desire to produce creative works, see a big project through, or prove to the world that you have a proactive and constructive mind.

The lace panty is equivalent to a laurel of victory that you aim to flaunt and gain admirers by once your baby is delivered.

The two babies, to me, indicate that your mind is torn between two values. Success entails a change in lifestyle. Along with prospective success, you would like to retain the usual life you have been living.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is a whiteboard on which you record your dreams.

I observe that rising prices and being short of money are making people ornery.

Don't take medication for insomnia. Try just lying in bed in the dark with your eyes closed, clear your mind, and do nothing until sunrise. Even if you do not fall asleep your body and your brain will have sufficiently rested.

There is vile competition among the reporters.

Beneficence is the result of having plenty.

As such, everyone can be compassionate, but not everyone can be beneficent.

Broadcasters are still pronouncing "drugs" as "drags".

Now they are pronouncing "gun ban"as "gan ban".

Old dogs do not learn new tricks because of old habits.

The displaced will cry out in hunger and find themselves on the verge of despair.

Huge problems do not always require huge solutions.

It is all right to fail your fans, but it is not all right to fail yourself.

Superficial pleasures do more harm than good.

Tony Perez's Art of War: I never Block people. I want them to CONTINUE seeing how much I am progressing.

You can be happy anywhere you choose to be as long as you find the secret keys to unlocking the doors to that happiness.

Alone in my favorite corner in M.'s cafe, with spicy barbecued buffalo wings and a light beer. Memories. This is where I wrote my novel _Cubao Ilalim: Unang Aklat_ in longhand two years ago.

Beyond this fire exit in my captain's cabin bedroom, the compound driveway. While I am sitting at my computer I love to hear the conversations of passersby outside--secrets being shared, misunderstandings, arguments, problems at work, domestic matters, hopes and dreams.

M.'s cafe officially reopened this evening. Their business hours are 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM.

The werewolf might mosey over for a beer and something to go with it later.

Dinner at home with Angelique, CatCat, and J.

Aubrey still at her university activity.

Dusk falls on Cubao.

Lolling in my captain's cabin bedroom again after a day of painting. In bed watching local news.

Should read another chapter from _The Cat Who Said Cheese_.

Worked an hour on twelfth layer on one painting and sixth glaze on the other.

Now this layer and this glaze must dry.

Calling it a day for painting. Will resume tomorrow.

Worked an hour on eleventh layer on one painting and fifth glaze on the other.

Worked an hour on tenth layer on one painting and fourth glaze on the other.

Angelique off to the salon, Aubrey to the family dentist's and then to a school activity, CatCat to the market to buy ingredients for a pasta dinner this evening.

Home alone.

As for me, my day began with the arrival of a nice delivery item I'd been expecting.

Two cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Lunch at home with Angelique, Aubrey, and CatCat.

The sun is emblazoned on the king's golden shield.

Good noon, Cubao!

Slept eleven hours last night.

Dreamt that I went to a shop in Farmers Garden. A saleswoman approached me and said that a pair of Balinese masks that Aubrey ordered just arrived. I checked them out, and other masks she had as well, but they were souvenir masks made of papier-mache, and I said that I would buy only handcarved, wooden masks.

The werewolf crossed the street to the burger stand.

Dinner at home with Angelique and CatCat. Aubrey and a friend had dinner out.

Birthday celebration ongoing in M.'s cafe.

Ninth layer and third glaze must dry completely.

Calling it a day for painting.

Worked an hour on ninth layer on one painting.

Worked an hour on eighth layer on one painting. Waiting for the glaze on the other painting to dry completely.

Worked an hour on seventh layer on one painting and third glaze on the other.

I do not know you + You have no Friends to show + You have no Photos to show = I will not accept your Friend Request.

Finished reading another chapter from The Cat Who Said Cheese.

Worked an hour on sixth layer on one painting and second glaze on the other.

Lunch at home with Angelique and CatCat. Aubrey at university.

Worked an hour on fifth layer on one painting and first glaze on the other.

A famous woman says goodbye.

April 10, 2017

I now use Chinese calligraphy brush holders for all of my brushes.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi, Sir Tony. I just wanna share with you that I dreamt of __ ______. Usually nagpaparamdam talaga sya pag malapit na Ang birthday nya, May 1. In my dream today, parang nasa tv show sya ng Sesame Street as one of the characters, Ernie and Bert with __________ as his partner na nasa video file ni _____n for me to upload daw sa fb to greet him on his birthday. Another one is a clip of him joining parang Mr. _______ na naka trunks sya At super fit and super happy. I’m forever hoping that he’s in a good place now. I pray for his soul every night. Just sharing. Thanks po"


My reply:

Hello _______________!

Yes, he is in a good place. If nothing can be deleted from cyberspace, then no one can be separated from God.

The concept of "hell" is introduced to us in the Old Testament as a place called Gehenna. Very few theologians know that Gehenna was an actual place in the desert where the Hebrews (and presumably other people) stashed their trash and their waste, somewhat like Smokey Mountain and Payatas. It was, naturally, an unpleasant place to be in. It stank of "fire and brimstone" because most of the trash combusted due to the intense heat. Many outcasts, including lepers, lived there. Hell to the ancient Hebrews, then, was a place no one wanted to be in.

I believe that, if fathers continue to love, defend, and be devoted to their sons who are criminals, how much more so God, who is the Father of us all?

When __ was alive he yearned for so much affirmation, affection, friendship, and love. All of those, he always had from God, though he did not always see it.

He still wishes to be remembered with those gifts. Light a candle especially for him on his birthday if you can.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is a measure of white cloth being cut on a dressmaker's table.

Your Messenger message:

"If you may allow sir, i would like to ask what is the meaning of my dream the other night.
I was surprised to see my husband happy and alive. I asked him, 'why are you here? I thought you died already' he said, no, i didn't died, it was just a joke... and he laughed. It seemed like it was just our usual conversation...we were just having fun. He looks so happy. I always dream of him specially when feel so down and helpless.."

My reply:

Hello _________!

Your husband wants you to know that death entails physical separation but NOT spiritual separation. While on a higher plane, he is still very much with you. You may still talk to him about your day, about what you are hoping for, and how you are solving your problems. (However, do this when you are alone and when no one else is listening.) He will not respond as he did when he was alive, of course. You will feel him in your heart.

A relaxing night. Had a bedtime snack, and now watching TV. Might read another chapter from The Cat Who Said Cheese later. 

Close-up of Spandex fabric and close-up of woven fabric.

It is easy to wash oil paint off Spandex even a day after because the paint does not get trapped between warp and woof, which woven fabric has.

Photos from the Internet

Calling it a day for painting.

I love my Spandex shorts. I shall be painting in my Spandex shorts forever. Whenever oil paint gets on them, all I have to do is scrub off everything with laundry detergent and a toothbrush.

Worked an hour on fourth layer on my paintings.

Worked an hour on third layer on my paintings.

Dinner alone. Angelique and J. off to have dinner out and watch a movie, Aubrey out with friends, and CatCat still upstairs.

Touch the sun. Touch the rain.

Not every true winner is declared the winner.

He spent a lot of money and hired people to protest, all to no avail.

Cacti in front of your house keeps out intruders.

Working hard is no assurance of success, but it is an indication that you did your best, and that is good enough.

It is the drum that keeps time.

No person soars always and forever.

You have to shed your personal biases before you can be truthful to yourself.

Every nightmare is potentially a numinous dream in disguise.

The flower man buzzed by. Bought two strands of white flowers. Placed them on the shivalingam and libated clean water.

Worked an hour on second layer on my paintings.

The werewolf crossed the street to buy a sugar-free guyabano milk shake.

Set my traditional, annual, coffee date with someone in my Friends List whom I've never met before.

Advised him to come alone. That usually rattles them, but part of the thrill is the fear factor in meeting up with Hannibal Lecter.

Actually she was eliminated because her face scrunched up too much and too often.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi! My husband died last ____________. I have so many questions left unanswered....after his burial, a dreamt of him. That day, i was so down and depressed and i cried a lot, i talked to him. I said i need answers and if possible i need a hug and merely his presence could help. That early morning I dreamt of him.. it was like in a huge room with nothing at all. I was inside, he opened the door and went in and hugged me sooo tight, i was crying in my dream. He said sorry a lot of times, he was rubbing my back as if he is comforting me, he was talking to me but i cant remember anything except he said to let go and that we will meet again someday. It looks like he is going to travel. I woke up catching my breath and crying.... I dont know what does this mean..."


My reply:

Hello ___________!

You were blessed with this beautiful dream. It is classified as a literal dream. Your husband indeed came to you and hugged you. He was apologizing not for anything wrong that he had done but for leaving you in the physical world. You perceived him as being about to travel because he is going (has gone) to a higher plane.

Contact and communication do not stop there. Your husband will continue to be your spirit guide, though he knows that you are strong enough to take care of yourself and others without him by your side.

From a psychological perspective, your husband was so close to you when he was physically alive that his persona became integrated with your psyche. That is why you dream of him often.

Remember him always. Place a framed photo of him on your altar/ancestral table.

Life and love do not cease after death.

Worked an hour on first layer on my paintings.

It is quite difficult for everyone to idolize someone who insists on looking like Ursula in Walt Disney's Little Mermaid.

Ursula is a villainess type.

Worked an hour on construction lines.

First layer commences soon.

Lunch at home with Angelique and CatCat.

Two cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Sorry--if you do NOT want me to Post your dream, I cannot help you. I Post not only for you but for everyone in my Friends List.

I am NOT your private psychotherapist.

I don't think he will win in a bigoted country.

Your Messenger message:

"magandang umaga po sir tony. tanong ko lang po ang ibigsabihin nito po. sa panaginip ko po, parang pupunta po ako sa isang room. tapos parang gumagalaw po paligid ko (nahihilo) tapos inaayos ko po balance ko. ramdam ko na may humahawak sa akin sa likod. pero ramdam ko kasi sa paningin ko biglang nagbablack na tapos ramdam kong babaksak na ako, kaya sinuport ko ulo ko para if ever bumaksak (tho alam ko po na panaginip) tapos po nung bumaksak na ko tapos paraw nawalan ng malay bigla na po akong nagising. salamat po"


My reply:

Hello _______!

This isn't exactly the best time in your life. Your dream indicates discontent in your workplace. It is possible that your job is exerting complete control over you, and that you are no longer certain who your real friends are.

Just relax and let things happen. All misery is temporary.

Be around and with the person you really love.

Develop a hobby that has nothing to do with your work.

Take a vacation.

Cloudburst and heavy downpour on Cubao.

Slept nine hours last night.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a huge kettle of fragrant soup.

Dinner at home with Angelique, Aubrey, and CatCat.

Don't feel like doing any more construction lines tonight; will resume tomorrow. I'll just loll in bed and watch TV.

Washed 39 brushes to be exact, and four palette knives. It took me a full hour to do so.

Was able to commence construction lines on one painting.

Wearing Charlie Gold by Revlon of London.

This year, through the month of March 2019, I am practically living in my studio rather than in my captain's cabin bedroom.

Finished underpainting on third batch of canvases.

Will commence construction lines tomorrow.

Lunch at home with Angelique and CatCat. Aubrey at university.

Worked an hour on thirty-sixth glaze on my painting.

This painting is now finished.

Must rest a bit before setting up more canvases on my easels.

I'm sorry, I am available only via door-to-door shipment.

Trust me, it does NOT make me miss out on anything. I continue to be a prolific artist whether I am at home or somewhere else.

To a true artist there is no such thing as "overthinking" because his mind and his heart are always in attunement.

"Overthinking" actually strengthens your powers of observation by keeping yourself mentally alert and prepared for the unexpected.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is an overheated jackhammer.

Worked an hour on thirty-fifth glaze on my painting.

I think, though I am not sure, that this painting will be completely finished tomorrow.

CatCat home from visiting her family in Masantol.

Dinner at home with Angelique, Aubrey, and CatCat.

Worked an hour on thirty-fourth glaze on my painting.

Worked an hour on thirty-third glaze on my painting.

Worked an hour on thirty-second glaze on my painting.

Worked an hour on thirty-first glaze on my painting.

Lunch at home with Angelique. Aubrey at university.

More atchays disguised as academicians. No wonder they produce a lot of atchay graduates. I should stop congratulating them indiscriminately.

Tony Perez's Art of War: The more they laugh at you and try to put you down, the more you should strive to rise in glory.

Popularity is never an indication of good quality.

If a damaged item is still beautiful, do not dispose of it. Damage is sometimes an interesting part of an object's history.

Tony Perez's Art of War: Pride is always your enemy's downfall.

Like his Posts. Give him superlative Comments. Send him flattering Icons. Make him feel like the greatest, and he will ride that boat to Scylla and Charybdis. 

Always look beyond your feelings.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is a wooden palette laden with warm colors.

Worked an hour on thirtieth glaze on my painting.

Worked an hour on twenty-ninth glaze on my painting.

Dinner at home with Angelique.

Aubrey and her classmate took their dinner in Aubrey's bedroom. They are working on a Theology project.

Worked an hour on twenty-eighth glaze on my painting.

Three-hour, deep tissue massage.

Back from the center. Paid our water bill and did minor groceries.

They eliminated those who were acting like stars without having achieved stardom yet.

Weeping is like praying. Do so briefly, and always in private.

A jalan-jalan day, but I think I'll go after lunch.

The Philippines has been creating too many movie and TV stars for its own good, forgetting that its land and population are tiny as compared to the U.S. and India. As a result, there are not enough shows and roles for the existent thousands of local performers. Many of them are compelled to change careers, fail bitterly and miserably in the face of showbiz politics, or plummet into depression and suicide on their way to oblivion. 

Good morning, Cubao!

The clouds are bouquets of white roses.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi sir Tony.. I had a dream a few days ago and it bothered me.

"It was raining very very hard and there was a cheering band outside the building I was in. When I stepped out, they hit the drums so hard and my heart rate started to rise. I remember being all sweaty and scared when I woke up.

"My sister woke me up and she said the position of my body was odd. I had my hands on my chest and my legs were so straight.

"I also..."

My reply:

Hello _______!

You experienced an anxiety dream.

The rain and the cheering band present images of irony and counterpoint; they do not make sense together. They represent split tendencies, split directions, and split values in your life at the present time.

Your body position indicates that, in possibly a nanosecond before the dream images came in, you experienced astral travel. Do you remember everything that happened before you had the dream? Is it not possible that you attended one of my night classes?

My advice to you at this time is to concern yourself only with the things you can improve and control. Let other members of your family take care of the rest. Do not take on additional burdens you are unable to bear anyway.

While developing your outer life, look inward and develop your inner life.

I'll send you electronic stuff to read up on during your summer break. In the meantime study well and simply try to obtain high grades. That will be good enough for everyone.

My spirit guide B.L. identified the reason why my body clock has been off-kilter. It wasn't my painting activity. It was the Shiva lightning wand that I left behind my headboard leading to the northeast, where R. resides, because I promised him that I would visit him as a silver wolf some nights ago.

I forgot to take away the wand the following morning. I've now returned it to its glass etagere.

No wonder, when Regina came to give me a massage this evening, she said that someone recently "borrowed" me, and that she had to take "me" back into my body.

Your Messenger message:

"We have always visitions my home back in ______________.. a cat or a loud bird. I hear it a lot. One time when my sister came back from the hospital this bird like creature was so loud and a frenzy sratching the window. It was just uncontrollable, it wants yo get in. Now a new fellow a cat is visiting the roof top almost everyday. One time a public transportation with passengers ran away because they saw a floating lady passed by the street to the tree outside our house. The floating lady might be the cat or what? I donylt know? I hope you could help us. Thanks"


My reply:

Hello _________!

Animals are territorial creatures, and will seek new locations from time to time to stake as their own.

As to the "floating lady", she is the resident elemental of the tree.

No, there is no connection between the elemental and the cat. Elementals consider animals as lowly creatures.

When elementals need to send forth heralds to indicate their arrival, they usually send forth insects such as fireflies, butterflies, beetles, cockroaches, wasps, ants, flies, mosquitoes, and the like.

Your Messenger message:

"Dear sir tony what is the best way to deal with wakwak"


My reply:

Hello _______!

"Wakwak" and "tiktik" are synonymous. Therefore, having buntot-pagi inside the room remains an effective solution.

A mage will take on not the student who is most willing to learn his lessons, but the student who is most receptive to learning his lessons.

Successful respite; haven't picked up a paintbrush in hours.

Dinner at home with Aubrey.

Angelique and J. are watching a movie and having dinner out.

Feeling much better after Regina's massage using cobra bile oil, but now I am CERTAIN that the oil is best used for shapeshifting.

When I was in college, about four decades ago, non-creative and non-imaginative organizations would engage in fund-raising projects and train their student officers to sell tickets to every Tom, Dick, and Harry. These ticket sellers would stand in building corners and in corridors and accost everyone to buy a ticket. They were trained to turn on the charm, to be seductive, and, when a student happened to say that he had to money to buy a ticket, they would say out loud to embarrass him, "Ano? Wala kang pera?"

Those are the ABCs of bullying and of drug pushing. In atchay parlance, it is called "pangingikil", and, yes, it all begins in college.

I wonder if this is still being done. I also wonder where those students are today.

One thing is for sure. They must still be "selling tickets".

A mage goes into seclusion for only one reason, which is to build up greater power.

Regina visited and gave me a healing massage on my back, hands, and feet.

Books are personal items. They mean the most only to the persons who buy them, read them, and keep them. Do not amass them indiscriminately only for the junk man to take them away for kindling after you die.

All too often I see artists make paintings as though they were designs for Tarot cards.

A sanctuary is a place to create major works in solitude.

Beat time rather than have time beat you.

If I don't feel like doing something, I don't.

The problem of MacGyver is really one of television scriptwriting. The characters have no sense of urgency even when they are leaping about like a bottleful of grasshoppers. In the midst of  life-or-death situations they melodramatically pause, reminisce the past, reflect on their sad childhood verging on dragging monologues, rib each other, and even crack jokes. Still hopelessly 20th-century commercial writing techniques.

Trying to force myself to stop painting for two days. Must get my body clock to retirement-normal.

Napped 10:30 AM, woke up 3:30 PM.

A very late lunch alone.

Waiting for Aubrey to come back from the family dentist's.

I have to wait for this painting to dry completely before proceeding.

Worked an hour on twenty-seventh glaze on my painting.

Two cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

The fairy community on our compound is located in the dragon tree--a union of ficus and peepal--in front of my captain's cabin bedroom on the ground floor and Aubrey's bedroom on the upper floor. That is why, on mellow afternoons, a shower of golden light dust descends from it to bless passersby and, at least once a month, late into the night, very soft rondalla music can be heard when the fairies are celebrating. Sometimes the music seems to be coming from the branches of the tree. More often it seems to be coming from the plant box in front of my sister Alice's house; I have often wondered why her plants are always lush and unusually well-groomed. When I step out into the driveway the music immediately stops; when I go back inside my bedroom and lie in bed once again, it resumes.

I wish to astral-travel in my dreams and attend one of those celebrations.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun oversleeps beneath a sheet of clouds.

Calling it a day for painting.

Will resume tomorrow, but this painting is as good as done.

Worked an hour on twenty-sixth glaze on my painting.

Dinner at home with Angelique, Aubrey, CatCat, and J. 

Worked an hour on twenty-fifth glaze on my painting.

Two more cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Worked an hour on twenty-fourth glaze on my painting.

Some of M.'s shots from the reopening of his cafe. The glass windows are still papered, though.

Worked an hour on twenty-third glaze on my painting.

Never seek to get married to a man or a woman who has stayed single for too long. No matter how much he/she loves you, he/she will resent the major change in lifestyle, and you will always be perceived as the negative factor.

Worked an hour on twenty-second glaze on my painting.

Custard Day

We had 24 llaneras during the time of Miranda's Cove but found only six of them this morning.

Lunch at home with Angelique, Aubrey, CatCat, and J.

Worked an hour on twenty-first glaze on my painting.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun strews magical seeds on the earth that will grow in the rainy season.

Had an early dinner alone so that I could paint.

Angelique and J. arrived from college, and CatCat and they are now having dinner.

Aubrey with friends watching a movie and having dinner out.

Now I'm done painting for the day. I could actually paint some more but I don't see the point in overworking myself, and I want a full night's sleep.

Worked an hour on twentieth glaze on my painting.

Worked an hour on nineteenth glaze on my painting.

Two-hour, afternoon nap.

Lunch with Angelique and CatCat. Aubrey at university.

Worked an hour on nineteenth glaze on my painting.

Walked to one of the Sitio Catacutan hardware stores to buy two bottles of solvent for cleaning my painting tools. (Cubao was lumber and hardware central in the 1950s--and still is, despite many attempts to glamorize it.)

Washed 20 brushes and four palette knives.

Worked an hour on eighteenth glaze on my paintings.

One of the two paintings is finished. The other will have to receive more glazes.

Worked an hour on seventeenth glaze on my paintings.

Two cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Must unFriend ten inactive people in my List in order to take in ten new friends from Kiev and Ukraine.

Have fun being psychic, but do not fall into the trap of making it your career. It has a very low ceiling. It is also a winding road that leads to a dead end. It will make you neither famous nor rich. That is because its purpose is to develop your inner life and your inner strength, and nothing more.

Always remember my favorite catch phrase: I never wanted to be Batman, but I always wanted to be Bruce Wayne.

Batman cannot stop being Bruce Wayne, but Bruce Wayne can stop being Batman at any time. 

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun leans back on his golden throne.

Tony Perez's Art of War: Know the mild attack and the deadly attack. Both attacks are comprised of three different magical words each.

Warding (shielding a person, a house, a room, a container, or an object) is the magical exercise one should frequently use and be adept in.

There is a very thin line between dealing with elementals and dealing with extraterrestrials.

You are protected by at least one elemental if you hear an inexplicable sharp rap or knock on your wall at a certain time of the night. However, do not demean or abuse his/her or their friendship.

Dinner at home with Angelique, Aubrey, and CatCat.

Now this glaze must dry, and so I will have to resume painting tomorrow.

Worked an hour on sixteenth glaze on my paintings.

Worked an hour on fifteenth glaze on my paintings.

Worked an hour on fourteenth glaze on my paintings.

Lunch at home with Angelique and CatCat. Aubrey at university.

One of my first, practical realizations of the 21st century is that, as an artist, all I need is a desktop computer and a point-and-shoot camera--and NO OTHER gadgets.

Everything else is produced by my mind, my heart, and my hands.

Two cups very black, Kalinga coffee that my son Chito bought in Baguio for me.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a steam iron pressing laundry on the highway.

Tony Perez's Art of War: Don't just impress your enemies. Wow them and make them wish that they were you.

Found two models online and asked them to send me photos in specified poses. Will see what happens, and if this works.

Ever since I retired, when I am writing or painting I no longer know what day it is.

It is good feng shui to have a miniature model of a staircase or a stepladder on your desk.

The commercial break is time to go to the bathroom or prepare a snack.

The coward evangelizes in a community of converts.

Worked an hour on thirteenth glaze on my paintings.

Dinner at home with Aubrey and CatCat.

Angelique and Cath having dinner out; Cath sleeping over tonight.

Wearing Charlie Gold by Revlon of London.

Happy Birthday, Christine!

Your birthday messages:

1) Always keep your vision of your family's future in mind.
2) Do things right rather than make up afterward for what is wrong.
3) Progress is better than romance.
4) Time away from your loved ones is precious time lost.
5) Convert the dead spots in your house to vibrant spots.

Worked an hour on twelfth glaze on my paintings.

Worked an hour on eleventh glaze on my paintings.

Lunch at home with Angelique and CatCat. Aubrey at university.

"Here's what happens when you unfriend someone

"Tony, it looks like you recently unfriended someone. This means that they'll no longer be able to see the posts you share only with your friends, and you won't be able to see theirs. Don't worry, they won't know that you've unfriended them.

"— The Facebook Help Team"

What does "they won't know that you've unfriended them" mean? I still show up to them as a Friend?