Emma and Kristel: Mother and Daughter in a Moment of Meditation

San Vicente Ilocos Sur Feature Series

Emma and Kristel: 

Mother and Daughter in a Moment of Meditation

“Mother and daughter - the epitome of human relationship, the core of humanity, and the living spring of unending love.”

A respite from work and school at the Rotor Family Residence, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, August 26, 2019

Verses and Photos by Dr Abe V Rotor

avrotor.blogspot.com

Indoor floor-to-wall mural of a pristine watershed painted by the author, 2018.  

An hour a day, a day of respite,

of memories past coming to life,

new life rekindled, recharged,

focused to new hope to dream

again - the best life could give. 

 

Mother and daughter pose in a make-believe indoor mural of Nature 

Only love can save the world, sages say;
Nature's shrinking fast in the hands of man,
blindly aware he's not forever here to stay;

creatures orphaned, man looks up to sigh -

whatever happened to his home in the sun,

save some walls of art to remember by.  

Ebony colonial bed of three generations graces the former 
master's bedroom of the Rotor family residence. The bed 
brings back memories in nostalgic reminiscences.

A sanctuary of joy, 

pain and sorrow, too;

lonely at times may be,

but refreshed tomorrow. 

Day after day it awaits

through all the years,

in a span of birth to death

in good cheers and tears.

Memories don't vanish, 

even as life goes on and on;

for the child once before,

one day returns 
to this throne. 

In our postmodern living we are moving away from the natural world which guaranteed our success in evolution as a species. Then, rationality brought us out of the biblical Paradise in search of Utopia. 

We have been travelers searching for this ultimate destination. Even only a moment of rest and pleasant abandon - short as it may - that we are free, free from the cares and worries of a cruel world.

Homage to Apo Resurreccion, an 18th century life size 

icon of the Risen Christ.

Redeemer of our postmodern world,

We come to You, our Recourse

To find peace and accord 

On life’s rugged course.

“Gaze at life in Me the second time, 

whatever the past had been; 

a new beginning is what matters now, 

most beautiful you’ve never seen.”

---------------

 “A daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be your best friend. 

A mother is the only person in the world, who can turn daughter’s worries and fears into happiness.” ~

Toddler - Keyhole to Growing Up (Markus going 3)

Toddler - Keyhole to Growing Up 
Everyone has a friend, but grandchildren; 
God-sent in age golden, that life has no end.

Dr Abe V Rotor   

Toddlers when the bed is upturned,

cave instinct, trench to hide; 

Jung's archetype often wondered, 

of life beneath and outside. 

Daddy's boy, bright as the sun,

and all the love and fun;

ephemeral the age in his arm,

'til weaning is no harm.   

Cable car ride, Honkong 2017
On a glass floor of a cable car, 

like flying or walking on water;

conquer height, space and gravity,

above all fear and anxiety.  

Are we there yet? Often asked again and again;

not yet little one, wait;

but early to ask ahead of others indeed a gain,

than those of little faith.       

Between two grandmas he's filled with love;

more than parents alone can give;

Confucius smiles from above to down below,

to see his creed well received.   

Large forehead and ears.

keen eyes, pursed lips,

tight jaw and tilted chin, say,

he is the man of tomorrow

today.

Independence is all we need to give, 

trust and confidence to a child;

like sheep on a meadow sans the shepherd,

to live life without a guide.  

At a Hong Kong restaurant 2017

Culinary art, visual expression of taste;

like humanities, expression of values,

crafts of the artisan at the grassroots,  

culture in different views. ~

Loafing or Idleness?

Loafing or Idleness?

"Loafing, the idleness of the young and bored;

To the old, inner peace and luxury." avr

Dr Abe V Rotor

Photos by Marlo R Rotor

Leisure under the coconut trees

Time out on a hammock

Life begins truly late when life had gone adrift,

On the path of retreat, to retrace life itself;

Like a balikbayan drawn by homing instinct, 

Seeking the good old days, whatever is left. 

Loafing, the idleness of the young and bored

To the old, inner peace and luxury;

Where wisdom is knowing less about the world, 

And knowing more of life, simple and free.~

Ruins on Mars

 Dr Abe V Rotor

"Ruins" on Mars.  Was there a civilization before, like ours? (Internet)

Ruins everywhere, I ask the sages: the Great Wall and old Greece
Stand they through time and ages, in Lamarckian idleness;
And if ruins are also on Mars, Darwinian evolution won't hold,
The Great Books and Humanity would deserve less to behold. ~

10 Book Manuscripts - A Harvest of Thoughts and Ideas with Nature

You are a potential author - write down your thoughts and ideas with Nature as your guide.

Yes, you can write a book, if fact many books in your lifetime. You are an author in your own right.  And it is your imprimatur.

  
 
 
 
 
Please visit avrotor.blogspot.com

The Eye in the Coral Reef

The Eye in the Coral Reef

Dr Abe V Rotor

The Eye in the Coral Reef, Acrylic Painting by the author 2015

The eye! The eye!

among the corals watching.

conscience of the sea,

over Homo sapiens fishing.

It never winks, it's alive,

guarding against man's folly,

whose eye, not of man,

disgraced guardian of the sea. ~

A Wall of Flowers 1

A Wall of Flowers

Dr Abe V Rotor

 Mural on canvas by the author

A wall I saw rising layer after layer as I grew older and older,

but never too high to keep me on one side; 

A wall that separated cities and countries and ideologies,  

but never did I settle down on one to abide.

A wall I left a long time ago, and wish it's still there standing, 

familiar of many stories, tears and laughters;

A wall of memories, each dot an event worth remembering.

Lo! a living wall of mosses, ferns and flowers. ~

A Wall of Flowers II

A Wall of Flowers II
By Dr Abe V Rotor

Dr Abe and Cecille Rotor at a hotel lobby against a  mural painting of flowers.

"Wall, if you are a mirror or you are a prison, 
which side is for the living, which one for the dead?"

Malunggay bark is remedy for wounds

Malunggay bark is remedy for wounds

 Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog

The bark of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) is an effective remedy for wounds inflicted by poisonous fish such as stonefish, Bangkok catfish (hito) and, samaral (malaga Ilk).

Scrape bark of malunggay and make a poultice (soft moist mass spread over the wound). You may use cloth or bandage to keep it in place. Remove when pain subsides. Get medical attention if wound is serious.

Malunggay has antiseptic antimicrobial properties, and refreshing effect. 

Malunggay poultice is also used on minor wounds and skin disorders, it relieves pain and discomfort.

 Acknowledgement: Photo at right from Internet

Practical pest control methods

Practical pest control methods
Dr Abe V Rotor

 Golden apple snail (Pomacea caniculata) is the number 

one pest of rice plants today in the Philippines. They lay 

pink eggs in clusters above the water level ensuring 

viability and high survival. 

1.  Snails (kuhol) are controlled with tubli, makabuhay and other plants.

Before the introduction of chemical pesticides our native kuhol was a good source of viand in the ricefield and seldom did it turn against growing rice plants. Almost simultaneously in the sixties the golden kuhol or apple snail (Pomacea caniculata) was introduced with the promise that it is a better gourmet, and that it could even be exported.  It did not turn out that way, and with the resistance this exotic mollusk developed having left behind its natural enemies, it emerged a maverick, now the number one pest of rice plants infesting two-thirds of our total lowland ricefield area of no less than two million hectares. Agriculturists have lately turned their attention to phytochemicals to control golden kuhol.  These are the plants they have confirmed to be effective.

·         Derris philippinensis (derris or tubli)

·         Manihot esculenta (cassava)

·         Chrysanthemum morifolium (chrysanthemum)

·         Capsicum anuum (pepper or siling labuyo)

·         Tinospora rhumpii (makabuhay) - Photo, below

·         Azideracta asiatica (Neem) 

Except for siling labuyo, the leaves and stems of any of these plants are either crushed or chopped finely and applied directly on the ricefield, controlling the water level up to three to four inches so as to allow the active ingredients to spread out and reach the pest in all of its stages. Where there are two or more of these plants growing in the area, farmers may use them in any combination, either alternately or simultaneously.

2. Incense rids chickens of lice.  It also calms them down. 

I learned this practice from my father when I was a farmhand. We raised native chickens on the range.  In the evening, we would occasionally smoke the fouls in their roasts under the house. “That would rid them of lice (gayamo’ Ilk),” my father assured me. “And pick a cull for tomorrow’s dinner,” he would add. 

I would sprinkle powdered incense into live charcoal and you could see the column of smoke rising and filling the roasting area.  You could hear the fowls cockle feebly, slowly loosen their feathers and pry their wings as if to allow the cloud of smoke to bathe them. Soon they are lulled to sleep or go into a kind of trance; you could pick them up without any sign of resistance. Without this calming power of incense, the slightest move you make on a roasting chicken would send it squawking in the night.~

Biological Control - Preying or praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) is the number one executioner in the insect world, a friend to farmers and gardeners. 

Are you tired? Bored? Hug a Bunny.

  Are you tired? Bored? Hug a Bunny.

Dr Abe V Rotor

If you feel blue, drained, or you just lack pep - hug a bunny, real or the stuff thing (like Mr. Bean). It is therapy.

If you are sick, bunny shares your pain and discomfort. It calms down your tension. Its gives you company and comfort. It never argues. It creates a quiet ambiance.

Bunny and Bunny Doll at home.

Bunny demands nothing from you but tender, loving care - TLC, the very things which you actually give to yourself.

And you are back to your feet and face the real world again.

Posted by Abe V. Rotor at 6:39 AM 

1 comments:

thepensieve said...

I used to not like bunnies, but after seeing the pictures and reading the article, I have developed a new sense of liking. :) The bunny looks sweet, and yes, it might really be a friend when you`re utterly depressed.

SEMANA, Clarissa
4ca5

March 8, 2011 2:05 PM 

Relief Painting: Natural and Primitive Art

Relief Painting: 

Natural and Primitive Art 

"Art knows no limit;

it is applied theory;

you can't go wrong,

real or imaginary." avr

Dr Abe V Rotor

Convergence of Butterflies in the Woods (AVRotor 2018)

Plato's Allegory of the Cave (18" x 19.5") AVRotor 2017 

Primitive art in Bordeaux France (16.5" x 23") AVRotor  2017 

Paint it, feel it,
knead, mold, sculpt, 
art knows no limit,
it is applied theory,
you can't go wrong,
real or imaginary.  


Paint Plato's cave 
of Allegory,
art of primitive man,
the Aztec, Mayan,
the Moon and Mars,
the deep and beyond.

Found a new school,
it's all yours alone,
independent and free,
original in concept, 
if your message's true 
and well meant. ~

"A Masterpiece of Time and Dust"

"A Masterpiece of Time and Dust" 
Dr Abe V Rotor 

Nymphaea emerging in a pond in acrylic by the author 2019 

It's an old glass pane left in a corner.

Why it bore a flower-like image!

masterpiece of time and dust together; 

     I'm stunned by the unknown Sage. ~

Shattered Peace - Painting sans Words

Shattered Peace -  Painting sans Words

Dr Abe V Rotor

Shattered Peace, AVR 2019

 x   x   x

How do you catch a monkey alive?

How do you  catch a monkey alive?
Dr Abe V Rotor 
Living with Nature School on Blog

Monkeys are clever, they just don't fall into a trap. Of course the quickest way to catch them alive is to shoot them with tranquilizer. But here is a simpler way, and humane at that.

Cynomolgus, or Crab-eating Macaques, imported from the Philippines to the US were found to be carrying filovirus.

Bore a small hole into a whole young coconut (buko), about an inch in diameter, or just enough for the monkey to insert its hands with outstretched fingers into the nut. Secure the nut with wire or rope among the trees where monkeys abound. Or any place they frequent looking for food.

A monkey comes, looks around, inserts its hand into the hole. Once its hand reaches the inside of the nut, it scoops the soft flesh and holds it into a tight fist. By so doing its hand gets stuck inside the nut. The monkey will not release its hold and will try to carry off the nut. Get the picture of a small fellow getting his fingers stuck into an oversize bowling ball.

The poor monkey tumbles, shrieks, and does everything possible to take the nut off, panicking in the process. But it can't think of releasing his fist. It soon gets exhausted.

"That's how stupid monkeys are," says my friend who has been a trapper since he was a boy. He and his father have been trapping live monkeys which they sell to laboratories in Manila. He admits monkeys are rare these days. Either they are getting few, or they are also becoming smart, too. I believe in both. The natural habitat of animals is being threatened by deforestation and pollution. On the other hand, animals, like the dog Pavlov used in his experiment, respond to conditioned learning. This is true with rodents, birds, fish - and practically all animals - probing that animals are not confined only to instinct.

Inti, the trapper, approached his catch, and with a scoop net, led it into a cage - still stuck with the coconut.

This is indeed one for the Book of Guinness. And it is a proof that the fable about the greediness of monkey is true.

How are other animals trapped alive? There are ways to trap birds, wild fowls, wild pigs, deer, monitor lizard, etc. Share with us your knowledge and experience.~ 

NOTE: DENR discourages, if not prohibits, the hunting of selective wildlife species.  It is highly recommended that conservation laws be strictly followed. DOH similarly warns of the danger of viral infection from monkeys and other animals to humans, and vice versa. Monkeys are carrier of Reston vius (RESTV), a new strain of the dreaded Ebola virus (EBOV) as a result of mutation. While pathogenecity is high among monkeys and low in humans, there is serious cause to contain the virus before it develops higher virulence. 

Here is an account of the resurgent character of RESTV. (Wikipedia) 

"Reston virus reemerged in Italy in 1992, and again in a monkey export facility in the Philippines in 1996. On 11 December 2008, pigs from farms slightly north of Manila, Philippines tested positive for the virus. The CDC and the World Health Organization are investigating. On 23 January 2009, Philippine health officials announced that a hog farm worker had been infected with the virus. Although the man was asymptomatic and the source of the infection is uncertain, this could represent the first case of pig-to-human transmission of Reston virus - a fact that could cause concern, as pigs may be able to transmit more deadly diseases to humans. The situation is undergoing further investigation.~

Dialogue with the Butterfly

Dialogue with the Butterfly 
Fly me to your world, oh butterfly,
where flows the Pierian Spring. Dr Abe V Rotor 

Exquisite netted venation of a butterfly wing, representing nature's architecture universal in the insect world, flying foxes, leaves of most plants, and blood vessels in human and  other creatures.
 

 Life cycle of the butterfly -  from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult - the butterfly.

Fly me to your world, oh butterfly,

where flows the Pierian Spring,

the fountain of youth eternal,

where Sylphids dance and sing.

I'd rather wish to be in your garden    

foe and friend yet we're one,

where the tree of knowledge blooms,

nurtured by rain and sun.

I cannot reach for the rainbow,

neither can I make one,

but you, by your wings and wand,

build the biggest crown.

Your sense of beauty’s not ours,

fleeting and elusive,

ephemeral to your senses all,

before it is perceived.

Just for once, oh butterfly, to leave  

the home of my ancestor,

I shall cease to ask another favor    

nor crave for more. 

       Then I shall fly no more in your garden; 

       the flowers will die with the fountain,

       and all that lives shall crave the same

       with nothing to hope and gain. ~