A work of art by Gerry Araos.

A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.

- Paul Cezanne

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He never misses this religious procession. Every year during the month of May, and every feast, he patiently trods the length of roads and streets. He believes this is for God. After the feast he goes back to his own vicious habits and manners, including fooling others and taking advantage of every situation for his gain.

Today’s quote:

Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim. — George Santayana, Life of Reason (1905) vol. 1, Introduction

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Remember you are a star. Never go across the alley even to dump garbage unless you are dressed to the teeth.

Cecil B. De Mille (1881 - 1959)

U.S. film producer and director.

Call her Diana. When everybody sulks at how they look, you will not see her feeling sorry for herself. She believes that she is still the beautiful Diana, star of the show. She never goes out of her house plain. Everything has to be swanky. Even going to the wet market has to be with stylish clothes – white cotton shirt donned with trendy denims and pricey rubber shoes, sunspecs and buntal hats.

Call her Diana. Once a star will forever be a star, and so she believes.

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FRESH MANGO TAPIOCA

Wide-eyed, she stared at the little tapiocas swimming afloat the mango puree. The three-year old, with her bubbliness, was silent. Suddenly she lifted the glass container and spilled all the contents to her yaya. Too late actually to do anything to prevent her. Everybody with her in the restaurant was shocked. Speechless, her mom wiped the fresh mango tapioca drink out of her yaya’s face. Suddenly, “Those cannot be eaten, they are little marbles.” Referring to the tapioca.

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Do you know the best way to make easy money? Here is a story.

Whenever Cristina needs or wants money, she will go to her grandmother who dotes on her very much because she is a favorite. Employed in a decent paying company and already has the economic power to buy things for herself and indulge in a few luxuries like high tech gadgets, expensive clothes, shoes and accessories, and eating out in full service restaurants, Cristina never forgets to let her grandmother pay for some of her expenses. Who should question her? She is her favorite and besides she is her grandmother. Never mind the other grandchildren. It must be her and her alone.

One will know when she needs money. She will comb her grandma’s hair or touch or hug her, which is void of sincerity actually but has to be done. She will stay in her room and talk to her about anything, taking a ride at whatever story her grandma will be telling. After all being patient has its prize.

Of course, there are times she buys pasalubong for her grandma or tokens. These, too, will be equivalent to a much larger amount of money, even ten times bigger.

Nobody does what she does in their family. It takes guts and the absence of real love and conscience.

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