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This morning, my husband gasped, covered his mouth in disbelief and stared. He looked alarmed  which scared the heck out of me. 

"What's wrong?!!! I asked in panic. 

"It's our anniversary" he replied. 

I gasped and screamed, "OH MY gaaaaaahhD!!!"

Both he and I completely forgot. Today is our anniversary. Twenty seven years!!! Still in love with and loving each other. I will take this as a positive sign. Both he and I have been extremely busy with home, work, community, H.O.A. and school activities. We have been working very long hours these past few months. Yesterday I started work at 5:30 in the morning to implement several projects. When I got home I fell asleep in the couch while watching the news and talking to the children, in my suit! By 7PM I was asleep in bed. I finally woke up feeling rested this morning. This evening we are going to watch our daughter sing in a talent show. It will be a nice anniversary celebration. We are parents of two wonderful young people and for that we are blessed. I am married to a good, kind and loving husband and a very good father. Everyday is worth celebrating.

P.S. I asked my husband if I can post this. He replied: "What is it? I am busy doing dishes right now." Okay then, I will make an executive decision. I am posting this without his consent. :) Happy Anniversary! :)

...and in between, I draw. :)

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May Your Mother Keep Her Horn Until Death And Beyond

Black Rhinoceros. Diceros bicornis. Micro pigment and India ink on 19"x24" Bristol Board.

 

First of all, Happy Mother's Day. The everyday role of a mother is sometimes done by an aunt or a grandmother because a child's mother may have passed away or she has to travel far from home to earn a living. To all the good mothers in the world who work hard to raise their children to do their best and to be good and kind citizens, thank you. I repeat what I said yesterday and what I think and believe since I was old enough to have some sense. I know others may feel the same and that is just wonderful. I had the best mother. For that, I was born rich. Though we were lacking in material things when I was growing up, I had everything I needed to be me, the most vital of all, a wonderful mother, the best. I miss my mother. I think of her everyday. She continues to inspire and guide me. Thank you Nanay.

To my children who give me so much happiness, joy and pride, thank you. To my loving husband who helps make that all possible, thank you!

To the rhinoceros: Such a dangerous and huge undertaking just to stay alive and keep what nature has granted you. Your horn costs more than cocaine, gold and diamond. With so many little ignorant men and women halfway across the world in China, Vietnam and other Asian countries salivating at the sight of your horn, costing as much as $65,000.00 per kilogram, people who are supposed to live with you and protect you, instead, poach you, leaving you to die. In 2011, the Javan rhino was officially declared extinct in Vietnam. The last rhino killed by a poacher. In April, all the rhinos in the Mozambican region of the Great Limpopo Park were killed by poachers...they were the last 15 of a total of 300 - all killed by poachers with the help of corrupt rangers. Will the ignorance of the people in countries like Vietnam, China and people elsewhere who believe in traditional quack Chinese medicine hasten your extinction? Yet there are scientists who believe that legalizing rhino horn trade will be the only way to stop your extinction. What about a death penalty for all poachers and criminal merchants of rhino horn? 

Will the rhinoceros have a future?

This 19"x24" pen and ink drawing on Bristol Board is first in a series of four drawings I am doing for my son who thinks rhinoceros are cool animals.

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Happy Mother's Day

I had the best mother. For that, I was born rich. Though we were lacking in material things when I was growing up, I had everything I needed to be me, and the most vital of all, I had the best mother. Thank you Nanay. 

In the comfort and safety of her shadow...Drawing in progress. 19"x24" Bristol board. I am attempting to draw four large rhinoceros images. 

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My Brother

My Brother, The Mathematics Professor. 2012. Pen and ink on 9"x12" Bristol Board

This is an old drawing. I wanted to repost this because I read this article today. It is about my brother. You know how I often swoon over my brothers and sisters. I have nothing but the highest regard and admiration for them. One would think it is only natural for me to do that because I am their sister. So, it is wonderful when a very respected judge verifies it. :) 

The writer is a childhood friend and an elementary and high school classmate of my brother. He is now a judge in the city where I grew up. He and my sister Leah attended the same law school. My brother is a very kind and humble man. His mathematical equations have been used by NASA and in several scientific researches. 

I used this image because I did this drawing after I perused the photographs my brother took of the exotic plants and flowers last year. I have never seen most of them, how could that be? Maybe I did not look hard. Maybe because I do not like wild places. Several weeks after I completed this drawing, my brother had poison ivy. Oh my. I told him it must have been from going deep into the wild rain forests. I remembered being distressed about it when I talked to him on the phone. He just kept saying "yes, yes" to whatever I said just to make me stop. Hah!

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On and on...

I just want to say hello to everyone. It is May and the temperature outside is 46F!!! What is going on?

This drawing is taking more time than I ever want to spend on it. It is on its 5th day. My left wrist started swelling and hurting. I have no idea why, because I am using my right hand for drawing. The left hand just stays wherever I rest it. The other day I can hardly move my left wrist. I thought I had arthritis or gout. Argh! 

These photos were taken today before my husband and I left for Mozart's Symphony No. 40.  Yes, I changed and got dressed and brushed my hair. :)

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Happy Birthday, Tatay

In progress...

Today is my father's birthday anniversary. He would have been 94. I miss him and think of him everyday. When I was growing up, I knew, that no matter the challenge or adversity, things will be alright when my father was around. He was a man of great courage, strong faith and gentle character. He did the best thing a father could ever do for his children, he loved our mother very much, very much. It was so obvious. In turn my mother loved him the same. To this day, my remembrance of my father gives me strength.  When I left for the U.S. my father flew to Manila so he can see me go. He was a stoic man, yet I felt so loved. He told me to call my mother often and write letters. He told me to often visit my sister who came to the U.S. a few years ahead of me. When I called, he always answered the telephone. I could hear the joy in his voice as he asked me how I was doing. He asked me if I saw my sister often and I heard the delight in his voice when I told him that we did a lot of things together. Then he gave the telephone to my mother. After talking to my mother, she gave the telephone back to my father so I can say goodbye. Just remembering all of that makes me cry, but I don't feel any sadness. Thank you Tatay, I love you very much. Thank you for loving Nanay very much and being a loving and very good father to my brothers, sisters and me. Thank you for loving my husband and my children. Thank you. Happy Birthday! Tsup!

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Fare Thee Well but Farewell Not

All things to nothing descend,

Grow old and die and meet their end...

Nor long shall any name resound

Beyond the grave, unless 't be found

In some clerk's book, it is the pen

Gives immortality to men...*

or elephants!!!

okay, I just added this one.

*Master Wace (1100 - 1175) - from his Chrinicles of the Norman Dukes. Found on the chart of Harold F Unstott (1907 - 1922)

Elephant Herd. Pigment and India ink on 19"x24" Bristol Board. 

All the elephants in the world cannot satisfy man's senseless and selfish desire for ivory.

Please do not buy anything, worship any idol or use any gadget made of ivory.
Stop the elephants from vanishing.

Click on the charts to enlarge:

A very special remembrance tribute to my beloved sister Leah, who passed this earthly life a little over a year ago. She loved elephants so much. Not a day passes by without me thinking of her and feeling her love. I love you, forever. Tsup!

Fare thee well!

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Behance's Drawing Served Gallery Feature

My "Dream Sequence" drawing collection is featured on Drawing Served - Curated works from leading creatives on Behance. 

http://www.drawingserved.com/gallery/Dream-Sequence/5965281

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Crash

Do you know what a group of rhinoceros is called? A crash! There are only five remaining rhino species: White, Black, Indian, Sumatran and Javan. The Javan rhino is the most endangered rhino species in the world. Poachers kill and maim rhinos for their horns which the Chinese and Vietnamese use in traditional medicine. Rhino horn has no medicinal value. It is made of the same material as human toenails or fingernails - keratin. The Javan rhino officially became extinct in Vietnam in 2011. There are few remaining in Indonesia.

On my drawing board: Drawing a new elephant herd on 19"x24" Bristol board...

Most Endangered Animal Species In The World

http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/ten-most-endangered-animals

1 Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

A North American bird so endangered it may actually be extinct

2 Amur Leopard

The world’s rarest cat: Only 40 left in Russia’s Far East

3 Javan Rhinoceros

No more than 60 of these swamp-dwelling Asian rhinos exist

4 Northern Sportive Lemur

Here’s the scarcest of Madagascar’s fast-dwindling lemur species

5 Northern Right Whale

Hunted to near extinction, 350 right whales still swim the Atlantic

6 Western Lowland Gorilla

Disease and illegal hunting are taking an alarming toll on this gentle giant of a primate

7 Leatherback Sea Turtle

The population of the world’s largest turtle is dropping at an alarming rate

8 Siberian (or Amur) Tiger

The world’s biggest cat weighs as much as 300 kilos (660 pounds)

9 Chinese Giant Salamander

Humans are eating the world’s largest amphibian into extinction. Read: Eating Habits Of South China Driving Endangered Animals To Extinction

10 The Little Dodo Bird

Samoa’s little dodo bird is in immanent danger of following the large dodo into extinction.

Read:

Lesser Known Endangered Species

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There is Only One Place We Can Call Home

Earth

What a busy weekend to cap a busy week. It was also a very sad week for America. Our prayers are with everyone affected by the terrorist act in Boston, especially the victims and their families. Yesterday my daughter won the regional University Interscholastic League in journalism, feature writing competition. She will represent her school, district and region at the state competition in May. So, what have we been up to aside from work and school? Errands, lots of errands, cleaning, cooking, gardening, barbecuing, weeding, digging, planting...just being together as a family. Got my daily dose of Vitamin D today and a lot of exercise. Gardening and yard work is hard labor, but look, it's early spring and we have tomatoes, oranges, peas and flowers peeking and sprouting. We are preparing to start another busy week. 

Tomorrow is EARTH DAY! Be kind to earth, it is our only home. Be kind to the animals who suffer in the hands of evil poachers and selfish individuals. Please help by giving to the many organizations that provide safe haven for these animals and help third world governments combat poaching. 

Plant a tree!!!  Plant a garden, in the yard or in in pots on the windowsill.

Protect and preserve life, especially those who cannot defend themselves.

If you want to become informed about our earth, without the politics and cover-ups, visit the Blacksmith Institute. Make it a habit to read their website. You may not think that you can do much to solve the massive problems on earth but getting informed does make a difference.

To my children: Long time ago, I resolved to be like my mother in the way she viewed the earth. Now it's my turn to do it for you so that when your time comes, you will do it for your children. Everyday, many ordinary people do ordinary things that do not get published, posted or told yet, these little acts are extraordinary in the way they affect our future, our environment and our way of life. It always starts with one individual, in the home.  We do things even if it take extra effort, because it is the right way. Thank you.

Have a good and peaceful week everyone. We are grateful for our blessings. God bless us all, God bless America, God bless our earth.

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