Voyage

Voyage. Journey. In progress. Do not let the checkered path stop or hinder you. Turn every adventure to a memorable adornment in your glorious and productive life. Let every block be a memory filled with gratitude and celebration. There is a time for sorrow and a time for joy. Let love soothe the former and multiply the latter.

Where are you going? Are you in a place where you thought you would be? When you started your voyage, did you know where you wanted to go? Do you like or accept the place where you are now? Why? Why not?

So many questions.

When I think of the present, I think of where I started and where I have been. I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I think this way, there are songs that play in my head, like Gordon Lightfoot’s “Beautiful” or Frank Sinatra singing "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life." Then in my mind there is a parade of people's faces to whom the songs apply. My heart softens and my mind recoils in tenderness.

My dearest mother and father come to mind everyday. Everyday to them, I offer my devotion and gratitude and to my sister Leah whose beautiful and exemplary life was cut short a few years ago but continues to inspire me everyday to do my best and make me check myself to be steadfast, brave, just and kind when the competition and struggle heat up. 

Mother's Day.

On Mother's Day, do not celebrate because you are a mother, instead give your children a reason to celebrate because they have a good mother. My mother is the reason why I celebrate this day. She was a most wonderful mother, the best God gave me and my brothers and sisters. She loved my father very much and he loved her the same if not more. My heart is filled with gratitude. 

I am happy.

Sometimes I have tears in my eyes because I am happy. I am happy because I love those I love and am loved by those who love me. I believe in angels. Some are living angels. I am surrounded by good people, gifted with a best friend and showered with gentle and kind acquaintances.

Unaffordable Care Act. On the left, top figure is my bi-weekly payment for my family's health and dental insurance. The bottom figure is the total cost. My mouth hurts. It is very painful. I had oral surgery, then a dental procedure. The other day, while I was brushing the unaffected area, I forgot about my surgery and accidentally ran my electric toothbrush on the surgical area. I cried and knelt in pain. I have six stitches in my mouth. My dentist is excellent, my teeth not so much, they are weak but throughout the years, she has done her best to give me a beautiful smile. Thank you.

I miss eating regular foods, especially salads. I am hoping I will lose weight but that would be a fat chance!

I attended memorial service for a friend who died last week. She was the executive who hired me as the first nurse in information systems department when we started our electronic medical record in 1992. I am grateful that our paths crossed. I also heard the devastating news that another friend of mine died suddenly last January. That's all I heard. For 5 years Heather and I spent every summer afternoon teaching our kids to swim and watching them grow up together. She was only 46. Rest in peace, my friend.

My children do not realize what and how much they do and achieve throughout their lives since birth, no matter how ordinary it may seem to them,  affect me tremendously. I am their ardent and ever faithful supporter and cheerleader. I also happen to be quick, loud and blunt when I know something will end up in pain. As they get older the latter becomes less effective. They are both headstrong and eloquent with their arguments and want to make their own way. I cried with joy when they walked and ran as babies before age one, when they started talking and enunciating and articulating words so early and clearly, how precocious they were, when they left home on their first day of school, when they graduated from pre-school and kindergarten. I was so relieved when my son graduated from high school after going through such challenging teenage years, that was an adventure, and sad that he did not want to attend the ceremony. He has matured and does his best to make me happy. I am so proud of him. His sister does not want to make a big deal with her graduation either. I had to demand that she purchase the announcements. She complained about the costs. She said that everyone who matters already know so there is no point in sending them an announcement. I am being selfish, I do not want to be deprived of this parental privilege again. She relented. 

The other night when my daughter came out of her bedroom in her prom gown she was so radiant and beautiful. I wanted to cry and I felt a pang of sadness that she and her brother grew up far away from my sisters and brothers, not knowing their Lolo and Lola well. Soon she will graduate from high school, with honors. She asked for $10.00 to pay for the stole and cord that will identify her as a member of the National Honor Society. She has brought so much honor to her school through Science Fair, University Interscholastic League competitions in Choir, Drama and especially in Journalism. I am so happy for and so proud of her. Everyday I have the best Mother's Day presents with me. 

I always expected my children to do well in school. I was not the most diligent student when I was young. I always did the minimum to be on the top 10. Watching my daughter's self drive and desire for excellence taught me a lot about her. I am in awe at her constancy and maturity. Once I helped her with a math homework when she was in grade school, she received the lowest score she has ever received in her schooling. She asked me never to help her with a math homework again. School is very competitive. The differences among the top 1% is a matter of a hundredth of points. It is a good thing the girls are all friends. 

I thank God for giving me good children, a most loving husband, a good family through birth and marriage, for surrounding me with good people at work and friends who are kind. My throat and my surgical site in my mouth hurt like hell from crying. I am so happy. I love my family and friends. I love being a mother and wife. Most of all I love my mother so much and I am forever grateful.

God is good. Thank you.

However, college expenses are going to make me impecunious.

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Darkness and Light

In Your Farm

I have nothing
but a piece of white paper
and a black ink pen.

How do I capture the night
awash in a million flickering lights
from fireflies that will not see the dawn of day?

How do I record the scene of overwhelming awe
of a blanket of golden lights covering the fields of black
overflowing beyond the dark horizon?

How shall I trace each blade of grass silhouetted
only by an eighth of a moon and blurred by the sizzling lights,
what about the flowers and leaves?

My eyes did not see the darkness
nor did my ears hear the quiet stillness
of the night when you were there.

I was only told by our youngest sister,
her words filled with excitement
and longing

For you have been gone for a while.
sometimes I cannot remember how long
all I know is that I miss you.

Everyday I feel the space
you left in that place where the nights are awash in a million lights
from fireflies that will not see the dawn of day.

I see the flickering lights when I open my eyes
and hear the silence of the fading night, it is morning
and you dwell in my heart.

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If Only I Were A Little Like You

I previously posted the following on my sky appreciation blog. I am re-posting it because it is the sentiment that is most apt for me right now. It's funny how at an age when I know who I am and what I want and do, there are some things said to me that surprisingly make me swell with joy. The other day, my son, upon seeing a photograph of my mother with my sister Leah on her lap, remarked "She looks just like you holding me!" In fact he remarked that every photograph of my mother holding anyone of my sisters or me when we were babies or toddlers look just like me holding him or his younger sister." That makes me very happy. I remember how as a rebellious teenager I told my mother that someday when I become a mother I will dare to be different and be not like her. She just smiled and replied "You will be different, you will be yourself, but you will have a child just like you." I looked at her knowing what she intended with that remark. She just looked at me and smiled, a kind of smile with pursed lips, her right eyebrow raised in amusement.

I will be fifty-five in a few days. It is my fortune to be second to the youngest among my siblings. I was born when my mother was at the same age I was when I had my second child. My position in our family hierarchy saved me from the tragedies of war, rebuilding lives and nation, house fire, with everything but my mother's Singer sewing machine lost, and rebuilding our home. I later learned to sew with that sewing machine. I was blessed with the love and care my parents gave me, complimented by the vigilance and protection of my elder sisters and brothers. Yet, if there is one regret I may have, it is that I waited much later in life to be a mother and lived so far from my parents. My children only saw my parents once. They were aged four and one respectively. My son remembers that visit. He especially remembered the monkey at a resort that scratched him. He remembers his grandparents. I am thankful, however lone numbered, I was able to give him those tender memories. As for my daughter she can look at the photographs. That is always a fun exercises. We remember  a naked infant chasing the ducks. Very adorable!

It is rare that I look at the clouds these days.  The one on the left is from my sister Leah's farm taken by my brother a few months before Leah was diagnosed with cancer. The photo on the right is the front of our house. One can barely see the roof of our house. I haven't been back to the home where I spent my teenage years, since my mother's funeral. Last year in February, my sister passed away. I miss my sister very much. I won't be able to phone her on my birthday this year.

July 12, 2012

As children we laid on the fields, my sisters and I. We looked up to the sky and imagined how it would be if we could fly. If there were clouds we made up stories. We laughed a lot and sometimes we remained still and listened to each other breathe. I did not tell them that I imagined a frightening image of a giant knife falling from the sky hurtling towards me. I just closed my eyes and held on to their hands for dear life.

If Only I Were A Little Like You

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will be of unwavering faith

Of elegant bearing and eloquence

And altruistic spirit, never forsaking.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will be with great sense of humor

Inspiring and encouraging outlook

And enduring devotion.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will have your brilliant mind

Your spitfire courage in quest for justice

And love for mankind.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will laugh with all my heart

Be gentle and kind

Dedicated and true.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will be nurturing and faithful,

Love deeply

And always be hopeful.

Instead I am me.

I thought I was brave,

instead afraid.

I thought I can speak,

instead stutter.

My heart overrules.

My clear mind clutters

You remind me that if I think less of I and me

And more of us and we

Then perhaps the world will be a better place.

Dedicated to my five sisters (who are a lot like our mother).

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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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Because You Loved Elephants...

 ...the ones with raised trunks. This one has her trunk lowered. I hope you don't mind. It's just the way things are sometimes. I was thinking of what you said and even though I can't RECALL the exact words you said it's not about RECALLING the lecture but LEARNING the lesson. Sometimes I FORGET. Thank you for REMINDING me so I REMEMBER. I think of you everyday. Everyday. EVERYDAY. 

A lazy Sunday afternoon...Guess what Daisy is doing? She is sitting on the chair next to me. She is resting her head on my leg. Wheezy comes over and snuggles. I am being smothered by canine love!!! My husband, daughter and I went to the bookstore where I drew these elephants while they browsed and bought books. We stopped at Whole Foods on the way home. My daughter wanted a taste of cannoli while my husband was making peanut butter from fresh peanuts. The baker said he will give me cannoli if I gave him my drawing. Hahahah! It was not finished yet. My daughter and I waited by the pastries. We walked around and sampled some cheese. She sampled pate'. Hehehehe. I told her one of the ingredients of pate' and she gave me a funny look. I am so lazy today but I completed three pen and ink drawings and gave up on an unfinished one. I think I have been seeing a lot of heads and feathers for the past two weeks...Tsup!

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The Land Where You Once Walked, Where We Now Walk Without You By Our Side But In Our Hearts...

This is your farm, where you once walked. That is the front of the house we called our home, where you spent your days as a teenager and young adult until you moved in with Inday Ched. She was so happy when you kept her company. She no longer felt alone. Then there were six of us at U.P., so quiet while we studied, so noisy while we laughed and cooked popetchka. I was so happy and so proud of you when you graduated from law school. I was there! We climbed to the rooftop at dusk and we saw the sunset. You were there when I left for the U.S. Every time Inday Frey or I would come home, you always met us. When Inday Frey and I went home for Tatay's funeral, everyone had gone home but you waited for us because you did not want us to make the flight home by ourselves. The last three times Inday Frey and I came back you were no longer able to meet us or even see us go. Instead we saw you leave. We miss you so much. Everyday, in fact. We think of you everyday, several times a day. I think of you. I think of everyone. I cannot breathe when I do that. There is a lump in my throat. It hurts just the way it did when I saw you the last time. There are only 28 days this February but it feels so full. It is Mom's birthday anniversary. You and Tatay left in February. It is Inday Ched's birthday. I shall be happy for Inday Ched, yes I will call. And I will be sad because you won't be there. I miss you Inday Leah. Every time I blog I think of you. My heart aches. And you did not see my acorn blog! I know you would have been been tickled and delighted with that. I imagine you would have laughed and giggled. I love you.

I miss Mom. I miss Sammy. I miss Tatay. I miss Nanay. I love you.

Happy Birthday Inday Ched. You are the best teacher I ever had and the most beautiful; you are my favorite, ever! I love you. Happy Birthday!!! I shall eat chocolates for your sake. The things I do because I love you. Hehehehehe!

Ah yes, February is the month of love. Tsup!

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Happy Edge

Rooted.  8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board

Good morning! (Yes, it is morning somewhere in the world, hehehe!) It seems ages since I blogged. So many things are happening in my life and the world. I have been so busy at work. Extremely busy. So, if I have been mute about a lot of things lately, it is because I am preserving my energy to deal with realities, several of which I consider impractical and burdensome or bureaucratically onerous as we implement Obamacare. My job is to convert the law's interpretations to clinical decision support modules. Do I have the edge? Well, it feels more like clinging to a cliff. Fortunately, my roots run deep and so I cling. Just like these trees I have drawn for Illustration Friday’s theme. I drew these images this past weekend. I decided to use colors, hopefully in a subtle way. 

Taal Lake and Tall Volcano. 8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board

The above is an illustration of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. On August 13^th, 2011, my daughter visited the place with my sister, her aunt, Tita Leah. I miss my sister, if indeed angels in heaven come from good humans, there is a new angel up there. I would like to think that she visits and looks down upon us here once in a while. I was not able to make that trip but my daughter took some amazing photographs. At that time, my sisters, brothers, and I gathered in Manila to be with our sister. The doctor gave her two weeks to live if she did not undergo brain surgery. The lung cancer had metastasized to her brain. Our sister fought bravely but seven months later she passed away. It was a month and two days after her 60^th birthday. She would have been 61 this month. I miss my sister very much. Yet, as time goes by, the pain and sorrow change to a sadness that somehow seems to comfort more than hurt. The memory of my sister inspires and strengthens me. Though I am sometimes sad, thinking of her fills me with love. In life we are blessed and gifted with the best relations but some are taken away too soon.

Also, this month, my family will be all smiles, two other special reasons and celebrations. It's the epsilons' birthday month. They are epsilons no more. This week,  we will give thanks and celebrate my son's birthday. Then in two more weeks, we celebrate my daughter's birthday. These two have brought my husband and me enormous pride and joy. I could dedicate a whole blog about the adventure of raising children in America, but suffice to say, their father and I love them so very much and we are so proud of them.

At home when I light candles, I do so to honor my ancestors and dearest departed family members, but I also give thanks and celebrate life. Such is the state of things. I guess after all, I do have an edge. Life is good. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Edge. 8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board

Edge Too. 8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board

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I Miss You

You were so full of

love

enthusiasm

energy

life.

You never gave up.

You were brave.

You worked so hard

to serve others.
For us.
For me.

Now you are gone.

I am lacking.

Without you.
I hope you are well.
I love you.
I miss you.
I love you.

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The Lonely Bird Up In The Tree

Still Missing You

I wish I could say good morning and good night

Or ask how you are

Or read a letter from you

Thank you for sending me our family history

I loved that flurry of letters to and fro

I read and reread your last letters to me

In July of last year

Must have read them a hundred times

And will read them one hundred times more

I want to pick up the phone and call your number

At home but you were seldom there

Because you were always at work

So I called you there

And it was late in the evening

The sound of delight in your voice at hearing mine

Made me forget why I called

So I just talked about this and that

And it was alright because

I just wanted to hear your voice too

You were busy

Yet you listened and laughed and giggled

Your voice filled with tenderness and kindness

So I lingered

I can hear your voice

Yes, I hear your voice

And I see your face now a faint smile

It aches my heart

I am not lonely

I do not like that word

Such a loser word

I am too busy

Life is too full to be lonely

I am too defiant to be lonely

But somewhere in my heart

There is sorrow

Overwhelming pain from missing you

And not just in mine

I miss you

I miss you

I just want to envelop you once more with my arms

How we love you so

Inday Ched said we must go on

She said you would want it that way

I just want to tell you that

I miss you so much

And I love you

Sometimes I feel like a child

Helpless

Even though I know what to do

Must go on

I suppose

But the tears obscure my view

And blur my sight

Now I know why that with all the things I could have had

When Mother left

I only wanted her handkerchief
To wipe my tears away

I shall remember the smile in your face

The day I learned to cook

Popetchca
I miss you
I love you
Forever.

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The Lonely Bird (if you can see it). I do not like the word "lonely." I find it most undesirable of all emotional states. I would rather be filled with sorrow or sadness than feel lonely which is not the same as being alone or solitude which I adore. My personal computer has a new operating system - Mountain Lion. Hurrah! Turns out that not everything that worked perfectly with Snow Leopard which made my life easy, are compatible with Mountain Lion. It made obsolete all Power PC applications and has no current flash player to run in Safari. Therefore I have to watch videos using the windows platform via Chrome. Worst of all, I lost my printer and scanner. What to do? Buy new printer and scanner of course which I have not done so. But as Ces, I should make the most of it, right? Right. Since I can't scan anyway, I started drawing on even larger Bristol Boards and Paris Paper, at least 14"x17". The only way for me to capture these images for now is through photographs just like the above image.

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Lost

Sisters (also known by many other titles) Oil on canvas 30"x40"

When I saw today's prompt for Illustration Friday, Lost, The first thing that came to mind was a recognition of my own emotional state when I think of my sister Leah. I am sad. Perhaps I was given many sisters, five. and two brothers to teach me the most important lessons in life so I won't be lost when I have to deal with the responsibilities and challenges of raising my children. They are rapidly vanishing small quantities, epsilons, now young stars trying to kindle their inner light.

I have been distraught and inconsolable with the loss of my father, the first most important masculine figure in my life, and then my mother. How can I describe losing one's most loving and beloved parents? Yet it seemed they followed the natural order of things. They lived full lives. I miss them but my heart is at peace. Not with my sister. While my heart is not in turmoil and my mind not confused, I feel more than missing. My heart physically aches, overwhelmed by sadness and sorrow. I do not question "why" anymore. I just accept that it is so. Nevertheless, I will not deny this state where I am aware and in control and now and then I stumble into a pit, deep, dark and I fall, and keep on falling until I am buoyed by tears. The darkness is awful and the aura most not apt for any of my sisters and brothers, who fill my life with colors, certainly not Leah, for she was the brightest and most brilliant of all. I miss her terribly.

I am not lost, I just often wander.

Below is an attempt at poetry which I posted, of all places, a skywatching blog. It is supposed to be a blog of brevity, almost monepic, ah leave it to me, the periphrastic one.

I am not posting this for IF. This is just my warm up.

If Only I Were A Little Like You

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will be of unwavering faith

Of elegant bearing and eloquence

And altruistic spirit, never forsaking.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will be with great sense of humor

Inspiring and encouraging outlook

And enduring devotion.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will have your brilliant mind

Your spitfire courage in quest for justice

And love for mankind.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will laugh with all my heart

Be gentle and kind

Dedicated and true.

The world will be a better place

If only I were a little like you.

I will be nurturing and faithful,

Love deeply

And always be hopeful.

Instead I am me.

I thought I was brave,

instead afraid.

I thought I can speak,

instead stutter.

My heart overrules.

My clear mind clutters

You remind me that if I think less of I and me

And more of us and we

Then perhaps the world will be a better place.

An Empty Space

Check out the secret of Empty Spaces**

How to fill an 8"x10" space in an 11"x14" area: I challenged myself to draw this image in two hours. I failed. It took me three hours. I was furiously squiggling by the third hour and was so tired that I had to continue drawing while lying on low Fowlers position on the couch. My daughter ran her fingers through my hair to soothe me and rubbed my shoulders and back while I filled the background with squiggles. The squiggles on the edges are rough but I had to stop because I had to cook dinner. That was fun. Honestly, the drawing is not finished. I still have to draw miniature pictures on the white floating boards. The following is a tribute to my beloved sister Leah. 

An Empty Space

Everyday, I go on a journey 

To an empty space filled with pain and longing

upon which I stumble in the daytime

and fall into at night with nothing to anchor me.

The sorrow slowly devours me

until the tears swell 

and the tightness of my heart becomes real.

My heart aches and I scream in quiet anguish

until a million floating flecks of lights come to rescue me.

Each flicker holds a memory of you -

smiling, laughing, gentle words, intense gaze

a flash of energy and steely courage.

Slowly I am buoyed until I land safely

back where I started,

yet different because you are no longer here.

I hope my memory does not fail me

But if so, I will blindly follow my my heart

with every beat that proclaims 

I love you.

I love you so much and I miss you.

I feel lost without you.

I know, I know, I must go on.

But once in a while let me make this journey

if only to remind me that my life is full

and the space is not empty after all

because you dwell in it.

I am told of one April night,

you loved watching the fireflies hover around the bamboo grove at night.

Tsup!

"We feel we are with you when we read it."

God! How I miss my sisters so much,

especially the one

whose face I can no longer kiss

and whose hands I can no longer hold.

In my mind I just hear her gentle voice and laughter

and I see her smiling.

But memories,

they are not enough
to unbreak a heart.

Go Eat French Fries

Good morning!!! Today is Saturday. I have many plans for today. As it turned out, I have not done anything I intended to do. Oh, speaking of "intended." Illustration Friday's prompt is "Intention." I started a new drawing last night. I am almost done with it. It measures 11"x14" and it is not an acorn! 

You see my new layout? And oh, my gosh --- COLORS!!! The new layout is courtesy of my daughter who spent Saturday morning with me. I was in the kitchen drawing, drinking coffee and playing Words with my best friend. My daughter started telling me about this week's school activities. We moved to my bedroom and laid in bed looking at a fashion blog. We were laughing. Then she turned to me and said "Mom, your blog is depressing!" I told her why it was that way and she replied "I know Mom, but you should be celebrating Tita Leah's life, not mourning her death."

My daughter was very happy this morning as she relayed her experiences during the district science fair. "I met new friends!" When I heard that, something awakened me from within. It was a different sort of melancholy. I certainly miss my sister. I don't know how long I will remain sad, maybe forever. Maybe it will be a part of my life from now on but I cannot deny that I am surrounded by life and joy. I started thinking what she would have wanted me to do, just like my Mother who told us before she died that she wanted each and everyone of us to be sad only for a good while but then live and love fully and take care of each other. That is what my sisters and brothers and I did and do. 

Yet somehow, I cannot seem to shake the sadness that dwells in my heart, of losing my sister. She was the brightest, most gifted and the most brilliant among us. She was a fierce yet gentle soul. I see her in my mind, smiling at me. My daughter used to imitate her laugh, the kind of laugh without opening her mouth. My daughter sounded just like her until one day she said, "Oh Mom I cannot do it like Tita Leah anymore." I urged her to keep trying until she got it back. I was relieved and we both laughed. How wonderful is that? My brainy and brilliant sister recalled by my brainy and brilliant daughter through her laugh. My daughter is right. I shall do my utmost in whatever endeavor I set myself to do. Along with my drawing last night, a story came to mind, about journeys and baggage. In my story, the best journey is attained by the absence of baggage. Each of us was assigned a set of luggage when we were born. The goal is to use that luggage, multiply it, share it but use it up for good. It will afford our soul tokens in the form of fireflies that will light the way. Thousands of fireflies to last the journey, however, that journey is set with peril for a little boat can only hold much. So use up the luggage, share it, give it. You won't need it in another life. That's my story and I am sticking to it.  

Life goes on and indeed it requires our attention. My nephew had an emergency appendectomy the other day and my sister-in-law was hospitalized yesterday. There is always something new to mind and attend. I wish them both a speedy recovery. 

Thank you for the tender comments these past days. I may not have responded publicly to each and everyone of them but they are valued. To my best friend, there is a reason why you are my best friend. Thank you so very much for being most patient, most understanding and the kindest.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, or at least try.

Oh, I almost forgot. The scene above is the sky and mountain range overlooking my sister's farm. The photo on the left reminds me of priorities and fate. Here in the US we fuss over safety with our seat belts and other regulations. This was the road on the way to my sister's farm. I was not able to visit but my sister Freah, did. She snapped this photo of a jeepney ahead of them, overflowing with passengers. I wonder what the regulators in Congress would make of it.