SANCTUARY IN HEAVEN'S GARDEN

MEDITATIVE ESCAPADE IN PURPLE AT WRIGHT PARK BAGUIO

"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;

her clothing is silk and purple.”

~Bible quotes

In the heart of Baguio City's Pacdal, where the air is crisp and the scent of pine trees lingers, there exists a place of enchantment – a magical staircase adorned with pictures that capture the very essence of the locale. It is said that these stairs possess a unique power, one capable of unveiling the true beauty and happiness hidden within the surroundings.

Intrigued by the tales of this mystical staircase, I embarked  an adventure to unravel its secrets. As I ascended the steps, the colors around me began to shift and dance, a kaleidoscope of emotions unfolding with every stride. Yet, amidst this vibrant display, it was the color purple that seized my attention – a mysterious hue linked to both nobility and spirituality, casting an undeniable aura of joy and grace upon the surroundings.

At the summit of the staircase, I found myself amidst the vibrant local flowers at Wright Park. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blossoms, and an enchanting sea of purples surrounded me – from the delicate lavender to the rich violet. It was as if the flowers themselves whispered tales of magic and wonder, their mystical energy painting the scene with an ethereal touch.

Eager to delve deeper into the enchantment, I encountered an old local tale – the story of a prince who, despite his humble rags, wore them with regal nobility. The narrative echoed the lessons of the purple hue, teaching that even the simplest attire becomes noble when worn with dignity and passion.

Recalling the wisdom of the locals and my readings, I understood that purple represented more than a color; it embodied a profound symbolism of balance, creation, and spirituality. As a mix of red and blue energies, it granted the power of creation, akin to the divine forces. The complementary color of purple, a golden yellow reminiscent of the sun, further solidified its association with spirit.

The magical power of purple had transcended aesthetics, weaving a thread of connection to something greater – a harmony that reached beyond the visible spectrum of colors. From that transformative day forward, encounters with the color purple, whether on the enchanted stairs or among the blossoms of Wright Park, became a reminder that even in the simplest things, enchantment and discovery awaited those with open hearts.

Pacdal's magical staircase, with its mystical lessons wrapped in the hues of purple, remained etched in my memory as a sacred space where the ordinary transformed into the extraordinary, and where the journey itself became a timeless reminder of the potential for enchantment that lies within every step we take.

A MOMENT WITH THE
LONELY HORSES OF WRIGHT PARK

I have this love for horses that one day,
I went to visit them in Wright Park.

 "I have often been asked why do I like horses so much. Look into one's eyes. There you will see generations of horses who have served the humans for thousands of years faithfully for nothing in return. Beaten horses, starved hoses, horses who no longer possess a spirit. They deserve to be loved and respected as much as humanly possible. Let them run free again. Let them no longer be a faithful beasts, but embrace them as you would a dear friend, for that is what they are." 

I tried communicating to each horse,
and only one made contact.
This horse tilted his head my way
and you can see that look in his eyes.

This horse looked at me with his soul in his eyes.
Awesome. It made my day♥

Most of them however..
if not all,
are lonely.



"The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire."
  ~Sharon Ralls Lemon

"To me, horses and freedom are synonymous." 
~Veryl Goodnight

They should be,
not like this.

"Horses are creatures who worship the earth
as they gallop on feet of ivory.
Constrained by the wonder of dying and birth,
the horses still run, they are free."
~John Denver and Joe Henry, "Eagles and Horses"

My wish:

 "I have seen things so beautiful, that  they have brought tears to my eyes.
Yet, none of them can match the gracefulness and
beauty of a horse running
free." 

MEDITATIVE ESCAPADE
is making my "mind like a blank canvas,
to be painted on by the experiences of every day."

I embellish my life with simplicity and ease..

enjoying the simple things..

discovering anything new.

Every moment is

an experience of a rich event.

It is great to be 

a dweller of the moment..

There's always some kind of magic -

like putting a lighted candle

in a glass of water

☺

Being happy with the mundane..

driving away boredom and the agony of waiting

by making every moment

a journey with creativity and joy!

There's a time for self-indulgence.

It is "having fun consciously creating your reality:

contemplate, pray, perceive, introspect or reflect. 

Breathe.

Indulge in self-awareness at any time and in any place.

It is an attitude, a state of mind and a way of being."

"Imagination becomes a tropical adventure island

to be explored and revisited.

Be willing to go on an adventure and

to learn from yourself and your world.

 The imperfections of this world are created
to be perfected in one's mind.

Contemplating on the positives
gives way to desired changes.
  

You are what you think!

"What you choose to think about and dwell on in this life
will make or break you as to what type of person
you will end up becoming in this life."


“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
~Proverbs 23:7

Acknowledgements:

☼Adapted thoughts from Adventure-Learning-Initiatives

☼Quotes from Bible-Knowledge.Com

☼WikiAnswers

☼Photos taken at Wright Park, Baguio City

by Richard D. Egmalis



CULTURAL VIGNETTE : A tale on the Traditional Costume of the Isneg Tribe of Apayao Province in the Philippines

"Most people think

Time is like a river

that flows swift

and sure in

one direction.

They are wrong.

Sit down and

I will tell you

a tale

like none that

you have ever

heard."

~Yuri Lowenthal

Long ago, in the northernly end of the Cordillera central mountains, lies a province named Apayao.

Here, a mighty river, savagely rough and deep, courses through steep mountain gorges down to the valleys and plains, straight to the Philippine Sea. This river, so blue in the mid-morning sun, is the life force for a tribe in Apayao called ISNEG.

The Isnegs lived isolated in these expansive mountains with stunning scenery, adorned with small hills and steep cliffs along both sides of the river. A labyrinth of valleys and foothills, embraced by tropical forests and Savanna grass, led them to their paradise. To reach this haven, they navigated for hours on personalized bamboo rafts or small boats, then traversed long trails to their homes.

The people cherished their land, coexisting with nature spirits known as "anito," who either aided or wrought mischief upon them. Deep within the dark forest, they sought the rare herb "tagarut," an amulet protecting them from ailments caused by malevolent "anitos." Entrusted as stewards of the forests, mountains, rivers, and all living things, they guarded their home with unwavering dedication. In times long past, they took heads to defend their territory.

The landscapes of their rivers and mountains became woven into the fabric of their lives, fostering an innate sense of beauty that they meticulously embroidered into their traditional costumes and ornaments.

Blue, drawn from the river's reflection of the skyworld where their great "anitos" resided or the distant mountains' receding blueness, adorned their garments. Red, derived from the fierce glare of the sun, symbolized energy and the power to conquer their enemies.

They embroidered the river's ripples as it flowed to the sea and the peaks of mountains rippling down to hills and valleys. In these garments, they encapsulated the beauty of nature, creating a lasting connection to their cherished land. These visual narratives depicted their belief that, after their earthly existence, their spirits would ascend a ladder to the spirit world, a realm beyond mortal reach.

Their traditional costumes, a testament to the majesty of creation, crowned them as the royalty of their territory, unconquered by the Spaniards for an extended period.

Such was the life of the Isneg tribe, as adorned in their embellished costumes, narrating their story. They were the river people, akin to their great river – "gentle, quiet, and peaceful."

As many lived along the river, few became it.

The Isnegs, from then to now, in their costumes, perpetuate their rituals. Forever dancing with swift feet, soaring like swallows or the mighty bird "Turayan," they live happily ever after.

And so ends a segment of an unending story.

The  Isnegs, from then and now, in their costumes will continue doing their rituals. They will forever be dancing with their swift feet and flying like swallows or the mighty bird "Turayan", living happily ever after.

And that ends the segment of an unending story.

♥

Acknowledgements:

☼Owners of photos #s 2,3, and 11 which were downloaded from the internet.

☼Graal Cawed, owner of Topskill shop in Porta Vaga, Baguio City

 who supplied some of the Isneg costumes in the photos. 

☼Descriptive quotes from the book:  Form and Splendor by Roberto Maramba.

☼ Information about the Religious Beliefs of the Isnegs by Arlene Sapanza

☼ Lin-awa Center for Culture and Arts  who sponsored the Seminar workshop on Strengthening Indigenous Knowledge Transmission

☼The IGOROT GLOBAL ORGANIZATION IIC9 for the planned production and publishing of a booklet on CULTURAL VIGNETTES during the Cultural Day but did not push through.

☼The boy with a flute who is a student of the School of Living Tradition in La Trinidad, Benguet Province. 

Photos and vignette by ~Lepan♥

Note:

The story above was adapted from the presentation I made on the TRADITIONAL COSTUMES AND DANCES OF THE ISNEGS OF APAYAO to inculcate cultural awareness and sensitivity. This was sponsored by the Lin-awa Center for Culture and Arts. The invitation was through Ms. Lucy Ruiz, the Executive Director.

This was a series of seminar-workshops attended by school teachers. There were, however a few children from the Schools of Living Traditions. Hence I came up with a storytelling style of introduction which explains the symbols in the costumes. This makes them distinct with other tribes.

The plan to compile the CORDILLERA CULTURAL VIGNETTES with the title as suggested by Mrs. Ursula Bangaan Daoey was conceptualized for the Cultural Day of the 9^th Igorot International Consultation (IIC9) in Asin, Tuba, Benguet. The production may still push through once the writings are completed.

Below are photos of events where the Apayao costume was highlighted:

◙9th Igorot International Consultation (IIC9),

Baguio Country Club, Baguio City  April 2012

◙ Strengthening Indigenous Knowledge Transmission,

A Seminar-Workshop on Traditional Bamboo Instruments and

Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity Sponsoby Lin-awa Center for Culture and Arts May 20

◙Opening of ALAMAT, a show on myths, at VOCAS

(La Azotea bldg, 108 Session Road, Baguio City) May 2011

◙A Tribute to the Cordilleran Heroes Celebration by the

Cordillera Global Network (CGN) June 2010

◙Learning the Apayao dance mentored by Bart Alatan of Vancouver, Canada

Guisad Barangay Hall, Guisad, Baguio City

"The river has no shape, but it takes on the boundaries which it carves out for itself, so is the mind boundless, until it creates a prison for its own thoughts."

~ Samurai Warrior Wisdom

ASHLEY The Little Girl's Choice

Take a sprinkling of fairy dust,
An angel's single feather,
Also a dash of love and care,
Then mix them both together.
Add a sentiment or two,
A thoughtful wish or line,
A touch of stardust, a sunshine ray...
Its a recipe, for Princess Ashley truly fine.

~Author Unknown



"With moonbeams in hand, and stardust in eyes, this girl of heaven came drifting down from the sky"... to ask if she could sit on someone's lap.

I told her my lap was prettier.. and she went bleh, blah, phew, phooo!

Oh my charm, where art thou?

She didn't like me!
Could I just sprinkle her some pixie dust?

Come,

my princess.

Have a picture with me..

She closed her eyes, and wagged her tongue... no no no bleh blah!

Special gifts come in pink packages..

and when you open them,

ooh em geee,

they have favorites!

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice and everything nice;)

Photos of Ashley Uyami, Richard D. Egmalis, and Pureza Gomeyac-Egmalis

Taken during theCapuyans of Soquib Family Reunion in Loacan, Baguio City, Philippines.

By Lepan May 2012.