Dreams List

A Dream Place at Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 06:49:00 +0000

There are so many places we thought can be found only in our dreams at Christmas. But for me who is a less-traveled person especially now that a blind special needs child is under my care, I always look forward to go to Rustan's at Shangrila Plaza in Mandaluyong City here in the Philippines, at Christmas time. How the decors are set-up are just amazing that the place transforms a senior citizen like me into a child. For this year, the photos taken from this place dominated my photos for the season.

I haven't gone to U.S. yet so I'm wondering if there are real places that can be transformed into a magical place like the one at Rustan's in Shangrila. That makes going to U.S.A. another dream for me, which will soon happen, God willing.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS and A BLESSED 2015 TO ALL !!!

Vision for Lyca

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 03:03:00 +0000

Is within ten years too long from now? It is not after ten years, it is within ten years so it is not too long, do you agree?

Well, within ten years, a retina implant can be available. From a reliable source, it is now under extensive study. I assume it wouldn’t take long when the actual implants will be available for testing. That will be another couple of years before the final version will be released to the consumers. But all of that within ten years.

What does that mean? That there is a big chance our dear special needs child Lyca and the rest of the children who are visually impaired can have vision soon! But there was a condition that the eyes shouldn’t have undergone any surgery yet. For those who have undergone surgery, I’m sure they will also find ways to have another version for such cases.

It will be traumatic for a blind person since birth to suddenly have vision, so it is not that easy to just implant and expect sudden joy from the change. If that person has light perception now like Lyca, that should already be enhanced with the use of an eye gadget.

I had so many dreams for Lyca, then I realized they are impossible dreams that can never be achieved so I just picked the possible ones one at a time, whatever she needs most. But now I realize they are not impossible dreams, thanks to technology, good doctors, and people with golden heart, all of them instruments of God because He will never stop proving how much He loves each man on earth.

A Giant Green Snake In My Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:28:00 +0000

Sometimes dreams in one’s sleep are mainly scenes that are not related but when they forecast what is about to happen, that is the time we are able to relate each scene to the others and complete a story.

On August 30, 2014, I had one of the most vivid dreams in my sleep. Instead of telling a boring story about the whole dream which came true, I’d like to tell the outcome in real life of each scene in my dream as they happened after August 30.

Scene 1: In front of me was a scenery of ships rushing on wavy waters. I looked at my back and what I saw were antique ships that were not moving at the horizon of a very calm sea. I turned to the front again and was amazed with the swift ships braving the wavy waters.

I was to make a choice between a project that was not moving and a new career where events were happening too fast. I chose the latter since it could be a start of a big opportunity leading to a better future, though it could be on “wavy waters” or maybe stormy weathers. Anyway, I thought, perhaps I could still handle the old unfinished project when needed or let it go if I can’t. After a week, I received a message that this old project will no longer be continued.

Scene 2: I was inside a plain white building with an office of a company and I was looking for a job. I was wondering why the building looked like a hospital.

The main site of the new project that I chose was at San Lazaro Hospital, supporting the “Hospitals as Centers for Wellness Program” of the government, which was initiated through GLCAM (Green Life Center for Alternative Medicine).

Scene 3: The plain building has a garden and on this garden were two glass displays, each with a coiled snake inside, but one has Chinese buddhas with the snake.

The wellness program for the hospital consists of the basic naturopath principles and methods, and TCM which was used for thousands of years by the Chinese. Integrating the two is what will make the program more effective and different and that is a challenge to educational institutions offering the Doctor of Naturopath degree. They couldn’t just remain in “separate glass displays”.

Scene 4: While in the garden with the two glass displays with snake inside, I could see another garden at a distance, and it has a coiled giant green snake lying freely on its ground. They said it is off limits to visitors so I can’t go there.

It was indeed a stormy weather that we all went through, sad to say, my group representing TCM implementing green acupuncture (needleless or electro-acupuncture), and the other group. But I have high hopes that there will be a reconciliation and successful integration, that I will not remain a visitor in that hospital and will be able to go near or even be a part of the “coiled big green snake lying freely on the garden” of the hospital, using my state-of-the-art Tiens health gadgets that helped my family for years.

A new dream product !

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 16:20:00 +0000

Last week, the classmate of my special child was so restless and irritable until I had the chance to put our Tiens Multifunctional Head Care Apparatus at the back of her head near the nape. It seemed it instantly relaxed her and after 5 minutes, she was back to a cheerful though blind kid as if nothing happened to her.

Three of the best features of this Tiens Multifunctional Head Care Apparatus is its ergonomic design enabling a person to hold it easily, touch it to several acupoints at a time, and allowing its bio-energies to work in synergy on the acupoints. At the center of 35 bio-electric acupuncture points is a low intensity laser light and optional vibration, all together shortens the therapy time.

An example of its application is at the back of the head which can be placed at the middle, between the head and nape so it covers several acupoints. Putting the apparatus on this location can clear the sense organs and alleviate several conditions like the following:

hypertension
headache or migraine
stiff neck
dizziness
flu-like symptoms
seizures

Although the name of this apparatus implies that it is for the head, it can be used in other parts of the body, especially where there is pain. What I also like about this apparatus is the smooth ends of the points because I can use it to stimulate the lung and large intestine meridians by scanning the skin of the arms which is very effective in fighting a fever without medicines or alleviating cough and colds.

Fund raising for Lyca's special chairs

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 17:05:00 +0000

In the past it entailed us to sell a property to make a dream come true. We were able to buy a high quality stroller for our special child, Lyca, when we sold our town house unit. I'm glad that there is now a site that helps people raise funds to achieve near to impossible if not really impossible dreams. It was my dream for Lyca to be able to talk, and now I have to accept that it is impossible. It was also my dream for her to be able to walk normally soon, but I am now enlightened that what matters is whatever can help her at present, thanks to the doctors who did not know each other but told me the same thing.

At first braces were suggested but everyone realized they couldn't be the best tools that Lyca would need, so my Part 1 post of "Braces for Lyca" will no longer have a part 2 which should already show her actual braces. It was decided by the doctors that Lyca will need a special wheelchair that will correct the malformations her bones have started to develop. Lyca had always been a child poured with blessings perhaps because she pours people with blessings too (not financial blessings and only God knows what kind of blessings an angel like Lyca would bring not only to the people around her but to the people who have read about her life). She was granted for free the wheelchair that she will need to correct her bones, though it is not the kind that can be brought with her wherever she goes.

The fund raising therefore will now help Lyca's sister get another wheelchair portable enough to easily bring her to her school, Resources for the Blind, four times a week, and to her therapies two times a week.

Lyca's stroller doesn't fit her anymore. A pillow has to be placed on the seat to lessen the "C curve" that causes her scoliosis. The strap of her bag hanging on the stroller serves as a head rest.

Lyca's wheelchair from Latter-Day Saint Charities and UCP Wheels for Humanity
through Dra. Maria Regina Cunanan-Espinosa

Dra. Maria Regina Cunanan-Espinosa did all the measuring to custom-fit the wheelchair for Lyca

I just can't stop dreaming for this angel that God lent me. If Lyca won't talk nor walk normally in the future, I wish I could at least bring her to a place like the United States and see how their therapies using advanced technologies could work on her for any possible improvement.

Please see the fund raising for Lyca's chairs by clicking this link: Give Lyca the Gift of Special Chairs!

You may read more about her story in this link: Story of Lyca

Art Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 15:25:00 +0000

Included in my Dreams List in this blog in 2008 was to have an art gallery run by my own foundation which I named "A LEAF". It stands for "A Life Every Artwork Foundation". But when I learned that a million pesos is needed to put up a foundation, I forgot about that dream. It was indeed an impossible dream.

My projected serious participation in an art gallery this year starting with an art exhibit was unexpected. Even my improvement in painting was unexpected, nor the tour to the Underground River of Palawan last year that inspired me was unexpected. More unexpected situations like my special child's need for a tailor-fit wheelchair as she grows that will require me to have an income to afford those special needs. What else would come unexpectedly to lead me to the realization of an impossible dream, only God knows.

What is clear so far is I will not be alone and should not be alone to realize such dream. It doesn't have to be my own "A LEAF", it could be something else with the same mission of helping a person live a life through an artwork.

The Underground River of Palawan

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 02:44:00 +0000

I think it was already five years ago when I posted in this blog about a dream travel to Palawan after finding a video about the Coron Island, one of the islands in Palawan. I did not forget about that dream travel since then, until The Underground River of Palawan became one of the 7 Wonders of the World. I had the opportunity to realize my dream of going to Palawan last year but unexpectedly, I was even able to go to the Underground River so I considered the experience a gift from God right on the day of my birthday.

The creations of God inside the Underground River were overwhelming, a bright light is just needed to see and appreciate them so bringing a camera with a flash is a must. Being able to paint some of my shots of the Underground River became another dream but I knew that could be almost impossible so I showed the photos to some artists, my brother included, but they just challenged me to paint them.

Until I was again challenged to join an art exhibit titled "Dance of Faith" this June, which I find closely related to my experience inside the Underground River because it strengthened my faith in God. I chose three views to paint, one with the tourists on the boat, one I consider an artwork of God and the last view showing the end of the tour. For me, this end of tour also depicts a new beginning because my faith in God is stronger and that will help me meet more challenges in life and fulfill more dreams from then on.

Glorifying God

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 14:47:00 +0000

I’m glad that I have the chance to do something that will praise and glorify God this Easter. It is a task I thought will just remain a dream. Last Maundy Thursday, I have started to paint an amazing artwork of God found at the Underground River in Palawan.

Indeed it was the best time to have started this painting task because as it progressed, the more I was amazed at His creation, and my amazement was coupled with praises to God Almighty.

Of course I could not perfectly paint in canvass the work of God but I will do my best to remind people that so many times, He performed miracles to let people know that He exists. He even sent His Son, Jesus Christ to show how much He loves us.

I can feel that God wanted me to do this painting now because even the circumstances surrounding me pushed me to start it. An art exhibit to be organized by a school for young artists gave me an opportunity to join the exhibit, followed by the Cherry Blossoms Festival in Washington DC where my brother did an on-the-spot painting that inspired me, and

the upcoming Holy Week.

Last year, I consider my opportunity to see the Underground River at Palawan a birthday gift from God because there was no available day for me to see it other than the day of my birthday. I wish to pay forward God’s gift by showing just one of His wonderful gifts to the Filipino people. For this painting, I will give the title “Divine Gift Underground”. The photo shows just 20% completion of the painting.

Braces for Lyca - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 02:59:00 +0000

Parents always have big dreams for their children. When a child has special needs however, those dreams tend to be diminished in number and greatness. I can be wrong though, because a lot of blind children become accomplished or great persons when they grow up. I now have different thoughts from the time I started writing this. I am now thinking, why should I think of limited dreams for Lyca? We planned to sell our piano but what if it will help Lyca become a great pianist someday even with a very weak left hand? She might be multi-handicapped due to her cerebral palsy and blindness, but only God knows what is in store for her.

My main dream for Lyca used to be for her to be seizure-free. Though we don’t notice her experiencing obvious seizures nowadays, that should still be verified with an EEG she has to undergo soon. I’ve dreamed she would also be able to walk and talk someday, but I knew those were really big dreams so maybe I should tackle the “hows” one at a time.

The rehab doctor confirmed that Lyca will need braces for her legs and another braces for her scoliosis. I will focus my time to accomplishing these two needs this coming month of April. She will also need a wheelchair. By the time I write the Part 2 of this post, Lyca should already be wearing braces. In the meantime, the video here will show Lyca supported by me (in green) throughout their presentation, unlike the other blind kids beside her who could walk on their own.

Another dream that will help support all our dreams for Lyca is for us to finally get the right bedspacers for us to have additional regular income. I'm hoping that can be very soon too.

New hopes for Lyca

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:58:00 +0000

We just came from a check-up with a rehab doctor that was referred by the neurologist looking after Lyca, our special child. Lyca might need braces for both her legs and lower torso. I hope this is still an early stage since she is still growing, and she's growing fast.

I can envision Lyca's legs straightened by the braces later, her steps normal. When that happens she'll be able to carry her upper body thus her scoliosis can be corrected. I know that can be very hard for me and my husband in the beginning, but that will make our lives easier later. Lyca and us, her family, will be happier when that time comes.

It's Harvest Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 13:22:00 +0000

I used to dream of a garden full of orchids and I even blogged about it in 2008 in this same blog. A person's dreams change over the years and this is one of those dreams because my dream now is to have a garden with healthy vegetables.

I've started experimenting with a few vegetables more than a month ago, and this is now the time to harvest!

The mustard leaves are ready but there was just one stalk I experimented on so its leaves alone won't be enough for one "sinigang" recipe, but the "alugbati", a local spinach is ready as well, so I've picked some of its leaves for my "mongo soup".

I've planted "pechay" in bulk (I didn't know how to plant it when I started) and it's almost ready to be harvested too.

My next target vegetables to be planted are tomato and lettuce. If I will be successful harvesting these two, then that will be enough for me to say that my "Vegetable Garden" dream was fulfilled!

Decluttering and Preparing for Christmas - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 10:10:00 +0000

This is a post I am obliged to write before the end of this year since there was a Part 1. The time was not enough for even 50% decluttering of what was on the list in my mind but so many revelations appeared to tell me the kind of "decluttering" that are more important. It started when my husband and I heard mass during the first Sunday of the month of December which is the First Sunday of Advent. Each Sunday of Advent was explained by the priest during the Homily and that made me realize how to continue my "decluttering" project at this time of the year.

I realized that when the First Sunday of Advent has come, I should start preparing the house for the coming of a "Guest of Honor", our Saviour Jesus Christ. I was inspired by that thought so decluttering whatever I can continued coupled with thorough cleaning, the "thorough" not part of the original plan. By the time I lit the "pink candle" during the Third Sunday of Advent, the house was ready. The "pink candle" is a symbol of joy signifying that the coming of Jesus Christ is very near. The presence of Jesus Christ as an objective in the project helped me declutter not only the house but my mind and spirit as well, though I will need a "decluttering maintenance" since some problems crop up from time to time.

So what were my accomplishments so far aside from those I've already mentioned? I've dug some magazines I can sell later and have started an inventory. I've even started a website where I can sell my books and magazines. I was hoping to include a link here but there are so many things to still be considered like including the mailing rates in the price of the books, etc.

I also needed to perform some "decluttering" of my negative thoughts like "if I couldn't sell my books and magazines where will I get the budget for our food?", so I've started to plant vegetables in our small garden in front of the house where I can easily protect the plants from pets. My "alugbati" (a type of spinach?) is now growing, I have one mustard plant, and a lot of baby pechays. They were all experimental so I will be adding more if I will be successful.

Some people are afraid to think about starting to declutter because it can cause some stress since it would mean some changes that have to be undergone in the process. But isn't a big change is what most of us wanted our government and the world to accomplish? I was so lucky that I've decided to start this dream project just in time to also prepare for Christmas because I had the best inspiration, our Saviour Jesus Christ. For others, it just occurred to me that the time is also right to start because in no time, the Holy Week is here. The more we should be inspired because we will be reminded why He was born in the first place, which was to save us. He sacrificed and died on the cross to save mankind.

A Free Brand New Family Car!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 15:05:00 +0000

A brand new car is almost everyone’s dream and although it was my dream too, I’ve never included it in my Dreams List because I knew it wasn’t possible. We got used to buying second hand cars and each that we bought was always good enough.

Well, I’m so excited to say now that I can own a free brand new Avanza family car! That was made possible by our leaders in Tiens, who have suggested to the board of Tiens Group to include that incentive for the Asia Pacific Tiens distributors who have reached the top basic rank, which is 8-star!

But wait, I’m not yet there! I’m just a 6-star distributor who couldn’t go out of the house for network marketing. I have a special child to bring to school and therapies almost everyday, and a family to look after. The latter, was the main reason why I became a 6-star, however. Through Tiens, I tried to learn everything that will help my family’s health and wellness. I learned how to use the "Tong Bao" or Tiens Acupoint Treasure, and just a few more seminars and experiences and I can be considered a TCM principle expert.

Aside from becoming a TCM principle expert (not really a TCM practitioner expert because that will entail me to become an expert in acupuncture, Tai Chi, etc.), my goal the coming year, 2014, is to become a 7-star, and that should happen before the annual awarding of incentives by Tiens in August. I won't have the car yet (sigh) but as a promoted 7-star, I will be awarded with a free trip incentive I may choose among three places and they are China, Australia or Holy Land. It might take time for me to become an 8-star and get the free Avanza car valued at US$15,000 and that is possible with the help of my friends and relatives, and if you’re one of them, I won’t be ashamed to ask you now to help me achieve this dream, be a member of my group if you’re not yet a Tiens member, because you will be helping your family in the long run and also get your own free brand new family car, or even a luxury car like BMW or Mercedes Benz if you have time to invite people around the globe to join you in Tiens and you'd belong to the Honorary ranks as a result.

Before I can get the free Avanza car incentive, you know what should happen to my downlines who are mostly my relatives and friends who have helped me take care of my family and who took care of their family too through Tiens products? They would already be entitled to a free trip of their choice among the three places I've mentioned for those promoted to 7-star, while those promoted from 4-star to 5-star will get a free trip to Malaysia or Singapore. Those promoted to 6-star will get the free Honda motorcycle incentive valued at US$1,500. If any of the 4-stars will be promoted to 5-star then to 6-star the same year, then they'll get the free trip to Malaysia or Singapore, and also the Honda motorcycle.

The requirement is so easy, just be an active member or distributor of Tiens by purchasing products equivalent to the required "business volume" of your rank every month. A 3-star for example, may just purchase a Tiens herbal toothpaste or one pack of Airiz sanitary napkin with negative ion every month, these two products both less than Php300. For a 6-star like me, I will schedule to purchase Tiens Cordyceps, Tiens Zinc and Tiens Cordycafe which will amount to less than Php3,000 per month and I will still get 28% rebates from these products, and also get rebates equivalent to 4% to 24% from the purchases of my downlines, depending on their rank (the higher their rank, the smaller I get but the faster I will be promoted).

For more information about the products of Tiens and our group, please click here which has the URL of the website I have created for my group and center my sister and I called "Haus of Youth". I will always be updating this website to make up for my physical absence.

I will always be here "in the cloud" though not at all times to chat with people, but don’t forget that God too is in the cloud and everywhere at all times, listening to everyone's dreams! It's me, Lubel/Malu/Malui/Lulubelle/Luisa/Luvell

Decluttering and Preparing for Christmas - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:24:00 +0000

The "Decluttering Dream" I introduced in my previous post (last month) is indeed a big one, I realized. But it is something that should be started and maintained so there will be a smooth flow of energy in the immediate surroundings of a person. Good results will follow because there will also be a smooth flow of energy inside the body, mind and spirit.

I am so glad that I have just converted a negative forecast into a positive outcome because I was motivated to do this decluttering project based on a Feng Shui warning on my susceptibility to illness this month, then I was blessed to suddenly see a book with tips on decluttering that will help ward off illnesses since it will result to a smooth flow of energy, like I mentioned earlier.

I started by removing the big center table from the Southeast location of our bedroom which is my sign's location as well as my husband's (Snake and Dragon). My location should be free from clutter, says the warning. Clutter is hard to remove from a bedroom but as long as they are organized in functional containers, they will be put to use as expected and will no longer be called clutter. Of course those that are no longer used among the family members' clothes and shoes should be given away. Next was what to place on the center table that I transferred to the living room. I've coincided my preparation for Christmas with my rearranging of pieces of furniture so a few Christmas decors were placed on the table, and this time, it was early enough for me to look for Advent candles. Some clutters are not bad, according to the book, like the photo albums mostly of my children that I open once in a while, an activity that makes me feel good, so they were retained on the lower part of the center table.

On the wall between our bedroom and the living room are some of my favorite things, like the graduation portraits of my son and daughter, mother and child wall carving, a small frame for family pictures, the wall clock that I cross stitched, then on top of the piano is the family of three sheep figurine which symbolizes a happy family, and since it is Christmas, my favorite house covered with snow which serves as our overnight lamp. This area, I always frame with Christmas garlands every Christmas. Christmas lights on the garland will be installed next month.

Not much change in the dining area where Mama Mary's altar is and the kitchen, except for the Christmas motif which included poinsettia flowers. Of course more chipped glass wares were discarded. I had my lesson on that because I got a cut for not discarding a chipped one.

There are still a lot of decluttering to be done in the living area since we just have a small house. Some are doable while some might remain a dream for a long time. Like the books on the display cabinet that I have to sell hopefully in the near future, perhaps some of the movies in DVDs that my husband collected though I know they are really very good movies just like the "South Pacific" we watched while I was shooting the photos here. My dream to replace the "fat screen" we had was fulfilled when we sold the lot my husband co-owned with his sister, and now my dream is to replace the "fat amplifiers" that overpower the Christmas decors at Christmas. I guess I will retain my slim Christmas tree forever, so it's the size of the electronics that have to be reduced, except for the screen of course.

The "Decluttering" Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 01:06:00 +0000

I guess I'm the type of person who gets easily bored with things that stay the way they are, and perhaps that applies to people also but in rare cases. I am fond of rearranging things or pieces of furniture at home, thinking that will eliminate the existing clutter until I feel the change developed some clutter again so that means it is time to rearrange again. When that happens, I hope to trash some items.

If there is one very good reason why I believe in Feng Shui and follow its rules, that is to be able to implement effective decluttering or rearranging at all times. I'm about to rearrange some pieces of furniture again and I have two good reasons why I should do that now. Feng Shui forewarned about my susceptibility to illness this coming period (October 8 - November 6), and I knew that the first thing and maybe the best thing that I should do is to declutter my Feng Shui location which is Southeast, and which is my husband's location too (for Snake and Dragon), or our bedroom. The second reason is something expected because Christmas season is fast approaching. This season always makes me a happier person, because I always enjoy festive objects or colors, and also blinking lights. It's about time I return the big center table which I transferred to our bedroom, to the living room.

I feel blessed because just yesterday, I found a Feng Shui book by Lillian Too titled "168 Feng Shui Ways to Declutter Your Home". That means what I am about to do is just an initial task of a big project or dream.

Unsung hero: the Underground River boatman

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:46:00 +0000

We had a very pleasant tour to the Underground River in Palawan, thanks to Raffy Rafales, the boatman who was the tour guide at the same time.

With Raffy's wit and humor, he could have gone far in any career that he chooses, but he chose to remain a boatman, entertaining his passengers during the tour to the Underground River. His punch lines would make every spot of the Underground River memorable to his passengers. Whether or not there was a script to be followed by all the boat men of the Underground River, Raffy's delivery was so spontaneous and we the passengers could feel his willingness to entertain to give us a wonderful tour.

Raffy said he had a dream which would make him own a yacht someday, but it seems he found a greater dream as a boatman and tour guide for the Underground River, perhaps not for himself, but for the Filipino people and the Philippines in general.

Thank you Raffy, for the tour that we your passengers will never forget, and will always cherish as long as we live.

Follow the Master

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 07:13:00 +0000

When I was attending the art workshops of Mr. Fernando Sena, Philippine's "Father of Art Workshops", I believed I could be good using any medium, except watercolor. But the works of the master, Mr. Sena, like his work in watercolor shown here, inspire me not to stop dreaming that there will come a time I can do a good art piece using watercolor.

My talent in drawing was discovered in grade school when we had a project to make a scrapbook of the different kinds of birds. which became one of my favorite subjects in painting like the one I did using pastel in my photo with the master, and the parrots where I used pentel pens during Mr. Sena's workshop. He had always guided his students, pointing out what is lacking in our works, or what were the mistakes we made.

Let this "big dream" of following my master to make a beautiful watercolor painting be added to my Dreams List. Perhaps another dream which I believe I share with many artists, is for Mr. Sena to soon be a National Artist. Let that dream be written in the universe' list of dreams and be fulfilled!

A Brand New Career

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 14:57:00 +0000

I wonder if a person who is considered a senior citizen would still dream of a new career. That can be too late. But if that new career can help a person maintain a good health and young looks, why not?

At this point in time, I'm not yet that senior citizen but pretty soon I will belong to their club, LOL! So it is just right for me to be prepared for that very challenging phase of life, as if I'm having a brand new career. Can you guess what kind of career would that be? It is similar to a career in culinary arts, but there is a major difference between the two because I am referring to preparing raw healthy foods, that is, juicing vegetables aside from preparing salads from them. I'd like to enhance that career soon by preparing my own oils too.

Using a multi-purpose juicer, the first vegetable juice that I've prepared was a Wheatgrass Medley juice and my first trial seemed perfect. For the 50 grams of wheatgrass, I added one half of big Fuji apple, half of a big cucumber, a long stalk of celery and about 5 stalks of parsley. The wheatgrass may be replaced with spinach, but the taste of course is more "leafy" but still good!

I am excited with this new career, I never thought I would call it a career but it is indeed a career because a lot has to be learned.

(First photo of juice shown used wheatgrass while second photo of juice used spinach, both with other ingredients mentioned above.)

(Malunggay juice using 100 grams of malunggay leaves with 200 grams of fresh pineapple.)

Those small dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Tue, 28 May 2013 15:20:00 +0000

Maybe I should also make a list of my small dreams because they are plenty! They are too small to be significant, like it was my dream for my morgana bromiliad plants to bloom flowers at the same time. Now, after several years, two of them have flowers! One plant can have only one flower which can last for up to three months and then it dies but one or two new plants grow before it dies.

I noticed that most small dreams simply satisfy a hobby or interest, or maybe that is true in my case bur not necessarily for all. I had a lot of small dreams involving the interior and exterior of the house and I noticed that they are fulfilled little by little because of unexpected situations. I have a console table that I've wanted to be paired with a mirror, which I bought separately a long time ago. But there was never a space at home for both, so the mirror goes to my son's bedroom while the console table was constantly moved from one place to another. Until my son moved to the room of my daughter who got married and temporarily we can do anything with the bedroom that he left, so at last I found a space for both the mirror and the console table together, beside the dining table.

Though small dreams remain to be insignificant, don't forget about them. The universe remembers them and keeps them in a bank and then someday soon, it will find a way for those dreams to come true. They will bring the dreamer a pleasant surprise, one that will suddenly keep life's stresses away and make a dreamer's life more beautiful!

The Kite

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:46:00 +0000

I had a very nice dream the other night because it made me feel good when I woke up.

I was with about 5 people inside a small building with a round hole on the roof. We were at the highest story of the building and we were trying to fly a white kite through the hole which was about one meter in diameter.

A few of us were holding the string trying to make it fly until I maneuvered the string and the kite finally flew until it was stable in the air. I told each one to take turns in holding the string to ensure that the kite is stable in the air.

As far as I know, dreaming of a flying kite is very good because it connotes success in one's present undertaking. It could have been a stressful dream if I was alone trying to fly the kite, but I was with a group of people, so I enjoyed the dream. I therefore would like to add to the dream's interpretation that working with a team is best for a project's success, and the team members can take turns in performing a critical role.

I was inspired by this dream, I hope you were inspired too.

Dream Performances

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:53:00 +0000

In this beautiful auditorium, so many "dream performances" were fulfilled. I am talking about the Philamlife Auditorium at United Nations Ave. in Manila. I can't remember how many concerts I have watched in this auditorium, but every time I watch a concert in another place, I always wished it was held in Philamlife Auditorium.

The first time I entered this auditorium, I was a performer myself, I was one of the soloists of our choir's version of "Help" by the Beatles. At first I was intimidated by the elegant structure of the whole auditorium. But our first song was a classic piece quite suited to the place. It was the contest piece that any group would want to give its best in such a beautiful place with a grandiose sound. While singing "Help", the more I felt the power of this place. It has the power to motivate a solo performer to give the best performance of his or her life.

Who else would want Philamlife Auditorium to live forever than the performers themselves? It is just unfortunate that what we experienced wouldn't be comprehended by people who wanted to replace this structure. How I wish there is a way to integrate this auditorium to whatever changes they plan for the whole building. How I wish..

Watch the brief view of the auditorium at the end of this song, "Man In The Mirror" by Novo Concertante Manila.

How smoking can shatter dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:02:00 +0000

Are you one of those people who couldn't stop smoking? Good if you're still young, you might still have time to make up for the anguish your mother, wife or sister is suffering because of worrying about your health. But if you've reach the age of 60, you better go to hell!

Sorry for the well, "bad words", it was just to exaggerate because sooner or later you'll be far from your loved ones who considered you part of their dreams, never to come back to make their dreams come true. And how about your own dreams? Have you replaced them in favor of your smoking habit? Are dreams not enough inspiration for smokers to quit?

How about the President of the Philippines, popularly called Pnoy whom my admiration for him has grown as time went by from the time he was elected President? Perhaps there are people like me who would like to see him always well and healthy, because his presence gives hope to the Filipino people in fulfilling their dreams, not only for themselves but for their country. If I were him, I will even totally ban smoking because they only give temporary relief but in the long run cause shattered dreams in families.

All aspirations manifest into reality

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:25:00 +0000

"All aspirations manifest into reality". This statement from Lillian Too's "Spiritual Feng Shui" book is enough to inspire me to focus on my aspirations, knowing they will soon become a reality.

I am just a bit sad though, because I still have no time to read everything to discover from this book all the secrets I need to know and practice. But I shouldn't really be sad because that feeling leads to negative thoughts. I just need to focus and avoid all those negative thoughts I think would become obstacles. I should also always remember that if I allow negative thoughts to linger in my mind, I will allow the negative energies of the cosmic universe to affect my life.

As long as I am positive about my aspirations and have pure intentions, my spirituality which resides in my mind can open the channels to the cosmic universe and its positive energies.

And as I continuously practice that, "the spiritual dimensions gets increasingly activated so that over time, both you and your house will glow with a powerful radiance."

Year end inventory of my dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 23:29:00 +0000

Four years ago, I had an inventory of my Dreams List and four items remained on the list. This post will supercede whatever were left in my list and covers the last 10 years, whether they were included in my Dreams List or not:

1. To have a smaller laptop - this was fulfilled because I had a job requiring me to travel a lot with a laptop so I was forced to buy one, and has been very useful since then.

2. To go back to Singapore - fulfilled because of a network marketing company which later became a scam putting my investment to waste. It was one third of a million pesos but the experiences I achieved I just realized now, were priceless, like attending a training where almost all Asian countries were represented making me experience each of the country that was represented, and knowing more about Singaporeans and why their country is progressive. Last but not least, I learned why a network marketing company should be chosen because of its products, not because of the marketing plan.

3. To win in Lotto - I guess that is everyone's dream, because more dreams will be fulfilled, but I realize I don't have to wait for this to happen to achieve most of my dreams.

4. To go to U.S.A. for my special child's therapies and special education program - I now have other reasons to go to the United States because I'm not getting any younger. My special child has a great program in Resources for the Blind now, though she still needs more therapies which we can't afford yet, so my dream for winning the Lotto has an important part in pursuing all those therapies, whether in U.S.A. or domestically.

5. To own a "Dream Mattress" - pertains to a therapeutic mattress, the fulfillment of which came at the right time because the "Dream Mattress" of Tiens was replaced with a new model with photon light (Tiens Photon Bio-energy Mattress).

5. To be a therapist - should pertain to therapist using acupoints or "acupoint practitioner". I guess I'm contented being an acupoint practitioner dedicated to my family members since my time is not enough even for just the acupoint therapy of my special child alone.

6. To have a wellness center - my sister already has a wellness center so my dream now is focused on her center's success. Perhaps I can just be a consultant if my time will allow.

7. For my special child's seizures to disappear - this is my most important dream at the moment, and right now, because we don't notice any seizures manifested by my special child, we might need to undergo her to EEG again since her last was more than a year and a half already. Thanks to Breuss massage done only recently if it was how the seizures disappeared, coupled with supplements from Tiens that are good for the brain like super calcium with lecithin, zinc (from zinc lactate), and for oxygen uptake in the brain and other organs, Tiens Beneficial (organic Vitamin C from Jiaogulan or Gynostemma Pentaphyllum and beta-carotene from carrot plus green tea) and Tiens Cordyceps.

8. To wean my special child from synthetic medicines for seizures - this will come next if her EEG results will not show seizures. That means I can replace her medicines with alternative therapies which include the Breuss massage, acupoint therapy and the supplements I earlier mentioned.

9. For my special child to walk normally - when my child's seizures disappear, I guess this can also be realized, but might require her to wear braces on her legs.

10. To have an iPad for the blind for my special child - like my dream for a therapeutic mattress, I wish this will come at the right time, when the technology of
iPad for the blind has greatly improved.

Angels Brought Me Here

noreply@blogger.com (Maria Luisa Taa Venida) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:19:00 +0000

If you've been good to your family and friends, angels will bring you to places more beautiful than your dreams.

Sung by Novo Concertante Manila
Photo by Bobby de los Santos

It’s been a long and winding journey
But I’m finally here tonight
Picking up the pieces and walking back into the light

Into the sunset of your glory
Where my heart and future lies
There’s nothing like that feelin’
When I look into your eyes

My dreams came true
When I found you, I found you, my miracle

If you could see what I see
You’re the answer to my prayers
And if you could feel the tenderness I feel
You would know, it would be clear
That angels brought me here

Standing here before you
Feels like we’ve been born again
Every breath is your love
Every heart beat speaks your name