ADRL Publishing

The Challenge

2022-07-13T09:53:00.003+08:00

13 July 2022

The Challenge

Mark decided to challenge himself. Not with any feats of strength, or acts of daring. It was something more difficult.

As Mark recalled, someone once said that in order to do this, one must just sit on a chair and bleed.

Mark was thinking of writing of course. Writing stories.

But this challenge is much more than just writing, which he has been pushing himself to do all these past years, with very little success.

The challenge was, or is, to write "A story a week".

Insane, Mark told himself.

It was not an original idea of course.

Mark read about it from an accomplished Filipino writer who posted about it on Facebook. And he perhaps copied it too from somebody else.

It wasn't such a new concept, but something to push aspiring writers to ...sit down ... and bleed.

So this is where Mark found himself this morning, staring at a blank screen, in front of his digital typewriter.

Looking around, he tried to get inspiration on what to write.

He saw mugs full of pens and pencils ... a story about pens and pencils, on who are the more dominant objects in their universe ... maybe ...

A box of tissues ... a story about the people who make boxes and boxes of tissues and toilet paper, and how they became important workers of society during a great worldwide pandemic (inspired by the toilet paper rush and shortage during the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic) ... maybe

Mark glanced at the air conditioner in front of him, and thought about ... nothing .... not even about the air conditioner technician who installed the unit three years ago... or about a global air conditioner in a world destroyed by climate change, and is trapped inside a bubble, and the family that operates this Globo Air unit to provide comfort cooling and warmth, and clean air to breathe. Maybe there is something there....

Yes, Mark thought, there might be something to this challenge.

Now, where to start.....

Mark looked to his left, and saw a framed certificate of his, received more than forty years ago, telling of his green belt in Karate, which he received when he was around ten years old.

The certificate was framed in glass, and the light coming from the fluorescent tube light above gave it a mirror like surface.

On this frame Mark saw himself, hands on the keys of his typewriter, pondering the challenge he set for himself.

Mark smiled, and knew where to start.

THAT FACE.

2018-04-11T07:47:00.004+08:00

That Face.
by Alan Mark

(Photo from Hubble Space Telescope)

That... Face

by Alan Mark

I didn't know what to make of it. Of all my years with the Homicide Division of the Mars Planetary Police Force, I had seen my fair share of unusual crimes. But this one baffled me.

Exo-Archeologist Rupert Jones arrived from Earth a week ago. It's kind of funny, I thought, that Earth would send an archeologist to a place that's been pretty much lifeless, like Mars. What's not funny, is that Jones is dead and I don't have a clue, specifically how and why.

Jones, who I found out was called "Indiana" by his teammates, (supposedly based from an old popular film on archaeology), was on a fact finding mission. He was sent by the United Earth Federation to look into the suspected disappearances of some settlers, in a camp approximately one hundred and fifty kilometres from the Mars Alpha Settlement.

The Alpha settlement, set up around four decades ago, was the first and only populated settlement on Mars. Two more settlements, Bravo and Charlie, are being prepared for coming migrants in the near future. The camp that Jones was assigned to investigate was inhabited by early Mars settlers who refused to join the official UEF sanctioned Alpha settlement group, when the UEF started developing the planet's terrain.

I was assigned here several years after the settlement started, as a rookie Federation Officer (although I had a few years with the UEF, Australian Space Agency branch in Adelaide). In the many years that passed, I, the former Constable Simon Santo, rose up to the rank of Chief Superintendent, answerable only to the Mars Federation Police Commissioner (and technically, the Mars Governor).

“Indiana” Jones was the leader of the exo-arch team who went into the camp, on sector 17 Mars Planetary Terrain, a few days ago. Twenty four hours later, he was dead. My investigation turned from a suspected homicide, into a most interesting case, the moment I arrived at the crime scene.

I got the call from the station just as I was finishing my breakfast, and I went straight from my flat to Unit 3-F, Building 5, Main Street, Alpha Settlement, where Jones was booked for his stay here in the red planet. It was just a few blocks where I lived. On the way there, I felt like it was going to be just one of those ordinary days. I was even humming my favourite song. I believe it was called "That Face" or something, from a very old musical. Forgive me, I have a thing for old musicals. Hmmmmm..hmmm. I felt so good this morning that I actually tried to sing the ditty while climbing up the steps.

"That... face, that face, that glorious face... that makes my spirit rise. That gaze, those kissers, this visage I see...could lead to paradise..." Hmmmm...hmmmmm.

It was a good thing I had a small morning meal, 'cause I would have risked embarrassing myself once I saw the body. Jones was slumped, seated at his desk chair, obviously dead. What made the sight horrific, was Jones's eyes were burned and empty, as if someone held a blowtorch directly into the sockets.

What made it even more strange than the many gruesome murders I had seen in my long and eventful life, was that Jones was smiling. Not just any smile, but his face showed a sense of happiness that was so, for the lack of a better word, pure, that one cannot help but think that he actually died ...happy.

Yes, I actually thought dreamily ... happy ...happier even, than anyone, even myself, would probably ever get to feel. Or so I was thinking. I shook the feeling off, removing that ridiculous thought from my mind, and started to go to work.

I did all the usual stuff, looked for signs of an attack or a struggle, checked for prints, interviewed the neighbours, and turned everything in the flat upside down.

I ordered the forensic staff to take the body to the lab and examine it thoroughly. They came up with zilch. There was one interesting component in this crime scene however, that I felt was crucial to the case. Jones had set up darkroom in the windowless toilet inside the flat. This was not unusual for the exo-archeology types like Jones.

Darkrooms were a very old set up of processing non digital photographs. Many decades since digital photography was invented, there were still a small group of people who insisted on taking pictures the old way,through photographic film. It was a cumbersome and expensive way to take a photograph. Aside from the equipment, which cost dozens of times more than the usual cameras, one had to know someone who knew how to process it. It had its advantages though. Photographs from film cameras did not require batteries and there were a lot of places in the universe, not to mention Earth itself, where you couldn't recharge your cameras once the juice ran out.

We were taught about this stuff in the academy. You had to load this thing called a film roll into a camera, and after the picture was taken, remove the film from the canister, in a room without any light since the film was sensitive to it, and could be ruined if exposed, hence the term darkroom. In almost total darkness, one had to dip the film into some chemicals until the images appear on the film. After that, you insert the film into some sort of projector where it will cast the image to a piece of specially made paper. You then had to dip the the paper into chemicals, again. Only then would you have a print.

There was a small table, next to the sink, that was filled with trays that had some pungent smelling liquid in it. Above it appeared what looked like a clothesline, with some clips. On the table, a spool of film, and near it, was an empty, popped open canister. At the far end of the table was a projector like device, sort of like a hanging flashlight.

There was a bunch of photographs next to a printer on the table, and some were scattered on the floor. I also found a voice recorder on the desk. I ordered Ruiz, a rookie on the scene, to bag all the stuff and have it analysed. And then I went home.

That was a week ago. So far, I had nothing to explain how Jones was killed, and who may have done it. There were no signs of entry inside his flat, which was locked from the inside. It was only when his teammate picked him up that morning and he was not answering the door, that the police were called and his body discovered.

There were no reports from the neighbours of any sound or unusual thing that would have indicated an intruder or attacker. All Jones's team could tell him was that the day before, they had just returned from the Mars Alpha Settlement camp site that they were investigating, and found nothing but what seemed to be remains - bones and ashes, of the early settlers who lived there.

Stories were told about this group, who, after setting up their own camp, established something like a cult. This was not a strange thing to happen, as history has shown that many groups of people tend to gather based on certain beliefs. Some, like this group, were branded as cults, but some just wanted to live by their own set of rules. These settlers, who volunteered for the first few trips to Mars, were said to have done so, in search of their "god".

This group claimed that they felt Earth was so drowned in so called sin, that "god" would have deemed its inhabitants hopeless, and this prompted them to leave.

This group of settlers, who called themselves the Seekers, felt that Mars, or any other unspoiled planet away from Earth, would be their best hope in their search to see their "god".

The authorities branded them as harmless fanatics, and thought that they even made perfect volunteers for the Mars expedition.

During those days, there were not a lot of people who would want to make the trip and relocate to Mars. And, establishing a large enough population was a key objective for the UEF. It was only when there was no contact for the last few years with the so called Seekers, that the Mars Authority decided to request, for a team from Earth, to investigate what could have happened to them.

The authority of the Mars police was limited inside the settlement, and the Governor felt it prudent to send an Earth based exo-archeology team, who was properly trained for this purpose. With the Earth authorities breathing on his neck on the preparation of the Beta and Charlie settlements, he did not want any untoward incident to spook future migrants in making the trip to Mars.

Together with the voice recorder found in Jones's flat, where he spoke of what he found in the camp, the statements of Jones's team members gave an eerily puzzling picture of what happened to that group. What Jones and his team found in the camp was unsettling. They saw signs of dwellings, makeshift tents, beds and tables, storage boxes, and other living necessities. But,the camp was empty, according to the voice recording, and statements made by Jones' teammates. This somehow confirmed the report my own men have given me,upon visiting the camp.

What Jones also found, as I continued to listen to the recording, were pieces of what seemed like human bones, as well as ashes, probably from decayed and decomposed bodies. Jones and his team found no records or any information that may explain what could have led to the disappearances, or, assumed deaths of the settlers. For sure, it was not because the area was uninhabitable.

During the early days of exploration, the UEF was able to implement Genesis Bombs all over the main areas of the planet, that stimulated and developed the conditions that made the area liveable for humans. Even the team of Doctor Rupert Jones, Senior Supervisor of the UEF Exo-Archaeology Division, entered the encampment without any life support systems. The air was a bit heavy, but not toxic. There was ample water supply in the streams, and the area had lush vegetation and trees.

In fact, the team reported, the area was actually very well developed in terms of flora, with vegetables and fruits all around. One of them even jokingly said, although crudely, that it looked like the f*$%#ng biblical garden of Eden.

One of the more interesting finds that Jones and his team recovered was a non-electronic Nikon film camera. It was one of those very old camera models. According to Jones's voice notes (later reviewed by the lab and a transcript sent to me), the camera contained an undeveloped film roll. It had the markings of the film manufacturer - Kodak, with a label saying ASA 400 – 25 Exposures and ID# 387-760. I noted that the ID number and other markings matched the canister found in the darkroom at Jones's apartment.

Jones, according to his teammates, was very eager to get the film roll back to his flat, and spent the next few days setting up the darkroom from equipment they brought with them from Earth. Jones' assistant reported that he planned to process the film himself. And he seemed to have done it the night before his body was discovered. He messaged his team just around ten p.m. (Mars time), that he had already finished developing the film, and was soon going to make prints. That was the last they heard of him.

I had just gotten the report from forensics,saying that they could not be certain how the burn marks in Jones's eyes were inflicted. There were no other signs or indicators that may explain the cause of death. It just seemed that his heart stopped beating, around the same time his eyes got incinerated.

I tried to get some information from the lab about the roll of film. It seemed that they didn't have the equipment to examine it or make prints. All they could gather was, with the exception of one, all exposures of the film was just blank. After doing some research on non-digital photography, I noted that it meant that all the other frames weren't used to take an image and that only one frame, out of the twenty five exposure film roll contained an image.

A quick look by holding the roll of film against some light showed that it looked like a bright abstract shape, but I couldn't tell what it could have been. The forensic staff could not be sure what it was either, until they find the equipment, materials and chemicals that could come up with a print.

Unfortunately, such resources were not available in Mars, and the archeological team had already left for Earth yesterday, together with the body of Jones (to be returned to his grieving wife and daughter), and bringing along all their equipment with them. I wasn't sure if I wanted to proceed with what my gut was telling me.

All I had was a mysterious killing, in strange circumstances, with a roll of film taken from a group of god seekers. I decided to have the roll of film sent to Earth and have the UEF office in Adelaide have prints made of that one image. I bagged it, labelled it accordingly, and dropped it off at the front desk where it would be picked up later and sent on the next ship back to Earth. I told them to send me a copy at once.

The next few hours, I decided to sit back and accept that there was nothing else I could do unless new evidence pops up. I was about to call it a day, when I noticed an evidence bag on my desk. This was one of the first ones collected by Ruiz, the rookie, and I realised that it has been sitting there all week, instead of being in the lab where it should have gone through analysis. These newbies, I thought, you have to spell out everything for them.

I grabbed the bag and in it was a bunch of papers, and a stack of printed images. I was about to read the notes, when some of the printed photos caught my attention. I could see that the other prints were images of the camp site, probably from Jones's printer. This other one however, was not flat. It was curled up. I brushed away the photos taken by Jones, and saw the curled one facing upside down. Slowly, I took the photograph, and flipped it over.

I, Mars Police Chief Superintendent Simon Santo, suddenly smiled. So this is what happened. The Seekers did find what they wanted. And who would have thought, one of them even had the audacity to take a photo using an antiquated film camera.

They were able to see the face. And Jones had seen it too. There and then, my mind, and heart filled with so much happiness at the face I was seeing on the photograph.

And as my eyes slowly burned and melted, and my heart started beating so fast it felt like bursting, I could not help but recall my favourite song, with a smile filled with so much joy.

"That... face, that face, that glorious face... that makes my spirit rise. That gaze, those kissers, this visage I see.... could lead to paradise..." Hmmmm...hmmmmm.

Futures by Mary Squillace

2017-03-06T06:26:00.004+08:00

Sharing a wonderful short story link from nycmidnight.com :

Futures by Mary Squillace
Competition: Flash Fiction Challenge 2016, 3rd Round
Genre: Open Location: A trading floor Object: A scrapbook
Original Illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg

Click HERE

Or copy paste link below:

Link: http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/FFC/Stories/Futures.htm

Image taken from webpage.

“…Will Set You Free.” by Noah S. R. De Luzuriaga

2015-02-28T07:32:00.001+08:00

Hello, gentlemen and-…no ladies? Figured not. Not just a secret new world order, noooo, you’re a sexist secret new world order. Ahem, my apologies, esteemed autocrats, let me introduce myself. My name is Mickey Doherty the third, proud descendant of ideological crusaders dating back since the dawn of humanity.

For generations, my forefathers have fought for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing BUT the truth. The truth that YOU, with your money, lies and vaccinations, have kept hidden from the people. The truth, that you have managed to lock up inside your underground vaults, sky cities and lunar colonies.

The TRUTH.

Ahem. But you know all of that. You probably know everything, every scrap of human history, every thought that has gone through the head of every member of Homo Sapiens Sapiens on this planet.

EXCEPT FOR MINE!

Even now, hehe, your top scientists have yet to pierce my consciousness, you wanna know why? It’s the tinfoil implants under my scalp. You took away all my tools, all my defenses, but you didn’t see that coming, did ya?!

Oh I’m sure you can remove it now, but that doesn’t matter. The damage is done, and this time, you are not recovering. No coverup, no purge, no filtering of any sort will stop the truth from getting out. You have no one but yourselves to blame. You’ve gotten complacent, careless, and my network has managed to grow, right under your noses!

But I digress. I suppose, before the world breaks out in total revolt against your despotic grip, and finally shakes you off, you’ll want to know how I managed to defeat you.

I’ll tell you. Oh mama, will I tell you. It all boils down to one word, you see.

Leak.

Yes, a leak! Ha! You smug tyrants, thinking your control over us was so absolute, you never expected an inside job! It appears that one of you has some sense of decency, unhindered by human cruelty, reptilian cunning, and alien genetics.

It was on March 22^nd, 2019, yes, I remember the date exactly, that I was approached. Me, Mickey Doherty the third, approached to free humanity from its prison!

It was a sunny day, that March 22^nd, I must commend your weather machines for doing such a fine job, and on this sunny day, I was in my tent, foil – lined of course, working on my pigeon laser, which I had happened to extract from some files from one of your labs in Poland. Going outside to refill my oxygen canister, I saw a cat.

I’m afraid I can’t recall exactly how I realized it was an agent of yours, perhaps it was the triangle on its collar, or maybe the fact that the cadence of its purrs, when put to morse code, spelled out the opening passage of “1984” in Latin.

Yes, we have broken that particular code. Anyway, what matters is that I did know, and I knew, despite all my best efforts, I had been found.

Your blasted cat knocked me to the ground before I could raise my weapon, and throttled me into unconsciousness.

When I came to, butt naked and hanging upside down in one of your lightless cells, I knew that I was going to die. I was scared then.

Not now, I’m not afraid of you bastards now, but back then, I was terrified. To die like some NOBODY, at the hands of the puppeteers, with nothing to my name! You can bet your collective shadowy asses I was terrified.

Then, suddenly, out of a door of light, a figure entered. A man! Probably. Not really sure, in hindsight. Regardless, this…figure, told me that he or she was one of you. I tried to activate the cyanide capsule in my tooth, but it had already been removed. I thrashed, and struggled. My source, your traitor, calmed me by promising me what I wanted most. The truth.

Your leak let me down, and gave me back my hat, my suit, my thermometer, even my instant death capsule. With not a single world more, he directed me towards a computer. This computer, you see, was the sum of everything you were, yes I’m using the past tense, seeing how your organization is about to keel over.

This computer had EVERYTHING on you. Every assassination, every celebrity scandal, every famine, every insidious toothpaste ad! The Christmas season mass hypnosis, the stock market crash, global warming, all YOU! And now I had the proof. I had not known true happiness until that moment, esteemed committee of slavemongers, I was so giddy, I barely felt the hypodermic needle in my neck.

Sigh….you bastards really can’t do things the easy way, can you? Not even your turncoats. When I woke up from the effects of the drug, I was next to my tent, with a USB in my hand. That’s when I knew things were going to get very fun. For myself, I mean, obviously not for you.

The rest of the story, you may know, surely you must have picked up on it. You’ve got eyes, ears and noses in every nook and cranny of this planet. It took months of proper encryption, preparation and planning before I could even THINK of distributing this information. I had to call on every ally, all of my contacts. The ones in the underground, those behind enemy lines in corporate media, every guerrilla journalist, activist and agitator that has ever fought for your exposure, I called, they came. I promised them the motherlode and they answered.

Soon, the networks us warriors of freedom had built up over the centuries was spreading the news, the truth, to all corners of the globe. You cracked down quickly, but every show of force only revealed yourselves further. You managed to catch me with your clever disappearing toilet trap in New York, you’ve questioned me, and now you will kill me.

I’ve told you everything that matters. I will die a happy man. You will die as monsters deserve, in the fires of justice.

I found the truth, and the truth has broken you.

Good day, gentlemen.

( Image borrowed from : www.iwantcovers.com )

The Bitbag articles

2014-04-19T06:27:00.000+08:00

The Bitbag - Sept. 2013
Articles written by Alan Mark De Luzuriaga for The Bitbag - www.thebitbag.com -
for Sept. 2013

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Abbot Hit for being like Bush and for Lack of Women and Science
by Alan Mark De Luzuriaga

Tony Abbot named his front bench on Monday the 16th of September 2013. And immediately, the much heralded new Abbot immediately morphed into the old one. That is, if one is to believe the criticisms that are are being hurled right after the announcement. A major cause of the criticism is the lack of women in the 19-member cabinet. The only woman in the cabinet is deputy prime minister elect Julie Bishop. Abbot himself expressed “disappointment” that there were not “at least two” women in his cabinet saying that he expects more women to be promoted and join the front bench over time.

The prime minister-elect, however showed a cabinet that is very much experienced. His senior ministers, numbering 15, have all served under former Prime Minister John Howard. As Australia's last conservative minister, Howard is considered by many as Abbot's mentor, having brought him into the Howard cabinet in 2001. These selections of ministers, however, are igniting other criticisms on how Abbot will most likely mirror not only Howard's policies, but that of former President of the United States, George W. Bush. It can be remembered that Howard once referred to himself as Bush's “Deputy Sheriff” in the region and pundits are pointing out that Abbot might take on that role as well.

Early indications from international observers, as well as comments from foreign leaders have indicated that they perceive Abbot as a leader in the same “mold” as former President and Conservative Republican George W. Bush. Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom tweeted that he was delighted to work with “another center right leader”. Tim Stanley, a columnist for the UK's Daily Telegraph declared Abbot's win as a victory for “Christian Conservatives”. Abbot has campaigned on a mixture of conservatism mixed with populism and this combination seems to have been a winning formula as evidenced by his victory. But, critics are predicting that his conservative and right wing agenda will be more evident in the days to come.

An indication of his policies, like his stand on climate change, can be gleaned from his non-appointment of a science minister. It is noted that since the establishment of the office in 1931, this will be the first time that Australia will not be having a Minister of Parliament that will be directly answerable for the development of science in the country. Critics are “confused” and “disappointed” that something as important as science and technology will not have a minister to oversee its mandate in dealing with health, industry and other affected sectors. Abbot decided that the science portfolio will be divided and shared between the ministries of Education and Industry.

Abbot's “slow and steady” manner in assuming his post in government is definitely not stopping the judgments and opinions on his recent actions. So it is probably prudent on his part not to recall parliament at this point saying he would only do so until some form of legislation is needed. He has also managed to sidestep questions about the budget by deferring the budget review till January 2014, amidst criticism by the opposition that he is trying to evade scrutiny on the so called “budget emergency”. The one area, he is not evading, though is his policy on asylum seekers and vows to “stop the boats” once he is sworn into office. His admission that it is a “stand or fall issue” on this matter, just might, like other matters that are being raised against him at this early juncture, decide how his government will rise up to the challenges in the coming days.

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Aquino Spokesman Lacierda To Resign if Tatad Proves Tales On Napoles

President Noynoy Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda said he will resign his position if former Senator Francisco Tatad can prove his allegations that the President had indeed met with Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged leader of the syndicate behind the pork barrel scam that is creating massive political earthquakes in the Philippine political arena. The meeting was supposed to have taken place hours before Napoles surrendered to the government. Tatad has implied in his newspaper column of impropriety on the part of the Philippine President for giving Napoles special privileges.

For the past several weeks, the Napoles “Pork Barrel Scandal” has created shockwaves that have the potential to bring down the political careers of countless senators, congressmen and government officials that are allegedly involved and have pocketed billions of Pesos in government funds. The “Pork Barrel” fund refers to the PDAF – or the Priority Development Assistance Fund that is allocated by the government for projects based on the recommendation and approval of legislators. The Pork Barrel Fund has long been accused of being used by politicians to influence their constituents and calls to the legislators for its abolishment for many years has fallen on deaf ears.

A criminal complaint filed against Napoles had inadvertently spilled a can of worms when it was discovered that Napoles headed a syndicate for many years (dating back to the administration of disgraced former President Gloria Arroyo – herself facing charges of plunder) that created fake organizations that received the pork barrel funding approved by legislators . Napoles would pocket a huge percentage of the fund while she provided the legislators with a share of the released budget. Current reports indicate that more than 10 Billion Pesos of government funds have been pocketed by Napoles and the legislators who conspired with her.

Francisco Tatad, a former information minister of ousted President and dictator Ferdinand Marcos, wrote in his column that Napoles met with President Aquino and other government officials for a period of six hours on the 28^th of August, the same day that she surrendered to the authorities.

Lacierda challenged Tatad by saying that “ If he can prove to me that Napoles had lunch with the President, I will resign, simple as that. Let me also say that if he doesn’t prove his claim, then he should stop. He should apologize to us. I mean, we’re giving him too much news already. It’s all used. It’s all not true, obviously.”

He added that Tatad continues to invent “tall tales” against the President without any evidence or proof. Tatad has yet to identify his supposed source inside the Aquino government. Lacierda said that he is still waiting for Tatad to reveal who his source is and prove his allegations.

Tatad meanwhile has made additional charges that President Aquino allegedly conspired with Napoles herself to use 49 to 69 Billion Pesos worth of pork barrel funds to bribe members of the lower house to support the passage of the RH or reproductive health bill and also to guarantee the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

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ASEAN : Relevance in the Asian Era of Prosperity and Conflict

By Alan Mark De Luzuriaga

It has been several years ago when the current times had first been declared as the Asian Century. And it may be rightly so. Not only with the rise of China as a superpower at par with the United States, but, also with the positive development of a number of Asian economies, from the perennial Asian Tigers like Japan, Singapore and Korea and the rapidly growing Asian Cubs such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

This dynamic region is also home to a Forty six year old economic and geopolitical organization known as ASEAN, short for Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Currently composed of Ten countries (from the original five founders – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Philippines), ASEAN has strived these past decades to foster economic cooperation as well as promote peace and order in the region.

In the past years, ASEAN has struggled to establish itself as a power bloc, primarily because of the internal problems and instability that each member country had to prioritize. Likewise, direct interests in dealing with the United States, Europe and China has made its commitments to its Southeast Asian neighbours secondary in importance. With the rise of China as a major superpower in the recent years, members of ASEAN continue to find itself with conflicts of interest in establishing itself as a relevant grouping. On the other hand, relaxed trade barriers and access to markets between member countries and with China has resulted in the rapid growth of these Asian economies.

Recent territorial disputes within the South China Sea / West Philippine Sea is a possible litmus test for the identity of ASEAN as a relevant organization. The Spratly islands, a grouping of 750 islands have a total land area not exceeding two square miles. However, they are believed to have massive oil and gas reserves, enough reason for its six claimants, namely China and Taiwan, as well as four of the ASEAN members – Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, to risk possible conflict and confrontation. How ASEAN will manage to mediate between its member countries, as well as deal with China and Taiwan on this matter may be the biggest challenge yet to this alliance.

In 2012, serious confrontations erupted between China and two ASEAN members – Philippines and Vietnam – over the islands. Both ASEAN nations have accused China of sabotaging its oil exploration activities. China has sent an array of warships into the disputed territories to display its superior military might. The Philippines has called on their treaty with the United States to counter the Chinese show of force and renamed the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea. But, in all these disputes, ASEAN has never taken a solid stand. It was only recently, in August 2013 that ASEAN announced a unified statement. And this is only to say that they are one in convincing China to sit down and talk on the long delayed completion of the code of conduct on the South China / West Philippine Sea.

Many have longed for ASEAN to make the quantum leap as an organization and make it as relevant as other international alliances such as the European Union. In the recent 22^nd ASEAN Summit early this year in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, the leaders of these ten member countries met under the theme of “ Our People, Our Future Together”. These coming months, amid the climate of global economic growth and uncertain conflicts, ASEAN will have more than its plate full to once and for all, after almost fifty years of existence, prove its purpose and importance as an influential and relevant confederation in the international community.

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A Surprising New Abbot Enters a New World

By: Alan Mark De Luzuriaga

Australia has just elected a new government over a week ago and all eyes are on Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbot. Since the opinion polls practically showed him winning even before election day, political pundits have made countless predictions on how Abbot was going to run the government to the ground from day one. His reputation as presented by his opponents with the help of unfriendly media did not help counter the projection of a “crazy and misogynist” leader once he is sworn in. His verbal blunders made him an attractive target for many a doomsday scenarios for his administration. So what has happened since?

The recent campaign, surprisingly proved his detractors wrong. Once described as not having the temperament to be a world class leader, most especially in handling foreign affairs, Abbot was able to transform his persona into somebody else, surprising even some of his most vile critics. Many observers noted that Abbot conducted himself as a serious candidate and erased doubts about his electability. Even as his opponents tried to resurrect several of his political gaffes during the campaign, Abbot was able to cultivate and maintain a positive image long enough to last until judgement day. His reportedly usual style of frenetic and confrontational interaction was replaced with a slow and calm demeanor, especially during the last days of the campaign.

Since his election last September 7, 2013, The newly elected Prime Minister has not held a press conference in the week that passed, but instead has met with his potential front bench members and his defense chiefs. His office has also indicated that he has communicated with a few international leaders in the past days. His caution at making announcements on possible changes he is implementing once he is sworn in has caught a number of political figures and commentators by surprise. People have even downplayed a few verbal boo boos such as comments about the sex appeal of a female candidate and a simplistic remark about the crisis in Syria.

In a meeting with his Defense Chiefs early on before assuming his position, Abbot is projecting an image of preparedness, in particular, in the defense policies of his administration. Although defense, like foreign policy were peripheral issues during the campaign ( with the economy taking the lead issue), he is showing the public a new person that is more in tune with the new post he is about to occupy. Defense issues are going to be a prominent part of his agenda in the coming days as Australia enters into its presidency of the U.N. Security Council and amid the backdrop of a growing and volatile situation in Syria.

As Australia assumes the chair of the G20 in 2014, Abbot also needs to prove his critics wrong in showing a new kind of foreign leader that is ready to continue steering Australia's role as a leading trading nation and a significant and reliable contributor of foreign humanitarian aid. His position on Syria vis-a-vis maintaining relations with the United States, Europe and China will also test his mettle on the myriad of issues that need to be handled on the foreign affairs front.

No one is betting that these new changes that were evident during the campaign and his first few days after the election will stick, or eventually disappear into the Abbot of old. His supporters on the other hand, are saying that this new person is the real Abbot all along. For all Australians and the rest of the world, all eyes are indeed on the old and the new Tony Abbot and the new world he is embarking on.

HEAVEN HAS NO PLACE FOR MONSTERS. By Noah S. R. de Luzuriaga

2013-12-10T12:14:00.001+08:00

HEAVEN HAS NO PLACE FOR MONSTERS.

By Noah S. R. de Luzuriaga

The little girl waited in the shadows. Daddy wasn't home yet. Daddy had forgotten to pay the power bill again, so she couldn't even turn on the lights. Needless to say, she was very afraid.

There wasn't any food left in the fridge, she thought, but there might still be some water. Looking about her, the little girl tiptoed out, believing that monsters were watching, from the darkness, all around her. But that was silly. Monsters weren't real, she thought.

Reaching into the fridge, the little girl, out of that strange animal instinct that we all possess, spun around. It was then she saw the figure in the dark, the monster in the shadows.

She didn't scream, she knew from experience that screaming never helped, but she did run. Hands, gloved hands, so strong and unyielding, grabbed her. She didn't fight back. She just waited, waited for the monster to eat her.

“Where is your father?” said a voice that was harder than rock.

The girl wouldn't answer, she was too afraid.

Then, the monster took off its face and the girl realized, it wasn't a monster, it was a man.

“My name is Bruce. What's yours?”

“Joy”, said the girl, who liked the new man's voice better than the monsters.

“Joy. That's a pretty name. Are you here on your own?”

“Yes. But Daddy will be back soon.”

“Where is he?”

“He's off being a superhero. He goes up, up and away, saves people, beats bad guys. He's very strong, handsome, a little bit like you, but with yellow hair.”

“Your father's a superhero?”

“Yup.”

Then the nice man, Bruce, she remembered, looked sad. She wondered why. Maybe he was just jealous of her Daddy.

“Joy.....I ….”

The door opened. Joy turned to look at it, and when she looked back, Bruce was gone.

“Daddy! Daddy! You just missed him, there was a monster, then a man named Bruce, and ...”

She didn't finish the sentence....being backhanded by your father would shut anyone up.

“Shut your trap. Get me a beer.”

“But, there isn't any...”

The father, the “superhero” raised his hand, and Joy ran before she could get another smack.

A thousand thoughts swirled throughout Joy's mind. She'd been a bad girl, disturbing her father. There was nothing in the fridge but water, so what was she going to do? And where was Bruce?

She heard a scream, from the other room, from her daddy, but it wasn't an angry scream. It was a scared one. She rushed into the other room, and saw the monster holding her daddy in the air with one arm.

“Put him down. YOU PUT HIM DOWN.”

“Joy”....it was Bruce's voice, coming from the monster's mouth.

“Please put him down. He's my Dad”.

The monster whose name was Bruce dropped the father. Without another word, he walked out. Joy ran to her father, who looked like he was asleep, and the poor girl tucked herself in next to the father who was her world, her guide, her hero.

In another, similar dark place, the monster took off his face once more, and talked to his butler.

“Alfred, contact Gotham social services. Have them get Joy. Get her out of there, away from HIM, away from that....that....”, Bruce stopped, sat back in his chair.

“She protected him Alfred. She had no idea who he really was. To her, she was perfect. Why couldn't she see?'

“Master Bruce, sometimes, the most downtrodden simply close their eyes, thank God for the experiences of life, no matter how horrible it is. “

Bruce simply nodded. He knew evil, faced evil. But this?

This poor girl was in hell, made all the worse, simply because she thought it was heaven. And heaven has no place for monsters.

(photo courtesy of :http://darknesswithinshadow.wikia.com/wiki/The_Odium)

Haiku #2

2013-08-26T10:04:00.000+08:00

Haiku # 1

2013-08-26T09:53:00.001+08:00

Start your own New Christmas Traditions!

2013-01-23T08:08:00.001+08:00

Published in Northern Living / Southern Living Magazines (Print) 2012
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Start your own New Christmas Traditions!

by Alan & Ching - R. de Luzuriaga

Television shows and shopping malls have started to remind you that the yuletide season is coming. As we ponder on Christmases past and the great times we had with our families, we cannot help but yearn for equally meaningful and memorable ways to celebrate the coming holidays with our loved ones.

There are many wonderful Christmas Traditions. The Christmas tree, donating to charities, a visit from Santa, and Christmas programs are but some of the usual practices that have been enjoyed by countless families.

For those who would want something different, here are some new ways to make your own Christmas Traditions.

1. Welcome a less fortunate family into your home. - Many families give to charity, volunteer in feeding programs and throw parties for the less fortunate. This Christmas, why not make it closer to home. Invite the family of your household employee or community worker over for a Christmas lunch, complete with gift-giving and other activities. Make it a different family every year. You and your children would give a whole family immense joy on this occasion as well as give you heart warming memories as the years go by.

2. Eco-friendly and money-saving Christmas decorations - Instead of spending on decorations, re-use materials to make your home festive. Assign each family member an area to decorate (ex. Mom - living room, Dad - dining area, Children - garage, patio, kitchen, etc...). Make sure that everyone uses only existing household materials like newspapers, magazines, bottles, jars, candles, cartons, cans, cardboard, etc.. ( you're allowed to buy glue and adhesive tape) to create decorations such as Christmas trees, wall decor, wreaths, a Christmas Belen, lanterns and the like. Guests during the Christmas season will marvel at how you and your kids decorated your home for the holidays - the creative and environment friendly way.

3. "Translate your favorite English Christmas Carol to Filipino" - Singing is part and parcel of Filipino celebrations and Christmas is no exception. The use of sing-along machines as well as the ever dependable guitar, make Christmas day a musical experience for many families. To create something different than the usual karaoke night, why not create some semi-original numbers from the staple Christmas classics. Translate your favorite English Christmas Carol into Filipino or the native family dialect. Performing such novelties will surely make the Christmas program something you will not easily forget. And who knows, you even might perform these "originals" in the family reunion.

4. Capture it on Video ! - The digital video camera has been an indispensable tool to capture memories for many families. But, it can be more than just a way to preserve those delightful moments when the kids open their gifts and shout with glee.

Using the video camera and editing software in creative ways can make Christmas celebrations truly remarkable and memorable . Try some of these out.

A) Instead of forcing your chubby Uncle to get all made up to play Santa Claus, (Kids aren't fooled as easily nowadays, anyway), make a video of Santa climbing down from the roof and placing gifts under the tree ( make sure the children are all asleep when doing the video shoot). Show these to the kids when they wake up, right before gifts are handed out and it will add magic to their Christmas morning.

B) Gather the old Videotapes, video disks, and scanned photos, of the yearly Christmas celebrations and edit the highlights in one video show. Seeing how your family celebrated the occasion through the years will give everyone a smile. Don't forget to take a video of the coming celebration and edit it in for next years gathering. Do this year after year after year, and see how the family and the kids have grown as time goes by.

C) Make a Christmas Video greeting and post it in Facebook or email it to your family and friends. Not only will it be cheaper than sending greeting cards, it will also add a special touch for those who receive your on-cam holiday greeting.

5. Hold a Christmas Master Chef competition - To prepare for your Christmas feast, let everyone pitch in by making a Christmas dish - from a simple ice cream sundae that the kids can make to Mom's special salad. You can pick a a Food Theme if you like - Filipino Food, Dessert, Anything goes, etc... and let Grandpa and Grandma be the judge. The winning dish earns bragging rights and gets to be a regular dish every Christmas to be prepared by your very own family's Christmas Master Chef 2011!

6. Family Christmas Run or Bike trip- Get physical and prepare for those extra pounds to be gained later in the day. Wake up to an early Christmas morning and see the sun rise while going on a family fun run around the community. For those who prefer biking, hop on those wheels and start on an early family bike trip to your favorite trail. Don't forget to wear Santa hats / helmets to mark the occasion.

Christmas is all about love and family. And the best way to celebrate it is by making your own Christmas Traditions to be shared and handed down through generations.

Holiday Stress Busters!

2013-01-23T08:06:00.002+08:00

Published in Northern Living / Southern Living Magazines (Print) 2011
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Holiday Stress Busters!

by Alan & Ching - R. de Luzuriaga

It is every bit ironic that the Christmas Season - the time that is meant to remind us of love, family, peace and harmony, is the same period where people get all worked up and stressed out. Most Filipinos take the Christmas activities very seriously. Traditions and practices unique to the "Diwa ng Pasko" ( Spirit of Christmas) make the season ( and usually, even the month after, when the credit card bills arrive) even more hectic, busy and stress-filled. In order to make this Holiday period more relaxing and enjoyable, try out these suggestions to make your celebration worry free.

1. Plan your budget. - Spend what you can afford. Keep those credit cards locked up. Whether it is for the Christmas party, or for gifts, keeping it simple and affordable will bring the same fun and enjoyment to everyone. For a more organized and detailed plan, use free spreadsheets like CALC in OpenOffice ( www.openoffice.org ) or free cash management software like GNUCASH ( www.gnucash.org ) to track those expenses. Remember, the first Christmas was held in a lowly stable, and you are only obliged to give expensive gifts if you happen to be one of the three Kings.

2. Schedule it & make a list. - It doesn't matter if you use a pad, an organizer, or a smart phone... fix that schedule and you will avoid mix ups on those important activities. Write down not only the things you need to do, but also your gift list. Jot down ideas on what to get them and cross them out once you have wrapped up the goodies. This will also help you spend less time thinking and looking, when you get to the store.

3. Shop early, Start now ! - We start our Christmas shopping in January. Seriously. This might be too extreme for some, but if you happen to see something appropriate and specially "On sale" for a friend or family member, why not buy it and place it in a special "Christmas Box or Cabinet". Make sure to label the gift so as not to forget who it is for, as well as cross it off your list. With 11 months to do your shopping, not only will it be un-hurried, but you will also get the best prices for the items on sale. Check your "Christmas Box" when the season is about to start and be amazed how much shopping you have already accomplished. Start now!

4. Learn to say NO! - Not only does everyone throw a party, but you get an invite to each one. To keep your sanity, think hard on which affair matters most to you, personally and professionally. Make time for these important functions and decline - with a heartfelt thanks - those other gatherings.

5. Pick a Gift theme. - In order to avoid heading to countless malls and stores (think of the horrendous Metro traffic) to pick that right gift for the right person, why not decide on a theme for all the gifts you plan to give. Personalized items - towels, mugs, pens, T-shirts, jackets - enable you to order all the items in your list, in a single store. Food items can be ordered in one pastry shop or fruit baskets from a single stall owner.

6. Work - the stress - Out! - Nothing gets rid of unwanted stress and worry like a good workout. Whether it be in a gym, a treadmill at home ( we recommend the TRX Suspension Training Kit - www.trxtraining.com ), or a run and bike ride in your community, sweating and stretching is a sure way to beat those stressful moments when they cannot be avoided. Make time for it during this holiday break.

7. Outsource your Kitchen. - Gone are the days when Moms would slave away all day in the kitchen to have something scrumptious for the Christmas table. Many restaurants and caterers are open on Christmas morning ( and even in the afternoon, for some). All it takes is a phone call to have that hearty feast ready for your family and friends. It is best to order days in advance.

8. Rest & Relax. - Sneak in a full body massage at home or a trip to the beauty salon / barbershop for some rest and relaxation between all those hectic activities. The time off will result in a more pleasant time not only for yourself, but for your kids and relatives as well, when they see you all calm and serene amidst all the hustle and bustle.

9. Be a Manager and delegate. - We always think that we need to do things ourselves to get the best results. That may be true in many cases, but why strive for perfection all the time. Sometimes, it is those little flaws that make the celebration more exciting and memorable. Learn to pass on some of the responsibilities to your spouse and kids, as well as to co-workers and friends. You'll be surprised how willing they are to help, and may even be flattered that you asked for their assistance.

10. Count to ten & breathe. - When the cork is about to pop or when the kettle is simmering, don't lose it. Remember that all problems have a solution and all annoyances will pass. Count to ten...slowly...and take deep breaths with it. And when the stress reaches its boiling point, ask yourself...What could be the worst thing that could happen? You'll be surprised that it is not as bad as you think.

Last piece of advice....think happy thoughts. Christmas, like every moment of our life, is what we make of it.

FIRST TIME SCHOOLERS

2013-01-23T08:04:00.001+08:00

Published in Northern Living / Southern Living Magazines 2012

FIRST TIME SCHOOLERS

by: Alan & Sylvia de Luzuriaga

It's a tough world for kids.

In their first few years, they get doted upon as if the whole world revolves around them, making them feel safe and secure, until, the dawning of the age of preschool.

All of a sudden, they get thrusted into a scary world full of strangers with tons of things to do.

And that's when the tears flow, the shouting erupts and the tantrums start.

But, there are some ways to turn the frustration and confusion of first time schoolers into moments of love, affection and support.

According to Jennifer Wana - author of How to Choose the Best Preschool for Your Child: The Ultimate Guide to Finding, Getting Into, and Preparing for Nursery School, preschool time can be an exciting time for the whole family. We just have to make sure we know the correct WHY, WHEN, HOW, WHAT & WHERE of our first time schoolers' experience.

WHY - Why do we need to send our kids to preschool?

For one, it helps them form relationships that help their emotional and social development. It trains them to be independent and gives them a feeling of self worth. It also gives them the confidence to make their own decisions. Schoolwork develops their language, cognitive, math, literacy and motor skills. And lastly, it prepares them for higher academic levels.

Of course, activities at home can also provide them with many lessons and skills . Which is why it is important that we also know the WHEN.

WHEN - When do we need to send our kids to school?

There are parents who start early and send their kids to school at the age of two. However, other parents prefer to follow the norm of four or five.

So what is the ideal age for your child? It's time to get to the HOW and find out.

HOW - Preparing your kids for preschool is also the best way to find out if they are ready or not. Before the school year starts, you will need to have your kids evaluated by a school (not necessarily the one you will eventually choose) .

The results of the evaluation will help you know what to do. You have to talk to your kids about the new experiences they will be having. In the summer months, introduce them to group settings like summer classes. Visit the school they will be attending so the place won't be that "new" and "strange" once school starts.

A wonderful suggestion by Ms. Wana is to use school terms inside the home. Playing with their clay set becomes "Art Time" and having their merienda will be "Snack time" or "Recess". Another good tip is to read books and watch movies about first time schoolers that will put your children at ease.

Recommended Books:

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn
My First Day at Nursery School, by Becky Edwards
What to Expect at Preschool, by Heidi Murkoff
I Love You All Day Long, by Francesca Rusackas

One last but vital advice is this. NEVER talk about concerns and worries in front of your children. You would not want to give them ideas that school is a place that they should be afraid of.

Now that you know what to do, you can start choosing WHAT kind of school you will be sending your children to.

WHAT - What kind of preschool education is right for my kids?

All schools fall into two categories – "Child Centered" or "Teacher Directed".

According to Babble Parenting Guides ( http://www.babble.com ), "In a child-centered classroom, children choose what activities they want to do and when to do them. "

"Teacher-directed classrooms have a more structured feel, as teachers tell the children what activities to do and when they will do them."

All other teaching styles or methods such as Play-based, the Montessori method, the Reggio Emilia approach, the Waldorf philosophy, and the traditional school method all fall under these two above-mentioned categories.

It would be worth any parent's time to look into these various systems and approaches as they all have their own advantages.

Once you have chosen which kind of schooling you prefer, the last step is the WHERE.

WHERE - Which school do I send my kids to?

First thing parents have to do is to check out the school. Bring your kids along. Watch their facial reactions as you go around the school and make sure to ask them what they think. They are never too young to know what they like or don't like.

For those of us in Metro Manila, it is also important to consider the traffic situation. The time spent traveling and being stuck in traffic, specially if your kids are running late, might just make everyday stressful for your kids. This would dampen any learning experiences your children could potentially receive on that day.

It all boils down to knowing what we want for our children, and preparing ourselves and our kids for their voyage through the world of learning and life.

KEEPING THE LOVE WITH "COMING OF AGE" KIDS

2013-01-23T08:02:00.000+08:00

Published in Northern Living / Southern Living Magazines (Print) 2011
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KEEPING THE LOVE WITH "COMING OF AGE" KIDS

My son, Luke, turned eight years old this year. Being the youngest of my two sons, he was always used to being the "bunso" or youngest, and relished the part, most specially when he wants to get his way with me, his mom and his "kuya" (older brother).

It was then a pleasant surprise when he started reminding everybody that he wasn't five years old anymore, that he was a grown up eight year old and that he should be allowed to do some things by himself, particularly ....walk along a street or in a parking lot area, without anyone beside him (he hates it when we hold his hand); go inside a public restroom cubicle alone; talk to older girls without his mother looking over his shoulder and eavesdropping on the conversation.

We got the picture.

Our eldest, Noah, just turned into a teenager himself. He adapted very well into the role of an older brother since he was five, and his independence and maturity was no surprise. But turning thirteen, was also quite significant for us as it was for him. Sleep-overs and going to his favorite mall shops without us is happening more often.

So does this mean our babies are all growing up fast and there is nothing we can do to keep them close? Or will the coming years be filled with an endless tug of war between youthful independence and parental control?

Not at all, not yet anyway. Here are some thoughts, for both Mom & Dad, as well as growing boys and girls, and teenagers, on how to make the most of "coming of age".

For grown up kids and teenagers:

1. All you need to do is ask. - It's in the nature of parents to protect their young. But it is also our dream to see you independent and capable of fending for yourself. We just don't know exactly when you need us to back off and let you fly. So you'll have to tell us, and despite our protestations, we will give you the space to spread your wings. But we need to know when, and where, and how. Help us out.

2. Don't be afraid to fall, or make a fool of yourself. - As you turn seven, or eight, or thirteen...you will be finding the need to try out new things, without the help of Mom or Dad. Buying stuff, crossing the street, and most definitely, when talking to the opposite sex .... do not be scared as we will be always there to catch you or pick you up. And no matter what other people might think, you will always be the best and most wonderful child to your parents.

3. What is the worst that can happen? - When you are trying out things for the first time - joining a new group or club, first time at camp , or again, when dealing with the opposite sex, - your imagination might always get the better of you, telling you that things may turn out to be a disaster. But, instead of fighting it, do think about it. Always ask, "what is the worst that can happen?", and you will be surprised that it is not as bad as you imagine it to be. And even if it does happen, you will realize that life will go on anyway, so you might as well go and do it.

4. You will always be Mommy and Daddy's Baby.- Even when you feel all grown up and ready to take on the world, I bet there are times that you wish you could snuggle up to Mom and Dad when you're sleepy, or just give them a hug 'cause you feel like it. I will let you in on a secret - Mom and Dad love it. So go ahead and do it. Hugs, snuggles, and even kisses, will always be a welcome.

5. Let us in, sometimes. - With "coming of age", comes the need for privacy. We know we have to keep out of your stuff, or not read the text messages on your phone, and stay away from your computer. But it would help if you keep Mom & Dad in the loop. It will help us understand who you are as a person and how to treat you best ( specially if you need something ).

For Mom & Dad:

My wife, Ching, and I, have found a few tricks to keep our relationship with our boys as tight ( or even tighter) than ever. It's all a matter of making the time and putting in the effort in giving our kids the independence they want but still be the best friends they can ever have.

1. Look for common interests. - Noah and I share a passion for comic books and science fiction stories. I always make it a point to ask him to tag along when I go to comic book stores or when I get some new sci-fi books or DVDs. Common interests are not limited to fathers and sons only. Fathers can find common things to do with daughters the same way mothers do with sons. If you haven't discovered it yet, just make a list of things you like to do and run it through them. You'll be surprised.

2. Set up a regular date in your favorite diner.- Although food, any kind in any place, is definitely something you and your kids enjoy together, there will always be that one special restaurant where your kids feel special. Be it the food, the ambience, or even the free toys that come with the meals. Make it a once a month habit that your kids will always look forward to.

3. One-on-One time. - For those with more than one child, spending time with one particular son or daughter, away from the siblings and your husband or wife, is a way to make the child feel special. It could just be a stroll in the park, or a bite to eat at the mall. The time and attention you spend with one particular child will enable both of you to focus on each other and strengthen the bond between you two. As with the dining, make it a regular thing that your son or daughter will surely look forward to.

4. Make ordinary trips a special time together - I bring my two boys regularly to the barber shop, sometimes together, sometimes one at a time (depending on their hair growth and their hairstyle preference). For my teenager, Noah, we sometimes use this occasion to go for a walk, going to and back from the barber shop, instead of using the car. The 30 minute leisure walk enables us to talk about anything under the sun, grab some ice cream, and get some exercise as well. My eight year old, Luke, always looks forward to the trip to the barber shop ( he used to hate haircuts) since he knows we always pass by his favorite novelty item store going home.

5. Always have space in your bed. - Stormy nights or a really scary horror movie might just convince your grown up kid or teenager into sneaking up onto Mom & Dad's bed. It is nice to let them know that they are always welcome to snuggle up and have sweet dreams anytime they feel like it. Their is nothing like a warm embrace while sleeping to let them know how much you love them....forever.

No matter what age they are, and how independent they grow up to be, the love between parent and child will always remain as long as we say it and show it the best way we can. As our family's favorite children's book says... " I'll Love You Forever, I'll Like You For Always, As Long as I'm Living, My Baby You'll Be".

DADDY'S DAY OUT!

2013-01-23T07:58:00.002+08:00

Article written for Hinge Inquirer Publication Magazines (Print). - Northern Living ; Southern Living

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DADDY'S DAY OUT!

Great Father's Day treats for the month of June.

by: Alan D. R.de Luzuriaga

CELEBRATING FATHERHOOD

The first Father's Day celebration held in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910 was thought of by Sonora Smart Dodd while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in her church. She immediately thought of her father who lost his wife and had to raise six children on his own.

Ms. Dodd wanted to honor fathers like William Smart, and was able to convince people to go to church on that day wearing roses: a red rose to honor a living father, and a white rose to honor a deceased one.

Since then, Father's day is celebrated in most countries, the Philippines included, every 3rd Sunday of June.

This month, Fathers who have shown their dedication as responsible providers and loving Dads can look forward to more than roses to honor and celebrate the occasion.

To Dads, new and experienced, here are some wonderful ways to treat yourself this month.

4 Ways to Celebrate Being the Man of the House!

1) Dad on the Run - Give your body a much needed workout by joining a marathon or a fun run in your community. Let the wife & kids tag along to truly make it a memorable family activity.

(For SOLI)

Join the 2010 Philippine Independence Day Marathon on June 12, 2010, 4.30 a.m. at the Fort Bonifacio Global City. Featured events are 5k/10k/15k/ and 21k runs. REGISTRATION FEE is PHP 300 (Inclusive of singlet, race number and certificate). You can register at the following :

CIE - Makati, Gold Tower 107 Palanca St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

ROX - Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City

Contact: Mitch (632) 888-0909 ; Ces 750-4555 ; Malou 0922-8481494

(For NOLI)

You can join the Freedom Run 2010 on June 13, 2010 at the Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. Featured events are 3K / 5K / 10K / and 21K runs. This event is for the benefit: St. John the Baptist Educational and Scholarship Foundation in San Juan.

Registration Fee:3K (P450.00), 5K (P500.00), 10K (P550.00), 21K (P600.00)

Registration starts from April 30 to May 29, 2010

Registration Centers: (April 30 – May 14) - V-Mall information Booth, Greenhills Shopping Center.; Toby’s Glorietta 4, Makati City.; Toby’s, Mall of Asia, Pasay and North EDSA. Race kits may be claimed from May 30 – June 6 at the Tiendesitas Tent Lobby, 12 NN to 8 PM . For those in the Greater Manila Area , an additional P100.00 can be added for race kits to be delivered straight to your doorsteps. For inquiries, please call 8975008 or 09228367990 and look for Ana Salas.

You may also participate in the OCAI Run 2010. This inaugural fun run for humanitarian projects and south pole expedition is happening on June 27, 2010
at the Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Featured events are 3K / 5K / and 10K runs.

Registration fee for this event is Php 400. Registration period is between April 30 to June 20, 2010 at all Mizuno Stores

2) Gadget Time - Dads will never be the delightful little boys that they really are without their big boy's toys, gizmos and gadgets. Bringing home the bacon every single day becomes all worthwhile when Daddy gets to work and play with these wonderful stuff:

a) Nooka time - Be soft and sexy for the wife, bright and bold for the office gang. And tell the time in a way only you can. Express your mood with the Nooka Zub 20, the polyurethane band Nooka watch.

The Nooka Zub 20 Zot displays the hours as a progression of 12 dots. This design feature allows the watch to display the month on the same display with the date in the seconds window. Features chronograph and alarm 38 x 38 x 8mm / 20mm wide band. Water resistant to 3ATM. Price: Php 6,700.00

Nooka watches are available at : Rafael Jewelery, Level 2, EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City, Tel. # (+632) 636 3398 and at : My Diamond, Level 2, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City, Tel. #(+632) 757-1086

b) Lights, Camera, Action - Release the hidden Speilberg in you with the Flip Mino HD. Weighing only 3.3 ounces, the Mino HD features a super-slim design that fits in any pocket. You can start recording within 3 seconds of power-up and with a simple one-touch recording, making HD videos are easier and more fun than ever.

The Flip Mino HD Captures 1 hour of those incredible family moments in HD video on a 4GB built-in memory. No need to worry about battery charging as its internal lithium ion battery recharges through a built-in USB arm.

Once you shoot your cinematic masterpiece, the built in FlipShare software makes it easy to email videos and upload them to Facebook™, YouTube™ and other sharing sites.

The Flip Mino HD is priced at Php 9,900.xx at GOGADGETS , Unit 309, 3/F, computer Graphics Inc. Bldg., # 23 Gilmore Ave., New Manila, Q.C. Tel. # 727-8611

c) iPad : the Ultimate Treat - Definitely, the ultimate gift to oneself is the gadget that everyone wants to get their hands on. The iPad. With it's Multi touch 9.7 inch display and 150,000 Applications available, the iPad is the best way to experience the web, video, photos, music, email, facebook, twitter, and so many more stuff you cannot do on any other device.

Although available in the United Sates since April of this year, the iPad is coming to the Philippine shores at a convenient Apple Premium Reseller near you. Or you might want to check out the online Apple Store - Philippines at : http://store.apple.com/ph

3) Spa Service- After taking that gruelling run or work out, reward yourself with a relaxing massage treatment. And since most Dad's are not too comfortable going to Spa's, the perfect solution would be to call up a Home Spa service. Home Spa services provide therapeutic massages for those aching muscles and weary bones.

Call up:

Massage R' Us : Try the Full Body Massage - Php 250 / Hour

Muntinlupa / Cavite/ las Pinas / Paranaque - Tel.# 3844003; 7073687 or Mobile: 0918-8273529

Makati / Taguig - 387-9999 or Mobile: 09209673529

Total Therapy: Try the Ultimate Relaxation Massage- 75 minutes-Php 275.xx

Makati - 5127457 / 9074740 / Mobile: 09163506300

Ortigas/Q.C. /Greenhills: 572-3104 or Mobile: 0908-1476655 / 0922-8868258

4) Chill & Relax - Since it is your day, you can opt to spend it with rest and relaxation in mind. Grab that book on the shelf that you always wanted to read, explore your neighborhood once more by taking a short hike or just lay back and catch a DVD or listen to those favorite tunes in your MP3 Player.

This June, enjoy being a Father in so many different ways. But most of all, the best way to celebrate being a father is to spend it with your kids. As the saying goes - "Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a Dad."

Sidebars:

a) Great Father's Day Dining - Nothing makes Dad's smile so sweet on their special day than a hearty and delicious meal. Surprise your Father with a family treat in one of these culinary destinations.

Pepper Lunch- Treat Dad to some sizzling fine steak cooked before his very eyes with Pepper Lunch's proprietary electromagnetic hot plate. Visit : www.pepperlunch.com.ph

The Power Plant Mall, Concourse Level , Makati, Metro Philippines Tel: +63 2 895 3164 Fax: +63 2 895 6185 Hours: 11am - 10pm

Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Garden Court Level Tel: +63 2 634 3231 Fax: +63 2 631 6410 Hours: 10am - 11pm

Alabang Town Center, 2nd floor Corte de Las Palmas, Alabang Tel : +63 2 856 7062 Hours: 11am - 9pm

Greenbelt 5, 2nd floor - Phase 1 Makati Tel : 482 4319 , Hours 11am - 9pm

Cafe Año - Discover the old world charm with your Dad, where the food is delicious and the place is quiet, soothing and calm. Located at Westgate Alabang, Cafe Año offers a Sunday Family Buffet for Lunch and Dinner: Php 350.00 per Adult & Php 175.00 for children 6 years old and below. Address: 807 – 808 Westgate Precinct, Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa. Tel.# 771-1281, 771-1282 (telefax) Restaurant hours: 7AM – 12MN Sunday – Tuesday, 7AM – 2AM Wednesday – Saturday (Happy Hour from 4PM – 8PM daily)

Sango - For those Dads who crave for a good burger treat, bring him to Sango - The Burger Master where American Burgers turn Japanese. Sango is where your father will be treated to a new kind of gastronomic treat and where the service is fast and efficient. Visit www.sangoburger.com

Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City, Phone no: 5563182 5563185 Mobile no.: +63 9237041723 +63 9228852790

Rm. 5 GF, Creekside Mall, Amorsolo St., corner Herrera St., Legaspi Village, Makati City Phone no: 8300391 8894445 Mobile no.: +63 922-8852772 +63 923-2805796

South Supermarket Alabang Zapote Road, Phone no: 7712201 Mobile no.: +63 922 885 2248

6 level Shangri-La Plaza Mall , Mandaluyong City, Phone no: 6820377 Mobile no.: 0922-885-2325

Zong - With its truly authentic Cantonese fare and Zen dining ambiance, Dads will enjoy the good food and relaxing experience. Truly a place where dining is redefined. Visit: www.zong.com.ph . Restaurant hours: 11AM to 3PM, 6PM to 11PM daily

Westgate, Filinvest Corporate City 771-1428, 771-0864

Bonifacio Global City 889-0472, 889, 0479

Paseo De Sta.Rosa, Laguna 0928-4509484

Centris Walk, Quezon City (Soon to Open)

Mamou - Claiming to be a home kitchen, Mamou is being too modest. Although definitely not a fine dining restaurant, the food is extremely good and "reminiscent of hearty, comfortable home-cooked meals of a different era". Treat Dad to Mamou's steak dishes that are said to be truly brilliant.

Serendra, Fort Bonifacio 856-3569 , 0917-8162668

3 best things about Fatherhood:

1) Fathers not only pass on his family name and bloodline to his children. More importantly, fathers pass down a legacy that he hopes will be passed on to succeeding generations. Values such as hard work, honesty, caring for others and many other ideals embraced by fathers are lovingly passed on to their children and to their children's children.

2) Sharing Fatherhood with a Great Mom. Fatherhood is the other half of the parenthood team, taking equal responsibility for the upbringing of children. From making life-changing decisions to simply spending quality time with the kids - like walking them to school, playing in the yard or preparing their food. It is this special partnership that makes fatherhood so special.

3) Is that Fatherhood is Hard ! The greatest thing about being a Dad is how mundane things are simply, never that mundane. Simple things like reading a bedtime story, watching a movie or or washing the car with your kids are always an adventure. Before being a Dad, we always thought our lives were complete. And were we wrong about that. Each day is waking up to a whole new and different world and that's what makes being a father great!

Draft of Chapter 6 - NOAH & LUKE – TALE TRAVELLERS by Alan Mark De Luzuriaga

2012-11-23T07:25:00.001+08:00

Draft of Chapter 6 - NOAH & LUKE – TALE TRAVELLERS by Alan Mark De Luzuriaga

JACOB - LORD OF THE GREMPIRES

Noah & Luke was never as scared as they were now. They would always pride themselves in being brave. Against monsters and creatures, real or imaginary. But this was different. They did not only know where they were, they also feared that they would get stuck in this place and never get to see their parents again. Never be able to find them. And if they could not even get themselves out of this fix, how in blazes do they even get to rescue their mother and father.

Mark & Sylvia just disappeared from their very presence. One moment they were there, and the next, they were gone. Where they went and if they were taken, no one knows.

Noah and Luke took it upon themselves to save their parents from whatever evil it is that took them. They have gone into this quest knowing full well that it was dangerous and that they could not be sure if they will end up dead or even worse, erased from the tales of Libris.

The book, "Jacobi, Lord of the Grempires", was one of the scariest books that they have read since they were a child, and it was a good place to start as any. So they picked up the book, as they were instructed by the Lord Arkivist, and "hurled" themselves into the story.

They found themselves in a dark world, unsure of the surroundings.

"It must be night time", Noah muttered.

"Well, I sure will be freaked out if this was daytime", Luke answered back. "Do you have the book with you ?"

"Of course", Noah countered, showing Luke the object in his hand.

" What in blazes is happening to the book? Luke screamed.

"What do you mean?", Noah replied.

He could not believe it even if it was happening right before his eyes. The cover of the book, which showed a picture of a Dark overlord surrounded by a mob of blood soaked Gremlin liked creatures, was fading into some sort of bright light. And instead, the image of a Dove and a Horse, the same illustration used in their parent's used book shop, was imprinted on the cover with the title - Noah and Luke's Not So Used Books.

Of course, Noah realised. The same book that brought them here was transformed into a book that would bring them back to their home and sanctuary.

He readily explained this to Luke and his brother calmed down with the realisation that they were not as helpless as they thought they were.

" Do you mean that we can go back anytime to the bookshop? "

"It seems that way." said Noah.

"Well then, we should be on our way and see if this is where Mom and Dad disappeared to."

Noah nodded and they trotted on to the direction they were facing to having any idea where to go anyway. After walking for an hour or so, they saw some lights dancing up ahead. It looked like flames on torches, or so they hoped. Torches meant that there were occupants in the area that could point them to the right direction. They only hoped that it was a friendly group they would encounter.

"Wait a minute" said Luke. "I think we should stop and make sure that they aren't Grempires."

"Don't you remember the story at all? Grempires don't live on flatlands. They stay on mountains and live in caves. These are surely Wolfmen."

" I just want to make sure, that's all", Luke answered back. " If I remember the book correctly", Luke said with a bit of sarcasm, " Those Grempires not only suck the life out of you, but they chew on your flesh and bones as well".

"You got that right", Noah uttered under his breath.

"We better move in slowly then, and remain undetected. Follow me".

Noah then started to walk slowly, with a slight crouch towards what seemed to look like a camp site of sorts. Luke followed him quietly. This was one of the few times Luke followed his older brother without any resistance or snide remark. The thought of Grempires reminded him that now is not the time to engage in any sibling rivalry.

The two brothers gently crept up to the edge of a hillside, looking down on the campsite below them.

Draft of Chapter 1: NOAH & LUKE – TALE TRAVELLERS by Alan Mark De Luzuriaga

2012-11-23T07:23:00.000+08:00

Draft of Chapter 1: NOAH & LUKE – TALE TRAVELLERS by Alan Mark De Luzuriaga

“ All stories are real. In other realities, our lives are their tales. Our words and actions are the stories they read in their books and dream about in their sleep. “
----------------------
The door chimes rang as the door swung open. The sign hanging by the door swaying with the wind as a customer left with a bag full of used books. The N&L trademark distinctly shown in the paper bag holding it. The same logo swaying with the doorway sign. A Dove and a Horse, wonderfully drawn to spell out the names Noah & Luke. Mark & Sylvia named the shop after their two boys. The used-book store - NOAH & LUKE'S NOT SO USED BOOKS - opened two years ago and served as a home and sanctuary for the Barrett family ever since they transferred from River County.

Mark & Sylvia were busy attending to the steady flow of customers. The difficult economic times forced many folks in the community to opt for used-books. Text books and paper back fiction have become more expensive through the years and the rising unemployment made the used-book business thrive.

Luke, an eight year old precocious kid was playing on the floor in between the back shelves, his two action figures fighting each other. His older brother, Noah, was seated in one of the stools, reading his digital e-book reader with serious focus.

Both are home schooled children and spend much of their day inside the bookshop, either doing their school work or just hanging around while their parents work.

The door chime rang once again. After a few moments, the Desk Bell rang, and rang again.

Noah raised his head and saw a customer waiting impatiently for someone to attend to him.

"I'm sorry, my parents must have taken a break", Noah said to the customer politely, although he never saw the cashier desk left unattended before. Noah knew how to transact a sale and proceeded to ring up the customers orders and collect the payment.

"Mom, Dad, where are you? Noah called out the moment he heard the door chime ring as the custom left.

There was no answer. He called gain with a louder voice.

"Luke, can you check if Mom or Dad are out the back. I can't leave the counter".

"Okay", Luke said grudgingly as his playtime was interrupted.

A few minutes later, Luke came back saying they weren't there. Noah asked him to check upstairs. The Barret family lived on the second floor of the bookshop. A few minutes passed and Luke came running down saying they were not there either.

Noah was starting to get worried.

2012-06-13T09:24:00.001+08:00

LOST SOUL

by Alan de Luzuriaga

(A song ; originally written as a poem - 1993)

Why do I feel lost

Whenever I'm alone

Why do I feel blue

When I am on my own

Listening to the Radio

Spew out songs of love

Words of comfort

Like raindrops from above

I don't know what to do

Don't know what to see

What is it I am looking for

O what I am to be

I gaze out to the heavens

Hoping that I'd find

Whatever I am looking for

My soul, my piece of mind

(Image from "Lost Soul Project /

louises-sketchbook.blogspot.com" )

Sleepless

2012-06-13T09:20:00.002+08:00

SLEEPLESS

by Alan de Luzuriaga

(7/15/1993)

Eyes blinking

Lights glimmering in the

Wee hours of consciousness

Wind

Blowing through the room

In a force so shattering

Papers, laid across the floor

With printed names of friends

So long ago

And now so remembered and heard

We are here

In frames of glass

With thoughts

Unknown and unsaid

With stares of uncertainty

Into those who look

Look and see

Square Images

And Square memories

Waiting to be embraced

For Eternity

That has yet to be

(image from: lukepraterswordsalad.com )

Noah's Birthday Poem for Mom

2011-04-07T17:48:00.000+08:00

Noah wrote this for his Mom for her birthday:

A cool shade underneath the baking sun
A benefactor of joy & fun
A special smile when you are feeling sad
A soothing voice, to calm you when you're mad
A true inspiration to us little ones
So forgiving and kind, even when we're punks
Dear Mother, you are our light
We thank you for teaching us wrong from right.

We love you Mom! - Noah & Luke

AWESOME ARACHNIDS by Noah S. R.de Luzuriaga

2010-12-16T10:30:00.005+08:00

This was given to me by my son, Noah for my 45th Birthday.

AWESOME ARACHNIDS by Noah S. R.de Luzuriaga

Max ran through the dark hallway, wondering where he was and where the spiders were. There was almost no light in the hallway, but Max knew that they would still know where he was. The entire building was very creepy, but with the addition of the spiders, it was a nightmare. Max Peterson was absolutely terrified of spiders, ever since he was five years old. Max was a normal ten year old kid, except for his arachnophobia. When he was five, a spider crawled onto his arm while he was sleeping. Max woke up and saw it crawl across his skin just before the spider painfully bit into his arm. His parents brought him to the hospital because they thought that the spider was poisonous. It wasn't, but Max was still very scarred by the whole event. He had come to the old decrepit waste disposal plant on a dare from his friends. The disposal plant was a remote location, far enough away from the town where he lived, but still within biking distance. After thirty minutes of biking with his friends, Max and his buddies walked to the plant and entered through the broken down front door. Max was told that he would have to head to the center of the plant for the dare to be finished. Upon going through the front door, Max and his friends heard a soft pitter-patter across the floor. To Max's horror, the sound came from dozens of spiders. The spiders were unnaturally large. They weren't the size of Godzilla, but they were larger than any other spider known to man. These things were like eight-legged dogs. Max's friends ran for it, but Max couldn't bring himself to move, due to his arachnophobia. When he finally came to his senses, the bloodthirsty spiders were close enough to bite him. Since the spiders were blocking the front door, Max had no choice but to run through a dirty and completely dark corridor. Max tried to see if any of them were in front of him. As far as he could tell, there weren't any spiders in front of him. However, he heard the soft pitter-patter noise again, coming from behind him. Max ran for it, not noticing one spider crawling on the ceiling above him. As Max was running, the spider on the ceiling dropped itself directly onto Max. It was like the others, large, and with hair like a tarantula's. Its gross mandibles reached forward, eager to bite poor Max. Max wrestled with the freak of nature and managed to toss it away. It continued to chase him, always trying to bite Max, as if it were possessed. Max ran as if the hounds of hell were chasing him, and in his mind, they were. The lone spider jumped at Max, its eight limbs spread wide, hoping to trap the boy. Max was knocked to the ground. He desperately reached for anything that could help him. Fate must have smiled on him that day, because his hands managed to grab a loose brick. Max pummeled the spider in the face with the brick, not stopping until its head was a puddle of goo. The rest of the spider horde finally caught up with Max, so Max began running again. Max did not stop for anything, which was a shame, because if he had stopped running forward, maybe he would have noticed a hole in the floor just in front of him. As Max stepped on the hole, he fell. The entire floor in that part was quite fragile, so it all crumbled down as well. When Max came to, he found himself in a strange hollowed out cavern. "Spiders must have hollowed it out", he mumbled to himself. Max started walking through the dark, creepy cavern, wondering if he would be able to get out. Suddenly, he heard a spider behind him. Strangely, he didn't hear the soft pitter-patter sound to which he was terrified of, instead, he heard loud footsteps, as if something large was behind him. Max was afraid to turn around. Inch by inch, he faced the monster. It was a monstrosity. It looked very similar to the other spiders, except for one small factor. It was huge. This creature was the size of a car, and could easily devour Max whole if it wanted to. And it certainly did want to. The giant spider lunged at Max. Thing is, its size made it slower than its lesser arachnids, thus allowing Max to barely jump out of the way. Angered at having its prey escape her, the spider turned to face Max, who was scared out of his mind. Stay strong Maxie, he thought to himself, barely holding back tears of terror. That was what his dad always told him whenever he was having trouble overcoming a challenge. This was quite possibly the biggest challenge he would ever have to face in his entire life. The spider grabbed at Max, but it only managed to get a hold of Max's hoodie, which Max immediately took off. Unfortunately, the spider had managed to corner him, and he couldn't dodge to the right nor to the left. So he did the only thing he could. He went under it. Max managed to execute a roll underneath the spider which would have probably made a lot of Hollywood stunt-men proud. He dashed off to the other end of the cave, where he originally fell. Max saw that a lot of the floors above were unstable due to the hollowing of the cave. He immediately came up with a plan, and he prayed to God that it wouldn't kill him. The boy picked up a stone and threw it at at the spider. For a second, he hoped that he would get a David & Goliath moment, but no such luck. The spider charged at him, as fast as it possibly could. Max jumped out of the way in time, but the spider was not able to stop itself from ramming the already unstable wall. Max heard the debris fall before he saw them. Several pieces of concrete and rock were falling, mostly on the spider. Unfortunately, a lot of rocks also began to fall towards him. "Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!" he screamed, as the debris fell. Ryan and Josh, the two friends of Max who got away earlier, ran to their local police station, and they told the cops everything that happened. At first the cops were skeptical. Who would believe that a bunch of vicious man-eating spiders existed? They did send a number of cops over to the abandoned plant when they learned that Max was there. Josh and Ryan went back to the plant and helped the cops search for Max. The police were shocked to see that the spiders did exist, and they promptly shot each and every one that they could find. Eventually, they found the part of the building where the floor was collapsed. After calling in some backup, they managed to use a piece of rope to head into the cavern. They saw the dead Mother Spider, along with a human body. "Max!" shouted Josh and Ryan in unison. They helped him get to a sitting position. Max's arm was broken by the fall of debris, and his head was bleeding. The cops got him into an ambulance. While in the hospital, Max thought about what just happened. I just went through hell, he thought. I've gone through my own personal hell and I survived, realized Max. He looked at himself. His arm was in a cast, his head was bandaged, and he was sore all over. He had come really close to crying like a baby, and he peed his pants once or twice back at the plant. But he survived. And what's more, he vanquished the spiders. Max slept like a baby, knowing that now he and everyone else would be safe. Then again, whoever said that all the spiders died?

Poems by Noah S. R.de Luzuriaga

2010-05-21T15:24:00.000+08:00

A View on Humanity

Caretakers and killers
Creators and destroyers
A swarm of ants viciously attacking
A colony of termites creating a home
Sturdy as rock in the past,
only to grow weaker over time
Thriving and expanding,
as well as evolving
Always trying to rise higher,
To shoot for the stars
Despite that,
they continually destroy themselves
They are neither predator, nor prey
They are both,
In a strange sort of way.

I Hold These Truths To Be Self-evident:

Children will always prefer play over work.
Life without end is horrible.
Humanity cannot survive
if there is too much hate and greed.
Dogs are cute.
There will always be
pureness and corruption.
Death is always at your door;
Before opening it,
Live life as best as you can.

Untitled

To be like Jose Rizal is what I want,
To serve the Philippines and my people
By showing them the atrocities
Of our corrupt leaders
and other evil men.
To fight courageously
and without regret
even if I'm about to be thrown
to the hungry lions.
To stand and fight
For the sake of my country
And for its people.

A Story

Like a butterfly, she magically flew into the
clouds and entered the heavens, literally. Mark
saw all spirits ascend like that. He was born
with the gift to see spirits, even those that
don't stay on earth.

Mark began to walk home from the funeral. He
passed his friend, Jim. Jim gave his
condolences, the ordinary thing people would
say to those who lost loved ones. After that,
Jim disappeared like all ghosts can.

Mark went to his house's porch, turned the
key, opened the door and entered. He sat on
the couch and shed a few tears.

I wish she could stay with me, thought Mark, then
thought better of it. Mark saw several ghosts
trapped on Earth because of things they did in
their life, unlike Jim who stayed on purpose to
watch over his son. Mark felt somewhat glad
that his dead wife, Lucy, managed to get to
heaven.

He looked at the carpet where Lucy had a heart
attack.

"I love you, Lucy," said Mark to his wife in heaven.

"I love you, Mark."

END

Noah is 12 years old. He is currently homeschooled.

A MAN NAMED PEACE by Noah S. R.de Luzuriaga

2010-05-21T15:20:00.001+08:00

A Man Named Peace by Noah S. R.de Luzuriaga

Harry was sitting in his small house, completely bored. Suddenly, his doorbell rang. He stood up and walked to the door. He opened it slightly to check who was outside. There was no one there. However, a small blue box , as blue as his eyes, lay on the floor. Harry picked it up and saw his name written on the blue cardboard. He shook it a bit, and heard nothing inside. He opened the cover and saw a little folded note. He unfolded it. It said, Move left now. Although suspicious of the note, Harry did that. Instantly, a big metal thing, that looked like a gigantic bullet, crashed through his roof and landed to his right. Oh my God, that thing would have hit me, he thought. A few seconds after that, Harry decided to investigate. The metal thing had a greenish color, unlike any metal he had ever seen. Harry then heard a ticking noise. He recognized the sound somewhere, but he couldn't remember exactly. At that moment, he recalled where he heard the ticking: in action movies, seconds before a terrorist bomb exploded. Harry ran out of the house as fast as he could. In about thirty seconds, an explosion tore apart his house along with other houses on his street. Harry barely had time to grasp all this when hundreds of completely circular spaceships appeared. Most of them went off in other directions, but two landed near the smoldering remains of his house. Two big robots went out of both ships. They stood near Harry's burning house, staring at it. Harry was then grabbed by a large, cold hand and felt a needle poke his neck. He did not have time to feel anything before darkness swallowed him. Harry woke up inside a round room. There was another one of those robot-thingies in front of him. While the torso, arms and legs looked like Terminator robot parts, the head was just a big dome filled with glowing green light. Harry prepared to fight or flee, when the thing emitted a strange sound. It wasn't like anything Harry expected it to say. It was like the sound you get when you move around microphones too fast. The strange sound stopped, and the robot reached inside a table ( that was floating, much to Harry's amazement ) and took out a syringe. It wasn't like anything humans used. It was more mechanized and electronic. Suddenly, the robot grabbed Harry's shoulder, spun him around, and stabbed the back of his head. This time, Harry felt the pain. “What is it with you and needles!?” asked Harry angrily. “Can you hear me now, Harry Ripley?” asked the robot. “Wait, you can talk normally?” asked Harry. “I injected a translator into your brain. My species' language is now automatically translated into your language,” said the robot. “What are you?” “We are the Fleshless Ones. I am not sure what your brain is telling you right now, but our kind is named because of our non-organic bodies that house our souls.” “Souls?” “Yes, souls. My kind has learned that all organisms are connected through a substance called a soul. They contain every bit of information about that organism. What it is, what it does, its past, its present and, most importantly, its future.” Harry tried to take this all in. He then asked something. “Why am I here?” “Because the human race needs you.” Harry was confused. Harry suddenly thought of the movie, Terminator, again. “I don't get it. Why did you try to kill me?” “I was not the one who tried to kill you. I was the one who sent you the message.” “Why did you save me then? And what am I doing here?” “Because my kind saw your soul and we saw that you would lead a resistance against my kind in the near future.” “Wait, if that's a bad thing for you guys, why are you trying to help me?”. “I and others like me did not want this war. Our world's leader, the Queen, said that we had no choice. We stripped our planet of its resources and we needed more. Your planet seemed to be an excellent choice. However, we needed to eliminate the human race first. The thought of committing genocide is unacceptable to me... to my soul.” “Why did you read my soul? What did you do, check every single human soul on this planet?” “No, we saw this fact in the future of your commander-in-chief, Barack Obama. He said that the fate of humanity was in your hands. Our ruthless Queen then searched for your soul and saw you as the resistance leader.” Harry was amazed that he knew the president. “How come this Queen didn't see you help me in the future?” “I managed to sabotage the machine that could read souls. That way, the Queen can't see what you or I will do.” “A machine? You need a machine to read souls?” “Yes. It is a gigantic supercomputer, capable of tapping into the soul web on a universe-wide scale. We call it the Soul Data Viewer.” Harry took a deep breath and tried to make sense of it all. “What's your name?” asked Harry “Name?” “Yeah, what are you called?” He paused for a moment. “Call me...Peace”. “Alright, err, Peace, what happens now?” “We fight, of course.” Peace gathered some of his friends and they formulated a plan. They received news that a new machine that could read souls was going to be built. Once again, Peace had to sabotage it. He also told Harry to help. “This mission will provide you with valuable experience in the future.” he said to Harry. The mission seemed simple at first. One friend of Peace would cause a diversion, while Peace and Harry would infiltrate the oval facility containing the soul reader. The first part went off without a hitch. Many patrolling guards left to investigate the diversionary explosion several streets away. Harry and Peace entered the circular facility and used bombs that were capable of short circuiting the robot bodies to knock out the guards. Freedom collected a map off one guard's internal database. “The machine is underground. We will have to go there and use this bomb.” Peace took out a bomb that looked like a square. After traveling through several corridors, the strike team went into an elevator that sent them underground. Upon opening the door, they saw a huge machine in the center of the gigantic room. They stepped forward but instantly, a bomb flew that exploded just like the bombs they themselves used earlier. Every one except Harry fell to the ground, stunned. A sleeker, thinner Fleshless One surrounded by a heavily armed Fleshless squad appeared. “You must be the supposed leader of the human race. You are just as pitiable as I imagined,” said the person Harry presumed to be the Queen of the Fleshless Ones. That is so cliché, thought Harry. He quickly grabbed the cube bomb and rushed to the machine. The bodyguards fired at him and one shot him in the leg. Bleeding and hurt, Harry knew that he could not get away. At first he thought of giving up, when he suddenly had a vision of the human race extinct and the Earth stripped of resources. I can't let that happen, he thought. Even if I die, as long as this machine goes with me, the human race will still have a chance. He quickly twisted the bomb, as if it was a Rubik's cube, and threw it at the machine. “No! You'll-” The queen did not have a chance to complete her sentence. The bomb was not in fact a fiery explosion but more of a concussive blast, which was strong enough to rip the soul reader into unrecognizable shreds of metal. It also threw Harry back into the elevator so hard that he heard several of his bones break and he saw his blood flow. With the last of his strength, Harry pressed the “up” button of the elevator. Darkness swallowed him again. He woke up inside Peace's ship, bruised but alive. “If you're wondering why you're alive, my friends rescued you.” Harry turned to face Peace, who seemed fine. “They managed to extract both of us from the ruins. One of them managed to heal you, but I am not so lucky.” “But you're alive.” “Not for long. During the explosion my suit got damaged.” said Peace. “What does that mean?” “My race has no physical organic body. Without these suits, we would be nothing but pure souls. Also, without these suits we would dissipate and die. I don't want to die slowly. My choice is to remove my suit now.” “Isn't there any way to save you?” asked Harry who was becoming quite distraught at what he was hearing. “I'm afraid not. However, I know you won't give up, no matter what our leader throws at you. Goodbye, Harry.” Peace then pressed a series of buttons around his robotic neck. A hiss was heard as oxygen entered the dome head. The glowing substance that was Peace's soul drifted outside the dome and started to die out. Suddenly, Harry stood up and repressed the buttons, causing Peace's soul to drift back inside. “What are you doing!?” asked Peace as he went back into his body. “You need an organic body to survive right? Is it possible for you to enter my body?” Peace looked at Harry's blue eyes. “It is possible, yes. But we'd have to share your body.” “ I can live with that.” Peace then opened his dome again and his green colored soul entered Harry's body. For the third time in a row, Harry fainted. He woke up to Peace talking to him. “Are you okay?” asked Peace, who was inside Harry. “Never better,” replied Harry. “What do we do know?” asked Peace. Harry said, “We fight, of course.”

HENRY CROSS by Noah S. R.de Luzuriaga

2010-05-21T15:14:00.000+08:00

Henry Cross by Noah S. R. De Luzuriaga

I walked down the road with my best friend Jake. It's two in the afternoon and we had a great time at soccer practice. All of a sudden, the image of detergent and soap flashed in my mind. My Mom told me a few hours earlier to head to a little grocery store to pick them up. “I just remembered, I've gotta get some stuff for my Mom,” I told Jake. “No problem, man. I'll see you tomorrow.” Jake walked home until I couldn't see him. I walked the other way, back in the direction of the soccer field. The store was only a few blocks from there. 15 minutes later, I arrived. After walking in I flashed my hand and felt the familiar surge of energy. The energy flew to a nearby light bulb. “Hello, welcome to the store. Buy something, please,” said the light bulb to me in my head. “I will,” I replied to the light bulb. Now, you're probably wondering what's going on. Well, you see, I can make objects come alive. Not “Toy Story” style, exactly, but I can make objects talk and think. They already are alive, the thing is, they can't talk or do anything. Not unless I switch them on. I found out about my little gift when I was five. The first thing I animated was a small piece of brick. It told me about how inanimate objects have minds, and that there were others like me in the past. Before he could tell me more, however, I accidentally knocked him into the sewers. I never saw him again. Anyway, I learned more and more about my power as the years passed, and I even made friends with the things in my bedroom. Okay, so now that I told you that story, I'm gonna tell you this one. I walked to the aisle for cleaning agents. All of a sudden, two guys wearing hockey masks went in and pointed a gun at the cashier. “Look, here's what's gonna happen. You give us the money or we shoot your head off.” said the robber with the gun. The cashier was shaking in panic. He quickly got the money and gave it to the robber. Meanwhile, I hid behind a shelf where the robbers couldn't see me. I lifted my hand and animated the cashier's desk. The lead robber leaned on the table using one gloved hand. “Hurt the guy's hand,” I said to the desk in my mind. “Can do,” said the desk. In less than two seconds, the piece of the desk that the robber's hand was resting on collapsed, leaving a hole full of dozens of unusually straight splinters. Each splinter managed to prick the man's hand. “Aaaaaaaaah!” he screamed in pain. I always liked how objects could collapse at will. He dropped the gun and that's when I saw the cashier press something, probably the silent alarm. I tried to sneak my way past the robbers, but the other one ( the one who didn't have a bleeding hand ) saw me. “There's a kid here!” I turned around and saw a fan that was switched off. I animated it. “On my mark, turn on,” I told the fan using my thoughts. The robber who saw me began to chase me. I ran to the fan. The robber was overweight so he wasn't fast. I slowed down so he could keep up. In a few seconds, I reached the fan with the robber close behind me. He reached his hands out to grab me. “Now!” I told the fan. Immediately, it turned on with surprising speed. I ducked down and the robber missed me. Instead of grabbing me, the man's fingers accidentally reached into the fan. “Owieowieowieowie!” said the man. In the distance, I heard a police siren getting closer. “Let's get out of here, Mark!” said the splintered robber to his friend. Both of them ran to their car, which was parked a couple yards away from the store. I animated their car, and I learned that it was a stolen vehicle. “It's payback time!” said the car to no one in particular. Instead of driving away, the car instead drove backwards and forwards over and over. After that, I saw it drive down the road fast, stop a bit, and then spin around in a circle over and over again. I could have sworn there was some puke on the windshield. The car wasn't done yet. It turned around and drove directly into a lamppost. The two robbers flew out the windshield and onto the sidewalk. I turned and saw a cop run to the wreckage. The cashier ran out and began explaining the situation in a ridiculously high voice. He looked like he was about to cry. “Thanks, guys,” I said to all my new animated friends as I walked out the store. “Your welcome,” they all said together. I was about to go home when I remembered the detergent and soap. I walked to the cleaning agents aisle and got the groceries. I left a couple of dollars on the splintery desk and I walked home. I only walked a few blocks when I kicked something red in the street. “Hey, watch it Henry! You kicked me once, you won't do it again!” “Brick, is that you?” “Yes, it's me Henry. You've grown taller. Bring me with you. Have I got a story to tell you.” I picked up my old friend and walked home, while he ranted about some adventure he had in the sewers.

COMICS by Noah S. R.de Luzuriaga

2008-05-08T14:40:00.004+08:00

(Published in the Winter 2008 # 85 issue of the CALVERT CONNECTION - Newsletter for Calvert School enrolled students. Image above lifted from Marvel Comics.)

COMICS

Balloons with words
Heroes saving the Earth
When I read them I join the fight
Journey

Noah de Luzuriaga
Fourth Grade
Pasig City, Philippines

TAIL by Ralph Pena

2008-03-31T17:57:00.001+08:00

I am posting this on the Net for anyone who might have use for it – actors, hopefully, but maybe non-actors too. Do whatever with it. Use it for auditions, for class, or try leaving the messages on a complete stranger's answering machine. That should be interesting. My only request, if it is to be presented publicly, is that you please give credit to the following, either in print, or else verbally. These names must be acknowledged.

Tail received its premiere in New York City, featuring Jodi Lin and directed by Graeme Gillis, produced by Second Generation Theater, with Lloyd Suh as Artistic Director. Tail was developed at the Ma-Yi Writers Lab with the help of Ms. Cindy Cheung.

Thank you.

TAIL

By Ralph B. Peña

The action should progress over a day.

A room. A phone.

An Asian Woman in her early thirties.

SEGMENT 1.

Hi. Hello? It’s me again. I’ve left, two, maybe um, twelve messages. I just get your service. You’re probably out, maybe – and I’ll just throw this out there – maybe, having dinner at that Italian restaurant you like so much, Gino’s I believe is the name, I should know because I took you there, first. I can accept that. Or maybe you’re at the gym, because well, you did mention going three times a week, and today is Thursday, so that could conceivably cover T-Th-S where you would take a day off in between workouts which is the recommended routine by most, well, workout experts, but then it could also mean M-W-F, which would leave you open today, Thursday, and which then forces me to re-imagine why you’re not home. Not that it’s any of my business, really, because I would be the last person to foist any kind of responsibility on you, knowing your issues with, you know, i.n.t.i.m.a.c.y.

(pause)

As you know, I come from, um, Asia. Okay I can be more specific, but I didn’t want you to think that “specific” is interchangeable with “needy.” So okay, I will be – specific. I’m Equatorial. A racial cocktail, with a just a teeny touch of bitters. Mix well and stand back. Hello? Are you still there? Don’t be scared.

No. No. No. I’m being deliberately glib. Inside, I have real… you know, pain. Do you think that’s good? Do you like pained Asians? Or are svelte, smooth, and Third World the only requisites? I’m kidding. I can kid. My father and mother, on the other hand, have no sense of humor. Do I sound judgmental, because I’m not really. Except with Republicans. Oh God, I hope you’re not – because that would never, ever work. My parents voted for Reagan – which is partially, why I ran away from home. My father and I would be at each other’s throats. I would accuse him of being a fascist reactionary pig, and he -- well, he didn’t like that I shaved my head and pierced fifteen different parts of my body. He also said that my anger was privileged, that came it with trade-in options – Reagan today, Redwoods tomorrow. He called it my angst du jour. (pause) Okay, he would never say du jour. (pause) Or even angst. In fact, I don’t think he said much of anything at all.

Hello? Hello?!

SEGMENT 2

(Long pause. She stares into space – then starts.)

So you’re not at Gino’s, and you’re not at the gym, I know that too, because I called all the Equinox, Crunch, and New York Sports Clubs in Chelsea, Tribeca, Soho, well, in Manhattan, really. Just in case. Getting information from these places is impossible – I mean, what’s the big deal? So the ones that wouldn’t give out information, and there were, oh approximately forty branches, I just visited myself in the last seven hours – and that’s okay, really, because I got a good aerobic workout.

You know, I just remembered, I know so little about you – and well, I want to know more. Like, oh, little things: your parents’ names, or, how about where you live, although you did mention, one time, in passing, and you may not recall, but once you said: Westside – which is terrific, because, really, is there any other side? Driving around – I rented a car, I figured that was wise – driving around, I narrowed the possibilities to within a few blocks. I figured, south of 57th, north of Varick, West of 5th, and East of well, the Hudson. That was thrilling!

So I drive – I’ve driven – for not a long time – two, two and a half…um, months is all, every night, between 6 and 10 PM hoping to catch a sight of you – and once, I thought I spotted you, through binoculars, I’ve gotten quite adept at driving and looking through binoculars at the same time, and once – I thought I spotted you – coming out of that new trendy bar called Trendy, is it? I could’ve sworn – but…well.

Hello? I have to wonder, out loud I’m going to wonder – if you’re not sitting there listening to me go on and on… please feel free to pick up at any time – but you might be busy – so I’ll just keep talking. Is that okay?

Good.

I don’t drink – much. (pause) But when I do, which is – RARE -- I can play the ukulele with my feet.

(She holds)

SEGMENT 3

(Still gamely at it)

Hello? Are you listening to all of this? You should be back from Gino’s or the gym.

So, you know, I’m just a regular, uncomplicated, Asian-American-Spanish hybrid. I like James Joyce.

I can cook, and I drive stick. (pause)

I’m equally comfortable in rough country or swinging around in the urban jungle. (pause)

I ADORE, like big, big mammals – you know? (pause)

I would love to live in Katmandu or, say, Tampa. But I’m flexible – very flexible, in case you’re married to the Westside. (pause)

Call me. Please, for the love of Jesus.

I’m going to hang up now.

(She doesn’t hang up)

Hello?

Buh-bye….

Hello?

Well, I’ll just wait in case you’re on your way home… five, ten minutes…

Lalalalalala..lalalalaa.. In case your machine is voice activated.. don’t want it cutting off…

Lalalalalalalalalala….

(She hangs on, silent, eternally, unquestionably – HOPEFUL – as lights dim).

End.

What is it with Mornings

2007-08-17T21:07:00.000+08:00

What is it with Mornings
by Alan D. R.de Luzuriaga
August 26, 1993

What is it with mornings

The fresh air and the slow radiance

Green leaves and purple petals

reaching out to the heavens

Their soul thirstily

Wanting, Waiting

For that unseen spirit

Sprinkling life to a new day

What is it with mornings

That makes your eyes shimmer

With renewed anticipation

To sing with the birds

To roar with the mighty engines of man

As they rise from their slumber

To sweep the dust

Of yesterday

And trod

The newly washed path

Of today

What is it with mornings

That makes your eyes glimmer

At times with tears

Not of joy

For the beauty that is the morning

Makes you wonder

On what is to be

For the rest of the day

That can match its splendor

To keep our hearts moving

Our soul erupting

Rapture Eternal