Year of the Dog--
four times I repulse
the monkey



It's Chinese new year's day. I got up early to proceed to my third tai chi lesson. This morning, I was taught six forms, one of which is called "Repulse the monkey".

looking outside
through the gate, a kitten
once stray



in and out
of the ostrich's cage
sparrows



awakened
a crab climbs over
the cold rocks



nobody
in the pool area--
chicos

afternoon breeze--
under swaying leaves, I part
the wild horse's mane



Today, I reached another milestone in my ten-thousand-step walk. I had my first session in Tai Chi, conducted by the Blue Dragon Tai Chi Society. The training, held in UP Diliman, was based on the 24-form Yang Style. Brando our trainer taught us the basic tai-chi walk; the first form or beginning movement in the Yang Style which he calls "pressing the water"; and the second form called "parting the wild horse's mane".

I haven't had regular physical exercise for a long, long time. With Tai Chi, which is also called 'moving meditation', I have become more aware of my body and posture.The exercise underscored the importance of balance, focus and smooth execution. Feeling the light afternoon wind and hearing the soft rustles of leaves, I felt more closely connected with nature.

alone in the porch
a pot of euphorbia
flowering

Tagaytay Zoo--
ostrich and sparrow
eat together


Last week, I visited a zoo in Tagaytay City, south of Metro-Manila, Philippines. It was lunch time, and in the ostrich's cage, the big bird was having lunch with sparrows. I think we human beings should learn how to live and share resources together in this planet, as well as live harmoniously with nature. Increasingly, the earth is getting crowded, a condition which quite inevitably leads to poverty, spread of diseases, and war. Unless, we recognize, appreciate and protect the interconnectedness of all living and nonliving things, as well as among nations big and small, the only living planet we know will eventually become worse than a bird's cage.

viewing
the cloud-screened moon--
lady smoker



drifting moon--
the pathway scented with
fortune blossoms



coolness--
a spider hangs on
the crescent moon

morning drizzle
amidst young rice leaves
love egrets



morning drizzle--
sitting pretty on hay
a carabao

new year's eve
in the baby's eyes
fireworks



new year's day--
a spider catches
the morning sunlight