“Dreams are candles to help us through the dark. Once used, they have to melt.”—Mark Nepo
Hello to a bright and hopeful December! I suppose one positive effect of being on a reflective journey is that one focuses on the true reason for the season. As Advent begins, I am trying my very best to focus my attention on the hope, peace, love and joy that Jesus brings the world. As we celebrate what is known to be the happiest time of the year, homes are once again filled with a wonderful spirit of love and generosity.
While we may experience our limitations or unforeseen circumstances, we choose to evolve rather than fail. Sometimes, our dreams fade away but no matter how painful it is to lose, we let go and live more purposefully with a clearer sense of being.
There is nothing like a change of scenery to really see the light! Spending a much-needed vacation in the most pristine beach destination was a truly necessary mindset shifter. In the heart of paradisiacal Boracay Island, I started my 40-day detox from all the negative elements to cleanse my soul by Christmas.
Station Zero Bubble
Fortunately, with travel restrictions being relaxed for domestic vacations, I was able to join the latest offering of Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay. They have teamed up with AirTrav, one of the country’s leading chartered flight companies, for the perfect solution: Station Zero Bubble, a private direct route between Boracay and Manila via AirTrav’s very own hangar.
A safe way to travel, guests booking Crimson Boracay’s Station Zero Bubble will be able to fly directly into the property without having to go through the airport or the jetty. This minimizes potential and hazardous contact with asymptomatic carriers and accords peace of mind and a more relaxing experience for Crimson guests.
Now available for booking, the new Station Zero Bubble promo provides a four-day/three-night stay for a party of five or more flying in from Manila. Guests get exclusive access to AirTrav’s flight hangar and passenger gate going to and from Caticlan. Complimentary land and boat transfers compliant with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases standards are included in the package, thus limiting guests’ contact with others to ensure their optimal safety.
Depending on the size of the travel party, guests may book a Deluxe Premier and Suite combo or a Presidential Villa and Signature Beachfront Villa tandem. Aside from refreshing welcome amenities, guests also get 15-percent off on various sports and leisure activities, including soothing massages and therapies at the Aum Spa, as well as drinks at J’s Pool Bar.
Station Zero is a tropical paradise with activities that will make one never want to leave. The resort offers a wide range of activities for all guests, from painting classes for all ages to Sip & Paint for family or group of friends to explore their creative side on the island. For foodies, Crimson Boracay’s dining options include Azure Beach Club, Mosaic Latin American Grill and Saffron Café. Log on to crimsonhotel.com/boracay or email boracay.reservation@crimsonhotel.com.
‘Alias Elias’
Fresh from my very relaxing Boracay vacay, I was able to attend the very successful second solo art exhibit opening of Carlo Tanseco. “Alias Elias” runs until Dec. 30, at the art gallery of Jia Estrella, at J Studio, La Fuerza, Gate 1 Compound, Makati City. It’s open by appointment: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Follow them on Instagram @artjstudio. Tanseco is on Instagram @carlotanseco_art.
For this exhibit, Carlo delves into the many facets of Rizal as hero, lover, doctor, cult figure and icon. He digs up both the history and mythology, and presents these on canvas for the public to interpret based on their beliefs and views. The exhibit, which is composed of several hyper-realistic works of acrylic on canvas, is divided into three subseries: the Stamps, the Matchboxes and a Fencing Pair of the Eye Chart Series.
The Stamp paintings features a portrait of Rizal juxtaposed with popular Rizalian themes. Carlo’s smaller Stamp paintings focus on the mystical side of Rizal and his association with the Rizalistas, the folk-spiritual religious group who believe that Rizal is God.
Filipino Catholicism and its mix of animism, folklore and Christianity are all integrated in the art, as all three exist side-by-side in the Jose Rizal theme. I was particularly drawn to the third subseries, the Matchbox paintings, which signify the need to fan the flames of change.
Painted in the same medium of acrylic, the series is rendered onto canvas that is wittily shaped like matchboxes. Carlo’s realistically rendered safety matches peek out of the bottom, tricking the viewer into thinking that you could just pick one up and light it. That, subconsciously, is the intention.
Highly sensitive to signs right now, I was drawn to the one titled “Liwanag sa Dilim.” Carlo shared with me his thoughts: “The matches symbolize igniting a desire for change. Is it political? Yes and no, because for yourself, you can also be part of change or spark change; but mostly, these symbolize patriotism, love of country. Just think, if Rizal were alive now, what would he say about everything that is happening to us?”
Carlo then thought of Rizal’s reply: “Is this what I died for?”
Hope and love
My personal change is love of self. To help me manifest what I am today, I have my family to guide and comfort me along the way especially when my present path isn’t as defined as it should be. When our life road map is complicated, we also have our friends to bring us to the threshold of reality and open our eyes to more favorable options. We can lean on our loved ones to encourage us to cross barriers without judgment and fill us with love and compassion. Take a moment to think about this past year. For many of us, it’s been filled with bittersweet memories, continued challenges, or even more upheaval. But in the middle of chaotic times and uncertain futures, there is hope and love we can all cling to. This love transcends circumstances, and it’s found when we seek God every day. INQ
Follow at @seaprincess888 on Instagram.
