“I no longer feared the darkness once I knew the phoenix in me would rise from the ashes.” —William C. Hannan
From what was the darkest point in my life exactly a year ago, my personal transformation has elevated me to solid ground. With the passage of time, finally, I am feeling more sure-footed as I inch toward my new life with focus and clarity. I am on a purpose-driven self-development journey and the fruits of my hard work are starting to ripen.
Brainstorming for my new chapter, I came across an organizational change approach called “appreciative inquiry.” Implementing a strengths-based approach, appreciative inquiry discovers the untapped positive potential of an individual or organization.
Applying the 5D cycle of appreciative inquiry to my new life, I realize it is actually very useful. To create a positive change, five principles should be applied.
- Define: Clarify the focus or purpose of the project.
- Discover: Identify the successes and areas of excellence.
- Dream: Imagine the hopes or aspirations to create a new vision for the future.
- Design: Formulate the ideal by combining strengths and assets.
- Destiny or Delivery: Create what will be to embody what is new and what can bring about the change.
Incorporating the 5D cycle, I am able to gain a clearer “business plan” for my next chapter. I am no longer fearful of letting go because I am surer of my new path of self-love and wholeness.
Fun outlet
In the initial stage of my personal project, I have added new activities to distract me from random negativity. Pole dancing has been so energizing. The naughtiness and sexiness of pole dancing has appealed to me as an extremely fun outlet of dance fitness.
After some delay, I finally showed up for my first beginner’s class at PoleCats Manila, a pole dancing studio in Ortigas. Dancing with Ahlex Leyva is invigorating and I’m hooked! At first, I was nervous and awkward, but I enjoy each class with my daughters Jordan and Athena Valdes and friends Ines Davila and Vina Francisco.
It is a supportive space to move, feel and celebrate my body, just as I am.
Movement builds energy and freedom of expression. It can help you connect more deeply with your authentic self and also trigger your sensuality.
I was in the zone at pole class maybe because of my wellness session with Luna Mendoza Garcia, whom I met during a Buhay Retreats session. A day before class, Luna’s Dolphin treatment, a needle-less acupuncture session, somehow helped my energy flow.
Thanks to Buhay Retreats, I discovered The Venta Suites, a former kiln-dryer facility that has been repurposed into a gorgeous Instagram-worthy bed and breakfast in Guagua, Pampanga. I was happy to reconnect with the owners Jose and Myrna Bituin after many years. Their daughter Lieza Bituin is the main creative genius behind Venta.
Using repurposed decorative objects and furniture from sister company JB Woodcrafts, The Venta Suites has a very unique charm and hominess to the rooms. Each room has its individual style with greenery, printed tiles and a small floating pool. The charming third chamber has a living and dining area, a private pool, and can accommodate up to four guests.
In our free time, we visited the factory of JB Woodcrafts. Founded in 1972, this furniture giant has exported to several hotel chains in the United States. The company grew over the years, both in the export and domestic markets.
These days, Myrna is focused on her plants and she took us on a tour of her sprawling garden with local and exotic plants and trees, including saguaro cacti that are exclusively native to the Sonoran desert in Arizona. It was wonderful to chat with her again. She even indulged us in a little dance performance as we sang “Bahay Kubo” inside her genuine bahay kubo. I was reminded that to this day, most of my furniture is from JB Woodcrafts!
New artwork
Next to those pieces in my house is a new artwork of talented artist Katrina Cuenca. It is part of her solo exhibition, “Through the Looking Glass,” organized by Pinto Art Museum for ArtistSpace.
In this exhibit, Katrina’s paintings have recognizable multipetaled, striated patterns that resemble different objects in the world: the swish of a fishtail, the creasing of fabric in the wind, the dance of underwater plants. Her sculptures are three-dimensional objects in the real world whose metallic sheen and glow infuse them with an otherworldly quality.
Much of what she explores in her art-making are not so much the specificity of the materials of the art object but the viewer’s perception of it. She said, “If there’s anything I want to add, if there’s anything I want to give people, it’s a semblance of tranquility.”
Another art exhibit not to miss is by “paracosmic” artist Ivan Co.
“Paracosm,” coined to describe the work of Ivan, came about as his audience simply could not categorize his art in a certain genre or form. The mere fact that the artist uses aurichalcum as his base metal, which he reimagined and forged himself, makes his art distinct from other mediums of sculptures made of brass, aluminum or other widely used alloys.
“I am living in an elaborate imaginary world that evolves as I create,” he said. He uses his decades of experience in metallurgy and jewelry making to build every intricate sculpture from the ground up. He translates his deep connection with the life force and energy into moving pendulums using semiprecious gems.
Showcasing his best work during the pandemic, Ivan’s ongoing exhibit, “Expanse: Beyond a World We Know” (runs until July 2 at Sky Lounge, The Suites, One Bonifacio High Street; Christine, tel. 0916-1021981), is a collection of his kinetic bejeweled sculptures. His six masterpieces took thousands of hours to create. Made in a state of paracosm, each piece is definitely one of one.
Reflecting on last year’s session with Concha Allen, an American Indian shaman who released my negative energies, I am now ready to gallop out of the corral into the future! I just need to take that first leap of faith!
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