Welcome, Long-awaited Spring*

“And Spring arose on the garden fair/ Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere/ And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast/ Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.” — The Sensitive Plant, Percy Bysshe Shelley

Finally, it’s here! After months of cold, dreary, snowy weather, it’s undeniably springtime.

Just look around you. Signs of spring are everywhere — in the shopping malls (spring fashion collections, with lots of yellow and blue), grocery stores and supermarkets.

Easter lilies, daffodils, dandelions, tulips, crocus, cherry blooms, cute little flowers in our lawn, birds flocking around in our backyard, hopping from fence to fence, pecking at something in the ground. The fields, mountains and hills are covered with grass and wildflowers, and the golden sun and clear azure skies are a beautiful sight to behold.

Nature is so beautiful, colorful and wonderful in the spring.

I love spring. I feel so invigorated when it’s spring. It’s about time to open up our windows and doors and smell the natural, fresh air outside. — so good and healthy, isn’t it?

We’re getting active again, now that the sun is shining brightly and inviting us out of our cubicles to see and smell, hear and touch and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Spring is the time to rise up, to stretch and spread that body that has been in a cocoon for months of cold, wet and snowy weather. With longer days, we can create something worthwhile, such as growing flowers and vegetables in our gardens or establishing relationships with neighbors.

With brief morning showers, then white clouds that gradually disappear, and the sun ready to rule the land, there’s no doubt in my mind that we have golden, productive days ahead.

There is spring cleaning to be done. We all have clutter scattered around the house. This is a good opportunity to get rid of some stuff and give it away or donate it to charity.

On the other hand, there’s this spring break for students and teachers who have been busy with school. I’m sure they can’t wait to spend some time off going somewhere. But I hope while they’re having a short break from school, they continue to engage in worthwhile learning activities and experiences.

Now, to welcome spring, I’d like to share with you, “The Cool Spring,” one of my short, simple poems that captures the season:

When the sun is up

And the sky is clear

There’s warmth all over

There is no more fear.

As the land turns green

And our vision’s keen

Everyone’s excited

Happy and committed

To get out and moving

To welcome the cool spring.

While the sea is inviting

To beach-lovers cavorting

We hear the sweet sounds of spring

Welcoming the renewal

The beauty and revival

Of good living and loving.

We see flowers blooming

Leaves of trees sprouting

Birds chirping and singing

Butterflies fluttering

While busy bees buzzing

Humming new life in spring!

As the comedian Robin Williams says, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”

Have fun and enjoy spring with all her colorful offerings.

Chris A. Quilpa of North Suffolk is a retired U.S. Navy veteran. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.

  *Published in Suffolk News-Herald, Saturday, 29 March 2014. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com.

A Good Education is the Answer*

I have come to the conclusion that a good education is the answer to the societal problems we have, from poverty and illiteracy to alcohol and drug abuse to crime and teenage pregnancy.

When we have had a good education, we become productive, responsible and law-abiding citizens. We can also inspire others to become successful in the their own way.

Parents play a vital role in the educating their children and should do all they can to give their children the education they deserve. Parental support and encouragement can go a long way toward ensuring students' academic success.

Children in poverty can also aspire to improve their conditions by obtaining a quality education. To these children, poverty is not a hindrance.

This situation, in fact, describes my life growing up in the Philippines in a family of 11 children. My father was a laborer doing odd jobs, while my mother was a homemaker. They could hardly send us to high school.

I stayed with my paternal grandparents and my older (married) sisters, who tried to help me continue my schooling. Eventually, I became a self-supporting student who had to transfer from one high school to another while working several jobs.

My diligence, perseverance and hard work paid off when I graduated from high school as one of the top 10 students out of (about) 700 graduates. After graduation, I had wanted to join the U.S. Navy when Subic Naval Base, in Olongapo, was still in existence, but because I knew no one who could assist me with the application process, I put that dream on hold.

With financial assistance from my relatives who immigrated to the U.S., I matriculated to college. I didn't disappoint them, because after four years, i became the first in my family to graduate from college and blazed the trail for my nephews, nieces and children.

After college and passing the teachers' board exam, I taught at private and public high schools, while pursuing graduate studies on weekends. I later landed a job as a college instructor at (the) University of Northern Philippines prior to emigrating to the United States.

After working for two years in San Jose, California, I finally realized my high school dream of joining the Navy. It was a wonderful learning experience providing health/medical care and radiologic exams/services to patients from one duty station to another. Eleven out of 20 years were spent here in Virginia.

After 20 years of military service, with a wife who teaches chemistry and two young adult children, both gainfully employed college graduates, I had to retire due to physical disability. despite this, I still try to share my passion for educational empowerment.

I believe that if you have a good education, you can always use it wherever you go, and nobody can take it away from you. In addition, it takes a village to raise a child. Hence, I am forever indebted to my family, teachers and co-workers who have inspired me to overcome obstacles and challenges to succeed in life.

Success is not about how much money I have but how much I've lived and turned my life around for the better.

I hope my story will inspire students, especially in high school, to stay in school and obtain higher education or to join the military and further their education.

A good education enables us to be free, responsible, productive citizens. Being able to think independently, speak up or voice out your opinion fearlessly, worship your own religion, practice your profession and to have a choice since you have a voice---that is liberating.

-CHRIS A. QUILPA, a resident of North Suffolk, is a retired U.S. Navy veteran who maintains a blog at onebuddingpoet/writer-chris.blogspot.com. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com

*revised/edited version of my original article, "The Importance of Education" and was published Wednesday, March 19, 2014, in Suffolk News-Herald, an award-winning newspaper and Suffolk's news and information source since 1873. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com.

The Importance of Education*

*(Author’s Note: The following is the first draft of my article submitted to Suffolk News-Herald on March 12, 2014. Initially, the original title that I had in mind was “Education is the Solution.” After I’ve written the piece, I changed it to The Importance of Education.)

With all the societal problems we have such as poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, alcohol and drug abuse, crime, juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancy, economic inequality, to name a few, I have come to the conclusion that a good, decent education is the answer. If we have a good, decent education, we become productive, useful, responsible, and law-abiding citizens. We can also inspire others to become successful, in their own way.

Parents play a vital role in educating their children and should do all they can to give them the best education they deserve. Parental support and encouragement can go a long way in students’ academic success.

Children in poverty can also aspire to improve their conditions by obtaining a quality education. To these children, poverty is not a hindrance. This situation, in fact, describes my life growing up in the Philippines in a family of eleven children. My father was a laborer doing odd jobs while my mother a homemaker, and they could hardly send us to high school. I stayed with my paternal grandparents, then with my older sisters who tried to help me continue my schooling. Eventually I became a self-supporting student who had to transfer from one high school to another while working several jobs. My diligence, perseverance, and hard work paid off when I graduated from high school as one of the top ten students out of seven hundred graduates. After graduation, I had wanted to join the U.S. Navy when Subic Naval Base, in Olongapo, was still in existence, but because I knew no one to assist me with the application process, I put that dream on hold.

With financial assistance from my relatives who immigrated to the U.S., I matriculated to college. I didn't disappoint them, though, because after four years, I became the first in my family to graduate from college, and blazed the trail for my nephews, nieces, and children. After college and passing the teachers’ board exam, I taught at private and public high schools, while pursuing graduate studies on weekends. I later landed a job as a college instructor at University of Northern Philippines prior to emigrating to the United States.

After working for two years in San Jose, California, I finally realized my high school dream to join the Navy. It was a wonderful learning experience providing medical care and radiologic services to patients from one duty station to another. Eleven out of twenty years were spent here in Virginia. After twenty years of military service, with a wife who teaches Chemistry and two young adult children, both gainfully employed college graduates, I had to retire due to physical disability. Despite this, I still try to share my passion for educational empowerment.

I truly believe that if you have a good education, you can always use it wherever you go and nobody can take it away from you. In addition, I believe, it takes a village to raise a child. Hence, I am forever indebted to my family, teachers and co-workers who have inspired me to overcome obstacles and challenges to succeed in life. Success is not about how much money I have but how much I've lived and turned my life around for the better.

I hope that my story will inspire students, especially high schoolers, to stay in school and obtain higher education or to join the military and further their education.

A good education enables us to be free, responsible, productive, law-abiding citizens. Being able to think independently, speak up or voice out your opinion fearlessly, worship your own religion, practice your profession, and to have a choice since you have a voice - that is liberating.

-CHRIS A. QUILPA, a resident of North Suffolk, is a retired U.S. Navy veteran who maintains a blog at onebuddingpoet/writer-chris.blogspot.com. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com

Before and After Sunday Church

Hi, everyone! Good day to y'all!

After a two or three-day spring-like, mild weather, we're now encountering cold weather again. Well, I hope there's no more snow on the way because we've got enough already for the past two months , I would say.

This weekend, my daughter Tintin came home because she's scheduled to play piano in this Christian church in neighboring city, here in Hampton Roads. As always, we're glad to see her home from D-ville where she's currently employed.

Yesterday, Tintin, my sis-in-law Rose, wife Freny and I visited our tax preparer in Virginia Beach. We submitted important papers/documents she needs in preparing for our tax returns for 2013. Afterwards, we decided to go to one of our favorite Filipino/Oriental restaurants, FeLynn's. There we bought rice cakes and other food to go.

Today, Sunday, Tintin, Freny, and I attended Mass at our parish, St. Paul's Catholic Church in Portsmouth. No, Freny and I  did not have any assignment or were not scheduled as Eucharistic ministers in today's Eucharistic celebration. Nevertheless, we're ready and available to fill in if one of our fellow Eucharistic minister (or ministers) doesn't show up. Rev. Fr. Gino, our parochial vicar, celebrated the Mass with us.

After the Communion, we left the church quietly because we don't want to be late for daughter Tintin's scheduled gig as a paid pianist in a Christian church in neighboring city, every other Sunday, unless otherwise indicated.

As always, we participated in the church worship service there. We prayed and sang with the rest of members of faith community there. Pastor Dan delivered a stirring sermon, talking about issues relating to exploitation of natural resources for their own benefits, damaging the environment.

After church, we had lunch at Taco Bell in Chesapeake. Then, we went home. After an hour, Tintin left 757 for D-ville. Btw, she called us a few minutes ago informing us she arrived there safe and sound. Thank God.

Well, to capture the moments we have had together, here are the photos for you all dear folks and friends, near or far...Thanks for watching and reading my blog. Do appreciate it.

 Texts and photos (c) 2014 by Chris A. Quilpa

Well, this is all for now and until next time around, folks and friends. Thank you for your time. Hope you're doing well. Take care. Have a wonderful day. May God bless US always!-chris a. quilpa, 03.16.2014

abitadeacon: A look back at the first year of Pope Francis

abitadeacon: A look back at the first year of Pope Francis

Adda Latta Daniw A Masurat/ There's Always A Poem Written

(Author's Note: Thank God, we're alive and well...Today is a peaceful, serene Tuesday. All is calm; all is quiet. I ponder at what Mother Nature can do to keep us all still, to remind us to take time to live our lives and appreciate the beauty of Nature. The day after yesterday's wintry, snowy Monday in Hampton Roads, I have been inspired to scribble this poem (originally thought of in Ilokano language but at the same time translated into English as I continued writing it) while in my bedroom, with  the blinds in one of the windows (in my bedside) open. Seeing snow blanketing everywhere in our area---our backyard and others' in the neighborhood, the school playground, school buildings and houses---I'm quite amazed and very much inspired to compose this poem. There's that feeling of profound wonder and contentment about life and the world I live in as I tried to capture my thoughts in words. Here's me, now, sharing with you what I've written today. Thanks, everyone,  for reading/visiting my blog.)

Adda Latta Daniw A Masurat/ There's Always A Poem Written

Adda latta daniw a masurat/ There's always a poem written
Iti ania man a pasamak a dumteng/ In whatever situation that occurs
Iti lubongtayo a mangliwengliweng./ In our world that's overwhelming.

Agtudo wenno aginit/ Rain or shine
Layus wenno tikag/ Flood or drought
Naurnos wenno nawara/ Orderly or cluttery
Nagulo wenno natalna/ Dangerous or peaceful
Naariwawa wenno naulimek nga aglawlaw/ Noisy or calm environment
Adda latta daniw a masurat./ There's always a poem written.

Kas ita nga agdama/ Like now, the present moment
Ti nalamiis a puraw inulesanna ti aglawlaw/ The cold snow has blanketed the ground
Adda simbeng ken talinaay a marikna/ There's peace and quiet feeling
A saan a pulos mailadawan/ That can never be described
Malaksid iti daniw a maputar./ Except in a poem created.

Matunawton dagiti niebe/ Melted will the snow be
A mangpedped mawaw a daga/ That will quench the parch land
Ket rumsua baro a parsua/ Then spring forth a new life
A mangted linglingay ken namnama./ Giving joy and hope.
  
Addanto latta daniw a masurat./ There will always be a poem written.

(c) 2014 by Chris A. Quilpa