birthing a movement

For many in the Philippines and around the world, the phenomenon that is Leni Robredo has taken our breath away - in every aspect and at many levels, the woman is phenomenal. 

tuloy and pagasa

Even with the 2022 election outcome we had tirelessly worked to win, she stood unbowed and undefeated - encouraging the huge turnout of supporters and volunteers to keep working for the people and our country. Leni Robredo embodies Maya Angelou's famously popular hymn to women. 

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

. . . .

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

mothers day 2022

This Sunday wonder | wander | world celebrates Mother's Day across the globe. 

In the Philippines the leading presidential contender is a charismatic and popular woman majority of Filipinos are rooting for. 

Here in the US, with the leaked supreme court draft to overturn Roe vs Wade, we are marching in the streets once more to loudly protest our distrust for yet another institution of government. 

To soothe our ravaged spirits, we turn to the words of wisdom from poet laureate Amanda Gorman: 

National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman on Abortion Bans

Listen to Amanda Gorman demonstrate her commitment to poetry as activism in a video from NowThis News. Where she addresses the importance of keeping abortion legal and stated eight reasons why we should “stand up … against abortion bans in the United States." 

May Day 2022

Today is May Day and Beltane - this month ends with a New Moon Solar Eclipse in the earth sign of Taurus - that's a whole lot going on. . . .and more. 

May Day new moon 2022

In our family wonder | wander | world have Taurus grand/father and uncle/sibling celebrating their birthdays in April. 

Today's eclipse also happens to coincide with the second new moon of the month. April started with a new moon on April 1 and ended with a second one on April 30.  

Called a Black Moon - it is a rare occurrence causing a partial solar eclipse seen in parts of South America. 

earth day 2022

Each year on 22 April, around 1 billion individuals across more than 190 countries take action to raise awareness of the climate crisis and bring about behavioural change to protect the environment. In 2022, Earth Day celebrates its 52nd anniversary. 

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that without further immediate action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the world is on course for temperatures 3.2°C above pre-industrial levels. This level of warming would be catastrophic for the planet and all life on it. 

featured in The Agam Agenda

At wonder | wonder | world we honor three birds this April. Earth Day, poetry month, female eco poets. We opt to join forces with them to raise our spirits with their words of hope. 

featured in The Agam Agenda

easter then & now

It's Easter once again and here at wonder | wander | world we wish to set the record straight. We celebrate the occasion paying homage to the Queen of Heaven and not the much later trumped up church declared resurrection of Jesus the Christ. 

Pagans believed in a god that was resurrected each spring on Easter - a day dedicated to Ishtar, the mother goddess. She was also called the queen of heaven and supposedly interceded with the gods on behalf of humankind. 

Ishtar - The Burney Relief  (c. 19th or 18th century BCE)

A belief has been applied to Mary by the Roman Catholic Church though it is pagan in origin and has no basis in the Bible.

Ada Limón

On our wonder | wander | women blog this week we had just written to celebrate April as National Poetry Month - where we posted some of our personal list of favorites. 

We realize just how short that lineup was and are sure to keep adding to it in time. On wonder | wander | world today, we are growing it with the addition of Ada Limón. 

With Limón’s remarkable ability to trace thought her latest work, The Hurting Kind incorporates others’ stories and ways of knowing, making surprising turns - always reaching a place of startling insight.

Ada Limón book cover

art fair PH 2022

Thank you, Ted Aldwin Ong and Rock Drilon, for this week's feature on wonder | wander | world. 

Art Fair Philippines had its eyes set on one daring goal - to provide a bigger platform for talented local artists outside Metro Manila's hub.

 'Goodbye to All That' by Margaux Blas (Photo: Mono 8 Gallery)

These exceptional talents go beyond the walls of art galleries in Metro Manila. In this write-up, Tatler features artists hailing from the Visayas and Mindanao.