the cost of independence

When it comes to American sovereignty, freedom has never been free. Freedom in the United States of America has come at great cost. We live in a society where things are made so much harsher than they need to be. All because of our divisiveness and intolerance.

It is unfortunate that that too many lives have been lost defining freedom and independence. How does its corruption alter the way we view the magnificence and miracle of July 4th?

iStock image

Focusing in on a system of hierarchy that was enshrined in this country, going back to the 17th century, that created a hierarchy that put primarily British people at the very top.

Anyone who looked like them at the top and at the very bottom were people who were brought in to be enslaved and indentured to build this country for free. A programmed hierarchy that continues to this day.

defending democracy

Alright folks - it's time to confirm what this whole thing is about. It is not about abortion. It is about women's rights.

It's all about our privacy. It is about our ability to exercise any choice in our life. It is about our right to make our own decisions for ourselves.

in protest of this SCOTUS decision

At the podcast "Now & Then" award-winning historians Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman use their encyclopedic knowledge of US history to bring the past to life. Together, they react to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

achy breaky

June has been a particularly difficult month in the wake of a bad stretch of these past three years. When our hearts are heavy and our souls are burdened, we turn to the gift of ecstatic poetry as the mystics teach us. 

Mystical defined as anything having to do with opening the heart to light. Ecstatic having to do with anything expressed from this place. 

wonder | wander | world offers this guiding prayer as we celebrate Juneteenth here in the US and the birth of a national hero, Jose Rizal, back home in the Philippines. 

Juneteenth Pride

May it lift us up and allow our spirit to soar. 

false proclamations

12 June 2022 the nation will commemorates the 124th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence with the theme, “Kalayaan 2022: Pagsuong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas (Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning). 

This year it is a bitter celebration for many - for those of us who have survived the People Power Revolution of 1987 we now have to drudge through the next six years under a former dictator's son and daughter of a current leading human rights violator. 

"Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning" - big words we do not believe this government will even try to live up to - to our utter shame and deep regret. It is a sad sorry day for the Philippines - marked by distinctly low key public celebrations. 

Known as "Araw ng Kasarinlan" or "Day of Freedom". 

Pinas kong mahal — you demand too much and are utterly unlovable once again. What have you done to deserve our love and loyalty?

"Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan!" rings hallow and false in Filipino communities and households around the world. We instead mourn the injustice of countless years of colonization and subjugation. 

Vowing to fight the good fight and keep up our collective rebel resistance and alliance. As we bear witness to these new batch of leaders of our homeland. 

Audubon documentary

In a topsy turvy time wonder | wonder | world finds great comfort in watching nature documentaries. As we move from spring into summer here in the East Coast the sunshine is brilliant and the warm air is filled with birdsong.

As we cool off indoors working on our various projects or sit out in the sunshine toasting in its warmth, we are enthralled by the Audubon documentary featured on Amazon Prime.

DVD cover

It is an extensive coverage of the life of naturalist John James Audubon. Released in 2017, it is written and directed by Al Reinert. Audubon's influence on ornithology and natural history are  astounding and wonderfully narrated by Sam Eliot.

Portrait of Audubon by John Syme, 1826

John James Audubon was an artist and a naturalist of monumental achievements. His story is both surprising and dramatic. He was not born in America, yet he saw more of the North American continent than anyone alive. His alarm over the destruction of nature became his prophesy.

slight of hand

As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend here in the US wonder | wonder | world reels from the barrage of bad news around the globe. 

Whether it is stolen elections in some banana republic that puts a long-gone dictator's son and his dominion in power, or the killing of innocents in yet another school massacre here in the US - our faith in governments is at an all-time low. 

final footsteps

Celebrating the Feast of the Ascension yesterday made us think about the footprints that mark our lives or those we leave behind before we croak. 

Mabuhay mga Filipina!

Looking over photos posted by Leni Robredo of her daughter's recent graduation from NYU - wonder | wander | world is happy to see them with Xyza Bacani, another stellar female achiever whom we featured in a past post here. 

Esquire Philippines photo

Without much fanfare, they go about their lives and work greatly impacting those of us who are staying tuned and keeping watch. 

Robredo generously stood in for Bacani's parents, who could not attend the event. Bacani said it took "a village of generous people" from Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the United States to make her master's degree a reality. 

We are ever appreciative and grateful these powerhouse females are here to share and make history with us. They are bright beacons of light that show us how the world can be lighter and better. 

The future is female - Mabuhay mga Filipina!