From Lisa

So, Bro actually found my blogspot and read how I enthused about her most recent Don Q. Here's what she emailed to me about the post...

"I like what you wrote about the show. I really enjoyed dancing Kitri
again. I thought talaga that the Kitri of 2004 was my last Kitri
full-length and it was a great feeling to be able to still dance her after
2 years...

Sabi nga ni Shaz after that show, "Lisa, can you imagine if you retire
Jerome, and then Rudy? Then, you will be dancing with Buknoy!" I don't
think so...(Buknoy is Arnulfo Andrade - a 12 year old scholar!)

Hope we can get together soon!"

Oh, and that's us in the above photo. Lisa is in the middle; to the right is her partner of 16 years, Shaz Barroso, who retired last year. He continues as ballet master and rehearsal master of Ballet Manila.

Valkyries

What is a Valkyrie?

In Nordic mythology, Valkyries are angelic figures in the form of women who lead warriors into their glorious deaths and escort their souls to paradise, Valhalla.

Wagner wrote an entire opera dedicated to Das Valkyries, and a popular piece from this work is entitled "Ride of the Valkyries".

My personal encounter with the word, the myth and the symbolism was in 1997, when I was gifted with Paulo Coelho's novel, The Valkyries. Although it is probably my least favorite among the Brazilian super-author's body of fantastic work (I'm a fan, I'm a fan -- I have all his books, with The Fifth Mountain autographed by him in London), I fell in love with the very name "valkyrie" and what this mythical figure stands for. In fact, I immediately used it as my email address. When I wrote to Paulo by email, the address did not fail to call his attention and he ended his missive to me with "God bless this new Valkyrie!"...

On this post, I've attached one of my favorite Valkyrie artwork, executed by artist Boris Vallejo.

How I wish I looked close to even a fraction of the artwork -- those abs, that hair!!!

For now, I content myself with listening to Wagner. Maybe I should use that music while working out. The sleeping cuts might reveal themselves. I know they're just resting somewhere beneath the extra layer of ice cream and chocolate leftovers...

Onward, soldiers of the metal horses!

Meanwhile, on a more serious note, I share a few lines I've scribbled while I was in London after meeting Paulo Coelho, inspired by my email alter ego:

FLIGHT OF THE VALKYRIES

Morning whispers
from the yawning landscape
of still mountains.
Apollo riding his chariot
across the heavenly plains.

I hear the thunderous roar
of a thousand wings --
Michael leading his army
to battle…
Goddesses leading warriors
to their glorious death.

I hear the thunderous roar
of a thousand wings –
calling from across
the Great River.
I close my eyes
and in the sacred darkness,
the angels sweep me away.


· July 1998