neXtDRAFT 26. Under the Mango Tree

Published: Wed, 05/30/18

Hello and welcome to neXtDRAFT 26. Under the mango tree.

This week's neXtDRAFT is delayed once again. I guess my trip to Estancia to get Jerry's report card and Certificate of Good Moral Character (for school enrolment) plus our trip to Manila (to visit Jerry's family) are fair reasons.

It's summer here in the Philippines and our little fridge is filled with mangos and our bodies jump and we seem to squeal every time a ripening mango dislodges itself from the trees above the house and crashes onto our roof. There's not a whole lot of insulation.

Our trip back to Estancia happened last Tuesday and Jerry was thrilled to see his best friend Nonoy and swing wildly from the mango trees. The nanays (mothers) sat in the shade drinking cold pepsi from shared plastic cups lamenting the impending removal of all the big shady trees to make way for road widening.

In the scorching heat I"m sure those trees received more than my silent prayer of gratitude for their shelter and comfort.

In Estancia we were able to give out the 22 packs of school supplies to the sponsored kids as well as some financial assistance to a couple of mothers to help with enrolment fees. A big thanks to the ongoing support of my readers here (you know who you are) for contribute to the projects here.

I've been working with new clients again this week, a young chef starting a catering and meal delivery service in Sydney, as well as magically helping one of my neXtDRAFT subscribers (you know who you are) embark on her career change path. Life is wonderful when you use your gifts to help others, and get paid too.

Jerry was especially thrilled this week to visit his family in Manila and even spent one night staying with his sisters. He came back joyful, buoyant, and fully alive. He's a happy little fellow anyway but truly his mood after the visit was exceptional.

In Manila Jerry and I had fun visiting the Ocean Park and Aquarium (oh his delighted squeals at the sea lion show and watching the penguins), flying kites in Rizal Park, and of course sitting in taxis in the intense traffic.

There aren't a lot of photos for a specific reason. I wanted both of us to fully enjoying the sea creatures and not spend the entire visit posting for selfies and trying to photograph the fish. I'm sure we both have clearer memories of our visit and reflecting back on a short piece of writing (rather than a photograph) always teleports me back to the place I wrote it. Check out Waiting for a Poem at the end of the newsletter.

Featured in this week's neXtDRAFT (as well as on the blog) is artwork depicting the execution of Dr José Rizal in 1896. Dr Rizal prayed for a place where there were no slaves or tyrants and the only ruler was God.

And I believe we can all contribute (yes that's me and Jerry included) to making our earth more like the heavenly place Dr Rizal described, by loving more, sharing more, and living with more compassion.

Peace is something we are all capable of, it's within all of us right now.

Till next week.

Mel xx

Sincerely,

Melinda J. Irvine

[email protected]

Mother Mary and Baby Jesus statue at Jaro Cathedral

“When you receive this letter, I shall be dead by then…. Tomorrow at seven, I shall be shot;

but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion…. I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.”

José Rizal

Stamps: Chinese Martyrs of the Revolution

Stamp News (with Uncle Richard)

Chinese Martyrs of the Revolutions

During the 1911 Xinhai Revolution many Chinese student revolutionaries became martyrs in battle. Their deaths helped establish the Republic of China in 1912. These martyrs were commemorated in a special issue of stamps in 1932 and 14 of the full set of 20 are available in our eBay listing.

Photo above.

Stamps from Finland (coming soon)

The first Finnish stamps were issued in 1856. Our collection has stamps dating from 1866 and these early stamps are very collectible. We hope to start listing these stamps early in June.

Photo of selection below!

PS: Stamps for the Visayans is a project of my Uncle Richard. In 2014 he inherited the family stamp collection which dates back 3 generations. He sells the stamps individually on eBay and sends the proceeds to help me live in the Philippines with Jerry (as well as run small projects for other disadvantaged children). It's incredible how these $5, $10 and $20 stamp sales (plus the odd big one) add up and make our life here possible.

The Execution of Dr José Rizal

Inside Rizal Park Manila is a confronting piece of art depicting the execution ceremony of Dr José Rizal in 1896. This installation art piece magnifies the size and height of both the victim and firing squad and reduces the size of observers, so it’s a surreal way to encounter art wandering between executioners and victim. Whether you feel connected or not to the story, it’s a powerful experience.

I’m a professional writer making my way in the world of business. The WritingBiz section is for anyone wanting to make writing a career (or at the very least make some money writing). Each week I share a few ideas on how to find writing jobs, self-publish your own eBooks, as well as how to setup your writing business and run it profitably.

Find great writing clients on Upwork

As a freelance writing professional, your writing time is valuable. This little post will quickly help you sift through the mountain of writing jobs on Upwork and concentrate on those worthy of your efforts.

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Create consistent work methods

Being a professional writer, I aim to create a great (and long term) working relationship with all my writing clients. Taking the time to create consistent work methods for your writing business makes the whole experience easier on your clients, and it's much more productive too.

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From the Vault: September 2016

Waiting for a Poem

I’m looking for a poem

you can find them everywhere

like waiting in the school ground

on a recent-rain-soaked chair

there's a poem in the laughter

and noise of children’s games

there’s a poem in the waiting

for a boy to call my name

finding poems in the dustbin

along with junk and broken toys

in wet pot plants, fallen biscuits

and the screams of running boys

I’m waiting and I’m listening

for my poem to make its sound

in this place that’s hardly silent

there’s a poem to be found

I wrote this little poem waiting for Jerry to come bursting out of his Grade 2 class. Each afternoon I'd arrive at the school and sit with my notebook waiting for a poem (as well as Jerry). Now because of this little piece of verse I can still picture the kids picking up rubbish, a girl dropping her chocolate biscuit, and boys shouting with delight as they chase each other up and down the corridors.