FLOWERS

Title: FLOWERS
Medium: OIL
These 2 oil paintings are one of the first paintings of flowers that I have done. Flowers are my favorite subjects when making still-life paintings.






















TITLE: (Flowers) Mother & Child
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 16 x 20 inches















TITLE: Forgiveness (Orchids)
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 24 x 30 inches




TITLE: LOVE (orchids)
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 12 x 16 inches


Watercolor was used on the following paintings of beautiful flowers. I have made other versions of these same flowers and have given them away as gifts to my friends. Some have been donated to the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry. Others have been sold during exhibits or bought by friends to be given away as gifts too.

The first time I received three red roses was during the summer of 1982. The roses came with an unsigned card. I was familiar with the handwriting and had an inkling as to the identity of the person who sent the roses.
He bought the flowers from a shop near his home in Pasig. That was 27 summers ago.





















Before that summer of 1982, this guy gave my best friend, Susan, a ceramic figurine of a swan, since her nickname was Swanee. The girls in class were making such a big fuss about the whole 'ceramic swan gift'. They speculated that he liked Susan. A month later, this same guy gave my other close friend, Millet, some chocolates on her birthday. Again, the girls 'talked" and 'talked' about him, saying, it's not Susan he likes but Millet. :)

Then we had this class song and dance number, where we performed to the tune of "I Can't Smile Without You."... Our class won the competition even if we didn't sound very good, but we all danced very very well (even hired a choreographer)... and those old Shakey's hats were a hit. One classmate took photos of the whole song and dance number and here comes this same guy, and ordered almost all the photos. WOW!!! he must really like Susan or Millet.

I had all the copies of the photos that he ordered. I looked at every photo and did some 'sleuthing'... or some process of elimination. I noticed that in the photos that he bought, I had good shots and in some photos, Susan and Millet were not in their best poses. Hmmmm.... I just pushed it away from my mind. I might just be imagining things and getting carried away with all the speculations our girl classmates were making.

Until that memorable summer day in 1982.... It was me he liked. I asked him why he had to give Susan the ceramic swan. He said, he had another one for me, a ceramic pig..... ha ha ha... but somehow he broke it and was not able to give it to me. Then , why give Millet the chocolates? He was just too shy to give them to me. But during the summer, he just had to let me know about his feelings.

He said that he noticed me since first year Dentistry proper. He noticed the loud, 'matapang', outspoken, candid, confident, girl who smoked, drank, partied a lot and drove a yellow sports car. I asked,"why me?"... and said that he has 'loved'...o ayan,, loved ang word, the first time he set his eyes on me. WOW... who wouldn't say yes to this kind of proposal?

Too good to be true. Who would like a fat girl? ,, someone who was a bit 'bitchy' at times and can be very annoying, feisty. aggressive, and even quarrelsome sometimes. A girl who smokes and drinks with the boys in class. How could I have been his type? It's probably love... so love is blind huh? Oh yeah, he wore prescription glasses then.

That summer, he came to the house with his cousin. They rode their racer bikes just to visit me. The next time, he didn't bring his cousin along anymore. Classes started and one evening, when the gang watched a concert at the Paco Park, he joined us. Kept very very close to me. Held my hand, Placed his arm on my shoulder and .... the rest is history.

I confided with Millet... told her that he is so 'baduy'... he even wears checkered pants. Millet said,,, he can always change his pants to designer jeans and learn not to be so baduy....and what's wrong with being baduy?

I was 22 then, never had a boyfriend, just had many guy and gay friends, always in Coco Banana partying, drinking and smoking not just cigarettes but 'jutes'. I said to myself that if at this age, I still didn't have a boyfriend, I would stop that horrible torture called dieting. The fat chubby arrogant flamboyant girl, that's me, found someone... or did he find me?

Boyet transformed into a very handsome boyfriend. I got more than handsome, I got a very humble, kind, caring, loving and GOOD man in my life.

Boyet never gave me flowers again, after that summer. I expected him to give me flowers on special occasions but he never did. Only to realize, later on, that he couldn't afford to always give me flowers back then. But now that he has a successful career and a well paying job, he never forgets to bring me orchids from Singapore, where their head office is located. He also brings me bags of chocolate from duty free , as if I am not a diabetic. He has provided me for all my needs, even gave me a Ford Expedition, a guzzler !!!... and I am the only one who drives it, aside from him and, only on few occasions can the driver drive the Ford.

Having a husband was never in my wildest dreams. I wanted to travel and live in a high end high rise condominium in New York, and be with my gay friends. but when Boyet came along, all my plans changed. I decided to settle and raise a family,be domesticated, be a housewife and forget about the post graduate training or my american dream.

But is it all worth it? YES... every bit of it is worth it. I am glad and honored to be loved and cared for by this simple, loving, caring, 'sometimes funny ' or baduy guy,.... the father of my son, Boyet.

Thank you for loving me unconditionally, for being the most understanding person i know, who tolerates my moods, who never gets angry even when I kicked and pushed and pinched him out of my frustrations. He makes me feel wanted and needed because he truly loves me. This is so much different from being loved because one is needed. So my dearest Boyet... Belated Happy Fathers Day... you are simply the best Daddy Boyet.
>>>>>
At my age... flowers scare me.... so my dear friends and family, i would welcome it very much if you too gave me flowers, while I can still see, smell and touch them. You can also send me mass cards and pray for the repose of my soul while I am still around so I can say thank you to all of you dear friends, who love me back, who are grateful for the many little things I have done for you. To those whom I have turned my back upon, may you all be blessed by God.. maybe someday, our paths will cross again, and all things will be forgotten and forgiven. But for now, I leave it up to God, who sees the real me and maybe soon, you will see me too.

I say, Let go and Let God do the rest. Forgiveness is setting you free... it is giving up the thought or the right to retaliate, to get even,or assasinate frenemies .... ......instead,I'll transform my monstrous thoughts into delicious foods and desserts, or make simple works of art,

Again, I am only able to paint, read a lot, write, cook and bake.. because Boyet allows me. He provides for all my wants and needs. Love , respect and gratitude are all that I can give you my darling, Boyet. I seldom say 'God Bless You'.. am not the type to be religious or sanctimonious... but for you I pray and say..... Thank you Lord for Boyet, he is the best blessing that you have given me.

Flowers.... makes a little girl smile; makes a young lady's heart go pitter-patter, or makes an elderly woman's spirit soar. Give flowers when one is aware, awake and alive... not when one is laid down to rest in peace.

Take care my friends and frenemies....i'll accept your flowers and mass cards / prayers for the repose of my soul ...'now na' ...:):) :) :)

betsisanders 09 / july 3 at dawn