Waves and Travel
by Dayaw and Cherry
I met Cherry in 2017 in a women's retreat called Diwata Gathering. She came from a place of longing when she organized this women's circle because of certain post-partum processes she went through after giving birth to her firstborn Agos (Waves). She moved from Manila to Zambales in 2015 and met her surfer partner there, Kuya Manoy. She gave birth to Agos in March 2017. In a way, she hasn't grown roots in her new home yet and misses most of her female friends in Manila. She also wanted a kind of support system so she gathered 20+ women in Talisay Cove for an overnight stay which was blessed by a lightning show from the eastern sky. I was 5 months pregnant that time with Kala when I was introduced to her.
2020 came and I gave birth to Ohr two months ago. Cherry too gave birth to her second baby named Lakbay (Travel) just last month. We both have firstborns who are going through something, so I sent her the story of Alien Moon which I used to hold space for Kala and Ohr's process.
Just a few days go, she sent me this:
Thank you so much, Nanay for sending me Alien Moon and sharing with me you journey with Kala and Ohr. Many women around me have shared their own experiences as well having two children. When you sent me the link I read it immediately and related to it so quickly because me and Agos were also going through the same thing with regards to Lakbay.
When I was reading the story I felt like I was daydreaming, so many visions came to my mind as I also deeply felt Agos as Araw and Lakbay as Buwan. I was also trying to process how I will share the story to Agos because I don't know sometimes if she fully understands me whenever I tell her about the changes that are happening in our family. She just usually cries whenever I try to tell her things about Lakbay.
Last night, Lakbay slept early so I had time to focus on Agos. I took the opportunity and told her the Alien Moon story. While I was so immersed in my own storytelling, I just saw Agos silently sleeping already. I wish it's always like that because before, she would throw tantrums right before going to bed. I had peace that night.
I thought that was the end of the story. But when I went to bed, I dreamt of Alien Moon.
The dream was simple, it focused on Araw's tantrums. I saw myself as Inang Mundo (Mother Earth) whose breasts were volcanoes about to explode because that's how I feel whenever I'm so tired of Agos' behavior. There were some other parts I couldn't remember, but the highlight of the dream was when I finally found peace in every sunset and moonrise. It's like, I'm just there, in the middle of Araw and Buwan. I look at Araw giving way for Buwan to rise from the horizon.
When I woke up, I felt so light. In reality, this is my and Agos' favorite time of the day in Liwa. Every sunset, we go by the beach just to breathe and then see the moon rise up. This keeps me sane and grounded to bear the process with Agos. I realized that what she's going through is temporary and she will fully accept some day.
The next day, it was a struggle again with the whole Agos and Lakbay dynamics, but I saw Agos interact gently with her baby sister more that day.
2020 came and I gave birth to Ohr two months ago. Cherry too gave birth to her second baby named Lakbay (Travel) just last month. We both have firstborns who are going through something, so I sent her the story of Alien Moon which I used to hold space for Kala and Ohr's process.
Just a few days go, she sent me this:
Thank you so much, Nanay for sending me Alien Moon and sharing with me you journey with Kala and Ohr. Many women around me have shared their own experiences as well having two children. When you sent me the link I read it immediately and related to it so quickly because me and Agos were also going through the same thing with regards to Lakbay.
When I was reading the story I felt like I was daydreaming, so many visions came to my mind as I also deeply felt Agos as Araw and Lakbay as Buwan. I was also trying to process how I will share the story to Agos because I don't know sometimes if she fully understands me whenever I tell her about the changes that are happening in our family. She just usually cries whenever I try to tell her things about Lakbay.
Last night, Lakbay slept early so I had time to focus on Agos. I took the opportunity and told her the Alien Moon story. While I was so immersed in my own storytelling, I just saw Agos silently sleeping already. I wish it's always like that because before, she would throw tantrums right before going to bed. I had peace that night.
I thought that was the end of the story. But when I went to bed, I dreamt of Alien Moon.
The dream was simple, it focused on Araw's tantrums. I saw myself as Inang Mundo (Mother Earth) whose breasts were volcanoes about to explode because that's how I feel whenever I'm so tired of Agos' behavior. There were some other parts I couldn't remember, but the highlight of the dream was when I finally found peace in every sunset and moonrise. It's like, I'm just there, in the middle of Araw and Buwan. I look at Araw giving way for Buwan to rise from the horizon.
When I woke up, I felt so light. In reality, this is my and Agos' favorite time of the day in Liwa. Every sunset, we go by the beach just to breathe and then see the moon rise up. This keeps me sane and grounded to bear the process with Agos. I realized that what she's going through is temporary and she will fully accept some day.
The next day, it was a struggle again with the whole Agos and Lakbay dynamics, but I saw Agos interact gently with her baby sister more that day.