Rain on a Hazy Summer Solstice
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27555)
Philippines
June 20, 2021 7:52pm CST
There was a real long blackout yesterday, the eve of the summer solstice.
An elderly friend sent message her solar power panel was good only for an hour. I texted back that I was using my tiny blessed candle. Flashlight battery has expired.
She nudged me unbecoming of a scout. Ouch! But it was true. I was unprepared for a blackout!
Ought to redeem my scout's honor - a reawakening today, of all days, a summer solstice.
What is it about the longest day of the year that seems to transcend spirits into another realm.... it has been a pagan belief that has not been shaken off. Yet, in a Christian country like the Philippines, that has become a precursory celebration for the feast of John the Baptist, the immerser for an awakening.
There was a drizzle this morning of June 21st, conducive for a quiet reflection on my being unprepared.
Point of reflection - the Scout Promise
On my honor, I will do my duty: to God and my country; to help other people at all times; and to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Made that promise in third grade.
8 people like this
9 responses
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
No festivity in the metro any longer. The feasts are celebrated in barrios where folklore is still rich.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
@rakski The gadgets were actually charged. I meant the flashlight batteries.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
My daughters chose scouting as their grade school club. The Girl Scout, I believe, prepared them to be always ready.
It's the mother who was not ready in this situation. I forgot to buy batteries. Hu hu.
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@rakski (156303)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
@eileenleyva I always check the power banks we have every morning and charge it to make it full, You will never know what will happen throughout the day
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
The power went out at a flash of lightning, probably hit a transmitter. Received message from the electric company that restoration was on-going.
Most likely, it was a brownout.
I have to buy a new flashlight and batteries. Typhoons are being forecasted and the electric company is reporting thin supply of electricity. Sigh.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
St. John the Baptist is a popular saint in the Philippines also. Not a huge celebration as throwing water to passers-by as was the custom but a commemoration of his nativity as the precursor of his cousin the Christ.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
23 Jun 21
@LadyDuck Same with our San Juan Metro Manila, a premier first class city that showcases the elite in music and theater. Very expensive lifestyle in the area.
In contrast with St. John the Baptist.
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@LadyDuck (502343)
• Italy
22 Jun 21
@eileenleyva In the city of Porto there are open air concerts, dancing parties and fireworks at midnight. Giovanni (John) is the second name of my husband.
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@RasmaSandra (97954)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun 21
This time reminds me of the upcoming Midsummer Festivities that we enjoyed when I lived in Latvia, The two traditional celebration days are June 23 and 24
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
Melancholic memories for me remembering such festive celebrations. It's like those days were from another life.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97954)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun 21
@eileenleyva for me too since there are no such celebrations here
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
@RasmaSandra Sometimes, there's a longing to relocate to a province, just so life could be ordinarily serene, disturbed only by elaborate and assiduous fiesta celebrations.
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@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
21 Jun 21
So you are saying your power went out and you needed to light candles? That's not good:(
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
Yup. Really not good. My flashlight has low bat.
My daughter slept through the blackout. The other one sat on the balcony. I played Wordscapes on my Ipad. The doggies kept watch, wondering why it was so dark with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling every now and then.
When my daughter woke up, she played piano and her elder sister belted out Hamilton.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
@kobesbuddy A little inconvenient because younger daughter has research to do and her elder sister has a work-related correspondence to attend via zoom. With the blackout goes the wifi.
The power came back on in time for the meet. No harm done.
The positive note is that we were able to rest and relax.
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@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
21 Jun 21
@eileenleyva It sounds like the blackout wasn't a big problem, for your family:) I love to play piano!
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@kaylachan (84742)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun 21
Good luck with that. Hope those black out conditions don't last.
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
The electric company said it there was an ongoing restoration somewhere. Coincided with rain and thunderstorm. But we believe it was conserving electric energy. Consumption all the long summer was high.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38849)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
Not aware of summer solstice. Here no brownouts which is good. It's cool and cloudy today Monday
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@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
There was a movie entitled Tatarin a few years back, a film rendition of Nick Joaquin's Summer Solstice, meant probably to orient the new generations of Filipinos about our culture. I don't think it gathered a captive audience. Filipinos are more into supporting their favorite actors and actresses rather than the quality of movies.
It was a windy day yesterday and I went out noontime to pick on my aratelis before the winds blow the fruits down on the grounds. Sigh, the heat must have affected my being because I woke up with congested nostrils. Such strange summer solstice again. Ha ha
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
21 Jun 21
Good to know about these celebrations , interesting . I never heard of such celebration before
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
21 Jun 21
Not prevalent any longer actually. The last two generations don't even know about such lore.
