Personal Ruminations About 2023

As the curtains opened on the stage of 2023 what followed was a symphony of challenges and triumphs, painting a portrait of resilience and gratitude. It commenced with a daunting hurdle as the first quarter found me hospitalized and in a wheelchair at the airport on my way back to Sweden upon returning from an unfinished visit to the Philippines. It was a time of uncertainty and vulnerability, where my world seemed to stand still.

As the warmth of summer graced the horizon, a newfound sense of liberation beckoned me towards the great outdoors. Embarking on a month-long camping expedition, nature grasped me in its gentle embrace, offering solace and rejuvenation.

Ah, the joys of summer. Let me weave a tale for you guys, of 5 glorious weeks spent immersed in the wonders of nature, and newfound friendships from several continents on a serene campsite in Trosa.

Then came the final stretch of the year, as winds of change propelled me towards a season of vibrant activity. From engaging in social activities to connecting with cherished friends, every moment was infused with a sense of joy and purpose. What truly illuminated this chapter was the remarkable improvement in my health. It was a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the blessings bestowed upon me.


Those five weeks in Trosa and a similar experience years back when I spent a month in another campsite in Peniche, Portugal reminded us that the treasures of life are not found in possessions, but in the moments we share with kindred spirits, our embrace of nature, and in the whispers of our own hearts. (Photo via Trosa)

There’s not a day I am not grateful to God for guiding me through these trials and showering me with His blessings. Each obstacle became an opportunity for growth, and every triumph a testament to the strength within. As the curtains closed on 2023, I am reminded that even in the darkest moments, faith and fortitude shines as a guiding light, illuminating the path ahead.

As our bodies basked in the joys of the outdoors, our minds thirsted for knowledge. With the campsite as our sanctuary, we immersed in a world of literary treasures which in turn inspire us to set pen to paper.

I found solace in the power of faith, grateful to the Divine for guiding me through the storms and reminding me of the resilience of the human spirit.
©moiragallaga

In the canvas that highlights my 2023 year,
A tale of trials and triumphs appear.
Through the first quarter, in a hospital’s care,
Bound to a wheelchair, an unexpected affair.
**
Yet amidst adversity, hope found its way,
As summer arrived, painting skies with golden rays.
A month of camping, a respite so sweet,
Nature’s embrace, a melody while in retreat.
**
September to December, a vibrant scene,
Engulfed in social activities, a life so keen.
With each passing day, strength began to grow,
Health blooming anew, like a river’s gentle flow.
**
Gratitude fills my heart for all I’ve received,
For the blessings bestowed, I truly believed.
In the hands of a higher power, I found solace,
Guiding me through challenges, a divine grace.
**
The chapters of 2023, a tale of strife,
Yet resilience and joy intertwined, giving life.
Through hurdles and triumphs, I’ve come to see,
The beauty of resilience and what it means to be free.
©moiragallaga

As the sun graced the Swedish skies, our adventure began with the lapping of waves against the dock. We embarked on a journey of discovery, learned the art of navigating the open waters, each of us taking turns at the helm of our boat. With the wind in our hair and the thrill of independence in our hearts, we explored coves and distant shores, the choppy waves guiding us towards boundless possibilities.

The allure of kayaking beckoned us to delve further into the depths of nature´s splendour. Awe-inspiring landscapes graced our path. Everyday we venture deeper into the embrace of nature as our souls became intertwined with the rhythm of the sea and an unbreakable bond with the water is forged.
Dipping in the water, seeking respite from the sun’s glare. Embracing the freedom of weightlessness and reveling in the joy of laughter and the beauty of silence shared.

Happy New Year 2024

As the final moments of 2023 unfold, let us not merely cling to hopes for a brighter future but actively sow the seeds of peace in the soil of our daily lives. May each root branching out with understanding and compassion, fostering a world where differences are bridged and kindness is the currency of connection. May the dawn of the new year bring not only the promise of joy, but a commitment to radiate light in the face of challenges. Here’s to a year where the pursuit of peace becomes our collective resolution, and the attainment of joy and light guide our shared journey.

May the New Year bring you and your family abundant joy, good health, and prosperity. May your bonds grow stronger, and your hearts be filled with peace, love and warmth. Happy New Year!

As we gather with loved ones embracing joy, let our minds also turn to those who have endured the ravages of war.

Reposting my take on New Year’s Resolutions

Let’s pause to reflect on the countless lives forever altered by the atrocities of conflict. We pray for the children who have known nothing but fear and loss, their innocent laughter silenced by the echoes of bombs and gunfire. We think of families torn apart, their homes reduced to rubble, and the pain that seeps through the cracks of broken hearts.
       ©moiragallaga

In twinkling lights and laughter’s cheer,
The final Christmas party draws near.
Friends and family gather, spirits bright,
To bid farewell to this wondrous night.
A year’s end celebration, filled with delight.
©moiragallaga

Happy New Year to you and yours, and may the echoes of goodwill resonate throughout the year.

– Moira G Gallaga

To My Friends

© Moira Garcia Gallaga

This is an ode

to all my friends

you know who you are…


To those of you

who shared the days

of dance and prance

when we were young, vibrant,

full of life’s energy,

laughing at some absurdity

behind innocence’s veil…


I thank you!


To those of you

who took the brunt

for my mistakes,

even protected me

with word and deed…


I thank you!


To those of you

who oil my mental faculties

with rational debates,

heated perhaps,

but never in hate…


I thank you.

True friend is someone who cares about you so much even at the risk of that friendship in order to tell you the truth that needs to be heard. ©moiragallaga


For those of you

who cooked a dish

or made some exotic meals

enticed my culinary senses,

in such an endearing, nurturing way,

I will always think of you

when I’m reminded of those delights…


I thank you!


To those of you

who stuck with me,

fellow-traveled up the hills

then down into valleys deep,

you taught me;

‘friends are our gurus in life”

and through your love I’ve learnt

that I am worthy to be a friend…


I thank you!

Ocean Dreams

© Moira Garcia Gallaga

Sand, soft beneath my feet

Shades of the living, blue-green ocean

Intense as the summer heat.


Seabirds soaring in the sky

Sun catching their wings in graceful flight

The ocean hears their cry.


Shells shimmer in the sand

Smooth as the ocean softly cleansed them

Gently soothing in my hand.

The undersea realm fascinates me no end, but night diving is purely on another higher level.

Sun sinking to the sea

Shades of scarlet painting sky and beach

Crimson ocean sings to me.


Sleep, soothing sound in ears

Driftwood floats the waters of my mind

Dream, the ocean always hears.

The Visiting Forces Agreement Survives

© Moira G. Gallaga

During a meeting between Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd at Malacañan Palace on 29 July, President Duterte retracted the planned abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States of America.

It may be recalled that the President has suspended for 3 times the abrogation of the VFA. To get some context and understand the significance of this latest development, check out my article “VFA Gets Another Lease on Life” which was published on the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 07 July.

Testing the Waters

©Moira Garcia Gallaga

On 07 March, 220 Chinese vessels were reported to be moored in Julian Felipe Reef which is within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. A diplomatic protest was filed on 21 March and the Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese Ambassador on 13 April to express displeasure over the continued presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef. By 13 April, it was noted that only a handful of Chinese vessels remain in the reef.  

In the weeks that followed, Chinese vessels continued to be spotted in maritime areas claimed by our country. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana have been very vocal in telling the Chinese government to order their ships to vacate the area. The situation out at sea eventually calmed down though the Philippine Coast Guard has stepped up patrols in the disputed areas.

However, a public debate on current government policy on the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS) has broken out with the Government’s policy on the SCS/WPS coming under heavy criticism and scrutiny. There is as much an element of domestic politics in this debate as there is concern over the direction of Philippine foreign policy on the SCS/WPS issue. 

So what do the Chinese make of these public debates in terms of revealing insights regarding where the Philippines stand vis-a-vis their efforts to seek control over a large swathe of the SCS? Was this the intent behind their incursion in March? China was definitely “testing the waters,” not only to send a message, but also to elicit a reaction, to gauge how far they can push the envelope. However, we need to consider that the actions weren’t only directed at us, but to the Americans as well.  

It isn’t a coincidence that this happened a short time after a new US President has been sworn in because it makes perfect sense for Beijing to assess and test the mettle of the new tenant in the White House. What has happened in Julian Felipe Reef is therefore just one piece of a larger puzzle where Beijing is trying to assess Washington’s Indo-Pacific policy and strategy. It was also an opportunity for China to test the commitment of the Americans to its allies in the region.  

Photo via Wikipedia

So yes, the public debates and the ensuing statements coming from the Philippine Government and from those in opposition to current policy may provide the Chinese a better understanding of where they and their SCS policy stands in the Philippines, but if anything, it merely reaffirms what they already know. Nothing new for them in that area. It is likely that the reaction the Chinese are waiting to see from the Philippines is one that involves the fate of the VFA, when the six-month suspension of the abrogation of the VFA that was announced in November expires in May.  

Compared to debates and statements on our SCS/WPS policy, what happens to the VFA is a more relevant development the Chinese are more interested in because termination or continued effectivity of the VFA has a more profound impact to their plans and strategy in relation to the SCS/WPS area than mere policy statements that can easily change or be modified.  

Terminating the VFA under these circumstances would possibly be perceived by the Chinese Government as a lack of confidence in our long-time ally. This will be seen as an opening to further drive a wedge between the Philippines and the US.  

The Chinese know that the fate of the VFA was to be decided soon and stirred trouble at Julian Felipe Reef as a test and to create conditions that the Philippines will be forced to consider in its decision on the VFA.

On 14 June, they got their answer. For the third time, President Duterte suspended the abrogation of the VFA for another 6 months. You can read my take on that particular development in my article published on 07 July on the Philippine Daily Inquirer titled, “VFA gets another lease on life.”

11 July 2021

“VFA gets another lease on life”

©Moira G. Gallaga

Here is my take on the third suspension of the abrogation of the Philippine-US Visiting Forces Agreement. It was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 07 July 2021.

My Book ‘Life in 17 Syllables’ is now available on Amazon Kindle

© Moira G. Gallaga

For those interested, Life in 17 Syllables is now available on Amazon Kindle. It would be highly appreciated if you could kindly spread the word to your friends and vast network. My heart is full, obrigadissima!

Life in 17 Syllables
Registered Author/Writer

29 June 2021

Incentives vs Civic Duty

©Moira G. Gallaga

My latest article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

However, is the use of incentives, particularly raffles and lotteries, a good and effective policy for changing the minds of the vaccine-hesitant? Given that vaccination is critical to the lifting of restrictions that have stifled the economy, led to massive job losses, and closed scores of businesses, shouldn’t getting vaccinated be considered the civic duty of citizens?

22 June 2021

Lisbon International Airport, VIP Area: An Encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo

©Moira G. Gallaga

The viral video of Cristiano Ronaldo’s press conference where he sets aside 2 Coca Cola bottles that was placed on the table has caused quite a stir online. Well, it also caused Coca Cola to lose US$4 billion in market value in less than a day. Yes, that’s right, 4 billion US dollars! Talk about an influencer, and I think he wasn’t doing anything deliberate and was just being himself.

It brings to mind our encounter with him a few years back while we were still assigned in Portugal. It was at the VIP parking lot of Lisbon’s International Airport. I was there to pick up Hubby who was arriving from an official trip to Angola. Ciaran was also there because that was the only way I could get to the airport on time as he is more effective than the GPS.

“Your love makes me strong, your hate makes me unstoppable.”
― Cristiano Ronaldo

I parked beside this Mercedes Benz sedan. Hubby arrives and starts loading his luggage in the trunk. Almost at the same time, a guy comes out of the VIP Lounge and starts loading luggage in the car beside us. A few seconds later, Cristiano Ronaldo comes out and heads towards the Benz. With my Malacanang training where we’re so used to seeing Heads of State/Government, Royalty, etc. I don’t go agog when I see celebrities. In my 16 years, I never asked for a photo with any of the VVIPs. So Ciaran and I just said hi to Cristiano and while his luggage was being loaded, we had a chance to have a brief chat:

Lisbon’s International Airport parking for Diplomats and VIPs

“Me: Olá, sinto saudades de vê-lo jogar com a camisa branca, mas lhe desejamos boa sorte na Juventus.

(Hello, I miss seeing you play wearing the White shirt, but we wish you luck in Juventus.)

**

Cristiano: Madridista?  Ou os jogadores

             (Madridista? Or the players?) And he smiled.

**

Me:  Madridista para sempre, mas também seguimos os nossos jogadores favoritos e tivemos que nos inscrever na Eleven Sports para podermos vê-lo na Série A.

(Madridista para sempre, but we also follow our favorite players and we had to subscribe to Eleven Sports so we can watch you in Serie A.)

**

Ciaran: Como você está? (How are you doing) and he replied “tudo bem.” I got lost when the two of them started talking really fast, he asked Ciaran if he plays futebol and Ciaran said since our posting here he trained in Escola Benfica (Benfica Futebol Academy). He complimented Ciaran’s Portuguese saying he speaks like he was born here in Lisbon. But he also teased Ciaran that he’s on the wrong team (Cristiano started his career with Sporting, rivals of Benfica).

He thanked me for my best wishes and asked how long I’ve been in Portugal.

**

Me: Quase 5 anos.  Obrigado e boa sorte e já agora, Madeira (a sua cidade natal) é o local de férias preferido da nossa família.

(Almost 5 years. Thank you and good luck and by the way, Madeira (his hometown) is our family’s favourite getaway place.)

Cristiano: Prazer em conhecer vocês dois.

                       (Nice meeting you both.)

Waiting for Hubby at Lisbon Airport. Now that I’m done publishing my first book on poetry, maybe I’ll write something like anecdotes of being a spouse to a Diplomat or Foreign Service life. Showed it to Hubby some time ago, but he rejected all my notes and outlines. He said I could make it more better if I really sit down on it.

**

He then kindly asks us if we could move our car forward so his brother can enter the driver’s side as they need to be on their way. He was pretty down to earth and had a nice aura about him.

I tell Hubby we need to move out already because Ronaldo’s brother can’t get inside their car because I parked too closely. I let Hubby drive so Ronaldo and his brother will think it’s Hubby who has the deficient parking skills (Hahaha!). After we get going, Hubby asks who’s Ronaldo? Ciaran and I bursted out laughing and told him, “who else, the one and only CR7?” Hubby’s reaction was priceless, to think that we’ve seen Ronaldo several times playing live both in Madrid and Lisbon, and close up during a parade when they were the Euro Champions and the bus passed by near the Embassy. He wasn’t pleased that we just let him go on load his luggage and then drive off without bothering to tell him we were parked beside the Cristiano Ronaldo.

Actually, we didn’t do that on purpose. It just seemed like any ordinary polite encounter with a regular person. It didn’t even cross our minds to ask for a photo with him. We are cool like that. I think it’s better it turned out that way, a regular encounter between people rather than a fan meeting a superstar.

In the car as Hubby was still harping on our not letting him know, Ciaran says that maybe it was all for the best, especially as he noticed Ronaldo looked at our car’s diplomatic plate because if we told him, he might have ended up embarrassing us to Cristiano (Hahaha!). Hubby would not be asking for photo or anything, but what he’ll most likely do is give Cristiano his two cents worth on his playing, the team’s morale, football tactics, etc. To his credit, Hubby agreed with that thought and said nothing more.

21 June 2021