Belle Maunes

belle's creatives

And All The Little Things In BetweenOnce, there were avenues for sunlit days,
For road trips on impulses and coming round the bay,
For handshakes and fist bumps
And for "let's meet at 1 today".Now we're stuck in hollows and unworn shirts for Friday,
Of covered smiles and muffled laughters,
Making trips around the garden and silent Sundays,
Now we're streets of unspoken sorrows.Tolls of losses like numbers in a child's play,
This present-day barrier; no more than a bright lit monitor,
Echoes of reaching out, echoes for innovation,
Wallow in my ears like a hope for tomorrow.Let me knit you a sweater for maybe next year's December,
I'll let you call me at midnight or the inception of the day after,
Tell me of the new chords you've played in your accordion,
And I'll tell you these are all our little innovations.As we sleep in dark rooms and mornings of repetitive days,
Let us also awake into avenues and streets and corners,
That innovations in this period need not be grand,
We can be new paintings on easels and breaking borders.Once, we were beams of echoing laughter,
Of canteen stayovers and lunch soup freeloaders,
Now, we are acquisition of learnings in this darkened period,
We'll be there for that daydream tomorrow and the days after.

SeaI wanted to go to the sea
To feel that sharp breeze of the wind
As it slowly burns up my cheeks
To look up at the beds of clouds
Wishing I was there instead.
I wanted to go to the sea
To just breathe, and breathe,
And just breathe some more air,
To let my mind go serene
In the most subtle way.
I wanted to go to the sea
Telling stories and mixing light drinks
Sharing some pizza and admiring the trees
How they give shade, and peace, and nostalgic memories
And how much I wished to just never leave.
I always wanted to go to the sea
Where the storm's up ahead, oh, seen so clearly
Where the horizon calmly exists
Where I could think of existing, of breathing
And I could possibly be free.
Let me go to the sea
With no guilt or of heavy heart
With only a cup in hand
Just looking far, far beyond
I wanted to go to my peace.

AsylumI run my fingers
Along the dust filled panes
Traced the edges
As I whispered your name.Pulled the once bright curtains
Now drizzled with webs
Where we once played
Our own little games.I take in this once gentle scent
Comforting, home-like, nostalgic
Now your scent
Is intoxicating me.We locked the doors
And chained our gates
Dimmed the lights
And broke our rules.In the blink of an eye
I am a lost soul
You were my home
Now you're another asylum.

for all the aliases I made, yours is my least favoritethis is the mourn of the undesired,
the pseudonym in gold letters,
written only to be gone.
I, in abstract strokes of
unheard colors,
in this open-to-all exhibit,
you passed by me,
without a side glance
or a double take,
you went to the next exhibit
in town.
I am a shrapnel
in a meadow of daisies,
I exploded willingly for you,
in a body of bullet holes,
puzzle pieces
of worn down flesh,
in your touch,
I'll disintegrate again.
may you find me in debris
washed ashore,
a shipwreck piece barely afloat,
in waves of crushing
unheard sincerity,
I still broke the surface
from the ocean floor.
I am your intentionally
missed flight
to New York City,
a bird's eye view
of flickering 2 am cityscape lights,
with sunrise in a slumber
below our horizon.
the choice is yours to make.
as I watch you in drooping eyes,
and hold you in metaphorical phrases,
may I remind you
of hidden midnight soundtracks,
the ones that hum in your sleep,
of my name in golden letters,
a pseudonym you'd never pronounce.

WanderI wonder how many people in this world think about ending everything almost on a daily basis. Who they are, what they are doing, wherever part of the world they are right at this moment, and if someone out there is actually thinking these same exact thoughts as me.For starters, I know someone who giggles on almost every lousy joke I make. They would rather ride bikes on hot summer afternoons than sit on the couch at home and be strangled with their own thoughts. I wonder how many times they tried to escape.I also know someone who makes the most unusual remarks, with jokes that buffer in my head until they would make an explanation out of it. They would wave at every acquaintance and talk to every friend but on certain nights they would tell me how much they yearn for affection and how much their thoughts are time bomb collars that could explode with one wrong tinker. I wonder how much time there is more.I know someone who is open to their grief. They would make snide existential remarks and midnight curses on how life's been so messed up ever since. But they worked more than anyone I know, with 2 AMs dedicated for coffee and chasing deadlines for submissions. But their grief remained still. I wonder how much more 'resilient' can 'resilient' be.And I know someone who writes prose on hours where they should be asleep. With words trapped in the back of their tongue and thoughts that could never be decently transcribed. They are a blank slate with new abstract strokes each day, of going back and forth, of the desire for an existence of more than just surviving. I wonder when they'll be able to realize it. I wonder when will things fit like a long-awaited puzzle piece. I wonder when will I stop thinking about how many people think of ending things just like me.

Belle's Formal Pieces

Nation and Nationalism
Nation is a concept which assumes that there is a link that connects a group of people to form
a community. The nation’s origin alongside nationalism has been a subject of debates among social
scientists and scholars. There are three theories about the roots of the nation.
The first theory tackles the root of the nation and national identity. It also discusses the
existing and deep-rooted features of a group of people such as their language, religion, and race.
This is called primordialism. This claims that a national identity has always existed as well as
nations having “ethnic cores”. The second theory states that nation, national identity, and
nationalism are products of and are shaped by modernity. This theory suggests that nationalism
and national identity essential products of the social structure and culture brought about by the rise
of capitalism, industrialization, secularization, urbanization, and bureaucratization. The third
theory, referred to as the constructive approach, states that nation and nationalism are discursive.
This view also explains that nationalism is socially constructed and it is imagined by people who
identify with a group.
In the Philippines, it has been said that the idea of nation-building is a continuing struggle
up to the present. Historians stated that the nineteenth century has brought a tremendous change
in the Filipinos’ lives as well as the actual expressions of nation and nationhood. In the country,
kapwa is an important concept of social relations. In the strengthening of social relations, this
concept supports the notion of unity and harmony in a community. From this concept, other notions
such as “pakikipagkapwa”, “pakikisama”, and “pakikipag-ugnay”, as well as the collective
orientation of Filipino culture.
In the field of history, a major movement and perspective known as Pantayong Pananaw
has been created. Scholars are among the major researchers in this movement with the notion of
bayan or banua. Bayan/Banua is an important indigenous concept. It is defined as the territory
where the people live or the actual community they are identifying with. This concept encompasses
both the spatial community as well as the imagined community. Pantayong Pananaw maintains the
existence of a great cultural divide that separated the elite and the folk/masses. This dispute brings
the project of nation-building to a contested terrain. Throughout Philippine history, nation-building
has been a challenge, hugely impacted by colonialism, invasion, dictatorship, and the constant
struggle for development.
To better understand nationalism, social scientists have defined the nuances of nation, state,
and nation-state. Nation refers to a group of people that shares a common culture, history,
language, and other practices like religion, affinity to a place, and so much more. State, on one
hand, refers to a political entity that wields sovereignty over a defined territory. States have laws,
taxation, government, and bureaucracy which are basically the means of regulating life within the
territory. This sovereignty also requires diplomatic recognition to be reasonable and acknowledged
internationally. The state’s boundaries and territory are not fixed and changed across time with
war, sale, arbitration, and negotiation, and even assimilation or secession. The nation-state, on the
other hand, is a state governing a nation. It is a fusion of the elements of the nation, which are the
people, and the state, which is the territory.
With this, we can perceive nation and nationalism as citizens of our country. Our culture,
beliefs, religion, and many other aspects which contribute to nation-building have been challenged
and affected by so many factors even in the past and up until now. Considering all of the years of
invasion and other encounters in the way the country is governed, we can truly say that it has led
to vast diversity. Various communities have different beliefs as well as culture and wherever you
go in our country, one can truly say that each place has indeed developed in so many varying ways.
However, despite all of these differences, we can still say that we are one nation. It is because we
surely have certain connections which link us as Filipinos no matter where we go.
Furthermore, as Filipinos, we should always acknowledge and protect the sovereignty which
has been fought for and has been gifted to us by our heroes. Though there are numerous trials that
challenge our development and growth us a nation, we should always instill in our minds that it is
our privilege and responsibility to preserve our culture and other factors which link us as Filipinos,
as a nation. We should not never give our sovereignty up for whatever reason that might be for
this has been what our national heroes had fought for with their lives.
Things shouldn’t be an issue of what we have grown used to, hence, it should be about how
we continually make ourselves aware about and what we do to make things better little by little
for a nation-building will always be a collective effort. We should always assess our standpoints
and our beliefs on how our nation should be. After all, we, as a nation and as Filipinos, should
always stand with our culture, our rights, and our sovereignty.

Kingdom of Heaven
"Kingdom of Heaven" has been the substance of considerable debate and has divided the filmgoing public - they appear to either love it or hate it. Following the death of his child and suicide
of his wife, Balian seeks redemption and direction by accompanying his father to Jerusalem.
The story showed that a system of morality is possible without basis in religion.
This movie reminded me that some people only do good because of how society and religion
dictate everyone to do so. It isn’t a bad thing however one must act and speak with goodness
because it is something that’s innate in someone. It should be something that one does out of
the willingness of his/her heart.
As far as I can see on what’s happening today, many people depend on what the society’s been
telling us to do -- what doing good entitles us, what love really is, what compassion should be.
Many people think that fulfilling these standards will officially equate to being good. However,
some of us fail to realize certain truths.
Goodness comes from within. It is something innate and it is something that shows how
humane we really are. Some people pretend to help those in need for the mere purpose of
validation and praises from other people. Some also join religious celebrations as something
that their friends or relatives only invite them to join. I am not trying to say that these are
wrong. However, as what goodness really is, doing these things should be voluntary and out of
the goodness of our hearts.
Just like in attending mass, some may do these for other purposes aside from actually praising
and thanking God. Some also regularly attend masses but still can’t show compassion to their
fellow men. They hear the word of God but fail to really comprehend everything and still have
the guts to deliver their fellow people to pain and misery.
These experiences taught me that sincerity and genuineness go a long way. No matter how
much you preach the word of God and tell others what you be, if your actions speak otherwise
then everything is just for pretention. I learned that some people prioritize their reputation or
personal satisfaction and gratification rather than to actually what is right and good to other
people. Some people will shrug off injustice for the sake of a good persona to the eyes of other
people.
That is why it is truly important to see beyond our own beliefs and what other might point out
to us. We should act in accordance to what our humanity speaks aloud and to what God truly
instilled in us. It is to love and to show compassion without expecting anything in return.
They have significant relations to my being a student of Cor Jesu College because our core value
is Compassion. It is about caring, sharing, and being one with each other’s hearts without a
perception of receiving something in return. In every circumstance, we should always be
compassionate enough to relate to the situation, struggles, and beliefs of other people without
compromising what is just and noble.
Remembering these particular circumstances, I somehow feel a tinge of sadness and
disappointment. I feel sad because it is just so hard to find truly genuine hearts these days.
Some are just too pretentious and some are just simply going with the flow without knowing
that there will be times that we should be going against it.
I also feel this pinch of disappointment. It is because sometimes we are too absorbed with what
everybody’s been pointing and telling us. Some people even use religion as an excuse to do vile
things and even inflict pain to other people. Some even use the name of God to deceive other
people and take advantage of them. It simply feels like finding real genuine hearts these days is
a hard-fought battle.
However, I somehow feel this hope because more and more people become more aware that
life is more than just going with the flow. It is also about facing the waves of injustices and
making a path for what is truly right and just. It is also about looking at the bigger picture and
acting outside of the box.
Considering how the world is right now, what I want to do is to become a genuine heart in this
society of insincere souls. I want to show as much compassion as I can especially to those who
need it the most. No matter how much pain we are in, somehow we should give as much love
as we can. We should not make excuses when helping other people.
Our faith should be rooted to love because when that happens, we are truly able to radiate
genuine intentions and sincere hearts. I will act with compassion. As a Cor Jesian, I will uphold
Excellence, Community, Apostleship, and Compassion. I will become an instrument of good will.
Life is tough and your walls will be broken down at some point but we should always remember
to never neglect our innate goodness and we should always act based on what truly is right,
noble, and just.
Realizing these things made me think about how huge the world really is and how small it really
is at the same time. It is so huge because we are able to really venture out and learn from
different people, different places, and different circumstances. I am able to develop gradually
with what I was able to perceive in this world. I am able to turn all of the disappointing events
into pure motivation to do even more good acts to the world.
The world really is small because many circumstances can easily be connected to form this one
big picture of truth. The truth that not everyone will let goodness prevail in their hearts, instead
some will act on how they deem things will favor them greatly. However, this is the main
reason why we should be more sensitive and firm on the right things so as to raise the
oppressed and spread genuine kindness.
I can truly say that these circumstances let me grow as a person and as a Cor Jesian because
when we feel like we are about to get crushed with how the world is right now, we realize that
we should be strong enough to lift these boulders and grow. I was able to grow in a manner
wherein it isn’t just about me, hence, it is also about the people who are also suffering, no
matter the severity, we all deserve to be heard out and to be shown compassion from people
who truly care. We all deserve to give and receive goodness no matter where and who we are.

PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS
Malaysia is a diverse country enriched with multi-cultures, religions, and tradition. The
art culture gives an identity and personality towards the Malaysian society. Although the art
scene in Malaysia is still growing and it is still trying to get more recognition in the international
exposure, the art culture is enriched with beautiful histories, traditions, and heritage.
The Petronas Twin Towers is an iconic skyscraper and a symbolic monument in Malaysia.
The Petronas Twin Towers at Kuala Lumpur City Centre represent a tremendous achievement in
structural engineering design.
The slender towers soar 452 meters (1,483 feet) above Kuala Lumpur and culminate in
gleaming stainless-steel pinnacles. Their dramatic Islamic-themed design is enhanced by a sky
bridge that connects the towers and creates a visual gateway to a major public park. The sky
bridge was designed with slender structural members rather than heavy trusses to be compatible
with the architecture of the buildings and was constructed more than 150 meters above street
level. It accommodates independent movement of the towers as they sway due to wind loads.
The Petronas Twin Towers retained its world-title claim to fame until 2004 when Taipei's
101 was built, measuring 508 metres tall. Today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (opened in 2010)
retains the spot as the world’s tallest building.
Stretching out to the side of the Petronas Twin Towers is the spacious and beautifully
landscaped KLCC Park which features a jogging track, walking paths, a water fountain and a
wading pool for children. Besides the mall and park, the Petronas Twin Towers has a host of other
attractions including the Petronas Art Gallery and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Plus the
Petrosains Science Centre is here set inside Suria KLCC: it is an interactive science discovery
centre showcasing exhibits related to the petroleum industry, from petroleum’s origin in the age
of the dinosaurs to its latest oil-based products.
Once considered the tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004, the Petronas Towers
designed by Cesar Pelli stand as a cultural and architectural icon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Completed in 1998, the Petronas Towers are a reflection and homage to the dominant Islamic
culture of Malaysia.
The Petronas Towers have not only put Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the architectural
radar, but it evoked the richness of the country’s culture. The towers are not simply recognized
for their height, but it was Pelli’s conceptual efforts to incorporate Islamic motifs and symbols
into the design process that would influence the design and the detailing of the building.
Pelli used the Rub el Hizb, an important symbol found in many Islamic cultures, as a way
to generate the plan of the building. It is essentially the Islamic version of the eight-pointed star,
an icon that is found in several spiritual traditions all over the world. The Rub el Hizb is
characterized by two overlapping squares, one rotated 45 degrees, with a circle inscribed in the
center. Pelli used the symbol as the footprints to both towers resulting in two extruded 8 point
towers that reflected Islamic art. In Islam, Malaysia’s national religion, the overlapping squares
forming the star symbolize unity within unity, signifying stability and harmony through rational
and equal lines.
Rather than just leaving the building as a simple extrusion of a preexisting symbol found
in Islamic art and culture, Pelli “scalloped” the points of the start to create a more elegant and
delicate aesthetic that is found in most Islamic motifs.
Its interior designs are strongly based on Malaysian culture, drawing patterns
from songket cloth weaving, East Malaysian hardwood carving motifs and bertam palm wall
matting, known for the special repetitive triangular shapes popular in Southeast Asian culture.
Indeed, the Petronas Twin Towers are a catalyst of Malaysian culture and art that shall never fade
away and will stand high in the skies.

© Belle Maunes. All rights reserved.