Two Navels?

The Woman Who Had Two Navels by Nick Joaquin...

Some inspirational, scrupulous and significant lines in the novel:

"Politics in the Philippines, Mr. Monson, is ninety percent scandal mongering" said by Macho Escobar

" She (Concha Vidal) was apparently a good wife and a devoted mother, but people regarded her as a lecherous woman and (since no one could really pin a thing on her) a sly one"

"But I don't dress up for them, I dress up for God. I'm still trying to catch his eye... But I'm a woman Father...and I'm sure God meant us to be beautiful, like roses and peacocks and diamonds. He must love that sort of thing or he wouldn't have troubled to create such a lot of them. I don't understand why you men won't honor the labors of women to make themselves lovely. Beauty is a virtue too-or, anyway, a responsibility. A rose that was ugly had disobeyed God. And I'm sure I'm just as serious in being beautiful as a rose is-or as yourself, Father, in being holy. It would be criminal of a woman, of course, to use her beauty for unholy ends-but even that isn't the great sin. The great sin would be for her to think that God didn't care whether she was beautiful or not. That would be insulting the Holy Ghost, that would be the unforgivable sin. And I have not yet committed it" - Concha Vidal

"I can't see Connie unless she comes to me first...Oh Father, can we really end up hating the people for whom we have made sacrifices?" - Concha Vidal

"There's no peace in a dream-world...because dream-worlds don't last" - Father Tony Monson

"Why should I pity you, Mother?... I'm not the fruit of your pity. I'm your vanity and your malice and your cruelty and your lust. I'm the fruit of all the evil you carry in you. That was what you bore when you bore me. And I am what you'll have to swallow until you die" - Connie Escobar

"We are two women who have only our men in common and you have set yourself up as my judge...Connie; you don't want to be saved. It's you that's the coward and the cheat and the liar and though you go around playing the poor betrayed innocent it is we who are your victims, it is we you have been betraying ever since you found our world too much for you. And you haven't missed a chance, Connie - you've never missed a chance to show us up...because you wanted all the world to know what they were saying" - Concha Vidal

"I want to be standing...I become afraid when I'm sitting down or lying down. Please let me stand here a moment with you, Father. I'm not so afraid when I'm standing up" - Concha Vidal

"Why shouldn't people delude themselves? Why shouldn't they live in dream-worlds? What's so wonderful about reality that people should be obliged to face it?" - Connie Escobar

"Well, I never knew that adultery was just another name for salvation. Remind me to try it sometime. And if adultery, why not murder-why not all the crimes there are?" - Rita Lopez

"The bigger the crime, the deeper the need for salvation, and the more heroic the repentance. Without sin there can be no repentance-and, therefore, no upheaval or transfiguration or growth of the spirit" - Father Tony Monson
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This is a story about a stubborn and relentless rich girl, Connie Escobar...
Actually, she doesn't have two navels (it's really impossible), it only portray her childishness, lies and petty insights about life.
The story's setting was in Hong Kong and the era after war (1940's or 1950's). It has a few characters.
Like Rizal's novels, Joaquin focused on the characters' personalities and stories, that's why the novel has some flashbacks.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann


Desiderata
The Confused History of Desiderata
Desiderata on Wikipedia

This is my favorite inspirational prose poem...


I was in my senior high school when I first encounter this astonishing prose poem. At first, I didn't bother to read it all over again since I precisely got the meaning and message of the poem. My problem in high school was that I didn't appreciate any form of literature, no matter how beautiful it was. But now, I really appreciate the essence of literature in our life. Just like a music, it could catalyse our feelings and possessions. It could also encourage a person to do something, think someone, reminisce, believe a certain principle and... perhaps could change the totality of a person. Back to Desidarata, I frequently read this poem just for a piece of inspiration and advice. So that I could attain happiness... And that's one of the great powers of Literature!!!