Angelina Bong: Sarawak Artist and Poet

What do you do?
How did you get into poetry?
What do you paint?
Can you tell me briefly about your journey into the Arts?

I get asked these questions a lot. My profile can be seen on http://www.sarawakart.com/artists/angelina-bong/

Feel free to check out other Sarawak artists when you are there.

Cheers!

Xoxo

I'm back!

It's been a long time since I visited this cavern.

A lot of things have happened especially in the realm of arts and poetry. I've grown so much and I hope to grow even more.

I do want to revamp my blog/website as well so keep watching this space. I'll keep you all posted!

Xx

Loose Muse London

London next!

I've just received a mail-out from Loose Muse today which I've already taken a screenshot and attached below.

Angelina Bong
Loose Muse
London

Are you in London?
Come catch me at The Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden on October 14th.

8 pm. :)

Hope to see you there. Come say hi if you do drop by.

xoxo

There are so many Fibromites

Wow...Today I realise that there are so many of us Fibro people out there.

I shared my poem 'I wish to Help' published on Image Curve website with Fibromyalgia Awareness facebook page and they posted it on their website. The link is here:

http://fibrotoday.com/fibromyalgia-poem-i-wish-to-help/

Fibromyalgia Awareness FB page shared the link on their website and within 6 hours, there were 439 shares, 36 comments and 784 people who like it. It makes me cry to know that there are so many people going through Fibro pain and challenges, some on a mild level and some in chronic pain. I am not so alone after all.

I didn't think that so many people could relate to my poem but I was wrong. Since I was diagnosed in 2012, I was often hiding and only recently, I could openly share online that I am a Fibromyalgia patient. However, I am so much better now. Faith, poetry and arts kept me going through my toughest days. Poetry and arts give me a channel to express my pain and turned my pain into something good, at the same time sometimes distract me from pain and depression.

My dear Fibro friends,
If there is something that makes you happy, do it and you will find strength to go through your pain. When it is just too much, take a break and rest. I have to keep reminding myself that although guilt of time wasted drives me up the wall sometimes.

You can get through this.

Xoxo

I wish to Help

My poem written during a fibromyalgia attack has just been published on this website.

http://www.imagecurve.com/2015/09/wish-help-poem-about-pain/

As this month is Suicide Prevention Month, I would like to dedicate this poem to all who are suffering in one way or another, physically, emotionally and mentally.

Hang in there buddy! Life will turn around...don't end it.

I love you!

NaPoWriMo Day 19. Awakening

I actually wrote this as a one line poem but thought I'll experiment it by fragmenting it.

What do you think?

A drop of poetry by Angelina Bong
NaPoWriMo Day 19
Awakening

NaPoWriMo Day 18. Papa's Longing

I've just written this for a 'Man in Solidarity' Project based in South Africa, to be recited by the man giving a welcoming speech.

A drop of poetry by Angelina Bong
NaPoWriMo Day 18
Papa's Longing

NaPoWriMo Day 16. Waking Up

I thought I'll try a 3 line poem today.

A drop of poetry by Angelina Bong 2015
NaPoWriMo Day 16
Waking Up

Dedicating this to all the unsung heroes!

NaPoWriMo Day 14. What is Art?

What is ART?

A drop of poetry by Angelina Bong 2015
NaPoWriMo 14
What is Art?

NaPoWriMo Day 12. Rays of Mercy

Everywhere in the Catholic Church today celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. There is no limit to God's mercy.

Here's a poem inspired by God's Divine Mercy.

A drop of Poetry by Angelina Bong 2014
NaPoWriMo Day 12
Rays of Mercy
Divine Mercy

NaPoWriMo Day 9. Invisible Hand

The first line was buzzing in my head when I woke up. Here's my tribute to the Invisible Hand.

A drop of poetry by Angelina Bong
NaPoWriMo Day 9
Invisible Hand

NaPoWriMo Day 8

Here's my Poem for Day 8!

A drop of poetry by Angelina Bong
NaPoWriMo 2015 Day 8

NaPoWriMo Day 5. At the Tomb

Happy and Blessed Easter to all who are celebrating!
Here's a poem in reflection of Easter!

A Drop of Poetry by Angelina Bong 2015
NaPoWriMo 2015 Day 5
At the Tomb 

NaPoWriMo Day 3. The Wood.

It's Day 3.
It's also Good Friday, the last few hours before in some countries.
Here's my poem for Day 3 entitled

THE WOOD

A Drop of Poetry by Angelina Bong 2015
NaPoWriMo Day 3
The Wood

NaPoWriMo Day 2...My Birthday Poetic Reflections

2 April 2015.

It's my birthday and Holy Thursday. I woke up to spend some quiet time and here's a little poem from my poetic reflections.

Birthday Poetic Reflection
A Drop of Poetry by Angelina Bong
NaPoWriMo Day 2

I have only one wish for my birthday...that everyone who drops by here may offer a whisper of prayer to the heavens for me. Prayer works wonders and it's great to know someone out there prays for you! Thanking you in advance.

xoxo, Angelina.

On Eagle's Wings

On Eagle's Wings by Angelina Bong

I rarely post my artworks on my blog but thought I will try it today. Here are the details for the above art piece.

On Eagle's Wings

Mixed Media on Canvas (Acrylic and Hand-stitched beadwork with lace)

40 X 30 CM 

RM800

International Delivery Available
Top left: actual art piece
Top right to bottom left: zoomed in images of the artwork

I will donate ALL PROCEEDS to a missionary group in funding the missionaries for their outreach programs in feeding the poorest of the poor, helping the marginalized, building homes, training new missionaries and so forth. If you are interested, please leave a comment or look for me in twitter by the name of swakgel and tweet to me! Feel free to share this post as well.

HELP ME IN BLESSING OTHERS!

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.

A Little Update from me

It has been a long while since I step into my cavern.

Last year has been amazing. I have climbed a little up the stairs of my dreams, immersion into the world of Arts and Poetry.

I was invited to Africa twice. Once as a performer/storyteller in a musical play entitled Basadi Balefatshe in South Africa and later in the year, as a guest poet for Maun International Arts Festival, Botswana. Both proved to be enriching experiences. I have met incredible souls and talented poets. They fueled my passion to reach out in arts and poetry. The power of the spoken word brings healing, encouragement as well as educating in the form of entertainment. God truly entrust each person with different talents to bless the world.

Back in my homeland, we started the World Arts Convention 2014, the first of its kind in Borneo. At the same time, we hosted Malaysia's Biggest 3D Mural Art in a mall. The aim is to elevate the appreciation of arts in the local society. 

I am also very grateful for all who has supported me in my arts; buying my paintings and drawings as well as commissioning me to paint. The start of this year has proved to be fruitful too. I sell at least one painting a month. That's a progress for me ;) We even painted a mural art as part of a community project in Kenyalang earlier this year.

Here's a snapshot of a passerby taking a photo of the 3D mural we painted.

3D Mural Art at old Kenyalang Theatre, Kuching. Photo credit: Samson Koh.

A shout out to God above for guiding me towards a narrower, less travelled path in fulfilling my purpose in life. If I can just reach one soul through one painting or a poem be it in Africa, Korea or Russia, my mission is accomplished. Do pray for me as I continue to sow peace, hope, love and light through my arts.

Thank you for dropping by!

LOOK UP

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

I could feel the waters rushing through my tyres. The rain balls thumped hard onto my window screen, and splashed out like waterfalls gushing down into the tar roads as I drove under the heavy downpour. My astigmatism which has possibly worsened was not helping either. What if flood occurred and I got stranded in the middle of the roads? I was staying on the outskirts of the city and I was trying to get home after watching The Hobbits.

“You are not Alone.” I recalled the words given to Gandalf the Grey when he was on the brink of death. Lady Galadriel came and freed him. I reminded myself I was not alone either. God was with me. The angels were with me. They would keep me safe. True enough, the rain stopped halfway to my home and I was able to open the gate without being soaked wet.

http://i.imgur.com/Epstpoo.jpg

Galadriel was later surrounded by the dark and they tortured her courage by telling her she was the only little light in the darkness. However, she was not alone. Her compatriots came to the rescue. Many times, we think we are alone with evils, disasters and nasty people attacking us. That is not true. We forget that there are angels around us, sent by God to guard and protect us. We need only believe. The world is not only a physical one but a spiritual battle that we could not see with our normal eyes.

http://puddlesgathering.com/blog/ani-th_the_battle_of_the_five_armies.gif

The dragon with all its pride and confidence wanted to crush Barn and his son. His son was terrified. Who would not be with the dragon behind you, ready to pounce and burn you up? Barn was calm. He assured his son to look at him. The dragon was defeated. Likewise, when we feel that we are going to vanish and hope is nowhere to be found, LOOK AT OUR FATHER. Look at HIM that IS ALL POSSIBLE and not at ourselves who are merely humans. LOOK UP to God, our Father and we will not grow weary. HE is able to do immeasurably more than we can possibly imagine.

http://www.kabobfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/black_man_praying.jpg

Bilbo, small and weak without a warrior’s training was the most courageous of them all. He put love and honour above greed and gold. Thorin was blinded by GREED. So blinded that he forgot his true purpose, he almost could not wake up but a dear kin awakened him to his senses. Let us not be crushed by the power of Greed, Pride and Lust. We are born for a greater purpose than to be swallowed up by worldly desires.

https://wallwidehd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014-The-Hobbit-The-Battle-of-the-Five-Armies-Wallpaper-364x227.jpg

Let us learn from this movie. Let the past year be a lesson from our downfalls and let our successes be an encouragement to go on, pursue our passion, fuel our adventures, fulfil our mission and spread a little light and love everywhere we go.

A Blessed and Happy New Year to you all!

Just Do It

Just do it
So a poet
Says in thrill

Why it comes
What it holds
How to soar

One step up
A door knob
Swing it wide

Push in tears
Strive with might
Eyes in awe

Cling to see
True to self
Dreams lit up

Breakaway

Sitting under the towering bamboo trees, I look out to the ripples on the lake. The wind is blowing gently and a few birds pass by. No one else is in sight except for a few construction men hammering away on the roofs at least a kilometre away from me. 

There are pieces of rubbish laying nearby my feet including a pink soiled slipper, possibly left behind by a child of about ten years old. It does not bother me one bit. Why? Because I need to get away.

Away from the noises and naggings, stacks of chores and obligations, clutters of ideas in my mind, the feeling of being stuck and nowhere else to go, decisions to be made and etc. So I need just a little time alone to breathe and be in touch with divinity, with God.

God, what do you want me to do now? I remembered the lake behind my house and grabbing my sketchbook and a pen, I walked out into the hot sun and just kept walking. Motorcycles buzzed by. The thought of snatch thieves did not scare me at all. So what if I lose my phone? I kept walking. Lord, I need to be alone with you! You better clear off everyone else from the lake. 

God heard me. When I reached the lake, it was empty. I have never seen the lake so peaceful without a single soul around. 

And so..I found a little corner facing the lake with bamboo trees bending down on both sides to create a little arch as a shade to shield me from the scorching sun. I sat down. My heart cried. What's next Lord? Why is it so tough to follow you? As the wind blew stronger, my heart calmed but not for long. What if a pervert was lurking around and decide to pounce on me? Rape? Shucks..right there and then I was reminded to not be afraid. God watches over me.

The lake near my house..my breakaway

I sit there and just stare at the waters moving in rhythm towards me. All fears have left. God is with me. I still do not find my answers yet but a sense of peace tells me that everything will be all right. All will be made clear. There is a hand holding me through the fog. I may not be able to see the road in front of me but someone up there can and He's going to guide me through. Failures will not break me. It just simply means God has a better plan. 

I see something moving through the clear waters. It's a snake! I do not budge. I hear a vehicle moving close. Looking behind, I see a white van approaching my direction driven by a middle aged man who looks like a mechanic. I think it's a sign I should leave. I get up and go home.

I thank God for the little breakaway! It's not like I've experienced anything phenomenal or recharged completely from a spiritual retreat. A breath of fresh air from my suffocating situation is all I wanted and God blessed me with it.

I feel ideas pouring into my soul now. Definitely a new story brewing..time to get to work! You should totally try a breakaway too even if it means just taking a walk down the block from your stuffy office or a 5 mins break from your pile of dishes!