Mari Felices

Hong Kong is more than a place I once lived, it is my second home.   For nearly ten years, I worked there, walked its streets, sang in its quiet corners, and built friendships that still live in my heart. I remember the scent of early morning markets, the rhythm of the MTR, the laughter shared over coffee in McDonald’s or Starbucks, or the aroma of foods in Cape de Coral or in Noodles house and the way the city glowed at night, not just with lights, but with life.  So when I heard about the fire in Tai Po on November 26, my heart broke.   The blaze at Wang Fuk Court became Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in more than seventy years, claiming 146 lives, injuring at least 79, and leaving over 150 still missing. Among the fallen was Ho Wai-ho, a 37-year-old firefighter, remembered for his gallantry and devotion, who lost his life while protecting others. Families were torn apart, including a bride-to-be who now grieves the fiancé she was soon to marry.  ...

Intro These photos popped up in my Google Photos today, taken last autumn, on a quiet day off. I had almost forgotten about it. But the moment came rushing back, the golden leaves, the crisp air, and the simple joy of walking through the forest with a friend. We didn’t have a plan. Just two OFWs in Finland, escaping the routine for a while. We wandered, we talked—about home, about life, about the things we missed and the things we were still figuring out. It wasn’t dramatic. But it was real. And sometimes, that’s enough. This poem is for that memory. For the warmth of friendship, the beauty of autumn, and the quiet strength we carry—especially when we don’t realize it. Golden Hours I stepped outside with boots and laughs,   No clocks to chase, no work, no tasks.   The forest wore its golden crown,   And leaves like stars came drifting down.   Beside me walked my closest friend,   No need for words, no ...

I wrote this poem 11 years ago, during a time when my heart was overflowing with longing. It recently popped up in my Facebook memories, and reading it again brought back a wave of emotion. Some nights feel colder than others not because of the weather, but because of the ache of missing someone. Loneliness creeps in, and memories become vivid dreams.  This poem was written in one of those moments, when longing becomes louder than silence and love feels both distant and eternal and the deep ache of love that refuses to fade.  If you've ever yearned for just one more night with someone you love, this is for you. The Poem Thinking of you in my sleepless, lonely, cold night,   That I'm looking into your eyes,   Kissing me and touching me tonight.   But your distance is like stars and moon at night.   If loving you is not right,   Then I don't care and I don't mind.   If loving you is a crime,   Then...

Living and working abroad isn’t always the dream people imagine. For many of us, especially Filipinos in healthcare, it’s a journey of grit, growth, and grace. This poem—written in a blend of Tagalog, English, and Finnish—captures the everyday struggles and quiet triumphs of a caregiver navigating life in Finland. SANA ALL TALAGA ( Tulang TagFinglish ) Sana all, fluent sa suomen kieli, Ako? “Anteeksi, mitä?” pa rin ang daily. Nakakahiya naman kasing magsalita ng kanilang kieli, Baka mali ang pagbikas ko ng perhe, pieni, at veli. Sa työpaikka, tahimik ako na hoitaja, Nagbibigay ng lääkkeet, nagpapalit ng vaippa. Kahit minsan lang makarinig ng “Kiitos at anteeksi,” Pero sa mata nila, ramdam ko ang kiitollinen. Kahit simpleng bati o “Moi Mari” lang, Parang may kilig, parang may saysay ang araw. Kahit malayo sa pamilya’t mahal sa buhay, Dito sa Finland, may purpose pa rin ang bawat araw. En jaksa kaya ’di pwede sa yövuoro, Pero sa päivävuoro, ako bigay todo. Mula “Hyvää huoment...

Embrace me with your solace Let me melt with your stares Like the waves kissing at the shores To convey the assurance that you will stay forever. Embrace me with your tenderness Gently caress my broken weakness to forget my unbearable past. To warm my frigid heart Embrace me with your kindness Let me fall in love with your mellifluous voice To sing me my favourite song And be my inspiration to write a poem. Embrace me with your full attention Love me with all your heart including my resilience and my imperfection. In return, I will stay with you no matter what happens. And you will be the only man in my heart. Embrace me with your affection Let me stay in your heart where I belong, a dwelling place of my own. Promise me that I will stay there evermore. ©Mari Felices

I will say ‘thank you’ to you, for all the things you have done. For always being here to cheer me up, for making me smile when I'm sad. I will say ‘thank you’ to you, for being my very dear friend. Who helped me discard my wrong beliefs Who encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I knew you’re not here to stay forever, But I'm so happy that I met you and became my friend. I will never forget you , never I will, never. 'cause your friendship is really a great treasure. Who gave light to my dark path. My dear, I couldn't give you anything, But in my heart, you will be here. I will love you for the rest of my life. Love you more than a lover does. So please accept my simple words As a token of my gratitude. ©Mari Felices Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/mari.felices.7 IG Account https://www.instagram.com/Mari_Felices FB Page https://www.facebook.com/Rocksmari444 / Friends, can you do me a favor, please like and subscribe 👇 Thank you https...

Being with a man is also a poem if there is passion. I will write on him and he will write on me. with my fingers but there is no ink, not on the paper but on his skin . Words are not visible even though I   wrote them. Words could be change into long red marks. A little bit of my own poetry, Once I hug him, the poem will come automatically. The moment I kiss him, the verses suddenly appeared. The moment I touch him, the rhymes emerge perfectly. In his melody of love opiate embrace In his eyes reflects his souls from within. A words of love uncovered the part of me. A touch that said so much. A simple way of my own poetry. A world of romance, only me and my poetry. © Mari Felices

Growing Beyond Borders: My Journey as an OFW I didn’t plan to become an Overseas Filipino Worker. I didn’t imagine I’d be far from my children, working in a foreign country, carrying homesickness like a second skin. But life doesn’t always follow the path we expect. I graduated from Palawan State University with a degree in Bachelor of Entrepreneurship. I worked at the Provincial Capitol, then moved to Manila for a more challenging role as a Company Secretary. That’s where I met my husband, and together we built a life and raised three beautiful children. But love alone doesn’t pay the bills. And dreams don’t grow without sacrifice. So I made the hardest decision of my life—I left. I went to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. I wanted my children to have more than I had. I wanted to give them choices, even if it meant giving up mine. There were nights I cried quietly, missing birthdays, missing hugs, missing the ordinary moments that ...

 “Distance means so little when someone means so much.” It’s been seven years since fate took its chance,   A scroll through Facebook, a fleeting glance.   I had nothing to do, just wasting the day,   But somehow your presence lit up my way. You became my friend, though never in sight,   Yet always around when the world felt too tight.   You cared enough to make me smile,   To stay by my side through every mile. I trusted you more than I ever knew,   Never thought we’d grow this close, it’s true.   You teased me, laughed with me, made life bright,   In you I found a guiding light. A treasure you are, beyond all measure,   A bond that time can only treasure.   You’re cute, unpredictable, sweet yet bold,   With stories and thoughts that never grow old. Sometimes you’re suplado, distant and cool,   Yet always sincere, never playing the fool....

Proving Myself a quiet confession in verse A Whisper Before the Words There are moments when silence feels louder than speech—   when the heart trembles at the edge of expression,   and love, though overflowing, hides behind unsure eyes.   This is one of those moments.   A quiet plea.   A truth too tender for casual words.   So I write.   Because writing is how I bleed gently.   How I speak when my voice falters.   How I prove what I feel   when presence is all I have to offer. PROVING MYSELF  ( Rhyme version ) Why is love so hard to say,   When it’s true in every way?   Why’s it easy when it’s fake Just a smile, no heart to break?   Maybe it’s because I care,   Because my love is truly there.   I’m afraid you’ll laugh, then leave,   And I’ll be left alone to grieve.   It would tear my heart apart,...

Love is one of the most mysterious forces in life. It can lift us to the highest joy or bring us to the deepest sorrow. For some, it feels like magic; for others, it is a lesson written in pain. In my own journey, love has been both a gift and a challenge, a story of inspiration, discovery, and the courage to feel even when the outcome is uncertain. What is Love really? For me, there is only one kind of love, yet a thousand different versions. It is a gift from God, without price tag or measure. A gift we all can possess, A key that unlocks both happiness and sorrow. Do you believe that when you fall in love, A different kind of magic begins to happen? Oooops… not always. Love is not forever a bed of roses. Sometimes, love brings hurt, And it becomes the reason we fall down. I never believed in the magic of love. But when ——– entered my life, I felt something incredible. This feeling was strong enough to make me love him. A Friend Who Changed Everything I told myself, I am afraid to lo...