Condemnation

Just for the record, I condemn the Ampatuan / Maguindanao Massacre. It is senseless killing of unimaginable implications. The tragedy is not the massacre per se, but that it happened in our country in this day and age.

It's even more offensive because people died saving lives during Ondoy... but there, in a place the governement doesn't really get to monitor, away from Manila's prying eyes, these atrocities are the norm.

I said somewhere that maybe it's a blessing in disguise that the killers killed so many journalists. Maybe this time, fear for their own lives, offense for their own kind, will drive the press to never let this story get buried.

I also hope that the Muslims will rise together and bring the peace that should be theirs to their land. It's not that am blaming them, but they are equally culpable. Same way that I can't blame Filipinos abroad who are, right now, ashamed of being Filipinos because of this tragedy.

We elected our officers. We allow them to cheat. We have great laws but allow people to give us rice or money so they could abuse or deny these laws. We choose to believe in advertisements and propaganda and promises instead of reacting to what is actually happening. We allow people to steal from us. We steal ourselves.

So one way or the other, we allowed those people to be killed. Shame on us, indeed.

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Deaf Festival 2009

I knew that CSB had deaf students from my ex-boyfriend, who was once a guidance counselor there. He had to learn a little sign language then. What I didn't know was that CSB was actually holding sign language classes wherein non-CSB students are welcome to learn.

So anyway, it's Deaf Festival there last week, and CSB was celebrating 15 years of its Deaf programme. I was humbled by the cultural show. Imagine deaf people dancing! Plus, it was an altogether new experience watching emcees signing as they introduced numbers, most of the spectators quiet (being deaf themselves), and just marveling at the depth of emotion in the interpretative dances and skits.

gay deaf students dancing to SINGLE LADIES


students dancing to KRAZZY


for me, the star of the show! (he was emcee and in at least
4 dance numbers!)


FSL students and teachers


Mr. Takashi Shozaki is a deaf actor who was absolutely
brilliant! He had everyone laughing, even the hearing.
It was amazing since they were showing a clip of his movie
and then, there he was, on stage!


deaf students flying high


with my FSL classmates and prof

I hear about 90% of the deaf population in CSB are on scholarship and it is a struggle for them after graduation to get hired. I really hope more can be done for the Deaf to be integrated into society and to have equal opportunities as the rest of us. Maybe not the same opportunities but equal nonetheless in terms of pay and value.

And I really am happy am getting to know some deaf people. They have a culture all their own and are less critical and more open than us hearing folks. Plus, I am amazed at the level of enthusiasm and self-expression the deaf students of CSB have. I'm getting redundant here but it's really, really amazing just being welcomed into their world.

*~*

Allow me to leave you with a link to quotes from Helen Keller, one who used deafness and blindness to open possibilities for others like her.

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The Jinkee-Manny-Krista Drama

Everybody has probably seen the footage of Jinkee crying at the Thanksgiving Mass held for Manny's win, where she turned instead to a friend and brushed her husband's hand away.

And then there's Manny's plea for people to mind their own business and concentrate on his win instead of wondering about whether he is having an affair with Krista or not. In a way, it may really feel unfair for him, after having secured such a glorious honor for the country, to be now embroiled in vicious gossip. But what was that quote that goes something like, "No Amount Of Success Can Compensate For Failure in the Home" ... and affair or not, Manny's home has made a lot of sacrifices to support Manny's pursuit of his passion and glory for the country. So it must really be offensive to Jinkee to have the rumored mistress so near at a time when she alone should be the woman with her husband. It's her duty and privilege. And the game is so public. What shame indeed!

And how dare Krista invoke her right to support Manny, a fellow Pinoy and friend, if ever, when Manny's family's honor is at stake. How dare their handlers make light of the situation and not consider how inconsiderate it must be for the legal wife.

There is that slim chance that Manny is really not having an affair with Krista, that this is all some sick propaganda that they do not really 'kill' to boost support for their movie. But that is Manny's sin to his wife... that he defends Krista's honor and his, but not his wife's.

So Jinkee had a right to the tears, regardless of how much, or little, love there is in their marriage. After all, Manny owes her respect above everyone else, including Mommy D.

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Haaay, My Dad

I told my father that we went swimming last, last weekend and he replied with something like "Buti pa kayo, pa-swimming swimming na lang samantalang yung iba, na-bagyo... anyway, ingat, love Dad"

And then last Friday, while chatting with my sis, she asked me a curious question, "who planned the swimming party?" So I asked her why she was asking and asked her if Dad made the above comments to her as well. She was surprised I knew. She just said something like, "you know naman our elders" :D

Frankly, I wasn't bothered by it at all. Like what I told my sis, and not because I was defensive, we moved the date of the swimming gig because we didn't want to be disrespectful of typhoon victims, aside from not wanting to do it in the midst of a storm also. Plus, I gave away sooo many clothes, stuff, money and time for the victims. I knew I had done my part and had a right to celebrate my, my son's and my husband's birthdays.

But this is particularly telling of how my Dad is. Family bonding time for him is us going to Lipa to visit him, or us staying home and maybe sitting together in front of the TV, or maybe even forcing small talk during dinner. He's been all over the world but never thought to bring his own family anywhere. We never took trips. So his view of say, who I am, is limited to what he's perceived of me as a daughter... he has much to know about me as a person.

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Paranormal Activity

It is a movie that's creating buzz abroad right now. I believe it hasn't been shown here yet (which is probably why nobody's talking about it with me on Plurk and FB). Anyway, we watched it at my MIL's living room last Sunday, with all the lights closed.

It's reminiscent of Blair Witch Project without the gagging that will ensue from all the crazy camera movements.

Of course, like with almost all horror-suspense movies, it's a little anticlimactic but I really liked this one. I especially love the staring for hours or rocking for hours and the ending.

Did I give much away? I didn't right? :)

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Prayer for a happy death

By Corazon C. Aquino
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:41:00 07/10/2009

Almighty God, most merciful Father
You alone know the time
You alone know the hour
You alone know the moment
When I shall breathe my last.

So, remind me each day,
most loving Father
To be the best that I can be.
To be humble, to be kind,
To be patient, to be true.
To embrace what is good,
To reject what is evil,
To adore only You.

When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
how much happiness
They brought into my life.
Let them pray for me,
As I will continue to pray for them,
Hoping that they will always pray
for each other.

Let them know that they made possible
Whatever good I offered to our world.
And let them realize that our separation
Is just for a short while
As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,
You alone are my hope.
You alone are my salvation.
Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.

I am hoping my time is not anytime soon. And I really hope that whenever it comes, people I leave behind will know I loved, and therefore lived.

In the meantime, I am one with the world as we all celebrate the lives of those who have left us behind.

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Bad Thoughts

There was this man, a typical man, one who felt that just because he was earning well, he had a right to infidelity. That he's a jerk is no secret and this post isn't about him.

And there was this woman, married to an OFW who was impotent, and she wanted badly a child of her own, and was very much lonely all alone in the big house that her OFW husband leaves her behind in.

Maybe she fell in with the wrong crowd. Maybe she was really bad inside. Maybe it was quarter-life crisis. I don't know.

But she hooked up with the married man in the beginning of this post. This after knowing that her friend is the guy's mistress already. This despite knowing that the man's wife is bedridden with cancer.

Anyway, the cancer-ridden wife died. And the OFW husband left his stupid wife and found him a good woman to adopt a child with. And soon enough, rich jerk guy and ex-OFW wife lived together. They had a son.

Five years after, I find out that rich jerk guy has left ex-OFW wife and has a two-year old with someone else. And though it's really sad, how many women are ruining their children's lives by allowing themselves to get pregnant by this rich jerk guy, I also can't help but feel that ex-OFW wife deserved what she got. It certainly serves her right for getting it on with a married man.

Meanhwile, I simply cannot wait for what karma has in store for the rich jerk guy. Hopefully, karma will just punish him and spare his progeny.

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I Was Thin

I made sure to post the picture big enough to highlight just how THIN I WAS. And yes, though the stress is on the word WAS, at least I was thin.

And no, I have no hope of ever being this thin again. And I don't even DREAM of being as thin again. I just don't think it's natural for me anymore... I have made peace with my hips and my bulk. It's actually funny, because I used to rage against the bulk, having been reed thin for the first 23 years of my life. But now, am at home with this body. I have even made peace with the boobs. And the important thing is that I still have a mighty proud bum to give me some sort of shape. Hehe.

I know am overweight. I know I should help myself and love myself enough to lose the excess weight. But still, it feels good to be able to celebrate my body in its different forms and sizes and shapes.

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TV Life

First of all, I still haven't finished Gossip Girl's last season so I haven't started on the current one.

And though am curious about Glee, I really cannot find time for more TV programs in my life.

I am however glad that Heroes has gotten real interesting again. I still love Hiro and Ando to pieces! And am still loving Grey's, even adjusting to George not being there anymore. I believe Burke is going back, which should prove interesting... and my favorite doctor there now is the lesbian pediatrician. Weirdly enough, I don't know her name, hehe.

Ever since hubby got me into NCIS, i've really been a fan. So am glad that it's still as great as ever... and that NCIS Los Angeles' episodes are getting better and better. Can't wait for more info on G. Callen.

And of course, CSI is still wonderful (though Katherine's face seems to be melting). They really did a great job in replacing Grissom's character with Laurence Fishburne. He is just amazing!!!

And it's not that I have a lot of time to watch these shows... I used to have the luxury of just sitting down in front of the tube but son is more demanding now and I really have to attend to him all my waking hours.

Oh and am so glad that The Amazing Race has challenging tasks again... it was getting ho-hum already before. It's just so bad though that Zev lost his passport because I liked him. Now am rooting for the gay brothers and the father and son teams :)

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Miscellaneous Thoughts of a Woman with PMS

Last Friday, while riding a jeepney from Dapitan, a cop car caught our driver's attention from the side. They signalled for the driver to stop so the driver had no choice but to to stop and come to them. The supposed crime? Letting passengers board in the middle of the road.

The passengers who went on exclaimed that that they did not board the jeep in the middle of the road. Other passengers said the same. Anyway, the cops let go of the driver after getting the P40 he was holding in his hand (because he was in the process of giving change to passengers). I couldn't see the plate number of the cop car but I would have loved to report them. And I didn't get my P10 change anymore.

*~*

While at perpetual Help College in Manila, arranging for my sister's records to be sent to her in the U.S., tow things couldn't help but get me nitpicking about grammar again:

1) On an ID strap: It takes A LOT of BRAIN to be a nurse.

2) On glass windows at the Accounting Dept: If you have any COMPLAINS about your account, contact so and so.

*~*

I am stress eating over Pepeng. I had two breakfasts at Jollibee yesterday.

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