Of Sex Scandals & Pinays

I could go on 'tagging' people for the next 2 weeks but I'm a teensy bit scared of looking like a stalker as I'd probably be tagging the same set of folks. That said, I'll probabaly resume my 'stalking' in the coming days.

I've managed to be in a festive mood this past week because of all the wondefrul blessings in the form of wonderful acquaintances, heartwarming comments, and surprising memes. Today though, I'll let loose the inner bitch in me.

In light of the recent 'Pinay Scandals', I've pledged (a few days ago) to write something in support of the campaign spearheaded by some fellow Pinoy bloggers. It's been 3 days and I still honestly don't know what to say.

I'm not skeptical about the whole thing, heck I even signed up for it. But come to think of it, it's all a matter of perception.

First off, people who 'google' the words 'Pinay Scandal' over the net are looking for the exact same thing. Pinays. Scandals. Obscenities. To put it bluntly, SEX. I even googled the word 'Pinay', and a website promoting exotic and young Pinays and Asians was the first of 3,350,000 results.

In this day and age, when a 6 year old (maybe even younger) has internet access and even a monkey can be taught to operate a computer, what control do we have over other people's perceptions about us?

I once wrote an article in support (and to straighten a few misconceptions) of a foreigner's view of the Philippines. He was bashed for sharing his impressions and sentiments regarding our beloved country hence I offered my take. Now, after almost 3 moths in blogosphere, I've learned to lighten up. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. No one should be immune to that.

We've already entered the digital age. And along with all the advancements, there will always be drawbacks. To some people, the internet is a huge part of their business or craft. There are a lot of people making a living out of it. To others, it is a diversion from life's trivialities. But to a number of people, THIS is their reality. Maybe even their whole life if you will.

As long as there are people willing to sell themselves through their pictures, sex videos, and by joining sex chats, there will always be predators willing to foot the bill. I cannot even call the former 'prey' as there are sometimes 'willing victims'. Don't get me wrong here, I'm talking strictly of consenting adults. Minors and young children are another issue.

I was asked in one of the blog communities what the word 'Pinay' meant since my blog is aptly described 'Chronicles of A Pinay Dreamer'. I answered 'I am a Filipina. I was born and bred in the Philippines'. Whenever we travel outside the country, I'm frequently asked about my race. Some think I'm Korean, some would ask if I'm part Chinese, others ask if I'm Thai. My father is part Chinese hence my 'Chinese eyes', but even then I've always considered myself 100% Filipino. A full-blooded Pinay. And I sure am proud of it.

My husband does not like the idea of me having my portrait on my blog. He says it'll strip me of mystery and to a certain degree, privacy. It was my choice to do so simply because I wish to seem more 'humane', somewhat tangible. I can post photoshop(ed) images of myself and edit it make myself look 'perfect', but that would be a misinterpretaion, an utter lie. Instead, I chose to share my battle scars because I am, after all, a mere mortal. Flawed, imperfect, and wanting.

I've been devoid of sleep since I started my blog a little less than 3 months ago. I've even turned down Joel's offer to bring me to Batangas (plus he'll foot the bill too lol) to wakeboard, quite a number of times already. And to top it all off, I'm not even getting paid to do this BUT it is my choice to go on. In all honesty, I prefer 'pro bono' blogging to maintain my uncompromisable predisposition.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to choice. I've used this passage before but I'd gladly use it again.

Ad libitum.
A plaisir.
A piacere.

At will.
At pleasure.
At discretion.

In the same way that I can choose my path, there will be others who can and will choose theirs. Matters such as these transcend race, religon, age, even gender.

Perception is also subjective. Your reputation may be established, even fabricated by somebody else. But in the end, your character is something you build up for yourself.

This, after all, is the internet. Where genuine people are rare. Where (cyber) sex comes cheap and easy. Where the imaginary is confused with reality. And where everyone is free to do or say as they please.

That said, I'm going back to the real world (for a while). Where politicians are corrupt. Where war is cliche. Where AIDS and cancer have no known cure. And where 2 little angels are tugging at my shirt as they ask for their dinner.

The Fine Art of Conversation

I have this uncanny habit of soliloquizing. Although i don't think there's anything wrong with it, my husband thinks it's a bizarre practice.

I think it's probably my ADD. But seriously, there is a lack of fairly good conversationalists nowadays. The truly great ones, well, extinct.

I, for one, am not. I talk fast, really fast. To which my 8-year old would object, "No Mama, hyperfast".

Gone are the days of Cicero, Julius Caesar, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln. Modern day orators, politicians in particular, rely heavily on speechwriters.

I avoid the news at all cost but since my husband is a current events nut, seeing and hearing it is inevitable. I feel lika an a** everytime we watch televised senate inquiries. Take Senator J****** for example, he can ask intelligent questions - prepared ones, that is. Obviously not by him as I rarely hear a good follow up. As for impromptu, expect a 'no questions, your honor' reply.

A good conversationalist should be intelligent. Not necessarily scholastic, but smart and canny to a certain degree.

A good conversationalist, I suppose, should also be a good listener. After all, a conversation is a form of exchange. Oprah, in this case, is a virtuosa.

Wit, I think, is also a prerequisite. Jay Leno is a master of this fine art. Through his queries (and by the answer he gets) you can sense whether he's conversing with a genius, a nutcase, or a complete and utter dimwit.

A conversation is a discourse. It is not a monologue or a soliloquy.

So why the heck am I still here???

I really have to go now. I have a monologue to wrap up.

Denouncing Suffrage

The first time I voted was in 1998. It was also the last.

The voting precint is right next to where we live so I don't think it's an inconvenience.

Sloth is a sin I don't think I've ever been guilty of. Just take a look at the number of posts I did in the last 2 months and I assure you, you cannot accuse me of being lazy.

So why, oh why, denounce a right that so many suffragettes fought for???

Philippine politics, in my humble opinion, is in a state of decadence. Sheer and utter decay. Public service turned into self service. What should be a noble profession is merely a business transaction.

Let me start with the candidates. Take your pick - celebrities, ex-matinee idols, ex-burlesque queens, boxers, retired basketball players, and my favorite category - the next of kin - the husband, the son, the daughter, the son-in-law, the daughter-in-law, heck even the grandchild of the incumbent want their share of power. Kamag-anak Inc. There is only a handful of sincere candidates out there (less than 10, IMO).

Don't get me started on Pork Barrel. I've already written something on it on my The Philippines Through the Eyes of A Filipina post. In case you didn't read it, I'll say it again. The Pork Barrel A.K.A. Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) A.K.A. Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) are funds given to members of the Senate and Congress. These are discretionary in nature so it is up to the senator or congressman to identify the projects that will be funded from these funds. Correct me if I'm wrong, senators get a whopping P 200 million (about $4.65 million USD) each, while the congressmen are allotted about P 70 million (about $1.62 million USD) each. Sheesh, I'm starting to sound like a broken record. So where, oh where does all the money go??? oink oink oink. Let me just give you an example, or better yet, I'll show you.................

Congressmen (esp. women) love building waiting sheds and plant boxes........Pardon my ignorance, but THAT, to me, looks more like a rubbish bin............. Again, I'm really, really ignorant, but..............

Hair & Makeup + Diamond earrings + Color Separation + Tarpaulin printing > GI pipes + scraps of plywoodIs it because it's way cheaper than building schools or spending on infrastructure??? Even if I add the cost of these monstrosities, I mean waiting sheds, I do not think this is worth millions in taxpayer's money............

Potholes galore.........Why not at least spend on that???
Just asking...........

What about the squatters in Metro Manila??? This happens to be right behind a huge goverment facility, and I'm not telling where.............. Did you notice the huge service drop??? Did you also notice that there is NOT A SINGLE ELECTRIC METER???!!!! No wonder our electirc bills continue to sky rocket............

Principles, my dears. Something I think every person should have, only a handful have, and (almost, I'm not saying all) no politician thinks he needs...............

Trick or Treat

I love halloween. Maybe even more so than Christmas.

All the garish decor................ The sweets........................All the costumes...................Todays was my pre-schooler's halloween party. Nothing unusual, just your average halloween party. What struck me though was one of the winner's costumes. Among them was Optimus Prime. And yes, he transforms....................This one though caught my attention. Well, not so much the outfit but the message. Did you hear that Mr. Trapo??? As I'm writing this, Erap is having his press conference celebrating his freedom....................... Do you really think we are THAT stupid???
I do not recall picking "TRICK"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If my post yesterday was depressing, this is disturbing.......................kakainis

Depressing Shots

These photos are not mine. Just some of the pics I received through an email from my dear sis...............

The blast happened in Glorietta 2 in Makati last Friday, October 19, around 1:30 P.M.

If you're squeamish, I suggest you do not scroll down any further...................According to this morning's paper, 11 people died and about 120 people were injured. I initially wrote Diabolical Idiosyncrasies because the initial reports were leaning on a terrorist attack. Yesterday, the PNP said it was more likely a gas leak. I really don't know........ There are a couple more pics that I'd rather not post. There was one of a woman who died who wasn't even inside the mall when it happened.

I'm saddened just by looking these photos. If it was a terrorist attack, then shame on you people. I do pray that there are no more casualties (the initial count last Friday was 8). Please do pray for them.............

The Shungak Awards at Ang Mahiwagang WangWang

After a serious backlog, here they are..........

The 'CHILD ENDANGERMENT Award' goes to

This tricycle driver along Katipunan. First off, tricycles are not allowed along that stretch. Second, ano nga ba ulit yung award mo???
The 'CHILD & PARTNER ENDANGERMENT Award' goes to

This motorcycle driver along EDSA, Santolan. I have a clearer shot but I opted to use this one just for you to see how fast he was going. Notice his passenger isn't wearing a helmet, not to mention the poor kid with no protection whatsoever (in case of a smash) sanwiched between them...............
The 'WHATEVERPLANETDIDYOUCOMEFROM Award' goes to

This couple along Alabang. Not only is there a kid in between BUT................Pssst, Mr. Pogi, your helmet can in no way protect you in case you crash since you're not even wearing the damn thing, your baseball cap is!!!
And Honey, THAT AIN'T A HELMET. That's a hard hat.
The 'MATIKAS Award' goes to

This soldier along EDSA Ortigas.How the heck can you protect the country when you can't even protect your wife, girfriend, whoever she is........

The 'WHATEVERITISYOURPROFESSIONANDWHYTHEHECKAREYOUINIT Award' goes to

Not one..................But two policemen along Quezon Avenue.....................How the heck are you going to enforce a very simple law that you cannot even follow.....................

Need I say more????


The 'SHUNGAK AWARD' goes to

ALL THE SUV's WITH MATCHING CONVOYS + PNP ENTOURAGE + WANG WANG

If you traverse the streets of Manila on a regular basis, I'm sure you've encountered them. It usually starts with a motorcycle. They intimidate everyone by bullying every single vehicle in sight to move aside so that his/ her majesty can get through traffic!!! Anak ng tinapay, wala namang hari at reyna sa Pilipinas!!!! Akala ko ba demokarasya tayo????!!!! As if that's not enough, this privilege (???) is sometimes even extended to the spouse, children, grandchildren, syota ng anak, pati ata kabit.................. Heck no, simple SUV's do not appeal to them. It's usually Lincoln Navigators, Cadillac Escalades, Lexus LX (s), GMC Yukons & Suburbans, and the like that strike their fancy. Akala ko ba third world country tayo???

Ano nga ba yung sabi sa kanta ni Christina Aguilera??? la la la 'you must talk so big to make up for smaller things' la la And what the heck is a 'wang wang'??? Well as if the intimidating convoy isn't enough to aggravate you, they need, I repeat, they need this loud siren that goes 'wang wang wang' to announce their prescence.
I'd understand this kind of treatment for the President but..................

One question though, who the heck is footing the bill for all this nonsense, I mean luho???!!! Ahem pork ahem barrel ahem ahem ahem

Nagtatanong lang po.............. Something to chew on, pero apparently manhid na ang panga ko sa kakanguya mwahahaha

Diabolical Idiosyncrasies

Thus in the beginning, the two mental aspects, which are twins
Mutually disclosed themselves in their thoughts, words and deeds,
The one as the better (of the two) and the other (as) the evil
The wise and the intelligent did choose correctly but the ignorant and unwise did not.
-Zarathushtra

I'm convinced that there is good and evil battling inside each of us, each struggling for the upper hand. Though in some, good emerges the victor, and sadly in some, evil emerges the winner.

If you don't believe this theory you're probably either
a. in denial
b. a saint
c. living under a rock
d. a hypocrite
e. an alien

Even in the story of Creation in the Old Testament, it is quite obvious that we are fated to be in the midst of opposing poles between good and evil. Remember the forbidden fruit? You know the rest. Hence, Paradise was lost. Forever.

I was never a religious person. I wish I was though, but I've always been a rebel. I went through a period in my life when I stopped believing in God. Total and complete disbelief. And it was at that low, low point in my that I found him.

Terry Anderson once said, "We come closest to God at our lowest moments. It is easy to hear God when you are stripped of pride and arrogance; when you have nothing to rely on except God. It's pretty painful to get to that point, but when you do, God's there."

Random acts of kindness never fail to amaze and inspire me. Random acts of cruelty evoke feelings of dejection and indignation in me. How can a human being plot against his own kind?

Adam and Eve were banished from Paradise. But there is one thing God left all of us with, FREE WILL. The freedom to make choices without His intervention.

Everyday there is a battle inside each of us.

Everyday we make our own choices.

Everyday we exercise free will.

EVIL may sometimes triumph. GOOD sometimes seems the underdog. But always remember, EVIL will never conquer.

I hope you've chosen your side. I hope you chose well.

P.S. I wrote this article this afternoon with the alleged bombers in the recent 'Glorietta Blast' in mind. Apparently, it turns out to be an 'accident'. Hence I had to edit everything including the title. I'm not trying to sound preachy, intyendes.......... Although I'm really not sold on the whole 'accident' theory. Guess we'll have to wait some more......

An Ode to Snow White

(Melai, in lieu of the article I promised, I hope this will do for the meantime. Para sa ating mga kababaihan ang post na ito............)

As far back as I can remember, I've always considered myself an eccentric. As a kid (until now), my favorite tales were Foolish Frances, and The Snow Queen. I never (and I mean NEVER) enjoyed reading fairy tales like Snow White, Cinderella, or Sleeping Beauty.

Why in the world were they considered heroines in the first place? What was it they had that made them stand out? Which quality was it that made them superior to their next door neighbor or even their stepsisters?

Maybe I envied them. Maybe not.

Yes, they were kind, no doubt about that. But not 'saintly'.

Maybe they were smart. But not 'ingenious'.

What made them such 'trophies' worthy enough for Prince Charming to risk his neck for? (I don't even know why he's such a catch himself when all I know about him is that he's filthy stinkin' rich and always on a white horse, but that's another topic................)

I'm sure you know why. They were all stunningly gorgeous.

Fairy tales like Snow White made me even more insecure than I already was. I used to curse the cute girls in grade school. Just because they were so darn white, they caught all they boys' attention. Even in high school where only the va-va-voom sexy ones got dates to the prom. I would imprecate them because they had what I did not.

We are at an age where physical beauty is such a commodity. It's so commercialized. I, for one, used to think that the only people who claimed to have 'inner beauty' were the ones who lacked it's physical component. I used to think that the only way to get a man to notice you was if you had flawless white skin, a 36-24-36 frame, and a face to rival any beauty queen.

I look at modern day philanthropists like (the late) Princess Diana, Queen Rania, or even Angelina Jolie. If they weren't as stunning as they are, would they still be as hounded as they are by the media? Would they still be exemplified as modern day heroines?

What about women like Marie Curie and Mother Teresa. Or Filipinas like Gabriela Silang and Teodora Alonzo. Or Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and Corazon Aquino. To me, they are the epitome of beauty.

Maybe it's called midlife or probably a certain level of maturity to be able to see past the external. There's some beauty we see, some we even hear, but the most resplendent, we feel inside.

Physical beauty is so f***in' overrated.

So here's to us plain janes . Sheer, unadulterated, non-airbrushed (or photoshoped) beauties. Myself, Melai, Ate Sienna, Mommy, Tita Loi, Ate Mel, Tany, Telly, Celina, and all Pinays out there.............. Let us bask in splendiferous glory and our beautiful Kayumanggi skin. Mabuhay!!!


P.S. Melai, I've only been blogging for a little over 6 weeks pa lang. Pinasakit mo ang ulo ko. I honestly don't know any other bloggers except for you and Ate Sienna. I still owe you an article though :-) saka isaw at yema...... haha

Conservation 101 for Dumdums

Joel's birthday is finally over. I've been raving for the most part of the week. Now I'm free to rant all I want. Matapos ang isang linggo ng pagtitimpi, handa na akong magpakawala ng galit. Umaalab at naglalagablab na galit.

In my quest to share my blog all across the world wide web, I join different blog communities. In one of the communities I posted a thread titled, 'Do snakes interest you?' That simple. To my surprise I receive a few comments such as...........

'I'm scared of snakes.... '

'I hate snakes.'

These comments I can take, I understand that not all people share my passion for serpents. The next one, however, managed to strike my nerves. Note that I did not edit anything out except for the name. These were his exact words:

'I'm with YOU, ----! Sheesh, I had a flickr widget on my blog with a Nature Group Pool and one day, after a year, I asked them, politely casually, not to include snakes in the Pool. Those amateur snappers went Bonkers. So nasty. I was so 'crushed' it took me an Entire 42 seconds to dump the bums and put up a Classy Group! They lost a TON of traffic --every day my readers clicked on those photos to look at their pics. Serves 'em right!
And most people don't know: snakes have salmonela on their gross skin. Easy to get sick touching those filthy things, but who would want to, you'd hafta look at 'em. YUCK. Totally Diz-gusting. (Geez, why did I read this...now I'm going to have a nightmare, sheesh.)'

To the dimwit who posted this on that particular site, first off, you misspelled salmonella. hahaha.

Second, HOW DARE YOU CALL THEM GROSS, FILTHY, AND DISGUSTING! Did you know that snakes play a very significant role in many ecosystems around the world. Saang planeta ka ba nakatira??? Snakes benefit humans by controlling rodent populations (hallur, ever heard of the bubonic plague??? tingin ko hindi, mwahaha). Even snake venom has been used to treat various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and hemophilia.

Third, yes, I have heard that reptiles do carry some strains of salmonella. But so do amphibians, mammals, that includes us humans (o baka naman alien ka???). Even common house pets like dogs and cats. Chickens can even carry up to 2,000+ species of salmonella. Sources of salmonella include contaminated meat, improperly cooked meat, undercooked eggs, animal feces, even raw milk or certain fertilizers and animal feeds. It is probably associated with them because they do come into contact with their feces dahil hallur, hindi sila nakakalakad katulad mo. They can move in 4 different ways; rectilinear movement, serpentine movement, concertina movement, and sidewinding, notice walang 'walking' dahil wala naman silang legs (o baka hindi mo rin alam yon???). Correct me if I'm wrong [calling all herpetologists (as in scientists who study reptiles and amphibians, hindi sila manggagamot ng herpes baka kasi yun ang akala mo) please help me out here............], I once heard that there is a solution to getting salmonella from reptiles, hand washing and alcohol!! I hold (even kiss) Sedira a lot, but one thing I always do is to wash my hands afterwards. It's so easy to wash one's hands: water + soap + common sense lang yan, unless of course you lack the latter (turuan din kita maghugas ng kamay gusto mo???). You have more chances of getting the bacteria from improper food handling than you would from a reptile, intyendes?!!!

Fourth, ever heard of CONSERVATION????? Why the heck do you think Steve Irwin wrestled all those crocodiles??? Did you actually think he had nothing better to do??? Did you know that some 200 species of snakes are considered threatened or endangered? The biggest threat being habitat loss resulting from human activities like logging that causes deforestation. They are hunted for their beautiful skin which we humans turn into bags, belts, wallets, etc. In some countries, they are killed for their meat which is considered a delicacy. Others hunt them for their blood which is valued for its alleged pharmaceutical effect of warming the blood of the drinker. In fact, WE ARE A THREAT TO THEM AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. And FYI, snakes do not bite humans and are harmless unless provoked.

So unless you start taking an interest in their survival, snakes may find themselves banished from our planet. Unless you start caring, baka sa books o sa pictures mo nalang sila makita.

There a lot of things I still do not know about them. In fact, I only started reading about salmonella in reptiles when I heard Mr. Ignoramus Stupidus Maximus (ginawan pa kita ng scientific name.......bonggacious da va). There a lot of species I would love to learn more about, read about, and if I'm lucky, to hold and handle. But alas, I can only drool in envy as I watch reruns of the late Steve Irwin handle the most venomous species. Whenever I go to zoos, I head straight for the serpentarium as they never fail to mesmerize me. In case you didn't notice (my username alone screams snakes, black_mamba, duh), I LOVE SNAKES MORE THAN ANY OTHER ANIMAL ON THE PLANET!

So to the a**h*** who said that, next time you feel like saying anything bad about them, think again. Or better yet, start watching more Nat Geo or Animal Planet instead of watching Paris Hilton's porn videos. Or read more books instead of all those Playboy and Hustler magazines.


P.S. I will post pics of me & Sedira kissing, but later na as it is only 5 in the morning, I haven't brushed my teeth, baka mahimatay siya hahaha..............

1 + 1 = 2,106 ???

Yesterday, the peso soared as it hit a 7-year high of 44.35 to a dollar.

Gas prices, however, are still on an all-time high. These are the current prices of petrol in the Philippines, I took these just about an hour ago. I remember (was it only last year?) when the peso was 55+ to a dollar, gasoline prices cost this much already. Correct me if I'm wrong, a barrel of crude oil right now costs about $80.00 plus or minus, that's still not a a lot compared last year as it fluctuated to about $70.00 last year. A gallon is 3.7854 liters, if the peso right now is 44.35, a gallon of premium gasoline would cost about $3.65.

Yes, gasoline companies do sometimes rollback prices. Say about 10 to 25 Philippine cents per liter. But everytime there is a slight rise in crude oil prices, they jack up their prices to about 1 to 2 pesos per liter.

The goverment insists our economy is booming. Who or what were they referring to??? The economy of their pockets or their Swiss bank accounts???

I just don't get it.

What do you think???

The Philippines Through the Eyes of A Filipina

The Philippines Through the Eyes of a Filipina
By Ivy Agustin
http://blackbaies.blogspot.com/, October 2, 2007


I received a copy of 'The Philippines Through the Eyes of a Foreigner' through an email last June 2007. Why did I not react then? First, I did not have my own blog yet. Second, and more importantly, I did not see the need to do so as it was one man's sentiment and there was some truth to it. So why am I reacting now? Well, yesterday as I was sorting out my email I chance upon the letter again and then later on as I was doing some research on Filipino culture I chance upon the same essay. This time though, I was surprised to see a lot of reactions from my kababayans, ranging from defensive to violent rections. Why be so harsh on the guy when he is merely voicing out his sentiments as he is entitled to in the first place.

Although there are some truths in his essay, there are also some overstatements.

Let me start with the sad truths:

1. Yes, it is true that we do have streets lined with street people, beggars and squatters.

But, let me remind you that those people did not dominate our sidestreets overnight.

Once upon a time, those people used to live happily in the rural areas. Then one day, a politician named Mr. Trapo arrives in a shiny limo and promises them the sun, the moon and the stars. But there is a catch, they have to go to his town to help him win elections by becoming 'flying voters'. They were pledged mammoth promises, given a few measly bucks and picked up by huge Sarao jeepneys bound for Zion. After Mr. Trapo wins his election, he leaves all the necessitous folk behind. With their families still with them, hungry, broke and exhausted, where do they go now? With very little money left from Mr. Trapo, they begin building shanties along the sidestreets. And the rest as they say is history........

2. Yes, it is true that our roads are cursed with pollution and our public utility vehicles are in disreputable states of repair. Yes, we have streets full of potholes and unrepaired streets.

Then one day, after Mr. Trapo is sworn into office, he becomes Congressman Trapo. He decrees that the roads be repaired and lined with asphalt. Since he has the power to pick the contractor, he selects the one who offers him the most proceeds. And because the contractor has to give a huge chunk of his earnings to Congressman Trapo, he figures that to earn more he could probably gain more by using substandard materials. That explains the potholes.

Congressman Trapo runs for the Senate and wins. Senator Trapo is now even more jaded by all his power. He does not care (or he has been bribed enough) to overlook that the other government subsidiaries are allowing bus comapnies to import buses that are really old and dilapidated. So that explains the disintegrating vehicles and the pollution that comes with it.

3. Yes, it is true that our educational system allows children to attend schools without desks or books to accommodate them. Yes, it also true that teachers, even college professors, are paid salaries so disgracefully low that it's a wonder that anyone would want to go into the teaching profession in the first place.

Senator Trapo has his share of the The Pork Barrel, A.K.A. Pork, Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). These are funds given to both members of the Senate and Congress, these are discretionary in nature so it is up to Senator Trapo to identify the projects that will be funded from these funds. Senators get P 200 million each while the congressmen are allotted about P 70 million each. To have something to show for, Senator Trapo builds small waiting sheds with a huge picture of his face and his name in large fonts to advertise what he has done. He forgets about the public schools that cannot accommodate half the school's population. Senator Trapo also needs more funds to help him in his re-election bid. He forgets about the teachers who, aside from a meager salary, work long, grueling hours.

There are a lot of Mr. Trapos all around us. He could very well be holding office at your Barangay Hall, the City Hall, the House of Representatives, the Senate, maybe even in Malacañang. Who knows?

There is no ending to my fairy (goblin) tale. The rest is up to you.


As for the overstatements, here's my take on that:

1. Filipinos do not worship, almost slavishly, everything foreign. Foreigners are not looked up to and idolized.

Filipinos are essentially warm, nurturing, and tolerant to a fault.

Do not mistake Filipino hospitality for worship. Having said that, it is but natural for Filipinos, even Asians in particular to be generous givers. Luxury goods, more often than not, imported brands flatter not just the giver but the receiver as well. Isn't that what it's about, status quo?

Case in point, last week my husband & I were in Greenhills for an errand. In case you don't know, it is a shopping mecca for everything faked or copied. We traverse the tiangges as I wanted to do some research on the demographics of people who patronize fakes. Surprise, surprise. In one corner, we saw 2 Americans (males) searching for an 'authentic looking fake' briefcase. We walk some more and more and we see 3 foriegners (they sounded British but I wasn't sure) looking for 'authentic looking fake' Mont Blanc pen. We walk a bit more and we see 2 foreigners (males) looking for 'authentic looking fake' Louis Vuitton bags for their girlfriends. Is that what character is to you? I'm not even making this up.

Allow me to spill another anecdote. A few months ago I was at Louis Vuitton in Greenbelt waiting for my purchase to be wrapped when I was approached by a man in his 60's (about my Dad's age) asking my impression on 4 LV bags laid out in front of him. He said he was having a hard time deciding which one to pick as an anniversary present for his wife and the SA(sales associate) wasn't much help. I gladly oblige. Mind you, he was Filipino, very simply and unostentastiously dressed. He didn't look like a fashion victim nor did he look uber rich. Maybe just like the rest of us, he appreciates a little luxury. Don't you think?

Even in HongKong, walk around and you'll see about 60% of the locals are carrying LV bags. Real ones, I'm sure. We went to all 3 stores and all of them were packed. In one store, we had to wait in a long queue just to get in. You wouldn't call them slaves to foreigners, would you?

2. Filipinos are not itching to leave the country.

It's just that sometimes, for some people, there seems to be no other choice.

Do you think our OFWs would still leave the country if they were given the same rate here as they are given abroad? Domestic helpers abroad are paid more than thrice over than what our teachers are paid here.

In the United States for instance, the minimum wage (average) is about $6.00 an hour. Did you know that that same amount is the minimum wage here BUT for a full day's labor? I hate it when I hear foreigners say, 'Oh, the gasoline prices here are the same as in the US' or whatever country. No matter how the numbers match, it's still not the same. No matter how our government rubs all sorts of figures on our faces, they mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. Why? Because we, the Filipinos, feel nothing. The government has nothing to offer. The jobs they claim to have are mediocre compared to what we as parents have to pay for in tuition fees. What jobs await U.P., Ateneo and La Salle graduates? Jobs at call centers?

To strive for something better is no shortcoming on our part. We will always strive for the best, not just for ourselves, but for our families and our nation.

The government claims that it is helping boost tourism in our country. How exactly?

When we went to Bangkok just a few weeks ago, I wanted to visit Siam Paragon. We could've walked as the mall was only about 5 kilometers from our hotel, I merely wanted to ride a tuk tuk so we hail one to take us there. Since the cab and tuk tuk drivers there understood very little English I brought a map, a picture of the mall and a copy of the exact address. About 15 minutes and many kilometers later, still no mall in sight. He brings us to a jewelry store, when we asked why, he said that he's bringing us there at no extra charge to us. It's just that everytime they bring in tourists, they get a coupon for free LPG (their petrol) from the government. We aren't under any obligation to buy, just come in for a visit. He then takes us to another shop (and thus my asthma was triggered by the stench of LPG). We ended up buying some goodies as he says he will get a small commission if we do so (yes, we were that gullible, but to us it was being helpful). Even during the temple tour, the tour guide told us that it was compulsory for them to bring tourists to particular spots. That is because their government encourages exactly that. Do you think the tricycle drivers here would get an incentive if they bring you to Luneta? I don't think so.

But what about tourism in the Philippines. My husband & I were surprised to see on a cable channel that some of our museums are still open. Note that it was on a cable channel and not even a local channel. Up until that moment we thought all our museums have closed down. Is that the government's definiton of 'boosting' tourism?

We are a free country. We are free people. We are entitled to our own opinion. In the same way that each of us is free to voice that opinion. If you'd want to block or edit everything negative you hear just to make it favorable to you, won't that be the start of censorship?

The reason behind my poking fun at Filipino drivers (in my blog) isn't to insult, ridicule or degrade them but maybe, just maybe with those little insights I could reach out to someone to do something about it, be it by doing better at it (it is a skill after all) or by at least implementing the laws that are there for a reason.

Hats off to Mr. Barth Suretsky. I do believe that it was in his best intention to put a little perspective into our culture and I take no offense whatsoever. I thank him for taking the time to analyze the things that somehow puzzle me as well.

To all foreigners, always remember this, we Filipinos have managed to unseat 2 presidents in the last 2 decades. It is my belief that we can do so again. It's just that at this point, there is no one person who could penetrate the system and not be spoiled by it. It will take time, discipline, and the will to change in each of us. Like I said, probably not in my lifetime. But soon, I hope.

I am a Filipino and I am proud to be one. I love my country and it is here that I will spend my old age until the rest of my days.


I hope you can say the same for yourselves.

One Man's View

Hello peeps. I'd like to share an email I received last June. Please bear with me as it is quite long. I'll give my views in a few hours as I have tons of errands waiting to be completed. Here it is......................


The Philippines Through the Eyes of a Foreigner
By Barth Suretsky
Atin Ito Philippine NewsFeature April 2007

My decision to move to Manila was not a precipitous one. I used to work in New York as an outside agent of Philippines Air Line, and have been coming to the Philippines since August, 1982. I was so impressed with the country, and with the interesting people I met, some of whom have become very close friends to this day, that I asked for and was granted a year's sabbatical from my teaching job in order to live in the Philippines

I arrived here on August 21, 1983, several hours after Ninoy Aquino was shot, and remained here until June of 1984. During that year I visited many parts of the country, from as far north as Laoag to as far south as Zamboanga, and including Palawan. I became deeply immersed in the history and culture of the archipelago, and an avid collector of tribal antiquities from both northern Luzon and Mindanao.

In subsequent years I visited the Philippines in 1985, 1987, and 1991, before deciding to move here permanently in 1998. I love this country, but not uncritically, and that is the purpose of this article. First, however, I will say that I would not consider living anywhere else in Asia, no matter how attractive certain aspects of other neighboring countries may be.

To begin with, and this is most important, with all its faults, the Philippines is still a democracy, more so than any other nation in Southeast Asia . Despite gross corruption, the legal system generally works, and if ever confronted with having to employ it, I would feel much more safe trusting the courts here than in any other place in the surrounding countries.

The press here is unquestionably the most unfettered and freewheeling in Asia, and I do not believe that is hyperbole in any way ! And if any one thing can be used as a yardstick to measure the extent of the democratic process in any given country in the world, it is the extent to which the press is free.

Nevertheless, the Philippines is a flawed democracy, and the flaws are deeply rooted in the Philippine psyche. I will elaborate. The basic problem seems to me, after many years of observation, to be national inferiority complex, a disturbing lack of pride in being Filipino.

Toward the end of April I spent eight days in Vietnam, visiting Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). I am certainly no expert on Vietnam , but what I saw could not be denied: I saw a country ravaged as no other country has been in this century by thirty years of continuous and incredibly barbaric warfare. When the Vietnam War ended in April, 1975, the country was totally devastated. Yet in the past 25 years the nation has healed and rebuilt itself almost miraculously ! The countryside has been replanted and reforested. Hanoi and HCMC have been beautifully restored.

The opera house in Hanoi is a splendid restoration of the original, modeled after the Opera in Paris , and the gorgeous Second Empire Theatre, on the main square of HCMC is as it was when built by the French a century ago.

The streets are tree-lined, clean, and conducive for strolling. Cafes in the French style proliferate on the wide boulevards of HCMC. I am not praising the government of Vietnam, which still has a long way to travel on the road to democracy, but I do praise, and praise unstintingly, the pride of the Vietnamese people.

It is due to this pride in being Vietnamese that has enabled its citizenry to undertake the miracle of restoration that I describe above.

When I returned to Manila, I became so depressed that I was actually physically ill for days thereafter. Why ? Well, let's go back to a period when the Philippines resembled the Vietnam of 1975. It was 1945, the end of World War II, and Manila, as well as many other cities, lay in ruins.

As a matter of fact, it may not be generally known, but Manila was the second most destroyed city in the entire war; only Warsaw was more demolished.

But to compare Manila in 1970, twenty five years after the end of the war, with HCMC, 25 years after the end of its war, is a sad exercise indeed. Far from restoring the city to its former glory, by 1970 Manila was well on its way to being the most tawdry city in Southeast Asia. And since that time the situation has deteriorated alarmingly.

We have a city full of street people, beggars, and squatters. We have a city that floods sections whenever there is a rainstorm, and that loses electricity with every clap of thunder. We have a city full of potholes, and on these unrepaired roads we have traffic situation second to none in the the world for sheer unmanageability.

We have rude drivers, taxis that routinely refuse to take passengers because of "many traffic !" The roads are also cursed with pollution spewing buses in disreputable states of repair, and that ultimate anachronism, the jeepney!

We have an educational system that allows children to attend schools without desks or books to accommodate them. Teachers, even college professors, are paid salaries so disgracefully low that it's a wonder that anyone would want to go into the teaching profession in the first place.

We have a war in Mindanao that nobody seems to have a clue how to settle. The only policy to deal with the war seems to be to react to what happens daily, with no long range plan whatever. I could go on and on, but it is an endeavor so filled with futility that it hurts me to go on. It hurts me because, in spite of everything, I love the Philippines.

Maybe it will sound simplistic, but to go back to what I said above, it is my unshakable belief that the fundamental thing wrong with this country is a lack of pride in being Filipino.

A friend once remarked to me, laconically : "All Filipinos want to be something else. The poor ones want to be American, and the rich ones all want to be Spaniards. Nobody wants to be Filipino."

That statement would appear to be a rather simplistic one, and perhaps it is. However, I know one Filipino who refuses to enter a theater until the national anthem has stopped being played because he doesn't want to honor his own country, and I know another one who thinks that history stopped dead in 1898 when the Spaniards departed. While it is certainly true that these represent extreme examples of national denial, the truth is not a pretty picture. Filipinos tend to worship, almost slavishly, everything foreign. If it comes from Italy or France it has to be better than anything made here. If the idea is American or German it has to be superior to anything that Filipinos can think up for themselves. Foreigners are looked up to and idolized.

Foreigners can go anywhere without question. In my own personal experience, I remember attending recently an affair at a major museum here. I had forgotten to bring my invitation. But while Filipinos entering the museum were checked for invitations, I was simply waived through. This sort of thing happens so often here that it's just accepted as routine.

All of these things, the illogical respect given to foreigners simply because they are not Filipinos, the distrust and even disrespect shown to any homegrown merchandise, the neglect of anything Philippine, the rudeness of taxi drivers, the ill manners shown by many Filipinos are all symptomatic of a lack of self love, of respect for and love of the country in which they were born, and worst of all, a static mind-set in regard to finding ways to improve the situation.

Most Filipinos, when confronted with evidence of governmental corruption, political chicanery, or gross exploita tion on the part of the business community, simply shrug their shoulders, mutter "bahala na," and let it go at that.

It is an oversimplification to say this, but it is not without a grain of truth to say that Filipinos feel downtrodden because they allow themselves to feel downtrodden. No pride.

One of the most egregious examples of this lack of pride, this uncaring attitude to their own past, is the wretched state of surviving architectural landmarks in Manila and elsewhere. During the American period, many beautiful and imposing buildings were built, in what we now call the "art deco" style (although incidentally, that was not contemporary term; it was coined only in the 1960s). These were beautiful edifices, mostly erected during, or just before, the Commonwealth period.

Three, which are still standing, are the Jai Alai Building, the Metropolitan Theater, and the Rizal Stadium. Fortunately, due to the truly noble efforts of my friend John Silva, the Jai Alai Building will now be saved. But unless something is done to the most beautiful and original of these three masterpieces of pre-war Philippine architecture, the Metropolitan Theater, it will disintegrate. The Rizal Stadium is in equally wretched shape.

When the wreckers' ball destroyed Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, and New York City's most magnificent building, Pennsylvania Station, both in 1963, Ada Louise Huxtable, then the architectural critic of The New York Times, wrote: "A disposable culture loses the right to call itself a civilization at all !" How right she was ! (Fortunately, the destruction of Pennsylvania Station proved to the sacrificial catalyst that resulted in the creation of New York's Landmark Commission. Would there be such a commission created for Manila ... ?)

Are there historical reasons for this lack of national pride ? We can say that until the arrival of the Spaniards there was no sense of a unified archipelago constituted as one country. True. We can also say that the high cultures of the nations in the region seemed, unfortunately, to have bypassed the Philippines ; there are no Angkors, no Ayuttayas, no Borodudurs. True. Centuries of contact with the high cultur es of the Khmers and the Chinese, had, except for the proliferation of Song dynasty pottery found throughout the archipelago, no noticeable effect. True. But all that aside, what was here ? To begin with, the ancient rice terraces, now threatened with disintegration, incidentally, was an incredible feat of engineering for so-called "primitive" people.

As a matter of fact, when I first saw them in 1984, I was almost as awe-stricken was I was when I first laid eyes on the astonishing Inca city of Machu Picchu , high in the Peruvian Andes. The degree of artistry exhibited by the various tribes of the Cordillera of Luzon is testimony to a remarkable culture, second to none in the Southeast Asian region. As for Mindanao, at the other end of the archipelago, an equally high degree of artistry has been manifest for centuries in woodcarving, weaving and metalwork. However, the most shocking aspect of this lack of national pride, even identity, endemic in the average Filipino, is the appalling ignorance of the history of the archipelago since unified by Spain and named Filipinas. The remarkable stories concerning the courageous repulsion of Dutch and British invaders from the 16th through the 18th centuries, even the origins of the Independence of the late 19th century, are hardly known by the average Filipino in any meaningful way. And thanks to fifty years of American brainwashing, it is few and far between the number of Filipinos who really know -- or even care -- about the duplicity employed by the Americans and Spaniards to sell out and make meaningless the very independent state that Aguilnaldo declared on June 12, 1898.

A people without a sense of history is a people doomed to be unaware of their own identity. It is sad to say, but true, that the vast majority of Filipinos fall into this category. Without a sense of who you are how can you possibly take any pride in who you are ? These are not oversimplifications.

On the contrary, these are the root problems of the Philippine inferiority complex referred to above. Until the Filipinos take pride in being Filipino these ills of the soul will never be cured. If what I have written here can help, even in the smallest way, to make the Filipino aware of just w ho he is, who he was, and who he can be, I will be one happy expat indeed!

-- Shared by Nenita Brown

The Ultimate Secret to Happiness

Do you want to know the ultimate secret to happiness???

Do you really want to know???

Really???

Really really???

Really really really???????


Sorry to burst your bubble but there isn't any.

Someone once said, "One is free when he knows how to keep in his own hands the power to decide, at each step, the course of his life."

Too deep? Allow me to give you a concrete example.

A few days ago, during my son's fair, while I was queued up for horror booth tickets, I hand over the rest of the tickets for the carnival rides over to my 8-year old son so as not to get confused as there were different tickets for the rides, parlor games, computer games, hoops game and the horror booth. Once we got our horror booth tickets, we rush over to the dragon wagon first as the horror booth won't be open till the next hour. While we were waiting, I ask my son where the tickets I handed him were. He insists he gave them to me when I distinctly remember giving it to him. I had 3 choices:

A.) Get upset and make a fuss over the incident after all those tickets were worth a few hundred bucks.

B.) Insist we go home as we don't have any more tickets for the rides.

C.) Forget the whole thing and get new tickets.

Can you guess which one I picked???

If you guessed A, you're wrong. Why would I do that? The sun was (still) shining and we had a blast with all the other rides.

If you guessed B, wrong again. We were waiting in line too long already and we want to ride, ride, ride some more.

If you guessed C, then you're right!!! Sorry, no prize for you. If you want, come over to our house, I'll give you yema haha. Kidding aside, why would I want to focus on what we just lost? I was thankful that I didn't lose any of the kids as there were a lot of people there and the kids were running around all the time. I was glad I didn't lose anything as I was carrying 2 backpacks, my purse, a ginormous paper bag, 2 cameras and a handycam. I was happy because while we were there screaming our lungs out during the rides, it did not rain even though the clouds were really thick (although sadly, it rained when we left).

In the end, I believe it's all about choice. I am happy because I choose to be happy. If I spent my time obssessing over the things I lose every single day, I'd always feel miserable. If I complained and whined over problems I have to face everyday, I'd be depressed, not to mention all the wrinkles that would show up on my face.

I may not be the richest, smartest, prettiest (well, to my 3 boys I am haha) but I do appreciate everything and everyone in my life. That doesn't mean I don't get upset. Believe me, I do and very often when I'm hormonal. But I try not to dwell on those feelings. I always try to find ways to cheer myself up. That's what I love about blogging, I get to rant about the things I don't like and rave about the things I do.

No one thing or one person can guarantee you happiness. It's all YOU. If there's one thing I've realized in my short life, it's that happiness lies not in the external world, but within one's soul.

I hope you find your happiness as well......................

The Malu Fernandez Affair

We, Joel & I, were watching a news commentary on Malu Fernandez last night. I thought the issue long died when she resigned a couple of weeks ago but I was wrong. In case you've been living under a rock, she was the columnist who wrote derogatory comments on OFWs that came out in a lifestyle magazine a couple of weeks ago. One question struck me, who was victimized, Malu or the OFWs?


I feel for Malu Fernandez, not as a human being but as a writer. Having said that, I'm not coming to her defense either. Nor am I justifying what she has said. She has thrown a lot of deliberate insults and criticism.

I also feel for OFWs. Next to single mothers, I think they are among the greatest living heroes we have. I also feel somewhat disgusted because I have friends and family who are OFWs and they are far from what she describes in the article. They do deserve a lot more respect than what was given them.

I am a writer. Having said that, it is but natural for writers to inject a little sarcasm for humor's sake, heck I do it a lot. Although in her case, I think she went way overboard. But cut her some slack, she's also been ridiculed, mocked and threatened. More so because of her weight.

Voltaire once said that OPINION has caused more troubles on this little earth than plagues or earthquakes. I couldn't agree more.

But I believe that before an opinion can be conceived, one chooses to believe. And to believe is to choose. Choice is everybody's right. It is dignity. It is man's sense of value.

There is an old Latin saying,

Ad libitum.
A plaisir.
A piacere.

At will.
At pleasure.
At discretion.

Maybe it was her opinion. Maybe it was how she felt at the time. Maybe she meant it. Maybe she didn't. Maybe she's under HRT. Maybe she was hormonal (like I am haha) when she said all those things. But then again, we will never know because we aren't Malu Fernandez. It was her choice and she is suffering the consequences. A lot of hurtful things have been said. So please stop with all the bickering and move on...................

In the words of the great Alexander Pope, 'to err is human, to forgive divine'.

Besides, malapit na ng Pasko, charing.................

Pinoy Daredevils

When I wrote my post on Pinoy drivers a few days ago, I did not include motorcycle drivers for one simple reason - they have a league all their own.



A few months back, after a terrible accident where the back of Joel's pickup was whacked by a bus (he was on a halt due to a stoplight along C-5 when a speeding bus loses it's brakes and hits the rear of the vehicle, turning the pickup's body into an accordion and sending him to a hospital for a suspected whiplash injury) he wanted to try his hand at motorcycles (masochistic???) since the repair of his pickup would take at least 6 weeks. I was hesitant at first but when he was cleared of any injury and signed up for motorcycle safety lessons, I gave in. I was surprised to hear some of the basic safety guidelines since very few, if not none at all, are observed by motorcycle daredevils, I mean drivers in our country. Allow me to elucidate.

Headlights should be ON for additional visibility, even at daytime! This one I rarely see.

Body positioning is crucial. It is ideal that the passenger put his/her hands on the driver's waist. Waist, beywang. Not at the back, not at the chest, not anywhere else. It helps the driver balance the his weight, the motorcycle's, and the passenger's.

Take this for instance, this is the correct posture for the passenger.

Not this,Not this,
The motorcycle is designed for one person only. Inuulit ko, pang isang tao lang talaga yon. Although maybe due to economic reasons, they allow up to 2 passengers. I'm amazed that I can sometimes find 3, even 4 people in one motorcycle especially outside Metro Manila. Violators of this rule would sometimes bring their wife or GF with them, sometimes kids, friends, co-workers. Why not bring along your nanay, tatay, lolo, lola, sama mo na paty kapitbahay mo. Isukbit mo sa balikat mo para kumpleto na kayo. Heck, I don't know if the driver is suicidal and/ or homicidal.

Helmet, helmet, helmet. It is not a mere embellishment. It is a type of protective headgear. The primary goal being, to protect your stubborn head from impact.
For examplePakisuot mo ang helmet mo tatangMagpapakamatay ka na lang, nagsama ka pa O isa pa 'toA baseball cap does NOT qualify as protective headgear................. You're wearing it all wrong shungak Mas mabuti pa yung pasahero mo marunong mag helmetUse helmets that pass D.O.T. standards............
This is interesting, a policeman, in uniform, without a helmet. Tsk tsk tsk, alagad ka pa mandin ng batas

I SPY.... 2 violators........

TA DA........My biggest catch of the day. Two traffic enforcers without helmets, ang lalakas ng loob nyo manghuli, numero uno naman kayong violator!

Well, the happy ending is, Joel sold his 1-month old motorcycle. Mas masarap pa rin daw sa kotse. To quote my dear sis Roselle (o hayan, special mention ka) 'the difference between driving a motorcycle and driving a car.........in a motorcycle, you wrap yourself around metal.................in a car, you are enveloped in metal'

Hay naku, batu bato sa langit ang tamaan ay swangit ....................