Sunny Side of the Street

Dodging milenyo

2006-11-21T01:18:00.000-08:00

I check my blog every week and feel absolutely dreadful that my last post was made in August, three whole months ago. No excuses, just plain and simple laziness to write. And since I am still in this state, this is all I can give.

Spaghetti with prawns and ricotta

Ozzo Bucco Spaghetti

Moussaka

Beef and Chicken Enchilada

Vegetarian Taco Platter

Chimichanga

If by any chance I whet your appetite (wait.. I’m sure I did), be sure to visit Cyma and Mañana Bora on your next trip to Boracay. I had these when I went back to the island last September yet I can’t get over them. By the way, they have Cyma at Shang already so we can have our big fat Greek lambchops anytime we want. How considerate. Sadly for Mañana Bora, I only have these pictures to drool at.

For bonus, I leave these pictures of Puka Beach and what Crocodile Island is best known for.

Magic 7

2006-08-11T01:16:00.000-07:00

Pulse Asia reports that 30% of Filipinos or some 14 million adults would now migrate if it were only possible. That’s three out of every ten Filipinos wanting to leave the country.

With every inch of respect in my body, all I can really say is, I don’t give a damn. I’m glad that I’m one of seven than one of three. But to be perfectly nice, this piece of information should be welcomed. This shows that seven in every ten Filipinos are willing to fight on and can see their nation’s beauty amidst the pollution, corruption and division (sorry, just had to keep the rhyme). Any teamplayer knows that a few thinking heads are better than many heads including the crabs. The last thing this country needs is the deserters.

What is interesting with the survey is that sentiment against migration is more pronounced in Class E than in any of the classes (48%). Apparently, being hopeless is not caused by having less. And then I thought to whom much is given, much is expected in return.

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dr. Ciel Habito would often say that if you look at the poverty statistics, it shows that one in every four Filipinos is poor. This means that three are non-poor, which ultimately shows that poverty is perfectly manageable. If only the three non-poor will do something that will somehow ease the circumstances the one (O-N-E, one) poor person is in then we’re good to go. His example was himself helping his driver send his children to school. A government serving eighty million on a budget deficit can only do so much. Of course corruption springs as a very legitimate argument but it’s no reason to slack. Those sleazeballs can’t and won’t drive me away from my own land.

Because really, nothing comes easy. You stick it out with your country not because it will make you rich but because it needs you. I know it’s all a matter of perspective but to be actually perceptive about it, nothing is more rewarding than cursing in your own language, not looking different from your neighbors, tapsilog at three in the morning and watching Bulagaan.

Ole!

2006-07-03T01:11:00.000-07:00

For almost a month now people from all over are putting their lives on hold and are coming together (in twelve states in Germany at least) to rally behind their heroes. Dressed in their national colors, throngs of people chanting, singing, dancing and drinking have become such a sight to see that I, admittedly, feel envious of such remarkable display of unity and patriotism.

I want a Filipino World Cup Team! I want to be extremely emotional over an exciting game of football. I want to be swept by unbelievable plays, overwhelmed by incredible goals and crushed by heartbreaking defeat. I want to jump and dance in the country’s main thoroughfares with reckless abandon and shout and cry my country’s name like a mad man. All these while wearing the flag on my back and my face painted with the sun and the stars.

I’m such a trying hard football fan I watch the games even if I hardly know how it is played. All of a sudden I’m interested in CNN Sports just to see the Fan Zone, a full-packed stadium in almost monochrome and winning team antics. My sister is luckier. She was in Frankfurt just a week ago. I, on the other hand, found misery in company.

Something unusual, football-crazed Filipinos (totally unplanned).

I want us to be stung by the football bug. Just imagine, we wouldn’t have to deal with politicians putting up another basketball court with their pork barrel. We would stop being disenchanted with our height. We can all give The Pacman a much-needed rest (and hopefully retirement). With a Lakandula Award from the President no less, this country sure needs a new breed of heroes. And please let it be a dozen.

Doubting Thomases

2006-05-11T01:18:00.000-07:00

I honestly can not understand this entire brouhaha on the The Da Vinci Code. I can not believe that Cabinet members, no less than the Executive Secretary, are commenting on the book/movie and actually believe that the Brown bestseller is repulsive.

The Church and other religious issuing statements and other propaganda against “the code” is expected. Some Christian groups even scheduled seminars to talk about and discredit the The Da Vinci Code. I’m sure Dan Brown would be surprised that his book is the topic of the priest’s sermon in my mother’s hometown in La Union. As if the media mileage is not enough, an anti-porn group has been pushing the MTRCB to ban the movie. Anti-porn group reacting over Da Vinci? Beats me.

I was born to Roman Catholic parents, baptized Roman Catholic and went to a Catholic school from pre-school all through highschool. I consider myself to be a Catholic to this day, albeit non-practicing. I continue to keep a relationship with my God that I came to know of through my Catholic upbringing and harbor no doubt whatsoever on my faith. And yes, I loved the The Da Vinci Code and I can’t wait to catch it on the big screen.

The book was exhilarating, engaging and highly-informative. What stuck on me are the bits of trivia such as the value of Pi, the anagrams and the description of the famous paintings, structures and other works of art. The plot on the sacred feminine and the sub-plots on secret societies, medieval crusades, Church cover-up and other historical pieces of information appealed to me as interesting and yes intriguing. But never, for one second, did the book shake my faith and lead me to doubt and question.

I would like to believe, as any Christian should, that our relationship with our God is profound and meaningful, one that is solid and deeply-rooted. I haven’t heard of one person (I’m surrounded by people who read the book) who was disillusioned and demoralized and renounced his/her faith altogether because of Dan Brown’s brilliant story-telling. Nobody thought that the omnipotence of the Christ we know was diminished nor his being insulted because he allegedly sired a child. This is so, I believe, because spirituality is boundless. It is not limited by the church one goes to or the scriptures it teaches, the company a person keeps or the method a believer chooses to communicate with a higher being. It is a personal relationship of love and acceptance. All that is important to remember is a God who is forgiving and selfless and if this is the image to whom I was created after, nothing else matters.

Tell it to the marines

2006-05-02T01:33:00.000-07:00

I’ve often wondered (sometimes aloud) whether Filipinos will be more disciplined and law-abiding if better systems are in place such as in traffic management and waste disposal. More than thinking, perhaps I was hoping that if only our streets are as clean as Singapore’s or as wide as the freeway, Filipino pedestrians will be more encouraged to walk the extra mile than take a tricycle, which is healthier and cleaner, and that Filipino drivers will turn out to be patient and conscientious angels rather than the rude devils they are now.

Sometimes I can’t blame the commuters for taking and alighting a public utility vehicle at any point. I always want to alight at the point that is nearest to my destination lest I walk the dirty, dangerous and draining streets of Manila. I thought that if only our communities are safer and pedestrian-friendly, we won’t need much of jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs. This would mean fresher air and less-congested roads. I thought that Filipinos hardly walk because the environment is not conducive to walking or that there is too much traffic because we have narrow streets.

Then I realized that there’s something wrong about this mentality of systems shaping behavior. We can’t allow our environments to dictate our own actions. It should be the other way around. It is our behavior as a people that should be shaping our systems. Unless, commuters and drivers become more concerned of orderliness and restraint, of obedience and authority, no matter how systematic we get, traffic violations and crowded sidewalks are here to stay. This I can prove empirically.

During my family’s trip to La Union for the Holy Week, there were expectedly more motorists than usual. However, bottlenecks approaching the toll gate now shouldn’t be much of a problem given the wider, better and very impressive NLEX. Just follow your lane and you will emerge from the toll gate fast and unscathed. Ever since this new NLEX was completed, traveling to the north has been such a breeze making you feel that every cent of your P200 fee is all worth it. But lo and behold, there were uncouth drivers who still carry their Manila driving orientation and cut you off. These are the drivers who stay in between lanes and cut-off in the faster lane not minding the vehicles that are patiently waiting in a long line. This time, the government has invested so much in wider and better roads but still, drivers pay no attention to road rules and design.

Another incident was when my family went to Ocean Adventure in Subic to spend time with my half-sister and her family who are vacationing from the US. I was meeting my nephew and niece for the first time and my sisters wanted to do something the kids will enjoy and learn from that’s why we decided to go to Ocean Adventure. Ocean Adventure is a nature park. They have big aquariums, a zoo, sea lion show and my favorite, whale and dolphin show. I just found out when we got there last 22 April that it was actually Earth Day. Given the park’s theme, the animal trainors in the shows made sure that their scripts incorporate reminders on how to preserve the environment and for everyone to do his part in taking care of the planet. Given these reminders and the beauty of the entire park, we were very annoyed to see left-over food and plastic wrappers in the seats when the show ended. Some of the audience can’t even manage to keep their trash and throw them in the nearest garbage bins, in a nature park! That shouldn’t be too difficult to do. Another thing, everyone knows there’s speed limit in Subic (which feels like a warp zone because of its clean sidewalks and strict traffic rules) but still some motorists get apprehended for driving beyond the limit.

Our environment must really be a reflection of who we are as a people. As long as we can’t accomplish simple tasks such as obeying rules, observing road courtesy and keeping surroundings clean, no amount of beautification and system design can change our selfish and barbaric ways.

Let me end by introducing the little people who have tugged my heart the first time I met them. Can’t believe they’re leaving soon!

Josiah Jared and Keilah Kirsten

Sweet dreams...

2006-04-20T00:19:00.000-07:00

...are made of these. Following are what I stuffed myself with during the holy week. Sinful, I know, but heavenly nonetheless.

La Union Feast

Paella

Home-made apple crumble a'la mode (What the heck?! Everything's home-made.)

Pasta Aligue with Shrimp

Sardines Pasta

Sukiyaki

Fish Tofu and Century Egg

Tuna Sushi

Scampi CousCous with Lamb Kabab and Lovash with Hummus

Baguio Delights

House of Waffles' Combo Breakfast

House of Waffles' Western Skillet

House of Waffles' Tutifruity Waffle

Manor's Belgian Chocolate Souffle (or what's left of it)

First to the finish line

2006-03-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

As young sixth graders, my friends and I would spend afternoons after classes at the library corridor chatting and doing our homework together. I distinctly remember that we would share over Mia’s packed lunch of rice and Spam that she didn’t touch. We would always be scolded by the librarian because of our noisy giggles and banter. On other occasions we would just sit on the stairs near the grade school canteen and the ballet room and tell stories till our sundo arrives.

Mia was my classmate for two years, sixth grade and freshman year. We were in the same group of friends when I first experienced going out with friends without the supervision of any grown-up. As twelve year olds we would play at the old Glico’s in Glorietta or at Whimsy Land at Shang all wearing Giordano Classics.

Mia would never forget special occasions. She has substantially contributed to my Zashikibuta collection because she would gift me with Zashi items not limited to stationery. She always brings goodies she baked and let everyone have a piece. In highschool, she was known as Mia Q. (as her last name is Quijano) since there were other Mia’s in the batch. We had different sets of friends when we reached highschool but I would always remember her as one of my Grade 6 barkada.

Mia was an excellent student and a math whiz who finished Statistics in UP. Three years ago, while working for a multinational business solutions firm, we learned that she was diagnosed with nasal cancer. She was able to beat the big C and even managed to get back to work. In the past months however, it recurred and affected the different systems of her body.

Last Friday, she was rushed to the hospital since she was having a hard time breathing. That entire weekend her whole family was said to be crying and she was the brave soul reassuring them. Come Sunday night everyone fell asleep as Mia herself rested. Upon waking up the following morning Mia was gone. She left them early Monday morning without them noticing, peacefully and calmly.

The wake last night was trademark Mia. All of her friends were there from STC to UP to Accenture. The ribbons on her coffin were beautifully lettered and she was the only fashionista. There were framed pictures of her with family and friends and albums with our grade six class party pictures in them. Her sister jokingly told us to be sure to put the pictures back fearing that we might snatch one which was what we initially planned.

We later learned that she had everything planned. Did I also mention she was a great artist, redoing art projects when she is not satisfied? The diligent person that she is, she personally wrote the names of her family members in the ribbons for her coffin and specified how exactly she would look from the blouse to the bracelet that she wore.

Mourning for a childhood friend’s death was just surreal. Last week I just attended another highschool friend’s wedding and now we’re putting a friend to rest. As we gathered last night for Mia’s wake, I realized that we are all twenty-somethings who are just starting to make something of our lives. Some of us are about to graduate from med school, one just gave birth last month and I have been working on some major changes I want in my career. Mia Q. on the other hand, the youngest in a brood of six, decided to take a bow when the show is just starting, only eight years after we parted ways and left the comfortable walls of high school.

As I work my ass off everyday, worrying about bills that never-end and figuring out what I really want in life, Mia will be sitting pretty at the side of her God, happy and contented for her brief but full life on earth. I’m hoping that by the time we meet again, we’ll be both twelve year olds and not the unfortunate event that she’s a beautiful 25 year old and I’m an 80 year old hag.

Soundbytes

2006-02-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

A tragedy waiting to happen. We have read and heard this phrase to describe two separate catastrophes in two areas miles apart in a span of two weeks. This depiction of the ULTRA Stampede and the Southern Leyte landslide just makes these two calamities all the more heartbreaking and yes, tragic. The thought that disasters such as these two should have been prevented and lives would have been spared just leaves you weak in the knees. If I may borrow General Querol’s reaction upon raiding the Pasig drug den, how more than seventy people died in a stampede and how an entire barangay just cease to exist are precisely the things that are incomprehensible. Hopefully the future of our nation is not the biggest tragedy waiting to happen.

Kailan lang. Last Sunday an aunt from Hongkong came home and everybody flocked to her place in Cavite for your typical Filipino welcome rites. My two sisters and I rode with my other aunt because my mom and eldest sister were assigned to the airport. This meant that for at least a whole hour, we’ll be listening to old ladies’ stories. On the way we stopped by Baclaran seaside market to buy prawns. One of my aunts, also a balikbayan, remarked howcome in the past they make it a point to hear mass at Baclaran Church when it is so far. My other aunt replied that because it is miraculous. She went on to say that before our grandmother together with her two closest sisters used to go to Baclaran and one time all three of them were victimized by pick-pockets. I asked whether this happened when my grandma and her sisters were not yet married. My aunt answered, “Hindi. Kailan lang”. My sisters and I all burst out in laughter because all three of those grandmas are dead already with my own grandma not being around for almost twenty years now.

Common decency. When the riots and embassy torching will end remains everybody’s guess. The West should understand that the globalization which they have embraced and successfully propagated made possible this kind of global demonstration of fury against a local newspaper caricature. They should be the first to know that given the internet and cable tv, their audience has ceased to be the 5 million or so Danish people. Responsibility and respect are virtues we know so well and definitely we can use more of in this time of borderlessness and regionalism. Whatever the meaning of the satire is, there is no harm being more conscious of other people’s sensibilities especially in the media industry.

Riquisimo!

2006-02-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

When I was studying as a young girl in an exclusive school run by Catholic nuns, we would always go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes Church every February 11, the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. The whole batch numbering to around three-hundred students, in our white blouse and navy blue skirt, would march along the sidewalk and cross the street in two straight lines with perfect arm-length distance from each other. Looking back, I think we resemble Madeline’s class as they are being led by Sr. Clavel in the streets of Paris.

Since then, I never got the chance to go back to Lourdes Church. I just know that every year, my mom never fails to hear mass at Lourdes during its feast day and eat at Cora’s Eatery near the church with her eating club. Cora’s Eatery, named after the owner whom everyone calls Ima, holds open house every February 11th and anybody may partake in her own feast. Talk about fiesta-Filipino.

Last week, I promised my mom I’ll go with her as she fulfills her devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. With a nasty hang-over from the previous night’s drinking, I managed to get up before seven in the morning, on a Saturday, the eleventh. I was feeling nauseous the entire time at the Church and prayed really hard that I won’t throw-up. After the mass, it was time to go to Cora’s and meet Ima for the first time.

To show that I and my sister are not particularly strangers to her, we told her that her granddaughter, Pat, is actually the best friend of a cousin and that we went to the same school (go figure). With this piece of information, she never stopped talking like the doting grandmother she really is and I felt very much at ease eating or should I say gobbling down the feast that she prepared.

The food was superb. It took all of my hang-over away. Everything was fantastic from the sotanghon guisado to the nata de coco. Her chicken teriyaki was not that sweet and it had a lot of leeks. She used big slices of tripes for her callos and its richness was just right. The vinegar she used with the fried lumpiang ubod was indeed sour unlike most white vinegar I know. Her grilled tilapia was individually wrapped in banana leaves which made me think just how long it took them to do that. Finally, I must have eaten on that day the best maja blanca there is. I’m not particularly fond of lutong-bahay but Ima’s cooking gave me a new kind of hang-over.

More than the food, the real treat was Ima herself. She was very accommodating and sincerely kind. Her generosity and warmth can be felt in every bite of her sumptuous creation and she’ll do anything to make her guests feel comfortable, whether she knows you or not. After meeting her I and my sister missed our own grandma, Mama, whom we rarely see nowadays and who must have given all her grandchildren and great grandchildren their first bath and first solid food.

My mom said that Ima’s handa has always been a part of the feast of Lourdes. People from everywhere make it a point to visit her after hearing mass and enjoy whatever it is she prepared. I wonder why…

People in the neighborhood

2006-01-19T18:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had to go to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as part of data-gathering for a study my officemate Socs and I are conducting on our marinos. Marine officers are licensed professionals and PRC processes their various requirements to go on-board international vessels.

All licensed professionals from doctors, engineers, teachers and accountants no matter where they are right now and how much they are earning, at one point in time waited in line and endured the heat at the PRC Office in Morayta. It doesn’t matter if you graduated summa cum laude from the best university in the country. Without a license, there is just no way you can practice your chosen profession.

The PRC supervises and administers licensure examinations to more than forty professions. Some exams are conducted twice or even thrice a year. Some professions, which include marine officers and nurses, require revalidation or renewal of license every so often. This means that the country’s professionals most especially the dollar earners periodically visit the dilapidated and decrepit PRC building. If the PRC building represents the kind of professionals we produce, there’s hardly anything to explain for our country’s sorry state.

Professionals are supposed to be the country’s backbone and they somehow reflect how progressive a country is. Advanced economies are characterized as those with low income inequality wherein the gap between the rich and the poor is not as big and wide as the Niagara as what the case is in the Philippines. How could I forget my college professor’s social pyramid and inverted pyramid which demonstrate how the country’s 2% of the population control 90% of the country’s wealth while everyone else make do with what is left. A society with perfectly equal incomes has a gini coefficient of 1. Our gini coefficient is 0.33.

I believe this is so because although we have a broad middle-class, they are not actually empowered. One need not look farther than the old and cramped office of the PRC which is a clear indication of how the government treats its most-prized human resources. The ugly façade is not the only problem. The office lacks the facilities and the manpower needed to cater to the needs of the country’s lifeblood, those who pay their taxes and contribute in very concrete ways to the country’s productivity.

The neglect that the PRC experiences is probably one reason why our teachers, nurses and engineers go away. We always sweat over the big shots and overlook those that matter. Giving importance to these professionals will definitely redound to the nation’s interest because we improve on our human capital and make way for the country’s wealth to extend.

Return of the Comeback

2006-01-04T23:01:00.000-08:00

No, I was not abducted by aliens nor did I succumb to any kind of illness and was brought back to life. I did meet a few aliens though and almost collapsed in fatigue from September to December as I slaved day-in and day-out (holidays included) in the (not quite) concluded Consultative Commission. Details of which, official or otherwise, will come out in my memoirs in my twilight years, when it is not as big news as it is now.

In the meantime, revel in my pictures taken during my much-awaited one week vacation in Sagada and Banaue last week, December 26-30. My body ached from all the climbing, caving, fiera traveling, trekking and excessive eating that ensued, not to mention the pension house sans heater that we stayed in. It didn’t, however, spoil the fun and it was certainly the most bombastic way of ending a tough year.

My first attempt at spelunking

Stack 'em up!

The eighth and ninth wonders

Banaue homies

Oh d-d-d-dear!

Echo Valley a.k.a. Jumping Station (certainly not the best way to die)

Season's Greetings from the people from the boondocks

And they're back in the game

2005-09-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

I just knew it. I didn’t start watching Rockstar: INXS until there were six people left. The first episode I saw in full (episode being the entire two parts), was the time they kicked-off Ty and I even got teary-eyed with this farewell speech saying that people of his color (he’s black), no matter how hard he tried, would never get a place in rock. During this time I knew that JD Fortune will take the place of Michael Hutchence.

JD, with his cocky demeanor, sounded the closest to the former INXS frontman. I can already imagine him singing Beautiful Girl and Not Enough Time. I actually watched to see how our Mig Ayesa is doing. Again, I already knew that he’s not the one. I really liked him, with his effeminate ways, but by the time he gave his original composition, I knew he was out. He was lucky though to have gone as far as getting one of the Hondas. But I think he should stick to theater. Good thing he didn’t forget to thank his voters from the Philippines during his elimination speech. They, after all, saved him from all but one bottom three’s.

The last two girls were also great, such powerful voices. Even if Sweet Suzie, queen of the bottom three, was booted out later than Jordis, I liked Jordis’ voice better. It’s more funky and sounded like she’s not exerting any effort at all, unlike Suzie who makes me nervous everytime she tries to reach high notes. But you have to give it to Suzie, she rocks the crowd.

And the runner-up, Marty Casey, is not good. He is awesome. I won’t be surprised if I hear his Trees on the radio one of these days (wait..I think I got that from Dave Navarro). I wouldn’t forget his renditions of The Killers’ Mr. Brightside and Pink Floyd’s Wish You were Here. I should download those songs soon. He’s so cool, but as what INXS’ Tim Farris said, he’s just not right for them. I remember my sister saying that she’s rooting for Marty because between him and JD, JD’s already acting like a rockstar when he ain’t no rockstar yet. But then my other sister said that the INXS, who are way older than JD can kick his butt if he misbehaves. But then who would hurt a face like JD’s.

But from what I’ve seen from the six rockers that I was able to watch, none of them has got the rockstar attitude. From the way they hug and comfort each other and cheer the performer, I think they’re really cool rockers. When Jordis was eliminated, JD, Marty, Mig and Suzie didn’t even look jubilant, they had long faces.

Seeing and listening to JD and Marty perform with INXS actually made me all giddy. I kept repeating to myself how lucky these two guys are. The INXS guys are all old now, but thankfully they haven’t lost it.

Look who's talking

2005-09-09T01:18:00.000-07:00

News that Catholic bishops have been receiving money from PAGCOR actually made me laugh. I don’t know which one’s more, should I say, laughable: Catholic church cleansing gambling money or Ephraim Genuino giving money to the Church all this time and not bothering to use this during his own days of disgrace.

What do you know? Philippine politics never fail to amuse me. What better time to have such juicy information leak to the media than after Pangasinan Archbishop Cruz’s high-strung jueteng expose. How lovely.

If jueteng money went to Erap and Chavit and allegedly to Mike and Mikey, casino money we understand goes to Cardinal Vidal and Archbishop Capalla. And apparently, there’s a big difference between the two. Politicans bagging money from local gambling lords is plunder and a capital offense while priests accepting money from the gambling behemoth is charity. There’s also an expanse of difference between poor people betting anywhere between P1 and P10 and the rich who win and lose hundreds of thousands. To begin with, the former is illegal while the latter is legal and even government-commissioned.

If indeed there is nothing wrong with receiving gambling money as donation for the poor, howcome Church leaders now claim they no longer receive gifts from PAGCOR since January of 2004. Is it because jueteng lords give even bigger amounts or Mr. Genuino has been using his funds paying P1M a night hotel suites.

The Church has never been this fragmented. On one side you have CBCP statement choosing a truth commission over the President’s resignation and Fr. Robert Reyes on the other side practicing voodoo in the halls of Congress. Now you have Cardinal Vidal saying there’s nothing wrong about receiving money from gambling so long as it goes to the poor and Archbishop Cruz saying the end doesn’t justify the means, it’s supposed to be elementary morality. No wonder Archbishop Cruz has been running a one-man crusade. Above all these there’s Pope Benedict XVI calling Church leaders to steer clear of politics. Please come again?

Hearing and reading about politicians bickering has become so ordinary I no longer take note who says what. But having our pillar of values and guard of morals crumble like this over something like gambling certainly made me fidget.

Money really makes the world go round.

Keep it simple keep it real

2005-08-26T00:12:00.000-07:00

This is something I received through e-mail that I feel should be shared to everyone I know. I haven't actually read or at the very least seen the booklet. All the points look really simple yet these are the very things we tend to overlook most of the time. It made even more sense to me in light of the words of the late Senator Raul Roco: "At 20 I wanted to change the world, At 40 I wanted to change my country, At 60 I just wanted to change myself."

While there are many areas in socio-political development that we feel we should get involved in, I believe it also pays to be conscious of our own actions and in our little way effect change. Just imagine how it will be if everyone in my network (not just friendster) take these simple rules by heart and pass it on to their own networks.

THERE'S a booklet making the rounds in Metro Manila that every Filipino who
loves his country should get hold of and read, and hopefully put the points it
raises into practice, in order to help our nation...
"Twelve (12) Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country," by
Alexander Ledesma Lacson, may be a "voice in the wilderness"; but as Fr. Ruben
Tanseco, S.J. puts it, what Alex proposes are "very concrete, practical and
doable" actions for us ordinary Filipinos. A simple enumeration of these
"twelve little things" will not Do justice to the work of Alex. You've got to
read the whole text, but I shall try to compress a few lines for some of the
items mentioned.
1. Follow traffic rules -- Why is that the most important? The answer is
simple. Traffic rules are the simplest of our laws. If we learn to follow them,
it will be the lowest form of national discipline that we can develop. Since it
is totally without monetary cost, it should be easy for us to comply with, and
therefore should provide a good start.
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
-- If a seller does not issue an official receipt when you buy a product, the
seller may or may not remit the tax to the government. Without an O.R., there is
no record of the sale transaction, and the tax that you paid may not be remitted
to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
3. Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy Filipino. -- It may not be good
economics to buy 100 percent local products. What I suggest is for us to take a
"50-50" buying attitude. This means that we must develop the attitude of using
50 percent of our budget for local products and the other 50 percent for
imported choices.
4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively of our
race and our country -- this is best addressed to the rich and the middle class
in our country, who have contact with the outside world. It is they who talk to,
dine or deal with foreigners either here or abroad. It is what they say and do
which creates impressions about us among foreigners.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, soldier and other public servants
-- There is nothing like the power of respect. It makes a person proud. It makes
one feel honorable. At the same time, courtesy to others is good manners. It is
class and elegance and kindness. It is seeing the value and dignity in the other
man. It is, in fact, a mark of a most profound education.
6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle.
Conserve. -- As Louis Armstrong says in his song: "I see trees of green, red
roses, too, I see them bloom for me and you and I think to myself, what a
wonderful world."
7. Support your church. (or charitable/ civic organizations -- :-)
8. During elections, do your solemn duty. -- Honesty, more than a masteral or
doctorate degree, is what gives credibility. And credibility is essential
because it is a leader's link to the people. It is what makes the people look to
one direction, follow a common vision, and perform a uniform act. In short,
credibility is what makes people follow the leader.
9. Pay your employees well. -- No exercise is better for the human heart than
to reach down and lift someone else up. This truly defines a successful life.
For success is the sum, not of our earthly possessions, but of how many times we
have shown love and kindness to others.
10. Pay your taxes. -- In 2003, P83 billion was collected from individual
income taxes. But 91 percent of this amount came from salaried workers from the
government and private sector, people who had no choice since their income taxes
were withheld mandatorily. Only P7 billion of the P83 billion came from
businessmen and professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants and
architects,among others.
11. Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child. -- You can make a difference in
the future of our country by making a difference in the world of children.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and to love our
country. -- Today's children will someday rule and lead this world. But whether
they will be bad rulers or good leaders will depend largely on how we raise them
today. Our future is in the hearts and minds of our children.

From the House of Pain

2005-08-11T02:35:00.000-07:00

Tagged by Do

1. What are the things you enjoy, even when no one around you wants to go out and play?

Explore. When I visit a new place, I enjoy exploring the place by myself. It’s always fun going around without knowing exactly where you’re headed or how things will turn out. (Note: this seldom happens since I’m such a planning person)
Watch a movie. I haven’t done this though since college. I remember watching The Patriot by myself and crying and consoling myself at the same time.
Run. When you run alone, there’s no one to compete but yourself, which makes it all the more enjoyable. I find it so challenging to run another lap after finishing my standard four laps in our compound in the mornings.
Working out. I know I’m lazy but once I get the groove, I don’t really need a gym buddy.
Research. I remember in college, I felt that I am more efficient going to the different libraries and resource centers by myself. I manage my time more effectively and get what I need fast.
Swim. I just can’t resist the water so it doesn’t matter even if I’m alone.

2. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level?

(in no particular order)

Coffee
Talking about the problem (with Jerv, with my officemate Cecille or with my sisters)
A warm hug
A good laugh
Mental outline of thoughts

I'm tagging Harry, Chad and Kira.

What happens in Boracay...

2005-08-03T00:42:00.000-07:00

..stays in Boracay. At least for my friend Pressia and her Belgian waffle. We spent four days and three nights in this famous tourist destination, burning our skin in the day and wasting the nights away, despite the occasional rain.

Up until the time I was at the airport, I did not know what to expect. My boyfriend was stressing out the entire week freaking out at the idea of two girls spending four days alone in an island famous for its wild parties and hot summer affairs. I thought he was exaggerating but it turned out Boracay can be your temptation island..especially at night.

For an off-peak season, the place sure is packed. We were not able to book at the Regency because it was full but fortunately we were able to get a room at Nigi-nigi. We even got a family suite, a big room with a loft which can accommodate up to 6 people and with nice native interiors, very rustic.

During the day, the island looked just like any other beach. There were children playing along the shore, families eating at the different restaurants, massage services and women lying under the sun. But when night falls, the whole place suddenly transforms into every pubescent boy’s fantasy. As soon as happy hour starts, island girls in skimpy clothes can be seen hanging-out at the local bars befriending the only people I see now who drink pale pilsen, the white men (young or balding). At around 11 to midnight, dancing at the bar starts and island gays, not to be outdone, begin to strut their own stuff. In Boracay, I realized I had to sharpen my gay-dar because it was normal to see women who look like gays, gays who look like women and gays who look totally straight.

While there is a designated dance floor, dancing can take place anywhere, on your seat, on the table or on the bar (I think I was able to do all) or dance with whoever you feel like dancing with. There were white men dancing with brown women, white women dancing with brown men and white men dancing with brown men.

I realized that the best way to enjoy Boracay is when you’re hooked or you want to get hooked. Since I can be classified as neither, I had to amuse myself with the extraordinary sites to see such as couples making-out on the dance floor, black gay dancing to Beyonce and one man or woman (I am still not sure) dancing with a bamboo pole in his/her bra top and white thongs.

What I found most enjoyable in Boracay, is the experience of going out to drink and dance in your shirt and slippers, actually walking home at 4 in the morning and waking up to a glorious sunshine and beautiful beach. Probably because of its tourism-orientation, service in resorts and restaurants was also very remarkable. Just about anything can be found on the island from crepes to Persian food, decadent cake to tequila sunrise, internet cafe to treadmill, which made me wonder how come people call it a get-away or vacation.

It was fun not waking up to the alarm, bumming in the beach for hours and drinking at 5 in the afternoon. But somehow, the entire time, I felt like I left my heart in Manila.

Out of order

2005-07-26T00:39:00.000-07:00

I always say that I enjoyed college and learned everything I needed to know when I was just halfway through it. Some of the best times of my college years were spent with the closest friends I’ve incidentally earned when I joined the debate team and they all graduated before I even reached junior year. Four of them went to different law schools, one was finishing her Intarmed degree and the last, the craziest of them all, pursued her master’s in Germany.

During my freshman year, I was the only person who applied for the debate team from my batch. Being the youngest when I got in, it was not my intention to gain friends from this org and my sole reason for joining is to have a legitimate excuse to travel (clever don’t you think). This is why until now, I am still amazed at how my friendship with my debate mentors and teammates flourished without me noticing it. They made such huge impact in my life that I included them in the acknowledgment part of my thesis.

Despite the different lives we lead now, we make it a point to meet up for dinner at least once a year, most of the time when Pressia, the crazy one, is home. And I enjoy it immensely every time even if we talk about and laugh at the same things every year. I know great friendships were forged because none of us is the least embarrassed when we talk about the weirdos we dated, the misadventures we got ourselves into be it in Malate after debate training or in some hotel lobby in Greece during a tournament and the countless times we f*ck up a debate round. Around these people, I am not ashamed to show how much I know about things nor am I bothered how they will judge me if I tell them my darkest secrets. I don’t know if it’s because of our training as debaters, but their open-mindedness and straightforwardness will either comfort you or shock you.

Last night when we all met up for our annual dinner, it just seemed like it was only yesterday when we were having coffee at Alda’s (the best pizza and pasta place in Ermita) or bashing each other at the AS lobby. To this day, they still look at me as the little one, smiling knowingly when they interrogate my boyfriend and broadcasting my improprieties like we are the only people around. Sometimes I have to remind them that I am no longer seventeen.

I feel really blessed that when I first met them, I didn’t get the condescending eyes freshies usually get from their upperclass men. I am thankful that up to this time, despite the ATTY, DR or MA attached to their names, I need not text twice when I want to see them.

Silver lining

2005-07-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

This morning Inquirer Money reports that the worst is probably over for the Philippine debt. While investors in Philippine debt papers are nervous of the possibility of a wider political turmoil, it was also reported that 4 out of 10 regional traders chose Philippine bonds among major Asian issuers.

The Philippine peso also climbed to a three-week high (P55.60 as of 18 July closing), attributed primarily to the strong inflows from overseas Filipino workers. It was also said that the weekend rally, “Gathering for Peace, Unity through the Rule of Law”, in support of the President also helped lift the peso.

Further, the Inquirer news reported that the latest data brought the balance-of-payment (BOP) to a surplus of $1.981 billion for the first half of the year compared to the $70 million for the same period last year. The BSP (Philippine Central Bank) also forecasts a BOP surplus this year of $852 million compared with a deficit of $280 million last year. Our other numbers are also good with May exports growth of 1.1% year-on-year and January to May exports growth of 4% year-on-year. Foreign portfolio investments, on the other hand, showed an inflow of $1.878 billion from January to July 9 from the $146.3 million for the same period last year.

It must be true that the Philippine economy is indeed resilient. Despite the good beating our economy seems to get from all the political uncertainty our country is faced with, some good news still manage to come our way. We must have been doing something right which may explain why the gods are still on our side.

Shoot me

2005-07-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

If Escudero, Estrada, Pimentel and Binay have nothing better to offer me with their rabid desire to have the presidency vacated, then I can’t just parrot their call for the President to resign. The same goes with Purisima, Dinky, Drilon and yes even to Cory. While I have high regard for these people, I think it is irresponsible that you ask me to join your call when really, no viable alternative (person or system) is in place.

I am not absolving the President in any way. She has committed a grave mistake, a blunder she actually acknowledged. But I believe that plucking her out and merely replacing her with another rotten banana is something I don’t deserve. Every time someone from the opposition speaks, I see vested interest looming in the horizon.

What we have turned into as a nation is not dangerous, it’s terrifying. Just when nations, big and small, are coming together and working out to have a common charter, our country is trapped in this warp zone where the enemy is ourselves. We have officials, elected in fact, who accuse other people of violating the Constitution but who are the first to disregard the Constitution when their own interests are at stake. We are a democracy, where trial by publicity is the norm and adventurism hardly resembles its origin.

I would like to believe that doing what is right is always easy. It should not require too much thinking, justifying, weighing, fighting with oneself. But if you live in a country where choices, good ones at that are scarce to zilch, doing the right thing would often leave you with nothing.

Flabbergasted

2005-07-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

I was particularly aghast by an article I read in the Philippine Star last week. The columnist wrote things she thought were amusing about the Philippine-famous househelp.

The columnist said that maids are a necessary evil. She enumerated how she lives a carefree (more of an irresponsible life I think) life because she has another human being to clean up after her. She can have crispy pata at nine in the evening, throw a party and make a mess and have the place look like nothing happened within 30 minutes and pass the burden of raising children. She also shared how home appliances get broken because of the maids’ ignorance. The entire article, which the columnist says is dedicated to “chimminy aa” (how politically correct), essentially made fun of maids and yayas with true stories to further showcase their ineptness.

The article might actually be funny. There are people who may really find the anecdotes in the article entertaining. And there are some people who won’t. I have to say I am guilty of making fun of other people, models, celebrities, politicians. But there is something about making fun of househelp that disgusts me. I just don’t see it right. The reason might be because I find it unjust to mock people who the society already looks down to. Whether we admit it or not, there is a stigma attached to househelp and making fun of them exacerbates this stigma.

I believe it’s bad enough that we have someone right in our very homes who gets paid to do the dirty things for us. Flaunting it makes it worse.

Level on the inside

2005-06-27T00:15:00.000-07:00

I had my first (and probably last) taste of socialite partying last Friday, 24 June when Preview (magazine) celebrated its tenth year anniversary with a big MODI (modern indigenous) party in Embassy The Fort. My sister works for Summit Media as associate publisher of Cosmopolitan and Preview and she organized the event, which explains how we got into the guest list.

It felt really weird at first. Cameras were flashing left and right and celebrities and models can be seen being interviewed from one corner to the next. For half of the time I just tried to hide how my 3-inch heels were killing me while checking-out the many famous faces I see upclose and pretending not to mind them at all.

But it turned out to be a really great experience, not just for the excellent food and overflowing booze, cool music (percussionists were flown in from Cebu), a lot of dancing but more importantly, the sight and experience of my sister’s hardwork. Everything went perfectly that even her boss Liza Gokongwei was telling people that it was HER party.

You're the man

2005-06-17T03:01:00.000-07:00

Everyday for the past week or so, my mom would ask how things are in Malacañang (this is where I work by the way) and if I have new i.e. insider news. Last weekend at the height of Sammy Ong’s 5 minutes of glory, she said she felt nervous. One night before sleeping I checked the news on TV. I was sleeping in her room at that time for the AC and I know she slept hours before. All of a sudden, she was up and asking me all kinds of questions.

Yesterday I was surprised to get a text from my father. He hasn’t texted in a long while and it’s not that I mind. His text went like this “How can I e-mail GMA? I want to share with her some words of encouragement”. I texted her PGMA’s two addresses and thought that will be the last of it. His next text was “Thanks babe. Can I cc you?”

Just about all my e-groups are swamped with stories about “the tape”. It’s everywhere – in the media, in mp3s, in conversations with cab drivers, in Quiapo, except where it should be in the first place. My classmate in Spanish, Señora Ambajadora, even asked me to relay to my boss what she thinks she should do.

Personally, I don’t think it will lead to anything. Primarily because the only real opposition left is Chiz Escudero and he’s not even ripe yet. I believe that the prime mover of the president’s ouster is no less than the opposition and with Edong, Pimental and Lacson at the helm, I can’t see a full-proof opposition gameplan at the offing. If I were Sammy Ong, I wouldn’t get Rez Cortez as escort, at least for the sake of credibility.

More than this I believe the people are too tired of a regime change, especially if it involves the name Kabayan as alternative. Even the media was surprised that despite the big number of slumdwellers behind the San Carlos seminary, nobody organized whatever form of picket along EDSA. Some people would say that although they despise the president, they see no one worthy of replacing her.

I don’t think we can afford another political disruption. It is just too costly. One of the reasons cited in a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) study why poverty continues to plague this country is the lack of continuity of programs. We have enough credit downgrades and I don’t think we need one more. Regime change in whatever form, legal or extra-constitutional, will not be viable. We don’t even have any evidence admissible in court.

Whatever this is (politicking, mudslinging, conspiracy, circus) I hope it ends soon.

Backtrack

2005-06-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

I think one measure of love that should be seriously looked into is the level of silliness two persons can do together. I think “intimacy and complete trust and understanding” is overrated. If your partner can do just about everything he dreams of and fantasizes about with you then he’ll probably think twice of straying.

Recently, my dates with Jerv are on the, you can say, silly side. Perhaps we’ve been catching up on stuff younger kids do when they’re in a relationship and we figured it’s not too late to feel teeny-bop and inane at times. It’s not something that we planned though. We just felt like doing those things at that time and later on realized that hey, this is so juvenile!

So what have we been up to lately. Around two Fridays ago, we went out for after dinner drinks with Jerv’s officemates at Eastwood. After bottles of cold beer, Jerv and I thought of going to Basement before going home. Basement is actually a club where my boyfriend used to go to score on willing chics (although he wouldn’t admit it). It’s a dark cramped place with loud house/techno music and young half-naked people and where finding a space in the dance floor can be quite a feat. And what do you know? I had a lot of fun! We just danced like there was nobody around us. It was quite liberating if you ask me. It’s just that when we look around, we felt like we’re the oldest people. That’s probably the reason why we danced like crazy and absolutely ignored everyone else. Our dancing had to make up for our office get-up.

The next Saturday we planned on watching Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Jerv suggested that we watch at Shang because I’ve been wanting to try Wham burger. I can’t remember now why we wanted to catch the 1pm screening so last Saturday he picked me up at around 11 in the morning. After finishing 1/3 pound burger each and sharing over one order of French fries, we had sundae cone (also at Wham) while walking towards the cinema. It was during this time that I realized that this was like a date taken-out of Archie comics - eating burgers and ice cream and watching a movie at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. It was like going out on a date in high school.

It was fun doing something different. We somehow got used to having dinners in nice restaurants and going out with my cousins or friends. We were preoccupied as well with a lot of work and other responsibilities which make these dates truly a breath of fresh air. It’s refreshing to know how much we enjoy doing things like dancing and eating ice cream even if it’s just the two of us.

Best feature

2005-05-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

During the fourday workweek the government has adopted as energy conservation measure, I am out of the house before 7 in the morning. In these past two months, I travel to work with a blank stare without any care to the world. There was even a time when I was caught between a brutal tongue-lashing of a Muslim couple in my jeepney (public transport) ride to where the office shuttle picks me up, not actually minding if they decide to kill each other right there and then.

Given this rather somnambulant state, it was too late when I discovered I didn’t have loose change for my jeep fare this morning. The smallest I had was a hundred bucks and it was too late to retreat. There was only one other person in the jeep, a pregnant young woman, and so I asked the driver whether he has change for my money this early in the day while handing the 100 bill to him. He took my money then asked whether I had some change (which obviously I didn’t have) and where I will get down. This went on for a few minutes until the pregnant lady took coins out of her purse and actually paid for my own fare. I was protesting the whole time saying it wasn’t necessary and all I got from her was a smile.

I felt really embarrassed. Here I am, in my early morning apathetic self, unable to pay for my own fare and allowed a lady who will soon face responsibilities I know I can’t at this time to give me a free ride. But at the same time, I was elated at this random act of kindness I was privileged to experience. It perked me up more than the mug of coffee I had when I woke up. I was deeply touched and it made me feel like I have to do something to pay it forward. I even thought of getting her number to pay her back some time soon. But I decided against that worrying that she might think not only am I penniless, I’m also sick in the head.

It was even more amazing that she looked like she did the most ordinary thing in the world. I was thanking her profusely and she was just smiling all the time, not exactly basking on the glory of preventing a girl from being thrown out of a moving vehicle.

It was just P5.50 but it IS P5.50. If not for her my day would have been all screwed up because I wouldn’t have made it to the office on time. I would have to walk all the way back to the house because for sure, no store would have change for P100 before 7 in the morning. And because of this, as certain as the sunrise, I’ll be cranky as hell for getting tired so early in the day and for my stupidity that I could have avoided. And she saved me from all this. What an angel.

Losing it

2005-05-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

I’d like to give a rundown of what I enjoyed eating the past weeks. I know, food again, but food is the only thing now that keeps my mind off work. And I have to admit, work is driving me crazy these past days and I don’t want to write about that and I think it’s enough that I’ve been yakking about it to my boyfriend, co-workers and yes even to my mom. To calm my nerves allow me to give you this virtual treat.

In celebration of her birthday, Ms. Berns Romulo (who I found out has discovered my blog, hi Ms. Berns!) brought to the office chap chai, spring rolls and ceasar’s salad bites. The chap chai, the Korean glass noodles with shitake mushrooms, sesame seeds and other veggies was filling but not too heavy. The ceasar’s salad bites are like small bread bowls topped with perfectly dressed salad. For dessert we had white chocolate cake and refrigerator cake. What is impressive about all this is that everything was prepared by just one person and no, it wasn’t Ms. Berns (hehe). Whoever she is, I think she’s a real domestic goddess.

When the town fiesta was celebrated in Sta. Ana last May 12, my mom prepared a Chinese Feast. We had yang chow, shanghai, pata tim, hainanese chicken and beef hofan. For dessert my mom made black almond jelly with lychee.

After enjoying hours at the spa last May 14 with my sisters and cousins (my cousin in law Kaye thanked us with gift certificates for stressing us all for her wedding), we had a late dinner at Queens along Jupiter. Queens serves authentic Indian cuisine. Everything was great. The mutton curry was tender and the sauce can be viand all by itself. We especially enjoyed the papadam, it’s like tortilla, with the pickled onions. The seafood goreng (rice) was also very satisfying.

Last Friday, I had dinner at Bellini’s with my favorite people (read: sisters, cousins, boyfriend). I’m beginning to love all their pizza but quattro formaggio still tops my list. It is the place to go for thin-crust pizza and heavenly Italian desserts. The orange cake is a must-try as well as the spinach ravioli and ozo bucco. The first time I went there I didn’t enjoy the risotto that much but I later learned that that is how risotto should be, al dente. Bellini’s is certainly Cubao’s best-kept secret.

Between these, I also managed to visit the trade show at the World Trade Center. I love going to food expos, I think this is pretty clear by now.

Don Juan's centenary

2005-05-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

Last year, upon realizing that my lolo daddy (maternal grandfather) is turning 100 this year, my mom and her sisters got all excited and decided that they should host a party. His birthday is May 3 and the menu was planned as early as February. There will be salad with vinaigrette or ceasar’s dressing, bouillabaisse, bihon, baked macaroni, guiso, baked chicken, beef with broccoli and lechon. Dessert will be fresh fruits and pastries my cousin bakes. My aunts who were based abroad and who were here just last Christmas are coming home again in time for the celebration on May 7.

They had a hard time coming up with a guest list because naturally, lolo daddy didn’t have much friends left. Originally they wanted to have shirts made for all of us to wear. Fortunately, it didn’t push thru but all seven of them wore the same shirt in different colors. My cousin also planned to come up with a presentation of the best and worst pictures of all the grandchildren. Fortunately again, it didn’t push thru. Since no waiters will be available for the party, my mom (the family’s culinary expert) assigned us, the children, to man the buffet.

Guests came as early as 5pm and the microphone was never free since 6pm. After the party we were full and exhausted and my cousin (my mom’s godchild and successor) estimated that based on the softdrinks consumed and utensils used, there were around 250 people fed, ourselves included.

For sure, lolo daddy would have been happy if he was around.

The time stated in the invitation is actually 5pm. Don’t ask me why.

On the salad bar but sweating like a pig. The guy on the right is not a waiter, it’s my brother in his CCA uniform.

Waiting for the pay…which never came.

Poor ate val.

Auntie Epang, the long-time yaya of the daughters of Don Juan. Dont' fret, she's retired.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

It's about time

2005-05-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

My fearless take is that firms can increase the minimum wage at a higher amount. Last Labor Day, the President directed the regional wage boards to meet and make the necessary adjustments in wages. In the Philippines, the minimum wage is determined and fixed by a regional wage board composed of representatives from government, business and labor. And so the President is sort of hands-off.

The call for increase in minimum wage can not be announced in a better time given the rocket-speed increase in the prices of oil and the resulting rise in inflation rate. With the approval of VAT increase just around the corner, we’re sure to lose our hard-earned peso faster than we can say “whew!” at the end of the day.

NEDA (the economic planning team) released a simulation study which shows the increase in inflation and unemployment rates and decrease in GDP growth for an increase in wage of P30, P78 and P125 (these are the petitioned increases). Of course all showed inflation, unemployment and growth rates this country can not afford given the inflation, unemployment and growth rates we currently have. Per NEDA also, for as long as the increase in wage as percent of the current minimum wage is more than the inflation rate, it is not safe. Given the 8% inflation rate now, even the P30 (10% of minimum wage) is not safe.

Employers, as expected, argue that wage increase is bad for business. It will force some firms to close or retrench and it is inflationary. First, data show that only 0.2% of firms that folded cite increase in wages as reason. Most cite organizational and financial difficulty. Second, 91% of establishments are micro-enterprises with less than 10 employees making them exempted from paying minimum wage. Third, minimum wage earners is some 10% of the total number of employed persons and labor cost is just 11% of the entire production cost. That can’t be inflationary.

This point I got from my mom, what is inflationary are the eye-popping consultancy fees and managerial packages businesses give.

Hopefully, the regional wage boards will be guided by their conscience.

Weak heart

2005-04-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

My Level 1 Spanish ended last Wednesday and was marked by our final written and oral exams. The last class meeting before that was last Monday and during that time we had the course and faculty evaluation.

During the evaluation, where naturally our professor was asked to leave the room, I found out that some of my classmates actually disliked Señor. And by dislike I mean they wanted him out. In their evaluation sheets they actually recommended to replace the teacher. All the while I was feeling exceptionally lucky that we have a really good professor. Little did I know that my classmates actually hated him.

To make things clearer I have to say that our teacher gets easily irritated or annoyed during recitations especially when you miss out on some basic words. He tends to shout and make a student feel really uncomfortable in front of the entire class. My classmates also say that the teacher is not very considerate and demands so much from his students, given that we’re just in level 1.

I have to say I don’t get intimidated at all. I believe I’ve come across teachers who are far better in humiliating students and Señor is pretty manageable. This is because he is good in what he does. I am not saying that people who know better have the right to frown on other people’s weaknesses. What I’m saying is if a person takes his craft seriously, you can’t blame him to feel upset if he gets disappointing results. And I can’t tell my classmates that this is what happens. I have to say that sometimes they do make really stupid mistakes. I myself get impatient. Plus I like his method. He teaches more than what he gives in the exams. And he never runs out of praises where praise is due. He’s appreciative as much as he’s critical.

Further as adults, I don’t think petty stuff like bad temper or one hot seat moment should get the better of us. So what if you looked stupid in class, your classmates don’t know any better. This kind of attitude is very personalistic and one of the Filipino traits I hate. It’s just a language class, no need to get emotional or vindictive.

My classmate who was most vocal about his dislike for Señor, by the way, copied my entire homework which was some sort of review for the final exams. Hmmm…I wonder why he complains so much.

People are People

2005-04-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the four-day workweek and the wonders of technology, I was able to witness a royal wedding in London and a funeral in Vatican. John Paul II’s requiem Mass was held last Friday, April 8 and Prince Charles’s take two at marriage took place last Saturday, April 9.

The beauty and culmination of the papacy of John Paul II was at its best during the funeral mass. The Mass was beautiful and moving despite its being said in Italian and lasting for almost three hours. What the Pope has done in life, he has surpassed in death. What the Catholic Church has been preaching for centuries has never been clearly spoken until the final rites for the Pope, that Christ is for everyone and the fellowship of the Church is universal and need not be defined by belief or faith. St. Peter’s Square was a sight to behold. World leaders sitting side by side: the US’ GW Bush with France’s Chirac, Arab leaders, Catholics, Kofi Annan. The ceremony was witnessed not only by the one billion Catholics around the world but by other faiths as well. It was carried by Al-jazeera and was shown in Pakistan, Chile and South Korea. It was a farewell fit for a man whose greatest achievement is bringing the world together ironically, in his death when he has spent his lifetime tearing down communist walls, advocating freedom from foreign debt, promoting inter-faith dialogues and bridging the north and south divide. The flock has lost its shepherd, the man most seen in flesh more than any other person in history. The line “chosen by God” has never been truer.

Camilla Parker-Bowles is officially a legitimate member of the House of Windsor. Finally. It was nothing compared to Lady Di’s fairy tale wedding in Westminster in 1981. But its charm stems from the fact that this was a union nobody thought would be possible. It is after all, the end of an era. It closes more than 30 years of mad paparazzi chase and fascinating and oftentimes harsh speculation and rumor mills about what probably is the biggest scandal that a Queen, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, had to face. There was no white carriage or young and charming prince, but it sure is Camilla’s fairy tale come true.

Un-holy week

2005-03-28T22:50:00.000-08:00

One of the things I am most grateful for is having the best set of close kin. My mom and her six sisters continue to share great love and respect for one another. And I guess we, the children, inherited all that. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing. We just enjoy being with each other.

The following are pictures with my sibs and best cuzzes. We spent the holy week in Agoo (where else?) and had the grandest time. Profane as it may be, holy week is one of the best times for us to drink and be merry.

Soul Café in Rosario is about two towns away from Agoo. It reminds me of Sonya’s.

Agoo Basilica. One of the town’s treasures (aside from us hehe).

This is probably my greatest sacrifice during Lent, the Good Friday procession.

My Auntie Jo went to Dangwa (from La Union) on Holy Wed just to get these anthuriums.

The local bar is actually open on Good Friday.

Orig’s special guest: Mr. Cuervo

Too lazy to go to the beach or Baguio.

Grilled lambchops and sausages. You have to understand. This was the day after Good Friday.

The only Mocha Blends I’ve gone to, San Fernando, La Union.

Ya esta.

La pequeña demoña Niña Victoria

2005-03-14T22:39:00.000-08:00

Esta es mi hermana bebe. Se llama Niña Victoria. Tiene nueve años. Es muy inteligente pero muy traviesa. Quiere leer libros acerca de monstruos, dragons, fantasia y ciencia. Sus favoritos son How to Train your Dragon, The Wizard of Oz, y Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Tambien lee comico como Monster Allergy y W.I.T.C.H.

Mi hermana es como un niño. Juega a insecto, videojuego y dinosaurio. Algunasa veces, juega a canica y espada tambien. Es gordita y come mucho. Tiene hambre todos tiempos. Quiere pasta como yo, dumpling, pollo con curry y claro que si bombon.

Le gusta ver la television. Vee cartoon todos los dias, especialmente ahora esta vacaciones. Normalmente, dibuja o escribe o experimente durante de vee la television. Ella es nunca ociosa.

Niña es estudiante excelente. Sus grados en clase son sobresaliente. Se jacta siempre. Esta bien en matematicas y ciencia pero esta mal en P.E. Es bueno estudiante pero perezosa. Quiere ser una cirujana para cerebro o quimica.

Le quiero mucho mucho.

This is my baby sister. Her name is Niña Victoria. She is nine years old. She is very intelligent but very naughty. She loves reading books about monsters, dragons, fantasies and science. Her favorites are How to Train your Dragon, The Wizard of Oz and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Also, she reads comicbooks like Monster Allergy and W.I.T.C.H.

My sister is like a boy. She plays with insects, videogames and dinosaurs. Sometimes, she plays with marbles and swords too. She is chubby and eats a lot. She is hungry all the time. She loves pasta like me, dumpling, chicken curry and of course chocolate.

She likes watching television. She watches cartoons everyday, especially now it’s vacation. Usually, she draws or writes or experiments while watching tv. She is never idle.

Niña is an excellent student. Her grades in class are outstanding. She always brags about it. She is good in math and science but poor in P.E. She is a good student but lazy. She wants to be a brain surgeon or chemist.

I love her very much.

Here in the land of the many

2005-03-06T22:04:00.000-08:00

No Philippine President has presented this country with a clear and strong population policy. Despite the unacceptable population growth rate of 2.36%, a population of 80 million, and an economic growth of 4-5%, the country’s leaders have remained vague and ambiguous on what must be done to curb population growth. With the population issue comes not just having too many mouths to feed but women’s reproductive health as well, which has been equally neglected because of the absence of a population management policy.

The professors from the UP School of Economics through the paper, “Population and Poverty: The Real Score”, argue that although bad governance, high wealth and income inequality, and weak economic growth are the main causes of poverty, rapid population growth and high fertility rates, especially among the poor, do exacerbate poverty and make it harder for the government to address it. The paper prescribed for the national government to take the lead and for the Church to take a more tolerant and humane position.

Efforts to introduce and institutionalize population program such as Rep. Edcel Lagman’s Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act (HB 3773) or Health Secretary Dayrit’s “Ligtas Buntis” program should be welcomed or at the very least, invite a healthy discourse. I’m not very familiar with the provisions of the proposed bill but I know it does include information campaign, both natural and artificial forms of family planning and does not promote abortion, contrary to what Church leaders claim. Due to rising opposition to the enactment of the bill, courtesy of the Church, Rep. Lagman invited the Church leaders to engage in a live debate on national TV to once and for all clear out misconceptions and give the people the explanation they deserve.

To which Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles replied, “We do not accept a ‘kanto boy’ (street thug) challenge like that”. Further he said that, “It’s not appropriate that we face him, we’re not equals”. These statements from an Archbishop can disgust and make devout Catholics doubt their faith more than any Dan Brown novel can. Whatever the archbishop meant of his statement only he can tell but it sure didn’t sound archbishop-ly at all, much less, Christian-like.

Kursad Kahramanoglu, the secretary-general of the International Gay and Lesbian Association, or better-known as the Pink Pope, once said that the Philippines is probably the most Catholic country in the world. We are even more Catholic than Italy, the Catholic seat of power and most of the countries in South America. We are very conservative that although the Constitution provides for the separation of Church and state, the Church plays a very big role in shaping public behavior, policies and laws. We even attribute the success of the people power to the Church.

The population issue is probably the best example of the Church’s influence on public policy. No President has dared to openly promote artificial methods of family planning lest they earn the ire of the Church. The Church vehemently claims that the poverty of the Filipinos is not because of their number but because of unabated graft and corruption.

Not so, according to Walden Bello’s “The Anti-development State: The Political Economy of Permanent Crisis in the Philippines”. The assumption that poverty is caused by corruption is “conceptually and empirically flawed”. S. Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have governments as corrupt as ours yet they have more stable economies and greater incomes.

When my cousin attended a required Church seminar for his wedding, the catechist told them that the sperm and egg cell meet at the ovary. I also saw on TV that a couple who has nine children gave up three for adoption because they can no longer support them. If the Church hierarchy will continue to condemn population management as a sin, Filipinos will remain misinformed and disempowered.

Look ma, no hands

2005-02-24T00:43:00.000-08:00

Jerv and I celebrated our first year together by doing what we love doing most: eating. We were choosing between Kyo and Twist of Mingoy’s in Eastwood but since Mingoy’s had their buffet set-up outside the restaurant for everyone to see and smell, the paella and the oysters got the better of me. For the sushi-lovers, the eat-all-you-can at Kyo is also worth it so the next time you’re at Eastwood I strongly recommend you give it a try. After stuffing ourselves with oysters, seafood salad, paella, roast calf, spareribs, callos, chicken fajitas, panacotta, banana strudels and caramel pudding (oh yes I can eat this much), Jerv bought a bottle of sangria and we finished it under the stars. Yeah..you can say I am taking my Spanish lessons way too seriously.

Time truly flies fast when you’re having a ball and I still can’t believe that I am attached, something I never imagined myself going into before. I’d like to share these bits of wisdom from Sex and the City because I think they best encapsulate what I have learned when it comes to relationships thus far, mine or otherwise. Being with Jerv has actually made a lot of things clearer.

Inspiring quotes from Sex and the City...

1. If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.
2. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
3. If you have ANY doubt in your mind about a man's character, leave him alone.
4. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
5. Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be.
6. Don't force an attraction.
7. Slower is better.
8. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.
9. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no you can't "be friends." A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.
10. Have faith in God regarding your relationship, but don't let faith make you stupid. God does things decent and in order.
11. Don't settle.
12. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.
13. If he keeps changing his mind about the relationship--take that as a BIG sign that he is unstable. Do you really want to be with a man like that?
14. Don't stay because you think "it will get better." You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.
15. Honorable men take care of their business and aren't involved in a whole lot of mess.
16. The only person you can control in a relationship is you.
17. There's only one 'reason' a man dumps you; he doesn't want you.
18. Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?
19. You really do have to kiss a few frogs before finding the prince.
20. Always put yourself and your happiness first.
21. Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
22. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up.
23. If he doesn't call, he just isn't that interested.
24. Be honest and upfront.
25. Know when to cut the cord, don't be strung along.
26. Don't fall for the "I'm confused role". Remove yourself from the situation to let him figure things out (but don't wait for him, move on).
27. If you want to have a clue as to how he will treat you, watch how he treats the WOMEN in his family (not just mom).
28. There's more than physical abuse, there's emotional and mental abuse. If he causes any of them...flee.
29. You cannot change a man's behaviors. Change comes from within.
30. Don't let him place rules on you that he is not willing to follow himself -- double-standard.
31. Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...even if he has more education or in a better job.
32. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less.
33. Demand respect and if he can't give it, he can't have you!
34. Don't compete with other woman, but be aware that men are attracted to what they see.
35. If you think he is cheating, he probably is. Confront him right away and if you feel he's lying, let him go.
36. Actions speak louder than words.
37. Never let a man define who you are.
38. Never rely on a man for compliments, look to yourself for that.
39. Never borrow someone else's man.
40. If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.
41. Just because he says he loves you, doesn't mean that he won't hurt you and it doesn't mean that you are meant to be w! ith him.
42. To use painful hard-won wisdom -- 'get it right' the next time.
43. Know that you deserve to be the number one person in the life of the #1person in your life.
44. Love is a verb ...
45. Learn to give up your lifelong task of trying to make someone unavailable - available, someone ungiving - giving, and someone unloving - loving.
46. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.
47. All men are NOT dogs.
48. You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is a two way street.
49. If you don't love yourself...you can't love anyone else.
50. You cannot mend someone else's broken heart.
51. You need time to heal between relationships...there is nothing cute about baggage...deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.
52. You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complementary...not supplementary.
53. Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.
54. NEVER give more in a relationship than you are getting out of it.
55. Never become your man's "therapist".
56. When actions and words conflict, believe the actions. Respond to the actions.
57. A real healthy relationship requires two people. One person can end it - but it takes two to make it work.
58. Don't fall for the "I'm not the loving type"...when a man loves you there is nothing in this world (within reason) that he wouldn't do for you.
59. Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him he takes it for granted.
60. Give him his space...let him go out with his boys, don't pressure him to spend time with you, you can’t force a man to hang out with you.
61. If you wouldn't allow your daughter to be with him you shouldn't.
62. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.
63. Never move into his mother's house.
64. Provide financially for yourself and don't depend on anyone.
65. Never co-sign for a man.
66. Never believe you have the perfect guy and he is so innocent.
67. Never spoil your man; let him spoil you.
68. Never let a man mess up your credit.
69. When it's time to let go; let go.
70. Good men should be treated like good men.
71. Don't play games.
72. Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.
73. Keep him in your radar but get to know others.
74. Compatibility in terms of educational attainment, values, beliefs, personal and career goals, and socioeconomic status, are important.
75. Never date a guy who wears colored contacts.

Tired of hollywood

2005-02-18T01:42:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I saw two films, A Very Long Engagement and My Sassy Girl. I watched the French film at Greenbelt 3 with Jerv and I saw the Korean one with my sisters on dvd.

I am not a very big fan of romance flicks. Watching a movie now in a movie house is so expensive and thus I make it a point to watch something really good, one that will make me think, and not some sappy film. I watched A Very Long Engagement on the premise that it is a war movie. And what can I say, I loved it and yes, moreso the love story. It’s the first time in a long while that I liked a movie this much and I liked it better than Amelie, which also starred Audrey Tautou.

A Very Long Engagement is a story of hope and faith set in the background of World War I. Long after the war ended, Mathilde (Audrey Tautou), a polio-stricken girl, continues to believe that she hasn’t lost her fiancé Manech, a war soldier who was court-martialed and sentenced to die. As the search progresses, one can’t help but feel Mathilde’s excitement and despair, agitation and anticipation. Everyone in the movie believes that she is wasting her time. She even found her fiance’s tomb. The movie reminded me so much of the famous line from Paolo Coelho’s The Alchemist which goes like if you want something so bad, the whole world will conspire for you to get it. The ensemble of actors was good and the production and costumes even better. Even if A Very Long Engagement is a period movie, it is not too heavy and the prominence of whimsical and quirky scenes will not disappoint Audrey Tautou fans.

My officemate Peter has been obsessing about My Sassy Girl and has been pestering me to watch it since the time he knew a dvd of it has been accumulating dust at home. My brod Harry also recommended that I watch it and so I finally did last Sunday, the first Sunday in months that I stayed home. Again, after watching another great foreign film, I wondered why we can’t make movies like that. The story is really simple but the execution is funny and poignant at the same time plus the actors didn’t mind looking silly. It shows none of those supposed-to-be-wealthy-overly-dressed adolescents that is the trademark of every teeny-bopper Filipino film. The story of My Sassy Girl even revolved around the subway. The movie is truly endearing that until now I can still playback its soundtrack in my mind. It is a boy-meets-tough girl-they-fall-in-love story but the lines and the character build-up are extraordinary and the ending is a pleasant twist. I loved it.

So much for not liking sappy films…

To infinity and beyond

2005-02-11T01:26:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, my mom threw a despedida party for Kaye, the newest member of our family. She married my cousin just last December. She works as a nurse in L.A. I call it the Axis Powers party because we feasted on sushi for cocktails, pasta, german deli, sauerkraut and baked salmon. After this despedida, I went to Trish’s despedida in New Manila. Trish is one of my best friends from high school and she’s going to work in Singapore for HP. Our other friend, Leo, was not around during the despedida because she’s now in either Sicily or Dubai (I really can’t tell) doing shows for Bayanihan.

I’m just pleased to know how far these girls have gone. I’ve known them for almost all my life and I’m hell proud of the women they have become. There is just too much opportunity going around and it’s crazy to let these things pass.

I believe this is what being young is all about. One shouldn’t measure his or her youth in the amount of alcohol one has taken in (and out) or the number of relationships you got yourself involved in, but by what you have substantially accomplished or the places you have reached because of work or study. In this day and age of increased interdependence, where opportunities spring from Manila to Toronto, we should exploit every chance towards personal development and career growth, even if it means leaving our comfort zone.

I think this is where the risk-taker and adventurous attitude should be maximized and not in dragracing or in casual sex. I don’t mean to be self-righteous nor preachy. I’m just giving a reality check on how our generation has been using the liberties we asked for and the responsibilities that come with it. Are we measuring up to those who came before us? Are we worth all the gadgets we buy and all the conveniences we have? Because essentially, living now is practically just a push of a button and whether or not this luxury has made us a better breed is still sketchy.

And this is why I celebrate small successes like being able to work abroad, especially when you have been sheltered all your life, and knowing or losing yourself in the process. For as long as they give something back to the country and continue their civil duties, I salute men and women who leave for greener pastures.

El entiende

2005-02-10T01:12:00.000-08:00

I was neckdeep in work the past two weeks that I was unable to write anything about my birthday.

Petite and I decided to celebrate our birthday with the family by ordering to-go from Banana Leaf Curry House and Wok Inn. We had char kwai teow, spicy clams, buttered chicken, stuffed squid, oysters in oyster sauce and wok inn famous sipa. My sister’s boyfriend Dondon brought sans rival from Icings, called Melting Moments. I was hesitant to include the name of the cake in this entry but I also felt the urge to show how ridiculously the sans rival was named. Try it though because it’s really good.

I also ordered lasagna and shanghai from Mark’s mom for the office blow-out and among my guests were Berna Romulo-Puyat and Anna Larucea (haha I know they’re both out of circulation..i just wanted to give my office party star quality, thanks to Director Cui). The following Saturday, I had dinner with Jerv at Casa Armas at Podium.

I received gifts from my sisters, cousins, aunts, officemates and from Jerv. I got pieces of jewelry, bag, shoes, blouse, South Spa GC, cake, two dozens of roses, etc. But among these, the best gift was my Tuesday gift. I call it the Tuesday gift because Jerv gave me something for each day of my birthday week and this was the gift he gave on Tuesday, the eve of my birthday. The Tuesday gift was a powerpoint presentation of 23 things about me. It was supposed to be a scrapbook of some sort, only it was digital. I think he was inspired by the scrapbooks my cousin, Ate Jan, makes.

I was very touched by the gift he made and very proud of how my boyfriend perceives me. Good thing there was a lot of pictures available in the office network that he was able to use pictures of me in action (read: Bubbles singing in office videoke parties, Bubbles sorting donations for landslide victims, Bubbles cheering, Bubbles in “maangas” look in one roundtable meeting, etc. etc.) He also has pictures of me in college, pictures of me with my family (which I think he got from my e-groups with my cousins) and a baby picture of me. If only I can show it here.

I loved this gift above all because it showed me how far and deep my boyfriend already knows me. It’s good to know how your boyfriend or girlfriend sees you and I can say that Jerv knows me as much as I know myself. I learned that the things he values about me, all 23 of them, are the same things I actually value. And ultimately, I believe that it takes someone like him, a person who truly and unconditionally cares about me, to be able to execute something as grand and jaw-dropping as that.

It was pure bliss viewing myself on the monitor from the point of view of Jerv..just pure bliss.

So far so good

2005-01-25T01:49:00.000-08:00

Around a year ago or so, I got a list of things one should have accomplished before they reach the age of 30 in one of my e-groups. I thought it was a good list and reasonable enough and so I decided to save a copy of it. Every now and then I check it to make sure that I somehow follow what the list suggests.

As I am turning 23 tomorrow, I would like to document how well I am doing based on the list. The list actually is very basic and should not be very difficult to comply with. I know 23 is pretty far from 30 but then I hope to be able to add to this list other things I should have accomplished in 7 years like owning a house and holding an elective office (now this one’s too far-off hehe). Here goes…

TRAVEL. I’ve gone to a few places in the globe before the age of 20. Now, with no debate tournament as excuse, the only place I frequent is the beach. There is truly a bigger world out there. Just strolling within the halls of Westminster Abbey, eating at Petronas or plainly trudging the snow-covered streets of Glasgow in -8 degrees and not necessarily shopping for anything gave me the experience of a lifetime. But the trip that made the greatest impact on my beliefs and priorities was my trip to the mountains of Nueva Vizcaya and agricultural communities in Isabela, where I think I spent the worst and best 5 weeks of my life living among the Ifugaos and farmers.

BUY LIFE INSURANCE. I recently started paying for my quarterly premium for quite an ambitious plan and it’s quite a pain in the a*s. I’m hoping to get used to it soon.

GET FIT. I am a big eater and I used to say that the doctor will tell you not to eat this and not to eat that by the time you’re 30 so you might as well enjoy eating everything now. Just last year I had two uncles who died abruptly and one of them is FPJ. Joke. Anyway, it’s quite scary to know that even Da king was not spared from such a sudden death and so I thought that this early, one should lead a healthy lifestyle in order to avoid these kinds of drama. I’m proud to say that I’ve minimized my alcohol and nicotine intake by as much as 90% in one year.

SAVE OR INVEST MONEY. Saving is not much of a problem to me. I have another account where I keep my savings, although I must say it’s not too much. Investing…I still have to learn.

LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE OR GET ANOTHER DEGREE. I am now learning Spanish from a very good teacher for free. The Foreign Service Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs opened their language courses, which was exclusively for the foreign service officers, to other agencies and fortunately I passed the language aptitude exam and interview. The other degree? I’ll get it soon.

LIVE ON YOUR OWN. Although I still live with my family, I get to taste the life where you pay your own bills and worry about what home repairs need to get done because I and my sisters share the household expenses with my mom. I am not so keen on living by myself. It is not because I can not manage because I can cook and clean my own mess. What I don’t like about living alone is going home to an empty house. You see I live for dinner discussions with my family, coffee conversations with my mom and late night tribal councils with my sisters.

EXORCISE YOUR GHOST. Eversince, I know that whatever I am or will be is nobody’s fault but mine. I grew up not having a father and I couldn’t care less. Because really, I don’t think I’m less of a person without him around. I even believe that being raised by a single parent is one of the best things that happened to me because I was pushed to become self-reliant and goal-oriented. When you’re twenty-something and you still blame your parents who split up for your own shortcomings, I think you should have yourself checked.

So there..a little progress report of where I am now. I hope to be able to do this much more regularly with more goals to pursue next time.

Happy 23rd to me!

This little pig had roast beef

2005-01-13T23:31:00.000-08:00

If there’s one person in the world who I admire for sheer audacity, it’s Erap Estrada. Since the time I was old enough to know about his unparalleled political (and extra-marital) conquests, the man has always left me wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Actually, I’m not sure if it’s Erap or the Filipino electorate I should credit for such amusement.

Just when we thought the highschool drop-out-turned-actor-turned-politician plot is all that makes the news, we all fell off our seats right smack our faces. In less than three years in office, the people’s president was able to rob this country dry, more than enough to support his several families and sustain his dangerous liaisons. In Mareng Winnie’s words, Erap’s havoc can be summarized as, “a ruthless and jobless economy”. During his short-lived presidency, we were astounded by news of his infidelity, mansions, corruption and innumerable unpresidential ways everyday.

Why am I bringing this all up. It’s because there are new erap-tions that made me cringe in utter disbelief, again. First, that he was allowed by the Sandiganbayan to have his knee replaced in Hongkong after he was allowed to attend FPJ’s necrological service. Amazing. Second, that he stayed in Parkview luxury apartment overnight and even hosted a dinner for his former Cabinet members and their wives. Last and definitely not the least, that he had his barber flown in to Hongkong business-class. If you recall GMA’s stylist, Tita Gener, was also part of the official entourage during her visit to China and Brunei and now Erap’s barber flew business-class to HK. I swear.. I can feel a capital L being etched on my forehead.

And when asked to comment how did Erap answer all these? Drum-roll please.. “Bakit? Anong masama don?” “My hair is now long and I can’t face my guests with that look”. Can somebody please tell the man he’s under arrest. The resident clown of the 2004 Board of Canvassers aka Cong. Dilangalen said that Erap just wants to get fresh air. Can somebody please send Digs to the city jail.

This is like allowing your grounded kid to use the phone and he decides to throw a party while you’re away. I think I’ll definitely be insane if and when I begin to decipher the mind of Erap Estrada.

Bright lights ahead

2005-01-09T23:46:00.000-08:00

Since Brad and Jennifer Pitt decided to retire as hollywood's A-list couple, I think this world needs a new powercouple..

in true paparazzi form...

The ultimate december

2005-01-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

It has been the best holiday season by far. And certainly the busiest. Relatives from abroad arrived for my cousin's wedding and for a reunion in Pagudpud. As soon as December started, my mother’s kitchen has been working non-stop for nightly dinners. I somehow got used going home to a family of at least 30 instead of 7. I haven’t gone to a single Christmas party because all December nights were spent with the noisiest bunch of relatives with the biggest appetite.

I certainly wouldn’t trade any of these for more hours of sleep…

Typical December dinner

My cousin, the groom, surprised her with "The Way You Look Tonight" during the reception

Mi familia

Dancing Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" for their first dance. Hilarious!

Exchange gift in La Union

The coconut tree at the back was used for the Wow Pagudpud promo posters

My niece Ariana, my twin Petite and the beautiful beach of Pagudpud.

Marcos museum in Batac

New Year's Eve party, Manila (with mom's blockbuster paella)

Kyan's girl

2004-12-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

I’ve been into some extraordinary things lately, extraordinary by my standards at least. I have a cousin who is getting married on the 17th to his girlfriend of 10 years. In preparation for my bride’s maid duties, I decided to put-off some weight and grow my hair long, things I haven’t done in years. You see, I love eating. I believe it is one of life’s greatest pleasures. And with “I love eating” I mean “I LOVE EATING”. I want my food good and plenty with all the unwanted fat, oil and calories. On the other hand, I have always kept my hair short. It’s just more manageable and gave me the feeling of being different from the rest of the girls (because it made me look like a boy hehe). I remember there was even a time in college when my hair was shorter than most of my fraternity brods’.

And so with the perseverance and determination of an athlete, I modified my food intake, jogged and went to the gym and went to David’s for just about four times since late last year. Just when I thought losing weight and growing my hair long are big enough sacrifices, things just got a little more complicated and thus I had to do these extraordinary things:

Threading. During Kaye’s (the bride) trial make-up last week, the make-up artist ordered me to have my eyebrows fixed. I have virgin eyebrows, never been shaved, never been plucked. He said his assistant can thread my eyebrows for P150. He also said that it may hurt a little. I hesitated for some time but after thinking the number of times I’ve undergone hospital procedures, I thought it can’t be any more painful than that. But just like any first-time experience, it hurt like hell. I can’t believe I paid P150 to have myself tortured like that. It felt as if the intertwined threads were searing through my skin. Good thing it was done at home. I was able to protest whenever I could. Good thing #2 my eyebrows came out beautifully after that rather painful experience.

Protein Treatment. The stylist also said that he doesn’t want the bride’s maids’ hair all fixed in a do. He said he will just let our hair down to give us a young fresh look. Because of that I and my twinsister, Petite, decided we should do something about our hair since it was all dry. All the while I thought my hair’s going to be tied up so there is no need to make it look good and shiny. Besides, the only thing I do in the parlor is have my hair cut by Robert, my most trusted barbero. And so last Saturday, I had my very first hair treatment at David’s Jupiter. The girls there said that the effect of protein treatment lasts longer than hot oil so we decided on protein treatment. After I had my hair trimmed and treated, I said to myself it looked and felt fabulous. The morning after, I cringe everytime I remember I spent P900 on my hair.

Visit to the Spa. For the bridal shower, my sisters and my cousins decided to get ourselves a massage instead of going to a gay bar or hiring a stripper. At first I thought that it’s too bad because it would have been the rarest occasion that I would get to be in a gay bar. That’s one thing I couldn’t ask my boyfriend to do with me. But then, I love massages. The first time I went to Sonya’s Garden I had their foot and scalp massage. I also don’t mind waiting at David’s because they give back massages whenever clients have to wait. And so I agreed to pay P650 for an hour of Swedish massage and unlimited access to Jacuzzi and sauna at South Spa. The rate is not really bad compared with other spas. Just don’t think that in Galera, you can get a full body massage for P150 from the rough hands of the beach manangs and smell like bico after. We had the bridal shower last night and how I wished I can just go to the spa after a hard day’s work anytime I want.

I justified this seemingly senseless spending by thinking that this is my reward for myself for having been promoted, even if just about everybody else in the office got promoted as well. I’m still thankful for this promotion which makes me the youngest PSO III (i think) at 22 years old..yeah!! At the rate I'm going, I'll be Director IV by the time I'm 30. Dah?! Wereber!

At the end of the day, I think, it’s all worth it. Just don’t expect the cheapskate me to do it again anytime soon.

Asia's finest

2004-11-29T22:53:00.000-08:00

I am not a mall person. I only go to the mall when I have something to buy, sometimes I am even too lazy to do that. I am not easily enticed by sales or tiangges. When going to the mall, I look forward to the eating part more than the shopping part. I hate going to Megamall especially on Sundays number one because it’s impossible to find a decent parking space and number two there’s just too many people. Of course when I was still studying, I always go to Robinson’s Place for lunch and meetings because I see it more as a school annex than a mall. Most of the time, I and my sisters find everything we need at Glorietta so there’s really no use going some place else. My mom mall-hops more than we do. She knows when the one thing she wants is available at Rustan's Shang or Rustan's Harrison. She also makes it a point to visit Megatrade and Greenhills regularly for things she doesn't really need.

I went to SM Makati last Saturday for the first time after its renovation. Boy was I impressed. I felt bad that I finished my Christmas shopping at Glorietta two weeks earlier because there was really a lot of good cheap stuff at SM. I was able to buy my purse for my cousin’s wedding for P200..what a steal.

SM Makati is now one of the cool SM’s next to SM Baguio. Not to be outdone by the Ayalas, It was good the Sy’s decided to upgrade the mall and match it to cosmopolitan Makati. Even the products, I believe, are better than before. I tried really hard not to spend on a new pair of slides or another bag. The brand Parisian, which my sisters and I make fun of after gay comics used it in their spiels in one of the stand-up comedy bars in Malate, also displayed really nice shoes. However, my sister said, the service is still bad. Some things never change.

SM Baguio also sits well in its location. It is not your typical SM shoebox mall. Thanks to the Baguio climate, there is no need for aircondition, making it possible to have large verandas surrounding the stores. Just imagine strolling and shopping in your favorite stores or eating at Teriyaki Boy or at Yellow Cab then enjoy a good smoke while having coffee at Seattle’s Best with the cool breeze of Baguio and smell of pine trees throwing at your face. Real treat..

The construction of SM Baguio was not without opposition. Just to stop its construction, people began a petition for the promotion of Baguio as a national heritage. Of course it didn’t work. Now, there is an SM in just about every corner of the Philippines. Believe it or not, there will be an SM at San Lazaro and even the Mall of Asia, I believe, belongs to the Sy’s. Filipinos certainly are a bunch of mallrats. Economic slump or not, poor or poorer, snake in the fitting room or AIDS scare, nothing can keep pinoys off the malls.

Hey man nice shot

2004-11-10T23:32:00.000-08:00

Addressing the country’s poverty situation has been consistently at the forefront of government policies beginning the Aquino leadership. Such prioritization projects poverty as the country’s foremost challenge, with previous and present leaders vowing to alleviate the lives of poor Filipinos and directing all government efforts towards this end.

Although previous governments identified target poverty incidence for the end of their terms, one can not conclude whether the percentage of poor families to the total population has actually declined given that various poverty measures were used. For instance, the first official poverty estimation adopted in 1987 indicates that the poverty incidence of families in 1991 was 55.8% while the new methodology adopted in 1992 places poverty incidence of families for the same year at 39.9%. Using the Aquino target poverty incidence of 45.4% for 1992, it can not be concluded for sure whether the government was successful in its poverty reduction efforts. A third methodology was also developed in 2002. The new official poverty statistics which show provincial estimates gives us a poverty incidence of families in 1997 at 28.1% compared to the old methodology’s 31.8%. It thus appears that there are lesser poor Filipinos not because government interventions have been successful but because the government has redefined who the poor are.

Given that the second poverty methodology was used in most of the Ramos years and that poverty incidence decreased from 39.9% in 1991 to 35.5% in 1994 and 31.8% in 1997, it may be deduced that the industrialization approach made substantial gains in reducing poverty incidence proving yet again that economic growth improves a country’s poverty situation. The Philippine Progress Report on the MDG’s likewise suggested that the years of fiscal surplus were during 1994-1996 and that since 1990, we have made significant improvements in reducing extreme poverty. However, external shocks such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the El Niño and La Niña weather phenomena had long-term consequences to the poor. This is evident at how poverty incidence of families increased from 28.1% in 1997 to 28.4% in 2000.

Consistent with the MDG’s call to halve extreme poverty by 2015, President Arroyo pledged to reduce poverty by half by 2010. Although the NSCB official poverty estimates that will reflect the poverty situation during the Arroyo administration are yet to be produced, the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey conducted by the NSO show that Filipinos fared better in 2002 than in 1999 in terms of employment, education and homes.

We have shown and international bodies such as the UN have recognized that the Philippines can win the war against poverty. The multi-dimensional face of poverty explains the various solutions the past leaders have initiated to address the same problem. The strategy the present administration has adopted is based on past efforts that were deemed effective such as micro-finance and the provision of low-cost medicines. However, the President’s poverty-targeted programs or any such programs for that matter will only be effective if all other government policies are in synergy.

Noodle Dance

2004-11-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

For future reference, I’m listing my top-ten favorite pansit. The list does not necessarily indicate rankings, which means that I will be just as happy to have any of these. When I am bored, I find solace in daydreaming about the food I want to eat which naturally results in mindless craving and unwanted binging. Good thing I always remind myself that eating is meant to be enjoyed so there is no need to feel all remorseful. Lucky Me Instant Pansit Canton and Nissin’s Spicy Chicken Yakisoba are not included but they will eternally be up there with the following:

1. Char Kwai Chow – Banana Leaf Curry House
2. Beef Hofan – Mann Hann (or from Binondo)
3. Birthday Noodles – Gloria Maris
4. Pad Thai – Thai in a Box/Oody’s
5. Fried Noodles – North Park
6. King Dao Flat noodles – Luk Yuen
7. Charlie Chan – Yellow Cab
8. Pansit Lomi – Buddy’s
9. Mee Goreng – 10 Noodles
10. Yakisoba – Tokyo Tokyo

Losers say what?

2004-11-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought the debates finally did its job, just when I thought The New York Times, The Washington Post and yes, even The Economist made the much needed endorsements and just when I thought the deteriorating situation in Iraq says it all, the American voters decided they wanted four more years of neo-conservative war-mongering leadership.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the end of the world. Has the world’s only superpower successfully isolated itself from the universe, not just in terms of foreign policy, that it seems that the whole world except the Americans realize that Dubya is not just a bitter pill but an ineffective one at that. Now all of us will have to take this bitter pill, thanks to the religious bloc.

Two months into the Nov.2 elections, the Kerry campaign seems to have finally picked-up: winning all of the three presidential debates, showing of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, decline in world oil prices anticipating a Kerry win. But surprise surprise! 51% of American voters chose to endure four more years of US budget deficit, job loss, irresponsible environmental and energy policies, deteriorating social services, civil liberties trampled upon, protection of big business and tax cuts for the wealthy, unilateral foreign policy and bullying of the UN, Abu Ghraib scandal and more Iraq follies and a widespread culture of violence. I could just go on…

In spite of the looming budget deficit, the Americans reelected the President who cut taxes on the 1% rich and increased spending for the military. In spite of the inability to capture Osama Bin Laden and the absence of WMD in Iraq, the impetus for the preemptive strike, the Americans reelected the President who sent soldiers to their death in vain. In spite of world clamor for regime change, the Americans reelected the President who bypassed the United Nations and just about every legitimate alliance for a war that can never be won nor justified.

Apparently, the Americans did not decide on any of the above-mentioned platforms. They voted on the basis of values. The most tolerant and libertarian society that is the United States voted for a candidate who is categorically against abortion, stem-cell research and gay rights but has in all arrogance bombed its way into a sovereign country, killing civilians and sacrificing soldiers, and up to this day has kept Guantanamo Bay sealed from public scrutiny. So much for values.

The people have spoken, Bush has won, Kerry has conceded. Again, the Americans did not listen.

The Addams

2004-11-01T23:33:00.000-08:00

My maternal grandmother, lola mama, died when I was just 5 years old. Soon after, 3 years to be exact, lolo daddy followed suit. Since then, my family has been spending All Souls’ Day in La Union.

I’m not sure whether it is our love for food or fondness for get-togethers that we spend one whole day at our grandparents’ tombs every year. My family has mastered the art of finding a reason to celebrate and stuff ourselves till we could take no more. This is probably why we painstakingly brave all traffic and hassle every Halloween just to get to our beloved Agoo and spend one hot day in the cemetery with no decent washroom to speak of.

Last weekend I have come to realize how long we’ve been spending one day each year in the cemetery, despite the discomfort, when we looked at two new scrapbooks my cousin made (my cousin, I think, has developed an obsession in making scrapbooks about ourselves..more on this in another entry). There was one picture taken when we were really really young, in the cemetery, with my full bangs and sando and shorts attire. That picture sure is vintage. It may sound creepy to most people but I and my cousins have a lot of photos taken in the cemetery. I can actually see how my hairstyle and body have evolved through our All Souls’ Day pictures. We have become so familiar with the place that whenever we were on vacation and we feel the need to sneak a few puffs, the cemetery would always be a dependable place not to get caught in. We justified it by telling ourselves that our own grandma smoked herself and even made her own tabako. My grandparents’ final resting place has been remodeled time and again. There was a time when there was a grassy area and we just put up a tent to shield us from the heat. Now, everything’s cemented and we had a permanent roof built.

The best thing about all this is the food. We would have our lunch right there in the graveyard and all kinds of snacks we can bring. There was a time when one passerby asked how much is a plate of pancit because we literally had a table with all our picnic Tupperware on top. The standard lunch used to be chicken pork adobo or polpog (an Ilocano delicacy of grilled pork seasoned with pork brain) and pancit. Thank God we have grown tired of it. This last All Souls’ Day, which was yesterday, we had penne with sundried tomato and shrimp, fetuccine with olive oil and sausage and pork barbecue. For clarification, I did not influence this menu in any way. I remember killing time by solving crossword puzzles and find the word games with my cousins when I was a kid or sleeping on top of either of my grandparents’ tombs (creepy but true). I didn’t engage in playing with candle wax lest I get my hands dirty. We also played pop-com-drama, a team game where you have to sing when your team was chose to do pop, act out a commercial for com and I’m sure you already know for drama. Very silly, I know. When most of us started driving, we would ask our parents to let us go back to the house for a few minutes some time after lunch to use the bathroom. We end up going back to the cemetery two hours later because we took a nap.

So even if I had to rush to work today from a six-hour trip feeling like a zombie and all, I would never trade watching Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween episode and spending a day at the cemetery with my cousins for anything. No matter how uncomfortable this all seems and actually feels, I always look forward to All Souls’ Day. It is one of three occasions every year that we get to spend time in the province, witness Filipino religiosity, laugh at each other and eat like there’s no tomorrow.

The klutz and the beautiful

2004-10-26T01:13:00.000-07:00

One of my classmates in high school senior year proudly shared to our class that she dreams of being a cager’s wife. I didn’t quite get it at that time but not long after I realized that it is not entirely bad to aspire to become a professional athlete’s wife. Not only will you be assured of budgeting a fat paycheck but you will also be the center of envy among friends because you hooked up with the college jock and in the future a professional athlete and not just some DOM. Rich and muscular..not bad at all.

I grew up not having a favorite sport or any sport for that matter. If jackstone is considered a sport then we’ll have to count that in. In highschool, I would do everything not to play volleyball for P.E. class including volunteering to be umpire (even if I don’t know a thing) during intramurals just so I wouldn’t have to play. Thank God for dance or I wouldn’t have passed P.E. at all. I spent school vacations reading, including the required books for the incoming school year. With my sisters around, I don’t have to go out and play with neighborhood children. I was fat as a kid (until now) and was just not interested in playing it rough and hurting myself. Even in reading the papers, sports is the section that I read the least, except when there’s tennis grand slam.

And so there are times when I see myself surprised at how boys talk about sports the way economists would talk about growth rates and trends in world markets. I have noticed how men can analyze games fit for a position paper. I love watching tennis but I watch it for leisure and most of the time just to see Marat Safin and not to explain why he should just sign up for an endorsement pretty much like compatriot Anna Kournikova and give up tennis altogether, based on his performance the past year. What is even more amusing for me is how any ordinary Joe can talk about sports as extensively and analytically as any sports commentator. Any group of guys that I am with, be it my officemates, friends or cousins talk about NBA, F1, UFC, world cup or what have you in an “expert” kind of way. I am also surprised at how they seem to know all the players by heart. I have come to believe that you can randomly put together a group of men and instantly they can talk animatedly about any kind of sports. Amidst the grief our family was going through when my uncle died last Saturday, my dad even managed to ask my grandpa about the world series. He stayed in the hospital the whole morning and he didn’t get to catch baseball. Honestly, I didn’t know what they were talking about until I saw at CNN that the world series is ongoing.

I was amazed when I learned that Jerv can play volleyball as much as he can play basketball. My male cousins excel in all our outdoor activities from softball to bowling to tumbang preso. When friends notice my legs and arms, they hastily conclude that I didn’t enjoy my childhood because I spent it inside the house. You see, I didn’t learn how to ride a bike nor rollerblade. Jerv said that’s probably why I suck at driving. Sometimes I think my parents had it all wrong when they made us, their children, concentrate in getting excellent grades and graduate with honors instead of enrolling us in a sports camp. Given my discipline and competitive spirit, I’m sure it will be a breeze. Where else will you earn so much and do exactly what you love doing and not consider it work at all. Just imagine how much Martina Hingis was earning when she was 15 and all the places she must have gone to, thanks to professional tennis. Or Manny Pacquiao. Even if I bend my back learning all the development theories, I don’t think I will earn as much as he does nor will I be cheered by Stalone.

Given the above, I plan to exert as much effort in going about my sports enrichment program. This will include going to the gym as much as I can, swimming whenever I can, watching Jerv’s ABL games next year and joining the marathon for the second consecutive year. With Jerv’s enthusiasm for sports, hopefully this new set of resolutions won’t go to waste.

Bolaibee's last call

2004-10-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Death certainly makes all things clear. I’m not sure if it’s the sense of loss or the tears that well in your eyes but grief just gives you a lucid perception of yourself, your values and your judgment.

Last Saturday I lost an uncle to cardiac arrest. He was 49. He brought himself to the hospital at Thursday morning, went comatose on the very same day and succumbed to a massive heart attack on Saturday morning. He spent his last three days lying unconsciously, unaware of the beautiful things his precarious condition has brought.

My siblings and I grew up calling him daddy and up to this day we call him that. Perhaps because our own father wasn’t around and being my dad’s brother, he was more than willing to be endeared that way. Having seen him for the first time in three years at the ICU just hours before he left felt like my heart was being crushed. It was all the more heartbreaking when his children, my cousins, approached his bed one by one to whisper that even if it’s the most difficult to do, they are willing to let him go. If I were to make such a decision at any point in my life, I wouldn’t know what to do. My grandma crying at my sister’s shoulder, who saw yet another one of her children go before her, was a picture of a child crying shamelessly in front of her children and grandchildren, instead of the headstrong family matriarch that I have known her to be.

It was my first time to see someone dying. It was my first time to be at exactly the same instant and place where a person dies. It was my first time to be there, the center of hysteria and raw emotions. And it was unbearable..just unbearable.

In death, you see yourself and your relationships in an entirely different level. You begin to see the mundane details of your life as what they truly are, petty and trivial. Everything just seems to be the small stuff, no need to sweat over it. In death, you re-think your issues and learn to set them aside for the things that really matter like mending broken bridges and being strong for those who are weak. In death, you realize how everything you have and everything you are are transient and you surrender them all up hoping that you will somehow get a good bargain. But then a force that is more powerful than you or your boss won’t settle for anything less and will take all of what you have to offer including a part of your heart. And then you feel numb, everything else seems to be fleeting that you struggle for whatever it is you can hold on to. But you can’t.

At the end of the day, you accept that there’s no better place for him than where he is. After putting up a good fight and surviving a good amount of battlescars, he deserves to go home and rest. When it is my time to go, I want to go as peacefully as daddy did. Fast and relentless. But for now, I want to learn to fight when it is needed and give up when it is the right thing to do.

The outlier

2004-10-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at Glorietta I saw a high school classmate at the Sony Ericsson booth. No she was not there to check out the latest models. She was there as a promo girl. I really can’t think of a more politically-correct term for this so as much as I dislike using the term I think I would have to use promo girl.

She became my classmate for two years, junior and senior year. She was one of those really responsible girls. I even thought of her as one well-rounded lady because she was able to excel in many things. She got good grades, was good in dancing and the performing arts and very dependable. She was our Juliet in our Shakespeare drama-fest. Also, she will always be chosen as a group leader. I also remember her to be very pretty and really simple and her routine on the balance beam during junior year gymnastics class was just awesome.

From friendster, I learned that she’s now an engineer with a degree in ECE from UST. Really impressive. And so my impression of her as a smart girl was even strengthened. It was even more impressive because now, she looks a lot more like a model than a geeky engineer.

Upon seeing her, my twinsis told me that she was able to talk to high school classmate last Saturday. And what she said startled the hell out of me. Apparently, that’s all she does. She’s not practicing her profession. She just takes modeling assignments or “promo girl” rackets. I was dumbfounded. Why would someone like her do that, exchange four or five years of higher education plus nerve-wracking preparation for licensure exams for standing endlessly in malls enticing passersby to buy a P25,000-cellphone during the weekend. Just why?

When I see how many kids audition for starstruck, star circle quest and supahstar, I search my head for answers why there seems to be countless young Filipinos who want to be artista. I just tell myself that perhaps they are still young or they need money. Maybe when they get to feel the liberating experience of being in a university and learn the value of good education, they will realize that there is so much to this world than making a fool out of yourself for the entire nation to see. But surprise, surprise! My own high school classmate, someone who I believe to be much more discerning and levelheaded chooses to discard her hard-earned degree and license for a job that utilizes more of her legs than her head.

I just had to ask myself, is it me or everyone else seems to enjoy throwing values out of the window. Do star-search shows signal the bright future that lies ahead for my generation? Doesn’t education educate anything anymore? Isn’t education supposed to shield you from the hallucination that using beauty as life’s capital could only bring you more money and not more wealth?

I have nothing against being beautiful. It’s perfectly okay to aspire to be a star. But what baffles me is how this has become today’s norm. Except for my nine year old sister who wants to be a chemist two months ago and now a brain surgeon, everyone else wants to be a movie/tv star, model, and everything in between. Whatever happened to “I want to be a doctor/lawyer” answers. With myriads of extraordinary opportunities open to kids today, just how did Hollywood and mtv conquer everyone’s sense of ambition and fulfillment.

My other great love

2004-10-12T01:48:00.000-07:00

I love food. It doesn’t take much to please me when it comes to eating. But what I can really eat for days without complaining is pasta. I can actually live with Mario Batali. I’m a great pasta fan. And when I say pasta fan, I mean all types of pasta.

Whenever my mom can’t think of anything new to feed her hungry kids with, she’ll whip up anything that is in her cupboard and make pasta out of it. We’ve tried corned beef, meatloaf and tuna with pasta. My mom is also famous for her baked macaroni. It has been imitated endlessly by relatives but I have to say nothing beats the original. She’s amazed at how I haven’t lost interest in her baked mac when it has been a family staple for as long as I can remember.

My mom also used to prepare different kinds of sauces with a wide variety of toppings such as ground beef, bacon bits, ham, mushroom, garlic and cheese. Her guests can choose which pasta sauce they like, tomato or cream. This also shows how my mom makes great fettuccine alfredo and spaghetti carbonara.

I had my first taste of pesto when the first Piadina opened at Glorietta food choices. I think I was around 17. I remember going there every week to consume as much pesto and sausage piadina as I can that I became personally acquainted with the Italian owner. I even introduced my cousins to him and told him that I particularly recommended they try the pesto. Since then he would always give me extra spoonful of pesto.

When my mom has more time, she also makes lasagna. But then my baby sister would always compare it with Old Swiss Inn’s lasagna, and would even tell our mom to try making her lasagna as good as Old Swiss Inn’s. My sister can be quite a connoisseur because she thinks eating Jollibee spaghetti can qualify her for Fear Factor and at her age (9 years old), she will choose spinach caneloni with ricotta cheese over other more common dishes. Our current favorite is mom’s puttanesca. As much as possible, she makes sure it’s complete with black and green olives, capers and anchovies. Perfect.

I also love my sister’s angel hair with olive oil and Hungarian sausage..with a lot of garlic. Puschta sausage also makes good substitute when you want your pasta a bit spicy. She also makes spaghetti with aligue but of course on a limited serving and thanks to her we now enjoy Bravo's instant pasta sauce which comes in variety..highly-recommended.

I am such a huge fan of pasta that I can finish the pasta platter at Angelino’s or one whole order of pasta from Italiannis or Napoli’s all by myself. These restaurants’ servings are meant for sharing. My family and friends are really amazed at how big my appetite is for pasta. I think this explains why I am not very satisfied with Cibo or any other pasta restaurant with small serving. Right now I am still craving for Pazzo’s spaghetti saganaki even if I just had it last Saturday.

This Saturday, I will be at Sonya’s Garden for my cousin’s engagement party. Sonya’s pasta sauces, sundried tomatoes and mango cream with chicken, are to die for. Can’t wait…

Ready for the flak

2004-10-07T02:50:00.000-07:00

On October 9-10, the first Philippine call center job fair will take place right here at the palace Mendiola parking lot. Some twenty call center firms shall participate. I guess it was called the call center job fair precisely because the only booming industry in the country eager to mass hire are the call centers.

Try checking the job market in your Sunday paper and all you’re going to get are vacancies for call centers. Not just an opening for one or several positions but opening for ridiculously a lot of positions and these call centers have in fact gone to Cebu and Davao for expansion. The President has been very proud of this achievement that she continues to promote the industry as a viable source of employment.

Indeed these contact centers have so much to be proud of. They generate jobs, spur the economy and encourage an English-speaking workforce. The compensation package is also very good. So good that it has attracted some really good people I know.

But no matter how competitive the remuneration and bottomless coffee they offer, I don’t think I can stand working for call centers. Primarily because I don’t think it gives much for career development. I personally think it’s a dead-end job. I’m really not sure what kind of skills relevant to career advancement it imparts to its employees. I heard a lot of people say that the job is so easy it will make you stupid. This is because there is no analyzing, strategizing or problem-solving involved. Everything is scripted. Also it is the kind of job that I think is worry-free. You don’t have to worry about pending assignments at home or when you’re away because everything gets done in an instant. It is also in a way faceless. You don’t get to own whatever work you have accomplished and so I don’t know what kind of fulfillment you’ll get. Also, call centers hire anyone and everyone. There is no school, course, specialization or experience prerequisite. I heard they also hire undergrads. Talk about docile labor. Plus I think the work hours are crazy. The Philippines is not a country where everybody has cars that it’s perfectly safe to go out and work at night.

But with the difficult times we are facing, I can’t blame people for swarming to call centers. Where else will you be earning much more than the minimum wage for an effortless job in a really nice office right after graduation or even without graduating. But what pains me is how the call center phenomenon has taken away the drive for excellence and idealism in the youth. It is actually easy money. I have always believed that what you do defines you and in this case how exactly does being a customer service representative (CSR) define a person. What is s/he capable of doing? What are his/her abilities? Exactly what kind of work can a CSR accomplish? Further, I think this phenomenon also shows that my generation has chosen the less-difficult path, the path that says it’s okay to sacrifice self-actualization for monetary gain. What we have now are the kind of youth who will not strive for merit and distinction because it is just not easy, plus it just won’t get me the cellphone I want.

I hope I am wrong. I hope that we haven’t really lost it. I hope this is just my cynical (broke) self talking. I hope that if John Kerry wins, he will be good to business and allow them to still get Manila’s cheap labor. Beggars can’t be choosers.

Nothing like it

2004-10-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday night, I saw Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. What I learned from the documentary was beyond my wildest expectations that it sent me rolling over on the bed the entire night unable to sleep.

9/11 is a must-see. It certainly burst whatever bubble I have of everything beautiful and to die for American. That Sunday night I realized that I am not willing to trade anything I have or don’t have now just to be a greencard or even greenback holder.

When you believed your entire life that your country is the only remaining superpower in the world who went out of its way to supposedly teach democracy to countries ruled by tyrants, 9/11 will shatter all that. I’m pretty sure all Americans who went to see the film will wallow in self-pity and frustration. They were duped big time. They were made to live in constant fear of nothing all in the name of the almighty dollar. One will actually believe that the war in Afghanistan and Iraq were waged as a purely business venture and not for any other conspiracy theory or other reasons such as further world domination. The movie just made perfect sense and was flawlessly logical that people would perhaps wonder how something as apparent as Bush’s (father and son) Unical and Dick Cheney’s Halliburton slip through their minds. Talk about corporate corruption…

What made the movie all the more engaging was how George W. was portrayed. My mom would often say that some forces actually secured Bush’s presidency because he is the only man for the job. And that job is the stupid decision to wage war in a country that has not lifted a finger against the States but is very rich with oil. He is the only US President who can pull something like saying one thing now and saying something totally opposite the next time or who can speak with sheer conviction about something as vague and baseless as launching an offensive in this age of sovereignty and regional cooperation, not to mention death of barbarism.

But what made the movie really appalling is how families lost sons, brothers, fathers, husbands. No amount of recognition will compensate for this kind of loss especially if it was all done in vain. I actually began to think that who would want to be an American now when they had to send their sons, husbands and brothers to war not for any national interest or patriotic reason but just for a few people’s gain. One Iraq veteran said that he would rather be punished and serve jailtime than go back to Iraq. It was not worth anything. Another soldier said that whenever they kill people, they lose a part of themselves. Michael Moore also said in his narration that he couldn’t blame the members of the US Congress for not having their sons enlisted in the US army because he himself wouldn’t want to and no one else would really want to.

All of us, people from the developing world, were abused and taken advantage of by the United States. Their presence and influence can be felt in everything be it music, culture, taxes, trade policies, elections, contraception. They have played big brother to all subservient nations and America’s deception and exploitation of these countries is really nothing to be surprised of. But how Washington, the bastion of freedom and democracy, led its country to be the largest and most vulnerable terrorist target is definitely unfathomable.

On Iraq and other demons

2004-10-01T02:02:00.000-07:00

The first of the US Presidential Debate series has begun this morning at the University of Miami with a cool and composed Sen. John Kerry and a rather peeved Pres. George W.

I have always been a democrat (as if that matters). I just think that my beliefs are more democrat than republican especially on the issue of foreign policy. I also favor the democratic stand on issues such as gay rights, reproductive health and multiculturalism. The libertarian reputation of the democrats is just more appealing to a woman from a third world country like me.

This first round was about foreign policy and homeland security. I have to say that both candidates are surprisingly, very impressive. Most polls show that there these two candidates are neck-to-neck and until now the rate of undecided voters continues to rise. I think this is because none of them has come out very strong on many fronts. Both have successes to speak of and some skeleton in the closet to cover-up.

Sen. Kerry was pretty good. His argument for the need for more security at home and respect from the world really stands. He said that because American soldiers are working double shifts and most of them have Iraq assignments, homeland security is actually suffering (he gave examples to back this up). Further, the United States has overextended itself in Iraq, which in effect has disregarded other countries which need its troops as well such as Darfur, Sudan wherein actual and massive genocide is taking place. He also said that while Mr. Bush was busy with Iraq, North Korea has been expanding its nuclear arms and the former Soviet Union’s own nuclear arms have remained unchecked. And the real problem he said, is that the administration has concealed the truth from the Americans, which should be the basis of a sound policy. He of course criticized the war waged in Iraq by a government that was ill-prepared and deceiving. His plan therefore, is to beef-up security at home and regain real and firm alliances in order to be respected again.

Pres. Bush was quick to respond that forces are being sent in Iraq and Afghanistan precisely to secure America. His tact however, was one-track and just proceeded to attack Sen. Kerry’s flip-flopping policy and tendency to send mixed messages.

To which Sen. Kerry replied, “It is one thing to be certain and wrong and another to be uncertain and right.” That was really good. Mr. Bush was indeed certain, very determined, but also very wrong. He said that what the war on terror has achieved is the impression that America is against Islam, and that this war has actually given terrorists the impetus to pursue their deadly plans. When asked what was the single most serious security threat to the United States, Sen. Kerry answered nuclear proliferation. I think Pres. Bush agreed with Sen. Kerry on that one.

The Democrat candidate’s closing statement was more presidential. He talked about how both of them candidates love America so much but that they have different convictions on how to do it. He said what America needs is a fresh start and a new credibility in order to protect its citizens at home and be respected by the world.

Contrary to what people say that a foreign policy debate is a Bush advantage, the debate showed otherwise.

Since we Filipinos are very fond of Americanizing ourselves, I hope this presidential debate is one American thing we can adopt.

Better late than never

2004-09-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

I am making this entry to mark this moment in my life..the moment I went cheesy. This is going to be a deviation from what I usually write..but what the heck. This is just too good to ignore.

Last night I had dinner with jerv and his family to celebrate his mom’s birthday. I have to admit that when he told me of his plan and asked if I can join them I readily dismissed it as impossible. It’s a weeknight and mom would have just gotten back from her birthday shebang and she wouldn’t approve. I wasn’t even planning of actually telling my mom about it. I just planned of sending a gift thinking that it would do. But then jerv of course expressed that he wanted me to go (plus I made him stay for my mom’s own birthday dinner the day before) thus I decided that I really have to join them.

And so we went. We bought our gift and he paid for dinner. (writing for these kinds of things sure is difficult). Anyway what this all boils down to is how I admired my guy. I grew up in a matriarchal home. I never knew how it is living with a father who will carry you when your tiny legs are tired of standing up, or who will swear to kill anyone who tries to lay a finger on you or even bring you down, or who will always be there to look after all of his family’s needs and make sure everything and everyone is alright. I grew up not having a superhero who will buy me gifts, bring me to carnivals or at the very least treat me out to dinner or even ice cream.

And so the sight of my boyfriend going out of his way to treat his family (with a state employee’s salary), even foregoing his choice of restaurant for the popular choice (outnumbered 3 to 1), really sent me head over heels. My eldest sister has been playing the role of padre de pamilya for some time now but of course this is something I am used to already. And so seeing my boyfriend do this on top of how he has been providing for them was enough to last me through the week. He did it all with a big heart and a big smile. It was genuinely heart-warming. This gesture is just one of the sweetest things he does for them. He has been looking after them much like a father does to his family.

I just felt proud of the choice I made. I realized that indeed things are not as fine and dandy as I want them to be right now but knowing that he will be by my side to mesmerize me and show me the beautiful things is all that matters. I just love how he loves his family.

Well what do you know..looks like the heavens have sent my superhero after all.

Not so free dinner

2004-09-27T01:54:00.000-07:00

One of my pet-peeves are people who can’t stop complaining and whining and who just love to play the blame game. Most of the time, these are the people who inhibit themselves from the greater scheme of things by viewing things like they are looking into a fishbowl when these issues actually involve them such as governance or opportunities. Sometimes these are also the kind of people who think they know better just because they chose to be at the easier side of the fence, the side where you can disown your actions and just lambaste at the status quo or prevailing circumstances. These are also the people who argue non-sequitur.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m with the government that I grow more impatient of people who blame it all to the government. Perhaps I am just more aware of how the government gets things done that I am easily pissed at people who claim to know what they’re talking about when I’m pretty sure they just echo what they hear from their fellow myopic and parochial citizens. One comment I particularly like was, “Ano magdebate pa tayo sa presidente mo? Dati sinabi maganda ang ekonomiya tapos nung nahalal tsaka inaming may fiscal crisis”. I need not even listen to what else she is going to say. Obviously, she doesn’t understand how worlds apart is economic to fiscal crisis. Obviously, she didn’t know that on the second quarter, GDP was over 6%. Obviously, she didn’t bother asking the country’s economic performance vis-à-vis fiscal management or that a fiscal crisis is not necessarily and sufficiently an outcome of a 3-year administration, no matter how unimaginably bad it went.

More than keeping oneself abreast with such information, I believe it should more importantly be about asking yourself what exactly have you done to earn the position of casting the stone. I say if you’re working in a call center, you should even be thankful to this administration for securing 60,000 call center seats for the army of unemployed from just 2,000 three years ago. If not for this President, you could have been another NSO statistic. This is especially true for UP graduates whose education was made possible by the taxpayers’ money and has not served the country, by at least being a public servant. Really shameless...

On the other hand, if your service happens to be to criticize and pass judgment at everything that goes mad in this country and offering an alternative like putting an evangelist in power, then I think you’re another thing that has gone mad in this country.

I am not in anyway absolving the government for its innumerable wrong moves and bad judgment. I have my own litany of grievances. What I’m saying is pushing this country forward is everybody’s ballgame. People my age are not in the position to point fingers at anyone simply because we haven’t served our time in doing this country right. We should ask ourselves whether we follow the simplest of traffic rules or even bother to count our blessings like being able to wake up the next day free.

Unless you’re a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee or any other person who is willing to forego personal interest for national gain, I don’t think you’re worthy of judgment.

Not so fast

2004-09-24T01:13:00.000-07:00

I have always been a believer of doing things right. I am always, always law-abiding and mindful of rules and policies set, whether they come from parents, teachers or superiors. Call it safe-playing but peace of mind is something I greatly value. I also believe that no one is responsible for whatever happens in your life but you. You alone are accountable. Whatever we are now is the result of the choices we made. I just have to do things right.

When Andres Bonifacio solicited Jose Rizal’s help in the revolution, Dr. Rizal refused. He just didn’t believe in doing things underground. When you want to make something right, you might as well start doing it right.

Thus I made a choice to work in government. With so much idealism in my system, coming from a high school who led its all-girl population to the streets whenever things didn’t go right and graduating from the bastion of academic freedom, I just know that the government is where I can start. Pretty ironic but still valid. I have sort of realized that if I want change, I have to initiate it and work towards it.

People will tell me endlessly that I’ll be wasted in government. There’s nothing I can do and I’ll just be swallowed by the system. Good thing my family has been really supportive and even proud. This can be seen at how I have the smallest contribution when it comes to household expenses..pro-rata.

And now I think I am facing a moral dilemma. I have pretty much realized that my job is a subservient job. We have to think, comprehend and speak like the boss. What she says, goes. Personal convictions most of the time don’t matter. This is really difficult.

On my way to work this morning I was thinking precisely how will I accomplish my task for today. But it seems I have to do what the position requires, which is necessarily not right. It’s not as bad as I make it sound but it made me wonder how many two seemingly necessary conditions will I come face to face with that will require me to make a choice..how many concessions will I make..will I eventually lose my stubborn uncompromising self.

I have a found a way of accomplishing my task today. It was not how I wanted it but I’m satisfied nonetheless. So much for idealism…

72,000 miles

2004-09-21T23:34:00.000-07:00

The Amazing Race 5 ended today and my favorite team, the strongest team, Colin and Christie lost to Chip and Kim who used to be the sweet married couple who hugs everyone but just recently showed they’re out to get the million bucks by yielding and lying (I don’t really blame them for that, that’s how the game goes).

This sounds really stupid but I feel down. The amazing race is an amazing show and I think it ended too soon plus the team I’m rooting for lost to the underdogs. Colin and Christie have been leading consistently and that’s because they really played well. They worked hard right from the start unlike the other teams who suddenly realized they are nearing 1 million bucks and decided to play rough. I know a lot of people who are pissed at Colin. Filipinos are known to take everything personally. I am not at all affected by Colin’s arrogance and aggressiveness. I can take cockiness anytime as long as a person has something to brag about. And I guess Colin is one of those persons. His competitive spirit is more than enough for him and Christie. They always finish first not because of luck or they pushed another team too far but because they’re tactical, strategic and very strong. Remember how it took some time for Colin to make the mud bricks in India but once he got the hang of it there was just no letting up. Or how methodical his and Christie’s way of going through the maze in this last challenge in Dallas. Of course the Laguna challenge sort of pushed him to the limit and brought out the as*ho*e in him but what I’m saying is if I was placed in the same predicament, I might have acted just as bad if not worse. The amazing race is really Colin’s game.

I also have to give it to Chip. No thanks to his wife, Kim. She was useless most of the time. Even the schmoozing with and deceiving of other teams tactics can only be attributed to Chip. The guy’s a good guy and in this game the good guy finished first.

The bowling moms..they rock! It’s true what Karen said..she has been a mother for twenty years but the race experience made her realize there are a lot of things out there that she can do. They still finished the Palawan leg knowing that they will be eliminated, compared to Marshal and Lance who gave up and were eliminated in quite a unique way. I say if you’re going to lose, you might as well lose with honor.

As for the other teams, they are as memorable. Brandon and Nicole “everything is in God’s hands” team, the twins who are fast and fearless but kind of stupid most of the time, the midget and cousin tandem who are actually clever but really annoying and Allison and Donny who were promising but gone too soon.

By the way, I wasn’t that impressed with the Manila leg. I think it was lame. Good thing El Nido saved the day.

The pink edition

2004-09-21T01:23:00.000-07:00

Monday nights for me and my sisters mean Queer Eye night. We have to finish dinner before 9pm to be able to catch Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I loved this show from the first episode I saw, unlike sex and the city or the x-files which took quite a little patience to go through succeeding episodes for me to appreciate it. I have a very strong belief that these five gay men are geniuses. Not everyone is blessed with creativity.

Take Thom Filicia. Who would have the patience and tenacity to see beauty behind a rathole of a man’s apartment and turn it into every woman’s dream “boyfriend’s pad”. I cannot even make anything out of my office cube. Keeping it neat and tidy is the most I can do and it will have to take all my willpower to start rummaging through the piles of paper. Or Carson Kressley, who more than the outfits he is able to come up with, gives the funniest and wittiest unscripted punchlines I’ve heard on tv. You just have to give it to gay men when it comes to sarcasm and sharpness.

But my ultimate Queer Eye dream guy is Kyan Douglas. Boy is he yummy. I have placed him up there with tennis pretty boy marat safin and australia’s best contribution to Hollywood heath ledger. Watching him on tv makes you think you can actually smell his fresh from the shower scent. And those biceps..what a hunk!
I have always felt that gay men have a special place in my heart. My father has two gay brothers who are out as out can be. Family get-togethers liven up because of them. They are MEAN but I have to admit they are really funny. One of them is really good in math he gets paid before to take another person’s entrance exams. I and my twinsister also grew up with a gay cousin. Of course we didn’t know he was gay until we reached the age of puberty. We often wondered howcome he played with us instead of playing with my brother. Up to this day he believes that we are prime suspects why he happens to have estrogen flowing in his body. My cousin is a brilliant guy. He writes well, reads a lot and has great appreciation for art and history. He can also come up with really good seamless ploy to get even with the enemy.

When I was about to enter college, I wished I could have a gay man for a best friend. I guess I got something close to that. I dated someone who’s gay and of course I didn’t know the real score until it was too late. Actually I had doubts already but I probably refused to see. I even consulted two friends and they said there are men who really are like THAT:

1. he notices that a girl’s bag is of a different color to her shoes and even tells me about it
2. he asks me what my beauty regimen is and shares what he does
3. he takes longer when shopping and window shopping
4. we don’t argue about what movies to see (i.e. he loves Julia Roberts and other tear-jerkers as much as I do)
5. basketball? What basketball?
6. knows all the gay men (closet or out) in school personally
7. dated for almost a year and no..has not touched even the tip of my fingers

I should have realized sooner it was too good to be true. An intelligent guy with the sensitivity of a woman? Just what was I thinking. During this time the term “metrosexual” wasn’t even imagined yet. For some reason, I am proud for this blunder in my life. It’s really a lot of fun talking about it (even if I am the butt of jokes among guyfriends). At least this is what I got and not some “the college bad boy who broke my heart” episode.

Wow! Gays do have a special place in my heart. I didn’t notice how long this is already. I guess what I am saying is I am all for gay rights. There are a lot of successful gay men. I admire them so much that when I meet a guy who’s really good looking, intelligent, interesting and knows how to tickle my fancy, I know right away he’s gay.

View from the outside

2004-09-20T01:08:00.000-07:00

I attended a wedding and a baptismal last Saturday. Both couples (the newlyweds and the new parents) are contemporaries. That’s not the only thing common between them. The bride, who is my sorority sis, got married because she is pregnant. She was very candid to admit that had it been otherwise she wouldn’t have gotten married at this time. The new father on the other hand, who is jerv’s high school classmate and just recently his kumpare, had his kid before marriage.

And so while me and my boyfriend are enjoying every bit of being a not so new couple and going through the intricacies of being in our first serious relationship, some of our friends have been jumping into the world of the unknown..the world of married life and parenthood. i know I would love to be with my boyfriend 24/7 and having to carry the baby in my arms from the church to the reception sure made me look at him (the baby) in awe and feel that I would want to have one of these in the future. But to have all these right here, right now? Nah..

Unlike most girls who have planned their weddings when they reach the age of five, I have not the slightest idea how I would want my wedding to be. Watching my cousin plan for his wedding was strenuous to me already. I don’t think I can do that. At least I have decided getting married is a good idea unlike before when I think it’s perfectly ok not to get married. Marriage is just too big a responsibility. I think that it’s totally different when you share just about everything with another person. When you have problems, you can’t just retreat into your shell that is called your room and think things over or cry or what-have-you. all your decisions should be based on two premises, both supposedly right, and all your actions have implications on another person’s life, not just yours.

On the contrary, I have long decided I want to be a mom than to be a partner. I think I can handle having a kid than having a husband. But of course, parenthood, is even more difficult. And I’ll be not just a parent but a mom. My mom happens to be my cornerstone, my hero. and witnessing what she has gone through made me believe at such an early age that being a mother is a Herculean task. Something that I refuse to subject myself in at the age of 22. not just yet.

But my ultimate reason for this seemingly cynical view on marriage and motherhood is convenience. On Saturday and Sunday mornings I just have to wake up to the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee and breakfast. I can read the entire paper all morning and not worry about my next meal. I can sleep the whole afternoon after lunch or read a book. I can go out at night not worrying about other stuff like putting a baby to sleep or what home repair needs to be done. After work I go home to dinner already prepared, take a shower and just jump to bed. I know it sounds hedonistic and if you’re asking, of course I have a hundred things on my mind. But i just enjoy this time of my life when I can freeload on mom’s meals and other family freebies and not worry about anything else other than how will I stretch this week’s salary to the next.

My psych teacher said that young adulthood (18-40 years old I think) is the longest stage in a person’s life which means that you have all the time in the world to rethink and reconsider and do all other things important such as planning your wedding, settling down, having a baby and getting him baptized. But mostly, I think it’s all about getting your paycheck, taxfree.

To technocracy and beyond

2004-09-20T01:05:00.000-07:00

yesterday I attended the diliman governance forum on reengineering the bureaucracy. If not for the overcrowded and humid venue, everything went pretty ok. I felt really light-headed especially since I had just about 3 hours of sleep the night before due to salubong a balikbayan relative ritual.

Whenever I attend these kinds of fora and lectures, what sticks on me more than the lecture itself are the presentors themselves. I always get mesmerized by how intelligent and insightful academicians and experts are. For some reason, I am more impressed by scholars blabbing how to make the world a better place to live in than by news of businessmen who happen to conquer yet another money-making bonanza. Earning millions sure is gravely satisfying and empowering but being able to put the world order into sentences and equations and moreso articulate it is sort of more enticing for me.

It’s not that I believe that having some other people invest in you just to show to the world that the country’s poverty alleviation program has, for the nth time, failed the people is so much better than taking risks and investing your own money in something that, in your belief has a great chance of succeeding (but even if the business idea flops, you only fail yourself, not an entire government or nation). There is just something about intelligent people that charms me like a person under a spell. That even if I don’t understand anything of what they’re saying, I still find myself daydreaming talking the same way, pointing at the white screen with the laser pointer in the same way and even telling “for ivy league grads/postgrads only anecdotes” in yes, exactly the same way.

I remember going to a forum on poverty at the ADB last year with some thirty to forty people in attendance from around the world. Little did I know that almost all of them knew each other from the academe and the policy research world and that everyone has a master’s degree at the very least. And so when the speaker refers to one particular author, everyone seemed to relate to it. I think it’s really cool how these experts actually understand each other using the universal language of research, math. and when the open forum starts, things get more exciting. I am really amazed at how they talk about the economy and social constructs in profound terms that seem that this is how they really converse on a regular basis. I have always put so much premium on being and looking intelligent.

I think I have made myself believe that my niche is the research and technical writing world. I told myself that when the time comes that I’ll be introduced before an audience my CV will be as impressive as armand fabella’s (I know..that goal-setting is too late). The man has western-educated/technocrat written all over him. but I guess what I really want is to be able to command and speak authority the way dr. fabella does. Man is he cool…

Just add one egg

2004-09-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

My mom normally talks to us how her Chinese clients cheat the government, cheat their employees and ultimately cheat the Filipinos. I am starting to believe her theory that Chinese business is one big factor for the country’s underdevelopment. She also said that millions of pesos circulate in downtown Manila, all unaccounted by the government.

For some reason, the Chinese get away with it. And so when the Chinese complain how difficult life is in the Philippines, my blood literally reaches boiling point. Just imagine how every big business in the country is owned by the Chinese and how Lucio Tan continues to walk around scot-free despite his billion peso tax deficiency. And even if Henry Sy has provided employment to thousands of salesladies, no one has actually stayed with SM for more than six months. benefits are just too costly for business. Try visiting high-end places in Manila and for sure you’ll see yourself surrounded by slit-eyed yellow people (pun intended). my mother also knows of a chinese guy who won a math Olympiad for his school. He was then offered Filipino citizenship but surprise surprise he turned it down. He continues to live in the country managing his own business and earns bigtime. Is that arrogance or what. Whenever I see teresita ang-see fume on tv how kidnam-for-ransom continues to threat Fil-Chinese security, how I wish I could shoot back that they always have the option to pack-up and leave.

Our nanny, I believe, has a personal grudge against the Chinese. she always notices how the Chinese aren’t just greedy but how they look down on Filipinos. Who wouldn’t? this is the only country where the citizens work their backs of for the foreigners and who actually glorify foreigners above their own.

Which leads me to another question. Howcome after years of colonization (i.e. slavery), Filipinos seem to have a penchant for patronizing people of a different color. Notice how everything in the country is tourist-friendly. From street signs to cab drivers to investment incentive package. We can’t just afford to have foreigners frown upon us. I bet the manila leg of amazing race won’t be as challenging as the Calcutta leg.

God I’m bored…

I’ve been feeling quite restless for months now. I’ve been thinking of resigning and transferring to a higher-paying job. I don’t seem to run out of things to pay for and I don’t think I enjoy my salary the way I want to. The only comfort I seem to get is being able to get a cab and I have to rethink that as well. But more than that I am more concerned that I can’t save. My untouchable account is not so untouchable now.

There are so many things I want to do. I feel very lazy and I can’t seem to start on anything. I can’t even update my CV. The only consolation I can think of is I’m not even two years on this job so I shouldn’t be too hard on myself.