Starting the New Year Right

I feel like I just blinked and its the start of 2014. Already?

But I’m not here to talk about how your Christmas went or if 2013 was brilliant or awful.

Resolutions? Nah. All I wanted was a longer vacation, longer time to watch TV or read books. I kind of clung to them like a raft. I was so lazy the whole vacation to think of what to do. Not an ounce of energy to even wrap gifts. I should be cooking and cleaning, but I was trolling Facebook and Candy Crush.

But that’s just 5% of the problem. If you think being lazy is the problem. You’re wrong.

It’s the cold, crisp, and chilly almost arctic feel in the morning.

Did you see the news on TV? the deep snow in US midwest?

Never mind the blizzard in New York. Mind the strawberries dying in Benguet. I thought I was seeing snow. Who says we don’t have them here?

So that’s what tied me to procrastinating.

Well. That and other thousand things.

Okay, so it is not really the weather alone. The other thousand things, if all summed up, is equivalent to well procrastinating.

Assuming that while some of you may not have a problem playing dead to the world, there are also some who think there are better ways of dealing with things like this.

So what to do?

First, put your laptop down. Get to real work people!

Hi! can i order a Big Mac, but without the cheese, lettuce, 

tomato, buns and patties and just get a pasta instead?"

Because you are a part of civilization. No matter what kind of job you have, do it. Even if you have to deal with a hundred of hot-heads, eccentric or just plain stupid people every single freaking day.

Second, deal with reality straightly.

"You're going to break with me anyway.
So yeah its the fat.."

If you have gained those ugly fats and bulges because of overindulgence this holiday, get out of bed. Take the huge blanket off of you and hit the gym. Stop self-pitying.

Third, take a new hobby. It’s always nice to discover new things.

They do this before the PIZZA

The Shaolin monks are always on the height of their physical and mental condition. That means on any given time of their day they can do a finger stand, perform complicated weapons maneuver and break your neck. So again put down that laptop. Okay?

And lastly, if you still have a lot of money from your ninangs and ninongs and spending it is starting to become such a burden, you could give, like, HALF of it to me. I won't complain. It's like charity. You'll all feel awesome.

I won't deny I actually hoped for her.
Net worth: 16.5 million

Therefore if you need tips on something, or advice, or you want to ask anything, e-mail me or leave it in the comments. I’ll probably help. We’ll see.

::

How to Deal With Your Instinct to Maim Those Politicians?

Have you ever watched the news? I try not to cause it’s so depressing but sometimes I see it. Look at them all so tough and defiant against their charges and allegations. The nerve of these people.

Bad senators, congressmen, judges, commissioners, barangay tanods aren't that hard to spot. They are EVERYWHERE. In order to deal with them, you have to understand what they are going through, where they are coming from. Because all they need is love and understanding.

JUST KIDDING.

These people expect that everybody loves them. They have this sense of self-worth that if they are honored, respected, prioritized and loved, they think they deserve it and if they are hated, they think their critics are if not heretics, are simply low-life lying morons.

Well?

The best way is to stay calm. You can bring them back to earth. Just have faith.

Or something.

So let’s begin.

Just because our public servants are restless souls, they are often hallucinating that their lives and time are more important than ours, which is why they get traffic escorts and back-up vehicles, want expresses through airport immigration and other similar conveniences. So I thought why fast forward the future and...

1. Prepare Them Advance Tombstones

 

Avoid putting "R.I.P" or "In Loving Memory Of" on their tombstone. Seriously? That is so 10 years ago. Give them some credit man! Be bold! Have them carve, "Wanna come with?". Better yet, have them write BRB or Be Right Back. Aside from its undeniable frivolity, this will remind our politicians that their powers and privileges do not necessarily mean an easy access to heaven. Saint Peter might send them elsewhere.

2. Summon a Ghost During a Senate Speech

Remember Tosho of The Grudge?

There is a saying that some ghosts are harmless and friendly. However this one is no Casper or else this would be useless. This ghost will be summoned during deliberation or privilege speech. The ghost will go to the public official and whispers mean things to him and only he can hear him. It can cause so much anguish and pain. Notice how he will become an emotional wreck right after the speech. Well, he can try to convince himself that his eyes are just irritated but we will know that's not true.

3. Sack them in a Life-Sized Condom

Every time they lie, steal, plagiarized, or spend millions for as inconsequential as burgers to as grandiose as a wack-wack mansion. Now there is a chance to effectively shoo away their nonchalant appeal for material things, lust included. Isn’t that once upon a time, God’s natural punishment was depriving them of erections? Such a frightening scenario, especially in a religious society that worships a God who does not believe in condoms and birth-control pills.

So when life gets tough, my dear readers, don't lose hope.

There's always a way.

Again, you're welcome.

AFLOAT

You might be asking how I am so I thought I would tell you.

I am better than yesterday. Thank you.

I think I have visited more than enough hospitals this year, seen few hospital beds and met handful of people, which is good for an introvert like me. I am not shy. I am just big on privacy, personal space and a firm believer of not talking to strangers. So the nurses and doctors I’ve met? You people are amazing. We should give one day in year to honor you.

The past month has been beyond hard. The worst was the weekend before last. But mother is doing well on Letrozole and B-complex and some vitamins. She now laughs a little, speaks livelier and eats healthier. Recovery road is a long travel. And she needs all these synthetic pills, and our constant love and support to live longer. It is expensive, tiring, stressful and depressing. But we need to choose to stand back up again in life. One foot in front of the other is sometimes the best way we can manage.

We did indeed go see her every weekend and every single time we see her, we walk off somehow feeling enriched and better ourselves. She is okay, we are okay.

There's a quote by somebody famous about how, we must not be afraid to share the hard times in our life. Something about poets heralding the darkness, because if it doesn't get documented, how will people know we got through? That they can get through as well?

So. That's where I'm at. I'm ok enough to log on to my computer and upload some photos and write some words, so that's something. I miss the days of just coming to blog and offloading like I used to, without worrying that some people I love will die, and that bad things will still come one day.

At this point I don't care. It's night-time and it's raining. Tomorrow is a whole new day.

::

This verse has kept me alive. I think about it and it made a whole world of sense.

Isn't it?

Selfies, Anyone?

Now on Instagram and Facebook, and probably any where else in the social media.

Selfie photos.

A singular image where face is at the center, and an outstretched arm amputated by the edges of the frame. That, and the perennially awkward gesture of pointing your camera/cell phone at a mirror.

You can say many things about the Selfie, a.k.a auto-portraiture, or better yet, ego-photography: that it is the ultimate symbol of Narcissism. You assume that people are so desperate to see your face.

Now, everyone’s an artist. Everyone’s a photographer. In the same way that everyone’s a filmmaker, everyone’s a chef, everyone’s a goddamned food critic or movie reviewer. Everyone’s doing selfies, from Justin Bieber to the Obamas. We’re all guilty of it.

Twenty to thirty years, it would have been unthinkable. It would be deemed a waste of precious Fujicolor or Kodak film. Certain generations remember how they would weep upon seeing a number of damaged/useless/out-of-focus-blurry frames at the photo shop.

But today, there fly mindless shapshots of anything: Lunch plate, shoes, toes and cuticle, dogs, starbucks cup, etc.etc.

Now, let’s sample on our selfie celebrities and tell me who is more vain and desperately insecure.

Mirror on mirror shot: "Jeez, crazy bad hair day, but I am still cute"

Duck Face: Suddenly, I got embarrassed at the thought of a selfie picture. 

Photo-op with another celebrity:" undeniably a fan"

Posing with a boyfriend looking very much in love:"Still not over your ex.."

Ad-lib Shot: "I-am-so-busy-and-cool-I-can't-be-bothered"

Staring at nothing: "How deep.."

::

Do you do selfie too?

Would You Rather: Hot or Cold?

Happy June first, my dear friends.

June is always abuzz that is a start of a lot of things to Filipinos, especially Metro Manilans. School, traffic, and well, rainy season. Remember that scene in my beloved Calumpit Bulacan-where residents waded in knee-deep water for weeks? God forbid it will not happen again.

The title, this looks like a pretty innocent question. Did you ever ask yourself which you prefer, hot or cold? May be inane, as in not much of a debate material. But it seems that people have very strong opinions when it comes to this all-important question -- opinions that are right up their with their plans for world peace and their thoughts on the Vice Ganda- Jessica Soho ongoing issue on comedy bar jokes.

Below, the poster that plot down the plus and minus of our wet and dry weather.



I like hot weather better. Do you know that I get a bit sentimental when it rains?

The bottom line: it’s all a matter of taste. Some people like R&B, I loathe it. Some people like heavy metal songs and I would rather stick my head into a grinder.

Ultimately we do not question each other’s preferences.

Its A Choice

Sometimes I stand on the street, look around at all the people, and wonder which of them are gays, lesbians, or transgenders.

Maybe quite a few, filled with the terror and angst it takes to hide their true selves so that others won't find out. It'd be so, so hard. I can't imagine. And may be some others so okay with it they flaunt it in their neon green nails, studded shirt and spiky hairs.

I don't know so many things. But I am big on social justice, equality, fairness and right to express self as it pertains to identity and mental health. But sometimes all ours kids ever get told is“no” and “you can not do that” and “behave". That thing you do with words is outstanding. Only twenty-six letters in the alphabet and you arrange them just so.

Hubs and I have been parenting our children for nine years, now. It's a privilege, it's wonderful, it's frustrating, disappointing, tiring. I've learnt a lot about parenting, mostly through trial and error. We muddle through, think that it will get easier as they get older. I'm starting to realize it's harder.

And like me, millions of parents watch their kids every day. But I'm not millions. I'm one. And my son, he's all mine and the way the tendrils curl around his ears when his hair gets too long is so gorgeous that I want to punch something. What is that?

Thing is, I do not want any of my children to know life harder than it already is. So I pray that they will live straight lives, make straight choices. And hopefully make them realize the impact of their choices.

I hope to explain them the difference between gays, lesbians and transgenders like one day I will tell them the differences between sex and drugs, God and the devil and love and fear.

::

What do you think of Charice's transformation?

"For me, just love me. I am a person. If you think I am boy or a  girl
or if I look like a boy, then fine. I am Charice. I know what people think, I don't care
This is the look I want. The only thing that you can do is move on."

Now It’s the Ladies Time to Shine

Now the Philippines has voted. Apparently, the real winners of the 2013 senatorial election must be fans of Da King. Grace Poe is well on her way to becoming one of our senators. Currently on the top spot, her adoptive parents’ name helped people remember her. Now I can hear FPJ cackling in the background.

Truth to be told, I did vote for her. You see, I always like fresh start. I can see the sincerity and her pureness of intention. Now I’d like to see her make good on the senate floor.



However we have to keep exciting now that Madam Miriam Defensor-Santiago is making an exit. So I hope the new comers will be as splendid, and funny, and comical, and crazy as she was.

So what are we looking for this season? Who could possibly replace her?

First was Loren Legarda. She can’t pass for a comedian. She’s too demure, she reminded me of a Muslim princess. However her SALN’s issues are still bones inside the closet. She may always get to the top, wherever she wants to be. However, lying her way to get there will be dangerous because she will be easily get toppled when she’s precariously at the top. Please remember that Loren Legarda judged Renato Corona based on Renato’s lying offense.

Second was Nancy Binay. Her Nanay appeal, would certainly take her to places she’s never been before. Really, its so much easier to read the list of her achievements because face it, it’s kind exhausting reading the laws that Teddy Casino co-authored. A blank white page is more soothing to the eyes. Also I hope she push for the legislation of The Birthday Cake Act.

Third would be Cynthia Villar. It’s kinda hard to like this lady despite her years in the congress. She is not even funny. She looked like my Lola who never learned to crack a good joke. Seriously, she got some shady things under her belt. I don’t know. What I know is a guarantee that we’ll have another Villar to replace the departing Villar.

Sigh.

Certainly non big winners are Mitos Magsaysay, Risa Hontiveros and Jamby Madrigal.

Mitos wasn’t appealing to the masses and I can pin the blame on her strange remark. Yes, she’s the lady who said “Hinde mo pwedeng paghiwalayin ang simbahan at pamahalaan sapagkat ako po ay pinanganak na Katoliko”. I still don’t see the logic of that statement.

Poor Risa, I don’t know if she’ll continue her debate with the still baffled Nancy. She almost won three years ago and I thought she would win this year. But then there will always be next time.

And former presidentiable Jamby, may be she can consider changing career path. I don’t mean that she should go for an even lower position. I mean stop.

And of course, we’ve got a package delivered to us perfectly wrapped with a yellow ribbon. Come 2016, we’ll have Kris Aquino running for congress. I don’t really have a problem Kris trying to divine the spirit of her parents, but are we nearing kingdom come yet? there seems to be no end to this Yellow Fever. If Kris will be the President, I hope I’ll be dead by then.

I’ll make sure of it.

BIPOLAR

Talking about mental illness is a slippery eel. If one went to hospital almost because of a broken leg? Completely legit. But if one went to hospital for a broken mind? A shame for life. A stigma you can never redo.

Thing is, they're mostly just like you and me. Mostly just doing their best. You would never guess if you walked past them in the street. Or see them on TV. Sometimes we were probably too busy thinking about basic things like food and water and shelter and forget about other basic stuff like the monsters in our mind.

Everybody experiences mood shifts in daily life, but with bipolar disorder these changes are extreme. A person may be quite unaware of these changes in their attitude or behavior. After a manic phase is over, they may be quite shocked at what they've done and the effect that it has had.

Inside a bipolar mind, the streets are crazy, no traffic lights. Things just zoom around and get away with it.

Like monstrous waves crashing on sharp rocks.

And these are feelings these people must be feeling right now.

Catherine Zeta-Jones checked into facility for Bipolar care

20-year old Demi Lovato had series of rehabs for substance abuse disorder, bulimia and bipolar..

Isabella Gonzales (daughter of Kuh Ledesma):

"I'm not ashamed to admit it. I was diagnosed at 17. It's genetic since I have it on my dad's side"

 

The two psychologists I flew with to Cebu confirmed that the popular young star currently in a family war is indeed a patient. Of a psych ward. Currently undergoing therapy for Bipolar II.

Above The Clouds

Every woman needs to see the whole world. Wild and Free. There is something almost magical about roaming the earth. In the air. Carried by the wind.

Need to say it was my first time to ride the airplane?

I flew to Cebu. No big deal. But it was the air travel that I enjoyed but fret the most.   Feels like I’ve changed and became more civilized. If anything, I don’t want to die unevolved.

The take off was hard. I have run out of tough and all that’s left me was a crumbling stomach. The small talk somehow saved me, gave me something to focus on. However I thought I kept internally crumbling while maintaining decent conversation with my two companions.

"Your home in the sky..."

Don’t even get me started on my throbbing ears. I couldn't even faked a yawn.

And as they say all the first times are memorable. First turbulence. First air pocket. They kept me constantly breaking into pieces, changing, spinning me towards the heavens and then hell the next.

This portion was smoking all through out..reminded of heaven.

You wouldn’t know it from the photos.

Half-way through the trip, I realized it’s a big world out there. And I was just a speck of dust. What must it be like to feel invisible to the world?

I'm feeling feelings that I can't adequately convey. They must be French feelings .. you know how the French have words that don't exist in English?

Mactan International Airport

Just pure awesomeness!

Crawling To The Voting Line

Note: Inspired by a post of fellow blogger Senyor Iskwater, I too have something to say.

Whenever I turn the corner onto that street and see posters and placards sticking out from the roofs of jeepneys all the way to light posts and street walls like obnoxious danger signs, I say uh oh here we go again. You see, I take this two lane road for much of the way to the train station and they are veritable indicators that yes indeed, it’s cirque-de-soliel time aka election. I see mini vans coming with loud speakers banging a campaign jingle ala Justin Beiber, and at my back, another amplifier with recorded campaign slogan.

It would be easy to just rant about the usual fanfare that erupts around this time like seeing a dancing mosquito mascot (aimed to boast a politician’s effort to rid dengue in our place), a wrinkled rooster (all because his last name is San Pedro. Pedro? Peter? crowing chicken? ) and a host of other seemingly science fiction characters from Gollum to Joker to Borta.

That’s only in our town. I am not yet talking about our national candidates.

But since in the spirit of altruism, allow me to do this rare serious, semi-activist type post to throw my two cents about how I feel about the whole thing. And I’m dispensing the pretenses right away and admit that it is only my opinion and have more to do with my own shallowness that it does with my genuine desire to help you pick the right people to roll in the government.

Oh Lord have mercy, where do I begin with these people. I’ll narrow the list to only two categories: will probably vote and will not vote. This includes personalities that are running for national seat in the government. So we see them on TV, newspaper, trash cans, candy wrappers, etc. etc.

Now on to the entry..

WILL NOT VOTE

Aside it being easier to talk about because it’s amusing and entertaining, these people are both preposterously funny and ridiculous at the same time. Their slogans extremely over-the-top, my brain can’t make the connections.

Patay gutom lang ang tingin sa atin haha!

Her PR people attempt to brand her as "Nanay sa Senado". Heaven help us. 

"I did not cheat. I am clean. I resigned. AND.I.AM.BACK!"

JV's first authored bill? "No To Dynasty"

At the next Upper House: mag-kapatid, mag-pinsan, mag-asawa. Need I say more?

If Franklin Drilon called another senatorial aspirant Jun Magsaysay, ang tunay na Magsaysay, then what is she?

will co-authored JV on No To Dynasty bill

WILL PROBABLY VOTE 

1. Allan Cayetano 
2. Grace Poe 
3. Loren Legarda 
4. Eddie Villanueva 

No long story to back this up. Probably because until now the list is still subject to change . You know me, my mind has tendency to wander at the best times.

::

And since the turnabout is fairplay, I have a question. Who do you all think should win?

The Reasons Why Thrifting Is Never Easy

Who is the one always harping about paying cash and staying within your budget?

Me.

Who is scared to go broke days before the payday?

Me.

I pass by department stores everyday to and from work and I see things I think I need but don’t buy. Things is, they are too pricey. Totally out of budget.

So where does a cost-conscious, penny-pinching person like myself go?

The answer is thrift store. Ukay-ukay or Wagwagan,

In hindsight I can tell you that, true to what I had mused about money and lack of it is in the post where I begged for Santa to pay off all of my loans, this choice fit the mold in that it was extremely difficult at the time but ended up being the right one. It’s hard to buy pre-owned stuff right? What if they wore by a dead person? I mean not when he was still alive but say, at his wake?

Oh well, I know they don’t change dead person’s clothing once already inside the coffin. So there really isn’t any chance that they’ll undress him and sell the shirt to a thrift store. But it’s me. I get scared and excited almost by the same things. Remember the post where I related the benefits of buying haunted furnishings and then blogged four days later why horror movies leave me like a zombie. Yes readers, that’s how I rock and roll.

There are so many reasons to love shopping here. For example, I could go on about the amazing P 65.00 never-been used swimwear I wore to the beach where I almost lost a child? The tag inside was still original. Or so I thought. I also got a green blouse for less than a hundred peso.

I wonder why green hangers are common in Ukay-ukay..

However, when you go in these places make sure you have at least 3 hours to haul mountain of clothes. Like you do in an ordinary department store, check for lose buttons, hems and linings. Watch out for the stains in the armpits, chest and other areas. Also you have to dust off before purchase. Forget the smell. Old clothes smell like old people.

These are extra pointers to think when you decided to visit these stores.

1. Know what you are looking for. Ukay ukay clothes come in rows and can be overwhelming. Have in mind the outfit or look you want to for before you go shopping. That way, getting that tie-dyed shirt, flare pants and hippe bad for your seventies retro look will be easier.
2. Have an eye for detail. Sometimes I do look for brands, since they come a lot cheaper than the ones sold in malls. However details are what make clothes interesting. Look for good one-of-kind-prints, delicate embroidery or unusual buttons.
3. Try it on. Always try on the outfits before purchase. Don’t rely on the size on the tag. It may already have stretched or shrunk. Also the L size before may be the S size today.
4. Be patient. You need a load of patience to go through every item if you want to snag a real find.
   
   
   
   And more importantly,
   
   5.Learn the art of haggling. Ukay-ukay stores give you price cuts on these grounds: its their “buena mano”(first sale), when you buy a lot of items, when the business is slow like during rainy seasons, and when you are makulit (persistent)
   
   ::
   
   Who else has thrifting story to share? It doesn’t have to be embarrassing- although that will earn you extra point for being branded as bakya, cheap, broke and well, jologs

In A Corset State of Mind

I could use some of these. The closest I wear to this was the postpartum girdle I used after giving birth. What do you call it? oh yes, binder.

Tightlacing has been around since 16th century in an attempt to support the body, enhance the breasts, and make the waist appear smaller than it was naturally.

In the process of wearing it, your waistline will be as almost as the same circumference as the head, meaning you’d have room for only half a liver and a few inches of intestines. The result: chronic diarrhea and death from malabsorption and malnutrition.

But the benefits? a small waist, great posture, and cleavage if you want it.

But what does it feel like? you cannot bend, you cannot slouch therefore you’re like a tree.

The reason I chose to talk about this today is because Hubs and I went shopping for pants last Friday. And when I did try some of the pants on, I realized my waistline is hardly as sized as my head. Not unless I have hydrocephalus.

The Weight of a Woman

There’s no business like show business. Everything about it is appealing. And of course, nowhere can you get that happy feeling.

This line is from a musical Annie. And it also says that there are no people like show people – those happy, flashy, extravagant, over-the-top people who have seamlessly mastered the art of acting, singing and dancing.

They look so powerful and seem well put together. But if you dig deeper ever so slightly the surface, the glamour perhaps the high profile status is torn down and changed into much more humane and common and totally relatable. You see them on cam and you tell yourself how perfect they are. Like all the puzzle pieces just naturally fall into place. You can just tell by the way they talk and carry themselves. It really is a sight to behold, actually. But behind the spotlight, they turned into wives and mothers who are also scared, broken, scarred and worried by life’s imperfections.

These women are beautiful as well as amazing.

And they both have children with severe autism.

Kris Aquino is a celebrity here in the Philippines. She is at the moment a single parent, who loves his two sons so much, including the special child Joshua. He is diagnosed with autism, learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder.

In fact, she has already allotted a big trust fund for the two kids specially to her special child. Her brother, Noynoy Aquino the president of the Philippines, even said that he didn't marry because he wants to take care of Joshua.

She delivered the late night news. Broadcast journalist Karen Davila’s firstborn, David, was 3½ years old when he was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD/NOS) in the Autism Spectrum, a severe form of autism. The development pediatrician said there was no cure for David’s condition.

These women are remarkable. And it makes me feel like, little by little, those walls of stereotypes and misconceptions are being torn down. You see them all glammed up but sure they’d come home to children who need them, like how my children need me. Who can make them laugh, aren't afraid to be silly with them, who knows just the trick to get them to eat their peas – and other tons of things in this world to raise kids, to watch them grow and learn and thrive.

And speaking of disabilities in case you ask, would we ever trade your children and exchanged them for somebody who are cuter, chubbier, brilliant, more talented individuals. Our answer? Never.

How Much Do You Need TeleSerye In Your Life?

Okay, I admit it. I have a tendency to torture myself. Whether it’s killing myself dancing Zumba, or dying watching TV. I’m a TV addict. You can bribe me to stay home all day by just leaving the TV on. Basically, I know how to entertain myself.

But in spirit of brainless fun, allow me to describe what I love and hate with what’s on TV every night.

What are the odds that when you are explaining the value of honesty to your son, telling him to avoid use of profane languages, and howling and crying won’t do him any good, that when you switch the TV on you’d be shocked by the name-calling, cursing, yelling between bida and contrabida even Tabasco has no match to their spicy words?

Apparently, the chances are pretty good.



First of, Channel 7, after Indio (btw this show’s use of old vernacular makes them sweet to ear, so this one can pass up) welcome Pahiram ng Sandali. Look s like the selling point of the story is "hell hath no fury than a woman scorned.." There are mildly amusing scenes here and there. And there is a mildly sexy, slightly charming flirtation scene between the still sexy but obviously old Lorna and well toned, young Dingdong. Dindong shows us why women still fall head over heels for him, now if only that’s a bit gross to imagine. All in all, this is teleserye. Anything can happen.



At about the same time, on channel 2 airs Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw. See the sexy Anne Curtis as Ruth who is so hell-bent on becoming a model in New York that she stages her own kidnapping to extort money from her father to finance her dream. In real life, of course, short girls like Ruth, the name of Anne’s character, don’t stand a chance even on the runways of New York, Cubao.

Sadly, this one offered very little over-the-top propositions in its first week that would make it worth buying a stored-value-ticket for. Nor did it hint that things will eventually get exciting. From the poster alone, we already know that Anne and her sister Roxanne, played by Kris Aquino, will both fall in love with the lone leading man, Robin Padilla—even if Roxanne pretends to be all nice and supportive of her rebellious sister’s pursuits in the beginning. Second, we already know that Robin and Tirso Cruz III have a past—and not the kind of past we’re interested in (like maybe Tirso was once Robin’s Mrs. Robinson). In the soap, Tirso, a former security guard, has something to do with the death of Robin’s father. Big deal.



If you stayed further late, prepare to watch Temptation of Wife, a Korean remake. Be enthralled by Heidi’s bangs. It is so straight and shiny, you wish you can grow one yourself. She is so sexy but cunning and schemy you also want to rip her apart. But wait, there’s Angeline-turned-Chantal. Even my 3 year old kid can guess she is the former. But this, again, is a teleserye. People come back from the dead in teleseryes. Your mother will turn out to be your daughter’s sister in teleseryes, and Sam Milby and Paulo Avelino will fight tooth, nail, abs, and dimples just to win Angeline Quinto’s heart. This is the reason people risk their lives every week night taking the MRT, where it is possible to die from getting squeezed to death or just from inhaling the aroma of the city’s commuting public: to make it home in time for an hour's worth of unbelievable.



Back to channel 2 again at around 10pm, watch Iza Calzado’s disobedient wig. Why on earth this one never move? Is she sick? And why is Andi Eigenmann head over heels mad at her? I don’t think Jake Cuenca's weird moustache is worth it.

In closing, you'll ask why everyone hates everyone? why on earth there's always a mistress in each story?

Probably it might be a good idea to skip watching for a week. Because it’s usually when you stop watching that the network bosses get nervous and order a bunch of rewrites (a botched effort at which is probably the reason for the early demise of A Beautiful Affair). So when you tune back in two weeks after, these teleseryes will start blowing your mind with a pile of incest twists, loads of zinger dialogue, and a bunch of people coming back from the dead. Who knows, maybe Anne Curtis will come back from New York a more interesting character, or taller, or as a fashion model very curiously resembling BB Gandanghari.

I’d might take the train for that any day.

Because It's Valentine

Since when was the last time you went geeky? crazy? slave? because of love. Did you ever try doing the most unimaginable thing just because you are so over-the-moon in love with a person? If anything, romance as they say is tempestuous. You don’t love hard enough if you never had done something so hilarious, funny, dramatic, suspense-filled, death-defying, shocking action when you're in a relationship.

Or may be you’re contemplating on staying single all your life. All because you think there are lots of more important things to do and think about rather than jump on the bandwagon. And you have decided that your heart is not a plaything to do with whatever mind wants. After all, it’s the brain that tells your heart what to feel. Heart just pumps blood.

But whatever your analyses are, people become more interesting when they are starting to fall in love, already in-love, and falling out of love.

Take these cues from UP professor, writer, TV comedian, Ramon Bautista on his TUMBLR account. Funny that he is still single, but this guy seems to know a lot about relationships than many of us do.

Girls, hear this out:

If only men can tell this straight to our face

I hope you all do your part to consume as much sugar, ice cream, cake and chocolate as possible.

Advance Happy V-day my friends!

Everything I Ever Wanted To Be

I'm sure you see her.

Why is this girl so happy?

She's the one whose clothes are neatly pressed, nails perfectly manicured, waist so narrow, house is immaculate, and children polite and behave. (Sigh). Mine are so wild sometimes, even Dora can’t explore them.

She is everything I am not.

But I'm trying. I'm really, really trying.

I know I told you I don’t have a resolution.

But I promised myself that for the New Year I will be the best me.

And I've really tried to stick with it--I'll spend wisely, eat better, stay active (*finger cross*), and take charge of all my work stuff.

But then there's me.

The me that everyone sees. Fat arms. Outdated clothes. My husband threatened to burn this one blouse I still use. He said he saw me in this blouse even before I gave birth to our eldest. I wonder if Sigmund Freud is right about penny-pinching.

I am always tired. My hair is flat. My nails are broken and unkempt.

Perhaps I'm being too hard on myself, but seriously? I don't feel great most days.

I feel like there's this person inside of me just waiting to bust a move in the outside world.

But instead she's buried in laundry and all the rest of the mundane chores a woman has to do every day.

So, this year I decided I'd change all that. I will work hard all weekends to get the house organized and in order. I’ll set time for manicure and pedicure.

But I woke up last Saturday morning and reality hit me: Saturdays are reserved for cooking, cleaning, and generally un-fun things. And Sundays are saved for ironing.

But thanks heaven, manicure I did.

But you know what happened when I hung my clothes up in the laundry?

I chipped the polish off of my newly manicured nails.

Gah.

Things They Didn't Tell Me

Hello readers! Hope you have a good weekend..

Glad it’s over. New Year. Not complaining. Just saying. Sometimes the start of the year makes you over think. A lot more introspective than any other days in the year. All the people want to have a fresh start like new look, new girlfriend, new job, new life. The reasons why we write those tricky little bastards called resolutions, right? You see I have grown a little. I’ve changed. There’s a side of me that whenever this season comes, a change in year, I refused to be drawn in to the fiasco that always, always happens this time around. If nothing is coming, then why bother? Just keep on going. There's always a pause, a moment when you realized that stagnancy of life is not bad at all. And I like that I learnt how to play around things now.

How do we get through the things that we can't get through? How can we make sense of the unfathomable? Can't. Just have to keep going, do what we can. Strip it all back. The most important things in life aren't things. We are wiser than we know.

Dreams, like warts and mole, they grow back. At the precise moment of dreadful failures, the human spirit inside us instantly begins to plot its own survival. And a heart that is broken again and again, is stronger that we thought. It can swallow a big pride without choking, strike old wounds without being hurtful and defensive. Although I still don't understand the magnitude of life, who says we have to?

Saying yes to life makes it open up like an oyster.

My mother appeared at Social Security for the annual confirmation. It is the system’s way to check if the pensioner is still alive. She does this so they will continue her check. My father has pension too. But he died elsewhere, with a different family, years after their marriage broke up. I believe I have four or five younger half-siblings. I also learned that it's the other woman who picks up my father’s annuity.

I felt my mother has few misgivings whether to fight for it or not. Half of me can’t take it. It belongs to mother and she could use the money for her maintenance. And I feel for her. I punched my self-consciousness if it’s right to convince her to claim what’s rightfully hers. It took my whole life to be in a place where I believe I can make a difference. But my other side tells the other family needs it more. My father died a poor man. I strongly believe that we live more comfortably than them.



There’s a deep essence of something I don’t know. I'm just so, so sorry down here. I guess a sister is only as happy as its unhappiest half-sister or brother.

So while I wait for God to tell me what to do, I leave you loads of love, understanding and peace. Supersized, and with refills.

Holiday Bug

Happy Friday and Happy Holidays again to you all, my dear friends. Here's to a wonderfully relaxing weekend of peace and joy spent with family and friends. I'm sending you giant hug through the computer. Can you feel it? I'll be eating lots of sweets this weekend and watching Twilight movies (I haven't seen yet Breaking Dawn Part 2...).

And in case you did not get the gifts you wished, or your plans failed, or found that the long vacation is really more tiring than relaxing, remember to:



Remember that what comes around, goes around. Okay?

Getting Through Christmas

{The breaking news started midmorning. Elementary school. 20 kids shot. Five was the youngest. Teachers killed. I broke down. All those children. So, in honor of the kids who passed away, ten days short of Christmas, I give this poem. I imagine them all excited for the holidays, telling what they want to have under the tree. }
Dear Santa

Dear Santa, here's my Christmas list. I hope you'll bring it all. I've only asked for gifts my parents can't find at the mall.

I'd like to have a UFO, with aliens inside, and maybe a Tyrannosaurus Rex that I could ride.

A ninety-nine foot robot is a present I could use. I'll also need a time machine, and rocket-powered shoes.

Please bring a gentle genie who will grant my every wish, and don't forget a wizard's wand, and, yes, a talking fish.

Of course, I'll need a unicorn, and won't you please provide a dragon, and a castle in the English countryside.

Of course, the weight of all these things might cause your sleigh to crash. If that's the case, dear Santa, just make my growing up years, cheery and bright!

Ana Marquez-Greene, 6

Jesse Lewis, 6.

Emilie Parker, 6

James Mattioli, Jessixa Rekos, both 6

Noah Posner, 5.

Olivia Engel, 5

Dylan Hockley, 5

Daniel Barden, 5

"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him."--Paolo Casals