To my dear fellowmen: thoughts on 2013 election

Few hours from now, we will start putting our future in the hands of the selected few. After we experienced the campaign circus in forms of:

- dancing candidates in tune of novelty songs and their campaign jingles

- singing, serenading candidates to woo moms and grandmoms

- joking candidates-turned standup comedians to gain public attention

- acting candidates while filming their TV campaign ads

 and a lot more…

I could go on to my list, but that would probably exhaust you to read. Instead, I want to be direct and go to my point. My fellow Filipinos, we are now in the time to make a change. Let’s take this chance seriously by thinking carefully whose names we are going to shade for tomorrow’s election. Let us be guided with these thoughts that I could gather from my jumbled mind at the moment:

1. Not all old candidates are worthy to be re-elected. Some may have gained more experience in serving others, but the keyword there is some. The number of years in service is not a guarantee of being an exemplary public servant. I could give you many examples.

2. Popularity does not equate to good service. Candidates may be actors, models, singers, and even contortionists, but we must ask ourselves: What can they do to serve us? Do they know a thing in public service?

3. The father is different from the son. Or daughter. Or whatever. When the father, a mayor, finished his third term, he would run as a congressman and ask his son to take the mayorship from him. This son, who is a councilor, would then ask his son, a barangay chairman, to replace him. The cycle goes on for years. Political dynasties are common in the Philippines  and don’t we wonder why they exist? Are we assured that the mayor’s work, provided that it is honorable, will be followed through by the son?

4. Signages are not everything. In our country, it is very common to see basketball courts, waiting sheds, and even lampposts, with the lines “a project of mayor bla bla bla”. In my city, there are gigantic billboards detailing what the mayor is currently doing in his jurisdiction, with his huge smiling face plastered beside the photos of his work. Transparency and visibility are okay, but why do I feel that citizens must feel grateful and indebted as if we owe those projects to him? To add to the injury, few months ago a footbridge near my village was repainted with the line, “a project of councilor bla bla”. Interestingly, this councilor is the son of the current mayor and is running to replace his father for this election.

5. The number of times a political candidate appeared in TV is not a guarantee that he is worthy for the position. Media has greatly affected people’s way of thinking, but sometimes we have to stop and think: Perhaps he has enough resources to have a huge amount of air time? My favorite independent candidate did not even have his face visible, but I know he has excellent credentials. Shall I vote him?

6. Posters reflect the candidates’ priorities. Visibility is important to let people know that the politicians are there, but they must be put in proper places. Fellow Filipinos, do you see your public walls and lampposts full of political hopefuls’ diplomatic faces? Have you experienced taking public transpo with political stickers pasted on them? Do you know what will happen to those stickers and paper ads after the election? Few days before the big day, it rained in my city and to my surprise, a lot of areas immediately got flooded. It did not take a genius to realize that those posters are blocking the sewage. Is this how those candidates want to serve the public?

I hope this short list made you think. Do you think you already know these candidates? Think again. Why don’t you watch replays of political debates and read their profiles to know more about their backgrounds, credentials, and stands on both domestic and international matters? Do you even care? I hope you are not one of those who don’t even vote. Then later, these same people will complain and blame the government for their misfortunes. I really hate those people and I love you, so please don’t even copy them.

Dear fellowmen, it is high time for us to rise up and assert our rights. Suffrage is a gift given to us to carefully choose rightful candidates to be our voice in the government and protector of our interests. We have the power to decide who among these politicians can serve us unconditionally and not use the post for self-interests. They are public servants and we are the bosses, so why do we allow those already seated to rule over us? Let us stop this insane game of role playing. Tomorrow, exercise our right to vote and place eligible, sincere, and honest candidate to serve us the way we must be served.

Related articles:

http://voicepoints.blogspot.com/2012/10/comelec-allows-27-senatorial-aspirants.html

http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/data/candidates/senator?start=10

P.S. I wanted to post some photos showing those structures with the lines “project of mayor bla bla bla”, but to my surprise, all I could see when I googled some sample pictures were those from my city. Qué horror!

What will you get your mom for Mother’s Day?

Show your love to the most important woman in the world!

No matter how busy you are or how hectic your schedule is, you must not forget to show your appreciation to the woman who have given life to you and shaped the person you are now. When you were only a tiny blip in this world, she carried you with her for nine months (unless you are prematured like me) with love even though you gave her a hard time with those morning sickness and sleepless nights as you do cartwheels inside her tummy. When she finally laid eyes on you for the first time, she declared you as the most precious gift she received in her life. As you grow, she’s there to teach you the basic means to live – to follow her teachings and depend on her. That is why you always run to her whenever your preschool classmate stole your lunch or you scraped your knee in the playground. When you got older, she gave you guidance and advice (even unsolicited). No matter how much you hated her interference during your teenage years, you can’t deny that as you look back, Mom’s right. Few more years after, she stayed there in the background and watch you make decisions. You made mistakes, mostly because of not consulting her by being too proud to ask. Soon, you’d realize that the saying “Mother knows best” is true so you’d drive your way to her house to share your latest predicament. She’d open the door, old and wrinkly in her years but with wisdom in her eyes and give you a hug. You’d chat with her and questions would suddenly strike you: How did she become this old? Where did all the years go? What have I been doing all this time? Did I thank her enough?

Most of us still have the opportunity to share our lives with our mothers until now. We might be busy or live in opposite coasts, but we have the chance to show our love and gratitude for everything that our moms gave to us. Some are not that lucky. We must then grab every moment that we have to let her know that we appreciate, adore, and love her.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. In the Philippines and in other countries, this is a national day (but unfortunately not a holiday) when most people go out, celebrate, and take pride on being the children of their mothers. The usual gimmicks are flowers, Happy Mother’s Day card, and meals. Others go an extra mile just to show how special their moms are and think outside the box. GCs will never be enough.

Since next weekend will be the big day, I am already racking my brain for gift ideas. I originally planned for something handmade, but since I lack the skill to do even a paper boat, I cancelled that. I decided to create this post and link up some items I found which I can order online and be delivered on time for the holiday. Plus, I know some of my followers will be kind enough to offer some suggestions.

So here, my dearest, are some of what I found under the fashion department.

For stylish moms:

For moms on the go:

For moms who want to make a statement:

For office moms:

For fashionable moms:

I found these items at Udobuy online shop. Yes, I am still in the online shopping fever and my savings hate it. What caught my interest in this shop is their Mother’s Day special.

Udobuy’s Mother’s Day Promo

Part 1:

Shop in their site and you can get a 25% discount when you use the promo code 2013MOM. And get this, you will receive a $10 voucher on your next purchase! If your purchase amounts up to $69 or more, you are entitled to receive a free necklace.

Part 2:

What words do you want to say to your mom?
Write it down and share your experiences together. Send it to udobuy@gmail.com and get two freebies – one for you and your mom.

What gift do you want to give to your mom?
If your story can move the team, they will do their best to meet your wish. The gift can be of any amount.

Interesting? Of course it is! I so love these promos. If you want to participate, do hurry as these will end on May 7. You may click here to know more details on how to join.

There are a lot of gift ideas that we can actually think of, but the children in us think that these things cannot compensate the sacrifices and affection our moms gave to us. We don’t really have to spend a lot to show how much we love our moms. Give her a breakfast in bed, a bubble bath, or massage/hair/nail treatment. Experiment applying makeup or go shopping together. Or even let her hold the remote all day. No matter how mundane it seems, our moms will cherish the gesture.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and to all mothers, aunts, and grandmas out there!

On being Aphrodite: How far can you go to be beautiful?

Few weeks ago, my friend, Micah, invited me to spend time with her after work. She suggested going to our basic hangout place, SM Mall of Asia. Having nothing else to do after, I decided to come along. Apparently, it was on her schedule to go to our local waxing salon to de-hair herself. With enough cajoling from my other colleagues to have my body hair under the mercy of strangers, I settled for “I will try”. And I did try.

Lay Bare Waxing Salon is a waxing service franchise from US. I don’t think a lot of Filipinos are naturally hairy, but it seems my opinion was incorrect based on its growing number of branches in the metro and nearby provinces. In my village alone, there’s a branch exclusive for us!

Micah has been using its service for quite some time now, so I am not 100% scared that something will turn horribly wrong for me. Still, it’s my first time and like any other firsts, I was embarrassingly nervous. I do shave, albeit seldom, since there’s really no need to do so. I am almost completely out of hair. Really. Anyhow, I tried to put on my game face and pretended to be brave about it.

I signed up for eyebrow threading and underam services. Confession time: I don’t like touching my brows. They are naturally thin and go separate ways – I mean not like McD’s or Mazda eyebrow styles. I think they have only been “touched” less than ten times in my whole existence and those were the times when I really had to doll-up with the assistance of hair and make-up artists.

Anyway, let’s move on with my story. When my name was called to the booth, I walked slowly to my attendant. I explained that I was a newbie for the service and she gave me a smile which was often reserved for kids going to their dental check-up. Then she went on with her job. And I wished she hadn’t.

Never in my life had I thought that a single thread could give so much pain in my person. Imagine my surprise when the first “attack” happened. I was like an earthworm being tortured by naughty kids with rock salt. It was too painful, I cried. Too much for keeping a game face. The staff informed me that the pain will lessen soon, but I wasn’t soothed with that. I felt too much pain that when I complained again, the attendant scolded me of drinking tea on the day of a waxing appointment. According to the rules, drinking something with caffeine before going to a waxing session is a definite no-no. Thankfully, the next session wasn’t that as painful. We breezed through it while she complained that I don’t have any hair to remove in the first place. She went on with “Don’t go back here anytime soon”, “You just wasted money on these services you don’t actually need”, and “Your hair is like that of a baby”.

Why did I go with that “rite of passage”? Why did I even make myself susceptible to that beauty pain? What did I want to achieve? Did I want to prove that I’m already a grown-up and not a sweet, charming teenager? My mind was asking too many questions while I was waiting for my Micah in the lobby. When she finally emerged, she filled me with her stories on how painful it was to go Brazilian. It triggered more questions in my head.

Why do women have to go through a lot just to be called beautiful? And I’m saying physically beautiful. As far as I observe, pain comes along with beauty.

A pretty face has a price. How many of my Korean friends confessed of wanting to have parts of their body changed and some who really did it after? How many actresses and singers do we know have altered beauty? Do you doubt that they went through various kinds of pain just to achieve how they look now?

I personally know someone who had her surgery at the age of 16. She often voices her envy on my huge, ugly, double-lidded eyes. She thinks I am gifted with eyes of an owl and wanted  hers done. In her country, the surgery is quite normal that it is not surprising to meet others who have done the same thing no matter how young.

But will others get contented with just the eyes? In Korea, a perfect face must consist of: big, round, double-lidded eyes; straight perfect nose, and V-shaped face. Gangnam Style.

More alteration, more surgery. Well, at least I hope women who underwent surgeries are happy with the results. They might have gone through a lot of pain during the process, but I hope that they gained more self-confidence and satisfaction with what they got now.

Even though I personally dislike cosmetic surgery for myself, I don’t have anything against those people who went under the knife. They have their personal reasons, and mostly those are sound ones. However, I can’t help but frown at others who seem dissatisfied with life in general. Here are the not-so-common and can be termed “crazy” surgeries I think others do:

1. Dimpleplasty and chin cleft surgeries. Both look good at first, if you think a permanent “scar” as beautiful, but what about 5-10 years after? As we age, so does our skin. Who wants a sagging scar as he/she grows old?
2. Toe shortening. It seems others really find something wrong in their body. Those who do not like that their second toe is longer than the third or the rest of the toes go for this surgery.
3. Ear pointing. Who fancies being as pretty as elves and faeries? This procedure can be done by cutting a portion of the ear and stitching the two sides of the altered part. Result? Pointed ears!
4. Abdominal etching. Who doesn’t want those yummy abs? For men who want to get rid of those belly fat without exercise or any fad diet, they believe this is their answer. This is done by “sculpting” or “drawing” on layers of fat to make that sexy appearance. Again, what will happen when they grow old?
5. Cankle liposuction. Being a stick all my life, I never experienced worrying about my ankles. Call me insensitive, but it’s true. Lately, I read something about a woman fussing about her chubby ankles. Perhaps there’s something sexy and feminine with thin ankles? Whatever her reason maybe, I do not plan to waste $5000-$8000 by removing fats from my ankles.
6. Collagen feet fillers. It is true that wearing high heels boost confidence in women. Makes us feel beautiful, glamorous, and sexy. But wearing those stilettos and cigarette heels usually kill our feet. That is why some people decided to have some protein injected in the balls of their feet to act as cushion and padding while wearing those skyscrapers. Hmm what’s next? Surgery to make your feet like Barbie’s?
7. Pubic hair transplants. Seriously? Yes. I was also surprised when I read this. And to think that according to the article I read, it is common among Asians! WTH. Something to do with fertility. Ugh. No way, highway.

Why do people go through all those kind of surgeries? Is being beautiful and sexy so important that we turn a blind eye on the pain that comes along with each? How about you? Will you have something done for your body? What is your take on cosmetic surgery?

My fictional Valentine date

Yesterday, I finished reading Dominion by Melody Manful. As I was scheduled to review it on the same day, I posted my comments on this blog yesternight. You can see that in my view, the story was well-written for a YA fiction, and I can’t help but like the characters, especially the dark angel. Gideon Chase is someone who can make any woman attracted at the same time scared.

So I think it came as no surprise when I woke up this morning feeling funny. I just dreamed myself being with Gideon! In my dream, I was the heroine, Abigail, and Gideon and I were together. The dream went according to the storyline of the novel, and it was really weird. I felt a deep connection with the story that when I opened my eyes, I felt excited and tired, my heartbeat faster.

I know there are explanations why I usually dream about the things I have read. The stories may be lying in my subconscious, or there are some suppressed desires (whoa!) like admiring the hero of the book that could trigger the dream. Anyway, I don’t want to play Freud or Jung so I will stop analyzing it.

Today is Valentine’s Day and it is a big deal here in my country. It is also called Single Awareness Day and I’m sure you know why it is named as such. Everywhere we look here in the city, there will be a tinge of red here and there (not blood though). Of course, flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears vendors are all over the place hoping for last-minute shoppers. Tonight, the roads will be highly inaccessible due to traffic here in the metro as couples will flock to various restaurants and have dinner with their Valentine.

If a woman is single, she will surely be aware of her current relationship status when she sees all those things mentioned in the previous paragraph. But if she is in a relationship, wouldn’t it be nice to be with someone who fills her dreams (both literally and figuratively)?

Thus, I came up with a list of fictional boyfriends.

Daniel Grigori of the Fallen series

Daniel is one of the Fallen, a good angel who was banished from Heaven when he decided to side neither with God or Lucifer, but with his mortal love, Lucinda, during the War. As punishment, the two were cursed. When he gets emotionally closed to her, she spontaneously combust before her 18^th birthday. Then she will be reborn, and Daniel will find himself falling in love with her all over again.

Jace Lightwood of The Mortal Instruments series

Jamie Campbell Bower is Jace for the upcoming movie City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Book 1)

He is a shadowhunter, a Nephilim whose blood was blessed by an Angel to fight demons and creatures of the Underworld. An arrogant, charming and handsome man, he is popular to girls from different worlds to a promiscuous degree. However, he never formed any emotional attachments until he met Clary, who he thought was just a mere mortal who was gifted with a Sight, explaining her ability to see him and the others.

Jem Carstairs of The Infernal Devices series

Photo taken from the Clockwork Prince, Book 2 of the Infernal Devices

The series is the prequel for The Mortal Instruments. Jem is a shadowhunter who appeared to be like a silver angel with the same color of eyes and hair. He is kind, unselfish, and very handsome. He got sick and must take a silver powder made from demon’s blood to strengthen his power. Without the drug, he will grow weak and die. Tessa accepted his proposal because she likes him and to make the remaining days of his life happy.

Kellan Kyle from Thoughtless series

Photo of Kiera and Kellan from the official book trailer

This is one handsome, charismatic, sexy guitarist and vocalist. He fell in love with his roommate’s girlfriend (Kiera) when the guy (Denny) took an internship and was away from her. The feeling was new to him and it was difficult for him to express. Meanwhile, the couple has problems keeping up with each other that they decided to call it off. Kellan and Kiera then gave in to their feelings, but found themselves in a complicated situation when Denny returned professing his undying love to Kiera.

This list can go on for few more pages, but I don’t want to bore you with my fictional boyfriends. Perhaps you can share your book boyfriend or girlfriend instead? Who do you like and why? Have you dreamed of this character, too?

Related post:

Chinese Valentine’s Day

10 Gift Ideas for Bookworms (Books excluded!)

There are only 18 days before Christmas and we can already feel the Yuletide Season! Shops displaying holiday icons, FM radios playing Christmas songs, shopping malls offering great sales are some signs that the festive season is arriving. In this time, the spirit of love is apparent in the air and the art of giving gifts is also common. Along with that comes the most common problem some of us have – what shall I give him/her?

For this post, I am offering my list of gift suggestions for us, bookworms! Who else? Now, for a change, and as what the title suggests, this list won’t contain any book recommendation. Instead, I came up with some things that I feel are necessary for our lives of living with books.

Let’s cut the chase and go to these gift ideas!

1. Kindle/E-book readers. I know some vowed to read the printed words, but the world is changing and we cannot ignore the advantages a portable reader has. Amazon recently released Kindle Paperwhite and there are good reviews about it. Living in a country where Amazon is not that popular, many of us here do not own a Kindle, but I think I will try to own one in the future.

2. Bookbags. For those who love hard copies of books, a book bag will be your best friend. This ensures that your loved and well-valued books won’t be exposed with the elements, unless you joined them with chocolate wrappers inside your bag. More importantly, a book bag will enable you to travel more books with you wherever you go.

3. New and better bookshelves. I think it is already given that we have our own shelves, but as we acquire more books, the world of our beloved pages become small and we need to purchase another house for them. So there goes another bookshelf.

4. Stylish bookmarks. Even some books do not want us to put them down and instead finish in one sitting, some still need breaks so bookmarks are necessary! Find something that will surely fit the reader’s personality, and you will immediately get one score in the reader’s heart.

5. Unique bookends. If you have enough space in your shelf, the next problem will be on how to ensure that your books won’t fall over. Bookends are created for this. Try to get something with unique design, too!

6. Bendable book lights. Even if our eye doctors prohibit us from tiring our eyes much and using them even in the dark, nothing can stop us from finishing a novel. So thank you for those who devised this new creation – book lights! This takes us the hassle from reading in the dark by clipping the device in the book. No need to light up the entire room, then!

7. Flag highlighters. Some of us highlight our books for those quotable quotes a character mentioned. Some even want to mark an entire page because of an important revelation in that installment. Whatever the case may be, we do not have to damage our books by putting dog ears on them. With highlighters and post-its, we can save folding our books and decreasing its value.

8. Notepad/journal. Others may find actions mentioned in number seven horrifying, so they are contented writing quotes and other things in a journal. Or sometimes, they use this to list the books they have read/wanting to read for a month!

9. Comfortable couch (foot rest can be an option). Nothing can compare with the feeling of seating in your favorite chair in the center of the room while reading a book. Try to buy a design as above so you will really feel surrounded by books!

10. T-shirts and coffee mugs bearing favorite authors and characters. For fans, we love to have some book memorabilia – may it be signed books, t-shirts, mugs. These things remind us of the authors and characters we know and loved and they inspire us to read more.

So there goes my list of gift ideas for bookworms. There are other nominees, and should you think those two are not enough, here are the other three which did not make it to the top ten.

1. Hot cup of coffee, chocolate, or tea. Others prefer to concentrate deeply in what they are reading, while some fellows like me love to drink something while drinking. For us, another gift idea could be a hot drink while we read. It can be a bag of Arabic coffee or pure green tea.

2. A CD of Moxy Fruvous’ My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors. This album has the song My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors which tells the story of a man who loves a bookworm and their lives together. It is hilarious, but true.

3. Perfume which smells like book. Bookworms love the smell of books, and perhaps some wants to smell like one!

That’s it for now. I will be going to my company’s holiday party tomorrow and I hope to get some things I have mentioned above. Just kidding! I hope this list helped you in considering what to get for your bookworm friend/lover. If you have any other gift ideas, please feel free to comment below and share your thoughts. 

Daily Prompt: IMHO – VFA and the dumping of toxic wastes in the Philippines

For today’s daily prompt, we are asked to post a link of a news and try to create an op-ed about it. So after reading a news published by The Philippine Star , here’s my long opinion about VFA and the current controversy.

There has been a series of discussion and debates regarding the VFA. The RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement is a bilateral agreement affected last 1998 upon ratification of the Philippine senate. However, it was not ratified by the US government as it considered this only as an executive agreement, which became one of the reasons for the continuing argument on the matter.

In a nutshell, “The VFA is essentially about the treatment of U.S. armed forces and defense personnel who would be visiting the Philippines take part in activities covered by the 1951 Mutual defense Treaty and approved by the Philippine Government…The Agreement gives substance to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty by serving as legal framework in promoting defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United States,” as stated in the VFA Primer by the US Embassy.

Ideally, this agreement is for mutual benefits of two parties involved. Basically, the US can maintain their “temporary” stronghold in Asia by basing US Special Forces in the country while the Philippine Army can get enough military training as well as getting “second-hand” armaments. There are other provisions stated in the two-part agreement and should you wish to read more, you can do it here.

When former President Arroyo subjected the country to the then President Bush’s whims against Global War on Terror, the Philippines was again “visited” with the presence of American troops in the territory. But when that episode already lapsed and Bush stepped down, why did the VFA still remain? Are the “mutual” benefits that promising?

I’m afraid to say that it isn’t. Far from it. If I may be bold, I’d say it is a one-sided, unfair agreement to the benefit of America. I won’t bore you with most of the reasons for my sentiments, but for the news link which is the topic of this post, I’d like to bring up two controversial issues of the said agreement that caused demonstrations and violent protests in the country.

The first one is about criminal jurisdiction. Which country would have jurisdiction to military personnel when he violates Philippine laws while in official mission in the Philippines? The answer might be obvious, but sadly, I’d like to prove you wrong. For in that scenario I have just mentioned, the United States must claim jurisdiction for the offending personnel.

It is not enough though that this remains as a scenario for it really happened last 2005 when a Filipina was proved to be gang-raped by four US Marines and Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, one of the four, was found guilty beyond unreasonable doubt by a Regional Trial Court in the Philippines

The experience that the Philippines had at this point was utterly embarrassing. For the US embassy insists that a US military personnel who violated Philippine law will remain under their custody during the trial and after a verdict has been issued. So in the end, Smith was transferred from a city jail to the US Embassy, with concurrence from the Philippine DFA and DILG. Many had banged their bloody fists for the unfairness and unconstitutional of it, but nothing happened.

Another controversial issue, which was strengthened by a current event, is the alleged dumping of toxic waste by US vessels to Philippine waters after last month’s military exercise, particularly in Subic Bay.

Last October 24, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, docked in the Philippines. The super-carrier is 1,092 feet long, 257 feet wide and 244 feet high. It can accommodate 80 aircraft and carries more than 6,000 men. This was the third time this year that a US nuclear-powered ship would make a port call in the Philippines, Philippine Star reported. What kind of port of call was it? A timed one for toxic waste collection and disposal?

Even before, American troops already left their toxic wastes in Subic and Clark, but didn’t mind cleaning them properly as it was not stated in the Military Bases Agreement. There had been studies and investigations regarding the effects of toxic waste they left to the inhabitants of the former bases and it is sickening to know that both countries allowed such things to happen to innocent people, not to mention the environment.

With the re-election of Obama, it will not be surprising that the VFA agreement will continue along with its current provision. There will be more military exercises which may result to increase rape cases and toxic wastes as Obama vowed to help Asian countries for military modernization. Or for a counterweight to China in defense of the US interests in the region? Unless the Philippines will do something to it. Uncle Sam is not the one greatly affected, humiliated, and offended by the agreement anyway, so who must initiate the change?

Many Filipinos called for the abortion of VFA as it is a decade or so since this agreement has taken effect, but the results were minimal or worse, cannot be seen. Instead of the benefits that the country should have reaped, we were affronted with controversial issues which only marked the one-sidedness of the agreement. Yes, the two parties belong to different spheres of influence as proven by the difference in political and economic power, but as a mutual agreement, I think it is just enough for my country, the Philippines, to ask for more.

So what must we do, Filipinos? I say that is long overdue for us to stand for ourselves and not kowtow to ANY political and economic might that come our way. It is time for us to have our own game and rules. Yes, we are still forever defined as a developing country with little economic power, but there are other countries which are worse than us, but do they let themselves be underdogs of the hegemonic state? The country, and more importantly the people, is in deep slumber and we must now wake-up and not let the Philippines be a dumpsite in exchange of battered, hand-me-down military armaments. Of course, an active leader is necessary for the country to achieve this and both the President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs must do their best, with the help of the people, to protect the country’s national interest. Keyword: our national interest.

I am not for the abortion of the agreement. Instead, I am willing to have it revised in the terms laid out by the Philippines and agreed by the United States. It is a bilateral agreement, right? So why does it seems that it is always partial to Uncle Sam?

For the revision, I have read columns from my university dean who is always vocal about any topic of International Relations. I’d like to share his devised provisions:

“I submit that the VFA review should, among others, spell out in precise language, the following:

“1) Any US soldier who commits a crime within our national territory, whether in line of duty or not, shall be tried in a Philippine court and, if convicted, incarcerated in a Philippine jail.

“2) How much the US will pay us for using the VFA as the vehicle for maintaining a “light footprint” on our sovereign territory. Three Billion dollars should be the absolute minimum, with no strings attached please.

“3) The revised Agreement should be ratified as a treaty by the US Senate as called for in Section 25, Article XVIII of our Constitution.

And in his other column, he had this dream conversation between the American and Filipino delegates:

I actually dreamt about the talks and it went this way:

PH: Will you retaliate instantly in case China blows us out of the water in Scarborough Shoal and other areas owned by us in the West Philippine Sea?

US: Well, we have the MDT…

PH: That is not the answer we are looking for. We know that the MDT does not provide for instant retaliation on your part. There is the constitutional processes provision in the Treaty which means you have to go to your Congress and that could take forever…

US: We can tell the Chinese to back off…

PH: Ok, we hear you… If you please, we will now take your leave. Thank you for hosting this meeting. 

US: No, wait. We have been friends for a long time. Surely, we can find a mutually acceptable solution to this…

PH: We need your categorical commitment on this one first before we talk about other things. If you can’t do that, we’ll look for other ways to help ourselves. And if we may be direct, you have been taking us for a ride for over a century now.

US: How about we give you $3 billion a year with no strings attached for starters? We have just come to realize that, after all, Pakistan, for instance, which has not exactly been our friends has been getting so much, much more, from us. And we have never even had military bases or a single soldier stationed in that country.

PH: Now, you are talking. We want a small flotilla of warships, not like the old second-hand stripped coast guard cutter that you made us pay for. Oh, and we want a squadron of F16s. In exchange, we will help you attain your desired “expanded” presence in Southeast Asia by allowing you to have what you call a “light footprint” on our sovereign territory which we both know is a mere euphemism for basing your troops in our country… on a “rotational” basis is what you call it, right? We take it we will also revise the MDT to allow for instant retaliation in case either one of us is attacked by foreign forces. We should also amend the odious provisions of the VFA. 

US: You drive a hard bargain. What if we stopped giving you aid?

PH: We will survive. A little over $100 million a year ain’t that much. We can easily cover that and more by clamping down on smugglers alone.

US: Removed our huge investments in your country?

PH: That’s up to your businessmen. They wouldn’t be in our country in the first place if they weren’t making any profit. But if they want to spite us by cutting off their noses, that’s their problem. We can always invite other foreign investors to take their place. We have a much better investment climate under President Aquino now, you know.

US: What if we boycotted all your exports to the US?

PH: We’ll look for markets elsewhere naturally… China maybe. It will be tough, but we will manage somehow.

US: What if we didn’t give your people visas to go to the US?

PH: That would be fine too. First, your visa fee is too high. Second, with the racial discrimination being experienced by our people in the US in recent times, we doubt they will want to go to the US anymore. They can go elsewhere.

US: What if we told other countries not to accept Filipino immigrants or tourists? 

PH: Your call. Let’s see how they react.

US: What if we deported Filipinos without official papers now living here?

PH: Again, your call. We will be ready to receive them. You know, of course, the implications of such a move on human rights, about which you keep reminding us and the world at large.

US: What if we froze the assets in the US of your crooked government officials, politicians and businessmen? 

PH: You’d be helping our Anti-Money Laundering Council a lot… Do we get our $3 billion or not? Review of the MDT and the VFA?

US: Ok, but please take it easy on our ambassador there. He really is a nice fellow, you know.

PH: Thanks. See you later this month when Presidents Aquino and Obama sign a new “maximized” agreement between us.

US: Ok. By the way, we have admonished Marion Barry and that Assistant Attorney General in Guam to stop discriminating against Filipinos.

That’s when I woke up.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/opinion/2410-touche

*This post is written in response to the Daily Prompt titled IMHO for November 16, 2012.

Will you read or write during free time?

It is easy to find one engrossed in work, studies, or other commitments, but it is hard to find free time especially if a person has an active lifestyle. So when an opportunity to have leisure time lands on someone, I’m sure he can think of more than a dozen things to do to fit in the schedule.

Does this scenario seem familiar to you?

After a day’s work filled with lots of tasks such as answering emails, checking deliveries, contacting suppliers, discussing strategies with colleagues, and attending meetings, it is understandable that one can feel so drained at the end of the day. After stuffing dinner, a person will be most likely to be fatigued to do anything. The idea of hitting the bed after a relaxing shower seems inviting most of the days. But soon weekend and holidays will come and a dedicated worker will be rewarded with two days or more of leisure time.

Unless a person is a workaholic, he will treat this resting time as a valuable jewel. It might start on Thursday (or earlier?) when one will already plan ahead of what to do on the upcoming weekend. Will it be an escapade or a stay-cation? With family, friends, or someone special? Beach or city theme? Whatever he chooses, he wants to make the most out of the precious time given to him. If he won’t, he’ll have to wait for another five days for another opportunity.

As for me, when I feel worn-out from my consecutive traveling, I’ll choose to stay at home and get my rest. A social animal, my life is a whirling mass of meetings, dine-outs, shoppings, and what have yous. Sometimes, I take pity on my human body and decide to take some rest at home. Sleep late on a Friday night to wake up in time to warrant a lunch or early dinner, watch boring TV shows, clean my room, etc. Typical home buddy for a day. But there are two things I love the most when I am free and just staying at home – reading and writing.

I stopped counting on how many times I have repeated my admission that I am a book lover. I don’t know how you’ll take this, but my TBR (to-be-read) list has already reached above my neck [not literally]. Don’t get me wrong; I always read books when I have time and since I joined Goodreads, I can track my progress. This is not to brag, but I’m happy to say that I read at least five novels a month. Still, it isn’t enough. I know. As Frank Zappa said, “So many books, too little time.” Quot Libros, Quam Breve Tempus.

So when I have free time, no matter how short it is, you may see me buried in a book. “I must read more. Read more. Read more,” I usually say to myself like a mantra. There are many books that I want to read and is certain that there are more that I haven’t discovered. I continue reading – an endless journey in printed words that put me in different ages, various places, diverse culture, and remarkable personalities and characters. I thirst for it and I would go as far to say “addicted”.

However, not so long ago I joined a new wonderful world where I didn’t plan to join at first. My insistent and very influential [only to us] colleague introduced me to WordPress and when I saw the site, I knew I was charmed. Enticed. Attracted.

I began writing and found myself missing this activity. Is it possible to miss something you are always doing? In my job as a production editor, communication is extremely important as I am the focal point of my entire journals’ stockholders, and since most of my contacts are in different continents, email is the tool mostly used. Anyway, when I started posting entries in my blog account I felt this pull in writing. I’m not sure if I can exactly put it into words, but the feeling is great. At that point, I made an imaginary nod to someone who first mentioned that writing is an outlet – an expression of deeper emotions, sentimentalities, and opinions.

After that, I knew I was lost. I was drawn by an unseen force, compelling me to write, to put into words those often random and crazy thoughts that are swimming in my head. It’s cathartic. I was able to voice out [shall I say, write out?] my rants, political views, philosophical thoughts, cravings, and even songs in my head!

Since I now have two hobbies that can easily occupy my time, imagine my predicament every time I am free. Will I read and try to decrease my reading pile? Or write something interesting in this blog to benefit my lovely and devoted readers? Will I jump to different era in a book or reminisce something in my past and write about it? Will I grab a new novel with an interesting genre or brave to write something with a different theme from my common posts? Will I pour myself over a story and critique it later, or write various restaurants, hotels, and resorts reviews?

I have always been in between these two especially recently. I still have to finish around 15 books for my 2012 Reading Challenge while I need to continue writing and bring something fresh to my followers and visitors. To read or to write? That is the question.

Currently, I try my best to do both. Conceptualize something first then make a point to write a post in less than an hour. Writing takes shorter time than reading and since I am always with millions of ideas [unfortunately not so original and most often silly] I do it first. Then I read. Or if I have this Eureka moment, I’ll stop in between my reading and pour my heart out. I don’t know if what I am doing is going to be okay for the long run, but if it won’t, then at least I tried this strategy. Hopefully, I’ll find an efficient way how to juggle these.

My friends have more than once accused me of prattling too much, and if you, my dear readers, have stayed with me until this paragraph then I salute you. I know for a fact that some would definitely feel lulled after the first paragraphs, but if you made it here, and then I assume you absorbed my current dilemma. Having said it all, do you have any suggestion on how I can take the two? To manage my free time efficiently?

Or better, will you be kind to share how you can read and write during your leisure time? Which do you do first? Which is your priority? Do you have any technique with this?

 

Ramen: Irreplaceable Japanese dish

I think I have written in my previous posts my wonderful experience in the land of the rising sun. The country might be popular for Mario, Doraemon, Rilakkuma, Harajuku girls, The Great Wave of Kanagawa, Yui, Sumo,but for me it is the place for sushi, sashimi, tempura, and of course RAMEN.

It might be embarrassing to admit but in my two weeks stay in Japan, I gained 5 KG. No joke. I guess it is a no-brainer that I loved the food there and even first class Japanese inspired restaurants in my country can’t compete with the taste of authentic Japanese cooking.

So imagine my dissatisfaction every time I dine in to different restaurants which offer Japanese cuisine. The taste is just different. Perhaps because of the different ingredients; some materials may not be available in my country, but they can import it, you know, with Japan only four-hour plane ride from here. Or maybe it’s just the place? When I was there, the atmosphere is conducive to eating, especially when I was in Ishikawa prefecture.

Though I admit that some restaurants can deliver some dishes that have great taste, I’m also sorry to say that I haven’t been to one which is good in making ramen. It’s disappointing because I always want to eat ramen even though it is fattening. So most of the time, I prefer to order other dish so as not to feel nostalgic about Japanese meals.

However, last night, my friend and I went to dinner and we braved a Japanese fast-food restaurant here in Manila. I have dined there many times and knew what to order already. While glancing at the menu, bowls of ramen appeared in my face and my mouth instantly watered. After a few seconds of contemplating, I gave in to my craving and ordered a regular ramen bowl.

I had gyuniku ramen while my friend had tanmen. I am not fan of tanmen and I like beef soup so it was ideal to get gyuniku. And I wasn’t much disappointed.

The taste is okay. If I will rate it, I’ll give it an 8 out of 10.

itadakimasu!

And I’ll also include the appetizers and other dish.

This post is supposed to be a photoblog, but knowing myself, I just narrated here what happened yesternight. And look how long this entry is now! I must stop. Or else you won’t stop salivating.

Do you also like Japanese food? What’s your favorite? Do you know how to cook it?

Related posts:

http://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/eating-like-a-sumo-sumo-sam-experience/

http://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%8C%E5%A4%A7%E5%A5%BD%E3%81%8D/

http://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/coffee-is-not-my-cup-of-tea/

Are you blind too?

I was sophomore in high school when I started wearing eye glasses. I remember complaining to   Mom back in sixth grade that I couldn’t read the writings in the black board in front of classroom, but she somehow ignored that and only had me tested after a few years. I was fidgeting in my seat while the ophthalmologist asked me to read the letters in Snellen chart a few feet away from me. After that, he had me in autorefractometer/biomicroscope whatever and soon, my eye vision was determined: I had astigmatism and myopia.

After that day, I started wearing prescription glasses. At the age of 14, I found myself too young to wear eye glasses as I often see a pair worn by grandparents. During that first year wearing my first spectacles, it took few adjustments for me to be comfortable wearing my “second pair of eyes”.

Fast forward. I was a sophomore again, this time in university. I was still wearing glasses though with higher grade. It was always my trusty companion especially in attending classes, taking notes, reading books, using the computer, checking the menu board in fast food restaurants, and so on. After a few months or a year, I have to change eyeglasses and the checking of my eyesight became routine that sometimes I cheat whenever they use  eye charts for me. I somehow memorized them!

Move another four years. I am now a graduate and have an editorial job in one of the leading publishing companies. And yes, I still wear my eyeglasses. In fact, as I am creating this post I am wearing my reliable specs!

Now, I know you guys are good at Math and would figure this out soon, but so as not to break a sweat, I’d tell it anyway: I’ve been wearing eyeglasses for almost eight years. Soon to be a decade, huh? I’m sure some of you have been wearing glasses for a while too and that you can agree with me when I say that this pair of lenses is very important to us. To some, even dependent to them.

And since we are already here in this topic, I will be listing some experience that I have with and without my dependable eyeglasses. Disclaimer: According to my recent check-up, the eye doctor claimed that I don’t have any other eye condition other than myopia.

With eyeglasses:

• I look older, more mature, and a librarian. I know I have just committed a mistake under grammar— parallelism, but I just wanted to make a point.
• With my older pairs, there were always marks beside my nose bridge and in the eyeglasses’ arms whenever I remove the specs. Ugly, I know.
• I keep on pushing the spectacles up whenever it slides down. Even while talking. Mostly while talking. Nerdy.
• I don’t like it when my eyeglasses looks like sunglasses in photo. It just looks weird.
• Others may tease you a Harry Potter wannabe even if you are a girl. Even when your specs are squared.

Without eyeglasses:

• I squint a lot so I can focus my eyes to read what is there from afar.
• I frown most of the time. Not because I want to. It just goes along with squinting.
• I am myopic and cannot see much far objects. So I read books inches away from me. You can also use the phrase “buried her nose in a book” to me. Same with mobile phones.
• My parents always complain when they spot me sitting near our TV. The TV set is a big, smart, LED one so my folks are somewhat baffled why I still like to view near or in front of it.
• My friends, acquaintances, and colleagues often tease me as a snob. Worse, they just assume that I am. To be honest, I am not, but since I cannot see a tiny wave or a shy smile even a few feet away, they cannot get any reaction from me.
• My close friends are my eyes. When we are talking and they will point at something, they’re always like, “And we are laughing like crazy. Oh, look, look! That guy in blue who’s standing in the corner. Isn’t he cute? Ah, never mind. You can’t see.”
• I feel partially blind in total darkness. Since I cannot sleep with even a bit of light, my room is like a cave. Whenever I go to bathroom or get a glass of water, my arms are outstretched like that of a blind person – feeling my way to the destination. Same goes in theatres.

Are you laughing now? Or nodding? There are other things that I could list here, but I do not want to kill you of my boring experiences so I’ll stop. The end point in this list is eyeglasses are created to make our lives more comfortable and convenient. There might be disadvantages wearing them, but the benefits that one can get will outshine them. So even if wearing specs may create your image as Ugly Betty, it would surely make your daily life easier. Don’t you think?

 For some, can you see yourself in those I have mentioned in the list above? Or are there other experiences you’d like to share? Come on and don’t be shy! 

Escape

[photo: The Phantoms of the Forest by Casoni Ibolya-Iby]

 

With my young heart, I loved

purely and innocently, I gave

yet I was inadequate

for he left.

 

Soon another one grew

but was abruptly cut

as a bud, it didn’t blossom.

The cycle repeated.

 

The leaves changed colors

for how many times –

I could not remember

as my frail heart

weakened to beat.

 

Oh desolation! This emptiness

when will it leave?

I grew weary and prayed

for this misery’s end.

 

Until now, in here

surrounded by earth, I pushed

this limpid glass over me

as I screamed for someone to notice

someone to care.

 

Then, it dawned on me.

This is how my journey

my lifetime

will finally end.

 

No more melancholy, despair, and sadness

as I stopped battling with the glass

I now understood. The way I came and

the way I go will always be like this.

Alone.

 

 

Coffee is not my cup of tea

tea leaves
tea loves
loves tea
lives tea
leaves tea?
never.
~Uniek Swain

In my previous posts, I have already given the fact that I am a tea person. In this country, drinking tea is not that popular as to taking your regular Joe. There are so many people who love coffee, but thankfully, I am not one of them.

Even when people my age started to take caffeine from coffee during high school, I declined the trend. I won’t be a hypocrite to say that I haven’t tried coffee before, I just don’t like it. I have tasted different kinds of coffee already – black, decaf, etc., but nothing suited my fancy. My taste buds never agreed. So aside from drinking milk, which my friends teased me as being a baby, I only took fruit shakes.

Then I visited Japan. The land of the rising sun is popular for its traditional tea ceremony. Of course as a foreigner, it is a must-try.

One time, while I was with my homestay family, we went to this traditional tea house. I was wearing kimono as we were to join the festivities of Otabi Matsuri. Inside the tea house, we were served with matcha green tea and sweets. Together with my mom and sister, Nao, (Father was the designated photographer) we participated in this old ceremony of serving and drinking tea.

don’t mind the AH1N1 mask!

For a first-timer of matcha green tea, I admit that I didn’t like it.  I wasn’t prepared for the oh so bitterness of the drink.  Even though the sweetness of mochi somehow disguised the taste of the tea, it didn’t help much. Nonetheless, I smiled to my Japanese family and said, “That was great!”

When I returned to my country, I tried to steer clear from green tea because of that experience. It wasn’t really that bad; just pure green that would make your tongue colored after drinking, and of course, taste bitter. Prior to that experience, I have tried tea (from the bag) before, but deemed it not suitable for me. However, nothing compared to the “almost-repulsive” experience I had in Japan.

But I guess the Filipino saying about one must not close his doors and express final sentiment on a matter is indeed true. After some time, I learned to drink tea. And how I loved it!

I couldn’t actually remember the first time I took a tea after in Nihon. I think I started with those regular “brown” teas from Lipton and from there my passion for the leaves grew. I began trying different brands and flavors, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of the teas. If there were coffeeholics, then some called me a teaholic.

I would like to say that drinking tea is an acquired taste. Based from what I have written above, I didn’t like it at first but after few more tries one can get the hang of it and maybe even get addicted to it. When my friends want to get their caffeine boost of the day, of course we’ll go to a nearby coffee shop. As I don’t drink coffee, tea became my reliable friend during those times. Instead of being peer-pressured to drink coffee, I found a convenient and favorite drink to order.

Sadly, only few people share my growing love for tea so there’s limited choices of tea houses to go to if one wants a good cup here in the Philippines. Sure, we can go to brands like Starbucks and CBTL, but the teas offered there are limited compared to coffee. Of course.

So if I’m not in a meeting or out in a mall shopping, I prefer drinking my own choice of tea.

isn’t my mug just cute?

My favorite is pure green tea (Ha! Yeah, the turn of events), but sometimes I try to taste something else for variety. Currently, I love Twinning’s Pure Green Tea. In fact, just a month ago, I asked Dad to buy Twinning’s tea from Dubai for me. Along with Earl Grey Green Tea and English Breakfast, he bought 100 bags of Pure Green [not in the picture]. Yay!

Isn’t that lovely? It’s too many for me to consume only at home, so I bring some bags to my office, too. Almost everyday I sip the delicious taste of my drink and I even influenced some of my colleagues to convert to tea! Aha, vote me for president! Kidding aside, I was glad to see that some of my previous coffee drinker friends are now trying to take a new drink which has 50% less caffeine to offer.

Then recently, just last week, a Korean friend gave me a present from Korea. He took his Chuseok vacation and when he came back, he gave this wonderful gift to me!

현미 녹차 (Hyeonmi nukcha)

also know as Japanese Genmaicha tea

100 bags divided into two boxes!

inside

It is a Korean green tea mixed with brown rice. It’s not that strong as other Western teas and does not need, I think, of a “tea tongue”. In fact, it tastes similar to corn or barley tea; it’s almost water. It also reminds me of Solomon’s seal tea – just a light drink which I can take for maybe five times a day. Haha!

 I didn’t expect that I would love tea this much though I am grateful that I do. I won’t forget that fateful day when I first tasted the rich and strong blend of green tea.

Have you tried drinking tea? Did you like it? What’s your favorite brand and flavor?

Why is red associated with communism?

I always have random questions popping out of my mind and I don’t know if it is normal or not. Yesterday, another thought came to me. Why is red associated with communism? Or socialism? Or violence?

I have read things about the association of the color with communism and many have agreed that it is about the idea of the proletariat rising up in a revolution. We can remember the Jacobins in the French revolution who flew red flags to honor the blood of the martyrs who had been killed. Later, when they ruled the country during the Reign of Terror, they made the red flag as their national emblem. In  the 1848 French revolution, socialists and radicals demanded the red flag be France’s national flag, but the government rejected the idea. However, in the Paris Commune, the red flag was again used and since then, the red flag, or red, became a symbol of socialism/communism.

Today, when asked about red flags, two countries often come to mind: Russia and China.

The color has a long association with socialist Russia (the Soviet Union) long before the rise of Communist China. For both socialist and communist, I believe everyone has in mind a single symbol which marks these two ideologies. The red star.

According to Mikhail Khvostov, Soviet troops fleeing from the Austrian and German fronts found themselves in Moscow in 1917 and mixed with the local Moscow garrison. To distinguish the Moscow troops from the influx of retreating Russians the officers gave out tin stars to the Moscow garrison soldiers, to wear on their hats. When those troops joined the Red Army and the Bolsheviks they painted their tin stars red, the color of socialism, thus creating the original red star.

The red star became the national emblem of Soviet Union. In fact, it became the most prominent symbol of the former Russia. Buildings, monuments, aircrafts, and awards were often decorated with this insignia. Following this, the five-pointed star became a symbol of communism in general. It was sometimes thought to be the five fingers of a worker’s hand which runs the five continents. Other times, it was thought to be representing the five classes of a socialist society: intellectuals, soldiers, youth, farmers, and workers.

With the Soviet Union in the lead, other Communist states adopted the red star. They combined it with their respective flags and coat of arms. Below are the examples of such countries and movements:

Vietnam

North Korea

Yugoslavian Partisans

Communist Party of the Philippines

Now, on a different approach, let’s try the psychology of color. According to Precision Intermedia, red is the color of energy. It is associated with movement, energy, and of course blood. Furthermore, the color signifies leadership qualities and promotes ambition and determination. It symbolizes strong-will and confidence. Studies show that people who are surrounded by red tend to have an increase in heart beat and a feeling of out of breath. Sometimes, being in a place with too much red can cause irritation, agitation, and anger.

With the paragraph above, I guess it’s a no-brainer why the color is associated with communism. Assertiveness and aggressiveness bring out the red in those people who believe in this ideology.

Hmm, which reminds me of a phrase we use whenever we feel angry: I see red. What does it mean? To become angry or lose self-control. It may also mean heated emotions and violence.

So why is red associated with communism again? I hope I have made sense in this post and added something in your memory bank. To wrap things up, I am going to share to you one trivia I have read over the internet regarding red and Russia.

“Did you know that the color red in Russian (красный) is almost similar with their word for beautiful (красивый)?”

Will you share your blessings to these people?

Last Sunday, I was informed that October is the Indigenous People Month in the Philippines. This annual celebration aims to provide venue for indigenous peoples to celebrate the richness of their cultures; allow cultural exchanges that will foster deeper cultural understanding to sustain a culture of peace; provide opportunity to discuss IP rights; give students and other people a chance to deepen their awareness and appreciation of indigenous cultures; recognize the expertise and contributions of indigenous communities; and advocate for the preservation as well as integration of traditional culture into the national cultural mainstream (NCCA, 2012). When I heard that, a memory resurfaced. Faces appeared.

I remember when I was still in university and an officer of a UNICEF chapter. I was really an active student advocating children’s literacy as well as their health and rights. Together with Gawad Kalinga, a Filipino community of volunteers which builds a better nation for all, our university-wide organization held various activities in line with the UN agency convention.

The December of my senior year, we officers reached a consensus to have an outreach program up north. Outside Metro Manila, in Dinggalan, Aurora.

In preparation for the outreach, we had a donation drive which ran for around three weeks. Boxes were put before each college, and even the school cafeteria and library weren’t missed. We encouraged students to share their blessings by giving either new or used books, school materials, clothes, bags, shoes, and toys. To raise funds, the group also solicited money from our professors (they are retired ambassadors, generals, and lawyers who are always generous to help) and friends. Some donated money while others answered in kind. Boxes and boxes of canned goods, toiletries, and new fashionable clothes were given by blessed few.

Days before our departure, we started checking the gifts of those kind-hearted individuals and segregated the items according to its kind: clothes, books, toys, school supplies, food, etc. After that task, we grouped the clothes per family: for parents, daughter and son. We knew that it may be possible for a family to be consisted of more than four people, but we had to budget our resources.

Those days passed in a blur. It was exams week and we all had to juggle our time between studying and preparing for the upcoming program. After classes, we’d gather, give reports, segregate, buy more gifts from our club’s funds and make necessary documents.

me

Then the night before the trip arrived. It happened to be a Friday so the classes and exams were over. We had our final packing. Before midnight we set off using our univ van.

Our destination was Dumagat, in Dinggalan, Aurora. There were, and still are, an indigenous group living there who was believed to be the original Filipinos. Agta Dumagats, they were called. A few years ago, the local government had been made aware of the current dilemma of these people. Apparently, private groups coveted the land the Dumagats were occupying. I should note that the place is strategically located in the Pacific Ocean and could be a possible beach resort for the business minded. Unaware of what lays ahead of them should their land be taken, NGOs started to actively play a part in protecting the interests of the Dumagats. And my club continues to play an active role in this.

The main reasons we had our outreach here were 1. To assess the situation and think of better ideas of improving the lives of the Dumagats; and 2. To share our love and blessings to them in the spirit of Christmas. So what did we do?

We arrived there early and were offered to have breakfast by the ocean and watch the sun to rise. We chatted with their leaders and asked about their day-to-day lives. Soon they excused themselves to prepare their children for the mini-party. Having less than an hour to kill, we rolled our jeans up to our knees and frolicked in the waves.

that’s me in the middle!

After an hour, some of us arranged lines for older family members to claim their supplies and Christmas gifts (the clothes, food, and medicine).

Others were busy heralding children for party games that would begin the program. When all were ready, officers, volunteers, and children had fun playing Filipino party games.

We laughed and enjoyed the event given to us. We made friends. Some of us even had favorites.

find me…

After playing (and occasional crying from the younger ones), under the sun, we were tired. We ended the party by awarding them with a healthy meal and bags of school supplies!

Much too soon, we had to head back to Manila. Did I mention that it took almost six hours to travel there? We bid our goodbyes to those simple yet contented people who humbled us in every way.

As we travelled back to the university, the van was quiet. I guess everyone was thinking of that experience that we had. I learned and proved that:

1. Giving is also receiving. When you give something, you receive ten times greater than what you heartedly offered.
2. Share your blessings. Even if you have few possessions, you will feel more blessed once you
Share what little you have.
3. Money is not everything. It can be something to buy material things, but important things in life cannot be bought.
4. Happiness can be found in unexpected places. Not only in five-star hotels or casinos will one can find happiness. Sometimes, it can be found in a used rag doll. Or a small box of crayons.
5. Love is easier to give. Some of us may not know this at a time, but we will soon realize that we have more than enough rooms in our hearts to love.

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It is approximately 70 days before Christmas. Let’s share our love and blessings especially to those who need them the most. What are your plans to spread the Christmas spirit for this coming Yuletide season?

As I lay dying: The life story of a cigarette

I came into this world as a rolled piece of paper with heaven inside me. I think I was created normal. My height is ordinary, but I am proud to say that I am not like those skinny ones which were the favorites for a time. Instead, I am carrying the correct built for my being – Not too thick to hold nor too thin to be fragile. I am perfect!

Soon, I joined my brothers. We all bore the same mark from the time of creation. Together, we stiffly stood, a proud lot eager to prove ourselves. In a blink, we were tightly bound to each other. Then came a sudden darkness – we couldn’t see! Excitement was in the air; everyone was giddy to find out what would happen next.

Adjusting to the darkness, my sight provided me of something that I couldn’t believe at first. We were locked! With four walls around us, we couldn’t move freely. It was too tight.

Then like a final blow, we felt, more than saw, a lid covering us all – our death sentence. After that, everything became dark. I didn’t know that would be the last time I could see the light.

Visually incapacitated, my brothers and I relied to our hearing senses to know what’s going on. We heard strange noises, like a mutated creature with an unusual voice. Then we felt being transferred. Whatever it was who made that move was so careless; we were dangerously tumbling. Caught off guard, we didn’t anticipate that the next could be worse.

We moved. And oh, how fast it was! Even caged in these five walls, we could feel it. We could even hear sounds that would only indicate on how high-speed we were going. It was so thrilling! I chanced to look at my fellows and was happy to find a different expression on their faces. We were all exhilarated by this journey!

However, all good things must come to an end. Soon, we felt being lifted again, this time more carefully. I felt the surrounding changed from the one we came from. Perhaps it was the sounds, or the temperature, or just a feeling. Whatever it was, it made us more excited.

We stood there for a long time, long enough for me to stop counting. What was taking so long? Were we created to just stand here? A terrible thought came to me. Perhaps we weren’t made that perfect so our creator ignored us? A worse idea came. Did we do something wrong while we were in our most thrilling experience in our life? That’s it! Perhaps we weren’t meant to enjoy that.

I was in the middle of these gloomy thoughts when I first saw it.

“Am I hallucinating or isn’t it a light?”

I tried to twist my head more and sure enough, it was a hole in our prison.

“Aha! Light!” I exclaimed. At first, my brothers ignored me, afraid that I lost that single hold of sanity I had. But when they glimpsed in the direction I was pointing at, I felt a drastic change in the atmosphere. Hope.

Now, we could take in our surroundings. We were located in a huge place with lots of strange things piled in stacks. It was too colorful. There were many assortments of things: from supplement that could promise to fill one’s stomach when ingested, sweet long piece that could be put in one’s mouth and chewed endlessly, to colored liquid which claimed to freeze one’s brain when taken continuously. Seriously?

Suddenly, we heard a loud noise. It sounded garbled. Without any warning, we saw a giant! An enormous creature was in the same place and it was walking in our direction. Oh dear! Run, my friends!

Then one of us spoke, “I had this vision. My brothers, do not be afraid. That creature will be our savior. He is here to fulfill our purpose.”

Silence hung in the air after that speech.

“So this is it. I will soon to accomplish the purpose of my creation. Oh, how glad I am for this day to come!” I mused.

We watched the creature approaching. He was really tall. One step, then another, and we couldn’t contain our excitement. We were silently screaming with joy. “The day has come, it has truly come,” we were singing.

He was continuously marching his way. One huge step, two more then he stopped to get something. He wrapped his left hand into a piece of equipment which created flames of red when touched. We oohed and aahed when he repeatedly tested the device. Looking satisfied, he resumed his walk. Left foot, right, left, right, and I couldn’t breathe.

“The anticipation will be the death of us!” I muttered.

 Of course, I didn’t want that so I mastered controlling my breathing until it came almost normal. Whew. That was close.

The creature was almost in front of us. With one more step, his face was almost in us. He moved his head to the left, right, up and down, looking silly. He was still facing our left side when he suddenly turned right in front of the hole and exclaimed, “Aha! This one.”

With an upward pull in the left side of his huge mouth, he extended one of his extremely long limbs and reached us. We felt ourselves being lifted again, but this time we weren’t afraid.

He moved so fast until we were placed down again for a short time. He pulled something from his small compartment and produced a paper. He then gave this to another giant. Next, he picked us up and exited the colorful establishment.

We were outside. It was too loud. There were too many strange noises that it was hard to identify all of them. Then the creature stopped.

He picked us up once more and unceremoniously lifted the wall above our heads. Oh finally! We can see the world around us – it was too wonderful to describe. We just concentrated watching this being who was destined to help us reach our goal of creation. He was making strange noises again but in a good melody by pulling his two enormous lips together in a pout of some kind. We didn’t mind that.

Unexpectedly, his large hand hovered above us.

“What will he do? Oh, brother, are you sure this is our way of paying back to our crea—”

I didn’t have the chance to finish my question as he lifted me alone. I terrifyingly watched my brothers as I ascended.

“Help! Please help me, my brothers! Why am I the only one selected for whatever it is he has in mind? You must help me!” I screamed, my plea of help fell on deaf ears of my companions.

Holding me between his three fingers, the creature produced that flame maker device.

“Hey, what are you planning to do?” I yelled helplessly. “Don’t you dare put that thing near me!” But it seemed like he couldn’t hear me or just perfected a way of ignoring me.

He moved the scary thing near me, I almost fainted. “Stop! What you are doing is wrong!”

In an answer, he pushed something in the device and I saw the frightening tongues of the red flame. It was fire, rumored to be the most dangerous weapon. With it, you can instantly kill anything.

“Please listen to my plea! You are scaring me. Stop this at once!”

Did he stop? Sadly, no. Instead, he dragged my stiff yet weakened body near the blazing thing. In seconds, I felt my entire body tingling. I wasn’t yet accustomed to that feeling when he put me between his lips as he inhaled. The sensation was outrageous! I felt hot all over, yet there’s another feeling I couldn’t put into words. He continued doing that as the fire kept on licking me below.

“Please, don’t do this. Don’t you know? I have a purpose to fulfill! I must get going,” I reasoned to him.

He showed no mercy. I felt half of my body consumed by the flames already. I felt the tears threatening to wet my eyes soon.

 “I will soon die. I am sure of it. All of the stories they said are true. Fire is a lethal weapon to be used.”

I felt hopeless. My brothers didn’t even bat an eyelid while I plead for my salvation. If my considered comrades didn’t, then who else would help me? I started to surrender. I felt my body sagged – I don’t know if it’s because of giving up or result of my incapacitation.

In those dim moments of my life, I talked to my creator. “I am sorry I’m a failure. I couldn’t live longer to fulfill what you had planned for me. I’m so sorry.”

While I talked to him, I was silently expecting a miracle. My creator would jump on this terrible killer and show him that what he was doing was utterly wrong. But no, nothing like that happened. The torture continued.

Then a flash of light. It was so bright, I couldn’t see. I was in a moment blinded by its brilliancy. I didn’t know why, but I felt safe in that moment, like everything was okay. Unfortunately, it was soon gone.

Realization dawned on me. This is my fate. I was destined to be selected from among my brothers to be consumed by the fire and this creature. When I pondered on this new understanding, I noticed it was only me who was unhappy. The giant was enjoying me. Oh, is this it? Is it my purpose to bring him joy in expense of my body? Is it? Oh, is it? I don’t know.

I could feel the end was coming. I could no longer feel anything from the neck down.

In resignation, I pushed my being nearer to his lips. I heard a sound of contentment. Of satisfaction. He took one more long drag of me then my last reserved of energy disappeared.

It was over. I made it. I fulfilled my purpose.

I was barely conscious when he threw my head in the pavement then left. Why did he leave so suddenly? Did I not satisfy him in the end? Oh dear, did I fail my creator?

I stayed there for quite a while, unmoving. So many thoughts running in my head. I was about to call my creator when I heard an approaching giant. I saw him lifting his foot directly above me. Then everything went black.

• This short story is an answer to my friend’s challenge to write a fiction about vices.