Ethnocentric

Been chatting with a friend working as designer in the US... and since I've done some researh on "orientalism" east-west divide, global and glocal policies... our chat strayed on race. Here it is:

Marge: me intriga jan a
Kaibigan: di ko alam
Marge: mas less ethnic daw yon 1/4 pinay
Marge: kesa yong south american
Marge: unang na declare yong south american
Marge: then, biglang binawi
Marge: kaya pinili yong 1/4 pinay
Kaibigan: binabasa ko ngayon
Marge: hehe
Kaibigan: half pinay eto
Kaibigan: tiga barstow
Marge: pag sinabi mong tiga tondo, naintindihan ko pa
Kaibigan: haha
Marge: hehe
Kaibigan: panu mo nalamn pinay
Marge: nabasa ko sa yahoo, pero nakalagay 1/4 pinay
Kaibigan: ah
Marge: simula na yan
Kaibigan: ng anu
Marge: ay, male
Marge: sa Hawaii pala,
Marge: kung i-study kc ng mga puti
Marge: diminishing race na sila
Marge: yon dapat ng pag ukulan nila ng pansin
Marge: sooner or later, asians will dominate their population
Marge: ei, hehe, anlayo sa chikahan natin
Kaibigan: haha
Kaibigan: oo nga
Kaibigan: di mabuti para tumalino sila and sumipag
Marge: panay kasi mga policies nagagawa ko lately e
Kaibigan: bobo naman kasi sila
Kaibigan: at mareklamo
Marge: racist!!
Kaibigan: hhaha
Kaibigan: oo
Marge: napansin mo 'yon?
Kaibigan: na?
Kaibigan: plastic sila
Marge: bobo sila saka tamad?
Kaibigan: oo
Marge: isa pa yon, masyado silang "feeling"
Kaibigan: sa mga shops
Kaibigan: then sa kuwento ng mga kaibigan ko
Kaibigan: mga coworkers nila
Kaibigan: typical puti
Marge: o? as in?
Kaibigan: di mo mauutusan \
Kaibigan: oo
Kaibigan: sa office namin
Marge: pano pag superior yong Asian sa work?
Kaibigan: wala kaming puti
Kaibigan: sa baba namin
Kaibigan: meron
Kaibigan: plastic
Kaibigan: feeling sila
Kaibigan: asar
Kaibigan: isasabotahe ka
Marge: racist din pala boss mo!
Kaibigan: di naman siguro la lang oks yung personality
Marge: pano sabotahe?
Kaibigan: then naalala ko
Kaibigan: kasi diba may design review dito sa
Kaibigan: glendale
Kaibigan: pag ibang race yung nagpapagawa ng bahay
Kaibigan: lahat ng neighbors na magrereklamo puti
Marge: ows?
Kaibigan: isang beses may pinapanuod kami
Kaibigan: oks naman project
Kaibigan: sinunod lahat ng requirements
Kaibigan: thenyung isang neighbor
Kaibigan: kunyari mabait na kumokontra
Kaibigan: kesyo di daw bagay sa street
Kaibigan: blah balh
Kaibigan: then sabi ng mga board members
Kaibigan: di nila pwed ireject yung project
Kaibigan: kasi sumunod lahat sa zoning
Kaibigan: code
Kaibigan: and maganda design
Marge: hehe, bayad na
Kaibigan: sabi ba naman
Kaibigan: this will be another rat's nestMarge: ows?
Kaibigan: naging racist
Kaibigan: haha
Kaibigan: daming ganun dito
Kaibigan: inggit kasi sila
Kaibigan: kasi etong glendale
Kaibigan: mas yumayaman na yung mga armenians and filipinos
Kaibigan: and iabng asian
Kaibigan: nauubos na puti dito
Marge: oo nga
Kaibigan: tapos tipong nagiisip sila ng reasons para mareject yung projects ng ibang lahi
Kaibigan: mapapansin mo
Kaibigan: pag nanunuod ka sa tv ng review
Kaibigan: oo nga
Marge: asa pa sila
Kaibigan: tapos sila daw yung mabilang sa sweldo
Kaibigan: na ayaw naman gumalaw
Marge: dami ko kc task now, panay mga issues ng east & west e
Kaibigan: kila kiko puti secretary nila
Kaibigan: tamad daw
Kaibigan: as in pag ayaw niya pumasok di siya papasok
Marge: hehe, malas nila
Kaibigan: di naman yata matanggal
Kaibigan: kasi baka magreklamo
Kaibigan: demanda
Kaibigan: yung isang project namn ng tatay ni antonio
Kaibigan: yung kapitbahay nagreklamo
Kaibigan: kesyo nagkasakit daw siya
Kaibigan: kasi sa construction
Kaibigan: maiingay daw yung mga workers
Kaibigan: nanalo pa

Big Brother quote

Incidentally, it's not about a dance number of young talents over at ABS-CBN... Broaden your vocabulary...

"In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.…Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers. People are imprisoned for years without trial, or shot in the back of the neck … this is called elimination of unreliable elements. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them."


-George Orwell, "Politics and the
English Language" (1946)

Disierto

Guess where in the world is this?

Philippine Quality of Life & Health Issues

I was quite shocked when I read in the Novermber 2007 issue of Reader's Digest (Asia ed., p. 39) that the Philippines is way behind Pakistan when it comes to Environmental Health based on childhood mortality and disease as well as deaths from intestinal infections. So, okay, I am a racist, but in consideration of the Economic Intelligence Unit's (2005) quality of life index where Philipines is on rank 44 while Pakistan is on rank 93, this is quite incredible!

Not that I am putting down Pakistan and all the other countries that beat the Philippines on environmental health such as Sri Lanka (36), China (45), Indonesia (61), Bangladesh (76... right, hello Senators and Congresmen? Do your porks spell hypertension even among kids? Or are pigs' sty causing those infant deaths?), India (77), Mongolia (99), Pakistan (106) and Philippines (115).

Yikes!

Okay, let me tell you guys something.

When it comes to the rural areas and health services delivery, based on my experience in Santo Domingo, the municipality is divided into catchment areas --- these are chosen "center" barangays where rural health workers basically midwives, conduct vaccination. There are about 4-7 depending on the number of health workers and probably, size of the municipality.

In our catchment area of Lussoc, there are Borobor, Santo Tomas, sitio Quillayan and Callautit, and Nagtupacan are serviced, where vaccination occurs or vitamin supplemnts were given once a week. Sometimes, the health worker re-schedules on another day (equivalent to next week).

In their reports to the CEO (your mayor, Darling), the health worker visits the barangays four days a week, and charge from the taxes we pay "pamasahe" to and from the barangay.

Honestly, these health workers RARELY visit the barangays assigned to them, so much like your elected konsehal ng bayan, or any other regular tax beneficiaries who BS us tax collectors... We conducted random checking on the municipal health workers sometime ago, and you may try to do the same to find out...

During those "lucky" catchment days, before an infant is given a vaccine or whatever, every mother GIVES a "donation" which simply is baffling. Donations are for Faith healers, y'know. These donations are NEVER REFLECTED in the municipality "income", no receipt, acknowedgement, whatsoever. A clumsy smile was all I got when I "obliged" to donate to the health worker assigned in that catchment area when I had my baby injected with vaccine.

However, in our "model" barangay Santo Tomas, this of course never happened as the Kapitan Erning Tadeja is the ABC president, and it so happened he knew quite a few about government and finance, uh, including jueteng, my dear.

In other words, it is not just your District Representatives milking flashy "villa" houses and latest 4X4s from us Payless and Lucky Me taxpayers... it's all the way up and down to eternity. Or is it down to hell?

Below is the EIU index:

Our Taxes Enjoyed

While only contractors and voucher signatories know the reality behind our paid taxes, at least our children enjoy these at public parks, where our taxes become really visible. Well, of course, the excess will remain abstracted on roads and built environments.

Let's just hope they maintain safety. This one at Villasis, Pangasinan already has damaged slides and could fracture or wound children if they are not extra careful...



BTW, the Philippine peso was headlined as "Asia's Best Performer" a few days back. It's the remittance season... And the US dollar dived in deeper... a little bad news for US$ earners...

And let me share that Philippines is fourth to China, Mexico and India in highest overseas workers. But Philippines has the highest average for remittances among the four.

Against the World

In my other blog, I have written about suicide, about asking non-suicidals to help prevent it. And just today, a friend now based in the US and I had been chatting about suicide of Filipino teens who were uprooted from here and live in the US. About being bullied and being the "other" person elsewhere.

Then, I am confronted about my niece who went to live with her mom and stepdad whom she had grown to hate. Genee had been complaining and telling us stories. Then, here comes her stepdad using her own Yahoo Messenger. It's creepy, like stalking and invading privacy. And white americans were supposed to be the champions and paranoid about privacy. And he had been lecturing me about family and morality! And this is what I told him:

...we do not have a very good relationship with our dad, but it does not mean we destroy ourselves, right? So, I think it's an american thing about blaming others for stupid things that happen to themselves, so why you need shrinks and Iraq, or Afghanistan, but we don't.

I've always avoided being discriminatory, but when it comes to US-related stuffs, I simply can't. But to anybody out there who meets Genee Tano, she's in Pittsburg right now, previously in Virgin Islands: please tell her to go back HOME, the Philippines. I am using the internet because there's no way we can contact her now.

Rico Mambo Cebu

These videos really overwhelmed me and made me a prouder Filipino...

I will follow him - Sister Act Cebu Version

Cebu's Biggest Dance Group

Tip: Lost Receipt, and You Need a Replacement

Yep, I had my batteries changed to Energizer. Thanks to the staff of DIY-CB Balingit Mall. And here's a tip: if you lost an OR (official receipt) for a defective stuff you'd want to have a replacement, be sure to recall the exact date and time you bought the stuff. Then, put the request down to writing with your name, contact number, signature and address (in not exactly this order). And go through this experience I had...

It was not a walk in the park, as I was asked to produce a declared lost receipt. Why, I buy all batteries from DIY, not because it has a good looking shop as compared to the other Chinese shops proliferating every city and town of the Philippines, but because of trust and reliability. So, as compared to a corner watch repairman who will issue a roughly handwritten hand-torn cigarette box paper receipt, I'd keep the torn cigarette receipt, but not a DIY receipt. Because buying in an established shop is supposed to be the guarantee itself.

Anyway, so, there. After I cannot produce a receipt, I was asked of the date of purchase, about 6 times. And the name of the sales man. Hah! Like, I was supposed to be saying, "Hi, what's your name? Andy? Nice name. I'd like an Energizer Battery, Andy!" But all I said was, "Uhm, pleasing personality, good talker..." and they start laughing. Thanks. I really meant to be funny at that minute.

Then, I was told about the sales report forwarded to the main office, and they no longer have any file copy. And that all I can have is a replaced Camelion battery. Well, I didn't want a Camelion. I mean, one should be doubly suspicious once a spelling of a suspicious character like a chameleon is the brand name of a product. But I did not use my editing sense (okay, okay, common sense) at that time.

Then, a kindly encoder tried to open her computer files and I was asked about other stuffs I bought that day, and of course, having the photographic memory of a manual camera (Pentax, baby), I described the stuffs I bought that day at DIY. And the encoder uttered the total ammount I paid, with an alarming voice that kind of says, "she's a voracious DIY shopper!" or something to that effect. Well, there are now a lot of Japan-home labelled Chinese manufactured items at around $2 at DIY, not necessarily hardware or construction stuff but housewares, in case you haven't noticed.

And the manager said they cannot do anything if a receipt would not be attached to the replacement report they need to submit. Otherwise, i would need a notarized Affidavit of Loss. Uh-oh. Count: Lost office hours, attorney's fees... So, why not print that invoice file, I asked. And the manager stammered about the impossibility of printing a computer file of an invoice. Reminds me of a famous quote about the endless list of excuses to not to do a thing.

But finally, the manager's sense came falling down on her, and made use of the letter I earlier sent through my work-mate for an earlier exchange (which they did not honor, nor entertained). She told her staff to copy the invoice number, place my address and contact number on the letter and all.

And that was it. It took about three to four hours of my productive time, but the heck, it was still a lesson learned...

Aborted Photography

In my other blog, I am supposed to be posting new photos every now and then. But courtesy of DIY, yes the do-it-yourself hardware, and the salesman who has recommended Camelion battery from China while I was trying to buy Energizer rechargeable AA batteries, my photography career is over...

Remember the brand. And if DIY's not gonna replace this, remember the hardware shop!

Learning & Unlearning

If it's the US attack, it is just numbers... 9 children. Jesus Christ. If it's Iran or Iraq, or somewhere down south in Mindanao, it's terrorism. I've got my kids in my mind all the time, to feed and to educate. And yet, how can we ordinary people ignore what's going on with the rest of our world? Anytime now, when the US wants it, any point, any corner of a street, CAN BE declared as a terrorist den, and an entire neighborhood is swept.

Haven't you noticed it yet?

Are we just here to read or view the news? Are we here in this world at all?


(Image borrowed from Green Eyed Angel)

Desperate Racists

Using an entire nation for a punchline on a desperate show is racism in its lowest form. The news reported that: "In the season premiere that aired Sunday on ABC, Teri Hatcher's character, Susan, goes in for a medical checkup and is shocked when the doctor suggests she may be going through menopause.

"Listen, Susan, I know for a lot of women the word `menopause'" has negative connotations. You hear `aging,' `brittle bones,' `loss of sexual desire,'" the gynecologist tells her.

"OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren't, like, from some med school in the Philippines?" Susan fires back."

For update, the ABC folks already apologized to the entire Filipino community, and we're talking of a 10 million workforce scattered globally.

I don't believe Teri Hatcher's character could be aware of the implications the slur inflicted but I am sure somebody from behind, like the desperate script writers, were politically motivated to emhasize that line.

This is political and economic in reason (Wow! I feel like I am gonna run for a 2010 office! eeech!). Quality of Philippine education has been as questionable as our government officials, but it does not mean Americans or Europeans have started doubting the quality of health care Filipinos could provide. They have not, and that will be maintained for as long as Filipinos remain a Christian nation. It's all in the heart, and not in inserting some tasteless smart-ass-tism lines in desperate television shows.

Noontime Show Wars

Filipinos are identified with the shows they view. ABS-CBN beat GMA network in going international and both vie for ratings among global Pinoys.

ABS-CBN's Wowowee has a wider if not deeper acceptance and following among overseas viewers. The show concept, if there ever has one, has tapped on Filipinos overseas who want to reach out to less fortunate (if the word ever applies to the majority of Filipinos) noontime show audience. Thus, the give-aways to live audience (am not sure they have for home viewers as I rarely watch tv) and game contestants.

The rift between Eat Bulaga and other noontime television shows over ABS-CBN, as I viewed before, was corporate in nature. As we may be aware of, from RPN 9, Eat Bulaga transferred to ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN then was pulled up the rating games on the top of the heap with a little help from Eat Bulaga. And when you're on top o the heap, what the top wants, top gets.

Okay, in another angle, I see it this way: It could be that some bigwigs over ABS-CBN saw the heap Eat Bulaga was gathering, and say to themselves, "Hmmm, interesting." So, the concept for "Sanglinggo nAPO Sila" was born, while contracts have to be renewed. Eat Bulaga was kicked out, enter APO.

But Eat Bulaga, like it or not, is already an institution among viewers, if not the "masa". It has grown on our sense of humour like a natural joke. And APO Hiking Society is not a joke but a music trio, much unlike the Tito/Vic & Joey group. So, APO was replaced with that show "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" where Willie Revillame and Janice de Belen's ex made names. But more so with Willie.

Willie. I met Willie personally in his low period: after his rumoured annulment with Princess Punzalan (heiress of Lovingly Yours Helen---Vela). Willie tries hard to be funny, I immediately sensed in our first phone conversation. And, he sounded to me like he felt he's got an oozzing sex appeal (in other peoples' terms, the "m" word). I was a profile and press release writer back then for musicians and television personalities. In short, Willie struck me as far from smart, intelligent and sensitive artist. Previously, all I knew, he was a talented drummer. Period.

Wowowee.
I have never known a show over ABS-CBN exists at noon until I heard some kids singing "Wawawi sinong di mawiwili!" and saw the show while hubby was channel surfing. He was giving away P500 bucks (about US$10) per recycled and original joke shared by the studio audience). Then, there were kids' contests. And then, the hosts started thanking overseas donors. Donors. This is a highly technical term as against "sponsors". And it's all about taxes and legalities, but I won't indulge on that as I lack accountancy knowledge.

And then the tragedy. About 70 killed at Ultra before a grand show of Wowowee materialized. The whole nation was outraged. I myself have done several rock gigs and met a lot of impositions and warnings about punks. But the worst cases I ever got were a lost leather belt and a gate entry pocketing I still get embarassed when I remember it. The tragedy was the first in Philippine history and yet, ABS-CBN as well as the people of Wowowee got away with it, just like that. Brushing dusts off the biggies' boots. To the tune of "this boots are made for walkin..." Nancy Sinatra baby!

And now, here we are... while the whole nation is being led to think NOBODY's cheating during elections, Wowowee pictured in again. This time, it's about too many freakin' numbers in one box that is supposed to represent only one number. Watch.

Willie's point and response is quite pseudo-dramatic, as Joey de Leon pointed out. Well, yes, pseudo. Crocodile tears. And simply out of the topic. There's a conspiracy going on and Willie is seem to point that he was simply a "host" or a "talent" and...

Okay, over at ABS-CBN, I still am not sure if they already have regular or permanent employees. The thing is, it has remained contractual and floating, non-at-all status for most of their talents, workers, and segment producers for several years (recall the cases and issues about Magandang Gabi, Bayan)... Way back when I had a stint at ABS-CBN, the set-up was that, it was a "family" affair. Not in capitalist way. I am not sure if the set-up has changed. But many of those I had a chance to talk with in hushed voices informed me about the "system" which was quite medieval.

Anyway, it could be that Willie's tackless move on the circular box containing several numbers when it was supposed to be just one number is another "corporate" issue and Willie is just the frontman. So much like the Ultra tragedy... It's just that some has got to pay, or get hanged. And a goat will do.

Un-branded

Here are several juicy quotes from one Ms. Malu Fernandez which was an article in a glossy.

“…I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cellphones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.”

“…While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted…” (dumb line, don’t you have an editor? Or you simply want Emirates to make up with you? I’d ban you a thousand kilometres if I were a voice at Emirates). “…dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga saan ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?”... I thought I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell.” Uhm, Satan for you must be VERY kind.

"On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. (If I could afford to brag about a genuine fake Louis Vuitton from China, I would not have second thoughts of buying me an additional ticket to avoid people that could make me think about slashing my wrist! And I hope reader you get it the first time!) This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while my Jo Malone evaporated into thin air."


Ms. Fernandez is a walking advertorial who had it in her head that she has what it takes to flash global brands while working (oh, OK, travelling. as I understand, she is one of the few which, downsizing publishers freeload on). In the article alone (June 2007) she did not waste opportunities as she enumerates Baygon (a brand that means mosquitoes and cockhroaches, eeeech!), Holiday Inn (her minimum travel requirement. sheesh, expensive nga!. my minimum travel requirement is a glass of drinking water!), Adidas (if a company meant fitness, and I was brand manager, I would not be caught being used, much more plugged by a pig), Havaianas (give me Islander any time!), Discovery Shores (Boracay is already over-exploited before Discovery Shores shored in the island! So, what’s with discovery Columbus?), Emirates (my husband is awed how Jahal-requiring carriers let a live pig in their plane!), Ledra Marriott hotel, Louis Vuitton, Ruby Tuesday, Chili's, CNN, Axe, Charlie (she sure knows her local brands, eh! If I had been limited to using Estee Lauders, Calvin Kleins, Paloma Picassos, et al, I would not know what Axe is!), Jo Malone.

If newspaper lifestyle and glossy magazine editors nowadays have to settle to write-ups like this, I now put up my chin for not choosing the local mainstream media to work with.

I have never known Filipino mediapeople could stoop this low, and squalidly crawl like the mad woman in "Yellow Wallpaper" (Charlotte P. Gilman's).

This made me recall of an experience way back in mid 1990s when I had a short gig at ABS-CBN's talent Center and had to write about Star Circle Batch 2. While interviewing Diether Ocampo, I asked what his television appearances were, and he enumerated promptly.

When I asked what specific television station these shows appear, he sneered at me, "Dito ka nagta-trabaho, hindi mo alam?" meaning (ei, as if naga-English lahat ng readers ko ah!) "You work here and you don't have an idea?"

I replied, "I don't watch tv."

What I am trying to point out is that if one person claims to exist in a world she calls HER OWN, then, she should not even have the slightest idea another world exists! OKAY? Ulit: Sa simpleng salita, kung nabuhay kang Jo Malone at mas mahal pa ang pabango mo, would you know what Axe cologne is?

Anyway, I chanced upon the issue on Ms. Fernandez' article via salbahe.net

Mr. Manuel L. Quezon III commented "I’m not for firing people on the basis of what they write."

But the articles (including one that appeared in manila Standard I guess) obviously pointed out how the publishers and the editors were being toyed on by a "cursi" (aaaaaaargh!) Mala Malu (in Mr. Quezon's words). It only means the editors and publishers would rather freeload on a thrash-writing cursi than have a quality contribution from more deserving writers. Advertorials or even attracting advertisements this way is...

Pathetic.

I know of one major local media network (feeling international)who is so fond of freeloading on its own fat (sa Tagalog, nagsarili, o nagluto sa sariling mantika, and freak out, you go figure what I mean!) when in fact, it is following the footsteps of Enron.

And back to Mala Malu, nais kong ipaabot sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino na nasilihan at naantig ng kanyang pakiramdam, we can only speculate. Baka sa ganoong paraan lang nakakakuha ng atensyon si Mala Malu.

Maswerte tayo, di natin kelangang matutong mag-spelling ng mamahaling brand ng bag at magpakahirap magkaroon nung mga brands na gusto niya (o nilang) i-promote. Why, I feel 103 years old, pero laking pasasalamat ko na at me gusto pa ring makipag-date sa 'kin kahit Johnson's baby cologne lang kaya kong bilhin! At para kay Ms. Malu, yebba babe, para sa 'yo talaga 'yang pic ko (sa taas)! Taken a few minutes ago. No brands to brag. No need.

Kung ipagpipilitan mong journalist ka, AYOKO NANG MAGING JOURNALIST!

Ano kamo ulit? You're just being true to yourself? E di sana, naglaslas ka na nga nung time na 'yon... Malay mo, maunahan ka nung mga nag-send sa 'yo ng death threat?

Hay Pinoy When Will We Ever Learn?

Eto, napakabilis kumalat sa mga e-mail. Kuwentong taglish (pidgin, hiphop, etc) na nilangkapan ng sangkaterbang figurative speech. Sabi ni Derrick, totoo naman daw na napakaraming Pinoy ang mag-Inglisan, kesyo nasa labas ng Pilipinas, e, first language nila ang foreign language.

Sa mga na-o-offend na literally educated mag-English, excuse me po, 'ika nga nilang mga kapwa Pinoy na ayaw lumingon sa kanilang natural na pananalita.

Take a bow, eehe, take a look below.

Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, bilib din ako sa galing sumulat ng kung sino mang pinanggalingn ng 'wentong ito. Ako, napa-husay kong mang-pilipit ng kuwentuhan, pero 'di ko kaya 'to, 'day! Kahit siguro si Ms. Annabel Rama, wlang panama. Inggit ko lang. I can imagine Atty. Maximus seriously speaking "pero okey sya ha? Magaling ang pagkakagawa niya...":

We' ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma
mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only
now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the
eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya.
And then, he came over with me. He said, "I hope you don't mine. Can I
get your number?" Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He
explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect
me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya,
The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya!
I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a
blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we'll go ouch
na rin. Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks
God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time.
After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in
a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it's four! This
is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many
splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces.
Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may
babaeng humirit ng, "Well, well, well. Look do we hav e here." What
the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I
told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to
get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of
steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don't want to portrait the role of
the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, "please,
mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na
rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy.
Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, "Look
at is this way. She's our of our lives."

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just
burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a
mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your
soul. I second emotion.