Postcards from Nowhere

2012 is here

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:45:00 +0000

2008. 2012. Four years.

Four years since I last put down thoughts on this wee space.

It's been awhile since I last tried to write a blog entry. I don't know what stops me or what hinders me from making a go of it like I used to in these very pages.

Age catching up. Jadedness? A misplaced sense of protecting one's privacy? In the facebook and tweeter age that sounds utterly anachronistic.

I have tried maintaining other blogs. For a time, I was active in multiply until I wasn't. Then there are my attempts at a wordpress account using my real name no less. But it still doesn't feel quite right.

Maybe, I need to go back to where it really started. Where I took roots, so to speak.

Hello, blogspot.

saturday morning with the moonchild

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:59:00 +0000

V: My barbie doll is made in China.

Ang sinabi ko: yes, anak. Because it’s cheaper to make them in China.

Gusto kong sabihin: Outsourcing ang tawag diyan. Isang manifestation ng globalization

V: My Barbie doll clothes are fake.

Ang sinabi ko: No they are not. They’re called unbranded. Fake is when you pass off something not true as real.

Gusto ko talagang sabihin: Tawag diyan ay value shopping. We need not always get the branded ones. What’s important is what we do with the toys/things that we have.

V: Why do some people destroy the stuff of the sidewalk vendors?

Ang sinabi ko: It’s quite complicated. There are many reasons: 1) sidewalks are for people, 2) vendors on the sidewalks means people walk on the streets causing traffic and possibly harm to their bodies, 3) there’s a proper place for everything. It doesn’t mean though that what the stompers are doing is correct.

And then I was rambling already as I couldn’t stop myself from going into explanatory mode. I explained to her the quandary of vendors, Pinoys buying habits that makes sidewalk vendors a reality, the mandate of the MMDA. Infodump much? In other words, sinabi ko talaga ang gusto kong sabihin, pero syempre in kids speak. Kaya lang baka na-lost na sha. But at the end of it sabi niya: "Kawawa naman pala ang mga tindera." (cue music here:"Manggagawang impormal, Kabalikat sa buhay.")

Confused

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:08:00 +0000

When Knorr came out with its Makulay ang buhay campaign, I was one of those who were swept up in melodic take, if not too subtle strategy to sell vegetables to kids. The TV ads featured healthy-looking children singing the jingle and obviously relishing their souped vegetables (sinabawang gulay). And the copy was really catchy: “Makulay ang buhay sa sinabawang gulay.”

We took our cue from this ad when it came time for me and my groupmates to implement a project for one of our classes. One of the results was a one-minute jingle titled “Bilin ni Bibo Basurahan” You can hear the jingle at our group’s site.

So, it really bothers me now that their new ad somehow overturns whatever leverage the previous campaign gained. In this new radio ad, a teacher is asking her students to classify food into meat and vegetable. The class got the first one correctly, but the following veggies they classified as meat to the consternation of the teacher. And then a voice over comes on to announce that by adding Knorr meat seasoning, vegetable taste like meat.

I know it’s still selling vegetables to kids (via the taste) but it sort of undermines the message of their earlier campaign. Once again, vegetables are treated as substandard fare and needs to be masked as meat for it to become a treat for kids.

The Great Veronica Mars Re-watch

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:17:00 +0000

Television Without Pity.com is doing a Veronica Mars Re-watch starting with the Pilot this Saturday, February 9, 2008.

From the TWOP calendar:

The bitch is back, people.

This week we start rewatching Veronica Mars. So either you've seen her kicking asses and taking names for dozens of times already, or you still know nothing about this girl (shame on you), please come and join us in watching and discussing one of the most brilliant series ever.

Here's the schedule

Feb 9: Pilot
Feb 16: Credit Where Credit's Due
Feb 23: Meet John Smith
Mar 1: The Wrath of Con
Mar 8: You Think You Know Somebody
Mar 15: Return of the Kane
Mar 22: The Girl Next Door
Mar 29: Like a Virgin
Apr 5: Drinking the Kool-Aid
Apr 12: An Echolls Family Christmas
Apr 19: Silence of the Lamb
Apr 26: Clash of the Tritons

Tara na. Ulit :)

Made up

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:51:00 +0000

And she says no
There’s no one behind the door anymore
She’s packed her clothes and shoes and her dog
She lives in a different room now; facing a different park.

She’s made up her mind
She’s somewhere new where you’re not allowed to go
Eating in a new café, chatting up the cool waiter
She’s on first name basis with people who are strangers to you

And it seems strange
To witness this scenario
When just a few blinks ago
You were not a “her” and a “him” but a you

help is on the way

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:03:00 +0000

Say what you will about horoscopes but sometimes they can be so dead on.

My horoscope for today, Tuesday, January 15, 2008:

It may be difficult today to relax with your family or find the solitude you prefer as one little crisis after another finds its way into your space.

Fortunately, no one thing is enough to upset your day, but you may grow weary as you put out each and every fire.

Sometimes you receive support from others, yet now it might seem as if you have to do everything by yourself. Don't panic; help is already on the way.

I really hope so. There's just so much going on nowadays. It's always nice to have a shoulder to lean on even as we share our own. Life, you've become quite complicated.

Sad sackery

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:56:00 +0000

Am watching this youchub vid ng arcade fire and david bowie called Wake Up. tapos yung caption ng uploader said: If you don´t cry watching this, you are dead inside

Then someone commented: I didn't cry watching this but you know how it is when you get older your bodies get bigger but your hearts get colder.

I just found that as sad-making. I don't want my heart to grow cold.

And then Lia tells me: it wont! grabe naman yung comment na yun. ay nako nag e-emo ka lang kasi birthday mo na eh hahahah

Hahaha birthdays.

This made me think of Seth Rogen's breakdown in Knocked Up: "Fuck you, hormones" although dapat i-substitute yung birthday.

I am sorry if i am confusing you. These are confusing times and the year is just one week old. Wtf talaga.

life cycle

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:06:00 +0000

RH Code for QC

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:13:00 +0000

We're currently hurrying to finish the production of our various props and paraphernalia for tomorrow's mobilization at the QC Hall.This is to show support for and pressure the local government to pass the QC Reproductive Health bill which was earlier filed by QC Councilor Joseph Juico.

A group of women from different organizations and residents from different communities in many areas in Quezon City will converge near the Sunken Garden (in front of QC Hall) on December 18, 2007 from 9AM to 12NN during the public hearing on QC Reproductive Health Bill. The hearing will be held at Carlos Albert Hall, Legislative Wing, Quezon City Hall and will be conducted by the joint council Committee on Laws, Rules and Internal Government and the Committee on Health.

Since it's christmas time, the organizing committee have decided to adopt this as its main theme. Therefore we have santa hats, gifts, parols and we even modified the lyrics of the "Ang Pasko ay sumapit" to fit the theme of the event.

Ang Pasko ay sumapit

Tayo ay mangagsi-awit

At sa ngayong umaga

Ang hiling namin ay iisa

Huwag pong kalilimutan

Ang aming mga karapatan

At ang aming hiling

QC RH Code ay ipasa!!

I also had fun designing some stuff and am particularly proud of this parol.

The QC RH Code is really important especially in light of the fact that we don't have a national RH bill. And it's not because for lack of trying. The women's movement has been lobbying for its passage since 4 congresses ago. If it were a real live girl, she would be hitting puberty soon.

The QC RH Bill encompasses the following 10 elements of reproductive health:

1. Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition
2.. Family planning information and services
3. Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications
4. Adolescent and youth health
5. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable infections (STIs)
6. Elimination of violence against women;
7. Education and counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health;
8. Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions;
9. Male involvement and participation in reproductive health;
10. Prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction

if the local ordinance is passed, QC will join the provinces of Aurora and Ifugao in recognizing the reproductive rights of its citizens.It maybe a really small club but it's a start.

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:10:00 +0000

It’s quite the sweet coincidence that this morning I’m humming Hey, Jude and I have in fact gone on to you tube to hear the song in its entirety.

It’s been a long time since I was in a Beatles frame of mind. I remember a time though when it was all I ever listened to and talked about. (much like what i feel right now for VM). Smile. It’s good to hear their voices again.

It’s so nice too to see John Lennon’s face again. Then of course, I had to be reminded that this time of the year is his death anniversary. Sigh. Every now and then I think about how the 90s musical landscape would have been if he were still alive during that decade.

Aray!

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:34:00 +0000

- The Art of Prank

Love after Love

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:17:00 +0000

Niña lent me this book called The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's a love story about a time travelling man and the girl who eventually grow up and became his wife. I just started it and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the ideas presented in the book. It is an interesting read though. Iba yung concept ng author about time travel like the time traveller can't bring anything with him not even clothes (he arrives at his destination naked, hungry and puking.)

From the book's synopsis: This is the extraordinary love story of Clare and Henry who met when Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-two and Henry thirty."

There are parts that are kinda iffy like when they meet and Clare is 13 and Henry is 36 and just came from a time when he and Clare are married. So, syempre iba ang mindframe ng lolo. On the whole, I am enjoying it.

Anyhow, the book is preceded by this lovely poem by Derek Walcott.

Love After Love

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Ten Things You Can Do Right Now to Love Your Body

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:43:00 +0000

I really like this list :) I got it from feministing.com.

1. Make the radical choice to commit to healing your relationship with your body.

2. Never diet. Never ever. It is a $31 billion industry that fails 95% of the time. That's just stupid.

3. Reconnect with your authentic hungers. When are you hungry? When are you full? What are you hungry for?

4. Move in ways (African dance, yoga, running, sex...) that make you feel happy instead of adhering to strict fitness regimens.

5. Add a compassionate voice to the chorus in your head.

6. Don't spend money on products made by companies that make you feel inadequate. Duh.

7. Stop hanging out with toxic people that make you feel bad about yourself.

8. Change conversations about weight to conversations about wellbeing.

9. Nominate someone for the REAL Hot 100.

10. Redefine your notion of success to include your own wellness--including joy, fulfillment, resilience, and self-love.

how to go grocery shopping

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:02:00 +0000

via gizmodo.com

of cancers and cellphones

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:50:00 +0000

Currently reading this article on Salon.com about how we are all living in some kind of petri-dish where almost half of the stuff we are in contact with can give us cancer. It's an interview with Devra Davis, head of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute in relation to her new book, "The Secret History of the War on Cancer."

A big part of the blame is attributed to relevant agencies'(at least in the US) apparent lack of concern in regulating cancer-inducing products.

Why do you have concerns about aspartame, the artificial sweetener in many soft drinks and other low-calorie foods? What's a drinker of Diet Coke to think?

I can't tell you what to think: I can just tell you what I know, and what I recommend to my children.

In 1977, Richard Merrill, who later became dean of the University of Virginia Law School, was the chief counsel of the Food and Drug Administration, and he formally asked the U.S. attorney to convene a grand jury to decide whether or not to indict the producer of aspartame, G.D. Searle, for misrepresenting "findings, concealing material facts and making false statements" in aspartame safety tests.

This is not some left-wing group. This is the actual chief counsel of the FDA asking the U.S. attorney's office to convene a grand jury. It never happened, because by the time the grand jury was ready to be convened we had a new president. That president was Reagan, and within a month of Reagan taking office, he had a proposal from a guy you might have heard of named Donald Rumsfeld [who was then chief operating officer of Searle].

And Jan. 22, 1981, one day after Reagan's inauguration -- one day -- Searle reapplied for FDA approval. Prior to that, ever single request for approval was turned down by all the scientists ever looking at the data. That's a fact. There's no dispute about that fact. And then, it gets approved May 19, 1981.

Remember what happened with the Reagan revolution? It was: "We need to get the government off our backs." One of the backs it got off of was suppressing the aspartame industry. Later, many of the people who worked at the FDA to evaluate aspartame ended up going to work for the company producing it.

So you tell people to avoid it?

Absolutely.

First of all, there's no evidence that it helps you lose weight. And there are people who drink a lot of diet soda. It's a question of a risk-benefit trade-off.

read the whole article called Life Will Kill You by Katharine Mieszkowski.

Chasing calm

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:23:00 +0000

Can we just stop and stay still for a moment or two?

Can we not reconfigure our lives just yet? I just want to be still and not be buffeted by all these constant, seemingly inevitable changes that seem to define our lives now.

I don’t know what I have been feeling lately but there is a certain sadness lingering about me. I don’t know if it’s me mourning as I finally say goodbye to the last vestiges of my childhood. Ayayayay. And so early in the morning yet.

I have just recovered from really hectic three months that involved me juggling work, school, family and friends. The funny thing was I never even realized that I was so busy and haggard until that Sunday after my finals. When I told my friend El about my finals, all she said was “Grabe, Earnest, Galing. Naitawid mo rin yun.” To which Buddy agreed when I told him later that night.

So anyway, now that sem break is here I am feeling sad naman. Ano burr? Is this how it feels after an adrenaline rush? No wonder speed junkies would rather drink downers to sleep off the descent from their 'highness.'

So I saw Zach Braff’s movie, The Last Kiss, last Saturday and it made me think about the process of growing up. Zach plays 29-year old Michael whose girlfriend of three years has announced is 3 pregnant. At a friend’s wedding, he met a 19-year old, college student, Kim (played by Rachel Bilson). Anyway, as much as Michael’s life is progressing well, he feels as though everything is planned out and finds his life a bit boring and thinks he's in a permanent crisis and hooking up with Kim is starting to look like a good idea, never mind the consequences.

The act of growing up, while it does not come overnight, is a conscious decision, I’ve come to accept. We really decide on our own: This is it, you say. I am no longer a child. I can no longer blame my parents or my childhood circumstances for the mess or state I am in. From hereon, it’s me and me all the way. It sounds so final, no? In a way, it is. There’ll be times and moments when you can be free and behave irresponsibly. But they are just moments, sooner or later you’ll get zapped into the current reality.

Ay, I have lots of free time and this is what I end up thinking? Ok, this time, I blame Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for making me feel this introspective. Sigh.

she's got style...

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:05:00 +0000

what do you mean, you're still thinking about buying the album? Go get it! It's super worth it :)

for more on the band check out

cambiospace
cambiomultiply

it's back

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:35:00 +0000

from xkcd.com

because no matter how crappy the world can get, there is always love to look forward to.

Do not force the issue

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:20:00 +0000

lately, I've been noticing that I'm not much of a chika girl as I used to be.

I remember when I was younger, parang I had this mission to befriend just about everyone. In HS, aside from my core barkada, i had friends who were in the higher levels. I had theater friends. Then there's the sports-minded ones. Of course, i had my church-based pals. One time, i also hang out with this particular group of girls. One day, one of them asked another "Kabaro ba natin sha?" The reply was: "Di tsong. Sumasama lang sa atin."

This continued in my college days and the years after graduation.

Lately, however, I've noticed that I'm more inward-looking. I don't think I'm turning into a snob but it's more like I'm more focused on myself. For example, I don't have a need to befriend everyone in a new setting. These days, I'd much rather we do what needs to be done and if we become friends later on, well that's a good thing. But of course, i am still my usual pleasant self. I still strive to accommodate other people's quirks (and i hope they do the same thing with my own). I still pride myself as a team player. Pero hindi ko na pina-project na maging kaibigan talaga lahat ng makilala ko.

Dati-rati, sumasama ang loob ko pag napansin ko na hindi na ako kasama sa isang circle kasi nag-iba na ang direksyon ng buhay ko. I have learned now that we were never friends to start with. It's just that the circumstances forced us to work/hang out together. When you're younger, you tend to equate regular togetherness for friendship.

Now, I'm not insecure or burdened anymore if i'm not buddy-buddies with everyone around me. Friendship, I learned is not something you force. It happens when it happens.

if my life were made into a movie

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:26:00 +0000

Your Score: Woody Allen

Your film will be 64% romantic, 39% comedy, 31% complex plot, and a $ 33 million budget.

Be prepared to have your life story shot entirely in New York City -- though lately Woody's been loving shooting in London. Also, your music soundtrack is all jazz from before 1949. Filmography: Annie Hall, Manhattan, Stardust Memories, Everyone Says I Love You, Match Point, Scoop, etc. Woody has released one film per year consistently for the past 35 years. For the past 15 years he's been trying to make films like his older, funnier ones, just like characters in his Stardust Memories film suggest throughout. Regardless of his personal life, his films are American classics.

Link: The Director Who Films Your Life Test written by bingomosquito on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

save energy

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:47:00 +0000

ye, who is prone to multi-tasking; ye who has a full-time job coupled with demanding masteral subjects (namely, me: it would do you well to heed this warning.

from today's horoscope:

You often excel at sensible planning, combined with impeccable timing. You can work long and hard to reach your goals. Typically, you keep a reserve of energy for when you need it. But now something pushes from within, tempting you to burn all your logs at once. Don't do it; it's really not a good idea. You probably won't get what you want any faster, so retain some fuel for later when you will need it.

does this mean i can procastinate? to delay doing my assignment that's due on Monday since I will be working this weekend? hmmm

===
been working so hard the past month (can't believe it's only been a month since i started working again) it's only this week that i got to do yoga again. as expected, i was once again tight in some places, especially around my lower back. Ohh, the agony. I miss my flexibility huhuhuhu

To think that our crazy schedule has just began and there are still so many tasks ahead of us.

Karapatan ng mga Bata

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:46:00 +0000

Because I had a hard time looking for a Filipino translation of the condensed version of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mabuhay, magkaroon ng pangalan at nasyonalidad
To live, to have a name and nationality

Magkaroon ng pamilyang magmamahal at kakalinga
To have a family who will love and care for me

Mamuhay sa isang tahimik at kaayaayang kapaligiran
To live in a peaceful community and wholesome environment

Magkaroon ng sapat na pagkain at malusog at masiglang pangangatawan
To have adequate food and a healthy and active body

Mabigyan ng magandang edukasyon at mapaunlad ang potensyal
To obtain a good education and develop my potential

Bigyan ng mga pagkakataon upang maglaro at maglibang
To be given opportunities for play and leisure

Proteksyon mula sa pang-aabuso, pagsasamantala, kapabayaan, karahasan, at panganib
To be protected against abuse, exploitation, neglect, violence and danger

Ipangtanggol at bigyan ng tulong ng pamahalaan
To be defended and given assistance by the government

Malayang magpahayag ng pananaw
To be able to express my own views

Oh the wonderfulness of it all

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:29:00 +0000

Yes, my baby turned 6 yesterday.
Can't believe it's been 6 years since that fateful day when typhoon Feria howled through most of Luzon (it flooded Baguio!) and Buddy and I welcomed our darling baby daughter into our lives.

I could never...

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:43:00 +0000

Nothing says my favorite show is over than heading to the TWOP site and finding out it’s no longer listed under the Forums dropdown menu. Not only did I lose my show, I also lost an adopted virtual community (even though most of the time I was just a lurker).

Sigh, I really invested a lot in this show. I will sorely miss everyone in that show especially LoVe. It’s really telling that while watching Shia Lebeouf in Transformers, I kept thinking about Jason Dohring and how he would have tackled the role. The damn role just reminded me too much of Logan. I guess it’s the HS setting.

Goodbye, show. It’s been a swell ride. I’ll definitely miss your awesome cast, great writing, snarky dialogues, just-right-for-the-mood musical backdrops, quirky camera angles and lighting, cool pop culture references and the awesome fandom (virtual and real life) that rallied around you. I look forward to the day when it doesn’t hurt as much to think about your untimely demise.

Wallace: You better enjoy this, 'cause this is as nostalgic as I get. I just wanted to say...it was worth getting taped to a pole.

photo from vm-caps

Happy birthday, El

noreply@blogger.com (miranila) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 05:30:00 +0000

I found this while rummaging through junk in one of the closets. I don't know when i wrote it exactly but I'm guessing this was sometime in 1998 or 1999 at the height of my Cynthia Alexander fandom.

What is it about a song
A flick of the hand of a gracious dancer
That immediately links you at that moment, in that place
to friends who are not beside you?

I've been watching Cynthia's set at Bistro for nearly 6 months now and I mean religiously. You'd think by now I'd be inured to her charms, to her guileless artistry. and yet here I am, with tears in my eyes, metaphysically reaching out to all of you. El, a lone woman danced to one of Cynthia's songs and under the bright lights in that small space of the stage, I saw you. Every poetic kick of her leg, every flick of her graceful fingers reminded me of you, of the way you yourself would dance: with no care whether it's 'modern' or 'ethnic." And i mutter a small thanks to the forces of nature that sent you, all of you, to my life.

I'm so mooshy, no? It's quite fitting too that I unearthed this note a day after El's wonderful birthday bash. She treated us (there were about 17 of us) to Ace Water Spa in Banaue. After that kakaibang experience (water + spa experience = one hell of an enjoyable night), we retired to her place for some fortifying food: pasta (El), bacon-wrapped asparagus stalks and fruit gelatin (Dindo), chicken curry (Nana), decadent chocolate cake called Kamasutra (Raffy) and wine, wine, wine.

Veda especially had a great time at the waters even though she got cranky by 11 pm, way, way past her bedtime; she finally hit the sack at 1 am (I know, i know but it's the weekend naman.

So, here's to you, El. I said it before and I'll say it again, I thank the cosmos for bringing us together. You're one hell of a friend!