Muffled Chatterbox

International Kimchi Buffet Party (ASEAN, South Korea, and the Youth in International Relations)

2012-03-18T01:36:00.004+08:00

In an online international community board that I frequently visit, there is this certain personal thread which spanned fifty pages and it all started on the simple topic of pairing different members of Korean pop culture icons with one another. What started as a simple exchange between three bored users caught the interests of another four until the thread moved fast and other people joined in. Eleven months after the thread started, we have long moved away from the original topic of the thread itself and along with it, established a familiar and relatively closer relationship with those who were actively participating in the discussion.

It did not come as a surprise when I learned that of the eleven most active participants, we had filled out all positions of each Southeast Asian country with the exception of Cambodia and Laos. Though our communication is limited only within the parameters of our computer monitors and the signal bars on our internet connections, I can say that the relationships I have built with my online friends have rightfully reached the level of how I interact with my close circle of friends in the 'real' world. The maxim of how technology has deduced everything into one global village has never rang truer in my ears.

Just like personal relationships, interstate kinship does not happen overnight. It takes years and it needs the fundamental concept of mutual trust and understanding for it to last. In the case of ASEAN, its success lies on the fact that the member countries share a lot of similarities. They are of the same region, sharing common traditions, of same economic standing, and working together towards the same goals. There is no hegemonic state prior to its establishment which is why it was easier for them to trust each other and move forward together. Though some scholars may argue that the premise of the creation of the ASEAN is to prevent hostilities between Southeast Asian nations, the fact that the different states comprising the said body were able to compromise, form a multilateral agreement benefiting all the states involved, and work together peacefully for forty years now, say a lot about the established network and strong sense of regional integration that has been inculcated into the organization after years of working together.

Though they do not share the same economic supremacy as their wealthier East Asian neighbors, ASEAN, considered as a single entity, is an economic powerhouse of its own. With a population reaching an approximate 8.8% of the world population, a strong production base, and a large consumer force with sufficient purchasing power, the Southeast Asian region has become a competent market by essence. Such is the strong potential Southeast Asia has that the richer East Asian nations extend a hand for dialogue and partnership with the region.

With the current economic status of China, Japan, and Korea, one may ask: why is there a need for them to establish affiliation and build ties with their neighbors? The answer to this is that, economic stability is not the sole reason to which foreign policy is pegged on. Foreign policy is a multi-faceted concept which encompasses political, social, and economical factors. In today's era where globalization is a truistic principle, it is of high importance that states secure strong alliance with other countries so as to protect their national interest. Currently, China is taking a rather aggressive strategy by asserting its influence; whereas Japan aims to woo ASEAN by continuing its community development programs in the region. With both countries using highly varied tactics, this leaves Korea in a conundrum wherein they have to reach out to ASEAN without aggravating the fierce competition already present between China and Japan. To attain this, it is necessary to take the first step by establishing multi-regional frameworks and strengthening diplomatic relations.

As aforementioned, relationships need time and effort for it to grow. In case of interstate alliances, there is an underlying and implicit need for states to be assured that there will be no hegemonic tendencies arising from its affiliates. This concept can be simplified as mutual trust. A relationship starts best when both parties are of equal standing; as the thought of having a superior and inferior status creates a concept of imbalance right at the beginning. Granting that the diverse background of states already provide unequal degree when it comes to economic status, mutual trust happens with the existence of the principle of cultural tolerance and respect. This is where the role of the youth comes in.

Nowadays, foreign- and cultural-exchange programs are popular all throughout the world. Objectives of said activities usually revolve around broadening perspectives; exploring, appreciating, and understanding different cultures; enabling participants to learn working on cross-cultural environments; and to eliminate fear and prejudice among nations. To some, this might appear as but an avenue to expand their horizons, but if one will look at it closely, foreign-exchange programs are actually one of the many ways to promote international relations between different countries. On programs such as these, it is notable how they usually target the youth.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) lists 1.8 billion young people in the world today. This translates that the youth comprise approximately 26.57% of the world's total population. In as much as heads of state put their best foot forward by strengthening their foreign policies through diplomatic ties, the mandate of a collective national mindset is a necessary step for said efforts to flourish. No matter how state leaders do their best to extend their hands, if the action itself is not mirrored by majority of the people in their respective countries, the goal for a friendlier Pan-Asian neighborhood will not be feasible. In relation to the youth, the statistics showing their large population gives a fair proof on how large of a role the youth plays in today's society. Exchange programs are directed to them because it is the young people who will play a pivotal role in achieving a state's goals in the near future.

In creating an environment where young people are trained to be open-minded, globally-competitive, and culturally sensitive, we are shaping citizens who will be assets not only to our respective states but to the international community as well. As representatives of their nations, they are coerced to act in accordance to the universal standard of what is right; and in such experience, they learn to be tolerant, goal-driven, and morally just. Such characteristics are needed in order to mold future leaders who will not only push forward the development of their respective states but also work hard to assist their Asian neighbors. This kind of mentality assures collective security and strengthens the diplomatic ties that took years in the making.

By inspiring young people to work together harmoniously without inhibitions, we take the first step in building a good foundation of a strong Pan-Asian community. Just like how a simple avenue for discussion and exchange gave me the chance to feel closely affiliated with their countries and be friends with Khansa, Nara, Mel, Arief, Dani, Mingying, Zaw Bo, Mukjil, Oanh, and Awiem May, every opportunity that will immerse the youth to a varied environment will bear fruition. As it will always goes back to the old adage of the youth being the future of the nation, the future of ASEAN and Korean cooperation lies on the hands of the youth.

In this post I bare my life...

2012-02-07T18:59:00.005+08:00

Last night, after four hours of staring at the monitor where creeps are headbanging against each other, I once again realized the importance of having a good fried who understands your personal and professional life.

As we wait for the jeep that would take me to the boarding house that has been my surrogate home for the past week in this city, I was finally able to talk about what has been boggling my mind for the past months or so. You see, the last time I was part of the employed portion of the Philippine population was last September. It is my stubbornness that made me do so. Partly because I felt that I should be doing something else.

Sometimes, I suffer from much internal conflict because of the principles that I have sworn myself to follow. For one, I believe in quitting a job first before finding another one. This might be something that has sprouted from my weird perception of respect. Why find a job if you already have one to begin with? Doesn't that come off as disrespectful to the company or organization you are working for? I guess it was just my inherent desire to come off as a just person which is why I justify my lack of interest in a said occupation by providing an avenue for self-generated stagnation by not doing what sane people usually do. It could also be because I am a stubborn and arrogant bitch that I feel that job-hunting isn't something that would be tagged under my belt as I am used with only having one to two weeks of waiting for a job I applied for before they come calling me.

Whatever the reason might be, I was in it for a bad situation. After resigning, I started looking for jobs. Sadly, nothing happened. Four months after resignation and I'm still jobless. I tried praying, asking God for guidance. Still, nothing happened. There was a point in time when I went from thinking that 'this is not what God wants me to' to 'God is only teaching me a lesson' to 'Is God even listening?'. To which the last one I am trying my best not to think about. But it keeps popping in my subconscious, as if it's the question all of humanity should answer.

I presume nobody really thought much of the internal battles I was facing. After all, I still manage to crack some jokes, spazz online, talk animatedly with friends, even counsel a cousin to go back to school after giving up on her studies. I still look okay. And what's so sad is that, I even fooled myself into thinking that I was okay.

It wasn't when I talked to a friend one night in January, when I opened up my mixed feelings of 'wanting to die, not wanting to die, and feeling like dying', that I realized how battered I was with all that was happening. Albeit that talk only prompted me to pack my bags and go to Davao for some 'soul-searching' (I never really thought I'll ever use this word in my entire life, but here is it now), it was last night when the reason dawned on me.

Bapa said that the reason why I keep on changing jobs and losing my interest is because I haven't found something I love doing yet. He was right. Somehow, I already know that but hearing it from somebody else ratifies the reason. I got teary-eyed after realizing how my professional life (or lack thereof) has been threatening my personal life all along. I realized how my principles, though just and commendable, do not always stand in the real world.

"Do not blame God or yourself. It is not your fault that the unemployment rate of the Philippines is high."

I laughed when he said this; but it was true, alright. I'm not used with failure and rejection so I felt really down when it happened to me. In that talk, I was enlightened with a lot of things.

Which brings me to what happened today that is basically the reason why I’m doing this post. My grandma called me. Apparently, I’ve been hired now. I am employed. In a government office.

Funnily enough, I never actually did want to work in that office. In this hiring, I am quite sure I am violating a lot of the principles I've tried my best to stand up to for years. The office didn't even call me, they just contacted my grandmother, and I'm not sure about the working environment there. But then, having something to do is always better than idly waiting for a miracle.

I know I may be committing the same mistake again by going on this even though this isn’t what my heart tells me so but I’m still hoping that at the end of this, I will gain something out of it.

Hopefully, it would be something that I will be proud of.

Right now, the most pressing concern that I am facing is that I wouldn't be with the trolls on February 10 for Syoo's birthday. :(

Why do young Filipinos write mostly in English?

2011-12-23T14:13:00.001+08:00

Sinubok naming lumikha sa wikang katutubo — sa wikang nararapat at itinadhanang yariin upang mahubog at mapagyaman ang Lahing Kayumanggi. Sinubok naming ipinta ang kulay ng buhay gamit ang maramot na tinta ng pluma; ikinintal ang panaka-naka’y mailap na bugso ng damdamin; hulihin at ikahon sa parisukat na dahon ang mga salitang nagniningas, nagpupumilit pumainlang sa aming balintataw.

Yamang hindi kami dalubhasa, ang bawat pagsubok ay nawawangis sa isang batong inihagis pataas upang bumulusok lamang sa burak.

Hindi matatantya ang hirap magsulat sa ating Wikang Pambansa — ang magamit ito ng puro at walang bahid ng kung anumang dilang banyaga. Hindi biro ang pagbigkas sa isang wikang binulaklakan ng talinghaga at inanod sa kagandahan. Kawangis ng gintong ikinahihiyang haplusin ng isang hamak na pulubi, hindi madaling gamitin ang Wikang Filipino - ang Wika ng mga Makata.

No Monkey Business

2011-08-18T05:09:00.001+08:00

This is a rant. Well, sort of.

I miss blogging in blogspot. I miss blogging in blogspot because this is the place where I can simply write all my thoughts without bothering about the syntax, grammar, matters of briefness and conciseness, and other hullabaloo. The words spill into the blogpad and before I knew it, I've written what might look like a brief summary of a series of novels. This explains why I could never ever delete this blog. Here, I am free of worries about what people might feel had they read my entry. Here, I speak and you shut up. (but comments are loved, of course) =))

So anyway, before I forget my real intention of writing this blog, I will start now. Haha.

Primarily, this blog will talk about MONEY MATTERS. Ta-da!

In today's world, everybody seems to be concerned about money, money, money, and more money. By world, I define it with the people who I am currently interacting with, may it be online, personal, or whatsoever. Maybe it's because we are in the point of our lives wherein long term sustainability is a big issue. In as much as I would love to look back on my wonderful teenage years, I cannot fool myself in believing that I am still a young kid who is basically new to the world.

I'm on my twenties now. And so is almost everyone around me.

This is the age wherein people are expecting you to either end or start something. End your education and start with your 'real' life. Thus, this might also explain why the 20s age group remain as one of the major target markets of numerous enterprises all over the country. When you've reached 20, you are expected to finish school and start earning. And by modern standards, earning now isn't anymore defined in a get-a-job-and-be-paid manner. Today, young professionals are expected to be at the front lines of development. And how is this so? By pushing them to do business.

Yes, I used the word PUSH.

I am challenging you to show me a person in her or his twenties who has NEVER been offered a business endeavor at least once in her/his life. By business endeavor, I am referring to business offers on retail promotions, wholesale marketing, and basically anything that involves buying and/or selling something. If we be blunt, show me someone who has never been offered ANY NETWORKING-related business. Quite hard, right?

That's primarily because networking is one of the, if not the most, prevalent business strategy there is today. I don't have problems with this or any business whatsoever; however, I do have problems with people constantly forcing me to jump into the bandwagon.

Let us discuss matters in a manner that is not restricted to value-judgment. We will not speak about how some people just want to get you to work because it will be beneficial to them because that's bad. And we will not speak about how these large fishes prey on small-scale entrepreneurs because they are of a better head start because that's bad. Na-uh. No value-judgments. Just plain and simple principle discussion.

There are approximately eight billion people in this planet and even with the seemingly factual report that 90% of the said population base their principles on what is being spoon-fed to them by the media, we are in no right to assume that all these people share the exact belief in money.

Everyday, we hear about how money makes the world go round and how having none of it basically reduces you into a status that is of the same level (if not lesser) than that of a pikey. Yes guys, money is important but in as much as it is a primary instrument in acquiring the basic needs for human life such as food, clothing, and shelter, it is not the only way for us to have the said needs mentioned above. There is also this wonderful concept that we call social capital.

I do not have any background in business (and I do not have any intention of actually acquiring one) but I am grateful of the fact that I have a rather good understanding of economics. I thank my college economics professors for being effective teachers and it is to them that I credit my ability to choose between options in a manner most beneficial to me.

See, I grew up with money being an unimportant factor in life. I wasn't raised to be materialistic and I am not easily dictated by the strong force that is consumerism. Because of this, I do not really find the need for me to be rich. And by rich, I mean having ten digit figures on my bank account.

Everyone wants to be rich, at some point this is true, yes. But everyone wanting to be rich is different from everyone whose goal is to be rich. Want is different to goal. Want is fleeting as goal is almost always eternal. In an attempt to make it clear, I will use an example using a celeb crush. Everyone, at some point in their lives actually developed a crush on a celebrity. It may be a small crush, major infatuation, or something that borders on obsession. However, the case differs per person. And it doesn't necessarily mean that when you like a celebrity, you actually want to marry her/him. You may come to a point of thinking about such but you will almost always find your way ending up with another person. It works that way too with being rich. Some people wants to get rich but these are some people too who actually don't find it as a necessary goal in life.

Like me.

Yes, it's nice to have good cars, large houses, and endless supply of Jollibee Beef and Mushroom, but trust me, my goals go beyond that.

To be honest, I feel that me dreaming a dream that is shared by almost 90% of the world's population is a big insult to my ability as a person. I can do a lot of better things. My abilities and my dreams perfectly mold into one another and I'm really sorry to tell you this but it's not in any way connected to being rich.

Let the people who want to be rich, be rich.

I can be all innocent and believe that you guys only want my betterment and see me a happy aging woman with luxuries left and right but sadly, that dream is YOUR dream, not mine. I live by the day and it might seem as if I do not have any long term plans about my future, but trust me, I do. I have already thought about what I want to do with my life even before I got into college and I am no way wasting my sixteen years of education doing something totally unrelated to it for the rest of my life.

I have no background in business but I know how business works. I have invested in my dream and that dream will be mine. I am working on it slowly but surely. And believe me, when I get there, I'll be enjoying something that no other riches can offer me. Who knows I might also be rich by then.

Unlike most people, money isn't my ambition. But it could be a part of it. After all, money and ambition aren't exactly mutually exclusive.

It looks like I've written a thesis paper so to sum it up, I'll tell you this really cute fact about me.

I am not born to be rich. I am born to be great. :)

Epiphany

2011-05-26T02:55:00.002+08:00

The streets are cold at eleven thirteen in the evening.

Mick, Jaejoong, and I were walking along Bajada after going to Elishar's wake. Elishar, or Chief to his friends, is a Sociology major who has been my classmate in one too many minor subjects back in college. I cannot actually consider us as close friends (or maybe even friends, at all). I'm pretty sure I never had any conversation with him except maybe exchanges of hi and hello. I cannot even remember his face when Mick broke me the news. All I remember is that sinking feeling in my stomach when I heard that he has passed away. The name, which has become all too familiar from the countless number of times I've heard it during roll calls or from the mouth of friends, resonated at the back of my head. And I know that even though Chief and I never shared a moment that I can rightfully remember, I have to pay respect to the familiar stranger who I share 80% of my network web back in college.

I've seen friends at the wake. Friends whom I haven't seen yet since that fateful day two years ago when we walked down the university field with our togas and diplomas. It's a reunion. In the simplest sense of the word. Tears fell, even without me wanting to, at the realization.

Why is it that old friends get together only when they aren't complete anymore?

Stories were told. And because I have none to share, I was simply there to listen. Bayani said he thought Chief will actually outlive him. It is after all logical that cholesterol-devouring, smoker-drinker Bayani will have the shorter thread of life compared to no-vices, healthy-living, goody-two-shoes Elishar, right? But then, life is always unpredictable. Funny part is, Life also dragged his best pal Death on his favorite hobby of surprising people. Mere two years after graduation and Chief, two months fresh from the age of twenty-three, already passed away.

Mick is sad. He said he is sad because he is frustrated. Frustrations mainly not his but that of his friend. He said Chief still had a lot of plans. Of things he wants to happen and titles he wants to have. None of those will happen now.

Looking at the coffin and the flowers all over it, I wonder: Had Chief received at least one flower back when he was still alive? Had all these people sending their sympathies actually given him a compliment back when he was still able to hear it? And maybe because even with all the wakes that I have attended to, I am still rather ignorant with this rite, I can't help but wonder as I look at the silk sheets draped over the casket: Is it only in the time of their deaths will poor people finally feel how it is like to lie on soft and silky mattresses?

I was crying all throughout the novena for reasons not thoroughly related with Chief. I cried because I see people crying and I was reminded of what life is in general. Life, human behavior, society. It was there where I realized how it isn't after all death itself which makes people cry during funerals. It's not the departure which saddens them but rather the feeling of loss. It's not the absence of the deceased person but rather the absence of something from their lives. People cry not because someone dies. They cry because in that person's death, they are reminded that they are now one friend lesser than they previously were. In other words, they cry for themselves. For the overwhelming feeling of loneliness.

For some reason, it made me think of myself and how things would be if I die. First off, how will my friends meet? The Islamic way mandates the body to be buried immediately after demise and that means no wakes to attend to. Who will tell my online friends? What might be the people's reactions?

I contemplated for a moment and talked to Millie when I had the answer figured out. My friends could go to our hometown during the 3rd or 7th day after the burial. 7th day would be a better option because 3rd days are usually reserved for family/clan sympathizers. Because I will be buried already then, I want them to arrive together. I want them to talk about the crazy things that they can remember about me (they will never ran out of things to say) and I want them to share the stories with my family members. Jenny should inform my online friends by logging in to my tumblr or twitter or whatever and share the news. That way people will not wonder why I'm not updating fics, uploading manips, or logging in anymore. I told Millie this and she shushed me. I looked for a piece of wood afterwards so that I can knock on it. xD

Going home, we (Mick, Jaejoong, and I) passed by a convenience store. I'm always hungry (psychologically) so I went inside the store. My initial plan is to buy something and then maybe buy another on the next food store we'll pass by along the way. I was about to grab a huge can of Pringles when I saw this street kid standing at the counter. He might be around eleven or twelve but his size is roughly that of a nine-year old. He holds in his hand a single pack of instant noodles. Another street kid younger than him stands on his side holding a carton of juice. The older kid counts the coins on his dirty hands before giving it to the cashier. The money might be the accumulated coins he had gathered all day, may it be from begging or doing random street jobs.

It was a simple scene but it struck me. It was a humbling experience, to say the least. On how this kid, could have easily steal things at this rather large convenience store but chooses to do otherwise. I asked him if it's only the noodles and the juice that he's purchasing. He nodded so I asked him to follow me and choose whatever he wants from the store. He can't seem to decide so I took a bread from a rack, two packs of sandwich spread, and a liter of water. When I asked him about his family, he said the other kid isn't his brother and that he's already an orphan. I told him to stop talking and refrain from appealing to pity because it will take him nowhere. I am actually against mendicancy but I figured that spending my money on eating even when I'm not hungry at all is downright unjust when these kids barely have any to eat. He was all too happy and ran with his friend outside the convenience store. The younger one already had an empty cellophane on his hand and a pack of vinegar on that other. Turns out, they do not cook the noodles (of course, how could they, they do not even have a house to begin with) but rather mix it with vinegar. They have the cellophanes for plates and my heart broke a little when the younger kid asked the older one what the sandwich spreads were for. Mick told me to take a picture but I refused. We were about to leave when the kid himself asked me to take a picture of them.

"para di mi nimo malimtan, 'te." ("so you won't forget about us.")

It was a funny statement but I started tearing up. Stupid kids! Here's the picture, anyway. Older kid looks a bit like Yoseob, neh? :))

People might think that my job in the media is a lucrative one; but honestly, I live at a budget of $130 a month. Food, transportation, and lodging are included in the budget. How I still manage to live is because of my osmness. The $130 is now $3 less from the food I gave the kids and to be honest, but it is definitely the most worthy $3 expenditure I had in my entire life.

Looking back at what happened today, I felt the need to write it so that I will always be reminded of the lessons it has brought. On life, death, and the struggle one faces as s/he goes between the two. To Chief, you will forever be remembered by the people whose lives you've touched. To the kids, it might be the last time we'll see each other but I hope that simple thing I did will always remind you not to lose hope in humanity no matter how hard life may become. To myself, I hope I will not forget the lessons I have learned today.

That life is fleeting and that all the people in the world can be classified into three categories on how they react with this reality: those who turn a blind eye, those who blame, and those who stops for a while and try to make a difference.

Nomnomnomnorm

2011-03-26T22:15:00.004+08:00

I never knew I'm a non-conformist until people started pointing it out to me.

Which led me into thinking that, if I am a non-conformist, why is it that I still support strong values on certain principles and issues like murder, drugs, etc? If I, as a non-conformist, refuse, albeit subconsciously, to adhere to certain norms, why is it that I can't do so absolutely to all other existing norms?

And after sufficient reflection, I have come to the conclusion that, there are different kind of norms i.e. cultural, societal, moral. And of such norms, it is the societal kind that I find less worthy to be followed. I opt for moral norms because morality, though not ultimately constant, is at least, less fluid than societal norms. Apart from that, societal norms are mostly established from a popular vote or that which is approved by the majority; regardless if the banking principle is morally right or wrong.

Some may argue that moral norms are heavily dictated by society but this does not hold truth all the time. In fact, it is the society which bends the said norms.

Moral norms are usually universal truths. And when referring to society, we do not refer to one entity; but rather to the thousand existing groups present in the world. To address society as a single homogeneous concept is counter-intuitive and, essentially, unjust.

Moral norms exist but it gets bended when it is applied to different societies. For example, genital mutilation. The moral norm, and universally accepted rule, is supposedly, no human being should be subject to practices that elicit torture or something that resembles the idea of such, in as much respect is given to the idea of the human life. However, said moral norm gets redefined when applied to societies especially when the concept of culture is added. Cultural norms are a completely different story and I refuse to elaborate more on this primarily because I'm getting hungry and I want to go home now.

Anyway, my realization can be sum up to this: it is necessary that there is a clear line that is able to distinguish such concepts. My feeble contribution is that societal norms can be distinguished to moral norms, in a way that the former is fluid and is susceptible to changes.

I think that such realization isn't much of a help in creating a better world that is principally organized when it comes to concepts and notions. Thus, I strongly suggest that that there should be a clear distinction of what is moral to what is societal. The line that separates these two gets blurred along the way and in my opinion, that is very inconvenient.

Premonition

2011-03-12T20:04:00.000+08:00

First posted HERE last August 2009.
Reposted in lieu of what's happening all over the world at the moment. For Japan.

-----------------------

it's summer, the dark clouds continue to fall
your phone's ringing, will you still ignore the call?
no more trees to feed, displaced by dryers and lights on streets
the futile sun finally surrenders and retreats.

summer ends, a flower longs for a mid-year raindrop
unfortunately, all the clouds have been dried up.
now a neighbor mourns for a withered money tree
looks like money and tree aren't meant to be.

summer has been moved to june
will there be winter in tropical places soon?
as the sun swallows our world that's becoming smaller
we will see our future underwater.

~Rizza Jane Villanueva, Trade Off

If Sartre is alive...

2011-03-09T01:38:00.005+08:00

Passing by the EDSA monument as we (Carla and I) go back and forth Makati Shang brought me momentary reflection about the idea of political ideologies. On how they necessarily affect political decisions on states no matter how theoretical these paradigms may be. And it is especially accentuated by the domino effect that has hit MENA countries on its stand on democracy.

It started in Tunisia; spreading unto Egypt. And now into Libya. People are marching on streets. Lives are lost. Entire nation, basically, in chaos. All for the name of democracy and freedom.

But is it really what people perceive it to be?

It appears to me as if the entire world is heavily romanticizing the concept of democracy. If you are born in a 'democratic' country and has lived in the post-Cold War era for basically the rest of your life, chances are, you have heard of the common rhetorical cliche that is "this is a free country, I can do what I want" or something of that sort.

It never occurred to me how fallacious that statement can get until that MRT ride last February 26.

You see, "free countries" do not exist. Even in economics. An absolutely free economy is unheard of. By absolute freedom we mean the absence of government intervention. The only place in the world where the government doesn't interfere with its economy is Somalia (and that's primarily because their government is still on the rocks from all the tribal wars).

To take a chance on a more politically correct term, one should change "free country" to "democratic country". However, this can also be fallacious when attached with the notion of freedom.

Lexically defined, democracy, by principle is not about freedom. It is about the rule of the majority.

Democracy
(Merriam-Webster)

a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

In democracy, freedom is a mere tool to open avenues for the people relate their concerns about how things should go. Freedom is part of the deal but it isn't the be-all-and-end-all notion pegging the entire ideology.

So, the problem with people of today is that they equate democracy to freedom. And this is how it gets bad. With this misconception, that democracy is tantamount to freedom, people abuse the said principle. You hear them shouting on streets everyday, complaining about the price of gas, expecting the government to do everything for them, blah blah blah yadda yadda.

The worst thing is, they take any other political ideology that isn't democracy to be ultimately negative.

Like Communism.
If we would look into it, Communism is actually the ideal idealism. Not Democracy.

Up until today, no country has ever reached the ideal Communist status. Said "communist" countries are basically Socialist. Communism is forever ideal because it will never be. The fulfillment of communism demands deconstruction of basic human behavior.

Communism = selflessness.
And an entire nation being selfless is really impossible. SERIOUSLY.

As a contrast, democracy is easier to attain. However, it is also the easiest ideology to get deconstructed. Democracy, when it gets out of hand (because it CAN get out of hand) will lead to anarchy. Anarchy, essentially defined, as rule of no one and lawlessness.

When everybody claims freedom and the right to it, nobody will pay attention to authority and the spirit of real democracy, which puts weight to the opinion of majority, will cease.

My point? All political ideologies are ideal. But they shouldn't be the entire basis of what a state's political map should be. Ideologies are there to guide us. There are no perfect political ideologies.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to people working hand in hand with the government for a better society.

The World Now

2011-01-30T02:40:00.002+08:00

Today, EVERYONE is demanding freedom; EVERYONE is demanding equal rights; EVERYONE wants to get the larger piece of the pie; and then we wonder why this world is in rumbles?

People should stop thinking that what they get isn't always enough because THERE IS NEVER REALLY ENOUGH OF ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD. Before we point fingers and put our blame on anyone, let us reflect whether we've at least made a difference apart from our usual wailing and everyday ranting on why everything isn't right. Our enemies will always be of our creation. Wars do not spurt sporadically; a war will be yours when you say that it is yours. We should NOT claim fighting for a better future when we, OURSELVES, do not have any idea what this future is. And unless that idea of a better future is DETAILED UP TO THE LITTLEST PART, we should stop trying to destroy the stability of the status quo.

Momentary reflection brought to you by the chaos in Egypt.

Bam the Great's Guide on Love

2011-01-08T00:35:00.002+08:00

aka Blind Leading the Blind

Firstly, this note is a free bullet. It might hit someone, or it might miss all of its supposed targets and land on some dank part of your subconscious right after you read it. Haha. Well, some of you may know the reason behind why this note came up, but still. Here goes (nothing). =))

GUIDES ON KEEPING A RELATIONSHIP

1. BALANCE.Yeah, as if it's something that easy. Well you see, this is where everything revolves. Keeping the balance. A relationship is not a one-way street. It is a bilateral agreement, a treaty, a deal. It involves two people and thus, the responsibility should be shared by the two also. A healthy relationship is a relationship wherein there is no DOMINANT party. Nobody does all the decision or nobody just follows and keeps her/his head down low. Sure, someone may always say YES to you because s/he wants to keep the relationship stable BUT you should be constantly reminded that the other person knows a lot more words than "YES". Balance is impalpable, so how do you quantify it? How do you know you're not on the teetering off the edge? One word: COMMUNICATION.

2. COMMUNICATION. Communication is not measured by ten thousand texts of "I love you", "Did you eat?", "Take Care", and "dear/honey/bb, I miss you". Yes, those above mentioned may consist the first part but communication is more of the "sorry", "I did something not good", and "something happened and I think we should talk about it". Communication is JUST A TOOL for keeping the balance. Your relationship should not be all about it. Communication need not happen EVERYDAY. Because when it does, there's a tendency for it to become a BURDEN. Use it when you need it. It's a double-edged sword so choose your words. People have the tendency to say something directly opposite what they intend to. To keep it short, refrain from speaking out when you're too emotional. Emotions tend to cloud logic.

3. Do not PUSH the limits of anyone or anybody may it be for the sake of CHALLENGING THEM or for FUN. Because pushing is never really fun especially when you're the one getting pushed. We want to see our love ones overcome their little insecurities and transcend their limitations, but we should never be the reason for them to do so. By being that way, we take away the freedom of letting them achieve something for their own self-growth. Instead of making them a better person because they want to, they end up accepting the challenge because they want to PLEASE us.

4. Learn the difference between ZEALOUS and JEALOUS. Apart from the blatant first letter difference, there are a lot of difference between these two words. Proclaiming love to a person can be done in a million ways and if one of your tactics to prove your love is being super watchful over who's talking to who and what's who doing with who, you're skating on thin ice. There are varied level of cheesiness each person can take. If you can't be too cheesy, don't make up to it by being jealous. Instead of making the other person feel loved by showing him/her your possessive tendencies, s/he might feel that you do not have trust for her/him.

5. REASON. Find the reason why you're in the relationship. Assess whether the said reason is self-supporting or not. Reasons like "I can't live without the other person", "the other person makes me feel special", "the other person made me see life in a whole new angle" should not be the reasons why you're in that relationship. In my opinion, reasons should not even include the phrase "the other person". Relationships should work REGARDLESS of the people in it. If you peg all your reasons on a said person, the said reasons will not last long. One can never like someone too much, ALL THE TIME. :)

Relationship need not be hard work. Like, hello, how can something be that hard when your primary premise is something as wonderful as love? Right? Right. Relationship only gets complicated when you put other things like EXPECTATIONS and PRIDE. Contrary to my eighteen-year old self's theory of relationships-need-logic-to-begin-with, relationships can flourish even with the unbelievably shallow reason of "love at first sight". When you fall in love, you let your emotions wander free. And when you decide something important as going into relationships with your feelings running wild, never attempt to make sense out of it by inserting logic along the way. That would mess things up. It's like drunk driver steering the wheel of a steam-roller for five hours and then there's this sober person trying to get to the wheel just because the "driver is drunk and he might kill us if he commits a mistake". If we continue with the story, both people will die. Not because of the drunkenness of the driver but because of the fight that may have ensued when the other person tried to "set things straight" when there's nothing really wrong in the first place. (okay, I don't know if I'm still making sense but hopefully, you got my point). To push forward my theory of being in love out of pure emotional stupor, let's put in the theory of fairy tales. Do you know why love at first sight and happy ever afters happen in fairy tales? Notice how they do not really talk about issues of poverty, corruption, global warming, or anything needing brain cell work in the stories? That's because the characters do not have a brain. HAHAHA. But really, they do have one but they seldom put it to use. I mean, hello, a logical person should never fall in love at first sight! But fairy tale characters do. And they even live happily ever after?! That's because they haven't woken up from their "magical dream" yet. Had they woken up one morning and went "WTF, who are you!? Why am I not in my cottage and where are my talking chipmunks for friends?!", it would end in one sparkling divorce. So see, whatever you started, FINISH IT. Just the way you started it. (I'm still not sure if you get this part, haha, pm me if you have questions. HAHA)

and then here's the GUIDE ON MOVING ON. LOL

1. YOU CAN NEVER STOP THE TEARS FROM FLOWING. WHY? Because of gravity. Duh. Haha, I kid. Tears are good things. They are the body's natural lubricants to clean the eyes. And though some scientists disagree on the fact that only human beings cry as a response for something emotionally-triggered, it is universally accepted that tears clean the soul too. Cry when you feel the need to. But don't overuse your ability to cry. When you cry, cry your heart out. But when you're done, DON'T LOOK FOR MORE REASONS TO CONTINUE CRYING. If you do, you'll end up being bitter and angry at yourself.

2. IMMERSE WITH THE FEELING AND LET GO. This is easy to say but trust me, it gets easier when you try it. haha! When you feel that you have gazillion reasons to cry about, LIST THEM. And then go through the list and CRY ABOUT IT. Like when one of the reason says "Reason # 421. I MISS HIM TEXTING ME GOOD MORNING", go cry for that. Never mind if it takes you ten hours or what, just let the tears flow. But when you're done, cross out that number and DON'T CRY ABOUT IT AGAIN. Go listen to all sappy love songs and feel the words hit you. Scan your ipod/player and create a playlist for all of the songs that you think fit you at the moment. Listen to all of these and when the last of the track on the list ends, you should be smiling already.

3. TAKE YOUR TIME. Everything takes time. Don't push yourself to heal too soon. Mend yourself slowly AND surely. Don't rush things. It's okay to be not-okay.

4. FIND A DISTRACTION. This is not the ultimate answer but this is a way to keep you busy. Because no matter how hard you try to deny it, you will always come at a point wherein you'll wallow in your misery just because you have nothing else to do. It's a normal emotional response for your pain so as much as possible, divert your attention to positive things. Learn a new hobby or practice a hobby you have long forgotten. Try to see the brighter side of things and start within yourself. Love yourself. NEVER EVER BLAME YOURSELF. If there is someone who deserves all of the respect in the world, it is yourself. You can lose your trust to the whole universe but you should never lose your trust to yourself. LOVE YOURSELF. You need YOU more than anyone at this point. LOVE YOURSELF.

5. BE HAPPY. Why do we want to reach our dreams? Why do we want to be successful? Why do we laugh? Why do we love? Because we want to be happy. Happiness is the ultimate goal of everyone in the world. Happiness is a complicated word because we try hard to achieve it even if we consistently experience it along the way. Happiness is everywhere. It can be the other person, a hobby, a dream, etc. But one thing you must remember, NOBODY can make you happy but yourself. Think of your happiness because YOU DESERVE IT.

Moving on is not an easy thing to do. It doesn't happen in an instant. Take all the time in the world to move on and don't hold on to something that refuses to hold back at you. Remember, this is all about YOU and how you make it through by yourself. The beauty of the blooming flower, the warmth of the morning sun, the comforting words of a friend would mean nothing unless you help yourself.

BE HAPPY. STAY HAPPY.

There's more to life than the solar system, the half-eaten burger, poverty-stricken third world countries, graft and corruption in Macedonia, used tissues on a wastebasket, the internet, and the whatever thoughts I've written without thinking in this note. I paid an extra fifteen pesos just to write this and I hope you got my message.

Love is supposed to make us happy. If it doesn't, it's not love. :)

Subterfuge

2010-12-02T20:36:00.002+08:00

Dancing Fountain, People's Park
Davao City

My grandmother originally wanted me to take Communications Arts. I guess she has foreseen the need for me to have an avenue for my raging thoughts. I told her working in the media will kill me and she will have to suffer the guilt brought by the death of her eldest granddaughter.

Years flew by and I graduated with a degree that concerns foreign relations and diplomacy. My grandmother seemed satisfied. And with this, she keeps pressuring me to pursue my chosen field.

Well, I still see myself as someone driving a car with an embassy plate but to do that, I have to be qualified. Thus, I try, in as much as I can, to make my credentials colorful by working in a lot of fields. I've worked on non-governmental organizations zeroing in peace-keeping, social work, and community development. I'm currently trying my luck to expand my academic qualifications by applying for Graduate Studies in another country. And at the moment, I am grateful to have my job as a photojournalist in a local paper.

Yes, you've read right. PhotoJOURNALIST. Media. Haha. I am finally here. Who would have thought? After all those years of evasion. =))

I'm crossing my fingers that I will live long enough to pursue my dream. I am resurrecting this blog for this will be my temporary outlet for opinions. I still don't want to write. The pen can wait. For the meantime, I'll make use of my handy dandy camera. It's safer this way, right? LOLOLOL

So rejoice monsters (in thy head), I am back to conquer the search engine. Haha.

Ah, before I forget,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Glass Child

2010-10-08T12:34:00.005+08:00

So, as I was saying from my previous post, I lost most of what used to be my interest in writing. Oh yes, I do write. I still write. One can never take away one thing which has practically been there since forever. But then again, nothing is ever permanent in this world.

I was taking a ride away from the office a while ago, just a ride because I don't feel like going home and I don't feel like staying at the office doing nothing either, when a realization dawned unto me. Somehow, I HAVE to write. I have come to believe that writers do not really WANT to write. They NEED to write. To give justice to the thousand voices echoing inside their heads. Writers write because if they don't, the monsters will start fighting and crying and wrecking havoc in their heads.

See, there's always a monster inside our heads. There's always a monster in EVERYONE. These monsters will see to it that they wouldn't be trapped in there forever. So in an attempt to save her/his self, a person should find a way to let at least one out. Some people free the monsters and they become lines, colors, shapes. And they move to another world inside a canvass. Some people take the monster out and turn it into a note, a beat, a song. Some let the monster out but still in its gruesome form. Unable to morph into something constructive but rather existing as a lesser impalpable form of the metaphysical thing it once was. This monster doesn't show its real face like those of what have become songs and drawings. This monster takes form into a lot of things: a crying child, a battered woman, a lifeless body, shattered homes. There is no exception to the rule. My brain houses only one monster. But it is a thousand-headed monster. And boy, does it have a quick temper! The heads argue and fight and contradict each other that sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night in my attempt to pacify them.

In lieu with this, let me tell a story. There was once a girl who likes, no, loves tackling the said monster. She had a thousand different cards under her belt on how to strike. And she was very young, then. I heard she discovered the monster when she was six. Her first encounter was similar to most people's firsts. She sat and cried. But as days passed, she developed new tactics in dealing with them. She started looking at the monster from afar. Familiarizing it, memorizing every detail. And then she moved. At seven, she took one head with her bare hands, molded it and squeezed the goo out until it flowed into paper. Her little fingers made marks all over the paper, the careful architect of every line and curve. She liked the tactic much that it became her favorite for more than half a decade until she discovered another. Her initial tactic is to tell stories. To spread the word, hoping that somehow, the monster's voice will leak out into hers and they'd grew tired of shouting in her head. It never happened. The monsters never got tired. But the people who listened did. This has been a burden until she learned something at the age of fifteen. It was a rather complex tactic that even I am amazed how she managed to pull it up. There were times when the monster would be too noisy. To silence them, she'd drew a pen and start pulling the heads one by one into words. The words pile up one on top of the other. They stretch into sentences and they get buried on paper. The pen engraving them to their end. The tactic was discovered by chance, back when she was five, and she forgot about it. But when she used it, she sensed a familiarity so powerful that it did not take long before she felt a sense of comfort in using it. With this, not only had she learned to silence the thousand voices, she had also learned how to tame the monster.

That was during the prime of her adolescence. Words never ran out. And she was always eager. Somehow writing evolved from a need to something that she enjoys it could almost qualify as a want. There are a lot of people like her who excel in the said tactic. Most of these people have endless monsters and I have observed that most of them are on the equinox of their teenage life. I guess it's the hormones which makes you so determined to voice out everything. The hormones pushing the need to be heard.

But as I have said, nothing is ever permanent. The reckless girl grew up and became me. The call of adulthood took away the excitement in her blood. Or maybe she grew tired of poking fun at the monster. Or maybe the fact that the monster has aged too; thus, the feeling of taking a head and squeezing the life out of it doesn't pose as much as a challenge as before. Sometimes when I think about it, I get amused with how I coined the title of this blog: Muffled Chatterbox. The silent battle of a soul who has a took a head; managed to show it to the world, but far from the form of what it was before. The world is amazed but it is not seeing the head which is supposed to be what the girl wants it to see. It sees a dead, decayed piece of monstrosity. And a dead monster isn't even half as scary as a live one.

I grew up and got tired of fighting monsters. The monster itself got tired of me. So at night, they sleep before I could get a chance to check up on them. The curiosity was lost. And so was the fervor that must have fueled my youthful years. Sometimes, I would think of what the teenage girl used to do and I would frown. She was gone but I still see a lot of her in different people. And I would frown. I frown because I know that somewhere down the road of life, they will eventually get tired of being always full of life. I frown and I get sad because they appear like shiny brand-new race cars zooming fast on their early days; but then end up as a chugging vehicle in just a matter of a few years time. Burned out.

Earlier this day, a trisikad driver merrily told me that my office mate is actually the spouse of his former employer. I gave what might be a grunt and shifted my attention to the graying afternoon sky.

If the little girl who used to fight monsters were in my position, she would say, "Oh really? Tell me about it!"

And the simple inquiry will stretch into a long conversation. Just thinking about it makes me lazy. And frown. But I'm sure the little girl would be happy for that small piece of information she wouldn't really find worth using for. She'd be happy.

I guess, I have to write again to be that little girl.

Or maybe, it's the other way around.

The Evolution of Status Messages

2010-09-18T17:11:00.003+08:00

They were mere status messages before. But now, it’s undeniably the era of plurk, twitter, tumblr and all micro-blogging sites.

See, I’ve been using my plurk for exactly seven hundred and thirty days now (I celebrated my second year anniversary last September 08), and I realized how micro-blogging actually affected my way of writing. Long before plurk entered my life, I write blogs the way an amateur novelist would write a “brief summary” of her novel. Thus, the minuscule scroll bar depicting the entire length of one specific blogpost. Then plurk happened and everything changed. I lost my ability to string words and I find it difficult to write about one topic without my mind wandering to some far off universe. Later after reading this whole post, you’d see how messed up of a writer I am now. :(

In today’s world, there is clamor for wrapping up wit in one or two sentences. Brief, straight to the point. That’s the reason why you can never go wrong with one-liners. And with the ability to do such one-liners, there are chances of giving up the skill of crafting lengthy but interesting write-ups.

Although some people may prefer having the shortest way possible, I, on the other hand, am such a sucker for lengthy but good descriptions – and it kills me that I’m having difficulty pulling off one now. Gahd, I used to be a fair enough creative non-fiction writer! And now, I end up writing short stories because I’m so used to hitting the spot with two to three sentences!

Okay, I’ll finish this blogpost now because I’m starting to get bored. It takes a lot of active and effective brain cells to conjure a witty sentence, but it takes more than that to write a lengthy essay that is never boring.

And I would be more than willing to pour coins on all wishing wells in the world just to be on the latter. :(

A Love Letter

2010-08-21T15:36:00.005+08:00

c: CrazyFaerie@deviantart

Dear little girl,

It's been a long time since I last talked to you. Time flies fast, doesn't it? You aren't the timid little girl I used to know. That fragile child who easily gets scared of the dark. Well of course, the world is a scarier place. Scarier than the confines of your dark closet. A lot of monsters everywhere. The sad fact is they do not go away even when you turn on the light.

But I see you're braving them all. You stand up straight with your head held high. You are strong with your fists closed and your expression taunting, as if saying "here, get a piece of me". You stand courageous and tough but I can hear your heart thumping. I can feel your pulse gushing. It's alright. Let it be. Everyone is entitled to be scared every once in a while.

I see you're going through a tough time right now. Those unshed tears welling at the back of your eyes. It's okay. You don't have to be strong all the time. Ask for a time-out and cry your heart out for a while. Cry hard but don't cry too long. And as you dry your tears, gather your sunbeams and stand up to face the world again. The world will stop and wait for you.

You always say you can do it and I have always believed in you. I have seen you stumble and fall but that isn't something you should be ashamed of. You are brave. I know you are. You aren't so little anymore. You've grown up, you'd always say. I know. But to me, you'll always be that little girl who believes in magic and fairies and elves and well-spun tales of happy ever afters.

Do not lose that child in you. Do not forget the things that you used to do. If you can, never get tired of seeing the world as if it's always your first time. Continue your habit of stopping in your tracks on your way home just to gaze lovingly at the moon. Keep counting the stars and keep catching raindrops. Chase the clouds, marvel at the colors of the rainbow, and take time to stop and smell the morning air like you used to.

Life is harsh but it gives exception to the people who see the beauty in everything. You can make it through. You know why? Because I believe in you.

It's been a long time since we danced together in the rain or simply sit outside the door watching the afternoon sun stream through the gaps of trees. I hope I could walk barefoot in the sand with you again. Or maybe share a story or two over a glass of lemonade and a platter of biscuits. I know about your life but I want to hear it straight from you.

The world is under your mercy. Keep the dream alive and don't forget about me.

Love,
yourself

Fangirl

2010-04-15T22:22:00.005+08:00

credit as tagged

If my eyes could speak, they’d probably be screaming at me already. It’s two in the morning but I’m still staring at the computer monitor searching for fancams to watch and fan accounts to read about the night my dream turned into reality (but sadly, without me in it): the Super Junior Super Show in Araneta Coliseum.

This is one of the reasons why I cry for the fact that Philippines is an archipelago. It didn’t help much either that I’m relatively dirt-poor living on a place two hours plane-ride away from the Metro. I tear up reading those accounts of fans crying upon seeing the boys, a mark of triumph and extreme happiness over hours of youtube-marathon watching on their variety shows, the time spent on reading about their interviews, researching about them, and the four long years of knowing them when they’re basically unknowns in the world of Philippine media. I wasn’t there when the miracle happened but I can feel it in the words of my co-ELFs; I can hear it in their screams; that even if we’re separated by the thousand electric fibers making up the computer monitor, I feel my bones trembling on the thought of what was once a mere dream that had finally happened before their eyes.

To some, our fanaticism bordering on quasi-obsession is something laughable and terribly “jologs”; but for the record, I pour in this letter to the world what most people fail to see. I write for the fact that fangirls aren’t merely composed of high school kids who feign adoration for the shallow level of physicality as manifested on the pretty boy appearance of the group. I write for the students who worked hard for that high grade so that mom and dad would let them watch the concert. I write for the young professionals who saved every penny’s worth just to see the boys. I write for the girl watching concert clips in an internet café and promising to herself that someday she’ll be there to witness it all. I write for future CPAs/nurses/psychologists/lawyers/engineers, fans – young and old alike – who at some point in their lives, tuned down intellectual arrogance to accommodate something that they’ve found happiness from. I write for us, fangirls and fanboys, and to everyone so that they would know that our worlds do not revolve on Kpop alone.

See, we are actually aware of what is happening with the world. In our online niches, we talk about what the world has become to, apart from those involving our idols. We mourn for the Polish people for the tragedy that took the lives of their country’s brightest; and along with it, we fear for the probable negative repercussions of the political vacuum that is currently happening there. We sympathize with our friends from Thailand; on how they can cope up with the current hostility happening in their country as it teeters on the verge of political anarchy. Though we may not look like it, most of us are registered voters and we sometimes discuss how the LAKAS-KAMPI party is slowly going down the drain with all the camp-switching that has been happening. We’ve been affected by the global financial crisis and on how its ripple-effect includes the no-internet-after-11pm ban by our parents so as to save electricity. We pour in our fan fictions the ugly faces of reality – the lashes and wounds left by Ondoy and the grief caused by the earthquake in Haiti.

Yes, we care. And it doesn't automatically mean that because we like kpop, we blindly accept all things related with it. Though some fans can be a bit loud with their obsession, they do not automatically represent the entire populace. I find a need to reaffirm the fact that just because we happen to like something that is not of our country, we are hence assumed as anti-nationalistic people. We may put on fail attempts in learning their language or liking pickled vegetables as a step on liking things Korean, but that doesn't make it a tad different on how we used to devour anime flicks and sushi rolls back when Japanese media was on its peak. No matter how submerged we may look like within this culture, that doesn't change the fact that we are still Filipinos. We may twist our tongues singing along in Korean but we will always look highly of how Charice Pempengco paved her way to where she is right now. Some of us may try as they may to slather whitening lotions in an attempt to be fairer, but there are still some of us who refuse to do so in respect for the brown, sun-kissed skin that has always been a trademark of a Filipina. Kpop fandom is different from all other fandoms which is why the impact of the culture shock is quite remarkable. However, it doesn't mean that being in it is a straight-up statement of surrendering the Pinoy in you.

Looking at it beyond the surface, our inclination towards Kpop is pretty much similar to anyone else’s inclination or liking something else. You can see it the way Republicans pledge loyalty to their party or how activist groups bank on their beliefs as a guiding principle of their organization. Nevertheless, our inclination, pretty much like everyone else’s, is not mutually exclusive on the idea of liking other things that may seem “of greater value than kpop” like history, geography, astronomy, quantum physics, nanotechnology, nationalism and other what-nots. In fact, there are instances when we touch on these fields in relation to our established premise of Kpop fanaticism.

For one, I’ve learned to digest html codes, java scripts, and other technogeek entrees in search for the perfect blog layout or the ultimate answer into downloading heavily-encrypted videos in the internet. I’ve scanned through the pages of the Vienna Convention noting that certain segment reserved for copyrights infringement. I’ve more than pushed myself in befriending Hanja and Hangeul characters just that I can find my way across the dizzying worlds of Daum, Naver, and Baidu. But not that I believe that all my sacrifices would amount to nothing. These skills come up useful in other things aside from what it was solely intended.

Mostly, what I treasure most in this sociological circle that I belong to is the idea that we break barriers – cultural or racial, per se. We’ve established friendships – from the squealing fangirl of a rival university to the fans on the other parts of the globe. We’ve necessarily, if not ultimately, tore down walls of established social stigma and stereotypes. Here in our world where we share one common bond, we’ve learned to see things in a different light. In a way our world exists only within the parameters of our computer monitors and the signal bars on our internet connections, but what’s important is that, our world exists. A break from the harsh realities of life. A break, but not necessarily an entirely separate dimension. Some may still scoff at the idea of what we’ve been pouring ourselves into, but it’s just about the simple rule of finding your happiness.

Someday, my hair will turn gray and my teeth will fall out; but I will never be ashamed of the fact that sometime in my life, I was a Super Junior fan. I learned a lot of things and I’ve got more than what I’ve bargained for.

I long for the day that I would be a part of that spectacular sea of Sapphire Blue. My world. Our world.

As for now, I’ll start saving up for their return.

Robber Blobber

2010-04-14T12:40:00.013+08:00

"Our house has been robbed last night. =))

Yes, exact words from my twitter account. And that includes the rofl emoticon. LOL. I know I might sound weird being all too cheery and fine even if I lost two of my cellular phones, but really, it could've been worse. To give you an account of what really happened, roll VTR!

I woke up this morning and felt the sun piercing on my skin. I immediately looked for my cellular phone (Nokia 6510) to check the time because we do not have a clock at home. HAHA. (This is the reason why I'm always late. LOL) I was still half-asleep as I tried locating my ancient phone when I realized that the door was open. It is a mandate by our dear old grandma that all doors be locked so imagine my shock when I saw the door ajar. I shook my sister awake and asked her if she went out early. She gave a groggy "no". I stood up and realized (again) that my other phone (the Nokia 3310 I left plugged on the charger) was missing. It was then that I saw our kitchen knife beside our bed and a terribly filthy scarf wrapped around it. I was like OMGISHFDASKFHAHFABBQ WE'VE BEEN ROBBED! I jumped out of bed, went outside, and was greeted by bags piled on top of each other. The contents of my sister's backpack were all over the floor and all the other bags were opened inside out. I dashed into the kitchen upon seeing the main door still locked, and true enough, our backdoor was left open. As if greeting me a happy morning.

I was speechless all throughout the first three minutes. And then it hit me, MY IPOD! ALL MY FILES WERE THERE! Office files, reports, fanfics, pictures! ~~Not to mention my Super Junior/DBSK songs and videos!~~ I found my trapo-looking messenger bag from Thailand (haha, yes I need to mention that) sitting peacefully (and in full view) on the chair and breathed out a loud THANK YOU GOD because IT WAS STILL THERE! STILL ALIVE! Apparently, all the bags EXCEPT for the trapo-bag were taken out. They must've mistook the bag for a blanket (since it's made of cloth and it looks more of a "sako ng harina" than a bag). Thank goodness because my wallet, ATM cards, one-week allowance, and other important things were in it!

I felt grateful because just the night before, I was ranting because my headset suddenly went dead for no reason. I usually sleep with my iPod with me, blasting off on full volume so imagine my annoyance with what happened. I grudgingly put back the iPod on my trapo bag and THANK GOODNESS THAT I DID! If my headphones stayed perfectly useful last night, then I would be crying my eyes out today for the lost iPod. I mean, the robbers TOOK MY NON-MMS CELLPHONE WHICH WAS NEAR ME!

I remembered my beloved DSLR (YOU'LL HEAR OF THE MANDAY MASSACRE WITH ME AS THE PRIME MASTERMIND IF EVER THIS WAS TAKEN) and I ran to check the cabinet. We checked the cabinets but it seems like the robbers only took out what was there to see. (It's a good thing my grandmother used my camera bag as container of her passport and all personal documents since I used to leave the camera wherever I just feel like it inside the house). DEAR GRANDMOTHER, YOU ARE A LIFESAVER! My sister still has her cellphone with her (she put it under her pillow) but her wallet, which was sitting near my trapo-bag, was gone. We were worried about my grandmother's jewelry box but we do not know where it's located so we assumed that the robbers would have lesser chances of knowing where it is too! HAHA!

After the shock wore off, I took my notebook and listed the clues we've seen.

DETECTIVE'S NOTEBOOK

Clues:
1. Set of muddy footprints outside the kitchen door.

- it was unclear exactly how many people were there but we are betting that they're around 2-3 in number. Four is too many and granting that our floor is made of wood, it would've caused too much noise. It was sure, though, that there's a child involved on the crime. We've managed to note two clear foot prints.

Footprint 1

Footprint 2

We used my sister's slipper as a yardstick for measuring the footprints. Footprint 1 belongs to a man, probably around my height (5'6-5'7). Footprint 2, obviously belongs to a child.

2. The mud on the footprints is still damp to touch.
- We woke up at around six and granting that the mud is still damp, they must have broken in at around 4-5 in the morning.

3. Trail of mud on the kitchen door.
- There were no signs of forced entry but there are trails of mud on the kitchen door. And granting that the roof of our kitchen sink is detached from the roof of our house, we assumed that the child must've climbed up the roof and opened the door from inside for the rest of the gang to follow.

4. Mud prints above my cousin's Alphabet Chart.
- my grandmother, in her attempt to teach my hard-headed cousin to read, made an alphabet chart hung on the walls of the kitchen. The char is directly under a gap on the wall.

5. Traces of mud on electric wires and bits of hollow block cement under the gap.
- prior to our discovery of the child's footprint, my sister said that one possible way for the robbers to get inside the room is by using a child since we can't think of any possible way for them to get inside the house without waking us up. Apart from that, we use a latch on our bedroom door thus it wouldn't be possible to open it unless you do so from inside the bedroom. Apparently, my sister's theory is correct as seen on this evidences. The child went through the gap (again) and opened the door for the others to follow.

6. The filthy scarf, the knife, and the moist floor.
- Granting that there are few marks of muddy footprints inside the room, we assumed that the robbers used the scarf to wipe away the mud on their feet. As to the knife, I was guilty of putting it inside the room because I used it to repair the headset. However, my sister said that there's a possibility that they would use it against us had we woken up in the middle of their "activity". Apparently, these verified our initial theory that it happened around daybreak as the floor was still wet.

7. Cabinets are closed, lights still off, and trapo-bag untouched.
- granting that the incident happened around daybreak, that's precisely the time for Subuh (morning prayer). We assume that they left immediately since most of the people around our house woke up already. They didn't turn on the lights for fear that we might wake up and cause a ruckus. And because it's dark, they didn't bother checking out the cabinets (and looking for keys). This could also be a reason why they haven't noticed the bag slumped on the chair.

8. The knife outside the kitchen.
- This was the last evidence found. Even if we are guilty of bringing our own kitchen knife into the room, the presence of this knife basically proved that they do have intentions of hurting us in case we jeopardize their plan. We're betting that they have been observing us the whole time since they timed their activity when it was only my sister and I who were left alone in the house.

Apparently, all is well. I lost two phones (goodbye SUN and AdDU Smart Sim!) but it could've been worse. What's funny is that we're more worried about our grandma scolding us for all the clothes scattered on the floor than the fact that we were robbed. Haha! My sister and I were joking and goofing around saying comments like "amateur robbers" and "walang mananakaw sa bahay na ito!". HAHA! Then there's also the fact that the cellular phones lost were those created during the time of Methuselah. I mean, hello, if ever I'd break in into a house, I'll make sure I'll get more than a Nokia 3310! HAHA!

Some of our conversations include these:

Me: *whispers* Men, wag ka masyado maingay baka nakikinig lang yan sila.
Men (sister): Okay. ah, Kaka Mot nasan yung posporo?
Me: *in a loud voice* ANDUN SA TABI NG ARMALITE!

Me: *upon seeing the foot prints* YUCK!
Men: YUCK! Ano ba yan, sana man lang naghugas sila ng paa!

It was a miracle, to be honest. It's a miracle because we were sleeping during the entire duration of the crime AND WE'RE NOT EVEN HEAVY SLEEPERS! Plus, all the windows were closed but the room isn't every bit hot. It's as if an aircon was turned on. I find my sleep last night to be very relaxing. As if someone is actually keeping me from waking up.

I honestly believe we were blessed. True, we've been robbed but honestly, nothing of real importance was lost. It could've been much, much worse.

Besides, it's not everyday that you'd get your house robbed. I mean, hopefully not everyday, that is. HAHAHA!

MacArthur

2010-04-13T18:00:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'm back, and hopefully I won't be on a hiatus again. Thank you Golden Land for the wonderful memories but nothing beats home. :D I am currently wandering in a sea of endless possibilities (LOL). Much to learn, much to learn. I'm still on the adjustment phase of, practically, everything.

I'm starting to miss Myanmar already. And for that, here's something that would always remind me of you.

Lilith's Jeremiad

She died crouching on the vertical box
with grains of rice occupying every available space
there is to occupy.

Somewhere, outside the door
hermit crabs are running away from the dark;
trailing tattered strands of
torn yellow ribbons.

Torn yellow ribbons tied
through holes, on clotheslines
and on the dented barks of coconut trees
standing in lines outside the house,
guarding the house
as military troops storm the streets with
their bayonets; screaming, thirsting for soft flesh – young flesh.

And little girls flee,
near the sea, through the city, to the woods,
not wanting to be seen…

like hermit crabs
they flee
and they hide

only to die crouching on the rice dispenser
with grains of rice occupying every available space
there is to occupy.

Someday, I'll trod down your lovely roads again. Promise. :)

Bum the Great =))

2010-01-25T15:03:00.006+08:00

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Cotabato City, Philippines

Is in Cotabato City. Chasing pavements (aka enjoying the bum life).

No internet until jobless status expires.

SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: on hiatus

You get it.

PS. please do not steal my pictures.

Love (full/fool)

2009-10-19T06:58:00.000+08:00

I’ve been lying in my bed for about sixty minutes now – and I still can’t sleep. The playlist of classical music playing in the background has been replayed for the umpteenth time but I’m still awake. These are the crucial moments, when the sharp ticking of the clock and the lullabies blend together, that thoughts conjure themselves up in my quasi-subconscious mind. I’ve been thinking a lot tonight. I’ve been thinking about that one thing that is obviously lacking in my life, which surprisingly I don’t miss a lot: lovelife.

I’m writing this to let it all out. It’s problematic how I do not see myself as a fan of that thing. Well the romantic love thing, that is. See, I am a very loving person. I love living and non-living things. I love animals and I even love spiders! And to say that I love my family and friends is an understatement. It’s weird because I can give all the love in the world but I cannot see myself on the context of being in love.

People say it’s a wonderful feeling. It’s happy and painful, but generally wonderful. And I feel jealous of all these people who’ve enjoyed such experience. If being in love is being unusually happy, then I have a problem with that as I am, generally, an unusually happy girl. If it’s feeling pain, then I’ve had enough of that, too. But seriously, we get hurt a million times in our lives and it’s impossible that we credit it all to a broken heart.

Maybe I’ve felt having both feelings before. I’m not really sure. I do remember the story and the characters but I can’t remember the emotions anymore. I think back of the pain and the happiness that is the usual requirement but all in vain. They say first love never dies, but I can’t feel any living metaphysical creature in my hypothalamus (WHY IS THAT SO? DID MY FIRST LOVE JUST DIE WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT? IF SO, WHO THE HELL IS S/HE? HOW COME I DO NOT KNOW?) Maybe I’ve already perfected the skill of burying all painful memories or maybe my hereditary forgetfulness has taken in charge because no matter how I force myself, I can’t summon thoughts of at least one of my painful love-related memories. As in zero, zilch, nada. (AND SHOULD I BE HAPPY BECAUSE THIS MEANS I’VE MOVED ON? LOL)

And it scares me how, when I think of myself fifty years from now, I see me alone in the beach looking at the setting sun. The scary part is not seeing myself alone, but seeing myself alone AND HAPPY. It’s terrifying! I keep on inserting pictures of people who have been subjects of my ~~affection~~ attention before but they just won’t fit in.

I CAN see myself old and happy with my friends and family. But certainly, no lover in the picture. And I feel sad. It’s weird to feel sad to see yourself happy. I don’t know. I’m a bit befuddled now. See, I’m not thinking anything while I type this. Just plain spur-of-the-moment random ramblings.

Some people write about love and how they want it to be part of their life so that they can feel complete, but I write about love because it’s not part of my life and I do not feel incomplete without. And it freaks me that I do not have any idea how this can happen!

How can it be that almost all the people in the world look for it so that they can be happy, whereas I look for it so that I can be happier? Well, I’m not even sure if love can make me happier. I feel like a freak. I’m happy without it. And that’s the part that scares me. HOW CAN YOU BE HAPPY WITHOUT LOVE? I’m talking nonsense now. But seriously, is it possible to be happy even if you’re not "complete"? Why do some people always equate love in a romantic sense? Can you not say that you’re in love without the romanticism attached to it?

But could it also be that I am just feeling apathetic right now so I’m feeling this way? Maybe it’s just a phase. Or that I love my independence too much to think about being with a person all the time. My, just thinking of having one person tied to you all your life is SCAAAAAAAAAAARY! (IT’S VERY EASY TO GRAB MY ATTENTION BUT IT SURE IS HARD KEEPING IT THAT WAY)

Where do you take love lessons anyway? Is enrollment still going on? Can I sit in?

Tsk. I officially freak myself out. Stop reading this. I have to force myself to sleep now. Sorry guys, random weird thoughts again. HAHA

Eyelids Ranting

2009-07-17T03:15:00.000+08:00

"Dear 3AM,we have got to stop meeting this way. I’d much rather sleep with you."
I’m giving myself 15 minutes before I shut my eye and catch up with the bus to Dreamland. I am seriously hoping that I’ll get bored typing what I want to write here so that Morpheus’ invisible slumber-army would eventually creep on my problematic, S-shaped, scoliosis-friendly spine and would then lull my hyperactive eyelids to sleep.

So anyway, this short, and hopefully precise, post is for those asking why am I suddenly very active in blogspot...

Granting that you are a friend, you probably know by now that I’m a thousand nautical miles away from the archipelago of the Philippines. And, being in the quasi-fourth-world nation that cradled the Saffron Revolution, the generous government decided that it would be for the greater good (of their kind) that they ban blogspot. Not to mention Flickr, YouTube, Friendster Messages, YahooMail, and a thousand other sites. (YAY! FAIL!) Thus, I can’t access my beloved site and was then coerced to create another avenue for my raging thoughts.

But by some glorious turn of events, I discovered the wonderful world of vtunnel. Ta-da! Proxies to save the day!

After weeks of blogspot-deprivation, I realized a lot of things. In as much as I will miss using the url of my wordpress account which I, being the pathetic show off that I am, believes to be a clear indicator of my ever-brilliant wit, my heart will always go back to blogspot. For one, I've missed the blogspot blogpad. There really is something with this ugly pad that purges my half-frozen braincells to write. As you can see, my writing has been pegged down to zero as micro-blogging sites basically sucked out all that is left of the writer in me. I am now reduced to writing one-liners that would bore the hell out of any ADHD-positive child. Two, I have too FEW a-post for the year 2009! Wow, talk about virtual cobwebs. And lastly, I realized how much effort I gave in designing the lay-out of this blog. I, Bam the Great, goddess of laziness and procrastination who actually managed to pull a decent-looking layout only to be NEGLECTED AND IGNORED by my own putrid self is something my alter-ego could not allow. Excuse me for a second while I strangle myself.

My blogspot experience isn't as perfect as before though. I can't access blogpages supported by the old lay-out, I can't edit my bloglinks, JAVA software is not working, and pop-ups are still banned. Nevertheless, this is better than nothing.

Anyway, it’s 3:15 already. I still have a desktop-ful of documents to finish tomorrow. I will now force myself to sleep. Good morning!

Be Ma Leh?

2009-07-15T21:53:00.000+08:00

“Where are you?!”

That’s the nth time I’ve been asked that question from the nth person who wondered why the streets of Davao is suddenly less than a hundred decibels noisy and then to find out that I’m actually missing in the picture. Yes, I’m probably somewhere scattering chaos and plotting world domination, but really, WHERE AM I NOW?

Well, the last time I checked, I woke up this morning to a place about ten thousand miles away from home, beneath yellow clouds and murders of crow perched up on electric wires, before a country torn by turmoil, tribal diversity, and religious disparity.

Sure, four months has been a long time and I do terribly miss the blue-tinted glass walls of Ateneo. I even feel like waking up late only to hang around the school grounds. But sadly, I don’t have the luxury to lag around and goof all day. That’s because I have something to do – wake up early, go to work, and at least try to create a difference in the lives of the people I meet here in Myanmar.

It’s funny, really, how I ended up here. See, I was never this straight-A student back in college. In fact, I don’t remember being a responsible student at all. I always find ways to make the most of the allowable absences quota in every subject. I never lifted a finger to study and the midnight oil still remains full to the brim. Nevertheless, if there is one thing I made up for my laxity in academics, it’s my involvement in school. I was part of club this and club that. Though my membership purpose is not for grade matters and extra-curricular what-have-yous, I joined these clubs because I don’t want a lone SAMAHAN stamped under my affiliations list on the school yearbook. Shallow as it may seem, I joined clubs for the purpose of having a club. But karma strikes faster than you thought it could be. Before I knew it, the clubs that were supposed to be “under my mercy” got hold of the steering wheel and had the upper hand. I soon found myself loving the clubs and defending it to all its detractors. I’ve spent money, time, and tons and tons of effort for them – things I never considered doing for my academics. I’ve traveled hundreds of miles from Davao to attend a debate tournament, I’ve stayed up late in school to finish a backdrop for Division Day, I’ve been rooted to one booth during fiesta to do Henna Tattoos, I’ve been an official “yaya” for the hosts of Awitenista, I’ve interviewed one of the university’s big-shot men for the school publication, and I’ve sacrificed one day off my weekends to watch over sophomore kids as they venture out in their NSTP adventures.

The NSTP Volunteer Pool – as I contemplate about it now, my NSTP experience is one of the major push factors that brought me to where I currently am. Like all my other clubs, I joined the volunteer group program for NSTP so that I could have a long list of organizations in my yearbook profile. It also helped that NSTP gives away free shirts. I never expected that we’re given allowances so imagine my shock (and sublime happiness) when I learned about it. As volunteer in the program, I’ve learned a lot of things, been to many places, established friendships with great people, and unknowingly embraced the values the Ateneo has long been teaching its protégés. Had I known that being a volunteer includes virtuous side-effects, I would’ve never joined. Haha, I kid.

Seriously, joining the NSTP volunteer group is easy; doing the job effectively is another matter. For one, there’s a huge difference between an NSTP volunteer and a real NSTP volunteer.

It’s easy to be a mere volunteer; all you need is a boring Saturday schedule, an application form, and an interview. On the other hand, the real NSTP volunteer gives a new meaning to the word “assisting”. She does not just go around loitering in the area and hovering above second year students. She knows that her job is not limited to listing the attendance and claiming allowance. She is not defined by her colored NSTP shirt with a VOLUNTEER print stenciled in the bottom left part, nor is she marked such just because she’s older and has “graduated” from the program. The real NSTP volunteer is not just another jaded student who has got nothing to do with her free time; she is a friend, a sister, a mentor, and a learner.

Here, she enters a stage of metamorphosis where she is coerced to understand and accept that there’s a bigger, and often more cruel, world than bad hair days, broken friendships, taken crushes, and lost cellular phones. She is forced to look into the less colorful segments of a kaleidoscopic world with both eyes open. She has in her shoulders the responsibility not only of taking care forty-five young people and making sure they would not get hurt or would not hurt anyone or anything on the way. She has to make sure that they would, if not learn; acknowledge the idea of looking at the ugly face of reality without turning their back or turning a blind eye. Here, she is compelled to grow up.

Too much drama, eh? Hehe. But honestly, it is difficult to be a real NSTP volunteer. SICO didn’t orient us about all these values for it is already assumed that in joining the NSTP volunteer pool, you are already aware of such. But you do know that assumptions usually turn up contrary to what we expect, right?

Take me for example; my sole purpose for joining the pool is the yearbook. I know nothing about such values. But having all those Saturdays with my great NSTP partner, brilliant students, and wonderful townsfolk, I’d be the biggest liar if I say that this noble-doing didn’t grow on me. I haven’t been a mere volunteer; but I’m not a real NSTP volunteer either. I never got there. I cannot say that I’ve instigated strong values of compassion to all my students to last them a lifetime. But that’s the beauty of learning things through experience: knowing that even with the length and amount of efforts you’ve sacrificed, your job is not yet done. :D

So, where am I again?
I’m on the road to changing the world.

For those who sorta missed my noise, cheer up! I’ll bring you a betel leaf when I return. =))

---
Yesh my dears, I'm back in blogspot. A heartfelt thanks to the great wonder that is vtunnel. >:]

I am the biggest loser I know

2009-07-13T18:49:00.000+08:00

If I can't read half of the books in this list within a year, I'd kill myself. And I'll be bringing you with me. So help me find a copy, NOW.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
Animal Farm - George Owell
Ulysses - James Joyce
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
East of Eden - John Steinbeck
Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kessey
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan Kundera
I, Claudius - Robert Graves
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf
1984 - George Orwell
Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou
The Color Purple - Alice Walker
Neuromancer - William Gibson
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy
Perfume - Patrick Suskind
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
The World According to Garp - John Irving
Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison
Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf

Yes, old-school fiction, yo. Because I can't believe that I've lasted two decades without reading ANY OF THOSE CLASSICS.

PS. to the person who "borrowed" my Midnight's Children and Andersen's Fairy Tales, I will look for you and gas you (and your family) to death unless you return that to me. I'm going home this December and I expect my books to welcome me before you do. Okay? OKAY.

Proven and Tested Street Food bow

2009-03-11T01:07:00.005+08:00

Proven. Pruben. Proben. Provent.

Matagal nang palaisipan sa akin kung ano ang tamang spelling at kung saang parte ba talaga ng ng manok makikita ang proven/pruben/proben. Basta ang alam ko, hindi ito balat tulad ng pagaakala ng nakararami.

At malamang, hindi lang ako ang nagtataka. Minsan ay natanong yan sa akin ni Tere.
Tere: Ate Bam, ano tawag dito?
Ako: Proven. Chicken Proven.
Tere: Ha? Bakit?
Ako: Kasi Proven and Tested Dirty.

Oo, nagjoke ako pero hindi dun natapos ang lahat. Hindi mapapalagay ang loob ko kung hindi ko malalaman ang tamang kasagutan. Kung kaya ako ay nagresearch kung ano ba talaga ang kasaysayan ng street food na yan.

At ayon nga sa aking pananaliksik, ang chicken proven/pruben/provent ay piniritong proventriculus. Ang proventriculus ay pre-requisite para masali sa tropa ng mga Avian (birds). In short, kung wala kang proventriculus, hindi ka papasang ibon/manok/pato/gansa blah blah blah. Maihahawig sa stomach ng mga mammals ang proventriculus. Ang proventriculus (tawagin na nating proven dahil napapagod na akong itype ang buong pangalan nito) ay ang glandular na bahagi ng digestive system ng ibon. Meron itong mga cells na siyang lumilikha ng hydrochloric acid, pepsin, mucus at iba pang digestive enzymes na siyang tutunaw sa pagkain.

Ang proventriculus ang nag-uugnay sa balunbalunan (gizzard) at esophagus ng mga ibon.

Makakatulong ang mga links na ito kung mayroon pa kayong mga nais hanapin na kasagutan ukol sa katawan ng mga ibon:

http://fsc.fernbank.edu/birding/digestion.htm
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/caring_for_wildlife/carers_kit/birds/biology/?

Haha! Chuy noh? :p

What’s wrong with the TWILIGHT FAD and why?

2008-12-15T14:06:00.000+08:00

I’ve read a few chapters of the book and I’ve watched the movie. So I think it’s fair that I give my opinions about this Twilight fad.

I only have to scan the whole book to know what it’s all about. It’s a friggin’ love story! It’s a love story with vampire characters. Not the other way around. I’m not into the love stories genre so you can say that I’m biased against Meyer’s book. Hehehe. But then again, taken from the opinion of people who’ve read the book, I can say that Twilight, basically, is a light read. A LIGHT READ. So it’s quite obvious how it gathered such a large fan base. Love at first sight, happily ever-afters, “I can’t live without you” lines, and damsel in perennial distress. Haha. Sounds like FAIRY TALE to me.

It’s a sad fact that a lot of people are in love with the notion of being in love. An even sadder fact is that most girls dream about princes (or in this case, vampires) who would sweep them off their feet and proclaim undying love for them amidst all the odds they have to face. It’s sad. Unbelievably and irrevocably sad. It’s as if getting hitched is a be-all-end-all situation.

The girls (and if you want, boys) drooling/wanting/yearning/dreaming/screaming for an Edward Cullen remind me of girls who still dreams about a prince that would carry them on his palace and make her happy for the rest of her life. GAWD. Though Meyer had the twist better as EC is portrayed as a "monster" who is willing to give up his "monstrosity" for the girl "he wants to be with forever". And that's popping two dream bubbles with one stick: girls dreaming of turning a BAD GUY into a HERO and of course the highly-glorified happy ever after.

And though I may be over-analyzing things a bit, this “I-should-have-my-own-prince” mentality subconsciously creates a stigma of discrimination against women who opt to be single. It's as if they're the most pitiful creatures on earth. Very Anti-Feminist, bah.

Also, I think that Twilight's expanding fangirls base has been detrimental to the credibility of the book in itself. The idea that a book meant for "light reading" has been sensationally-acclaimed and tagged by some highly-appreciative people as "better than Rice!" and "the best vampire book they've ever read!" has caused raised eyebrows within the elite circle of intellectual readers. I mean, you can (and you should) NEVER compare Meyer's books with Anne Rice's. That would be scandalous.

In a way, Twilight reminds me of the Tagalog Precious Hearts Romance "Novels" my high school classmates used to ~~read~~ devour. Thus, it is a sappy, mushy, corny, and cheesy story for readers like me. Me, mE, ME. [Emphasis needed to highlight the concept of OPINION.]

But then again, we shouldn't expect ALL people to enjoy reading the likes of Hemingway, Golding, Thoreau, Hawthorne, or Tolstoy. We would always, ALWAYS have our own preferences. In as much that renowned novelists deserve respect for their books, we should also give Meyer the respect that she deserves.

Now, will you fangirls stop babbling about your Cullen obsession? It's been getting on everybody's nerves in case you haven't noticed.

I love six girls >:)

2008-11-22T14:27:00.005+08:00

And they are studying in Ateneo de Davao. One of them is a Philosophy major. Another is a Political Science student. And the other four are future Economists.

Last night, one of them celebrated her birthday. Even if she was born November 22.

I can't wait for our graduation. I'm counting that one of them would deliver our batch's valedictory address. Five of them would snatch either cum laude or magna cum laude. But I put my bets on the latter. What do I know, they might even get summa cum laude.

We've been together for four years. And those four years are all I need to compensate for all the things I've gone through way back in grade school and high school.

Four great years...

And counting. :)