Modern Progressives - A Pain In The Neck

I wish I could link the original author's profile because he's awesome and he genuinely deserves the credit for this post but since he expressed he wanted to remain anonymous I will respect that wish.

Newest update on my efforts at deciphering the "progressive stack", aka the oppression Olympics:

Race - race seems to be decidedly at the top. If you're black, you're automatically oppressed for maximum oppression points, if you're brown you're still oppressed for substantial amount of oppression points, if you're oriental, you're kind of oppressed, even when you statistically are at the top of most success/quality of life factors, and you get some amount of oppression point. And of course, if you're white, even from a relatively poor country or lower class background, you're the oppressor, which means that most oppression points you might have garnered elsewhere are cancelled and you accrue a hefty sum of privilege points.

Gender - close behind race. If you're a woman, you are automatically oppressed and are awarded many oppression points. Conversely, if you are a man, you accrue privilege points on account of being a horrible oppressor and many of whatever oppression points you might have accumulated elsewhere are forfeit. If you're trans, you usually get the maximum oppression points in this category, though if you're some sort of wacky tumblr fluidgender nonsense, most people still won't take you very seriously, even in progressive circles. Give it a few years.

Sexual orientation - it seems to be slowly falling down the stack. If you're gay, you get some oppression points, but it's a small amount and if you're a gay man, you barely get any at all these days. If you're heterosexual, you obviously accrue some privilege points here, but the impact on your overall oppressed/privileged status is relatively low. If you're bisexual, you might get a few oppression points out of it, but mostly no one really cares.
Religion - with one exception, it seems to be a mostly irrelevant category. If you're a christian, you usually accrue some privilege points, if you're anything else, it doesn't affect your oppression status in any significant way. Of course if you're a muslim... well, we'll get to that later.

Socio-economic class - for an ideology with roots in socialism and marxism, modern leftists seem to put surprisingly little emphasis on class. If you're middle class, you accrue some easily erasable privilege points, if you're working class, no one really cares about you and you're probably a racist, if you're below poverty lines, you get some small amount of oppression points, but nothing much compared to the bigger identitarian issues mentioned above. Nothing is stopping you for example from being an upper class trust fund kid, yet claiming huge stacks of oppression points on your various "identities".



Weight - this rather depends on what circles you are frequenting. On tumblr, if you are thin or at least within the weight limits generally to be considered to be healthy, you accrue considerable amounts of privilege points, whereas being overweight, anywhere on the scale from moderately so to morbidly obese, grants you oppression points, in amounts more or less proportional to your weight. Outside of tumblr, the validity of this currency varies, but if you are fat AND a woman, you can get some mileage out of it in most progressive spaces, because as we all know, beauty standards are oppressive and fat people are helpless when it comes to being and remaining fat.

Disability - this is a relatively marginal category, even though there exists a neologism aimed at people who supposedly slight or discriminate against disabled people. This is presumably because genuinely disabled people are not so numerous and mostly just want to be left alone. In principle you do get oppression points for being disabled and accrue privilege points for being able-bodied, but in reality, this means relatively little, since most people are more or less able-bodied, whereas disabled people tend to have greater problems to deal with than playing oppression Olympics.

These are the regular categories. Then there are some WILDCARDS:

Islam - if you're a muslim, you are in most cases entitled to jump straight to the top of the stack. In fact, being a muslim seems to trump almost any other identity in the oppression olympics. There is very little in the way of bigotry or regressive attitudes, actions and beliefs that progressives are NOT willing to gloss over, when you are a muslim.

Being conservative - if you're any sort of conservative or even just slightly right-wing person who is NOT a muslim, then your oppression points can be cancelled at any point with no refund and that includes oppression points from belonging into such highly protected groups like blacks or women.
Being a "traitor" to any of the special needs "oppressed" groups - similarly to being a conservative, if you don't agree with what progressives think you should think as a member of "oppressed" group XYZ, your oppression points are forfeit. And unlike conservatism, this includes muslims too. You're a woman who doesn't like latter day feminism? Tough luck. You're black and you're not into BLM-style race-baiting and progressive identity politics in general? Well, fuck you. You're a muslim who acknowledges problems with islamic doctrines and wish to reform them? DOUBLE fuck you, you filthy native informant uncle Tom.

Being a virtuous progressive activist - if you sufficiently signal your virtue and repent your privilege loudly enough, both primarily through twitter or tumblr, you can reach the exalted condition of being a progressive activist, and in that blessed state, your privilege points are forgiven, you are granted honorary "oppressed" status and you are entitled to lecture other, less enlightened people on privilege and oppression from your macbook, while sipping a starbucks latte. But there is a catch. If at any moment you fail rigorous purity testing and re-testing that goes on ceaselessly in such high and ideologically pristine circles, your fellow progressives will be more than happy to immediately throw you under the bus. Especially if you're a man.

Reflections On Turning A Year Older

It’s been a week since I turned a year older and a new decade for me has begun. There certainly isn’t avoiding it and finally, I have arrived at that junction where we drop off the baggage of young and carefree 20s and step on the platform for serious, reflective, and pensive 30s. There were no big celebrations that heralded my “arrival” but I had hours to reflect about things and examine where my life has brought me. Every year it seems birthdays have become more like a time for reflections and not of parties and as much as I try to be “saddened” by being older the truth is I don’t really feel that bad.

This year has certainly been challenging to say the least. Dealing with body changes is one of them. I have to finally face the truth that this corporeal form will no longer have the recuperating powers of my old self. Any type of liquor now wreaks havoc on my insides and my gut just wants to purge anything I imbibe with alcohol in it the moment it touches my lips.

Being patient seems harder now. Back then I could deal with more bull crap and just smile through it all. Now I feel like I either explode if I don’t remove myself from the irritants or I just don’t have what it takes to put up with it all so I just leave, go away, depart. The latter is the alternative I choose to embrace and do.

Thus leading me to realize that some battles and fights are just not worth it. Having been a strong believer of always standing up and fighting for what you believe in and sticking up for your rights at 30 I finally feel that there are arguments that are not worth the time you invest in it. And even if you have a compelling reason to spar with a person “winning” will not bring you anything and will only cost you so much in terms of time wasted.

Time. I’ve learned to value that in a whole new different light. I’ve often joked that I’ll be lucky if I live through 40 because it seems then that I just rush through my life without stopping to really appreciate the things that is happening around me.

Sleep has certainly become an indulgence that I happily give into without feeling the guilt of it.
Its one luxury that I can enjoy without worrying that I’m burning a hole through my wallet. And that certainly is the beauty of it.

And yes I do realize nobody else gives a fuck that I am in my age now. And that does not bother me a bit. As I said before, this is a moment of reflection after all and I would like to thank everyone who greeted, called, texted, and got in touch with me on my birthday.

Sincerely, I thank you for remembering and for taking the time to make your greetings known.

Cheers all and have a good day/night!

Happy Father's Day Papa

To the man who held my hand and taught me how to walk. Thank you.
To the man who dried my tears when I cried, and told me to be strong. Thank you.
To the man who taught me how to fight and punch, even though I am girl. Thank you.
To the man who encouraged me to be free, be everything I want to be. Thank you.
To the man who made me appreciate the Bisaya language, and explained things to me. Thank you.
To the man who gave me everything and providing for us with the best he could offer. Thank you.
To the man who spoiled me rotten and made me his little "princess". Thank you.
To the man who loved my mom dearly. Thank you.
To the man whom I owe everything but never asked for anything in return. Thank you.
To the man who made me, ME. Thank you.

For all those times I left it unsaid...

Papa, thank you!

You were always patient with me even during my rebellious teenage years.
You always said all you wanted was to see me "happy" and not once did you ever doubt me and my capabilities.

There were never any "Good-byes" between us. You never said you'd leave. Now, all I do is carry your memories within me. Your memories that keep me going as I tread through life.

You'd always live in my heart. There's a special place you hold dearly.

Papa there isn't a day that goes by without me not missing you.

I will always celebrate "Father's Day" because I was lucky to have had you.

Parenting: Some People Need To Be Castrated

I started working in a call center about a month ago. You see, after seven years of being a freelancer, I thought a change of environment and an opportunity to network and build contacts once again is necessary. So I signed up for a seasonal account selling goodies on the phone and helping people make choices on what gift to send. What I like about this is that for a short time I get to socialize with people and also get to talk to different individuals on the telephone. Years of being a freelancer and concentrating on mainly codes and programs can get isolating. This short change was a welcome one.

But there are a few instances while on the telephone that I am reminded why I quit the call center industry in the past and why I detest most people and hold the opinion that many do not deserve to have kids. Some of these people should have no right to have children nor be allowed to pass their genes (and stupidity) in any way possible as they have the personality of a mega bitch and fucking dickwad and will most probably raise little monsters that grow up to be psychotic morons that populate our precious planet.

Case in point. I received a phone call and the prompt was supposed to be a sales call. While saying my opening spiel, this guy immediately interrupted me and asked "So shut up for a bit, are you a call center agent?" in my mind I was saying, "Well, duh, sir. I'm actually a Power Ranger but this time I'm just taking calls."

I just said, "Yes" and then he immediately said, "Wait a minute. I want you to talk to my little daughter because I want her to know how you sound like."

Image found on the net. Does not represent the actual caller nor his daughter.

Just so you dear readers know, you get all sorts of requests on the telephone which borders from the ho-hum to the bizarre. This one didn't sound bad at all so I said, "Sure sir!" and patiently waited on the phone for his daughter.

Then all of a sudden a sweet, young voice of a child probably four or five chimed in on the other end and she said "Hello!" in a very bubbly voice. Wanting to make a good impression on the child, I said "Hi there!" in my most friendly, perky manner. Then I heard the father saying, "Give me the telephone now, you heard her. See, that's how a loser sounds like." Then I heard the father on the line again saying, "I just wanted my daughter to hear what a loser sounds like." then he hung up.

This incident, although just short and could easily be dismissed as something harmless, made me think for quite some time. Did that moron of a father actually thought that he was setting a fine example for his daughter? Instead of raising his child to be a well-rounded, respectful, and kind individual he has set an example that it is fine to look down on another human being. He set the example that just because someone sounds different on the telephone or probably doing a job which he thinks is beneath him, then it is already fine to berate an individual. Thank you gentleman for teaching your daughter to be an entitled person who looks down on their fellow human being who is just trying to earn their keep doing a decent job, sir. I can only hope that when your daughter grows up, she will realize what a pathetic thing you did and would turn out to be a better individual.

This also made me appreciate my father even more and miss him so much. Even though he was a poor man who grew up in a third world country, he would also remind us that all people need to be respected. He was the man who taught me to stand up for myself and be strong. He never tolerated when we would act like snotty brats and would always take the time to talk to my brother and I whenever he can. Thank you papa for your life lessons.

As for the moron who did that "prank" and was probably proud of himself for having pulled a "smart one". Give yourself a pat on the back sir. This might be your biggest life achievement of all. *claps*

Bench Underwear Show Controversy

All the butthurt people who are expressing their outrage over Bench's Underwear Show Controversy should take a chill pill and shut up already.
Reverse the genders of the two portrayed in that photograph and the media as well as the rest of the world would hail it as a picture promoting female empowerment. The hypocrisy of all this "outrage" expressed makes me laugh.

Madonna dragging a man around with a leash and gag on.

The Spice Girls dragging men around on stage.

Rihanna with Perez Hilton (gossip columnist) dragging him around.

Coco Martin doing the same thing and all of a sudden it is sexism!

The term "bastos" (lewd) that has been carelessly tossed about in the whole comment section of Rappler's story (the site which I first read this story) has no meaning here. What you, as an individual, may deem as "bastos" may be fine with another.
It was an UNDERWEAR SHOW, call it the local less-sexy counterpart of a Victoria's Secret runway display. Prudes who don't want to see anything that "offends" their sensitivities should stay home and watch the 700Club or something. Nobody is forcing anyone to go to these kinds of shows.
Minors are not allowed to go in too, so your outrage over such displays and it ruining the future of the children of this nation is unfounded and rather ridiculous.

Empowered women can do whatever they please, that includes participating in S&M shows, being dragged around while on a leash, and whatever else come to mind.


Many are expressing anger over the fact that it was a female that was put on a leash. So fucking what?! Apparently the woman who was tied to the leash was okay with said act. So that said, the two parties that are involved in this little number gave their consent. That's all that matters.

It was an art show promoting a brand and the theme they decided to present showcased the S&M fantasy, which many women are supposedly are so crazy about especially with the showing of that 50 Shades of Gray movie. That's the trend for the time being. These shows bank on trends.

Coco Martin and the unknown girl are also working in an industry that rely on the promotion of fantasy. Both understand and know what they are doing and are capable of making their own decisions.

And even if people DO IMITATE this said act in real life and would want to have someone drag them around or vice-versa, what's it to you?
As long as all adults involved gave their full consent then it is none of your goddamn business.

*I am aware that the other examples I have provided are of "Western" women and I am sure some dumbass will protest that it is not reflective of the Filipino values which they are protecting.
This is another hypocritical argument Pinoytards love to use. Modern Philippines have done nothing but embrace globalization and adapt to "Western" values (whatever that means). Values and virtues have no nationality.

Senator Pia Cayetano's statement regarding the issue is sexist. I will quote part of her statement which was published here.

"the derogatory portrayal of women is offensive and should not be tolerated."

I am wondering why the senator is only concerned with how women are portrayed. Men have been demonized and portrayed in all sorts of manner in all types of media and nothing has been said.
If you are so concerned with gender inequality issues then start doing this; If you view a certain act as deplorable when done to a woman, then the same view should be applied when it is done to men.

I Dream of Dancing

There have been days when I would just spend hours watching dance videos and trying to emulate the steps in my tiny room in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, I could look less awkward when I get on the dance floor to bust a move. It's been ages since I last went out dancing but who knows... I remember buying my first dance "album" which was just a CD of songs best suited for Latin dances.I ended up playing it just because I needed background noise when I am working.

In my mind I could dance and be graceful as a swan, wowing everybody on the dance floor. Yet, the truth of the matter is the swan in my head is the bow-legged duckling that can barely waddle in real life. I like dancing but unfortunately dancing doesn't like me. I have never joined any dance contest and have tripped countless times just by walking.

Lately though the urge to move has gripped my mind and seized my heart that I finally took out a pair of sturdy heels, searched YouTube for dance hits and started doing basic steps for Salsa. Yet, just fifteen minutes into this whole debacle my legs started to ache and I felt like collapsing.

(The first sign of old age? Que horror!)

Still, I think I am going to continue this little comedy act of dancing and push through with learning some dance moves. Something good might come out of it and heck I need any excuse I could get right now to wear my heels again.

Thoughts While Trying to Catch a Glimpse of the Perseids Meteor Shower

Perseids Meteor Shower

I accidentally dropped my 8-month old smartphone today. And while the world stopped for a few seconds as I tried to do a Matrix-style slow-mo dive in an awkward attempt to catch it (failing miserably at the same time) all I could think about after was "Fuck I hope my phone's okay!"

I immediately grabbed my phone from the ground and dreaded the thought that the internals might have stopped working. I was glad to find out that the protective skin made of rubber somehow prevented the touchscreen glass from shattering; breathing a sigh of relief. Before I proceed, allow me to thank cheapo products mass produced in China. That was $5USD well spent on some knock-off phone cover.

I was sad to see the phone did turn off and as I sat on my haunches oblivious of the dirt and soil. I stared at this black screen of nothingness which I have not seen for a very long time. The thought that I may not have a phone (smartphone) for the next few days hit me. As I was pushing the power button and saying a prayer to St. Vidicone of Cathode, patron saint of Electronics (Yes, there is really one) I realized that I have become so reliant on technology and electronics for the better half of my adult life. Come to think of it, I can't recall ever turning my phone off the moment I bought it.

My phone was the only thing that could distract me from other things I deemed important. I respond to its beeps like a frantic mother immediately checking on my new born the moment it starts to make a sound. My baby, dead in the palm of my hands… I have not been careful enough!
I wanted to cry. It was not turning on. Then my friend placed his consoling hand on my shoulder and told me to take out the battery and put it back in again and charge it. So, reluctantly I did.

I tried to act like nothing happened and be cool. Some things needed to be finished so I have a few hours of distraction that lay before me. No vibrations in my pocket, no notifications to check, no emails to answer, no text or Viber messages to respond to. Freedom!

As the tasks were slowly completed one by one and we finally were able to sit down and relax instinctively I reached for my phone only to be reminded again that it’s charging and it may not power up. I was forced to sit up and do something I’ve never done in a long time, nothing. And by doing nothing I was able to observe my surroundings and be attuned to what is happening around me.
Cricket sounds, the breeze blowing gently on my skin, the smell of air, soft humming sounds of my friends as they lay down on the earth bed and tried to relax. I watched leaves rustling in the wind, I watched the clouds slowly move behind a pale moon, I watched other people's feet.

I realized that I really like having this time to myself. It helped me compose my thoughts. This does not mean I am giving up on technology though. It’s just that having no phone, no connection to social media made me more aware of my thoughts, the thoughts that exist and keep playing in my head even if there is no one around to hear of it. I missed not being so wired and connected. The appeal of mobile phones (smart or not) is its ability to make us be reachable 24/7 but as soon as we were, it demanded from us immediate responses. And if we cannot reply within the appropriate time we are either perceived as rude or purposely ignoring. Worst case scenario, loved ones might thing something terrible has happened to us. Not being able to use my phone was probably a nudge that a change in behavior was needed with regards to this whole being connected with the world thing. Yes I miss my baby, my informant, my paramour! But it made me be reacquainted with myself. (Hello there stranger, long time no see.)

Then my friend called me and told me the battery’s full. I immediately got up, took the phone off the charger, pushed the power button again (this time not so hopeful that it will turn on) but lo and behold! It turned back on, chirped its familiar start-up beat, and I am once again reunited with my baby.

Reflections on Death While in a Funeral

There's something quite macabre yet grounding about how us Filipinos conduct funerals; where having the dead body of our dead loved one is displayed in our house for at least a week as prayers and novenas are said might seem weird and creepy to most. It somehow forces us to confront the reality that many are quite hesitant to face. Death is real and no one is spared.

As one grieves while looking down at the coffin to stare at the departed's features and recall how they once lived, the moment one raises their head to look around, different sights and smell flood the senses that serve as a reminder that despite death life continuous.
As the departed person’s family members take care of guests’ needs serving them food, other people play card games and mah-jong at the side. There’s chatter in all corners. Kids are running around playing as the adults form intimate circles to talk about past events where surprisingly the dead person always stars in. Somehow stories of the dead person always sounds more awesome when told during a funeral and hearing these stories somehow softens the blow of death.

Having been through this situation numerous times I have observed that these rituals make things better somewhat. It seems to shorten the time for grieving, at least in public. You may cry in private as the thought slowly sinks in and takes root that you'll never see your loved one again but the moment you step out of your little room and see to your guests, tears are wiped and you’re forced to confront life and live it.

I just remember a quote by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, “Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that flares up for a brief moment only to disappear into the endless night forever.”

Korean Student Essay - Second Reaction

I remember having read this Korean's essay some time ago and I even blogged about it here.
Now with the power of social media and how different the "internet-scene" is compared to seven years ago, I am amused to see this essay being circulated again.
Controlling myself and trying so hard not to be that asshole on the web who constantly says "Ugh this is old!" I realize how my views have greatly changed now that I am in my late 20's.

Reading this essay again and having realized I have greatly changed. I decided to write a reply to the person who posted it on Facebook. After typing a long comment I was about to hit enter and post it under this person's timeline when I thought it is best to just make a new blog post out of it. (Yeay two blog posts in one day!)

Okayyyy tugging at heart strings aside. Let's look at the problems of the Philippines in a more realistic sense.

I now  find this post rather condescending.
First, I want to tackle the question of what is love really?

*That fuzzy feeling you get from seeing your crush?
*That time you hugged a toddler and felt better?
*Your dad rubbing your back as he comforts you after you lost your basketball game?
*A good romp in the sack?
*Your mom cooking your favorite food when you get sick?

Let us define the word love first and then proceed to ask our self this other question.

What is love of country?

*You working your ass off for minimum wage and then contributing your hard-earned money to our government's coffers? (Rather admirable, right?)
*Is it acting like Santa Clause by being generous to each and everyone and giving all your money away? (Really?)
*Is it singing the national anthem pitch-perfectly and going bat-shit crazy if an artist will render their own interpretation?
*Is it about being so proud of your country's flag that you will make sure you go after it despite danger and calamity?

What?

CORRUPTION is the biggest problem of our country plus a backwards system. No matter how much you "LOVE" your country if the system is corrupt then all your hard work will not pay off.

Filipinos leave in droves and go to other countries to find better opportunities to work and have a decent life. The backwards Constitution that we currently have effectively blocks most foreign investment thus making it harder for people to look for work here. Those that do come and start a business with a Filipino partner can hardly grow because of the red tape so rampant here. Graft and corruption reigns supreme.

Look at all the businesses in this country. It is dominated by oligarchs and they hardly have any competition!
Because of this monopoly they can effectively curb salaries and block any reforms that will make workers here more empowered.

Where does the tax money of a Filipino go? Instead of it going to help improve health care, education, and infrastructure of the entire country it is eaten up by corrupt politicians. They use our tax money to fund their lavish lifestyles. They set up bogus NGOs which only "help" those people close to their group.

If we want to improve our country and really address the problem let us start analyzing critically the real issues that affect us and the things we can do to address them.
Rhetoric about love of country is emotionally stirring and all but let us now start focusing on what actions we can effectively take to really improve the country we claim to love and be the driving force to see it change for the better and make it happen.

B.I.R. and Online Shopping

Hello fellow online shoppers and online shopping enthusiasts. Allow me to inform you that B.I.R. will start collecting taxes on individuals and businesses selling products online as part of their AGGRESSIVE efforts to meet collection goal and boost government revenues. It doesn't matter if there is already a tax on shipping, handling, and if your product is from abroad there is also a tax imposed by Customs.

Personally, I have no problem with paying the right amount of taxes but knowing that BIG BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY RUN BY OLIGARCHS, most often employ unscrupulous tax evasion practices and MANY BIG BUSINESSMEN do not pay proper taxes, this move by B.I.R. really irks me. You see, many online sellers that I know got into the business in the first place so they can look for ways and means to help augment their small incomes. Many people who work in companies almost pay up to four digits worth of taxes every pay check. Often what is left at the end of each pay period is barely enough to cover basic needs.

Now, paying taxes in itself is good as the money can be used to fund government projects that should benefit us all, most especially the hard-working tax-payer. But that is NOT the case in the Philippines, is it? The current Napoles pork barrel exposés flooding our airwaves right now is just a tip of the iceberg amidst all the graft and corruption happening in this country of ours.

Most government-run establishments that give services are disorderly, under-funded, mediocre, and inefficient. A good example would be schools. Most parents scrape every peso they earn so they can send their kids to private schools here. Many of us would not even dream of sending our kids to public schools because we know and see that it is over-crowded, lack proper facilities, and the overall atmosphere is not conducive to learning. These establishments are in this dismal state because our taxes are used instead to fund the lavish lifestyles of our politicians and their spawns. They have exuberant parties with their ostensible displays of wealth. They travel abroad and live the lifestyle of the rich and famous, rubbing shoulders with international celebrities. They blog and post pictures of their latest designer acquisitions. Things that only we can dream of.

In other words, they live this way because YOU and I are funding all these. Our tax money is collected, distributed by government to our politicians, and are no longer properly accounted for.

You, online seller, staying up late to update your Facebook page with pictures of your modest merchandise and hoping you can dispose of a few items that will help augment your income will now need to contribute to all this.

It wouldn't be so bad if you know your tax money is spent on the real problems of this country of ours. But that is not the case.

Napoles Issue? Here We Go Again...

I really could not think of what to call this blog post. Napoles Issue? Here We Go Again... This is "old" news. I have not posted anything on my social networking sites about the current Napoles scandal because I see no point in all of it now. Having seen how things have turned out with the different scandals and corruption accusations that have been exposed over the years and knowing that after the fire dies down and the anger of the mob dissipate, things will continue as they once were and there will be no real reforms in place, I ask myself what's the point in all of it? The mob never learns.

I first started being aware of the news and current events of our country at a young age. Fidel V. Ramos was then president and it was during this time that I started to tune in to what my dad was listening to on the radio. Every night he would always tune into the different AM stations as soon as he gets home from work. Instead of listening to music we listened to commentaries. It was during this time, I was probably six or seven years old, that I could remember really listening to what the adults were talking about.

Over the years we have had countless exposés about corruption scandals in our government but then after a long series of senate inquiries and media hoopla once a news article reaches a certain amount of time of being talked about, people drop it off as "old issue" and the fire dies down then we collectively move on to the next controversy that catches our fancy. Be they a sex tape of some starlet or the lovelife of certain showbiz personalities made controversial yet again.

Here's just a small list of exposés and scandals I can remember that were talked about over the years.

1. Controversy of the Clark Expo project
2. Amari Land Scam
3. BW Resources Scandal
4. PCSO Funding Scandals
5. The Luxury cars scandal during Erap's time
6. Jueteng Scandal
7. Fertilizer Fund Scandal
8. Hello Garci Controversy
9. ZTE Scandal

This is but a small list of the things that I remember. They used to be a major issue in this country. But after the fire burned out, nothing was done about the people involved. Many of them moved on to other careers or ran/held public offices. Just imagine what other forms of corruption happens behind closed doors and how much money have been squandered by these ingrates.

Am I angry? YES, very much so! But what can we do about it?

Napoles is a small pawn. Sometimes I can't help but think maybe its time we as a people start shooting or executing these officials. Maybe, just maybe once we start doing that, they'd be better at their jobs and will start serving the public for once.

An Act of Kindness Goes A Long Way

Having read this article on the New York Times website brought back a lot of memories for me.
Growing up with many ailments due to Marfan Syndrome I had to wear braces for my scoliosis and very thick glasses for my superior lens subloxation. Life was not easy at all as I became known in school as the weirdo kid with the funny eyes and fat body trapped in "armor" (Milwauke braces).

Yet when I reflect on things now and try to recall those memories that really stood out in my deep, dark, and challenging childhood I realize that it's not the kids who made fun at me that really mattered. I survived their jeers, taunts, and bullying because no matter how hard and bad it got sometimes I came across people who did an act of kindness towards me and these little gestures were enough to sustain me through it all.

I remember this boy who was the same age as me but in a different class who often come up to me during morning recess to just talk. Hardly anybody talked to me back then. I could not even remember what it was that we talked about really but the memory of him just talking to me in our little breaks was good. At the back of my head I was always thinking why is this person talking to me? Isn't he afraid his friends will think he's weird? What does he want? And yet, this person often came to just chat up for a few minutes and after the bell rings to signify the end of recess I always walk back to my classroom feeling so much better. Back then I couldn't understand it. It just felt good and that was enough to change my day for the better. He was my friend yet we didn't exchange names.

Then there was also this classmate who used to tease me a lot. He was very unkind. I must have told my mom about it one time because all I could clearly remember now was that my mom went to school and waited for the boy's father. She talked to the father and after that incident, the boy who used to tease me started being nice. He stopped teasing me and there were even times when he would go to our school library to fetch me and help carry my school bag whenever I was late in meeting my mom during dismissal. (I used to attend a private school run by Catholic nuns and kids were not allowed to leave the campus without their guardians fetching them.)

I just never had the time to thank these people though. I even forgot their names now but the act of kindness they have shown me especially during trying times has remained in me all these years.

Thank you!

To This Day - Inspiration (Also a Purgation of My Mind)

For those who are/were victims of bullying here's a video for all of us. Please watch this first.

What he says is all too true. To this day I am still frustrated that schools do not take the issue of bullying seriously. Often it's dismissed with one sentence; " They're just being kids." Childhood is not always an idyllic time where it's all about innocence, play, and fun.

When I was a kid I found it hard to be around other people as I was feeling so insecure about myself because of my ailment. I always thought I was a burden to my family as I was sickly and always coming down with something that forces my parents to rush me to the hospital. And when I stayed there all I could think about was how inconvenient my existence is for the other people around me.

I would sometimes sneak around so I could see the latest printout of the hospital bills that my parents had to shoulder because no insurance company would pay for my condition. It made me feel like I was a little thief for taking away all that money from my family. I knew full well my father would be applying for another loan to pay for the treatments/tests they had to administer/do for/to me. I felt like a leech sucking them dry. There were nights when I couldn't sleep and then I would hear my parents in their room talking about me and my mother was often crying because she had a hard time accepting that her daughter have defects. She blamed herself at one point because she felt guilty. She thought she was the reason why I was this way. It was hard for her as it was for me.
I'd go back to my room and cry myself to sleep too because I didn't know what else I could do.

When I was five I had to wear very thick glasses that magnified the size of my eyes and make them pop out like big, floating eyeballs. My severe eye condition was another manifestation of Marfan Syndrome. People were always shocked to see a little girl wearing such thick glasses and when I took them off it always surprised them when they see me for the first time. Often they would say that I was actually "pretty" without the glasses, implying therefore that I was ugly looking when I put them on. I knew the big eyeballs on my face made other people uncomfortable maybe because it made them feel like I was staring at them and burning a hole through their soul. At first I was sent to a school for the blind because I couldn't see very well and ordinary schools didn't have the facilities to cater to my special needs. But I didn't feel I belonged there. I was the only one who could partially see. I insisted on being sent to a "normal" school despite my eye condition and little did I know it would be the start of the real tragedy.

When I was finally transferred to a "normal" school I was assigned to sit down in the front row despite my big size because I can barely see the writings on the chalkboard. This must have frustrated my classmates so. New and thick glasses barely helped me to see but at least I wasn't considered blind anymore.

To this day I still wear thick, dorky glasses.

There were so many things I was not allowed to do as a kid and growing up without experiencing those little pleasures make up for a somewhat boring childhood. Sometimes I felt like I never had a "normal" childhood. I was told not to climb trees unless I wanted to fall and hurt my back. I'd end up paralyzed they say since I already had a bad back to begin with. I have scoliosis which is again due to Marfan Syndrome.

I could not run and play because too much strenuous activity might affect my heart and I'll be back in the hospital again. All these restrictions made me think in my young mind that I was not allowed to have fun. Navigating through life's ups and downs while being literally kicked, punched, and taunted as you go along the way by your peers and be called a lot of things simply because you are different makes growing up such an ordeal.

Being different was what prevented them from trying to understand me. What they could not understand they probably feared. And what they feared  they had to break, abuse, and destroy.

Froggy
Crazy
Quasimoda, the hunchback of Cebu
Weirdo

These are just examples of the names I got called. There were also a bunch of creative taunts and other words I could no longer remember.

These were the words they used to call me, to describe me, to break and hurt me. "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." goes the famous nursery rhyme but I would just like to say that this is bullshit.Words cut so much deeper and the worst part is that they linger in your head.

On Dreams and Ambitions

There were so many things I wanted to be but I always stopped myself from aiming for something higher because I thought I could never attain it. I did not have the means to get it. I was already crushed. They got to me and destroyed me completely.

At one point I wanted to be a nun and desperately tried to search for meaning and redemption in my world full of hurt and endless taunts. But even at such a young age I felt like there was nothing really out there. A belief in an all-caring sky daddy figure never made sense to me. Logically, it didn't add up yet probably perhaps out of desperation it still didn't fully stop me from searching for something. One might call it a "saving grace". I never found it. I didn't end up being a nun.

Then I wanted to be a rock star because I saw a video of Bon Jovi's concert and it looked so fun especially when he was dangling through a wire flying over the audience and belting out "Living On A Prayer". I quickly realized though that this dream will never be as I could not play the guitar and was told that if I learned it I would go through excruciating pain and my fingers will be bruised and nicked and this will cause infection not to mention pain. This stopped me. I know I'm allergic to Penicillin and all it's derivatives so my parents might have to take me back to the hospital again and they'll be slapped with another thick pile of bills to pay.

(The thoughts of a broken child's mind lead to so many tragedies)

So I abandoned the dream of becoming a rock star as I knew it would never work out. To this day I still couldn't play the guitar.

Some time passed and I wanted to be a doctor because I dreamt of helping other sick children like me. I wanted to be a different type of doctor. Someone who is kind, helpful, cheerful. I knew I would be good at it as I have gone through things other doctors have not gone through despite their training in any top-notch medical school. I went through pain. I am sickly. I knew what it was like to be the patient. Often when doctors come in to examine me they always felt cold and so distant and I thought I could do a better job and have an entirely different approach. Then I found out that being a doctor cost so much. We don't have that much money especially when my parents were paying back loans left, right, front, and center. And having stayed in the hospital I thought, this isn't the kind of place I'd want to be stuck in. Hospitals are dreary. They're even sadder than cemeteries. You are surrounded by people constantly in pain, unsure, broken, desperate. I don't want to be in here. I don't want to be working here.

I tried to think of another alternative so I turned my head to my books and then I said to myself that I should be a genetic engineer. I thought then that since it had the word "engineer" attached to it then maybe I need not go to a medical school. I was wrong. So... I scrapped both dreams and abandoned it all.

There was also a time when I wanted to be a lawyer. I thought maybe if I become a lawyer then I can have the legal means to stop these people bullying me and show them the hand of justice. I can send them all to jail! But much like being a doctor or a genetic engineer, I found out that being a lawyer costs so much. We don't have that kind of money to spend especially when my parents were paying back loans. I, having the knowledge that I was different with so many limitations felt defeated.

I was the one who killed my own dreams.

I was a child. What can a young child do to get through all those negative thoughts and the taunts? At 13 I didn't think about taking someone else's life like what Shane Koyczan said he did. I thought of taking my own life. The scars of that stupid action, my first botched suicide attempt are still visible  today. Then after that first failed attempt at suicide I tried again and again. Three times I failed.

"Get over it!"

This was indeed the usual response whenever I tried telling someone I felt that way. Hearing those words hurt. Had I known how to "get over it" I would have done so a long time ago. It is easier said than done. Sometimes I question if it can be done. How do you just "get over" something that has been crippling you for so long?

I never belonged to any group growing up. The "nerdy" people would not even take me in. Yet despite that I am still here. Trying, improving, and trying harder to just live and make something out of my life.

To this day the pain is still there, the insecurities too. The scars of the past still etched in the psyche as well as my wrist. I admit that there are days when the old thoughts try to grab hold of me again. Suicide just seems so easy. The years I worked hard at trying to make myself stronger is slowly being unraveled and I am desperately and consciously trying to work at it not letting it get to me today. It keeps pulling me back to the dark abyss I was stuck in, telling me I will never amount to anything and nobody will really love me in the end. But I try my best not to listen anymore. I try not to let it get me now. I've come so far. I'm going to hold on for dear life. If I am going to die, at least with my last breath I could say proudly that I tried and I died trying.






To know more about the author read: An Insight Part I (The Early Years)

Sin Tax? How About Church Tax?

Okay... After we have made a lot of noise regarding the draconian cyber crime law which until now is not yet repelled and after marching the streets for our reproductive health rights, we now face the sin tax fight.

So the Philippines has now implemented the "sin tax" into law. Basically what it does is pave the way for higher cigarette and liquor prices in the coming weeks. In his speech Pnoy said and I quote, "Today, we sign, finally, a law that serves as an early Christmas gift to millions of Filipinos who will be covered by the universal health care program, who will benefit from new public clinics and hospitals that will be built, and who will be discouraged from smoking and drinking,” and In its first year of implementation, the measure is expected to generate for the government additional revenues worth P33.96 billion, of which P23.4 billion will come from cigarettes, P6.06 billion from distilled spirits and P4.5 billion from fermented liquors.

I really have no problem with taxing these stuff as I see them as mere luxuries that people ought to pay for if they really wish to partake in them. That said, I am just wondering why the government until now is still hesitant to tax the religious organizations and churches if indeed their goal is to somehow fill our coffers with more money for projects that will help our constituents.

How many billions do we lose because we let these institutions get away without paying taxes just because they worship an invisible sky daddy?

Sin is the act of violating god's will. Although, whose god it is we offended is yet to be determined.
I, being an atheist and not believing in the concept of god or sin for that matter, ought to be exempted from shouldering these taxes if ever I want to buy any of these "sinful" substances.

If we can get billions by taxing these vices just imagine how much more we'll get if we tax the church.

Indian Gang Rape Victim Dies!

After days of struggling with what happened to her, this woman breathed her last. I just hope that her death is not in vain. Too many women are victims of rape on a daily basis. One victim of such a crime is one too many.
By bringing to light what happened to her, I hope the people will finally be aware that rape is NOT at crime of passion it is a crime of pure evil which uses power to bring down and humiliate the victim. It is never the victim's fault why she is raped. How a person dress, act, sound, or look is not an invite for any to come and violate her body.

A lot of people are stating the opinion that people in general are only giving this case a special tag because of the severity. I personally think that we all should stop bickering about this incident in this aspect as this is not the point. Often times many people are indifferent to crimes especially heinous ones because often it is reported so indifferently. Victims are not shown or their life stories told. The way it is presented makes it seem like its just another faceless body in a sea of statistics.

I hope this incident brings to light that a victim IS NEVER A FACELESS BODY. We just do not know their names or see their faces. But now that we can see a victim's face and got to know her maybe just maybe our indifference can be turned to concern as this face can be your sister, mother, cousin, friend.

May she still get justice even in death.


Read the full story here.

Atheism, Feminism, And the Whole Purist Movement

For the record I would like to state it here that I am NOT a feminist. That said, it does not mean that I do not care about the different issues plaguing females. I acknowledge them and will fight tooth and claw to address these issues and concerns but I still will NOT call myself a feminist.
Attaching that title to myself makes me feel like I am ONLY focusing on the issue being directed at women, those (un)fortunate enough to have been born with a vagina. And that is not the case.

Gender is not important in one's fight against injustice. One's gender should not be one's basis for one to take action. Women are plagued with issues and discrimination, it is true and I am not denying that but that doesn't mean that other people and the opposite gender don't have problems of their own. If you deny this, then you are discriminating.

I am also starting to hate the whole wave of this "new" feminism movement. IF their posts and blogs are to be the yardstick by which we judge one's views and actions that I can say most of them have become quite paranoid and even misandrist. Its the same as misogyny in my book.

One recent example is the whole Michael Shermer and Ophelia Benson barb. The Atheism+ side seems to employ the same tactic to bring in traffic to their side and that is, say something unfounded and attack the person they deem deserves their special ire and attention. The latest victim is Michael Shermer, hey they already got to Dawkins and Harris. Who's going to be next?

Its funny how Ophelia Benson tried to demonize Shermer and twist his statement in an event which she ironically didn't even show up for. How these new feminists behave now makes me distance away from the whole movement. The witch hunt for supposed misogynists is what is killing this movement as they are attacking the very people, the men, who are in all out support of the whole movement.

"There is a deeper problem here that I have observed over the past several years that I would like to address to the larger secular community, and that is the dangers of in-group fighting and inquisition purges of those who are not “pure” enough in their atheism, skepticism, or humanism." - Michael Shermer

What do I identify with, people might ask. I call myself a humanist. I care about issues affecting humanity and will not stop nor purely concentrate my attention on just feminism and femininity.
A lot may not agree with my views and might probably see contradictions but this is a better approach for me.

Read:
Ophelia Benson's blog post here.
Michael Shermer's response here.

Sotto Is Being The Real Cyber Bully

Sotto's idiocy just dipped an all-time low. After making his turno en contra speech at the Senate regarding the Reproductive Health bill and being criticized by netizens after it surfaced that majority of his speech contained misrepresented claims neither backed by legitimate statistics and studies of science using words that were clearly NOT his, Sen. Sotto now claims to be the first victim of cyber-bullying. It seems that our good ol' senator just doesn't understand what "bullying" means and in what context it applies.
Coupled with his arrogant attitude, instead of admitting his wrong or JUST KEEPING MUM after he's already been exposed, he continues to spew bullshit non-stop.

With him still being in-power now he is using his position to try and curtail free speech. The blogging and internet technology age has now ushered in a new type of social awareness unseen and unprecedented. Information is literally just a type away. With that said, many people who do idiotic things, make stupid claims, and try to present unsupported facts are now being exposed in just a matter of minutes. The beauty of this lies in the fact that now people can communicate faster and have the option to look at other sources of information that seemed to be inaccessible in the past.
This worries the old and traditional politicians because the task of spoon-feeding people with bullshit has gotten to be harder. Armed with knowledge, the people are not so gullible anymore.

Here's a good suggestion senator, instead of proposing an ANTI-BLOGGING law why not push for an anti-plagiarism law and while you are at it how about developing a good code of conduct and ethics too?
It might actually do you good because then you'll at least put more effort in making your speeches perhaps?

Another aging Senator who supports Sotto regarding the bill also demonstrate his senility by agreeing with him. Really, people who don't know how the internet works should not make rules for it.
Leave the internet alone you fuckwits!

For shame Sotto. For shame! And this goes for you too Enrile.

Sotto proposing ANTI-BLOGGING LAW!

Sotto and His Nazi Card

Oh what a tangled web we weave,

When first we practice to deceive!

Sir Walter Scott

Just when I thought Sen. Tito Sotto could not sink any lower with his recent plagiarism brouhaha once again I see myself being proven wrong. Instead of manning up and apologizing for his mistake for plagiarizing another blogger named Sarah Pope and quoting her work almost word for word in his "turno en contra" speech at the senate floor, Sotto did not address the whole accusation and continued to spew more bullshit by saying stupid things about the RH Bill. He tried to wash his hands clean on the matter but what the good ol’ senator forgot is the role of command responsibility.

He presented a speech supposedly reflecting HIS OWN VIEWS AND OPINIONS regarding a bill which he vehemently opposes and now he let his staff say he is not at fault here?!

Sotto you are a disgrace!

Following the developments of the whole RH Bill debate, in his latest tirade Sen. Tito Sotto has now pulled the Nazi card, also known as Reductio ad Hitlerum or argumentum ad Hitlerum. The Nazi Card is an ad hominem or ad misericordiam argument. This is a strategy used by some people in debates where they try to discredit their opponent's points raised by comparing his or her opponent's views to be similar with that famous dictator Adolf Hitler or the Nazi Party.

Not only are the person's points that were raised using this argument irrelevant the suggested logic is one of guilt by association.

I find this move by the senator quite disgusting. First of all it is an affront to the real victims of Nazism and their families. Once again he clearly demonstrates that he really does not know what the hell it is that he’s talking about. Having run out valid points that will help him try to prove his staunch stance against the HR Bill, Sotto has now turned this debate into a debacle for his part.

Philippines, I hope you realize now what an ass of a clown is the person currently occupying one of our Senate seats is. Hopefully, we learn our lesson and would avoid electing people like him. And as for Sen. Tito Sotto himself, he should take a lesson from his other showbiz-politician buddy Sen. Lito Lapid to just join him and be part of the Senate silent committee. This would spare us all from hearing another one of his stupid rants and prevent from embarrassing us even further.

Being Born With A Vagina

Being born with a vagina seems to be like a curse in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It makes me wonder how savage the men of Saudi Arabia are that they cannot stand seeing a woman. This "hate" or "savagery" is so strong that somehow it has urged them to even think about building a city to separate the female species. They already keep them wrapped in layers of clothing and almost suffocating them inside those bags. Now they wish to isolate them even more and they wish to sell this move as their way of respecting women. Do these morons actually believe that if women are to mingle with men chaos would ensue or what?

And for anyone to say that "It's their rules so they should follow it when they want." I say FUCK YOU!
The oppression of women and of anybody weaker should never be condoned. All people should voice out their outrage at this very sexist, oppressive move.
If anyone would ever parrot such a sentiment then I can truly say that person is not moral or ethical.
Women are men's equals. They should not be treated in an inferior or superior manner.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Claims To The Russian Throne With A Touch Of Filipino Flair

The whole article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer's website has generated a lot of buzz recently.
It is about a Russian immigrant who had an eccentric lifestyle and told fascinating stories to her grandkids about her old homeland.
Turns out, her story mirrors that of someone living in a palace and was raised affluently. Now, in comes the headlines in a newspaper that is supposedly one of the country's best, FILIPINO'S GRANDMAMA COULD BE RUSSIA'S ANASTASIA and boom! Watch the Google search results soar for Romanov and Anastasia.

I find it personally disgusting that a paper who claims to uphold the truth would even publish something like this without doing a personal research. I know the story is quite interesting but it remains to be that, just a story. Not fit to be in a newspaper really but more like those romance novels sold for P15 each.

This may sound harsh to most, but if you come out of the public with an outlandish claim do have something tangible to back it up and not just an old photograph and some "results" of a spirit of the glass session.

And just to quell all these rumors please do a simple search. Really it does help. Spreading lies and fueling ignorance is something a paper like the Philippine Daily Inquirer should be ashamed of.

Oh wait... We are talking about PDI here after all. It is just another story for them no doubt. Carry on...


From Wikipedia:


Her (Anastasia Romanov's) possible survival has been conclusively disproven. In January 2008, Russian scientists announced that the charred remains of a young boy and a young woman found near Ekaterinburg in August 2007 were most likely those of the thirteen-year-old Tsarevich and one of the four Romanov grand duchesses. Russian forensic scientists confirmed on April 30, 2008, that the remains were those of the Tsarevich Alexei and one of his four sisters.[1] In March 2009 the final results of the DNA testing were published by Dr. Michael Coble of the US Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, proving conclusively that the remains of all four Grand Duchesses have now been accounted for, and no one escaped.

Do these two really look alike?

Updates:

For the people who got their panties all up in a bunch because I linked from Wikipedia which many say is an unreliable source of information here is the Scientific paper published regarding this issue.

And for those who wish to open their copies of Britannica or some other fancier encyclopedia acquiring dust on the bookshelf, here's "news" for you too.  Study: Wikipedia as accurate as Britannica