(This article was written by a colleague and friend. The photos could not be posted here, apologies. There was a general permission given to re-post and disseminate this piece.)
A MOTHER’S LONG WALK FOR JUSTICE
story and photos by judy a. pasimio
“Pasalubong ha?” said Alvin John, 4 years old, to his mother, Marylou. Pasalubong is a gift one usually brings home from a trip.
This was Marylou’s latest conversation with her only son, when she called home, with the help of Saligan, the law group assisting her. “Namingaw na mi.” I miss home. “I want to go home now,” said teary-eyed Marylou.
This scene was a far cry from the one that was happening outside the makeshift sleeping area where we were having this conversation. The agitated, militant voices of the other farmers, like Marylou, were saying outside in front of a crowd, “We will not go home until our demands are met!”
We were in front of the building of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), where Marylou and the others have been staying for a couple of weeks already. “I want to go home now, and be with my baby. He’s just 4 years old, and he’s alone, with my mother, but I can’t. The reason I walked from home all the way to Manila was for Alvin John. So, I can’t go back home now empty handed. Wala akong maipapasalubong sa kanya. (I have nothing to bring home as pasalubong)”
Marylou Sugalay, 26 years old, walked all the way from their home in San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon to Manila. She has been walking for months, and has walked well over 1,700 kilometers. She reached Manila in Nov. 27. But she is not yet done walking.
Marylou vs. Porky Pig
Marylou is one of the 54 farmers who started their walk on the 10th of October from their hometown of Barangay San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon. The walk is dubbed “Walk for Land, Walk for Justice.”
In the hills of Bukidnon, there is a fertile valley lying between Palapao Mountains, where their Higaonon ancestors lived. However, instead of them Higaonon people cultivating their land, growing food and nurturing life, pigs are enjoying nature’s blessings. Yes, pigs.
In the 144 hectares of land being claimed by the Sumilao farmers, a multi-billion peso state-of-the-art piggery is being built. The San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, through its sister company Monterey Livestock Farm, is putting up 162 buildings to house 4,400 female pigs and 44,000 piglets How did this happen? How did the mother pigs able to get priority to breed their piglets in Sumilao fertile lands, than Marylou’s mother, or Marylou herself to grow food for their children?
In 1990, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) placed the 144-hectare estate owned by the Quisumbing family under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Five years later, the estate is awarded to the Higaonon farmers. DAR issued the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to 137 farmers. However, in 1996, the Office of the President (then Fidel Ramos) issued an order allowing the conversion of the property from purely agricultural to agro-industrial use. In 1997, fifteen farmers started a 28-hunger strike in front of the national office of DAR, to protest this conversion. Marylou’s mother was one of them. This pushed the President Ramos to have a “win-win” solution and limited the conversion to the 44 hectares and approved 100 hectares for distribution to the farmers.
But the Supreme Court in April 1999, decided with finality to uphold the conversion, and effectively invalidated the CLOA issued to the farmers. In December of the same year, Robin Lession, one of the farmers in the 1997 hunger strike, committed suicide in protest over the decision of the Supreme Court.
Several years after, the Sumilao farmers are back in Manila. They claim that over the years, the development plan which Quisumbing submitted, a requirement for the land conversion, has not been realized. The land has remained idle. Later on, Quisumbing sold the land to San Miguel Foods Incorporation (SMFI). SMFI then began to construct the modern piggery. This was not part of the submitted development plan, and one which was way beyond the timeline for development, as prescribed by law.
So, Marylou walked, along with her husband, her 3 sisters and 1 brother; along with her cousins, who are with their own families too, to call for DAR to issue a cease-and-desist order to SMFI from its construction of the piggery. Furthermore, they are calling for the nullification of the reversal of the conversion of their land, and to return the 144 hectares to them.
According to the SMFI, the investment in Sumilao is estimated to reach P2.4 billion.It further said that this was far greater than any projected future value of this fertile land. “But this means nothing for us,” says Marylou. “No, not to us Higaonon, especially us, women. One of my friends who tried to ask for a job there, she was told that they needed someone with education. We don’t have that. And besides, what can we do there? We heard that everything is done by machines. Even the feeding of the pigs! We need our lands. That’s what will make us survive, that’s what will make us live.”
Marylou recalled her home, “We have a river, called Kulaman. It was very clear, and you would easily see fish swimming. But that was before the pigs came. Now, it’s all murky as their waste goes flowing directly into Kulaman.”
STREET LIFE
Marylou removed her slippers and stretched her legs, rubbing her aching feet. She was on her fourth pair of rubber slippers. The walk passed through 13 provinces of Mindanao, then Visayas, and Luzon. In Manila, they walk from one government agency to another, to have their voices heard.
“In the provinces, we usually walked 60 kilometers a day. Then sleep for something like 2 hours. Then walk again.” This walk brought a lot of “firsts” for Marylou. This was the first time she encountered a typhoon. “We were in Gumaca, Quezon, when the heavy rain and strong winds came. We were at first laughing when we heard that a typhoon was coming. We said then the wind will blow us straight to Manila!” But the typhoon made their walk more difficult and delayed them. “It was really hard – walking into mud, through the floods, the rain bearing its weight on us.” She realizes how lucky they were back home in Sumilao,
as they never experienced typhoons. “We live in a valley, so the mountains around
protect us from bad weather.”
This was her first time to see the different provinces of Mindanao, of Visayas and of
Luzon. This was her first time in Manila. In Manila, she and the rest have occupied a
space in front of the DAR building to wait for a favorable decision from DAR Secretary Naser Pangandaman. From scraps of plywood and tarpaulins, they set up a sleeping area and a kitchen. “We are allowed to use the toilets of the DAR building between 5-6 am only. We
have to register with the guards, and they keep time of how long we are in there. Before and beyond this hour, we cannot use the toilets inside the building. We find corners. As for bathing, there’s a small area in front of the sleeping area, where there’s a hose. Three women
share a bucket of water. The water supply comes from the DAR building. It’s low and erratic, and is dependent on the good will of the DAR staff in charge.” The DAR building is right in front of a wide busy road, with a lot of jeepney stops.
This was her first time to be so far away from home, away from Alvin John. “The walk was so difficult. But the hardest part is to be away from my child. Over the phone, he was crying. I was crying too. My mother said that they have nothing to eat there anymore. My husband and I are the ones who work for food. And now, both of us are here. Here, each time food will be donated to us by supporters, I always wish I can just send him my portion of food.”
From their broken slippers, they made a parol (a traditional Christmas star lantern). But Marylou hopes that they won’t spend Christmas in Manila. “I want to be with my son.”
Rosita, has 7 children, won’t go home until the DAR decides in their favor. Meanwhile, she tries to overcome her loneliness and anxiety. She draws strength from the other 15 women who are with her, who she knows that are also suffering the same way she does, anxious to go home, but determined to stay. “Secretary Pangamdaman said earlier that he will give his decision in three days. I cannot count the days anymore, but I know that it is more than three days, and there’s nothing from him.” Pangamdaman said last week that he was giving the contending parties three days to submit their position papers and then will give his decision. No word yet has come from his office, but the sense from the streets is that he is favoring the pigs over the Higaonons.
On Monday, Marylou and her fellow farmers will be on their feet again to walk to Malacanang Office, for the second time. This time, they hope that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
will face them, so they can deliver their message personally – that they walked for their land, and for justice.
This was, indeed, the longest walk of Marylou’s life. And we hope that this is not for naught. One of the posters on their plywood wall said “How can she stand her ground, if she doesn’t have any?”
The word "SUMILAO" comes from a Binukid phrase "Kon Sumilaw Da", which means, "when lights come again". Let there be light again in the valley of San Vicente, Sumilao. I hope that when Marylou goes home to Sumilao, she will have their land, and justice, as pasalubong for Alvin John.
Otherwise, this whole country is going to the pigs.
Note:
If you want to sign on the petition for the Sumilao farmers, and for more
updates, please log on to - http://sumilaomarch.multiply.com/
judy a. pasimio
judypam@gmail.com
Gender Co-Coordinator for Friends of the Earth International and a women’s rights
activist from Purple Action (a group of women human rights activists for justice,
dignity and empowerment of women)
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Spending Christmas
It's been a while since i spent Christmas with somebody 'special'. Come to think of it, never really did spend it with that kind of somebody technically. The last time was when i was too young so Christmas was mainly spent stressing over what to give, how to give it, how much the budget was, etc. etc. It was spent thinking the more we spend, the more we express our love...If I remember correctly, from my measly allowance, I gave him a watch -- And he gave me a life-size stuffed Elmo coz that's what I asked for.
I'm the kind of giver that would catch the little tidbits in our conversation and pretty much remember what to give on Christmas what was important to the person throughout the year. For example, if I would be seeing Karen, i'll either give her Tortillos or Cheetos, to remind her of our binging days together on the wicked stuff. If I saw Grace, I'll just give her a hug and some time out with Salsa, not to mention a good screaming match since i think that's what she needs most right now.
This is of course not to say that I'm such a cheapskate. This Christmas, I'm splurging on my family. I bought their gifts second week of November I think, so that I wouldn't have to go through the Christmas rush. I remember while i was buying their gifts I also thought, well, better spend it now on them, just in case I meet a guy and splurge on him. I'm pretty sure they'll like my gifts.
Nevertheless, I did meet a guy and will be spending Christmas day with him--after I cook and spend Noche Buena with my family and the kids. He's not the type to ask for anything. He's not the type to tell me what he wants so I can tell him what I want, and we'll just swap gifts on Christmas. So what did I get him for Christmas? I got him Tabasco sauce. Why? Because he likes his sunny side ups smothered in Tabasco sauce. And that really made his day.
A lot of us take the time to cook something special, give little tokens of appreciation and affection to almost everybody we come in contact with. Funny thing with my friends and I, we have this stupid Kris kringle where we can just bring any junk or jewel for gift swapping and try to steal in an orderly manner (up to two steals) from anybody, any item. It's hilarious. Especially when the girls fight over the makeup. I'm just sorry for Raissa she got the beer bag (which was later on swapped for an already-stolen item).
So what's the point?
We can express our affection for someone in different ways. If you're the splurging type, then go right ahead, if that works for you, even if it does eat into your budget. If you're the token type, that's equally great too. What I think should be important is to be able to communicate how you feel towards that person through your gift.
With that, Happy Holidays everybody!!!
I'm the kind of giver that would catch the little tidbits in our conversation and pretty much remember what to give on Christmas what was important to the person throughout the year. For example, if I would be seeing Karen, i'll either give her Tortillos or Cheetos, to remind her of our binging days together on the wicked stuff. If I saw Grace, I'll just give her a hug and some time out with Salsa, not to mention a good screaming match since i think that's what she needs most right now.
This is of course not to say that I'm such a cheapskate. This Christmas, I'm splurging on my family. I bought their gifts second week of November I think, so that I wouldn't have to go through the Christmas rush. I remember while i was buying their gifts I also thought, well, better spend it now on them, just in case I meet a guy and splurge on him. I'm pretty sure they'll like my gifts.
Nevertheless, I did meet a guy and will be spending Christmas day with him--after I cook and spend Noche Buena with my family and the kids. He's not the type to ask for anything. He's not the type to tell me what he wants so I can tell him what I want, and we'll just swap gifts on Christmas. So what did I get him for Christmas? I got him Tabasco sauce. Why? Because he likes his sunny side ups smothered in Tabasco sauce. And that really made his day.
A lot of us take the time to cook something special, give little tokens of appreciation and affection to almost everybody we come in contact with. Funny thing with my friends and I, we have this stupid Kris kringle where we can just bring any junk or jewel for gift swapping and try to steal in an orderly manner (up to two steals) from anybody, any item. It's hilarious. Especially when the girls fight over the makeup. I'm just sorry for Raissa she got the beer bag (which was later on swapped for an already-stolen item).
So what's the point?
We can express our affection for someone in different ways. If you're the splurging type, then go right ahead, if that works for you, even if it does eat into your budget. If you're the token type, that's equally great too. What I think should be important is to be able to communicate how you feel towards that person through your gift.
With that, Happy Holidays everybody!!!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Almost Lover
Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick
I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left you kissed my lips
You told me you'd never ever forget these images, no
I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy
To walk right in and out of my life?
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
- Fine Frenzy
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick
I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left you kissed my lips
You told me you'd never ever forget these images, no
I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy
To walk right in and out of my life?
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
- Fine Frenzy
Monday, December 3, 2007
An Early Christmas Present
For quite some time now, i've been humming the song in West Side Story that Tony sang before he went to the party and met Maria -- "Something's Coming".
Last weekend, I got my early Christmas present, and i'd like to think it had something to do with that song. What can i say, it was a blast. Everything i wished for, plus something more. It's not perfect, but it's as perfect as it can get. So, if it doesn't hold til the holiday season, then it's fine. I'm happy. And no matter how perilous it can be, i'll take that chance.
Last weekend, I got my early Christmas present, and i'd like to think it had something to do with that song. What can i say, it was a blast. Everything i wished for, plus something more. It's not perfect, but it's as perfect as it can get. So, if it doesn't hold til the holiday season, then it's fine. I'm happy. And no matter how perilous it can be, i'll take that chance.
Monday, November 19, 2007
2nd Open Letter to JME (no, it's not JM Erni)
Dear JE,
This is all I have to say...be prepared. You will be receiving a text from me soon. I suggest you hide all those stuff you're enjoying. There will be some happy people this Christmas, thanks to you.
Rhia.
This is all I have to say...be prepared. You will be receiving a text from me soon. I suggest you hide all those stuff you're enjoying. There will be some happy people this Christmas, thanks to you.
Rhia.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
It's been a while
I haven't had time to write in my blog lately. Been busy. Went to a week-long conference October 20-26, flew to Surigao to attend Mon's wedding on the 27th, rode a ferry, come hell or high water (literally) to Siargao on the 28th, then spent the whole day of the 29th in a bangka with She and Myra to check out the Sohotan caves and lagoon of Siargao (the only stupendous, great and unbelievable thing in Siargao), then went back to the city on the 30th. Went back to Manila the next day, only to spend the night at a friend's place to spend some quality time with a balikbayan friend. When i finally got back home the next day, I made arrangements to go home to Marinduque to visit my beautiful grandmother that same night. Arrived in 'duque on the 2nd, then left in the morning of the 3rd. Whew!!!
When i finally got back to work on the 5th, I just spent the half day checking out the tons and tons of email.
Today, I went to watch a friend play football in the Ayala Alabang Village fields, while having a picnic with a long time friend who i haven't seen in years. When I brought her home that afternoon, it was such a great feeling to go back more than a decade ago and just hung out, watching movies, chatting, catching up and most importantly, pigging out.
Second half of November and first half of December will undoubtedly be a hell month as well. Juggling a case, work, Mandarin lessons, and events...
Oh well. at least there won't be a boring moment.
When i finally got back to work on the 5th, I just spent the half day checking out the tons and tons of email.
Today, I went to watch a friend play football in the Ayala Alabang Village fields, while having a picnic with a long time friend who i haven't seen in years. When I brought her home that afternoon, it was such a great feeling to go back more than a decade ago and just hung out, watching movies, chatting, catching up and most importantly, pigging out.
Second half of November and first half of December will undoubtedly be a hell month as well. Juggling a case, work, Mandarin lessons, and events...
Oh well. at least there won't be a boring moment.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Uneventful Day - G2 Blast
The other day was my birthday and it was, personally, a pretty uneventful day for me. Woke up in the morning, had breakfast at Rodic's with a friend who was staying over, did some groceries for the lunch i promised to prepare for the office (sundried tomato pesto on angel hair pasta) and then cooked those groceries.
It was a pretty uneventful day...until they bombed (?) Gloreitta 2. Thus, that day will be forever known as "The day G2 got bombed," not a happy thought.
I haven't been listening to the news for the last couple of days, but apparently there is now a 3-M bounty for the damn bomber.Of course we hear the predictable interpretations of both sides. Government saying it's a terrorist job, and the opposition saying it's just a diversionary tactic and a prelude to martial law.
Regardless whoever may have done it one thing is clear for now, based on the Human Security Act, the bombing of G2 is technically not an act of terrorism. Why? simply because there has been no unlawful demand as of yet. So if they file the charge, well, it should be dismissed because there's no demand.
With this example, we see the inefficiency and shortcomings of the law to really protect the masses from terrorism. We also see why conspiracy to commit terrorism is all the more stupid. Since terrorism is obviously a crime of result, you cannot convict a person of the crime of terrorism unless you get all the results that you want -- unlike in murder or homicide, the only thing you have to make sure there is that the person died. In terrorism, there are still a lot of elements which would have to be proved. Unless the act brings about the intended results, there is no terrorism.
Anyway, i'm really getting sick and tired of people who have claimed innocent civilian lives just for making a "statement". Don't they get it? The people you're complaining about were born dense and evil. What makes you think their conscience would still allow them to make a drastic change in government if you do these things? And if government really does these things, how much power and money do you want to say "enough"? You're like King Midas. I hope you turn into gold so you can just sink.
It was a pretty uneventful day...until they bombed (?) Gloreitta 2. Thus, that day will be forever known as "The day G2 got bombed," not a happy thought.
I haven't been listening to the news for the last couple of days, but apparently there is now a 3-M bounty for the damn bomber.Of course we hear the predictable interpretations of both sides. Government saying it's a terrorist job, and the opposition saying it's just a diversionary tactic and a prelude to martial law.
Regardless whoever may have done it one thing is clear for now, based on the Human Security Act, the bombing of G2 is technically not an act of terrorism. Why? simply because there has been no unlawful demand as of yet. So if they file the charge, well, it should be dismissed because there's no demand.
With this example, we see the inefficiency and shortcomings of the law to really protect the masses from terrorism. We also see why conspiracy to commit terrorism is all the more stupid. Since terrorism is obviously a crime of result, you cannot convict a person of the crime of terrorism unless you get all the results that you want -- unlike in murder or homicide, the only thing you have to make sure there is that the person died. In terrorism, there are still a lot of elements which would have to be proved. Unless the act brings about the intended results, there is no terrorism.
Anyway, i'm really getting sick and tired of people who have claimed innocent civilian lives just for making a "statement". Don't they get it? The people you're complaining about were born dense and evil. What makes you think their conscience would still allow them to make a drastic change in government if you do these things? And if government really does these things, how much power and money do you want to say "enough"? You're like King Midas. I hope you turn into gold so you can just sink.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Birthday Dinner
It was pretty early to celebrate a birthday dinner. But since there were three of us in my highschool barkada celebrating our birthdays this month, and our schedules hardly ever meet, we decided to have it tonight, somewhere cheap but still quality food. It's actually funny because we only invited two other couples (we were nine in all, i was the only 'single' person there, so i'm counting my other friends with their respective couples as 'one'), it felt like we just did a dutch treat.
So there we were in Sharmila, Dampa, Seaside along Macapagal Ave., pigging ourselves out with seafood. Already we were planning our Christmas party, this time, hopefully out of town for two days. As usual, i was the odd woman out, so i'll be bunking in with my adoptive parents.
Imagine, we've known each other since we were kids, i mean, we were classmates in the round building (pre-school) and have been friends since grade school, some in highschool. That's more than twenty years of friendship already. And funny thing is, even if we don't see each other regularly, each time we see each other, it's as if we've just met up the day before. We grew even closer as we went our own separate ways, growing up using different paths, but still finding our crossroads every so often, or maybe we've already made our own crossroads to accomodate one another.
That's one blessing in life i'm happy about.
So there we were in Sharmila, Dampa, Seaside along Macapagal Ave., pigging ourselves out with seafood. Already we were planning our Christmas party, this time, hopefully out of town for two days. As usual, i was the odd woman out, so i'll be bunking in with my adoptive parents.
Imagine, we've known each other since we were kids, i mean, we were classmates in the round building (pre-school) and have been friends since grade school, some in highschool. That's more than twenty years of friendship already. And funny thing is, even if we don't see each other regularly, each time we see each other, it's as if we've just met up the day before. We grew even closer as we went our own separate ways, growing up using different paths, but still finding our crossroads every so often, or maybe we've already made our own crossroads to accomodate one another.
That's one blessing in life i'm happy about.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
An Open Letter to J.E.
Dear (?) JE,
Where do i begin. This is quite unusual for me. My basic principle in a friend's love life is: "Matatanda na kayo, alam nyo na kung anong dapat gawin. You got yourself into this mess, and so you get yourself out." especially when, in this instance, i really don't know how your relationship went on. For some reason however, i cannot just let what happened pass. I mean, even if i change the heading, and change the initials, i could still blog what i think about what happened. i guess the only difference would be the thicker cloud of anonymity.
Don't get me wrong. This is not part of the backlash that you're so scared of. I am not writing this just to get even with you, nor am i writing this to condone the shortcomings my friend might have had during your relationship with her. I actually just have a few questions. You should understand that my default advice (since i believe it has worked for me in the past) to my friends is, just walk away -- with your head held high, and without a backward look. And i think to some extent, your ex is doing just that.
I think you should also understand that i am the type of person who would be putting myself in your shoes right now to even try to approximate how you were feeling before this thing happened. This serves many purposes: so that i wouldn't blow my head off with rage or revenge; i could be the devil's advocate when somebody else is ranting; i don't waste precious emotions on the situation; getting over would be much easier; but most of all, because i always believe that if i were in your place, i would truly be convinced of the legitimate reasons for doing it and that it would be worth all the trouble, the pain, and the tears.
Also understand that I am unlike some of my friends who would want to rip your head off as well as your new Gf's. I even agree with your ex that she shouldn't get back all the stuff she's given you, not the phone, the laptop, the furnishings, the ipod...Why? because like her, i also showered my partner -- who i had a long distance relationship with -- with gifts (but of course nothing would beat what she has given or done for you, i mean, the most expensive gift i gave him was a celfone, the rest were like, chichacorn, chocoflakes, keychains, etc. etc.). Eventually when we broke up my ex offered to give it back, and he was, from the start, uncomfortable with the fact that i was doing these things for him. I think his pride and ego was hurt, because i was the 'provider'. In fact, it was one of the reasons why we broke up. Oh well, we can't do anything about it when he was insecure about these things.
As i was saying, i totally understand why couples shouldn't be insisting these things given with trust, love and devotion be returned, no matter what the reason. Be it "the love just slipped away," a change of sexual preference, infidelity (with the same sex or not), or simple boredom. So that's not my issue either.
Besides, whatever in the world will my friend do with those stuff? She can afford to give it, she can afford not to take such depreciated stuff back (although we can always give it to charity).
I know your ex may be difficult. Believe me, we have tons of shouting matches to prove it. And of course she has her insecurities -- but then again, who doesn't? And you may be right there in saying she pushed you away. I would concede at some level. Blaming her for pushing you away is however different from pushing you away towards another person. Being an intellectual and mental person who has read many books and seen many things, i would think you'd see that difference. If i may, in case you didn't get the memo, becoming involved with somebody is a purely personal thing. It is purely within your power to prevent it. So it is totally in bad taste that you would put blame or would even imply that your ex is also at fault here. You know why? If you're not happy, you can always just break up.
So anyway, here are my questions, which i hope i would eventually get answers for. Preferably, for the public to see as well, as this is an open letter you see...
If you knew she had issues, why propose?
If you knew you had issues, why propose?
If you knew your relationship had issues, why propose?
Knowing you had this other girl, why propose?
I can imagine you would be thinking that love, being the ultimate goodness in this world and could overcome everything, was enough for at that time for marriage...and that at that time, you found your "the one"...but did you have to propose? doesn't trust, loyalty, kindness come into the picture at all? How about toblerones? Does it matter at all that she bought white toblerone around the time you proposed? Is it a test or something? Like if she buys gifts for your 'family' she can get the ring? Is that how you see marriage? That it can run purely on love?
I am baffled. I guess the reason also that i have this thing about weddings and marriages (especially without divorce law) is because it's such a lifetime commitment...thinking about it makes me choke. As i once said, "I believe in marriage too much to not even want to get married."
And that's why i'm so confused. i'm not mad, no matter how difficult that might be for you to believe it. you can even ask your ex. she and i, at this time, don't talk about you much. i think i'm the one who's the most unreactive about this whole thing as compared to my other friends who are now exercising superhuman efforts in self-restraint, if only because they know they won't go down to THAT level. They're better than that i would say.
So i'm pretty much fine with the other issues, except the proposal thing since you've also said you'd rather be walking around the park with somebody else, holding somebody' else's hand...and yet you proposed -- the same time you were thinking about somebody else. wishing for her.
Confused adn bewildered,
R.
P.S. I will be collecting the $400 soon.
Don't get me wrong. This is not part of the backlash that you're so scared of. I am not writing this just to get even with you, nor am i writing this to condone the shortcomings my friend might have had during your relationship with her. I actually just have a few questions. You should understand that my default advice (since i believe it has worked for me in the past) to my friends is, just walk away -- with your head held high, and without a backward look. And i think to some extent, your ex is doing just that.
I think you should also understand that i am the type of person who would be putting myself in your shoes right now to even try to approximate how you were feeling before this thing happened. This serves many purposes: so that i wouldn't blow my head off with rage or revenge; i could be the devil's advocate when somebody else is ranting; i don't waste precious emotions on the situation; getting over would be much easier; but most of all, because i always believe that if i were in your place, i would truly be convinced of the legitimate reasons for doing it and that it would be worth all the trouble, the pain, and the tears.
Also understand that I am unlike some of my friends who would want to rip your head off as well as your new Gf's. I even agree with your ex that she shouldn't get back all the stuff she's given you, not the phone, the laptop, the furnishings, the ipod...Why? because like her, i also showered my partner -- who i had a long distance relationship with -- with gifts (but of course nothing would beat what she has given or done for you, i mean, the most expensive gift i gave him was a celfone, the rest were like, chichacorn, chocoflakes, keychains, etc. etc.). Eventually when we broke up my ex offered to give it back, and he was, from the start, uncomfortable with the fact that i was doing these things for him. I think his pride and ego was hurt, because i was the 'provider'. In fact, it was one of the reasons why we broke up. Oh well, we can't do anything about it when he was insecure about these things.
As i was saying, i totally understand why couples shouldn't be insisting these things given with trust, love and devotion be returned, no matter what the reason. Be it "the love just slipped away," a change of sexual preference, infidelity (with the same sex or not), or simple boredom. So that's not my issue either.
Besides, whatever in the world will my friend do with those stuff? She can afford to give it, she can afford not to take such depreciated stuff back (although we can always give it to charity).
I know your ex may be difficult. Believe me, we have tons of shouting matches to prove it. And of course she has her insecurities -- but then again, who doesn't? And you may be right there in saying she pushed you away. I would concede at some level. Blaming her for pushing you away is however different from pushing you away towards another person. Being an intellectual and mental person who has read many books and seen many things, i would think you'd see that difference. If i may, in case you didn't get the memo, becoming involved with somebody is a purely personal thing. It is purely within your power to prevent it. So it is totally in bad taste that you would put blame or would even imply that your ex is also at fault here. You know why? If you're not happy, you can always just break up.
So anyway, here are my questions, which i hope i would eventually get answers for. Preferably, for the public to see as well, as this is an open letter you see...
If you knew she had issues, why propose?
If you knew you had issues, why propose?
If you knew your relationship had issues, why propose?
Knowing you had this other girl, why propose?
I can imagine you would be thinking that love, being the ultimate goodness in this world and could overcome everything, was enough for at that time for marriage...and that at that time, you found your "the one"...but did you have to propose? doesn't trust, loyalty, kindness come into the picture at all? How about toblerones? Does it matter at all that she bought white toblerone around the time you proposed? Is it a test or something? Like if she buys gifts for your 'family' she can get the ring? Is that how you see marriage? That it can run purely on love?
I am baffled. I guess the reason also that i have this thing about weddings and marriages (especially without divorce law) is because it's such a lifetime commitment...thinking about it makes me choke. As i once said, "I believe in marriage too much to not even want to get married."
And that's why i'm so confused. i'm not mad, no matter how difficult that might be for you to believe it. you can even ask your ex. she and i, at this time, don't talk about you much. i think i'm the one who's the most unreactive about this whole thing as compared to my other friends who are now exercising superhuman efforts in self-restraint, if only because they know they won't go down to THAT level. They're better than that i would say.
So i'm pretty much fine with the other issues, except the proposal thing since you've also said you'd rather be walking around the park with somebody else, holding somebody' else's hand...and yet you proposed -- the same time you were thinking about somebody else. wishing for her.
Confused adn bewildered,
R.
P.S. I will be collecting the $400 soon.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Crabbing
I hate it when people are such crabs. I am a believer that we shouldn't waste our energy, emotions, rag and grief over stupid stuff. (For example, a girlfriend throws a plate on the boyfriend just because he picked her up late -- stone, stone from heaven...) but i am all the more a believer of that saying, if you can't say something nice...shut up!!! especially if that person isn't all that great in the first place, or couldn't even do a better job.
I know we all know it already, but i just want to say it again for effect...one of the reason why we can't move on is because people are such crabs. instead of making constructive criticisms, you only hear bitterness; instead of doing a better job and owning up to mistakes, you only hear excuses not even a grade school kid would dare to give the teacher; instead of moving on to prevent the same thing happening again, you only see sulking and bitching about it to others. (kinda reminds me of what the president's daughter said about joey dv's hair...which was splattered in the headlines...sheesh...)
Get on with the program. You're dragging everyone down. You're making others feel miserable. If we just take the time to shut up, and do what we're supposed to do instead of wasting time bitching about nondescript things, then this world would be a better place to be in.
Yes i know i am bitching, but this is just a reaction to some people can be really mean and ugly.
I know we all know it already, but i just want to say it again for effect...one of the reason why we can't move on is because people are such crabs. instead of making constructive criticisms, you only hear bitterness; instead of doing a better job and owning up to mistakes, you only hear excuses not even a grade school kid would dare to give the teacher; instead of moving on to prevent the same thing happening again, you only see sulking and bitching about it to others. (kinda reminds me of what the president's daughter said about joey dv's hair...which was splattered in the headlines...sheesh...)
Get on with the program. You're dragging everyone down. You're making others feel miserable. If we just take the time to shut up, and do what we're supposed to do instead of wasting time bitching about nondescript things, then this world would be a better place to be in.
Yes i know i am bitching, but this is just a reaction to some people can be really mean and ugly.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
HSA ALG Primer
Attached is a primer on the HSA from the Alternative Law Groups for those interested to know.
We celebrate today the 35th year anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law.
We celebrate today the 35th year anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law.
ALG Press Statement on the HSA
Press release
21 September 2007
Worse than Martial Law:
With HSA, poor communities are most vulnerable to repression of human rights
Citing an incident in Sumilao, Bukidnon, eighteen lawyers’ organizations under the coalition Alternative Law Groups, Inc. (ALG), slammed the Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. 9372) for further threatening the already vulnerable poor communities nationwide.
On Sunday, 16 September 2007, seven armed men in full battle gear and carrying high-powered guns went to the Mapalad Freedom Hall of the Sumilao farmers in Bukidnon. They searched the documents inside the hall without a search warrant and seized the papers of lawyer Arlene Bag-ao of BALAOD Mindanaw, an ALG member organization and counsel of the Sumilao farmers. The team of armed men, headed by SPO2 Avelino Chia and composed of two policemen and 5 members of the Philippine Army, took legal and campaign documents belonging to the Sumilao farmers. The armed personnel, when asked by a Sumilao leader to sign their logbook, made a note in Bag-ao’s notebook saying that they were just conducting “police visibility patrol” and that they helped themselves to the food in the Mapalad Freedom Hall. SPO2 Chia even signed his name in the notebook.
“This is clearly a violation of people’s rights considering that the combined police and army team entered a private property of the farmers, illegally searched the area, and seized without proper papers our documents. SPO2 Chia and his team did that because they know that in this country nowadays violations against peoples’ rights to life, liberty, property, and due process go unpunished by the government. The extra-judicial killings are not resolved and are in fact tolerated, what can a community of landless farmers’ possibly do against an illegal search and seizure?” asked Bag-ao.
In another incident, a complaint against two officers and one member of Yellow Bus Lines Employees’ Union (YBLEU) has been filed with the City Prosecutors’ Office of Koronadal, connecting them to the 3 August 2007 bombing in the bus lines’ Koronadal terminal. They were charged of Murder with Multiple Frustrated Murder and Destructive Arson in Relation to RA 9372. Earlier, in June 2007, YBLEU filed a Notice of Strike (NOS) with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) to protest the unfair labor practice (ULP) by management. The union got the necessary strike votes, and was already preparing for the possible eventuality of launching the strike, but had to drop the plan when the Secretary of Labor assumed jurisdiction over the issue.
After the bombing on 3 August, the management announced that it was suspending operations. On 11 August, workers happily returned to work upon orders of the management. But on the same day, at about 6 pm, Jaime “Jimmy” Rosios, who was on his way home, was taken at gun point by armed men and forced into a waiting vehicle along the highway. To this date, Jimmy has not surfaced.
Union members have sought the help of law enforcement agencies and human rights groups, to no avail. They later learned that Jimmy has been charged under the Human Security Act, together with Jessie Rivas, another active and outspoken union officer, and Ibrahim Bacal, a union member who has a pending case against Yellow Bus for retirement benefits.
ALG spokesperson Marlon Manuel noted that these violations were already experienced - even without the Human Security Act (HSA) - by marginalized communities of farmers, laborers, Moros, and indigenous peoples but with the passage of the HSA, this trampling of rights worsened. “The Human Security Act’s definition of ‘terrorism’ is overly broad that it can encompass legitimate and non-terrorist activities, resulting in a chilling effect for those who are lawfully exercising their civil and political rights. The provisions on surveillance, interception and recording of private communications, prolonged and unlimited period of detention without warrant, and proscription of terrorist organizations, associations, or groups of persons, effectively infringe constitutionally guaranteed rights. Under these circumstances, the poor and marginalized sectors are the most vulnerable to abuses in the implementation of the HSA because they lack the resources to ensure that their rights are respected and protected,” said Manuel.
He added, “Our situation these days is worse than martial law in the 1970s. At least then, Marcos categorically declared Martial Law in September 21, 1972. This Anti-Terror Law, sugarcoated as the Human Security Act, legitimizes the government’s repression of rights while it is claiming that we are still in a fully-functioning democracy and that the law only serves to protect the state and the people from terror attacks. The HSA is not good in apprehending who it should go after but it is excellent in terrorizing local communities that peacefully claim their constitutionally-guaranteed rights.”
The ALG urged the communities to be vigilant. The ALG launched a nationwide monitoring network to guard against human rights abuses that may be perpetrated in the implementation of the HSA. It gave hotline numbers of the ALGs nationwide that people could contact whenever there are abuses being perpetrated for which legal assistance may be needed. “We cannot allow laws such as the HSA to take away from us our rights that we fought for just as we certainly cannot allow armed men to just search and seize communities’ documents,” concluded Manuel. -30-
Contact:
Marlon Manuel: 0917-532-6446, 02-426-8569
Jane Capacio: 0917-546-0123, 02-433-0760
Arlene Bag-ao: 0920-9098560, 08822-738-402 (for queries on the Mapalad incident)
Raissa Jajurie: 0919-743-0503, 082-298-4161 (for queries on the YBLEU incident)
HSA Press Statement
For Immediate Release
July 17, 2007
LRC-KSK Statement on the Human Security Act of 2007 or Republic Act (RA) 9372
Human Security Act of 2007: A Draconian Measure
of Insecurity and Terror
It is the height of irony and insult to the Filipino people that a recently passed and newly implemented law–is named the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 or Republic Act (RA) 9372. The HSA, which took effect on July 15, 2007--stands accused of promoting insecurity and fear.
Flawed to its core and hated like the regime that produced it, the HSA is the Arroyo government’s belligerent response to the growing popular resistance to its misrule. Also known as the (anti) terrorism law, the HSA is being deplored as the regime’s latest and most comprehensive legal measure of repression and curtailment of our fundamental rights and basic freedoms.
The Human Security Act of 2007 is riddled with grave infirmities and loopholes and breaches the Constitution, the international human rights as well as international humanitarian laws and principles. Its growing number of critics are calling for its outright repeal.
A key issue against this law is the dangerously vague, encompassing and overarching notion of “terrorism” that draws no distinction between “acts of terror” and legitimate exercise of dissent and social protest. The fundamental principle of due process is seriously violated in this regard. Anyone can be accused of the crime of “terrorism” that is not precisely and legally defined. By criminalizing dissent and by drawing no distinction between legitimate acts of protests and political actions versus common crimes---the HSA is a draconian measure of insecurity and terror.
The HSA comes at a time, when the legitimacy of the Arroyo government is seriously being challenged and a prevailing climate of impunity has come to characterize the regime’s brazen disregard for human rights and its gruesome record of atrocities committed against its staunchest critics—the social activists, human rights defenders and the left movement. We have witnessed for instance, how the likes of Jonas Burgos, son of a press freedom and anti-Martial Law icon could be abducted in broad daylight by suspected agents of the state and be made to disappear until today. We have known that tens to hundreds of suspected leftist activists were shot dead by hooded assailants astride their motorcycles.
Against this national backdrop of lawlessness and a climate of fear and terror, the Human Security Act of 2007 or RA 9372 will open the floodgates for the wholesale violations of human rights and civil liberties.
The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth-Philippines (LRC-KsK/FOE-Phils.) joins the growing voices of indignation against the HSA and the louder clamor for its repeal. Such highly infirm law has no place in a supposedly democratic society and political system supposedly governed by the rule of law.
Given the regime’s track record of mounting atrocities and human rights abuse, the unreformed military and the police forces, the national security-mindset of the HSA’s architects and implementors and the red-baiting and labeling of groups , organizations and individuals critical of the government’s policies and actions---we have all the reasons to doubt the so-called safeguards that the HSA contain against arbitrary acts and abuse.
Under the HSA, “terrorist acts” include political offenses and actions such as rebellion and insurrection, thus criminalizing political dissent and actions. Suspected offenders under the law are subject to surveillance and wiretapping, and their assets frozen. Organizations, particularly those critical of the regime, can easily be proscribed as “terrorists” and their members prosecuted. Thus, the new law provides for the legal justification for state and security forces to go after the “enemies of the state” it will now call “terrorists”, and this time, replete with legal guarantees and all-out impunity.
This early, the law’s architects and implementors are itching to wield the full force of RA 9372 to weigh down anyone it will conveniently call “communists” and “terrorists”. This includes even legal organizations and elected public officials that are among the most strident critics of the regime and its harmful policies and actions.
Assault against the legitimate right to self-determination
The LRC-KsK expresses particular concern about the RA 9372’s impact on the Indigenous peoples and other vulnerable sectors whose sources of subsistence and even their whole way of life—stand seriously threatened by the adverse impact of the GMA government’s frenzied drive to attract large-scale investors into the extractive industries such as mining, logging and plantations.
For instance, given the regime’s policy of attracting huge mining investments in resource-rich areas all over the country , where many indigenous peoples and rural producers reside—and given the deeply flawed legal and justice system that has largely failed to give redress to the aggrieved poor—it is not hard to believe that the full weight of the law may well be used --in the guise of targeting “terrorists” and “threats to national security”---in order to pacify and silence affected communities and indigenous peoples resisting incursion of large-scale mining into their ancestral domains.
The enforcement of the HSA runs ominously parallel with the government’s announcement to develop 23 priority mining investments areas all over the
Who can stop the regime’s minions and their allies in the mining industry from subjecting anti-mining protesters, non-government organizations and church organizations to surveillance, witch hunt, harassment—and when all else fail, proscribing them as “terrorist” organizations or “communist fronts”?
When indigenous peoples will put up barricades to stop huge mining equipment from bulldozing their way into the their sacred lands and ancestral domains—what will stop the regime’s local minions, in complicity with mining companies—to label these acts of protests as “economic sabotage” and “terrorist acts”?
The HSA 2007 can thus, be used against the indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and just struggles of local communities to assert their right, and to defend the country’s national patrimony.
May we then ask: who is terrorizing whom? Who is responsible for and promoting the insecurity of our people? It is the height of absurdity that the very regime that has caused the people’s continued misery and sufferings, and has thus continued to fan the flames of discontent, has now proclaimed to save the people from threats of “terrorism” and threats to their security.
The Arroyo government is afraid of its own shadows and has no one to blame but itself for the increasing national restiveness against its governance. It has allowed its own security and survival to take precedence over the people’s security and well-being, basic rights and fundamental freedoms.
We say no to the Arroyo government’s HSA that is passed in our name. We refuse to accept that the Arroyo regime’s need for security and survival is also our own. Instead, we call for the repeal of the HSA and for the reversal of anti-people policies and programs that are at the roots of armed conflicts, terrorist threats and national unrest that continue to besiege our country and society.
It is increasingly clear to more and more people that the Human Security Act of 2007—far from providing the Filipino people the security from fear and want---is an illegal, unjust and anti-people legislation aimed at instilling fear and paralyzing people into inaction.
The Arroyo regime should remember too well the lessons from its predecessors and from their ill-fated policies and actions: injustice and repression begets resistance. And, nothing can subdue the power of a united and determined people struggling for justice and defending their rights and hard-won freedoms.
From the women and men of
The Legal Rights and
Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth-Philippines
(LRC-KSK/FOE-Phils.)
For questions and additional information, please contact Sammy Gamboa at sammybkk05@gmail.com.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Backpacking in Mindanao
Ever seen a chicken standing and walking up straight? Well, I have. I was so awed and amazed, i just had to take a picture of it (with permission of course from the owner).It's been some time since i last posted anything here and the reason is simple: i was just too busy for anything else than work.
I just got back from a three-week backpacking adventure in Mindanao. It was both for pleasure and work.
I start off my adventure when i found out that i had to take back my leave that i have applied for since last May to attend the Kadayawan festival in Davao to attend a forum of sorts in Cagayan de Oro City. I had to spend two hours in line in the Cebu Pacific ticketing office in Galleria to rebook my return flight only to find out the next day that i had to rebook it again.
Anyway, I arrived in Davao on a Saturday which my friends and i already marked off for a surprise despedida for a friend who is, as i write this, in class in Trente (inggit). The party was a blast, and we ended up driving about two hours around the city looking for a Videoke bar that wasn't brimming with customers. We then set out for a tree-planting expedition in Arakan (still part of the despedida thing sponsored this time by my friend), South Cotabato. View was exquisite (don't have pictures of those yet), it would remind you of the Shire, and the falls was fabulous. The trek was kinda horrific for my busted knees but fun nevertheless (with my trusty knee brace and Hot Leg dancer Jan). Imagine sliding down on cogon grass to end up in a falls overlooking the whole valley. (A friend of mine, before he jumped from the falls, said he wouldn't mind dying as long as his last image of earth was the one before him)
With that adventure over, and with my aching bones, I then proceeded to CDO after a great seafood dinner. CDO was pretty much all work. After spending the week there, i went back to Davao and then trooped to Samal Island.
Come Monday, I then went to Kidapawan to visit a very dear friend, a 69 year old Italian missioner who gave me his published diary, with matching dedication and all. I was too spend a couple of nights on the field after passing through Kidapawan. Fortunately, during the Red Moon, when the shadow of the earth fell upon the moon, i was at a place where the stars were so clear and so bright, like nothing you've ever seen anywhere near the metro.
It was the next day when i saw the standing chicken. And i was enthralled. I guess it was a good ten minutes that i just watched it walk, pecking around for food.
After another night staying at a friend's place, i went back to Kidapawan, but passing through Sultan Kudarat first to drop in at a government office there (and what a small world, the official there is the father of a schoolmate), and spent another couple of nights there to finish my business.
I went straight to Marbel (Koronadal), riding in a van that just had to cram all breathable space with people and stopping at every possible stop, to meet up with an officemate for another field visit. We were to ride the habal-habal for about 2 hours up the mountains (where it's freaking cold), and chat with the indigenous communities, explaining to them their rights to land and to life. By this time, i have already gotten sick thrice during the trip and i've been sleeping pretty early to catch up with all the traveling i've done.
Of course i had to plan when and where i would be having my clothes laundered in between trips. I also had to schedule my bathroom time.
Finally, after two nights spent on field, I traveled back to Davao, bought dinner from McDo, took a bath and just sunk in bed...of course i just had to get sick anymore because of the damn aircon.
Exactly on the 21st day of my trip, i finally flew back to Manila with 23 kilos of fruit, but spending only 400 for all of it. I love fruit season.
Anyway, in a nutshell, I have been to six cities, passed through ARMM, gone to three provinces and i lost count with the barangays, and only spending not more than two nights in any one given place. whew.
But what can i say, the view is spectacular, the people are lovely, and the food is great!
Though i wouldn't want to repeat that any time soon, it's a trip worth taking.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Danny J
Si Danny J...the man of my dreams....yeah right!!! I met Danny J about ten years ago. We became teammates in UPDRT and he was one of the more 'senior' members. because i was considerably young then, just turned 20, i'd think, and he was...(whisper, whisper), i fondly called him "Lolo Danny" with another favorite guy of mine, Alfred De Veyra (unfortunately, we lost touch). Being with them was the best!!! I think it was Alfred who first introduced me to pesto pasta which he made and brought to training one saturday morning. I'd usually end up with the two of them, the two "grumpy old men", listening to their bickerings, banters and issues. Just thinking about it makes me wanna laugh out loud and a wide grin would be pasted on my face...
Danny J manages Lorenzo Resorts in Boracay. He's suplado yet sweet, kuripot yet thoughtful, carino brutal, and macho!!!! ooolalala...such a sexy bod for his age!!! (yup, he paid me to say this folks!) It was really great that we were able to see each other last night in Cibo, Trinoma. Even if i wasn't feeling well, i just had to see him! it's been almost nine years since we last got together!!! We've always made plans for lunch or dinner, here in Manila or in Boracay ( he still owes me a luxurious spa treatment in his resort) but never had or made the time to actually make it happen. So when i saw him last night, i just couldn't get my hands and lips off him, to the consternation of our other friends...hehehe....
Danny J has always been very special to me, i love him to bits! Remember when Marvin the Martian kidnapped Bugs and brought him to space, where there was this white polar bear thingy who wanted to call Bugs "George"? (I wanna, hug him, and squeeze him, and call him George...") That's what i wanted to do with Lolo Danny. Gawd!!! i never realized how much i truly missed him! I missed laughing with him, exchanging catty and bitchy comebacks, teasing each other to death, being sweet to him, talking about life in general, and love life in particular...
If only Alfred were there, it would have been more than perfect!!!!
So danny, I know you'll be reading this blog, and i just wanted to say, it was really fantastic that we met up again, and i miss you!!!! I'll see you where the surf, the sand, and the sun meet next time...
Mwah!!!!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Of bums, beauty queens and Everest
Last week, my friends from UPDRT and I had a reunion, a girls' night out if you may. It's been quite some time since we all got together in one place to catch up. I think it's been eight years already.
So there we were, at Chocolate Kiss for dinner (of course some of us were late) and it's amazing how things have changed for many of us (i say many because, one of my friends would still want to continue her profession of bumness). During college, we were all dependent bums. We all had our issues and hangups. Some of us have liked the same guy at one point or another, some of us fought for reasons that we have forgotten now, some of us just didn't want to leave college, but unanimously, our 'batch' was the best among all batches. There was a former Mutya ng Pilipinas Runner-Up ("Beauty Queen ako, bakit ba..." her favorite funny, bitchy, witty, snappy line for that night), a daughter of a former Member of Congress, two MRR students, a former housemate, a new mother and moi.
So there we were talking about what's been happening lately. The former beauty queen is now a mom, on of the MRR student finally finished college after ten years and will now be working with Star Cruise (of course, if it were up to her, she'd bum some more by watching the regatta in bora, then work -- priorities, priorities), the other MRR student is the first woman to ever travers Mt. Everest (interesting stories by the way) and is now back to rowing, the former housemate is now a great triathlete in the making, sharing the same passion i have for work, and the other two are mothers, when before they were the 'bunso' to somebody.
It was fun. It was great. After dinner, we went to my place to get socially buzzed (of course Ms. former Beauty Queen just had to be following the wrong car, ending up at the other side of the world from where i live), exchanging stories, asking and getting autographs, comparing billboards (at least i get to say i'm in a billboard while it remains to be the dream of others), reminiscing about old times, and last, but not the least, bullying Ms. Star Cruise who never seems to get angry, but always seems to be in a different planet somewhere.
Although i promised Ms. Everest to blog about her adventures during her climb -- which was very funny and entertaining -- i think i'll leave that for later... or maybe for a book that she can make (aside from the coffee table book that they're promoting now) as the first woman to traverse Mt. Everest, who had no inkling that she was already dying and who totally became a victim of the question "Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?"
Okay, Bleach has finished downloaded now, i can go back to watching...
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Grocery and Bleach
So here i am in my room, where i was stuck most of the day since i called in sick from work. i haven't been feeling well lately. it's difficult for me to wake up in the morning, and by the time afternoon rolls in, my body will be aching, as if i have a fever without the temperature. then i'll be feeling so tired i just want to sleep. i've been feeling this way since i came back from CDO where i got a terrible case of allergies.
In my lazy, tired, semi-weird state, i decided i really needed to go to the grocery. i haven't done it for a month i think, and my supplies were running low. As it was, i didn't have dinner last night (i felt i was gonna barf any moment) and didn't have breakfast this morning (didn't have the appetite either), so by the time i finally did get to go to the grocery around ten this morning (good thing too since i completely forgot that my car was banned), i just grabbed everything left and right.
Doing the groceries has always been very relaxing for me. it relaxes me. so what i'll do is walk down the isle, one by one, as if strolling in the park, deciding what i would want to cook (wanting and actually doing it are two different things, mind you) and grabbing whatever. So there i was, hungry, thinking of my friends who will be staying over the weekend, and completely ignoring the fact that the fridge at home was cut down in half, and that most that i was grabbing from the shelves were either perishable or junk.
so what did i buy? I bought chicken breast fillet, chicken nuggets, chicken liver, and chicken soup parts. I also got two kinds of bacon, CDO and Monterey (it was almost half the price of CDO but almost the same weight so i decided to try it out). I got lean ground pork and a kilo of spare ribs. I figured i'd cook canton noodles, so with the chicken liver and some shitake mushrooms, beans, carrots, etc., i'll cook it on Thursday (even if i have to be in Makati Shangrila tomorrow and Thursday). Then i'll just have bacon and eggs with toast tomorrow. Maybe have a mango salad for dinner. Then over the weekend, i can make some sinigang or spicy spare ribs for my friend (for that i bought a McCormick mix). Then i also bought some sauces for pasta. OF course there's the usual supply of canned goods and hotdogs. The rest was just junk, i.e., a bag of ruffles and cheetos, a box of chocolover keebler cookies, oishi pan pesto thingy, eaji, nagaraya, 6 bottles of gatorade, 3 packs of yakult, one box of cereals, 4 tetrapacks of milk, one box of mango juice, one tray of eggs, etc. etc. Funny thing is, when i was done shopping and spending a scary amount on the groceries (i was forced to buy a container for my junk since i wanted the bad things out and the freshness in), i was too tired to cook anything and decided to drive thru McDonalds instead, where i bought a cheeseburger meal.
Anyway, so there i was, the whole day, aside from shopping for groceries, i just watched Bleach which my two close friends have been raving about. Last night, i was actually computing how long it would take me to finish the whole 6 seasons plus the OVA. With 137 episodes, and let's say that i'll be watching a couple of episodes a day, then that'll take me about two months...but having that obsessive character, especially when i like something (in other words, low EQ), i have decided to finish season 1 tonight, which is about 25 episodes. Yup, from episode 1, i am now in episode 24 and i am just waiting for the damn thing to download. i've been shifting sites where i can download it, because some are faster than the others, but depending on the episode.
So that's what i did on my sick leave...oh, but at least i got to cook some fried chicken for dinner...at least that's less space in my otherwise cramped fridge.
Aha, download is almost complete...can't wait to finish the last two episodes so i can take my sleep. it's already past my bedtime as it is...
In my lazy, tired, semi-weird state, i decided i really needed to go to the grocery. i haven't done it for a month i think, and my supplies were running low. As it was, i didn't have dinner last night (i felt i was gonna barf any moment) and didn't have breakfast this morning (didn't have the appetite either), so by the time i finally did get to go to the grocery around ten this morning (good thing too since i completely forgot that my car was banned), i just grabbed everything left and right.
Doing the groceries has always been very relaxing for me. it relaxes me. so what i'll do is walk down the isle, one by one, as if strolling in the park, deciding what i would want to cook (wanting and actually doing it are two different things, mind you) and grabbing whatever. So there i was, hungry, thinking of my friends who will be staying over the weekend, and completely ignoring the fact that the fridge at home was cut down in half, and that most that i was grabbing from the shelves were either perishable or junk.
so what did i buy? I bought chicken breast fillet, chicken nuggets, chicken liver, and chicken soup parts. I also got two kinds of bacon, CDO and Monterey (it was almost half the price of CDO but almost the same weight so i decided to try it out). I got lean ground pork and a kilo of spare ribs. I figured i'd cook canton noodles, so with the chicken liver and some shitake mushrooms, beans, carrots, etc., i'll cook it on Thursday (even if i have to be in Makati Shangrila tomorrow and Thursday). Then i'll just have bacon and eggs with toast tomorrow. Maybe have a mango salad for dinner. Then over the weekend, i can make some sinigang or spicy spare ribs for my friend (for that i bought a McCormick mix). Then i also bought some sauces for pasta. OF course there's the usual supply of canned goods and hotdogs. The rest was just junk, i.e., a bag of ruffles and cheetos, a box of chocolover keebler cookies, oishi pan pesto thingy, eaji, nagaraya, 6 bottles of gatorade, 3 packs of yakult, one box of cereals, 4 tetrapacks of milk, one box of mango juice, one tray of eggs, etc. etc. Funny thing is, when i was done shopping and spending a scary amount on the groceries (i was forced to buy a container for my junk since i wanted the bad things out and the freshness in), i was too tired to cook anything and decided to drive thru McDonalds instead, where i bought a cheeseburger meal.
Anyway, so there i was, the whole day, aside from shopping for groceries, i just watched Bleach which my two close friends have been raving about. Last night, i was actually computing how long it would take me to finish the whole 6 seasons plus the OVA. With 137 episodes, and let's say that i'll be watching a couple of episodes a day, then that'll take me about two months...but having that obsessive character, especially when i like something (in other words, low EQ), i have decided to finish season 1 tonight, which is about 25 episodes. Yup, from episode 1, i am now in episode 24 and i am just waiting for the damn thing to download. i've been shifting sites where i can download it, because some are faster than the others, but depending on the episode.
So that's what i did on my sick leave...oh, but at least i got to cook some fried chicken for dinner...at least that's less space in my otherwise cramped fridge.
Aha, download is almost complete...can't wait to finish the last two episodes so i can take my sleep. it's already past my bedtime as it is...
Monday, July 16, 2007
Human (IN)Security Act
For Immediate Release
July 17, 2007
LRC-KSK Statement on the Human Security Act of 2007 or Republic Act (RA) 9372
Human Security Act of 2007: A Draconian Measure
of Insecurity and Terror
It is the height of irony and insult to the Filipino people that a recently passed and newly implemented law–is named the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 or Republic Act (RA) 9372. The HSA, which took effect on July 15, 2007--stands accused of promoting insecurity and fear.
Flawed to its core and hated like the regime that produced it, the HSA is the Arroyo government’s belligerent response to the growing popular resistance to its misrule. Also known as the (anti) terrorism law, the HSA is being deplored as the regime’s latest and most comprehensive legal measure of repression and curtailment of our fundamental rights and basic freedoms.
The Human Security Act of 2007 is riddled with grave infirmities and loopholes and breaches the Constitution, the international human rights as well as international humanitarian laws and principles. Its growing number of critics are calling for its outright repeal.
A key issue against this law is the dangerously vague, encompassing and overarching notion of “terrorism” that draws no distinction between “acts of terror” and legitimate exercise of dissent and social protest. The fundamental principle of due process is seriously violated in this regard. Anyone can be accused of the crime of “terrorism” that is not precisely and legally defined. By criminalizing dissent and by drawing no distinction between legitimate acts of protests and political actions versus common crimes---the HSA is a draconian measure of insecurity and terror.
The HSA comes at a time, when the legitimacy of the Arroyo government is seriously being challenged and a prevailing climate of impunity has come to characterize the regime’s brazen disregard for human rights and its gruesome record of atrocities committed against its staunchest critics—the social activists, human rights defenders and the left movement. We have witnessed for instance, how the likes of Jonas Burgos , son of a press freedom and anti-Martial Law icon could be abducted in broad daylight by suspected agents of the state and be made to disappear until today. We have known that tens to hundreds of suspected leftist activists were shot dead by hooded assailants astride their motorcycles.
Against this national backdrop of lawlessness and a climate of fear and terror, the Human Security Act of 2007 or RA 9372 will open the floodgates for the wholesale violations of human rights and civil liberties.
The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth-Philippines (LRC-KsK/FOE-Phils.) joins the growing voices of indignation against the HSA and the louder clamor for its repeal. Such highly infirm law has no place in a supposedly democratic society and political system supposedly governed by the rule of law.
Given the regime’s track record of mounting atrocities and human rights abuse, the unreformed military and the police forces, the national security-mindset of the HSA’s architects and implementors and the red-baiting and labeling of groups , organizations and individuals critical of the government’s policies and actions---we have all the reasons to doubt the so-called safeguards that the HSA contain against arbitrary acts and abuse.
Under the HSA, “terrorist acts” include political offenses and actions such as rebellion and insurrection, thus criminalizing political dissent and actions. Suspected offenders under the law are subject to surveillance and wiretapping, and their assets frozen. Organizations, particularly those critical of the regime, can easily be proscribed as “terrorists” and their members prosecuted. Thus , the new law provides for the legal justification for state and security forces to go after the “enemies of the state” it will now call “terrorists”, and this time, replete with legal guarantees and all-out impunity.
This early, the law’s architects and implementors are itching to wield the full force of RA 9372 to weigh down anyone it will conveniently call “communists” and “terrorists”. This includes even legal organizations and elected public officials that are among the most strident critics of the regime and its harmful policies and actions.
Assault against the legitimate right to self-determination
The LRC-KsK expresses particular concern about the RA 9372’s impact on the Indigenous peoples and other vulnerable sectors whose sources of subsistence and even their whole way of life—stand seriously threatened by the adverse impact of the GMA government’s frenzied drive to attract large-scale investors into the extractive industries such as mining, logging and plantations.
For instance, given the regime’s policy of attracting huge mining investments in resource-rich areas all over the country , where many indigenous peoples and rural producers reside—and given the deeply flawed legal and justice system that has largely failed to give redress to the aggrieved poor—it is not hard to believe that the full weight of the law may well be used --in the guise of targeting “terrorists” and “threats to national security”---in order to pacify and silence affected communities and indigenous peoples resisting incursion of large-scale mining into their ancestral domains.
The enforcement of the HSA runs ominously parallel with the government’s announcement to develop 23 priority mining investments areas all over the Philippines and to attract around $7 to $10B worth of large-scale mining investments in the country by 2010—the last year of the GMA’s remaining presidential term. The HSA can indeed help ensure that large-scale mining incursions will successfully bulldoze their way over the indigenous peoples’ sacred and ancestral lands.
Who can stop the regime’s minions and their allies in the mining industry from subjecting anti-mining protesters, non-government organizations and church organizations to surveillance, witch hunt, harassment—and when all else fail, proscribing them as “terrorist” organizations or “communist fronts”?
When indigenous peoples will put up barricades to stop huge mining equipment from bulldozing their way into the their sacred lands and ancestral domains—what will stop the regime’s local minions, in complicity with mining companies—to label these acts of protests as “economic sabotage” and “terrorist acts”?
The HSA 2007 can thus, be used against the indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and just struggles of local communities to assert their right, and to defend the country’s national patrimony.
May we then ask: who is terrorizing whom? Who is responsible for and promoting the insecurity of our people? It is the height of absurdity that the very regime that has caused the people’s continued misery and sufferings, and has thus continued to fan the flames of discontent, has now proclaimed to save the people from threats of “terrorism” and threats to their security.
The Arroyo government is afraid of its own shadows and has no one to blame but itself for the increasing national restiveness against its governance. It has allowed its own security and survival to take precedence over the people’s security and well-being, basic rights and fundamental freedoms.
We say no to the Arroyo government’s HSA that is passed in our name. We refuse to accept that the Arroyo regime’s need for security and survival is also our own. Instead, we call for the repeal of the HSA and for the reversal of anti-people policies and programs that are at the roots of armed conflicts, terrorist threats and national unrest that continue to besiege our country and society.
It is increasingly clear to more and more people that the Human Security Act of 2007—far from providing the Filipino people the security from fear and want---is an illegal, unjust and anti-people legislation aimed at instilling fear and paralyzing people into inaction.
The Arroyo regime should remember too well the lessons from its predecessors and from their ill-fated policies and actions: injustice and repression begets resistance. And, nothing can subdue the power of a united and determined people struggling for justice and defending their rights and hard-won freedoms.
From the women and men of
The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-
Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth-Philippines
(LRC-KSK/FOE-Phils.)
For questions and additional information, please contact Sammy Gamboa at sammybkk05@gmail.com.
Monday, June 18, 2007
My Lakbayan Grade is B-
This is way too cool. alhtough i would love to paste the html on this site, i 'm just too stupid to know how. hahaha...anyway, my lakbayan grade is B- and the cool thing about the site is that it shades the whole archipelago and thus, i have discovered that, though i have travelled to almost all of the Regions, I have yet to do the Visayas rounds. so so sad.
So for you guys out there who would want to try Lakbayan, please go to my friends' website...Anj or Meanne's..hehehe
So for you guys out there who would want to try Lakbayan, please go to my friends' website...Anj or Meanne's..hehehe
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Tag
Because i am such an obedient girl, i will do this...pero anj, bad ka...hahahha...
TAG! You're It!
Instructions: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!
2. My frustration has always been performing on stage professionally.
3. I have a scar at the back of my thigh that i got when i was a kid, around 6 years old. I was sitting on the hood of my uncle's owner jeep, wearing a yellow dress. when i slid off, my thigh was lacerated by the plate number of the jeep. good thing i didn't have tetanus.
4. My first trip out of Luzon was to spend one month in Cagayan De Oro and out of the country was to celebrate my 18th birthday in Bangkok.
5. It took me four tries, four different kinds of durian, to actually like it.
6. I never cut classes in highschool and in college, but in law school, i would cut classes to the hilt.
7. I crush Ando of Heroes...
Tagged: Ia, Katroni, Sean, Howie, Winwin, Grace, Tina Bayhon
TAG! You're It!
Instructions: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!
2. My frustration has always been performing on stage professionally.
3. I have a scar at the back of my thigh that i got when i was a kid, around 6 years old. I was sitting on the hood of my uncle's owner jeep, wearing a yellow dress. when i slid off, my thigh was lacerated by the plate number of the jeep. good thing i didn't have tetanus.
4. My first trip out of Luzon was to spend one month in Cagayan De Oro and out of the country was to celebrate my 18th birthday in Bangkok.
5. It took me four tries, four different kinds of durian, to actually like it.
6. I never cut classes in highschool and in college, but in law school, i would cut classes to the hilt.
7. I crush Ando of Heroes...
Tagged: Ia, Katroni, Sean, Howie, Winwin, Grace, Tina Bayhon
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Trailblazing
Trailblazing
I just wanted to share to the readers the commencement speech of the 16-year old valedictorian of UP Diliman. May her speech inspire us all, make us strive for what we have dreamt for ourselves, make us believe in the impossible, and make us insist that our children deserve better.
Mikaela Irene Fudolig
BS Physics Summa Cum Laude
Speech at the Commencement Exercises, UPD
April 22, 2007
One of the things that strike me as being very "UP Diliman" is the way UPD students can't seem to stay on the pavement. From every street corner that bounds an unpaved piece of land, one will espy a narrow trail that cuts the corner, or leads from it. Every lawn around the buildings sports at least one of these paths, starting from a point nearest to the IKOT stop and ending at the nearest entry to the building. The trails are beaten on the grass by many pairs of feet wanting to save a fraction of a meter of traveling, no matter that doing so will exact some cost to the shoes, or, to the ubiquitous slippers, especially when the trails are new.
What do these paths say about us, UP students?
One could say that the UP student is enamored with Mathematics and Pythagoras, hence these triangles formed by the pavement and the path. Many among you would disagree.
Others could say that the UP student is naturally countercultural. And the refusal to use the avement is just one of the myriads of ways to show his defiance of the order of things. This time, many would agree.
Still, others will say that the UP student is the model of today's youth: they want everything easier, faster, now. The walkable paths appeal to them because they get to their destination faster, and presumably, with less effort. Now that is only partly true, and totally unfair.
These trails weren't always walkable. No doubt they started as patches of grass, perhaps overgrown. Those who first walked them must have soiled their shoes, stubbed their toes, or had insects biting their legs, all in the immovable belief that the nearest distance between two points is a straight line. They might even have seen snakes cross their paths. But the soiled footwear, sore toes, and itchy legs started to conquer the grass. Other people, seeing the yet faint trail, followed. And as more and more walked the path, the grass gave in and stopped growing altogether, making the path more and more visible, more and more walkable.
The persistence of the paths pays tribute to those UP students who walked them first – the pioneers of the unbeaten tracks: the defiant and curious few who refuse the familiar and comfortable; the out-of-the-box thinkers who solve problems instead of fretting about them; the brave who dare do things differently, and open new opportunities to those who follow.
They say how one behaved in the past would determine how he behaves in the future. And as we leave the University, temporarily or for good, let us call on the pioneering, defiant, and brave spirit that built the paths to guide us in this next phase of our life.
We have been warned time and again. Our new world that they call "adulthood" is one that's full of compromises, where success is determined more by the ability to belong than by the ability to think, where it is much easier to do as everyone else does. Daily we are bombarded with so much news of despair about the state of our nation, and the apparent, perverse sense of satisfaction our politicians get from vilifying our state of affairs. It is fashionable to migrate to other countries to work in deceptively high-paying jobs like nursing and teaching, forgetting that even at their favored work destinations, nurses and teachers are some of the lowest paid professionals. The lure of high and immediate monetary benefits in some low-end outsourcing jobs has drawn even some of the brightest UP students away from both industry and university teaching to which they would have been better suited.
Like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths are the easiest to take.
But, like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths take longer to traverse, just as individual successes do not always make for national progress. The unceasing critic could get elected, but not get the job done. The immigrant could get his visa, but disappear from our brainpower pool. The highly paid employee would be underutilized for his skills, and pine to get the job he truly wants, but is now out of his reach. And the country, and we, are poorer because of these.
Today, the nation needs brave, defiant pioneers to reverse our nation's slide to despair. Today, we must call upon the spirit that beat the tracks. Today, we must present an alternative way of doing things.
Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! It will take bravery to go against popular wisdom, against the clichéd expectations of family and friends. It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here. It might help if, for a start, we try to see why our Korean friends are flocking to our country. Why, as many of us line up for immigrant visas in various embassies, they get themselves naturalized and settle here. Do they know something we don't?
Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.
Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they're going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I'm speaking to you now.
Sa Mga Peyups at sa mga gusto sanang magpeyups, pwede na rin sa hindi peyups
i wanted to post here the commencement speech of the 16-year old BS Physics valedictorian of UPD. (talo ka tats) but for some reason, multiply can't read it. so i posted it in my other blogs as well.
so please take time to visit my friendster blog and rhiatravels.blogspot.com for the full speech. nicely done.
so please take time to visit my friendster blog and rhiatravels.blogspot.com for the full speech. nicely done.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Bathrooms
I have this thing with bathrooms...i'm scared of them, at the same time, i find them so interesting.
Let me explain...
I have been trapped in a bathroom countless of times, hence the fear. When i was in college, i was going to take a bath in my groupmate's bathroom (we weren't close then and it doesn't help that the groupmate happens to be a guy) and so i slid the shower door close. Good thing i didn't slide it all the way close and i just hung my shirt on the door, just above my head. before i knew it, i couldn't get out the damn thing. just imagine my embarassment to be shouting at the top of my lungs in a stranger's house. Bad thing about it was that of course i locked the door so he couldn't get in. Good part about it, first, i had my shirt, which of course i wore, and the connecting door in his sister's room was open, so they could go in the room without breaking the door down.
When i was in law school, my blockmates and i had a party one afternoon at a friend's place. The doorknob was already kinda jiggly, but of course, it had to breakdown while i was in it. I think i got stuck inside for about 2 hours, finally sobering up, while my friends tried to get the doorknob to work.Well, to make the story short -- they had to break the door down, and despite the kicks and shoulders ramming, they only broke the lower half of the door down. it was so embarassing. last i went there, the door was of two different shades of brown. sigh.
Third and most probably the worst (and i am not saying that my experience with stupid bathrooms are only limited to three...these are just the top three or else i will never end), was when i got stuck in Club Filipino. The doorknob fell outwards and because the bathroom stall had a door that was like a real door (no space between the floor and the edge of the door), i couldn't crawl under. So there i was, in my short skirt, in heels, sweating like a pig, screaming for help, hoping against hope that the girls who were playing badminton downstairs would hear me. Of course that didn't happen. And just my luck, i left my bag in the office down the hall with my aunt's friend. So after 20 minutes of just trying whatever, i climbed up the toilet trying to get over the stall divider. But when i was finally straddling, still in my mini skirt, i looked over to the other stall but the toilet seat was up. So i didn't want to risk injury or falling straight into the dreaded toilet bowl. So i put up with it. After ten minutes passed by, i heard men's voices outside, and i started shouting for help again. At first they didn't know if they heard right. Finally, they got the courage to venture inside the girls' bathroom and rescued me from the hell i found myself in.
On the other hand, i find bathrooms interesting especially in restaurants. I always make it a point to visit them. And i think the most interesting bathroom i've ever been to is the one in D'Marks in Greenbelt. The bathroom there is a wall-to-wall mirror flooded in dark blue lights...very suggestive.
On the other hand, i find bathrooms interesting especially in restaurants. I always make it a point to visit them. And i think the most interesting bathroom i've ever been to is the one in D'Marks in Greenbelt. The bathroom there is a wall-to-wall mirror flooded in dark blue lights...very suggestive.
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