Christmas Holidays - Pinoy-style!

You are a certified Filipino if you have done and observed (even ignored) the following at Christmas holidays :

1. On or before December 1, most of us already have a Christmas tree and "parol" (Christmas lantern) decorated at home.

2. Cram for the last hours, doing : gift shopping/wrapping, house cleaning/decorating, menu planning and food buying.

3. Says "patawad" (forgive) to Christmas carolers, upon hearing the first sentence of Christmas song - it simply means I don't have few pennies to spare. Ouch!

4. Hear the Midnight Mass or "Simbang Gabi" in the wee hours of the morning from Dec16-24, with family or friends. Most religiously followed this Filipino tradition...albeit, some stole few minutes of sleep.

5. Realize that clients, bosses and colleagues (some friends and relatives too) are amazingly, amusingly and miraculously bit sweeter or kinder than the usual, when dealt with.

6. Have weekly exchange gifts of small and quirky little "somethings", such as "something long and hard" or "something that you use with your hand"; before the Company's Christmas party.

7. Overuse credit cards to take advantage of Christmas sale in different stores and malls.

8. Haggle more often or learn to haggle ...especially to those people who don't do as such pre-Christmas season.

9. Tend to forgive and to forget (not totally) people who pissed us off for the past few days or weeks...simply because it's Christmas.

10. Note that fruits have become extra abundant ! Though some are not in season yet...
they become astonishingly available in the market....be local or imported!

11. Use firecrackers during New Years eve...as influenced by the Chinese tradition that it helps to keep away the bad vibes of the old year.

12. Ignore and accept sudden price increase or overpricing most of the goods in the market, particularly fresh, produce and canned goods...with or without national/global financial crisis.

13. Forget all kinds of diet regimen...to indulge all the decadent foods that we sometimes eat and drink rarely in a year.

14. Plan for a big family reunion, going to provinces to celebrate holidays with family and relatives.

15. Make an effort that food/menu served on the table are extra special, particularly during "Noche Buena" (Christmas Eve) and "Media Noche" (New Year's Eve)...despite
the financial or economic constraints.

*** Actually, here are just few things that we practiced and observed every Christmas holidays in our country. Though some Pinoys still do such even when they're overseas. Some are good and some are bad or not-so-bad, simply because that's how we really are and how we accept things. Nevertheless, we never fail to realize and accept that Christmas is surely the best time of the year. Time, when we feel richest...because of the perks and bonuses; we feel ottest...because of hours in the salon and dresses for the party; we feel most sociable...because we get to see long lost friends, family and relatives; we feel most generous...because we always make sure that people close in our heart have a gift or even token to show how we love and appreciate them.....and the list goes on.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!!!

War Is Over (If you want it!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Be Christian or non-Christian....
I wanted to share this very touching video to all of you...
Kindly click the link below.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM

Close Call

It's been more than a week since I had my brush with Death; wherein I luckily and blessedly eluded.

My brother left for school when he forgot to lock the door. While I, busy with folding our clothes upstairs; did not bother to come down to check the door.

Less than five minutes, after my brother left...I felt a presence in our home...I thought it's my parents who went to Divisoria to buy some stuff for our home. Strangely, I realized that if they are really here...they would have called me, but they didn't. So I decided, to went down to check. As I took my first step down, I found a dark and tall man at the foot of the stairs. He's about to make his way up. Gasping, I asked him who he is and what is he doing in our house. He didn't answer. Instead, he ran. Realizing that he's a thief. I screamed my head off, calling the attention of my neighbors. I even shouted "help" and "magnanakaw" (burglar/thief).

As I reached the foot of the stairs, while him, at our front door near our dining area; he pulled a gun from his clutchbag. Then he pointed the gun at me....roughly with a distance of 4-5 meters away from me. Instantly, I stopped screaming...held my breath...and waited for the gunshot. My God! I simply stand in there and waited for the worst thing to happen...my death. I stared at him. After 3-5 seconds he went out. After few moments, I started screaming again. But I have difficulty of doing so, I felt my heart beating fast in my throat. Letting myself out of our house to see where he went. At this time, my 10 year old neighbor asked me what happened, I simply told him that a man who tried to break-in our home.

Despite of my warning, he went out to check. After a minute, he returned and told me that the guy rode alone in a motorcycle, registered plate numbers were covered. I went back at home to check if something's missing. Fortunately, there was none. It's a good thing that my parents valuables are locked in our cabinets which they usually carry the key with them. By this time, two of my neighbors asked what happened. Then I relayed what exactly happened. One speculated that this thief might have been checking our compound, days before he tried to break in at unholy hour; wherein most of the people are at their offices or school or simply at home taking siesta. Others said that the guy wouldn't dare to break in alone if he's not armed. They say I'm so lucky to elude such trouble. I waited for my parents to break the news and to recieve a lecture, much to my chagrin.

Strange...because all that happened I didn't cried nor resorted to hysterics (which I normally do). But there's a nagging realization and restlessness that can't be put to rest. I suddenly craved to be hugged to ease my nerves. Just a couple of hours, after what happened...my 3 year old neighbor, Kyle was playing with his toy car in front of our home (which he always does). I went to him and asked for a hug, which he did fondly and obligingly . No questions asked, which made me feel better.

Funny....thinking that if I died that day I wouldn't be able to hug li'l Kyle...plans, dreams, wishes and goals that could not accomplish or attain. It made me realize how I took life for granted...I could have been shot with almost negligible chance of survival. It's not yet my time...like what my friends said. But if it is...it would have been such a waste...for I wasn't prepared to die. So I guess, this will take back my drive for life that has been dampened in these past few years.

Another thing, to all people out there...this serves as a warning to be more cautious and alert with our surroundings. Always check the doors if it's locked before you leave the home. Never leave any valuables in places where it can easily be seen by visitors or passersby. Never, ever dare to go after an armed crook who just attempted to hurt or steal you.

I went to church to give thanks to Almighty God for keeping me safe and giving me another chance to live my life as He wanted me to. The lesson learned from this case could have been so costly. I have to prove yet how deserving I am to have this Second Life. I must have done something really good in my 30 years, that He appreciated...Thanks again, God!

Cheers to Second Life!

Final Goodbye

Suddenly reality knocked me out.

This is more wrong than right, I would never be a man's other woman...even if, for me he's "the one". With it, alarm bells rang in my ears...I pushed him but he won't stop, until I stopped responding and held myself stiff...he relented. Stopping for a moment, gasping for breath...he kissed my ear, then hugged me tightly; and murmured that I'm the one for him...It took him years that cost his arranged marriage and forced fatherhood to realize it. It's okay, I said to him, for I too, took me years to understand the reason why I can't have real connection with other men...because to me, he's "the one". I built him up so much in my mind and heart...that I never gave other men a chance to love me as I loved him. I think I have always known that, yet I preferred not to pursue it because it's downright unconventional. Besides, I'm so afraid of loosing the profound, real friendship that we have.

Summoning tons of my guts, I bravely asked him to stay...even for a while...before he left for good. He agreed. As we walked past the gate, passed the door, he reached for me and put my head in his chest, while buried his nose into my hair. My whole being quivered with anticipation. Then the inevitable happened.


(To be continued)

Popcorn Moments : Controversial Films

Here are some of my all-favorite movies that has been politically, socially and religiously controversial in my country...reasons why it was (and still is) more interesting to watch :

Kama Sutra - A Tale of Love - It was Indian produced, English language film. Set in the 16th century India, the story revolves around two women. Tara (Sarita Choudhury), a noble princess, despite of her royal status and privilege is severely threatened with Maya (Indira Varma), a palace servant girl, for having inherent grace and sensuality. Oftenly humiliated in public; Maya gets even with Tara, by seducing her groom, Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews) on her wedding night. But when Maya's treachery is discovered, she is banished from the palace in shame. Forced to wander through the kingdom, she befriended and fell in love with the court sculptor, Jai, who inadvertently unites her with Rasa Devi, the famed teacher of the Kama Sutra. Maya now begins a journey in which she will learn the full lesson of this timeless text.

Brokeback Mountain - Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhal) meet while lining up for employment with local rancher. When they were dispatched to work as sheepherders up on the majestic Brokeback Mountain, they gravitate towards camaraderie then to a deeper intimacy. At summer's end, the two come down from Brokeback and part ways. Four years have passed, both of them are happy to have jobs, marriage and children. They meet up again and in just one moment it is clear that the passage of time has only strengthened the men's attachment. In the years that follow, Ennis and Jack struggle to keep their secret bond alive. They meet up several times annually. Even when they are apart, they face the eternal questions of fidelity, commitment, and trust. Ultimately, the one constant in their lives is a force of nature--love.

*This film was directed by the briliant Ang Lee. It's not your usual gay movie, it's dramatically poignant - the actors are straight men, highlighted their craft by immersing themselves into the characters.

Priest - A young, handsome and traditional Catholic priest, Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roche), arrives in a small English town to replace an older priest. Doing his duty as a priest; lies, deception, secrets and politics, slowly unraveled. The parish priest, gives a sermon with severe politics...and sleeps with his girfriend in the rectory. While him, a closet gay, he picked up a guy at a bar and become his lover. Suddenly, his world turned upside down when his teenaged parishioner confessed incestuous relationship with her father. Torn to keep a tragic secret in the sanctity of confession, and to help to stop such abuse. He must choose between his faith and exposing the truth, along with his confrontation of his own hidden demons.

*This movie was banned by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, and yet did it didn't stop 2 cinemas from showing this film. Outrage from the various religious groups, particularly by the Catholic priests were issued. As for me, this was the first movie, that I have seen two males French-kissing! Not to mention explicit homosexual sex scenes. Funny, I wasn't even 18 when I watched this...Its seriously depressing subjects, explicit sexual content, dark cinematography and superb character portrayal made this movie highly contoversial. You get more than your money's worth!

A movie that tackled a social taboo and made 12-year-old Brooke Shields a star with this controversial examination of child prostitution in turn-of-the-century New Orleans. Violet (Shields) is the daughter of a prostitute (Susan Sarandon) who works at one of the brothels in New Orleans' legendary red-light district, Storyville. One day photographer Ernest Bellocq (Keith Carradine) arrives at the brothel to take photos of the prostitutes and becomes fascinated with Violet, who is fast approaching her 12th birthday and a subsequent initiation into prostitution. When her mother moves to St. Louis in search of marriage and respectability, Violet determines to marry the much older Bellocq.

*Frankly, when I watched this film it made my skin crawl. No gory stuff here, but it's the free-spirited portrayal of a 12-year-old Violet that made 40+ Samantha Jones so outdated and girlishly innocent. This movie definitely sealed Sheild's place in Hollywood, albeit to

child exploitation.