tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69368226960995131992024-02-25T23:01:29.607-08:00United SEAkhalelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08393297492549664750noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-89418757545839846582009-09-01T20:29:00.000-07:002009-09-02T00:29:30.475-07:00Dear Khalel <div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-ksEv-8hKgwH52-2Gtjm9AevOXLna1OjN_gihhfuy8yHca0FBwPgJcWHyXRXQ4kp8bRUwYV1j0LC08It_835-vTsV-N2ft6S0bHquV3QtWRGxetwuvZ80RD4RjXt3xVbQ5RGvhlpE-dp/s1600-h/rain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075737653278700610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px;display: block;text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-ksEv-8hKgwH52-2Gtjm9AevOXLna1OjN_gihhfuy8yHca0FBwPgJcWHyXRXQ4kp8bRUwYV1j0LC08It_835-vTsV-N2ft6S0bHquV3QtWRGxetwuvZ80RD4RjXt3xVbQ5RGvhlpE-dp/s400/rain.jpg" border="0"></a><em><span style="font-family: arial;font-size: 85%;color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"wash away my tears"</span></em> </div><div align="left"><br><br><br></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Dear Khalel,</span><br></strong><br><br></div><div align="justify">Hold your breath and don't look down.<br>Just take it one story at a time.<br>It's really not so hard.</div><div align="left"><br><br></div><div align="justify">Sometimes screaming will help you keep the insides inside. There's no turning back, all you can do is hope they'll be there to catch at the bottom; but they won't, and it's never a soft landing. And after you hit the bottom, fracturing every bone, everyone expects you to just tough it up and walk away. But you can't even move your toe, let alone walk.<br><br>Everyone passes by so casually; barely even noticing your mangled body laying there. You almost want to laugh but your jaw is lying on the pavement beside you, which makes it a little difficult.<br><br><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Take the fall, it's worth the risk."</span></strong><br><br>Just be thankful that you can't see yourself like this. The system is suspended in limbo, the power is on but there's no response. And all that's left is to shut it down and move on.</div><div align="left"><br></div><div align="left"><br></div><div align="justify"><br><br>Khalel, be strong. Be very Strong.</div><div align="left"><br></div><div align="left"><br></div><div align="left"><br></div><div align="right"><br><br><div style="text-align: left;">I will be your strength, </div></div><div align="left"><br></div><strong></strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>CAIRO</strong></span> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>khalelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08393297492549664750noreply@blogger.com130tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-29607651049978520332009-07-22T16:46:00.000-07:002009-07-22T20:46:53.390-07:00IMAHE | KHALEL ZANTILLAN<div style="text-align: center;"><font size="5">"But you see," said Roark quietly, "I have, let's say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I've chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I'm only condemning myself to sixty years of torture. And I can find the joy only if I do my work in the best way possible to me. But the best is a matter of standards--and I set my own standards. I inherit nothing. I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one."<br><br>- ayn rand</font> </div><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>khalelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08393297492549664750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-71607994963011995882009-05-28T16:51:00.000-07:002009-05-28T20:51:28.666-07:00NO ARROWSive lost my concentration.<br>this outburst of emotions,<br>this uncontrolable surge of pain,<br>words seemed to be far away,<br>and im left here, silenced.<br><br>this feeling that wont subdue,<br>id really hate you if this is untrue.<br>you stare at me like im the only one.<br>we both know im not.<br>but why such pretention?<br>why such love?<br><br>is this cowardice we both manifest?<br>or is it only i that make matters worse?<br>you've got someone else beside you.<br>i've got no one.<br>love fills me when you speak.<br>but dried tears well up when the two of you meet.<br><br>my jealousy is void,<br>for you and i, there has never been US.<br><br>-khalel zantillan<br>May 29, 2009<br> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>khalelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08393297492549664750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-883029717866259692009-05-20T15:45:00.000-07:002009-05-20T19:45:43.489-07:00DISCONTENTMENTThe average; norm.<br> is there such a form?<br> Forlorn; torn between a sole journey<br> and the sojourn of the soul.<br> <br> The final visionary,<br> overtaken by solemn undertakings<br> as serene reality, overshadowed by unreal premise<br> trickles down, abandoned by discontented minds.<br> <br> Silenced murmurs echo unchecked, <br> obscured among lost footsteps of dissident spirits.<br> Lighten prospects through unenlightenment; <br> Quench the thirst for reality with tears of confusion.<br> <br> Shaded nuance and veiled subtlety;<br> forsaken graces of humanity<br> when fear of individuality<br> overwrites morality.<br><br>-khalel zantillan<br>i forgotten how sweet the black tears taste.<br>rekindling the dying light, beckons: I am home.<br> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>khalelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08393297492549664750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-9613784348485830302009-02-15T03:37:00.000-08:002009-02-15T08:37:52.078-08:00We're Back!<div style="text-align: center;font-weight: bold;"><span class="insertedphoto"><a href="http://ryeness.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SZhEvAoKCsEAAE1GEsM1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.ryeness.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SZhEvAoKCsEAAE1GEsM1/top-2-copy.jpg?et=Sk%2BvcVH2dS3QYAzjwisg8Q&nmid=0" border="0"></a></span>Bigger.<br>Better.<br>Gayer.<br></div><br>After 7 months of hiatus, we are back online! Now with a new link, but still with the same feel.<br><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-family: courier new,courier;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" size="5"><span style="font-weight: bold;">http://tdrs.mypodcast.com</span></font><br> </div><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>cant_u_readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967755147026450823noreply@blogger.com258tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-60339671896797265632008-11-18T20:11:00.000-08:002008-11-18T20:13:09.347-08:00Live, Love, and Unite with PRIDE. MARCH!<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Manila Pride March 2008 by AJ Matela, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajkenji/3041845257/"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/3041845257_5e2605679b.jpg" alt="Manila Pride March 2008" width="338" height="500" /></a></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Fairies and Pixies. Hansels and Gretels.</p><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and Friends...</p><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Fly to Malate on December 6, 2008, Saturday, and be part of the grandest Rainbow event in Philippine History!</p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>1PM - Registration at Remedios Circle</strong></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>3PM - Parade (Remedios Circle - Pedro Gil - Orosa)</strong></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>6PM - Program and Pageant (Orosa)</strong></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>10PM - Party at Orosa St.</strong></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Put on your best fairytale and fantasy costume and join the grandest Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) event of the year: the 2008 Manila Pride March.</p><br /><p style="text-align: center;">For more details, visit the <a href="http://www.manilapride2008.com/" target="_blank">2008 Manila Pride March Official Website!</a></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;">(Feel free to copy and paste and re-blog or share via email this post! <a href="http://ajmatela.info/MPM2008.txt" target="_blank">Click here to copy HTML code for easier reposting</a>)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-73723451860315403182008-11-18T17:39:00.000-08:002008-11-18T17:45:24.541-08:00LGBT Bloggers for Manila Pride March 2008!I would like to personally thank <a href="http://www.redbox.com.ph">Red Box</a> for graciously sponsoring the LGBT Bloggers' Night last Sunday, November 16 at Red Box, Greenbelt 3.<br /><br />Also, I would like to thank Joyce Pogoy and <a href="http://geisermaclang.com">GeiserMaclang</a> for helping us make this event happen.<br /><br />And of course I'd like to thank all the LGBT Bloggers and their friends for coming and having fun with us!<br /><br />For those who missed it, we know there was something else more important that you had to attend to, and we completely understand.<br /><br />Congratulations to <a href="http://www.rainbowbloggers.com">Yffar and Rainbow Bloggers Philippines for the launch of the group blog</a>.<br /><br />Congratulations also to the winners of Delifrance and Red Box GCs and domain names (courtesy of <a href="http://baklaako.com">BaklaAko.com</a>, of course hehe).<br /><br />But the party and the fight is not yet over. The <a href="http://www.manilapride2008.com">Manila Pride March 2008</a> is almost here and we still have a lot of things to accomplish!<br /><br />It is in this light that we are inviting (once again), all LGBT bloggers (and supporters of LGBT causes) to join us as we represent our online community in this year's Pride March. We will be scheduling another get-together and meeting before the end of November so we can all discuss how we will represent our community at the Pride March. We already have a budget for the rental of the truck we will use for the float.<br /><br />What we need now is commitment from everyone to join us on December 6 as we represent the LGBT Blogging Community at the Pride March. We need your help, support, and participation so we can tell not only the online world, but also the rest of the universe that we are here, we are queer, and we will stand up and fight for our rights!<br /><br />The registration form for the LGBT Bloggers for the Pride March can be found below:<br /><br /><iframe src="http://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?key=pBMbzxkhfXMIuzVyY2lcDNg" width="310" height="790" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe><br /><br />You may also register via this link: <a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pBMbzxkhfXMIuzVyY2lcDNg&hl=en">http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pBMbzxkhfXMIuzVyY2lcDNg&hl=en</a><br /><br />Please feel free to pass the message and/or copy-paste this entry and the form. We need all the participation and the help we can get! (If you are not out but want to join the march, we can certainly accommodate you and we already have some ideas as to how you can join us!)<br /><br />Mabuhay tayong lahat!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-77665132823603808512008-09-08T17:05:00.000-07:002008-09-08T21:08:56.005-07:00Filipino LGBT Bloggers for Pride March!<div>We are inviting all Filipino Gay and Lesbian Bloggers to take part in this year’s Pride March which will take place sometime in December! Yes, we know it may still be too early, but we’re inviting you all to join us as we celebrate Pride! The organizers of this year’s Pride March — Task Force Pride and Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) — are inviting us all to form a Bloggers Contingent for this year’s march.</div><div><br></div><div>There is no definite date yet, but we will post updates here soon.</div><div><br></div><div>Also, we can have an LGBT Bloggers Night slash meet-up sometime in October or November (I will work on getting sponsors for the venue and possibly food) for us to get to know each other more, unite our ranks, fight for our rights, and of course… party! </div><div><br></div><div>The world wide web has heard our voices online, why not let the rest of the offline world hear us too? </div><div><br></div><div>If you want to be part of this contingent, please send us the information below in an email to: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">gaybloggers@baklaako.com</span></span></span></div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Name: (Real or Psuedonym, it’s up to you)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Blog Url: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Blog Title:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">E-mail Address:</span></div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div>If you have gay and lesbian friends who want to join the Pride March in December but do not have blogs, why not ask them to start one? There’s Livejournal, Wordpress.com, Multiply, Blogspot, Vox, and a whole lot more!</div><div><br></div><div>So come one, come all! In or out of the closet, come na! </div><div><a href="http://baklaako.com/2008/filipino-gay-bloggers-for-the-pride-march/">http://baklaako.com/2008/filipino-gay-bloggers-for-the-pride-march/</a><br></div><div><br></div><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-34295290579831235982008-07-24T05:42:00.000-07:002008-07-24T09:42:24.581-07:00Mga Importanteng Impormasyon Para Sa Buhay NatinSaturday, 26 July -- Ipagdiwang ang contract renewal ng mga badiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! Tayo na't mag-party at pumartee! Hehehe! May beach party sa Lamma Island sa Sat night all through Sunday morning. Ang ferry naman papunta sa Lamma ay tumatakbo hanggang 1130. So pwede humabol. Kung ayaw nyo naman mag-Lamma, ok lang rin. Basta magsama-sama tayo at mag-celebrate! Tutal, bagong sweldo.. Aminin!!!!<br><br>Sunday, 27 July -- Birthday party ni Rabbi sa FINDS. Isa sa mga wishes nya ay pumunta tayo. Punta naman tayo. Birthday naman e.<br><br>At muli pong nananawagan sa mga di pa nakakapag-settle ng bayad sa mga pilandorang ininom natin nung June 21.. Naniningil na ung mga nag-abono. Pakibigay lang sa kin. Salamat!<br><br>See y'all, beckies!<br><br>--Ryeness<br> <!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>cant_u_readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967755147026450823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-66182031251350793922008-06-02T20:43:00.000-07:002008-06-02T20:51:04.187-07:00The Anti-Discrimination Bill: 10 Things You Need To Know<p>Got this from the <a href="http://fullman.com.ph/2008/05/11/adb" target="_blank" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outbound/article/fullman.com.ph');">blog</a> of gay activist extraordinaire <a href="http://fullman.com.ph/" target="_blank" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outbound/article/fullman.com.ph');">Jonas Bagas</a>:</p> <blockquote><p><strong>Ten things you need to know about the <a href="http://baklaako.com/anti-discrimination/" target="_blank">Anti-Discrimination Bill</a>:</strong></p> <p>Fight for equal rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs) by pushing for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 956) authored by AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel.</p> <p>Here’s what the bill is all about:</p> <p><strong>Equal rights, not special rights. </strong>The bill does not grant additional or special rights to LGBTs. What it does is criminalize violations to the human rights and freedoms on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill affirms and promotes human rights and freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution.</p> <p><strong>Equality in schools.</strong> The bill prohibits discrimination against LGBT students, which usually takes place through unfair admission policies, unjust expulsion, and unreasonable disciplinary actions.<br /><strong><br />Equal opportunities in employment</strong>. By criminalizing unfair labor practices and policies on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the bill promotes decent jobs for LGBT workers. </p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: right;"> <a href="http://baklaako.com/2008/06/03/ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-anti-discrimination-bill/#more-974" class="more-link">…..Click here to read more</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-33287659457032874702008-05-26T18:57:00.000-07:002008-05-26T18:58:17.981-07:00An Open Letter of a Transgender Woman in the Philippines<p>Below is an open letter of Sass Rogando Sassot, a transgender woman, who experienced discrimination at one bar in Makati.</p> <blockquote><p><strong> PEOPLE LIKE US</strong><br />An Open Letter of a Transgender Woman in the Philippines<br />[25 May 2008 / Sunday / 6.04 AM to 6.45 AM]</p> <p>No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt</p> <p>My friends and I have been made to feel inferior approximately five hours before I wrote this letter. I’d like to sweep this incident under the proverbial rug but there is no more space to accommodate it.</p> <p>On the 24th of May 2008, my friends and I were celebrating the anniversary of our organization the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP), the first transsexual women’s support group and transgender rights advocacy organization in the Philippines. We settled to celebrate it in Ice Vodka Bar, located in Greenbelt 3, 3rd level Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila. It was my first time in that bar. Two in our group have been there before and they had nothing bad to say about it.</p> <p>There were five of us. I was leading the way. The bouncer stopped us. I asked why. His reason was we were dressed “inappropriately”. We were rather dressed decently, tastefully, and most importantly just like any other human being who lives her life as female 24 hours a day.</p> <p>I asked for the manager. The bouncer was nice enough to let me in. The manager, Ms Belle Castro, accommodated me. I don’t know if I spelled her name right. I asked for a business card but she had none available. Her telling feature though was her braced teeth.</p> <p>I complained. Ms Castro listened to me. I found her sympathetic, even respectful as she addressed me all throughout as ma’am. She told me the following:</p> <p>1. (Referring to my friends, and obviously to me) That “people like them” aren’t allowed in our bar every Fridays & Saturdays;</p> <p>2. That that was an agreement between all the bars in Greenbelt (she particularly mentioned their bar, Absinthe, and Café Havana) and Ayala Corporation, the company which owns the Greenbelt Complex;</p> <p>3. That the reason for this policy is: “Marami kasing foreigner na nag-kocomplain at napepeke daw sila sa mga katulad nila.” Loosely translated in English: “There are lots of foreigners complaining because they mistake people like them as real women”; and</p> <p>4. That they have a “choice” to implement the policy.</p> <p>I felt terribly hurt and uncontrollably agitated. This transphobic act is not the first time that it happened to me, to my friends, to people like us. To say that this has become almost a routine is an understatement.</p> <p>I have shouted at Ms Castro several times, asking her why I’m f***ing experiencing racism in my own country and what gave f***ing foreigners the right to demand to block people like us to enter bars in our very own country.</p> <p>Ms Castro tried to hush me by pulling the “It’s our choice card” and asked me to talk decently. I am not proud at all of using the F-word as my intensifier and of letting my emotions ran raw and wild. My warm apologies to Ms Castro for losing my cool. Just like any of us, I know, she was just doing her job.</p> <p>This may not be the proper forum to raise this concern. But is there any reliable legal forum to address this issue? Reality check: there is no antidiscrimination law in this country. And if you’re discriminated, there seems to be a notion that you’re supposed to blame yourself for bringing such an unfortunate event to yourself.</p> <p>So, I’d just stand up through this open letter.</p> <p>I am standing for myself. I am standing for people like us. I am standing up because I, am, very, tired of this incivility. We have long endured this kind of treatment for far too long. Enough.</p> <p>I’ll not go as far as campaigning for a boycott as it is definitely the simple workers that would suffer from any loss in revenue such an act may cause.</p> <p>People like us would like to be treated just like any other human being. Just like those foreigners who complained about our existence: With dignity.</p> <p>You know the civilized and ethical thing to do: Stop discrimination in your establishments.</p> <p>Bigotry is never ethical nor a sound business strategy.</p> <p>Warmly,</p> <p>Ms Sass Rogando Sasot<br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><span style="color: rgb(64, 127, 0);"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Sass</span></strong> <span style="color: rgb(64, 127, 0);">is one of the founding members of the </span><span style="color: rgb(191, 0, 191); font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Society of Transsexual Women of the</span> Philippines (STRAP)</strong></span> [<a href="http://www.tsphilippines.com/" target="_blank" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker ('/outbound/article/www.tsphilippines.com');">www.tsphilippines.com</a>], an Associate Member of <span class="nfakPe">Transgender</span> ASIA Research Centre, and a member of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);"><strong>Ang Ladlad Party</strong></span>.</span> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">To have a dialogue with her regarding this incident, you may reach her at <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><a href="mailto:srsasot@gmail.com" target="_blank">srsasot@gmail.com</a> or through her mobile at <span fn_index="0" info="Call +639276257010;0;+639276257010;1;" onmouseup="SetCallButtonPressed(this, 0,1)" onmousedown="SetCallButtonPressed(this, 1,1)" onmouseover="SetCallButton(this, 1,1);skype_active=CheckCallButton(this);" onmouseout="SetCallButton(this, 0,1);HideSkypeMenu();" context="+639276257010" rtl="false" class="skype_tb_injection" id="__skype_highlight_id"><span style="margin-right: 0px;" title="This is a Philippines phone number. The country code cannot be changed." onclick="javascript:if(0){doRunCMD(event, 'chdial','0');}else{doRunCMD(event, 'call','+639276257010');}event.preventBubble();return false;" onmouseout="SetCallButtonPart(this, 0);" onmouseover="SetCallButtonPart(this, 1);" class="skype_tb_injection_left" id="__skype_highlight_id_left"><span style="background-image: url(chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_normal_l.gif);" class="skype_tb_injection_left_img" id="__skype_highlight_id_left_adge"><img src="chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_transparent_l.gif" style="height: 11px; width: 7px;" class="skype_tb_img_adge" height="11" /></span><span style="padding-right: 1px; background-image: url(chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_normal_m.gif);" class="skype_tb_injection_left_img" id="__skype_highlight_id_left_img"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px 1px 1px 0px; width: 16px; top: 0px; left: 0px;" src="chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/famfamfam/ph.gif" title="" class="skype_tb_img_flag" name="skype_tb_img_f0" /></span></span><span title="Call this phone number in Philippines with Skype: +639276257010" onclick="javascript:doRunCMD(event, 'call','+639276257010');event.preventBubble();return false;" onmouseout="SetCallButtonPart(this, 0)" onmouseover="SetCallButtonPart(this, 1)" class="skype_tb_injection_right" id="__skype_highlight_id_right"><span style="background-image: url(chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_normal_m.gif);" class="skype_tb_innerText" id="__skype_highlight_id_innerText"><img src="chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gif" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; height: 1px; width: 1px;" class="skype_tb_img_space" height="1" width="1" /><img src="chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gif" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; height: 1px; width: 1px;" class="skype_tb_img_space" height="1" width="1" /><img src="chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gif" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; height: 1px; width: 1px;" class="skype_tb_img_space" height="1" width="1" /><img src="chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gif" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; height: 1px; width: 1px;" class="skype_tb_img_space" height="1" width="1" />+639276257010</span><span style="background-image: url(chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_normal_r.gif);" class="skype_tb_injection_left_img" id="__skype_highlight_id_right_adge"><img src="chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_transparent_r.gif" style="height: 11px; width: 19px;" class="skype_tb_img_adge" height="11" /></span></span></span>.</span></span></p></blockquote> <p>But the world is not all that bad and there are still good people out there who have even just a tinge of humanity in them. Thanks to formal and educated communication employed by Ms. Sassot, a lot of good developments regarding this case have taken place. And that’s all in a matter of less than a week.</p> <p>Ms. Sassot shared the timeline and here is the long and short of it all: <a href="http://baklaako.com/2008/05/27/an-open-letter-of-a-transgender-woman-in-the-philippines/#more-962" class="more-link">…..Click here to read more</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-2740967384531233222008-05-20T07:52:00.000-07:002008-05-20T22:07:14.969-07:00HK Disney Gayday & Floatilla '08<div align="center"><pre>S3 Ep6 of TDRS, "The HK Gay Weekend", Out Now!</pre><pre> </pre><pre>This is the sequel to Season 1's </pre><pre>Gayday & Floatilla Episode. </pre><pre>Did you think we were kidding </pre><pre>when we talked about them last year? </pre><pre>Here's proof we weren't. :-) </pre><pre><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.ryeness.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SDMc9goKCsEAAGCR89E1/RainbowAntennaTopper%5B1%5D.jpg?et=CV9lxg41%2BnfixWRzyfGdvA&nmid=" border="0" /></pre><pre> On location: HK Disneyland for the Gayday Celebration </pre><pre>and </span></em></pre><pre><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">on board the Volume boat for Floatilla 08 </span></em> </pre><pre> </pre><pre><a href="http://thedanandryeshow.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#9136ad;">http://thedanandryeshow.blogspot.com</span></a><br /></pre></div><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class="multiply:no_crosspost"></p>cant_u_readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967755147026450823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-65227318038759800532008-04-01T22:24:00.001-07:002008-04-01T22:43:22.228-07:00Khalel: The Emancipation<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtdov91lYrh3V8Hy-VzQoyRypMMjpcy26Hki1PJ3Y89L-NYRQ0NtbG7vmZeb6DJOaQ1nQbswNwvwmAqS0NHIMcSY38XXmSSYuaraRnpNenMp9ZGQWa6GEDDC4siXxMsOBLLCwhXpDBIs/s1600-h/emancipated.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184514588382456418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtdov91lYrh3V8Hy-VzQoyRypMMjpcy26Hki1PJ3Y89L-NYRQ0NtbG7vmZeb6DJOaQ1nQbswNwvwmAqS0NHIMcSY38XXmSSYuaraRnpNenMp9ZGQWa6GEDDC4siXxMsOBLLCwhXpDBIs/s400/emancipated.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">At this moment I am free.</span> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">At this moment I am free. I am utterly emancipated from all facets of obligation, mandates, or responsibilities. At this moment I exist as the reconciled chaos, as the believed dharma, and as the arid desert of an infinitely mundane consciousness. I’d relish the opportunity to insinuate my abhorrence for the situation, but that would apply it pertinence, and apply me emotion. And to fathom… this is a moment, an attribute of a perpetual fluctuating eternity, and the only thing keeping me in it is the tantalizing facets of the subconscious.<br /><br />People, like parasites flourish inscrutably. Perpetually propagating lacking coherent logic as to what their putrid life is. And those who do ratify the intricate existence they possess, a dismissal system embedded in their mind alleviates it because its a "negative" thought. And this is due to its potent nature of ceasing people from their cycle. In fact there are those who seek to attain that resolution. They cherish the moment where they ignorantly infer they are irrelevant, and "life’s not worth living." I think the answer to that comment or in some situations question would be, "No, your not worth living life."<br /><br />There is exuberance in deducing eternal nothingness, and redundancy it induces horror. This horror is then converted into an emotion to be unconsciously embraced and there you go. Back to the start, your putrid perpetual drone is once again manipulating all the insoluble facets of life to befit his emotion, to imbue him to complete his oblivious propagation now that he’s acquired an assisting emotion. We exist as momentary emotions. All associates ambient to you, all friends are merely attributes of your own emotional application. They are external phenomenon’s much like yourself, though they are subjectively interpreted to befit your emotional designation. For example, If Jane has a repugnant face, chances are she has a sincere propitious personality to you. If Joe is arrogantly hansom, then he has a repulsive attitude. Depending on the objective and temperament of the one discerning, the associates conform. Though the fundamental foundation they conform too, despite our subjective manipulated interpretations, is emotions.<br /><br />One of the facets I use to validate my contempt for humanity as being a disease is that they require not the association with humanity beyond logic at a certain moment. As all creatures implemented on this earth they proceed through stages. Some are very obscure developing stages, like the crocodile. Some are almost parallel to our own, such as the lion. And thus the human exists in this process as well, but the befuddling aspect of the human is that certain moments of its development induce a state of satisfaction, thus it suffices not to ensue.<br /><br />The human is bestowed the abstract mind, the immaculate logic, and the inscrutably succinct reason. Lacking these attributes the human is equivalent to the animals, simplistically responding to emotional responses that it is oblivious to. And its mandate to propagate the race to barbarically preserve a family and or race they are only correlated to by fear, or stupidity. This is the human lacking those fundamental aspects of abstract, logic and reason. And the repugnant, the so atrocious, the so bewilderingly disgruntling deduction I arrive at is these parasites intentionally reside at these states of underdevelopment. They unconsciously choose to remain primitive, rambunctious and barbaric. And so you say to your self, indeed remain ignorant with your imprudent emotions, and acrid unconscious burdensome desires. Though that itself ratifies the disease they are, capable of ascending though remaining primitive and mentally underdeveloped. And thus contentions ensue, caused by their emotional states of being, and inability to avert what shouldn’t exist. Just like the lion growing up and still-hunting with its decaying mother. The lion could only sustain its existence at this point by sacrificing its means to be better for the worse of both entities. Not only is the lion delaying the nature of its mothers demise, but also the lion now lacks the ability to thrive for its own being as well. And the only thing that keeps the human lacking its truth or reconciliation of existence by means of cognition or abstract mind is emotion.<br /><br />And it is these emotions we praise. It is our merit sorrow and wrath. Our friends are attributes of this existence as momentary emotions. And how ironic is it that our life’s mandate is to ascertain just those emotions that allow us to infer “pointlessness of our lives” as the ignorant so much abhor. The emotion is a fluctuating aspect of ones inner conscious that parades itself so inconclusively and inexplicable that each parasite on this so bewildering earth latches onto for the security of there own impudence.<br /><br />All conflict, all contention all future problem and whoa is fucking me, is the cause of our intentional degradation, and satisfaction with not knowing, even though we so simplistically could. These boisterous human creatures require that moment of liberating liability, they need to have that brief elated moment to surmise there lives are impertinent. Because that moment only empowers there putrid thrive to enforce their emotions to emancipate themselves from the “horror” that only exists for pity. Its comical just the utter truth we desire to dismay when reading articles such as this. As though humanities obliged to acquire some scientific consensus of some elaborate truth no one believes. The primitive humans even then secure themselves with a concept they still fail to grasp. “Ah yes, science can answer my disgusting existence!”<br /><br />But nonetheless this is my subjective interpretation that pertains its existence only coincided with me. This is a concept and a perspective bequeathed out of the sheer will I have to exert, just to ratify my own freedom. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">______________</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">I AM BACK. And It Feels So Fucking Good to be Back!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff0000;">To EveryOne, please accept my apologies for my absences and lapses.</span></div>khalelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08393297492549664750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-43282046235677607842008-01-07T02:06:00.000-08:002008-01-07T02:11:03.924-08:00Petition to be launched over Saudi blogger arrest<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/proud.pinoy/SaudiNews/photo?authkey=-IMba7XzNm4#5152674560342792642"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/proud.pinoy/R4H6NmxsmcI/AAAAAAAACNc/6c4buBgU-44/s288/press.bmp" /></a><br /><br />Reporters without Borders plans to launch a petition this week calling for the release Saudi blogger Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan, the press freedom advocate group told on Sunday.<br /><br />Clothilde Le Coz, head of the internet freedom desk at Reporters without Borders, said the group also planned to write to the minister of interior over Al-Farhans's imprisonment.<br /><br />Authorities in Saudi Arabia arrested the popular 32-year-old blogger on December 10 for violating “non-security regulations", but his detention was not made public until last Tuesday.<br />Al-Farhan’s blog - Searching for freedom, dignity, justice, equality, shoura and all the rest of lost Islamic values - has posted a letter, allegedly from Al-Farhan, which states he believes he was arrested because he “wrote about political prisoners in Saudi Arabia”.<br /><br />Reporters without Borders has condemned Al-Farhan detention, which is believed to be the first arrest of an online critic in the kingdom.<br /><br />"The reforms and the opening announced by King Abdallah Ibn Al-Saud have yet to have any impact on the lives of Saudis, including those who openly express their disagreement with government policies,” the group said in a statement last week.<br /><br />"After blocking the news website Elaph and the leading blog publishing service www.blogger.com, the authorities have now directly targeted a blogger for the first time.”<br /><br />Saudi Arabia is on the Reporters without Borders list of '13 internet enemies' and was ranked 148th out of 169 countries in the Reporters without Borders world press freedom index that was published in October 2007.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-19104885073324180592008-01-04T12:34:00.000-08:002008-01-04T12:37:38.057-08:00Issues of National Concern for Filipinos Abroad<span style="font-style:italic;">This is a personal commentary I rceived thru email from Mr. Jayme Nava Cruz of Riyadh, which I find very informative to all Overseas Filipino Workers abroad.</span> <br /><br /><br />Time and again, it's New Year (2008), and I want to take this privilege to share a few thoughts and comments about some topics that should be near to your hearts, and certainly, of tantamount interest to you, all. <br /> <br />In doing so, let me jumpstart by saying that "freedom of expression", or 'freedom of speech', as preferred to be called by many, is indeed, a great 'license', (though associated with consequences), for everyone in most cases. In saying so, the bold fact connotes that we are also entitled to 'freedom of criticism', as long it is within the perimeters of fairness and decency. And in view of this, I have 3-major-comment to make:<br /> <br />I. Appreciation of PPeso against the Green bucks! <br /> <br />It is noteworthy to highlight the claim of our government, which is regularly mentioned on the pages of local and international newspapers, citing that our present government presides a strong economic growth, "kahit sabihin pang nariyang ang milyong outcries nang milyon-milyong OFWs sa nararamdamang hirap nang buhay, especially taking into view the 'all-time-high' appreciation of PPeso against the Dollars, na tunay namang nakapekto sa 'purchasing power' nang lahat nang OFWs. Of course, having a "bullish economy", now and ahead on, is a very good sign of economic recovery. (Sino nga bang Pinoy ang hindi matutuwa?) Nevertheless, we could not deny the fact that unless the benefits of this so called, affluence, is filtered down to the poor, especially to the poorest component of our society, walang makakaramdam nang tutuong kaligayan sa sinasabing uptrend economic recovery. And although one may say that, "it will take sometime to feel and enjoy the positive results of this "economic growth", pero hanggang KAILAN nga ba ang gagawing paghihintay? <br /> <br />Personally, as an OFW, or a "FilExpat" (title nang short film narrative that I've recently wrapped-up), lalu kong nararamdam ang hirap nang pagpasan nang mga gastusin sa pang-araw araw na pangangailangan nang aking pamilya sa Pilipinas sa nagdaang taon. Sa pagbagsak nang dolyar against the PPeso sa merkado, na hindi tumutugma sa hindi natitinag na presyo nang mga bilihin sa Pilipinas, I note that it is now becoming very difficult to ''rehydrate' my bank accounts back home. Nagsimula ang ganitong kondisyon since the 3rd Quarter of 2007. Pretty sure, if this situation will go on "fully unattended", and 'no concrete counter strategies' will be considered and put in place, I won't doubt that in due time, my savings will soon be slowly "dehydrated", and even, bone-dry! <br /> <br />Frankly, the instant move of one of our community groups in Jeddah, na kaagad sumulat kay President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to quickly act on this issue, (consider the $ - PPeso exchange rate of 1$ = 50PPeso), is indeed heroic, at tunay na napapanahon. Yung ginawa nilang pangangalampag is one-perfect-way to show, "what and how to make an issue on, and not". At tunay namang issue ito! Imposible namang bumagsak na ang aming "purchasing power", and yet, we are expected na magawa pang mag cartwheels and dance the Macarena! The Big Q! is, paano nga ba tunay pang nakakatawid yung mga kababayan nating naghihirap din sa Pinas na walang permanenteng tarbaho at nagkakasya na lamang sa kanilang shoestring budget? OK sana yung pagbaba nang dolyar at yang "bullish economy" if it is coincided sa pagbaba nang prices of our basic commodities. The truth of the matter is, both sides, (kaming OFws at yung mga naghihirap na kababayan sa Pilipinas), ang tunay na nakakaramdam nang parusa at problema. <br /> <br />What I am confused of is: Many of our politicians are claiming that they are the best, if not, best of the bests (political and economic tacticians, etc.). Granted that we enjoy great collections of intellectual talents, PERO bakit hindi natin tunay na maramdaman ang tutuong pag-usad bilang isang isang bansa? Perhaps, our 'national guards' should do some moral inquests, i.e. on how they can serve most good the greater number of our populace especially the poor, (tulad nang karamihan naming OFWs) given the resources they have. Sabi nga ni Bill Gates during his 2006 commencement speech sa Harvard, "To whom much is given much is expected!". <br /> <br />I hope, as early as today, (January 1, 2008), our beloved President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, finally find ways and means to smoothen things up para sa aming mga OFWs na tunay namang nahihirapan sa extreme slided-value of US Dollars against the 'all-time-high-appreciation' of PPeso. (The Year 2007 was indeed an 'annus horribilis' sa mga OFWs.). I hope, too, that the concerned government agencies won't suffer of the "will-not-to-know-attitude" with respect to our predicaments on this issue of US$ - PPeso exchange trend. (Ok sana kung sa bawat pagbagsak nang dolyar ay tumataas din ang aming sulwedo.) <br /> <br />II. Importance of Cash Management, etc. <br /> <br />Given the issue as narrated in Item 1-above, I believe it is imperative and prudent that OFWs, (all of us), consider, observe and practice in truth the importance of "'CASH MANAGEMENT". In advocating so, I mean: <br /> <br />a. Yung excessive na paggastos nang wala namang katuturan. Let's face the fact na maraming kababayang Pinoy ang mahilig mag-purchase nang doble-dobleng equipment. Tatlong TV... may pang sala, pang bedroom at pang kitchen. Dalawang 'component'. The sad truth is, some of us are always forgetful of the saying: "Always differentiate what you want to what you only need". I hate to say this, but it is becoming part and parcel of our "Pinoy social attitude". Let's take note that "having the status of Sharon Cuneta" vis-a-vis having the attitude of "feeling Sharon Cuneta" are two different things. <br /> <br />b. Let's tighten our belt. (Maghigpit nang sinturon!) One way of doing so is, umiwas sa gastusin such as throwing 'parties' every now and then. Dito ko lamang nakita at naranasan sa Kingdom na mag-birthday lang, or mag-celebrate nang Valentine's Day kaya, "nagpapa social party na", and take note, imbitado ang halos buong barangay. Para bang laging mayroong 'meeting de avance. Dito ko din halos nakita na marami sa atin ang tunay na "branded conscious". Yun bang dapat naka Armani, Versace at D&G... (kahit sabihin pang hindi magawang bigkasin nang tama ang 'Dolce', idagdag pa ang 'Versace'). It is pretty okay kung can afford at kaya nang bulsa. Paano kung hindi? Though one may argue or make counter comments, albeit, marami sa atin ang may ganitong attitude. Masarap mabuhay sa epicenter of reality. At mas lalung masarap makita at madama na tanggapin ka nang mga kaibigan bilang ikaw..... maging mahirap ka man o mayaman. Matalino man o mayroong mga kakulangan. <br /> <br />In considering our present situation sa pagbagsak nang dolyar, lalu nating isipin ang ating truest and sincerest mission why we are working in here, or elsewhere overseas: Yung kumita nang Pera. Mag-save. (Isn't it that "money saved is money earned?"). Umunlad ang buhay at magkaroon nang comfortable retirement pagdating nang araw. Which in the long run, ay makakatulong sa pag-usad ang ating ekonomiya. In doing so, we will find out that we are helping ourselrves more than we ever know. <br /> <br />III. On a totally different subject: (Various Pinoy artists, art and cultural groups in the Kingdom). <br /> <br />It's a common knowledge, which we should realize, that no matter how much natural talent and ability we might have, we will never reach our full potential without getting a broad experience of our chosen field; that unless our talent comes into contact with an environment where it can develop and flourish, it might lie dormant forever. <br /> <br />The issue in here is: If and when possible, one should get guidelines and trainings from people who sincerely know the craft. Kung kayang pumunta sa mga schools of arts, do it; why not! In addition to our experience na nakukuha sa ibat-ibang undertakings tulad nang mga various cultural and artistic presentations nang bawat art groups, tunay na makakatulong at makakadagdag ang pagkuha nang formal schooling at trainings. <br /> <br />My personal observation is, again, though one may argue: Sa halip na tunay na "i-polish" ang natural talents nang ibang Pinoy artists, they opt na mag-compare at mamintas na lamang. Some are only satisfied sa "feeling-artist- attitude". The grain of truth is: tunay na maraming competent at well-disciplined Pinoy artists na OFWs sa Kingdom. For one, I know so many, pero marami rin yung mayroon lamang na "feeling popular" at may "know-all-attitude". I mean, makasayaw lamang nang modern jazz, feeling na nasa kategorya na nang dating "Ms. Liza Macua", or, Angel Reyes, or, David Pantoja. Nakatulong or na-assign lamang mag design nang stage for a certain cultural program, ayun at feeling "certified art director' na. <br /> <br />Perhaps, it is prudent to consider that our natural creative ability, if it is not honed (via experience and education), let alone, practiced (via various artistic and serious undertakings), is an obvious waste of human talent. And the concerned artist must know this fact. <br /> <br />Now, on the issue of those claiming they are great, well-disciplined artists: Why not share yur real talents and expertise to others? Certainly, knowing what we know, why we can't (share)? Isn't it iyan ang ilan sa mga dahilan kaya tayo binigyan nang nasa Itaas nang talino at opportunity for a full access sa edukasyon? <br /> <br />And finally, doon sa ating mga kababayan, who always find na laging "kabadingan": ang parameters and perimeters of SINING, Pinoy artist man (Pinilakang Tabing), Bollywood, Lollywood, Hollywood, ....... (GISING!). <br /> Again, it has something to do with our mental factors and social attitude...... (yung social insensibilities and artistic bankruptcies) nang ilan regarding the whole matter. As for our Pinoy artists, professional and amateur, in the Kingdom, let us all remember that: "Artists ought to be judged by their artwork, not whether they are gays, lesbians or not!".Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-60061643571627721992007-11-11T09:49:00.000-08:002007-11-11T09:51:12.408-08:00Filipinos in 100 Countries in 100 YearsWhen 15 young men left the Philippines 100 years ago to work in the plantations in Hawaii, little did they know that what they did was to start the journey of the Global Filipino. Known as "sacadas" (migrant farm workers), all they wanted to do was to make a living and send home their earnings to support their families. <br /> <br />Prior to the arrival of the "sacadas," most of the farm workers in Hawaii were Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Portuguese. However, with the passage of the xenophobic Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, the supply of farm workers dwindled. When the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States for $20,000,000 in 1898, the plantation owners saw the former Las Islas Filipinas as a new source of farm workers. <br /> <br />Satisfied with the industriousness and traits of the 15 Ilocano "sacadas," the demand for Filipino farm workers increased. Ilocano and Visayan "sacadas" were recruited. By 1931, there were 115,000 "sacadas" in Hawaii. Today, the State of Hawaii boasts of 270,000 Filipinos comprising almost a quarter of the state's population. <br /> <br />Within a year of the arrival of the first batch of "sacadas" in Hawaii in 1906, the First Wave of Filipinos started to arrive in Hawaii and the US mainland, mostly in California. Filipinos also trekked to the canneries of Alaska. In addition to the farm workers, young Filipino students and scholars, supported by the Pensionado Act of 1903, studied in American universities. More than 14,000 "pensionados" graduated from prestigious American universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Cornell. Most of the "pensionados" -- many of which took up Law and Engineering -- went back to the Philippines after they earned their degrees and served in key positions in the Philippine Commonwealth government. They became the role models for local university graduates who were motivated to serve their government which at that time signified the epitome of their careers. Some of the "pensionados" even ran for political offices. They became the new "ilustrados" of the American "Hollywood" Era. <br /> <br />When World War II started, thousands of the migrant Filipinos in America -- then known as the "manongs" -- joined the US army and became part of the US liberation forces. Since most of the "manongs" were unmarried due to the scarcity of Filipinas in the US and the ban on interracial marriages by the anti-miscegenation laws of California and several other states, they took advantage of their "homecoming." They did not waste any time looking for brides to bring back with them to America. <br /> <br />After the Philippines gained its independence in 1946, immigration trickled down to 50 a year, a number imposed by US immigration reforms enacted to control the influx of immigrants from certain countries. However, a lot of Filipinos who served in the US armed forces were granted American citizenship. Thus, the Second Wave of Filipino immigrants began. In addition, the US Navy started recruiting Filipinos as stewards. A lot of them were assigned to the White House serving all the presidents from the time of President Truman. Today, the Chief Cook in the White House is a Filipina. <br /> <br />In 1965, the US Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1965 which increased the immigration quota to 20,000 per year per country. The new law gave preference to professionals and relatives of American citizens. The Third Wave of Filipino immigrants began to arrive. <br /> <br />In the 1970s, Middle Eastern countries with their "petrodollars," started recruiting skilled workers from other countries. Thus, the "Overseas Filipino Worker" (OFW) was born. Mostly equipped with a college degree or technical skill and the ability to communicate in English, thousands of OFWs sought employment in the oil fields of the Middle East. <br /> <br />Consequently, employment opportunities were found in other countries as well. The reputation of Filipinos as industrious, efficient, and literate in English became the OFWs' ticket to job opportunities in more than 100 countries. Today, 3,500 Filipinos leave each day for overseas job placements. <br /> <br />The economic impact of the 8.1 million OFWs is the bedrock of the Philippines' financial stability. Recently, the Philippine government announced that from January through October 2005, remittances from overseas Filipinos totaled $8.83 billion which included $5.32 billion from the US. This amount did not include money sent by other means outside of Philippine banks. It is estimated that the total amount of remittances is more than $21 billion per year. <br /> <br />A century after the "Filipino Diaspora" began, a global Filipino nation emerged. The Philippines' borders are now just imaginary lines demarcating the country's political boundaries. However, a borderless Global Filipino nation has superimposed itself on Earth. With the passage of the Philippines' Dual Citizenship Law, overseas Filipinos can now retain their Filipino citizenship. <br /> <br />With the advent of globalization, the Filipinos have become the most competitive labor group among nations. Other countries -- e.g., China and India -- are now preparing their citizens to compete in the global labor market by encouraging them to learn English as a second language. It is ironic, however, that the Philippines -- whose immersion in English has been its best advantage in the global labor market -- is heading towards changing its medium of instruction from English to the Tagalog-based Filipino. <br /> <br />There is even a small group of Filipinos who want to preserve the indigenous languages by using them as the medium of instruction in their respective regions. But what good would it be if Filipinos become proficient in their indigenous language and lose their ability to communicate in the global community? How could they compete in the global labor market without any knowledge of English, the universal lingua franca? <br /> <br />Filipinos should not lose sight of the fact that the 8.1 million overseas Filipinos in more than 100 countries in the world are the ones who are fueling the Philippine economy with their "Pinoydollars." The Philippine government should make all efforts to prepare its citizens for competitiveness and job placements not only within its territorial boundaries but in every country in the world. After all, the Number One beneficiary is our "Inang Bayan," Filipinas. <br /><br />from PerryscopeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-23647715110686737992007-11-08T00:17:00.000-08:002007-11-15T18:35:48.590-08:00this woman made me think<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWi0h0kc4_0UplTYxhJ64gAEyA75IIT0fv1OX707v_0000anwXKBv64Pozfq8dlE0g10cwEoDEzPZCrQnpYPl8pIoJpJkVZV7UGMBFMt1yOq5WCAMSTV1-jJHlnirbKTe57JEbBtX8-8/s1600-h/exhausted.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130383317613066546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWi0h0kc4_0UplTYxhJ64gAEyA75IIT0fv1OX707v_0000anwXKBv64Pozfq8dlE0g10cwEoDEzPZCrQnpYPl8pIoJpJkVZV7UGMBFMt1yOq5WCAMSTV1-jJHlnirbKTe57JEbBtX8-8/s400/exhausted.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I realized how tired I am when I saw this woman having a respite under the <em>Dita</em> tree at Virac downtown. At that moment, I want to sit beside her to get at least a brief interval of rest and be just an spectator of the hustle and bustle of the busy downtown. I did not. I was in a hurry.<br /></div><div>Aren't we always in a hurry for something? We are constantly on the run, always wanting to be at pace with the pack, and sometimes wanting to be ahead in this marathon called life. We are always busy that we forget to pause for a moment and reflect if the things that keep us running all day give us a deeper sense of satisfaction and joy. Are we running towards the right direction? </div><div><br />I am glad I took this picture. This will be my constant reminder to give myself a timeout and rethink how I can move forward again without the pervading sense of urgency surrounding me. Maybe next time, you will see me sitting under that <em>Dita</em> tree.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;"><em>From</em> <a href="http://www.filipinolesbian.blogspot.com/">MUSINGS OF A FILIPINO LESBIAN</a></span></div>Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04541315199308566378noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-91243878290887596682007-11-03T01:51:00.000-07:002007-11-03T05:51:36.465-07:00You Can Read!<DIV>I never really realized how much a part I already am of the blogging world until I saw Empress Maruja's message on my cbox tonight.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>My very-popular-blogger-friend-slash-college-theater-guild-batchmate is starting his own monthly blog awards which he billed as "Pinoy Blog Superstar". </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <P align=center><A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixulwYbDVggF6NvSn8SJZTWAiOs9m0NmO-qPz_9JUrxRNw195_3zOqp0vFLpCdUWR8pPiNGYQ8ZJs5i_8gDgKOpcEQNl5TGWa-_decbN_nnV8xMd2Vau3o7Y_sJQBJz6AkFqJK51grzA8/s1600-h/superstaroct2007bm2.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128594834532625410 style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixulwYbDVggF6NvSn8SJZTWAiOs9m0NmO-qPz_9JUrxRNw195_3zOqp0vFLpCdUWR8pPiNGYQ8ZJs5i_8gDgKOpcEQNl5TGWa-_decbN_nnV8xMd2Vau3o7Y_sJQBJz6AkFqJK51grzA8/s200/superstaroct2007bm2.jpg" border=0></A></P> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>And in its maiden voyage, Can't You Read has been chosen as one of the nominees.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <P align=center><A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwQZl51nHmrFHlW5XPrEL_7JkV_1s9KYoCvScD8ThQBSWbkm-4MTBSdpkpmALNlRmksKwFT76OUcWpALNL9oxZNVK33irjBt3mFVhAi3Y5fMznmPRueHXBZVZJFS3UAIJtXfcY-YT6Xo/s1600-h/screen.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128594830237658098 style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwQZl51nHmrFHlW5XPrEL_7JkV_1s9KYoCvScD8ThQBSWbkm-4MTBSdpkpmALNlRmksKwFT76OUcWpALNL9oxZNVK33irjBt3mFVhAi3Y5fMznmPRueHXBZVZJFS3UAIJtXfcY-YT6Xo/s200/screen.jpg" border=0></A></P> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>It brings me <EM><FONT color=#ffcc00 size=4>(walang kiyeme)</FONT></EM> so much pride to be nominated alongside my blogging idols like Misterhubs and Mandaya Moore-Orlis --- two of the very few bloggers that inspire me to be dedicated to my blog and at the same time, make me feel insecure about it as well. <EM>Sometimes lang naman.</EM> And it's the positive kind of insecurity --- that which propels one to strive to be better at what he does.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>The nomination in itself is an honor. But I'd be happier if I bag the award. So vote for me. I know my fellow contenders are better writers, funnier, and more opiniated than I am. But this is my first time, so please... <FONT color=#33cc00 size=5><EM>ipagpaubaya nyo na sa kin ang beginner's luck! </EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><EM><FONT color=#ff0000>(Dan, ito ba yung tinatawag mong "appeal to pity"?)</FONT></EM></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Again, thank you, Empresss Maruja for this. And thanks also to my few readers who never get tired of reading the not-so-very-extraordinary life that I have and blog about.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>I love you all!</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>To vote, leave a comment on <A href="http://empressmaruja.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/pinoy-blog-superstar-october-2007-nominees/#more-518"><U><FONT color=#0000ff>Empress Maruja's site.</FONT></U></A></DIV><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>cant_u_readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967755147026450823noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-80182290320561684242007-10-19T02:07:00.000-07:002007-10-19T06:09:57.759-07:00Zeitgeist 8I chanced upon this the other night from a blog I don't remember anymore.<br /><br />Whatever your political opinion is, or even if you don't have one, watch this video. It's worth knowing the truth, if in case it really <span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>IS</em></span> the truth. And if it's not, at least you know that things could be worse.<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zhs64JnfC8c" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed> <p class="multiply:no_crosspost"></p>cant_u_readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967755147026450823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-70051314420321564012007-10-16T04:59:00.000-07:002007-10-16T08:59:22.535-07:00A Penny For This Thought<DIV>It's been weeks since a good friend, Steve, first heard of me being broke. It's nothing new to me, really --- being broke. I've always been reckless with my finances. And I'd have sporadic moments of guilt here and there but it never really bothered me. But on Saturday night, when everybody was out and having fun, I was at home, being punished for overspending <EM>AGAIN.</EM> that night, I knew I just had to admit: <FONT color=#cc0000><EM>My recklessness is getting way out of control!</EM></FONT> <BR><BR><A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2W4ifbKZ70Gs19UxBGSIH3hEqnNAJiHfWziPhCVX1fJGDACbITFsfD4FT22s7mYqr6rcN-3w9EES70U5jyCiV57LcyjONCDHtLepRUqqliWVG2PMxKn6sum19OBkfS3OCLg26j7Zjig/s1600-h/money_tree5.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121964355086082178 style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2W4ifbKZ70Gs19UxBGSIH3hEqnNAJiHfWziPhCVX1fJGDACbITFsfD4FT22s7mYqr6rcN-3w9EES70U5jyCiV57LcyjONCDHtLepRUqqliWVG2PMxKn6sum19OBkfS3OCLg26j7Zjig/s200/money_tree5.jpg" border=0></A>So this good friend once mentioned that he was willing to be my financial planner. But we were drinking that time and we were humoring my spending habits so I didn't think he was serious. And I would guess he didn't think I was serious about my problem either. I talk about it all the time that it has probably lost its "value". Almost short of saying, it's already become a joke. <BR><BR>To cut the long story short, Steve offered again tonight. And he seems to be serious about it. He seems to already know which of my expenses are unnecessary and how much I<EM> REALLY</EM> am capable of saving. I am impressed, really. It almost seems to me like he's reviewed my financial profile all those nights we were out getting hammered and trying to get a decent lay. <BR><BR>Immediately before I started writing this blog, we were chatting online about this. It got me quite excited and here's why--- <BR><BR>He doesn't ask for anything unreasonable in return. Nothing unreasonable --- not even sexual favors from me or any of my friends <EM><FONT color=#009900 size=2>*winks at Steve*</FONT></EM>. He knows his Math. He will educate me on Excel. He promised he will never ask to be the sgnatory of my bank account. He doesn't intimidate me with all those sickening financial jargon. He talks sense. And an observation based on friendship, he is rational. <EM>(Too rational in fact, that he overanalyzes even matters of the heart) <BR></EM><BR>But come to think of it, all the basic principles that he's mentioned from the first time ever that we talked about money, I've already heard and read about. His offer is just more difficult to resist because of his scientific approach. Hello! Microsoft Excel! Well, that and the fact that I've come to a point that I know that I really have to start doing something about my finances. <BR><BR>Then he said it. What I knew was the ultimate solution but wished he'd be more scrupulous in telling me --- I'll have to be ready. More than anything, it's a complete change in lifestyle. That means cutting down on shopping, abstaining from too many night-outs, and less rendezvous with Collins. It's quite daunting, I must admit. But it's necessary. <BR><BR>The thing is, my willpower, valid reasoning and sound judgement don't always triumph over my impulsiveness. They rarely do, actually. Even with their powers combined. There's only one way that could possibly defeat my being a spendthrift. From the words of Dan, Julius and Chris, I have to be <FONT color=#ff6600><EM>addicted</EM></FONT> to saving up. <BR><BR>How can I do that?</DIV><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class='multiply:no_crosspost'></p>cant_u_readhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967755147026450823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-9883251302728791832007-10-04T05:10:00.000-07:002007-10-04T05:16:25.066-07:00FREE BURMATake part in this action for a Free Burma!<br /><br />1. Publish a posting (Bulletin Board, Forum, Blog, Social Network, Static Website…) on the 4th of October with the header: “Free Burma!”<br /><br />2. Tag it if you can with “Free Burma”<br /><br />3. Choose a grafic from our Grafics page and<br /><br />4. Link to <a href="http://www.free-burma.org">www.free-burma.org</a> there your readers will find some informations about the campaign and Burma and a participant list which you can join. Even if you're a webmaster of a bulletin board or social network you will find a special Group List to join.<br /><br />5. Add our Petition Widget to your blog/website.<br /><br />6. Feel free to write any additional text you want.<br /><br />If you have no website or blog we need you even more: Please help us to spread the word across the internet, tell your neighbours, friends or kids and first of all: Sign our list of participants!<br />Spread the word<br /><br />Please help to spread the word about the Free Burma! action.<br />Comment on blogs to promote our campaign, write website owners and forum admins to inform them, post on forums and guestbooks, tell your whole neighborhood about us.<br /><br />- Digg!<br /><br />- Technorati<br /><br />- Facebook<br /><br />- Slashdot<br />Spread the Graphics<br /><br />Please use one of the these graphics for your blog/forum/website post or pick one from our Flickr group.<br /><br /><br />Pls. Visit <a href="http://sugarkurls.blogspot.com">SUGARKURLS</a>Taga Pagsulathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16324038088969926800noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-74119969775398150892007-10-03T05:02:00.000-07:002007-10-03T05:06:31.990-07:00[Philippines] About the Desperate Housewives Debacle<i>This post originally appeared on <a href="http://geekyguide.blogspot.com/2007/10/philippines-about-desperate-housewives.html" title="Geeky Guide: [Philippines] About the Desperate Housewives Debacle" target="_blank">The Geeky Guide to Nearly Everything</a>.</i><br /><br />Just when we had a <a href="http://geekyguide.blogspot.com/2007/10/mobile-phones-filipinos-in-news.html" title="[Mobile Phones] Filipinos in the News" target="_blank">positive citation</a> of Filipinos in the international media scene, this nasty issue popped up:<br /><br /><center><a style="left: 339px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-034096816038658595 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/2sqyGdc5H6g"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2sqyGdc5H6g"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2sqyGdc5H6g" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.viralvideochart.com/" title="Viral Video Chart" target="_blank">#20</a> - Teri Hatcher insults Filipinos</center><br /><br />So now of course the country is up in arms and an <a href="http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/" title="Filipino Americans demand for apology from ABC and Desperate Housewives" target="_blank">online petition</a> has been started against both ABC and the producers of Desperate Housewives for the racial slur. The local blogosphere is pretty miffed about it as well - just check out some of the Filipino blogs you might already read and you can expect this to be mentioned within the week.<br /><br />Why do we always get into these things? Before it was about being a country known for our maids - now they're claiming we have hack doctors too? Geez.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://geekyguide.blogspot.com/" title="The Geeky Guide to Nearly Everything" target="_blank"><b>rOckY</b></a>, Philippines</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-18844327748264893272007-09-25T09:32:00.000-07:002007-09-25T10:00:35.847-07:00The Disintegrating Filipino SocietyThe Filipino society have never been so divided as before. Left, Right, Muslims, Anti and Pros factions, rich and the poor, having their own agendas and interests are hindering the country's development and the creation of the long missing national identity.<br /><br />Way back before the colonial times, the Philippines have never been under a single flag. Different islands, valleys or plateaus have their own groups and governments. When the Spaniards came, they used these divisions to rule us for 3 centuries. Even now, you could see those divisions. Ilocanos, Kapampangans, Tagalogs, Bicolanos, Muslims, Bisaya... From past til the present people are more identified with their ethnic groups more than their identity as Filipinos. Only when we move out of our country could we identify ourselves.<br /><br />This divisiveness, caused mainly by the geographic feature of our country, causes problems to our society today. We can't move forward because somehow we don't trust each other. Only in few historical events seemed that Filipinos could unite, and after these moments, we disintengrate again.<br /><br />I'm not sure if we could correct this, for these divisions run very deep. With the current political and economic situation, these rifts grow more --- further dividing our already divided society.<br />As compared to our ASEAN neighbors, most of them have attained prosperity after unification or at least minimizing divisions. That's what this country lacks, the sense of unity under a single identity as Filipinos.<br /><br />Sure, we could blame corruption, graft and endless wars as the problem. But if we as a people stood up against these, will these problems prevail? No one can challenge the will of a united 80 million Filipinos.<br /><br />Think about it. If a person's hands, feet, mouth, and eyes have their own will and cannot act as one, can he do something?<br />The same is what happening to our society ever since.<br /><br />__________________<br />*** thanks for adding me at United SEA. more power to you guys.Mackyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00852704470811742004noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-49088325120423169632007-09-25T07:44:00.001-07:002007-09-25T07:45:34.537-07:00JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL...The world doesn't need whiners...<br />There's no point in letting the whole world know what's going in my own lil world. Im losing my sense of privacy.<br /><br />I got a card from a friend from way back says there " You are a beautiful person, come out of your shell. Let your love be felt by everybody."<br /><br />See I used to be a private person, I don't talk much about what I feel. I goof up, play around but I don't talk about "me". My friends can attest to that.<br /><br />But 2006 was a year of revelation, a year of maturity in many ways.<br /><br />I've done so many stupid things. I lost and I gained.<br /><br />I lost control of my emotions, I lost a friend and so on and so forth.<br /><br />All along I thought that I'm 22 so I must, should, could, release my inhibitions, live my life to the fullest.<br /><br />No regrets. It made me who I am today gained me anew set of friends.<br /><br />But now that I'm 23 there are some things that I must change and things that I need to bring back to my life.<br /><br />One of them is privacy. I realized that it really helps to talk about what you feel, what's going on with your life.<br /><br />But it's not healthy to talk about it 24/7.<br /><br />I apologize to those ears I have busted... Appreciate it guys.<br /><br />The past few months has been very challenging for me. I went through a series of contemplation, soul searching. 'Guess its what they called the phase of "trying twenties".<br /><br />I have been trying to understand myself, what I feel and what's going on with my life. Why can't my life be the way I wanted it to be or the way I planned it.<br /><br />Why can't I have the people I want to be in my life? Why cant I do the things I've been dying to do?.. and etc.<br /><br />It was mind boggling, heart crushing and my only outlet was to talk about it with my friends.. I talk about every little thing and it felt good. Talking about "me" is really something new.<br /><br />I enjoyed the feeling of being free to speak up, letting everybody know what I have in mind, what my plans are in the future.<br /><br />But today I realized there's still something missing, I was so busy talking about "me" that I forgot about "me". That might be confusing to some but to me it's crystal clear.<br /><br />Im always searching, whining, wishing. Frustrated and desperate to find the answer I look inside myself what is it that I really want to do with my life?<br /><br />and why cant fate agree with me...And the answer is simple Heavenly Father wants me to listen.<br /><br />Simply listen to what he has to say. I now finally admit that I can't handle all these trials by myself so now I'm saying "JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL"<br /><br />- and what's that exactly got to do with me bringing back privacy.<br /><br />My friends won't hear me whining, or talk about my "bandido-soulmate', my future plans will be between me and God.<br /><br />I've talked to my friends, my family but nothing beats pouring your heart out to your Father in Heaven.<br /><br /><br />Cheers to me getting in control with my life again. Looking forward to a better "me".<br /><br />join my journey visit http://sugarkurls.blogspot.comTaga Pagsulathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16324038088969926800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6936822696099513199.post-30095357430771024692007-09-17T17:35:00.000-07:002007-09-17T17:36:57.093-07:00The Wish<div align="justify">An elderly man was sitting alone on a dark path. He wasn't certain of which direction to go, and he'd forgotten both where he was traveling to and who he was. He'd sat down a moment to rest his weary legs, and suddenly looked up to see an elderly woman before him. She grinned toothlessly and with a cackle, spoke:<br /><br />"Now for your *third* wish, what will it be?"<br /><br />"Third wish?" The man was baffled<br /><br />"How can it be a third wish if I haven't had a first and second wish?"<br /><br />"You've had two wishes already," the hag said<br /><br />"but your second wish was for me to return everything to the way it was before you had made your first wish. That's why you remember nothing; because everything is the way it was before you made any wishes."<br />She cackled at the poor man, "so it is that you have one with left."<br /><br />"All right," said the man<br /><br />" I don't believe this; but there's no harm in wishing. I wish to know who I am"<br /><br />"Funny," said the old woman as she granted his wish and disapeared forever,<br /><br />"That was your first wish."<br /><br /></div><div align="right"><br />- Planescape Torment<br /></div>khalelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08393297492549664750noreply@blogger.com2