...Kalokohan ng Mahihina: Mahihirap...

(Hey, my Multiply blog's got the text editing up.. Mas nakakagana tuloy magblog dito.=P)

A couple of years back, I bitched about the weak/disabled: how they use their disability to gain the upper hand on just about everything, without making it seem like they're demanding too much. People would just say "pagbigyan na, kawawa naman eh." I got tired of that. To re-read the hate blog, I had to go back to my Friendster account (which means it was THAT long since I wrote it)..

http://voltz2911.blog.friendster.com/2006/03/kalokohan-ng-mga-mahihina/

Ngayon, dahil eleksyon nanaman, puro na lang "para sa mahirap" o "galing sa mahirap" ang mga kandidato. Nakakatawang isipin na pinagkakalandakan ni Gloria ang mga nagawa nya upang "palakasin" ang ekonomiya ng bansa, pero sobrang dami pa rin ng "mahihirap" na inaapilahan ng mga kandidato ngayon.

Pero hindi ito ang punto ng blog na ito. Babalik ako sa kalokohan ng mga mahihinang ito, ang mga mahihirap.

Ilang beses ka na bang nagmaneho at nakatukan ng malakas ng mga pulubi? Ilang beses ka na bang nahingan ng naglalakad na gusgusin habang nakikipagkwentuhan sa mga kaibigan mo sa labas ng building?

Masama siguro ako sa pag-iisip ng ganito. Alam ko na may mga taong kailangan talaga ng tulong, tulad na lang nun lalaking kuba na kamay na ang ginagamit na panglakad na namamalimos sa Julia Vargas, o yung mamang bulag dati na nakaluhod habang namamalimos sa Magsaysaya. Pero sabi nga nila, hindi naman kasalanan ang ipinanganak na mahirap; pero kasalanan mo na kung tumanda ka na't matatapos ang buhay mo nang mahirap ka pa rin.

Tila walang pinagkaiba ang mga mahihirap na namamalimos sa mga siga; bibigyan mo ng pera ang siga dahil natatakot ka't baka saktan ka, samantalang bibigyan mo ng pera ng mahirap kasi gusto mo na siyang umalis, o naawa ka sa kanya. Minsan talagang nakakabastos na rin yung mga nanglilimos, at kadalasan ay binibigyan na lang sila para lumayo na. Hayup mangalabit kun nakatayo ka lang sa labas, kung nasa kotse ka naman ay didikitan ng mukha nila ang bintana ng kotse mo. Pag binigyan mo ang isa, dudumugin ka ng iba pa.

Ang pamamalimos ay trabahong tamad. Awa lang ang hinihintay mo para makakain ka sa araw-araw. Init lang ng panahon ang kalaban mo, pero ang gagawin mo lang naman ay ilalabas ang kamay mo at bubuksan ang palad para magkapera. Hindi dapat sinasanay ang mga namamalimos sa "awa" ng may konting baryang kayang ibigay.

Ang mga bata, kung pinipilit lang sila ng mga magulang nila, o ginagamit ng sindikato, ay dapat lumapit na sa mga MMDA o DSWD o Bantay Bata para kupkupin na sila dun. Kahit na wala akong tiwala sa gobyerno, gusto kong maniwala na ang mga institusyong ito ay ginagawa pa rin ang kanilang makakaya para gawin ang dapat nilang ginagawa. Kahit na ibig sabihin nito ay iiwanan nila ang kanilang pamilya, dapat isipin nila na habambuhay silang mamamalimos para sa makakain nila kung mananatili silang kasama ng kanilang pamilya.

Ang mga binatilyo, siguro makakakuha ng raket sa pagiging kargador o runner ng mga bodega, o kahit janitor sa eskwelahan para maging scholar. Ang mga nanay na karga karga pa ang mga anak habang namamalimos ay dapat iniisip na pag may ginawa sila eh may posibilidad na mabuntis sila. Ang mga tila siga talaga na malakas mangalabit pag nanlilimos eh pwede rin sigurong maging kargador or something.

Punto, kung may lakas pa ang katawan nila, sa ibang bagay nila dapat ginagamit ito, at hindi sa pangingikil sa mga tao. Hindi pwedeng tumanda na lang sila nang namamalimos. Hindi dapat sinasanay ang mga namamalimos na nabibigyan sila parati. Wala silang pinagkaiba sa mga siga noong mga bata pa tayo na nangingikil ng piso piso. Habang ang araw araw mo ay pinapasakit ang ulo mo o katawan mo sa kakatrabaho, lalapitan ka ng mga pulubing to para hingan lang ng pera, at ikaw naman, bilang "mabuting" tao, ay magbibigay. Hindi mo tinutulungan ang pulubi sa pagbibigay ng konting barya sa kanya. Hindi aangat ang estado ng buhay nya sa palima-limang piso na binibigay mo. Mabuti pang bilhin mo na ang bente pesos na sampaguita ng batang nagbebenta kesa bigyan mo ng limang piso ang batang kumakatok lang.

Kung gusto mo talagang makatulong, bigyan mo sila ng pagkain, para alam mong sa pang kain ang paglilimos nya.

Pero para bigyan mo sila ng limos? Binibigyan mo lang ang siga ng dahilan para kikilan ka nya ulit bukas.

..Ditching Multiply...

Yeah, I think I am. The only reason I open my Multiply site right now is to check if someone replied to my blogs, or if Angel Velasco of offthebench.multiply.com posted something new. 

Multiply has become infested by online sellers (no, Nina Escoto, I'm not talking about you..) and spammers. And I am hating it now. Still, I love my layout here, and the variation of text is still the best for me. Then again, who else uses Multiply these days?

I've been writing a bit less now, so this account has actually been used sparingly.

Now that I've got Tumblr, I think I'll write on that. And since I love my Multiply site's layout, I think I'll re-post my Tumblr blogs here. But as a main site to post blogs on? Heh.:|

...On the Natural Co-Dependence: Importance of "Mahihirap"...

(Madami ako trabaho, pero ayoko na masayang ulit un naiisip ko para maging isang linya lang sa peysbuk, kaya ibblog ko na ngayon.)

Kahirapan nga ba ang problema ng Pilipinas? Sige, ganito na lang; problema nga ba ang kahirapan?

May mga pulitiko tayo na umaapila sa mga mahihirap, nagsasabing tatpusin ang kahirapan, iaahon ang buhay ng mga mahihirap. Gusto ba natin nito? Sa isang ideyolohiyang lipunan, siguro, oo, walang naghihirap, lahat nasa mabuti.

Negosyo nga ba ang sagot? Isang “tamang nilalang” ba na maluluklok sa pwesto ang solusyon sa lahat ng problema ng mga Pilipino?

Hindi naman ako galit kay Manny Villar, at hindi ko rin naman hinihimok ang boto mo palayo sa kanya kung siya nga ang napupusuan mong iboto sa darating na eleksyon. Siya lang siguro ang pinaka nakikita nating umaapila sa mga mahihirap. Si Dick din naman kahit pano mahirap din ang pinupuntirya eh; mukha bang mayaman yung batang gustong “gayahin” ang pinuno nya sa patalastas ni Dick Gordon?

Layunin ko sa sulating ito ang pagpapakita ng pagka-hypokrito ng mga pulitikong umaapila sa mahihirap at epekto nito, ang lantarang panlilinlang sa mga botante, at sa pangangailangan natin sa mga mahihirap.

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

Panlilinlang at Paniniwala

Sabi nga nila, wala namang maloloko kung walang magpapaloko. Marami na ngayon ang naniniwalang kayang iahon ni Villar ang bansa sa kahirapan, marami ang naniniwalang matutulungan sila nito dahil dumaan na siya dito at ngayo’y nasa mabuting kalagayan na siya. Ngunit sapat na nga ba na napagdaanan nya ang kahirapan upang sabihin na kaya niyang iahon ang iba pang mga mahihirap?

Sinasabi kong isang panlilinlang ang pahayag nyang iaahon niya ang buong bansa sa kahirapan dahil hindi sa isang pinuno nakasalalay ang pag-asenso sa buhay ng isang tao, siya rin mismo. Hindi ba’t may nanalo na sa lotto ng ilang daang milyon para lang maubos itong lahat at ngayo’y naghihirap na siya ulit? Ang dating, inaasahan ng sambayanang naniniwala kay Villar na magbibigay siya ng oportunidad para sa lahat na magkaroon ng sariling negosyo, na maging sarili nilang amo. Ngunit paano kapag hindi sila nabigyan nito? Sinasabi mo ba sa akin, na posibleng bigyan ng kanya kanyang negosyo ang lahat ng squatter sa Pasay? Kung oo, sinasabi mo ba na kayang kumita ng lahat ng negosyong yun na nabigay sa kanila? Kung kumita man, habambuhay bang ganoon kasipag ang mga taong yan para palaganapin ang negosyo? Kung hindi, sinira ba ni Villar ang kanyang pangako? Tapos, ano na? Mag-aalsa nanaman ang masang Pilipino dahil matapos nilang iboto si Villar eh mahirap pa rin sila?

Siguro dahil hindi ako nangangailangan kaya hindi ako nagpapalinlang at ganito ang pag-iisip ko. Hindi ko rin naman siguro masisisi ang mga mahihirap na iniisip lang naman ang ikagaganda ng buhay.

Ang akin lang, hindi natin dapat inaasa na kaya ng pinuno natin na iahon ang buhay natin. Kung talagang mahirap ang buhay natin, iangat natin ng sarili natin. Maaari silang mag-bigay ng oportunidad, pero tulad ng lahat ng bagay, hindi para sa lahat ito. Nakapanlilinlang lang ang layunin ni Villar na nais nyang magkatrabaho lahat at magkaroon din ng sariling bahay. Pero may naniniwala eh.

Ibabalik ko na lang yung kasabihan: walang maloloko kung walang manloloko.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pulitiko Bilang Para sa Mahirap

Siguro ang masasabi ko na lang ay ang epekto nito sa tao. Mahirap magbigay ng mga layuning malayong makamit. Oo, magandang pakinggan ang mga ito. Pero kung dumating man ang panahon na nakamit na ng pulitiko ang nais nyang posisyon, ano na? Laglagan na agad?

Hayup makipagkamay ang mga pulitiko ngayon kapag eleksyon. Di ko rin naman maintindihan sa mga taong to ang pakikipagkamay nila na parang hinahabol ang Nazareno, eh ndi naman sila matatandaan ng mga pulitikong kinamayan nila eh (“naalala nyo po ba ko? Ako po un nakakamay ninyo ng dalawang segundo nun nagsortie kayo sa Baseco!!! Ako po yung nakangiti!!! Eto pala un kasama ko na nakatabig ng kamay ko para siya naman kumaway, baka natandaan ninyo, 3 seconds kayo nakapagkamay eh”). At lalong wala silang kapangyarihang makakamit pag nahawakan nila ang kamay ng pulitiko (“Boss! Magreresign na ko! Kaya ko nang magpagawa ng village dahil nahawakan ko kamay ni Manny Villar!!! Bwahahahhahah”).

Iniisip ng mga taong to na pag nahawakan nila ang pulitiko eh may parang koneksyon na sila dito. Ang hirap lang, hindi naman mangyayari yun kung normal na araw eh. Na magiging problema. Pag hindi mo na ginagawa ang mga sinabi mong gagawin mo, at hindi mo na nagagawa ang mga dating ginagawa mo, ang mga parehong tao na sumuporta sa iyo ay siya ring mga taong magpapabagsak sa iyo.

Ito marahil ang takot ko kay Villar na maraming pangako at may kredebilidad na tuparin ang mga pangakong ito; ang taas ng inaasahang mangyari nga mga mamamayan. Posibleng kaya ni Villar tuparin ang mga pangako nya, pero hindi ito agad agad mangyayari, hindi agad agad makakaramdam tayo ng pag-usad. Dahil dito, baka hindi makapaghintay ang mga Pilipino, bagong gulo nanaman.

(Hindi pala ako naniniwala sa sinabi ni Dolphy tungkol sa kanya na nakarating siya sa kinalalagyan nya ng walang nilamangan at walang niloko. Negosyante siya eh. Kelan ka ba nakakita ng negosyanteng hindi nanlamang pero yumaman?)

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

Pangangailangan sa mga Mahihirap

Eto marahil ang pinaka-malaking problema ko sa nilalatag ni Villar na maging sarili mong amo. Kung sa sobrang husay nya eh nagawa nga nyang bigyan ng oportunidad lahat na maging negosyante, sino naman ang magiging mga empleyado natin? Kung lahat tayo ay umangat ang buhay, sino naman ang magiging bukas pa para mamasukang driver, katulong o labendero/a?

Masakit mang tanggapin, kailangang merong mahihirap sa mundo. Hindi maaaring pantay pantay tayo sa lipunan, dahil umiiral tayo sa “co-dependence”; ang pag-asa ng bawat isa sa iba pang parte ng lipunan. Kumbaga sa gubat, maaawa kang pinapatay ng leon ang usa. Pero tulad ng tinuro sa atin sa Biology, kailangan ito para balansihin ang Ecosystem.

Ganoon din naman sa ating mga tao. Ang tunay na komunistang ideyolohiya ay nakabase sa ekwalidad o pagkapantay-pantay ng mga tao. Meron bang totoong komunistang bansa? Tayo nga, “Republika” pero umiiral ang gobyerno sa “Demokrasya”. Hindi porke’t may “Communist” sa pangalan ng bansa eh komunista na sila. Ang punto ko, hindi gagana ang “tunay” na komunistang ideyolohiya sa kahit na anong lipunan dahil masyadong perpekto ito. At tayo, bilang tao, ay hindi mapapairal ito ng maayos dahil sa likas na hindi natin pagkakuntento. At dahil dyan, gustohin man o hindi, magkakaroon at magkakaroon ng mahirap, ng mayaman, at ng gitna, maaaring lumaki ang isang sektor habang lumiliit ang iba, pero hinding hindi mapupunta lahat sa isa lang.

Sa pangangampanya ng mga pulitiko, nakita nyo na ba silang sila lang mag-isa ang naroon? Parati silang mayroong mga bodyguard, parating may mga driver. Ngayon, kung lahat tayo mayaman, sabihin nating naging may kaya lang, mamamasukan ka bang driver o bodyguard ng isang tao? Hindi sa minamaliit ko ang trabaho nila, ngunit kung ika’y negosyante na at may sarili mong inaasikasong negosyo, pipiliin mo pa bang magtrabaho para sa ibang tao? Bilang driver na mag-hihintay habang nagma-mall ang amo mo, bilang bodyguard na nakatambay lang sa labas ng bahay habang kumakanta, kumakain, at umiinom ang amo mo?

Kailangan natin ang mga mahihirap. Hindi sa ayaw ko nang umangat ang mga buhay nila, desisyon nila yun. Hindi ibang tao ang magdidikta sa isang tao kung gaganda ang buhay nya o hindi, sarili lang nya. May mga mayayaman na walang alam sa buhay at darating ang panahong babagsak din ang estado nila sa buhay, habang may mga mahihirap naman na magsisikap talaga at aangat ang kabuhayan.

Ganun lang naman sa mundo eh, may yumayaman, mei naghihirap, may mga nagiging edukado, merong hindi. Pero nabuhay tayo sa mundo para magkasilbi. Kung lahat na lang tayo mayaman, sino na ang magpapaka-kuba sa kalsada para maglinis nito? Sino na ang magtitiis sa amoy ng kinolektang basura sa mga bahay natin?

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

Sa aking opinyon, hindi naman dapat pinoproblema ang mga mahihirap, hindi problema ng gobyerno ang kahirapan. Tulad ng tinuro sa tin ng kwento ni Juan Tamad, hindi matatapos ang araw na mahuhulog na lang ang bayabas sa kanyang bibig. Kahit yung mga nananalo sa lotto ay tumataya rin.

Maari tayong bigyan ng oportunidad ng ating gobyerno para umasenso, pero hindi nito masisigurado ang ating pag-asenso. Nakasalalay sa atin mismo kung ano ang mangyayari sa buhay natin.

Habang marami ang nakaabang sa darating na eleksyon dahil sa inaasahang maging “pag-asa” ng pag-asenso ng ating bansa ang susunod na pinuno, tandaan natin na ang mga pangakong paglipon sa kahirapan ay hindi nya magagawa kung tayo’y maghihintay lang na may gawin siya.

Tayo mismo ang pag-asa ng bayan natin, hindi ang sinumang tumatakbo para sa pagkapangulo. Ang susunod nating pangulo ay yung kaya nating pagkatiwalaan na maging simbolo ng pagbabago ng gobyerno matapos ang halos isang dekadang pamumuno ng korupsyon.

Tinarantado na tayo ng galing at talino ni Gloria, nagsugal lang ang para sa mahirap na Erap. Maaaring maulit, maaring hindi. Kung saan mo kayang magtiwala ka bumoto, hindi sa kung kanino mo gusto iasa ang kinabukasan mo. Wag kang maging tamad na umaasa lang na may gawin para sa iyo ang gobyerno.

Galing at talino, sipag at tiyaga, likas na yaman, buddha beads, relihiyong itinaguyod ng isang tao, puso para sa mahirap, o si mama at papa; kahit sino man dyan ang sinusuportahan mo, tandaan mo na ikaw, at hindi siya, ang mag-aangat ng bayan mo.

…On Money and Significance…

It’s been a while since I last blogged, I’m probably rusty. =P Anyway, this is the first time I got my fingers typing something again to write something I’ve been meaning to write for quite a while now but never really got on to do so, mainly due to the office network not allowing the full use of Multiply (i.e. changing fonts and stuff) which could make my piece really dragging due to its length without different font sizes stressing points(I tried reading some past articles. Sorry I put you through that, thank you for still reading). For now, since I can't edit this post, please endure. Or check back later or tomorrow, when I probably fixed it up.:)

They say money can’t buy everything, but then again, what CAN’T it buy? We’re in a superficial world. Everything we do operates* with a monetary equivalent. Hence, we all strive to earn more of it. In this way, integrity, principle, and sometimes, significance, all become worthless. I present my cases in point.

On Profession

Obviously, this comes first. How many people now are underemployed but continue to be so because it’s the only way they can earn money? Some call center agents have been to several call centers but remain agents, and they’re settled with that. They don’t strive to become better. Probably a team lead, but that’s about it. Do the freakin foreigners who employ them give a damn about what happens to their future? Of course not. They’re cheap labor by foreign standards.

Now, not to degrade the BPO industry, I know first hand that it’s not as easy as it looks (well, it probably is, but still, there are a lot of training and people skills required). However, considering the fact that there are capable minds there who would rather go ahead and earn big starting salaries rather than work their ways up to somewhere that offers a basic salary, it seems that money has become a factor in acquiring quality talent.

In another manner, nurses, IT professionals, architects, engineers, and other professionals, decide to take their talents elsewhere because of greener pastures. They leave family and friends behind to pursue their careers somewhere else that offers more money.

It’s sad that in order to get by in this country, we either have to be apart from our families, or choose mediocrity. Everything has to be about the money.

On Politics

If one day you woke up and suddenly have a 500million-Peso bank account, would “running for public office” be the first thing that pops into your head? Yep. I thought so.

But man, look at all the ads. Having friends in the media industry, I get to understand that these commercials that bombard our regular programming on TV and radio (and sometimes, our heads..nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura…aaaaarrrrrgggghhh!!!!) are not cheap, especially during the times that they come out. It’s funny how they all say they want to end our suffering. Wasn’t it just a few years ago when some guy claimed that he was “para sa mahirap” and eventually got kicked out by the people? Then there’s the rule of the evil dwarf for almost a decade, a rule that started out promising, considering she was the daughter of a former president, and she has the, shall I say, “mental capacity” to rule.

Now we’re left to choose among a “success story” saddled by controversies he won’t answer, a seemingly passive leader whose candidacy and right to rule is anchored mainly on his family heritage, another “wise” leader who seeks to succeed his “wise” predecessor, a religious leader whose goals and intentions seem unclear (at least to me), a dick in every sense of the word, an environmentalist who’s banking on the Filipino’s love for the underdog, and a messed up female candidate who shouldn’t even be considered in the running.

Right now, it’s difficult to choose our leaders, from the top to the bottom or from the bottom up. Why spend so much under the guise of “friends of (insert name of candidate)” if they know they won’t get as much?

Politics has become a money-making racket more than an avenue to serve the people. It’s probably one of the contributing factors of why I chose not to pursue politics/law. It’s no longer about how one can serve the people, but rather how you can be “made” with all the perks a politician has. Imagine, no more traffic because of all the “hagad” that goes with your envoy everyday; people sucking up to you every single time; businessmen shoving money/cheques at you; cuts for every project you do, no matter how worthless it is, etc.

We’re not stupid enough not to understand that it’s mainly the reason why, despite the constitutional prohibition, there are political dynasties that rule over us. In this manner, the constitution has lost it’s significance, and politics as a whole, is just another business that any family member can run.

On Family

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the “ninong” or “ninang” of a kid supposed to be the “2nd parents” of that kid? That in case the parents of the kid can no longer take care of him/her, it is the duty of the ninong and/or ninang to make sure the kid is taken care of. Hence, often, the ninong or ninang is usually the parents’ most trusted people, those whom they know would be capable of giving the love and support the kid deserves, if by any unfortunate circumstance, the parents can no longer grant the kid.

Trust is that main proponent of choosing a ninong or ninang. Well, at least, that’s the ideal.

In today’s world of unexpected young parents, people have leaned towards the more “practical” choice: get a ninong or ninang that you know has money. That way, if worst comes to worst, the ninong or ninang would be able to provide monetary assistance to their kid, as love and affection alone can’t provide a decent life for the kid.

Now, let me not judge you on your choice, if you are one of those whom I mentioned. My point is, there are times that the ninong or ninang don’t even remember the name of your kid, and you expect them to be the second parents, the people who would take care of your kid in case something unfortunate happens to you. Must that really be how baptisms work? Or weddings work, for that matter? What happened to trust?

I guess I can relate to this argument the most. I mean, I love kids, I really do. And there are kids I won’t mind taking care of and even mark their birthdays on my calendar because I look forward to it. And then there are kids that I have to be reminded of my obligation to. Not that I don’t like them, I probably just don’t spend as much time with them or their parents. And I don’t know how to. I mean, it probably just would be nice to be chosen to be a ninong for someone because I’m one of those closest to the couple’s hearts, and not because I live rather comfortably now.


Who doesn’t want to win the lottery, right? But then again, as it seems, if you have money, everything else loses significance.


*grammar check here, MS Word keeps saying there’s a grammar error with “operates”. Isn’t the verb pointing to “everything” which counts as singular? It doesn’t sound right if I omit the “s” there.

...On Finding the Perfect Person...

A blog I’ve been meaning to write for the past couple of weeks. It should’ve been done as soon as it popped in my head, but I didn’t have the chance to write or post it. Anyway, here goes.

Che and I broke up last May, ending what has been a 4 and a half-year relationship. She blogged, something she never did, I wrote, as I always did. People around us were caught by surprise with this news, what with most of them knowing us as a couple for most of our acquaintance. It seemed final, and events that transpired between then and now can only attest to the finality of that break up. We were in good terms, but there came a point that we just had to cut all ties to be able to live completely independent from each other.

Eventually, we got around to talking again, tried to tie loose ends. She’d like to have me back in her life, as I would her, but a couple of factors came to play, at least for me. One, I thought it was unfair to her, if I came back to her after an episode with another girl. Two, I thought about what people might say. And yes, though I should be the last person in the world who would probably think that that matters, I actually thought it did.

I wanted to completely move on from my episode before I can truly pursue Che the second time around. I didn’t want to have my mind drifting away thinking of another person if I was with Che, so though we were in good terms, I didn’t want to ask, I didn’t want to move to another level. The other thing that was pulling me back was what people thought. It mattered now, because my pride is on the line. I said before that I wasn’t going to be getting back with Che, and at the time, it seemed so sure. Now, my pride didn’t want to eat itself up with those bold claims.

But then it came to a point where I just cared for her more than I could care for anyone else. There was just me and her. I wasn’t stalking anyone anymore; I just wanted to know what was up with Che’s YM status. I wasn’t waiting for a call anymore during lunch; I was just interested in knowing if Che ate hers already. I wasn’t looking forward to going home early to go online for Skype; I was thinking of ways to pass the time so that Che might notice I’m still in the office past 6:30PM and might think of asking me out for dinner (or find it as an excuse for me to ask her out).

Ultimately, we got together simply with this dialogue:

Me: ..So, mei boyfriend ka na?
Che: Meron! 
Me: Sino?

 
And just like that, we’re back to where we were before. Probably a little more grown up, but definitely with more open eyes.

And so, here’s my take:

Everybody’s looking for their perfect someone, the ideal person. Most of the time, these people who search for that being are those who are labeled as NBSB if they’re attractive, and, well, you don’t label the ugly ones, you just say “oh.” This is their best answer to the question "bakit wala ka pang boyfriend/girlfriend?"

Well, I’ve got news for you. He/she doesn’t exist. That perfect person is only perfect in your mind but never in reality. With time, you’d realize, he/she isn’t anything more than any other person you could’ve been with. You search for the ideal person, and might turn out as who you pictured him/her to be, but as a couple, you probably wouldn’t be able to stand him/her.

I said this before in Che’s debut, and I’ll say it again; she is not my perfect girl. She is anything but. She’s not the chinita, petite, fair-skinned, (slightly) chubby girl that I had pictured in my mind. But she is, I think, the right girl for me. We have our differences, true, but we can live with it. We know what the other one needs and what the other doesn’t. There are irreconcilable differences between us, but aren't there in any relationship? After all, we are two different people. We can’t have the same wants, needs, opinion, and attitudes. We just have to work our way around it to get to what’s important: the person to love, detached from all the worldly worries.

 
As there is no perfect person, there is no perfect relationship. Any relationship, no matter how smooth it may be, can always be broken off if one of the parties involved decide that it’s not working anymore, when one of the parties decide to lose hope that the relationship can work. No relationship can sustain itself. People in it just have to make it work.

And we both want to make this work. We've made it work before, and we are confident that we can make it work now and in the future. We're not a perfect couple; we may not epitomize the ideal for each other, and we may have different opinions about stuff, but we feel right for each other. And that's what matters most. 

And so, eating my pride and my words declaring we won't get back together, I say here for all you readers to read:

I love you Che, let's make it work. 

For you, non-believer, for you who doesn't like the idea of us back together, just live with it. After all, you may not be living a perfect life yourself. I like this. We like this. You don't matter again. You have your opinion, but then, we'll be the ones who are going to be together, so, leave your "expert opinion" to yourself.

I don't care if you think that I/she deserves better, what matters is that we feel right for each other. No one can dictate who's better for who, because like I said, it's the people in the relationship who make it work. For our relationship, your opinions are as useful as a jacket in the summer; it's handy to have if the cold weather decides to mess up the sunny skies, but normally, it can be buried beneath all the summer clothes.

For those who liked the changed relationship status, thank you. For those who didn't, I'm sorry that you're disappointed, but I'm not sorry that we made us happy.

...My Christmas Wishlist of 09...

I never got around to writing the blogs I've been wanting to write for the past couple of weeks. So before I sleep, I want to get at least one of them out, umabot man lang bago mag-pasko. 

Last year, I made me my Christmas wishlist as early as October (http://voltz1129.multiply.com/journal/item/108/.my_christmas_wishlist...). Somehow, I think it is kinda effective, as I got 5/10 of the wishes I made within the year (3 of which, my sister was influential. Labshu.) . Now, since this is a late post, I somehow got some of it already. These are personal goals, but of course, gifts are always welcome.

==============================================================

1. The Suit

I always wanted to have one for myself.  I always borrow the suits I wear for such events as my Grad Ball and Confuician Night. I wanted something that looks nice even on jeans. 

And of course, it is essential to have one in stock just in case Uncle Barney decides to show up and asks me to suit up.

2. Air Bed. 

I wanted an air bed for my room before, and then there was this one time when I saw a detachable sofa-like rest for the bed, and I liked it even more. It would save a lot of space in my cramped up room. For one, I could let go of Bochok's (My big teddy bear Che gave me a couple of years back) rocking chair, and have him back in my bed.

 

(*note: Picture not exactly what I saw, but it looks nice too.)

 

 

3. Big Ass Headphones

 

 

After watching 500 Days of Summer, I was a bit enamored with the idea of buying me some big-ass headphones for the ultimate introvert experience.

 

But since this is a late blog, I need to scratch this off now, as my uncle gave me Sennheiser earphones. They're not as big, but they get the job done.

 

 

 

 

 

4. A New Pair of Adult-Looking Eyeglasses

 

I have a pair of black, plastic eyeglasses. They're somewhat durable, it's multicoated, and they work out nice. But then since it's somewhat becoming a fad, I think I want to break off from it. So now, I want those sophisticated-looking glasses, but not too sophisticated to make me look old. Just something that looks nice if they have those transition lenses (those that go dark if there's too much darkness).

 

But since my mom got me these, I can actually scratch it off. I wanted it for Christmas, that's why it still makes the list.

 

 

5. PSP Stand 

 

I'm torn about this one since I have one already. But mine sucks, really, and it always falls off. I want one that's more stable, so I can play me movies while I'm driving without worrying if the thing's gonna fall off after a hump.

 

 

 

 

 

=======Gifts-that-make-sense End Here=========

 

6. 3 Musketeers

 

No. I will not get tired of wishing for this year in and year out.

 

Chocolate over chocolate goodness.. Aaaah..

 

 

 

 

7.  Toy Chopper

 

 

I may not not have that much time with me to play with these kinds of toys, but it would be nice to have one. I dunno why.

 

Siguro poser lang ako. Wala naman kasi ako chopper, so kahit laruan na lang.:P

 

8. Robosapien

 

This has probably got to be the most useless thing I want, and most expensive one at that. But if ever I do get to earn money that can be burned for nothing, this would top my list as that which I am going to buy.

A remote-controlled slave. If only for that, I want this 6k-worth toy.

 

==========================================================

I realize that I scratched off two things from my list even before I wrote this blog, but hey, how was I supposed to know my uncle was going to give me these kick-ass earphones?

 

Anyway, I am in a blogging drought right now. I can't think of words, and I can't write stuff. I was back reading a couple of my "emo-state" blogs, and I realize there were actually some stuff I've already written that are funny. Dapat yata bitter ako para nakakatuwang basahin posts ko.

I'll try mushy tomorrow. For now, sleep is what's important..

...The Blame Game: On the Maguindanao Killings...

(Sorry naman, wala sa Multiply ko un option na palitan un fonts sa maliit o malaki, un mei bold, underline, at italic. Inisip ko lang, naaangkop sa panahon ang blog na to, at baka ndi ko na ma-resolba na ang kaso bago ko pa mailatag ito (best joke ever: mabilis na hustisya sa bansa). Pero, siguro, isa na rin sa mga dahilan ay para maisulat na ang mga ideyang baka sabihin ay ninakaw sa iba. Hindi ko naman sinasabing sa akin lang nanggaling ang mga ideyang ito. Napag-diskusyonan namin ni Sof, Len, at Che ang ilan dito habang kumakain, at ilan pa habang nanonood kami ni Che ng Bandila.)

*eto na, edit ko na.

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

Beheading by chainsaw. Raped. Shot in the Head. Shot in the Privates.

These are but some of the inhuman acts that were done to some 50+ people in Maguindanao. It makes one sick to hear about it on the radio, it makes one’s heart sink to read it in the papers, and would probably make one puke if the TV didn’t blur out the images. I don’t get to read/watch/hear news much, but these things can’t just go on happening without you not even knowing a single thing about it. So now I say, before I am cast as an idiot for not knowing the REAL deal, I have little knowledge about this whole event, I have watched some news, read some articles, and discussed with people, but that’s about it.

I’ve cooked up some conspiracy theories, after discussing some scenarios with friends. Yes, they’re probably sick, but hey, considering the way they killed people the way they did, I’m probably not as sick as you think.=P

============================================================

1. The Victim.

Filipinos love the underdogs, the weak, those getting bullied. What if Mangudadatu himself plotted this whole thing to make it appear as if he is the victim here, like all the families of those who were butchered in Maguindanao. Everyone’s dead anyway, so who’s to say what really happened? His wife got killed, among others, and what better way to gain sympathy votes than pointing the blame finger on your political rival? While his sympathy votes skyrocket, the Ampatuans will forever have that tarnished name to carry with them, and will never be trusted by anyone’s vote anywhere. So, then, was it really that much of a sacrifice? The loss of some 50++ lives in exchange for the eternal blemish on the Ampatuan name?

2. The Fall Guy.

There’s Ampatuan Sr. and Ampatuan Jr. Ampatuan Jr. comes out and gets arrested, but claims innocence, saying he wouldn’t show himself if he was guilty. What if he wasn’t? What if it was his dad who ordered the killings? “Technically”, he wouldn’t be guilty, because he didn’t do it, his father did. And “technicality” is the way to go around loopholes these days. What, so you can place obvious campaign ads from January 2009 because “technically” you’re not yet a candidate since you haven’t filed your CoC yet? Please.

3. The Vigilantes.

While Ampatuan claims innocence, he points at the MILF to be the responsible party. Of course! Blame it on the terrorists! After all, they’re used to getting blamed for ruthless killings to scare people off. But then what are they to gain by doing what they did? They could have been paid to do what they did, if they did, but by themselves? These people are rebels, for sure, but they’re fighting for a cause. And this advances nothing. But you know why this blame-it-on-the-MILF thing won’t get any headway? Our dearly beloved president has proclaimed herself as the “Czar of Anti-Terrorism” to the whole world a few months back. While blaming these killings on the terrorists would surely get some steam off Ampatuan’s back, GMA’s reputation would be hit hard, as she would appear incompetent, not living up to her self-proclaimed title that made some leaders look up to this punitive lady president.

4. The Poor.

In the last presidential elections, GMA won decisively in the province of Maguindanao. “I…am…sorry” never absolved her from the “Hello Garci” scandal. Vote buying was obvious. Poverty is so rampant that people would do anything to score instant cash. Now, this “Boy” character comes out and claims he’s one of those who killed the people on site, and says that Ampatuan himself ordered them to kill the Ampatuans specifically, and spare no one else to eliminate all witnesses. If he was telling the truth, well then, great, because we at least know who should burn 8 times in hell. But what if he’s but another pawn paid to further enhance Mangudadatu’s side of the story?

5. The Hero.

Going back to the premise of Maguinadanao being GMA country, I can only speculate that it’s either she’s paid good money, or they truly, genuinely are loyal to GMA. Maguindanao did whatever it took to win GMA the seat she has now, the seat now in danger of being claimed by someone that is not her ally. Now, presidential aspirant Gibo Teodoro, acting on his Secretary of Defense duties, has taken Mangudadatu under his care, and Ampatuan behind bars. What if all those killed were willing victims who sacrificed themselves for their queen’s successor? That this was a whole set-up to give Teodoro the chance to serve justice swiftly, and be the toast of the town for doing such a fine job at giving justice to those who died?

==================================================================

It’s sad to think that people’s lives have been reduced to insignificance. Ampatuan, as we know, is an ally of the president. The politics game says that the rival political parties would prey on this incident to say that the administration’s candidate is incapable of leading the country as he can’t even lead his own party into agreement. And because of that threat into their party’s and their candidate’s integrity, the Palace is stalling until they come up with an acceptable decision for the people, while not damaging their own political asses (no, not “assets”, as they’re taking care of their own, and not just their people’s. It’s not misspelled. I did mean “asses”; that which they take care of. With how I am disgusted with them, I see their faces and asses looking all the same). How fucked up can the government be, to make justice for these people take a back seat to their political agendas?

No, I’m not trying to take a hit on Gibo. I concede that he’s a great guy, a capable leader, and a competent person. I don’t hate him because he’s with the administration, or because I’m not going to vote for him, I hate him because he showed up on the screen right after Pacquiao raised his hand in victory after he defeated Ricky Hatton. I mean, what the F, nobody cared who he was. And that was in May, for crying out loud. We only cared for the fight, not his freakin "Congratulations" to Manny. And now, he’s tangled up with this mess, among others. I can only pity him for having to stand up for what GMA has done over the years while trying to prove to the country that he can lead us into progress. Hey, I guess his being with the administration ticket does have an effect on me not even considering him as my president: he’d spend the next few years of his presidency trying to justify that the projects GMA undertook were for the good of the country.

It seems absurd, to me, that the brutes who killed all those people had the time to rape women, but did not have the time to dispose the bulldozer bearing the name of Ampatuan. Whether it was planted or just sheer stupidity on their part, we'd probably never know, as everyone else won’t. But of course, we all want to know the truth. Hopefully, the MILF comes out with something to take the blame or dismiss Ampatuan’s finger-pointing. That takes one less party to blame, at least.

But really, with how those people were butchered, I sincerely hope that those people so detached from their conscience don’t get to sleep at all, and not be able to live with themselves. We can only hope that that small amount of humanity left in them might wake up, and admit to the heinous crime that they have done, that all that must be held responsible suffer the consequences of their actions.

Nobody deserves to die the way those people did.

(version 2.0 na to. meron na ko nagawa kanina, 6 points pa nga instead of 5. kaso nag-hang ang lekat na multiply. at ndi ko na mapiga sa utak ko kun ano ang mga nasabi kong detalye. iba pa rin talaga yung tulak ng emosyon yung sulat kumpara sa humuhugot mula sa ala-ala.)