Closet Clutters

Last night I was supposed to meet a friend in a coffee shop. Half an our passed and I received a message from him saying that he would not be able to come. Wanting to finish transcribing my data, I just shrugged off being stood up and continued with my business. Minutes later, I found myself transferring from the couch area to the long table because the girl beside me just decided to air-dry her feet. The stench of her sweaty feet was giving me a headache. I really felt sorry for my nose for having to endure that disgusting odor. At the long table, I immediately noticed a good-looking guy across me. He seemed to work in a corporate setting judging from his attire of a combination of long sleeves and black slacks. As he was intently reading his book, I kept on stealing glances and just appreciating the pleasant face that he has. Even at first glance I already knew he was gay. I have a knack of being right ninety percent of the time thanks to my valid gaydar. With my earphon...

Sometimes storms come into our lives. And most of the time, they come without warning. You'd think that everything is fine, that the day would turn out to be sunshiny. But all of a sudden, there are big dark clouds covering the skies. It creates an overcast over your once pleasant and content lives. Then the storm hits. The storm brings heavy rains and stron winds. It destroys everything in its path. Nothing is spared. And since it came by surprise, nothing is saved. What else can one do after a disaster but to move on. Our lives should not stop after such incidents. Dreams should still be made come true. But moving on doesn't happen as fast as a storm can unleash its fury into our lives. Moving on takes time. We cannot tell someone to just move on and expect him to drop everything and go on with his life. We must acknowledge whatever he is feeling for feelings are always valid. Someone who just experienced loss can feel whatever he wants to feel, say whatever he wants ...

Kasama ang mga kaibigan, pinag-usapan namin ang nakaraang episode ng MMK. "Pag AIDS, kelangan bakla dapat? That is so stereotypical." "Pag bakla AIDS na agad? Di pa pedeng tulo muna?" "Or di ba pedeng lagnat muna o sipon?!" Siyempre katuwaan lang naman yun. Alam naman naming ito ay isang napakahalagang paksang talakayin at pag-usapan. "Pero pano ba talaga naghahawahan?" "Alam ko tatlo lang yan: dugo, karayom (galing sa may AIDS), at pagpasa ng ina sa anak." "Ang alam ko any body fluids e. Mapa-tamod at laway." "Pano naghahawahan pag sa lalake at babae. Di ba tamod naman yun." Lumabas tuloy ang katotohanang kakaunti lang ang alam namin tungkol sa HIV. "Wag kang mag-alala. 1% lang naman ang chance mong mahawa sa unprotected sex e." "Yun nga e, dapat di ka umaasa dun sa 1% na yun e." At least sa huli, tama naman ang nasabi namin.

Did you catch last Saturday's episode of MMK, starring Joem Bascon and Carlo Aquino? They did an episode in line with the World AIDS Day. I really love their approach on a very sensitive topic. They were able to portray the hardships people living with AIDS go through and how they cope. What I love most about the story of the characters was their undying love for each other. I'm really one who easily cries. And for most parts of the show, I was crying alongside the characters. I don't know if it's just me putting myself in their shoes or they're just great actors. I felt for Carlo Aquino's character when his parents disowned him for being gay And after finding out that he had HIV/AIDS, instead of showing sympathy, his parents was embarrassed and disgusted of him. Joem's character's father (played by kuya Bodji) was the contrary. He was sympathetic and supportive. He did not blame nor scolded Joem for being careless. Instead, he did what every paren...

Just thought of sharing. “Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”  ―  Barack Obama

Natutuwa ako sa class kanina. Our topic was about gender. We're asked to divide into small groups and discuss its concept, issues, and the advantages of gender development. Bilang wala naman akong karanasan sa usaping gender, hinayaan ko na muna silang magsimula.  Ang ganda noong naging usapan namin, talagang tutok ako sa diskusyon. Bawat isa sa amin ay may sariling pananaw- yung iba pareho, yung iba salungat. Pero hindi namin pinipilit ang paniniwala namin sa iba. Hinahayag lang namin ang mga bagay na sa tingin namin ay tama halaw sa kung ano ang natutunan at naranasan namin.  Natutuwa ako sa mga usapang ganito na may kabuluhan at lalim. Kaya naman hanggang ngayon ang dami paring pumapasok sa isip ko na konsepto na hindi ko nabanggit sa silid kanina. Kaya dito ko na lang isusulat upang balang-araw mabasa ko ito muli, maalala ko kung ano ang pananaw ko sa gender sa mga panahong it.