The World of Second Chances

Justice for Jeffrey Laude! (No To Violence)

October 13, 2014

Life & Love

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2790942/us-marine-held-philippines-accused-killing-transgender-met-disco-bar.html

The killing of a 26-year old transgender in a lodge in Olongapo City affected me. If the motive was correct, the suspect, a US marine, felt duped when he discovered that the “girl” that he took to the lodge was a male disguised as a female. Nevertheless, I don’t think that that is enough reason to kill somebody. There’s just too much hate in this person to be able to kill!

The location of the said lodge is in the middle of a busy street. I’ve been to that lodge once when I accompanied a visiting friend to look for a place to stay in Olongapo. The room was not sound-proof so murder by strangulation was most fit. Almost a decade ago, there were no CCTV’s on the vicinity of the said lodge. I hope that they have CCTV’s now for a more accurate identification of the suspect.

Jeffrey Laude did not deserve what happened to him. He might have gone a little naughty for disguising his true sexuality but he did not deserve such violence and death. The suspect could have left him unharmed but he chose the violent way to “teach” him a lesson that he would never learn.

Violence in any form should NOT be tolerated. Being murdered because of one’s sexual orientation MUST never be justified!

Justice for Jeffrey Laude!

Justice for all victims of crime and violence!
Fabio’s Girls

October 3, 2014

Wedding & Family Life

For the first time, Fabio Ide became the talk of the town when the baptismal photo of his baby confirmed that he, and not Phil Younghusband, is really the father. The posting of this photo did not sit well with Fabio’s girlfriend of one year, Michelle Pamintuan. Heated exchanges of spiteful words were posted for all the world to see and we read an apologetic Michelle at the end of their conversation.

How difficult is it to accept one’s lovechild? How difficult is it to accept one’s past? How difficult is it to raise a child without a partner? How difficult is it to be torn between your child and the love of your life? The main characters in this drama are not even in their 30’s; they’re still young by our society’s standard. Being young, they are more adventurous and carefree—who are we to judge their morality? The most important lesson in their story is Fabio’s acknowledgement that he is the father of the baby; not every man who had casual encounters has the balls to do that and some married men even leave their children for selfish reasons.

Michelle is still young and perhaps, she’s still in the process of accepting the reality that her boyfriend has excess baggage. Accepting the reality takes time and it’s painful but if it’s true love on both ends, they can make it.

I want to give Denise and Melissa the benefit of the doubt that their posting of the baptismal photo had no malicious intention; after all, they must really be excited and happy about the event.
What they failed to recognize was where the problem came from; it was all about Michelle’s reaction. Instead of justifying their action (posting of photo), they should have asked her straightforwardly what her problem was. In doing so, maybe Michelle would have assessed her feelings and realize that her worries were all baseless.
Starting Over Again (Movie)

October 2, 2014

That’s Entertainment

Siguro nagtataka kayo bakit parang sobrang delayed reaction ko naman sa movie na ‘to. Dahil paulit-ulit kong pinapanood si Piolo Pascual sa “Starting Over Again,” kaya finally, sinulat ko na rin kung ano ba ang insights ko sa movie na ito.

To be honest, can’t relate much ako sa theme ng movie. Una, wala akong “the one who got away.” Pangalawa, hindi ko naman ginustong magkaroon ng second chance sa mga ex ko. Pangatlo, isa’t kalahating taon matapos ang break-up, nahanap ko ang “Paul Soriano” ko sa ending.

Yung “Starting Over Again” na kanta ay dedicated para sa sarili ko. Nagsimula akong tumayo mula sa malalim na pagkakahulog noong araw na magdesisyon ang dati kong mahal na tapos na, wala na, good-bye na. Amazingly, tinanggap ko na tapos na, wala na, good-bye na. Walang dramahan. Walang stalking. Walang sumbatan. May mangilan-ngilan lang na moment na naisusulat ko kung gaano kasakit at may mga moment din na “sige, okay na kahit sino” dati pero sa huli, naisip kong kung magpapakasira ako, mas nakakahiya naman. I’ve got my pride.

Closure ang tema ng pelikula at moving forward. Ang mahirap lang sa role ni Toni Gonzaga, umasa sya na baka may second chance pa kahit ikasira yun ng relasyon ni Patty at Marco. Tama rin naman ang sinabi ni Marco kay Ginny na mahal pa rin naman nya si Ginny pero sa ibang pamamaraan na nga lang—pwedeng sisterly love, pwedeng platonic love. Yung eksenang dinelete na ni Ginny ang email nya, yun ang point na ready na syang mag-move forward.

Paano ba ako nag-move forward? Wala akong dinelete na emails, wala akong tinapong litrato, wala akong pinamigay na gamit dahil lahat ng yun ay parte ng kasaysayan ng buhay ko. Yung mga bagay na makapagpapaalala sa akin kung paano ako naging napakasaya at napakalungkot ang tumulong sa aking bumangon.

Kung dati-rati ay saulong-saulo ko ang numero ng ex ko, ngayon, ni hindi ko maaalala kung Globe ba o Smart ang service provider nya. Saka ko naisip na wala na talaga sya sa sistema ko.Kung mangyari man na magtagpo ang landas namin ulit, wala akong gustong mangyari kundi ang ngitian sya saka ipagpatuloy kung ano ang sadya ko sa araw na iyon. Nakapagsimula na ako ng sarili ko lang, bakit ko pa guguluhin ang nanahimik kong buhay—I’ve started my life over again.

Yung iba kung isumpa ang ex, wagas na wagas na parang walang pinagsamahang maganda. Hindi ba pwedeng tanggapin na lang na ganun talaga, may katapusan ang lahat ng bagay. Sabi ko nga dati, mawawala naman sya talaga sa akin—pwedeng sa sakit, pwedeng sa divorce o annullment, pwedeng sa ibang babae, pwedeng sa trabaho, pwedeng magsawa na lang, pwedeng sa aksidente. Kung sa kahit anong paraan hindi naman kami magiging forever, ano ang point at di ko tanggapin ang kahit na anong paraan ng pagkawala nya.

Closure. Forgiveness. Moving forward. You, too, can start over again.
Can We Ever Achieve Peace and Order?

September 6, 2014

Life & Love

These kids deserve a better life.

I’ve been very busy with my job since the start of the year so I’m clueless about most of the issues that the world is facing. The attached picture is about a group of Yazidi refugees in Iraq. I do not know how this atrocity started so I’ll just focus on the question “Can we ever achieve peace and order?”

Can we ever achieve peace and order?
Let’s not get too far, in the Philippines, we have our own war against terrorists. Moving closer, some parts of the region still practice clan war. Moving more closer, some neighbors are not even in good terms. Moving more more closer, some families are broken and disconnected because of personal issues.

Terrorism is just like bullying; terrorists show power over the poor victim and they work in groups. It’s the reason why I hate to see any child being bullied; bullying is NEVER normal in ANY society in the same way that terrorizing people is NEVER acceptable for whatever reasons like a religious war.

What we need is a proactive society where people react to the tiniest bit of violence. Terrorist groups yielded power because we underestimated their capacity to grow and wreck havoc.
Who’s Your Boss?

August 19, 2014

Career, Finance & Product

Some people have this habit of claiming that their boss’ boss is their boss, too. Their boss’ boss could be the head of their department but that doesn’t make him their boss. A person’s immediate superior is his boss; not his boss’ boss. This is just to explain that a person wants to associate himself with someone who’s more powerful and more influential but doing so is rude and unfair to one’s immediate superior.

My boss’ boss is the president of the company but that doesn’t make him my boss because I get orders from my boss and he’s the one rating my performance. In addition, I respect and I have faith in my boss so there’s no need for me to claim that his boss is also my boss.
Clarity of Mind and Judgment

July 29, 2014

Life & Love

Happy 100 years to my fellow INC members! Let us always put into our heads that this event is for God. To God be the glory!

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The Philippine Arena is the world’s largest dome. It put the Bulacan province in the spotlight. Way to go for future events like concerts and sports event. This dome is not just for the INC, it’s for everyone!

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I still feel guilty of two things that happened in 1990 and 1997.

1990- My aunt asked me to join her class Christmas party (of course, I was not yet an INC in 1990). She was teaching grade 3 pupils in a public school. The children were very excited to see me carrying a large bag of prizes.

I led the stop dance and declared this boy as the winner. I turned my back to get the prize (6 pieces of Nips chocolate candy) and gave to this boy who I mistook as the one who won. The boy quickly opened the Nips and started eating when one of the girls confronted me and told me that I gave the prize to the wrong person. I thought that the boy was dishonest so I asked him to give the prize to the winner including the pack that he started eating. At that time, I thought that I did the right thing by correcting things. Had it happened today, I would not take back the prize because it’s my mistake to give it to the wrong person but I would talk with the boy to tell him that what he did was dishonest.

1997- I was surprised to see my six-year old brother returning home ten minutes after he left because he lost his five-peso coin. Instead of explaining to him the risk of going back to school with less children around, I scolded him for looking for a five-peso coin. My intention was good but the way I delivered it to him hurt him. Had it happened today, I would still scold him but I would highlight that going to school with less kids around would make him vulnerable to untoward incidents. I would even give him 10 pesos or 20 pesos. I actually want to move on from this incident because I know that my brother knows how much I love him. …and I’ve given him more than 5 pesos in exchange of that! LOL!

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Whenever I’m tempted to raise my voice to my kids, I visualize them in their most adorable moments. Of course, I still raise my voice and get mad at them but at the end of each screaming, I see to it that they get my point.

I screamed in pain last night after my toddler slapped my ear. I am suffering from earache since Saturday night, blame it to my obsessive cleaning. My toddler cried. I showed him my red ear and told him that “Mama’s gonna take a painkiller. Don’t touch Mama’s ear until the earache is gone.”

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True Brotherhood

July 1, 2014

Life & Love

The death of a College of Saint Benilde sophomore student due to hazing affects me. I don’t get it but what makes hazing the barometer of acceptance for anyone who wishes to join a fraternity? True brotherhood means friendship and concern, not intimidation and physical violence. True brotherhood is giving inspiration to one another. True brotherhood is giving consideration to the less fortunate brothers. True brotherhood is accepting one another regardless of what social status. True brotherhood is respecting each other. True brotherhood is bringing out the best in each other. True brotherhood is positive, happy, light. True brotherhood does not hurt. True brotherhood does not kill.