Early Xmas Present!

Look at what landed on my room this morning!

It's not suffice to say new speakers, but a new set of sound system gadgets. My dad decided to buy himself new speakers so he donated these Bose one's to replace my old Creative computer speakers.

OMG! I feel so happy right now... like a 5 year old girl receiving her first new Barbie set.

Strobe lights - check!

Flood lights - check!

Cool sound system - check!

Hot DJ - soon to come.

now all we need are fireflies to complete my firefly themed xmas party:D haha!

stay fabulous everyone!

Is Manila Still a Fab City?

My brother and I decided to go for a tour around the walled city of Intramuros for some artistic inspiration yesterday.

We got lost because most of the buildings look the same (Spanish architecture) and people/students were everywhere so I kinda got dizzy seeing so much of them. Yes, i’m allergic to people and students in uniform.

My brother was thankful he was wearing running shoes coz he ran round the walled city like a lost cat in Ray Ban’s, while i had to struggle with my Paul Smith floral embroidered high cuts while strutting along the cobbled stone streets.

We arrived at our target destination – San Agustin Museum – where it houses religious relics of the 300 year Spanish occupation and luckily, we saw Carlos Celdran (best tour guide ever) so we joined the tour. And I got loads of insights from him!

Yes, the museum tour was interesting but the part where we enjoyed most was when we were walking along Muralla street and students from the universities were staring at us while the wind is sweeping our hair and the sun shines on our noses! haha!

I posted a similar entry in one of my other blog sites and there are two comments which I want to share with you loyal readers:

1) you are so lucky to be surrounded by stuff like that....living in Miami i'm just surrounded by beach......love the shoes!!

2)Why don't I see all these fabulously dressed Manila men when I'm there....I love the details on the shoes! And the t-shirt is great, feeling Stephen Sprouse for LV there a little...:D (this one's from an Australian)

I realized that we are so lucky to be located in a place where there is so much diversity in culture and environment.

Here in the Manila, we have the Manila Bay, Quiapo, Intramuros, Chinatown and Malate! haha! so it's just surprising to hear comments that detests and loathes this fabulous city.

Yes, amidst the poverty, Manila is still fabulous! The city's heart beats with so much energy and vibrancy and I feel it has so much potential.

So i hope a new Imelda will rise up and defend Manila's culture and arts!

So let's vote LOREN LEGARDA for Vice President!!! haha!

How Would You Reconcile These Opposite Poles?

A 98-year-old German woman named Irena Sendler recently died. During WWII, Irena worked in the Warsaw Ghetto as a plumbing/sewer specialist. Irena smuggled Jewish children out; infants in the bottom of the tool box she carried and older children in a burlap sack she carried in the back of her truck.

She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers wanted nothing to do with the dog, and the barking covered the kids’ and infants’ noises. Irena managed to smuggle out and save 2500 children. She eventually was caught, and the Nazis broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar buried under a tree in her backyard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived and reunited some of the families. Most had been killed. She helped those children get placement into foster family homes or adopted.

Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected. Al Gore won - for a slide show on Global Warming.

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On the other side, you have Ampatuan and his MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE (a wikipedia link)

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How can you reconcile these two acts that are on the opposite poles of our humanity? Psychology and Philosophy would have something to say on this but i'm certain neither answer would suffice in what I really want to hear.

Magbubulag-bulagan at Magbibingi-bingihan Na Lang Ba?

Oo, mas madaling magbulag-bulagan at magbingi-bingihan sa mga nababalitaan nating karahasan sa Maguindanao. Mas mabuting mag aral na lang ng Finance or magplano ng susunod na inuman o mag-shopping. Natatakot rin akong malaman ang mga detalye dahil ayaw natin ang pait at hirap na kasama ng katotohanan.

Ngunit may puntong hindi mo na kayang salagin ang nakabibinging mga balita sa karahasan at kahayupang nangyayari sa atin.

Personally, nanghina ako ng nabasa ko ito:

"My wife’s private parts were slashed four times, after which they fired a bullet into it. They speared both of her eyes, shot both her breasts, cut off her feet, fired into her mouth. I could not begin to describe the manner by which they treated her.” — Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu

Not even the most vile creation of God deserves what happened to this woman. My heart bleeds for her family. I cannot imagine what i can do to the animal who did this to her. What more if this happens to my own mother. What would you do if this happens to your own mother?

How can a person sharing the dignity of a loving God commit something like this? Have they not experienced compassion, care, affection and love? I can't imagine any motivation (even money and power) that will fuel these acts. I guess i'm not that old to understand the evil that poisoned humanity.

There's just so many questions and i guess words truly limit what I want to express.

I actually feel powerless and immobilized because i can't do anything but write.

I opened my ears and my eyes and then what? Is it better to remain blind and deaf? I'm just sitting here hitting the keys to write words, staring at the monitor hoping that the world is better and more peaceful.

We need to wake up and face reality, but then what? I just felt like my hands are tied and my feet are bound. I just felt more powerless.

"Naiiiyak ako sa mga nakikita ko sa balita. Mga inosenteng tao kinitilan ng buhay. Meron ba silang konsensya? Yung iba madaming anak na iniwan, sila na lang inaasahan ng pamilya. Di ba nila naisip yung kinabukasan ng mga anak ng mga pinatay nila? Paano na sila? Nagagalit ako. Wala silang mga puso. Walang mga kaluluha.Wala lang. May masabi lang."

It Isn't United Nations, But At Least I'm Getting There

Dondie: If you were to talk in front of the United Nations, what will you wear?

Me: Aren't you more interested in what i'll say?

Dondie: Haha! No.

Me: Well if i had the money, i'll call Joey Samson/ Ivarluski Aseron and ask him to collaborate with Ang Kiukok for a neutral coat inspired by the Vintas of Davao. My shoes will be designed by my friend Will Valeriano which will look like a modern bandaged mummy feet.

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It might not be United Nations, but this is it! cross your fingers and toes...

I'm happy to announce that before the year ends, i'll be going to a distant country known for its shopping district (yey!) to participate in a 3-day international youth convention/conference. I'll not give the exact details until december 8 because baka ma-jynx. haha!

But do pray that the funds will be enough to cover my clothes expenses (chos!) and that my Finance102 long exam won't take place in the same day (sigh!).

This is one step closer to achieving an ecologically sustainable development for the country. The proects have started in (as far as i know) in Nueva Ecija (w/c i'll visit on dec 8), Boracay... and i hope villages in Manila and Cebu would adapt to the practices soon.

As of the moment, i'm trying to work out with my two 2lbs dumbells so that i would look fierce and fabulous there:P wish me luck!

Driver's One Big Mistake

The nerve of this Filipino taxi driver causing mega commotion inside an international airport!

I love staying at airports because they have different energy. There's always something interesting to look at - either couples whom you know won't be seeing each other for such a long time (because of the way they french kiss!) up to families who are reunited because their dad has finally returned.

But here's something you don't see everyday:

We went to the Centennial Airport tonight because my aunt, uncle and cousin are going to the US to visit their nephew who's celebrating his 4th birthday. And as i was about to step my red hot Paul Smith shoes outside the car, people were screaming and the guards were chasing something.

At first i thought a waterbuffalo was running wild around the airport but I got to my (common) senses when a man was running and screaming "yung bag ko! yung bag ko!"

Based from what I heard, this guy went out of the taxi (with his hand carry) to get his bigger bag at the back when the driver sped away thinking he could pass the dozens of guards waiting for him below!

The nerve diba! He's going to commit one big kahihiyan in front of those foreigners! What will they think of the country!?!

And I thought Manny Pacquiao victory day was crime free day. Sigh!

Fashion Will Save Humanity

It's a curious thing to see how people try to express their individuality when institutions impose a chain in the neck set of rules for dressing up.

We are humans and as creations who are free, we do not mindlessly follow a set of rules that limit us to what we wear. We are not robots programmed to grab the same set and design of clothes everyday, so the best way we can cope up with this INHUMANITY is to accessorize and customize the clothes. (i think my blue-yellow-and-white-haired philosophy teacher will agree with this)

Back in high school (below), uniform was mandatory so in order to keep my sanity put, i tried to accessorize - putting different jackets/blazers everyday, wearing bracelets and necklaces, spraying different perfumes/colognes and trying to stand out among the rest with the way I talk and walk.

I went to University of Santo Tomas with my brother last month during their enrolment and I was wearing something that made people look and stare, and i got the reaction i was looking for:))

It was actually overwhelming for someone like me who advocates freedom and beauty to see so much students with the same outfit all at the same time!!! AND IN A UNIVERSITY!!! What will the Greeks think of this!?!

But amids the tragedy, girls were pulling their skirts up, people were wearing different designs of jackets, shoes, bags and even socks which i think reflects their personality, even their hairstyles are different.

Somewhere in that ugly white uniform ay isang kaluluwang gustong kumawala, ipagsigawang tao rin siyang may karapatang pumili at manamit ng maganda, nagkukumawalang ilabas kung ano siya to stand out above the rest. And i feel these people, ramdam ko sila, especially the ones who are at school of fine arts and design.

So i think when 2012 comes, and people are animalistically trying to scavenge the last remaining resources and when people start eating each other, let's not forget to dress up and look fabulous.

I think dressing up is the corner stone of our humanity. Historically, people were considered civilized with the way we dressed. After gaining knowledge, Adam and Eve found out that they were naked so they clothed themselves - i wouldn't be surprised if Eve tried making lingerie or gowns out of banana leaves. There's more basis for this claim and i hope you see light in what i'm suggesting.

Fashion will save humanity!