ON ROMANY SEDONA, the blogger who won an award by using ME as her subject

I wish there were no truth to what I wrote a year ago about how smokers are destructive not only to themselves but to others and the environment. I wish I were some "self-righteous little tyrant" gone mad because I am blind to the beauty and sensuality of smoking. I can only wish…

So that I can stop feeling sorry for the clouded mini-mind of ROMANY SEDONA who so boldly referred to me as a “bitch” and an “asshole”—among others—in her quest to debunk my exposition which the Philippine Daily Inquirer found legit enough to publish.

I can only wish ROMANY good health as she is confined in her self-absorbed “hedonistic” indulgence—as she may call it—trying to escape poignant facts of life, moments of mental cacophony which ultimately challenges our humanity, hiding behind her sticks of cigarette and her fallacious comparisons to chado, yoga and other wellness practices, and her, well, flair for imagery.

I can only wish her long life, to the girl who condemns me for allegedly wishing her kind, death whereas she’s all for risking “10 minutes or so” (How many 10 minutes in a year? I do not know.) of her life inhaling what she believes is euphoric oxygen which, if she were paying attention to her science classes, is scientifically DECLARED as carbon monoxide—a chemical compound known to prevent blood from carrying oxygen to the lungs…now we don’t need a textbook for that.

I wish Romany clarity of mind albeit the smoke she inhales so that she can stay firm and can stand by her choice, her so-called freedom of expression, and not to be touchy with the idea of smokers like herself drowning in their own smoke in a gas chamber I am proposing just to paint a vivid picture of the harmful effects of smoking especially to smokers. After all, Romany herself admits that “there is nothing healthy about smoking” but since, as she says, we live “in a world where you can die at a moment’s notice from anyone of a million different reasons, vectors and causes” she’ll vouch moments of pleasure with that health-hazard tool that reminds her to take “long deep breaths and luxurious exhalations.”

I wish Romany more years of being “gainfully employed” so she can sustain the advance university degree which she clearly needs. Because after all, a learned—writer or no writer—knows how to choose her words and ROMANY SEDONA, obviously has problems with choosing hers.

To end, I wish to tell ROMANY that the subject of her award-winning blog entry, the blog entry which the Philippine Blog Awards seemed to affirm as something outstanding, powerful, and of a quality that is “unforgettable to its readers and the whole blogging community”—the subject of her “winning” blog entry which was hastily misjudged, misquoted and maligned is no where near being LITTLE.

Mary Tyrene L. Delgado, an environmentalist in her own way, is bigger than who she really is because she knows how to care not only for herself but for the GREAT MAJORITY.

The subject of ROMANY's spite knows how to step back and see the bigger picture, to speak in general and then set aside vagueness by going through details—proofs that she FULLY UNDERSTANDS what she is talking about.

Most of all, Mary Tyrene L. Delgado, the character who won ROMANY her award, is non-tyrant, non-bitchy and non-asshole-y enough NOT to call anyone names in exposing FACTS in her Youngblood article, which I guess, primarily flared up the poor 20-year-old smoker named ROMANY SEDONA.

Blessings Instead of Sheep

Instead of writing something about the movie "Love Actually" which I actually love--the "love is all around" idea is key--I shall instead write something more worthwhile.

Like being happy.

You see, optimism is not intrinsic to me. I am better at sarcasm and it is easier for me to indulge in cynical thoughts. But these days, I choose to see the brighter side of life. Everyday, there is a conscious effort on my part to stay positive. To smile right when things go tough and, well, shitty.

I learned it the hard way. To see the light at the end of a rough murky road. Just think of it this way, when you're down, you've got no where else to go but up. And up there I choose to stay.

In my almost 30 years around, I realized it is more convenient to stay happy than to sulk, mope, curse the world and radiate negative energy.

Thinking "ang malas ko" is light years behind in terms of making us feel better.

Knowing how lucky we are certainly guarantees priceless goodnight sleep. I'm all for that.

Mag-Ingat sa Taxi: Nakamamatay

Hamaharurot ang taxing nasakyan namin. Para bang may taxing naghihintay sa taxing ito. In a hurry si kuya driver, I don't know why.

At sa background, maririnig ang pagpreach ng mga tao sa radyo tungkol sa bible or something--hindi ako nagpe-pay attention. Automatic na nagsha-shut-off ang utak ko sa mga ganoong bagay.

Maya-maya pa, muntik kaming mag-slam sa isang truck ng Coca-cola. Tamang-tama. Ang kasabay ko sa taxi ay sort of queen ng Coke--don't ask why.

Nabuhay naman kami. Pero si kuya, ewan ko kung anong ginagawa sa taxi niya at para kaming nasusubsob kada attempt niyang mag-break. Natutunan ko sa Physics class ko noong high school na it has something to do with that thing called "inertia." But what the heck!

Di na ako nakatiis sa ginagawang shake-the-pasahero syndrome ni kuya, "Ano ba ang nangyayari sa inyo, kuya?"

"Wala yata tayong preno," sagot niya.

"Ha?!" Sabay yata kaming naloka ng kasama ko.

"Wag niyo na lang bilisan ang pagmamaneho," advise ng kasama ko. Effort niya ito para pahabain ang buhay namin. Dagdag pa niya, "Hindi naman kami nagmamadali."

Nag-I-second-the-motion ako. "Oo nga kuya. Matutulog lang naman kami pag-uwi sa mga bahay namin."

Matigas ang ulo ni kuya. Naramdaman na naman niya ang need for speed. Tapos nag-break na palpak naman sabay sabi, "hindi talaga kumakagat ang preno."

"Ay sus, sana sinarili nyo na lang, kuya. Ninernerbyos na tuloy ako." Suddenly narealize ko na ignorance is bliss.

"Bagalan niyo na lang ang paandar, kuya. Moderate speed lang. Moderate." Paalala ng kasama ko.

"Hindi kakayanin ng nanay ko kapag may nangyari sa akin...nauubos na ang mga anak niya!" Hirit ko for more drama lang.

Dagdag naman ng kasama ko habang aktong nagtetext, "Nay, nakasakay po ako sa taxi na may plate number TXT 326... [Kung anuman ang mangyari, alam nyo na...]"

Eto namang si kuya natawa pa! Balik harurot. Drag racer yata siya noong past life niya.

"Kuya, sa rightmost part lang kayo ng kalye. May pink fences kasi sa kaliwa." Nag-warn na naman ang aking kasama. Pareho kasi kaming muntik nang mabangga sa fences na iyon sa magkaibang insidente.

"Accident prone area yan, kuya. Nalusotan lang namin noon dahil may preno yung magkaibang taxi na sinasakyan namin," paliwanag ko while doing the Rey Pumaloy "Aminin" gesture.

Ayun na nga.

Unang bumaba ang kasama ko. Inendorse pa niya ako kay kuya para naman makauwi ako nang matiwasay given na ilang metro na lang e nasa bahay na ako.

Nai-deliver naman ako ni kuya right at my doorstep nang safe and sound. At dahil doon, nagawa ko pa siyang sabihan, bago ako bumaba sa taxi, na mag-iingat siya.

Sa gitna ng mga kaguluhan, nagawa pa ni kuyang i-challenge ang relihiyon ko at i-require akong makining sa pag-tuligsa ng mama sa radyo sa supposed na paniniwala ko. Iyon ang pangalawang dahilan kung bakit ako naman ang humarurot sa pagbaba ng taxi.

Tinext ko ang kasama ko na nakauwi naman ako ng maluwalhati...ewan ko na lang kung anong mangyayari kay kuya.

Maya-maya, yung kasama ko naman ang nagtext sa akin na safe na rin siya sa bahay nila.

Ang sabi ko sa kanya, pasasaan ba't si kuya naman ang magtetext sa amin na safe na rin siya.

Eto na nga siguro ang nagawa ng near-death experience namin sa gabing ito.

Achieve!

Bakit naging LSS of the week ang "Gusto kong Umawit"? Bakit buong linggo yata akong puyat last week? Bakit sinasabi kong hindi na talaga ako magkakajowa sa mga pinaggaga-gawa ko sa buhay ko? Bakit may utang akong Grande Mocha Frap sa isang graphics artist na kapitbahay ko pala?

Eto Panoorin nyo...

4 Photos to document my day

Got the front row seat to witness one special day for the longest running noontime show in the country.


Yes, they are late President Cory Aquino's Four Honor Guards: Army Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman Second Class Gener Laguindam of the Air Force, Navy Petty Officer 2 Edgardo Rodriguez, and Police Officer 2 Danilo Malab, Jr.


Happy paints for happy kids.


My working hands--doubled as scratch paper and palatte.

For the third time around, let’s make a brave bunch of kids extra happy this Christmas!

For two years, we’ve given the Hematology and Oncology patients of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) extra smiles by presenting them with gifts containing art materials and books, and by distributing balloons for Christmas. We were also able to put up a face-painting booth especially for these brave bunch of kids during the Christmas Party hosted by Project: Brave Kids. All of these were made possible by the combined efforts of many people.

This year, we still hope to give away art materials (drawing books, crayons, pencils, etc.) so that these children will have a way of taking their minds off of the life-threatening illnesses that inflict them such as Leukemia, Thalassemia, and Tumor.

We also wish to add a treatment kit to the now traditional gifts we give them. The treatment kit will include a bag, bottle of alcohol, pack of cotton balls, plaster, gauze, etc.—all of which will be useful in their regular visits in the hospital, the place that has become their second home.

With your help, we can once again come up with 150 gifts (art materials and treatment kit) which we can distribute during the Christmas week.

If you wish to share cash or anything in kind, you can contact us at kids_happy@ymail.com.

Merry Christmas!

--From the family and friends of Nichi, a brave kid, turned angel

Twas a Sunday when I felt Normal again

For a few months now, I've been spending my Sundays unconscious--trying desperately to catch up on the chronic sleep deprivation brought about by the lifestyle I chose to embrace. I say "trying desperately" because I am aware that one cannot really make up for lost...well..err sleep.

Sunday has become a day of rest to indulge in my hedonistic ways, if not laziness.

But this Sunday was different. I woke up. Sat in front of the TV for a few hours. Cleaned my room--well most of it--let's just say I was able to get rid of a few clutters and much dust. Dust which I abhor by the way. I was able to go to the mall to have my eyeglasses fixed. (Clumsy me dropped my poor eyeglasses on the floor causing one lens to pop.) Went to another mall to buy a couple of shirts. (Loved it!) Got home to do a household chore. Found the time to do my personal laundry--by "personal laundry" I mean my personal clothing which I wouldn't ask anyone to clean for me. And finally, clean my finger and toe nails--a must-do which I sacrifice every time my weekend proves to be short.

I felt like were a normal person again.