I’ve always liked Iza Calzado. She seems to me like a girl with a pretty good head on her shoulders, and she doesn’t overly try to make others like her.

Marian, on the other hand, was someone I liked when she was still starting. She fits the description of unpretentious quite perfectly. She speaks without the finesse and gentility that are stereotypical of a college graduate that she claims she is, because she wasn’t a poser. And those qualities alone are enough to make me like her.

But recently, I don’t know if anyone else noticed, she’s become a different person on TV. The change was subtle and gradual that you’ll miss it if you’re not looking closely. I saw it first during the Bella Padilla issue. She went past Wilma Galvante with her head held so high it almost touched the ceiling. No, that’s not quite right. She almost went past Wilma Galvante in her hurry to get out of the meeting room where she and Bella supposedly agreed to end the issue. Her eyes and body language said she was just indulging the GMA management but was in fact annoyed to be talking to somebody beneath her professionally.

I heard of a similar behavior during the MMFF parade with a Channel 5 TV personality. It seemed like she was choosing the right people to shake hands with and talk to.

When I think about it, I think it all started when she and Dingdong became an item. They sure look cute together. The kick she gets -and the fact that she’s not trying to hide it– from Dingdong’s public profession of affection and her mutual feminine declaration of the same feelings were really cute. Until she said they are going to prove to everybody that their love will last and as everybody could see, they both love each other very much.

Boy oh boy! To copy Jlo’s words in American Idol Season 10, you are in competition with nobody but yourself. Whether your relationship will last or not is your own business and people shouldn’t take that against you professionally. But even if they do take it against you personally, it’s still your life and your own business. Somebody should knock sense into her and tell her that personal relationships aren’t “material” acquisitions to brag about here and there. And unlike physical possessions, people, and certainly relationships, cannot be controlled. My point? Some things are best left unsaid.

I think fame is getting into Marian’s head that she’s become boastful. And that alone is enough for me to stop liking her. But hey Marian, who am I? I’m just another blogger, right?

So anyways, Iza definitely has my eyes these days, and I just remembered her because she’s going to be a mainstay in Eat Bulaga. What can I say, I love Eat Bulaga too

First of all, yes I’m back and I did not actually ran out of opinions. hehe. Like I said once, I do have a lot of them, I just don’t have a lot of time. But I do, really do love blogging, so hopefully, things are going to change around here from this day on. I haven’t actually left the web, see here I have maintained my personal blog, and here and here I have created new blogs. I’m all about web presence *wink*

Anyway, I’m going to thread carefully here, because the issue of poverty is not lost on me.

A lot of demolitions on houses of informal settlers have been happening lately and in fairness to the government, due notice was given and relocation houses have been provided. What I can’t understand is why, with all these provisions, the settlers still resort to violent refusal causing a lot of accidents that could have been avoided had they cooperated. The hard fact is, they knew from the start that the lots were their houses were standing weren’t theirs. The lots weren’t theirs period. And what’s even more baffling is why non-government organizations, instead of helping the settlers come to terms with the facts, are fanning up the issue by teaching them “demolition defense skills” that’s supposedly going to help them stop the government from seizing their properties. They can’t, period.

Let’s bring to mind past demolitions in the country, and we could say that their lot (no pun intended) were definitely better. Past informal settlers whose property have been demolished weren’t offered cash and a place to relocate to. I’m not saying, we should all just accept this as it is, although that’s certainly gonna help us all move on to a brighter future and economy, but we can’t change the facts as it is now, but we still can affect the future.

The informal settlers issue, mainly, is the location of their new houses. I do agree that it’s going to be difficult for their students studying in the vicinity, and for the workers working near their houses. But I’m very sure there are schools were they could enroll their children again near the relocation. As for the jobs that they can’t afford to lose, that sure is going to be tough, but for every problem I believe that there is a solution.

In short, there really is a thin line between grumbling and being thankful for what you have. Why don’t we all stick to the positive side of things instead of dwelling on the negative?

The article “The War At Home” by Chip Tsao has the Philippines hopping mad when it came out March 27 in HK Magazine. Three days after, it was pulled out of the magazine’s online edition and the magazine later apologized for the strain it caused.

The style is definitely satire as the HK magazine claimed it was in their apology. I am a Filipino but I was actually more amused than irritated by the article. Surely anyone could see that the exaggerated way in which Tsao related his treatment of his maid as a reaction to the news over the Spratly Islands is nothing but that, an exaggeration. I don’t know why anyone could have missed that the real issue here is not his calling the Philippines “a nation of servants” and belittling Filipino domestic helps but the fact that he thinks he is better — and the rest of China— than a Filipino.  What made my “blood boil” is the cocky way he said those very words. As if Filipinos do not have “the right” to send soldiers in the islands to defend it. Maybe we do, maybe we don’t. But I should think that as long as the  jurisdiction of the islands is in dispute, he shouldn’t be making conclusive and categorical statements that suggest Filipinos have no right to claim the island and the reason being we, Filipinos, belong in an inferior race.

This is a clear case of racism for me. The very tone he used in the article implied that Filipino is an inferior race compared to Chinese. And that I would not agree with. No race is better than another.

So you see, this isn’t a “servant” thing and is an issue bigger than OFW for me. And that’s probably why I wasn’t insulted by the artcile. Why should I be, when I know that racism exists only in the minds of insular and bigoted people.

Yeah, so just shoot me.

As a rule, I avoid writing and talking about politics. Airing political opinions is, after all, a moot practice when all one could do is debate endlessly without any real and concrete solution in sight. We may have a democratic government but the word doesn’t mean anything in a country populated by corrupt leaders.

But just this once I am going to break my rule and talk about politics in the Philippines.

Growing up from a home with a politically-inclined Father, I have formed my own stands and beliefs as early as six years old. While they may be largely influenced by my Father’s own views, I have never seen anything that will even remotely change them in all my adult life.  But I’m getting ahead of myself here, let me tell you why I feel the sudden urge to write about this.

A good friend of mine sent me a letter written by a fellow Filipino, a plea to all Filipinos. In the letter, Marcos was commended for putting the Philippines right on the map through his strong leadership and I quote ”He was one of the most admired Presidents in the world”. Macapagal (not the one sitting in the Palace right now) was also mentioned as one of the best Presidents the Philippines ever had. They had kept the economy thriving and the value of our money high. It was hard to imagine that the value of our money then had been Php2 to a dollar.

When I was young, I keep hearing how Marcos was able to build a lot of infrastructures like the LRT, the Airport (ironically now named after his archenemy), cultural centers, bridges, major roads, and others. All famous structures that are now considered as cornerstones in the country. His adversaries, on the other hand, hardly could lay claim to concrete proofs that we have not been paying our taxes in vain. And yet all kinds of maligning had been thrown against Marcos.

Yes, no ifs, ands or buts about it, I am for Ferdinand Marcos. I may be a baby when Marcos was President but I studied my history and knew that Marcos, of all the Presidents, did what should be done to ease the hunger and poverty in the country. He would not have been elected and made President for 21 years if the people thought he could not do his job. And if all his adversaries would be honest, they’d agree that life was better then than it is now.

Not a month ago, the list of the most corrupt countries came out. It wasn’t very surprising that the Philippines sits right there on the top 25% of the most corrupt countries in the world. No wonder the country’s not progressing.

How sad that not too long ago, the Philippines had been considered a developing country among the Third World nations, now not only are we seen as corrupt country, we are also drowning in huge economic crises the very leaders of this country helped in perpetuating.

I am not saying that Marcos was a completely upright and faultless leader, but at least he had the foresight in making sure no Filipino would go hungry in his regime. I couldn’t say the same to all his successors.

And we couldn’t even give him the credit he deserves for all the things he’s done for the country. No, we couldn’t even give him the funeral he so rightly deserves.

I have only one thing to say to those who have conveniently forgotten Marcos’ many accomplishments in the Philippines because the politics dictates censorious judgement of him. Go fool yourselves that the People Power had done more good things than bad for this country.

I don’t know if I should be ashamed that I have a double standard when it comes to the subject of panhandling. I do think that it’s okay to give when the receiver has evidence of justifiable reasons for the act. That is not to say I find it absolutely acceptable to beg and depend on others except yourself but I do believe that is another subject that, on some level, is completely irrelevant to the matter of whether one should extend a helping hand or not.

I chose the word help because I prefer to see it as an act of charity and compassion to those in need, although I’m sure others would argue that it is the very thing that makes beggars roam the streets begging for money. I have never heard anyone, though, speaks of a double standard charity and I am unsure as to how does that paint me as a person.

Of course, it is not like I would want to change my ways just because others think badly of me. My rule is simple, so you’re young and able? you shouldn’t be begging on the streets and you couldn’t expect me to give you even a single penny when my own mother was still working when she was 64.

On the other hand, I am soft-hearted with people who are too old to be roaming the streets, especially those with disabilities who depend solely on the kindness of others to survive. It breaks my heart to see old people begging people for a penny with their eyes devoid of any hope and good fortune coming in this life. These are the people, who may or may not have given their all for some break in their lives, but now are faced with the reality that eating even once per day is largely dependent on others’ loose change.

I’m sure some weren’t exactly looking for ways to change their lives when they were young. I understand that they’re entirely to be blame for their situation now. They may have been lazy in their youth and utterly lacking in ambition. But I prefer not to judge. Whatever they may have been, they are what they are right now.

Growing old alone is lonely, I cannot imagine how it would be even more so when you’re growing old with nothing but a few worthless parcels as your dear and entire possessions in this world.

So, panhandler? They’re as human as we all are.

Imagine, if you will, a person, or more to the point a heir to an estate, in some need of financial relief or perhaps financial assistance to an endevor, but not getting any because he doesn’t have it at the moment but nonetheless knew that it is coming. A sticky situation, for sure but one that could easily be resolved by an inheritance cash advance. So that means you wouldn’t have to wait till the long and gruelling process of estate probate before you can use some cash to good use! Now who would have thought that is possible?

Doesn’t that just solve all the drama of waiting for an inheritance? It does save one from being a horrible person, too, when “waiting” is taken out of the equation, don’t you agree?

You’ll be hard-pressed finding anyone who frown upon even the most necessitous of people making and leaving a will, for example. The operative word is being ready for whatever the future may bring.

For the affluent population, on the other hand, where making a will is the only option, sometimes leaving a will can’t be as simple as all that. Leaving a will is synonymous to finding a probate attorney. All the more so if they’re really made of money with all sorts of relatives clamoring for their share of wealth. Such is the world we live in nowadays.

Chalk it up to changing values and culture, money has become the end all and be all for some, the Law had to make room for judicial certificate that will prove a will to be genuine so as to accomodate (if you ask me!) the vulturelike attitude of people over money and all things the word “will” conjures.

Yeah, if there’s a will there’s a way, huh?

In our changing world where being a conservative is often viewed as something bad, it is troubling why when it comes to dressing, it is marked as a sign of having high morals. The inconsistency is exasperating for sure, but one that may be explained as “some things are good some things are bad” and while I do not believe that morals can be seen through one’s choice of clothes, others are quick to judge.

Perhaps it is the stereotype that a scarlet woman dresses indiscreetly that makes people so judgmental and often sanctimonious, but you can’t declare someone a fallen woman just by looking at the clothes she wears, just as much as you can’t say a true lady is of loose morals because she choose to wear modern clothes.

Yes, the operative word here is modern.

Count me in among the many liberals who think it is simply an expression of one’s fashion sensibilities, and who’ll rise up in a battle against people who think dressing in a tad revealing clothes means having loose morals and character. I would admit that I’m no liberal at heart and often have conservative views, which is why I’ll contend in a heartbeat that choosing racy clothes is the same as having an unhonorable self.

Trust me, modern clothes and conservatism can co-exist.

Nowadays, parents are consumed with giving “the best” for their children. Best milk for babies, best toys to play with, best stimulation for their intellect, best care possible and best school for when it’s time to study. There’s nothing wrong with wanting only the best for your child, but some missed out the fact that before pre-natal, there is also a very important stage that is pre-conception.

In as much as giving “the best” is essential to a developing child, it is not the be-all and end-all factor that a parent should consider in purporting to have one healthy and intelligent child. Pre-natal care is important too, but a lot of people knows that already. What’s getting the least attention and one that is equally important, is the pre-conception stage. Albeit your child gets only the best kind, and he had received first-rate pre-natal care, is he a product of a good embryo to begin with? Is that child, who came from an embryo then a fetus,  a product of a good egg and sperm cell of the mother and the father? The effort to make your child the best that he can be should not start on the point when you’re choosing the best school that you can afford, or perhaps the best milk that is available in the market. Neither should you start when the baby is still in the womb, having a healthy diet and living a healthy life. It is best to start from the beginning and before you even conceive the baby. Needless to say, it is easy to imagine the optimum level a child of a good embryo can reach. How well the parents-to-be are taking care of themselves before conception influence the kind of egg and sperm cells they produce.

Thus, pre-conception care is not limited to the woman-parent but the man-parent as well. About three years ago, my husband –then, fiance’- and I theorized that cellphone bases had something to do with heart problems of his male co-workers’ babies. The daughter of one had a hole in her heart and the child of another had some obscure heart ailment. The only common denominator that they have is that they both work in a telecom station with cellular phone bases. There are recent claims that we have reason to avoid such bases, and a man’s health is as important as that of a woman’s and both should take extra care of themselves when planning to have a baby.

I wish I could recall specifically the statistics mentioned in one study conducted of parents obsessively giving “the best” they can give to their child but forgetting other factors that are necessary for a child’s optimum development.

I remember when I was in college, our chemistry professor once said that the best eggs in a woman come out about 12years after her first menstruation. That is, the quality of egg is at it’s best at that time. However, generations today are not very concerned with egg quality. More often than not, they choose career first or life status before going on the path of pregnancy. While it is responsible to do so, it is critical to recognize the age as a weighty factor in having quality eggs. There’s a reason why older women tend to have more fertility problems than younger women.

Caring for your babies and wanting the best for him is not just about giving what you can give before or after his birth. It is also about caring for yourself before you even conceive a life and guaranteeing that you give the best of what you can give. And it goes for both men and women.

I was having this same discourse on passion by somebody and the word lazy cropped up on more than one occasion. It made me question if lacking passion in your life means being lazy and unpersevering.

Perseverance does spell passion in that being tenacious means you have such strong will to succeed and is passionate in your determination. However, not all people with strong will have such intense emotion in doing things, and as such, passionate. But lacking that zeal doesn’t make one a lazy person especially if the will to succeed yields results.

On the contrary, passion can be an innate quality of a person but laziness is a learned behavior that can be unlearned if one is willing enough, and that’s how I view it, eventhough, there are studies linking laziness to heredity. What I’m trying to say is that, when you are innately passionate about the things you do in life, success always happens as a consequence. Seemingly without so much effort. In a snap, just like that. But when you’re lazy, you can only dream of such things happening in your life (pun intended). And I have yet to hear a person says “lazy” and “effort” in the same breath.

What do you think?