Don't Force Your Niqab On Us, CBCP

It's supposed to be a personal choice.

(Courtesy of onislam.net)

Did you hear about the woman in Egypt who was assaulted and whose hair was forcibly cut?

On Sunday, a Christian woman had her hairstyle forcibly changed by two women in Egypt (who happened to be wearing niqabs), in an apparent attempt to instill the notion that ALL Egyptian women should be wearing the niqab when in public.

(See http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/women-assault-cut-hair-christian-woman-metro for more details.)

The niqab is the veil or face covering that Islam requires of its' female members to wear in certain instances. (Not to be confused with the burka.)

The Christian woman was called an "infidel", and was pushed off the train (they were in the metro/train station) which broke her arm.

It brought to my mind what the CBCP is doing in our own country.

Specifically, with the RH Bill.

You see, the niqab wearing women confused their religious choice as being the standard to follow for all of Egypt - it has been established that the woman they assaulted was a Christian, but that didn't matter one whit to them: all they can think of was, if you are a woman in Egypt, you should wear a niqab.

Similarly, our bishops are confusing the entire Philippines as being Catholic.

They don't seem to care that under our form of government, a democracy that is secular in nature, anyone is free to choose their religion. It means you can choose to be a Catholic. It also means you can choose to be a non-Catholic, however that fact is manifested (one chooses another religion or no religion at all).

Once these facts are clearly established, it becomes incomprehensible why the CBCP is so adamant in insisting that their view on the RH Bill - particularly as to which forms of contraception they deem "acceptable" and "moral" - is the only "way to go".

I think it's because they have gotten away with it for so long, this "unchallenged" position that they have occupied in this country as the religious majority.

They don't care that this country has a sizable religious minority. They make threats - both veiled and obvious - to our lawmakers regarding their political mortality if they will approve of the RH Bill. The lawmakers who are against the bill have reasons like "it is against our faith", clearly a statement of intolerance, one that presumes and assumes that we have a uniform faith and a singular religion.

Being the religious majority does not give you the right to run roughshod over everyone else, the way these two Islamic women in Egypt broke the arm of the Christian woman.

Being the religious majority does not give you the right to assault our beliefs or non-belief as "immoral", the way these two Islamic women in Egypt thought of the Christian woman for not wearing a niqab..

Being the religious majority does not give you the right to change the laws in this land to suit your taste, the way these two Islamic women in Egypt tried to change the Christian woman's hairstyle.

Don't force your niqab on us.

My Last Concert Ticket Cost PhP 700

So, you can just imagine how stunned I was to hear that for the one-night-only concert of singer, dancer and actress (and some time American Idol judge) Jennifer Lopez in Manila, it would cost at least PhP 2,590.00 (roughly $61) just to get in the door - the General Admission price.

She must be worth it - the VIP seats are sold out.

(Courtesy of mtv.com)

I actually saw the ad on TV and I had to blink a few times to check if I was seeing correctly: prime seats to her concert (VIP) would put you out by PhP 25,840.00! That's more than $600! (I initially posted this in my Facebook status, and I was heartened to hear that even for people in the USA, they found the price outrageous.) And when I checked a website to see the prices (I like to research first before I post anything on my blog), I was even more stunned to see that this section was already Sold Out.

Are you sure we should still classify ourselves a Third World country?

For a complete listing of prices, here is the poster I found from the Philippine Concerts website.

My reaction to the prices: Wow.

(Courtesy of www.philippineconcerts.com/foreign/jennifer-lopez-live-in-manila/)

As my post title suggests, it must have been quite some time from the last concert that I attended. I remember feeling quite guilty for spending PhP 750 on a concert, something my mom would call a "waste of money" especially if you could just purchase it online. (Of course, when she said that, we still had casette tapes. Look it up, kids.)

If you have the money to burn - the 25k seats being sold out indicates there are people who can - I will say the same thing I say to people who get face lifts: more power to you, I hope it gives you some measure of satisfaction. 

I have to say it again: Wow for a 25k ticket. Just...wow.

Satan Has A Taxi Company

I had the distinct (dis)pleasure of being driven around by one in the employ of The Nasty One the other day.  In hindsight, I realize now my own mortality could have easily been compromised, and it's only now that I can look back at it with humor (with a little chill still coursing through my lumbar spine.)

Can I get out of this ride...now?

(Courtesy of gotagotaxi.com)

With the excitement of moving into our new place (which explains why I haven't been blogging for quite some time, owing to precoccupation with moving concerns) comes the pain of the logistical nightmares of cutting up telephone and cable accounts, cleaning up our old digs, and settling of unfinished business. Let's face it: Moving is a pain in the ass.

Coupled with the fact that I just suffered a nasty sprain over the weekend when we started our moving out process (which gave rise to other conditions) and I was pumped and primed for a blowout soon enough. Luckily, the taxi driver from a fiery place gave me the release I needed.

I was scheduled to meet Sky Cable technicians in our old place to supervise their disconnection of our cable line, so I tried to flag a cab from our new place. Seeing my "invalid" status (I had a noticeable limp), the security guard stationed in our entrance assisted me and brought forth what I would later call the chariot of death.

As I got in the cab, I realized that I had whole thousand bills only and so I told the driver to take me to our old place: "Manong, paki derecho lang sa Yakal Street, may ATM diyan, wiwithdraw ako, buo kasi pera ko, para mabayaran kita."

Driving Demon squints and strains his eyes forward, and seeing a line of cars further ahead, he turns to me (at 9 in the morning) and goes: "Ano ka, hilo?!? Nakita mo ba ang trapik banda roon? Eh, diba sa Dela Rosa naman ang punta mo?!? Kakaliwa na ako dito!"

I was speechless - and it's something that doesn't happen very often. I asked nicely, the detour was so I could pay him without a mad dash for panukli, and having lived in Makati a good number of years, the "trapik" he was so aghast over was nothing, really. I started pulling out all the loose change I could find - actually more coins than loose bills - to pay for the ride.

As I felt the throbbing pain in my foot, I decided to concentrate all my energies into (1) not saying a word and (2) focus on not screaming in pain. Which, of course, was his cue to make himself a target for my barely contained indignation.

"O...san na ba tayo dadaan? Pwede na ba dito? Pwede ba sa kabila?"

I turned into a camel whose back was just broken by an idiotic blowhard. I looked at him and said, "akala ko ba alam mo ang daan? Eh, diba ayaw mo nga dumaan sa gusto ko, kumaliwa ka na lang bigla, tapos ngayon, tatanong ka sa akin kung san dadaan?!?"

DD: "Teka..teka...bakit ba bigla ka nalang magagalit sakin, HA?!?"

Me: "Nakuha mo pang itanong kung bakit?!? Sinabi ko sa iyo na kailangan ko dumaan sa ATM para sa bayad mo, ayaw mo gawin, kesyo alam mo kung saan ka dadaan, tapos di mo pa alam...tapos tatanungin mo ako bakit ako magagalit?"

DD: "Hooooooy! Ano ka, sinuswerte?!? Ano kala mo sa akin, i-SLAVE mo?!? Ang trabaho ko, taxi drayber! Dadalhin kita sa kung saan ka papunta, pero di ako alipin! Hindi yung uutusan mo ako mag antay sa iyo habang may ginagawa kang iba! Hilo ka ba?!? Aba, kailangan mo magising!"

At that point, I was truly amazed that he had the temerity to even defend his obnoxiousness, that I was oblivious to the fact that he had driven all the way to Dela Rosa Street; unfortunately, it was at the intersection way past our old condo, and because it was a one way street, we had to go the very long way just to get to where I wanted.

Me: "Kita mo na, mapapalayo pa tayo nito, eh! Kung sinundan mo ang sinabi ko, dederecho lang sa isang loop ang daan natin, hindi kung katakot takot na intersection and kailangan pa natin daanan at iikot pa tayo ng malayo!"

DD: "Dinala naman kita sa Dela Rosa, ah!"

We were so engrossed in our bickering that he stopped the car completely, obstructing the traffic flow even more. A traffic cop approached us to flag the cab, and I could hear the cop from outside: "Kanina pa kita pinapa-go! Obstruction ka na niyan!"

The imp proceeds to bring the cab to the curb, he gets down and begins his litanya to the cop: "Eto kasing pasahero na to, eh! Di naman pala alam kung saan papunta! Ayan tuloy, nagtalo kami sa gitna ng daan!"

Adrenalin must have pumped through me like a gush of waterfalls because I suddenly felt free from my foot pain and got out of the car to confront the lying servant of the Dark Overlord. "Ang kapal mo rin, ano! Ako pa ngayon ang sasabihin mong dahilan kung bakit ka nahuli! Sinungaling ka, ah! Kung sinunod mo lang ang sinabi kong daan, eh di naandun na tayo sa pupuntahan ko! Nagmamagaling ka diyan, wala ka naman palang binatbat!"

The cop proceeds to question us separately: he directs me to wait in the car while he interrogates the cab driver outside. After he gets both our sides, I could hear him reprimanding the devil incarnate: "...eh dun naman pala sa Yakal ka niya pinapapunta para magwithdraw ng pambayad sa yo, bakit sa iba ka dumaan? Wala ngang barya yung tao, eh! At bilang drayber, hindi ka pwede makipagtalo sa pupuntahan ng pasahero mo..."

So, how does this story end?

The cop issues him a ticket, the incubus fidgets all the way - the loooong way - driving me to my old place, refusing to look at his rear view mirror, although I made sure my ultimately satisfied smirk was visible even from outer space.

When Art met up with me for lunch, he then chastised me for locking horns with someone who was born with his own gleaming pair: "Good thing he didn't hurt you, you know how our public drivers are, walang kinakatakutan, they always have some weapon like a balisong with them."

Something to remember, worth PhP 78.50 (my cab fare).

I can't decide if the lesson is cheap or expensive.

The Last Word

Yak it up.

(Courtesy of businessesgrow.com)

1. Conversation between conservative school adminstrator and "shopping" parent.

"We have the best facilities here, the best faculty, and we teach compassion to our students."
"How do you achieve the last item?"
"We have an outreach program to immerse students in squatter areas."
"And then?"
"For two hours they get to see how the other side lives. Then we share our collected goods."
"And this is a signature program you have here?"
"Yes! It's very successful. Students leave feeling grateful for having so much."
"Can I suggest something that would add to the program?"
"If you enroll your child with us, we would love to hear your suggestions."
"Maybe you could teach the students why there is such economic disparity in our country. How laws, businesses, politicians, religions, media and many other factors are conspiring to make it difficult for the ones in the lower rungs of our socio-economic stations to rise above their status."

--------------------

2. Conversation between homophobe and nonchalant young person, circa 2012.

"Homosexuality is an abomination! It is clearly unnatural!"
"Clearly?"
"Male and female! Made for each other! It's in nature! It's natural for males to look for females!
"And by nature, you mean...?"
"How you were born, made, come into this world! Nature!"
"There are thousands of species on earth where homosexuality has been recorded as being natural."
(Silence.)
"Anything else?"
"So just because some animals do it, these gay freaks have to imitate it? Are they that dumb?"
"Are you straight?"
"Of course! How could you even ask me that!"
"Did you learn your heterosexuality from animals, too?"

--------------------

3. Conversation between advocates of natural and modern family planning methods.

"Natural family planning methods are better! They are "open to life"!
"What do you mean by that phrase?"
"Even if NFP is practiced, there is a possibility of impregnation!"
"But isn't the end goal of NFP contraception?"
"Huh?"
"You engage in NFP to not be pregnant, right?"
"So?"
"So...whether by natural or modern methods, contraception is contraception."
Silence.
"Anything else to add?"
"You are offending my religious beliefs!"
"I don't share your beliefs, and we are not in your place of worship. This is a public forum."
Silence.
"Anything more?"
"You will burn in a fiery place!"
"I thought you wanted a religion-free discussion."

--------------------

4. Conversation between politician and voter.

"Vote for my spouse, my work will continue!"
"Isn't that the beginning of a dynasty?"
"There's no enabling law!"
"It's in the Constitution."
"It's not illegal."
"Aren't you a lawmaker?"
"So?"
"So why didn't you make one?"

--------------------

5. Conversation between parent and child.

"I need the new tablet."
"No."
"But everyone has it."
"No."
"Look, I'll only use it for important stuff."
"No."
"I just want to hook up with my friends."
"No."
"Then you're grounded for two months!"

Scary Things

This isn't horrendous.

(Courtesy of beforeitsnews.com)

As I walk past throngs of children in their "Halloween's Best", doing the trick-or-treat shtick in one of Manila's biggest malls, it got me to thinking about what it is I find scary. It has nothing to do with walking corpses, headless apparitions or bloody entrails.

Coming face to face with hordes of bills. Nothing can be more frightening than opening envelopes filled with one message: YOU OWE US. Phone bills, electricity, water, rent, association dues - whoever said "the best things in life are free" must immediately be hauled in for questioning. One of the downfalls of adulthood is the sterling fact that you have to pay your way for everything. Kids, enjoy your time with your parents. Seriously.

Facing the specter of death. When I hear of so many of my contemporaries dropping like flies - from heart disease, accidents, a rare congenital condition or even suicide - it becomes harder and harder each day to avoid having to face our collective endpoint. I'm not thinking if I'm going to be resurrected with just three of my limbs intact - although that did give me a comical pause - but my thoughts go to my partner, who has shared a wonderful, crazy life with me. I'm thinking of my family of origin, all of whom are still alive today. And the many wonderful friends I have had the pleasure of sharing lives with. (Here I go again, trying not to think about it.) In the end, having the latest gadget or sporting the latest car model really means diddly-squat.

Haunted By Unfinished Business. The thought of leaving this mortal coil with so many loose ends makes me want an additional 5 years in my life. At least. This matter is different for everyone, but over the course of attending several funerals, I hear the same theme and things, over and over: debts left for other family members to now worry over, a feud that was started between two friends by the simplest of matters that left 35 years of hatred towards each other in its wake, a well-kept secret that reveals itself only when something - or someone - shows up at the wake, people depending on you who will now lose that security. Loose ends will only cease being scary when we tie them up. Tightly. Bloody tightly.

Being lorded over by hypocritical zealots. The pendulum worldwide seems to be swinging - towards the absurd notion that we are nothing without a bunch of men in various costumes telling us what to do in our lives. The obsession with puritanism, conservatism and disdain for acceptance is making me despair for humanity. Over such a short period of time, we have heard of rape being defined as "God's will", a teenager shot in the head for championing the right to education, and clerics calling people who vote for a candidate they detest as being "bound for a fiery place". I would give them more attention - maybe - if they stopped collecting money from their followers or renounce their organizations' tax-exempt status. But I fear more for those who are bullied and terrorized into thinking that their lives are meaningless if they don't follow one of these so-called "arbiters of morality".

The unchanging face of Philippine politics. And that's a literally unchanging face. It's now a family business. Everyone sharing the same surname can now look forward to being called "honorable" - I think I just got a rash saying that. How inimitably frustrating. When I hear the CEO of these political families saying (1) "voters like me and what I've done, it's to continue the legacy!" (2) "don't look at us, it's legal!" or (3) "we have the country's best interests at heart", it makes me want to get a brick. Yun lang naman. What I'll do with it is unprintable. And what's even scarier is when voters say "we don't have a choice". 

So, go ahead, put on those ghoulish costumes, one-eyed masks and cackle maniacally. It will never compare with what we have to face on a daily basis.

Boo.

Styling An (Illicit) Affair

*If you haven't seen A Secret Affair, you may want to turn away now.

Looking good, above all.

(Courtesy of sirearevalo.com)

For a supposedly conservative and religious country, we certainly have an odd attitude towards extra marital affairs, indiscretions and other such similar activities: not only are they tolerated, they seem to have been accepted as woven into our culture, no one even batting an eyelash anymore if someone says they have half-siblings.

Not that I want the batting, but you have to admit, given our penchant for claiming ourselves as pious, it is a peculiar attitude to have.

A Secret Affair is the latest film offering that seems to be parlaying this fact onto the big screen: everyone does it, it can't be helped, just look good while you're doing it. About a third into the film, I was furtively looking for any CBCP representatives in the audience ready to shame us for shelling out money to watch it.

Notes on the film:

(1) Was this film sponsored by a realty company? The places where most of the scenes take place seem to held in model units of condos or houses that seem to be for display, nothing out of place, picture perfect, with one even taking place facing out a picturesque "nature" backdrop. I'm beginning to think that with all their preoccupation with making their houses ready for a brochure close-up, they had no energy left to salvage all their personal relationships.

(2) It's perfectly understandable why Rafaela (Anne Curtis) decided to dump Anton (Derek Ramsay) the night before their wedding - all together now, "classic cold feet". Of course, it's also not clear why anyone would say yes to a wedding proposal just after two months of meeting and dating each other. You'd think that because of what Rafi's parents went through (played by Jacklyn Jose and Joel Torre), she'd be more circumspect about any potential partner.

(3) The most authentic scene for me was the first time Sam (Andi Eigenmann) and Anton knew each other in the biblical sense. They couldn't wait to do it, and they found a construction site to consumate their desire for each other. The authenticity stopped when they were "done", parted ways and rode in their respective brand new cars. I'm not sure if the rich would ever have trysts in a place where they could puncture their alabaster skin with some carelessly lying rust-encrusted nails.

(4) Derek Ramsay is fully utilized for his talents - a.k.a. the current definition of male physical perfection. There doesn't seem to be a single fat cell in his body, and the camera was rather relentless in going over every inch - above the waist - of this sought-after commodity. He's also mastered the I'm-hurt-and-I-sound-like-a-wounded-bird voice, which he used about 90% of the time in this film, crying with Anne/Rafi, pleading with Rafi's parents, or having a monologue while his "bud" listened. No, having that voice doesn't qualify as good acting. The whole time, the words "one trick pony" kept flashing whenever he was onscreen. Good thing his body is the envy of every guy in the country - now that has absolutely no fault whatsoever.

(5) I don't really understand why the movie is an "affair" movie: Sam and Anton were doing it before Rafi entered the picture, and then they started up again only when Rafi dumped Anton and left without explaining why. If anything, Anton has the right to get all huffy; I can see the thought bubble now: "Ikaw na nga nangiwan! Ano, titigil buhay ko dahil wala ka na at di lang man nagsabi kailan babalik?!?"

(6) I don't think any feminist would like the way Sam is portrayed here: like a vulture sizing up the situation and seizing a time to swoop in. You have the obligatory slapping scene between the female leads, but Anton gets it a little bit too easy by doing that dang bird voice routine. Is "it takes two to tango" still unheard of by movie writers? Or is this an attempt to turn stereotypes around? Notice how in the stairwell scene, it is Anton who pretends to resist oral, uh, treatment by Sam (while unsuspecting Rafi walks past by a few times).

Hmm.

(7) I like Jacklyn Jose. I always have.

(8) I might use Rafi's line about coffee in the near future.

(9) I didn't know you could enter high-rise construction sites with a party dress and high heels, with only a hard hat for "protection".

(10) The truth: When trust is broken, things will never be the same. What happens next is always a choice.

Happily Blu In Cebu

It is such a refreshing feeling to have your expectations exceeded in a plethora of ways, seeing as many things, as of late, tend to swing toward the other end of the spectrum - horribly disappointed - and I'm glad the former was what happened when we checked in the Radisson Blu.

Ironically, it's the "small stuff" that leaves an impression.

I knew next to nothing about the hotel before Art and I arrived here, except the knowledge that it is part of a hotel chain worldwide. (I count that as a good thing because I have no preconceived notions or expectations.) When you enter the lobby, the sheer size can overwhelm even those who think they've "seen it all".

A welcome change from cluttered reception areas.

Even in reviews by foreigners in travel sites, part of their "have-to-mention" parts have to do with the enormity of space in the lobby, even by their standards/what they're used to. We spent the evening listening to live music at the lobby, feeling so much at ease with the spacious surroundings that after awhile, it seemed natural to just run back up to our room and take a much needed respite.

We were booked into a Superior Room but we were (luckily) upgraded into a Premier Room (and I was made aware that this was different from their Premier Suite). They have the label down pat, because it really was an experience that can be described as "premiere". I would gauge the room to be around 80 square meters, what with the different areas that were encompassed by one room.

We entered through a mirrored hallway that led into the living room.

You can be lazy here and stop apologizing for it.

The hues of the furniture and the general theme were agreeable to both of us, because we aren't fans of wild, crazy color schemes, and when you get to a hotel, the mindset is generally one of rest and relaxation. The general feel of this area will get you into shut-eye mode.

*Sigh* If you must work, here's the office area.

Right across the "living room" was the workspace, where there was a ready ethernet connection, and at this point, I need to applaud the fact that they had free in-room wifi. (Which was quite strong.) So whether you love your wires or value mobility, you can stay connected at Radisson Blu. Note to other hotels: Stop charging for wi-fi service. It will get you more customers if you make it complimentary, guaranteed.

Spoiled for choice in this area.

The "office area" leads into the door of the "master bedroom": there is a small hallway where the closet and cabinets are, luggage space, in-room safe before it opens up into the sleeping area and the bathroom.

Do you prefer a stable showerhead, one you can detach, or soak in a tub? All three choices are available for you. The same color theme - simple but rich hues - continue throughout the bathroom. The toilet is situated a little further (as if to keep the possible olfactory delights, uh, contained) in the farthest corner. One minus is the lack of a bidet, but which is no problem for us, because Art cannot travel anywhere without his beloved tabo.

I should make special mention of one fact that was much appreciated: there are two toilets in the Premier Room. I don't know if this is standard as well for the other choices, but it was such a boon to have this convenience.

The pillows - particularly the large one - were so soft, I felt my head was drowning the first time I laid on it. They thoughtfully placed electrical outlets by the side of the bed - both sides - with the light controls as well. (With the plethora of mobile gadgets these days, it was such a pleasure to not have to ask "why did they place the outlet behind the refrigerator?!?" just to charge any appliances.) One side had an iPod dock, as well as a digital clock. The flatscreen TV ensured maximum laziness, just in case the comfortable bed still doesn't do the trick.

After we checked out our room, we decided to do a tour of the other amenities. They had an asymmetrical swimming pool (with little bridges over the "smaller areas"), with a lifeguard on duty as well as an attendant to hand out towels to guests. We also saw a rather large fitness center that would make "professional" gyms bow their heads in shame. Art wanted to check out the spa services, and we were pleasantly surprised to learn that they had an in-house spa, although we were thrown by the prices (some of which were double the rates of the most expensive spas in Manila). Needless to say, to achieve peace of mind, we decided to forego any spa service.

Strolling the grounds at night is a cinch with the lighted paths.

This way, please.

One of the biggest conveniences the hotel offers is that it is next door to SM Cebu. I know my environmentally-minded friends will not approve of this as a plus, but for travelers, it is a practical godsend to have such a big "convenience store" right beside the hotel: in fact, there is a shaded walkway from the hotel to the mall for easy access of guests.

A hint of (delectable) things to come.

And for your dining needs, the in-house restaurant, Feria, does a marvelous job of keeping you satisfied. We had such a great experience (we took dinner and breakfast there) that I decided that it deserved a post all on its own.

(See: http://theguywithablog.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-joy-of-feria.html)

The amenities, facilities, dining experience and service all came together to provide an unmistakably satisfying stay. It rates as the best hotel experience in the country for me as of this point in time, which surprised even me. (I've made no secret in one of my previous posts which hotel used to occupy that position. But at half its' price, this is such an unbeatable way to recharge, away from the craziness of Manila.)

We were anything but blue in our stay at the Radisson Blu in Cebu. On the contrary, it managed to give us back much needed smiles borne out of a superb hotel experience.

We will be back.