When Bigots Dominate

                         (photo: entervrexworld.wordpress.com)

Tactless is not funny.

If I have the time, I view Jessica Soho's magazine show in GMA every Sunday. Aside from its entertainment quality, I would always be fascinated with the featured food, people and events there. I always appreciate the capacities of those researchers and writers in finding human interest stories... A lot of times, I also find the "usual" stories being told in unusual manners.

I am not anti-poor. (In fact, I am poor myself.) But I dislike the theme of heralding something banal as art via the presentations of the so-called "madlang people". The success of Showtime is explainable since the concept of making the show accessible to anyone is a good one. But then, there's Vice Ganda.

Ok, the comedian is successful due to his quick punchlines and funny side notes. Gays copy the way he looks for he is the embodiment of celebrating the uniqueness of the LGBT (lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) community. It's a strong feature of the millennial generation - where everybody is accepted for who he or she is.

Yet, we are still anchored on the universal values. Even if we are into the most democratic society, we still value respect. Also, we believe that success does not entail using others just to be IN. That could lead towards selfishness to the highest degree.

Vice Ganda gave side comments on the candidacy of Nancy Binay. A lot followed suit. The issue was the lack of experience of the latter. But to decide that Binay could not perform legislative tasks because of inexperience could be prejudice. This was not underscored during Loren Legarda's candidacy when she pole-vaulted to become a politician from being a broadcaster. Yet she proved to be one of the senators who wins the heart of the people based on the survey results.

Then, the most horrifying thing that Vice Ganda the comedian did was when he made fun on Jessica Soho. He focused more on the physical aspect of the multi-awarded newscaster (her being plus size, etc.) rather than her capacities as a person. And that could be out of way since he is making fun out of someone who is respected in her field - an intellectual one...

It would be OK for him to be called ugly and horse-faced because he accepts these things. Also, he made self-humiliation as comic. But then again, that would be another story if you cross certain lines. Why only focus on Jessica Soho and not Teddy Boy Locsin? It would be a very interesting situation since Locsin could make irony and satire so hilarious the literati would die laughing when he'd air his side via Tedditorial.

So what's the thing to learn here? Simple. Make fun out of situations not on people. Gone are the days when differently-abled persons are sources of ridicule. The fact that Vice Ganda as a homosexual is being accepted by his madlang people (which is not the case decades ago),  he must shy away from making fun out of Jessica Soho's weight.

If he insist, we would call back the bigots and let him be screamed: BAYOT BUAAAANG!

Creating Ripples

 (photo: nice-cool-pics.com)

You'll get tired when you persistently pursue something without a game plan. Ok, there are things like serendipity and luck but the main game must be well-planned. The effect whether you got it right or the antithesis of the aim is also different. Pro-active people see this as a win-win situation. Even without the aimed outcome, the lessons learned are worth the while. Anyway, there is a future ahead. But the reactive ones will find more things to find fault with...

After the brouhaha of the past election, you sometimes wonder what would become to those who burned their bridges. Are their lives the same? You accepted long before that your life is a continuum of service. You find meaning of spending your time, treasures and talents in building the capacities of others and extending yourself to those whom others consider as the least, the lost and the last. Your friends find your world boring that they continued to lead a life of their own. And that's it. We are here to find the real MEANING of our existence.

You respect people's views. There are those who lambast others and there are those who empower. One way or the other, they probably find meaning on their actions...

* There are those who spend a lot of time with their families, with their children. You were elated to hear from a mother who told you that she has to spend the precious time with her children because when they reach adolescence, their social needs would heighten and they would choose to be with friends rather than with her. She is maximizing her time with them to build a strong foundation of care, love and affection. Her intentions and deep analyses on parenting are things MEANINGFUL to her.

* You were informed that an acquaintance is trying to become a full-time FB person. He would spend his vacant time looking at the timelines of his friends, viewing pictures, giving comments, liking shout outs and even putting a fight on his convictions. That's his way, anyway. His virtual flights are MEANINGFUL to him rather than the real persons around.

* Your friend is trying to climb the corporate ladder to prove himself, another is spending most of his time in his religious community, one is cajoling his high school friends to build a foundation to help young and deserving students, another is trying to find faults of others by spreading vile rumors, some immerse themselves to books to gain more knowledge... they find MEANING on these.

In the end, we are all the same. It is only our knowledge and wisdom that separate us.

For now, you need to confront the inner you. Your intrapesonal intelligence must be honed so that you could confront your insecurities, wants, needs and capabilities. Doing this leads to maturity. What matters most is YOU and how you influence and affect the persons/things/situations in your ecology. Armed with the universal values, you could never go wrong.

Let us create ripples!

I am Trash

                                                           (photo: pinoy-ofw.com)

I am a tree. Lots of politicians claim that they are environmentalists. In fact, they publish and report stories that they plant similar species like me. But look at what they've done - they are nailing on me and others their political campaign materials. They use wooden sticks, tarpaulin and papers which are so dirty to look at. I feel the pain every time they hammer me with their lies and propaganda thwarted as platforms.

I am a wall. My owners painted me to look dainty. But with the election season, the supporters of the candidates are irresponsibly pasting on me the faces of their bosses. Some of them are using Photoshop concealing the malice on their faces and others failed to cover the wrinkles of greed and selfishness. The industrial paste would become stains on me - lingering memories of broken friendships and family feuds.

I am a stage. I like to think that I am a very important part in the being and becoming of the community members. On me would be the programs staged for the common good. The artistic presentations happen on top of me which, I know, could develop the cultural sensitivity of the audience. But I really hate it when those liars use me. Their filthy intentions reek down to their shoes. During political rallies, they often hurl each other with insults and smear each candidate with the formulated gossips and the like.

I am a microphone. My purpose is to amplify the words of the speakers for the audience to hear. But with the forthcoming elections, I really dream of befriending different brands of mouthwash. For how could I endure the breaths of those who brainwash innocent people? How could I not long for a breath of fresh air when the usual words are given? How could I endure the spits coming from the mouths which have toxins that would eventually kill the dreams of the majority?

I am a pencil. I will be used during the polls. I pray that my lead will shade the right circles with the corresponding candidates. Even if I am only worth three pesos, my role is so great that the future billions of pesos and millions of Filipinos depend on the shades with the names beside them. I know that these are important things in shaping my country.

I am a voter. No amount of money could convince me to vote for someone who would hurt trees, scatter trash, intrude on private walls, stage lies, and give stupendous speeches!

I KNOW HOW TO USE MY PENCIL!

Queen of All Media

 

(kirasukebe.deviantart.com)

I am Kris. A lot of people like me for I grace their living rooms on week days and give them things which I think are intelligent. They like the way I look that's the reason why I am hounded by the different multinationals to endorse their products. A lot like the way I talk as well... I could hear lots of  them copying my accent and the colloquial I introduce would always be hits.... Love love love!

Even if my acting is the same: catatonic with twisted eyebrows, they like my films. My characters resemble the same from Sukob to Mano Po but they like me. My films are all-time hits. I could not sing but I have sold millions of albums just by collecting my favorite love songs. Some critics call the songs mushy but they reached the platinum status!

 I judge a reality show even if I don't have the credentials. A lot of judges are like that, aren't they?

I am the Queen of All Media! One of my best friends is Friendship Ai-ai, the Comedy Concert Queen... so with Zhing, Zsa-zsa, the Divine Diva! At least I belong to the circle of the Superstar, Star for All Seasons, Diamond Star, Mega Star, Jukebox Queen so with my friend Manny, Ang Pambansang Kamao!

My sisters love me. Every time that I would mess up with my love life, they come to the rescue. When I had my thing with Phillip, they lifted me on their shoulders. Josh was accepted freely in our family. When I divulged my STD on national TV and that I was profusely bleeding due to Joey's infliction, you sympathized with me. You cried with me....

When I started to frequent the arena where the PBA is done, you cheered with me. You approved of my happiness, right? James became the apple of your eyes as the right husband for me. And when Baby James was born, more endorsements came. Some guys even copied the hairstyle of my son, ha ha ha!

Then, that hag Vicky caused a lot of trouble when one of her masseuses flirted and had an affair with my James. I hated it, I hate her. I hate James that my son was then called Bimby!   

Now, when James wanted to rape me, you believe that he wanted to rape me, right? How could he say that THERE IS NO MORE SPARK? My skin is maintained with moisturizes which could feed a small community, my hair could send students to college... and he tells us that he doesn't have a thing for me? Ha ha ha...

Thanks for my sisters who come to the rescue once more. And thanks to you for taking my side. It was true that I was really hurt that I cried OUCH! OUCH!

I am Kris. And my brother has three more years.

Remember: Love love love!

War

                                                                    (PicGifs.com)

It's empowering, alright. When you can freely express what you feel, that could be a liberating experience. When you can air out your opinions without being shushed and without any editing from someone, the feeling is great. But this could edge towards feeding that dark side of you who thirsts for power... that dark half who, if not properly guarded, could be unleashed and distort the real you.

When the use of internet and the social networks peaked, a lot of unheard voices came to the open. For persons who encourage communication, an arena for building ideas was being opened. A lot poured their souls to the screen and let their emotions smear the cyber space. There's nothing wrong with the concept of the freedom of speech... I even had an open mind to those who blog with misspelled and abbreviated words. I kept a democratic thinking for those whose syntax are being filled with phrases and sentences which could not be accepted by my English 101 teacher in college. Someone remarked that the effort of expressing is more important than the grammar and the like... OK.

But bashing and bullying are two different issues. I would really wonder why people are compelled to curse and become mean in an avenue where a lot could misinterpret them. I believe that we have the right to be angry and be hurt but we also have the right to preserve our dignity and the real us by thinking sanely before pounding the keys that would translate our feelings to become words. Why not smash a bottle nearby and see the shards fly rather than unleash that dark half which could be identified to you by the worldwide viewers?

"Our words, even our clothes, masquerade as our identities, they are the things to signal who we are," this is a nifty line from that play on shadows. And that could be the guidepost of our shout-outs and tweets. But who am I to tell you this? There's still that freedom that we are hungry of, right? But what about our relationships? Our fleeting feelings won't be there forever (for isn't it scary to be angry for all eternity?) but the ties that bind us could be constant. Yes we could break them but we could also choose not to.

I've seen a lot of word wars lately. I don't have the right to judge the "warriors". They are passionate enough to make their own stands. I could mind my own business but the ripples reached my habitat. These ripples could bother me as well since the hurt and the angry are PEOPLE. Both of the sides are mothers, fathers, sisters, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters... Why not treasure the real things than that which are only on the emotional level? I could not hug anger. I could not shake hands with hate...

But, I could build bridges rather than walls!

Yes, I could do that and become proactive rather than reactive. There are things to do rather than yack about. I need to translate my words into actions, rather, I need my actions to speak for themselves. 

How could I be credible enough to judge a contemporary dance when I don't know how to do a pirouette?

Life Onscreen

In SM Cinema's IMAX, I viewed J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" in 3D. When it was the time to put on the glasses and Bilbo Baggins started to take shape in front of me, I remembered Yoyoy Villame's novelty song titled "Unamg Pagtan-aw Ko'g Sine". There was a scene when something exploded and shrapnels seemed to lead to my direction I almost cowered. I've seen a lot of 3D stuff in my friend's flat via his home theater system but the IMAX experience is different. There was also a wasp which seemed to fly towards me that I thought it landed on my shoulder.

I shelled out some dough for the flick not just for the experience but "The Hobbit" was a favorite book of mine way back in high school. My sister who adores cats had a pet named Bilbo. When Peter Jackson decided to translate Tokien's tales through The Lord of the Ring trilogy, I remembered getting distracted with my norms to be able to see the films. I think this is the only trilogy which made me feel that way (and so with George Lucas' Star Wars). I left Harry Potter to my students and gave Johnny Depp's antics through Pirates of the Caribbean to my friend Karen.

My cousin Mario loves the theater. His love is infectious that he literally told me the experience he had when he saw Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera". He also exposed me to Webber's other plays like "Cats," "Evita," etc.. When "Miss Saigon" produced by Cameron Mckintosh became a national pride due to Lea Salonga's Tony and Lawrence Olivier awards, I also started to listen to Claude-Michel Schoenberg and Alain Boublil who immortalized the potent music and words of Saigon... That was when I realized that the duo made the musical "Les Miserables" breathe into life.

Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables" haunted me way back in college. The book was like an affair which leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I was into Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice and Stephen King. But Hugo's characters have these realistic pains which cut across culture, race, religion and generation. Paris during the 1800's could still be found everywhere. The barricades seem to be the epitome of every person's struggle to topple down oppression, injustice and even personal battles.

When the book was presented onstage through the thespian of the actors and musicians, the world seemed to be centered on the truth of the characters. Boulbil and Schoenberg made a miracle out of these lines:

Do you hear the people sing, singing songs of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slave again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!

And what about the thief who turned to become a good mayor? Jean Valjean could be a wise study of sociologists here since in our country, the opposite often happens: A good mayor will turn out to become a thief! And there's Javert whose sole purpose of existence is to capture Prisoner 24601... He could be the personification of the few whose sole purpose on this Earth is to feed on the misfortunes of others. And who could not be entertained with the irony of The Thernadiers? Their gluttony and unquenchable thirst for money are reflections of poverty...

Ah, the danger of art becoming reality!

I'm going to view the latest film version of the musical "Les Miserables" by Tom Hooper. Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman already received citations during the Golden Globe Awards as Best Supporting Actress and Best Actor respectively. It could be in 3D or 2D. It would not matter as long as the experience would push me towards the better understanding of humanity. This could lead me to acquire more of what we call as LIFE skills.

There is a castle in the clouds

I like to go there in my sleep...

There is a lady all in white

Holds me and sings me a lullaby

 (photo:imbd.com)