A new life blossomed

It was about 6 in the evening of February 4, 2012 when I got a call from my classmate Jess. After I greeted her with a hello she hurriedly blurted out "Shie nanganak na daw si Momi Jen"! Upon hearing the news, the feelings of warmth and excitement hurdled in my system and both enclosed my entire being. It was the day that Sikma has long been waiting for -the day that a
new life blossomed. With so much enthusiasm, we immediately scheduled our visit to the cutie-little girl. However, it was only today that I was able to finally took glimpse of our first ever Sikma angel. But seeing her was not an easy undertaking. We've been into some trouble getting inside Vicente Sotto hospital since we were not aware of the hospital policies regarding visiting arrangements. Nevertheless, with some might and fight -not caring if we would look like thieves as we take into the proper timing ensuring that Manong Guard wasn't looking in our direction, we we're able to finally meet her.

I can say that Sikma was on Jenny's (Mae's mom) side all throughout her journey of carrying a new life in her womb. We are all too excited, with questions in mind like -Is it a Boy or a Girl, How does he/she looks like? Will he/she get more features from her mom or from her dad? How is he/she going to call us, will it be tito and tita, auntie and uncle, ate and kuya, sikmayow and sikmahey? Well, the first was already answered. The baby is a SHE and that's unquestionable. However, the second question is still debatable since we still ague among ourselves as to whom the baby resembles more. And as for the third query, well, we still have to settle that issue!

Nonetheless, Sikma is so happy with the new bundle of joy! Rainejane Mae

--xoxo tita/auntie/ate shie :))

Transcending (anthro blog)

Gays, bisexual and transgender people - I would usually consider them as the faces of entertainment industry; seeing them up the stage with all those colorful costumes, with all those make-up, with all those humors and happy dispositions. They would do almost everything to entertain and make us laugh our hearts out. I see them as people who always take things in life lightly. But, after hearing the stories and statements of Rica, Britney, Bemz, Humphrey, Sass, Jonas and those three other individuals, realization slapped me. Life was in fact never light and easy for people like them. When the masks are down, what I saw are people who are discriminated, abused and tormented.

They are in a battle, a bloody struggle for defending and uplifting their rights. I salute these people who stood up before the world and with dignity proclaimed what their human soul dictated them to be. Going against the societal norm and religious dictum is never simple. Nonetheless, their desire for harmonious existence served as the driving force to continue fighting.

In China, they are called Py Bianxingzhe. In Thailand, they are termed as Kateoy. In Indonesia, they are the Waria. In America, they are referred to as Transgendered. In the Philippines, their kind are often called Bakla or Trans Pinay. In a world where we categorize every individual as man and woman, where should these people lie? Do their being less of a man and more of a woman make them less human? To this question my answer is no. I believe that they too, just like any other man or woman, only want a life to live, with freedom, liberty and pursuit of happiness. These things are not ours (man and woman) to take from them (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). There’s no exclusivity of prescription for these. They too are humans, only that they are unique on their own special ways. Their being unique does not give us the right to treat them with indifference and persecute them. Instead, why don’t we give them one important thing that they really want and need?-- Acceptance!

I remembered watching a documentary show about Trans Pinay (i-Witness). And as an end note, I would like to share the words of Kristine Madrigal, a Trans Pinay. We may ponder them and reach into the very essence of what she said:

"Sa panahon ngayon, hindi na ito question ng kung sino ang makasalanan, kung sino ang banal;

kung sino na lang ang marunong gumawa ng mabuti at marunong makipagkapwa-tao;

sabi nga nila mahirap magpakababae kung hindi ka tunay na babae;

mahirap ding magpakalalake kung hindi ka tunay na lalake;

pero mahirap magpakatao kung hindi nila kami ituturing bilang isang tao."

On track again

I suddenly missed writing here ;) those times when I have to meet all the set deadlines for the class blogs, whether I like it or not, i have to write something on this page. haha. jeezz! i survived, still surviving!

Well, I did not really miss this a hundred percent, only about 20. hehe...yeah because i'm currently having my class blog for my Anthro class. :)

Well, i will try to post new blog from time to time or maybe post here some of my blogs for Anthro. :):):)

Song of Becoming...

Upon reading the poem Song of Becoming, the first image that flashed in my head is that one scene in the movie Kite Runner wherein childhood friends, Amir and Hassan are flying kites. The two characters spent most of their early childhood days playing, roaming the peaceful city streets and being just boys but then those days came to an end when war broke out. They were just like the boys in the poem "who used to frolic and play, launching rainbowed kites on the western wind".

Fadwa Tuqan is known for her representation of the resistance to the Israeli occupation. Though she is a Palestinian, she did not merely represented the Palestinian side in her poem. Because of the presence of the lines: "carried the love's messages like the Bible or the Quran" and "to become the worshipped and the worshipper", it is evident that she is aching and mourning in behalf of both Arab and Jewish boys. She is searching for good fate instead of graves and "sullen tanks" for the innocent ones. She fears for what the future may hold for these boys. She doesn't want the idea that they continue to live amidst the war and engage in war themselves, by the time they grow up; that consequences were shown in her poem to serve as a wake-up call.

A waring state is never a healthy environment for anybody. The word "war" is seemed synonymous with violence and destruction. It doesn't solely destroy ones' physical environment but the lives of the individuals as well. Nobody could be considered a real winner when it comes to wars.

Guests...

I, for one, know no sweeter sight for a man's eyes than his own country, that's what a homeland is for Homer; so does for Mahmoud Darwish. The concept of "watan" or homeland is the central theme of Darwish's poetry. All throughout his life he is in quest for a land which he can call his; for the his fellow Palestinian to be called theirs. Through poetry he made known what is life without a homeland. As what Naomi Shihab Nye put it:

Mahmoud Darwish is the Essential Breath of the Palestinian people, the eloquent witness of exile and belonging, exquisitely tuned singer of images that invoke, link, and shine a brilliant light into the world's whole heart. What he speaks has been embraced by readers around the world-his in an utterly necessary voice, unforgettable once discovered.

Every line of his poem Guests on the Sea revealed his personal experience as an exile; being one of the guests on the sea. He himself had savored the experience of being homeless, of being a nomad, just like any other Palestinians. Their venture of having a place for their own has grown long, so long that "the plants of the distance have grown tall" already. Why is it that the realization of that simple longing is so difficult? They are pleading to the sea, to those who are in power, not to give them the "song they do not deserve" which is the exodus from their homeland. Perhaps that's why that line is given stress and repeated.

Mahmoud Darwish gave us a clear view of what is in the heart of every homeless individauls, their wants and their needs. Though, he is a poet of resistance he believed that even there's struggle, there's also the ray of hope and that peace is attainable.

A Journey...

M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.
--Howard Johnson (c. 1915)

Being a mother is one of the most exceptional role a woman plays. It is one of the greatest right a woman could have. She would always have a great impact on any child's life. This is because they share unique bond which had started since the day of conception. Bonding and attachment comes with a day-to-day unconditional love. This attachment is evident in the poem The Journey by Maxine Kumin. It reflected the different facets of this unconditional love. There's always a fear in each mother's heart of almost all the things concerning her child. In the poem, I just couldn't imagine the fear encompassing the mother's heart for what the future may bring to her daughter. But that fear is at a higher level especially with the fact that she wouldn't be by her daughter's side along the journey from that point of her life. But even if that's the case, being separated physically and geographically would not mean that the connection between them is completely gone.

I couldn't help but relate myself with the poem. The pieces of advice that my mom would constantly give me still rings in my head. But its frequency increased since the day I left home for college. I know that it was hard for her to me go and leave me on my one but I saw in her eyes that she trusted me enough to give me the opportunity to explore the world on my own and learn from the experiences that this new world could offer. It is really true that in any type of relationship it must always be a give and take process, and you must know that in your heart the love you share will surely cross any boundaries.

jUst a BoY

Do not suck your thumb; put your toys in this box, do not leave them scattered on the floor; cease mumbling; sit on that corner, be still; do not run around like a wild cat; this is the kind of food that you should eat; candies will give you a tooth decay; fruits will make you strong; this milk for your bones; you must not walk out in the rain and play in the mud; be sure you tie your shoe lace; do not cross a busy street alone; now learn your ABC's and 123's; learn how to pray; eat a power breakfast; did you belch? where are your manners? be sure you to lend your ears, now do your homework; do not just throw your stuff anywhere; be sure not to stay up late; enough for ball games, only on Saturdays; this is where you should keep your bike, this is how you should pile your sneakers; be sure to check your shirt because your soaking with sweat; enough for cutting classes; be sure to come home straight; this is the things that you should focus on, enough computer games and skateboards; stop picking at your sister; will your delinquencies give me a break? enough for texting, you seemed so engrossed with that girl; do not be an infantile fool; take alcohol in moderation, but never smoke; never start a fight; but when you're provoked, this is how you should fight back; get a degree; this is how to set a goal, pass the board; be sure you'll get the job; this is how you please the boss, this is how you do the trick; this is where you park your car; now is she your lady? be a gentleman; am I not? this is how you control your drives; be sure to handle your temper, don't be a fussy buddy; this is how to be a beau ideal like you dad; this tie should go with that tuxedo; when you say 'I do', say it with conviction; this is how to settle down; this is how to say what you mean and mean what you say; this is when to conform and when not to; this is how to contruct a house; this is how to build a home; this is how to rear your kiddo, it's never easy though.