No Outrage

Why is it that when any celebrity makes any comment on anything, we cry outrage to the media? It’s like everything I go online, there’s some trending issue about a comment and a group of people asking for an apology. Protesting celebs should be more sensitive on their comments to other people or that they should open their minds towards others. But isn’t bashing these celebs really just the same thing as a celeb making an inappropriate comment?

I am guilty of doing this from time to time when there’s an issue that really bugs me. But I think we have to put this into perspective. For this, I would like to appeal to the freethinking community. We patronize ourselves or at least are proud on saying that we are rational open minded people but why can’t we argue that Catholics will never agree with all our thoughts. That if we use our rationality we will obviously draw the conclusion that some Catholics will be opposed to RH bill and LGBTs because it is in their belief system. And because of that background, they will never share or accept anything if it’s not based on their religion. Do we really think Catholics would follow anything else other than the bible? I know to us that may sound condescending because we expect more from people but why do we expect apple trees to bear oranges? We cannot change these people by simple criticizing their points of view and making them apologize, it’s simply not ideal.

I’m not saying I agree with their beliefs and that some of their opinions are not impeding our country’s progress and even indirectly kill people. What I’m trying to stress out is that you can’t change these people by simply bashing them on what they say. We should focus on people’s opinions that actually matter. I think we can be outraged with Pacquaio’s comment because he is a lawmaker but with Miriam Quiambao, who cares? Does anybody take her politically serious? It’s not like she will sway all freethinkers into thinking that LGBTs are not equal. Most people who will agree with her probably already have that same opinion hence no actual impact will be made. I mean are there really any free thinkers listening to Miriam Quiambao saying, she’s right, I’ve got to change my opinion. None.

I think our constant battle with the media makes us seem as the boy who cried wolf. This actually makes people ignore our actual causes. The easier we blow up every small thing anybody says makes it even easier for normal people to not take us seriously. We should be able to focus our energies in things that actually creates change, not just another media blur.

My last beef with this issue is not all minorities are freethinkers and not all freethinkers are part of the minority. I am proud to say that I consider myself as a freethinker but freethinkers do not equal minority. I know a lot of gay people who are extremely against atheism or extremely religious people who are not against gay people. I know a lot of freethinkers who refuse to be labeled because they do not want the association. This is because sometimes relating yourself with a group is restrictive; it actually creates a barrier to freedom. So I would just like to ask, do not preach your cause using the name freethinker because it actually negates its meaning.

I know asking people to calm the fuck down will be a stretch because we like talking about any issue in social networks. It makes us feel important and makes us feel involved. We become this sort of social police calling out those who go out of line, but is it really that productive or is this just another practice of self-importance? Being involved is more than just typing a few words and clicking a button. It requires commitment and to stand up and fight. I mean, a tweet is just a tweet, it’s not a cause.

Random Thoughts – Out of Focus

We all have dreams, whether it’s as big as world peace or as small as losing two pounds, the urge we feel in the time we made that dream in our minds makes us want to push ourselves hard to get there. But the urge is never as strong as it is the first time, and most of the time, we tend to lose our focus towards those dreams.

It’s been more than two months (I think, and I’m not even sure) since the last time I wrote. And it wasn’t because I no longer wanted to become a writer or that I had nothing more to say. It’s not even that I’ve given up the dream of becoming a writer; it’s just that I got tired and lost focus.

We all get that sometimes, the slack. When we see our dreams from a great distance, too far from our reach and our lives get too comfortable. When we become too busy and happy with our day to day uneventful lives become stationary. It happens; it happens to all of us. It’s nothing depressing and nothing special; everybody makes a hiatus once in a while. I mean our life is not a series of musicals, in actuality; our lives are just routine events with a couple of exciting happenings in between.

So we live our routine lives and put our dreams in a box, but the funny thing about it is that no matter how long we live normally, the dreams that once fired us up will always resurface. It’s like an exciting succession of boredom and ecstasy, when after some stagnant years of just living the plain lives; we feel a sudden jolt of electricity that sparks us up to realize our old far-fetched dreams. It happens in unexpected bursts alongside our daily routines. Like a song you hear on the radio on the way to work that makes you remember how much you wanted to be a song writer, or the children you see on the street that once made you want to pursue social working. There is always some small thing that wakes us up from the slumber of the comfort of contented life and reminds us that we had a dream and maybe it’s about time to work on it again.

Our dreams live as we as do, they start fast then go into overdrive then slows calmly into steady, but it never comes to a complete stop. It pauses but never really dies down. They never seem to leave us no matter where we are in our lives. And our dreams now, at least the ones that we feel so strongly about, the one that makes us think we are better than we ever could be, will always stay with us, and will always want to be realized.

I’m sure there a lot of new year’s resolutions and must lists are forgotten by now, and it’s not even the a quarter of a year. But some items on that list will be on the next year’s list for sure, like skydiving, visiting Angkor Wat or creating a song. It may have even be an over spill from the 2000 must do list but it never really disappeared. These things that keep coming up will always come up and will never cease. And they shouldn’t, because life is far too boring if we don’t let these things go up and down with our lives.

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, it started when I was in high school when I entered the school newspaper. It took a long break when I lost the drafts of all my work in college. And after a few years, it got back when I started my blog. The dream never really ceases, it continues whether or not you live with it and by it. And the rebirth of new will the bringing of new hope helps these dreams get better and become bigger. The dream is always there, your focus must just be off. So don’t worry about losing focus, it happens to all of us. The important thing is you know what your dream is, because that is what’s important.

Random Thoughts – Privacy and Celebrities

I don’t like watching TV, at least local TV because our cable ALWAYS includes showbiz news. We have showbiz news, not even bits, BUT NEWS, as in they are continually updated daily on who’s with who, and who’s doing what every weekend. And it’s not even enough that we have one show that discusses all of these, our daily news, that’s supposed to air for significant matters includes showbiz and I am so tired of seeing high paid celebrities get tan and fight with each other to get more money.

But despite my irritation and constant shrugging of this matter, it continually creeps into my daily life. I hear about it every day even if I try to avoid it. So for now, I want to voice out my concern on these spoiled fucking celebrities and their so called private lives because I’m sick and tired of them crying about lack of privacy and people invading their lives.

For one, you people are getting paid thousands for doing what you do. I mean rocket scientists don’t get paid as much and they contribute to the progress of the human race! What do you do? You act on TV or in the big screen? And maybe, they may change a life or two, but I think the people spending time in labs trying to get the cure for cancer should get more credit, but unfortunately, celebrities telling people that they lost weight costs more.

Next, you are paid not to be just an artist, but also to be public figures, and that includes everything you do. Companies pay you to live publicly because that’s how they make money from endorsements. Has it ever occurred to you that you get paid to go to clubs because more people go to clubs that you’ve been in or that you get paid to wear clothes because people will buy the clothes you are wearing? People book you in shows because people know you, because they want to hear what you’re doing. That’s how it works, and if you don’t understand that, maybe you shouldn’t get advertisements in the first place.

And lastly, why did you want to become famous in the first place? I thought the people who want to be famous wants to get talked about. And too bad, the media will never show just the good side of you, because even saints have their side of scrutiny. I mean, you can’t want to be famous and be ignored, because if that’s the goal, what the hell did you sign up for? If you want to get recognized, you will be, but not just for the good things you do. So if you don’t want a front page in a local tabloid from your crazy night out without your top on, DON’T DO IT! Stay at home and watch the TV shows you love doing so much.

FYI, YOU ARE THE ENTERTAINMENT. What you do matters. Not just the shows you are in or the movies you do, and not even the fucked up records you make, BUT YOU AS A PERSON provides entertainment. And if you didn’t realize that before you went into that business, you didn’t really think about what you’re doing. So if you want a normal life with people not bugging you, get a normal job like everybody else. But with the current state of some celebs, I think it’s best that you don’t quit, you may not be good at anything else other than living under a spotlight.

Random Thoughts – Backstabbers

Backstabbers. We’ve all met these people, as friends, as colleagues, or just acquaintances. We try to avoid them, but we can never seem to. They always pop up in some weird and frustrating situation that aggravates us and they make us lose focus.

We can no longer even count the ways these people have misused our sense of trust. We can’t even understand why they would go behind our backs for the simplest things, but they do. They always do. Whether it’s withholding important information on your current job, or making underground deals to make a couple of bucks, or cheating on you with your current boyfriend, these people obviously have serious issues with you and what you have.

A lot of people account this behavior to insecurities, and I think they are right. I mean what person in the right mind would waste all of their time plotting against everybody. Or someone who takes pleasure in bringing people down to get themselves higher? Does a high paying job really matter that much? Does money really outweigh respect in the long run? Does being in a relationship with a cheating guy compensate friendships? Are these people really that short sighted that they think they are getting ahead by accomplishing these little silly things?

I think it’s in their system. It’s in their blood; maybe backstabber is a new species of humans that extremely manifests the selfish gene. And that one of their new evolved traits doesn’t include fighting fair, loyalty and honesty. They may have also developed an extremely hard exoskeleton that can fight against decency and can withstand shame.

I can’t imagine what it takes to be a backstabber. It’s so time consuming and too elaborate that I may forget what I’m doing in the first place. How do these people find time to do these things? Because between work, friends and relationships, I can’t seem to find the time to go around planning to screw people, spreading rumors and making fake friendships. How do they define the lies from the truth with all the crap that they say? And how in the world do they live their own lives if their lives revolve around other people?

I guess fighting fair is beyond their powers, or worse, beyond their comprehension. They don’t understand what it means to just tell the truth or say it to your face. I mean what’s the harm of casually telling you that they know something but hold out on the information. Or secretly fighting against you without giving you notice. I think they may also need to get a life, because with the amount of time these people waste on lying, cheating, gossiping and planning against other people, where do they find the time for themselves?

The only advice I can tell backstabbers is I hope it’s worth it. With everything that you put into backstabbing, I really really hope you get what you want for what you paid for. Because no amount of getting ahead in life can be exchanged for getting a life of your own and the respect of others.

And to the people who’ve been stabbed senselessly in the back, there is no point in lingering with the idea and the person. As Nietzsche most famously said, what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger. You can’t rid your world of backstabbers, but what you can do is to make sure you done fall down the same rabbit hole. So next time you meet a backstabber trying to undermine you, all you have to say is, “I’m sorry, but did my back hurt your knife?”, nothing will frustrate them more.

Random Thoughts – Christmas

I’ve never really celebrated Christmas, and it’s not even because I’m an atheist because my life is still cumulatively Christian at the moment. My family just never did, I didn’t have any godparents to visit and never that many presents to open on Christmas morning. But that never really bothered me, I guess that has something to do with why my family didn’t celebrate Christmas in the first place. Because when I asked my parents and grandparents why we never celebrated Christmas, they would always tell me, we just don’t have the money. And to me, that made perfect sense. Coming from a lower middle class family, I knew that we had no means to be extravagant. We couldn’t afford to have a generous noche buena or excessive gifts that way out of the family budget and that never really upset me in any way. I mean seeing my cousins getting gifts and even money for Christmas when I didn’t have any was a non-issue to me. And with that in mind, Christmas wasn’t really much of a big deal.

This tradition on non-celebration is carried out until present, but now, despite the fact that we can afford to buy hamon and keso de bola on our table, my mom would always choose to give it to charity. I mean it’s nothing huge like a large sum or anything, it’s sometimes just rice or clothes but I get the point. Most of my friends also practice this and a lot of people I know really make a big deal of charity when the Christmas season comes. They really “give back”, as they put it, to the less fortunate which is probably the best thing about Christmas. I may not be able to understand why people celebrate the birth of Christ, but I go comprehend the idea of giving back to the less fortunate.

This accepted and glorified idea of giving back on Christmas is probably the reason why I chose to ask a donation as my gift this Christmas. I thought people would be delighted that I didn’t ask any weird book. But somehow, my wish wasn’t as accepted as I wanted it to be. Being an atheist, I thought Christians would understand this idea of gift giving better but it really struck a cord in me that they would rather buy me something than give someone who has nothing. Why was that so hard to do? Or they just thought the idea was too cheeky? I mean it only takes less than 10 minutes to sign up and another 10 minutes to deposit the money in the bank. Was that really harder than spending 30 minutes shopping?

I didn’t ask anything for myself because for one, I didn’t want anything this Christmas. I have a steady job and a healthy family so I didn’t care for anything else. Second, I wanted somebody else to get something this Christmas, why would I ask for a gift that I don’t want if I can give it to somebody else? Lastly, I got through college through a foundation and I wanted to share the idea of giving less fortunate people a chance to start. Why was this idea not accepted? Why can’t it be just what it is?

Humanity in general is really disappointing. Everybody’s too busy spending their time in malls rather than looking at humanity’s problems at hand. And they say celebrating Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ through giving but somehow, when I look around, I really don’t see this. Christians should live as Christ did, which was supposed to be the main thought of Christianity. Kind, giving and doesn’t complain. But now when you try to evaluate people, it doesn’t really match up. People pride themselves in being Christians that have nothing to do with how Christ lived, it’s embarrassing. When will people ever own up to what they call themselves? When will people prove Nietzsche wrong when he said Christ was the only Christian. I wish people would live up to who they’re supposed to be.

Napag-isipan ko lang – Pagbabago

Sabi nga nila, lahat ng bagay nagbabago. Hindi mo pwedeng baguhin yun, kasama na un sa mundo. Nagbabago ang liwanag at nagiging dilim sa pagdaan ng araw, ang Lunes ay nagiging Martes, Miyerkules hanggang maging Lunes ulit, nagpapalit ang kulay ng mga dahon mula sa berde hanggang malanta at tuluyan ng malaglag sa lupa, lumalamig at umiinit din ang panahon. Lahat ng bagay sa mundo nagbabago, pero ibig bang sabihin noon ay pati tayo ay nagbabago. Porket bang tuloy tuloy ang ikot ng mundo pati ba tayo nagbabago? Kasama ba tayong nagbabago ng klima at pagpapalit ng presidente? Kapag nagpalit ba tayo ng trabaho at mga kaibigan, pati tayo nagbabago? Kapag nakapagbasa ka ba ng bagong libro or manood ng bagong palabas, ibig bang sabihin noon pati ikaw ay nagbago na?

Sa pagdaan ng araw at paglipas ng panahon, ang daming nagbabago sa paligid ko at sakin na rin siguro. Nakatapos na ako ng pag-aaral, nagsimula ng magtrabaho, nagkaroon ng ibang kaibigan, lumipat ng trabaho, sumali sa kung ano-anong laro, nakakilala ng iba pang tao. Nagbago na lahat sa akin, hindi na ako parehas magsalita sa dati, iba na rin ang mga sinusuot ko, iba na rin ang aking relo, iba na rin ang parati kong kasamang mga kaibigan, humaba at nagpagupit na rin ako ng buhok ng maraming beses, pero iisa pa rin ang tanong sa aking isipan, nagbago na ba talaga ako?

Minsan sinabi ko rin sa sarili kong magbabago na ako, hindi na ako magiging tamad, lahat ng sinabi ko ay gagawin ko, matututo na akong maging magalang, hindi na ako magiging magaslaw, hindi na ako magsasabi ng mga bagay na makakasakit sa ibang tao. Sinabi kong susubok ako ng mga bagay na hindi ko pa nasusubukan, lalabas ako ng bahay kahit tinatamad ako, gagawin ko ang mga bagay na hindi ako sigurado para malaman ko kung hanggang saan ako pwede pumunta. Yung iba nagawa ko, yung iba hindi masyado, pero dahil ba nasabi ko sa sarili ko na babaguhin ko ang nakasanayan kong ugali, nagbago na ba talaga ako?

Minsan gusto kong isipin na hindi, hindi ako nagbago, ako pa rin ngayon kung sino ako nung mga nakaraang taon. Ako pa rin ito dahil iyon ang nasa isip ko, ano ba kasing ibig sabihin ng nagbago ka? Ako pa rin to, parehas pa rin ang aking mga gusto, parehas pa rin ang mga pangarap at ako pa rin na nasa loob ng utak ko. Hindi naman nagbabago yun at palagay ko, hindi iyon magbabago ng basta basta. Kaso pwede rin na nagbago na ako at ayaw ko lang tanggapin dahil ayaw kong gumalaw. Ayaw kong harapin ang mga bagay kasama ng pagbabago. Gusto ko sa kinatatayuan ko ngayon, gusto ko ang ihip ng hangin dito, tama lang naman, hindi naman kailangan lumipat sa ibang pwesto. Pwede ba akong magbago ng hindi ko gusto?

Alam kong iikot ang mundo kahit anong mangyari. Hindi ko ito kaya pahintuin para hintayin akong makababa, makasakay o kahit sumabay sa galaw niya. Hindi ko pwedeng bagalan o bilisan ang paggalaw ng mga araw sa aking pagnanais, wala akong ibang solusyon kundi sumabay sa sariling galaw ng mundo. Kaso minsan, nalalaglag ako sa bilis ng ikot, minsan naman natatameme ako sa bagal, alin ba talaga ang dapat? Sa alin ba talaga ako magiging komportable? San nga ba ako magiging masaya?

Siguro wala sa ikot ng mundo ang problema. Siguro hindi sa bagal at bilis ng pagdaan ng panahon ang gusto kong mabago kundi kung paano ako sumasabay sa agos ng buhay. Gusto kong umindak sa sarili kong musika, gusto kong gumalaw ayon sa sarili kong tempo. Pwede naman ata eh, bakit ko nga ba kailangan sumabay sa paggulong ng mundo? Bakit ko nga ba kailangan sumabay sa alon? Pwede akong huminto kung kelan ko gusto at pwede ako tumakbo o lumakad kung kelan ko gusto? Wala naman makakapigil sa gusto natin hindi ba? Gagalaw lahat, ang mundo at ako, pero sa tingin ko, pwede naman kanya kanya kami ng galaw, ayaw ko humabol sa mabilis, ayaw kong maglakad kung mabagal? Kung hindi man kami sabay, anu ngayon? Iikot pa rin naman ang buhay hindi ba?

Random Thoughts – Superheroes

We all have heroes, whether be it fictional or real live people, we have someone that we look up, someone we admire, someone we wish we could become. But somehow, we always tell ourselves, we can never be as good as they can be, we will never have the heart that they have or the conviction that they bring. We can never achieve what they have accomplished or outdo anything that they have done. But at some point, I have asked myself why can’t we be our own heroes? Why do we have to see the power in other people instead to just exercising our own?

So in an attempt to become a hero or even a small part hero myself, I tried to join an office activity for an outreach program. I thought it would be a good use of my time and I would probably meet someone to inspire me to be more than just some random person. And I guess I was right, because that’s where I met PJ.

This was not my first time to meet a sick kid but something about his smile brought light to my world, not that I was gloomy or anything. But it amazed me that an injured 5 year old kid who was alone in the hospital greeted me with such great joy. I don’t know if I’m just that much of a cynic but I was stunned with the idea that a kid that young understood the fact that he had to be alone because his mom needed to work during the day. He had his whole leg up the thing and was eating his lunch like an adult, not needing any assistance or not even needing a parent to tell him to eat in the first place. It was amazing to me that he was living in reality and had a clear understanding of what that meant but wasn’t afraid to face it.

When I looked at him and talked to him, his lively attitude really brought me to shame, I didn’t understand whether he was just naïve or if I was just too corrupted. And it immediately hit me, I’m never going to be a hero compared to this kid. He was in pain and he was alone but he did it with a smile on his face. He couldn’t even stand up or has no one to hold his hand but he smiled at me like his mom was there or that he had every idea that everything was just fine.

It was crazy to think that this kid can do it and I can barely smile when I’m stressed out. How can I be as brave as this kid who almost had nothing, literally nothing, and he knew it, but still have that attitude. It kind of slaps you in the face when someone like that moves you, when someone smiles at you with all the life that he has and takes away all your cynicism in the world. And with his smile, he changed my whole idea of a hero.

I used to think that heroes were were superhumans. They had unbelievable will, higher intellect and undying strength. My heroes were these smart aggressive people who wanted to change the world and did, but now, I couldn’t help but see him as someone more than that despite how he is.

I think the reason why we can’t see ourselves as heroes is because we have the wrong idea of what a hero should be. We have this idea that heroes can do no wrong and they can withstand anything. We have the idea that our heroes can create magic and powers than can change lives without even trying. But maybe it’s not that, maybe it’s not the strengths that defines a hero. It’s not the intellect, the talent and the charm manifesting in a person that creates a hero, but rather just the mere perseverance is enough to make a hero. And since I believe that anyone who struggles to get out of bed every morning have that, maybe we are all heroes. Just something to think about.