Crystal Maze

I have a problem when people say that Manny Pacquiao does not deserve to be and should not be congratulated for his latest win in the ring because he has been a terrible lawmaker and a homophobic bigot. I have always had a problem when people refuse to recognize the many facets of an individual and judge that individual based solely on a standard that one arbitrarily sets and considers to be the only significant determinant of how that individual should be seen and treated. This refusal necessarily results in a failure to appreciate the complexities inherent in the very nature of human beings as creatures of independent thought, decision-making, and free will. People seem to forget that this refusal is, in and of itself, an act of bigotry, and the height of hypocrisy. 

Raising Harvey Weinstein

“Nanay, pinakita sa akin ni Harvey* ‘yong pututuy niya…” ("Mom, Harvey showed me his penis…")

Said my daughter, in all her 6-year old innocence. She just got home from school. These were her words the moment she saw me. I was shocked, angry, worried, and confused, all at the same time. I didn’t know what to say. I had one rule for myself whenever I was in front of my daughter: to never ever flinch, whatever negative thing she says to me. So I didn’t. I gave myself a long moment to regain my composure so I could calmly ask her: what did you say???

Give Life on Christmas Day

Today is yet another Christmas when I thought I succeeded at having only joy and gratitude fill my heart, only to be thrown a curve ball by Facebook this morning, which reminded me of a very funny video of my Lolo I uploaded to the social media site at about this time 6 years ago. It also showed at the top of my timeline my sister’s post, paying a heartfelt tribute full of longing for our Lolo and Mamu, who passed within a year of each other, in 2012 and 2013. Yes, no matter how hard they tried to keep up appearances when they were still alive, it was an undeniable fact that they could not, for the life of them, live without each other. When Lolo died, I could almost see the light go out of my Mamu’s eyes, the fire in her warrior heart extinguished by his death. I can still hear in my head her anguished cries when she saw my Lolo gone in his deathbed, something none of us who bore witness will likely forget anytime soon.