29.12.12

Resolutions 2013

C and I had a long talk last night. We've come to understand a lot of things about us. So we're okay, for now.

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I've always believed that if you wanted to change something about yourself, you should do it anytime you need to, which renders New Year's resolutions worthless. But here I am, writing down my resolutions for the first time since grade school when we were forced to write them down by every teacher every year. So here's mine, and whether I live up to them or not, a list wouldn't hurt. So this is for my 2013 self, to remind her that she's awesome and is destined for greatness.
  • Eat healthy and be physically fit.  Try to, at least. Avoid fast foods, learn to cook. Make a "healthy list" before going to the grocery so that even if you buy all those junk, you'll be sure to get the good stuff too. Drink more water. Get more involved in physical activities. Kinect everyday. Will try yoga.
  • Manage time wisely. Get it done. Try to do as much work everyday but remember that you can't do everything. Sress is bad for your brain. Do more collabs. Work with people. Set some time aside for art. Create your own material.
  • Read more and write more. Get some good eyeglasses and don't lose them! Read a lot. And then some more. Write everyday. Create a new blog, share stuff. Pen and paper are your weapons, always carry them with you. Write those ideas. Write those poems, that screenplay, that short story.
  • Be curious. Enroll in a class. Never stop learning. There's power in knowing. Goal is to enroll in uni the next semester. Things to study on the side: Astronomy, Geography (or basic directions, at least!), Culinary, Health Awareness, Cinematography, Non-Linear Editing.
  • Rent an apartment by March. Keep it neat and tidy. Initially, get a stable internet connection, a bed, and a desk. Before the year ends, own a refrigerator, washing machine, and an oven. Invite people over regularly.
  • Invest in the following gadgets only: a decent phone to be used mainly for work/business and a good camera to document stuff.
  • Make beautiful things. Practice DIY and crafts. Sew more. Give them away as gifts.
  • Stay resourceful. :)
  • Stop being such a B. I don't know how exactly, but you'll get there. Remain kind to others. Sometimes you may feel tempted to attack someone because they're not being nice--don't. Remember that everyone's having their own, personal State of Emergency everyday. Lend a hand to friends, it will pay back. Be careful about what comes out of your mouth. Try to be at peace with yourself, avoid saying hurtful words to and about anyone. Be pleasing.
  • Look in the mirror more often. Take care of yourself. Buy basic clothes. Pay attention to your hair. It is important to maintain good skin. Wear sunscreen (PLEASE). Again, drink more water.
  • Visit your dentist every month! Get those braces removed ASAP! I cannot stress this more.
  • Be more involved in your society. You may rarely march the streets or vandalize buildings nowadays, but the problems have not changed since the time you did. If you can't afford to do full-time activism work, get involved culturally at least.
This list makes me want to do a happy dance.

26.12.12

Isang Mabilis na Rant hinggil sa Pakikipagrelasyon

Minsan ayaw ko na lang mag-isip. Gusto ko na lang humawla, putulin ang contact, magpalit ng number, kung pwede lang, e, lumipat ng bahay. Masyado akong mahina para sa ganitong klase ng feelings. Di ko kaya yung constantly caring at incessantly worrying na moda sa buhay. Kaso bawal gumive up any-any kasi kupal daw ang tawag doon.

Pupunta s'ya sa ganito, pupunta sa ganyan, kasama si ganito, kasama si ganyan. E kung matino ba naman 'yung karelasyon mo simula't sapul, e, wala naman talagang problema pero kung pangit ang track record medyo expecting ka ng matindi-tinding pag-re-redeem. At doon pumapasok ang problema. Expectations lead to disappointment. Cliche pero logical.

E 'di 'wag kang mag-expect, 'di ba? 'Yun nga ang sinusubukan kong i-master pero for some reason nag-li-lead lang ako into thinking na, para ba talaga sa 'kin 'to? Minsan kasi naniniwala talaga ako sa utak ko na I deserve something/someone else. Masakit lang din talagang makipaghiwalay. As in literal na masakit sa pagkatao, physiologically. So hindi puso ang may sala, itong utak natin na hard-wired na makaramdam ng sakit kapag may nawawala sa 'tin at/o na-re-reject tayo.

Madalas akong magalit, tapos iisipin kong ayoko na talaga. Sawa na 'ko. Ayoko ng ganitong buhay-pakikipagrelasyon. Gusto ko ng smooth-flowing, hindi sa fairytale-ish pero 'yung alam mo lang sa sarili mo na tama 'yon, 'yung hindi mo kinokontrata 'yung sarili mo. Sarili mo as in personality, upbringing, values. 'Yung hindi mo kailangang, tangina, piliting paniwalain 'yung sarili mo na, okay lang ang lahat, masaya naman kayo, 'di matindi 'yang problema n'yo, lahat dumadaan d'yan, worth it naman 'yan kasi mahal ka n'ya, at higit sa lahat, e ano naman kung ganyan s'ya, at least hindi s'ya nambababae? Ayun na. Don't get me wrong, ano. Masaya ako at naging faithful s'ya, at least physically, sa 'kin, pero why am I supposed to be thankful? 'Di ba dapat given na 'yon?

Mabalik tayo sa pagkontra-kontra sa sarili. Hindi kasi talaga kami magkaintindihan at kahit anong gawin namin, hindi talaga kami magkakaintindihan. Una, dahil lalaki s'ya. Kahit anong sabihin ng kahit na sino, hindi n'ya naranasang matakot na mapagsamantalahan ng taong significantly mas malakas sa kanya, na by the way, hindi lang namin isa, dalawa, tatlo, isangdaang beses naranasang mga babae sa buhay namin. Unless naranasan na ng lalaking ito na magtagal sa kulungan na tamang 'yung mayor/lider ng selda nila, e, trip s'ya. Bukod pa doon, s'ya 'yung tipo ng lalaking na sa paghanap ng partner ang unang tinitignan ng tao ay physical appearance. Kamusta naman ang pressure noon 'di ba? Babae na nga ko't 99% ng objectified, commodified, at standardized na mga bagay sa mundo e nag-co-consist ng kababaihan, patungkol sa kababaihan, parte ng katawan ng kababaihan, at kung anu-ano pang may kinalaman sa kababaihan, tapos eto, eto ang pressure. Napapaligiran s'ya ng magagandang taong alam kong hindi ko kayang pantayan physically at alam ko ring ang tanging pumipigil sa kanyang kumantot ng iba, e, alam n'yang mawawala ako, pero in his mind, it has been done so many times. At dito pumapasok 'yung "at least hindi s'ya nambababae" comments ng mga tao na i-ne-expect yata ng lahat na maging thankful ako.

Pangalawa, magkaiba ang lifestyle at upbringing sa 'min. Wala ako masyadong values pero 'pag tinabi mo 'yung buhay ko sa kanya parang ang dami ko no'n. Dati nung medyo bago-bago pa lang kami sinasabihan n'ya akong masyadong uptight, so 'yun na nga, magkaiba talaga kami. Hindi talaga ako lumaking manginginom at mabarkada. Feeling ko okay naman kasi ako, e, choice kong 'wag masyadong maging maligaya sa buhay. Marami naman na 'kong nasubukan at saksi ang blog na ito (at iba ko pang blogs) dyan pero hindi ako kasing wild ng mga naisusulat ko. Hindi ko lang kasi naitatala 'yung mga araw na sober ako. Ha, ha. Halimbawa ng pagkakaiba namin, eto, hindi ganon ka-literal pero it kind of explains the point, s'ya ay isang musikerong gustong mag-travel, mag-beach, mag-trip sa Amsterdam, ako ay isang talentless na taga-syudad na ayaw umalis ng syudad, gustong magkaanak, mamuhay, tumanda at mamatay sa syudad, the end. Dissimilar interests and life habits? Malaking problema. Pinapa-imagine ko sa kanya minsan na what if ako 'yung musikero na gusto lang mag-wander, hindi nagmamadali sa buhay, lumalabas para uminom with friends nang wala s'ya, what would he feel? Well, hindi n'ya raw ma-imagine. Kamot ulo na lang ako.

Pangatlo, sinasaktan namin ang isa't isa. Masakit kami magsalita kapag galit kami. Nahihila n'ya 'ko, pinipilit, hinahawakan nang mahigpit. Nasapak ko na s'ya, nabato, at nasipa. Tinutulak ko s'ya kapag ayoko s'yang lumapit o tinatanggal ang kamay n'ya kapag galit ako at ayaw magpaamo. Kapag ginagawa ko 'yon lalo lang s'yang lalapit, aasarin ako, hahawakan ng mahigpit, o mag-me-make face. Nagsasagutan kami sa publiko. Nagagalit s'ya kapag umiiyak ako, over daw, ang sensitive ko naman daw. Kapag naman galit s'ya pero wala s'yang nakukuhang reaksyon mula sa 'kin, pino-provoke n'ya 'ko nang i-po-porovoke hanggang sa magalit na ako, tapos doon na babaliktad ang sitwasyon, ako na bigla ang "OA."

Pang-apat, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit pero pangit ang relasyon namin sa mga kaibigan ng isa't isa. Okay lang naman ako sa mga kaibigan n'ya pero isa kasi silang malaking factor kung bakit ang bagal n'yang tumanda at hanggang ngayon, e, living like he's 21 pa rin. Tapos sa isang mayabang na lebel naman, minsan tamad lang akong makihalubilo kasi hindi ko sila ma-gets, kasi hindi lang talaga ako ganon, at minsan hindi ko ma-take 'yung yabang nila sa mga buhay nila. Hindi rin ako sumasama sa mga family gatherings nila, same reason. Kilala n'ya halos lahat ng mga kaibigan ko, ang problema naman, e, may mga kaibigan akong nasira ang relasyon ko sa kanila dahil sa kanya. Mahabang kwento. Okay naman ang pamilya ko sa kanya, pero dahil pamilya ko sila pine-pressure lang talaga nila 'ko kasi they're expecting something more from me. Kumbaga, sige, fine, hindi nila kekwestyunin 'yung jowa ko dahil pinili ko na 'yon, pero from time to time, hihirit sila o magtatanong kung ano na bang nangyayari sa buhay ng karelasyon ko. Minsan hihirit ng mabilis ng kung ano bang nakita ko o somewhere along the lines of "you deserve better."

Panglima, paulit-ulit mga problema namin, paiba-iba lang ng version.

Pang-anim, magkaiba talaga kami. Oo, inulit ko lang 'yung pangalawa to emphasize kung gaano ito kahalaga. Oo, naghahanap s'ya ng trabaho, sinasabi n'yang gusto n'yang magkapamilya kasama ako. Well, I'm sure. Pero not in the near future dahil hindi pa s'ya handa magkapamilya, hindi lang financially. Marami pa s'yang gustong gawin at na-se-stress ako na para bang pinapalabas n'yang binabago n'ya ang buhay n'ya para sa 'kin. Sa totoo lang may part sa 'kin na nagagalit dahil parang utang na loob ko pang nagbabago s'ya na parang, "Shut the fuck up, 'wag ka nang puro reklamo, eto na nga, e, ginagawa na 'yung gusto mo, ano pa ba? Pati ba naman 'yung paglabas-labas papakialaman mo pa? Minsan lang naman e." (Syempre 'di n'ya talaga sinabi 'to, it's just how I feel.) Hindi kasi nag-ca-cancel out 'yon. Magkaiba silang issue. Hindi dahil ginagawa 'yung isang bagay, e, that makes it okay na gawin 'yung isa pa dahil lang you've been good sa kabilang aspeto.

Ayoko lang din talagang pinipilit ang mga bagay, meron ngang working things out, pero mararamdaman mo rin kapag masyado nang pilit at hindi na natural para sa inyo pareho. He goes out of his way para lang sa 'kin, pagdating sa pagsundo sa trabaho, pag-aalaga, pagtawag, at kung anu-ano pang boyfriend ka-cheesy-han, at mukhang willing naman s'yang gawin 'yon, pero iba 'yung babaguhin n'ya 'yung life n'ya dahil lang sa 'kin. Gets ko kung gaano kahirap dahil ako man hindi ko kayong baguhin 'yung "values" ko para sa kanya. Hindi ko kayang, sige, manood ka ng porn mo, bumili ka ng men's magazines mo, inom kayo ng friends mo, mag-drugs ka lang dyan, sige, punta ka dagat all you want. Gusto kong ibigay pero hindi talaga ako 'yon and I think he deserves someone who he can be genuinely happy with, na susuportahan s'ya sa mga trip n'ya, hindi mag-ro-roll ng eyes kapag nag-share n'ya 'yung mga plano n'ya or mas okay, hindi n'ya na kakailanganing mag-share ng mga plano n'ya, tamang it will just come naturally. 'yung taong tatawa kapag kinwento n'ya 'yung night out n'ya, 'yung hindi s'ya sasabihang mataba at ipagluluto pa s'ya, 'yung uuwi sa Puerto Princesa kasama n'ya, pupunta sa family gatherings, at makikihalubilo sa mga kaibigan n'ya, ipagsusulat s'ya ng tula, bibigyan s'ya ng masahe kapag pagod s'ya, papanoorin gigs nila ng banda n'ya, magpaplano ng future kasama s'ya. Dati masasabi ko pang ganito ako or at least kaya kong gawin ang mga 'to para sa kanya, pero wala, e, hindi ko na maalala kun kailan tumigil 'yung feeling na 'yon.

I can never be that person again, and the thought hurts me. Dahil alam kong unfair na hindi ko na maibibigay 'yon sa kanya. Nagbago na 'ko ang that's that.

24.12.12

No, No, No Noche Buena

I think this is the first time we're not having Noche Buena. I found out just now. My sister and I waited eagerly. We've gotten so used to it that not having it wasn't an option. This is weird. Should I go to sleep now?

Neither Here nor There: The I-Was-Supposed-to-Post Post

I want to know what you're thinking. What you're really thinking. And feeling. Not what you think you should tell me or what you think I want to hear or what you think is the proper thing to say. I'm sorry if I'm not good with criticisms, but I still want/need to know.

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Things you do probably do not care about but I would want to write down just for the sake of remembering:

-Saw Hobbit in 3D. The first LOTR film I've ever seen!
-Me and Orson Welles. <3
-Finally unfriended L on Facebook. This may seem shallow but I really do feel relieved.
-Been playing The Last Stand: Dead Zone. Ugh, I'm hooked.
-Just got my period = not pregnant. I half-hoped I was.
-I plan to attend Malasimbo again next year. Need to start saving up.
-I will start working a full-time home-based job on January 1st. I haven't quite figured out how I will make this work as I have no workspace and my laptop's keyboard is broken. I can't work on my desktop because I just can't. Also, I need to buy new eyeglasses. Hello, eyestrain.
-I wish I'd still be able to go to the museum regularly despite this new job.
-I NEED A SMART PHONE.
-I'm excited to eat at Van Gogh is Bipolar with C! I'll probably cry. Teehee.
-Family's day out tomorrow.
-Speaking of family, my mom's brother's ex-wife is now my dad's brother's girlfriend/live-in partner/baby mama. WTF RIGHT?
-I haven't bought gifts for my siblings and parents yet. THE MALLS ARE INSANE SO I'M SORRY. I'll give them something on the New Year instead. Maybe. Mwahaha!
-That alpha male director's film sucked, they said. MWAHAHA!
-I miss going out with my friends but at the same time, I can't be bothered.
-I NEED NEW EYEGLASSES.
-I NEED TO VISIT MY DENTIST.
-Can't think of anything else right now.

7.12.12

Blog: Oh, hi there. Finally, you're blogging. *hands me a cigarette*

Me: No, thanks. Sorry, I was kind of preoccupied--

Blog: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, I get it. *lights cigarette*

*huffs*

*puffs*

Silence.

Blog: So, what do you want to write about?

Me: I'm thinking of starting a new blog. A public one.

Blog: Well, why don't you go ahead and start one now?

Me: My hands are still pretty full right now so...

Blog: M-hmm. So when do you plan on starting it? You've been forgetting a lot of things you know, not writing them down.

Me: I'm not sure. But I've got a pretty good idea for this one.

Blog: Like you did for me and for the others, a long time ago.

Silence.

Me: So, uhm, anyway, yesterday, Koko watched Alice in Wonderland for the first time.

Blog: Well, that's not entirely true, he watched half of it. Why would you even want to tell me that? Let him watch the entire movie then you tell me about it.

Me: Uhm, okay. Today I learned about neuroesthetics. Well, sort of. At least I got an idea on what it's about. My colleague talked about it today, in her presentation.

Blog: Well, that's pretty interesting.

Me: Yeah, it is. But I'm not sure I believe in it in its entirety. Anyway, I also had fun goofing off with my friends at the museum today. It's the first time I've felt comfortable at making fun of myself in a while.

Blog: What did you guys do?

Me: Sang, danced, for almost an hour in front of this exhibit that plays different songs, not caring about the museum visitors passing by.

Blog: I'm happy that you are starting to feel comfortable about yourself and being around other people-- new people.

Me: It was really a lot of fun. I also ate caviar for the first time today. It tasted like galunggong.

Blog: Did it, really?

Me: At least that's what my friend described it to be. I thought it tasted salty and yes, fish-like.

Blog: What else did you have today?

Me: Omelette, Jollibee burger, baby back ribs and roast beef with C. I also ate mangga-aligue for the first time today. I loved it.

Blog: Damn, that sounds good!

Me: It is.

Blog: Mm-hmm.

Silence.

Me: Well, I guess that's all for now.

Blog: What about the other stuff you've been busy with?

Me: Don't want to talk about them, really.

Blog: I see. You're looking positive.

Me: Thanks.

Blog: Alright then. See you tomorrow?

Me: Uh...

Blog: Fine. See you when I see you.

Me: Bye for now.

Blog: Yep.