Super Woman Does Not Exist

All my life, I've often been forced to imbibe the mantra, "don't give up." I know there is something beautiful about positivity, about being hopeful, persistent and consistent -- it leads us to triumph. 

I have always believed that we can be the super hero of our own story. I was made to believe that if you put it your efforts and work to reach a goal, you will get there. There have been times when, no matter how afraid I am or how little confidence I have left in myself, I have jumped unto something with eyes closed, fingers crossed, and a heart that cries out, "Lord, I trust you on this one." Maybe that huge amount of insecurity in me made me hold on to that faith in One Almighty whom I can turn to whenever I feel like giving up. Somehow, there is that one true hero beneath the super woman wanna be. 

But unlike the Almighty who never runs out of super powers, there comes a time when I have to wave the white flag and tada -- I give up. Not because I didn't want to face the challenge but because I begin to cease seeing what is there to fight for.

Maybe this is one of those few moments when I give up. No, super woman does not exist! Don't force me unto believing that I can have whatever it is that I want to -- that would be kind of greedy. 

I am tired.

Tired of trying to understand and make the opposite poles meet.

Tired of listening to the ones who enjoy playing almighty.

Tired of receiving cries for help and then learning that the one who are supposed to help them are doing business as usual (sorry, I can only do as much)

Tired of being in the middle of a rocket ship reaching out to the universe and the dust-like creatures below being pulled down by gravity.

Tired of deciphering the jargons.

The jargons of political correctness.

The jargons of the intellectuals.

The jargons of the sub-cultures.

The jargons of love.

No, super woman does not exist. 

Don't force me to believe that she does. 

Don't force me to accept your truth as the absolute.

Don't force me to follow you blindly.

You have your story and I have mine; each one of us has her own.

Understand contexts. 

Listen.

Learn.

Unlearn.

Listen.

Act.

Talk back.

Listen.

Act.

Listen.

Undestand.

Super woman does not exist. She is neither you nor me. 

In my frail moments, I give up.

I cry.

I feel sad.

I do stupid things.

I feel remorseful.

I feel empty.

I cry once more.

I feel that heavy thing on my chest.

I reach out to find a helping hand, welcoming arms, listening ears, and open mind. 

As always, I am left with no one else but that One Almighty who have always been there to pick up my broken heart and fill my empty soul.

I rest my case.

I give up. 

Imaginary | Evanescence (Origin Album)

This song's been playing on and on and on and on and on my mind lately. Don't ask me why. 

Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming

Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights

Oh how I long for the deep sleep dreaming

The goddess of imaginary light

In my field of paper flowers

And candy clouds of lullaby

I lie inside myself for hours

And watch my purple sky fly over me

I linger in the doorway

Of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name

Let me stay where the wind will whisper to me

Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story

If you need to leave the world you live in

Lay your head down and stay a while

Though you may not remember dreaming

Something waits for you to breathe again

In my field of paper flowers

And candy clouds of lullaby

I lie inside myself for hours

And watch my purple sky fly over me

assumptions in marketing

I understand aggressive advertisement strategies like this. I appreciate that at least they don't send messages at midnight or in the wee hours of the morning. But I believe the message itself is laden with flawed assumptions:

- it assumes that dish washing = misis / women. Reality is, singles wash dishes too; males wash dishes too; even children of certain ages are being trained to wash dishes too.

- it assumes that the recipient is a "misis". Reality is, mobile phone users can be males and singles too.

- it assumes that the recipient actually does the dish washing. Reality is, there are people who don't, there are people who can't, and there are people who simply won't.

A good brand need not hinge on stereotypical assumptions. A good brand need not be afraid of looking at their market as diverse. A good brand need not be afraid of finding its niche by communicating with untapped market for the goods or services that it offers.

(originally posted in my FB wall)

Oh, and the number one assumption which a friend mentioned in her comment: it assumed that I am using a bar or paste for dish washing?

when life knocks you down...

Photo grabbed from FB

"Change is coming," bukambibig ng marami. What kind of change we will all see.

Maraming may alinlangan. Maraming skeptic. Maraming takot. Maraming poised na para magbantay ng nega. Maraming hopeful. Maraming walang paki-alam. Maraming mema. Maraming excited. Maraming feeling close. Maraming naging pala-away. Maraming sad. Maraming happy. Maraming wala pa ring love life. Pero meron man o wala, life must go on and we should keep the wheel turning and unravel life's series of changes, challenges, and chances.

Recalling my thoughts sa class address in 2014 sa PMDP: "positive change [- it] is something that emanates from within us..." (http://tinyurl.com/Nihan351). How can we be (or continue to be if we believe in our hearts that we already are) a source of positive change? And when we cannot go with the changes, are we willing to take that leap and take our chances?

[Self talk: Get some sleep. Rest your weary mind. Anywhere you may be, you will be alright. Parang kagat lang ng langgam 'yan (classic na pang-uto sa akin ng mga nurse kapag tinutusok ako ng needle for injection when I was a kid; hindi naman nila sinasabi na langgam na kasing laki ng langaw!).
Ssshhh...Manila Day sa Friday, walang pasok! When life knocks you down, roll over and look at the stars. O kaya, abangan mo si sunshine sa madaling araw; tulog ka kasi nang tulog eh! 😂.]

Roaming the Urban Jungle 1

UberX driver: 8 years ako sa taxi Ma'am bago ako lumipat dito sa Uber.

H: Ah talaga po? Kaya pala alam niyo 'yun daan kahit walang Waze.

UberX driver: Opo. Pero Ma'am iba po talaga sa taxi ang Uber tsaka Grab.

H: Bakit nyo naman po nasabi 'yan? Ano po ang kaibahan para sa inyo?

UberX driver: Naku Ma'am, tingin ko po, ang Uber po tsaka Grab, mas pabor at convenient sa pasahero. Dito po kapag sa amin binato ng Uber ang pasahero kahit saan papunta 'yan kukunin namin kung hindi, bababa ang rating. Tsaka 'yun pasahero po maghihintay na lang pupuntahan siya ng driver; samantalang sa taxi hahabulin mo sa kalye ang taxi tapos kapag malas ka pa, hindi ka isasakay kasi namimili ng pasahero.

H: Oo nga po, minsan pa amoy yosi ang taxi; ang sakit sa ulo!

UberX driver: May mga driver po kasi talaga na naninigarilyo sa sasakyan; dito po bawal sa amin. Tsaka po may mga pasahero na may maamoy lang na konti o kaya may dumi lang sasakyan eh bibigyan na kami ng mababang rating. Kaya po obligado kami linisin talaga lagi.

Question: kaninong kapakanan ba ang dapat pangalagaan ng LTFRB, sa organized trasport groups o sa commuters? Bakit ba kailangan i-regulate in the first place ang public trasportation system -- hindi ba para masiguro ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng mga manlalakbay? Sana i-require ang mga uupo dyan sa mga ahensyang nagsasa-ayos dapat ng trasport system natin na mag-commute araw-araw using various modes of public transportation, and traversing different routes during peak/rush hours. Isama na rin ang mga nagsasa-ayos dapat ng traffic flow na may tendency na isipin lang talaga eh yun flow ng sasakyan at nalilimutan yata na meron mga commuters sa daan na dapat rin naman isaalang-alang. Hanggat mahirap makipagpatintero araw-araw sa paghahabol ng jeep, uv express, bus, taxi, l/mrt, maraming commuters na maghahangad na humanap ng alternatibo tulad ng Uber at Grab o di kaya ay bumili ng sariling sasakyan kung may kakayahan itong bayaran. Mas mainam na igapang ang pambayad, pang-gas at maintenance ng sasakyan kesa ikaw naman ang gumapang sa hirap sumakay. O tapos sasabihin nyo kaya trapik dahil sa volume ng private na sasakyan?! Palagay nyo trip lang nila magmayabang na may pera pambayad nyan kaya hindi nagko-commute? Marami po dyan hindi rin naman talaga mayaman pero isasakripisyo yun mababawas na pera buwan-buwan kapalit ng ginhawa sa paglalakbay at hindi magmukhang ewan at stressed pagdating sa pupuntahan. Ah oo nga, trapik pa rin..maganda ka nga, late ka naman! Ewan! Don't even get me started with maaga ka kasi dapat para hindi ka mahirapan.. iba ang reality mo sa reality ko, at sa reality ng milyon-milyong Pilipino! Hindi ang lifestyle mo ang pamantayan o modelo sa buong mundo. 

Ano ba ang point ng post ko? Simple lang: tingnan ang mas malaking kabuuan; ang lipunan na binubuo hindi lamang tungkol sa infrastructure at sasakyan kundi ng mga tao; mga tao na hindi rin naman homogenous group dahil may babae, lalaki, bata, matanda, may kapansanan, at iba't-ibang kakayahan; isama pa ang isyu sa kalikasan at marami pang iba. Hindi ko sinasabing magpaka-hero or feeling hero at problemahin mo ang poverty and hunger sa buong mundo; bago ka magmaganda sa buong earth eh unahin mo muna ang sariling bayan mo.