Political Shenanigans Part 1

Because I saw this in my Facebook News Feed (https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/802955/duterte-threatens-to-stop-all-gov-t-transactions-with-philippine-red-cross/story/), and is angry right now. 

So I need to vent but do not want to sully my news feed.

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I have been triggered with political posts the last few weeks/months but did not really comment on anything since I have a very private FB account, and only a few people have access to it as I always try to trim my list of friends to a thousand.

But today right after yesterdays' post, the news feed is again bad. 

And so this open letter is addressed to the president.

Ganito na po talaga ang mindset niyo ngayon.

Hindi kita binayaran so wala akong pakialam sa yo, hindi ka nga e-exist.

Parang inamin na din no kung anu po ang purpose ng '15B' na hindi pa na-iexplain - gagawing pambayad.

FYI, Mr.President, malaki po ang utang na loob ng mga tao sa Red Cross especially this pandemic na hindi ka basta-basta makahagilap ng tao to donate blood and plasma for a relative hospitalized for whatever reason.

Pede lang pong utangin yan sa Red Cross to be paid later.

Ang binabayaran po sa Red Cross is ang processing at storage po ng dugo and plasma na dino-donate po sa kanila kasi nga po diba hindi naman po sila binabayaran ng gobyerno to exist.

Pero siyempre kelangan nila ng storage facilities across the nation plus allowances pa po ng mga volunteer nila. Kasi nga po wala naman silang 'budget' from the government aside from the few donations.

And if kailangan pang i-liquidate ang donations na yun, I think that would be fine.

Pero do not stop government institutions from coordinating with Red Cross po lalo na ang mga government hospitals. Pero as usual, wala naman po kayong pakialam.

Kaya nga po na-cut na naman po ang UP Budget at binigay lahat sa Defense noh?

UP sponsors  the PGH po, baka hindi din po kayo aware.

Sila po ang ngca-cater ng mga COVID patients at ang genome facility ng Pilipinas po is under UP din po, sila namana po ang nag-aaral ng gene mutations ng Covid sa Pilipinas.

Pinagmamalaki niyo pa naman din na ng mga supporters mu that compared to other middle-class countries, the response of the Philippines is good/effective.

Pero ang mga directly concerned po sa rating na ito, especially the frontliners, hindi na nga naswelduhan, hindi pa nabigyan ng appropriate hazard fee.

Plus ang overpriced pa na PPE mula sa never-heard po na company. 

Kaya galit kayo sa PRC noh? Kasi ang administrator niya ngayon ang nagtatanong?

Also po, wala pong winarat ang COA dito. They were doing their job and posting discrepancies. Kung wala kayong maling ginagawa po, di sana inexplain kung saan napunta nag 15Billion na yan kasi diba at the start of the pandemic nangutang po tayo ng pera for pandemic response.

Tapos, nawala lang? Istop niyo na din ang pabahay na pakulo ng DOH para sa mgpavaccine, mas effective po ang pang-gasolina or pangkain para mgpavaccin sila.

Mas marami pa kayong matutulungan kaysa sa Overpriced naman na bahay na ibibigay niyo sa mananalo.

Ibabawas niyo po ba yan sa 15B na nawawala?

Kung sa classroom to, pag nawala ng 'treasurer' ang pera, binabayaran niya yan from their own pockets.

Pero 'nawala' ni Sec. Duque ang pera, I will stand by Duque ang response niyo po. So dapat tulungan mu siyang mag explain niyan or magbayad niyan kasi malaking classroom naman po ang Pilipinas.

Next year nga po diba, tatakbo ulit kayong Vice-President.

Bakit kaya hindi niyo na lang gawin ang planu niyo as Vice President ngayong President pa po kayo?

Baka kasi ma-Leni kayo next year. Cut-off from all government duties by the president, including her own Office Functions such as serving as a Cabinet Member of the president and an executive committee in the National Defense Council.

Anyway, paang hindi na po ako galit.

So last few notes na lang po.

Last year pag-umpisa ng pandemic at wala pong stocks.

A lot of private citizens had take-on the challenge of providing cheap but effective PPEs for frontliners pero shinutdown niyo po kasi nga me Pharmally.(BTW ang Pharmally na to me Hundreds of Thousands na budget pero Billions order ng Government sa kanila, anu yun rolling-out of funds lang?)

UP worked on a testing kit to be used for mass testing pero kinancel din po.

Private corporations banded together to provide food for frontliners pero wala din pong nagyari.

Also, private companies sought the approval of the country to provide vaccines for their employees pero hindi niyo din po inapprove  kasi dapa mula sa government lang.

Kaya ngayon po ang ating vaccinattion percent is 15% compared to the target which is 90%. With the rate we are going po, in the next 3 years pa po bago ma-reach ang 90% na yan.

Yun lang po.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!  :D

Farewell, Mama

When I wrote Papa a farewell letter a year after his death, I knew that sometime in the future I will be writing one for you, too. It was in my mind, in the VERY VERY FAR FUTURE.

However, here we are a year and a half later. Trying to pen this post without actually shedding a tear.

It was too soon. 

I had hoped for years and years of spoiling you after your retirement. Asking for advice on what to do with my 'teenage' daughter once she reaches that stage. Giving you more 'apos' to spoil as there is only 1 so far. Attending my next graduation. Helping you send a lawyer to school and SO, SO MANY other PLANS.

 But sadly, that is not meant to be.

The PLANS will continue, but YOU will no longer be there to cheer for us. And that is something that we will MISS. 

Papa undoubtedly was the person we go to when we had academic problems, coz he was the one that could fix them. Until Math was too advance and he has no memories of it. But by that time, we are already in command of our lives, of ourselves. We no longer need Papa for academics, but for life-changing decisions, he was still the parent to call.

But MAMA is the person that we always look forward to talking with the most. With you, no experience was too weird. No happenings was to be censored, and no tale was too long for the telling. From high school crushes to college flirtations, to young working adult escapades. I have always shared the good, the bad and the ugly with you. Even if you laugh at me or with me, I always feel the happiness of being able to burden someone with these stories that made my life memorable or simply life.

Mama is the strong, silent support all through those years of hardships. She made it work without any complaints. At least not to her children. She always said "Samok man kaayo u brayt tanan imung anak, kay saba kaayo oi". Especially, if the 3 of us are in a 3-way debate and will not agree to disagree. But even through the reprimand, we feel the pride.

People always say, "Ayaw na kay anak na ni Martinez". Thinking that Papa is the disciplinarian, and are afraid of him. Sadly no! Words were Papa's weapon of choice and we have learned to give counter-arguments as we grew older. But Mama's brand of discipline includes whatever object is at hand. So we had tsinelas, silhig, silhig tingting, uway, binis-ak na kahoy, and belt are just few of the items that had the privilege to graze our butts. But the warning that stayed with me, even though it was not actually directed at me since she was talking to a neighbor was: "Uli-uli lang nga magdala ug apo nga wala pa kahuman kay dili jud kasulod sa gate". I took the warning to heart and never did try to do anything whilst in school.

The last time I was spanked by Mama was in elementary, and after that, she never really did call me aside for any misdemeanors. Part of the reason was, I was not at home most of the time really. I flew off the nest at age of 12 and never looked back, except for the visits during weekends, then during summer, and recently during Christmas. If not for Social Media the last few, our greatest regret would have been not being able to talk to Mama before everything.

The most heartwarming memory I have of Mama was when I was home on Christmas vacation and did not acclimate with the Bukidnon weather well. I was shivering from the cold. Literally shaking from head to toe. So she slept beside all through that night to keep me warm.

And so I  know that despite not really telling us words of love, Mama did love us.

After all, no one would wake up at dawn to cook you breakfast for a field trip. Or do your cross-stitch for you since you need it to take the exam. Or let you do all your homework without any housework since time is limited and all that.

I am sorry that I was not able to serve you in your last days, as this COVID problem is still in the way. I hope that even if it was not a pleasant passing as Papa's, you did not suffer long. 

It was not unexpected, coz we had a prior scare. But it is still a bitter pill to swallow. Especially that I felt that I had failed you in so, so many ways.

The only thing I could do now is to keep my promise and send your future lawyer to school.

And looking back to our last Christmas vacation, you did say. "Wala na man nay ulian diri c PJ".

You were not just talking about Papa, right? Or at least it feels that way now.

Anyhow, you always seemed to know these things. After all, you did tell me "Dili na di magdugay imung Papa" a week before he died.

And you also said "Nganong ma-stress? Dili lang gud ma-stress." the last time we spoke, 3 days before you left as forever.

And as everyone celebrates Mothers' Day, I hope that the cakes and ice creams we sent your way before were enough to show you that we appreciate the fact that you are our MOTHER.

And also happy that you are now together again :D

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!! :D

Regarding Parents

Parenthood is, as they say, the best thing that can happen to a person. Waking up to this little girl trying to squirm into your arms, or kicking you in the stomach, trying to find a comfortable place for herself is gratifying. Watching her learn things such as numbers, shapes, colors, and alphabets fills me with pride. Especially that she cannot really make conversations yet. But with the four mentioned, and the nursery rhymes that she sings in a far better tune than her mama, I look forward to the debates that we will be having in the near future and hopefully for a long, long time after.

Watching their children grow, and eventually letting them go must be hard for parents. Even if they are prepared for this, and wish this for their children, the empty-nest syndrome is actually real. Parents feel that they are no longer needed and succumbs to depression which sometimes led to illness or death. But that is only a feeling I have right now.

The past week has been trying, and I hate COVID now more than ever. As I listen to my brother recite things that are happening to our mother, from the house until she was brought to the hospital. The feeling of helplessness of not being able to give support or assistance to this 'kid' brother you always tease to be the 'irresponsible' one is overwhelming. Even if he tries to give you decision-making authority and allow you to decide things for mama's health care, it is not enough. 

And as things take turns for the worst, and there is nothing you can do really except pray. Is it really normal to lose one's parent right after the other? Or is it just me, having a defeatist attitude and already trying to accept this scenario even if it did not happen yet.

As grown children now, deciding their mother's fate, it's a wry feeling. 

We had hoped to be children for a 'long', long time and even with the baby, I had hoped to call somebody and ask for advice whenever I need it. Or simply because I need to talk. 

And as COVID denies us the chance of 'seeing' Mama through this or even saying 'goodbye' if it comes to that. All I can hope is that, my parents did rear 'strong' children that can push through things even if it seems hopeless now.

P.S.I wish to write lots but the tears started falling, so let's reserve things for the next one.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!  :D

Regarding Relationships

This afternoon, while the baby and I were exploring the neighbourhood for her daily walk (the 2nd for the day). She got caught up in trying to remove all the ipil-ipil seeds from the 'shrub' before they even flower and become fruits. I sat on the sidewalk and watch her run to and fro, chasing her imaginary friends. Or trying to reach out the 'seeds' from their branches by any means necessary. (I let her be and just watch in case she overshoots and fall to the vacant lot where the ipil-ipil grows). Watching her is more fun anyway, she throws the seed as far as she can, run to the side and holds the 'alambre' that supports the clothesline, and then sprinkles imaginary salt in the middle of the road where the seed was thrown. Rinse and repeat.

Got you thinking that this is a Mommy post?

Fortunately, it's not, just want to share that little tidbit.

So soldier on.

As I was watching her, I saw 3 little birds descend on the red roof of a neighbouring subdivision house. I was about to ignore them, as birds flying over and on rooftops is a common occurrence. But then, the birds started pecking each other. My thought was, "Oh, its a mating game of who is the more worthy partner". As the pecking and petting progressed though, it did not seem that way anymore. (Not that I am an expert on birds and their rituals). I did stand up to see clearly to see what is really happening. Still, a bit blurry, (did not have my glasses), but I can make out all the birds and what they were doing.

I cannot tell you if all the birds were female, or all-male, or 1 female and 2 males or 2 females and a male. It's just that they were pecking each other in all combinations, and whenever one is pushed behind in their shenanigans, it will spread its wings and cover the other 2 in an embrace. (Or it seems that way to me, is all). This happened a few times and I watched all of it until the birds flew away. In the time, that the 3 birds stayed on the roof, the other birds in the area just went about their business.

Sadly, the same cannot be said of humans. We tend to poke our noses into other people's businesses. And if we disapprove of whatever agendum our fellow humans are up to, we show our disapproval with disdain and malice. Can we shut up about other people's preferences?

The LGBTQ+ community is usually the target of such cruelty. I do not approve of it nor I do support it. But I have a brother who is a member and a sister who is very vocal in her promotion of gender equality and all the other things that go with it. I may not approve, but I do understand. And so I let them be. It's a choice, and they choose to be classified in a different manner than what they were born with. 

If the church with its traditions and long-standing reputation embrace this reality, why can't you? It's not as if they are harming you by existing. Unless, you are in denial, and cannot bear the slap of reality that you can never have if you do not step outside of the closet.

The other one is people in a polyamory relationship. Again, I do not support this and I vehemently refuse to support people especially 'friends' who are cheating on their partners because they feel that some of their soul belongs to someone else. PUH-LEEZ. Polyamory after all is when all three or more of you are in a relationship. Not you with your partner, and you with another person without your partner's knowledge, and certainly not you with another person that does not know you have a partner. If that is the case, it's not a relationship. It's just you that cannot keep it in your pants.

Again, if polyamory works for people, let them be. You are not the one that is in the relationship, so you do not really know how it goes. Unless it's a fantasy and you can never make it work.

I think I can list a lot of things that people, including me, look down on. But this post is not about that, so I'll stop the examples here. Just the 2, since the 1st one is close to my heart and the 2nd one is the reason why I am writing this post anyway.

The bottom line is if the Animal Kingdom can tolerate any form of relationships, why can't we? Humans are placed in a higher level of intelligence compared to animals. Yet, here we are. Full of prejudice and disdain against people who do not conform to the 'normal' we try to put our perfect world into.

Just a reminder, since the start of Covid Quarantine a year ago, we are not exactly normal right now. So, normalcy is not really perfect as well.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!  :D

P.S. The title I gave this one reminds me of all those essays that I used to read for Papa. Haha, brings back memories of reading such obscure works written in old English and poring over the dictionary to find out its meaning but still feels that its out-of-context.