Miss (Mr.) Universe

     Surpise! Surprise! The highly coveted Miss Universe beauty pageant is now accepting candidates who were born male to represent their respective countries in this world wide search and have that once in a lifetime chance to be crowned as the most beautiful woman in the world!  There. Were you as surprised as I was? I hope so.

     When and how did this happen? Well, it all started when Jenna Talackova, Miss (Mr.) Canada, was finally allowed to compete for her country's spot in the search for Miss Universe for the current year. Talackova was previously disqualified to take part in the competition after it was found out that she was actually born a male but had undergone surgery to become a female.  According to the Canadian model, she decided to have the sex-change because she was born in "the wrong body".

      I have nothing against gays or bi-sexuals or transgenders. In fact, some of the nicest and coolest people I know happen to be gays. They are talented, caring and generous both with their time and talents.  They are good friends and reliable confidants. I respect them and their sexual preference and wish for them nothing but happines and yes, fair treatment and equality, among other things. However, I find it a bit queer (pardon the pun) that  someone who was born in this world a male (with the male anatomy of course), would be entering a beauty contest, which was specifically designed to search for the fairest, most beautiful woman in the universe (possessing all those womanly attributes, of course).  It is like being a commercial model for a hair shampoo when your hair is not your own but a mere transplant, or modelling for a toothpaste advertisement when you have false teeth, and yes, parading in your swimsuit when the body parts you are actually displaying happen to be... implants?

     "Equal Opportunity" for all  does exist. But the line has to be drawn somewhere somehow. Maybe transgender people could have their own world wide beauty pageant wherein all the beauty hopefuls would be on equal footing; none of them would have to be disqualified for what they are nor questioned for what they are not, but each and every contestant would be allowed to shine without the unnecessary controversy. Or perhaps, sex-change women could start a new beauty search that would promote awareness and their full acceptance to society. Whatever they choose to have, it should be without pretense or cover-ups and more importantly, it would tell the whole world their capabilities and  highlight their contribution and significance to humanity.

     Oh, I can't wait for this year's Miss Universe!  May the best (fe)male...uhmm... contestant win  :-)

photo credit: http://twitter.com/#!/JennaTalackova

Luneta Children's Playground

     After more than 2 decades since my last visit here, nothing much has changed. Except that everything seemed to be smaller now..  This was probably what Alice in Wonderland felt!  It was pretty much like being in a dream; seeing things again after such a looong time but wondering why they've become so tiny now. Maybe because i've grown bigger, taller (and older!).. but when did all these start to happen? he he he.. i really can't tell...

     If you've frequented Luneta's Children's Playground as a kid,  then you might recognize these lovable characters too. It's amazing how after all these years, they have managed to survive; still looking just the way they used to. Except that, yes, in my adult eyes, they have now become smaller in size,  but nevertheless,  will always have a very big place in my childhood heart...

I used to sit between these  'froggies'  and  everytime i do, I remember my feet dangling and could never reach the ground. now, the adorable kermits just go past my knees, a little over 3 feet perhaps.

the pumpkin house. if only i could go in, the way i used to, just like this little boy. right now, i wonder how i could manage for im almost as tall as the pumpkin!

When i saw this little girl, i got nostalgic. she was the one who welcomed me everytime i went to the playground. still situated right after the entrance, she held a drinking fountain (no bottled water then) where, aside from drinking, i would often wash my hands and face whenever i felt them getting dirty. she seemed so tall then, i had to tiptoe if i wanted to reach for the fountain... but now, i had to look down to get a better view of her. and sadly, the fountain is no more :(

as a kid, i would often slide my way down from these colorful slides and it seemed like forever before i reached the bottom sands. well, seeing these now, i realized the slides werent that long nor wide nor endless :p

The shoe house is a must for every kid visiting the Children's Playground. and just like this little girl, i would often get in, walking upright, and climbing my way up the window. but now, if i wanted to get in, i would have to crawl... thanks, but no thanks. :D

Mount Mayon

Several years ago, work sent me to Bicol for two weeks.. yes, two long weeks of not being able to sleep in my own soft, fluffy bed, 14 days of not being able to type on my beautiful, newly assembled pc (naks!), and half a month of not being able to see my wonderful friends... but in exchange for all that seemingly sad occurrences, i got to see Mt. Mayon again after so many many years...

I remember first seeing this Wonder of the World a decade ago while on board a passenger bus. It was around 6 in the morning and i can vividly recall that day when i had barely slept because i was not really accustomed to travelling by land overnight. I was suffering from headache, my limbs were numb and my stomach was now growling from my 7-hour trip that already seemed endless! I was growing impatient and was sooo dead tired. Thus, i took a peek from the window on my side to see where the bus had already taken us.. Lo and behold! There she was, Mt. Mayon in full glory!

 

Twas a clear day, not a cloud obstructing my view of Mayon.. I could very well see her crater and that perfect cone-shape that has made her famous worldwide! She actually looked graceful and mighty at the same time.... oh how could that perfectly shaped, natural wonder be so wrathful as to bury a whole town (Cagsawa) with its massive volcanic eruption?.. yes, beauty and strength combined; serenity and ferocity in one... I was in awe. Seeing Mayon at that moment made me forget all the discomforts i was experiencing.. I wanted to see more, but ironically, the bus, which was previously travelling at a snail's pace for 7 hours, had suddenly acquired wings and was now soaring like an eagle, leaving behind the magnificent view of Mayon, much to my dismay.

That was more than a decade ago.. too bad, camera phones were unheard of back then. But Mayon's beauty was imprinted on my mind like no other 10 mega pix camera could ever capture...Fast forward to the time when, after so many years, i was sent to Bicol because of work... But this time, I was already equipped with my ever ready cam-phone and certainly, i wouldn't let the opportunity pass me by the second time around.. Here she is, a bit cloudy, but still, our world's ultimate wonder, Mt. Mayon...



Only the belfry of the Cagsawa Church can be seen after Mt. Mayon mercilessly engulfed the whole town with its lava following a massive eruption some two centuries ago

Me and Mount Mayon

11 Things About Me..

From The Pinay Wanderer, 11 questions to answer..

1. Describe your feelings right now.
=> tired. reflective.

2. Kung ikaw ay isang pagkain, anong putahe ka?
=> yung piniritong isda na payat na mahaba, espada ba ang tawag dun? kasi payat ako at mahaba. gets? hehe!

3. Is there anything you own that you can't live without and why?
=> nothing, i guess.  although life would be a bit less comfy without some of the things youve become accustomed to having (cellphone, laptop, etc, etc), i dont suppose i'd die if i wake up one morning and find them gone.

4. How does uhog or nasal mucus taste like?
=> depends on whose is it.. eeeeek!

5. Would you rather be attacked by a huge bear or a swarm of bees?
=> omg. i'd say neither!

6. What's the best compliment you've ever received?
=> hmmm. best? maybe the best compliment is yet to come.

7. Kung isa ka sa 5 senses ng ating katawan, ano ka at bakit?
=> 6th sense! ay 5 lang pala hehe! sense of hearing. i have small ears but they definitely go a loong loong way hehe

8. What have you done the day before yesterday?
=> i was at the Luneta, having an awesome trip down memory lane.

9. Proud ka ba sa bansa mo? Paano?
=> Minsan oo, minsan hindi. Proud ako pag nakikilala tayo sa ibang bansa dahil sa galing natin. at hindi ako proud pag may nangyayaring kahihiyan na minsan kapwa natin Pilipino ang may gawa.

10. What advise can you give to the government future leaders?
=> Be frugal.

11. Where do you think you'll be in five years?
=> oh. hopefully things will fall into their proper places and i would be in a peaceful, stress-free place wherever that may be.

 

11 Random Things About Me

1. I am an evening person.
2. As a kid, i would often go to our school library and read just about anything. all that changed when i became an adult....pfffft.
3. I dont know how to swim, though i love going to the beach.
4. I dont know how to ride a bike. but i have learned to drive a car.
5. I have a hard time remembering streets and places, names and faces.
6. I am not a fan of sweet treats. they would often make my throat itchy.
7. Chicken wings are my least favorite. lemme rephrase that. i dont eat chicken wings. period.
8. I dont and cant sleep with the lights on.
9. As a follow-up to #8, i am a very light sleeper.
10. I dont normally have breakfast, and I'm not usually hungry in the morning.
11. I have a poor eyesight, but hate wearing glasses and too scared to try contacts. i just go about my day not seeing everyone and everything clearly :D

Now, your turn. I would like to read the 11 truths about yourself,  please :) 

Galang Bisdak of galangbisdak
eymz of I Dare to Share!
witikoi of In My Eyes

The Magnum Myth

About a month ago, a facebook friend was gushing about how yummy Magnum was. Unfortunately, my online buddy didn't bother to post a single picture of this ohh-so-tasty Magnum. I never gave a thought about it, until my facebook/twitter walls were flooded with testimonials about Magnum. An officemate offered that Magnum was an alcoholic beverage; a champagne or wine or something bottled. Well, as for me, the only Magnum that i am aware of is a type of gun. So how could that be even ahmm...tasty? Until finally, when the commotion about Magnum could no longer be contained, pictures of it were just about everywhere. And so, I guess by now, we all know what Magnum is. An ice cream on a stick! Truly!

 But that is not the myth I want to tell you about. I am aware that Magnum has legions of diehards out there, and so before I start, I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. And if you haven’t tried Magnum yet but are planning soon with high expectations because of its superb marketing and advertising, my apologies if I inadvertently happen to burst your bubble. But the hype about Magnum went just a bit overboard. Sure,  its chocolate coating is ok, tastes exactly like... well, any chocolate coating on any ice cream bar. Sadly, I didn't find it exceptional. The plain vanilla ice cream inside the choco coat was indeed smooth and creamy, but it was just that -- plain. Save for its consistency, there was nothing else unforgettable about the vanilla ice cream inside. Magnum actually reminds me of the good ole' Pinipig Crunch, although PC is more affordable without the unnecessary mega publicity... Ok, just to be a bit fair, Magnum doesn’t melt fast. I was able to take pictures  while it was still inside its glorious packaging. I snapped about ten shots from my camera phone until I got my desired image. And guess what? The ice cream was still intact from its chocolate coating; no spills, no drips, no drops...And that's about it folks, for i have just busted the Magnum myth. On a final note however, seems that everyone is still raving about it, people are queuing in supermarkets for their supply of Magnum, and just about everywhere,  when you see someone licking on an ice cream stick, you can bet it's a Magnum... Oh well, maybe it’s just me. But at 50 php per stick, I’m going to pass.

Start.

The hardest thing to do, as in anything I suppose, is to start -- starting your day, starting with work, starting a new relationship, and yes, starting a blog. I was browsing over tons of blogs here in order to help me get started. However, the more blogs I read, the more I get overwhelmed.  What on earth do I write here? As of yet, I have no idea. Maybe later on, I'd have one solid theme, or perhaps a topic I could very well write about. Maybe. Perhaps.
Be that as it may, I have to get this started. Otherwise, I might not even go past the background/layout editing part. As I have read and observed from the bloggers here, the proper way to start a blog is to introduce one's self... Ok then, here goes...I am probably the most unintresting person i know. I was born and raised in the city, the only daughter in a family of eight. Went to University, once aimed at becoming a lawyer, however, lost target. I pretty much enjoy going online, and I mean very much. I dont own a television, hardly read paperbacks or the papers, but i would always surf and browse about anything and everything I need via the internet. Recently, I discovered an interest in photography and thus, consider it as one of my budding hobbies... there.. having said that, I think I have already written my very first blog entry. That was the start i needed. hehehe. Thank you for dropping by. I'd be genuinely glad if someday, I could even be half as good as them bloggers. And yes, I mean YOU.  :)