Sunday, November 19, 2017

FAKES

Dear everyone,

Here is a list of people using my identity and photos. I am constantly updating this list. Please report if you ever come across any of these profiles:

http://www.friendster.com/41564699
http://www.friendster.com/27132772
http://www.friendster.com/35236016
http://www.friendster.com/11941176
http://www.friendster.com/20828150
http://www.friendster.com/18837621
http://www.friendster.com/sashimigir1
http://www.friendster.com/41263087
http://www.friendster.com/chesum
http://mgsssi.easyphpbb.com/viewtopic.php?t=88
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=126852050
http://sassychesca.multiply.com
stripped_maui (YM)
http://www.downelink.com/member/profile.aspx?id=336344
http://www.friendster.com/45798864
http://www.friendster.com/35157743
http://profiles.friendster.com/18709908
http://profiles.friendster.com/30976343
http://profiles.friendster.com/19087541

Please do not be fooled by these impostors. They definitely have nothing better to do. Buti pa tayo, may buhay, hehe.

Thanks to those who have reported, who are reporting, and who will report! :)

Chesca

Sunday, May 11, 2008

mother's day 2008

You told me a couple of moments ago that you once hated your life for being so boring. I am going through that right now. And even if your own experience of teenage angst was years ago, you made me feel that moment that I wasn't alone.

Thank you for always knowing how to make me feel better. Happy Mother's Day, Ma. :)

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

willing to be sailor moon

Because I've been wasting my summer afternoons surfing the net for Sailor Moon episodes and later in the evening reflecting on them (haha, so geeky, I know), let me share one of my favorites so far. I love this particular episode because it shows Usagi's relationship with her younger brother Shingo, which is a lot like relationship with my brother, Ald. It reminded me that no matter how it takes a lot for us to actually get along, I care for him so much and whenever he needs me, I'll always be willing to protect him. :)

>

Enjoy! :)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

just wear hoodies

Although it is understandable how most Filipinos just couldn't give up meat, I think it would be rather heartless if you insist on buying real fur (for your travels abroad, since we can't wear fur in our climate) after watching this video.

Baby seals are my favorite baby animals aside from puppies. Please save the baby seals, and the rest of these other animals who live their lives just to end up as coats. Wear faux fur. Better yet, just wear thick hoodies!

Thanks to Nins for showing me the video.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

maidcity

While doing some research on local anti-poverty organizations, I stumbled across MaidCity.com. My first encounter with the site was a profile page of a woman from Isabela. So then I visited the home page and browsed through different profiles, one of which was of a woman from Baguio who didn't finish her course in Computer Engineering.

The good thing about this site is that it easier for employers abroad to get to know the type of people they plan to employ. The working descriptions are comprehensive and very specific.

The bad thing about it is that it appears to "commodify" maids, as if they were just shoes and accessories being sold online. They also have specific checklists for looks, which actually put the applicants in danger. I mean, what if they get hired by a manyak employer and his only basis was the way she looked? And if she gets raped, she cannot just fight for your rights since she's in a foreign country and she doesn't really know how things work there.

Another bad thing about it is that around 60% of the applicants are Filipinas. It's really sad how because of our situation here in the Philippines wherein getting employment is one big obstacle course, a lot of Filipinos resort to working abroad. And I think this is one of the reasons why a lot of less-fortunate girls are reared to become maids.

It's not that I'm looking down on maids. In fact, I really have high regard for them. I'm proud that they didn't choose to become prostitutes. And I salute them for being really patient with their jobs and their employers. I just feel that our Filipino women should be given a wider range of job opportunities.

My yaya Ate Pam reads John Grisham, Harry Potter, and Mario Puzo. She was on her way to becoming an accountant but she had to stop because they didn't have enough money for her tuition. We were actually planning on getting her into night school, but she had to go back to Davao to take care of her mother.

I mean, see? A lot of women have the potential but aren't given the chance to live their dreams because of poverty. (Calling Oprah, please build a leadership school for girls here too, please?)

I have two points to summarize this entry: One, I feel that MaidCity.com tends to treat maids as commodities, therefore looking down on them or "dehumanizing" them. Two, if not for the economic situation in the Philippines, I'm sure not all women would choose to be maids. They deserve the chance to become who they really want to be.

Ito lang, please give your yayas due respect. They deserve it. Get to know them -- their stories, their likes, their dislikes. Don't make them feel as if they don't exist. Commend them and reward them for jobs well done. Give them a chance to live happily by making them feel part of your family. And please, discourage them from building a profile at MaidCity.com.

Sunday, December 09, 2007

a simple message

At certain points in your life, loneliness and inferiority would occasionally creep inside your happy nest. There will be times that you'd feel you insufficient, insignificant, inefficient, and never worthy of those dreams you live for.

But remember, from that point, you can only go two ways: It's either you choose to revel in misery and let your life pass you by, or you choose to throw the unnecessary drama out of your nest and start anew.

In the past few months, as I have battled certain crises in my life, I was able to realize how God works wonders in everyday life. If you take the time to take a look at how the day went by, you will realize that there is at least something good that has happened that day. And as you learn to appreciate these small things, you will realize that God never neglects. Take the time to appreciate these things. See how they outweigh all the negativity despite how much tension your problems are causing.

The message of this entry is simple: Never give up on any crisis because life has so much more in store for you. Shallow, you may think. But there's more to "Never give up!" than that. I am writing this because of the two kids who have recently claimed their lives because of their own personal crises. They may not have had someone tell them that life is worth every pain, every sacrifice, every rejection. I am also writing this for all the other people who have chosen to resign themselves to the passive way of living. They deserve a spark of hope to make them reconsider.

If there is one thing I would like everyone to do, it's to count your blessings. Because chances are, you will lose count. You will give up. And that's the only thing you should give up on.

Friday, November 30, 2007

graveyard shift to grave

Graveyard shift work a.k.a. working on Psych method papers is linked to cancer!

Ano, shift na ba? Shift na? ;)

Monday, November 05, 2007

A grandchild grieves

He wrote her a note before he left: "I'm going to church at 6:30 to read the Scriptures. I love you. I'll miss you."

So he went on to read the Scriptures. After mass, just a few moments after he stepped outside the church, he was run over by a drugged and drunken nineteen-year-old. He was dead on the spot.

Hadn't 911 called, she would have just sat there waiting.

***

She was on life support for a few days and would not respond to medications. Her family had already signed the waiver to put her out of her misery. Just a few moments after they let go, she let go too.

***

He was one of the icons of my childhood. I have always known him as one of the gentlest, kindest people on earth. He was American, married to my mom's Filipina aunt, but they would always visit the Philippines when I was younger. He, along with Lolo Tinny, stood as one of my grandfathers when Daddy died. I was never left without a Lolo figure from my mother's side.

They were here last May. I remember how eager I was to attend my uncle's wedding just because Lolo Norman and Lola Baby came here after nine years. (He had been sickly for the past nine years, holding them back from visiting the Philippines often.) I remember when he saw me for the first time after all these years, he said, "Chesca, you've grown to become a beautiful young lady." I hugged him tightly, keeping the image of his kind eyes inside my mind.

I had summer classes then so I wasn't able to spend time with them. I don't know why, on that particular Sunday before their flight back, I wasn't able to come with Mama to bid them goodbye. As a kid, I was used to spending a lot of time with Lolo Norman and Lola Baby. I just wish I could find a reason why I didn't go.

Somehow, I'm consoled by the fact that I got to see him six months ago for one last time. I got to be with him, even for a very short while. But still, I wish I had more time with him before he left us.

I'll miss you, Lolo Norman. Please be one of my angels when you get there.

***

Lola Coring, we weren't really close, but I'm thankful that all my life you've been nice to me. We may not have shared meaningful conversations or "big" moments, but I will remember you. How you'd stop by and listen to me play the piano. How you'd always smile when you see me. How you'd welcome us whenever we'd come to visit, even if my dad was just one of your nephews.

The Tayabas home will never be the same without you.

***

My heart is still heavy and my eyes are tired. But it's so difficult to stop grieving. I wish I could stop.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

No Difference

NO DIFFERENCE
by Shel Silverstein

Small as a peanut,
Big as a giant,
We're all the same size
When we turn off the light.

Rich as a sultan,
Poor as a mite,
We're all worth the same
When we turn off the light.

Red, black or orange,
Yellow or white,
We all look the same
When we turn off the light.

So maybe the way
To make everything right
Is for God to just reach out
And turn off the light!