A friend confided in me yesterday that she's already hating the people around her, - that life is slowly and painfully becoming miserable. She can't believe how those whom she consider her friends can become her enemies in so short a span of time and from the charming people that they were, they abruptly became shallow and mean bitches.

And she asked, "Ain't we supposed to be nice?"

And she asked again, "Aren't we told to be good to one another?"

And I asked her back, "who told you exactly that it is a rule to be nice?"

And I followed up, "when was being nice a requirement for everyone?"

And I ranted that being nice doesn't guarantee that one would gain the best people and make them one's friends. I told her, often, being nice would only get her in more trouble.

We ended our conversation without settling anything. She still believes that despite people's meanness to her, she owes it to herself to remain in character. I believe that niceness should only be applied to people who deserve it.

The truth is, I applaude her martyrdom. Good job, blah blah blah. But I know she would remain miserable all her life because she thinks the happiness of people around her lies in her being nice. Not good!

Nice is overrated.

"People should be cruel in order to be kind." Such was our motto in college and I forgot about it until now. Until I was humiliated and degraded by a person whom I originally thought was nice. Until I was pushed into the corner by a person who says one thing and mean the other. Until I was boxed out by a bitch whom I originally thought was smart but I've proven to be an egomaniac and stupid (nasty combination by the way!).

So "nice" is going out of the window.

If my friend would want to become the forever Good Samaritan that she is, fine. For me, there is a point where everything ends. And I already reached that point.

So bring it on! You've seen nothing of me yet!

Making silly banters have become a habit for most people. Just because they have every right to express what they feel, they say things without regard for the consequences. They criticize to the point that they're already stepping on somebody else's rights and degrade someone to the point of being totally garbage.


I really don't care about what other people say or do, but the moment that they cross the boundaries and become plain rude, I can't just stand doing nothing. I pride myself with the fact that I can let other people win when obviously, it's useless to argue. Intelligent people know when to shut up and when to speak their mind. And come on, every once in a while, people should let go and stop being self-righteous b*&^#@! more than they already are.

The RH Bill has been making the headlines. It's like the whole country's future is dependent on the said bill. Well, that might be the case but I'm looking forward to the representatives of the land to become models for its citizens. What I really wish is for them to discuss and debate intelligently. By intelligent, I hope they can keep their focus on the issue and not get sidetracked with each other's flaws as humans. I hope they can be what they are, senators and representatives, who would weigh the pros and cons and not gnarl at each other like mad dogs.

I think the purpose of debating is not only to educate but for this case, get most of the representatives and the senators to side with the idea that RH Bill is either good or bad for the country. What's wrong with providing facts and figures? Would calling someone names (thank God, it hasn't reach that far yet) make any difference at all? Who would get votes with name calling (or should I say insults) anyway?

If the senators and house representatives are fighting like mad cows in their respective houses, throwing insults all around and challenging each other to fist fights, what message are they sending to the Filipino people? The bill was passed and everyone will be given the chance to speak their minds. Everyone wil have a say, that's for sure. I know however that the reason why there is this on-going debate is because all of us are just being vigilant about what's good for the country.

What's the win-win position here?

Compromise!

If that word is too hard to understand, then even if everyone debates over and over again and people will kill each other, we will be heading nowhere.

(P.S. This is my two-cents, if you don't agree with my thoughts, at least show some decency and respect it.)

I missed the days when I think of none
But things that are so fun
I missed the days where all that matters
Is nothing really, there were no worries.

I missed the times when camping out
Means having to worry bout parents pout
I missed the times when being on my own
Is not a good thing cause Im too young.

I missed the moments when I was free
From the burden of adulthood, was I lucky?
I missed the moments when all I care about
Is where to go next with friends abound.

But today is the day of responsibility
And the time is time to be a somebody.
This is the moment were life is messy
Because being an adult is taking liability.

I was in a hurry to grow yesterday
And when I got here finally
I wanted to go back to a time
When life was fun, and what matters is none really.

No matter how great a person is, without validation, he still is nothing.

I’m ecstatic with the thought that I earned it, that I am “it.”

I know a lot of you won’t have any idea what I’m talking about. But in my line of work, an email from my boss (a portion is posted below) is as important as hearing the words “Good Job!”

The wait is finally over and new challenges are yet to come but I welcome them, like they are rain from the sky after a dreadful drought.

Long way ahead but I’d make it. I will make it. Deym, I’m proficient and that means something.

With my book in the works (I’m in Chapter 6 now, hurray!) and yes it’s taking a while but before the end of this year, I already have something to present.

Hopefully my friend who knew several publishers would be able to do something to get it published.

Cheers to life. And this one's to the future!

Let's talk about hair.

It's been a long time coming and this is the perfect time to talk about it. While everyone else is celebrating Holy Thursday and skipping meat as part of their penitence, from my end, I think I had been doing mine ever since I graduated college.

During the Lenten Season, they say that you have to give up something that you really love. It just so happen that for most people, they love their food. I'm not Catholic so the practice shouldn't bother me. But for the sake of this article, let me tell you why losing my hair becomes my penitence and why the Lenten Season never stopped for me.

This is the usual conversation.


Office Colleague 1: Hey, where are you going?
Me: Out. Just buying lunch.
Office Colleague 2: Let us go with you.

Outside.

OC1: It's so hot. Why is it so freaking hot?
OC2: That's actually not my problem. My problem is that something hurts my eye.
OC1: Oh. I see what you mean.
OC2: (Looking at me.)Would you mind covering your head. The sun's reflection is killing me.

Boohoooo!!!! Funny!!!

I'm not sure if you get what they mean but everytime we are out and the sun is blistering hot, they blame my head for creating so much eye sore. It use to annoy me a lot and God forgive me, I pray for the day that everyone else start losing their manes so that they would know how ashamed they make me feel.

I have genes to blame for this tragedy. Well, I use to think of it as a tragedy but not anymore. Looking at my pictures in college with my voluminous hair and taking picture with me on a wig (well-sort-of), I look like an idiot. It's actually better that I totally get rid of my hair.

The usual banter about my being bald (more of thin hair) is not causing me distress anymore. Deep down inside, everytime they call me names for my apparent lack of hair, I shout "Is that the best you got?"

And deep down, I'm also praying that God would do justice and I pray hard that one day, those who bully me will get what they deserve. I don't want them going bald, that would be too funny. I just wish their teeth get all knocked off. How's that for a tragedy?

(Or maybe I'll knocked their teeth for them, just for the fun of it. Hahaha)

The best thing about being an editor is discovering talents. Of course, there is a bigger chance of wasting your time on people who are just trying hard and yet call themselves writer but the moment that you find them, those diamonds in the rough, and help them become better writers - is too much of an honor.

When I was in college, one thing that I always find unfair even at present is how people seem to be fixated with schools. A lot of people think that the school makes and defines the students but I'd like to contradict it. Time and time again, stories after stories, I can say that students make the school. The students bring prestige and honor not the other way around. If students pass the bar exam, it's not because the school took the exam for them but rather, it's because the students studied hard to pass it.

Good writers in the Philippines are barely recognized. For one, to be a recognized writer, you have to have money and should come from a well-known school. Everytime that I come across with a good writer, I come not to pity the writer for not having the chance to showcase his/her talent but I pity the world for not meeting one of the gifted writers it badly need.

The world especially the Philippines is currently experiencing a widespread writer's block. Watching Philippine TV show is like being transported back to the 60s or 70s. I don't mean that as a compliment. You are transported back to the past because it's where the good stories are. TV writers cannot come up with anything new and they end up with recycled materials (like Machete, Mula sa Puso, Mara Clara etc) and borrowing from foreign media (take Lobo and Imortal).

Somewhere out there, I believe are more talented writers waiting to be given a chance to showcase their talents. They wouldn't come from well-known schools and those who will find them, will be lucky enough and for sure, will have fresh materials to present to the public. And God knows how much the Philippine public needs new stories and fresh materials.

On a related note, two of my recent discoveries are budding writers from my old student publication. One calls himself Ryan Adik Na Lambay and the other is Rolyn.

Ryan's writing is sarcastic but it's true and often very humorous. He paints a clear picture of what he wanted to write about. He may need a little tweaking on the logic of his story but once he overcomes it, I believe that he would follow the footsteps of Filipino writers Bob Ong and Eros Atalia. And maybe he'd be a little better.

His short story, Anak ng Teteng!, had me laughing. It was a simple story but the picture was so vivid I can imagine the character like I was with him. Here's an excerpt: