Good thing I'm not the President

Yesterday morning I had a half hour conversation with my parents discussing the top presidentiables for the upcoming national elections. If you know me and you know my parents, having this conversation would be equivalent to having CBCP publicly accept that condoms are not the cause of sin, or probably something as mind shattering as seeing Nicanor Perlas (whom I admire as an individual) win the presidential race.

Conversations in my family are very limited and often mundane but the short exchange of quips and quibbles gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, our political system still has a chance to one day step into greatness. Or maybe I’m just high from the double espresso I had added to my drink a few hours back.

I am not a political analyst. I’m not an economist and not a lawyer. I have no experience in leading any group in a national level (international level only hahaha). Though of very limited knowledge and experience, just like every other Pinoy, I too have my own ideas of how I want the country managed. Some are worth looking into while others are but a flim-flam of whimsical ideas brought about by the general notion that the government is being lead by a troll (yes in size too!) and that pixie dusts can somehow give us the Wonderland we deserve and wish for.

On top of my list would be to see a negative growth in the country’s birth rate once every 3-5 years. I could only imagine the kind of nightmare that would be for the people who needs to implement them but I’m a firm believer that overpopulation will eventually kill the country. This year we’ve imported all kinds of basic commodities, rice and sugar sweetly topping everything up. How long before the entire country collapses under its own weight? Not too long from now methinks. We can not survive by ourselves anymore and the more dependent we become the more susceptible we are to hunger and everything else that leads and follows it.

If I can have my way I’d make it mandatory to have individuals living in the top 10 cities in the country who falls below the poverty line to be monitored by health workers. Couples with 2 kids should undergo mandatory ligation and vasectomy. Yes, both of them. Single mothers with 2 or more kids are also mandated to undergo ligation. Men over the age of 35 years old, whether single or married, should undergo mandatory vasectomy.

My suggestion may sound too radical but we’re a country of radicals. A President who said “I’m sorry” after admitting to rigging the election results. An actor President found guilty of plunder. A senator who’s been in ‘public service’ for the past 49 years without any thoughts of retiring. A convicted rapist who got elected as a mayor and who continued to ’serve’ behind bars. A family of political scums who kills for sport. A group of individuals who believes that preventive measures used for personal health is equivalent to abortion.

Now who’s radically inept? Me or these headcracks that the people decided to follow and elect?

The Power of Pacquiao

It was the year 2007 when I first heard of Manny Pacquiao. Why? I went to work on a Saturday and at 11am the streets were almost clear which almost never happens unless there's a coup d'etat.
At that time I was working in the building of a major network here. When I finally got there and I didn't see any marines or soldiers with high powered guns patrolling the vicinity which is a regular thing during political unrest, I realized that it's not a coup d'etat attempt as I previously thought it was. You could say I got mighty curious.
I went straight to the local Starbucks and while ordering my regular fix I started asking about the apparent lack of motorists and even customers on a weekend. They all looked at me and one asked, "Aren't you watching Pacquiao's fight?"
No. I didn't know who he was nor do I have any idea why I should be watching him.
Two years later I watched his fight with Cotto. THE FIRST ever boxing fight I watched in my entire life! The second full game of any kind after watching Webb play for the Philippine team on the ASEAN way back in the 90s.
His fight with Clottey is the second fight I watched. THAT's the kind of power Pacquiao has over the Filipinos. It can clear the streets as if Martial Law is back and it makes a spectator out of me.

Depression

I was watching TV a while back. There was this special on celebrity crises, the mental illness the great beings of hollywood have. Then it hit me, I've had my fair share. There were instances when I get anxiety attacks, sleep problems and depression. It came to a point that my aunt talked to my mom when I was in my early 20s and asked her to watch me for signs of being clinically depressed.

It was that bad but NOT THAT BAD. Apparently, I have a free loose screws here and there but I am not destructive. I don't cut myself like Christina Ricci nor do I have agoraphobia like Kim Basinger. I've always felt fat but I'm not bulimic like Katharin McPhee and anorexic like Mary Kate Olsen. 

Just now I was browsing through FemaleNetwork.com and I saw this article title asking the reader what she likes best as a woman. 

It prompted me to finally open this ill-forgotten blog. 

I like that I am resilient and unbreakable. That's what. And it might be true that a lot of people are like that too but I like that most about me, as me, as a woman.