Wedding bliss

I wonder how it feels to walk down the aisle, exchange vows, wear those rings, and kiss the man/woman of your dreams in front of a crowd?

When I was younger, I don't pay too much attention on wedding ceremonies. I settle with just being on the background. The last time I remembered involving myself with the ceremony, itself, is when I was the ring bearer of my uncle's wedding, I was five or six that time. From then on, I never saw myself being one of the sponsors.

Growing mature, I now feel the romantic breeze during weddings. I can't even help sometimes but cry.

Now I ask, how do people find the perfect someone whom they will spend forever with? Do such exist in the world of homosexuals?

Searching the corners of the world for your lifetime companion is not at all an easy task. It requires a spoonful of patience, a bucket of faith, and a pinch of perseverance. Sometimes, some end with fixed marriage just to settle themselves - rather, it's what their parents want. 

But however we find our partner, may it be through the web, through a wrong phone call, or through a friend, what's important, really, is how we keep the love burning with passion and desire even after years and years of being together.

With homosexual relationships, I find it interesting when people of the same gender vow to live with each other forever. I, myself, would want to spend a lifetime with my partner. It would be the happiest moment as we exchange vows and promise to love each other until our dying day.

Homosexuals, too, has the right to love and be loved - that's the reason why I am one with those gays and lesbians who fight for their right to marriage. 

No matter what gender you belong, we all are looking forward to that big day. And no matter what gender you belong, you have the right to marriage.

Let's all fight for it.

* * *

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Galvez as they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary yesterday, December 17, 2008 - the reason why I made this blog entry.

May you continue to spend a lifetime in each other's arms. May you live life to it's fullest together and celebrate an unending love with God's love and divine presence. May the passion to love burn forever. As you vowed, till death do you part.

Again, Congratulations!

Mighty morphing me

A friend persuaded me to do this. Out of boredom and distress, I did. It wouldn't cost me a single centavo anyway. Why not.

And so I found myself struggling to look for the perfect photo. Luck must have been around the corner, Beyonce Knowles was one of the celebrities that, according to the site, I look alike. 

It's all for fun. 

Bare with me.

As I said, I'm bored.

Of fishes and death

She used to be hyperactive, as if I always feed her with sugar. But a week ago she was not her usual self. She was as if longing for someone whom she's waiting for many years now. She was totally different.

And then there she was, right where I left her last Friday. However, she is no longer breathing, no longer moving, no longer swimming.

Maria left me. Our Maria left us. 

I got her as a souvenir from one of the debut that we handled. I got two fishes so my partner and I named them Maria and Tony - from the world-renowned West Side Story. 

My partner couldn't have it in his office so I decided to keep them both on my desk. From that day on, I kept them close to my heart. I fed them, washed their bowl, and even played with them. 

It was as sudden as the death of Marky Cielo just last week. But all things come to an end. 

Now suddenly I am frightened - frightened by the thought of losing someone you dearly love, frightened of the fact that in just a blink of an eye, I will lose everything.

I always have that fear of death. It is something that I could never comprehend, it seems so abstract, so surreal. Morbid curiosity might sometimes struck me, but I can never fully grasp its concept.

Why do we have to die?

I don't know either. All I know is that when you die, as the Church say, you will find everlasting life. But I ask, how could you find life when you are physically dead?

It is maybe God's way of telling us that death is actually not the end, but it's a start of a perfect life with Him. It is not life's dead end, it's a detour to our life with God and Christ.

Maria might be gone. But she left me learnings that I would never replace for another fish. 

And so I say, I will definitely miss cleaning your bowl Maria. 

I will miss you.

Philippines Politics redux

Politics?

Next topic please.

I am not the type who involve myself too much with politics. I am not your 'Ibagsak si Gloria!' or 'No to CHA-CHA' citizen who takes part in all the rally there is against the present government - from Mendiola to Ayala Avenue. I am not the kind who gripes over fraudulent animals administering this country.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not. I really am not.

Yet, it doesn't mean that I don't care for this country. I do. Believe me. But whenever I think of Philippine politics, I lose myself and tend to talk too much, exuding the Dabawenyo in me - which I don't care, by the way.

When would all these end? Is there still a chance for this country to make it up for the future generation? 

This country doesn't need a leader who will magically turn everything by 360 degrees and create a better nation for its people. It doesn't need politicians who wrap itself with gold and diamonds and act as if nothing worse is happening with the his country. And most especially, it doesn't need inefficient people who runs the government as if it is running a bike.

What these people need are leaders who will stand up for them when everything seems to be out of order. They need people who will battle for the country until their last drop of blood, until their last breath. 

The people are not asking for too much. It's actually enough. They have the right to demand in the first place.

Stop. Look. Listen.

It's high time we stop the idiocy we do that pulls the whole nation to the ground. Leaders, stop the unrighteous stealing of money from the people. Are you not ashamed of the your doings? Where has your conscience gone? Look deeper with what is happening in the country caused mostly by your greed over power and wealth. Listen to what your people are saying. We don't need sympathy, we need actions. 

For the people, stop blaming our leaders for we are the sole reason why these people are in their positions. Instead, let's support their undertakings and look at what good things they have done for the country. I am not saying that we need not scrutinize the things they do, what I am trying to say is that we listen to what they say - sometimes obedience resolves dispute. 

We are not yet too late to climb up the ladder of betterment and progress. We still have the chance. 

Seize it. Flourish it. Proliferate it.

A different Noche Buena

I wonder how Christmas would be in the country now that we are amid a highly controversial economic crisis. 

Would it still be the same as last year? Would there still be the much-awaited hamon and the long-existing queso de bola? Would each family still exchange gifts? Would ninongs and ninangs be hiding from their inaanaks, again?

I, myself, am confused on how would Christmas be for me and my family this year. With the continuous price hike in the market, we would surely be celebrating Christ's birth in a different way.

We used to have two celebrations on Christmas eve, one is with the whole family - that includes my uncles, aunts, and cousins - the other is with their own families. Now, with what is happening, I think there would only be one for each family member. 

Before, my uncle used to give his nephews and nieces a thousand bucks on Christmas day. I vividly remember how we rush in line to get our Christmas 'gift' from him. I think the amount would lessen this year - or worst, this wouldn't happen at all.

The family usually have a roasted pig during this season, matched with cases and cases of beers and drink until we all drop. This year, maybe we'll settle with fish and a case of beer just to celebrate the night away.

There will surely be a huge difference as to how each family will celebrate the holidays. But despite such, it matters not we put up glamorous parties or expensive food for Noche Buena. What matters most is the presence of each family member on this very special occasion - the hug, the kisses, and the care we feel from each other.

Lucky you people you have your moms and dads with you this season. I don't want to be too mushy here, but really, you should celebrate Christmas thankfully with your family. I may celebrate one with mine, minus my mom and dad however.

Celebrating Christmas is not all about the gifts, it's about the love we share on this season of giving.