May mga pagod na hindi naidadaan sa tulog

 May mga pagod na hindi naidadaan sa tulog

At sa halip ay naitutulay

Sa pagtitig sa kawalan

Sa pagdinig sa katahimikan

Sa pag-iisip ng wala

Sa pagpikit ng madiin

May mga pagod na maitatawid lang

Sa pagtigil ng oras

Tama na muna

Tumigil na muna

Hindi ka naman siguro mahuhuli

Kung pipiliin mo muna ang

Huminga.

The end of the world slowly crept

The end of the world slowly crept
We were expecting a dramatic end

A bang,
An explosion,
That would blind and deafen us all
We thought we would die heroic,
We thought we would die brave.
But the Earth persecuted us
In many ways we did not think of
She did it little by little
And it did not lack in shame
And embarassment
She stripped us naked
And exposed our weaknesses
And paraded us in our own destruction
The end of the world slowly crept
And she did not do it kindly
She did it so with a sadness and desperation that slowly killed--
All forms of hope
and love
and joy.
And slowly crept into our bones
And revealed what we are made of--
frailty,
gloom,
hopelessness.
The world gave us a fitting end.
With darkness
And the curtains
Did not close smoothly.

I Don't Need To Take Much Of Your Time

September 03, 2020

We don't need to be always together

We don't need to talk all the time

Although that would be nice

We don't need to message each other all the time

We don't need to be happy all the time

Although that sounds nice

Cause you and I

We can't afford the romance that they are selling to us

That kind that we see in movies, in fairy tales, in poems...

Cause you and I

Are real people, who don't have all the time, who feel tired

From the struggles of wanting to survive

We can't afford the sparkly, shiny romance

That promises to taste sweet all the time

What we can afford, however

Is friendship that understands--

That I am here,

And you are there.

And on precious moments, we can afford

We can meet and talk

I don't need to take much of your time

But I am happy to be a part of your rest stops when you pause.

If I fall, I fall

August 30, 2020

If I fall, I fall

If I drift away, I drift away

No ifs, no buts

No thinking of 'whats'

If I travel the distance between the ocean of me and the rest of everything

If I travel the distance away from the land where I am not

Away...

I do not want to fight the current anymore...

Everyday As Told By Photos: 1 Litre of Shampoo and Conditioner

July 11, 2020

I've known long ago that investing in your hair is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Invest more on your health, skin, hair and body rather than on expensive bags, shoes or clothes. 

Today, I want to share with you big bottled shampoo and conditioner products. 

I have been using Love, Beauty and Planet products for a year now. I mainly like them because they use clear, big plastic bottles. If you haven't heard, only clear plastic bottles get the chance to be recycled and most colored shampoo bottles we get from the store almost never get recycled.

I also love them for their great aroma! Your head and hair have a big influence on how you smell. If you want to smell good without perfume, consider looking for mild but great smelling shampoo, conditioner and soap. 

It was only last month that I stumbled upon Human Nature's big bottled shampoo and conditioner. They are significantly bigger than Love, Beauty and Planet's products. They also do not add SLS on their shampoo and conditioner. SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate is the substance that makes your shampoo bubble. Bubble cleans but bubble also strips your hair of its natural oil sometimes. If you suffer from brittle and dry hair, you might want to check sls-free hair products. Another thing that I like from Human Nature's products is that they have essential oils. However, one fear that I have is they might trigger acne or dandruff. 

The big bottles cost around 600 to 700 pesos each and I believe it will last me for six months since I only wash my hair every other day.

I also want to share a concoction I made from various dried herbs and oils. I mixed three droppers full of castor oil and tea tree oil plus a few pinches of thyme, rosemary and lavender. I mixed them with water so it won't be oily on my hair. I have been using this for a month now and they make my hair and scalp feel nourished.

Haircare need not be expensive. If you are someone who is not on the position to spend some more for your hair, I recommend regular detangling, cold showers (hot water makes your hair dry) and not doing cheap treatments. It is better to maintain your normal hair that do something that might damage it in the long run.

COMMENTARY: Don't Make Me Feel Like My Body Is My Enemy

June 26, 2020

My body is not my enemy. It isn't my fault that I am born into a body that you find admirable -- whether it's my pale or dark skin, big or small chest. 

I appreciate your admiration but understand that there is a proper situation in expressing that. I am going to my school to study. I am going to work to earn money. I am going to jog to keep my body healthy. I did not wear my uniform or my sports bra for you to express what you want to do to me.

If I go out wearing my long dress, my denim shorts, or my simple blouse, understand that I did not do it to be harassed. I did it because I trust that the society I live in wouldn't see it as an invitation to make me feel unsafe.

Or was it always been an invitation but from an unknowing host?

I understand you like me. You feel an urge to get my attention but you are making me uncomfortable. And more importantly, don't blame me for your actions.

Don't blame my denim skirt, don't blame my shirt. Don't blame my jeans, don't blame my bikini, don't blame my dress. If you feel like I am dressed inappropriately in a particular place, approach me and express your opinion and let's put the subject under the test of debate. My point is, your opinion that I dress inappropriately is not your ticket to harassing me.

You can rant about my inappropriateness. You can criticize me all you want but do not think that it is your excuse to make me feel unsafe in my own skin.

Don't blame my body. Blame your inability to think as a decent person. And more than anything, do something to change your mindset. Don't you know it is a criminal act?

Admire as much as you want, fantasize as much as you want. Heck, you can play with yourself thinking about me as much as you want but do not act on it resulting to harassment on my part.

Please do not make me feel like my body is my enemy.

COMMENTARY: Harassment and Violence Come From Any Gender

June 26, 2020

It also comes from any age and everyone is equally vulnerable.

Recently, I've been seeing a lot of content related to catcalling and sexual harassment on social media. It is admirable that people speak out since there is a big reason behind it -- years and years of shushing from a highly misogynistic society.

However, we should also take the chance to give voice and attention to the least likely victims -- children and men.

One post in particular made my blood boil. It is a photo of a boy bombarded be sexualized comments from who seem to be young women.

It isn't wrong to admire how a person looks but always put it into proper context and situation. The boy in the photo was even wearing his uniform. He was there to study not to be asked with questions if he can 'breed' women. It seems shocking but it does happen. Not only to the young boy but even to older males.

Consent is the magic word. Is it wrong to talk dirty to a person? To ogle at him or her? To send him or her explicit photos? It isn't as long as there is consent between the two of you. 

Harassment comes in many forms, the perpetrators sometimes women as well. It could also come from lesbians or gay people. We all should be wary among ourselves and not think that perpetrators only come from one gender.

It is true that some barbaric traits are still hardwired into our brains but as a society that has advanced a long way, we should know better.