when kids have kids

My brother, who I love very very much, turned 14 today. Although he's really getting taller by the day and his voice is starting to have this manly pitch, I still see him as my baby brother. I guess it will always be like that for me. Just like how I feel Biggie will always be my little sister, even if she's not so little anymore.

So when I thought about Alfie, a 13-year old kid who is now the youngest father in the UK, I was like, omfg. What in the world is happening? So he fathered the child when he was, like, 12 years old? (I shall ask my hubby later if it's really possible to be, ermmm what's the word, sexually-able at that age.)

Last time I checked, there are several other boys (a 14-year old and a 16-year old) also claiming that the baby is theirs, but Alfie is still sure that the child is his. He is also assured by the 15-year old mom that the baby is his. I am not sure about the latest developments, though. They will probably have a paternity test or something.

This baby-faced kid is sure lucky to get laid at 12 years old. At least he won't have an "American Pie" dilemma. Okay, I'm saying that just to humour things up. But this is really serious stuff. I mean, is the economy really bad that kids nowadays can't afford to buy a condom? Okay, I'm saying that again just to ermm, humour things up.

But you know what, at least they didn't abort the baby. I think the consequences haven't really dawned on them--Alfie doesn't even know what the word "financially" means (see video). He looks like a freakin' 7-year old kid. At least Alfie and Chontell (who should have known better because she's already 15 years old) have that courage--the source of which may be the mere ignorance of what really lies ahead of them--but it's still courage. Blinded courage, maybe? Ignorant courage, maybe? Is there such a thing?

I guess things are really simple in the eyes of a child. That includes things like having a baby and owning up to it.

Basilio?!? Crispin?!?

I decided to take a "study break" for a few minutes. I clicked on a link I stumbled upon last week.

Na-stress ako. Nag-review na lang ako uli.

Oscar Hangover: Why I was rooting for Kate

I guess Ms C.V. and I had the same thoughts so I am re-posting this from her site:

So, I missed the live telecast of the 81st Academy Awards. I had to work, what can I say? It would have been nice to say, “Play now, work later” but newspapers don’t move their deadlines so that columnists can watch TV before writing their articles. But within a minute after hitting the “Send” button, I was running to the Blue Room to turn on the TV. Not that I didn’t know the results already. I was checking my feeds while writing my column and I already knew who won.

What’s the big deal? I’m not a celebrity watcher, definitely. But this year’s different. I was rooting for Kate Winslet. I wanted her to win. And not just win but win for her performance in The Reader. After six previous nominations, I thought that The Reader was finally the perfect vehicle for her victory. I do love Meryl Streep but Doubt was not a strong vehicle for her.

But it was really more than rooting for one actress over other contenders. I wanted Kate Winslet to win because a victory meant more visibility and people would start straining a little harder to hear what she has to say. Kate Winslet is one of those few celebrities who feels great about herself and her self image. She is well known for not allowing Hollywood to dictate her weight, her style and her priorities (she declined Woody Allen’s Match Point to spend more time with her children). Remember how GQ magazine issued an apology to her after airbrushing her cover photo in 2003? Most women will gush about how much better they look after the airbrushed weight loss but not Kate Winslet who complained that that wasn’t how she really looked. Probably a little hard to understand for women who think that faked good looks are better than what’s real.

And Kate Winslet’s idea about her goals is different from most. She chose art house films (Hideous Kinky, Holy Smoke!) in favor of commercial movies (Shakespeare In Love, Anna and the King) and that, I think, says a lot about her character.

So, I suppose I like Kate Winslet because I have respect for her as an actress and as a woman.

STO, no mo'

Llast friday, I signed my name as usual in one of the "corres". And that would be the last time I sign my name as an officer for IRAS. So as a remembrance, I took a photo.

I felt like taking a photo of the sunset as viewed from the 20th level of RH. Sunsets meant the end of another day, just like this was the end of another job for me.

And here's a snapshot of my futile attempt to be organised:

Some things I'd miss in IRAS: working with my team, my fave girl sunitha, the five-day work week, my work station and the (almost) thousand-dollar chair. oh and the coffee and tea at level 5.

Some things I won't miss in IRAS: the very inconvenient smoking area, the irate taxpayers, the need to stay back after work to finish stuff, the job itself (haha). and the frustration.

Before and After

Before:

and after packing:

Why?

IRAS is a good place to work in. A lot of people asked me why I'd want to leave a government job when it's one of the most stable positions in Singapore. And my only answer: "I'm not happy because it's not just for me. It's not something I'd want to do for the rest of my life. I can stay, but I would just be a floater." I felt like recording those lines and have them played when someone asks me the "why's" of moving on. i can never be happy in a job if I am just a mediocre at it. Because I hate mediocrity. There, i said it. whew.

I didn't want to waste my time doing something that I realised I did't love. So when opportunity came, I grabbed it. I'm looking forward to my new job. I think it will be more fulfilling and fun. Can't wait to start. :)

Proud to be Pinoy

On my last day, I wore a LOVE MANILA shirt. Oh and as a souvenir, I gave my team a CD compilation of songs by pinoy artists (both original and covers)--mostly love songs. Someone said it was one of the most unique "goodbye" gifts she received. While I was burning the songs on a CD, i realised that the best pinoy songs are the tagalog ones pala.

14.02.2009

i received this from him:

and he woke up seeing this (guess what it stands for):

and we had a midnight cap with them:

If your relationship is ok right now, why do you want to get married?

And you can quote him on that!

It can now be said that of all the whole roasted pigs I've had all over the world, the slow roasted lechon I had on Cebu was the best. This puts the standings in the Hierarchy of Pork as follows:

#1. Philippines

#2. Bali

#3. Puerto Rico

- Anthony Bourdain

***

Gusto ko ng lechon now. now. now na.

here's mine

I've never answered tags/memes thrown my way--me too lazy to do it. But I am succumbing to this one, looks innneresting. So I am no longer a meme/tag virgin (devirginized by Steph? haha)

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this in Facebook, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click)

___

1. Some people, especially my bros and sisters on the paddle side, call me "Kosa".

2. I love going on trips. I always aim to go overseas at least once a year with hubby. (New in a relationship? You want to get to know your partner? Go on a trip. Travel with him/her. You will know his REAL attitude when you travel with your partner.)

3. I love all things sweet: chocolates, ice cream, cream puffs, cakes. Even my fave cocktail drinks are sweet, like Chocolate Martini!

4. I do not "specialize" in any field. A jack of all trades, master of none. Almost literally.

5. My personal wasteland: Bookstores and its stationery/arts&crafts section. I carry at least two notebooks in my bag, plus my pens. Gifts of books, nice notebooks, pens, artsy-craftsy stuff are always a hit on my list.

6. I like to smoke my Marlboro Lights while sucking on sweets/mint/chocolate. Or while drinking tea or coffee. Dental nightmare, uh-huh.

7. I cringe when someone doesn't know how to differentiate "your" from "you're" and "its" from "it's". Some people identify others with the clothes they wear; mine is based on the way they speak and write English. Ang sa 'kin lang, WAG KANG MAG-INARTE AT MAGMARUNONG KUNG BOBO KA MAG-INGLES. MAG TAGALOG KA NA LANG. LETYE.

8. I had a nasty pimple/blemish attack last year. I'm finally free of them, thanks to Tita Drin. (To my SG buddies, I highly recommend her!)

9. I started trying out diet pills in 3rd year high school, continued throughout college and my first few years of working, even though I wasn't big then. Now, diet pills won't work anymore, I'm officially fat. Fat and happy :) hahaha!

10. I am a junkie--I have medicines for all types of aches and pains. And I depend on my medicines if something, even a tiny bit, is wrong. I think I almost OD'd recently on pain relievers, I didn't know I took too much, to the point that I felt numb all over. No, I don't have any subconcious/secret attempts of suicide--Life is beautiful despite all its shit.

11. I have sleeping problems. I find it very difficult to sleep, but I can sleep the whole day if there's nothing to do. And I can also NOT sleep for 50 hours straight. I have seriously considered checking myself into SGH's Sleep Disorder Unit.

12. I love to write stuff (mostly non-sense). One of the greatest tragedies of my HS/College life is losing my beloved file-o, with all my lists, thoughts, info etc. Now, I just maintain a blog.

13. My husband (just for the lack of something to talk about, i'm sure) once asked me the sino-ang-sasagipin-mo-kung-pareho-kaming-nalulunod hypothetical question. The choices were him and my little brother (Miguel). Without batting an eyelash, I answered: SI MIGS. My heart overflows with love for my brother (yea yea mushy). His name in my phone's contact list: Miko-Love.

14. My worst habit: ningas kugon.

15. Although I am not an exceptionally good cook, I love to cook. It is my therapy. I think of my loved ones when I cook.

16. One of my favorite phrases: mutual memories. Thus, my multiply ID.

17. I want to leave Singapore already, but I don't necessarily want to go back to the Philippines (yet).

18. I always need to have a "reading material" with me when I go to the bathroom to do the number 2.

19. My favorite MSOffice application is Excel.

20. I am really excited to be a MOTHER. I don't yearn for any promotion, financial gains or what have you's. I want to be a MOM. But maybe I'm not ready yet? :(

21. I surf a lot. I meant internet surfing, duh. My daily light reading includes chuvaness and the professional heckler.

22. I am not an outdoor-type of person, but I love the beach.

23. I stopped drinking beer when I started working. I now only drink wine & hard liquor (except for those few times that I have no choice but to drink beer). Oh, and I drink water, too! Haha.

24. I love pens. I have a pencilcase in my everyday bag. Inside my pencilcase now are: my gel-pens in pink, purple, light blue and green; a blue ball point pen and 2 black sign pens--all retractable; a Swarovski retractable pen; a .5 mechanical pencil; purple, pink and green color felt-tip drawing markers in .5 and 1.2; and finally, red and blue whiteboard markers.

25. I believe in the power of prayers.

the king of wedgie wins

Hubby was so happy his manok won this year's australian open.

And I continue to be bothered by his wedgie.