Children disowning their parents

Posted on 04/05/2022 by admin

With Fabian Ver‘s daughter and Loren Legarda‘s son disowning what their parents did, I am hopeful that this generation and the generation of my daughters will continue to side with what is right.

This story of Wanna Ver’s discovery, education, and later acceptance of the evil her father did is very powerful. I want to cry.

Wanna Ver is offering one apology at a time for the crimes her father helped commit, and stands by the accounts of victims and survivors

Fabian Ver is the second-most evil man after Marcos during the latter’s reign. He was the the berdugo, the executioner, during Marcos’ reign of terror.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Leviste’s rejection of his mother’s political choice tore him apart and had to denounce it publicly.

‘My mother is an example of how fascism takes hold, is made acceptable, normalized, facilitated, ushered in’

I don’t like his brother (I interviewed him a couple of times), but this Lorenzo sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders.

Only a few days away…

My stomach is in knots.

To ease my anxiety, I continued with my bookmark painting.

The board paper does not absorb watercolors well so it was hard mixing colors and the gradation is quite messy. But it will do. Plus I’m legally blind. My contact lenses do not allow me to work at close range and I couldn’t take it off like I do with my eyeglasses. I had to take my contacts off when I lined this with Uni pin 0.5.

I can’t wait for my eyeglasses so I can go back to normal.

Speaking of anxiety, I went to a spa near my apartment to have a deep tissue massage on my shoulders, back, and neck. I could feel that I would be having a stiff neck tomorrow because my muscles in these areas are frozen. This despite having a 1.5-hr Zennya massage in Makati this weekend. The knots on my shoulders and back are so tight that it was so painful sleeping on my side.

*At the neighborhood spa. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I and my S.Korea boss were the only editors today so I had to edit some stories from Australia because of this. I submitted a story I wrote and of course no one picked it up. I guess everything has to wait until next week. If I remember it right, this week is Japan’s Golden Week as well, which coincides with China’s week-long holidays.

I doubt if I can work well next week when my whole body would be contorted with anxiety due to the elections.

Back to regular programming

Posted on 03/05/2022 by admin

*Rough sketch. Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*Building views, Makati central business district. Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Poolside. *Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I decided to make bookmarks and use urban sketching style to draw pictures as I have a lot of board paper off-cuts here.

When Kr and I met last Friday, I gave her the 400 pcs of business cards I ordered for her, the Baguio City pines painting I promised her, and a print out of the yellow bell I painted for my mom. She was surprised that the print was not a real painting and she said I can make Christmas gifts out of such prints. I said I will try making book marks and the original ones I will give to special bookworm friends and the prints will be given to other bookworms. I will have them plastic laminated.

I was inspired by this urban sketcher last night so I went back to drawing again today, even if these are just quick drawings.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Urban Sketchers (@urbansketchers)

I’m not proud to say that I again procrastinated today and was just busy emailing and chatting with people online. Well, it’s still work, right? There are days when creative juices just don’t flow and I needed to seek it elsewhere, hence, the drawings today. Besides it’s a holiday today here in Manila (and the rest of Southeast Asia) so my brain knows I really don’t have to work that hard today.

I read somewhere (I don’t remember if I already blogged about this) that executives and creatives have different workflows. Executives function well if they divide their day according to chunks on a per hour basis. They can easily finish daily tasks like that. Creatives, however, cannot block time like executives do. So when visual artists or writers block their days, they do it by how many hours it takes them to finish because you cannot just cut thought or creative drive like executives cut their calls per hour. That’s why a lot of writers tend to skip meals because it’s hard to cut their train of thought when they’re deep into writing.

It’s the same with starting a creative process like writing. I need to be in the zone to write so there are days that I really procrastinate—which is bad since I’m a manager too. So my days now are filled with executive work that involves talking to a lot of people and emailing, fixing admin stuff, etc. So the more I procrastinate doing executive tasks, the more the creative process gets delayed.

I have to fix my workflow better. This blog entry gives good tips on how to manage your daily tasks. Since I was a semi-manager in the past, winging it was ok. But now I have my entire ass on the line, I cannot just wing it like I did before.

To complicate matters, I must still manage my household like a chief executive, including weekends. Single mom manager and super journo—I don’t know how but I will get through this.

A week away

Posted on 02/05/2022 by admin

A week from now, Filipinos will determine if we sink or rise from this disaster. I’m scared. I’m anxious but I’m hopeful.

The surveys that had been coming in are flawed. Several statisticians from UP and the former head of the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB, now part of the Philippine Statistics Administration) have already pointed out the methodology flaws of those surveys that they were structured to favor the class D which tended to favor Marcos.

Horror of horrors, in 7 out of the 17 regions, there are more registered voters for May 2022 than the population 18 years or over!!! The percentage of “over-registration” ranged from at least 1 percent to at most 11 percent. How on earth could this have happened?
Dr. Romulo Virola

Pulse Asia (PA) overrepresented those who did not reach college representing more than 78 percent of the PA sample and almost 70 percent of the PSA 2015 Census of Population and consequently underrepresented those who did:
Romulo Virola

*Sampling bias by Pulse Asia, according to Dr. Virola*

Meanwhile, I was arguing on Twitter with a Filipino journo based abroad for his crass words today. He has no idea what it is to be on the ground here. Now.

I can’t keep my words from flowing. The last time I couldn’t, I went viral on social media.

I was talking to my taxi driver this evening about Leni. Just one conversion is already a good one. Doing 10 conversions makes a world of difference.

Because I’m fighting for the future of my children. It’s not just for me or about me, unlike those people who are voting for Marcos who just say, I’m voting for him because I like him better than “lutang” (floating) Leni.

We are doing our best to change the mindset of the majority of the electorate who are not reached by social media and proper education.

Here’s my mom yesterday talking to some rural folk somewhere in the middle of a farming community in the province, campaigning for Leni. Giving a talk and leading focus group discussions. There are millions of her doing this, volunteer on the ground campaigning, house-to-house visits to persuade people, correcting false information and propaganda.

*Bills,* *bills,bills. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

It’s that time of the month again when I have to record/tally my expenses or trace where my money went. I always pay my credit cards in full every month. I don’t want consumer debt hanging over my head and I always make sure I have savings and petty cash for unexpected stuff like this:

*Eyeglasses for us all. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I lost my new eyeglasses. I don’t know where and how but I just couldn’t find it anymore. I had been wearing contact lenses the entire weekend and it’s only yesterday that I discovered my eyeglasses were missing.

Since I couldn’t live with wearing contacts full-time, I immediately went to my optometrist to have new eyeglasses made. I also had my girls’ and Ate C’s eyes checked. It’s not surprising they have astigmatism because of the amount of screen time we all had the past two years…so I had four pairs of eyeglasses made (Ooohh boy they’re not cheap!). Only Twin A’s were ready tonight and the rest will be picked up on Saturday because I ordered ultra thin lenses for us.

My girls will now join their four-eyed kuyas. 😁

*Chasing each other with booger (eewww). Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My cats missed me. When we arrived home at 1:30 am today, my cats were all over me. Then they settled on my bed while I unpacked and searched all around for my missing eyeglasses. I slept at 4 am and I woke up at 9 am with my cats still in my bed. ❤️

Today Southeast Asia is dead: Eid’l Fitr celebrations across Southeast Asia while Vietnam celebrates its liberation with a holiday that began April 30 until tomorrow. I had been sending requests for interviews again and I think I have several lined up for this week.

I must finish writing three stories tomorrow. 😑

I haven’t had time to draw 😥

Be kind

Posted on 01/05/2022 by admin

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc_4WZ7AQDu/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I thought I was fine, I thought it’s over. But I had a dream that rattled me for a day, but I quickly bounced back. It’s probably an indication that I’m still healing and sometimes I would still stumble and fall.

But it’s ok. I have to be nicer to myself. This is not a race.

I will be me again, probably better as I have more understanding of myself and the world compared to four years ago. I’m in a better place now.

Salcedo Weekend Market

Posted on 30/04/2022 by admin

Finally. I was able to see whatever’s been written about Salcedo weekend market. It’s in the middle of Makati CBD, just at the back of our serviced apartment. There were interesting foodstuff like Vietnamese, Mexican, Aussie, etc as they cater to the expat community living in Salcedo Village/Bel-Air. Some of the vendors are the well-heeled type who are doing this as a hobby. I was looking for the Aussie lady who’s selling crumpets but my girls wanted to go back to our unit because it was hot.

They bought corndog, pancakes, and hash browns but I wouldn’t settle for those—there are better things to check out.

And I was rewarded.

*Chicken rice! Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

And yes, it did taste like the Singaporean one. But still far from Tong Fong Fatt though.

*Mmmmm* ❤️ *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

This is hardly breakfast food but I just couldn’t resist.

*Tiny pool. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

This is where the girls played late yesterday afternoon but they decided not to take a dip this morning because they wanted the bigger pool of the serviced apartment where we transferred later today.

*Horseplay. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My sis-in-law and my nephew joined us after lunch so the cousins would have another chance to bond. They didn’t join us in Anilao because of schooling and football game schedule conflicts. So I upgraded my reservation from a studio to a one bedroom apartment. Some would sleep in the living room, some in the bedroom. As if these kids would sleep; this is an expensive slumber party with mommies in tow 🤣

*I think this is roughly the size of my future kitchen. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*One sleeping setup. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I had extra beds set up in the living room. It’s OK, it’s just for one night. All in the name of familial bonding.

This is the view beside me.

*Salcedo Village. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Another day is dying in the concrete jungle. I will soon be able escape from this.

In CBD

Posted on 29/04/2022 by admin

*Good morning. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My cats knew we were leaving today. While I was getting dressed, Sushi was lying on my clothes, while Kimchi was lying on my laptop bag. They don’t want me to leave 🤣

However, it took me another hour before I could get away from my table because there were back to back calls with my boss in China and then boss in S. Korea. Then cascade the info to my reporters in Manila and Kuala Lumpur. 🥴

Before that, I had a one-hour interview with a CEO who was in New York so I had to compress everything because he needs his rest.

*Rushing work at the dining area. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

After checking into our serviced apartment, I rushed to edit two stories, ordered food via room service, then I let the kids jump into the pool.

*A living room with no purpose. It became the alternative dining area while I worked. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*With Ate C. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

It was good that Ate C came with us because I had to hop immediately to an event somewhere also in Makati. BUT BUT BUT it was hard booking Grab 🙄 Oh yeah, seems like pandemic is over. I had no choice but to go back to the parking area to get my car and drive to the venue. I was late 😣

*Yep. Those are the deals I’ve been following.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Was tired when I came back. Couldn’t book a massage 😭 So the least I could do was a hot water soak in the tub for my tired muscles.

I’m not really enamoured of city life. I could only appreciate it at night from above.

I’ve always been a provinciana. And will probably die a provinciana. I didn’t want to live in a condo and my gut feel was right. I couldn’t imagine spending lockdowns here in the CBD area. No trees nor open spaces. I really don’t like shopping so I dislike malls. I only go there when I need to buy something. I never made it a habit to window shop in malls; it’s such a waste of energy.

🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱

I really, really need that massage. 💆

I miss my cats.

Stories from the sidelines

A journalist has a life other than news

Author Archives: admin