Multiple interests

Waking up to this. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I gave myself permission to start the day late even though I woke up earlier than usual…I slept early without the aid of sleeping agents. Pure exhaustion is the answer to insomnia. I just love my bed. It used to feel empty but now it’s full of…ME! I don’t think I can share it now with anyone. Except for the cats.

Photo by CallMeCreation.com

And I gave my cats some morning exercise with the help of the laser pointer. After shredding that paper bag, they needed to expend their energies on other pursuits.

Weekly calls, editorial chores, etc occupied the rest of my day. Still didn’t manage to finish any of my pending articles left stewing in my leads list.

Then the DIY bug hit me again.

This time I fixed my closet door that hasn’t been closing for 2 years. Now I was able to fix it and the only missing tool to accomplish this was a cordless electric screwdriver so I can install the roller catch. Geez! 🙄 I waited that long.

It only needed the help of a cordless electric screwdriver. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
I finally am able to close it! Hahaha! Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Now the eternal cause of irritation when dressing daily is finally no more. It now closes.

I am multi-talented but an idiot. 😂😂😂😂😂

I am reminded by this passage I saw on my Twitter newsfeeds.

This made me feel a little bit better. I have so many interests but I doubt if I am exceptional in any of them so I hid them from other people, especially my drawing. Only a few people knew I drew in high school. No one in my high school knew I was already a published writer. I didn’t let people know much about that because I was afraid they would think my efforts were not good enough. Same with my visual art. People my high school only knew me as an actress and a singer. Then when I became an adult, only very few people knew I sang, played the piano, and acted on stage. Zero knew I drew. I was known to be just a journalist.

I always thought I had to be excellent in all of those things I am interested in. I thought I had to be good but Kurt Vonnegut assured me that it’s ok to be mediocre. As long as I enjoy them, who the fuck cares, right? I enjoy watercoloring so I should be happy that I can do it. I keep buying frames for my drawings/paintings because it makes me happy. As I told my shrink this weekend, art therapy melted my anxiety and helped me lift myself out of the doldrums.

All these things—my multiple interests—are helping me heal. I’m enjoying life again. It took a while but, hey, I don’t have to rush.

P.S. I should buy Kurt Vonnegut books. An editor I know is a fan.

Jumped to Eagle Point

View from Eagle Point. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

We transferred to Eagle Point this morning because we decided to extend our stay in Anilao but Blue Ribbon no longer has rooms for us. Because you know, revenge travel.

But before we left Blue Ribbon, we had to consume our breakfast that came with our room.

Breakfast of champions. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I had calories. Lots of it. I knew I would be expending energy when I dive in the afternoon.

Of course, the obligatory selfie. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Leni Robredo watch. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

My sister bought 4 of these as part of the campaign fundraising for Leni. Most of the campaign funds for Leni and all campaign sorties are arranged and funded by volunteers. My sister gave two to my twins and I tried one. Looks cute.

Meanwhile…

Despite the multiple application of sunblock, these kids still got toasted. Well, they started swimming in the morning until sundown everyday. 🙄

Low tide. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

We waited for the waves to calm down and for the tide to ease before snorkeling in front of the resort. I couldn’t dive much because I needed to guide my mom as she latched on to the diving buoy. She didn’t last long though, probably just 30 mins.

My older sister was with me but I still couldn’t dive because the resort didn’t have the rope and weights that would keep the buoy in place. It would be such a hassle if that thing escapes. Next assignment: buy rope and weights.

I was in the sea for 2.5 hrs though and it made the trip here worthwhile.

Another beautiful Anilao sunset to take home with me. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Hopefully we will have more sunsets like this before the southwest monsoon starts. I’ll take a leave probably next month and bring the girls here again. I’ll check another diving resort that is near a marine sanctuary, probably Arthur’s.

Here’s to more freediving, mountain climbing, and camping. ❤️💪🏕️

Flexible office

Photo by CallMeCreation.com

This has been my office since yesterday. Sometimes I work at the restaurant but it’s quieter up here in our room’s balcony.

The long fins are wonderful! I can go deeper with less effort compared to my old fins. The length and the material (sort of rubber?) that makes the fins flexible do make a lot of difference. Now all I have to work on now is my breathing so I can stay near the corals longer before ascending. The diving buoy was also worth every peso I paid for it. I don’t have to swim so hard to reach the spot where I want to dive and it’s so convenient to have the baby shampoo within reach when my goggles need defogging. It also helped when the currents were strong this morning at Sombrero island and at Sepoc beach.

Maricaban island. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

We left the resort at around 7:30 am. It was high tide so the currents were strong around Coral Garden so we were brought to a place that has less currents with corals that are not as bright as those in the Coral Garden. But still, the currents were strong and we had to battle with these while we dived. That’s why my body is aching right now.

Cave at Sombrero island. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Twin I has become an excellent freediver now that she has my old fins. She has been swimming on her back and flipping underwater. Twin A has improved a lot and has been diving for the corals as well but she preferred to stay close to me because of the strong currents.

That’s someone else’ kid on the sand while Twin I snorkels for shells. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Clear waters. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
With my mom. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

We went back to the resort at past 10 am since my nephew still had online quizzes and classes. My twins enjoyed the pool for a bit and they took a nap with me. Of course, I still worked and edited a lot of stories today. The resort’s internet connection is decent for emails and browsing but for video calls, better use your Smart data for steady connection, which I did.

Anilao always had lovely sunsets. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

To cap the day and to give me energy (I didn’t have lunch because I slept), I had this…

Chocolate milkshake, fish and chips. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Tomorrow we transfer to Eagle Point Resort and we got a loft unit that has a lot of beds and is near the restaurant. We don’t have to go far to dive in a marine sanctuary because it’s just right there in front of the resort.

My body is aching. Diving with strong currents is definitely a whole body workout But I won’t exchange it for anything else in this world.

MISOGYNY, GASLIGHTING AND PARTNER AS AN APPLIANCE

I got triggered with this viral post that the original poster has already taken down because it backfired. I wanted to cry, I feel so bad for many women out there who are reduced to being appliances and servants of their partners, becoming cleaning ladies instead of real partners.

Summary, the wife said:

“It has been 10 years since I graduated, it seems like I don’t have personal achievements”

To which the guy immediately responded:

“Don’t say that. My achievements are your achievements. I can’t do them without you.”

Then he listed all the things he made his wife do, like–no joke– he said:

  • the small things that I don’t notice anymore because you are there, like you pick up the towels I throw down anywhere
  • You flush the toilet when I don’t
  • when I throw out my clothes and I don’t notice anymore because I know you are there…

THIS MAN DOES NOT HAVE A WIFE. What he has is a nanny. An appliance.

Misogyny (/mɪˈsɒdʒɪni/) is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. It is a form of sexism that keeps women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the societal roles of patriarchy.

HE GASLIGHTED HIS WIFE. She is asking for personal growth, he dismissed her concerns and he put himself at the forefront of this narrative, citing all the things he made his wife do and he said that his achievements are also her own personal achievements. THE FACT THAT SHE ASKED THIS THING means she is looking for some personal fulfillment outside her role as caretaker. He made it like, your role in life is to support me and not have your own personal dreams and ambitions.

A caring partner would respond like this:

Why do you feel that you don’t have personal achievements? What are your personal goals? How can I help you achieve them?

Sadly, I have yet to hear those words spoken to me, ever, by anyone who had been with me. I felt like I was alone in my battles, in my climb to where I am now. Love meant sacrificing yourself, your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, leaving you not even headspace for yourself, without receiving the same in return.

I can feel now hot tears rolling down my cheeks.

I remember after changing J’s bed sheets at his condo and had lain on the bed because I was tired since I cleaned the bathroom and swept the floor. Then he pointed to the groceries that are yet to be unpacked…I was hungry because I didn’t have lunch that day. I ordered Grab and he demanded why? “It would take you longer!” he angrily said. I responded weakly that I was already dizzy because of hunger, let me eat first. He wanted to get rid of me quick. I asked, why are you treating me this way?

It’s so hard to live in a world where women are reduced to being servants instead of partners. And yet they demand more…then leave you on the wayside all dried up and empty. They leave you for somebody who still has the flush of youth, undamaged by childbirth and age, because these women have yet to run on empty like you did. They leave you for somebody shinier because you’ve already lost your luster in the course of serving them head to foot.

It’s hard to live in a world where your partner has just reduced you into a caricature of your former self.

How many are we out there, victims of misogyny, who are left licking our wounds, trying to find our dignity, self-love, and self-worth? How many are we out there, trying to heal from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, as Hamlet once phrased it?

I pity this woman, this man’s wife. Girl, I hope you find your footing because once your husband has sapped all of your strength and dignity, he will just leave you like one leaves an old appliance.

I didn’t know I still had tears to cry. I thought I’m done. I’m still bleeding from my chest.

One day these will just be scars. One day.

Betrayal

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Photo by Amy Pointer on Pexels.com

Now that the complete admin reins are with me, I have a clearer picture of how betrayed I was/am. I carried the whole team for years while my recent ex-manager was dysfunctional. I worked my ass off. Now I saw how undervalued I am and my team mate from Manila were. Our salaries are really low even when the cost of living in Manila is second to Singapore among the cities in the region. I haven’t gotten a raise in three years. I was so incensed yesterday when I saw that my salary was a little more than half of what the worst performer in the team is getting and his cost of living is lower than mine. And yet my ex-manager kept dumping work on me. I think my ex-manager has a thing against Filipinos.

Of course I ranted to my APAC boss/new manager. I said I worked my ass off for a long time and yet he is getting almost double than me??? My new manager said she just heard about it, meaning she didn’t have a hand in it. Once my new contract comes to me and I still get lower than this guy, I will tell my new manager I’m going to quit and they go fuck themselves.

So during the performance review, I told this slacker dude he doesn’t have any excuse for performing that bad. Considering his supposed experience, he shouldn’t just be covering startups and giving me half-baked stories with no value. I gave him measurable targets and demanded x number of articles a week. I told him that he should be aiming for large caps and grade A investments, not the USD 5m deals, the low-hanging fruits. Don’t tell me you’re running out of companies because yours is a very large market and there are so many things to cover there, from regulatory changes to left and right unicorn deals, I said.

I frankly told him that, “your slacking off for three years is ending. I will be checking up on you every quarter and show you your numbers every month. I expect more quality from you and no more low-hanging fruits.”

He has been giving me a lot of excuses. Every excuse he gives me, I give him a counter-argument. He really has zero excuse. Period.

I’m so angry right now. 🤬🤬🤬

No one is going to fucking undervalue me again.


This feeling of betrayal was similar to the one I had in February when I learned about how the demon J cheated on me, how he undervalued me, how cruel and evil he was. The similar hurt feelings. The anger burning inside me is the same. I told a colleague this morning that this is the problem, I was too nice. I didn’t put a premium on myself, hence, I get this treatment from others.

No more. No more. I will not play nice anymore.

message against bullying
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

No wonder I was so much of a mess the past two to three years. I was being fucked over by my ex-manager and by my ex-partner. This is unforgivable. Getting abused like that because I was too nice really does things to your mental health. This is the year I will be looking out for myself first and watch my back for Judases around me.

I will just let God avenge me.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 19