A week away

Posted on May 2, 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 😥

Multiple interests

Posted on April 26, 2022 by admin

*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.

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.

As the ball-less misogynists lick their wounds…

Posted on April 18, 2022 by admin

…a gentleman calls out these dickheads.

Presidential bet Manny Pacquiao wants all candidates to stay the course, according to his campaign manager, as Manila Mayor Isko Moreno asked Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw from the race. #PHVote #WeDecide https://t.co/eVmAYtsxkT
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) April 18, 2022

I really, really wanted to do house to house campaigning but my number one duty as a Filipino is to abide by journalism ethics. I have to restrain myself like the rest of my colleagues. We can express our political leanings but we cannot actively campaign for any personality as part of our sworn duty to be fair and just.

Speaking of journalists and elections, I just attended this webinar by Twitter for us journalists and the measures they put it place to prevent manipulation of the political discourse by preventing trolls/certain political candidates with well oiled machinery to manipulate public opinion (hello, Facebook!). Since this is a private webinar, I cannot disclose the things they have shared with us except for those they have already shared with the public such as 300 Marcos-related accounts (i.e. troll farms) taken down. This active policing of tweets has incensed Elon Musk so much that he is busy with his hostile takeover bid for Twitter. He is angry that Twitter is muzzling freedom of speech. Well Elon, if you go by Facebook, which has destroyed the Philippines, then I wish you just go to Mars and stay there. Don’t be an instrument in destroying democracies like ours.

Mr Musk has said he believes Twitter is limiting freedom of speech on the platform and he reiterated this at the Vancouver event. He has said his primary motivation would be to expand free speech – a US Constitutional right – on Twitter.
BBC.com

Was busy today with admin work that I barely had time time to edit and no time for writing three stories that I must finish until Wednesday. Because on Thursday, we will be leaving here at 5 am so that we would be in Anilao at around 7:30 am so we can dive early!!! Then work I start working at 10 am.

My head is pounding now, damn this headache. My psychiatrist’s secretary has not yet confirmed my schedule. I think this is a withdrawal symptom from stopping alprazolam ahead of schedule. I keep forgetting to take that thing. Maybe because I’ve been very calm the past few weeks that I keep forgetting that I still have to cure my anxiety. I haven’t been triggered since March and that’s a good thing and I hope it stays this way.

This is what I get for giving too much of myself to a man who doesn’t deserve me. Never again. Yeah, I’m hormonal right now and I’m angry again.

Meanwhile, aside from art, my other sources of serotonin are:

*Kittykats keeping me company! Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*Making our rooms cuter by installing shades to make the lighting cozier. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*My gallery wall. Look at the cat on the stairs on the upper part of the photo* 😄 *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Simple things.

I’m running out of places to put my frames.

I don’t feel well. Good night.

Love hurts Part 2

Posted on April 14, 2022 by admin

Here is Kimchi this morning, taking a nap with me. Squishy. 🐱🐾

Here is me a few hours later after giving her and Sushi a bath.

They hissed their way out of the towels when they were being dried. Sushi in particular wanted to kill us and acted like she’s dying at the same time.

Murderous cats. *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

It’s Maundy Thursday today, (and in the Christian calendar) it’s when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. It was His act of humility and service and his demonstration that we must love one another and that there is no ranking in God’s love.

“I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Love hurts. Love is humility. Love is service. There shouldn’t be any hierarchy in love because—I don’t know, you just love. I would die for my children if it means I could save them. Just as Jesus died for us to save us, without any hierarchy of who among us he loved the most.

I loved even though I hurt, thinking that love could turn a heart of stone softer. However, there are just some things that love can’t conquer so I just leave it up to Him. I did not seek revenge but instead I sought peace because it’s hard to live with so much hatred. In the end, it will just be up to God.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21

We didn’t go yet to Intramuros because the girls aren’t finished studying for their finals on Monday until Wednesday next week. They should clean their bikes tomorrow morning so we can go in the afternoon. Friends had been posting on Facebook that the provinces are clogged and the traffic even going to Quezon Province is intolerable. A classmate of my girls said it took them 9 hrs of driving to Baguio.

This is the reason why I love staying in Metro Manila during Holy Week. The roads are clear and we can just do cartwheels in the middle of Makati CBD 😂

In the meantime, I transplanted some of my flowers and sowed some petunia seeds.

*I hope they don’t die. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

So far so good. My existing flowering plants are doing ok.

The morning glory that I transplanted to a hanging planter because it is starting to grow vines. *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

And finally, I now have a yellow bell! I had been looking for this plant for a long time because this one creeps along walls and fences. By next year, this will be ready to be transplanted in my new house and creep along the wire fence that we had erected between our lot and the neighbor’s. I can make a trellis out of yellow bells.

Now that I’m done doing manual labor, my creative side is itching right now. I want to order more watercolors. I held back and just ordered Staedtler mechanical pencils because it’s easier to sketch with it and not bother sharpening my pencil all the time. I’m now impatiently waiting for it.

*Makeshift easel. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*Yellow bell.* Art and *photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My daughters’ day

Posted on April 12, 2022 by admin

*11th year. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I just ordered stuff via Grab today so we can relax and we can attend to school work and my work. One of my good friends from the industry also sent the girls a cake, matcha strawberry.

*This is for tomorrow. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Then they spent the rest of the day with their dad, who took them to Estancia Mall in Kapitlyo, Pasig. They came home in time for a shower and straight to bed.

The girls were happy. They’re easy to please and they don’t ask much. They’re happy with their bunnies and my sister offered to have them framed.

Twin I asked about their other twin sisters—the cats. They declared that their birthday is on the 12th of April 2020. So I said, Ok, I’m gonna make their sketches as well.

*Kimchi, the fat cat. Art and Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Sushi. *Art and Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Laziness has set in today because my body knew that this is supposed to be a week-long holiday…And yet I edited and interviewed somebody from Singapore whom I need to visit when I get there. I also set up an interview on Monday with an aviation company. I think I must draft today’s interview by tomorrow or else I may forget the details after this week. My brain cells are already protesting.

Tomorrow I will cook as my daughters’ friend is coming over.

My call with my new manager and outgoing manager will also be tomorrow for the turnover of duties. I don’t know when they will formally announce the transition so that all communication and PRs should be directed to me from now on. Drats, I just had 400 business cards printed with my old designation.

It takes a long time for paperwork to be settled 🙄

I want to have a week-long break before chaos officially starts.

Weekend errands

Posted on April 9, 2022 by admin

*New paintings on the wall. Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I started the day with hammering picture hooks on the wall again to replace my sister’s red and black painting of hell with more wholesome pictures—of flowers. Twin I, who sits on that table, agrees with the changes.

But she commented that the orange opium poppy flowers looked like corals. 🤨

A nap after lunch then off we went to Marikina to indulge my container gardening hobby. Bought several clay pots. 😂 At least my flowers live compared to my vegetables. I will try growing vegetables once again starting tomorrow. Will see if my compost will be worth the hard work.

*At Flora CafeTina in Marikina. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*More pots. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

After this, we went to Tiendesitas to buy cat supplies and to check out Decathlon to see if I can buy fins.

*Ransacked. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Everybody bought swimming/snorkeling/diving gears in preparation for the Holy Week exodus to the beaches next week and Decathlon no longer has my size. Even online. I am giving Twin I my old fins because she again outgrew the new ones I bought a few months ago.

So now I have to order online from Divers Point Co. (after we got home) for that Beuchat freediving fins I had my eye on for a year now.

And the diving buoy.

And a fin bag

I hope my orders arrive on time. I didn’t buy weeks ahead because some fuck-ups may rear their ugly heads again, just like what happened last year when the world shut down for the nth time due to COVID surge after I booked our reservation at Blue Ribbon. This time, even if it rains, we will forge ahead. I’m so tired of delays and more shit keeping us from diving again.

For other diving needs like reel and line to attach myself to the buoy, diving flags/early warning device, diving belt and weights, I would just have to rent them from Blue Ribbon. I’ll buy them next time in-store from Divers Point when we go for another Anilao trip or when I push through with my Palawan trip.

After our disappointing trip to Decathlon—I only got to buy a new water bottle cage for my bike—we had an early dinner at Pancake House. To keep me from doom scrolling on my phone while we waited for our food, I tried sketching again.

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

*Along the hallway. Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com*

We stopped by Mr DIY for some notebooks (for Twin I), a stuffed toy pillow for the swivel chair (for Twin A), and cat leash…

*Kimchi giving me the side-eye as she was really annoyed with me. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

…that our cats rejected with their whole being. We tried it on them and they hated us from their core of their souls. See how Kimchi just kicked it out of the way. It was the body leash—the least invasive version of it (compared to the body wrap) but still they hissed their way out of them.

So no cat walking for us.

Tomorrow let’s see if they change their minds. 😂

Stories from the sidelines

A journalist has a life other than news

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