missing you

I do miss blogging. I looked at the posts featured on my front page and I can see that the posts from last year are still there. About a year ago, the posts of last week would not even appear on the front page for so long. But now, I regret to say, that the freedom of time to blog has been robbed from me, not because I don’t like to blog anymore but rather because I can’t blog anymore. Time constraints are always the largest culprit but beyond that, I am now in a position wherein I understand fully the dangers of maintaining a very public blog which can be traced back to me.

I have always been honest about what I write; fearless in my views and stands. More than the upcoming elections, there are more reason for me to sift through what I write, filter what I express. My job now allows me to become privy to a lot of confidential information that I cannot divulge and being an active blogger, I must watch what I write for I may accidentally say something – some grievance perhaps or some word of praise that will be better released at a more appropriate time. So for the readers that I have (if there are any) forgive me for not updating my blog. I chose not to close it down, as some I know have professed to do to their blogs once they deemed their scheds would become hectic but only to go back to blogging (if you’re reading this, you may be able to relate.. peace!). But I feel aversive to shut down my blog, I did have some great posts back then (am I being conceited?). Hehe.

Hmm. Suffice to say, I miss blogging. Perhaps I will somehow get back to it. Sift through what I can write. Still voice out personal opinions on my political views (I don’t think I will get shot for expressing them, aight?). Or perhaps I could still write about other aspects of my life, there are other categories present here. But as for the bigger chunk of my life right now, that is my work, I would have to remain mum about it.

So moving forward (did you think I was stopping already?), there are certain noteworthy things worth mentioning in my life outside of work. For weeks, even months, work has been the premier item that has occupied my time and mind but now there are other things worth mentioning.

Hmm. I know. There should be another more important thing occupying my life right now. A relationship I have been neglecting for who knows how long. I know at times I try to communicate, but I know it is not in the same degree as before. For some weeks back, I thought I would be going back. To the place where our relationship had bloomed and made leaps and bounds and I depended on that chance to rekindle what I have with Him. But now I am still here, far from where we started, and I know I must rekindle what I have with Him, what is left of it I guess. Gosh. I do miss Him terribly. And I am still, I’m afraid, in the same position as I was a year ago, perhaps a step or two closer but still farther than where I was years and years ago. (for the other he who I know will be reading this, I hope you know who is the He I am talking about here. I did tell you that what I have is a relationship, not a religion, and as such it is still subject to what every normal human relationship goes through. Just so you know before you start thinking about other things else.)

So now, (transition), having made that small disclaimer in parenthesis, the other he will be the next subject of discussion. Maybe not exactly the person but rather the circumstances I now find myself in.

Love. Commitment. Relationships. I had such high words for these things before. Almost made me sound like some counseling book perhaps. I know though that experience wise, I am almost near the bottom mark but knowledge wise I rank high. Yet in life, we are not all books, not all knowledge but also experiential. Not to say that I went out there and got myself some experience to compliment my book knowledge, no, but rather, experience found me. Cliche, but it is true. All this things that I have developed truckloads of theories in the past, came knocking at my door. Challenging me to put my well-formulated theories into practice. Along the way, of course I have seen that some of these theories need polishing, some even needed to be abolished, but then everything is a work in progress. Right? I know I have left my blog hanging as to the last forage I have in this field. It was just too painful for me to admit it at that time – that I have failed, yet again perhaps. I had all this grand talk of finally finding the one despite the negativity I faced at home. I announced to everyone that I had found him – the one I would be with for the rest of my life. I put a lot of thought in the whole process, of whether he would be worth the time and emotions and everything. I even fought for him with my family. And then look where it got me – nowhere! So much time, energy and emotions wasted. But then, as I was saying way back then, it was a risk I was willing to take. Yes, there was the other side to the coin but then who wanted to look at the other side right?

In any case, I feel like I am in again, almost the same position. Of course thankfully this next person is someone I met flesh and blood. Not some random online stranger like the last two have been. And in due fairness, there are mutual friends to attest to his credibility so I am not banking my decision on something only I have seen. But then, I feel that unlike before, I would have to take everything much much slower this time. I mean, yes, I did put time limits for myself (the eggs.. the eggs.. haha), but I also know that I would rather be slow and sure than be fast and sorry (again) in the end.

Forgive me, blog and readers, for I haven’t said anything about the end of that last relationship that I had written so candidly about at the start. I was ashamed to say it ended when the way I had written about it was like it was the end of a long search for the lifetime partner. I was ashamed to admit I had failed when I had sought the advice of so many people about the entire matter. My ego cannot take it. But then, there is a time for humility and I guess this is it. Thank goodness I was able to change my relationship status in FB back to single, just that I removed it from the news feed. My reluctance to announce that we were done for was not because I was still hung up on the person. No, once I determined that I could not really love him for reasons I have yet to state, all feelings that I have for him flew out the window. It was more of pride that I was reluctant to make the announcement. More of shame on my part. Sometimes I feel like that shame would haunt me, but then, I figure that the decision is ultimately up to myself. I could decide to let some past haunt me and make me cower in fear, or I can decide to take it with a grain of salt and move forward, learning from experience.

So I stood up, brushed my knee, acknowledged I fell and let the wounds heal in time. Wounds, not because of a broken heart, but a broken ego. Sometimes I wonder, am I really the ice princess? Seeing how methodical my ways with emotions are. Nah. I must be really just a big chunk of cognitive persona.

So this is it for now. I guess. I look forward to knowing this person more as the days pass and seeing where everything will go. And as I have learned about my recent experience with my work, you really cannot plan everything. I never imagined I would land this job I now have, much less with this company and in this place. I had fixed plans before, now I really don’t have them anymore. So I guess, the same with the field of love, relationships and commitments, I would just let the wind blow and see where it would lead me. Now, I guess I am fully letting Him take reign of my life, not trying to force my own will into it. But then, I still miss what we have in the past and hope very much to regain what was lost.

Proud to be Bicolano

Many people like to ask why I came back to my home province. They would contend that I was already in Manila, the apparent “green land” of the country and I wasted the opportunity to pursue a more lucrative job out there. When I moved back to Bicol after graduation and decided to seek employment in this province (Camarines Sur) I know was once dubbed one of the poorest in the country, my initial reason was that I wanted to be closer to home – for the next two years. Then I would move back to Manila, face the horrendous music, and earn the big bucks. For one year, I lived the rural life – a life so boring and pale compared to the fast paced Manila life I’ve led for the past 6 years. After one year, I was prepared to exchange the fresh provincial air for the polluted ones of the Metro, if only to have a more lucrative job and a higher earning salary. I’m glad I didn’t.

Yesterday, I attended the conference, “Eco-Mismo: The Philippine Conference on Ecotourism and Eco-Productivity” at the Capitol Convention Center in Pili, Camarines Sur. It was a very rewarding experience despite minor hassles (Pinoy time as usual..tsk.) I learned a lot from the various speakers about what eco-tourism is all about and about how climate change should urge us to be more sustainable in our practices. But more than these learnings, I was amazed and proud at what the Cam Sur Governor, LRay Villafuerte presented in his speech. I had tears in my eyes as he showed us the video presentation showing what Camarines Sur was before, and what it is now. From 39th poorest province to Top 10 richest province in 5 years – a pretty amazing feat I should say. And all of these are thanks to the tourism that was very aggressive for the past few years – CWC, Caramoan and next, Mt. Isarog! Wow. Developments are certainly underway. And whereas before, there was only one airline flying 3x a week to Cam Sur, now there are 3 airlines flying 49 times a week! And the flights are bound to increase.

From having the reputation of being one of the poorest provinces in the country, Camarines Sur, or better yet known as Cam Sur has come a long, long way. And I am proud to be back to my home province. :D

after eons of inactivity

I know it has been eons since I last posted anything and believe me, I do lament the inactivity of my blog the past days, weeks even. Someone who used to write two to three articles a day, now goes by with days of inactivity. But then, as the new chapter of my life emerges, there are certain changes that I need to adapt myself to, and one of them is the hectic schedule. Plus the busted laptop charger. :D

In any case there are several things I would like to write about now – just so I could get those writing juices flowing and I could begin writing the narratives I am due to write. After these succeeding posts, only time can tell when the next batch will be.

on dreams and jobs

Dream job. What exactly is it? For me it is something you’ve always wanted but never thought you could possibly get. It is something you’ve always dreamed of, literally, but never thought you could actually land into. It is something you’ve wished for but never thought you’d attain. It is a dream, in every literal sense of the word. It is a dream because despite everything you have no idea how you can possibly attain it.

Now, I am living that dream.

I have had my shares of jobs that I thought or considered were dream jobs. Not because I literally dreamed of them or imagined in my entire life that I would be working in such conditions but because they had the prerequisites of what I would consider a good job. But then those jobs never lasted. They lacked something I was looking for. Maybe I was really pining for that dream – buried deep within my subconscious; longing to be real.

Today, that dream became a reality.

I have always dreamed, since I was little, of working as an executive in a prestigious company. Power dressing, corporate offices, meetings, social interactions, business functions, the whole nine yards. But a path in science strayed me from such a dream and I was forced to contend myself with second hand dream jobs borne out of the skills I have managed to acquire in my lifetime.

But now, I have been given the chance to live out the dream. What happens next, I can only watch and see. In any case I am much too overwhelmed and excited to finally be living the dream.

Call Center Agents: New Target for AIDS/HIV?

In the past, HIV/AIDS has been confined to sex workers, drug addicts and gays. That is no longer true today. Recent hospital reports show that the surge in HIV/AIDS cases in the past 10 months included reports from young professionals, notably call center agents.

It is no secret that in the past years, call center (or BPO) centers have mushroomed in the country, not only in the Metro but also in far-flung provinces. With the recession the US is facing, multinational companies began outsourcing their customer services to Third World Countries where the cost of labor is cheaper. Our government, in its desire to provide more jobs for the unemployed, jumped at the opportunity despite the many health risks posed by this new industry.

If before the health risks associated with the call center industry were merely hypotension (low blood pressure), anemia, unorthodox sleep schedules, ruined bioclocks, lung cancer (if you keep smoking too much) and cirrhosis (if you keep drinking too much), now another risk has been associated to the industry – HIV/AIDS. Well, of course, if you engage in unprotected sex.

But the acceptance of casual sex within the industry is something that is quite alarming. It has been reported that FUBU (or F*cking Buddies) have become a common trend and people engage in unromantic, casual sex especially when in the night shift. Just how casual sex is related to the work involved, I cannot fathom. Could it be that the toxicity or the stress of the work involved had led call center agents to detoxify or de-stress themselves through sex – casual, uncommitted sex? Or could it be the lack of sufficient sex education – on what is sex all about, that has led them to view sex as something as casual as changing clothes? Or maybe, the influences of the West has finally fully manifested itself on our shores that we even share not just their preferences for fast foods, credit cards, and way of clothing but also their casual views on sex? There are too many questions left unanswered.

But what all of this tells us is that, sex has become something common place in our society. It has become prevalent. The need to keep it safe must become a top priority health concern of the government. Unless we want the label of the only Christian nation in SouthEast Asia with the highest AIDS/HIV incidence.

It is time the Church opens its eyes and ears to the reality that sex is as commonplace in the country as drinking and smoking is. This is no longer the time to mince words or operate in subtle meanings. It is time the government takes action – solid and concrete actions; not just plans or empty words. The need for education, on what sex is all about, should be now. People should be informed on all accounts so they could make intelligent decisions.

And the place to begin would no doubt be, not just the schools, but the call center companies as well. Of course, this does not imply that the only recent cases of HIV/AIDS are call center agents. There are other alarming new additions to the traditional list of people at high risk of HIV/AIDS but the most glaring additions are call center agents who are young and educated professionals.

News Source:  HIV cases soar among Filipino yuppies, call center workers

HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the Philippines?!?

A century ago, no one would have thought it possible. Several decades ago, no one would have imagined that the country can be gripped with an epidemic that can be acquired through something the culture considers as taboo – to speak of, discuss, and even practice. But now it is happening. It is real. And it is a gripping fact that everyone must face.

Despite the reputation for high morals and values this country has (suppossedly because of its predominantly Christian upbringing), it needs to come to terms with the fact that times are changing and what was considered taboo before needs to be openly discussed now. If only to save thousands more of innocent yet naive minds.

*Note: A reputation for high morals? A look at recent political events may put a big question mark to that. But that is not the main point of this article.

The facts are staggering and shocking. In less than a decade, the confirmed HIV/AIDS cases in the country has more than doubled in numbers with the people infected no longer restricted to sex workers but including professionals. In fact, the latest additions are young professionals. And with the latest confirmed case that of a 16-year-old, what then does this say of our country?

Simple. Sex has become something a lot of young people engage at – outside of marriage. Sex has entered mainstream consciousness just as other western influences like music and TV shows have. This is how the west has influenced our country that even its culture, we have enveloped.

And so, what do we do now? Should we continue on ignoring the facts, leaving kids to their own devices to discover what sex is all about?

I have always believed that the best solution to all of these would be education. As I had advocated, sex is not something that should be taboo. The more taboo it is, the more people get curious about it. And the more they are likely to engage in unprotected and unsafe sex.

If sex education could only be widely accepted and taught in our country, not just within the confines of the home but also within the four walls of the classroom, then perhaps it can save our generation from the distress associated with it – the health and emotional issues. If sex can be something that is openly discussed and talked about, perhaps people would gain better understanding of what it is all about.

Sex is something wonderful; not something that should be the untoward cause of an incurable and unwanted disease.

News Source: ‘HIV cases in RP reach epidemic level’

Chapters of Life

Our lives have many chapters composed of many scenes and different people. As one chapter closes and another one opens, some people tend to move on with the chapters, eventually becoming intertwined with the rest of our lives. At times, a prominent person on one chapter becomes a supporting character on the next. Sometimes, they just fade into oblivion. Still at times, a person in the background in one chapter becomes the main character in the next. Some retain their roles, some change theirs. Bottomline is that, people’s roles change in each chapter just as scenes change.

My life is moving on to its next chapter. I firmly believe that I will now be closing the previous chapter which had been full of ups and downs, just like any other chapter of my colorful life. But there will be quite a lot of changes from now on. I have made a lot of mistakes of which I am now learning to stand up and move on. Some people will get left behind. Others may be delegated a more substantial role. Others may take center stage. It is too early to really tell.

But I know, as major changes start taking place, I will now be closing this chapter and moving on.

ano raw?

tagal ko na hindi nag bblog. siguro dahil nakalimutan ko ulit bakit ba ako nagbblog. siguro dahil nahihiya ako mag blog kasi hindi ko nga matapos tapos un libro na dapat sinusulat ko ngayon. siguro nahihiya ako kasi magbblog ako eh ung cliente ko pa nmn na nagpapasulat sakin ng libro ay avid reader ng blog ko.

in any case, pasensya na lang sa mga foreign readers ng blog ko kasi ngayon wikang sarili gagamitin ko.

ano ba sasabihin ko? ano ba kkwento ko? una baka isang taon lang abutin ng bagong site na to. baka after a year bumalik rin lang ako sa dati. o baka di lang tlaga ako sanay. pero nahihirapan ako sa daming rikusetos na dapat alalahanin sa pag maintain ng sariling domain. mas ok na ata ako sa libre. tutal yung blog para lang naman talaga sa personal expression ko. mas ma-appeal lang ang may sariling domain kasi. o baka hindi lang ako sanay na may sarili na akong domain. baka nga. well may isang taon akong i-try. kung di ko magustuhan eh di balik na lang ako sa dati. sana maging flexible na lang ang wordpress at payagan na nila mag embed ng mga kung ano-anung plug-ins.

isa lang naman talaga gusto ko ikwento ngayon. SIYA.

oo in love na ako. love na ata matatawag dito. ewan ko ba.

minsan di ko rin maintindihan. pilit iniintindi ng utak pero di nya magawa. takot ako minsan baka niloloko ko lang sya at sarili ko. sinasabing mahal ko sya pero hindi naman pala. pero pano ko nga ba malalaman na mahal ko sya. pano nga ba?

sapat na ba yung gusto ko sya makasama ngayon palang? makasama sa habang buhay para sabihin mahal ko sya? sapat na ba yung tanggap ko kung sino man sya – kahit oo nga magkaibang level kami at kahit sino magsasabi hindi kami bagay. sapat na ba yung pag di ko sya nakausap hinahanap hanap ko sya at pag andyan sya sabik ako kausapin sya?

sapat na ba yung nung mag away kami pilit ko pinaintindi ang magulo kung isip na sa ibang tao alam ko mawawalan na ko pasensya at sasabihin ko ayoko na. hassle ka. badtrip ka. quits na lang. sabi nga nila mas madali ang mag quits na lang. pero pinilit ko parin i work out yung away namin para maging ok kami.

in love ba matatawag ang nagkakaroon ka ng mugtong mga mata na di mo alam. mugtong mga mata na tanging pagluha dahil sa pag-iyak ang naging sanhi? pag-iyak na di mo alam talaga kelan mo ginawa dahil lahat lang ng natatandaan mo ay ang sama ng loob na dinulot nya? sama ng loob na naayos naman.

in love ako sa kanya. tanggap nya kung sino ako. ang baliw na takbo ng utak ko na alam ko pilit nya sinasakyan kahit minsan siguro nosebleed na sya. ang nakakalbo kung ulo. ang mga tabang naguumapaw. ang mga kapangitan ko sa umagang bagong gising. ewan. alam ko tanggap nya sino man ako. di ko nga alam bakit. di nga kami talo.

ibang iba mundong aming ginagalawan. kahit personality types namin magkaiba. sabi ng kapatid kong psych ako daw ay isang cognitive na tao. palaisip hindi masyado sa pakiramdam. sya daw aphe na tao. mas in tune sa pakiramdam. ako heartless, cold, insensitive. sabi nga ng isa kong kaibigan sobrang grabe daw kasi kaya ng utak ko mag transcend ng lahat ng subjectivity sa pag handle ng mga emotionally delicate situations na parang hindi na ako tao. sya naman, konti konti lang magtatampo na.

pole ends. pole opposites. kami yun. kaya minsan di ko alam bakit ko sya minahal. o minamahal. kasi sabi ko nga sa kanya ang pagmamahal ko pa unti unti. nag ggrow. samantala sa kanya, instant – automatic, all encompassing. minsan ako natatakot para sa kanya. kasi sobra na yung pagmamahal nya para sakin. kahit sya natatakot din. natatakot para sa sarili nya. kasi alam namin pareho na pag nag break kami – sya ang higit na masasaktan.

ewan ko ba. dahil ata sa cognitive nga akong tao alam ko na oo masasaktan ako pero baka hindi naman ganun kasing sakit. pero sya alam ko masakit na masakit na sobra. pero bakit ganito. ngayon pa lang sinusulat ko o iniisip na mag bbreak kami, baka, in the future, naninikip na dibdib ko. hindi naman grabe. just a small throbbing pain. di pa nga nangyayari – nasasaktan na puso ko? may nangyayari na ba sa puso ko na hindi na alam ng isip o utak ko.

at ang mga mata ko. bakit lagi nlng ata sya luluha? bumabagal na ata utak ko.

minsan di ko alam bakit ko to pinasok. sabi ko nun ayaw ko mag boyfriend. sagabal sa oras ko. dagdag sa aalalahanin. alam ko naman kasing hindi simple ang relationships. complikado. kailangan ng effort from both sides. lalo na sa simula. lahat din ata ng hiniling ko sa boyfriend sa unang tingin hindi nya na meet. sabi ko nun gusto ko ung boyfriend ko mahahatid ako, masusundo, mabibitbit mga gamit ko. oo tunog nga parang boy o katulong gusto ko. kaya ayun. binigyan ako ng boyfriend na sa malayo nagttrabaho. na hindi ko makakasama sa matagal na panahon. para daw malaman ko na hindi boy ang kinuha ko.

yung dalawang inflexible standards ko, hay hay hay, sila pa ang nabali. una, hindi kami same religion. i’m not even sure if he’s saved. second, hs grad sya. no college educ. so sa mata ng pamilya ko, sablay ang second criteria na dapat matalino. pero i don’t think naman na bobo sya. hindi naman dahil hindi nakapag-aral ng college isang tao eh bobo na sya. sabi nga sa UP do not let your education interfere with your learning.

pero magaling sya sumayaw. tuwa ako dun. at may plano sya sa buhay. masipag at mabait. same pa kami ng paniniwala about marriage and family. and in fairness, kasal ang end point na nakikita sa relationship. hindi relationship for the sake of relationship lang.

hay. to think grabe ako magpasensya sa kanya. as in grabe. i never had much patience with anyone before.

pero why is there fear in loving him? is it because i fear really loving then getting hurt? is it because i fear that i may really meet someone else? someone better? but i have always believed love is a decision.

eck. i am still confused.

i decided to blog after so long kasi nung nag away kami sinabihan ba naman ako na ginagawa ko daw syang blog. kasi naman mag eexplain lang ako ng ayaw ko o gusto ko ang haba haba pa ng sinabi ko. diretsohin ko na lang daw sya. hindi daw sya blog.

gosh. now i’m crying.

kasi pilit ko ginagawang issue yung faith differences. parang gusto ko mangyari, hindi ka born-again, di tayo pwede. di kita pwde mahalin. pero nacoconvict ako ni Lord. bakit Sya. wala naman si Lord pinili mahalin ah. ako nga super makasalanan minahal nya. tas ako ayaw magmahal. ako nga hindi rin born again pero minahal nya. tas ako ngayon ina-ask nya magmahal di ko magawa. gagamitin ko pa Sya scapegoat para wag mag love. ako na sobrang binigyan nya ng love, ako na minahal nya ng sobrang unconditional, ako ngayon yung hindi magmamahal. ayaw magmahal. takot magmahal.

hayz. love. complicated.

first post

I still get mixed emotions about the entire own domain thing. I guess I’m not used to it. I can’t quite let go of my previous address. It seems that I still want to go back to it. Not to mention it is getting more traffic than this. But then again, I doubt the veracity of those site visits because comments remain scarce.

In any case, I paid for the domain. So better take advantage of it. But I’m not also too keen on promoting it like what I did with the other one. Partly because I don’t have the time, partly because I may be looking for some semblance of privacy in this otherwise public means of self expression.

Anyways, I have decided to blog – after such a long time.

So this is my first post in this new home. I am still getting used to it.

new year || new beginnings

It’s been four days since 2010 started. And with the new year comes several changes.

First let me tell you about the change in this blog. I will now be moving to a new space in the world wide web. My new site is cerebralinsights.com. It is now up and running and you can check it out. All new posts will be done there.

Unfortunately, I cannot map the new domain. Because it costs a lot for me to do so and WP doesn’t allow mapping to other domains other than the one they’ve hosted. But then I’ll still see what I can do to spare you all the trouble. But please check out the new site.

Second. I need a change in lifestyle. I’ve started sleeping early, that is before 12 midnight and waking up early, that is before 8am. I need to alter my bio clock and significantly reduce stress in my life. Why? My hair is suffering the repercussions of stress. Hideous ones at that.

Third. I am in love. 2010 brought love knocking on my door. And I let him enter. ;) More on this on my new blog.

So that’s all for now. As I said, in my last post here I will include a stat update report. I don’t like statistics. That’s my least fave subject in high school and college but now I appreciate it’s practical application.

So since my blog has been hosted by WP in May 2009, here are my blog stats.

Total Monthly Visitors:

May 2009 — 453
June 2009 — 658
July 2009 — 243
Aug 2009 — 1437
Sept 2009 — 1246
Oct 2009 — 1972
Nov 2009 — 1453
Dec 2009 — 2556

Busiest day: Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 with 320 visitors

Top Posts of All Time:

Title Views
New Moon: A Better Review? 517 More stats
installing updates 1 of 3 450 More stats
election na naman 246 More stats
bagyo. baha. first time? 225 More stats
Chapter 3 224 More stats
About 163 More stats
New Moon Movie Review 158 More stats
Maguindanao Massacre: Where has our coun 123 More stats
Ano nga ba ang sagot sa problema ng Pili 107 More stats
Is Sex Still Taboo in the Philippines? 102 More stats

These are the ten top terms people used to search for my blog or to get to my blog:

Search Views
cartoon christmas tree 419
christmas tree cartoon 307
mar roxas 169
guinea pig 109
taylor lautner shirtless 98
manila 93
cartoon christmas trees 91
guinea pigs 86
squatters 69
friends for sale 65

Total views as of the moment: 10. 267.

I really like WP blog stats. It’s a really good application.

Well I have to get back to work. This is it for now. Catch me on my new site: CEREBRAL INSIGHTS now at cerebralinsights.com.

This blog has now moved. Please click here to see the new site.