Outrageous

Today’s thought: “Do you still love nature, despite what it did to you?” – professionalheckler to Malu Fernandez

The Malu Fernandez bruhaha spread like wild fire in the internet and has caught the ire of almost everybody not just the OFWs she maligned through her column. Excepts from her column “FROM BORACAY TO GREECE!” are featured below:

“However I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cell phones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.

While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted, so I heaved a sigh, popped my sleeping pills and dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga sann ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?” Translation: “Hey there? Where are you from? Are you a domestic helper as well?” I though I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell.

On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while Jo Malone evaporated into thin air.”

This has eventually caused her to resign from her post (and save face before People Asia and Manila Standard sack her). You can check this link for the full article but this is gonna make you rant the whole day, so beware: http://qa.filipinoexpats.com/malu-fernandez-articles-ofws-boracay-greece.

She came to her defense and write non-apologetically, which made it worse. Excerpts here again (full article is available at http://qa.filipinoexpats.com/malu-fernandez-articles-ofws-am-i-diva-or-do-you-lack-common-sense):

“I wrote a funny article in my magazine column and my friends thought it was hilarious. It was humorous and quite tongue-in-cheek, or at least I thought so, until the magazine got a few e-mails from people who didn’t get the meaning of my acerbic wit. The bottom line was just that I had offended the reader’s socioeconomic background. If any of these people actually read anything thicker then a magazine they would find it very funny. Most people don’t get the fact that they need bitches like me to shake up their world, otherwise their lives would be boring and mediocre. I obviously write for a certain target audience and if what I write offends you, just stop reading.”

I find no humor in any of her articles. Maybe it’s because I do not belong to her ‘target audience’, and her kind of ‘acerbic wit’ does not appeal to me, but being an OFW myself, she also caught my wrath and I really think that her writings were done in poor taste. I’ve travelled and have shared the economy class with OFWs myself and surely, most of them tend to be chatty and to some extent noisy once the pilot announces touch down to Manila airport. All dashing towards the exit door, lining up to get their balikbayan boxes and some are even clapping their hands in excitement. But none break rules and all are ever so friendly and polite. Malu, the socialite elite (kuno) should understand that we are just extremely in high spirits to meet our family and friends we left in PH. There is no need to criticize the smell of their perfume and besides, its been known that Filipinos are the most OC when it comes to cleanliness so I doubt that those OFWs she was with really smell foul. Hinde naman sila nakasabit sa jeep o nakatayo s loob ng regular bus n parehong nasa kahabaan ng traffic s EDSA. Dun talaga hindi maiiwasang mag-amoy tambutso at pawis.

She has, as she confirmed, been receiving death threats because of what she wrote which prompted her to resign in the first place. I wonder now where she can possible go to after all that she’s written in her column. I’m sure that every Filipino in the Philippines is connected in some way to an OFW. Having her face posted in countless blogs; feeling ko tinalo p nya yung collective pictures ng most wanted criminals in the country, I doubt there is nobody in the Philippines and Filipinos abroad who hasn’t read her discriminating column, except those that do not have internet access. But with 15-20 pesos/hr rental, I doubt there will be much.

Karma boomeranged so soon she didn’t know it hit her twice as hard as when she threw it. She’s now out of job. But it should not be a problem as she is rich and this she flaunts callously. I hope she learned her lesson well otherwise she is an abomination to her kind which I happen to love – baboy.

P.S. Check this site http://professionalheckler.wordpress.com/2007/08/22/this-is-for-you-malu-fernandez/ for top 10 Things to Tell Malu Fernandez When You See IT. Now this is my kind of wit.

I'm Bringing Sexy Back, Yeah!

Today's Thought: "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt. So sexy it hurts" - Right Said Fred


Just this week, I've started the habit of going out (of office and back home) for lunch. We have 1.5hrs lunch break and its the envy of most partners from KL (but only before I mention that we have Saturday half-day work). Yep, that's the sad consequence of it. I'd rather enjoy a lazy Saturday morning and wake up a bit late than usual than to go to office and work for a few hours.

But anyway, I find this new habit invigorating. I do not usually go out but rather, pack my lunch food to office. It's too hot and traffic is bad during this time. You gotta understand that tinted cars are only for royals so imagine the heat of a 12noon sunshine. But it's been raining lately or atleast a bit cloudy so the weather is tolerable than usual.

Driving back, stuck in round-about traffic, the radio played a Barry White song. I forgot the title already (not a big fan) but I like it when the character John Cage sings it to himself to feed his confidence and ego. The voice (Barry's I mean) is just way too sexy. As the music ended, I thought of all the songs that exudes the same kind of effect - making u feel sexy! Here's my list so far.

Sexual healing - Marvin Gaye **Everything about it screams for some getting it on action but what I love about it is the rhythm, pasimple kasi. Totally contradictory to the cries of urgency of the lyrics (walang biro!)

Pure shores - All Saints **Leonardo di Caprio, the Beach - Need I say more?

Diggin On You - TLC **It's exactly what I'd want to say to a guy I'd cruise in a club, hehe

When I first Saw You - Jamie foxx **It's exactly what I'd want the guy I'm cruising in a club say to me, hehe

Say It Right, Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado **Have you seen the video? - hot!

Red Light, Do it to Me - Usher **Makes me wanna be with Usher, lol

Sexy Love - Ne-Yo **Uncomplicated rhythm

Too Close - Next **For the hot guy in the club, hehe

Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve & Gwen Stefani **Everthing is sexy in this song

Rock Your Body, Senorita - Justin Timberlake **Justin gyrating to his songs, lets parrty!!!

Shake that Thing, Temparature - Sean Paul **It's gives me that Boracay beach party feeling, haay, sana maulit

Beautiful Liar/Bello Embustero - Shakira & Beyonce **Seen than video - my gosh! If only my belly dance class would make me dance like that, lol

The Way I Are - Timbaland **Super pa-cool, love it!

Get Your Number, It's Like That - Mariah Carey **Back with a vengeance and rightly so since she has talent (in singing). Just stay away from movies sistah.

Control Myself - LL Cool J & Jlo - **Another awesome video, love her make up and love fafa LL. Don't think I can control myself if he sings this one to me (dream on, as if!)

The Way You Move - Big Boi **My ringback tone. Super love this song!

Get Low - Lil Jon, Ying Yang Twins **Yes, I'll get low **wink-wink**

Push The Button, Too Lost In You - Sugababes ** Candy tunes but I was/got too lost in you, hahaha.

My Boo - Usher & Alicia Keys **How many weeks did this stay on top (of the charts)? The collaboration is just so perfect.

Tonight Your Mine - 7 Shots **Way to go OPM! I like the group better than Ja Rule during Ja Rules concert, hahaha.

And for sheer Girl Power, I have high respect for these girls and their songs:
The Wreckers - Leave The Pieces
Sandi Thorn - I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker
Amy Winehouse - Rehab
Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do
Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice
Macy Gray - I try
Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On
Joss Stone - Super Duper Love
Rihanna - Shut Up And Drive

Ganyan kahaba ang traffic. And the very few radio stations played local music na so I just turned off my car radio (low tech, walang CD player) and sang to myself. Ang nagagawa nga naman ng gutom.

Audio Slave

Today's Thought: "There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends." - Dumbledore, HP1

T'was almost 2AM Sunday morning. I was sure that I looked as pale as Snape and my eyes had long since abandon any glimmer of light (in short, naka eye cap). Yet I laid wide awake listening to every word of the storyteller. I will forever be fascinated with the world of Harry Potter. I have read all the books including the most recent and last book (waahh, but I am happy with the ending though I thought either Harry, Hermoine or Ron will die when J.K. said 2 major characters will die in the book). And now, thanks to my friend, I have the audio book copy of all 6 books! Yahoo!!! So even if I do my chores, take a bath, or ANYTHING at all, I can hear Harry Potter. I've finished books 1& 2 and starting with book 3. Stephen Covey will have to take a back seat on this one.

My first encounter with audio books was with 'the Vinci Code'. I love the book, the movie was blah, and the audiobook - well it sucks. All characters sounded old, like 50ish. I have nothing agaist old folks but it's just so unbelievable. How can you possibly imagine a 50 year old Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu raising their hearts out trying to outrun a monster like Silas and the rest of the antagonists in the book? But I stayed with the story and finished it, fought off the age in my mind. I also stayed in the movies because I was hoping I'll get my money's worth and that at least the ending won't disappoint me. But of course, it failed in comparison with the book.

Next audio book is 'Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl'. I wasn't able to read the book nor watch the film but I've always wanted to. Everytime I go to National Bookstore or Powerbooks, I always managed to find it and checked if it's on discount which more than twice it was but ended up buying PugadBaboy or ZsahZsah Zaturnnah or Bob Ong's books. I'd go for funny ones anytime, hehe. Imagine the fun it will be if there are audio books of these? To hear Ada's, Didi's and Aling Britney's super churvang punchlines and the Amazonistas' combat formation? To listen to the whole Pugab Baboy gang talk about everything and anything under the sun? Gold mines I tell yah. Gold mines.

Sidenote: The title is a tribute to the band Audioslave (I love you!!!). Check out their video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s56RlF_D6DE

Cravings

Today's Thought: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

I was craving for dumplings yesterday. A few minutes after office hours, I decided to skip gym class and give in to my longing for hakao, sharksfin and carrot cake. There’s only a few nice restaurants here (I’m always pro ambiance – with or without a date) that have good authentic dumplings. I have Dynasty in my mind already – it’s the nearest from my office and is just beside the Mall where I can do my groceries later (just being true to my motto: “Bawal magutom”) and stuff my ref again. I went around the building hoping for a parking space. It’s usually crowded during this time of the day (simply because it’s the only place where people can go to unwind). The Mall at Gadong is like Eastwood, Metrowalk, Glorietta, Rockwell and The Fort rolled into one. I saw a parking space exactly in front of the restaurant, beside the basement parking exit. I’m starving, there’s no car before me and no car going out of the parking exit so I took my chances and drove passed the exit ramp, turn right against the one-way entrance and I got my space (tablahan na ito). I excitedly walk passed the restaurant/hotel entrance to withdraw some cash from the ATM just ‘round the corner and leisurely walked back to the hotel lobby. Smile turned to shocked and then to pout (all in 3 seconds time). Was it immediate karma (for going against the road sign) or just not my luck, but the resto was still close! It resumes business at 6:30PM and it’s only 6:10PM. Should I wait for a few more minutes? My stomach was grumbling worse than ever. I have to decide fast. I got back in my car and headed to NyoNya, just another block away and settled for buttered prawn.

I love this dish but I wasn’t craving for it. It tasted nice as always and Nyonya has the best buttered prawn if you ask me. It’s been a day now but I still got dumplings on my mind. Maybe next week I’ll try again.

Fun Filled Weekend

Today's Thought: Rolfe Kerr's Personal Creed
Succeed at home first.
Seek and merit divine help.
Never compromise with honesty.
Remember the people involved.
Hear both sides before judging.
Obtain counsel of others.
Defend those who are absent.
Be sincere yet decisive.
Develop one new proficiency a year.
Plan tomorrow's work today.
Hustle while you wait.
Maintain a positive attitude.
Keep a sense of humor.
Be orderly in person and in work.
Do not fear mistakes -- fear only the absence of creative, constructive, and corrective responses to those mistakes.
Facilitate the success of subordinates.
Listen twice as much as you speak.
- taken from 7 Habits of Highly effective people, Stephen R. Covey


I've finished reading 'For 1 More Day' by Mitch Albom. What can I say, it's about death again. If you can talk to the dead long after their gone during your final day or a day you experienced severe trauma, why not. But I still like his first book - Tuesdays with Morrie. Read it three times and three times, it made me cry. As for the thought of the day, it's a nice motivation. Kinda like a personal mission statement. And yes, it's my current read and find it very interesting. When I accepted this job, one thing it gave me is my personal time and time to catch up on my reading. Yeheey! (Shouts the nerd)



As for my other part of the weekend, the gym opening was ok. Not sure if the girls here are just shy or they don't care about the 1month free price - but the events I'm supposed to join @the gym was cancelled bcoz we weren't able to complete the minimum 3 participants...too bad. But the Bodyjam release was jampacked and was held at the bbol court. So nice that a lot of pips really dressed up for the occasion. Just meant they want to win the best costume price - which was a towering grocery items, hahaha. I think they want us to eat more so we'll keep joining the gym. That's what I called 'balance life', lol ^_^. My housemate Carol won the best jammer award - she's a dancer in their college so no surprises here.

Ended my weekend dropping by the grocecy store and stuffing my ref with Sara Lee again. I am designating myself as a Sara lee cake critic (whatever, excuses) and see which flavor is the best.

Sidenote: The owner of the gym is an actor and fans from TW and HK flew to Brunei just to see him for this event. I inserted his pix, nakiki-fan, hehe. They say his group Fahrenheit is the next F4. I wonder if close sila ni Dao Ming Sui(?) Yes, I got caught in the F4 fever myself. Miss ko n nga, hehehe.

Guilt Free Friday

Today's thought: "Who so loves, believes the impossible." - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sara Lee for a cake, anyone? Yes, that's a brand of cake here - and I bought chocolate swirl bavarian flavor and love it! Forgive the innocence but I've known Sara Lee as a brand for underwear only, hihihi. I've been binging on sweets lately and missed my regular gym this week. But worry no more, I'm going to the gym later to sweat off the extra fat I've consumed this week. Fitness Zone is having a competition for a number of exercises (threadmill, rower and threadwall challenge) and the price will be 1month free membership. Not bad specially that it's not really cheap. Good enough motivation for me, I hope I win. If not, Sunday will be the grand opening and the gym will still have a number of competition. Got nothing to loose trying and besides, it'll be a shame if I don't win since I've been a gym rat for a long time back in PH (kakahiya s mga teach, hehe). The weird thing to see inside the gym are girls wearing long sleeves shirt, jogging pants (this one is not weird though) and tudong! That hanky-looking-thingy they cover their head with and I dont get it. But it's a free country, and more so, it's their country. Opinyon ko lang yun. Bawal magalit.