Exchange Badge / Link with Me

After you've grabbed my Fairy Badge, please leave me a comment below with your blog title, link and you may add short description of your blog too.

<a href="http://gecasrealm.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/geraldinequance/gecaBADGE.jpg" alt="GecasRealm" width="125" height="125" /></a>

or my link: http://gecasrealm.blogspot.com/

Then, I'll add you to my list. Thank you so much!

Keep yourselves in positive harmony. Think good, talk good and do good!

BADGES:

LINKS:

Elf Lady's Chronicles
Ramblings of a Thrifty Momma -
Blogs Ng Pinoy -
Texan in the Philippines - Surviving in the land of smiles.

FREE Blogger Event: Tech Lovers Christmas

Pin It

I Don't Think Anyone Would Mistake You, Lucy Liu, as a Filipino Even if You Get Tanned!

Not only that Filipinos are better culturally, we are more beautiful than other Asians!

Oh yes, I boldly claim that!

When I visited China a decade ago, it irked me so much that people there insisted that I am one of them even if I say repeatedly,

No! I'm not Chinese! 

There was a persistent man who while saying something in his language was pointing to the outline of his face then to my face. From my understanding he believes I am like them which I strongly disagree! I disagree so much because I believe I have the Filipino features plus I have tanned skin. Nonetheless, I just politely said no or shook my head.

I'd add as well that very few of them can speak decent English (even at the airport where I got lost and went to the wrong gate because a Chinese airport staff directed me to the wrong one!) so while I was there what worked best was do sign language or point to whatever I want done or delivered to my table, or nod to say yes and shake head to say no. I usually say

Please... (speak to me in) English only. 

Or

I'm sorry I don't understand you. English only please.

In Thailand, there was this guy who just kept talking to me in Thai even if my tour guide has told him that I'm not Thai. It was annoying but there was no point in debating if neither of us understand each other.

I was greeted with "Konichiwa!" by a tour guide when I was in New York (USA) just a few years ago. I thought to myself,

Huh?! What in the world was that all about? 

I looked around and there behind me was a group of Japanese people queueing too.

Ah well, now I'm a Japanese too?! Maybe I should wear a shirt that say

Hey don't greet me in any Language other than English or Tagalog!

It is a muted fact that each one of us discriminates other people from other region, country or continent. We'd all say we are better than all of you and you'd say otherwise, won't you? But sometimes, looks can be deceiving.

When I was working abroad, I mistakenly identified a staff as someone from India. I was corrected by this person who seemed offended. Then I found out later that people from their neighboring countries don't want to be identified as the other.

My indifference towards Chinese people didn't originate from nowhere. There's a lot of Chinese people residing in the Philippines who I was unfortunate to have met or crossed path with. Most, if not all, are rude and arrogant and racists. I don't think they'll ever learn politeness from Filipino people. If you don't believe me, go visit China town. Hence, you can't expect me to feel warm and cozy when they are around. However, if you're Chinese and you are certainly not this type, well then good. I'd be glad to meet you and tell you as well that my college best friend is of Chinese descent. Odd huh!

You know, despite our differences, I believe in equality. Culture, race or skin-color, and language shouldn't keep us apart. What keeps us apart is beliefs, politics or religion, which I do hope that is not the case. The world would be a better place to live if we all just get along.

But hey,

good without bad is not good at all. 

I got that line from a film shown on HBO earlier, "Everything Must Go" (I think).

Oh by the way, Lucy (Liu) ... thanks for letting everyone know on 'Late Show with David Letterman' that you don't want to look like a Filipino. The world should know and don't get offended as well that feeling is absolutely mutual!

Maybe you didn't mean to be a racist, you just love that you're of Chinese descent. I do too, love that I'm Filipino which is why whenever I'm out of the country, I try my best to get more tanned so that others don't identify me as nothing else but a proud Filipino!

Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy!

Pin It 

Awesome #Nuffnang / #Kojie.san Night!

It's long overdue but once again thank you Nuffnang Philippines and Kojie.san for the free Taken 2 movie screening tickets at Shang Cineplex and for the free Kojie.san men skin care products. I wish there were also products for ladies but hey I'm still grateful because boys in the family are enjoying the Kojie.san | men face and body soap and the Kojie.san cologne that I received. Now they're not as smelly as before :D

It was also great to meet the image model of Kojie.san, John Spainhour. He was kind enough to answer my questions after we had our photos taken by Jay-r Pidal (I believe that's the photographer's name). 

I hope John really agreed when I told him that "It's more fun in the Philippines!" I fired just a couple of questions to John (e.g. about his hair [yes duh] and which state he is from) because it was a busy night and a lot of other people want his time and attention. I wonder though if I can get the chance to properly interview him :D

Thank you John for being so gracious to bloggers and guests. Here's behind the scenes of the making of Kojiesan Men tv commercial: 

Food was awesome that night too!

Enjoying free meal with my son EJ
and 2 other bloggers, one of them is Dangal Macatangay

Before Taken 2 screening started, there was a mini-game for the guys. 10 guys were randomly called, including former child actor (Philippines) Chuckie Dreyfuss, to participate because no one was brave enough to volunteer. Each of the guys were asked "Lalaki ka ba?" ("Are you a man?"). They all responded candidly and of course they received Kojiesan men products.

See you again Nuffnang on future events!

Pin It

Runners for a Cause ~|~ Responsible Runners vs. Pea-Brained?

For the third time, I ran to help rehabilitate the Pasig River (Philippines). Fingers-crossed, all runners' effort, time and money in this great cause aren't wasted into nothing. Runners or not, we all want to see the result that the Pasig River is free from darn stinking garbage and finally brought back to life after being declared biologically dead 2 decades ago.

Wouldn't you want that great vision to come true for the new generations to enjoy?

with Hannah
(in grey sweat and cap)

This year, I managed to encourage my sister and a close friend of mine to join me in running for a cause. Hopefully more will join me in the next runs. Will you run with me?

with Hannah's cousin

A few minutes before the gun start at 5am that day, it poured heavily so all runners were soaking wet. There was nowhere to run to so we just stayed where we were. Good thing though that my friend's cousin brought with her an umbrella so 4 of us squeezed  ourselves under in our attempt to stay dry.

Rain subsided a little just a couple of minutes before the gun start, so off we went half-soaked!

This is the first time ever that it rained on a run for Pasig River (I believe) and other runs that I joined. I joked to my co-runners that maybe it's better that I run by myself. It was fun though, at least, I was not alone running wet-look style!

Unfortunately, fun ended by the time we reached the water station. No more water to refill our bottles!  Behind the water station one-man crew were two empty blue containers. The same situation on the second water station. Also, no water bottles to buy anywhere near nor a mile away.

Worse, pea-brained participants, who were able to secure themselves a styrofoam-cup to quench their thirst from the water station, have thrown their used cups all over the place despite the fact that there was a bin bag!

No one gutsy to tell them off so I did shout at all of them.

Hey all of you who threw the cups all over the place! You are all stupid and irresponsible runners!

As usual, as stupid does, they just shrugged, showing off how dense they are.

Wouldn't you expect runners for a great cause to be responsible and care enough not to throw garbage and make a mess of environment?

If I cross path with you and I see that you threw garbage not in their proper bin, expect me to either remind you or tell you off! You can count on that.

After the run, there was a live show led by the organizer. You know, it's all good to see celebrities (try to) entertain the runners. However, I don't think I heard the organizer thanked the runners for participating in the event. Please correct me if I'm wrong here. But there wouldn't be river warriors if there were no runners, would there?

Live entertainment wasn't enough to make me and my sister stay, not to mention that we were very thirsty and was too hot to stand under the heat of the sun plus being pushed by pea-brained shrieking fans, so we left early.

with my sister

Better luck on the next run, I wish. Run with me!




Pin It