In the eye of the storm

Nobody knew how it felt to be in the middle of a ravaging tornado nor a super typhoon blazing in the tropics. Not even a slightest feeling of how it is to be in deepest hole in world or in the highest cloud in the atmosphere. Simply put, there are just some feelings that cannot be defined by words.

However, visualization has changed the course of feeling. Crumpled paper can now be established by the brain but not with the senses. 3D images has changed the paradigm of visual communication, at least for now. But being in the eye of the storm? Great, a daily feeling I've been in for over three months.

Being in the center of attention, the barbecue of their grill and the chicken to their frying pan, God knows how it felt. As the outer wind turns and turns, I spin myself around too to go with the flow. Little did I know it was a hard time going out.

But yes, I wanted to be in there for some time. All the perks, the glam and the glitter. The eye made me happy for an achievement without hard work. I thought I could control the storm, but it was overtaking me. I fought my way yet it has been so good at putting me down. The storm has been deceiving the whole community with an aim of ravaging it to their own favor.

Sooner or later, the truth will come out and all winds would calm down. As of now, I'm climbing up the tall walls of the storm seeking to destroy the eye and run for my own life.

** The writer is talking about a real life situation.

Been around the world

I guess it's every woman's dream to go and travel the world. Maybe not just for women only. Our Asian History class even wanted to travel around Asia just to get a feel of what we will be talking about for the whole semester. Sadly, it seems just so impossible with this age (^^) and time. 

However, we have resorted to an option of going around the Philippines, or if not, then we'll settle for the least - taking a tour around Cebu City and it's different temples. I've been told there's a Tibetan temple uptown and I've been taking frequent visits to a Buddhist temple back when I was still a part of an orchestra. I don't find it bad at all. In fact, it'll be a great idea. Less hassle plus less expenditure. Yet, there is also one way of taking a "feel" being around Asia or for my case, the world. It's no other than the number one resort for the happy, depressed and mad - FOOD.

Yes, food! The actual things you eat and shove into your mouth can let you experience a flavor of a foreign land. Last Saturday, I was one of the privileged few who understood what it meant when the world flattened. With this, food became easier for everyone to share. Our common food isn't really ours.

UNITED STATES - Casa Verde's BIG BIG BIG burger and fries.

ITALY - Alberto's Pizza

PHILIPPINES - Budbud Kabog and Sikwate

MEXICO - Nachos and Salsa

CHINA - Pancit Canton

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SINGAPORE - Nasi Goren

I've even been to Iran but I wasn't able to take a picture of the Dal Curry and Pita bread from Persian Palate. Point is, with the flattening of the world we have been exposed to another country's cuisine without even us noticing. Still thinking of traveling? I'll let my stomach do the journey. I'm game for restaurant hopping in my own homeland.

Justice for Leftys

I've been a Left-handed or a "lefty" since I was born, I'm so sure of that. I recall my family members positioning a big crayon on my right hand and I'd secretly transfer it to the left. Over and again, we'd repeat the same process until they finally gave up and knew my fate was to be a lefty.

It was hard growing up being branded as a lefty. In elementary school, it was weird me just using my left hand to write and raise my hand. I received scornful looks from my classmates. When I moved up to the intermediate level, I had a hard time writing on an armchair until I reached high school. My friends complained at how our elbows bumped during meal times, and even was not accepted at the most unimaginable places to the point of being labelled as abnormal. I just shrug if all off convincing myself I was normal.

Writing with my left hand

Well, I was, at the very least. Born by a mother, having two hands and feet, and a brain that could count in 5 languages! According to an article entitled left handedness, some cultures find using the left hand as improper. Yet, it IS normal. Sciencedaily.com said that, "Left handedness is not a disease nor an illness." So?

Studies show that hand orientation is developed during the early stage of being a fetus. It is also possible that a gene handed down the line may cause such. Oops, it looks like there is nothing to blame but your own bloodline. No, not the environment, not the influence but your own body birthed by your parents. Actually, a lot people made names being left handed and there weren't abnormal either. Say, like, USA President Barack Obama and the man before him George W. Bush, even Bill Clinton. Don't get me wrong, even Manny Pacquiao does power punches with his left knuckle.

We aren't meant to be treated as the other way just like LGBT's don't. They are just hands for crying out loud and mind that sees things in reverse. It wasn't our fault, forgive us. I wouldn't trade my hands for a normal one and give up my ambidexterity and all the other perks of being a lefty. I'm creative enough to let loose. Who's with me? Raise your left hands up, Leftys!

Badjao Conversion

Girls are self-conscious, or so they say. I guess we've caught them (or us) staring at them mirror for a million times wondering what and which fits us the most. Who can tell better on what looks good on you? For some its the hair that's been the object of attack.

Some opt for hair straightening treatments such as relax, rebond, reborn and what "re"s the salon could think of.  Others may want a new hair cut, believing in faith that old hair throws off the bitter past that was left behind. But for this season, many of us stepped forward to saying goodbye to brown black dark asian hair. New hair color, come to mama.

Badjao family in the water

When a fellow of mine walked the hallway of the school with her new hair color, someone asked her, "Nag pa convert lagi kag Badjao? (You converted yourself to being a Badjao?)". 

You see, this ethnic group known for its excellent diving skills are also known for its signature orange to yellow colored hair. Their longer exposure to the sun makes their hair lose the melanin ending up their hair colour in such.

Badjaos are originally from Mindanao and according to studies, they have reached big cities such as Cebu to try their luck so they would breathe out of poverty. Yet, nothing happens. They still roam the streets carrying an infant to provoke pity amongst street people or sit by the pier and amuse tourists on how they can swim into deep stretches of waters. Even their babies can dive into the dangerous waters of the ocean. They leave their own ethnic culture and living just to gamble their lives with nothing in return.

New hair color, no need for stereotyping

I really don't know what is there in return with an almost orange head, aside from the Ammonia overload that's been on mine for days. As a woman, there is nothing with changing hair color. It may be a metaphoric message being conveyed for some but hair will still be hair, no need for stereotyping.