Gabriela, female advocacy group in the Philippines was early to join the Rising!
On VDay, with One Billion Rising my heart goes back home to the song and dance through which we will rise and move and stop violence against girls and women.
One billion women dancing is a revolution against the one billion women violated, against on in three women on the planet raped or beaten in their lifetime.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Bilingual Problems: A New Series
So, this happened yesterday...
This has happened before - to me, to my friends. Growing up in a country that was conquered by Spain, then liberated by America, Filipinos are most likely bilingual and certainly multi-racial. If you come from a part of the country that speaks a dialect like I do, then BAM you're trilingual.
Every single time something like this happens, I am amused. So I thought to share these snippets so you can laugh with me or laugh at me. I'm a riot, I know. And no, I am not referring to the mountain in the Philippines because that would be Arayat.
Waka-waka-waka.
Barista says " Soy latte" & my pre-coffee brain hears "I am a latte," thinks he's making a bi-racial reference #BilingualProblems #Brooklyn
— Tish Valles (@TishValles) January 12, 2013
This has happened before - to me, to my friends. Growing up in a country that was conquered by Spain, then liberated by America, Filipinos are most likely bilingual and certainly multi-racial. If you come from a part of the country that speaks a dialect like I do, then BAM you're trilingual.
Every single time something like this happens, I am amused. So I thought to share these snippets so you can laugh with me or laugh at me. I'm a riot, I know. And no, I am not referring to the mountain in the Philippines because that would be Arayat.
Waka-waka-waka.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Cowboy or Koboy?
The Philippines is the lone Americanized country in Southeast Asia. America brought us democracy, our educational system, Coca Cola, dreams of white Christmas, Spam, the English language. Certain American concepts also found their way into the culture and language. Colgate is the generic word for toothpaste. Kodakan was the verb for taking pictures. Jeepney is a form of public transportation born from refurbished US army Jeeps.
Koboy is an interesting construct that has been repurposed within the Philippine culture. Borrowed from the idea of the cowboy, Koboy takes the rugged swagger and unrefined essence and pushes it further to the edge. At least that's how I understood it. The recent conversations about gun control and gun rights have left this accidental American at a loss for words.
I cannot imagine any scenario wherein the Filipino cowboys or koboys would ever put guns in children's classrooms. It seems the radical right are reclaiming koboy and redrawing the line. Now the new edge envisions a world where children are in the hands of armed grown ups.
You can keep this one, Joe. We won't be infusing this thinking into the emerging Filipino way.
Koboy is an interesting construct that has been repurposed within the Philippine culture. Borrowed from the idea of the cowboy, Koboy takes the rugged swagger and unrefined essence and pushes it further to the edge. At least that's how I understood it. The recent conversations about gun control and gun rights have left this accidental American at a loss for words.
600 teachers have applied for free firearms training: ow.ly/gByzP
— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) January 7, 2013
I cannot imagine any scenario wherein the Filipino cowboys or koboys would ever put guns in children's classrooms. It seems the radical right are reclaiming koboy and redrawing the line. Now the new edge envisions a world where children are in the hands of armed grown ups.
You can keep this one, Joe. We won't be infusing this thinking into the emerging Filipino way.
Monday, December 31, 2012
When Choosing Among Little Black Dresses
In truth, such musings reflect deeper explorations in feminism, liberation and freedom of expression. I have had the fortune (and along with it the responsibility) of always being able to choose for myself.
On the brink of a new year in which this millennium becomes a teen-ager, many other women are living in societies which continue to suppress their voice and impede their rights. There still are women who can't decide what to wear, which school to go to, which bus to take.
Well aware of this, my girls and don't take any of these freedoms for granted. We give voice and fight and platform to the many women who don't have the good fortune we have.
We wear our stilettos with pride, we choose our black dresses with mindfulness and we move forward into 2013 we welcome the sunrise of better days for women everywhere. Happy New Year, you look gorgeous!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
America's Broken Heart
Love makes room. When tested, love reveals true character.
My love affair with America is complicated and rewarding. It lives deep within me, the visceral fiery part where fist and buck and growl live. It lives on my bosom, where it is soft and warm and dizzy. It sits in my hands that work and hold and move.
My love affair with America is complicated and rewarding. It lives deep within me, the visceral fiery part where fist and buck and growl live. It lives on my bosom, where it is soft and warm and dizzy. It sits in my hands that work and hold and move.
Because a big enough part of America feels heart-broken these days, the heart of America is breaking. Because so many of us love America, we all feel this heartbreak in varying ways. And because this is OUR beloved America, we must make room. We must calm the buck and relax the fist. We must reach out and open up.
We love America, and as America's heart is breaking the only way forward is for us to make room for different views so we can let America do what it has always done. America makes room.
America loves us, so she makes room for all of us.
America loves us, so she makes room for all of us.
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| https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151249672501749&set=pb.6815841748.-2207520000.1353087245&type=3&theater |
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The Virtuous Cycle
Last week, I started an Indiegogo fund-raiser for a dear friend who is facing a serious disease, and just a week later we are 55% on our way to our target! I continue to be amazed at the generosity of people. I continue to marvel at how, when you start a ripple waves immediately come.We all have the capacity to start a virtuous cycle, to question what is wrong and move towards what is fair and just.
It is truly amazing what we can do together.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/246254?c=home&a=142232
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