The Neurotic

The decade is about to end and what a decade it has been for me and for the world. The current issue of time even has it as "The Decade from Hell". To me it is the decade where I found myself. It is the decade where I became an adult... well, at least age-wise. :P



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Hongkong hates me... or at least my body does. I'm not entirely sure which. I ALWAYS get sick when I am here and I get skin breakouts. Considering that I don't smoke much when I here (2-3 sticks a day only), I don't get it. Food is great sure but my stomach feels like its doing the chacha after. Oh well. I guess I am built to stay in the provinces even though I have lived most of my life in various metropolitan cities.

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I find it extremely funny that a guy who has a girlfriend is more interested in guys and finding out what they are like and is into gossiping more than I am. This entertains me to no end. It also makes me shake my head in disbelief. :P

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I wonder why I get more random calls from people that I don't know or those that I haven't talked to in months when I am overseas. True, you could accuse me of just being more accutely aware of such things since I tend to not answer such calls while I'm overseas...but If I don't answer your call 5 times in a row, it probably means I won't answer your calls.

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People miss other people for some very strange reasons or for no reason at all. It is funny that people miss you inexplicably more while you are overseas for a week even though sometimes you don't get to see or talk to them in a month while you are in the same vicinity. I think I have to thank TV drama for that.

About two weeks ago, since I came back from my trip to HK. I have been in what one could call an -er mode. A contruction worker to specific. With carpenters being in demand and my patience wearing thin. I decided to take matters into my own hands. Literally.

Stripping off the old rotten wood....




Hammering in new boards (carpenter did this)...



1st and 2nd coat of paint, looking good so far...



Last coat of paint



Tadah...not yet done but this will have to do for now.... my wallet is already bleeding out as it is... :P

As we were exiting the restaurant my friend was staring at me not believing what just happened. "How can you act as if it that was the most simplest of things?", he asked.

"What do you mean? It was the simplest of things. The guy used his credit card to pay for our meal and I him cash for it."

"You know that is not what I mean. How can it be that simple for you? Is your life this easy? It's f@cking unfair for the rest of us. Hell, I pity the guy who is your opposite in terms of luck." my friend ranted in disbelief.

It all started with a hungry stomach and a good offer 30 minutes earlier....

"Oooo a free pasta dish if our order gets past P250 if I charge it to my credit card? Count me in!", I told my gym buddy, "After a two hour workout I am hungry!"

After the meal I hand the credit card with the promotional offer, my only credit card really (I don't like multiple cards, if you have more than one then that, to me, is living past your means).

"Ummm, sir, your card is declined."

"Huuur!?! O rly? Can you try again?"

"I tried several times sir but it really was declined."

"Great, I'll just have to pay by cash then. So how does that work? How much should I pay for the extra pasta?"

"Errr, sir, maybe you have another card? We already punched it in and we already put it in as free... I'm not really sure how to process this."

"You won't accept cash?"

"I don't think I can sir because of the promo."

After several circular exchanges with the waitress and the manager, the guy just beside my table chimes in, "You won't accept cash?" He repeated. He seems to have taken a keen interest in my situation and after a hurried explanation. "Wait, free pasta if I make a P250 purchase with my credit card? I have two of those! I'll pay for his meal and I'll pay mine with my other card to get that free pasta. Is that good?"

......

"Dude, what are the chances that a guy beside our table has not one by two of the required credit card company AND that he is willing to offer to pay for our bill!?!"

"Errr, a big chance actually." I returned.

"A BIG chance!?! In your world maybe. Man, I heard about you, the other guy at the gym said you were a lucky @$$...but this just takes the cake. I'm f@cking livid that you live in this crazy world believing that everything will turn out for the best."

"Dude, if I was REALLY lucky, my card would not have been declined. Suck on that."

".... I hate your logic...." my friend flailing his hands in the air.

The direct-to-video project that I have been a part of... soon to be released (early Nov 2009)! Go buy it! :D

8am
I woke up on Saturday, 26th Sept, to the hurried shouts of my mother. Flood waters was rushing into our house. Like a feisty and temperament woman, it called our undivided attention.

10am
We, as a family, are by no means new to flooding. In fact, we are so used to it that we practically have a routine and everyone knows what role to play. We go through the motions. Move the cars to higher ground. Move everything to the 2nd floor. Waters are rising faster than normal we thought. I counted how many steps to the second floor it has reached. 5th step. This was as bad as the 1996 flooding. Time? 10am. Low tide? That can't be right....

11am
Water hasn't subsided. No, this is worse. My brother and I exchange knowing looks. We need to buckle up. It's about to begin. High tide.



12noon
We were forced to escape through our 2nd floor rooftop fire escape. We heard reports that 2, and eventually 3, dams were opened. Who knows. Where was the advanced warning I thought while me and our neighbor's driver were trying desperately to cut the wired fence between our rooftop and their's. Short respite, surely it won't go any higher. I was wrong. There goes the house.



2pm
Neighbors are starting to panic. They have an elderly with them and they are no spring chicken as well. Except for their driver they are all women. We need a plan. 4 steps before it reaches their 2nd floor. If the water doesn't subside we need to leave.

4pm
We get the elderly out through a makeshift raft. My aunt and a few fire fighter volunteers have come to help. They head out. We start to break windows to get access to their rooftop. My brother and I help each one to the next house. Go for higher ground. We stay behind, once we see they are safely in the hands of the fire fighters and my aunt.

The dogs. "I'll take care of them", my brother signals. I head inside the house and grab whatever food I can get. Am I a looter then? Doesn't matter. The neighbor's driver and I grab what we can.

6pm
They are all cuddled inside our van. I look at my feet, both the rivers that the village is located between, touch. First time I have seen it. Do they know each other I wonder. Do they remember one another like forgotten lovers I ask myself.

I look on. Our house is no where to be seen. I look on. Everything is gone. I strangely feel calm. Everything inside the house is washed away. I can look at this as a disaster or a clean slate. A clean slate. A curse or a gift? A gift I decide. No, that is wrong, I don't decide to look at it as a gift, rather, I need to for the next few days...

There are no more tethers. I can start clean. A rare gift, if a frustrating one.
My every collection, hobby, memorabilia gone. Washed away.

Good stuff and yes it is safe for work. :P

Last night while at the bar at Q I was able to strike up this interesting conversation with a regular guest, but haven't really had the chance to talk to.

It was a long discussion on how we, as gay men, can be better recognized in the Philippine society. How does one start? Should it be political? Economic? Social? It seems the easiest way to make people stand up and listen is through economics and how much the pink peso does affect the economy. Think about it. If we can show how much we, as a community, actually contribute to the economy then everythung will follow. Politicians have to take note of us for our support. That we make the gears turn... If the OFWs are recognized as the bagong bayanis (new heroes) for their economic contribution and basically keeping the Philippines afloat, then why not us as a cohesive community as well?

How does one show this though? How does one quantify the pink economy? Do we only count establishments that cater to the community? If so, then that is a little too small to make people notice... Do we then count gay-owned establishments. That then swings the pendulum the other way. It is then a huge chunk of the economy (yes, think about it, inclusive of the big corporations...).

Does anyone know how the guidelines should be? Better yet does anyone know of a study done about the pink economy before? This is really of great interest to me, as this will concretely show how much of a 'salot' (curse) we really are on the world.

*definitely too long a post to be done on the iPhone app. Bleah. :P

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Check out the video I uploaded from the finale of this year's Cosmo Bachelor's Bash. Yum! :D

I just got back from an extremely enjoyable time at the Cosmo's Bachelors Bash 2009. I initially questioned the choice on some of this year's centerfolds but after watching the show, I became a believer. :P






Aljur Abrenica


Gerald Andersen