Happy na, new year pa! :)

Ano ba ang bagong taon? maingay, magastos, delikado. holiday, mausok, makalat, magulo.

Ano ba ang bagong taon?
Ito ay bagong buhay, bagong pag-asa, pagbabago.

Lumang katawan, pero bagong balat na may mas sensitibong pandama sa hinaharap. Pangarap na nalalasahan sa bawat pagpikit, paglunok, pagtibok at paghinga.

Lumang puso na pinatanda ng samut-saring karanasan at karahasan. Pero dinadaluyan ng sariwang dugong nag-aalab na muling sumubok at magpatawad.

Suot ko ang bagong damit na optimismo. Ito ang babalot sa lahat ng pangamba, laban sa masama. Ang tapang na saplot sa aking mga paa ang magbibigay lakas sa akin na laging makipagsapalaran.

Ano ba ang bagong taon?
Lumang binihisan ng bago? O bagong sangkap sa luma?

Bago ang lahat, ang bagong taon ay pasasalamat. Sa mga bagong kilala na ngayon ay masasabing luma at nagtagal na samahan. Sa mga blog posts na niluma na at natabunan na ng bagong mga posts, pero may bagong kahulugan at epekto pa rin sa ibat-ibang tao.

Salamat sa regalo nyong tiwala, kwento, pagmamahal at pakikipagkaibigan. Kayo ang nagpa-Happy sa New Year ko. =)

happy moment 1

i know i had a depressing post yesterday. so to make up for it, i decided to make happy moments count by sharing them here.

today, two friends from this blog visited me at work and gave me  stuff. the funny thing is they sort of texted the same way.

Kim: Got time to go down from your olympus?
TwistedHalo: Maybe you could go down your tower and get Murakami?

Kim gave me the yummiest sandwich i ever tasted - pastrami with wasabi from Earle's. the wasabi and ripe tomatoes made all the difference. i think it's a trade-off because i had her taste the yummiest cheesecake ever. hehe.

TwistedHalo handed me a Haruki Murakami book of 24 short stories. :) This is my first Murakami book. I thought she's just going to lend it to me, but said i can have it. yey! :) let's see if murakami can beat jeffrey archer in short storytelling. =)

to you super sweet ladies, THANK YOU! =)

December and backwards

Is it just me or did this year just sped by? If I look at my work planner, I sure did scribble a LOT of stuff and completed many projects. But if I look back at non-work stuff, not a lot seems to have happened with me. Part of this I think is because I forget things. Is my memory degrading or there's just isn't much worth remembering or I just want to forget many things? Sigh. Omg, did I just go with the flow and drowned in anonymity and insignificance?! Ugh. Am not liking this post. It's getting depressing with each sentence. Right now I just feel tired.

December is a month of self-abuse. A month of holidays and long vacations - to puyat all you want with gimmicks, catch up on missed DVDs, eat all you want, spend all you want (with the justification that you deserve it or a spirit of generosity). So I confess, am spent. Physically and financially. Back to work today, eye bags, backache, dry throat (pre-flu stage), all I can think of is I want a vacation. But wait, I just came back from vacation! I was also shocked to know that with all the gift giving I did, I failed to even buy myself new clothes. Yikes. Am not really a shopper, nor a bags-clothes-shoes kind of person. And I realized whatever new clothes I had this year, were gifts from people. *hint! Hint! Lol!*

I took out half of what's in my closet to donate for Sendong. But before I can do my good deed, my sisters rummaged thru them as if I'm a tindera from an ukay ukay store and took some of the clothes! Hmp. Now I seriously need to get a few clothes for work.

It's so ironic that three months ago, I told someone that I won't be giving any gifts this Christmas. And as I was complaining to her how exhausted and haggard I am with all the shopping I did, she reminded me of my no-gifts -this -year resolve, which I obviously forgot. It's a plan, but an insane one. Am not a man of steel who can resist the influence of the season. So do I have regrets? Know what? the joy is really in giving, be it the gift of purchased item, DIY stuff or the gift of time. =)

A moment with someone

Been bombarded with Adele songs from everywhere i go. Not that i hate her, it's just too much. Then after unknowingly learning the lyrics, I realised that this song, Someone Like You actually reminds me of someone.

It's been a while. Do you really forget someone? Parang I can't. I still remember them but the effect lessens as time passes. The true and tried healing power of time. thank God for that.

I used to think we're perfect for each other. Now it's all different or gone to be more apt. Maybe it's not the perfection or the compatibility that will sustain a relationship or a feeling. Maybe it's the willingness/patience to understand each other once the differences surface.

For me, the litmus test of love is time. It is so easy to get attracted, like, give in to temptation, get confused, think it's love or something serious. But they could just be moments. So I always give it the test of time. If it endures, then it's worth seriously considering. Film Blue Valentine said it best, "How do you trust your feelings when they just disappear like that?"

Payo-payong bukid 3

Learn to be independent of other people's company. You need to toughen up woman!

Kung ayaw ka nila itext or kausapin, that sucks. But it's not the end of the world. Mahalin mo ang sarili mo. Alagaan mo sarili mo.

Go back to the things you enjoy and love so that you won't feel alone. :)

The past days

Family reunions are NEVER simple. While I grew up with my parents and sisters, we are now different people with varying priorities and needs. Sure, the love is there, but so are nerves. For some reason, friction can't be avoided. And the shrieking kids who make mess that would make professional garbage handlers want to quit. There's also space invasion because since some live elsewhere but will stay for the holidays, we have to share rooms, some clothes, stuff, expense, practically everything. I love them, but I have to be honest, they drive me nuts, muttering spiteful words under my breath as I pick up one mess after the other. And by mess I don't mean just the stuff lying on the floor. So it's been a tiring, trying offline four days so far. I hate to say this, but am I glad I have work tomorrow. :)

2 US Navy women share kiss in public for the first time

breaking my blog hiatus to share this very important must-post awesome news. =) whattamerrykissychristmas!

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, kisses her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2011 after Gaeta's ship returned from 80 days at sea. (Brian J. Clark,AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot)

(AP) VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the pier after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, California, descended from the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss in the rain with her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles.

Gaeta, 23, wore her Navy dress uniform while Snell, 22, wore a black leather jacket, scarf and blue jeans. The crowd screamed and waved flags around them.

"It's something new, that's for sure," Gaeta told reporters after the kiss. "It's nice to be able to be myself. It's been a long time coming."

For the historical significance of the kiss, there was little to differentiate it from countless others when a Navy ship pulls into its home port following a deployment. Neither the Navy nor the couple tried to draw attention to what was happening and many onlookers waiting for their loved ones to come off the ship were busy talking among themselves.

David Bauer, the commanding officer of the USS Oak Hill, said that Gaeta and Snell's kiss would largely be a non-event and the crew's reaction upon learning who was selected to have the first kiss was positive.

"It's going to happen and the crew's going to enjoy it. We're going to move on and it won't overshadow the great things that this crew has accomplished over the past three months," Bauer said.

The ship returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story following an 80-day deployment to Central America. The crew of more than 300 participated in exercises involving the militaries of Honduras, Guatemala Colombia and Panama as part of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station 2012.

Both women are Navy fire controlmen, who maintain and operate weapons systems on ships. They met at training school where they were roommates and have been dating for two years, which they said was difficult under "don't ask, don't tell."

"We did have to hide it a lot in the beginning," Snell said. "A lot of people were not always supportive of it in the beginning, but we can finally be honest about who we are in our relationship, so I'm happy."

Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen to kiss first upon a ship's return. Sailors and their loved ones bought $1 raffle tickets for the opportunity.

Gaeta said she bought $50 of tickets, a figure that she said pales in comparison to amounts that some other sailors and their loved ones had bought. The money was used to host a Christmas party for the children of sailors.

Snell said she believes their experience won't be the last one for gays and lesbians in the military.

"I think that it's something that is going to open a lot of doors, for not just our relationship, but all the other gay and lesbian relationships that are in the military now," she said.

Snell is based on the USS Bainbridge, the guided missile destroyer that helped rescue cargo captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009.

source: here

interview:



Aiza Seguerra, bow!

I am an all out fan of Aiza Seguerra. Foremost because of her talent as a singer and also because she's openly gay and still loved by people mainstream. For the first time, she joined a reality show in GMA7, "Protege" as a mentor of non-pro singer. Each mentors were made to search and choose their protege. She found hers in Cagayan de Oro by the name of Krizza Neri, 16 yrs old. For someone who's not into religion, I watched the show religiously. I may miss watching an episode of Amaya, Budoy or Survivor, but not this. And I am so proud to share that Aiza has been proven to be the BEST mentor in the show with how super good Krizza became as a singer. So at the first few elimination nights, i was baffled to my seat why Krizza got into the bottom 2, twice! seeing the unfairness in this and for fear that the text voters must be voice-blind/deaf, Eula Valdez, Bert de Leon (two of the judges) campagined for her because to eliminate her is just not right. they also chastised the people to vote based on talent. 70% of the score comes from the judges and 30% from test votes. I like it that the big chunk of the scoring is from the judge to not sway the scores based on popularity. after that outburst from the judges, Krizza started topping the ranks. whoopee! :) i couldnt be any happier. my world is round again and everything in its right place. Krizza and Aiza are now in the top 3 and finals will be this Sunday at Mall of Asia. Am still begging media friends from GMA7 to score some tickets to watch the finals show. hehe. Exceptionally proud ako at mayabang na the best sila Aiza and Krizza sa contest na to. Biased ba ko, pero feeling ko pag ang work ay from LGBT, ibang level ang honesty and quality ng work. hindi ko na pahahabain to at kanina pa naghahang ang laptop na to, walang pakisama tapos 1hr lang ang lunch break ko.  hay.

Sharing to you the wonderful creation of mentor Aiza Seguerra in the person of Krizza Neri.  =)

Narda

Mash up of If I Cound and Wind Beneath my Wings

Iduyan Mo

hooray for hillary!:)

i love her then, i lover her more now. the impact of her doing this speech is monumental for me. the speech is kinda long, but am glad that it is. because each lgbt issue was discussed thoroughly so that people can better understand. after listening (and crying) to her speech, parang gusto ko na mag-out sa family ko. please watch/read the speech.

WATCH: The Speech You’ve Been Waiting For

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s address before the United Nations in Geneva will be remembered by history, with the Secretary of State unabashedly arguing to the world that LGBT rights are human rights.

Read the Complete Transcript of the Speech, as Provided By the State Department:

SECRETARY CLINTON: Good evening, and let me express my deep honor and pleasure at being here. I want to thank Director General Tokayev and Ms. Wyden along with other ministers, ambassadors, excellencies, and UN partners. This weekend, we will celebrate Human Rights Day, the anniversary of one of the great accomplishments of the last century.

Beginning in 1947, delegates from six continents devoted themselves to drafting a declaration that would enshrine the fundamental rights and freedoms of people everywhere. In the aftermath of World War II, many nations pressed for a statement of this kind to help ensure that we would prevent future atrocities and protect the inherent humanity and dignity of all people. And so the delegates went to work. They discussed, they wrote, they revisited, revised, rewrote, for thousands of hours. And they incorporated suggestions and revisions from governments, organizations, and individuals around the world.

At three o’clock in the morning on December 10th, 1948, after nearly two years of drafting and one last long night of debate, the president of the UN General Assembly called for a vote on the final text. Forty-eight nations voted in favor; eight abstained; none dissented. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. It proclaims a simple, powerful idea: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And with the declaration, it was made clear that rights are not conferred by government; they are the birthright of all people. It does not matter what country we live in, who our leaders are, or even who we are. Because we are human, we therefore have rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them.

In the 63 years since the declaration was adopted, many nations have made great progress in making human rights a human reality. Step by step, barriers that once prevented people from enjoying the full measure of liberty, the full experience of dignity, and the full benefits of humanity have fallen away. In many places, racist laws have been repealed, legal and social practices that relegated women to second-class status have been abolished, the ability of religious minorities to practice their faith freely has been secured.


(RELATED: What This All Could Mean to LGBT Rights)

In most cases, this progress was not easily won. People fought and organized and campaigned in public squares and private spaces to change not only laws, but hearts and minds. And thanks to that work of generations, for millions of individuals whose lives were once narrowed by injustice, they are now able to live more freely and to participate more fully in the political, economic, and social lives of their communities.

Now, there is still, as you all know, much more to be done to secure that commitment, that reality, and progress for all people. Today, I want to talk about the work we have left to do to protect one group of people whose human rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways, they are an invisible minority. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many are treated with contempt and violence by their fellow citizens while authorities empowered to protect them look the other way or, too often, even join in the abuse. They are denied opportunities to work and learn, driven from their homes and countries, and forced to suppress or deny who they are to protect themselves from harm.

I am talking about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, human beings born free and given bestowed equality and dignity, who have a right to claim that, which is now one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time. I speak about this subject knowing that my own country’s record on human rights for gay people is far from perfect. Until 2003, it was still a crime in parts of our country. Many LGBT Americans have endured violence and harassment in their own lives, and for some, including many young people, bullying and exclusion are daily experiences. So we, like all nations, have more work to do to protect human rights at home.

Now, raising this issue, I know, is sensitive for many people and that the obstacles standing in the way of protecting the human rights of LGBT people rest on deeply held personal, political, cultural, and religious beliefs. So I come here before you with respect, understanding, and humility. Even though progress on this front is not easy, we cannot delay acting. So in that spirit, I want to talk about the difficult and important issues we must address together to reach a global consensus that recognizes the human rights of LGBT citizens everywhere.

The first issue goes to the heart of the matter. Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct; but, in fact, they are one and the same. Now, of course, 60 years ago, the governments that drafted and passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were not thinking about how it applied to the LGBT community. They also weren’t thinking about how it applied to indigenous people or children or people with disabilities or other marginalized groups. Yet in the past 60 years, we have come to recognize that members of these groups are entitled to the full measure of dignity and rights, because, like all people, they share a common humanity.

This recognition did not occur all at once. It evolved over time. And as it did, we understood that we were honoring rights that people always had, rather than creating new or special rights for them. Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.
(RELATED: Read The Advocate’s Cover Story Interview With Secretary Clinton from Earlier This Year)

It is violation of human rights when people are beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation, or because they do not conform to cultural norms about how men and women should look or behave. It is a violation of human rights when governments declare it illegal to be gay, or allow those who harm gay people to go unpunished. It is a violation of human rights when lesbian or transgendered women are subjected to so-called corrective rape, or forcibly subjected to hormone treatments, or when people are murdered after public calls for violence toward gays, or when they are forced to flee their nations and seek asylum in other lands to save their lives. And it is a violation of human rights when life-saving care is withheld from people because they are gay, or equal access to justice is denied to people because they are gay, or public spaces are out of bounds to people because they are gay. No matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we are, we are all equally entitled to our human rights and dignity.

The second issue is a question of whether homosexuality arises from a particular part of the world. Some seem to believe it is a Western phenomenon, and therefore people outside the West have grounds to reject it. Well, in reality, gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world. They are all ages, all races, all faiths; they are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes; and whether we know it, or whether we acknowledge it, they are our family, our friends, and our neighbors.

Being gay is not a Western invention; it is a human reality. And protecting the human rights of all people, gay or straight, is not something that only Western governments do. South Africa’s constitution, written in the aftermath of Apartheid, protects the equality of all citizens, including gay people. In Colombia and Argentina, the rights of gays are also legally protected. In Nepal, the supreme court has ruled that equal rights apply to LGBT citizens. The Government of Mongolia has committed to pursue new legislation that will tackle anti-gay discrimination.

Now, some worry that protecting the human rights of the LGBT community is a luxury that only wealthy nations can afford. But in fact, in all countries, there are costs to not protecting these rights, in both gay and straight lives lost to disease and violence, and the silencing of voices and views that would strengthen communities, in ideas never pursued by entrepreneurs who happen to be gay. Costs are incurred whenever any group is treated as lesser or the other, whether they are women, racial, or religious minorities, or the LGBT. Former President Mogae of Botswana pointed out recently that for as long as LGBT people are kept in the shadows, there cannot be an effective public health program to tackle HIV and AIDS. Well, that holds true for other challenges as well.
(RELATED: Inside Secretary Clinton’s Pre-UN Address Meeting with LGBT Advocates)

The third, and perhaps most challenging, issue arises when people cite religious or cultural values as a reason to violate or not to protect the human rights of LGBT citizens. This is not unlike the justification offered for violent practices towards women like honor killings, widow burning, or female genital mutilation. Some people still defend those practices as part of a cultural tradition. But violence toward women isn’t cultural; it’s criminal. Likewise with slavery, what was once justified as sanctioned by God is now properly reviled as an unconscionable violation of human rights.

In each of these cases, we came to learn that no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us. And this holds true for inflicting violence on LGBT people, criminalizing their status or behavior, expelling them from their families and communities, or tacitly or explicitly accepting their killing.

Of course, it bears noting that rarely are cultural and religious traditions and teachings actually in conflict with the protection of human rights. Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source. For many of us, religious belief and practice is a vital source of meaning and identity, and fundamental to who we are as people. And likewise, for most of us, the bonds of love and family that we forge are also vital sources of meaning and identity. And caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human. It is because the human experience is universal that human rights are universal and cut across all religions and cultures.

The fourth issue is what history teaches us about how we make progress towards rights for all. Progress starts with honest discussion. Now, there are some who say and believe that all gay people are pedophiles, that homosexuality is a disease that can be caught or cured, or that gays recruit others to become gay. Well, these notions are simply not true. They are also unlikely to disappear if those who promote or accept them are dismissed out of hand rather than invited to share their fears and concerns. No one has ever abandoned a belief because he was forced to do so.
(RELATED: Speech Gets Negative Reaction Among Some World Ambassadors)

Universal human rights include freedom of expression and freedom of belief, even if our words or beliefs denigrate the humanity of others. Yet, while we are each free to believe whatever we choose, we cannot do whatever we choose, not in a world where we protect the human rights of all.

Reaching understanding of these issues takes more than speech. It does take a conversation. In fact, it takes a constellation of conversations in places big and small. And it takes a willingness to see stark differences in belief as a reason to begin the conversation, not to avoid it.

But progress comes from changes in laws. In many places, including my own country, legal protections have preceded, not followed, broader recognition of rights. Laws have a teaching effect. Laws that discriminate validate other kinds of discrimination. Laws that require equal protections reinforce the moral imperative of equality. And practically speaking, it is often the case that laws must change before fears about change dissipate.

Many in my country thought that President Truman was making a grave error when he ordered the racial desegregation of our military. They argued that it would undermine unit cohesion. And it wasn’t until he went ahead and did it that we saw how it strengthened our social fabric in ways even the supporters of the policy could not foresee. Likewise, some worried in my country that the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would have a negative effect on our armed forces. Now, the Marine Corps Commandant, who was one of the strongest voices against the repeal, says that his concerns were unfounded and that the Marines have embraced the change.
(RELATED: Perry, Santorum Denounce Call for Global Gay Rights)

Finally, progress comes from being willing to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. We need to ask ourselves, “How would it feel if it were a crime to love the person I love? How would it feel to be discriminated against for something about myself that I cannot change?” This challenge applies to all of us as we reflect upon deeply held beliefs, as we work to embrace tolerance and respect for the dignity of all persons, and as we engage humbly with those with whom we disagree in the hope of creating greater understanding.

A fifth and final question is how we do our part to bring the world to embrace human rights for all people including LGBT people. Yes, LGBT people must help lead this effort, as so many of you are. Their knowledge and experiences are invaluable and their courage inspirational. We know the names of brave LGBT activists who have literally given their lives for this cause, and there are many more whose names we will never know. But often those who are denied rights are least empowered to bring about the changes they seek. Acting alone, minorities can never achieve the majorities necessary for political change.

So when any part of humanity is sidelined, the rest of us cannot sit on the sidelines. Every time a barrier to progress has fallen, it has taken a cooperative effort from those on both sides of the barrier. In the fight for women’s rights, the support of men remains crucial. The fight for racial equality has relied on contributions from people of all races. Combating Islamaphobia or anti-Semitism is a task for people of all faiths. And the same is true with this struggle for equality.

Conversely, when we see denials and abuses of human rights and fail to act, that sends the message to those deniers and abusers that they won’t suffer any consequences for their actions, and so they carry on. But when we do act, we send a powerful moral message. Right here in Geneva, the international community acted this year to strengthen a global consensus around the human rights of LGBT people. At the Human Rights Council in March, 85 countries from all regions supported a statement calling for an end to criminalization and violence against people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

At the following session of the Council in June, South Africa took the lead on a resolution about violence against LGBT people. The delegation from South Africa spoke eloquently about their own experience and struggle for human equality and its indivisibility. When the measure passed, it became the first-ever UN resolution recognizing the human rights of gay people worldwide. In the Organization of American States this year, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights created a unit on the rights of LGBT people, a step toward what we hope will be the creation of a special rapporteur.

Now, we must go further and work here and in every region of the world to galvanize more support for the human rights of the LGBT community. To the leaders of those countries where people are jailed, beaten, or executed for being gay, I ask you to consider this: Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for. It means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same. It also means ensuring that all citizens are treated as equals under your laws, because let me be clear – I am not saying that gay people can’t or don’t commit crimes. They can and they do, just like straight people. And when they do, they should be held accountable, but it should never be a crime to be gay.

And to people of all nations, I say supporting human rights is your responsibility too. The lives of gay people are shaped not only by laws, but by the treatment they receive every day from their families, from their neighbors. Eleanor Roosevelt, who did so much to advance human rights worldwide, said that these rights begin in the small places close to home – the streets where people live, the schools they attend, the factories, farms, and offices where they work. These places are your domain. The actions you take, the ideals that you advocate, can determine whether human rights flourish where you are.

And finally, to LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the American people.

The Obama Administration defends the human rights of LGBT people as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. In our embassies, our diplomats are raising concerns about specific cases and laws, and working with a range of partners to strengthen human rights protections for all. In Washington, we have created a task force at the State Department to support and coordinate this work. And in the coming months, we will provide every embassy with a toolkit to help improve their efforts. And we have created a program that offers emergency support to defenders of human rights for LGBT people.

This morning, back in Washington, President Obama put into place the first U.S. Government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad. Building on efforts already underway at the State Department and across the government, the President has directed all U.S. Government agencies engaged overseas to combat the criminalization of LGBT status and conduct, to enhance efforts to protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, to ensure that our foreign assistance promotes the protection of LGBT rights, to enlist international organizations in the fight against discrimination, and to respond swiftly to abuses against LGBT persons.

I am also pleased to announce that we are launching a new Global Equality Fund that will support the work of civil society organizations working on these issues around the world. This fund will help them record facts so they can target their advocacy, learn how to use the law as a tool, manage their budgets, train their staffs, and forge partnerships with women’s organizations and other human rights groups. We have committed more than $3 million to start this fund, and we have hope that others will join us in supporting it.

The women and men who advocate for human rights for the LGBT community in hostile places, some of whom are here today with us, are brave and dedicated, and deserve all the help we can give them. We know the road ahead will not be easy. A great deal of work lies before us. But many of us have seen firsthand how quickly change can come. In our lifetimes, attitudes toward gay people in many places have been transformed. Many people, including myself, have experienced a deepening of our own convictions on this topic over the years, as we have devoted more thought to it, engaged in dialogues and debates, and established personal and professional relationships with people who are gay.

This evolution is evident in many places. To highlight one example, the Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexuality in India two years ago, writing, and I quote, “If there is one tenet that can be said to be an underlying theme of the Indian constitution, it is inclusiveness.” There is little doubt in my mind that support for LGBT human rights will continue to climb. Because for many young people, this is simple: All people deserve to be treated with dignity and have their human rights respected, no matter who they are or whom they love.

There is a phrase that people in the United States invoke when urging others to support human rights: “Be on the right side of history.” The story of the United States is the story of a nation that has repeatedly grappled with intolerance and inequality. We fought a brutal civil war over slavery. People from coast to coast joined in campaigns to recognize the rights of women, indigenous peoples, racial minorities, children, people with disabilities, immigrants, workers, and on and on. And the march toward equality and justice has continued. Those who advocate for expanding the circle of human rights were and are on the right side of history, and history honors them. Those who tried to constrict human rights were wrong, and history reflects that as well.

I know that the thoughts I’ve shared today involve questions on which opinions are still evolving. As it has happened so many times before, opinion will converge once again with the truth, the immutable truth, that all persons are created free and equal in dignity and rights. We are called once more to make real the words of the Universal Declaration. Let us answer that call. Let us be on the right side of history, for our people, our nations, and future generations, whose lives will be shaped by the work we do today. I come before you with great hope and confidence that no matter how long the road ahead, we will travel it successfully together. Thank you very much.

(The Short Version: 8 Must-Read Moments of Hillary Clinton’s Speech)

ang kwento ng dalandan

i often ask myself to a point that i even asked god, why is it so hard? it makes me feel maybe that god has such high confidence in my ability to cope that s/he made my life so challenging (to be politically correct about it). but truth be told, i suffer a lot, inwardly. i just bounce back quick.

i am not tough by choice. i am tough because my survival depends on it. to be weak is an indulgence i can't afford yet. sometimes this toughness scares me because it borders indifference.i don't want to be unfeeling. i want  to be involved in the affairs of people, i want to help, i want to share. i want to be less calculated. i want to take risks. i want to care. i want to love. i want to burst. 

i've been hurt so many times, that i'm more careful now. i say that not as a good thing because i feel encaged by the lessons learned. i don't feel carefree anymore.

iDon't vs iWant
mahilig naman ako mag-isip so i sort of analyzed my misery. i mostly feel miserable because i don't get what i want. the things i wanted to achieve, acquire, be. you know those things you said  you'll achieve at a certain point in your life but haven't yet. aggravated by the fact that based on fb updates, your friends/contemporaries have successfully achieved/gotten the things you aimed for for yourself. left out. left behind. that sucks putsa!

but i realized (just now), that that is linear thinking. plans change or there are sub-branches to those plans. and there are various dimensions to the things we want to achieve. like i may have not gotten to post-grad yet, but i do have an international certification in my field. i may have not have traveled overseas often yet, but i was able to explore the journey of the many women i've met here. i may not be financially rich yet, but man, i am so rich with experience and stories to share. on that alone, i can already burst. :)  and who says i can't get the things i wanted? i still can. the question is, are those still the same things i want now? ahh, i love introspection. =)

i find it that it is so instant to feel dissatisfaction, to feel unhappy, to feel incomplete or lacking. why is that? why are we wired that way? bakit mahirap maging masaya at mas madaling malungkot? *e kasi tatlong daan tayong inoppress ng mga kastila. sisihin talaga ang kasaysayan e, hehe* 

ako kasi i often compare myself to others which is mainly the source of my insecurity. having lived a life of deficiency, i've developed this inggit (for lack of a better term). but that is a self-defeating battle i can never win. EVER. which i realized too late. andami munang luha ang umagos, bumaha. at sangkatutak na suntok, bugbog sa sarili ang kadramahang naganap before i realized this. we ALL lead/live UNIQUE lives. you cannot compare an apple to a dalandan. they grow from different soil, with different genetic make up, with different season exposure, with different pests/parasites to fight against and different encounters. the differences are endless sa totoo lang. so it is indeed pointless and simply wrong to compare. i know, easier said than done. but am telling you now it's not worth kicking yourself over nor does anyone deserve the agony of belittling oneself.

there is always something to admire about ourselves, something to be thankful for, something to be proud of, something to love, something to be happy about. so smile, because i love your uniqueness.

to forgive is to be free. forgive yourself first. and then be involved in the affairs of people, help, share, be less calculated, take risks. care. love. and burst if you must. =)

proud moment

Kids are All Right-FOR REAL! gusto ko na rin mag-asawa! hahahaha.legit or not, i will continue to love the person, regardless of gender or label. i will love and no law can stop me from doing that. but would really be grand if the people who matter to me like family and friends will also share in that happiness.

thank you for all the Zachs in the world who show strength and pride for the sake of people like me who aren't as out there. i will march as my once a year public way of showing how happy and proud i am that i love women. =) cheers to us! :)

2011 Pride March Reminders

I either wear mask or huge sun glasses. and i love dressing up based on theme. but for, Saturday, am on panic mode already. hehe. so many ideas, so little time. i wanted to wear a tiara, tutu skirt, statement shirt, wear colorful wig, leggings/tights with fancy design, necktie or bow tie. i also bought rainbow skin chalk for additional ek-ek.ektayted na ko! :) so far, six friends from this blog said they'll join me. am floored already with that. 'hope more will join.=)

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Dear LGBT groups/individuals and supporters,

We thank you for expressing your support for the 2011 LGBT Pride March.

To help you or your organizations gear up for the march, here is a check-list of reminders and things to do:

For Individuals who have registered on-line:

•       Please arrive early and approach the registration booth. Assembly time starts at 1:00 p.m. (1300 hrs.) at Remedios Circle and the parade will start at 4:00pm

•       Bring your fanciest costume or a mask in case you are not yet out.

•       Do not bring, use or display firearms, explosive devices and other dangerous weapons.

•       You will march together with the wonderful Task Force Pride Philippines team.

Other Matters:

•       We discourage physical and verbal assault against our Anti-Gay Protestors.

•       We remind the participants that the Pride March is a public event and there will be children who will be watching.

•       The organizing committee shall be ensuring that there will be responsible media coverage during the event.

Map and Route of the Pride March

Attached with this email is the parade route.

1. Starting Point and Assembly Area will be at Remedios Circle

2. Remedios Street

3. Right to Roxas Blvd.

4. Right to Pedro Gil

5. Right to Jorge Bocobo
6. Back to Remedios Circle

7. End Point will be Orosa-Nakpil Streets where the stage is located

 

Contact Information

If you have further queries feel free to contact Raffy Aquino, Co-coordinator for Membership and Participation at taskforcepride@gmail.com / 09163089903 (Globe), 09333049795 (Sun) or visit www.taskforcepride.blogspot.com

See you at the parade!

Yours truly,

Task Force Pride Philippines

 

 

FULL SET of REMINDERS, click HERE

last year's pride march

what is love?

this is.

and it's not just simple love, it's proud love!

join, support, cheer & be amazed at how wonderful the women are.

feel the love. feel the pride. =)