I love the last line.. My name sure is a simple, yet one great treat, itself! Thanks Tatay! hahaha!

~Homeric Hymn to Hera~

Writers represented Hera as constantly being jealous of Zeus's various amorous affairs. She punished her rivals and their children, among both goddesses and mortals, with implacable fury. She placed two serpents in the cradle of Heracles; she had Io guarded by a hundred-eyed giant; she drove the foster-parents of Dionysus mad, and tried to prevent the birth of Apollo and Artemis. Even Zeus usually could not stand up to her. Sometimes when he got angry, he chained her to the mountain of Olympus by fastening anvils to her feet. However, most of the time Zeus resorted to stratagems: he either hid his illegitimate children, or he changed them into animals.

Hera's main sanctuary was at Argos in the Peloponnesus, where she was worshipped as the town goddess. Also, in this town the Heraia, public festivities, were celebrated. Other temples stood in Olympia, Mycene, Sparta, Paestum, Corinth, Tiryns, Perachora, and on the islands of Samos and Delos.

The peacock (the symbol of pride; her wagon was pulled by peacocks) and the cow (she was also known as Bopis, meaning "cow-eyed", which was later translated as "with big eyes") are her sacred animals. The crow and the pomegranate (symbol of marriage) are also dedicated to her. Other attributes include a diadem and a veil. Hera is portrayed as a majestic, solemn woman.

There was this FB post that says, “Changeyour facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday(Dec.6) there should be no human faces on facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is for violence against children”, which prompted me to google the first cartoon character from my childhood that came to mind. It was the Smurfs. Those little blue creatures in white turbans that lived in mushroom-like houses were one of my favorites 25 years ago. I used to watch their show with my cousin, Queenie. However, right after I published my new profile pic, my friend Bechay commented on my profile. She told me she also used to like and watch the Smurfs when she was little. Then she asked me about the other cartoon characters when we were kids. The ones with the rainbow. I asked her if she meant the Care Bears or Rainbow Brite.

Rainbow Brite. She was that little girl in pony tail that wore a rainbow painted dress with big shoes to match. I googled up images of her and what magical feelings they evoked in me. It was great to be reminded of that one thing that made childhood such a wonderful memory.... or so it seemed.

Rainbow Brite reminds me of something that had been kept in the corners of my sub-consciousness for so long. Here is the story.

I was, I think in first grade that time when Rainbow Brite was such a big hit. In school, a lot of kids had Rainbow Brite stationeries and sticker books. One day, a vendor came into class and showed a Rainbow Brite Sticker Book. I couldn’t even remember if that vendor was a he or a she. All I can remember was that ultimate desire to own a booklet, which siege me the whole day. The same ultimate desire that led me to lie to my parents --- an act that is haunting me until this very day.

When I got home, I told Tatay and Nanay that the booklet was a class requirement. It cost around P20.00. And at that time, such amount was hard to earn. I could still remember seeing Tatay ramaged through his pockets for coins and Nanay breaking her piggy bank just to come up with P20.00. The next day, I got my very own Rainbow Brite Sticker Book with some free stickers to start with. I felt so happy. I didn’t even remember caring about the disappointed look at my parents face when they saw what kind of booklet I bought.

But now, 23 years after, I feel this heaviness in my heart just thinking about what I’ve done. I wish I could turn back the time and take back that act. I know I should forgive myself. After all, what can one expect from a 6-year old? Still, I feel guilty. And since I may never get rid of that guilty feeling, I chose to be consoled my this thought:

Rainbow Brite proved me how much my parents were willing to go through just to give me the things that I need. She showed me how much I was being loved. 12.01.2010

I never was a Pacman fanatic—and that, despite being a true-blooded General. I was one of the unpopular few who bet on each of his passed opponents and smirked at his guts when he ran for a mayoral seat in our city. Now, as I watch him on screen, talking about the provincial hospital he plans to put up in the Province of Sarangani, I wonder if I was wrong not to vote for him three years ago. I wonder if Gensan might have been a whole lot different --- and better if it had been him who won.

I must admit that his victory over Antonio Margarito earned my respect and admiration over his skills as a boxer. That last match was the only fight I’ve watched from the very beginning to the last seconds. What’s more surprising was that, it was the only fight that I’ve rooted for him so passionately, I literally felt jitters and held on to my seat at the start of every round. I couldn’t exactly point out what brought about such change of heart. (Maybe it was because I was watching it in the company of non-Pacman fans and their almost scathing remarks on my “kababayan” got through my skin.) My brothers-in law were rooting for Pacman’s lost, claiming that he had finally met his match. I kept telling them that the Pacman couldn’t loose. After all, the whole world is practically praying for his victory (well, save those who were on the Tihuana’s side, my brothers-in law included). And yes, as it turned out, Pacman once again showed everyone he was still a force to reckon with inside the boxing ring. Judging from the way he trained (which was covered and aired several times before the fight), I have expected him to win it. I think those Freddie-Roach-remarks about Manny being distracted and not being at his best during his training were just tactics to deceive the opponent’s camp and to bring the people’s excitement on a higher level.

After the victory, Pacman arrived in the country with a grand welcome. He is now a congressional representative and seeing him in his expensive suit with his all made-up wife, Jinkee at his side, walking down a red carpet amidst flashing cameras and giddy fans, I couldn’t help but think, how in the world was a three-year-older-than-me undergraduate become one of the country’s congressman?! While Manny is rubbing elbows with politicians and famous people, I, who went through college in flying colors, am in the company of debit/credit memos, balancing the day’s transactions—working it out for a bank whose top ranking officials don’t even know I exist. While Manny Pacquiao, a guy who hasn’t even finished secondary school was reading a speech written for him by some unknown person in the congress hall, I, a once-student debater and editor-in-chief of the university’s student publication, am printing the end of day reports. The farthest I could get my articles published is my very own blogsite whose readers is limited to close relatives and friends (even so, they don’t even bother to check for updates until I tell them to do so). While Manny earns millions from endorsements, I have to work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week just to support my daughter’s monthly expense on formula and diapers. Life couldn’t get more ironic than that huh?! But wait!....While Jinkee Pacquiao lavishes on her diamonds and ultra-chic designer clothes, I, a once-beauty pageant finalist, settles down on cheaper online fashion dresses and fancy jewelry. Jinkee now graces magazine covers and huge tarpaulins, while the farthest my pictures get to be in print are our family albums, which are rarely seen and neatly stacked in our cabinets. I can laugh at this irony. But I couldn’t. Realty bites, don’t’ they say so? Come to think of it, I suddenly am beginning to realize that Manny Pacquiao’s unpopularity inside my heart is cause by my own selfish pride and no doubt, envy. I guess that I have viewed Manny (and his whole family) as inferior because of the scarcity of his educational attainment. It was hard for me to accept that “someone” like him could get as far as he has. He doesn’t have the right diction. He couldn’t even come up with a single flawless statement in English. I have always thought that those who are wealthy --- those who get rich and famous should be good in diction and pronunciation. They should be smart and fluent speakers. They shouldn’t be Manny Pacquiao or Jinkee or Dionisia. As I watched Noli De Castro interviewed Manny, a voice inside me taunted, --- “You are damn wrong, baby. Undergrads and non-eloquent people could get rich and famous too. Heck, they could even become politicians… look at that man on TV!”

I am aware that despite Manny’s popularity, there are still so many people, most of them Filipinos, who feel the same way I do. We laugh at Manny’s speech defects and Dionisia’s lack of elegance and grace. But come to think of it, if one just listens to their answers on the questions hurled at them by experienced journalist and showbiz hosts, I say that despite their handicap, the Pacquiaos are at their best – and that is, being just the way they are. No pretenses. No airs. Call me blinded by my newfound empathy towards them, but they are to me, a picture of truth in the midst of fallacies and conspiracies in our politics and show business. I know Manny is being truthful when he said he wanted to help the people in his district. I know he meant it when he said he would offer help to the Filipino athletes. I know he was speaking from his heart when he said he was against the Reproductive Health Bill. Call me mushy but he struck a cord in me when he said he doesn’t want his kids to do boxing, knowing how hard it was for him to get where he is now and knowing that not everyone gets to be as lucky as he is. That was spoken as a father, and though grudgingly, I admit that it made me see him in a whole new light. The Pacman does have a heart… and it beats just like mine. It beats for the common people. It believes in the abilities of every Filipino athlete. It has high regards for what is moral. It loves those who have been there ever since. ----- And all that, even without a college diploma to boast of.

I still have my doubts over Pacman’s ability to get everything he promised done for the people of Sarangani, though. But who knows, maybe one day, I’ll wake up with a whole new perspective on him as a public servant. For the mean time, I will just have to be content that I have finally changed my perspective on him as a boxer… --- and most of all, as a person. 11.26.2010

I’d be honest about it. Becoming a parent is the most sacrificial role God had given me. I’d be a fraud if I’d say it had been all roses and no nails parenting Alee for the last 15 months. And this I feel despite not being able to be with her all 24 hours of the day. It would be pure lie to say that I love every minute of waking up in the wee hours from a deep sleep for her feeding, enjoy every sleepless night each time she has colds, or beam with joy while trying to appease her after the nurse put her on IV during those times she was admitted to the hospital.

I have always pushed away those thoughts that would lead me to think of the good times I've had had before Alee came to my life. But they almost always come creeping up on me on times I least expect them to. For instance, there's this new book shop at the mall and being the bookworm that I am, I took a quick detour on my way to the grocery to get a glimpse of those attractive book covers lining the shelves. I was so overwhelmed to see so many works of my favorite authors that what was originally a quick glimpse became a long read over many book teasers. I spent around an hour and a half going over the shelves. Then I realized I had to move along. The grocery would close in 15 minutes. If I’d been single, I wouldn’t have to rush. I could have stayed on browsing over the shelves, losing myself on those crisp pages, and most of all, buying a book or two. But gone were the days that I could do that. Books have long been stricken off my priority list. Baby formula, diapers, and vaccine shots have replaced them. Oh how I miss those carefree days! This is the most common disadvantage of being a parent. You don’t anymore get to go on a spree on things that you once spend on. After all, there are more important things to buy than the latest Sandra Brown or Judith McNaught novel.

I also don’t get to go on a spontaneous trip like visit Boboy at Davao City on weekends when my romantic spirit strikes, go on a movie marathon with friends, or even do ukay-ukay on days I feel like it. Everything has to be scheduled and planned out, with Alee’s best interest at the forefront. These are probably the same reasons why some married people I know put off having a child for the longest time. They are afraid to let go of the spontaneity that childless couples get to enjoy. Sometimes, I think about the what-ifs. What if Boboy and I also put off having a baby for a little while longer? Like maybe a couple more years? Would it have made a significant difference in our lives?

Okay, back to my story, so I went forth to the grocery and bought Alee’s milk supply for the week only to find out that it cost P15 higher than the week before. With a heavy heart, I trotted off to the counter with the 1.8KG can of milk in tow. For some people who know me, it might come as a surprise that an increase of a few peso would matter. I used to be unwary of such a small amount. But ever since we had Alee, Boboy and I make it a point to be mindful of the things that we spend on. We now compare brands and prices--- even PUV fares! Unlikely, but it’s true. But it’s a welcome change. Alee’s existence in our lives made us realize the value of money and the importance of saving up for the rainy days. These are things I find more essential to life than spontaneity and sprees.

I guess parenting does have its disadvantages and advantages, just like most things in this planet. I am pretty sure that all moms and dads, at some point of their lives, find themselves looking back at those times before their children came along. Those days when the priority list is consisting mostly of things that would satisfy one’s self like shoes, bags, and travels instead of trips to the pediatrician’s clinic and multivitamin drops. I also think most parents, at some point, wish they could spend a day off washing feeding bottles, changing nappies, and picking up the clattered toys in the living room. But it doesn’t really mean these parents are giving up parenting as a whole. Everyone gets tired of playing a role or doing a task --- even those that we love and enjoy. We tend to feel exhausted once and awhile. And that doesn’t leave parenting as an exemption. But take note, being tired of it all is only good for some time. We always get back to doing things that we love---- things that give us fulfillment and great rewards. And parenting is so full of these seemingly small yet so wonderful rewards. When I get home from work, I always look forward to Alee’s smile and the feel of her small arms around my neck. Each time I appear at the door of my parents’ house, the glow in her eyes and her excited squeal never failed to make my heart beat faster with pride and joy. The sight of her takes all the negativity from work away. Each morning I delight at her voice when she wakes up and calls out “Mommy”. As I stare at her when she sleeps and listen to her breathing, I am amazed at this wonderful creation I helped brought out into the world. It’s a big question how God could entrust me with this precious human being. I must be damned not to be grateful. ---- And I must be an alien if I don’t get tired once in awhile. 11.10.2010

Today's lunch break topic shifted to Religion and God's existence. Although I remember Ms. Lace mentioned about Chris being an agnostic, I didn't really expect that he's a hard-core agnostic. But he is and I feel sad about it. He even let out a blasphemous statement and I felt like my heart was struck with a rod. I couldn't help blurting out something like, "I'll really pray for your soul." I realized now it was the worst thing to blurt out.