Finished with Uni

I am finished writing all of my uni essays! I am done! I am done!

Hopefully, I will receive an email in a few weeks saying that I will be able to graduate this December. But then there is a lockdown between the UniSA's management and their labor union. But that is another story.

Anyway, Steven and I was able to go back to Nuri together and it was really exciting. We have not spent the weekend for a very long time. The road to Barossa Valley was long and challenging as the wind was strong and the raindrops big.

I will be able to write entries more regularly now.

Like It Is (play)

"Like It Is" is another multi-media presentation included in Adelaide's Feast Festival. Like "Journeys Made", this is also directed by Daniel Clarke and was staged at the Bakehouse Theatre.

I was shocked when I saw drinks were allowed inside the performance venue. I am not talking about water or softdrinks--I am talking about wine and beer. I did get used to it before the performance started.

As the audience were finding their seats, actors were walking around and taking thumbprints of many people, measuring, and oggling. I was very close to the stage and I was the only Asian there so I was a huge target (and yes, I am getting fat!).

The piece includes video clips of Adelaide people talking about the gay lifestyle, gay marriages, coming out and other aspects of gay life. The six young performers also talked about personal accounts of possibly their lives. Sometimes, it is easy to feel the nerves of the actors but most of the time, they seem to be enjoying it. I expected stronger emotions though but I guess they are just nervous.

The material in general is very entertaining but neither informative nor thought-provoking. One great part of this piece is it is very local. It does not pretend to be universal. It merely depicts the gay life/lives in Adelaide.

Journeys Made

I am so glad that I took a chance to answer an ad a fellow Filipino sent me. A few months ago, an Adelaide-based artist Daniel Clarke was looking for gay migrants to share their stories so that they will be a part of a sound installation piece that he collaborated with Jason Sweeney and Nicola Connor.

Journeys Made is one of the several events featured in Adelaide's Feast Festival. It was started by the parade and a huge picnic will close it.

A week ago, Steven and I went to the first unveiling of the 40-minute piece in Port Adelaide. It was a very beautiful collage of private thoughts from different people and I am sure it will appeal to all gays and lesbians.

Anyway, I won't say more because I am part of it.

Click here for the official Feast website.

Click here for a review.

Adelaide's Pride March 2009 part 2

Adelaide's Pride March 2009

I was not able to attend last year's pride parade but this year, I made sure I was going to be part of it. I took a break from my studies and joined the crowd in Rundle Park with a few friends. Unfortunately, Steven was not there to join the event.

The turn out was humble but it was still fun. Compared to Sydney, most of the participants are sober and more family-oriented. Some brought their dogs. Several families had their kids with them. Some straight people also joined in.

I had to return to the library so I skipped the party but Steven and I will attend the Picnic in the Park.

It was a joyous event so I do not know why I did not see this on the news.

Pacquiao wins another world record

A friend told me about this win last night because I had been busy doing household chores. I was very ecstatic: this Filipino won 7 world titles on 7 weight classes!

I admit that I was doubtful that Manny Pacquiao was going to win because he started a bit late in his training. Perhaps, it was a tactic to think Puerto Rico's Cotto was going to win. Well, that tactic really worked!

Pacquiao's win is all over the news even on mainstream Australian media. I just wish that US and Australian media would pronounce his name right though. It is a world record and I thought that they would spend some time ringing a Filipino for the correct pronunciation.

Anyway, back to Pacquiao--he is reportedly going to fight Floyd Mayweather. Is he good enough to make another world record?

COMELEC: the new Filipino Church

On the 11th November 2009, Commission on Elections rejected the application of Ang Ladlad, a gay political group in the Philippines, for the coming elections due to moral grounds.

This highly respected church in the Philippines is headed by Cardinals Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle, and Elias Yusoph. They also believe that the website www.bible.org is written by God himself and Ang Ladlad does not conform to the teachings of this website.

COMELEC has also said that Ang Ladlad poses a risk to Filipino youth but this should not be considered condemnation of the LGBT community.

Let's just pray that our beloved COMELEC will continue saving the Philippines from all immoral politicians.

Click here to read the newspaper article.

Having a break at Morialta Park part 2

And these are the videos:

Having a break at Morialta Park

It is the middle of spring here in Australia but it has been scorching hot. Steven and I are not complaining though because we love this weather. I feel like I can do more things when there are longer days and I can move about without carrying heavy clothing.

Last Sunday, Steven and I visited Morialta Park and it was our second time. It was so hot that we did not see anyone for most of our walk. We love listening to the water falling from steep cliffs, birds calling each other and tiny lizards running away from us.

On the way, we sat down by a stream and I just enjoyed the water. Steven was a magnet to insects so I took photos of them.

This is a needed break from my studies. I just need to survive this month and I will feel much much better about myself.

Manny Pacquiao On Time Magazine Cover

I am very nervous about his next week's fight with Cotto. He has been too confident lately--training for a shorter period than expected. I just hope he wins this fight or it will be very embarassing for him and the country.

I wonder if there is a way for me to watch this live in South Australia.

Our first

Last year, I moved to Australia and met a wonderful person and we have never been apart ever since. We are so different from each other: he likes cars and I prefer public transportation, he likes to be unnoticed and I love being the center of attention. And yet here we are doing something we enjoy--pigging out!

We spent this special night at Charlie's Diner where we stuffed ourselves to the limit. The last time we were here in July, I threw up in the car park. I have already learned when to stop.

Gym--here we come!