I am for Dick Gordon

In a few weeks, millions of Filipinos will be in the polls to vote for their president. Unfortunately, I will not be part of it as I am not a registered voter at the Philippine Embassy yet. It does not stop me from campaigning for who I think will be the best person to run the country.

Richard "Dick" Gordon became popular when he became the chair person of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. The US Army had just left the base and the whole country doubted that Olongapo City would survive as they were dependent on the money being spent by the US soldiers.

The whole city did not only survive but also prospered. Because of Gordon's determination and charisma, thousands volunteered and cleaned up the whole city. It became a major tourist destination and was able to open the local airport to local and international flights.

I am quite sure that Gordon can infect many Filipinos with his optimism. We can rise from this very difficult situation.

RAW in the Barossa

It was the ANZAC holiday and it was the long weekend. Apart from working on Steven's family's backyard, I had time working on my photography.

I have not shot in RAW for about a year and this season's landscape begged for it.

Victor Harbor Rumbles

Steven and I have noticed that we have more free time now than last year so we have been visiting more and more interesting places. This past weekend, we bought a new GPS and headed for Victor Harbor.

After a couple of hours, we were greeted by a place that has the ambiance of any small city here in South Australia. Victoria Harbor has pubs, hotels, lawn balls and McDonald's.

We spent most of the afternoon trekking Granite Island. It is a tiny island surrounded with very smooth stones carved by wind and colourful moss. Strong waves also helped create the beautiful coast and one can feel the rumbling under the earth.

We will definitely visit Victor Harbor again in the winter and hopefully, I will be able to take photos of penguins and whales.

Gay, Fun and Sober (re-launch)

Two years ago, I was heart-broken and directed that energy on something productive. I put up the blog Gay, Fun and Sober (http://gayfunandsober.blogspot.com/) to show to gay people, especially the young ones, that they can have a full and fun life without the aid of any substances.

I am sad that so many young gay guys are resorting to drugs and alcohol so that they can have a memorable night with friends. Some also take these substances because they think it is going to improve their sex lives.

Once you go down that path, it will be hard to get out of it. And you will lose some of the best guys/girls in the world in that process.

If you agree on everything that I have said here then please talk to me (dexter.mejia@gmail.com). You can write about your favorite gay hot spots, send photos of you and your friends or even share your love story.

This life is so good!

Vote for Ang Ladlad

I posted before that the Philippines' Commission on Election has removed the gay group Ang Ladlad from the Congressional election campaign. Recently, the Supreme Court intervened and Ang Ladlad now occupies number 89 of the ballot.

Here is an excerpt from a newspaper article:

It stressed that Ang Ladlad has satisfied all legal requirements to qualify as a party-list organization under Republic Act 7941 (Party-list System Act), including “proofs of past subordination or discrimination suffered by the group, immutable or distinguishing characteristic, attribute or experience that define them as a discrete group, and present political or economic powerlessness.”

I urge all of my Filipino friends to vote for this party. It does not matter if you are gay or straight. If you love me then please shade number 89 on the ballot. And yes, I am using emotional blackmail.

Priests Are Glorified Paid Pedophiles

Roseanne Barr wrote recently that children should not be allowed to go to church because they are at risk of being molested by priests. In fact, parents should lose custody of their children if they do so.

It sounds extreme but I believe she has a very strong point. Churches do not have any structure that protects children from molestation. Priests are always entrusted with children and people are not allowed to question their authority. To do so is considered criticizing god himself.

Priests who are accused of molesting children are simply assigned to a different location. Just imagine the embarassment and the shame that the victim's family have to experience for the rest of their lives. Imagine also how broken these children will be because they have been taught by the church that the horrible experiences are their fault.

If you are a parent then please do not take your children to church. If you are a parent then please do not enroll your children to a Christian-based school. Please spare them.

Lady Gaga and Dexter on Chat Roulette

I have been hearing about Chat Roulette for months. I ignored this website at first because I thought I had to install a program on my computer. But I saw this video of a guy impersonating Lady Gaga so Steven and I tried it out. Eventually, I realized that I am the only one who is hooked.

You only have to visit the website and the site will ask you to enable your webcam. Click on a button and voila! You do not need to sign up or set up a profile. You do not have to wait for any applet to load. You do not even have to pay for it.

With Chat Roulette, you get to see different people from all over the world. You have to click on a button if you want to see another person but of course, people can do the same thing and it may take some time for you to find someone who wants to talk to you. These people may be people jerking off, hooking up or simply interested in chatting with someone who is on the other side of the world. It is really up to the user how this fun website will serve him/her.

I wonder how I can pry myself from this website.

Great News

I am really blessed. After being granted the partner visa, I received great news on the job front.

In a few weeks, I will start teaching in a government school. It took some time for me to realize that I will be a government worker and I am really proud of that.

My students will be mostly new migrants to Australia. Some will be refugees from war-torn countries. These are people who want to learn English so that they can have independent and productive lives in their new country--my new country as well.

The Importance of Coming Out

Earlier today, Ricky Martin posted a message on his official website. He writes "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man".

I know nobody should be surprised or shocked by this coming out. He has been very popular in the Philippines since his Menudo days. His last visit to Manila confirmed my suspicions as I watched his interviews.

His coming out is important because he gives young gay men someone to look up to--he is a very handsome, successful and caring gay father. I grew up with images of weak, insecure and socially irrelevant gay men on TV and it took me a long time to realize otherwise.

I won't be surprised though if he comes out with a new album soon.

Karoonda Farm Fair 2010

It is a family tradition in the Mayr family to attend the annual Karoonda Farm Fair. This year's event was bigger than last year's. There were more tourists and more exhibitions.

Steven had been wanting to buy his own felt hat. I am afraid that he will be seen in public wearing this hat all the time. He looks handsome with it though.

There were a few strange sights like this dog who was very disproportionate. We bet it is a cross between a border collie and a corgi.

This year's biggest event is the pig race and pig diving. It was not really serious but it was fun. I never thought that my favourite food can be so playful and funny.

South Australia Elections 2010

South Australia held its elections last Saturday so Steven and his parents took me to their polling station in Nuriootpa. I cannot help but notice the differences.

They were able to check their names on the list without showing any ID card. That means a person can vote in behalf of his bedridden relative or friend.

The ballot boxes are made of flimsy carton. No locks. No glass windows. Anyone can just put in a counterfeit ballot and nobody will even know the difference.

During the counting, more than one person can touch the ballots. In fact, I saw around six people touching the ballots in a single polling precinct. It is so easy to slip in a few extra ballots if a candidate told me to do so.

I am not sure why the security in Australian elections is so absent. Maybe, they trust each other? I really doubt that especially with the lies that are told during the campaign period. Can someone explain why it is very easy to cheat here?

In the Philippines, we used to have metal ballot boxes with glass windows and pad locks. Only one or two people are allowed to touch the ballots. ID cards are very important--one cannot vote without it.

The upcoming Philippine election will present the first automated system. There won't be metal ballot boxes but an electronic counting machine that will do its job when the voter feeds the ballot in to it. At the end of the day, the results are sent via GSM.

I am not saying that there is no cheating in the Philippines because it still happens despite the security measures. I will not be even surprised loopholes are found in the present automated system. I am actually doubtful if election is truly democratic.

Maria Cecilia Silva considers compensation after wrongful arrest, detention over 'iced tea' drugs

Click here to read the news article.

I felt very upset the first time I heard this news because this is an incident that is bound to happen because of racial profiling in Australia. Just imagine planning your vacation and then being on a plane for several hours and then being escorted to jail and staying for five days. That will drive anyone insane especially if you cannot talk to your family for that period.

Whenever I go to an Australian airport, I always get checked for drugs and gunpowder. When Steven and I flew to the Philippines, he entered the departure gate smoothly but the security had to pat me down. It is very embarassing.

One may argue that it is because I am a Filipino but no, it actually happens without me showing my passport.

Customs has not yet apologized to Ms. Silva and I believe AUD 5000 is not enough compensation as she has been through a very traumatic experience. I think someone should be punished or held accountable.

Got the visa

I am sharing this very personal information to you because it is something that I have been longing for since I was 18 years old. I have always wanted my relationship to be recognized by a government although I originally wanted it to be the Philippine government. I do not think this can happen in the Philippines in my lifetime anyway.

I am so proud and grateful of my relationship with Steven. He has been very supportive of my dreams and aspirations. He is more than I expected my partner would be. He always amazes me with his kindness, generosity and unconditional love.

Thanks to all the people who have helped me with this application. Some of them do not want to be named so I am not going to name anyone. You know who you are. I am very happy to live in a supportive community although Steven and I practically live like hermits.

Thank you!

Fishing in the Dark

On our first night in Port Vincent, there was a black out. We had nothing to do but fish.

I know it is creepy but this video shows how dark it was. Turn up the volume and you will hear the rushing of water.

Fishing in Yorke Peninsula

We had a long weekend here in South Australia because of the Adelaide Cup. Do not ask me what this holiday is about because I know very little. Steven is just keen on taking me out of Adelaide whenever we have a holiday.

We joined his parents and some of his extended family at Port Vincent and that is located in the Yorke Peninsula. All of them stayed in their own trailers or caravans and these are complete with beds, kitchens and dining tables. Steven's parents provided a tent for us to sleep in. It was my first time in two decades to sleep in a tent and it was actually very comfy.

We were on the beach most of the time. We tried catching good edible fish but we ended up with tons of trumpeters and a few tommy ruffs. I also tried catching a squid but I did not even get a nibble. Just the same I want to do this more often.

Steven and I will definitely come back next year and we will be there for at least a week.

Facing the Problem

My opinion on this matter is heavily influenced by the fact that I am a non-white. I also have some knowledge on the education provided to migrants and refugees--some of which are comprised by South Asians and Indians. I admire that the federal government spends a lot of time and money helping these new arrivals integrate in the mainstream Australian society and many of these programs are really good in addressing their concerns.

So these new migrants are given the tools in this country but the government has not really done anything substantial to teach racial and cultural sensitivity especially among adults. Racial tolerance does not come inherently so it has to be taught. I have met so many Caucasian Australians who are surprised that I can speak the language and more surprised when they discover that I am quite familiar with non-Asian culture.

Soon the Australian government must realize that it needs to educate people who are already here in how to welcome the new migrants. For now, it has to admit that racial intolerance does occur here not as isolated incidents but as a recurring problem. Please open your eyes.

When one finger is not enough

I have posted a video of my niece before she turned 2 and she was eating a duck embryo in there. It has been viewed thousands of times already.

I think she is a very funny girl so my camera was always on her during my Manila visit last December. That is when I took this video.

I sent it to Australia's Funniest Home Videos but they rejected it. I guess it is not funny enough but I hope this will make you smile...or cringe.

Dusty Wine

One day with the hot sun on our backs and hard clay underneath our feet, Steven and I helped out in a relative's vineyard. Our hands were sticky with grape juice and sap from the vines. Our mouths were dry and yet most of us still had the energy to poke fun at each other.

The next day it was a different vineyard with sandy soil and grape bushes instead of vines. The cold wind hugged our bodies and threw away our pails and hats. We were bathing in sand and tumble weeds were dancing all around us. I have never thought grape picking would look so magical.

Later this year, those fruit will turn into wine and probably, next year when we visit Manila again, we will see them sold in SM.

Something's cooking

There is progress on the teaching front. It will still take a while but I am getting there.

I am very thankful that I have very supportive friends and an understanding partner. My networking starts from them and it is up to me to build bridges and make them stronger.

Australian bureaucracy can still be a pain in the ass but I cannot change that. I just have to go with the flow and be patient.

I have a very good feeling that things will improve in a few months but this weekend, Steven and I will go to our annual grape picking. It is going to be a fun way to get to socialize with his extended family. I will pray tonight that it won't be too hot.

This means we will not be able to watch the Sydney Mardi Gras on TV.

(I took the photo of a cactus flower in Nuriootpa that blooms once a year and for only one day.)

Career Limbo

I have been working in a diplomatic office here in Adelaide for quite some time now. I am sure many people would find this job enviable but I never did. Sure it involves some sort of power but it is the sort that does not really make me happy or have any use in my life.

In the meantime, I have been collecting and waiting for documents that will help me register myself as a teacher here. It is taking a long time and involves a lot of money.

This process of settling in Australia is testing my patience. I thought red tape in Thailand and in the Philippines are the worst in the world. I never thought it would be much worse in a rich country like Australia. This teacher's registration involves so many agencies that are very similar to each other--thus, making my recognition as a teacher sooooo much longer.

Sometimes, I feel sad about this because Steven has already made so many sacrifices. I would like to be able to spoil him because he deserves it. I would like to take him out to nice restaurants, go to the movies and buy him model trains.

Fortunately, some of my friends make me realize that I have so many things to be thankful for: I earned a Masters degree in one year, I have made so many connections in the South Australian education field and my former employer (Berlitz-Thailand) is very supportive of my goals.

I know I just have to remain positive. Everything will pay off.