Quenching Adelaide's Thirst

It has been ages and I have not written anything here. There are some developments in my life here that I cannot share publicly yet. There is one thing that I can say--things are going well but they are super slow.

One good thing that is happening here is the rain. South Australia is one big desert area so every bit of moisture is appreciated here. It drizzles and strangers tell me that it is a great day. There is half an inch of floodwater on the road, Steven gets a hard on.

In the past few days, it has been raining and raining. The plants are swaying and our windows are rattling. We cannot do much--Steven is with his choo choo trains and I am with my boring books.

Sedan Hills

On our way to Swan Reach, Steven and I drove some beautiful hills. I know the appearance of these hills are no longer natural because they are all cleared down. There should be more trees in this area.

I was tempted to climb to the top and let my body roll down the hill. But I was not that stupid. Besides, I might hit my head on a rock or get bitten by a snake.

All of my friends know that I love empty spaces and that is why I moved here.

Black Saturday Fishing

It was Black Saturday and Steven's brother invited us to go fishing along the Murray River in Swan Reach.

I had not gone fishing since I was 8 years old and that was when my father let me use his bamboo fishing pole. Last weekend, Steven loaned me his mum's fishing pole made of steel and rubber. His brother bought a couple of tubs of worms.

We did not get any fish although some of the local insects got to us. We hope to return when the river water is a bit higher.

Playing with the Light and Dark

It was the Good Friday night and the night was really really cold. It was around 10 degrees Celsius (12 degrees Fahrenheit) and Steven and I went to the look out on Mengler's Hill.

The moon was too bright to take dramatic photos of the stars so we decided to play with the torch on my mobile phone. Thus I made my very first attempt in light painting.

Poor Steven--he was wearing only a simple shirt while I was comfortably pushing the shutter button in my warm jacket.

Karoonda Farm Fair 2009

There are so many things right now that I do not expect that I will experience. I am not talking about my career direction. I am talking about my exposure to Australian country life. I am a true blue city mouse and everything changed when I shacked with a true blue country mouse.

Anyway, there was the Karoonda Farm Fair 3-4 April. I really did not expect anything but to see tractors and sheep. Well, I did see tons of them but I did not expect that there would be different kinds. I thought the only varieties of sheep were the black ones and the white ones. I did not know that even the white ones have different breeds. I was able to pat the rams but the ewes probably sensed that I love slapping them on the barby.

I was amazed to watch some sheepdog demonstrations. Those dogs must be very intelligent to be able to execute some very complicated herding techniques. I thought it was just barking and running around. Being a sheepdog involves calculations, agility and obedience.

I was also introduced to a platform where cars board on. Then, these huge planks of wood take the cars to the other side of the river.

Finally, I witnessed a real sheep-shearing competition. I have to inform all of my men-crazed readers--it is not as sexy as we thought. Most sheep-shearers are not muscular and handsome lads. Many of them are overweight and very unkempt. I should have let my fantasies come untouched. What a disappointment!

I hope you enjoy the videos and photos.

Got My TESOL Certificate

Finally, something interesting happened in my life. After months of taking online classes and spending lots of money, I finally achieved something on paper.

Yes, I already received my certificate IV in TESOL from the mail. Thanks, Chris W, for receiving the mail for me.

I wonder if prospective employers will be more interested now with this certificate in my hands.

Loving Adelaide Trains

I used to live in Manila and Bangkok--big cities with really bad traffic. It is undeniable that both of them have comprehensive and wide public transport systems. They have buses, trains, and the local tuktuks and jeepneys and many others.

I live in Adelaide now where the population is only a teeny weeny fraction of what Bangkok and Manila have. That means there is not a huge "market" here for a public transport system that is as big as the two cities I mentioned previously.

Unfortunately, I do not know how to drive.

I depend a lot on my partner to take me to places where I need to go but he has a full-time job. And I am a full-time student so I need to leave our unit almost everyday.

During the first few months, I had been taking buses. They are fucking slow and almost always late. Sometimes, they are 10 minutes late. Sometimes, the bus I am waiting for do not come at all.

A week ago, I made a new discovery: the Adelaide trains. They are on time and if they are late, it is only for 2 minutes. The closest (Alberton) station is an 8-minute walk from our unit. It is the same distance between my old Thai apartment and the Chong Nonsi station in Bangkok.

Plus traffic won't be a problem and I can read better because it is really smooth. I just wish that the crowds in Adelaide trains were as tight as the ones in Manila.

The Bubble (movie)

I was with my Israeli friend Rotem the first time I watched this one. She bought a pirated DVD in Israel and we played it in Bangkok. It did not have any subtitles so she had to translate it to English for me. Unfortunately, some of the lines are in Arabic so both of us did not understand some parts of the movie. This is why this is my first to watch the movie while understanding it entirely. Thank you SBS!

"Bubble" is a love story that happened at the wrong time, at the wrong place with the wrong pair. It is set in Palestine and Israel where a group of young people are trying to make a change. I hate to spoil the fun but it really does not present anything positive. It is an extremely sad story and there is only one thing positive about it and it is the love that the characters have for one another.

The plot is really really good and it is intertwined with another movie/play I like--"Bent". That other piece is used skillfully in the movie. The actors are also superb, especially Yousef 'Joe' Sweid as Ashraf . He is just extremely believable.

Many of the concepts in the movie is hard to comprehend for people who do not know the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For anyone who wants to watch it, they have to do some research on the tension there.

This movie is memorable because it does not make anything simple. Every relationship that the characters have is complicated. It will not sugar coat. It will not make life appear easy. It is just real.

The Boyet Fajardo Scandal

I know that there has been tons of blog entries on this matter but I want to have my own say. Besides, I have a different "viewership" from those other blogs.

These are the events so far (please click the blue text to take you to other websites/blogs):

13 March 2009- Boyet Fajardo went to Duty Free shop in Manila to buy some chocolates. He did not sign his credit card so he was asked by the cashier to show another ID card with a signature and picture on it. He was able to produce some identification but all of them do not have signatures.

Boyet Fajardo claimed that he is a popular person and the people at the shop are worthless. He cussed at them and asked them to either kneel in front of him or let him slap them on their faces. The cashier chose to kneel in front of him as Boyet still cussed at him.

14 March 2009- a blog site was opened revealing the details of that infamous Friday the 13th scandal. Since then, thousands of bloggers and blog-followers have expressed their disgust on what happened and called for a boycott of Fajardo's products.

19 March 2009- another blog published the video of the incident which was caught on CCTV. Since then, other blog writers have picked up the story and spread the word. Boyet Fajardo's website was down for a few days and I think it is because somebody hacked it.

24 March 2009- Fajardo's spokesperson said that his client is apologising for what happened. It was only a creative outburst More people got angrier because of this statement.

The Duty Free Employees' Union's president told the media that they are going to lodge a complaint against the 28-year old designer at the Commission of Human Rights.

That night, Fajardo appeared on the news in tears and apologised to the cashier whose name he could not say right. And so the story goes on...

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So what can we learn from this story? Simple--leave your S&M fantasies in the bedroom.

Studying Hard

Again, I do not know what to write about. Steven and I have been spending most of our time in our unit.

I have been studying really hard. I have been working on my papers in advance so that they won't be a problem when I get a job.

It seems I cannot be a check out chick here. Big supermarkets prefer teenagers because they are cheap and they do not complain much.

I wish I could say something brilliant right now.

Grape-picking in Barossa Valley

It is a tradition in my partner's family to pick grapes every year. At the end of summer, they all go to Barossa Valley together with some mates.

Steven and I have been talking about this for several months and finally, this weekend, we were able to do it. Armed with long pants, a hat, a bucket and a pair of snips, we marched towards rows and rows of red grapevines.

The weather conditions have been favourable so several rows had very heavy yield of fruits. They were sweet and dark. The leaves were thick and the branches gnarly. Unfortunately, the snips were extremely sharp.

I cut my finger after losing my concentration for just a fraction of a second. I had to keep it quiet to protect my pride. I promised Steven that I wouldn't cut myself but he came to my rescue. He dressed my superficial wounds for me.

It rained and the sun shone on our backs. The wind picked up the dry clay while the dogs (and a kitten that behaves like a dog) tried to distract us. It is hard work but somehow the repetition and muscle ache relaxed my mind.

I read somewhere that when you work in a chocolate factory, you will hate the product eventually. But I still love grapes.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I should be spending more time reading articles and journals for my university studies. Instead, I have been reading "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at home, on the bus, at the bus stop, and in the library.

I know that it is very far from being the greatest literature in the world. The language used is not ground-breaking. The plot is not immaculate. Plus there are too many characters to keep track of. Sometimes, I do not know what Hermione, Harry and Ron are talking about.

But it is just entertaining. I could not put the book down.

This book is a lot darker than the previous ones and it is also a lot more exciting. There are tons of chase scenes and dramatic scenes. And there will be a lot of deaths...I am sad to read that one of my favorite characters passed away.

Many of the questions in the previous books have already been answered and these revelations make many of the minor characters extremely interesting. It will be a great challenge for Alan Rickman to portray a different side of Snape and a more sensitive rendition of Albus Dumbledore from Michael Gambon. Creating some moments for Dobby and Kreacher will be extremely hard for animators as well as they are key characters in this book.

Harry Potter has grown up but I do not expect that Daniel Radcliffe would give a spectacular performance. I am sure he will just be a cardboard like Keanu Reeves---they look the part but cannot act the part.

This will be seen on the big screen in 2011 but it will be divided into two movies. With many subplots, I am sure the movie won't be boring. Harry Potter will indeed be a big cash cow for Warner Brothers. And I won't be surprised if Rowling writes "The House-Elves" in the future.

Philippines ends ban on gays in military

(click here for the original article)

(Manila) The Philippines has become the second country in a week to officially end the ban on gays serving in the military.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said that the decision shows the military has a zero tolerance for discrimination among its ranks. But it also warned that despite allowing gays to serve openly, overt homosexual behavior will still not be tolerated.

“Once inside the organization, they have to live by a code of ethics and they have to observe decorum if they want to remain as members of the Armed Forces,” military spokesperson Ernesto Torres told The Manila Times.

To mark the change the military this week began a recruiting drive in the LGBT community.
On Monday, Argentina announced that it had abandoned the gay ban, part of a sweeping military reform act that included the way members of the armed forces are put on trial.

The issue of gays serving opening in the military has roiled the US armed services.

On Monday, legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was filed in the House of Representatives.

While previous attempts to repeal the law were bogged down when Republicans controlled Congress, there is renewed hope the measure will pass the Democratically-controlled Congress.

President Barack Obama has said that he supports repeal of the ban.

Port Vincent in Yorke Peninsula

It was a long weekend so Steven and I planned a few things to do. One of which is a trip to Port Vincent with our friends, Rowie and William.

Steven and I woke up very early to pick up Rowie and William. As expected, the trip started with a lot of blabbering and gossips. We had not been together for quite a while so we updated each other on things that are happening in our lives.

Afterwards, we saw Steven's family in a caravan park. I am still grasping the concept behind this activity: people drive their caravans to a caravan park to be with other people and caravans.

But then the place is magnificent. Port Vincent in Yorke Peninsula is huge. One can see a huge expanse of sand and shallow water. One can literally see that the earth is not flat.

I was told that a person needs only a rake and a bucket to catch some crabs. So Steven and I are planning to go back next year and live on seafood for one week. I am already very excited.

Back to Uni

It was my first day in the University of South Australia. Yes, my dear, I am back in school.

I am currently taking Master of Education with a specialisation in TESOL. I am also taking electives on adult education. Hopefully, this will make me very competitive in the TESOL industry.

I was very surprised when I noticed that all of my classmates are international students and no two students are from the same country. Many of them are also experienced teachers like me. And all of them were dressed nicely so I think I have to leave my muscle shirts at home.

After the class, I went to the library immediately and not really to study but to borrow the last Harry Potter novel. I cannot believe I have access now to English literature again.

I am based in the Magill Campus of UniSA and it is really beautiful. It has a lot of trees and grass to sprawl on. It also has a creek but it is bone dry right now.

The system here is quite different from what I am used to. Hopefully, I will find the time to explain it here.

I'm doing grape!

Steven's family in Nuriootpa have their own grapevines. Some are red grapes and the other ones are white. They are all lovely!

Grapes like these ones are very expensive in the Philippines. I remember my mother giving each of us equal portions of the bunch that she buys from the market.

Now, I can eat them everyday without competing with anyone because I love this fruit more than my husband.

Valentine's Day 2009

I cannot remember having another Valentine's Day date. Maybe, there were others and they were so bad that I cannot remember them anymore.

It was lovely having a picnic with my partner at Apex Park. We played with the ducks, water hens, pigeons, seagulls and other sorts of birds while men walk around probably searching for their own date.

Afterwards, we went to Henley Beach to watch some men go kite-surfing. Then my mother called me just to check how I am doing.

It was a lovely day spending it with a man I love.

Remembering Lawrence King

12 February 2009 marks the first year anniversary of Lawrence King's murder. Larry King was only 15 years old when his 14-year old classmate Brandon McInerney shot him in the head twice.

This happened inside the classroom at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California. It was believed that Larry was openly gay and Brandon allegedly made threats to shoot him.

The hearings are still getting postponed. To read more information about this, please click here.

Changeling (movie)

"Changeling" is about a mother's never-ending love for her son amidst a police scandal. The story is very much relatable and simple but there are lots of subplots that affect Christie Collins' case.

The kids in the movie are very disappointing. Most of them are obviously acting and they did it poorly. I know that their roles are very difficult but child actors have performed well in difficult roles like Kirsten Dunst in "Interview with the Vampire" and Haley Osment in "AI".

Supporting cast are bordering stereotypical like the psychotic serial killer, the Nurse Ratched and the corrupt politician.

But Angelina Jolie is just very good. This is her best performance after "Gia" which was released on HBO several years ago. She is very raw and very convincing.

Production design is superb. My partner Steven was even impressed with the car details (he is a car nut). I am sure this was shot in a huge sound stage.

Makeup design, hair design and costumes worked well. It is not a "Sex and the City" but more natural. I won't be surprised if they used makeup in the 1920s to transform Angelina Jolie.

Angelina's performance is a very good reason to watch this movie. I almost forgot Lara Croft.

Surviving the Heat Wave

A few weeks ago, South Australia suffered because of an intense heat wave. It killed a lot of trees and some elderly people.

The temperature reached 45 degrees Celsius and I have never felt that hot in my life. Unfortunately, we lost power for 17 hours. I was left at home with nothing substantial to eat. I could not open the fridge because I was afraid of spoiling the meat.

I slept on the hard cool floor to keep myself from going insane at night. My partner tried it as well. But the heat was just too much.

Here are some photos that I took while I was starving. I opened a tiny tin of tuna and dissolved a pack of instant soup in hot water from the tap.

Adelaide's National Railway Museum

I am not a big fan of trains because I am also not a big fan of long rides. I think I value my hemorrhoid veins too much.

But many of my friends are into trains and that includes my partner. When Peter visited us a few weeks ago, Steven brought us to Adelaide's Railway Museum.

It is very impressive that such massive machines are well taken care of. I do not think many of them are operational but they all look new. Visitors can even climb some of them and touch the controls. Some have open compartments where people can have a feel what it was like to ride the carriages.

There are lots of recordings and speakers hidden in the machines. There is also a massive miniature set that is very detailed. Visitors are also treated to a miniature train ride around the compound.

By the way, this museum is so close to our flat that I can even take you to it on foot.

Dexter: Mover and Shaker

Thanks to Outrage for writing an article about me. I actually forgot about the interview as I have been busy settling here in Adelaide.

This article shows the movers and shakers in Philippine gay politics. It feels very good to be granted this recognition amidst the stress I have been facing here. It also feels humbling as some of the people here are people I have worked with and looked up to. Pau Fontanos is an alumnus of Babaylan, my very first gay organisation. Fr. Richard Mickley is the founder of a gay support group I used to go to. JM Cobarrubias is a TV personality I loved watching when I was still based in Manila.

Thanks also to Filipino artist Daniel Tayona for accidentally informing me.

Milk (movie)

This movie is enjoying a commercial release in Adelaide. I just gasp everytime the trailer is shown in the gym. Though there are lots of gay men around, bigots also lurk amongst us. I do not know yet if people are actually watching this.

I am very impressed with the research that came with this movie. Gus Van Sant showed real clips of the Stonewall Riot and raids conducted by police officer in the 70s. It also showed video clips of all the characters in the movie.

The production design is excellent. Sometimes, it is hard to distinguish which is a real video clip and which one is re-enacted. The saturation of the colours created a good mood for the main plot.

James Franco is charming and looks good with an Afro. Sean Penn's portrayal terribly reminds of his performance in "I am Sam". Perhaps, he associates "sexual deviance" with intellectual disability.

I am grateful that big-name actors are supporting this movie and that a great director is in it. But I am somehow disappointed that openly-gay actors are not taking the major roles in this movie. Harvey Milk saw coming out as a political statement so why can't it be shown in this movie?

It is very humbling to see how far the gay movement has moved. Unfortunately, there is not much progress in the US, especially after the win of Proposition 8.

This is a helpful tool to educate young minds about equality and human rights. Though it is not an excellent film, I really hope that this will be shown in many schools around the world. I doubt if this will ever be shown in my old Catholic school.

They Eye (DVD)

I was bored and Steven was not around. This DVD was in our shelves so I watched it.

It is absolute crap--I am telling this to you now. The acting was ho-hum. Jessica Alba is beautiful but she is far from being a great actress. Her acting reminds me of Ben Affleck's in "Daredevil". The supporting cast was not that good either.

There was no originality in the special effects and none of them was really scarey. The sound effects and music were totally forgettable.

The special features were really bland. I wonder why they did not mention the original movie.

Do not even waste your time looking at this DVD in the shops.