Feeling Guilty Being Safe

I feel very guilty right now. I am quite safe here in Adelaide and I cannot help my family in Pasig, Metro Manila--one of the most devastated cities of typhoon Ondoy or Ketsana in the Philippines.

Flood water was waist-deep inside my family's house. They were able to save most of our electrical appliances but the tuktuk and the tricycle are not working.

Some of my cousins were still perched on roofs yesterday and they are currently asking for clothes and food from friends and family.

My immediate family has electricity and a dial tone but there is no water from the tap. Fortunately, the local government is rationing water to every family but then there are tons of families in my neighborhood.

I just do not feel alright.

Hail in Adelaide

I have experienced one hail storm in the Philippines but the ice particles were too tiny and the ground too warm that it melted too fast. I think it is just amazing to see ice fall from the sky.

Of course, here in South Australia, it is not uncommon to have hailstorm. Here I am taking a video and tasting the hail behind the camera. This was taken at our apartment block. My fingers are frozen!

District 9 (movie)

Back to the squeaking curtains, Steven and I went. I just cannot stop myself from laughing everytime the projectionist adjusts the curtains.

I was blown away by this movie because of the very original concept. It is about a group of aliens that are stranded in Johannesburg and these creatures suffer from ghastly living conditions and prejudice from humans. The reaction of the humans are very realistic and it mirrors what happens to refugees.

The visual and sound effects are very effective in instilling fear and excitement. It can be very violent though but it is not overwhelming.

New talents Neill Blomkamp as the director and Sharlto Copley as the main actor are perfect for the movie. I am certain we are going to hear from this pair again. Kudos to Peter Jackson for discovering Blomkamp and producing this movie. I cannot wait to get a copy of this DVD.

The National Motor Museum and The Toy Factory

I have been spending countless of hours in the library lately as I have to complete tons of essays. Last Sunday, Steven drove me and a couple of our friends to Birdwood.

I won't deny that this getaway is more for Steven and not for me as I am not really interested in cars. We went to the National Motor Museum where a hundred cars are crammed inside a very small facility. It was very hard to appreciate the vehicles as there was no room to move around them.

Afterwards, we went to The Rocking Horse where we saw some animals. The kangaroos looked bored as kids and adults pet and poked them. The birds refused to approach anyone who did not have food with them. The goat ate almost everything I waved in front of its mouth. The cockatoos demanded attention and mumbled when we started walking away.

Jollibeer

I grew up going to Jollibee. My parents used to take me there whenever I get very high grades in school. There were some Sunday mornings we spent having lunch there as well. For many years, it has been the leading fastfood chain in the Philippines.

I downloaded these ads from a Filipino website. Of course, it is only a hoax but it is a very clever and funny one.

Please notice the tagline "Bida Ang Sarap" (Good Taste Takes The Lead Role) changed to a slurred version and the tipsy image of Jollibee himself.

Heteronomativity of the English Language

I saw one ribbed condom dispenser in a male public toilet yesterday and the tag line says "For her pleasure". Someone scribbled a note saying "What about mine?" I do not want to be a vandal but I wanted to write "What makes you think that I am going to use it with a woman?"

Why do people assume that I want to date a woman just because I am a man? I am not a Marlboro Man and yet when I meet new people, they always ask me if I have a girlfriend.

Maybe, they know that I am gay and they are just asking me that question to be polite? Why? Asking someone if one is gay does not mean you are being impolite. What is wrong about assuming that someone is gay?

But then I realized that this is the culture of the language I am using. In English-speaking communities, one has to assume that everyone is straight unless the person in question declares otherwise. It is like assuming that a bus driver is male unless someone says "female bus driver".

This is also why you usually see heterosexual couples hugging and kissing each other in Jetstar TV commercials or Australian straight morning TV hosts talking about their opposite-sex spouses and then the gay TV hosts just keeping their silence. Or how about the commercial with the grain who wants to be a crunchy chip--he has opposite-sex parents! Why can't grains be gay?

I hope that there will come a time when assuming straightness becomes a form of discrimination.

Resigning from LYC-International

This is the first time I am mentioning Long Yang Club on this blog. I have been involved in this organization for about a decade and I am now resigning as the president of the international committee.

I was 22 years old when I put up the Manila chapter. I had some help from many friends and it was a challenge getting it up and running.

The Thailand chapter in Bangkok helped me move there. It was a breeze getting an apartment and securing a job. I was able to have a very comfortable life for 2 1/2 years there.

And then the Adelaide chapter helped me move to my (hopefully) permanent home in South Australia.

There were lots of controversies and some victories. I made so many friends and a few enemies. All of these taught me how to bite my lip when I am about to say something offensive and to be generous with compliments.

This is not the end of my work in the gay community. I am looking for local gay organizations to support and I am sure I am going to face different challenges here in Adelaide.

Dexter's 31

I write this over and over again: I do not like celebrating my birthday because I just do not want to be disappointed.

But then I am always surrounded by people who appreciate who I am. Peter in Canberra and my mother sends me cards every year. Bob Chopp showered me with gifts while I was still living in Bangkok. Other friends sent me various messages online.

I think the period of having low expectations is over. I am practically married so I have to let my partner make me happy.

Steven and I went to the city and had some Asian food. It is the type that you pay some money, get a plate and shovel as much food as you can on your plate. It does not matter that they are all mixed on your plate because you will think that they will be mixed in your tummy anyway. Steven and I like eating this way.

After a heavy meal, we walked around the city.

My life right now is so much simpler but I am really happy. Thanks to all of my friends for bearing with the Scrooge in me.

Corazon Aquino (1933-2009)

My heart is aching right now. I lost someone I am very proud of.

I am a very opinionated person. I started attending rallies when I was very young. Had I gone to school before her reign, I would not be alive right now.

She ushered our country back to democracy. It was an uphill battle for her and her greatest gift to us was hope. After her presidency, I still followed her public appearances and listened to her.

I do not agree with her faith. I do not agree with what she may think of my being gay. I am sure she would not approve of my political inclinations. And yet I can make a political stance and stay alive. She made that possible.

Yesterday, she was buried and I cried for her. I felt like our hope was taken away from us. God, I hope I am wrong.

We will miss you, Tita Cory.

Adelaide National Day for Action for Same-Sex Marriage

Last Saturday (1 August 2009), Steven and I attended a gathering of gays and lesbians at our local parliament to support same sex marriage in Australia. It was a last minute decision because I thought people are not interested here. I almost forgot that South Australia is the country's leader in gay issues.

It was 11 AM and we saw around 200 people at the steps of the parliament house. There were men and women and many of them are young. In fact, I think most of them are even younger than I am. I also saw some kids who are happily enjoying the festive atmosphere.

I was disappointed that we did not see any of our gay friends. Maybe, our friends are not really interested in legal rights of gay couples. Or maybe, they do not see themselves getting married to their partners.

There were three local politicians who joined the event and one of which is a straight married man. For me, it is very strange to see straight men visibly supporting the rights of gay men and women.

Steven and I will definitely get married when given a chance.

Bruno (movie)

Steven and I watched "Borat" a few days before watching this one so that he would have an idea of how far Sacha Baron Cohen would go to make people laugh. But then I was not prepared to what I have seen.

This is not a movie to be seen by anyone who has a shred of conservatism in his blood. It is sexually explicit and very graphic. If you think having sex with a ghost is not possible then you should think again.

Compared to "Borat", "Bruno" does not have a direction. It does not have a clear ending and it seems to go from another stunt to another. But don't get me wrong--"Bruno" is a lot funnier.

Sacha deserves a commendation because he is really convincing as a gay fashionista. He has researched on this character very well. Though his German is not that good, Sacha is really really funny.

Of course, this is still funny on DVD but the energy inside the cinema makes it even funnier. I do not know how Sacha will top this one.

Singapore Airlines (Manila to Adelaide)

The price was really tempting and I thought I would have less quality than Qantas since Qantas is more expensive than Singapore Airlines. But I was dead wrong. Singapore Airlines is much much much better than Qantas.

In my confirmation letter, I was encouraged to check in and print my boarding pass online. I did not have a printer in Manila so I was only able to check in but it was OK. I was given priority at the airport just because I checked in online.

The economy seats were roomier and they were well-maintained. I was lucky to be able to stretch myself as I was a few rows away from other occupied seats. I had cocktails (mixed on the plane) and much wider variety of movies.

Then we landed in Changi Airport. That place is amazing. It is high-tech but it is not in your face. It is big but not excessive. It has trams, automatic water fountains and machines that massage the passengers' legs for free.

After that, I had to board for my flight to Adelaide and Singapore Airlines did not ask me to pick up my luggage and transfer to another terminal (hello Qantas!). To my surprise, I was upgraded to business class!

There is a huge difference between economy and business. I had huge a huge widescreen monitor and seats that go as flat as a bed. The staff are very attentive--I had a problem with my seat and it took them 20 seconds to come to my aid. The food was fantastic--chicken and lamb satay!

Best of all, we arrived earlier than scheduled (hello Qantas!). It is good to have this major airline travelling direct to Adelaide (hello Qantas!)

Missing Steven

My trip to Manila was a physically and emotionally demanding task. I had to fly to Sydney for my connecting flight to Bangkok. In Bangkok, I had to pick up some of my personal things and meet a few friends in just one day. Afterwards, I flew to Manila and run several errands.

I terribly missed Steven. For two weeks, I slept very very little because I kept on thinking about him. I was worried for his safety as we have some security issues in our flat.

I am very dependent on this person and this is something new to me. Steven told me on Skype he had experienced the same things. We are facing a lot of challenges here but I am very happy that we are facing these with each other.

I am so blessed to have this man in my life.

Balut-eating baby can sing karaoke

I know I have been very secretive since I moved to Adelaide but there is good reason. I will tell you more about this in later posts.

Anyway, I was able to visit Manila and be with my family who spoiled me. I asked for seafood and I got a seafood dish a couple of hours after.

But I want to tell you about my niece Danica Mejia. I know I am not an uncle who is slanted because she is my niece but she is a special child. She loves to talk and she cannot keep her mouth shut even for five seconds. She is only 3 years old and yet she can communicate in complete sentences and enunciate every syllable correctly.

Here she is singing karaoke. You have to watch the ending of this one.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I am not a big fan of this series but I am a big fan of comparing books to their movie versions. I read this book three years ago and it was just exciting to read the kids grow up to become wizards and witches with love interests.

I admit that their acting skills have become better, including Daniel Radcliffe's but some are scene-stealers like Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) and Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave). They are just very funny minor characters. I would have liked to see more of Luna Lovegood though but we will see more of her in the next two installments.

Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore is really good especially in the scene where they have to get one horcrux. Alan Rickman's Severus Snape is also very good although there are differences with how he was portrayed on the books. Snape is more cryptic in the books but the movie's Snape gives an idea of what the viewers should expect in the next movie.

The visual effects are superb: the Quidditch matches are well-rendered and look very realistic. The death eaters destroying everything on their path look impressive as well. There is not much action in the latest installment but the next one should be action-packed.

Last Ride (movie)

"Last Ride" stars Matrix villain, Hugo Weaving. It is about a father who tries his best to be the best one that his 10-year old boy can ever have. But was he able to succeed?

Kev has done something very wrong and his son does not know about it. They spend a long time escaping from something that will be revealed in the latter part of the movie. The movie is predictable but how it nears the outcome is gripping.

It must be a terrible shoot for the young actor Tom Russell as it involves a lot of violence and the setting is not exactly friendly. They had to brave the elements in the outback to show the huge gulf between the father and the son.

The behaviour of the child presents many questions--is he really capable of it? Is Kev a really good father?

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (movie)

As a child, I was a big fan of the cartoons. I knew the main characters when they were still all two-dimensional cartoons. My mother could not afford to buy me the original toys but I had a few similar toys. Like any other kid, I wondered what would happen if toys could talk.

But then this latest Transformers franchise crushed every good memory of what I have. The story is—well, I am not sure if there is one. I thought it was going to be about the Autobots leaving earth. Then the Autobots stayed and Shia’s character was having this vibrator-in-my-ass fits which did not really develop into anything.

Shia LeBouf is a good actor but he really cannot save this movie. Megan Fox looks good but that is all. I do not think she will last a long time in this business as she has no talent. There were far too many robots to relate to any of them.

The action sequences were just way too confusing. Sometimes, I do not know which one is a villain and which one is a hero and which one is the human that got crushed. I honestly fell asleep during the desert battle scene. I was desperately waiting for it to end.

I am sure there will be a Transformers 3 but this franchise has already lost its magic.

Samson and Delilah (movie)

Samson & Delilah is a simple-looking love story between two aboriginal teenagers. They are put in very difficult situations with very dramatic twists.

I have been living in South Australia for 8 months but I have not made friends with any aboriginal. Perhaps, it is because I am surrounded by white Australians and the animosity between the two groups is still alive. This movie presents a probably realistic portrayal for what it is like to be un-Westernized amongst the dominant Westerners. It also shows how aboriginal life fits the country and how odd it is to have these Westerners in their country.

The male lead Rowan McNamara has yet to learn more about acting but the story is so good that he can be forgiven. But Marissa Gibson is very powerful and beautiful as the more mature half of the pair. Mitjili Napanangka Gibson as Delilah's nana is endearing and memorable.

The contrast between the big towns and small settlement areas is very stark. But the pair's refuge is not even with their own families but their own world.

Puking On A Date

Steven and I have the same idea of a perfect date--pigging out in a buffet which we did last night. We just love stuffing our mouths and I guess that will give you an idea of how we would look when we get old.

We went to Charlie's Diner and we had some pseudo-Asian food like Hokkien noodles, tempura, spicy beef casserole, prawn crackers, etc. They also have a spread of Western meat dishes like lamb's fry, steaks, and mashed potatoes. There were also some sinful desserts like pavlova and chocolate pudding.

I could barely walk but we were able to leave the restaurant. In the carpark, I told Steven that I was so stuffed that I could throw up. He did not believe until he saw me heaving my stomach on the street. I saw and tasted the last two trips I had.

I am sure people passing by thought that I had too much to drink but I had too much to eat.

By the way, Steven ate twice the amount that I did and yet he was OK.

Petting my food 2

I have been spending more and more time in Nuriootpa. In person, I usually use the word "Nuri" but then I found out that most of the time, people in Adelaide do not know what I am talking about. It is only people from there who call it Nuri.

It is nice to talk to Steven's family and cook for them. They do not have any non-Aussie in their family so they are just delighted to have a taste of Asian cuisine. At the same time, I also get to taste fatty country food.

Here is a new photo of Skippy. You may remember a previous posting of Skippy as a joey (click here). She is grown up now and refuses to be touched except for Steven's aunt. I hate babies when they grow up.