NO TO PROPOSITION 8

Proposition 8 is a state ballot amendment to the state marriage laws in California, restricting marriage, legal and binding that is, only to heterosexual couples. You may remember these pictures from the sunny state earlier this year: 

…Just a couple of weeks from May 15, 2008 (the day when In re Marriage Cases held “that the that the California legislative and initiative measures limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violate the state constitutional rights of same-sex couples and may not be used to preclude same-sex couples from marrying.”) these are what we’re seeing.

The gay community and the rational thinking straight people who support their fight for same-sex marriage campaigned for the abolishment of the revision in California’s state laws on marriage. You can visit NOonprop8.com if you want to know more about how to support their fight.

As for me sitting in my office post a thousand miles from my gay brothers and sisters in California, my heart fell when Proposition 8 revoked the right to marry in that part of the world. This is not an issue of loving a person of your own gender, this is an issue with getting the same privileges, benefits and security that marriage provides for couples who the LAW deem rightful for the ceremony. I will grow old, settle down, but If there’s no state law (for the Philippines in my case) that will honor gay marriage how will I face issues such as joint health care, social security, right to raise a child. How will I grow as a full individual?

I pay my taxes, I lead my life lawfully and I contribute to my country’s progress. Now, what stops me from getting the same rights and privileges of marriage that my straight couple friends have? Of course you’re gonna point at the man nailed in the cross, you’re gonna point at some holy book. Proponents of Proposition 8 must look deep in their hearts. Are you doing this to really save the sanctity of marriage? Or are y’all just a bunch of homophobics?

I think that books written about moral standards atleast have one instance of the word: EQUALITY in one of its pages. 

My support goes out to the gay Californians who campaign for NOonprop8. 

The California Secretary of State on December 9, 2008 will release the official results of the election.

Kamlon (Tries To) Advise

A friend of mine confessed over Mister Donuts coffee (my friends are getting more poor as I’m writing this) that she’s carrying a supposed no-commitment affair with her office mate. 

Ofcourse I was so floored by all these revelations. 3 separate sexual encounters with an officemate. She’s engaged to be married to a guy who’s working his ass out abroad. She’s got a baby with her fiancee.

I asked her to make sure of 3 things:

1. Don’t get pregnant.
2. Don’t tell anybody anymore about this.
3. Make sure that the limbo guy is not emotionally attached to her.

And the plot thickens…

Crush of the Month : Hugh Jackman

Forget about Brad, Becks, George or Mc Dreamy. This is so long over due, I mean he’s been out there too long not to get noticed by People. Well until NOW! 

People Magazine finally crowns our rough mate, Hugh Jackman (now 40 years old) as The Sexiest Man Alive.

I’ve been fantasizing myself encased in those huge pecs. How his Wolverine sideburns will tickle me but then how can I be sure that it’s not his adamantium claws.

12 years of marriage to Deborra-Lee Furness with two kids is what Hugh considers his greatest achievement. 

In his interview with people, he lets us into some naughty down-under secrets of his. Like Deborra liking the idea of him coming home in different costumes from his countless swahbuckling roles and walking in his home naked (well it stopped years ago when Ava (3 years old) was born).

Hugh will lead role X-Men Origins: Wolverine, early next year.

Grab your copy now!

(more…)

Bangkok Love Story

I’ve heard about it but nothing prepared me for the most tragic gay film I’ve ever seen. Bangkok Love Story. Mek (Rattanaballang Tohssawat) seized (the film’s in Thai language so forgive me if parts of my humble summary raises your brows)  a police officer, Iht (Chaiwat Thongsaeng). The latter has knowledge of the assassination of the “General”. Mek, being  an assassin himself, was asked by the perpetrators to chase Iht and ultimately kill him afterwards. But he disobeyed his bosses when he discovered that not only was Iht innocent he was a good (looking) guy. Mek was shot in his shoulder as he tried to save Iht from his gang. 

Iht took care of badly-hit Mek in a secluded rooftop bunk in downtown Bangkok. The story went on to tell of the harrowing home-life of Mek. His abusive stepfather infected both his brother and mother with AIDS. Mek apparently has no other means of supporting his family financially aside from being a hired killer.

In that little bunk both Mek and Iht found an undeniable bond. Mek tried to shun the feeling he has for Iht in account of what has happened to his family. But as you will learn from this movie - You can deny love but you can’t deny longing. I’m not one for dishing out spoilers. All I can say that this movie is simply beautiful. It will linger on you like Jollibee hamburgers. You may find a buncha cliches here and there but just give the movie a chance to grow on you. 

One weak point of the movie is it tried to discuss alot of issues. Prostitution, poverty, abuse, AIDS, suicide amongst other socio-political issues in very melodramatic lines. The script needed some revisions. Good thing the movie wasn’t all words. The gloomy cinematography and ingenious camera shots saved the film. 

It’s available in youtube. Go watch it. It’s gonna hurt you in the heart a little. You might even say that the movie is just hard on itself. The director and writer admits that it’s a tragedy but get beyond that, or better yet embrace it, only then will the essence of the movie unravel before of you. I cried the hardest in the last scene. Ayan naiiyak na naman ako. WAAAAAAAAAA!

A host of things I picked up from Poj Arnon’s film.

1. AIDS is not always a self-inflicted sickness. I’m happy that the director highlighted this because even to this moment were we boast of the internet, many are still ignorant not only as to how people contract it but also how a PWA (persons with AIDS) must be dealt with humanely. It’s time that the world erase the stigma it has for AIDS and focus more on how spread the knowledge about it.
2. Life is a tragedy. Unless we realize this we will not grow. Personally I thought that the Bangkok Love is not purely fictional certain poignant bits from the film are happening as I’m writing this post to somebody somewhere.
3. I’m happy that this movie highlighted the emotion of the protagonists for each other. Many gay themed films hide in the guise of art and the “indie genre”. Sadly most of them paint a bad image of the gay community with how they develop their story. I believe that a cinephile can see eroticism and passion even if they don’t see a throbbing dick. It’s time that the world see us in a respected light. (With that being said, there’s no frontal nudity in this movie.)
4. If you love someone don’t wait out too long to make it known. 

Winning The Battle

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers who have extended their support and prayers to me. I’ve been battling with hyperthyroidism since February and I’m so happy to tell you that my endocrinologist (Dr. E. Tan of St. Luke’s Medical Center) ordered me to stop my meds for two weeks and subsequently lower the dosage from 20mg (3 times a day) to 5mg/once a day. I’m becoming the hippopotamus that I was again. Challenges like not seeing my jaw line or not being able to button my denims (sometimes I can’t even zip it halfway) pales in comparison to the prospect of getting  a clean bill of health.  So there you go guys, a huge thanks to y’all. 

I hope that my battle with hyperthyroidism could give inspiration to all the other millions who are going through it. There’s always a cure for something. Just be disciplined and don’t lose hope. There were times that I blamed myself. All I wanted was to look thinly fabulous then. So I reckon now that crash diets don’t work (out fine in the end).

I’m now 145 lbs from being a 100-pound skeleton.

Lot’s of love from me to y’all and here’s to healthy living!

BEFORE 

Me with Mama Rene Salud (Filipino Fashion Icon) @ 100 lbs.

NOW