Year Ender: Cool/Sucky/Awesome Stuff That I Got to Do in 2011

Above: Me with RH an environment and environment advocate Grace Bondad Nicolas protesting against Ayala Alabang's Anti-Condom Ordinance.

1. I got into social media activism, to express my naked support for things that I think matter, and rally against some preposterous propositions.




2.I got to teach an international English exam, develop programs for review, and do lots and lots of corporate writing, script writing, event organizing, hosting, and other such activities that I had no idea I was capable of doing!




3. I got published. And I worked my butt off too. I learned a lot from my mentor's brutal edits, obsessively researched facts, and challenged myself to think outside the usual realms of my writing.



Top Panel, from left to right:In various events with notable personalities such as sexual health advocate and writer Ana Santos; tour guide and TV personality Carlos Celdran; former Akbayan representative Risa Hotiveros. Lower Panel, left to right: Various personalities in RH Bill-I Support grand eyeball at The Living Roon; Members and officers of the Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocate in Mulat Pinoy's Beyond Condoms talk featuring Magsaysay Awardee and Thailand's Mr. Condom, Mechai Viravaidya.

4. I got to meet really great people who are inspiring and powerful.


Above (from left to right): Me, with the creators of Naermyth (Karen Francisco), News of the Shaman (Karl de Mesa) and Trese (Budjette Tan) during Visprint's WIT.

5. I got to read some really cool works of fiction and to meet the creators!


My Level 40 Assassin (Diablo 2, Expansion) and a newly-solved Rubik's cube puzzle.

6. I got to play the Rubik’s Cube, Diablo 2 Expansion Pack, and Warcraft 3! Deep gratitude to Julius Magpantay for showing me the many simple happiness of life.



Self explanatory.
7. I got to understand the power of social media first hand…and the responsibility of wielding it (and not to care about whatever bullshit people who don't know any better throw at me ^_~).


But the most important thing I got to do in 2011...is to have spent time with you, yes YOU. Whether or not you take time to peak into my blog (much appreciated if you have), I am extremely grateful to have spent time with you.


Now let's all bid 2011 goodbye, learn from it, love it, let it go.

Happy New Year, y'all!

So, what IS fab about hand-me-downs? (Janina’s awkward and potentially disastrous attempt to write about fashion)

If you’re like me then you probably only have one pair of pants that you actually invested on, and the rest are give-aways from various ninangs, titas and other benefactors. Also, if you’re like me, you’d probably cringe at the thought of spending PHP800 for a piece of clothing from some branded, although not necessarily atrociously expensive, shop.

Confession: I hate shopping for clothes.

Two reasons.

One, because I have no fashion sense, and thus, regardless of the number of zeroes attached to whatever else number of money I spend on clothes, and no matter how much time I spend looking for what I think is the perfect dress, I would still probably end up with weird pieces, like long lacy black skirts, or a statement shirt with comic book characters printed on it.

Two, because I would rather spend money on books, cutesy notebooks, colored pen, acrylic paints, or invest on really great workshops that will significantly increase what’s up in my head and fatten my resume. There are hundreds of other cool stuff I can get with the money I would otherwise spend on just one piece of overly expensive dress, which I can get in Divisoria or Baclaran for half the price.


Above: A dress I got at the mall for eight hundred bucks, and four books I got in a convention for the same price

So, how do I survive if I am a clothes shop-a-phobic?

Well, thanks to my various ninangs, titas and other benefactors, I have yet to show up at work butt-naked.

Brand-whores and mall-obsessed self-proclaimed fashionistas might shudder at the thought of hand-me-downs. Which is why they are missing out on a lot of great opportunities.

Summon the fashion goddess that is your benefactor and be guided accordingly as to what looks great and what looks repulsive.

I am extremely lucky to have benefactors who know what looks good, and would also tell me what looks good on me. It totally solves the problem of my non-existing fashion sense and saves me from committing social suicide by showing up in my frumpy shirt and ye-olde-school baggy pants. Since I am the non-experimenting kind when it comes to clothes, I would often get stuck to colors, styles and cuts that would not change unless some courageous and sensible person tells me that I look like a duck.

Problem: Because of the rules of social propriety, nobody does that to my face.(Although I’m pretty sure the topic comes up a lot when people are lacking topics to make fun of).

Basically, getting hand-me-downs often comes with that all-important lesson on what does not make me look stupid.

If the benefactor is not present, and would prefer just sending a bunch of stuff to my house for me to try on, then summoning the fashion goddess is a tad bit harder. I’m sure the clothes they sent me look good on them – once – but that does not guarantee that I won’t look like a peacock once I have them on. At least I am sure that the clothes are good quality.

Of course, that depends upon your philanthropist. Is it of good fortune or misfortune? In cases like this, I would have to rely on what little I know about looking good and pray I’m still respectable in the morning.


Get super sexy branded stuff… For free. Seriously.

Above: A handbag and a wallet given to me by a friend of my mom's

Louis Vuitton shoulder bags, Lacoste shirts, and Ferragamo shoes. Good condition, sometimes barely ever used. The price? A kiss on your favorite ninang’s cheek and a visit during Christmas. Maybe a little phone call or text every now and then. No kidding.

Have more money to spend on your more pressing needs and addictions (to prevent unsightly withdrawal symptoms and psychological imbalances)… or simply to fatten that bank account.
I happily spent PHP800.00 during Visprint’s WIT event for four books, without hesitation, with my friend Gary having to metaphorically drag me away from the book stands to keep me from spending my lunch money, whereas it took me three hours just to look for a dress, any dress, to wear to our retreat back in college.

I am a very poor chick, like most twenties lady nowadays. Despite having a job (and some writing sidelines, which are rare), I’d have to admit that making ends meet is one heck of a challenge. The excess money that I have is enough to buy a new blouse every now and then, or a good book with about 500 pages in it which would last me for about three days, if I am having a lazy spell or simply incredibly tired that I can barely pick my feet up. Guess which one I’d rather buy?

Having people give me old stuff from their closet saves me the money and the effort of buying new clothes. This also saves me from having to wear what little I got for myself to tatters. With the help of my fashion benefactors, I was able to transcend my dark monetary abyss and spend on stuff that I think matter more. Like this thing below:


Our partially completed house. Construction began last 2010 and it is already livable.

So to everyone who has bestowed their much-loved, extremely great stuff to yours truly, I am really grateful. Keep ‘em coming, please and thank you!

Five Women I’d Happily Go Bi For

Of course I have my ovaries, my estrogen and all the other physical attributes of being a woman. I am in a relationship with a certified member of the male sex and am very happy with him. However, that does not change the fact that I have girl crushes: I admire other women for their simple kick-arse-ness. There are a LOT of them - strong, intelligent, brave women who are no fairy tale princesses or old school Maria Claras – ladies that I would happily trade my eggs for.
And here are my five hottest picks.



Tina Siuagan, Nurse, Musician, Writer and Model
(On the left: Tina featured in Zen Health Magazine)

I’ve got to tell you the truth: I am giddy to be able to call this girl my babe. Tina Siuagan is an all-in-one kind of woman. She is like the perfect girl friend: pretty in a rock star way, but smart and funny. A woman of substance who can drive you nuts with her wit. Never a dull moment when you’re with this girl. What’s really great about Tina, though, is that despite the not-so-good situation nurses are now facing, this girl makes it a point to pull up the morale of nurses whether through her articles or her music.

A registered nurse, Tina is also the lead vocalist of the rock band Amihan, and is the face of Rachell Allen Reviewers, USA, a center for exams such as the NCLEX and IELTS. This hot chick was also the cover of Zen Health magazine’s August-October.

Why she rocks: Because Tina is Nursing pride personified.




Ana Santos, Single Mom, Writer and Sexual Health Advocate
(On the left: Ms. Ana's Project Headshot Clinic for HIV advocacy)

I met Ms Ana during Writers Block Philippines’ Jumpstart Your Freelance Writing Career 2.0. I was a lost little wannabe writer with absolutely no idea of what to write and how the publishing world works, but I did have a lot of idea about sexuality and the stupidity of being strict conformists to age-old beliefs that maggots are now feasting on. Ms Ana was the inspiration as to why I came out as a reproductive health supporter and a women’s health advocate, particularly the sexual abuse victims. Her way of presenting sex and sexual health is passionate, intelligent, funny, but far from lewd (although a lot of her articles are also no-nonsense advice on how to get things hotter in bed).

Ana Santos is the editorial director of sexandsensibilities.com and co-founder of Writers Block Philippines. She is also a reproductive health and HIV/AIDS awareness advocate.

Why she’s hot: Because she can say “vagina” without flinching.



Dr. Raquel del Rosario-Fortun, Forensic Pathologist and Teacher
(On the left: Dr Fortun, featured in "Filipina Firsts: A Salute to 100 Women Pioneers 1898-1998")

I saw Dr. Fortun for the first time when I was having lunch at UP Diliman’s Chocolate Kiss, in Bahay ng Alumni, August 19, 2011. Yes, I know the EXACT date of when I first saw her. I was totally star struck that I forgot to swallow. She was talking to some people, and I had to fight the urge to get up and ask for an autograph.

Long before the introduction of the hit show CSI, I had wanted to be a forensic pathologist because I thought it was most awesome profession in the entire world. Actually, I still think it is one. Forensic pathology, the subdivision of pathology, is mostly concerned with the determination of the cause of death of a victim via external and internal examination. Specializing on the field means having an intensive background in medicine and pathology. The multi-awarded Dr. Fortun had her formal training abroad, but is now teaching in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. She is still tapped by the National Bureau of Investigation whenever her expertise in cause of death determination and procedure is in need. Dr. Fortun, after all, is the First Filipino Woman Forensic Pathologist

True to her desire to battle ignorance, Dr. Fortun has been very outspoken about the need for training and better protocols when it comes to crime scene processing and corpse examination.

Why she’s awesome: Because she has opted to stay in the Philippines to teach.



Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Philippine Senator, First Filipino and First Asian from a Developing Country Elected as Judge in International Criminal Court
(On the left: Senator Miriam in her Filipiniana)

She is not the kind of woman you’d want to piss off. Debating with her is suicide and her verbal rebuttals are enough to send even the most hard-headed opponent into hiding under their mama’s skirts. Apart from her prowess in discussions, Senator Miriam is also the author of controversial laws-to-be such as the RH Bill and the much-needed and much-sensible Anti-Epal Bill.

Considered as one of the most intellectually prepped politician, Senator Miriam is also known for her witty one liner. My personal favorite: “I eat death threats for breakfast.”

Wow.

Why she’s hardcore: Because Senator Miriam’s so crazy by normal people’s standards, she makes total sense.




Grace Bondad-Nicolas, Writer, Engineer, RH and Environmental Activist
(Ms. Grace celeberating Jose Rizal's birthday, wearing the traditional Filipiniana in abaca)

I met Ms. Grace during a rally in Ayala Alabang, protesting the condom ban, and again during the RH Bill-I Support Facebook group eyeball in Carlos Celdran’s The Living Room. Looking at her, you would probably not think that she frequents the rally lines, lobby for better laws for reproductive health and the environment, and write power pieces for several print and online publications. Possibly because this petite lady loves going around in killer shoes and her signature Louis Vuitton bag.

Ms. Grace is also an online activist and a very approachable person. She is always happy to educate people with regard to her stands, regardless of how hostile they are in opposing her. Regardless of how hot-headed and whatever cusses spew from the mouths of those who oppose her, Ms Grace would still talk to that person calmly and respect their beliefs.

Why she’s cool: She’s so into her advocacy, she literally wears it.