The Show is Over

It came as a shock and great disappointment to me when I recently got wind of the break-up of one of my favorite couples. Of course, I am in no position to make any further comments whatsoever on how the relationship went and what transpired in the events leading to the break-up, as I have no business commenting on the same; but this event made me realize some things, which I need to put in writing. After all, my friends know that I am most affected by these goings-on, although I tend not to appear as such.

Relationships turn sour once in a while, caused mainly by the fact that one of the parties or both parties in the relationship outgrow one another. Most of the time, this feeling can be remedied by time-off, or conversely, by spending more time together. Indeed, the strength of a relationship is best judged at the time when the creeping feeling of boredom [and outgrowing] comes into the picture. Couples may choose to face this feeling head-on, or may choose to deny it. Either way, there are times where no matter how hard couples try to keep the sinking ship afloat, shit happens, and a break-up is imminent. Nevertheless, the maturity and depth of understanding of the parties in the relationship is evidenced by the way they handle the break-up. Barring the initial alcohol binges and sleepless nights, parties to a GOOD relationship know when to throw in the towel, realizing that IF and SHOULD the parties get together at some future time, such will be an ENTIRELY NEW relationship built on a new-found understanding of themselves and one another. It will be a relationship where, although the parties may be the same, the personalities are different, and as such, different rules apply altogether. It will not exactly be a back-to-square-one affair, but rather, a fast-tracked getting-to-know-the-new-you process. I know there is nothing novel to what I'm saying, but it pays to be reminded once in a while that relationships, like life, can be all ice cream and cake; but, too much of it can give one a serious LBM problem.

A truly mature person coming from a recent break-up is one who has enjoyed eating all the ice cream and cake, seen the circus come to town, partied all night long, and when all things turn quiet, says to himself, "the show is over, time to go home."

The Most Hated Pinay [after Juday]...Ever!

For those who haven't been up to date, there was this recent article in People Asia written by Malu Fernandez, which catapulted her to instant infamy. Just check out the following sites to view the articles:

http://www.tingog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/people-asia-p30.jpg

http://www.tingog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/people-asia-p31.jpg

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_july30_2007

Obviously, the uproar was caused by certain negative statements, among others, made by Malu [pardon my seeming familiarity] against OFWs. Fine. The statements were made in bad taste...or to put it in no unclear terms, the statements were downright boorish and offensive. And it doesn't help at all that OFWs are generally regarded as modern-day heroes, etc, etc, and so forth. So yes, Malu should be crucified for her impertinence and insensitivity. But I should add that all those who violently reacted and cursed Malu for her words should also be crucified beside her--for indulging the petty fancies of a spoiled, fat, and not to mention, noveau riche bitch. If you'll read Malu's articles carefully, I'm sure you'd notice the incessant complaining of Malu about almost everything--from having to ride coach, to having to wear her Adidas trainers in Boracay. How more KSP can a person get, di ba? Rather than leaving her to grovel all day long, the fact that these "feeling" do-gooders reacted, in the manner that they did, only helped to exacerbate the situation and catapult Ms. KSP to instant print media stardom. Thanks a lot, idiots.

If I may also hasten to add, some of Malu's points were true anyway. Filipino passengers [not just OFWs] can be irritating [and I mean the irritation that's caused by a low buzzing sound that's too minute to notice at first, but can get irritating after hours of continuous exposure to it], especially if you are seated beside them in a 14-hour long flight. In fact, in one of my previous posts, I related how irritating it could get when taking a short flight from Hong Kong full of "eager-to-get-home-so-they-can-show-off-how-rich-they-are" Filipinos/OFWs, so I can relate, albeit to a lesser degree, to the feeling of Malu during her long-haul flight. She might just as well have drank [or strangled] herself [or her seatmate, for that matter] to death, rather than hear the stories of a fellow passenger [who also happened to be a Filipino OFW], and who most likely felt that Malu and himself/herself were the best of friends or at the very least, telebabad partners. Being seatmates doesn't give anybody the license to start a conversation with his/her seatmate, especially if the seatmate is not at all interested in hearing stories on how big you've made it abroad, and how happy you are to be going home for the first time in years. Keep your stories to yourself. Trust me, no one is interested, save for your wife [or husband] and kid back home who are probably more interested in your pasalubongs, than your stories of success.

One last point. I have absolutely no patience for people who pontificate. The Christian in me is reminded of Jesus' challenge for those without sin to cast the first stone. I am positively certain that these feeling do-gooders who criticized Malu have, at least once in their lives, criticized, complained or maligned fellow Filipinos or complained about the little things in their lives. Who, after all, doesn't complain about how small and uncomfortable the seats in coach are, how inefficient the service of a restaurant is, how smelly a closed and pressurized cabin can get from the mixed scent of reeking Filipino OFW sweat? So it irks me to no end that these people have the nerve to treat Malu as the pinay "devil wears Pitoy Moreno," when all of them are also guilty of her crime. At least Malu had the "balls" to say what she thought, although the intent to slander is another question altogether. For the few who sincerely haven't complained or maligned in the manner that Malu has done, I say kudos, although it's pretty obvious that you haven't ridden a plane, eaten in a fancy resto, or enjoyed any of the finer things in life.