Dreams and Reality

The night that Ellaine and Bongga were at the house was memorable. It was the first time that the three of us got together after a VERY LONG TIME. I was happy because I love these two and it sucks that I don't get to see them as often as I used to.

While waiting for dinner, Ellaine and I were at the dirty kitchen talking. I have no idea where Bongga was. She was probably inside playing on her iPod Touch.

The topic moved from work, to personal, to love.

Date Night: Racks Mall of Asia

Our last date night, Gregory and I went to Racks in MOA.

Originally, our plan was to eat at Yakimix because I wanted to EAT. As in really eat. When we got to Yakimix, which by the way was beside Racks, there was this long-ass line and we were number 18 on the list.

I wasn't having any of it since we were both hungry. He mentioned that he wanted Racks. I was debating between Racks and Vikings.

We ended up at Racks.

Gay Culture

I have a lot of gay friends but only a few that I’m actually close to. I have friends who are closeted, in denial, out and proud. I also have friends who call themselves ‘bisexual’ but have never been with a woman nor do they seem to have any plans of being with one.

You might be wondering what my point is. You see, and this is not limited to my friends which is something that I wanna stress out, the gays I've met over the years aren't very well versed with gay culture and history. With the gays that I've met through common friends, socialized with, worked with, performed with, even dated, there are only a handful of them who are aware of our history. This actually saddens me.

Behind the glitz and glam and fabulousness of being gay, we have our own history. People who did their part so we could live freely, people who went through a lot to help lessen the discrimination and prejudice that befalls our society.

We have our gay icons, celebrities and performers who used the power and influence they have to open the minds of those who have it closed shut. These people helped usher the LGBT community into the future and though there is still hatred and prejudice in this world, the level of acceptance and understanding grows by the day.

I, however, have noticed that some of the younger gays don’t seem to have this sense of pride. Based on what I've observed, for some being gay means dressing well, religiously going to the gym as if it were church, knowing anything and everything about fashion, cruising guys at the mall or the gym, etc.

There is so much more to being gay than that.

I personally know some people who have no idea who is Patti LuPone.

Or Bernadette Peters.

Or Judy Garland.

And I’ve been asked by several people if Cher is a transsexual woman.

Pride month is celebrated  around the world.

And for some, this is what they think the Pride Parade is all about.

But do they know that this person is one the reasons why we have the Pride Parade.

For those of you who don’t know, this is Marsha P. Johnson. He was a drag queen who threw the first rock at the police who were harassing several gay men inside a bar which ignited the Stonewall Riot in New York. The Pride Parade was celebrated after that to commemorate the first time that the LGBT community fought back against their oppressors. This is also why drag queens are important attendees during Pride Fest. It was a drag queen who sparked the proverbial fire.

This is the rainbow flag used by the LGBT community.

But this was the original rainbow flag and every color had a meaning.

Pink was for sexuality, Red for life, Orange for healing, Yellow for sunlight, Green for nature, Turquoise for magic/art, Indigo for serenity/harmony and Violet for spirit.

These are random things, trivial things. But these are part of our history, our culture.

We should at least be aware that they exist.

By the way dear readers, I am in no way bashing anyone nor am I generalizing that all gays are not aware of gay culture. This is meant for those who don’t know our history and would probably want a crash course.

In the tone of Miranda Priestly, I bid you all with a, ‘That’s all.’

Reunited!

Last week, Elaine and Bongga went to the house for a small get-together. It was great because we haven't seen each other in months.

Although, I did see Bongga the week before when I showed up at her house.

I was surprised when I saw her. As in shocked. Long hair na siya. She no longer sports the anime hair. She looks so lady-like now. Looks lang. She hasn't changed. Still the same Bongga that I love to bits.

Elaine arrived at my house first. Isa ring long hair ulit.  She came bearing gifts. A bucket of fried chicken from KFC :)

Bongga was still at the office so susunod nalang daw siya.

When Elaine arrived, nagumpisa na ang kwentuhan. Naglabas siya agad ng kanyang mga hinanaing tungkol sa kanyang boyfriend. Ang sabi ko sa kanya, pagdating ni Bongga eh magpupustahan kami kung ilang days, weeks or months pa sila magtatagal.

Nagtxt si Bongga at sinabing nasa village na daw siya so sinundo ko siya sa gate. Pagdating namin sa bahay, kumain muna kami dahil pare-pareho kaming gutom. Umpisa ulit ng kwentuhan. Buhay nila sa kanilang mga bagong trabaho, at buhay ko sa office.

Pagkatapos kumain, pumunta kami sa dirty kitchen ng aking bahay para dun magyosi. Sabi ko kay Elaine, magkwento na siya tungkol sa boyfriend niya. Ang loka loka naman nagkwento.

Tuminging bigla sa akin si Bongga.

"Ilang linggo ang pusta mo?" tanong niya.

Tumawa si Elaine at sinabi na kanina ko pa daw sinasabi na magpupustahan kami ni Bongga pagdating niya.

"Oo nga!" sagot ko.

"Napakabait niyong mga kaibigan ah!" sabi ni Elaine.

They left the house at around 1:30AM.

We actually had one more person over but I don't know if I'm allowed to put it here so wag muna. Baka may magalit eh.

I had so much fun with them. I remember when we were all still at the office. Smoking and gossiping haha.

Now Elaine works at Teleperformance and Bongga works at VXI. I, on the other hand, am still with the same company.

When people don't see each other for a long time, sometimes there's this awkwardness or animosity among them. We didn't have that. We picked up where we left off. It's as if we just saw each other days before. Bongga and Elaine are some of the VERY FEW that I can call friends.

We haven't seen each other for a long time. We got reunited... and boy did it feel so good :)

Ocean Park

A few weeks ago, Gregory and I had one lazy weekend so we decided to go out. Not knowing where to go, I suggested we go to Manila Ocean Park since I haven't been there in a long time.

We got there at around 4PM. The line wasn't that bad. We wanted to watch the sea lion show which was starting in an hour so decided to walk around first to kill time.

The sea lion show started at around 5 and there a lot of people. We got pretty good seats.

I enjoyed this show. The seals were really entertaining.

The Musical Fountain Show was at 7:15 so we walked around Ocean Park. I smoked every now and then of course.

Here are the Jelly Fish. Nothing earth-shattering.

After spending time with the Jelly Fish and walking around, we finally went to the Musical Fountain. We were in line for about 20 minutes. Ang daming tao.

Then it started.

I actually took about 80 pictures of the show but I don't think posting 80 pictures in one post would be a good idea.

The Musical Fountain ended at around 8pm so we went straight to the Oceanarium which by the way, is my favorite place in Manila Ocean Park.

I'm so happy. Can you tell? :)

I walked around finding Dory (Ha!) but I couldn't see her anywhere so I had to settle for Nemo.

Outside the tunnel. I've always wanted to dive into this tank and just swim the fishes. Although the presence of sharks and manatees bigger than me kinda scares me a bit.

Oh and since we were at the souvenir shop while we were roaming, we bought matching shirts. I kinda wanted this shirt. I find it fabulous. I don't have good taste in clothes, I know.

We ended up buying this shirt. Syempre ako lang ang nasa picture.

It was a fun day. Gregory and I always go to malls or cinemas when we go out so doing something different and on a whim was fun.

I told him that I wanna go to Enchanted Kingdom next time.