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A Girl Name Betty

I've been living in my cocoon for a while now. Not checking my messages here on friendster nor updating my blog. But tonight, I felt compelled to tell you a story about a girl name Betty.

I was having dinner with my parents last friday, and we were just talking about my nieces and nephews and how fast they've grown up. When my mom started to talk about a girl name Betty. She said, before, her and my father had my oldest sister they adopted a 9 years old girl, and her name was Betty. My parents said that they use to see Betty on there way to work everyday digging in the public garbages trying to find stuff she can sell, re-use, or maybe eat (Mind you, this is in the Philippines, so when I say public garbages I mean an empty lot full of trash.) Betty would always say hi to my mom everytime she sees her, and my mom would give her some change.

One day, my mom talked to my dad about adopting Betty. My Dad said yes and they went to Betty's mother and asked her if they can just keep her and send her to school since my mom is a school teacher. They said, Betty's mom didn't really care, and Betty was ecstatic to go with them.

Betty moved in and my parents loved her. My mom said, that everytime it would rain on her way home from work, she would see Betty standing on the street corner holding an umbrella waiting for her to get off the jeep ( Jeep-Philippines transportation for some of you who don't know) making sure my mom doesn't get wet. Then,  on the nights when it's not raining, they would take a walk in Luneta park and sit by the bay. This was 40 years ago, so I imagine it's a bit safer back then. My parents said that they really loved Betty and Betty really loved them.

Then one night, my dad couldn't sleep, he smelled an odor and it was coming from Betty's bed. My Dad asked her what that funky smell was, Betty got up and took a shower. That incident became more recurring. My mom said that everytime they would ask Betty about that smell, Betty would get up even if it's 9 at night and take a shower. They also noticed that Betty was always hiding her hands from them. My parents became really concerned and asked her to just show them her hands. My mom said that Betty developed some kind of infection that she started loosing her fingers, and that's where the odor was coming from.

They took Betty to the hospital, and to their complete and utter shock, what Betty had was leprosy. This is the same week that my mom found out she was pregnant with my oldest sister, so my dad was extremely worried. They knew it's contageous.  A few days later, my dad had convinced my mom to give Betty back to her real mother. They didn't tell Betty the day they were going to give her back, they just told her that her mom wanted them to visit her. They didn't think Betty could handle it, had they told her. When Betty was talking to her mom, she notice that my parents were missing. She ran out the door and saw my parents already in the jeep. My mom said, that she ran after the jeep crying and screaming "Ate! ate! huwag mo akong iwan, maawa ka sa'kin ate" (Please don't leave me, have pitty on me.) She calls my mom ate, which is what you call your older sister. My mom said that after that, my dad and her did not speak for a week and would cry almost every night. They really loved her and did not want her to go, but with Betty's condition my parents were afraid to take the risk of getting infected, specially with my mother's situation. My mom said that, she went back to visit Betty, to find out how she was doing. Betty's mom said that she sent Betty to a leprosy colony in Palawan. That was the last time my parents heard anything about Betty.

After my parents shared this story with me, I was unable to sleep. The image of a young girl running after my mom, begging and pleading not just to take her back, but to save her from the poverty that she's known her entire life, it just broke my heart in ten thousand pieces. It's been 40 years since this happened, but how many Betty's are out there right now. Up to this day, millions of children around the world are born in poverty. They're stuck in situations they did not asked for. Now, I know there's a lot of homeless kids out there, and that stories like Betty's are just one of many. But to hear my own parents tell her story with such heartbreak in their faces, it really struck a chord. I've heard people say, "count your blessings", "appreciate what you have", but I never really stop to let it sink in, not just in my head but in my heart until now. I have a family who I know will not abandon me in time of need, I have friends who will help me get through tough times. But for children like Betty, who will hold their hands and comfort them.

I don't know why the world is so unfair! I don't why kids like Betty have to go through what they've gone through. If you have read this post, please say a prayer for all the children in poverty around this crazy world that we live in . I know it's sounds corny, but I know prayer is one thing we can do to reach out to them. I don't know what happened to Betty, but her story made me appreciate my life and really acknowledge the epidemic called poverty. I pray that where ever Betty is right now, she's found the peace and comfort she was looking for.

SUPERMAN update: PANIC IN THE SKY

It was really sad to hear that Superman Returns only made a little over 80 million dollars on it's 5th day. It was expected to break box office records, but failed. X-men and SpiderMan even made more money on it's 5th day.

I started to question the promotions, I did not see a lot of commercials of it, my boss did not even know that there is a new one coming out. Did Kate Bosworth completely sucked as Lois Lane? Did Warner Brothers made the wrong decision hiring Bryan Singer to direct this epic? Could this be The Death of Superman?

Yes, the movie has it's flaws, but so does a lot of other movies out there that still manages to make tons of money. I hope people don't forget the love that Christopher Reeve had for this character and how much he believed what Superman stands for. He's the ultimate good guy. He doesn't need a Bat mobile, and he doesn't have emotional acne like Spider Man.

When it's all said and done, Superman still stands as my favorite superhero of all time. No other superhero brings me back good memories of my childhood. Watching Superman for the first time in my parents bedroom, and almost believing that people can fly. The love he has for Lois, he turned back the hands of time. This movie may not have made as much as money as it has been expected, but I know that, til after the day we die, people from the next generation will know what the symbol S stands for!

"You can fly, you belong in the sky, You and I, we belong to each other".

Is SEX really better if you're INLOVE?

                  

I've heard this a gab-billion times before, that "sex is so much better when you're in love". Well, I can't say that I have been in love, but I've had my share of great sex. I know the answer to this question varies, depending on who you ask, but I also know that you don't have to be married or in a relationship to want sex.

I've always wondered about those people who says "Sex is not important",  "It's not everything in a relationship",  I've even heard,  "I don't like doing it". Now we all know that it's not everything, but to say that, it's not important and that you don't like doing it, is really questionable to me. It could be that, you went through something in your life that made you not want to do it, or you don't like your partner, or maybe you are just a plain hypocrite!

Like I said, I have never been in love so my answer to this question is very one sided. But hasn't any of you had a day where you just wanna knock boots with someone? You make eye contact, you are both attracted to each other and you just want to get it on. I don't see anything wrong with that. Sex is a wonderful thing, and we shouldn't be ashamed for wanting to have it. I don't think I have to be in love to appreciate great skin, beautiful body, and just someone who's a good lay! Now I'm not knocking love with sex, that's why I raised this question. What's are your thoughts on this?

The wait is over, you will believe again....SUPERMAN RETURNS!!!

As I've mentioned in my past post, I love these kinds of movies. From the moment I heard that they are remaking Superman, I became really excited. Then after months of waiting, a preview of the movie was finally released. It was from watching Batman begins where I first saw the preview. It was a really short one, but it actually gave me goose bumps, just from watching it. As soon as the trademark score from Superman started to play, it brought me back good memories of my childhood, it also made me think about Christopher Reeves, and how sad it is that he is no longer with us.

Superman Returns does not open in theaters until today (June 28 ), but I went to a special screening last night. I was lucky enough to get tickets not just for me, but also for my parents and nephew. The only showtime was at 10:00 pm, and by 9 there was already a line. There were a bunch of people wearing a Superman costume. Young and Old. It was really fun to watch them. It felt like an event, which it was. When the movie was about to begin, the people were already clapping and cheering. It was really fun to be a part of it.

Then comes Brandon Routh, the statuesque, brooding, handsome, brand new Superman! From the costume to the entirety of the character fits him like a glove. I particularly love the part where He and Lois Lane flew in the sky. It was very reminiscent of the first Christopher Reeve Superman. They even played the song "Can you read my Mind" on the background while they were flying.

Finally, they have breath new life in to this Iconic character. To much attention has been focused on Batman and Spider Man, that they have forgotten about the ultimate superhero. Now the wait is over, Superman had returned.

        "If you need to be love, here I am read my mind".

Aquamarine, a surprisingly very pleasant movie

I had trepidations about renting this movie last weekend. I thought to myself, hmmm it's probably one of those annoying teen movies that has no story. But I remember seeing splash for the first time when I was a kid, and I loved it. So, I decided to give this movie a chance. To my surprise it was a very endearing tale of love and friendship. It even made me wish, just for a brief moment, that I was in my teens again. When everything is new and fresh, and you're discovering yourself for the first time. It also delivered a very good lesson that love doesn't just come from a man or a partner, that true love can also be found in friends, REAL FRIENDS, that sometimes you don't have to look too far because love may be just right next to you.

So, for you guys who wants to be entertained, give this movie a chance. You just might be pleasantly surprised.

Oh Motha!

My mother and I are not speaking at the moment. We are fighting about something kind of small, depending on how you look at it. I just hate fighting with her, but I also want to get my point across. And I know if I give in, she's going to think she's right. I don't know how many of you have ever fought with your parents, or even been in a situation where they just frustrate you, it's one of the hardest thing to deal with. You can't really curse them out, and you definitely can't get physical with them, but there are times when I just feel like AAARRRGGGGHHH!!!

My mother and I are both very opinionated people, neither of us would ever back down from an argument, that's why most of the time our personalities clash. I love my mom dearly, and just because we're fighting doesn't mean we don't love each other. I guess the only reason I'm writing this blog is because I wanna vent. I will talk and make nice with my mother soon, how soon? mmmmmhhhh...we'll see.

Stabbed In The Back!

Can I just say that it is so difficult to find people you can really trust. Has it always been the case? or are the trustworthy people just becoming obsolete?

There is this woman who I thought was a friend of mine at work. We have lunch together, sometimes she takes me to lunch, sometimes I take her. I even let her borrow my car when her car broke down. We were kind of close. We have both expressed dislike about this other person that we work with, because she's loud, offensive, ignorant, critical of others, this woman is just completely negative.

This past weekend, I decided to work overtime and so did my supposedly friend. To my surprise, the person that we don't like also decided to work that day. Both of them had no idea that I was just behind them, I heard the girl who's supposed to be my friend say to the other girl "He's still here", on a quiet tone. I decided to ignore it, because I wanted to give my friend the benefit of the doubt. Next day comes, and we were suppose to have lunch like we always do,  lo'l and behold, the two of them decides to have lunch together. I felt like I've been back stabbed!

Now, this experience really made me think about Karma. I use to believe in it, but I have doubts about it now. I have invested goodness to this person, did I deserve to be treated like that? NO! Bad things happen to good people to. And now, more than ever, I appreciate my two bestfriends who I have been friends with since I was 16 and has never let me down. I thought I was very selective when choosing people I would invite in my life. Evidently I failed.

The Power of Prayer

I have not posted anything on this blog for a long time. I've been very busy and didn't have anything that inspired me to write about. However, I felt compelled to share one thing that I find really helps me get through anything in my life, it's called Prayer.

Now, I am not the most religious person in the world. In fact, I'm not even religious at all.But I do believe in God, very much so. I was raised Baptist, in a very religious family. I have not been into church for a very long time, we're talking years. Oddly enough, I feel closer to God now than I have ever been before. I find myself talking to God through out my day, and I have to say, that there's a comfort in prayer. My point is, no matter what religion you are, you don't necessarily need to be in church to talk to God.

Just the other day, I was going through something that really stressed me out at work, I just closed my office and I prayed. I have to say, it was like a weight lifted off of me. Suddenly, a calming feeling came over me and I knew everything was gonna be alright. It's not the first time that something like that happened to me. With all the craziness that goes on with the world around us, with all the negative people who tries to tear us down, just take a minute and talk to God.

Elizabethtown

Talking on the phone all night with someone 45 minutes away from you, then meeting each other halfway to watch the sunrise. This is the first phone conversation mind you. This is just one of the most romantic scenes from the movie  Elizabethtown, but I think it's one of the most romantic moments in cinema period.

As I said, I rented lots of movies this weekend, and one of them was Elizabethtown, with Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. At first, I wasn't sure if I should rent this movie because, what I was really looking for are horror movies. I'm very glad I did though. It's romantic, funny, and sad. A really good movie. Good perfomances as well from Orlando and Kirsten. So if you guys are looking for a romantic movie, try this one.

3 day weekend!!!

I'm so excited about this 3 day weekend. The moment I left work last friday, I felt so liberated. I can stay up late, sleep in, do whatever. Friday, I got my money from my income tax return, so, I did a little shoping after work. Saturday, I went to Oregon to visit my nephew, who I only see every so often. I can't believe how big he's gotten. He's talking now, and the great part is, he can say uncle now. Sunday, I just rented some movies, lots of movies. Monday, I think I'm just gonna clean my car and my house. Just take it easy for the most part.

I hope all of you are having a great Presidents Day weekend as well. What ever you do, try to find time to just relax and do something you really enjoy, because before you know it, this 3 day weekend will be over and we all have to go back to work.