I can understand Filipino obsession with soap operas, korean telenovelas and The Buzz. All the networks saturate TV time slot with one tearjerker after another with showbiz "news" in between. Why, even the evening news is presented in a dramatic, overly judgemental fashion.
In time I might even have learned to like telenovelas enough to sit and spend time with mom watching them.
But one incident really got to me.
While arguing a point with my older sister, she spat out,
Bakit sa TV, tingnan mo nga, kaya dapat ... blah blah blah ...
[look at TV soaps, this is how they do it, so she should also be blah blah blah .. it's the right thing to do ...]
My older sister firmly believes that if it's on TV then you're watching something and somebody of unquestionable authority. If Korina says it's a beautiful sunny day, it is sunny and beautiful even if that damn grey cloud is about to dump a gazillion gallon of water on her head.
And so when "Dave" [of Tayong Dalawa] was able to go home, and mingle with his family like nothing happened right after giving one of his kidneys away, it's but just natural.
And you question why Erap [Joseph Estrada] became president?!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Of Course It Will Break
I heart shoes. I could care less about bags but I love shoes. I use to buy shoes all the time. No they're not Jimmy Choo expensive but when I find a really good fit I'd fork more money than I planned to get it.
When I came home, one of my mom's grievances was that all my shoes (that I left behind) and most of her shoes are ruined. No, she can't explain it. The leather peels, they turn moldy, nothing is wearable.
My son and I have a mommy-and-me date so I went looking for my dependable pair of boots that has been with me for years (6 years to be exact) to wear and found mom stuck it in a basement cupboard.
Of course the damn thing will break, that god-awful place is so damp even the molds are getting chilled! And then I found my shoes, Kenneth Cole, Nine West, Guess, my hand made mules, my favorite sandals ... all ruined. stacked haphazardly in a moth and other disgusting insect infested closet with six layers of dust (or is it disgusting insect poop?!) ... and my mom (who has a degree in Commerce and Management) wonders why oh why they get ruined?
When I came home, one of my mom's grievances was that all my shoes (that I left behind) and most of her shoes are ruined. No, she can't explain it. The leather peels, they turn moldy, nothing is wearable.
My son and I have a mommy-and-me date so I went looking for my dependable pair of boots that has been with me for years (6 years to be exact) to wear and found mom stuck it in a basement cupboard.
Of course the damn thing will break, that god-awful place is so damp even the molds are getting chilled! And then I found my shoes, Kenneth Cole, Nine West, Guess, my hand made mules, my favorite sandals ... all ruined. stacked haphazardly in a moth and other disgusting insect infested closet with six layers of dust (or is it disgusting insect poop?!) ... and my mom (who has a degree in Commerce and Management) wonders why oh why they get ruined?
Friday, June 5, 2009
It's Rude To Say Shut Up
Hence my blog title -It CAN Be Done Mom.
I just came home from years overseas and found our house and everything around it has pretty much deteriorated, including my mom's perspective in life.
Something has been bugging me for some time now, since I came home. Perhaps she's totally devastated I decided to come home when everyone's been going crazy to get out of the country? I think she's actually embarrassed that I chose to come home, and come home without a huge big fat ooozing luggage full of money. Nope, I came home with a changed perspective about living a simple but efficient life. A happy life.
Hogwash!
She'd rather have my Prada.
Anyway, there I was, happy to be home with my hug-phobic mother trying to find ways to make money and do my thing. In every instance she'd tell me, don't venture into things that are not in your line of expertise. No it can't be done. Oh, that's only for people with money. Oh it can't be repaired. No, you can't really fix that. You need money before you touch that gutter. This burger costs too much. The economy's too poor, you won't make it. No, we can't go there. You can't do that. Sure, but let me call somebody else instead.
Thanks for making me feel like a complete moron mom.
Do you remember that moment when somebody, specially that somebody you so believe in, tell you something can't be done, or worse, it's something you are not equipped to do? This blog is for you.
I remember a particular incident when I was younger, in my early teens, when my dad I were arguing (as usual) and I strated crying at the dinner table and he got angry. Of course, it was one of those, "no you can't ..." moment. I remember him telling me to shut up and quit crying (why is it that parents can be rude to you while you can't be rude to them too). That, and he told me that when somebody tells me it can't be done, I may not get what I want in the end but he sure wants me to stand my ground and argue my case. Yes, my father was a lawyer.
Another time, when again my dad was being a tyrant (as parents always seem to be when we can't get what we want), my mom told me, you know, when you are sure of who you want and what you want, you better follow it no matter what your parents say.
And that's why I am at a loss now with the things I hear from my mom. Yes, it can be done mom. You did it. You just chose to forget.
I just came home from years overseas and found our house and everything around it has pretty much deteriorated, including my mom's perspective in life.
Something has been bugging me for some time now, since I came home. Perhaps she's totally devastated I decided to come home when everyone's been going crazy to get out of the country? I think she's actually embarrassed that I chose to come home, and come home without a huge big fat ooozing luggage full of money. Nope, I came home with a changed perspective about living a simple but efficient life. A happy life.
Hogwash!
She'd rather have my Prada.
Anyway, there I was, happy to be home with my hug-phobic mother trying to find ways to make money and do my thing. In every instance she'd tell me, don't venture into things that are not in your line of expertise. No it can't be done. Oh, that's only for people with money. Oh it can't be repaired. No, you can't really fix that. You need money before you touch that gutter. This burger costs too much. The economy's too poor, you won't make it. No, we can't go there. You can't do that. Sure, but let me call somebody else instead.
Thanks for making me feel like a complete moron mom.
Do you remember that moment when somebody, specially that somebody you so believe in, tell you something can't be done, or worse, it's something you are not equipped to do? This blog is for you.
I remember a particular incident when I was younger, in my early teens, when my dad I were arguing (as usual) and I strated crying at the dinner table and he got angry. Of course, it was one of those, "no you can't ..." moment. I remember him telling me to shut up and quit crying (why is it that parents can be rude to you while you can't be rude to them too). That, and he told me that when somebody tells me it can't be done, I may not get what I want in the end but he sure wants me to stand my ground and argue my case. Yes, my father was a lawyer.
Another time, when again my dad was being a tyrant (as parents always seem to be when we can't get what we want), my mom told me, you know, when you are sure of who you want and what you want, you better follow it no matter what your parents say.
And that's why I am at a loss now with the things I hear from my mom. Yes, it can be done mom. You did it. You just chose to forget.
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