PRIDE and EQUALITY

     PRIDE focuses to oneself while EQUALITY concerns to all.

     June 26, 2015 is the date when the U. S. Supreme Court declared the legality of "same-sex marriage" nationwide. LGBT community and its supporters celebrate as they have waved their hands with rainbow flags. Gay rights advocates have also turned their profile pictures on some social networking sites into colorful rainbow-layered backgrounds. Afterwards, #PrideAndEquality became the trending talked about hashtag among search engines on the net.

     I have nothing against gender equality and it's good to be proud of who you are because it's a clear sign of good self-esteem. No offense meant to anyone... but, "same sex marriage" for me is not an option to show how you love the person. I am pro marriage... but I'm also pro in the sanctity of marriage itself. Well, humans have free will on what he or she wanted to do with his/her life. I have some friends who are lesbians and gays and have lasting relationships with their partners because there's loyalty and commitment without any papers involve. I have nothing against them because as for me... the goodness of one person doesn't depend on the sexuality. But on how he or she deals with the people around him or her. Aside from the fact that they are fun to hang-out with. Anyway, marriage is the legality  of a relationship for most people and it holds a legal right under such human law. Yet, this piece of paper doesn't give an assurance to any same-sex couple the genuine acceptance of the society and some people around them who oppose on the said right. Implementing this law maybe the first step of legally considering same-sex relationship to be recognized out in the open. But "consideration" is different from "acceptance". We are still living in a society where not all are open-minded and most are judgmental of others, not only in sexuality, but also when it comes to race, religion, and social status. True "equality" really has a long way to go in all walks of life. The standard of what is right and what is wrong  is dictated by the social norms, the society, and the majority... and the little voices left  which includes the LGBT community among the few will have a hard time imposing their pride because of the absence of equality.

     Love is for all... and unfortunately, "equality" nowadays still has a price in some point or the other such as discrimination and bullying. And, I still don't know what to conclude on this issue in this ever changing world. Let's see what happens next...

Photo Art by: Sukito San 

MOTHER and CHILD

     A "MOTHER'S LOVE" is the exact definition of what unconditional and eternal love really means!

     If there is one person that I love the most... it's my mom. I always love it when my mother and I used to have coffee every morning and I will be the one to make her caffeinated drink. We talk anything under the sun on what we have gone through the other day. It makes me feel good when I crack a joke and I can make her laugh or make that glimpse of smile appear on her face. Simple talks and moments that gives bliss in my heart as it radiates to the ambiance of the whole room. A good conversation with my mom with her cuddles and kisses takes me to a perfect state of happiness. She implanted on me and with my siblings how to be a good parent to our future children someday by means of her actions and not by words alone. Setting up on us as a good example with the guidance of our father as well. I am happy and blessed that I have my "Nanay" with me... and she alone is enough as an inspiration for me to strive more and do good in life.

     Being a certified "Mama's Boy" doesn't make you less as a man and shouldn't be shameful at all because I'm proud to be one.
     HAPPY MOTHER's DAY Nanay :)

Photo by: Sukito San

ON FINDING LOVE written by: Sukito

"Love will find its way even to the loneliest person on the planet, all you have to do is to open up your heart where love can perform its magic."
Every time I pass in front of this house just around the neighborhood, I always see this two old couple, around 80 years old or above, sitting beside each other on their house balcony while talking as they were looking from beyond. Well, it seems to me, though I can't hear what they're talking about, that they're still building their dreams together with their sweet touches on each others hand. Reminds me of this one song, "Growing Old With You", from the movie, "The Wedding Singer".
Actually, I'm not going to talk about love story and romantic moments here. I just have figured out how lucky are those who found their lifetime partners whose going to be with them for the rest of their lives here on Earth. Questions started to bother my mind then. How about those who have remained single despite their old age. Eventhough I believe that being single is a matter of choice, I still ponder if it doesn't bother them that no one's gonna take care of them when they got old. What if someone or anyone who reads this right now will never find his or her soulmate? It's just a sad thought for me that anyone can die in bed alone with no one else on his or her side.
Love will always be in the air especially every Valentines day. And this day will remind the heart broken and the lonesome that they need someone beside them. Or maybe they'll try to convince themselves that it's alright to be single. But still, it's quite an undeniable fact that there's something missing that needs to be filled up by someone or by love itself.
Anyway, everything we do in life is our own choice and what we decide is what we become. If we wanted to be with someone else or somebody... it is with our free will and eager effort to make it happen. Finding love sometimes is hard, but acceptance and patience will make it light.
This are just my thoughts and reflections about the complicated world of love, searching for it, having it and letting go of it, with the pain and sweetness it brings. This is real life and we are not living in fairy tales. But who knows?

LOVE WHO? written by: Sukito

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love". - excerpts from 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

They say that love should start from within. For you can never love others if you do not know how to love yourself first. But in some cases, there are those who can fully love others and revolve their world around that person without loving and forgetting themselves. Love comes in many forms. It may be for our family, parents, siblings, friends, special someones, partners in life, children, pet, things that we treasure most and God. Sometimes we tend to cross the line from what is good or bad, moral or not, right or wrong... when it comes to love. Our minds know if what's the right thing to do in such situation that we are in sometimes. But when the heart gets in the way, it influences a big change in those decisions we make. Wrong becomes right in our eyes. Blinding us somehow as we fight for someone special who has that space in our hearts. There were times when it is over yet we push through not knowing that we are hurting some people around us or that person we treasure most. Love in some way makes it hard for us to let go of someone in our arms, in our lives... for it is more painful when we willingly invested our emotions on someone. Sometimes love teaches us to let go if its not really meant to be. It's tough but made easy for we wanted the person to be free and happy as we try to move on with our own. When we know how to love, it seems that we can do everything. Everyday is happy and in good mode like no one else can annoy you or can ruin your day. It inspires us to build dreams and have new hope. Eventhough, love as an inspiration when overly done may turn into desperation and possessive and hopefully not destructive. Suffering when done out of love is genuine sacrifice and divine that doesn't wait for anything in return. While suffering against our will is punishment and curse itself.

In this world we live in... we love and we wanted to be loved. It makes us sad to be rejected and not to be loved back by the people we value. We're in search to find that someone whom we can love and serve and who can love and serve us back. Intellect can enable us on how to live but love on its part fuels us to move on and face what life has to offer as it provides us wisdom. It's nice to imagine that out of love... our world can be a better place to dwell in.

How about you... who loves you?

photo courtesy of: Amie's On-line Diary

THE CURIOUS CASE OF VALENTINE MADNESS written by: Sukito

It was last year of the same day! I woke up that one cold morning preoccupied with lots of things going on in my mind. Whenever I open my eyes, my glass window will be the first one to greet me “good morning”, and beside it is a huge calendar with a nude sexy star. Then, I saw the date with an “X” mark. And it was February 14. It was another Valentines day! So what’s new? It will be just another regular day that have had revolved in routines. I cleaned up and then turned on the television.
In the news, people were so busy buying flowers, chocolates and some lovey dovey stuff. I changed the channel, and there’s some news again reporting the promo rate of other hotels and motels and even inns this season including commercializing places or sweet getaways where you can take your date with a budget saving discount. Some were cheap but nice. Some were expensive yet formal. Actually, may it be a fine dine-in or a simple restaurant, or maybe in the street eating “isaw” and doing HHWW (Holding Hands While Walking), just in case you don’t know… a date will always be a date. It’s the moment that you’ve shared with each other that really counts.
If you want another gimmick for your loved ones, you can take her/him in any Valentine concert of your choice. There’s plenty of soundtripping choices during the love month. First and foremost, there’s the undying concert of David Pomeranz every Valentine while he sings “Got to Believe” and “Born For You” every year over and over again. There’s also some reunion concert of Martin and Pops (and breaking apart again after the show), local divas and balladeers (even those of the long time ago) and pop icons who had won in any talent/singing reality show, even some classic foreign love singers will come here just to have their musical event without you knowing that they were still alive until now and can sing in front of you and will make you believe that they exist in full color. But personally, I would rather go on with a date in a “rock concert”, may it be local or foreign… just to enjoy the whole day with an adrenaline rush. If some guys out there, think that it was a “noise” and wants a more solemn moment. Sit back with your date in a couch at home ’til “Dr. Love” hit the airwaves in DZMM after dinner. And its up to you if what’s gonna happen next…
Anyways, I’ve got up and gone out of the house. God! I was quite surprised and awed by the situation outside. It was like a “Panagbenga Festival” in Baguio. And I almost forgot that I’am not in Baguio. There’s flowers everywhere in the market. With candies and chocolates in heart-shaped appearance! Not to forget the dying industry of Valentine cards. Panicking folks were all over my sight going back and forth and buying those love stuffs. I just can’t imagine if what’s with them and they have to do it in full effort that day! What’s the big deal with the 14th day of February? Can’t they give flowers and share their love everyday or in anyday for the rest of the year? Why do most lovers wants to attend “Lova Palooza” and show the world how they kissed each other with great passion in the big screen though some were just obviously faking it and only wants publicity or to be seen in television. Well, It’s not bad after all to be a part of such world record and boast up to your friends and family saying, “Hey… I’m one of those guys in the news who kissed in public during that celebrated event!”. How was that!?
For a moment, I figured out that I was overpowered by the sense of practicality and of spending money wisely during crisis. I felt like I was the “Valentine Grinch” at that time… the one who hates “Heart’s Day”. And that I’ve thought of quite mean things against love… yet I got a slight point. Exciting and sweet emotions have been swimming beneath the surface for a busy year of work and studies. And today, February 14, is its time to emerge!!!
Suddenly, I have realized that I’ve bought a bunch of red roses too with dark chocolate to match up my sweetness for my girl. And I almost forgot that I am also compromised to meet someone in that “Lova Palooza” day! God! I’m a victim of ” Valentine Madness” too… I’m such a loser… LOL.