1) The Philippines. Any aspect. It has intensified since my stay in Japan. Filipinos abroad do either two things: a) pretend they're not Filipino or b) become extremely proud of being one. I am the latter. I'm guilty of launching on spontaneous, detailed stories about Philippine anecdotes, historical events, famous people, politics, education, food, music, and other cultural facts in the most random of occurences. Then again, most international students always relate things during certain situations, especially if you are in a foreign country. Filipinos in general also do either of two: a) say everything good about the Philippines, so as not to cast it in a negative light, or b) bitch about their own country. I am neither. I praise our crazy antics, our values, our beautiful, natural scenery, but I am not ashamed to tell everyone that Manila is one of the dirtiest cities in the planet. Questions get frank answers. I am also quick to inform everyone that Divisoria, if you brave the sweat, stench, and occasional pickpocket, is a goldmine. I can't stop talking about my own country like I'm some sort of walking Philippine encyclopedia that now all my friends are VERY curious and want to visit. They even want to go to Divisoria and Quiapo. Haha!

2) Politics. Not just Philippine politics, which is utter bullshit, but world politics. (Also the reason why my mom not-so-subtly suggests that I should be a lawyer, BIG NO!) This includes talk about the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, Human Rights issues in China and parts of Africa, Southeast Asian corruption, etc etc which is also closely linked to

3) Social issues. THE ISSUES. Oh god, I can go on forever and ever, I will never get bored. If you begin with women's rights I have this raging speech ready. I can also talk about gay and lesbian rights for hours, as well as the rights of the working class. This is the topic closest to my heart. I know these issues do not often show up in my journal, which is because I'd rather discuss them in person than type it down.

4) The future. I am so certain of what I want to be, how I want to live my life, what steps I want to take, that sometimes it scares me because I am too idealistic. I love listening to other people's plans for the future as well. It really interests me to know about your plans too :)

5) Random facts about movies, books, art, and music. I would hear a song on the radio and say, "Oh, this line was actually written by Ringo Starr." I would love to participate in a full debate on any of Stanley Kubrick's films, and quote passages from my favourite books during normal conversations. I like the whole process of discussing while producing or observing artwork.

6) NOSTALGIA OF THE 90s. Recently I am not very interested in anime anymore, but tell me a scene from Dragonball or Yuyu Hakusho and I would recount each episode with you in utter glee. I love talking about Mexican soap operas, old Filipino kid's shows, cheesy American shows like Baywatch and Rescue 911, Western boybands and girlbands, fashion (what the hell were we thinking?!), unhealthy snacks, and old places that were bulldozed and now replaced by a Mcdonald's or KFC.

7) All these things made me realize that I am one, huge, geek/nerd/dork, and I talk too much. When I was in primary school, I got the "Most Inquisitive" award. Which means I pester others with questions to cram all the information I can get in my head and can't wait to tell everyone about it, even if they don't want/need to know. I don't just want to talk though, I want to listen too, because that's how I receive information. I thrive in discussion! I can't imagine myself not having an opinion, or not having a reason to express it when necessary (which is also why all my close friends are very opinionated and liberal, I realized).

THINGS THAT MAKE ME SHUT UP (OH GOD, FINALLY)

Watching a good movie. Checking LJ. ;) Reading a good book. Listening to a good track. Reading good books while surrounded with close friends. Just hanging with my sister, idly drinking coffee, or most likely eating something. Comfortable silences with the people I love the most.

(I was about to prepare making a happy entry about my birthday when this shit greeted me:)

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20091112-235820/Comelec-rejects-gays-partylist-group

In an eight-page resolution dated Nov. 11, the Comelec Second Division states Ang Ladlad’s petition “must fail” because homosexuality offends the morals and goes against Christian and Muslim faiths.

“Should this Commission grant the petition, we will be exposing our youth to an environment that does not conform to the teachings of our faith,” the Second Division ruling states.

***


1) Ang Ladlad is not even asking for something as "huge" as gay marriage (which I support, but lol catholic church!). They're taking things one step at a time. They are simply asking for more legal protection and acknowledgement of gay rights violations as HUMAN rights violations.

2) If I may quote Article III, Section 5 of the Philippine Constitution: No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

The Comelec's response is a direct violation of the Constitution. State and church must be separate in civil and political matters. Must, but while political leaders continue to do backflips for the bishops, this section will never be followed.

3) Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights is sitting on its ass.

4) ZOMG PROTECT THE YOUTH FROM THE EVIL HOMOSEXUAL DEVILS! They are obviously going to corrupt the minds of our children, prompting them to fornicate with chickens, because TWO WOMEN HAVING SEX IS EQUAL TO A SICK MAN HUMPING A COW.

5) The Philippine government has so many strikes that in my radical, idealized Philippines I wish I could just shoot them all down so we can start over. Tabularasa, if you will. Then again, if I so much as voice my opinion, I will be stalked and shot down, and that's a violation of Article III, Section 18 -- but who gives a shit anyway?

MAGIC TEMPLE.

Ito siguro para sa akin ang pinaka "feel-good" na pelikulang pinoy. Isa siya sa aking mga paborito hanggang ngayon, at kaya ko siyang panoorin ng paulit-ulit at di ako magsasawa ♥ Napakalaking bahagi ng kabataan ko ang Magic Temple, kaya kahit ngayon nagtataka ako kung saan na napunta ang mga artista nito dahil KRAS na KRAS ko sila lol (si Marc Solis at Jason Salcedo nag-aartista pa yata, pero minsan mga supporting characters or indie nalang. Si Junell Hernando ay stinalk ko sa google at mukhang nagmigrate na siya sa States at may asawa na, Caucasian pa. Lol sinaunang chismis! Choz!)

Pinili ko mag-Pilipino sa post na ito kasi a) kailangan kong magsanay at b) Pilipino lang ang makakapag-express ng aking pagmamahal para sa Magic Temple. AHAHAHAHAY! May ganon! So go ahead lang pag may nakita kayong maling grammar para aayusin ko kaagad!


( Magic Temple = Balikan ang Nakaraan. Naks! May screencaps at kung anu-anong kalandian )

TRIVIA: The names of the three main characters has national symbolism in it. Jubal is an Igorot, a tribe from Luzon; Sambag is a Visayan word from the Visayas and Omar is a name found among the Moslem tribes of Mindanao. The names, therefore, accounts for the Philippines major islands.

In the internet we see a lot of gay art that focuses on the female market -- and this comes in the form of Japanese anime style. And while I do like the anime style, it is obvious that my tastes veer towards the "muscular type" gay art. Some fans who love bara ridicule anime art, saying that the guys are too girly -- and while I agree that they are too girly, I don't want to ridicule people who like girly guys. I mean, there ARE effeminate men in the world, and I am friends with some of them. It's simply a matter of preference.

However, girly bishounen in Japanese manga ARE consciously geared towards the female market, while we have those that focus on the gay market. I've discussed this in a former post, the comparison between gay art for girls and gay art for gays. My French gay friend last semester gave an interesting Japanese guide book to me entitled GAY NAVI, which tells you all the gay bars, clubs, massage parlors, shops, etc. found in Japan (especially in Tokyo). It's awesome but a bit disturbing because he marked the places he'd been to and put "X" or encircled them showing whether he liked the place or not. DUNDUNDUN

Anyway, included in GAY NAVI are lists of artists who draw gay manga or art, along with their websites. This gave me inspiration to make a recommendation list of Gay Art sites, not just Japanese ones but the Western style ones as well. I found TONS in the internet, and it felt weird, being a girl and looking at all these art that are obviously for the gay eyes only. I shall share them anyway, because I think they're hot. :P



( Mushroom's Top Gay Art Artists | NOT WORKSAFE AT ALL )

DISCLAIMER: ALL THE LINKS WITHIN ARE NOT SAFE FOR WORK. We are talking about hardcore man-on-man action. Some are very graphic and include certain kinks and fetishes. We are not talking about shiney, shaved penises in here. However, if you have an open, mature mind and are okay with viewing these things (and you are over 18) I really suggest you try them out at least.

I also made some icons out of my favourite artists' work. There is absolutely no need to credit me, but please NEVER forget to credit the artists!

Samples:

( Icons within )

One of my fondest memories of studying in an all-girl's Catholic school was the special topic on Sex. Our Health teacher, with all seriousness, told us:

"Masturbation is a mortal sin. As long as you have impure thoughts, you are already committing a sin."

Recently, the Philippine government has revived the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008, and of course, in a predominantly Roman Catholic country, it is now sparking controversy. The bill promotes correct Sex Education, access to modern family planning, focus on women's rights, information about HIV/AIDs viruses, prevention of abortion, etc. Like what every other country has been doing.

According to the Church (which targets all its attention on the "access to modern family planning" portion), this act is equal to murder; instead it PROMOTES abortion, pre-marital sex, and other dastardly deeds. Their argument is that if we are allowed to use preventive measures for birth, we will use it liberally and therefore have sex anytime we wish, WITH anyone, and it'll be like the next rising of Sodom and Gomorrah where every person, in feverish excitement over the freedom to use condoms and birth pills, will immediately rut and fornicate with reckless abandon.

WE ARE ALL HAVING SEX ANYWAY. The Philippines is a small country with over 90 MILLION people, and this doesn't include the uncounted little children running around the streets and those hiding in foreign nations.92% of pregnancies are unintended. Poor families having 10 or more children is a fact of life. And, in destitute mothers' desperate attempts to stop giving birth, resort to crude means of abortion anyway -- they buy those strange, unhealthy quack medicine from Quiapo, or go to an unprofessional abortionist in some hidden, dirty area of the slums. Will you blame these people when they can't feed their fifteen children? One solution of the Catholic Church is the Rhythm Method. They assume that we are idiots. We all know that it DOESN'T WORK. They expect us to have sex at particular days of the month; NO ONE likes having schedules. Either that or we can just all be priests and nuns and stop having sex. Hurrah!

The air is changing. Filipinos are realizing that these times, we can't afford to be blind anymore. More and more politicians are backing the Reproductive Bill. Others, the cowards, side with the Church, knowing that the Church has a big audience. These cowards are the same cowards who go to church diligently every Sunday, in their luxury cars, while keeping at least three or more mistresses at the side.

In a country that prides itself to be forward, we are still stuck in the Medieval Ages. The government, which is supposed to be separate from the influence of the church, still cowers on its knees when the Catholic Bishops order them to do something. Abortion is illegal, but it happens almost everyday in the poorest places. We are at the Top Ten in the world for Gender Equality, but in this issue the authorities refuse to acknowledge that a woman's body is her own, and that she has to right to protect it. There's a solution to ridding abortions, and that is prevention. Most countries of the world get it. We don't.

Tweets from Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, director and main actor of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, respectively:

@edgarwright: Me and @simonpegg once wrote some Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman slash fiction. It was called HOT FUZZ...(applause)

@simonpegg: All power to the slashers I say. I'm deeply flattered that anyone would take mine and
@edgarwright's balls and run with them.

@edgarwright: You want HOT FUZZ slash fiction? You got HOT FUZZ slash fiction. http://bit.ly/EU8SY Enjoy...

@simonpegg: Please don't mistake my faint arousal for discomfort.

@edgarwright: I too am deeply flattered by the slashers. I say all power to handstitched homoerotica.

@edgarwright: I have been sent several links to apparently much filthier HOT FUZZ slash fiction. I have not clicked..as yet.

@edgarwright: More HOT FUZZ slash fiction for those who enjoy Angel & Danny's stolen glances... http://joandarck.greekedtex...

@edgarwright: I think I have opened a lusty can of worms...

@simonpegg: @edgarwright "said Danny as he unbuttoned Angel's police issue riot suit"

NICK FROST JOINS IN ON THE FANFIC READING:

@nickjfrost: @simonpegg "That's a lovely big truncheon." said Danny.

@simonpegg: @nickjfrost "said Angel", not meaning a damn word of it.

[edit] CLICK THE TWEETS, THEY'RE NOW WRITING THEIR OWN FIC!

@edgarwright: All this steamy talk of Danny & Angel is sending me toward the 19,000 followers mark. You filthy bitches.

***

HOT FUZZ SLASH FANDOM: NOW WITH OFFICIAL APPROVAL

I don't know whether to be joyful, excited, or extremely disturbed. I am blushing hardcore right now!

If you haven't watched Hot Fuzz, do it. Now. In the words of Danny Butterman: THIS SHIT JUST GOT REAL

/P.S. itako and Matthew just read NC-17 slash fanfiction of Captain Haddock/Tintin aloud to me and I will never be the same innocent I once was.

In less than a month my birthday will be ambling along so I've made a happy birthday wishlist!

1. Fanfic/fanart/original story/original art of anything. ANYTHING. Be it porn, your favourite characters, pancakes with syrup, your mom, anything. Go crazy! It will be loved. ♥
2. Black Wade: The Wild Side of Love = the single most hilarious thing in the universe right now
3. THIS. WARNING: Not safe for work, may send you laughing all over the floor. Mmm, Nick Frost, why so SEEEXXYYY

4. For my family to be able to visit here in Tokyo :) Best birthday and christmas gift ever!
5. Sinigang and Adobo mixes (or any Filipino dish mixes), Nestea, Lucky Me Pancit Canton (preferably the spicy one), Century Tuna, Chocnut. For my birthday I plan on cooking a Filipino-themed feast for my dormmates (in the Philippines, the custom is that the birthday celebrant TREATS her/his friends, instead of the other way around).

In other news, things are looking great. I'm staying over my Japanese host family next week, we have a BBQ buddy trip after the Meiji Gakuin buddy-organized Halloween Party, and itako and I got tickets to see Suga Shikao and Franz Ferdinand in November! ♥ My only worry is that I still don't know WHAT I'll be wearing for Halloween. Any suggestions for the costume? Goth/loli/maid doesn't count because it's ick on me.

1)...I will stop being obsessed with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. I've recently been viewing Spaced episodes and I am now quoting every line and imagining things. My French friend who stays in the next room told me that she can hear me laughing my arse off. I have been "accidentally" watching Hot Fuzz several times, when I suddenly remember a part of the film I really like.

Also, I just belatedly realized that I have actually SEEN Simon Pegg in person during the Star Trek premiere in Tokyo, but back then I only knew him as the Shaun of the Dead guy (I loved him, though not as much, and not as obsessive) and I was too busy slobbering over Zachary Quinto and John Cho. Now I want to kill myself for not forcing my way through the deathly silent Japanese crowd and screaming his holy name. IT'S JUST TOO TRAGIC

2)...I will stop reading fanfic all the time. To be fair, I hit a record high state of drunkenness last Friday (I vomited at least eight times, told a British dude he was being a dick, and numerous people claimed to have carried me to my room) and I went to tabehoudai, karaoke AND the gay club yesterday, but nothing brings me more joy than burying myself under the sheets and reading stories. Stories that have arrested my attentions are the complete volumes of Sherlock Holmes, which I reread every night before going to bed, underlining the really homoerotic parts in my head to be relayed to my friends the next morning.

3) Going back to fanfic, due to athena_crikey's rec I have been following the Ordinary World series by i_am_a_spy, a post-apocalyptic AU Watchmen story featuring Nite Owl/Rorschach. It's clever, dark, and very well-written; I am seriously hooked.

katieforsythe just recently updated with Hallowed Be Thy Name, another Holmes/Watson masterpiece. I mostly just stared at the screen in open-mouthed awe while I was reading it. I sometimes shouted. It has everything you would love in a Holmes' story -- a dark, riveting case, Holmes' and Watson's deepening, if fucked-up relationship, Holmes and Mycroft's complex dynamic, and even a stubborn, yet loveable Lestrade. It's too good for words, and I can only wish that she continue writing forever. READ IT GUYS

4) GEORGE TAKEI IS MY INSPIRATION.

5)...I should stop denying my obsessions when they are painfully obvious. They always begin in that fashion; In the beginning I would deny ever liking all my favourite pairings or characters, and now I even write/draw for them, or search every single thing about them. Now I am resigned to my weird behavior.

Granted, I have not looked for DBSK's YunJae fanfic yet! I may have watched a few videos and saved a few photos, but at least I am miles away from reading fandom material! Not all hope is lost!

I've been quite down in the dumps since last week -- stemming from days of worry and female pains and facebook being the shitter -- and I've been cooping up in my room for a week, watching movies, attempting to write poems, and reading fanfiction.

Fanfiction is my not-so-guilty pleasure. I assume arrogant literary types think that fanfics are crap, but for me they are not only a form of expression, but it can be a legitimate exercise. Have you ever read something that was so good, you believe that it deserves to be published but it can't, because it is not "original" material? I have, and it makes me think deeply about my "pastime" every time. There are so many shit published writers out there (lol Judith McNaught), and so many excellent fanfic writers (though the atrocious ones get more publicity *ehem* weepingcock) but when you do find one you like, it is most often really, really swell.

I confess that good fanfiction (or my favourite writers) pull me into a fandom. Of course, I have to be interested in the source material in the first place, but my desire to actually participate in the fandom only comes when the fandom is in a healthy state.

I love reading good fanfic. What sucks me in the fandom and reduces me to an obsessive, secretive fan are fanfics that are REALLY good. So when people ask me "what is your favourite fanfic?" I will enumerate too many of them, but when someone asks me "what fanfic do you recommend the most?" I have a ready answer. The difference? there's always that certain fanfic that pulls you in and pins you, and you read more and more and you are never the same. So, without further ado:

LIST of Fanfics that Convinced me to Join My Fandoms
a.k.a. I Am Recommending These Because I Want To Convert You, Hehe

( Click for the List! )

All in alphabetical form, baby. Because working on this is better than memorizing 60 fucking kanji, boo-yeah! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. :)

P.S. Has everyone else forgotten about scans_daily? My heart still aches when I remember . I haven't moved on, I'm afraid.

I AM NOW TALKING TO MY BROTHER. HE WENT TO WORK. THE NEWS IS SO GREAT THAT I AM CRYING.

DURING THE STORM, MY HOUSE BECAME A REFUGE. MY FAMILY TOOK CARE OF AT LEAST THREE HUGE FAMILIES, THREE PEDICAB DRIVERS, AMONG OTHERS. THE FLOODS HAVE SUBSIDED BUT THERE IS STILL NO ELECTRICITY, SO I HAVEN'T TALKED TO MY MOTHER AND SISTER YET.

The floods reached the roofs of our neighbor's houses. I thank my father for his great insight -- it was he who really wanted to rebuild our house and make it high. Even then, the waters still reached inside our first floor until knee level. All our furniture and our car were submerged in waters.

The school right next to our house was severely flooded, and a lot of school books and materials were lost.

ALSO, RED CROSS LIED: THEY NEVER WENT TO PARK PLACE VILLAGE. MY FAMILY AND OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE NOT RECEIVED HELP. That is why I implore that while we are fine, please continue to donate and send help to the people of Cainta, because many people have lost their food and belongings to the storm.

...I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF MY FAMILY AND I THINK THEY ARE FUCKING AMAZING. I AM SO GLAD THAT THEY ARE ALRIGHT, AND STILL DOING THEIR BEST. Imagine fitting all those people on the second floor of our house, even when NO HELP CAME. THEY ARE THE BEST!

(P.S. Everyone let's all hold hands and channel our thoughts to one thing: DO NOT LET TYPHOON PEPING HIT THE PHILIPPINES TOMORROW.)

As you all know, or probably not because CNN is more focused on news about Sarah Palin and her bullshit, the Luzon region of the Philippines was devastated by typhoon Ketsana. Thousands of people were left stranded on the rooftops of their homes, and the places that were badly hit were Marikina and Cainta, my home town, where the floods were beyond human height. Dozens of people are dead or missing. I still cannot contact my family directly, but I received message thru friends that they are fine, but shaken. Electricity is still down and there are no cellphone signals.

I am worried sick over my friends and family in Cainta and Marikina because of no contact, but I hear that the waters are slowly subsiding. With that said, I ask help from YOU, dear f-list to at least send all your positive thoughts and energies to the victims of this typhoon. Or better yet, if you can send monetary or in-kind donations to THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS, it would be wonderful. Paypal, checks, credit cards will be greatly appreciated. Relief goods are in high demand however: food items, toiletries, materials for home repair, etc.

Thank you very much, guys. Kindly click the link above to see how you can donate. I may be far away from home, but I'll be doing my best. Also, if you and your family are okay, please leave me a message.

I am so fucking worried right now. Right now there's a massive rainstorm in Metro Manila that has thousands of people stranded and are left standing on the roofs of their homes. According to the International news, the worst floods are in Marikina, Pasig, and Cainta, where my family is staying.

Our house is one of the highest houses in our area, because you have to climb stairs before entering the actual first floor of the house. And yet I received mail from Mark who texted my sister -- the floodwaters have reached inside the house, until knee-level, which means that the rest of the houses in the neighborhood are completely submerged. This was hours ago, and the rain hasn't stopped yet. The rivers have overflowed and the dam has been destroyed. According to our Mayor, who was also stranded atop a dump truck, the whole town is underwater.

I am frustrated, worried, and I've been crying. I feel literally ill. I know that my family is safe, and they are probably also helping other families in the neighborhood, but I just feel so fucking helpless here in Japan, where I'm so far away and international calling is complete bullshit and I can't contact them anymore. Phone lines are dead, and there is no signal.

PLEASE BE SAFE, EVERYONE. I FEEL SO HELPLESS RIGHT NOW, BUT I HOPE YOU ARE ALL OKAY. I will be sending all positive energies.

ALSO, IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE OKAY, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU CAN.

So, I've been drawing! And since itako has a scanner, I was able to upload my drawings. It was really difficult to relearn photoshop again (haven't touched it in months) but I wanted to post crack so here it is!


I am a teaser, whoooo

Click to see new Geek Boy comic strips, a Saint Young Men sketch, and um, a Hot Fuzz fanart. DON'T JUDGE ME

Had some realizations while looking through my backlog of bookmarked websites and internet memories, seeing all the fandoms I've joined in the past. Truth be told, I haven't been active in fandom lately -- only been lurking and such. However, when I feel sad, I tend to a) watch my favourite movies all over again and b) read my favourite fanfics. It's kind of pathetic, isn't it? I realized that I tend to gravitate towards a fandom if the people there are generous and kind, but also mostly because of the quality of the fanfics. I know some people look down on fanfic as something that is inferior to the original, but there are SO MANY wonderful plots and characters and ideas developed through them. It makes me wonder if they do hold merit after all, or if we're all just stuck in a fantasy world.

Screw that, anyway. It's my comfort drug. Also, fandom makes me happy, and when I'm particularly obsessed with one it tends to become really shameful. You know you're far gone if you name your Pokemon characters "Angel" and "Danny" and keep a peace lily in your bedroom. Also, my laptop wallpaper and doodles in my nihongo notes? Men in police uniforms. I am the sappiest, corniest piece of shit.


Poll #1458383 FANDOOOM
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 22

What makes you join a fandom?

What do you do after joining one?

Just how obsessed with ____ fandom are you? What do you do?

Are you excited for the next and final installment of the "Blood and Ice Cream" Trilogy?

CLAMP HAS BEEN READING FANFICTION FROM LIVEJOURNAL.

THAT IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE CONCLUSION.