Category: Mutya Perspective

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LRT/MRT slapdash security worrisome

Despite President Duterte’s declaration of “State of Lawlessness” after the bombing of the night market in Davao that killed 14 and injured over 60 individuals, still the security at LRT and MRT stations are seemingly in a relaxed mode.

Earlier, when I took an LRT ride in Boni station going to Shaw, I expected a more stringent security check knowing that Metro Manila is already in a heightened alert following attacks and bombing threats. More so, tons of information in social media were already circulating warning the public to be vigilant for possible suicide bombing attacks in public and overcrowded places.

The train station which is the major transport system in Metro Manila is an excellent target should terrorist decide to cause high number of casualties.

If we are going to learn from past train station attacks for example the 2010 Moscow Metro bombings were suicide bombings carried out by two women during the morning rush hour of March 29, 2010 where at least 40 people were killed, and over 100 injured. (Wikipedia)

Also, the 2004 Madrid train bombings on the morning of 11 March 2004 – three days before Spain’s general elections. The explosions killed 192 people and injured around 2,000. (Wikipedia)

These attacks should become the working precedent of our security measures, now that we are battling faceless enemies who want to spread misery and havoc in the country. A bombing in any of our train station in the country will surely paralyze most of the business districts not to mention the number of possible casualties.

The LRT and MRT management now should increase their security capabilities, plan and design emergency response protocols in times of emergency especially bombing. I hope that the transportation department now take the preventive stance rather than the old and usual post facto interventions.

Let’s elevate our measures by being more intelligent than our enemies. It is through with adequate preparation that we would be able to protect the general welfare and safety of the public.

Don’t wait for an attack to occur before acting on the threat. Now that change has come, it’s time also to change our approach. We cannot afford seeing a burning train, during rush hour with roads blocked by traffic and dead, charred, dismembered bodies on the street.

#Mutya

Photo credit: http://blog.vroomvroomvroom.com/

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The other side of LGBT love.

I am a first-hand witness on how their sugary relationship had started.  It was like a fairy tale which I closely tracked for a year and a month, before it finally reaches the season finale. It is disheartening seeing that two heartstrings are disbanded because of physical —————————————-distance.

It was I think, May last year, when I first saw them together.  Upon opening the door of our apartment located at the fourth floor in Makati, I always see their shadows hugging, eating while sharing one spoon, and sometimes giving the other a pleasurable massage. It was like watching the El Gamma Penumbra performing their act of love. Their message to the viewing public—respect the love we have.

In my mind, “what a scene”!

There were times when one prepares the food for the other. Well, during that time, I don’t have someone to pack my own food before I go to hospital. But inside my consciousness, were feelings of happiness and excitement. Imagine, two lovely men could even love and live like real husband and wife. And I was their (yaya).

There is hope in an LGBT relationship. There is an excitement.  I forced myself to believe.

When I and my friend left Makati for Pasig, the sweet relationship continued. It even survived the traffic of EDSA. In fact, they always see each other in SM Megamall where they watch movies together, eat in a pizza parlour, buy couple shirts, beauty products and read some books.  Every time I see them together, even after our exodus from Makati, my faith in love over lust significantly prospers.

Not until today.

Distance and physical absence cut the threads of their love. This news makes me queasy. I am not good in giving advice, especially about love. I want to extend some help but this is not my area of specialty.

LGBT relationships are complex. It has special needs, it is unique.

This is different. Yes, I am a fairy tale lover; I could always visualize the ending.  I am as well a fan of love story movies; I could even predict their script. But aside from these, I am, in my own right, an expert in creating LGBT love stories.

In my composition, I can play with the characters. I can make them have sex inside fully booked in BGC, I can command the characters to have some adventure in Sagada where they eventually found out their sexuality, I can kill a character, I can modify their traits, I can make him fall in love unconditionally.

Despite my passion in writing about homosexuals falling in love and even succeed in having one, (I have an award winning piece which I want to share here soon), I can feel that I am powerless and useless.

Tonight, I want to rewrite their love story, I want to alter the plot, but in reality, though, I want to close the distance, just for my friend to finally be with his lover again, as in tonight, I am not a magician, nor I am not God.

Now, I have no choice but to accept that there is another side of this kind of relationship. Their story goes on a different route as expected, but it’s only time and fate that can predict the finality. Now, I want to see both of them happy, in their own separate ways. I want to bless them with high hopes and positivism that after the rain, a rainbow will appear, and sooner or later, when wounds are already healed, they will face again, hopefully, as stronger characters as before, ready to love again.

Love,

Mutya

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Paano makakuha ng True Love sa Pasig Mega Market

May nagtext, sabi niya bakit hindi ka na nagsusulat sa brightgays. I told him, “I don’t have any inspiration to write.

Medyo napatagal ang reply niya.

“Open your FB messenger.”, reply niya.

Binuksan ko naman ito at yun, lumabas ang picture niya.

Nakita ko ang Saturn, Uranus, Neptune at Pluto. Pumasok ulit ang kapangyarihan sa aking katawan. Kaya ito na susulat na ako ulit para sa mga tagasubaybay ng Brightgays.

Kahit favourite ko yung eleksyon at mga anik-anik sa politika, I will put this on the sidelines for now. This week we will explore the mysteries of the Pasig Market and how will you find meaning and love on it. Hali ka, tuklasin natin ang Pasig Palengke, ang isa sa pinakamalaking public market sa Maynila.

Ang aking  araw ay hindi kompleto kung hindi ako makakadaan sa Pasig Palengke. Ito ay compulsory para makadating sa bahay. Bagamat naiinis minsan dahil sa masangsang nitong amoy ay may mga araw ding nasisiyahan ako.

Sino-sino ang makikita sa Pasig Palengke?

Mga bruskong lalaki sa Meat Section:

Pagpasok mo sa Palengke ay makikita mo ang nagbebenta ng karne.  Kung gusto mong makakita ng mga macho at naghuhubaran na mga kalalakihan ay ito ang section na para sa inyo. Pero walang nakabra dito. Usually, ang men to women ratio sa meat section ay 9:1. Ito ay nagpapakita lang na kung karne ang pinag-uusapan unang-una ang mga lalaki. Katulad ng pag-ibig, mag-ingat ka, dahil minsan akala mo sariwa ang karne yun pala ay double dead na, sawi, naghihintay lang ng may bibili, mura, at nakakamatay. Pero huwag kang magkamali dahil matalim ang kutsilyo ng mga lalaki sa meat section. Makamandag sila.

Mga maiingat na kamay ng mga lalaki sa vegetable section:

Dito mo makikita ang mga lalaking nagbebenta ng samot saring mga gulay. Patok na patok dito ang talong, upo, sitaw at iba pa. Kung laki at haba ang batayan mo sa pag-ibig, dito ka sa vegetable section. Sabihin mo ang laki at haba na gusto mo at ibibigay nila. Napapasaya ka ba sa haba at laki ng isang pag-iibigan? Ang mga lalaki dito ay mahinhin, ang mga kamay ay maingat dahil ayaw nilang masugatan ang mga dahon at gulay. Minsan may kamahalan lang ang mga gulay nila.

Mga matatamis na ngiti ng mga lalaki sa fruit Section:

O, ngayon, kung wala pa din kayong napupusuan ay punta na tayo sa fruit section. Ito ang isa sa mga malini sa section sa pasig. Dito yata maraming mga lalaki na nakapormada, nakapaligo at mababango. Makikilala mo sila kung nakangiti sila paparating ka pa lang. Sasabihan ka na matamis ang pag-ibig nila yun pala hilaw pa. May iba naman na sasabihan ka na special ang prutas yun pala galing lang sa bakuran lang nila. Matatamis magsalita ang mga nasa Fruit section kaya pisilin niyong mabuti at maging mabusisi sa pagpili ng mga prutas. Tandaan baka artificial ang ginamit na pampahinog dito.

Iyan ang tatlo sa mga lalaki na nakilala ko sa Pasig Mega Market. May mga myembro naman ng minority block sila ang :

mga nagtitinda ng buko juice na nagpapakitang gilas sa pagbalat ng buko, pero minsan mas maraming tubig gripo Vs tubig galing sa buko,

ang mga lalaki na nagtitinda ng damit pambabae, kahit hindi bagay at maganda sa iyo ay ipipilit talaga,

ang lalaki na nagbebenta ng bigas, maraming brand, may sticky, clingy rice, meron namang mumurahin na tumitigas habang tumatagal, may black rice, may mabangong rice,

may mga lalaki ding nagbebenta ng halo-halo na pati pawis niya ay nagiging sahog na sa paninda,

at may mga lalaki na nagbebenta ng plastic kahit pinagbabawal na.

Ngayon, ipinakita ko sa inyo ang Pasig Mega Market sa ibang perspektibo. Oo, mabaho ito pero ito ang katotohanan, ang mundo at buhay ng tao ay hindi mabango sa lahat ng panahon. We have our own taste kung ano ang nakakahiligan mong kainin.

Karne ba? Gulay? Prutas? Buko Juice? Platic?

(This article is part of Mutya Perspective- using new lenses to ordinary things and events.)