On Dog Bites and Rites of Passage

I had a long walk this morning. I did an hour, for the first time, but I think I'm doing an hour when I attend my sister's aerobic classes. I think I might have overdid it though. My feet are in a little pain almost the whole day. But I should say it is kinda worth it. It must have been good. I enjoyed my music because there were less distractions (read: less dogs around). A stranger I know who lives at the entrance of the irrigation told me this morning that one of the dogs (probably he's the only dog) that scares people there has been poisoned - deliberately - by its owner. Lola said that the dog bit one person some time ago, prompting his owners to kill him. 

I remember when I was bitten by a dog. I can't remember exactly when. I think it was back in 1997, but I really can't be sure. The dog's owner kept him leashed at the backyard until the 14th day. I am not really sure if it was because of tradition or it is based on science. It was said that you have to keep the dog alive and observe it. If something happens errr... with me(?), we will have to get something from the dog's brain to heal me. But, I am here... and they killed the dog about three weeks after it bit me.

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I was surfing the tv when I chanced upon a NatGeo show: Lonely Planet's Road Less Travelled. They went somewhere in China, in a place where the two remaining women with the traditional tattoo on their, well, it turned out, on their faces, live. Their faces are tattooed like in the middle and it was said that this is being done to women as a rite of passage. This is also to make them look less pleasing. For some reason, I didn't hear.

I, then remembered how I resent one thing in Dubai. Previous law requires people holding Visit Visas to exit to neighboring countries once their visa expire. Last May 2007, I had to exit and was booked to Kish Island, Iran. This would mean that ladies are required to wear their traditional woman's dress upon entering the Immigrations right there at the airport. Shelas and Abayas are provided which you can borrow for the rest of your stay. I have my own so I didn't have to. Mine was an improvised version, but I passed the Immigrations, so I passed with now issues. I remember some of my companions who brought their improvised shelas and abayas did not pass and had to settle for those available at the airport. I resent and I always felt violated whenever I am required to wear the shela and abaya, even if it is as improvised as what I wore. But what can we do, when in Rome, blah blah, blah. I guess I could say I am lucky that I only have to do this twice.

If not for this, though, the exit would have been just okay. In fact, I see it as a rite of passage in Dubai. My room mates (in Dubai) and I agreed that your Dubai experience is not as complete if you did not experience the stress, agony and excitement of 'exiting.'

All Those Violins

I am reading this book "Gomorrah," by Robert Saviano (you can find my comments here) and there is a part there I read yesterday which reminded me so much of what happened last November 23.

The Maguindanao Massacre happened the day I was operated that is why I will never forget that date. But even if it happened on other days, who would forget? We have seen much on t.v: the backhoe, the bodies, the pick-up, the car. Everything.

The book was about the other mafia in Italy. I was reading about the Camorra's weaponry and how their defense and security works not only for the clan, but also for the people who gives money to the clan - those drug users. They not only protect their empire but the people around them.

I guess it was the description of the weapons and how they work on their security that reminded me so much of the massacre. I guess all the spotlight was suddenly focused on the elections that's why updates and developments on the case hasn't been much on tv. I rarely see anything about the case for the past 2 or 3 months.

Will they ever show updates after this week? Well, the proclamation of our new president and vice president is due anytime this week. That's why I guess tv networks will now start looking for some juicy news to sensationalize. But I hope they would not forget to bring this case up again.

On other news, I kinda still keep track of some news from Dubai. Probably because I have made a few but worthwhile friendship there that I need to keep track of things that may or may not directly affect them.

Aside from updates with the Dubai Metro, nothing so far. But, I cannot help but notice the news about crimes. Mostly it's about prostitutes being hurt, if not killed, and of different races. But what caught my attention, too, is that the crimes are mostly in the Muraqqabat area. Well, I never wanted to live in that place when I stayed there. I had a few offers on moving there but I say NO right away. I never liked the place. Compared to Al Qusais which I began to love and never left until I came home. Anyway, I just think that the security people should be more vigilant in manning the streets of this community.

The Muraqqabat story is here.

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Note: There is no wrong spelling on the subject. I just couldn't bear to write it.

A Break Did It... I Guess

I was going to talk about another thing that made my week busy last week but I just could not bring myself down to words. I got busy with a freelance job that kept me occupied during the week. Well, I guess like any job, the first week should be the toughest since you are still trying to adapt to the changes in your schedule and trying to get the feel of the job. I like the way it makes me feel more than anything else.

I asked not to get assignments over the weekend since I do not want anything that might happen on weekends get in the way of my work. If you think it should be the other way around, well, I hope that it won't be that way in the future. It is just too self-rewarding, if not in the monetary aspect.

Anyway, my sister and I got a text message before noon yesterday inviting us to see a movie. I haven't seen a movie for awhile now. I perfectly remember that it was July last year when I went with a friend to see "Transformers 2." It was memorable since that was the first and the last time that I ever went to see a movie in Dubai. That should have been the start of my monthly movie project if I didn't have to go home. But that is okay. I just wish that this will be the start of my monthly movie project again.

We went to see "Here Comes The Bride," with Angelica Panganiban, Eugene, Tuesday, and the rest of the guys. It was a funny movie although but it's not an entirely good movie for me. But I guess I needed to have a break from my monotonous life after all. I have been wanting to see this movie because I wanted to see Eugene act, but it's good to see that Tuesday also caught my attention. Well, there is no doubt about Angelica doing her role because I have always admired her for her Crissy self on NNNN. This girl Tuesday should also be given something better because I think she can still do more.

This break did it, I guess, because we laughed a little harder on some parts. Afterwards, we were off to the final night of our friend's aunt's wake. I really find it ironic that on these occasions, the tendency to reconnect with long lost friends and relatives is always high. Last night, I was able to reconnect with my high school classmate whom I haven't seen since graduation. We didn't belong to the same friend group, but we were classmates for the whole four years. We talked for almost the whole length of time that I was there. We talked about each of of our own lives and of course, I wasn't that surprised to find out that she heard of my condition.

I find it a little ironic that going to wakes give you the chance to bring back the old times with people you know. Most of the time, it was the fun times, when the reason why you went there in the first place is to convey your condolences to the ones left behind. Although I find it ironic, I don't see anything wrong with it at all.

Yet Another

In the middle of the week, a sad news came. One of the people that I look up to fighting cancer passed away. If you remember, I talked about a good friend's passing on this blog about a month ago. And now, yet another one went away. She's actually a very good friend's aunt and we have been in touch with her, too, ever since I came home, had the operation and all. It's always been sad to hear about death of someone, and it's there's always an extra note of sadness if it's someone you know and a dear one to someone you know.

It is hard to talk about this. I wanted to say more, but yet, I cannot seem to find the right words.

It's The Feeling

Rebisco crackers: "Ang sarap ng filling mo."

The one with the lolo on the rocking chair and the kid. This ad is really very touching. Very few people are now banking on commercials based on value these days.

It's amazing how you could put values and recall in thirty seconds or less. They should do more ads like this.

Ang sarap ng feeling ko.

On the other hand, I can't recall that crackers ad where the kid tries to hypnotize his dad to give him the crackers. In other words, inuuto niya si Daddy.

I think it ran for a minute or more and I can't even recall the brand.