Summer is here?

At least in the Philippines. Most definitely, I would miss Philippine Summer for the next years. The sun, the food, the friends, the trip, everything. I am envious they are embracing the sun now while I am stuck here with the rain and cold. If I could just easily pop there for a day and be back after, then I would be the happiest girl on earth. I grew up with the culture and the thought of summer is just making me yearn for more of this and that which I have gotten used to for almost eighteen and a half years.

I miss the feeling of March, the month when school ends and when temperatures begin to rise. The sun can get pretty rude, I heard the temperature this summer could get up to 104 degrees F. It just shows why it is very much comfortable wearing flip flops rather than wearing socks and locking your foot up in a shoe. I figured if only the country weren't conservative everyone would walk around just in their sexy bikinis.

It's also the season when there suddenly comes the mushrooming of stores selling my ever favorite dessert, halo-halo. If you ever visit the country, don't forget to try this one. It is definitely a must try. Seeing this picture makes me crave even more:

omg.

And the beaches! I cannot forgive myself for not being able to actually visit Phil's most popular beaches. When I fly back, I'd absolutely cook myself under the tropic sun and frolic along the white sand beaches.

me-time. =)

The beach is the place where I could just be myself, fool around and have some me-time when I just sit in the sand, stare at the sun or gaze at the starlit sky. The possibilities are endless because people would always come up with something to maximize the stay in the beach. Mind you, it's the time of the year when I tend to get extremely dark-skinned, no kidding.

Or, when there isn't much money, there is an affordable choice of renting private resorts overnight or for a couple of days. Imagine the fun when only you and your friends are in that secluded place far from the sound of the metro, enjoying the first of summer. There would definitely be the dreadful-morning-after stories when people have become too drunk or-- too close overnight. Ha ha.

I am again dreaming. It can be just sad to think that I am technically at home but I am not completely feeling it. Maybe I just want it to be summer now.

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Hey Da! I hope you'll have a great day on Sunday. Advanced Happy Birthday! I miss you SO much.
Here's to more good times!!!

On Politics

You know what's interesting? I never really had an interest in politics. Maybe a bit when I made a paper about Pork Barrel in Philippine Government. But for me it's something I already got sick of and would not dare ponder more on it. And how ironic it is because now that I want to vote and would like to participate with all the things concerning government and all the heavy politics there is, I just couldn't.

Last Monday, I was asked by my Journalism teacher if I was registered or if I was eligible to vote then I answered with a dumb "I don't know."

How dumb could I get? I should have told him that I wasn't even registered in my home country. Ha ha.

This is one of the few instances when I tend to lose my direction because this is not the place I originally come from so in one way or another, my identity's lost.

I am in America. And as much as I would like to be a Democrat and nominate Obama or Clinton, I couldn't.... yet. But I'm happy that I am at least aware of the primaries, caucuses and national conventions and that I know that the US will have a new president by November, whether he or she is a Republican or a Democrat.

I believe in Obama, but I think I am more on Hillary's side. And yes, I am not virtually a Republican so I don't have a favorite on their side. ;)
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On to the Philippines...

Maybe the constant reminder of my professors to be updated with the news roused the spirits of my political soul. It's not that I am belittling my homeland but with the little facts that I knew then, I turned my back on politics thinking it's all a game of corruption and distrust. That's what I actually hate: the continuing corruption that is setting the Philippines back further. If only someone could have a sense of nationalism and empathy, then that person could help the country win back the pride of its people. Filipinos deserve better than just taking pride on fellow country men's achievement in the Entertainment world. We could be more than just YouTube Stars, Ellen Degeneres Show guests or boxing champions. We could be more than just performers. But hey, I'm not saying I'm against the craft. I'm just saying, I could bump into a Filipino someday who has become famous in the fields of science, medicine or even politics, you know what I mean?

Now that's a nice dream, eh? I just don't want another "Okay before we go any further, can I check your diplomas because I would just like to make sure that they're not just from some med school in the Philippines," with the index finger pointed to the doctor on another TV series.

It just doesn't sound right.