I Am My Mother's Son

I am my mother's son, more than I am my father's son.

Ever since I could remember, I was closer to my mother than to my father.

When I was a kid (about 3 to 4 years old), my father was working in Nestle plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. My mother was a seamstress and does her work at home. While sewing clothes for people, I would sit near her and entertain myself by using her scissors (the big metal scissors) in cutting up paper and small swaths of fabric. (In elementary school and even in high school, I was bemused by some of my classmates who do not know how to properly use a scissor. The smaller hole is where the thumb should go and the larger hole would accomodate the index finger.)

When I was five years old, my mother saw a graduation/recognition ceremony of a private Christian school in our town. She was amazed at how smart the kids were and decided to enroll me the following school year (despite the fact that my father was not earning much and it costs P300 (a big amount that time) per month in tuition).

People and research say that intelligence is generally inherited from the mother rather than the father. My father spent a few months in college but did not finish. My mother did not even finish elementary school but through self study and by reading lots of Christian-related books, she is able to read and understand English. I think because of this that my parents (particularly my mother who was not privileged enough to finish formal schooling) strived to get all three of us through college.

When I was in preschool and elementary, my mother loves gardening (still does but she doesn't have the same energy to do things). The front of our house is full of bougainvillaeas, orchids, chrysanthemums and other flowering plants. (My sister tells me that when my mother was pregnant with me, she was so into gardening that the front of our house looks so beautiful, people would stop to admire it and even ask to buy some of her flowers). I guess that's why I love flowers. I have several flower arrangements in my apartment (I don't have the time and energy to actually care for living plants).

I have lots of kitchen stuff - most I don't actually use. I have potato masher, egg beater, etc. Whenever I go to Japan Home Center, I buy lots of stuff that I might need but may never actually use. Whenever my mother goes to Novo (a store that sells clothes and lots of inexpensive homewares), she never fails to buy something. When she last went to my apartment, she brought me a meat tenderizer and a metal utensil for frying. I think I may be able to use the meat tenderizer probably once or twice only. Most probably, it will be used by my sister when she visits me and cooks beefsteak (I don't like cooking beef).

Now that I am in a Top Design phase, it seems that my mother is my only supporter. While my sister says that I "do" too much to my apartment, my mother actually encourages me to go further and even offer some advice.

A very belated Happy Mother's Day and a very advanced Happy Birthday to you, Nanay.


P.S. I am not a mama's boy. I'm just closer to my mother. I guess most of gay guys are.

My mother doesn't "know" about my sexual orientation. I guess she has knows but we don't actually talk about it. Two years ago, she was suggesting I get married and have kids already. Nowadays, whenever people (relatives and family friends) would ask why I am still single and "available" (no gf), my mother would actually butt in and say that I am enjoying being single and that my father actually married her when he was 33.

I do not have a dysfunctional relationship with my mother like Norman Bates (A mother is a boy's best friend).

The End

Saturday and yesterday, I watched season 8 of Will and Grace, up to the final episode. Somehow, I feel sad:

- First, I always feel sad when a TV series (especially a sitcom) that I am watching ends. I got the same feeling of sadness when I watched the series finale of Friends. This may sound cheesy, but it feels like I am losing a friend. And no matter how many times you watch the previous episodes, I know that things have to end.
- At the end of Will and Grace, Will found a partner in Vince (the cop) and they have a son, Grace remarried Leo and have a daughter, their children married, Jack inherited money and lived rich with Karen (and Rosario). Everybody found their "life partners" and they seem happy. I have a partner but I am not sure if it is for life, my parents do not know (or it is not out in the open) and I don't have a kid. Maybe I just need to get a dog.

My 104th Post

This is my 104th post. I missed congratulating myself on having my 100th post (like missing the opportunity to congratulate its first and second years). Though there's nothing to congratulate myself about. Just 100++ postings of incoherent thoughts.

I have just one follower. A friend. No one else bothers to follow. Though I'm thankful to some people who have put a link to my blog in their blog.

Seems like my most popular blog is about Diego Bunuel. Through the widget I put, I can see where the people who visited my blogs are from and what specific blog entry they have been reading. In almost all areas that I zoom to, it's Diego Bunuel. Probably because there is considerably little said or blogged about him in the internet that my mediocre blog pops up near the top in google search for this hunk.

Here's to my 104th blog, and to many more incoherent ramblings. I hope that I can have focus on writing blogs (without sacrificing my already diminishin focus at work). And have more and better things and experiences to write about.


PS: After publishing this post, I realized that I have not published more than 90 entries. The 100++ post indicated in my blogger dashboard refers to all blog entries I made, some of which are still unpublished.

Anyway, here's to my 104th suck-y post!

Faux Designer Bags

Last Sunday night, National Geographic TV had a special on fake designer goods.

I guess the show is being promoted to discourage people from buying fake designer goods. As a viewer and a consumer myself, I don't find the arguments convincing.

There is one guy who says that fake designer goods travel through illicit channels that may also distribute more dangerous goods (e.g., illegal or fake drugs, firearms). The show is presented in the same way, after presenting the fake designer goods trade, the show then presents the trade of fake drugs, mentions drug dealers, firearms dealer. . . as if to rub off in the viewers mind that the fake handbags, watches, shirt, etc. are related and as dangerous as heroid, fake Viagras, armalite rifles.

Fake drugs (and other items ingested by people) can kill, firearms can kill, heroin and illegal drugs destroy lives but buying a fake designer bag will not destroy somebody's life. Sure, Mr. Ralph Lauren may have to postpone buying a helicopter.

The show's most convincing argument (at least to me) is that the distribution of fake goods result in bribery (in customs or the police or politicians). But then, when I think that the people working in the Philippine custom will require some form of remuneration whether the good you are importing is legal or not, that argument breaks down.

I don't buy fake designer goods for the sake of having a bag or watch that other will think is high-end (which I would know is fake). I would rather prefer unbranded goods with good quality or design.

I read in an online article that the trade of fake goods actually benefit fashion, in the sense that the people who buy designer goods buy these goods because they are unique. And when these goods are already being faked, the designer is forced to create new designs to satisfy the customers.

I don't encourage people buying fake goods. I just don't like the way that it is being compared to illegal drugs and firearms.

The Rape of Psyche

In olden times, rape doesn't mean sexual harassment, sexual harassment maybe the result of the "rape" thus, the word acquired its current meaning.

I found this wonderful painting in the Art Renewal Center website. The painting is called "La Ravissement de Psyche"



I then found this in SM:

Paintings

I am now collecting art.

The first painting that I bought is one made by "James" and is an abstract representation of the Holy Family in jewel tones.

During our anniversary, I asked the BF to give me a painting instead (he asked that I give him a watch from Greenhills).



When it comes to sculpture, I like classical sculpture (reproduction of famous pieces) but when it comes to paintings, I like modern/abstract ones. It's not that I dislike classical and realistic paintings. I just don't like classical or realistic paintings done poorly. With abstract art, a slightly disproportionate head will not matter but it will be grotesque sight on a realistic painting.

Sculpture

Yesterday, I went to the "Second Hand Antique Shop" (sort of redundant) in Kamuning Road to buy some reproduction sculpture. I was planning on buying a small sculpture (about a food in height) of two naked bearded men wrestling. One man is holding the other's penis. I saw this sculpture the last time I went there but thought that at P3,000, it is expensive. I was willing to buy it yesterday at that price (or a few hundred less) but it was already sold (though still in display).

I had to settle to buying a reproduction of Michaelangelo's David's bust for P1,400.



Though I think the price is still a bit high, I bought it.

The BF said it looks good.

I am on the hunt for reproduction for classical sculptures (mostly male nudes or semi-nudes). I already have Auguste Rodin's The Thinker. Can't seem to find where to buy these. Antique shops is one but majority of the sculptures in antique shops are either statue of saints, statue of Buddha or statue of women/children painted gold. I want classical statues in marble (or marble finish), stone (or stone finish) or at least silver.

I looked in the internet and found a site (www.talariaenterprise.com) that sells a lot of reproduction sculptures. The prices are reasonable but it is based in the US and the freight and custom charges may more than double the landed cost. Then there's a factory in Bacolor, Pampanga that manufactures statues made of plastic resin but they are an exporter and sells in bulk.

Probably, I'll have to scour antique shops this weekend.