On Discrimination and Plight of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community

image from www.backyardskeptics.com

Recognizing that a significant portion of our society is experiencing treatments detrimental to their holistic well-being, several groups in Cebu City expressed their support for the passage of the Cebu City Anti-Discrimination Ordinance (CCADO) which prohibits discrimination in Cebu City on the basis of disability, age, health status, sexual orientation and gender identity, ethnicity and religion. This ordinance is proposed by Councilor Alvin Dizon and is being backed up by five other members of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu City.

Yesterday, I and other comrades from the Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS) Cebu Chapter attended an open forum on the ordinance held at the Moot Court of University of San Carlos' School of Law and Governance. We showed our support for the pending local bill by expressing our statement of support in front of the audience primarily composed of students from the university. I admire the Supreme Student Council of the University of San Carlos for organizing the said event which somehow shed light to the students on what the CCADO is all about. Neil Steve Kinatanar, a clinical psychologist and a member of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) also gave a talk on the basics of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Psychology which enabled everyone to gain better understanding on LGBT identity and its components. Neil's presentation was similar to the one he presented during the LGBT Forum at the 49th Annual Convention of PAP at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. 

With all the progressive discussions happening, one might wonder how, when and in what manner discrimination could happen which could lead one to questioning the relevance of such ordinance in the context of Cebu City. The online Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines discrimination as prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment. One, therefore, could experience discrimination if he/she is categorically denied human rights on the basis of prejudice. I am positive that such ordinance will soon be passed and implemented in the city of Cebu.

     

Keep your spirit high!

It is a reality in our existence that everything is not within our control. All that we could positively deal with is our attitude – how we would look at each submerging situation in a much lighter manner – it’s our own line of attack. Changing one’s way of thinking towards things is, indeed, a very good approach to coping with stress which is so common in an environment where everyone is required to be always on the go.

If truth be told, last month was very stressful for me – stressful in a way that I almost stopped thinking about how to deal with every piece of my priority. I was too behind my quota at work and I could barely figure out a way to strike it right at its eye. I also had some research papers presented for my graduate class and I could say that such was a product of my mediocrity. Not to mention, I also hardly complied some of the requirements in one of my subjects in the graduate school. I could have done better but there’s no way to look back because no matter what, everything has been done and change is awkward when doing it backward. Nevertheless, I learned from it and all I could do now is to learn from such experience and move forward with a better perspective.

I believe everything is doable with a positive spirit. I just need to learn to set priorities and as Stephen Covey suggested in his best-selling book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” you need to put FIRST THINGS FIRST. It all needs to start with the questions “What are my priorities?” and “How can I logically put them together?” With these questions, obviously, there is no time to waste for every moment counts for every preference. I might find it difficult to pack my sleepy head off to work on a graveyard shift. I might find it difficult to keep myself awake while working with my clients in the other side of the world on an eight-hour shift when everyone else in the neighborhood is enjoying the comfort of their bed. I might find it difficult to work with my course works after spending the whole night at work. Everything might be so difficult but no one ever forced me do what I am doing. It was my choice and it’s all up to me how I am going to work on them. Failure is not an alternative so I’ll work this out with passion. As a line in the Holstee Manifesto goes, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit… start doing things you love.”

If every moment in life is a battle to win, then I need to be the victor. After all, this is my own life. From now on, I will keep my spirit high!

"Every day might not be good, but there's something good in every day."  - Anonymous

To my followers and fellow bloggers:

I am back to blogging and, yes, I could rant again. What a relief! Happy reading folks! If you’re still dropping by, please let me know by leaving some words in the comment box. At least, I would know that I am not talking all by myself here. (laughs)            

  

26

"The tragedy of life is that not it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it." - Anonymous

I miss my blog and I am sure it misses me too. I don't know if I still have readers here or they have forsaken me like what I have done to this blog for already a couple of weeks or months ago. Anyhow, I am compelled to tell a story today because it's not just a day -- it's my BIRTHday.

I was brought to this world 26 years ago and since this day is the 26th year, it brought me back to vivid memories letting me linger to how I lived life. Those reflections made me agree with Danny Kaye who once said, "Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can." If life is a great big canvas, we should make it as colorful as it could be. Thus, living life to the fullest.

This day, I want to share a huge bottle of champagne to everyone who made my life as colorful as it is. Thank you for helping me paint my huge canvas. Cheers, my dear ones! Live life and live it well! 

 

Pinoy Buko King Made it World-Class

He is Felipe Tacogdoy of Bohol and fondly called by the villagers as "Pepeng" or "Nong Pepeng" for those who are younger than him. He's one of those ordinary people in the village but he's different due to his extraordinary ability. In this video, he showed the world what he is capable of doing. 

The BlabberMath: Coming Out Soon

Creating a mathematics blog has always been a plan of mine. However, the thought of not being able to regularly update it  was a limitation I set that's why there were always delays in the fulfillment of the plan.  It's because unlike a personal blog, you need to thoroughly review everything you have written before you publish it. Accuracy of the mathematical facts to be posted would be an utmost consideration or else one would  only provide misleading information about an already established science.  No one would also like to read twisted or questionable facts. Mathematics as a science is governed with well-proven laws and theories which took mathematicians years or decades of overcoming contradictions.

Now thoughts have been finally put together for the launching of a blog which will hopefully ignite the interest to the subject which has always been considered by students as monster or a burden loaded in their shoulders. Initial posts taken from the previous mathematics articles I wrote have been placed in the line-up of posts and the blog has already its blogspot hosted domain. Few more articles recently wrote for my Research in Mathematics class in the graduate school are just to be added.

There's no definite time for launching yet but I'll surely inform everyone when I am launching the blog. It would not make your nose bleed. I promise!