Secret Relationships

I am having a break from all these serious articles and am watching Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha explore all the men in New York. Their secret relationships got me thinking of my own before I got married. I wonder if my friends have their own cloak-and-dagger romance…
I met Mr. Young back in high school. Yes, I started to date that early. His friends were dating my friends. I believe it was peer pressure that brought us together. I liked the idea of someone calling me every night and tell me all these sweet stuff. But I realized that I do not love him and I am clearly not ready. He wanted more serious things like holding hands and hugs. I am not the public-display-of-affection kind of girl.
Then, I met Mr. Long Distance. I really thought he was the one. He is already working and I am a sophomore in college. It did not even bother me that he got relocated outside the city. I was thinking that with all the modern technology, we could keep in touch every day. I was wrong. I was wrong about everything between us because he started coming home without telling me. We went our separate ways bitterly.
Then, there was Mr. Physical. I liked him but not love. I was more attracted to one of his friends. As I think about it now, I did not like who I was when I was with him. I turned my back from my friends, from my responsibilities, and I was making empty promises. I was so insecure during that time that his admiration blinded me from everything else. What drew the line for me was him pressuring me for sex. I was not crazy to just give up my virginity like that. I do not see a future with him. After we broke up, I joined a search-in.
I met my fourth boyfriend, and now my husband, right after graduating. It was an answered prayer. We were both attending this seminar. I guess it was love at first sight for him because he told me he fell in love with me when I smiled at him. Until now, I get butterflies just thinking about that. He was sweet and patient. When we were together, we talked about cartoons. No one was courting me that time so he got my undivided attention. He visits me often and accompanies me home from work almost every night. Naturally, I fell for him. He asked me to marry him like a hundred times before we actually did.
As I look back at it now, I believe that all my surreptitious affairs did not last long because they were hidden. It did not have the blessings from my family and friends. I am so glad to have found God’s gift to me. He was boyfriend for five amazing years. He is now my husband for three prolific years.

Because of Carrie

“Why are there so many great unmarried women and no great unmarried men?” –Carrie Bradshaw

I know a lot of successful single women. I live with my two very successful sisters. And, I know of only a few successful single men. Wait, I believe I only know of two successful single men. Single means not married and has no girlfriend. Girl-friend yes but girlfriend no.

When asked why, an acquaintance of mine answered intimidation. Men are often intimidated with women who are more successful than they are. I asked him why. I believe a man should be proud if he is dating or if he has a girlfriend who is successful, right?

I once read a book that men want to be needed. I guess men believe in fairy tales as much as women do. They want to be the knight in shining armor rescuing a damsel in distress. They want to be Richard Gere riding a limo, waving his umbrella like a sword, and climbing the fire exit stairs in order to proclaim his love to a Julia Roberts. But being a successful woman does not mean that she does not need any rescuing. They need to be rescued from loneliness. Yes, they are constantly surrounded by friends. But what happens when they get home at the end of the day every single day? Yes, they have their families to come home to. But, what about as they get older?

Every woman’s dream is to have someone to have coffee with, to laugh with, and to fight and makeup with. No matter how far she has gone with her career, she hopes to find the right man. I do know a few successful women who got married. And I say, I admire their husbands for conquering their fear. I have always believed it is fear that is keeping men from these successful women.

What happened to all the great unmarried men, you say? Well, they got married. I know because I got lucky to have one. Some joined the religious life. And unfortunately, some become gay.

2013 Philippine Senatorial Candidates (Part II)

(Reference: Wikipedia)

6. TEODORO CASINO

• a writer of the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Youngblood column; columnist for Business World, People's Bagong Taliba, Frontpage, Pinoy Gazette, and Bulatlat; had a short stint in ABS-CBN's Hoy Gising and The Correspondents
• AB Sociology graduate of University of the Philippines, Los Banos
• principal author of: The Whistleblowers Protection and Rewards Bill, The Freedom of Information Bill, The Anti-Dynasty Bill, and the House version of the Anti-Epal Bill; co-authored four laws: The Public Attorneys Act, The Tax Relief Act, The Rent Control Act, The Anti-Torture Act; filed bills on: the removal of VAT on power, oil, and toll fees and the regulation of oil prices, mobile phone services, tuition fees, and interest rates; opposed the budget cuts in our state collegesand universities and the privatization of public hospitals and water districts
• Member of the House of Representatives from Bayan Muna partylist

7. ALAN PETER CAYETANO

•  son of former Senator Renato Cayetano; brother of Senator Pia Cayetano-Sebastian, Councilor Rene Carl Cayetano, and Barangay Chairman Lino Edgardo Cayetano; married to Mayor Laarni Lopez
• Minority Leader of the Senate of the Philippines
• Political Science graduate of University of the Philippines, Diliman; Juris Doctor degree at the Ateneo de Manila University
• voting record: RA 8749 Philippine Clean Air Act, no to the 2005 and 2006 junking of the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo, endorsed verified complaint for impeachment against President Estrada; favored RH Bill
• former Councilor of Taguig, former Vice Mayor of Taguig, former Representative of Taguig and Pateros

8. MARGARITA COJUANGCO

•  aunt of President Noynoy Aquino; wife of former Tarlac Representative Jose Cojuangco Jr.
• a graduate at University of Santo Tomas; finished her Masters in National Security Admission at National Defense College; holds doctorate degrees in Criminology and Philippine History
• known for her humanitarian projects and work among Muslim Communities; participated in the peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front; taken on Gawad Kalinga as her pet philanthropy
• former Governor of Tarlac and President of the Philippine Public Safety College

9. RIZALITO DAVID

• Senatorial candidate of Ang Kapatiran last 2010 elections

10. JOHN CARLOS GORDON DE LOS REYES

•  currently the National Animator of Solidarity Philippines and the Executive Director of Breaking The Yoke Of Poverty Foundation
• Theology graduate at Franciscan University of Steubenville; finished his post graduate studies in Public Administration from University of the Philippines; finished his law degree at Saint Louis University in Baguio City
• Presidential candidate of Ang Kapatiran last 2010 elections
• has a free legal assistance program under an informal project named Justice Crusade; presently prioritizing the institutionalization of the Barangay Human Rights Action Centers
• former City Councilor of Olongapo City

2013 Philippine Senatorial Candidates (Part I)

(Reference: Wikipedia)

 

1. SAMSON ALCANTARA

• Filipino lawyer and law professor; national president of the Social Justice Society
• finished law at Manuel L. Quezon University; 3rd placer in the Philippine Bar Examination
• founding chairman and president of ABAKADA-GURO partylist
• no prior elected position

2. EDGARDO SONNY ANGARA

• son of former Senate President and incumbent Senator Edgardo J. Angara (favored RH Bill)
• Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education
• finished law at the University of the Philippines; finished Master of Laws at Harvard Law School
• succeeded his aunt as Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Aurora's Lone District for three years
• allotted funds to build classrooms, provide funds for indigent constituents, scholarships to deserving students, Gawad Kalinga villages for Aurora's homeless, computer and internet access to Aurora's public high schools, vocational skills and livelihood training through TESDA
• authored bills that became laws: Magna Carta of Women, Pre-Need Code of the Philippines, Real Estate Investment Trust, Civil Aviation Authority Act, Personal Equity and Retirement Account Act

3. PAULO BENIGNO AQUINO

• cousin of President Noynoy Aquino
• former TV host of Studio 23 and former chairman of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines; joined the special projects group of the ABS-CBN Foundation; currently the President of MicroVentures, Inc.
• Management Engineering graduate of Ateneo de Manila University; took an Executive Education Program on Leadership and Public Policy at Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University
• no prior elected position

4. GRECO ANTONIOUS BELGICA

• a pastor of the Lord's Vineyard Church and President of the Yeshua Change Agents
• advocacies: limited and decentralised form of government, free market, Christian Reconstructionism, and flat tax system for the Philippines (particularly, one kind tax of not more than 10% only on net income on both individual and business profits)
• previously a Councilor of the Sixth District of the City of Manila and Chairman of the Committee on Police, Fire, and Public Safety and the Committee on Economic Development

5. MARIA LOURDES NANCY BINAY-ANGELES

• eldest daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay; sister of Makati Representative Abigail Binay and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Jr.
• no prior elected position

What Is A Daughter?

WHAT IS A DAUGHTER?

by Susan Polis Schutz

A daughter is...

a rainbow bubble

a star glimmering in the sky

a rosebud after a storm

a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

A daughter is...

hair flying in the wind

red cheeks that glisten in the sunshine

big daydream eyes.

A daughter is...

a wonder

a sweetness, a secret, an artist

a perception, a delight.

A daughter is everything beautiful.

A daughter is love.

What Is A Son?

WHAT IS A SON?

by Susan Polis Schutz

A son is...

a kite flying through the trees

a tadpole turning into a frog

a dandelion in the wind.

A son is...

a mischievous smile

laughing eyes

a scrape on the knees.

A son is a wonder

an excitement

a burst of energy

an animation

a spirited breeze.

A son is everything wonderful.

A son is love.