The Wheel and Axle

Society

Sport A Cockade, Storm The Gates

by on Jul.14, 2016, under Society, Travel & Culture

Storming of the Bastille, by Jean-Pierre-Louis-Laurent Houel

Today, France celebrates Bastille Day.

Bastille Day (which they actually call La Fête Nationale or, less formally, Le Quatorze Juillet because we non-French are just not cultured enough) commemorates the Fall of the Bastille Saint-Antoine in 1789, which signalled the start of the French Revolution, as well as Fête de la Fédération, which celebrates the unity of the French in 1790 exactly one year after the famous fortress was stormed.

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“Sea” You Around, China.

by on Jul.13, 2016, under Society

Dear China,

Love,

The Philippines

P.S. Whether they abide by the ruling or not, or whether we can actually enforce it or not given that they are a superpower supported by idiots while we are but a small developing country, it is immaterial. The important thing is that the international community has strongly rebuked a growing and arrogant bully.

 

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Eid Mubarak!

by on Jul.06, 2016, under Society

I am not Muslim, but I have several Muslim friends (and most of them are gay, to boot). We are all part of one humanity, and in the end, this is all that matters. So to you all I say: Eid Mubarak!

And here’s today’s featured gorgeous Prime Minister totally agreeing with me.

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Pride Minister

by on Jul.06, 2016, under Queer, Society

As though we needed yet another reason to fall madly in love with him, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made history by being the first leader of their country to join their Pride Parade.

Justin, who is a staunch LGBT supporter and who has won our hearts not just by smiling but also by being open, progressive, and able to summarize quantum computing at the snap of a finger, makes it even better by reiterating that a leader joining the Pride Parade is just how it should be and shouldn’t be a big deal.

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The Page Turns

by on Jun.30, 2016, under Society

Image: The Philippine Star

Image: The Philippine Star

Today, a new page in Philippine History turns. Perhaps, a new book may even be opening.

Whatever you think of either Rody Duterte or Leni Robredo – whether you favor them both, or voted just one, or despise the lot – they are our duly-elected leadership starting today.

As good citizens, we should accept the mandate given to them – a mandate which, despite the whining of some, they won fair and square.

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Biz Türkiye ile ayaktayiz.

by on Jun.29, 2016, under Society, Travel & Culture

On my way to Colombia last February, I had a 4-hour layover through Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey. From there, I would fly for about 10 hours to São Paulo, Brazil and wait for about 8 hours before the final 6-hour leg to Bogota. Noooo, it wasn’t a long trip at all.

Ataturk Airport, 07 February 2016

Ataturk Airport, 07 February 2016

I had a fleeting moment of paranoia on the plane from Manila to Istanbul, thinking about the France attacks, the geopolitical climate in Europe and the Middle East, as well as the pockets of terrorist and rebel activities in Turkey itself. What if something happened while I was in Ataturk Airport?

All fears and concerns were dispelled the moment I landed in Turkey and stepped out into the cold breeze. I love the cold. I’m from a tropical country, but I hate the heat and the damned humidity vehemently. This is why I loved traveling to Bulgaria during winter last January, and this is why I loved the cold breeze of Istanbul that dark morning just hours before sunrise.

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The Sound of Pride

by on Jun.25, 2016, under Music & Theater, Queer, Society

It’s that month of the year again where we raise our lovely voices and bring out the sequins and feather boas. Or the white boxer briefs, depending on where you are in the spectrum.

Today, Metro Manila proudly cries out: “Let Love In! Kahit Kanino, Kahit Kailan!” Because love is love, no matter with who and no matter when. Everyday is love. Everyday is pride. As with IDAHOT, everyday should be a celebration of our diversity and our power.

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A Moment For The Men

by on Jun.19, 2016, under My Life, Society

Le Famille.

Le Famille.

Father’s Day is hopefully a time when the culture says, “This is our moment to look at who our men and boys are.”

– Michael Gurian

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there!

Meanwhile, here’s a 2012 tribute that I made for the fathers in my own life.

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Today in 1815…

by on Jun.18, 2016, under Music & Theater, Society

Yes, because Bonaparte would actually celebrate Waterloo.

Yes, because Bonaparte would actually celebrate Waterloo.

… was apparently the Battle of Waterloo, where the Brits and Prussians handed Napoleon his ass. This also led to an unfortunate new meaning for the name of the village near where it all happened.

It was apparently timely, then, that I coincidentally also wrote about ABBA yesterday.

In honor of this historical event, I present to you this special commemorative song that no one else but ABBA can really do justice to.

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Let That Sink In.

by on Jun.16, 2016, under Queer, Society

Just as I wrote recently, certain sectors have begun (and continue) to ignore the inherent hate crime slash homophobic nature of last weekend’s horrific Orland massacre. These people have chosen instead to insist that this attack was purely terroristic, motivated by religious extremism, and that choosing to target an entire club full of queers was completely and totally random and not at all deliberate.

Hey, keep that homophobia checked in, why don’t you? And instead, let’s intensify your chosen hate du jour, which in this case would be Islamophobia and xenophobia.

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