The Wheel and Axle

Seriously, I want to be these guys. One speaks 35 languages (and understands even more than that), while the other is learning 18 languages and already has 15 languages in common with the first guy. That is not an easy feat.

Perhaps it’s never too late to learn more languages and become a polyglot. It would certainly be a very awesome way to acquire more knowledge, and it’s definitely even more awesome in action if one loves to travel. Let’s see.

This short video from Ministry of Funny could very well be the spiritual sister of UP Babaylan’s anniversary book from a few years back, Anong Pangalan Mo Sa Gabi? at iba pang tanong sa mga LGBT (What Do You Call Yourself At Night? and other questions for LGBTs).

In the clip, the interviewers asks random straight people (in the streets of Singapore, apparently) some questions commonly asked of LGBT people. The hilarious squirminess and/or bewilderment of the straights should make anyone realize just how inappropriate or foolish asking these questions can be when directed at non-straights.

Enjoy and learn.

Did you know that Dolly the Sheep would have been 21 years old today?

Of course, some of you might not even know (or remember) who Dolly was.

Dolly, of course, was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell – the donor cell having come from a mammary gland. Back in 1996, her birth/cloning/creation caused quite the controversy around the ethics of cloning.

All the same, it was a significant scientific breakthrough that led to others: mice, cats, cows, and more. The processs has garnered a lot of interest as a potential means of saving endangered species as well as possibly reviving extinct ones. Hopefully nothing of the Jurassic Park variety because, well, you know, not a pretty picture.

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Meme Credits: Change Scamming. Also, he should quit politics, too, and just go away.

A recent article from Esquire Philippines, published the day before the Pacquiao/Horn boxing match, posits that Manny Pacquiao still deserves our respect, at least respect for him as a boxer if not as a politician or whatever new persona he’s decided to pursue (preacher? basketball player? who knows what’s next?).

Perhaps if this were the year 2008 and Pacquiao still had not said and done all the things he has managed to say and do in the last few years.

But alas, it is 2017, and we cannot discount everything that Pacquiao has contributed (or not contributed) to our country’s socio-political climate since then. We cannot discuss him in a vacuum when the cultural discourse surrounding him has radically changed because of his own appalling words and actions.

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Itaguyod!

Yesterday was Metro Manila’s Pride March 2017.

The LGBT community converged in Marikina’s Plaza De Los Alcaldes, where the fabulous organizers of this year’s event had prepared a great pre-march program – which included an appearance by one of our strongest allies, Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Then, underneath the afternoon post-summer heat, we marched and held aloft our pride for who we are and held aloft our resolve to fight for what we believe in: fundamental equal rights for all.

Let the beauty of solidarity, togetherness, and sense of community that we captured through our cameras speak for itself.

This is Us.

This is Pride.

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#heretogether

Photo Credits: Metro Manila Pride

This year’s logo.

One week to go before Metro Manila’s Pride March!

Last year, we cried Let Love In! This year, we rally further as we ensure we are #HereTogether, a very apt theme to remind us that – despite having diverse backgrounds even within the LGBT community – we are all in this together. United, we shall overcome! Our differences will not divide us.

2017 Metro Manila Pride will be historic as it will be held in Marikina for the first time. The lovely city of Marikina is one of the most gay-friendly places in the country. I should know; I’m frequently there because some of my besties are Mariqueños. It’s about time that the local LGBT community branch out and move away from its comfort zones to see the other places where we can wave our flag proudly and explore new ground.

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More than ever, during these trying times, we must remember that our freedom as a people is an inalienable right that many fought and died for. Let’s remember to always be worthy of their sacrifice because, to echo a certain Amazon warrior princess: even if we don’t always deserve it, they believed in our people and heritage.

Happy Independence Day. Mabuhay ang ating kalayaan!

The feels! Oh, lawdy, the feels. Sam Kalidi posted this some time back, and he knows the profound truth in this.

Happy week ahead, guys! Is it Friday yet? (Well, Thursday, at least: Wonder Woman is coming!)