Reasons and International Issues

It's been a while. A looooooong, looong while. The first semester of my third year college life slipped by; and now it's "hello second sem". Three more semesters to go and it's "hello real world"! Haha!

Anyway, last October, me and my classmates (ABIS-ASST 3) went to Cagayan for the 1st MDG Mindanao Summit for Young Filipino Leaders. For the fulfillment of our frustration for our supposed-Hongkong trip, the sight of the letter from the National Youth Commission and United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines is a gift from the Gold Gardens. Thus, Cagayan De Oro City we come. At, least we DID travel. And in fairness, it IS relevant to our course. The Cagayan experience is worth it.

And no, I'm not making this as an excuse for NOT blogging. Here are some proofs. Click, click, click!

Truth be known, I've been gone for a while because I'm busy nurturing my favorite hobby. You know, inventing new things, philosophizing, creating amazing discoveries within the parameters of my mind.

Sorry guys, I wasn't able to get the last ticket from Dreamland to the world of reality so I have to purge all self-will I can muster to face this blogpad again. And boy, that WAS hard!

My only hobby is laziness, which naturally rules out all others.

Anyway, before I ran out out of active braincells again, I might as well finish this post. I made a video of my classmates when we were in Cagayan. It's a pseudo-scandal. Haha! I'm so evil! (I'll just blab about whatever that would come to my mind, so pardon the inconsistencies) :)

An ode to the third year International Studies Students of Ateneo De Davao University. Woooo! Guys! We made it! We REALLY made it! From 40+ to 13! From Chan to Billiones to Tiu! I am sooo glad we're classmates. I promise you that from now on, I'll study. SERIOUSLY. I'LL STUDY! I'll do all my best to STUDY! There's no way I'd be late for our graduation. I don't want to graduate with the second years who find TERROR in Ma'am Diaz's piece-of-cake lessons. No way! They did not undergo Chan and Billiones. And THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT HALAL MEANS! (Halal? Ano yan? Brand name?) HAR HAR. And they had the nerve to call themselves International Studies students!? What the-- Grr.

Okay Bam, inhale, exhale. Blood pressure...

I just hate it when I talk about them. They never fail to annoy me. Ho-hum.

Proceed, proceed!

So anyway, talking about International Affairs and issues, I've watched the Miss Earth 2007 pageant last night and I noted some things.

* Indians DO speak good english.
India has succeeded in taking the number three spot for the largest English speaking country after UK and USA. The slot was formerly occupied by the Philippines, which now falls at number 4. And yes, India holds the title for the largest English speaking country in Asia. This can be the after-effect of the inculcation of education as a primary and integral concept in India nowadays. Tsk, tsk Philippines.

* Filipinos need to reaffirm themselves OVER and OVER and OVER again.
I find it funny how Filipinos (especially the media) tend to HIGHLIGHT the Filipino-ness of a person. Take for example Vanessa Hudgens. When she starred on High School Musical, you will ALWAYS, ALWAYS hear reporters blabbing on something like this "half-Filipina Hudgens bagged the most coveted role of blah blah yadda yadda". They would celebrate on the concept of an international celebrity having a DROP of Filipino blood in his/her veins. What do we know? The teeny-weeny drop of Filipino in her blood had been sucked up by a mosquito who bit her when she was young. Tsk, tsk. Exactly what happened last night during the Miss Earth pageant. When Jessica Trisko of Canada walked unto the stage, the reporter introduced her with "Half-Filipina Jessica Trisko blah blah blah" Irk. DUH! Honestly, we really don't care if she is half-Filipina or not. Because at the end of the day, she is still of Canadian citizenship, she is UNABLE of conversing in Filipino, and she WILL BE carrying the CANADIAN FLAG under her nose wherever she may go. Not that of the Philippines. I honestly think that the "reaffirming part" acted as a consuelo de bobo as Miss Philippines Earth did not make it to the Top 16.

* Filipinos ARE nationalistic.
If you don't agree with me, explain the RECURRING FAD of Miss Philippines winning nothing except the Miss Photogenic award EVERY YEAR.

* Latin American contenders do well in almost everything EXCEPT the substantial question and answer portion.
Ho-hum. As always. You always see these Latina beauties on the top 5 of every International Competition. Sadly though, it seems that their portrayal as eye candies make up most of their roles. In my OWN opinion, judging from past beauty pageants wherein Latinas make it to the Q&A portion, they do SUCK in substantive intellectual discourses. I'd rather eat Spanish sardines all my life than hear them choosing TWO options out of TWO in every pageant they join in.

During the Miss Universe 2007
Host: What is more important to you? The heart or the mind?
Contestant: *calls translator*
*contestant yapping in a foreign language*
Translator: She thinks that both should go together blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda.

During the Miss Earth 2007
Judge: *long intro* What would you choose between the economy and the environment?"
Contestant: *calls translator*
*contestant yapping in a foreign language*
Translator: She thinks that both should go together blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda.

ME: *rolls eyes* DUH. Can't she think of any better answers than that? What the hell!
Dorm mates: Bam! Easy ka lang. Inhale, exhale.

That is soooo lame. I tell you. No racial profiling intended. But once you hear a question like that for Miss Venezuela or Puerto Rico or Spain or what-have-you, expect the oh-so-lame-and-oh-so-safe answer you can hear on KIDDIE BEAUTY PAGEANTS FOR THE CEREBRALLY DISABLED.

* Moving on. I would like to tell the world how fascinated I am with Miss India.
She is SMART. AND BEAUTIFUL. AND TALENTED. And whatever you wish to look for a beauty queen if you set your definition on HOLISTIC beauty and not out of mere physicality.
Here, here. Click on this link and drool. And no, I'm not a lesbian.

Pooja Chitgopekar

Okay, okay. I think that's too much for today. Pardon my rantings. I'll be back. SOON. Hopefully. Hehe.