Usapang Hiwalayan

Last week lang nang pumutok ang confirmed na balitang hiwalayan ng pop superstar na si Madonna at kanyang director husband na si Guy Ritchie. Ayon sa mga artikulong nabasa ko, ang di pagkakaintindihan ng mag-asawa tungkol sa relihiyon ni Madonna na Kabbalah, which he did not consider a religion at all, at tungkol sa pagkadisgusto nya sa plano na namang pag-ampon ni Madonna ang ilan sa mga dahilan ng katapusan ng halos 8 years nilang pagsasama. Malamang, kasama rin sa mga rason na ito ang pagkakalink ni Madonna kay New York Yankees baseballer Alex Rodriguez, na nauna nang hiniwalayan naman ng kanyang asawa dahil sa extra-marital affairs.

Halos kasabayan din lang ng hiwalayang ito ang divorce sa pagitan ni Spanglish star Tea Leoni at X-files actor David Duchovny pagkatapos ng limang taong pagsasama. This comes out after ma-irelease sa isang rehab si Duchovny for sexual addiction. Yes, surprisingly though as it may sound to us, adik sa kuldog ang ating idolo, hahahaha!

Sa dalawang issues na ito, it was their reps who announced their split kaya di malinaw who filed for divorce. Malamang sa una, si Guy Ritchie; sa pangalawa si Tea Leoni.

Ilang buwan bago dito, March to be exact, hiwalay na rin si Robin Williams at ang kanyang French-Filipina wife na si Marsha Garces, an ex-nanny of his son to his previous wife. This time around, it was clear it was Marsha who filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. Kaloka, halos 19 years magkasama saka di napagtyagaan ang isa’t isa di ba?

Bukod sa kanila, ilan pa sa mga sikat na Hollywood couple o international artists na hiwalay na rin ay sina Reese Witherspoon (who’s now dating Jake Gylenhall) at Ryan Philippe (who’s dating Australian actress Abbie Cornish na syang dahilan umano ng hiwalayan nila ni Reese); Brad Pitt (me 3 anak na ngayon ke Angelina Jolie na umaming nainlab sya ke Brad Pitt while filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Hmmp, babaeng haliparot! On da ader hand, imperness to Brad, gustung-gusto na kasi nyang magkaanak pero ayaw pa ni Jen) at Jennifer Anniston (who reunited with John Mayer); Tom Cruise (na kasal na ngayon at me anak ke Katie Holmes) at Nicole Kidman (who has a child c/o hubby Keith Urban.); Britney Spears at Kevin Federline; Dayanara Torres at Marc Anthony (kasal at me anak na ngayon ke JLo); at Jude Law at Sadie Frost.

Sa Pinoy showbiz naman, maugong na maugong ang balitang hiwalayan diumano ni Mega at Senator Kiko Pangilinan, a rumor both of whom vehemently denied. Pambababae diumano ni Senator ang dahilan. Nang tanungin si Sharon bakit sya nasa Amerika nang magsimulang umugong ang balita, ‘burnout’ ang nasabi nyang dahilan kung bakit sya andon.


Sharon Cuneta and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan

Elsewhere, di lang naman sa American at Philippine showbiz industries mainit na topic ng chismis ang usapang hiwalayan. Divorce, annulment, breakup will always be a fodder for the rumor-mongers saan mang lupalop ng mundo --- kahit sa pulitika, kahit sa sports world, o kahit sa sarili mong workplace na pinagta-trabahuhan at community na tinitirahan. And speaking of community, Cristy Fermin should know that kasi ayon sa kanya, kakalakad nya papasok at pauwi sa eskuwela nung bata pa sya, sangrekwang chismis tungkol sa latest hiwalayan, aborsyon, umbagan ang dala nya pag-uwi nya sa kanyang bahay. Kung di ba naman numero unong tsismosa di ba? Pwede naman syang maglakad sa kalye nang walang stopover sa mga kapitbahay para sumagap ng tsismis di ba? Hahaha! Hayan tuloy ang napala nya, suspendido sa trabaho ng ABS-CBN!

Nakakaloka ang mga artista, hiwalay dito, hiwalay doon. Kahit me asawa na or just after their separation, me bago na namang idinidate, kakuyangyangan o pakakasalan. If there is one thing that differentiates Pinoy actors from their Hollywood counterparts ay mas disente ang mga Pinoy. Not just because divorce is not legalized sa atin or that annulment is a lengthy and costly process, kungdi mas matiisin, mas closely-knit, mas family-oriented at mas konserbatibo talaga tayong mga Pilipino kesa sa kanila. Kung para sa kapakanan ng mga anak, kadalasan ang isang Pilipinang maybahay ay handang magtiis kahit pa me malaking problema siya sa kanyang asawa gaya ng pambababae nito, bisyo gaya ng sugal, drugs at alcohol, di pag-iintrega ng suweldo, atbp. Minsan, kahit pa ginagawa syang punching bag ng asawa nya, ok lang basta buo lang ang pamilya nya.

More than the curiosity in me kung ano ang rason bakit naghihiwalay ang isang mag-asawa like kung sino ang nangaliwa, mas nangingibabaw sa akin ang concern para sa mga anak nila, at ganundin syempre sa mga hiniwalayan. Yung pain at hirap as a single parent na sariling itataguyod ang kanyang pamilya, yung matulog nang walang katabi, nung tumanda na walang kaagapay sa pagtanda. At sa mga anak, yung lumaking walang kinikilalang ama o ina, yung makapag-aral nga sila yet hindi maka-attend sa graduation at iba pang school activities ang nanay o tatay nila, at mawalan ng tatay o nanay na poprotekta at mag-aaruga sa kanila. In short, napakahirap kapag galing ka sa broken family. Parang me kulang sa pagkatao mo.

Buti na lang kaming mga bakla, di ganun kakomplikado kapag hiniwalayan ng partner.

Una, wala naman kaming mga anak na mapapariwara kasi wala naman kaming matres ano?! Wala kaming anak kaya wala kaming paliliguan, bibihisan, ipagluluto, pakakainin, susunduin sa eskwela, pag-aaralin, tuturuan ng lessons, palalakihin. Kung meron sigurong matres ang mga bakla, nakakatakot kasi mas lolobo ang populasyon sa buong mundo at mas darami pa ang mga bakla, hahahaha!

Pangalawa wala naman kaming batas ng Diyos na nabuwag kasi di naman kami pinagkaisa thru the sanctity of marriage.

Pangatlo, mas tipid. Biruin mo yon, ilang lingo o buwan after ng breakup eh wala kaming ipinapag-shopping, binibigyang allowance, pinagugupit sa barbero, pinapakain, pinapatahi ng uniporme sa liga o pinapapasahan ng load, hahahaha!

Pang-apat, ang dami kayang ibang lalake dyan!

Pang-lima, karamihan naman sa amin ay madaling maka-move on. Iiyak lang kami at magluka-lukahan over bottles of Red Horse, gin bulag o kahit ano pang alak, o daanin ang healing therapy through shopping at kakagimik, o magloner-loneran lang at wag lumabas ng bahay ng ilang araw or rektang mang-boys hunting kaagad eh mawawala na agad ang sakit ng hiwalayan o failed relationship. So far, wala pa naman akong narinig na kuwento tungkol sa mga kaibigan o sa mga kakilalang baklang iniwan kung saan yung baklang iniwan eh nagpakamatay, nabaliw, napariwara, nagutom, nalosyang, pumangit o naghirap.

In fact, kabaligtaran pa nga. I have a few friends, who, despite being separated from their boyfriends under different circumstances ay nanatiling magaganda at mayayabong ang career.

I’ve got a tranny friend who separated from his Egyptian hubby (whom she met in a chatroom while she’s in Japan, pinaopera sya at pinakasalan) because of pressure from his family na magkaanak. Pangalanan natin syang Miss Japan. Komo di nya kailanman magbibigyan ng anak ang asawa nya at mga in-laws, iniwan ni Miss Japan ang asawa nya kahit mahal na mahal nya ito. Not to mention of course yung takot na one day ay mabuko ng in-laws nya at university na pinapasukan nya na di sya tunay na babae. Ngayon, despite the breakup kasalukuyan pa ring nagsasabog ng kagandahan at naghahakot ng lapad si puke sa Japan.

Another friend parted ways with his Pinoy love of his life na dinala nya sa Qatar nang mapauwi ito sa Pinas after bumagsak sa medical. Let’s call her Miss Europe. Iyak ng iyak non si Miss Europe. Kulang na lang eh humagis ang manibela sa labas ng kotse kakahampas dito nung malaman nya ang masamang balita. Ako din eh nakiiyak kasi kumpare ko ung boyfriend nya at napalapit na rin naman talaga ito sa barkada. Ngayon, maganda pa rin ang kaibigan kong ito. At mas naging sosyal! Kagagaling lang nya from Europe for a two-week leisure travel that spans Rome, Venice, Milan and Paris. Imperness, nagustuhan nya yata ang pakikidalamhati ko sa kanya kaya pinasalubungan nya ako ng keychain, Eros lube, at scarf, hahahaha!

Meron akong isa pang kaibigan na nahiwalay sa kanyang boyfriends sa Saudi, yes with –s kasi dalawa sila, nang kailangan nyang mangibang-bansa dito sa Qatar for better opportunities. Tawagin natin syang Miss Saudi Arabia. Mahal na mahal ni Miss Saudi ang dalawang bfs nya at hanggang ngayon eh miss na miss nya yung makulay nyang buhay sa Saudi kapiling ang mga ito. Don daw kasi sa Saudi, kapiling mo lang ang mga dyowa at pinagluluto sila twing wikend, hindi ka mabo-bore. Hindi raw gaya rito sa Doha na mas maluwag nga at me mga sinehan, malls at kapehan pa, boring pa rin daw. Imperness, kahit hiwalay sya sa mga dyowa nyang ito, bonggang-bongga naman ang kanyang career ngayon bilang banker kumpara nuong nasa Saudi sya. Mas mataray rin sya ngayon kasi dala-dalawa ang LV bags nya, yes as in Louis Vuitton!

Marami pang mga kwentong hiwalayan bukod sa kuwento nina Miss Japan, Miss Europe at Miss Saudi. Kapag ganito na ang usapan, nare-realize ko that sometimes it really pays to be gay kaya thankful ako. Kasi sa aming mga bakla, dahil sa pambihira naming survival instincts at coping mechanism, mas madali at mas magaan ang hiwalayan.

Kay Manny (Poohquiao) Tayo!

Tapos na naman ang isang linggo
Parang kamakailan lang eh Sabado.
Di ko na halos namalayan,
Aba, ngayon pala eh huwebes na naman!

Sayyyy? Bat ganon mami?
Last week don tayo sa Paul Van Dyk nag-party.
So ngayong wikend naman
Ano ang next nating dadambahan?

Parang ayoko yata sa Hed Kandi mamaya
Eh kasi naman 'same same' tugtog, 'same same' mukha.
Ganundin sa Diplomatic for Paul Harris tovowka
Di ba parang nakakasawa?

So I think much better gora ke Pooh unya!
Sure pang maaliw pa tayo sa antics at galing nya,
Sariling atin na ang pinuntahan natin,
Not to mention na muriatic pa ang tiket, aminin?

Kaya unya, ire-ready ko na ang beehive ko
Syempre alam mo na, don maraming otoko
Redi ko na rin pati sangkatutak na pimple concealer
Hmmm, baka makatisod ng gwas at bardang adobong admirer?!

(Heto ang aming luka-lukahang pics after ng show ni Pooh sa Qatar Exhibition Center noong October 09, 2008):

On being idle

When you are not doing anything, everything comes into your mind. You start thinking of ways on how to while away time. Then, when you’re about to finally initiate doing an activity, you suddenly lost interest in it and switch to another. You thought of doing a task yet it is so difficult to complete it as you either half-do it or never attempt doing it at all.

Just like what I am exactly experiencing during my evening shift at work right now. Night work shift normally is a bore. It is only during daytime when banks and other companies are still open when I am busy; otherwise, I’ll be stuck in a rut --- in a boring routine of idleness.

So I feigned to be busy in front of my colleagues by appearing to be engrossed in front of my pc monitor seriously typing something. This is the easiest yet most stupid way to kill time (especially if what you are typing are lyrics of songs in mind, names of each of your family members, and names of all your boyfriends/ girlfriends/ hookups/ pets, etc.).

I was contemplating on writing a blog but could not think of a topic to start with. First I thought I should make a note on my memorable ‘firsts’ in Doha. So I thought of blogging about POLO Sport for man being the first perfume I bought during my exit in Bahrain for my sponsorship change in 2001; ‘The Mexican’ starring Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt being the first film I watched at the substandard theater called Gulf Cinema at the Najma signal; the round blue-dialed Swatch Irony being my first watch; and a pair of dark violet Guess sunglasses that I am still wearing until now being my first shades. I did not finish writing this note. I felt it would be more interesting if I would have taken images of them. Well, I could have done that but they are at home, not to mention that I was not able to keep all of them.






So I thought of doing another thing: logging on to facebook to check for interesting news feeds. Other than friend Mannie’s Europe pics, there was nothing that could capture my interest. Oh, there was! Nasser Al-Amadi’s status of being bored of [in] Doha. Often, boredom creeps in someone when he is idle. Misery loves company, I thought. I am not alone, hahahaha! So I immediately hit the keyboard and left a comment on his status. When I did that, I thought he was online to give me a reply. He’s not. Sad.

So I browsed at the news feeds once again and saw the thumbnail profile pic of a certain David Hanson who commented on Ammar Shlash missing his family and friends. I thought David's hairstyle was cool --- cropped back with nice, long fringe ala-Rihanna that extends to almost middle of the face (In Pinoy setting: very Ryan Agoncillo). So the next thing that popped in my mind was to rush to Lola Fernandez (my hair-cutter friend) to have that same cut. But before that, I had to check if my fringe is long enough to perfectly get that cut so I dashed to the toilet and held my bangs in front of the mirror and stretched it down my face. I felt it was not that long yet. Sad again.


(Ammar Shlash, a Jordan-based gorgeous facebook friend)


(Haircut of a facebook member)

Time seemed so slow. So what I did next was to surf the net and check for an interesting read. I found an article on Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry on atptennis.com and read it. The article predicts the feud between the two to continue in the years to come.

Then, I checked for the latest scores in the ongoing tennis tourneys in Moscom and Stockholm. My Croatian husband no. 2 Mario Ancic coasted to the next round by defeating Olivier Rochus in the first round. My Russian hubby no. 1 Marat Safin is due to play later in the Kremlin Cup. (Sorry for having many husbands. I'm a self-confessed polygamist, LOL!) I won’t be in the office to watch the live score when his match will have unfolded. Sad again. Will check it later at home. Hope he wins.



Before I could think of another thing to do, it’s time already. It’s 7:30 pm and my colleagues were passing by my office to go home. But here I am, still stuck on my pc finishing this blog. I might have not finished writing about ‘first’ but just by being idle and thinking of ways to overcome boredom, here I was already on the last part of this note.

Time has passed so easily, and I didn’t notice it. I have done something. And I finished it. Another blog is not bad. Now I’m glad.

Looking back at my Eid holiday

Tapos na ang mahabang bakasyon ko; nasa opis na uli ako. Kainis dahil most of my friends eh either sa Linggo or Monday pa ang balik, hmp!

Apat na araw ang bakasyon ko dahil sa Eid Al-Fitr (September 30 to October 2 plus Friday). Dito sa private company na pinapasukan ko, mahaba nang maituturing yon, considering na 3 legal holidays lang ang inoobserve ng kumpanya/ ng Qatar: Eid Al-Fitr (End of Ramadan), Eid Al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) at Qatar National Day na dating September 3 pero ginawa nang December 18 simula last year. Kung sa gobyerno ka nagta-trabaho, kadalasan ang Eid holidays ay umaabot mula lima hanggang syam na araw. Well, di na masama ang 4 na araw, lalo pat maririnig mo na marami, lalo na ung nasa sales and service trade, ang ‘di nakakaranas ng Eid holiday kahit man lang isang araw kasi ito yung time na peak ang sales nila.

Ke Jot ko nalaman nung September 29 na simula na pala ang Eid nuong a-treinta. Salamat sa facebook, di ko na kailangang magtatawag sa kaibigan, magbukas ng Internet, makinig sa radio para maghintay kung kelan ang announcement ng Eid. Noong hapon ng araw na yon ipinost ko sa status that I can’t wait for d Eid announcement. Gabi nang sagutin ni Jot na Eid na nga raw kinabukasan, September 30 at ito ay kinonfirm ni Jackie.

Kadalasan sa trabaho, tuwing Eid, di na nagsisipasok ang mga kasamahan ko twing gabi ng huling araw ng Ramadan. Pero nag-aligaga pa rin akong mag-ayos at pumasok that nite, thinking na me ipagagawa sa akin ang boss ko. Nabitin kasi ang paggawa ng KPI report na ginagawa ko that time; akala ko matutuloy ko --- pasalamat at di KJ ang boss ko, di pumasok kaya di natuloy ang report --- maswerteng bakla, hahahaha! Kaya hayun, nag-log in lang ako sa opisina tapos wala pa yatang 3 minuto eh sumibad na ako.

Doha, here I come, Ramadan is over!!! Gone are the days na kelangan pa akong magtago sa pantry namin tuwing kakain; na kelangang hintayin ko pa ang ingay ng recorded call for prayer sa mga mosque to mark the break of fast kapag sunset bago ako makapanigarilyo o makakain sa publiko; na kelangang i-adjust ko ang sleeping at eating patterns ko (past 2 am na natutulog, at matutulog na lang, lalafang pa!); at syempre i-adjust na rin ang ‘booking’ habit ko, ahahaha!

Sa aming magkakaibigan na nag-celebrate ng Eid sa loob ng Doha (Mara and Vhon have already flown and are now in Rome while Patricia will fly to Bali tom), nakakabagot palang talaga! Ang tagal-tagal mong hinintay pero after 1 day, 2 days, wala ka nang maisipang gawin o mapuntahan. Well, whats’ new? Kahit naman ordinary day sa Qatar ay ganito: bukod sa City Center at Villagio, wala nang iba pang malalaking malls na pwedeng mapuntahan. Buti pa ang Pinas, di hamak na mas mahirap sa Qatar, pero napakarami namang scenic places at hangouts na pwedeng puntahan. Swimming resorts, malls, restaurants, and bars are ubiquitous.

Next time I hope to celebrate Eid in style out of Doha. Di kasi natuloy ang balak kong mag-Dubai. Ayokong mag-travel nang mag-isa at wala naman gustong sumama sa akin. Timer na kasi ron si Jackie at Mara, and Neil has just been there recently to exit for his change of sponsorship. Isa pa, I decided na rin na maghigpit ng sinturon (kuno) for my impending car repair. Sayang at libre pa naman ang round trip DOH-DXB tiket ko courtesy of free miles from Emirates’ Skywards. When I go home next summer for my annual leave, my Skywards points will have doubled, enough to fly free to Jordan kaya sabi ni Jackie i-reserba ko na lang for next year’s Eid Jordan sojourn. Yipeeeeeee!!! Sure daw masasamahan na nya ako. Harinawa.

Kaya heto nagkasya na lang akong magpakalat-kalat sa Villagio nitong Eid. Eh bakit kamo, puro plano di naman natuloy --- walang swimming na naganap, walang desert party cum tour, walang camping, at walang dining out sa isang hotel (thanks to must-try Grilled crevette at Paul-Villagio kahit papaano eh sumaya ang dila ko). If only to feel the festive mood most people are having, super effort na lang ako twing magmo-mall! Imperness, successful naman ako at andami kong naaning papuri, pati na rin matang mapanuri, ahahaha!

Sa loob ng 4 araw na bakasyon, natalo ako ng almost 4 hundred riyals sa tong-its, in-between at lucky 9 (walangyang Mixie to we!) pero nanalo naman ke Mr. Dude (this time, thanks Mixie!); uminom at mapuyat; dyed my hair red; shopped; had countless horrible breakouts; cooked beef asado at home; and ate powerful kaldereta c/o Mixie and ginatan c/o Mara.

If there is one thing that saved my oh-so-mundane holiday for being forgettable, it is the Paul Van Dyk beach party held at the Intercon on the 3rd day of Eid, October 2!

Sa true lang, ang sarap paglaruan ang lahat ng dumalo sa party na yun, mapa-babae o lalake, at saka okray-okrayin ang hitsura at getup mala-Tigbakan Alley, hahahaha! Me ‘Miss Best in Ninang Look’, ‘Mr. Best in Ninong, ‘Mr. Callboy and Ms. Callgirl’ for being so scantily clad (kung sexy ka ay ok lang, I like, ahahahaha!), Mr. and Ms. Anghit (open air na isu-suffocate ka pa ng amoy nila), ‘Miss Lollipop’ (riot ang blushon), ‘Best in Cocktail Dress’ (dito sure di lang tie, triple tie o quadruple tie kundi multiple tie), ‘Best in Long Gown’, ‘Best in High-heels’ (buti nga at nakita ko silang nagdurusa at naglalakad ng nakatapak hanggang parking, ahahahha!), ‘Best in Pambahay’, ‘Most Alive or Buhay na Buhay’ (yung tipong umeekis na pag naglalakad, sobrang dulas na ng bibig pag nagsasalita o nakagulapay na sa buhanginan sa sobrang kalasingan), ‘Best in False Eyelashes’, and the much-coveted ‘Miss Best in Bakla lang Keri na Look’ (naka fantasy makeup complete with hairdo or wig). For sure ako mismo, gagawaran ko ng award ang sarili ko ng ‘Dirtiest in Bronze Makeup’, ahahahaha!



Beautiful facebook friends, as well as familiar faces, made that party memorable. There I met the friendly national swimmer Osamma (who gamely posed for pics), made beso-beso with the liveliest Ammar Shlash, and spotted the nananabang ex-swimmers na sila Anass at Andy Roddick deadringer, Baso, and the Filipino-friendly Igorota. Sexy Johanne was there too!

(Click the thumbnail pics of the lightbox below to enlarge the pics. Click the arrows to move to the next batch of pics.)

Truly enough, it won’t be a night to remember without the music of Paul Van Dyk. With a renowned international DJ like PVD, a party becomes an experience.

Looking back at how I spent my Eid holiday, I realized it isn’t that bad at all.