The injustice of it all...

My mother got sacked from work last Monday.

And she did not deserve it.

I am not just saying this because she's my mother.

Sure, she had her faults. She had a temper that won't quit and stands up for herself quite well.

In a country like Australia, you are expected to stand up for your rights. We were both bowled over by the obvious harassment and discrimination the supervisors did to my mother.

You see, my mother started working for a particular contractor 6 years ago who was overtaken by another contractor just 8 months ago. Since then, my mum was harassed, constantly checked, and picked on.

A lot of my mum's former workmates left on their own accord because they too were harassed constantly. These contractors were dead set on getting rid of all the old workers to put in their own, who were mostly made up of family members and friends. It was the ultimate act of nepotism!

They had a meeting this morning and started accusing my mother of being constantly late from her breaks. of not following SOPs, etc, etc...

They were lying through their teeth and were being completely unfair.

Now, my mother's confidence is shot. She had worked her butt off for the past six years and that was what she got. She has constantly complained to me about the company since they've taken over and have told her time and time again to leave and look for something else. I kind of knew this was going to happen and I am definitely not happy that they beat my mum to resigning.

I feel so sorry for my mum. She did not deserve to treated like a dog. She went through this alone, regardless of her other work mates going through the same poor treatment.

On the other hand, I am proud of her. She stood her ground and did her job the best she could. She gained the respect of her colleagues. A job can come and go, but her pride at least is still in tact.

We are now in the process of filing an unfair dismissal law suit against the contractors which we are quite sure we'll win. I am also helping my mum look for a new job and on Thursday, she has an interview with a potential employer.

I know I don't ask this often, but please pray for my mum. She needs all the positive vibes that she can get.

And I am personally sending a "Kiss my arse and go to hell" to those c*nting f*cks who gave my mum hell at work. They'll get their comeuppance, I'm sure of it.

The top five series part 4

It's been awhile hasn't it? I know my male-loving blog readers have been waiting for this so without further ado, I present to you my...


TOP FIVE FILIPINO MEN


... I am so tempted to put Arnie in here but that would be very biased of me and I don't want others ogling my man :p...


5. Francis Magalona




And they say that Jin Tha MC from America is the "first Asian rapper"? Hell, I beg to differ! FrancisM has been around since the 80s and he's a very talented rapper. The fact that he was part of the Bagets gang and is current the Vice President of the Bagets foundation makes me like him more. Not to mention he loves dogs (as seen in the photo - gorgeous Whippet!) and has a lovely wife and family.

4. Aga Muhlach



Another Bagets original. He just looks so neat. He is an excellent actor. My most favourite of his was "Sa Aking Mga Kamay" with Christopher De Leon and Chin Chin Guttierez. He still has his boyish good looks at the age of 38. I love his dimples. He has a penchant for dating beauty queens and ended up marrying one. Personally, Charlene was a much better choice than Janice De Belen. Honestly, who in their right mind would say "God was with us when we had sex?" Puh-lease!Remember when he was dancing like Michael Jackson to the tune of "Wanna Be Starting Something" in Orange-coloured Chucks? Who ever knew that it would be back in fashion?

3. Carlo Aquino



This kid is very cute! He is in the same level of my infatuation with Daniel Radcliffe, only that he is of legal age and is Filipino. Talk about a talented actor. I have especially enjoyed watching him in "Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?" He's now all grown up, taking on more mature and challenging movie roles. Sayang split na sila ni Angelica Panganiban. She is such a cute girl! Lucky guy...

2. Rico Yan


Napaghahalataan na mahilig ako sa chinito! Hahahaha!
Too bad that this nice guy is no longer with us. Back in my uni days, I often saw him with his friends. He's all smiles and he's a very friendly and approachable fellow. I was in shock when I found out he died. I guess Billy Joel was right when he sang "Only The Good Die Young."
He's not much of an actor, but I will always remember that commercial where these two girls were watching guys pass by and rating them while eating something (can't remember that product). Rico, with his cute dimpled smile, got the highest rating, of course! :D

1. Herbert Bautista


Hmmm... I seem to be following a theme here. Another Bagets member. He may not be as cute as other actors out there but I have always had a crush on the guy since I was 8 years old! Excellent actor and comedian. I fell in love him in Bagets when he played that shy, awkward, typically torpe teenager. It takes me back! The memories! He has a penchant for courting most of his leading ladies and surprisingly, they end up going out. I can only think of two people who said no: Lea Salonga and Mikee Cojuangco.

I recently watched an interview conducted by Ariel Oreta in "My Favourite Show." His rather frank and blase story-telling of all the loves of his life, his successes and failures, and his way of thinking made my silly childish crush turn into reverence for the man. That interview made me realise that here is a man - an actor and politician - who has no pretences, who loves life and love, and who does not have any regrets. It's very refreshing to see men who readily admit that they are human and prone to making mistakes.

Regardless of obviously womanising ways, I love his boyish charm and intelligence. He is the long serving Vice Mayor of Quezon City. He is a well-educated man (San Beda and UP). I just hope that he finally settles down instead of just having kids left, right and center. I guess being the bolero that he is, he just can't help himself. Oh well...


Note: It is so difficult to find pictures of Filipino actors for some reason so apologies if the ones I got don't do the guys justice...

Halata bang Bagets fan ako? hahahaha...


Next time: Top five Irish Men

House hunting

Why is it that most people's definition of adult responsibility always includes the following?

1. Get married
2. Have kids
3. Buy a house
4. Buy a car

So if one refuses to do so, does this make you any less of a responsible adult? My mother has always been one to drill it on me - make a name for yourself, get property, get a car, get on top of the career ladder.

Without sounding arrogant, I've done it. At the age of 22, I got myself a stable job and slowly crept up to where I am now. At the age of 24, I purchased a car. At the age of 25, I bought a house. At the age of 26, I got engaged. Now, at the ripe age of 28, I am buying another house with my fiance - soon to be husband - Arnie. We are getting married in 18 months - I'll be 30 by then. Will we have kids? Probably when I'm 32, who knows?

Anyway, Arnie and I have been looking. We have been very particular about the location of the house we're buying. In terms of real estate investment, this is very important. A house in an excellent location can increase in value within just a year. Mum is getting a bit impatient with us (probably because she really wants to kick me out of our house) but these things take time and a lot of planning.

We have narrowed down the top three suburbs we're planning to buy in - Boronia, Bayswater, and Ferntree Gully. All suburbs are at least 28 km from the Melbourne CBD but are very good in terms of location, population, and affordability. Also, the Eastlink is being built and once that is completed, we expect a real estate boom within the area.

Have a look at some of the houses we checked out. Click on the pictures to see the property details.

I personally love the last house because it has a colonial cottage feel to it. I can see myself sitting by the verandah gorging on Devonshire tea. And the furniture I can put in there!

Arnie and I will be spending the coming weekend inspecting these properties and making offers. Hopefully, if everything works out, I'll be spending my 29th birthday at my new home!

Must love dogs

If I had some sort of application process in getting a man, this would be in the criteria for sure...

Must love dogs.

I have always been a dog lover. I grew up with dogs of all shapes and sizes - Spitz, St. Bernard, Pug. I find that having a dog is the best end to a stressful day. They are always so enthusiastic and excited to see you that even if you've had a crap day at work and almost killed someone while driving home, you feel all your tension wash away as you're greeted by a furry family member.

Meeko is the first pug I have ever owned. In fact, she is the first dog I ever had here in Melbourne so she is quite special. Not only that, Arnie and I consider her as our first child. She knows that we're mum and dad, while grand mum and grand dad are my mum and stepfather. She's nuts. She knows she's loved and she loves the fact the she's spoilt rotten.

In case you're asking, Arnie has passed this qualification with flying colours. In fact, I think Meeko loves him more than I. I don't mind, really. She is daddy's little girl :)

Arnie took us to Torquay for the weekend. Meeko enjoyed the sun, surf, and ice cream :)

A new look!

Hi blogfriends!

How do you like the new sassy look of my web home? Picked out the template and added a few things. The banner picture is actually an original artwork by Josh Agle otherwise known as Shag. The print is called "Collins St.", named and modelled after the fantastic street of the same name in Melbourne.

Hope you enjoy the new look :)

Another tag...

Been tagged by Karen Kristie.

1. How often do you blog?

As much as I can. There are times when life gets in the way that I don't blog as much as I want.

2. Online Alias:

Jaguarxjsau, quidditch_champ, Dark Mistress... don't ask about the last one :)

3. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?

I always keep my appointments. It's the right thing to do.

4. What do you do most often when you are bored?

Watch my DVDs, usually Daria, Ranma 1/2 or Rurouni Kenshin. I also read, play PS2 or Nintendo DS. On hot days, I hit the beach and relax with a cold drink and a good book.

5. When bathing, which do you wash first?

My hair.

6. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?

Yes, and it was not a good thing to do.

7. What color looks best on you?

Black. I'm partial since it's my favourite colour. Recently, I've been wearing a lot of pastels. Mum reckons I look good in torquise.

8. What?s your favorite alcoholic drink?

Japanese Slipper, Screwdriver, Dry Martini

9. Do you believe in heaven and hell as a real place that each of us will go to after death?

I question the existence of heaven and hell now, as opposed to the past when I truly believe in it.
10. Do you find that you have more online friends than offline friends?

No. As much as I love meeting really nice people online, I still prioritise my offline friends of course.

11. What was your favorite subject in school?

History, English Literature, and Japanese Literature.

12. Are you a perfectionist?

I prefer not to be, but old habits die hard.

13. Do you spend more than you can afford?

I've fallen into this trap heaps of times. But I've been good.

14. Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved before?

Definitely. It's part of growing up.

15. Do you consider yourself creative?

Oh yes. My hands are very busy!

16. Do you give yourself the credit you deserve?

Yes, and I never fail to reward myself afterwards! :)

17. Do you donate time or money to charities?

Yes, to causes I believe in.

18. Have you recently done something yourself that you've criticized others for doing?
Who hasn't? We're only human.

19. What's on your mind right now?

How long I have left at work before the weekend officially starts!

20. Say one nice thing about the person who tagged you and the five people that you are going to tag:

R*yan - I like the fact that he is very honest about himself and his oh-so-romantic lovelife... and I also like butts :)

Bridget - Such a cutie... sayang hindi tayo talo! hahaha! Bati tayo, Jher-papa :)

Jaynir - artsy fartsy like me, likes the fine things in life like me :)

Jayce - I love his musings... sayang he's been so busy with life that he doesn't get to blog that often anymore

Kat - former schoolmate. I'll alsways remember her as Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho :)

Pardon my absence...

It's just one of those hell-weeks at work. Been trying to complete a data analysis project for my boss but to no avail, simply because I do not spend 24 hours in the office. I am supposed to analyse 2.9 million items of data and check the destruction dates. Bringing the data up in the system already takes a couple of hours, sifting through the info will take me another couple of hours. That's 4 hours gone! Then, I'll have to sort the data according to account number... that will just take ages!

Oh well, soldiering on...

*****

I just found out that I'll be flying to Brisbane, Queensland on Monday for a conference. Talk about a very short notice! Thank goodness there are flights available or I'd probably wouldn't make it. Funny thing is that my boss was not aware of any conferences that require my attendance but he did say that the nature of the conference seems important for me to be involved. As far as I know, the attendees are mostly from Sales and Customer Care. I'm the only person from Operations! Oh well, it'll be a good chance to meet new people in the business. It's amazing that even with me being in the company for 6 years, I still meet new faces almost every week.

*****

I had a quick case of the flu over the weekend. To top that off, I also had hay fever. Tell you what, having a runny nose from the flu, itchy eyes and throat from the hay fever is definitely not a good combination. I just wanted to tear my nose off. It was so annoying! Thank God I'm over it now. I had to skip gym this week to make sure I'm completely healed. I don't want to spread my germs around.

*****

Melbourne has been experiencing bizarre warm weather these past few days. I expect summer to be an absolute scorcher if we're already getting 30 degree days mid-October. I'm kind of not looking forward to summer now. Too much heat is just unbearable. Oh well, at least I'll get to even out my tan quicker than usual.

*****

I bought a fantastic book last Tuesday. It's called "Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture" by Ariel Levy. As part of my thesis proposal, I bought this book to further explore on what raunch culture is about. It's an excellent read. Levy argues convincingly that women of today may think that their actions are liberating and freeing but what they don't realize is that they are just perpetuating the images and ideals of a male dominated society. It seems rather harsh and conservative to think so, but feminists like Erica Jong even say that females today who brand themselves feminists have gone a bit too far.

To quote:

"If male chauvinist pigs were guys who treated women like pieces of meat, then female chauvinist pigs are women who make sex objects of other women, and of themselves, and think of this as empowerment."

Fantastic reading, girls. Go check it out!

Dissertation brainstorm

I am still in the process of writing my 600-word thesis proposal for my PhD application. I know, 600 words does not seem to be a lot, right? Well, I am seriously shitting myself since it has been a while that I attempted to write a thesis... a good six years back. It has been long.

I thought long and hard about what my topic would be. Science fiction, Jane Austen, Crime Fiction -- the list goes on and on and on. There are too many things that I can explore and research on, but it has to be something that I am willing to commit to for the next 6 years.

Then, it hit me. Raunch culture, the stuff that fascinates, intrigues, and disgusts me in some ways as a woman. The belief that women simply enjoy being liked for their bodies and they exploit it. They do not believe in old school feminism. They are the women that get attacked by old school feminists. It started off with women simply "surrendering" to men -- taking on the "female" roles that have been instilled by society for generations. Then, it became overtly sexual -- women dressing up like strippers, women learning how to pole dance, women becoming more attuned with their sexual desires. Like all sub-cultures, there is always the good and the bad stuff. I intend to explore this in my thesis.

Finally! A topic I can commit to! Now, it's just a matter of putting my thoughts into paper... wish me luck and have a great weekend!

Blog upgrade?

I'm thinking about changing my blog, organising my posts better, and getting a snazzier template.

What do you think?

Thoughts on sex...

At the risk of being called names again (who knows if the psycho-stalker bitch is lurking - see March 15 entry), I shall endeavour to talk about a little thing that has been bugging me for a while. I apologize in advance for the choice of words I have used - blame Girl With A One Track Mind :)

Have you ever wondered why women who have a huge sexual appetite are often called nymphomaniacs whereas men are never labeled as such? Is it because society has molded people into believing that it is okay for men to be so sexed up whereas women should always be playing the "receiving orifice" role?

Isn't that a bit unfair? I mean, why is it that women cannot enjoy themselves during sex? Is sex all about the penis? Isn't it about the vagina as well? Isn't sex suppose to be an act that should be enjoyed by all parties involved?

In this day and age, I believe it is absolutely okay for a woman to acknowledge that they want a good shag. Is that so much to ask? If men can think about shagging, why can't women? I think it's only fair that women demand a good rogering. After all, women have the equipment that men need to get off - unless they intend to grow hairs in the back of their hands from tossing too much.

There is nothing wrong with a confident woman who knows exactly what they want and how to get it. If a woman goes to the pub and picks up a good looking bloke because she just wants a good seeing to, does that make her a slut? Of course not. I believe that she is honest with herself. If I were a bloke, I find that very sexy. Confidence is a fantastic trait to have. Of course, not all men think this way. Some men actually want all women to act virginal. These same men go out of their way to bed as many women as they can. Isn't that paradoxical behaviour? Fuck heaps of women and expect them to act like nuns.

In my opinion, it takes a real man to take on a sexually confident woman. It is a rarity even in today's supposedly modern world. In spite of people believing that the world has abandoned backward thinking, just reading the papers every morning is enough to tell you that nuh-uh, it's not happening.

You know what I don't like? People playing games. Women acting all coy and hard to get when their bodies say differently. It's all about appearances, isn't it? How about acting on that want? Scratching the itch? It's all about attitude. Acting like a slut and acting sexually confident are two very different things. It's easy to be a slut. It's hard to be sexually confident.

Here is a list I believe that women should follow to be a sexually confident person:

1. When talking about sex, never giggle. You come across like a damn teenager if you do. Talking about sex like an adult is key.

2. There is always a time and place for talking about sex. You may think about sex all the time and probably sneak into a toilet every so often for a quick fiddle, but you cannot talk about it when it's inappropriate.

3. Dress appropriately. I cannot stress this enough. When at work, very low cut blouses that show off half your boobs is not on. Very short skirts that shows your bum off when you bend is not a good look either.

4. Flirt smart. Listen to intelligent women flirt. There is a huge difference with how they go about it than their slutty counterparts.

5. Confidence is a big part of the package. How you walk, how you talk, how you carry yourself in general.

6. Never giggle. Smile, laugh, but never giggle. You will come across like you're nervous. Having the confidence to smile and laugh at loud at a man's jokes is a sure fire way to come across as being completely in control.

7. Have a lot of different interests and be prepared to talk about your interests with passion. Remember that there is a difference between being passionate about something and being obsessed.

Easy enough? I think so. These tips are not only about being sexually confident, but also about being a woman whom men can take seriously. How do I know these things you may wonder? I'll be the first to admit that may experiences in sex is limited and that most of what I know I learned from my current relationship. I like observing human behaviour, reading books about the subject, and experimenting myself on how people react to different types of behaviour. I actually found it amazing that something as simple as giggling can invoke a different reaction from men.

I would like to ask my readers to comment freely on the topic and share their thoughts. Feel free to contradict what I said. I encourage a discussion in the matter for I believe it will just lead to better understanding between the sexes.

And please, no name calling or similar. This is an adult forum so let's talk about sex like adults, okay?

Cheers!