I am glad that Agnes Magpale's Women Development Code of Cebu Province has now been passed on final reading. The code lists, among others, the following as forms of sexual harassment:

1. Persistent appeals for dates despite "verbal rejection"
2. Persistent cracking of jokes, such as green jokes, to someone who finds them offensive or humiliating
3. Taunting a person with constant talk about sex and sexual innuendoes

Interestingly, the initial versions of the code had a provision that makes it illegal to leer or stare at a woman, which I believe was not approved owing to the fact that it not only was difficult to implement--it was also difficult to interpret. For example, how do you differentiate "unlawful staring" from lawful staring? Someone could stare at another with anger or curiosity, or just blankly. Should you consider that harassment?

The code, minus the no-to-staring section, has now been approved. I know it's a bit very late--(FYI...Cebu has just come of age, world)--but let's be glad. There's a whole history of discrimination in here and people are only beginning to understand that there's an alternative to a very oppressive patriarchal society that we're accustomed to. So this is surely a step forward. And a welcome one.

I never stopped thinking about you. You. You, you, you. You and everything you.

And I wonder how, at this time of day, when I'm supposed to be busy and working, my mind could start spinning again. Such agony. You know, there is no one capable of doing this to me endlessly. Only you. December, perhaps.

But no, December is not anyone.


***

They see each other only at night. They meet at a place, drink and have dinner, then go somewhere more private.

In the hotel, the light is blinding, so they turn it off. But not before playing soft music from the cd player he just bought. From afar, you'd think they're lovers. A man, a woman, both unattached, both workaholics, with good lives--quite a promising pair. But listen closely. She talks about her life and her dreams and her love. He talks about another she, and about her, and their not-so-good love affair. Both are obviously in love with other people, but they find comfort in each other. Strangers. Not really strangers.

He pats her in the back, rubs her head and lets her sleep. She is crying sometimes. This night, she is crying. She always cries. She cannot cry with other people and she doesn't have the strength to do it. So she cries with him, he who understands her because he is unattached to her. They don't look for each other's phone numbers. They don't question each other's decisions. They just stay there and bask in the glow of each others' thoughts as though they're siblings. There are times they'd be tempted, as he always likes to seduce people, but it doesn't happen. Because that is the arrangement.

She's had several proposals from men who'd give her flowers and say nice things to her, but all with the intention of exploring her in bed. To see how an "intellectual" (a fellow workaholic actually) feels like in bed. Sort of a conquest. This one proposed to explore her brilliantly and give her a wonderful time she needs: a break away from the monotony. She surprises him with a counter-proposal. How about company without sex? If he says yes, she'll put him on the list of people to call when she feels like wanting a conversation.

To her this is the best arrangement. Lying close with someone in private is always comforting. No sex, because she's promised herself not to do it with anyone else. And she's one who always keeps her promise. A real deep conversation with someone not so close, because sometimes she needs it.

She tells him she doesn't want to deal with a lesser being--she won't go with someone who hopes for more. Because there's a limit to what she can give.

He agrees to her proposal.

------------------------------------------------------------

WOULD YOU DO IT?

::This entry, btw is not anything personal. And I do not intend to shock people. Forgive me.

This is an aspect of the new IT life that more and more Cebuanos find attractive, pressed with limitations on time and resources. Most people now work really hard and don't get enough time and energy for real relationships. But there's also a need for comfort that needs to be filled. Attachments suck, but loneliness sucks too. So the arrangement, though odd, is a good option.

Personally, if I can, I'd pay 5 men to do it for me all at the same time. LOL.

Am wearing a turtleneck blouse today. Pink and flesh ang color. Plus white pedals. Wala namang nagtatanong, except my mom. Are you cold?

I said, "yes."

There must be something wrong with December, I told her. Cebu isn't the coldest place in the world, but there's a literal winter inside. Okay lang, my mom is used to those kind of talk. Pag nagtatanong cya at wala akong maisip na sagot na maiintindihan nya, nag iimbento ako ng kahit ano. Ma, pano mo ba ilalarawan ang kalungkutan? "Ayan ka na naman!" she said. Don't worry, mom. Okay lang ako. I am giddy giddy in fact, anticipating the next year and what it will bring to me. Teka, will it be as cold as today? Tumawa cya.

Okay lang ako, ma. I assured her.

"I don't know," she said. "Tong anak ko. Hay! Umalis ka na nga!"

And I left.

I had a really nice surprise this morning. A band member from the popular band Cueshe went to the house. He's the band's drummer. Mom graciously offered him a glass of softdrink and a slice of cake, which he politely turned down in favor of conversation. I yelled at my sister and her gf to go down and meet the guy. I must have sounded weird, shouting in front of a visitor. Hope I didn't scare him. I invited him to come to our exhibit. He and the band, I mean. I don't think they can, but let's see.

That's the "kariton" with lots of buko inside it. (Somebody's holding the dipper with invisible hands.) All peace-loving residents of tropical Cebu drink the buko juice. Pour in some milk, with cream and sugar. Place the juice inside the ref and chill for a few minutes. There's your instant life saver. Guaranteed to be the best.



The fruit stand with deelicious yellow bananas hanging. You'll buy a bunch for a price of P20. Divide that by 53 and you'll get the rate in dollars. Ridiculously cheap, but really nice tasting.


Jeepneys, the oh-so-ubiquitous ride of the century. No Cebuano should go through life without experiencing this ultimate display of Filipino ingenuity. From the office to the downtown area, you'll prolly spend less around P10. If they haven't increased the fare yet, it should be around that price.



Roof. Basically third world. The view from the office to the right is more of that. The office looks so nice, but reality revolves around it. It's a gnawing thing that eats you, seeing the masses toiling and struggling, almost without getting anything in return. That's when you'll get to question stuff. I shouldn't be showing you this pic, but I cannot keep you away from it. Beauty comes with a price. And it's not cheap.

All pictures are posted with permission from my beloved PODD. No one is allowed to use them or distribute them without consent of the company through this humble squid.

Thanks to Jagat, PODD artist and ubercool guru for the brilliant work.

My good friend P, been friend since the RF days actually, almost sent me a birthday message yesterday. Thought my birthday is coming, as i wrote in this blog that it's gonna be january 1.

Which isn't true, of course. So sorry, P. You will have to wait some more to give me your gift. Ayaw kalimti! Hehe. Joke lang. Anyways, just one hint. This blog has a lot of fiction in it. A lot. :)

But thanks, anyway. Hope I can see the Christmas tree soon!