the red and blue of me

It's Tuesday at 9:35 am here in Mandaluyong. I woke up at 6am which was later than my usual 5am wake up time. I'm at my mom's new place in... her bedroom. I just turned off the AC since it was ON all night. It's hot. I'm still in my pantulog - Aldous' big shirt and basketball shorts. I'm hungry. I will probably ask the katulong to prepare something to eat around 10. I had oatmeal and instant coffee 3 hours ago. I will be meeting with HS friends later tonight. That should be fun. (I'm not sure why I'm writing this way...) I spoke with Joy last night and said she might get married next year and asked me to sing at her wedding. I will most definitely go. This is my 11th day here in Manila and so far I have gone to all the places I planned to go, met people I wanted to meet and done most everything I wanted to do. This visit has been enlightening, entertaining and fulfilling.

My relationship with my mom has changed for the better. It seems as though we have agreed to disagree. I have found a way to express my opinions to her in a way that will not prompt her to feel like she's being attacked or pinapagalitan. Since I cannot change who I am specially when it comes to expressing my opinions, I can only change my style of expressing myself. I tell her all the time that she's "tamad" (lazy) jokingly since she makes the katulong (maid) do everything for her. I also tell her that she will have a hard time surviving in the states since she won't have katulong there. I then proceed to help my mom's katulong by washing the dishes, folding clothes, etc. Hoping that my mom would notice.

TBC.... I have a visitor to entertain - and I am still in my pantulog