If I have to,
I can do anything.
I am strong.
I am invincible.
I am woman.
Every year, we go through this process when we pause for a moment and think about how our lives have been touched one way or another by a woman. It may range from a simple, comforting smile to an entire life changed forever by one woman's courage or strength or love.
Everyday, we see them walk among us -- women just being themselves, doing what they do best -- serving and protecting, nurturing and loving, giving and inspiring...
Their selfless acts have become as natural to them as breathing, their show of support as ubiquitous as a tap on one's shoulder just when you need it.
It's an overwhelming experience -- to be loved selflessly and tirelessly by someone so strong yet so fragile, so sweet yet so dangerous, so innocent yet so knowledgeable. So sensitive yet so strong.
It is precisely these very same contradictions that make women so unique. Whether it's a mother's touch, a friend's embrace or a lover's kiss -- a woman's inexplicable capacity to take in so much and give the same without losing anything in the process but instead gaining more and giving more is almost magical if not unbelievable.
The love of a woman is fierce -- like a double-edged sword too dangerous for the faint of heart and too pure for the opportunistic soul.
Oftentimes, a woman's capacity for great love is downplayed as nothing more than a dutiful fulfillment of her mission, as if everything she does must have a reason, otherwise she is but a lost soul, whose existence becomes devoid of meaning and purpose.
In truth, she needs no validation nor recognition. She seeks none of those. For to her, everything she does is a labor of love, born of her immense drive to put the other person's happiness above her own -- always. To her, that is reason enough. That is reason itself.
With the exception of a few Western countries, more and more women in the East suffer in silence in the face of maltreatment and abuse -- most times through no fault of their own.
In stark contrast with men, society finds it hard to separate a woman's achievements and contributions from the personal life she leads. This is probably one of -- if not the biggest discrimination women face. When a male political figure commits blunders and unthinkable sins for example, the world easily downplays, forgives and forgets.
But when a woman of the same stature does the same, she is eternally doomed and haunted by past mistakes -- never to fully recover from her foibles. It is as if she is not at all allowed to be human.
I'd like to think that the world, after years of struggling with feminism has changed. But the glaring truth is that it hasn't changed a bit. It just wants us to believe it has just so we'd stop whining and complaining about it.
***
International Women's Day is also a celebration of women achievements. And for this year, I choose to honor a great woman writer, Lualhati Bautista who embodies the strong and stubborn woman who refuses to sit down and take it. Her strength shines through in her writing and her life and works serve as an inspiration to aspiring women writers. Lualhati Bautista -- all talent, all woman.
Today, as we celebrate the many ways a woman loves and the many wonderful ways we have benefited from such love, let us not forget the many forgotten women all over the world -- unrecognized, abandoned and unloved.
On this day, may God touch them in the night as they fall asleep weeping, may they wake up to a more caring world the next day. May they walk without fear among the crowd. May they speak without reservations of their feelings and fears. May they find comfort in the thought that they are remembered every year.
This is for all the faceless women of the world. One day, all will be rectified. One day, they will get what's due to them. One day soon.
Today is International Women's Day. Remember all the wonderful women in your lives. Let them know they are appreciated. Let them know they are loved.
As usual, giving in to requests for the lyrics of LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD's standard bearer, presidentiable Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro's latest TV commercial/informercial/jingle/campaign song "Lipad" written and performed by the band Rivermaya.
You know it breaks my heart when you Googlers get to my blog not finding what you're looking for. So here it is, for your viewing and listening pleasure (or disgust -- whichever applies).
**The way I've been exerting effort transcribing lyrics for these campaign jingles, looks like I should just resurrect my long time dead lyrics blog. **
*** No copyright violation or any other violation intended. This is published here for public service. I invoke "fair use" law. Uhm, wait, do we have that here? :) Aw, heck, we don't?
Lipad by: Rivermaya
Harapin ang hamon ng pagasa Harapin ang hamon ng bagong simula ohhhhhhhh....
Kay tagal mo nang gustong lumipad Ngunit pangarap mo'y bihag ng kahirapan Matagal mo nang gustong umangat Handa ka na pero napabayaan Hindi mo kasalanan...
Panahon na, gumising Hawak mo ang susi sa mundo Sumama... Para sa lahat ang byaheng 'to
Harapin ang hamon ng pagasa Harapin ang hamon ng bagong simula Pangarap mo'y kusa na lang matutupad Ngayong handa ka ng lumipad Ngayong handa ka ng lumipad
Lumipad...lumipad...lumipad... Ngayong handa ka ng lumipad
(Ahhhh...Sulong Gibo, sulong Gibo...)
Panahon na,lumaban Hawak mo ang susi sa mundo Manalig Kasama si Gibo Ligtas tayo...
Harapin ang hamon ng pagasa Harapin ang hamon ng bagong simula Pangarap mo'y kusa na lang matutupad Ngayong handa ka ng lumipad Ngayong handa ka ng lumipad
Lumipad...lumipad...lumipad...
Sulong Gibo Lipad tayo!
***
This song of the same title however, from the movie "Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia" -- "an all-digital, full-length animated film entry to the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival" sang by no less than Ms. Lea Salonga would have been a better choice. :) After all it has all the elements of "galing" and "lipad" and it's both inspirational and meaningful.. Well, just a thought.
Click here if you're looking for lyrics and video of the new "Lipad" commercial performed by Rivermaya.
Surprised that since its Youtube upload yesterday, January 7, 2010, this "Sulong" infomercial/commercial/TVC/campaign ad barely had 500 views. Pretty much shows how "unpopular" he is compared to cousin Noynoy Aquino.
Looks like the coming election is becoming more and more a "battle of the bands" than a "battle of brands". Don't be surprised. The electorate is mainly "young" with over 70% of voters aged below 39. This my friend, is how you connect to the young and hip crowd.
This one's from Rico Blanco's "Posible" song and apparently, Gibo failed to ask permission from Blanco that this original composition of his will be used for Gibo's infomercial. While Gibo's camp insists that there was no violation of intellectual property rights the issue just refuses to die.
As another public service of this blog, I'm publishing the words (narration/lyrics) here and of course, the video.
"Sulong"
Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro's latest infomercial
Gibo:
"Mura at masaganang pagkain para tuluyang mapawi ang gutom..
College graduate sa bawat pamilya...
Libreng gamot para sa mahihirap...
Sulong Gibo Wag uurong
Pakinggan sa yong puso
Ang sigaw na dati'y bulong...
Narrator: Ang mabilis na pag-ahon, posible lang kay Gilbert Teodoro
As we shelve memories of 2009 and resolve to start anew in 2010, forget not "the good times and the bad you've seen and all the others in between..."
Happy New Year everyone! Let us remember each other and look forward to tomorrow with faith in love and in God.
Times of Your Life
by: Paul Anka
Good morning, yesterday
You wake up and time has slipped away
And suddenly it's hard to find
The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember?
The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you've seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember
The times of your life (do you remember)
Reach back for the joy and the sorrow
Put them away in your mind
The mem'ries are time that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow
Here comes the saddest part
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life
Gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life
Of your life
Of your life
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life
RJ is a web/technology and politics enthusiast. She doesn't blog or comment anonymously and her opinions are not for sale. Know more about her and this blog.
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March is Women’s Month
Phenomenal Woman by: Maya Angelou
Many people wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
When I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
The flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
The joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Men themselves have wondered
what they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Now you understand
just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palms of my hands,
the need for my care.
Because I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's my mother and all your mothers
And my grandmothers and your grandmothers
And my great grandmothers and your greats
And my great greats
And yours
And all you women
And Me!
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