Lin Manuel Miranda in Manila!

I saw the local version of In The Heights last year and we really did a fantastic version of the show, capturing the spirit of the immigrants trying to make their way in American society. I saw that the writer and the actor who played the lead in the original Broadway production was actually in Manila, and the video above shows that he was indeed, in the curtain call of the production last week. Would've been great to see him but oh well, wrong timing for me! Alabanza is my favorite song from that musical. In a way, it's some kind of prayer for me whenever I feel I need God's help!

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The Day That I Dye Has Come!

It used to be that I dyed my hair to look cool - which I did lots of times when I lived in HK!  However, now that I'm in the wrong side of the age spectrum, my sister, finally dropped the bomb at me last night at dinner, when she said, "Oh my God, you have to dye your hair, you look old!"  Well, I have to take her word for it since we don't see each other often.  Unlike Vic or Mama, who I see almost everyday, and may have not noticed the white hair sprouting all over the place, my sister, Mimi, who I only see once a month at most, may have reason to say that out loud.

So now, I asked Mama about it and she said I should buy brown dye and put it on my hair, and maybe ask one of the maids to assist me.  Terrible!  Oh well, I am vain in some ways and I think, making the hair return to black should at least shave a year or two off my real age!

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Questions Straight People Ask Me: Aren't You Afraid of God?

When I was younger, after all that bombardment in Catholic school and in church that gay people will go to hell, I couldn't understand how a God that's supposed to be and good kind would even bother to create gay people.  Why not create all of us straight and heterosexual so we gay people won't have to grapple with all these emotions as we grow up! 

And then, I realized, the problem was not with God - He with the omnipotent capacity to love and forgive.  The problem was with the people around me - the religious intolerant, the hypocrites who preach love but are quick to judge those who are unlike them.  And then I began to realize, God doesn't hate me.  I have done nothing despicable against anyone.  It is these other people I should be wary about - those who spread hate just because we are different, because we are in the minority, because we show them that we are also capable of loving and caring for other people like them. 

Easter Thoughts: How I Did My Own Resurrection

I have always been an optimist in many ways so you could say that Easter is just an extension of who I am in real life.  But that was not always the case.  I went through a phase in my young life where I even thought of committing suicide.  But I guess, like Jesus, after three days, I rose again, of course, in reality, it was more like twenty years later.  So today, being Easter, I'd like to share my thoughts on how you can have your own life's resurrection -

1.  Cut off all the negative people from your life.  Really!  Even if they're your family.  So now, except for my mother, who is one big baggage herself, I have just cut off everyone who has brought me down or made my life miserable before.  I just simply said Adios to them.  Negative people are never nice to be around with so stay FAR FAR AWAY from them.  Unless of course, you are a negative person yourself, tsk tsk.....

2.  I am an awesome person.  I am a good person.  I am a wonderful person.  I always say this everyday to myself.  As early as eight years ago, I was my own worst critic.  My self-depracation was so bad, even my close friends were alarmed by it and warned me not to be so hard on myself.  So I followed their advise and just accepted my faults and weaknesses and magnified my abilities.  Of course, without being a brag about them.

3.  Trust in God.  Everything will fall into place.  I used to worry a lot before but nowadays, I just leave it to God.  Not very easy to do since the truth is, you'd have to do your share first before things fall into place. God is not a genie and will not do things for you.  As they say, 'Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa."  If a cloud passes through my life, I just stay calm about it and believe that God will soon blow that cloud away.  And He always does.

4.  Continue to grow.  I try my best to grow physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually.  Stagnation is not good and will lead to a lot of self-doubt.  Challenge yourself with new tasks and if possible, get out of your comfort zones.

Well, your resurrection will not happen in one day.  For me, it took about twenty years and it was a gradual process.  But when you achieve it, it's a most wonderful feeling of emancipation, or more self-love and more self-belief.  It's a harsh world we live in, and if we can't give off positivity to everyone, what use are we to them!

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