hmmm

Ive been corrected by some people that the RH bill does not promote abortifacients. I was honestly disappointed by my parish because they gave away papers that listed the provisions of the bill and the first that was listed was  the liberal use of abortifacients - which I know  now is not entirely correct. It was a hasty generalization.


But Dra. Franco and Dr. Franco (yes my mom and kuya haha) have explained to me that certain contraceptives may act as abortifacients. Contraceptives such as the IUD or Intra uterine device. Its a device placed inside the uterus which releases hormones such as progesterone and copper which then kills sperm or makes them immobile. But should fertilization occur, it prevents implantation in the uterus.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/iud.html

Now if you believe that life starts the moment of conception -  the moment the egg is fertilized, wouldn't you say IUD also acts as an abortifacient since it prevents the fertilized ova from implantation?



This is the reason why I am against the RH bill, apart from the fact that harmful effects contraceptives may incur on Filipino women.

But one of main reasons why I am against it is I do not find it necessary for the state to spend millions and millions of our money on contraception. Millions will be spent so that the poor can enjoy safe sex (and they can have them all they want!)- but they will still remain poor and jobless - and will continue to have sex since they have nothing else better to do. This bill will not directly solve poverty. It would be wiser to use the millions for the livelihood of our people. More jobs, more opportunities for good education, less poverty, and perhaps less population. As said in a position paper I recently read, population is not an obstacle to development.


http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/upiansonrhbill/


http://iopposetherhbill.weebly.com/

On Art

Today I think I realized why I love performing/music/acting/singing so much. I realized that when one performs, one is able to be most vulnerable and real. Take for example, acting.Acting is probably more true than how one behaves in real life. You get to dig deep and find your most painful or happiest memory, cry your heart out over a heartbreak, do things you want but won't normally do, say what you've always been itching to say, get angry without inhibitions, shout without restrain and express what you cannot translate in words - only you channel these emotions and personal experiences through stories and characters. You draw from a memory and a situation thats related to the scene and from there, you must show how you really feel.Art may even open up a whole new range of emotional depth that one may not even have experienced in real life. And you know its 'ok' to do it because its just 'acting' and you can always tell that its not really you, but truth is more often than not, it is more you than the 'front' you project.

I guess the reason why most artists want people to watch their performances is because everyone is just dying to let themselves be heard, and most especially, be touched and also be an instrument of inspiration. In so many ways, theater, music, or art generally, allows us to meet that human desire. And it feels transcendent and inspiring - to you and your audience. You forget about everyone watching and release all your inhibitions. It is just you, your truth, heart and your art.

I get those moments when I'm singing with a great choir or when Im playing Brahms or Chopin alone on the piano or when Im the 'moment', enjoying and getting the groove of the music.

Art is a reflection of the true self, a reflection of the beauty of humanity.



"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." - Dead Poets Society

Its all comin back, all comin back to me now...

Prof. Cheng just IMed me asking if I was interested in taking a masteral level for Piano literature with mr. Jourdann Petalver under Maam Luci Magalit.Apparently, they need piano students to open the class.  Seriously?


Masters?

Piano?

Me?

Next sem?

As in?





Someone kindly SHOOT ME if I even consider it. No kidding. I have a whole happy stress-free life ahead of me. :))

Cooking Pasta And Making Music.

I just finished cooking Creamy Spinach Fettuccini.

Hmm Im not sure if found it easy or difficult. I found it easy in a sense that I simply had to follow the instructions. Hard because I was very new at cooking and I have no sense of proper timing, heating, cutting etc. Im only starting to get the feel of it.

At first, the pasta tasted a bit bland, the white wine was a bit too strong and overall was just 'so-so' but then I realized I forgot to put nutmeg, salt and pepper! Haha. Wow, small ingredients even in small measurements really do make a big difference. The pasta suddenly became alive after I put it. My mom found it delicious but I personally think it could taste better.

If I were to compare it to music making, I would say tht I probably just sight read a Mozart piece with no musicality whatsoever. I felt like I just followed the instructions. Now I really get how cooking from the heart means. Its almost instinctively knowing what the perfect mixture should be without really sticking to the instructions word per word. Its tweaking it to make it your own flavor. Its getting the explosion of flavors perfectly based on what you feel is right. Its pakikiramdam... Its waiting patiently for the perfect time to splatter seasonings or to pour that heavy cream on to that sauteed garlic and onions. Above all its about enjoying the process, the passion and love you put into the process and its being inspired and reminded of who you are cooking for. Its so much like making music! You can have one piece of score but give it to different pianists, none of them would sound exactly the same. Each one has ones own attack at interpretation to it.

Just like any art, cooking needs practice if you want to improve. As a newbie in kitchen art, I have yet to learn how to cook from the heart. Ive so much to learn on how to get the right blend of flavors and mixtures. How to estimate timing to get an al dente, or to know if Ive sauteed long enough. Much to learn also about techniques on how to chop, grind, cut, pluck and clean. Hayayay. Cooking is not as easy as I thought it was. But I bet getting the finale product done perfectly is almost just as fulfilling as performing in a concert and getting a standing ovation afterwards. :)

Random

I was doing some grocery shopping @ Shoppersville for Creamy Spinach Fetticcine I was planning to make. I needed to buy white wine for cooking to complete the ingredients I needed.

I asked one of the assistance there if they had white wine for cooking.

He was looking and looking around the oil section and then asked me, "Maam, sigurado ko kayong oil po yun?"

White WINE nga e. Hahaha. San nanggaling yung oil!? :))

Mothers day thoughts

I've been thinking about what to write on my blog in line with mother's day. I find it quite hard to write about my love for my mom because it is beyond my writing abilities. I might even start crying while writing because I cannot comprehend how a woman such as her could have a tremendously beautiful heart and soul. My mom is my hero, my best friend, and my inspiration. I am proud to be her daughter and if given another life, I would choose her over and over again to be my mom. She is the best gift God has given me. I know I can do anything as long as I have my mother, Ma. Soccorro Vargas Franco, by my side. <3


Happy mothers day to all you mommys out there who have unconditional love for their children. The world salutes you.