It’s November. It’s been a tumultuous 10 months for the great majority of the human population and with only two months left to the end of the year, I can’t help but wonder what other tricks 2020 has got up its sleeve. I’m hoping that we get treats instead but as of this writing, my country is being battered by a super typhoon, the biggest storm this year and possibly the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone in history. All while concurrently battling and losing to the virus. Lord have mercy.
In two days, the Americans are going to decide the fate of their nation, the consequences of which will arguably impact the rest of the world. Four years ago, when they made the decision to put a madman in the oval office, I was heartbroken. 2016 was a difficult year by itself. The rise of populist leaders and the increasing nationalist sentiment in many countries made me feel somehow dejected. For someone like me who self-identifies as a citizen of the world, implanting myself wherever opportunity takes me, anti-immigrant sentiments hit me to the core. Perhaps a little known fact is that I was granted Canadian citizenship in May of 2018. It does not change who I am. I am Filipino by blood and by heart and I am also half-Sudanese – the latter I repressed because I grew up in a culture that favours white skin over brown. Luckily, I also grew up to be surrounded by people who encouraged me to love myself despite the color of my skin. My point is that all these experiences combined help me identify, relate and empathise with so many people. I support inclusivity and denounce hate, bigotry and racism of all forms.
Over two weeks had passed since I last updated this blog. My writing has taken a bit of a backseat this last little while even though I made a promise to pen my thoughts regularly. I write as a distraction from reality. But reality sometimes catches up leaving one with little choice but to confront it. With Singapore slowly relaxing restrictions, I find myself being increasingly comfortable meeting up with friends. It’s a small consolation for not being able to travel elsewhere, especially home to see my family. In the last couple of weeks, I had also focused on recalibrating some life goals like putting my finances in order and getting additional security. The other day, a friend of mine lamented that it is tiring being a poor kid. I concur. It would be nice not to have to ever worry about money. I hope to reach that point one day.
October, though fleeting, was still somewhat a month of celebrations. Earlier in the month, I found myself hungover like I’ve never been in a long time after a night of binge drinking to celebrate my friend Karla’s birthday. In a miscalculated drunken stupor, I ended up instructing the Grab driver to drop me off at her condo despite already being on my way home. There’s nothing worse than waking up with a spinning head and a churning stomach and finding yourself in a place other than your own! It was certainly all good fun until the morning after. My friend Jessica who had been inadvertently stuck in Canada for seven or so months, finally managed to come back to Singapore. Her release from quarantine and eventual return to society was definitely a cause for celebration. Another dear friend, Kiara, tied the knot with her long-term boyfriend in a simple but meaningful ceremony in Brisbane. I was not able to go because Covid obviously but the pictures from the event were all so lovely. Athena, my forever baby girl, and Tita Wen celebrated their birthdays last month too and I am forever grateful for their lives.
I have reason to hope that some sort of balance will be restored by the end of the year. After all, when things are down there is no other way to go but up!
As always, kapit lang mga beh!
Sharing some of my favourite snaps from the last month. Cheers to a brand new month! May we all survive it unscathed.
