massage and mining

(i wrote this post yesterday but due to slow internet access, i wasn't able to post anything)

First of all, happy birthday mother dearest! (kahapon ito) 62 and still looking like 50. :)

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MASSAGE
I never really took hilot, the pinoy version of massage, seriously. People often say it does well with certain illnesses, but for me it’s simply a massage. My mom and I have regular home service with a masseuse who does hilot.

Last night’s massage may have turned me into a convert. The persistent pain on my back has been bothering me for three weeks already. The pulmonologist’s diagnosis indicated that it’s party of the symptoms of my aggravated allergy. Yesterday was the sixth day of my medication and I’ve had little improvement. I figured a massage would help relieve my back pain.

The Bisaya has what you call ‘panunghot,’ which are those tights knots on the back. Scientifically, it’s supposed to be lactic acid concentrations. Whenever Winnie does massages, her target is to beat those panunghot into oblivion, nothing much happens to me afterwards except for some tingling from the mild pain of her heavy hands. My massage last night could have been a challenge to her because she took more time than usual on my back. There were many times I had to wince in pain or stifle the tickle as she kneaded me like bread dough. I’ve stopped telling her to make it softer because her soft and hard massages vary very little. But I keep her services because it’s more of helping her earn a living.

Lo and behold! After we were done, I felt better. There weren’t any panunghot left, and I felt my throat and lungs clear a little. My energy seemed to return, enough to have me dancing to Referndum 3 Track 12 three times!

And I woke up this morning feeling much better than I have the last three weeks! The entire day, there were less outbursts of coughing and little drowsiness. Wow. Hilot may not really an old wife’s tale after all. I’m just glad to be feeling sprightly again.

So for those people in Davao interested in her services, just let me know and I’ll help you get in touch with her.

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F*ck You, Sec. Angie Reyes! I never thought anyone could be as lousy as Mike Defensor for DENR Secretary, but you just had to take his crown and scepter away.

As I read the Inquirer’s news on Angie Reyes, the dude is pitching nine million hectares of Philippine land for mining. T*ngina mo, Reyes! It’s like shouting to people through a megaphone to rape your mother, you lousy jerk!

Somewhere in the article it said that it’s only some single digit percentage of the Philippine land! P*ta. Kahit pa point zero zero five pa yan, pare! Tarantado ka. And don’t give the people shit that you would be approving permits for responsible companies that would prevent pollution and endangering the environment. Bobo ka ba? The very nature of mining is pillaging an entire mountain or mountain ranges, even, to get whatever minerals you need. Dude, just one strong typhoon, you will not only have an Ormoc or Infanta part 2, you’d have a Boac as well.

I’m f*cking pissed by this thing! To tell you the truth, between logging and mining, go log (pero siyempre di pa rin)! At least we can replant trees, but who ever heard of rebuilding a mountain! What price do we have to pay for progress?

What’s the point of the hundreds of billions of dollars this country will earn from mining, when you will displace thousands of indigenous peoples, destroy animals and their habitat, pollute the watersheds which are the sources of water and worsen the already ruined ecological balance of this country?

P*ta! Kung sana tigilan niyo na lang ang pangungurakot at ibayad yang mga kickback ninyo sa utang na kayo ang nanghihiram pero kami ang nagbabayad!

Gago ka. At gago ang presidenteng pinagsisilbihan mo. Lalagyan ko ng tailings mga iniinom niyong bottled water. Peste.

(and there went all the energy I gained back from last night’s massage.)

Gago. Tarantado. Bwiset. Paksyet. Pakyu. P*ta.

May naiisip pa ba kayong mura?

And to anyone who is for mining, please don’t try to convince me otherwise. I have a solid stand on this issue. If you are for it, I will not fight you or curse you and will respect you for your opinion. Pero kung ikaw na ang magbebenta sa bansa para gahasain at pagkakitaan… ibang usapan na yun.