Friday evening I picked up the London Lite, my fave free paper.

One of the “smaller” items inside screamed “FIrst genetically modified baby to be born”. Wow. Man has gone so far. We landed on the moon, we developed and used nuclear bombs, battled HIV… now we’re still playing god.

Most parents will do anything for their children. We all have the tendency to give our children the chances and opportunities we never had. We want the best life possible for them. We pray when they are sick, we plead to the Almighty not to let our children be sick “again”.

I pray my son doesn’t develop asthma, which runs in my family. I pray that he doesn’t develop allergic rhinitis, which I battle with every year.

I know these pale in comparison to the big ‘C’ and yes I would pray he doesn’t get that as well.

But would I go as far as requesting his genes modified like a lab rat? Perhaps because I don’t have to, I can say “No”.

Goodluck to the family, but I do hope this “power” is not misused. Frankly, I am hoping they don’t do it again. It feels so wrong.

News here.

“Uppers” kasi every time I think about it, natutuwa ako.

Two more days and we’ll be in Dubai with my sisters. Xmas baby yung ditse ko so tamang-tama talaga ang holiday namin. Tapos andun na uli ate namin so halos family reunion na talaga. Parents ko lang matigas ulo, ayaw pumunta.

To top that, hubby booked our flights for Easter. UUWI na TALAGA kami ng PINAS!!! Yehey :-D

Three glorious weeks… I know it will be hot and humid. But so what?! Tatakbo na lang kami lagi from one airconditioned facility to the next. :-P

Hubby and I started the traditional argument over how many days we spend in various places in Luzon vis-a-vis when we fly to Visayas. Medyo madugo kaya pinagpaliban na lang muna namin dahil malapit nang magpanting ang tenga ko.

Let’s not ruin the high of emptying our bank account.

I’m not as busy as I was in Summer and Autumn but still busy enough to be dog-tired every day. Ugly Betty was the only show on telly I actually follow. But Channel 4’s stopped with Season 2.

Last month though, Kelvin and I chanced upon a BBC series called Merlin. It’s shown every Saturday. It’s escapism at its best. I love the special effects.

Smallville started almost the same way, Light plots but with witty dialogue, easy on the eyes cast… Hubby said Merlin was almost a copy-cat. That maybe but I’m long over the convoluted youngish Superman.

Season 1 just ended but to those interested, you can watch all 12 episodes on BBC’s iPlayer.

Actually, you the iPlayer’s the first tax-payer-funded BBC project that I’m really happy with. You can watch segments you missed, even the US cult Heroes.

let’s see if I can write this in <3mins

friend: Di ba nag-injectables ka? Ok ba yun?

me: Oo, pero tinigil ko na. Sabi ni hubby wag na daw akong mag-contraceptive.

friend: (shocked) Ha?! Ano na gamit nyo? Nagbibilang?

me: Di na lang kami nag-se-sex.

friend: hehe

She thought I was joking.

Kahapon nagkakandaiyak ako sa galit at inis. I felt like I was being castigated for something that wasn’t my fault. I probably misunderstood the directions but I certainly didn’t fail on reminding the correct people of what’s not getting done. To think it’s not my department anyway.

Bottomline is lalo akong nagagalit dahil I was completely paralyzed. I sat there stupefied and accepting of what was to come - more definitions on the workload.

I was probably so stressed that on my allergy-clinic visit later that day, I got so dizzy I have had to lie down.

This morning I sent an invite for a different topic and one replied ” …I don’t mind staying if the (sic) is a good reason why this cannot be done at an earlier time, or even on a different day.”

This guy is normally sardonic. Ignore the fact that he comes in very early and leaves early (like me on some days). Why would I need to justify his presence in a meeting??? Normal people would just request the meeting to be moved. Point.

Last night I kept rolling over my head what I’m going to tell my boss. I’m done with the crap I’ve been given. I laid out the procedure but he can find another lackey. I offer no added value to be in the middle of it, and I am certainly not gaining anything from it. I have better get my shit sorted for what I am really supposed to do.

Ayan, sounds perfect kasi ilang beses ko na ulit sa ulo ko. Kaya lang bad mood sya ngayon, sabi nung twin partner nya. I guess I will wait until next week after the Board meeting.

Akala mo siguro ang tapang-tapang ko pero umid pala ako. Ewan. Kulang pa ko sa bayag.

I was fighting back tears on the Tube yesterday morning as I read about Baby P’s months of torture at the hands of his mum, her boyfriend and even their lodger(!). It was unbearable and I find it hard to believe that anyone can be so cruel to a helpless child.

The articles say that baby P was always smiling. In his young mind, he probably thought pain and neglect is the norm.

Of course politicians are quick to react, dailies printing headline news, people demanding justice. But the as the Telegraph said this is not the first time it’s happened and it’s almost laughable it happened twice in the Haringey borough yet no one wants to take responsibility. The head of the child services even points a finger at the last doctor to see baby P before his death…

So many people failed him. His mum. His dad who takes care of him every few days. His neighbours. The government officials paid for by our taxes to protect him.

I cried to hubby last night, I couldn’t put into words why. Hormonal siguro ‘ko. To sleep better I prayed for his soul. But the nagging feeling returned this morning and I just had to hug Kelvin before I left the house.

Apparently not.

At lunch, my colleague mentioned how one woman got on her bus on the way to work and started talking about the Obama’s election. A conversation started right there and then between complete strangers up until my officemate got off.

On the way home, a black woman got on my carrriage and just announced cheerfully “I am so happy”. Some people smiled back, one Asian guy asked why. She talked about the historic moment in the US and how this change should trigger not just political or economic change but individual change. Like saying “hi” and “smiling” at strangers, being courteous and generous. She said there’s no reason why the world cannot fight poverty if everyone just pitched in. Of course she says all these in kilometric sentences. But you get the drift.

At near 9pm, not everyone’s in the mood to chat so most of her lament fell on deaf ears. To which she asked to no one “Why is it that when someone acts like I did just now, being friendly and all, people thinks you’re crazy?” I said to her the only statement I blurted the entire trip “it’s not the norm”.

But she got it right. Wouldn’t it be great if Obama’s election triggers something even more meaningful for the entire world? Camaraderie and hope.

I don’t know how long the feeling of euphoria will last. I don’t know if Obama is aware of his election’s effect not just on the political scene. I don’t know if he’s really aware his success is a beacon not only for blacks but for everyone.

All eyes are on him and everyone will be watching, I hope he doesn’t disappoint.

——

As an aside all the UK dailies today published “souvenir” editions on the election. Election paraphernalia are selling fast on eBay. What does that tell you?

This morning I woke up early to catch the news, and there it was - Obama won!

I didn’t think he would, but I hoped. I’m not an American, I’m not a fan but his win means a lot to me. Parang message of hope. Sabi nang asawa ko yung campaign daw ni Obama parang campaign ni Erap. Read first before you balk at the thought.

The American people was sick of Bush and the current state of affairs in their economy. They wanted change and probably even if it was Clinton on the Democrat bill, they would still have gone for her. With Obama you get the sense of Robin Hood coming to protect the poor and uphold social justice. E di ba ganun din ang ticket ni Erap?

Anyway, for me his win made “race equality” really tangible. I found it hilarious and refreshing to see videos of his extended family in Kenya celebrating. An American president’s election being celebrated in Africa and even here in London.

I’m not black but I feel like celebrating. Nakikisakay.

Imagine in the last stretch of this decade we have a Scottish UK Prime Minister, a young black guy F1 champion, and now a black American President.

I’m happy that we now have very visible examples to our kids. You can do anything, be anything no matter where you came from, as long as you “want it bad enough”.

It’s a big task for Obama and may God guide him.

Companies and employers do not encourage staff to discuss their renumerations. I worked in one place where it’s actually against the Company Policy to talk about your salary and benefits.

We’re trying to build up the QA team by hiring permanent members. At the moment 90% are consultants.

Part of the hiring process, of course, is knowing how much the candidates’ are going to cost. We just agreed to hire two very expensive people. So expensive in fact that their figures will overrun the budget by at least 100%!!!

But they’re supposedly worth it.

I hope they are. I also hope that these two will not be thorns on my side. I’m not an effing secretary and I’m not a motherhen who will look after unruly kids.

Obvious ba’ng something is eating me?

Una e mas malaki pa sweldo sa akin nang mga kutong-lupa na ito.

Ikaw ang tumayo sa lugar ko, how would you feel?

Pangalawa experienced nga yung isa and I bet he will be really good. The catch? I don’t get the impression that he’s into following procedure. Pa’no ka magiging teamplayer?

And lastly ito’ng huli naman, walang formal QA or testing background! He’s got a good balance of the business domain knowledge and technical know-how. Fingers-crossed he can follow the very structured environment I’ve got in the team.

*deep sigh*

I don’t really know what to do. I’m indignant but powerless at the same time.

What do I do?

Do I go asking the boss for a raise just because those guys came in with a higher tag price?

Should I consider that fact that we’re not live yet?

Should I take into account that though I didn’t get a raise this year (my first year here), I did get a substantial bonus?

Should I wait until my “2nd year anniversary” and ask for an increase then? But will waiting make my arguments weaker? i.e. the product is Live and the newbies are no longer newbies by then.

Why don’t I know what to do?

I only like talking politics with old friends, old as in tenured. There are exceptions, of course. Sometimes I would disagree with a new person but I also learn in the process.

But I do hate talking politics and socio-economics with people who seem clueless about the world in general. I hate hearing people say “I don’t like Obama” and for explanation they can only come up with “I just don’t like him”.

Moreover I hate rumour-mongering with politics. “He’s a terrorist pala according to my blah in the US”

I hate discussions that pretend to be serious when in fact the arguments are stupid and hypocritical. “Bobo naman si Erap so he should never have won”

Fine. The man is no genius. But rather than slagging him for his personal traits shouldn’t we focus on why he’s not fit to be President in terms of his governance (or lack of)?

How can people pass off these comments as valid?

The Philippine media (and I guess the media in general) loves sensationalist reporting. They showed people cutting down Narra trees for uling and the viewers were indignant. What a waste, they shouldn’t do that, blah blah. Are you going to feed those people? Is it really new news? I bet the local government knew about the situation long ago.

They also showed (I didn’t have the pleasure of seeing it) young children hauling tabla from mountains, “trekking for 4 hours” and that the woods are rejected if they get dirt on the way down. “Ang la-laki nang paltos at may kalyo na sila”

At the time I was watching the coal “documentary” and commented that the kids are the victims because it’s obvious that their situation will be a cycle. Parang political dynasty sa Pinas, set na ang future nila.

The person next to me commented that the kids in the other segment (ie the tabla) were worst off.

I didn’t realise there were winners in either situation.