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Yellow and culture

Representation of yellow colour in different societies vary.

 

I recall when I was just a teenager how I like yellow colour. It is not because of the representation of the color but it is because it is bright, vibrant, and full of life. As I understand better the societal norms, color can even represents a group, an ideology, an individual, a character, an attitude, or even emotions. 

In Philippines, pre-election can be very colourful. Political parties, individual, and groups take colors seriously. A color is their brand. And they define color according to their visions. 

In South Africa, it is naturally colourful! Winter is an all-black season. Spring is the most colourful and vibrant time of the year. As the garden flowers starts to bloom in it’s best rainbow color yet, women and men starts to show off their tops and outfits from bright yellow to shocking purple. 

Welcome to Joburg!

This story was originally posted in my Facebook Notes. I thought it would be wonderful to share this to you… It is posted last 2 August 2009. During winter in South Africa.

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My wake up call in the morning in Melville. The Ibis bird couple. Photo by Angelique Corthals.

The tictacs of the rain dropping hard on our house roof at Melville had awakened my sound sleep this morning. As I regained my consciousness, I felt the winter cold was penetrating inside my room all the way to my layered blanket sheets. Even though how thick my blanket is, and even I am wrapped tightly with fleece blanket underneath, I was still freezing.

The weather is unusual today. There are light rain showers and drizzle. The sun is hiding behind the thick and dark clouds. I can only hear the rain tap dancing over the house, and the loud cry of the big bird “Ibis” at our garden. It was so opposite in the last three days – it’s a bit warmer (I mean 17 degrees), sunny, and very lively. But today, the weather suddenly drops down without any warning! Worst, there was a power cut – which means no hot and brewed coffee, no sunny-side up egg and toasted bread, and others because almost every kitchen ware is powered by electricity. Welcome to Joburg!

In numbers

I arrived in Johannesburg last 2 May 2009, early morning. I thought it was freezing. The winter was just starting. That was the day, that it was a mixed feeling – curious, excited, but cautious. Cautious and so observant because of all the security issues I have learned about Johannesburg as a tough city, friends warning me to be careful, the high-rise and electrically activated fences, and the news I often read about Johannesburg crime rates. I never felt so nervous in my life. I was so used to hearing bombings, guns and shooting, conflict, in the southern Philippines. But not petty crimes. I am even more tensed with crime rates in South Africa than the violence in and surrounding my city in Mindanao.

I also thought, it’s a nice city. Better than my hometown. The infrastructures are great. How amazed I was, once I turned my television on, I saw the news about people and drivers complaining about road potholes. When potholes were televised, I told myself, that’s not even half the size of potholes in provinces of Philippines!

Child’s life and HIV: Abungile’s Story

Here is the next video as part of raising awareness for World AIDS Day. Who says World AIDS Day is finished? The campaign is still on. Thanks to MSF South Africa for video and text.

Asavela is 14-years old and has been on treatment since 2002. While her mother and brother are very supportive of her HIV status, Asavela struggles to keep her head high under the weight of social stigma from her peers and neighbours.

For more info, visit Khayelitsha mini-site dedicated for World AIDS Day.

Child’s life and AIDS

This week is a dedication to all people living with HIV/AIDS. Why? Today is the official International World AIDS Day! If you don’t know about it, then sit back and relax and I hope this page will raise awareness to one of the deadly disease globally if remain untreated. My friend, who is a South African blogger, is also dedicating his blog to AIDS week, called Lime and Life, aiming for 10,000 hits for a week. And let’s join this cause, by re-blogging this post, tweeting, and sharing and recommending it your social networks.

Not moved yet? Then have you seen an eye of a child living with HIV? Have you felt how to be stigmatised by friends? Have you ever wonder how a child able to manage marginalisation from friends and others? Then here is a story of lovely Asavela, 14 year old, and has been on treatment since 2002 in Medecins Sans Frontieres clinic in Khayelitsha since 2002. Whilst her mother and brother are very supportive of her HIV status, Asavela struggles to keep her head high under the weight of social stigma from her peers and neighbours.

For more HIV positive testimonies, go to Khayelitsha mini-site at http://www.msf.org.za/2009worldaidsday

World AIDS Day 2009: The post-AIDS denialism era

Tomorrow will be the first time I will be celebrating World AIDS Day together with people, activists, fighters around the world with a better understanding of the issue. For 7 months living and working in South Africa, I understand the issues better than before – the stigma, the systems, the challenges, and the successes. I got closer with people who have lived life even before in front of death still looking towards life positively.  Even more, I understand how this dreaded disease affects lives of children. This is the era post-Mbeki andAIDS denialism. I am glad to see that South Africa is once again on the frontline to lead the fight. Below is the 15-second teaser of Medecins Sans Frontieres or also known as Doctors Without Borders as they mark the day tomorrow on fight against HIV and AIDS. Also watch out for more videos I will be posting in my blog starting today in celebration of World AIDS Day 2009 – Living life Positively – as they say.

For more info, visit the Khayelitsha mini-site.

Fly high

The bird prepares to fly to his new nest. Photo by Baikong

I think one of the greatest things in life is to wish and wish be granted. With 24 years of stepping each day to my adventurous journey, I would say honestly yet humbly, that I am one of those who are blessed to receive what I wish, what I pray for.

Two years ago, being young, aggressive, and stubborn at times, I have always wished for working everywhere in a humanitarian context. It was an influence of working with people in a humanitarian context in Mindanao, where I was born and where armed conflict never stops to give life an air.

Musing on who is Cory Aquino in Moro History

Originally posted at facebook

Tuesday, 04 August 2009 at 20:55

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I was born a year before People Power. I might not have any awareness of what was happening in my environment at those time, but the fact that I was able to go to school securely, read the history of terror during Martial Law, and the stirring People Power, I feel so grateful for the blessing to live in a much better society. Though history tells the story of a woman whose trademark colour is yellow, it is not as moving as how she moves people’s lives who bear witness to the dark era and has united a nation.

But on her death, I realised how influential and how she touched people’s heart and soul. Thus, I cannot keep my silence in this corner of the world.

A dot in a circle

Reflection. Photo by Baikong

It’s a bitterly cold and quiet day in Johannesburg. For two months of reflections and two months of dissatisfaction to my question, “Why I am Here?,” the hug of winter is a companion. And every day, as I feel the serenity and calmness inside my haven of privacy, I ask myself of same question.

My passion to humanitarian work ignites from being a witness to the situation of the vulnerable people when armed conflicts erupt and escalate, and when pandemic, epidemics, and diseases haunts those people who cannot afford even their food. When I see and hear about those people, I feel bad. I feel the adrenalin rush rising that we can do something to address the problem. And so, I started working restlessly from one place to another, either it’s a conflict and post-conflict setting, natural disaster inflicted areas and population, or health-related response.

When art and creation meet

Sunset in Cape Town. Photo by Baikong

South Africa is unique in its own right. I always say it is always a very surprising country. I always thought, it’s gonna be hot, but they have winter. I always thought it might be so scary, but lovely and warm people makes me comfortable. I thought, I don’t like surprises, but South Africa invites me to unravel mysteries that unwrapped its charm and beauty. Now, I am always looking forward to the next lovely surprises it brings. Just like the lovely sunset I had ever seen, I saw the childish me impressions and enchantment that all I can say is “Woooowww!” No words can explain, but yeah, this is for real. Looks like an artist hand had brushed the hues and colours of scenery delicately, but it is South Africa, right?

To do list on Earth Day!

1. Calculating my Ecological FootPrint

ecofootprint quiz

A good start to kick off Earth Day on my own is giving sometime to take the Footprint Quiz. A very friendly official website of Earth Day welcomed me with a very child-centered quiz on calculating how many planets we need if everyone lives a lifestyle the same as I do. Even though the quiz only has two countries (US and Australia) to choose from, I chose Australia, since it’s near to Philippines.

From distress to hope

Women affected by the armed conflict in Central Mindanao gathered for a cause. (Photo originally taken by Baikong)

Life between displacements and atrocities is a life of narrowing light of hope.

This is how Fatima, 40 years old, widow, mother of eight, described her situation.

Fatima’s children were born and raised in Manila, miles away from her origin in Aleosan, North Cotabato.

Last September 2008 the family decided to go back to Fatima’s roots and start another chapter of their lives.

Fatima was excited to introduce to her children how beautiful Mindanao is. The excitement became a nightmare. A month of hope and liberty did not last long.

Bedtime Stories

  

 

A girl looking inside children class activities (photo taken by Baikong)

Magical fairies. Princess and Prince. Damsel in mistress. The knight in shining armor. Once upon a time. They lived happily ever after.

These are the typical characters in bedtime stories.

However, I grew up without bedtime stories told neither by my father nor my mother. I grew up without my imagination reinforced by storytelling of magical impossibilities. Bedtime stories didn’t run in the culture of my family. Moreover, it is not also traditional practice in our culture here in the South.

Within 24 years, I didn’t hear my parents ever said that life always end happily ever after nor they speak of distress ever after. I came to discover along my journey if bedtime stories really exist.

Living martyrs in the foreign land

Hong Kong red bus in Des Voeux Road West

Hong Kong is a no strange place for me. It is known here in South East Asia as shopping centre and the Disneyland. It is two hours away from Manila, the capital city of Philippines. So, when I was called to come to Hong Kong for a meeting, I was excited for the fact it would be my first time to visit the state that have gained economic boom and prosperity even surpassing the milestones Philippines have showed decades ago. I wanna see it for myself. And it is a reality now, as I hold my return ticket.

Even if I had a short stay in Hong Kong and was not able to go around the state, I gained fruitful insights and learnings. I realized that unemployment in the Philippines is too high, that many of the Filipinos have to work abroad – majority of them are domestic helpers! And Hong Kong is one of their hubs. It is said to be that 100,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong work as domestic helper, or commonly known as DH.