transposable element

just a few days ago, i met a schoolmate i haven’t seen in at least half a dozen years. “hi… ngek, ang taba mo! at bakit ang itim mo?!” (hi… er, you’re so fat! and why are so dark?!) was her greeting. i bit back the retorts that sprang to mind. words i would have uttered had i been in a bitchier mood. “at least i can appreciate and afford to eat good food”. or that “at least it wasn’t me who could use a Naples plastic surgery by Dr Flaharty“.

in the end i let the comment on my weight slide; if she can’t distinguish pregnancy from obesity, i figured it’s not the right time to explain it. but dark? i find my just-got-back-from-the-beach-and-i- did-nothing-but-laze-around-for-several-days tan was actually flattering.

such are what this year’s first issue of pinoyexpats is all about. tintin did a fabulous job of putting this issue together, with the help of the rest of the team. from her editor’s note:

This month’s issue feature cautionary tales, a celebration of curly hair, how to inject humor in being greeted with a comment about your weight, how to raise your daughters to not succumb to the pressure to be one type of “beautiful” and much much more.

go visit pinoyexpats, and revel in the beauty of the filipino.

huli man daw at magaling: the latest issue of pinoyexpats, Homeward Bound, is up!

it never ceases to amaze and inspire me how many outstanding pinoys there are all over the globe, and i am so proud to be part of the webzine that helps bring them out to the limelight. but that’s just half of the package. the other thing that makes me so happy to be part of pinoyexpats are the people behind the scenes. truly talented, outstanding pinoys in their own right. these guys rock.

thanks, kat, for organizing a terrific issue. great job!

reach out, help, share, connect with the less blessed. our theme for this issue of pinoyexpats.

i swear, it was purely by chance that the last round of blogkadahan and this issue of pinoyexpats both tackle new beginnings.

writing for 3 blogs in english makes it a refreshing change to write again for blogkadahan. it’s been a while, and i enjoyed writing in tag-lish again. head over there and see my entry, about post-partum me.

if pinoyexpats’ last issue was big, with caterina fake on spotlight, i don’t know what to call this one, what with two remarkable pinoys as pinoyexpat of the month and at the spotlight (if you were a fan of pinoy bands in the 90s, the author’s name should ring a bell), as well as two equally remarkable articles written by non-pinoys about pinoy expatriates. and while you’re there, please take time also to read our appeal for help for the victims of the recent mudslide in Leyte.

a great full-packed issue! congatulations and thanks to all contributors and the rest of the team. i’d send flowers, but that’s OA naman.

if you’d like to contribute to any of the future issues, just drop us an email at pinoyexpats@gmail.com.

head on over to PINOYExpats for a sumptuous feast! it took us some time simmering the pot, but go and see what a mouth-watering collection we’ve brewed! the images are just awesome!

oh, and for tagalog readers, here’s some meryenda’t panghimagas for you!

*burp*

i know i’ve said that pics will be up next, but here’s something better: the august issue of PINOYexpats is up. be sure to read “in this issue” to find out what’s new. and if you think our efforts to reach out to pinoys all over the globe are worth a couple of clicks more, give us your vote of confidence at the philippine web awards, won’t you?

this is the second interview i made for pinoyexpats and i have enjoyed writing the piece thoroughly. not only because this month’s theme of pinoyexpats is tugging at my heartstrings, but also because i can relate to quite some extent with my interviewee. she represents one of those scenarios i play in my mind when i go on an i-wish-i-could mode. read her inspiring story here and the article she herself has written here.

and oh, for those of you pinoys who are getting tired of being pinoys, i’ve listed 10 reasons just why it’s great being one, gma-garci issues notwithstanding.

added 05 july:

i’ve been trying to access pinoyexpats’ page the whole day yesterday with no luck. so it was only today that i got to read glo’s article. whew! another supermom’s tale!

i know, i know, this issue was again overdue. but we have good reasons. we’ve revamped, re-designed, re-constructed. we’ve got two more people on the editorial team, we’ve changed the titles to the sections to more apt ones, and kala weaved her prowess again, giving us an even better lay-out! this issue tackles pinoy estudyante blues in europe. go check us out, and while you’re there, do answer our readership survey and help us deliver better and better issues.

oh , and yeah, we’ve got cool buttons, too. take your pick! here’s mine:

Happy Easter to all of you!

PinoyExpats is up, presenting views and telling stories of pinoys working in europe. go visit!

it’s up! huli man daw at magaling, magaling pa rin, hehe… it’s four days late, but hey, everyday should be like valentine’s, right? fall in love all over again with our february issue of pinoyexpats! see me there! (dun na lang ang comments, please? and be gentle; remember, it’s a literary experiment, hehe)