Philippines 6th Most Egalitarian Country in the World!
Thanks Ala for the info :) Couldn't help but read more on it. Pinays represent! Hehe.
Women of the Philippines
Edmundo Ortega
In the Nov 26 2007 issue of Time Magazine, there is a special report that should give us all cause for pride in an unexpected area.
The Swiss based World Economic Forum releases an annual list that ranks all 128 countries in the world on the basis of gender equality. The report measures the discrepancies between men and women in four categories: 1) educational attainment, 2) economic participation and opportunity, 3) political empowerment, and 4) health and survival.
At the top of the list, from No. 1 to 5 are Sweden , Norway , Finland , Iceland and New Zealand - all OECD countries with very strong socialist leanings. And there at No. 6, lo and behold, the country that has married Hispanic macho tendencies with Asian paternalism - what do you know - the PHILIPPINES .
As Pinoys, we've always known we come from a society of dominant females but this is official confirmation.
Other countries of note on the list are: Germany - No. 7, Spain - No. 10, the U.K. - No. 11, Australia - No. 17, Canada - No. 18, the United States - No. 31, Switzerland - No. 40 and France - No. 51.
The next ranking Asian country after the Philippines is Thailand at No. 52. China is No. 73, Singapore is No. 77 , Japan is No. 91, and India is No. 114. The Muslim countries are bunched up towards the end of the list.
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Oh yeah, #6! Well I think it's quite apparent that Filipino women have been stepping up in society today, especially in our native land. Among the criteria that the Gender Gap report focused on, I totally agree with "Economic Participation and Opportunitiy" where they measured the ratio of female labour force participation and even female income over male value. Obviously, more women are working overseas as domestic helpers, leaving behind 'house husbands' in the Philippines. It's not men's fault that they can't be domestic helpers, but we have to admit that women are becoming the breadwinners. Aside from that, majority of the Pinays in Singapore have pursued greener pastures before their better half. (That includes us, of course hehe) But it's not just dating couples actually, even married professionals.
I don't know why most Filipino women are more open to working abroad these days. I think it's now about who wants to become the breadwinner anymore. Since most people marry late or not at all, I believe it's all about personal fulfillment, about knowing what you want and getting it. We're becoming more aggressive in our careers not because we want to feel less inferior, but because we want to be MORE.
Singapore ranks quite low in this report though. I better get my ass outta here if my chances of becoming a boss are slim. Haha!
Check out this link for more info: http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Gender%20Gap/index.htm
1:37 PM
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Maroon 5 in Pinas vs. Maroon 5 in SG
Two weeks ago, I bought tickets to the upcoming Maroon 5 concert here in Singapore. My friend and I decided to buy the $125 ones although we were a bit hesitant to shell out that much cash just for two hours or singing and shrieking. I kept thinking how much the prices in Pinas would be just to appease my stingy pocket. (Well I was also thinking of watching at home so I have an excuse to visit hehe.) And now I see this and it makes me wonder why the concert tickets are freaking more expensive?!
If you can't see the files, Patron VIP tickets at Araneta costs P10,500! While the front row seats at Singapore Indoor Stadium is SG$185 or P5,365. ($125 seats are in green) Sooo...Can somebody please explain how they price these tickets? Maybe I should've bought the front row tickets instead. If only to gawk and drool over Adam Levine. But nah, I still doubt his sexuality.Even if he's always making out or making love with some hot blondie in his videos.
Still... I'm a big fan. And I can't wait for March 25! First concert to watch in SG! Woohoo! :)
3:19 PM
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
motion (picture) sickness
If you're bulimic or you want to ride a more intense Rialto, then please watch "Cloverfield". Don't get me wrong, the plot was good. But up to now, I still can't believe how a freaking movie made me run to the toilet to vomit! I'm not trying to use metaphors here. I really puked the moment we left the cinema. Good thing I kept it in my mouth until I reached the ladies' room. (Haha sorry to ruin your breakfast :P)
Ya I know all about this Blairwitch style of films with handheld cams and people running like headless chickens. But please Mr. Director, don't ever do something like that again. Maybe on YouTube or DVD, not on the big screen. 'Coz even if I watched the movie for free, I think I have the right to ingest what I've eaten beforehand. :S
10:38 AM
Friday, January 18, 2008
so near yet so far
He came to Singapore so we could be together. Although with his erratic work schedule (3 kinds of shifts per month!), sometimes it seems like we're not in the same country after all.
But who am I to complain right? Seeing each other once a week is WAY better than once every three months. Still, I'm only human and I wish things were better. Weekends and holidays are just not the same if I can't even be with him.
I'm starting to realize why 99% of Filipino couples live together here. But nah... That's not really the best solution. Well, maybe not for me.
6:51 PM
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Chinese New Year break naman! Yipeee!
Start: Feb 6, '08 12:00p
End: Feb 10, '08
Location: Singapore
Okay, I know I'm supposed to be happy but honestly, I don't know what to freaking do during this 4 1/2 day weekend!
Tatoff will be working the entire time, my bro and some Pinoy friends will be going home or overseas, while my Singaporean friends will be busy collecting hong baos and eating home-cooked dishes with corresponding symbolisms.
I, on the other hand, don't even have a TV at home and my pirated DVD collection is running out. Most malls will be closed and I don't wanna be a freak who lives in the gym just because she's got nothing better to do. And I don't think I can afford to visit Pinas again because I'm trying to save up for that camera.
Damn shallow dilemmas.
Anyway, Advance Gong Xi Fa Cai!
5:37 PM
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
sniff sniff i miss riding the jeep
Since I moved to Singapore, I learned the difference between ‘walking distance’ and ‘tricycle distance’. In most cases, the latter prevails. And I hate it! With a passion of a thousand suns! (Right, Ezra? Haha!)
Seriously, I’m tired of walking to the MRT station. I’m tired of walking from the station to my office. I’m tired of walking from the station to the mall. I miss riding the tryke, the pedicab and the jeepney! I’ve so many kalyos already! (hehe sorry rhyming eh)
They say the transportation system here is world-class. Yes I totally agree. The last time I went home, I really felt the big difference between our MRT and theirs. The buses are not bad either. Although you have to walk to the bus stops as well. As well as master all their numbers and routes. As for the cabs, well for a hoi polloi-slash-kuripot like me, taking cabs comes as the last option. I only take it when I’m uber late, when it’s raining cats and dogs, and of course, when the MRT is closed and buses have turned into pumpkins.
So where was I… I just want to complain about the lack of short-distance transportation. I wish I could start a pedicab business here or something. But of course. Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew might cane me a thousand times for de-urbanizing his Lion City.
Oh well, Sabel. Ranting on the first week of the year is bad. So I just figured out a solution. Maybe I should get a bike! Sans the schmuck looking helmet, I actually love biking during my madungis-at-amoy-pawis juvenile years. I can even ride with no hands. Well I’m sure everyone could do that at one point in their lives.
To bike or not to bike? I’m sure my Mom would disagree. But what the heck. Let’s see how it goes. I just hope I won’t get hit by law-abiding yet almost always stupid drivers in this city.
SFX: "Hinahanap-hanap kita Manila, ang himig mong kay sarap sa tenga. Mga jeepney mong nagliliparan… Mga lalake mong nagagwapuhan (Oo mga boys konti lang talaga gwapo dito, get over yourselves)… Take me back in your arms Manila. And promise me you’ll never let go...”
Okay gotta go and walk to the MRT station now. UGH.
6:20 PM
Friday, January 04, 2008
on holiday perverts and starting 2008 with a punch
I’ll try to be as coherent in writing this. It’s been bugging me almost all day yesterday, and it’s not a very good way to start the year.
In a span of five days, I’ve been a victim of two Singaporean perverts. And I am livid, more so disappointed at myself for not doing anything the first time it happened.
Three days after Christmas, Tatoff and I took the MRT to meet up with my Mom and nephew for dinner. The station was packed and once the doors opened, everyone started to push and shove and we got separated. I was in the middle of the coach holding on to the rail with one hand, as I clutched my bag to cover my chest with the other. The train was too cramped and I looked at the man in front of me in dismay. Then suddenly, I felt some ‘movement’ below my waist, particularly in the crotch area. I immediately looked down, and I was taken aback when I saw a man’s hand pulling away! He just tried to unzip my jeans!!! I pulled my zipper upwards, still dumbfounded, furious and unfortunately, terrified. I stared at the decent-looking Chinese guy in front of me as he turned away his head as far as he could to avoid my glaring eyes. I wanted to hit him in his head, but the shock and fear paralyzed me. I didn’t want to make a scene when I wasn’t 100% certain that he was the culprit. But deep inside me, I knew he did it and I was embarrassed for him for doing such a barbaric act. I mean seriously?! Unzipping some stranger's jeans inside the MRT?! Come on! *&%%#^%$^
We got down on the next station where almost half of the people alighted. I immediately told Tatoff about what happened and although furious, he couldn’t do anything because the pervert was gone and we'd probably never see him again. Hopefully. Still, I was so damn pissed at myself for just standing there only a few inches from him, and didn’t even do ANYTHING to at least humiliate the fluke.
The second incident had a different twist.
Days after that stupid MRT episode, I caught myself in the middle of a multitude of people during the New Year’s Eve Countdown in Esplanade. I wore a comfortable V-neck shirt with a somewhat plunging neckline, (my Singaporean friend said it’s not even considered ‘plunging’ in SG standards) so it wasn’t new to me if people would look at my chest. On my way back to the station, I crossed paths with a Malay guy in his 20’s. I saw him look at my chest, then suddenly, he stuck out his elbow and rubbed it against my right boob! Whatdafuck!!! Still furious from the recent pervert incident, I reacted in a heartbeat, shouted “What the fuck?!!!” then punched him hard on his left arm.
I was fuming as he said “Sorry” a couple of times but I kept staring at him as he walked away. Tatoff, who was trailing behind me saw me punch the guy and he chased him to ask what happened. The pervert apologized like a fool again and explained that he didn’t mean it, before disappearing in the crowd. But really, how indiscreet can a pervert get?! He probably thought I wasn't looking when he stuck his elbow like that. I swear I should've hit him in the nose til he bled profusely.
Tatoff was extremely upset that I didn’t tell him about what happened right away. I, on the other hand, though still enraged, felt a sense of fulfillment for taking matters into my own hands.
When I'm bored, I sometimes envision hurting those perverts or any crook for that matter. I know most women would feel uncomfortable just being in close contact with those disgusting bastards. I did too, but not til the first day of 2008. Haha. I didn’t want to be a damsel in distress anymore. No one should be a victim of abuse. Even though most women here are calling for it with their only-the-nipples-aren’t-seen tops, butt-cheek-showing skimpy shorts and blouse-as-if-they-forgot-to-wear-pants outfits which don’t leave anything to the imagination at all.
When these incidents occur, I believe women should stop letting fear paralyze them because this is how they empower these perverts even more. It is a sign of disrespect; an act of terror, and maybe it is in the victim’s silence that these pigs find satisfaction. It is rather embarrassing to admit that you’ve been molested. But refusing to speak up will only torment you and give those men the license to go on with their perversion and twisted fetishes.
The only funny thing about this incident was the fact that I was meters away from a police station banner that said “Let your hair down, but not your guard. Don’t be a victim of molest.” Maybe I should start fighting for this cause by trying to come up with a better headline.
2:32 PM
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
