I'm behind on my e-mails...again...not to worry, I'll get back on track in a day or two.  I've gained a few feminist haters along the way.  That was to be expected, and they think that the fact that I respond to them makes their silliness valid.  All of my friends, readers, and fans know that I try to answer everyone to a varying degree.  What a concept...fans.  I never thought of myself as a celebrity nor do I aspire to be one.  But evidently I'm gaining quite a following in even a few of the office spaces in Manila.  Someone even recognized me on the street!  That's really surprising, since people who know the private "me" know that I look completely different in my "daily" life.  Most of the time I wear workout clothes, athletic shoes, my hair is tied up, wear limited makeup, and my eyes are hidden by sunglasses.  When I dress up, again people barely recognize me, now in contrast to my daily persona.  You may call me "Maid in Manila".  That's the opposite of most girls in Asian countries I've been to...both here and in Hong Kong.  Manila/Makati is the glamour capital of Southeast Asia.  Basically most girls in the CBD of Makati are constantly in "dress-to-impress" mode.  It doesn't matter if they are rich or just aspire to be social.  So, again, I'm usually unnoticeable in my day to day life and I don't follow the norm.

It brings me to the next point I'm trying to make...most of the "beautiful people" in the Philippines tend to keep a low profile.  Now I'm not saying that I'm a Miss Philippines contestant (nor do I aspire to be one), but my fitness level has to at least gain me a few points in the "hidden gem" category.  And speaking of the Miss Philippines competition, I'll use this as my case in point.  Take a look at most of the contestants this year and compare them to the girls the Miss World or Miss Universe.  You will, like many of my friends, register one word in your mind..."Why?!?"  Or perhaps, "What the hell are those girls thinking?!?" might be a better.  Now mind you that I'm not saying that these girls are hideous, but rather just out of their league.  So why are they there you ask?  Politics is the answer.  Many of them have political connections.  Others are representatives of modeling and talent agencies.  While the theme varies a little, the end result is the same.  That result is that the most talented and beautiful people in the Philippines stay as far away from the silly modeling and entertainment industry as possible.  They go into business for themselves instead.  Furthermore, average Filipinos look at most of these contestants and wonder why they "embarrass" us like this or ask if this is the best we can do.  The smart girls only do it as a hobby after they are already wealthy.  Rather than pay bribes to judges, campaign in their barangay, and sleep with talent managers, the others choose to go into something lasting and noble...like a real job...or at least one that doesn't cost you more (money and vitality) than you earn.  My foreign readers might be wondering what's the big deal...beauty pageants are frivolous.  You're absolutely right.  But at the same time, we need all of the positive attention we can get to be "attractive" to that vital foreign investment and tourism.

March 15th, 2005

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