Ranting About the Rapping: The Evils of Hip Hop

Generations have passed since hip hop was first introduced as a formal music genre. But then hip hop stood. In fact, hip hop has been reinvented over and over, added flavors, colors, some bling bling. Do I like hip hop? Occasionally. Which means…I don’t, really.

Hip hop used to be a “good vibe” music, makes my head bang softly, a relaxing tune coupled with beats. I had no problem with beats—my heart beats. But today, hip hop has become more than just a musical genre. It has become a misleading lifestyle.

Careful when letting kids watch hip hop music videos or anything closely associated with it. In fact, if you look at the language that they use, rhymes are powdered with foul words, as if those foul words are integrated in the music. This is detrimental because the use of such words will be normalized and since hip hop is “fun”, such words will be deemed as acceptable. The truth is, hip hop is one of the avenues where newer foul words are born. Today, there are about dozens of words that can demean the persona. Words such as “shorty”, “slut”, “hoe” and “bitch” are used side-by-side “dawg” (dog) and “nigga”. These words only reached mainstream use when they appeared more and more frequently in hip hop songs. Tsk tsk.

Another thing that I don’t like about the whole hip hop fad is the way it glamourizes the use and abuse of drugs, alcohol and smoking. In a lot of hip hop videos, the aforementioned things are deemed as cool. The more expensive the drugs, the alcohol and the smokes are, the more powerful and “cool” that person is. Such things are portrayed as a luxurious lifestyle, and they are packaged along with all the bling bling, the beautiful women, the red carpet. When presented together, they create an image these things usually come together, and the drugs, alcohol and smokes all look “okay” and “acceptable” now. If you take out all the glamour, these things will revert to being easily recognizable social evils. That’s it. They’re evil. But hip hop is the mask that hides their evil-ness. Again, tsk tsk.

Lastly, the thing I don’t like most about hip hop is the way they treat women in their music videos. Usually, the women who appear in such videos are scantily clad, and they usually wear a face that’s more often than not the face of desperate seduction. (Rolls eyes.) These women are not just treated as social objects but they are explicitly flaunting such treatment. There are a lot of avenues where women are also treated as sexual objects. Take, for example, James Bond movies, other superhero movies, and even a number of chick flicks. However, in hip hop videos, women are always the ones who lured the men, the ones who surrounded the men, and no matter how beautiful they are, the men always rule. I repeat, tsk tsk.

I have no problems if you like hip hop. After all, there’s still the music part that pulls me into tuning my radio to hip hop still. But if you see the way I do, or completely oppositely, you may give me a ding---live_out_loud@ymail.com.

Back to Square One

need.to.find.a.new.job.asap

a more satisfying one
a more motivating one
a more challenging one
a higher paying one
a more fabulous one

lol. until then, come home, come home.. :)

On Being a Writer

When I am asked what my profession is, I answer in a heartbeat: “I am a writer”. Because that is what I do, and what I love doing. I also have other careers on the side but writing has become a fuel for my living—both artistically and economically. Most people glaze their eyes in sheer delight, like it was a very impressive thing to be a writer. On one side, it is true. Being a writer is combined skill and hardwork, and a little speed, sometimes. Most of all, it is closely related to the love for the arts, which is quite wonderful, an aberration to all the seemingly boring corporate jobs that engulf the money-hungry and consumerist world today.

The truth is, being a (paid) writer is not an easy feat especially if you really love writing. Sometimes there is just a thin line between work and love for the craft and this line blurs when work is not doing too well. On the flip side, a lot of times, I’ve found myself looking around for certain words to complete a poem or a creative nonfiction and then I end up not finding them because I might have used too much words which didn’t mean anything to me (due to work) and so words have just slowly lost meaning. And luster.

I cope with this love-hate relationship by keeping a few good pieces by my side. These are books which I love to read and reread because they contain such great literary pieces or just because they were light enough to read during nights when I find it hard to sleep. I keep funny books (chick lit), intellectual books (feminist and sociologist theories), instructional books (Poker techniques) and some good old drama by Jodi Piccoult, for example.

On the contrary, I don’t really live a charmed life. I’m sure Nicholas Sparks and Dan Brown would agree too. Writing about the things which you are passionate about is easy. However, most of the work consists of things which I don’t have the slightest idea about. I’ve written about anti-aging ingredients, about psychedelic mushrooms, about relationships, wind mills, subliminal messaging, watches, flags, and even divorce. If I had my way, I will write about the youth culture (just like in this column) and other random things which I feel like writing about. Perhaps, Facebook, feminism, the people I love, nail color, sunblock, good haircuts, debate and Sony Ericsson phones.

Writing for me has also become an outlet. I tend to think and write faster when I’m mad. I tend to write about a lot of meaningful things when I’m sad. I don’t write at all when I’m feeling so down or “lost”. Writing has been the only thing which did not betray me. Yes, even financially! Writing was paying for my lavish lifestyle for more than a year now. (I kind of given up the lavish lifestyle, by the way.) Writing has become a life long love affair.

There were times when I left writing behind in pursuit of other interests such as debate, dancing, table tennis and poker. But then I always find myself coming back to it, and it accepts me giddily, like a parent to a child. This has recurred so many times, so I realize that whenever I write, no matter what medium I use, I always feel at home. Sometimes, even invincible.

I guess being a writer doesn’t mean that you have to have writing as a profession or that you win a Palanca or publish dozens of books. Maybe it just means that you seriously believe that you lived to write…and nothing else matters.

Now it’s your turn. Write me a letter--- live_out_loud@ymail.com

Some Basic Human Rights

Yesterday, I went on a date with a person I've taken for granted for quite sometime, myself.

I went to SM to do a favor for someone and I found myself craving for shredded corn. (They're yummy with butter and iodized salt.) I ordered two cups and walked around the mall in sheer buttery glory. Then suddenly, there it was. A literary mini Mecca..a book sale. I scurried over and found that the books on sale just cost 99php for two pieces! The best part? There were poetry books, film books and some classics and they were all BRAND NEW! Su-weet! :)

I spend about an hour sitting down, standing up, titling my head to the side to read the titles, examining summaries, spotting interesting covers, delineating fiction from non fiction, prose from poetry, and batting my lashes at the boy manning the cash register*, I finally made up my mind and picked up four books.
*of course, this part is fictional

One was about social climbing in England, the one about a hidden 13 year affair by Charles Dickens, one is a collection of funny anecdotes about a girl's relationship with her mom, and the last one is a story of a small town beauty queen who gets a dollop of culture shock in Manhattan. Everything fell under light reading except, of course, the Dickens expose.

Then I went to the food court to sit down, eager to have a closer look at my books (my babies!) and ordered a tad overpriced chocolate roll. It's actually a little over my daily budget but hey, CHOCOLATE IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, right?

How to be SUPERGIRL (And Not Lose Your Head in the Process)

How to be Supergirl (and Not Lose Your Head in the Process)

Conjuring all the courage I’ve picked up from everywhere, I’m going to enumerate the things that have been filling my days. I am 19. I organize events for a bar regularly, and I am also an event manager by appointment. I have a full time job as an assistant to the Directress of a Montessori school. I write for Mindanao Times. I also write regularly for three different bosses—two from the Philippines and one from overseas. I own and manage an online gift shop. I am an alumni member of Mindanao’s best debate club—The Ateneo Debate Varsity. I am a member of the Young Davao Writers and The Davao Film Society (tentative name). I have a writing career, an events manager career, an entrepreneurial career and a poker career. I AM SUPERGIRL.

A lot of people are amazed at how I take care of my time and my engagements. The thing is, I’ve been so used to this packed life that I can’t imagine how to “declutter” my life anymore. (Not that my life is solely associated to clutter. . .) I am used to the pressure, all the running around, fiddling with my two phones, eating lunch in a box and retouching my makeup in a taxi cab. If you are living a life nearly similar as mine, it would be nice to remember a few tips.

1. Be organized. It’s a good thing technology has come up with organization tools! Cellular phones nowadays also carry calendars, reminder notes (with alarms!) and clocks with them. But even so, I recommend the use of a handy notebook and a pen to keep track of your days. At least notebooks never run out of battery; plus, there is something about paper that makes it look more convincing. And don’t forget to ALWAYS wear a watch.

2. Stay organized. A day before a heavily busy day, you will know that the next day is, well, a heavily busy day. So plan that day ahead. What I do is I mark my organizer by the hour and specify what I will be doing in that specific hour. This measure pressures you to stay on the right track and that every second counts. Because, when you are a Supergirl, it’s true..every second counts.

3. Prioritize. Know the gray areas of what’s important and not important. Then there’s the less important and the more important. This skill is the key to knowing which things are the things that you SHOULD be doing. Saves the Supergirl thinking of an excuse to tell to the person she’s about to turn down.

4. Indulge in little pleasures. Once in a while, stop and spend for none but yourself. By working too hard, you are also pushing your mental, physical and psychological abilities. You will need a time out. Whether it’s playing poker, getting a manicure or reading a the latest magazine, everyone deserves the right for some reward after working so hard. This keeps you from really losing your head and makes you feel more like a human being rather than an insensitive machine. Me? I treat myself to foot massages, reading chick literature and slowly sipping overpriced cappuccinos. THAT, or lechon.


Did I sound like what I do is very easy? I’m sure there are not a lot of girls who can do all these economical satire. Haha. So email me about your own version of Supergirl--- live_out_loud@ymail.com.

(Don’t worry, I love reading your emails no matter how busy I am. I sincerely believe fan mails are the next antioxidants.) :)

ARE YOU WORTH FACEBOOKING?

When Facebook first hit the Philippine youth, I was all glum about it. I’ve been maintaining Friendster, a blog and Multiply, and I didn’t want to get into another social networking fiasco, like a lost underwear in a laundry bag full of dirty clothes.

But then again, one writing assignment got me into Facebook. My client wanted me to get in touch with him over there. I couldn’t get why he wanted that but I acquiesced anyway. So voila! I got a Facebook account.

At first, I was so busy stocking it with information and then I got tired. I let it sleep for awhile, just approve friend requests of friends I know, and then suddenly, my photos were stuffed. Turns out, photos of friends which have you in it are also uploaded in your profile. Coolness. Now I don’t have to upload. People can just do it for me. I poked around for more fun, and found poker. I told myself, “Finally, something worth Facebook-ing.” I climbed up the ranks pretty easily and my online poker career started there.

But I didn’t want to be unfair to Facebook. I knew it was so much more than poker. So I published some of my poetry there and updated on my friends’ walls. (Walls are like their corkboards. You can write or put up anything there and whatever you put up, it is understood to be intended for the one who owns the “wall”.) Then I started checking it out everyday. More and more friends added me up and the funny thing is that, most of these people are people I knew waaaay before, like elementary buddies. High school acquaintances in Cebu ask how I was and I knew they all saw my latest pictures.

I say I also enjoy looking at how they were..and I think this is what we do Facebook for. I got in touch with a friend I made during first grade. She used to be bullied because she had a birthmark on her forehead but now she’s turned out to be a really pretty girl. Actually pretty was an understatement! She looks like a model! I also discovered some handsome boys during elementary and high school who turned out to be not so handsome after all.

Then I came into a very profound realization: ugly ducklings and have-beens, that’s what Facebook is for. Facebook runs almost always on autopilot; even if you’re not updating, you will be updated because other people are always looking around. Facebook is a good avenue to catch up how everybody’s been, and notice that Facebooking (yes honey, it’s a verb now) will eventually define how you’d be feeling for the rest of the day. Frankly, I feel a lot better every after I Facebook. I’d see old friends who have been successful and old flames who turned out to be not worth my time. LOL.

All I can say is that Facebook is out to build more and more avenues for “catching up”. Ugly ducklings and have-beens, Facebook is for you. Then again, a friend asks, “What about those who aren’t either?” Well, they could just keel over and die a virtual death. Then we’ll all bury their ashes under a virtual rug and we could go on Facebooking without them.

So, are you known for something yet? Are YOU worth Facebooking?

Email me your silent violations via live_out_loud@ymail.com. I’ll get back to you when I’m not Facebooking.

Having No Degree and Rocking It

In my defense, I have a degree.

Okay, next topic.

Most third world nations are plagued with the apparent haste of globalization, the thicker competition for jobs and the number of kids who do not find traditional education attractive anymore. There are more bars newly erected than schools. Ever notice that before?

This alarms me. (And a few thousand parents out there.) In a country where putting AND KEEPING food on the table is of highest importance, a lot of people struggle to get a diploma, a degree, to at least assure them of employment after they graduate. Then they try to venture into the corporate world. Then there’s the food-on-the-table pressure. .

However, there are also a lot of jobs which do not really require a diploma, but can put food on the table. And expensive perfumes on the dresser! Here is a list of the things that you can try to plunge into in case you just want to earn.

1. Call Center. First on the list, of course. Most call centers do not require a college diploma, as long as you’re good in English and you have problem-solving skills. Most call center companies also offer intensive training for their agents so even if you’re just armed with English, you will survive in this industry. Most call center companies offer an above rank-and-file rate for starters and that’s what makes it very attractive to most people nowadays.

2. Online Writing. I was almost self-supporting all throughout fourth year college because of online writing. There IS a lot of money in this industry. See, the web is the virtual mall nowadays. More and more businesses are investing on their online wings, therefore, online articles (GOOD stuff to read—a major come-on) sell high especially if you’re a skilled writer. My advice to writers out there—learn online writing first. It is waaaay different than writing in print. If you have been following my Wednesday column (Mindanao Times), I wrote about online writing a few weeks ago. Five stars for you if you read it.


3. ESL (English as Second Language) Teaching. Aside from call centers, there is also another baby industry growing. Actually it’s not so “baby“ anymore. More and more foreigners want to keep up with the English speaking world. I remember working in this industry three years ago. This industry pays a minimum of P50 per hour, that’s P400 for eight hours. Way above minimum wage, eh? And again, you don’t need a degree. Just learn English and ace the interview.

4. Digital Art. This is pretty tricky. Of course, you won’t really need a degree to master Adobe (all the Adobe in the world!) but you will spend sometime learning them—and a whole lot more-- before you master layouting, logo designing, web development, et cetera. This industry belongs more in the freelance arena; because there is more money there, if you know how to work your network. This industry also is bombarded with demands because companies nowadays stand neck-to-neck against each other in terms of marketing competition. They are more aggressive than ever. The bolder they go, the higher the impact. Arts and sales will scream louder than ever! Thanks to the corporate world.


It is also widely held that while such professions vomit a hefty paycheck, they do not offer a lot of opportunities to move forward and advance careers because they are more individually targeted and static rather than team targeted. And, if there really is moving forward, like up the corporate ladder, only a few people will benefit from it.

As this article ends, I still haven’t decided if a degree is unnecessary nowadays. But yearbooks are always fun to look at a few years from now. So there. Haha.

Email me your thoughts…live_out_loud@ymail.com…but right after you finish your homework. Because as what I’ve said, in my defense, I have a degree. :)