The Son Will Come Out

[This is Lyka Bergen's contribution to The-orgy]

I dont even know what a 'bakla' was. As a kid, I used to play Jackstone and its Chinese version and was very good at it challenging my cousins Geraldine and Laura.

While my brothers and boy cousins play Jolens, I chose to play Chinese Garter with all the girl neighbors. I played Piko rather than making a toy truck out of milk cans. And I chose carrying a basket like going to the market over shooting a basket with a heavy orange ball. But, was it really a choice? I thought I was just being me and do things I enjoy.

As I get a little bit older, the teasing begins. I dont understand why people in the neighborhood were picking on me. Those people I dont even know. I remember asking my mom one night of why do they do that."Because you are different" she replied. I still didn't understand.

One afternoon, everybody in the clan was in our compound for a gathering. My uncle from Cebu came to visit us. He offered to bring all the boys to watch the movie, King Kong. I was so excited and so ready to go and felt sorry for Geraldine and Laura who cannot come. Until..... that Uncle told me that I'm not coming. "You're not a boy, are you?".

With tears, I ran looking for my mom crying out, "Im a boy!" and told her of what happened. She got angry. Towing me to see that intolerant Uncle but to no avail, he and the boys have already left. Mom tried to pacify me with a promise of us watching King Kong the next day but it didnt help my wailing. Cousins Geraldine and Laura grabbed my hand and led me to one corner. Then, right there at that moment, I understood what was really going on.

That was my first ever rejection as being gay. I so hated that moment that it led me to the thought that being 'different' is not a good thing. I tried not to be 'different' from then on but for some reasons I still cannot hide it. More teasing. More Rejections as i grow older. I tried more to stop it by denying what I feel, and not showing to other people who I am inside. I learned the art of pretending and like playing Jackstones, I was good at it.

Because of my bad childhood experiences as a Power Puff Girl, I turned out to become Spidey, hiding my true identity with an awkward mask. I opted coming out only to the members of The League of Extraordinary Very Gentle-Men who I think can understand me. It started with my very good friend, Plastic Man (Mama O) when we were in College. He kept on asking me who is this new guy friend I am always with. I told him, "He's my boyfriend". Those were my first ever coming-out words. From Plastic Man to Batman, my coming out was spilled to everyone in the group, who themselves shared their own stories too. I chose them because they are like me. People who are different, like my Mom's description of me when I was a child.

Today, despite of his different kinda powers, Spidey is still scared and wounded deep inside. Like his friend's Superman's Kryptonite, close-minded people making monkey out of him will cause him pain and weakness. So he chooses to continue to hide from the majority, including his own Family (whom he thinks doesn't need to know for they knew already).

Not a good defense, but the great Freud will comprehend. And yes, he still believes that the son will come out..... tomorrow!

Suspenders, Braces, Galluses

Americans call them Suspenders, the British call them Braces, and the French initially named them Galluses. Call them what you want, they hold up your pants or skirt in a comfortable manner.

They are strips of elastic (generally, although they can be box-cloth or other material) that go over your shoulder attaching to the front and back of the pant or skirt. They hold the pants securely in place, whether sitting or standing, and allow the pants to flow with the body when walking. In fact, one hardly notices their presence until they are needed most – when stretching or bending down.

As Alan Fusser states, “Suspenders permit the trousers to hang best, supporting the front of the pants as well as the rear. They allow the pleat to establish its proper line and make the crease of the trousers more apparent. Additionally, suspenders are more comfortable than belts, which must be drawn tight around the waist in order to hold up the trousers. With suspenders, trousers can be worn loosely around the body, the only contact one feels coming at the point where the suspenders cross the shoulders. One might also note that during the summer months the wearing of suspenders actually promotes a certain coolness, as the roominess of the trousers around the waist area makes for improved air circulation.

Suspenders also have the added advantage of allowing the length of the trousers to remain constant. Normally, a man's trousers stretch at the waistband during the course of a day. Suspenders eliminate the need to pull them up two, three, four, or more times a day. For all these reasons and more, suspenders will always remain preferable to belts in dress wear.” (“Dressing the Man” 2002).

Furthermore, Simon Crompton points out, there are 3 main arguments for wearing braces:

1. to wear pants at the natural waist. This is above the hip bone, around the belly button, as was the norm for much of the past century. It’s the slimmest part on your body so the shape up and over the hips is nice. (Women are increasingly realising this advantage today.) The curve down to your seat, over it and down straight in one unbroken line to black, polished calf is also attractive. Perhaps most importantly, when you put your hands in your suit pockets, no shirting is exposed, swelling ugly from the belly.
2. for their comfort. Trousers that are hung by braces do not need to be as tight as those that need to grip onto the hips in order to stay up. They are bigger, perhaps not noticeably to anyone else but certainly to yourself. This is particularly noticed when someone puts on non-braced pants the next day. They feel constrained and needlessly tight, particularly when I sat down.
3. for their aesthetics. Wearing braces provides a clean fall from the butt to the ankles and lengthens the legs. It really does make one look taller – perhaps even, a little broader on the torso – to lengthen the legs and shorten the trunk.

Suspenders solve the age-old problem of having to constantly pull up your pants. And they don’t just hold up pants, they can also be attached to a skirt. Men and women can wear suspenders. They are fashionable, functional, and fun. And they’ve always been there when you need them!

Links

• Brace Yourself
• Let's discuss Suspenders
• Are braces ageless?

Discussion time

• What do you think of suspenders or braces?
• Do you wear them?
• Would you try them out?
• What holds you back from trying them?

Over the next few days, weeks, months, I’ll post more blogs about everything on braces (or suspenders), including how to wear them, a history, clip-ons vs buttons, button placement, x-back vs Y-back, and much more.
So make sure you leave comments and subscribe. Go out and wear braces!

Note: all photos are used solely for non-commercial use and to illustrate braces in fashion. No plagiarism is intended.

Who Are We?

With all this rehashing and parroting of ideas that ABS-CBN is doing, I view Philippine TV as a vast wasteland of unoriginal and uninspired concepts. Mostly copied from the Western spectrum, ABS-CBN TV shows humiliate us Pinoys in a major major way.

First, there was Noah....

.... a murky copy of James Cameron's Avatar.

Then they are bringing us Idol....

... to the likeness of Glee.

And recently announced their newest TV Show.... Imortal

Giving us vampires and werewolves that we've seen in Twilight.

Where is the Pinoy Ingenuity? Where are the new generation of Mars Ravelo? Do we always have to pattern our Art with what is new and successful in the Western World? How can we be noticed and be respected if we keep on mimicking them? Lets try to be us, as we are, for a change, showing what we've really got, not for them, but for ourselves. We are more than Imitators. Pls lang!

Lets learn from Japan. They gathered a little bit of every nice things from others, braid them all together, add their own little twist, and call it their own. The Anime and Takeshi's Castle are examples. And now look! Who is aping them straight off?

----O----

“You've gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?” -Bernadette Peters

The Next Majorettes!

This was stolen from Fuchsiaboy's Multiply. The Mega Magazine's editorial page spells W-O-W! The five MAJORettes in Norman Noriega's have the Major Major Ooomph for the next year's clash. Each is a good contender to continue the fight that our V has started.

But the Major Major problem is... are they Pinays? If they are, then go and glow na! I adore them ha! I will keep the styling for the pageant, head to toes, especially the hair. Major Major love it talaga, Sir!

I can't wait for a modern Bb. Pilipinas who looks like this. Ines Ligron will envy us. Tita Stella has 2 more years, I heard. If I were to replace her, I will go for this look. I love and respect the conservative Maria Clara but lets be rational. It's a major major mistake to send her to Miss Universe nowadays. It's absolutely not for her. It's for SISA! Pls lang!

Major! Major!

"I cannot bring to mind any major mistake made at all in my 22 years of existence. With proper guidance and direction from my family and friends, I emerged as who I am today. No regrets. No major mistake so far. I am fortunate to have these people around me and I thank them for that."

I believe that was her point. But the delivery was tacky and incoherent. This is always our problem... a MAJOR... MAJOR problem! But to penetrate the final battle, we need the allure and the grace such as hers. So, I still say... she did good! Pls lang. Bow!

Rita's Secret

Her name is Rita. She's our assistant at work. I love working with her. Every time I ask a favor from her, she will do it without any complaints or alibis. And she always wear a smile on her face, regardless of how swamped we are at work.

I found out she has two other jobs other than what we have together. I wonder how can she manage to do it. Time management and Perseverance were her reply. She said she just wish she earns as much as I do so she can just keep one job but the need requires her to hang on to three.

She earns half of my salary as an assistant but she will always be the one to bring me food and buy me chocolates and coffee. She will tell me some stories about her son back in the Philippines. She whines of how expensive Levi's 501 nowadays. "$60 for a pair of jeans? That's ridiculous!" . I will smile when she does that, thinking of my Seven For All Mankind jeans (which most of them don't fit no more for gaining weight from her Adobo, Kare Kare and Kit Kats during break times).

Today, she showed me pictures of her new constructed house in Alabang. It was a beautiful modern house. The house I dreamt of having. It's a 5-room 2-level house with a stunning Japanese garden. All that came out of my mouth seeing the pics was "Wow!".

I asked her how much did she spare for this amazing house. She replied coyly: 14 million pesos. I didnt allow the 'Wow' out of my mouth this time. I remember she works 3 jobs and she deserves having this. She lost her husband long time ago. And she did this all by herself? I thought to myself, I cannot afford building this house in 3 years like the way she did. Did she win the Lotto? Well, if she did, why is she still working with us?

"All of my hard work was for this house. One more year and i'll not be working hard for the Money any more" she reckons. Her son will be graduating next year. Then she said: "When he finishes college next year... he will find a job and HE WILL BE LIKE YOU!"

I was a little bit embarrassed and surprised of how Rita see me as a model for her son. The high regards she has for me. I told her with all honesty : "No, Rita. I hope your son will not turn out to be like me. I hope he will emerge to be like YOU"

All she replied was: "Ikaw naman. Joker ka talaga!".

I didnt know if she did get my point. She was carrying fresh linens and some cleaning soap heading towards the room of an elderly Caucasian full of poop. And I thought, I wish I can be like her.

-----O-----

Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success. -Dale Carnegie

LTE's Choice For Miss U 2010

Mga Bakla! I am sure you've watched the Miss U Preliminaries na via the internet. Let's compare notes! Daliiii! If Mama O and I were to judge this year's Miss U, this will be the outcome: (Sorry absent si Ekra, Project Runway kasi ang priority nya).

(In Alphabetical Order)

Evening Gown:

Top 5: Ireland, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Venezuela

Top 10: Australia, Colombia, France, Peru, Uruguay

Top 15: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago

Swimsuit:

Top 5: Australia, Colombia, Ireland, Philippines, Russia

Top 10: Czech Republic, Ghana, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago

Top 15: Canada, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Spain,Venezuela

Dark Horses: China, Greece, Israel, Thailand, Uruguay

Powerhouse Break: India, Puerto Rico, Sweden, USA and Eastern Europe

And now, for the over-all result:

Top 15: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Japan, Peru

Top 10: France, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

LTE's 2010 Top 5 (minus the Interview):

4th runner-up: Colombia

3rd Runner Up: Australia

2nd Runner Up: Philippines

1st Runner Up: Russia

Miss Universe 2010: Ireland

LTE's Miss Universe 2010: Miss Ireland

Congratulations Miss Ireland! You are LTE's Choice to win the crown! Good Luck!

Kayo? Sinetch ang mga Choices nyo? Goooo!

The Tunes

When I was cleaning my room today, I unearthed hundreds of Music CD's from my closet. I thought, what am I going to do with these? I have iTunes and no longer own a stereo system. These are all going to fall to bits.... like my own small collection of those music cassette tapes long time ago.

I didnt see how the future of technology will change so drastically. I used to think that my CD collection is a treasure to uphold. A lifetime of music. The soundtrack of my Life. That is no longer the case. With everything in my iTunes... they are now abandoned stuff waiting to rot.

I lost my CD virginity to The Church. Their Starfish is the oldest in my collection. It was given to me as a gift. Now, it reminds me of my New Wave days.

Though, I havent touched the CD for a very long time, I still listen to "Hotel Womb" and "Under The Milky Way" once in awhile when I hit that iTunes shuffle button. They still rock, I thought! And yes, you will never forget your first time.

But Starfish was not the first CD I purchased for myself. It was this:

I owned a cassette tape of this Enya's Watermark, purchasing it after hearing "Orinoco Flow" in Ford's Supermodel of the World - Philippines contest. But I purchased the CD version in Dubai with my first ever paycheck along with a Sony Discman. (Wow! The word 'Discman', no longer in our young ones' vocabulary). I'm so proud owning one long time ago, listening to Tita Enya while waiting for the bus. Sooo baduy nowadays!

Owning a CD collection was a bad investment. The culprit, this one:

Chill Out Music was sooo cool back then. The Cafe Del Mar compilation was a hit. I first came across with this from a chat friend in MIRC (remember this, guys? #gaymanila, #discreetguys?) . We were talking about Music. I told him I soo fancy Kinobe's Slip Into Something More Comfortable which i heard at Beachcomber Bar in Boracay back then. He said, i should try the Cafe del Mar series. So I did.... piloting Cafe Del Mar 6 and fell in love with it immediately.

At that time, volume "Seis" was the most recent one.... I bought the earlier versions from "Uno" to "Cinco" from paycheck to paycheck. And every year on, "Siete" "Ocho" "Nueve" as they were released. My Cafe del Mar love has died on "Diez" for my music genre has evolved from Chill out to Buddha Bar series and eventually to World Music.

My Cafe Del Mar's, Buddha Bar's, Man Ray's and Putumayo's started my CD collection. From then on, I became a CD addict. Buying a couple if I have the chance. Virgin was my favorite store. But when iTunes and MP3's came, it all slipped away.

My last CD purchased:

Sigur Ros' "Takk". It means, Thanks! ......Good Night! I'll stack you all up in one corner and think what to do with you next. My iPod smiles humming.... Pls lang!

Miss Halloween

Britain's Next Top Model goes Horror. Grabbing photographer Matthew Brindle to do the shoot. Impressive photos I would say. Modelling, So-So.

This photo is my favorite: Tiffany and the Axe

But the judges opted for this one of Olivia's as their best

The face looks stunningly haunting but the leg bothers me.

Kate Mossy, Joy was called next after Olivia

Judges thought its the scariest. I dont think so. More of S&M, maybe.

Kirsty's stab wound looks glamorous. I kinda like it. Model-wise, I think she's the best this week while Charlotte's Poltergeist didnt amaze me at all. It's the photographer's favorite thus a plus and saved her from elimination.

This one I thought will stop someone in their tracks,

But Alisha was a disappointment. She looks more scary than scared.

The Bottom Two:

Photo-wise, I fancy this one. I love how the photographer did garnish this pic but Nicola (my fave to win) didnt do justice to the abstraction. And yes, I agree, she looks like she has a 10 out of 10 toothache with matching 1 out 10 headache and was sent home.

But this one should have been booted out:

Amelia looks terrible here. The arms look short and flabby. The face awful. She looks like Ana Abiera (ka-love team ni Jestoni noon). But she has the best catwalk among the remaining models. Thus, given a lifeline.

Since they sent Nicola out of the house, I'll go for Joy this time. Pls lang!

This Is Not Fanny

Fanny Serrano in TARIMA:

Viva Bakla! I smell URIAN!



"Opportunity is just success looking for a place to happen". - Greg Hickman

I Love Miss Russia!

On this one....

Lumiliyab Ang Venus

Miss Universe Next Top Model.

4th Runner Up is.....

[INDIA]

3rd Runner Up is......

[COLOMBIA]

2nd Runner Up is.....

[TANZANIA]

1st Runner Up is......

[TRINIDAD and TOBAGO]

And the WINNER......

[PHILIPPINES]

Sinasabi ko na nga ba.... babawi ang Lola Venus ninyo sa Swimsuit shoot! O diva? Bongga ang gagah? Kabog sila sa katawan ng bruha! Parang nag-slide pero pose pa rin! WTG Venus. Mabuhay ka! (Chaka nga lang yung shoes mo! Galing ba yan kay Tita Stella? Look naman yung kay Miss Colombia. Dapat ganyan sana! Pls lang!)

Ibang level naman ang TandT ! Topless ang drama. Mahaba ang neck! Tse!

I feel so sorry sa mga girls who were not given an opportunity to pose ala Top Model. Ano ang nangyari? Bat nagkagayan? Wala ng budget? Like the ones here:

Ecuador, Lebanon, and Thailand

But still... its not an excuse. Some of them pulled it off naman! Like:

Venezuela and Ireland

Basta... the best yung kay Lola V. Walang bias. Taraaaay! May pahabol ang Lola. "Kung mahaba ang neck ni Trinidad and Tobago, kaya ko rin yan alang alang sa mga Baklang Pilipino! Oh? Say nyo?"

Venus Wears Orange

Lumabas na ang Gown ng Lola Venus ninyo! Orange ang kulay! Eto sya:

Aaaay! Very Cumbra! Mediocre! Very 5 yrs ago. Walang ka drama drama. Galing ba to ng Colombia or Divisoria? At ang shoes! Galing Qatar na naman? Pero dont worry, babawiin na lang sa rampa ng Lola Venus ninyo! Tingnan nyo naman ang pose. Wonder Woman ang emote! Old Fashioned kasi si Tita Stella. Nakaka-inis na.

LTE's TOP 5 Evening Gowns- Ms U 2010

Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, India, Ireland

Worst 5 - 2010

Haiti, Norway, Romania, Denmark, Belgium

Ang Ms U na toh talagah... Medyo kulang sa Fashion! Kainis! Kahit ang hinihintay nating si Miss Japan... medyo sablay. Versace ba to? Di namin feel! Wiz controversy kazee at Pls lang Ines, Di bagay sa skin tone ni Miss Japan itets. Di sya si Nicole Kidman. Hay naku!

Good Luck na lang kay Lola V. Pls lang!

Miss Venus is from Earth

Arrival Photo ng Lola Venus ninyo!

Matronic ang dress ha! Ano ba yan Mama Stella? Wiz trendy! Kainis! Miss Qatar ang tela! Hintayin na lang natin ang Bikini shoot nya. I think dyan sya babawi. Good luck to her. Pls lang! 10 yrs na rin tayong naghihintay na makapasok man lang. Ginawa na ngang from 10 to 15, di pa rin! Gosh!

The Art of Dance and Editing

Anyone into The LXD (Legion of Extraordinaty Dancers)? This is my favorite episode, Duet. Watch after the Ad.



The video is from Hulu. I dunno if you guys outside the US can watch it. Just try, maganda sya. Sana makakagawa din ako nito. As a videographer and not as a dancer. Kaka-inspire. Pls lang!

The Mole

I am starting to believe that a facial mole in between an eye and an ear is maswerte and meant for greatness na talaga, especially in males sa Pinoy showbiz, at least. The mole is a mark of luck. Sino-sino ang mga Markado sa Pinoy showbiz ngayon?

The "Then":

Richard Gomez

Tall, Dark and Handsome. Yan ang Goma. Inaabangan sa Palibhasa Lalake noon, tinitilian sa Wating, napahanga nya tayo sa Dahas at napa-wow sa TV Commercial nyang Bench (Rowing Ad). Remember ko noon ang salita ng isang matalik na kaibigan kong baklang si Lloyda: "Kung 'the greatest Pinoy Matinee Idol' ng mga babae si Aga Mulach, Si Richard Gomez naman ang No. 1 sa mga Bakla!" Agree ako sa kaibigan ko!

The "Now":

Piolo Pascual

The first time i saw this guy sa pelikula, tumibok na ang puso ko. Batang PX noon with Zsa Zsa and Patrick Garcia, may isang gwapong artistang extra. Sino sya? Aba hinintay ang credits para malaman talaga. Si Piolo Pascual pala sya. Ngayon, Ultimate Papa ng Bayan na sya! Love ko pa rin sya! Walang kokontra!

The "Next One":

Derek Ramsay

Una ko syang na notice sa Oxygen Print Ad. Di ko pa knowing ang nemsung nya noon until nakita ko sya in person. Sa Boracay noon, Sa talipapa, si Geraldine, ang bakla kong kaibigan, biglang napa-tulala. "Girl! Si Derek!" "Sino?" "Ayan sa harap mo, dumadaan" "OMG! Akin sya! Pero sino ba sya?" "Ang Print Ad model ng Oxygen!" "Aaaay! Derek pala ang nemsung nya? Akin na sya! Promise!" Pero may sexing babaeng bitbit ang Derek noon. "Aaay! Sayo na lang sya!"

Markado ang Derek Ramsay, kaya I am pretty sure sisikat at sisikat pa si Papa! May balita pa ngang insecure raw ang Papa Piolo sa kanya! Angelica, maswerte ka! Go lang ng go, bruha! Habang nasa-iyo pa sya!

------O-----

So now ang tanong, sino ang sa mga batang male artista ang susunod sa mga yapak ng mga Papang markadong itetch? Sya kaya?

The "Future":

Matteo Guidecelli

As of now, di ko pa sya masyadong kilala. Di naman ako nanonood ng Agua Bendita. Pero, sikat raw sya according sa mga balitang natatangap ko from Pinas. Matteo, dahil markado ka, pagbutihan mo. Ikaw ang batang Dalai Lama ng Pinoy Showbiz. Hihintayin namin ang pagka super sikat, mo. Good Luck! Pero pwede bang palitan mo ang showbiz name mo? Sounds like a kind of Pasta kasi. Your fellow bagets male stars want to eat you tuloy. Sige ka. Pls lang!

(PS. Si Ekra may pimple in between his left eye and left ear. Ano naman kaya ang ibig sabihin nito?)