Your Penis Shall Reveal the Truth

Whoever said that those straight men who are prejudiced against gay men are themselves secretly harboring gay feelings? They are technically correct as supported by a scientific study.

 

This interesting study about gay bashers was quickly mentioned in the book that I am currently reading “Phantoms of the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind”, a brilliant book on experiments on neurology by V.S. Ramachandran.

 

In this study, the “straight gay bashers” and the “straight men who didn’t have problems with gay men” were asked to watch a “Man to Man” Pornography. And the result? The gay bashers significantly have bigger erections than the straight men who are not prejudiced.

 

If you’re curious how erections were measured, they used a device called penile plethysmograph, which measures changes in the circumference of the penis.

 

I’m thinking, what could this study actually imply?

 

First, since penile erection could both be a conscious or unconscious effort, it is possible that the formation of prejudice against gay men could simply be an unconscious effort — meaning even before the “gay feelings” among “gay bashers” could be acknowledged, these “gay feelings” could have been repressed at an unconscious level therefore, their prejudice isn’t something that they have created with full awareness.

 

Two gay men like me, should learn to understand the straight who overtly hate us just because we are gay. We need to create a friendly and caring atmosphere with them so eventually, they could learn to accept their highly probable hidden “gay feelings”.

 

Don’t you just love the idea? The straight men who hate us gay men, are essentially gay men themselves. They just need a little support, understanding and a lot of love.

“Sorry, I Can’t Work on This”

 

Whoever said that one of the signs of a successful career is when one begins to turn down good projects?

I remember when I was 20, then a restless student from the University of the Philippines, I was very studious, getting good grades and all, but my biggest priority was to build a career in the entertainment industry. So, whatever project that was offered to me, whether television, theater or a corporate event, I would never turn it down and do all these workat the expense of my sleep, my studies or even my sanity.

Fast forward, eight years after with several failures and financial losses under my belt, I find myself turning down many, many projects and opportunities.

For the past two days, I just turned down two projects. Things I would have loved to do had I been much younger. I just said no to a new film with my director Joselito Altarejos, just because my mind is in a “vacation mode” right now. And I don’t feel writing a sex film, if there is nothing new that I can contribute in the discourses on sex.

And I just said sorry for not being able to work on a new project with a wealthy and good looking male model who asked me to help him promote his new website service with a series of events and press releases. This project would have been really fun as well.

Let me set the records straight. I am not successful and I am very far from being one.

I am just older, much older than my previous workaholic self. My time for yoga and writing blog posts is just too precious for me. Unless if you dazzle me with exorbitant talent fee, which I know would never happen.

And because I am much older, I know that my life no longer depends on “more money” and “bigger career”. There is more to life than what has preoccupied my mind wayback my restless days.

And for my being older, I can always call on wisdom to always say “Sorry, I can’t work on this”

 

Your Private Yoga Class in Ortigas

Chi, The Spa at Edsa Shangri-la is now offering a personalized yoga class for everyone. So whether your goal is to have a relaxing session of stretching or a dynamic and muscle toning experience or simply to breathe away the stress of the day, there’s a yoga class for your specific needs right at the heart of the most luxurious hotel in Ortigas (Philippines).

 

This elegant spa offers of one of the most beautiful yoga studios in Metro Manila — serene, quiet and it even has a small library for its clients to have a deeper understanding of the yoga lifestyle.

 

 

This private session may also be availed by two individuals — perfect for couples or friends who would like to enhance their relationship through a fun and interactive partner yoga class. In this kind of session, clients perform their yoga poses together with their partners building trust and connection in this process.

 

 

Classes are conducted by a Yoga Alliance USA registered instructor. Each session costs Php1500 (good for two individuals; additional Php500 for a third participant). You may call Edsa Shangri-la at (632) 6338888 to request for a schedule anyday of the week.

My First Year Teaching Yoga

It has been a year since I attended my Yoga Teacher Training. And looking back, my life has dramatically changed.

First, I now teach seven days a week. I grow with my students and they inspire me to have a deeper yoga practice.

Teaching 15 classes a week, have made me let go of several television and film projects. But It is a decision I would never regret.Because teaching yoga does not require me to go on late nights with killer script deadlines, kiss ass with entertainment executives and deal with tantrums from “wannabe stars”.

Teaching yoga simply requires to be myself – adventurous, appreciative and nurturing. It does not require me to wear nice fitting signature pants,expensive watches and other fashion statements shouting “look at me, I’m a creative person”. Everyday, I simply wear my most comfortable shorts andsneakers geared to face the harsh urban Manila.

And because I can simply leave my fashoin in my closet, I can now afford not to drive my car. With the onset of exorbitant gasoline prices, I’m just glad that most of the studios I teach in has a direct access to a train station. Now, I can pay for the food that I crave for without thinking of my gasoline and parking expenses for the next day.

For the most part of the week, I only teach in the evenings. For this reason, I have gained enough free time to write about things closest to my heart: yoga, my queer advocacies and the philosophies that I stand for. I have written scripts for films which have earned praises from critics and have grown three blogswith hundreds of readers a day. And for the first time in my life, I am publicly recognized as a writer.

Aside from the great wonders of a lifestyle change as a yoga teacher, my practice has deepened. I am now entering the realm of backbends, something for me was impossible for the past three years of my yoga practice. My meditation has become deep enough for me to have an overmhelming appreciation of my life and the world around me. Having attended the Asian Yoga Conference in Hongkong has taught me that there’s a huge world of yoga outside of Manila. And there’s a limitless direction into how I want to grow my practice.

Let me end this note with my most important lesson so far — I have learned that our lives are anchored on our mind and our body. The lifestyle of yoga leads us to a better body and a better mind. Hence, as I grow in yoga as a teacher and as a practitioner, I live a better life and so do my students.

NO to the “Anti-Obscenity and Pornography Act of 2008″!

This law passed by the lower house and is now pending at the Senate is a glaring violation our human rights. I’d like to share my perspective  on this.

With regards to this law, I definitely share the vision of its proponents.

* I am against unguided children being exposed to sexually explicit materials. Adult content and materials should be distributed properly to its intended audience and this must be strictly implemented by the government.

* I am clearly against the use of children in any pornographic materials and the exploitations of innocent adults in performing pornographic situations whether for private or public consumption that may be against their will.

* I am against the distribution of pornography peddled on the streets for everyone to see. (This is illegal, as these are all pirated copies)

But some provisions of this law clearly violate the Human Rights.

SEC. 4. Punishable Acts. – The following acts are declared illegal andpunishable:(a) Producing, printing, showing, exhibiting, importing, selling,advertising or distributing obscene or pornographic materials in allforms of mass media;

Obscene being defined as:

“Obscene” refers to anything that is indecent or offensive orcontrary to good customs or religious beliefs, principles or doctrines,or tends to corrupt or deprave the human mind, or is calculated toexcite impure thoughts or arouse prurient interest, or violates theproprieties of language and human behavior, regardless of the motive ofthe producer, printer, publisher, writer, importer,seller, distributoror exhibitor such as, but not limited to:(1) showing, depicting or describing sexual acts;(2) showing, depicting or describing human sexual organs or the femalebreasts;(3) showing, depicting or describing completely nude human bodies(4) describing erotic reactions, feelings or experiences on sexual actsor;(5) performing live sexual acts of whatever form.

The law clearly prohibits the expression of sex in ALL ITS FORMS. Hence, nude human bodies, human genitalia and EVEN erotic feelings and reactions should never be conveyed in a message whether through visual or through text.

“Impure thoughts”

What is an “impure thought”? Where does the concept of purity and impurity come from? Does this come from the religious belief that “sex is impure” and must only be shared between married people? Following this religious imposition, does that mean that all forms of sexual expression outside marriage is “impure”?

With this phrase, this law begins to sound like a “silly” phrase from a religious material.

Is it rightful for anyone to have the right to prohibit us in how we perceive visual and auditory messages?

And what is wrong with a material whose intention is to stimulate prurient interests from an educated and a responsible adult? Every adult person has the right to enjoy their sexuality, as long as they do not force anyone or entice a minor into consuming the sexual act with them. The enjoyment of one’s sexuality is a birthright of every person and that includes the consumption of “adult oriented” materials.

The basis of this provision obviously comes from religious principles that “sex is sacred” and “sex should only be consumed between two married people”.

This “lawful version” of a “biblical imposition” is questionable because no religious principle should ever be imposed on anyone.

 

This could be a clear violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 18 — Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Section 4 (c) Showing, exhibiting, selling, or distributing obscene orpornographic movies in whatever format, whether produced in thePhilippines or abroad, in any restaurant, club or other places open tothe public, including private buildings, places or houses where theviewers are not limited to them owners thereof and the members of his family;

Why should a group of adults with their full consent be prohibited from viewing OBSCENE and PORNOGRAPHIC materials even in their own private residence?

Section 4 (d)
Writing any obscene or pornographic article in any print orelectronic medium;

 

Why should anyone be prohibited to write anything about sexual expression, when Sex is an integral part of our physiological, psychological and sociological expression?

 

Is this not a clear violation of Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights? “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

 

I wonder, why do we taxpayers pay for the services of these imbecile lawmakers?

Confessions of a War Freak

I have a confession to make. I am a chronic, combative verbal attacker (at least for now) and I love to pick up fights with strangers in a public place. All throughout my existence, I have several stories to tell on how I created a scene, verbally assaulting a stranger or a group of strangers who I deem to be abusive and have just stepped on my rights as an individual in a public place.

From private vehicle drivers who selfishly steal my much awaited parking space (when obviously I got there ahead of him) to inefficient and arrogant government employees, to noisy movie goers, I have become the day’s villain to so countless people I don’t know.

And what’s worse is that, I especially enjoy being combative especially when I’m alone.

This behavior of mine is contrary to my generally quiet, patient and friendly disposition at work. I am trying to analyze where I get all these mercurial temperaments. I know for a fact that I barely have any tolerance for abusive strangers. But what I don’t understand is why I secretly enjoy bursting into conflict with these insensitive people.

I do recognize that at anytime I could possibly get killed by someone armed and more violent than I am. But then, I don’t know why I don’t feel threatened by this fact at all.

There are certainly many things within one’s personality that’s not easy to explain. And I just console myself that everyone else has a chronic irrational behavior just like me (I hope so)

Filipino Perspectives While Falling in Line

 

Falling in line and waiting with many other Filipinos whether for a cinema ticket or a driver’s license reflect our perspective on social systems that govern us.

Take for example, when in a long line for a ticket booth, and the ticket seller takes her sweet time entertaining each customer with the longest time possible, no one, most of the time would dare tell the ticket seller to speed things up as many other people are watiing and the line has been growing.

We Filipinos barely speak up whenever we find ourselves in an inconvenient situation

On the other hand, when falling in line, let’s say in a university enrollment or a government office, it is very common to see many people finding ways to get ahead of each other by asking someone else to give way for them or perhaps, pay someone to fix them a place in the long queue.

Why do we do this? Is this because after thousands of years of coloniolism, we find it difficult to trust that each one of us is stakeholder in the system that governs us? Do we secretly think that the system would never care for our convenience because it simply protects those who have more power?

Whether as consumers or citizens, we have to learn to speak up and demand for the convenience of the majority. Because if the system fails to serve the majority, then there is no point to subscribe into it.

Graphic Gay Sex

I am an advocate of the complete integration of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transexuals (GLBT) in the society they live in. And I believe that by sincerely showing graphic gay sex in films as well as other materials, we hasten the process of this integration.
The visual representation of gay sex may be offensive to many people. But it is a visual message needed by this advocacy. My conjecture is that when people are exposed to such images, the idea that “gay sex” is a predominantly natural act for a significant segment of our population becomes easier to comprehend for most people.

There is this popular church who declared to “love the sinner. but hate their sins.” And this has led to society accepting gay men as productive individuals but reject the very idea of their sexual behavior and their sexual preferences.

Accepting us gay men as productive individuals is not enough. Society certainly benefits from our productivity. We are tax payers. And some gay men in the Philippines even controls some of the most powerful corporations in the country.

But I don’t think this so called “acceptance” or tolerance accorded to us gay men is not enough.

Society has to stop forwning on our sexual preferences and behavior. Gay sex is very much a part of animal behavior albeit it is not reproductive. And whether you reject evolutionism or not, animal behavior is at the core of human behavior. And more importantly, love among the same sexes is as genuine as its straight counterpart no matter what your bible say about it.

Gay sex is normal. Gay love is genuine. And society must begin to accept it.

For these very reasons, I shall continue to promote the representation of honest, sincere and sometimes graphic gay sex in media.

Isaac Asimov’s “The Threat of Creationism”

I came across this awesomely comprehensive article on evolution and creationism by one of the stellar figures of science fiction, Isaac Asimov. This is one of the best articles I have read on this topic.

Read it at: http://evolutionism.blogspot.com/2007/04/threat-of-creationism.html

Obscenity

I was asked to be one of the guest speakers by an organization of Philosophy students in UP Diliman a few days ago regarding censorship.

A question was asked. As media practitioners, how do we actually delineate what is artful and what is obscene.

My reponse was, as a consumer, I take offense in the concept of the word obscene. Personally, the concept of “obscenity” makes me feel sorry for consuming materials exclusivel for my own sexual gratification. I have the right to enjoy my sexuality. This is my own body. And as long as I do not step on the rights of any other people, I can purchase materials for my own sexual pleasure.

As a media practitioner, I find it too inconvenient and at a certain extent pretentious to classify your work as obscene or artistic. One’s message should be clearly expressed whether some people find it obscene or not. Anyway, no is forced to consume my message. Why should I bother to please everyone else?