She's Growing A Conscience

I am a supporter of pirated discs, this may bother you so I might as well clarify that this early. About 3 years ago, I started buying VHS tapes from a video store that was phasing out this format. The titles, of course, were all original and I had quite a good selection for children. Just a few months after that, I spotted a movie CD sale in the other video store, so I began stacking up on that as well, given that I had the spare change in my wallet. Again--- Lilo & Stitch, Sleeping Beauty, the Aladdin series, even Titanic--- I wanted my daughter to really enjoy viewing these flicks.

We went to Manila the same year and I fancied a DVD player that was a bit pricey but seemingly worth it. There wasn't a lot of cash left, so we took a chance in shopping for pirated discs at the Shaw Boulevard overpass. When we got back to Laoag City, I met my pirated disc dealer, and up to now, she is a very good friend. Good enough for me to give her Christmas gifts even if she is a Moslem.

My family has less than a hundred VHS's now, less than 200 CD's... but over 500 pieces of DVD's--- the 500+ all pirated. I could defend my preference in strong points, but I suppose my daughter made a stronger point to me a few hours ago when we talked about the issue.

"What is pirated?"

I reminded myself that this is not her most difficult question. "It's when somebody takes and copies something without asking permission from the owner."

"So, it's stealing?"

Edu Manzano and Bong Revilla have called me a thief for buying pirated discs, and now it's my daughter's turn. "Some people say it is stealing. I don't."

"Oh, I don't want pirated if it's stealing,"

"Okay, but that means you can't buy DVD's with me anymore because I will continue to buy pirated discs."

My 5 year old lightened up, "Well, okay, I'll buy if you buy."

"No, you don't have to," I saved my explanations. "One day, you will have your own money and you can choose what you want to buy. You don't have to do what I do. It's okay not to like pirated, okay?"

It's not easy explaining lifestyle choices to kids knowing that even some adults don't comprehend these things yet. The world is becoming more complicated, but we have to trust that the new generation has what it takes to handle the life they will soon call their own. Mysteries have a way of unfurling, and parents don't always have to sugar-coat or block the unappealing. Most of all, parents should know better than expect kids to turn out just like them.

"When I grow up and get my own money," she beamed, "I'm going to buy you stuff."

The Vowels According to Rocio

A E I O U

Say it as it is spelled: ah, eh, eee, oh, ooh.

That's what they taught me and the millions of kids in my time. I remember that very well, that is the foundation of what I consider to me my special skill, linguistics. A, e, i , o u.

My daughter Rocio, whose name we say as Ro-SEE-yoh and not RO-sho, was reading her school book to me earlier this evening in preparation for her exams. She's in kindegarten at an academically acclaimed school here, and she obviously takes this very seriously. At 5 years old, she has study habits already, and part of those habits is truly analyzing what she reads.

She told me, "Ah, eh, ee, oh, uh! Uh, uh, uh!"

"Wait, what happened to ah, eh, eee, oh, ooh? Oooh, ooh, ooh?"

"Oooh?" Rocio scowled and pointed at the huge drawings on her book, "What is that, ooombrella? Ooonder the chair? Ooop the stairs?"

So I hereby decree that the vowels are now: ah, eh, ee, oh, uh!

My First Love--- For Real!

Funny how I always go through photo hosting sites checking out the food shots. No denying it, I am a pig-arotti-- that's the way it is and that's how it's always gonna be. One thing I've loved all my life: fried chicken. I'm sure many can relate.

During my recent hunt for the most sleep-depriving photo of fried chicken, I realized that so many kids are involved in making this trans-fat transmitter very popular. Babies were holding on to chicken nuggets, fingers, tenders--- there was even a couple of kids that gnawed the chicken legs dry!

Yeah, fried chicken is my first love. I couldn't remember loving anything so much before that, not even sleep. My five year old displays the same obsession with fried chicken now, and even if so many people are concerned about its health hazards, I still let her have some fastfood chicken though not daily. I live in the Philippines, the pediatricians here won't dare say how awful fried chicken is for kids. That day will never come in a land where people cannot survive without ample cholesterol running through their systems. Saying, "Avoid eating fried chicken as much as possible," is the same as saying avoid breathing near a running car or exhaust or a dusty place, or.... you get what I mean.

Honestly, I pity the children of vegan families. I respect their philosophies, but I feel bad that the kids are robbed of the experience to enjoy food like fried chicken. It's just not normal when a child is not familiar with the taste and texture of something that is loved by almost everybody in the world. This is a dish that answers the prayers of moms with kids who are finicky eaters. This is a dish that spells celebration. This is a dish that reminds us of home, and no matter what others say, to me, this is a dish that heals a broken heart.

Virtually all restaurants here have fried chicken or a dish resembling it. The local Chinese fastfood, Chowking, has straight-up fried chicken instead of lemon chicken, which is certainly more Chinese. There is even a streetfood variety of it, and I have tried its goodness quite a few times.

The groceries are a fantasy to be in now with all the new kinds of chicken breading available. There's the Japanese variety, or the one with cajun spices, or even the kind that has the batter, bread crumbs, and gravy mix in one package. It's such a long way from the version I was taught which is calamansi, salt, cornstarch, and then banana catsup after it is fried.

Whatever form it may come to me now, with or without that crispy breading, with or without unstable elements sure to give me a heart attack soon, my feelings for fried chicken won't change. I fell for it as a child, I am still in love with it at my age, and I don't plan to forget about it--- because that's just pointless, you don't forget you first love. It's just so arresting to see and smell, just like a dream guy should be. And you can rely on it whatever time of day, again, like a guy you want to be with the rest of your life.