|
|
 |
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
REGARDING JULIO DIAZ
I recently got this e-mailed response to FILIPINO FOOT-IN-MOUTH DISEASE, an article I wrote a couple of years ago, which I featured both here and in 87 GENTLE STREET.
"...Re: Julio Diaz
I saw your blog about Julio's inappropriate comments to you. In response I'd say, you're absolutely right to think Julio is "rude" and perhaps "crass". But you know what, that's only because you don't get to know him real well as a person & do not consider him a friend, as he does you. His comments, while inappropriate, are actually Julio's way of expressing his concern for you.
Having been raised in Quiapo by a single mom who sells cigarette for a living. Julio, who as a child was too busy working to help his mom and 3 sisters so they can eat 3 square meals a day, never had the time to learn the social courtesies you expected him to have. In fairness, despite the poverty, Julio was still able to send himself through college and became an accomplished actor. There's no excuse for Julio's actions, but you can be more understanding of others who "were not brought up properly by their parents? It is said "Being tolerant is to respect others' differences... the way they look, their religions, their way of life. It is also to be interested in other people, to see what makes them similar rather than what makes them different. It is to say NO to prejudice."
Ana Marie..."
Now, I'm not at all sure if this same person happens to be Julio's wife. I am assuming it is, since she seems comfortable enough to speak on his behalf, not to mention her last initial also happens to be "D". Wife or not, I am now sharing my response to this e-mail.
Hi Ana Marie.
I'm sorry it's taken me this long to reply to your e-mail. With my son's birthday and the Thanksgiving holiday passing, I'm afraid I've ignored my computer altogether. I dread even looking at the long list of e-mails I have, just waiting to be read.
First of all, I would like to thank you for setting the story clear as far as Julio's intentions behind his comments to me, and if they were, in fact, his way of expressing concern towards me, then I guess they were misinterpreted and for that, I apologize.
I am well aware of Julio's story: how he fought his way out of poverty through strength of character, fortitude and sheer talent. I knew this even before I met him in person. My admiration for him even increased after I met him for the first time. I thought he was charming and courteous, every bit the gentleman I expected him to be.
You can imagine my dismay, upon meeting him for the second time, to discover that he, too, had clay feet. I guess it is obvious, now that you have read my article, that I was offended by his remarks, which, at the time, I found to be not just insensitive, but offensive as well.
And just so you know, I would've found these remarks offensive no matter whom they came from, social history notwithstanding, (and I must say that I also got similar comments from people who were educated and therefore, should've known better).
While you have tried to defend Julio by bringing up the circumstances he was brought up in, I must say that this does not excuse him. Just because someone is a little "rough around the edges", it does not exempt him from common courtesy.
For in fact, "common courtesy", just like "common sense", is not learned in school. We are all born with a strong sense of what is "right" and what is "wrong". It is innate in all of us, whether or not we were taught by our parents.
But all that is water under the bridge. That incident took place almost eight years ago. Much has happened since then, and I now have three kids with LORENZO (whom Julio also knows) and the nonexistent waistline to show for it. Pointed remarks about my gaining weight now roll off my back like water on a duck. In other words, they don't bother me anymore.
I am sorry if I have offended Julio in turn by mentioning this little incident.
Sincerely Yours,
Renee Sereno
posted by Renee 2:16 PM
Monday, November 28, 2005
MY VACATION (A Picture Book)
Written and Illustrated by LANCE SERENO, 1st Grade
Additional pictures courtesy of Lance's parents
Page 1
We went to Reno on vacation.
We flew on an airplane.
I saw the sea outside my window.
  
 
Page 2
We ate peanuts and pretzels and drank apple juice.
Before we landed, I helped the flight attendants collect garbage.
  
Page 3
The other passengers clapped and said I was a great helper.
I got to see the cockpit.
The pilot gave me candy.
 
  
Page 4
We rode the shuttle bus to the hotel.
Our room was on the 25th floor.
We ate dinner at the buffet.
  
  
 
Page 5
We bought cotton candy.
We went back to our room and took a bath.
We watched a movie before going to sleep.
 
  
 
 
Page 6
We went home on a train.
We took a taxicab to the train station.
It was my first taxicab ride.
   
 
Page 7
We rode the Amtrak all the way to Emeryville.
We ate at the lounge car.
My favorite was the pizza.
 
 
  
Page 8
We stayed in the dome car for the rest of the trip.
We saw mountains, lakes, farms and cities.
We saw ships and cranes and other trains.
  
 
(continued)
But the most beautiful sight was the sun setting on the ocean.
  
 
The End.
posted by Renee 2:04 AM
Thursday, November 10, 2005
BELIEVING
by Ira Wollen
Just take my word for it,
If you will lean a little more to the left as you search upward,
And look as far to the right as your eyesight might,
In the white clouds you will see Him,
Maybe not exactly as you expected,
Unlike anything you thought, or been taught,
but He is there,
Watching, and listening to
Each little bit of it,
What ever you might imagine happening
At the particular moment it happens,
He knows about it,
What does He do with all that He sees and hears?
Oh, well I guess He files them all into the most enormous
Computer you could think of,
Maybe to wonder about later
When there is a little more while.
And if you would like to speak with Him about something that happened?
Do as I showed you, leaning and looking and all,
And simply speak,
Ask Him anything about anything,
You will definitely hear His answer,
I myself guarantee it,
You may even get to see Him smile.
This is a personal favorite of mine from the POETRY COLLECTION of my stepfather, IRA WOLLEN, who celebrated his birthday last November 3. It was also his (and my mother's) wedding anniversary.
Happy Birthday, Ira, and Happy Anniversary to you and Mom!
And while on the subject of birthdays, someone else's is coming pretty soon...
My little boy, Lance, is not-so-little anymore. Come Saturday, November 12, he will be turning SIX!
It's hard to believe how far my little preemie has come. Before they went off-track, his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Bray, informed us that Lance, one of the few remaining five-year-olds in first grade, will be joining the second-grade reading class when he goes back to school in December!
She also told us during our parent-teacher conference that she has had to separate our son from the rest of the class during Math quizzes. At first, Lance thought he was being punished, but Mrs. Bray explained to him that she had to do it because too many kids were copying from him!
These are words that any parent would love to hear, and they are the best birthday present we could ever ask for. So, to reward him for all his hard work, Mommy and Daddy are giving Lance a big birthday party on Saturday, with a Spiderman bounce house and a special appearance by Twinkles and Snickers, the clowns!
My son is beside himself with anticipation, insisting on helping me with all of the party details. He even chose his own cake, a Star Wars chocolate creation with strawberry ice cream filling, and topped with the piece-de-resistance, a Darth Vader voice converter.
Yes, he still enjoys his toys, and yes, he still fights his little brother for possession of the last balloon left floating from last night's kid's meal at Denny's, and yes, he still drives me crazy at times.
Okay, all of the time.
But he is also big enough to watch his baby sister while Mommy takes a shower, and he is old enough to set his brother up for nightly tooth-brushing sessions just fine. He can also pick and choose his own outfits like the best of them. And he can tie his own shoelaces, both bunny-ears and rocket-style.
Yes, my little boy is on his way, but thank goodness he doesn't seem to be in any particular rush to get there. It's just as well.
Sometimes, even Mommies need to take baby steps too!
posted by Renee 1:44 PM
Sunday, November 06, 2005
TRIPLE TREAT
Halloween 2005 in pictures
A. Harvest Festival
Troy's Preschool
  
 
  
  
B. Trick-or-Treat!
(minus Reanna, who fell asleep as soon as her costume was on!)
 
  
C. Back to Candy HQ
(Lance and Troy came home early so they got to give out treats too)
 
 
PRADA MAMA REFLECTS...
At the end of the day, it warmed my heart to hear my boys say they enjoyed giving out candy even more than receiving it.
I guess there is some truth to the old adage "It is better to give than to receive"...
Especially when one has sore feet!
posted by Renee 1:32 AM
|
|
