Ang Ladlad has just submitted its list of QC members to Comelec in QC. We will have a hearing on Ang Ladlad's petition as a party-list organization this Thursday, at Comelec main office in Manila. So we are running around town, like headless chickens, preparing documents, meeting with lawyers, photocopying papers, et. al.

In the middle of this hoo-haa, I told Ang Ladlad Vice-Chairman Doni Santos that this is not the way I want my life to end. The only thing I want, hay, is to have somebody who will ease my transition to middle age.

Suddenly, in a eureka moment, I said, Ay, I'm in early middle age na pala.

So therefore, I want to have somebody who will ease my transition to old age. Ayan na, nasabi na...

Current Mood: crazy

Dear Friends,

Nowadays, when people see me, they do not ask: What is your new book? They ask: What is your blog?

And since I have to reach as many people as possible in the next few months, the next best thing would be to blog. And so--

This blog will contain my articles, thoughts (second thoughts?), photos. This blog will be updated every day, as long as I get a strong cup of coffee in the morning. My secrets and deep, dark thoughts you will find in my fiction.

This blog will also has links to Ang Ladlad, a national org of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Filipinos. I hope you will read this fab site as well.

And so, to the brave, new world of cyberspace.

Luv,

Danton

Current Mood: sleepy

Now that Ang Ladlad has filed its registration papers as a party-list organization with the Commission on Elections last Friday, what gives? A Q-and-A is the best way to deal with the dizzy week.

1. Why did you wear a pink barong?

Because Ang Ladlad has decided that pink would be its campaign color. I wore a pineapple-fiber barong hand-embroidered with butterflies, which is our campaign logo. It was done in Lumban, Laguna, and given to me by my friend and Ang Ladlad member Rey Banag. For orders, you may text his mother, Angie, at 0920-707-7425.. Since mass media is all about image and visuals, I decided to wear it to give dash and daring to our coming out, as it were, in public.

2. How was the reception?

When I got out of the car I was wearing my big aviator sunglasses because I have new contact lenses and the sun was too hot. When media saw me, one of them said, “There he is!” and they ran to me. A member of a wire agency asked me to carry copies of the registration papers in both hands, and raise my hands in jubilation. Since I’ve been told to be good with media, I followed. Then ten, 20, 30, 40 flashbulbs kept popping again and again that I began to laugh. I began to laugh because I felt like Meryl Streep, who played Miranda Priestly, in The Devil Wears Prada. Except that on normal days, I don’t wear barong. I am the devil who wears ukay-ukay.

3. What did your parents say?

They saw me on the Filipino channels in Los Angeles, they smiled, and shook their heads. True to form, they must have thought. The stubborn, hard-headed son who did what he wanted to do. But my parents are coming home soon – to help with the campaign.

4. How is your sex life?

That was the first question I was asked last Friday, at 7 a.m., on the AM radio station. It was the first of five on-the-spot AM radio interviews the whole day. Rubbing sleep off my eyes, I told the guy asking me, “Isn’t it too early to talk about sex at seven a.m.? Maybe later, at eight, we can talk about sex?” The guy hollered.

5. And how is your love life?

That was the question asked by the next AM radio station. Ir you are weak of heart you would just throw your pink towel, pick up your textbooks, and return to academe. But since I am an Aries, I answered the interviewer, “Very good. I don’t have a boyfriend but am seeing several friends.” “More than one?” he asked. “Yes,” I answered, “more than one, like all of you straight guys do. It’s just a date, you know. Dinner and a movie and the long kiss goodbye in front of his house.” And the guys on AM radio laughed and laughed.

6. And how did your studetns and your school take it?

My students have been warned that if every they see or watch or read or hear of somebody with a name similar to mine, then that would be me. My school, as usual – the Ateneo de Manila University – couldn’t be bothered. As long as I teach well and good, the sun will shine and the sky will be forever blue. My students’ parents kept on asking their children to ask me how old I am. When told I am as old as them, they asked who my doctor is.

7. So did you undergo a facelift?

No. No botox, no facelift, nothing. I just had an eye operation to clear the mineral deposits under my eyes, so I could wear contact lenses again. Then I went to the beauty parlor, had my hair cropped, layered, styled, and dyed. Then I bought teeth-whitening toothpaste from the U.S. Next week, I will go to my dermatologist to clear away the acne scars from my chicken pox in Grade One. That is all. Politics, after all, is image, so I had to do this makeover for the sake of that image.

8. Why do you look young?

I returned to the gym – to gain weight, to make my skin flush from all the endorphins, to lose the flab around my belly. I went to the tailor and had a new set of trim, slim clothes made. I returned to my favorite ukay-ukay stores on Anonas Road in Project 2 to scrounge around for interesting items for my wardrobe. I began wearing leather shoes again, pointed and shiny shoes, to make me taller than my usual 5’11”. I stopped walking with a stoop and a hunched shoulder.

I began to look the world in the eye.

9. So where do you get your funds?

From donations from kind souls. From an auction we will hold on September 30, Saturday, 5-8 p.m. at the National Museum in Manila. Organized by the tireless John Silva and hosted by the indefatigable Boy Abunda, we will sell paintings, sculptures, prints, couture, books, vintage eyewear, gift certificates and professional services. We are still accepting donations, and inviting all of you to attend the event. There is such an outpouring of generosity all around, and we are glad.

10. What if you lose? And what if you win?

First, Ang Ladlad has to nominate me in its national convention in November. Then we can talk about running, If I lose that’s OK. It won’t be skin off my nose. I would be happy to go back to academe and write my books. I would have peace of mind again – nobody asking me about sex at 7 A.M., or stalking me in malls and bookstores, or asking me at 2 A.m. what I am wearing. But if we win, then we would work hard and long and well, showing this country the stuff we are made of, in a campaign marked by direction and focus, potent and sharp as a laser beam.

But only for one term, my friends, only for one term. I have to write my second novel, I have to go to Paris, I have to sleep the sleep of the just again. For eight full, solid hours.

Comments can be sent to danton.lodestar@gmail.com

Current Mood: happy