Titas de Bacolod: 2021

Sunday, June 27, 2021

Dear Tita : Coping With My Anti-Vaxxer Friend

Received in my Facebook Page today as a message:

Dear Tita de Bacolod:

First off, this is quite funny. I am writing to you as if I were a young newlywed seeking advise from an auntie who has weathered the highs and lows of marriage for some kind of marital problem. In actuality, I may be older than you, Tita. In addition, this has nothing to do about marriage.

I am writing to you about how the world has changed because of technology and how what was meant to bring us together actually pulls us apart. I am referring to an incident which has taken place in our Viber group.

Years ago, us ladies were just so glad to be reunited through Viber in an old friends group. I can't even say this is a batch Viber group, just an old friends group chat. All was well until the pandemic. At first all of us were supportive and encouraging one another. Then as the months went by last year, some started losing their husbands due to COVID-19. This was long before there was any discussion about vaccines.

Then early this year, the vaccines started arriving in the Philippines. This was when all of a sudden, one of our friends in the Viber group suddenly took on a Jeckyl and Hyde personality. From the kind person we have known her to be, she has all of a sudden become an inconsiderate and rabid Anti-Vaxxer. Fed with all these YouTube links coming from her son, she keeps spamming the Viber group with conspiracy theories and unfounded statements to the dismay of the other group members.

Finally, most of us in the group knew that the tipping point had come when one morning, two of the three friends recently widowed left the group. I feel for them after hearing all these Anti-Vax statements when at the back of their minds, they could be thinking, "If only my husband were inoculated last year, maybe I wouldn't have lost him".

I understand our friend's position for being Anti-Vax and respect that. However, there is so much insensitivity in the way the Anti-Vax agenda is being pushed in the presence of friends who have lost dear ones, the rock of their families, the loves of their lives. Cause for our two friends to simply pull out from the Viber group for obvious reasons.

Our friend Helen (not her real name) still sends us YouTube videos without fail.

What would you do, Tita?

Stay Safe!

Mary

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

Monday, June 14, 2021

LOOK : Three Grandmas Smoke Weed for the First Time

#titasinamerica, Blog

In case you haven't watched the video of the three ladies who smoked marijuana for the first time, you can check out the YouTube video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj66Vnye8qM

Washington state, where cannabis is legal, is now offering adults a relaxing new incentive for those who are anxious about getting the COVID-19 vaccine — marijuana joints.

The program, launched by the state's Liquor and Cannabis Board and named "Joints for Jabs," runs until July 12 and allows state-licensed dispensaries to give qualifying customers one pre-rolled joint at an in-store vaccination clinic.

Eligible participants must be 21 years old or older and have to have received their first or second dose during that visit.

This is only the latest among Washington's abundant vaccination incentives, which include free tickets to sports events and a lottery totaling up to $1 million. Just a few weeks ago, the Liquor and Cannabis Board announced an incentive that allows breweries, wineries, and restaurants to offer free drinks to vaccinated adults.

Washington's newest promotion reflects a multitude of unique vaccination incentives being offered across the country, and the state isn't the first to offer weed.

In exchange for proof of vaccination, an Arizona dispensary's "Snax for Vaxx" campaign provides free joints and edibles. In Washington, D.C., cannabis advocacy group D.C. Marijuana Justice distributed joints at vaccination sites on April 20.

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

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Sunday, June 13, 2021

Hey Titas in Washington! Have a marijuana joint for taking the jab!

#titasinamerica, Blog

Uh-huh, we heard you! Some Titas de Bacolod based in the Seattle and Shoreline area have had a blast having two kinds of shots! The jab and the joint!

Washington state is offering adults a relaxing new incentive for those who are anxious about getting the COVID-19 vaccine — marijuana joints.

The program, launched by the state's Liquor and Cannabis Board and named "Joints for Jabs," runs until July 12 and allows state-licensed dispensaries to give qualifying customers one pre-rolled joint at an in-store vaccination clinic.

Eligible participants must be 21 years old or older and have to have received their first or second dose during that visit.

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

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Monday, June 7, 2021

Monday, June 07, 2021

“B” IS FOR BANGKOK AND A BAD WORD

Blog, People

This gentleman goes to Bangkok to visit a jeweler. The shop is one of the many dazzling Alladin’s cave of scintillating delights that have beguiled many a tourist into this exotic Asian kingdom. As fate would have it, the gentleman had entered a particularly interesting shop and browsed through the display cases. At first glance, he could be mistaken for a local for he blended right in with his squarish jaw, Malay tan, thick straight jet black hair peppered with grey, and regular Asian build. His eyes are not narrow slits on his brown face, but are quite rounded only to have the outer corners betray his oriental origin with the sure upward strokes. The way he moves with ease around the shop tells an observer that he knows his way around. He has been here quite a number of times before.

Well, it so happened that also immersed in the colorful sea of gems was a tall, heavily-built gentleman on the wrong side of 40. His features, his bulk, and his imperious air reveal the European strain of his genes. He does not speak the kingdom’s language. It is safe to dismiss him as another foreigner, naturally. Of course.

The first gentleman had begun his study of the treasures before him. Was he in search of a particular stone? Or was he just going over the displays? No one really knew what was on his mind on that day. The other gentleman who was standing nearby was also engrossed in inspecting some stones. So, now, in that Bangkok shop are two men lost in their world.

However, like in any dream, the dreamer has to awake sometime and, in this case, the second gentleman had caused the first gentleman to snap to attention. The former had blurted out just two words one of which was succinct and sharp that incriminated him. In any court of law, his words would be considered as res gestae. He must have dropped an item and the action caused him enough alarm to shout, “Ay, bilat!” The first gentleman swung ‘round to face him with a puzzled knowing look on his brown face. “Bilat?” The first gentleman addressed the second. The latter saw that look of recognition on the first gentleman’s eyes, so, he asked, “Taga-Bacolod ka?” The reply was, “Oo.”

And there ends the story, ladies and gents, of how a word can connect two people in a foreign land and reveal much about their roots. One bad word was all it took.

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

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Meet The Man Who Helped Marcos Bring Negros Island To Its Knees

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Saturday, March 6, 2021

Saturday, March 06, 2021

Reposting from 2015 : The Little Boy With A Big Heart

People,

Warning : Do not read this without tissue paper or a handkerchief in your hand!

Throughout the last half of 2015 I have been thinking of how to put down in writing this incident which surely had to be chronicled. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Now, Christmas has arrived and has set the stage for me to tell the story.

I followed this from July 7 when I read it on Ricky Monfort's Facebook wall. On that day, Ricky posted that a tragedy had struck their family in the United States. His Tito Freddie and Tita Maryanne's family, including their grandchildren, were off to visit their Uncle Errol, one hour away from Seattle, Washington.

On the way, the rented van they were riding on was rear-ended and the crash seriously injured their 8-year-old grandson Owen. Despite several hours of trying to revive him, Owen did not make it.

As the 8-year-old Owen expired, his parents made the decision of donating his organs. Owen's heart and liver came in time for two needing recipients. It could be no less than a miracle for those who were to receive them.

In life, Owen was a boy with a big, big heart. Last year, while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, a St. Jude's Hospital commercial came on and his mother, Tami, made a comment that she needed to donate. Owen turned to his mom and asked, "How much are you going to donate, Mommy?". His mom said $20. Owen said, "I will donate $20 too"!

What a generous boy! Thus, it comes as no surprise that even in his passing, Owen gave of himself that others may live.

Owen's mom wrote this a few days after Owen's passing:

"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside."

At 9:24pm on July 5th, our precious sweet beautiful boy Owen earned his wings and became an angel up in Heaven. Last night, we hugged and kissed him for the last time...until we meet again. To honor his kind, giving and generous soul, Harold and I made the difficult decision to donate his organs. Our amazing little hero saved 2 lives last night with his heart and liver. To save another family from feeling the pain and sadness that we feel is what we needed to start our healing journey.

We are overwhelmed and full of gratitude with the outpouring of love and support from our community. We appreciate all of your phone calls, texts, Facebook posts and messages. We are amazed at the generosity and selflessness of each and every one of you.

We are so proud of our son for everything that he has accomplished in his 8 years of life. We are so blessed and honored to have been chosen to be his parents. Our Gracie Goose, who came out of this tragic accident unscathed, has become such a brave little girl and our "saving grace."

Owen,
Mommy, Daddy and Gracie love you so very much. We will miss you like nobody could imagine. Rest in peace my sweet baby boy. Until we meet again...

This story was originally posted in December 23, 2015. Today, a little over five years after the original post and in the light of the current worldwide pandemic, Owen still speaks to us. May the example of Owen prod us to be generous in these challenging times!

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod