Living with a Fire

Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental.

"Yeah, this is an easy job - EXCEPT for the occasional burns!" he laughed.

"You must earn a lot from this," I said, noting that - as the fire dancer claimed - he had been doing this "for years and years now."

"P3,000 per month - give or take," he said. "That's our 'regular' pay."

"That's not a lot. Considering the burning and all."

"Yep," he smiled. "We live off the tips."

And then, as he started twirling again: "So don't forget to leave your tip."

source: Speak Carabao

Father and daughter

"I always wanted a daughter (as my eldest child)," he said, proudly raising his daughter for everyone to see.

"Maybe because I'm like my Dad? He wanted a daughter for his first child, too. Or maybe because... having girls just brings out the best in fathers, wanting to be protective and all. Call me traditional, but... there you go."

source: Speak Carabao

Not whether you own land, but what you do with the land you own

"Papunta ako sa kapatid ko (I'm off to visit a sibling)," said this woman in a jeepney, with baskets of various fruits with her. "Naisip ko, dalhan siya ng mga prutas galing sa farm (I thought of bringing her fruits from the farm)."

"You must have a big farm, to have all these fruits!"

She laughed. "Maliit lang; ilang ektarya lang (It's small; just a few hectares)." "Wow! At least you own land!" she was teased. "At nag-je-jeep ka lang (And you just ride jeepney for transportation)!"

She laughed again. "Ang tanong hindi kung may lupa ka pero kung ano ginagawa mo sa lupa mo (The question is not whether you own land, but what you do with the land you have/own)."

And then, turning serious: "Ako, nagtanim ng prutas. Dadalhan ko kapatid ko ng prutas (Me, I planted fruit-bearing trees. And I'm bringing fruits to my sibling)."

source: Speak Carabao

Work hard if we want to survive

Teody has been selling kakanin (snacks) for "pila ka tuig na pud (years and years now)," she said.

In fact, she's been able to send her children to school largely from what she earns from her selling.

"Is it hard doing what you're doing?" I asked her, as she started mixing the noodles with palabok sauce, topping the servings with chicharon (powdered fried pork skin), sibuyas (shallots), and a slice of boiled egg.

She looked up from what she was doing. "Usahay, lisod giyud. Kay rain or shine, mamaligya man mi (At times it's hard. Because rain or shine, we still sell)."

"Kanus-a pud ka magpahulay (And when do you find time to rest)?"

"Pahulay gud! Kayod giyud aron mabuhi ta (What rest are you talking about? We really have to work hard if we want to survive)," she said, managing to offer a smile. She took a deep breath, and then: "Hinuon, gagmay-gagmay lang ni pero makatabang man pud (I may only be selling small items, but they still help)."

source: Speak Carabao

Filipino Family - together in suffering, and together in joy

Butuan Bus Terminal.

"Hindi amin ito. Sa in-laws ko ito. Tumutulong lang ako magbenta (These aren't mine. These belong to my in-laws. I just help selling them)," she said, now and then loudly calling out passersby to spend P20 for three pineapples.

"Paano ka kumikita (How do you earn then)?"

"Dahil tulong-tulong sa trabaho, hati-hati sa kita (Because we share the load, we divide the earnings)," she said. Then with a wide smile: "Ganyan naman talaga ang pamilya, 'di ba? Magkasama sa hirap, magkasama sa ginhawa (That's how it is with families, right? You are together in suffering, and together in joy)."

source: Speak Carabao

I sell what I can't buy

Robinsons Place, Butuan City.- "The chicharon (fried dried pork skin) we sell is popular," she said.

"Lots of people buy it for merienda (snack), pasalubong (gift given by travelers), pulutan (food accompanying drinking sessions)..." "Have you tried the chicharon already?"

She laughed. "I just sell. Gamay lang akong kita. Dili ko ka-afford aning butanga (I don't earn a lot. I can't afford such goods)."

source: Speak Carabao

A Note from a Transpinay

When she was 14, Vien realized that she was "no ordinary beki".

“Before I turned 14, estudyanteng beki lang ako (I was just another gay student),” she recalled. But then she realized, “iba talaga ang experiences ko; hindi maipapaliwanag ng pagiging beki (my lived experiences were not similar to being gay).”

It was at that point that she realized she’s transgender. With the realization, Vien is not only happier, but feels more empowered. This is particularly important for her since she has relatives and friends who remain not accepting of her, refusing to recognize Vien's self-identity. But Vien - now 20 years old - said: “Ito ako. Tanggap ko ako, Bahala na ang iba (This is me. I accept myself. I don’t care what others think).”

source: Speak Carabao

"Taon na rin (It's been years) since I started selling pizzas," said this long-haired guy, who serves as the truck driver cum vendor of the pizza truck parked in front of De La Salle University-Taft.

"10:00 to 7:00 kami (We work from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM).

" "Is it a difficult job?"

"Sanayan lang (You get used to it)," he said.

"And you sell a lot?"

"Minsan (At times). But that's business for you."

"It's not your business though..."

"Yeah," he smiled. "Wish ko lang (I just wish it was)..."

source: Speak Carabao

Viral Video of Boy Singing Mariah

source: Speak Carabao

A street sweeper's tale

"My job isn't all that hard," Fran said. "We just sweep the streets a few hours in the morning, and then again in the afternoon."

"How much do you earn?" I asked her.

"Okay lang (It's just okay). But at least walang boss. Compared sa janitor na may monitor; sa amin, after ng work mo, puwede ka rumampa (I don't have someone looking over my shoulders. Compared with a janitor who is monitored, with us, after you do your do your work, you can go gallivanting)," she laughs.

source: Speak Carabao

What is smile in the eye of a child?

BACOLOD-

"You like the masks?"

I asked the little girl playing with miniature masks for sale.

"No, I think they like me," she smiled.

"How did you know?" Shyly: "Because they're all smiling."

source: Speak Carabao

Don't fall for a straight man who'd just leave you.

Joan Dioso, almost 50, originally came from Cebu Province. He's been working as a beautician in Makati City for as long as he cares to remember. He was around five when he was given the name Joan (legal name: Nemecio Jr.).

"Ambot ngano Joan (I don't know why they called me Joan)!" he laughs.

If he can share a life lesson, it is to "enjoy to the max!" he says.

"Ayaw ka-gugma sa laki kay biyaan lang ka. Mas ayos kung enjoy-enjoy ka lang. Mas mu-guwapa ka, mas guwapa pud ang life (Don't fall for a straight man who'd just leave you. You're better off just having fun. You'd be more beautiful that way, and your life will be more beautiful too)!"

source: Speak Carabao

Kalsada is place where gays truly belong.

Mark, 23, laughed with his friends when they teased him how – as a young gay boy – his father used to palo (hit) him.

“Concerned lang siya sa akin (He’s just concerned with me),” he justified, adding that he feels no bitterness towards his father now as an adult. In fact, having graduated from college already, he wants to find employment overseas “so I can look after my parents.”

“Is it hard having strict parents?” he was asked.

He was quiet for a while. Then: “Hindi ako masyadong gala (I choose not to go out often),” he said, thinking his choosing not to leave the house won’t aggravate his parents.

“Pero dito sa kalsada, naging siya siya (But here in the streets, he becomes the real him),” a neighbor butted in.

Mark laughed again, and then said: “True!”

source: Speak Carabao