Saw an image (not the ones featured here) in FaceBook and its obvious intent was for people to notice that a black child was also beautiful and very good to look at. It had hoped to dispel the current prevalent notions that one has to have fair skin and Western features to look desirable or beautiful.
But the common almost compulsive drive to look more Western I find is not uniquely Filipino. Many other darker ethnicities also have it, like even among the African Americans in the US.
If so, then we could not attribute it solely as an unintended aftermath of prior colonization or coming from other recently acquired traits.
It would appear to reside deeper in the psyche of modern man, where we might hope to find his current notions and concepts of what would be considered beautiful, or desirable, or even good to look at. As an example, maybe as elemental or ingrained as that the color white stands for good, while black for bad or evil. As light versus darkness?
Or it could be what is innately perceived as symmetry of parts that exudes an observation of visual pleasantness or conformity to certain standards. Like the almost universal preference for taller people rather than shorter ones? More deep-set eyes and high-bridge noses? Women looking more feminine with defined curves? Etc.
A more honest conversation could lead to a better understanding or acceptance of what could be considered as today’s standards.
The lady featured is of mixed parentage, with a Romanian father and a Chinese mother. She was born in Canada but is now a British subject and resident. This young 18-year-old is the current rage in women's tennis. Her looks no doubt add to the mystique of her almost unexplainable popularity.
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Introducing the Cagayan de Oro City Hall Building
When we think CDO City Hall the image conjured is that of an imposing white-washed building standing sentinel beside the western approach of the oldest bridge of the city, Ysalina Bridge.
In reality it is now a complex of several high-rise modern-looking buildings adjoined to the side of the old structure and occupying a space many times bigger than the original.
At some point all of us ordinary residents will have to get acquainted with the maze of buildings and offices that now make up City Hall.
We all have to queue up for our annual residence certificates, payments of real property taxes, business permits, a multitude of clearances like police, health, fire, what have you, and a litany of chores and duties to confound the hardiest citizen. We know we need to register with City Hall for every birth, but not many think that we also have to go through onerous routines when somebody dies.
Thus, in one of those trips, I found time to snap some scenes as I waited for my turn. And one new detail learned: Know that when you get your police clearance a 3rd party organization processes your clearance for which you are charged a fee, over and above the regular fee that goes to City Hall. Part of public service outsourced to the private sector?
Imagine also that all prospective employees have to have this, aside from the host of requirements and clearances that definitely would raise the hackles of the most patient individual. And all of them with a considerable fee attached to each one. Another sample of the burgeoning costs of government!
No wonder even the government’s physical structures have become so large, so expensive and so complicated.
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A Mortified Life: An Oxymoron?
Because mortified comes from Latin, it could mean to kill or subdue. But life is about living!
At first glance then, the term could be an oxymoron, which could translate as a killed life.
But over the ages, the noble and profound concept of mortification has taken on more significant meanings to our living of life. Simply, it means living a life which is characterized by subjugation or “killing” of the human desires and inclinations which drive us away from our divine purposes. Shorter still, it means controlling our concupiscence which is the innate legacy of our fallen nature.
A very pregnant thought with multi-faceted angles to ponder.
