People Like Us

I'm re-posting this from Libay's blog. Hopefully more people would be aware that this kind of sh*t still happens.

I was actually denied entrance to Ever Gotesco-Commonwealth back when I was in college because I was wearing flip-flops. I was pissed because I just wanted to watch a movie after a couple of days of shooting nonstop for our class prod. And I could see there were Caucasians inside that godforsaken-dumpsite-they-call-a-mall in sleeveless and sandals.

Potek! Gotesco lang 'yun.

Tsaka, oo nga naman: kanino bang bansa 'to?!


PEOPLE LIKE US An Open Letter of a Transgender Woman in the Philippines
[25 May 2008 / Sunday / 6.04 AM to 6.45 AM]

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt
My friends and I have been made to feel inferior approximately five hours before I wrote this letter. I'd like to sweep this incident under the proverbial rug but there is no more space to accommodate it.

On the 24th of May 2008, my friends and I were celebrating the anniversary of our organization the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP), the first transsexual women's support group and transgender rights advocacy organization in the Philippines. We settled to celebrate it in Ice Vodka Bar, located in Greenbelt 3, 3rd level Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila. It was my first time in that bar. Two in our group have been there before and they had nothing bad to say about it.

There were five of us. I was leading the way. The bouncer stopped us. I asked why. His reason was we were dressed "inappropriately". We were rather dressed decently, tastefully, and most importantly just like any other human being who lives her life as female 24 hours a day.

I asked for the manager. The bouncer was nice enough to let me in. The manager,Ms Belle Castro, accommodated me. I don't know if I spelled her name right. I asked for a business card but she had none available. Her telling feature though was her braced teeth.

I complained. Ms Castro listened to me. I found her sympathetic, even respectful as she addressed me all throughout as ma'am. She told me the following:

1. (Referring to my friends, and obviously to me) That "people like them" aren't allowed in our bar every Fridays & Saturdays;

2. That that was an agreement between all the bars in Greenbelt (she

particularly mentioned their bar, Absinthe, and Café Havana) and Ayala Corporation, the company which owns the Greenbelt Complex;

3. That the reason for this policy is: "Marami kasing foreigner na nag-kocomplain at napepeke daw sila sa mga katulad nila." Loosely translated in English: "There are lots of foreigners complaining because they mistake people like them as real women"; and

4. That they have a "choice" to implement the policy.

I felt terribly hurt and uncontrollably agitated. This transphobic act is not the first time that it happened to me, to my friends, to people like us. To say that this has become almost a routine is an understatement.

I have shouted at Ms Castro several times, asking her why I'm f***ing experiencing racism in my own country and what gave f***ing foreigners the right to demand to block people like us to enter bars in our very own country.

Ms Castro tried to hush me by pulling the "It's our choice card" and asked me to talk decently. I am not proud at all of using the F-word as my intensifier and of letting my emotions ran raw and wild. My warm apologies to Ms Castro for losing my cool. Just like any of us, I know, she was just doing her job.

This may not be the proper forum to raise this concern. But is there any reliable legal forum to address this issue? Reality check: there is no antidiscrimination law in this country. And if you're discriminated, there seems to be a notion that you're supposed to blame yourself for bringing such an unfortunate event to yourself.

So, I'd just stand up through this open letter.

I am standing for myself. I am standing for people like us. I am standing up because I, am, very, tired of this incivility. We have long endured this kind of treatment for far too long. Enough.

I'll not go as far as campaigning for a boycott as it is definitely the simple workers that would suffer from any loss in revenue such an act may cause.

People like us would like to be treated just like any other human being. Just like those foreigners who complained about our existence: With dignity.

You know the civilized and ethical thing to do: Stop discrimination in your establishments.

Bigotry is never ethical nor a sound business strategy.

Warmly

Ms Sass Rogando Sasot

Sass is one of the founding members of the Society of Transsexual Women of the

Philippines (STRAP) [www.tsphilippines.com], an Associate Member of Transgender ASIA Research Centre, and a member of Ang Ladlad Party.

To have a dialogue with her regarding this incident, you may reach her at srsasot@... or through her mobile at +639276257010.
------

UPDATE:

Ice Vodka Bar apologized to us and is supporting our complaint to the administrators of Greenbelt Complex. Attached is the timeline of events.

Ice Vodka Bar is a breath of fresh air. I hope that the civility exercised by Ms Belle Castro
would set as a precedent to all bar managers in the Philippines.

The courageous women of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP) is standing up and we hope that you support us in confronting this irritatingly recurrent issue once and for all.

We are setting up a meeting with the security administrators of Greenbelt Complex to discuss
their "policy". We are excited about the developments of this case.

We will keep you posted. This is just the beginning.

Thank you.

Warmly
Sass Rogando Sasot

Timeline of Events: The Ice Vodka Bar Incident

25 May 2008 [Sunday] – Between 6:00 am to 12:noon

1. Sass wrote an open letter: People like us: An Open Letter of a Transgender Woman Activist in the Philippines

2. Sass emailed the open letter to her local and international contacts.

25 May 2008 [Sunday] Around 6:30 PM

1. Sass went back to Ice Vodka Bar to give the open letter to Ms Belle Castro.

2. Ms Castro signed-received the letter.

3. Ms Castro apologized to Sass and promised that the incident will never happen again to anyone. Ms Castro admitted that what she did is indeed discriminatory and wrong. Sass accepted the apology. She invited Sass and her friends to dinner in Ice Vodka Bar.

4. Ms Castro advised Sass to speak with the security administrators of Greenbelt regarding the "policy". She promised to show her support to Sass.

25 May 2008 [Sunday] Between 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

1. Sass went to the security department office located at the parking lot of Greenbelt 3.

2. She was received by Mr Leo Sarian, Acting Detachment Commander.

3. Sass narrated the story and gave the letter to Mr Sarian. Sass also filled up a complaint form. The open letter was attached to the complaint form.

4. Mr Sarian looked for the "policy" which they have. He told Sass that the policy is about profiling prostitutes circling around Greenbelt. They do surveillance for a week and confront them when they have established that they are indeed prostitutes. Mr Sarian emphasized that they don't have any directive to ban any group of people in Greebelt.

5. Sass informed him that Ms Castro, manager of Ice Vodka Bar, has told her of the policy of the security administrators.

6. Sass told them this incident didn't just happen to her, that it happened to her other friends as well and to other people. They are not just complaining. She informed them that Havana is actually notorious about banning people like her in their bar. And that the often cited reason is the policy cited by Ms Catro.

7. Engr. Fritz Tiglau and Engr Patric Andaya came, the administrators (?) of Greenbelt, came. Sass narrated the story to him.

8. Sass told them that banning people like her just because there were those who were using Greenbelt as their prostitution hub is like banning ALL Filipinos in a particular country just because there are few Filipinos who were prostituting themselves.

8. Sass requested these three things:

1. Clarification of the "policy" and its repeal if it's discriminatory.

2. A meeting with the people concerned: the bars in Greenbelt and the security administrators of Greenbelt.

3. A public apology be made.

9. Engr. Tiglau signed-received the open letter and promised that the complaint will be given high priority, that it will be forwarded to higher authorities, and that they will inform Sass about it immediately on Monday.

25 May 2008 [Sunday] Around 9.30 PM

1. Sass met with Nadine and Dee. They had dinner with Ms Belle Castro in Ice Vodka Bar.

2. Ms Castro apologized to Nadine and Dee. They accepted Ms Castro's apology.

3. Sass asked Ms Castro to formalize her apology by writing a letter. Ms Castro complied.

25 May 2008 [Sunday] 10.57 PM

1. Sass received Ms Belle Castro's apology through her email.

Prepared by:

Sass Rogando Sasot

26 May 2008
--------

AND THE VERY LATEST UPDATE:
Dear flowers of the world

I am very happy that Ayala Property Management Corporation is acting expediently on my complaint. The development of this case is just very promising and exciting.

1. On Monday Mr Dennis Galimba, Operations Engineer of Ayala Property Management Corporation and head of the customer service department of all Ayala Malls, called me to inform me that he will be the main contact person for this case. And that they are giving high priority to this case.

He hasn't mentioned any "ordinance". But he mentioned that prostitution activities (of whichever gender) is really not allowed in their malls. I told him that I understand it as prostitution is really against the law; we can't do anything about it but obey the law. I am not even defending prostitution.

He outlined to me their policy regarding monitoring prostitutes in their malls.

a. They "discretely" monitor "suspected" prostitutes
b. After they have established that there's indeed "transactions" going on between their suspects and customers they invite them to their security office.

2. I told Mr Galimba that that is their written policy. But according to Ms Belle Castro, Manager of Ice Vodka Bar, the security administrators of Greenbelt complex advised them to refuse entry to people like me because there are foreigners complaining about our presence. And they refuse us entry on account of "dressing inappropriately".

I told Mr Galimba that Ms Belle Castro has promised to support my complaint.

3. Mr Galimba said that if it's that thing that is happening, that is really discriminatory. I also raised the issue of Cafe Havana. Mr Galimba is oblivious of what's really happening.

4. I also told Mr Galimba that I'm not the only one who experienced this in Greenbelt, that there are lots of us and that they are just being silent about it because they are Ayala Corporation. And that they take action on this issue as soon as possible.

5. I suggested that we are willing to participate to them in making Greenbelt complex discriminatory free as well as help in preserving the decency of the place. Mr Galimba is excited about it.

6. I stressed again that Greenbelt Complex should declare publicly that they are discriminatory free.

7. After our talk, Glen Danugrao, Security Supervisor assigned at Greenbelt Mall, texted me and informed me that there will be a meeting on Thursday (May 29) with Ice vodka Bar, other bars in Greenbelt, and the security administrators regarding the incident. I will attend this meeting. They will also furnish me a copy of the minutes of the meeting.

That's all for now.

Warmly,

Sass Rogando Sasot
M - +63 927 6257010
E - srsasot@gmail.com
B - nonethelesfiction.blogspot.com
---------

Libay's original post after the jump.
Image source after the jump.


HOME

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Sinead O'Connor's Cover Of Phil Coulter's *The Shores Of The Swilly*

Sinead O'Connor sings *The Shores Of The Swilly* in Phil Coulter's new album *Lake Of Shadows.*

This is just of the many collaborations of these two icons of Irish music. Earlier, Sinead sung a Phil Coulter original *Scorn Not His Simplicity* for her fourth album *Universal Mother.*

Here's *The Shores Of The Swilly.* You will have to ignore the video, though. The clips are from *Final Fantasy VII.*


Nitramtang's YouTube upload after the jump.

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Sinead O'Connor's *One More Day* From The Cate Blanchett Starrer *Veronica Guerin*

This is the theme song of the film *Veronica Guerin*, starring Cate Blanchett. This song plays during the funeral of the protagonist, and segues to the CBB of the film, if I'm not mistaken.

Never mind the video though, the uploader used clips from *The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.*


Thanks to Neboola for uploading this video on YouTube. The source after the jump.
Amazon page on the film after the jump.
Amazon page on the soundtrack after the jump.


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Sinead O'Connor's music video for *The Water Horse*

Sinead O'Connor's music video of *Back Where You Belong* for the feature film *The Water Horse*.

A Sinead original. I think.


The official website of the film after the jump.


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Turning Japanese - Day 01: First Night

After our late lunch at Coco's, we headed to Ate Tet's house.

Hinahabol namin 'yung bata para kokonyatan ko sana. Kaso ambilis mag-bike eh. Nakatakas.

Ang view sa harap ng bahay nina Ate Tet.

Ate Emmy. Kodak-kodak muna habang nagpa-park si Ate Tet.
[Trust me, tama ang gamit ko ng *Kodak* dito.]

Ate Manami and I. Last time I saw her was around eight years ago.

The tatami room where I stayed for the duration that I crashed here.

With Kuya Akira. Tea, ice and sake--kampai!

Manami, Ate Tet and Moemi. Kodak-kodak while having dinner.

My hosts [Manami, Ate Emmy, Moemi, Ate Luttie, Ate Tet, Kuya Akira] and I.

After Ate Emmy and Ate Luttie had gone home, and the kids to bed, Ate Tet, Kuya Akira and I went walking around the neighborhood.

Parking lot of Lawson's convenience store.

Pachinko Daio. Sa bawat kanto at bawat sulok dito sa Japan, puro Pachinko & Slot.

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Turning Japanese - Day 01: Initial Impression

First several images of Japan, from Narita Int'l Airport to Ate Tet's house in Kashiwa-shi. My sisters Ate Tet and Ate Emmy, and their friend Ate Luttie, took a leave from work to pick me up at the airport.

Ate Tet, I and Ate Emmy.

Ate Luttie and Ate Emmy.

Wala lang. Palabas lang ng parking lot, at papasok sa kaibuturan ng Japan.

Ito ata 'yung tinatawag ng *turay*.

Parang Jurassic Park, wala nga lang T-Rex na humahabol sa likod.

Ate Tet. It took a while before I got used to sitting to the left of the driver. Every time liliko kami, pakiramdam ko eh babangga kami sa kasalubong naming sasakyan.

A few seconds after exiting the airport.

Walang trapik, walang usok, walang kalat, walang takatak boys, at higit sa lahat--walang mga pulis na nagtatago sa likod ng mga puno.

Until now, wala pa rin akong naiintindihan sa mga sulat nila. Buti na lang maraming arrows at color coded halos lahat ng bagay kaya kahit paano nakaka-survive ako rito.

Dito ata nakatira si Snow White.

Sematary.

Ha! Mas maganda ang mga footbridge sa Pilipinas. Ito plain lang. 'Yung sa amin pink & blue.

Late lunch at Coco's before proceeding to Ate Tet's house where I stayed for the first ten days.

My first tea...

And first raw food.

_

Countries cited on journalist murder 'Impunity Index'

I saw this article on today's Inquirer, and I thought I should re-post it on my blog. Hopefully this helps in info dissemination.


Countries cited on journalist murder 'Impunity Index'

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 08:14:00 05/01/2008

UNITED NATIONS – India, the Philippines, Mexico and Colombia -- all democracies -- were cited Wednesday among 13 countries with the poorest records of prosecuting murders of journalists, in a list released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The CPJ noted that while Iraq, Sierra Leone and Somalia, all four mired in conflict, were the worst offenders, most of the others were "established, peacetime democracies."

"Most countries on the Impunity Index are democratic, are not at war, and have functioning law enforcement institutions, yet journalists are regularly targeted for murder and no one is held accountable," it said as it released the index ahead of World Press Freedom Day, which falls Saturday.

"Every time a journalist is murdered and the killer is allowed to walk free, it sends a terrible signal to the press and to others who would harm journalists," said New York-based CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.

He urged governments on the list to "do more to demonstrate a real commitment to a free press."

Almost half of the countries listed are in South Asia: Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. And most of the murders ranked in the index were of local journalists in their home countries.

"We are calling for action: thorough investigations and vigorous prosecutions in all journalist homicides," Simon added.

The index, which was compiled for the first time this year, calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of the population in each country.

CPJ examined every nation in the world for the years 1998 through 2007. Only those nations with five or more unsolved cases are included on the index. Cases are considered unsolved when no convictions have been obtained.

Iraq, the world's most dangerous country for the press after the 2003 US-led invasion, was found to have the worst record, with 79 murders unsolved, most of the victims Iraqis killed for professional reasons.

Sierra Leone, which emerged from an 11-year civil war in 2002, had nine unsolved journalist murders while lawless Somalia, which has not known a stable government since 1991, had five unsolved cases.

In Colombia, at least 20 unsolved cases were reported, most of them involving journalists covering the conflict among right-wing paramilitaries, leftist guerillas, and government forces.

Image source after the jump.
Article source after the jump.