theme song for the week: Madonna's Material Girl

when i have lunch dates with girlfriends, those are very engaging times.  depends on who i'm with, i am perennially challenged to keep up with conversations ---- to listen, to react (dramatically, at times!), to share similar experiences and often always, to ponder and do a lot of after-thoughts.  even virtual dates i have with a girlfriend living with her family overseas, our talks are always provocative, contemplative and yes, witty!  i love love love my MAROON friends, and i'm blessed to always be intellectually stimulated by them. 


for this week, i noticed that the more common topic (unconsciously that is!) that we busied ourselves with was how (some) women are "oh so, bilmoko." hearing those horror stories of girls taking advantage of suitors, boyfriends, guy friends, even husbands! to loot and amass obscenely expensive things, which often end up being stashed as "white elephants" or given as "presents" to relatives. discussing this, we (girlfriends) do recognize that there are men who are genuinely generous (and wouldn't care a bit even if they spend so much moolah on their lady love).  there are also those who are bordering on the insane and romantically pathetic.  despite these true macho thoughtfulness and loony love tendencies, we feel strongly against women who take advantage.  regardless of these guys' capability to splurge and provide, they should never be taken advantage of ---- ESPECIALLY when you accept their presents AND pretend liking them.  (can you actually count how many sins you've committed here already?)

it is appalling. indecent. and an insult to women who work their asses off because they would want financial independence.

hearing these, i do a mental headcount of all my women friends and attempted to categorize each --- if there is, at least, someone who is bilmoko.  there is none --- no one in my circle of friends, people i would trust my life with and would readily die for.  most are earning their keep.  some are housewives, whose husbands promised to provide but these women manage their finances well.  hindi nangungupit sa mga asawa nila.  some are married to foreigners (out of love and not for economic upliftment).  at the end of this spectrum are women, who are condescending, who think they've bought your dignity with a shirt and a bag they gave, that would allow them to speak ill against and a lot of untruths about you.  these materialistic bitches who think everyone could be bought with money they didn't even earn themselves!

of course, i could be stoned to death for appearing to judge women i don't even know personally or whose circumstances i wouldn't have the privilege of knowing.  but my concern is valid, and you cannot blame me for being snooty and yes, judgmental. 

maybe, i am just one lucky b*tch, whose friends are equally independent and un-materialistic (with very simple, classic taste!), even luckier for having met partners, boyfriends, husbands, who allowed us to be such (while doting on us every so often).

it still does not change my strong view against people who take advantage of others.  it is wwwwaaaayyyyy crass and below the standards of humanity.  i do not understand how acceptable it is for them to be abusive.  i have no respect for you, and yes, i'm not apologetic for feeling this way.

there is no dignity in what you do. 

and i'm so thankful that i'm not in your league.