Advocates Mourn An ‘Epidemic’ Of Violence Against Black Transgender Women

There’s a dark cloud hanging over last month’s LGBTQ pride celebrations: at least 11 black transgender women have been fatally shot or killed by other violent means so far in 2019, according to the Human Rights Campaign, which has labeled the trend an “epidemic.”

In an old Japanese tale, a poor peasant catches a badger. He puts the badger into his bag and starts walking home, to bring food to his family. But when he comes home and opens his bag, instead of a badger, he finds a teapot! “What shall I do with it? – cries the poor man, – I can’t cook it for dinner! Perhaps, I can take it to the monastery, and they’ll take pity on me and give me some food – at least, there will be something…”
He takes the teapot to the monastery, but, as the monks put it on fire to make tea, the teapot starts feeling the heat, grows badger legs, and runs away – back to the peasant. “I like you! – it says to the peasant,- You never hurt me by putting me on fire. Now it is my turn to do something…

Your DAILY MESSAGE from Angels

EVEN the AUTOMOBILEBEGAN as an IDEA!

We love you

Thank you, Angels!!!

Thank you, for your Attitude of Gratitude:

It would be nice, if everyone else thought to be as nice to you, as you would have them to be. They don’t have to love us as much as we have to love ourselves!

Affirmation: The care of my soul is my responsibility!

I love you, Annette Rochelle Aben

50 Years and Getting Stronger

     The anticipation for the 50th Pride celebration began at the end last years parade. For the first time World Pride participated in the annual show of love, community, advocacy and protest.  This was the largest and longest parade I have been to and I have attended over 100 in NYC and other cities. The NYPD estimates over 3 million people attended one of the largest celebrations in the country all in the name of peace and love. There were zero arrests. Everyone was there to yell and scream and have a heck of a party. And that it was.

Grand Marshall Lay Phyll Getting the Love

The First Warriors

Glam Girls Living It Up

     Hundreds of floats made their way down the parade starting on 26th Street and 5th Avenue and then making its way to the Stonewall Inn and back…

Camping at Mt. Naupa (c) Dakilanglaagan

While most believed in the cliché that one must not judge a book by its cover; I, on the other hand, had taken this more specifically – thou shall not judge unless you went camping. The mountains have taught me a lot about life, but camping allowed me to get to know more about the people I hike with. In numerous occasions, I have seen how hunger, cold, fear, and anxiety pressed people to show their real colors. I, too, have been guilty of this. But more than getting pissed with such range of emotions, somehow, these experiences forged camaraderie amongst many outdoorsmen. So even with its stakes, I still look forward for camping activities. Wanting to share these experiences, I urged my colleagues to go camping on one of the renowned camping sites near Cebu City – Mt. Naupa.

Camping at…

Sunset at Lintaon Peak (c) Dakilanglaagan

My heart sank together with the sun setting on the arms of the seas. The splash of lilacs and pinks would have fallen a great background to the alluring lights of the blossoms that sparked light at Lintaon Peak but I was not allowed to capture that moment. My heart weeps because sometimes, no matter how much you will, some things are just not meant to be.

Beaching in Baybay (c) Dakilanglaagan

It started as an out-of-the-blue plan. We were eating our lunch at Minahal Kita native restaurant when Badeth announced that we’d be going to Lintaon Peak to witness the sunset. It was a perfect activity to end the first day of our stay in Leyte. Earlier that day, we took a dip at the beach across Badeth’s house. All in all, it was but a productive day.

Sumptuous lunch at Lintaon Peak…

I have finally come to admit that some of my Sundays from now on will, probably, be spent with mother nature and fun-loving friends.  While this is not a bad way to spend the weekend, it is still a work in progress for the lazy me to juggle my passion for poetry and my new found thirst for adventure. Gaaah!

Anyway, should we start the unveiling of secrets?