Happy 15th blog anniversary to my daughter

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““Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” Brian Clark

15 years ago, on December 22, 1996, Lauren wrote her first journal entry. The word blog was non-existent then. It was called a journal but as we know it, online media is emerging media. Blog came from the word web blog and the journal is the same format of the blog. Lauren’s original entry does not show in worldkids.net anymore but if you’re a geek, you can probably figure a way to read the full entry.

Lauren was 10 years old. These days, kids as young as 5 years old have their own blogs. The difference back then was one had to build your own site before blogging so that was quite the challenge. Together , we learned basic HTML, file transfer protocol (FTP) so she could upload her journal entry.


How could I not resist Lauren, my daughter’s question in early 1996? One day while I was busy with my emails, she walked up to my desk begging to create a web page using HTML. The question seemed so natural like she was asking for candy, but running inside my head was ““what is that monster… HTML ?” The Internet was such a novelty during those days that parents were both afraid and excited about its benefits for the kids. I took the risk and introduced my children to the World Wide Web.

I was often questioned why I allowed them to go online. Questions often raised were: Am I not afraid of pedophiles? Am I not wary of the pornography? What if the online friend is really some serial killer? Relatives and friends frowned on the Internet. I felt like I was a parent from outer space. Even my daughter’s homeroom teacher chastised her for talking about the Internet. I believe the teacher was just ignorant or intimidated about it. After all, in 1996, there were less than 12,000 Internet users in the Philippines. It wasn’t cool for a kid to be online during those days.

There were no hard and fast rules. One thing was clear though: I am a parent first. In the real world, one aspect of responsible parenting is never having to allow children to wander aimlessly and alone into unknown territories. So, too, in the vast cyberspace called the Internet. Responsibility towards my child’s offline behavior is the same responsibility for my child’s online activities. Parents can empower themselves and establish Web safety awareness in their homes. Start them young. The best defense is for parents to make exploring the online world a family affair.

I drafted my own Internet safety guidelines for parents, teachers and children to read in World Kids Network where I was their Internet Safety Head from 1996 to 1999. The guidelines are basically the same even in the age of connected technology (gaming centers, cellphones), digital devices and social media sites. My Internet safety guidelines inspired by my own parenting experience and my children’s internet experience is still applicable 14 years later:

1. Your child should only log on with your approval. Sit down together with your child and read the guidelines contained in their favorite kid’s site. Assess which may or may not apply to you and your child. If you have to, you can plan and formulate your own safety guidelines together.

2. Since the online experience should be a family affair, the computer should be easily accessible to family members. This makes online activities an enriching experience.

3. The computer should be located in a room where there is adult supervision.

4. Be clear on the length of time spent in the computer or other connected technology.

5. Let your child post your family’s e-mail address even if he/she has her own.

6. As you go on together with your online experiences, your child will soon be better equipped to deal with various online situations even if you choose to leave them on their own as I did when the girls left for their college dormitories.

The negative feedback and suspicions toward online activities often made me wonder how the Internet molded my children’s perspective in life. I found the answers now that my children are in their early twenties. I believe my kids got exposed to global thinking , varied ethnicities, cultures and religion, things they might not have learned in the classroom. The biggest surprise is that I gained so much more in the process. My children taught me a lot about being a mother in this technology-driven world. Is it any wonder that 14 years later, I am a 54-year-old tech-savvy mom blogger?

Today , Lauren moved on from a personal blog to a fashion and beauty blog at iambourgeois.com

““As I have repeatedly written in one form or other, blogging is not about writing posts. Heck, that’s the least of your challenges. No, blogging is about cultivating a mutually beneficial relationships with an ever-growing online readership, and that’s hard work.” (Alister Cameron)

On choice of boyfriends, and recovering from a broken heart

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The news on KC Concepion’s admission of a breakup with Piolo Pascual is all over. I didn’t really think much about it because I always thought their relationship was a publicity stunt. KC never mentioned the reason for their breakup but social media buzz points to his being allegedly gay as the main issue.

“Kasi ang galing-galing niyang magpakilig.

is what KC says of Piolo.

I’ve met Piolo Pascual twice in the past. I find Piolo so charming, super gorgeous looking guy to put it mildly. Kinilig talaga ako but I didn’t show my giddiness even if Piolo kept smiling away to everyone. Piolo can gaze into your eyes and make you feel beautiful and special. Such a charmer, really. It is rare that I ask for photo ops with celebrities. I wrote about him in Piolo Pascual: On Loving yourself more and even got a video interview. Even though I was thrilled to death, I was aware of rumors about his sexuality. I didn’t mind any of that because I just admired his physical beauty.

Who is to blame? KC? Piolo Pascual? Was she forewarned of the challenges that lay ahead? Did she know “He’s Just Not Into You—At All?”

I believe each mother has their own parenting style. I want to make a theoretical assumption here for the sake of discussion. If any of my daughters fell for someone whom I suspect to be gay or questionable in character, I will tell her just once. In my blog post, A Mom’s guide to daughter’s suitors or boyfriend, I listed guidelines for my daughters which other parents may look into and perhaps learn a tip or two.

In Tip no. 4, I listed “Trust your instincts. Give your opinion on the guy and let it go.” Oh yes, I have done this in the past. I confronted my 17 year old daughter and minced no words about my honest-to-goodness opinion of the guy. Of course, she resisted. The problem with me was that my approach was old-school, manipulative and controlling. Now I know better. I should have just said my piece then let it go and allow her to make mistakes. But no, I told her she couldn’t see this guy. PERIOD. Funny thing was my daughter ended the relationship with this guy two years later, for the reason that I objected to in the first place. I allowed her to make mistakes though painful as it was for me to see her hurting all over. I could have said ““I told you so” after my instincts proved right.

KC is broken hearted right now. If I were there with her right now, I’d say this to KC (and this is true for all those suffering from a broken heart):

““Relationships are not easy, my dear. It hurts because you love him. You are going to grieve the loss of a relationship and loss of a dream. Feelings of sadness , anger, acceptance and moving on will be part of the healing process. Just like I often say to the newly bereaved parents, you will start looking for your ““new normal”. A life without your loved one. That is the moving on phase where you live the life of being single again. The ““we” that was there before is now broken.”

There is grief in broken relationships too. The grief journey, like I have experienced after the death of my beloved child is similar to a roller coaster ride. There are countless ups and downs, highs and lows – each time you catch your breath and have a few good moments..WHAAM ..SMACK, there’s another totally unexpected twist or turn and you spiral – sometimes totally upside down.

KC is bewildered with her anger:

“Ewan ko kung bakit, paanong nangyari yung pain, at saka yung sama ng loob naging galit.

“Na talagang nagugulat din ako kasi first time ko rin na parang napapamura na rin ako.

“Hindi naman ako gano’n, and bigla na lang akong maiiyak kasi hindi pala ako okay.

This anger is all very much a part of her grief process. It can come and go in waves just like an emotional roller coaster, from anger to denial to acceptance and back again.

The roller coaster ride can be quite frightening and treacherous. The lesson is that even though it is frightening, one has to move on through this emotional roller coaster of grief. There is no way out of it. You must go through it in order to come out on the other side.

I always say be gentle and patient with yourself. Take baby steps. Allow yourself to cry, to grieve, and to retell your story to close friends as often as needed and for as long as you need to.

Eventually, KC or anyone with a broken heart will smile and find joy again and may even find her ““true love.”

Here is an unsolicited advice from one of your fans:

A piece of unsolicited advice to KC …. my dear, thank God this happened before it was too late, listen to your parents who will never wish harm on you, focus on God who you will realize will be the only constant in your life, and pray for the special guy who will be God’s best for you. You are young, beautiful and truly talented. There would be boys there and there would be MEN. Some will impress you and believe me, they will treat you like royalty. Be careful because eventually they would turn out to be frogs. On a personal note, I had a ‘magical egg’ whom I thought was IT, then he turned out to be a Humpty Dumpty and even the King’s soldiers could not put him together again. It’s exciting times, Girl!! See a break up as an opportunity to renew relationships that matter, the ones neglected because you focused on a single person. Never cease praying and let all your emotions out on God for He know and understands. His BEST is waiting, just be still and know He is your God. – from an avid Sharonian who has seen the transformation of your mom and has witnessed you growing up in the limelight. You are and will be another bright star. 🙂

What do you wish for?

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It is all over the internet . Wishes ranging from the mushy to political flooded Twitter today as the clock struck 11:11 am on November 11, 2011 (11/11/11).


Photo credit

If I were single, I’d probably be wishing for “I wish he loves me” but well, I’m married and have gone through a lot of challenges that involves other people aside from myself.

The only time I make a wish is when I blow my birthday candles. My default wish is always “I wish for peace, love and good health”. I laugh every time one of my daughters exclaim that I sound like a contestant from a beauty queen pageant. Really what more can I ask? I know they are idealistic but some things are within our control such as my family life. I can choose peace instead of getting angry at small irritating things that my husband does. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

I wish my girls and my hubby to always be happy, and love to overflow . I love conversations, friendship and laughter. I hope to live a meaningful life where I can give back. I wish for no more wants, or musts, or needs.

And good health? Well, health is wealth. Without good health, how can I enjoy life or wish for material things.

They say today is good time to make that wish. If I catch the time 11:11 tonight , then as always I will use my default wish.

What about you? What do you wish for?

Where is God?

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The Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift a stone, and you will find me. –“Stigmata”

Like all Catholic schools, Religion was taught as early as First grade. I can still remember my book with images of clouds, and a man in long beard and a dove or was it a bird I forgot how God was taught by the Belgian nuns. I recall God to be someone powerful who watches over me, yet there was some sort of fear of being a bad little girl. In my little girl’s mind, I looked around for God. Where is he?

As the second sibling in the family, I looked up to my eldest sister, Lorna for her words of wisdom. I took her every word, well because she was a year older and knew more than me. Naturally.

I tugged her sleeve. “Do you know where God is? ”

Lorna nodded and dragged me to the kitchen. She pointed to the leftover mango seed on the kitchen table.

In a solemn voice, she said, “When you crack open the mango seed, you will find God in there.”

My eyes widened, “really?”

Her revelation elated me. God is real.

One day, I thought of talking to God. I got a mango seed ad sat by the window sill that overlooked the garden and slowly pried opened the mango shell. As I opened the shell, I felt awed. I found God! My body felt like a balloon as if I was floating around the garden. It was a joyful moment.

My little girl’s heart cried out in gratitude, ““Okay God. I hope you protect me. I promise to be a good girl.”

I know this “Where is God?” anecdote is really funny. Lorna laughed as I recounted the story to her. She forgot that she taught me this.

I grew up praying to God every day and attending mass at the Catholic Church every Sundays. It seemed too routine until a friend introduced me to the bible and told me to read the book of John. I just knew that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and everything in the bible was true and good and I wanted it in my life.

Pretty soon I had kids of my own but I made sure that God was something that my children felt in their hearts. It had to start with something more tangible at first.

I see the moon and the moon sees me,
God bless the moon, and God bless me.

As a nursery rhyme, I felt the toddlers understood God to be good. Two of my three children suffered from asthma and letting them understand that “Jesus lives in their hearts” so they would calm down and feel more relaxed in prayer. I also felt that it will heal them faster if they are in a relaxed state of mind.

I guess the real test of my faith in God came when my beautiful son died 11 years ago. Questions soon came:

Where were you God?

Why God?

Why me God?

Every parent who lost a child or a loved one ask these questions. I know now that the feelings of “Why me, God?” are real. My pain is real. The questions form part of the grief process. Well-meaning friends often like to point out not to question God’s wisdom. So easy to say especially if that person has not lost a child.

While God may have seemed distant during those bleak moments of my life, it was God who also showed me the light in the quiet still of the room. As I sat on the Luijoe’s favorite couch, feeling despondent over our family situation, I felt a warm tingly feeling that emanated from within me and then feelings of peace and joy. That difficult journey left me literally with a broken heart but not too broken because why did God give me a second wind in life to make a difference in this mortal world? That light…starting and living a new life without my precious son but still living a good life.

It is these good and bad moments that affirmed that God is good, all the time.

While I continue to believe in His words and His teachings, I may not necessarily find God in Churches , disillusioned and disenchanted as I am with the Catholic Church on its stance with the Reproductive Health Bill… but that is another story.

Today, my new dialogue with God is … “God, this is going to be an interesting journey. I’m excited to see how you are going to bring good out of this one. I trust you will!”

Photo credit: and here and here

Charmed by Marzipan, the celebrity cat at Astor Theatre

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The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat. ~Jules Reynard

I am not easily impressed with celebrities, whoever they may be—actors, actresses, politicians or what not. But meeting Marzipan was different. It was my daughter who told me all about Marzipan when she watched a movie at the elegant Astor Theatre. If you are in Melbourne, you probably know about the Astor Theatre built in the 1930s. It still retains the old-fashioned double-bill format. The original art-deco furnishings create a unique atmosphere for movie-goers.

As I walked past the winding staircase of the theatre, my daughter caught sight of Marzipan snoozing on her basket. She patted the furry ball and pretty soon, Marzipan stood up posed like a queen.

What a cutie. There she stood with her haughty yet regal cat look.

Her paws were crossed just like a fine lady. How regal.

I felt honored when Marzipan jumped up to my lap. You know that feeling when your celebrity-idol smiles at your direction? That is how I felt when Marzipan snuggled on my lap and allowed me to caress her. There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat. Simple joys, I know .

Many know that Astor Theatre is known for its unique programming to the legendary Astor Choc-Ice but the celebrity of the house is what everyone loves most about the theatre. That is what I want to believe. I am such a cat lover.

They say “a meow massages the heart.” Marzipan can’t make purry sounds. She is close to twenty years old and may be even deaf.

Playing both well-loved classics and recent releases, the Astor Theatre offers a variety of films. I came an hour before the film began (though I didn’t watch any) and snuggling up with Marzipan in their sumptuous couch and eating Choc-Ice is just so heavenly.

There is more to the Story of Marzipan.

Some nineteen years later, after startling a variety of viewers each and every time she runs across the banister during Poltergeist or sashays up and down the auditorium steps during 2001‘s Dawn of Man, after achieving a level of local fame long-standing members of staff could only dream of, not to mention playing to the sympathies of passers-by who then feed and provide an excess of blankets for her, Marzipan is still able to scale the theatre walls and somehow mysteriously hears the FOH Supervisor call her for dinner despite her being apparently deaf.

And what of it? Marzipan is the kind of kitty who adores everyone’s endless and unbridled attention. What cat wouldn’t? She has a whole team of ushers to clean out her kitty litter, not to mention more than five hundred friends on facebook. She’s the only one at the theatre who’s received postcards from patrons when they’re on vacation and she’s usually the only one the journos want to feature in their photographs of the theatre too. Receiving the biggest cheer of all at our 75th Anniversary Celebrations in April of this year, Marzipan is Melbourne’s little darling and yet she remains as down-to-earth as ever. Well, maybe every now and again she has a moment of diva about her…

I am so charmed with Marzipan as with all cats. Marzipan sat on my lap as long as she could while I patted her neck. She didn’t want to play favorites she jumped on to my daughter and other movie-goers who were seated in other couches.

Oh , cats are just so independent. Cats come and go without ever leaving. With a sigh, I let her go.

When I went back to my hotel, I added myself as one of her fans in her facebook page, Marzipan the Astor Cat.

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life – music and cats. ~Albert Schweitzer

There is no must in art because art is free

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Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. Edgar Degas

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) at Hobart, Tasmania is just amazing and thought provoking. It is not art for arts sake. The MONA is a $200 million, quixotic project of Tasmanian businessman David Walsh. He commissioned the Museum from architect Nonda Katsalidis, filled it with his own art and made admission free. You know how they say “The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.” As I moved from one art piece to the next, I often ask myself “what is the message here? or what is the artist trying to convey?”

Whether I’m painting or not, I have this overweening interest in humanity. Even if I’m not working, I’m still analyzing people. – Alice Neel

Visitors to MONA get iPods when they enter the museum. As you walk around, ‘The O’ displays information about the works near you and plays you interviews with the artist.

I am not visually literate but so this nifty iPod help me understand some of the ideas. I have seen the case of the closure of Mideo Cruz exhibit by the bishops and other creative expressions whose concept and presented ideologies they do not agree with. Some of the pieces can come off disturbing and interesting at the same time.

I am interested to see the perspective of the artist and their thought process. “Walsh, the owner of MONA has a scientific mind with an artistic temperament. In Andrew Frost’s interview for ABC TV, David Walsh says that if he could make art, he would. He has an intellectual fascination with Darwinian evolution, time, ancient cultures and the dark areas of our humanity.”

I’m painting an idea not an ideal. Basically I’m trying to paint a structured painting full of controlled, and therefore potent, emotion. Euan Uglow

At MONA you are invited to physically and mentally relax. On the main floor, there is a bar and lots of cool furnitures to lounge about on. My daughter and I are lucky that there was no entrance fee but soon a $20 fee will be required from visitors aside from the fee of the ferry boat. The Os invite you to listen to the commentary and absorb yourself in a private bubble. Nonda Katsalidis’s grand architecture is modest and calming in the exhibition spaces.


(White library by Wilfredo Prieto. White books, shelves, tables and chairs. Born 1978, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba; lives and works in Havana, Cuba, and Barcelona, Spain 2004-6)

“In the interview on The O with Monanism artist Jan Fabre, he says that ““art makes us understand we are unbearable”.
In another context, Australia’s only living Nobel laureate writer, J.M.Coetzee, asks ‘Where does the discontented feeling come from, unique to mankind, that we are not well, and what is it that we desire to be cured of?’ (In ‘Italo Svevo’, Inner Workings: Literary Essays 2000-2005, Knopf: North Sydney, 2007, 1-14)”


(Cunts and other conversations by Greg Taylor and friends. 150 life-size porcelain portrait sculptures of women’s cunts. Born 1959, Bega, NSW, Australia; lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. 2008–9 . A gallery of 150 vaginas from all ages 18 to 78 years old .)

The brilliance of MONA’s sex art is that it brings a wider audience to have this impolite conversation about ourselves, sharing one of the most powerful insights in the history of ideas.

“Walking around MONA, you see $200 million dollars worth of private wealth and it is shocking. How can any mortal accumulate such an obscene fortune? Then you think a little more on it and see the positive side. Can MONA provoke Australia’s winging, polluting mining magnates and other billionaires to do something meaningful with their lives and all that damn money?”

I heard David Walsh was a gambler , very gifted with Math and this made him acquire so much wealth which he used to buy Art pieces.

At the MONA, I am lost in my thoughts, often wondering how artists thinks. Here are just bits and pieces of the rest of MONA.


(SCHATTENSPIEL (SHADOWPLAY) HANS-PETER FELDMAN Trestle tables, turntables, lamps, electric motors, plastic figurines. Born 1941, Düsseldorf, Germany, where he lives and works 2005)


(Fat Car, by Erwin Wurm. Porsche Carrera chassis, body and interior, with polystyrene and fibreglass. Born 1954, Bruck an der Mur, Austria; lives and works in Vienna, Austria 2006)

Painting is so poetic, while sculpture is more logical and scientific and makes you worry about gravity.- Damien Hirst

I’m painting an idea not an ideal. Basically I’m trying to paint a structured painting full of controlled, and therefore potent, emotion. – Euan Uglow

You come to nature with all her theories, and she knocks them all flat. Renoir

Here is a video done by my daughter while I finish the rest of this entry.

Museum of Old and New Art on Vimeo.

I am not much of an art critique so let me give you a Review of David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania from a MONA visitor.

Review of David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania

There is no must in art because art is free. – Wassily Kandinsky

Our Motherland depicted in the “Parisian Life” by Juan Luna

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““Have a sense of pride in your motherland. Just as your mother has given birth to you, so too the land has given birth to you.” Sri Sathya

My friend Leslie Bocobo insisted that I attend the Michael Charleston ““XIAO” B. Chua lecture on ““Ang Pagtuturo ng Kasaysayan gamit ang Parisian life ni Juan Luna” at the Juan Luna Room (History and Destiny) of GSIS Museo ng Sining . I wondered if I would get bored if I attended. He assured me that I would enjoy Xiao lecture. A challenge was driving all the way to the GSIS Museo ng Sining. Despite my initial hesitation, Juan Luna’s painting piqued my curiosity. Controversy hounded this painting as it was purchased with government money to the tune of 46 million pesos. Today, another controversy looms as the painting is now offered for sale and there is an interested foreign buyer willing to buy it at 200 million pesos.

I needed to see this painting before it is taken away from the museum. As I stared at the painting, I wondered what Juan Luna was thinking. Was it really about a Caucasian woman? Knowing his other works like Spoliarium, there was more to this Parisian life painting. Knowing the meaning of the lady is the key to the understanding of the whole image.


MICHAEL CHARLESTON “XIAO” B. CHUA is a professor at the De La Salle Manila and the Vice President of the Philippine Historical Association

There are three interpretations of the lady but I believe the third one is more symbolic and not a mere coincidence, I wrote more about the details over at Blog Watch. In a nutshell. the lady is the mirror image of the Philippine archipelago. Xiao superimposed the Philippine Map image over the lady and I can see the contour of Northern Luzon follows the same contour of the lady’s bodice.

This interpretation contends that the lady is our motherland and if you look at the lady she is “awkwardly poised, disturbed with a blank stare, seemingly unsure whether to stand up or remain seated.” “Parisian Life” began as a tribute to great Filipinos who are on the cusp of a great change, and now a fitting testament to Luna’s genius and artistic merit, his work continues to invoke passion and create history.”

After the lecture, I felt even more pride for our motherland and that we need to value our heritage.

People should not ask the worth of “Parisian Life” but to ask what is our worth as a people to deserve a historically valuable artwork.


Mahalin ang bayan at mga pamana nito tungo sa kaginhawaan ng lahat tulad ng binanggit ni Andres Bonifacio, ““Ampunin ang bayan kung nasa ay lunas pagka’t ginhawa niya ay para sa lahat.”

Daddy and baby moments

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I admire my husband, the father of my three beautiful children.  He loved taking care of our babies whenever he had the time. See, he was a law student for our first two babies. We both shared equal time in taking care of  them.  I share these heartwarming stories to my children about their dad who was very much a part of their development. Wasn’t it just yesterday that he held them in their arms?

It warmed my heart seeing my husband prance around the house with our babies cradled in his arms, rocking them to sleep in a playful, rhythmic fashion, or burping them after milk feeding. I am proud to say that even as first-time dad, he knew how to amuse our babies and, even changing diapers. He could do almost anything moms can do except breastfeeding and taking them a bath. He would have wanted to breast-feed if he could. Daddies are luckier or should I say more blessed these days. The internet is bursting with so much tips on taking care of a child. Sites like Pampers cover every aspect of taking care of babies and stages of their development.  More and more daddies are involved with their children’s development because of the availability of information at the tips of their hands.

Daddies are never left behind when it comes to participation of fun activities. Pampers Philippines Facebook started a trivia month with exciting prizes such as special Daddy-baby prize (photo session) and special toys that strengthen the bond of daddy and baby. I am pretty sure, daddies can do some research at the Pampers website to get the clues for the trivia questions.

Playing trivia is a fun and educational way to know more about our babies, their development and  the importance of family bonding moments. This is not just  about daddies. Learning about child development is for our babies. These are many ways that daddies can become a part of baby’s life.  It was my husband’s idea to read to our babies even if they were just months old.   My children’s lifelong love for reading is because of their dad . His ideas on child development were based   on his childhood memories but new parenting ideas came in with the shift of shared parenting.  Dads learn the essentials of child development not for his stock knowledge but to nurture a healthy child.  It is one reason I ordered child development books abroad because we wanted to learn what was best for our family. Our child’s healthy development depends on our ability to provide a safe and loving environment.  The children with a sound family background and who belong to a family with strong family ties are almost always happier. The importance of family life cannot be denied.

There is so much to explore and learn more with baby. Visit the Pampers Philippines Facebook page now!

This is a sponsored post for Pampers Trivia but all opinions on this entry are entirely my own.

The cat killer convicted for animal cruelty

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Remember the Cat Killer that I wrote on April 17, 2009? Wow, that was two years ago. Instead of sentencing him to six months to two-year jail term as mandated by law, Judge Catherine Manodon ordered Candare to pay a P2,000 fine (46 dollars) for violating the country’s Animal Welfare Act. He will also do volunteer work for Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in the next two to six months. Candare is the first person in the country to be convicted of animal cruelty.

Two years ago , I was beyond horrified that someone could engage in a brutal act. I gasped at his description, I pulled it on its tail and threw it. Then like some pro wrestler I jumped on it and my feet landed on it’s torso. Slam! Felt good!. But as I continued reading, I got more appalled by the comments of the readers as the poster/blogger called for action ““Wanted Dead or Alive”“. Geesh, what kind of call for action is that? You might be a ““Cat Killer Killer”?

Both sides were just so cruel. I believe he needed help and compassion by the agencies concerned not a lynch mob approach.

A parent by the name of Cyn Buhain Baello is appalled at my “compassion” without even reading the context of my article on the Cat Killer

Have compassion for a man like Joseph Carlo Candare? A person like him who kills a cat for no reason other than for his enjoyment? He is a sadistic psychologically disturbed individual! What are you saying here?!? I am appalled at your misdirected “compassion”! For a parent like me I think his parents should teach him this early that such actions will only deteriorate later to physical injury (or murder) directed towards human beings – that’s the first sign that a man is crazy and can kill…even people. To even suggest “compassion” and “understanding” (Nonsense!) on your part means you tolerate these kind of behavior. This guy need jail time and he deserves every minute of it – 6 months to 6 years![/buzz]

My reply to Cyn was this “You are an amazing parent. But I am not you. A parent like me would want the kid to have therapy . Not all parents are like you who can teach their kids the proper way. Yes I suggest compassion and understanding for him to be rehabilitated. What can jail time do huh?”

Was the punishment just? I don’t know how Courts determine the degree of the judgement. There must be a formula or something but one can see Candare did violate the law on animal welfare. He is the first person to be convicted of animal cruelty in the Philippines. Something must have triggered him to enjoy killing the cat. Rendering community work with Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and seeing the psychologist will help him heal.

Tweeters were disappointed that the conviction was light. I think it is light too. It is not grave enough. Community service should have been longer. Some feel a jail time should have been given. Instead of jail time, I was hoping he underwent therapy to treat the underlying cause of his cruelty. The good news here is the court decision will raise awareness to our animal welfare laws .

Be kind to animals.

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