Your Fake Designer Bags Make Me Sick!

Don't you just hate it when people brag about their imitation purses thinking that they can fool you into believing that it's the real thing. I mean, come on people you might fool some people sometimes but you can't possibly fool everybody all the time. My advice to you, especially in this country where most are in-the-know, keep your fake bags at home well hidden in your closets 'coz people could tell the difference they're just polite enough not to blurt it out in your face. I don't get it why some of you out there would patronize counterfeit merchandise.What kind of twisted satisfaction do you get from it? Is it because you want to get attention from others , you want people to think you can afford it or that you wanna be considered part of the "in" crowd. Whatever your purpose is or whatever positive impression you expect to elicit from others, your means absolutely doesn't justify the end and it is also very pathetic. Do you feel elated and proud when people stare at your bag or talk about it, even if you know within yourself that you're carrying a fake one? If that's what you're after for buying replica purses, then you are totally sick. Deep inside you might be smiling and congratulating yourself because you seem to be getting away with it without people knowing, but in the process you're also letting the little devil inside you win. Just think of it this way, you are lying for the whole time that those bags are with you especially when you're trying to pass them as authentic ones. Let's say you went to the mall carrying your fake purse, your head up-high, enjoying the looks your imitation bag is getting, and going on with your act for hours.Doesn't that simply equate to lying for those hours, and that doesn't even count how many people you've "lied" to during that time. What's even worse are those folks who bring their knock-offs to church..tsk..tsk..tsk... . That's just when trying to fool total strangers, how about when some of you out there have even the audacity to lie and deceive your own friends with your phony designer purses? Well some kind of friend you are huh?!It's one thing when people buy imitations because they're totally unaware of such things as designer brands or authenticity.... sometimes ignorance is bliss . But for those of you who knows better..SHAME ON YOU !!!!And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

So you'll then say, not everybody can afford the real one right? But that's not an excuse to buy counterfeits. I personally, would rather carry a never-heard or no-name purse rather than be caught dead having a fake one. My conscience wouldn't simply put up with it. Sure I've heard of several places where one can purchase really very good imitations of designers purses for a very small fraction of the cost one pays for the authentic ones. Tempting yes but then again, as what people around me know by now, I would never brandish another person's suffering on my shoulders..or arm. What do I mean by that? Well replica bags are counterfeits right? These are categorically contrabands, they're illegal and are manufactured illegally. Your fake bags are made in well-hidden sweatshops by abused workers who labor for long hours in horrible working conditions, and to top it, some of them are minors. These illegal activities are found to be related to syndicates, international crime and terrorist funding. Need I say more? Just a simple FAKE bag to you but the implications are wide and worse than you can imagine. Remember, It's just like how that endangered-animals advocacy message goes "When the buying stops, the killings will too". Let the change start from you. If this still doesn't convince you to refrain from buying those awful fake designer purses I don't know what will. I just hope to God I don't see you carrying those illegal replicas out in the open or even hear you bragging about it. You know who you are and I know some of you too.

This Thing Called "Lymphoma"

So what exactly is Lymphoma you may ask. I've never heard of this until last year, when we found out that the unassumingly harmless bump on my mom's armpit is actually a tumor. Categorically, lymphoma is a cancer of the blood.Or of the white blood cell to be exact.

Here's more on the matter form lymphoma.about.com:

Lymphoma is a cancer of lymph cells. Lymph cells (also called lymphocytes) are a type of blood cells that are known as white blood cells (WBCs). Lymph cells are found in blood and lymph nodes. In lymphoma, some lymph cells become abnormal, start multiplying quickly, and grow to form a cancer.

Cancer cells in lymphoma mainly gather in lymph nodes -- small structures present along blood vessels. As the cancer cells grow and multiply, the lymph nodes enlarge and form lumps. Most of the time, this cancer is detected as painless lumps in the neck, armpits or groin. Several other warning signs and symptoms of lymphoma include fever, weight loss and sweating at night. Lymphoma can also affect other organs of the body (besides lymph nodes) and give rise to a variety of symptoms that bring an individual to a doctor...........

.....Not much is known about the cause of lymphoma. Though some viral infections are known to cause this cancer, in most individuals, the reason for getting a lymphoma is unclear.

A more thorough explanation of Lymphoma can be found in here.

So lymphoma is a cancer but we never addressed my mom's illness as such. We just called it lymphoma not because we don't to seriously take the gravity of it. But we are more concerned on the sensitivity of using the word. We just want to avoid the alarming heaviness that the word cancer may bring to the situation. As they say "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". Despite the sadness we find comfort.For our adversity has made us stronger... together... as a family.After all, this is not our burden but more so a test.

Please Send a Prayer of Healing for My Mama

My mom is in the hospital again. For more than a year now she's been battling with Lymphoma. After 9 consecutive sessions of chemotherapy and a radiation therapy last month the tumors still persist. Even worse she can barely move, nor eat or even sleep due to the tremendous pain brought about by the side effects of the radiation. They had to confine her to the hospital since monday for the pain and swelling in her arm and shoulder. I really don't know how bad it is since I can't be there beside her in this ordeal. But every time I remember Papa's texts, on how he would silently cry as he witnesses my mom's agony. And how my brother said that days before she was confined she would frequently scream in pain. Now, you must know my mama is very tolerant to pain. Having brought us four to this world just by the aid of a komadrona, physical pain is nothing new to her. I've seen her accidentally cut her finger with a knife and spill boiling oil over her hand. But not once did I ever hear her complain or shed a tear in pain over such things.
For almost a week now I haven't been sleeping well. Images of mama in the hospital bed keep me awake until 4 to 5 o'clock in the morning. I have puffy eyes from lack of sleep and crying. Somehow these past few days everything reminds me of mama and I suddenly turn into a cry baby. When I prepare our meals I remember how mama used to cook for us. When I see the pile of clothes I have to iron I remember how she managed to do weeks worth of clothes in one sitting. Even in trying to entertain myself by watching the news and my fave teleseryes remind me of my mom (esp. with the news of Cory's cancer). Sometimes eating even makes me feel bad and guilty knowing that mama has not eaten a decent meal for a long period of time.
I hate to be melodramatic but I just feel so helpless not being there with her. Not being able to comfort her or just cook something for her. It hurts me for being so far away in a time like this, knowing that what I feel is nothing compared to her pain.