from Rita That is Joey de Leon, an all around celebrity in the Philippines. He’s been in our televisions for AGES now. My parents still reminisce about his films, still listen to his CDs (ranging from 1960s disco to tongue-and-cheek novelty – we’ll talk about the blatant sexism in that some other time). He’s best known for being one of the many (and I do mean many) hosts of the noon-time variety/game show Eat Bulaga! and though I am not a fan of his work (or his dubious history about how he treats women), I can say he makes loads of Filipinos laugh. His work is escapism from poverty (in the case of many in my country) and loneliness (in the case of many Filipino overseas workers). They look up to him, idolise him, almost think of him as part of the family due to his omnipresence in our lives. So this morning, when I read his remarks on depression and mental illness, I didn’t just think they were disappointing or insensitive. I thought they were dangerous. You can read a transcript here, complete with English translations, but here's the highlight: Depression is just something made up by people. They do it to themselves.
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from Kirstyn
I was recently asked to speak at Magfest about Marbles, why I started the magazine, and what I wanted to achieve with it. When I stopped feeling like I was going to be sick every time I thought about speaking in front of magazine luminaries, I had a good think and realised there was one particular reason I started it – a conversation I had earlier in the year. It really got things going and sparked in me an ethos I hope I can always have with me. Because everything is hectic and frantic and other words ending with ‘-ic’ right now, my blog today is my Magfest speech, explaining why I started Marbles and why I think it’s important. from Rita
Half blog, half TV recap, today I'm going to talk to you about the greatest plotline that ever existed in comedy TV. You know what I'm talking about...
from Kirstyn
I’ve been thinking a lot, recently, about the acceptable face of mental illness. This began last year when Sinead O’Connor’s mental ill health was splashed all over the news. It was the beginning, ironically, of Mental Health Awareness Week, when the news broke that O’Connor had gone missing after posting a troubling message on Facebook that led many to think she was in danger of taking her own life. |
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