Early this week, I was deep in despair. I posted “Did not anticipate how painful it’d feel to be a Very Online Person as everyone else gets vaccinated while we Filipinos are left to die” and it resonated with so many of my friends. It sucks. I don’t begrudge my friends abroad their relief, and I feel happy for them. But I remain enormously depressed, anxious, and angry for us. When will this end? What can we do?
It doesn’t help that time has been feeling so very Jeremy Bearimy. It was a very long three-day work week; the succeeding four-day holiday, in comparison, feels so short. Yesterday I had the sudden realization that I’ve been regularly publishing this newsletter for the past seven (!) months. That took me by surprise. Aia said it very well in her newsletter this week: “Here's to today, tomorrow, and yesterday. I look forward to the time when they won't all be the same anymore.”
Anyway, I thought I should be doing more to protect the name of this newsletter, so I claimed the corresponding Instagram handle, @pinkyslinkies. Then I got excited about having a place to archive the stuff I talk about here on the modest platform that I have. I really think that having something to be excited about, in the midst of all this desolation, is critical to sanity. I need to start building my social media muscles in a more structured manner (for work) so this will be good practice for me.
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Adding another candle recommendation to the list - my friend Chris hyped up the Barton Cottage candle by Paper Burn so much by saying “amoy boyfriend” that I just had to try it. Well, she was right!
Currently…
Celebrating Easter with our first-ever Zoom with cousins and titos titas for a baby shower for Ate Karla. I have to applaud Ate Sheila for organizing delivery of a cupcake decorating kit to every household in Sydney, Jakarta, Manila, and London! Queen of inter-continental Zoom parties!
Feeling thankful that my asshole brain, after keeping me up all night, made it up to me with a dream that after a BTS concert, Taehyung sat down beside me, held my hand, and draped my legs over his while saying “I like your warmth.” It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with such bad insomnia but at least I woke up feeling very good.
Streaming BTS’ new Japanese song Film Out. It’s on the soundtrack of the upcoming Japanese movie Signal, based on the K-drama of the same name. The song is about grief and longing, and the music video is so beautiful.
Loving the new BTS episode that just dropped - behind the scenes of their week on Jimmy Fallon. I was already ARMY when BTS Week on Fallon happened, and it was a joy every single day to discover yet another great BTS performance. I am so happy they posted this behind the scenes episode today. PRODUCTION VALUE! + the hard work of everyone on their crew as well!
Drinking kombucha (Teazen brand from Korea, recommended by Jungkook lol) during the day and fennel water (recommended by Hitha Palepu, one of my smartest and most favorite influencers) before sleeping. I want to see if the fennel water will address some bloating issues. I’ve got the whole family into this now. Haha!
Listening to the podcast series “Every Single Album: Taylor Swift” (on the Ringer Dish) in preparation for the re-release of Fearless. My Swiftie heart is very happy.
Watching this heartwarming video interview by trans advocate and beauty queen Mela Habijan with children. I loved every second of it. Proud to know you, Mela!
Longreads…
Hybe: Breaking down K-pop giant’s aggressive expansion -- Yim Hyun-su, Korea Herald.
Variety mistagged this as a “merger” but it’s a 100% acquisition. HYBE bought Ithaca Holdings. It’s a huge boss move. Personally I’m not pleased about the association with Scooter, but I trust Bang PD more than I distrust Scooter.
BTS Makes a Powerful Call To Fight Anti-Asian Racism: 'We will stand together' -- Anna Grace Lee, Esquire.
"Yet again, BTS raises the bar for what it means to be an international musical and pop cultural force for good—showing that if anyone deserves such astronomical fame and all the responsibility that comes with it, it's them. This statement is more than a few poignant words on social media; it's a powerful call to action from the biggest band in the world, whose legions of fans have proven their capacity to enact real change many times over."
This Dad Shared The Moment He Realized The Over-Sexualization Of His Daughter Started, And It's A Sad Truth -- Krista Torres, BuzzFeed.
"The most disturbing observation I’ve made is that it’s very easy to find clothes for girls that are revealing, and that’s not true for boys clothes. I don’t believe this is an accident. From the moment they’re very little, this is just one way society reinforces the toxic mindset that female bodies are intended to be displayed, and it conditions young girls to think objectification is normal."
Catching Up With NYC’s “Vaccine Daddy” -- Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, The Cut.
"His post-vaccination fantasy is the same as mine: ‘Go to a random house party, crack open a beer, and stand around talking to my two friends the entire night.’"
Feel free to share this newsletter, it’s open to the public. I always get excited any time people engage with me about things that I post, so please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts. Unless it’s mean or mansplainy: in that case, no thank you. <3 If this is your first time reading this, you can subscribe via the button below and then the next issues will land in your inbox.
Yours from afar,
Pinky