for crying out loud

okay. hear me out.

for once, i think i've got a great idea.

see, in the philippines, women are expected to select. men collect relationships: the girl they just bed, the girl for display, the girl they bring home to mom, the girl they take out to gimmicks, the girl they talk to in dark secluded places simply because their girlfriends are phony barbie dolls but they can't bear to be seen with the funny, interesting, witty girl who just happens to look a wee bit like jessica zafra. women can't have that. in a country where the bastard daughter of a priest happens to be the epitome of beauty, grace, and everything that a man should want in a woman, girls are taught early on about how lovely it would be if you were to marry your first boyfriend.

some are lucky to meet "the one" so soon.

others, like me, aren't so lucky.

and so while the question of why you don't have a husband yet is quite irritating, it is equally irritating if people note that you've changed boyfriends for the nth time. they raise eyebrows, squint their eyes at you, and shake their heads in disbelief.

sometimes, you can even see a word flash before their eyes.

w-h-o-r-e.

and so we learn to lie, hide relationships, or pretend some men never really exactly happened in our lives.

and in true catholic fashion, feel guilty about it. very guilty.

now, being one of those women who has had several relationships, good and bad, in her past.

Sigh! but who are you to judge us, right? Right!