Cathy Domingo: Young, single and happy
Cathy Domingo
Recently passed the Nursing Board Exams
The young and vivacious Cathy is so excited about having passed the nursing board exams — which may be the reason why she’s not worrying too much about being single. Continue Reading →
Gale Garcia shares her practical and realistic views on relationships
Gale Garcia
Call Center Manager
Growing up in the UK and then coming to the Philippines, Gale couldn’t help but notice one difference: the preoccupation bordering on obsession with being in a relationship and getting married. “It’s like that’s the only thing to live for or that it’s the major goal in life”, says the 27 year old call center manager.
Gale’s views may seem too westernized, but Gale insists that this is she is just ‘keepin’ it real’.
Reflecting on past relationships, Gale says, “In the UK, I think it’s more relaxed. Like, you get invited out for a date and if you guys like each other then that’s it. I kind of like the simplicity of that. Here, courtship is a big thing. I’ve been in and out of relationships; dated guys from other countries, young and older than me.”
Now single for the last couple of months, Gale says that it always takes some time to get used to being your own better half. “there are definitely things you can do to cultivate a more positive attitude. For a start you can accept that: Happiness is a choice.”
One thing that remains similar in both the Philippines and the UK is that more women are havein gmore sex now and Gale says there is no more need to remain chaste.
“So casual sex has become as common as having coffee with a buddy in the big city. Think about it; let’s say (for argument’s sake) a woman saves herself until she’s about 25 years of age. Then she sleeps with a man. They break up after a few months. Then she meets another man and after a couple of months, she sleeps with him. Then they break up. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
“If this woman dates 3 men a year, she’ll have slept with 15 men by the time she’s 30. So even if a woman isn’t having casual sex, but is dating a man seriously and things simply “don’t work out,” she’s left single and with another notch on her bedpost simply through the fate she mapped out for herself.”
This to Gale is the reality and in the context that safer sex should be talked about.
“Safer sex is feeling safe enough to stay or safe enough to leave at any moment. Safer sex is caring about yourself so much that no one can make you do anything that you are not 100% comfortable doing. And safer sex is about knowing yourself so well that you can represent your needs at all times in all situations so that you don’t put yourself in a situation of risk.”
“There is always a need for it and it should be non-negotiable. It’s not even a guy’s responsibility anymore (for example to carry a condom), make it your responsibility too.”
Alex: The Un-Bride
Alexandrea C. Rodriguez
Brand Manager, Team Manila
Unlike most girls, Alex Rodriguez didn’t grow up fantasizing about wearing a wedding gown someday. Alex shares how wearing the white dress — albeit for a shoot — felt. Continue Reading →
Of all the dresses that a woman will own in her lifetime, perhaps no other dress will capture her fascination, longing and aspiration as that of a wedding gown.
The relationship a girl has with the white dress starts even as a little girl when she dons pillow sheets and pretends it is a veil as she practices walking down the aisle.But as the women in the Single Ladies! (yes, exclamation point!) will tell you, the relationship you have with yourself, rather than the fabled white dress, is the key to happiness.
Pam Perlas: Sales Associate for high-end luxury cars
“That comes with a 2 liter engine and is the top of the line model for that class”, Pam Perlas said, talking into her mobile phone.
Those aren’t words that you hear coming from a woman everyday, but as a sales associate for high end cars, that conversation just about summarizes what a typical day is like for Pam.
All throughout the shoot, Pam was taking calls on her cellphone and checking her notes that she had on the various models. “We just put out an ad”, she said, explaining the interruptions.
While waiting for her turn to be photographed, Pam was on her headphones listening to hip-hop, and occasionally singing out loud and dancing to the beat. Pam is not a girl to be caught waiting around doing nothing — even when it comes to being single.
“I have a ton of guy friends, but I’ve been single almost my entire life. The first and last relationship I had was 3 years ago. I was 19 when I had my first boyfriend and it all happened over one summer.”, says the 21 year old is unfazed by this fact.
Keeping herself entertained in between takes. (Headphones model's own)
“I just graduated from college, and honestly, I’m just too damn excited to find out what’s in store for me in the real world. I’ve got my own flat and drive my own car.”, says Pam who says that she was raised not to be dependent on a man.
“My parents separated when I was really young and my mom raised me and my siblings all by herself.”, she shares, with obvious admiration in her voice.
But Pam admits that she is not spared from the usual questioning. ”I do get asked a lot why I don’t have a boyfriend. I feel like the more they ask me why I don’t have one [a boyfriend], the more it makes me want to prove to them that I am happy being single.”
Ever the practical, logical sensible girl, Pam intimates, “I do go out on dates, but if I’m not sexually attracted to the guy, I don’t see myself dating him. Unfortunately, I don’t find attraction that much, hence, the single life! It comes in handy when I meet guys that I know are only after sex, I don’t allow it to happen.”
“There is always room for a wider awareness about safe sex and sexual health. It only takes one infected person to do the job. Next thing you know, you fear for your own health. If you want to have sex, at least be responsible and use protection – it’s always better to be careful now than be sorry later.”, concludes Pam.
February 15 is Singles Awareness Day.Yes, there is such a day. According to Wikipedia, it was concocted by singles in response to the marketing hype of Valentine’s Day.
If there’s a day to celebrate being in a relationship, then there should also be a day devoted to celebrating being single, the inventors of this occasion, pragmatically thought. Thus, the birth of Singles Awareness Day on February 15; a day which is usually celebrated with the greeting, “Happy SAD!”
Five young single ladies got together to celebrate their own version of Happy SAD by fearlessly donning a wedding gown jazzed up to the match their own personalities. With honesty and candor, the ladies also shared their views on being single and the need for women to have knowledge on sexual reproductive health.
The first of these these ladies, Miki Kierulf, will tell you why being single can be pretty fabulous, any day of the year.
Miki Kierfulf, 32
Hairstylist/Make-up Artist
I’ve been a single mom for so long, and I must say that, being a single mom not being married does not make me less of a person. I’m still the same me. I need not be in a relationship to be happy. I’m happy being with my son, not worrying about what I can and can’t do. So I’m fine with it [being single]. If someone comes along, then we will see.
To be honest with you, I still have dreams of getting married one day… of being a princess… to walk down the aisle wearing a very beautiful gown. And well sometimes, yes, I have the tendency to look at the mirror and tell myself, “Ewww, you’re getting older and you’re still not married?”. [laughs]
But, it never changed my point of view. Getting married is indeed a lot of sacrifices, commitments, so many changes. I always ask myself if I’m ready for all those. Well, for now, I don’t think I am…not yet.
Being a single mom made me a better and stronger person. It made me realize that I can do things even if I’m on my own. I’m already a grown woman, so it helped me become more responsible in life. It made me see how lucky i am to have an adorable son… if that ‘someone’ does not come along, I’m ok with it. If I’ll get married, I’ll make sure that he is the one. I don’t wanna get married just because.
And anyway, I can get married even when I reach 60 or so. Age is just a number, but as I matured and got older, I realized that sex is something you share with someone you really love. What is the point of sleeping with someone who doesn’t mean everything to you?
As for information on safe sex, even if we think we know a lot already, there’s no harm in learning more. We should always be aware of how we can best protect ourselves.
http://www.herword.com/herrights/main.php?id=singles day
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