women & girls worldwide

March is Women's History Month and 2024 commemorates 104 years of the struggle for women's rights. Celebrating the political, social, economic and cultural achievements of women throughout history. 

A focal point this 2024 of the movement for women's rights is "gender equality and empowerment." This women's movement that advocates and champions reforms on women's issues created by inequality. Addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing for women and girls worldwide. 

notable women - Joan of Arc, Virginia Woolf, Cleopatra, Ada King Lovelace, Jackie O, Indira Gandhi

Every woman has a story to tell and gifts to share with the world. I recently celebrated our golden at my alma matter homecoming. Bringing home a central theme here at Change Warrior - the celebration of magnificent women of all ages.

possibilities & probabilities - perseverance & persistence

Potential does not come to fruition in barren territory - even at the price of blood, sweat and tears. It is what differentiates the quitters from those who eventually succeed.
Every fellow Filipino and freedom fighter accepts this in their core being. All throughout recorded history it has been the rough road our countrymen are tested with every day.
Even the best among us have to cushion ourselves and take succor from the horror and beating meted year in and year out.

multi-generational trauma of the Philippines

A people known for their spirit of warmth and hospitality whose life force slowly leaks away in a country of parasitic politicians of few exceptions.
Much is wasted to expend scarce resources and ill-gotten wealth on keeping the masses fat dumb and happy on short term extravaganzas and fiestas.

gender identity

The world can blame its colonizing empires for anti-homosexuality laws throughout colonies, particularly in the 19th century when the British Empire was at its peak. As of 2018, more than half of the 71 countries that criminalized homosexuality were former British colonies or protectorates. 

Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints

The decolonization of how gender and sex have been constructed by Western philosophy and forced upon cultures around the world is essential to the safety of our trans relatives. 

July 4th | creature comforts

On the wonder |wander |world blog my daughter Mahala and I collaborate on, we wonder what Fourth of July celebrations would look like this year.

George Washington, Mount Rushmore, Black Hills - Scott Olson/Getty Images

As the [dis]United States of America gear up for Independence Day celebrations this weekend, we wonder what in the world we are offering as well wishers on this occasion.

hopeful or hopeless? our choice

If life is a mirror what do we see when we stand in front of it? How many heart breaks can attack us before we collapse or give up? 

In stark contrast the world spins on - nature restored and glorious while humanity flails around in constant chaos of our own doing and device. 

As if this pandemic were not life threatening enough. Nationwide the disUnited States of America have imposed citywide curfews in an effort to dissuade demonstrations and looting. 

Police and even the National Guard have been deployed to monitor the protests, though in some cases has resulted in violent confrontation between law enforcement and civilians.

City Mayors and governors are in conflict with presidential and federal directives that tender no help and only aggravate their already beleaguered states. 

Now more than ever apathy and cynicism need to be stomped out. This is not a time to be silent or submit. Rise up and uplift whoever and whatever need our assistance and assurance. 

Time to take matters in hand and hold accountable those responsible. Injustice and inequality must end at all costs. Historic mistakes cannot be allowed to repeat - period.

It ends here today. Time to get on to better things in our lives. We have to be better. 

NYC Pride Fest

June marks Pride Month which celebrates everyone in the LGBTQ community. The month also honors the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Otherwise known as the Stonewall Uprising, which saw members of the LGBTQ community fight back against harassment from the police in Greenwich Village in June 1969. 

Stonewall is still unfolding today. The year leading up to its 50th anniversary has served a constant flow of corrections, retellings, and contradictions amid a general fumbling toward the many truths of what happened in 1969 and what it signifies to us now. 

PRIDE image by Golden Cosmos

In New York City we come together in this spirit, remembering to fight for liberation, dignity, self, and communal determination.

We remember and we resist!

*We have chosen to use the phrase Queer as an umbrella category to represent the wide span of sexual and gender minorities and outlaws who have historically and currently been oppressed.

“Queer” signals for us a political stance of rebellion and a demand for liberation more-so than simply an identity category. We are trans, bisexual, lesbian, gay, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals and communities.