FFF Divas Activism: Approve Ref 71 in Washington

A video created by my friend Sean Chapin about Ref 71: "Approve Referendum 71 to preserve domestic partnership rights in the state of Washington." Thanks Sean for the opportunity participate in this PSA to help spread the word!

"Some things in life don't make sense Voting on domestic partnership rights based on marriage beliefs also don't make sense. Put some sense back in our government. Approve referendum 71."

Lolo Eleodoro 'Doring' Gange: My Grandfather on Balitang America

My grandfather's biography:
Eleodoro M. Gange of San Jose CA, a retired clerk/statistician and volunteer firefighter at the Agnews Developmental Center was one of the interviewees of Balitang America's Henni Espinosa in featuring a segment on planned cutbacks on the benefits of the pension system by the State of California. Lolo Doring is appreciative and very happy with his State Retirement Plan especially now that he is in the twilight of his life and is experiencing some medical problems that normally goes along with the aging process. The planned State pension cutbacks which is causing worry to current state employees was aired on ABS-CBN's TFC on 19 August 2009.

I am very happy for my grandfather and his opportunity to share his story and concerns about the possible pension cuts. My Lolo Doring is one of my heroes, however I am frustrated about other things surrounding it. At this point I will just take my negative energy and toss it into the universe.

FFF Diva Activity: "Pinball Wizard" FLASH MOB in San Francisco 2009

The Fierce Fat Filipinas are back at it again! My sister and fellow FFF Diva participated with me and two of our friends in a FLASH MOB in San Francisco. SF is doing a production of the musical TOMMY in the fall (www.TOMMYSF.com) and this performance in the middle of Union Square was for promotion of it. This video is by the Press Democrat.



Another flash mob video by Wolfgang's Vault. You can hear Leilani laughing & at the end of the video you can hear me ask a friend if he wants fro-yo.

BOTTOMLINE: You don't need your size to stop or prevent you from dancing your heart out. However, if you focus on your health dancing will be a lot more fun...trust me. I dance to melt the pounds away AND because I want to be better at it. Not just "Dancing with the Stars" good, just "Maureen I am happy because I am healthy and I CAN shake it" good.

A Fierce Fat Filipina Diva Review: Drop Dead Diva

Pilot (Episode 1) | myLifetime.com

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Episode 1: Summary

Season 1: Episode 1. Airs: 07/12/09. Watch the premiere episode of "Drop Dead Diva." When beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb has a fatal car accident, she suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven's gatekeeper, Fred, who declares her a self-centered "zero." Outraged, she attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum. A brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant, Teri, Jane has always lived in the shadow of her more comely colleagues whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. Now, by a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane's plus-size frame in the ultimate showdown between brains and beauty.

A Fierce Fat Filipina Diva's Review: I love it. Not just because Margaret Cho plays the executive assistant of the main character Jane (well partially). All my life growing up I turned to television to help me feel happy, test my emotions, fill my head with knowledge, but deep down inside selfishly I was analyzing television to see if they would reflect something that represented me.

First case in point: Margaret Cho's early 1990's first all Asian-American television show called "All American Girl." It was the first show of it's kind to showcase the humor, frustration, & pain at times that Asian-Americans go through, however American television audiences were not ready for something like that. Therefore, it lasted only 1 season on ABC, but is now available on DVD!

Second case in point: MTV's (excuse me, RANDY JACKSON's) "America's Next Best Dance Crew." It was the first show to really highlight a known stereotypical fact: FILIPINOS can dance. There were several regions represented on that show from all over the nation and YET they managed to find dance crews even in the MIDWEST that had at least one Filipino. Hate to say it, but it help but Filipino-Americans on the map as natual born dancers...however don't let me forget Charice Pampengko...she reminded the WORLD that Filipinos can SING. However, that is another blog, another story.

So what about Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva"? How do I relate to it? Well, because I am fat, young, a professional, & want something more out of life. This show relates to me on many personal levels, mainly because I too shop at Lane Bryant, want to fight for injustice in the world, & love good lawyerly talk (hell I was a Political Science major). But most of all this show from it's storylines, actors/actresses, jokes, cases, etc. really let's audience members help feel at least for a second what it is like to be different (not just fat or be a woman in a man's world, etc.) in a world that tells you you need to be a certain way to be noticed and appreciated in this society. This show highlights that negativity in society, but also reminds us in the best way possible the importance of loving yourself for who you are (50lbs more or not).

So what now? Yes, I know I am on a health kick. I know I participate in a 6am cardio boot camp Monday-Friday. I know I am training for a 1/2 marathon, which is on OCTOBER 4th (8 weeks left). I know for my height of 5'2'' I am suggested to be 125lbs-140lbs, but in reality I am closer to 270lbs currently. I exercise everyday not because someone tells me I am fat or ugly (although I do get many comments from different strangers & relatives who are think they are helping, but are not), but because I used to weigh 320lbs & was a size 28. I used to have Sleep Apnea that required me to use a machine to breathe at night while I slept, because I was too fat and prevented me from breathing. This past November 2008 I weighed 224lbs. Today I am closer to 270lbs. What happened? Life happened. However, I am NOT going to let lame excuses prevent me from my goal weight.

I might be fat, but I am mighty. I might be fat, but I am proud. I might be fat, but I am confident I will succeed. I might be fat, but this is the first time in a year that I am sincerely and genuinely happy with who I am & what I look like. I am FIERCE. Exercise and a healthy lifestyle change will help me look like the "after" I have been chasing for not the "before" but it will be on my terms and on my realistic and healthy timeline. The best part of it all...I am not doing stupid liposuction or lap band surgery. I am doing it with healthy eating & exercise.

Fellow Fierce Fat Filipina Diva,
Mo : )