Warm Reception for My PDI Article

Lou from the United Kingdom

"Hi Thad, I read your article in the Inquirer today... Just to let you know of two things. First, it brought tears to my eyes. I identified with your parents - how they sacrificed a lot. Luckily for them, you and your brothers did good with your studies. I am unlucky in that sense. After years of working here in the UK as a nurse my financial support to send my nephews and nieces to school was all for naught. Anyway, secondly, I like your writing style. The whole article was written in short, simple yet concise sentences - I thought Ernest Hemingway wrote in the same fashion. You write with restrain and come across beautifully. And you end your story very well - you brought me as your reader to the opening of your article. I think they call it "circularity". Lovely. Thank you very much.

Teacher Alon from Batangas

I just wanted to say that I like your column in Young Blood published today in the Inquirer. I am a hardcore fan of Young Blood and I was deeply touched by your writings. Your story is so inspiring that I am planning to share it to my high school students... I hope u can write more articles next time when you're not busy.

God bless you and may you find the happiness you deserve.

J. from Manila, GMA Network researcher and writer

"I realized a lot of things because of your 'Katas ng Saudi'. More power."


Asel

It's been my habit to read PDI during the night. I find it hard to read it in the morning for my job's a priority. It is during the night that I am home alone hence, I'm at peace and focused... Well, in reading. I happened to read this last night and I couldn't help but cry.

"As I touched the urn holding her ashes, I suddenly remembered the day she held me in her arms while we were on a boat bound for Manila." - your closing piece made my heart bleed. Kudos and more power.


Franz

A story that younger generation ought to have read...


Andrey from Carigara

Hi Thad.. I am completely enthralled by the very emotion you felt as you write your beautiful story.. I salute you for being who you are now despite the many tragic events in your life, the lost chance to spend with your family while growing up and the many subsequent difficulties you went thru while living your life alone, while your parents work away from you. I am currently here in SAUDI, I know the feelings of not being there with my family on special occasions.. I know the feelings of not being able to produce a considerable amount of money which I may use to finance a small business for me to just stay there with them. I know the feelings that is why I feel for you..

All I can say is congratulations because, unlike most of the children of OFWs, you made yourself the best person you can be, and you are the best..

You have a gift Thad, you are a storyteller.. you have captured us with the story to gave us, YOUR story...Congrats and God Bless you.


Joseph

Thad, your life story is very touching. I do agree with you that migration abroad leaves the family separated and the growing children missed the tender loving care of the parents who just wanted to earn better living for the children they left behind. In your case, you were left behind and never was able to rejoin your family when they migrated to USA, I would surmise because you were not eligible anymore due to your age then. Your parents maybe called "modern heroes" by the government, but the honest truth is they were the role model of your life. Good luck to you and may you find success here in the Philippines. I was also a Filipino and now a citizen of an adopted country (North America), just like your parents, it has also been my dream to give my children the best of life that evaded me while in the Philippines, unfortunately I left a son in the Philippines and because when I migrated here 17 years ago he was already inelligible (by age) to join us and until now he is denied visa even to visit us because the embassy suspect that he might stay and work here. The embassy too adds to the woes of families to be together.


nicktorre

Very eloquent. You will be a very good asset to the medical profession not only as a doctor but as a spokesman on how to value family. I am a cop working here in the Philippines, but most often I am also away from home because work brings me everywhere. Your piece made me revisit the basics. Well, I had done the first step: This summer, I asked my wife and kids to stay with me in my place of assignment! This gave us more bonding time and for the kids to have a break from breathing the polluted air of Metro Manila.


pinayeconomist

To Thaddeus - my heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Your story was poignant, but you write beautifully. I hope that your story would help our people understand that overseas work/diaspora is not the answer as the personal/social costs greatly outweighs the short-term economic benefits.


Bob

Straight from the heart... Very touching I am also working here abroad and as a father I clearly understand the feeling of a son longing for there parents who are always away. Thaddeus the feeling is mutual when your mom and dad was away you and your brother is there inspiration while working abroad. SACRIFICE..is the penultimate thing for any Filipinos working abroad.. always remember the sacrifices your mother and father this is for your future not for themselves...


Marmon from Penang

Hello Thad,

I really searched your name in Google just to find a way to communicate with you. I've just read your "piece" in Youngblood column in Philippine Daily Inquirer. I can say, I really like it! It is the same piece that I had been proclaiming to my friends who are married and intends to work outside the Philippines.


doc_roy from Pinoy MD

You write like F. Sionil Jose, keep it up.

Blog Review by Rocky of The Geeky Guide to Nearly Everything

This is an exerpt from the article. Click on this link to see the entire post on Rocky's blog.

"My general rule of waiting for a blog to hit three months of consistent posting tends to limit what can be reviewed on Pinoy Gay Blogs, mainly because many of the blogs are fairly young. It's great that the site seems to inspire members of the LGBT group to "pick up the pen" as it were to start blogging, I try to feature blogs that appear to be ready to go the long haul in the blogosphere. I'm not always right, but I try.I've been watching this particular blog for a while and while technically "new" based on the aforementioned standards, in less than three months he's generated more posts than most around here - a significant feat in itself. So as he has crossed the three-month mark, let's celebrate the writing behind The Emancipation of Thadie.

The Emancipation of Thadie may not seem much at first glance, depending on the latest entry. Just looking at the screenshot above, you might not see much to draw your attention - it's a sea of white, few images of interest and a whole lot of text. Then again, perhaps that's the point.

As diverse as the blogging medium is these days, at its core it's still all about writing. Videos, images and all these other things support and help enhance the words we choose to post but still at the core of the blogging experience is writing. This blog is a prime example of great writing, something a friend of mine would call performance writing at its best.

I think what strikes one most about this blog is the honesty behind it - the tone is amazingly candid and Thad Hinunangan has chosen to free himself of inhibitions by being very honest in his writing. In fact, he chose to create this blog to help him come out of the closet - you can't get more honest than that.."

Blog Review by BeratemyBlog

Graphics -- Nudity seems an absolute in any presentation by gays. Could be the testosterone reacting to repression, because straight guys aren't this obsessive. Well, if a blog expresses you, express.

Content -- He's in the season of life for kalandian, but here and there are flashes of intellect and the fact that he didn't go to diploma mill schools. Hey, he reads Neruda!

Style -- Effusive as gays come, but honest. We'll say this for Thadie, he has a raw talent for narrative and seeing drama in everyday events. Mass communication could be in his future, with some ironing out of rough edges.

Recommend -- Less layout clutter, please.

Overall rating -- 8.5

Emancipation From The Viewpoint of a Woman

Let us hear what a woman has to say after reading The Emancipation of Thadie. (I have been begging for feedback from straight people.)

A soapbox of sudsy thoughts, interesting and eye-catching bylines, and well written piece of work by someone who calls himself as “PHOENIX”.

This guy (or gal) is hilarious! It is quite obvious from his daily entries that this guy’s got talent. He knows how to play with words with the way he expresses himself through his writings. I always try to stay updated with what he writes in his blog. I can tell you, it can be addictive. It can either be a feature on ANTM or PNTM, pics and commentaries on hot guys, a walk down his memory lane, fashion tips and dating tips, or just ramblings of a weary mind.So what’s my most favorite entry so far?

“5 Common Misconceptions About Gay People – and allow me to clear it up For You” is my most favorite. Why, you ask? Let’s face it people are still narrow-minded when it comes to this aspect. To quote Phoenix, “SEXUAL ORIENTATION SHOULD NEVER BE AN ISSUE, as much as race, gender, and social status. These should never be basis for discrimination.” Bottom line? We are all human beings and we all feel. So why be judgmental? Why worry and bitch about somebody else’s sexual orientation or religious preferences when there’s more to life than that? There’s poverty, there’s war, and there’s politics. Whoa! I’m getting off the trail here…
Anyways, keep reading this blog. I know there is more to come and a whole lot of surprises just around the corner.

- RJS