I hope you're not expecting a normal review because this isn't one. This is my point of view.
PART
I – Introduction… to me
It
was a typical midnight for me, alternating between working on my
translations… while also nosing around Facebook and playing online
games… just doing my stuff…
(Ok, fine, to be perfectly honest, I
was also pigging out with my midnight snack, stuffing my face with a
Lindt Milk Chocolate Bar with almonds…)
All of a sudden, a message came in.
May
14, 12:55 a.m.
From:
Margarita Demetria Cojuangco
“Hi
: ) Simona gave me your number. I wanted to know kung available ka to
meet? I would like to show you my project and need your help! Thank
youuuuu Mai : )”
In
my chocolate-muddled mind, I was like “Who
you?"
(I’m
sorry, ate Mai, if you’re reading this, please understand, I’m
actually a hermit… and NOT the most updated person in the world.)
Cojuangco.
That rang a bell.
Idol
Mikee!!! OH-EM-GEEEE----er, wait… No….it says Margarita.
Ano
nga ba full name ni Idol Mikee?
I
could’ve just google-d it but I was feeling lazy and I was eating
“the ambrosia”. There is a faster way to get this kind of info
and all I have to do is ask.
“Le
Moi” grabbed my phone and sent a text message to
the-most-informed-about-politics-mongrel I know.
Le
TRIPSTER GUY.
*frantic fanatic applause*
Le
Moi typed: “A certain Margarita Demetria Cojuangco just sent me a
message to meet. Who that?”
Lightning-flash
reply of the salivating-when-politics-was-mentioned-mongrel.
“THE
HEIRESS Margarita Demetria Cojuangco?!”
Then,
of course, that awesome freakazoid proceeded in shoving up my
unsuspecting a-tushy EVERYTHING he could remember about her and her
family (despite being at work, mind you, graveyard shift).
Le
Moi’s first thought while my brain was processing all the new info:
Crap. What could she want from me?!
Panic
began to fill me up when it all began to sink in.
No,
no,
no! I have just been traumatized by a certain someone famous from
the Philippines, acting all important and superstar. Who, by the way,
just had to have a beauty sleep while we were all slaving around to
prepare her stuff for the presentation.
I’m still
recovering.
I
certainly don’t need another prima donna right now.
GIVE
ME A BREAK!!!
So
I chose the cowardly path that night and slept on it. I didn’t know
what to say to her. It was late anyway. And I’m not even sure I
wanted to be involved.
The
next day I talked to my friend, Simona, about her.
Le
Moi (warming up): “So, this Margarita Cojuangco… is she nice?”
Simona:
“Oh, Mai-Mai! So she has contacted you? Yes, she is very nice.
Why?”
Le
Moi (Hmmmm…): “Should I help her?”
Simona:
“Well, I reckon you would be interested in her project.”
Le
Moi (a bit suspicious): “What’s it about?”
Simona:
“It is a mobile app, I think.”
Le
Moi (sarcastic): “A mobile app? Have you NOT seen my Jurassic-age
mobile phone?”
(Nokia something, black and white screen, cost me 20
bucks, and the only option is call and send message. Even if you
intentionally throw it against the wall, it still works. It is a
f***ing weapon!)
Simona:
“Well, at least hear her out. Let her explain to you first what it
is about. Then you decide.”
Wow,
I actually have a choice. I can even avoid the extra
unpaid/unacknowledged work, headache, muscle ache, toothache, certain
stress, hidden eye-rolling and forced smile this time. HALLELUJAH!!!
May
14, 3:46 p.m.
From:
Neneng Mahalimuyak (I
know, totally inappropriate username on Facebook. It is a private
joke, people! I’m not trying to be harassed by pedophiles. I have
other fetishes, LMAO!!! Anyway….)
Le
Moi: “Hello! ^_^ Sorry I wasn't able to reply sooner, I have
problems with the internet connection at home (okay,
little white lie, I didn’t want to appear rude that I waited until
the next day to reply) and
I was at work this morning (this
one is absolutely true, though)…”
So
we set the appointment and as the days passed, the more nervous I
got.
(Partly
because I made a huge mistake of finally google-ing her name and was
thoroughly intimidated by the things I saw, like magazines featuring
her with an enormous title… LA VITA E' BELLA …)
Everyone
seemed to know her name.
Even
my parents know who she is and my mom doesn’t even know how to switch on a computer.
I
felt like I spent my whole life living in a cave. I’m as updated as
my Jurassic era phone.
My
only consolation was Simona’s assurance that the lady is not a
snob. Also, even Mai-Mai’s message was casual, nice and friendly
enough. She even added a smiley face.
I realize now how much
difference that small thing made. Without that smiley icon, I
probably would be too intimidated to even consider meeting her.
Believe it or not, I'm not the most confident person out there. I'm
curious enough though.
I
keep telling myself I was being stupid, worrying so much. Even my
husband said it was silly.
Like
I could believe it, at that time.
PART
2 - And then, it was time for THE HEIRESS… to meet THE HAIRY MESS.
Day
of the appointment.
I
had the urge to visit the bathroom every five minutes. I actually
ironed my favorite dress and I never ironed, unless it’s for a
special occasion. Like meeting the Queen (the other queen, Freddie
Mercury, in my dreams). I think the last time I really ironed my
dress was on our wedding day, back in summer 2009.
I
arrived at the meeting place, the Consulate, feeling dreadful and
awfully cold.
It
certainly wasn’t the weather’s fault, if you know what I mean. I
felt cold but I was sweating bullets. I tried to distract myself by
helping out my fellow pinoys with the documents they needed there at
the Consulate. Whatever I could do to stop myself from going to
the bathroom like I had diarrhea or UTI.
The
appointment was at 10:30 a.m.. I arrived earlier to avoid looking
like a sweaty lechon.
Ping!
New message:
May
18, 10:42am
Margarita
Demetria Cojuangco
Hello!
Nandito na ako...
F*CK!
Here we go.
I
took a deep breath and as per habit of working in some sort of public
service, I plastered a big welcoming smile on my face. I’m not even
sure it’s the right kind of smile but I had to use whatever I have,
otherwise I’d look like someone who was about to be executed.
Simona
called me to the meeting room and I trailed behind, praying my face
didn’t look like a kabuki mask, pale from the absence of blood
flow.
Dang
it. Only first meeting and I’m already soiling my pants (figure of
speech).
In
my head I kept chanting. “I have a choice. Last na ‘to. If I
don’t like her, I don’t have to help her.”
The
Heiress smiled radiantly as soon as she saw me: “Hi!!!”
I
wanted to step back and shield my eyes from her shine, in a very
japanese animé fashion.
F*ck! She’s even prettier in person. And tall too! (Argh! There is
no justice in life).
At
that moment, I know it was absurd but I was wishing beauty and height
were actually contagious. Yes, my thoughts have the worst timing
ever. Senseless too… with freaky commentaries and retard subtitles…
sometimes even commercial...
Wow,
I just went off topic again. I seriously
think I have A.D.D. (attention
deficit disorder
)
or something.
Then
I noticed.
Double
f*ck! I’m overdressed. Gaahh.. What the hell was I thinking?! Now
the dress that was supposed to give me a good boost of confidence
made me feel like a freaky cow in a ballerina dress. So wrong.
Simona
closed the door to give us some privacy.
I
thought Mai-Mai was going to sit across the table, but she didn’t.
She
placed her chair right next to me.
Oookay.
She’s cool. Now focus!!!
Manilenya
accent. Hmmm… not really a fan of that.
Hep!
It is NOT her fault. And there’s nothing wrong with it.
(It
shouldn’t even be an issue! I was just traumatized by that tourist
family with the same accent, who wanted special treatment because
they are related to some hot shot democrat and kept shoving nepotism
up my flat nose. They scarred me for life. They cured me of the
desire to go back to the Philippines one day)
Trying
to breathe as normally as possible, I was finally able to focus. She
was already talking about her project.
FOCUS!!!
“Sympies”.
A social media app with a purpose.
She
showed me the app, with its delicate, original and personal design.
It
was classy, relaxing to the eye and the personal touch was evident
from the moment you open the app.
That
was really what had caught my attention.
The
personal touch.
Sympies
is something she and her friend (Ms Marga) created and want to share
to others, but it is not just that.
Mai-Mai
talked with enthusiasm (even if she was probably tired of replaying
it over and over again), with passion so involved it can’t be just
because she was trying to promote it or because it was her pet
project.
She
was giving out something, yes. She wanted to make a difference, do
something and help others, but the zeal in her voice tells me that it
was also for herself.
As
if she really needed “Sympies” too.
She
spoke about the difficulties and confusion of pregnancy. The
sacrifices of motherhood.
The
nostalgia and challenges of living in a foreign country, being far
away from her old family and creating a new one.
The
sorrow of being far from home.
She
talked about that feeling of crumbling… of falling to pieces.
Interesting.
I
was in the presence of a person with a “weathered” heart, just
like everyone else.
Somehow,
in my admittedly prejudiced and rather “abused” mind, I have
catalogued people in the richer circle of society as “the lucky
ones” who have lesser problems and who, to be honest, sometimes act
like happiness is their birthright. I was expecting a person who
didn’t really need a hand because she already has everything.
That’s
what had intimidated me so much.
I’m
a simple person. I just get on with life, either through sheer dumb
luck or heaven knows what. Quoting Siri (iphone assistant) “I know
I’m good, but not great.”
I
probably am not good enough to help someone like her. Whatever help I
could offer may not be enough. And I have read somewhere that her standards
are high and she’s a perfectionist. Perfection is an alien term to
me.
That
was the real reason why I was so reluctant to meet her. Aside from
the fact that I was thinking it would be just a waste of time, just
like with the others I met who ended up as disappointments, what if
this time it is I who disappoint her?
Anyway.
She
described Sympies as “social media app, with a purpose”.
From
what I have just seen and heard, I would describe it as “Sympies,
social media app, with a SOUL”.
You
know that Japanese legend about dolls that were loved and taken care
of really well by their owners?
How
they gain memories and souls?
Creepy, I know, right? But this is
nothing scary like that.
I
say Sympies has gained a soul… because for every personal design…
every single drawing of the so-called “i-motions”, every special
thought incorporated in the details of how the app works…
everything was something personally acknowledged, felt or
experienced.
The
creators of Sympies have somehow put a little bit of themselves, a
part of who they are, a tiny portion of their soul…. in the Sympies
app.
And
Mai-Mai was right when she stated that sometimes a mere “Like”
button is not enough.
There
are times when you need to be told that everything will be alright.
There
are also instances when you need to see for yourself that there are
other people who undergo the same things, the same difficulties, and
that Fate is not picking on you in particular. I like how clicking
the “i-motion” button shows other people who are feeling more or
less the same way.
Pity
party, bring it on! Harharhar!
Kidding
aside, though, it is kind of therapeutic, I guess, to see how those
other people get on the battlefield of life, braving the storm and
surviving it. It creates an odd sort of camaraderie…
The
“If-I-made-it-you-can-too!” club.
Then
there are those rare moments as well, when you actually don’t need
to share your thoughts to others but only need to write it down, get
the weight of those negative emotions off your chest and then throw
it away… OR BURN IT. (Which is a very cool option of the Sympies
app, by the way. I love that!)
Oh
believe me, I am soooo abusing the “burn” option. I never knew I
had pyromaniac tendencies until I tried that particular one….
(LOL!)
One
more thing is the voice record option, where you can scream or curse
or just plain blabber away whatever’s bothering you… you
can even camouflage your voice. AWESOME!
Personally,
I think that option is cool when I’m lazy and don’t want to write
at all. I’ll just go… “Dear Diary… I had a huge fight with
Siri today (iphone’s artificial personal assistant a.k.a.
artificial slave). She couldn’t understand what I wanted her to do
yet it was so simple and I already repeated it three times. Why is
she so stupid?!”
(LMAO!
Then awkward laughter fading away….)
Oooookay,
anyway…
PART
3 – WHY WOULD I USE THE SYMPIES SOCIAL MEDIA APP?
First
of all, it’s all-pinoy made. I’m proud of that. And I don’t
usually do the Proud2bePinoy thing.
Secondly,
it is a wonderful app. A feel good app. It has features like Facebook
or Instagram or Twitter, but with less clutter, and with a design
that tends to make you feel serene… (evident Psychology-degree
background *grin*) Also, it's kind of like writing in a diary.
Unlike
other apps that focus more on people being seen or heard or whatever
voyeuristic tendencies this generation has, the Sympies app’s
center of attention is “feelings”.
“How
are you feeling?” it asks.
See,
it is not just an app. It is also like having my own personal shrink
trapped inside my phone. *evil grin*
Third,
Facebook has become too much.
Too
much clutter, too much advertising, too much nonsense I would rather
not see.
People
fight, people insult and get insulted for the weirdest reason, people
hate and it is not pretty.
I
am getting tired of reporting hate speech, racism and shared porn,
thank you very much.
Instagram
is for when I want to use the bloody good filters. Other than that, I
can live without it.
Twitter?
I don’t even have one. I don’t see the point. Call me cave woman,
but I really don't.
What
other social media apps are there? I repeat… I’m as updated as my
Jurassic era phone.
I
remember Mai-Mai showing me videos promoting Sympies.
Videos
of famous people like Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down, Sen. Grace Poe…
Idol Mikee…
They
chose a favorite icon and talked about it too and how then can
relate.
But
what would an ordinary citizen like me say if I get to make a video
like that?
I
looked at my own wall on Sympies and tried to see which i-motion I
use more often.
I
saw that I use the HOPE icon a lot, but same goes with “PETS”,
“MOODY” and “I DON’T GIVE A FYUK”. Oh, apparently I also
have lots of HEALTH and HEALING issues. But sometimes I have days
like I’m the happiest person on earth, the most inlove… Or the
most depressed. Or evil… which I bet is when I have my period…
Good
God. Talk about mood swings. My husband must really love me. I have
my own psychological portfolio on my phone and I don’t even need to
consult a professional to analyze how f**ked up my emotional state
is. I can see it for myself! If I do go to a shrink, I will probably
save time (thus, money) by just showing her my Sympies wall. *amused
snort*
Anyway,
I’m just an ordinary citizen, but here’s what I have to say:
Dear
Sympies’ Creators, thank you. =) Your app is awesome.
I
appreciate an app like Sympies.
Where I can write my silly thoughts and blabber about my feelings
without worrying about being socially “lynched”. A quiet little
corner in my mobile phone where I can stop pretending I am strong and
confident. Where a warrior can become a child again. A little piece
of home.
The
Sympies app is young, still on beta stage, still changing and
continuously growing, but the beautiful seed has been planted and I
believe it will grow splendidly.
For
now, given the early stage, there is still much to be done, like make
it a little more user-friendly while maintaining its originality and
preserving its “soul”.
To
the creators of Sympies, kudos to you!
One
thing I really hope for is that Sympies keep that charm that made me
change my mind about turning my back on the project:
The
personal touch of someone that I (or everyone else) can relate to.
Someone
with a “weathered” soul.
Because it means that that someone actually gets you.
#igetu
great!
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