US President Obama has said that the reported cases in their country should be more of a concern that an alarm.  Then, there was no reported fatality until a Mexican toddler was reported to have died in a Houston, Texas hospital on Monday.

And this has raised the alarm.

While Michael Jackson and I suffered the constant stare from wearing face mask in public (although I don’t know why Jacko is wearing one, mine has health reasons), I find it chic seeing people wearing the mask all at the same time.

Unluckily though, the third world people, this side of the planet are not buying it. At least they are consistent now in giving comments that I’m protecting myself from swine flu.  It’s less effort for me to explain.

Well, at least I handed a couple of masks to my colleagues.  One will use it while commuting to protect herself from the pollution while the other one will use it inorder for her not to transmit her throat infection.

As I was walking on my way to the jeepney stop, I passed a group of by-standers on the street. Within earshot I heard a middleaged man comment: Wala naman kame sakit ah, bakit ka nagtatakip?
This really ticked me off as how some people seem to be insensitive of others’ situation.
If I had a choice, why on earth would I submit myself to a seemingly freak show wearing mask walking on the street?
I just hope they’d remain in the pink of health. If they are.

I chanced upon Oprah’s show on Hallmark. I think it’s a rerun. It’s about medical mysteries. IT featured two special cases of a 12-year old boy who’s taller than Shaq O’ Neil and a 26-year old lady who’s barely 4 feet.

well, what do we have in common? The constant stare. Ever since I started on taking immunosuppressant, I was advised by my doctor to wear a special face mask to protect myself whenever I am in public places.

I know that mine is temporary (God willing) but theirs would be forever.

I tend to stare back at people whenever I get the “judging” stare. Like, hello!, I am protecting myself from you and not the other way around!

There was this one time at Burger King when I snapped back at a service crew. I was asking if I could have the onion rings to go with the whopper meal but the grumpy lady asked in I-would-like-to-pretend-I-did-not-hear-way-but-I-did-not: “Ano?” (what?).

Guess what did I say?

I did not let her get asway with it. I asked: Are you mad? Do you still want your job?

I think that was enough for her to come to her senses.

I also got this treatment at Abenson at Waltermart, when no one seemed to “want” to sell their stuff to me. It’s their loss.

For almost a month, I am still trying to get the hang of it.

One the plus side, I sometimes get special treatment in some places like, letting me sit while on the train or getting help to close or open the door.

As Oprah has said, instead of staring at people who seem to look a little different, why not just smile at them?