#unfortunately his friendship bracelets are chain shaped

[curapicas]

Anyone else deeply amused by revisiting this scene and realizing this is LTC making CXS apologize for being a bad friend to HIM specifically. Bro has fun with murder and all but he clearly talks with his barbies. He makes the guy say this, as if this was an actual conversation, as if this wasn't saying more about himself and his nasty humor twisting his inner desires, than any offense CXS supposedly committed. He's funny to me

[swampgallows]

hi lovelies. ive been a candy kid since 2004, but unfortunately i haven't been able to go to a rave since feb 2020, as i'm at high risk of severe disability or death if i were to catch the 'vid. in my 3+ years of isolation i've been churning out kandi but have no means of trading it. as you can see my chain of trades is practically full, now weighing almost 5 lbs.

if any of you are up to it, i would really, really love to trade via mail! back in the days of forums, mail trading was pretty common (kanditrade.net comes to mind), but it's been years since i last heard of anyone doing it, so im taking matters into my own hands!!

rules:

you must interact with me in some capacity (im not giving my info to a rando, sorry)

provide some kandi preferences! colors, animals, shapes, themes, etc.

you must be willing to give me a mailing address in the continental US to ship to (i might extend to non-USA if i wuv you lots n lots). please be sure this is a secure address that you regularly access; im not responsible for the package once it leaves my hands.

you must mail me kandi (or other creation) in return. this is a trade, not a giveaway.

when i send my half of the trade, you must send me your half of the trade within 30 days.

other info under cut ⤵

Q: what will i receive in my trade?

anywhere from 1-3 pieces of kandi, glowsticks, and maybe some other goodies (candy/cookies [dietary restrictions permitting], stickers, toys, mix CDs, etc.). your package will be shipped from california and comes from a non-smoking, drug-free home with a short-haired dog.

Q: what can i give you to trade?

kandi, of course! but if you don't make kandi then anything else you have created is welcomed. if you make music/mixes, please at least burn a cd!

kandi i like: singles! halloween colors (black/orange/purple/green), especially bright green. my raver name is rabbit, so i have a lot of kandi with bunnies on it. i also like monsters, stars, suns/moons, glow in the dark, food/fruits, and big chunky shapes.

kandi i do not like: cuffs/"epic"s, perler creations. these are very impressive, but as someone who wears kandi daily i will not be able to wear large pieces like these. also please no drug references or anything sexual.

no, only handmade items please. part of the importance of kandi is that it is a physical object that travels from my hands to yours: this is symbolized by the bridge of linked hands during a trade.

Q: can my half of the trade be digital/online instead?

Q: i can't get to the post office. how do i mail it?

the best way to mail something if you can't get to the post office is:

make an account at usps.com. it is free.

order small flat rate *padded* envelopes or boxes from usps. they are free. i suggest getting the small boxes as they're slightly cheaper to ship than the padded envelopes and you can fit bulkier items inside.

pay for your postage online via usps (click-n-ship). the flat rate boxes have set prices per size, so you wont need to weigh anything. all flat rate pricing is Priority Mail, meaning it comes with free package pickup, tracking, and 1-3 day delivery. if you don't have a printer, they will print you a label and mail it to you for $1.25.

arrange for the package to be picked up with your regular mail delivery. it is free. you will get pickup confirmation and tracking sent to your email.

Q: i want to trade! how do i contact you?

contact me through tumblr messages, discord (if you have me added), or send an email to my url at gmail. if you email me please be sure to include something about kandi in the subject line as well as your tumblr url!

Q. wtf is kandi?

raver friendship bracelets, basically. i've written a primer on kandi here!

[cnfhumss12a-blog]

The Light and Shadows of Binondo

By Kiana Lane R. Altoveros

My family loves the Chinese culture so much that our house is filled with antiques from Binondo, charms from the local chinese stalls in nearby malls, and Buddha statues from random bazaars that we passed by. My mom used to tell me that the Chinese are so keen on good luck that they were rich partly because of it. Take note that no one in my immediate family was Chinese but we somehow truly believed in what they believed in.

I have never been to the skeletons of Binondo. Yes, I have visited the famous Binondo Church to celebrate mass but other than that, I can never truly say that I have been to Binondo with a hundred percent conviction. Being raised in the province, the image of Binondo was painted to me by the media that is particularly in television. Telecasts of the Chinese New Year celebrations every year showcased odd-looking dragons, bright red lanterns as bandiritas, and so many flavors of tikoy. I always wonder why the attributes of the sticky snack was considered lucky.

In all honesty, Binondo to me was nothing but an extravagant venue for another animal-labelled zodiac year ahead.

Travelling to the Chinese capital in a jeepney was suffocating because it only has a seat capacity of 20 people. To add to that, the driver squished 25 people inside to earn more. My pink cropped sweater made it worse as all walks of life tried inserting themselves on the two parallel rugged cushions. Passengers were carrying plastic bags that were colored with red and white stripes that was filled with clothes and bags; Divisoria was just minutes away from Binondo. Errands at noon were not at all appealing, as the heat of the sun blended with the smoke of Metro Manila that seeped through every inch of our skin. As I tried distracting myself from the pollution that my provincial lungs were inhaling, I thought of my first stop.

The Binondo Church stood tall amidst the rise of the buildings reflecting the contrasts that the modern technology has brought in historical sites. With its sturdy stone facade facing the flow of traffic in the busy streets of Ongpin, Spanish Architect Domingo de la Cruz González would never have imagined that his design would somehow survive to see what Binondo has become today. The bloody red lines seemed to highlight and reflect the disasters that it had experienced. I have never seen red to be an important element in the design structure of a church before. I must say that this church bears the in betweens of the Spanish Colonization and the Chinese cultural impact in the Philippines.

Quickly gathering my thoughts, I hopped off the jeepney that slowly halted just as the stoplight turned red. I was now right across the famous church after travelling 20 minutes from DLSU. The usual lit and burning red candles were placed at the left corner near the entrance, and the religious souvenirs and items such as rosaries and bibles were at the opposite side. The air was filled with unanswered questions, and wishes that might never be granted; it is prayers that represent social media posts in the eyes of God. People flocked the church on a Tuesday afternoon and the traces of Catholicism prevailed just as what the invaders had hoped for- permanent transformation.

After saying a quick prayer, I was then on a hunt for food. The locals, when asked about the things that are the best to do in Binondo, would always say food trip without hesitation. And because of that, I let my grumbling stomach guide me through the hustling streets of Binondo. Walking through Chinatown, restaurant signs bombarded me left and right. I passed Eng Bee Tin’s flagship store with a booming speaker that entices passersby to take a peek. They claim to be the house of the best hopia and tikoy in all of Binondo and it’s hard to argue against their 107 years of existence. I was not at all surprised that the red lanterns never failed to make an appearance. Oddly enough, the red looked good against the purple aesthetic of the whole place.

Still searching for affordable and quality food, I saw Chuan Kee - the oldest fast food in Binondo, and their interior did indeed looked as if it was last updated in the 50s. Their low ceiling and white-tiled floors are audiences to the crowd of people eating. Restaurant appearance did not matter as long as the food is good, I guess. I must admit that I was almost pulled in by the popularity of the place. Standing by my main objective, I wanted a different kind of experience. The kind that is unique to all the Chinese food lunches that I had been to with my family.

Just as my eyes scanned the remaining restaurants that are placed strategically in the streets that’s going to the other parts of Chinatown, I passed the towering arch of Ongpin North Bridge. The air that I inhaled was infected by the stench of the estero that was hidden beneath the structure. The black stain from the dirt that it has collected throughout the years layered the stone railings of the bridge. Red rectangles outlined the bridge’s shape as it connected the restaurants to the various businesses that reside in Binondo. Vendors were trying to market their products, the horn of the impatient jeepneys driven by the impatient drivers rang in my ears, and the whispers of Hokaglish, the combination  of Hokkien Chinese, English, and Tagalog, surrounded the hot air. The bridge witnesses scenarios like these everyday.

I was slowly losing hope of finding the perfect unique Chinese Restaurant as I stopped by the  end of the historical bridge. Needless to say that I was extremely hungry, I opted to ask a local about the good restaurants nearby. What he recommended to me was the chain of food places just beside the estero. Hey, I did ask for something unique- lunch beside a drainage canal. Nothing but unconventional yet exciting!  

The Estero Fast Food has a variety of meals to choose from, and it does not sway away from the usual dishes that you see in high-end Chinese restaurants. Yang-chow fried rice, garlic shrimp, fried spare ribs and beef broccoli are some of the dishes that they offer. Everything was cooked fresh and the ingredients were all laid out in front of their kitchen so that the customers can see it. The size of the servings are generous as I was more than satisfied after the meal. It seemed as if there were sukis that often came to the restaurant. It was packed considering that it was a weekday and that it was hidden from plain sight. The food was cheap, delicious, and worthwhile. This convinced me that there were hidden gems in Binondo that a lot of tourists often miss out on. Gems beside esteros that were hidden underneath an old bridge. Unfortunately, the self-proclaimed Chinese-me was disheartened when I found out that they do not serve dumplings like pork and shrimp siomai (a savory snack wrapped with a wonton wrapper and filled with pork) and hakaw (a shrimp dumpling) - my two favorite Chinese dishes.

After paying less than 200 pesos for a meal that would probably be priced for 400 pesos in DLSU, I was desperate for a long walk. It was my first spontaneous trip and not knowing where I’ll end up next somehow excited me. It is true that mystery reels you into the black hole of adventure.

It’s funny how I’ve never been to Binondo which is known to embrace everything in Chinese culture and beliefs yet I feel like I have been trained to be familiar with everything that I encounter. I entered the Dragon Phoenix Enterprise, oddly enough, it reminded me of home and my family.

I knew that shops position their cashier box based off of to what the Feng Shui advised. I knew who Kuan Kong is and what his presence gives the homes or offices since mine had a porcelain statue of him in the middle of our living room. I was very aware that Guan Yin Ma is the Goddess with many arms and that she symbolises kindness and love as she was placed in a vanity mirror inside my parents’ bedroom. Charms like bracelets and pendants, especially when newly bought, should be blessed inside a stainless bowl that echoes when hit by a small wooden bat. The smell of incense as the fire urges it into ash is not foreign to me as we would bow three times to Guan Yin Ma every night to say why we were grateful. Even when I was searching for Chinese snacks to try in a small convenience store near Dragon Phoenix Enterprise, I saw Haw Flakes - a dark pink candy that smelled like tamarinds and sweet candy at the same time was my favorite candy that my dad would bring home from the mall and it has been years since I devoured its tangy taste again. The Chinese usually eat it with tea or as a distraction to their bitter medicine. I was always curious why it was sold in a Chinese drugstore in my hometown and now I got the answers.

The Philippines was home to Chinese traders in the late 16th century and their population steadily grew with their influence to the culture and livelihood of Filipinos. The friendship of the two nations were even honored by the national government by renaming the Ongpin South Bridge into the Friendship Bridge. I took a glance at the fruit stands that is placed at the end of this bridge while eating my Haw Flakes. Binondo was where these traders resided in and it is rather safe to say that this place bears the fruits of the bond of these two nationalities. Maybe the friendship that grew between our ancestors and the Chinese traders have brought my family to embody the same ideals.

I stand in the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz as I wait for the jeepney going back home. The traffic started piling up as employees from one of the booming business capitals in the country have started to go home. The shadow of the church casted upon the plaza. I had no idea what Binondo was; its past will always be a shadow to my present and I can never insert myself into the history. Television shows did not do justice to the skeletons of Binondo to say the least. The skin and flesh celebrations covered its crumbling old bones - surviving amidst the hits that it continuously endures; bombs from the World War then, or the constructions of different high-rise buildings now.

The sun was setting and the shimmer over the city looked like specks of glitters scattered by the wind. The gold specks in Binondo might be a reflection of the rich culture, delicious food, and historical value that this place possess. I have never been to your Binondo, but I sure have enjoyed reminiscing what I have seen. Gallery: https://cnfhumss12a.tumblr.com/tagged/kiana