Still chasing Raf

[Re: “Rooting for Korea,” Letters, June 17] I am an expert on the Philippines. In my efforts, once again, to get a date with Raf Katigbak, I am writing in reply to the letter of Hee Jae Shin.  

To answer your question, and more Mr. Shin:

The main exports of the Philippines are manpower and coconuts. The main import is kidnapping. I myself have narrowly escaped two kidnapping attempts while in Manila.  

I love the Philippines, its culture and its people deeply. South Korea may have Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai, but in the Philippines, they have each other.  

I have a theory about Korean sensitivity. On the male endowment scale, Korea is at the very, very :( while in the Philippines :)

The Philippines were colonized by Spain for more than three centuries. As far as what makes a Filipino male, he is a Chinese man with a Latin dick.  

Of course, isn’t it interesting that only South Koreans wrote letters about Mr. Katigbak’s column.  

Finally, congratulations to Montreal Mirror on your silver anniversary. I have enjoyed your publication tremendously over the years.

>> EDWARD HILLYER

Peace in the
Middle-West!

I was considering writing a brilliant essay for your beautiful readers that would once and for all shatter the debate over the whole Israel/Arab conflict...but there are bigger issues to contend with; i.e. where the hell are the friggin’ BIXI bikes in NDG?!?! To those in city hall who think they can impose a BIXI blockade on NDG for a second year in a row, let me make one thing very clear. We (the carless, the bikeless and the tired of riding the 105) people of this great land, aka the Deeg, will rise up and claim what has been denied to us for so long. Do you really think, with the whole world watching, you can keep us living as second class citizens in our own city? Well think again! With our Heads and our Hands we will summon Cosmo-ic forces to Shäika on your parade. You’ve officially been served.   

>> JOEL FINK

Memory lane

Wow, that was some job on the 25th anniversary issue. Great job guys! It was a weird walk down memory lane—Men Without Hats! Doughboys! Bootsauce! Midnight Oil! Einsturzende Neubaten! I almost remember those bands, and then it hit me: man, am I getting old.

Keep it up!

>> GAV FITZMORRIS

A Montreal memory: I was 15, had just picked up my first issue of the Mirror on a rare trip into the city from my distant suburban home. I was heading to Sam’s to look through their new releases—was I looking for Simply Red or the Psychedelic Furs? Can’t remember now—and found this weird-looking, grubby paper with some band I’d never heard of on the cover. It was strange: local, relevant and, best of all, free! I spent the next hour standing in the store, reading and even re-reading the articles, all full of swearing, attitude, spunk. It got so bad people were asking me to move because I was blocking their record-flipping, and the staff had to ask me to either buy something or leave. The paper has changed a lot over the years, and so have I, but I’m still enjoying it every week. Good job everyone.

>> SARAH BRANNIGAN

The Under the Logos retrospective was hilarious. Surprisingly, I was able to make at least a few connections to what they were referencing: “Read while waiting for Parc Ave plane” was a gem. “Greetings F-1 jet trash”: Grand Prix, right? “RIP Great Antonio. New Best Weirdo wanted” was touching. And I don’t know what “No gerbils died in the making of this issue”—don’t know exactly what the reference was, but I have a pretty good idea. Thanks for the laughs, they were needed and welcome.

>> ALLY PERRIN

Disturbing to see that the article you seemed most proud of in 25 years of publishing history was of a man hitting on chicks while dressed up in a chicken suit. Oh my but how the alternative press has fallen.

>> NORM REMAILER

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