Wind Chill Factor - by Tropical Penguin

The (Very Best) Time of Year*

2007-12-22T11:51:00.000+08:00

*a very nice song that the UP Manila Chorale sung during its Christmas concert last December 15..

It's Christmas time again.

But this is the only Christmas that I don't feel like its Christmas. The air is not chilly (humankind's fault: global warming); Christmas lights and other bright decors are few (economical fault: people are saving); and our Christmas break is studded by a lot of schoolwork (UP's fault? Nah. Teachers. They love their students too much.), such as an interview of a World War II survivor for History, note cards for the academic paper in Comm2, lots of readings for Human Development and Anatomy and Physiology. Come to think of it, we also need to study for Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory (checking out the lab manual before the experiment saves time when the actual work is being done since you already know half of the whole thing). The last Departmental Exam was fatal (for me it is, there was a lot of things that made me go 'Whaaaat?!?!') And of course, PE is never an exception. We need to prepare for a 3k run which they call "Fun". It's like a post test before the time-pressured 5k funrun at the UP Diliman Oval.

So that was my scholastic ramblings. Haha. Sorry for that.

[transition. hahaha.]

Let's have some taste of the past for Christmas. =)

(got this from my email.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

What in the world do leaping lords,French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a codeword for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and NewTestaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the OldTestament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership,and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. Thisknowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on, if you wish...

*even the Grinch wants a happy christmas... :)

So there. It said 'pass it on if you wish', but emails hassle me a lot, so the blog could work. =)

[transition..]

What's Christmas without a wishlist? Haha. This time I am putting things that I need (I labeled them that way so that the guilt is much less, WANTING these things is kind of self-debilitating. And I do really need them. But these are not just for survival, so keep those primal instincts intact. =) )

1) A handheld chargeable music and video player, preferrably the 30-gig iPod Classic in silver and black casing. This is getting cheaper by the minute, since it's phasing out, and that's TERRIFIC! However right now it is still quite expensive. I really need music in my life (since the other MP3 player didn't want to turn on anymore. I was buying batteries for it, so it was, hmmm, sadness. Wahaha.)

2) An extra phone with a SUN sim in it. Actually I already have one! The way I got it is a bit funny. Since I was away from my parents dear since I was living in Cavite, I rarely get to contact them. My Globe phone is always loadless (does this word exist? hmm..) and they miss me too much (and I miss them too!) and they didn't want anymore excuses for not being able to communicate with them, they got three phones from a postpaid plan from Sun. And I get to contact a lot of loved ones. ;p

3) Flip flops of different colors! I got my first one through a misfortune. I commuting to Manila for the lantern parade when my one of my black leather sandals became unuseable. A strap separated from the whole sandal, making walking difficult, awkward, and of course embarrassing. So I called Lorr and asked if she could buy me flipflops from banana peel which I would pay later. When I got them I was insisting on paying her, and I assumed a price of 200php since that's the usual price of these Banana Peel flops. When I got to wear them I saw the tag. It was worth 400php! She insisted it was her Christmas gift. It is very nice! It's blue green with an eagle on it. Much more special, of course. =) Anyway, I still want to get hold of a lot more colors from a lot of different brands. I am saving up for a very costly pair of Havaianas (which would cost a terrible fortune but, well, I just want to own one at least in my lifetime, haha!). And I'm eyeing a new flop brand, Sanük, which are sandals that look like loafers. I love the designs and colors. And of course, who forgets the other brands that can be found on Divisoria or Greenhills? Cheap and functional! Haha.

4) Red Chucks. Wahaha, nothing special. And also music pieces, for voice solo, duet, chorale, and piano!!!!!!!!!!!!

5) Running shoes! This is in preparation for the FunRun I mentioned earlier. Shock from running could cause uncomfortable injuries not only to joints and ligaments, but also to nerves. So, these running shoes could help me reduce the risks, and hopefully get me on the finish line.

6) Lessons! I am still hoping for that figure skating lessons that I was dreaming since I was little (which got turned down when I was little. poor me. huhu) and I am planning to study voice pedagogy (this is the term they used for Kuya Ed's study at the UP College of Music) at workshops held in the Up College of Music during summer! Kuya Kim (section leader of the basses in the UP Manila Chorale) told me about this, and we are very much interested to attending such workshops. These workshops are helpful in using up all the pent-up energy that teens have during the so-called "period of raging hormones". hahahahahahahaha.

7) Windbreakers! Just in time for the cold(?) season.

8) Belts. Currently I have one, and its red, and the black one that I have is lost in the familial circulation of things.

9) Books. Anything that can be read while in the toilet.

10) A piano! Wahaha I am so demanding. I got my mom to promise me on this one. When I graduate from my course, I would not ask for a car, for an apartment, or even a holiday. I need a piano!! This is so fun. Wahaha. Asides from that agreement being questionable, I really doubt my mom would even give me anything for my graduation except for a lots of hugs and kisses and lots of advice. =)

[transition.. transition... transition...]

Gifts are nice. They also make heads ache like crazy. I am only giving three gifts to three important peers in my life. I have an excuse of why I cannot give for the family. I am not working, I do not have a stable job, and I do not pay taxes yet, therefore I cannot go on buying everyone gifts. It's a social convention. One must avoid financial suicides.

Oh, yes, gifts...

Now, wrapping them is easy. Thinking of them is mind-boggling. Buying them is like getting your wallet shot by a firing squad. Giving them... priceless. (haha. it's just like the Visa Mastercard commercial.)

I stressed my legs yesterday by walking around SM Southmall alone looking for gifts. I was definitely clueless of what to buy. I seemed like a moron going around the mall looking. Just looking. hahaha.

Asides from giving of course, there is always a reciprocating mechanism called receiving. Now it gives excitement and suspense. I saw the wrapped boxes beneath the tree here at my aunt's house. Every space under the tree's circumference is occupied by red and white boxes. I can't wait for the 25th. =)

[transition..]

I now greet everyone I know a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May this season be the very best time of your year!

Godspeed!

I'm...

2007-11-25T21:44:00.000+08:00

... reading a lot of stuff for academic purposes. Blame Communication2 (Writing?!?!?!), History1 (Philippine History), N3 (Human Anatomy and Physiology), N2(Human Development), Chem14 (General Chemistry) and Chem14.1(laboratory).

... practicing my left hand. I think I am overusing my dominant right, because my right upper extremity is thicker than my left.

... missing a lot of people.

... teaching MTAP at Manila Science. I love my students. They're much keen not to attend the sessions. That is good news. It's easier to teach small groups of people (only 5 remained for the second session. They were probably guilty or attending for the sake of their math project.).

... discovering my plights of being orally fixated.

=)

Girl Falls In Love With Boy, Boy Dies, Girl Hates, Girl Excels in the Arts, Man Appears, Falls in Love, Girl... Must Heal Her Hurt With Love. =)

2007-11-11T21:31:00.000+08:00

[hwang jini!]

Kay tagal ko nang pangarap
At lagi nang dasal
Pag-ibig na sadyang wagas
Ngunit waring kay ilap
Ng palad kong ito
At ako'y patuloy na bigo

O pusong kay sakit
Ala-alang kay pait
At kung muling balikan ang lahat ng nagdaan
Tila wala pang minahal at walang natagpuan
Nais ko sanang mag-isa, huwag ng umibig pa

Kung yan man ay totoo at manatili sa mundo
Na walang kulay
Walang buhay
Walang nagmamahal
Ngunit kung ako'y mahihintay
Umasa pa't umibig pang muli
Minsan pa

Minsan pa akong nangarap
At sana'y maganap
Sa'yo'y ibibigay lahat
Narito ngayo't kailanman
Ikaw ang langit ko
Tanging ningning ng buhay ko

Halina sa piling ko
Alisin ang takot ko
At sa muling malasap
Ang pag-ibig na ganap
At ang pangarap na mundo
Ay matupad sa piling mo
Ayaw ko nang muling mabuhay pang nag-iisa

Ikaw ang simula't wakas
Ang ngayon at ang bukas
Ikaw ang pag-asa habang buhay
Mahal pa rin kita
At hanggang wakas
Pag-ibig ko'y sadyang wagas
Ngayon at kailanman...

At ang pangarap na mundo
Ay matupad sa piling mo
Ayaw ko nang muling mabuhay pang nag-iisa

Ikaw ang simula't wakas
Ang ngayon at ang bukas
Ikaw ang pag-asa habang buhay
Mahal pa rin kita
At hanggang wakas
Pag-ibig ko'y sadyang wagas
Ngayon at kailanman
Minsan pa...

WE LOVE FAITH CUNETA! (Leslie, Inay Pau, and I)

Ciao~

Need Help...

2007-11-09T15:03:00.000+08:00

... on how to raise eight thousand pesos in one month for the concert of the UP Manila chorale this coming December... I have the sponsorship letter... I really need the sponsors.. =)

... on how to meditate properly. I end up falling asleep.

... on how to dream rainbows and butterflies. So I wouldn't dream other, err, freaky things.

Awkward, Awestruck, Awakened

2007-11-08T09:55:00.000+08:00

I had the time to read my previous posts after discovering the benefit of the archives and putting it on my newly "skinned" blog, and I ended up dismayed because I was criticizing how I wrote the previous posts. This is a great improvement though - self-criticism - but doing it on the things that I felt before I was doing right in terms of expression and freedom of speech. At least now, I know what to do.

-

I was awestruck by the chorale practice yesterday. I discovered that the senior trainees love laughing, and I ended up laughing with them, with the scandals, the chitchat and the dancing. I was also (embarrassingly) surprised about the basses' singing problem - our tongues. Malikot daw yung dila. And during the last performance I think I was the one who doomed the Prayer of St. Francis. Now I have to relax my tongue.

-

I had a very weird dream. I was in a cemetery with people who I do not recognize. We were trying to walk around the cemetery. It came to a point that I decided to cross a path that requires one to jump from am open window to a large stone slab to another window. My first move was successful, I was able to jump from the window to the slab. Then another guy (who seems to be a friend but I don't recognize him) jumps and reaches the slab. Then he started joking and started tickling me. I was so pissed (because I am sensitive to tickling) and started screaming, telling him to stop. Then I looked down and realized that we were up high, and our view scoped of a resort, a forest and a town. The people below noticed me yelling and started to frown and form annoyed gestures. The guy stopped tickling me and tried to jump to the other window. His jump went off short and he fell, like a thousand of miles below. I started to panic, then tears suddenly flowed from my eyes; I was still watching the guy fall, and then sat on the stone slab, my back pressed firmly unto the wall.

Then I woke up with my arms crossed to my chest. They were numb.

Very weird dream. That was the first time I dreamed of someone else dying (though my dream ended before the guy could ever reach the ground, so no blood scattered).

Ciao~

The Sleeping Situation

2007-11-03T21:27:00.000+08:00

I have to say my sleeping patterns have changed. Back when I was a young, I was a terrible snoozing machine, though I had difficulty falling asleep, waking me up is a very, very hard thing to do. I could not sleep with the lights on, and I need the silence that can make you hear a pen fall (the "pin" is too cliche and too unrealistic; though a pen can make a commotion, it just creates a soft thud *really?!?!?!*; oh... just quiet...). I also read a lot before I slept; I read while lying down and the next morning my book is folded, pressed and even crushed in abnormal ways because of my weight. I also do not indulge in siestas, because I get migraines when I sleep during the day and have difficulty falling asleep afterwards.

During my elementary graduation practice general rehearsal, the practice was so exhausting that when I got home, I went straight to bed. No dinner, and I didn't even wash my face or brush my teeth (icky, I know, but I was so wasted). I woke up in the middle of the night, and my parents have prepared food in advanced just in case I wake up (I love my parents!). Sure enough, the food ceased to exist in the physical world. Then I went back to sleep.

When I reached high school I had a habit of covering my eyes when I sleep. Though I could now sleep with the lights on, my ears are so sensitive that it keeps my mind awake. I just now realized maybe sounds decrease levels of seretonin in a brain in the first stage of NREM sleep. Nah... Doesn't make sense. Then I read somewhere that reading before sleeping doesn't lull people to dozing off, it stimulates the brain more; thus keeping you awake. Now I could not read before I sleep. Also, I slept very, very late, about 11 pm onwards. I also woke up late, but thankfully, most of the time got to school just in time.

If I lost sleep hours, my recovery takes much more time. For my body clock normal sleep takes eight hours. My maximum yet stable waking period is seven hours. Any earlier than that, a groggy Jay-V greets the world. Science Camp is one of the activities that extends waking hours to its fullest. After every camp I get so drowsy that when I reach any comfortable spot I lose consciousness, and wake up to find out that a lot of time has passed.

Once, there was a boring day and I fell asleep. I woke up from my three-hour long nap with a good feeling. Since then I started risking my head for some naps during afternoons. Some were successful at soothing my nerves, some made my nerves throb in dull pain.

When I reached fourth year high school my sleeping hours increased, partly because of my long and tiring bus trips home, and partly because of my inattentive nature and boring lessons. During Physics class I would sleep on top of the lab table even though I was sitting in an armchair (and hide from view). I was also in the front row. Good thing my teacher is so kind and patient that he doesn't mind.

When I moved to my aunt's house, I started sleeping early (I was waking up early anyway). I get sleepy at 8:30, fall asleep from 9 to 10 pm. My latest hour is 11 pm. When I started college, I was not sleeping in classes, though sometimes the drowsy pang hits me. I prefer sleeping in the library. It's much more cooler, and the books provide the narcotic smell of rotting paper that induces lethargy. Since my classes were early, I was required to set my phone's alarm. It took me a long time to adjust my ears, and I ended up running late for appointments or classes.

All Saint's Day is a very good excuse for staying up late. I was with my family and relatives in the mausoleum, taking bonding in a sort of transcendental way, since we are in the place where the dead lay in peace. I was with my cousins, and we went to their home, and started a DVD marathon. Deathnote got me awake until 4 am. Since I was lodging at another home, I was afraid to do what I did last time I slept there. We also slept up late, and I woke up after noon. That was so embarrassing for me, that before I slept, I vowed to wake up at a reasonable time. I did wake up early, just in time, but with a disastrously full bladder (and so the rush to the nearest bathroom commenced).

Just recently I slept in the same room as my very young nephew, who was so active that when he woke up and found that his parents are sleeping, he started screaming and crying and wreaked havoc among the snoozing people in the room. I was so unlucky that time, but I was also too sleepy to be disturbed. My sleep was disrupted a lot of times, but I continued my journey to Dreamland.

I could conclude that now I can be disturbed while I am sleeping. This is sad, but I may come in handy. Imagine if I dozed off too much on a fire.

I also sleep now during daylight. I am not a siesta fan when I was young, and I am discovering it now. I still wake up with a headache though.

Also, alarm clocks now work for me. Yey!

Ciao~

Feeling A Lot Less Soulful...

2007-11-02T10:33:00.000+08:00

It is All Souls' Day though.

My past two days have been all about food and flowers. I am still living up to the "fatten-your-face" diet and still eat every two hours or so. I would have terrible adjustments to the second semester. Lunch breaks are reduced to an hour, or even less (if there are unfinished assignments and other such things), and classes run for up to four hours. I'll die of malnutrition in a very, well, academic way. Let's fight scholastic famine! T_T

--

Just recently I have realized some thoughts of me taking up formal lessons in Ikebana (I like aiming for these formal lessons, but they rarely happen. Life gives ways of distracting you, sometimes for bad, or sometimes for good. It's for keeping balance.). I helped my aunt (who is just inventing ways to arrange flowers for the dear departed) and we exchanged ideas about harmony of colors, vases, flower size, foliage and other things that could help improve the flora to be put in the mausoleum.

After everything was finished, the flower arrangements made the mausoleum very distracting. Bright red arthotiums (spellcheck please) that looked like plastic gleamed as if they would last forever (they do last long though, for about one to two weeks, they do not dry up as fast as other flowers) and I really liked the green flowers that were shaped like buttons that became accessory to every other color (Long live green!!!!!!!!!). There were also bright chrysanthemums and peach Malaysian mumps (I really don't know how to spell it... I can't help think of the sickness). Our place was really emblazoned with flower arrangements, and we received another arrangement of all-white flowers; a beautiful mix of stargazer lilies, arthoriums and baby's breath surrounded by lush leaves. I liked to call our mausoleum yesterday "Little Dangwa".

--

I miss the choir. T_T

Happy Halloween. Awoo.

2007-10-31T10:13:00.000+08:00

I think I am a bit intoxicated while writing this post. But, take note, my blood alcohol level is not that high; what I drank was a wish (just a shot of some bitter whiskey) from my cousin since it was his birthday; and I have another migraine attack; and I am tired and my body is yearning for sleep. (This post is so delayed. I was about to post it last night; but I guess dial-ups aren't so friendly nowadays.)

My sentence construction has become lengthy and stupid. There are always periods. There are ends to things. I love sustaining that illusion that things are continuous, never ending. And I really believe that for now, my higher mental processes are temporarily impaired. Alcohol and cake don't mix. Happy birthday!

--

I have been watching the third season of House. I really prefer it than Grey's Anatomy, though House is too technical and medical that my nose bleeds. Grey's Anatomy is good, but it’s more drama and lots of sex. Though I have to admit my soul is tarnished, I favor the sarcasm of Gregory House over Meredith Grey's love (and sex) life.

The third season of House has more perplexing cases that glues me to my seat (to which in my case, the floor, since I just lie down the wooden parquet and watch intently) and makes me skip some meals. I love the twists in the story and the pathology (I am SO looking forward to N-4, Pathophysiology). I am also fascinated by House's irrational demeanor and his interest for the dysfunctional. Though it is fictional, it is really cool.

--

I am getting heavier! I have been checking my weight and my fat index on the machine in Mercury Drugstore Padre Faura (which costs five pesos). I intermittently tried the machine for any weight gains. From 136 pounds, now I am 140 pounds with 18% body fat from a meager 8% before!

Another terrible aim of mine is to fatten myself up, with a terrible condition though. I want everything in me to fill up with a little blubber, but I want my tummy out of the story. It really DOES SOUND IMPOSSIBLE (actually it isn't; there is always liposuction, or even that thing Marie France offers that doesn't use needles, but that is out of the question) but I am challenging myself to it. I want my face to fatten up a little bit, because I look a little gaunt; but I don't want to lose my flat tummy.

So, my food intake has increased significantly, and my allowance is being strained by this voracious appetite of mine. Maybe I have parasites. I may resort to antihelminthics someday. Haha.

--

I feel sad about the fact that Halloween is not that scary anymore, scary, in a childish sense. My fears have become more, err, civilized (during Anthropology class I fear my 85-year old professor; now I fear my grades). When I see carved pumpkins now, I do not imagine the villainous laugh or the walking straw men. I think pumpkin soup. When I see masks that show malevolent facades or monstrous looks on stalls, I think about, err, some people (who I do not want to mention; I want a peaceful life!). And when I think of a Halloween party, I fear not the things to be mentioned in the party, but how to make an excuse on why attend such party. I am still acrophobic though.

--

I really liked this text message I received recently from a block mate.

Tinatamad ka na bang dalawin ang iyong mga loved ones sa sementeryo?

Text DALAW ON sa 2366.

Sila mismo ang dadalaw sa'yo.

Text na!

--

I got a 1.5 on my PE subject, Arnis. No stick shall threaten me.

Just kidding.

Ciao~

Coming Back

2007-10-23T22:57:00.000+08:00

Yuri-san said to Kim Possible, "We must welcome change. It's part of our destiny." It heard it on one of the few moments I have access to cable television; and that's only when I am around the space above my uncle's clinic, which has become my older brother's lair. I really missed television so much, that even shows that to begin with have no inner worth or appeal are plastered on the screen, my eyes staring blankly into its space. My subconscious is searching for a TV's presence. The tedious adjustment in the first semester has deprived me of drama, comedy and commercials. I maybe exaggerating this idea a bit, but, for most of the time, I was either laughing with my friends or bleeding over exams.

Let's welcome change. I'm welcoming it for good.

--

I saw the tags in my blog, and looked at the tenacity of some few people for any updates. I must make an excuse for myself, I was too busy. I was too preoccupied to take some time off to write. And I read in Men’s Health that to free one’s schedule, eliminate blogging from one’s system.

I have to say my writing skills have deteriorated (and I believe blogging hones me a bit on literature -_-).

And I miss a lot of information from friends that matter.

That's why I'm going back. I will find a way to update through the toxic hours.

--

Someone I dearly miss is angry at me at this moment. I hope she'll be okay. I have too much to ask forgiveness for. Jokes and alcohol really don’t mix.

--

My classcards are still unavailable. The long wait creates that small scare that sometimes make me panic. I have a very terrible aim of keeping my grades at least 1.75, although the UP College of Medicine requires men an average of 2.00 to enter their division. I have been lax on my studies last semester, and I am determined to get back on those failures.

What would happen to the classcards next year is definitely a mystery. We have along way to go.

Ciao~

The Course of a Student Nurse

2007-06-30T12:39:00.000+08:00

First Semester:

Nursing 1 - Reciology - The study of the behavioral foundations of health and illness, the behavior of man by the disciplines of anthropology, psychology and sociology. It is resonant with the study of octogenarians. It focuses on the implications, not the particulars. It is also about repetitive jokes and histories, life lessons and a whole lot of moral discipline. Beware of locked doors.

Philosophy 1 - The Philosophy of Philosophy - Let me pause. DO YOU GET THE POINT? It's the rational inquiry of the fundamental concerns of man. It is also philosophy students evaluating their own capacities.

Communications 1 - Reading with Loads of Writing - It is a very toxic subject with a very kind yet toxic professor which focuses on three things: outlining, precis writing and paraphrasing. Requirements are a must.

Mathematics 11 - High School Algebra Turned College - Math professors have the ability to transform the things one knows into things that would make brains bleed.

Physical Education 2 - Arnis -Stick bashing, hitting, striking and playing patintero when the professor's late rolled into one subject.

National Service Training Program - CWTS 1 - Civil Welfare Training Service, also Combined Workshop and Thinking Sessions.

Highlights and Some Essentials in Life

2007-06-10T20:36:00.000+08:00

* Last Friday, I went to Masci at a very early time of 7 am. I was that early because I just hitched at my aunt’s service to work (which would save me a lot of money – transportation is expensive these days). I kept on winding around the halls, all around the school for 5 hours (all around a school you could tour in 5 minutes) and looking and talking to people who know I was a part of the institution back then. Being an alumnus is both fine and terrible at its own ways. (Special thanks to Alyssa Engracia, Masaki Mitsuhashi and Royce Margaux Dimailig!)

* When I was in an anticipated mass for the celebration of the Corpus Christi, the priest announced a change in the Communion. Since people were few that day (and they were really few ever since and will be that few for a long time), the priest allowed a special ceremonial method of taking the Eucharist. People can go to the altar, get a Host from the chalice and dip it in another chalice for wine and receive it as commemorated in Corpus Christi. That was a new experience for me, and for everyone in the halls of the parish. It gave a new light for contemplation.

* I have restored my liking for extensive cooking. I was taught by my aunts on how to peel, dice, slice, and do the mechanical food processing methods (I am a dumb ass in that field). We also cooked a few dishes that required lots of experience, such as a nearly failed laing that needed more coconut milk.

* I bathed in the rain today. It was a good way to detoxify and appreciate nature, and also an excuse to bathe without using too much water (I take a long time inside the shower).

* I have received a lot of new clothes because I need to mix and match different outfits for almost 30 days using only a very few shirts and pairs of trousers. I have a modest closet, and I need to pump it a little for me to survive classes that did not require uniforms (except maybe when we are about to be in duty).

* My aunts and cousin are into the Elvis fever. They revived his former glory by watching a 3-volume personal tribute to him, including concerts, and began crushing on him again. Songs that Elvis sung became the official sounds of the day, and then we were dancing too it. I got to enjoy music from way beyond six feet under. I guess we all need a bit of history.

* Cake has become an official food source for me (part of my food pyramid). There still would be other crazy ideas to fulfill.

Five Funny Moments

2007-06-09T21:39:00.001+08:00

My inay Pauline Ballacillo tagged me for five funny moments of my childhood.

[Inay, I miss you! jay-v to pauba]

Okay. Drum roll please.

#1: I went once to Don Bosco Makati when I was in Grade 1 wearing a barong, whereas everyone wore kamisa de tsino and pajamas in celebration of the Linggo of Wika. I really thought back then I heard my adviser tell the class that one must wear the complete barong suit that day. I was scolded by my adviser, and told me to remove the abaca outfit because it's too hot. To think I argued to my mom about this. I kept defending the barong when we were at home.

The funny thing (for me, that is if ...) is when we were on the road (and were stuck in traffic, so I came late, and I wore that barong, whoa! Double the fun and embarrassment!) a traffic aide noticed my formalwear and asked if we were going to a wedding.

#2: There was this time when Pokemon was the greatest game craze. I really loved playing it in the very antique Gameboy Color (which I still have and I still play with... Naks! Vintage!). I was so addicted to the game that I sleep talk about it. My brother told me that I was mimicked the battles in the game, that while I was dozing I would suddenly shout "Ice Beam!" and then the sudden rattle of Pokemon moves. I was only told about this, so I am not really sure of its validity. Anyway, I only play Pokemon Crystal version in my Gameboy if I want to detoxify.

#3: When I was young I ate very little and the whole clan of Gatdula ate lunch at Kamayan for some Sundays. Every person was given the eat-all-you-can platter that cost about 450 pesos (not sure at the actual price). Since I ate like an ant back then, everyone who saw me felt that I wasted P450. My aunt (who paid for the bill) was a bit frustrated of this.

One time when everyone ate at Kamayan, I was exiled to Italliani's... alone.

I had a plate of pasta, some grilled steak, a tall sherbet and strawberry cheese cake. That latter of food was way more expensive than the P450 worth of varied Filipino delicacies.

My cousins who came in late joined me in the greatest food exile on earth. After that, I really enjoyed feasting in restaurants.

#4: When I was a toddler, my parents needed to shield my eyes when we will pass any McDonald’s for fear of a sudden expense and severe thrashing. When I saw the big yellow M back then (I was only told about this, so I am not really sure if it’s true, but I believe it anyway) and IF we were about to skip it and continue traveling, I would cry, scream, shout and point at the sign. My dad suffered a terrible beating from me if we didn’t go there and buy some fast food.

Preferences change (I now love Burger King), and surely I don’t have the tantrums now for delectable choices of fast food.

#5: This piece of information that I am about to reveal is very embarrassing for me when I was young. I was too shy to express this grievance to other people back then.

Now everyone who will read this... shall have the honor of making me a laughingstock for some time.

...

My digestive system played a very major role on these events. Blame him, not me. He is a weak type of organ system.

When I was in kindergarten I pooed in class. Reason: Diarrhea. It was a sudden gush. And then the sluggish spread of the odor.
When I was in Grade 6 I was farting like crazy. Every 5 minutes or so a despicable smell would circulate in the air-conditioned room. Reason: Constipation (leads to gas formations in the intestines that leads to flatulence). I was then termed Pururut Salad until I graduated.

*applause*

Ten people to tag! Oh my. I'm tagging everyone else who hasn’t done this post. (I really hope you are only ten.)

Ciao~

some things are peculiar, strange...

2007-06-07T15:28:00.000+08:00

Weird thing #1: Yesterday, when I went to my cousin's house to trade Pokemon (we were cost-cutting fun), I bought a crispy banana roll (whoa, hindi ba pwedeng turon na lang?!?! Thanks to Chicharon Flower for the translation!) so that I could eat something while treading the long path to the residence of my cousin. Instead of giving me my snack in a plastic bag, the cook gave me a stick. To be exact, it was a banana cue stick.

"Tuhugin mo na lang."

I said, uh, okay.

And so I was there, walking, short of four pesos, and nibbling a turon on a stick.

Weird thing #2: When I went back to my aunt's house yesterday afternoon after all that trading, I saw four mayas flying together. How cute, I presumed, because I think that was kind of rare. Then they were chirping quite boisterously, and then I noticed the belligerent pecking. The birds flew in random paths, staggering up and down, and still continued the war.

I thought then only chickens do fight like in sabong.

I was dead wrong because I walked past an extraordinary fight of nature.

Weird thing #3: There was this song entitled "Alleluia" in the CD that contained choral music from different university chorales. I listened to it, and quite enjoyed it. It is the first song that I have heard that contained only one word for its lyrics. Six good minutes of Alleluia.

Kumpil 101

2007-06-03T20:10:00.000+08:00

I sent a group message saying that the truth hurts.

I haven’t been confirmed, and I am already sixteen.

I attended the confirmation ceremonies of my cousin Jan Reynald today at the Holy Trinity Parish here in San Nicolas, Cavite. I wasn’t the one to be confirmed, not even a godfather.

I was the official photographer for my cousin.

(I am avoiding apostrophes and double quotation marks because my template doesn’t support it. As you have read some of my posts these symbols in particular appear weird.)

So I was there, watching a lot of people twelve years old and above getting ready to renew their baptism and confirm their entity of being a Christian. The liturgy of the Word was observed.

The great part here was the homily of one of the youngest bishops in the Philippines, His Excellency, Luis Antonio Tagle. According to my aunt he is a very bright bishop, and with that he was ordained immediately.

He started about discussing the importance of the sacrament of Confirmation and its deep link with baptism and the Eucharist. He then pressed the issues of how some people take Confirmation for granted, and how a newly Confirmed Christian must act. After receiving the certificate, Bishop Tagle pressed some issues about how people have distorted the purpose of godparents. They should be guides to the people who consider them as second parents. It’s not about the gifts.

Bishop Tagle: Kayong mga dalagita, ‘wag patulan ang mga lalaking presko agad sa inyo! Kristyano ako, sabihin mo, at huwag mo akong bastusin, sabay sampal! Hindi porket gwapo yung lalaki sasabihin mo ay sige wag mo lang ako halikan!
(laughter arose)
Bishop Tagle: Sa mga lalaki naman! Magkaroon kayo ng dangal! Hindi yung pagnakakita ng magandang babae e parang nauulol! Kristyano ako! Meron akong dignidad!
Bishop Tagle: Taas ang kamay ng mga ninong at ninang!
(godparents raised their hands then)
Bishop Tagle: Kayong mga ninong at ninang, huwag magbigay sa inyong mga inaanak!
(people clap in a mixture of laughter and a little frustration for the godchildren who are expecting, err, something)
Bishop Tagle: Taas ang kamay ng mga kukumpilan!
(hands appeared in the air)
Bishop Tagle: kapag binigyan kayo ng regalo ng inyong ninong at ninag, ‘wag nyong tanggapin!
(people laugh at the insane yet true and sensible mockery of the usual tradition)

The Bishop then described his thumb, which he told everyone that was already thinning because of the thousands of foreheads that he has anointed.

The ceremony was quiet and well organized. The Bishop skipped the Eucharist and proceeded with the Lord’s Prayer, then ended the ceremonial with the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

As for my photography, as I took a photo of my cousin being anointed and viewed it, I was dismayed at the result. Bishop Tagle had a very big hand and my cousin’s face was covered. I was too amateur of a photographer.

I had other ideas.

So I took a picture of them in front of the altar, besides a good pot of flowers, up in the balcony where behind them was a large stained glass icon that looked very nice, and another shot as they went down the stairs. I guess I was too hyper back then.

Then lunch was delicious and heavy.

After all of this, still the truth hurts. I am not yet confirmed.

Ciao~

The Adventures of Pelngke Boy and Girl

2007-06-02T11:43:00.000+08:00

Today I woke up at 5:30 in the morning. My cousin, Ate Angie, and I were going to the wet and dry market of Zapote. We needed to be early to avoid the rush of people buying loads of stuff.

I ate a piece of bread as an energizer, half a glass of water, washed my hair (because it was sticking out at all directions; I guess I cared too much) and put on a pair of faded pants and we scooted off with our bayongs.

--

It is really my aunt who goes to the palengke every Saturday to have a stock of food for the rest of the week. However, she had a cold, and Ate Angie and I were up to the job to have something to nibble for the next 6 days.

Last dinner’s talk concerned what to buy, where to buy, who to deal with. We talked about what should we look for, what not to buy, the amount, the weight and the slashes and cuts to the P1600 budget.

--

We reached the road that leads to the market. We saw then the ripe mango stall our aunt described: it opens early in the morning, unloads the mangoes in a cart, and the price could be haggled to P100 for 3 kilos of the almost ripening Zambales mangoes. (In my aunt’s house the mangoes are bought unripe so that when appetite for mangoes is suddenly a concern the fruit is ripe and just in time for consumption.)

The mangoes (which looked much smaller than we expected) were sold at P35 per kilo. The vendor offered the haggle we were expecting, so we chose the mangoes with the greenish unripe tint, closed the deal and moved.

We talked to the salt vendor and requested a favor my aunt always does. She was to inform the tricycle driver that my aunt knows that we need his services when we are finished.

As we walked we found the stall for bananas with a humongous jackfruit displayed in front. We skipped it first, and then dropped off the ripe mangoes at a place where the goods can be safe. We introduced ourselves to the owners of the place and left the 3 kilos of mangoes waiting.

For the green Indian mangoes, we would buy from the security guard who sells them at the right side of the market’s entrance. When we entered the place, we did not see any security guard, but we saw bushels of green mangoes stacked up in the cart.

A shirtless man in navy blue pants asked us want we want. We needed 4 kilos of Indian mangoes. He gave us a plastic bag as we started picking out what we think were the crunchiest and tastiest bunch of the latter.

The man weighed the bag, assured everyone in the deal that the produce was 4 kilos and left.

It was then that I realized that he was wearing the same navy blue pants of a security guard. We sighed in relief; we bought at the right place. But then, we also forgot to pay for the mangoes priced at P12 per quarter of a kilogram.

We returned to him and told him of our forgetfulness. We weren’t the only ones at fault. It was a draw. He told us that he forgot it too.

After paying for the almost-free mangoes, we dropped them off to where the ripe ones we bought earlier were parked, and went to the meat section.

--

Ate Angie and I went to a stall that my aunt knows there is quality meat. We went there, told them of our relation to their Saturday suki, and bought 3 kilos of kasim, a kilo of spare ribs, and a kilo of quality porkchops which we inspected. The bones were thin and the fat was just the right thickness (thank you TLE book that I used to review the girls for the final exam on home economics) and the meat had the fresh color in it (Does it sound a bit morbid?).

We moved to the chicken stall, named Telly’s. Tita Telly interviewed us who we are, and to which Gatdula family member did we sprang to life. We told her that I was the youngest son of my mother Virginia and Ate Angie was the daughter of my uncle Ricardo. After establishing the ties, we moved on to the raw matters.

--

We were unsure of how much chicken breast would we buy. The list said 1 whole chicken and 1 breast. Is it a kilo of breast or just a lone breast cut off from a whole decapitated chicken? We assumed that it was the kilo that would agree with the list. Tita Telly searched for the whole chicken because what she had was wingless almost-whole chicken. The breasts that we needed were still intact with the flightless dead poultry at the stall.

--

She returned with the still flightless, yet winged whole chicken that suffered a terrible bashing from the butcher’s cleaver as Ate Angie requested for the whole chicken to be cut into smaller pieces. As for the breasts, they have been removed from the wingless chicken and weighed them for the price.

We paid P100 for the whole chicken and P137 for the breasts. We left the meats and chickens there, because we needed to buy the vegetables at a far part of the market, and by the looks of things, our load is getting heavier.

--

The vegetable store that we looked for seemed well hidden. A part of the path was flooded with dirty water and some defiled leaves from cabbages. We carefully stepped at slightly elevated areas to avoid tarnishing our feet (Ate Angie and I wore slippers). We reached a very large stall, filled by different vegetables and a crate of calamansi. Ate Angie chose those on the list: onions, half kilo; calamansi, one-fourth kilo; cabbage, a kilo; carrots, quarter of a kilogram. We paid for them, totaling to P31, and treaded a longer path to avoid the marsh of floating cabbage leaves.

--

We bought the one-fourth kilo of bell peppers along the sidewalks of Zapote, for P15.

--

The fish section made me terribly conscious of my feet. The meat section was damp, and had no problem along the way. However, the fish section was awfully wet, with puddles of immensely gray fluid from all the water that the seafood vendors splash to their merchandise to freshen them up.

One of our troubles is buying the kind of fish that our aunt would be if she were there. It was agreed last night to avoid tilapia and milkfish for a while. We needed to have alternatives.

As we strolled around and around the seafood area, I was looking down at my feet, my steps delicate, and my speed ad libitum. We found a stall were a lot of women crowded. We took a peek and found out that they were swarming over a freshly cut blue marlin tuna (the large fish head determined this). A buffed chunk that weighed a kilo costs P160. Ate Angie thought about it, asked me about my opinion, and inquired at the lady beside her. I told her to go for it; she pondered for a little while more, and we got away with a chunk of pricey tuna.

We have lost track of time, and I was getting hungry.

The search for fish took a long time. And the exposure to that wet floor soon took its toll. Someone splattered the murky water unto my feet. Another stepped on my toes when we were walking. And I was starting to believe that we smelled a bit marine-like.

--

The eggs were easy, just a dozen P4-eggs wrapped up and we were ready to pursue the P25 Sinangdomeng rice. Another trouble arose, as we were circling around the grains area like vultures. The rice could not be found. We stopped to look at the rice labeled as ‘ENERGY RICE – P25” which we ignored at least twice. We asked the vendor if its type was Sinandomeng. He said yes. We asked why the heck it was named Energy Rice. He didn’t buy our question. He started weighing the grains.

Last of our problems was the bananas we skipped, more fish and some mongo seeds. We returned to the seafood area, looked for a few more fish, and when we walked back to the area were we left the other things we bought we picked up a small bag of mongo for P10.

We reached the drop point, went to the banana stall and got some green bunch, and found out that the tricycle driver has already gone twice without any luck of finding us. We were assured that he would return anyway. So we waited, talked about the white cats and a boisterous and belligerent chicken that pecked everyone for bread (and was already dead).

The diver came, put the stuff inside the tricycle, said our goodbyes to the good people who watched over them, and left.

We reached home at broad daylight and ready for a real breakfast.

Ciao~

andante, vivace, poco a poco

2007-06-01T15:18:00.000+08:00

A slow-paced life...

--

I have finished the novel of John Grisham The Street Lawyer. It was a nice novel, about how a lawyer got a calling to help the homeless and in poverty and be in the same ground as of the people he serve. It is termed as public interest law.

--

I have found out that Nicole of Love Radio was in Game Ka na ba? last Wednesday, and I was a bit frustrated to not have seen her babble throughout the game. She lost though but she enjoyed it. As she mentioned it in her daily morning talk (this is when I learned of it, what an annoying morning) with Christsuper, all the atras powers were used against her. As someone said, she added, the reason was they were insecure. And then the entire laugh trip began.

--

June 8: Thea, KJ, and I will talk a step to UP Diliman to audition for the Unversity of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors. It’s just a try. We want to know if the placement of our voices is correct, according to Thea.

--

Piano is so difficult, that I am already taking weeks practicing and still cannot perfect Minuet in G Major by Bach. According to everyone, Bach was a very difficult composer.

During one lesson, my teacher’s batchmates, a husband and wife together with their baby, visited my teacher while we were practicing a song. She entertained them, because it was rude to turn them down, and she explained this to me. The infant was 8 months old, a girl, and the name was Johann Sebastian. They pronounced it as “yohan”.

The little girl who smiles cutely is named after that darned yet acclaimed composer.

That girl is indeed, a very difficult composition.
Her music is just starting to have some notes.

(I suddenly remembered KJ’s blog. The skin is so nice!)

--

The Yamaha School of Music has two elf mascots named Yama and Maha according to my teacher.

--
Betty La Fea at Studio 23 is nearing its end. It’s nice. Betty is already gorgeous.

--

A slow-paced life is just what I need.

The Oath to Change

2007-05-29T20:36:00.000+08:00

After some time, I’ve realized my flaws and what am I to do about them.

I will now reserve my best to the people I really know. I would take precaution into what I would do for the people I meet. Some take you for granted; others just walk away, even without an evident reason. And some people don’t even take courage to set things straight. I’m done pestering myself by thinking about what I have done, or what caused this, and regretting the times that things were okay. I know my heart’s already destroyed, and I am not driving more destruction into it.

I will keep quiet. I’ll quit being the tactless old me. I will just listen if the people I am unsure with are engaging in conversations. I will talk if needed and necessary, and all my talk will be for the people who really know how to listen.

I will become straightforward with my ideas, attempts and requests. No more pauses. No more meaningless doubts.

I will try to invoke kindness into me unlike before. I will try to extend the limits of my patience and discipline. Iwas taray. Magpapakabait na’ko. (just as Iric said to me once)

I will be thriftier. Now this is difficult, because my stomach’s a real wallet buster. And the load expenses! And fare! This is terrible. But this is needed very badly. My family’s in a critical condition financially. My leisure expenses (what a term) are now cut off. I would detoxify once in a while, not every time like I did before.

I will become more focused with my studies and in improving a few hobbies and interests. If I want to leave a mark to the people I love and to God (amen) and make a difference, I must do my best in what I am now.

And reduce the green-minded stuff. Think other green.

And then, the regrets are over now. They’re yesterday.

Thinking

2007-05-23T12:32:00.000+08:00

I feel very, very tired.
I don’t know why.
When you’re all alone, you can think of everything.

[listening to chorale music]

How would you feel if you have friends who have suddenly lost interest in talking, seeing, or being with you? And after a very long time, you’ll miss them; but you’ll see them and be with them as if you’re just acquaintances. All you expect is a little enthusiasm.

To think the ones who really care are so far away.

[talking using second person: to place oneself into another’s shoes]

There was this text message from Stephanie Cordova. That message was so long ago.

When one loses money, he loses much.
When one loses a friend, he loses much more.
When one loses faith, he loses everything.

I was asking myself what I have lost.

[ ]

I rediscovered the art of washing clothes. For two days I was washing my clothes that I have used for the past week, after discovering that the doorknob of the room that leads to all our clothes was busted, and no one can open it. Destroying the door seemed an unviable answer because the walls creaked at seemed to go down with the door if we tried to knock it down.

I also ironed them myself. The last time I did these things was in Grade 5, Home Economics.

What a moment – reliving what seemed almost forgotten.

[ ]

Last one: till the soil of your mind.
-from Simplify and Create Abundance by Bo Sanchez

Ciao~

A Happy Day

2007-05-22T12:03:00.001+08:00

I’m changing languages again. I am basing this on my mere belief that all that can use the Internet have a satisfactory grammar and phonetic skills in English.

Yesterday was one of my happy days. I woke up at 4:30 am, with my aunt tickling my feet so that I would wake up. I was awakened and kind of twitched until I realized my foot was used to start my day. I groggily stood up, did the essentials, and waited for the service van with the Cavite-Manila route.

My aunt and I reached UN Ave. by 6:15 am. We bid good-bye, and she went off to work and I went off to my Alma Mater for the annual school-clean up, called the Brigada Eskwela.

And there was this talksh*t thing about the Brigada Eskwela.

Rumor has it that it was to be televised in Unang Hirit, the morning show, and I was early to find out that there was no large towering tube coiled by a thick black wire that is used by TV corporations when they televise from a place. If there were really a morning show, then as I walked in the sidewalks I would have seen it by then.

A few more paces.....

I found a lot of people already at school. There were an unusually large number of parents. People have gone insane.

I saw the choir and some former student Supreme Government officers. As we waited for the event to start, the morning chitchat commenced, and we were smiling already.

Mrs. Carlos, our dear newly-Diamond Peeled choirmaster came in about 7 am. Her face was gleaming in its newly found smoothness. She did a few things then we practiced the National Anthem that turned good even though the girls were outnumbered.

The first part of the Brigada Eskwela was a parade. A bit lame, short-distanced and energy draining, students walked in the morning sun with people in front holding banners about the Brigada Eskwela.

After that, we assembled at the quadrangle. A prayer was offered to the Lord, then we sang the National Anthem and the Awit ng Maynila.

Then a gag show at the stage. (Joke!) Mr. Garcia and Mr. Apejas did their magic hosting skills.

The rest is history.

The choir couldn’t decide where to eat, and when, because some think it was too early. We waited, and Mrs. Carlos has already gone to the bank with no verdict yet. Leslie and I ate a snack at KFC, and when we returned everyone was ready to leave.

[everyone consisted of Leslie, Philippe, Celiz, Ralph, Pausiu, Iric, Jason, David, Jayvee, Cam Dae, Loussane, Mrs. Carlos, and Jay-V]

We dragged ourselves to SM Mall of Asia.

[travel routes: P. Faura to Buendia through a Las Piñas-bound bus, then a jeep-van hybrid to MOA.]

We first ate a El Pocco Locco, a chicken fastfood chain we discovered because Mrs. Carlos wanted to eat there. There was this delicious tomato salsa that Ralph didn’t like and a choice between tortilla and rice as carbohydrate sources. Most of the time was spent there reminiscing old moments and talking about people... David came (I forgot that David went home when we reached Buendia and said that he would catch up.) and ate lunch, and then convinced ourselves to do something.

The dilemma was whether to ice skate in the foggy rink or watch Shrek 3. We had a shortage of 1-hour tickets to ice-skating, and some didn’t have socks (skating requires socks if you don’t want nasty odors and infection cross their way with your feet). My ticket source was at SM Southmall, and the tickets that I got there is in Thea’s hands after harassing me for them.

Philippe, Jayvee and I tried our luck at the nearest source: The Food Court located above the left side of the rink.

Our first try was a failure. The counter lady told us that the tickets were recorded with purchases. We tried a second one, where people were ordering food and seemed disinterested in the skating tickets we yearned for.

The lady in the counter was kind, but sassy. She made a deal: if we bought something, she’d give us tickers. I said that I would buy a bottle of water.

Lady: “Isa lang??? Bili ka pa!”

A little frustration ran through my nerves, but we have to push through. This lady is good...

Philippe bought another bottle and we were given a stack about a quarter of an inch thick.

We did it! (Hurray!) We celebrated the tickets and Mrs. Carlos distributed them.

The sockless (is there such a word?!?!) people went off to buy socks and we watched a very good skater. A talll slender man(?) with a graceful yet powerful skating moves glided, twirled and jumped in the ice.

The skating pursued. Members were Loussane, Leslie, Celiz, Ralph, David, Jason, Philippe, Cam and Jayvee and me. Mrs. Carlos, Pausiu and Iric watched as we did an hour of mayhem on skates.

[There was a lot of gliding, tumbling, balancing, sweating and ice throwing during that hour.]

After that, Mrs. Carlos went home, and we went to Timezone.

[I’m getting lazy. Dance Maniax, Revo... Drum Mania... fun at a very hefty cost]

I said goodbye because my lessons would start at 5. I went off ten minutes to 4.

By 5:10 I was already in SM Southmall.
I left at 7:30.

I reached home by 9:30. Traffic!

I played cards with my aunts and cousin, and dozed off.

It was a happy day. ^ ^

Ciao~

UPdating...

2007-05-19T15:22:00.000+08:00

Sa wakas! Update!

Ayun… Official UP Manila student na ako. Hehe… UP College of Nursing 2011 Block 26.

Kanina e nag-orientation kami courtesy of the FBCs (freshman block coordinators na upper class people naming…) kanina lang. Nagstart ng 8. Parang Christmas party.. ala lang gifts. Pero may registration fee. P20… Ayun.. bayad.. register.. then join the fun.

Wala si Kuya Kenneth. Pero may pumalit. Si Ate Erica. Grabe!!! Idol ko sya!!! Astig xa mag side comment, okray at lahat na about hosting.

Nagpakilala yung bawat isa.

Nung may nagsabi na.. mahilig sya magbasa, sumayaw…

Ate Erica: O sige nga.. sample! Sample ng pagbabasa…

Bago pala nyan e nakilala naming si Kuya Mark Sabo… na boogeyman daw. Haha. Kabilang siya sa ice breaker naming na chuga dance. Boogeyman…

Tapos ang ever-fluent na si Kuya Reji… the half-Lebanese half-Pinoy batch head ng UPCN2010. Ang mga leaders ay nag-uumpisa sa mga speech. Madrama… Hehe. Kaya siya nanalo… at pinagbuntungan ng lahat ng sakit ng ulo.

Si Pausiu ang batch head naming. Congratz!
Si Maricar naman ang treasurer. Congratz!

Marami palang organizations ang UPCN. Nalimutan ko na kung anu-ano yung mga yon. Basta may newspaper ang UPCN. Vital Signs ata yung name. And then may Saliwan.. dance group ng UPCN.. may Himig…. Music group ng UPCN. Di ako sure kung chorale toh.

Mga bagong terms na aking natutunan sa UPCN.

Toxic- term sa matinding level ng stress na nararanasan ng isang tao,.. usually dahil sa lessons o departamental exams.
RTR- room to room. Enough said.
Double bond- mga taong medyo slow ang understanding. Masyado ata silang naharass sa Organic Chemistry.

Ayun… Dami kong nakilalang tao. As in super small world talaga. Yung isa best friend ni Thea sa CSA. Isa naman best friend ni Danikko nung elementary. At yung iba… nagging close ko dahil lumelevel ang ingay naming.

So far… mukhang mas marami ang Block25… pero mas maingay kaming Block 26.

May laro na naka circle kayong lahat at may 2 panyo. Isang naka double knot… isang naka single knot. Ngayon itatali mo sa tao yung panyo.. depende kung anong klaseng knot. Tapos kung sino yung maabutan ng 2 panyo… ay may ridiculous stuff na gagawin. Ayun... Naintindihan nyo ba yung rules? Ako kasi uber slow ko sa pagintindi... halfway through the game ko na-gets.

Yung 5 taong sawimpalad na naabutan nung mga panyo ay lumusot sa sampung tao (kasama ako dun) at may ginagaya silang animal.

Try giraffe. ^ ^

So natapos rin.... yung Orientation... pati mga respective elections.

Atat na ako magcollege...

Ciao~

Bagong Simula

2007-05-16T16:01:00.000+08:00

[gumawa na imeem account. gawa na!]

Whoo... Rush ang enrollment namin. Nursing at INTARMED lang naman kasi ang mag-eenroll. Kami ay less than 120. Whoo... kaya namin toh.

Bago pumunta ng UP Manila e dumaan muna kami ng aking ina sa Masci. Yung photocopies nung card ko kasi pina-certify ko pa.

Nung tapos na, eskapo na kami dun! Tawid... konting lakad... UP MANILA!

[listening to Kyla's I Wish You Love]

Aun.. nakita ko si Ms. Kim, si Pausiu, si Raine, Si Pia S. at si Rene. Bad news... Si Percy ay nagenroll sa PLM. Siya ay double course dun. Calculus at Nursing. Sayang. haiz....

Matumal yung pila sa OUR. Pagdating sa College of Nursing e mabilis. Pagbalik sa OUR... ala masyadong tao. Na-shock lang yung nanay ko dahil ang mahal ng tuition ko. Bracket B. P20,769.50. 17 units...

maluwag pa yung sched ko.... kahit medyo patayan kami. di pa kasi nagsisimula yung natural at masigasig na bakbakan....

ang PE ko ay ARNIS. Ayaw ko nito.. at marami ang naiinggit dahil amfanget daw ng PE nila. Fundamentals of Physical Fitness... whoo... parang 'di ka na grumaduate ng high school.

i am block 26 sa nursing.

wala pa akong class cards. T_T di pa daw narerelease.

[eniweiz... maganda tong imeem... kung mabilis internet mo.]

whoo.... nag apply na rin ako ng stfap. di carry ng aking angkan ang 1k/unit. Kalurkhee (pronounced ka-luhr-kei)... (kinig na ng LOVE RADIO! Nicole and Christsuper!)

ayan. hyper nako. marami din akong nabalitaang nahyper after mag-enroll.

[whoo.. ang senti ngmga tugtog sa aking playlist.]

"my heart has a mind of its own..."

ciao~

Nakalimutan...

2007-05-03T08:29:00.000+08:00

...na ata ako ng sambayanan.

Sana hindi pa.

Bakit kaya dun sa mga taong aking nilaanan ng bahagi ng aking puso ay hindi na ata ako kilala?
Nalulungkot na'ko.
Saklap.

Salamat na lang.

Parang ayoko na....

REMINDER.

2007-04-28T12:01:00.000+08:00

Pipol! Puntahan nyo ung isa ko pang blog ha! Nasa sidebar. Yung English journal ko!!!! Buhay pa ako!!! Wag nyo ako kalimutan!

Ubos na oras ko sa computer shop. Haiz.

Labyuu all.

Hard Typing

2007-04-12T16:47:00.000+08:00

Hai. Medyo ramdam ko pa rin ung pagod. kakagaling ko lang sa outing ng Newton... Aking 4th year section.... 12 hours, almost sleepless, lots of food, chlorinated water, billiards and fun.

eniweiz...

inay, uki lng yan!!!! KAYA MO YAN! Moral support ako. [jay-v to pauba]

...

sobrang saya ng outing... grabe... khit mas mtgal kming na-expose sa hangin kaysa sa tubig.... medyo kanya kanyang trip... pero masaya. magutom nga lang kaming lahat sa huli.

...

nakakatamad magtype dto. computer shop mode. ang tigas ng keyboard! holy...

...

text text na lang. kung alam nyo number ko. hai naku. pampams mode aku ngaun.

...

ang tgas tlga nung keyboard! kung naririnig nyo lang yung ingay na ginagawa ng daliri ko!

...

cge.

...
thought:
dont hold on to your bitterness, learn from it then let go.

Ciao~

Holy Week and the Boredom Showdown

2007-04-07T18:28:00.000+08:00

ayan. 2nd post after mold demolition. sobrang....whooo.... consumed na ako sa pagpupudpod ng daliri kakatext... gm [group message] at iba pang pangtakas konsumisyon dahil wala akong magawa. [i do share to other people this same feelings...]

My holy week is celebrated here in Cavite. Kasi may perya. [shallah talaga... english yung sentence.. sabay tagalog.. naks! lumelevel na ako.. joke.]

Setting: Isang malawak, malubak at tigang na bukid. Cleared for the event. from nightfall to twilight.
Theme: 100 Years of Fun, Food, & Friends and a Little Solemnity (1907-2007, san ka pa)

Contents:
Cenaculo. Ferris wheel [2 na sila ngayon, sinakyan namin pareho... may nakakahilo.... yung mukhang malaking parol na multicolored na ang upuan e parang kulungan ng ibon. you get the picture...] Bibingka. Tsaa. Mami. Adrenaline-rush rides sa mga bata [na isang malaking joke sa mga matatanda at mga batang may konting sense ng thrill] Color game o beto beto [na pwedeng magpadoble o triple sa pera mo.. pati rin losses... depende sa intuition skills mo na rin o kaartehan sa pagpili ng kulay. BABALA: wag laging asahan ang fave color mo... malulugi ka.. pwamis... hindi lahat ng kagandahan sa buhay ko ay GREEN.] Mga larong nagbabato ka ng piso para manalo ng prizes [KITCHEN SHOWCASE: baso, plato, tasa... yung tipong kasing mahal ng dami ng naibato mo nang piso.... at may bago ngayon! ENTERTAINMENT SHOWCASE: may mga stufftoy na Pooh.. iba iba ang sizes...] other rides [low level relative to the ground, either nakakasuka o nakakaantok] softdrinks. Gulaman. Sakla [adult gambling na toh... sets of cards na may mga weird names... arranged in pairs... grouped by four... kaw na bahala dumiskarte. 18 pairs... 18 x *amount of money you are willing to risk* .. kayo na bahala mag compute, permute(?) o combine... para malaman ang probability o odds.. ayoko kasi ng finite math... ] Billiards. Karaoke [comes in 5-peso o rented forms] Inuman sessions [ng ibang tao kung sino sino man sila] Audience ng cenaculo [muntik ko na makalimutan.... ang mga taong may bangko...upuan..stool.. banig... o sako ng bigas na nag-eeffort manood ng cenaculo na for 100 years ay parepareho ng tono. Last year si kristo mukhang boksingero. Red unng short, knee-high socks at white rubber shoes, complete with white towel sa shoulder. Winner. kamukha nga ata ni Pacqiuao e..] Gay contest. Singing contest. Dart Games. Pellet Gun Games. Iba't ibang uri ng tao. Mga iilang tanod. mga nakapark na sasakyan. ...

ayan. description ko ng perya.

for the meantime na wala ako sa perya e nasa simbahan ako. penitensya. joke. hindi. practice ng mga gagawin sa easter sunday. kakanta kami nung hallelujah chorus by Handel. Nagskip lang kami ng iilang parts. Marami pang kantang pang-simbahan. Minsan nga na lss na ako. mapapakanta na lang ako bigla ng "bayan, magsiawit na, bayan!...." atbp.

kahapon e sumama ako sa paglilibing. isang mahabang lakaran na nagstart ng 5 pm mula sa Mambog, cavite hanggang sa Hoy Trinity Parish sa may San Nicolas, Cavite. Medyo malayo. Di naman masyadong nakakapagod. Sanhi nga lang kami ng matinding traffic sa mga napakamalas na mga manglalakbay... at lahat kami ay nakaitim. Kulto mode. joke. naalala ko kasi yung manila hotel journey ng choir. isang malaking kulto. nakaitim lahat.

tapos na ba penitensya ko? hindi pa siguro.

just a thought... Mahirap isipin ang sariling kasiyahan habang ang mundo ay tahimik at taimtim. Para kasing walang susporta sa kaligayahan mo. Mapapaisip ka, kahit papano.

eniweiz...

The Processes Involved in Boredom [joke lang toh. enjoy nyo na lang.]

Stage 1. Denial.
[di naman ako bored... dami ko naman pedeng gawin... isipin ko lang.. hmm.. teka... may gagawin nga ba ako.. nakatunganga lang ako..]

Stage 2. Anger.
[%#&#*!!! bakit ba ala akong magawa?!?!?! %^&#^&^@#&^!!!! ^#*&#*^&##&^#*#U*(#&()#&()&#(*&#(*&#*(^#&%&#%^#%^%#^%#&^#%!!!!!!!!!! ^^!]

Stage 3. Bargaining.
[Sige na.. pag binigyan mo ako ng gagawin... bibigyan din kita ng.... .... ... (kaso tinatamad ka rin..)]

Stage 4. Depression.
[**********iyak*******singhot***punas mata**** ngawa**********]

Stage 5. Acceptance.
[I pledge and solemnly swear, to my family, community, and country, that with all honor and respect, that I am officially bored.]

...

Reminders:
1) Magtag kayo sa tagboard ko. Bigla kong naisip.. hindi lang pala mismong blog ko yung inaamag. Alangan naman ako magpost dyan nang magpost. Kaya.. sige na! Sakay na!
2) Text nyo ako. Lab yu all! Globe ako. Almost always unli. Kaso di ko pwede i expose ang number ko. security purposes. 0906......
3) Malapit na matapos ang Holy Week. Malapit na rin tayong mag-indulge ulit sa meat.

Ciao~

Rush?

2007-04-04T14:32:00.001+08:00

ayan. post lang. dyan sa tabi tabi. ala sa bahay.

Mold Eradication...

2007-04-03T13:28:00.000+08:00

Waah! Sorry! Magtatanggal na ako ng amag Inay! [jv to pau ba]

...

[Currently listening to Lovi Poe's "Kung Pwede Lang"]

Graduate na ako. Kami. Hai, bilis ng oras. Parang kaka4th year lang namin. Eniweiz, alumni na KAMI. Nakasumpa na kami sa Alumni Foundation.

[Kung di mo rin ipaglalaban.. sa iba ang puso ko...]]

Hehe, ang ganda nung kanta... lalo na yung chorus... yung line na yan.. hehehe... bigla ko lang tinype. Magandang drama sa araw na ito.

...

Sobrang daming mga events ang gumugunita sa akin. Graduation last Wednesday... Graduation ball yesterday. Mamaya, graduation ng pinsan ko. Whoo... Puyat at pagod... Lagi na tuloy akong inaantok. Unusually sobrang inaantok.. na kahit nakatulog na ako ng sapat e inaantok na ako.

...

Eniweiz... parang masaya mag-english ulit sa blog. dramatic. serious. kaso... wala namang foreigners na magbabasa ng blog ko.. except nung may nagtag sa aking mga taga-finlad na akala ay kapwa nila akong finnish. jebski kasi. may ski sa pangalan. Yung mga names ata nila... blahblahskovski. Napagkamalan.

...

Siguro.. english na lang yung mga articles ko... para feeling columnist sa isang dyaryo. waw...

...

Maglalahad lang ako ng mga saloobin.
Nahihilo ako grabe!!!
Haii... di ko pa tapos yung dedication notebook ni iric... muntik ko na iyon maiwan sa hotel (nag-overnight kami nung grad ball) kaya... whoo.... suuuuper ingat na ako.
Di ko pa nabigay kay Niño yung papel na pinapasulatan niya. Naku... baka di niya na ako maalala.

...

Gusto ko talaga mag summer classes na sports o kaya something about music. Haharassin.. este... papakiusapan ko mga magulang para sa piano lessons. Kahit yun man lang.. sa summer... kahit isa lang... may matutunan lang ako bago mag college... kasi.. pagtungtong ko sa Fleur-de-lis Auditorium... Baka muscle names agad ipamemorize. Second sem panaman. Whew.

...

Nagtyping test ako kanina. Nalimutan ko na ung url. 60wpm ang passing. 40 lang ako. Noooooo..... mahina talaga ako sa clerical skills. According din yan sa NCAE exam results ko. Social interests daw ako bagay. Sakto.. teacher. ayoko ng SPED teacher. adchem na lang... para masaya. o kaya eco.

...

nakakatuwa at nakakalungkot makita yung mga 4th year teachers. Parang ang sarap humngi ng assignment o seatwork. o magkaroon ng discussion.

...

just a thought: hindi lahat ng bagay nangyayari sa isang iglap. Marahil ganun din ang desisyon. Pagnadesisyon ka... hindi lahat ng inaasahan mo pwede mangyari.

...

eniweiz... may green shirt kaming nakita sa oxygen nila royce at celiz. ANG GANDA!!!!!! Kaya bilhin.. kaso... mahal............................... nooo..... instant bankrupt ako pagnagkataon. ayun.. frustrated ako kahapon hanggang makaalis kami ng sm manila. na-divert yung attention ko sa maiging pakikinig kay royce habang naglalakad sa sobrang init.

...

ayan. panahon na naman ng halohalo. Isang beses nung nag-Robinsons ang choir e bumili kami ni Ma'am Carlos ng halohalo sa Razon's. 3 lang sangkap nun. Saging, macapuno.. leche flan.. ang sarap!!! whoo... grabe yun....

tapos... gusto kong magtrabaho for summer. Para may pera. Out of stock na naman ang pera.... dahil walang pasok. at sa pagkain at pamasahe lang naman nakoconsume yung baon ko.

...

waw.. haba na pala ng naisulat ko.

...

april 10: choir!!!!! kita kita ulit!

....

ciao~

Dusting Off...

2007-03-25T18:31:00.000+08:00

...my blog. It's been a long time.

Graduation is near.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

I am ready to leave a piece of my heart behind.

[triggerhappy] Sleep-Deprivation and Homework

2007-02-18T19:10:00.000+08:00

[computer shop mode... reading el fili summaries... typing an immensely short post.]

the prom's over... it was a nice prom, even if it was only held at school.
---
there's a lot of homework. rawr. i could build a tower of them.
---
there are lots of tests...
---
less than 40 days to go before goodbye.
---
i haven't retrieved the prom pics.
---
i get drowsy most of the time.
---
I finished the Testament. it's good. I rate it [4.9/5]
---
I feel a bit fatter than usual. [yey me!]
---
i've been reading the garfield dictionary for 2 days. i did that before doing any homework.
---
adchem pa lang ang tapos.

ciao~

[trigger happy] Learning How to Lead, Valentines & a Math Camp

2007-02-11T11:30:00.000+08:00

Nakabili ako ng Philippine Daily Inquirer kanina lang. Madalang lang ako bumili ng dyaryo... at ito na talaga ang nagustuhan kong newspaper kasi asides dun sa Garfield comics at Pugad Baboy e maganda yung mga articles. maganda din yung editorial section.

sayang at naiwan ko yung dyaryo... nasa computer shop ako sa cavite... 'sang malayong lugar.....

May isang article na tungkol sa leaders at pride. Pride kills most leaders...

True.

...[hinders growth... becomes ineffective.... etc...]

Ayun... kakatapos lang ng math camp. Nakakapagod. Sobrang medyo na-huli sa schedule yung activities.. at 4-5 adventures lang ang na-accomplish. weird...

aus naman.. nung sleeping time nga ata pinakamasaya.. laugh trip kami ni kj... yung tungkol sa mga katigangan at katubigan... land and water forms of the teachers... hehehe...

team leader ako nung math camp... saya nung mga kasama ko.. daming newton..... tpos mei mga kakilala akong mga 2nd year....

"Basta... laging j-energy na lang!!!"

di man kami nanalo... pinalad naman kami sa kasiayahan at medyo matigas at mabutil na kanin.

...

Valentines Day.

Hindi red yung valentines ko.... green and white xa... parang toothpaste yung color...

hehe... green and white valentines day....

Ciao~

color of my day: yellow..

[trigger happy] Tempo il Kundiman: Bayan Ko Escapades

2007-01-27T21:59:00.000+08:00

Practice ng choir. Konti lang umattend... either dahil bugbog sila sa intrams or tinatamad.. or both. Mostly, sa BOTH mag-quaqualify ung karamihan... pero I don't have the right to tell anyway. description lang. charing. ^__^

kala ko late na ako...
nagmadali ako mag-ayos dahil 7:30 ako nagising. no breakfast. rush sa manila on an empty stomach at walang kapera-pera. na-lss sa bus... baba padre faura... takbo mercury drug, bili ng 500ml water, punta kfc, bili ng burger, sabay takbo sa masci.

"kung hindi ka na~ babalik~"

sabay kaway ng mga 2nd year choir emmbers sa labas.

ala pa pala si ma'am...

ok... kain muna.

after ko ma-absorb ang daily thoughts and ideas for that morning, na-realize ko yung suot ko.. matching. ung striped shirt na niregalo sa akin ng ate ko.. nahinauhaunt ako ng idea na "suotin mo nga!" ay sinuot ko... at kasama ang ka-stripe nyang sandals na unang kong nakita pagtapak ko sa labas ng bahay.

ayos... matching.

kulang lang daw... ung pantalon ko at bag.. naka red and yellow stripes... i'd say.... 'k lng yun.

dumating si ma'am carlos.. kasama si alyssa at karell... at mga kopya ng mga piyesang umabot sa amount na 700 pesos.

alyssa engracia. bass 3. tenor 5. alto 7. soprano 9. waw... ala siyang boses.

at nagprctice kmi ng "Bayan Ko".... dumating si Kj, nagutom kami.... at tumakas papuntang McDO and Jollibee...

Nauna kami mag-lunch.

Dun ko na-realize na ubos na yung pera ko.
BANKRUPT. Para akong tumama ng piso sa Deal or No Deal. Yung tipong natatawa na si Kris Aquino... At sinasabi... "At least may PISO!!"

Meron pa naman akong P40 noh. hmph. hehe.. joke lng ung hmph. di biro ung kwarenta pesos.

At bumalik kami ni KJ sa MaSci... galing McDo, before that.. galing pala akong Jollibee para bumili ng Arroz Cubana... at humingi ng fries kay Kevin Llamas... kinamusta ang ilang Coper pipol...

Chuuuuuuug...

At nandun na ang Miranda brothers... yes... nag-mprove. 4 na kaming bass. Si KJ, ako, Angelo at si Philippe. Dumating din si Jason. Improving... 5.

Good luck talaga. 5 kami versus 3 boses na overpopulated with tenors and altos.

at bigla kaming napadpad sa TLE room. gagawan ako ni danikko ng fuse bracelet.. at gagawa rin siya ng buzzer necklace... at ng banana jack necklace.. or anklet.. kung san man magkasya.

balik sa practice. di malinis. kanta ng mga lumang kanta. sabog. flat. terrible. headache-inducing.

...

takbo papuntang Cavite.. other appointments. chARING ulit.

Ciao~

[trigger happy] I've been shot down for good

2007-01-22T20:58:00.000+08:00

yes.. this is the start of the trigger happy series. [mood swing?]

I passed UP! yes... pero parang nakakasawa yung the same place pa rin ng study. Ermita, Manila pa rin.

2007-00429 BARIT, JAY-V JAMES GATDULA BS NURSING

*celebrate good times c'mon!*

Ciao~

Tormented

2007-01-21T15:50:00.001+08:00

I feel so down. One side of my heart feels happy, the other feels a deep sense of indispensible loneliness.

For the first time, my life became full of activities, so full that it came to a point that my parents were so worried. They became angry about my schedule, seeing that I am weak with regards to fatigue and may acquire another sickness. I didn't receive any moral support onwards.

The night before that contest woke me up every two hours. I couldn't sleep well because I've heard my mom say that no one shall wake me up for the next day's activity. I didn't get a lot of sleep.

That day I kept myself into a euphoria so that I could think. Migraine struck me, and it didn't leave me until the end of the contest. 4th place, missing a point from the 3rd.

I slept on the bus ride back to Cavite. I felt uncomfortable in my seat and my head's pounding. Maybe I got so tired of all that's happened that my body fell unconscious.

I didn't pay the bus fare that day. The conductor missed on giving me a ticket.

My priorities have changed. I eat more and more, but I don't get any bigger. I sleep more, I don't feel relaxed. I read more, I don't learn anything. I try to listen, but I hear only things that lower my esteem.

For the first time, in 2007, I felt tired of my life and ready to leave without a trace.

But I shouldn't forget that my other side still feels happy. Maybe that is what's keeping me still moving on.

I hope it won't disappear.
Ciao~

Silent Days

2007-01-06T16:44:00.000+08:00

Having two birthdays is special.

My mom was dead sure I was born January 5, 1991, 11:55pm. The nurse wrote the time in am.
I was born in January 6, 1991.

I accepted them my entire sixteen years, fumbling them through the records. When I write my birthdate when I was young, I had been moody of my options, sometimes I wrote 5, or 6, painstakingly taking hold of both days.

It is a rare chance.

Now, I'm sixteen. And it's my quietest birthday.

January 5, 2007, early morning. I was in a quiet kind of somnabulistic state. I woke up, found my breakfast already plated, the water in the kettle hot enough to drive out the cold for my bath. My mom woke up then, giving me a sermon of why I was late again. I was still at home and the clock read 6:15.

I came down the gate, and some grease brushed off my uniform. I had to go up again and change my uniform.

It took me about 10 minutes before a jeep going to the right destination passed.

The jeep still had availaable seats and the driver was eagerly stopping at every village entrance for some passengers.

I stood in the bus.

I reached school about 7:10 and the mass just finished the first reading.

I ran and placed myself in the choir. The Alleluia bass section was known by only Carlos, Philippe, Lord, Clem and me. Ron doesn't know it, neither the junior choir. Philippe was not in that mood to sing with me, well, that's another issue. I was left singing the last part the bass section, all by myself.

I liked the gospel that day. Err.. The homily. Fr. Ramil tapang's style of giving out his message makes me listen. I listened, for the sake of its moral and because it's my birthday.

There was another pray-over for the January and December celebrants. Royce was so shy in going up (she's nearing 18) and a few people there up the stage didn't have a birthday of December nor January.

Thea gave me something to hang in a wall about friendship, and 4 people were sketched there, not so cute or perfect, but it seems to me that they were like me, Kj, Thea and Leslie.

A few people greeted me that day. Some are unsure of it, I just tell them to choose, or that both are my birthdays. But now I strictly follow my birth certificate. January 6. I still prefer the 5 anyway.

Life for me that day was unusually quiet. In fact, most of the time I felt alone. I know some people who do not like being alone, or detest it, but I always realize it, and it always happens to me.
I wouldn't want that, anyway. But that feeling vanished. I'm not alone. It's when I think that I am alone that makes me just the perfect loner.

After the choir meeting, I went with KJ, Alyssa, Karell and Angelo to Kameraworld. We had very cute pictures, it's just that our scanner's gone AWOL. Karell and Alyssa evaporated in the Department store, and the people left (that includes me) killed time by watching some mechanical toys.

KJ and I waited for the pictures before I traveled for Stephanie's house for the cinematography shooting. I came there at about 7:30. Gacu's scene took too long too shoot. And, Abi's face was scary. Donne came a bit later, so I need not do the scene with Chrissy. I left immediately.

The traffic was intense. I had slept for half an hour and the bus was still residing in Quirino Ave.

Unaware of the Pyro Olympics, I just had the opportunity to watch amazign fireworks without the sounds that make my head ache. I love the fireworks. Somehow, I felt my spirit is uplifted by the dazzling lights. That was the reason it was so traffic. The heart-shaped and the firefly-like fireworks astonished me.

I reached home tired, ready to sleep, but I still opened the PC to play Ragna or chat. My brother interrupted my usage and when I left for a while, my cousin godfather used it. I gave up on it.

The next day would be different.

Good thing I had a normal sleep sched.

january 6, 2007.

I went to the next shoot. Paco Park, 10am. I reached the place, 10:10. I encountered no one, except people preparing for a wedding, some foreigners doing charity work for orphans, a few students doing groupwork and a few lovers keeping themselves busy.

I went out, and I was called to my attention by Roemel. he was there, and we waited in Paco Park. I walked alone, not with him. We respect the idea that we don't get along that much. While waiting I read the Les Miserables and he played with his Gameboy.

My day's as silent as yesterday.

About 11 am we went to KFC. Esther texted Roemel to wait for everyone there.

The group was completed over lunch. They greeted me a happy birthday.

The shooting commenced, and we went to Paco Park, and I left early.

I was smiling, even when I was alone.

Traffic still troubled my way back home. I thought it was a mirienda party, but it became dinner. Sadly, I'm home instantly, and I left my groupmates early and I haven't helped that much.

Moral support.

There's still dinner. But I feel my silence.

I'll keep quiet.

color of my day:blue-green
Ciao~

New Year

2007-01-02T19:38:00.000+08:00

...mga isasaalang-alang.

...balik aral na ulit.
...new year's resolutions pa...
...balik Ragnarok...
...aral ng piano.
...sulat sa notebook na binigay ni Celiz...
...maging better person in terms of pag-uugali at marami pang iba(good luck sa akin.)
...tumahimik.

I have MOVED on.
yey for me. =)

2007...
gud luck sa ating lahat!

[[mood: happy but tired]]
[color of my day: yellow]

*missed posting so much... yet too lazy to write

2006-12-19T20:02:00.000+08:00

Whew. After staggering long and busy three days, I have reached the PC to type all the events from last Saturday up to today.

Saturday:
1) Choir practice, 8am
2) Caroling to the First and Second Year Parents in their Family Day, about 10am
3) Practice resumes
4) Lunch, almost 2pm
5) Waiting in the auditorium, 3pm
6) Last songs and leaving for Robinsons, 4:30pm
7) Pictures with Mrs. Carlos, 5pm
8) Greenwich square pizza and COLD drinks, 5:30
9) Celiz and I going to Jollibee UN to meet Nica and others, 6pm
10) Pamilya Dugtong Choir Concert at the PhilAm Theater, 7:30pm
11) Being with Vanir backstage, about 9:30pm
12) Commuting with Ralph, 10pm
*day ends..*

Sunday:
1) Buying giveaways at Makro Imus, 10am
2) Reaching the Teachers and Staff Christmas Party at Gen. Trias, Cavite, 11am
3) Lunch with lots of broccoli, 12:30pm
4) Went home for some preps, 3:30pm
5) Got the cake for my nephew’s birthday, 5:30pm
6) HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY JOSHUA!!!, 6pm, McDonalds Festival Mall
7) Watching my nephew hug with the skateboarding snowman stuff toy, about 8pm
*day ends..*

Monday:
1) Came at school late, 7:40 am
2) Vocalization, 8:30am
3) Fixing the Jingle Bells Calypso, about 10am
4) Lunch, 11am
5) Changing clothes and make-up, 2:30pm
6) Leaving for Eliminations for Baywalk Carolfest, 4pm
7) Reached Raja Sulayman Plaza, 5pm
8) Technical difficulties, 5:30pm
9) Program starts at last, 6pm
10) MSHS Chorale performs as Choir#8, about 7:30 pm
11) Last performer leaves stage, about 8:30pm
12) Rowdy people taking over the stage for entertainment as scores were being tabulated, from 8:40 to 9:50 pm
13) Announcement of 7 finalists, 10pm (we got in!)
14) Masci, 10:30pm
15) Reaching home, about 11:10pm
*day ends..*

Today:
1) Came to school, 10:30am
2) Answered a brutal English test, about 11am
3) Quickly ate chicken curry, 11:40am
4) Analogy test, 11:50am
5) Sleeping sessions at the auditorium, about 12:30pm
6) Vocalization, 2pm
7) Practice of Finals and Rizal musical, 3pm
8) Costume for Finals decided, 5:30pm
9) Alone at McDo, abut 6:15pm
*day ends..*

Ciao~

kumain...

2006-12-15T20:31:00.000+08:00

Wee. After ng carol fest at ng choir practice and president’s meeting for the sudden intramurals…

Dumaan ako sa KFC para kumain.

Hehe.. Mag-isa lang dapat ako… Medyo naisip ko na kaunti lang ang mga taong pupunta doon… Naiisip ko sa McDo sila pupunta (no offense..) at saka GUTOM NA GUTOM na ako…

Naabutan ko ang iilang mga Darwin pipol…

Hehe nandun din pala sila Jayvee, David, Jason at Dante.
Sila ay mga second years na junior choir members and performing arts people…

Eh di order naman ako… Hehe may nakita akong parang happy meal yung dating… hehe chuckie meal daw ang name.. tapos happy feet!!! Hehe penguins ang toys na kasama ng meal. For 75 pesos… burger meal at… penguin!!!!

Habang naghihintay sa counter ay pinagiisipan ko na kung handa ba ako sa gastos… 52 versus 75… pero may penguin naman….

“ano po order nila sir???”

“ano po… yung classic burger meal… yung may penguin po…”
PASIMPLE PA!!!

Demanding pa ako..
“ung una pong penguin…” (sa poster…)

…hanap sila…

“Wala na po..”

T_T

Ay ayan..sumama ako kina Jason… nakahiwalay ako sa table.. hehe pero katabi ko lang sila… wee… nagbubuhusan na sila dante ng gravy… at inaaway away na rin naming si Dante tungkol sa kanyang… ehem… ka… ka---…. kakulitan…

Ayan..usap usap sa mga issues ng 2nd year,… khit na medyo pwede akong ma-OP… hehe… nakinig naman ako sa mga issues nila at nag-share ng mga comments at nakipag-joke sa kanila.

Hehehe… saya kasama sila… gugulo mundo mo pero makulit… lalo na sina jayvee at dante…

Bigla ko tuloy na-miss maging second year.

Hehe… meron ding moment si dante tungkol sa pagdesisyon kung mag-eextra rice ba siya… sa vital statistics… at sa yelo sa kanilang mga inumin.. (pasaway!! Mabait kaming bata ni Jason ala kaming yelo sa drinks…^ ^)

At… natapos ang feeding frenzy namin… weee… saya saya.

Rawr.

Ciao~

HAGGARD...

2006-12-14T22:50:00.000+08:00

ang choir people...

rawr.

Ang Kalakaran ng Sangkatauhan...

2006-12-13T17:53:00.000+08:00

...kapag teacher's day.

Nag-umpisa yung araw ko sa isang pagbagon ng 6 am. Whoo... ayan... nagmamadali na ako.... kaunti na naman kinain kong almusal...

Ayan.. pagkatapos ng mga daily habits ay nag-abangna rin ako ng masasakyan. Yikes... alang dumadaan na papuntang Lawton.
May dumating na nakalagay [Buendia Taft]..
Sakay ako... No choice na.. mahuhuli ako sa program... Oh no...

Nung nagbayad ako... sabi ko Padre Faura ako bababa. Hanggang Vito Cruz lang pala yung FX. Pwede na rin...

Nag-umpisa yung traffic sa mismong papuntang Coastal Road pa lang. Nakatulog na ako, tapos nasa Cavite pa rin ako. Yikes...

Tulog ulit.

Nagising naman ako... sa tollgate. As usual... Traffic pa rin.
Oh no... hindi ko dinala yung gameboy ko... [kasi yun yung nagsisilbi kong orasan after mawala ng phone ko.. at nalalaro ko pa sya.. dual purpose.. hehe)

Nakatulog na naman ako...

Coastal mall na... Yikes! Hindi na talaga gumagalaw ang mga sasakyan....

EDSA.... nagmamakaawa na ata ako sa mundo na sana gumalaw na ang mga sasakyan! wala pa naman akong ideya kung anong oras na...

DUmating kami sa may Buendia... at may nakita akong bus (na dumadaan sa Taft...) at pumara na kaagad ako. Sabay takbo sa bus...

Dumating ako sa school 7:45 am.

TEACHER'S DAY.. nagkakantahan na sila pagdating ko... may mga sumayaw.... nagbigayan ng regalo... introduce ng mga teachers... ipinakilala na sa mundo ang aming kuno "special" teachers, si Mr. Richard Taylor from Canada and Mr. Soushi Uchiyama (lahat ng teachers tawag sa kanya Sushi... pagkain?!?!)at kumanta ang "prestigious" daw na mshs chorale. serenade habang gift giving.

yung minsan at longer... di masyadong effective.
give me that old time religion.........
hehe nagkaroon na sila ng energy for the day.

meron ding games... para sa mga teachers.
syempre may mga kumareer... eskandalo.... at mga nanalo't natalo. may nagdance showdown... hehehe...

natapos ang program sa panukalang alang klase at pagbisita sa adviser.

so... nyuton... namili talag sila ng gifts for the teachers...eh di merong mga caricatures by steph and the ol'gifts fom papemelrotti...at sabay sabay na pumunta ang nyuton sa mga teachers at nag greet ng isang malakas na "HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY! WE LOVE YOU! VERY MUCH!"

1) Mrs. Francisco.... adviser namin na hinarang namin sa corridor... at binigyan ng caricature (No choice!) at ng isang papemel gift...
2) Ma'am Jacob.... ala.. aww...
3) Mrs. Correa... binati namin sa may english dept.... hehe...
4) Ms. Quintal... nasalubogn namin habang papuntang canteen... binigyan ng girls ng ref magnet...
5) Mr. Bautista and Mr. Bangayan.. habang sila'y kumakain ay binati namin sila at binulabog ang buong canteen... may caricature si sir bau nd binati ng Physics is Fun!
6) Mrs. Gumboc.... napaiyak na sya sa amin... ang ganda pa ng nakuha niyang prayer sa aming gifts na vitamins for everyday... Mr. Rafols... hehe binigyan namin ng seatwork.. este message in a bottle.
7) Mrs. Aniban... binati ng "We won't forget your smile.. that KILLER smile!" at siya ay nagpa kyut.... bigay ng regalo sabay alis...
8) Di na namin naabutan si Ma'am Gozo...
9) Mr. Taylor... Binati namin ng tagalog.. and then.. in english... hehehe
10)si Sir apejas ay naabutan namin sa English Dept... at binati ng Correctional! mero din syang caricature.... at medyo nahuli yung gift....

ayan..punta ang nyuton sa rob... at hndi makapasok.... sa pfaura entrance..nilakad pa namin papuntang pedro gil bago nakapasok sa may entrance beside tgif... yikes.. gutom na ako..

papic... bagka hassle sa dami namin..then food court... then balik sa masci.... tawag kina thea.... pa xerox ng piyesa.... at uwi na..

shucks!!! lumagpas ako!!! umabot na ako hanggang IMUS!!!!!

Ciao~

Quick Changes...

2006-12-11T19:57:00.000+08:00

Naging gawi ng ng mga choir members ang magpalit ng damit sa loob lamang ng ilang minuto.

At pagkatapos ng mga nakakapagod na mga practice, nag-improve na ang aming performance.
Pero babaguhin pa rin.
Pasok na rin kami sa Nationals... (yey!... nung nalaman daw nung nagiisa naming kalaban sa region cluster na masci ang kalaban... nag-backout....)

Nakakapagod din ang magpalipat-lipat ng pwesto, taas baba sa stage at palit ng palit ng damit, major man o role o extra lang...

Mahirap makisabay...

--

Umuulan kasi kanina.

Hindi ba kakaiba na maabutan mo ang isang tao ng mapula ang mata umagang-umaga?
Nang dumating ang kinakasama niya, kay bilis na lumiwanag ang kanyang mukha...

Ganyan kabilis magbago ng damdamin... Sa panlabas.

--

Medyo sinisinat ako kanina.

Nakatulog ako ng kaunti sa auditorium namin.
Mabilis na nawala ang init dahil sa aircon.
Pero masakit pa rin ulo ko...

--

After ng practice, naglakad kami ni Thea papuntang Jollibee.
May nakasalubong kaming isang inang nag-aalala sa kanyang anak... na tumatakbo papunta sa eskwelahan ng kanyang anak... para sunduin...

Napakabilis ng galaw, at nakapagtapon ng lamang ng "Thank you!" habang malayo na...

Kung alam lamang ng anak kung gaano ito kabigat sa isang magulang...

--

Mabilis ang panahon.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat bang magdiwang ang mga tao ngayon, maliban sa kaarawan at sa iba pang matinong okasyon. Dalawang buwan... ng pagsisinungaling... ng lokohan...

--

Ang aking kinakatuwa dito ay hindi ko namang nararamdaman na bitter ako. Nais ko lang ilahad yung mga nakita ko kanina.

Ciao~

LosingYour Voice

2006-12-08T20:57:00.000+08:00

I was trained by a friend to reach very high notes without injuring my throat and creating crushed tones. I continued vocalizing, almost to the point of screaming. I was sweating profusely. My chest pounded with all the lack of air as I forcefully pushed them out. I panted a lot, resting between notes as the keys were pressed.

I fell silent to conserve what remains of my voice.

I sat beside people, listening to what they have to say. I became fond of hearing their songs or their rants, mediocre or sensible.

When I have a clear throat I talk tactlessly.

When I am quiet I think of myself saying my thoughts in perfect order.
When I speak, I lose the details.

Maybe that's why some people are hurt by me. My words are not thrown in the right places.
I apologize.

When my voice returns to normal, I would like to keep quiet once more.
Ciao~

Ang Hinagpis ng mga Taong Hindi Karapatdapat Masaktan

2006-12-06T21:46:00.000+08:00

***Hindi lang ako yung involved dito...***

hai...
ok na sana yung gabi kung hindi nangyari ang mga ito:
1) lumagpas ako sa dapat kong babaan (kaya doble pasahe pa ako at buti na lang medyo malapitlapit pa ako...)
2) hindi ako pagagalitan ng nanay ko dahil nga late ako umuwi (at dahil nga problema ko ngayon ang aking buhay...)

--
Ano kaya ang pakiramdam kapag sinabi sa iyo ng kaibigan mo wala kang kwenta?
--

bakit pa ako nagtatanong.... *psychotic mode*
--
Natatawa lang ako sa nangyaring giyera kanina lamang. Handa siyang talikuran ang pagkakaibigan namin, ang tulong ng mga taong nag-aalala para sa kanila, ang kanilang mga magulang, pati ang Diyos.

Yun lang.

Sinisi pa niya ako dahil ako ang sanhi ng mga pagdurusa ng lahat ng tao sa paligid ngayon.
Kasi nga naman ako yung nagsabi sa iilang taong dapat makalaam ung nalalaman ko.

--

Sabi ko:
"Paano kung hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Eh 'di isang malaking joke lang yung pagkakaibigan natin? wala lang yun lahat? Yung apat na taon??? Nakabitin na naman ba kami??"

--

Naiiyak na ako nun sa galit at lungkot na maaaring masira ang buhay ng iba dahil sa kanya (at kanila). Kaso, hindi niya ako mapapiyak dahil lamang nagtatapang-tapangan siya.

"Paalam best friend..."
Nagpapaalam pa siya na parang wala lang... Senseless nga kasi... Sarcastic.
--

Pagkaalis niya, mapula na yung mata niya.

--

Sayang... Mahalaga ka pa naman sa aming lahat... kaso sinira mo iyon, kasama ang isang taong makasarili.

Makasarili.... ka rin.

--

Sabi nga ng isa sa mga taong involved (clue: hindi siya marunong magbukas ng nilagang itlog) na ang turing niya sa araw niya lagi last.

Ngayon, laging new na.

Ciao~

...fatigued...

2006-12-04T22:20:00.000+08:00

...due to the YMCA. I felt so tired with all the seminars and travel. I enjoyed of course the frigid air, the cold breakfasts, the strawberries (and the wine...), the talks and socializations, the pears, word factory contest, dreamcatchers, the refrigerated bath water, "no vendors" store, cup noodles, the broccoli, late nights, coffee worship, jeep rides around baguio, the 41 card game, writing a newsletter,the pine cones, the flowers and the pictures.

Este, jictures. [j-language by royce]

Jiao~

Villains.

2006-11-26T19:43:00.000+08:00

Waw. Sa buong linggong ito ala pa akong pahinga.
Tagalog mode ulit...

Sabi nga naman ni Ma'am Carlos... "Gastos lang ang YMCA"
Nung nalaman niya na kalahati ng choir kasama... naturingan kaming villains dahil may dalawang contest kami.... this coming december...
Tapos wala pa kami sa practice... for 5 days...
Kailangan mag-vocalize habang nasa Bagiuo.

Kaso.... takas naman lahat ang YMCA.... at saka awards..

TAKAS...

TAKAS...

para matapos na lahat.. bago mag Pasko.

--

"I hope this season is reason... enough to make you smile...."

--
Friday:
Nag Physics Mind Brawl din pala me... Grabe... Nagkulitan lang kami ni Pau Ba habang ako at ang aking kasamang third year na si Lowell (spellcheck..) e sumasagot ng physics questions.

Tapos.. Ang haba ng clinchers at do-or-die questions,...

yey... 3rd place.

--

Saturday:
Hindi ako natuloy sa isang contest sa UP Diliman dahil kulang kami sa members at kinakailangang mag-shuffle. Pero nakapag road-trip naman ako sa UPD kasama sina Sir Bautista, Leo, Arvin, John Kevin, Jelo at Stefen...

Alis rin ako pagdating ko sa UPD dahil ga may practice sa school.. at medyo kinakabahan ako sa grades ko...

--

CARD! Nakuha at last... BUMABA ako sa adchem... yikes... pesteng research...

--

today:
UST exams.... may 4 akong blanko sa exam.

Mental Ability.

(so baliw na talaga ako... hehehehe)

--
ciao~

labshuu leslie.. thea.. kj.. banir..!!!!

Rants and Personal Entropy

2006-11-22T18:52:00.000+08:00

...

This is the effect when you get locked out of your house.

...

I've planned to search for the cenaculo later, yet I got on early.

And I just played o2jam again.

freaky... -_-

...

asides from regaining reaction time, i realized something.

--

Spending some time alone is a good short-term investment.

Notes:
It is good because the silence will help you think. That is why retreats are being held. A little quietude from all the hustle is good.

It is short-term. Short. Being alone is not forever.

It is an investment. It is a decision. To socialites, this is a novel idea. To people suffering from some sort of depression, this is almost crazy. It is a choice to take, and a risk to follow.

--

I read some comments from my latest post, and my posts were called angst. I was definitely shocked, because I never had that personality before. Only this calendar year and this school year... that I learn to post such heavy drama.

The emo has arrived.

--

I don't like being an editorial writer. I'm not good on opinions anyway.

--

Thank you, Anonymous (this is a sensless return statement..)

--

Congratulations to Thea Pias!

Ciao~

Running into Air

2006-11-17T20:21:00.000+08:00

beware. this post is ironic.

social studies will never be the same, after appreciating a few words from my teacher (words which i really never heard, just got wind of it...) and reckoned that i've been acting all over stupid, strange and furious.

the invisible war has begun.

how would you feel when you just disregard your friends and passing by them as if they were just wind? invisible to your eyes, your thoughts... plainly almost non-existent.

i'd feel a bit happy because i am not worried anymore. no pain.

also, no gain.

the fact that i agreed to be their friend again and suddenly get cold and sarcastic was a shocking experience, for me (i do not know the effect on them) because i felt stupid by the words of my ss teacher.

i dream of becoming a doctor, even on a battle field. but in this war, i held a gun with a brutally good silencer.

can i just shoot them dead... all those memories... ?

...

there is one thing wrong about considering them as air.

lesson with my english teacher: trees provide us with the most important thing of all, the thing that keeps us alive... AIR. (oxygen... you know....)

...

maybe i want to escape the pain of being friends to people who act as if problems were just dust on their shoulders. they could just swipe it off. it is a pain, because people around them inhale the dust and cough up some despair.

...

i feel so desperate, to solve the problem, to prove that i am a good friend.

...

pakiramdam ko tuloy, di lang ako yung nagtaksil.

ciao~

Eto na talaga...

2006-11-13T20:29:00.001+08:00

Reality check.
panalo nga pala kami sa chorale contest ng rotary (lam nyu n yan!) pro xempre. yehey!
2nd place. ^________^

--

hehe nagtataka ako kung bakit bitter ako sa iilang tao.
sabi nga ni kj: dapat magsawa.
sabi ni leslie: wala na akong pakialam.
sabi ni thea: gusto ko siyang tulungan.

speechless na ata ako.

hehe kanina hindi ko siya pinansin kanina.
sabi ni leslie: ang harsh mo.

--

titigilan ko na ito.

matagal nang natapos ang mga hiling ko.

eto.. sawi.

--

sana nga lang hindi ito umabot ng pasko.
baka hindi na ako lumigaya.

--

English Time: Some people needs us. Some people need us badly. We also need them. Some people, we also need badly.

--

Maglalaho na ung "for some reason" sa bokabularyo ko.

--

Notes and Rests

2006-11-01T13:59:00.000+08:00

Solemn air surrounds the bright sunny day.
- All Saint’s Day 2006

Meron pa rin akong sleep deficit, o puyat. Kapag kasi kinulang ka sa tulog, maliban sa magbabago ang biological clock ng isang tao, magpapakita din siya ng simptomas ng puyat. Eye bags, haggard na look, migraine, lack of concentration…

At kung kinulang ka ng 2 o 3 oras na tulog, mas marami pa dapat ang itulog muli para mawakasan ang sleep deficit sa buhay mo.

Ngayon, wala kaming pasok. Temporary lang naman ito. May pasok sa Nov.2 at 3. Pero practice pa rin kami. Buong araw.

Kahapon (puyat ako nitong panahon na ito…), bagong lessons naman sa pagkanta. Kasama na si “Father” Jericho (spell check please..) na dating conductor ng MSHS Choir at ngayon assistant choirmaster ng UST Pharmacy Division ata (pero Med Tech and nakita kong course sa shirt niya.. hmm…)

Bago pala magpakita si Father, nangyari ang vocalization na may kasamang hardbound na libro pang pressure sa diaphragm. Unang parte pa lang na araw, pagod na kaagad.

Pero, hindi mo pwedeng sabihin ang “Pagod na ako..” kasi kahit gaano kapagod, dapat full-energy pa rin.

Lessons:
Natuto kaming mag-stimulate ng hair follicles sa may nasal area through resonance sa bibig. Sa may banding upper palate siya makati. (medical terms, sheesh. Si Father po kasi…) Yung tipong, may itlog sa loob ng bibig. Egg tone. (Pauso lang yung name.)

Staggered breathing. Hindi daw dapat sabay-sabay huminga sa mga parting ine-expect ng audience na hihinga kami.

Dynamics. May broadening ng voice habang nasa transitions ng mga linya. May volume control na rin.

Fermata. Nasa kamay ng conductor kung kalian kami titigil. Example with Mrs. Carlos. Habang buhay na atang nakataas yung kamay niya.

Last performance: Sa stage ng auditorium. Ni-record ni Ralph ang pangyayari.

Approbation? Ewan… needs improvement siguro.

Pagod na talaga ako nang mga panahon na iyon. Kaso nga, hindi pwedeng sabihin na pagod.

Kung musical piece ang buhay, ang dami sigurong notes. May mataas, mababa, may sunod-sunod, at may iba-iba yung haba.

Pero dapat may mga rests.

Yikes, ang corny ko. Pero may point ata ako.
Corny pa rin. ^___^

Ciao~

Ikalawang Hiling: [The Art of Keeping Distances]

2006-10-30T21:21:00.000+08:00

Whew... Ngayong araw na ito ay maraming nangyari na nangangailangan ng isa pang hiling sa Diyos. Sa ngayon, pending ang una kong wish, at idadagdag ko pa itong isang naisip ko lang kanina.

Bilang isang kaibigang tumutulong sa isa pang kaibigang nangangailangan, masasabi mo ba na ikaw ang kanyang pag-asa?

May karapatan na ba akong sabihin sa sarili mo na kailangan ka niya?

Paano kung binabalewala ka niya?

May masasabi ka pa ba?

--

Minsan... Kinakausap ko ang sarili ko gamit ang mga tanong na iyan, hindi man eksaktong salita, ngunit pareho lamang ang hinihimig sa aking naguguluhang isip.

Dapat bang maging kaibigan ako para sa kanya? Sa isang taong nakikipag-plastikan sa'yo?

--

Hindi ko pinangarap gamitin ang aking kamao sa mukha ng isang tao. Sapok, pitik, at marami pang kaharutan, kaya ko... Pero ang paduguin ang mukha ng isang tao...

Hindi kaya.

Bigla kong naisip... Baka kailangan nang madumihan ng kamay paminsan-minsan.

--

Hinuhusgahan ko sila, at hinhusgahan ko ang sarili ko. Kaso, ang judgement ko, laging unfair sa akin.

Biglang sumagi sa isip ko: May magagawa pa ba ako?

--

Kaya humihiling ako, bigyan sana ako ng lakas upang lumayo nang dahan-dahan. Hindi ako iaalon ng panahon palayo, ako dapat ang lumangoy palayo sa malalim na tubig at maghanap ng isang islang mapagpapahingahan.

Marahil, pagod na ako. Kaya ganito na lamang ako humiling.

--

Hindi ba dapat the Art of Letting Go 'yan? Hehe kanta ko... May lyrics... Yung mga salita ko... Payo ko...

But they fade in every second that pass...

Ciao~

Unang Hiling: [Orison for the Sunset]

2006-10-28T10:56:00.000+08:00

May nabasa kasi ako kanila lang.. May katagalan na pala ito.... Grabe.... Ngayon ko lang nabasa... at napa-isip na naman ako.

Hanggang kailan kaya ako mahihirapan...?

Tulad ng sabi ni KJ, challenge ito ng Diyos. Wala pa ito sa mga problemang dala-dala ng mga tao sa paligid ko.

Kaya nag-umpisa na akong humiling.

Sana, pagbigyan tayong lahat ng isang araw, araw para marahil sa iba'y ituloy ang buhay, at sa akin (at sa lahat ng iba pang nakakaalam) para sabihin ang totoo habang lumulubog ang araw. Isang takipsilim ang aking hiling, sa harap ng isang malalim na dagat, nakatayo, nag-iisip.

Marahil, wala naman sigurong lulusong sa dagat para wakasan ang kanyang buhay.

...

Hihintayin lang namin mawala ang liwanag ng araw, para lamang palitan ng kislap ng mga tala at ng buwan.

At sana, tapos na ang lahat pagkatapos ng araw na iyon.
---------------------

Madalang ako humiling sa Diyos, dahil paniniwala ko noon ay hindi ito gaanong pinapansin. Marahil mahina ako bumulong sa Kanyang tainga kaya 'di niya ako marinig.

---------------------

Kung medyo... malabo yung title.. Ang kulit ko kasi.. English pa.. Naghahanap ako ng konting thrill... Joke time! May dictionary naman e.... Vocabulary enhancement... 'Di ba? ^ ^

Ciao~

Ang Aking mga Hiling

2006-10-27T19:42:00.000+08:00

waw. filipino ung post. tagalog. wikang filipino. taglish ung ilan.
napatagalog ako ksi sbi ni leslie... ang blog dpat naiintindihan ng isang grade 4 student. kaya napatigil ako sa pag-english. affected? hehehe slyt.... ksi... ksi... ksi....

hayaan na.

eto.... masaya naman,,, dahil laging ksma sina kj, thea at leslie... ksma na rin ang presensya ni ralf. after ng practice ng choir ay nagdesisyon na kaming kumain. sa mcdo. at ang kinain ni alf ay... jollibee.

may umaatikabong usapan habang kami'y kumakain.... at kawawang alf... natrauma ata.

Leslie: Na trauma ka na ba?
Ralph: *nods...*

binalak ni thea na mag moa for the sunset. so... lrt kmi... UN station.. at ang tgal nmin... sa panglimang tren n kmi sumakay. may kaunting kasikipan.... pero ok lng.

so eto n.

hiram k ung ipod ni thea nung mga araw n toh. tpos... buong lrt trip e isang kanta lng ung pinapakinggan ko.

Hiling by Paramita

Verse 1:
Nahihirapan na ang aking isip
Nauubusan na ng sasabihin sa iyo..
~~Nanlalamig na ba ang pag-ibig mo sa ‘kin..~~
Giliw..

Verse 2:
Nalilito ako, nais kong sagipin ang ating
Nalulunod na pag~~-ibig~~....
Nguni’t handa akong palayain ka
Kung ito ang ‘yong hiling
Gaano man kasakit sa akin
Ibibigay sa yoAng tanging pakiusap lang
Wag mo akong kalimutan..

Refrain:
Kay rami nang nagdaan
Na pagsubok sa ting pag-ibig
Kakayanin pa kayang mabawi pa
Ang mga nasabi nang masasakit na salita..

Kung ito ang yong hiling
Gaano man kasakit sa akin..
Ibibigay sa yo..

Nanlalamig na bang pag~~-ibig~~ mo?

whoo... ang gnda ng kantang toh. at 6 n beses syang tumugtog s ipod ni thea... at pinakanta k p s knilang 2 ni leslie s karaoke.

quantum mode... ang comfy nung sofa... at ska orange ung room. thea po pumili.... ^___^ kaso... alang kumakanta masyado... hehe..

Thea: Ano ba yan.. lahat tayo marunong kumanta...... pero ala namang kumakanta!

asides s may pinanood kming freaky pero nakakaiyak na love story in clay.. (ung background dpat ng karaoke..) nakapaglaro din ako, c thea at c alf ng dance maniax. ang saya ng speed ko.... 1x... kakaiyak..
(habang naglalaro)
Leslie: Mukha kang bored sa ginagawa mo...

di nmn.... di lang ako sanay sa 1x... ang bgal.. T_T

at... nanood n kmi ng sunset... n natakpan ng ulap hbang umuulan. meron ding mga maaingay na f3 racers..... at meron din ung mga ipis ng manila bay. Anti-social daw cla sbi ni kj.

dumating si kier... at pinakinggan nya kami kumanta.... at iniiwan namin si thea s kanyang moment n ubod ng taas.

halos umuulan n nung mga panahon n iyon. nagtawag ata kami ng ulan..

umuwi n c leslie... kj at ako.. pagkatapos i bargain kay leslie n 5:30 n sya umuwi... khit ang alok ni alf ay 7 at mlpit n syang masabihan ng "nightclub" ng kanyang ina...

at... nag dyip n lng me pauwi.

ciao~

Farewell...

2006-10-15T17:06:00.000+08:00

If think you cannot handle senseless things today, leave my blog immediately.
But, if you try, you may find a little dignity in what I wrote.

Obviously something has changed.
Everyone has.

I rarely feel emotions of deep love and deep sorrow. Joy, I presume, is the one I almost always feel, next to anger, slight depression or just playing silent. I now confess that I feel slightly of deep love and sorrow, something my body is good at. Resisiting hormonal signals that influence emotion. I am the ultimate NUMB-ASS in the whole wide universe.

The last sentence was a joke.

But I'm rather numb than stupid. That's sure.

That was my introduction to my alternate world. I've been dwelling there for ages. I wasted time there.

I thought i'd live there forever.

Then, someone cried.

Tears of great sorrow for a lost love. Tears of anger. Shock. Dilemma. Broken friendship. Destroyed trust.

Two people cried that night. Two people shared the same remorse.

One of the people who sobbed, was me.
The other one, was a friend of mine.

We both lost someone dear to us.
That someone is still lost in his alternate world.

We talked over the phone. I listened to her cries. I listened to her words, telling me that everything's over. Period. Life for her was filled with caution. She told me she feared of getting hurt.

We were both hurt. And most probably we are not the only people who want to cry for this.

Our perspectives merged. My past suddenly was suddenly filled with guilt. I confessed to my friend: I am just as heartless as this someone.

Women are complicated. Men are simple. It's the details that break the hearts of men, and the minimalism that breaks the hearts of women.

...

I just lost someone. Dear to me, dear to everyone.

That someone just doesn't know that he lost me and everyone else too.

...

I just left the alternate world. My point of view has changed. Knowing now a lot of things makes me a tad wise, but incredibly sad for the moment. This path is different.

True happiness lies from that road onwards.

...

This is my good-bye to that someone.

...lethargic

2006-10-07T20:20:00.000+08:00

The next days of my life would become heavy, as tests and projects cascade upon me like rain. Umbrella’s up.

I laid down my books and began to think on things.

I should be really more careful about travel. I just lost my phone yesterday, and I haven’t cleared things with my parents. To think I came home at 1am, I felt so dead yesterday. I must lighten this load before I finish everything else.

I have to make up for losses.

That’s why I am increasing the focus on studies. More reading, less keyboarding. I must learn the fact of saying no a lot more than usual.

That should give me a head start.

Exhaustion has got the better of me. Sometimes I want to sedate myself to sleep. Of course, the better option would be develop a deeper sense of lethargy. (Then, I just watched House with the human African sleeping sickness. That concerned me a little bit.)

My brain suddenly sung “let’s take it slow, so slow…”

That’s the natural solution for almost all problems. Defy the acceleration of the busy world. Carpi diem, I suppose. Wait, not really. Just, slow down.

Ciao~

Breaking the Blog Leave

2006-09-21T20:02:00.000+08:00

I thought I could produce posts on an intermittent basis. After so long [how long?] I finally had the courage, and the access, to produce a tiny gap between successive "no-posts".

There's too much "I" here. Sorry for the sudden egocentricity.

Summary: I was busy.
Highlights:
1) I learned how to play O2Jam courtesy of my elementary classmate and friend Josine.
2) I learned how to play Silk Road Online courtesy of my classmate rene.
3) I organized the first Fun Math for Newton, an Amazing Race with difficult questions.
4) I saw the complete device for our research.
5) I hammered a pot with a heavy,well,hammer.
6) I heard the song Hermaphrodite.
7) I had my grad pic. [Everyone else did...]

Things are now too blank to comprehend.

Copernicus and Newton would be tested as a RANDOM sampling. Take note... RANDOM.

Hope we survive.
Ciao~

Riding Home

2006-08-22T19:11:00.000+08:00

Just a while ago, I was standing up in a St. Rose bus because I went home a tad earlier than usual *the absence of my social studies teacher was worthwhile* I encountered a bus filled to every seat. The spaces left where for my legs to endure until the bus reaches Alabang. I had hoped the travel would be fast.

Standing up was not common, but I didn't do it often. My placement in the bus as I climbed up was interrupted by a concerned comment.

"Hirap ng nakatayo, pero mabilis na kasi ang biyahe dahil puno na."

It was from an old lady sitting beside the window. I don't know if she's terrified of the fact that I was standing up. In such speedy conversation I only got to nod repeatedly in mute agreement with her statement.

As the travel progressed, I began to feel a bit sleepy. School was tiring as it is, and I find a little solace for sleeping while in the bus. However, I was standing up, so that chance would fade. For a while.

My heavy messenger bag suddenly rose up in a strained hassle.

The old lady tried to weigh my bag, checking if my shoulders were being burdened by gravity. She offered her lap for my bag's resting place. I declined profusely, seeing that I would be disturbing her peace of travel due to my bag's extreme mass.

She suggested the luggage counter above.

I obeyed, for respect and gratitude, and I stuffed my huge bag unto the narrow containment. I felt a relief. I got to rest further.

The bus started filling up the remaining standing spaces in the bus. Soon, I was stuffed into the aisle of the bus. Jammed inside, I couldn't bother anyhow. However I couldn't find a comfortable grip.

And there was a drowsy feeling. I was lulled to sleep by the travel, and soon I was sleeping, standing up, propped up for balance in my grip.

My grip loosens up when I lose consciousness. In that very critical moment inertia always gets me. Soon enough, I thrusted forward into another passenger.

Damn.

Sometimes, I would fall down vertically, my knees bending. The last thing that happened is my head hitting another person. Then the bus reached the toll gate.

And the first part of my homely journey was done.

That's all.

Ciao~

Note*** Just in the news, "low bat / lobat" is now an official word, declared as Word of the Year by tranlators and scholars. And the term does not only apply to phones.

Second Road Trip

2006-08-19T09:41:00.000+08:00

Ateneo seemed like a non-existent place for me (and for Philippe). It became a matter yesterday.

Yesterday was the deadline of submission of the ACET forms, and Leslie has not submitted yet. Time check: 3 pm.

Pre-stop: Maceda Building Room 13. In a dark room Philippe, CM and I were singing broadway while Leslie accomplished her ACET form.

First stop: Mercury Drug Store Faura Branch. Philippe planned to get his body measurements in the 5-peso machine. We didn't have coins for the moment. We left.

Second stop: KFC Faura. I had to eat with Newton first, I got to eat first before my classmates had their orders. I even got to try Extreme Hotshots. Oooooh, they were so spicy. After ph,cm and leslie were finished, I left too.

Preliminary Travel Plan: taxi to Ateneo.

We got to ride a taxi though. The fun part is the taxi driver does not know where Ateneo is. He brought us to UN for free.

Secondary Travel Plan: LRT to Edsa, Edsa to Quezon Ave. via MRT.

Then another taxi to the school of the blue eagle.

Third Stop: Ateneo de Manila University. The taxi got up to the Office of Admissions. That was the first time I stepped into Ateneo. There was a long queue, and we got to proofread Leslie's essay.

We also encountered Pausiu and Janica.

Travel Plan: walk out of Ateneo. *absolutely tiring and ridiculous!*
Modified Plan: Tricycle. [then one zoomed behind us]

We jaywalked at least twice inside the campus. We searched for tricycles. We found one, but it could only carry 3. Pausiu, Janica and I went first.

The travel was long. We reached a rotonda and we parted there. err, they parted away, I stayed to wait for ph,cm and leslie.

They came.

Travel plan: LRT 2 to Recto.
We were dismayed at this point. The path taken by the LRT 2 is obviously much shorter than our first mode. Well, we didn't know what station leads to Ateneo anyway.

Travel Plan *Haggard*: Walk to any food establishment.

Fourth Stop: 7/11 Dorotheo Jose. The street brings back memories *the bleach escapapde*

We were revitalized after a few hotdogs and drinks. Jokes were the topic of the conversations. they even got to laugh at my medicine, a large capsule which ph said looked like a suppository. we even chuckled at the corniest of jokes *includes my adviser's*

Travel Plan: LRT. I would land at Central station. They would be going to EDSA or Gil Puyat *not sure...*

Travel Plan to my sister's apartment: Jeep signed Blumentritt Dimasalang. THIS IS SO WRONG!

I reached a unknown lace by the time. I backtracked and asked for Maria Clara St. I was led there, and I walked the wrong way. I had to call for help. I was lost.

I stood at Maria Clara cor. Lacson Ave. My dad fetched me there.

That was a long day.*im losing touch of writing...*

Ciao~

All Coughed Up with Fever to Go

2006-08-12T20:40:00.000+08:00

Haggard Awareness Week has become Influenza Weekend, and if I am unlucky, might become a loooong weekend.

I need to recuperate badly. I might risk missing 2 to 3 days of class if my body doesn't cooperate with me.

My conjuctiva are red, my lips are flaking, my BP's 80/60 *this is low*, and my teeth hurt *newly adjusted,, it's not related with the flu but it adds up with my pain*, my head's on another roll, my breath is as hot as a flat iron *I tried exhaling on my hanky, and the heat of the hanky seemed like it was newly pressed*...

I hate it when I get sick. I rarely get sick, but when I do, I am the worst of all patients.

*cough cough*

Oh, I need some rest and some exercise *believe me, this combination works...*

Ciao~

Snapshots of my HAGGARD AWARENESS WEEK

2006-08-10T19:52:00.000+08:00

After 2 days of exams, whew, I still have the guts to write even though I have a long paper in due tomorrow. The tests for seniors are so stressful! We were working overtime on the papers that would seem years to answer. People keep extending even though the time limit is up. I feel a terrible bout with low grades later on.

Snap.

My week is so stressful, and it’s not yet even ending. I still have a few tomorrows and a lot of work to cope with.

Snap.

One thing in particular though, was my project in English. It was an interesting task. The mechanics read “create your own chapter in the little prince”. This is nice! I love the book. And surely being part of it would be a dream. *well, this is just a project…* This also includes illustrations, which demanded color and Exupery’s flair.

Snap.

The choir sang for Japanese delegates just this morning. It was a rush performance. We sang Leron Leron Sinta with 4 voice types. I didn’t know Ating Kupung Singsing *is this title even correct* and a lullaby that I knew, because my mom sings it for my nephew. We also sang Lupang Hinirang with a notorious tone (the basses *that includes me* were too loud… and we didn’t have a piano… Our pianist Kyle wasn’t at school yet.

Snap.

Advanced chemistry and Humanities are tomorrow’s exams! I can withstand chem., but humanities…. Nooooo….

And I still have that paper. I need to compare countries.

Ciao~

Snap.

Writing Before The Day of Turning Fate

2006-08-05T19:28:00.000+08:00

I'm not stressed. I'm lucky that I feel this way right now.

Well, what's pressuring is the projects and the periodic tests. I even have assignments that could kill me right now. I haven't touched one problem in math. I'm started on my templates, which I keep on repeating because of lines that I cannot erase. They keep on extending. *Fine, they are my mistake. But my hands are not good with rulers and straight lines.*

The ink of my Gtech is falling low already.

I've enjoyed my days before the test.

I'll relay them later. I'm a bit unable to write.

Ciao~

[102]Scavenger Hunt: Bleach

2006-07-30T13:39:00.000+08:00

Three students walked around in Manila for almost 2 hours in search of bleach.

We were actually in search of bleach. Not the normal hypochlorite solutions for clothes; it’s an anime. We were looking for DVDs of the anime Bleach so that we could start our marathon. We were looking for Episodes 1 onwards. I had with me 3 DVDs of Bleach episodes 61-72. I had borrowed them from Blessie.

It started with a Thursday night. I asked Philippe and Carlos to go with me to Carriedo so that we could look for the DVDs. They agreed, since we knew that classes would be cut off early due to a seminar. That was the start of the plan that would ultimately doom our endurance.

Friday came. After the seminar, Philippe and Carlos had their sabayan practice. I called my section’s practice off, so I was waiting for them to finish. I had memorized 6 stanzas when they finished. We set off to UN station for a quick LRT ride.

We waited for some time in the station. We even had Rafael in company, Philippe’s and Carlos’ former classmate. As some small and packed cabins rushed in front of us, we waited for the long silver train. It was a bit packed as expected, but it had space for the four of us to cram in.

Then, the three adventurers said good-bye to Rafael and went down at Carriedo station. We got our cards inserted in the exits, and by almost 5 in the afternoon, the journey has begun.

~

Technically, I do not know the place. I had the guts to go there though, together with my friends. As I looked around, I really had to guess where our steps should lead to. I had to rely on intuition, a good sense of memory and a rush of luck to find what we were looking for.

~

Walking from the station, we treaded straightforward. As we covered about tenth of a kilometre, we didn’t find any DVD stalls to mention. All we saw were different products sold in bargain prices. We travelled further, going around in a ground floor mall and even walking up a small department store. Then, we saw a stash of hope.

A man was selling some discs, which could be MP3s or VCDs or most likely DVDs. We came about and took a peek on what he was vending.

And there was porn all over. We were taken aback a bit, since we just had a seminar. Oh, I forgot. The seminar was sexuality education. The speaker there left his purpose effectively. We had this mental note of what we just understood, and what we are seeing right now.

After taking a step back, we saw a long array of stalls around the corner, disappearing into the long crowded street.

Some were selling a few nice shows, some were selling music. However majority were selling porn, not just the usual man-woman stuff. There was some stuff for homosexuals to indulge in. I wouldn’t elaborate.

I had to ask a few vendors whether they have Bleach on their racks.

“Wala.”

There was a long street ahead, and lots of DVD sellers to cover.

“Meron po ba kayo nito?” I asked while I showed the DVD sample I was holding.

“Wala.”

Our disappointment continued all through the street. We had to turn right and move back to where we started, the plaza near Carriedo station.

Back to square one, Carlos already felt an urge to give up. My spirit was already falling for me too. Failure seemed around the corner. Philippe then raised his notion.

“Tuloy pa rin tayo, ‘di ba?”

We have decided. From our point of origin, we would take another path.

Our walk took a while, and we continued asking whether they have Bleach or not. My forehead was already sweating. Carlos was getting tired. We walked some distance after about twenty minutes when we reached another place. I remembered what Blessie, the one who introduced me to Bleach, said.

“Sa Carriedo, sa Recto o sa Divisoria, meron.”

Divisoria was out of the question. Our next hope was Recto. We were under an intersection of LRT1 and LRT2. We were out of Carriedo already.

Our current location at that moment was Dorotheo Jose.

That’s too far! We asked around once more, looking for a path to Recto. After being given directions that I was a bit unsure, I saw a sign.

[Recto This Way ------->]

We continued our tiring travel between busy streets. I even evaded a passing trike while crossing a street, landing in a gallop. That was a step in DDR. Philippe then thought of the advantages of being DDR player. We had to smile a little within our little crisis.

We walked under some dark alleys. We saw some isolated vendors juxtaposed in their selling. I asked the first one by showing the DVD copy I borrowed from Blessie.

“Wala e.” the vendor said. “Bold ba yan?”

Damn. I turned to the next vendor. I showed her the DVD. She examined it. After a few seconds she started browsing her racks. This is it! Our journey is nearing its end!

“Wala na, pero meron kami nito dati.”

“Ate, bakit nawala?”

“Marami kami niyan dati, kaso ni-raid ng police.”

And we walked back to Carriedo, haggard and hungry. We were desperate. We don’t want to fail this one road trip we had. After going back to square one (and seeing some sex toys being sold on our way back), we looked sideways.

We didn’t see this before. It was another long street, filled with lots of stalls. Most of them were DVDs.

We asked the first vendor. [How could we miss this! It was already there when we came down the LRT, and yet we walked all around only to return back!] After examining the DVD, one of them spoke.

“Wala. Pero lakarin n’yo lang ‘yan, derecho lang kayo. Dun sa may Hidalgo, marami dun. Sigurado akong makakahanap kayo doon.”

And we walked, with a little ray of hope shining upon us. A dash of rain fell as we were rejected one by one. No Bleach here and there. After a long unsatisfactory walk, our eyes were bound to candles, a large white towering structure and tolls of a Eucharist taking place.

We were at Quiapo church. [We walked that far!!!!] Dismayed at the mere fact we haven’t seen a hint of Bleach, we tried returning to Carriedo, trying the second side of the stalls since we covered only one side.

Nothing yet. After reaching our point of origin, we asked the vendors who told us of Hidalgo again. “Saan po bay un?”

“Derecho nga lang.”

“Sa Quiapo na nga po yun e,” we argued.

“Punta kayo dun sa underground, derecho lang. Nandun lang yun.”

We tried that. But we first had a break at KFC. We ate and rested for a while. After enjoying chicken and gravy for a quick dinner, we resumed walking towards Quiapo.

We reached the church once more. Looking around, I saw a flight of stairs leading down. This is it!

Philippe had gone down there one time. We looked around. It was filled with tiles and lighted by an eerie orange light. It was warm there. It had some shops. No vendors of DVDs though. Then we saw Hidalgo.

It was a street.

The sign was in large brass letters. We walked up and saw ourselves on the other side of Quiapo. The church was visible from there. We opened our umbrellas. We looked across the Hidalgo. It was filled with DVD shops.

We continued our search. Still, no Bleach. We asked one guy and said he didn’t have it. But he directed us to another street, right on the corner of Hidalgo.

We asked a few more. Then after reaching a stall where a mother and child were stationed, we tried once more. I showed them the DVD.

“Meron.”

At last! We then tried to find the DVD in their current set. But there was none. The kid then got the DVD from me.

“Tignan ko sa may bodega. Babalik ako, ha!”

As we stood in the rain, Philippe questioned the fact if he would return. Carlos quoted then:

“Trust in the goodness of man.”

Sure, I thought. I told them that he was with his mother. He would come back. The mother even assured us of that.

The kid in stripes, as Philippe remembered him, came with the copy I lent him and an unfamiliar man.

This is how it goes: Bleach was sold there, per set, about 8 to 9 discs. 50 pesos per disc. If we were interested, we could come to the place.

We agreed, and we walked to another street and to a shop full of DVDs and stuff. We waited for a while. Then, he came with 4 plastics. He said the sets were incomplete. He had 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, and 51-72 [composed of 2 discs in one plastic]. He tested one DVD. It was working fine. I requested if he could test 51-72, because it was composed of 2 discs. The first disc didn’t work.

I only had 170 pesos max. I could only buy 3 discs. I told the guy we were buying 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50. He then insisted on other working disc from 51-72. I declined. He kept insisting. Lugi daw siya. I refused.

I gave him 150 pesos and said good-bye. We were to return there at Monday to get 1-20.

After a long travel, we found the one place where Kurosaki Ichigo and others can be bought. We took a jeep to SM manila, had a break, and then took off.

The three of us were tired.

Sorry for the enormity of this post. But this is the actual length of what we experienced.

Ciao~

[101]Good Citizenship

2006-07-26T20:54:00.000+08:00

[Instructions: Read. Copy. Post in your blog. Let this article spread. It's free. It's important.]

Good governance is not enough. Let us work on being good citizens. Let us translate the good citizenship values derived from the Preamble of the Constitution into concrete action in order to build our nation.

In recent history, we have engaged in two bloodless and peaceful revolutions. Yet nothing seems to have changed because we have just changed our leaders but have not changed ourselves. We keep blaming our political leaders for the mess we are in. We keep demanding good governance from them but have not demanded anything from ourselves. There seems to be a missing piece in the puzzle. If we demand good governance from those in public office, there must be a counterpart from our end and this is good citizenship. And how do we become good citizens? By living according to good citizenship values which we can derive from the preamble of the Constitution - Faith in God, Unity, Patriotism, Work, respect for Life, Respect for Law and Government, Truth, Justice, Freedom, Love, Equality, Peace, Promotion of the Common Good, Concern for the Family and Future Generations, Concern for the Environment and Order.

These are our values as a people. These are our values that will make us good citizens, if we live by them. They must be translated into concrete action in all aspects of our lives at all times. If we do this, then all our actions no matter how humble will build our nation in much the same way that the simple act of a humble mason of putting one stone on top of another builds a cathedral. And the realization that all our actions based on this values, no matter how small, are building our nation, will give us that sense of nationhood that has heretofore eluded us.

There is nothing new in these good citizenship values. We do not need to learn them. We know them. What is lacking is the will to live by them. How then shall we move from knowing them to living by them? We just have to take a look at the mess we are in and we will realize that it is the absence of this values in the way we live that has brought it about: sinfulness, discord, greed and selfishness, indolence, violence and murder, anarchy, intrigue and mudslinging, oppression, exploitation, hatred, war, broken homes, environmental degradation, violation of human rights. And then we should ask ourselves. Is this the world I want to live in,? Shall I be part of the problem or part of the solution? We just have to decide. Yes, I want to be a better country. Yes, I will live these values at all times, no matter what the cost, through thick and thin, come hell or high water. Because living these values is the only way to turn things around, to have a better world. Sometimes, it will not be easy to live these values. There will be a price to pay. But living these values will also have their own rewards as all good works will bear good fruit, maybe not in the short, but in the long term.

If we are to build a better nation, it is not enough to press for good governance, we have to demand to ourselves, each one of us, young and old, rich or poor, Muslim, Christian or Protestant, good citizenship that is values based and values-driven.

There is still hope for our country. Let us forget the politicians. We can transform this country from below. If we cannot find heroes among our leaders, let us find them among the ordinary people - those who will build our nation by the truly heroic act of being a good citizen day by day all the days of their lives.

The Seminar

2006-07-23T13:04:00.000+08:00

We had a seminar with the first baby in the world.

That’s what his grandson thinks though. Our speaker, an editor for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was with us during the Knowledge Trip with Guyito. It was a journalism seminar sponsored by the PDI together with the awarding of our own Guyito.[ The Guyito, painted by Romeo Forbes, was a priceless art encased in fibreglass and placed in front of the building.]

Mr. Ruben (I forgot his last name) tackled effective writing to all those present. He told us that reading and writing must always go together. He also told a lot of stories on how he made his life the journalistic way.

He recalled that when he was about our age, the room we were staying was not our current Media Center, but a classroom. It was not Manila Science High School during his time. Arellano High School stood there, and he was there. He was a student, like the people present. It had a lot of memories of the place. But the key memory was the library. He described it as having a thousand books shelved around you. He was a fond reader, and he would carry some paperbacks with him and read it while in traffic.

At heart, he really enjoyed writing. He would watch boxing games in his youth, and come home excited. He would write down all the things he saw during the match using a typewriter, as if the paper was going to be published the next day. Of course, as he said it, he would keep it in his drawer. The roaches ate it afterwards.

He reminded us of what speed mean to journalism. He went on with his story about the JFK assassination. The President’s car then was followed by a press bus. As soon as the shot was fired, a journalist immediately grabbed the phone, called his office and elbowed another reporter trying to pry the phone off. As soon as he told his colleagues that the President was shot and that the wound could be possibly fatal, he ripped the cord, and threw the phone away.

That reporter was the first to announce to the world that JFK was dead by the bullet. He was awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

An account on what obligations mean to journalism is about President Bush being in an Iraqi desert. As a press bus travelled, the President rose from a bunker. A reporter, after seeing the figure rise above the sands, jumped from the running bus and ran towards the President. The reporter was the first person to interview the president that day.

Mr. Ruben then told us that the reporter was 75 years old. And she was a woman.

Fairness was also important, he said. Take all the sides’ views. News must not be one-sided. What one is telling to the world must be at all ways balanced.

Journalists avoid prolixity, he explained. One should be direct to the point. No redundancies. He wrote on our whiteboard some examples, like old adage, future plans and complete monopoly. He made a mistake and he erased it, and the ink smudged. Then someone realized that he wrote those words using an Apache pentel pen. The ink was blue, and it was permanent.

He also told us to approach this on a different way. News writing is not simple telling the 5 Ws and 1 H. He told us a story about a reporter in Sri Lanka who was writing about the tsunami. He was in a school, where there were no students. They were dead. As other journalists wrote about blah-blah-blah, this and that, this reporter wrote it this way.

NO SCHOOL BELL RANG IN THIS SCHOOL TODAY.

He really knew of how to write laterally sideways. He said, be creative. Don’t just tell what has happened. Leave an impression. Another story was about the Spanish president visiting a thrashed monument in London.

THE SPANISH PRESIDENT VISITED THE DIRTIEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

He told us about the power of words. Her daughter, during her teens, was visited by a lot of men. These men come and go. But one man always came back. She wrote Mr. Ruben a letter.

The last part went on like this:

Dad, among the kites I flew in the sky, Robert [the man who kept coming back] is the kite I want to keep on flying.

Now, Robert is Mr. Ruben’s son-in-law, and Robert’s son asked his grandfather if he was the first baby born into this world, because he was so old.

That was the talk about effective writing. Hope it does you well.

Ciao~

Btw… this is my centennial post. ^____^

Asterisk Expressions

2006-07-14T18:06:00.000+08:00

Whoo... After a hassling *this is too much*, erm... energetic farewell party for our dear principal Mrs. Herson *why dear??? I dunno...* I got to be with Einstein again. I've acquired another adoption, courtesy of my lovable mommy Royce, with the supprot of a few Einstein people, and the unwritten agreement that I wouldn't leave my section Newton nevertheless.
---
Fun Facts: The farewell party included a few groovy dances, some speeches *with 4 amazing languages: Filipino, English, French and Nihongo*, btw, interpretative dance was included, and lots of singing *good and malevolent... ^___^*

It ended with a loud and clear "Mabuhay it's nice to see you!".

It was the good-bye.
---
Dance Maniax was still one of the great arcade games ever to be found in a mall. Even though we were playing with a very old version, I still enjoyed a lot of the usual songs (I first experienced DM with the Robinson's Machine) and I'm back to where I am started.

We played a light 15-minutes of Dota to relieve the 15 tokens we found on the DM machine.

After we returned, we found the machine bearing 17 credits.

---
Philippe, Carlos Miguel, Leslie, Bea and her sister Feliz were with me. The group was added by Abigail, Camille *happy birthday!*, Karen and Sally. The three stages were fun, trying to get our bodies to work.
---

Carlos Miguel treated us to some McFlurries *is this the plural of a McFlurry?* before we went home. I got to enjoy ice cream again. Oooh... the insulin rush...

---

Since parenthetical remarks, even though relevant, are unnecessary, I try to move away from the quote and switch to asterisks instead.

---

Ciao~

Weather Forecast and Foreshadows

2006-07-12T23:38:00.000+08:00

Damn. Strong gales and swift rain fall upon the northern part of this country.

Classes was suspended, and will be, for the next minutes until this day becomes one yesterday and that tomorrow becomes a today.

Damn. I am sleepy already. I'm talking nonsense.

Since classes were suspended Wednesday and Thursday, we would never get hold of French for this week. Our dear principal is leaving the school premises. Friday schedule has been cut off to 12.

Welcome the fun and excitement.

*gloomy voice* Yey... *yawn*

Damn. I was pelted by the rain again. The weather was oh-so-fair when I was travelling in the bus and the jeep and the tricycle, but the moent I started walking home, water and wind were falling upon me.... and everything else was wet.

Damn.

I had no key to the house, and it was raining, and my parents wouldn't be home for the instantaneous time being. I would have to wait for a while.

I've sang in a notoriously bad note all the songs I know and I was singing "My Girl" when my parents came with the keys and some chicken and spaghetti (sounds like a party meal)...

Dinner was even more piquant than the fowl and pasta (general terms...) and the trencherman woke up in the midst of hunger for a full meal comeback.

I need the trencherman now. Carlos and I tried the 5-peso height/weight/BMI/bodyFatIndex machine in Mercury Drugstore in Faura. Carlos was normal, in most aspects. I was significantly down under his measurements, except for the height [let's just say I'm underweight; I'm 4kg lighter than CM, 7% less fat and I have a low blood pressure...]

So I wouldn't mind eating more for a while now.
---
I'm thinking of chocolate again.

Damn.

Good night.

Ciao~

Simple Pleasures of Life

2006-07-06T20:29:00.000+08:00

Since... I forgot to put a title on my last post... I've ensured that this thing that I saw at CM and Pausiu's blog is posted with a name.

Instructions:Name ten(10) of life's simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten(10) people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used.

1) Gardens - I really like groves of trees lined with flowers all around. Seeing verdure relaxes my thoughts. I love fruit-bearing trees and herbs. I also love small trees propped with flowers. I love sitting on slabs of stones or logs while thinking.

2) Writing - This includes blogging, essays and vandalisms (I only vandal the backs of my notebooks...) I'm not a graphomainiac, mind you. I simply like taking things into words.

3) Singing - Since this is the only thing that I could deal about in music right now. Even though my voice is not oh-so-good to listen to, I still like following lyrics at their melodies.

4) Cooking - I love cooking! All the food you could make, with your own hands and full-fledged effort, with all the spices, with all the love... oh yeah... the trencherman lives on!

5) Studying Foreign Languages - Is this a simple pleasure of life???/ Well.... I really like doing this.

6) Books - These are so essential in life. Who wouldn't love them???

7) Chocolate - I'm on a sugar high! Well, choclates are best when they are really pure (I've experienced this taste with some low-sugar chocolates from France) and I love the flavor abnd aroma.

8) Being with family and friends - This is another essential in life. Treasure family and friends! They're valuable.

9) Travel - Whether it's a long journey or just a walking trip, going to places is great. Experiences are important!

10) Keeping memories - Losing them is like living the hell out of life.

---

I've thought about this while walking home (and also while I was being pelted by the rain..)

"Love is communication at its finest."

--Just a hitch.

Ciao~

10)

2006-07-01T19:35:00.000+08:00

Back to the good ol' lessons. Even though I told you I was cutting off the slack, I saved some for later. This is a bit of it. These are some mistakes translated into lessons for our benefit and to hide some of the embarassment.

Lesson 1: Never... NEVER..... drink cold water if you are going o sing, or if you have been singing for sometime. It's painful, and I did it (also... my voice is not so good...)

Lesson 2: The stage was made for people to stand up in the center. That's why the word "centerstage" elaborates this lesson. Never stand in the side of the stage if you are performing.

Lesson 3: Listen before you laugh.

Lesson 4: It is important to learn how to count the advanced chemistry way.... 3, 2, 1... 0.... nigatib 1, nigatib 2, nigatib 3.... up to the nigatib infiniti...

Lesson 5: Never listen to gossips... It uses up too much energy wondering [what surname would our teacher be because we all assumed she was going to be married!]

Lesson 6: Tell people your current localisation (place or position) when you are outdoors or in the park, mall, whatever. It reduces the "startling" effect of finding people you are with are gone.

Lesson 7: Walking while fanning outside in a windy day is outrageous, but it does help reduce pollution entering your body.

Lesson 8: Walking home is the best warm-up.

Lesson 9: If something has 498 steps... and you only know 98... move forward and learn 99.

Lesson 10: Smile always! It attracts people! ^____^

-0-o-o-

Whooo! My teeth hurt! Adjustments are really painful! Ciao~

Coffee Break

2006-06-25T10:50:00.000+08:00

*** coffee is good for the brain, pero sabi wag daw uminom ng stimulants bago mag upcat... were they referring to drugs???***

Last night, way up to morning, my family and I went to my cousin's burthday celebration. It was simple, yet piquant. I went from starved human (because I didn't eat supper for the occasion) to stuffed pig (or stick) because I ate a lot. Whew. It made my stomach cramp a bit. Good thing there's a relief.

Good ol' coffee.

My best friends/cousins and I had brewed coffee without the cream last night up to last morning. It's so much better than beer (we had this agreement of ideas that we wouldn't drink or smoke, and that we would rather enjoy 6 eye-straining hours of straight PC gaming rather than getting a beer belly and emphysema...)

It's good to talk with coffee around. It feels like the conversation is lively and warm. *warm??!?!?!?!* Since I only see them once in a while, a good long talk with the brewed coffee seemed enjoyable. It also includes a fun fact: caffeine has a reversible effects on us - either we feel drowsy than utterly awake, and vice versa, even though caffeine's stimulating effect can last up to eight hours.

Coffee is one good way to get together...

Ciao~

Miscellaneous Magnitudes

2006-06-23T20:42:00.000+08:00

Whoo... After a long school week... That's a lot of jobs in just 5 days. Homework buzzing every now and then, including some group activities that always spell "effort" in every step of the way. Aside from the movements that we have been doing for last week, mainly from Ms. Correa's antics and the hand movements for the flag raising ceremony, "effort" is something that has been lingering the campus and the classes.

Well, effort. It's something new for me. I guess I could say I was a pretty damn good slack in my past. However I'm making changes.

One of them is cutting off the slack.

Next in hand, I've been trying to save (as much money as possible) for some stuff. I really need the currencies, what I mean, the cash. I learning the importance of desolate prudence. *desolate seems too harsh...*

I'm back to reading novels. One will never know how to write without reading a good work of someone who carried the same effort. *an exception: the inventors of writing language had no references... their life was easier that way*

I always get a good sprint. Ten to fifteen minutes, all around one long street. Running is one good way of relieving stress, and it is good for one's health. This isone nice improvement. I was once a couch potato. I would just read, watch TV, eat and spend days sleeping. I do it on alternating days, so that my body could recuperate.

I'm being with everyone I know. Though sometimes I had to sacrifice some gimmicks for another person or group of people. I love being with everyone I know now. Not just one circle of friends, but coinsiding loops of people.

I really, really want to sing. Even though God has not graced me with the most beautiful of voices, He gave a a tiny token. A tiny effort *see! it appears...* for a song...

I am now trying to be with the MaSci chorale. I have now my mentor Emerson, who is very passionate about music. He said so himself - music is his passion, something deeper than love. I want to sing. One tiny step, I hope, would go a long way.

At least, that is what the poems in my CAT tickler say. They're particularly enlightening.

Everything would be long term, I suppose.

Ciao~

The Waning Me

2006-06-19T21:19:00.000+08:00

I’m waning a bit here. Let me see… I solved an optional problem in physics today. Who never thought I would even think of math as the solution. I’m not good with the numbers. It’s a bit nice to solve it. *sometimes it’s good to give yourself a good clap over your shoulder, it boosts confidence

Did I say I was waning? Oh… Yes, about that… I was so noisy in Filipino. I was laughing hard with some classmates at the back when Mrs. Gozo called upon me and told me that the only thing that she is hearing (aside from the presentation) was my voice.

Damn.

I needed to make up for that. If I am serious about being the likeness of a GC (maybe I’m not that far… Or maybe I’m having second thoughts.

For every laugh, there is always a thought; a mental note that tells your mind that good entertainment comes with a good idea.

*whew*

Advanced chemistry was one hell of a deal. The experiment was the same as what Mr. Derez gave his sections, the same as what Bea Montenegro had me to do. I had some wrong answers in her experiment paper! Oh no…

*im guilty!*

I lost my Gtech!!!! This is one of the most annoying parts of owning it… It follows the third law of thermodynamics too fast… It always leads to entropy… Either by getting lost (personal entropy) or by suddenly stop flowing with ink or crack or whatever (entropy at its finest…)

Gar… I am personally entropic.

^___^ That’s enough! I need to do homework…

Ciao~

Plans and Methods

2006-06-17T22:26:00.000+08:00

The disclosure’s getting intense. I really need to figure out how to create a good layout or else I would doom my blog for all eternity. Or maybe I was just being sarcastic. Whatever.

The fleet of days has passed by so fast that taking an accurate account of everything would seem impractical, because I don’t have time for long typing now. Everything’s so busy. Just perfectly busy.

Now I’ve become a bit reckless and lame. I need time to type, make a layout, study well and make a life out of life…

Move out. Move on. Take a step. Go ahead. Pause and reflect.

Moving forward, it seems that everything will be just fine, if I planned it well.

A good luck over my shoulder is needed.

Ciao~

Parlez vous francais?

2006-06-09T21:25:00.000+08:00

French can be fun and annoying at the same time. Who even invented this language anyway? It was made to be a vernacular for France which in turn became the romantic language. What the heck is romantic about a gushy pronunciation?

What's fun in French is how you can apply it in school... Since we are 8:00+ hours from anything that is authentic francaise and stuck with the subject...

Platoon Leader sa CAT: Private [insert name]! Give me 10 push-ups! In french!

... Private [insert name]: Sir, oui, sir!

Un! deux! Trois! Quatre! Cinq! Six! Sept! Huit! Neuf! Dix!

-0-o-o-

Telling people how beautiful they are has never been this slurry and "romantic" at the same time.

"Tu es tres belle, Tinkerwell..."

-O-o-o-

elementary math... onze plus dix = ... vingt en un!

-0-o-o-

first day of classes...

Teacher: Comment vous vous-apellez?
Student: je m'apelle... [insert name]...

-0-o-o-

Comment ca va?
ca va bien, merci. En vous?
ca va bien.

-0-o-o-

please try to be understanding with this post. Si'l vous plait??? Merci beaucoup!

---

Au revoir!

Bracket Control

2006-06-08T19:33:00.000+08:00

Whew. I never thought the pain would really fade that fast. I really thought I would suffer the "ultimate brace pain" while at school. Well, I cannot bite. However my molars can withstand the chewing pressure required for daily feeding frenzies.

There is, however, a persisting problem.

My molar bracket in my pertinent left side has something that scrapes my tongue. It hurts a lot; it's uncomfortable, and one cannot put wax to it because my tongue would just sling it off. What a pain in the mouth.

I'm also beginning to lose pronunciation control. My brackets sometimes get stuck to my lips blocking sound. I can feel it when I'm talking to people or reciting in class, except French. The accent requires some slurry speech. Perfect.

People even noticed that a lot of people had braces this year, as if it was some kind of "trend". What a painful fashion trend. Beautifying but painful.

Ciao~

Saying Good-bye to the Trencherman

2006-06-06T19:53:00.000+08:00

Darn. Not one of my classmates is responding. I need to know what happened at school today and the assignments. I went AWOL.

Well, I have a good reason.

I had to have my braces put on. Molar separators are needed only for 3 days. Mine was put on last Saturday. I had no choice. I’m gone for the second day of classes.

The preparations were a bit long but the whole process was not too painful. Although my mouth was open for a long time, my teeth didn’t hurt at first.

Not until I opened the PC to type this post.

Now I can’t eat properly. I can’t eat all the things I like, like chocolate or anything that isn’t pureed or sliced up or softened into a nearing papier mache.

It does hurt now. I’m saying good-bye to my trencherman.

Ciao~

Stop-Over

2006-06-03T21:47:00.000+08:00

I had the urge to write today. Har. Well, I'm in a Internet cafe in Manila, stuck because the car of my sister's husband has a flat tire (currently being fixed) and rain pouring like it was the storm of the year.

I'm making this very short. My teeth are under going extreme pressure due to molar separators. These are needed for my braces (to be put on Tuesday, meaning I am going AWOL that day...)

I went to Tutuban with my cousin, sister and her husband. We only had one hour for the shopping (the mall closes at 7...) because we went there at 6.

The rain.... Its so strong..

I had dinner at a good diner named "Sizzling". Therefore the food was... sizzling, with loads of gravy and yellow rice. Whew.

Word Association

2006-05-30T19:54:00.000+08:00

I'm still lazy.

I went out with Philippe, Luis, Ellaine, Bea, Anna and Niño for the submission of the UPCAT forms. Darn, I am lazy. I couldn't get my verbosity into work.

I present word association.

Given the set of words, the reader links the words to form a background story. Simple, but results could vary.

Bank, manager's check, bus, terminal, highway, traffic, people [mentioned above], waiting, school, erasures, countersign, DotA [is this a word?], LRT [another word?], MRT [...], jeepney, 8.75 [eight pesos and seventy-five cents], rain, five, pharmacy, years, public, deposit, slips, health, pictures, permits, BK [burger king...], Ayala, Alabang, twenty-nine, airconditioned, home.

That's one hell of a long day.

Fifteen is the Number

2006-05-27T21:50:00.000+08:00

Argh. I’m a bit tired of writing a huge blog post, so I’ll just enumerate some reminders regarding the matter. I felt that sometimes it’s the lessons which are important than the story itself.

Here it goes…

1) Never go to UP Diliman on a Friday. Their office is open only from Mondays to Thursdays.
2) Carry a non-Gtech pen with you (this would be pretty useful… it won’t smudge on photographic paper that much…)
3) Always be aware that inertia can get you most of the time. (The LRT ride was a bit bumpy)
4) Scout for a bus in a very hot day (some… or most likely, buses and jeeps tend to lead to same places)
5) If you are going to a mall with your friends, have a plan. Planning within the very mall could waste a lot of time.
6) If you can’t find tables in a busy fast food chain and there are too many of you, be ready to split the group or lunch. To add a little drama, pretend you just saw each other for lunch.
7) Wear thick high socks during skating.
8) It’s colder on a fogged skating rink than in a clear one.
9) Thank the sun sometimes - even though it makes the Philippines a living desert, it’s a good way to defrost.
10) If you miss an arcade game, control yourself (especially if it has only 3 stages with a P20 cost).
11) If Reminder #10 slips out of your mind, be prepared for some blows to the wallet.
12) If you encountered Reminder #11, go home thru a bus (the chances are you’ll get bigger bills reduced)
13) In crossing the roads of Moonwalk Las Piñas, an escalator up means a whole stairway down.
14) If someone disturbs you while you are in an Internet café, a little patience goes a long way.
15) Try walking home, its good exercise.

These are not the usual life lessons, but bear some things in mind; it might help you in the future. Ciao~

ANNOUNCEMENTS!

2006-05-23T12:16:00.000+08:00

Today is Sir Arthur Conan DOyle's birthday!!! Hail all detectives... writers and the actuals....!!!

3 days to go before BDT's monthsary.... 10th!!!

Miss all of you guys! ^___^

Ciao~

Lists...

2006-05-23T11:39:00.000+08:00

As classes draw nearer and nearer than expected, I feel I need a lot of activities to engage in.

Here’s a list:

1) Ice skating
2) Swimming (in a neutral solution of water and chlorine ions…)
3) Shopping
4) Watch some movies (it’s been a long time ever since I stepped into a cold dark theatre)
5) Play Scrabble
6) Baking (it’s difficult without the proper equipment)
7) Road Trip!!!

I also need my books and supplies, but I don't have any list. Please place a tag if you know any books for the fourth year.

Needed supplies:
1) Coloring Materials
2) A ruler
3) Scissors
4) Sets of clearbooks (needed for a lot of files...)

Blogging Wishlists:
1) A layout (so difficult!!!)
2) Penguins in the blog
3) An extended content

Extranneous Wishlist:
1) Figure Skating Lessons
2) Intermediate Nihongo Lessons

"I-miss-my-friends!" Wishlist:
1) Be able to join at the 26th Mall of Asia trip with safety
2) Be able to skate with them on the MOA's large skating rink
3) Talk to them about stuff
4) DM2 or DDR or ParaPara (which ever is available...)
5) Food trip!!! (try spicy...)

So many things, so little time, not enough money, and a little perspective...

I can do this! (Hopefully...)

Ciao~

Verbose Summaries

2006-05-21T22:44:00.000+08:00

Let’s make this short. Internet time is running and I need a post.

May 17 - UPCAT simulation. I had an fair Language proficiency, a not-so-good Science Exam, a terrible Math Exam (many careless mistakes.. darn!) and a copy-paste Reading Comprehension.

May 18- Discussion of UPCAT simulation. The class met Ms. Frisco, Ms. Tina, and a new teacher, Ms. Geronimo for the discussion. I had lunch with some Linnaeus people at McDo. I met Thea at Starbucks and went to SM Southmall. We met Lorraine there. We had one hour skating, some DDR, DM2 and a trip to ATC. We bought last-full-show tickets to the Da Vinci Code (R18 + All tickets sold out…). Waited for a long time - ate at Chicken Bacolod and had a subtle time with karaoke at EGG (Extreme Gaming Grounds + Netopia). We could not enter the movie. We all went home disappointed.

May 19- Had a free day.

May 20- Closing of the Nucleus Review for 2006. I became part of the audience for the ceremony. The auditorium was like an oven. We(MTh+TF schedules) listened to testing tips and UPCAT discussions. We had an awarding. Best in Language Proficiency - Allan Habon. Best in Math - Chrisanto of 303 (classmate!!!). Best in Science - Marc Ladaga (super monster of Hertz). 2nd rank for the whole batch - Marc Ladaga. 1st rank - a girl from St. Jude (cannot remember…) and… err… me.

I also attended Kim and Bea’s birthday bash at Yellow Cab. Bought separate drinks and ice cream from the supermarket. Happy birthday!!!!

I played DOTA with Mendel people + All Stars. I had heavy headaches afterwards. I went home with Philippe on a St. Rose bus.

May 21- Bea’s birthday swimming party. I overslept and made Philippe and Luis wait for me for an hour and half. They bought Bea’s SIM card. We took a 2 jeeps to Jollibee-Greenwich Merville. Waited for Timothy and JK. I shared some Garlic Stix with Philippe and Luis.

The club house was at Multinational, Parañaque. The food was great. We had some card games. When we went for a swim the pool was dirty, filled with suspended human particulates and sediments plus dead bugs and salty. There was also a man in a swimsuit (you are the one to notify the gender…)

We had a few games at the pool. We also took a difficult bath. We went to Bea’s house. We played cards while the others (Thea, Therese (who wanted to be called Nicole now), Krissy and Tim) layed badminton.

Philippe, Luis and I went to Las Piñas thru Evacom. I had a chocobutternut doughnut for dinner.

I am home now.

Ciao~

Occasional Storms, Stormy Occasions

2006-05-17T19:45:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday was the day the storm Caloy broke havoc and cascade upon the Philippines. It was raining like hell outside and the winds blew to the point of trying to uproot everything - trees, houses and humans. It was May 13, were two occasions went on the same day for one special achievement.

Trying to be on both occasions while the storm proceeded.

First was Thea’s birthday, which included a lot of hassled decisions whether I would come to her birthday. I promised that I would come (with a little forceful attempt from Thea) and devised a plan to get there with Philippe, who was left home because the storm raged (which means he couldn’t go to Thea’s birthday).

My mom went to Shopwise to buy a few needed things for my brother’s graduation. My dad and I went to Metrocor B and fetched Philippe at their house, all-ready to go. My brother needed to be at his graduation at 3 (a lie, of course, talking schedules with my mom involved would mean giving a lot of time before the actual event because she has a tendency to be late; like if you would meet at 3 the time would reach 5 before my mom shows up, or lunch appointments becoming dinnertime, something like that… and everyone is used to it…) and it took us about 30 minutes to return to Shopwise.

I bought lemon extract and yellow food color for the candy that I would make for Thea (to be foretold as a failure later on) and Philippe and I bought peach roses (my mom suggested it, and hey, wouldn’t it be if I hadn’t shared the financial burden with Philippe for those peach roses??? How sweet… Anyway….)

My aunts came with my cousin (who’s my graduating brother’s best friend and cousin) and we all packed ourselves in the car and scooted off back to our house, then rushed to the Susana Heights entrance of the SLEX.

It was a fatal mistake. The traffic was awful. Snail’s pace we moved, but we were still moving! Don’t lose hope!!!

My parents dropped Philippe and me at the side of the Sucat exit in the highway because they would take the Skyway. We agreed and Philippe and I walked at the side of the expressway, with cars and buses passing us by, gaited under the Sucat bridge, and took a shortcut to a grassy hill which led immediately to the upper grounds.

There were two PNCC officers keeping a lookout, so we climbed the slope and tried to walk as far as possible before they realize that we came out of the SLEX walking.

The winds were strong that our umbrellas gave up, forcing us to walk alongside the torrent of water and wind. We took a jeep to Merville, which took long wait at the roadside terminal because the driver wanted a lot of passengers. Good thing he gave up and went on driving.

We reached Merville and saw Camille, Kamille, and Katrina just before our tricycle left. We asked the driver to wait for them and we all got to ride that 6-seat tricycle to our second to the last pit stop (Amazing Race?!?!?), Merville II. We rode another tricycle to Thea’s house.

At last! We reached Thea and surprised her. Thea and Michaelle even betted on us. Sheesh. There were a handful of guests, and there were singing, food, videos, band rocking and the gifts. I tried making lemon acndy, however when I was nearly finished I stirred it too much, causing it to cool rapidly and form flakes. What a failure.

I ate about 40% of the tiramisu that Thea made with cream, graham crackers, mangoes and chocolate syrup. Yum! Christian Vibar couldn’t come though (he was Thea’s favourite diner, he could keep the whole baking pan of tiramisu to himself… how nice..^___^)

We got to find out a lot about a lot of people. I met a few more Newton people. We saw the newborn kittens of Thea’s mixed breed cat. We knew of Ralph’s allergy to seafood (we pretty much enjoyed eating the crabs and shrimps beside him… just kidding…). It was a small gathering reduced by the storm, but it was still fun.

Philippe and I left at 8, because we were fetched by my parents and my already graduated brother together with my aunts and my cousin who ate at Shakey’s… We said some goodbyes, and off we went.

Philippe went down at Alabang for his travel back home in Las Piñas. When we reached the house, we just realized that there wasn’t any prepared food yet, and some guests arrived.

Everyone had to cook, eat and have fun.

Nice celebrations. They sure are dated, but could be pretty random. Ciao~

Long Days

2006-05-15T20:22:00.000+08:00

For the past few days I have been exhausting myself with a lot of things to do. It’s tiring. You see… Boredom and activities never mix equally. It’s either usually your world is boring or tiring. Since Internet ran out again as usual, the posts stacked here and have been typing this for a lot of days. It seems to be the recollection of what I have been or not doing.

I’m a bit tired.

Monday - I went to the review in which I was nearly late. Well, technically, I was 15 minutes late, but the teacher wasn’t there and they didn’t give any buff in particular, except for the part where a woman harassed me into showing my ID. I got the card which would identify me as Student 1007.

Chemistry was dealt with a new happy-go-lucky teacher. She was Ms. Karen, and she taught us the galvanic cell and its reaction.

Geometry was with Ms. Rose, who did not have much to say because she was more particular with algebra than geometry.

Bea, Anna, Carlos, Philippe and I went to Padre Faura to deal with some matters. I had my module photocopied for my cousin, Bea and Anna went to get a UP form, Carlos had his picture taken, and we ate lunch at KFC.

We went to Masci to submit the forms for the UPCAT. I didn’t bring my form, so Anna, Carlos and Philippe submitted theirs. Bea just got hers, so we looked up to what we were about to fill up.

After leaving the gates, Bea and Anna went home. The rest went to Badminton City for some power play.

We met Niño there at Badminton City, dressed, heated (by the scorching microwave court) and excited. Carlos and I tried power play, but our shots were a bit soft. When we joined Philippe and Niño for some doubles I experienced the speed and the strength of their shots.

We played for a short while since it was already 2 in the afternoon when we got here. While in the shower room Niño gave me a CD. It was about Mendel (which totally removes me from the settlement) however the CD cover had my name in it (with the wrong but cute spelling). Niño told me I was there. I felt a bit uneasy, but I still thanked him for that.

We ate at Chowking afterwards. Carlos had a petite halo-halo without the ice cream, Philippe had the same order with a scoop of ube ice cream, I had a large serving of halo-halo (with two strands of macapuno) and Niño had a half-dozen halo-halo, a bowl of noodles and milk tea which was only liked by my and Carlos’ tastebuds. Philippe and Niño discerned the taste.

Carlos left already while we were at Quantum. We played 3 songs at Para Para. We also played DDR. I played 10 songs, Philippe had 9 and Niño had 1. At last we have tried So Deep with its tone that’s a bit melancholic and funky.

We all parted ways afterwards. I had difficulty finding a bus, and I rode an air-conditioned one. I met some few people in our village that recognized me. I didn’t know them that much. But I fell asleep and my bus fare was taken care of. I thanked them and got into different jeeps on our way home.
To a darker home…

The same thing happened again - a black-out that affected a series of interlaced villages which included the one where I live. I reached home with my brothers setting up dinner in our cool windy area upstairs.

We had a nice dinner, they got a few drinks, and I declined some offers, and waited in the dark, cool area where we sat. Then the electricity came back. It was nearing 10 pm, and I needed to watch some TV badly.

Tuesday - I went to Cavite for my radiography. I reached my uncle’s clinic at 10 while my sister Ate Yaz reached 10:30 because of snail-pace traffic. We went to another dental clinic which my uncle referred to for our x-rays. It was termed a panoramic x-ray, and we had to be standing up, bite a tube, align ourselves in a straight line and freeze all unnecessary movements. Then, the machine would whirl its panels with a slow turn.

Done, and it only takes 20 minutes for the radiography plates’ exposures to materialize.

Ate and I went to a series of banks. She was looking for a suitable bank for a dollar account for her son. We went to MetroBank, the Bank of the Philippine Islands and to Union Bank. After taking down the requirements we went to retrieve our radiographs and saw our teeth and jaw bones, panoramic style.

I saw mine - The only problem was my four front teeth at my upper jaw which were spaced a little. My sister had a worse-case scenario - horizontal wisdom teeth. She would undergo a minor surgery and my uncle had prescribed a drug named Hemostan, which I think was an anticoagulant. I forgot to ask.

We had lunch at Gemmae’s (a popular foodshop in Zapote and a personal favourite eating destination) with my cousin Ate Angie and talked for a while with the usual viands and my plate overflowing with rice. The carbs… yikes!

We all drifted ways, Ate Angie returning to the clinic, Ate Yaz meeting my cousin Heart for their trip to SM South Mall to check on insurance while I went to my cousins’ Jet, Dave and Reji for a few hours to spare.

I reached their house and found Darwin with them, doing a movie marathon. Jet and I tried to look for a shop which yielded some Ragna cards so that I could help him in the game. We didn’t find some though, so we just played DotA for an hour. We returned with a plastic full of turon (it contained 10 pieces of caramelized flour wrap with sliced bananas with strips of jackfruit fried golden caramel brown in deep oil… you get the idea…) and ate the latter for snacks.

After staying a bit longer, I left and did a long journey home. One tricycle ride from their house to the village entrance, a jeep ride from the village entrance to Camella Springville van terminal, a van ride from Cavite to Alabang via Daang Hari, another jeep ride from Alabang to Soldier’s Hills (a village connected to the one where I live), another tricycle ride from the entrance to a certain block and finished with a walk home.

I watched Curious Play’s last episode and had some dinner. Add some more TV, I guess.

Wednesday - I did a “half” BLEACH marathon. Yes, I watched episodes 12 to 24 (all the things I missed after Reji did the whole DVD last Sunday, however I watched the first 12 episodes with him) and found all the coolest things about BLEACH. I’m a BLEACH fan now! \m/ ^___^ \m/

I suddenly remembered. My module!!! Not a thing about Biology and Reading Comprehension had been touched by the tip of my pencil by the existing moment. I timed myself for each drill. I did Reading Comprehension first (80 items, timed 50 minutes) and Biology (60 items, timed 30 minutes).

Then the hands of the clock landed on the position that told me of what was happening.

6:00 (that’s TV period!!!!)

I finished the drills hastily, doing Reading Comprehension in 29 minutes and Biology in 15 minutes, with no consultations whatsoever to any references that relate to the drills.

Must turn on the TV - the first episode of Full Metal Alchemist was showing in Animax.. It was so cool!!! Nice one for Animax! The dub was great and the story unfolds in a hurry. I also watched Detective Conan. Unluckily I didn’t solve the crime (Yoruichi Festival Murder Case). Conan did. ^_^

I read (again) Biology by Addison-Wesley which was battered into a trite, however still readable. I did not last long though. I got to have some sleep - tomorrow would be review day.

Before the lethargy, I did a three-way phone conversation. I was talking to Thea from an extension landline in front of the PC when Philippe called through the cordless extension of another landline, located at the living room. I had two phones in each ear, on my right was Thea on the line and on the left was Philippe. (See the relationship? ^_________^) It was confusing - and we didn’t last long. I had my final word with Thea and talked to Philippe about a skating plan.

Thea got my current cell phone number and sent P15 pesos to start a 24-hour unlimited text feature so that we could communicate like there was no tomorrow. After a lot of messages sent into the wave haywire, we got to sleep.

Thursday - Review session. I had a bowl of macaroni soup for breakfast and about a glass of water before I headed for Wesleyan College. I got to ride a St. Rose bus and got a lucky seat. It was traffic and the first lapse of the highway (from the Alabang tollgate to the Skyway entrance) and then the trip accelerated due to the presence of the Skyway.

Nearly late - I reached the building 8:10. Room 303 had no teacher yet, and I got to have small talk with Blessie before Ms. Frisco came in.

Then Ms. Tina’s head appeared on the door. Ms. Frisco left and Ms. Tina resided.
Who even thought Biology would be our first subject? Ok, Reading Comprehension with Ms. Tina was a good one. We discussed literature and basic methods of context clues. We then had a spelling bee. These were the words: accidentally, acquaintance, cemetery, conscious, privilege, embarrass, occasionally, dissatisfied, pronunciation and mileage. I made an embarrassing mistake - I spelled embarrass as “embarass”. IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING!!!! :p

We got some chocolate candy for prizes. We checked the module. I got 64/80. Well, that’s worth it.

It maybe the last time we would meet Ms. Tina. She’s one of the best teachers we had on the review. She said something promising though. That would be something only she and the students of Room 303 could confide.

When it was time to erase the board (with the errata scribbled all over), I erased almost everything and left my “embarass” and Blessie’s “occassionally” and stood in front of the whiteboard.

“Blessie, kaninong kahihiyan ang gusto mong matira sa board???”

I got a lot of laughs and I erased the most embarrassing moments I had for the review.

Break time became the matter of who’s going to eat the Tortillos (the prize Ms. Tina gave for the winning group) and the red bag was passed around like it was baneful. It ended in Enri’s bag. ^__^

Biology was the killer. Mr. Magsino kept a stale strict enforcement of knowledge which no one enjoyed. He even tackled the fact that Ms. Tina’s game disturbed his classes. He spoke peevishly (as Sir Vlad would describe later on) and he had an unfriendly aura that emanates from him like evaporating sweat.

He was a good biology teacher all right - but his… approach was so sinister that the silence of the room was complementary to his presence. The only audible sounds were his voice and the recitations.

After his spite left the room (the words are starting to become harsh…), Sir Vlad did his apparition as usual with the assignment and the description of Mr. Magsino’s mandible when he talks (mouth seems too impolite however lips seem too kind to use, let’s stick with mandible…) I got 34/60 in the module.

Philippe and I went to Wendy’s at PGH (we intended to go to Masci, but we had lunch first instead). I ate a side salad while Philippe had a hamburger. Talk about small amounts of food. Niño came after we were finished eating, and we left for SM Southmall.

After one bumpy ride at the bus, encountering lesser traffic than usual, we entered SM Southmall and proceeded to the rink.

OK… Skating time! Niño just kept his position in the rink while Philippe and I moved, spun and glided a lot. Philippe practiced cross glides backwards while I did a lot of studying of different footwork in the rink.

After an hour, we left the rink and tried the all-new degraded (or downgraded) Dance Dance Revolution. The songs were limited to Witch Doctor, Cowgirl, So Deep and Max 300 (and few songs which I couldn’t remember) and the Freeze system was difficult because the sensors had lost their sensitivity.

We also tried another game in which it uses 3 floor panels and 2 hand detectors for specific dances. Afterwards Niño and Philippe played billiards. I watched a few games and then left.

~

This post is way long. Sorry for the inconvenience. ^___^

Boring or not, life’s got to be dealt with, sooner or later, or pretty much now. Ciao~

Intellectual, Athletic and Mild-Mannered

2006-05-05T23:44:00.001+08:00

I had a long day running for the review. I first had a no-breakfast route to Wesleyan College by taking the St. Rose bus and riding a jeep to Vito Cruz. I had no escape from the long walk. Not really long - but I didn’t have too much energy to start the day.

When I reached the building it was the first time the guard asked for my ID. We got them from Sir Vlad. When I got my ID stuck in my module which was nested in my big bag filled with stuff for badminton later and a dictionary, the guard let me in. I looked at the time.

8:01

I missed a minute!

Never mind. I went to the Lilliputian flight of stairs (it was just three floors above) and reached the classroom. Hello Room 303!

When someone enters a room, the students inside maintain a flash-act mechanism. When the door opens, everyone turns their heads into the passageway and takes about 0.8 seconds to recognize the person accompanied with a 1.2 second silence. If this someone was the teacher the silence becomes global. When a student enters, the mechanism ends.

[I just invented those numbers. An estimate? Nah…]

Ms. Tina was late. She did something that made her late. That’s what she said anyway.

As we continued the lessons we got into a very scientific detail. English rarely becomes scientific.

Ms. Tina already knows that mosquitoes like the color blue, and she added that mosquitoes like men more, because men are dirtier. Most Mascians looked at Dane Marc and laughed.

A student then raised her hand and added another fact. Ants don’t sleep.

Ms. Tina then turned her head to us Mascians. She asked this (the innocence of this question is unquestionably innocent): Do ants have eyes?

……..

No.

Ms. Tina suddenly had a very interesting theory. Ants don’t sleep because they don’t have eyes. She even drew the image she knew of an ant. [The pic above is the unedited version derived from the greying whiteboard.]

We had break, and I got a pack of Magic Flakes and bought a bottle of C2 with Blessie. We ate and talked afterwards. It took about 15 minutes before Ms. Rose appeared suddenly.

Ms. Rose, as I described her was of the typical teacher type. However she was an expert on shortcuts in Mathematics. Her techniques are ingenious - it was the first time I understood Math. (Maybe I was just not listening during my former Math classes…).

After Ms. Rose left class early, Sir Vlad did an apparition and made some announcements. For a summary - Invite Nucleus on Friendster. nucleus_rt@yahoo.com

Philippe, Carlos, Anna, Aby, Yani and I went to UP Manila to get the application forms to UP. We waited within the heat. It wasn’t warm. One could melt chocolate outside. However since we were outside it seemed that we were the ones who were melting.

We got the forms and then we had lunch at KFC. I almost forgot - we went first to Badminton City to check on Vanir and Cean. They were going to make a copy of the review module. Back to lunch - almost everyone had their chicken steak while I had the chicken burger. [Even though the commercial said that the chicken burger would increase the size of my mandible, I really don’t know, because I felt lock-jawed at the moment…]

We went to Badminton City and met Niño there. Yani went home and Niño disappeared with her, while the rest started changing into comfortable clothes for a good play.

I still love the rallies that I do with Carlos on single play. It was hard playing with Aby and Anna, because they keep crossing each other’s areas, and they are almost trying to get every shot whenever possible [nagaagawan sila!!!!] and their rackets seemed like swords in a cavalier’s battle.

When Carlos and I asked permission to use another court, I experience what I would call a reflective parallax. The reflected light in my side of court was confusing that I kept missing most of my shots. Good thing the people who resided over that court were going to play and we were forced to look for another court.

Carlos and I got a hang of rallying, we reached Z and did more shots. We didn’t try power play though. After sitting near the bench and trying to melt the frozen ice in the bottles Philippe had, we watched some experienced players doing the “power play”. We heard the distinct sound of the shuttlecock ramming hard into the racket to the other side with speed.

Carlos and I were also the first people to enter the shower room. I even got into a conversation with a total stranger. Geez… I felt uncomfortable being talked so suddenly. I kept my cool though.

After finishing a cool shower we hanged in the shower room for a while because it had an electric fan. I didn’t even wear my shirt just yet. However Niño asked for his number tag. Carlos and I then came out of the shower room and went to Anna and Aby who were waiting for us.

We then took a peek at the swimming pool with a lot of people struggling to swim and float. Our conversation took a lot of views and techniques and swimming, with encouragement for Carlos because he quitted at swimming. “You’re never too old to learn.”

Aby and Anna went home while the four of us went to SM and tried Marvin’s but it was closed. Our billiards plan was blasted, so we went up to Quantum. Philippe and I were waiting for a token in DDR. Carlos and Niño left, and we did the usual song list: Jane Jana, Let’s Groove, Love Shine, Holic, and Sexy Planet.

After one strenuous set we went to Netopia and played DotA 6.32 with the new heroes. I gave up on my hero because it was intended to be used on a low intelligence hero, however Philippe used Jakiro, the twin headed dragon whose skills were both pyrotechnic and cryogenic.

We played some versions of LAN games, including a game which included protecting a base and getting stats that could soar into 7000+ with the PC slowing down.

It became boring when the PC wouldn’t even let the mouse pointer move correctly.

Oops. Philippe needed to be early home with his parents and we received a lash of words of parental anger and concern. We did take too long of a stay at SM.

I would like to thank Philippe’s parents for taking me to Alabang (they even used the Skyway.. yikes…) Thank you!

What a Thursday. I can’t even get a good rest. My body hurts a bit. Ciao~

If Symptoms Persist, Insult Your Doctor

2006-04-30T22:15:00.000+08:00

[galing kay raphael... pra sumaya ako... hehe thnx!!!]

>Laughter is the best medicine... so dont overdosed it...
>Ang taong nagigipit...sa bumbay kumakapit
>Pag may usok...may nag-iihaw
>Dont judge the book by its cover... if u are not a judge or else you>will cover the book!
>Ang taong naglalakad nang matulin... may utang.
>No guts, no glory... no ID, no entry
>Birds of the same feather that prays together... stays together.
>Kapag may sinuksok at walang madukot, may nandukot
>Ang buhay ay parang bato, it's hard
>Walang matigas na tinapay sa gutom na tao
>Ang taong di marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan .... ay maystiff neck.
>Birds of the same feather make a good feather duster.
>Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga.
>Kapag may taga, may tahi.
>Huli man daw at magaling, undertime pa rin.

per'chocolate!

2006-04-30T16:55:00.000+08:00

I didn’t have much to do. I then remembered “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop…” and well, I needed to do something to expunge this boredom.

That’s why I’m back to writing posts again.

Instead of being abstemious because I’m trying to be fit, I am currently indulging on Nutella, one of France’s finest bread spreads. From the makers of Fererro Rocher, Nutella is simply the melted form of the said chocolate without the actual nuts (it is just flavoured hazelnut)

I love chocolate.

We had a jar sent by my aunt from France. In fact, every family in the maternal side were given. The pistachios were long gone - they lasted only about an hour in the household.

Melted chocolate flowing from crackers, white bread, cookies, pancakes, spoons and human fingers - imagine that happening almost everyday to a 825-gram jar with a 10% gratuit (my aunt taught me this word - it means ‘free’) of melted Fererro in hazelnut flavour.

However just one spoonful of this saccharine sin spells calories. I mean food calories (1 food cal = 1 kcal = 1000 calories = enough to sustain a strenuous activity for half an hour). Speaking of strenuous activities, does lying down in bed, watching tv, sleeping and reading mean anything strenuous?

Since May 1 is a holiday, where the proletariat class could enjoy a day-off reduced in their taxes, our review is moved Thursday, so badminton was moved on Thursday, and I needed to play to burn off spoonfuls of those chocolate.

If we ever have vanilla ice cream, I’d know what to do.

Ciao~

SH*T! [variables s times h multiplied to t factorial...]

2006-04-29T13:41:00.000+08:00

Dahil na-bad trip na ako sa post ko kung saan kapag ilalagay ko na yung nasabing post e umuurong ang sidebar ko pababa... (Copy paste kasi un sa word e... )

Nagsusulat ako ngayon na umaandar ang oras at internet card.

Medyo na-iincline na ako sa math. Sa wakas! Dati kasi name-mental block ako sa Math. AT least ngayon marunong na ako mag-square sa utak.

Thursday. Pagkatapos ng review namin with Ms. Tina and Ms. Rose (ang galing ni Ms. Tina!!! parang si Ms. Rivera teacher namin, mas makulit version...) ay naglunch kami sa McDo DLSU branch.

Before that...
Si Ms. Tina ay ang aming English teacher at nagtuturo siya ng basic English. Balik elementary. Wee.

Example ng S-LV-C sentence (according to Ms. Tina)
He is hot.
[Tawa siya.. Tawa din kami...]

[Sabay bura... at sulat ng panibagong word...]

He is wonderful.

[Tawa na namin kami...]

Recitation... Examples ng Adjectives...:
[walang umiimik...]

[wala talagang may balak mag recite....]

Ms. Tina: Can't you think of something??? That's easy. You're looking at me, right???

[tawa kami sa sinulat niya...]

Pretty, quiet....

[At marami pang katatawanan sa klase niya.. kaso di ko na maalala.]

Si Ms. Rose, ok lang. Same old same old.

~

Balik sa lunch sa McDo. Puro chicken fillets lang kinain namin. Di natuloy yung diet plan namin ni pH kasi dapat salad lang kakainin namin. [on DIET kami!!! wahehe.]

Mabilis naman kaming natapos. Kaso ang tagal namin bago naka-alis... kasi inuna ni Aby ang girl talk with Yani bago ang kanyang nalusaw na coke float. Hehe hinintay namin sila.

At dahil magiging all-men's badminton play na naman kami... Pinilit namin si CM na sumama. Di sya makapag decide. Sabi ko humingi sya ng sign. Kapag nalaglagan siya ng dahon sa ulo sasama siya.

[sabay kuha naman ako ng dahon at ibinagsak sa ulo niya...]

[ay sh*t! nag-miss!!!!]

[pulot]

[ibagsak ulit]

[yessss!!!!]

At sumama si CM.

Pagdating sa badminton city, nagpalit na kami at napahiram si pH ng phone sa iba dahil hindi namin ma-contact si Niño. 3 lang kasi kami e.

sabi ko kay CM para kaming nasa loob ng microwave sa loob ng badminton city. I was oh-so-dead wrong. hindi pala microwave. para kaming nasa isang blacksmith furnace. Grabe ang init!!!

At una magkakampi kami ni CM versus pH. At dahil magaling mag-smash si pH e medyo nakakalito minsan kung saan at sino ang titira.

Dumating si Niño at naglaro din. This is the hard part. Kapag pH vs. niño, para kayong sumabak sa giyera nila pero di ka makakagalaw masyado. Naramdaman yun ni CM. Kaya madalas pinapasa ko sa kanya yung shuttlecock kaso yung mga tira ko napupunta kay niño.

At napagod si pH at Niño, naglaro kami ni CM, at ang saya, kasi ang tagal nung rally namin. weeeeee....

after badminton city, all fresh and ready to go na kami, kaso nagpumilit si pH ng bonding time sa sm. napilit niya kami at ng mcdo kami. natikam ko yung taro pie for the first time. hehe.

~

nagcheck ako atm.

usual... walang pera... maintaining balance lang.

hehe...

at umuwi na kami ni CM kahit na nagyayaya si pH ng billiards na medyop nakaka guilty tanggihan kasi madalang lang si pH humiling. kaso wala talaga akong pera at ayoko malagpasan ang tsubasa chronicles... sorry talaga!!!!

at sa bahay... puro tv lang muna. napanood ko na ung last holiday, {proof} at origins of the da vinci code sa wakas!!!! ngayon lang ako medyo na-tipuhan ang dvd marathon. hehe...

hehe... nood muna ng alice academy. kahit napanood ko na.

ciao~

Proficiency

2006-04-25T21:04:00.000+08:00

Whooo... The first Nucleus review class made me feel sleepy all along. The proctors said we go there at 7, but they were just allowing time for students to find their sections, and knowing that we are Filipinos, they assume almost a lot would be late.

They are quite right, except for the few who went early, sleepless and panicky. I qualified for both descriptions, and found some other few people who were just too obedient.

You'd hate to follow instructions like that.

The sections were posted at the walls near the rooms. I was on Room 303 (a combination of Mascians and other students fro other schools). There few people I were familiar with, and mostly all of the people I knew concentrated on Rooms 302 and 301 (they were all Mascians).

We went on the classroom, at first strictly following the seat numbers. When a proctor came and said that for the time being we could sit anywhere... Pause.

Then scramble, like gremlins on a storm.

I sat next to Blessie Perez, a good friend of mine during the Second Year, and talked first about the room. It was a relief we had an aircon and a ceiling fan. We also have retractable walls. Imagine 1 big room, divided into three by folding dividers. From a room the other rooms wouyld look like a mental ward. The room had very thin black curtains. It was confusing whether they designed this room to be a classroom or a mental ward.

After about 10 minutes of the former conversation we jumped into anime. And the long talk went whoooooo..... Time passed us so......... slow.

It was nearly half past 8 when a tacher came. Her name was Ms. Frisco, and she was a UP Graduate, part-time teacher and a Mascian. (Go Masci!!!) She taught us General Science, and even had the time to make everyone introduce themselves.

Ms. Frisco explains well, however she was like Ms. Lazaro, who deviates from the subject and tells already topics a mile away from the subject, however in a much kinder way.

We had our modules, a binded collection of deadly questions, which were mismatched. Double pages missing pages, inversed pages... We had all kinds of pages. Nucleus should have their modules copied in a professional copier (the proctor said that UP students filed our modules).

Our next subject was general arithmetic. Our teacher, whom said we call her Miss Rose (I feel like an elementary student again!!!) was a bit like a common teacher. Quite strict and quite good. However the module blew almost all Mascians off because we hadn't gone far, like permutation and combination. One student there was a Math whiz; he knew his factorials well.

Sh*t!

[That reads sh times t factorial.]

Although the proctor (who kept appearing like a ghost in every room) told us that we were to be dismissed at 1, we got lucky. Miss Rose had a class at Diliman, so we could get a drift early.

The lunch people were Bea, Janica, CM, Aby, Anna, pH and me.

We were hungry, and we were deciding where to eat, and Philippe suggested the place named Wow! (he saw the sign while walking) with the menu of dried... hair. Wow! is a hair salon.

We went to Jollibee, and found an evacuation site on progress. We tried jaywalking twice and went to Wendy's again.

When everyone has ordered, we got one paper-lined tray filled with fries and ketchup placed on tissue paper. Everyone had their own burger, so the fries would be shared throughout.

Lunch was fun. We pictured CM in his nerdest form. He wore Aby's glasses, got two Nucleus modules and adjusted his jaw so his tooth would show. With his braces he was oh-so-nerdy. Bea went rambling about her former classmate, Frederico (don't know the spelling), who was in PBB. Bea said that Frederico teased her for a year when she was still at CSA, but since he was an Agustinian, she still had the flair for moral support.

After a good lunch, Janica went back to Nucleus for her diagnostic exam. We rode the LRT and CM went down on Pedro Gil Station because he had something to buy. The rest went to Badminton City and I checked my ATM account at SM.

I watched the four of them play (Niño didn't came, so they were exact for a doubles play) for about 20 minutes. I also left, because I was sleepy and I was going to watch Sweet Dreams at 4.

Whooo.. I'm tired. Ciao~

[Tsubasa no Ushiro ni Uta o]

2006-04-24T21:05:00.001+08:00

These are the songs behind the wings.

1st Opening Theme of Tsubasa Chronicles
Blaze
by Kitano Kinya

Hatenaki yume motomeru shirube naki sekai de...

Kasanaru omoi kokoro tsukisasu kodou..
Shizuka ni tsuzuku tamerai mo nai uta

Tooku sora no kanata kara mazariatta bokura no kage
Hitsuzen to kimagure no naka shirusareta kioku
Surechigatta toki no uzu
Kuchihatetemo kimi no koe o shinjite

Hatenaki yume motomeru shirube naki mirai de
Boku ga hikari nakushitemo itsuka
Kimi ga tomoshitekureta kirameku mune no honoo
Tsubasa ni kawaru kibou no kakera

Yamanai ame to yasashiku nureru tsuki
Kiztsuitemo ii kaze ni yureyuku bojou

Kurayami mo tsuranuku shisen aoku sunda hitomi no oku
Zetsubou mo kodoku mo koete kizamareta shirushi

Yugandeku toki no hazama
Kawashita kizuna ni kimi o kanjita

Hakanaki michi o tadoru kotae naki sekai de
Fui ni mayoi tachidomatteru kimi yo
Mune kiramekasu kibou no asa e

Hakanaki yume motomeru kotae naki sekai de
Boku no negai todokeru kagayaku mune no honoo

Hatenaki yume motomeru shirube naki sekai de
Boku ga hikari nakushitemo itsuka
Kimi ga tomoshitekureta kirameku mune no honoo
Tsubasa ni kawaru kibou no kakera

1st Ending Theme of Tsubasa Chronicles
Loop
by Sakamoto Maaya
Nee kono machi ga yuuyami ni somaru toki wa
Sekai no dokoka de asahi ga sasu
Kimi no te no naka sono hana ga kareru toki wa
Chiisana tane o otosu darou

Fumikatamerareta tsuchi o michi da to yobu no naraba
Me o tojiru koto de mo ai kanaa?

Kono hoshi ga taira nara futari deaete nakatta
Otagai o toozakeru you ni hashitte ita

Supi-do (speed) o yurumezuni ima wa donna ni hanarete mo
Meguru kiseki no tochuu ni mata mukaiau no darou

Nee kono machi no yuuyami ga sariyuku toki ni
Kono namida tsuretette

Katarikakete kuru moji o shousetsu to yobu no nara
Todokanai kotoba wa yume kanaa?

Yodominaku nagareteku kawa ni ukabeta konoha de
Umi o mezashite kumo ni natte ame de furou

Tooi kimi no chikaku de ochita tane o sodateyou
Chigau basho de kimi ga kizuite kureru to iin dakedo

Kono hoshi ga taemanaku mawaritsuzukete iru kara
Chiisaku aketa mado no soto keshiki o kae
Watashi no aishita hana sotto mebaeru kisetsu de
Meguru kiseki no sono hate mata mukaiau no darou
Mukaiau no darou

Kururu mawaru kuru kuru to
Kuru kuru kimi no mawari o

*Tired**Sleepy*

2006-04-23T14:08:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I went to a day where the activities were numerous. It all starts with the Nucleus diagnostic exam in Wesleyan College.

I came really late for the diagnostic exam. And I would have to take the other exam at 12:30. But that would keep me off schedule. I insisted on the fact that I would take the exam. I only had two hours left to answer a 275 item exam.

What greeted my eyes when the instructor gave me the questionnaire was preposterous. I felt that I was going to dwindle. And in some points I felt really fatuous. The exam itself was monolithic. After seeing these words at the Language Proficiency Exam, I felt macabre. The instructors were like… going to immolate us. [This is a joke. However the words in boldface appeared in the exam.]

The Science Proficiency part was easy, since almost all basic sciences were already tackled in MaSci in just three years. It was the turning point in which one could relax. For a bit though.

The Math Proficiency Test was ghastly at some points. Some items needed shortcut formulas, others needed the manus approach. Others needed a little bit of luck and a good guess.

Reading Proficiency was the turn-over. It was easy because it was just the matter of understanding to common sense to literary thinking.

After I rushed the exam, Philippe, Bea, Anna, Aby and I went to eat and inquire at the badminton court in the Rizal Sports Complex. When we reached the badminton courts (which were, according to Philippe, were taraflex courts) the rental for an hour was P234. That was too much. Badminton City offered P40 pesos on students.

We had called on Niño and told him to go to Starbucks in Vito Cruz. However we waited near the LRT stairway because we assumed that he’d take the LRT. However he took a jeep and Philippe saw him waiting at Starbucks.

We went to Wendy’s where we sat and talked about the exam a little bit. We ordered afterwards. Philippe and I ordered one-piece chicken and rice meals (which was a little troubling because we didn’t have drinks). Bea and Niño went to Jollibee to buy their lunch Aby and Anna ordered after us.

After eating and some “body part” talk and imagining Niño after twenty years, Aby, Anna and Bea went home while the remaining three went to Badminton City.

Our badminton play-off had sudden endings courtesy of Niño. He made the shuttlecock fly to unreachable places. After cooling down, we took an early drift to the shower room. It was nice, because we avoided the traffic of sweaty people vying for a cleaning cooldown.

Philippe and I rode a Tas Trans bus because I was going to Cavite and he was going home (to play again with his parents). We talked about particular pre-med courses, hotel rates, activities, and a possible food trip plan for BDT.

After going down the bus, walking some strides to a jeep, going down and walking again, and then another jeep, and then another jeep (the second jeep had mechanical problems, so we transferred) and a tricycle before I reached my cousins’ house for a celebration.

That’s one hectic day. I’m tired, and I need some sleep. Ciao~

Nalagpasan Ngunit Muling Binabalikan

2006-04-21T20:50:00.000+08:00

Kapag may nalagpasan ka… Yung pinaka-nakaka-bad trip e yung malaman mo na marami kang nalagpasan. I missed this:

Jay-V Barit: kelan lumakad ang bdt?
Niño Joseph Paz: monday hanggang wednesday
Jay-V Barit: adik
Jay-V Barit: kwento m nga monday to wednesday
Niño Joseph Paz: monday...kming dalawa ni maton, nagparapara kami...ndi kami nakapagrevo... 15 credits...so naginternet kmi netopia for one hour....pagbalik sa quantum, 15 p rin ung credits..wow...
Niño Joseph Paz: tuesday....mike, cean, vanir, aby, maton, pH nagbadminton city kami...lunch sa mcdo...tpos nanood ng d lucky ones
Jay-V Barit: tpos
Niño Joseph Paz: wednesday... mike, maton, ako, aby, ph....naginternet sila ng umaga....tpos naglunch sa kfc...tpos nagbadminton city... tpos umuwi n si aby...tpos pagtapos laro, nanood ng Moments of Love....tpos nun kmi ni mike, maton, at ph kumain ng dumplings sa tabi ng supermarket...umalis kmi SM 8:30 n

I MISSED A LOT! Hay… Walang magagawa…

Naubos ata yung oras ko kaka-type ng mga letters at etc ng mom k… Hay.. Ang hirap pala maging secretary… Kasi dahil naka upo ka… may possibility na mag form ng blood clot sa legs.. causing thrombosis.. and its deadly and fatal.. tpos yung eye strain.. grabe…

At… natapos na rin. Waah nag tagalong ako ulet. Uki lang yun. Masaya naman ang buhay…

Ciao~

Case Cleaned and Ready for the World

2006-04-21T20:13:00.000+08:00

I cleaned my drawer (which contained 90% used paper and 10% stuff) and removed all the garbage (which I might have thrown almost everything away). I removed all those paper wasted with scribbles (of boredom) in it. I also kept some things that reminded me of… Some things…

My New Clean Drawer contains:
1) a large card given to me on my fourteenth birthday
2) a Papemelrotti box given to me by Thea, also for my birthday, with some stuff she included “just for me”
3) a plastic envelope which contained
3a) my cross stitch project
3b) my embroidery project
3c) 5 pages containing 999 kanji
3d) blank sheets of bond paper
3e) an unfinished excuse letter when I was absent during clearance week
3f) unused crosswise, lengthwise, one-fourth sheet and intermediate pad paper
3g) a list of Japanese songs that I burned written in Japanese on a math notebook page
4) Kiwi shoe polish
5) Gibi shoe cream
6) A box filled with used crayons (collected over periods of time) with the childhood motto of art- "Crayons are made to be broken..."
7) 2 tiny (and I mean really tiny) baskets which we used on our Christmas tree 2 years ago
7a) with one basket empty
7b) and the other containing old dollar coins
8) a Gackt CD burned by Bea Montenegro (thanks!)
9) a CD of our cinematography project
10) a tiny glass vial with pebbles, a shell and green beads inside and corked
11) my English-Romanji-Kanji dictionary
12) a medical terminology book
13) a Manileño notebook with some stories about the first days of Hertz
14) a red box with a painting on its front (formerly a chocolate box) containing
14a) a Raganarok priest badge
14b) the Survivor’s Club badge for Science Camp
14c) a Ragnarok manga badge with Chaos, Loki, Lydia and Fenrir in it
14d) the ticket for “Ang Guro”
14e) a pack of unused Mongol no.2 pencils with 2 remaining pencils, one with the eraser already used
14f) 2 name tags I used during the start of the third year
14g) a silver bull-shaped bottle opener
14h) an angel figurine
14i) the chain which was formerly connected to my pocket watch
14j) 2 old Manila Science High School blue laces which I used for the first and second year
14k) an empty orange tictac box
14l) a small Papemelrotti pad with messages on top
14m) a pink laminated bookmark with the words “R.A.G.N.A. Party ~ Vote Thea Pias”
14n) a white notepad
14o) the password code for 4 months access in Infotrac Online Library (which was formerly attached to my Biotechnology book until I tore it off from its perforation)
14p) a card with a bouquet painting in front
15) 2 dysfunctional diskettes and another diskette full of physics experiment papers from second year
16) a heart shaped chocolate box with metal stuff in it and a rock with calcite imbedded in it
17) leftovers of my intermediate algebra notebook (consisting of useable graphic notebook pages)
18) a blue pencil case with
18a) a red pen
18b) an eraser
18c) a lot of pencils
19) my wallet which contains
19a) nothing
20) my old phone which I’m using again
21) my Gtech 0.3
22) my 3rd year ID

Since they were part of the 10% of the drawer, imagine the 90% of used paper that was present before I had the ATP to clean it up. Ciao~

Tried and Tested

2006-04-16T19:08:00.000+08:00

Who even thought I would do this. Thanks CM. I also got the word cloud.
I tried it - and its green. ^ ^

http://www.snapshirts.com

Ciao~

To Gamble, Repent, Cook and Take a Break

2006-04-16T17:30:00.000+08:00

I’ve been out of the house for Holy Week. For the past 7 days I was in Cavite, and now I’m back home, a little bit nostalgic.

I am officially sleep deprived. Puyat. *yawn* I have been sleeping less and less for the past 3 weeks - since the official start of summer vacation, where slumber hours are becoming lesser by the days. I can’t cope easily with sleep reduction by sleeping whenever I want to do so because it keeps me awake at night. Since I can’t sleep, the whole twilight hours of Easter Sunday I was awake.

*yawn*

It starts with the Gospel of Judas. We watched the two-hour premiere of the lost evangelion written in ancient times. It was very discreet and short, and there were only a few truths that helped us ponder on how faith is constructed.

*yawn*

I slept at my cousins’ house, the house of my closest cousins, and stayed there for Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Without anything packed for me to stay there (clothes and such) I was given a new toothbrush and the permit to use my cousins’ wardrobe.

*yawn*

With the four of us together (me, and my cousins Jerico, Dave, and Reji) we were doing a lot of stuff for the summer.

*yawn*

During the Holy days, we were left in the house and we have to cook for ourselves. We had softened tapa (I learned the softening technique from my mom, which pounded the tapa with the knife blade), mashed potatoes with sautéed corn (which I learned from Emeril Live), pineapple crepes (one of my dessert specialties), smores pie (another thing learned from Emeril Live: Chocolate Festival). I also tasted a specialty dish - chicken in cream and pineapple syrup with carrots, potatoes and pineapple chunks.

I love cooking. I told them that I would prefer cooking everyday as long as I don’t wash the dishes - I hate washing dishes.

*yawn* *eyes are beginning to droop*

*pistachio break*

In Cavite, specific to the part of San Nicholas, Bacoor, the people there visit the Holy Week show Senakulo. It is a large field known as the Ilaya, and there is a stage in which they perform the trials of Jesus, usually sung. In Ilaya one could enjoy the senakulo, the food (composed of the seasonal bibingka, mami noodles and free tea, coupled with some hotdog stands and other food stalls), the rides (there is a small carnival there, with a bit boring cannonade of shooting games, a horror train, a Ferris wheel and a few rides that wouldn’t even raise adrenaline levels to a millimetre), and the main attraction: gambling.

*yawn*

There are two games available for the gamblers. The first is the color game, known as beto-beto. It is a game in which you bet amounts of money (lowest amount is dependent on the bangkero, the one who runs the stall) with a choice of 6 colors: red, blue, green, yellow, white and pink. There are 3 cubes; each cube has one of the colors mentioned. The cubes are placed unto a sloping drop-off. When the cubes are rolled down by a person (usually a bettor) the colors that appear will win. If a color appears once and you bet on that, let’s say P10, you will receive P20 (since they will return your P10 and give you another P10 for the winning color). If you bet on a color and 2 of that color appears, you will receive P30 pesos (P10+[P10x2]). When all cubes show your color, the return would be triple (if you bet P10, it would be P40).

*yawn*

According to my very lucky brother (who won almost P3000 for the Holy Week) it yields a 40% chance. I lost a lot of money. I am a born loser - to gambling, that is.

*yawn*

The next gamble is known as the sakla. It is a game played usually in funerals (a tradition in most Caviteños) and is also played for the Holy Week (since it is played in funerals, my guess is they matched it to the death of Christ).

In sakla, there are a lot of card pairs to choose from. You could bet in a card pair, or in sets of 2 or 4. When you win, your bet would be returned to you 18 times its original amount. If I bet P5 and I won, it would be returned P90. The winning card pair is determined by the deck shuffler or the balasador. When the pair of cards appears, the winning pair is in.

*yawn*

We enjoyed going to Ilaya, mainly for the tasty bibingka and free hot tea (concocted from Lipton tea bags and pandan leaves). We also gambled, and I lost all of my money (as aforementioned, I’m unlucky at this stuff).

*yawn*

I found some interest in reading a 1000+ page book about the Fundamentals of Nursing. I now know the pulse sites, the difference of systolic and diastolic pressures, eye muscles, respiration rates and other basics of nursing.

I finished reading Reader’s Digest for March and am currently reading the one for April. I liked the story on the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) in which doctors risk their lives in war zones and disaster sites to help people. I am aspiring for the job, and the topic has been a hot discussion whether I will take a double degree of try to qualify for a 6-year course.

*yawn*

Now I’m done. *drifts off to sleep*

*wakes a little bit*

Happy Easter! Ciao~

*doze off*

Lunar Blessings

2006-04-07T21:39:00.000+08:00

May nabasa ako. Hay…

“There are people who need to have another person to give light to their life - like the moon reflecting the light of the sun. Not only that these kind of people wax and wane the light they reflect, sometimes they are fully endowed with it, sometimes they are not, and when the light of the sun fades the moon will be just an ordinary satellite, waiting to reflect on new light and shining upon others seeing the waxing and waning of the light.”

At idagdag mo pa ito…

“The moon is one of the very beautiful and mysterious orbs of the cosmos. Lifeless but shines within the light of the sun. It shimmers among the dark night, gleaming, empowered with such grace of change.”

Kung saan ko ito napulot, hindi ko rin alam. Ciao~

Enrolled and Ready for Summer

2006-04-07T13:08:00.000+08:00

Madalas mahirap ang mahuli sa lahat ng bagay. Kadalasan kasi kapag nahuhuli ka marami kang bagay na malalampasan, at kadalasan importante ito sa mga susunod na pangyayari na magaganap sa buhay mo.

Minsan, hindi maiiwasan na mahuli.

Enrolment ko nung April 5. 8-9 ang meeting, tapos ang enrolment. Pinaalala ko ng paulit-ulit sa mga magulang ko ang tungkol dito dahil kadalasan kinakalimutan nila ang mga bagay-bagay. Hindi nga nila nakalimutan, kaso nagising na man kami ng 8. At Miyerkules pa, coding! Hindi namin magagamit yung sasakyan namin. Patay! Sobrang late na kami niyan!

Nag-bus lang kami ng mga magulang ko papuntang Masci, at nakarating kami ng 15 minutes to 10. Tapos na yung meeting with the principal. Tapos pagkarating pa lang namin punta kami kaagad sa UCB [under the comsci building] at na-enrol ako agad. Ang galing!!! Hindi na pumila yung mom ko!!! Napirmahan agad yung agreement. Kaso may konting aberya. Kailangan ng attendance sa meeting na hindi man lang nasilayan ng mga magulang ko. Sinabi na punta daw kami sa auditorium.

Eto yung cycle na pagdaraanan ng mga na-late sa meeting:

Akyat sa auditorium. Tapos papupuntahin kay Mrs. Apolinario. Hanapin si Ms. Chavez sa auditorium. Akyat papuntang audi. Wala siya doon. Magtanong. Punta sa guidance. Puntahan si Mrs. Arellano. Puntahan si Ms. Chavez sa Electronics Room. Nandoon siya. Kung naka-attend ka sa meeting, pirma niya ang nakukuha mo, jackpot. Kung hindi, pupunta ka sa office para kausapin ang principal bago mo makuha ang pirma.

Nang marating na namin ang part ng cycle kung saan kausap na namin si Ms. Chavez. Kung nagbasa kayong mabuti, malalaman niyo na hindi kami nakarating kahit isang segundo ng meeting na iyon [na according sa mga parents e hindi na kinakailangan masyado, sermon lang yun tungkol sa blah blah blah], sabi ng mom ko na na-late kami [true] tapos 15 minutes after 8 kami nakarating [false] at nakarating kami sa meeting [false] at nakalimutan niya magpapirma [false] kaya hinahanap ka namin Ms. Chavez [true] para magpapirma [true].

Ang lupet! Enrolled ako in less than 30 minutes.

April 5 din yung start ng outing ng Padolina. Kailangan ko pala ng snacks or kahit ano. Binigyan ako ng pambili at ng pambayad sa pool. Nag-meet kami sa Chow King sa Robinsons tapos namili kami ng drinks, ingredients ng pansit at ng konting chips. Weeee! We are ready to go!

Nandoon kami sa car nila Thea, kasama yung dad niya, si Michaelle, Jorge, Philippe, Jude, Nick Paul, Yani at ako. Sinundo namin si Ralph sa Magallanes. Ang haba ng biyahe kasi traffic sa SLEX, kasama pa yung joke ni pH na kung ang South Luzon Expressway ay SLEX, paano daw kapag South Expressway lang, at na sobrang habang paghihintay sa tollgate.

Pagkarating namin ng Solemar del Pansol, di muna kami nag-swimming [di kami excited] kaya nag-bilyar lang kami at nagbaraha muna kami. Nag-swimming lang kami noong mga 4 na. Dumating din sina Lorraine, Karen, Katz, Tita Yeta at Tita Arlyn nung nag-umpisa na yung swimming.

Masaya naman. Puro pictorial na nga lang e. Nagluto din kami ni Michaelle ng pansit [na tinatawag kong dog food dahil palpak iyon at kulang sa equipment at takip sa kawali] at nagkaraoke. Weee… masaya. Nag-twister din kami, tapos si Ralph at Katz ang nanalo.

Pagkatapos ng mga 5 rounds ng swimming at kulitan, natapos ang lahat noong April 6, 3 AM. Tulog na lang muna.

Nagising kami ng mga 6:30 at nag-breakfast. Bumili rin kami ng tubig kay Aling Kapuso. Tagal din namin hinintay ang Mendel, pero din a rin namin sila naabutan. Umalis na kami ng 10. Naiwan sina Philippe, Jude at Yani.

Weeee…. Tapos na… Hay… Sa wakas… Ciao~

Strings

2006-04-04T14:38:00.000+08:00

Studying is painful. I know that for a fact. And I would like to take another language transition. I may seem impermanent, but sometimes it’s important to sometimes divert things, because constancy gives limits.

My tips of my fingers in my left hand were hurting real bad. It was killing me, and my teacher said that I should rest for the time being. He included that I must endure the pain or else I wouldn’t learn a thing.

So far, I am learning, and the pain is bad. I must learn one at a time. He told me that I must have patience and discipline in learning this.

My brother is very strict about my guitar lessons. I may not have lessons with others, since I have my brother there, but his close eye to detail makes the pain even more tormenting than expected.

My assignments:
1) Practice chord shifts.
2) Practice finger placements.
3) Perfect “Ang Huling El Bimbo” before I can learn a new song.
4) Everyday, for at least an hour, play the guitar.

That may seem little, but it’s a lot of work. I do however have a lot of summer days to endure the pain. Ciao~

Buhay Magsasaka

2006-04-03T21:22:00.000+08:00

Sino nga bang nag-aakala na yung lunch ko aanihin ko pa? Naaliw ako, dahil bago kami mag-lunch, na-tripan ng mom ko manguha ng talbos ng kamote. Eto yung dialogue:

“Jay-V, kuha ka ng kutsilyo mo, ako kukuha rin. Punta tayo sa kabila. Kukuha tayo ng talbos ng kamote.”

Sabay kuha ng kutsilyo at lakad sa katabing bahay, kung saan walang tao at ipinakausap ng may-ari nito na bantayan ang bahay niya, at ito rin ang lugar kung saan nagtanim ang aking ama ng sari-saring gulay. Parang farm estate sa tabi ng bahay namin. Lakas trip.

Pagtungtong namin sa makeshift farm estate, nanguha kami ng talbos. Kaso, ‘di ko alam kung ano ba yung kukunin ko. Ano nga ba yung pwedeng kunin? Nabigyan tuloy ako ng isang komento.

“’Di ka pala pwede mabuhay sa bukid!”

Ouch. Pero medyo totoo na rin kahit papano, at nanguha pa rin kami. Naaliw ako sa experience kong iyon, dahil madalang lang makaranas ng buhay sa bukid, dahil sa buong Luzon, halos lahat ng dating taniman at gubat ay ngayon e kalsada, subdivision, office building at SM malls. Kaya minsan lang makaranas ng “farming experience”. Kung nanaisin ko man maging magsasaka, gagawin ko lang yun kung meron akong sariling lupa. At sa ngayon, ang isang sako ng garden soil ay 100, at kung makakagawa man ako ng isang hektarya, kelangan ko ng humigit kumulang 2000 sako. At wala pa akong mapaglalagyan nung garden soil na iyon, kung makabili man ako.

At dahil birthday ni Carlos at Yani ngayon, isang malaking “happy birthday!!!” sa inyo! Ciao~

Rewritten from Paper (Sayang sa tinta ng gtech)

2006-04-03T12:56:00.000+08:00

April 1, 2006

Summer. Tag-init. Bakasyon. Isa ito sa mga masasayang panahon para sa isang estyudante dahil hindi magdurugo ang utak niya sa pag-aaral. Ngunit kung wala kang ginagawa, ang boring minsan. Ngayon ang unang araw ng bakasyon ko.

Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa panonood ng TV nang matagalan. Eye strain lagi ang napapala ko. Pagkatapos ng magang mga mata ay matinding sakit ng ulo, migraine. Kahit din sa paggamit ng computer, kapag nag-DotA ako ng tatlong oras mangangailangan na ako ng paracetamol. Masaya sana mag-internet, kaso ubos na yung internet card ko.

At dahil wala na rin akong magawa at mapanood na palabas sa TV, naiisip ko kumain. Kaso wala masyadong instant sa bahay naming. Walang tinapay, prutas o no-cook noodles. Merong patatas sa ref, pero hindi ako uod para kumain ng hilaw na patatas. Magluluto pa ako kung kinakailangan. Kung gugustuhin ko man ng instant, kailangan may pera para makabili sa tindahan. Kabibili ko nga lang ng Tofiluk at Cream-O kanina. Nguit kahit masarap ang matamis, nakakasakit din ito. Kaka-tonsillitis ko lang at umiinom pa ako ng antibiotic. At ‘pag sobra din ang nakain kong matamis, sumasakit ang ulo ko.

Pwede din ako mag-basa. Kaso, inaantok na man ako kapagnagbabasa ng libro. Laging ganito - dahil kapag nag-babasa ako, ‘di ako nakaupo dahil nakakangalay yun, kaya nakahiga ako. At masakit yun sa mata dahil kadalasan ang posisyon ko ay against the light. Siguro after 10 pages sasakit na ang ulo ko at ipipikit ko na ang aking mga mata. Idagdag mo pa ang simoy ng electric fan, tulog na ako. Kahit kapag nag-aaral ako para sa periodic exam, ganito ang eksena. Kaya siguro ang baba ng score ko sa exam na yun.

Masaya pala magsulat sa papel (Obvious bang kinopya lang ito sa papel? Wala na kasi akong mai-post sa aking munting blog. This parenthetical remark is not included in the original manuscript.). Nasanay kasi ako magsulat sa PC at kapag nagsusulat ako sa blog e naka-English. Since na-inspire ako magsulat sa Tagalog dahil sa Stainless Longganisa (nahiniram k okay Loraine kaso ‘di ko pa naisauli. Another excluded parenthetical remark.). Parang ang dami kong naisusulat sa papel. Mas naiintindihan ko ang mga naisusulat ko at mas nararamdaman ko ang kagandahan ng pagsusulat. Ano yun?!?!?! Basta, masaya.

Mahirap makakita ng matinong palabas sa TV. Palipat-lipat na ako ngayon, ‘di tulad dati na sa isang channel lang ako nakatuto. Marami akong gusting panoorin sa National Geographic kaso puro hayop kadalasan ang naaabutan ko. Hindi ko type yung mga animal shows maliban lang sa World’s Funniest Animals ng Animal Planet. Personal favourite ko ang mga crime/disaster-solving shows, so inaabangan ko ang 3 CSIs (Las Vegas, Miami, New York), FBI Files at New Detectives ng Discovery Channel at Air Crash Investigation, Interpol Investigates at Seconds from Disaster ng National Geographic. Naaliw na rin ako sa channel na Crime/Suspense.

April 2, 2006

Aliw! Bumili yung kuya ko nang Ultraelectromagnetic Jam. Music ng Eraserheads na ni-revive ng mga artists of today. Ang saya!!! Kasi dati nung bata ako hindi ko ma-appreciate yung Eraserheads. Ngayon lang ako natuwa. Maganda pala.

Ngayong araw na ito nagkakagul kami sa preparation ng green mango shake. Specialty ng blender namin kapag summer. Kailangan mo ng manggang hilaw, yelo at puting asukal (walang angal sa recipe!). Nagkakatalo sa pagkakasunodsunod ng sangakp sa blender. Yung sa akin kasi, mango tapos asukal na may kaunting tubig na ipu-puree, saka ihahalo yung chunks ng yelo. Yung sa kuya ko yelo muna tapos mangga tapos asukal. Kaya nagkakaiba sa timpla. Pero masarap pa rin yung shake.

Napag-usapan namin yung Moments of Love. Sabi ng mom ko maganda. Kapapanood lang nila yun kagabi. Hindi daw boring. Nasabi ko na dati may nag-comment na ginaya lang yung story board ng movie - dalawang tao na magka-iba yung panahon tapos yung connection nila nabubuo sa tulong ng isang bagay. Pero hindi ba dapat ang titignan mo yung kung paano nila idedeliver yung story board na yun? Kaya dapat panoorin muna bago mag-comment. Kung parehong-pareho yung movie sa isa pang movie with the same story board, dun sila mag-away tungkol sa plagiarism at illegal copying.

Ang init! Nagbukas na ng aircon yung mom ko. E ang init talaga! Napabili na nga kami ng Twin Popsies e. Hati kami ng mom ko sa orange. Yung mga kuya ko choclate. Kaso mukhang 5 minutes lang ang epekto ng Twin Popsies. Pagkatapos ng limang minutong ginhawa e tutlo na ang pawis mo at hihilingin n asana may snow sa Pilipinas sa gitna ng Abril.

2:30 pa lang ng hapon gutom na ako. Gutom na rin ung iba, kaya naatasan ako magluto ng macaroni soup. Kaso corned beef ang pangsahog. Wala masyadong lasa ang corned beef. Tapos ‘di ako gumagamit ng vetsin o broth cubes kapag nagluluto. Kaya medyo naguluhan ako kung paano titimplahin yung soup.

Ang init talaga! Kaya Habang nasa aircon ako, binuksan ko yung TV at nanood ng Air Crash Investigation (ang galing, sakto ako sa palabas!). Pinasabog ng US yung Iranian commercial flight 655 dahil akala nila F 14 fighter plane yun tapos meron na yung silang (yung crew ng carrier ng US) scenario-fulfilment syndrome kung saan sa takot nila maatake kahit yung data sinasabi na passenger flight yung IR 655 e nag-act sila on impulse at nag-fire ng missile. Laki ng death toll. 290, crew included.

---

Yikes! Laking language change sa blog. Magsusulat pa rin ako sa English pero trip ko muna ngayon Tagalog. Ciao~

Hertz

2006-03-30T19:07:00.000+08:00

     This is for Hertz 2005-2006.

     At first, it seemed like the quietest section around the Home Economics Building with the quietest students. That was true during our first day, even some whispers felt like wind. I knew a lot of people from Hertz already, knowing them from the second or first year, but what it seems to be a crowd when classes start we were quite silent.

     A few days passed and the noise came into being, only in secluded groups. Different people mingle as one in a typical section, in our case different people mingled as a group, and everyone else soon followed. It was like a self-governing group. Organizing self-governing groups is a hassle.

     The officers sometimes got the things a bit to themselves. Our president had been confronted of being too bossy. I, the vice-president, was nearly impeached because of hypocrite leadership. The officers changed and adjusted themselves for the self-governing groups. But when would that thing last?

     ~

     The Sabayang Pagbigkas became the turnstile. No one agreed on anything. Some people were difficult to persuade. People had less energy with the activity. Progress was inconceivable. They have skill, but they don’t have the initiative to listen, understand or sometimes even work.

     Losing the Sabayang Pagbigkas due to the unmemorized lines just proved how rushed we did everything. Some things are not meant to be crammed. Our Filipino teacher added to the clash, suggesting beforehand not to join the Sabayan.

     Organizing self-governing groups is a hassle. Different ideas, different agendas, a whole different section. It was sometimes too awful to be in this section.

     The cold wars were frequent. Words used as swords. There were threats, angry shouts, misdemeanors and hurt feelings. No cooperation. A lot of problems arose. The boys were the prime noise-makers, followed by some girls. The boys told us that they were always screeched upon because of misbehaviour while the girls misbehaved themselves. The girls fired back with a defense that the boys should realize how noisy and irresponsible they were. It seemed to everyone that adjusting towards each other might be a problem.

     ~

     People learn. We somehow learned to accept each and everyone, although at a very slow pace. The groups slightly dispersed to give way for other people. It was like turning one gear at a time in a box full of gears jammed at each other. As one gear moved everyone else soon turned around. We still had a long way before all gears move as a whole system, trying to work out from a broken start.

     ~

     It was sometimes too dreadful to be in Hertz. But they said, “Love your own.” Maybe some moments within your section are irreplaceable.

     ~

     It may seem too late, but when our days were finally counted, all the gears now worked.

     ~

     Many days passed with everyone talking, ties established, and some noise tolerated. Everyone now felt Hertz as a section, at last. Many people were happy then. During the Science Camp, Hertz was there all doing something as a section. Interests met. Music, guitars, DotA, PS games, and even Magic - you could relate to almost anybody. Many confided with each other, unravelling the happiness behind all those times we shared.

     ~

     While using Yahoo Messenger, I felt talking to people from Hertz. I really enjoyed their company. Everyone feels that. They say that we’ll miss Hertz, and will joke about the summer, but the fact is clear - we all love Hertz.

     ~

     Tomorrow, we’ll be getting our cards and see our sections for the fourth year. We must move on now, even though everyone feels it’s hard to say good-bye to their section that they have just found the delight of being there, even just in a short time. Ciao~

BDT

2006-03-29T22:09:00.000+08:00

     BDT celebrated 7 months of dancing quality today. We played DDR (which had 1 token=1 credit= 2 people playing) and Para Para. There was a new game with tambourines and it was arm-cramping. Nica and pH enjoyed it though. ^ ^ pH and I got away with Sexy Planet Oni. ^ ^

     It was a long time ever since we played as BDT.

     A long time from 7 months.

     Nice one.

     *composed of Nica, Vanir, Kalen, Gelie, Niño, Marguax, Cean, pH, CM, Maton, and Aby*

     *oops, forgot me. Ciao~

Sickness is a curse

2006-03-29T21:58:00.000+08:00

     Sickness is a curse and a part of life. However sometimes it can be fun, and you’ll realize things as soon as your head starts spinning, and a few whoops *cough cough* and a sore throat accompanied with excess heat detected from your neck and forehead, I tell you, it is sometimes fun.

     It started with me being in Cavite with a sore throat and a lump in the head [while we played DotA with my cousins, the power blasted, it was dark, it was 8 in the evening, and the shop had that metal frame that slides downward when they close, and that metal framework was lowered, and since it was dark, and I am 5 feet and 10 inches tall, and it was LOWERED, go figure]. After having dinner and watching half of the usual week-end basketball game which my family and relatives played, I felt dizzy. I felt very warm too. I asked to check my forehead or neck if I had fever, I had an estimate of feverish to super duper hyper to the max (with wings) feverish.

     After going to my aunt’s house to lie down in dizzying pain, they brought me paracetamol. And water. In a glass. *gulp* and then sleep. After a few hours I was shivering. I was experiencing a known fact to me - my body’s temperature was high and then lowered down so quickly by the air conditioning, it could be fatal, but that was the first effect) so I remedied it with two thick blankets. That would restore me from a near hypothermic drop to my feverish state.

     I stayed for the night, and I continued drinking paracetamol. I woke up and took the morning habit with haste and bought a pack of Strepsils for my searing throat. I rode two jeeps to my elementary Alma Mater, Divine Light Academy Las Piñas, with my cousins. We played DoTA with my cousin (named Dave) and his classmates and other freshmen like him. After that we went to see my other cousin (named Jerico) to see how his clearance came out. After waiting in heat (and buying a liter of water and drinking it) we waited for my cousin (nicknamed Reji) and we searched for a good place for DotA. NOTE: The addicts were Dave and Reji.

     With all seats booked and no more shops to search, we rode a bus to SM Southmall. I encountered Marc Ladaga and talked to him for a bit. After we reached Casimiro, he left, and we conveyed the idea of continuing our travel in traffic.

     We reached SM and ran towards Netopia, and played one game. With Jerico and Reji pushing our base like there was no tomorrow, we lost the toothpick, but we played well. After that we came to Zapote Kabila. We went to my uncle’s dental clinic, and went to Gemmae’s to eat rice and a couple of different viands. We then rode a jeep towards my aunt’s house (where I stayed for the night) and got my bag. We went to my cousins’ house only to discover we didn’t have the key.

     We waited for a few moments, watched a tree burn, lied down in the road, tried to open the locks with alternatives, and we ended up buying Zesto and going to a nearby computer shop to play Raganarok. I love my high priest!

     When my parents came to pick me up, they pick the four of us and went to my other aunt’s house to eat and talk for a while.

     After that long hefty day, I was being awoken by my dad and mom and asked me if I want to rest or wake up and go to school. Nabinat ako. Dahil dun…

     “Pahinga na lang po ako…” *yawn* *sleeps after 5 seconds*

     I slept, drank more paracetamol and antibiotics, watched a lot of TV and played the guitar which was lying on the sofa. I logged on the net after dinner to ask about assignments or events that took place while I was absent, lying down the bed, watching TV.

     While using the Yahoo Messenger, I was talking to Varbi and to Lorraine, and they gave support to a fast recovery. That was touching [I’m serious!] and I felt that people care. Even while you are being tormented by sickness.

     Currently recovering. Ciao~