Simply... Carmigz

30 things to do before 30 (an update 1 year later)

2011-04-17T23:27:00.000+08:00

It has been exactly 1 year ever since I made my list of the 30 things I must accomplish before I reach the age of 30. It was actually quite coincidental that I found the list once more since I was in the mood for some retrospection. Upon seeing my Blogspot account, I saw the list and noticed that it was penned exactly a year ago.

On first sight, it seemed that there was nothing on the list that I was able to accomplish. Later on I've realized that I was able to do 2 out of the 30. LOL I dunno if I can pull this off given I still have 9 years to go, but who knows right?

Without further ado, here's the list and what I have been able to do so far.

1. Ride a bus without knowing where it's bound and with no planning whatsoever.

2. Become a medical doctor and finish residency.

3. Skydive.

4. Visit Mt. Pinatubo's crater.

5. Ride the Singapore Flyer.

6. Walk from Tagaytay Rotunda to the Rizal Monument in Manila.

7. Walk on the Great Wall of China.

8. Cook 30 dishes.

9. Visit 30 provinces in the Philippines.

10. Run a marathon.

11. Climb Mount Apo.

12. Learn how to speak French fluently.

13. Color my hair blond.

14. Dive in the Tubbataha Reef.

15. Learn how to surf.

16. Hop aboard a ship.

17. Get a nice tan in Boracay

18. Learn how to drive a car.

19. Bungee jump.

20. Buy my own house.

21. Fly around the world.

22. Ride a hot air balloon.

✔23. Drink like there's no tomorrow.

- Had a fun drinking spree with the Magnolia Kids at Rhean's place last December 3, 2010. Drank a tad too many liquor (2 pitchers of Paolo Timbang's mix with Cossack Vodka, 1 bottle of Mojitos tequila, and 4 bottles of The Bar vodka), threw up (in the CR. LOL!), and fell asleep. What's worst is that we had a Seminar in Nursing class the next day. Good thing I woke up at 5AM and prepared for school. Major hang over the next day though. LOL!

24. Visit Palawan's underground river.

25. Have a six-pack washboard abs.

26. Go vegetarian for 30 days.

27. Ride a motorcycle.

28. Save USD30,000.

✔29. Star-gaze in the middle of the sea.

-Did this last April 20, 2010 onboard PR100 bound for Honolulu. 38,000 feet above somewhere in the middle of the Pacific, I opened my window shade, pressed my face on the window (while covering my head with a pillow to block out the light from the cabin), and saw in all it's glory the vast firmament that held sooo many stars. It was definitely quite a sight to behold. =)

30. Be faithful.

2/30 in one year. Nine years left with 28/30 other things to do. Wish I could make it..

30 things to do before 30

2010-04-17T20:42:00.001+08:00

Turning 20 is a huge milestone for me as much as for anybody else. It's an age wherein I am no longer considered a "teen" and am old enough to do anything (or everything) that I want to do. It's basically the start of the rest of my life so to speak.

A week after I turned 20, I chanced upon this article on the Philippine Daily Inquirer about this project called 30 before 30 by blogger Celine Novenario. It's about "taking on challenges, getting my ego crushed, picking up the pieces, coming back for a beating, and every now and then, relishing the sweet taste of victory of crossing off something on my list."

So, here goes my 30 things to do before I turn 30 years old list:

1. Ride a bus without knowing where it's bound and with no planning whatsoever.

2. Become a medical doctor and finish residency.

3. Skydive.

4. Visit Mt. Pinatubo's crater.

5. Ride the Singapore Flyer.

6. Walk from Tagaytay Rotunda to the Rizal Monument in Manila.

7. Walk on the Great Wall of China.

8. Cook 30 dishes.

9. Visit 30 provinces in the Philippines.

10. Run a marathon.

11. Climb Mount Apo.

12. Learn how to speak French fluently.

13. Color my hair blond.

14. Dive in the Tubbataha Reef.

15. Learn how to surf.

16. Hop aboard a ship.

17. Get a nice tan in Boracay

18. Learn how to drive a car.

19. Bungee jump.

20. Buy my own house.

21. Fly around the world.

22. Ride a hot air balloon.

23. Drink like there's no tomorrow.

24. Visit Palawan's underground river.

25. Have a six-pack washboard abs.

26. Go vegetarian for 30 days.

27. Ride a motorcycle.

28. Save USD30,000.

29. Star-gaze in the middle of the sea.

30. Be faithful.

Hopefully, I get to finish all these in 10 years. I wrote this list down to make it easier for me to put it into reality by reminding me of its existence. I will also try to blog about its completion through the years. Wish me luck!

CM^^

Random Stuff

2008-01-07T11:51:00.000+08:00

Renz tagged me a few days ago and it's just now that I've seen it. Since I've got all the time to spare right now (and since my blogger's bleeding to be updated), I'll do it. I just hate the fact that i have to type everything since his blog doesn't allow right clicks. >.<

Rules:
1. Do the following without any complaints. (hahaha this has rule has been broken already even before I read the list of rules! =P)
2.Choose 5 lucky people to do this after you have done it.
3. Leave a tag at his/her tagboard if he/she has been tagged.

FAVORITES

1. Colors: BLUE!!! I also like black (is it considered a color though?) and white. But I'm starting to like green too! =P

2. Food: Sisig, cheesecake, lechon kawali, any pasta dish, pizza!! =P

3. Song: Can't think of anything in particular eh. It varies. :D

4. Movie: STARDUST!! Grabe all-time favorite ko na 'to. Way, way better than the book! (in my opinion) Pwede rin siguro yung HP and Star Wars Series.. And Interstate 60! Yeah, I like that too! And Riding in cars with boys.. Pero the best parin talaga Stardust!!

5. Sports: Badminton. Yun palang alam/kaya/nagugustuhan ko at the moment eh. =p

6. Day of the week: At the moment, Wednesday kasi washday at gitna ng week, Friday kasi isa lang klase, and Saturday kasi start ng weekend!

7. Season: Summer syempre!!

8. Ice Cream flavor: Cheese! Hahaha!

CURRENTS

1. Mood: NR.

2. Taste: Huh?!

3. Shorts: Boston Khaki.. (Tsk pa'no kaya nito nalaman na naka-shorts ako ngayon at hindi naka pants? hahaha!! =P)

4. Desktop: Yung default Microsoft Windows XP Professional na wallpaper. At sandamukal na icons sa desktop.

5. Toenail: Bagong pedicure. Grabe yun!! First time ko magpa-pedicure ever (dahil sa bwisit na ingrown).. Grrr ayoko na magpa-pedicure ulit.. Ansakiiit!!

6. Time: 12.07 PM

7. Surroundings: I'm in my Tita's bedroom using her laptop. On my right is the Queen sized bed. On my left is the huuuuge Samsung plasma TV. Behind me is my tita's closet. The aircon is set at Low cool yet I feel really cold!

8. Thoughts: This early morning's happenings.. ='c

FIRSTS

1. Best Friend: Haha sino ba? Ahhh si Yves nung pre-school!! =p

2. Movie: Casper the friendly ghost!! Grabe first movie na napanuod ko 'to ever! I still remember na nag National Anthem pa bago mag-start yung movie.. Haha!

3. Lie: Ewan. Hindi ko tinandaan. Haha!

4. Songs: Yung 40 minutes to late yata yun.. Basta yun ang earliest na naaalala ko..

LASTS

1. Cigar: None. I don't smoke and I don't intend to.

2. Drink: H2O.

3. Car Ride: Last night.

4. Phone Call: Last night din.

5. CD: Gaaaah can't remember.. Pwede bang DVD CD? UNDERDOG!

HAVE YOU EVER

1. Dated your best friend? Yeah! Generic yung word na date 'di ba? Hahaha! =P

2. Broke the Law: Ata. Haha!! (yung rules nito, I'm gonna break. Hahahah!!)

3. Been Arrested: Hindi pa! Kahit ata Jail Booth nung HS eh. Hahaha!!

4. Kissed someone you don't know: Nope.

5 THINGS YOU'RE WEARING

1. t-shirt
2. shorts
3. slippers
4. underwear
5. eyeglasses

4 THINGS YOU'VE DONE TODAY

1. Cry ='c
2. Sleep
3. Watch TV
4. Bathe
5. Eat

3 THINGS YOU CAN HEAR NOW

1. The aircon
2. The laptop's fan
3. My fingers hitting the keyboard

I tag NO ONE. Told you I'm gonna break the rules. =P

Best Christmas Gift Ever!!

2007-12-22T18:36:00.000+08:00

[WARNING: This could be a very long post. If you are allergic to very long blogposts, it is recommended that you skip the details and enjoy the big picture. Thanks!]

These past two days have been the happiest days of my life in a long, long time.

DAY 1

It all started last Thurday in which we had our last 2 prelim exams and Lance's 18th birthday celebration at their place. The day started and progressed with me giving my Christmas presents to my closest friends furtively (it's more exciting when given that way I've noticed. haha!). I do hope they appreciate it though. I mean, I didn't review yet slept late making those gifts! Hahaha!

The Chem Lec exam was fun! No, really! It wasn't that difficult as compared to the second long test in which I got a really dreadful score (38/59.. =c). Good thing I was able to finish the exam in 30 minutes since I still had to get my lab gown in my locker since I know it'd smell like rotten sh*t if it spends the holidays inside my group's locker. And smell like rotten stuff it did after I got it! I swear, next term I'll no longer use my lab gown to clean lab materials - it's the rag's job to do that. =P

The reed exam was ok. Everyone was able to finish the exam in 15 minutes! I didn't though. I enjoyed writing the essay part and was able to maximize the time alloted. I do hope I get a nice score in that exam too.

After the exams, we then proceeded to making the initial dubbings for our Socio project. During that time (while everyone else was busy with the recordings), Aya, Michie and I started planning for our Birthday surprise for Lance (actually the planning started days prior to that, it's just the finishing touches that we did). After that, we then proceeded to our next stop as planned - Robinson's Imus.

The plan was that Lance and Michie would buy me a highlighter while Aya, Nikki, Jonie, and I would "check some stuff." We then proceeded to Red Ribbon to buy Lance a cake in his favorite flavor. Upon finding Red Ribbon though (they transferred from a small kiosk to a bigger place beside the supermarket), we were surprised to see how much it costs. And so off we went to Goldilocks where the cake was bigger and more affordable.

Then we went to the second floor beside Hot Loops (the idea was mine since it's the place where Carlo and I stay whenever he visits Cavite) to wait for them. That part of the plan though was so disorganized that we were almost discovered! Thankfully, Michie distracted Lance and we were able to surprise him. =P

Then we took a trike to their place. We were supposed to have a convoy of tricycles since none of us can remember the way to Lance's place. However, for some unknown reasons, Jonie, Michie, and my tricycle driver decided to drive oh-so-slowly and even stop by a gasoline station! And so we lost them. Good thing we were able to find the place after awhile.

We then ate Lunch at their place. The food was sumptuous! Mrs. Marcial cooked Lengua with mushroom sauce, fried chicken, and carbonarra! Among the three, the carbonarra was my favorite though since it's so creamy and delicious! We then proceeded to watch TV. Minutes later though, Lance's friends from HS came. Mon and Mon. Yeah! They're both named Mon. Hahaha!! Then came Lance's best friend Kiko.

We then played Bluff. Although the game was initially introduced to my consciousness when I was in 4th year, it was only last Thursday that I learned how to play the game - and boy did I enjoy it! I also got some tactics from the 2 Mons and from Aya on how to win. I wanna play it again someday!

We then proceeded to dub once more before we all went home.

DAY 2

If Thursday was fun, Friday was even better!

Although it has already been established that my best friend and I would meet on that day, I never expected that we would play Badminton. Because of my utter dislike on wearing rubber shoes, I was not into the idea that much when he first proposed it. I mean, I was initially expecting that we'd go to Global Fun Carnival! In the end though, I ended up having fun playing badminton.

My best friend wasn't the best badminton player in town, but he sure is the best badminton buddy! I had so much fun playing with him. And then his gf (my sister-in-law) Ayah also came and we were introduced to one another. It wasn't difficult befriending Ayah at all! I find her so much like my friend Kathleen. I mean, they have a LOT of things in common I've observed! Same hairstyle, same skin tone, same humor, same manner of speaking, and even their real names are the same! (Ayah's starts with a 'C' though, I believe).

After playing badminton, the three of us then went to Robinson's Ermita to meet up with Leslie since she says she's going to give me "something". Too bad I wasn't able to bring my "something" for her since I thought we weren't really going to meet (Ayah on the other hand was to meet her Kuya Cedrick and buy a gift for herself at Rustan's). On the way though, we passed by a calamares vendor. And since we all love calamares, we all ate some!

One thing that I've learned though is that when dealing with street vendors, we should use our national language.

Carlo: "Kuya pabili po ng 9 pieces."
Manong: "Huh? 9 pesos?"

Hahahaha!!

Upon arrival at P. Gil though (we took the LRT), we met the Einstein people - Philippe, Thea, Rei Mark, and Wengchu! And boy was I surprised by that serendipitous event! Just that morning, I was talking to Philippe about my being unable to attend our mini-reunion that day. Who would've foreseen that we would all meet! Hahaha!! And like all other instances in which long unseen friends are seen once more, I was all-too-hyper and loud! In the sudden rush of euphoria though, I wasn't able to take a picture. Tsk tsk tsk..

Upon arrival at Rob, we then saw Leslie, ML, Pau, and Anna. Another rush of euphoria (this in spite of Leslie's irate attitude which she later on revealed was a result of her head ache), and then some. Good thing I was able to take some pictures this time. Afterwards, they all left leaving me with Ayah and Carlo. Some sort of conflict ensued though, the nature of which shall be kept private. We then bid Ayah goodbye and went to SM MoA to eat "lundinner" - the afternoon version of the popular "brunch". Haha!

We then proceeded to look for Gerry's Grill where we were to eat as planned (it's location overlooking the bay was perfect for the Fireworks display that night). But since it's already full, we then proceeded to go to Italianni's (albeit Carlo's rants that he doesn't like it there because of all the tomatoes). On the way though, the fireworks show started and so we stopped (in front of the Prince of Jaipur) and watched.

The fireworks show was splendid! Although I've seen it many times before, last night's seem to be the best. Even better (I believe) that last year's Pyroolympics! So cool!

We then went to Pupung and Friends to eat lundinner. I ate sisig while he ate the oriental pork. The food was so delicious and so affordable!!

We then proceeded looking for Padi's Point where Lance, Kiko, and the two Mons are located. On the way though, a series of conflicts occurred once more which forced us to go home earlier than planned. Since the LRT is no longer open at that time, Carlo was forced to take a cab home (an idea which he totally resented at first). The line was hellish though! We stayed there for almost 3 hours, dealed with cheating passengers, choosy taxi drivers, whatever dispachers, kind security guards, and noisy kids! (they were literally kids! around 12-14 years old. And it was already 10 past at night!! Tsk tsk..)

In the end though, Carlo was able to take a cab home while my dad fetched me from the mall.
In total, it has been such wonderful days! In addition to the gifts I've received from Nikki, Jonie, Michie, Leslie, and Carlo - these two days, along with the rest of this year, with all its ups and downs have been the Best Christmas Gifts Ever! =)

Isang liham para sa isang kaibigan

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

Kaibigan..

Nung first year HS, dahil medyo bago palang ako sa mundo ng malawak na sapot ng mundo (nasa kweba ako nung elem eh. hahaha! =P), medyo nangangapa pa ako. Syempre nanlilimahid ako sa cluelessness. Dun ko nakilala ang isang bagong kaibigan. Ipinakilala niya ako sa ilang mga bagong tao na siya ko rin namang itinuring na 'kaibigan' - bagamat may ilan sa kanilang hindi ko naman talaga kilala. Ipinakita rin niya sa akin ang ilan sa aking mga "long lost friends" at kami'y muling nagtipon sa mahabang braso ng aking bagong kaibigan. Astig 'di ba? Parang Nokia lang - connecting people.

Nung panahong yun din ako namulat sa dami ng mga pwede kong maging kaibigan sa panibagong mundong ito - at ka'y palad ko at isa ka sa mga kaibigang 'yun. Nung una'y pamasid-masid lamang ako, hanggang sa ako'y nahumaling, at 'di nagtagal ay hindi na natiis na tumikim. Medyo mapait nga nung una eh. Syempre, "first time" ko palang eh. Isa pa, simula ng ikatlong taon ko yun sa Masci eh. Medyo toxic na rin. Kaya't isinantabi muna kita saglit. Ang sama kong kaibigan noh? User friendly nga siguro..

Lumipas ang ilang buwan at nagkaroon na ako ng mga bagong kaibigan sa aking bagong section. At napansin kong mayroon din ang isa sa aking mga bagong kaibigan ng isang kaibigang tulad mo! At talagang close sila ha! Kese-hodang yung mga whatever things nya sa Ragnarok ishinishare nya sa kanyang friend! Kaya naman napaisip ako.. Hmm.. Balikan na kaya kita? Tutal naman, halos 3 buwan ka nang naka-tengga jan eh... =P

At ikaw nga'y aking binalikan. Kay palad ko nga naman at nandun ka pa. At nagsimula na nga ang ating pagsasama. Ang mga pahapyaw na tikim sa simula'y naging isang bagong obsesyon. Nahumaling ako sa iyong galing sa pakikinig sa aking mga hinanaing. Kaibigang malufet ka talaga! Tayo'y nagsalo sa bawat unos at tagumpay na yumugyog sa aking buhay. Napakasaya - tila ayaw ko nang tayo'y magkawalay pa. Naisip ko na nga na habambuhay tayong magkakasama eh. tatandang magkasabay - sa mundo ng kawalan.

Sa dalawang taong tayo'y magkaibigan, marami ang nagtangkang tayo'y paghiwalayin. Subalit walang nagtagumpay.. Oo, aaminin kong tumikim din naman ako ng alok nilang biyaya. Aba'y tao lang din naman ako - marunong matukso! Subalit wala pa ring nakagawang makatumbas ng ating pinagsamahan. Wala..

Kaya naman silang lahat ay aking isinantabing parang mga laruang pinagsawaan at ako'y bumalik sa iyong mga bisig. Haaaay.. Ang sama ko talaga..

Buwan nanaman ang lumipas, at isa sa aking mga isinantabing mga kaibigan ang muling nagparamdam. Nanunukso, tumatawag. Nung una'y ayoko. Ako'y tumanggi. Subalit malakas ang kanyang hatak sa akin. Hindi ako nakapag-pigil. Kinagat ko na.

At ako'y natuwa. Mas malinamnam ang hagod na kanyang dala. At ang galing galing pa nya ha! Parang all-in-one na! Astig talaga!

Tsk tsk.. Ang sama ko talaga, hindi na kita naisip. Ikaw na aking sinasabihan kapag ako'y may tagumpay na nakakamit at binubuhusan ng sama ng loob kapag sa akin ay may nanlait. Kawawa ka naman..

Huwag kang mag-alala kaibigang malufet.. Andito parin naman ako eh. Hindi kita iiwan tulad ng ginawa ng iba jan. Pangako, kahit bihira lang akong magparamdam, andito parin ako. Hawak kamay nating susuungin ang mundo. At wag ka ring mag-alala, dahil ang panalangin kong sa habang buhay na makapiling at makasama ka ay buhay na buhay parin. Kaya't salamat talaga at nariyan ka. Salamat.

CM =P

spectacles

2007-11-26T07:31:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, we went to SM Dasma to get my eyeglasses, and boy were we surprised! Andaming tao!!!

At first I thought there was a sale or something. But when we reached that middle part of the mall were performers do their thing, guess who I saw? Spongecola! Lol! Though I'm not a big fan of the band, I was kinda starstruck after seeing them live!

I didn't go near them though. I mean, why should I? Andami kayang tao!! Lol! Carlo even insisted that I take a picture with them. Nyak! I wouldn't even if I could noh! Not in a public event like that ofcourse. Hahaha!!

One thing that I did notice though was that their performance was met by a throng of emo enthusiasts and posers. I remember my mom telling me "Ano ba naman mga tao dito? Nakakatakot!" ROFL!!!

Too bad my new eyeglasses' frames blend in with the crowd. Gone were the days when to be different is to be nonconformist. Lol! Anyway, it's just yesterday (after I got my new eyeglasses) that I've realized how conformist (emo!) my new spectacles were! Oh well, at least they don't me look too pango (unlike my former eyeglasses).

Now I look sooo nerdy naman. Oh well.

**Just posting for the sake of updating. Sorry for the bilingual blog post. =P**

To oversleep and learn

2007-11-23T10:40:00.000+08:00

This day has been the most tragic day in my entire college life so far. Not that I have failed a subject (yet) or fought with someone in a nasty brawl and ended up in detention, whatever. Nah.

What happened was that I overslept and missed my one and only class every Friday which is NSTP. What makes it more unbearable is that the reason why I overslept is that I slept really late last night for a quiz which I guess I would never, ever be able to take (not with my honest reason ofcourse). Then there's also the feeling that I let my group down since we were due to report today.

Argh I hate the feeling! I feel so irresponsible. This should never happen again.

This day has been the most tragic day in my college life so far, yes. But I guess there will be more to come. At least I've learned my lesson. *sighs*

3 Days in the life of CM

2007-11-19T07:00:00.000+08:00

Last week, our professor in Socio left us with some homework to do over the weekend. We were tasked to chronicle our life in the span of 3 days (from Friday to Sunday). Upon hearing it, I thought it shouldn't be too difficult since that's how I used to blog back in third year. And so, here now is the homework that I would be submitting tomorrow for Sociology-Anthropology which I figured out would make a good albeit long blogpost too. =P

Day 1

5.34AM. My mom attempted to wake me up for the second time, and finally, I raised my white flag. I slowly opened my eyes and inhaled the cool scent of a brand new day. I saw the note taped on my bookshelf saying “Wake up! What’s the time?” Using my phone, I checked the time and jut it down on a piece of paper. Then I dragged my feet to our living room and lay down on a sofa where I watched TV while trying to resist the temptation to sleep once more. It was a Friday and so my first and only class starts at 8 instead of the usual 7. More morning free time for moi!

By 6:30 AM I started doing my morning rituals. While I was taking a bath, my mind wandered off while my body was trying to put an end to its uncontrollable oscillations – a byproduct of the combined forces of the cold water from the shower and the cool morning air. I thought of what I saw yesterday – our batch’s top 10. It brought back feelings of insecurity and inadequacy that I used to feel in high school. Our section’s top 2 were on the list and as the next in line in our section, I felt a little bad. I felt that I was not good enough. I felt that no matter how hard I tried to excel last semester, I still remained as I have always been ever since time immemorial – mediocre. But I won’t settle for mediocrity, I told myself. I won’t.

And so upon bathing, I quickly dried myself, put on my school uniform, got my bag, pecked my mom on her cheek and dashed to school. 7:15 sharp according to my watch. Nice I told myself. Upon taking my seat inside the public jeepney, I saw my classmate Ana and said a socially perfunctory but personally sincere “Hi!” I then looked her up and down ‘til I realized something was amiss – she was wearing her NSTP shirt! It pointblank led me to a fork down the road. Should I go down the jeep, rush back home and change clothes or should I just go ahead but risk getting deductions from my grade? I chose the latter.

After a few minutes of scolding myself mentally for being so irresponsible for the nth time once again on the way to school, I have finally arrived. Together with Ana, we went to GDO for our NSTP class. The first few minutes were spent chatting with some classmates. Then our facilitators arrived and we went through the standard procedure of attendance and uniform checking. It was then that some of my classmates started asking me furtively why I was not wearing my NSTP shirt. I opted to be honest with them and admit that I left it. When Ms. Page called out my name however, I was glad to note that she let my improper attire slip and we went on with the reporting. I gave a sigh of relief.

All groups were set to report on the different kinds of diseases which would be reported later on in the semester to other people as part of our Community Service. Ms. Page then asked a representative from each group to get a number for their group. Since I was seated in front (as I almost always am), I picked for our group. Luckily enough, I got number 5! Being the last bunch of reporters gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, we will get to report next week instead. I still wanted to improve my visual aids so that there would be no need to revise it to make it more eye catching for our future audience (whom I expect would not be interested in listening to dull reports with text filled pieces of cartolina in front of them).

Time passed by and so did the reporters. Although I listened and occasionally took down notes, I was extremely anxious of the time. An hour before the end of the period, I started becoming extremely anxious. I was ready to deliver my report, but I didn’t want to show a mediocre piece of work which was exactly what my visual aids were. Thankfully, we didn’t get to report. Whew!

After NSTP, a series of events have occurred which when narrated in detail would not fit into the 2 page requirement. And so, I shall have it summarized. From GDO, we went to the SBC bookstore to buy a chemistry lab manual which unfortunately was unavailable. And so we went to nearby Fiat restaurant to eat lunch where I ate Pork Teriyaki while Lance munched on Braised beef; Jonie and Aya, Korean beef; Michie, stuffed squid; and Trish, Italian Omelet. After that very sumptuous lunch, our number went back inside the campus, went to Trish’s dormitory to get her copy of the lab manual so that we can have it photocopied. While waiting, Lance, Aya, Jonie and I found something in common – our inability to ride a bike.

Afterwards, we all went to Robinson’s Imus to buy the ingredients for our Cheesecake that we were to bake at Lance’s. Aya, however, opted not to join us since I believe she had to be somewhere else. And so the four of us went to the grocery to buy the stuff we needed. Of all the ingredients on our checklist, we were able to get all but one – the cream cheese. After minutes of walking down aisles, I finally gave up and suggested we just buy a cake instead. And so we went to Red Ribbon – but even that was not a piece of cake! We all wanted different cakes and we can’t decide on a single one to buy. I then asked them if they have already tried the cake that I wanted – the Banoffee Pie. All of them answered in the negative, and so my cause won!

With a cake in hand a few pieces of junk food in a plastic bag, we all went to Lance’s place. Yet even the simple act of traveling to the Marcial Residence was exhausting in itself. We first rode a jeep and have already paid the fare when we have decided to take a tricycle instead which is faster albeit more expensive. And so the jeepney ride was agreed as an exercise in futility and we all took the tricycle. At Lance’s place, we ate junk foods as we watched the movie “Dead Silence” – a horror movie about puppets and ventriloquists who want revenge. The movie was great and so after watching it we decided to watch another movie – “Hostel II”. We gave up on the movie though because aside from the excessively morbid and gory scenes, the first part was a bit boring. So we decided to just eat cake.

Contrary to what my family, my best friend and I experienced upon the initial contact of our taste buds and the heavenly concoction of sorts that is the Banoffee Pie, they didn’t like it much. They found the Graham part too sweet and hard even. I liked it anyway. While we were eating cake, we chatted on and on and became unaware of the time. It would have been okay for me to leave late but since it was Jonie’s first time to visit Lance’s place, we had to leave early so she may find her way home. And so we left.

Upon arriving home, I read our Philo handout and went to the computer shop to type my reaction paper on the readings given. Minutes later however, my mom called me up for dinner. So I went home, ate dinner (a KFC box of 8 fried chickens and some pork chop), watched TV for a while then went back to the computer shop. But since our subdivision had a 10:00PM curfew for people 18 years old and below, I was obliged to just save my work via Yahoo Mail for continuation the next day. I went home, watched the movie "The Da Vinci Code" on HBO, and went to sleep.

Day 2

11:05AM. I woke up on my mom’s first attempt at waking me up. I slowly rose from slumber, checked the time, and wrote it down on a piece of paper. I then went to the living room to read the newspaper. Since we’re usually too busy to read the paper everyday, we only have the newspaper delivered every weekend. I read a few articles of each section before my mom and I went to our aunt’s house just beside ours to eat lunch (or as in my case – brunch).

My aunt’s house was going through a major make-over. The furniture was placed away from the walls and there were sheets of paper (from newspaper) everywhere. The walls, on the other hand, had a first coating of multi-colored paint. The living room walls were painted red, the dining area green, and some walls yellow. It was a new touch to my aunt’s former white walls. It was a teaser though. The fresh initial coat of paint on the walls were uneven, making it seem to be a variety of shades of red, green, and yellow. With those colors I ate my brunch – Sinigang.

After eating lunch, I asked my aunt if I could use her laptop. Upon granting me permission to do so, I went upstairs and turned her laptop on. I then downloaded the files which I saved yesterday and finished typing them. I gave final touches to my reaction paper to Buddhism in Philosophy which was entitled “Metastasis” and went on to typing yesterday’s journal entry for Sociology-Anthropology. With so many ideas and opinions inside my head that’s bleeding to be printed on paper, the Philo paper was extremely difficult to type since it was limited to just a single page. I had no choice though but to merge some paragraphs and simplify some phrases (without cutting off the message I wanted to convey). The Socio journal entry wasn’t that difficult though since I have already started typing the first part of yesterday’s entry (I typed it simultaneously with the first part of my Philo paper last night) and I just had to type the events leading to the point in which I slept yesterday.

While typing at my aunt’s though, something new and exciting occurred. I accidentally bumped at my aunt’s thermometer which was lying on the table making it fall to the floor in pieces with the mercury lying on the ground. I picked the thermometer with bare hands and put it on the table and proceeded to collecting the mercury. It was my first time to collect mercury so it got me really excited. There was something in collecting something so beautiful yet so dangerous that was very endorphin-inducing. Upon collecting everything, I put them in a plastic bag and threw it all in a trash can. After I have finished with my stuff on my aunt’s laptop, I saved my work via Yahoo Mail for printing and went back home to do number 2. Then I watched TV for a while before proceeding to the computer shop to have my work printed and to research on the reagents that we would be using for Monday’s Chem Lab experiment.

Once I was at home, I started writing my Pre Lab report in Chem Lab. It was all about measuring densities of solids and liquids alike. Then I took my universal notebook out and checked all the things that I have already accomplished from my list of things to do. I was all set to commence with my Chem Lab homework when I suddenly remembered that I will need my Scientific Calculator (Sci Cal) for accuracy purposes. The thing however is that it was still in high school when I last used my sci cal and since we’ve moved houses ever since, it would not be an easy task. And so the treasure hunt of sorts for the missing sci cal started. I rummaged through my high school stuff, my book shelf, my drawers, in other drawers all in search of that very important sci cal. When I finally gave up, we then decided to just buy a new one. My mom then told me to take a bath so that we may be able to go to SM Dasmarinas to buy one.

As a was taking a bath, I thought of my old sci cal. It was my second sci cal and I’ve had it since I was in second year high school. It had helped me pass high school and to abandon my “search and rescue operation” seemed so difficult. Yet I had to get my work done and if looking for it would make things even more difficult, sacrifices should then be made.
After I bathed, I waited for my mom, dad, and brother to finish. Then off we went to SM Dasma. At SM, we went straight to National Bookstore to buy my stuff. I immediately asked the first saleslady I laid my eyes on for their sci cals and she courteously pointed them to me. I looked for a sci cal which looked just like the one I lost and was surprised to see it was cheap (about Php500++ only) which was a far cry from the price my mom paid for me to get the same model 3 years ago. I also bought lab goggles and gave my mom my Laking National card so that it could be credited. From National Bookstore, we then proceeded looking for cheap clothes but since there’s a sale tomorrow at Festival Mall, we just decided to eat dinner. We ate dinner at Tokyo Tokyo where we ordered their Combo C. It was my family’s first time to try Tokyo Tokyo’s California Maki and my brother’s first time to try any California Maki ever (My first time was with my best friend at SM Mall of Asia’s Tokyo Tokyo branch). Then we went to Goldilocks to buy some pasalubong for my aunt and my cousins (my cousins are not my aunt’s children by the way, they’re just staying at my aunt’s place since their parents are in the States this week).

Then we went to Ideal Vision for my eyeglasses. On the way however, my brother bought the latest Harry Potter VCD. At Ideal, I was able to buy spectacles for just Php1,500. I also had my eyes checked and was surprised to note that from the former 100/120, it’s now just 25/50. I can’t wait for my vision to be as perfect as possible. The ophthalmologist told me that my eyes could still be corrected if I wear my eyeglasses all the time which was an advice that I would most surely follow now since it’s just a few grades away from being perfect. We then headed back home. Upon arrival, my mom and I went to my aunt’s house to see beautifully painted walls everywhere. I then proceeded to my aunt’s bedroom to start typing on the first part of today’s journal entry.

Day 3

8:00++AM. I woke up on my own, still feeling slightly sleepy yet happy that I woke up on my own accord. I saw the note taped on my bookshelf and so I searched for my phone and checked the time. Laziness, however, took the better part of me. Thus I simply trusted my memory to remind me of the time once I type my Socio journal entry for the day.

I then rose from my bed and went to the living room to read the newspaper. I read several parts of the newspaper but what got my eye in particular was the Sunday Inquirer Magazine. Every Sunday, the only parts that I almost always read are the headline and the SIM. This SIM issue was a particularly interesting one for it was about luxury in the Philippine context. Then I went to the computer shop. On the way to the computer shop, my mind was still hooked to the many articles on the Tantocos (founders of luxury retailer Rustan’s). My mind then wandered off to the only luxury item that I bought – my white canvass Lacoste messenger bag. I then remembered how I used to skip dessert (I usually splurge on chocolates back then every after lunch and before going home), resisting heeds from Van Houtens and Cadburrys just so I could have enough money to buy a bag in two weeks time. But even that was not enough! I also had to use the money that I have accumulated from my various contest winnings. I then thought of the practicality of that cause, of the many other things that I could have had had I not bought that bag, of where that bag is at present, and of how difficult it is indeed to clean that bag.

Upon arrival at the computer shop, I was glad to note that I was their first customer for the day. Alas! A few minutes of peace before those noisy kids from the block start playing computer games once more. I then proceeded on making a blogpost for my blogger account. I was able to make a post on fate and how planned things never happen even if it can still be controlled by man. I then continued typing my second journal entry for Socio up until the time I slept. When I was saving my document however, something caught my eye though. A document entitled “Too late to intubate” I then read it only to find out that it was penned by a student nurse like me. What got me hooked however was not just the message that the writer wanted to impart (it was a summary and reaction paper to a story about a nurse who was held liable for a patient’s death simply because he did not tell the doctor his views about intubating a patient) but also the manner in which he conveyed this message. The writer made an entire document written in purely adulterated English! And so using my multiply account this time, I wrote a short blog entry on the deteriorating command of the English Language by Filipinos.

After my computer shop escapade (which cost Php40 thanks no less to the long time I spent typing), I went home and read the required readings for Philo. It was all about Confucianism and the way of the sages and was 18 pages long – all single spaced and set in a small font size! But since it was required, I read it still. It was extremely boring and there were times when my mind started wandering off to some other unrelated topics, or started listening to my mom and dad’s bickering in the kitchen which was just near my bedroom. And so I sometimes read sentences (and even whole paragraphs!) twice before I got to acquire the message.
When I have finally finished reading, I waited for awhile for the food to get set. I was hungry since I’ve been awake for quite some time already yet I still haven’t eaten anything yet. Once the food was set though, I ate with all my mouth’s (and stomach’s) delight. Then I watched TV for awhile.

By 1 or 2PM, I then took a bath and waited for them to finish doing so. We then went to Allied Bank in Paranaque so that my mom could withdraw some money. Then we went to our former house (we just moved to Cavite last year) in BF Homes where my grandma and my uncle’s family are residing at present. I saw that the house now looked like a haunted house, the master’s bedroom was still unusable (we still had loads of stuff left that wouldn’t fit in our new house), and my aunt and their new house helper putting up the Christmas tree. I also saw my baby cousin Pio who was 2 months premature upon birth, who spent months inside an incubator at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa, but was now healthy and absolutely adorable. By about ten minutes before 5 PM, we then went to the church to hear the 5:00PM mass. On the way to the mass however, I found out from my brother that my grandma gave us Php500 each! Too bad I didn’t get to thank her.

After the mass, we then went to Festival Mall to go shopping. Although the clothes and other stuff were indeed cheaper, the great number of people in the mall at that time (causing long lines not just in the counter but also for fitting rooms) became a major hindrance. And so we just went to Kenny Rogers to eat dinner. We ate roasted chicken and some side dishes (potato salad, some macaroni, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potato). Then we went to Power Books so that my brother can check if the Deluxe Edition of the 7th Harry Potter book is already available. Upon knowing that it still isn’t we were all set to go home. But before that I treated my entire family for some coffee at Starbucks. I figured that since I often treat friends out for desserts or other stuff, I guess my family deserves that too. And so, my mom and dad bought tall cappuccinos, my brother a venti Vanilla Frappe, and as for me – a venti Peppermint Mocha Frappe, spending all but Php20 of the golden bill my grandma gave me.

As I sipped on my coffee, I then thought of the events last year – those of me sipping that same flavor for the very first time, watching and listening to hymns of choirs and the orchestra singing infront of the giant Christmas tree at SM MoA, seeing Ryan Cayabyab just behind me as he was signing CD’s for the very first time – all with the one I love. I remember how we used to go anywhere to our hearts delight after class (even if it means going home really late). I became nostalgic, but I figured that the past should be left at that and that I should move on. I then became a bit grateful to my parents for sending me to La Salle instead of UP. At least it helps me in moving on, being away from that person (though it keeps me away from all of m high school friends). *sighs*

We then went home. I watched PBB celebrity edition 2 with Chang in tow (Chang’s our heavy, thick, and expensive Chemistry book). I still haven’t read Monday’s lesson in Chem lec (Chemistry Lecture) and so I multitasked. After reading, I then prepared my stuff for the next day. It would be our first experiment in chemistry and so I will be needing my lab gown and goggles. Since it won’t fit in my small bag, I used the only clean big bag that I have – my Lacoste bag. I then proceeded to brushing my teeth and washing my face before going to bed. On my bed, I saw once more that very relaxing book I borrowed from the library (The Art of Doing Nothing). Since I’ve already finished reading the book last week, I wanted to reread all of it once more in one sitting. But doing so would risk losing sleep once more – and I dare not feel groggy on the first day of the week of course! And so I called it a day and went off to sleep.

Come What May

2007-11-18T08:41:00.000+08:00

One of the things that is usually associated with the Filipino people is the tendency to leave things to fate - Bahala na (Come What May), we Filipinos colloquially say. This Bahala na principle however, was set in a bad light once Filipinos have learned that man has control over his destiny.

I for one used to believe that one can have control over his future, that he drives his own destiny, and he is responsible for what he becomes. But certain recent events in my life made me doubt the validity of this claim.

Last week (or I guess it was 2 weeks ago), I have invited my friends to go to SM Dasmariñas to play at Quantum. Everyone agreed. The days leading to the planned day made me feel excited for I haven't played at Quantum with a group of friends for the longest time (makes me wanna go back to my BDT days in 3rd year). Timezone and Power Station at SM MoA with Carlo and Tom's World at Rob Imus with Lance were my latest conquests inside the playroom.

Come Friday (the day of our Quantum escapade) however, I started losing enthusiasm over going to SM Dasma to play at Quantum. All of a sudden I just wanted to go home, rest, perhaps read a book or watch TV or surf the internet. I didn't want to let my friends down though, so I didn't mention it at all. Time passed however when the feeling could no longer be held inside my mouth. And so I told them how I felt at present about playing. To my surprise, they all agreed! They all didn't feel like going to Quantum to play anymore! So instead of going to SM Dasma to play, we just ate at nearby Fiat Restaurant to eat lunch before going our separate ways home-bound.

Another similar event occured last Friday when we all planned to go to Lance's place to bake a cake. This one, on the other hand, was no longer my idea but Lance's. Indeed, he felt soooo enthusiastic about baking a cake that it was contagious. We decided to bake cheesecake and watch a movie while we were at his place. But before we go there however, we had to go to Rob Imus to buy the necessary ingredients. Once there though, Aya opted not to go because she was to be somewhere else. This made us think if the baking would push through. We thought in the affirmative of course, and proceeded to the grocery to buy the ingredients.

Of all the ingredients written in Lance's list, all but one was available - the cream cheese. Out of sheer irritation because of the lack of this missing ingredient, we let go of our baking plans and just bought cake.

Now, one could say that we could have pushed through with the original plan, we could have "taken our wheel to drive our own destiny" so to speak. But would that make us happy?

I thought of other events in my past which were planned but never pushed through. I thought of how I wanted to study elementary at Ann Arbor with my classmates then but ended up being forced by my mom to transfer to SFACS. I then thought of how I used to dream of being one of those tall guys going out for lunch with friends at nearby Sari-sari stores or at SM Southmall when I was in elementary. Come Grade 6, this thought became more concrete with the realization of having friends who would push through with studying at SFACS for HS. But once again, thanks to my mom and her sisters, that didn't push through. I went to Masci to study HS.

Then more recently, come HS, I sooo wanted to go to UP with people that I know taking the path that I want. I even planned to attend the Simbang Gabi just so I could pass the UPCAT (that just shows how much I don't trust my capabilities - how IC..). But then, once I have already passed the test and was admitted to my first choice of course in my first choice of campus, my mom and aunts were there once more to thwart what has been planned. And so here I am now at La Salle.

What if I pursued with my initial plans? What if I studied at Ann Arbor all the way? What would have become of me? What if I didn't go to Masci? Would I be a different person? What if I pushed through with studying at UP? Leslie always says that I'm better off at La Salle. Why? Because I think she knows that I would be more radical and more liberated if I went to UP. And you know what, she's right! Somehow, La Salle held back my wild side - the side that's so radical that it would go to lengths my family would most surely disapprove of.

Just yesterday, I saw my yearbook in pre-school and was surprised to note that I was Best in Conduct and fifth place. The first honor is my current classmate and our class president (not to mention my groupmate in Chem Lab). This made me realize how the unplanned made me grow as a person. I was trained to be good, prim and proper in pre-school; smart, hardworking and ambitious yet grounded in elementary; still smart, hardworking, and more ambitious yet free and more social in high school.

It's cool to note how the unplanned reveals more good things to come. Now I no longer just hold on to my "man driving his own destiny" principle. I now embrace both ideologies. Henceforth from this day on, I would no longer plan events in detail. I would have dreams, ambitions, and aspriations ofcouse. I would work hard. But I would no longer be a slave of tomorrow. I would live in the here and now and leave the future to fate. After all, to the hardworking and diligent, the future is not a place you don't want to be. Come what may, it shall be bright.

Come what may..

Ad Astra

2007-11-12T00:45:00.000+08:00

A few days ago, I rummaged through my high school baul of sorts in search of a research paper that I've submitted when I was in 3rd year HS for my English class. And guess what I found?

My certificate of recognition for having won first place in the word power contest when I was in second year! Although it should've been a gold medal, I think the English dep decided to implement sudden austerity measures at that time so all I got was a piece of paper. To some it might've been just a piece of junk worthy of a one-way ticket to the garbage can, but for me, it's an award worth keeping.

During my entire four-year stay in high school, the number of awards that I have received would not even be enough to reach two digits. Heck, to think of it, I actually got just 3 awards from Masci! One's a sash (for being a "court of honors" member during first year's Mr. and Ms. Masci) and the other two are certificates (Word power in 2nd year and my First Meritorious award in 4th year). All other awards (despite being huge medals with cash prices) were either from my Parlia or choir contests (which is definitely not individual!). That's it. No medals from Masci for me. xp

It was a totally different world compared to my grade school days - yet it opened my eyes to the bitter truth that I am just an average kid and that there is nothing extra-ordinary about my abilities (again, as opposed to my grade school experience at SFACS).

But then again there was something different when it comes to my ability to play with words. Time and again, I have received compliments enough to make my head swell from people who really write good stuff. I guess I have my grade 5 and my second year English teachers to thank for my sudden interest in writing (I've never received compliments from others for my writing capabilities prior to these points in my life). I just loved writing - and thankfully - writing loved me back!

But I never felt good enough. Whenever I read other people's works, Inferiority complex almost always settles in. I always get this feeling that other people always write better than I do. This didn't bother me much when I was in HS. Although I was never a member of the school paper, I always had confidence in my writing prowess back then. But not now.

Not that I no longer receive compliments from peers and teachers for the stuff that I write, but I've just realized that I still want to prove myself capable in this interest of mine. I want to prove to myself that I am a writer in every sense of the word.

And so I met Don Carlos Palanca.

According to wikipedia.org, "winning a Palanca is a sort of a "baptism of fire" denoting or announcing that one has arrived in Philippine literary circles". Cool eh?

The moment I first got wind of the existence of this "Palanca", I've set my mind into winning one someday. But the thing is, I find it hard to win one. Why? Because to be honest, I've never even joined, ever! Whenever I remember of the Palanca, it's always past the deadline! Plus there's still this issue of my insecurities about joining. Who am I to dare join a competition for the "Pulitzer Price" of the Philippines? I haven't even won any literary competitions anywhere yet!

Then came Palad. Palad is the Heraldo Filipino's (HS is the official student publication of DLSU-D) Literary digest. Anyway, Palad is currently holding yet another creative writing contest for Lasallians. I want to join. I want to prove to myself that I can really write.

Then it's only then that I can firmly believe in my being a writer. And from there, all else shall follow.

Palanca here I come!

(nyahaha feeling!)

=P

~x(

2007-11-08T22:33:00.000+08:00

I've just updated my multiply

Not an uber update, just a teeny-weeny update where I had my layout changed and all

All for conformity's sake

The first two days of classes for this sem has been stressful, yeah, but fun

yeah, fun!

But this night has been stressful

Just that, stressful.

Who would've known that merely updating my multiply and using my YM once more would make me THIS stressed?

*sighs*

In which I return from the pages of my adventures

2007-11-05T15:31:00.000+08:00

Five more days since my last blogpost, and alas! I'm back.

For five days I have been a young criminal lawyer who defended a black man who killed two white men who raped her ten year old daughter and tried to kill her in a part of the United States that is predominantly white. For five days I have been a victim of the burning crosses of the KKK, an object of incessant public scrutiny, a hero.

And now I arise from the leaves of my book and come back to reality.

To be honest, I would really want to read another book (perhaps another Grisham masterpiece or Dan Brown's Deception Point). But I dunno, I've got this feeling that I have to stop reading fiction and start preparing for the second sem.

A Time to Kill wasn't that long. And it wasn't that difficult to comprehend either. It just so happened that in the course of my reading the book I found myself bored by the first few chapters. And so it became routinary. I open the book, read a chapter or two, feel my eyelids droop, close the book for a while, and drift to sleep. This happened every few hours for the first few days. Bored and unproductive was how I've been.

And so the bedroom was left unclean, the new classcards, untouched. A new notebook in which I would write an entire semester's worth of information was still non-existent. I had a lot of work left undone. Not to mention a pounds heavier.

This, I believe, justifies the reason why I should stop reading and start living. I've already bought a new notebook yesterday and my classcards are no longer sparkling green with blanks. I guess it's just my bedroom. Then I'm back to reading fiction - that is, if the new semester's workload would not interfere.

I can't believe I'm back to my addiction of reading novels. And I can't believe I'm still craving for more! I just robbed a ATM account some dough yesterday, and I'm now honestly itching to spend it on new stuff. I can't decide though if it's going to be new clothes (I'm running out of clothes to wear =P) or new books (to satiate my appetite).

Books or clothes? B or C? BC. Yeah, I guess I would be busy enough not to care once the semester starts.

Hahahaha!

(kurni. =P)

Oh, it has been an adventure! An ADVENTURE!

2007-10-31T13:05:00.000+08:00

It's been quite a while since my last post. The PC at home's still busted. I dunno how I'm gonna survive next sem. Waaah!

Nah just kidding. I've been through situations much worse than a crazy PC that just won't turn on. lol!

A lot of things transpired during the five day blogging hiatus. It has been an adventure! Hmm.. Let me recall..

I've been a half-mortal who crossed the wall into the land of Faerie and embarked on a quest in pursuit of a fallen star.

I've been a hot-shot lawyer who has been employed by a very generous firm in small town Memphis but in the end risked my own neck running from them and the fibbies because the oh-so-utopian law firm turns out to be an outlet of the Morolto crime family.

I've been a guy struck with some sort of inferiority complex who helps a young girl who opens doors and is all of a sudden banished from the world I've always known, wandered around an unknown London (where rats speak and unoccupied underground train cars are actually courts), helped the same girl unleash a certain family mystery, slays the Beast of London and becomes "the Warrior", discovers a shocking revelation, goes back home and finally discovers where his real home is.

And now I'm a young kid who is the only sane witness of a tragic suicide and is burdened with a secret that could both bring justice to a US senator's murder and my family's murder. Plus I have a lawyer who really seems like Miranda Priestly.

Yeah I know, I've been a total bummer. I guess the biggest adventure during that five-day hiatus is yesterday's enrollment. But still, watching Gaiman and Grisham's works play in my head portrayed by various actors is still very worthwhile.

I do hope though that I would have the same piety in reading textbooks once the second semester starts.

=P

A hair story

2007-10-26T18:18:00.001+08:00

My hair is one of the many parts of my body that I absolutely hate. And since I'm over my semi-fixation of eradicating all the pimples not just on my face but all over my entire body (they're still there, I've just given up trying to get them off my system), over my insecurity of having a small nose (it makes me PINOY you know! lol) and a short height (I no longer drink cherifer PGM, milk, and I no longer sleep 12 hours a day), my hair's the solitary despicable thing in me physically (in my opinion, that is).

No matter what I do, there's always something hate-able about my hair. Well, it's not always soo hate-able. It used to look nice. Like Philippe's hair (I really can't think of a guy with good hair so let's settle with him as an example ok? lol!). Soft, straight, and bouncy. But then again when I reached grade 4, my aunt (the same aunt who forced my parents to force me to study at La Salle) destroyed it. She had my brother's and my hair shaved off "semikal" style.

And it never looked the same way again. =c

And so I for many years I had to stick with my disgusting crown. X(

Good thing there are still ways to fix it.

The first time I've had it fixed at Bench fix, it was mediocre. Better than before but still not good enough for me. And so I had it fixed a couple times more.

I used to have it fixed at the Burgundy branch which is just infront of La Salle since it's the nearest bench fix outlet that gives discounts to students. But since I'm now totally stuck in the province of Cavite (I'm a full fledged promdi boy now =P), I just stick to the dizzying price offered by their Festival Mall branch.

I guess the best look that I've had was during the Star Awards when I was in 4th year (it's masci's version of the very common "recognition day"). It was bench fixed, yeah, but it was ultimately the result of my hands' labor that it got that way. Anyway, I loved that look. Simple, short, but dashing. Even I had a crush on myself that day. lol!

Come college I thought we were obliged to follow a certain haircut as part of the requirements of our college. And so I went to the nearby Barbershop and had it cut the Barber's way. And boy did I look hideous. I looked so totoy. It was as if I'm back in my elementary days, wearing shorts and knee-high white socks pulling my HUGE stroller-type bag. It's creepy!

But then again as time passed I've realized that since we're not yet taking classes at the La Salle University Medical Center, we could still do whatever we want with our manes. And so I had mine fixed once more. The day after the haircut was ok. It was straight and soft and all. But after that glorious first day, it went back to its original curly look. Argh!

Then I also tried growing it as long as I could so that I could attain that emo look (since I'm naturally emo inside, why not have it manifest itself on the outside? =P). But the end result wasn't cool. Yeah it was long. But it was also thick. As in verrry thick! Super thick! I think had my hair been a bit more curly it would've looked like Corbin Bleu's and Matt Evans' hair. Waaak!

And so this morning, right after we went to school to take care of our academic scholarship (and, well, after careful consideration and a LOT of opinions from my Lasallian friends (it was their opinion that I asked since they were the ones who see me often)), I had decided to have my hair hot oiled.

But before that I had my hair cut of course. Then off I went to the hot oil machine thing. It was a blissful feeling, having my head heated that way. And the way the cool airconditioned air caressed my scalp afterwards, oh-so-refreshing. lol!

But then again after all that, I was, once more, disappointed. Yeah my hair's softer. But it's also shorter! Way too short. Waaaaah!!

*sigh*

I guess the only way I can ever be happy with my hair is to accept it as it is, embrace all it's imperfections and note everything positive about it. I mean, I don't think my head will ever be as good as those pics of myself dancing in my brother's 1st birthday with my dark hair all bouncy or those moments in San Francisco, Sea Lion watching with my hair swaying in wind and all that crap.

No. I think I should just accept my hair the way it is. Just as I have accepted my pimply face (though not-so-pimply as before I believe), my small, cute nose, and my 5 feet, 6 1/2 inch tall frame.

;)

Smiles, Tears, and Disappointments (STD)

2007-10-25T14:04:00.000+08:00

I've already watched the movie Stardust. And what can I say? It was one of the most brilliant movies I've seen in years! Though I won't be able to compare the movie version and the book version like I usually do whenever I watch movie adaptations of novels, I still think that it was as good as its written literary counterpart - or even better!

The story was fantastic, the cinematography, breathtaking. The casting was brilliant (though I've read from a movie review somewhere that they should've chosen Uma Thurman instead to portray Yvaine). And the special and sound effects - absolutely amazing. I loved every single detail of the movie, every act, every character, everything! From Robert De Niro's "reputation takes years to build and seconds to destroy" quotable quote and his closeted drag acts to Clair Danes' "I love you" moment while talking to the rat Tristan to the Severus Snape look-a-like prince that is Septimus to the wonderful ending - I loved it all!

I wanna watch it again, and again, and again! Whoa isn't it a bit obvious that I totally loved the movie? lol.

I've also just finished reading Louie Mar Gangcuanco's Orosa Nakpil Malate. And as usual, it has been a very touching story. Though the first time was more emotional (I think I enjoyed reading it more during the first time), this second one proved to be a smaller version (in terms of being emotional-ite). lol!

And as always, reading it makes me want to become a doctor more. It makes me want to be of service and to help every sick Filipino. As always, it touched my heart in a way no other book or movie has done before. And as always, it once again taught me a lot of things - from how one has got to love and end up crying, sacrifice and lose everything in the end to the signs and symptoms of HIV-AIDS. I've learned a lot. And I loved the book a lot.

Finally, I'm typing this blogpost using my aunt's computer again because our pesky family PC's won't turn on. I hate it. And I know, I'm disappointed again. Why am I always disappointed? Why am I sooooo pessimistic? Why can't I be optimistic whenever I have to? *sighs*

What's worse is that why should I hide my disappointment? Am I supposed to wear a smiling mask so that in spite of all my disappointments, I would still show the world a happy me? That's so phony. And I hate phony people? So am I to become one of them? Harrrr..

On this day...

2007-10-23T20:08:00.000+08:00

...it has been exactly 2 years since we watched that play entitled "The Little Prince" (an adaptation of the book with the same title penned by Antoine de Saint-Exupery),

2 years since I've last heard the cute song "I'm the snake in the grass.. I can send you flying first classs.. Just one sting, one bite and it's over! You'll be singing with your floowerrr..." that totally got me,

2 years since I've first worn a pink shirt in public (that shirt my aunt bought me from HK which now resides at a different home somewhere in Southern NCR)

2 years since my 3rd year classmate got a birthday greeting straight from the director of the play himself

2 years since that picture that now sits comfortably in my wallet was taken

2 years since that Dance Maniax game (where in my last game I got an A)

2 years and a day since my last official field trip

2 years and a day since that awesome trip to the Quezon memorial circle, Petrogliphs cave, Hinulugang Taktak, Ecopark, and American Cemetery

A year and a day since I've "posted for the sake of posting",

felt wasted,

declared to the word that I made a promise,

and

said blatantly that I "despise broken promises"

But then again, "minsan sa buhay ng tao... mas kailangang baliin ang mga pangako... lalo na kung alam mong yun ang tama..."

I agree.

[Nostalgia Mode =P]

Buy me one =P

2007-10-23T14:15:00.000+08:00

Set in an urban and cosmopolitan subway station, a man toys with his uber hip new toy, alone in his own world. Then all of a sudden, he hits a chic lady, ripping a wide slash in her little black dress. Not one to let such an occurence pass, she whips out her own weapon and rips his suit from behind. Thus began a tango of ripping and slashing where clothes come off and ends in a semi-romantic way.

Another action-slash-romantic flick? Nah. It's just the ad for the latest motorola phone - the new razr2.

And I really, really want one. =P

After 2 motorazr phones (I have a now-defunct v3x and I'm currently using my brother's v3i), this new razr has definitely caught my eye. Though I highly doubt that it's blade-sharp as the ad suggests, there is no doubt as to how thin it is. Plus I bet it's not just all fashion and no function. I mean, I guess it must be a bit more hi-tech than the v3x right?

Boy do I really want that phone. How I wish my parents would still urge us to write letters to Santa for Christmas.

But then again that would mean that the phone would be imported (from North Pole? lol! =P). Nah. I don't want imported phones anymore. I mean, my v3x lived for just about 4 months and I've never had a chance to maximize it's internet browsing capabilities - just because it's set to be used in Singapore.

No. I want a new phone bought and set for use here in the Philippines. And I want the new razr2. But I hope it doesn't cost a fortune though. I mean, I would never spend a lot for something as mundane as a cellphone. Especially if I could make other people get it for me. *evil grin*

=P

Self Actualization

2007-10-22T14:37:00.000+08:00

All throughout the entire length of the first sem, I've always assured myself that I am not Grade Conscious(GC), that I'm just a Doing-What-You-Must-Do(DWYMD) person. Yeah right.

GC-ness naturally runs in my blood. And when the first sem ended, it just reeks out of my veins like crazy.

Renz left a comment on my last post asking if we use the base zero or the base 50 grading system. We use the latter. As in if I got a 0/100 in an exam, I would still get a 50% mark on that exam instead of a 0. As in if I failed everything I would still get a 50 written in my transcript instead of a 0. As in it is the reason why we (AHSE students of the entire La Salle Philippines system) have a passing grade of 80 instead of the usual 60.

So what if we use the former? (which, I think, is the grading system that we use in high school though I'm not so sure) Would my grades be as high as they are at present? Would there be an improvement in my academic performance as opposed to my performance in HS?

And so I computed for my grades if we use the base zero system (grade minus 50 divided by 50 times 100). And guess what I got for a GPA? 88.956! My goodness! Given that it's the same grading system that we use in high school (though I'm not so sure coz we transmute scores in HS), this fact shows that I haven't even improved a single bit! Oh well, I guess I should just work harder next sem.

It's not all about aiming for a discount on my abysmally high tuition fee (which just keeps on increasing every semester), it's not about being the best in class (though I highly doubt that I could ever beat Kat or Michie), it's not about the words of admiration from my peers, it's reaching for the achievement of my maximum potential. It's aiming to be the very best that I could ever be. And I want to aim for perfection. Though quite difficult, nothing is impossible. Especially in dreaming.

Self Actualization in an academic context. Is it possible? I hope so. Just wish me luck. Hahaha! =P

Class Cards

2007-10-19T19:43:00.000+08:00

Talking to Thea via YM during the wee hours of the morning made the rest of CM's day a happy one. Post Hoc Fallacy? Apparently. However, I guess that conversation set the positive mood for the entire day. Thanks Thea! =P

This day has been the longest least stressful day in school of my entire college life. Summarize, make more conscise and precise. Haha! OK.

8 AM we were at school to get our classcard in Psych

Then we went to the REED Department to ask for our classcards. However, Sir Reblora was still not yet around.

So we went to 711

On the way we saw Mich and guess who? - her identical twin sister Trix!!

Then we stayed at 711 to spend the next 4 hours of nothingness while waiting for Aya to come

While waiting, we spent the time chatting in pairs

I spent part of my time eating chocolate and guessing Zaldy's birthday gift to Aya

Then Pia, Trish, and Lance left HSC-bound.

And then Aya finally came! After loads of hours =P

Then she saw Zaldy's gift ('twas her birthday last August 17.. Belated Happy Birthday Aya!!)

Then we went back to school to ask for our NSTP class cards

But Ms. Page gave us our schedule and she refused to give our class cards

Then we went back to 711 but then decided to eat lunch

so we went to Fiat

But since it's the sem break, all shops were closed. As in ALL shops were closed.

Then while we were on the quest for an open shop, we saw Lance once more

Then we came across an open place to eat - fully airconditioned sans the crowd that flock such places!

Lunch Time! Their Sizzling Sisig was spectacular though I must say it was sooo bitin.

Then we left and embarked on another quest - this time for a computer shop

But all comp shops were full! So on and on we went searching for that comp shop

After eons of walking around what seemed like a Dasma version of Diagon Alley, we finally came across an open comp shop!

Then we played dota.

I sucked though. I absolutely did (as I always do whenever I play that game)

Aya didn't play though. She just watched us.

And she kept on telling me "patay ka nanaman??"

Which was really funny. I can't believe I was actually laughing at myself. Hahaha!

Then we went back to school talking about that hideous policy of our school in which they reprimand students wearing Havaianas while all other flip flops were allowed and of course..

dota!

I re-learned a lot of stuff about dota from Lance all over again (since I believe I know all of them already from Jay-V and Philippe way back in High School - it's just that they were lost in my mind's oblivion)

Like Jay-V and Philippe's teachings though, I was absolutely clueless when it comes to applying what I've learned to the actual game. *sighs*

Anyways, from then on we got our grades! Reed first.

Then Math.

Then... (*creepy background music*)

...Logic. Gawd I thought I was going to fail! But guess what my sem grade turned out to be?

88! A beautiful 88!

Then came all other subjects.

After all the class card giving and the laughters shared in-between (which includes that event in which Michie got me a copy of the newspaper given exclusively for CLA (College of Liberal Arts) students - a newspaper I really wanted to have my hands on), we finally got all our grades.

But before that, somebody made a huge, irritating segway!

That argh!-I-can't-even-find-the-right-negative-adjectives-to-describe-him guy from another BSN section came and bossily lectured us on stuff we already knew:

have our classcards photocopied and our GPA computation attached to it

but he also taught us some new stuff

like the fact that students with a GPA of 89 and above are Dean's Listers and get a 25% scholarship; 93 onwards a 50% scholarship; 95 onwards a 75% scholarship; and 97-100 a 100% scholarship.

He also told us that the College of Nursing and Midwifery has never been able to produce a summa cum laude in its entire history (which I guess was supposed to be motivating.. harr)

then he proceeded on telling us of the many scholars in other BSN blocks - as if we're all soooo stupid not to be able to produce some

then he gave us some of the titles and prices of the books that we will be using for the 2nd sem

then Kat could no longer hold her tongue and she proceeded to correct his grammar in an absolutely bossy manner (he insists on speaking in English in this pompous manner)

that really made me laugh! Hahahaha!!!

Anyways, after his irritating segway was over..

Then came GPA computing time.

Then came *gasps!* my GPA.

I got a GPA of 94.478! (a beautiful 4.00 in Lasallian non-AHSE jargon) Whooooooo!!!!

I didn't know though if it could be rounded off to 95 so that I could get a 75% scholarship..

And so I settled for a 50% acad scholarship. That's like half of my tuition fee!!

About 20K Pesos! All straight to my time deposit account (if my mom keeps her word, that is)

Weeeee!!

Not everybody was happy though. Patrick thought he made it to the Dean's List and Jonie to the 50% acad scholarship - but since they both had grades in Math below 85%, they didn't make it

Then Lance also didn't make it to the Dean's List

That made me uncomfortable. I didn't want to celebrate while they were sad..

Good thing the celebration continued without making them feel bad

Arbie (who made it to the Dean's List) was soooo happy that she decided to treat us in Chowking!

Others didn't go though, so it was just moi, Lance, Arbie, and Glenn.

And then we ate. I tried using chopsticks for the second time (the first time was last Aug 11 when Carlo taught me how to use chopsticks)

Difficult, yeah. But I tried my very best..

In the end though I gave up.

All in all this day was one of the most fantastic days of my entire college life! So detoxifying in spite of all the ATP consuming activities that we had. I had sooooo much fun!

I do hope not a lot of people would leave for the second sem. Though a lot faced the danger of elimination from the program because of academic problems, I guess most of them were able to make it good during the Final Term.

I'll be missing them all. I can't wait for the second semester to start!(though there's nothing exciting with the prospect of having Swimming PE classes though. =P)

[I absolutely admire Lance's transparency. How I wish I could be like him in that aspect..]

Emo for the sake of making an entirely English post =P

2007-10-18T22:33:00.000+08:00

Since imeem.com's a bit slow on the uptake (the song I've uploaded eons ago is still not there), I guess I'll just post the lyrics of Aiza Seguerra's song Para Lang Sayo (lyrics brought to us by lyricsmode.com =P)

Para Lang Sayo by Aiza Seguerra

Noo'y umibig na ako subalit nasaktan ang puso
Parang ayoko ng umibig pang muli
May takot na nadarama
Na muli ay maranasan
Ayoko ng masaktan muli ang puso ko
Ngunit nang ikaw ay makilala
Biglang nagbago ang nadarama

Para sayo ako'y iibig pang muli
Dahil sayo ako'y iibig nang muli
Ang aking puso'y
Pag-ingatan mo
Dahil sa ito'y muling magmamahal sayo
Para lang sayo

Muli ay aking nadama
Kung paano ang umibig
Masakit man ang nakaraa'y nalimot na
Ang tulad mo'y naiiba
At sayo lamang nakita
Ang tunay na pag-ibig na'king hinahanap
Buti na lang ikaw ay nakilala
Binago mo ang nadarama

Para sayo ako'y iibig pang muli
Dahil sayo ako'y iibig nang muli
Ang aking puso'y
Pag-ingatan mo
Dahil sa ito'y muling magmamahal sayo
Para lang sayo

Di na ako muling mag-iisa
Ngayon ikaw ay nandito na

Para sayo ako'y iibig pang muli
Dahil sayo ako'y iibig nang muli
Ang aking puso'y
Pag-ingatan mo
Dahil sa ito'y muling magmamahal sayo
Para lang sayo

Ako'y iibig pang muli
Para lang sayo

[UPDATE: I've just embedded the mp3 of the song's acoustic version in this blogpost =P]

When will I be able to finally sing this song? As in be able to sing this song sincerely and whole-heartedly - no pretensions, no conditions, no skeletons kept inside the closet. When? And let's just say that that day comes - to whom?

By this time, I could proudly say that the wounds have somehow healed. Distance makes the heart grow fonder they say - but a wounded heart never gets any better as its affection for a person it can never bring back elevates. Thus one could definitely say that distance can never be the key to recovery. However, lack thereof only makes the process of moving on much more difficult. It simply brings back good memories that only aggravates the pain.

What a crappy feeling, I know.

But time does heal all wounds. I hope mine are fully healed by the time I get to sing that song up there to that special someone who would hopefully be the last. =)

I can't believe I'm making this post another all-English post. And I can't believe I'm EMO all over again here in my public blog. Hahaha! I miss being emo. Too bad I'm not really emo fashion-wise. (Is it really bad or is it good? =P)

Speaking of emo, it's been almost 2 months since my last haircut and by now, my hair should've been long enough to cover my eyes. However, since I've inherited my mom's hair genes, my hair just keeps getting thicker instead of growing longer. It's disgusting, I know. But atleast it's a plus by the time I'm seventy. I mean, never in my entire young teenage life have I envisioned my retired septuagenarian self played by a guy who looks like St. Francis (no offense to St. Francis though). Hahaha!!

I wanna make my hair emo-ish though. But it's just too thick to be fixed that way! Sometimes I get these wacky ideas of having my hair hot oiled and relaxed just so it would look nice (no thanks to Carlo and Michie =P). However, just thinking of the amount of money I've got to splurge to be able to get that look drives me crazy. So I guess for now, I'll just keep this kind of hairstyle. Who knows? What if one day, it grows to look like Corbin Bleu's hair. Hahaha!!

I'm also planning on having my hair shaved off semi-kalbo style. Since I can't really style my hair the way I want it, why not just let go of it? Lance inspired me on that one. Hahaha! =P

I'm so bangag now. It's late and I'm still wide awake. I should be sleeping now since I've got to go to school tomorrow to get our classcards. I hope I don't fail in Logic - or in any other subject for that matter. And I hope my GPA would qualify for a 50% Academic Scholarship. I badly need the Php19,000. *sighs*

[Pucha bat hindi lumalabas yung naka-embed na song??!!! Haaaay naku! x(]

Weeee!

2007-10-17T21:26:00.001+08:00

Original Final Destination 3 DVD Special Features, PopCap Games DRM Protection Remover, calamares and shared siomai - lahat random, lahat taken-for-granted kadalasan, lahat friendship savers.

Kanina, first time kong mapanuod yung Final Destination 3 Special Features sa Original DVD. Yun yung "choose their fate" part. Grabe ang saya! Nakatutuwa yung fact na pwede mong i-control yung destiny nung mga characters. Yun bang yung mga pinaka-maliliit na pinaggagawa ng mga characters may effect pala sa magiging outcome ng pagkamatay nila.

Syempre dahil alam mong may power kang piliin yung kapalaran nila, aasa kang pwede mong i-save lahat ng characters. Para iba na yung kwento 'di ba? So yun nga ang ginawa namin. Every time kasi pwede ka pumili ng fate, 2 yung options. Ang ginawa namin, after makita yung outcome, nirerewind namin para makita yung isa pang possibility. And it turned out na hindi pala lahat pwedeng ma-save. Most of the time, namamatay sila - iba nga lang yung pagkamatay.

Kaya ayun, habang tumatagal, nawawala narin yung sindak factor nung movie. Disappointing, oo. Pero masaya rin kasi andaming scenes na wala dun sa movie talaga. Kitang kita mo na pinaghandaan talaga nila yung paggawa nung DVD. Astig 'di ba? Tip lang. Dun sa first time na papipiliin kayo ng fate, heads ang piliin. Trust me, hindi nakatutuwa yung tails. Hahaha!!!

Kanina rin, nasolusyonan na ang aking mga boredom problems sa bahay. Binigyan ako ni Carlo ng Popcap Games DRM Protection Remover! Ang saya! Kaya ngayon, kahit anong Popcap game, pwede na sa computer! Kaya ayun, mega download kami kanina ng mga malalaro. Tas nag-dl rin ako nung game na AstroPop. Yun yung game na lagi naming nilalaro dati sa computer dun sa OCAT (Office of the City Accountant) ng Manila City Hall para pampalipas-oras na sobrang nakaka-adik. Whooo ang saya!

Yun nga lang, pati kapatid ko mukhang naaadik narin dun sa game na yun. Buti nalang marami pang Popcap games sa net. Weeee ang saya! Hindi na ganun ka-boring ang sem break ko! =P

Grabe ang saya talaga ng araw na 'to. 2 Days ago, nagka-conflict. Ngayon, nagka-resolusyon. Bonding time lang pala kailangan eh. Hahaha!

Ang saya talaga! =P

[Kanina, sinubukan kong gawing straight English 'tong post na 'to. Kaso nagmukha naman siyang review nung Special Features nung DVD ng FD3. Ang essay-ish ng dating! Kaya 'di ko na tinuloy. Waaaaaaah hindi na ata ako marunong mag-English! Patay. x( ]

Bedroom Wars

2007-10-16T15:29:00.000+08:00

Pucha natatamad nanaman ako! Nakakairita talaga pag wala kang magawa. Gusto ko manuod ng DVD kaso wala namang bago! Gusto ko mag-laro kaso wala namang malaro! Gusto ko kumain kaso wala namang makain! Gusto ko gumala(!) kaso for sure pagagalitan ako dahil hindi ako nagpaalam (besides, wala ngang pera.. T_T)... Haaay..

(si CM, puro reklamo... =P)

Kaya naman naglinis nalang ako ng kwarto. Todo linis mode yun! Dati kasi, pag sinabi mong linis mode ng kwarto, tanggal tanggal lang ng clutter, ayos ayos ng book shelf at ng kama, tiklop ng mga bagong labang clothes (na kadalasan nakatambak nalang dun sa bed), at tapon ng mga nakakalat na papel.

Pero kanina matinding war ang nangyari between me and my room. Una na diyan yung pag-aayos ng aparador ko. Andami kasing patong-patong sa ibabaw eh. Kaya ayun, operation relocation ang naganap sa kanila. Medyo sentimental kasi ako pagdating sa mga papel papel kaya hindi ko magawang itapon nalang sila ng basta basta eh.

Andun na yung questionairres ko for my term paper sa logic nung first sem at photocopy ng book sa library sa logic din (na na-relocate sa drawer sa ilalim ng kama ko), yung mga bag ko (na na-relocate sa loob ng aparador), random folders and clearbooks (na nasa book shelf na ngayon), at collection ng ID laces and ID's mula pa nung High School (na nakatali na ngayon dun sa pinto ng aparador (dahil nga wala namang door knob na yung room ko)).

At syempre dahil nilinis ko na nga rin lang yun aparador, tinanggal ko na rin yung "Here lies Dobby, a free elf" na masking tape na dinikit ng kapatid ko sa pinto ng aparador. Yun nga lang, sumama yung bark nung kahoy ng aparador. Haaaarrr..

Tapos naglinis din ako ng electric fan. Grabe first time kong maglinis ng electric fan kanina! Eh yung electric fan na yun luma na at hindi natatanggal yung elesi. So pinunasan ko nalang yun at yung back cover. Yung front, hinugasan ko. Grabe yun ang duuuuumi! Pero atlis after nun, malinis na siya! Kahit ganun yun na sira-sira and all, gumagana parin naman yun. At love ko yun noh! More than 10 years old narin yun.

Nung pre-school kasi, nagtanong yung teacher namin kung sino ang gustong mag-volunteer na magdala ng electric fan. Dahil wala atang gustong mag-volunteer, ako yung nag-volunteer. Pag-uwi, ayun, mega sermon naman ang inabot ko (though nothing serious- preschool pako nun eh. =P). Bakit daw ako nag-volunteer magdala ng electric fan?? Pero ayun, bumuli parin sila. Kaso after a few years (elementary na'ko nun), nakita nalang ng daddy ko yung electric fan na nakatapon sa labas nung school. So inuwi niya at inayos.

At ngayon, nasa room ko na siya, nagbibigay ng cool breeze. =P

Anyhow, after nun, walis walis mode naman. Grabe andaming dust bunnies! Hindi ako makapaniwalang minsan yung naging keratinized stratified squamous epithelial tissues sa balat ko. Yuck! Pero mas kadiri yung sipon ko after cleaning. Hindi tumitigil! Kaya tumigil nalang ako sa paglilinis at naghanap ng ibang mapag-aabalahan. (mamaya nalang ako magpapalit ng bed cover at pillow sheets =P)

So ayun, TV watching mode nalang. May magandang movie sa HBO, yung unang Mummy movie. So nuod ako. Tas nag-net. Tas napansin ko, andami dami daaami na talagang gumagamit ng Multiply over Blogger. Naalala ko bigla yung mga sinabi ni Kuya Edgar na advantages sa paggamit ng Multiply. So sinubukan kong mag-linis linis ng cobwebs sa multiply ko para maging usable naman siyang muli.

At ang end result? Ayun, walag nangyari. Hindi ko talaga mapilit ang sarili ko na ayusin yung multiply ko eh! Sana balang araw maayos ko naman yun. I mean, nagawa ko ngang ayusin yung friendster profile ko tsaka yung skin nitong blogger ko 'di ba? Sana yun din, maayos ko.

Waaak I'm bored na talaga. I'm super duper bored.

Conflicts and 'Phil's'

2007-10-15T23:22:00.000+08:00

Sem Break. Ito ang pinaka-unang sem break ko sa pinaka-unang taon ko sa kolehiyo. At kamusta naman ang mga unang araw ng sem break na 'to? Hmm.. So far so, well, not-so-good.

Ngayon ko lang na-realize kung gaano ka-boring ang 25-day break na 'to from school. All I've been doing for the past few days is eat, use the computer, play, text, read, and sleep. Paulit-ulit yan araw-araw. Buti sana kung may pera ako pang-gala kaso wala naman. Isa pa yan, pera. Haaay..

Kanina, naging cause nanaman ng pag-aaway yang perang yan. Sabagay, kasalanan ko nga naman. Ang usapan, mag-iipon ako ng bente per day para sa mga gala sa sem break. Tas ngayon na wala akong nakukuhang pera from my parents (dahil nga walang pasok) gagamitin ko yung perang yun pambayad utang at pampa-load? As if naman may choice ako! Saan naman ako kukuha ng pera pampa-load ngayong sembreak? Saan naman ako kukuha ng pera pambayad ng utang?

Kasi naman, utang ng utang hindi naman mabayaran. Haaay.. May point siya. High school palang, ganun na ako. Baon sa utang. Mangungutang ng mangungutang tapos pahirapan sa pagbayad. Naaalala ko pa nga dati, minsan mangungutang ako para may maipambayad sa utang eh. So parang wala ring nangyari 'di ba?

Gaaahd I've got to change this attitude of mine. Wala akong balak mabaon sa utang all my life noh! At pag namatay ako, gusto ko naman ang ipamamana ko sa mga maiiwan ko assets - hindi liabilities!

Kaya ayun, away mode. Grabe feeling ko ito ang first time na nag-engage ako sa isang verbal tirade (though hindi spoken) ng dahil sa pera. Ni minsan hindi ko na-imagine na may makaka-away ako ng dahil sa pera. Best friend ko pa! Gahd. Sana maayos ko 'to. Hindi - dapat maayos ko 'to. *sighs*

Ang masaklap pa dun, sumabay yung away na yun sa isang panahong naisipan kong mag catharsis of sorts. Eh syempre dahil nga naglalabas ako ng sama ng loob at that time, wala rin akong nasabing maganda. Lalong lumala yung sitwasyon. Grabe ayoko ng maulit pa 'to. Waaaah!

Buti nalang may distraction. Kanina, while channel surfing, napadaan ako sa AXN kung saan pinapalabas yung House. Nung una, hindi ko na-realize na House. Akala ko CSI. So tinignan ko saglit. Tas may guy dun na mukhang familiar. As in mukha talagang familiar! So nagnilaynilay ako kung sino siya. Siya ba yung guy dun sa Lizzie McGuire the movie? Parang ganun kasi yung buhok nun eh. Siya ba yung boyfriend ni Anne Hathaway sa Devil Wears Prada? Hmm..

Tas ayun, medyo na-realize ko na kung sino siya. Pero bakit ibang iba? Ibang iba talaga! So tinext ko si Leslie at tinanong kung siya yun. Syempre hindi nag-reply si Leslie. Tas tinext ko rin si Carlo. Kaso dahil nga galit siya, syempre hindi siya nag-reply. So niresearch ko nalang sa net.

At tama ako. Si Ricky Ullman. Hahaha! Nakakabigla talaga! Medyo nasanay kasi ako dun sa "Phil of the future" image niya eh. So medyo nakaka-shock yung mentally-unstable version niya dun sa House. Pero atlis 'di ba may nagawang beneficial saken si Ricky Ullman (or Raviv Ullman as he is known dun sa show). Medyo nabawasan yung pagiging iritable ko at naging mas rational ako. At dahil rational na ako, naamin ko na mga mali ko.

Grabe sana talaga maging ok na lahat. Ayoko sa lahat yung mga conflicts eh. Ayoko talaga. Lalo pa kung pera yung dahilan. I mean, shoot, pera?! Sabagay, 'di ba money is the root of all evil daw? Siguro nga.

Disease

2007-10-14T13:33:00.000+08:00

Kanina, I was watching Nat Geo kung saan may fineature sila na isang sleeping disorder. Parasomnia.

Nakakatakot. Nung una, ang pinakita nila yung sleepeating disorder kung saan may isang babaeng uber taba na hindi mapigilan kumain pagdating ng madaling araw. Yun bang, natutulog siya tapos all of a sudden babangon siya sa bed, pupunta sa kusina tapos kakain. At hindi lang basta bastang kuha lang ng cookies sa cookie jar ha! Talagang kukuha siya ng makakaing ulam at lulutuin niya 'to sa stove.

At ang pinaka nakakagulat sa lahat tungkol dun, unconscious siya! Hindi siya aware na ginagawa niya yun hanggang sa pinakita na sa kanya yung video na ginagawa niya pala yun. Bizaare! (Haha naalala ko si Ma'am Mallari bigla. Bizaare! =P)

Anyway, after nun, pinakita naman yung kaso nung isang babae na while sleeping, biglang bumabangon at tumatakbo palabas na feeling agitated and all. Sabi nung isang expert (hindi ko alam kung doctor siya or what eh), sa mga ganung pagkakataon daw may parang hinahabol sila or tinatakbuhan kaya nila ginagawa yun.

Naalala ko bigla yung "hallucination" experience ko nung summer, 2006 sa California. Ang alam ko lang nun, pagdating namin sa States, dahil gabi yun, natulog kami agad. Tas pagkagising ko kinaumagahan, ayun, ang sama sama na ng pakiramdam ko. Tas super diarrhea pa inabot ko. Tas nung hapon, natulog ako. Tas may super weird feeling akong naramdaman. Yun bang parang may something akong hinahawakan na wala naman. Weird 'di ba??

Tas naaalala ko nun, bigla nalang akong tumayo at may hinabol na something. Hindi ko talaga maalala. Tas sinundan ko yun pababa sa stairs hanggang sa dining area kung saan lahat sila nagtipon. As in lahat sila! Tas ayun, kung anu-ano nalang daw pinagsasabi ko hanggang sa magising na nila ako at mabalik na sa sanity ko.

Super bizaare! Ang sabi lang sa hospital, nagka-electrolyte imbalance daw ako dahil sa isang bacteria sa tiyan ko. At dahil ang huli ko lang namang kinain bago dun ay yung Piattos na binili ko dun sa stall sa UPD malapit sa Palma Hall, yung Delifrance food mula sa NAIA, at yung plane food, tinanggap ko na na isa sa mga yun yung naging dahilan ng sakit na yun at yung hallucination incident eh effect lang nung sakit na yun.

At yun nga ang inisip ko hanggang sa mapanuod ko yung sa Nat Geo. Grabe nakakatakot talaga! Eh may history pa naman ako ng pagbangon-bangon sa bed at pagsasalita while sleeping. Harrr.. Ayoko maging ganun! So after lunch, ginoogle ko na agad yung "parasomnia". And guess what I saw?

"Parasomnias are often associated with stress and depression, and biological factors may also be involved."

Yun yung sabi sa Wikipedia. So atleast may basis na yung nangyari saken. Syempre after a very long trans-pacific flight, at dahil nagpunta pa kami ng Daddy ko ng UP Diliman nung umaga bago umalis, stressed ako! Though walang depression, obvious naman na present yung biological factors 'di ba? So ayos na yun.

Eh pano kung mangyari pa yun sa future? Creepy! Dun sa palabas kanina, may pinakitang kaso ng isang girl na nagising, lumabas ng bahay, at umakyat sa isang 40-foot tall crane - habang natutulog! Buti nalang kamo at na-save siya nung mga police. Eh pano kung hindi? Pano kung nahulog siya dun? Kaya ngayon, ang tanong (bagamat obvious naman 'di ba?): is parasomnia dangerous?

Tapos may pinakita silang case ng isang 21-year old college student na nag-sleepwalk papuntang highway ng naka boxers lang sa super lamig na temperatures at nasagasaan ng isang lorry. Ang sabi nila, suicide daw. Pero ang sabi ng nanay niya, epekto raw yun ng sleepwalking niya. Creepy 'di ba?

Tapos may kaso rin ng isang lalake na pinatay yung asawa niya nung nasa parasomniac state siya. Yun ang ginamit nilang defense. Pero natalo. Guilty siya. Kasi raw conscious siya nung ginawa niya yun. Sinaksak niya kasi yung misis niya 44 times eh. Tapos binalikan pa niya yung babae nung napagalaman niyang buhay pa. So nilunod niya sa pool. Eh may nakakitang kapit-bahay. So ayun, patay siya.

Pero pano kung talagang hindi siya aware na ginawa niya yun? Pano kung totoong tulog siya nung mga panahong iyon at epekto lang ng isang nocturnal disorder yun? 'Di ba nakakatakot! Pano kung mangyari rin saken yun someday. Waaah!

Buti nalang may pampalubag-loob na binigay yung article sa Wikipedia.

"Many parasomnias are more common in children than in adults."

Whew! Sana nga. Eh pano ma-eexplain ng statement na yan yung cases ng mga adult people na namatay o pumatay while in a parasomniac state?

Siguro for now, sisiguraduhin ko nalang muna na lagi akong healthy. Para hindi nanaman ma-trigger yung sakit ko. Yun siguro yung sinasabi ng mommy ko kaya ayaw niya ako magpuyat or gusto niya akong laging mag-take ng Vitamin C. Baka raw kasi lumabas nanaman yung sakit ko. Hindi kaya sinabi sa kanila ng doctor dati na may parasomnia ako?

Shucks ang creepy.

A stardust hairspray

2007-10-13T12:49:00.000+08:00

I've just read a Stardust movie review in the now uber different Super! section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (different cause Tim Yap's no longer there, but that's a different story) thus bringing back mental flashbacks of the book that I've once read a long time ago by Jason Schwartzman dead ringer Neil Gaiman.

(hey they really do look alike in my opinion! =P)

Now I'm really nostalgic about the book. Though I've already almost forgotten what the story is all about (as it has been eons since I've read the book), reading Tals Diaz's review was like seeing an unexpected familiar face for the first time in years! Now however, the characters have faces. They no longer wear random personas just so they could be easily identified (as is the case with this imagination of mine).

I must say though that the cast was more powerhouse than I thought. I mean, never did it cross to my mind that one day Claire Danes will grow up to play the role of the star Yvaine everyone is after or that Michelle Pfeiffer becomes the wicked witch. Heck, even Robert de Niro is in the cast! Cool huh?

I really, really wanna see the film. Not just because of its cast, not just because I've read a review of it from the PDI (though I must say it helped a bit), but because its the movie version of a book that has once been a part of my conscious daily routine, a book that I used to carry to school and read on the bus as far as I can remember (I'm not sure though if it's this book that I recall reading in a bus on the way to school or if its Neverwhere).

Where in this cobweb of ideas does the movie Hairspray enter though? Well, upon reading the section in which the Stardust review was written, I've also seen an article about Zac Efron and, well, Hairspray! Though I really haven't read the article, it elicited familiar flashbacks (specifically Nica's point of view of the movie with her ending up wanting to buy its OST).

Too bad I believe its no longer showing in cinemas. I do hope pirated versions of the movie is out now. I don't think there's an original na.

+++

Grabe first time ko pala mag English sa blog ko in a very long time (Taglish actually). Haha hindi ko na napanindigan yung gusto ko dati na pag English, English lang talaga or pag Tagalog, Tagalog lang talaga!

Oh well, to quote a Gabriella Montez line from the second High School Musical movie, "...plans change, people change."

Sana lang mas ok yung ganito, na taglish. I find it easier to express my thoughts this way kasi eh. I mean, kaya naman na i-express in straight Filipino or straight English. Pero 'di ba mas madali talaga pag pinaghalong languages? I mean, para saan pa na pinalaki tayo sa isang bilingual na lipunan kung hindi natin kayang gamitin yung parehong languages sa iisang context?

Sana rational pa mga pinagsasabi ko. Gutom na ako eh. Hahaha! Gusto ko ng cake. Buti may Banoffee pie pa sa ref.

=P

Sem Break na!!!

2007-10-12T11:59:00.000+08:00

Kahapon, pumasok ako ng school ng mga 7 AM para sa 8 AM Bio Lec Final exam.

7.30, dumating ako sa school. Review review saglit with Lance, Glenn, at Aya - hanggang sa tawagin ako ni Mich. Andun si Kat (Leira) at si Ma'am Cuaresma, ang prof namin sa Bio Lec.

"O, kulang pa kayo ng isa!" sabi ni Ma'am Cuaresma. So ayun, todo hanap naman kami kay Kat (Viciel). Mukhang may kutob na ako sa kung anong magaganap.

At nakita na namin si Kat.

"Ma'am sige na po exempt niyo na kami sa Bio..." pilit naming apat na parang mamamatay kami pag hindi kami na-exempt sa Bio Finals.

"O sige na nga. Akin na yung mga permit niyo (para mapirmahan na)"

Shucks. Yun ang pinaka-magandang bagay na narinig ko sa buong linggong yun at yun na yata at ang isa sa pinaka-magandang bagay na narinig ko from her (syempre number one parin yung inannounce niya na ako yung highest sa Prelim exam =P). Eh 'di todo tuwa naman kami. Dali dali kong kinuha yung bag ko at nag-bbye ako kila Lance tas nagpapirma ako ng permit at nagpasa ng homework. Tas ayun, sa sobrang tuwa, nag-suggest ako ng "group hug". At nag-group hug kami with ma'am in the middle. Haha ang saya!

Tas ayun, uwian na!

Pero hindi dun natapos ang kalbaryo namin. Kasi naman may exam pa sa Psych sa hapon na cover-to-cover (as in lahat ng na-discuss at hindi na-discuss sa buong sem sa General Psychology). Kaya naman pag-uwi, nag-review ako sa Psych habang nanunuod ng TV (Boy&Kris, Game KNB?, at Wowowee! =P). Tas ayun, balik na naman kami sa school para sa Psych Finals (nagkasabay nanaman kami ni Mich ng hindi sinasadya).

Tas ayun, final exam na sa Psych. 14 items yung hindi ko sure. Pero nung chineck na namin sa jeep, mga 2 or 3 yata dun sa mga hinulaan ko yung tumama! Ang saya talaga!

At ngayon, it's officially the start of my very first semestral break! Whoooo!!!

For about a month, hindi ko kailangan gumising ng maaga para pumasok sa school, hindi ko kailangang matulog ng late para mag-review, hindi ko kailangang pumunta sa comp shop para mag-paprint, at hindi ko kailangang mag-aral ng kahit anong academically related stuff! Yipee!!!

Yun nga lang, ano naman ang gagawin ko sa sem break?

Mag-laro? Na-kontrata ko na si Carlo para bigyan ako ng kopya ng PS1 emulator (wala na yata yung PS1 namin eh) at si Lance ng Gameboy emulator para sa PC ko. Yun nga lang, yung PS1 emulator hindi gumana sa comp ko so baka mag-dl nalang ako sa net. At yung kay Lance hindi ko pa nahihiram. So baka mga Yahoo! Games nalang muna lalaruin ko. Walang games na maganda 'tong comp namin eh..

Magbasa? Puro luma naman mga books dito eh. Patapos na ako sa Catcher in the Rye ni J.D. Salinger after weeks of reading it (hindi dahil sa mabagal ako magbasa kundi dahil wala talagang time para magbasa ng mga hindi academically-related stuff) at balak ko sanang basahin ulit yung Stardust ni Neil Gaiman. Syempre may movie adaptation na yun na showing na! Gusto ko panuorin! =P

Maglinis? Kakalinis ko lang ng kwarto ngayong umaga eh. Not that I really intended to. Kasi naman kanina lang sinabi sa amin na dadating yung Uncle at Auntie ko na galing sa Hawaii dito sa bahay! Eh 'di todo linis naman ng bahay ang daddy ko. At syempre, dapat malinis din yung kwarto ko. So nalinis ko na. =P

Gumala? May mga naka-plano na akong lakad this sem break at marami pa akong gustong idagdag. Yun nga lang, ang liit ng naipon ko for leisure purposes. At nagpaparamdam pa si Mich na gusto niya mag-EK. Syempre gusto ko rin noh! Kaso wala ngang pera.. Pa'no na kaya yun?

Mag-exercise? Syempre swimming daw PE namin next sem. Dapat nga hindi na swimming eh kaso nung meeting sinabi raw ni Mich na dapat swimming kasi yun yung nasa curriculum flowchart namin. Kaya syempre, dapat presentable naman ang aking semi-naked body pag nag-swimming classes na kami! Kaya dapat, magsimula na mag-exercise. Ibalik ko kaya yung 50 situps and pushups a day? Hehe! Gusto ko rin sana mag-badminton! Kaso feeling ko hindi na papayag yung dati kong badminton buddy eh. Hmm.. Leslie? Ninyo? =P

Wala paring direksyon ang sem break ko (aside from the gala plans =P). Pero masaya parin ako at sem break na. Though hindi ko makikita mga classmates ko for quite some time, atlis pahinga na! Yipee!!!

+++

Grabe, second year anniversary pala ng blog ko ngayon! Akala ko sa 16 pa! Eh kumuha ako ng bagong skin (hindi na ako marunong gumawa ng sarili kong layout eh. =) para maiba naman (at para College na yung dating. Blue nung HS kasi Masci at Green naman ngayong college kasi Lasalle =P). Tapos malalaman ko na anniv pala ng blog ko! Ang galing ng coincidence! Ang saya!

Weee happy second anniversary blog ko! Ang tanda mo na! =P

Pahabol!!!

2007-10-10T16:10:00.000+08:00

Success!!! Nahanap ko na ang blog ni banir! Hahahaha!!! Whoooo! Grabe! Yeah! *punches the air in glee*

=P

Salamat kay banir sa mga clues na binigay niya. Grabe pwede naman pala humingi ng clues nag-aksaya pa ako ng time na manghula ng kung ano-ano using random words. Pero ayos lang yun! Atlis nahanap ko na! Weee!!!

Kaso hindi ko alam ngayon kung i-lilink ko ba siya or not. Sabi niya sa comment niya sa friendster ko i-link ko raw. Eh pag ginawa ko yun, eh 'di hindi na hidden yung blog? Hindi na secret yung URL at wala nang challenge sa paghahagilap sa buong MMS (maka-Mundong Malaking Sapot - tagalog ng World Wide Web. =P)? Hmm.. I better ask ba. Hehehe!

Wee ang saya talaga!

Kaya lang hindi ko ma-access yung blog ni Kuya Edgar (yung blueengreen). Although alam ko hindi na yun yung bago, yun naman yung pinaka-una kong naabutang gamit niya. At buhay pa siya! (yung blog na yun) Yun nga lang, open to invited readers only. Hmm.. Hidden blog! Hehehe! =P

Ako kaya may hidden blog kaya ako? Nyak! Hahaha!!!

(si CM ay sadyang pasaway talaga. Nag-internet parin imbis na nagreview na. Hahaha! Ayan mag-rereview na siya talaga...sana. Hahaha! =P)

sighs

2007-10-10T15:14:00.000+08:00

Kagabi, I made it a point to to mention na kailangan ko ng himala sa Logic para pumasa. Plus, I also made a mental note na kailangan ko mag-review ngayong hapon sa hinayupak na subject na yun. But I was wrong. I was dead wrong - and as always, I hate it.

Mali pala yung tingin ko sa sched ko. Hindi pala 4-5PM yung exam sa Logic, 10-11.30AM pala. Right after nung Math final exam. Arrrgh!!! At kung hindi pa ako tinanong ni Lance, clueless ako! Asar talaga! Tuloy, I had to finish my 2-hour final exam in Math as quickly as possible para may oras pa ako mag-review sa Logic. Kaya lang, dahil puro Logic ang nasa isip ko, hindi naman ako makapag-concentrate dun sa exam. Tuloy, hindi ako super sure sa mga pinagsasagot ko. Asar talaga.

Good thing natapos ko yung math exam in an hour. Tas ayun, cram review mode na for logic. Grabe yun! I had 1 hour to review hypothetical syllogisms and fallacies (sabi niya yun daw coverage eh..). At dahil super dami nun (at nasa state of panic pa ako which didn't help), 30 minutes na nasa hypothetical syllogism palang ako. Buti nalang andun si Glenn at inexplain niya saken isa-isa yung mga fallacies. At syempre, buti nalang andun si Lance na pinahiram ako ng book.

So ayun, 10 na. Nasa room na kami at super anxious na ako. Syempre kailangan ko yung final exam na yun para panghatak sa abysmal graded recitation grade ko noh! Tas biglang may dumating. Isang babaeng matangkad. Si Wilhelmina Slater!

Hahaha! Joke! Hindi pala. Kahawig lang niya. Kasi naman, ang tangkad tangkad na babae na kahawig at kakulay pa ng nasabing character from Ugly Betty (played by Vanessa Williams =P). At may scarf pa siya na naka-wrap around her neck ah! Considering na ang init init sa Pilipinas ah! Wilhelminang Wilhelmina talaga ang dating. Hahaha!!!

At nung nagsalita na siya, grabe nakakatakot! Napaka-bossy ng dating (by the way, proctor namin siya sa Logic finals). Pero kahit pa, natatawa parin talaga ako nun. Hehehe! Pero saglit na breather lang yun mula sa stress at anxiety na dala nung exam. Kasi nung examination time na talaga... Waaaaak!!! Andami kong hindi alaaaam!!! Bwisit talaga yun. Kasama yung mga topics nung midterm! As in yung 8 rules ng syllogisms, moods and all! Argh!

Kung prepared lang sana ako, kung nakapag-review lang sana ako, baka nasagutan ko pa yun (although hindi perfect kasi andami talagang hindi kasama sa scope na binigay ni sir at meron pang hindi niya tinuro at wala sa book)... Kaso hindi eh.. Nakakalungkot talaga..

Tuloy, wala na yatang pag-asa yung academic scholarship ko. Kailangan ko maka at least 75 sa final term para magka 82 na sem grade sa Logic. Kung hindi, patay na talaga lahat ng hopes ko na maging scholar. At hindi lang yun! Kailangan ko pa maka 66 para makapasa sa Logic para hindi matanggal sa program (assuming na 80 yung passing grade para sa buong sem). Kung hindi, wala na. Sabi ko nga kanina, magjjournalism nalang ako or com arts para wala nang science o math subjects. Mga isang sem lang sa La Salle tas mag-ttransfer nalang ako sa UP. Yun nga lang, hindi na ako magiging doctor pag ganun. Kaso buti nalang niremind saken ni Mich na hindi naman science or math yung logic - philo. Hehehe!

Ayan medyo nakapag-detox na ako. Tama na ang pag-pprocrastinate. Aral na! Whoooo GC! Hahaha!

Noypi noypi noy...Pinoy!

2007-10-09T23:30:00.000+08:00

Finals week na. Exams nanaman. At lumalabas nanaman ang pagiging tunay na Pinoy ko.

And I hate it.

After reviewing for hours for that wretched Bio Final exam, I've found out that I'm still over a hundred pages short of reading everything that has to be read. At read palang yun ah. Basa. Wala pang kasamang memorization ng terms and all. Kaya naman suko na ako. Nakakatamad magbasa ng ganun karaming pages noh! Summary nalang nung mga chapter binasa ko.

Bahala na si batman.

Haha Pinoy na Pinoy noh? Sa Thursday pa naman yun eh. Sana makahanap ako ng motivation para mag-review bukas. *sighs*

At final exam pa pala sa Logic. Gaaaahd kailangan ko ng himala sa bwisit na subject na yun. Buti nalang hapon pa siya bukas. Bukas nalang ako mag-rereview dun.

Good luck naman saken.

*sighs*

X-( and :))

2007-10-08T14:50:00.000+08:00

Nakuuuuu nakakaasar talaga! Pina-asa lang kami! Argh!

Last Friday, after nung long test at quiz sa Bio, sabi ni Ms. Cuaresma may 4 daw sa'min ang pwedeng ma-exempt sa finals kasi consistent na highest nung prelim at midterm - at yun ay ako, yung dalawang Kat at si Mich - despite the fact na dahil AHSE students kami, dapat 95 yung grade nung prelim at midterm, at wala sa aming apat yung naka-meet dun. Nevertheless, sabi niya titignan parin daw niya at ibabase sa result ng long test. So nag-expect naman kami.

At kanina, dumating na yung results ng long test. Highest ako! Yehey!! So tuwa naman ako. Yung 3, mataas din naman nakuha so tuwa kaming apat. Kaya lang may twist. Nung pinuntahan na namin si ma'am sa department niya aba sabihin ba namang hindi raw kami pwede ma-exempt kasi 95 talaga yung kailangang grade at dahil puro 94 lang kami (except kay Kat na 95 nung Midterm) hindi talaga pwede! Asar!! Pina-asa lang kami. Argh!!!

Kaya tuloy, bukas, imbis na wala akong gagawin masyado dahil wala naman akong pasok (CM thinking positively =P), kailangan ko pang mag-review sa Bio Lec. Argh!

Nakaka-irita talaga.. Arrr.. Dapat kasi may exemption nalang sa Psych eh.. >.<

Anyway, funny news naman. Kanina, pasahan na nung project namin sa English100. Preposition Magazine (magazine na dapat tungkol sa prepositions). Super excited ako nung planning stage last week kasi mahilig ako sa mga ganung bagay (epekto siguro ng Devil Wears Prada at nung Ugly Betty. Hahaha!). Ang pangalan ng magazine namin? FEM. For English100 Magazine! Hahaha! Syempre ako nanaman nakaisip ng ka-kornihang 'yun. Hahaha! At syempre, may naisip na kagad ako na title ng prospective article ko - Preposition Prostitution: colloquial norm or a downright no-no? O 'di ba pang magazine na pang magazine talaga ang dating? Hindi mo iisiping tungkol lang siya sa tamang gamit ng propositions noh? Hahahaha!!!

Tapos nung Sabado, eh 'di tapos ko na yung 2 article na kailangan kong i-send kay Kat Viciel (siya layout editor - siya may pinaka-maraming ink eh. =P). Aba hiritan ba naman ako ng 5 daw na article ang kailangan per person! Argh! Eh 'di gawa naman ako ng 3 pa. After nun, eh 'di ok na? Submission nalang.

Kanina, first time kong makita ang magazine namin. Ang resulta? Mahalay! Hahaha! Mahalay talaga! Yung cover page namin, parang collage ng mga pictures naming tatlo (ako at yung 2 Kat). At nilagay nga niya talaga yung primary pic ni Kat Leira ngayon na may pagka-mahalay! Hahaha!!! At 'di lang yun. Ayos na sana yung pictures eh tsaka yung name ng mag (promise mukha talaga siyang FHM! Hahaha!). Kaso dagdagan ba naman ni Kat yung editorial namin na 100 common proposition mistakes ng isang malaking malaking Hand Jobs!!! sa unahan?! Hahaha!!!

Grabe ang inosente talaga ng batang yun. Kung alam lang niya kung anong ibig sabihin nung dinagdag niya. Hahaha!!!

"Try not to mate during business hours, Miss Girandi?" - narinig ko sa TV just now (Joan of Arcadia yata yung title sa ETC)

Hahaha! =P

Time Out!

2007-10-04T18:16:00.000+08:00

May Broadband internet connection nang muli sa bahay namin! Kaso hindi ko naman ma-enjoy agad ngayon..

Final exam bukas sa Bio Lab at super long exam sa Bio Lec. At remedial exam naman sa Reed (buti kahit hindi bagsak pwede mag-remedial. =P). Nakakabaliw. Nakakabanas. Nakaka-STRESS!!!

Buti nalang hindi na sumabay yung Final exam sa NSTP bukas. Whew! Bwisit na palaka yan. Andami daming buto at muscles. Buti sana kung pangalan at location lang dapat alamin tungkol sa kanila. Haaay.. To think na next year, Human Anatomy and Physiology pa! Sana parang palaka lang ang tao para hindi na shocker ang Anatomy.. Hahaha!

Bangag na si CM. Buti nalang hindi siya mag-ttake ng Final exam sa Reed! Exempted! Whooo!!! Kaya lang andami namang rereviewhin for next week. Cover to cover exam sa Psych. At sa Logic naman final exam sa mga topic na hindi naman tinuro. Asar talaga. At ang lakas ng loob niya (Logic prof) na mag-drama pa kanina ah! As if naman! Matapos niya akong bigyan ng 60 sa graded recitation ko ah? Asar talaga!!! At 25% yun ng grade! Argh talaga!!! Harrr...

Sana lang lahat nalang ng prof terror noh? Para hindi ko sila mamimiss.. Ito pangit sa college eh. Every sem, bagong subject, bagong prof. Eh pano kung mapalapit ka sa prof mo? Asar noh? Tas next sem, new faces, new start nanaman. Pakiramdaman nanaman kung sino ok na prof at kung sino hindi at kung sino pwede kaibiganin at sino yung better left alone. Haaay.. Ang lungkot talaga..

Kanina, last meeting na sa Psych, Math, Filipino at Logic. Nalulungkot talaga ako every after subject. Hindi ko na Prof si Mrs. Caberio, Sir Bunag, Mrs. Mojica, at Sir Doy. Si Sir Doy ayos lang. Kaso yung first three mamimiss ko talaga. Haaay.. College. Asar talaga.

Ngayon balik na ako sa toxicity (after ng mga 5-minute break para i-type 'to. =P). Balik sa pagmememorize ng mga hinayupak na muscles at bones ng palaka. Balik sa pag-iintindi ng samu't saring parts and functions ng lahat ng systems ng human body. Balik sa pagbabasa tungkol sa Holy Spirit at sa Faith. Haaay..

Buti nalang nag-sorry na ABC para dun sa "...not from some med school in the Philippines" remark sa Desperate Housewives at nanalo La Salle against UE sa first game ng Finals ng Season 70 ng UAAP. At syempre, dahil may net na ulit sa bahay. Weeee!

Ayan DWYMD mode na talaga ako ulit. =)

Super random kwento mode

2007-10-03T15:28:00.000+08:00

Gutom na ako.. First half day ko on a Wednesday ngayon after a very very long time yata kaya naman walang lunch sa bahay. At dahil hindi naman ako marunong magluto ng kahit na ano sa kalan, no choice ako kundi kainin nalang yung Fudgee Barr na natira sa freezer (sa freezer namin nilalagay eh para matigas at masarap. =P). And for dessert? Isang Ferrero Raphaello na dala ng officemate ng mommy ko na galing abroad.

Yun lang. Kaya naman ngayon gutom na ako. Arrr.. Dati naman sanay ako na hindi naglulunch eh kaso dahil nga naabot ko na yung inaaim ko na maipon bago ang sem break, naglulunch na ako ulit sa school. Kaya ngayon, hindi nanaman ako sanay mag-lunch. Buhay nga naman o.. Haaay..

Speaking of lunch, kahapon, first time namin tinry kumain dun sa La Casita - yung restaurant sa Museo La Salle na laging sarado at mukhang haunted house most of the time nung start ng sem. Magmula nung nag-open yun, lagi na namin gusto kumain dun kaso dahil walang time (at dahil sabi ng karamihan eh mahal daw dun), walang chance.

Kaya naman kahapon na may chance na kami, diretso kami ng La Casita para maglunch! At andami naming mga haka-hakang na-prove wrong. Kasi naman eh, paakyat palang kami ng stairs (ako, si Lance, si Michie, Pia, Aya, Trish, Nikki, at Jonie) humirit na agad si Lester ng "Mahal d'yan! Php500 per order!". Syempre naman kinabahan ako. Php200 lang dala ko noh! Pero go parin kami. Madali namang mangutang eh.

At na-shock ako sa nadiskubre ko. Mura lang naman pala! Grabe para ngang canteen lang yung presyo eh. Yung binili ko na tongkatsu, Php55! Tas nag-desert pa ako ng banana crepe na Php22! Oh 'di ba ang mura?

Parang canteen lang talaga siya na pina-sosyal ang ambience. Kasi naman museum talaga ang dating! Para kang nasa Intramuros. Hahaha! Yung ceiling, ang taas tas may matataas na paintings pa at mga antique na piano. Oh 'di ba sosyal? Pinagandang canteen lang yun eh! Kaya lang may downside.

Dahil pre-finals sa Logic kahapon, lahat kami busy sa pag-rereview. At dahil may additional na surprise class pa kami from 10.30-11.30 about ERT (Emergency Response Teams) na courtesy of third year student nurses (required ata sila eh kasi may video pa), halos wala na kaming panahon mag-review. Kaya naman nagpa-order nalang ako kay Lance nung Crepe. Kaso naman, aba 10.30 na, wala parin yung crepe! Nung finollow up ni Lance, aba dun palang inasikaso! Harr..

At nung wala pa rin after ng mga 15 mins., pina take-out nalang namin. Akala ko, ayos na. Aba, dumating si Manong waiter at binigyan si Lance ng naka-plato! Syempre dahil hindi naman na pwedeng i-take out pa yun kasi naka-prepare na, kinain nalang ni Lance. So hintay na naman kami. Matapos ang ilang minutong paghihintay, bumalik na naman si Manong waiter at humingi ng Php5 para raw sa take-out charge. Eh 'di bayad naman kami.

Thinking na maganda yung lalagyan (dahil nga nagbayad kami at naghintay ng uber tagal), nagulat ako nung nakalagay lang yung crepe sa isang plastic container! Grabe at inakala kong nakalagay pa yun sa paper bag ah! Bad trip talaga. Buti nalang masarap yung banana crepe. =)

At buti hindi demanding yung mga juniors na nagturo samen ng ERT - hindi sila nagalit nung dumating kami ng late! Weee! =P

And guess what? May free lunch pa kami from them! Although burger lang siya at juice (tinabi ko yung burger tas ininom ko na yung juice) ayos na.

Buti nalang talaga tinabi ko yung burger. Pag-uwi ko kasi nun diretso tulog ako. Bandang 10.30 ginising ako ng daddy ko kasi andun daw si Mich. Eh dahil hindi ako bumangon umalis nalang ulit si Mich. Nanghihiram pala ng handout sa Bio. Shucks Bio! Hindi pa ako nag-rereview! Eh dahil gutom na ako, hanap ako ng food.

Wala na! Hindi ko alam kung hindi ba sila nag-dinner o sadyang naubos talaga nila pero wala na talagang food! Grr.. At dun pumasok si burger. Siya ang instant dinner ko. =P

After nun, review na sa Bio. Nung una, medyo dinidiscourage ko pa si Michie na bukas nalang mag-review tutal naman isang topic lang naman yun out of 3. Pero ayaw niya talaga. So no choice ako kundi unahin yung handout na hihiramin niya (Integumentary system). Sabi niya text ko raw siya pag tapos ko na. Thinking na makakatulog din yun or malilimutan yung Bio, I took my time reviewing for it. By 11.30, tapos na ako. So tinext ko siya.

Aba nag-reply! Hiramin daw niya. At 11.30 PM! Oo naman ako. At pumunta nga siya. Grabe. Pero it's good to note na nakatulong ako sa kanya kahit papano. ;)

After nun, todo review na sa Bio. 3 AM nako natulog at nagising ako ng 5. Kaso late parin ako ng pagdating sa school. Dumating ako ng 7.15 sa La Salle for my 7AM Bio class. So no chance na. Kinukundisyon ko na yung sarili ko na hindi ako makakapag-quiz kasi late ako at 0 na ako sa quiz na yun. Zero!! Harr..

Buti nalang pagdating ko ng classroom, hindi pa nagsstart! At hindi tinuloy ang quiz! Whooo!! Sa Friday, long test nalang daw. Sana naman hindi na ako ma-late nun. =P

Grabe ang dami ko na palang nasulat. Whoo! Ano pa ba? Ahh! Kanina ko lang narinig yung kantang Pop Star ni Ken Hirai! Hahaha! Dati kasi napapanuod ko lang siya at dahil sira yung audio namin dati, yung video lang ang alam ko. At super nakakatawa siya panuorin dati! At ngayon na narinig ko na yung song, wala lang, narinig ko na. Hahaha!!!

Gutom na talaga ako. =P

discipline, anyone?

2007-10-01T16:45:00.000+08:00

Nasa bahay dapat ako ngayon, nag-rereview para sa long test sa psych, short quiz sa math, at "pre-finals" sa logic BUKAS. Pero as usual, nagpprocrastinate nanaman ako. How unproductive.

Bwisit na logic yan! Andami dami na ngang gagawin nakisabay pa! Ang masama pa niyan wala naman sa syllabus yung "pre-finals" niyang yan! It's just something he made up to make our lives hell. Sabagay, hell week nga eh. Pero kahit na! Argh!!!

Super busy talaga ng linggong 'to. Sa Wednesday may quiz sa bio (pero sana wala..) at long test sa english. Sa Thursday, may long test naman sa math. At sa Friday.. Waaaaah!!! Long test sa Bio Lec at Final exam sa Bio Lab!!! At 'di pa kasama dun yung iba pang mga requirements na kailangan din this week! At yung mga pop quizzes! Argh!!!

Yet tuloy tuloy parin ang bata sa pagbblog (at pagnnet in general). Ang tamad talaga! Ito ang problema saken eh. Minsan masipag, minsan naman sobrang tamad. Buti nalang hindi na ako katulad nung HS na super duper tamad. Hehe! Mas disiplinado na ata 'to! Nakakahiya naman kung wala ako nun di ba?

Oh, and one thing I've noticed. Bakit ang disiplinado ng lahat pagdating ng college?? I mean, kung nung high school nagagawa ko pang magbenta ng services ko para gumawa ng trigo homework o para magprint ng ilang papel. Aba ngayong college, lahat may homework! Lahat may project! At lahat halos, on time! Is it me o ganun talaga ang disiplina ng mga batang laking probinsya? Weird noh?

Haaay..

Gusto ko na mag-sem break! Ano naman kaya gagawin ko sa sem break? Ewan! Waaak! Pwede pa kaya ako humabol sa mga practice ng masci alumni chorale? Wala kasing panahon this sem para pumunta eh. Sa sem break kaya pwede pa akong humabol? Ang tanong! Bibigyan naman kaya ako ng mommy ko ng pera para lumuwas all the way to Manila to attend choir practice?

Pero may mas magandang tanong. Gusto ko bang umattend ng choir practice? Minsan oo, minsan hindi. Hindi ko rin maintindihan sarili ko madalas eh. Miss ko na kumanta sa choir pero ayoko umattend. It's either tinatamad ako sa layo kaya ayoko or may ayaw ako makita or whatever. Ewan ko sa sarili ko! Waaaah!!! Pero gusto ko kumanta. Gusto ko ulit gamitin ang bass kong boses at kumanta ng mga chorale songs at marinig yung harmony ng iba't ibang tono na nag-bblend. At syempre may concert daw 'di ba? Miss ko na yung feeling ng nakatayo sa harap ng audience as a member of a chorale at mag-perform.

Gawd ngayon ko lang naisip. Miss ko rin pala ang chorale.

Haaay.. T_T

Wala talagang disiplina si CM. =P

Super Kwento Mode

2007-09-28T09:51:00.000+08:00

May super habang post sana ako ngayon na ippost. Kaso dahil nag set-in nanaman ang katamaran at ang kawalan ng gana mag-type, hindi ko tinuloy. Eh ngayon gusto ko ulit mag-type, kaya type ko 'to. Waak ang labo!

Nung Wednesday nilagnat ako. 39.5 degrees celsius. Pero hindi ako umabsent. Pumasok pa rin ako. Bakit? Kasi sayang naman yung chance na ma-exempt ako sa Reed final exam 'di ba? Hindi na nga kinonsider ni sir yung absence ko dati nung nagka-sore eyes ako eh. Isa pa, practice namin nung hapon for PE finals.

Ang saya sana nung practice kung wala akong sakit. Grabe yung sakit ng ulo ko nun! At lahat sila tinatanong kung ok pa ba ako o kung bakit hindi pa ako umuwi. Pano ba naman daw kasi super pula ko na. Pero hindi ako sumuko at go parin hanggang matapos yung practice ng bandang 4 PM.

Bakit masaya sana? Eh kasi naman ang saya kaya nung sayaw! Dance aerobics to the tune of the remixed version of Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne. Oh 'di ba makalawit dila sa bilis yun? Kaya lang dahil nga may sakit ako, hindi ko na-enjoy.

Not that may music kami noh.. Sa grandstand kasi kami nag-practice kasama nung iba pang kasali dun sa contest (I guess finals na rin nila yung contest). Actually nung una sa PLS. Kaso dahil may volleyball tournament ata nung araw na yun dun, bawal daw kami mag-practice dun. Isa pa, yung usapang 1 PM naging 1.30 sa iba naming classmates. Pinoy nga talaga. *sighs*

Kaya ayun, sa grandstand nalang kami. Kaso dahil late kaming dumating, lahat ng outlet nakuha na. Tas ang magaling pa naming teacher, hindi pinahiram sa'min yung player. Kaya counting mode nalang kami. Super stressful nun. Kaya naman out of desperation, sinasabayan nalang namin yung music nung ibang groups sa paligid namin. Pag huminto sila, sorry nalang kami.

Ang lupa talaga. Buti nalang makapal ang mukha ng ilan sa amin. Dahil may gaganapin atang concert dun sa grandstand kinagabihan, pinakiusapan namin yung sounds people dun kung pwedeng patugtugin yung samin. And guess what? Pumayag sila! Ang saya nun! Nabuhayan talaga ako sumayaw. Though medyo nakakahiya (tumigil yung lahat ng ibang groups saglit sa pagppractice sa lakas nung music namin na rinig hindi lang sa grandstand kundi sa buong oval na rin yata), ang sarap sumayaw sa ganun kalakas na music!

Kaya lang pag-uwi ko, lalong tumaas lagnat ko. Kaso bawal ako umabsent kinabukasan eh. Finals na sa PE at may symposium kami na aattendan for Psych. Kaya naman kahit may lagnat pa, pumasok pa rin ako. Tas ayun contest na. 7th kami na magpeperform so super hintay kami. Ang galing nung group number 2 na mga BTM people (Tourism Management). Sabi ni Nikki, super luwag daw kasi ng sched nila kaya lagi silang nakakapag-practice. Buti pa sila. =P

Pero apart from them, wala na akong nakita pang groundbreaking performances. Siguro naaliw ako dun sa grupo ng mga accounting people. Pano ba naman kasi ang dami dami nila at usually daw, mga 10 people nalang sila pagdating ng 4th year. Karamihan daw, bumabagsak o nagshshift. To think na ang baba na ng retention grade nila ah! (samin kasi at sa mga Rad tech at PT people, 80. Sa kanila, 60 lang ata) Ganun daw kahirap ang accounting! Grabe, nun ko lang na-realize kung gano kagaling ang bespren ko. Hahaha! =P

So ayun, lumipas ang maraming groups at kami na ang nagperform. Bagamat naiisip ko pa rin na baka ako biglang himatayin while dancing, I still did my best. And for the first time, flawless yung sayaw ko! Walang errors, walang forgotten steps, lahat smooth! Hindi halatang may sakit! Grabe ang saya ko talaga nun. Sayang lang yung iba ko namang classmates ang nagkamali. Pero ok lang! Sabi nga ni Trish "ang saya naman nakasali tayo sa contest na 'to!" Nyak as if naman may choice kami! =P

Bago i-announce yung winners, showdown daw muna (para ma-distract kami sa tagal ng judges mag-compute. =P). Si Jeremy pinadala namin. Syempre todo sigaw kami (kahit super sakit na ng throat ko) para sa kanya. Tas solo performances daw. Nauna yung isang super hangin na guy from PPT (powerpoint.. Joke! Physical Therapy =P) na nag-breakdance. Tas after nun si Jeremy na. Kaya lang nung sumasayaw na si Jeremy, aba may sumingit na isang payatot mula sa PPT!!! Tas sumingit din yung preskong lalake na breakdancer! Pucha ang sarap sapakin!!!

Pero si Jeremy, pa-humble. Tumigil nalang siya at umupo sa tabi namin. Syempre quiet lang kami (with the exception of Lance perhaps na lumabas ang pagka war freak at sigaw ng sigaw ng "Palito" dun sa payatot. =P). Kaya nung inaannounce na yung winners, sabi ko sa sarili ko, ok lang na matalo kami basta wag lang manalo yung PPT.

Well, we did lose. Kaso nanalo yung PPT. First runner up. Yung BTM ang nag-champion. After nung contest labas agad kami ng PLS at sinira namin ang PPT through snide verbal assaults. Hahaha! Asar kasi talaga eh. Tas nun lang namin na-realize kung gano kabait si Jeremy at kung gano namin tinake for granted yun (kahit kasi pasaway kami sa practice ni minsan hindi sumigaw yun eh - unlike other leaders). Haaay.. Sana lang kasing taas din ng standard ng nursing yung PT. Para matanggal na yung mga airheads na yun sa program. Hahaha!!!

Tas ayun, lunch kami tas punta ng CET para dun sa symposium sa Psych. Grabe super interesting talaga ng Psych! Mental awareness week kasi kaya may ganun (nung Tuesday nga eh, after Logic, pinapunta kami sa Psych seminar room - isang super lamig na room sa JFH - para magbasa ng isang article at mag-quiz tungkol dun! Grabe! At pili talaga samin yung mga pinapunta ah! Tas in the end, nalaman namin na experiment pala nila yun. Kami yung group na sinubject sa isang quiz na walang ingay. Yung iba raw kasi may bgm na iba-iba).

Tas after ng super habang linggo ko na yun (kahit 3 days lang kami talaga nag-klase), umabsent na ako ngayon. Wala naman akong mamimiss eh. Wala pa rin kaming klase ngayon kasi sportsfest, coronation ng Mr. and Ms. CNM, at acquaintance party. Ahh ngayon din pala ibibigay yung batch shirt kaso dahil hindi ako pumunta, baka sa Lunes ko na makuha. So ayun, rest mode nalang ako ulit.

At next week, kalagitnaan na ng aming 3-week hell weeks. Puro quizzes at long test kasi eh. At final exam pa sa Bio Lab. Haaay.. Buti nalang saglit nalang at sem break na. =P

Sana naman may energy pa ako to work hard. =P

PS. Salamat kila Lance, Jonie, Nikki, Trish, at Pia for the care and concern nung may sakit ako. At kay Kat na rin for being sick too nung may sakit ako (pero tulad ko, pumasok pa rin siya. Mga GC talaga! =P). At sa iba ko pang mga classmates who showed concern nung may sakit ako. Thanks!

(grabe ang haba pala nito. =P)

Psych homework

2007-09-22T19:31:00.000+08:00

Narito na naman ako sa ITCS, ang pinaka-malapit na computer shop sa aming tahanan na parang provincial version nung Alba na comp shop sa may P. Faura nung high school. Minsan nakakalungkot isipin na may computer ka nga sa bahay na may broadband internet access din naman pero andito ka sa comp shop, nag-reresearch habang nakikisama sa mga ingay ng mga nag-ddota. (isang malaking difference nito sa Alba kasi sa Alba bawal ata maglaro.)

Pero ok lang din naman. Friendly naman yung mga tao dito at bagamat medyo mabagal yung mga computer, at least nakakapag-internet. Yung sa bahay ayaw pa rin talaga eh. Smart bro naman kasi talaga oh. Smart Bro(ken) nanaman. Hahaha! =P

Ayan, nag-hang nanaman ang MS Word. *sighs*

Anyway, ano naman ang nire-research ng batang nagsisipag-sipagan ngayon? Ano pa ba eh 'di yung homework niya para sa Psychology. Andaming required. Kailangan kong mahagilap yung definition ng Personality, at kung ano yung mga theories of personality ayon kina Freud, Jung, Horney, Rogers, at Maslow.

Not that I'm complaining though. Sa totoo lang, isa ang Psych sa mga pinaka-paborito kong subjects ngayong college. Ang saya kasi pag-aralan ng mga bagay-bagay na may kinalaman sa pag-iisip ng tao. Kaya lang, gaya nga ng sabi ni Kuya Roni, kailangan nga lang talaga ng patience.

Patience. Ni minsan hindi sumagi sa aking isipan na kailangan ng mahabang mahabang pasensya sa pag-aaral at pagsasagawa ng iyong napag-aralan sa sikolohiya. The way our prof tells us about her line of work kasi, it's like it's so fun and exciting. Pati yung mga adventures nila sa mga liblib na lugar ay parang super saya.

Kaya naman madalas sumagi sa aking isipan ang pag-sshift sa Psychology. Masaya sigurong maging Psychologist noh? At kelan lang, nalaman kong maganda rin palang pre-med yun. Mas maganda pa raw sa Nursing. Kaya naman binuksan ko ang isip ko sa posibilidad ng bagay na yun.

Bagamat nung una, ayaw ko ng nursing, ngayon medyo naka-fix na ang isip ko sa nursing bilang isang pre-medical course. Ito na kasi yung pinaka-madaling paraan para makapag-med eh. Syempre dahil in-demand sa ibang bansa, mas malaki ang kita, mas madaling makapag-ipon pang med school. Yun ang unang bagay na humahandlang sa pag-nanais ko ring maging isang sikolohista. Mahal ko na yata ang ideya ng pagiging isang nurse at hindi ko magawang mabitiwan pa.

Pero syempre, iba pa rin pag gusto mo yung ginagawa mo 'di ba? At dahil gustong gusto ko talaga ng Psych, siguro magugustuhan ko rin naman pag yun ang tinahak kong karera. Pero mahirap. Una sa lahat, pag yun ang kinuha ko, mas matagal o 'di naman super bleak na nung posibilidad na mag-med ako. Syempre hindi naman in-demand yun eh. At ang alam ko, mahirap makakuha ng magandang trabaho sa sikolohiya kung Bachelor's degree lang ang hawak mo. Hindrance nanaman.

Pero go parin ang bata. Research research sa net. At naisip niya, kung mag-ppsych nalang din naman siya, ba't hindi pa sa UP - ang paaralang minsang isang pangarap lang na natupad ngunit kinuha ng kanyang mga magulang. So ayun, nag-research siya sa Psych ng UP. At hindi niya nagustuhan ang lumabas.

Walang BS Psych sa UP Manila. Nasa UP Diliman lang (syempre second choice ni CM yun sa UPD dati eh - after BS MBB). At dahil wala namang balak tumira ni CM sa QC at lalong ayaw naman niyang mag-commute araw-araw mula Imus hanggang QC, binitawan na ni CM ang pangarap niyang mag-psych.

Ok lang yan. Nursing nalang ako. At ok na rin siguro ako sa school ko. Naisip ko kasi, dahil may academic scholarship sa La Salle Dasma pag mataas grades mo, yun nalang i-aaim ko. Para pag naka-discount, yung ma-ssave na pang tuition eh diretso na sa time deposit account ko. At least pag ganun, mas madaling mag-ipon ng pera.

Patience lang talaga ang kailangan ni CM. Sana meron siya nun. Para maging isang duktor balang araw - at para matapos ang blogpost at ang homework na to kahit super bagal ng computer. =P

PS. Sa Martes, Finals na ng bata sa Filipino. Talumpati kung saan bawat group, may setting na pwedeng mag-talumpati. Yung iba tapos na. Kila Michie, Nikki, Jonie, et al., Strike/rally. Yung kila Lance, Pia, Marco, et al., Graduation Day. Yung kila Alain, Ralph, at Uchie naman, Awards night.

Kami naman nila Kat, Henry, Diane, Jara, Edward, at Aya, seminar pangkalusugan. At ako ang dentist. Weird, ni minsan hindi sumagi sa isip ko ang pag-ddentista. Pero mula nung ako yung inassign sa role na yun, parang gusto ko na rin. Pero parang ayaw ko rin. Bakit? Mahal eh. (go figure. =P)

Full reclamation**

2007-09-18T17:57:00.000+08:00

Grabe ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakapag-update! Ang dami dami dami nang nangyari! Andyan yung nagka recollection kami sa Batangas (na super saya! =P), yung nag one year anniversary kami dito sa Cavite at dahil dun nag-dinner kami sa Kenny Rogers at na-feature ang Cavite sa PDI (nyak! =P), yung tumakbo nanaman kami sa Oval (36th na ako! Improving! Hahaha! =P), at kung anu-ano pa. Haaay.. Sayang ang dami ko sanang na-kwento..

Kaso walang time eh. Asar talaga. Although hindi na naman super busy, super pagod naman pag-uwi ng bahay. At pag nakapag-pahinga na naman, katamaran naman sa pag-bblog ang kalaban. Arrr.. Gusto ko na mag-sem break!!!

Mamaya pag-uwi ko review naman ng Bio at kung papalarin (kung may time pa), ng NSTP. Tapos aasikasuhin ko pa yung sa grupo namin sa pinoy. Tas Psych din. To think na natapos ko na gawin lahat nung binigay last week na kailangan this week (dahil may lakad sana ako bukas na hindi na naman matutuloy..). Asar talaga!!! At 'di lang yun! Yung scholarship na inaasam ko mukhang malabo pa this sem dahil imbis na 93, 95 pala yung required na GPA. Waaaaak!!! Sabit na sana eh, tas malalaman mong supot pa rin pala. Nakakabadtrip talaga..

Haaay.. Start na ako. Sayang oras eh. Parang yung bukas. (Waaaak ang bad ni CM!..)

-_-

**yung title, English yan ng "todo reklamo". Hahaha! =P

Aircon

2007-09-05T17:51:00.000+08:00

This week, of all weeks, is CM's most peaceful week in weeks. The past few weeks have definitely weakened CM a lot, and so as to stop stress from burning down his wick to the end, this week shall be called his own "rest week".

And what a week it has been unfolding CM reckons!

Apart from the semi-exhausting PE class last Monday, everything's all so benign. What's more is that lady luck seems to be on his side lately.

First there's the math notebook incident. Yesterday, careless me has once again forgotten to pack his most needed math notebook (the notebooks were supposed to be collected yesterday for checking). What's more is that careless me (or CM for short =P) remembered this tiny detail while in a jeepney on the way to school merely fifteen minutes before his first class commences.

Upon arrival at VBH105 (CM's Gen. Psych classroom), a seemingly weird noise greeted him. People from the first row (Kathleen, CM's very pretty seatmate, in particular) quickly reminded him of his group's Brain Teasers which, just about 2 weeks ago, has been given to him to keep.

Of course, how could CM forget?! Tuesday was supposed to be the day when the regularly postponed class activity (Brain teasers) in Psychology is to be held. Thinking that CM has once again forgotten some necessary thing, he immediately rummaged through the messy contents of his bag in search for that group of papers that has been his groupmates' fruits of labor (researching for some brain teasers online is no ordinary feat! =P).

Though he was furtively a little panicky (all thoughts for his absent math notebook has been shunned aside - especially since nine people are going to blame him if ever he did left his notebook), CM was able to locate the heaven-sent brain teasers inside his bag! Feeling absolutely wonderful, he became his group's superhero in Psychology (Carlos Man - CM! Hahaha!) Athough ofcourse the fact that the whole class waited for his arrival before the class could begin was a li'l embarassing for him still. =P

After Psych came Math time. Sir Edwin started class by reminding us of some first-day-after-the-major-exam policies of his. Thinking that it was his collection of the class' math notebooks, CM secretly asked Kat not to inform Sir Edwin about it while keeping his fingers crossed that he forgets it.

But what CM thought was wrong. Sir Edwin merely reminded us that since it was our first day after the midterms, we were to have a "plus 1" if nobody is absent. Although they didn't get the "plus 1" (some people were absent), at least he knows he is safe - for now. Then as the class progressed, the inevitable happened. One of their number reminded Sir Edwin of the math notebooks. Bracing himself for the impact, CM felt a sudden gush of relief as Sir Edwin announced that he will be collecting the notebooks on Tuesday instead.

"Nakaligtas ka nanaman!" Kat said. =P

Things got a bit lighter as time progressed. He was finally called to do his "Malikhaing dula" in Filipino infront of the whole class which, despite being an act of utter embarassment, is still a breather since he is finally rid of the anxiety whenever people are called one-by-one to recite. Then come Logic, everything that they did was submit the term paper!

So naturally, last night has been a work-free night for CM. All he did was watch TV (Sky High on Disney channel! =P), text, and rest.

Then just this morning, CM and the rest of his class got their Bio Lec Midterm exam results. As expected, CM got a really low score. Although this could have dampened his spirits, it did not. Why? Because head on, CM had already anticipated to get a low score in the midterm in Bio Lec. Not that he didn't review ofcourse - it's just that he wasn't able to read on some of the questions asked in the exam. If you ask him though, topics which were never discussed by the professor should not appear in the exam!

But oh well. At least he passed.

Then came English. Once again, Mrs. Jallores was absent. With the 30 minute wait over and with no teachers assigned to substitute her, we all left the room.

Then they were faced with the dilemma of what to do during their 2 1/2 hour vacant period. Eat lunch when they have just eaten breakfast a few hours back? Review for non-existent (yet) quizzes?

So they just decided to hang-out in one of their school's "kubos". But before that they had other things in mind. First they went to the canteen where Mich, Pia, Nikki, Jonie, and Trisha ate while Lance and CM watched them eat (ironically, it's the girls who ate an early lunch and the boys who didn't. Hahaha! =P). Then they went to the student lounge located in the CET (College of Engineering and Technology - the newest building in DLSU-D where everything is airconditioned) to hangout.

Unfortunately though, the wretched place had its airconditioning units turned off when they arrived. So they just settled in one of the school's "kubos" located near MTH (where his next class - reed (religion education) - is located) to hangout - this despite the blazing heat of the day and the utter lack of breeze to cool us.

But something yet to be seen, something quite unanticipated happened(although Kat does remember that CM told him the possibility of this upon seeing the open space in their reed room window last Monday).

The entire MTH building has been airconditioned! Whooo!!!

Although they pay quite an amount every sem (DLSU-D is still, after all, a La Salle school so tuition fees don't come cheap), most of the classrooms in the campus are not yet airconditioned. Rumors have it that the money students pay (or to be specific, the money the students' parents pay) all go to the maintenance of the CET bldg and to the construction of the new admin building (although from what CM has read from the Heraldo Filipino, even these new projects still face some financial obstacles! I wonder why??). Although no proof of this has reached CM's knowledge, no proof to the contrary has also not yet reached CM's knowledge! It is, and still is, a rumor indeed. (hahaha am I making sense? =P)

Which is why having a fully airconditioned classroom is really a comfort. Now CM anticipates every reed class (which, unfortunately, is only every Mondays and Wednesdays) and even the forthcoming installation of aircon units in the other buildings. He just hopes though that the present conditions in his reed classroom will no longer make him sleepy. =P

**Ang ewan ng post na 'to! Hahaha! Bangag ako ngayon. Grrr.. I wanna eat! Grabe hindi pa ako nag-lulunch! Kaya lang katatawag lang ng mommy ko at 9PM pa raw sila makakaalis sa school ng magaling kong kapatid dahil hanggang 9 pa raw yung practice niya (para saan? Hindi ko alam. Baka CAT T_T) kaya bumili nalang daw ako ng dinner ko. Argh!! Eh nagtitipid nga ako 'di ba?! Arrrrgh talaga!

Haaay.. Ang ewan talaga nung post. Next time siguro I'll stick to blogging using the first person point of view. =P**

Untitled

2007-09-03T06:22:00.000+08:00

In less than an hour I'd have to leave once more for my 8 AM class. Yet here I am in my aunt's house still, using her laptop to blog.

Am I to blog for today? Really? Well, I guess so. Now that I'm already here in this page allowing my thoughts to skim down my hands down into the keyboard. Besides, I haven't been able to update for the longest time.

The midterm exams are almost over - and I don't think I've done well. I hate that feeling. Now I know that it's better to cram and procrastinate than be ready yet fail. It's like going to a journey where you think you've packed everything that you've needed but when you look inside your bag all you see is junk. *sighs*

I hope not. I hope I still good grades for the midterms. Grrr..

Anyway, last Saturday, Leslie and I watched a movie together. (was it a date? Hahaha! =P) A Love Story. I dunno what got into me and I really wanted to watch that movie. Yet when I was there (in the cinema), I was like "Oh-kay".. Grrr..

I guess I should leave watching movies of that type to the television rather than on the silver screen. At least when you're at home, you could do anything that you wanna do right? Not like in the cinemas where we had to suppress fits of laughter - especially since what we were watching was suppossed to be dramatic.

Don't get me wrong though. The movie was very well done, the plot well thought of, and the characters spectacularly acted (by equally spectacular Filipino actors no less). I guess it's just that movies of that type is really not my cup of tea (yeah, I prefer coffee. =P).

Oh well, at least I enjoyed eating pizza for lunch. (At yellow cab again. Hahaha! =P)

(the post's entitled Untitled by the way because of the simple fact that I can't think of any good titles for this one. Gawd are my brain neurons going senile? lol =P)

Taglish

2007-08-25T17:50:00.001+08:00

Once upon a blogpost, I thought I have reached the end of a chain of stressful, unfortunate events. Once again though, I have proved myself wrong.

Yesterday has been the most stressful day of my college life (so far). This was largely due to my procrastination - no less.

Last Friday, though I was conscious of my upcoming NSTP midterm exam, I still opted to watch TV, thinking that since procrastination was quite effective in high school, why not try it once more now that I'm in college? After all, people do talk about getting much more freedom in college than in any other stage in their academic life right?

And so I procrastinated, choosing to watch TV rather than open my book and study for the exam. Come about midnight, I was running out of TV shows to watch and still, I wasn;t in the mood to study. And so I preoccupied myself by tabulating the data that I have garnered from my survey (for my term paper in Logic).

Tabulating data proved itself effective in purging all guilt for not studying. I became so immersed in doing it that I finished at about 2 in the morning, after which I lay on my bed, prepared to begin reviewing, when stress took over me. And so I fell asleep.

That was probably the reason why Friday was extremely stressful. Apart from my very incomplete sleep (one can never regard a 3-hour sleep complete I think), I was cramming all over, trying to review for NSTP. The fact that I had only 2 one-hour breaks on that day and a very busy Bio Lab period (we had a post-lab discussion on our experiment 2 weeks ago and looked at all kinds of animal and plant tissues on microscopes - and this does not include the personal stress from being my group's leader!) didn't help a lot.

And so come exam time, I was a swordless warrior. It was extremely difficult. Although I know that I have experiences much worse than that in high school (especially in those exams where I didn't even care to open my notes and read anything), it was difficult in college. I know deep down that I could have answered everyhting if I only reviewed for the exam.

At least I slept comfortably last night. So comfortably in fact that I slept for 14 hours - a feat I have never achieved before.

+++

Kaya lang may nangyaring hindi ko inaasahan. Isang pangyayaring hindi ko naiwasan hindi dahil ayaw ko kundi dahil wala akong kapangyarihang gawin yun.

Napanaginipan ko nanaman siya.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit napapanaginipan ko pa rin siya. Bagamat nagagawa ko nang alisin siya sa aking isipan sa tuwing ako'y gising, hindi ko parin magawang alisin siya sa aking mga panaginip. Bakit sa kabila ng lahat ng ginawa niya sa akin, laman pa rin siya ng aking mga panaginip. Ang tagal na 'di ba? Bakit kaya?

Naiinis tuloy ako sa sarili ko. Naiinis.

+++

Next week's going to be our Midterm Exams (in all subjects except for NSTP and Bio Lab). I hope I don't commit the same mistakes all over again. I know I am capable of doing great things if only I set my mind in it. After all, I got a 99% score in my Bio lec prelim and I was even able to get a perfect score in my Bio lab prelim exam!

See? It only takes a lot of effort in order to make anything possible.

Siguro kapag tinamad nalang ako, iisipin ko nalang yung iniisip ni bespren pag inaantok siya kapag kailangan mag-aral - na kailangan makakuha ng mataas na grades para maganda yung makuhang trabaho balang araw.

Right. Now I'm gonna go home and start reviewing. After all, I have 3 days to prepare. And this tame I won't be a swordless soldier. I will be armed with the best defenses possible.

This made me think. What if I exerted the same effort I am exerting now in High School? Would I get the same scores? I dunno. La Salle is definitely not harder than Masci has been, nor is it easier. Heck, even the teachers now are more strict than in Masci.

Maybe I would. Maybe I would have even graduated with a silver medal had I studied hard in High School.

Sayang.

Oh well, there's no use crying over spilled milk.

Buti nalang hindi ko na siya iniiyakan. At sana, sana lang, pati sa mga panaginip ko maglaho na siya.

:D

The conclusion...

2007-08-23T17:43:00.000+08:00

...of my series of unfortunate events (hopefully. =P) has been drawn today. Not that the entire day has been perfect though.

Last night, due to the fact that I have travelled for about 2 hours from Manila, I got home at around 9 pm stressed to the bone, ate dinner (chocolate chip cookies - despite missing lunch. =P) and fell asleep mere minutes after my skin touched my cool bedsheet. It was nirvana for the stressed I must say. However, all things come to an end as they say. And the goodness stopped the moment I opened my eyes upon waking up.

I have 3 quizzes for this day with the first two before my lunch break. As expected, I immediately launched into panic mode. As quickly as I could possibly do, I read my psychology notes and handouts right after an extremely light breakfast (chocolate chip cookies again! =P) before moving at top speed through my morning rituals.

Indeed, I have gone through my morning rituals smoothly. Afterwards, off I went to school. I was in the jeepney on the way to school when suddenly I remembered something - I left my math notebook.

On an ordinary day, it would have been taken lightly - given that I don't usually take down notes in Math. However, because of my dilemma during the prelim (I got a grade 2% lower than what I should've garnered had I submitted my notebook) and because of all the effort that I have done (copying Michie's math notes from prelim up to midterm), leaving my math notebook for the second time is a disaster in the making. Nevertheless, I didn't go back (going back would mean getting late in Psychology and missing the quiz).

Come psych, the exam seemed easy. The first part was really easy (though I just got 8/10). The second part though was not. I forgot all about Bandura's thing. Argh!!! Good thing there's still the very useful skill of guessing. Hahaha!

Psych however was just like the first circle of hell (like in Dante's Inferno). The real deal happened afterwards. Math was terrible. Though the topic was really easy (like, first year HS math), I think Sir Bunag really has the gift of transforming easy stuff into hell. The quiz was absolutely difficult!

At first I thought that I would finish it quickly (the first part transpired smoothly). However, hell struck when I reached the second part. I wasn't able to answer the problems though I know how to do it. Good thing though I kept my cool and got through it all. I was even surprised to have been able to finish everything during the time alloted!

Then came judgement time. I thought he was going to announce that he would be collecting our notebooks. I thought he would tell me once again that he won't be accepting late notebooks. I thought that it would be the end of my scholarship dreams (considering the fact that I was dreadful during the first quiz).

But then he dismissed us. I got away with my stupidity and my lack of organization! Whooo! Though everybody was down because of the quiz, I was up and about because of my luck. It was like being raised from hell by a choir of angels, giving me a sermon on my being stupid and disorganized and telling me not to do it again. Honestly, I'm not so keen on doing it again. I mean, who would be? =P

It was that event that marked the conclusion of my unluckiness. I believe that it was my turning point. Why? Because after that everything went smoothly. I even finished my Logic quiz and I believe that I got it right (for the first time. Hahaha! =P).

Now I feel relaxed. I hope I don't forget to review for my NSTP midterm tonight though. That would trigger another series of unfortunate events I daresay. =P

Stupid Wednesday

2007-08-22T16:32:00.000+08:00

I am currently in Manila, typing this post in Netopia (Rob Ermita), all alone.

Carlo and Leslie were supposed to be with me today but because of certain circumstances they weren't able to make it. That's why I had to go here all by myself. That's why I'm now extremely agitated.

Not that their absence have caused it though. This day has been another chaotic one. Unlike yesterday however, today's misfortunes were not concentrated on the exposition but more like scattered all throughout the plot. It's a tragedy in reality. *sighs*

It all started this morning during my second subject for this day - English101. Mrs. Jallores was not around so another instructor has been put in her place (a fact which could be paraphrased as "the start of my wednesday misery =P). She then discussed about narratives which was pretty boring considering that we could have been spending that period doing nothing. When we reached that part about parables though, something struck me hard like a lightning on a coconut tree.

I left my Project in Reed. It was a disaster! I spent about an hour typing that personal parable (easy as it was, what made it difficult is that we had to make the entire parable fit in a short bond paper with a spacing of 1.5) only to leave it at home on the very day of submission. Argh! Thinking that I would just go home during my hour-long break before Reed, I rummaged through my pockets in search for my keys.

It wasn't there. I left it at home. Since I wasn't sure how Mr. Reblora would react once I told him that I left my project at home, I was instantly ushered into a state of internal panic. I then texted my aunt (who lives in Dasma) informing her of my misfortunes when the substitute teacher reprimanded me for texting in class. This, if possible, only irritated me more.

In all my classes I am seated at the frontmost aisle seat and in most of them I text the same way too. Yet it was her, a substitute teacher, who took notice of this and reprimanded me. How dare her! Argh!!

But the misfortune does not end there. The heaven-sent substitute teacher then asked us to make a narrative composition to be submitted during her period. I would've screamed and ran out of the room, still in a state of panic when Kathleen suggested that I write my parable as my narrative. This sort of calmed me down and so I wrote my parable on my yellow pad and submitted it on-time.

Then, together with Lance and Michie (who both were still going to have their reed projects printed as well), we went to this computer shop outside the campus where I did my project.

Then came an interlude, an eye in the storm before another set of obstacles has been thrown at me. A series of unexpected circumstances have caused both of my friends to not come. Then there's the usual long wait that I had to endure in UP. Though I should've been used to this (given that I've been going there since when I was in first year HS), I sort of got really irritated. Thankfully, my new dentist called me up (after waiting for about an hour and a half) and commenced with my appointment which lasted for about fifteen minutes.

*sighs*

Well, if you think the misfortune ends there, it doesn't. A strong surge of rain has once again poured down on us all. On an ordinary day, my spirits would have been elevated by this event. Why, this could only mean that the chances of having classes suspended once more would rise isn't it? (though I'm not totally sure if I should be happy 'bout that). However, given the current situation of my being stranded in UP without an umbrella, it didn't cheer me up.

Thankfully I've still got a few Roxases and a Macapagal in my wallet to spare. And thankfully, Rob was just across the street, ready to fulfill my needs.

And now, it's just the trip back home that's bothering me. What if I arrive at home without my parents there yet? How am I going to get in? I hate being subjected to unlucky situations. But what I despise even more is if that series of unfortunate episodes has been due to my stupidity. Argh!!!

a most unusual way to start my tuesday

2007-08-21T17:14:00.000+08:00

This morning, the most dreadful thing happened.

After sleeping for about an two hours and fifteen minutes (I stayed up all night reviewing for my Filipino quiz and reading HP5), I woke up, ate some bread then went back to my bed to continue reading Harry Potter - thinking that I'd just finish one chapter before proceeding to my daily morning routine.

It was all wonderfully planned. I would read 'til 5.30, then take a bath and leave at around six in the morning. I thought it would all be simple. I thought it would all go smoothly like a perfectly orchestrated tune. But I was wrong.

Halfway through that chapter entitled "Hagrid's Tale", my dear little brother (well, he's not so little to be honest since he's already fifteen and he's about my height) went inside my room, told me that he's going to show me something then locked me inside my bedroom, slamming my door shut in the process. Then he told my dad that I have once again locked myself up inside my bedroom.

Thinking that it was just another silly prank of his, I ignored him (and my dad's orders that I open my door) and continued reading. At around 5.25, my dad knocked on my door and told me that they were leaving (my mom's not with them as she leaves earlier). Obviously, silly me ignored his orders that I open my door. So, he got my room's key and tried opening my door.

But it was to no avail. He informed me of this, so I stood up (in an irritated manner at that since I was reading a book and I hate being disturbed like that whenever I'm reading something) and made to open my door.

But again to no avail. I tried and tried yet it still won't open. It was then that I sort of panicked. We tried all possible ways in which to open the door (from using a ruler to having my dad hand me a hacksaw blade via the small gap between the door and the floor) yet it still didn't want to open up.

It was then that my dad called Kuya Richard up (Kuya Richard was this 3rd year engineering student who sort of supervised the construction of our house). Deeply agitated by the fact that I'm going to be late on my very first day back (after a 5-day break), I told him to kick my door. But my dad said no. So I had to wait. It was only when Kuya Richard came that my door has been finally opened. Though it's now doorknob-less, at least I'm free.

Freedom at that point however was not a guarantee that I won't be late. And indeed, I was late. Good thing it was just the Multiple Intelligence test (Argh!) in psych that I have missed.

Good thing too that I have conditioned myself this morning to act maturely and to avoid seeking revenge to my sweet young brother. At least I'm now (quite) in peace. I do hope I keep this when he gets home this evening. =P

Doodles

2007-08-19T17:05:00.000+08:00

It's Sunday and I'm absolutely bored.

Tomorrow's Monday yet we won't be having classes yet as it is a holiday (I dunno why though. =P)

I've already started with my Logic term paper and finished my project in Reed.

I've also finished reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (for the nth time! =P)

I've started reading (for the nth time as well) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

I'm going to UP Manila on Wednesday for my very first dental appointment with my latest dentist (my fourth so far) and I'm not so keen on going.

On that day, I'm also planning on going to La Salle Manila to buy a La Salle shirt - though I'm still having an internal conflict coz I wanna have a haircut.

Is it obvious that I'm dead bored here? Oh I hope the library's open tomorrow (not to study no!). I need to have my questionnaire (for my term paper) photocopied.

I'm in an extremely bad shape (literally). I really need to exercise.

Am I making sense here?

I guess not. Hahaha!

Got to go now. =P

"May pasok ba o wala?"

2007-08-17T12:48:00.000+08:00

TV has a knack for wanting to keep their audience glued to their TV sets. Good thing my dad knew better.

I was reviewing the Powerpoint presentation that my teacher in Bio had asked Kathlyn to upload while listening to the news on TV. Since it still wasn't sure as to whether or not classes would be suspended the next day (despite PAGASA's recommendation that the Department of Education suspend classes the next day, they still opted to ask the people to wait for further announcements), I did our Family care plan and Family assessment papers for NSTP, my postlab in Bio and started reviewing for our long test in Bio Lec.

Before that though, things have gone haywire. While braving the strong downpour from the heavens on my way home (I had my papers printed in the neighborhood computer shop since our printer's out of ink), a strong gust of wind and my personal clumsiness made me slip thereby releasing my printed output - letting it fall down the wet pavement. Well, you know what happened next.

It was disastrous. But what was more disastrous was knowing from TV that they won't be announcing suspension of classes yet till about 11 pm. So trying-hard-to-be-a-responsible-person me started reviewing for my long test in Bio while texting people and listening to the primetime drama shows on TV. Come 11 pm though, the news reporter said that there's still no announcement as to whether or not classes would be suspended (argh!), So yet again, I waited.

Then my dad (who was listening to the radio) told us that classes were to be suspended tomorrow (that's today). Minutes later (a few long minutes later that is - much to the delight perhaps of the advertisers), the news was relayed on TV.

And now, I'm currently nearly halfway down a five-day week-end (Monday's a holiday so there would be no classes once again). Am I to be delighted by this? I don't know. I think that we would really need to have make-up classes and if that is the case, this, I believe, is just the eye of the storm - the worst is yet to come. *sighs*

Then ofcourse, our teachers would think that we would have made use of this long holiday to be more productive. And I haven't even started on my term paper in Logic yet! Argh! Heck, I don't even know if a term paper is just a complicated version of high school's research paper or if it's an entirely different thing! Mr. Bean (our nickname for our ancient professor in Logic) is really going to blast me to smithereens. Waaah!

I so wanna go to Time Zone (or even just Tom's World or Quantum!) right now and play Air Hockey or Soul Caliber just to keep me sane. Hahaha! =P

c-c-cool?

2007-08-16T08:41:00.000+08:00

I woke up this morning feeling a tinge of coldness in my feet. The blanket that had been covering me all night slipped down the bed, rendering me vulnerable to the inimitable natural cold only the rain could bring.

It did indeed rain so hard once again last night that the coldness still hung in the air. Though I have already known that classes were to be suspended once again today, I still woke up really early. All thanks to the cold air that lingered around me. Good thing I'm now beginning to thaw.

However, there is nothing good with this suspension of classes (though not having to attend our classes is a good thing I daresay. =P). For one, I won't be getting any allowance. Then I will most probably be stuck all day once again at home. Though it's relaxing most of the time, it gets all too monotonous after a time. If they suspend classes once again tomorrow, it would definitely be a very long week-end for everybody. Cool? I dunno.

I just hope that we won't be needing more make-up classes after this one. I mean, it's neither the teacher's nor the students' fault that there were no classes today right? I really hope they don't require us to attend more make-up classes. I've already got more than enough served on my platter, thanks.

Having to attend four hours worth of make-up classes in english100 and 101 is exhausting. Not that it's not fun but see, these make-up classes consume majority of what would've been a nice and long free time. Just imagine what it would be like if we have make-up classes for all the classes damaged by this terrible weather. I think I'd look anorexic afterwards. (exag! =P)

Well, at least I've got more time to read J.K. Rowling's fourth Harry Potter book. I've been trying to read the entire series all over again since last week (I think) and now there's only three and a half books left. Then I dunno what I'd reading next. I want to rejuvenate my gusto in reading John Grisham and Neil Gaiman books. Wish I have enough money to buy new reads. =P

Rants (again)

2007-08-15T17:46:00.000+08:00

Tagalog mode muna. =P

Grabe asar ako sa quiz kaninang umaga sa Bio! Dapat kasi hindi tinutulugan ang pag-rereview eh! Grrr!!! 'Di bale, bawi nalang next time. =P

Hmm.. Nu pa ba? Ang swerte talaga ng mga people sa Manila! Suspended nanaman ang classes dun at hindi pa kami dinamay sa Cavite! Argh! Buti nalang at half day lang ako ngayon. Pero kahit pa! Pupunta dapat sana ako ng DLSU-M kanina para bumili ng Lasalle shirt (dahil uber mahal sa Dasma compared dun sa Manila! As in!) pero dahil suspended nga raw at maraming baha (at unpredictable yung weather), hindi na ako tumuloy. Ang argh noh?? Grrr..

Buti nalang at may pang-compensate na good news. Kumpleto na lahat ng grades ko for the prelim!

Bio(Lec) - 94
Bio (Lab) - 98
English - 92
Filipino - 91
Logic(!!!) - 87 (argh!)
Math - 94
PE - 90
Psych - 98
Reed - 97

At dahil GC-GC-han ako, kinompyut ko ang average niyan at lumabas na 93.44 siya (whooo i-check mo pa eh! Hahaha!!!). Ang saya! Sumabit pa sa required na grade para maka-kuha ng Academic scholarship! Too bad prelim lang yan. Andami ko pang kakaining bigas. Sana naman mataas midterms ko noh (asa pa ako sa PE at logic.. Grrr!!!) para makuha ko na yang bwisit na scholarship na yan! Ba't kasi ang mahal ng tuition sa La Salle eh.. T_T

Bukas, may pasok na naman. Andami ko pang gagawin. Ni wala pa nga akong nasisimulan sa term paper sa logic o sa family care plan sa NSTP eh (hindi nga pala kasama NSTP sa taas dahil hindi naman siya talaga credited. Pero for chronicling purposes (Nyak!), ang marka ko dun nung prelim ay 98. Asa pa akong 98 ako ulit sa Midterms. May community service na eh! Nyak!).

At may brain teaser pang effect bukas sa Psych na by group. Sana inasikaso nila. Ako na nag-asikaso nung last time eh. Arrrrrr...

T_T

stressed

2007-08-14T17:24:00.001+08:00

I know I'm supposed to be reviewing for my quiz in Biology tomorrow morning, or typing that wicked Family Care Plan for NSTP due on Friday, or doing that Term Paper in Logic due in three weeks time (waaah I haven't even started yet! T_T). Yet here I am, blogging. I wanted to blog so as for me to relax for a few moments before embarking on the train ride towards Stressland once again. Yet I am not.

I know I shouldn't be bothered. I know I shouldn't care. I now live in an environment so isolated from the majority of the people of my past yet I am like this. I hate this. I really do. Grrr..

I need a hug. =c

Prayers and Dreams

2007-08-09T11:04:00.000+08:00

Just last week, our country was faced with the imminent dangers of the drought then in progress. Just a few days ago, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales urged the faithful to seek for divine intervention for the rains to come. So, churches all over the country prayed the Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Fluviam (Obligatory Prayer to request for the rain). Though I have never found out if the prayer has indeed been carried out in all Catholic Churches in the country (I wasn't able to hear mass last Sunday), one thing's for sure. The prayers have been answered.

Yesterday, the rain seemed less than eager to cease its downpour - causing a sudden suspension of classes in all levels in the NCR and in 13 other provinces in Luzon to be declared. Because of this, I remember reading from the PDI what the late Cardinal Sin had said after the 1998 Oratio Imperata which he had ordered was granted by the heavens: "...we prayed for rain. Maybe this time, we should pray and ask God to stop the rain."

Good thing the rain has now stopped. =)

Prayers are indeed powerful. Pity I do not pray that much anymore. I used to pray a lot before - from asking for certain things to thanking Him for granting them. Now, I guess I pray only before and after classes start (which is - I guess - mandatory in La Salle) and sometimes before meals. I no longer pray before leaving the house or before starting to answer an exam.

This is probably why I had a tough time answering last Tuesday's Math and Logic quizzes. =P

Prayer is the sole channel in which we can communicate with God. Without it, life would seem so difficult. I have experienced losing a channel of communication just recently. Smart has once again proven itself quite inefficient at times. I couldn't text much because of the absolutely low signal reception in our place. Though I want to use my Globe SIM Card, I can't. It was, indeed, difficult.

Good thing prayers don't disappear like cellphone signals. =P

From prayers we move on to dreams. I had a dream this morning. It was, I think, a cross between a very bad perfectly constructed dream and a beautiful nightmare. Then it made me think, are dreams also a channel of communication between two people? Or are they simply mental manifestations of the unconscious part of our minds?

Or maybe its just a connection between an LSS present prior to sleeping and the dream in itself. How could you not dream of a former love who have left you out of the blue if your LSS is the song "Tell me". Arrr.. That new movie is driving me to the wall, can you believe it? Hahahaha! =P

What's worse is if that former love of yours sang to you that song entitled "Do I have to cry for you?". *sighs* Good thing I have finally moved on. Or have I? Well, at least it's what I want to believe. And believe me, I believe in the power of believing. =)

Of Last Friday's adventures, Science HS inspired movies, my brother's UPCAT, and birthday greetings =P

2007-08-05T16:59:00.000+08:00

Last Friday, High School and College students from all over the country didn't have classes thanks to the registration for the SK elections. Being the unpatriotic me, I have opted not to register (though I would gladly register and vote in the 2010 Presidential Elections. =P) and instead, I went to Lance's house (along with some of my groupmates in P.E.) to practice for our upcoming practical test tomorrow afternoon.

It all started when Michie and I met up to go to Maranatha together. Being the neophyte Cavitenyo that I am, I was amazed to discover how near Lance's place is to our house via the inner channels of transportation available. Lance met up with us in Maranatha and together, the three of us travelled to his house.

Mich and I then waited in Lance's house (we ate breakfast while Mrs. Marcial "interrogated" us) while he went to Imus Proper to meet up and fetch our other groupmates. Minutes later, Kat, Mica, and Dang arrived. Then we began practicing.

After a few hours of practicing, some of our groupmates left whereas Michie and I stayed. The three of us then watched the movie Shutter. Mich and Lance have already watched the movie before so I thought that they won't be as terrified by the movie as I would've been. But I was wrong.

The "shocking" parts of the movie - so to speak - still elicited sudden outbursts from both Mich and Lance (though I must say that Lance is more composed than Mich is). The movie, in my opinion, is really good. I love the twist in particular and the plot in general. Too bad though the DVD movie marathon (which was supposed to be yesterday) didn't push through.

After watching the movie, we then ate lunch (Fish steak and fried chicken with pineapple bits for dessert) with Mrs. Marcial again. After what seemed like eons of chatting about almost anything over the dining table, we then went to Robinson's Place Imus to - guess what? - eat again!

It was a gastronomical exercise I daresay! We then ate at Jolibee to try once again the very palatable Nacho Overload and the mouth-watering, diabetically hazardous Caramel Pastillas Sundae. It was heaven to my gustatory senses! Yummy! =P

Afterwards, Michie went home early whereas Lance and I went straight to Tom's World to play. Although the almost cliche Dance Maniax and Dance Revo were non-existent in that place, we headed straight to the arcades to play Soul Calibur.

However, due in part to Lance's dislike for arcade games, we tried playing the Air (or is it Hand?) Hockey instead. It was sooooo fun! In my 3 years of playing in places like Quantum, Time Zone and Tom's World, it was the very first time that I have tried playing it and it was extremely fun! Although it was somewhat exhausting (since you've got to move your arm and sometimes your entire body a lot), the satisfaction and the joy (not to mention the concomitant exercise) one gets from the game is incomparable! I love it! ^^

Then we also tried those "gun-type games". Although it was only Lance who played House of the Dead, there was this game that we both tried which has definitely been another exercise-type of game (to the likes of Para-para and Dance Maniax!). In this game (we didn't get to know what it was called), the player stands on an interactive pad thingy where he holds a gun and aims it on the screen. However, certain characters in the game would also aim at you and fire you. In order to dodge their bullets, the player must squat, or dodge in whatever way the virtual bullets being fired at him.

Sounds easy right? Not quite. I also thought so but the moment I tried the game myself - boy was it exhausting! After playing, my thighs were sore. Good thing exercise releases endorphins which makes us euphoric. I loved the game!

At around 7 in the evening, we both went home. Though it's quite early compared to my "high school days" playing, it was equally fun. I can't wait for the next time. =P

+++

Speaking of "high school days", I've just seen the trailer of Aureus Solito's Pisay thanks to YouTube. This made we wonder, why don't Mascians make a movie entitled Masci too? Nah.. That'd be too un-original. =P

Nevertheless, I'd like to see the movie. Though I am not from Pisay (I haven't even tried their entrance examination since Pisay's so far from home), I would really want to watch the movie. I hope that there would be a DVD version for people to see.

+++

And speaking of Pisay and it's very far location from my place of residence, my brother just took the University of the Philippines College Aptitude Test (UPCAT) this morning (Connection? Hahahaha!!! =P). From what I've heard, he found the examination quite difficult. I dunno why. Last year, the exam was quite easy (well, at least it was a lot easier than the ACET). Then I've also gathered that his exam room wasn't airconditioned. Poor him.

Oh well, I just hope he passes. (though like me, I don't think he will study there whether he passes or not. The hell with having a "Green" blooded family. Grr..)

+++

This week is birthday week! Lemme greet the following people:

August 6 - It's my cousin Francis' 6th birthday! Happy Birthday Francis!!!
August 7 - It's my one and only brother Mikee's 15th birthday! Happy Birthday Mikee!!!
August 8 - It's my Grandmother's 60-something, Lance's sister Loleng's 20th, (though we're not close =P), and my best friend Carlo's 18th birthday! Happy Birthday!!!

=)

20-peso corn thingies =P

2007-07-31T18:19:00.000+08:00

This afternoon, I just got my prelim grades in Filipino and Logic - the two subjects that I dread the most this sem. Filipino was ok. I got a grade higher than that which I have expected (a grade somewhere between 80-89). Logic though was dreadful. Though I got a grade a point higher than that that I have expected, the mere fact that it's still in the line of 8 is still bugging me. My first subject in the 80's. =(

The hell with Logic. Grrr..

Ok, I'm being GC again. Enough about that.

I'm broke once more. I really want to buy some new books but I can't! My Powerbooks power card's already rotting inside my wallet and I'm dying to use it once more to buy a brand new book for me to read! Wish I had enough money to buy a book. Just one for now would be all right (but then after I finish reading it I would want a new one. =P).

But then again, once I have saved up enough moolah, I would still be facing the dilemma as to whether or not I would spend the money in buying a new book, buying a new shirt (my entire wardrobe's about to reveal it's totality to the world in a few weeks time - and we only wear civilian clothing every Wednesdays and week-ends at that!), buying a Flash Disk (my old MP3 player's already got the cyber bacteriophage), or just having it deposited in my now all dried up ATM bank account (thank God for Time Deposit accounts! Whoever invented it is a genius! =P).

*sighs*

Wish it'd be tomorrow na. I love Wednesdays!

(What's with the title? Wala lang. It's the last thing I ate. =P)

I (broken)heart Mondays

2007-07-30T06:09:00.000+08:00

It's Monday once more and for the nth time all over, I don't feel like going to school. It's the same thing every Monday - the lack of gusto to go to school and do something productive outside the house, the crappy feeling everyone's got in school, and the seemingly dragging long wait before class ends.

Not that there's something wrong with my Monday subjects though. It's just that, after the two day freedom of sorts to do anything, being stuck to a tight schedule outside the comforts of home comes as a bit of a shocker. Good thing though it happens only every Monday.

Now I'm out of words to say about my most hated day. *sighs* I guess I should start fixing my stuff for school now.

Gahd I feel like crap. Wish this day would end quickly.

=P

I'm lovin' it. =)

2007-07-29T11:40:00.000+08:00

After more than 10 months of isolation from the world wide web, I have been finally connected! The house has finally become a home (partially) thanks to Smart Bro. I do hope though that Smart Bro won't fail me this time. Now I can update almost everyday, go online almost everyday, and do almost any "anythings" online whenever I want.

I love it. ^^

Now that I'm back on track, what has been happening to me as of late? Well, not much. School's not that exciting anymore since it's like just a jeepney ride away. The people in school though make it fun. Yeah school's monotonous and all - but it's fun thanks to the people in it.

I love it. ^^

I also backed out from joining my very first college org - The Red Cross Youth Council. Yesterday should've been the second (and last, I believe) day of application. I was supposed to attend but being the leader of my group in English, I have opted to meet my group in English rather than apply for that org. Yeah, it's quite a shallow reason but it's not exactly the reason why I didn't want to join yet. It's just that I think I'm still adjusting to my new life in college and joining an org this early on is not a really cool idea at the moment.

Nevertheless, I still enjoy whatever's served on my plate right now. I'm still having fun - and I hope I will continue having fun for as long as I can.

I love my life. ^^

(I've watched the HP5 movie twice now - the second being at the SM MoA. I've just realized that watching it twice makes it seem better. I love it. =P)

Midterms na! =P

2007-07-24T18:26:00.000+08:00

Tapos na ang unang prelim ko sa La Salle Dasma. Midterms na.

Ang saya! Balik na sa dormancy ang buhay. Wala nang sandamukal na notes na dapat basahin o mga terms at concepts na dapat kabisaduhin at intindihin.

Kaya lang, regular classes na ulit. Minsan nakakatamad na gumising at bumiyahe ng maaga eh. Parang nasanay na ata ang katawan ko na sa hapon lang pumapasok. Hehehe!

Nakuha na rin namin yung grades namin sa ilang mga subjects para sa prelim (actually 2 palang =P). 90 ako sa PE at 94 naman sa math. Though hindi ako highest sa parehong subject, ok lang. At least line of 9 parin 'di ba? At nasa quota parin nung scholarship (93 kasi yung kailangan para sa scholarship, at dahil non-credit naman na subject yung PE, ayos parin!). Pang asar lang yung math. 96 na sana kung nagpasa lang ako ng lecture notes. Ba't pa kasi kailangan yun?!! Arrrr..

Kinakabahan lang ako sa Filipino at Logic. Tingin ko talaga line of 8 lang ako sa mga subject na yun. Arrr.. Ewan ko ba naman kasi kung bakit kailangan pang pag-aralan yun.. I mean, magiging mas magaling na nurse ba kami kung alam namin ang mga klase ng hypothetical proposition o ang mga pros ang cons ng 2001 Revision? Haaaay...

Buti nalang prelim palang yan. Hindi naman lalabas sa transcipt yan noh? Average lang ng prelim, midterm at final grades yung mag-rereflect sa transcript of records 'di ba? T_T

At buti nalang nandyan si Harry Potter. (nyak!) Grabe, puyat na puyat talaga ako kahapon. Tulala ako buong araw sa school. Pa'no ba naman kasi, buong gabi kong binasa yung Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Pero ayos pa rin. Mas gumagana ata kasi imagination ko pag sa madaling araw ako nagbabasa eh. Ano verdict ko sa libro? Five thumbs up! =)) Ang ganda super!

Ayan, so obvious bang napaka-random ng post na 'to? Kasi naman eh. Bangag nanaman ako. Hahaha!! Buti nalang Wednesday bukas. Pwede na mag-civilian ulit! Yehey! Ewan ko ba naman kasi sa admin ng DLSU-D eh. May pa uniform uniform pang nalalaman. Bleargh! Dapat civilian nalang araw araw!

Sige hanggang dito nalang muna.

(Ayos ba ang post ni carmigz sa tagalog? Comment ka ha? =P)

Irate.

2007-07-20T16:08:00.000+08:00

This is getting out of hand. First my v3x, then the pesky Smart Bro connection, and now blogspot?! Argh!

What the hell is going on now? Where in the world is that blog post which I have written and published on my blog just this morning?? Why is it that I can't see it though it is on my list and according to it, it has been published?!!

Arrr..

(Just in case this post gets published, hope you get to read the post preceding this. It's here. Please do comment on it as well. Thanks! =P)

Kinalimutan pansamantala ang pagiging DWYMD person para makapag internet at makapag-type ng bagong blog post.. =P

2007-07-20T09:19:00.000+08:00

Nung Wednesday, dahil wala akong pasok, lumuwas nanaman ako ng Maynila para magpagupit. Dapat may appointment din sana ako with my dentist kaso hindi raw siya pwede dahil "puno" na sked niya at dahil lagi ko raw kina-cancel mga appointments ko. Arrr..

So ayun na nga, nasa Rob Ermita ako at pauwi na sana kami ng may makita akong isang magandang pangitain na paakyat ng escalator. Si Pau!! Si Pau na choirmate ko since first year at "special" friend ng aking kaibigang si Rei Mark. Siya nga!

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero sa sobrang kaligayahan ko na makita siya, niyakap ko siya though napakaraming tao sa paligid at may kasama kaming pareho. At hindi lang yun ah! After nun nakita ko rin si Abi at Sam (si Abi classmate ko nung 4th yr tas si Sam naman nung 1st yr). Though hindi ko sila niyakap, halata naman sa akin na super saya ko nung nakita ko sila. Whooo!!!

Grabe, nung nagpunta ako dun hindi ko na-realize kung gaano ko namimiss yung mga taong galing Masci. Actually, nagpunta ako ng Manila para lang magpagupit at hindi para makita ang mga taong dati kong nakasalamuha sa apat na taon ko sa Masci. Ni wala nga akong balak dumalaw ng Masci eh (though may side sa akin na gusto..). Pero after nung event na yun, super saya ko. Ewan ko kung bakit. Siguro sadyang namimiss ko lang sila..

Tuloy, heto ako. Kahit kuntento na sa buhay ko dito sa jungle (este sa La Salle. Joke! =P), medyo nanghihinayang pa rin ako na hindi ako nag-UP. Partly dahil gusto ko parin talaga mag-UP at dahil gusto kong makasama silang muli. I miss them all..

Haaay..

Anyway, happy stuff naman. Birthday ngayon (as far as my hippocampus and my temporal lobes can remember), ng aking dating kaklase at matagal nang hindi nakakausap na kaibigang si Leslie Anne Santellices! Happy Birthday!

=)

Bundat

2007-07-17T13:34:00.000+08:00

Ilang minuto na lang at aalis na naman ako. Pupunta ng school hindi para matuto kundi para ipakitang kahit papano ay may natutunan ako (Prelim kasi namin mamayang alas kwatro eh. At dahil yun lang ang exam sa araw na 'to, yun lang ang dahilan kung bakit kailangan ko pang pumasok ngayon.. Ang ewan noh? =P). Pero bakit ganito? Bakit iba ang laman ng utak ko? Bakit iba ang mga katanungang lumulutang sa isip ko?

Bakit ba ang takaw ko?

Haaay.. Naaalala ko pa nung summer wala akong ginawa kung hindi mag-exercise para naman magka abs akong muli (naks may abs na ba ako dati? Abs na bang maituturing yun? Hahaha!!!). Ngayon, bilog na naman ang tiyan ko. Ewan ko ba. Parang hindi ko na mapigilan yung bibig ko sa pagkain eh. Para bang kahit busog na si tiyan eh hindi pa rin kuntento si dila sa mga lasang dumaan sa kanya. Kaya ayun. Lamon na naman.

Nakakatuwa nga isipin eh. Kung kelan ako natungtong sa kolehiyo eh kung kelan pa ako hindi naging conscious sa pangangatawan ko. Bakit? Ewan! Sabi ko pa naman sa sarili ko bago magsimula yung klase magbabaon nalang ako ng tinapay araw-araw para nakatipid na nga ako, papayat pa ako. Eh ngayon, dalawang order ng Baked Mac, isang malaking bote ng mineral, at kung minsan may kasama pang cream puff at shake yan. At lunch lang yun ha! Hindi pa kasama yung mga nilalamon ko sa bahay.

Tsk tsk tsk.. Ewan ko ba. Ang sarap kasi kumain eh. Kahat alam kong may lahing diabetic ang parehong side ng pamilya ko, tuloy tuloy pa rin ako sa paglamon! Hindi na ako magtataka kung isang araw, wala nang magkakasyang damit saken.

Arrr.. Self control kasi eh. Sana magkaron ako ulit nun.

T_T

Pre-DWYMD Mode

2007-07-14T15:01:00.000+08:00

Before the long and taxing process of reviewing for an exam commences, allow me make another blogpost so as to keep my blog updated. =P

It's prelim week next week at DLSU-D and I am partially excited and nervous at the same time. Nervous at the probability that I won't pass my first major exams at La Salle and excited because after this, it's gonna be midterm already. It's funny how fast time flies. It seems just like yesterday that I was still at Masci, certain of my long term future (or so I believe) and uncertain of the college that I will attend.

Now, here I am.

It's funny too because I am going to review for a major exam. I still remember those days back in high school when we would go to Quantum at SM Manila to play despite the periodical exams (though I remember Nino carrying his Perry (World History Book) with him. =P). Those days when I would only take out my notes whenever Philippe would call to review (via the phone of course). I was carefree back then. So lazy to review yet so down everytime I fail.

But there's no more room for failure now (not that I failed a subject back in HS! Hahaha!). These grades that I will garner would play a vital role in my future employment abroad (as a nurse) - an employment that would be a key to my ultimate goal - to take up medicine at UP and become a doctor someday(though I am still uncertain about the specialization that I would take. =P).

Carlo often says that when one believes in something, that something becomes a reality. I disagree partially. Believing in something is not the only ingredient necessary for the realization of something. One should also act in order to attain that dream. This, in my opinion, is the formula for succeeding. Believe that what you want would come true and do everything that you can do for that dream to be true and for sure, success will be inevitable.

And that, in my opinion, is why I am going to review for my Prelim Exams next week. =P

(Carmigz is currently pondering on what to do while he is connected to the internet. He is going to begin reviewing later - before he watches (hopefully) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with his family. =P)

"Nostalgia. I hate and love it."

2007-07-09T19:44:00.000+08:00

During the past 3 weeks or so that I have been at La Salle, this day marked the most hectic, the most ATP draining, the most Lactic Acid forming day ever! Whew! Stressful!!!

Yet here I am once more, typing this brand new blog post simply for the sake of posting. I extend my deepest apologies for those (if ever there are =P) who wait for a decent post. My mind is simply not in the mood for writing at the moment. So let me just give you some random stuff that come across my mind at the moment. =P

I'm feeling so exhausted. I wanna sleep early tonight. I hope.

Carlo just sent me something that made me smile. =)

I'm currently feeling really nostalgic. I miss Masci (the pre dark stuff HS. I hate it that I'm notorious there..)

I miss I-Orosa, II-Urey, III-Mendel(!!!) and IV-Einstein

I miss the MSHS Chorale (both the old (as in First year HS old) and the new(as in those who were under Ma'am Carlos))

I miss the Parlia team and all the Parlia stuff with Sir Manuel at random rooms (mostly at the Media Center).

I miss BDT!

I miss those days when we would play endlessly, carelessly..

I miss that SEA games event when we were paid to go to Quirino Grandstand to attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the SEA games.

I miss going to people's houses for certain practices for certain school stuff.

Gawd I MISS EVERYTHING ABOUT MASCI!!!...

...including that one who doesn't deserve to be missed. I hate myself for missing him. =(

I'm so sad right now. And it's getting more sad by the minute.

God save me.

My First Absence at La Salle

2007-07-02T13:56:00.000+08:00

Today's a Monday yet here I am at Netopia (at SM Molino) wearing these damned eyeglasses of mine (though I must admit that they make my eyesight a whole world clearer) and typing this blog post whereas I should be at school at this very moment, eating lunch. Why is that?

My dear friends (both tangible and online), let me present to you Conjunctivitis (otherwise known, as far as I know, as "sore eyes" in Filipino). As this is the very first time that I have contracted this disease, you could only imagine my anguish at having been inflicted with this illness (my most sarcastic gratitude I sincerely extend to my brother who has so unwillingly brought the disease to our new house thus contaminating 75% of my immediate family).

So am I happy that I am absent from school? Hell no! The doctor told me to rest for three days. Three whole days! What the hell am I to do at home for 72 *toot*-ing hours?! Plus, I'm gonna miss a lot of lectures and quizzes! Argh! To think that it's just 2 weeks before Prelim week, I really can't afford all these absences.

Call me GC or whatever (actually I have already adopted Nina (Dela Cruz) and Eljohn(Yee)'s more politically correct DWYMD - Do What You Must Do - term), but I really feel sad over missing all these school days. I really want to get high grades, not just in order to keep some promises made to my closest and dearest friends but because of a nearer (in terms of time) and more attainable reason - to get that Academic Scholarship which would definitely ease our family's financial burden.

Now I hope my parents (my mom in particular) are realizing the loss that they have gained for sending me to La Salle instead of UP. *evil grin*

Nah. I'm now starting to fall in love with my new alma mater. There's nothing wrong with it you know. If there's one thing that I don't like about it, it's the huge tuition fee. I guess that's it and all there is to it.

*sighs*

If I could only turn back the hands of time I would've stayed in QC longer yesterday than have myself contaminated by my dear biological brother. Argh! Oh well, there's nothing that I could do now is there?

Good thing my very responsible, intelligent, pretty, and friendly(? =P) friend/slash/classmate Mich/Michi/Edphil lives just around the corner. I hope she lets me borrow her notes and submit my homework via her while I'm still inflicted with this terrible disease. :D

Oh well, I guess that's all for now. If ever you (yes you my dear reader!) are still reading and have reached this far into this post, please do comment on this and its 2 preceding posts.

Thanks! :)

PS. I haven't answered my question. I'm here at Netopia to make a research on the parts and functions of the human brain for tomorrow's Psychology class (which reminds me - please watch the movie 'A Beautiful Mind' in case you haven't watched it yet! It's spectacular!)

"..am somewhere north." =P

2007-07-01T10:01:00.000+08:00

Fantasia Barrino clearly stated in her final AI song that "anything is possible when you believe.." My bestfriend is a firm believer in the power of believing in something uncertain to turn it into something real. Belief.

A question still lingers on my mind though. How does one believe? Does one visualize a particular desired scenario wherein the impossible becomes possible, the super solid becomes permeable, and the parallels intersect or does one simply believe without trying to see like how we know that there is air though we can see it.

The latter assertion could be possible though it brings about more confusion on my part. We know that the air is there because we can feel it. But can one feel a future wanted event? I remember my professor in Logic quote a philosopher (I think it was Aristotle, I forgot) "there is nothing in the mind that didn't pass through the senses". From this I have inferred that everything one knows comes from the outside world, passes through the senses (both internal and external) and stays in the mind. But does believing undergo the same process?

Believing, in my opinion, starts from the mind, passes through the senses (or is otherwise manifested in the things we do) and makes a certain event real. However, one may believe but not realize what he wants right? What is there then in firmly believing and having faith that makes the uncertain certain and concrete? I'm at a loss.

Whatever the answer is, all I know is that I am where I am at present because I have believed firmly. And now I'm happy. =)

"and finally.. I believe..."

Felix

2007-06-30T17:59:00.000+08:00

Are you familiar with that potion which has been mentioned in the JK Rowling book Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince which was called Felix Felicis? Felix Felicis is a potion which gives temporary luck to the one who drinks it. Ron Weasley (though he never actually tried it) describes the feeling as one in which one feels like one can't do anything wrong. I have tried one once in my life before - and it was the best thing ever.

All right, you might me thinking that I'm psychologically imbalanced at the moment - but honestly, I did! Though I never drank any potions of some sort, I had the same feeling. I felt good. I felt lucky. I felt powerful. It was as if any way I go, any thing I choose would be the best choice.

It was, in short, the best feeling ever. However, I knew that it wasn't forever. It was just a fleeting sense of luck and no more than that. Little did I know though that a few hours luck would mean an entire lifetime of happiness (or so I hope).

The fourth of June shall forever be imprinted on my mind. It was on that very day that I drank Felix, and reaped forever. I have been eternally blessed. =)

PS.
We transfered to our new house on this day.
I'm not on a blogging hiatus. =P
I am happy.
=)

"..am changing."

2007-06-18T18:07:00.000+08:00

Fears and apprehensions more often than not cloud our sense of judgement. But sometimes, these anxious feelings do not remain constant. They are sometimes not realized - all fickles of our scared mind.

Before, I used to be deeply anxious about my going to La Salle. With my taciturn attitude (with people I really don't know) and my lack of friends in my new school, fear and anxiety has definitely been close friends of mine.

However, in the past four days that I have been Green Blooded so to speak, I was never alone. Though still lonely at times, at least I wasn't solitary. I ate lunch with some of my new classmates, spent our very long break times together either eating, buying books from the bookstore inside the campus, or simply hanging out wherever our feet may lead us. It wasn't as fun as high school has been - but at least it's starting to be.

Then there's also the irrefutable fact that my new school is just a jeepney ride away. Although my real school of choice is a more comfortable bus ride away, the 10 or 20 minute trip home is still a plus compared to the 2 or 3 hour journey onboard those red buses from Manila. This gives me more time to do whatever I want to do before doing the things that I must do. Less ATP consumption, more leisure time.

Now the prospect of transferring has become more vague. It's funny how my mind quickly becomes confused and changes. It never usually does (or at least not easily. =P). Now I think I can see myself spending the next 3 semesters (and one summer, if possible) in the "mini-UPD" of sorts that is DLSU-D before transferring to that campus which is home to all of La Salle's medical, nursing, PT and rad students - DLSU-HSC.

But think is still far from believe. And I believe that we'll (or is it I'll? =P) just have to wait and see for things to unfold in the right time.

First Day

2007-06-13T16:18:00.000+08:00

The sun has risen. The shield of green and white loomed. How was it?

It was fine. It was almost memorable. Fears have been conquered. Loads of them.

For the first time ever, I was able to make the first move of approaching and befriending others. For the first time ever, I was not so much of a "shy guy" (though they didn't want to believe that fact. lol). In fact, I think they didn't get that usual first impression of me. Snub. Suplado. All thrown down oblivion. For the first time ever, I wasn't too afraid of taking my favorite seat in class (front row aisle seat).

Making friends was spectacular! I hope I get to know them more.

Btw. Two among the many people that I have met have some creepy connections to my past. This girl Cathlyn used to be Kim Salvador's - my seatmate in 3rd year whenever Bea's away - best friend in grade school. Then there's Mica who was from Ann Arbor Montessori. What's so unique about her? Well, she used to be my classmate in pre-school! Cool eh? Then there's Kathleen, that smart "shy" girl from Laguna. What's unique about her? I dunno.. =P

In the crossroads

2007-06-12T12:51:00.000+08:00

A new day dawns for me tomorrow. The sun shall shine once more upon us all, yet it shall no longer illuminate that vibrant royal blue that has been the norm for the past four years. It shall now shower light upon that shade of green and white. Yet I am uncomfortable. I feel that I still don't belong. I still crave for that unmistakable maroon that has almost been mine, yet I let slip.

Life has once again unravelled a series of unexpected twists and turns in this uneventful life of mine. It has unveiled a new cornucopia of possibilities yet to be studied, discovered, and explored. A new point of view, a ray of hope for this sad and defeated soul of mine. Last week, He made me see hope. Last week, He gave me a savior, a beacon of hope, a superhero of sorts. How far and how wide a future this superhero shall bring me, I still haven't got a clue.

The path that I shall tread is still unknown. Now I meet a fork in my road. Shall I move towards this road that has been deemed safe for me yet I do not want, or take the road less taken, the one that I have been discouraged to take, yet I know deep within me is what I really want? God gave me light for me to see and judge which path I should go to. Some would say it would be better for me to choose that road in which I will be assured safety. Yet some would prefer if I take a risk and opt for the bumpy one.

Personally, I would want to take the latter. However, courage has never been my middle name. Risks still scare the hell out of me. But with high risk comes higher yield. Now I am confused. I still haven't got a clue.

My superhero, my light may be there. Yet the ultimate decision still lies upon my hands. Now I tread the former, the one in which I know I am safe. The one that my heart does not want. A few steps into it shall be a deciding factor as to whether or not I must continue. Shall my heart find a home in this 'safe' choice? Or would it still prefer the other one?

Decisions. I hate making decisions. My mind spins and my heart cartwheels whenever I am to make one. But I have no choice. It is I, and only I, who am capable of steering my life to where it should finally be. I am still in the driver's seat, and I have every right to sit on it as it is mine.

Ten months. Then a decision. Then it shall be done. God help me.

Of cheesecakes, TOMATOES, and destinies

2007-06-09T13:38:00.000+08:00

...and Soul Caliber perhaps. =)

Yesterday, Friday, June 8, marked the celebration of Best Friends' Day.

Yeah there's such thing. Cool eh? I never knew that 'till the day before yesterday.

It was fun. It was an adventure. It was memorable...

...especially since I was with my best friend to share the adventure with (and meeting my other best friend (who has got other commitments for that day) halfway through the day came off as a plus) all day long.

It 's a day I'll never forget.

I daresay I've never been happier for the longest time.

Thanks 'CM'.

=p

In which my mom bakes bread, relatives flock our place, and I rant about my phone

2007-06-04T12:14:00.000+08:00

Many days ago, my mom has been given a gift from the Vatican that has been handed down from a myriad of men and women specially chosen by their predecessors of some sort. A duty that must never be denied and that must be carried with painstaking precision. An honor and a privelege.

About eleven or twelve days ago, my mom has been given, by my aunt, the hemin bread. This hemin bread (which is also known as the holy bread of Padre Pio) is a bread from the Vatican that one does over a ten day period, following a string of very stringent instructions. Then on the tenth day, it is divided into 4 equal parts wherein you give 3 to 3 good people and get to bake and eat the 4th one.

Before eating it however, one must make a prayer to Padre Pio. This prayer allows one to make some special intentions which, I believe, are granted in time. Cool eh?

I hope I receive the hemin bread someday too. I think it's really cool to be considered a "good" person by somebody. However, one is allowed to make the hemin bread only once in his/her life. But then this contradicts the rule that one is not allowed to decline to make the hemin bread once it has been given to him. What am I to do if I have already baked a hemin bread once before yet I still receive another one?

Quite a question to ponder on, especially for one like me who hasn't received one yet. lol

The hemin bread tasted really good though. Our hemin bread tasted like siopao. I think it differs depending on the ingredients you have used, how well you have followed the instructions, and the state of your home during the ten-day tenure of the bread inside it. After all, it's meant to "absorb" the energies of your dwelling right?

Hmm..

Speaking of "dwellings", my cousins from the States visited our humble abode here in Cavite yesterday. Obviously, they wouldn't stand the heat in here. So, we went to my aunt's house nearby.

This phenomena was really weird. My aunt is my mom's sister (so she's from my mom's side) whereas my visiting relatives were from my father's side (my uncle is my dad's younger brother). So one could only imagine the apparent bewildered expression in my eyes with this really weird mixture of people.

That pic by the way is my cousin Catherine. The last time I saw her, she's asleep. Actually, it was just yesterday that I saw her awake. A really cute baby girl, she's just 11 months old! lol.

The next time I'll get to see her again, she'll be walking and talking na. Just like his 5 year old kuya. hehe

Hmm.. What else? My phone! My precious phone that has been used to take all these photographs is currently in a dreadful state! After repeatedly falling into the concrete pavement of our street, my Motorazr V3x now dons loads of scratches on its silver body! Argh!

Now my barely 3 month old phone looks so ugly! Argh! Does anyone know how to get rid of these scratches? I wanna buy the new razr by Motorola. However, thanks to its many features (which are very much similar to the one I own right now), it doesn't come in cheap. I hope I have enough moolah to satisfy my many earthly desires. lol!

Oh well, I guess that's all for now. To my reader, if ever you have been reading this post for the past few minutes and you have had enough ATP's to reach this far, please do comment. lol. Those 8 comments or so that have been bestowed upon my previous post has definitely etched a smile upon my pimply face. lol

Fibrella

2007-05-31T10:59:00.000+08:00

Dark clouds are once again billowing upon our blue skies, finally cooling off everything under its midst. Raindrops have once again struck themselves down upon us, dampening the grounds that have been so dried up by the scorching heat of the sun and refreshing our plants that have been dried yellow over the summer.

Our country's wet season has definitely started and the days of endless sunshine that has engulfed all seven thousand seven hundred seven islands of our archipelago has come to an end - all this even before the month of May has ended.

Short as our summer may have been (although my 5-year old American cousin Francis insists that "it's always summer here in the Philippines!"), I do not regret the sudden darkening of our skies nor do I feel any dark emotions towards the very welcome cooling of our air. My favorite season of our bi-seasoned country has finally arrived!

Well, not exactly. I love the rainy season for it's hydrating powers over all of us. I love it because it makes me sweat less. I love it because it doesn't make my eyes squint whenever I go outside because of the blinding light of the sun. But then again, there are some things that make me despise it quite a lot.

I hate the rainy season because it makes commuting a disaster. Back in High School the only difficult part was those parts where I wait for the bus under my umbrella and the long lines in the tricycle terminal (Good thing the trike terminal here in our new village doesn't make really long lines - the one in BF (whichever trike terminal you may choose) does).

But now I think I will definitely feel the full blast of the rainy season - what with the jeepneys that I will have to use and the lack of vehicles that will help me navigate my way between buildings inside my 30 hecatare new campus. Plus, I will no longer ride those comfortable airconditioned buses (which I used to hate when I was still riding them) but take those pestilential jeepneys instead. Oh the cons of studying near your residence. *sighs*

I also hate the rainy season because it usually destroys everything. Most of my shoes have all become wrinkled because of those floods that have usually caused havoc along Taft Avenue (especially in that part where pedestrians cross - I hope Governor's Ave. (or is it what it's called? Gawd I still don't know the address of my new school!) wouldn't present the same problem). Plus, my new bag must definitely not get wet. Although I believe it is water proof, still I don't think it will maintain it's immaculate color at all.

Rain. Well, at least I can finally use my umbrella for what it has been made for right? The umbrella has definitely been really useful - especially in forging new and deeper relationships. It's always fun to share a single umbrella while walking down the sidewalk with the rain battering upon your small shelter, your sole refuge from the rain. Hand in hand while holding that handle, desperately trying hard not to get wet.

The rain has always made me feel nostalgic. Bus rides where you both remove your soppy socks and talk while eating food and chocolates. Walks with someone who really matters to you under your small umbrella, your clothes drenched but with smiles upon your faces knowing that you are with the one with whom you would love to share your umbrella with, hoping that your union underneath your umbrella would never end.

I hate being nostalgic - especially since you know that you could never bring back those times that have already been carried away by the water down the gutter.

My umbrella, despite the fact that it is now all battered and definitely unusable, is still in my bedroom awaiting for that time that it shall be used once more. But I daresay that is no longer possible for a new umbrella has taken it's job, but is now sharing its place - for it can never be replaced.

I miss him.

Waiting for a title to arrive

2007-05-30T11:27:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday marked the celebration of Bea Marnelli Pitoy's transition to womanhood, although ofcourse it was held days after the real thing. Although our closeness was not that prominent (well, she used to be my seatmate for 2 school years. hehe), she still opted to have me as one of her 18 roses - a fact that flatters me.

That night, however, was rather cold. Really cold as a matter of fact. Good thing there were some people there who, despite all that has transpired, has remained warm. Good thing too that there was an abundant number of glasses of punch available. Although bottles of San Mig Light was at hand, I declined. Not that I'm scared of alcoholic drinks you know, it's just that I don't like how it tastes.

Saturday night has been eons away. Enough about that. (Although I must express my gratitude to my mom for buying me my very first slim tie and to my cousin who let me borrow his Maroon long sleeved polo shirt for that night)

Yesterday, I woke up and found my brother watching the live cabletv broadcast of the 56th Miss Universe Beauty pageant (courtesy of Star World). However, I was only able to watch that part where Miss Universe 2006 was walking down the steps with her voice ringing overhead.

Riyo Mori of Japan won the title this year. Concomitant with this ofcourse is the pot of gold that is her price which includes her $250,000 tiara, watches worth $30,000, loads of shoes and clothes, an apartment in NYC, and a scholarship for two years of film study somewhere in the Big Apple.

Nice huh? Miss Brazil became first runner-up, Miss Venezuela second runner-up, Miss Korea third runner-up and Miss USA fourth runner-up. Also, Miss China won Miss Congeniality and our own Miss Philippines (Anna Theresa Licaros) won Miss Photogenic.

Miss USA also did a Miriam Quiambao during the evening gown competition wherein she slipped and stood up immediately. Then during the Q&A portion, she was jeered upon by the Mexican members of the audience - prolly because of her being an American. I hate the way those Mexicans acted that night. Really despicable if you ask me. *sighs*

Oh well, I think that'd be all for now. In 8 days time, I'll be leaving the comforts of my home once more for my Freshman orientation at La Salle Dasma. I hope I can finally meet some of my future classmates and friends there. This reminds me of our first ever enrollment at Masci wherein I met some people who have definitely played key roles not only in my high school life but also in the future methinks.

But before that I have to muster the energy to travel to Manila once again. I need to go to the UP College of Dentistry once more for my braces. Gawd. I guess I'm a true blue promdi now - because I'm starting to loathe having to commute to Manila. Oh well, at least I'll still get to be a part of the school that has almost been my alma mater. I mean, I've been coming and going for 4 years now inside the halls of The UP CoD. A few more years wouldn't hurt.

Too bad it's the UP College of Dentistry, if you get my drift. *sighs*

Sparks fly!

2007-05-24T11:25:00.000+08:00

Jordin Sparks emerges as this year's American Idol!

Got Gold?

2007-05-23T12:39:00.000+08:00

My homepage, msn.com has displayed something that caught my eye the moment my homepage was finished loading. It's either the old guy sitting in a really weird way, the words "How America's richest 1 percent got where they are", or that phrase in bold letters "$5 Million Club".

Being the curious cat that I am, I clicked the link and read the article "The rich have money -- and passion" by SmartMoney. It said there that to become a member of America's top 1%, one must be a "pentamillionaire" - meaning one must have more than five million dollars. However, the number of America's pentamillionaires have quadrupled in the past 10 years to more than 930,000.

What got me reading further on though was that only 10% of those pentamillionaires got their money through passive investments and only another 10% percent have inherited their wealth.

Sheer hardwork and dedication to your career of choice? Not quite.

"One might think that good fortune would play a role, but even luck is largely a matter of one's own making. Psychologist Richard Wiseman has found that people who describe themselves as lucky share common habits that account for their success: They're friendly and fond of new experiences, traits that put them on a collision course with new opportunities. In addition, "lucky" folks simply have higher expectations of success -- they're too pigheadedly optimistic to heed the long odds and call it quits. "

Friendly and fond of new experiences eh? Well, that's definitely something I'm not getting at in the near future. However, if that would help.. Well.. I dunno. It's just not in my nature to be friendly with a complete stranger. "Fond of new experiences" would somewhat describe me though. I mean, I woundn't've joined the choir and the Parlia team when I was in HS if I wasn't "fond of new experiences". Mind you, I've had loads of experiences with the MSHS Chorale during my 3 years of membership and with the Parlia team as well.

However, I think that friendliness and fondness for new experiences could definitely open doors for new opportunities. I mean, for one there's my being an impromptu member of our school's COMELEC during the 2007 SSG Elections. I wouldn't've been excused from our very first graduation practice day and help in the elections if I wasn't a member of our Parlia team right?

Besides, my being a member of that team definitely helped me get that "First Meritorious Award" of mine during our Recognition Day. Although the choir won a National competition as well, getting two national competitions would definitely guarantee me what I got right?

But would this make me a "pentamillionaire" before I retire though? Mind you, it takes more than just luck (or as the article would say - friendliness and fondness of new experiences..) to get to that level.

Since I'm not that smart and not that good in juggling between my academics and my non-academic activities (I was only deeply involved in my non-academic activites in my 4th year at Masci), earning that "First Meritorious Award" came at the risk of failing certain important subjects that would've been easy had I been present in all of my classes instead of vocalizing in the auditorium or talking about Motions from the small red book of Orendain.

"The vast majority -- 80% -- either started their own businesses or worked for small companies that saw explosive growth. Almost all of them made their fortunes in big lump sums after many years of effort."

At the end of the day one could definitely say that those who made it BIG were BIG risktakers. As they say, "high risks equals high returns". But since there's a high chance of failing if you risk too much, one would say that it's simply impractical to risk a lot of your hard earned dough in putting up a single business.

Growing up, I have seen my mom's efforts in selling numerous stuff just to have extra income - and my dad's equally strong effort in stopping my mom. When I was about 3, my mom started selling ice ("ice water" as they call it) in our former subdivision - putting up the "ice 4 sale" sign and all that on our gate. But my dad was very keen to stop her by buying all the ice before she even starts selling them. Then a few years later, she started selling some really expensive watches. After a while she stopped - probably because of my dad as well.

Why is it like so? Because my dad is afraid of risk-taking. To be honest, I think his entire family's afraid of it. Last year, while we were travelling in my aunt's car after a long tour of Chicago (they live at Round Lake Beach a few miles north), I pretended to be sleeping and overheard her telling my mom her futile attempts at starting her own business and how my uncle - my dad's brother - was always interfering because he was afraid to take risks.

But what if they were not afraid to take risks? What if we weren't afraid to take risks? Would we have gone far? Would we be living in a larger house instead of the 88 square meter box that my parents have just bought? Would I be able to drive my own car even before I graduate from college?

Someday, I wouldn't want to live with so many "what if's" in my head. I think it would be better to live in a reality that has been made possible by doing certain risky decisions rather than wallow in the grey and unknown.

But then again, how do you define "rich"?

The article defines it as such:

"When people dream of getting rich, it's about more than nice clothes and fancy vacations. Being rich means freedom: to spend your time as you please, to pursue your real interests and to take chances without courting utter ruin. Paradoxically, the road to riches often means acting as if you already have that ("I'm interested in doing whatever I want, whenever I want," - Justin Jarvinen, founder of VerveLife) freedom"

Of Funerals, Cousins, and travelling

2007-05-22T12:19:00.000+08:00

Last May 13, my dad received a phone call from my uncle in Chicago telling him that my aunt's mom had just died.

Fast forward one week later, my aunt's mom's remains were flown here in the Philippines were she was to be buried this coming Saturday in Batangas. Naturally, all her children (who were now living with their own children in the States) flew back to our dear homeland for this occasion.

And this sudden trip brought along with them, ofcourse, my cousins from Chicago - Francis and Catherine. Catherine has grown up quite a bit since their last visit here last February. She'll be a year old in a few months time. Francis on the other hand, was still the same. Last time we saw him he was being his sleepy self. This time though, after barely 12 hours of stay in the Philippines, he was as hyperactive as ever.

Francis is one of my most favorite cousins. Why? Because ever since our first visit to Chicago (back when he was just 2 years old), he has always been really friendly. Since I'm not really the type who approaches people, it came off as a bit of a relief that he approached us first and talked to us (at the age of 2!). Back then, we played quite a lot (typical toddler stuff - although he speaks straight English).

Now, at 4 years old (turning 5 this August), he's quite the smart boy! When I told him that he must've been feeling hot since it's summer here and it's spring back in the states, he replied "It's always summer here in the Philippines!". lol! Witty! What surprised us most though was that he can read, write, count, and add numbers already! Back when I was 4, I don't think I can add already. lol! He's also got this thick activity book for second graders that his mom bought him since he kept bugging his mom that he's bored. I guess this kid's gonna be smart - like his cousin. lol!

Anyways, they're staying here in the Philippines until the first week of June.

Yesterday, our school had another Brigada Eskwela thing going on. I missed the event last year because we were in Chicago when it was held. This year though, I didn't go because I just didn't feel like going. I dunno what's gotten into me. I know I'm bored here at home but somehow, the thought of commuting all the way to the heart of Manila has already been stressful. Am I getting old? *sighs*

Although I know that I would've loved to have seen some of my friends in Manila, the thought of travelling in this hot weather right smack in the middle of summer was kinda unbearable. So, following the "when in doubt, do without" matra that my mom has always been telling me, I didn't go. *sighs*

Ok, rants. Rants. Hmm.. I need a new SD for my phone! My current 128 MB SD's already full. I want a 1 GB SD! I guess this would cost me about 750-850 pesos if I'm going to buy it at CD-R King. I'm broke! I've only got about 500 pesos left in my wallet. Waah!

PS. Last Sunday, while we were passing BF Homes, I saw my former French teacher Ma'am Abadilla walking on the sidewalk (this was near Phase 1). This made me laugh terribly. I can't believe I've been living really near my former French teacher for 4 years. (we used to live at BF Homes' Phase 4). lol!

Tagged by Leslie

2007-05-19T14:48:00.000+08:00

Leslie tagged me a few days ago and eons later, I have finally come up with the energy to think once more. You see, enumerating 6 weird things about me needs some concentration too you know? I mean, what makes me weird to others right? Hmm.. Tough activity, this thinking about what is it in me that's weird to others. lol

Well anyways, before I proceed, here are the rules:

Each player of this game starts with 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state the rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

Now, here's my list of 6 weird things about me:

1. When I was a kid, I played this really weird game wherein I imagine my favorite TV show (back then it was Power Rangers. lol) and I make them do what I want them to do so as to come up with my desired plot and ending. It's quite reminiscent to those horror books wherein you "turn to page blah blah if you think whatsits should enter the Room of Requirement or flip over to page fifty if you want whatevs to die." It's fun, though I guess it is to blame for my being really quiet, taciturn, and anti-social.

2. I have this birthmark somewhere near my butt that used to drive me crazy. Only my family and my ex used to know about this. But now, everyone does. Thanks to this tagging thing. lol Not that I'm really embarassed by this - it's just that as a kid, they always say whenever some bad thing happens "Sinong may balat sa pwet?". I'm used to be somewhat disturbed by this even though it's not really on my butt. lol.

3. Just last year, I had the worst case of diarrhea ever possible. It's because of my electrolyte imbalance thing. Back then, my stomach just hurts so much that I had the terrible and intense urge to poop whenever possible. I think I pooped all over California's Bay Area back then. lol! Good thing it never happened here in the Philippines. lol!

4. Speaking of my bout with electrolyte imbalance, I usually have hallucinations whenever I'm dehydrated. It's like I'm going mad - and I hate that feeling! That's why I'm now counting the number of glasses I drink a day. So far, I've already drunk 8 glasses - and I've just been awake for 4 hours now!

5. My upper gums are all swollen thanks to my braces. This is why I'm now on Gum Therapy wherein I apply this toothpaste like thingy on my gums, massage them for a while, leave it on for ten minutes, then gargle using Listerine for 30 seconds. In spite of all this hustle, I still love my braces. I mean, I've had them on for almost 3 years now this July. Besides, it gives me a reason to go to UP Manila every now and then. lol!

6. I'm really talkative and frank. Why is this weird? Because I am usually silent that's why. I only get all loquacious if I'm comfortable with the person I'm talking to though. This is probably the reason why I sometimes have butterflies in my stomach whenever I talk to someone I'm meeting for the first time. Delivering a speech in front of people is not that hard for me (just don't count that incident during our Parliamentary training wherein I made a crap of myself while delivering a speech which was supposed to be about me.. lol!), but talking to people that I don't know much is.

Well, there you have it! My list of 6 things weird about me.

Now, I guess I'm tagging some of my new blogger friends for this one like Renz, Kim, Paeng, Nash, Jed, and Vinch. Oh yeah!

American Idol Top 3

2007-05-17T12:16:00.000+08:00

Last night has been witness to my most favorite post-Sanjaya episode of the sixth season of American Idol. (Not that I like Sanjaya though. lol) It was a blast I daresay!

Jordin sang first among the top 3 contestants. Her repertoir was made up of songs like Wishing on a star (which was Simon's choice), She works hard for the money (Producer's choice) and I who have nothing (Jordin's personal choice).

Although I can't comment much on her songs for I don't know them that much, I must say that I loved the way she sang her songs. For a girl as young as herself, it's really amazing how she can belt it all out and sing her songs with so much heart. I guess America's gonna have it's very first American Idol in the form of Ms. Jordin Sparks.

But then again I could be wrong. Enter Blake Lewis. The short guy (at 5'7 as my brother insists - just about my height. lol) sang Roxanne (Paula's choice), This Love (Producer's choice), and When I get you alone (Blake's personal choice).

Hmm.. What can I say? I loved all of Blake's songs! Aside from the fact that I know them all, I must say that he delivered them to near perfection. Roxanne (which also goes by the title 'El Tango de Roxanne' which is more familiar to me, thanks to the movie Moulin Rouge) was wonderful although I don't like the way he sang it. Maybe because the only version of the song that I am aware of was the Moulin Rouge one - but at least for me, it's an original.

Not that his second and third songs were not original. I love the way he beat-boxed some parts of the song This Love which was originally sang by Maroon 5. And I love the fact that he personally chose the song When I get you alone by Robin Thicke(?). Why? Because after I heard the song from Frankie Muniz' movie Agent Cody Banks, I was dying to hear it again. However, since I only get to watch that film via Star Movies, I don't hear much from that song anymore.

And finally, there's Simon Cowell's girl, Melinda Doolittle. Melinda didn't look little at any point as she sang her 3 performances: I believe in you and me (Randy's choice), Nutbush city limits (Producer's choice), and I'm a Woman (Melinda's personal choice).

The first song was kinda familiar and I really loved the way she sang it. The second was fun and really energetic - to think that it was originally sung by Tina Turner. I don't like the fact though that she carried the microphone a la Blake Lewis - especially since she sang right after Blake. It did appear that a lack of originality was apparent. But then again, if you're loving what you're singing, you could get a bit carried away right? And finally her personal choice. Simon said he liked her strip tease act at the beginning - that of Melinda holding her jacket by the finger above her shoulder and slinging it off. Though I must say it was kinda funny, the song was absolutely cool! I loved it! W-O-M-A-iNNN...! lol. (*applause*)

All 3 of them were absolutely fantastic. They were all unique, they were all great singers, and they all seem to be the next American Idol. However, only 1 must emerge victorious. Who will be the next American Idol?

PS. Melinda Doolittle has already been eliminated na pala. But of course, it was not yet shown over Star World. *sighs* Oh well, it has been a close fight. Fret not though. Even those who weren't lucky enough to be labeled American Idol do become successful right? I mean, just look at Jeniffer Hudson for example.

Now that there's only Jordin and Blake left, the competition is blazing! Who will win? Hmm.. I'm having a hard time deciding since they're both great (though a small voice in my head is screaming "Jordin! Jordin!" lol). Will it be the 17 year old Jordin Sparks or the beat boxer Blake Lewis? Let's find out next week at the season finale of American Idol.

3 Days

2007-05-15T11:02:00.000+08:00

3 days have come and gone yet so many things have transpired.

May 13, Sunday has been Thea Marie S. Pias' 18th birthday. She was to have her debut at the New Philippine Army Officers' Clubhouse at Fort Bonifacio in Makati. Leslie said the Thea had lots of gown changes. Philippe said the party was fun although it's such a pity that loads of people didn't come. Everybody had fun that night. Everybody but me because sadly, I was not there.

The night before that, my dad and I had a row while we were in our car bound for SM Dasmarinas (to buy the gift thingies for my gift) about having to attend Thea's debut. He said that I shouldn't go for it's the election season and that the military is in red alert or something like that. It was a long verbal duel, with tempers flaring and vocal intensity rising. In the end though no one won.

That night, since it's going to be mother's day the next day (which coincides with Thea's birthday), I treated them all out at Shakey's. Boy was it expensive! Most of the moolah that I have already saved up was spent. The food was nice though. And the eye candies, delectable. lol

Come Sunday, we went to my aunt's place in Dasmarinas where there's a fiesta. She asked me not to go since we don't usually attend fiestas with them. After a few minutes of thinking about it, I finally agreed.

Then came the long and difficult task of contacting Thea. I texted loads of people asking for her landline number. In the end though Philippe gave me her landline number so I instantly called her up. The person on the other line though said that she just left, so I tried calling her up on her cellphone. Nobody answers though. I kept on trying yet my efforts have been rendered futile. Sadly and quite panicky, I tried other ways as to how to contact her.

Ralph gave me Thea's Dad's number and just about that time, the phone rang. Goodness of all goodnesses, it was Thea! I told her everything and I hope she understood. Then came the fiesta thingy, which was not as colorful as I have imagined. Nevertheless, it was great - what with all the food and stuff. In the end my belly bulged out a few inches more yet I didn't care that much.

The next day was Election Day. Since I'm not yet of voting age, I contented myself with watching the news. I would've wanted to participate (like what Mark and Camille (my new textmate)) yet I dunno how to do so. I guess it'd be nice (but boring) to be a watcher. I mean, I have participated in our school's SSG elections last March (as an instant COMELEC member, thanks to my being a member of the school's Parliamentary team) and it was really, really boring.

I hope the people of this country have voted well. I still believe that this country's not yet going to the dogs. That we still have a better future ahead of us. *sighs*

Well, I guess that'd be all for now. Leslie sort of tagged me but I'm not quite in the mood for tagging right now. Tomorrow's choir practice all over again yet I'm not really in the mood for travelling all the way to Manila. I guess I'm quite used to the peaceful and fresh ambiance here in the province, and visiting the hustle and bustle of the metropolis once again will surely be stressful. Just thinking about it gives me enough stress alright. Phew!

"Every blessing ignored becomes a curse..."

2007-05-12T09:51:00.000+08:00

I'm making this second post right now because I'm sad. Well, not totally depressed or something bad like that. Just sad.

I thought I've already learned to love the fact that I'm going to La Salle for college instead of my dream school UP. But reading other blogs (especially those of my fellow Mascians who are going to UP for college) made me feel really regretful.

I'm sad because my going to La Salle has never been a decision made on my own accord. I'm sad because I know for a fact that had I fought for my right to go to UP well enough, I could have been travelling to Manila every now and then for my APE, or my medical exam, or my enrollment (though I hate the fact that my enrollment coincides with the INTARMED enrollment. I hate it that I didn't get that. Or any other Mascian did not get that. *sighs*), or my orientation at the Fleur de lys auditorium.

I'm sad because I was almost there. I could already feel getting what I want in my hands. I've already had it. I wasn't a pending case. I got my first choice for crying out loud! BS Nursing at UP Manila! Student number 2007-00330! Then I let it go.

I thought I could have everything that I wanted. Then I realized I could - if I would just fight for it (though the INTARMED thing is a big exception). I've already lost someone that I really love (though it's a different story). I should've learned from it. I should've fought for what I really wanted. I could've had it. But I'm such a dumbass to let it all go. To let everything that I wanted slip off my grip.

Now I'm left with no choice. I am now a La Sallian. And though I could have been, I'm now reduced to nothing but a wanna-be. A frustrated, wanna-be Iskolar ng Bayan.

...

I've had the weirdest dream last night. I dreamed that I was going to UP but not with my first choice. I'm a BS PT student at UP Manila - a course that was never in my choices (BS Nursing, BS Pharmacy, BS MBB and BS Psychology).

The idea struck me at first but I guess I should've been happy for at least I'm off to UP. But I wasn't. Back in the dream I felt all sad. It was like a nightmare, going to UP, aspiring to be a Physical Therapist. The dream woke me up (hence the 8 AM waking time for today). I was all sweaty awhile ago. I don't know why.

I really thought that the dream was real. But then again I re-assured myself that I'm off to La Salle with the course that I want.

How ironic.

**Quotation taken from Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist**

Random Nothings

2007-05-12T08:55:00.000+08:00

My mom just arrived yesterday from Hawaii and guess what she noticed about me after her week-long absence?

Mommy: "Tumaba ka ha!"

Arr.. To think that she's brought with her loads of chocolates that I couldn't (more like shouldn't) eat if I don't want to get bigger and fatter. Argh!

I dunno why I'm getting fatter. Though I've already started doing some exercises recently (recent = 2 days ago), she still insists that I have indeed gone fatter. Maybe it's the 12-hour sleeping habit. Or the frequent Voice chocolate wafer intakes. *sighs*

...

Tomorrow's Thea's debut - the very first debut of a former classmate and the second debut in my entire life that I'm going to attend to. I've lost my invitation to the party but Thea said that it's ok. I hope I do find myself in the party though. I don't want to be ushered out of the place simply because I haven't got my invitation with me.

I'm also running out of clothes to wear. Latin inspired? Hmm.. Good thing my mom brought with her something to give to Thea. I've absolutely forgotten that we were required to give her a gift. lol.

I hope that I do find my way to the venue. Philippine Army Clubhouse? I dunno where the hell that is! It said that it's in Fort Bonifacio. I wish my dad could find the place immediately. I don't wanna be late you know. I also wish somehow that Thea had chosen to have her debut somewhere that's easier to locate - like the NBC tent or something. I don't want to get lost tomorrow. *sighs*

...

I've started accessing my Friendster account once more and there's something about a Manila Science High School Chorale re-union before the month ends in Ma'am Agravante (or is it Carlos'?) place in Antipolo. The message was from Kuya Jerricho.

I dunno if I can attend but it's definitely worth attending to. I mean, aside from the new generation of choir members (this and last year's members), I would also get to see former members (who would attend, of course) that I haven't seen for the longest time like Kuya Ken, Kuya Anjo, Ate Faith, Ate Pam, Kuya Dan, Ate Dean, Ate Eli-Ann (the former Urey-Einstein girl. I'm her descendant. lol), Ate Roa, Ate Rafaella, and maybe even Ate Gail and Kuya Arceta.

I wish I could go.

...

I'm starting to save once again! After looting most of my tangible money by buying so many stuff for me and my family, I am basically broke. I would've been bankrupt had my mom not thought of the idea of putting most of my dough in a time deposit account and some of it in a very tangible ATM Account.

Now, I'm saving up not to be able to buy something (I've already saved enough money for our Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix IMAX experience and am still saving for my own copy of the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book - this despite the fact that my brother's also going to buy one) but rather to be able to put up another bank account. I should really learn how to discipline myself. Self control. Self control. *sighs*

I wish I was born with a silver spoon. lol

...

For the first time ever, I've visited our new house (still in construction). Though it's still really small (88 square meters! That's like just about the size of our garage, garden and master's bedroom combined in our former house!), at least it's roomier that the place where we live in at present.

I also like my new room. For the first time in history, my brother and I will have separate rooms. Though we were insisting on sharing a single bedroom once again (so that the smaller one would be our storage room-slash-guess room), my mom wants us to have separate bedrooms. Maybe this is to see as to who has better room-keeping abilities between the 2 of us. lol

Anyway, my room's still quite small (10.75 square meters - about half the size of my former bedroom in Las Pinas) but at least it's bigger than my current bedroom (which is really small, at an estimated floor area of about 4 or 5 square meters). The thing about it though is that instead of the queen sized bed that I'm used to, we'll be putting a twin sized bed instead. I hope it makes my bedroom roomier.

Well I guess that'd be all for now. I woke up quite early today (about 8 this morning) and I'm planning on reading the entire HP series all over again (from 1 to 6) in preparation for the upcoming movie (the fifth) and book (the seventh and final one). I also want a DVD copy of Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, Fantastic Four 2, and The Queen right now. *sighs*

Bbye!

First Impressions

2007-05-11T13:15:00.000+08:00

First impressions always last as they say. I don't think it is the same with me. Or at least, I hope it's not the same with me.

You see, people always get this impression that I am snobbish or suplado and even mataray and I'm not quite comfortable with that. Anti-social? Maybe. But I must say that I'm really approachable. Approachable as in you can approach me anytime and I would most certainly entertain you.

However, don't expect me to do the first move of approaching somebody. I really find it difficult to approach a person, be the one who initiates the conversation (especially with a total stranger) and ignite the flames of a would-be friendship of some sort. Call me introvert but I really don't mind. I guess I'm just shy most of the time but trust me, I could be a little friendly. I'm not exactly hostile with everybody you know. lol

This is probably the reason why I find it easy to make friends with some people here in my new neighborhood. I grew up in a subdivision where my idea of social stuff usually occurs among household helpers who gather round during the brief periods in which they haven't got much to do (usually in between watching their favorite afternoon telenovelas, getting a short nap, and cooking dinner for the family) and gossip about their bosses. It's not about kids playing outside, biking, jamming and all that.

My mom would always tell me not to go outside. She bought us everything that we want so that we could keep ourselves glued inside the house. In time, this habit got stuck with us. That's probably the reason why we don't know how to ride a bike or why we're both total introverts. But back then, kids our age in the neighborhood were really rare. Not unlike now.

A few days ago, two people texted me. Since I didn't have much load (and the gusto to text) back then, I didn't reply and simply turned my phone off. Last night though, I felt like having my phone re-loaded once more and I started texting people. Naturally (more of, out of unspoken texting courtesy), I replied to the both of them.

First, they asked if I could be their textmate - which was weird coz I don't have textmates apart from those whom I already know. Then I started knowing more about them. The first one, who introduced herself as Mean (but then admitted later on that her name's Camille), is a 14 year-old girl who is an incoming sophomore at Vel Maris school here in Dasmarinas. She says she's from Imus, Cavite. The other one introduced himself as Rickytoy (yeah, weird name.). He's 14, incoming sophie at Makati HS, from Poblacion, Makati.

Both of them said that they merely guessed my number coz they've both got nothing much to do. Weird right? I, however, replied as if I didn't find this weird (though I said this to Rickytoy). Later on though, Camille admitted something that caught me off guard. She's our neighbor.

This made me laugh. I knew from then on how she got my number (via the Autoload station which is like 2 houses away from us) and I instantly thought that she was that cute girl otherwise known as Jasmine (who, weird as it may sound, looks like Kim Chiu. lol) who lives in the store. I later found out that she's not her but rather her best friend.

Who is Rickytoy then? It was not that difficult knowing who he was since there was this boy who also lives in the store but apparently doesn't really reside there since he appeared in the shop just this summer. So, I asked him and later found out that he is indeed from Makati but is currently staying with his aunt's place for the summer vacation.

This funny chain of events doesn't stop there and I am well aware of that fact. I mean, I'm quite comfortable talking to them via SMS, but talking to them in person? Hmm.. To think that I would always see them especially whenever I go outside to buy something (usually for my cats), go to my aunt's place, or water my mom's orchids (who, by the way, is arriving this afternoon from Hawaii. I hope she bought us something delicious. lol).

It's nice to have friends near my place though. To quote Luna Lovegood (from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince), "..it's like having friends." nearby. lol

sigh T_T

2007-05-09T07:54:00.000+08:00

JayV left a note on my tagboard yesterday saying something that could be best described as a comment on my habit of posting for the sake of updating. It made me ponder on the subject for quite a while.

For 18 months and 27 days now, I have been keeping this blog as a sort of outlet, a medium in which I could express my ideas and chronicle what I have been doing. I think of it as a manner in which I leave an imprint of my young self on the internet, an online journal open for general public viewing which can be looked upon someday for nostalgic purposes.

This "imprint" of mine is a spur of the moment thought manifested and in a way, immortalized. It may be artistic (with all the flowery terms and stuff) or not. It may be quite vague but sharp or straight to the point but blunt. My posts may be too long for some (think Ralph. lol) but I really don't mind. I write what I want to write and share, though it might be long and imperfect. After all, I'm not really a writer. Just a blogger.

(Scratch that. I am a blogger. lol)

Okay, I don't think that made much sense. lol

I woke up this morning to the sound of my dad's voice waking my brother up. He's supposed to go to Manila today to attend the Nucleus UPCAT review at the Wesleyan College in Manila. Since I'm not that used to my dad shouting (he usually wakes us up in a soft voice), I woke up with a start.

My brother and him were having a row at 5 in the morning! My brother says he doesn't want to go. My dad insists on him going, saying that he's wasting money by not attending the review classes. It ended up with my dad leaving without my brother. Less chances for passing the UPCAT and other entrance exams, more money wasted.

My brother said that he really doesn't care about passing the UPCAT (although it's quite a powerful determinant, passing the UPCAT and all) - it's more of the DLSUCET that he wants. I dunno why, but I still reckon that he should review for the entrance exams. I mean, my brother's smart and all that (he's number 1 in academics in his school) but he's not the type who would review for something like an entrance exam.

Before I entered Masci, my mom bought me this reviewer from MSA which I answered. Thought it was really boring answering that thing, I believe it helped me pass the MSHS entrance exams. My brother on the other hand also had the same reviewer (A hand-me-down from myself sans the answers which I erased with much effort) but did not answer it at all. The result: he didn't pass the exam.

*sighs* I just hope he passes all his entrance exams. I think he wants to take the same exams that I took except that he's not as enthusiastic about taking the ACET. Maybe he's a green blooded mammal through and through. lol

On other news, my homepage MSN gave some dating tips for short guys. Argh! I hate it that I'm defined as a short guy. I know I'm short but I don't like it when people point it out (that I'm short!) Arrgh!! I wanna be 10 centimeters taller!!!

*sighs*