myBLOGS

I can flunk in an exam, I can mess up in a presentation, but as much as it can be, I don't want to loose in a sport. Yeah, you heard it right. I hate game defeats especially those I hardly fought for.

I just hated the situation a while ago with our Softball game. Ma'am De Torre didn't give us adequate time to train and practice more, especially on batting. We knew for a fact that we were in a hurry since many meetings got cancelled, but I believe that it was quite illogical to put us in a ball game which we scarcely played. Ugh, we started to contest with other teams already. It was Orange vs. Blue. Alam niyo na siguro kung anong kopunan ko.

Sumabak kami sa larong fatalistic ["Bahala na"] at grrr, ayoko kasi ng ganun! Di man lang kami nakapag-practice. As a result, 2-4 was the score yet the game wasn't finish pa naman. Kami pa ang susunod na papalo kaya may pag-asa pa daw. Problems with the pitch, confused throws, and miscalculated bats -- nobody can be blamed kasi nga wala namang binigay na panahon para magpakahasa ng skills. Maski ako, aminadong sinuwerte lang na napalo ko yung pitch. Gusto kong maka-homerun kaso di naman ako nakapag-ensayo! Hay talaga! Ang mas masaklap pa diyan, nalamangan kami ng kabila, na mga CFAD freshies pa! Pride pride. Di ko sila masisisi sa pagmamayabang at ka-artehan nila. Ang pangit namang talo ka na nga, pikon ka pa.

Naglaro kami ng volleyball after class. Grabe, na-miss ko talaga yung pagpalo ng ganung bola. Ang sarap mapagod. Ang sarap magpahingal. Ang sarap mag-ubos ng lakas. Masochist nga siguro talaga ko. Dun ko binuhos yung asar ko. Ayoko pa sanang tumigil, kaso alam kong pagod na rin ang mga kasama ko't malayo pa ang uuwian nila. Ang sakit ng katawan ko ngayon. Okay lang. I really felt how my power was, with the aches that my body had received.

I really want to set a skillful revenge. Siguro mas matatanggap kong natalo kaming lumaban nang husto. Sana mas maganda ang maging laro namin sa susunod. I know we can do it. We will run, base and score high.

Ang lakas ng loob kong magliwaliw pa rin sa dami ng ginagawa. Haha. I was out half-day at the mall. Man, I feel kinda tired right now.

I was with Ate Flo again. Bonding time na naman kami, at parang nung isang linggo eh magkasama din kami. Hehe. So we met at LRT 2 and went together at Gateway in Cubao. We initially planned to watch "Half Light" but in the latter, we decided to watch "The Maid" and "Zathura" instead. Movie marathon. Haha. Kinukuwento nga namin kay Ate Rox eh, natawa na naman siguro yun.

So habang naghihintay ng 2:30pm [for The Maid], nag-ikot2 muna. Bumili ako sa Watsons ng bagong blush on & lotion tapos naupo na lang kami sa labas ng sinehan. Nag-kwentuhan na naman kami sa walang kasawa-sawang topic: VOLLEYBALL. Haha. And yeah, we were talking about the upcoming outing too. Mga what if's and so be it's. It was in deed, funny.

Bago pumasok sa sinehan, bumili muna kami ng pagkalaki-laking popcorn na di naman namin naubos dahil sa takot! But how I loved the film, "The Maid". May sense siyang horror film. It's something to be proud of actually, since it's an International Film [Singaporean] and the protagonist act was played by Alessandra De Rossi who roled as a Pinay OFW. Basically it's a story of an 18-year old Pinay [Rosa] who went to Singapore to work since her younger brother, Bayani, was terribly sick and they badly needed money. Unknown of the new culture, Rosa encountered miseries all alone and she surprisingly felt haunted incidents as well. Upon the strike of the Chinese Seventh Month, it's a Singaporean belief that ghosts would roam around before the 'gate of death' closes to take revenge from mortals who owe them something. Bad luck awaits if the spirits had chosen to play with someone, and Rosa was badly chosen.

So yun, nakakagulat talaga yung mga multong nagpapakita kay Rosa. Namilipit kami ni Ate Flo at nakatakip ang mga mata namin! Haha. Rosa soon knew that one of the ghosts pala was Esther Santos, a Pinay who worked from her amo 2 years ago. Pinalabas ng among niyang sumama sa boyfriend si Esther kaya nawala pero yun pala, ni-rape siya ng anak ng amo niya [si Ah Soon]. May sakit si Ah Soon, yun bang matanda na pero batang-isip pa rin. Magsusumbong sana si Esther sa agency nila pero ginapos siya't sinunog. Tinago ang bangkay niya sa loob ng snare drums.

I went home early for the Recognition Day. On my way, I saw people on the streets at Laon-Laan and perhaps they were waiting for Manny Pacquaio's motorcade to pass by. Oh my, he's in deed an instant stellar crack for the Filipinos. Everyone wants a glimpse of him.

So I ate lunch first, had a short chit chat with my mom who was apparently amused at me. Well, she has just arrived from Batangas and I really felt that she's one proud momma who's excited to go to a daughter's special day.

We reached UST around 1pm na. I immediately fell in line along with my 6 fellow 2jrn3 Dean's Listers outside the Medicine Auditorium Extension. A couple of minutes had gone by and finally, we entered the hall as I received my certificate. I went up stage and had a handshake with the ranked people in AB. Ugh, the moment I was handling and seeing my certificate, I felt like so proud of myself. I got an average of 1.68 and I ranked 6th. =) My mom kept on praising me saying, "Kagaling naman ng anak ko.." Kaka-touch >.<

Natulog ako pag-uwi. Sa wakas nakabawi na rin ng tulog. Nagising na lang ako sa ingay ng TV. Si Manny Pacquaio na naman ang laman ng balita. It's quite odd but I felt a pinch of pity for him. Nakakapagod yung pinag-gagawa niya at para bang di na siya tinigilan ng lahat -- pulitiko, media, ng madla. Naisip ko lang sana hindi maagnas ang mga taong ito kapag nalaos na rin sa Boxing si Pacquiao. Lalo na sa mga prominenteng taong feeling close sa kanya ngayon. Maraming mababait kapag nasa tugatog ka pero kapag lumalagpak ka na, nawawala ang kabaitan. Nakakatawa, ginawa pa siyang host kanina sa may Baywalk, alongside Lito Atienza and Gloria Arroyo. Di man lang naisip ng program organizers na galing siyang LA, nag-motorcade, nag-PressCon at aba, gawin pa bang host?! Adik.

In the evening, we went out as part of my reward for being a DL. We ate at Max Restaurant in Quezon Avenue. On our way, we passed by STC [my former school] and I saw several cars parked nearby. Perhaps there's an event going on, so I opened the car window to check it out and it was an Alumni Homecoming yata. Naisip ko bigla ang high school life. Ang mga tinatamasa ko ngayon, utang ko yun sa paaralang kinilala ko ng 11 taon. Hay, kelan kaya ang panahong ako naman ang aattend ng Homecoming?

Ang tagal dumating ng inorder namin sa Max. My mom and bro were busy chatting about his job. Hindi naman ako maka-relate kaya nag-isip2 na lang ako. So I confined myself with what ifs. Binalikan ko yung mga nangyari sa akin kanina, yung Recognition Day, yung kay Manny Pacquaio at yung sa STC. It's so uplifting to rekindle to look back. Minsan na-iimagine ko, gaano kaya kalaki ang magbabago sa akin mula ngayon. Let's say 10 years from now. Hindi ko alam kung matutupad ko ba lahat ng mga iniisip kong plano sa ngayon para sa hinaharap. Mala-time capsule ang dating. Isinisilid sa mga alaaala ang mga naiimbak ngayon nang sa kalaunan, mabuksan mong muli at makita kung ano ka na nga ba.

If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got. So when you want something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done.

It has been a rainy day. I only attended the third subject [which is Biology] since I was feeling sick yesterday. Muntik pa akong di pumasok pero buti na lang pala. Pasaway ang buong hapon ko.

We worked on our Rizal Course docu film at our house. We were to capture the important scenes of the interviews conducted. It was quite tedious actually but I guess we had escaped from all the demands by being lighthearted. Habang nag-eedit, nag-pipicturan din kami. Haha. I frittered crazy hours with Djhay, Arene, Dez and Hawie [Si SB -- Super Boink. Haha]. Napuno ang memory ng vidcam ko! Here are a few of our wacky shots:

HOMOLUDENCE. A term which we kept on hearing from Mr. Lapus, one interviewee from our docu film. Somehow it fitted to us -- that we were men of art. Hehe. Kung anu-anong poses na ang ginawa namin. Isa lang siguro ang napagtanto ko ngayon: nakakapagod maging makulit. Haha.

Bangko. Upuan. Chair. Take a seat for comfort. Masarap umupo sa bangko, nakakasalo ng puwet, nakakapahinga ng balakang. Lahat may karapatang umupo sa bangko. Pero may isa lang akong tanong, "may karapatan din ba tayong magbuhat ng sariling bangko?"

Nung umaga, may binigay si Haoson na invitation. Para pala yun sa Recognition Day on Friday. Dean's Lister ako ulit. Siyempre naman, walang mapagpunan ang tuwa ko pero sa totoo lang, I really tried to hide it. Ewan ko. Baka kasi isipin ng ibang taong pinagmamayabang ko yun. In fact Madie saw me reading the invitation and she was then joking me with an endless, "Wow wow wow". Tinago ko agad yung binabasa ko. Bigla kong naisip, baka mukha na kong pashow-off kasi puwede ko namang basahin sa ibang lugar o panahon yun di ba. Umalis muna ko sa kinauupuan kong bangko at saka nagkape.

Philosophy time, binigay yung Prelim exam results. Di sa pagbubuhat ng bangko pero may hinuha na talaga kong mataas ang makukuha ko dun, kasi nadalian lang ako sa exam. I was even the first student who got finished. So a while ago, my name was mentioned as I stood away from my seat. I was about to get my paper when Sir Baccay proclaimed, "Si Shelly yung nakakuha ng highest. She got 78 out of 80." Everyone got noisy. Nakakahiya! Niloloko kasi ako ng mga kaklase ko. Nakakatawa, di ko alam kung paano talaga mag-rereact. Baka kasi pag sobrang ngumiti ako, mayabangan sila. Kung di naman ako mag-rereact, baka mas isipin pa nilang mayabang ang dating kasi mukhang sinisisiw ko lang. I was somewhat at the middle. I tried to mix both facets. I want to be humble.

PE time, sa wakas at nakapag-baseball na ulit kami! Malas nga lang nang konti kasi pabugso-bugso ang ulan. Nag-exam kami sa throwing and catching. Since Arene was absent [who's my partner], Kirstie substituted instead. Na-enjoy ko lang talaga yung pag-itsya at pagsalo. Ibang-iba ang discipline nito sa volleyball o basketball pero madali ko lang din naupuan yung laro. I got a 1.0 for that activity. Siyempre happy ako inside, but as usual, kunwaring pa-normal lang..

Nakaupo kami nun sa damuhan, magkausap sina Madie at Clara. Di kasi namin kaklase sa 2jrn3 si Clara, kaya madalas may balitaan sa mga nagaganap sa klase. Tsinismis ni Madie yung grade ko sa Philo! Sinabi din ni Clara na alam niyang 93 ako sa Journ. Waah, napalingon na lang ako bigla. Tapos niloko ako ni Clara [with her famous line], "Wooow naman!" Kakahiya! >.< Sabi ko kay Madie, "Bakit mo sinabi! *smiles*" Then Madie replied, "Okay lang yan Shelly, ako naman ang nagbubuhat ng bangko para sa iyo eh." Natawa na lang kami.

May experience na kasi ako nung high school. Naging mata ng lahat ang galaw ko. I was so active in school, achieving was my motto. Inaka nilang mayabang ako. Nakakalungkot, dahil gusto ko lang talagang i-express ang sarili ko. Dun siguro nagsimula ang lahat, kaya palagi na lang akong conscious sa tuwing may natatamasa akong tagumpay ngayon. Ayoko ng maulit muli ang pagka-misinterpret sa akin.

Kinuwento ko kay Ching yung mga nangyari. Umakma at naniwala naman ako sa sinabi niya. "May karapatan ka namang magbuhat ng bangko e, kasi kaya mo. Mas mahalagang maging totoo ka kaysa palagi mo na lang tinatago. Tignan mo, sa kaka-deny mo eh pinagbubuhat ka pa ng ibang tao."

Bear with this lengthy entry. For weeks, my days were so boring and with these fantastic events, it was as if I had really rewarded myself from all the hardships that I've been through. Here's my 2-day story.

I met with TropaPeepz for another kitakitz. This time, we decided to meet with Ate Rox since she celebrated her birthday last January 4th. Nakakatuwa, halos kumpleto kami. Sa 7 Eleven [in Taft] ko mi-neet sina Jean, Ate Flo and Kim. Afterwards, we walked to Mcdo Harrison to meet the rest. Ana was already there and eventually, Carol & Chie came whom we thought were not gonna attend. Jino-joke lang pala kami ng 2 yun na di sila pupunta! May pa-exam2 at pa-team building pang nalalaman tapos tutuloy din pala. Hahaha.

Later, I received a call from Ate Rox. Nasa LRT na daw siya't papunta na. So yun, naghanap na kami ng makakainan. Pagbalik namin sa Mcdo, nandun na sina Diah at Ate Rox. Dun na nagsimula ang madugong kuwentuhan at tawanan. Hehe. Kakarating ko pa nga lang, inaasar-asar na ko ni Ate Rox at grabe, na-miss ko talaga yun. Nakita pala niya yung libro kong 'Stainless Longganisa', gusto niya din daw ng kopya. Nagbabasa din pala siya ng Bob Ong. Cool.

Sabay kaming naglakad ni Ate Rox. Tinanong niya kung kamusta Math exam ko. Sabi ko super okay, salamat talaga sa earrings. Sabay banat niya, "Kaya huwag mo ng iwawala yun ah, ikaw talaga!" Haha. Later, I handed her my prolonged Xmas gift since di naman siya nakasama nung Paskuhan. Inalog-alog pa niya, then she thanked me dearly.

Too bad, there were no enough seats to accommodate the 9 of us in that restaurant. We decided to change location and whoah, naisipan ng lahat na mag-Baywalk. Hehe. So we rode the jeepney, inaasar pa ako nina Ate Rox na baka manakawan nanaman ako sa jeep at mag-ingat2 na baka mauntog kasi di sanay mag-jeep! Haha. The trip was so hilarious talaga. Una, dahil si Ate Rox pa ang napunta sa dulong upuan ng jeep at pangalawa, si Ate Flo ang nauntog sa jeep! Ang ingay-ingay namin sa loob ng vehicle. Haha.

We ate at Aristocrat instead. It took us time to order since nagturo-turuan pa kami, lalo na si Diah who was sharing wackiness with me. Haha. So yun, dahil Chicken Barbecue ang inorder ni Ate Rox, yun na rin ang inorder naming lahat! Haha talaga. While waiting for the orders, we took pictures and Diah made a simple memorabilia of that kitakitz. Nag-sign up kaming lahat sa paper mat. So sweet.

Kumain kami habang nag-kukuwentuhan. Nakakatuwa yung mga bagong storya ng bawat isa. Clown of the night si Ate Flo, bumenta lahat ng banat niya lalo na kay Ate Rox. Haha. I was then taking a video of them since I was able to bring my cam which I used in the morning. Sayang nga eh wala si Ate Cherry, mas masaya pa siguro nun. Hehe.

As usual, after eating I drank coffee. Ate Rox looked at me and was curious how come I'm addicted to it. Tinanong pa nila kung di daw ba ko ninenerbyos dahil sa kape. Ate Rox said, "Sus ninenerbyos yan! Kaya nga nagsusuot ng earrings eh. *laughs* Tignan mo, sinasabi niyang hirap siya

wuhoo, na-import ko na sa TropaPeepz ang trademark pose.. ;p

sa Math pero nakakakuha pa rin ng mataas. Nerbyos lang yan. Kahit di ka mag-aral, matalino ka naman eh." >.< I simply don't know how to react on that striking words which had really made me smile inside. Matalino pala ko. Later, Carol and Diah left for a while to go to Robinson's Place [para hagilapin si AstroBoy haha!]. Pagkaalis nila, mas naging serious ang kuwentuhan since kumonti na nga. Mala-hotseat nga ang dating kasi tinanong ako ni Ate Rox ng mga makapagbag-damdaming usapin. Grabe talaga, muntik na niya kong paiyakin. Di ko kasi inakalang mauungkat yun pero buti na lang, alam na niya lahat.

si jean yung kumuha ng pic ULET. hehehe!

Nung mag-9pm, kinailangan nang umuwi ni Ate Rox. Lumakad kami hanggang Pedro Gil at ang layu-layo pala! Haha. Pero oks na rin, at least nasa Rob na kami at dun na rin na-meet ulit sina Diah. So she kissed us goodbye, thanked us for that splendid time and hoped to see us again soon. Sana matuloy yung Live Aids and Batangas kitakitz, as promised by her. Hehe. Nag-ikot2 pa kami sandali sa Rob kahit magsasara na. Inakala kong patapos na ang lakad na yun, sabi ko pa naman, "Parang bitin.." Aba, may Part II pa pala....!!!

Buhay nga naman o, ma-kursunadahan ka ba naman ng tropang pagka-isahan! -- aba, nagkayayaan ng on-the-spot overnight sa bahay! Hindi pa man din alam ng mom kong sa volleyball ako pumunta nung hapon. Hanep sa imbento ang mga palusot ko. Nag-uwi ako ng mga kasama. Kesyo nasaraduhan sila ng dorm at makikituloy sa bahay! Haha. Panalo talaga. Akala ko nga pagagalitan ako eh. Whew, awa ng langit natuwa pa siya sa tropa. Way to go Diah! :p

Yun yata ang isa sa mga gabing di ko talaga malilimutan. Sa sala kami tumipon. Una, nanood kami ng DVD [My Sassy Girl]. So yun, bago manood eh inihain muna ang pagkain at inumin. Bumili kami ng juice at yelo sa kanto [nina Jean at Kim], buti kamo bukas pa't 11pm na. Maasikaso si Diah, halatang sanay sa overnight. HAHAHA. Siya ang laging nasa kusina. Nung okay na lahat, pumwesto na kami para manood.

It was my 3rd time to see My Sassy Girl, yet it didn't fail to make me laugh! Haha. I had a great time watching it again, this time with TropaPeepz. After watching, nag-isip kami ng ibang magagawa. My golly, 2am pa lang at ang usapan, WALANG TULUGAN. Haha. Nagbaraha yung iba, nag-pc kami. Para mawala ang antok, nag-kape kami courtesy of Carol at Diah [kakaibang kape ang tinimpla, parang Swirly Bitz haha! :p].

Finally, we've decided on an activity to spend time with. We played SPIN THE BOTTLE GAME. It was a perfect game for a perfect moment since we were all together. And I think, the game made us even closer. Parang team building. Hehe. As the bottle spin, so was the revelations, honest words, and never-heard stories. Everything spilt and revealed was kept among us. Soon we thought of making it loose and anyone may ask any question boggling in their heads. Naalala ko lang yung sinabi sa amin ni Diah. Matagal na kasi yung isyu eh. Lagi ko kasing naiisip kung bakit ganun 'sila'. Thanks to her, I really got something significant and persuasive on her words, "Dito sa tropang toh, naka-feel ako ng totoong HOME. Dito ko yun nakita". And I think, we were all about to say "We second the motion.." Auww.. >.<

4am na nang matapos yun. Yung ibang peepz, bagsak na talaga. Sina Ate Flo, Chie at Carol, nanood ng J.Lo Live at Puerto Rico. Hehe. Palibhasa mga naka-idlip na nung maaga pa. So humiga ako sa sofa para umidlip. Di muna ako umakyat sa taas, sinamahan ko talaga sila. Bandang 6am na nang humiga ako sa totoong kama. Umakyat muna ko sa room ko.

Sa himbing ng tulog ko, lahat pala sila gising na nung 9am. Haha. Ginising na ako ng nanay ko. I checked my cel and Ate Rox texted me pala. Ay grabe, nakaka-touch talaga yung sinabi niya. Di ko inexpect na sasabihin niya yun. >.< Pagbaba ko, nagyaya akong mag-breakfast kami. Nagpaalam na sila sa mom ko tapos pumunta kami sa Chowking. Nilibre kami ni Kim. Ulirang Kaibigan Awardee talaga yun, ang dalas manlibre! Thanks talaga at may kaibigang tulad niya. Ang kwela ng huling kuwentuhan na yun habang kumakain nang sabay-sabay.

It was in deed hard to separate ways when you had been jointed for a time. I think this was the longest time that we were together. So I bid goodbye on each one as I went back home. I was then smiling as I set back the memories. Then again, I never thought that these days will happen because it was never in the plans. I think what best jells the getaways of our group is when our trips are not planned and we just let fate sketch the events. Just like the spin the bottle, we never knew what next event gets to be picked and shall come to us. We fill in unexpected memories and we suddenly get surprised on what had occurred. Magic. Destiny. True Friendship. What a day.

*x`cez: Manny Pacquaio made history! He was the first man to TKO Mexico's Erik Morales. Truly, he's one Philippine pride. I really had the goose bumps when the anthem was sang in Vegas. And as he won in the 10th round by knock out, oh my what a fleeting moment for all the Filipinos! Kahit ba sabihin mong magulo ang bansa, ang sarap din palang maging Pinoy dahil sa ganyang mga karangalan. =)

Sometimes, life can be found in a sealed bottle on the sea -- uncomplicatedly conserved but secured, regardless of the waves which may come along..

Only two professors came into our class. I guess the others had presumed that this day would be suspended. Unluckily, it wasn't. Mas tinamad pang pumasok ang mga prof kaysa sa estudyante. Haha. Marami-rami din kaming pumasok kanina.

Exam results for Statistics was given to us already. Grabe talaga, may himala pa rin ang so called, 'lucky earrings' ni Ate Rox na sinuot ko nung exam. Haha. 94/100 ang score ko! [Waah, Math kasi yun. Hay grabe. @.@] So yun, masaya talaga ko kasi alam ko namang pinaghirapan ko yun. Pero may mga nakakuha ng mababa, maski nagsumikap talaga sila.

Kanina nakisali ako sa munting umpukan sa labas ng classroom. Nilalamig kasi ako sa loob. Akala ko pang-Rizal Course yung umpukan nila, hindi pala. Umupo ako, nakinig, naki-usyoso. Tungkol pala sa mga professors. Hehe. And I found the topic quite interesting.

Sabi kasi nila, minsan ang hirap mag-aral dahil sa professor. Kung hindi magulo magturo, bitin magturo. May mga profs na masisipag pumasok pero mahirap unawain ang pag-lelecture. May mga profs namang once in a blue moon lang pumasok at yun ang mas mahirap unawain! Kasi di mo alam kung kinalimutan na ang klase niyo o galit ba! Hehe. Kaya sa huli, student ang nag-ssuffer. Pagdating ng exams, di magkanda-ugaga sa pag-rereview ng lahat dahil di naman naipaliwanag nang maayos noon. Sa huli din, di maiwasang binabalik ang sisi sa mga professors. Haha.

Samu't sari ang reklamo. Okray dito, pintas doon. Nakikisawsaw ako minsan, just for the sake of ice breaking. Dibdiban kasi ang usapan. Some of my classmates were curious on the way our mentors teach us and on how they grade each student. May nagsabi kasing hindi fair ang pag-ggrade dahil dumedepende ang pagka1.0 o pagka5.0 mo sa sistema ng guro.

Estudyante lang din naman ako at napapansin ko din yung mga errors ng profs [na ang kwelang ipunterya, diba Madie?! Haha. ALLELUIA]. But seriously, I don't blame my professors if ever I get a low grade. I can see some defects but come to think of it, these grades are just mere numbers! Hangga't maiiwasan, ayokong maging grade conscious. If you tend to be so cognizant about it all the time, you might get mislead. Maloloka ka lang kakaisip. Mas gusto ko yung pag-abot sa mga bagay na alam kong kaya ko lang abutin. I do not deceive on things I don't deserve.

When I'm studying, I don't memorize at all because for me, for as long as you take the gist of something, it shall remain in your head. Ang pag-aaral di lang nasusukat sa kung na-perfect mo ang exam o bokya ka. Ang mas mahalaga, may totoo kang natutunan. Yun bang hindi kabisote at hindi hinog sa pilit. Kapag nasa field ka na, hindi naman sa buong panahon eh basehan ang grades. Parte lang yun. Hindi kawalan kung minsan makakuha ka ng mababa at hindi kabawasan kung di ka nakakuha ng pinakamataas na numerong ginawa lang para kontrolin ka! =)

Numbers are just mere symbols. Never get used to a life enclosed in symbolisms.

Hay salamat, tapos na ang kalbaryo - prelims is over and I think I did okay naman. Pretty much I'm satisfied because I knew for a fact that I dedicated sleepless nights to review well. So now it's up to God if He'll let me stay in UST and not flunk. [haha, ang OA?] I just feel so contended today.

I delivered my Impromptu Speech a while ago. It's our prelim exam for Speech class. Damn, I felt quite nervous because I am not used to silence but I guess I was able to bring out good thoughts in my speech. The topic given to me was "An Argument with Someone". Well I shared my experience with someone who started as my enemy but then it turned out that she became my best friend.. until now! It's ironic right? That's why I chose that as my speech. In the end I said that "The greatest irony among all is when your worst enemies become the bestest person in your life." I saw Ma'am Rodriguez smiling at me, ughh there's nothing more to expect than to see your prof. satisfied on your speech!

And speaking of 'bests' pala, I found my brother acting weird today. Hahaha. It's co-incidental that I wished to eat Shawarma [di ba Arene, sabi ko sa yo kanina hehe] and it was immediately granted! Di pa ako ang gumastos ha, kasi binigyan ako ng kuya ko! Bakit kamo wirdong kaganapan? Kasi I'm not used to him giving stuffs initiatively.

Noong bata pa kami, palagi kaming magkalaro ng kuya ko. Titser siya, student ako. Kumander siya, sundalo ako. Nung nag-binata na siya, medyo napalayo siya sa amin ng ate ko. Ewan ko din kung bakit. Maybe he needed a space to grow up. Kaya yun, hinayaan na lang namin siya. Sometimes when we were having fun, he was not mingling. He had a life of his own and peers to be with. Years had gone by, we seldom talked, we seldom laughed together and it just so happened that our relationship as brothers didn't flourish as we grew older. Tumanda kaming aloof sa isa't isa. Di ako makapagkwento sa kanya tungkol sa crush ko o magkwento tungkol sa school achievements ko o humingi ng advice pag may umaaway sa akin. Madalas kasi di ba, kuya ang takbuhan. Nag-uusap lang kami pag may kailangan. Kaya minsan, parang wala akong kuya - kasi wala yung pakiramdam na may kuya nga ako. Ang weird na nasa iisang bubong kami, pero parang di kami magkakasama ng ilang taon sa bahay.

Kanina, habang busy ako sa harap ng PC, dumating yung kuya ko galing sa trabaho. He called my name as he approached the desk. I was surprised and placed a white plastic in front of me. Tadah, it was a hot Shawarma!!! Sinabi ko pang "Ano to?' [kasi nga nagulat talaga ko haha]. Tapos sabi niya, "O..Shawarma.." >.< Then I said thank you and he just went away to the kitchen. Simpleng bagay lang yun pero na-touch talaga ko. Alam kong para sa akin lang talaga yun kasi walang gulay sa loob ng Shawarma [I hate veggies] at may garlic sauce pa [my fave condiment]. Siguro naawa siya sa akin nung mga nakalipas na gabi. Babad nga kasi ako sa pag-aaral. Perhaps I looked so haggard and wasted, that he decided to feed me. Napapansin din pala niya ko. Kahit di siya umiimik nang madalas, may imik din naman pala sa loob. And suddenly, I felt like having the best brother among all. =)

There are some things in life which will surprise you and change your perspectives in an instant.

It has been a week of busyness in school. Then again, I'm joggling my works and tries to be a multi-tasked kiddo. Next week is the prelim exams, deadline papers to work on and a pending documentary film for Rizal Course. Ugh, thinking of it just makes me feel so uneasy. I cannot find a time to be with myself.

Ilang gabi na rin akong di nakakatulog nang matino. Sa inaraw-araw, ganun at ganun na lang ang nangyayari. Eskwela-bahay. Wala naman akong magawa kasi ayoko namang mapag-iwanan. Minsan gagagu-gago ako kaya hayun, either bagsak sa quizzes o absent sa ibang subjects. Nakaka-frustrate kaya lagi kong sinasabing babawi ako.

Put me down and I'll climb higher. Sa kabila ng lahat, di pa rin naman ako natitinag. Kanina, kahit papaano, nakabawi ako. Partida, sa Major pa kaya lalong nakaka-inspire. Half of the class got the third exercise paper on feature writing which we passed weeks ago. I worked hard for my feature article on Jueteng and yes, I was so proud that it bear fruit. I got a 93. Sa high qualification of a good story ni Sir Esguerra, kasamba-samba ang ganyang grade. I was so proud f myself, marunong naman pala kong sumulat. Haha. I remember last time, Anne and I were joking each other saying that's we're to shift already because it seem that we cannot perform well as Journ studs. So I received compliments from the people around. In fact, I told my mom to read it and I felt so touched when she said that in deed, it was a good output. I am to revise it still [the polished paper is a part of the Prelim grade] and I really got the muse to do better.

As said by a sports jargon, crunch time is the most crucial stage. It's the toughest hour, with all the pressure as everyone seems to be at their own strategies. In order to encompass all, mind set is important. Mind over matter. Take things one at a time. And once you have fallen, learn to get up right away. That's how to deal with it and yeah, I am facing my own crunch time.

*x-cez: Finally I got Bob Ong's latest book titled, "Stainless Longganisa". Wuhoo. Sabi ni Alex maganda daw eh. Nakakatawa pero talagang puno ng inspirasyon para magpursigi sa pagsusulat. =)

Your Blog Should Be Purple

You're an expressive, offbeat blogger who tends to write about anything and everything.
You tend to set blogging trends, and you're the most likely to write your own meme or survey.
You are a bit distant though. Your blog is all about you - not what anyone else has to say.

If you're to ask me of a character which I like most about a person or a thing or an event, perhaps it would be its REALNESS. I just darn hate make-believe scenario for it doesn't fascinate or catch my attention.

TTh class has never been oh-so typical. Naaliw ako sa lesson namin sa Philosophy. Ang realistic kasi ng dating. Plato's words may somehow be deep and lengthy, but it really connected with my reality. As said, things must always be governed by reason - that we must never let appetite or passion take over reason. May punto nga naman si Plato. Ang lahat ng bagay ay kailangang ibase sa pag-rarason dahil sa rason mo masasagot ang lahat ng tanong mo sa buhay. Hay astig talaga. Kahit pa rebulto na lang yang si Plato, he had convinced me that's he's one genius effigy.

Natawa naman ako sa pausong "immersion" on Urban Poor ni Sir Agui. He made it a requirement for students to appear like beggars outside UST campus [for 30 minutes] and then it shall be documented. I think he's purpose is for us to feel how the beggars feel. Na-gets ko naman yung motibo niya eh, pero masyado naman yatang O.A. Ang unrealistic! Paano mo naman mapapaniwala yung mga taong pulubi ka gayong may lente ng kamera? Mas naniniwala akong may iba pang paraan upang matutunan ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga pulubi. Besides that, he gave instructions which were so inconsiderable. Sabi niya, Theology time daw yun gagawin, 8 students per meeting. Sa 1 1/2 hour-class, I'm so sure that time is not sufficient. Hassle yun kasi may iba pa kaming papasukang klase. Hay ewan. I'm really not into it.

After being so outraged, there came Biology class which then again, brought back my interest. Si Sir Olivar kasi eh, bumanat na naman ng pagmamarunong sa tamang gamit ng mga salita. Haha. This time, he noted on the wrong terms being used in Science. Mali daw ang pagsasabi ng "skin" kung ang tintukoy mo eh yung "balat" o yung panlabas na parte lang. He meant that skin would pertain to the whole dermis and epedermis part. Natawa talaga ko kasi sabi niya, "Stratum corneum ang dapat gamitin kapag pinag-uusapan ang balat," (Olivar, 2005) NAMAN! Nakakabulol ngang bigkasin eh, gamitin pa kaya sa pang-araw-araw? Napaka-unrealistic kung susundin ko naman yung pinagsasabi niya. Haha! Etong si John [my classmate] sinakyan pa lalo ang trip ni Sir. Nagtanong siya kung paano sasabihin [sa Science terminology] ang, "Ang puti ng balat mo!" Sir Olivar replied, "Your epedermis is high in melanocytes!" Ay ewan! ;p

Bago pala kami umuwi, may napag-kuwentuhan kami nina Madie. Sinasabi ko sa kanila na parang nakakaloko yung mga Tagalized cartoons or dubbed Telenovelas kasi sobrang unrealistic ng mga ginagamit na salita at expression. Totoo naman di ba! You would often hear lines like, "Tumuloy ka sa aking tahanan, umuulan na ng niyebe!" or "Paparating na ako. Nilinis ko lang ang tsimineya." DUH! I never heard someone using terms like niyebe or tsimineya on their everyday language. Maski yata full-blooded UPian eh hindi gumagamit nun. It's so obvious, these scenes we see on TV don't portray reality. No offense but it really makes an audience idiot.

Sabi nga ni Cristy Fermin, kung gusto mong tanggapin ka ng tao, magpakatotoo ka. Hindi lang yan linyang pang-showbiz, kasi totoong mamahalin ka ng mundo kung di ka mapagkunwari. Mas magaan din sa loob kasi wala kang tinatagong kahit ano at simpleng totoong tao ka lang.

Kahapon pa ko nagmo-movie marathon. Kanina nanood ako ng "My Sassy Girl". Hay, I never thought that the film would make me cry! I can simply relate with the film. Grabe, realistic. There's this girl who's acting so physically strong but deep inside she's hurt. The guy was an under-the-saya naman but he loves his sassy girl despite all. It's like me & Ching. >.<

Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me. Why is my reflection someone I don't know?

I wasn't able to sleep early last night so when classes resumed a while ago, I jumped off my bed a bit late. I reached UST past 7am already. I passed by Dapitan road where the UST guards had really made me laugh. They resumed to use their megaphone again and they were kinda funny talaga. "Tawid na tawid na, konting bilis mga binibini, 2006 na!" At aba, may pa-Happy New Year greetings pang nalalaman! How I missed those comical guards during the holidays. Hehe.

Formal classes resumed as well. Nag-graded recitation sa History pero buti na lang di ako natawag. Kagabi lang ako nagbasa ng Chapter 9. Haha. Sa Stat, nag-discuss si Ma'am. Hay naku, di pa rin siya nagbabago - ayoko siya kasi parang di niya alam yung tinuturo niya!!! Our topic was on Probability. Simple definition at formula na lang nun, tinignan pa niya sa libro ni Kay! Sa tagal na niyang guro, di pa ba niya nasasaulo yun! Then again, my 'pintasera' and 'ma-okray' attitude has resumed. Sa Journ, nagpa-quiz pa si Mr Chin Chan Zu (haha according to Anne! ;p). Ang hirap nga eh. 2006 na wala pa rin akong matinong exam sa Major. Haha. Maaga na ulit ang uwian, absent ULIT si Sir Tobias. Prof pa ba namin yun at may Rizal course pa ba? HAHAHA.

Napasubo akong kumain sa labas. Ayoko nga sana eh, kasi gusto ko ng magtipid. Binigyan ako ni John ng Mcdo Ang Pao, sayang naman kung di ko magagamit kaya niyaya ko sina Madie at Arene na kumain sa Mcdo Forbes. Spaghetti Meal ang order ko, P50.00. Habang kumakain, nagulat na lang ako. Nag-resume na naman pala ang pagka-engot ko: NAKALIMUTAN KONG GAMITIN YUNG ANG PAO! Ah ewan.

Pag-uwi ko, nanood ako ng 'Sky High' which I borrowed from Dez. Nakakatuwa. Maya-maya inantok na ko at hayun, hinapon ako sa pagtulog. Nagbasa ako nang konti sa Biology, baka i-resume ni Sir Olie yung poppers niya [his own term for a pop quiz!] bukas. Hay, school agony has yet to come. Sana Marso na. Haha.

x`cez: Happy 31st Birthday Ate Rox! Libre mo kami pag-uwi mo ng Calapan ha. Hehehe. ;p

Sa lahat ng tamad mag-aral, sa lahat ng di nakikinig sa prof, sa mga natutulog sa klase, sa laging walang assignment.. Sa ating lahat: CONDOLENCE, may pasok na ulit! Huhu.

Getting a driver's license wasn't that easy as I initially thought. Along with my mom, we spent our half day at LTO to walk my papers.

Dahil nga sa pag-aakalang madaling proseso lang ang pagkuha ng lisensya, sinabi ko na lang sa mom kong hapon na kami umalis. Nagkamali ako. We went to the LTO office [in Tayuman] around 1pm already and man, we've gone through a nerve-breaking method. First, I took a medical and drug test at a nearby clinic which somehow took our time because my pee won't flow right away! [haha]. Umihi kasi ako bago umalis ng bahay at nakalimutang sabihin ng mom kong kelangan ng urine sample. So I drank bottles of water first as I read the reviewer [for the driver's written exam] which was also a requirement in a getting a license.

Soon we finally entered the LTO office. Dun talaga nanakit yung ulo ko dahil napakaraming tao! Bukod pa diyan, ang bagal ng paggawa kaya ilang oras kaming napanis dun. Nakakainis. Habang nakaupo, napaisip ako. I told myself that someday I hope I will be able to fix the problem in this office through my write-ups --- that through my articles, I will address the deficiencies in the facilities and expose its anomalies [if there's any.. but I think there really is] so that people won't get distressed of waiting for so long just to get or renew their license. It's really time-consuming. I think the problem is really with their system. Alam na nga nilang mabagal at bubulok-bulok ang mga pasilidad, tila ba matagal din silang kumilos. Nakakapagtaka lang : bakit naman kapag nagbayad ng P1000 eh instant driver's license na?? Hmm.

I took two types of exams. One was the written type wherein my experience was a bit comic I should say. Here's what had happened. So I went to room where people took the exam as well. Classroom type. May armchair. May proctor. Ang kaibahan nga lang, puro kodigo sa pader! Haha. Nakapaskil yung mga road signs, reminders, at yung iba pang nakalagay din sa reviewer. Hay ewan ko ba, di ko makita yung logic na magapa-exam na multiple choice type pa tapos ang mga sagot eh nasa harapan mo na! Ang mas nakakagulat diyan, may bumabagsak pa sa exam. Di sa pagmamayabang talaga, pero madali lang yung exam. It only required common sense and in fact I was able to perfect the 60-item test. Kaya ganun na lang ang pagtataka ko. So anyways, the other exam was the actual driving test. Okay lang din naman, atras abante gamit ang kotseng kakarag-karag at palyado ang siradura. Kung sa bagay, pang-demo na kotse lang naman yun. Bakit ka nga naman maglalaan ng mamahaling kotse tapos maibabangga lang ng inosenteng aplikante. Hehe. Ang dami ko tuloy natutunan ngayon.

Mga 5pm na kami natapos. Madilim na, umaambon pa. Dumaan muna kami ng mom ko sa SM San Lazaro, malapit lang kasi. Thanks to my mom talaga, she even bought me a new pair of rubber shoes. Actually dun ko na-realize ang ulirang ina niya talaga kasi naisip ko bigla kung gaano kami katagal sa LTO pero sinamahan niya pa rin ako. She even jokingly said that, "Kanino ka magpapasalamat? Sa Mommy.. Kahit lagi mong pinapagalitan, kahit walang kapalit ang lahat, sinasamahan ka pa rin." Hay >.< Di na lang ako naka-imik. Nag-grocery pa kami pagkatapos. Bumili kami ng paborito kong sweet ham.

So yun, pag-uwi ko sa bahay, pabida mode ako ng lisensya ko. HAHA. Pagka-kain ko pala ng diner, tinulungan kong gawin yung project ni Schenly. Aba, good deed na naman. Hehe. Naaliw naman ako kasi puro drawing ang pinag-gagawa ko. ;p

My holiday is almost over, with few more days left doing nothing but to enjoy the break. Recently I've been very busy - not with paper works and stuffs but rather, I spent my days on real-time vacation! In deed, it was a perfect way to end 2005 with a blast.

I was in Batangas for more than a week and no dull days I should say, for each day was so great. Mala-Baguio ang dating, sobrang lamig kahit tanghali! So in the absence of my computer, I was able to watch TV more often. Nakakatawa nga eh, kasi nasira nung isang gabi yung TV ko kaya pinaayos pa. Siguro nag-overheat o baka naman dahil ancient na talaga!

I'm with Kaykay.. ang tagal ko pa bago siya nahagilap kasi ang likot!!!

Haha. Anyways, kung di naman ako aadik-adik sa TV, nakikipaglaro ako with Kaykay [inaanak ko]. Ay grabe, siya na yata ang pinaka-malikot na batang nabantayan ko. Haha. Actually her real name is Frances Leigh but my mom would then call her as Kaykay which is a Batangas term for 'halungkat'. Hobby niya yata talagang likutin ang lahat ng makita niya. She's only a year old yet she never runs out of energy to move! So yun, kapag sawa na kong mag-alaga, lumalabas naman

ako ng bahay at naglalaro ako ng basketball sa tapat ng bodega. Minsan din, nangangapit-bahay ako at mala-star buzzer. Pinag-tripan ko yung tiyahin kong madaldal. Bibinyagan kasi yung apo niya sa Pasko tapos kung anu-anong kayabangang pinagsasabi. Haha, kaya sa tuwing may umpukan at nandun siya, tawanan ang lahat habang binabara namin ni Kuya Lloyd [business manager namin]. ;p

Masaya talaga ang Pasko ko at maraming rason kung bakit. Nung bisperas, naging busy kami sa paghahanda para sa Noche Buena. Kinabukasan may binyagan din kaya prine-prepare na rin yung ibang rekado. Kinagabihan, nagsimba kami sa Bayan kasama si Gabby [my best cuz], my mom, brother and sister. Na-feel ko talaga ang Pasko habang nagsisimba ako. Ang lamig ng gabi, maraming tao at puro Christmas lights. Nang mga panahong ding yun, nagsi-datingan na ang text messages at bumabati ng Maligayang Pasko ang mga kaibigan ko. Hay kaka-touch. Kahit nagloloko ang Unlimited Text ng Globe, marami pa rin talagang ka-Globers na nagtext at dun ko talagang naramdamang sinsero ang pagbati. Totoo ngang sa mga simpleng bagay, maaari mong makita ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko. =)

On the 25th, my day had really been very busy. Three babies got baptized in our place on the same date. One was Marilisa's [ang anak ng tiyahin kong maingay. haha.] daughter, another was Kaykay's brother [Franz Lester] and our neighbor's son who got baptized under a Born Again celebration. So in the morning, we went to the church and I was then

moises, yel, gabbz and me! sa labas yan ng bahay nina Marilisa.. =)

assigned to be the photographer. I enjoyed it. I also used my video cam to take shots of the events. Mala-documentary video ang dating, may narration ko pa! Haha. So anyways, as we went home, food was then served. Damn, it was so hard to control my food intake because everything seemed scrumptious! Haha. After that, we went to my grandparent's house to meet with the rest of our relatives [Capuchino side]. It was so festive talaga, kasi ang dami-dami namin. Namigay ng regalo si Tito Doy [our yearly Sta. Claus!] sa mga bata habang namasko naman ng pera ang mga teenagers. Pagkatapos nun, nagsayawan ng Pinoy Big Brother! Kakatuwa, iba't ibang batches ang sumayaw - all boys, all girls and all elders! Haha. Minsan lang talaga kami magkasama-sama kaya siguro ganun na lang ang saya kasi matagal na di nagkita-kita. Malaking clan kami kaya kapag makikita mong halos naroon ang bawat isa, nakakatuwang pagmasdan. Sabihin mang hirap ang Pasko ngayon, mayaman naman kami sa alaala at kasiyahang di kayang tumbasan ng pera. =)

Matapos ang Pasko, nandun pa rin ako sa probinsya. Bigla akong naaliw sa pagkain ng pulvorong only-in-Batangas lang yata. Madalas din kaming manood ng Game Knb doon at natuwa talaga ako sa pagsagot ng mga tanong. It's challenging and somehow it made my brain function during vacation. Haha sabi nga nila e, sumali na ako dun kasi kayang-kaya ko naman yung mga tanong. ;p So yun, lumipas ang mga araw na parang bula. Nung 28, nag-conduct ako ng interview para sa Journ paper ko. I interviewed a Jueteng kubrador since it's an odd job which makes it as an interesting story for feature article. The next day, we went back to Manila. Slowly, I worked on that paper and eventually I was able to finish it. Minabuti ko ng tapusin nang maaga dahil ayokong nag-ccram sa huli.

It has been my tradition to make use of firecrackers for New Year. Yes you heard it right, I'm fond of it. Weird noh, kababae kong tao pero adik ako sa ganyan. Perhaps I have really come with the Chinese belief that to wash spirits away, make noise through firecrackers. Besides that, lighting up a firecracker gives me the thrill talaga. Kumbaga, alam mong nakakatakot yun gawin pero the fact na kinaya mong gawin, it's an conquest of fear ba. Maingat naman ako sa pagpapaputok eh, gumagamit ako ng katol at stick. So anyways, around 12pm we went to the firecracker stalls in front of Lourdes

"let me teach you how to use bawang.." ;p

Church. I was with Ate Aileen and Silven [our helpers]. Taun-taon, sila ang kasama kong bumili. Mahilig din kasi magpa-putok si Silven at si Ate Aileen magaling naman tumawad sa presyo. Haha. So yun, bumili kami ng fountain, lusis, five star, bawang, super lolo, trompilyo, higad, piccolo, weasel bomb at watusi. O diba, di talaga ko mahilig sa paputok niyan! ;p Magastos pero pinaniwalaan kong mas dadami ang pera ko sa 2006 sa pagpapaputok. Hehe.

ako ang magaling na taga-kain sa bahay! hehehe..

Kinahapunan, nagsimula na kaming magluto't maghanda. Nilagay na sa lamesa ang mga bilog-bilog na prutas. Tumulong ako sa pag-iihaw ng bbq & hotdogs. My mom cooked spaghetti, Menudo and fried chicken while my sister prepared Morcon and fruit cake. Yummy talaga ;p Tuloy ang tugtugan kaya habang naghahanda kami, entertainers sina Schenly at Xianne [anak nina Ate Aileen at Silven]. Hehe. Later, we ate supper together. My mom led the prayer and in my mind, I was then thankful - for all the things that had happened in 2005. In deed, it was a memorable year because many people came into my life and many events marked a special place in my heart >.<

Dumating din pala si Ronald [my cousin] at saka si Jay [his special friend ;p]. Kasama namin silang sumalubong sa Bagong Taon. May dala silang cake at mga paputok din! [haha lalo pang dumami ang pa-boom2!] So yun, ako ang nag-entertain sa kanila habang kumakain. Kakatuwa nga eh, kasi ang dami naming napag-chikahan ni Ronald at ang tagal din naming di nagkausap. He used to stay at our house when he was still an Intern. He's one of my closest cousins as well since childhood. Right now he works already at Makati Medical Center as a Radiology Technician. Anyways, around 9pm, we then started to bring out our firecrackers. It was show time.

Hay grabe, tawanan mode all throughout. Aadik-adik kasi magsindi ng paputok si Ronald, kung saan-saan at basta-basta na lang naghahagis! Nakisali din sa amin yung ate ako kaya lalong sumaya sa labas ng bahay. Kakainis nga lang yung ibang paputok namin, napeke kami! I think that was the five star or the super lolo which didn't blast. Anyhow, the streets were still noisy! Halos lahat ng neighbors namin Chinese kaya maraming paputok talaga. Maya-maya, sumapit na sa wakas ang ALAS-DOSE, wuhoo NEW YEAR NA!!! Lalo pa kong nabingi, inubo sa usok at na-excite sa ganda ng fireworks. I won't forget those times, I just can't bare but to smile and to shout out loud 'Happy New Year!'.

As I recall the events of 2005, I can say that it was a fruitful year. A lot of new things had come along in my life. I became closer to my college classmates, gained new friends through volleyball, and somehow I fell in love [hehe]. On one hand, too bad I loose touch with high school pals and some other people whom I used to share my life with. I received a couple of achievements - I was able to make it in the Dean's list again, I wrote for TomasinoWeb and caught a break in magazines. On the other hand, I've gone through painstaking miseries. I cried, got pressured, got criticized, got mad, got impatient, and I really tried to survive. I traveled more places, learned how to drive and knew about the new schemes in life as I turned 18. The roads were tough sometimes, for I got into instances which taught me to be a stronger woman.

My country has gone worse, with more corrupt men and an anomalous government. Thank heavens despite all, God never loose grip of the Filipinos. Tuloy ang pagkalaos ni GMA, nauso naman ang Pinoy Big Brother; Nagtago si Garci, lumabas ang Jueteng; Natalo si Manny Pacquiao, panalo tayo sa SEAGAMES. Yan ang ilan sa mga nasa paligid ko noong 2005. 12 months of happy times, 52 weeks of difficulties, and 365 days of bountiful memories. Perhaps the year 2006 has more to show. The chapter has opened and I am ready. The world is ready. =)