sumpong

dulgies' french streusel apple pie

2009-10-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

its been a long wait for me to start blogging about food... i guess this starts it all! haha! i miss blogging, but my acads wont permit me or i'm just preoccupied with other things...

anyway this is a new product in Dulgies. It's served with ice cream but i had this as a take out order so i had to eat the ice cream before it melts. the streusel topping has walnuts so more reasons to like it.. :D

pana-panahon

2009-07-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sa pagdaan ng panahon, akala ko ako ang nakalimot...

Sa kabilang banda hindi pala, ako lang pala ang nakalimutan...

a three-day experience

2009-04-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

"Some people think that miracles happen only in fairytales

but miracles do happen everyday if we have eyes to see them"

I am the type of person who could and would normally spend my whole day browsing through random stuff in cyberspce - updates, new music and mtvs or watching movies 'til my eye sores. Funny how i would watch cheesy scenes from the movies again and again up to a point where i would imagine myself in that situation and how i would patiently wait for the credits to end just to know the title of the song used for that scene. I am always amazed on how directors bring out the emotions from the actors as if they were really living in realty and how the musical director would choose the perfect song that would heighten the emotion during the scene. How I wish I could be that good.

Opportunity came back in my sophomore year. I was chosen to direct the batch's entry to the annual play festival in school. Also, it was the same time when i started using windows movie maker to for the our entry's trailer and photoshop for the poster. Hey, its never too late. Thanks to Cyndi for teaching me. After that, it almost became my hobby since projects requires a touch of creativity and uniqueness when it comes to presentations so we would normally opt for a video. That was the spring of a hobby that would soon bloom to passion.

When Mariz was turning 18, it was the time "Mayad" filled that empty space in one area of my coconut shell, I realized my fancy was still reachable. The dream of creating something that would stick in the minds of the audience - something full of emotions, something with music and something that would tell a story. Yes, Mayad.

I still remember the time they were shooting for the avp that was presented on Mariz' debut in one of the classrooms in UP. What were they doing? A video presentation? Maybe the usual. What do i know?! The moment I watched the video posted on youtube, I was awestrucked. It was there in front of me, the thing I fancy most.

Mayad Studios has established their name for not just simple wedding videography but something that, as what i've said, tells a story - of love, of being one, of the joy that life brings in such moments.

This summer, they held a workshop : The Mayad Workshop Year 2 Batch II. I was priveledged to have been accepted among the many applicants. I can't explain how happy and thankful I am for such an opportunity. I learned new things, gained new friends and a whole new experience. I was able to work with cool people. Different personalities means diverse ideas and with them you just can't get enough. From Day 1 where the people behind Mayad taught us the basics of cinematography to Day 2 where we learned the basics in editing and the last day that was equivalent to a day of fun and still new learnings plus building new relationships, everything was just great.

The workshop made me realize that we are all creative in our own way. One can be as creative as the other in their own unique way. An individual has his own set of eyes to spot perfect moments, he has his own set of ears to hear the rhythm of the music that would set ones mood and his heart to bring about a story that really tells THE STORY. Sometimes we get discouraged and intimidated by people whom we think are better than us but what we fail to see is that its not them being good at it but its them telling you that you could also be like them. A little sweat won't hurt if it would mean that you have reached another step in the staircase of your dreams.

Be pressured to learn and never settle for mediocrity because you can always be better.

Kudos Mayad!

Mayad Studios

the new beginning

2009-04-05T09:56:00.000-07:00

"set off. fly."

I just decided a few moments ago to revive my blog. Its been months since I last updated this poor thing.

Just like any other posts from the past, I easily ran out of words that's why my entries are usually short, speaking of non-sense most of the time, or simply has no substance.

I am facing a new chapter in my life. A rough turn about. If there is one point in my life that I consider all f*cked up, it would be the first few months of this year. My life is literally a mess. From my academics, responsibilities and in relationships. Also, I consider that same period as the one where I definitely questioned my own self if my existence really has a purpose. I was lost and didn't know myself anymore.

I am facing a new chapter in my life. I have decided to set aside the things that are pulling me back to that dark hole where everything seems not to work out. I now know the feeling of having no choice but to let go and give up no matter how painful it is. This is a battle between me and myself.

I am facing a new chapter in my life. I have decided to set the following goals before me:

1. begin improving myself and maintain those improvements. this includes leaving what i am prior to this blog entry. its difficult and this would definitely mean a lot of changes.

2. be on fire. this is the next difficult part. i want to minister. i want to reach my full potentials. i believe that this is only possible if i'll choose to be on the Almighty's side.

3. be the best marketer. this one of the biggest decisions that i made throughout my life. i left the accountancy program even though i have the option to stay believing that i could well utilize my talents in this field.

I am facing a new chapter in my life.

So help me God.

two long months

2008-11-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

Yeah its been almost 2 months since I planned to renovate my blog but sad to say I really have a busy schedule so I barely have time to spare for my blog. Anyway, I just want to post something just for the sake of updating it.

#1: Qubeworks

Finally, Qubeworks launched its existence through this year's IFJPIA Week. It sponsored the photoshoot for the Ambassador and Ambassadress of Goodwill which was joined by three schools, namely: Central Philippine University, University of San Agustin and University of the Philippines Visayas. Also, it has been sponsoring some events for UP such as the upcoming College of Management Play Festival. Me and the rest of the founders are glad enough for our accomplishments and are hoping that we'll be able to go to the next level.

#2 : P&G Recruitment Program

This is not the first recruitment program of Procter & Gamble in UP Visayas. Nong JM, an alumnus, is a product of the said program and this time around, it was him who spearheaded this year's recruitment. I was part of the liaison team and it was really a great opportunity.

just having fun at Dulgies (great & delish foods!)

UPV's Ambassador and Ambassadress of Goodwill

I was the over-all head for the search for this year's AOG. Honestly, it was very stressful and tiring but it always is enjoyable when you like what you do. Oh well. UPV won all awards except for one. Its not that there were biases. They won because they deserve it. Here are the other two couples:

CPU

USA

I thought I could finally rest affter the event until I realized that it is only 1 week until the critics night for the College of Management Play Festival. The final performance will be on the 11th of December. The pressure is actually killing me. Hehe. Here's the playbill:

That's all for now.

advisory

2008-10-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

"I'm on my way to finding who I am, never knowing what lies ahead of me. My hesitations have once held me back, but the universe conspired to make me rise."

As a junior student, I now find it hard to update my blog so i'm having this scheme to resolve the problem.

Mode Shifter will be off until the 17th or the 20th of the month for improvement and renovation.(feeler!)

I myslef am excited... woOt!

riyadh

2008-09-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

It's been years since the time I last set foot in the land of gardens after spring rains, the land of palm trees and dates: Riyadh. I really miss it there and the stuff I used to do there, the food that I used to eat, the places where we used to go on a usual hot day. Part of me is Riyadh and it will forever be.

I just saw some pictures that a friend took while she was still in Riyadh and that's the reason behind this blog entry. I just wanted to share the things that has been part of my life. Though Filipinos are not that free there, they still manage to have fun given that there are a lot of restrictions. From the city, they go to Dammam or Al-khobar during Ramadan vacations just to have fun along its shores. Malls never ran out of Filipino faces. There will always be one or two families that roam around shopping malls every day. The population of Filipinos in the middle east increases every year. The population of students alone would comprise a big number of Filipinos. When i was still studying there, there was about 8 Filipino schools providing education for our kababayans. The largest of which is the International Philippine School in Riyadh(IPSR) and the Second Philippine International School(SPIS) in Riyadh with over 1500 students each. Oh well, I guess WE are everywhere.

Here are some photos that I took from my friend's multiply account and some other websites:

the infamous red sand

the hidden valley

the half moon beach in Al Khobar

Saudi Kabsa: YOU CAN'T HELP BUT PIG OUT

Cakes

My all time favorite: SHAWARMA

Its not the shawarma available in the Philippines. Its way different from the original. The stuff inside the pita are: chicken(lots of it, the one you see above), fries and pickles. There is also another variety which is the bigger one. It has a thinner pita and there's added herbs and tomatoes.

Galaxy Chocolates

Of all the chocolates i've tasted, this one is my favorite. It's almost similar to Cadbury but its still is different. My favorite variety is Galaxy ripple. Its like stik-o made of chocolate with shredded(??) chocolates inside to make that melting feel a bit more exciting. Haha.

Rani Juice Drinks

No. 1 in my juice drink list until now. Never found anything close to Rani. What makes it different is the fruit pulps with the drink. It comes with orange, peach, mango and pineapple. Its a fun version of your regular tropicana with pulp.

Jarir Bookstore: The best in town.

Philippine Embassy: Basketball Court

This where every school activity is held. From the foundation week, the basketball intramurals and our prom. Lot's of memories there.

Philippine Embassy: I-dont-know-the-name Hall

We took our UPCAT inside.

The Al Mamlaka (Kingdom) Tower and Al-Faisaliyah Tower

The thing that makes them special are the malls situated at the foot of the buildings. We usually go to Faisaliyah(pyramid-like structure) every weekend just to window shop and pig out at Little Caesar's or the Cheesecake factory.

Millennium International School: Highschool Days

My favorite spot

Its a almost a similar view from our rooftop. When i just need some quiet time, I go there and just stare at the two marvel, each changing colors from time to time. Its my zone.

qubeworks and photoshoots

2008-09-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

We never expected that we could possibly start/create a group where everyone's main goal is business. I guess we were somehow influenced by some of the seminars we have attended in the past few weeks and by the mere people that surrounds us. We actually do not have anything in particular as a start of our career in the field of business. All sorts of ideas came to our minds, from brilliant to the most indescribable thought you could ever imagined. Included in those thoughts were: T-Shirt design, web page design, video editing and the latest, photography. Only one of us has a professional camera (Nikon D80 c/o Mariz) so we're just making the best out of it. Here are some raw photos taken last week at the football field.

and this one was taken after HASA XXVI:

So that's us without cocober that night because she needs to go early. Qubeworks is made up of Cyndi, Dan, Mikay, Mariz, Yvette and yours truly. We are driven by a single goal, to have a business and earn.

lalala

2008-08-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

Music from basic definition is the language of the soul. Yeah, for me, its my only way to release everything within me, all the emotions, inhibitions, etc. From the moment you wake up to the second that you close your eyes, music is present though it may be unnoticeable. It became my company from the most significant to the most insignificant moments in my life.

So music through the years. Let me share with you some.

36 Days by Hawk Nelson
"I feel so alive, though part of me is gone and this life I lead is the life that I've dreamed of since I was the age of twelve."
-Life is full of uncertainties and new beginnings. For me, it speaks of sacrifice as you pursue what you've always dreamed of. The reality of it is a bit sad actually.

Sail Away by The Rasmus
"No reason to lie, no need to pretend. I'm grateful to die, to live once again. I'm fearless to fly, to reach for the end."
-Another sad song. It tells of the reality that everyone would come to the twilight of its life. Its a love song actually. I heard this back in 4th year high school when our batch were about to go separate ways. The song somehow is relevant and it still do makes me emotional at times.

Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
"Halaka Ukelele mama made a baby"
-Oh well, this one is just cool. As to how my ind interprets it, its a song for those who don't have time to take it a bit slow, relax. There's always time. Haha..=D

Little Wonders by Rob Thomas
"All of my regret will wash away somehow but i cannot forget how i feel right now."
-The most encouraging song I've ever heard. We should cherish every single moment in our lives. We tend to ignore small hours that we spend with people but its not impossible you are, at the same time, what they needed at that very hour and may change their whole life(??). Keep moving forward says the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons. We fail yet it is certain that it will come to an end.

Those are only some of the many that continually inspires me(@_@).

upsize?

2008-08-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

"COLLECTIVELY, we can do SOMETHING."

"HATE SOMETHING, CHANGE IT!"

As short as the statement may be, one can never put an end to it as simple as a drawing a dot. Earlier this afternoon, we were required to attend BUSINESS MAX: UPSIZE in lieu of our class in BA 181 under Ma'am Tan. Php150 might be a big amount for us mere college students but after attending the seminar, it was all worth it. Its just a simple "talk" but with bigtime speakers. The speakers were from MAYAD STUDIOS, LEVEL-UP(online gaming stuff) and BBDO.

Honestly, their works were the one that convinced me how great they were and considering some facts about them, you might as well be amazed on their obra and at the same time, the principles that they apply on the workplace, individually and as a team.

Want to visit them?
MAYAD STUDIOS
LEVEL-UP
BBDO

But before anything i else, i'd like to recommend the video that BBDO showed during the program. This is only one of the many videos shown and CREATIVITY is really a factor when it comes to the field of advertising. I hope you could spare a few minutes to watch the video.

bumabalik?

2008-08-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Bumabalik.. Bumabalik nanaman... Pero hindi ako sigurado...

Sa dinami-dami ng mga mukhang nakikita ko sa araw-araw, ang gusto ko lang naman ay makita kahit hindi ang kabuuan, kahit nakatalikod ka lang o nakatagilid. Sa kalagitnaan ng mga mag-aaral na nagsisilabasan sa kani-kanilang silid-aralan, pilit kitang tinatanaw, nagbabaka-sakaling makita ka kahit sandali lang. Buhok mo pa lang, alam ko na na ikaw iyon. May mga oras na mag-isa akong tumatambay sa bench o naglalakad-lakad sa palibot ng unibersidad sa kadahilanang baka makita kita. Oras na mangyari iyon, tila may isang bahagi sa sarili ko na nagsasabing, "Ok ka na. Pwede na yan para sa ngayon." Sa mga sandaling napapatingin ka sa akin (o baka sa tao sa likod ko), parang yelo lang akong tinutunaw, nanlalamig at mga tuhod ay nanginginig. Sa mga mumunting saglit na tinig mo'y aking naririnig, walang halong biro, musika na para sa akin iyon.

Mayroon pa bang mas nanaisin pa kundi ang makasama ka?

Oo, nabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon. Sa mga sandaling iyon, pilit kong hinuhugot lahat ng tapang sa bawat sulok ng sistema ko para lang, makapagsalita ako at hindi ka magsisi na sumama ka sa akin. Sa mga panahong nahuhuli mo ako na may ibang ginagawa at sabay tanong, tepok, iba ang sagot, huli talaga pero masaya na ako dun, napatawa kita kahit papaano. Sa tigas ng ulo mo, wala naman akong magawa pero masaya pa rin ako dun, sa kadahilanang hindi ka nagdadalawang isip na sabihin kung ano talaga ang gusto mo. Sa totoo lang nahihiya nga ako sayo. Sa halos isang oras na tila napilitan ka lang na manatili tayong dalawa sa loob ng Mister Donut, masaya na ako dun. Kahit papaano may mga nalaman ako tungkol sayo.

Mayroon pa bang mas nanaisin pa kundi ang muli'y makapiling ka?

Isang bagay na hindi inaasahang dumating, hindi ko rin naman maipaliwanag. Maaaring dala lang ng mga bagay-bagay sa paligid o maaaring lahat ng itoý isang malaking kathang-isip lamang. Mananatili na nga lang siguro na isang pangarap ang makapiling ka.

random thought

2008-08-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

In this life, we only realize things after we have seen or felt the aftershock of the actions that was done. We tend not to anticipate what's ahead if we decide to do what we feel like doing: the end results, the people who will be affected, the consequences that it might bring along. But sometimes, we opt for what we feel is right rather than what we think is right.

The difference between what we feel is right and what we think is right is simple. For both options, we only consider the reverberations coming from one source: either the heart or the mind. One would be lucky enough if both ends meet. Most of us choose the more susceptible side, generalization-wise, the heart.

What am I talking about? I actually don't have anything in particular.

After some time, one of the realizations that i had is that you must learn to be decisive. With it, be man enough to face the costs and carry the burden that it may bring.

hinugyaw

2008-07-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

The annual fashion show/modeling contest took place last July 25, 2008 at the UPV covered court in the Miag-ao campus. With nine (9) contenders, Scions takes home the 2nd spot for Best Modeling Group as well as 2nd place for both male and female models.

With limited time for practice, I am thankful enough that most of our plans materialized. What's memorable about this year's Hinugyaw is that we were all glad that most of the people who watched it, liked it in one way or another. Some commented that though we we're only second best, they believe that we are much better.

This year, the concept was small industries and the establishment of autonomous units which were represented as UP Baguio, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao and UP Los Banos. It served as one remarkable testament to the progression of the university's history.

All I can say is I had fun, and I'm proud of our output.=D

water person

2008-07-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

I took the "Chinese Elements" quiz on gURL.com
		I am... Water The ancient Yin-Yang scholars saw water types as people who usually didn't mind spending a little time by themselves. Honesty probably means a lot to you--if there's one thing water types can't stand, it's people who tell lies, even "little" white lies. Water types are happiest near water. Read more... What chinese element are you?

i happen to pass by the site and just took the quiz, nothing unusual... there's the result and i guess it tells much about me just like SKOUSEN(my house in our very own house cup)... too bad i belong to METAL in our acquaintance party tomorrow...-_-

freshies

2008-06-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Here are the photos that I took for the annual batch modeling for the freshperson's day and used lomo effect on both and I find them dramatic.(hehehe)

Block F

Block A

crazy weekend

2008-06-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

AY 08-09, for me, is a BLAST.

For us accountancy students, this is the last year of the retention policy and we just have to prove ourselves. Its either we make it or shift to another degree program or if desperate, transfer to another school and still take accountancy.

Based on what I am going through, i dread my schedule for Monday and Thursday because I have both Accounting and Law on that day. Though I have a 6-hour break between the two subjects, it still is not enough for me most especially I only fall on the average learner category. This year really is different compared to the last two years of my stay in the university. I'm surprised that I can stand doing nothing but to read for hours and take note, day and night. But they say, "it's normal". I do believe so but it will take time before my system adjusts to all the studying that needs to be done. Now i miss my freshman days!

Now here comes the rainy season. It started raining last Friday and we fancy it because we could bring our umbrellas(haha^^) and of course a break from the terrible heat! Our academic organization, JPIA, was supposed to have its general assembly for the academic year yesterday morning. We were all excited because its the dawn of the yearly house cup(adapted from Harry Potter's House Cup). We, together with my housemates, barely slept in preparation of our banners and stuff but all our efforts were wasted because of the weather which suddenly released its fury without prior notice. Yes, Frank.

Nonetheless, it opened the door to the craziest weekend. For just one day, it really made a difference. Its my first time to experience such weather here in Iloilo. Imagine a day without electricity and water, a big NO-NO isn't it? No electricity means no possibility of charging your cellphones which are the quickest and practical means of communication. Imagine going to the nearest mall for charging and before you could enter, you might as well swim to reach the entrance. Imagine hearing employees asking each other of the possibilities that the mall won't operate the following day because of the weather. Imagine stores inside malls which has no choice but to close one after the other, moment after moment. Imagine being stressed out just waiting for your ride outside with the wind madly howling. Imagine being wet and cold and then you arrive in a place of refuge just to figure out that your jacket has been slashed and your phone was intentionally taken. Imagine having no choice but to check-in to the nearest hotel but turns out each of them are fully-booked. Imagine feeling desperate to get a room to crash and the receptionist cannot reach the person who had earlier reservations for the room you're about to occupy. Imagine having a day's break and you wake up thinking that the storm already calmed but later finds out it hadn't. Mad isn't it?

After a movie at Robinson's place (yeah, i still managed to watch a movie), Mariz asked us to help out in distributing clothes for those in the evacuation centers. In SM City Iloilo, the PUJ's drop-off point was turned into a small evacuation center. Yes, people stayed there with their things, helplessly waiting for some help. It's good to know that there are a lot of concerned citizens who help out in times like these. They distribute basic necessities like cooked food and water. Its also my first time to help out in times like these and places like that but its really fulfilling. What pissed us off was people who still managed to be picky or choosy (whatever the word is) in situations like that of today.

"Pwede yung pink nalang?"
"Ay, puti? Madudumihan lang yan, wala ng iba?"
"Pwede yung loose lang na t-shirt?

I for one understand that people tend to become mad in such times, but can't they be just thankful enough for the people who help and just appreciate whatever they receive?? Tomorrow, we'll be helping out again.

Anyway, Made of Honor is a nice movie. Its the movie I watched earlier and one more thing, I really am addicted to avatar! I can't wait for the 16th episode of season 3! Argh!

update 101.2

2008-06-11T08:06:00.001-07:00

Update #9: movies on the go

These were the movies that I was able to watch during the summer break and I love them all: What Happens in Vegas, Pathology, 21, The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian and last but not the least Kung Fu Panda.

Update #10: Simple Lang Campaign

I didn't expect my day to be like this. Everything was instant. We attened a forum entitled "Schools for the Climate Forum" at the Instructional Media Center of St.Paul University Iloilo. Basically its great, information wise. I pledged to spread the word about the campaign so here it is. I'll be giving only a glimpse of what it is and you can wholly participate if you want through their website : www.greenpeace.org.ph

1. Switch Off
2. Unplug
3. Light Efficiently

*Go Renewable*

-that concludes my updates and tomorrow will be my first official class. I'm pretty nervous right now because I really don't know how I would handle stuff during my third year in the accountancy program. May God help me out.

"To make something special, you just have to believe its special. There's no secret ingredient."

- from the movie Kung Fu Panda

update 101

2008-06-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

Now i have all the time to update my blog, so prepare for the longest blog entry in the history of Mode Shifter.

When was my last decent post? Oh yeah, May 19, 2008. That was 3 days before my scheduled flight back to Iloilo City.

Update #1: Back to Iloilo.

After almost two long months of non-existence in the city, at last I was back. We, the buddies, decided to do something special in celebration of Mikay's birthday though its a bit late and after periods of "flooding", asking if they'd go, it was settled. We were supposed to dine out the day I arrive but surprisingly only Dan and Cyndi were available after helping out during the early enrollment for the freshmen. I guess we just missed each other a lot so much that we ate at Sbarro till both our hearts and tummies were both satisfied. Afterwards, we just roamed around the mall until almost closing time. Back in my boarding house, i spent the rest of the night fixing my stuff and did some cleaning in my room. With my back on the most uncomfortable bed of mine(i still like it though), i felt homesick for the first time in my life as an independent. I missed my siblings and all the non-sense moments we have from time to time in our humble abode. :'c

Update #2: CMSC Team Building

This is the only reason why I came back to Iloilo as early as i could. It was planned even before the summer vacation started. It never came to my senses that there are still possibilities that my parents would not allow me to go. I thought I wouldn't until the venue for the camp changed from Guimaras to a beach resort in a nearby town, Guimbal. The camp lasted for 3 days and 2 nights. The whole period was dedicated for the council's planning for the centennial year's activities. At first, I joined them as they were doing their stuff but mind you, even if i was just sitting there, it's really tiring so I decided to help in the food committee and actually became part of it in the long run. I was only assigned for the games but turned out, Mafia was the only game we played. The memorable part for me was watching the sun rise. I woke up at around 5 am on the 2nd day and sat at the shore and just waited there until the golden rays spread out in the skies. It was beautiful. I mastered a new skill during the camp: to make fire.

Update #3: Nang Bam's Birthday

At first, the plans that they had for her birthday was that of tradition: Karaoke at MO2 Annex and eat good food. Sizzling Gambas was number 1 on our list. The sad part was, all of the rooms were reserved because it was a friday night. So plans were ruined right then and there. But, *kaching!* an i dea popped from nowhere. We deviated from the usual and decided to dine out and go watch a movie. We ate at Rai Rai Ken and for the first time, according to them, they thought we ordered more than just the enough amount but surprisingly finished it in a few moments time.. @_@ Another unfortunate event came our way. There were no interesting movies with last full shows! 21, Pathology and the rest of the good movie choices were out except for Caregiver. So there goes nothing, you don't want getting all that drama on a supposed to be happy day. We ended up walking around the mall until it was about to close and finally decided to delight ourselves at Bluejays Coffee Shop. All the stuff ordered were delish!=D But the day didn't end there. They decided to check-in in one of the hotels around the city. We ended up at The Riverside Inn and there we slept. ^^ We ate breakfast at KFC the following morning. I won't give further details. Hehe..

Update #4: Enrollment Week

I helped out the whole week and I am honestly looking forward to go to school every single day of the enrollment period maybe for reasons that I just wanted to see both old and new faces. I was quite confident that I won't have any problems with prerequisites for the subjects I'm going to take for the semester as I enroll but sad to say, i was not able to pass the removal exams for calculus but looking on the bright side, my professor won't give me a grade of five until the end of the removal period. She required to take all the long exams in her class for the AY 08-09 and sit in if i wanted to. So, i just waivered for the prerequisite. I hope everything will pull off this semester.

Update #5: Fashion Tips

I was asked for the first time ever to be speaker, together with my female counterpart, for the JPIA freshmen orientation and talk about fashion in the university and to give out some tips. Me?? Why Me?? Anyway, I think it worked out just fine. We had an impromptu modeling for the freshies. They were to dress up their chosen representatives to become THE typical UP student and must also considering the tips we gave them. Oh well, I remember the days back when we were the ones doing those stuff.

Update #6: Nagpana Outreach

I was quite hesitant to go at first but I did it again. We went to a remote area where our academic organization, JPIA Inc., had scholars from an aeta community for the outreach activity. I can say that it was one heck of an experience. I only had 2 hours of sleep, headed off to church and then to the meeting place. We occupied a jeepney but the seats were not enough so together with Nong Rey and Ken, sumabit lang kami throughout the journey to the place. I fell asleep for about three times and with the same number did my life got endangered because I almost fell off the jeep.

Simply going to the place was effortful and some of us really wished that they shouldn't have gone after all but arriving at the center was a different story. The place where we stayed was on top of a cliff and below you can see a gorgeous flowing body of water. After having our late lunch, everyone was eager to take a dip in the i-don't-know-if-you-can-call-it-river. The water was great, great enough to take away all the stress from our travel. Dawn came fast and one by one we headed to the headquarters(i dunno what they call it..-_-) and prepared for dinner while others where washing up.

In the midst of a exciting game of 1-2-3-pass, the care taker told us that the lights were just enough to last for 1 hour and though they have a generator, there was no fuel. Hu! We just used lights from our cellphones and a small emergency light as we ate dinner. Imagine your place being surrounded by the forest with things rather unknown within it and eyes all around just waiting for the rest of you to dose off and then attack you. Down below as the moon was shining at its fullness, mystique creatures start to show up. They're everywhere! HAHA! Playful imaginations but you can't help it though. After a game of spin the bottle(actually, i was half asleep all throughout the game), we set off to bed. I chose to sleep in one of the kawayan sofas.

Morning came, my whole body ached, I was about to brush my teeth when I saw in my bag that I brought candles with me. Darn! Thanks to me. We went back to the city past lunch time and another adventure faced us.@_@

Update #7: Rhapsody

The newest musical organization in UPV Iloilo City campus is yet to be recognized. It is dedicated to simply unite all musically inclined people and those who still want to be. Its never too late when it comes to music.

Officers
President : Paul Dureza
V.President : Kevin Lex Neo
Secretary : Jeniffer Go
Treasurer : Eba May Desabelle
Business Manager : Dan Carlo Hubag
P.R.O. : Dave Poblete (yours truly)

Update #8: CM Freshmen Orientation

A yearly activity held by the student council. I can say that this year's orientation was fun though minor setbacks were not avoided. I enjoyed being one of the facilitators especially during the games and their tour around the campus. I love bullying freshies! Joke..^^ The day ended with a spicy dinner at Jollibee together with Dan, Cyndi and Cocober. See them again tomorrow if ever.

huhu

2008-05-31T07:15:00.000-07:00

friends, i haven't posted anything for like a week or so...

its because the WIFI in my boarding house is out...

buhuhuh...

qualified

2008-05-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

Philippine Embassy Cites Rising Number of UPCAT Passers in Kingdom
Dinan Arana & Francis Salud, Arab News

DAMMAM/JEDDAH, 11 April 2006 — A total of 43 Filipino students in the Kingdom passed the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) for the coming school year, which will start in June.

In the UPCAT lists of passers obtained from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, the total number of qualifiers showed an increase of 10 percent from 39 passers last year.

Records from the embassy also showed an increasing trend in the number of passers from the Kingdom over the last six years. From only 16 passers in 2001, the number rose to 25 in 2002, 34 in 2003, 37 in 2004, and 39 in 2005.

Of the 43 qualifiers this year, 18 are from Jeddah, 17 from Riyadh and eight from Alkhobar and Dammam combined.

(continued)

The other passers from Riyadh were:

• Palm Crest International School (PCIS): Jan Sergio Arato, Kevin Carlo Gamba, Kristine Marie Liberato, Ariel Joseph Zulueta, and Neil Angelo Sael;

• Second Philippine International School (SPIS): Arthur Galapon Jr., Ronald Ryan Marasigan, Mitchellina Rafael, and Nikki Pauline Toledo;

• International Philippine School in Riyadh (IPSR): Roman Franco Rafael and Jameela Velasco;

• Nour Al-Maareef International School (NIS): Kirstin Leigh Lopez and Jonathan Velasquez; and

• Millenium International School (MIS): Dave Gabriel Poblete.

-The much awaited news that broke out two years ago and I wasn't aware that we were featured in the Arab News. I had nothing left to do the other night after the usual checking routine so I tried to search for articles that had my name in Yahoo search and the news above was what I got. I remember our former school principal telling our class that it is not UPCAT passers but rather qualifiers. Honestly, I don't care. I got in!

College life was one of the turning points in my life that I really dreaded. I had no idea of what was waiting for me here in the Philippines since my parents brought us back in Riyadh after my second year in high school. Other than UP, the only university where i took entrance exams was in La Salle Dasma. Since i know that our finances are at stake if i go to La Salle, I chose UP even if its in Iloilo. I just told myself: "Ok lang, experience din naman yan. Totally independent ka pa." Though i have relatives in Iloilo, it still feels like total independence. They don't care that much. They just worry when I go home late, that's all.

Looking back to those times only made me realize that God has a plan for me and I'm really thankful that He brought me there. Every single day was a battle for me, its either be good or be bad. Within that short span of time, I know that I've grown and I got over some of my fears. Every experience that I had made me what I am today. I met people and they were the ones who helped me learn a lot, not just the positive side of life but the negative part of it as well. I learned principles which I know will definitely be applicable to the challenges ahead of me. I have changed but I believe that its for the good.

Time is fast. One day I will wake up a degree holder and a successful man not because of the books I've read and the exams that I passed but because of the experiences I had. From the daily conversations with my friends, group discussions, forums, and criticisms that was thrown at me by the people that surrounds me. Above all these, God.

The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to the society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals...'We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.,The Purpose of Education

fatties

2008-05-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

After a tiring morning of being a responsible but not so responsible big brother to my siblings last Thursday, I finally got home and busied myself with the usual. People get surprised (sometimes) with what makes me busy every afternoon during the summer vacation and to tell you the truth I’m a bit ashamed of it myself. I watch most of the stuff after Wowowee in ABS-CBN. The episode from “Naruto, the greatest battles” gave me a flashback of my incredible past (joke).

I guess every fat-ass kid goes through a stage in their life where everybody seems to be draining all their self-esteem, leaving them wanting nothing but to go home wishing that they didn’t have all that fat in their bodies and comfort themselves with surprisingly but more food. It seems like nobody appreciates them for what they are and easily makes judgements, yung tipong tinutuldukan na nila yung pagkatao mo na hanggang diyan ka nalang talaga. It’s not our fault that we have lots of food in the fridge (I dunno if I got that right) and it’s not my fault I ended up this way, it’s the fridge’s! It’s tempting me from time to time (my comforting thoughts when I was a kid).

Chouji, a character from Naruto, experienced the same thing. Actually he’s the inspiration for this post. Like what I’ve said earlier, he never was appreciated by people except by his own family of course. Their family is considered to be full of “slow fatties”, that’s why they’re being degraded in one way or another. The only wish he has was to find a friend that would like him for what he is or what he is not and see that he’s kinder than anyone then he will treat him well and become friend who can trust each other. The same wish I have.

I have friends and I love making them and seeing them happy.

the evolution
(haha)

Anyway, I support David Cook for the next American Idol. I love his voice and his stage presence but still, i love Syesha when she last performed "Fever".

go David...=D

purpose vs. need

2008-05-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

"In the chase between the cat and mouse, the cat always wins for the cat runs after its food but the mouse for its life. Sometimes, PURPOSE is more important than NEED."

I was just looking at random pictures in deviant art when i came across this image then I remembered the message that my friend sent me yesterday. Its the one i quoted above. At first, i wasn't able to grasp the meaning of the message until i read it again. It makes sense. What can i say? I just put everything this way. When you don't know your purpose you won't have a need. Am I looking at the deeper meaning of it? That i don't know. For me, life is not worth living if you don't know what your purpose is.

Filipinos and Souvenirs

2008-05-12T22:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a news from the mail that my mom sent me. I just read it this morning.

2 Pinoys Fined for Taking Life Jackets for Souvenirs
By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:07:00 04/10/2008

HONG KONG-Think twice about taking 'souvenirs' from airplanes, especially on international flights. A judge here Wednesday fined two Filipinos HK$2,000 (P10,700) each for taking with them life jackets from their Cathay Pacific flight from Dubai .

Tsuen Wan Principal Magistrate Andrew Ma imposed the fines on Edwin S. Antolin, 52, and Crisanto R. Ramos, 29, after they pleaded guilty to the charge of theft. The life jackets cost only HK$400 each. 'Do you know each other?' asked the judge, who got curious why the two would take life jackets from their flight. He apparently did not know that many Filipinos had a proclivity of taking with them 'souvenirs' from hotels, airplanes and other places they visited.

Both Filipinos denied knowing each other. They were seated on different rows when they arrived here at around 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday for a connecting flight to Manila . Ramos occupied Seat No.. 35B while Antolin was in No. 47B, but they apparently had the same urge to take the life jackets under their seats.

Antolin put the jacket in his blue traveling bag, while Ramos hid his in a red shopping bag. They did not foresee that they would be arrested and charged in court for taking 'souvenirs.' When they got to the passenger terminal building of the Chek Lap Kok International Airport , their belongings had to go through an X-ray machine before they take their connecting flight.

Airport security officers later told investigators that they noticed 'suspicious objects' in the Filipinos' bags. The passengers were searched and the life jackets were found. Ramos supposedly even wrapped his jacket with a blanket.

The security officers reported the incident to the police and Cathay Pacific staff members, who confirmed that the life jackets were missing.

During police interrogation, the Filipinos denied any wrongdoing but they later pleaded guilty upon the advice of lawyers after they were brought to court.

-Its true for most Filipinos. The message of the original sender also caught my attention:

"KABAYAN. PLEASE. BUMABABA NA ANG DOLLAR. WAG NA NATIN SADYAING BUMABA DIN PATI ANG ATING DANGAL. ISAULI NYO PO ANG KUMOT, UNAN, KUTSARA, TINIDOR, KITCHEN KNIFE, PLATITO, CUP AT PERFUME OR LOTION SA CR.... DI PO KASAMA YAN SA BINAYAD SA PASAHE. PATI ANG EARPHONE... HINDI NYO PO MAGAGAMIT YAN KASI PANG-EROPLANO LANG YAN, MAY EROPLANO BA KAYO SA BAHAY NYO???"

late night nothings

2008-05-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Before i go to bed and totally dose off, I'll just put some of my thoughts here.

Definitely, it's not gonna be an interesting post to read actually. It's one of the many nonsense stuff that from time to time i get to notice.

As we go through life, yes there are many things that we encounter and some of them seem to be experiences that one never imagined he would go through. For a moment, you ask yourself, why? What's the reason behind? But most of the time you get the answers to your questions in times you least expected it to arrive. In ways which would make you regret how you've been answered and the aftershock that causes too much pain.

With this people tend to behave in a manner that unintentionally deviates from their true personality that's why others misinterpret them. But you know what, those people never intended to hurt anybody. They are only trying to find the one piece that would complete them. The happiness that would somehow make them forget the past and move on. They want to learn how to love themselves first, in that way they would also learn how to love the people that surrounds them.

In this life, i guess, you'll never gonna get the fullest of it unless you know your way around. I don't know if I'm making sense.

monstermash playground

2008-05-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

As far as I know, artistic abilities surge through the veins of our clan. I think it’s also evident in my persona in one way or another. Maybe I have to explore more of my capabilities.

I have this cousin who really is good in his craft. Ever since he was a kid, people never doubted his skills and knew that one day he’d be successful in the field he had chosen. I won’t say more, I’ll just leave you with his profile.

Name:
John Carlo P. Erise
Occupation:
A.R.T.I.S.T.
Hobbies and Interests:
Toys, Games and Parties!
Favorite Books:
Neil Gaimans "Sandman" "Endless Nights", Origin, Wizard, other trade paper backs of grant morrison, ASTONISHING XMEN
Favorite Movies:
Marvel Movies, LOTR, Shrek...
Favorite Music:
Switchfoot, All American Rejects, Yellowcard, etc. (alternative, hiphop)
Favorite TV Shows:
Heroes, Naruto...

Recenlty, he is a freelancer and is bound for Singapore in the upcoming days. Some of his works are the storyboards for the following TV Commercials:

-Colgate Barkada Challenge

-PS Bank

-Lady's Choice

-Eskinol

-Huggies

-Tanduay 5 years (coming soon=D)

He already has a number of creations and here is a clip of my personal favorites:

You could check out his works on deviant art: www.mezaih.deviantart.com

By the way, check out their monstermash playground art exhibit. They were featured in Unang Hirit and UNTV.

Check them out: www.monstermashplayground.hitart.com
and watch them on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVN0YQK6LTA

ciao!

2008-05-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

Back to a no parent and no sister environment. My mom together with my youngest sister are bound for Riyadh today. Somehow, home isn't so sweet without them. No one making orders and no one who laughs out loud. As my sister grows, she becomes much like my mom. The way she talks and her gestures, just like my mom. Oh well, I'm really going to miss her, them. It will take another year before we could see each other but thanks to technology, they seem close though they're miles away. Together with them is my dad's camera. So I'm back to a no camera state again and its friggin boring. Its the one that I'm holding in the photo above. This blog of mine will once again be a limited photo blog.

So what's next for me:

- study for my removal exam in calculus

- try to read valix

- update my blog once in a while

- try to develop my literary skills

- get myself ready for the coming semester

obsessions

2008-05-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, believe that everything happens for a reason, know a good thing when you see it and don't let it slip away. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just said it would be worth it."

Last Sunday on our way for the first service in Victory Christian Fellowship - Alabang, I saw some stuff along the way which reminded me of my childhood cravings that until now still exists.

#1 - Cinnabon

"Cinnabon bakeries have built a reputation for serving fresh, aromatic cinnamon rolls made with premium Indonesian cinnamon and topped with a sweet, rich, cream cheese-based frosting. Each Cinnabon product is served hot out of the oven and baked fresh before our guest's eyes."

Its been years since my last bite of that delectable oven-fresh cinnamon rolls. Everytime we pass by a Cinnabon bakery when we go to malls back in K.S.A., the aroma coming from the place never fails to make drool and crave for it. The moment i saw it once again as we were passing through the SLEX, i can't help but ask my mom if we could make a short pit stop and buy even just a box but to my disappointment, we can't because a high school friend of my mom was already waiting for us at our place. Though i wasn't able to lay hands on a single classic cinnabon, my mom's friend brought a box of cinnamon rolls from French Baker. Its still has cinnamon so i was partly satisfied then.=D

#2 - Cars

If there 2 things that I'm obsessed with, it would be Cars and Perfumes. My aunt just came back from Canada and i was not expecting any "pasalubong" from her but there was something for me! The last time I used this was back in high school and the next was the classic Polo Blue. It was one of my favorites, CK Crave - for men who knows what he wants and how to get it. Going to cars, we were on our way to Alabang when I saw the billboard of the new Mazda 5 but i liked the RX 8 rather. Cadillac Escalade, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, BMW M6 Cabriolet are the few cars on car obsession list but the classy 2005 Honda CR-V still is my favorite.

#3 - Digimon

Back in Grade 6, my friday nights won't be complete if i won't be able to watch the first television series of the Japanese cartoon, Digital Monsters or Digimon. To tell you the truth, I was addicted ONLY to this cartoon series. I dunno why.

"Digimon" are "Digital Monsters". According to the stories, they are inhabitants of the "Digital World", a manifestation of Earth's communication network. The stories tell of a group of mostly pre-teens, the "Chosen Children" (Digidestined in the English version), who accompany special Digimon born to defend their world (and ours) from various evil forces. To help them surmount the most difficult obstacles found within both realms, the Digimon have the ability to evolve (Digivolve). In this process, the Digimon change appearance and become much stronger, often changing in personality as well. The group of children who come in contact with the Digital World changes from season to season.

Yamato Ishida is one of the chosen children and the bearer of the crest of friendship. His digimon is Gabumon which evolves to Garurumon and so forth. Obviously, he's my favorite character in the series. When they moved the second series to weekends, it was the time that digimon was erased temporarily in my thoughts because i was also busy with high school stuff. Thanks to Mikko, i was reminded of my naive side. He gave me a copy of the 5 movies so last night, my whole time was devoted to watching it all.=D

project 101

2008-05-03T06:23:00.000-07:00

honmono no monogatari...
Oftentimes, i feel that i have everything, that I'm contented like being a jitterbug: lofty and exuberant. But you know what? It's that there are those people who take advantage of what i had become. It's that thing that would puncture me, holes and all. But you know what? I just smile, smirk and laugh it all away. Why? It's because life smiles along with you even when you're lonely.

For the last few weeks, my parents took advantage of how big their sons now are. Before, all the stuff that needs to be repaired inside the house would be the burden of my dad and uncle who lives with us together with his family. But now, evident that their three sons are all grown up, work seems easier with additional manpower. Although i was dreading the fact that we're the one whose going to do those stuff now and maybe the finished product won't turn out well, we gave it a try.

So there were three projects for and all of those involve painting stuff. The boy's bedroom, the living room and the garage together with the gate itself. They already gave us the privelege to choose what colors are going to be used and to tell you the truth, my younger brothers and i seem to have the same taste except for some parts.

The Boy's Bedroom - This is the only room in the house that was left untouched (except for the closet's former color). The walls and the ceiling were in their same colors since then: white. The moment my parent's asked us of what color is going to be used, the immediate response was blue but i pointed out that it is somehow attractive to mosquitos (got that from Nang Bam) so blue was turned down. After laying down possible colors, we decided to paint the walls orange and my brother and I had this brilliant idea of saving the closet doors for our artistic abilities. The things that took place in between was fun though we were not able to achieve what was planned. The walls were painted peach, yes its close to orange but its more of the feminine side I guess which IS not for us.The closet doors were painted red and the old white vinyl was changed to a wood-looking ones. We like it anyway especially our parents. They moved in right away after all things done and we transferred to their room.-_-

Being frustrated of having not achieved the color we wanted for the walls in our room, we suggested the same color for the living room and guess what? We failed again. The color that we got was sort of mangoish-melonish-sunflowerish one. Honestly speaking, I like it though together with the new sala set that my parents bought to match the walls. wOot!

So the last project was the garage. They hired carpenters to work on the roofing part and we were assigned to do the painting of its new ceiling and the gate. The final verdict: blue to match the gutter. We just finished painting the gate today and i consider it an achievement. I learned what materials to be used so added knowledge that i know will be used when I do stuff like this in my own house.^-^

At the same time, the end of the project serves as an indicator that the flight of my mom and my youngest sister back to Riyadh is near. My dad went back last April 27. Though we're already used to it, I still hate this feeling when we part. Once again, we go separate ways.

but, But, BUT... I asked my mom how to cook her so-called "Ginisang Alugbati". Alugbati is one of the few vegetables that people don't eat. Some use it as feeds for pigs but for me, its one of the dishes I personally like. The whole period of their stay here in the Philippines, we were living a healthy life. Oats and fruit servings would never be lost in the morning. Viands would most of the time consist of vegetables and fish. So back to learning how to cook the dish, it was easy. I just don't know about the preparation of the ingredients. I'll try to learn my mom's Adobo ilonggo style and her Sinigang. The one thing i failed to ask was how my dad cooks Adobo. There's this distinct taste in the way he cooks it and the smell alone on the process of cooking it simply makes me hungry. There's a sort of arabic hint in his Adobo. Oh well, there's always next year!

day out

2008-05-01T05:43:00.000-07:00

FCBC San Lorenzo chapter celebrated its annual family outing at Bato Springs - San Pablo, Laguna. Last year was at Majayjay but this place was better but the water was still ice cold.

The Rugrats
(you'll never get tired of them)

Denzel Luke

Hannah

Iya

Kids Next Door
(they'll piss you off from time to time but they're still lovable)

Matthew Miguel and Angelo

Titus

Naomi Nissi

Stars for all time
(we always make sure we have FUN)

Through the years, we never fail to make the day a whole lot of adventure. Much fun thanks to the new members of the young people. We still have lots of years to look forward to. woOt!

songs for the moment

2008-04-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

You change the sound of my name
A moment of truth that I saw in your face
It hurts inside, a moment this vile
That you brought alive
All the roads lead back to you

Give me something to return to
In your heart
I fear nothing but to leave here
Without you for life
We were left in this world for each other
But I can't run from the fate
I've been fighting for so long

(You made me who I am)

You made me who I am
Until the dawn of time
I have walked alone
You tie up a storm
When all hope was lost
But time revolves
I have to let go
One never meant to be

Give me something to return to
In your heart
I fear nothing but to leave here
Without you for life
We were left in this world for each other
But I can't run from the fate
I've been fighting for so long

- I'm so into this since my brother since i found it from my brothers collection. I like this one too though its one of those old songs my brothers and i have:

Is this the New Year or just another night?
Is this the new fear or just another fright?
Is this the new tear or just another desperation?

Is this the finger or just another fist?
Is this the kingdom or just a hit n' miss?
A misdirection, most in all this desperation

Is this what they call freedom?
Is this what you call pain?
Is this what they call discontented fame?

It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in

I'm singing this one like a broken piece of glass
From broken hearts and broken noses in the back
Is this the New Year or just another desperation?

You push until you're shoving
You bend until you break
Till you stand on the broken fields where your fathers lay.

It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in

Is nothing here worth saving?
Is no one here at all?
Is there any net left that could break our fall?

It'll be a day like this one
When the sky falls down and the hungry and poor and deserted are found
Are you discontented? Have you been pushing hard?
Have you been throwing down this broken house of cards?

It'll be a day like this one
When the world caves in
When the world caves in
When the world caves in

Is there nothing left now?
Nothing left to sing
Are there any left who haven't kissed the enemy?
Is this the New Year or just another desperation?

Does justice ever find you? Do the wicked never lose?
Is there any honest song to sing besides these blues?

And nothing is okay
Till the world caves in
Till the world caves in
Till the world caves in
Till the world caves in
Till the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in
Until the world caves in

- try to listen to them... hope you'll like them.=D

2008-04-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

I guess i have been good to the people around me but what i can't understand is why those who seem pretty close to me leaves and much worse for reasons i don't know. Its not the first time that i experienced this and not the first time as well that i have poured bits of my sentiments here in my blog. It just makes me emotional once in a while though i know that there are people who would stay. I just pray that they won't put my hopes down because if that happens, solitary life is always there to welcome me.

Maybe one of these days I'll try to learn how to be numb to lessen the pain. I'll try to busy myself with things and most of all, I'll try to learn how not to get pretty attached to people around me because honestly speaking I'm the type of person who does so easily.

But thinking again, it's definitely going to be hard because those people who left isn't so distant at all. Oh well, hello long process of numb learning sessions for me. I promise myself that i will move on and the next time around live life to the fullest even if it means that I'll be living it alone.

aja myself!

dvbs

2008-04-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

Yes! I get to be a teacher for a week!

Today is the last day of our lessons and tomorrow is dedicated for practices for every departments' presentation for the graduation on Sunday.

DVBS: Daily Vacation Bible School.

I was raised in a Christian family so the church and everything in it is part of my life. I may not be a good testimony to my brothers and sisters out there but i do LOVE most of the things in it and one of the things i look forward to is the Daily Vacation Bible School every summer vacation. I started assisting when i was in grade 5 and today i still do except for last year because i was head teacher. Maybe they thought i wouldn't be around so they looked for other young people who are present to do the job. But at least i still get to be an assistant.

Deputy Captain Dave

This year's theme is Sidekicks: Real power comes from God alone. For a moment there, we thought that there would be less attendees because the other churches in the village are through with their dvbs and only this year did it happen that there were only few students at around 7:30 A.M. so we were a bit disappointed but after the teachers' devotion, viola! Almost 3/4 of the hall was full and more were coming. God never fails. I was assigned to teach children ages 8-9 and they were called MIGHTORS. Every department has a captain and a number of deputy captains and I'm one of them. Yey!

James Lorenz Valmadrid

For the last two years, he has been my student and we're close. I dunno why. We just make fun of each other every after classes. He would ask me to carry him on my back on our way back to the church from our nearby classroom. I'll try to get a photo of him tomorrow.

Bellerion

Every day a hyper villain would show up and try to tease the children. The captains' goal is to discuss to the students the story for the day and how they would defeat the day's hyper villain. On the fourth day, i was the hyper villain, Bellerion. Try to re scramble the letters and it will form the word rebellion. So meet Bellerion:

Get Enchanted!

2008-04-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is the start of what i call the longest weekend during this boring summer vacation of mine. Though some (nang bam, etc.) weren't able to come, we still had fun, loads of FUN. So far, this trip to Enchanted Kingdom was the most fun-filled one i guess, compared to the other 20 visits i made. Haha. Thanks to these group of people. I wont discuss much about the things that took place inside the theme park because its gonna take me hours to finish but instead, ill upload some photos here.

This was taken outside Rialto. The line was quite long that it extended outside the building and it was a bit surprising actually. Maybe people got so interested with the film currently playing: "Spongebob Squarepants - The Ride."

The foreigners above are part of the performing group of i-don't-know-what-they're-called. My sister just wanted to have pictures with them so there they are.

Even though its a bit early for this ride, we just hopped in because its along the way. This is the first and last of the wheel of fate.

What i told them was that we're just going to get ourselves a bit wet as jumpstart for the Rio Grande Rapids later on. So they said "ok." I asked Nang K.O. to sit in the front most of the log. After that almost 7 feet and another 12 feet free fall, this was her statement: "Nagbayad ako ng 330 pesos para lang mamatay!"

I'm just glad she still managed to smile afterwards. Jungle Log Jam was their favorite ride at the end the day. I guess their favorite part was looking at their pictures during the 12 feet free fall. All they could do was to laugh out loud.@_@

All i did during the ride was to laugh at them. Haha. Evil me. Who wouldn't? If you could just see their faces as the ship swinged back and forth giving us that unexplainable feeling, i bet you'd be doing the same thing except if it wasn't your first time. Nang Sheila, though her first time, couldn't help but laugh at Nang Nana and Nong Paul too.

The Roller Skater ride. I was left for the next turn because i didn't have any partner to go with and i won't go with the complete stranger either.

But i guess it made way for me to have this picture. I like it that i used it as the new banner of my blog.^-^

Got wet. They weren't satisfied by the first round because Nang Sheila didn't get wet that much so all hopes for Nang Sheila during the second round. Good thing, she did got wet!

The perfect ride after getting ourselves wild and wet. The Flying Fiesta. For the sake of our damp clothes, we took the ride.

Outside the 4D Theater. I like this shot too. Its close to real except for the casted shadows. Maybe if we took it when the sun was still up.

The last three good shots from my dad's cam. Oh well. We're headed for Tagaytay the next day. Here are some shots i took while inside the park:

And the models for the day. Sponsored by Giordano. These shirts are my brothers'. They borrowed it in preparation of the wet and wild part:

We just walked home after the park closed. Hehe. Tiring but fun. I hope there'd be a next time but in a different place here in Laguna. Maybe in Los Banos. Stay tuned!

1.916

2008-04-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

When i started out at UPV, i only have but one goal: BE RETAINED!

I am not the academic type rather a more outgoing and "bahala na" type so i do excel when it comes to extra curricular activities.

The second semester of AY 2007-2008 i guess was the worst semester by the way i started things out. I really lost track of things and i don't know which to prioritize. Along the way i just did my part by giving out the best i can for me to get high grades from my classes. Surprisingly it turned out great. Thank God!

Here are the results:
Math 101 (Statistics) : 2.25
Econ 101 (Macroeconomics) : 2.75
SocSci 26 (People, Places and Spaces) : 1.75
Comm 2 (Paper Stuff) : 1.75
PE 2 (Softball) : 1.75
BA 99.2 (Accounting) : 1.75
BA 183.2 (Computer) : 1.25

So i got a general weighted average of 1.916. So far, my grade for the last sem is the highest and i'm proud of it that's why i posted it...-_-

I didn't expect my grade for Stat. After having two (4) from algebra and calculus and a (2.75) from trigonometry, hu! achievement!

Pagpasenxahan niyo nalang at talagang natuwa lang ako. Hehe.

Summer 2008

2008-03-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

Summer na!

Yey!

After going through that horrible finals week(not that horrible actually), It's summer vacation!

I thought the last activity that the buddies are going to be in was the Guimaras escapade and the General Assembly(Skousen won again, but i'm not so happy about it). Turns out, we had our last bonding experience at Cyndi's. The plan was not definite actually because no one was responding to my group messages the night before. What i did was to pack my things and after doing so, i got a message!

Mikay: " What time ta makadto kanday jo?"
Me: " Ambot ya ay... Ready man ko anytime... Gnahulat ko pa reply ni cocober kay my exam pa xa subong."
Mikay: "After nalang ng exam nya eh"
Me: "Okidoks...=D"

After a few moments of waiting for cocober's response, she finally answered!

Cocober: "Bag.o lang ko tapos exam!"
Me: "T, wat time ta makadto kanday jo?"
Cocober: "Daw makadto man xa d"
Me: "Ato na eh"
Cocober: "Lakat na di, ri na kmi sa mushroom.."
Me: "Nyak, maligo lang ko kadali..."

So there we were, together again... Cyndi was waiting for Nong Paul because he has her ATM. She was starting to get frantic and a bit upset because he was not answering her calls.(Fast forwarding...) She got the ATM! haha...

We went to Merimart (until now i'm not quite sure how it's spelled) to check out possible phone models that will serve as Cyndi's extra phone. After doing so, we looked for DVD's for the marathon but sad to say, there were no more stalls in the place so we decided to do buy food for the gathering. We bought stuff for the mango float but no mangoes so peaches it is! Cyndi just had new braces so she can't have hard food. Cocober bought this footlong and being the usual "hisaon", i bought one too! hehehe...

Upon arriving at Cyndi's place, we started working on the float. Mikay arrived after a few minutes. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was on Star Movies so added fun while working (so naive!). By the time we finished, Mikay was already fast asleep on the couch (she didn't have much sleep because of some reasons). We just left her and transferred to the kubo and there we played Book Worm Adventures! haha... In the midst of vocabularizing, Mikay went out and joined us.

play.Play.PLAY!

I dunno what struck me and gave me the urge to ask them if we could spend the night at Cyndi's (as if i was the owner of the place). Viola! They agreed!

Fast forwarding...

(Went back to SM City Iloilo to meet Nang Mitch, rented vcds, went to my boarding house and back to Lawaan village)

No one was answering when I arrived, good thing Manang( i forgot her name, stupid me!) went out and opened the gate for me. They were already sleeping! Waaah!

But they woke up. hehe..

So we opted for Hostel 2 for the first movie. I noticed that nobody was reacting during the eeky parts and when i checked them, they were sleeping! (I just finished the movie and went to bed as well)

Morning came and we were up by 7 am, right then and then we watched RENT.
After the movie, everyone packed and went home. Cyndi bound for Kalibo.

Cocober and I bought some pasalubong because I was bound for Laguna the afternoon of that day. And that was the last of the buddies for the AY 2007-2008...

See you by May!

So here I am in Laguna. My parents went home for my brothers' graduation and for a month long vacation.

People here in San Lorenzo have but one comment when they saw me:

"Mukha kang ADIK! Ang Payat mo!"

So their goal this summer is to let me gain weight. ASA sila!

Summer here I come!

love story

2008-03-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin to tell the story
Of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start

With her first hello
She gave a meaning to this empty world of mine
There'd never be another love another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart

She fills my heart
with very special things
With angel songs, with wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That any where I go
I'm never lonely
With her along who could be lonely
I reach for her hand. It’s always there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her until the stars all burn away
And she'll be there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her until the stars all burn away
And she'll be there

-Of all the tunes that would likely get into my mind, i can't explain why this one(love story) has been stuck in it for about a week or so. It reminds me of my mom's old music box which served as my lullaby-toy -_-... until now (not that i still have the music box) i easily dose off to sleep when i hear it... you can listen to it along with the new features of my blog...

for the 14th of march 2008

2008-03-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

for my birthday this year

i just want:

-answers to the questions in my head
-clarity for the things that i can't understand

i am glad enough for the blessings i have received...

say

2008-02-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

I admit that once in my life, I almost considered myself to be trash because of how easy it was for people to leave me, to dump me. But now i realize that I have grown because of the very same people. It won't be easy to let go and it won't be easy to forget because these people have already been a part of me.

One of my greatest fears ever since was being left out; its so frustrating that i tend to become an unknown creature trying to fit in and please everybody else. Now i can say that im used to it but i still do expect the worst to come. I believe that in this same journey that everyone is taking, we are likely to encounter different struggles to determine our strength.

Before i try to hold on even if i know better that i must let go and i'd be better off that way.

Now here's what i want to say:

I am glad that you opened my heart and my mind. Before, i was afraid to lose you because i thought i'd never find somebody that would be as good enough as you. Truth is, it really is not possible but i could find even better people. Sometimes we tend to forget that there are still other people around us which do care; we become narrow minded for a moment then and think that nobody does. Yes, its the same old drama but you never realize it unless you have been the one in that situation.

Its funny that i always give the same advice to people whenever unexpected and unwanted events come into their lives, that everything has its purpose, but can't hardly apply it to my own.

I can never be the same person through the years. People change. But i want you to put in mind that when you want to come back, you'd always have that same old friend waiting for you. I have made a vow that for everyone, i would be a friend til the very last of my breath. People might think that its not possible given that people do change so it is not impossible that i will. I have my own conviction and that makes me different, that makes my vow different.

To see people around me happy is enough and to bring joy to their lives gives the meaning for my life. I found my purpose and i found the things which i live up for.

Happiness

2008-02-05T04:07:00.000-08:00

Have you figured out how to achieve happiness? Or, does happiness seem to be eluding you? A tease. There one moment, gone the next.

If you wish your life could be happier, if you want to feel more joy on a regular basis, here are a few ideas that you might want to consider.

Some people think about the pursuit of happiness in a topsy-turvy way. They think that getting what they want will bring about the desired result. And they may be right....but only for a short period of time. As I’m sure you know, the thrill of getting something new in your life wanes rather quickly. Hence, if you want happiness to be a life-affirming position rather than a quick high, you must know that happiness comes about not by getting what you want but by wanting what you have.

Another way of saying this is that we are happy, not because all of our wishes are fulfilled, but because we experience what we have in a positive manner. We all know people (I hope you’re not one of them) who are often unhappy because their focus is on the negative – what they don’t have, what is not perfect, what went wrong or, even if things are good, they spoil the feeling by waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Other people think that improving their lives will make them happier, but ignore the need to improve themselves. They act as though life is a buffet. You get to pick what you like, leaving behind what you don’t like without enduring any consequences for ignoring all that is distasteful to you. They think that you should never have to deal with what’s unappetizing. Never have to experience what doesn’t agree with you. Never have to attend to what makes you feel uncomfortable.

Then when life hits them with the unexpected, the unwanted, the undesirable, they wail, “It’s not supposed to happen this way!” No life, however, can be lived without some dreadful things happening to a person. And yet, we can still be happy. Happiness, however, is not an equal opportunity attribute. It is more likely to be experienced by those who invest in their own growth. Those who develop resiliency. Those who strengthen their backbone. Those who don’t sweat the small stuff. Those who learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Those who realize they don’t always have to be in control. Those who relish experiences that make them happy while minimizing the experiences that don’t.

i misplaced the paper where i wrote the website where i got this from... churi author...-_-

Frisky Fling

2008-01-12T05:44:00.000-08:00

What Are You Looking for in a Relationship?

My Result: Frisky Fling

You're ready for an adventurous, free-spirited affair to remember. And if it comes in the form of someone who shakes up your world a bit, helps you expand your horizons, then decides to stay for awhile — all the better.

It's not that you don't want a serious relationship. It's just that you might rather get there with someone who's equally committed to having fun for now. Ever wanted to drive up the coast or across your town in a red convertible? Interested in staying at a restaurant so late the chef himself joins you at the table for a late night cappuccino? Or are you really more into a no-strings-attached companion?

For some people, a good fling starts with someone you can spend the whole day in bed with — whether you're under the covers or playing cards in your PJs. But for others a fling is just a light-hearted approach to finding a different way to spend quality time with someone new.

Take this test >

Goodness... I think the last part holds true...

new things...

2007-12-27T20:40:00.000-08:00

Going back to manila, i found some things which i really wanna try:

Numero Uno:

Strawberry Flavored Taho

- i just read one of my highschool friend's blog and I read the part where she tasted this strawberry flavored taho. I think its good plus im really fond of strawberry flavored stuff except for those stupid imported candy strings.

Numero Dos:

Global Fun Carnival

- according to a website, they are the first European-style carnival to travel in Asia. I think its really going to be funFunFUN when we go there. But since we are all cost cutting, we're just aiming for the experience so we're planning to pay just for the entrance without the rides. Waah! Boring! But what can we do. Though the fee is just 300, our finances are limited and we were thinking that we are not going to enjoy all of it anyway because of the numerous people going there everyday. Sad!

Numero Tres:

GBox

-upon arriving at SM Southmall, the first thing that caught my attention was this videoke area. At first glance, it really is something so i wanna try it, but possibilities are, it may turn out just like MO2 Annex. Hehehe.

Numero Quatro:

Hip Hop Abs

-its simply one cool way of getting flat abs and its cool. My brother mentioned it, and yesterday i saw the whole commercial on TV. Its just like aerobics but you're really going to dance. The dance steps are created to burn calories and shed fats in a fun way. You just Tilt, Tuck and Tighten and your on your way to flat, sexy midsection without backaches!

Numero Singko:

Spring Waltz Craze

-i can't believe i'm really into this koreanovela. Maybe because i was able to watch it from the beginning nad there's this one song i'm really crazy about but i still don't know the title and the artist! That Sucks!

its meant to be

2007-12-21T15:35:00.000-08:00

Well the scene begins, a little boy is crying and the light in the hallway is dim and he sits right back, thinks of the reason why nothing will fall into place. He gets more and more curious with every day, more furious in every way and he screams out loud, "Why's it happening to me?"

And the answer is "It's meant to be"...

Well he's on his knees and begging please. He wonders if there's somebody out there to make things wrong, to make things right. It might be that there's somebody out there. He moves amongst the crowd, the people they walk by. He questions why they'll have to die, if it's part of our lives, so beautiful and precious, he knows that she shouldn't be afraid of all this...

There are times that she hates you, there are times that she thanks you and hope that you might understand

It gets hard down here, so many things to fear but it's all just a sign that you're near...

lantern parade 2007

2007-12-17T17:17:00.000-08:00

I wasn't actually excited about this school activity but turned out that we had fun.

The day before, all that was in my head is STATISTICS. We were about to have our exam early morning of the lantern parade day so review-review-review for me. Good thing peewee was with me so i wasn't bored during my review time. 6 pm came and it was time to have a short break so i watched a play by Ateneo de Manila for kids with cancer. They were really good! Thanks to Nong Noe who had tickets. Well, enough of that.

Fast forwarding...

_exam_
_movies in my room_
_gifts for SP_

YEY! Lantern Parade!

We (dan,cyndi and me) arrived at school from SM City to see the usual blank scenery of the quadrangle crowded with people. The program started and the walk began! From the quadrangle, past Gen. Luna, past somewhere beside San Agustin and past Mabolo, Delgado... Yeah! A walk wouldn't be fun when alone but with all the people around you, well, its one heck of a walk! Craziness strikes! @_@

Fast forwarding...

_dinner_
_disco_
_inuman session in my bh_

It was my first time to really get drunk and was quite crazy but surprised me is that after the commotion that happened, i was still on my right mind. Handled everything until we were all knocked out. Good thing Jomar, April and Bianca were not that drunk. Jazey and Mikay though tipsy, was panicky because people were behaving in a not so usual state for us. hehehe.

Here i am again, just sharing what happened.

I had fun! So what the heck.... hehehehe...

pieces of me

2007-12-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

"Most of the time, the things that we take for granted affects us in ways that we can hardly explain."

I just woke up with this thought in my mind. I don't know what to feel right now. A part of me is happy, a part of me is weary, a part of me is frustrated, and a part of me is excited.

The happy and excited part of me:

Our entry for this year's CMPF won second place but for our batch, we are the champions. Every batch is a champion in their own ways, they worked hard for that play so they deserve a round of applause;D... For EGGNOG, i'm thankful for the people behind the whole production. Jude, Cyndi, Yvette, Dan, April, Teng and the rest who really gave much effort. Im proud to say that our batch has a lot of potential when it comes to this battle arena. Last year was our first and we weren't that bad for a first timer and this year was great because we soared high! yeah! I'm glad that our batch found new talents this year: CYNDI, YVETTE, APRIL, DAN and the actors. I can say that they're one of a kind.

Also we won BEST:
- Actress (Robie)
- Director (yours truly)
- Production Design (Teng and Dan)
- Costume (Yvette, c/o Magarbo)
- Script (April)
- Trailer (yours truly, Mikay was GREAT!)

Next year is another challenge for our batch but i know we can make it! Aim high! Law of Attraction!

I'm excited because Christmas is fast approaching and hello Laguna for me! I just want to have a break.

The weary and frustrated part of me:

I really don't know how to give reasons and answers to the questions: Why are you sad? What's the problem? What's bothering you?

I know there's a problem and it really bothers me. As a result, i feel sad about it because i don't know what to do about it.

I started this semester with No-no attitude. I must do something about it if i want to be retained.

So help me God.

effects of things i can't explain

2007-12-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

Highschool has never been of the same with what my friends had. When they talk about the activities and experiences that they had during highschool, i just end up regretting why i didn't study in Iloilo in the first place. But after some time, I realized that there was an unexplainable reason for it. I believe that we all learn and taught the same stuff but we learn it in different ways, with different people and it comes with different experiences.

Goodbyes are one of the few things that i don't like but they say that there's some good to it. When ATOM 05-06 started to go separate ways, i think it was also the same time that i realized this was the first ever hardest 'goodbye' in my life. Some people can't relate to us but what can we do, its the way we feel. I think, the good thing that it taught me is to hold on to something but never fear to let go of it. If it was destined to be with you, its going to be until the last setting of the sun in your life. You may never be with each other but the mutual relationship between you and those people won't change. People may change but not the experiences that you already had. It somehow created an invisible connection between you.

(i don't know what im really saying...)

Today, i saw two people walk past by me. Out of the blue, the emotional side of me started to work and created thoughts that made me sad. It was rather an image of two people walking away without knowing when to return. Once again, it was like seeing the people that have been very close to you walk away...

That's why, as much as possible, I always want to be the first to go rather than being left.

what's the point?

2007-11-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

Things i've tried:

Recently, i've been trying to manage my time so everything would go smooth sailing and i can avoid pile ups. I've been trying to get a normal sleep but i just can't. I've been trying to do my best in my tasks and upcoming tasks but i guess i suck but i think its just normal. I've been trying to understand a lot of things but it seems like everything is getting more complicated as the days go by. I've been trying to maintain a smile on my face from time to time but i guess i also suck at that part. I've been trying not to mind some problems but i think that's impossible. I've been trying to change for the better but i think it's going to be a rough road ahead.

Things that keeps me frustrated:

Unknown reasons why i'm not worth telling something. Users.

Lesson learned:

At the end of the day, its still going to be you and you alone. Everything that happened, happens and will happen to you is the result of the choices and decisions that you make. one of the few skills that babies learn is to close and open their hands. I hope its that easy to hold on and to let go.

~ I haven't been able to post a decent entry for the past few weeks and that sucks.

clown

2007-11-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

maybe you see me im always happy

but in my back im a lonely clown

try to hold me one more time

bring me back from where i start

chances are not yet fading but

the clown starts to cry

hold me tight

these are some lines from an opm song which i really can relate to... its not that much but it says a lot... im good at being one i guess...

Questions

2007-11-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

Questions are flooding my mind..

Am i in the right direction? Am i making the right decisions?

There are things in life that you will really never understand. Questions will always be present no matter what you do but that's life.

I never know when am i making the right decisions. I just know its wrong when it hits me back right in the face but truly, i learn from it. I think life has its own way of building you up. Though its hard to decipher, i do believe that we benefit from it if we just get the right formula to solve it.

Man, im just actually fooling around. Its gonna be a bitter start of something new i guess. Something that has been broken can never be put back to its former state. Change will always be around, even if one would not like to...

you

2007-11-15T16:49:00.000-08:00

i close my eyes, i see you...

i doze off to sleep, i dream of you...

i sing in the showers, i think of you...

i go crazy at times, it's because of you...

i always check my phone, i expect a message from you...

but everything right now is surreal...

you are mysterious and unpredictable...

i dunno but thats for real...

but if as much of this is painstaking...

i'd better leave...

i'm afraid, i'm confused...

you are like a bubble that can be easily penetrated but all of a sudden, as the bubble pops, another thing draws in front of me...

reality that i can never be part of you for long...

reality that you are being guarded by something which strongly influences you...

barely few could enter but will immediately have to leave...=c

Hear me..

2007-11-09T02:51:00.000-08:00

Today, some things really didn't go the way they should but i know that its normal. You can't do anything about it. This past few days were sort of normal and i think everything's normal... But i don't feel normal.

I want to thank you for all you've done in my life. I always wander off from the way where you lead me but I know that you know that I don't feel good about it and I thank you for still being there for me. You never left my side. Eventhough I'm always like that, you always accept me whenever I go back. You always make me feel that you're never too far away, I just have to look for you. Years have passed and I know that you know the reason why my life is like this. You are the one who really knows my weaknesses and I thank you for carrying me whenever I can't walk anymore. Thank you for picking me up whenever I fall. You are always there in my darkest times, eventhough it's only the time when i get to remember you. You are also there whenever I'm glad, eventhough it's the time when i fail to remember you.

I want you to hear me now. I'm happy with my life. I have a great family. Yes, and I really love them though I fail to show make them feel that I do. I have great friends and I love them too. Both of them have been the ones who inspire me and give me strength when I think I can't do it anymore and the ones that make me smile when I'm blue and I know you're using them...

I don't know but I hope you understand if I ask this request and I'm not taking this back anymore... If you do have plans for me and If you know that I can make it far, then good but if i will continue to go against you or make things that would not be pleasing anymore, to your eyes and the people around me then better take my life. Yes, i'm serious. I know that we humans are not perfect and they may say that we learn from our mistakes and thats how it is as we get through life but I think I'll make it big time and I think it won't be pleasing. So please... Just take me... I'm sorry for all I've done and I know you know the reasons why I did those things. I really am guilty. Once again... please hear me... Take my life if I'm heading to something unlikable... Please...

Amen.

what was that?

2007-11-08T15:41:00.000-08:00

Last November 6 was our scheduled date of enrollment but sad to say I was not able to enroll that day because i still had no grade in my Math 11, which is College Algebra, though i have been able to take the removal exams. So i was just there in school staring at busy people. A lot of things were on my mind during that time: the enrollment, our block shirt, Peewee's birthday and my removal exam in Math 100 the following day. I'm so sick of Math but I promise to do good in Statistics(;D)... Anyways, it was also Zedher's birthday and i was supposed to go to the apartment of Ordisi and co. because she had a little salo-salo prepared there. Around 4 pm, i decided to check our block shirt and ended up paying the balance using my budget for enrollment to be able to get the shirts. Afterwards, i went to the salo-salo. Along the way, a friend texted that they'd watch Stardust and asked me if i wanted to join. Out of nowhere, i said yes. Arriving at the apartment, they were also there so after a plate of spaghetti and siomai, we went to SM City and the reason for writing this blog entry starts there...

Theatrical trailers were starting to roll when we entered the cinema and i saw part of the trailer of this one movie, The Bucket List.

"Just because I told you my story, does not invite you to be a part of it"

This line got my attention. Pictures of the past started to crowd up in my head.

I think I am the kind of person whom you could tell the whole story of your life including some of your secrets and expect that nothing of your private or secluded world would go out unless you tell me to do so. Sometimes, i think the not so good part of it is that i'm expecting to be already part of that story. I tend to interfere at times. But that was "Before"...

I've learned a lot from this. I thought I'm being of great help but turns out that I am not. It's hard to explain but the "knowing that you were not helping at all but rather you're already interfering and they are annoyed" sort of feeling is one of the worst aftershock that one could have.

So after that experience, i promised myself not to do that stuff anymore and I'm proud to say that I really am not doing it anymore.

Going back, i was in my seat already but this was still in my head but when the movie started it started to get off my mind because the movie started to interest me at the same time. When Stardust ended, i don't know what happened to me but I started to act "weird". I dunno how to explain it but all i know is that a lot of things were on my mind that time. I was troubled, excited, thrilled, happy, sad and scared. I was in a state of mixed emotions, in a sort of "i just saw a ghost" state and i don't know.

superhero and our hands

2007-11-06T05:07:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was a kid, I always dreamed of having a real superhero that would save my life and all sorts of stuff that you could imagine when talking about superheroes. But besides having a hero, I’d like to be one too.

Why is this?

I suppose most of us have experienced being bullied in school or by the playground near our houses when we were kids, and even until now we still have encounters with those bullies from time to time. Sometimes we just want to explode and hit them hard in the face, just like a mutant who would unconsciously use their powers to suck the hell out of those pesky kids, but we can’t because we’re outnumbered and sad to say, we don’t have super powers. I still remember the time when I just walked away from a group of bullies and cried on my way home. I felt so helpless, so weak. I tried to stop myself from crying but still tears came rushing down in my cheeks. I didn’t want my Mom to see me like that so I told myself not to go inside until I was done. During that time, I wanted to become Superman so I would have super strength to fight them. I wanted to become Spiderman and put them into a cage of resilient webs where they would feel the same way I felt: helpless, vulnerable.

But looking back to those times, I now realize that that’s so silly of me but you couldn’t blame me for that and I couldn’t blame you for that either (;D). Just like in the movies, being a superhero isn’t just for the benefit of you. It’s helping out those who are in need. But how can I do so if I do not have extraordinary powers?

At times, we are unaware that we become heroes in other people’s lives. Giving up something for the sake of others is really something. Though you think that it’s just a simple thing but for them it’s a big deal.

There’s this story that our pastor told us last Sunday: In a public school, there was student on a bench. She was sitting there for no reason and was just waiting for something that would pull her whole system to go home. Out of nowhere, she heard frail sobs and as she turned around, she saw one of her classmate by the stairs with her head on her knees. She approached her and asked why she was crying.

“I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast, that’s all.”

“Why? Have no money?”

She checked her pocket and the only money she had left was 8 pesos, just enough for her fare going home. If she gave it to her, it means that she would have to walk for about twenty minutes to reach their house. Anyways, she gave it to her. After receiving the money, her classmate burst into tears.

“Do you know that this is going be my first meal after two days?”

She was shocked upon hearing this. Her classmate bought pieces of bread and ate. On her way home, a car stopped beside her. It was another classmate of hers. She told her that she would take her home since their house was after theirs.

In the eyes of the classmate who ate nothing for two days, she was definitely her hero even just for the day and I believe that this would surely never be forgotten by the one she helped. And her kind heart was rewarded immediately.

We could be a hero in different terms or in different aspects. One thing I’ve learned is that it is not how much you will offer but it is rather what you are going to offer. People sometimes tend to look on us on how much we are going to give but fails to see what we really are about to give. So even without super powers, we can be a hero ourselves. We can be something that would be of great influence to people that we encounter in our everyday lives.

Another lesson learned, sometimes we expect things to work the same way as the way it worked on other people’s hand. For example, a ball that costs about a hundred peso in your hand is worth a million dollars in Jordan’s hands. A golf club can’t even get you through one course but In Tiger Wood’s hands, it’ll make him champion. Five loaves of bread and 2 small fishes can make a few fish sandwiches but in God’s hands, it can feed thousands. It may depend on whose hand it is but we have to remember that we are another unique individual. We have different things to offer.

We should not focus on the capability of others to make people’s lives easier but rather focus how we can do so. Not at all times we are going to meet our expectations for ourselves but we have to remember that there is a time for everything. Learn to be patient. We just have to believe that our hands were made for far better things.

My Heroine...

2007-11-03T04:40:00.000-07:00

The drugs begin to peak

A smile of joy arrives in me

But sedation changes to panic and nausea

And breath starts to shorten

And heartbeats pound softer

You won't try to save me!

You just want to hurt me and leave me desperate!

You taught my heart, a sense I never knew I had.

I can't forget, the times that I was

Lost and depressed from the awful truth

How do you do it? You're my heroine!

You won't leave me alone!

Chisel my heart out of stone, I give in everytime.

You taught my heart, a sense I never knew I had.

I can't forget, the times that I was

Lost and depressed from the awful truth

How do you do it? You're my heroine!

I bet you laugh, at the thought of me thinking for myself.

I bet you believe, that I'm better off with you than someone else.

Your face arrives again, all hope I had becomes surreal.

But under your covers more torture than pleasure

And just past your lips there's more anger than laughter

Not now or forever will I ever change you

I know that to go on, I'll break you, my habit!

You taught my heart, a sense I never knew I had.

I can't forget, the times when I was

Lost and depressed form the awful truth

How do you do it? You're my heroine!

This is a song from Silverstein. I haven't heard much from this foreign band or maybe i'm just really not updated to music recently. I was looking for songs to download in my notebook and as i was scanning through some of my friends account in friendster, i passed one with this song(My Heroine) as the background music.

I'm not really much into rock music but when they have some of their songs in acoustic version, its the time that i get to appreciate it.

First time i heard this song, i thought it was just another break up song. But looking deeper into it, a whole new story revealed itself. I believe that the one who's causing the pain is the same person who once made the composer's heart beat once again. Not like the usual "it's the guy's fault again" scenario.

Heroine means a female hero. The composer of the song wrote this considering the girl as his heroine but on the contrary, she's the reason why he suffers. She hates her for everything she's done to him but still calls her to be his heroine. Irony!

But i know that he loves her. He loves her more than anyone does. I guess he understands her but she never gave way for him to let her know that he really does. Sad!

Sometimes when one easily quits on love, its the same time that the remaining passion burns out. The passion that is only longing to be deeply known. The passion that only hides but will redeem itself when one truly seeks. There's still chance but one gave up so all the possibilities of going back together will soon vanish. But this only shows that the foundation of the relationship is not solid, it was built on something that would be easily washed away when storms come into the so-called relationship.

There has never been a perfect course for love but a happy ending is never hard to achieve when both exert extra effort.-_-

i was carried away

2007-10-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

Yeah.. i was carried away by my emotions. Thanks Nang Bam for explaining things to me...

Sometimes i become narrow minded when troubled.

There's no use in taking back the things that i've said. What Nang Bam said hit me hard in the face.

"I don't mean to say that you dismiss every comforting thing, may it be sincere or otherwise, others offer you. Just think of it this way: No matter how hard and improbable it is for anybody to understand what you feel, there's still someone who's willing enough to make an effort to do so. Even the most insincere comforts are noteworthy because, in a way, it's letting you know that the person recognizes the existence of your feeling and tries to do something about it, even if it aint so real, at least it's SOMETHING. I think, even if it ain't THAT helpful, it is still something so greatly beautiful. "

Yeah, why didn't i think of that. I believe that i'm not the only one who has the same attitude when troubled and i do admit my mistakes. I still have to learn a lot of things. Hu! Maybe i'm just expecting too much from the people around me.

and thats the way it is...

2007-10-30T04:58:00.000-07:00

Things usually don't go the way yu want them to... and sometimes that sucks!

Today i found a person that has the same sentiments as to what i have...

It sucks that the people who you think can help you out, whenever you have problems, can't. Yes, they do try but its rather putting up an imaginary friend that comforts you till the end but doesn't really know how you feel but i do thank them for the effort anyways. I know its rather rude of me to think this way but frankly speaking, its true right? You can see it right through their eyes...

Well, you can't blame people who thinks this way because at that moment of time, they are in a pit of darkness. Scared of the things ahead of them. They couldn't see any ray of light that would lead them towards the road of hope, of warmth. Its as if their feet are glued to freezing blankness. They want to cry out loud but there is a bubble that contains everything in their system and it wouldn't pop! They are longing to be heard but the mere faces of the nearest people couldn't relate because they are not there, or they haven't been there all along...

Im sorry but this how i feel, some of us feels...

There's just something that builds up on our way to you our beloved friends... Something that comes you also... I guess... sometimes we just have to learn on our own, be strong for ourselves and go beyond our limits.

The thorns along the way may hurt but thats the way it is. I believe that this line from a movie fits, "People get cut. That's life."

what a sembreak..

2007-10-28T04:54:00.000-07:00

After the fun trip from Bacolod... i said to myself that i'm ain't going to bora to attend Cyndi's debut... well... surprisingly with just a call early next morning from Cyndi, there i was... on a puj trying not to let them wait so long in Andoks...

What the heck, i was really heading for Bora!!

Well, everything went well... We spent our first night at the dela Cruz' residence in Kalibo and then headed for Bora early the following day...

We were in the well known white sand beach for 3 nights... Within that short period of time, i also had fun just like the fun i had in Bacolod... Long walks in the beach, swimming, tong-its and pusoy dos sessions, inuman sessions and sleeping sessions, the Banana boat ride and the debut itself... hehehe... what a sembreak!

Now im back here in Iloilo... I dunno why but i'm rather really sad... Maybe i just want to go back to those times with the Bacolod and the Bora Buddies...

Its time to face the real world again, time to face the different struggles ahead of me this semester and i'm really scared...

Help me God...

Love you Bacolod Buddies and Bora Buddies! *sobs*

hoping..

2007-10-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

i feel bad about the my brothers' situation in laguna...

"Pag wala na daw silang pera, bumibili nalang sila ng ulam sa labas" said mom.

i feel somehow guilty for some reason which i can't explain... good thing my mom asked me to check if there are still promos for roundtrips and she would let them have their vacation here... if ever they do, im gonna feed them lots of food! hehehe... good thing there are a lot of restos that are cheap yet the food are still satisfying...

i dont want them comparing their situation to mine... i dont want them having grudges on me...

i just hope that they can go here...

The City of Smiles

2007-10-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

Im just gonna make this post short.. hehehe...

Finally! I got to see the city of smiles, Bacolod City!

I really had fun with nang bam2, nang ma.e and nang kage!

The never ending food, Tito Rex was one heck of a cook!;

Our trippings in the peryahan, it was really fun especially hearing them screaming out their lungs when they decided to try the ferris wheel (hehe, evil me!;D);

The movie marathons from which always one or two would sleep ahead of us and the crying sessions during one of the films;

Our trip to Mambukal which was really an adventure. Though tiring, it was really worth it. All of us slept in the car afterwards and then all of a sudden we were in front of Mang Inasal and were about to eat.(actually our faces were like in a "huh? ano? hala!" sort of look... hehehe;

The ice cream session!(i really love coffee crumble!);

Our Sing-aLong Session, they say that it was the family's(The Desabelles) past time... The same night, Nang Shayne, Nang Sheila, Nang Manuela, Nang K.o. and Nong Dexter arrived and joined the fun... hehehe... One more thing, Idol ko na rin si Tito Rex! heheh... Nice voice!

Our trip to Pana-ad courtesy of Nong Jath... Hehehe... He became our tour guide for the day... hehehe...

The cake at Kuppa! It was one heck of a cake! It was worth the wait... They'll only prepare it the moment you order it.. Its just like a chocolate volcano with chocolate lava served with vanilla ice cream and strawberry syrup... Yum3!

And our jogging session. Even before our trip going there, we were already planning that. After 2 failed attempts, we finally made it early this morning! hehehe... it was really fun! people in Bacolod are health conscious...

One more thing! I really love their restaurants compared to what we have here in Iloilo...

Well... that's the last of it... Though we'd love to extend our stay there... it was time to go... huhu... the sad part..

Thanks Nang Bam2!;D Hope there'll be a next time...

you can check out our photos in my friendster account: http://profiles.friendster.com/rapfhaime

Isang Panaginip

2007-10-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

Kung Nauso si Benjo at si Tonton..

We'll eto... Joseph the Dreamer...

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

enjoy!

What is real?

2007-10-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

"What is real?" asked the rabbit one day when they were lying side by side.

"Does it mean having things that buss inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real, isn't how you're made.", said the skin horse.

"It's a thing that happens to you when a child loves you for a long, long time. Not jus to play with, but really loves you, then you become real."

"Does it hurt?", asked the rabbit.

"Sometimes.", said the skin horse for he was always truthful.

"Does it happen all at once? Like being wound up? or bit by bit?", asked the rabbit.

"It doesn't happen all at once. It tales a long time. That's why it doesn't always happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off and your eyes drop out and you get loose at joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all because once you are real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

by Margery Williams

GO Scions!

2007-10-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

haha... it was my first time to see this videos so i thought of putting it in this blog of mine...

IM PROUD TO BE IN THE SCIONS FAMILY!

The Creative Modern Dance

The Acapella

im just proud to be one... you would appreciate it if you were here...

thoughts from kids

2007-09-22T03:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some questions asked from kids ages 4-10...

and here are their answers...

What do you think is the best way to stop pollution?

"Tapon sa garbage ang basura para mapunta sa heaven. I-blow mo yung fire or lagyan ng water, para mawala ang usok." - John Lim, age 6, Pasig

"Sweep the floor, mop the floor, and put garbage in the trash can. Put out fire with water."
-Aaron Sydney, age 4, Manila

Why do you think there are many poor people today?

"Kasi mahirap sila, walang pambili ng pagkain, walang house; mga bahay nila sticks-sticks lang."-Yohan, age 5, Quezon City

"Because they dont have any house. If you're poor, you dont have money."
-Therese, age 4, Quezon City

What does God look like?

"God is a boy with sort hair(placing two hands below her ears), wearing white shirt... maybe may balbas." -Ruth Pearlie Lourie,age 8, Makati

If dogs could talk, what do you tink they'd say?

"Siguro sabi ng dog... parang iba tong bahay na ito."
-Adama Beatrice, age 4, Makati

"I dont't like your food." -Apple, age 5, Pasig

If it were up to you, what color would the sky be, the grass, the sea?

"Gusto ko ang sky black, parang sa gabi, para laging may star. 'Yung grass, green pa rin kasi 'yun talaga color nya, tapos 'pag madilim, iba na. 'Yung sea, white and blue." -Adama Beatrice, age 4, Makati

What do you always pray for?

"Thank you for the food and no nightmares" - Sofia Andrea, age 6, Caloocan

How does heaven look like?

"Clouds, a chair, and an angel, and rainbows." -Apple, age 5, Pasig

"Heaven have so many clouds, moon and sun" -Sofia Andrea, age 6, Caloocan

How can you ease or lessen traffic?

"I would fix the stoplight." -Gabbie, age 5, Pasig

Why do you think it rains?

"Para diligan ang mga plants." -Adama Beatrice, age 4, Makati

"Kasi the clouds are dark, and full(busog) and want to vomit water." -AJ, age 4, Muntinlupa

How do you think adults decide whom to marry?

"Kids don't know that yet. Only God decides who you'll marry and you'll just be surprised who you're stuck with." -Renzo, age 10, Q.C.

What do most people do on a date?

"On the first date, nagbobolahan sila and that usually gets them to go for a second date."
-Jared, age 10, Marikina

When is it okay to kiss someone?

"When they're rich" -Pam, age 7, Manila

"When you're best friends" -Alden, age 10, Q.C.

"The law says you have to be 18, so i wouldn't want to mess with that." -Amy, age 7, Pasig

"The law says if you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. Dad says its the right thing to do." -Eric, age 6, Q.C.

Is it better to be single or married?

"It is better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them."
-Anita, age 9, U.S.

How would you make a marriage work?

"Sinasabi palagi ni Papa ang ganda-ganda ni Mama, kahit palagi magulo hair niya. I think that works." -John, age 5, Manila

Well, we think they're innocent but once asked they would tell stuff which is far better than the answers of adults. These answers are innocent unlike for some adults.

my current status

2007-09-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

how do i start? hmmm... physically? mentally? emotionally?

haay... sige... one by one...

physically, am aok. no illnesses(when would i get one?) except for slight headaches, no abnormalities(hehehe), i think i still look the same(as if pwede magbago), my hair's getting a bit long.. hehehe...

mentally? ahm.. i think everyday im acquiring more and more information and to tell you the truth i dont have enough space for all of them... hahaha...

emotionally? im just living my life to the fullest and i think that's a good thing...

i really have nothing much to write about my current status...

im just happy with what i am, with the people im with and the things that i encounter from time to time... even though not all of them are good, im thankful coz they make me strong and they allow me to be more open to new things and helps me accept that not all the plans i have are going to take place...

i really thank the people who allows me to be myself... to be me at my crazy state... to be me when i want to do nothing but to hug people to death... to be me when i want to be the quiet me... to be me when im at my moody state..

i love y'all!

i will

2007-06-07T02:19:00.000-07:00

going back to everything we've been through... i think we've gone long enough... we've been through enough.... but this so called journey of friendship is one that matures as it stays longer...

moreover... sometimes... we get hurt and we get dumped...

i just want to put this things aside...

i dont want to think this way...

i love those guys...

and i would do anything for them..

i can endure any pain for them even if it was they themselves who caused me pain..

hmmm....

sO sO lang

2007-05-16T03:58:00.000-07:00

i didn't understand before how it feels when someone looks down on you...

but after what took place a few hours ago...

now i know...

this really ain't a big deal, im just writing down my thoughts so i wont carry it in my head anymore...

i was confiding the possibilities of me moving back here in manila if im not gonna be retained to one of my close friends... yeah he was giving me some spirit but then and then, out of nowhere... though i think it was unintentional, a few words struck me... " marami din naman akong kilala na grumaduate ng accountancy sa UP na so so lang" ...

there it was... that few words... it felt like the self esteem that i got also through went down back to zero... yeah... well... truth hurts... but from a close friend... hmmm...

at first i was somehow filled with mixed emotions, i dont know if im gonna be mad or if im gonna be sad... but somehow out of nowhere, i saw the devotional and read through it... there... i found some encouragement... if you're with God, nothing's gonna be impossible... so i just took it as a challenge...

i wont quit until i can make it... i gave my word... and you can rely on that alone...

maybe i interpreted it the wrong way... yeah... txt nga naman... basta... i have nothing against the person involved...

ugly

2007-05-06T22:58:00.000-07:00

People are all the same and we only get judged by what we do... personality reflects name and if i'm ugly then so are you... Everybody talks bad about somebody else and never realises how it affects somebody else and you bet it won't be forgotten envy is the only thing it could be...

well... actually... this one's a song by sugababes... at first i wasn't able to appreciate it much coz im focusing on the artist but when a close friend used it for an mtv... well... i realised the message that it conveys... simple yet so true... try listening to it...

spidey and nothing but spidey

2007-05-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

yeah... there it was... the third movie of the famous comic book hero spiderman...

didn't expect that my dad was gonna take us to the movie house... coolness!

from the very beginning of the movie... it really started to cath my attention coz of the credits... somehow it gave us (the audience) a flashback to what came before the third installment of the movie... hu! and that is one good idea of getting people's attention.

the story started when peter parker(spiderman) was being consumed of the fame that the superhero in him was getting.. NY was really in love with spidey... at first he was managing it well but there came the thing from the meteorite(symbiote) that fell to earth and when problems came to him, it changed peter... it gave him more strength and amplified his emotions, specifically 'hate and vengeance'...

wahahah... it really gave the film a twist... i was starting to hate spidey and liking the character of his bestfriend(harry/new goblin) who was currently suffering from short term memory loss... more characters came... flint marco (sandman) and eddie brock(venom)... yeah... it gave the movie a blast!

in the end... of course... spidey is still good, venom died, sandman somehow became good... well actually he was good but he was driven by the needs of his daughter... and the thing that i hate most is when harry died... he was'nt given too much exposure on the good side... and wow! it made me teary eyed!

well this was one heck of a movie and i love it! im gonna get it on original dvd! wahahah!

one more thing... i learned from it... i'll just post it next time... im just gonna review it a bit...