Scatterbrain Stories

New Blog :)

2010-03-27T07:03:00.001-07:00

Hello, everyone!

I have just recently transferred to another blogging site. I really wanted to stay and blog my life away here, but certain circumstances have urged me to create a new blog site. First, I find my new location much more accessible; and second, I like how the dashboard is organized. However, this blog will not close down. I will try to update this blog as much as possible though.

Visit me often here. :)

xoxo, ICON

The Art of Restraint: An Ode

2010-03-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

My parents brought my siblings and I to operate on the context of this line I directly quote from them: “Just because we have better jobs than some or most of the parents of the kids in your school, it doesn’t mean that we’re rich”. Every morning, before the hired carpool arrives and just after the family morning prayer, Pa and Ma would tell us this. And of course, as kids, we couldn’t really understand what they meant.

It was a puzzle to us that we were deprived of material things. Back then, I suffered from the constant haranguing questions some of my classmates and schoolmates would throw at me. “Why don’t you ask your Papa to buy it? He’s a doctor isn’t he?” — quizzical brows would be drawn when my answer was a mere shrug. My siblings and I would ask Papa why he wouldn’t buy us the latest gadgets that were “in” those days, and his answer was always, “We’re not rich” or “We can’t afford to be luxurious now, you will need a lot in the years to come”. As expected, we did not understand.

Although we lived in a city, my hometown was not as big as Cebu or Manila. At that time, there was not one mall that boasted of a variety of boutiques where people could shop what they really needed, and wanted. The family’s solution to this was to travel to the nearest highly urbanized — Cebu, to buy clothes, school supplies and etc. However, our trips were scheduled: 1) just before opening of classes (for our shoes, bags, and other school supplies), and 2) a few weeks before the Christmas season (for our party and holiday clothes, Christmas decor, etc). Unscheduled trips were exclusively for emergency purposes.

At home, we were never allowed to watch television. It was only during Sundays that we were able to gaze at the entertainment box. But only for a few hours. What did we do? We were all obliged to do our assignments and study our day’s lessons before supper, and to be continued after. Then we were sent off to bed.

During summer breaks, Papa would enroll us to summer schools and workshops to keep us busy. Piano school, art school, calligraphy lessons — we did that and many more! Then, he would urge us to read books of fiction and literature. Still no TV. On semestral and holiday breaks, the parents would encourage us to play musical instruments — the piano, the guitar, and the flute. Reading was always soldered, but still, TV wasn’t allowed. Until our interest in the little box diminished and went *poof*.

When we were all in High School, everyone had cellphones. I only got mine when I was in my senior year, a gift from an uncle.

College — I was dispatched to live in a dormitory managed by nuns. The rules were not so much different from my parents’. I didn’t find it hard to adjust with the dorm life. Most of all, I danced through College easily, and with flying colors. Modesty aside, I daresay, that it was funny that I didn’t have a hard time, considering I had to balance my studies with being the Editor-in-Chief of my college publication and Vice-President for the biggest inter-school organization for my course.

Now that I am 22 and earning a doctorate degree; my sister being a debater in one of the best debating teams in the country, and due for Law school; and my brother almost done with his Pre-Med degree being a Vice-Governor in the College of Nursing, we finally understand what my parents have, all these years, inculcated in us, encapsulated in one word: restraint.

If we were not dispossessed and had full access to the world’s luxury and caprice, maybe we would have grown as spoiled braggadocios wasting away time, money and our lives. Who knows, I might have been out of school and with child if not for that minute piece of order that symbolized my parents’ authority.

We were taught and showed to live simply, and not want for much. We were pushed to explore and develop our skills, especially that of reading, writing, critiquing, and public speaking. We were forced to be content with what worldly items we had, until being self-effacing has become part of us. But we were not constantly nagged about these virtues. The values that grew in us came from a tiny seed, manifested by a single phrase that started with “Just because …” and continued with “… it doesn’t mean”. We were taught, showed, and encouraged, and we learned.

What we have achieved, and all that we are, we owe to that one line that screwed our heads firmly on our shoulders. And that, we owe to our parents, who really had a hard time raising and molding us into the leaders and champions that we are in our own right.

From that small seed of restraint, of being deprived from lavishness, grew a tree of discipline. At this point, it may not be as tall nor as sturdy as a sycamore, but it exists, and continues to grow.

They say that children go into the world as tabula rasa — blank slates. It is up to their stewards to feed them with the values and morals they will need to survive through life. I am overjoyed — beyond words — that my siblings and I fell into the life of a couple who may not be perfect, but fitting embodiments of God’s ideal masterpiece

A Nonsense Note To My Crush

2010-03-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

I was scribbling away on my notebook while I was waiting for my friends to arrive at Hebrews. This is what came out.

It’s a widely known fact that the best thing about liking someone is the undeniable new meaning it breathes to your life. The very instant you realize that you hold a certain degree of admiration for someone, every day, from that moment forward, everything just feels right. It’s as if the whole world has conspired to make you feel brand new; to make you see joy even in the most unfortunate of things --- like nothing is impossible. And every day, you simply know that not only are you alive and living, you are existing.

Suddenly, you feel so good about yourself. You feel your lungs getting fresh air. You feel your heart beating once more. Each morning when you wake up, even if it’s cloudy outside, you see the skies open up. You sing, even when you’re out of tune. You dance, even if there’s no music. You see light, even when the world around you is in havoc. You see a ray of hope, a flicker of radiance in almost anything. Worst of all, you smile for no absolute reason --- exactly like a crazy, unbalanced person. And all this … all this, is because of one soul.

What I love about one-sided admiration is the amount of complication involved --- none. You simply marvel at the person, in all his glory, from afar. Zero mayhem because there are no strings attached. No one really knows how you feel, but you and a few of your friends. But of course, you get into miniscule troubles. The entire production of getting him to notice you, and keeping track of him is one. Accepting the fact that he won’t look your way is another. But, the rigmarole of it all is good fun and worth every inch of the mess. You get that jolt of electricity even at the mere sight of him, after all. What’s not gleeful in that?

So, to my crush:

I don’t even know if you’ll have the chance to read all this nonsense, however, please know that you have caught my eye. It was unexpected because usually, I wouldn’t look at guys like you. Normally, I wouldn’t single you out from the crowd. Not so long ago, I have used several adjectives to describe you, including “childish” and “retard-ish”. But I was completely wrong, and in turn, though quite embarrassing to admit, I swallowed what I said. You must know that the guys I would typically prefer are not half the man you are. Also know that I have technically been stalking you, all thanks to the internet, especially Facebook, and the few common friends we have. Although there’s really no likelihood of you having the same feelings as I have, there’s a small spark of wishful thinking inside me. I hope you understand. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, I just woke up one morning and realized that you’re absolutely amazing.

I utterly feel like a kid with a teenage crush. And I think it's okay. It's alright to be happy even just for a while.

My Take On The Ruffa-Kris Issue

2010-03-08T03:34:00.000-08:00

I got so curious about this latest buzz that I found myself watching and reviewing the YouTube video of The Buzz that Sunday, where it all started.

Just an opinion.

The conversation was open and no one hit below the belt. The way I see it, there occurred no 'pambabara'. I heard no rude comments or hit-backs from Kris. It was an all-good, fierce but fair, exchange of thoughts. Everyone, even Ruffa, pitched-in their point of view.

Let me quote some lines of a blog post by DJ Mo Twister, which was reblogged by Chuvaness.com:

"Just a few days ago she told me personally that the working environment there is uncomfortable and at times a power struggle or a over display of "power" which almost makes it unbearable. So it's not a surprise to me that she is leaving."

Here is my two-cents worth of this. If she (Ruffa) feels there is a 'power struggle' in the working atmosphere, she should step-up her game and compete, too. Channel the energy positively, that's it. This is a competitive world, and to survive, especially in their industry, one must showcase the very best of his/her capabilities and seek further advancement. Theirs is an awfully cutthroat trade, so to withstand everything that comes along, showbiz people really have to stand the pace. And if the display of power is agonizing, let's go to the cliched saying everyone in show-business always quote: "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen".

Annabelle Rama's reaction, I totally understand, though the display was quite callow and gauche. She is a mother, and every mother feels the hurt their offspring bears. And I agree with Jobert Sucaldito's statement, when he said that Kris did nothing wrong.

That's all.

Just my judgment though. :D

Like vs. Love

2010-03-08T00:53:00.000-08:00

Got this from Budjette Tan's blog.

True enough, "like" is "love" only drowned by a solvent of so many things taken into consideration. Like is second-rate, only because it refuses to be dictated. It's all there is to offer, and nothing more.

A dose of vitriol

2010-03-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

Aja's leaving for the States this Friday, we're all going to miss her. So much. I feel so bad, I don't have a send-off present for her; and I can't join the girls (and guys) to the airport to send Aja off, because I'll be traveling that day too. I hope to see her again soon, really soon. I miss my friend already.

Leila, Ayeenda, and I have officially become "dudes". Let me give a direct quote from the movie, (500) Days of Summer, to explain how this happened.

McKenzie: [drunk] So do you have a boyfriend?

Summer: No.

McKenzie: Why not?

Summer: Because I don’t want one.

McKenzie: Come on; I don’t believe that.

Summer: You don’t believe that a woman could enjoy being free and independent?

McKenzie: Are you a lesbian?

Summer: [laughing] No I’m not a lesbian. I just, don’t feel comfortable being anyone’s girlfriend. I don’t actually feel comfortable being anyone’s anything.

McKenzie: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Summer: Really?

McKenzie: Nope.

Summer: Ok, let me break it down for you–

McKenzie: Break it down!

Summer: Ok. I, like being on my own. I think relationships are messy and people’s feelings get hurt. Who needs it? We’re young, we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world; might as well have fun while we can and, save the serious stuff for later.

McKenzie: You’re a dude. [to Tom] She’s a dude!

Tom: Ok but wait–wait. What happens, if you fall in love?

[she scoffs]

Tom: What?

Summer: You don’t believe that, do you?

Tom: It’s love, it’s not Santa Claus.

You see? This is how we think, and this is what we believe in. Well, at least for now. But of course we have a slight idea of what's coming at us. We know that one day, someday, we will find someone who would completely, utterly, sweep us off our feet and make us fall deeply, madly in love. And when that time comes, we're going to hurt like or more than our friends. And, yes, maybe we will eat our words and be converted. We are well aware that it's to happen. Maybe not today, but soon. It is truth acknowledged that cynics or non-believers don't stay the way they are forever. They change, because people do change.

On other matters ...

The truth bites, it hurts.

My sister and her debating team are now in the final four of the National Debate Tournament. So technically, they are one of the country's top four debate teams. Such a historical accomplishment not only for our university and the team, but also for the entire region.

Updates and progress on how they are doing in the nationals I post on my Facebook account (Facebook again). Not only because I am damn proud of them being my sister's older and only sister, but also because I owe people an account of their ladder success. I had to inform their friends, including the people who know them, of their state. And because not everyone's in Twitter, Facebook is obviously the most practical way to go.

Yesterday, I posted the debate team's triumph as my status. Many liked and commented, saying their congratulations and wishes of good luck for the final round. I replied to my sister's fellow student council officer, giving him a summary of what the team went through: that they had less than 24 hours to make and complete their speeches, let alone to practice; with only an hour of sleep, they still managed to pull-out their magic, and the date of the championship. That was all. I had the luxury and every right to do so, it was my wall after all.

Then this gay person I know managed to poke his nose in and gave quite an unfriendly, sour, and sore comment. I was sort of disappointed at his lack of etiquette and breeding. Without any intention of hurting his feelings, I spoke my mind and commented back: "Well, it's not my problem anymore. This is MY wall. You're just dipping yourself in." In my defense, I was just saying the truth. It was my wall and I can post whatever I want as long as they don't break the rules of conduct. Then he commented back that he was miffed by my reply and all that. So I told him that I was merely pointing out a fact universally accepted about personal walls. Then he answered back, "If you don't like it, you can just delete it or delete me in your friends list. My comment is my comment". I didn't bother to reply. What for?

Wait a second ... Was the vitriol unpleasant? *sarcasm thick*

So maybe he was insulted by what I wrote. And, yes, I admit, I have a sharp tongue --- I speak my mind, sometimes maybe too much. But the thing is, practicing a little respect and manners wouldn't hurt even just once, right? I have never, and I would never do what he did. I think sharing other people's happiness wouldn't burn a person. I just don't know why a friendly remark wouldn't do. Maybe I really did give him a dose of his own medicine.

Saying the truth is something I do. Was his ego just shattered because he didn't expect me to write something he anticipated --- a meek reply, like a "Ha-ha"or a "Whatever"? It might be that I caught him off-guard. Or did I break his pride when I pointed out a sheer truth, which at that point, he can't accept? Or was karma astonishingly fast? Was he unable to bear the taste of his own medicine?

Before playing with fire, make sure you are flame-proof. Sometimes we say things, only to end up eating what we said; or worse, slapped by it. Reality bites. The truth is acidic. Giving remarks should be handled with caution. We don't want to be fried in our own oil. And we don't want a mortifying experience of ingesting our own bile, do we?

I hope this serves as a reminder. Enjoy your day! :)

A boring update

2010-02-19T02:03:00.000-08:00

It's very obvious that I have failed to update this blog, and it has occurred to me that I do so even if I am not in the mood to write. Yes, I'm having a very long writers block slash writing break. So anyway ...

I feel that my mind is rotting away because of my lack of reading these past few months. I know I need a new book, but every time I go the bookshop, there's nothing that could somehow feed the intellectual hunger I am suffering from. I've read a few books, but most them were fiction with nothing much to ponder on and exchange opinions with with friends.

Is it me or are bookstores just overflowing with too much fiction and non-fiction leisure books these days? Yes, I do think some non-fiction books are not that meaty, I don't know why. I can't seem to find any interesting titles these days. Or maybe I should go out next week to check if there's anything that could catch my fancy.

In a matter of days, my sister and the rest of the University Debating team, and a few significant others, are traveling to debate for Nationals; they call the whole event PRISAA, though I don't know what it stands for. I would've loved to come, too bad I can't, teehee.

Yesterday afternoon was my teaching demo for the Graduate School. My panel said I was good and that I'm okay for teaching. But what I was really looking for was the exact phrase, "You're hired". A friend who was given a few teaching loads recently, said that was it --- I'm hired. And one of the panel told me that the office will just call me for my load. So, it does mean I'm hired, right? I'm still a little confused (boohoo); because as I said, I was looking for the "You're hired" dialogue and all that. So now I'm praying that I'll be given my first teaching load soon.

I think I need a new environment. The normalcy of daily living has become monotonous.

Remember Me

2010-02-12T05:04:00.000-08:00

On March 12, I want to rush off to the theater with my friends and watch this movie.

=\

2010-02-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

Good things have happened for the past couple of days. I want to blog about them, I really do. But because I am not feeling very well at the moment, maybe some other time, soon. But I promise to share those with you.

I'm feeling really out of sorts right now, and I don't know why. Although I want to explain it, I find it hard to do so. It's quite a mix of emotions. I feel irritated, annoyed, and depressed; at the same time, there's this sense of gloom with a strong hint of being in a limbo. Again, I don't know exactly why I feel this way.

I hope all this comes to an end because it's quite exhilarating.

Freakin' AMAZING

2010-01-26T03:59:00.000-08:00

Two words: Freakin' amazing!!!

They just brought the awe in AWESOME. I should really watch them in person! :D

They make me super duper proud to be PINOY --- Cebuano!!!

Oh, and Will Devaughn, wonderful job hoisting the Martin Luther picture. You look fanstastic!

What's up

2010-01-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

For the past few months, I have been living a life similar to that of a hermit's. Well, not only me, but a few friends as well. Because the world is dumping so many tasks, issues and ects on our shoulders, we have found a little refuge on spending the morsel of time left in our own bubble. The equation has been like that since, I think, the last half of 2009.

The world has seen less of me. I haven't been in public for quite some time now, and frankly, I enjoyed the time and space I have given myself. But, no matter how much I enjoyed "me" time, I owe so much to a lot of people. And, I think, I owe myself as much. With that said, I am slowly breaking the recluse.

I wasn't around the Sinulog '10 mardi gras. So when I came back to Cebu, I was compelled to go out and chill, study, eat, and karaoke with a few friends. It marked my turning point.

Because, as I said, I was on invisible mode for a couple of months, many have been wondering what I'm currently up to. In a nutshell, and in random they are:

a) Doctorate studies - This is the culprit of my social absence. It has been stressing me out since day one. I am almost halfway done, and I really hope I finish. After this, I will be rewarding my self with a long vacation --- I do think I deserve it.

b) Family stuff - I've been running countless errands for the family lately, hence the recent travels. I'm proud to say that I'm doing quite well in being my parents' partner in keeping everyone, and every concern in the family organized. :)

c) State board - Yes, I am reviewing for another licensure exam. Though I've just started, it would be such a treat if I get to take and pass before the year ends. My parents have decided to send me off to another country for such, the idea of travel is making me all giddy and thrilled! :D

d) Asian tour - I'm having my passport prepared! The details are still in the works but I'm super excited!!! Who doesn't love to travel? :P

That's quite about it. The reason why I haven't been in touch with the rest of the world in a while is because of these. A and C are weights I am trying to juggle with as much finesse and dexterity. It's quite a life, but I'm pulling things together and doing what I can to stitch loose ends. Sometimes I lose balance and suffer defeat. But the light at the end of the tunnel is what comforts and keeps me going.

I leave you with my 2010 motto (courtesy of Mark Gosingtian). Have a great day ahead! :D

New Year Handbook

2010-01-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

An uncle gave me this note that's absolutely a perfect year-starter. I think this is better than coming up with the proverbial New Year's Resolutions that are, more often, forgotten as soon one begins to carry them out. I loved and enjoyed every bit of it. I hope you will, too.

Health :

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality :

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree ...

Society :

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life :

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least :

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

*** I did number 40 by posting, it would be great if you follow suit. Let's spread the cheer and most importantly, try to start the year right. God bless and, once again, a blessed and fruitful 2010 be ahead of us!

1st for 2010 :D

2010-01-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

I guess it’s a little too late for me to greet you with a Merry Christmas, since the holidays are over. But, I’d like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous year ahead. Happy New Year!

I couldn’t find time to blog or even tweet during the yuletide season. It was a very busy Christmas for me and my family. There wasn’t a day where we were able to sit down and relax for an entire afternoon. I don’t quite get exactly why we were busy as bees during the season, but we were. Occupied and jolly; doing this and that, going here and there. Recalling the quality time I spent with my family is such a treat, I’d like to share some of the ‘events’ that transpired at our home.

One night, just a few days after my siblings and I arrived, Papa decided to make a family affair of his piggy bank withdrawal. The piggy bank was, I think, a give-away from one of his Medical Representatives. It’s colored a sunny yellow. A few months back, Papa started to fill it with 5- and 10-peso coins. December was the perfect time to get all the coins out; we decided that the money raised will be used for our holiday expenses. We gathered around our dining table as the coins were shaken out from the piggy’s belly. We counted and grouped the coins into hundreds. It was amazing how it reached +5,000! It was such a happy and proud moment for everyone. What saving your coins can do! The piggy bank is a tradition in the making.

The piggy bank is now empty and Papa just started filling it. Mama is also planning to have her own piggy bank. I’m looking forward to Christmas 2010  Hmmm … maybe I’ll drop my coins in a piggy bank of my own too.

Being the family’s cook, I tried to experiment with the dishes I prepared every meal and especially during Noche Buena and Buena Noche. The two special dinners was something I made a big production of. This year’s Buena Noche, however, was my sister’s first assembly, I was sick and so my job was to supervise her cooking. She did extremely well; we all loved her pansit and fruit salad.

My kitchen trials taught me that basil leaves have such a strong flavor, a very, very small number of leaves will do. That when making my apple wanton, I should mix a little sugar in the filling since my family’s not really a fan of cinnamon. And I also realized that using Sesame oil to fry my meats enhances the flavor.

This year, I was able to cook new dishes for the entire family to try and critique. Now, I have recipes I can call my own because of the modifications I made. Some of these dishes are: omelet, fish cake, tuna carbonara, spaghetti, lomi, fried prawns, pansit, and bangus daing. Also, I was able to perfect my mocha bars after two attempts to bake it right, hurrah for me! I was so happy to see my parents love it. Already I’m planning for the dishes and desserts I want to serve when I visit home, and, of course, for the holidays.

Recalling these and the many memories of home cure my homesickness.

Yes, I am missing home. I miss how I am able to take care of my parents --- cooking, running errands and doing stuff with them. I’ll have to wait until February for my next visit; I’m looking forward to that.

My Favorite Escape

2009-12-15T17:53:00.000-08:00

I like to be alone a lot.

I love to be still --- freeze --- and just live in the moment. For me, getting lost in time, space, silence and tranquility is the best thing to do on a spare time. I have this playlist on my iPod that's pure Second Moon, Yiruma and YoYo Ma. Whenever I play it, I find my self slowly closing my eyes, exiting the current hour and place, and entering a realm of calm and quiet.

Drifting between the two different worlds of imagination and reality is what I constantly do. When the world where good things happen to me suddenly fade and things are blurry and I feel choked with the madness of the real world, or when I simply want to feel the beauty of stillness and serenity and just enjoy the twinkling of the seconds, I perform this version --- my version --- of meditation. With it, I am able to gift my self with an ephemeral subconscious exodus.

Fleeing does not entirely mean wholly abandoning reality. As often as not, it's just getting yourself that pause you need for you to gather the substantial energy necessary to be able to face the everyday and its brass tracks.

When getting ourselves a much needed vacation is impossible, we can always leave the here and now and get back to it after a while. :)

OMG Facts

2009-12-12T20:20:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day, yes?

So anyway, since I haven't any interesting personal occurrence within the last 24 hours worth enough posting here, I'd like to share little facts that I thought would make you smile. My sister and I found them at OMG Facts last night. Actually, she was the one who discovered the existence of OMG Facts, I just followed suit. We had so much fun reading all the fascinating and attention-grabbing information posted that we slept really, really, really late --- dawn!

I hope you enjoy as much as we did! :)

The kiss that is given by the bride to the groom at the end of the wedding ceremony originates from the earliest times when the couple would actually make love for the first time under the eyes of half the village!

6 December is St Nicholas’s Day – the first of the gift giving days, especially in Holland and Belgium.

Bulls are colorblind, therefore they will charge at any colored cape waved at them, be it red or neon green.

Bill Gates designed a traffic control system for Seattle when he was only 15 years old.

In a public bathroom, the stall which is closest to the door is usually the cleanest, because it's the least used.

It's illegal to own a red car in Shanghai, China.

A group of Kangaroos is called a mob.

A group of Owls is called a parliament.

Polar bears can swim 60 miles without pausing for a rest.

Dracula is the most filmed story of all time. OF ALL TIME.

Fewer divorces occur in families in which the children wake their parents before 6 a.m. on Saturdays.

Moths are unable to fly during an earthquake.

In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her husband if he cheats on her.

A snail can sleep for three years.

The first YouTube video was entitled "Me at the zoo", and shows founder Jawed Karim at San Diego Zoo.

President George W. Bush and Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner are cousins.

Walmart-mart sells more apparel a year than all the other competing department stores combined.

Crocodiles never outgrow the place they live. If you put a baby-croc in an aquarium, it would be little for the rest of it's life.

The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.

The average life expectancy of an enemy soldier in a Chuck Norris film is 4 seconds.

Cold water helps burn calories. Your body has to heat up the water to absorb it. Heating the water up is what burns the fat.

Turtles can breathe through their butts.

"Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

Beetles taste like apples, wasps taste like pine nuts, and worms taste like fried bacon.

Abraham Lincoln faces to the right on a penny while all the other presidents face to the left on US coins.

For more of these fun-filled, very informative, although seemingly useless facts, please go visit OMG Facts. You will finds tons of minute inquiries and small nothings there! 'Til next time! Blessed day everyone! Enjoy the rest of this day! :D

Climate change alert

2009-12-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

I just had to reblog this. I hope we all learn something and make that change this earth and the human race severely call for. :D

Tik Tok Tik Tok

robcham:

Yesterday, I attended the one of the school talks of Tik Tok Pilipinas at Ateneo. I was kind of disappointed at the small number of people that showed up, most of whom were just from Loyola Film Circle.

Even if the school has implemented a number of environmental friendly policies, such as BYOB, getting rid of styrofoam and disposable containers, the segregation of trash, it’s just within the school. I just know that my fellow Atenistas ,being the elitists bastards we are, just don’t really care about the environment, or how we are all about to die horrible deaths because of our inadequate use of resources and buttfuckery. Look upon yourselves. How many of you drive around in large SUVs by yourself or with your driver just going to school? CARPOOL DAMMIT COMMUTE! etc etc OH WE ARE SO DEAD.

I learned a number of things:

Because of our carelessness, we are fucked. We are seriously fucked.
Global Warming isn’t the main problem now. Climate Change is. We have fucked up so bad that we caused the climate to actually start changing. Instead of the old, “OH WE ARE MAKING THE EARTH WARMER, WE MIGHT CHANGE THE CLIMATE! IT WILL FUCK US UP!” The weather, literally, is changing, and will fuck us up. We have gone beyond the point of no return.
All the carbon emissions we make today last for over 50 years. That greenhouse gas won’t go away til we are most probably old or dead. And we are pretty much going to suffer through the drastic changes throughout our lifetimes. We are so fucked.
Things are worse than we think.

It scared the fuck out of me. What exactly are we doing? What the hell are we doing? Why the hell are people ignoring this? We can’t really be as carefree and ignorant with all this shit on the table!

We’ve heard this talk about Global Warming and Climate Change a lot of times before (everyone has seen An Inconvenient Truth, yes?), and yes I started segregating trash, I stopped driving my car, I walk to school mostly, but then they tell me that OKAY WE ARE FUCKED. Climate change is happening. The world is dying.

People. are. dying.

and we are going to die. WE ARE GOING TO DIE. because we are too stubborn to do anything beyond our comfort zone. You can either keep on doing what you are doing and well pretty much kill half the planet, your friends, family, fellow men, and pretty much everything you love.

or you can actually change. Help us NOT DIE HORRIBLE DEATHS OF FLOODS AND INTENSE HEATWAVES AND CATACLYSMIC NATURAL DISASTERS.

so here. please, do change.

From the Tik Tok blog

1. Disengage.
This also applies to transformers and voltage regulators. When left plugged or on standby, your home appliances are still using energy – and that’s energy you pay for that benefits no one. Hitting that power button and unplugging your appliances when not in use saves you roughly P2300 a year.

2. Whip out the clothesline.
Forego the clothes dryer and hang your laundry out in the sun to dry instead. Clothes dryers average 1,600 watts of energy per hour, so if you wash and dry your clothes every two weeks, that computes to around P120 slashed off your monthly electric bill.

3. Eat everything on your plate.
Or at least just take, cook or buy only as much food as you can finish. Uneaten food that goes straight to the garbage adds to the trash you produce, and when you reduce food waste you automatically decrease your carbon emissions.

4. Check your tire pressure constantly.
Optimal tire pressure helps your car burn fuel more efficiently. If you own a car and are looking to get more mileage from your vehicle, keeping your tires inflated right hits two birds with one stone – it reduces your carbon emissions while giving you more value for money.

5. Keep a close watch on your air filter.
Score another one for the motorists: replacing or cleaning out your air filters also helps your use your fuel more efficiently. You can have this done along with your tire pressure adjustments whenever you have your oil changed.

6. Better yet, travel on two wheels, or on your own two feet.
Walking or biking beats a fuel efficient vehicle every time. Because neither mode of transport requires the burning of fossil fuels, choosing the heel over the steering wheel is the best way to cut back on carbon while still getting to your destination.

7. The matter of meat.
Most Pinoys love eating meat so much that it’s a non-negotiable, even when it comes to climate advocacy. However, the slightest reduction in meat consumption can still impact your total carbon emission, so for every week, make at least 3 to 5 meals meat-less. Remember, a little effort goes a long way!

8. Spare the pulp.
Rainforests are Mother Nature’s very own carbon dioxide regulating systems. Without their gallant stewardship, we wouldn’t be here today! We need to keep them alive and flourishing if we want to stay in the game. So be it tissue, a note pad, office documents, paper coffee cups, or store paper bags, think twice – there is always an alternative to paper!

9. Lighten up.
You’ve probably deduced by now that the more fuel or energy efficient you are, the less carbon dioxide emissions you make. The same rule stands for lighting – fluorescent bulbs trump incandescent bulbs every time, which is win-win for everyone since it’s both carbon and cost efficient.

10. Shop wisely.
On your grocery or mall run, bring a sizable canvas tote and stash everything you buy inside. This saves you and the businesses you support on plastic bags. This habit not only reduces your waste but also lessens the need for production of problematic plastic.

so please, don’t be twats.

get involved

you’d fuckin reblog about my useless shit but not about me talking about doing something about the environment?

SPREAD THE WORD!

scraped :(

2009-12-10T06:06:00.000-08:00

They're much more worse than these :(

Today I scraped my knees really, REALLY BAD :(

The last time my knees were scraped was when I was still in grade school, second grade!

I'm not a clumsy person. I have good balance, strength and stamina. But why does this have to happen today?
Why today when I was just asked out on a date tonight and for a special event tomorrow?
WHY???

I get paper cuts almost every time I go on duty while I prepare medications. It's okay because they're just mere paper cuts.
This would have been okay if I was not asked out.

Great. Just great :(

22!

2009-12-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

Today I am 22! Another year for me :)

A lot of things happened and they were all pretty special. First of, my parents and I heard dawn mass. The most important thing of all. Then, a big surprise came. Right after the mass, someone's mom approached and greeted me a happy birthday (with matching 'beso'), she also gave me ang pao! Shocking, surprising and really unexpected. Their family and my family have been friends, but not close. I've never seen Tita in such a long time; I think I last saw her when I was still a high schooler. Her son I last saw during our high school graduation. After that, there was no communication or anything within that scope. I really was pretty amazed at what transpired during that 10-minute event. I never expected such to happen!

Also today: after 22 years of service, the family fridge was allowed to retire. It was bought just 2 days before I was born! It has been serving the family for 22 years --- even after it was slightly damaged after the 1991 flash flood! I salute our fridge, whose brand has been faced out already. Now, it's new shelter is our dirty kitchen. I will miss thee, but I know it needs to claim the long overdue rest it sure deserves.

Mum gave me a very nice gift! I needed it badly! I've also been told that an uncle is due to give me a full volume of this book series, now TV series, I'm following. I'm pretty excited with that! I can't wait to open its package and start reading!

The nuns gave me a miniature statue of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. It may be the sign that I need to do novenas in her honor. Based on my experience, she's one of the saints that answers prayers quickly. Really.

I'm not really fond of celebrating my birthday. Hearing mass and being greeted by the people I hold close to my heart is enough for me. This year was different. My birthday celebration was more of an act of charity. I'm glad I came home for it.

I think this is all for now. I'm really not in the mood to blog at the moment, but since I was reminded that I should not neglect this 'obligation', here I am tapping away on the keyboard, trying to make as decent a post every blogger is bound.

To all those who greeted me on this very special day, THANK YOU SO MUCH! It means a lot to me! :D And to all those who are celebrating the same birthday as I am, a very happy birthday to you! :D

Big question

2009-11-30T04:41:00.000-08:00

Life in itself is full of mystery. We unveil some of these secrets and sometimes, we go on, living, not even getting close to unraveling them.

I've heard someone say that every 25 million years, people go back to the world, in the form of a new human being. Some even say that every living individual in the world today was someone who once strolled the earth. This matter is wrapped in the context of reincarnation.

While we are in the subject of, I have one question: have you ever had bizarre memories of events, places and just about anything that has got nothing to do with the life and time you are in?

Well, I have. And it's bugging me lately. These flashes aren't irksome, but my curiosity is. My mind has this strong desire to uncover what these memoirs are. I feel like I would gain a broader understanding of my persona if I get a grasp on who I was. I really want to know where and who I am then, but as sorting this matter is quite pricey, not to mention tricky, I'll have to wait. It doesn't matter, just as long as one day I get my answers.

I'm really hoping that I'll get to fathom myself more when the day comes that I discover what they call my "past life" is all about. Nothing will be taken away from me if I believe in this spiritual theme. And besides, there are many whose "past lives" are more manifested than mine. A friend told me that all this is scary. But it's cool. Really.

For a little insight on what I am getting from little increments of those flashes, welcome the pictures.

I'm really in a hurry, so I've got to go now. 'Til then! :)

Cutie cute cute :D

2009-11-25T23:24:00.000-08:00

Found it at Mark's blog. Made me smile :)

This lively pet hamster will keep you company throughout the day. Watch him run on his wheel, drink water, and eat the food you feed him by clicking your mouse. Click the center of the wheel to make him get back on it.

When shrews fall in love

2009-11-25T00:22:00.000-08:00

Even the most cynical, tough and heartless person can hurt badly when they fall in love.

I have broken up with guys. I've seen my friends break up with their better halves, and partners breaking up with them. Majority of break-up scenes turn out quite the usual: the kind where people lament over the relationship that was and could be, where Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' 5 stages of grieving can be applied --- (DABDA) denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally, acceptance. This is the archetypal acknowledgement. Expected. However, only few breakups drive out straightaway recognition; one moves on and continues living, like no break-up ever happened. Quite rare actually, but something common to me and a handful of friends --- females, of course --- the "Summer Finn" types.

To those not in the know, "Summer Finns" are ladies who enjoy being free and independent. Women who love being single; attaching themselves to someone is not a problem and detaching is likewise. (For further reference, I suggest you do a little research on the following characters: Katharina the Shrew, Kat Stratford and Summer Finn)

So anyway, these "Summer" friends of mine, me included, we have never fallen in love. Never. But today, today was different. A treasured cold-blooded just took a bite from a slice of love's cake.

Lessons learned. Even if (for us Summers) enjoying is for the here and now and serious stuff are for later, no one really knows. We don't know when we will fall in love, we can't control its coming either. We will just know, and when we do, most of the time we are caught ill-equipped. No one is spared from the hurt and sacrifice that comes with love. Skeptics are not invincible, their hearts also bleed and break when pierced by a sword. Misanthropists, shrews, can be tamed. Someday, someone, or something, will do just that.

Another realization. Heartbreak is an odd kind of pain because you're not dying, you're not even sick. For all intents and purposes, you are perfectly fine. Yet inside where your heart used to be, you hurt so much that you can't breathe, you can't sleep, and you can't stop the tears from falling. You may eat too much, you may not eat at all. Non-smokers light up, non-drinkers find a bar. A broken heart is the world's greatest equalizer. Because it can bring the strongest man to his knees.

Indeed.

Huzzah Efren!

2009-11-22T00:26:00.000-08:00

CONGRATS EFREN!!! You're the man! Go PINOY! :) Sooo proud!

(CNN) -- Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.

CNN's Anderson Cooper revealed Peñaflorida's selection at the conclusion of the third-annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night.

The gala event, taped before an audience of 3,000 at the Kodak Theatre, premieres on Thanksgiving, November 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the global networks of CNN.

The broadcast, which honors the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009, features performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis.

Peñaflorida, who will receive $100,000 to continue his work with the Dynamic Teen Company, was selected after seven weeks of online voting at CNN.com. More than 2.75 million votes were cast.

"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry," Peñaflorida said upon accepting the honor. "Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.

"So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."

The top 10 CNN Heroes, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations, were each honored with a documentary tribute and introduced by a celebrity presenter. Each of the top 10 Heroes receives $25,000.

"With the recognition they receive on our stage," said Cooper, who hosted the tribute, "they'll be able to help thousands and thousands of people. Through their efforts, lives will be changed and lives will be saved."

Maxwell sang "Help Somebody" from his first album in eight years, 'BLACKsummers'night.'

Lewis, a three-time Grammy nominee, performed "Happy," from her second album, "Echo."

All three performances echoed the spirit of the CNN Heroes campaign, which salutes everyday people whose extraordinary accomplishments are making a difference in their communities and beyond.

Presenters included Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

"This record number of nominations is further evidence of the momentum CNN Heroes has built in just a few short years," said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide.

"Viewers have been engaged by these stories of inspiration and accomplishment beyond our expectations. It is truly an honor to be able to introduce the CNN Heroes to our global audience every year."

Again this year, producer/director Joel Gallen served as executive producer of "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." Among his credits, Gallen produced telethon events supporting victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, winning an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award for "America: A Tribute to Heroes."

The Kodak Theatre is best known as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards.

Click here for source and full story :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

Huzzah! It's that time of the year again ... yes Christmas, but what I meant was Thanksgiving. Big yummy stuffed turkey and or roasted chicken, sumptuous delectable pastries, and not to forget, the pumpkin pie! Indeed, it's Thanksgiving once more.

With Thanksgiving dinners, everyone is encouraged to share those precious events they are most thankful for for the year. But we shouldn't wait for this time of the year to come around for us to say and express our thank you-s. Everyday we should be grateful for all the blessings we receive --- big or small.

There are a of lot things we are to be thankful for, and here's three that's worth every ounce of merriment: life, family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :)

Here's a link to what I wrote for Thanksgiving last year.

Are you?

2009-11-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

Got this from Mark Gosingtian :)

New Moon

2009-11-20T05:11:00.000-08:00

Today's the premiere for the movie New Moon. Good thing I got ticket reservations or my siblings and I would've suffered from the horrendous, crazy and very looong line at the ticketing counter. The theater was full. And I mean FULL.

The movie turned out to be awesome. Better than Twilight --- the first installment of the saga. And even better than the book, I must say. But that's just me.

I love the colors used, the cinematography all in all. The Volturi scenes and the wolf pack scenes were my favorites. The stunts and fight scenes were, hands down, very cool.

The essence of every key event in the book was captured. Nothing that big was lacking for the people who have read the book to be able to notice. Of course everyone went "Awwww MORE!!!" at the end of the movie with that one line that had the power to hold the audience's breath, enough to make all those who left the theater say "Gosh it'll be another year 'til Eclipse". Enough to have everyone anticipate and already pine for November 2010. And what that one line is, you'll have to go find out for yourselves. Plus, it has all the elements guys would definitely love in a movie. Which goes to say that this is not a girly girl movie.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon was dazzling! I hope the good people at Summit and the crew and staff behind the production of make the upcoming movies uphill. It was really cool and fun guys, you should go watch the movie.

Oh, and by the way, the wolf pack --- Embry, Paul, Quil, Sam ... okay Jake included --- they are just H-O-T! All of them! Good job casting directors! Woot woot! :)

Chocolates in my sock

2009-11-17T19:52:00.000-08:00

It was a tradition that vanished along with my Lola's passing.

Yes, apart from being a Daddy's girl, I too am a Lola's girl. Even as a little child of 5, I was always eager to take part in and experience the wonders of Christmas. My eyes would light up as I take in all the decorations I see in the places I go. I would help out in Noche Buena preparations, and just enjoy the atmosphere of the Yuletide season. And ever since, I already knew that Christmas would be my favorite time of the year.

The tradition is this. Just days before Christmas, my Lola (mother of my father) would tell me to hang a sock underneath the staircase, near the tree. She'd tell me about Santa Claus and what he has in store for good little girls like me. I would obey dutifully without any questions and hesitations, hang a sock and wonder what time Santa would come around to visit.

The next morning when I had already awaken, she would tell me to go check my sock to see if Santa has rewarded me for being a good girl. I would hurry to where my little sock was, full of excitement and anticipation. I would jump up and down in glee knowing that Santa considered me a good kid because of the chocolates he left inside my sock.

Lola would then take me to the dining area and tell me to always be a good and loving kid. My entire day would be spent looking at my chocolates and eating them slowly, one after another, as I would sing songs to Lola while she does her magic in the kitchen. As the night would again approach, I would find myself anticipating for Santa's visit as I slumber.

I miss Lola.

Royce' -- Choco love!

2009-11-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, Mom (my aunt, I call her Mommy/Mom; I call my mother Mum or Ma) sent me a message asking what brand of chocolates I want for pasalubong. I was still half-asleep when my mobile beeped but when I read her message, I immediately got up. No kidding. So I replied, "Mommy :) Of course ROYCE' ... and you can also buy Patchi chocolates for me :) Thank you, thank you! Mwaaah! ;p" I love, love, love chocolates!!! Super!!!

I can't wait for my pack of Royce' and Patchi (if she does not decide to put me on a diet, hehe!). All this choco love is hyping me up. Sooo excited for the day those Royce' chocolates will land in my hands!

That's the spirit!

2009-11-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

I found this written in a tiny piece of paper, sandwiched between papers of importance, all together stashed in my big day-to-day bag.

Our humanity is exhibited in the different emotions --- affect and mood that open us to the worlds of vulnerability and invincibility, unconsciously or otherwise. Hence we say, "I'm just human."

However, even if we are indeed imperfect mortals, that does not mean we have to allow ourselves to resign in our flaws. This should not stop us from reaching the stars. They say, "Great people are ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination" --- amen to that! As a matter of fact, the word "extraordinary" comes from two words: ordinary and extra ... but it is the "extra" that makes all the difference.

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

For quite a long time now, I haven’t written anything smart nor worth reading. It’s not a writer’s block; it’s one of those uncanny events that occur like clockwork, many times in a year, debilitating my pursuit to better my writing. One day you’re writing escalates to that pretty-damn-good-creditable-to-be-proud-of level. The next, you’re back to being that mousy person who tries to write but can’t come up with anything close to adequate. Is it just me, or does this come to pass other people as well?

I pick up my pen and start to scribble in my journal --- nothing. I rest my fingers in the laptop’s keys; stare at the monitor, and still nothing. It’s just so hard to start something you have no idea where and what to begin with. This eerie motley emotion of feeling insipid, riled, fraught, poignant and dejected all at the same time has given me the margin to long for the days when I considered my writing good.

The month is about to end and I still got nothing in my hands good enough for posting, let alone, an application entry for the Stegner Fellowship Program at Stanford University. I envy my Uncle Bong for his staunch ability and dedication to the craft of writing, not that we both went to college to study the art of. You should read his blog and or his column, by the way; his material’s really good.

Speaking of getting into a formal writing school; sometimes I find myself at the brink of asking my parents to support this little yet grand, and seemingly lackadaisical, quest of mine. It’s funny how unrealistic dreaming attacks you time and again, unguarded. I have to constantly make a conscious effort to nail my bubble firmly on the ground.

Well, here’s to grabbing another shot at trying to become the better, if not the best, writer I could be. I may still be a novice at this, but I'm going to try. My inadequacy ain't stopping me (that's the spirit!). Great writers started out as, what, students. Zero to Hero, here I come.

Notte Sento

2009-11-11T22:05:00.000-08:00

Maria and I were sharing indie and foreign films and music.

This one's splendid. A short film of a girl who missed her train to Milan and what transpired in her one night stay in Roma ... bravaccio! Grazie, Maria!

Hope you enjoyed! :)

On Wars

2009-11-04T04:37:00.001-08:00

Wise soldiers never wage wars sans battle plans and clear-cut military tactics.

One thing I learned from King Leonidas:
When you start something, make sure that other people don't finish it for you.

cute!

2009-11-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

The UP! kid, Russell, personified.

AWWW ... just sooooooooo CUTE!!!! :)

When People Throw Stones

2009-11-02T23:20:00.000-08:00

This must be your retaliation — love and truth for hatred and lies.

— Rudolph Stier

My siblings and I went home for a very short vacation. During our stay, we retreated to the Hermitage for unwinding, meditation and prayer. The family gathered one afternoon with Lola to talk and just enjoy each others company. My sister told Lola about the people who have been hounding her. This was her first time to tell Lola about this apprehension of hers, the rest of the family knew already.

When this pestering started, my sister's friends, the family and other people have told her, "No one would dare throw stones at a tree if they don't see fruits."

A few days ago, the same people gave my sister threats through text messages. Of course, I and the rest of the family's immediate reaction was anger. We were beyond belief in their going further overboard to cause my sister emotional and psychological unrest, considering that my sister does not even talk to them in class.

So we were there as my sister told Lola everything and how she feels with her current predicament. Lola listened quietly and hushed my sister who reduced into tears as she recanted and asked why this has been done unto her. She couldn't understand, actually, no one could; she had done nothing to anyone.

After hearing my sister, Lola got up and reached for the Bible. She then told us the story of King David and Shimei in 2 Samuel 16.

When King David came to Bahurim, a man called Shimei came out, cursing continuously as he come. And he threw stones at David and all the servants of the king. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

Shimei cursed: ” Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and and take off his head!”

And the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?”’

And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; For so the Lord has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look upon my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”

And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.

After the beautiful short story, Lola told us what the scripture was all about. She also told my sister that these perpetrators cannot attack her through her academics and extra school activities as she is one of the top students in her level and a Student Body leader --- these are obviously not her weak points; so to pull my sister down, they have to hit her heart. "This is God's way of purifying you, my dear", Lola said.

The best of life is swallowed up by the worst, and sometimes the worst comes in the form of mean-spirited strikes on our character. Yet, even heartless censure can be redemptive. God uses the worst that men can say about us to shape our character and strengthen us.

With what is happening to my sister, I also have a lot to thank her persecutors for.

a) I am thankful because had it not been for what they did, I would not be reminded of the value of patience and humility in times of troubles.

b) Their attacks have made me appreciate my sister and my family more. We are close, but our bond was further augmented because of this.

c) I have relearned the value of looking up to God in quietness and trust, and in completely resting myself in Him.

d) I am also reminded that justice is in God's hands, not in mine.

To end this, I would like to quote the chorus of the song "Still" by Hillsong United.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still
Know you are God

To all those who are in the same circumstance as my sister, always remember that pencils are sharpened to write beautifully. God is always there looking over us, He is just behind our back, we should trust in His loving goodness and mercy.

"Everything will be alright dear", Lola said when she called me a while ago.

Everything will be alright. Let us appreciate, not hate. Take care everyone! :)

(500) Days of Summer, a must-see!

2009-10-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

I have seen the movie a week before it was released in Philippine cinemas, much thanks to the wonders of streaming. Haha, yes, I cheated. Sorry. I just couldn't wait to watch the movie that when a friend told me I could stream it at this website, well, you already know what happens next when I get giddy.

So there I was that night, eyes glued to the monitor of my laptop, all ears and all senses in full attention to the awesome movie that is (500) Days of Summer.

For now, I will not write a review about thereof since my siblings and a lot of my friends have not seen the movie yet, and I'm planning to watch it again with them. But just to quash my need to recount and blab about the seemingly larger than life experience I had during that night where my body's need for sleep has become a subject unheard of, here are 10 random reasons why you should definitely watch the movie.

1) It is undeniably not your formulaic love story. The title itself connotes that Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer's (Zooey Deschanel) 'relationship' is bounded with a cutoff date.

2) The movie's tagline : "This is a story of boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn't." gives a play in the audience's mind, "Not a happy ever after?" So you wonder what really transpired between two individuals who look as if they were the happiest, perfect couple you ever saw.

3) As I mentioned in #1, this is not your hackneyed tale of love. But as the story unfolds, you begin to witness and realize that, you know, even things that the doctor has prescribed sometimes may not suit you. Nevertheless, there's always that better, if not best, drug for you.

4) Aside from the many lessons you learn, the movie is presented in a very witty way. As Rotten Tomatoes put it, "A clever, offbeat romantic comedy". By the way, this group of film critics gave (500) Days of Summer a rating of 88%.

5) Summer never believed in true love and does not want a boyfriend. Conversely, Tom did not share the same creed. So to the guys and the other people, male and female alike, who can't seem to understand girls like Summer --- girls like me --- this probably could open your eyes to twig this preference that make us 'different' in a society where most females are hopeless romantics.

6) Indie films, local and foreign, are just the best.

7) (500) Days of Summer is rich, entertaining and extraordinarily real.

8) It makes you appreciate the beauty of the other side of love and relationships ... and of course, life.

9) The soundtrack is awesooome.

10) The colors, art and cinematography are very cool. You just have to check it out, photographers, artists and film enthusiasts!

You have got to get your fill of this movie before the year ends! Epic --- the one word that describes the movie and the experience you get from it in a nutshell. Epic! I super love this movie :) (500) Days of Summer, beyond doubt a must-see!

DSWD's Response

2009-10-23T02:26:00.000-07:00

I'm just re-blogging this. I got it from Jenni Epperson's site :)

Could this finally be the response we're all looking for from DSWD?

Below is a repost from Ms. Gang Badoy of Rock Ed Philippines:

I got an SMS saying: This is DSWD Sec. Espie Cabral. May I call you?
Oct 23 2009 - approx: 930pm

I was so happy.

I immediately replied. My hunch was right, my friend Congresswoman Risa Hontiveros gave my contact number to the Dept of Social Welfare and Development Secretary. I told Risa if the lack of volunteers' is the reason why DSWD has not sent out the relief goods then she should call me. I know many private citizens who are willing to help out. And voila, she did.

Many are willing to pack and sort and look for options for delivery (as groups like WhiteSpace, TulongBayan, BalayExpo, Angel Brigade, LSGH, AdMU, Red Cross have been doing since typhoon Ondoy). Since the warehouses of DSWD are filling up with donations from overseas- then it is time they be delivered to the survivors. Families who are recovering and desperately rebuilding their lives from the recent onslaught brought about by the two typhoons.

Sec. Cabral and I talked and she mentioned that the DSWD is open 24 hours for workshifts so she agreed for us (private citizens via our NGO: Rock Ed Philippines) to try to come up with a shift-coordination-list of, at least, 50 volunteers per day - for Monday to Friday - 3pm-11pm.

I chose the time slot because it can fit in the schedule of students and young professionals. (somehow)

My request is this.

IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL --- Kindly email radio@rockedphilippines.org or info@rockedphilippines.org your name, contact number and available time shifts you can commit to. Or leave a message here on this post. Pls indicate if you need transportation - we can probably match pick up points or carpooling.

IF YOU HAVE A CLUB/ ORG/ BIBLE STUDY GROUP/ YOGA GROUP/ WHATEVER CLUB/ JAYCEES/ ROTARY/BARKADA/ OFFICE DEPARTMENT/ SCHOOL VARSITY TEAM or BARKADA ---any group that can actually commit 10 or more people for one night -- please send one collective email lang with all your names and identify your group leader to radio@rockedphilippines.org or info@rockedphilippines.org - or leave a message here on this post....and tell us the specific time and day your group can come. (I highly encourage this manner so that makes it easier for us to coordinate sched and you get to work with people you already know.)

IF YOU HAVE A BUS OR A VAN SERVICE THAT YOU CAN LEND FOR TRANSPO OF VOLUNTEERS FROM PICK UP POINTS IN QC, PASIG AND MAKATI TO PASAY - please email mike@rockedphilippines.org or info@rockedphilippines.org so we can coordinate the carpooling if needed.

IF YOU HAVE A TRUCK/VAN/DELIVERY PICK UP WILLING TO LEND TO DEPLOY BGY RELIEF PACKS -email sheila@rockedphilippines.org or may@rockedphilippines.org or mike@rockedphilippines.org

IF YOUR BARKADA IS WILLING BUT WILL NEED HELP WITH TRANSPO/ TRANSPO ALLOWANCE PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY - WAG MAHIHIYA- KAILANGAN NAMIN KAYO AT WILLING KAMING MANUNDO!! gang@rockedphilippines.org - hihingi tayo sa mga taong willing magdonate ng pamasahe ng mga studyante. :)

IF YOU HAVE NO TIME BUT HAVE EXTRA CASH - PLEASE DONATE SO WE CAN ARRANGE FOR SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPO FOR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL TO WAREHOUSE AND BACK. email me directly: gang@rockedphilippines.org or deposit to:

ROCK ED PHILIPPINES
BPI 3080-0073-44
Katipunan-Loyola Branch

Then msg me date of deposit and amount if you need an O.R. from Rock Ed.

Okay - with this one - we need obedient muscle - that's it. I will report to Sec. Espie Cabral first thing Monday afternoon -- I hope we have kind souls enlisted by then and a concrete shift list to send to her --otherwise... those goods will stay put in their warehouses as long as no one packs and delivers them out!

For additional info: +63917-7346742

If you're wondering where this action plan came from this is a reaction to the news that many warehouses are filling up with foreign donations and the deployment is not fast enough for people who are in dire need of resources to rebuild their lives. Or even just to exist with a little dignity while waiting for chances to rebuild come around.

Political leanings are not primary at this point. After the work is done - then we can go our separate ways again if that works for us. Personally, for now - I will be more than happy to help the government if that means more Filipinos get what's rightly theirs.

Thank you very much and I look forward to your generous response to this request for committed hours - I have a feeling efficiency is the key right now - and it's about time we try helping our DSWD out. This is new for all of us, but I have a feeling it's worth a shot.

I will report to Sec. Esperanza Cabral on Monday afternoon - I hope to have a decently-populated volunteer shift table by then.

Sincerely,

Ms. Gang Badoy
www.rockedphilippines.org

=================================================================

You might also want to check this site :)

"Take me out! I'm rotting here!" --- Relief goods at DSWD?

2009-10-23T01:09:00.000-07:00

When typhoon Ondoy and the rest of the storms that followed devastated millions of our Filipino brothers and sisters, the Bayanihan spirit in all of us sparked immediately without any delay. The Bayanihan spirit was super alive and kicking in every form we could imagine.

Blogs and other social netwoking sites like Facebook and Twitter displayed how full-forced our Bayanihan spirit was. A lot of Pinoys, even my friends who are based in the US, tweeted and RT-ed (re-tweeted) the important information about how fellow Filipinos can help.

Donations came in millions. And the world was not deaf to what our country pleaded, foreign countries and citizens showered us with very generous provisions for our victimized brothers and sisters.

An hour ago, I checked my TweetDeck and Twitter via web simultaneously for any update. Lo and behold! These are just three of the tweets I RT-ed, and if someone were to make it a trending topic, I swear it will be number one.

RT @jenniepperson: Good thing I was able to copy-paste 'Blog Ni Ella'. One word: BOOM! Read now na!" http://jenniepperson.com/. GO!

RT @ricoblanconews: can anyone contact the news channels&have them go to dswd warehouse NOW,find out & document what the hell is going on?4 minutes ago from TweetDeck

RT @AdeMagnaye: RT: @dementia: Donations coursed through DSWD never got to the victims http://bit.ly/bvNDb #pepeng #ondoy Spread the word!31 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Hold on a sec, what is happening here?

What's the score?
If you want to know a little background on this trending topic of sorts, please click here.

What is going on here? What's this all about?

To the good people at DSWD: Please clarify all of this. We need to be enlightened on this very disturbing and quite distressing matter.

I REALLY HOPE RICO BLANCO'S CALL FOR INVESTIGATION AND SCRUTINY WILL BE HEEDED.

With regards this concern, please also visit Manuel L. Quezon, III's site here and Jenny Epperson's here.

I AM ALARMED.

Birthday and Christmas Gift Ideas

2009-10-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

December is fast approaching:) I love Decembers. Actually, it’s my favorite month of the year because 1) The weather is really very good, 2) CHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR, and 3) It’s my birthday month!

In a few weeks time, my age will be just 3 years before I reach a quarter of a century old. Ever since I can remember, most of the time, my presents would always come as “in one” —- Birthday and Christmas gift in one. Like 3-in-1 coffee :) But as it happens, I have never and never will mind since I get awesome stuff.

I’m never one to broadcast and or stage a big birthday bash as I see this significant event when I said hello to the world for the first time as a special and intimate family moment. Hence, I celebrate it with only my family —- no guests and other ‘interlopers’, just me and my family. But of course, there are these rare times when I feel like sharing my special day with friends, so I treat them out.

So, my birthday and Christmas is coming. If you’re wondering what to get me, here are a few gift ideas that, I promise, won’t wound your wallets :)

1) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
2) Matchless: A Christmas Story by Gregory Maguire
3) Witch & Wizard by James Patterson (and Gabrielle Charbonnet)
4) Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
5) Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham

That’s just about it … for now. Hehehehe. Enjoy shopping for me! Hehehehe :)

A very kind heart will always be repaid by heaven, God bless you! :D

On Weddings

2009-10-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

A significant number of friends are getting married. :)

Just this evening, I found out that Philip and Dawn are engaged.WOW.

When the two lovebirds arrived for Jom’s birthday dinner, Dawn proudly showed her gorgeous ring to everyone. We were all amazed, we couldn’t believe it! To the altar at last! :)

Come November, Aja will tie the knot with her beloved better-half in a location wedding. Sadly, I can’t come due to circumstances I am not in control of.

CJ’s also getting married early next year, January was the schedule. Right now, he and Beth, his fiancee, are dead busy attending to all the preparations. The hassle of staging even just a simple, destination wedding is keeping the soon-to-be-newlyweds super preoccupied.

Rey and Tina will say their vows December of 2011. They will do it in our country, the Philippines. Yes, another location wedding. As early as now, they’re already making baby steps for the groundwork of the big day.

A close friend, Alfie, recently asked my help to organize his proposal. When we talked about his feelings and his plans, and when he showed me the ring, I couldn’t seem to keep myself from giving him a hug. During that entire talk, I felt like it was my brother who was getting married. It was really an “Awww” moment for me.

I thought of all the wedding news and invites I’ve been getting and I noticed that it hasn’t been a week since I talked and posted something about the subject of. It’s a little funny, I’ve been surrounded with weddings, wedding news and invites since the start of this year. I just hope this won’t be a sign that I’m going that direction sooner than planned and expected. Hahahaha. :)

To all my friends who will soon say their vows, CONGRATULATIONS!!! We’re all looking forward to a blessed, blissful marriage … and kids as soon as possible!!! Hehehehe. BEST WISHES!!! :)

What Happened To All The Nice Guys?

2009-10-21T05:22:00.001-07:00

Yeah, what really happened to them?

I saw this when someone I follow on Twitter tweeted it. The title is very catchy, and being the voracious reader that I am and owning that “always on” bulb of curiosity, something I have to thank my geekiness for, I clicked the link right away. I got sooo curious and who wouldn’t? I mean, I’m constantly asking myself, “What happened to all the nice guys?” and “Where did all the nice guys go?” —- Don’t you?

Sorry fellow ladies, I must say, I totally agree with it!

Whether you like it or not, from a guy’s point of view, everything narrated is exactly true. Just being honest here.

On a personal note, I’ve had my share of that crap girls almost often, consciously or unconsciously, do to a particular guy friend. I’ve been there. Yes, I was also confronted with that awful realization that I contributed to a then-nice-guy-now-asshole’s unbelievable transformation. And yes, it also dawned on me that that nice guy friend of mine was who I needed and his kind is what I really need, not that 'dreamy' jackass of a homo sapien I was dating.

So there you have it, my two cents. Do read every word —- line by line, and of course, REFLECT!

To go to the blog, please click here, or you can visit http://jeffersonsy.posterous.com/what-happened-to-all-the-nice-guys.

Enjoy! :)

Dear Spider-Man

2009-10-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

My friends know better now that Spider-Man is no one in particular. At one point, there was someone in particular, but right now, there’s none.

Here’s something I scribbled in bed while listening to Tegan and Sara, Vampire Weekend and the Dixie Chicks’ version of “Love Don’t Come Easy” when I got sick a few days ago. It sounds very ridiculous, but I want to post this because the writing exercise was tremendous fun and I want to read this someday when I’ve already found my Peter Parker.

Dear Spider-Man,

Hello!

I don’t know where you are right now, what you’re currently up to and who you’re with. But I’ll continue to wait for you.

I have no idea who you might be or how you would look like, all I’m praying is that I be given the Peter Parker who deserves his Mary Jane and vice versa.

Eerie as it may sound, the waiting does not get me impatient, I don’t know why hehehe.

You might be with Gwen right now and that’s okay. I’ll still wait. After all, it was her everyone thought you’d end up with. And I think, without her, without her help, you won’t be able to realize that all you ever needed was in someone named Mary Jane.

I can’t hurry you. You’ll just come, you’ll just surprise me.

I just have to wait. I’ll wait.

When the right time comes, surprise me.

Mary Jane

============================================================

I'm silly, I know hehehehe ... I've regressed into a 14 year-old hehehe =D
That was fun! :D

More energy, go!

2009-10-17T03:21:00.001-07:00

Next semester, I will be going to my "doctorate proper" classes. It's kind of overwhelming how I passed this sem with a stride. Of course I learned a lot of things from my classes, but my "Need For Achievement" --- as one of my professors would remind everyone in class --- was not there. Reaching that realization makes me a little sad. Looking back, my class attendance wasn't superb. Even if my classes were scheduled to suit me, still I couldn't manage to drag my ass regularly to class. Which is why I made a lot of effort to excel in my reports, and in my oral and written exams. It was my version of undoing --- paying up for not being around every single meeting. It would've been great if I wasn't acting like a ghost who'd just come and go. I think it would make me feel more good about my self if I really gave this first sem my full 100%.

At the moment, my grip on the will to pursue my doctoral degree is slowly becoming loose. For some reason, I'm getting tired with going through the horrendous process of graduate studies once more. BUT, I still want to go to school. Yet, another school. A change of environment perhaps. A detour. I'd like that.

The sad thing is, there are a lot things to be considered before I indulge myself in that uncertain road shift. Should I or should I not carry on with what I have gotten myself into? As if I have a choice, haha. The obvious, less wicked answer would be, I should. I just should. Go!

Next semester, I'll try my hardest to be more enthusiastic about this pursuit. I'll put more energy, more life into it. "More energy, mas happy". Oh good luck to me come start of classes.

*** This is something I wrote a week ago in one of the pages of my notebook-cum-journal.

=================================================================

*** While lunching alone today ...

So today I went to class. Although the semester has officially ended, I came to school. I came because 1) some of my classmates had their reports and a few of them requested the presence of yours truly for my opinion/s, 'vibrant' interest and participation (I'm very vocal about my ideas, thoughts and reactions in class), and 2) I had to show up for attendance plus points (I'm quite a sucker for 'good' grades teehee).

I thought I would be bored since I woke up not feeling very energetic. Excellent thing, I wasn't. The topics today were really good: Transactional Analysis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming --- two counseling and psychotherapy techniques I haven't explored until today. So yeah, I learned a lot and was very happy when I wrote my essay on the two. It just feels so great to learn, never mind my absences hehehehe.

My professor in that course is one of the best mentors I have met. She is just so good at what she is doing. She inspires me, really. Everyone in class is in unison with me in praise. We all learn a whole lot from her. Because she wants us to put into practice the things we have learned, she gave us our last hoorah! by making each one of us conduct a 15-minute minimum counseling, recorded. I am quite excited with this one :) I wonder how mine will come up.

Yesterday, my classmates and I staged a surprise dinner party for another dear professor. She was really in awe with the humble gathering we planned the week before. She has been a mother to me, the youngest member of the class, and my other classmates as well. Every time the class would meet, she would always make it a point to share inspiring stories, give us the life lessons she has acquired through the years and remind us of the beauty of life and prayer. She really knows how to inject that electricity everyone needs after a long day. Talk about instant morale and esteem boost! I will surely miss Madame :( I hope I get to see her more often next semester.

=================================================================

*** An epipahny as I ate dinner ...

Remembering the professors I hold close to my heart makes me want to achieve more, give my all in everything I do. Recalling the moments we had, the pieces of advice they gave me, stirs that fire of motivation deep within me ...

So, here's a toast to the start of classes! Bring it on!

================================================================

This has been your drenched and weak Icon, getting ready and starting to light that torch for next semester's run. More energy!

Berocca --- now I know :)

2009-10-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

Why hello, Berocca! :)

So yesterday, I was texting Pa. Threw some questions about this brand of effervescent tabs, Berocca. Someone from Twitter was asking about it. I knew only a little, so I decided to consult my father. When we got to the part of the drug's indications and complications, he asked me, "Why, are you trying to escape a hangover?"

As I said, I knew not much of Berocca. But when Pa said that, I asked help from Wiki to make sure what my Pops meant. I was quite surprised with the spread of information that lay in front of me. Here's what I found out:

>>> It has a rehydrating effect

>>> The amount of sodium is high, so those who are in a low sodium diet should be extra careful

>>> It has loads of Vit B

And what caught my attention ...

Some studies showed ...

>>> Berocca is said to prevent hangovers, when taken before drinking alcohol

>>> It is also said to relieve hangovers :)

God bless Vit B! :D

However ...

>>> Large doses of Vit B, when taken regularly, can cause nerve damage ...
Thus, even if they're good for the body, we should always make that effort to be a little more cautious.

So that was why Pa asked if I was trying to evade a hangover. Thanks for the great help, Pa! Now I know what to do if ever I get a nasty headache from alcohol consumption. Fast relief! :)

A Story of Friendship

2009-10-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

The “lazy Sunday” disease got to me. And because of my aversion to sheer boredom, I decided to read the spines of the books that were piled away neatly in a tall bookshelf in one corner of the room, in a great desire to at least have something to do. I chanced upon my favorite book of compiled stories, retrieved it and started to read.

The book did not fail me. I read word after word, flipped one page after another, as if it were my first time to read the stories held in that one frail binding of paperback. As I went halfway through the book, I stumbled upon a touching story I knew I shared only to one person. Allow me to share it to you as I recant with my own narrating of the events that took place and the lessons we should always hold close to our heart.

I’m sure you all know Genghis Khan, the great Mongol warrior and conqueror. He founded one of the largest empires in world history, the Mongol Empire. He utilized his charisma to gain loyal followers and applied brilliant military tactics in his conquests. Yet amidst all the myth surrounding his birth, life and triumphs, lay a story of pure friendship. A story not told and recalled by many. The story of Genghis Khan and his falcon. This is where the tale begins …

One morning, Genghis Khan and his court went out hunting. His companions brought bows and arrows and other hunting paraphernalia with them. The great warrior only brought his beloved falcon. They hunted, even went deep into the forest, but despite their zealous determination, they found nothing. They got so disappointed that they just went back to their encampment to rest.

In his frustration, Genghis Khan rode out alone, accompanied only by his trusted friend --- the falcon. He and his court had stayed longer than expected, and the warrior was desperately tired and thirsty. It was summertime and the streams had dried up, Khan had found nothing to drink. After wandering for some time, he came by a thread of water flowing from a rock. Finally, he would be able to suffice his thirst.

Genghis Khan removed the falcon from his arm and took out the cup he always carried around and filled it with water. As he was about to raise the cup to his lips, the falcon dived and plucked the cup from his hand. The water splashed to the ground.

He became furious, but because the falcon was his favorite, he let it pass. Maybe it, too, was thirsty. So, he picked up the cup, dusted off the dirt and tried to fill it again. This time, he only managed to fill it half-full. When he was about to drink it, the falcon attacked once again, spilling the cup of water.

The great warrior adored his bird, but he could not allow, under any circumstances, such disrespect. He was afraid that someone might be watching nearby and would tell his court that he, a great conqueror, was incapable of taming a bird.

Once again, he tried to refill his cup. This time he held out his sword. He kept one eye on his cup, the other on the falcon. As he was about to drink the water, the bird once more took flight and flew towards him. Genghis Khan, with one thrust, pierced the bird’s breast.

The thread of water now dried up. In his desperation, Khan climbed up the rock determined to search the spring from which the thread came from. To his surprise, there really was a pool of water. And in there, lay, dead, one of the most poisonous snakes in the region. If he had drunk the water, he too would’ve died.

Genghis Khan returned to the camp, in his arms, the dead falcon. He ordered a golden figurine of the bird to be made. On one of the wings he had engraved: “Even when a friend does something you do not like, he continues to be your friend.” And on the other wing, he had these engraved: “Any action committed in anger is an action doomed to failure.”

We Will Be Safe

2009-10-09T18:57:00.001-07:00

"When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father you are King over the flood. I will be still, know You are God..."

====================

Let's continue to pray for the safety of the Philippines. For the safety and security of our brothers and sisters who were victimized by Ondoy and Pepeng. Let's draw our strength from God and continue to trust in His loving mercy and goodness.

Let us continue to extend our help in every way we can, and let us always cling to the power of prayer.

We will get through this.

Love is Good Medicine ;)

2009-10-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

LOVE IS GOOD MEDICINE...

Medical doctor and author Dean Ornish writes:

“Love and intimacy are at a root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, what causes sadness and what brings happiness, what makes us suffer and what leads to healing. If a new drug had the same impact, virtually every doctor in the country would be recommending it for their patients. It would be malpractice not to prescribe it.”

====================

Makes sense. I especially love how it is said in a non-cheesy way. =)

What Kind of Artist Are You?

2009-10-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

I found this at Mark's blog. This is orginally from Loldwell.com.

It's very cute. I fall under "Journal Cartoonist" ... check out yours! :)

My Spiderman Confabulation

2009-10-05T10:58:00.001-07:00

Please allow me to confabulate.

I don't exactly know why I am posting this. Although I've been blogging for quite some time now, I'm still not that at ease with having my thoughts and experiences out for the world to know. I'm not sure if I have constant "followers" or if there are actually people who are willing to waste their time by reading my blog. But still, with blogging you reveal your self; and as I've said, I'm still not that comfortable with that.

I can't sleep. I can't sleep because first, I'm back to being an insomniac; and second, I've been thinking a lot about this guy I have a major crush on.

Mine is case of I-know-the-guy-guy-doesn't-know-me. Yes, poor me, hehehe. I could choose to tell all my friends about my current fixation because none of them know him personally since he's a celebrity. But I opted to tell only a handful of friends, as if my secret admiration will reach the guy if my friends would spill.

Aira told me, "We're 20-something already, isn't it about time we have REAL crushes and not REEL ones?". I battled with her, saying that my crush is real and not otherwise. But really, who am I fooling? Though he's not a model, an actor, a news personality and the likes, he's still considered a celeb. Born into a famous, influential family, he can't avoid the limelight. So technically, he's a celebrity.

Ever since it dawned on me that I have this thing for him, I've been thinking about him nonstop. Ayeenda was the first to know about my whirlwind attraction for the guy, she also knows the silly things I've done to try and get to know him better and all that seemingly hopeless stuff girls do when they have a major crush on someone. It was her who reassured me that what I am doing to myself at the moment is normal. And it was her who morphed into web-stalker mode when I told her who my crush was --- an act of moral support, I'd like to believe. Showing her friend that it's practically okay to fall head over heels with someone you haven't even met in person.

So yes, I am in love. Let's call him Peter Parker. Why him of all comic book heroes? I chose Spiderman because it was his story and adventures that I was really hooked to --- not Superman's nor Batman's. Peter Parker because even if I'm a girl, I can very much relate to him. My geeky passions, my fondness for taking photos, my ultimate love for writing (Peter Parker's a photojournalist, not just a plain photographer) and so much more. I christen my crush Peter Parker because if a hero were to save me and sweep me off my feet, he would nonetheless be Spiderman. Him and no other. Not even Superman nor Batman can do the latter.

At the moment I am single. I am not prowling around in the look for someone special; he will just come. Not really waiting-waiting. Just living up my life, and if a pleasant surprise would meet me at any crossroad, that'll be, well ... a surprise!

But of course a part of me is hoping, wishing, praying that the Spiderman who I am constantly dreaming of will be the one to surprise me one day. It's an inevitable wishful thinking. It sounds utterly crazy as he is by all means out of reach --- and I mean that in every literal sense of the phrase. But nobody really knows. Who am I nor you, to predict what's waiting in fate's capricious play :)

Hopeful Mary Jane signing off. Good morning everyone! :)

brilliantly heartwarming

2009-10-05T03:54:00.001-07:00

I just had to share this with you. This is the latest addition to my list of "Favorite TV Ads".

Ever since, I've only had two (2) favorite TV advertisements. One is the Oreo ad that showed two boys --- brothers. The one where older brother dunked his cookie in his glass of milk; the younger brother who was just watching silently, tried to dip his Oreo in his brother's glass, but the older brother moved the glass away from the poor little boy. So the younger one devised a way to have his share of the "Oreo experience". My other favorite, I posted several months ago since it's not shown here in the Philippines. It was about a dad who danced his little daughter's cheer routine during her series of practice at home. Both were equally cute, fun to watch and contained a lesson or two.

This foreign Pantene commercial is simply tear-jerking. The story of a deaf-mute who wanted to play the violin. Brilliant, heart-warming =).

The message of the commercial is very strong, very moving. I hope this becomes an avenue of reveille and remind us of the many things we should be thankful for. I hope you are inspired, because I ceratinly am =).

wow

2009-10-05T00:41:00.000-07:00

A Facebook friend of mine shared this video.

As you can observe, there are hundreds of them dancing and doing their stuff on that soccer field; but though many, they are united. Hundreds with one heart and goal. Reminds me of our Bayanihan spirit!

Their performance is computer-like. Really bringing that awe in awesome!

I hope you enjoy it! :D

the shirt

2009-10-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

Do you see that awesome statement picture just below my 'welcome' text in the sidebar? That is designed by Ateneo alumni and graphic designer, Mark Gosingtian.

What I love about visiting his site is the amount of fun I have whenever I look at his designs and his posts on several cool stuff that he found in the web. If you want to know/experience what I mean, visit his site at markgosingtian.tumblr.com or you can just click here for much more ease.

His famous "Where I'm from, Everyone's a hero" design will now be made into shirts. This shirt will for sure be a much-coveted item. It's a certified must-have I should say! When you purchase the shirt, you'll be hitting two birds with one stone. First of, you'll be gifting yourself --- I need not say more; secondly, a substantial amount will be donated to the victims of Ondoy, which means, not only will you become a proud owner of this lovely "Pinoy Pride" shirt, you'll also be helping! Okay, enough said. Here is what they will look like:

A Hero Called Efren

2009-10-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

Efren Penaflorida is an ordinary Filipino with a very extraordinary passion and impact!

Armed with a pushcart filled with books, pens, tables and chairs, he and his volunteers raid slums to teach children read, write, basic arithmetic and English every Saturday.

His vision: to give these children the education that was given him. A true, wonderful act of giving back!

And it doesn't stop there. Their group, dubbed Dynamic Teen Company, also runs a hygiene clinic where the kids can get a bath and learn how to brush their teeth!

Let us vote for his herculean act of generosity and greatness. Please click on the widget on my sidebar to vote for Efren, or you can visit here.

I am very much inspired with Efren and the Dynamic Teen Company's desire to help.

This is another amazing story which reminds us that we are blessed by God to bless others. Just truly, simply inspiring :)

He is a hero :)

I have voted already and will continue to vote :)

it's our turn now --- how we can help

2009-09-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

Friends, our brothers and sisters who have been devastated by typhoon storm Ondoy very much need us right now. Fellow Cebuanos, here are ways in which we can help, share, and show our love and care.

Let's do this!

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DONATION DROP-OFFS

1. Cebu musicians & Outpost Restobar will help Ondoy victims! We'll need you to bring your goods, clothing food etc. Joseph Castillo, hubby of musician Lia Luisa A. Castillo will send a 20ft Container to MLA 4 esp Cainta & Marikina. Details to follow. Drop in some love while you listen to some music. Get in touch with him through 09082368999 or 09322117111.

2. Caltex Banilad is officially a drop-off point for the Joseph Castillo container van.

3. Caltex Servitec Cabancalan is officially a drop-off point for the Joseph Castillo container van.

4. Caltex Panagdait is officially a drop-off point for the Joseph Castillo container van.

5. FORMO RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE at Banilad Town Center is also a drop off center for the container van of Jospeh Castillo from Monday until Thursday, 5pm onwards. This is inline with the ONDOY LIVE AID. For more details: Facebook.com/FORMO.lounge

6. Toys@Work-BTC is also a drop off center for the container van of Jospeh Castillo from Monday until Thursday, 5pm onwards. This is inline with the ONDOY LIVE AID. For more details: Facebook.com/FORMO.lounge

7. Vudu is also a drop off center for the container van of Jospeh Castillo from Monday until Thursday, 5pm onwards. This is inline with the ONDOY LIVE AID. For more details: Facebook.com/FORMO.lounge.

8. Donations drop off at Banilad Church of Christ (bldg in front of Bright Academy near Sto. Nino Village), Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

9. SUNBURST FRIED CHICKEN-TABUNOK BRANCH accepting donations from 10am to 9:30pm. Tabang Para sa mga Biktima ni Ondoy...Istorya.net asks you to donate to the victims of Storm Ondoy. Our brothers and sisters in Luzon need our help.

10. Aunt Genie's Breadhouse: 1279 Talamban, Cebu City (In front of the Talamban Sports Complex). call at 416-0495 if you need directions to the drop-off area. (Accepting: Canned Goods, Old Clothes, Blankets, Diapers for babies, Noodles, Rice, Medicine, Soap, Toothpaste, Water Container, Iodized Salt)

11. Bizroute Solutions (Mon - Sat 11PM to 4PM) Unit 302 Keppel Bldg. Ayala. call at 416-0495 if you need directions to the drop-off area. (Accepting: Canned Goods, Old Clothes, Blankets, Diapers for babies, Noodles, Rice, Medicine, Soap, Toothpaste, Water Container, Iodized Salt)

12. Bizroute Solutions Lahug Office (Mon - Sat 11PM to 2PM) Unit 201 MIT Bldg. Gorordo Ave., Lahug (near JY Square). call at 416-0495 if you need directions to the drop-off area. (Accepting: Canned Goods, Old Clothes, Blankets, Diapers for babies, Noodles, Rice, Medicine, Soap, Toothpaste, Water Container, Iodized Salt)

13. Cue Cafe Crossroads accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes,blankets,towels,underwear,footwear,food and water for our suffering brothers and sisters in manila.

14. Citigym accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes,blankets,towels,underwear,footwear,food and water for our suffering brothers and sisters in manila.

15. Y101 station accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes,blankets,towels,underwear,footwear,food and water for our suffering brothers and sisters in manila.

16. CEBU WORLD VISION SPONSORS and VOLUNTEERS can help. Proceed to WV CEBU OFFICE at Room 203 CKU Bldg. J Llorente St. Capitol Site, Cebu City (behind Rajah Hotel) for all cash donations or directly deposit on WV accounts BPI: 4251-0024-15 or BDO: 2700-4341-1. I will be there to help facilitate donations. Text/call me at 0917-6242584 for donation pick ups.

17. Holiday Gym & Spa Banilad Cebu set up a relief operations Drop-Off center beginning today 1:00 PM, Sunday, September 27. Please bring blankets, clothes and canned goods to the front desk/ reception area.

18. ABS-CBN CEBU is now accepting relief goods... adto lang mo sa ABS mga cebuanos...

19. Very Mary (shop of designer Mary Melody Ty) is accepting goods. 2nd Floor, Myra's Pensoionne, Escario Street. Beside Golden Peak Hotel.

20. Victory Cebu is also accepting donations for typhoon victims: 3/f dacay bldg. escario st. (across bpi escario) near capitol. #(032)254-702321.

21. Julie's Bakeshops used as drop-off centers for PLAN ONDOY, mobilized by Rotary Clubs in Cebu. (For further verification. If you have more information on this, pls message me or leave a comment.)

22. Andorra Tiles Office used as drop-off centers for PLAN ONDOY, mobilized by Rotary Clubs in Cebu. (For further verification. If you have more information on this, pls message me or leave a comment.)

23. WADE SM located at the 2nd floor of the Northwing will serve as a drop off point until Wednesday 5pm. Goods will be forwarded to Outpost afterwards.

24. Orange Brutus P. Del (across USC Main) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

25. Orange Brutus - Cebu Doctor's Hospital will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

26. Orange Brutus - Centro Mandaue (near Mandaue City Hall) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

27. Orange Brutus - Maguikay Mandaue (near Mandaue Flyover) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

28. Orange Brutus Mactan, Marina Mall Mepz1 will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

29. Orange Brutus Southagte Plaza Mepz 2 will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

30. Orange Brutus Ayala will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

31. Orange Brutus SM will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

32. Orange Brutus Colon (near University of Visayas) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

33. Orange Brutus Fuente branch will be accepting donations 24 hours from Monday to Thursday.

34. All Sun Star branches now accepting donations (cash or in kind). Pls call 2546100 local 201 and look for Jed or Sheena for more info.

35. UP Cebu is accepting donations. Head to the Malacañang tambayan, beside the guard house. It's a small campus, it's not hard to find. (Can someone from UP pls confirm exact drop off point? Thank you!)

36. Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is encouraging its member companies to donate! Donations in cash or in kind are accepted in the CCCI Center in North Reclamation Area. Yeah, it's far, but it's for a cause, right?

37. Aboitiz 2GO Cebu main office and branches accepting donations as well - heard on the radio this morning, announced by Aboitiz representatives.

38. Mooon Cafe Guadalupe is now accepting donations as part of Ondoy Live Aid. Look for TJ.

39. Green Booth @ BTC is now accepting donations a for relief donations for Joseph Castillo Container Van

40. Kaona grill at A.S. Fortuna is now accepting donations as part of Ondoy Live Aid. Look for Ryan.

41. Kumon Center and RCTV at Ginza Compound is now accepting donations as part of Ondoy Live Aid. Look for Gerry.

42. Drop-off and sorting operations at Briones residence at 1310 Horseshoe Drive, Banawa. Contact 09228880387 for more information. Accepting goods only.

43. Mail & More Business Center - Ayala branch now accepting donations.EVENTSOndoy-Live-Aid at the Outpost, 7pm on Wednesday September 30. Bring your donations. Let's fill up Joseph Castillo's container!

The Giving continues as the "Ondok Live Aid" goes to VUDU this Thursday 9pm feat: Twinkle Dudu, Rescue a Hero, the Line Divides, Eve's Garden , Cuarenta, and Pandora. PLease bring your donations for JOseph ...Castillo's Container Vans bound for Manila!... Peace Love and being a True Filipino!

NO TURNING BACK SHOW OCT 4, 2009 @FNB LABANGON. SRA AND FRIENDS DONATE TA SA VICTIMS SA ONDOY, ato lang usahon atoa. Drop ninyo sa Quad until sept 30 (wed) sa hapon para mausa ug send nato.

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VOLUNTEER

Packing for the container vans, come and join us sort out the relief goods for Luzon on Thursday and Friday . Please look for Siloh International, H. Abellana St., Canduman, Mandaue. The containers will be there!! Message Meg Eteve if interest on facebook or email at meg.eteve@gmail.com.

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OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

1.ABS-CBN through Banco de Oro account number 56300-20111 account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Incorporation

2. Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

3. TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN

4. Worldvision Foundation is also accepting donations/volunteers to pack relief goods in QC. For $-donations, BPI:USDacct #4254-0050-08

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PEOPLE TRACKER

For those of you in Cebu who have loved ones in Manila, try the people tracker:People Tracker (using your phones, get your friends and family to turn on their finderservice for you)* FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text “wis ” to 386.* FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text “find to 7000.

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thanks emsdy.blogspot.com! =)

new moon trailer

2009-09-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

found it really good, very good. it made me regress into a fourteen year-old school girl. i love how the people behind it put it all together, gives shots of electricity, thrill and excitement. enjoy!

good to know =)

2009-09-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

i was loitering on facebook a while ago.

i learned a lot from the quizzes i took and the several posts that some friends were generous enough to share.

i have done this before already, but i'd like to share more of what my sign is. all i can say: it is, for the most part, very true to me. everything makes a lot more sense now, it's good to know =)

exhibit a. the affection analysis based on the birth month.

- Loyal and generous
- Patriotic
- Active in games and interacti...ons
- Ambitious
- Influential in organisations
- Fun to be with
- Loves to socialise
- Loves praises
- Loves attention
- Loves to be loved
- Honest and trustworthy
- Not pretending
- Short tempered
- Changing personality
- Not egoistic

exhibit b. characteristic and personality according to the zodiac sign

Sagittarius Characteristics and Profile
The Sagittarius is really a centaur -- the lower half is horse, the upper half is a man. The man is holding a bow with an arrow aimed upwards toward the sky. This symbolizes the Sagittarius´ drive to overcome basic animal instincts by aiming his thoughts into the divine realms of the heavens. In other words, Sagittarius is hunting for ideas and experiences that draw you into greater awareness. As such, Sagittarius tend to love adventure, travel and philosophy -- all ways of extending beyond your immediate surroundings.

Element: Fire
The fire of Sagittarius is warming, not hot -- but that´s because it´s far away. It´s like a light in the distance that reminds us why we are heading in that direction or the stars that have been used for navigation. This is the fire of inspiration whose heat can motivate the mind to reach out into the wilderness.

Ninth House: Travel
It´s about foreign travel, higher education -- for that´s travel in the mind and the potential adventure that the future holds.

Key Planet: Jupiter
As the key planet of Sagittarius, Jupiter encourages us to take those opportunities, to live life as an adventure and to believe in something greater than ourselves.

Sagittarius Greatest Strength:
Your undying optimistic attitude

Sagittarius Possible Weakness:
Glossing over problems or avoiding difficult situations

exhibit c. the zodiac meaning

Sagittarius Strength Keywords:
- Independence

Sagittarius Weakness Keywords:
- Unemotional

exhibit d. the element sign, based on a person's birthday.

Fire is bright, strong, and takes contro...l. It wants to be in charge. When it wants something you will know! Fire people do not stop until they get what they want. These people are very proud and confident.

Fire people can also be very arrogant and self-centered. Dont go to a fire person for sympathy or comforting. They just dont have the time. They are too busy getting their needed recognition. They have no patience for emotionalism or heaviness. They tend to run over the weaker, shyer signs.

Generally fire signs can become tired and bored with the intellectual observations of the more communicative air signs..

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posts from icon jen, definitely true!

> people will treat you the way you allow them to treat you

> the same as "people will hurt you, and keep on hurting you, if you allow them to hurt you."

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thank you, facebook and facebookers! =))

maria's words of wisdom

2009-09-10T03:55:00.000-07:00

this is maria's book of answers

after duty, maria and i had coffee with ayi. we were talking about several random things when opinions on the movie "tainted veil" came around. maria and i regaled a synopsis of sorts since ayi has not seen the movie. this is how the conversation went when we were almost at the end of the topic:

ayi (while listening to me talking): are you crying?

me: no, why?

ayi: your eyes look teary

me: really? i'm not crying

maria: no. but you're unconsciously crying

*we burst into laughter*

recalling a messaging exchange between ayi and maria ...

ayi: maybe i'll wear a jacket, i feel cold ... i don't know why

maria: because you're alone

i still can't stop laughing. i am writing this while laughing in between.
oh, the things you pick-up from maria's declarations and book of wisdom ... full of wisdom and hidden truth, hehehehe =)))

hopeless

2009-09-05T23:05:00.001-07:00

"Maybe I'm dreaming you. Maybe you're dreaming me; maybe we only exist in each other's dreams and every morning when we wake up we forget all about each other."

- The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

maybe another hopeless case.
*sigh*

sparks

2009-09-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

the cynic is confused. this is about matters that has something to do with the heart. my heart, that is.

the people who know me can attest to the fact that i am not someone who is fond of broadcasting whatever it is that is happening in my personal life. as much as possible, i try to keep 70-80% of the details with regards my status. i share, but i make it a point to only give the bird's eye view of things. a little secretive, you may say. the thing with divulging everything is, first: you can trust that by the next 24 hours, almost everyone in your circle will know about them; and second: you don't get to have that luxury of privacy a person only experiences when he/she enjoys moments that is solely his/hers.

although i'm not really sold on the idea of love in the boy-girl relationship scope, i wish for some "sparkle" in that part of my life from time to time. something that would somehow have a long lifespan; lesser than or equivalent to that of a lipstick. it may sound shallow, but i prefer that kind than the "stretched and serious" type at the moment.

lately, i'm in constant confrontation with this "sparkle". one-way or two-way, i have no idea. well actually, i want "something" from it. i still can't figure, but i want something good to come out from the "sparkle" --- something solid, a realization, a materialization perhaps. i don't want it badly though, but i think i could use it and maybe, just maybe, i need it right now. but as usual, i almost always compare and contrast myself with the other party. and almost always, i feel inadequate and unworthy as a result thereof. but so much for the insecurity talk. yes, at the moment, i am savoring the joy this "sparkle" brings even if the likelihood of an "us" is hazy. i think it's okay to be happy even for just a short while.

si manong driver

2009-09-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

father visited for a few hours before his connecting trip today. the food we ordered for delivery arrived very late, so i had to buy dinner so he could eat before he would check-in for the trip. he bustled away after eating, forgetting the shoes that he pulled out from his bag when he arrived. he had to call me to bring it to him.

i was fortunate enough to get in a cab of which driver was courteous and talkative. he was also generous enough to offer his cab after i hand pa his shoes. on the way back to the pad, we chatted some more. he shared stories of his trips when he was still a young lad, and he told me about his one-time visit to my hometown. he was pretty old but not grumpy. he's the kind of cab driver i wish the other cab drivers out there would be like.

i've met different kinds of cab drivers. some would refuse to convey me to my destination. some would needle about the distance, as if it wasn't their job and i wouldn't be paying the fare. others would use another, much faraway route for me to pay extra. and a few would tweak their meters for it to run a little faster. some are not polite, and some don't give you your change. there are a variety of them the unlikable lot, that sometimes i can't help but give them a piece of me. and it makes me wonder, why are they complaining about a life only they have control of? if they're not happy with what they're doing, why not explore other career options? i'm sure there're a lot. because it is their job to transport, they should be civil enough to show their gratitude for the people willing to pay for their services --- i mean, they are getting paid, it's not like what they're doing is for free.

i had a bob ong book that stratified drivers, both cab and jeepney. like mr. bob and i, i'm sure you've had your share of unpleasant encounters with drivers. and not only them, but also the many detestable employees and employers out there who make it a point to offend their clients. but this is a world and a life of give and take. no one can take and take, and conversely, no one can just give and give. it doesn't work that way. it's always a two-way communication, the other never gets any further than a few steps. let us always remember that in everything we do, we get something in return for whatever it is that we give.

let's take out cue from the very genial and pleasant manong driver.

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i'd like to greet my adorable and cuddly nephew,
LOUIS CRAIG,
a HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!

how cute

2009-09-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

meet panda dog =)

i just had to share this photo of a very, very, very adorable pup.
maria showed it to me this morning during our duty, and i fell in love with it.
this is a white chow chow, dyed (using black dog dye), to look like a cutie little panda bear.
just so cuddly!
suddenly, i'm in my bratty mode ...

I WANT ONE! (hehehehe)

adorable :D

what i hate about reading

2009-08-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

the one thing i hate about my reading obsession is that i get the feeling of gloom whenever i don't get to buy new books immediately after i've devoured my recent purchases. i buy books, usually three, twice a month. and those three, for some reason, i manage to gobble in two weeks or less.

earlier today, that usual murkiness i am afflicted with when i don't get to read kicked in. at the moment, i am low on dough, but my weakness overpowered me. i seemed so helpless, that i couldn't quite figure out a way to halt my act. so off to the bookstores i went to rake their shelves and look for page-turners and bestsellers. after an hour or so of leaping from one bookstore to another, i went back to the pad grappling a small bag of books in one hand and hiding a distraught wallet in the other.

i just could not fairly understand, for the life of me, why, i am not able to quell and defeat this Achilles' heel. and it dawned on me that this passion is an expensive one, well maybe not that much, but it certainly is.

my parents have instilled the value of "less for self, more for others, enough for all" in us. and with how i am spending my money, considering the population of our poverty-stricken brothers and sisters, it seems like i'm committing a crime already.

it's a consumer-driven world. i need to take control, and i will.

fictional finalism

2009-08-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

"if i was dreaming, you'd see me, i'd be understood ..." (dreaming by aurora)

today, i delivered my report on alfred adler's individual psychology and inferiority complex. i prepared my outline for the topic weeks before, yet i never got the chance to really read it. i made the basic groundworks, but with all the time i had left to study for it, i opted to go out and live the life i have outside my profession and academics. hence, the outcome of this morning's endeavor was half-baked. but oh well, i tried. and at least, everyone seemed to understand what i was blabbing about the entire duration of my stay behind the podium. as proof of this claim, when i was done, they shared experiences and examples about the contexts of my report --- a clear manifestation of understanding, and i couldn't have hoped for more. anyway, i provided my audience with notes for them to read and re-read at home.

although my report focuses on the inferiority complex, i got hooked on the concept of fictional finalism. for those not in the know, fictional finalism simply states that people act as much from the "as if" as they do from reality. whatever the subconscious mind accepts as true, it acts as if it is true whether it is or not. when one imagines tasting a lemon, the mouth waters and often one tastes the lemon as if there really was a lemon to lick.

in the primetime television show, the wedding, candice would daydream a lot about her dream wedding. and to make hers the perfect event she fantasized it would be, she would make plans on how things would look and go even if she does not have a fiance, let alone a boyfriend, to start with. this is fictional finalism. one does things under the circumstances of "as if". adler believed that people are motivated more by their expectations of the future.

this kind of thinking --- wishful thinking that is, is something we could all relate to in every satirical manner imaginable. we all have a crazy side to us. and sometimes, maybe because of desperation, we tend to think of and plan things as if they were true. when someone comes close, as dictated by our female nature, we are disposed to give interpretation to every move he makes and dissect and look for the golden clue hidden somewhere in between the lines he delivers. funny but true, most often, this female curse gives us flickers of hope at the very first sight of a "positive" sign. and as time would go by, these flickers would escalate to full-blown fantasies. then, we would find ourselves dreaming of a relationship that we think, wish and pray would materialize while clutching to the phrase, "i hope this is it". ahh, the perks of nurturing incredible admiration towards a fine specie of the opposite gender.

what i love about going to school, aside from getting jolts of electricity whenever i see my crush, is the lifetime worth of learning. every moment i sit inside the classroom is another wonderful learning experience i am privileged to be given, and i am very thankful for that.

quashing qualms

2009-08-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

i rummaged my brain for something "nice" to post. this move with only one purpose: to avoid shame when people check the contents of this blog. but after a while, i stopped. i realized there's no need.

i started blogging around the year 2004 and ever since, the blogsites i owned were more than two. i had no know-how in any html thingy that would allow me to make themes for my site, so i would make a new one after a month or so of posting stuff in the other. i just delighted in the fact that with every blog, i was able to express myself and share my stories in different motifs. unfortunately, there came a time when i stopped blogging. i got so busy and engrossed with a lot of things --- balancing my life with my academics and the extras that came with it actually. so, when i came back to pick up the blogs i left behind, i realized that with my "new beginning", i should discard my past blogs and therefore make a new one. i proceeded to make this blog after learning a thing or two with basic html.

the "pressure" i feel from everyone who read my posts, i think, come from the expectations i get back when i was still connected to our college publication. and boy was i in a lot of pressure back then.

this blog was created for the intent that i have my own personal journal in cyberspace. an outlet for me to be able to channel out and share a little bit of my life with the people i know and those who know me.

this is my own space. this is me. i write to the tune of the beating of my own drum, not to others'. so, why should i be ashamed? =)

alcohol, flu, movies

2009-08-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

it's a saturday night. i want to go out but i can't. i'm still sick from recent events this week.

thursday. it was formo's (a local club) 4th anniversary. maria, ayeenda and i decided to go there. i tagged loida; rey and cj came an hour or so after. after formo, we went to this new place --- a zen-style pub where marielle and colin were already there. kaiser, missy and steve also went. kaiser had just arrived from taipei and went straight to formo with missy and steve. they were at formo but we didn't see each other.

free food and drinks. because it was their anniversary, formo gave out free glasses of mojitos to guests. ayi, maria, loida and i had 5 glasses. aside from that, we had 2 additional pitchers of mojitos. at the zen pub, we drank a bottle and a half of this new vodka drink. free because someone was very generous that night to pay for the food and drinks we devoured. thank you very much! =)

went home around 3-4 in the morning!

ending: a few got drunk --- i'm proud to be not part of this group, and others woke up with a nasty headache. i was one of the latter. but the thing with me apart from the headache was the flu.

friday. i woke up at 10 in the morning. ate brunch and went to the dentist with my siblings. after which, we paid the nearest mall a visit to run some errands and do a little grocery. i was feeling ill the entire day. when we came back, i drank a strong coffee (even with an ample amount of alcohol still in my system) and took flu meds. you know what the lovely result of that combination is, hehe!

the repercussion of that act: i was not able to attend my classes earlier. the flu stayed, but the severe headache went away, thank God.

it's a saturday night and though i want to go out (a few invites came), i can't. i need to rest and recharge.

the morale of the story: never ever, under any circumstances, drink strong coffee let alone drink any medicine when there's still a lot of alcohol in your blood. i tell that to my friends now =)

so anyway, aside from the time traveler's wife, here are trailers (only the first one is official) of two movies my friends and i are looking forward to. rottentomatoes.com has given good reviews to both. enjoy!

500 days of summer. this is an indie film, an official entry to the sundance film festival later this year. it's a story of boy meets girl, boys falls in love, girl doesn't. it's a fun movie!

let the right one in. this a swedish movie adaptation of the german novel. the story is great, not your typical vampire tale. (if this won't work, please go to any search engine and search for this movie, thank you!)

heart-warming :)

2009-08-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

the time traveler's wife.

love the book. excited to watch the movie.

the spark and the magic of the book still astounds me. the kind that's really my cup of tea :)

i'd like to share the official trailer of the movie. the way the production staff put it together, plus the emotion of the song "broken" by lifehouse made the feel totally, undeniably heart-warming. in truth, the first time i saw it, it made me and my friend go, "awwww" ... enjoy watching everyone! :)

you can visit the official website of the movie here.

status updates

2009-08-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

i am a bit bored at the moment. certain things have been lingering in my mind lately so i decided, what better, productive way to trash tedium but blog. nothing beats untimely juggling out --- even just a little --- of those creative juices while you are in a state of mental blah-ness, hehe!

here are some of those thoughts. status updates of sorts.

icon wants to travel, travel, travel. even at my age, i am not dismissed to travel alone; well actually, it really depends on my destination and some other factors. i know, they're just concerned, very. and it's fine with me, really. maybe if i get a stable job with really good pay, they'll allow me. i would really love to go places i've never been to and experience, learn and discover more culture. i want to trot the globe, see places and meet faces. how nice it would be if i have all the luxury to.

icon likes japanese food. i'm not a fan of japanese food, but the other day, a friend and i went inside a japanese resto to satisfy her craving for california maki. i think i'm hooked because since then, i've been looking forward to our sushi-and-sashimi-platter plan.

icon wants to buy more books. it's no secret that i'm a voracious reader. with every book that i'm interested in, i devour it right then and there. i want to buy new reads, but at the moment, i have no extra dough to shop for 'em. it's another end-of-the-month syndrome, but oh well, it'll pass.

icon misses enjoying coffee. i've had my usual dose of caffeine earlier. i don't miss coffee; i don't. i just miss enjoying it. the fun conversation you have when you're at a coffeeshop, killing time and making memorable exchanges with friends. i miss it a lot. because my friends and i are slowly making our way into the working world, we don't have time to sit down and talk over cups of coffee anymore. nowadays, we only have coffee, period. we don't really get to savor the bonding it gives. i miss that.

icon is pining for unhealthy sugar. i don't really have a sweet tooth, but when i crave for cholates, cakes and pastries, i don't stop until i feed myself with, hehe! maybe tomorrow i'll grab one. i can't help it, sorry :)

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okay, i'm sleepy now. i'm going to bed and maybe even dream about the contents of this post. good night and sweet dreams everyone! :)

icon is going to bed, haha! :)

bring it all back

2009-08-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

I was singing while taking a shower yesterday when I realized that the song I was singing contained the basic necessities everyone should pack in their life survival kits. The song was popularized many years ago by the group, S Club 7. It was, I think, their first single --- “Bring It All Back”. Line by line, I will try to dissect why they should go in everyone’s life aid kit.

“Hold on to what you try to be, your individuality”. With all the many influences this modern world offers, we should know who we really are and what we want. In short, we should be ourselves. We may associate ourselves to the different styles imposed by society, but the most important thing is for us not to be corrupted by these various modes and manners. Yes, naturally, we can be and are swayed; however, our persona should always remain.

“When the world is on your shoulders, just smile and let it go”. No human being is exempted from bearing problems. We are all endowed with them, ranging from different sizes and degrees. Yes, yes, they have all the ability to wear and tear us down, but let us always remember that there are problems greater than our own. Smiling and letting them go is the right thing to do, I mean, how can you solve your hitches when you are swallowed by them right? We all have problems, the only thing that sets us apart from one another is how we face and tackle them.

“If people try to put you down, just walk on by don’t turn around … you only have to answer to yourself”. Sounds awfully familiar? Society is not only filled with things and circumstances that can give us joy, it is also home to many that can cause psychological and emotional detriment. Every day, we are surrounded with individuals who either want to see us happy or the other way around. The key is, when we know we fought a clean fight, when we know we took nothing from any, when we are guiltless because we didn’t harm or hurt anyone, then there’s no reason for us to answer to the people around us. Souls with crab mentality are always going to be present and we should not allow them to crumble our spirit. Because if we do, we are no less like them --- wallowing in misery while tending to other people’s gardens thus forgetting our own. In a previous blog, I shared the story of the pencil. Pencils write beautifully when they are sharpened.

“Don’t stop, never give up. Hold your head high and reach top. Let the world see what you have got; bring it all back to you. Dream of falling in love, everything you’ve been thinking of, when the world seems to get too tough; bring it all back to you.”

“Try not to worry ‘bout a thing, enjoy the good times life can bring.” Life is too short to waste it by being unhappy. When life hands us lemons, let’s make lemonade! The world will not stop if we are in our woe-is-me mode. We just have to make the most out of things.

“Imagination is the key, ‘cause you are your own destiny.” We’d be surprised with where a little imagination can take us. We are captains of our ship; therefore, we are in control of the direction we are going. We are the only ones who can make what we want happen; other people can’t do that for us.

Well, that’s all folks. I’m in a bit of a hurry so I can’t make any flourished ending to this post, hehe! ‘Til next time, ta!

maktub

2009-08-14T03:28:00.000-07:00

I wonder how my live would be right now if I went to Med school. Maybe that’ll be a question I’ll have to ask myself for the remainder of my life. Or … no one really knows, maybe I’ll still make it there in the future.

I have always believed that I’d make a good doctor. I always have. For some unknown reason, I’ve continuously thought that being a doctor would be the perfect career for me. With how things are going in my life right now, I’m still unsure if being a nurse is my true calling. Even with my on-going doctorate studies, I still can’t make-up my mind if being a nurse is what I want and if I can certainly live with it. Call me ungrateful or whatever you christen this particular thinking of mine, but it’s just how I really feel at the moment.

Yet until now, every time I see Medical interns, let alone doctors, I’d still feel that flicker of twinge I have felt ever since I found out that I just couldn’t be in Med school and follow that dream. I still have not wholly accepted the unexplained reality that no matter how hard I paddle myself towards that road, the heavens would defy my willpower and eventually lead me to where I am right now. A clear index of how some things in life simply just stir in mystery.

“Destiny is only for losers --- it’s just a lame excuse for letting things happen, instead of making them happen.” I have been an uprooted follower of this belief; I’ve said it a lot of times to myself, and to numerous friends. I wasn’t someone who’d allow certain things to occur just like that. I was always one to challenge and defy gravity until I’ve proven myself victor of my conquest. But what has, and is still happening in my career sojourn at the moment is a detour I have yet to fathom.

Sometimes, things happen. And no matter how someone like me, a destiny non-believer, would contest what I want with what is in store for me, I would not end triumphant. They say that waging opposition against fate would never guarantee the challenger glory. I never believed in that, maybe I do now.

An old foreign saying said “Maktub” --- “it is written”. It stipulates that everything that has, is and will happen to every person’s life has been written in the hands of time, even long before we were born. Maybe I’ll find the heart to never question it again … someday.

My friend, Maria, once told me, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your future plans.” Maybe that’s how she reduced “maktub” to make it appear less complex and serious. You’d be surprised with the rare wisdom some of our seemingly insane friends can give us.

Oh well, when things do and do not happen … life.

dinner @ tara's

2009-08-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

my sister and i decided to eat dinner at tara's, a local resto with good food. without any delay, here are some of pictures that i took before we devoured food.

i think i need not write long etceteras. the food is simply good :P

enjoy the food porn! :)

my sister's ridiculously tall mango smoothie. she loved it! said it tasted like the mango shake of one of our favorite fine dining restos.

say hello to my mouthwatering carbonara :)

tara's baby back ribs, my sister's dinner. we both love the serving and of course, the taste.

my sugar-free vanilla flavoured milk. the taste was a surprise, it was really, really good! :P

to combat her impending hypoglycemia, my sister ordered this lovely brownie.

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at affordable prices, you can enjoy sumptuous meals (and drinks) here at tara's cafe! :)
you'll enjoy the warm ambiance and available reading materials. plus, their customer service really brings out customer delight! the crew is very friendly you'd want to enjoy their company again and again.

tara's is located at andres abellana, with the other branch at the walk, IT park.

have a yummy evening folks! :)

my advocacies

2009-08-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

MAKE THAT CHANGE! :p

my parents have been Gawad Kalinga supporters and workers ever since i was in high school. GK builds was one of our bonding sessions. now, they're GK project directors already.

growing up, they have taught us the value of: "less for self, more for others, enough for all." because of such inculcation, my siblings and i try to make a very conscious effort to help others and look at things, separating the needs from the wants. i am very proud of this.

just lately, we have become patronizers of gandang kalikasan products. it's hitting three birds with one stone: they're organic, so you are able to take of yourself; very affordable, so you can save money; and, proceeds go to the support of GK, so you help others. and i tell you, the products are really good and effective.

my favorites are the lotions: cocoa butter, goat's milk and mango and the cocoa butter, goat's milk and guava, in particular; the mandarin and eucalyptus solid perfume, the hairfall shampoo (lemon grass and pearl beads), the lemon grass massage oil, the hair mask and the hand and foot salve. my mom especially loves their line of body butters and lotions. they're all really good! and i'm not saying that because i'm a GK supporter, but because they work and are really affordable! i'm not one to advertise and recommend products that i do not use and are not effective.

-----

i am now a proud member of the ako mismo org! it's good to know that a lot of pinoys, young adults in particular, give their share of being and wanting to become good citizens.

be proud to be pinoy, i certainly am!

one fine afternoon

2009-08-08T00:02:00.000-07:00

my dory provencal and light coffee caramel

(it's dory provencal since they used the dory fish)

usually, when i go out alone, it's because i have things in my mind. but today, for no special reason at all, i allowed myself to have my fill of the beautiful day. went out around lunch time and gave myself a 5-minute walk around random places in the university belt. i know that by that time, the sunlight is already damaging. but that 5-minutes felt good. i wasn't irritated with the sting of the afternoon heat.

i bumped with al at the medicine building ground floor. we chatted for a while. he told me what he's up to at the moment --- being a full-time medicine student, which is good because it took him almost two years to finally decide the pursuit. i also found out that he and junnel, the son of my godparents, are classmates. al's also participating in the upcoming siglakas, in the flag football team in particular. which means there's gonna be a big chance that he and my sister will battle against each other, since noelle is also playing for her college.

i headed to SM after that and got myself a new pair of havaianas, of which i'm very proud of. i badly need new high slippers since i'm always wearing them to class. shoes and sandals are pretty bit uncomfortable, i don't know exactly why. maybe i just want my tootsies to breathe.

i'm excited for next week's "make your own havaianas" (MYOH), because the theme's all about Filipino pride. i reckon my sister, who is a huge fan of MYOH events, will be going. but because i do not have the patience to wait in line for more or less 5 hours, and i really want to have my personalized Pilipinas havas, i'm planning to ask my sister if she could buy mine, i'll just give her my money. of course that comes with a huge bribe, hehe!

SM department store is one of my favorite cheap shopping places. the clothes there are affordable and very stylish, with good quality too. i decided to visit to see if i could get myself a couple of dresses for less. it turns out that some of their stocks are on sale, i was delighted! i scoured the place looking for stylish, simple and functional pieces and i got myself two dresses for the price of one! also, i bought several hankies as i always get mine lost. with the clothes i got and the money i spent to purchase them, i felt joy. really, it's difficult to find yourself good, nice dresses which cost less nowadays.

right now i'm at a coffee shop for lunch. enjoying my light coffee caramel and dora provencal, which is really good. just across the room, there's this guy with a lovely MAC and a bad mohawk. i simply think it looks bad on him. oh well. again, "to each his/her own."

later, i'm hearing mass at a church near where my siblings and i are staying. it's first saturday, and saturdays is Mama Mary's day. i'll also ask Her to interecede my career prospects. there's 2 pending actually, i hope and pray that they will both push through.

every day is a good day. we just need to look at the horizon and see the possibilities to make ours a fun-filled one, alone or with the company of others. have a great day everyone! :P

reliving the lost days

2009-08-06T02:02:00.000-07:00

My trip was cancelled, so I have to take the first one tomorrow with mama. The day looked as if it was promising me tedium, so I messaged my best friend right away to inform her of my extended stay and to hang out with her as well --- something we have not done in ages.

The Fhang Festival

I finally met up with Loida and gained a new friend, Jojo, also a nurse at ODH. This afternoon, we had frappuccino, double chocolate chip cake and black forest cake. Then ate early dinner --- sizzling treats --- at Dadaz and finally ended the night ordering siomai with rice + cola. I couldn’t complain about our resto and food choices, as they were all surprisingly good. Believe me or not, even if I’ve lived half my life in this humble city, I truly haven’t gone to the places where the locals usually go out to chill. The only redeeming thing about the food fest is the pitcher of strawberry margarita the three of us shared. It was good too! This was also another surprise. Kudos to my friend Jecjec and her husband Junjun, for Dadaz’ yummy grub and heavenly cocktail mixes. It’s a relief to have a calorie-burner amidst what seems to be a prisoner’s last meal. Hehe! But what the heck, we don’t get to eat like that every day, especially with each other. After the amusing ordeal, my tummy felt quite sick. Indeed it proved it was when I arrived home, only a bit though.

A Hangdog Revelation

From my senior year in high school up until I was a freshie in college, I had this titanic crush on a schoolmate I haven’t even spoken to. Then, I was not even sure if he knew of my blatant existence. All I knew of was the unexplainable heart-racing and pounding whenever I’d see him. In college though, we went to different schools and only saw each other once. But even at that, I still fostered the same irrational feeling of admiration for him. It’s pathetic, I know. But it’s the whole truth of the story. Ever since that one meeting and until now, our paths have never crossed.

Lately, an unexpected occurrence had our “fate” intertwine again, indirectly though. Lo and behold, he knows me. He and Loida talked shortly about me sometime two months ago. She even told him of those colossal, unabashed emotions I had for him, on my cue of course.

Fast forward to dinner a while ago. When Jojo found out about him, he laughed so hard and even jabbed a big question mark in the air to ask me the shortest but hardest question, “Why?” of course I couldn’t come up of a good enough rational explanation, let alone a simple answer to the question. Jojo was quizzing me about what possible trait I saw in him that lead to the major crush, all I could say was, “I don’t know.” For someone who hasn’t had a chance of speaking to “J”, Jojo would want to assume I was attracted physically. But no, he couldn’t bring himself to believe that because “J” isn’t really that much of a good-looking guy. When Jojo asked me how I saw “J” on the outside, I said, “Well, he’s a bit cute.” Jojo couldn’t believe what I had said. To verify things, we opened a person’s cyberspace account and from there, looked at the several photos of “J”. Indeed, Jojo wasn’t wrong about his incredulity.

What’s The Lesson?

Mine was a case of blind attraction. Not in the sense that I refuse to see the person’s vileness because of the strong admiration I have for him. But blind, in every literal sense of the word --- I didn’t even know why I had a big crush on him from the start. And imagine, it lasted for two years. Maybe it was a rare case of the clichéd saying, “To each his/her own”.

The morale of the story: irrational things, and feelings, have the strong ability to wash your proper judgment; be cautious all the time and never let it hit that high note in you --- learn to control and see things from a different perspective.

Moreover …

What do you exactly do when someone who truly annoys you writes on your wall? I know I have my human frailties with me even if I try hard to be a good person, but what if you just can’t stand this person’s presence, what would you do? People know I am transparent and I have poor theatrics, so to avoid is my better option. But would that be good?

This is fairly a common dilemma we all face. Not all have the audacity to pull a face and pretend. Some sham genuineness until they reach true sincerity. But for someone like me, the best move is to be just civil and polite. No more, no less. I think that would be enough. If the person continues to pester further, wave a stick and whack him/her away, hehe!

awful truth

2009-08-04T02:07:00.002-07:00

Ate Caycay and I chika-ed at Tita Carol’s office late this afternoon. The abused subject of “love” came up, and so I shared, of course. All the chika dawned an epiphany on me: that that part of my life almost always comes out a failure. I strongly feel it’s because of the timing, as it seems to be forever and a day wrong. I mean, when I happen to really like someone, it’s either he’s not available or he stays stuck in the friend zone. Or, when someone does get close, I’m not that into him. I don’t exactly know why, but it just goes that way for me, hopefully at least just for now. Even if I’m a little cynic, I don’t plan and intend to live the tedium-full life that of a spinster. I honestly, honestly don’t.

I took advantage of the wi-fi in the office while continuing that provoking chat with Ate Cay. I opened one of my cyberspace accounts and unconsciously checked the profile of that particular person whom I secretly have a crush on. He’d pass my criteria of a perfect guy: expressive eyes, bright smile, lovely vocabulary and diction, smart and decent … except for one --- he’s taken! And I don’t think he’ll ever be unattached to the lucky girl. I even think he’s marrying her! Just thinking about it makes me want to give-up this quest to find the nearest acceptable prospect. Haaay, for chrissakes, I hope the old saying yet remains true, that there are a lot of fishes in the sea. Yes, yes, there are; but some of them are gay and others are either married, getting there or just complete a**holes. I fervently hope someone defies what I just blurted. Sometimes I think I really need a boyfriend, but conversely there are times when I feel that having one would be just a humongous mistake (for now) and an extra pain in the ass. I don’t want to fall on either side of the pole. Who’d want to be overdosed? Right, no one --- truly detrimental.

The downside of constantly thinking about that person is taking its toll on me. I’d find myself staring blankly at particularly nothing, lost in the fantasies of us as each other’s significant person. It’s silly, I know. But that’s what’s lingering in my head for the time being. I badly need diversional activities, just something that can steal every bit of gross attention my unconscious is in possession.

I’m going back hours from now, and I’m finally, finally going to meet the Dean for that career potential. I want to believe that it will be it. Even if it’s just part-time, it’ll do me all the best for the moment. God knows how bored and incompetent I feel what with the colossal free time I have. It’s morphing me into a professional bum. I wish that my top 2 applications will be a success. Fingers crossed still.

Is it 1 am yet? I absolutely lost track of the time, maybe it’s the coffee. I’ve been an insomniac lately and I know I really need to reset my biological clock. The good thing about being one per se is that I can do the things I haven’t done during the day, what’s sad is when I get up real early and feeling tired is how I jumpstart the day.

goodbye and thank you, president cory

2009-08-03T02:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you ...

For claiming and giving the country back its democracy

For re-establishing and strengthening the goverment immediately after you picked it up from the ruins of dictatorship

For making us proud to be Filipinos and Catholics

For reminding us the beauty of prayer

For being true example of excellent motherhood

For showing us that humility, sincerity and honesty can remain in politics

For sharing with us your husband, the great Sen. Ninoy

For loving not only your family, but the country and its people as well

Thank you ...

i was born in the year 1987. if it weren't for Ninoy and her, my life wouldn't be the same. i wouldn't be able to live the kind of life i am having and really enjoying now. today, i am saying goodbye and "thank you" to my favorite Filipino president, Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino.

farewell and THANK YOU, president cory. we will miss you.

paalam

2009-08-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

think about it!

2009-07-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

July 15, 2009

Of all things flippant, a human being who doesn’t seem to have any ounce of responsibility left in his system is something and someone I greatly detest.

Everyone possesses the ability to lie, and everyone has politician tendencies --- the audacity of wearing a saintly face until time would exhume the foul facts hidden by the soul beneath the mask. Everyone is inclined. We all have weaknesses and we are all subjected to the frailties of human nature. But deliberately ruining chance after chance is sheer stupidity and imprudence already. And people encouraging such act by acting as blinkers are much more obtuse than what they think they already are.

Almost all kids and young to middle adults of today have a very vague sense of what their parents are going thru just to meet whatever standard there is of a well-provided household. They think that it’s okay for them to transform into a professional slacker because there are people who care and are capable of cleaning up their mess. They think that no matter how grave the blows and insults they throw at their parents, they’d still be given the chance every prodigal is given. It’s okay and it’s but normal; family always forgives, always grants chances. But what makes this notion awfully wrong is the undeniable truth that some think that it’s alright to be rash and immature and not try to be better because they can be forgiven again and again, mistake after another mistake. The ending: they cease to grow. The repulsive and irritating part of the story is the people who allow themselves to become accomplices. The people, who, instead of taking part in teaching the lesson, take part in covering the wrongs --- and they think they’re doing the right thing.

It’s a tiring act to help awaken these people’s consciences. To be in a thrown existence where you have a share in relentlessly beating the bullwhip of reality in the hopes of annihilating whatever delusion there is residing in their brains is exhausting. You are doing them a favor, yet they do not realize that it is not for some selfish personal ends, it is but for them and their future. You are trying to help give them a shot at a good tomorrow, but they refuse to think of tomorrow because they are allured with how they should live for today.

I just wish that more would open their eyes and become aware of reality --- that we are not in a la-la fantasy utopia. Living for the moment is not bad, just as long as you keep a sharp eye at the future.

Satisfaction today, sacrifice tomorrow. Sacrifice today, satisfaction tomorrow.

the t-shirt and the stain

2009-07-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

last night, i was supposed to go partying after the fashion show i was invited to watch. i was getting ready for the two happenings i tried to squeezed in my seemingly occupied schedule (i had classes to attend to). but later that afternoon, i visited my mum --- she needed me. that visit made me realize that i could not go partying; i can only afford to watch the fashion show as it would end around 7:00 pm. i had to return to the place where mum was staying (she was in the city for work-related reasons) to attend to her. that was my version of compromise. from that decision, i tried to sms the people whom i have invited to the party and told them that something important --- because that was really important --- came up, and i could not just dance and drink knowing that my own mother needs me. i had to try be there for her. they replied by saying it was okay --- however genuine that was, i don't know.

after the earlier commitment, a friend and i had dinner. i tried to explain to him why i had to cancel the other engagement. and how he felt for my current dilemma, i could not, for the life of me, fathom and understand. it was like having a conversation with someone who owns only a speck of family values. i could not understand him. and of course, i was gravely disappointed in him and was royally pissed-off.

then, another friend thing came up. i still do not know him that much, but i consider him a friend. so this thing, it made me wonder his capability of understanding other people's situation, it made me ask the sincerity of everything he says --- of everything in him, of everything that is him.

sometimes, i'd ask myself why, when you make but a single --- miniscule mistake at that --- other people would make a big fuss out of it. why they tend to overlook the many good things you have done just because of that mistake. i don't really understand.

but of course, when a white t-shirt is stained with even just the size of a 25 centavo coin, we would notice the stain, not the shirt.

how was harry?

2009-07-16T19:38:00.001-07:00

chaves and i were given invites to the harry potter and the half-blood prince block-off screening ... thanks again rey! going to my main point, how was the movie? you may ask. the movie was okay, it didn't have the oomph that washed over me as i read the book. of course no one could be blamed. when we read, we make what we want to make of it. when a movie adaptation of a book is made, there is no guarantee that our version of the characters, the series of events and how everything would look like would be exactly the same as that of the vision the movie-makers had in mind. but it was good. as rey said, "to each his/her own, let's leave it at that."

earlier this week, i learned that even people expected to be mature can give-off lame reasons when asked to justify certain acts and decisions.

i learned that impulse, or the submission to it, only generates headaches ... even in shopping.

and i also learned that smoking is life's cigarette. quit it! nicorette gums and nicotine patches help.

passion fish at bigby's is a very good craving crusher. go get one when you're having PMS and you don't really want to eat and gain a few extra pounds. believe me.

when your date takes you out to dinner or lunch at cyma, keep your eyes very open. their food can make you fall for your date ... and i mean it with every pun intended LOL ;p (peace, m!)

i'm recently craving for the city bakery's (3rd west 18th street, nyc) black bottom and several of their mouth-watering delights. but where to get one close to theirs here? hhhmmmm ...

it's the seasonal sale i've been waiting for for several months now, and i want to shop. but no, i can't, and why is that? it's because i'm at the verge of becoming broke. another end-of-the-month syndrome. i'm just glad i still have cash for several days' worth of eat-outs, cab fare and a little something for miscellaneous and emergency situations.

i am caught in between giving up and charging for more. i feel that i need to exert more effort to get what i want and make things happen. yet, i feel that whatever colossal effort i hand-out, i still wouldn't get to the foot of the pedestal i have long set my eyes on. frustrating. thank God for friends, and of course, family.

my bag needs a refill on luck, anyone? LOL

have a good day everyone! ;p

p.s. a happy, happy birthday to my dear friend, ARIANNE RAE!!!

...

2009-07-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

i don't even know why i bother writing this.

lately, i have been too lazy to check any of my cyberspace accounts, let alone blog. i haven't even started posting random pictures for my 365 days photo project, as i have promised. boohoo. my usual preoccupations other than going online are still the same, nothing has really changed. i go on duty and have fun, i attend my classes and get bored and sometimes irritated when i'm constantly pestered by selected individuals, i hang out with friends --- eat, drink and sometimes party, i shop, i read, i still write on my journal and set aside several hours in a week for daydreaming. all but surfing the net remain. it's one of those days, when i'm constantly out, living, neither caring nor thinking about my life in cyberspace. just plain living, like the internet never existed.

because of my love for indie films and music, reading and oftentimes weird choices, a friend recently coined the term "socially withdrawn" to describe one part of my personality. this same friend also used the term to describe another friend of ours whom i share the same likes and choices. "to each his own," they say hehehehe. in our duty, there's this patient that everyone loves. he's old and refuses to use his false teeth. he's like everyone's grandpa. some of the people in my team shared to him our name-calling banter. and after a while, he joined, calling us "luth" and "bith" hehehehehe.

anyway, next week, there will be a french film festival, and my friends and i are definitely going. only a few people appreciate the art, hence the theaters are not expected to be full, which is a plus hahaha. one film event of which movies i am really itching to watch is the sundance festival. this year, maria and i are so looking forward to "500 days of summer" (joseph gordon levitt and zoe deschanel). because of the possibility that we might not get to see the movie on the week of, we are planning to hold our own version of the film fest. well, it will just be a movie marathon --- all the sundance entries we love, including the german movie adaptation of the book "let the right one in". at the moment, we are still waiting for the actual festival to partake so that we can download the films of our choice. i am so excited.

right now, i am waiting for the one employment prospect to push through. fingers crossed still.

:)

boredom rants

2009-07-02T02:16:00.000-07:00

i am bored. and i know i am not alone in this solitude. whoever shares the same sentiments with me, here's to that enemy we really can't escape.

i really want to work five days a week, but no, i can't. as of the moment, i can only dedicate a day for work and two days for school. i haven't a fulltime job; well, i am waiting for the pushing through and finalization of that. i can not do anything but wait for just a few more months. and when that arrives, i'll be as busy as a bee. so, in a week, i only spend three days for whatever it is that keeps me busy. just three days. it gets pretty boring and sometimes the tedium rises to itch like hell, an itching some antifungi can't annihilate. that's what i'm experiencing right now.

i was trying to follow significant people's advices, to blog only about good, nice things. but i'm having a hard time following them, as you might've noticed. thing is, when i want to say something, i say it; and conversely, when i don't, i really do not. they say ranting isn't proper nor lady-like. but for whatever rule of etiquette there is against ranting, i say: to err is human.

just like every person, i too have various things and etceteras my entire brain is and gets fixated to. whenever i am engrossed on something, for some reason, i anticipate, look forward, get excited and, you know, just get giddy about everything. but of course not all things turn out the way we wanted them to be. matters as such halts my glee and somehow take some life from me. sudden and sad; like a soap airing on its last episode when all of a sudden the entire city is having a black-out. sudden, frustrating, sad. the light in me wanes, and boredom squeezes its way in.

one lesson i have learned today: it's no secret that the world isn't perfect, and for certain, it will never be.

the good thing about today is, even if i am swallowed by tedium, i learned something.

uyyy boys over flowers ;p

2009-06-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

i was watching entertainment live awhile ago. in the show's segment called "OMG", they shared i think two facts about lee min ho's character, jun pyo, in the seriously big asian series, boys over flowers. bianca and mariel, my current favorite young female hosts, couldn't hide their kilig as they gushed and sort-of squea-ed while sharing the facts. luis appeared ... bored --- there's really no other word for what i saw --- or maybe he really was bored because everyone concentrated on the interesting and seemingly juicy news leaving him unattended on his corner of the table, hehehe.

from the huge manga series hana yori dango, to meteor garden to boys over flowers, people really can't get their hands off the story even if several adaptations have been made. and every adaptation have become colossal hits. so why do people go gaga? here are some of my reasons, which i think are the same with the many fans out there.

1) the story is undeniably kilig. it has all the factors that make a series interesting, gripping and ... have i said kilig?

2) the male lead characters both in boys over flowers and in meteor garden, have you noticed, are all regally good-looking and talented. they're like the asian human counterpart of edward cullen x 4. guys girls would definitely love to marry. just plain yummy :)

3) the wardrobe, cars, houses and etc are to die for ... hehehehehe

4) it's something people don't get used to. as what i've said, every version that came out have become a huge success. i think, no matter how many adaptations are made of the manga, people will welcome, love and will go crazy over it. but, honestly, if a pinoy version would be made, i think it will flop. hehehehe, sorry, i'm just being honest. for me, pinoys are more suited for and are better with original series and movies. i don't exactly know why i feel that way, basta my stand is: pinoy artists = dapat orig.

and last but never the least ...

5) it's simply addicting :)

love the mania that is boys over flowers. love it!

goodbye, michael and farrah

2009-06-25T18:34:00.001-07:00

Michael Jackson

1958 - 2009

from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31552029?gt1=43001 :

Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the King of Pop and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

The circumstances of Jackson’s death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to the hospital, Ruda told the newspaper.

goodbye, michael. thank you for all the great, inspiring songs. your legend will remain, king of pop ...

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

Farrah Fawcett

1947 - 2009

from http://tv.yahoo.com/slideshow/446/photos/1 :

Farrah Fawcett may have started out in Hollywood as a remarkably beautiful ingénue but she didn’t stop there. By the mid-'80s she took on emotionally powerful roles about violence against women that not only gained critical acclaim but actually had a role in getting laws and police procedures changed in some states.

on a rainy day ...

2009-06-23T00:57:00.000-07:00

everyone on morning shift duty - chavi, mabert, maria and me - enjoyed pizza and cola, treats from rica, whose full name i will not divulge as it is a sort-of sensitive matter. yesterday was rica's nth birthday. happy, happy birthday acir! though i know you are unlikely to read this, hehe. also, thank you so much for the very yummy food. happy birthday! live and enjoy life to the fullest, even if things get crappy at times :)

i went inside a nearby internet cafe to see what my sister was doing there. a girl who was renting the computer near where i was standing was laughing by herself. the sight was pretty odd. would anyone in their right mind laugh alone in public? so anyway, i got curious. but because i didn't bring my glasses with me and seeing what she was doing was an impossibility, i went to sit on a chair just behind her. i had to eavesdrop to confirm my suspicion. and behold, i was right. she was chatting with some old foreign men. multi-tasking. but because she seemed annoyed with my presence known in the background since i was caught on cam, i decided to just stand up and leave. i still can't belive why some people really go through desperate measures just to meet their desperate needs. and to think of it, the 'needs' cannot be classified as desperate, let alone, worthy to be coined with the word 'need'.

although i am pretty much settled with my work as a volunteer psychiatric nurse, i admit, i really need an income-generating job. i have been sending out resumes to some institutions that might need my papers and services, but still nada. it seems as if my bag is running out of luck and i need a refill. it's funny because i feel that if i earn, i am duly rightful to claim the full independence i have tried to snatch for so long from the people i call my parents hehehehe.

rainy days and mondays always get me down - not. curling in a very comfy bed with fluffy pillows and a good book to read as i hear the rain pouring outside my window is a day i've always looked forward to. sorry, but i love rainy days --- forks, washington style. and today, to make everything lovelier, i said hello to my slice of chocolate mousse - hello and welcome, chocolate mousse, it's so great to see you.

rain + comfy bed and fluffy pillows + good book + chocolate mousse = pure joy.

enjoy the nice, rainy weather everyone! again, it's not that bad :)

one side of objectivism

2009-06-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

On a still Saturday night, i thought ...

Numerous times have we heard of people’s standard measurements of what is normal. Many have tried to explain the concept of normality and what is held acceptable under its umbrella. But the only hard-earned truth I have learned on the subject is this: what is normal for one person may not hold accurate for others.

Recently, I have been told by my father of an “abnormal” trait I have. I guess it was the first time my parents openly pointed out one of the many character abnormalities I possess. The incident was kind of funny; I sensed pure honesty watching them as they silently asked themselves where I got my peculiarities from, while disbelieving the truth that they could not see through my odd manners.

For instance, when all the girls in my high school graduating class scrambled all over the place in preparation for the graduation ball, I held and showed no interest for the event. My parents forced me to pay for the fee, gave all the nice reasons why I should go, but I didn’t budge – not a bit. They wanted me to go, but I did not want to go for the plain reason that I didn’t want to go. On the day of, they sat me down and gave a big word on the importance of the occasion. They knew I listened but they knew I wouldn’t change my mind. They asked me why, and the only reason I could give them was a simple: ‘Because I honestly do not want to go’.

My friends and my family cannot fully understand why I do certain things. But I guess from the many circumstances where I displayed inconceivable acts and motives, they have learned to just understand without neither throwing questions nor bothering to demand explanations.

This is what makes every person unique. Because even if we find people we are alike in so many ways, even if we find people who are our clones or we are a clone of, there exist bits and parts that make us strange –-- different, one from the other. This is the mark that is solely ours, the distinction that we are, indeed, one of a kind. The only variety is our conscious and or unconscious efforts as to what degree we like our meter set for public awareness. Some set it to a degree where they can show the world just who they are, while some are afraid or just not comfortable with revealing their skin, hence they become part of a following herd.

Individualism vs. collectivism is a philosophical theme not all people fully understand, not even I. Individualism is simply being your self and expressing yourself in whatever manner there is. Only that crude selfishness and egotism springs from its roots. Collectivism on the other hand is a lot like uncritical egalitarianism. The crusade for absolute conformity and equality. The good rests in its aim for fair treatment; the iniquitous resides in its struggle for everyone to be alike, devoid of achievement and or excellence.

The reality and its density. Some lie to themselves, thinking that they are being who they are; however, ignorant of the bandwagon they are shaping themselves after. Some simply reveal their color, too true to themselves to the point of becoming insensitive of any offense given just as long as the integrity of such freedom is preserved. Such is the complexity of the matter. The battle a person faces between the extreme ideals of the contexts can either lead to blind understanding or absolute precision of self-knowledge.

Does one have to pick a side? It depends on what one believes and wants to believe in.

I appreciate people who standout for being themselves. For staying true to their individuality sans fearing or even thinking about the kind of welcome society might hand. Conversely, the people who keep their identity by acquiring the qualities of others they would like to make part of their own. But I salute those who are who they truly are while staying completely attuned with the world; moving and existing in harmony with everybody else --- people who are part of the whole just as they remain honest to their being.

My friends are scattered out and about in the various clubs and pubs. Invites to this and that flooded, I know I would have tremendous fun outside. I declined every single one. Why? Just so. For no exact conscious reason at all --- just so.

why i write

2009-06-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

i don't even know why i am writing this. this motion of somehow explaining myself about my motive for sharing a bit of my thoughts and what i did is something that honestly bothers me, a little. people have asked me time and again where my past blogs are and what i did with them. and people ask why i write even if i know some of the things i write about are nonsensical or incomprehensible at the very least.

i started blogging approximately 4 to 5 years ago. so far i've had a xanga, a friendster and 3 blogspot blog accounts. what happened to them? my xanga subscription got expired, so basically there's nothing i can do about it. the 3 blogspot blogs, i lost access to. and the friendster blog, i deleted, after finding out that people really do read what i post. it's a funny story actually, but yeah, when i found out about that awful truth, i deleted my friendster blog for my own selfish reasons. however, it dawned on me that the point of me being an amateur writer and wanting to become a good, actually great one would be devoid if i don't share what little skill i have. and, i realized that not sharing would also mean that i won't avail myself of the chance to improve whatever it is that considers me a "writer".

why i write, somehow you can blame it on my genes. my dad was a writer, my siblings are writers, i have several cousins, aunts and uncles who also love to write, and i have an uncle who owns a huge blog. my parents practically soldered tons of reading and writing on me and my siblings ever since we all learned how to read and write. hence, i got a major part in a school play back when i was in preparatory school, a fairy godmother. until now, i still don't quite understand why i got the part.

before i discovered the joy and ease of blogging, i was in on the traditional pen and paper. back then, i'd try to write stories and little etceteras on several of my dad's prescription pads, and when i'm done reading my work, i crumple the papers and throw them or i'd just have them burned. i also owned several journals and class-notebooks-turned-journals, some of them still alive until now. but the first writing "task" i received was for an autograph my parents had given me on my 7th birthday. it was a task because instead of letting my friends sign the book, i interviewed them and wrote down the answers myself. the first person i "interviewed" was, believe it or not, gem. yes, kathreen gem. her family was vacationing then and before they left for bohol, i set-up a kiddy appointment with her at the patio of the house we were renting hehehehehe. after that, i'd have my thoughts written on the back pages of my class notebooks and several scratch papers i find in my bag. that was how my infamous writing "career" started pre blogging.

sometimes i write about things that make readers ponder about life and its meaning, and conversely, i write about lame, trivial things. sometimes i am in the mood to write, and sometimes, most of the time, i get ingested by laziness and sheer boredom of the task perse. sometimes i can whip out what i can call a masterpiece and sometimes making one is like pulling a tooth. but what inspires me to write even if i don't feel it is the message that beloved writer, rainer maria rilke, delivered in his book "letters to a young poet".

There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple “I must,” then build your life in accordance with this necessity….

…But after this descent into yourself and into your solitude, perhaps you will have to renounce becoming a poet (if, as I have said, one feels one could live without writing, then one shouldn’t write at all). Nevertheless, even then, this self-searching that I as of you will not have been for nothing. Your life will still find its own paths from there, and that they may be good, rich, and wide is what I wish for you, more than I can say

Write about what your everyday life offers you; describe your sorrows and desires, the thoughts that pass through your mind and your belief in some kind of beauty - describe all these with heartfelt, silent, humble sincerity and, when you express yourself, use the Things around you, the images from your dreams, and the objects that you remember. If your everyday life seems poor, don’t blame it; blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the creator there is not poverty and no poor, indifferent place. And even if you found yourself in some prison, whose walls let in none of the world’s sounds - wouldn’t you still have your childhood, that jewel beyond all price, that treasure house of memories?

right now, i am trying to keep this blog and another one at multiply updated, and i keep a journal for the things i cannot publish in the web. the habit of keeping a little notebook inside my bag is still present in case i have epiphanies when i'm out. however people find the stuff i write, one and only one thing holds to be true: quitting is never an option. writing makes me learn, and writing keeps me aware, sensitive and grounded.

God's generosity

2009-06-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

i feel so blessed.

God has manifested His generosity again and again. 90% of my current prayers and immediate needs have been answered. though there's still a remaining 10%, my confidence soars because of the comfort i take in the hard-earned belief that even dark clouds have silver linings. thinking about the things i've been through and the loopholes and backlogs i have placed upon my self and the countless blessings i've received through it all makes me feel so alive. alive, because i know that i am not alone in my life's journey. alive, because i know tomorrow's always a better day. alive, because every tunnel, no matter how dark, lonely and cold it is, has a tail that marks its end.

when i was still a little girl, i was told not to underestimate God's generosity. i never quite understood until now --- until 12 years later.

sometimes, we think that our human frailties make us unworthy of praise, forgiveness and love. because of this notion, the chains of the countless misdemeanors we have done in the past keep holding us back. and, because we condemn ourselves, we forget that God loves us in spite of our sinful nature.

this is what happened to me. because i am not what you may call a good child of God, i thought He abandoned me already because of my unimpressive behavior. then, i realized that that particular train of thought was wrong because He proved me wrong. now i know that even if i have done vile things, God forgives and is willing to forgive. and, even if i am not a devout catholic, He listens and answers my prayers if i just seek, knock and ask.

"Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened, ask and you shall receive."

back

2009-06-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

and i am so back in the game :)

i am back and although there were tons of things i wasn't able to do or accomplsh at home, i can say that my objective of getting away from the stressors in this city was met.

right now, i can't wait for my duty at the mental facility. so excited that as early as this morning, right after breakfast, i prepared my "duty" bag and started reviewing the stuff all psychiatric nurses should know. i am very much thankful to be part of the country's working force. i feel that with this start, more than a truckload of learning awaits me - and this learning will help me improve my craft. that with this start, my life is about to make the turn that will define my future in the arena i have chosen. and that with this beginning, the difference i want to make is just at arms length.

and even if there is a thing or two holding me back from pursuing my dreams, i know i can reach the stars --- i know because God is very generous. and besides, i have my angels surrounding me, giving me luck *wink*.

some random stuff:

>>> i am in dire need of good books. i've run out of books to read, and sadly, since i got back i wasn't able to do my very often trips to bookstores. how i miss the atmosphere and aura i get when i'm surrounded with hundreds and thousands of those lovely things. most especially, i miss the thrill and fun as i hop from one shelf to another, in search of a good read. if parents leave their children to playhouses when they need to go somewhere in the mall sans the screaming and demands of their hyperactive offsprings, you can leave me in a bookstore and trust that when you return, i will be there, still with unfinished business to wrap-up.

>>> all the news about rob pattinson and kristen stewart being in a relationship, like the other robsten fans out there, thrilled and once again transformed me into the giddy schoolgirl that i am everytime i get kilig. there's no denying their chemistry and sexual tension, i mean, they're hot together. really. whether all this buzz is true or not, i'm just happy they make girls squee, hehe. but wouldn't it be totally lovely if they were together for real? hehehehe

>>> new moon, the second book in the twilight saga, is about to hit theaters. loida and i can't wait to watch! she's coming here on nov. 20th, seriously! chris weitz is a good director and everybody's working twice, thrice as hard, hence i know new moon would drive every twilight fan wanting for more.

>>> i haven't started my 365 days photo project yet. but i promise to work on it. i will. really. there'll be pictures as soon as i take and get the chance to download them :)

>>> went to an appoinment with the dentist to replace my power-Os. rain fell hard, then all of a sudden the lights went off, no generator in the building. dang. fortunately there were only three brackets left, thank heavens. the extraction of my first molar had to be postponed --- both a good and bad thing. bad because my agony will be prolonged. and a good thing because no matter how tough and game i am in the exterior, deep down i am scared of the procedure, hahaha. stomache, headache, dysmenorrhea --- name it, i can accept all the prostaglandins produced --- no, seriously. but when you say toothache, or any ache that has something to do with the oral cavity, that's another story hehehe. yeah, do you notice how even just a toothache can be your achilles' heel? some guy friends, marco in particular, even admitted that they can't hardly endure the experience of a toothache.

>>> i cannot wait to talk to my bestfriend. truth is, i've had no one to really have sincere talks and irreverent, sarcastic humor since she decided to stay in the OC a few months back. sure, there's the cellphone, i can text or phone her whenever i want. but, phonecalls are a whole lot different from conversing with the person in the flesh, right? and besides, i'm not really someone who's industrious enough to register in the unlimited promos as i don't text that much, hehehehe.

allow me to rant about this matter:

i really dislike people who front, especially a whopping 100% or 85-90% the least. in a past blog, i've mentioned how facebook quizzes give me and my friends a whale of a time, because they really do, right? now there's this one quiz in living social (also in facebook) where you have to name your top 5 filipino street foods. lo and behold, this person of mine --- someone known by people as a katkat, or a social climber --- answered: krispy kremes, caviar, gelatissimo and other totally NOT FILIPINO STREET FOODS.

was it done on purpose? duh, of course, when you answer the top 5 things thingy on facebook living social, you can see why. apparently, no one can say they were mislead as the font and font size of what kind you are partaking is too big that even my 300-grade eyes without the spectacles can clearly see. i honestly cannot wholly comprehend why people try to effect something that obviously isn't real. i mean, come on, ITS facebook friends let alone ITS friends, know ITS state. why show (or tell) people, friends most especially, something that is way past the boundaries of bluffing and white-lying. i don't get it.

----------

well, that'll be all for now. ta!

my new project

2009-05-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

for the past weeks, i have been searching for inspiration. my blogs have been running from fine to okay lately because the lack thereof, and i really want to change and improve that fine-to-okay status. loida has been telling me about this 365 days photo project a long time ago, but i kind of ignored it, thinking that it might not suit me well.

my jampacked itineraries has contributed in my not being able to see the good little things around. and because as i said, i need inspiration, i really think that this project will help me a lot. two of my friends have been doing this already, aira and loida. and i want to become part of it; not because in a way, it is cool, but because i believe that i can find miracles even in the tiniest things i freeze in imagery. i really, strongly think that this will give me the spark my soul needs.

i will embark in this new little project after my short vaca. wish me luck!

visit this site if you want to know about the 365 days project: http://pjduane.blogspot.com/

here comes the rain

2009-05-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

i am in no mood to write and/or blog. but because i am leaving in a few days time, and leaving would mean writing and/or blogging leave, i want to post something that would somehow serve as the closing blog for the month of may.

although i have come up with a fairly, slightly lengthy yet not so meaty and interesting blog, the process of putting everything together was like having a tooth pulled, but i'm glad i did it. here goes.

rainy season is here, and i love it!

i'm not so much a summer-sun-sea-sand-surf fan. i am pathologically incapable of enduring too much sun exposure. whether you believe me or not, my skin gets burned with just a mere 10-15-minute continuous exposure to sunlight, even with sunscreen + sunblock. so anyway, enough with the peculiar skin problem. here are a few reasons why i love the rainy season.

a) i get an excuse to wear my boots in this tropical country
b) i get an excuse to read and read the entire day and drink cups after cups of warm milk and coffee --- yummy!

c) i get to whole in my crib without turning on the aircon, hence i conserve energy

d) i don't get the discomfort i usually experience during super mainit days, and

e) for some reason, the weather makes me feel comfy and cozy

but of course, in as much as i love the rain, it has also tidbits of downsides that can pester my, or anyone's day.

a) you get a hard time keeping your uniform or your outift pristine what with the puddles, splashes and spatters

b) there's a bit of a difficulty when you and your friends go out --- again, the puddles, splashes and spatters

c) because the weather induces sleep, all you want to do the entire day is curl in bed, thus there is a risk of triggering those "lazy" hormones, and

d) you get dirty feet when you wear flip flops or sandals. with all the puddles scattered, it's impossible to go about the entire day with your tootsies clean

but aside from those disadvantages, i can say that i can endure living and would love to live in forks, washington or in oregon. after all, as a kid, i was not one who would sing, "rain, rain, go away, come again another day..."

enjoy the rain everyone! it's not that bad *wink*

gotta love this wedding

2009-05-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

on the 28th of april, judy ann santos and ryan agoncillo tied the knot.

theirs was a simple, elegant, intimate, solemn, blissful, happy and fun wedding. two thumbs up!

watching the wedding special last night in abs-cbn was like witnessing my dream wedding unfold. i had to remind myself to watch my jaw, as it slacked from time to time. everything was so surreal and just great.

their wedding is to die for, for me that is. i've never envied the grand and big weddings that have happened ever since i was aware of the beauty of the concept, but this got me soooo jealous --- in a good way of course.

i wish the couple the best of luck and happiness.

and i wish myself a love and a wedding like theirs, haha.

congrats everyone!

2009-05-12T21:11:00.001-07:00

cool in school

2009-05-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

my master's friends and i ...

let the pictures do the talking ;p

seeing happiness ...

2009-05-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

how many times in a day do we think of ourselves?

when things don't go the way we want them to,

when we think that our life sucks,

why do we always envy those we think who have more?

... those whose lives go the way we would've wanted ours to be,

... those who live in a fanstasy land,

... those whose luck never run out.

philosophically, it's just how man's brain works. negativity is normal. but really, just because it is to be expected of us, just because we've been dealt with this certain hand of fate (and luck), it doesn't mean we have to sink with it too. it doesn't mean we're not capable of rising from the ashes of misfortune.

my teacher back in college told me, "when you feel that the world has turned its back on you, turn around and take a good look ... maybe you've turned your back on it first." and this same teacher also said, "no matter how things turn out, always look at the glass half-full, you will realize that even at your state, you still have more than other people out there. looking at the glass hlaf-full, that is humility."

true enough, altough we experience humongous problems, still there are those whose problems are greater than our own.

life is unfair. sure there are people who can shop, travel and relax all day and all week but still their savings accounts remain unscathed, and what money we have won't even amount to their day's worth of expenditures. yes, life is unfair, BUT, there are also those whose lives are way less luxurious than ours. those who are more unprivileged than us that to them, the lives we live is luxury already.

indeed, there's a lot to be thankful for.

i'd like to share a little something that my facebook friend, my namesake, posted.

Most often than not, I try to keep my attitude positive. Even if things are
going a little out of track, still I strive to maintain that optimistic smile
and keep the positive vibes in me flowing. It is one thing to be happy about
doing the things you love, and another about being happy when all of the things
fit just perfectly right in the end after all the hassle and
mini-disappointments.But one thing that really makes my heart happy, though it’s
just an incy-winsy-teeny-weenie thing that I didn’t notice until recently that I
happen to be doing sometimes, is the feeling of self-confidence and happiness
that I give to some people. I may have not really noticed it, but to my
surprise, in my own little ways, I have made those people happy, self-content,
and made them realize that they are the best versions of themselves.It feels
great knowing that you bring happiness to people, even just a little. After all,
matud pa nila sa bisaya, bahalag ginagmay basta kanunay.Bahalag saging, basta
labing. XD

thank you, icon jen ;p

i am thankful for the life i live, what i have and what i don't. the little things in my life are more than enough to be thankful for :)

happiness does not mean that everything is perfect, it means that you have learned to look beyond the imperfections life offers.

when life hands you lemons, make some lemonade!

be happy! ;p

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my previous post stirred some of the people i know. people have been sending me messages, asking how i am and et cetera. they thought i was "broken hearted", that the previous post referred to me. it's amusing and entertaining, hehe.

first of, i am not referring to my self nor a very recent personal experience in the blog that i wrote. i have been single for quite a long time now, and believe me, i love every bit of it as it was a choice --- a choice i definitely did not regret. when i broke up with my ex, it was a mature decicion, i wanted to be an astronaut --- i needed more space (hehe). no matter how selfish this may sound my reason was, more space for me and "me time". secondly, a friend and i talked and rationalized her recent circumstance snd the fruit of it was very good. hence the inspiration for the blog. therefore, the previous blog is neither about me nor my experience :)

on moving on

2009-05-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

In relationships, breaking-up and finding another is inevitable. This is a seismic cyclical event that goes around until we have found the exact opposite made for us. But until then, everything is a trial and error, a fixture of mix and match.

The chapters squeezed in the middle of the titanic phrase “moving on” are probably the most tricky and thorny among other things in the relationship manual. “Getting used to being single” and “getting used to seeing the other with someone new” are different contexts with varying levels of difficulty. And whether you admit it or not, it takes colossal strength to pull together a superhuman feat to overcome them.

“Getting used to being single” is not synonymous to “being brokenhearted”. When you wake up and enter the day acknowledging the fact that the pronoun ‘you’ is not anymore plural, that’s what is meant by “getting used to being single”. There’s this knowledge that unlike the previous months or years, you will do things and go through them without that special someone to call or IM however things turn-out. It is the reality that the particular date of every year marking your togetherness is forevermore banished. It is going to events not anymore towing your plus-one. It is you and you alone. But no matter how sad at first this phase seems to be, it is also the time we get to re-connect with ourselves. It is, by far, the best opportunity to get-to-know and reassess who really are and what we want. It is the great time to be selfish. Me, me, me and more me.

When you finally do get a grip of being single --- you’re happy, you’re having fun, you feel absolutely superb and all that and et cetera, the big question now is this, “What will you do if you learned that your ex has found someone new?”

“Getting used to seeing the other with someone new” is entirely different from “being bitter”. But just because you felt a pang or twinge, it doesn’t mean you’re either bitter or jealous. This is just barely adjusting to the reality that once upon a time it was you. That you were the other half of your yin-yang. That it was you who completed the plurality of the relationship that once was. That’s just simply it. And this is where acceptance strikes in. It’s the route of hailing the fact that at one point or the other, separately, we will find another psyche, only that the timing is unpredictable. Most of the time, someone goes first while the other continues to search. But sometimes, the timing can be the same.

It takes a specific length of time to move on. No doctor can prescribe exactly how many days or weeks must be consumed before one can scream to the world, “I’ve moved on!”

I wrote this as a salute to all the brave hearts out there whose emotions have been shattered, but gathered all the courage to stand up and start moving on.

“How do you move on? You move on when your heart finally understands that there is no turning back.”

– Mr. Frodo Baggins, Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Thank you E for the inspiration.

plushie XD

2009-05-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

My day began fairly banal but ended up jolly and quite meaningful :)

I went early, actually a lot earlier than I thought, to school to attend to matters with regards my schooling. I was being passed from one counter to another to verify some things, but as it happens, I was asked to come back two days after. It didn’t get to me though, as the day promised a sunny outlook.

Because my business in school didn’t take much more than an hour, I decided to head back to the pad and check my mail and my cyberspace accounts. After hours or so of lounging in front of the computer, completely immersed in both logical and illogical time killers, I decided to take my brunch. Fast forward to the next forty-five minutes or so, Chavs sent me a message asking me to join them at this local coffee shop in I.T. Park. So as not to be dramatically late, I compressed my hour of exercise into 30 minutes. Yes, you read it right, I’ve just started exercising as a result of being a bit fed up with the “OMG I can’t believe you’re fat already” comments. I’m trying to keep up with this tradition-in-the-making though.

When I arrived, both Chavs and Elle were in their scrubs. The reason for my being there (also Elle’s) was this: we have to help the other with his data tallying. I helped, well, a little. I screwed up twice, thereby repeating everything. Elle on the other hand did 75% of the task. It was all good fun, like giving me a treat --- I realized I needed to go out and smell the air of the outside world more frequently than what I thought I deserve. Everyone deserves a break, even in between the hustle and bustle of a mixture of backlogs, deadlines and blunders. We all are worthy of claiming a little sense and balance amidst chaos.

My sister and I exchanged messages and later that afternoon found myself sitting in front of her while she awaited for her turn to see the EENT.

Manel : The nurse in my duty this morning was so arrogant. She nagged and needled my ears off when the bottom line of her flighty mood was just for me to pay for what I discarded. I acted all out proper because I acknowledge the fact that I am there to be helped. She knew it was my first time of exposure in that institution and in that area. And to think, it was just over some cheap, little needle. She could’ve said her point without haranguing me.

Me : *deeply annoyed* Totally inexcusable. What kind of ethics and professionalism does she have? Why is she acting in that way anyway when her salary won’t be touched? Lucky you’re not like other students who would talk back. Because if you were, you would’ve told her that our parents are in the medical field, let alone Pa is both an IM and a surgeon. So basically we know how much it costs and can replace it with as many needles as she likes. It would’ve slapped her and shut her up.

Reality check. Today’s students are tomorrow’s colleagues. Therefore, those already ripe in the profession have no right to neither demean nor harangue students because these students might be better than them. What’s more, they started out as what, mere students too. And besides, the relationship is reciprocal. Students don’t go to school for free, they pay to learn. Especially in the medical and paramedical courses, a relatively high price is being paid for. Conversely, nurses in affiliated institutions have some share with the fee students are paying, hence they are paid to guide, supervise and teach the students. It is simple math, but some people wrongly estimate themselves, thus making this simple math null.

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In the name of oblivion and a sort-of selective retrograde amnesia.

*Mobile phone ringing* I received an unexpected text message from my statistician.

GF : Ms. Maico, I haven’t received any e-mail with your data yet. My e-mail address is this …

Me : Oh crap, oh crap *getting a little panicky* … *suddenly realizing the awful truth* … I sent the e-mail to another address. This is humiliating! To think it was me who annoyed him that I sent my data already.

Oh no, I’m afraid I sent it to someone else’s mail. I’m very sorry sir. I’ll send it first thing in the morning. I really am very sorry, and thanks for the notice, sir.

GF : Okay lang …

Me : Okay … chill, chill. You saved the contents to be e-mailed in your stolen-from-Mum USB … Now, where’s that USB? … ?! ... *awful truth dawning again* … Oh shoot, I left it in … darn.

Ha-ha. Have you ever had experiences where you keep on budging people just to vent your trivial ‘achievement’ and it turns out there’s nothing there to show firstly? Haay. It’s one of those days. It’s awkward, right? Annoying yet charming. I can’t believe this happened to me … AGAIN :)

Suddenly my consistency is of a plushie LOL ;p

glamour? = whatever

2009-05-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

This topic has been puzzling me for quite a long time now, and no matter how hard i dissect it, still I can't come up with as good an answer.

Some of my friends and I overindulge, and sometimes, I admit, we go so far as to touching the money we don’t have. It’s crazy, I know, but it is retail therapy. But in spite of this path to wreckage, divine intervention and our guardian angels immediately zap us back to reality. And that’s the good thing about it. For some intangible reason, our reason straightaway builds a great wall to set our parameters before we fall into wholly irreparable damage. It’s one of those strange, inexplicable things that always happens to me and my friends and thank God and His minions for that.

Unfortunately some go way, way beyond the therapy overindulging gives. What I mean to say is, some people live a lifestyle they cannot even afford. They are living beyond their means. I don’t know, but the obvious reason for that is to climb the social ladder --- what else is there? Okay, so the real reason apparently enough is to be one of the people who are born, married, grossed into elite-dom. I know some who are and it’s just woeful because no matter how hard reality would hit them, still they pursue this senseless climb.

Having been a witness to their ‘efforts’, I can’t fully grasp the lengths they go through just to be one of the socially recognized glitterati. Let alone the somewhat delusion of grandeur they nurse and nurture. The sight is really outlandish and zany, because it’s like watching a person grasp for air to breathe. Like ‘glamour’ and ‘prestige’ is their version of the physiologic needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

I know it’s none of our business, but some of my friends and I could not just resist to wonder what good social glamour and prestige would bring these people. Aside from the fame and being an ‘it’ item, there’s really not that much. It’s okay for the naturally rich, famous and royal, as it is part of who they are --- they were born into it. But for those who aren’t, isn’t it kind of weird and crazy?

If a tomato wants to be an apple and tries to become one, wouldn’t the tomato look ridiculous? And even if the tomato gives everything just to be an apple, it doesn’t make any difference --- the tomato is still a tomato and will always be one.

I am trying to understand why some people just are, but it’s only making my head throb. The cause of the throbbing is silly. I know, I should just stop and leave things as is. Because maybe, just maybe, people being glitterati wannabes are part of keeping the world at equilibrium, and the circle of life, well … a circle.

are you getting me?

2009-05-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

A few days back, the person I gave a photo comment in Facebook got the wrong end of the stick, so I had to reduce everything into its simplest form and even had to translate it into vernacular --- as if I’m very, very good at it --- just to clear things up. This is the third time for me to be in this particular instance, and because I don’t want the numbers to add up, I’ve decided that this very recent incident would be the last. And I hope and pray that it will be.

One lesson I really need to learn: having the opportunity to speak doesn’t guarantee the privilege to be understood. Sad, but true.

Point to ponder #1: When communicating with people whose English is a bit shaky, hesitate and always keep in mind that making use of only the basic S-V agreement helps a lot. Tweaking and flourishing statements, let alone injecting idioms might not be appreciated. You’ll just end up being misinterpreted, and no one wants that.

I’m not saying that my grammar is as superior as others, but in as much as there are people who are really good and better than I am, there are also those who aren’t. I just have to accept that even friends of the same crowd don’t own the same knack.

Point to ponder #2: Words are powerful. Right, so being sensitive to a person’s level of vocabulary is also very important. Some people look like they know what they’re saying but the awful truth is, they don’t. Some do, but on the cloudy other side, some do not. They just try to keep with the façade to appear like a wordsmith and impress people. It’s a bit of a downer, but some of our friends are like that.

Point to ponder #3: Choosing the audience to communicate thoughts with is also a thing to be mulled over. In ourselves we are unique, and though different from one another, we share a whole lot in common with our friends. However, the love for philosophy and logic is not as pervasive a denominator. So the next time smarty-pants mode strikes in, pick the people who you want to smart talk and wit banter with. Because if it’s not being given that much thought, you’ll end up being misinterpreted or worse, misjudged.

For example, not all can tell the difference between “judging” and merely “saying what you’re seeing” or “stating the obvious”. Some mix them up while conversely, some get the entireties of each.

So you see a little caution will go a long way. We really don’t want to squabble with our friends over some small, lame reason, right? I/We just have to keep myself/ourselves in check. Avoidance will do the trick.

paintball!

2009-04-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

one fine afternoon my masters frets and i went to banilad to have fun --- paintball!

we split into two teams. my team, the green team composed of nylrad, chavs, and mia

on the black team were jom, melai, shebangs and elle

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shoulder down! shoulder down! let the games begin!

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jom and shebangs ...

melai's target: chavs

elle covering melai's back

me on the look out for jom :)

chavs: where's jom?!
me: he's here, he's here ... my side!

me protecting the base

mia moving forward ... trying to cross enemy lines

fire !

and the winning team emerges from the smoke and chaos of the battlegrounds

we won!!! woohoo!!!

awesome game everyone! 'til next time!

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gotta love paintball!

no words

2009-04-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

i am beyond words. here is the link to austin kleon's site where my shout-out can be found.
you can also copy and paste this one:

www.austinkleon.com/2009/04/26/the-right-to-decline

wow. though little, this is something for me. wow ... i am dumbfounded. i mean, W-O-W.

if you're too lazy to go check out the link, here is what the page looks like: (scroll further down and look for my name --- so happy ;p)

This is poem 25 out of 30 for International Newspaper Blackout Poetry Month.

SHOUT-OUT! goes to Icon Maico who blogged about the poems and then tried one of her own. Awesome!

Want your shout-out? Make a poem, post it online to your blog, Flickr, or Facebook, and let me know!

Spread the word! Copy the code for this banner and paste it on your website:

Newspaper Blackout Poems

<a href=”http://www.austinkleon.com/newspaper-blackout-poems/” mce_href=”http://www.austinkleon.com/newspaper-blackout-poems/”><img src=”http://www.austinkleon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/nationalpoetrymonth.gif” mce_src=”http://www.austinkleon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/nationalpoetrymonth.gif” border=0 alt=”international newspaper blackout poetry month”/></a><br /><a href=”http://www.austinkleon.com/newspaper-blackout-poems/” mce_href=”http://www.austinkleon.com/newspaper-blackout-poems/”>Newspaper Blackout Poems</a>

my newspaper blackout poem

2009-04-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

(please click on photo to enlarge)

this is what i was able to conjure for my first newspaper blackout poem. last night, i got so excited that only a few hours after declaring my desire to participate in the project, i found myself choosing words from a certain article and blacking-out the unselected ones eventually producing what i call "Heart of an Athlete."

i am still stunned at this little achievement of mine. never have i thought myself capable of such art. but the most important thing is, i had loads of fun. the experience was one i would never forget, and definitely one i would share to my friends. thank you, austin kleon for this wonderful idea.

"Heart of an Athlete"

Love for conquests comes a lesson:
You feel good, confident yourself ---
That craft is art.

Practice perfect despite the black of night.
Subtlety gives sense
Only strong, ready eyes keep interest.

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newspaper blackout poetry

2009-04-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

because i really want to become a good writer, i will be participating in austin kleon's newspaper blackout poems.

i still don't know if the stuff i come up with are worth posting here, let alone in mr. kleon's site. but, i won't allow myself to be defeated without even playing the game. nevertheless, i know it will be a fun, worth it and an out of the ordinary learning experience for me.

why don't you join? visit www.austinkleon.com (link found on the left side of this page), and let's see what we are able to make in our attempt to push our lyrical propensities through this tricky visual artistry. it's going to be awesome! :)

repeated experiences

2009-04-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

we paint our own happiness and conversely, unhappiness.

sometimes we cannot bring ourselves to wholly comprehend why some people totally blame their surroundings for the unfortunate turn of events in their lives. although it is true that both internal and external factors in a person's life always have a say in every circumstance one experiences, everything in life is a choice. everyone is smacked with options.

clearly enough, we are not humans who never fail to make the right turn. but the thing is --- whether we admit it or not --- we try to learn from the numerous repercussions of our decisions, remote and recent pasts alike. it may sound goody-goody, but it is also a known fact that unconsciously or otherwise, in as much as we learn from our mistakes, we try to look at others' and learn from them as well. but then again, there are certain occurences of which morales we presumed to have stuck with us only to find ourselves trapped in the same situation again. "history repeats itself", "deja vu" --- whatever the proper term there is for it, it happens. and it happens a lot.

when we find ourselves caught in this peculiar web, the question now is that, will we make exactly the same move as before? will the refusal to change course lead us to a different track? will putting forward the same pawns break this familiar cycle of fate?

like it or not, the answer is a big no.

repeated experiences only have one and only one aim: to teach us what we don't want to learn. the one consolation we take comfort in is in knowing that we are gifted with reason and free will. hand in hand, they define the consequences that could either chain us down or give us freedom. and we are given this knowledge for us to choose the better, if not the best option.