I Saw the Sign

       Early this morning, just when me and my family arrived in time for Mass, we went inside the church and were about to take our seats. Somehow, out of nowhere, I felt something fell on my head, something that had landed on my hair. Using my right hand, I tried to feel whatever was on my hair. As I removed my hand from my head and took a good look at it, I almost yelled after what I saw: “Yaaak! Bird Poo!”

     Yuck! I just can’t believe it! Of all the places and of all the people that bird could have placed his “gift” to, why ME?! Good thing my mom had those wet tissue wipes so i could clean my hand and my hair. Boy, was it so creepy having a bird befall on you its manure!

    Then again, I look at the incident on a different viewpoint. Somehow, it came as a blessing in a nasty kind of disguise, a sign from God. Earlier, I was having second-thoughts whether or not to attend the funeral of my cousin’s lolo, humbly called “Grandpa” by Ate Lora and her siblings, that was to be held in Heritage Park in Taguig. In a way, the “poop” incident somehow made me decide that I won’t be joining my parents, Ate, and Jorge to the funeral after-all.

Sooner after, me and my Kuya went home, ordered some Jollibee take-out and had my hand and hair washed clean.

What a weird and nasty sign God gave me, don’t you think?

Tech Problems

Mukhang nagkakandarapa sa aking mga braso ang sangkatutak na tech problems.

1. Ayaw gumawa ng album para sa mga bagong uploads ang Multiply Photos
2. Ayaw magstreaming na naman ang Quicktime (Error -2048)

At least eto ung pinaka-main problems na hinaharap ko. Ang ginawa ko:

1. Kinontak ko customer service ng Multiply, sabi nila, gagawin nila ang lahat kanilang makakaya kaso hassle talaga kasi ang dami kong mga litrato na kailangang i-upload at siyempre puwede naman sa facebook kaso 60 pics at a time siya per album habang may hangganan kada buwan ang sa Flickr. Di gaya sa Multiply na quantity is no longer a question (as for quality, it comes with a price).

2. As for Quicktime, hindi ko ito maintindihan. dati ung Error -2**** ang pinoproblema ko pero after rebooting, okay na. Ngayon, heto naman Error -2048 ang nakakabuwisit talaga! Sinubukan kong i-reinstall uli Quicktime pero mukhang may problema: Hindi na available sa Mac OS X 10.4 ang current Tiger version ng Quicktime kasi hanggang version 10.4.9 na lang siya. Kainis! Solution is for me to have to have a total software update on Mac OS X Version 10.4 para maging compatible na siya sa bagong version ng Quicktime and other similar programs. Kung hindi ko to magawa in ASAP, di na naman ako makakainig ng online streaming on the safety of my laptop every again!

Na-USTe Ako!: Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay/Si Jeco Na-USTe!

After card distribution last Friday, I decided to accompany Jeco and Raymond in UST for the annual Paskuhan, a Christmas fair held every year in the Pontifical University. In the past weeks, us three had already agreed as to when we’re going to meet up in UST and this is one is a perfect time to do so.

                I left for UST at around 6pm and texted Raymond that I’m on his way. By the time I arrived at Dapitan before 6:30 (After meeting some groovy traffic along the way), I noticed that I’m running out of cellphone load so I went to a nearby loading station to reload, unfortunately, the lady there said they’re loadless, the same with Ministop Dapitan which, unfortunately, doesn’t sell cellphone load.  I don’t want to ask my mom again for additional load after I exhausted the reload I got from the day before.

             I texted Raymond that I’m already in the Dapitan gate so from there, I waited. Unfortunately, Monde didn’t reply to my succeeding text messages as I was waiting for almost half an hour. I decided to look for a loading station within the Thomasian ground, at their famous food strip by the carpark. I paid the reload lady Php 20.00, told her my number and simcard affiliation. Again, for some reason, I haven’t received any text afterwards and my existing load continues to deteriorate.

         The ground itself is jam-pack crowded with people that kept coming in, including outsiders like me. Not just outsiders but also missionaries asking for donations and little carolers trick-or-treating people nearby.

       I was about to give up until I saw at least, one Jamer in the area, Von. Von was with his girlfriend for almost three years. I asked if he had seen Jeco or even Raymond, and he did. But the bad news, it seems like nakakawalaan kami.  It was already past 8 and if the two aren’t able to show up before a quarter until 9, I have to leave.

               I was seating in bench at the quadrangle and I was facing the entrance of the Faculty of Civil Law. Seated with me was a girl with her boyfriend. Because I’m so desperate, I politely asked her if I could borrow her phone to text Raymond, urging her that it’s an emergency.  She lend me her cellphone and texted him right away. When that didn’t work, I went around  to look for them. Von saw me again and said that he just saw Jeco and Monde and pointed them where I  was just then. Coming back from where I was seating, looks like there’s n certainty if we’ll ever see each other so I looked for another person whom I could borrow a phone and, this time, call Raymond. Just as I was calling them, nagkita na kami, grabeh!

It was already past 9pm and I still haven’t eaten dinner. Just so we won’t spoil the night, we watched the ongoing concert at the UST soccer field where the last act for the evening was none other than BAMBOO!! Jeco and I brought along our dSLR’s and took pictures like crazy.

 

         The concert was over at around 10:30, people were starting to leave pero kumakalam ang aking tiyan. We went to McDonald’s within USTe and bought myself double-cheeseburger, a large cup of Coca Cola for myself and another for Jeco who gave me money for his royal thirstiness.

                Outside the Dapitan gate, we were fetched by Monde’s parents who were waiting for us, parked near an old Caltex/Chevron station. Monde’s parents drove past H. Lopez Avenue,  Radial 10 Road (near Letre) and dropped Jeco near the infamous SSS office (where there was a shootout that took place a couple of years ago). I was then dropped somewhere near the loading area of jeeps en route to Monumento in Concepcion, Malabon. I took a jeep ride until dropping myself off near Francis Market, Acacia and from there took a jeepney ride en route to Paco, Bulacan (instead of Polo, Valenzuela for there were none available at the meantime). I dropped off in Panghulo (still in Bulacan) and from there, walked to cross the border before arriving finally at my house past midnight!

 

Remember: There may be One La Salle, there’s also One BENILDE!

The CSB Experience 2: Uncertainty (Term Ender Special)

It’s the Term Break once more, and not just any term break but my second collegiate Christmas break ever! HahaHAHAHA! Ehem….

          But nevertheless, it’s another break of uncertainty for me. Yeah, I got myself enrolled for the third term and all but the recent course card distribution had me wonder if it’s still possible for me to be in Dean’s Lister status for the second straight trimester. I got two 2.0’s from Desprin and NSTPCWT but was able to have my GPA equaled to a 3.0, just enough for me to get 2nd Honor status. But I thought, would the two 2.0’s possible make me not qualify for being DL.
  
            I just hope not, I worked very hard to maintain my grade just so I’d be able to at least become qualified for a grant (if I get to be DL for three straight terms that is). But if not, I guess that’s okay, kahit papaano ay nakaranas na rin ako kung paano maging DL.

Merry Christmas!

Merville Subdivision, 90210

    Not giving juicy details since it’d be rude.

     Yey! I got invited by Alyssa and company to have a sorta “salo-salo” at their house in Paranaque, all the way down South (of Manila). So far, of all the places in South that I’ve been to: Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Taguig and Pasay (Pasay’s right next door to CSB); this would mark the first time I’m actually be in Paranaque in general.

    We left SDA at around 6:30pm with Sheena, Alyssa, Inna, Angie, Aje and their other friend. We rode in a van and traveled past Makati, and Taguig, exiting by way of Skyway and ended up turning right to Merville Exit.

     Merville Subdivision itself is one whole puzzle, the van took turns left and right, down here, up there. It’s as if Alyssa’s place so well within the subdivision.

    Arriving at around past 7, we were welcomed by her dog, Baby (or Bebe), a fluffy white puppy with a thing for rolling balls. we were then led into a very telenovela-esque house (spiral wodden stairs, a balcony upstairs over looking the yard and a G-Mik-ish neighborhood) and ended up on their green lawn yard, with their fountain dressed like a Christmas Tree.

      Food on the table ranges from spaghetti to cream salad and drinks include 2 bottles of Coca Cola, one bottle of Sprite and two glass bottle filled with brandy. I don’t really drink. Sheena had a bottle of Coke mixed with brandy into one pitcher.

Then it’s chibugan time!

We ate, we drank, and we conversed. We took pictures of each other, playing around with my D40, Pax’s own D40 and Alyssa new Canon dSLR.

Well into the night, we (or just them) shared gossip and rumors surrounding people and their lives. One of us wasn’t spared and was placed on the hot seat. Kiligan grew and cheeks blushed.

Not to dwell on that any further, we were given a tour of Alyssa’s crib and eventually left their house at around 10:30.

But before we left, I was forced by Sheena to drink at least one shot of Coke mixed with brandy. I did and it tasted like medicine (Now I know how Tempra became the no. 1 cough medicine choice of parents to their children).

We were fetyched all the way until somewhere near SLEX, drove a taxi until EDSA where I was dropped off. Got home safely around 12:30 am and finally laying myself to sleep.

Kaibigan

I wrote this song out of complete boredom. Sinubukan ko lagyan ng tono via Garageband, okay naman kaso di ko marecord (Loko to ah). Usually, whenever I wrote poems or songs, it indicates that I had something in mind and I had the urge to let it out.

 As for this song, it’s all about being a friend to your friend. No matter the circumstances that he may be in, he knows that his friend will be there always to remind that he’s here to support him.

KAIBIGAN
1.
Kaibigan, kumusta na?
Ngayon lang tayo muling nagkita
Ano ang bago sa buhay mo?
Sabihin mo sa’kin kahit anu-ano.

2.
Pero kaibigan,
bakit nga naman
ang dami mong problema?
Kawawa ka naman.

Koro:

Hindi mo na kailangan mahulog sa bisyo
para takasan ang pinoproblema mo.
Nandito naman ako, ang iyong kaibigan,
Kuya, kadugo, at kapamilya.

3.
Kaibigan, ano ang bago sa’yo
Insecure ka lagi sa imahe mo.
Tandaan mo lamang na okay lang.
Ang tao ay di perfect kaya tayo ganyan.

4.
Isipin mo na lang,
ang magaganda.
Basta huwag sa chicks,
maba-basted ka lang.

Koro2:

Huwag ka malulong sa kagaya ng alak
Walang magandang dulot ang mga ganyan.
Huwag mo hinaan ang iyong loob,
Handa akong maging kaibigan, mo…

5.
Ikaw ang matalik kong kaibigan,
Narito ako dahil nandito ka
Huwag ka susuko sa laban ng buhay
Basta’t kasama mo ako, pati na rin sila

Koro 3:

Hindi mo na kailangan mahulog sa bisyo
para takasan ang pinoproblema mo.
Nandito naman ako, ang iyong kaibigan,
Kuya, kadugo, at kapamilya.

Kaibigan….Kaibigan….Kaibigan mo ako!

The CSB Experience 2: The Grand Eyeball

         Yesterday, I organized an eyeball among my co-CSB PExers just so we could be able to meet one another in person (thus the word “Eyeball”). Unfortunately, not too many weren’t able to attend and it ended with three people attending the EB (myself included).

       Among those who attended is a 108 CDA student named Franz and a 105 BM dude named Mac. We all met at around 12 noon in Plaza Villarosa. When we did met, we were all speeches. never have we thought we couldn’t say anything in person now that we weren’t online.  Usually in PEx, we all have a lot to say, thus a lot of thing to type about. But then again, we introduced ourselves and we shared a little bit about ourselves to each other.

     Another awkward moment is the lack of girl PExers in the already three-some EB. There was one but she’s not the type who join into such hehehe.

    Franz had to leave early so I was left with Mac. Mac and I had a lot of things that we discussed, usually anything about CSB in general, the PExers from CSB, and Pinoy Exchange (our section in particular). We had lunch at Tropical Hut where we continued our discussion.

      Around 1 in the afternoon, I have to go back to SDA so I thanked Mac for attending the EB regardless how too few we were who attended and left him smoking outside the now-former Charlie Brown restaurant.

I hope the next time we are to have another EB, many more would come.

The CSB Experience 2: The Korean-Born Koreans from Korea

Weeghh, this is so late a post. Just hoping I’d still remeber what I have to say bwehehehe!

1. 3rd Term-Petwoda Madness

         I have, for the first time, three foreigners as classmates (not counting those who may look foreign but somehow act more Filipino than they may seem). They’re from Korea and unfortunately, I could only remember one of their names, Yu-Jin, the girl with glasses and the slimmer, smaller of the two girls (compared to her larger friend). There’s another Korean girl but she’s more reserved than the other two. I got along with despite the language barrier and we were all able to ace Petwoda, because we were doing nothing but table tennis, YEY!

2. 1st Term 08-09 -Philien C-Break

      Jake Kim is an AB-AM student and was included in our group throughout the duration of Philien. He’s really shy and not that close with the other Korean classmate who evetually dropped out from the class. He knows his limitations as far as communication is concerned but he’s really willing to do his part in order to contribute greatly to our group project. The result? C-Break!

3. 1st Term-Outrageous Petwoda Divas

      So far, this set of Korean classmates are the most hilarious. There’s three Koreans in our dance class, 2 girls and a guy named Tom. The one of the 2 girls lost their dancing partners to somebody else during finals. Then it was decided that I’ll be pairing with one of the Koreans and was included with Ron’s group (him and the other girl). What really made my day was seeing Ron’s partner’s dress. I was definitely speechless! Think of this movie starring Drew Barrymore where she relived this certain scene in lher ife when she was turned down by her promdate.

Meanwhile, the guy named Tom was also in our group and his partner was the FDM girl with the weird laugh. He became my partner during midterms when were supposed to do this dance steps nonstop. I got confused because he got confused and the dance was a disaster.

Do you believe in me! I’m yours, you’re mine


4. 1st Term 08-09- Hartds Hyun Ho!

          Hyun Ho Lee’s my seatmate next to Trish and Genesis and was also one of my reporters which he covered topics under Gothic Architecture. I think he’s an MMA student. I was really flattered when he commented on the hard work I put for our group presentation, saying that I really put my all in this. He also complimented me knowing a lot of things (Wow!).

J Pics D40 Pics: May Umu-USTe Sa’kin nung Linggo

JM: Sinungaling ka talaga! Hahaha!:))

Raymond: Narinig kita, lumngon pa ako pero hindi kita mamukhaan kasi nagmamadali pa akong dalhin iyung kapatid ko sa UST High School sa may Benavidez Bldg niyo. Bumalik naman ako para tignan kung nandun ka pa rin, wala ka na. Nagstay ako ng ilang sandali sa lugar na iyon bago umalis.
—–

Pictures I took during the latest set of entrance examinations took place in he University of Sto. Tomas last Sunday, December 7. Jorge took his wherein he’s applying for a BS-IT course (sa CSB, he’ll apply for BS-Information System). I left for a while around 7:30 and came back at 10:30 to bring with me my D40 since it’s going to be ashame not being able to take pictures of this almost replica of a European-style oasis right inside the heart of Manila.