Giving Something Back to the Country

I am an iskolar ng bayan. My tuition fee is almost shouldered by the taxes paid by the republic. So as "pay back" to our republic, we have to enroll on a CWTS (Civic Welfare Training Service).

For CMC's CWTS, we were required to volunteer (seems redudant) on an NGO. I was assigned to work for the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG). The organization is a little bit of a leftist/anti-government.

I'm sure that I would love to work there for 50 hours and it will in some way promote something meaningful. But I don't see it as a "meaningful" way of paying back for what our country had done for us. Maybe on a little way it can, but I don't see it as direct line to the government. I was hoping for ways of helping our country directly. Maybe through government services or simple things like helping out on cleaning Metro Manila. I just don't see it's big impact.

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SURVIVOR UPDATE:

Janu Quitted the game. I hate quitters but at least she extended Stephenie's stay for 3 days.

First Day of Summer Class Turned Hell

Our first day of Summer Classes SUCK and I mean bad luck seemed to be living inside of me.

HELLO, JEEPNEYS PLEASE?

I got up early in the morning and pretty much anxious since it was a first day. I prepared my stuff and went out to school. Since my class starts at 9am, I can't carpool with my dad. I commuted from our house to school. Nun simula, ok lang SMOOTH and travel ika nga. But when I arrived on the UP jeepney station at 8.15am, there was a long line... tsk tsk... ang TAGAL maghintay. I waited for about thirty minutes under the scorching sun for a jeepney. But at least, I got to school in one piece. I envy Bikoy because he got to school in his bike.

CRS = Computer Ruining Student's Life

CRS (Computerized Registration System) assigned to me two CRS classes with TWO different professors. At first, I thought it was ok and since some of my classmates did encounter that problem, ok lang. But kanina, they didn't allow having TWO professors for CRS. Uh-Oh. BIG PROBLEM ITO. I had underwent the grueling Change Mat Procedure for the first time. It was a grueling procedure, having a professor to sign it then erase then sign again. It was HELL!. Then at the MassComm Admin, we had to wait for 2 hours for a single signature. It seemed that, our government paid officers were having lunch at 11.00. So para saan pa ang lunch break?... I got the signed Change Mat form at 1.30pm and I decided to continue it tomorrow since there were no jeepneys in UP and it started to rain really hard.

I hope that the next month won't be that grueling.

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Survivor Update:

Coby's out. Finally, there was a merge. and at last, there was a Koror member that was voted out.

Breaking the Spirit

I just got back from the province last night, so I had endured 10 days of no blogging.

UPDATES LANG:

Today was my enrolment day for Summer Classes. I decided to take up CWTS para hindi na hassle ito during our regular semesters (and also during summer lang nagooffer ang CMC ng CWTS). I didn't get my desired classes for CWTS, but I'm glad that I was lucky to even get a slot in it.

I also got my class cards today and I'm pretty disappointed on some of my grades for this semester. Here are the reasons:

Journ100

Actually I'm really happy with my final grade in this subject. My exams were pretty bad (2.5 Midterms). This was one of the subjects that I really prioritized last semester. But still, my exams were pretty mediocre. Siguro bumawi ako sa term paper (which was 15 pages long, far from the required 7 pages) and also dun sa discussion namin. I'm also disappointed kasi yun isang class (with a diff. prof.) ng j100 got grades ranging from 1.0-1.5, tapos kami ranging from 1.75-3 which was totally depressing. Kahit na same effort (pero sa tingin ko mas marami kaming effort), unfair pa rin yun grades. Pero no regrets...


SocSci 1

My biggest disappointment of all! I wasn't really expecting to receive a low grade. I was active in discussions but my exams were pretty mediocre. I'm really disappointed with this subject, because feeling ko I don't deserve such grade. It has no course outline and even a grading system. So hula-hula lang ata yun grade and unfortunately malas ako. Our prof. was nice but still she didn't organize the class properly.


Chem 1

My highest computed grade (not PE) for this sem. This was the subject that I really didn't expect excelling into. During the enrolment, napilitan lang akong kunin ito kasi it hasdthe best schedule and it's nearest sa CMC. But during the duration (sounds annoying?) of the semester, I enjoyed some of my lessons. Our prof. has also the "tatak" of "mataas magbigay ng grade".My exams were pretty high and our report was good. I was a bit closer sa 1.0. Sayang!


English 1

Hmmm. Another big disappointment. For two semesters, my english classes were diappointing. I enjoyed our class, yun nga lang siguro na sobrahan ng pageenjoy. It seems to me tuloy na I'm not really good in English, kaya I'm not really fit for Journalism. Hmmppffhh... I won't take English classes anymore!

Soc Sci 2

Another big "what the?" grade. I wasn't really expecting that I'll be getting a high grade from this subject. This was a subject that I put all my efforts into during last semester. As in, reports every week, basa dito-basa doon. Sacrifice ng time for the sake of SocSci2. But at least, all my hard work paid off.

Arnis

Super enjoyed the class and my appreciation for this subject paid off. Complete attendance, good exams, sipsip sa prof?... hehe... Again, for the second semester in a row, highest ko na grade ulit ay P.E. haha... nakakatuwa... Sana P.E. na lang lahat ng subjects...

Wala na akong masabi, siguro effort na lang talaga for next semester. Learn to prioritize and also avoid terror professors. Hehe. My GWA did increase compared nun last sem, so that was a good start. I hope magtuloy-tuloy na ito...


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SURVIVOR UPDATE:

Bobby Jon was eliminated. One of my most favorite cast away from this season. Sayang talaga!. For the first time in Survivor, nagkaroon ng 1 person tribe..hehe...nakakatuwa lang.

A Date with Avril Lavigne(and Simple Plan?)

Last night Avril Lavigne together with Simple Plan held a concert here in Manila and I am so lucky that I got to watch it (for FREE!). I won 2 tickets from this Mentos Contest. Super saya ko na I won!!! Wahahaha!

Ticket Dilemma

Since 2 tickets yun napanalunan ko, I don't know kung kanino ko ibibigay yun isang ticket. I got the ticket Wednesday afternoon, so I started calling people kung gusto nilang sumama. I called some of my high school friends kung gusto nila sumama but hindi daw sila papayagan. Maraming may gusto kaya nga lang di lang daw talaga pwede. I also contacted some of my UP friends, still wala pa rin gustong sumama. I mean, I'm giving them for free a P1,500 ticket, but it seems na ayaw nila.

Dumating na ang Thursday morning and still wala pa rin gustong sumama. I'm so desperate na may makuha akong kasama, but wala pa ring pumapayag. Nun bandang 2pm lang ako nakakuha ng kasama. It was Doreen, my Bio1 classmate/coursemate/orgmate ko ang pumayag na sumama. Hmmm... siguro dahil short notice lang mahirap talagang makakuha ng kasama.

Talk with Manong Taxi Driver

Doreen and I were in Glorietta to get on a taxi to the Fort (where Avril's concert was held.). Nun pagsakay namin ng taxi, we had a little chat with the taxi driver. Third time na niyang maghatid dun sa concert venue. On the way there, we talked about the trips he had made there. Also, there were some questions asked from both us and from him. Alam mo yun, para bang talkshow yun nangyari. It's very rare for me to have a little chat with a taxi driver. Baka it serves as a training for me na rin (being a journalist na rin...). We got there and for I don't know what reason I gave our driver a tip. Hihi. Nakakatuwa!


Jammin' with Simple Plan

Nun nakarating kami sa concert venue, we started looking for our seats. Nun nakita na namin, I realized na medyo malapit-lapit na rin yun seat namin sa stage (mga 100 meters ang layo). I was so anxious na magstart yun concert. Anyway, before the concert started, I went to see my high school classmate, Irvin, na nandun din sa concert.

Simple Plan performed first. We end up standing in front, instead of sitting kasi people began standing and blocking the way. tsk tsk.

I don't really know all simple plan songs, yun mga major songs lang alam ko. So, I ended up, staring at them. So ang ginawa ko na lang, I took some pictures through my phone and (illegally) with a camera.

They were good concert performers, by the way, kasi they always interact with the audience (saying those lines like "hold your hands in the air", "mahal ko kayo", "galing niyo", etc.). Some Simple Plans songs performed were Perfect, I'm just a kid, Welcome to my life, addicted and this new song "Crazy" (first time daw itong naperform on stage.) I also love their concert cover of The Darkness' I believe in a thing called love.

I had enjoyed their performance, but I'm looking forward talaga on Avril's. (sorry, Simple Plan fans)


Avril, Ikaw na ba yan?

I had long been waiting to see Avril perform. Since 2002, I promised myself that I would be going to her concert pag nagperform siya dito sa Pilipinas. Nun nalaman ko na she will have a concert here in Manila, I was very much excited. Pero because of the lack of money, it seemed that all my hopes of seeing here was fading. Pero nun nalaman ko, na I'll be going to her concert, I was so frantically amazed! Tinadhana ata na magkita kami...hehe

Matagal-tagal din yun intermission between the two performers and by the time na lumabas siya, people came rushing back to the front. Avril's really pretty, her golden long hair like a princess, her glittering eyes, I really can't believe na I'm seeing her in person.

She had a really stunning performance. Some highlights were nun nagperform siya while playing the piano at nun she played the drums for this cover song. Songs performed where My Happy Ending, He Wasn't, Tomorrow, Losing Grip, Mobile, Things I'll Never Say, I'm With you, Don't Tell Me, etc. and of course Sk8er Boi and Complicated. While performing, di ako matigil sa pagkuha ng pictures.

It was a dream come true for me to see her perform because I'm really big fan (ask my HS classmates). The concert ended ng mga 11pm. Masyadong maaga and it was really bitin but it was really cool and they both rock! No words can explain my feeling after nun concert. Siguro it was both fulfilling and relaxing (after 4 grueling exam days). But I enjoyed it, totally.


Tapped Taxi Meter?

Ang hirap sumakay pauwi! We waited for at least an hour then we stopped this AUV picking up passengers going to EDSA. Pagdating ng EDSA, we rode a bus to Munoz and then rode a taxi para ihatid si DOreen sa Visayas Ave.. Compared dun sa mabait na taxi driver kanina, this one's a real snitch. From Munoz to Visayas Ave., yun meter niya jumped to 100 pesos. Di naman dapat ganun kasi nga from Glorietta to the fort 67.50 pesos lang (it was traffic pa nun, so mahal talaga.). Then from Visayas to Mindanao Ave., 65 pesos yun dinagdag. Pinabayaan ko na lang kasi I'm not in the mood in confronting a taxi driver. I don't what that happy feeling na maalis sa katawan ko because of a taxi driver

So Anong Masasabi Ko?

Super enjoy talaga ang concert!!! Wahahaha!!! I'm so happy! It was really a blessing na I got to watch the concert for free. Avril and Simple Plan really rocked at the concert. I'm looking forward to seeing them again (sana mas malapit na!).It was an experience I won't forget.


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SURVIVOR UPDATE:

I forgot to put one last week so add ko na lang ngayon. Ulong had been losing really bad talaga. First time in Survivor history na ang isang tribe didn't get any immunity during the tribe challenges. Anyway, James was voted last week and today, Ibrehem was voted out. Merge will happen (ata?) sa next episode, I hope magsusurvive si Steph at Bobby.

JAMES


IBREHEM

Mercy Killing or Murder?

I was supposed to write a post before but I'm busy with my studies. It is about the legal battle between the so called "Right to die/Merciful Killing" supported by Terri's husband and the US court system and "Right to Live" supported by Terri's parents.

I'm really against Euthanasia. No one has a right to take the opportunity for living of a person. If it is really a person's time to die, no man has the power to take the life and it is considered immoral in the eyes of God.

But I don't really understand what is happening in our society (American people in particular). The majority says that they should take the life of Terri. Just to clear things out, she is not on life support, so she is not really on a dying situation.

Last night, she died. It was really not her time to die, but they had "legally" murdered a person. I'm really disappointed with the current outlook of the society. I hope that we/they be enlightened.

Link to an article from Washington Post about the issue.
After Terri Schiavo

Quick Note

just a quick note:

I'm going to Avril's Concert tomorrow! Wahaha!!! I'm so excited!

I won this ticket from a raffle care of mentos. Hmmm, by spending about P200 for the mentos candies and mailing fee, I bet that I can get a ticket. And I did, (because of luck, I suppose)...

It's a break for me after 4 days of exams...

But then again, my term paper for j100 is due tomorrow, so I better get going....

Screening ng Laman Loob

Kasabay sa paglabas ng bagong movie, tulad ng Miss Congeniality 2, into Philippine Cinemas, ang Laman Loob naman ay ipinalabas na for PUBLIC VIEWING.

Kung inyong matatandaan, ito ang film na kung saan ako ay naging isang aktor. (see It's A Wrap, Feeling Artista Na and Bigla ba naman...). Di naman ako ang bida dito, supporting role lang, pero main cast pa rin.

Well anyway, ito po ay unang inilabas for public viewing kanina for ate Liar's thesis defense. Almost 100 people watched the screening sa CMC Room B1, along with the panel of film professors. Pang-apat na ipinalabas yun film.

Nung it was time na for Ate Liar's film to be shown, kinakabahan na ako. Gusto kong takpan yun mata ko, magtago sa kumot. Gusto ko rin silang palabasin lahat!

So comments ko lang, parang, alam mo yun, parang hindi ako yun. Ewan ko ba?! Naasiwa ako everytime na maririnig ko yun boses ko. It feels really awkward seeing yourself on a big screen and all people looking at it. Pero ok ang film, ang ganda-ganda! It was a really good film, naappreciate din nung ibang tao and grabe yun palakpakan afterwards. Then people started looking at me, ewan ko ba?! (ikaw ba yun nasa film?? Talaga??)

So, anong sabi ng panel of film professors?

Technical comments, editing, visual development, story line... I forgot na yun iba, Wala naman akong naiintindihan dun. Then sabi nila, "Good Acting Daw". Sa loob-loob ko, WHAT??? Good Acting, ako? Talaga?.... bakit para sa akin, hindi maganda yun acting ko. Wahaha. Nakakakahiya. Pero, siguro nga maganda talaga yun acting, but it seems na I don't have the eye in seeing it or it's just that it's really hard to give myself a nice compliment.

Maganda daw yun chemistry nun mga actors, the only "not-so-good" comment na sinabi nila ay mukha daw malulusog yun mga actors compared to the thin, poor characters na they should had portrayed. Pero sabi nga ni Victor, dapat tanggapin ko na isa yun compliment kasi it means that I don't really look like an embalsamador. hehe.

All in all, according to the film professors, The film was really good and I definitely agree with them.

Hihingi nga ako ng copy ko from Ate Liar, then ibebenta ko sa Quiapo (harhar, joking).

CHEERS for the whole TEAM ng LAMAN LOOB especially to Ate Liar! We all did a really good job! Congratulations!

On other news,

Start na ng medyo mahabang bakasyon ko, so I'll start studying na for my 4 final exams and do my term paper, all due for next week. Sana matapos ko 'to.

Too Bad.

The so-called "People's Champion", Manny Pacquiao, lost his match today with Morales. I don't really care, actually. But it seems that our nation's pride was at stake (for some people) during that game. I'm not happy nor happy that he lost, losing is part of life. You cannot win forever.

I just hope that people (and even the media) won't sensationalize his lost. (Baka kasi sabihin nanaman na dinaya si Pacquiao or something, which I believe na di naman. It was a fair game). Filipinos talaga, masyadong mataas ang pride.

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On other news, I feel sorry about the stabbing that happened last Thursday. ( see news). I'm really glad that the suspect was caught. Those hokd-up incidents at the Beta-way always happens. Even one of my orgmates fell victim to those people. I won't walk at the Beta Way again. Sigh.

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Survivor Update:
A pretty big twist, both tribes voted and Willard and Angie's torches were unlit. Too bad, I really like them both. (TRIVIA: Willard and Angie were the two people that were selected last during the tribemate selection on the first episode.)

Hell Week Begins

Compared to my other classmates/UP friends, I felt Hell Week a little late. I always cram and maybe that was the reason that I began noticing its gravity a little bit (too)late. (And, the weather's beginning to become hot, so maybe I am starting to feel like I'm in hell.HARHAR)

I got so many things to do, yet there's little or no time at all to study. Here are my requirements/activities on coming two weeks.

Journalism 100

*Term Paper on "The Undesirable Publications Act of Singapore and its Implications to Press Freedom". (I chose the topic, so I all blame goes to me for thinking a very difficult topic.)

*Finals Exam after Holy Week

English 1:

*Finals Departmental Exam after Holy Week

*Revised copy of my Descriptive essay due on the same date of my departmental exam.


Social Science 1:

*Finals Exam again after Holy Week.

Social Science 2:

I don't know, kung tapos na kami dito. No announced activities, as of now.

Chemistry 1:

*Finals Exam again after holy week (and mahirap ito kaya double effort)

Arnis:

*Practical Exam this coming Tuesday.

***PLUS: Organization Activities, Bum Time, Preparation for Summer, ETC.

As in my performance this semester is a bit mediocre so I need to push my grades up.

It will be a really hectic and busy Holy Week. As in on Good Friday, I might be drowning myself at my computer doing school work (but still, I'll find time for church.)

After hell week, summer classes will begin. (Think: In three years, I'll be out of college.)

How I Miss High School

March nanaman and it had been almost a year since I graduated from High School. How I miss Angelicum, ewan ko ba.. four years lang ako dun nagaral, then again it seemed na I was there forever... I'll post nalang the ten reasons why I miss Angelicum (and high school.)



TOP TEN REASONS WHY I MISS HIGH SCHOOL.

10. I miss updating every March ng aking Swimming. Every March since nun YS8 (1st yr) ako, naguupdate na ako ng swimming, mapa-freestyle man o butterfly. Ewan ko kahit I hated this thing, nakakamiss pa rin.

9. I miss Sto. Domingo Church. I love this church, ang laki-laki niya, I remember pagbababa ako sa jeepney, bababa ako dun sa may middle part ng church, then I'll go inside then dadaan sa Sto. Domingo Gate ng school namin.


8. I miss the ChocoFloat at Fried Chicken sa Baby's Canteen.
Iba talaga ang Fried Chicken ng Baby's Canteen, walang sinabi ang MCdo or KFC. Then also ang every so sweet na ChocoFloat, sana magtinda sila sa UP.

7. I miss calling myself as YS__. Since I'm from a non-graded school, wala kami Grade 1-6 na standing, we only call them as YS or Years in School. Wala lang, kahit corny, I love those terms.

6. I miss playing softball. Haay, nakakamiss magsoftball! ewan ko ba, kahit di naman ako ganun ka-eager maglaro nito nung HS (and still may Gold medal pa rin ako for this), I miss playing it. Kasi nakakaalis ng stress and yet challenging you pa to go further.

5. I miss some of my Moderators/Learning Facilitators. Haay, it seems weird, pero I miss them. I miss Gordo's "HALA!HALA!" or Mrs. Magsino's "weird intonation". I miss some of my teachers nun!


4. I miss doing modules. I miss those photocopied papers compiled into a folder we call as a module. Ito ang ginagamit namin instead of books. Nakakamiss maguwi nito tapos di mo naman babasahin. Gagawin mo yun Pre-test, Activities then yun Post-Test. I miss doing Mastery Activities or MAs. Instead of having periodical exams, ito ang ginagawa namin. After ng isang lesson, we'll take an MA. Pagnakapasa ka dito, ayos! pag hindi, take ulit or re-answer.


3. I miss Angelicum Nth. Haay, ang school paper namin. Nun YS11 (4th yr.) ko lang to na enjoy, but still namimiss ko na siya. Bugging the writers to pass their article, using Ms. Doty's Digicam para magkuha ng pics. Makakuha ng free access sa mga events dahil member ka ng paper. Then again, i'll still have to deal with it nga
yon since I'm taking up Journalism.

2. I miss the Non Graded System. Haay, alam mo yun.. you don't need to worry about getting a 2.0 or a 3.0 from your exam. Ang kailangan mo lang ay makapasa. Pagbumagsak ka, all you need to do is to retake it. Dati nga, I took 10 exams sa isang module ng YS8 Math. Kahit ganun, di pa rin ako nagworry masyado. Tapos, pag PTC na, makikita mo kung ilang modules nalang tatapusin mo. Tapos meron din nakapost sa Bulletin Board na module list, then you'll highlight your accomplished modules. Ang masaya noon, you don't have to worry on what grade you'll get as long as pumasa ka. Kaya siguro, nadala ko yun ngayon sa college.

1. I miss my High School Friends. Haay, I miss everyone. From the geekaloids to the Frat members. Ewan ko, namiss ko ang tawanan, iyakan, awayan at kung ano-ano pa. I miss St. Elizabeth, MSG etc. Miss ko lahat kayo.

At yun nga, how I miss na nasa Angelicum pa rin ako but I need to move on. But those memories won't be forgotten.

SURVIVOR UPDATE:
Kim went Bye-bye as she was voted off on the latest episode. Tune in next week, there will be a twist "daw".