Rants and Raves before the new year (Part 1)

I never thought that November and December would be my busiest months. All the while, I thought this semester would be relaxing for me but unfortunately, peril seems to seep its way through my veins. Much has happened. Most of them happened really fast, and up to now that a new year is dawning, I still can’t comprehend the fast pace of events that has occurred in my colorful life.



November days


November for me is the month of preparation for the Campus debate and the IVs. Tune up debates (TUDs) every night are draining up my brain cells. Hah!



December Days



December 2

This day is a really tiring day. Imagine, I have classes from 7 in the morning till 7 in the evening, and after that, I still have a debate to attend.
This is the day when our team suffered the campus stigma that the UPLB Parliament is suffering in years since their establishment.

Our team has been preparing for the event days before the competition. Lyndon compromised his thesis for the research, Louise on the other hand opt to research on the debate rather than prepare for her report on the same day. Me? I just spend quite late nights on the computer shops rummaging the search engines just to provide our team with enough evidences to support our stand regarding the motion: Dapat nating isapribado ang PNR.

I was confident in my speech. My teammates did really well. When Mikee, one of the members of the UPLB Parliament, asked me of my assessment on the debate, whether If I think we’ll win or not, I just said that I got confidence on my speech as well as on my performance, but I doubt the judges. And well, sad to say, my prophetic tongue licks the bare minds of the judges. The other team won.

Fair enough for us who have prepared a lot for the event, while the other team just had their exhibits prepared on a certain fastfood chain just hours before the competition. The other team just got their early Christmas gift.

Nice.



December 9


Another Thursday. 7-7 class agony. Kitchie Nadal, MYMP and Moonstar88 went to LB for the womanagerie concert. I wasn’t able to come- Parliament training, Choir auditions for the production.

It’s nice that I had a nice chat with annabanana on the field. At least, we still get to enjoy the music of the concert without getting ourselves the hassle of inching ourselves in the thick crowd.



December 10

Doomsday. It’s the Ateneo Ivs day. It’s my first time adjudicating a debate, and at the same time my first time joining an intercollegiate debate tournament.

At least I’m lucky to get a free ride on the van that the org rented.

The debate proper started late as expected. We had one debate for the day. (actually it’s already night time) The meal is ok.

We finished late. We ended at 10 in the evening.



December 11


Second day of the Ivs. I woke up 6:30. 7 am I was already in ateneo. Teams are all geared up. I took up a glass of Extra Joss before I head to the place for extra energy.
Now I have a new name in the org-Joss!

It turned out that extra joss has given me so much energy that I happened to be really perky the whole day. We ended at 11 pm. Really tiring, but at the same time fulfilling.



December 12


sunday. Typical day. I slept the whole day.



December 13


I have a nice sleep and i am looking forward for a good day.
It's still early in the morning and people are rude.
In the MRt Santolan station elevator, most people are do not even care if you get caught between the elevator doors.
My back pack just unzipped when I was rushing downstairs to catch the HM bus. I have tyo hurry going to Lb.
Good thing my things didn't scatter on the stairs.
I have to run a few meters from the bus stop just to catch the bus.
I promise, the next year, I'll catch the bus on the bus station.
I arrived at around 3pm in LB. People from the production are bugging me.
I never imagined that this will be one of the longest days of my week.
I spend the afternoon with meranz.
Aps, kel and I had a nice dinner in Osworld.
Kel and I do Blogging.
It's so addicting we end up really Late, or rather early in the morning. Still, we haven't started our speech for our 7 am class.



December 14

FPJ died. We are still on COMSAT.
Poor manong is begging us to make our work quick so that they can now go home.
We finished our speech.
About 5am.
Quel texted me that we should have printed 2 copies of our speech.
Darn.I got up really early. Foolishly hoping that COMSat would open up early and having wishful thoughts that the photocopying centers would open earlier.
Damn.
Our professor gave us a lecture regarding following rules and directions.
She then prohibits us from doing opur speech-actually, my speech..
But thanks to heaven, I still got a shot to perform, since it's the first time that we (okay, there's 3 of us- not only me! ) commit the offense. Hah!
It was Tin's birthday.
We had a blast at AVALOs' class. We rocked the house! wahaha! go groupmates!
7-7 class again.
Mam amy gave me a menacing stare and told me that we will be having a talk later.
ok.
My hunch is right.
She actually thought that I am not making any action regarding the musical aspect of the production.
Long story.
Well, I've proven my point-I hope, and stated her the reasons for the late eMail and I hope that I had my case rested already.
After class at 7, we did Carol the houses near Jamboree.
really tiring.
About 11pm.-Prod meeting with sir Joey.
WEe ended at about 12.30
My eyes are really heavy then.

December 15

I spend most of my time sleeping.
I typed my Eng 101 papers.
Night time- blogging and typing at the same time. I ended up, again, early in the morning.

December 16

I wake up early expecting a good day ahead.
I was actually feeling a little sick.
I am actually planning to impress my speech teacher.
I am (was) prepared.
I didn't expect to be the second speaker of the day.
It sucks.
I just had jitters while having my speech.
very unusual of me.
Our teacher even asked me of what I was thinking while having my speech.
I said I was just hungry.(well I am.)
But i really don't know what I was thinking.
Again. I had a long day.7-7.
I was actually having a nauseatic feverish feeling the whole day. (not so much ranting eh?!)
We watched the previous Tilamsik ng Dugon Productuion on Vcd at Mam Tantan's house.
We ended up late.
I did Zhazha's blog.
I'm proud of myself.
I got home early-for the morning.
Richard keep on inssisting that I buy him burgers.
But eventually it ended up that he bought me one.
I had to wake up early.
I have to catch up my father'sdeparture to Liberia.
I have to be in our house by 7 am.

December 17

I woke up at 8.
Darn.
I rushed towards Olivarez, catching the earliest bus, and praying for delays so that I can still see my father up to the last minute.
I felt weird.
I feel then that I will be missing my father.
Cheesy, but I will miss him.
I arrived at 10:30 in the morning.
Thank heavens he was still there.
Together with abby, Charisse's mother and other relatives, and our neighbor, we accompanied my father in the Nikko Airport .(whatever it is called)
Families , especially wives, or even wtnesses, of those soldiers geared towards Liberia, unleashead a hurrying rush of tears.
Well, I didn't.
I know that my father will still return.
I know.
My father tradede his motorolla A835 phone with me.
Whew! I then have to rush transferring numbers from the phone memory of my old phone to scraps ofpaper in my wallet.
Fortunately, I finished before my father and the other soldiers left.
The plane flew away in seconds..
My father was gone.
For the while.
Oh! On this day, We found out that my grandma has complications in the heart.

To Nene

Hi there!
How are you now?
I hope you're still doing fine amidst all the adversities that you've immersed yourself into. I miss you. Don't worry, I'll be there in your hub tomorrow. Merry Christmas. Hapy New year.
Happy Birthday.
Happy 18th Birthday.
whew! Time really flies fast! I never notice that the nene that I've known before is now biologicaly turning older.
She's now turning into a full pledged woman.
Happy Birthday.
Well, this may sound cheesy but I realy want you to know that I absolutely apreciate your friendship.
Your plain bitchiness.
Your plain perky personality.
The plain you.

It's realy nice having you around. (though not literally around...)
It's been four years since I dared to embark into a very risky journey with a total stranger. I opt to travel a journey that is seemingly dangerous, yet exciting.
And I never regret that having travelled my life with her.
Though as hard as it may seem, her being "her" has actually helped me improve in a lot of aspects in my life.
Nah!
ano ba to?
No, seriously speaking, Nene has proven herselfv to be really worthy of whatever hapiness that she's been experiencing right now.
No matter what people say about her, I can bravely and proudly say that I can be the one to stay right in her front and back. (for cover) What i'm trying to say, is that I can be the one to cover her when the going gets rough!

haha!
I'm just prod that I had nene as my friend.
I love you friend!
Always take care of yourself.
I'm just two hours away from Qc.

I hope our friendship flourish through time.
Don't worry, in one way or another, I'll fulfill my dream of treating you in Paris with a glas of wine.

And I'll be the one to pour the wine on your face!
wahaha!

Happy 18th Birthday!

Unang Hagupit bago mag Pasko!

Ang dami ko nang early Christmas gifts.
Karamihan mga gadgets na gusto ko.
May nagbigay sakin ng discman, may nabili na rin akong digi-cam.

Pero bakit parang kulang.

ewan.





kanna nasapok ko ang kapatid ko.

Di dahil sa galit, kundi dahil gusto ko lang siyang turuan ng leksyon.


basta.
aps, pagupit na lang tau bukas!

It's so nice to goof around.

Magpakasaya na lang tayong lahat.

*matagal na akong naaatat magsulat ulit ng artcles sa blog. Actually,malapit nang umapaw ang utak ko sa kakaisip kung kelan ko ba itatayp yungmga naisip kong mga istorya, kaso, ang mahal mag type sa mga compu shops. mga kapitalista! hay. sana bago matapos ang maikling bakasyon, maitayp ko na sila. sana. sana wag namang puro sana na lang.

ewan.*

Freedom Fire Freedom

“Have you recited your prayers?”




“Not yet.”


“So what are your plans now?”


“I don’t know. Let them do what they want. But this will be their last.”


They did it again. How could they? Haven’t they had enough? Those people are surely getting into my nerves. They can’t dismiss you just like that!

“Oh, just let them. Anyway, if you look at it in a positive light, it’s still in favor of me.”

But what will happen to you now? “Of course I’ll have to suffer the consequences. But I’d rather do that than swallow something that will just make me puke!”

Abram is now gone with the authorities. I warned him. Now I’m alone again in my room. First is Richard, then Ace, and now Abram. This actually gives me the thought- Am I actually destined to be alone?

Could he been more patient with the administration, he could still be enjoying his freedom. Now, he suffers the consequence of spending solitary nights on the detention cells on top of Makiling. And now that he already tasted the sweet carols of the outsiders and now that he is already blinded by the flickering colors of lights that relentlessly swing like vines on almost every tree in the streets, the situation can be worse for him. Poor Abram. If only his parents could do anything for him. That is, if only they can manage to get themselves out of the freezing abode of darkness, provided also, that they will be able to find pieces of themselves and put them together like pieces of micro-mini jigsaw puzzles.


Warm.

The air outside seemed to release its anger on us by gathering all the heat in other places and then blowing it all hard on our faces. All the trees outside are blank, and is just accepting the howls and punches of the angry wind outside. Trees- their number has been doubled, or even tripled since FPJ died. It’s ironic how the great army of trees outside do not function as they should- which is to protect the remains of our kind. Now they serve a different purpose. They still serve as guards and fences though. But now, most of them (I say most, for I believe, and I still hope, that there are at least two or three trees out there that are still able to move their roots to cling on the innermost layer of soil) are dummies. Most of the trees that you can see outside, no matter how real and fresh they may look are no less than the artificial pine trees that we display in our houses during seasons such as this.


Plain.

People during Niño Mulach’s time always have this wishful thinking at the back of their minds that they wanted to experience a “White Christmas,” but it’s funny now to think that people are clamoring (of course just in the back of their minds) for a kind of Christmas that they can just see in old magazines and books found in the Library. Though the colors of the rainbow seem to dominate the street scene at night, the silent shimmer of the pale street floor provides a more powerful effect than those lights that sways in futile ways among the trees that weren’t even responding to them, therefore making them appear as if they are floating stupidly against the brutal air.


Glitters.

Since that incident, all I can remember is the instance when “The Vulture” (our professor) was enjoying the company of her prey (it’s actually us, her students) when she suddenly collapsed right in front of us, dumbstruck, still with a nasty smile on her face, covered in white glitters that immediately came rushing towards the tiniest hole of our body. It was only then that I truly believed in my “artistic” skills. It was during that incident that my artistic imagination was tested.

If I can still remember it right, I actually saw myself promoted into a higher level of wizard. From a grey wizard, I am promoted to be a white wizard. I then went back to middle earth to check on my fellow Hobbits- Wow! The hobbits are actually me. It’s amazing to see myself as those little Bigfoot creatures. I know that it is Frodo who will lead the fellowship. Now, all I have to do is to bring the ring to Mordor. I know what will happen next! The orcs will attack. But wait, I know they’ll attack. But where are they? Aren’t they supposed to attack now at this place? Something really bright and sharp hit the corners of my eyes. It is the Ring! The ring flares like the fires of Mt. Doom. The ring shines. It glitters. I saw Sauron.


I saw the Eye.

Next thing I knew, Caty’s eyes are glaring like big spot lights on my face. Whew! What happened? Why am I here? Where are they? All that Caty can give me is a blank, glaring stare. I scanned the place. At first I thought that I turned color blind, or that I am still living in the world of fantasy, but not until I saw the colors on the gleaming eyes of Caty, that I managed to think that we’re in a room wherein the color is actually the same as on the outside. It was like a dream. But as I tried to rummage the room with my eyes, I was actually surprised to see other eyes that actually greeted me with questioning stares. There are bodies. Bodies white as Gandalf’s beard. I looked at Caty. She too, is also covered in white glitters. Actually, the only thing that sets her apart from the others is her glowing braces.


Fire.

I will never forget that day. I was eighteen then. It is the day that actually changed not just the whole of Los Baños, but also of the Philippines. Since the age of mythology, Mt. Makiling is regarded as and enchanted mountain and is known as a sign of peace, tranquility and mystery. It is an epitome of a female goddess in the earth that protects the realms of Los Baños. And never has it occurred to me that Mt. Makiling will in any way be a symbol of wrath and chaos. Her seemingly tranquil poise is actually hiding a fiery furnace inside. She seemed to me as if she’s a lady being wooed praised and used so many times, that one day she suddenly burst without warning into fury. The wrath of Mariang Makiling erupted on that day, when things down her feet all seemed to be normal. Mariang Makiling’s fiery eruption ironically turned the town not in red, but actually in white. She seemed to have only erupted Zillions of tons of ashes that actually buried the town in white glitters. Up to now, that phenomenon still puzzles scientists of various countries.


Another fire.

Thanks to them and their high edifice, at least some of us, including me, are saved. Since that time, we all long for color. We all long for fire. They said they will provide us fire, but still, all I can see is plain white.

Having the town and actually the city, buried under Makiling’s wrath, the Fire movement started dominating the society. The fire movement started making laws and started imposing them on the newly formed society. The fire movement is actually responsible for our rescue; therefore, most of us really look up to them as “saviors.” The fire movement, having all the resources and help they need from their chapters here and abroad, has formed a sort of community, which is anchored on their mystified beliefs and ideals. Most people have no choice but to accept the offer to them. Otherwise, they could just die outside their building like the vulture that drowned into the glittering ashes. So, to cut it short, they acquire power over the populace and dominated them with their fiery principles.

From the start, the idea of a utopian environment from the ashes seemed to be really nice, but not until Jericho took over the seat. It was just around ten years ago when he replaced Daryl at the seat. Jericho’s interest, if you will look at it more deeply, is basically for the benefit of the people, but eventually, it turned out that most of them are political in nature.
Eric is not at all evil. He is just one of those devout individuals who have embraced their faith and principles so much that they eventually drown on it- but Eric is exceptional. He does not choose to drown at all. He opted to pull himself up again, having absorbed all the necessary elements and skills that he need, and rise as a very ambitious man wanting to impose a new way of embracing the fire. He wanted us all to live according to the principles of the fire. He dreamed of having fire as the only means of creating order in the society, particularly in LB. Because of Eric’s will to unify the people under one fire, he then established his own government.


Hard.

Since then, we all live like buko pies. We have enclosed ourselves in a community baked under the fire as the “baker” bake and mold us in his accord. But not all buko pies are baked perfectly. Sometimes, it is the ingredient itself that resists the baker and its fire, therefore creating an imbalance not just on the pie’s appearance, but also on its taste.


Warmer.

Thirty years have passed since Makiling erupted. Though I haven’t took notice of it, it was thirty years ago since I experienced wearing jackets as the season approaches. It was thirty years ago since I last ate bibingka and puto bumbong with my friends. It was actually three decades ago since I took my last picture.

The windows are all in sweat. It was a white Christmas indeed. It is Humid and warm in the atmosphere but actually cold inside. They have all gone. I warned them. Why don’t they listen? I wonder if Eric felt cold amidst the heat outside. I don’t want a white Christmas. I miss the green Los Baños.




“I’d rather do that than swallow something that will just make me puke!”





“Paul, have you recited your prayers?”




“Sorry. Not yet. I was just about to…”



“So what now?”


“I know.”



“I know now. I don’t want your fire. Burn me instead. Burn me to ignite my own fire. Through that I can only be free.”


Only if you burn me can I experience warmth within.
Burn me.

HALA!

Hala!

Patay na si FPJ!!!!

kanina lang 2am.

hala!

WALA PA KONG SPEECH.

CONDOLONCES TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Umaga na naman. wala Pa rin akong magawang Speech.
Simpleng intro speech di ko magawa.
katatapos lang ng "Christmas" Party ng LAYB.

Masaya.

seben ey-em pa ko bukas. Naman!

Morbid.

Magtyatyaga na lang ako sa Coop!!!

Nang magbalik ang aking mga paa (sapatos actually) sa mga "trimmed at proper" na damo ng ateneo, naisip ko agad ang elbi. Ang mga pasaway nitong mga damo (talahib na nga actually) at ang ang mga umuubong jip.

Ang jip.
ang jip.
Namiss ko talaga ang jip ng elbi kumpara sa tricycle ng ateneo.

Biyernes pa lang nasa ateneo nako para sa taunang IVs, debate tournament.
(buti na lang mag aadjudicate lang ako ng debate.)

maganda sa pugad ng mga agila.

berde ang kulay.(la salle ba ito?!)
madamo kasi.
para ngang elbi.

aaminin ko, namangha ako sa kanilang pugad.
ang gaganda ng facilities! humihiyaw nga ako ng asteeeeeggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(pero siyempre sa isip ko lang)

(baka mag feeling sila! =p)

aba, kumpleto sa gamit bawat classroom.
kung sa pugad naming mga Parrots ay nangangapa kami at nag-aagawan sa iilang OHP at LCD, sa kanila ay provided na lahat. May OHP, May LCD, may TV, may pintuan, may bintana, may mga chekwang estudyante... may english na rising palagi ang intonation, at marami pang iba.


Nagutom bigla ang aking paningin sa mga nakita ko.

"sana may ganun din sa skul namin..."

balang araw.
sabi ko sa sarili ko.

pag may billboard nako sa EDSA, mag dodonate ako ng building sa elbi.

naisip ko tuloy ang katotohanan sa likod ng sinasabi nila na mas may edge na raw ang mga agila sa mga parrots dahil sa tulong ng pera at teknolohiya.

posible.

pero hindi pa rin.

Oo nga't maaring nasa kanila ang lahat, pero kapag nasa pugad ka nila, para kang nasa utopia.
Para kang nasa isang mundong malayo sa kamalayan at pangyayari sa labas.

Parang kang nasa asul na pugad na yari sa kutson.

kawawang mga agila.

nasa third world country tayo!

Ang pugad ng mga parrots, bagama't matalahib man at maalikabok kung turing ng iba, eay sumasalamin sa mga pangyayari sa labas.
sa gubat.

hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinati na i-type ito, kahit na mahal ang internet dito sa Netopia.
(biruin nyo, 40Php per hour!)

mga kapitalista talaga!

(kailangan ko nang magmadali)

Ang mga parrots, pag inilabas mo sa mundo, di maninibago sa gubat.
Sanay.
maabilidad.

Di ko naman sinasabing walang abilidad at diskarte ang mga Agila, magaling lang sila sa basketball. (huh!)
Ang sinasabi ko, mas lamang lang ng konti,
konti lang,
mga isang libong Milya lang
ng abilidad ang mga Parrots sa mga agila.
wehehe.
siyempre bias ako.


balik tau sa elbi.

sa elbi, pag naguto ka, marami agad makakainan na mag-aadjust sa bulsa mo.
sa ateneo, mag adjust ka!

sa elbi, may coop, (though tambayan na lang ito madalas, pang ateneo kasi ang presyo) may Papus at marami pang ibang kainan na xpress ang service. Nandyan din ang mga stalls sa Physci at Biosci.

sa ateneo.

Maraming Vendo.

Maarte ang Vendo.gutom ka na't lahat,
d ka makakakain.

di tumatanggap ang vendo ng perang papel na ang taon ay 2004.
Maarte ang vendo.
pag wala kang barya, umiyak ka na lang sa sulok.
baka may maawang atenista sayo.

Namura tuloy ni Patricia Evangelista yung Vendo.


"Fuck this Vendo!"

o diba, ang taray.
astyig ka Pat!

la nga lang lumabas na pagkain sa Vendo matapos magmura ni Pat.

"Fuck that Vendo!"

Buti pa ang Coop.

Pag minura mo yung tindera, baka batuhin ka pa ng pagkain.

Shocking-Ra!

Happy Birthday Mam Amy!!!!!!

peace!!!

Mag-ingat kay aviona.

Ipagdasal niyo kami.



debate namin mamaya.



sige na.



marunong man kayo o hindi magdasal.



pray for us!

Walang bulag na nakakakita.



Banlag, pwede pa.

Darn. I'm so stupid. It took me almost 2 hours xperimenting with my blog template. This sucks. Another guilty pleasure. I'am Unsatisfied. I'l do better next tym. =P

ewan

What a Day!

Ano ba namang araw to. Uulan. Aaraw. May bagyo. Malamig. Pero nagsisimula nang magbaga ang aking lagnat. Daming prioblema ng mga tao. MAgpapa quiz ng 1 Million Points si Avalos bukas. Goodluck samin. Salamat sa Tapsi sa kanto. Masarap. Mainit. Presko na ang pakiramdam ko. May problema si Aps. sana makatulong ako. SAlamat kay Caty. Salamat kay Aji. Salamat sa bahay nila Bam. Salamat sa mga housemates. May debate kami next week. Buti na lang di muna ako sasabak sa IVS. May prod meeting lagi. Nakakaadik ang blog. A ewan. Magulo ang isip ko. Ano bang kalokohan to. Mag uumaga na naman. Di pa ko umuuwi. Alas siyete pa pasok ko buikas. Sana maging magaling din akong Debater. Tanggap kaya ako sa jocks? Sana . Asa pa. Pasko na. Malapit na. Malapit na production namin. Kulang kami ng artista. Masya palang maging stage manager. Mahirap. Masokista yata ako. Masayang mahirapan? Ang sakit sa ulo. Masakit talaga ang ulo ko. Bukas tatawa na naman ako. Sana. Oo. Kasama ko si kel. Sana kasama ko din bukas si Aps. Masaya. Makikita ko na naman si Reika. Rambutan anyone? Hah! ewan. Basta! Ang gulo. Uwi na nga ako sa Osworld. Lecvhe. Dami ko pang utang dun. a ewan. Di ako magkakasakit. Ayokong magkasakit. Magsasara na tong Comsat. Wag na wag mong sasabihin ang kanta. Si kel katya nag-iinternet pa? Siguro. sa j-Ville. Aba! akalain mong may naisulat ako. Di nga lang organisado. Wag na wag. Wag na wag moing sasabihin. Kitchie Nadal! makanood kaya ako ng concert niya ? Oo. Manonood ako. Puntahan Daw si Aps, sabi ni Bam. Sabi ko gabi na. Baka tulog na siya. Sana ok siya. Oo ok na siya! Si anna Banana! kasama kong S.M. Masaya. Buti na lang nakausap ko siya kanina. Ang saraop pumindot ng keyboard. Ang sarap humiyaw sa mga letra ng computer. At sa gabi sinong duduyan sa'yo? ako. ewan. Ano ba namang entry to?! ano ba namang araw to.

Gallery

Hibla

Ito ang isa sa mga unang artistic Pix namin nina Quel at Aps.

Ang konsepto sa kabila ng mga larawang ito ay ang paniniwalang hibla lamang ang naghihiwalay sa buhay at kamatayan.

Hibla.

Hibla lamang ang naghihiwalay sa atin sa isa't isa.

Ang hibla ng buhay.

Ang hibla ng kamatayan.

basta!

bahala na kayong mag-isip.

njoy!

1st wave: Buhok

Suplada.

Pagpapatiwakal.

Paglalakbay.

Agnas.

Muling Pagkabuhay.

2nd Wave: Bala

Iwas.

Pagtama.

Pahabol na Sulyap.

Pagtanggap.

3rd Wave: Usok

Balik Tanaw.

Pag-Asa.