Saturday, June 28, 2003
THE ANTI-PASSIVITY BIRTHDAYS
The Damage Report - Year 2 - Ending Week #03
Background Music: "21 Questions" by 50 Cent
NOTE: This is a weekly blog entry that summarizes a series of events of a finished week in and around La Salle.
FIRST of all, birthday greetings to classmates Apple, Leah, and Wilda and to tropamates Abbie and Gaile. All girls. Hmm... I barely know any Cancer guys or guys born around this time.
The past week still had those letters being sent. I played Messenger boy a few more times. The week started last Monday afternoon when I arrived for the AB Comm Channel Executive Board meeting at JFH.
We discussed about the constitution of the organization and other things relating to the organization and it's position under the Communication Arts Department (CAD). I spoke out twice during the two meetings (EB meeting, followed by the Com-TV meeting). During the EB meeting, our adviser Mr. H. Palad (also adviser of JOU2-1) asked what else did we have to add to the constitution regarding membership. I noticed they forgot to add information regarding the grades of the members.
It's awesome how I was the one to mention about the grades. I finalized it with the rest that the GPA of all members must be above 2.0 with no failing grade. Perhaps someone else could've mentioned it, but I was the first one to do that. For me, that's a first time.
I also voiced out during the COM-TV meeting at the kubo with Jude (3rd Year AB Comm) and suggested one of the segments for our show be about following a member of the administration and following them from their house to their office. The theme Mr. H. Palad gave to all three shows (Com-TV, Com-a-tose, and Com-a-Talk) was anything about the Admin of DLSU-D.
An "It's My Life" version of our own. We will follow a member of the admin even into their car and we will listen to their kind of music. We will follow them to their office and meet his or her officemates. It'll need some planning, but the concept is there. Hopefully Mr. H. Palad approves.
After the meeting I went to the dorms to finish up my last article for the Decreto and in the evening I submitted it to the office where I saw the first finalized layout of an issue this year. I saw two articles of mine in the Decreto layout. By looking at them, I felt relieved. Since for the past ten or so articles and things to work on... I haven't seen anything rewarding. I've been growing tired and weary at this point, and by seeing some of my work in the final format... I was lifted and suddenly inspired to continue writing.
***
TUESDAY
Of course, no classes were on Monday. It all began once again on Tuesday. Tuesday was classmate Apple's birthday and tropamate Abbie's birthday.
***
WEDNESDAY
The Anti-Passivity Campaign clashed with the Freshmen Orientation of Broadcast Journalism. This was the first time I saw the faces of the new generation of Broadjourn, the third generation. Two sections. JOU1-1 and JOU1-2. The latter only has 17 students. That surprised me.
The pioneer batch finally performed for the first time (well, in front of us) and they sang two or three songs. I was disappointed we (JOU2-1) couldn't show our dance moves... I think we lacked time. I don't know what happened. But Birthday girl Leah sang by herself and played the guitar on her own to the song "Stay" and she was amazing. Her voice was outstanding inside the CVR.
My impression on the new generation of Broadjourn couldn't be made. Weird right? I don't want to think of them in any way. I only first saw them while they were sitting down. It'll all happen when the dance competitions and other things happen. Will they participate? Will they compete? Will they, in slang, reh-prah-zent?!
Any nice looking girls? Yes, at least one in both classes thanks to the kind interviews of John and Shane (JOU3-1). However, in terms of variety of nice looking girls... parang mas gusto ko ang mga kaklase ko. My eyes wearn't that wide open. Jeaz.
I was the speaker representing the AB Comm Channel and I advertised our organization to the freshmen. I hated myself afterwards. I didn't project myself well. The orientation was from 1130am to 2pm... and we were all hungry by time it was our turn to speak. I was hungry. At the same time, I didn't want to show off I spoke english... I wanted to speak tagalog and joke around to make the freshmen lively. But my tagalog is still broken in bits, that would make me sound very stupid. So I spoke less-confident english in front of them... and even if the two 4th Year AB Comm girls who were with me (from AB Comm Channel) said I did "alright"... by the standards I set for myself, I give myself a 3/10. Yuck.
The orientation ended and we ate at SBC quickly before heading off to class from 230pm to 530pm.
Then I joined the whole tropa at the dorms in going to Pizza Hut to celebrate Abbie's birthday (which was the day before). We had this really long table (connected tables) and we ate pizza and chatted all the way. We hit curfew and had our IDs taken even if Abbie informed the E-house already. We would get our IDs in the morning.
It was on Wednesday night that I finished my WALL OF PICTURES. Actually, my CORNER OF PICTURES. I have this huge collage of Freshmen Year Pictures in my corner of the dorm room. I placed a plastic cover above it and it looks great! All while I was listening to the radio in my room. Dorm life is stablizing!
***
THURSDAY
I hate Thursday mornings. The hang-over. I woke up at 710am and knew I was deadbeat again. For the 2nd time in College, I was absent for a class due to oversleeping. The same class. Speech and Oral Communication. The class that is strict towards tardies. Arrrg.
I barely made it in time to Intro to Comm Theory, where our professor didn't show up so we had research at the library. For Retorika, I listened and did my best to catch up with the rest and so far things are steady. Just steady.
Lunch came and we ate at Fiat while studying for Consti. In Consti, Mr. R.J. Estrada discussed the National Territory. It was supposed to be recitation, but for the 2nd meeting this week one question from the class would ignite into an in-depth answer from our professor. Only two or three people got to recite, since Mr. R.J. Estrada turned the recitation into a discussion. At this rate, when will it be our turn to recite? (He calls on people at random.)
In Computer our professor was absent, making her absent the whole week now. We had a long quiz which was in the format of an examination paper. I studied just ten minutes before the whole test. It was chicken feed. I didn't perfect it since I missed out on one or two questions of the "50 item thing", but basically it was all answered easily.
After class I went to the dorms and got ready. I knew we were eating out again for the evening. I'm talking about the tropa. It was Gaile's Birthday (at the same time classmate Wilda's birthday). We ate at KFC. It wasn't Gaile's treat, but we all ate out together.
Like at Pizza Hut, we had this long table (connected tables) and we all ate out and had fun. At one point, Karl was joking Aldrich with something and Karl's laughter caught the attention of the whole table. Aldrich was in the middle of eating his Chicken Twister when suddenly his eyes looked at the rest of the long table and he noticed everyone was looking at him. His reaction with food in his mouth was "Oh my god, what the hell?!" as he hid his face.
I was fascinated on the jeepnee we rode back to La Salle. There was this black light device attached behind the driver's seat area and anyone wearing white or having anything to do with white on them would glow in the dark. Basil and Gaile were both wearing white, so they were glowing. I was wearing my new white shoes, so the shoelaces were shining. So were these white lines on my dark blue and yellow-lined shirt. Aliw-na-aliw ako sa jeepnee.
We returned to the dorms and I hung out at the E-house area. I got Abbie's number for the first time (we keep forgetting to get each others' numbers) and I spoke with Julius (Joseph's brother) before we all had to return to the Men's Dormitory Compound.
I practiced in my dorm room the steps to the exercises for PE-Foreign Dance's physical examination the following day. Joseph was also in the same class so we practiced together. Imagine ballet-like steps and guys doing it. It looked absolutely ridicluous.
***
FRIDAY
I had realized I forgot to bring my PE-shirt, so I borrowed from Lance next door. In my green DLSU-D shorts and PE shirt, I rushed to PLS and made it before the professor did even if I knew I was almost 20 minutes late. (The instructor gave a 30-minute allowance to get to PLS).
We practiced even more and the music was Filipiniana. It reminded me of my defense and presentation for ENGLISH 102 last Summer with Ate Angge.
Anyways it was done by batch. I was in Line 1 of Batch 4 or secretly in my head, 4.1. I did my best but I made one mistake together with Upper. But instead of a 95, I got a 96. That was pleasant enough.
Fast forward to HF and than after Square Canteen... we were all at the chapel to attend a mass that would replace going to class later on. Mr. A. Sepeda is a member of Tropa ni Juan (Juan as in St. John the Baptist de la Salle), a newly formed singing group from the Religious Education faculty. Very nice guy, always has a smile on his face.
A long break pursued and we chilled out at ERS and then we were suddenly called for practice for our Retorika short play next week. I got some lines. I'm playing the "bunso" of the family.
After a refreshing Frio Mixx slushy, the clouds rolled in as we started Art Appreciation in the gloomy late Friday afternoon. Ms. Oliveros discussed once again by using the overhead projector and told us that the class was also available on the internet as an E-Class component of MYDLSUD. Cool. I checked it out and posted something already.
In the evening, I ran to the dorms and met with Mark while he was packing up. My pick up would arrive around 9-10pm in the evening. I delivered some letters from classmate Meann to our Sports Editor Paul at the office (it's meant for Xyldrae).
By that evening, I have recruited almost ten people to join the Heraldo Filipino. Mark from the dorms for Photo, Tom from the dorms as a writer, three people from R.K.'s engineering class, and three people including Kelvin (Karl's brother) in his class.
I rushed to the E-House to get a job order to fix our door knob inside F3 since it locks and sometimes it opens even if it's locked.
Then I invited Mark to join me in meeting Badge and Ayesha outside so we could all eat at Inazalle. Badge, Ayesha, and Tina will be attending a Good Leadership Seminar at CHCC on Saturday. They are part of the Broadcast Journalism Program Council (BJPC).
After eating a hearty meal, in which for the first time I wasn't the last to finish, we all went to our dorms. Ayesha was sleeping over at Badge's while Mark and I returned to the dorms and cleaned up. Lance came and so did his room mate Alan from F4. Alan, an english-speaker from Maryland, has been extremely quiet and depressed the past three weeks or ever since he moved in. No one can seem to get him to open up and talk. He is always in his room, on his bed, depressed about something. Sister Nancy came by to visit him again while I spoke to Lance concerning Alan.
As of that point, I have realized that it isn't Culture Shock that is bothering Alan. There is something about him that makes me sad. I sometimes act like an empath, I can feel the feelings of those around me sometimes. From him, I'm getting this empty soul. That depressed look on his face. His unresponsive presence in the room. The late reactions you get from him.
Sister approached us and said that he was almost about to cry. That tall english-speaking guy about to cry? Sister also said that when she asked where his parents were at, he responded his mom was in Mindoro while his dad was up in Olongapo.
From hearing her say that... from recalling all those moments I'd pass by F4 looking through the window briefly and seeing him sitting on the ground next to his bed just staring at it... I've started to connect some dots. Our friend here, who I've barely known since he is unresponsive sometimes, is under a depression that is real. Not the depression I've personally had or the depression my other friends have had. His depression is the kind that needs help. Serious, very serious help.
***
Mark rode with us in the CR-V up until in front of Waltermart. It was my fault in the first place he ended up going home around 10pm. It was me who invited him to eat out with us and now he got home late. Talk about the guilt rush.
I arrived home and the cable wasn't working. The tiles in the living room wasn't finished yet. The light in the Dining Room is coming from a different direction.
That was my week. Tired again. My only sanctuary of actual free time to myself is here at home on the weekends. Anti-passivity? The campaign lives beyond it's limits. It has gotten me to not only be active, but to convince those around me to be active as well.
So active I am these days it scares me.
I read my journal entries of the past (exactly one year, two year, and three years ago). Around this time in 2000, my High School friends Nikki and Joy told me by the pine tree at Atheneum in 3rd Year that I was "unsociable". Around this time in 2001, my shyness invoked a one-year anniversary of "perfect silence" with a bus mate named Elroy. Around this time in 2002 (one year ago), I was just opening up and applying for organizations like HF, VPAPU, AB Comm Channel, and the Mountaineering Society. Hahaha.
The memories and the changes. If I could only tell myself of the past the following words: "In College, you're social life is in for the ride of your life."
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