Friday, May 30, 2003
BAGYO, BROWNOUT, AND A BEACH
The Damage Report - Summer Break - Ending Week #43/2
Background Music: "Get Busy" by Sean Paul
NOTE: This is a weekly blog entry that summarizes a series of events of a finished week in and around La Salle.
"... to outwit, outlast, and outplay the disasters and delegations..."
EIGHT of us from the Heraldo Filipino together with our Adviser and her husband met at La Salle Gate 3 last Sunday early morning. We would be the only delegates from DLSU-D in representing the Heraldo Filipino (Official Student Publication of DLSU-D) in the College Editors Guild of The Philippines (CEGP) 63rd Student Press Convention twelve hours up north in Ilocus Sur.
Maycee (News section, classmate), Eric (Feature section, classmate), Paul (incoming Sports Editor), Joanna (Literary section), Kuya JD (Copy Desk Editor entering 2nd Term), Ate Joyce (incoming Managing Editor), Ate Chiqui (Editor-in-Chief entering 2nd Term) and myself were the ones from DLSU-D.
We first took a big van from Gate 3 of La Salle and we picked up Ate Joyce, Maam Koli and her husband, and then we ate at the Jollybee in Bacoor on the Highway. Afterwards we went into Manila and the weather started to get cloudy as we arrived at the Partas Bus Line terminal.
Ate Joyce as incoming Managing Editor was in-charge of paying and in moments we boarded a Partas Bus for Laoag in Ilocus Norte. It started to rain just then. The bus wasn't filled completely so we were spacious in the back. The windows were large and the air conditioning was cold. We left the terminal and the bus headed north towards the North Luzon Expressway. Before leaving the area, I received a txt message from my brother. My dad surprised everyone by sneaking up and coming home just at that moment. After eleven months, he's finally back! But I wouldn't see him until Friday.
I felt good that he was now back and he could take care of my mom and brother while I would be way up north. That feeling of security hit me and it enhanced my enjoyment of this trip.
The rains didn't stop and we headed up north on the highway. Flashbacks of my first time on this highway earlier this summer when it was hot and very sunny. I was with Joel and the guys on our trip to Baguio. Now, it was raining. My seatmate would be my own classmate Eric.
The journey to Ilocus Sur would be calculated to be exactly 12 hours. We had a pit stop in Pampanga and then another one in northern Pangasinan where they sell these very tasty hot dogs on a stick. We passed by La Union and the split in the road that heads for Baguio City. After passing that split in the road, I was now in unknown territory. My eyes wide open looking at the signs as they passed quickly on the sides.
I didn't sleep on the trip to Ilocus Sur. Although I did close my eyes in the evening hours as we passed by La Union and southern Ilocus Sur, my ears were still active in hearing the sounds around me. Town after town passed by... fields... mountains... eventually bridges and wide rivers. Except, when we were near Vigan it was already dark and the lights inside the cabin of the bus were bright so the outside was just blurry.
We had one last pit stop where the driver ate their dinner. It was in some place in southern Ilocus Sur. A canteen on the side of the road meant for buses since they have large dirt parking spaces. I would call this place as "Barangay Bio" because that's what it said. "Bgy. Bio". Bio as in Biology? Or Bee-yoh in Ilocano?
We were still nearly two hours away from our destination from our last pit stop where we had dinner. We drove into Vigan City late at night and our bus stopped there to let passengers out. We didn't get off since we still had to ride the bus to get to Teppeng Cove Resort further up north in some town named Sinait (See-nah-it) on the border of Ilocus Norte I believe.
Arriving in Sinait
Sunday late-night
Another 45 minutes and finally we got off the bus. Two other college guys that I didn't know got off with us. It appears Kuya JD knew them. They come from some other college in the NCR.
We crossed the street and it was complete darkness. Holding our heavy bags we walked down the dirt path and it started to rain a bit. Ate Joyce called someone in Teppeng Cove, perhaps a CEGP officer there, and in moments a vehicle rolled up to pick everyone up. We had to do it in two sets since there were twelve of us.
We entered the resort and well, my expectations were sort of disappointed. I wasn't thinking this place would be 5 Star, but I thought it would be similar to that of Island Cove in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite or something that looks more alive. It was still dark so we'd have to see the place in the morning.
The Session Hall was there and we registered. Then we claimed our ticket stubs and the biggest shocker came when I found out we wearn't going to have our own rooms. The whole place was crowded with delegates. Actually, it's not the amount of delegates... it was the accomodations. Eric and I rated the accomodations here to 1/5. I was pissed off but I didn't know at who. The resort? The CEGP? Our being late? (the whole thing began informally at 7pm that night with several film showings).
Anyways, there's this club house which looks great. However, we would be sleeping on this "attic" place in a cabin with so many foam beds and these other male delegates. The girls are in the cabins while the guys are all in one area. Imagine travelling by bus for 12 hours and arriving to have no pillow or blanket in front of you. No bed of your own. And you have no idea where the CR is or the light, or the electric fan, or the lamp. Nadda.
It was awkward honestly speaking. You're there with a quiet classmate (Eric) and two editors that are older than you (Kuya JD, and Paul). If not in that situation, you would voice out and take action and go to all lengths to secure a room or a bed or at least make certain arrangements. But since the feeling was "the power is not in your hands... it's in the hands of the CEGP and the HF delegation and Maam Koli..." I just walked around following everyone else.
The girls (Maycee, Joanna, Ate Chiqui and Ate Joyce) got a room. These rooms had air condition, but you have to pay P600 just for one night of air conditioning! That is insane!
We did manage to sleep with the girls. I know it sounds all wrong, but their room had just them in it and it's capacity was four. Although if we squeeze in and since we all know each other, we can get all eight of us in there. The four of us guys slept on the cushions on the flooring while the four girls up on the bed. We switched the light off. One tiring journey.
Gising NA!!!
Monday morning
I'm sorry to say, but those were perhaps the most annoying and most irritating words I heard during the past few week. Rowy, from ADMU I think, who knows Kuya JD, barges into the room to wake us all up. Like some kind of annoying drill at a Military camp.
So we get up and one by one take a hot shower inside the bathroom in the room. We make our way to the Session Hall and for the first time we join the other delegates. They come from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Delegates coming from NCR included UP-Manila and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) as well as St. Scholastica. DLSU-M wasn't present, so we were the only delegates coming from a La Salle University. There was this one guy though coming from a La Salle certified place, but that's somewhere in the province.
It was great seeing these different delegates coming from all over the place. Sometimes you just gotta stop and absorb it all. It was also the first time I met people speaking a different dialect. The Opening Prayer was done in three to four different dialects. The Ilocano dialect was the most different. In fact, it sounded cute cause it was like the tagalog language shuffled and spoken really really fast.
It was a mix of all three sexes. The CEGP President, Ms. Ronalyn Oleas, led one of the opening speeches. The mood shifted though when a number of invited speakers like the Mayor of that town, the Governor of Ilocus Sur (was it?), etc. wearn't able to arrive. At that time, it was frustrating. But later on, we figured it's because of the isolated location of Teppeng Cove. It's about a kilometer from the main road and the main road was probably in the middle of the rural roads in the area where few cars and big buses passed by time to time.
We all couldn't stay in the room because a few girls coming from way down south in Mindanao arrived. Maam Koli, our adviser, and her husband decided to sleep elsewhere. They moved onwards to Laoag I think up north. They gave their small room to the four of us guys. It was finally a relief. We had our own CR (no water heater though) and mirrors were important. This room was underneath the "Men's refugee attic" in the giant cabin.
We had signed up for classes in the five seminars. We had the freedom to choose from a certain list of classes under each seminar. I came out with Feature writing (1st Seminar), Health concerns (2nd Seminar), Essay writing (3rd Seminar), Human Rights (4th Seminar), and Layouting (5th Seminar).
The first and second seminars took place on the first day.
The Damage Report - Summer Break - Ending Week #43/2
Background Music: "Get Busy" by Sean Paul
NOTE: This is a weekly blog entry that summarizes a series of events of a finished week in and around La Salle.
"... to outwit, outlast, and outplay the disasters and delegations..."
EIGHT of us from the Heraldo Filipino together with our Adviser and her husband met at La Salle Gate 3 last Sunday early morning. We would be the only delegates from DLSU-D in representing the Heraldo Filipino (Official Student Publication of DLSU-D) in the College Editors Guild of The Philippines (CEGP) 63rd Student Press Convention twelve hours up north in Ilocus Sur.
Maycee (News section, classmate), Eric (Feature section, classmate), Paul (incoming Sports Editor), Joanna (Literary section), Kuya JD (Copy Desk Editor entering 2nd Term), Ate Joyce (incoming Managing Editor), Ate Chiqui (Editor-in-Chief entering 2nd Term) and myself were the ones from DLSU-D.
We first took a big van from Gate 3 of La Salle and we picked up Ate Joyce, Maam Koli and her husband, and then we ate at the Jollybee in Bacoor on the Highway. Afterwards we went into Manila and the weather started to get cloudy as we arrived at the Partas Bus Line terminal.
Ate Joyce as incoming Managing Editor was in-charge of paying and in moments we boarded a Partas Bus for Laoag in Ilocus Norte. It started to rain just then. The bus wasn't filled completely so we were spacious in the back. The windows were large and the air conditioning was cold. We left the terminal and the bus headed north towards the North Luzon Expressway. Before leaving the area, I received a txt message from my brother. My dad surprised everyone by sneaking up and coming home just at that moment. After eleven months, he's finally back! But I wouldn't see him until Friday.
I felt good that he was now back and he could take care of my mom and brother while I would be way up north. That feeling of security hit me and it enhanced my enjoyment of this trip.
The rains didn't stop and we headed up north on the highway. Flashbacks of my first time on this highway earlier this summer when it was hot and very sunny. I was with Joel and the guys on our trip to Baguio. Now, it was raining. My seatmate would be my own classmate Eric.
The journey to Ilocus Sur would be calculated to be exactly 12 hours. We had a pit stop in Pampanga and then another one in northern Pangasinan where they sell these very tasty hot dogs on a stick. We passed by La Union and the split in the road that heads for Baguio City. After passing that split in the road, I was now in unknown territory. My eyes wide open looking at the signs as they passed quickly on the sides.
I didn't sleep on the trip to Ilocus Sur. Although I did close my eyes in the evening hours as we passed by La Union and southern Ilocus Sur, my ears were still active in hearing the sounds around me. Town after town passed by... fields... mountains... eventually bridges and wide rivers. Except, when we were near Vigan it was already dark and the lights inside the cabin of the bus were bright so the outside was just blurry.
We had one last pit stop where the driver ate their dinner. It was in some place in southern Ilocus Sur. A canteen on the side of the road meant for buses since they have large dirt parking spaces. I would call this place as "Barangay Bio" because that's what it said. "Bgy. Bio". Bio as in Biology? Or Bee-yoh in Ilocano?
We were still nearly two hours away from our destination from our last pit stop where we had dinner. We drove into Vigan City late at night and our bus stopped there to let passengers out. We didn't get off since we still had to ride the bus to get to Teppeng Cove Resort further up north in some town named Sinait (See-nah-it) on the border of Ilocus Norte I believe.
Arriving in Sinait
Sunday late-night
Another 45 minutes and finally we got off the bus. Two other college guys that I didn't know got off with us. It appears Kuya JD knew them. They come from some other college in the NCR.
We crossed the street and it was complete darkness. Holding our heavy bags we walked down the dirt path and it started to rain a bit. Ate Joyce called someone in Teppeng Cove, perhaps a CEGP officer there, and in moments a vehicle rolled up to pick everyone up. We had to do it in two sets since there were twelve of us.
We entered the resort and well, my expectations were sort of disappointed. I wasn't thinking this place would be 5 Star, but I thought it would be similar to that of Island Cove in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite or something that looks more alive. It was still dark so we'd have to see the place in the morning.
The Session Hall was there and we registered. Then we claimed our ticket stubs and the biggest shocker came when I found out we wearn't going to have our own rooms. The whole place was crowded with delegates. Actually, it's not the amount of delegates... it was the accomodations. Eric and I rated the accomodations here to 1/5. I was pissed off but I didn't know at who. The resort? The CEGP? Our being late? (the whole thing began informally at 7pm that night with several film showings).
Anyways, there's this club house which looks great. However, we would be sleeping on this "attic" place in a cabin with so many foam beds and these other male delegates. The girls are in the cabins while the guys are all in one area. Imagine travelling by bus for 12 hours and arriving to have no pillow or blanket in front of you. No bed of your own. And you have no idea where the CR is or the light, or the electric fan, or the lamp. Nadda.
It was awkward honestly speaking. You're there with a quiet classmate (Eric) and two editors that are older than you (Kuya JD, and Paul). If not in that situation, you would voice out and take action and go to all lengths to secure a room or a bed or at least make certain arrangements. But since the feeling was "the power is not in your hands... it's in the hands of the CEGP and the HF delegation and Maam Koli..." I just walked around following everyone else.
The girls (Maycee, Joanna, Ate Chiqui and Ate Joyce) got a room. These rooms had air condition, but you have to pay P600 just for one night of air conditioning! That is insane!
We did manage to sleep with the girls. I know it sounds all wrong, but their room had just them in it and it's capacity was four. Although if we squeeze in and since we all know each other, we can get all eight of us in there. The four of us guys slept on the cushions on the flooring while the four girls up on the bed. We switched the light off. One tiring journey.
Gising NA!!!
Monday morning
I'm sorry to say, but those were perhaps the most annoying and most irritating words I heard during the past few week. Rowy, from ADMU I think, who knows Kuya JD, barges into the room to wake us all up. Like some kind of annoying drill at a Military camp.
So we get up and one by one take a hot shower inside the bathroom in the room. We make our way to the Session Hall and for the first time we join the other delegates. They come from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Delegates coming from NCR included UP-Manila and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) as well as St. Scholastica. DLSU-M wasn't present, so we were the only delegates coming from a La Salle University. There was this one guy though coming from a La Salle certified place, but that's somewhere in the province.
It was great seeing these different delegates coming from all over the place. Sometimes you just gotta stop and absorb it all. It was also the first time I met people speaking a different dialect. The Opening Prayer was done in three to four different dialects. The Ilocano dialect was the most different. In fact, it sounded cute cause it was like the tagalog language shuffled and spoken really really fast.
It was a mix of all three sexes. The CEGP President, Ms. Ronalyn Oleas, led one of the opening speeches. The mood shifted though when a number of invited speakers like the Mayor of that town, the Governor of Ilocus Sur (was it?), etc. wearn't able to arrive. At that time, it was frustrating. But later on, we figured it's because of the isolated location of Teppeng Cove. It's about a kilometer from the main road and the main road was probably in the middle of the rural roads in the area where few cars and big buses passed by time to time.
We all couldn't stay in the room because a few girls coming from way down south in Mindanao arrived. Maam Koli, our adviser, and her husband decided to sleep elsewhere. They moved onwards to Laoag I think up north. They gave their small room to the four of us guys. It was finally a relief. We had our own CR (no water heater though) and mirrors were important. This room was underneath the "Men's refugee attic" in the giant cabin.
We had signed up for classes in the five seminars. We had the freedom to choose from a certain list of classes under each seminar. I came out with Feature writing (1st Seminar), Health concerns (2nd Seminar), Essay writing (3rd Seminar), Human Rights (4th Seminar), and Layouting (5th Seminar).
The first and second seminars took place on the first day.
Sunday, May 25, 2003
NORTHBOUND FOR ILOCUS SUR
Background Music: "Get Busy" by Sean Paul
I head for DLSU-D in just a few hours (when I wake up) and I'll be joining two of my classmates that are co-writers for the Heraldo Filipino. We will be with some editors (dunt-dunn-DUHN), nah... they're not scary. Joke lang yon. According to Ate Joyce (new Managing Editor) we have transportation and we need to bring some swim wear. I recall looking at some paper posted in the office that the destination includes some beach up north.
I've never been farther north than Baguio, which happens to be just recently with the guys (first week of April 2003). So I'm excited to see the place far north. Like really far north. I think they said it's around 9 to 10 hours on the road. What can we do inside of a vehicle for ten hours?! That's insane! Is it a van? Is it a small bus? Is it a big bus for just a few people? I don't know. The mystery of tomorrow terrifies me... electrifies me.
Well as long as I have Eric and Maycee, things should be alright. I also hope this is some kind of bonding trip, if in any way possible. At least in any small way, if we can become closer with some of the editors or some of the other staff if they're coming. I don't want this to be a stiff neck trip up north.
This is the CEGP. The College Editors Guild of the Philippines. Some kind of conference up north. I look at this trip in two perspectives. First, it's getting the job done by representing DLSU-D up north. It's for the Heraldo Filipino. Second, it's a chance for me to sightsee what it's like up in Ilocus Sur. Both Professional and Personal get dibs on this trip.
I'm all packed up now. Here's for tomorrow's long road trip. I'll try and see if I can make a post from Ilocus Sur. I'll be back in Cavite on the 29th or 30th.
And some notes: Welcome back Aldrich!! (for Sunday evening, May 25).
Background Music: "Get Busy" by Sean Paul
I head for DLSU-D in just a few hours (when I wake up) and I'll be joining two of my classmates that are co-writers for the Heraldo Filipino. We will be with some editors (dunt-dunn-DUHN), nah... they're not scary. Joke lang yon. According to Ate Joyce (new Managing Editor) we have transportation and we need to bring some swim wear. I recall looking at some paper posted in the office that the destination includes some beach up north.
I've never been farther north than Baguio, which happens to be just recently with the guys (first week of April 2003). So I'm excited to see the place far north. Like really far north. I think they said it's around 9 to 10 hours on the road. What can we do inside of a vehicle for ten hours?! That's insane! Is it a van? Is it a small bus? Is it a big bus for just a few people? I don't know. The mystery of tomorrow terrifies me... electrifies me.
Well as long as I have Eric and Maycee, things should be alright. I also hope this is some kind of bonding trip, if in any way possible. At least in any small way, if we can become closer with some of the editors or some of the other staff if they're coming. I don't want this to be a stiff neck trip up north.
This is the CEGP. The College Editors Guild of the Philippines. Some kind of conference up north. I look at this trip in two perspectives. First, it's getting the job done by representing DLSU-D up north. It's for the Heraldo Filipino. Second, it's a chance for me to sightsee what it's like up in Ilocus Sur. Both Professional and Personal get dibs on this trip.
I'm all packed up now. Here's for tomorrow's long road trip. I'll try and see if I can make a post from Ilocus Sur. I'll be back in Cavite on the 29th or 30th.
And some notes: Welcome back Aldrich!! (for Sunday evening, May 25).
Saturday, May 24, 2003
HOW TO BUILD A WARP DRIVE
The Damage Report - Summer Break - Ending Week #42/1
Background Music: "Flexin" by Kyla and Blue
NOTE: This is a weekly blog entry that summarizes a series of events of a finished week in and around La Salle.
"... I asked for things to do, but it seems right now I can't do them."
THE past week was just the very end and tip of the Broadjourn Summer Term. On Monday and Tuesday we got our grades from Philo103 and English102. I'm a bit disappointed in my results. The results were moderate. Not that high, and not that low. Just right in the middle.
I'm hoping that these grades will be the lowest line from here and onwards. I'm going to make it a priority that no grade be lower than what I received in Philo103 and English102. It shouldn't be that difficult, there are no more Math and Science subjects. It's all Major Subjects (Journalism, Broadcasting, Newsroom Production, Communication, Advertising...) and the regular subjects.
Anyways, the last three days of the week (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) were all similar. Air conditioned room, a slowly depleting internet card, and television. Of course the radio. On Wednesday though, my classmates Eric and Kate came over so we could work on the BJ6. We got the front page layout down and we worked on the Profiles. All we need are updated pictures and things should all be set for image creations.
Thursday and Friday I ended up watching some old Star Trek tapes in my cabinet. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country... and from there we watched Star Trek: Generations (VII), then Star Trek: First Contact (VIII), and just today on Saturday we watched Star Trek: Insurrection (IX). All there is left is the most recent Star Trek movie, Star Trek: Nemesis (X).
The rains started this week. It hasn't rained like this since the first semester of my freshmen year. I'm inside my house all comfortable though while it rained the past few days.
There's really nothing much to say since nothing much happened. You can read about it in previous entries. I read some of my old journal entries. One year ago (May 24 2002), I went to La Salle to retrieve my ID but I couldn't get it yet. Years ago this week I was watching with my High School batchmate Enrico "The Mummy Returns". I'm glad I've kept track of my life the past few years. It's nice to look back and read what I had been going through before.
Anyways, that brings us to "How to build a Warp Drive". I guess I combined the elements of watching a few Star Trek movies with what i'm going through right now.
I've finally been assigned articles that I know are important. So in a way, that makes me feel important. Feeling important is opposite of what I feel towards the University Paper. But now they've given me assignments. The thing is, now that I have these assignments, I can't seem to get myself to do intensive researching or conduction of interviews. I think I'm experiencing some kind of Writers' Block. I can't seem to start anything correctly.
Hopefully my trip to Ilocus Sur will enlighten me. Being in the presence of writers and campus journalists from across the country ought to bring life to what I want to do. So, "How to build a Warp Drive" in my translation is finding that drive and energy to make me complete these articles with flying colors.
And on one last note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIELLE!! She's 18 now... moved away from DLSU-D... but our friendship will always go the extra mile. For all the great times during Broadjourn Dormers' Night Out... for all the memories as classmates and as friends... this goes ou to you Danielle. Happy 18th! Dalaga ka na!
Good week everyone. Take care.
Like a Zombie on a Rainy Rainy Day
Background Music: "Rainy Dayz" by Ja Rule and Mary J. Blige
My mind shut down today, sort of. I just realized, now that it has been nearly 24 hours since my last entry... that I was basically drooling inside of my room doing nothing. Absolutely nothing productive. I was a zombie when I watched Star Trek Generations (the movie) and Star Trek First Contact on TV. The computer has been on for over ten hours (with the monitor off most of the time) and I didn't do any solid work on any website. It was just on. I fiddled with old programs and old games. A Mud Slinging Game that I recall a High School friend and I used to play when we had nothing to do then.
It's like my mind was set to wait till Midnight so I could surf again. The Pacific Internet E-Volve Prepaid Card has this FREE 5 HOURS Promo but you can only use the FREE HOURS from 12mn to 7am.
We shouldn't even be using a Prepaid card. We have been loyal subscribers to Pacific Internet Postpaid for three years. In fact, they sent us a "Happy Anniversary" card which we can avail a 10% discount on our by-month rates plus one free month. We also have a lot of Pacific Perks Points which, when I visited their website, we can claim a mini-CD Tower.
But, all of the above is undermined with their suddenly horrible service. Constant disconnections, changing dial-ups without informing us beforehand, and most recently... moving their Cavite Office without calling us that they changed their location from Imus to Bacoor.
And still, I find it hard to believe there's any better service other than Pacific Internet... an international ISP. The only other one I am interested in is PLDT VIBE since we have a PLDT Landline Number. However, it seems this service isn't available in Cavite. I will have to check on that.
Anyways, in the last hour (11 o'clock in the evening) I did manage to scrap up ideas in my head to change the banner once more. The new banner is a collage of recent studio pictures. The quality of these are supurb on my computer, but when I upload it to the tight bandwidth of the "free image hosting" I am currently using... I have to decrease the quality just to let it load faster and easier for everyone. That explains why many images here are not at their best quality.
But once I buy that webspace, who cares about the limitations! The boundries of the account I'm buying very very soon is still pretty far and wide for a small website maker such as myself. ^o^ I'll put up the best images, and I'll put images to enhance all the designs and architecture of all my work on the web. No more limitations.
Before I get that webspace, I want to clear some things up with Pacific Internet. To find out why they suspended theri services without giving us notice and to find out what happened to their service in the first place.
Background Music: "Rainy Dayz" by Ja Rule and Mary J. Blige
My mind shut down today, sort of. I just realized, now that it has been nearly 24 hours since my last entry... that I was basically drooling inside of my room doing nothing. Absolutely nothing productive. I was a zombie when I watched Star Trek Generations (the movie) and Star Trek First Contact on TV. The computer has been on for over ten hours (with the monitor off most of the time) and I didn't do any solid work on any website. It was just on. I fiddled with old programs and old games. A Mud Slinging Game that I recall a High School friend and I used to play when we had nothing to do then.
It's like my mind was set to wait till Midnight so I could surf again. The Pacific Internet E-Volve Prepaid Card has this FREE 5 HOURS Promo but you can only use the FREE HOURS from 12mn to 7am.
We shouldn't even be using a Prepaid card. We have been loyal subscribers to Pacific Internet Postpaid for three years. In fact, they sent us a "Happy Anniversary" card which we can avail a 10% discount on our by-month rates plus one free month. We also have a lot of Pacific Perks Points which, when I visited their website, we can claim a mini-CD Tower.
But, all of the above is undermined with their suddenly horrible service. Constant disconnections, changing dial-ups without informing us beforehand, and most recently... moving their Cavite Office without calling us that they changed their location from Imus to Bacoor.
And still, I find it hard to believe there's any better service other than Pacific Internet... an international ISP. The only other one I am interested in is PLDT VIBE since we have a PLDT Landline Number. However, it seems this service isn't available in Cavite. I will have to check on that.
Anyways, in the last hour (11 o'clock in the evening) I did manage to scrap up ideas in my head to change the banner once more. The new banner is a collage of recent studio pictures. The quality of these are supurb on my computer, but when I upload it to the tight bandwidth of the "free image hosting" I am currently using... I have to decrease the quality just to let it load faster and easier for everyone. That explains why many images here are not at their best quality.
But once I buy that webspace, who cares about the limitations! The boundries of the account I'm buying very very soon is still pretty far and wide for a small website maker such as myself. ^o^ I'll put up the best images, and I'll put images to enhance all the designs and architecture of all my work on the web. No more limitations.
Before I get that webspace, I want to clear some things up with Pacific Internet. To find out why they suspended theri services without giving us notice and to find out what happened to their service in the first place.
Friday, May 23, 2003
To Go or Not to Go, that is the Question
I'm not sure what I'm doing right now. I'm working on Project BJ6, but my mind is worried about the articles I have for the Heraldo Filipino's News Section. Tomorrow (er, Today... Friday) is the last day I have a chance to conduct interviews of people for my articles. Next week I'll be in Ilocus Sur with Eric and Maycee and our editors. And the week after that, these articles are due.
The thing is, there's nothing drawing me to the campus tomorow other than these interviews. I've never experienced this before. I always "dorm" inside La Salle when I conduct these interviews. I always have classes when it comes to working on these articles. But now, there aren't any classes. And there isn't a dorm to crash into. It's home, three hours worth of commuting to and from, and no classmate or friend on campus to meet with and talk to.
If I do decide on going, I'll have the possibility of finishing all these articles for News... setting my mind free for our trip to Ilocus Sur for the CEGP (College Editors Guild of the Philippines) conference.
Aaaachk... Ugh... decisions decisions. If anyone can just draw all the laziness and hatred of commuting away from me... if only I had a car to drive to La Salle... if only I had a license to drive in the first place... ^o^
My dad won't be coming home tomorrow as we sort of expected from what he told us. It so happens there's this Typhoon right now in Guam so his ship has to leave port. Just when his replacement is supposed to arrive today. It's always bad timing. It's always friggin' bad timing for him. First, the war in Iraq that extended his stay on-board that ship in the Gulf. Next, the whole damn SARS thing which affected Southeast Asia especially Singapore... where his home port is at. Then he goes to Guam, and before he can stay there to get replaced by someone... some damn typhoon comes.
Well anyways, here's to later today. Whether I decide to leave the house and accomplish things or decide to stay in the house and relax for a Friday... let it be a decision made without any regrets. *grabs a San Mig Light*
I'm not sure what I'm doing right now. I'm working on Project BJ6, but my mind is worried about the articles I have for the Heraldo Filipino's News Section. Tomorrow (er, Today... Friday) is the last day I have a chance to conduct interviews of people for my articles. Next week I'll be in Ilocus Sur with Eric and Maycee and our editors. And the week after that, these articles are due.
The thing is, there's nothing drawing me to the campus tomorow other than these interviews. I've never experienced this before. I always "dorm" inside La Salle when I conduct these interviews. I always have classes when it comes to working on these articles. But now, there aren't any classes. And there isn't a dorm to crash into. It's home, three hours worth of commuting to and from, and no classmate or friend on campus to meet with and talk to.
If I do decide on going, I'll have the possibility of finishing all these articles for News... setting my mind free for our trip to Ilocus Sur for the CEGP (College Editors Guild of the Philippines) conference.
Aaaachk... Ugh... decisions decisions. If anyone can just draw all the laziness and hatred of commuting away from me... if only I had a car to drive to La Salle... if only I had a license to drive in the first place... ^o^
My dad won't be coming home tomorrow as we sort of expected from what he told us. It so happens there's this Typhoon right now in Guam so his ship has to leave port. Just when his replacement is supposed to arrive today. It's always bad timing. It's always friggin' bad timing for him. First, the war in Iraq that extended his stay on-board that ship in the Gulf. Next, the whole damn SARS thing which affected Southeast Asia especially Singapore... where his home port is at. Then he goes to Guam, and before he can stay there to get replaced by someone... some damn typhoon comes.
Well anyways, here's to later today. Whether I decide to leave the house and accomplish things or decide to stay in the house and relax for a Friday... let it be a decision made without any regrets. *grabs a San Mig Light*
Thursday, May 22, 2003
A Future Already Starting to get caught Behind
Background Music: "Sleeping Awake" by P.O.D.
I have a total of six articles for the News Section in the first Broadsheet of the new school year and I've only been able to get information and bits on at least one of them. The others are blurry as of now. These articles are due on the first week of June, which is still a little less than two weeks away. However, it's only within this week that I can avoid the last-minute actions of the future.
I wish I still had summer classes this week so it would ensure my presence in La Salle. I can conduct my interviews, write these articles, and submit them way before the deadline. But now that classes are finished, going to DLSU-D just to interview someone isn't exactly appealing. After a whole summer of classes, wouldn't you just like to stay home and put your feet up for just a few television shows and songs on the radio?
It doesn't even end there. That's for my secondary section. For my primary section, Feature, we've been given assignments by Kuya Marthy (Features Ed). I've been assigned a total of three feature articles. The first one is for the first Broadsheet and is a collaboration with classmate and co-features staff Eric and with incoming COM2-3's Joanne. It's about lesser-known-orgs. I have ideas already.
The other two articles are for the first La Salleño of the new school year. I've been assigned to write under "Horizon" and "Persona". In the "Horizon" section of the La Salleño, it's about "Perversions of Divine Will". This is a deep article, the deepest Feature Article I've been assigned to create. It's about the Quran, Jihad, etc. And the Persona is "TBA" for now, but I have suggestions already.
The theme of the next La Salleño (LS XI - No. 1) is Gothic.
I'm actually glad now I've been given good articles to work on. This is my chance to test myself if I am really capable to do what my mind thinks I am. I've been reading some few past issues of the La Salleño. I came across previous "Horizon" and "Persona" articles, all of them crafted quite well. I also stumbled upon Ate July (new Associate Editor, from News/Sports Editor last year) and her column in the Special Edition La Salleño of the year before we all came. It was entitled "Choices" and the condition she described herself in during her First Year was something I could relate to.
It was about Choices. From as little as what time we get up in the morning to the bigger choices that relate to family, friends, and our loved one. It's all about choices. We can choose to sit here. Or we can choose to be out there.
That restores faith into myself. I've been a bit of a doubter the past few days after my mom's cousin Kuya Henry asked me questions about my course and my career options. I know I'm where I belong because I love what I'm doing and I know where I can go. The thing is, sometimes things are "too good to be true" that it scares me.
But there it is again. The decision I made to enter this course. And up to now I have no intention what-so-ever of leaving it. I know what I want to be doing... *Flash* Reporter for TV, Radio, or Print. *Flash* Photojournalist. *Flash* Philippine Daily Inquirer. *Flash* ABS-CBN. *Flash* San Francisco Times. *Flash* CNN. *Flash*
My decision is to stay. It was never even a question in the first place. I entered something and I will finish it. After computing my GPA today, I realized that I can definantly do better. Drop the whole High School attitude and integrate a perfectionist attitude to pull me up higher. I have the decision. To choose between failure and passing... bad and good... greater and best.
I've enrolled successfully into JOU2-1 (early enrolment last Tuesday) and I'm working on assignments that begin my second year as a campus journalist. I need to stop feeling insecure about my writing and to strive for the best in pursuit of excellent service to the student body in uncovering the truths.
I will now work on my articles.
Background Music: "Sleeping Awake" by P.O.D.
I have a total of six articles for the News Section in the first Broadsheet of the new school year and I've only been able to get information and bits on at least one of them. The others are blurry as of now. These articles are due on the first week of June, which is still a little less than two weeks away. However, it's only within this week that I can avoid the last-minute actions of the future.
I wish I still had summer classes this week so it would ensure my presence in La Salle. I can conduct my interviews, write these articles, and submit them way before the deadline. But now that classes are finished, going to DLSU-D just to interview someone isn't exactly appealing. After a whole summer of classes, wouldn't you just like to stay home and put your feet up for just a few television shows and songs on the radio?
It doesn't even end there. That's for my secondary section. For my primary section, Feature, we've been given assignments by Kuya Marthy (Features Ed). I've been assigned a total of three feature articles. The first one is for the first Broadsheet and is a collaboration with classmate and co-features staff Eric and with incoming COM2-3's Joanne. It's about lesser-known-orgs. I have ideas already.
The other two articles are for the first La Salleño of the new school year. I've been assigned to write under "Horizon" and "Persona". In the "Horizon" section of the La Salleño, it's about "Perversions of Divine Will". This is a deep article, the deepest Feature Article I've been assigned to create. It's about the Quran, Jihad, etc. And the Persona is "TBA" for now, but I have suggestions already.
The theme of the next La Salleño (LS XI - No. 1) is Gothic.
I'm actually glad now I've been given good articles to work on. This is my chance to test myself if I am really capable to do what my mind thinks I am. I've been reading some few past issues of the La Salleño. I came across previous "Horizon" and "Persona" articles, all of them crafted quite well. I also stumbled upon Ate July (new Associate Editor, from News/Sports Editor last year) and her column in the Special Edition La Salleño of the year before we all came. It was entitled "Choices" and the condition she described herself in during her First Year was something I could relate to.
It was about Choices. From as little as what time we get up in the morning to the bigger choices that relate to family, friends, and our loved one. It's all about choices. We can choose to sit here. Or we can choose to be out there.
That restores faith into myself. I've been a bit of a doubter the past few days after my mom's cousin Kuya Henry asked me questions about my course and my career options. I know I'm where I belong because I love what I'm doing and I know where I can go. The thing is, sometimes things are "too good to be true" that it scares me.
But there it is again. The decision I made to enter this course. And up to now I have no intention what-so-ever of leaving it. I know what I want to be doing... *Flash* Reporter for TV, Radio, or Print. *Flash* Photojournalist. *Flash* Philippine Daily Inquirer. *Flash* ABS-CBN. *Flash* San Francisco Times. *Flash* CNN. *Flash*
My decision is to stay. It was never even a question in the first place. I entered something and I will finish it. After computing my GPA today, I realized that I can definantly do better. Drop the whole High School attitude and integrate a perfectionist attitude to pull me up higher. I have the decision. To choose between failure and passing... bad and good... greater and best.
I've enrolled successfully into JOU2-1 (early enrolment last Tuesday) and I'm working on assignments that begin my second year as a campus journalist. I need to stop feeling insecure about my writing and to strive for the best in pursuit of excellent service to the student body in uncovering the truths.
I will now work on my articles.
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Eight Years of Asia
In the past eight years I've never returned to the United States once. But, I still use American English as my primary language. In the past eight years, I've been living within Asia. From May 20 in 1995 to November 2 in 1998, I was living on a Japanese island named Okinawa. A peaceful, quiet, and beautiful little society just south of mainland Japan, a bit east of Taiwan, and almost equal distant to Manila as with Tokyo.
My dad retired in 1998 and decided to retire to the Philippines. Ever since, I've studied as a High School student at Atheneum Amcan School in nearby town Noveleta, until I graduated over a year ago (March 2002). Less than three months after the day I graduated High School, my College life began. My course is Broadcast Journalism. And I'm very happy taking it up and breaking free from the confines and restrictions of High School. What am I talking about? I opened up a multi-platform social life.
Eight Years.
From 10 years old to 18 years old.
The past few days, my mom found some old tapes of the family from the late 90s. It so happens, ever since I was 7 or 8 years old... I've always been fond of announcing. Picture an 8-year-old me jumping in front of my dad's video camera saying "We're here now in the house..." in my younger voice "...at my brother's 5th Birthday...".
Along the years I've learned to love the power of recording images. Taking a picture to capture the moment. To seize the moment. Eight Years. I've been shaped side by side with my love of all things Mass Communications. Radio, television, the press. News. I always watch the news. Eight Years. Always fighting to break free from restraint. The teenage rebel in me fighting fire with fire.
Eight Years in Asia has come by. And I remember, oh I remember, I remember... like in that song right now. I remember all the friends and memories, all the places and emotions, all of it.
On this day.
In the past eight years I've never returned to the United States once. But, I still use American English as my primary language. In the past eight years, I've been living within Asia. From May 20 in 1995 to November 2 in 1998, I was living on a Japanese island named Okinawa. A peaceful, quiet, and beautiful little society just south of mainland Japan, a bit east of Taiwan, and almost equal distant to Manila as with Tokyo.
My dad retired in 1998 and decided to retire to the Philippines. Ever since, I've studied as a High School student at Atheneum Amcan School in nearby town Noveleta, until I graduated over a year ago (March 2002). Less than three months after the day I graduated High School, my College life began. My course is Broadcast Journalism. And I'm very happy taking it up and breaking free from the confines and restrictions of High School. What am I talking about? I opened up a multi-platform social life.
Eight Years.
From 10 years old to 18 years old.
The past few days, my mom found some old tapes of the family from the late 90s. It so happens, ever since I was 7 or 8 years old... I've always been fond of announcing. Picture an 8-year-old me jumping in front of my dad's video camera saying "We're here now in the house..." in my younger voice "...at my brother's 5th Birthday...".
Along the years I've learned to love the power of recording images. Taking a picture to capture the moment. To seize the moment. Eight Years. I've been shaped side by side with my love of all things Mass Communications. Radio, television, the press. News. I always watch the news. Eight Years. Always fighting to break free from restraint. The teenage rebel in me fighting fire with fire.
Eight Years in Asia has come by. And I remember, oh I remember, I remember... like in that song right now. I remember all the friends and memories, all the places and emotions, all of it.
On this day.
Monday, May 19, 2003
Matrix Reloaded "again" at Alabang Town Center
Monday's over. A bit rough. A bit different. But it's over and I'm looking forward to a better Tuesday.
I woke up to go to class this morning and found out the new blue polo I bought was quite large. I mean, If I put my arms on my side, the whole thing would make me look like a giant three-year-old sporting a blue polo. And I stood in front of the electric fan and anticipated the air. It blew and it made me look like a balloon. And to say, I love this polo. I didn't want to give up.
My complaints landed my mom getting mad at me since she felt I was blaming her. But I really wasn't, it was just the way I stressed out with big clothes. Instead of wearing that, I wore another regular polo from my small wardrobe. The air condition was also so cold and the water in the shower was cold, so I was so slow. So slow, I left the house around 9 o'clock in the morning! I gave up going to my English class and instead ended up on-campus for my Philo103 class just to get my grade. Course Card will be distributed on the 27th, sheesh.
We explained to the class our plans for the Broadjourn Website and they didn't sound so excited. "They have no idea what they're about to see..." so I didn't mind the lifeless reactions after informing them of the latest developments. I'm not going to play this one out like my boring High School days: Make a website, advertise it, period.
Nope. PROJECT BJ6 will be: Make a website, advertise it, make it a powerful icon of Broadjourn at DLSU-D, make it so good it is eligible to enter website competitions such as the Philippine Web Awards or something. Ambitious I know, but the point is... this is a REAL website we're coming up with.
Afterwards Ate Angge, Rona, Arazelli, Ayesha, Kate, Jezire, and myself got on-board Apple's L300 vehicle parked outside and her brother (Kuya) Allan was the driver. We first went to Silang to Ara's house so she could get some extra cash then we proceeded to San Pablo in Laguna to Apple's house and then to pick up Apple's boyfriend Richard.
We went to ATC afterwards and ate at the food court. Some of us had a craving for BBQ. I enjoyed some BBQ and then we went to Picture City to have a studio picture. Eight of us all in all, and then I noticed I was wearing the same polo in a previous Studio Picture (with the dorm tropa at Festival in late-March). So I had to wear my shades to change the look a little.
Afterwards we split up already. Everyone left while Kate, Ate Angge, and I were to watch Matrix Reloaded at Cinema 2 for P100. We scrolled around the giant Olympic Village before entering the cinema and being shown trailers about ships (again). Kate and Ate Angge said some artista was sitting behind us... the young woman in some show named "The Exchange" on Channel 5 was it? I didn't know them, but having an artista sitting behind you in a theater was an odd feeling.
Ate Angge gave me P100 to buy us three some snacks. I went outside and ordered and it went up to P120 for one giant sized popcorn box with two extra large drinks. We watched the movie. In comparison to SM Bacoor's "version", it was almost the same except I think I enjoyed it more at SM Bacoor because of the balcony setting and the sound system. ATC was a bit too "contained in one cinema" compared to SM Bacoor's "echo on the walls" effect.
Still, it was fun watching it again. I got to understand things that I didn't understand the first time I watched it. It made me more excited for Matrix Revolutions in November.
Afterwards we went outside and walked to the San Mig pub where Ate Angge's mom works. Then we all dropped Ate Angge to some underground floor with lots of derm shops and clinics. She went to get a facial while Kate and I scrolled towards the plaza area where some people were doing Taebo. After receiving a txt-msg that Ayesha wouldn't be returning to ATC to give us our studio pictures, we decided to go home.
I was in a rush to go home because there were three shows to watch tonight. The very last episode of Star Trek Voyager "Endgame, Part II" at 8 o'clock unfortunately simultaneous with Buffy's Season 6 Ender, then of course an all new episode of Charmed about the "House of Fear".
I also had to pass by SM Bacoor to switch my large polo for a medium or small polo. It was my first time commuting from ATC towards home and not taking a van or anything. Kate got off at SM Southmall and for the first time I knew where the traffic hotspots were. "Casimiro... Moonwalk... Zapote Kabila..."
I took a babybus from Zapote and lots of traffic before getting to SM Bacoor. I think while I was walking really fast towards Penshoppe I passed by K-Anne, a high school classmate. I didn't see her until I passed her side. But I think she did see me... she just turned her head down pretending she didn't see me since it was just so sudden. I haven't seen her since graduation night over a year ago! How can I say she did see me? Well, she was talking to her friend and I know that look when you know someone about to pass you by and you just wanted to show you are pre-occupied with someone else.
Heheh. I made a fuss out of it. It's High School that's why, any batchmate spottings (non-DLSU-D) I'll talk about here.
I went up to Penshoppe and the lady kindly exchanged the large polo for any smaller size. The "Small" was small, and the "Medium" was just fine. I left and rushed out of SM to board a Naic Bacao Centennial... thank you.
I rushed home as fast as I could and got home around 8:15pm to find the TV/VCR repairman finishing re-installing my VCR to my TV since a tape got stuck in it last weekend. And then I watched the final hour of Voyager... the ending made me want to cry... for it was such a long long journey for them and they finally made it back. And to say, I've only seen the last three episodes of the entire series... all the dramatic stories in the past three seasons I've missed I haven't seen yet.
And on Buffy, I managed to watch the very end of its Season ender. Spike with a soul?
Of course on Charmed, the "House of Fear". The first time to see an old demon re-appear three times that span five seasons. From the 1st and 2nd Season, and now in the 5th Season. Barbas, Demon of Fear, is finally vanquished. And Cole's fate... we can all see it coming now.
***
That was it for today. I'm sleepy. Class Card distribution for English102 tomorrow and I'm going to retrieve my pre-registration as well as do some articles if possible. Good night.
Monday's over. A bit rough. A bit different. But it's over and I'm looking forward to a better Tuesday.
I woke up to go to class this morning and found out the new blue polo I bought was quite large. I mean, If I put my arms on my side, the whole thing would make me look like a giant three-year-old sporting a blue polo. And I stood in front of the electric fan and anticipated the air. It blew and it made me look like a balloon. And to say, I love this polo. I didn't want to give up.
My complaints landed my mom getting mad at me since she felt I was blaming her. But I really wasn't, it was just the way I stressed out with big clothes. Instead of wearing that, I wore another regular polo from my small wardrobe. The air condition was also so cold and the water in the shower was cold, so I was so slow. So slow, I left the house around 9 o'clock in the morning! I gave up going to my English class and instead ended up on-campus for my Philo103 class just to get my grade. Course Card will be distributed on the 27th, sheesh.
We explained to the class our plans for the Broadjourn Website and they didn't sound so excited. "They have no idea what they're about to see..." so I didn't mind the lifeless reactions after informing them of the latest developments. I'm not going to play this one out like my boring High School days: Make a website, advertise it, period.
Nope. PROJECT BJ6 will be: Make a website, advertise it, make it a powerful icon of Broadjourn at DLSU-D, make it so good it is eligible to enter website competitions such as the Philippine Web Awards or something. Ambitious I know, but the point is... this is a REAL website we're coming up with.
Afterwards Ate Angge, Rona, Arazelli, Ayesha, Kate, Jezire, and myself got on-board Apple's L300 vehicle parked outside and her brother (Kuya) Allan was the driver. We first went to Silang to Ara's house so she could get some extra cash then we proceeded to San Pablo in Laguna to Apple's house and then to pick up Apple's boyfriend Richard.
We went to ATC afterwards and ate at the food court. Some of us had a craving for BBQ. I enjoyed some BBQ and then we went to Picture City to have a studio picture. Eight of us all in all, and then I noticed I was wearing the same polo in a previous Studio Picture (with the dorm tropa at Festival in late-March). So I had to wear my shades to change the look a little.
Afterwards we split up already. Everyone left while Kate, Ate Angge, and I were to watch Matrix Reloaded at Cinema 2 for P100. We scrolled around the giant Olympic Village before entering the cinema and being shown trailers about ships (again). Kate and Ate Angge said some artista was sitting behind us... the young woman in some show named "The Exchange" on Channel 5 was it? I didn't know them, but having an artista sitting behind you in a theater was an odd feeling.
Ate Angge gave me P100 to buy us three some snacks. I went outside and ordered and it went up to P120 for one giant sized popcorn box with two extra large drinks. We watched the movie. In comparison to SM Bacoor's "version", it was almost the same except I think I enjoyed it more at SM Bacoor because of the balcony setting and the sound system. ATC was a bit too "contained in one cinema" compared to SM Bacoor's "echo on the walls" effect.
Still, it was fun watching it again. I got to understand things that I didn't understand the first time I watched it. It made me more excited for Matrix Revolutions in November.
Afterwards we went outside and walked to the San Mig pub where Ate Angge's mom works. Then we all dropped Ate Angge to some underground floor with lots of derm shops and clinics. She went to get a facial while Kate and I scrolled towards the plaza area where some people were doing Taebo. After receiving a txt-msg that Ayesha wouldn't be returning to ATC to give us our studio pictures, we decided to go home.
I was in a rush to go home because there were three shows to watch tonight. The very last episode of Star Trek Voyager "Endgame, Part II" at 8 o'clock unfortunately simultaneous with Buffy's Season 6 Ender, then of course an all new episode of Charmed about the "House of Fear".
I also had to pass by SM Bacoor to switch my large polo for a medium or small polo. It was my first time commuting from ATC towards home and not taking a van or anything. Kate got off at SM Southmall and for the first time I knew where the traffic hotspots were. "Casimiro... Moonwalk... Zapote Kabila..."
I took a babybus from Zapote and lots of traffic before getting to SM Bacoor. I think while I was walking really fast towards Penshoppe I passed by K-Anne, a high school classmate. I didn't see her until I passed her side. But I think she did see me... she just turned her head down pretending she didn't see me since it was just so sudden. I haven't seen her since graduation night over a year ago! How can I say she did see me? Well, she was talking to her friend and I know that look when you know someone about to pass you by and you just wanted to show you are pre-occupied with someone else.
Heheh. I made a fuss out of it. It's High School that's why, any batchmate spottings (non-DLSU-D) I'll talk about here.
I went up to Penshoppe and the lady kindly exchanged the large polo for any smaller size. The "Small" was small, and the "Medium" was just fine. I left and rushed out of SM to board a Naic Bacao Centennial... thank you.
I rushed home as fast as I could and got home around 8:15pm to find the TV/VCR repairman finishing re-installing my VCR to my TV since a tape got stuck in it last weekend. And then I watched the final hour of Voyager... the ending made me want to cry... for it was such a long long journey for them and they finally made it back. And to say, I've only seen the last three episodes of the entire series... all the dramatic stories in the past three seasons I've missed I haven't seen yet.
And on Buffy, I managed to watch the very end of its Season ender. Spike with a soul?
Of course on Charmed, the "House of Fear". The first time to see an old demon re-appear three times that span five seasons. From the 1st and 2nd Season, and now in the 5th Season. Barbas, Demon of Fear, is finally vanquished. And Cole's fate... we can all see it coming now.
***
That was it for today. I'm sleepy. Class Card distribution for English102 tomorrow and I'm going to retrieve my pre-registration as well as do some articles if possible. Good night.
Sunday, May 18, 2003
AFTER ELEVEN MONTHS
Carpe Noctem (Seize the Night) - Start of Week #42/7
NOTE: A weekly post made before starting a week of studies at La Salle.
"... what is going to happen this Friday?"
FIRST of all I would like to mention that I just learned how to drive a motorcycle! Yeah yeah yeah, I know, it's fairly easy. But I didn't expect I'd learn how to drive one in just five minutes! I rode around the Subdivision and the feeling was great! I was like trying to imagine riding side by side with Jessica Alba or something. The feeling rocks! Not only do I want a Silver CR-V, but I also want a hot-red Honda Motorcycle!
Anyways, allow me to lower my voice. Ahem. Since my "The Damage Report" included Saturday, I'll just talk about today before I move onto "this week". Today we woke up early for my cousin's son's Baptism in Kawit, Cavite. I am one of the Ninongs.
I wore the things I bought the pass few days. A new pair of pants from Penshoppe, a new white polo from Penshoppe, the Shades I bought last Friday, and the necklace I bought last Friday. I wanted the "Refreshingly Pure White Sunday" look so I went outside like that. The skies today were shady and at some time sunny.
We arrived in Kawit about 30 minutes late from the Invitation time. However, there was some kind of Baptism Seminar in that multipurpose room next to the church. We arrived at the church and there was a wedding. A Japanese groom was getting married to a Filipina bride... the two looked nice together. It was my first time at St. Mary's Parish in Kawit (after many years of passing by this Church back in High School). We couldn't find the baby, Mynel Iesu Putong Santos...
When we finally found them, they were in a room filled with so many families and many little babies. It was a mass-baptismal... oh ok. I'm used to seeing just two or three babies at the same time, but inside a room of so many babies... woah. It was just ten minutes of some prayers followed by the Holy Water and the candle lighting ceremony. Afterwards we proceeded to the Santos residence which happens to be just in front of the entrance to Water Camp in Kawit, Cavite.
We were led to eat in the sala while the others ate in the dining room and on the tables outside. Some guy gave us the control so I switched it to CNN. Kuya Henry and I exchanged some words about the CR-V that he found. A second-hand Model 2000 for P700,000. It's an Automatic and it's Silver. This is the CR-V that has POTENTIAL. Despite it being P700,000 for an older model when you can get a new one and even in installments for P990,000.
After enjoying the really tasty lumpia rolls, we had to go. We went home and then before Kuya Henry left, he taught me how to drive a motorcycle. I was just being taught visually so I thought that was it and he'd return on Wednesday or something to teach me the rest. But he told me to get on the motorbike and give it a shot. I got on, and he told me how to get it moving. And then no less than a minute later, I was already down the road in the Subdivision.
Like I stated earlier, the feeling was great. I was overwhelmed that I was actually driving a motorcycle. I wish I had a camera to take a picture. "George's First Motorcycle Drive".
I spent the rest of Sunday in my room and working on PROJECT BJ6. As of this evening, it's starting to have a more definite shape. Perhaps sometime this week my co-webmasters can stop by again and this time we can get some solid things done.
***
This week is actually quite a stir. And I thought we were going to Baguio again?! Anyways, there's no disappointment there. My dad is returning "after eleven and a half months" from abroad. With him come drastic changes. A speedy search for a new car. Completion of the floorings in the house. He has my Digital Camera and he has the cash for a new cellphone perhaps (A shades-of-blue Nokia 7250)...
This week I've set a personal goal to accomplish all seven articles I have for News section of the Heraldo Filipino. This is the most I've had assigned to me for News for a single Broadsheet... and I'm up for it.
Monday and Tuesday will be dedicated to schoolwork. Course Card distribution and maybe trips to the mall or some kind of unplanned outing await.
A HEART FOR HERALDO
The Damage Report - Broadjourn Summer - Ending Week #41/6
Background Music: Music of Matrix: Reloaded
NOTE: This is a weekly blog entry that summarizes a series of events of a finished week in and around La Salle.
"... free your mind."
IT was the last week of Summer Classes in general. English102 wrapped up with the defenses while in Philo103 we had the final two topics and our Final Exam last Friday. Here's a quick browse.
Last Monday - The Term Paper Deadline
The Term Paper we've been working on for the past few weeks was due today. My partner Ate Angge was absent for both classes just to work on finishing touches. It was on Monday that I reached another breaking point after noticing several things wrong with my presence in the Heraldo Filipino. At how I was so "in the shadows". Read about my frustration in that day's entry here.
***
Last Tuesday - Preparing for the Defensive
I spent most of Tuesday preparing for the Defense. I spent the entire afternoon and evening doing finishing touches on the presentation. You can read about my preparations by clicking here.
***
Last Wednesday - Lights Off, Music On
Wednesday was perhaps one of the busiest days this past Summer Term. I went to DLSU-D extra early to install nearly 70 images into 50 slides inside the Aguado Viewing Room. Ate Angge and I had our presentation-defense and it turned out ok. But I failed to completely master the topic so some of my answers had wholes in it if anyone noticed.
In the afternoon there was a grand staff meeting at Square Canteen for the Heraldo Filipino. Before attending the meeting, I was assigned an additional four articles to bring my total articles to work on for the next Broadsheet up to seven. I managed to interview Matron Hernandez at the dorms and seemed to have been given a "Curfew Immunity" if my job calls for it in the Heraldo Filipino.
My frustrations in the HF simmered down once it was confirmed by Ate Joyce (New Managing Ed) that the three journalours (JOU1-1) in the HF (Maycee, Eric, and myself) are included in the official list of participants in going to the CEGP in Ilocus Sur. The Year-End Seminar in Baguio was cancelled or is waiting to be revived and postponed for a later date.
At home, I watched an episode of "Star Trek Voyager" for the first time in a very very long time. Sadly though, it was the third to the last episode of the entire series. Meaning, if I watched the beginning I'm about to watch the end... and that I didn't watch the exciting stories in the middle. Damn.
You can read all about this very busy day by clicking here.
***
Last Thursday - Puyat from the Presses
Everything summed up on this day in a few words would be: Puyat. Overslept. Absent.
***
Last Friday - Shopping with my Classmates
It was the last day of studies in Philo103 for the Final Exam was on that day. In English102, I was late and I had to catch up from my absent the previous day by throwing questions at the current duos that are having their defense. This was for recitation of course.
The Philo103 exam should have been easy. My score was a 35/50 or in Absolute Grading System it would be flat 70. A flat 70 is equivalent to a 1.50. Oh man!! If I just reviewed this one table I sketched out in my lecture notes in my notebook about Phenomenology of Death I could have had 8 more points (2 pts each, 4 easy questions) plus if I didn't have a 2nd thought on my last two enumerations (answers were: Being and Seeming... I answered Social and Interpersonal) I would have had 2 more points. Bringing up my "total" to 45/50... and a 3.25 equivalent on the Absolute Grading System.
Damn. What a difference one eighth of a notebook page of lecture can make. I blew my chance at securing a 2.50 and above score overall for Philo103. I'm looking at a 2.00 more or less.
Afterwards six of us went to Robinsons Imus. Teenah, Kate, Ate Angge, Joanna, Eric, and myself. The plan was to watch X-Men 2 (although Matrix Reloaded was already showing) but ever since Meteor Garden stole the hearts of teenagers, it was like an automatic curfew to get home. Take Teenah for instance, her home was in Alfonso and she left Robinsons Imus an hour and a half before Meteor Garden. She txt'd us that she got stuck in rains and traffic in Tagaytay.
Wait, hold on. We did have a studio picture taken.
And we all ate at Burger King. The girls went shopping and of course Eric and I followed them and joined them as well. With some extra cash, I managed to by myself a new pair of dark blue and black slippers from Rusty Lopez. I also bought two new necklaces from some shop that probably scares guys from entering it. One of those pink-colored botiques with girls accessories. I would never enter one of those! But since two of my classmates entered, I walked in with them and saw that these places do have a "Men's Accessories" corner and I saw some good things.
And before we left, we passed by Sarabia Optical and like all places in the mall with the whole mall-wide sale, this place had their shades out. I'm looking for a new pair of shades, but I didn't have the patience to look for them. Until Eric started trying some on, I was tempted to try some and I couldn't decide. Ate Angge and Joanna found one for me and when I tried it on, I liked it too. So if they like it, and I like it...
I decided to wear my shades on the way out of the mall and next we were headed to Joanna's house which was just walking distance from the mall. Right before we step off the exit-road of the parking space of Robinson's Imus... a girl comes running towards me with her arms wide open. It's Ekai!
It was a surprise of course, and we exchanged greetings and any tidbits. Afterwards we continued towards Joanna's house and there Ate Angge made handcrafts for her boyfriend. They're celebrating their 1st Year Anniversary. All that time, I thought it was just a monthsary. Joanna and Ate Angge had to return to Robinsons Imus to get a small pouch they left inside the Kameraworld store while Eric and I got on-board a jeep and left.
***
Last Saturday - Entering Zion from SM Cinema 5
I met with Joy and Nikki in front of the Bingo Station at SM Bacoor around 1:30pm. We ate at Burger King and then went into Cinema 5 to watch Matrix Reloaded. We sat on the front and center row of the Premiere Balcony. There were so many trailers. And almost all of them have something to do with a ship. I think this year should be known as "Year of the Pirates". How many movies with ships did we see on the screen? Some with good names, some with cheesy names, some with extremely long times... from Disney's "Sinbad and the Seven Seas" to some "The Honorable Gentlemen of the Seas" something like that... but I think the coolest one was "The Last Samurai" with Tom Cruise in it. With all the trailers, I suddenly felt like a loser. I have so many movies to watch on the silver screen! I already missed the Two Towers and X-Men 2 (which I might be able to catch still).
The movie came on and I enjoyed every minute of it, especially with Nikki and Joy by my side since it was a "fulfillment" to successfully watch a great movie for the first time while in each others' presence. There's only one part that I'm sure would stir the audience into confusion if they didn't quite get the story. The part when "The Architect" spoke. I know it's a very important part of the whole Trilogy... but "The Architect" was talking so fast and in english of course that even I couldn't understand some times. It wasn't really balanced.
But, I can never give any final judgement of Matrix Reloaded. It's once again the first part of one gigantic movie (Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions) so if Reloaded wasn't balanced, I'm sure it'll all be balanced in Revolutions. My favorite scene in the whole movie of course would be all the fight scenes. One of the greatest fight scenes in movie history perhaps. But to narrow it down to uniqueness, the scene with Persephone's Kiss to Neo in front of Trinity was the best. The audience reacted of course. And from my brother Paul who watched this with "the tropa" in Alabang Town Center, the audience there also reacted in humor.
The dancing part in Zion didn't quite make sense to me, but in another perspective, was it because it was the only way they can show their freedom in a world ruled by artificial intelligence? Ok. And, no wonder it was rated R in the United States. Everything was all good but everytime you'd see these plugs on their skin... it felt awkward! ^o^
After the movie we went around the mall looking for a place to eat. We crashed into Jollybee on Level 3 and afterwards we went around again. My mom was in the mall with Kuya Henry and Kuya Henry's cousin or niece or someone(?). We met with Nikki's dad downstairs at the food court just minutes into Jimboy's performance. Who's Jimboy? Well, Jimboy was singing "Livin' La Vida Loca" but he was pronouncing Livin' as Singin'... so it sounded all wrong. "Singin' La Vida Loca..." Nikki, Joy, and I laughed as we carried our drinks and their pizzas to a table.
Nikki and her two sisters and father had to go while Joy and I went to National Bookstore. She bought some supplies for her Journal due in one of her classes in UP this summer while I looked around for my mom's cousin, Kuya Henry. Joy bought some things and then we said bye. She walked out of SM into the tinted-blue window sunset outside while I descened the stairs with my Kuya Henry to look for my mom.
We went to the Supermarket and I bought some things before I headed back up to Penshoppe and to Bench to buy some new clothes. I bought a new pair of pants at Penshoppe and two pricy polos at P700 each (not as pricy as Guess... but pricy for a Penshoppe top which I'd usually buy around P300 to P400). Then at Bench I couldn't find anything. The clothes at Bench are really big. All the sizes are large, and it made me feel so smaller than what I already feel.
We ate at Kenny Rogers' and this large cup of iced tea fell over the table when I was getting my chicken from a plate. The iced tea splashed all over my lower beige polo and onto the upper part of my 3/4 length khaki pants. And to say, we were at the table nearest the entrance of the restaurant. Good thing it was already past eight in the evening and the people in the mall were going home. It was a complete disaster for me, but hunger covered it up.
We got home and that was that. The week had ended.
***
A Heart for Heraldo? I've spent the past week trying to put it into my head that "wala yan George... don't worry about it.". I'm referring to my presence in the Heraldo Filipino. I am sworn to to serve for the betterment of the University and for the student body by being a campus journalist. I will never lose that flame. It's just, for the past few weeks, I've been sensitive to simple things from the HF. My name is usually placed last on any kind of list. Maycee and Eric are always listed in the main lists while I'm always on this secondary list.
And I will not yield to any of what they say. "Inactive"? I've done my work and I'm still doing it. I think it's just mistaken perceptions of my attitude towards the HF. But if only the presses could be on slow-mo and they can look at me for just one moment while I'm doing my job... hopefully that's when they'll see I'm there in the Heraldo Filipino doing my job. I may not be as critical in news as Maycee is (she's the author of the past three Banners) or as intense in feature as Eric is (so intense, he's a Junior Staffer already)... but I'm there ready to balance everything. I'm in Feature, I love contributing to News, and I am interested and capable of contributing to Photo as well as Literary some day soon.
I'm not giving up. I'm only starting to work harder than ever before. Hats off for the past Summer Term.
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Getting Some Rest on Thursday
Background Music: "Broken Vow" by Lara Fabian
I didn't go to school today. Partly because I only had one class this morning which was English102. There was no Philo103 today because we have discussed everything and on Friday it's already our Finals. I was absent today mainly because I've been puyat the past few days. I sleep around 1 o'clock in the morning then I wake up four hours later for class. Then there's a 1 1/2 hour commute to school and another 1 1/2 hour commute just to get home. That's three hours on the road for a 2-hour class at school!
I had completed my defense and all my requirements for English102 except the "ask a question" thing, so I didn't miss anything that would greatly affect me. Well, actually, I did feel guilty that I missed the defense of Kate and Jezire about Yoga.
What did I do at home today? I woke up at 5 o'clock in the morning and I was about to get up... until I dozed off for 20 minutes and then woke up when my mom asked "Are you going to school today?". When she asked, the part of me that was tired took over and I stared at the ceiling for about a minute to balance what I would lose and gain by not going to school.
I explained the situation with my mom and she nodded it was ok. Next thing I know, my eyes open and I look at the clock on my Nokia 3210 and its 1:02pm.
I spent the afternoon in my air conditioned room. I watched "Earthly Possessions" in whole for the first time on Cinemax. I actually like the concept of the movie. It features Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff. Stephen Dorff is this one actor that I chose to portray the role of "JC" on a fan-fiction series towards Charmed but this time about Wizards... "Destined". I know this doesn't make sense to anyone else, but to my friend Erika... she knows about this. There are four ordinary friends that become "modern day wizards in the near future (2010)" and they are Bryan the 2nd Charm played by Mark Whalberg, George the 3rd Charm (hence, the URL of this blog), and some invented guy (invented.. oOoOo) named JC who is the 4th Charm played by Stephen Dorff. Enough about fan-fiction. That ended when High School ended over a year ago.
Of course we all know Susan Sarandon. Stephen Dorff, on the other hand, could be seen in movies like Blade and Deuce's Wild. The movie was drama-romantic-comical.
Anyways, I'm watching Voyager on the Hallmark Channel. Then I'm going to review for tomorrow's Philo103 exam.
Background Music: "Broken Vow" by Lara Fabian
I didn't go to school today. Partly because I only had one class this morning which was English102. There was no Philo103 today because we have discussed everything and on Friday it's already our Finals. I was absent today mainly because I've been puyat the past few days. I sleep around 1 o'clock in the morning then I wake up four hours later for class. Then there's a 1 1/2 hour commute to school and another 1 1/2 hour commute just to get home. That's three hours on the road for a 2-hour class at school!
I had completed my defense and all my requirements for English102 except the "ask a question" thing, so I didn't miss anything that would greatly affect me. Well, actually, I did feel guilty that I missed the defense of Kate and Jezire about Yoga.
What did I do at home today? I woke up at 5 o'clock in the morning and I was about to get up... until I dozed off for 20 minutes and then woke up when my mom asked "Are you going to school today?". When she asked, the part of me that was tired took over and I stared at the ceiling for about a minute to balance what I would lose and gain by not going to school.
I explained the situation with my mom and she nodded it was ok. Next thing I know, my eyes open and I look at the clock on my Nokia 3210 and its 1:02pm.
I spent the afternoon in my air conditioned room. I watched "Earthly Possessions" in whole for the first time on Cinemax. I actually like the concept of the movie. It features Susan Sarandon and Stephen Dorff. Stephen Dorff is this one actor that I chose to portray the role of "JC" on a fan-fiction series towards Charmed but this time about Wizards... "Destined". I know this doesn't make sense to anyone else, but to my friend Erika... she knows about this. There are four ordinary friends that become "modern day wizards in the near future (2010)" and they are Bryan the 2nd Charm played by Mark Whalberg, George the 3rd Charm (hence, the URL of this blog), and some invented guy (invented.. oOoOo) named JC who is the 4th Charm played by Stephen Dorff. Enough about fan-fiction. That ended when High School ended over a year ago.
Of course we all know Susan Sarandon. Stephen Dorff, on the other hand, could be seen in movies like Blade and Deuce's Wild. The movie was drama-romantic-comical.
Anyways, I'm watching Voyager on the Hallmark Channel. Then I'm going to review for tomorrow's Philo103 exam.
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
A WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY
Background Music: "I'm Glad" by Jennifer Lopez
This entry is broken into segments to organize the ideas.
***
The Lines of the Defense
I'm finished now with my defense in English102 which also serves as our final exam grade. My partner and I arrived at the EMS Center 30 minutes before our class, but the place was still closed. After some persuasion, I managed to get the kind EMS guy to let me into the Viewing Room at least 15 minutes before everyone enters the room. I needed to install the images and pictures I have brought with me on four diskettes.
The first of the three defenses today was Badge and Arazelli with their topic about UFOs. They showed us a short film but it was sort of bitin (cut-short) because of time restraints. At the end of their reporting when they were using Powerpoint, a picture of my dorm mate Basil was among a collage of pictures. I was stunned and I started to laugh because I didn't expect Basil to "suddenly appear" in the middle of my English class by being projected onto the screen.
The next would be Upper and Mendy's topic on Stress. Upper has once again defined the meaning of plush cuteness it made me want to hug a pillow and smile.
When they finished, we only had less than 30 minutes to report. I switched off all the lights and told the kind EMS guy to start the Filipiniana music. Ate Angge was by the lights. I was very nervous because I had concentrated my efforts on the visuals of this report that I couldn't concentrate on creating Index Cards to organize the flow of information I would say to the class at the Podium.
The whole thing played out the exact way I had imagined. I was wearing black baggy slacks and I was borrowing Eric's really nice white polo. I didn't realize until I walked outside after the defense that I looked like either a High School student or a Professor.
I wanted to make our presentation as perfect as possible. I'm not a perfectionist, but when it came to this defense I wanted to give it my all. I gave it my all in terms of my hobby... taking pictures and editing them... formulating layouts and presenting it to the class. But since I am so caught up in trying to get a really high grade in this defense, I disappointed myself. I messed up slightly during the Question and Answer portion where the class would ask us questions.
I had the answers in my head, but they were all shattered into pieces that I had to put together. All in front of the microphone, at the podium, in a dimly lit room. It wasn't even totally filled up. Only 40% of the seats were taken. And my lovable classmates were the audience together with a down-to-earth professor... I shouldn't have messed up but I did.
I couldn't answer directly to Apple and Tintin's questions. I had to get Ate Angge to answer them. I felt bad because I saw Ms. J. Medina writing down things in her grading and recitation folder. I'm not sure if she was grading Apple and Tintin for asking questions (asking questions is required if you want a recitation grade) or if she was grading Ate Angge and myself. I'm hoping she graded us during the presentation and all before the Question and Answer portion. I am so nervous about that "Mastery of the topic" criteria.
Overall though, we did good. No, we did great! Syempre, I don't want to boast... but when I say "we did great" I don't mean it directly towards our grades... but towards our goal. Ate Angge and I accomplished everything we had envisioned from the start about this Term Paper. In the process, parang naging closer kami sa isa't isa because of our travels. I would enjoy these kinds of assignments in the future. Working with somebody and getting to know them better.
***
Sa Philosophy naman, di ako nag-aral sa quiz. Tatlo o apat yata ang topic included sa quiz na yun. Theism, Atheism, Agnotheism, and Religious Experience. Amazingly though, naka-15 over 20 ako for a quiz that I didn't study for. For me, that's satisfying for such a crowded day with so many events.
Pagkatapos ng quiz, nagusap si Ms. E. de Leon sa klase tungkol sa Final Exam sa Friday. Parang madali lang siya na hindi. Confusing right? Um, saglit lang. Bakit ako nag-ta-tagalog?
***
Afterclass Hours at the Office
A Staff Meeting of the Heraldo Filipino would be held at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We ate lunch at Square Canteen and then Eric and I had to break off from the rest of the group to roam around with nothing to do. Our classmates went home.
I submitted an Interview slip to the CLEAPS for Dean Esmilla. I have an article about the "1st time someone passed the board exam, bar, whatever... of a specific yata yata...". I don't quite get the article so I'll be txting my step-Editor Ate Tina Soriano (News Ed) about the article once more.
I was trying to submit my other interview slip for Dean Garibay of COE, but it was lunch break and the doors were locked and the blinds were down at their window.
My third article was all the way in CBA and is about the "Thomas Awardees of the Marketing Department". Yes, all three articles are as dull as a lazy gray dog. I was only being driven by the fact that there are shadows over me in the HF and I want to step out into the light and redeem myself.
We ended up inside the currently-being-renovated Heraldo Filipino office. Slowly the numbers of our fellow staffers started to rise. Maycee, Eric, and I had a nice "classmates and co-writers" talk on the visitors couch which was temporarily located outside in the hallway.
Maycee went to interview the EVP of DLSU-D while Eric and I went into the office. Ate July (Associate Ed) received a telephone call in the office from Ate Tina (News Ed) and she suddenly handed me the phone.
Ate Tina asked if I could add anymore article contributions to news. I lit up in sparks from both worry and excitement.
My three articles have now swolen to about seven! This is the first time I've been assigned more than four articles for a single Broadsheet. And these articles slide away from the "lazy gray dog" into more interesting topics. "SARS, Foreigners, in DLSU-D"... "ANTI-PASSIVITY RALLY/CAMPAIGN of the USC"... "OSA INTEGRATION SEMINAR"... and of course the article I've been dreaming of writing... "ON-CAMPUS DORMITORIES FOR 2003-2004". These aren't the titles of course, but the ideas are there.
Awesome. I have got to be the strangest writer in the HF for "wanting" to write for a section of the HF that isn't even the one I've signed up to. There's a problem though, my home is in FEATURE and I'm under Kuya Marthy's (Feature Ed entering 2nd Term) "jurisdiction". He recently established this past summer the "PROTOCOL FOR FEATURE WRITERS" which bans Feature Writers from working on other sections until they finish their assigned work in Feature itself.
Meaning, when Kuya Marthy assigns things this Friday... It'll be squeezed with the seven articles I now have for News. Luckily, some articles in News I really have an interest in so that shouldn't be a problem. But with articles involving critical interviews, that'll be the killer.
***
A Campus Journalist, a new season
Since there was so much time and new articles I had the option to do, I decided to do the rounds and go to places that I can possibly have an ambush interview. I tried the USC since parang close na sila Shiela at Joanna sa tauhan doon... for my "Anti-Passivity Campaign" article. I wanted to interview the incoming President, Kuya Rommel. But he wasn't there at that time.
I went to the CBA to check if I can set an appointment with Dean Chavez and then after submitting my interview slip, I was told to just call the CBA Office at a later time.
Afterwards, I went to the on-campus dormitories to interview Matron Hernandez. The woman I admittingly said I greatly disliked! Recall any blog entries last 2nd sem about my curfew violation and threat of possible termination on Valentines Day?
Scratch that.
When I interviewed her, I had all the insights of the dormitories this incoming school year. Three buildings are now for the on-campus boys dormitory... which means two additional ones to last year's pioneering one building. Wow. Three buildings of guys... and no longer a one-length hallway of neighbors. Sad.
Matron Hernandez stated without me even asking that if I had certain immunities now from the on-campus dorm curfew! OMG! She said to tell the guard if I get curfew and that if I was coming from the Heraldo Filipino office, not to consider me for a violation. Wow. The Matron herself opened the gates for me.
And to say, I had been thinking of doing some expose or something about the dorms and how cruel it was sometimes! Harhar. Right now... just like in that future cliche... IT'S ALL GOOD.
***
A Heraldo Filipino Staff Meeting
A big surprise hit me (or probably us three in the HF from JOU1-1) when Ate Joyce (Managing Ed) mentioned the "Five OFFICIAL Participants in the CEGP in Vigan". Three of the selected participants were bundled up... us! Ate Joyce informed us during the Staff Meeting in Square Canteen. I was starting to get the impression that malabo na ang plano tungkol sa pagpunta sa Vigan at sa Baguio (Year-End).
On the Year-End, the Dean of Student Affairs has rejected the HF's plan of the Year-End Seminar to take place in Baguio City. However, feel namin kaya naman ang budget ng HF... we are having no problems financially as we are being funded by the University. I'm not expecting anything from the Year-End at this point. I'm just bracing myself from possible disappointments.
Anyways, HF entered my bloodstream once again and circulations greatly improved today. This past week, I've felt my presence in HF deteriorating in front of the others despite my efforts. But now, just like what Kuya Marthy said "I've been given a second chance for something...".
So, I've been given a second chance. I now have articles for NEWS and I have articles for FEATURE coming this Friday. Together with some words of wisdom from Maycee, a little bit of spirit, and a little bit of me into this whole equation, maybe I can pull through and redeem my status as a writer for the HF and for the students of DLSU-D.
Naks.
***
Nearing the end of a Voyage
Treated myself to a SOLO A at Kenny Roger's for an improved day compared to the past few days. Went home afterwards. Got home just when the sun had set. Kuya Henry found a Silver CR-V, Model 2000... yes!! Wait... hold on... no... it's a Manual. Which, by the way, is fine with me... but my parents want an Automatic. Damn! At least I now have my first potential CR-V.
Paul introduced me to the Hallmark Channel, which is now on CH 46. Meaning, I can now watch STAR TREK VOYAGER after five years away from it. And then, when I went to the Hallmark Channel... it appeared on the screen. "Next: Star Trek Voyager".
I had watched the first three seasons... and I have no idea what season they're on right now. Until I went online and found out the episode they showed this evening is third to the last of the entire series.
Awwwwww. That bites. You see the beginning, and now you're seeing the end. What happened to all the exciting stories in the middle? All those cliffhangers at the edge of the seasons to those battles and CGI graphics... All of it. Damn.
***
Thank you for one great day. I feel all better now.
Background Music: "I'm Glad" by Jennifer Lopez
This entry is broken into segments to organize the ideas.
***
The Lines of the Defense
I'm finished now with my defense in English102 which also serves as our final exam grade. My partner and I arrived at the EMS Center 30 minutes before our class, but the place was still closed. After some persuasion, I managed to get the kind EMS guy to let me into the Viewing Room at least 15 minutes before everyone enters the room. I needed to install the images and pictures I have brought with me on four diskettes.
The first of the three defenses today was Badge and Arazelli with their topic about UFOs. They showed us a short film but it was sort of bitin (cut-short) because of time restraints. At the end of their reporting when they were using Powerpoint, a picture of my dorm mate Basil was among a collage of pictures. I was stunned and I started to laugh because I didn't expect Basil to "suddenly appear" in the middle of my English class by being projected onto the screen.
The next would be Upper and Mendy's topic on Stress. Upper has once again defined the meaning of plush cuteness it made me want to hug a pillow and smile.
When they finished, we only had less than 30 minutes to report. I switched off all the lights and told the kind EMS guy to start the Filipiniana music. Ate Angge was by the lights. I was very nervous because I had concentrated my efforts on the visuals of this report that I couldn't concentrate on creating Index Cards to organize the flow of information I would say to the class at the Podium.
The whole thing played out the exact way I had imagined. I was wearing black baggy slacks and I was borrowing Eric's really nice white polo. I didn't realize until I walked outside after the defense that I looked like either a High School student or a Professor.
I wanted to make our presentation as perfect as possible. I'm not a perfectionist, but when it came to this defense I wanted to give it my all. I gave it my all in terms of my hobby... taking pictures and editing them... formulating layouts and presenting it to the class. But since I am so caught up in trying to get a really high grade in this defense, I disappointed myself. I messed up slightly during the Question and Answer portion where the class would ask us questions.
I had the answers in my head, but they were all shattered into pieces that I had to put together. All in front of the microphone, at the podium, in a dimly lit room. It wasn't even totally filled up. Only 40% of the seats were taken. And my lovable classmates were the audience together with a down-to-earth professor... I shouldn't have messed up but I did.
I couldn't answer directly to Apple and Tintin's questions. I had to get Ate Angge to answer them. I felt bad because I saw Ms. J. Medina writing down things in her grading and recitation folder. I'm not sure if she was grading Apple and Tintin for asking questions (asking questions is required if you want a recitation grade) or if she was grading Ate Angge and myself. I'm hoping she graded us during the presentation and all before the Question and Answer portion. I am so nervous about that "Mastery of the topic" criteria.
Overall though, we did good. No, we did great! Syempre, I don't want to boast... but when I say "we did great" I don't mean it directly towards our grades... but towards our goal. Ate Angge and I accomplished everything we had envisioned from the start about this Term Paper. In the process, parang naging closer kami sa isa't isa because of our travels. I would enjoy these kinds of assignments in the future. Working with somebody and getting to know them better.
***
Sa Philosophy naman, di ako nag-aral sa quiz. Tatlo o apat yata ang topic included sa quiz na yun. Theism, Atheism, Agnotheism, and Religious Experience. Amazingly though, naka-15 over 20 ako for a quiz that I didn't study for. For me, that's satisfying for such a crowded day with so many events.
Pagkatapos ng quiz, nagusap si Ms. E. de Leon sa klase tungkol sa Final Exam sa Friday. Parang madali lang siya na hindi. Confusing right? Um, saglit lang. Bakit ako nag-ta-tagalog?
***
Afterclass Hours at the Office
A Staff Meeting of the Heraldo Filipino would be held at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We ate lunch at Square Canteen and then Eric and I had to break off from the rest of the group to roam around with nothing to do. Our classmates went home.
I submitted an Interview slip to the CLEAPS for Dean Esmilla. I have an article about the "1st time someone passed the board exam, bar, whatever... of a specific yata yata...". I don't quite get the article so I'll be txting my step-Editor Ate Tina Soriano (News Ed) about the article once more.
I was trying to submit my other interview slip for Dean Garibay of COE, but it was lunch break and the doors were locked and the blinds were down at their window.
My third article was all the way in CBA and is about the "Thomas Awardees of the Marketing Department". Yes, all three articles are as dull as a lazy gray dog. I was only being driven by the fact that there are shadows over me in the HF and I want to step out into the light and redeem myself.
We ended up inside the currently-being-renovated Heraldo Filipino office. Slowly the numbers of our fellow staffers started to rise. Maycee, Eric, and I had a nice "classmates and co-writers" talk on the visitors couch which was temporarily located outside in the hallway.
Maycee went to interview the EVP of DLSU-D while Eric and I went into the office. Ate July (Associate Ed) received a telephone call in the office from Ate Tina (News Ed) and she suddenly handed me the phone.
Ate Tina asked if I could add anymore article contributions to news. I lit up in sparks from both worry and excitement.
My three articles have now swolen to about seven! This is the first time I've been assigned more than four articles for a single Broadsheet. And these articles slide away from the "lazy gray dog" into more interesting topics. "SARS, Foreigners, in DLSU-D"... "ANTI-PASSIVITY RALLY/CAMPAIGN of the USC"... "OSA INTEGRATION SEMINAR"... and of course the article I've been dreaming of writing... "ON-CAMPUS DORMITORIES FOR 2003-2004". These aren't the titles of course, but the ideas are there.
Awesome. I have got to be the strangest writer in the HF for "wanting" to write for a section of the HF that isn't even the one I've signed up to. There's a problem though, my home is in FEATURE and I'm under Kuya Marthy's (Feature Ed entering 2nd Term) "jurisdiction". He recently established this past summer the "PROTOCOL FOR FEATURE WRITERS" which bans Feature Writers from working on other sections until they finish their assigned work in Feature itself.
Meaning, when Kuya Marthy assigns things this Friday... It'll be squeezed with the seven articles I now have for News. Luckily, some articles in News I really have an interest in so that shouldn't be a problem. But with articles involving critical interviews, that'll be the killer.
***
A Campus Journalist, a new season
Since there was so much time and new articles I had the option to do, I decided to do the rounds and go to places that I can possibly have an ambush interview. I tried the USC since parang close na sila Shiela at Joanna sa tauhan doon... for my "Anti-Passivity Campaign" article. I wanted to interview the incoming President, Kuya Rommel. But he wasn't there at that time.
I went to the CBA to check if I can set an appointment with Dean Chavez and then after submitting my interview slip, I was told to just call the CBA Office at a later time.
Afterwards, I went to the on-campus dormitories to interview Matron Hernandez. The woman I admittingly said I greatly disliked! Recall any blog entries last 2nd sem about my curfew violation and threat of possible termination on Valentines Day?
Scratch that.
When I interviewed her, I had all the insights of the dormitories this incoming school year. Three buildings are now for the on-campus boys dormitory... which means two additional ones to last year's pioneering one building. Wow. Three buildings of guys... and no longer a one-length hallway of neighbors. Sad.
Matron Hernandez stated without me even asking that if I had certain immunities now from the on-campus dorm curfew! OMG! She said to tell the guard if I get curfew and that if I was coming from the Heraldo Filipino office, not to consider me for a violation. Wow. The Matron herself opened the gates for me.
And to say, I had been thinking of doing some expose or something about the dorms and how cruel it was sometimes! Harhar. Right now... just like in that future cliche... IT'S ALL GOOD.
***
A Heraldo Filipino Staff Meeting
A big surprise hit me (or probably us three in the HF from JOU1-1) when Ate Joyce (Managing Ed) mentioned the "Five OFFICIAL Participants in the CEGP in Vigan". Three of the selected participants were bundled up... us! Ate Joyce informed us during the Staff Meeting in Square Canteen. I was starting to get the impression that malabo na ang plano tungkol sa pagpunta sa Vigan at sa Baguio (Year-End).
On the Year-End, the Dean of Student Affairs has rejected the HF's plan of the Year-End Seminar to take place in Baguio City. However, feel namin kaya naman ang budget ng HF... we are having no problems financially as we are being funded by the University. I'm not expecting anything from the Year-End at this point. I'm just bracing myself from possible disappointments.
Anyways, HF entered my bloodstream once again and circulations greatly improved today. This past week, I've felt my presence in HF deteriorating in front of the others despite my efforts. But now, just like what Kuya Marthy said "I've been given a second chance for something...".
So, I've been given a second chance. I now have articles for NEWS and I have articles for FEATURE coming this Friday. Together with some words of wisdom from Maycee, a little bit of spirit, and a little bit of me into this whole equation, maybe I can pull through and redeem my status as a writer for the HF and for the students of DLSU-D.
Naks.
***
Nearing the end of a Voyage
Treated myself to a SOLO A at Kenny Roger's for an improved day compared to the past few days. Went home afterwards. Got home just when the sun had set. Kuya Henry found a Silver CR-V, Model 2000... yes!! Wait... hold on... no... it's a Manual. Which, by the way, is fine with me... but my parents want an Automatic. Damn! At least I now have my first potential CR-V.
Paul introduced me to the Hallmark Channel, which is now on CH 46. Meaning, I can now watch STAR TREK VOYAGER after five years away from it. And then, when I went to the Hallmark Channel... it appeared on the screen. "Next: Star Trek Voyager".
I had watched the first three seasons... and I have no idea what season they're on right now. Until I went online and found out the episode they showed this evening is third to the last of the entire series.
Awwwwww. That bites. You see the beginning, and now you're seeing the end. What happened to all the exciting stories in the middle? All those cliffhangers at the edge of the seasons to those battles and CGI graphics... All of it. Damn.
***
Thank you for one great day. I feel all better now.
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Preparing for the Defense
I've cooled off a bit now compared to yesterday. I wasn't affected by Maycee's news that the Year-End Seminar which was uncertain for Baguio was cancelled or probably postponed once again. Right now, I don't feel too much a part of the Heraldo Filipino. I mean, I've done what I've needed to get done. They gave me assignments, and I turned them into articles just like normal. I've even asked for more by contributing to the News section. I don't know where it all came from, perhaps it was because I didn't visit the office as frequently as the others. But I can tell you this, I did carry my weight and I did do my work.
Our defense is tomorrow in English102. We will be the third and last group to present at the EMS Center. It's been shown that the last group always gets cut off. Kulang sa oras. I already spoke to one of the other groups tomorrow, Upper. She said they'll be using Powerpoint but they won't take that long with it. The other duo would be Badge and Arazelli with their topic about Astrology.
I'm going to be borrowing Eric's white polo for tomorrow's defense while my partner Ate Angge will be wearing something similar in color. Ate Angge and I agreed on "Black and White" as our clothes for tomorrow. I'm "jumping from ship to ship" today up until tomorrow morning when I see the set-up of the equipment. This is what I have in mind. I will be saving all the image files and visuals of our topic into a series of diskettes, complete with back-up diskettes. I will install these into the Viewing Room's computer tomorrow and set it up with Powerpoint.
Then, I will see how the sound system works to install the Filipiniana music I want to incorporate into the background. I'm hoping we can get the controls to the lights as well to improve the mood of our defense.
Basically I'm hoping that the computer has a projector as I've seen and imagined the past few days. The images and pictures of our topic will be projected onto a screen while the music is playing lightly in the background and the speaker (either Ate Angge or myself) will be at the microphone.
Hopefully all goes well.
As for tonight, it's the Last Season premiere of Dawson's Creek and another new episode of Smallville. I need to get to sleep early for I leave very early tomorrow.
I've cooled off a bit now compared to yesterday. I wasn't affected by Maycee's news that the Year-End Seminar which was uncertain for Baguio was cancelled or probably postponed once again. Right now, I don't feel too much a part of the Heraldo Filipino. I mean, I've done what I've needed to get done. They gave me assignments, and I turned them into articles just like normal. I've even asked for more by contributing to the News section. I don't know where it all came from, perhaps it was because I didn't visit the office as frequently as the others. But I can tell you this, I did carry my weight and I did do my work.
Our defense is tomorrow in English102. We will be the third and last group to present at the EMS Center. It's been shown that the last group always gets cut off. Kulang sa oras. I already spoke to one of the other groups tomorrow, Upper. She said they'll be using Powerpoint but they won't take that long with it. The other duo would be Badge and Arazelli with their topic about Astrology.
I'm going to be borrowing Eric's white polo for tomorrow's defense while my partner Ate Angge will be wearing something similar in color. Ate Angge and I agreed on "Black and White" as our clothes for tomorrow. I'm "jumping from ship to ship" today up until tomorrow morning when I see the set-up of the equipment. This is what I have in mind. I will be saving all the image files and visuals of our topic into a series of diskettes, complete with back-up diskettes. I will install these into the Viewing Room's computer tomorrow and set it up with Powerpoint.
Then, I will see how the sound system works to install the Filipiniana music I want to incorporate into the background. I'm hoping we can get the controls to the lights as well to improve the mood of our defense.
Basically I'm hoping that the computer has a projector as I've seen and imagined the past few days. The images and pictures of our topic will be projected onto a screen while the music is playing lightly in the background and the speaker (either Ate Angge or myself) will be at the microphone.
Hopefully all goes well.
As for tonight, it's the Last Season premiere of Dawson's Creek and another new episode of Smallville. I need to get to sleep early for I leave very early tomorrow.
Monday, May 12, 2003
A Change of Mood
Woah, what an entry earlier. Short and shocking. Well, it's ok if it was short. But was it shocking? Did anyone suddenly skip a beat when they heard me say "shitheads"? I didn't have that much of a good day today. I realized some things again that I put behind me. Certain disappointments came back and haunted me at the same time one visit to the office sent me on fire. Of "36 total staffers going to Year-End Seminar", I was listed below the instructions after #36 along with three others who probably have sentiments of leaving the place.
How the hell did I get listed with those who might be leaving the press room? How the fucking hell did that happen? I kept my cool as best as I could with my two co-staffers that are my classmates. I wanted to ask questions and break the silence, but I also didn't want to be rude in asking. I guess, right now, there's no harm in asking. I am a journalism student. What kind of a journalist am I going to be if I can't ask questions?
Bullshit.
Yes, I'm a bit angry. This is the first time I've declared that and in a manner that isn't related to a friendship or a grade or a family problem. I'm angry and frustrated at myself. This year (2003) hasn't been great so far. I've fallen out of the loop and now I don't have frontrow seats of a course I love so much. I'm more of the "just in the crowd" now.
I still pour my heart and soul into God's hands. I believe he has set another path for me. That's the only way I can seem to explain the things around me these past few weeks. I put my trust in God and I want to mention it right now, broadcasted into this blog for anyone and everyone to see.
And I lay my hands down and pray.
Woah, what an entry earlier. Short and shocking. Well, it's ok if it was short. But was it shocking? Did anyone suddenly skip a beat when they heard me say "shitheads"? I didn't have that much of a good day today. I realized some things again that I put behind me. Certain disappointments came back and haunted me at the same time one visit to the office sent me on fire. Of "36 total staffers going to Year-End Seminar", I was listed below the instructions after #36 along with three others who probably have sentiments of leaving the place.
How the hell did I get listed with those who might be leaving the press room? How the fucking hell did that happen? I kept my cool as best as I could with my two co-staffers that are my classmates. I wanted to ask questions and break the silence, but I also didn't want to be rude in asking. I guess, right now, there's no harm in asking. I am a journalism student. What kind of a journalist am I going to be if I can't ask questions?
Bullshit.
Yes, I'm a bit angry. This is the first time I've declared that and in a manner that isn't related to a friendship or a grade or a family problem. I'm angry and frustrated at myself. This year (2003) hasn't been great so far. I've fallen out of the loop and now I don't have frontrow seats of a course I love so much. I'm more of the "just in the crowd" now.
I still pour my heart and soul into God's hands. I believe he has set another path for me. That's the only way I can seem to explain the things around me these past few weeks. I put my trust in God and I want to mention it right now, broadcasted into this blog for anyone and everyone to see.
And I lay my hands down and pray.
Damn Yahoo! Frontpage. I was going to watch the recording. Now, I already know who won. Shitheads.
Sunday, May 11, 2003
FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE
Carpe Noctem (Seize the Night) - Start of Week #41/6
NOTE: A weekly post made before starting a week of studies at La Salle.
"... anyone interested in going to the last city on earth with me?"
THE sequel to "The Matrix" premieres this Thursday and I watched the first movie late this morning to finally get the story together in my head. I have a problem, because I haven't even seen "X2 - X-Men United". All these movies are all catching up and crashing. And these two movies are giant blockbusters I might want to add. What ever happened to the movie addict in me?
Anyways, all the visiting of churches and reading of photocopies about Theism and Atheism are over. This week it's a mix of movies, finals, and Heraldo Filipino assignments.
X-Men 2 I still have to catch and of course next Saturday I'll be catching Matrix Reloaded with some of my friends like Nikki, Joy, Rom, and perhaps Lance and some others. I'm pretty hyped up about that movie.
The Final Exam in Philo103 is said to be on Friday while the Final Exam in English102 will be taken from the Defense of our Research Paper. Ate Angge and I are scheduled as the third group for a Multimedia presentation (overhead projector, pictures via computer projection, microphone, and music) on Wednesday at the EMS Center (Cabesa Viewing Room).
And then there's completion of three assignments for the Heraldo Filipino. I haven't started on them yet, but my plan is to submit the interview slips to the College of Law Enforcement and Public Safety (CLEAPS) Dean's Office (I have two articles there) and a third interview slip somewhere in the College of Business Administration (CBA) Dean's Office or Marketing Department Chair's Office for my "Thomas Awardees" article.
Hopefully it all slips in together as planned.
Let's backtrack now this past weekend. On Saturday (yesterday), my classmates Eric and Kate came over to my house for the first time. We're three of the five webmasters of the "Project: BJ6". We brainstormed. Kate enjoyed the crabs my mom had steamed for one of our two dishes for lunch. Eric brought his music burnt onto CDs. He has a great collection, every CD has both the latest hits and the hits from just a few months ago. I wish I had a duplicate of his collection.
Pacific Internet still doesn't work, so after lunch I asked Kate and Eric to join me and go to the Bayan to buy some Prepaid Internet Cards. I bought one Infocom Warpspeed which I've been using up to now. And I bought myself an extra Pacific Internet E-Volve Internet Card to test it.
We didn't get to work on the actual layout of the future news collective website for our block, but we did look at some websites on the web that we could get some influences from. Sites like Abstract Fonts, Spider-Man The Movie Website, The Alias Website, etc.
What we did get to do is brainstorm on possible titles for the website. Eric wanted it simple yet very attractive and catchy. Kate was okay with Eric's ideas. I also agreed with Eric's ideas but I was fresh out of catchy titles.
They went home before 5pm while my mom and my brother and I went to Bayan for Saturday Evening Mass. We got some take-out at Jollybee Tanza and I watched Survivor where Heidi was voted out (because of her big mouth).
Today (Sunday) I spent it at home. It was Mother's Day, so Happy Mother's Day mom. I love you. I also got some txt from Lance and Alex who greeted my mom Happy Mother's Day. That ignited me to greet their mom's in return and to greet the other mom's of my other friends. I sent out a basic greeting to many which was "Tell your Mom Happy Mother's Day!" and then after sending a couple of basic greetings, I wanted to make up my own quote-txt greeting. This is what I came up with: "F it wsnt 4 her, we wudnt hav evr met. F it wsnt 4 her sm thngs in lyf wil b so difficult u myt nt pull thru str0ng. NAME, tell her tnx & Happy m0thers day!ü"
My brother and I bought a card for mom and gave it to her this morning. I watched "The Matrix" earlier just to refresh my memory of the storyline in preparation for its Sequel to be released this Thursday (but I'll be watching it on Saturday). This evening, I am currently watching the 2-hour premiere of Alias on Studio 23.
Alias rocks! Jennifer Garner's great and I love the way they did this show. I'm putting this up on my watchlist and it'll now be positioned next to other great shows I'm interested in.
That's it. Here's to the last week of Summer classes.
Title in Review: It's one of the descriptions of "Matrix Reloaded". A fight for the human future. To break free from the control of machines in the future and the bring everyone into the real world away from the Matrix. In other terms, I used it as the title because this week I want to restore confidence in the Heraldo Filipino of my work in the News section. As well as "fight" hard to get a good grade in Philo and English103.
Saturday, May 10, 2003
FROM ATHEISM TO BACLARAN
The Damage Report - Broadjourn Summer - Ending Week #40/5
NOTE: This is a weekly blog entry that summarizes a series of events of a finished week in and around La Salle.
"...bayad po, Lawton. ...bayad ho, Baclaran Coastal..."
SO I've spent the past week delving in books about Philippine Churches and flipping through pages of a photocopy about Theism and Atheism. Coincidently our Term Paper topic in English103 combined with the Philosophy of Man topics which were Theism and Atheism.
Last Monday it was our turn to report and it was about Atheism. I reported on two topics namely Argument of Human Alienation and the Argument of Theological Irrelevance. You can read the rest here.
On Tuesday, it was our first of two trips to Metro Manila to investigate churches. My partner and I ventured off into the Walled City of Intramuros and explored the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. You can read the rest in a detailed entry here. If you want to read my partner's side of this little adventure in Intramuros, click here.
Ready for Wednesday? Click here.
Why am I linking? Because I've realized that after a day's work and when I go home, I seem to type up an entry with that whole day involved. So, why repeat it here when you can read several paragraphs in entries made this past week. Heheh. I'm on a tight schedule these days.
Anyways, the internet disappeared once again starting Thursday. Pacific Internet, with it's already deteriorating service towards us, suddenly disconnected us from their servers or something. "Check your password" kept appearing when we tried to use the internet. We know we have to pay the bill for this month, but we haven't even received it yet. Plus, paying the bill is difficult with Pacific Internet because you have to go to their Office in Imus instead of just paying it at the mall or something. They don't usually disconnect the line that abruptly. They give it some time.
I've had enough of Pacific Internet. They've been so reliable for over three years, and then they suddenly give horrible service. Changing dial-ups without telling their customers beforehand. Changing service numbers without telling their customers beforehand. Abrupt disconnections. Difficult internet connections. Randomly rejected internet connections.
Not only Pacific Internet, but even the currently celebrating "SMART REI9NS" whatever thing. For the past few weeks, the signal of SMART has worsened day by day here in our area. They recently started charging P1.00 for every 1515 you dial to check your balance. You have to txt them just to get your balance for free and that's so... so, reverse of development.
Speaking of reverse of development, Studio 23! My favorite local channel. They recently combined their telecast with ABS-CBN 2 which is supposed to be a good thing. But it makes Studio 23 visually dependant on ABS-CBN and it makes Studio 23 lose its individual identity. Instead of "evolving", it's starting to "de-volve". And the worse on Studio 23 these days, the commercials are terrible! The past three new episodes of Charmed have been advertised poorly. They don't tell the story anymore, they don't fix up the scenes they put into a trailer... they just snap on one scene and then a black screen with text in the background. That's it. It makes me want to apply for Studio 23 Creative now, before the situation gets worse!
The world in reverse these days.
Ok, back to where I left off. Thursday is where the Internet disappeared. You can read about my stomach upset that downed me the whole Thursday by clicking this.
Friday, I returned to school. Jezire, Shiela, TinTin were absent. In English102, we have the go-signal of our Final Draft. It was finished smoothly I might add. We didn't have to dramatically edit anything big. We had a quiz about Bibliographies. The do or die kind of quiz since one quiz can account for 10% of your total grade or something like that. Basta, summer tests and quizes are extremely heavy even if they could play out easy, moderate, or difficult.
In Philosophy of Man they finished up the discussion on a topic named "Religious Experience". The group that reported this reported on Thursday, so I missed that one. But Ms. de Leon explained it throughly. I requested I take my Graded Recitation after class and she allowed me to. My grade was okay... the minimum goal I had set at the start was my grade. I'm fine with that. After being so nervous from the start.
After that, we joined Upper and rode a van to go to her house in Parañaque. Of course, who drove? Upper! Kirsten Kay, Keith, Leah, Ayesha, Eric, Arazelli, Kate, Ate Angge, and myself were on-board Upper's Starex. It still fascinates me that Upper is driving. I'm not underestimating you Upper, it's just... seeing you drive gives me hope and light on the roads that maybe one day "kaya ko rin..."
She had her 18th Birthday on the 5th (which was Monday) so she treated everyone to lunch at her house on Friday. After many roads and many turns, and many passing CR-Vs later... we arrived at her house in Lopez Village near or inside BF, Parañaque. At her house, she had a bird in its cage, two aquariums of fish, and one very very cute breeded dog named Gabby.
The food was hearty and delicious it left everyone at the table full. With Keith's humor and the company of everyone, it was a great time.
But of course, we had places to go. Kate would join Ate Angge and I on our second half of the on-location researching. Destinations were the Bamboo Organ Church in Las Piñas, St. Andrew's Cathedral in Parañaque, and the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran.
Upper and the rest of the company travelled in the purple Starex down the Alabang-Zapote Road and into Las Piñas to drop us at the Bamboo Organ Church. There, we bid farewell to the rest while Ate Angge, Kate, and myself entered the quiet setting.
There was this mysterious old guy that scared Kate a little. We took pictures and then boarded a jeep and got off in front of Kate's High School, which was the all-girls school St. Paul's. Then, right across from it on a winding road was St. Andrew's (all-boys school) where classmate-slash-future-lawyer-by-attitude Christian graduated from. Of course, it was connected to St. Andrew's Church... er, actually, Kate said it was officialized as St. Andrew's Cathedral.
When we got inside, there was a Wedding! It was a surprise. Of all the churches, of all the places, and all the timeslots... we arrived to see a wedding. "Paano 'to." was my expression. I mean, we wanted to have a picture of the altar and the retablo or unique features of this church. I managed to get at least three pictures.
Kate brought us to a Quickly's and it was my first time to enjoy one of these. Green Apple was the flavor we all got. While waiting to get on-board a jeep for Baclaran... there was this one guy who came near us and was about to board a jeep. I was the closest to him and I was just sipping on my own Quickly when I felt him looking at me with some attitude. I ignored this since "Wala ako naman kasalanan sa kanya... nandito lang ako nagiintay ng jeep with my friends..."
I ignored it all until Kate brought it up in the jeep, which surprised me cause she noticed too. "Oh George, masama tingin 'yun lalake kanina naka bandana...". Oh well, that's life I guess in Metro Manila. In my head with attitude was "Ingit siya lang sa akin... I looked fresh and clean, he looked dirty and miserable.."
We arrived in familiar territory when we exited into Coastal Highway before it turns into Roxas Boulevard. We got off at newly revised Baclaran (all the stores and shops have been organized and the place looks more spacious). We took pictures and then emptied our remaining shots and films on the side of the popular church. Afterwards, I followed Kate and Ate Angge to go around shopping at the many stalls.
We only looked around and then it got really late. Ate Angge bought the white blouse she was looking for and then she got on-board an AREA C jeep. Kate and I walked back to the church area and then took the Pedestrian Overpass to get to the other side and catch our transports. It was my first time commuting home from Baclaran. I waited for her to board her transport which would be any Alabang or SM Southmall-bound vehicle. After nearly 15 minutes of waiting and the sunset on Manila Bay behind us, a jeep finally came and she got on.
Luckily, while waiting and moving around in the numbers of people on the side of the aspalt waiting for their own transports... there was a mega-taxi (specifically a Crosswind SUV) bound for Naic Tanza. Cool! I can go home in an air-conditioned vehicle with comfort.
So that's what I did. I got home early that way. On Saturday, I would be expecting Kate and Eric over for our first meeting in construction of PROJECT BJ6. Take care everyone.
From May 8, 2003
Delayed due to a mysteriously cut-off account at Pacific Internet
***
On being Absent from classes
I didn't go to class today. I had a stomach ache after a plate of rice and shrimps last night. And to say, today we're supposed to be going to Baclaran and Las Piñas to finish up the on-location researching.
The stomach upset downed me the whole morning and basically the first half of the afternoon. I haven't had a stomach upset for a while now, so I guess I should be thankful for that.
Ate Angge and I txt'd each other and coincidently we also chatted on Y! Msgr. earlier. Our Research Paper is complete and approved, it just needs to be encoded now. We've decided to split the job entirely in half. She will type up the research paper while I will prepare for the defense next week. Our defense grade will be the equivalent of our Final Grade in English102.
We've already swapped reporting positions with research partners Ayesha and Jhen. Therefore, we will be reporting as the third and last group on Wednesday. We had to swap since our original randomly assigned position was the 2nd group for Tuesday. Since we are preparing our defense using a computer, we need access to the DLSU-D EMS Center. We joined the bandwagon on Wednesday since 2 of the three Wednesday groups were going to present theirs using powerpoint as well.
However, when we originally asked the only group that wasn't presenting something with powerpoint... he didn't want to give up their Wednesday position. Meaning, he would block us from reporting with a computer since he won't let his grip loose on that day. Once again, he wasn't even sure if his research partner Joanna and him would be using a computer!
We made arrangements with Ayesha and Jhen also from Wednesday and swapped with them.
Anyways, back to the research paper. Ate Angge will be doing the encoding while I will prepare for the defense. I'm thinking of adding a Filipiniana tune to the background of the EMS Center and making use of the overhead projector as well as the computer.
All of it?
Yes, all of it! Kung pwede lang kay Miss at yun mga tao sa EMS. My plan is the present the defense in the most interesting way possible. The use of the media. Last Tuesday and tomorrow (Baclaran and Las Piñas) we would have accumulated a number of pictures that I will scan and use to project onto a big-screen at the EMS. Then, the overhead projector will also be used next to it to showcase the information we've gathered.
Hopefully it all turns out a success and we get an excellent grade in English102. I'm just worried something will be missed, so we'll be observing how three groups on Monday and three groups on Tuesday to see what we can do to spice up ours.
Delayed due to a mysteriously cut-off account at Pacific Internet
***
On being Absent from classes
I didn't go to class today. I had a stomach ache after a plate of rice and shrimps last night. And to say, today we're supposed to be going to Baclaran and Las Piñas to finish up the on-location researching.
The stomach upset downed me the whole morning and basically the first half of the afternoon. I haven't had a stomach upset for a while now, so I guess I should be thankful for that.
Ate Angge and I txt'd each other and coincidently we also chatted on Y! Msgr. earlier. Our Research Paper is complete and approved, it just needs to be encoded now. We've decided to split the job entirely in half. She will type up the research paper while I will prepare for the defense next week. Our defense grade will be the equivalent of our Final Grade in English102.
We've already swapped reporting positions with research partners Ayesha and Jhen. Therefore, we will be reporting as the third and last group on Wednesday. We had to swap since our original randomly assigned position was the 2nd group for Tuesday. Since we are preparing our defense using a computer, we need access to the DLSU-D EMS Center. We joined the bandwagon on Wednesday since 2 of the three Wednesday groups were going to present theirs using powerpoint as well.
However, when we originally asked the only group that wasn't presenting something with powerpoint... he didn't want to give up their Wednesday position. Meaning, he would block us from reporting with a computer since he won't let his grip loose on that day. Once again, he wasn't even sure if his research partner Joanna and him would be using a computer!
We made arrangements with Ayesha and Jhen also from Wednesday and swapped with them.
Anyways, back to the research paper. Ate Angge will be doing the encoding while I will prepare for the defense. I'm thinking of adding a Filipiniana tune to the background of the EMS Center and making use of the overhead projector as well as the computer.
All of it?
Yes, all of it! Kung pwede lang kay Miss at yun mga tao sa EMS. My plan is the present the defense in the most interesting way possible. The use of the media. Last Tuesday and tomorrow (Baclaran and Las Piñas) we would have accumulated a number of pictures that I will scan and use to project onto a big-screen at the EMS. Then, the overhead projector will also be used next to it to showcase the information we've gathered.
Hopefully it all turns out a success and we get an excellent grade in English102. I'm just worried something will be missed, so we'll be observing how three groups on Monday and three groups on Tuesday to see what we can do to spice up ours.
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
First Time to Wear Sandals and 3/4 Length Pants to DLSU-D
Just got home from another day in La Salle. A graded recitation in Philosophy about Theism and Atheism. But my name wasn't called today. So, basically, I was sitting in suspense for two hours waiting for my name to be called until she announced "the rest is for tomorrow." Actually, it was random and she asked a student in the class to pick one of the given letters on the board. I was the last one she called on to pick a letter... I had about five letters to choose from. If I had picked "P", since my surname contains a P, I'm certain I would have been included in the last batch. But since I was waiting so long, everything I had reviewed in the first 30 minutes of the class dissolved into conversations I shared with Kate and Apple. Heheh. ^_^ So I said, "Letter I."
Class dismissed.
Maycee handed me my first set of assignments as my 2nd Year for the News Section of the Heraldo Filipino. I must say, they're so boring!! She gets the thrill of Enrolment (although that's quite a difficult article) as her topic which we all know will be the Frontpage Banner of the first issue in a few weeks of Volume 18. I'm not asking for the Banner, I know that's for the News Writers (i'm just a news contributer)... but getting assigned two articles about Board Passers and another article about the "Thomas Awardees" of the CBA Marketing Department... hmmm.. well, I shouldn't complain. I have articles to work on now. Something I've sort of wanted to be doing this summer.
We ate at Square Canteen and then afterwards went home. Eric, Jhen, Krystel, Ate Angge, Rona, and myself on-board the jeepnee. A new crowd, I know. During the trip, we occupied one whole side of the jeepnee (the side away from the scorching sunshine) and Ate Angge got off at BPI E.Aguinaldo Highway Branch.
Just before Eric and I could sit closer to Rona and Jhen, there was this old guy who was slouching and very sleepy. His whole upper body would sway with the speed of the jeepnee and it was "quite frightening" when he would slowly start to slouch your way. Rona and I were split apart because of the old sleepy guy. We were about half a meter apart and the guy was sitting between us.
I get dizzy in jeepnees, so I always try to look forward. I kept hearing my classmates laughing... especially Jhen. I turned around and then noticed why. It's because Rona and the girls were squeezing themselves into the corner of the jeep near the back door. Then, the old man would wake up and be upright... then within ten seconds be slouching towards me! It was insane. He didn't look drunk, but he was so sleepy. As in, so sleepy even if he wakes up for ten seconds... he'd fall back asleep. At Robinsons everyone got off except Krystel and myself. This was the first time I commuted at the same time with my classmate from Cavite City.
We split at SM Bacoor and there wearn't any jeepnees or babybuses under "Naic Bacao Centennial" so I had to walk down the road to the very edge of the SM Bacoor property just to get into a jeep. It was a Tanza-Bacao. I was satisfied. But when I got inside, the impression of the jeep was bulok or old and well, perhaps rotten. It wasn't polluted, but the seats were so old and on the right side where I was sitting, it half of it had already collapsed. The driver was some really old guy with only two teeth (i saw in the reflection). Oh my goodness.
I got off in front of Orbitz in Tanza just across Jollybee and ordered for the first time there a Melon 12oz. I didn't quite enjoy it. In fact, it's still right here on my desk... 1/3 left... with all of it melted and the black pearls covered in dark syrup at the bottom. I still love Pearl Coolers and tomorrow I'm going to replenish my taste of the Greenwich speciality.
That seems to be all. Blog hopping now and then I'm going to beautify my classmate Rona's blog.
Oh, and in other highlights... naka-feature na Brodcst Msktir sa Philippine Blog Awards. Wala lang. Heheh! Check it out. And if you're someone coming from PhilBlogAwards, welcome to my blog! The pages like FAQ, Profile, etc. aren't finished yet. Come by in June. Thanks for visiting! To regular visitors, I love you guys!! *Group Hug*. I'm on the verge of buying webspace and thinking of moving over to Movabletype. That would include a dramatic change in layout, and I'm going to make it look really really nice. Heheh. "Pwede..."
Just got home from another day in La Salle. A graded recitation in Philosophy about Theism and Atheism. But my name wasn't called today. So, basically, I was sitting in suspense for two hours waiting for my name to be called until she announced "the rest is for tomorrow." Actually, it was random and she asked a student in the class to pick one of the given letters on the board. I was the last one she called on to pick a letter... I had about five letters to choose from. If I had picked "P", since my surname contains a P, I'm certain I would have been included in the last batch. But since I was waiting so long, everything I had reviewed in the first 30 minutes of the class dissolved into conversations I shared with Kate and Apple. Heheh. ^_^ So I said, "Letter I."
Class dismissed.
Maycee handed me my first set of assignments as my 2nd Year for the News Section of the Heraldo Filipino. I must say, they're so boring!! She gets the thrill of Enrolment (although that's quite a difficult article) as her topic which we all know will be the Frontpage Banner of the first issue in a few weeks of Volume 18. I'm not asking for the Banner, I know that's for the News Writers (i'm just a news contributer)... but getting assigned two articles about Board Passers and another article about the "Thomas Awardees" of the CBA Marketing Department... hmmm.. well, I shouldn't complain. I have articles to work on now. Something I've sort of wanted to be doing this summer.
We ate at Square Canteen and then afterwards went home. Eric, Jhen, Krystel, Ate Angge, Rona, and myself on-board the jeepnee. A new crowd, I know. During the trip, we occupied one whole side of the jeepnee (the side away from the scorching sunshine) and Ate Angge got off at BPI E.Aguinaldo Highway Branch.
Just before Eric and I could sit closer to Rona and Jhen, there was this old guy who was slouching and very sleepy. His whole upper body would sway with the speed of the jeepnee and it was "quite frightening" when he would slowly start to slouch your way. Rona and I were split apart because of the old sleepy guy. We were about half a meter apart and the guy was sitting between us.
I get dizzy in jeepnees, so I always try to look forward. I kept hearing my classmates laughing... especially Jhen. I turned around and then noticed why. It's because Rona and the girls were squeezing themselves into the corner of the jeep near the back door. Then, the old man would wake up and be upright... then within ten seconds be slouching towards me! It was insane. He didn't look drunk, but he was so sleepy. As in, so sleepy even if he wakes up for ten seconds... he'd fall back asleep. At Robinsons everyone got off except Krystel and myself. This was the first time I commuted at the same time with my classmate from Cavite City.
We split at SM Bacoor and there wearn't any jeepnees or babybuses under "Naic Bacao Centennial" so I had to walk down the road to the very edge of the SM Bacoor property just to get into a jeep. It was a Tanza-Bacao. I was satisfied. But when I got inside, the impression of the jeep was bulok or old and well, perhaps rotten. It wasn't polluted, but the seats were so old and on the right side where I was sitting, it half of it had already collapsed. The driver was some really old guy with only two teeth (i saw in the reflection). Oh my goodness.
I got off in front of Orbitz in Tanza just across Jollybee and ordered for the first time there a Melon 12oz. I didn't quite enjoy it. In fact, it's still right here on my desk... 1/3 left... with all of it melted and the black pearls covered in dark syrup at the bottom. I still love Pearl Coolers and tomorrow I'm going to replenish my taste of the Greenwich speciality.
That seems to be all. Blog hopping now and then I'm going to beautify my classmate Rona's blog.
Oh, and in other highlights... naka-feature na Brodcst Msktir sa Philippine Blog Awards. Wala lang. Heheh! Check it out. And if you're someone coming from PhilBlogAwards, welcome to my blog! The pages like FAQ, Profile, etc. aren't finished yet. Come by in June. Thanks for visiting! To regular visitors, I love you guys!! *Group Hug*. I'm on the verge of buying webspace and thinking of moving over to Movabletype. That would include a dramatic change in layout, and I'm going to make it look really really nice. Heheh. "Pwede..."
Tuesday, May 06, 2003
Project Wood and Stone: Into the Walled City
Today after our English102 class, my partner in researching and I took off to Intramuros to conduct an on-location report by taking pictures and seeing what we are researching right in front of us.
We ate first at KFC at Waltermart around 1030am and then Ate Angge tried all the BPI Tellers so she can withdraw but there was always a problem. We travelled to Dasmariñas Bayan and in front of the church there was a waiting [San Agustin] air conditioned bus. We got inside and she sat by the window on the 2nd to the last seat. Momentarily, the bus departed for Lawton.
We didn't know exactly what to take to get from Point A to Point B. We knew where these places were located, but there are were so many jeeps with so many different places to go to that it was chaos! We took one jeep and then had to get off since it was the wrong one. We had to cross the streets under criss-crossing roads all underneath a fly-over. Fast cars, buses, jeeps, you name it.
We finally arrived at the Post Office and there were these majestic fountains there. We couldn't help it so we took pictures there despite the people around on the park benches probably looking at us as tourists. But we're not! We're just researchers! I took out my Pocketpad and Pen and wrote some things down.
We rode a jeep "Quiapo and Pier" and zoomed around the exterior walls and gates of Intramuros until arriving just in front of the Manila Cathedral. We got off and proceeded into the Plaza. We took more pictures and went inside the cathedral. It was dark! I mean, it didn't invite the sunshine into it. A few people were praying at the back and Ate Angge and I walked around observing things and asking permission to take pictures. Ate Angge interviewed one of the maintenance crew (no adminstration was available at the time) who was double shifts cause he was also at the entrance of the Cathedral tending to incoming visitors.
We took lots of pictures but since this Cathedral was still "very lively" with people, it wasn't really a place we'd find a tour guide. We bought some pasalubongs in one of the little chapels on the corner of the main cathedral. Then, after spending almost an hour walking around and observing things, we decided to go outside and head down the streets of Intramuros towards the San Agustin Church.
I saw my crush several times. In fact, there were so many clones of my crush out in the sunshine. Then of course there are the look-alikes of my crush. The red and green ones. Of course, my crush is still the silver one. We saw two Satin Silver Metallic CR-V's in the parking space right in front of the San Agustin Church. You should have seen how I looked like. We also spotted an ABS-CBN Truck and later onwards an ABS-CBN Van.
We proceeded into the San Agustin Church and of course, this isn't as "public" as it used to be. It's now mostly a museum. We pay'd 25 pesos for the College Student fee (compared to 50 pesos for the regular entrance fee) and proceeded inside. According to the guard when I asked, we are allowed to take pictures in the Courtyard and in the Hallways but not in the many rooms that contain the artifacts. Darn. Oh well. Ahem.
We walked around and the museum was empty. It was just us, two or three guards roaming around, one or two housekeeping, and two bored women behind the Cashier and Refreshment Sites. The place was very quiet. You can hear the fountain in the center of the courtyard in the very center of this part of the church.
We took pictures and we went into the San Agustin Church proper. It felt weird, because we've been looking at that church through the pictures. The recent logo I'm currently using for Brodcst Msktir "Wood and Stone" is a view of the church from the upper balcony.
It was surprising though when we saw the flooring included tiled lapidas. It scared Ate Angge a little and the effect wouldn't be shortlived since the church was quiet and empty. Ate Angge's camera which makes a rotating-film sound once you take a picture could be heard throughout the main church. My camera (er, Jerson's... i'm borrowing my classmates camera) has this bright flash which can catch attention.
We roamed around and when we got to this room which was quite far from the guards and the housekeeping, I took a stolen shot of the retablo with so many saints in it. It felt weird... breaking the law!
By that time, we had grown very weary and tired. On the 2nd Floor I started to reminisce my 2nd Year Field Trip to this place. Anyways, we went downstairs and there were four new visitors roaming around. I had a glass of Iced Tea and then we left.
On going home, our plan was to leave around 6pm but it was still 3pm! We had already accomplished visiting the churches we needed to visit on the first of two set-dates of on-location researching. We walked probably two kilometers to escape Intramuros and cross the wide-road on the edge of Luneta Park. We rode on a jeepnee and got off at Lawton. We entered the sakayan complex (my first time there) and we both ordered some refreshments. There wearn't any [San Agustin] buses to reverse the route we had taken to get to Lawton. It was both our first time commuting on these parts of the web of roads and streets. Anyways, the buses were headed for Nasugbu, and other places in Batangas and Laguna. One lane was dedicated to Dasmariñas, Cavite, but vans were lined up there.
Ate Angge and I got separated since I was to get off at SM Bacoor and she was going home to Dasmariñas. She rode on a "Dasma Bayan" while I rode on a "Imus" van. After thirty minutes of waiting in separate vans, my van went first. When it left the Sakayan area I noticed a [San Agustin] bus headed for "Dasmariñas Bayan"... meaning, we should have explored the entire sakayan area instead of getting on the first thing we saw which were the vans!
Yikes! Oh well. But now I know. Hey, many new things learned today from our experience with my partner in research Ate Angge as we ventured into Intramuros and back again. That ends the first set-date for researching.
On the second set-date for researching, we head to Baclaran, Las Piñas, and maybe Parañaque churches. But this time, we have the company of some of our classmates. So it's going to be exciting once again this Thursday.
Today after our English102 class, my partner in researching and I took off to Intramuros to conduct an on-location report by taking pictures and seeing what we are researching right in front of us.
We ate first at KFC at Waltermart around 1030am and then Ate Angge tried all the BPI Tellers so she can withdraw but there was always a problem. We travelled to Dasmariñas Bayan and in front of the church there was a waiting [San Agustin] air conditioned bus. We got inside and she sat by the window on the 2nd to the last seat. Momentarily, the bus departed for Lawton.
We didn't know exactly what to take to get from Point A to Point B. We knew where these places were located, but there are were so many jeeps with so many different places to go to that it was chaos! We took one jeep and then had to get off since it was the wrong one. We had to cross the streets under criss-crossing roads all underneath a fly-over. Fast cars, buses, jeeps, you name it.
We finally arrived at the Post Office and there were these majestic fountains there. We couldn't help it so we took pictures there despite the people around on the park benches probably looking at us as tourists. But we're not! We're just researchers! I took out my Pocketpad and Pen and wrote some things down.
We rode a jeep "Quiapo and Pier" and zoomed around the exterior walls and gates of Intramuros until arriving just in front of the Manila Cathedral. We got off and proceeded into the Plaza. We took more pictures and went inside the cathedral. It was dark! I mean, it didn't invite the sunshine into it. A few people were praying at the back and Ate Angge and I walked around observing things and asking permission to take pictures. Ate Angge interviewed one of the maintenance crew (no adminstration was available at the time) who was double shifts cause he was also at the entrance of the Cathedral tending to incoming visitors.
We took lots of pictures but since this Cathedral was still "very lively" with people, it wasn't really a place we'd find a tour guide. We bought some pasalubongs in one of the little chapels on the corner of the main cathedral. Then, after spending almost an hour walking around and observing things, we decided to go outside and head down the streets of Intramuros towards the San Agustin Church.
I saw my crush several times. In fact, there were so many clones of my crush out in the sunshine. Then of course there are the look-alikes of my crush. The red and green ones. Of course, my crush is still the silver one. We saw two Satin Silver Metallic CR-V's in the parking space right in front of the San Agustin Church. You should have seen how I looked like. We also spotted an ABS-CBN Truck and later onwards an ABS-CBN Van.
We proceeded into the San Agustin Church and of course, this isn't as "public" as it used to be. It's now mostly a museum. We pay'd 25 pesos for the College Student fee (compared to 50 pesos for the regular entrance fee) and proceeded inside. According to the guard when I asked, we are allowed to take pictures in the Courtyard and in the Hallways but not in the many rooms that contain the artifacts. Darn. Oh well. Ahem.
We walked around and the museum was empty. It was just us, two or three guards roaming around, one or two housekeeping, and two bored women behind the Cashier and Refreshment Sites. The place was very quiet. You can hear the fountain in the center of the courtyard in the very center of this part of the church.
We took pictures and we went into the San Agustin Church proper. It felt weird, because we've been looking at that church through the pictures. The recent logo I'm currently using for Brodcst Msktir "Wood and Stone" is a view of the church from the upper balcony.
It was surprising though when we saw the flooring included tiled lapidas. It scared Ate Angge a little and the effect wouldn't be shortlived since the church was quiet and empty. Ate Angge's camera which makes a rotating-film sound once you take a picture could be heard throughout the main church. My camera (er, Jerson's... i'm borrowing my classmates camera) has this bright flash which can catch attention.
We roamed around and when we got to this room which was quite far from the guards and the housekeeping, I took a stolen shot of the retablo with so many saints in it. It felt weird... breaking the law!
By that time, we had grown very weary and tired. On the 2nd Floor I started to reminisce my 2nd Year Field Trip to this place. Anyways, we went downstairs and there were four new visitors roaming around. I had a glass of Iced Tea and then we left.
On going home, our plan was to leave around 6pm but it was still 3pm! We had already accomplished visiting the churches we needed to visit on the first of two set-dates of on-location researching. We walked probably two kilometers to escape Intramuros and cross the wide-road on the edge of Luneta Park. We rode on a jeepnee and got off at Lawton. We entered the sakayan complex (my first time there) and we both ordered some refreshments. There wearn't any [San Agustin] buses to reverse the route we had taken to get to Lawton. It was both our first time commuting on these parts of the web of roads and streets. Anyways, the buses were headed for Nasugbu, and other places in Batangas and Laguna. One lane was dedicated to Dasmariñas, Cavite, but vans were lined up there.
Ate Angge and I got separated since I was to get off at SM Bacoor and she was going home to Dasmariñas. She rode on a "Dasma Bayan" while I rode on a "Imus" van. After thirty minutes of waiting in separate vans, my van went first. When it left the Sakayan area I noticed a [San Agustin] bus headed for "Dasmariñas Bayan"... meaning, we should have explored the entire sakayan area instead of getting on the first thing we saw which were the vans!
Yikes! Oh well. But now I know. Hey, many new things learned today from our experience with my partner in research Ate Angge as we ventured into Intramuros and back again. That ends the first set-date for researching.
On the second set-date for researching, we head to Baclaran, Las Piñas, and maybe Parañaque churches. But this time, we have the company of some of our classmates. So it's going to be exciting once again this Thursday.