What Lilac Learned Today

Love "Now"

2012-01-23T12:43:00.001+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Love (v.) thinking not of the past, not of the future, but NOW."

My friend and I had this talk when we "dagyang" (a verb which means partying during the Dinagyang Festival) last Friday night. We haven't seen each other for a few months and during those time, some new things had happened to her.

Like meeting a new guy...

I won't go far into the story. I'll get to the point. (I'll try.)
This friend was the one who had admitted that with her previous relationship, she had been stupid. She had just loved her ex so much that she had done things even I could not imagine she can.

But then now, she found this happy-go-lucky guy.
She has fears because this guy was almost like her ex.
She made it clear to the guy and the guy was mature enough to handle her fears.

The point is, she has fears about their future together with conflicts like social status, possible long distance relationship, and the possibility that he will be like her ex.
But then she told me that she's just having fun for now.
Not fun as in fling but fun as in enjoying the lovin'.
As in enjoying being in love and not worrying about the other things.

I agree big time with her.
Because I think, it's worrying about the past and the future that ruins relationships.
Some people can't let go of their past and affects the present relationship.
Some people are too worried about the future that they became cowards in terms of taking risks.

Although the best thing ever is to have a balance of the three tenses (past, present and future), living in the present is the best option among the three.
We can't live in the past anymore because it was all gone. We can't live in the future because it is yet to come. So instead, live in the present because it the only time that we can hold. And the thing is, it also holds the future.

In terms of love, don't let past hurts hinder you from loving again. And don't overthink your future with your partner. Love in the present time and just enjoy the moment with your loved one. Just go with the flow of your feelings. You may not have a good future but you know that you will never regret because you know you loved and lived it.

The Line Between Infatuation and Love

2012-01-16T22:11:00.001+08:00

"Infatuation is instant desire. Love is a friendship that has caught fire. It takes root and grows, one day at a time.

Infatuation is marked by a feeling of insecurity. You are excited and eager but not genuinely happy. There are nagging doubts, unanswered questions, little bits and pieces about your beloved that you would just as soon not examine too closely. It might spoil the dream. Love is the quiet understanding and mature acceptance of imperfection. It is real. It gives you strength ad grows beyond you- to bolster your beloved. You are warmed by his presence, even when he is away. Miles do not separate you. You want him near. But near or far, you know he is yours and you knoe you can wait until he returns.

Infatuation says, "We must get married right away. I can't risk losing him." Love says, "Be patient. He is yours. Plan your future with confidence." Infatuation has an element of sexual excitement. Whenever you are in one another's company you hope it will end in intimacy. Love is the maturation of friendship. You must be friends before you can be lovers.

Infatuation lacks confidence. When he's away you wonder if he's cheating. Sometimes you check up on him. Love means trust. You are calm, secure and unthreatened. He feels your trust, and it makes him even more trustworthy. Infatuation might lead you to things you'll regret later, but love never will.

Love lifts you up. It makes you look up. It makes you a better person than you were before."

-Let's Talk 2, Issue 45: Sex Appeal, p. 93

Whew! That was long.

So I wouldn't dare explain more.

It's just that when I discussed that with my student, it lightened up the line dividing infatuation and love.

And of course, the last line was something. It almost moved me to tears.

Chos.

So to those who think that they are in love, read the passage above and examine your feelings.

If it's infatuation, drop me a thank you for making you realize it before you do something "in the name of love" when in fact, it isn't love.

If it's love, still, drop me a thank you for making you realize it is so. And congratulations for having that. Not all people have found love.

But anyway, whether it's infatuation or love, be thankful.

What's common with both is that they both are wonderful to feel.

Be Childlike

2012-01-15T22:09:00.002+08:00

Sinulog in Cebu and Ati-atihan in Aklan...
Sadsad in Pototan, my hometown...
And soon, Dinagyang in Iloilo City.

The Philippines is celebrating the feast of Sto. Nino.
It is a celebration of the childhood of Jesus.

Lesson of the Day:

"Adults should be childlike."

Years before, I've learned that celebrating this milestone in Jesus' life is a reminder that we, adults, should be childlike, not childish.

Adults who were childish are those who whine about not having what other people have, throwing senseless temper tantrums, and always saying "Mine, mine, mine!"

Adults who were childlike are always curious. They always seek knowledge because they were not contented with what they know.
They are playful and active and enthusiastic. In life, we should be like this. We should always look at the brighter side of things. We should always approach our future with smiles in our faces and with all the energy that we can muster.
And, I think, the most important thing of being childlike is that children dream like it is easy to reach and is very possible to happen, without thinking of any hindrances.

This afternoon during the Sadsad, I didn't feel like participating in the merrymaking.
I don't want to miss being a child.
Because really, I miss being a child.
There are children who knew right during their childhood what they want to be in the future.
Even though I didn't have the same privilege of knowing what I want earlier in life, it's just a relief that I can freely say "I want to be like this" or "I want to be like that" without even thinking of how would I reach that or if I'll be happy with that in the long run.
When I was a child, I remembered wishing to be a businesswoman, a forensic doctor, an inventor, a writer, and many other things.
And I never ever thought of being what I am now.
I arrived to that decision because I had never been like a kid. I never dreamed freely. At that time, I must think of things such as practicality and financial matters.

But until now, I have one dream that stuck in me.
I want to be an artist. I am even convinced that I AM an ARTIST.

Dreaming is easy but finding a way to reach that dream proved to be too rare to find.
It's during these times of depression that I wish I was a kid again.
Free to dream and free to think that I am what I say I am...
A child who has all the enthusiasm of achieving a dream, no impossibilities in mind.
A child who is just always willing to know, always wanting to learn, without thinking of tuition fees that comes with earning the desired knowledge.

Don't you just wish you were a child again?

Viva Senyor Santo Nino!!!
I pray that I may never forget to be childlike.

Happy Single

2011-11-27T19:15:00.002+08:00

Before, I used to convince myself that I am happy being single.

But then, there are these thoughts which contradicted my thinking.
I wish for someone to like me.
I always relate to depressing love songs like the lyrics always speak of me.
I watch romance movies, wishing to feel the same feeling the characters feel.
I keep on wondering every night when I will find love, who, how, where...
I have this annoying habit of thinking "what if he's the one?" with some guys I knew (Yes, it's really annoying).

Until a few nights ago...

I opened my latest playlist named "Make my day."
It was named that way when I made that playlist during those times of liking a certain guy.
The list of songs were made to make me fall in love.
It really made me feel love, and it made me smile...
But the smile I had just a few nights ago was different.
I added new songs, some a bit depressing, some meant for being in love.
I did not relate to the lyrics of the songs. I just sang with it and I was happy enough.
So, with the belief that the atmosphere of my playlist changed, I changed my playlist name:
"Happy Single"
I guess I was perfectly in that stage.
Not just to convince myself, but that it was totally true, right into my soul.

Maybe, I just got too tired of waiting for some love story of my own.
I realized it can also be that tiring that you would almost give up.

I give up.
And now I'm happy that...
...I do not wish for someone to like me.
...when I watch romance films, I don't wish hopelessly to have the same love story, have the same guy rooting for me.
...I have decreased thinking about the who and when of my love story.
...I don't think of that annoying thought anymore with every guy I talk to.

Ok.
Honestly, I give up... for now.
I know deep in every person's heart, we want to find the person who will make us fall and at the same time ready to catch us.
But then, if the time's not now, why should I coerce fate?

Being single has a lot of perks.
I might as well enjoy its perks while I have that status in Facebook.
=)

Pacquiao... wins?

2011-11-13T14:17:00.004+08:00

I'll start with my father's bet.

My father bet that Pacquiao can't knock out Marquez for the first 8 rounds.
He was then counting down every round.
When the 8th round came and Marquez was still standing, my father was overwhelmed for winning the bet.
FYI, it's not just some oral bet where all you win is pride. It is monetary.
Oh well.

Anyway, after that crucial round 8, my father switched cheering for Pacquiao.
I was, in the meanwhile, watching out for my Facebook wall.
People were posting about Pacquiao losing the fight.
My father was arguing with me because we were watching it live in some cable channel.
And he was at the same time, listening to the radio for updates on who wins a certain round.

In the end, Pacquiao emerged as the winner.
But then, it's like one of those victories where you just smile because the victory favored you but you never felt you deserved it.

I'm not some sports authority or expert to say something like that.
But in the view of a layperson, Marquez seemed fit in the fight than Pacquiao.

Uhm, ok.

Biggest Lies

2011-11-11T18:44:00.001+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"We need lies."

Yesterday, my lesson with one of my students is entitled "Biggest Lies." In this chapter of the book, we discussed about the most common lies made by people. There are a lot of lines there that made me realize that indeed, we usually unconsciously tell those lies all over again.

A few examples were:
-You look good in your outfit.
-I had a lot of fun, wish you were here.

And then comes the discussion part...
And then came this question:

What do you think would happen if people stop telling lies?

The first thing that came into my mind was this word: CHAOS.
And then I thought it was wrong to think that way.
I mean, hello, people would stop telling LIES.
A lot of people hate LIARS even though almost all of the time, they are also liars themselves.
And people these days would scream "HONESTY" and are always looking for the "TRUTH."

What the heck is wrong with you, Lilac?

Probably, on the bigger scale, what I thought of was crazy.
Of course, truthfulness can instantly bring the accused to prison, bring the criminals into jail or prison, prevent corruption...
...and prevent all the evils in this world.
On a smaller scale, there will be no pretense in relationships, there will be no hurt, there will be no waiting for nothing...
...there will be no miscommunications. Everyone will be honest about what they feel.

Probably, I was thinking that, over time, lying could have become a basic human instinct or something like that.
Lying, pretense, dishonesty... somehow, these had become our own defenses.
We pretend to be happy even though we are not.
We lie about something because we have to.
We are forced to be dishonest to someone because we don't want to destroy their life.

Probably, I was thinking about martyrdom...
That you we would rather lie within ourselves, lie to others, because it is okay to hurt ourselves than hurt the ones we love.

We pretend to be happy even though we are not because if we keep on answering people that I am sad everytime they ask us what we feel, most probably, that person will also feel sad.
Sad because he does not know what to do to make you feel better.
Sad because he can't do anything to make you feel better.
Sadness can just be contagious.
But so does happiness.
Between two contagious things, which would you rather choose?
Happiness, right?
Even though happiness equals pretending...

We lie about something because we have to.
I lied to my parents about my whereabouts because I know that if they know I was in my friend's house for his thanksgiving, they would not let me go there.
That would mean missing out on the fun and special and RARE times with your closest friends...
I've known of an instance wherein the boss told the employee to lie about something because if she would not, she would not be able to gain the respect of the clients. Sounds ironic because you have to lie for them to trust you, but that happens.
In a job interview, we have to weave beautiful lies because sometimes, the truth will not get us the job.
And then this life lesson that I learned in college: We have to lie about our opinion to get good grades. Pa-sipsip ba. We have to tell the instructor what he/she needs to hear, not what's in our head.
Those are just a few instances.
We have to tell lies.
These lies would lead us into survival.

We are forced to be dishonest to someone because we don't want to destroy their life.
I am not a good liar. A lot of times, I would rather endure the consequence of telling the truth rather than lie.
But then, I've learned that when it already involves other people, I can really be a good liar.
It was in high school. I was one of the folk dance contestants. One of the rules of the contest is that we shouldn't have a trainer because the school doesn't want us to spend money.
But then, we really want to win so we hired a trainer. Anyway, we were comfortable with that trainer because he had been training us since elementary years (in secret).
But in competitions, you can't help your competitors playing dirty. They told our teachers that we had a trainer, probably we were seen practicing with our trainer.
So we were confronted in front of the class. All of us involved stood up and were interrogated.
Almost all of them could not say anything because they were nervous.
I was nervous too, me who is especially feeling guilty easily. I really had the urge to tell the truth.
But then it just so happened that I thought that if I will tell the truth, it is not only me who will bear the punishment but all of us.
So I weaved a lie.
And it was a believable lie.
One of my fellow dancers even praised me for that.
"Grabe Lyk ba, ginaturok ta lang ka gina. Daw waay ka imo ginakulbaan."
"I can't believe you, Lyk, I was just staring at you back there. It's as if you were never nervous."
It's just a simple lie story but I think you get my point.
Sometimes, we are forced to tell lies because telling the truth can...
...destroy other people's lives...
...other people's trust in us...
...our relationship with other people.

Lastly, I want to talk about honesty about our feelings.
It's just that I watched a story about love and I can't help relating that to this topic.

What could have happened with people if they can never lie about their feelings?

I will know who likes me. I will know who loves me.
I will be able to say what I feel.
Lying, and most of the times holding back the truth, leads us to regrets.
But then, love is just between two people.
It not a web of relationships.
I don't think I can explain it very well but just imagine if people would always tell what they feel about other people.
I think making choices would be a lot more difficult.

I am happy for the two of you.
What is it that you want to tell me? No, it's not important.
Lie to yourself: You don't love him, ok? You love your boyfriend.
I do love you.
I don't love you.
You are the only man/woman in my life.
These lies above...
Sometimes, we do need them.

I don't know what you might be thinking.
That's my own opinion.
Bow.

Awkward Boys

2011-10-26T19:02:00.002+08:00

If there's one weird truth about me, it's that I like awkward guys.

I'm not the kind of person who really sets standards, that when I find a man who had all checks on my checklist, then I'll say he's the one.

I operated on my gut feeling.

I just know I like the guy.

There's this one particular guy, one particular "awkward" guy...

I had a crush on him when I was in high school.

I had, like, three or four diaries where I write about that guy passing by me that day, about me dreaming about him, about my friends telling me some gossip about him, about me PLAINLY seeing him...

He looks like an addict.

I think in one way or another, he is.

He walks awkwardly.

Blah blah blah.

Now? He's a father of children with different mothers.

When he had that baby from the "first woman," I used to think that he's still the guy that I like.

When he had that baby from the "second woman" and saw what he looks now, I was thinking:

How did I ever like the guy?!

The other awkward guys?

1) THAT awkward guy above

2) Some guy who was now an out-of-school youth

3) ARMO... I know he's not ka-level of those other guys, ok? My point is, usually girls shout for Yael... but me? I shout "I LOVE YOU, ARMO!" And somehow, he's a CUTE, AWKWARD guy, right? RIGHT?!

4) And a lot more of those awkward guys on movies, anime, TV series, etc. Usually, I don't go for the HOT guy partner of the lead female character. Usually, I go for the OTHER guy.

Like Alek in the Nine Lives of Chloe King
Like Jack instead of Daniel in Revenge
Like whoever-guy-will-come-but-not-Adam in The Secret Circle

You get my point...

If there's one thing I had learned from liking awkward guys (and I mean it because when I like a guy, I can be a little obsessive), it is that I usually outgrow the feelings.

Like I can be THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS crazy!

And then the next, uhm, oh well...

But sometimes, I just love the thrill of it...

Being crazy for someone...

*wink

Being Certain

2011-10-25T20:52:00.002+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Sometimes, before being certain about something, you make mistakes along the way."

I just watched the Runaway Bride.

I'm not reviewing the movie.

I just want to point out something.

The movie was intriguing because you want to know the reason why Maggie (J. Roberts) was dubbed as the "Runaway Bride."

And as what I can derive from what I saw, I think her reason is that she is not certain about herself.

Just today, I sort of thought about my future.

And just today, I had been certain about one thing.

I definitely _______ to be a nurse.

Though, there are ifs.

Life is just so hard now to stick with what I'm certain.

Sometimes, life calls for the opposite of what you are certain about.

But I'm happy that at least once in my life, I'm certain about something.

It might not be ideal for now, but someday, I'll have that.

I've stated my case.

Bow.

Humor by Profession

2011-10-25T20:40:00.002+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"A person's humor is connected to his/her profession."

When I was a student nurse, I found myself and my classmates and all the other medical people (doctors, staff nurses, etc) making medical jokes.

It's normal to...

...make fun of other people's urine or feces (like we can laugh about it while eating our lunch)...

...laugh about the patient's phlegm flying right at your face when he coughed...

...describe your feelings relating it to some of your body processes...

...be honest about your wanting to poo...

...make a joke out of some complicated pharmacological-related term...

You know what I mean.

And then, when I started becoming an English tutor...

I found these people joking about wrong English.

Well, you know... accents... Taglish... Konglish... wrong grammar...

Wala lang.

I just want to point it out.

Success: For Who and When

2011-10-21T12:38:00.003+08:00

Success, nowadays, can have a variety of definitions. And sometimes, it is up to the person on how he or she defines success.

Now that I had finished my degree and was thrown into this world of reality wherein you just don't think about meeting your projects' deadlines, waking up early in the morning to go to school and trying to budget your one week allowance but also think of, to put it simply, reaching your own dose of success.

The young man in the photo?
That's Ismael Jimenez, Jr.
Who would ever think he would appear as a "biz whiz @ 20" in a paper?

Ok.
Surely, the article was full of praises on how he achieved success. We are also amazed how he can do those stuffs.
But I'll tell this story from my point of view.

We call him Ishy.
When we were still freshmen students, he was not my classmate but I heard that he was a "rich kid."
Ok, moving on.
For sophomore and junior years, I don't know exactly if I can call it luck or fortunate or something else but we were in the same RLE group. That would mean we went to duty on the hospital for three days in a week plus the after-duty responsibilities we did altogether at Dan's place.

Let's start with the hospital duty.
We label him as one of the lost kids in our group. The other one will remain a mystery to those who doesn't know.
Lost kids in the sense that they just seem to stare at the patient and would not do something unless told.
We would slap our hands in our foreheads whenever he does that, being lost.
For two years of going on duty in the ward, I can name lots of "lost" moments but I will not.
But I just want to mention that we had been paired to take care of one patient once and I never wished for that to happen again.
Somehow, he just reached the peak of my nerves because it seemed like I was the only student nurse assigned to the patient.

Okay.
Let's talk about after-duty things.
So as I mentioned above, we usually go to Dan's place after duty to do our paperworks.
I'll go straight to the point.
We don't expect Ishy to really appear. If he does appear, we don't expect him to help that much. Especially if we are working on our case presentations, all we let him do was print our output as it was given that he has a laptop and a computer and a printer with ink (because he is rich). Sometimes, we would just borrow his laptop to use for typing and tell him at least have that as a contribution to the work.
But then he would tell us that only until 10pm because he has to do something by that time.
And by 10pm, he would go online and had this sort of online course, all I know is that it is business related. And etc.

Ok.
We sort of know that he is having his business things going on.
The stock thing, and all the other things.
We know he is knowledgeable about those things.
And that he is also knowledgeable about computers.
With nursing? We don't really know.
There was one rumor that he studied nursing because when he was applying in the university, he had written the courses on paper, scrambled it and picked one, which turned out to be nursing.
But then we asked, just out of curiosity.

Kami: Ish, insa nag-nursing ka haw? Tani nag-IT ka nalang hay mayo ka man sa computer stuffs? (Ish, why did you take nursing? You should have taken IT because you're good with computers.)
Ishy: Ngaa eskwelahan ko pa kung bal-an ko naman? (Why study something that I already know?)

Oh di ba? Bonggang response.

He did not take the board exam. We were 100%.
In my mind, I was wondering if we could be 100% if he had taken the exam too.
It's not that I'm underestimating him. It's just that he doesn't seem to care about his nursing degree.
Really. If you had only seen his scores and the Nursing Process that he submitted to our CIs.

But then that's it.
He was in the news and made a name for himself while the rest of us are contemplating on our future as nurses, more than "lost" about our future.

You really don't know Success.
Some worked hard for it, some are just lucky.
Some achieve it while they were young, some get it at the time they thought they will never have it.
And you can't be sure who in this current situation will be successful in the future.

Suddenly, I have this thought about success and happiness in my mind.
But save that for another post.

To end this post, I just want to share this.
My groupmates would sometimes tease me with Ishy. Just out of boredom or something.
They are telling me that with Ishy, I will have no problem. I can have everything I want.
Once, Paolo asked me this question:

Paolo: Lyk, ano gd bala ang naindi-an mo kay Ishy? Ara naman sa iya tanan. (Lyk, what is it that you don't like with Ishy? He has everything.)

My answer?
His attitude. Ok fine, he has the money, he has the business wits, he is big and can protect me and can scare away whoever will hurt me and blah blah blah...
But he is just "lost." Ok?
He doesn't seem to care. He doesn't even bother caring.
Money is not everything.

Points I want to make:
1) Ishy is usually the topic of our jokes but see where he is now and where we are?
2) Success has different aspects. You can be successful in one area of your life and lose at another.
3) Saludo ako kay Ishy... but the answer is still no. I really want to make that clear even though it was just a make-believe situation. And so, it applies to other "rich, successful guys" but "who are like Ishy."

Talking Behind Someone's Back

2011-10-20T23:07:00.002+08:00

"Thou shall not peak behind someone's back... especially if you are just carried away with the conversation."

Back when I was younger, I never joined somebody else's conversation. I was thinking that it's rude to interrupt and insert. At the same time, I think that it was not my business to talk about other people.

As I grew older, I discovered that sometimes, it is also rude not to join a conversation. You have to mingle with people and so you have to join in their topic. In my effort to belong, I began talking about people behind their back. Sometimes, even though I hardly know the person, I talk about their bad side just because it was their topic and I feel the need to share something "bad" that I noticed about that person.

As years went by, I've learned another important lesson:

"Do not let others' opinion influence yours. Stand up to what you believe in."

And so, still regarding talking behind someone's back, I realized that I shouldn't be carried away by people's opinion on someone else's personality. Just because I think I have observed to e true what the pointed out about that person doesn't mean that I will see that person in the way those rumor mongers did. It's not being close-minded. It's just knowing your limits on what to believe and knowing where to stand your ground.

I think I have reached the right realization throughout the years and I want to stick to that. But I also think that I still have one more thing to do:

I need to make people realize what I had realized.

Because whenever I hear rumors about other people, I really have this inkling feeling to tell them that before they say something about someone, they should look at themselves in the mirror first.

Probably, that would be my next step...

Korean Tutor: Extra note

2011-10-12T17:52:00.002+08:00

I was reviewing my just posted entry about my Korean tutor experience and I found my Christmas wishlist.

The hash brown burger part...
Well, it's already October and I have not tasted it yet.
I think that was a wrong estimation.

But I did have one thing crossed out already and I had just realized it!
A foreign friend.
And not only one but a lot of them.
I mean they are my students and we were not that close now but knowing them is enough to consider crossing out that entry on my wishlist.

Oh my God!
I have a feeling that I will have a very good Christmas this year.
*Palms together, looking up at the sky*
Please???

And oh...
Nang Luna told me something just a while ago.
Magdilang anghel ka sana Nang Luna.

Korean Tutor

2011-10-12T17:08:00.002+08:00

Well...

Hahaha!

I never thought I will work as a teacher like my mother.
I don't know how I came to that school
But I was glad that I found it.

I'm still on training but I already have students and had been teaching them already.
And I was having fun.
I love teaching.
Chos!
Can't help laughing whenever I think of that.

But you know, I was also thinking of myself as a student in the past.
And of course, I worry about being a damn boring teacher.

I'm trying my best.
I think I want to keep this job for the meantime.
I love what I'm doing there.

That's it for now.
Will take about it next week when I will become a regular.

Note:
Gosh! I have to learn English all over again.
Especially GRAMMAR!!!
Where were the things I've learned during college???
Ay... University gali... Because for Koreans, college means having a two-year course.

Lalalalalalalala!

Lesson of the Day:

I learned a lot from my Korean students even though I just had classes with them for about 4 or 6 days... Not just the culture but...
You know me, observations about people and life...

Those will come later...

I'm entering Pottermore today, so...

=)

Friendship vs Love

2011-09-27T20:15:00.000+08:00

Agree or Disagree?

"You can't be friends with someone you are in love with."

-Jasmine, The Nine Lives of Chloe King

Friendship vs Love

2011-09-27T20:11:00.002+08:00

Agree or Disagree?

"You can't be friends with someone you are in love with."

-Jasmine, The Nine Lives of Chloe King

Christmas Wishlist 2011

2011-09-27T20:08:00.000+08:00

Forgive me for having this.

I just can't help making a Christmas Wishlist.

LOL

So here I go.

1. A 4-inch pumps. I just found lots of them while malling today. I tried one. I just love heels. I know I don't have any event to wear it to but I just want at least one.

2. Dirty dancing lessons. Haha! Crazy but I wanna go wild.

3. DSLR. Sometimes, I just see something and say to myself, I badly want to take a picture of that.

4. Lose my skin asthma. Impossible. But it just gets so annoying sometimes. Well, I can manage the itching and scratching part but not the marks that it leaves on my skin. I can't wear backless dresses and blouses =(

5. Hash brown burger! Sa Jabee! I still had not tasted it. But I can feel that I'll cross this one out by the end of September.

6. Sewing machine. I'm planning to get dressmaking classes by October and I want a sewing machine for myself. I've already been giddy just thinking of what I could make.

7. Extra ear piercing. But I think I'm getting it sooner.

8. Watch fireworks with someone this December.

9. A foreign friend. La lang. Hehe.

May the Christmas spirit be with you all fellow bloggers!

Stares and Shivers

2011-09-27T19:57:00.000+08:00

I finally figured out what I love about movie guys.

Especially the mysterious guys.

Who I was always rooting for.

Cheng!

It's how they look at you when you are not looking...

...and still manage to look at you when you are looking

Right into your eye... Hitting it just right to give you shivers.

Shocks, I'm getting shivers just as I was writing this.

*super shiver scream*

People Of Our Lives

2011-09-24T21:10:00.002+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"People who come into our lives are not all meant to stay. Some come into our lives because they are meant to do something, to touch either our heart, our mind, our dreams, or just about anything in our life."

Situation 1: A Lot Like Love

It was not directly implied but I just observed it. In the movie A Lot Like Love, Emily, the first time she and Oliver met, seems to have no direction. The next time they met, she was trying her luck on an acting career. Then later, she had a career as a photographer wherein Oliver was a big part of. The first time they met, Oliver has a camera which Emily played with. The next time they meet, she took photos of the two of them, and so when Oliver went away, he left it with her.

So somehow, I can say that even though Oliver appears and disappears in Emily's life and even though it wasn't certain that they'll end up with each other, somehow, Oliver gave a direction in Emily's life by opening her horizons to photography.

Situation 2: His dream becomes hers

The girl, let's call her Marie, just like Emily, has no direction in life. She just took whatever life has to offer. She has a boyfriend, let's call her Eric. Eric had somewhat been there almost all the time that she had been exploring college life. Then Eric teaches her a skill let's call "thing." Somewhat, through the years, this "thing" had been her past time, her joy when in times of depression, and later became her passion. Although it didn't work out between the two of them, this "thing" made her realize it is what she wants to do in life, and that if in the past, she does not know what to do in her life, she was now definitely sure that this "thing" is what she wants in her life.

Situation 3: Her dream becomes hers

Girl A, Freond, had once been certain she is taking the course let's call "blah." She has a friend, Nayome, whom she shares her dreams with. Now the time came for them to decide which course to take. Freond had changed her mind, and Nayome, whom she doesn't know before what she wants, decided to take the "blah" course Freond wants before. Nayome had found her fun at the course she took, loved it and now has plans for her future in connection with the "blah" course. They were not as close now as they were before but at least, Freond made a mark on her friend as she had always wished.

Final say...

Isn't it just amazing how other people touches your lives without them knowing about it?
It's sad to see people come and go in your life but maybe, God had just written it that way. They may not be meant to be a part of your life for so long or for forever, but in that short stay in your life, they made something out of you that was meant to stay.

Appreciate every person that comes into your life.

Will You Marry Me?

2011-09-23T21:42:00.000+08:00

“Does it really happen in real life that when a guy pops the question Will you marry me, a girl just glows or cries with glee and says Yes?"

Do you think it also happens in the real world?
I mean, that usually happens in movies.
In reality, doesn't the girl think if it's what she really wants?
Maybe if you are really in love, you'll jump at the affirmative.
But do girls also think of the future?
Or just think about "the moment"?

Old Movies

2011-09-11T22:05:00.006+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Even before this century, there had been movie remakes already."

I'll start by saying that I suddenly felt like watching old movies.
I don't know.
Maybe it started with Serendipity. I watched it a week ago because I've been seeing posts or things like that on different social media.
And since it's one of the "influential" movies and I haven't seen it, I downloaded the movie and watched it.

Or maybe it started a few more weeks ago, when I got bored and I didn't feel like watching the 2000 something movies and found the City of Angels and watched it.

So okay.
About the LOTD...

So here I go looking for movies like a pregnant mother na naglilihi...
LOL!
And as I usually do, I get sneak peeks at Wikipedia, just a little background.
Then I found out that Sleepless at Seattle (1993) was based on the movie An Affair to Remember (1957) that was a remake of the movie Love Affair (1939).
See?

And also, I discovered that one of my fave romance movies A Lot Like Love was inspired by When Harry Met Sally! And I will watch that once I have downloaded the movie.

Tonight, I'll watch this movie:

This one, I have watched but want to watch it again.
Oh! And it was a modern take on the famous novel Emma?
But honestly, I don't have an idea about its plot, only that Anne Hathaway was Emma in the movie adaptation with my crush James McAvoy.

Ok.
Here's my list of to watch:

When Harry Met Sally
Sleepless in Seattle
Notting Hill
Labyrinth
Pretty Woman
The Runaway Bride
Dirty Dancing
Can't Hardly Wait

Well, if you have any suggestions, you can tell me.

Will watch Clueless na...

Opportunity

2011-09-11T09:35:00.003+08:00

This is one of the things I had learned the hard way:

"You should not just grab opportunity because they say it comes once in a lifetime. You also have to think if it is right for you, if it is for you, and if it is what you really want."

My Folkdance Career

2011-09-08T23:28:00.002+08:00

If I have one thing that I can be very patriotic about, something originally Pinoy that I can be proud of, it would be our folk dances.

I love folk dance.

I’m not a fan of katutubong songs or classical songs but I have passion for folk dance.
Maybe partly because I love dancing and this is one genre that not a lot of people are into.

I first danced when I was in elementary.
Then in high school again.
Back then it wasn't the coolest dance. They tease us as "pok pok dancers."
Then in college.
And by this time, kina-career na talaga!
Because of folk dance during my college years, I had been into a scandal, a financial conflict, and more!

But I loved it.

Especially with what they say about Region VI.
Na sa Region VI, kina-career ang folk dance.
And I guess it was true.
Here, it is not only a competition.
It is a battle of the dancers.
Battle of the trainers.
Battle of the schools.
Battle of mga mananahi of the costumes!

Today, I skipped work because I really have to watch the folk dance competition of the Nursing Fun Days.
Early in the morning, I was reminiscing of what-might-have-been if we were still joining the competition.

By 6am, we will be at the Jaro Cathedral to hear the mass. It has always been our group's tradition to start the day with the Lord and asking for His blessing.
Before lunch time, we should have eaten our lunch so that we can begin with hair and make up.

And then goes our to-do list before the contest:

1) Energy drink before the dance. Preferably, Lipovitan.
2) The best glue for eyelashes is the extract from a starapple tree branch.
2) Music playing while waiting for our turn so that we will be familiarized.
3) No picture taking! It is believed that it will cause us mental block, funny but we do panic if someone will unknowingly take our picture before the dance.
4) Do not watch the opponents' dance. Concentrate only on our dance.
5) We pray in a circle, crossing arms, holding hands, our props inside our circle, as each of us say our prayers.
6) After the dance, we don't immediately change our clothes. We believe that we should get our award in it and that we should be complete. Picture taking after because we deprive ourselves of that before the competition.

And many more...

And today, I was with my two other folk dancers.

We all missed folk dance.

The sway balances, the shouting of "Isda, lab-as, isda!," the clicking of the castanets, the kuradangs, the kumintangs, the waltzes, the jumping, etc.

I'm proudly Pinoy!

Our moments of glory:

I Am A Sucker For...

2011-09-05T23:56:00.003+08:00

1) So what was the common denominator of these films?

They are all Cinderella stories! I know it was a cliche plot taken from a fairytale, added with twists... but I was a sucker for that!

2) I am a sucker for modernized fairytales. Well, you wouldn't wonder because I had mentioned something like that in #1.

This is a TV show in ABC which I wanted to watch, partly because of the sucker reason and partly because Ginnifer Goodwin was there with the pixie hair that inspired my haircut and Jennifer Morrison who played Zoey in How I Met Your Mother which I looove so much!

Then there's Beastly.
And other else.

3) I am a sucker for unconventional love stories.

Such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Time Traveler's Wife.

But then you know, there's something in common with these two movies that I was also a sucker for:

STAR CROSSED LOVERS

4) I am a sucker for songs which have stories or has some "bang" lines, you know, tatamaan ka talaga, or yung may message talaga.

Such as:
Man Who Can't Be Moved by The Script
My Kind of Perfect by David Archuleta
Only Exception by Paramore
Pangarap Lang Kita by Parokya ni Edgar
Fall to Pieces by Avril Lavigne
Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes feat. Adam Levine
Broken Arrow by Pixie Lott
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri

That's all I can think for now. I need to sleep.
Good night bloggers.

A Walk to Remember thing

2011-09-04T18:25:00.002+08:00

If there is one movie that I have seen for the nth time and can almost picture every scene in its proper sequence inside my head and can say the dialogue with the character, then probably, it’s this movie:

I never knew Nicholas Sparks when this was out in cinemas when I was, like, Grade 6? But I knew Mandy and it was I think her first movie. She was the reason I watched this movie.

I will not go over the things I liked about this movie.

I just want to say that at the present time, I was a Nicholas Sparks fan and although I haven’t read all of his books, I had watched every novel that turned to movie and I was following on updates about his new books and movies.

The thing is, I have never read the novel A Walk to Remember.

But then, Abby and I were chatting (at work, shhh) about Nicholas Sparks and I grabbed the opportunity to ask her if she has a book A Walk to Remember and told me that she has! And she was telling me that it was sort of different from the movie (as it usually does) and then I felt giddy.

Yehey!

I’ll be reading that when I get hold of the book. I’ll blog about it after. I have this feeling I’ll love the reading experience.

Basic Life Support

2011-08-25T18:30:00.001+08:00

A BLS Certificate!
Yey!

Tomorrow...
ECG thing.

La lang.

The NLE Effect

2011-08-20T20:19:00.004+08:00

This pm, I was on FB.
The BSN page (our batch page) is open.
Then a classmate posts a link.
Results daw.
Then I opened it on another tab.
Loading...
Notification.

"100% ta guys!"

I know what it means.
But it's still different to see your name on the list.
Check the page again.
Still loading...

More posts.

"Congratulations RNs!"

"Batch Johnson 100%"

"In your face!"

Loading.
Argh.
Find more links.
Then found a link.

There's my name.

THERE IS MY NAME!!!

*The story about searching my name:
I had went through the PENA but I can't find my name.
Then the PEREZs (a loooooot of them)...
Whaah!
Maybe they forgot I was from West and I was not counted in the 100%
Scroll. Scroll. Scroll.
Okay. It was there. With all the other enyes.
Whew.

I'm so proud of by batch.
See? Top 1 again!
100%

We know many expected from our batch.
We were the batch wherein entrance to WVSU-CON was really a tight competition.
And a lot from our batch are achievers.
And because since 2005 (or something), West remains top 1 but with 99% passing.
I think our clinical instrcutors are proud of us.
Because again, we are 100%
And we have four topnotchers.

To God be the Glory!
God made this possible.

Sa ganung ka-intense na devotional ba naman, hindi pa kami maghuhundred percent?

Pero, really.
I thank God.
Because now, I can cross out one box on my GOAL BOARD.
I'm one step closer to my dream.
=)

Europe

2011-08-19T20:26:00.003+08:00

This is not a movie review.

This is something on my wishlist.

I watched this film some days ago.

*Sort of movie review insert:

I liked it but there's nothing really complicated with the movie, not as complicated as their adventures. I liked it because it made me want to save up for some European trip just like Grace (Selena Gomez), and maybe meet some traveler, or some philanthropist's son, or maybe have someone who loves me follow me there.

Damn it.

But I'm not going to Paris. I wanna go to Greece. I don't know, I just had this feeling that Greece would be more romantic than Paris.

Like I know something about any of those place.

I was first amazed by the place in KC Concepcion and Richard Guttierez' movie.

Then by the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (That was in Greece right? And the guy was greek, right?)

But the movie that really made me wanna go there is this movie:

Somehow, it made me wish my LIFE was in RUINS too...

Sigh.

That would cost me a semester at my dream school.

But I wanna travel!

Pero pano ka makakapagtravel kung butas ang bulsa mo?

La la la la la.

Bipolar

2011-08-19T20:10:00.002+08:00

Sometimes, I feel like sinking into the wold of what I transcribe.

I usually transcribe Psych reports, maybe that's why.

I can get so high.

I can get so low.

Now, I'm in the depressed phase.

I wanted to drift in the party mood in the city but I can't find someone to go with me.

Sigh.

I'm Back Na Naman

2011-08-10T22:54:00.006+08:00

Lesson of these* Days:

*Tambay days while we wait for the NLE results

"Never worry about the delay of your success compared to others. Construction of a palace takes more timing than an ordinary building."

Job-finding fad.
Tambays feel degraded.
I had work as medical transcriptionist.
Considered high-paying jobs.
E.g. CALL CENTER.
Current income x2.
Don't want.
Want to consider my lakwatsa life.

Ten2: That's the advantage of being a tambay, if there's a lakwatsa invitation, go go go lang!

I want to post my adventures ever since my last post.
Wala lang, gusto ko lang ya bi i-post.
So to make it short. I'll tell something about it in one word or phrases.

Adventure 1: In-house

9 days in Puntavilla.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Devotional. Study more. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. No More Study. Eat. No More Study. Eat. Devotional. No More Study. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. NLE Test I. Snacks. Test II. Lunch. Test III. Puntavilla. Eat. Sleep.
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Test IV. Lunch. Test V. Snacks. Puntavilla. Buffet dinner. Pool Party. Fun! Fun! Fun!
Wake up. Devotional. Eat. Goodbyes and Cries. Home.
Sort of party-party at Smallville Annex.

Adventure 2: Manila
Lei mentions David Archuleta Live in Manila. Lei sunod ko! Permission from parents. No. Drama. Drama. Drama.
Parents say yes with warning. Okay.
First plane ride after 20 years. Alone.
Welcome to Manila! Welcome to MOA!
Bus to Megamall. Slept at Mandaluyong. Near the mental hospital. Met Bornox (dog).
Megamall for DA's Fan's Day. Did a favor for a Benildean. Asked about ABMMA. I want.
Watched my friend Lei go crazy for David Archuleta.
Took MRT to Quezon City at 9pm. Had my first ever Starbucks frap (free). Til they close.
Back to MOA for Harry Potter 7.2 IMAX. WHAH! Baconator Challenge.
Back to Quezon City. Put Krispy Kreme in ref.
Found Ivan (some fantasy boy) at MRT Kamuning Station. Araneta Coliseum. First concert.
Home.
That was the adventure of a lifetime! A lot of firsts!

Adventure 3: High School barkada trip
Yves' bday. Motorcycle ride.
Jerry Mr. Engineering Search. Hahaha!
Dumangas road trip. From Pototan to Dumangas. Seafoods at Siete Picados. Off to Nothing But Desserts at Smallvile, Iloilo City (just out of the blue). Back again to Pototan. Tambay at Jesus' house.
Home.

Adventure 4: Tumblr
I got Tumblr!
But it's not personal like by Blogger account.
Just check it out: Every Day is About You

Adventure 5: Haha!
Meet my new "VERY SHORT" haircut
People's comments:
Nanay: Senior citizen.
Tatay: Michelle Yu (Huh?)
Stephanie S: Flinstones + Rugrats
HS friends: Nora Aunor (Don't like)
College friends: Yeng Constantino

GOD is GENIUS

2011-06-25T13:03:00.004+08:00

8 days to goJULY NLE 2011

Divorce, RH bill and Miriam

2011-06-21T19:18:00.004+08:00

Before I started with this post, I tried to search for my post on RH bill.
Only to realize I hadn't made one.
It was all in my head. Perhaps too lazy to write.

So anyway, I'd start off with my view on the RH bill.

I am ANTI RH bill.

I was sort of open with that.
Our reviewer during our nursing jurisprudence review once asked us who were anti- and pro- RH bill. Only four or five raised hands for the anti, including me and our reviewer.
Either all the other 130 or something people in the room was pro or they just don't care.

A friend of mine would really press on my reasons why I'm against it.
And he was sort of implying the antis were narrow-minded.

I don't think it's about being close-minded or purely religious stuff.
It's just that I can see that no matter how the child is conceived or where will they be in the future, they are also human.
It's not a matter of population problem.
It's a matter of managing the people.

This child who was a product of abuse had grown to give back to you what you gave him as a parent.
This child from teen pregnancy had once made her grandparents mad at her mother and father but as soon as she was conceived, she took all their attention and stuck in them smiles.
These children, siblings, from a "very large" family, is an instant manpower for the Philippines.

I'll stop here before this becomes too long.

Lastly, I had a Catholic education for around 12 years and had been a nursing student. Pretty much, I think I can see the biases from both sides.

The value of life from the Church's view...
And the health/ scientific view: family planning, contraceptives, etc.

Weighing on what I know and believe...

I am ANTI RH bill.

*********

But despite that, I guess that I'll favor the DIVORCE law.

And here's the wedding of the year, a pro-divorce supporter, Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

I heard the news last night and it was really a FUN wedding with all the opposing people in the government, the comment of the archbishop, and of course, Miriam herself.

I'm not being sarcastic. I like Miriam. She's from Mina, just a few miles from Pototan, and was a friend's aunt.
What made her stuck in my mind was that we sort of have this belief that she usually speaks English because when she speaks Filipino, her Hiligaynon accent is really evident.
And she's a strong woman.

For me, this wedding was an irony because she was a divorce-RH supporter...
And this wedding, a reflection of a good and happy marriage...

"I am in favor of a divorce bill provided that grounds for divorce are very strict so that we will not encourage young people to rush into marriage and then rush out by divorce."
---Miriam Defensor-Santiago

*********

Before, I used to support my Catholic belief that what God binds, man cannot unbind.
Marriage is a sacred sacrament.

But then couples can't see their future right?
Somewhere in the middle, problems arise.
Violence. Abuse.
Coldness. Loneliness.
Fraud. Forced marriage.
And...

I wouldn't call it adultery.
Adultery is promiscuity of adults.
But then sometimes, there are really just people who had not rushed with marriage.
This couple had really been in love.
But then they are just not for each other. They just can't see the future.
And then they found who are for them really.
Can't they get out of the marriage and be free to love and be with who they are meant for?

I do sometimes question God's stand with this rule.
Even though there are marriage counseling and others, there are just really marriages which can't be repaired by compromise, forgive and forget... You can't just force them to be together.
You can't force a family to be happy.

Not all couples are blessed to find the right husband and wife for them.
Not all families are strong to withstand all the challenges to keep the family.

I agree with Miriam, just a divorce law solid enough for it not to be an excuse to exit a rushed marriage. That's abusing the sacrament of marriage.
But if it is really unforeseen...
...such as domestic abuse, violence, coldness, unhappiness...
...don't you think the couple deserves happiness free from the bond?

(Let's leave the point of what will happen to the child in this situation. Someday I'll write about it. Hopefully.)

But for now, this is it.

*******

Best wishes Miriam Defensor-Santiago!

Children's Party @ 21

2011-06-16T21:19:00.011+08:00

One of my best birthdays ever!

I didn't have my dream "debut @ 21" but I had my dream regression theme because of my friends.

Hashi's birthday last June 4 was dubbed as "Skirty Day" wherein we wore skirts.

So on my birthday, I decided the theme: ROCKERZ DAY!
We'll be wearing black...

And we did wear black, including some of my other friends! Naki-rockers din!

During the break, they surprised me with this birthday poster:

With 2 donuts with candles:

After lunch, they had these balloons:

And what luck! The reviewer dismissed us early for lunch so we went out for lunch at Salve's Grill... all the while walking at the streets with one balloon each.

And it didn't end with balloons!
They said it wouldn't be complete without giveaways:

Then after review, slumber party @ home!

Sardinas:

I sooo love them!
Thank you Lord for giving me these kind of friends!

Finchel (Glee)

2011-05-28T10:30:00.001+08:00

Just as what Brittany had said in the episode "New York," Glee kids are just rotating gf and bf. And so, tandems emerge such as Finchel, Puckleberry, Faberry, Samcedes, etc.

Sometimes, I get disappointed with all that especially if I really like the tandem, e.g. Artie and Brittany. And I reacted to the rumors that it'll give way to Brittany-Santana tandem. I go, "Puhleaz! You already have a homo relationship (Blaine and Kurt), do you need another one from the other side?"

But anyways, here goes Finchel. I don't really love them but I like how crazy they can be when they're together (the spying at Sam, the nun and priest song number, etc). And I especially loved them in the episode "New York."

And just like one comment in YouTube, I also screamed when they kissed in between their duo and group performance. It's not any romantic but I guess it's something.

It's the beauty of a TV series, the audience has been into the life and trials of the characters that one scene could mean everything.

Here's my latest LSS, "Pretending" by Rachel and Finn:

WiFi

2011-05-22T14:16:00.001+08:00

WiFi at home!!!

Wheeeh!

Yeah!

Beauty is a Privilege

2011-05-16T17:10:00.004+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

“There are only a few prestigious beauty pageants nowadays.”

But seriously…

“Beauty is INDEED a privilege… and I’m talking about face value.”

Last night, I watched a beauty pageant by one of the known beauty soaps, Ms. S____. I know two contestants, one was candidate number three---

Number Three: I know her because she was my cousin’s cousin and we went to the same high school. She was recent Ms. Pantatan (a festival in one of the municipalities in Iloilo) and Ms. Paraw Regatta 2011 (a known festival also in Iloilo). She did so-so in the pageant. She had the 2^nd runner-up and I think she deserved that.

---and another was candidate number eleven---

Number Eleven: She was going to school where my mother teaches. She was a student leader both at her school and community. She had joined many pageants before… I’ve watched some of them and in some, she was overshadowed by the mestizas. Last night, she did great. To prove that, she grabbed almost all the minor awards (except for the two which was won by one contestant who didn’t even land a spot). She never landed any place. In my opinion (and I trust my judgment, no biases), she was clearly the winner. She had won almost all the minor awards, including best in preliminary interview. And I think, her interview was the best. She ramps so well with confidence and poise. She even carries her not-so-pretty gown well.

The Anomaly

My cousin who follows her cousin to her pageants knew some of the people involved in the pageant. The winner of last night’s pageant had also been a candidate in the Paraw Regatta. She told me that the organizer of PR (who was also a judge last night) had called Number Three to back-out from the pageant if she doesn’t want to be embarrassed because 1) she already had a title and 2) they are going to make the winner last night win, which is what happened.

You know, I wouldn’t mind if only number eleven had a spot. And to think she answered most appropriately unlike the winner and the first runner up who incorporated the beauty product in their answer which in turn had made their answer to be of no substance at all. I know you have to seel something as an endorser but… It’s all so--- duh?

And I wouldn’t mind the “anomaly” if only their common question for the final round isn’t this:

“Do you agree that beauty is a privilege?”

So could you imagine incorporating endorsement of the product with the answer to the question? The beauty product enhances physical beauty so no matter how they say that it also includes inner beauty, their point is still that PHYSICAL beauty is a privilege because the beauty product had or will make you beautiful and thus give you the privileges.

It’s just so twisted.

You could just laugh at the situation like I did last night. Everything was just so ironic, and ridiculous.

I know I speak with no bias because I can honestly say what’s wrong with that girl why she did not win even though I know her. Also, I know there is a criteria. Sometimes, it’s the criteria that is twisted too. I knew a few with “duh” criteria.

It’s either the anomaly, or the criteria.

That’s my opinion.

Review...

2011-05-04T19:22:00.001+08:00

Am reviewing...

But maybe I can post sometimes if time and situations permit.

=)

Born This Way

2011-04-27T21:58:00.003+08:00

“And that’s only because I’ve worked hard and I’ve got a full scholarship to go to a good school. If that makes me a prissy princess, then I’ll wear that badge of honour.”

Clare Venema of Australia's Next Top Model said this in front of the panel because she was stereotyped as a prissy princess in the show. I liked her courage and I loved what she said. It speaks of education, and more than that, being not affected by what people say about you.

And then there's this episode of Glee, Born This Way, which is about accepting not only the people around you but more than that is accepting yourself.

I also had some insecurity issues back then. It was hard for me because it has to clash with me adjusting in College. I only had two things that got me over that. Uhm, I'll make that three.

First is purge writing and drawing. I had been writing bad things about my object of insecurity. I know it's not good but it helps. Sort of letting go of your anger in paper. I also had pics of her and I was drawing things over her face and stuff. Now that I remembered that, I just laugh at myself. But then it did helped me.

Second, support systems, primarily my College friends. As I started out with college, I was missing my high school friends who had their own different schedules. But then I made friends in my college and they helped me, without them knowing, to think highly of myself compared than that of my object of insecurity. And to think that happened in 2nd sem of 2nd year... which means I had about a year and a half to deal with that insecurity.

Third and most important of all, loving myself. It was the most powerful thing, really. No one else in this world might love you, but you know that you can always have yourself to love you.

Hay naku...
Nag-emo duman ko ah.

Before I end, I'll leave this song from Glee episode which I loved:

You are pretty... =)

Mcdo Commercial

2011-04-17T23:43:00.004+08:00

At ngayon lang talaga ako nagreact?

I love the ad kasi.
Immediately after I saw this for the first time, pinost ku kaagad sa FB and comment at like agad ang people.
Tapos a day or two after, I heard in the news that it was banned by CBCP!

Of course I was shocked.
Sa isip ko, anong mali sa commercial?
Anong imoral dun?

Tapos yun daw, kasi pinapahiwatig na mura lang bilhin ang affection o ang relationship.
At heto pa mga comments na nakita ko sa YouTube.

"i agree! PEOPLE LOOK AT THE SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES!

IT IS SO WRONG LIKE PROSTITUTION"

"not a catholic, but i think the commercial is indeed a classic example of something that promotes early relationship as "ok" for the youth.

Dr. Criselda M. Lomeda - BS Psych -UP Diliman; MA Clinical Psych-University of Ohio; PhD Clinical and Child Psychology-Harvard University - College of Psychology"
"it's not about fries it's about girlfriends they can't have it.. but seriously this commercial will bring wrong perception on Filipino kids.. we're adults, we don't know what are the kids' mind today they are so advance nowadays."

I never thought of it that way talaga.
For me, it's more of what the dialogue has been really saying.
Na ang girls ngayon, masyadong maraming expectations from the boys...
Yun lang.

There are comments about hating CBCP or judging them.
But I won't blame them if they see other messages from that ad.
It's their minds.

I found out that this was based from an Indian ad.
And here's the most acceptable explanation, I think.

This ad worked in India because in India it is the girls who pay dowry to a man to have him marry her. An indian girl's biggest fear is not finding a husband. But not in the Philippines. In the Philippines, it is still the boys who do the courting (generally) and it is not so bad if a woman remains single for the longest time. Pilipina girls who take the initiative are still perceived as cheap, desperada and too available by the boys.

So I think, it's just a matter of differences in culture.

Ok, yun lang.

At...

PS

Rest in Peace AJ Perez.

Bollywood vs Jap Love Stories

2011-04-10T13:27:00.008+08:00

Note: This is not a movie review. It's more of a query.
I like these two movies because I'm in a mood for something light these days.

JAPANESE MOVIE
"I Give My First Love To You"

PLOT

This story revolves around Takuma, a boy who is told he will die before he is 20, and Mayu, a girl who is in love with him.

The story begins when they are little kids. Takuma Kakinouchi and Mayu Taneda were friends since they were 8-years-old. Takuma has a heart disease and he is treated by a cardiologist who happens to be Mayu's father. Their friendship grows and Takuma becomes Mayu's first love.

Time passes, and the girl becomes a young woman, and the boy, a young man. Mayu continues to support and love Takuma. On the other hand, Takuma, who knows his days are numbered, pushes away his feelings for Mayu and distances himself from Mayu, knowing that he cannot keep his childhood promise because he cannot stand to see her cry or hurt her more than he already has.

Then Mayu meets Kou Suzuya, who has feelings for her, and Takuma meets Teru Uehara, one female patient who suffers a similar illness,who has a crush on him and their feelings for each other begin to waver.

My comment:

The story was cliche but I like it. It keeps me watching.
But then, why are Japanese movies fond of two teens in love, have sex, one is ill, he/she pushes her/him away, then the other dies.
I can't help comparing it with Koizora.

BOLLYWOOD MOVIE
"I Hate Luv Storys"

PLOT

Simran (Sonam Kapoor) loves Bollywood romances — so much so that her life has begun to resemble one. With her awesome job and a "Mr. Perfect" fiancé named Raj (Sameer Dattani), she lives a blissful, dreamy life. But in the frame comes Jay, who brings a fresh light and joy in her life. Jay (Imran Khan) is an assistant to a director who is famous for his love story films; however, Jay hates love stories. He believes love is nothing but a "sickness" that must be cured. Quite blunt in his ways, he first hates Simran for her "romantic" nature but soon after becomes her best friend.

My comment:

I was kind of disturbed with the title.
LUV was acceptable. I was just disturbed with the STORYS.
Anyway, I also love the movie. It's also cliche, like those other movies which criticizes the cliches in movies and turns out to be a cliche in itself.
But I'm in the mood for cliches so I liked it.
I already accepted the fact that Bollywood are really musicals, there are always singing and dance numbers, even Ghajini which was an action movie.
But you know, they are really fond of that choreography with the guy standing in a wide stance, bending to his back and arms open wide. Also with the slow motion thing, the hair effect, the making fun of the last name, etc.

CLICHEs as an alternative for heavy drama

I'm seeing these movies and I can't help but wish Pinoy movies will also find their own mark. I think Star Cinema films and Indie films are already doing great.

Last week, I saw again the movie Honey, My Love, So Sweet back when Dingdong Dantes was famous with Antoinette Taus and not with Marian Rivera. It was also a cliche movie and I can't help comparing how the Pinoy movies have improved. But then some movies today just have these complicated plots to compete.

And then I was thinking, I missed cute movies like Honey, My Love, So Sweet.
Sometimes, I just like to watch a movie that makes me feel light and not to think a lot about how life is complicated.

Newest Art

2011-04-08T19:13:00.004+08:00

This was my motivation-to-review-for-the-Nursing-Licensure-Examination cover art...

Sana nga lang ma-motivate talaga ako...

Bravery

2011-04-08T19:08:00.002+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Bravery means you are the only one who knows you are afraid."

Every one of us is afraid of something, afraid of a particular thing.
But what separates them, what lifts them up from the rest, is the fact that they know how to face their fears. They had the courage to put up a strong facade despite the fear inside.

The Scrubs Fever

2011-04-08T18:36:00.003+08:00

After the research and graduation...
Here comes the scrubs fever...

Scrubs--> a record of our delivery and operating room scores.

Pardon to those who doesn't know what scrubs are. That's why I put the meaning there. I used to text my sister to look for my "scrubs" at my room and bring it to me in the city. She replied, "Ano nga scrubs man?"

At first it was the middle initials fever...
Then the pre-sign fever...
Now, the signing of teachers and other little things.

So this is how hard accomplishing the scrubs...
We printed again and again because of little things.

Look at this:

I have to print three copies again...
Not because my data is wrong.
But because my "enye" has a smaller font...

I really do hope this will be over soon.
It's testing my patience.

Ahummm.....

The Nunnery Calling

2011-03-29T10:39:00.002+08:00

Last graduation day, Hashi pointed to me a graduating nun, just amazed with how she wears her toga over her habit. Especially her cap over her veil. Not only did we see one but two.

The next day, I went to my friend’s house for her grad celebration and found a nun there. When I was riding home, we were in the same jeep and she talked to me because I was from CIC-Hijas (she’s not an Hijas sister). Then when I arrived home, I was about to put my bag in my room when my mother told me that my ‘tita madre’ and her other sister companion will be sleeping there. They were here for a vocation campaign.

I’m not like those other people who were very religious and that they really had a ‘nun aura’ and are prayerful.

But then at times, when I feel lost and nonsense and bitter with love I think about being a nun.

I mean, it’s just so ideal. I’ll get slim because I can’t just eat all I want. I will get over my sloth nature and spiritual dryness. I will get to do something but not too much.

My Tita Madre was a Hospitaller Sister and they have this heading in their return slip:

“Let us heal the world with his love.” Do you want to share your tender, loving care for the sick? Do not hesitate, write or visit us.

I was a nursing graduate, and since I don’t like the politics of job-searching for nurses at present, then why can’t I be a nurse-nun? Since I also love the stories of the sick and it feels good to care for them without thinking of the salary and just do it for the purpose of caring for them.

Echosera.

The only thing hindering is my ambition in life: freedom. I just want to do what I want in life and that includes doing “bad” stuffs. And then of course, my laziness. Because I think when you’re in the convent, you get to do many chores.

I told my sister, “Pay kung may congregation lang nga way gawa ga-pangadi ang mga madre, di gid ko mag-duha-duha mo.” (I wouldn’t have second thoughts if there’s a congregation that doesn’t pray a lot.)

I pray always, it’s just that it’s all spontaneous. I can’t stand long prayers, sometimes I get sleepy, especially with early morning masses.

Sigh.

Maybe when I give up on finding some love…

Or when I stop being ambitious…

I’ll become a nun.

Graduation Day

2011-03-27T19:18:00.016+08:00

Lesson from College:

"The world has everything: from poor to rich, ugly to beautiful, dumb to genius, right and wrong, good and evil."

Maybe, as a province girl, my world was limited to a very few things. I thought it was already THE world.

But then college taught me that indeed, what they portray in movies are real. There are the extremes. There are inconsistencies. There are in justices. There are awesome -and awful- love stories. There are sudden fame. There is hardwork. There is service. There is kindness. There's a heart that cares unconditionally.

Sa wakas... I've marched na.
My anxiety was gone. I made it!
That's the most important thing.

Jardeleza babies... Talk to the hand! In your face!
(My research groupmates. Late ang isa kaya wala siya sa pic.)

The Boobs: May boobs na si Nebit (center)!

Finally...

Lunch at Uncle Tom's after the very looong program

I welcome myself to the world of unemployment!
Tok! Tok! Huwag naman sana.
Hehe.

Pinning

2011-03-25T11:32:00.009+08:00

Pinning and Recognition Day...
This happened last Wednesday.
It had not been a very overwhelming experience because 1) I still have a thesis problem and we have a "No hardbound, no graduation" policy... Tomorrow, March 26 is our grad day, and 2) I have emotional issues... @_@

The only things that I'm happy about are:

1) My new pet! It's a rabbit given by my cousin as a grad gift. I call her Rabbit-y. My classmate said, "Baw unique ba, daw mga Doggie man or Kitty..."

2) Lost but nevertheless, la ko ya labot... Hehe

3) Friends... like me. They gave my Nursing life hope... Kung wala sila, super lost pagid ko...

After the ceremony and program, we still worked on our thesis.

Today, we submitted our hardbound thesis.
Then Espe was asking me why don't I feel great.
Paranoid angud ko. She asked me, "La ka sarig sa thesis ta?" (Don't you trust our thesis?)
"Waay." (No.)
"Ako ya may ara, sa ______ ko ya wala sarig." (I do, it's the ______ I don't trust.)
The blank? Just some cirsumstances and people who really tested our patience, self-esteem, and almost everything that was left of us.

I told her, I just can't calm down now.
I was still praying everything is already ok.
Maybe when I receive my diploma tomorrow...
When it does happen, I'll party party to the max.

Here's our thesis, in your face!

Note: My pinning moment pic to be uploaded later...
Mwah!

The Adjustment Bureau

2011-03-20T21:14:00.003+08:00

I've downloaded the script of this movie yesterday and finished reading it last night.
At first I was in doubt but then there are indeed scenes in the script that I saw in the trailer.

And now? I've watched the movie!

I feel it's creepy.
Reading a book and watching the movie was very different.
You know what's going to happen but not how it's going to happen.
I just feel it's creepy that I already pictured the scene in my mind and so it's like I had watched the movie the second time even though I had just seen it.

I'm not giving comments because I was quite confused.
But I do love it, both reading it and watching it.
I am a sucker for fate and destiny stuff. A few months ago when I watched the trailer, I thought it was an action film, I mean super action film. But it centers on the David and Elise's love and fate. The action is just a part of it.

They say you would question free will and stuffs like that when you watch the movie.
Maybe just like how 'Inception' had...
But this is not as deep as Inception in my own opinion.

All I can say about the movie is (this is sort of a spoiler of the ending):

"Love conquers all."

I Love You So (Autumn's Concerto)

2011-03-15T22:16:00.002+08:00

I've finished watching this last week...
I simply love it!
There's always something going on and every scene has a certain significance and not just put to have cute or romantic scenes.

I think the storyline is a combination of many cliche plots but I think they did great with it anyway.

Basta...
I so love it that I'm still not over with my obsession with this series.

Grades

2011-03-11T18:56:00.002+08:00

Among one of the many college lessons:

“Getting good grades is a combination of studying hard, having good luck, being visible, and playing the game well.”

First thing: Study hard.

It’s simple. You have to read. You have to listen. You have to memorize. You have to learn how to analyze. But if you’re thinking this is already an effort, it’s just one fourth of what you have to do.

Second thing: Luck

You’re lucky if you had a professor who “can” give high grades compared to those who set ceiling grades. You’re lucky if you have studious friends who will move you to study and not being friends with those who’ll say “it’s just situational, use your stocked knowledge” or “it’s just multiple choice.” You’re lucky if your rotation or completion duties would not coincide with exams. You’re lucky if your schedule is flexible, thus you have time to study despite the projects, requirements, and others. You’re lucky if the professor feels light with you because sometimes, there are just persons that they can’t just like at first impression.

Third thing: Visibility

Step One: Make sure your professor knows you, most especially not mistake you for somebody else or mistake somebody else as you, or else your efforts of visibility won’t have any effect (and might even pull you down).

Step Two: Make sure your professor sees you doing the work. Make sure your professor will feel like you had been doing all the work. Make sure you’re one of the persons who are always reporting updates or asked to relay responsibilities.

Step Three: Make sure you’re always present in meetings, in post-conferences, in every activity… and that he/she sees you in all of those.

Stupid equation I made: Visibility=Familiarity=Good grades

But as I said, it’s just one fourth of all the effort you have to put into it.

Fourth Thing: Play it well

Don’t disappoint your professor when he gives you responsibilities.

Know your professor’s style: Does he particularly give situational exams? Or by the book items? Is she lax and loves talking out to students? Is he particular with your performance in the area?

Know yourself. Can you motivate yourself to study? If not, then go with those who can help you. Don’t go with lax people like you.

Honestly, I have lower grades compared with my other classmates. Theirs are Cum Laude levels or if not, enough for recognition this graduation day.

They were busy calculating their grades so they can apply for Parangal and Cum Laude. I was just looking at them. I admit I was kind of bitter. I know I could have done better if I put my heart on studying. But then I remembered why I stopped trying to get good grades: It’s exhausting.

I used to judge people just by seeing their grades. Siya ni, alam, siya ya, mango. But then I proved myself wrong. Grades doesn’t reflect who you truly are, your capabilities, and your weakness. Behind every grade is a story to tell.

Situation 1: We had an assignment to be passed through email. Some of my classmates’ grades were 3.0 simply because their assignment had not been found even though they claimed they submitted. The spam was missed perhaps. Or maybe because my classmate who doesn’t have an email and used my other classmate’s email, the teacher just thought it was double-sent.

Situation 2: Mr. A was a student leader who was busy with his leader stuffs, but despite that working hard even though he is usually late or absent, he had a low grade. Mr. B even, who seemed to be more of the leader of the group than the real leader appointed, received a notch higher grade than Mr. A but still low. Ms. C was waiting for this one grade so she can apply for the recognition thing as a gift for her parents. She worked hard than others but she had a grade that held her gift for her parents. She’s depressed. Ms. D had worked hard on their activities as if she had put all her lack of efforts before into this activity. She even bought materials for their projects out of her own pocket. She had a grade same with Mr.B. Ms. E and F were usually just sitting pretty compared to all these other and yet they received a grade two notches higher than others.

Situation 3: Mr. X’s grades are higher than Mr. Y’s when the fact is he just copied his answers and Mr. Y did Mr. X’s project.

I have talked this with friends. Here’s our conclusion:

Grades don’t reflect your true capabilities. We’ll see in the real world, when it would be hands on… But then, you have to make it good simply because it’s your starting point for your first job where all the rest will follow.

Good luck to me! Hahaha!

A Little Thing Called Love

2011-03-04T10:31:00.007+08:00

This is not a movie review.

I just so love this movie, I'M GONNA DIE!

Just sooo cute, it makes me think back of my high school days when I used to have crushes that reached obsession and involved some stalking, LOL!

Oh, let me just say that I sort of don't like the ending, not that I don't like the happy ending, I just think it's too cheesy...

But still!!!

Love, love, love it!

Beastly

2011-03-04T10:00:00.006+08:00

I borrowed this book from my classmate early in the morning. He sort of hesitated because his I Am Number Four is still with me, in my bed lying for weeks already. Actually, I just intended to scan but then I got hooked right from the first page that I continued to read, and read, and read. I finished it by afternoon, I hurried at the epilogue part because Zoilo (the owner) wouldn’t let me borrow it and he’s already going home.

Okay.

The story, in just a phrase, is: a modern take on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast.

I’d say it is a simple book but I loved it. It’s simple because in my opinion, it really follows the fairytale, if I may say, the Disney version mostly, from Lindy the booklover, to the fireplace thing, to the snowball fights, to the Belle-dressing-up-and-Beast-realizes-how-beautiful-she-is, etc. And of course, because you know what will happen, because as I said, it really follows the plot of the fairytale, only that it was set in the modern world.

Unlike other fairytales-in-a-modern-world stories wherein the author brings twists to the fairytale or some elements in the fairytale are just turned into symbols in the real world, Beastly have everything as it was. Like the witch is really a witch with powers (not just a powerful person), then Kyle turns into a beast that’s hairy with claws (a literal beast), etc.

Things that I loved:

It’s told in the Beast’s point of view so you get to see how rude Kyle was, how airheaded he was and how he had became lonely and sad when he was turned to a beast, and how the Beast actually changed and fall in love with the girl.

The chat! I don’t want to spoil this part coz there are just tidbits but I had fun reading the chat! Love, love, love it!

The simplicity of it all. The storytelling was simple and fast-paced, I loved everything about Kyle, about Lindy, even about Kendra, Magda, and Will. Nothing really complex nor any super revelations but it’s still lovable.

The epilogue. I think maybe it’s because I have read too many novels with hanging endings or sudden endings… I think the book had a good happily ever after ending (okay, that’s a spoiler).

Though, in the rescuing part, I think it’s more of mushy than action. Well, I sort of expected more action in that part.

And I just think SilentMaid deserves a happy ending too, well, she did have a happy ending in the Disney version…

“Love is never ugly.”

I can’t really seem to see the point of the tagline.

I mean it’s about love, it’s about the one who turned ugly.

I just don't understand the point.

La la la la la....

Vintage Prom

2011-02-26T12:29:00.010+08:00

I guess I'll just bombard this post with photos.
I don't have too much to say about this prom except that I love the vintage theme and di naman halata na kinareer ko ang theme...
Hahaha!

This was the after party... videoke @ MO2 Annex... We were jammin' with the song Lakas Tama

Complete!

2011-02-12T20:29:00.004+08:00

One of the most coveted word of nursing students:

"COMPLETE"

OR scrubs: Complete!
DR scrubs: Complete!

The only thing now that hinders me from graduating:

"RESEARCH"

Singles Awareness Day

2011-02-11T13:50:00.001+08:00

"Singles Awareness (or Appreciation) Day" (SAD) is a humorous holiday, created by Trevor Mcwanda celebrated on February 14. It serves as an alternative to Valentine's Day for people who are single, that is, not involved in a romantic relationship. Some people who observe SAD do so out of spite for Valentine's Day, as a Hallmark holiday, or for other reasons.

Para sa mga bitter...

...dahil wala silang partner
...kasi iba ang mahal ng mahal nya
...sapagkat “unloved” daw sya
...dahil alam niyang hindi siya makakatanggap ng chocolates, flowers, o teddy bear ngayong Feb14
...dahil wala siyang ka-date
...kasi mag-isa lang siya sa Valentine’s Day

Kaya naghanap ng pampalubag-loob...

...treats para sa self nya

...ipapakita na happy siya being single

...naghahanap ng mga katulad niya para karamay

Ikaw?

What will you celebrate?

Valentine’s Day o Single Appreciation Day?

How’s your love life?

Sweet or bitter?

Life Lessons

2011-02-07T23:37:00.008+08:00

Finally back!
Just torn between being busy and being lazy...

Ok, I'll start with whatever I'll be ranting...

One of the many things I've learned in CONTESTS:

"VICTORY is not always in being the champion but in knowing that you gave your best."

Just a week ago was our U-Week and I was one of the folk dancers representing my batch. We have been through a lot since our Nursing Fun Days, including controversies and a few letters of appeal or something to claim what we know we deserve. We were hailed as the winner and thus represented our college. For the U-Week, there's another issue, and big obstacles came our way. One of which was the depression of our trainer (the choreographer of Tribu Paghidaet during the Iloilo Dinagyang). Dinagyang had just concluded and we assumed he was depressed because they won 1st place behind Tribu Pan-ay, knowing that they were the defending champion. In short, we had no super practice.

Our dance was sort of suicide, I don't know with you but within us, there's tension and all those stage dramas that come with competitions. Someday I'll talk to you about my 'folk dance career' especially for those who can't seem to connect with me with the depth of this folk dance thing.

To cut the long story short, we didn't win but my fellow folk dancers were so happy, especially when we got into the backstage shortly after the exit of our dance. For them, it was the best dance of their life. They didn't care if we win or lose, what's important is that they feel happy dancing in the stage.

Then I reflected with my feelings. I know I should have rejoiced like them too. But I was really disappointed, maybe with our trainer, maybe with the circumstances, maybe with the lack of support from our college... What I'm disappointed at the most is myself because I know it wasn't the best dance of my life, not that I didn't enjoy dancing with them but knowing that I should have been better.

I didn't give my best.
I could have been one with them rejoicing, win or lose.
I could have felt victory.
I could also have felt dancing the best dance of my life.

One of the many things I've learned from my MOTHER:

“You can’t hurry people.”

This stemmed from those days when I was entering my mother's room early in the morning, all dressed up for school while she was curling asleep in bed. I would wake her up and holding a paper on one hand and a pen in the other, asking for his signature in the waiver. I would be counting the seconds because I will already be late. She would move slowly and scold me not to hurry her. That I should have let her sign it the night before. That it was not her fault that I just let her sign that moment, not her fault if I will be late.

So there...
You should not hurry Manong Driver when he stops over to pick passengers just because you will be late for school.
You should not hurry the cashier/teller for slowly processing your stuff.
You should not hurry the jurors to validate your questionnaire because the deadline for submission of the research final draft is nearing and you still have to conduct.
You should not hurry love because you might make mistakes.
You should not hurry time because you might miss on small but important events.

One of the many things I've learned in COLLEGE:

“It’s not always your fault.”

This is one IMPORTANT lesson I have learned.
I was once the person who, even when I'm not the one reprimanded, feels guilty for it.
It seems like I always feel I also contribute to the misdeed.
But now I've learned that it's not always you who made the mistake... even if YOU are the one scolded.

It could be that your teacher was just moody or power tripping...
It could be that the member of the panel was holding a grudge against your research adviser who criticized her own supervisory group...
It could be that you were just a trash bin of his insecurities and disappointments in life...
It could be that they are just finding someone to blame...

If he/she sees you, then you can't do anything...

...except let the reprimand pass into your one ear then past another, then into thin air.

Simple!

One of the many things I've learned about INSECURITIES:

“You should not want to be like others.”

I have once wished I would be like Miss A, she was so pretty and many admire her.
I have once wished I would be like Miss B, she's such a perfect friend who was always there.
I have once wished I would be like Miss C, so sophisticated, so smart.
I have once wished I would be like Mr. A, talented, popular, role-model.

Now?
I don't want to be Miss A, she now wears very thick make up.
I don't want to be Miss B, close minded and speaks without reason.
I don't want to be like Miss C, spoiled-brat and alone.
I don't want to be like Mr. A, he had some "nakatagong baho" that I recently knew of.

In short, be proud about yourself, for being YOU.
You just don't know, secretly, there are some people who also wants to be like you.

One of the many things I've learned about IDENTITIES:

“You can’t know someone through their Facebook.”

Whenever you update your Facebook, she is present in your wall.
Either she had uploaded somethings, had a new status, or had made a fun comment on someone else's whatsoever.
You will think she's this wacky person, fun, witty.

The truth is, I know her for real, and she was different when in person.

Just saying...

I admit I also have an online identity.
I think most of us has, not that I'm against it or something.
My point is, there are people who goes gaga about this person because of what they had 'stalked' in this person's FB.
FYI, that's just a part of her/him.
You don't know him/her totally.

Blah.

Huling Hirit sa 2010

2010-12-21T17:55:00.016+08:00

Word for this Christmas:

BUGASAUR...

...coined from the verb bugas-bugas or rice-rice which means taking advantage of something especially if it's free
...a bugasaur is a person who takes advantage of food on fiesta, celebrations, etc or free accommodation in someone else's house, or the like...

Here are the faces of exemplary Bugasaurs:

December 16, 2010

I have no pics because it's c/o Lei.

Every year, the IWAG Festival of Lights opens at December 16.
There's a sort of ceremony of switching on of the lights which is followed by fireworks display.

We had duty that day and seminar on the next day but nevertheless I went home... with friends.
This year, I guess there are more people, compared to last year maybe because it rained.
Super traffic sa highway so Mommy Wence and I walked from Sterling subdivision into the house. We were saying, that with the cars, traffic, and people walking against the vehicles and crowd, it was almost like Dinagyang.

My evaluation:

This year, I think there are less lights but still ok.
But the fireworks... I think it's the best fireworks in years.
Pwede na pangcompete sa pyro contests, hehe...

December 17, 2010

Another batch of Bugasaurs came to town...

...from supper to breakfast to lunch to packed dinner

...then we had a game of Jackass
...well, no one got really drunk

They were supposed to take off the next day @ 10am but then I don't know how the time passed until 5pm... so we went for the octopus ride which we didn't have the night before. And since it's not yet 6pm, we were the very first passengers for that day.

December 19, 2010

Fiesta in Guimaras, we ate at Zoilo's aunt's place...
...then movie watching at Zoilo's place

Pahabol...
Watched lights at Angelicum and CPU that night after a little rest...

It's fun being a Bugasaur!
Go Bugasaurs! Til next bugas-bugas opportunities!

Cartoon Network

2010-12-03T08:48:00.003+08:00

When I opened my Facebook, I looked at my chatbox (or something), I was amazed at the different cartoon character profile pics of my Facebook friends.
I was going through my Facebook Home and Profile page and I was seeing the child-iness of my every Facebook friend.

It's because of that campaign.
As Nang Leah had said in her own post about this,

Di ko rin alam kung may patutunguhan tong "campaign" nato.. Still, okay na rin to. At least, kahit konting effort, meron.. =) And it's cute. =)

I agree that it's just one simple campaign.
But then, as my blog is all about my over-analyzations, here's my LOTD:

Lesson of the Day:

"Your favorite cartoon character may mirror you as a person."

It's just funny lang how I see my classmate...
...Tep with Mr. Bean (la lang, parang may hawig eh)
...Olive with Charmander (la lang din, parang si Charmander lang talaga)
...Zoi with Dexter (uhm, coz may glasses? AH! and may temper! Tapos lahat kami si Deedee)
...Allen with Phineas (coz he always have something to say unlike Ferb)
...Chris with the Up boy (physical reflection, hehe)
...etc

And ako, si Bombo:

I just realized when Tep commented on my status about this cartoon pic stuff.
Bombo was from Monster Allergy.
Eh mukha akong allergy kasi I'm scratching here and there, now and then.
Haha!
Wala lang.

O cge, bye na.
Change your profile pic na rin.
And see and analyze your Facebook too.
It's fun!

Education

2010-11-27T13:54:00.003+08:00

I watched a pageant last night and one of the answers of the contestants was an eye-opener to all:

Question: For you, what is the importance of education?

Answer: *blah blah blah*...because the resume asks for an educational background.

Di ba may point?
I do not think I need to elaborate.

My Amnesia Girl

2010-11-25T21:25:00.008+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Look closely."

The movie was ok. I don't know if it's just me or it is really the movie...
But I think it was good enough. At many points:
1) The new tandem... pwede!
2) John Lloyd like you've never seen before. It's not in the funny ways of John Lloyd that my friend and I were laughing at but at the fact that, as I quote Espe, "Nadura respeto ko kay John Lloyd. Daw kagalang-galang man na."
3) It's not like "50 First Dates"! All they have in common was the amnesia thing... and maybe a persistent other half... but the story is a whole lot different. It's more of a story of forgiveness, second chances, and taking hold of your love once you found him.
4) The banat-lines-overload. It was just funny... the corny-ness I mean.

(Many points tapos 4 lang?)

Just watch it. It's a fresh "funny" story after the fresh "aching" story of Kimerald.

PS

I forgot the most important part of my movie experience.

As the movie starts, John Lloyd was narrating about how we overlook things... His point was, maybe the one for us had gone by but we just failed to notice, literally na ha.

As the credits rolled and the lights turned on, Espe and I realized we are surrounded by our classmates. Three were just two seats away from me and the other two were seated at the back. We just laughed there at the cinema, not knowing that we have been watching pala together at close proximity.

Instant application ng sabi ni John Lloyd.

Kaya malay mo, when you watch this in the cinema, nakaupo lang pala sa paligid mo ang one for you?

Cheezy.

Only A Woman Can

2010-11-18T20:24:00.002+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Women has ways of knowing that men don't know of: mingling reason with emotion, and intuition with analysis."

Today, I attended the research conference for nurses, more of that tomorrow after it all ends.
Morning, medyo boring, etong LOTD lang ang na-grasp ko.
Topic is feminist thing, gender biases in research.

Maybe women can be emotional at times.
Don't underestimate this.
Reasoning can sometimes be more powerful when coupled with emotion.
Wag lang magpadala siguro.

And then there's this so called "Women's intuition".
Ironic to compare intuition, "kutob", with analysis.
Kutob nga lang di ba?
Anong iaanalyze mo?
But then super girl power lang ang makakagawa nun siguro.

That's all.

Easy A

2010-11-16T18:39:00.004+08:00

One-liner: Super looove it!!!

Why?

1. It was not the usual girl-gets-rocketed-into-popularity-from-invisibility-and-then-realizes-it-is-destroying-her. The film took the 'slut' plot differently. Basta.
Although you sort of know where the film is taking you, the way it was told was nice, fresh, and gripping... char.

2. I've learned about The Scarlet Letter. I had been previously curious what is it about, all I know is that it's an immortal work of literature, but never had searched for at least the plot. What's the big deal with the scarlet letter? And young as I was, I thought scarlet was some violet. Well, I sort of understood it with Olive's two-second summary. And understood that scarlet is a red.

3. Chivalry. Nice one. Who doesn't want those kind of things? And that movie when the guy shot his fist in the air in victory after the girl says yes to him... awww.

4. Nice cast. Nice characters. I think they all played their role well. And I was surprised Amanda Bynes was there... blonde. Wala lang. With each character, you'll both love and hate them. I love Olive's parents too. They're the best!

5. The Huckleberry Finn thing. Haha!

6. Olive's corsets. Plus the A. And the "A"ttitude.

7. The Almost Kiss thing. That's sweet.

8. Last Song Syndrome with the song A Pocketful of Sunshine. Me too, after watching the movie twice in the cinema.
Nice soundtrack...

9. Her resolution. It was simple but requires lots of guts- from going to each and every person to confess to the webcast thing.

10. How lessons in class (or for some instances, movies you've just watched, songs you've just heard, signboards, quotes) strike you, just in sync with what you are going through right at that moment. Me GUILTY!
Almost everytime... hehe.

Watch it!
For me it's worth it.

Folders Turn To Shortcuts

2010-11-13T16:51:00.003+08:00

I had this problem a month ago.
My folders in my flash drive turned to shortcuts, and so I couldn't access the files.
I just let it be because I thought, it was just in my laptop that it happens.

But then yesterday, I needed the files from one of my folders and I looked for a solution.
Here's what worked for me:

1. Go to control Panel, Folder Options -- select VIEW--- select Show hidden files and folders and uncheck Hide protected operating system files (recommended) now click APPLY

2. go to your folders and it should show you all your folders hidden including the virus----- delete the virus and all the shortcut folders that have no data in them. create new folders and copy the data from YOUR hidden folders into them. once that is done delete the old hidden folders.

3. enter task manager--- find the program that is still running which will have the same name as the one you just deleted off the hard drive---- right click it and select open file location---- this should show you the virus location---- delete it!

4. return back to control panel, Folder options select view----- select DO NOT show hidden files and folders and recheck Hide protected operating system files (recommended)

5. Restart computer---- open task manager and ensure that the program is no longer running

I was so happy I was able to recover my files and solve the problem once and for all.
Hope this helps you too.

Pinoy bags environmental leaders' award

2010-11-13T16:40:00.002+08:00

This is the Christopher Millora I'd talked about in my previous post, 365-day Projects.

He had represented our country in the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy and won.

Another pride for the Philippines, for our school, and for our batch, Batch Johnson, batch 2011.

Go Chris!

For more info, here's the article: Pinoy bags environmental leaders' award

Hurts more with the loved ones

2010-11-10T19:11:00.003+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

Jinky was right when she told me that whenever you think of suicide or anything to hurt yourself, you're being selfish...
Because you will be hurting, more than anyone else, the people who loves you.

That was the LOTD FYI...
Can't put it in a simple phrase.

Today in the Male Medical Service Ward, the "bantay" of our patient had to sign a DNR (do not resuscitate) for their patient.
Yes, it might not be euthanasia, but it also feels like a death sentence for their patient.
And it hurts all the more to decide for it, and SIGN it.
My classmate who was in charge with that patient was telling us that she and the medication nurse were all silent while giving the feeding (OTF, through NGT) because, as I quote her, there were "crying ladies" surrounding the patient. She said it made her want to cry as well.

Then Anica sitting on my left said she couldn't imagine herself in a situation like that one. She wouldn't want her husband to be in that condition, the tubes attached to her husband just makes her feel different. She then said that she'll make sure she'll marry someone healthy.

Also today, while giving the medications of a stroke patient, I have seen his wife seeing to everything. This happened hours before Anica told me that thing. It just happened in my mind that I don't want my husband to have stroke because we have always encountered stroke patients and it is REALLY difficult physically, financially, spiritually and emotionally for the folks of the patient.

My duty in the Medical Ward really exposed me to toxic cases. Just yesterday, one of the patients in the Female Medical Service Ward died. I was returning the feeding of my patient on the ref when I hear crying and saw the folks of the patient watching from afar as doctors and junior interns gather around their patient, taking turns in doing CPR... to no avail.

Also yesterday, the folks of one of our patients in the Male Ward, I think just beside the one which signed DNR today, also signed a DNR order.

Life...
It is indeed precious.
Not only for us individuals but to those people who love us.

Hi to God

2010-11-07T19:05:00.001+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Value every effortless breath you breathe."

My patient died.
Post-mortem care was done when we arrived at the ward today for patient assignment.
I was expecting to handle him for this week and have his case for my nursing process.
Personally, I feel comfortable despite the busy medical ward because I have him and his bedside neighbor as my patients. They were nice as well as their folks.
Especially his folk. Manang was always saying thank you to me whenever I go back to the bedside and do something, especially with his difficulty in breathing since he had "fluid in his lungs". Somehow, it made me feel like a good nurse.

Also, Manong made me realize how hard it is to "try your hardest breathing."
It's like putting an effort to have something that is free.
You once can do it easily, but now, you try your hardest to live.

Rest in peace Manong.
Your family loves you.

P.S.
Please say hi to God, from me.

College Challenge

2010-11-02T19:29:00.002+08:00

Read this, nice one...
Inspiration to those who failed, about to fail, or even to those who are confident they will never fail.

It lifted my spirits...

Sa Mga Nawawalan Ng Pag-Asa Sa Kolehiyo

This speech was delivered by a La Sallian engineer in one of the graduation ceremonies at the UP College of Engineering.

Ngayong araw na ito, sa ating pagtatapos, mayroon akong dalang Transcript of Record. Ang estudyanteng may-ari ng transcript na ito ay nag-aral sa De La Salle University. Sa unibersidad na ito, kapag ikaw ay isang undergraduate, may ID number ka na nagsisimula sa “94” at pataas, kung lumipas ang isang buong school year at umabot ka sa 15 units na bagsak, masisipa ka sa paaralan.

Ang transcript na hawak ko ay mayroong 27 units ng bagsak. 12 sa mga ito ay tinamo ng estudyante sa iisang schoolyear lang. Ang isang subject ay kadalasang may bigat na 3 units. Kung iisiping mabuti, isang subject na bagsak na lang ay pwede na masipa ang estudyanteng may-ari ng transcript na ito.

Ang speech na ito ay hindi ko ginawa para i-acknowledge ang paghihirap ng ating mga magulang sa pagpapaaral satin. Hindi ko din ito ginawa para maghayag ng political statement, o kumbinsihin kayo na huwag umalis sa bansa at tulungan itong makaahon. Ang speech na ito ay para sa mga normal na estudyante na kagaya ng may may-ari ng transcript na hawak ko, dahil madalas, wala talagang pakialam ang unibersidad sa mga achievements nila. May mga awards na gaya ng “Summa Cum Laude”, “Best Thesis Award” at “Leadership Award.” Pero ni minsan, hindi pa ako nakakakita ng unibersidad na nagbigay ng “Hang-on and managed to graduate despite nearly getting kicked-out during his academic stay” award.

Maaaring isang malaking kagaguhan ang konseptong ito para sa karamihan. Bakit mo pararangalan ang isang estudyanteng bulakbol, bobo, tamad o iresponsable? Hindi ba dapat isuka ito ng unibersidad? Ito yung mga tipo ng estudyanteng walang ia-asenso sa buhay, hindi ba?

Ayun. Natumbok niyo.Iyun na nga ang dahilan.

Madalas, pag ang isang estudyante ay may pangit na marka sa paaralan, lalong lalo na sa kolehiyo, nakakapanghina ito ng loob. Nandiyan yung tatamarin ka mag-aral, nandyan yung iisipin mo “Ano pa kayang trabaho ang makukuha ko? Call center na naman o clerical? Ba’t kasi ang bobo ko. Kung matalino lang ako, sana, sa Proctor and Gamble ako, o kung saang sikat na kumpanya.”

Mas mahirap ang dinadaanan ng mga estudyanteng bumabagsak. Kahit na sabihin mong kasalanan nilang bumabagsak sila, hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang pakiramdam ng ganun. Madaling sabihin na “Kaya mo yan, mag-aral ka lang,” pero alam ba natin talaga ang sinasabi natin?

Kapag ang isang estudyante ay bumabagsak sa unibersidad, nandiyan yung tatawanan niya lang yan. O di kaya naman, ipagmamalaki niya pang “TAKE 5 NA KO!!!” o “Pare, magpi-PhD na ako sa Anmath3/Calculus/etc.” Pero hindi alam ng mga isang Summa Cum Laude kung ano ang nasa isip ng isang normal na estudyante sa tuwing matutulog ito at alam niyang pag-gising niya, kailangan niya na namang ulitin ang isang subject na nakuha niya na sa susunod na term.

Kahit kalian, hindi naging problema sa “Star Student” na sabihing “Nay, bagsak ako.” at hindi kailanman sumagi sa isip nila na “Paano kaya kung sa walang-pangalang kumpanya lang ako makapagtrabaho?” Dahil sigurado sila sa kinabukasan nila.

Huwag na tayong maglokohan. Grades are everything.Kahit bali-baligtarin mo iyan, hindi magiging patas ang mga kumpanyang kumukuha ng fresh graduates para magtrabaho sa kanila. Minsan din naman, nadadaan sa palakasan, pero ganun pa din. Kung hindi ka academically good, wala kang patutunguhan. Kung hindi man yun, mas mahirap yung dadaanan mo para lang makaabot sa prestihiyosong posisyon.

Kaya ngayong graduation, ang speech na ito ay inaaalay ko para sa mga estudyanteng lumagpak, muntik-muntikan nang masipa o yung sa lahat ng paraang pwede, ginawa na para lang makatapos. Gagawin kong patas ang mundo para sa inyo kahit isang araw lang. Kahit ano pa ang sabihin ng ibang tao, kesyo kasalanan mo man na pangit ang marka mo o muntik ka nang makick-out, saludo ako sa hindi mo pagtigil sa pag-aaral. Saludo ako na may lakas ka ng loob na harapin pa rin ang mundo kahit alam mong hindi ito magiging patas sa iyo.Saludo ako na kahit pangit ang transcript mo, taas noo ka pa rin ngayong graduation at proud na proud sa sarili mo.

Ano ngayon ang mangyayari sa mga graduates pagkatapos nitong graduation? Ayoko nang puntahan yung pwedeng mangyayari sa mga Cum Laude. Baduy. Alam mo namang may patutunguhan ang buhay nila e. Pero dun sa mga lumagpak, ano ang meron?

Maaring makakuha kayo ng mediocre na trabaho lang. Pwede ka rin swertehin, baka makapagtrabaho ka sa magandang kumpanya. Madami pang pwedeng mangyari. Huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Kung nung college, nagtiyaga kayo e ba’t titigilan niyo yung pagti-tiyaga ngayon?

Pwede ring ganito: Mag-aral ka ulit. Ipakita mo sa kanila na kung sisipagin ka lang, malayo ang mararating mo. Subukan mong patunayan sa kanila na kapag pinilit mo, kaya mo ring abutin yung naabot nila. Na hindi ka bobo, kundi tinamad ka lang.

Baka sabihin ninyo, drowing lang ako.

I’ve been on both sides. Naranasan ko na ring lumagpak, at muntikan na din akong masipa. Naranasan ko na ang umulit ng 4 na beses sa iisang subject. Naranasan ko na ang masumbatan ng magulang, kapatid at kung sino-sino pang propesor na walang pakialam sa pakiramdam ng estuyante. Naranasan ko nang hindi makatulog ng maraming gabi sa pagiisip kung paano ko na naman sasabihin sa magulang ko na may bagsak na naman ako. Kaya alam ko ang pakiramdam ninyo.

Akin ang transcript na ito.

Pagkagraduate ko ng college, ano ang ginawa ko? Eto.Nagtrabaho muna ng konti, tapos aral ulit. Kuha ng Masteral sa kurso ko. Hindi para sa trabaho o kung ano man. Kundi para patunayan sa sarili ko na noong mga panahong bumabagsak ako, tinatamad lang ako.

This is a rebellion. I raise my middle finger to every professor, over-achiever, naysayer and detractor THAT TOLD ME THAT I CAN'T MAKE IT. I raise my middle finger to every valedictory or graduation speech that only gratifies the university, those who were achievers in school or those who gratify the country when it’s supposed to be the graduate’s moment of glory. You are supposed to acknowledge EVERYONE. Even those who failed many times.

Kaya sa inyong mga graduates na medyo hindi maganda ang marka, para sa inyo ito. Kung kinaya ko ito, kaya niyo rin to. Imposibleng hindi.

Time and Movies

2010-10-30T23:35:00.002+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Time is an essential part of love."

I don't know if you've heard of the story of that sinking island and Love was stuck... not one was willing to help... except for Time.

I think my LOTD would have many dimensions but for now, I'll particularly write about time, love, and movies.

When I say time in the movies, it's the one-hour-and-thirty-minutes usual length of the movie.
Or maybe sometimes 1:44...

My point is-
Wouldn't you think relationships and love will be a lot easier if it is movie fast?
At the beginning, you dream of finding your true love.
You'll be disappointed for about a minute, wait for it for another two minutes, and then by the next minute, there you go bumping into him/her.
In a matter of minutes you get to know everything about each other and in a span of another 10 minutes, you have witnessed all of each other's lies and betrayals but also end up realizing your wrongs and faults.
Then, it would take you 10 minutes of grief, pain, anger, separation...
Then by the next minutes, you mend your relationship and then your story will end up happy.

Wherein in real life, waiting for the one takes years.
The development of emotions is mixed with other things in life such as family, school, stress, work, friends... If love is all in your head, people will think you're crazy, lovesick, etc.
You will go through many things before knowing the person entirely.
Separation is long and aching. It takes days, months, years... sometimes, forever.
Anger is not easily dissolved. You could not easily overcome grief.
Being in a relationship, you indeed experience magical moments together but then there are sometimes flat, bland, or boring moments.
Mending a relationships doesn't only take one meeting, it takes a lot of talks and sometimes arguments.
And, happy endings we see in movies are somewhere in between one couple's life.
There will be a Part 2 coming which involves another cycle of the whatevers of a relationship.

Time...
Love...

I salute all those great love which stayed strong despite not being movie fast.
They're the real LOVE STORIES.

Heartaches

2010-10-28T22:01:00.000+08:00

Heavy.
I was left staring at the cinema screen when it ended... for about one full minute.
Na-shock.

I didn't watch because of Kimerald but because of the story.
In fairness, a different approach at storytelling, unlike typical Pinoy storytelling.

And of all chances, I was with my friend wherein it's as if the movie was really patterned from her love story. Ganun kagulo, mas magulo pa.
Drama mode.

Then on one of the movie trailers, I discovered...
May 3D movie na ang Pinoy.
Uy, asenso...
Hopefully, ok sya.

Yun lang, good night na.
Di lang kasi mapakali.
Had to blog this.
Hehe.

Internet Promo

2010-10-22T10:33:00.004+08:00

In no mood for some serious blog post.
Hehe
I've had thought of a lot to post lately but couldn't find the "drive"...
Chos...

Anyway, did not attend our supplemental review today.
Instead of walking to the left and go to school, I turned right and went to the internet station.
I got lucky and availed of this promo net for 1 hour and get another hour free for the first 10 customers.
I think I was 7th.

Maybe I was blogging to consume my free hour.
I really can't think of anything to do, I just planned to check my Facebook...
Sayang eh...

Hay mga promos... and sales....
Time and money wasters but then you can't stop having them 'coz it's an "opportunity"...

Hay "opportunity"...
They say grab it coz it might be the only thing to come.
Pero mali naman na grab ka lang ng grab di ba?

Blab.Blab.Blab.

Uy, I suddenly remembered something.
I'm planning to join the Artwork Arteest thing contest.
I've bought the T-shirt a week ago but couldn't come up with what design.
As I was riding the bus to the city, an idea sparked.
Hoped I could really make it and submit it.
I was thinking kasi, maybe I'll just keep the shirt.
Hehe
Seen previous contests and entries in the net, SUPER artists talaga ang sumasali, eh ako, hobby-hobby ko lang...
Pero ok lang, achievement na sa'kin ma-submit ko lang at magka-entry...
Pero sana kahit yung 3thou consolation lang
Hehe

Noticed I've written in Tagalog for the previous few lines.
Then I remembered my Tito's fiance.
They arrived days ago from Oman. Nagtatagalog.
Syempre di makaintindi ng Hiligaynon.
She talked to me once, and I realized I'm so bad speaking Tagalog.
May accent.
Pero alam ko kaya ko gayahin ang accent na Tagalog talaga.
Kaya lang parang awkward eh, baka masyadong trying hard.

Hay
I've missed being talkative in my blog.

Gosh. I guess I'm nearing two hours na.
Got to stop.

Research

2010-10-09T21:03:00.002+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Give yourself every chance to succeed."

Wow! It's been a long time since I've blogged.
Depressed bi mo.
Haha!

Had our pre-oral defense for our research yesterday.
Still playing in my head 'til this morning.
Good thing I had time with friends, that's why some things replaced those damn things playing on my head.

Our proposal wasn't rejected but it needs revision, but with their suggestions, it's like saying we will do something good as new, it's like rejection in a kinder way.
I don't want to rant about it na.

I just want to tell the story of my LOTD.
Right after our defense, we had a break before proceeding to the next group.
I asked Espe, my groupmate, to go and eat something. It's not because I'm hungry or want to take my lunch, it's because I don't want to stay in that room and coz I want to be doing something or else, I'll cry.
But then we couldn't stop ourselves, so I asked Espe to go away for a while. So we looked for a deserted place and found the hallway in the library. We let go of our negative feelings there. I didn't cry but then Espe pointed out the LOTD, written as a vandal in one of the abandoned study tables. That's the time I cried.
Pak!

It's just funny sometimes, the way you find inspiration.

I'm just emotionally tired. Not just this but many other things too.
I'm giving up on something. When I'm finished with this "damn-thing", I'll be free to give myself a chance to succeed in something that I love.
Because in this "damn-thing", I had never been good enough, and I'm tired of squeezing myself into it, after squeezing myself stupidly for years thinking I'll learn to suit myself, or for that "damn-thing" to accept me.
But it won't, it just won't, so I've finally decided to give up.
(D-R-A-M-A)

Ok, bye! Mwah!

Death is...

2010-09-13T13:36:00.002+08:00

To a child

Our lecturer last week asked us how would we answer this question:

"Is death like sleeping?"

...if the one who asked you is a six-year-old child.

Many of us were caught off guard and somehow, it struck us how dumbfounded we were.
It may seem just a simple question to answer but then how could you define death, a feared and scary word, to a little child?

Our lecturer's answer was this:

"Child, if you can feel your heart beating and your tummy rising and falling, that is sleeping. However, if you can't feel your heart beating or your tummy rising and falling, that is death."

How about you?
How would you define death to a child?

To a friend

Last Saturday, my sister and I went to a food-spree in our plaza. When we were home, our mother said that my sister's friend had been calling many times already to tell her that their classmate was already dead.

His leukemia was diagnosed when they were still in high school (presently they're college freshmen). The thing is, he and his younger sister both had this and they were undergoing treatments. The news seemed so sudden because he seemed to be living a normal life and there seemed to have no deterioration issues yet.

I was very shocked, even though I only know him by my sister's stories and Facebook, how much would it have been to my sister who was one of his closest friend?
And then I empathized, if I were my sister, that would have been the feeling of losing a friend. Especially if it's sudden, especially if you thought you had more memories to make still.

I observed my sister and she was shocked, but calm. I was expecting some crying and all those dramas of losing someone. But then I guess I'm watching too much sappy movies. Maybe, in real life, even though for someone you love so much, crying is good. But then too much of it is overrated.

Then the next day, my sister looked at that friend's Facebook wall. There were many posts: RIPs, send-offs-to-heaven, bitterness, sadness... My sister and I then joked about her friend haunting those people and posting a status himself.

If I were to lose a friend, I think I'll be just as shocked.
And for sure I'll cry because I was all sentimental and memories come rushing to me easily.
But I don't want that to happen.
I'd rather die first.
But according to a friend, that is kind of selfish. Because it's leaving others who love you so much.
That's another story...

To my sister's friend, may you be happy with our Lord in heaven.
Please do watch over your sister, and your family, and your friends who love you so much because you have been a very great friend to them.
That I know for sure.

To a family

My aunt (father's side) came home from the States, surprise!
Anyway, yesterday, we- daughters, sons, and grandchildren- had offered a mass for my lolo and lola on my father's side. Then we went to the cemetery to offer them flowers. We prayed and then before we went, my aunt said:

"See, I work with the dying (nurse in a hospice), and I always ask them to say hi to my mom and dad in heaven."

I remembered then all those lolas and lolos back at the Asilo de Molo. I guess that experience taught me to appreciate the olds and their near-end-of-life stuffs. I used to hate the idea of working in a hospice but I now understand the need of giving these olds a good life before they go.

Plus, it does have an advantage...
You get to send a message to someone you love in heaven through these lolos and lolas...

Body Art

2010-09-11T19:18:00.016+08:00

Every year, during our Nursing Fun Days, we have this contest for Mr. And Ms. Body Art.
Last year, the People's Choice was through money thing.
This year, it's through Likes in Facebook.
This will be concluded at our Night Shift, where they will undergo different stages, from the Intro, to the depiction, and then finally the stupid question and answer portion (stupid because the questions are usually senseless and it's up to the contestant to answer and unanswerable question).
Oh, and during that night, they will be camouflaged in a large canvas.

My point for blogging is to ask for your little time, only if you're willing, to like our contestant if you think they deserve the Like. =)
Note: You have to Like the Nursing Fun Days page first before you can Like your choice.

4th year Batch Johnson Ms. Body Art contestant: Ms. Jovian Lily Pimentel

4th year Batch Johnson Mr. Body Art contestant: Mr. Rubel Jan Samis

Here's a sneak peek of the other contestants:

1st year

2nd year

3rd year

4th year

Fairytales and Insecurities

2010-09-10T12:22:00.005+08:00

So to the man I know does exist, and who will help me maybe make sense of the world someday, this man I can’t wait to love. Please know that I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. But for now, I wait. Fingers crossed and palms held together, I hope that you’re out there somewhere, waiting for me, too.

With the hope I will be yours for always,

Me

Found this through a link of my friend in Facebook. To read the whole "letter", here's the link:

My daughter’s letter to the man she will love someday

You will find below the post a sort of reply in the comments area.
Wala lang...
=)

Lesson of the Day:

Actually, I don't know how to put my LOTD in just a few words.
Okay, so here's the thing.

I know Girl A, she's my classmate. She was once with Guy A. Now, Guy A is with Girl B. Back on those days when these three stepped into the same school, Girl A was always finding fault with Girl B, her nose, her face, her everything. Girl A's friends were with her too, of course.

A year later, Girl A and Girl B were sort of friends. They now smile, cheer, and talk with each other... genuinely ha? Girl A's friends had become Girl B's friends too.

Just a few days ago, a friend of mine who is Girl B's friend too told me something which involves Girl B. Maybe he thought I don't know Girl B, he said, "That girl who looks like Girl A."

I don't know if you understood the situation, hehe.
My point is, sometimes, we put others down, looking for imperfections in them, just to make ourselves feel better... when the truth is, we are just so like them. Maybe we don't feel others because somehow, we can find ourselves in them.

Maybe it's just our ego.
Or something.

Pa mood-mood lang

2010-09-06T16:40:00.010+08:00

For months since availabe ang wifi sa SM, subong ko lang na-try, haha!
I'm so liking this...
Hahaha!

These reviews are influenced by my mood when I watched the film so read further at your own risk.

Ben X

I never heard of the film but the cover says it had won awards and was supposed to be a Belgian entry but failed to receive actual nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category of Academy Awards 2007, so I bought it anyway.

The film was about Ben. He had Asperger’s Syndrome.
According to Wikipedia...

Asperger syndrome or Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development.

Ben goes to a school with normal kids and because of his condition, he was always bullied. His only escape is the game Archlord wherein he is in a very high level and he was considered a hero, where he can fight anyone else. He was accompanied by a healer named Scarlite. Usually, she becomes his strength. This is based on a true story of a boy with Asperger’s who commited suicide because of bullying.

Reactions:

At first, I find the language odd in the ears. Maybe because it’s just now that I’m watching a European film (although I had watched Let The Right One In before, which is Swedish). I was saying maybe I was used to Korean and Japanese. I adjusted anyway, and so I found the movie engaging. I think the progress of the story was good, you really get to understand someone with Asperger’s, his world, and also see the intensity of the bullying.
I think I love the film all in all (maybe because of the psych part), but I think I was just weirded out with the suicide part, though I totally understand his intentions, the creative suicide thing.

Letters to Juliet

I’ve seen a comment in YouTube saying how Amanda Seyfried loves “letter” films (remember Dear John?), wala lang, it was a nice observation, hehe.

Anyway, I bought this because I just saw it and it was the only new film which is a love story, just plain love story, because I was in the mood for a light love story.

The film was a web of cliché storylines: boy and girl in a relationship but boy doesn’t have a lot of time, finding a lost love, some realizations of who you really love, in short, you know how the story goes as well as know the ending.

But I love it, I don’t know, maybe because I’m in the mood for a love story? And whenever that happens, I was such a sucker for cliché romance? I really don’t see the point of liking the movie since I really don’t like Amanda Seyfried (ever since Mamma Mia! and most especially when I knew she’ll play Savannah in Dear John), it wasn’t so much of a comedy when they were claiming it’s a romantic-comedy, and blah blah blah.

But I didn’t get bored, and I guess I know why...

Because all the while I was thinking of finding my Romeo too (hay nagdrama duman ko ah)...

Camp Rock 2

I guess I watched it because I was curious how the part 2 will go. I was not hooked. I kept on changing channels, to Star Movies with the movie Fired Up!, even though it was the singing/dancing scene. I don’t like the songs. And I was really thinking they went from the “Glee-format” to “HSM format”. In part 1, they sing and dance because it is really in the story that they are singing and dancing. In part 2, they just break into the singing and dancing parts and have conversations through singing and dancing. Also, I don’t feel the Shane-Mitchie team up, they seem to be good in part one.

I also didn’t find the last performances a blast.

I think the only blast was the movie trailer.

That’s all.

365-Day Projects

2010-08-28T12:54:00.013+08:00

365 days. 1 project.
Doing something for 365 days.
Here's some sample projects:

New Dress a Day
by: Marissa
website: New Dress a Day
goal: transform ugly dresses to pretty dresses, spending only $1 a day, so that would be, as the tagline goes...

365 Days. 365 New Outfits. 365 Dollars.

I found her site some days ago when she was featured in the Yahoo! main page. I was hooked since I love dresses and I always loved the idea of turning cheap, not-so-fashionable dresses into fashionable, as-if expensive dresses.

Here's some of my favorites:

Uniform Project
by: Sheena Matheiken
website: Uniform Project Year 1
goal: wearing the same black dress, 365 days, 365 different looks

The thing with this project is that it aims to raise money for children in India so that they ca go to school. Her message is that by accessorizing, etc, we do not need to buy new outfits just to look different everyday.

And here's the Year 2 dress:

Project 365
by: Janus Jan de Guzman
website: Facebook album
goal: everyday life captured in a photo

This is by my classmate Janus, and if you're following my blog, I used his photos in one of my posts, Tiki Luau.

Here's his first photo in the album (he's the guy in the photo):

I also want to do a 365 project of my own but I can't think of what to do.
I was thinking that since my blog says "What Lilac Learned Today", maybe I could have 365 lessons. I don't know, I want to do something else.

Do you have any suggestions? Please?
How about you? If you will be doing a 365 project, what's your idea?

Sidenote:
This is not a 365-day project but I idolize this classmate because he is, well, many things but to summarize, he is a true leader.

He is Christopher Millora, Grand Winner of the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy, and he will be representing our country in Germany.
His project was environmental awareness in children through storytelling.
He's a big man, with a big heart. =)

Photos later, got to go.

Pinoy stuffs

2010-08-24T20:49:00.007+08:00

Topic 1: Executive Order 255

This requires all radio stations to play at least four original Filipino music every hour.

My say...
I remembered my last year in high school, if I remembered it right, when I was truly overwhelmed about Pinoy music taking over international songs. I think it was the time when bands sprout here and there. MYX countdowns everyday had different bands vying for the top spot and no foreign song enters the daily top ten. I was feeling happy for the music industry of our country. But then, that was short-lived. International songs took over plus this Kpop craze.

I think it was good for President Aquino to have that as a solution.
But in my opinion, either it is not the "right" solution or it is not enough.
I think, what he should have ordered, is for Filipinos to STOP REVIVING and DOING VERSIONS of someone else's song. I think, no matter how many times you hear Filipino singers in the radio, the fact still remains that they are singing the songs of foreign artists. You can hear Filipino artists on the radio but the song was some song you have heard years ago, have memorized by heart, and have heard in different versions already.

That's what I think.

Topic 2: Hostage taking

I don't have details because we were working on our research last night and I don't have TV in our boarding house. I just heard about it from other people and saw a short report this morning in my patient's room.

All I could say is that it's sad how 'poor' the Philippines is.
If you know what I mean...
Security, strategies...
Too sad for our tourism and reputation too.

Topic 3: Miss Universe

Sidenote: Notice how Ms. Philippines is so engrossed with the audience, Ms. Jamaica so sweet, Ms. Ukraine with the attitude, Ms. Puerto Rico having fun with things out of the picture... and Miss Mexico just being a beauty queen. =)

In line of topic 2, when I realized today was the Ms. Universe, I was thinking it was going to be a pressure for Ms. Venus Raj because somehow, I think grabbing the crown can somehow uplift the spirits and the name of the Philippines after that tragic event yesterday.

But then we had a duty today.
And guess what?
The hospital was filled with fuss about the Miss Universe pageant.

Back at the stock room, there's a newspaper with Venus Raj in the headline crying tears for fellow beauty queen Melody, 2009 something. She died in a car accident.

Then there's the big screen at the hospital lobby where, during our lunch break, the doctors were rushing to catch the pageant.

And fortunately, my patient was watching in their room too. It was a perfect timing because it was the interview part.

Seeing that Ms. Philippines made in on top 5 was wow.
Good for her. Well done Ms. Raj.
Then came the interview. I was forewarned by my two groupmates who had watched the interview beforehand because their patient was watching in Star World.

Then I agreed with them that it was so "sayang"...
Having that spot, and not giving her best shot.
That's what I think.
Then they were saying things like Raj being a "feeler", criticizing her answer because it seemed like she sees herself as perfect having no major problem.

My opinion:
- It was a simple but good question, pwede ma-echosan. She should have taken it to her advantage.
- I think she can have that answer too, pa-style style lang man na. As long as you know how to justify, hit the spot. You can be mahangin if you know how to put it with a reasonable reason. But then she stopped right there and it was... sigh.
- I think, she was just too overwhelmed about making it on the top 5.

Still, congratulations Ms. Raj.
You did your best and reaching the top 5 was already an honor.
You made the world hear about the Philippines, not as a hostage-taking/killer country, but as a place of beautiful people.

Pahabol...
Topic 4: Pinays with foreign blood

In line with topic 1, I just want to state my observation about the delegates representing the Philippines these past few years.

Why does a Filipina need to have a foreign blood to have her compete in the International pageants?

I think, since some years ago, no pure Filipina beauty had represented the country, it's always those with foreign blood who takes the crown and represents the Philippines.

Sometimes, I even feel that they just have Bb. Pilipinas and Miss Philippines pageant for formality and it's like the delegate was already predetermined.

That's it...

Making a difference

2010-08-22T15:25:00.005+08:00

MY DREAM HOUSE

Just found this in the Yahoo! page.
Gosh.
I would really love to have a glass house someday.

Lesson of the Day:

"Everyone of us can make a difference in other people's lives. Promise!"

I know that was a cliche thing, but if you realize it the way I did, it was amazing.

Yesterday, we were on our way home. We were riding the bus and I seated right next to the window. Somewhere near Leganes, I saw two teens walking when suddenly, the boy tripped. He then looked at his companion and smiled as if saying, "Ka-funny sa akon, waay man guru may nakakita no?"

I wanted to laugh but I just smiled =)

And then as always when these things happen, I always think how other people are observing you, you being unaware of it. Then I thought about the times when I think no one is watching me (when in fact there is). What could have I been doing? Am I also acting funny, making that person laugh?

Then comes the LOTD.
It makes sense.
Even when you're not doing anything, even when you don't know it, you make a difference.
What if I had a problem that time and I was suicidal? That boy tripping had made me laugh and maybe I'll think there are still many things to laugh about in my life.
Professionals just do their jobs and when children see them, it influences their choices for their own future.
Imagine walking on the street and finding a 20 peso bill. You didn't pick it up because you saw a dirty kid walking towards it. Also, you didn't notice the real owner of the 20 peso bill was watching you and he saw that the kid had picked it up so he let the kid have it, when in fact, he needs that 20 pesos to buy a steak for dinner. But then he couldn't so he settled with a fish, and it made him realize he needed to be on diet and eat healthy stuffs.
Haha! Grabe ba.

Anyway, that's it.
Try to see it the way I did, you'll see.
Maybe you have turned someone into an achiever, a giving person, a criminal...
Joke.
But it could be a possibility!
Hmm, a whole new point.

=)

Step Up 3 - 3D

2010-08-15T20:13:00.003+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"They say, you can't serve two masters at once. Sometimes, we are caught in between two passions. But then, sometimes, we can create our best-est if we combine our two passions."

I don't know if you understand that.
For me, it's like having passion for dance and writing.
Then comes the day when you have to choose a course, a major.
My point is not really like Moose's situation who takes a double major.
My point is that you can't just simply forget about one passion just because you chose the other.
For example, you chose writing. But then sometimes, your other passion can take you to the peak of what you have chosen, like writing an award-winning piece about dancing.
See my point?

STEP UP 3D

I don't care about the haters out there, but I love Step Up movies, and I'm an avid fan. I liked the first, and then I liked even more the second (which I think was one of the few effective sequel movies).
And today, I watched the 3rd movie, and it's in 3D.

One-liner review:
The story was cliche and dialogue a bit cheesy, but it is visually stunning, entertaining... and was so good in 3D!

Story: It's the usual go for your dreams like the other Step Up films, usual dance battles, usual betrayal plot, usual LQ stuff. But what I like with this 3rd film was that it did not only focus on one couple, and that the story does not revolve with this certain couple. Aside from the Luke-Natalie, there's the Moose-Cam, which I loved more than the main couple. Then there's Luke's film-making dream. It does not purely revolve around the dance dreams, but also with different other things (enters my LOTD, if you can catch up with my train of thought, hehe).

Also, the story was "cheesy" here and there, the dialogue, the advices, the encouraging words, the catch-me-if-you-can/hide-and-seek of Luke and Natalie, though I kinda like that, hehe. I think it has subtlety in portraying dance as an art in the story (but definitely not subtle visually, ok I'll get there later). Also, it's like there's too many subplots, but too little story, that's what I think.

What I like:
1) 3D! Ok, when I found out about another installment of the film, I was so excited because I'm a fan, but more so, it was because it's on 3D. Then I was thinking, is it worthy to be in 3D? I mean, it's a dance movie and in my head, 3D films are just for fantasy films with visual effects or animation films. Though the story was a bit off, I think paying for 3D was worth it anyway because I would agree with some critics who said that 3D wasn't used to its full potential than this film.
2) The Moose-Cam dance scene. So love it! They are both great dancers. I realized Adam Sevani can't just do hip-hop but everything else. And I think, Alyson Stoner finally had a good role. She was always a super extra, and even though she was a good dancer, she was only given a few second clips.
3) Visual excellence. For me, it's visually excellent. Not only with the effects for 3D but also with the Vault (I'm not sure if I'm right). They made a really cool place, I wish I could have a home like that too. Haha! About the dance scenes, here's what I particularly love:

-the kids! It's like Showtime wherein groups incorporate dancer kids in their dance routines because hip hop kids are really audience-amusing. The little girl really rocked it!
-the variety. Ok, it's cliche enough to have ballet + hiphop in many films. Here, there's more. There's capoeira, robotic thingy, etc. And then there's this thing about climbing and jumping off buildings---wait, searching on Google---I think it's Parkour/Free running, in the scene of Natalie and Luke. I was just amazed with this kind of acrobatics or something when I first heard of it in a documentary show on TV.
-the LIGHTS! I think it is the main ingredient for the movie to be in 3D. Haha! I just sooooo love the last scene that I couldn't help clapping my hands after the scene. Gosh!

Ok that's it.
I have an NP to finish, and a duty tomorrow eventually.
Haha!

Physical and Mental fitness

2010-08-12T21:16:00.003+08:00

4th day of Tae Bo...
Despite my mother's objections...

Naks.

See, last night, I was on my way home when my phone rang. It was my mother. She was angry, telling me to stop my Tae Bo habit. She told me that if I will continue, I'll better stop schooling and just concentrate on Tae Bo. And that all I should do is study and not to do anything else, which is Tae Bo. I was really surprised, super surprised.

When I told them I was doing Tae Bo, I was expecting them to be happy to have myself engage in such activities. And I was even thinking of taking them there for their own health benefit as well as family bonding. And then that was their reaction?

Another reason she said was because the Boardwalk was a dangerous place. I was telling them there are many people who are also trying to get a healthy lifestyle jogging, walking, etc., there. I was thinking, it was one of their paranoid thoughts brought about by news in the radio. Come on! It's like crime happens everyday at the same place, blah blah blah.

Whatever.

Today I played soccer with my friends before going to the Tae Bo place.
I really have to build my endurance, really.

These days were also Kokology days.
I have to go home now, so I'll leave this link, my previous post about some Kokology thingy I've taken.

The Lilac the Kokology Knew

Tae Bo

2010-08-09T20:57:00.004+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Not all handsome guys are handsome. Sometimes, they are beautiful."

Hashi and I were walking after tiring ourselves jogging at the Boardwalk early this evening. Haha!
We saw two guys and Hashi was asking me if I think they were gay. And then she said "Gwapo pa man tani ang naka-maroon."

Okay..
So today was another new wonderful experience...
TAE BO!
Sa Boardwalk...
I went with my groupmates, they had been doing it for sometime already and I thought I'll give it a try even though we have duty and research thingy to pass tomorrow.
Haha!

I really feel good. Not just physically good, I just had fun.
=)
Go healthy living!!!

(As if... I had bbq and mountain dew for supper, and junk foods, and chocolate--- haha!)

Of art, fashion, and religion

2010-08-03T21:37:00.007+08:00

Lessons of the Day:

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep."

As a Photoshop user, I am faced with this dilemma every time I create something. When I first started with Photoshop, I would really squeeze everything that I like: cute photos, damn amazing brushes, all fonts, etc. But then now, when I look back at all those finished stuffs, I realized the piece was too crowded. Sometimes, it really takes a good eye to put everything in its proper place without making it look crowded. The cliche "simplicity is beauty" is always applicable.

Also, when I work with Photoshop, I always do trial and error. I'm not yet an expert. Before I work on something, I already had a concept in mind but then it always turns out differently. Sometimes, I make many mistakes that I allow myself to do it all over again. The end piece is worth it all anyway.

"The gladiator shoes/sandals is made for fighting. Filipinas are fashionably fierce."

Borrowed this from Star World. I just love the line "fashionably fierce". I love gladiator flats. Almost- or all- my flat sandals are gladiators. I just love them 'coz they're strappy. And for me, strappy makes everything else I wear elegant. I don't know. I'm wishing for gladiator heels, they're too pricey, that's why I'm sticking with flats for now. Haha!

Note: I was suppose to post pictures of me wearing my different flats, but then while scanning my pics, I realized I'm fond of taking a photo of my feet/footwear. So I decided I'll do a post chronicling my footwear, maybe tomorrow, hehe...

"One religion has many types of followers."

I rode the jeep to school this morning. One of the passengers was Manang Siomai (that's what we call her because she sells the siomai we looooove). She chatted with me and so I knew that the reason why they stopped selling pork siomai was because they converted from being Catholics to Adventists. Now they were selling beef and chicken siomai. And she also told me that sometimes, she puts malunggay in the siomai, so that the siomais became, in a way, nutritious. Then she began telling me about the health risks of pork, what the bible tells us to eat, until she reached into her overwhelming feeling of conversion, about the truths about God that she had not known when she was a Catholic, that she had been a Baptist too and only in being an Adventist had she possessed the necessary knowledge of the bible and religion, etc.

Preacher Mode.
I know I don't have the right to preach because I myself was having some spiritual crisis, but I just can't help noticing and defending things. Though I was guilty not to defend my own faith in front of her...

I promise to make this short...

1) I'm not against any religion, especially Adventists. I had been to an Adventist school and I really appreciate their way of living because I had a first hand experience with that. I had been a vegetarian for a day, and it was an overwhelming experience for a "carnivorous" person like me. I especially appreciated how their School of Nursing works since they promote healthy living and all, so it was really different, knowing that most patient education includes nutrition.

2) About direct worship to God and the Catholics having Mary and the saints... I had my primary and secondary education at a Catholic school so I know that we pray to Mary and the saints not because we worship them but because our prayers are heard through their intercession. It's like courting that sometimes, lovers use bridges for communication. There are different prayers anyway, direct to God or through these vessels. So it goes with priests.

3) One of my perceived advantages of being in a state university was that I had seen diverse religions and beliefs. And the most amazing part was how there are a lot of stories in the way they practice their beliefs. I had known a Catholic who acts like a Baptist, joining their activities, attending their masses and even not doing the sign of the cross. She said, it's her choice. Then I know of an Adventist who goes to school on Saturdays because Nursing requires her to, and she eats anything she likes, she usually eats meat than vegetables even, according to her, she doesn't think there's a solid rationale as to their beliefs in eating. And she attends Catholic masses. Then a Mormon who says she shouldn't do any schoolwork on a Sunday but then insists on finishing our project because she had a crush on our teacher for that subject. Etc, etc. And so I can conclude that it doesn't matter which religion we're under, and which sect we're under. I think, it's a matter of faith.

4) The most amazing lesson about faith that I've learned is from our seminarian Christian Living Experience teacher. He said that there are a lot of questions about the Christian faith, about the traditions, the beliefs, about the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, etc. There are the Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous, and the Glorious mysteries in the rosary. We don't have to ask why and how, that's why they are called 'mystery'. Right? Just like traditions. It's simply a part of the Christian faith and it rests on you if you would believe, or question---

THE END.

New takes on love

2010-08-02T10:34:00.005+08:00

I've watched these films days ago, I just remembered posting my thoughts now.
=)

TWILIGHT lesson:

I'll summarize:
1) It gets better and better, maybe because Eclipse 'has a plot' compared to New Moon which had little story. And maybe because it's more on action. But for me, it still has no "wow" factor. It's just famous, that's all.
2) Hindi na uso ang torn-between-two-lovers theme. Ang bago? Both sila love mo, kaya lang you love one more than the other. And then merong martyr here and there. Oh well.
3) The movie? K lang. Maybe because I hadn't read the book (the only book I had not read because Eclipse wasn't available noon so I jumped to Breaking Dawn, nung available na ang Eclipse, I lost enthusiasm).

THE BACK-UP PLAN

The movie received a lot of negative reviews.
Maybe because it lacked in some movie elements.

But for me, when I watched the movie, I didn't think of movie elements at all.
I don't know, I find the movie funny. As in.

What I especially like is the development of their relationship. I can feel it building. And I really like how the guy shows he really hates the idea of having a child but then because he loves her, he has to deal with it.

That's all. I don't care about you haters of the film. I liked it.

The Best In You

2010-08-01T20:28:00.006+08:00

The Best Lesson I've Ever Learned:
(and perhaps, for those who have self-esteem issues too)

"If you can never be like them, be whoever they can never be."

I just want to share this. I was over this issue and I'm having fun with what I had realized because of the self-esteem issue.

A year or so ago, I was insecure with this girl because of many things. And then I was looking at her Friendster (mu pa ni uso) pics and I envy her because she is really beautiful in whatever angle. So it goes with all other pretty girls surrounding me.

Then came one night where I broke down because of my self-esteem problem. Then it just struck me that if i can't be always pretty in pics like her, then I can have the ugliest face in pics!
Haha! Kind of weird right?
To your right is the result. I laughed at myself. I made myself laugh at my stupidity (the insecurity, not the face).

Presently, I was 'amazing' my groupmates with this special talent. They were calling me 'the best poser'. Well, judge for yourselves, =)

Inception

2010-08-01T19:18:00.008+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"There are indeed times when we get detached from reality because we want to live in an alternate world we created to suit our needs and desires. But then, we should always remember to go back- and accept- reality, the world we are truly in. There's only a thin line that separates sanity from insanity."

I watched this film because I believed the movie review of glentot and the Rotten Tomatoes rating of 87% more than my teacher saying she doesn't like the movie. She said maybe it's because she wasn't in the mood, or something.

I guess it's because if you want to watch this film, you have to really open your mind and understand the film. But then if you are after the action scenes and not the story, this movie is still for you.

What I like:
1) The dream layers, dream-within-a-dream concept. I was kind of thinking my sister wouldn't appreciate the movie but in the scene where they entered another dream level, she was amazed. Me too.
2) The action scenes, especially the hotel scene. It's like watching 3 action movies simultaneously... one action movie in each dream layer...
3) The story itself. It still has this cliche dream vs reality but this explores deeper into your subconscious. Real genius.

Worth watching!

The Beauty of Procrastination

2010-07-30T19:16:00.006+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Procrastination has benefits."

This is a wisdom from Ms. Dannielle Marie S. Nebit.
She was talking about wanting to buy something she really liked.
But she wouldn't buy it... for now.
She'll buy it when the price will be slashed into half or something.
And she'll wait for it.

Wise woman.
Haha!

Love understood

2010-07-29T21:12:00.004+08:00

I don't know how to phrase what I learned today so keep up with my story... =)

Sometime ago, I was visited by this thought:

"How can someone stick to just one and only person? He/She sees many better girls/guys but then how come they never go after all the handsomes, the beautifuls, the smarts, the talenteds in this world?"

For instance, I sometimes critic beautiful people how come they have not-so-beautiful people as their partner. My sister commented on how foreigners always choose dark-colored not-so-pretty Filipinas to be their wife. A cliche storyline in movies and books is some person falling for someone who is nowhere near who they are.

I observed my surroundings and I can see so many pretty faces. Sometimes, I wonder why Guy X chose Girl Y instead of Girl Z when Girl Z seemed a better girl, how Girl A fell for Guy B when he's out of her league.

And then came the answer....

My groupmates and I were taking some break to cool off from thinking about our case pre. One of them asked, if you were of the opposite sex, who would you court among the 4th yr nursing students?
We were all then laughing at our responses.
Then today, I remembered about it and realized I had the answer to my long-standing question.

Maybe I hadn't found the answer before because I'm not putting myself in the shoes of the opposite sex. I was still thinking as a girl, seeing all those pretty faces in the classroom, I only compared myself to them. But then when I was thinking like a guy, I can see how I answered "Classmate X". I was not thinking which girl was pretty because I can't see a clear distinction from each one of them except for classmate X. I thought of classmate A, she's pretty but I won't court her. I thought of classmate B, she's nice, but not for me. But then classmate X, she's just who I want to be with, she's just simply the one I will probably court if I were a boy.

I don't know if you understood that, if you felt that.
Why don't you try that too to see what I mean?
I know my explanation had been kind of homosexual, haha! Classmate X and I were very good friends. I'm sure she understands, hehe.

So there it was.
One of my life's top mind-boggling questions answered.

Tiki Luau WVSU-CON

2010-07-24T07:04:00.012+08:00

Good morning, world!
I'm writing this post fresh from waking up. I have a class later but I can't pass the opportunity of an unli surf.
I loaded my Visibility days ago but I was not aware it can't be read in Win7 so I borrowed my classmate's Tattoo.

Lesson of the Day:

"If you can't go 'round the world, bring the world to you."

Haha, a make-up LOTD.
Anyways, want to share pics of our Tiki Luau- the Nursing way, as my classmate Janus de Guzman calls it from whom I've grabbed the photos. That was the theme of our acquaintance party, held at our school's Jubilee Park (unlike other colleges who had theirs at hotels). Nevertheless, it was fun. As my batchmates would say, the best acquaintance party ever!

This is during the introduction of tribe leaders. We were divided into four tribes, by section. The section As with their Tribu Ahoo-ahoo, our section, Tribu Bu, section Cs Tribu Cooroocookoi, and section Ds Tribu Dooota. We were saying "pamango-mango nalang ni tribe name," hahah!

Note: Notice how I don't have a full grass skirt, hehe, limited budget.

At the end of the night, we won the Best Tribe Leader because of that presentation. That's because we're the only tribe who really prepared for the intro of tribe leaders. The truth is, that wasn't 'preparation' at all. It was all just our crazy idea to have all section B guys dancing in grass skirts and our cheer was inspired from the jokes which blurted out when we were making our music video. In connection with that, we also won the Best Music Video, Hello? Phone?, a parody of Telephone by Lady Gaga. Too bad I can't upload it 'coz it's restricted. Runner-ups were parodies of California Girls, Good Girls Go Bad and You Belong With Me.

At the end of the night, Tribu Bu was announced as the Best Tribe.

At the end of the night, I was out in Smallville partying... 'til morning.
=)

Do something

2010-07-23T19:08:00.004+08:00

"Do something. Not doing anything is punishable by law."

Haha!

For the meantime, I'll have this blog template.

Can't find the bloggin' enthusiasm yet.
Nangangapa.

For the meantime, listen to these two songs.
Super meaningful lyrics.
Tumatama.

And watch this trailer.
I think I'll be looking forward??

Blogging again! Back, back, back!

2010-07-01T11:03:00.007+08:00

Yeah!
Finally, I'm back!

I'd say I've been pretty busy lately, but the best reason for hibernating was my laziness.
And I was thinking of reconstructing my blog so it seemed like I don't feel like adding a new post unless I've redone it.

But then, this post is worth blogging! Actually, there are a lot of things to say... so I'll better start.

Lessons learned during hibernation:

"You will never know."

Situation 1:
We had our grand case presentation last Tuesday. This was something because we are working with new people. We have been reshuffled this fourth year, which means new classmates, new RLE groupmates and new clinical instructors. And then there's their (CIs) expectations from us that we will be doing great because we are already in the division of "professional nursing". Plus, the patient chosen was from our ward, so our group had put our best efforts into this case presentation.

We chose the patient with this diagnosis:
t/c Leptospirosis Chronic Kidney Disease probably drug-induced (KOI)...
I forgot the other parts.
If you're asking what KOI was, it was the KOI herbal capsule. During one of the endorsements, they were talking about many cases of CKD caused by the said herbal capsule.

Our last encounter with P.P. (our patient for case pre) was supposed to be last Monday, the day before the case pre.
Unexpectedly, he died last week, Thursday, around 2 am, I think.

We felt bad. For me, it's so different because we have him for case pre and then it seemed like it was the first time that the patient for case pre had died.
But then we went on.
We prayed for his soul before we started.
Even though gone from this earth, Manong P.P. helped us gain knowledge as well as helped us see that nurses has a big role in prolonging the life of the patient.

May God bless your soul Manong P.P...

Situation 2:
Yesterday, I've learned from a high school classmate that the mother of our friend (high school barkada) was diagnosed to have breast cancer. I asked her to confirm and she said it's true and she was asking for prayers because her mother will undergo a mastectomy this Friday.

That was unexpected.
So was with my mother's case years before.

I was reading the text of that friend this morning, a group message once and for all informing all of us who received the message that her mother has breast cancer and that she was asking for prayers and was thanking all those who cared.

I can feel her concern for her mother, and I immediately thought about my own situation years ago.

I always see being young, a high school student at that time, as an excuse for being ignorant about my mother's breast cancer. I know I should have shown concern too, but I can remember that everytime people tell me God bless or something else good for my mother, I just smile and never felt what it really mean, you know, wishing my mother well. Maybe in my mind, I know that my mother is strong and that I can't see cancer as that serious because I can see my mother in good condition, except maybe for her balding head.

My mother, and I know for sure Tita too, and our families, had never expected cancer to enter our lives.

God bless Tita on her cancer, and her surgery this Friday.
God bless her family too.

Situation 3:
Last night, I was scheduled for a completion duty in our town hospital. I was all nervous because I don't want to go back there because I had some traumatic experience there.

Note: I was having problems with my scrubs because my classmates already had 10 or something while I only had two!

But then, God showered us with blessings!
I had scored three at the end of our duty.
And one of that was a HANDLE!
See, it was important because there's a hospital who requires a student to have two or three handles before they will accept you to have completion in their DR.

I was so happy because I always believe I was a jinx, either no deliveries, or the baby is premature, or the baby dies.

Thank you, Lord!

That's it for now.
I have to fix my things, I'm going to NEGROS!
It's for our organizational study, we're going to CPAC (Central Philippine Adventist's College).
I have an hour to pack my things.

With only a thousand pesos in my hand, hope I can survive 'til Saturday.
It's parasitism time (makikain, maki-everything), haha!

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My 20th birthday celebration... luv it!

2010-06-07T21:12:00.016+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Friends, no matter what kind of people they are, will always be there to make you smile."

I could say...

WISH GRANTED!

Actually, my birthday will be on June 14 pa and Tep's will be on 30 but we decided to celebrate earlier (June 4), so that it would be before our classes (and duties, and OJTs) will start so that many will be available.

And I'm so surprised! I never expected 17+ friends to come!

Tep was saying, the only way to gather these people is through the magic word: LIBRE.

And the boys were joking within themselves too, that they label themselves USER-FRIENDS.

We have talked about a lot of things and seen each and everyone dancing on the floor, drunk, or being KJ, and despite whatever different irritating personalities each of them have, all I know is that I enjoyed the night with them.

I love 2pax!

Some movies

2010-06-04T18:32:00.007+08:00

Movie sort-of-review

Shutter Island
This movie was a psychological suspense/thriller/mystery. The story is set in a mental institution wherein Daniels (Di Caprio) was investigating about the disappearance of the patient Rachel Solando.

My comments:
1) While watching the movie, I was saying it's so Scorsese even though I'm not familiar with Scorsese films. I think that's a compliment for the movie.
2) Nice cinematography, nice everything, it displayed murder in a creative way.
3) The story is good, good twist. But I guess being a student nurse who had undergone Psych exposure, I kind of figured Patient 67 right after that scene where Daniels saw it on a piece of paper. Sort-of-spoiler! Also with the photosensitivity, the headaches, and the hallucinations that was just masked as dreams.

Couples Retreat
Four couples go on a retreat/vacation for couples.

My comments:
1) It has a star-studded cast. They were all amazing.
2) I like the plot wherein they discover the patches in their relationship, especially with Vaughn's and Akerman's characters, wherein they thought their marriage was perfect.
3) It bored me. I slept midway the film. It was supposed to be a rom-com, but I was neither laughing or feeling in love.

Cyborg girl
A Japanese movie about a guy falling in love with a cyborg girl. She was not just any cyborg, she was sent from the future by the guy's future self... and she was modeled after his dream girl whom he met a year ago.

1) Sort of boring from the start.
2) I super love the actress who was playing the cyborg girl, Ayase Haruka. My sister was saying, "She's the girl version of the AI guy (Haley Joel Osment)." My sister was really amazed at how HJO acts perfectly as a robot that she was saying in every movie where HJO was, she always thinks he's a robot. So it was the same amazement with this actress, she moves like a robot, she can be in a frozen state like a real mannequin, blah blah blah.
3) For me, it has a nice ending, nice twist, nice explanation or fix to the questions hanging along the movie. But I think it wasn't executed just right.
4) Does Japanese movies always end or have earthquakes somewhere in the story? I think it's the earthquake part that was kind of odd to be in the already perfect mood of the story. But it plays a role in the plot, so...

Whip It
A small town teenager joins a roller derby.

My comments:
1) Drew Barrymore did great with her directorial debut. Just another teen movie discovering her passion but in a rockin' kind of way.
2) Can't help loving roller derby. Of course, it was so alien to me, who skates these days? At first I had trouble understanding the rules but later in the movie, I was like: I want to establish a roller derby here in the Philippines! Haha! Like I can do that, I don't even know how to skate! But I wish for a pair of roller skates for my birthday, I want to learn badly!
3) Ellen Paige was excellent, and I love the Mayhem girl and the antagonist girl and the Kate-Hudson-only-slightly-bigger girl, and Smashley Simpson (Drew Barrymore). Also Pash, the bestfriend.
4) I love how Maggie Mayhem makes her realize that even though she had found a new family with the Scouts, Bliss doesn't have to turn her back on her family. Now, that's a good mother! I don't know but for me, in the movies I've watched with this plot, the protagonist usually pursues their passion without even looking back that much as Bliss did in this movie.
5) Most of all, I love how the Scouts are so happy being 2nd (there are 2 competing groups only). But then later on, of course they realize they can't be the forever losers. They just do what they have to do, and they're having fun with what they do.

I love Whip It!

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things in life

2010-06-03T21:47:00.004+08:00

Blog Shorts...

Last week, our Asilo de Molo duty ended. When I was just anticipating the duty, I was thinking of what I used to say, that I will accept any patient, just not an elderly because I don’t feel old persons, they can just be annoying at times. By the end of our duty, I was opened to the world of the home for the aged, open arms to the lolos and lolas. I realized taking care of them can be fun too and that each of them had their own story to tell that will make you more inspired to stay with them, take care of them and make them happy.

I’ll miss Lola T, the one assigned to me, and her endless repeated inquiries. I’ll miss Lola Commander, Lolo Hiphop, Lola Joker, Lola Incontinence, Lola Tweety, Lola Lost, Lolo Professor, Lolo Chess masterand the others. I’ll share this last four lines of a composo rendered by one of the talented oldies:

“Sa inyo pagbalik sa Iloilo,
Kay natapos na ang inyo kontrato,
Kami inyo man pagabisitahon,
Kay kami gahulat man sa gihapon.”

(As you return to Iloilo for your duty is finished, visit us sometime because we are just here waiting.)

I remembered when I was young, I heard my tito telling my mother this thing costs 200+. I asked him what it means but he was too busy to answer. So I assumed it means that you can buy this item for 200 pesos and it’s up to you to add any amount (to justify the plus, haha).

This Monday, I went to get a copy of my NSO birth certificate because it’s a school requirement. It’s just so fulfilling to hold my birth certificate by the end of the day, going through all the daunting long lines, waiting for my number and my name to be called.

My sister and I watched the movie Whip It a few nights ago. I came up with two ideas: 1) I wish for roller skates for my 20th birthday, and 2) I told my sister “When I go to America, I will work in a diner too.” Then she said, “Others would say they would hit big time there and you, you want to be a diner girl?”

Just like the elections, our enrolment this year was computerized. All I can say is that it was suppose to make enrolment easier and fast, but then it turned out to be ‘awat’, annoying, and a big problem.

I was so happy to see the Glee club members doing Lady Gaga. I so love the Poker Face rendition!

I discovered St. Peregrine is the cancer saint. It was kind of ironic that he has cancer of the bone which could mean pain in his legs and possible amputation, and yet his name Peregrine means pilgrim or traveler. God is really the biggest joker.

Jeep malfunction

2010-05-28T21:31:00.003+08:00

I had a funny experience tonight...

I was riding the jeep. We were a few barangays away from the town when one of the tires poof!
The tire was changed in a few minutes.
Then when we were just about a few kilometers from the highway of my street, another tire went flat. The other passengers decided to walk but four of us stayed even though the jeep was awkwardly running. People were staring, haha!

elderly

2010-05-24T23:00:00.005+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Taking of the elderly can both be a funny and a rewarding experience."

Today, we had our orientation for this week's Asilo de Molo duty. We were given our patient assignment, and the lola that was assigned to me has Alzheimer's.

At first I felt down because she is suplada. But then later, she was already asking for me to stay with her and sleep with her. She is already smiling and telling me about her experiences.

I just hope that tomorrow, I won't need to build rapport again. But then, if there's anything Asilo de Molo can teach a person, it is P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E. Inhale, exhale.

Let's see tomorrow.

Old art, new art

2010-05-23T20:41:00.009+08:00

Obviously, wasak na wasak na ang May blogathon commitment ko.Hay. Eto nalang ibablog ko for now, kasi nangangapa pa ako ng blogging enthusiasm, kasi masyadong matagal ang hibernation ko.

This week, I had my duty in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We took care of newborns, cute little creatures. I'll have a post about my experience someday. This was inspired by the twin babies that was assigned to me (actually, just one of the twins).

This is a sketch I made in high school when I was trying to learn to use charcoal. But then trying hard gid ko, haha!
This is inspired by the song "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day.

Brownout

2010-05-16T11:28:00.004+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Sometimes, all we need is a little blackout to appreciate under appreciated things in life."

Hay naku.
I skipped another day for the blogathon, kasi, brownout the whole day kahapon.

Sublesson #1: According to our teacher, brownout is just incomplete blackout, and the term we lay people use, which is brownout, is actually a blackout. Since I'm just an average citizen, I'll use the term brownout in this post.

I went home from the city all excited to spend the rest of my day unwinding. I was thinking of drowning in internet heaven, continue my wall painting in a room here in our house, write a story that has been running in my head for days, watch watch watch TV and sleep sleep sleep 'til noon today.

Instead...
I had an early 'candlelight' supper at our neighbor's house, we spent chatting and laughing...
I had nothing to do so I volunteered to fill the big water container using the water pump...
I helped making the cheese lumpia because tomorrow was Jj's birthday...
I listened to the radio and heard of Manny Pacquiao winning as congressman and some guy in a nearby barangay killing his wife, then we had discussions, etc...
I watched the sky and my sister had seen a falling star...
I slept at our living room because mainit sa room ko and since my sister was lying on the large sofa, I had to connect the smaller ones...

Well, ok lang... I had done a lot of things kahit brownout.

This was my jelly shoes.
I used it last Friday because I can't find any shoes.
I bought it a long time ago in a tiangge at the plaza when jelly shoes were uso, that was not because it's uso but then I find it comfy and stylish and especially that it can go with any outfit.
My classmate noticed it and said that she missed her jelly shoes which was already worn out and nowhere to be found.
Then another classmate said I always have cute footwear, like some sort of Shoe Fairy or something.

I never expected them to notice an old 'under appreciated' jelly shoes.
It was something noticeable pala.

Sublesson #2: Know your ringtone.
A few days ago, a phone rang and I was informing my friends because it might be theirs. Then I looked at my phone and it was my phone that was ringing after all. They were laughing at me because they didn't reach for their cellphones because they knew their ringtone and because I didn't know my own ringtone. And just a few minutes ago, I heard another phone ringing and alertly told my tita 'coz I thought it might be her phone. But it turned out to be my phone which was lying just above the CPU... Hay.

AMAZING FINDS

Seen this in a blog I've visited a while ago...

Choose between being ugly but intelligent, or beautiful but silly...
My answer?
Beautiful and silly.
Haha!
It's just that being silly can take you to different situations and I just think I'll have more fun with that than being ugly and intelligent.

This video I have found in Facebook.
I was so jealous of the kids!
I can't dance like them!

ER realization

2010-05-14T21:23:00.007+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Nursing experience is rewarding."

Last tuesday, we were looking for a journal article as a requirement for our ER duty. Then I happened into this page which is about the Question of the Month:

If you have to do it all over again, would you still want to be a nurse?

Honestly, I wouldn't take nursing if I have to do it all over again. But then, I admit that Nursing had done many good things to me. It had made me aware of many things that I should be giving attention: cleanliness, confidence, studies, love of self, life plans, mental health... and perhaps one of the most rewarding things that Nursing had given me that I wouldn't trade for anything else was witnessing for myself the reality and wonders of humanity: carrying of a human in another human's womb, defying death, strong will of holding on, poverty, unconditional love, letting go, pain, hurt, and many others.

Today, Jinky and I were reflecting on the 'amazingness' of our ER experience. We noticed how doctors and nurses are very calm in dealing with emergencies. Then I mentioned about the typical movie or soap opera scene wherein someone is rushed to the hospital, then the nurses would interview, then the folk would roar in anger because they still have time for interview instead of responding to the almost-dying patient. In the hospital setting, the folk is usually asked to get an ER chart in the admitting section and then when they return, the interview begins, assessment, history taking, etc. Well, this is important for proper intervention for the patient...

Then I told Jinky how you could see real emotions and thus know for yourself that real life dramas makes you appreciate life more. When we were assigned in the medicine area of the ER, there was a patient who had cardiac arrest. On one corner, his folks were crying hard. In the trauma area, a little child was brought because he had a slit in his forehead and he was profusely bleeding. You can see his mother crying for her child.

I may not want to be a nurse if I have to do it all over again but I know it's not possible. And I don't wish for things to change. I love witnessing real people in real life situations with real emotions. And only Nursing could give such rewarding experience.

bodyworxx

2010-05-13T20:03:00.006+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Eat right."

Note: Pardon me if there will be any error in my explanations... I'm open to corrections. These are AMAZING lessons I've learned today. They are simple things explained but the fact that you get a grasp of the detailed physiologic explanation is just wow, for me at least...

1. Do you know how people who hang themselves die? Let's start with the carotid artery. Through this, the brain is supplied with blood, thus oxygen. In physical assessment, carotid arteries are palpated one by one, because if you do it simultaneously, you will impede blood supply to the brain. So when people hang themselves, their carotid arteries are compressed by the rope, thus impeding blood supply to the brain...

2. Poor people indeed have tendencies to be mentally ill, not because of psychological factors such as stress of being financially able. Our cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is one of the three components inside our head. One of its components is glucose. There should be enough to have our brain function correctly. When a person doesn't eat often, aside from ulcer, they will lack glucose needed for proper brain function, which could lead to certain mental illnesses.

********************

MY LATEST ART

ER story and bloopers

2010-05-12T19:17:00.005+08:00

Lessons of the Day:

"Some people just can't accept mistakes."

We have intelligent teachers but then sometimes, they speak or do things that are sometimes wrong, and some people would correct them. Sometimes, they do palusot, which makes them funny. Sometimes, they become balimbing, saying this about a particular thing, then when corrected, says that he/she had been meaning to say otherwise.

Then there's manang from whom I bought softdrinks a while ago. I bought Mountain Dew which is P12.00 and I swear I handed her a P20.00 bill. I payed while another customer paid with a twenty-peso bill too. I received my softdrinks and walked away. Then Tita Faith reminded me of her change. I went back. Manang denied me the change. She said I gave her coins, exactly twelve pesos, saying I laid it on the cooler. Then there we go arguing, she being this angry already. Maybe, she thought I was just trippin' on her because I just went back for my change. That's my weakest point, I guess. I forget easily that I sometimes forget my change or sometimes, even, I forget to pay. Haha!
Manang Softdrinks, I know I'm right.

"It's good to have 25 cents in your wallet... and coins in your bag, and coins in your every bag."

I went home straight, I did not pass by the boarding house like usual. I immediately rode the jeep. Then when the jeep was already going, I realized that the reason I was thinking of going back to the boarding house was because I got no money left for my fare (which is P25.00)! On my pocket, I had only P18.00. I kind of panicked, konti lang. So there I go, rummaging the pockets of my duty bag. I found two pesos in my wallet. P20.00. Then another two pesos and a few 25- and 10- centavo cents. P22.00. Then after a few more minutes, I found another two pesos in the smaller inner compartment of my bag. Great! Then I used the 25-cents to have a fare. Whew!

That is what usually amazes me... whenever I surprise myself with the money I have in the pockets, hehe.

My ER story

Yesterday, I was worrying about my next day duty. The orientation hadn't been pretty smooth-sailing as I thought. I realized that I have more to learn. Then last night, I dreamt that there's no work in the ER, we were just walking around, sitting on one corner, walking around some more, then sighing in the corner.

I admitted a patient to the ward! It's a rare opportunity, you know, endorsing from the ER to the ward. Then I also had my first ever skin test for three long years of being a nursing student. I'm proud of myself because even though I was a sala-sala warrior at first, I did it just fine.
I'm so happy! Even though I was busy and hadn't taken my lunch because of that, I'm still happy to do those rare opportunities.
=)

Childish

2010-05-11T21:08:00.007+08:00

Lesson of the Day:

"Tall tales and fairytales bring us away from reality, but then it sparks a hope of a happy ending."

Isn't it amazing how we loved characters who aren't human?
We love toys who are adventurous, 'car' racers, a mix of a pig and a rabbit, dancing penguins, talking frogs, etc.
Some adult person once told me that I had been childish, watching cartoons and loving watching cartoons. I told her that it's because these cartoons and animated films also have a story of their own. They are not just there to entertain the eyes. Sometimes, they even have greater and better storylines than some movies.

Maybe what they unconsciously meant was that these cartoons and animated films features the impossible: talking objects and animals, magic, power... things that children are engaged in because they have quirky and vast imagination. And, it is childish to watch these because these movies are make-believe.

But then I will always remember the father and child in the movie Enchanted. The father never tells fairytale stories and the like to his daughter because he doesn't want her to grow expecting an easy and happy life. He wants his daughter to be aware of the harsh realities in life. But then, through a supposedly animated character, Giselle, he learned that despite bad things, happy endings do happen.

Vote

2010-05-10T11:48:00.006+08:00

It's my first time to vote!
And what pushes me (and my other classmates, they confessed) to vote is because of what our Constitutional teacher told us.
He had this friend who is all settled to go abroad, I don't know if it's his visa that was put on hold, but he was denied because he had never voted ever.
So it was kind of lesson to us, as what that Smartmatic spokesperson had said, it's just a little sacrifice. We wait in line for concerts, and mall shows for hours, how much more to our country's future?

God Bless the Philippines...