The CSB Experience 2: The Recollecting and the Food-Tripping

 

         HAAAAAH! RECOLLECTION!!!

 

         I was a bit pissed off last week after finding out that I didn't have a reservation on what was supposed to be my recollection day last September 25 Thursday. Turns out that the day was already full and even if I gave that effin' receipt earlier to the LMO, it won't make a difference since it was already full that time.

 

         So I was forced to have my recollection with 41 other souls the succeeding week, on September 30 Tuesday. 

 

         Turns out that I have nothing to worry about since Alyssa is one of those lucky souls as well as ex-Filip13 buddy Edwin. What even made my day is that I am assured that it won't be a boring recollection day for Sir Aldwin "Sir Intecom/Gepsych" Sanchez's our facilitator!

 

Yehey for that!

 

Fastforwarding events: 1)I was the first among less than 8 people who took a confession before hearing Mass and, 2) no, we don't have the Indian priest from last year's recollection as our mass celebrant (At least no one would laugh at the priest's English, SHAME ON YOU).

 

----

 

Okay food-tripping (Alyssa, you know this )

 

We were given food stubs worth 200 Pesos so at least we won't have to spend the money stored in our wallets (Good since I don't wanna spend that 500-peso bill my dad gave me early that morning).

 

So here's what I bought from using those food stubs:

 

1. Kare-kare with rice (Php 65)

2. C2 Malaki Lemon (Php 20)

3. Ice Cream Cake (Php 29)

4. Mineral Water (Php 18)

5. Pillows (Php 8)

6. Crunch for Sheena (Php 40)

7. Nagaraya (Php 10)

8. Blueberry Cheescake (Php 25)

 

And I ate them all!

 

But wait! THERE'S MORE!

 

Later that day I also had:

 

1. Grande Jamocha Almond from Zagu and 

2. Sinigang na Isda with Rise

 

 

Oww..lots of calories consumed...Need to burn them all off tomorrow!

 

Happy Eid Al-Fitr!

The CSB Experience 2: Shakey Sabado and a Silver-Filled Revelation

Hahaha! What happened last Saturday was really weird! An Intensity 5 earthquake shook Manila for less than 20 seconds and minutes later we were called by the DO to get our things and go take the emergency way out (We were in the middle of watching a boring yet interesting renaissance art movie for Hartds2 in the 7th floor).

At the time before the earthquake was about to take place, i noticed that my seatmate, Dims, sensed a tingling sensation.  I asked him what's wrong and...It happened.

The floor suddenly shook and it was moving back and forth from south to north. And I felt  las if surfing except I wasn't.

And I was like:  "Ah...OoooooOOOOooooOOooooooohhhhhOOOooooOooooooHHH.......!!!"

That was like 2 minutes past 11 am.

By the way, I did mentioned in one of my recent blogs (Freecut Sabado...) that I've met one of my ex-batchmates from elementary as my classmate in Hartds2. Well here's how it went on that day:

After we were told to get out of the building ASAP, I took the opprotunity to approach him and asked him if he is indeed the one I've been suspecting for a long time now. Considering that he only knew me when I was a newcomer in Grade Six and he's about to leave SJA come first year high school, I have to introduced myself to him and remind him things that I'm sure my batch knew me about (the lost St. Mark dude after recess, the guy partner of Mavs who wore his school uniform as a costume for a special dance performance watched by the whole school, and "ang batang dinuraan ni Karmelo sa mukha habang nanonood ng laban ng SJA sa Notre Dame sa volleyball nung PE" among others). He did and we were all like "Ahhh..." and "Okay..." and "Asteeeg!".

Can't believe he doesn't know me despite me seeing his face on multiple occasion as wll as the rest of the people I knew in highschool.

Later that afternoon, I found out that the earthquake's epicenter was somewhere near Mindoro which recorded a 5.8 magnitude earthquake.

The CW's 90210

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

I remember the first series, Beverly Hills 90210, when I was around 4-5 years old. Too young yes but I remembered it was initially aired in ABS-CBN. The same goes to the more mature and obviously not age-appropriate 2nd series, Melrose Place. I don't even know why I even watched the two but the good thing is that I remembered their theme songs (which I have now).

The new 90210 is the fourth series of the franchise (the third would be the short-lived Models Inc.) and unlike the first three, it is now being aired on relatively new network, The CW (after the production company, Spelling Productions, was acquired by CBS/Paramount which controls 50% of the CW) instead of original network Fox.

The show is about the Wilson Family, who moved from Kansas to Beverly Hills, CA because, patriarch Harry Wilson (Rob Estes of 'Melrose Place') because he accepted job offer to become West Beverly High School's principal plus he had to take care of his ailing alcoholic mother, Tabitha (Jessica Walter of Arrested Development) who's a former 70's Hollywood actress. Coming with him is ever-reliable photographer-wife Debbie (Lori Wilson) and their two kids, Annie (Shenae Grimes of Degrassi: The New Generation) and adopted brother Dixon (Tristan Wilds).

Completing the ensembles is the popular high school girl Naomi (Annalyn DiCord), lacrosse jock Ethan (Dustin Milligan), high school teacher Ryan (Ryan Eggold) and reliable pal Navid (Michael Steger).

With new characters comes returning characters from the first series, guidance councilor Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth of 'What I Like About You'), theater actress Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty of 'Charmed'), Peach Pit owner Nat (Joe E. Tata), and Kelly's alcoholic mother Jackie Taylor (Ann Gillepsie).

The show's connection to the old 90210 is the character played by Jessica Stroup, Erin "Silver" Silver. She is Kelly Taylor's half-sister and a 'Gossip Girl"-type blogger who is beset with problems from home.
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Review Proper:

Judging from the first 5 episodes that i watched online, I'd say that the new 90210 is very consistent on keeping itself a separate story but at the same time trying to let old viewers of the first series to know what happened between the 8-year gap since BH90210 ended.

However, there's the tendency for the show to focus too much on the old characters' continuing storyline (Brenda and Kelly rekindling their friendship, and Kelly having to raise her son alone without his father, Dylan [from the first series]). Hopefully that storyline would be given a proper conclusion as the series progresses in the coming years.

Focusing now on the series' main plot, it is highly obvious that the new series is repeating past BH90210 events in the form of adoptive siblings Annie and Dixon (the so-called "New Brenda and Brandon"). Annie is an aspiring actress who tried her luck at the school's upcoming musical while goody-good boy Dixon is simpleton who is just as naive as his sister. He was hired as a waiter of the Peach Pit whose owner, Nat, remarked that he reminds him of a certain "Brandon".

My only complaint to this show as well as other US youth dramas in general is its use of non-age approproate actors who usually are way too old to portray characters in their teens. One such is the character Naomi who is portrayed by a 20-year old actress. In the pilot, Naomi was initially 15 years old who's about to turn 16 and my first impression of her was "She's so effin' old to be freaking 16!!".

As to how the show was described, it is indeed more sexy and provocative (in short 'GGish' but a bit more OCish to some), a complete contrast to the initially innocent theme of the old 90210. However, despite these factors, the show maintains its being a family drama (because of the presence of parents Harry and Debbie Wilson) and teen-issue-oriented series. I'm hoping that this tandem of such would continue well (depending on its performance in the ratings should the CW renew it long enough for the show to fully develop) as well as not being too cliched like past shows.

I sure hope that the new 90210 would eventually become one of the best classic teen shows that are able to define a generation, just as how the old 90210 did as well as shows like Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill (which has yet to end as of now).

The CSB Experience 2: It's Been A Year...

Hay, mag-iisang taon na noong nangyari ang dapat mangyari. Ewan ko ba kung bakit kailangan ko pang maalala iyon kahit nais ko naman talaga na kalimutan ko ang mga naging karanasan ko nung nandun pa ako sa bakod nila. Kung sabagay, hindi naman ako ang unang gumawa ng unang hakbang kahit intensyon kong gawin iyon, sila pa ang unang kumilos bago ko man lang iyon gawin. Oh 'di ba, kakaiba?

Yup, naalala ko pa rin isang taon na ang nakakaraan...

StAR Week nung time na iyon at nag-iisip pa ako ng org na puwede kong salihan. Siyempre ang una talaga na sinalihan ko ay ang Mediamax kung saan miyembro pa rin hanggang ngayon. Since hindi naman bawal na hindi sumali nang isa pang org, inisip ko na ring sumali sa iba pa na nasa lugar. Una kong nadatnan ang booth ng CSB Debsoc (Debate Society). Medyo curious ako sa totoo lang. Ewan ko ba kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at inisip ko pang magsign up doon. Sa sobrang curiousity ko talagang lumapit ako sa booth nila.

Isa sa mga una kong nakausap na miyembro ay ang presidente nila na si Philip. CDA student ata siya sa pagkakaalala ko, mukhang nakakatakot at matalino, lalo pa't mukhang authoirty figure siya. Siyempre nag-inquire ako kung ano ang meron sa Debsoc: training, perks, at iba pa. Kumbinsido naman ako kahit kung medyo nano-nosebleed ako sa kanyang pang-iingles. Sinabi niya magkakaroon ng isang general assembly nang mga nagsign up at iyon ang point kung saan puwede kong saan puwede ko pa rin pagdesisyunan kung gusto kong maging miyembro ng organisasyon nila o hindi, may panahon pa.

Marahil, dahil bagong salta ako mula Hilaga (Basta taga-North, Sweet lover!) at walang kaalam-alam sa laro ng buha't sunud-sunuran, pakiramdam ko na kailangan kong pumunta doon. Binigyang dahilan ko sa sarili ko na makabubuti ito sa akin at siguradong hindi ko ito pagsisisihan. Kaya hayun nga, tumuloy ako sa GenAss nila at naging miyembro ng org nila.

Dami naman akong nakilala na mga bagong kaibigan doon, mapa-beterano man sila o baguhan. Sina Wilson, Nat, Che, Philip, Chicco, Maiko, Maika, Cala, Neri, etc. Sa mga beterano, ang pinaka-naging kaibigan ko ay si (Kuya) Nat [Sorry, tinuturing ko siya kasi talaga na nakakatandang kapatid kaya mataas ang respeto ko sa kanya].

Noong una, medyo nadadalian naman ako kahit papano nakukuha ko ang mga basics nang pagdedeba-te. Pero iyun nga lang, kailangang masanay kami sa maraming bagay. Halimbawa: Dapat, Ingles lang ang gagamitin naming wika sa tuwing nagdedebate kami/nagsasalita kahit hindi nagdedebate, maruno kang maging angas, dapat maalam ka sa mga nangyayari sa loob at labas ng bansa, marunong magtaray, ang pumunta sa bahay ng isa sa mga members-vets para lang magsanay maski gaano mang kalayo iyon at ang pinaka-ayoko sa lahat: ang mabulol.

Habang tumatagal, mas lalo nagiging madugo ang pagsasanay sa'min, ako naman medyo nakaka-develop na ako ng paghihina dala na sa dere-deretsong training, dagdag pa ang iba kong committments tulad ng pag-aaral at pagba-violin.

Nagkakaroon na rin ng conflict of schedule ang pagkakaroon ko ng violin lesson at ng traiing ko tuwing sumasapit ang Sabado. 

Sa sobrang pagbibigat ng mga kinakarga ko, napaisip-isip ko ang naging desisyon ko noon, tinanong ko ang sarili ko kung tama pa ba na ipagpatuloy ko pa ba ito. Hindi ko na kaya ang mga hinihingi nila, lalo pa na nalaman kong may limitasyon ako sa pananalita (pagbubulol/pagsastutter).

Breaking point ko na marahil ay ang nangyari isang fateful na Sabado. May crosstraining ang Debsoc sa debate org ng DLSU-M. Dami kong palpak sa pagdedebate, nakatanggap pa ako ng negatibong remarks mula sa isang beterano galing La Salle.

Doon ko na napagdesisyunan na aalis na ako.

Inilihim ko muna ang nais kong lisanin ang org at ang nakakaalam lang nito ay ang ilan kong malalapit na kaibigan sa org na baguhan. Nahihiya kasi ako kaagad na sabihin.

Iyun nga, dumating na ang time na kailangan sabihin ko na ang dapat kong sabihin. Kaya nung Saturday training day, pumasok ako ng school higit sa 1 oras nang late (galing ako kasi sa violin lesson ko sa Malabon). 

Pumunta muna ako sa Debsoc cube ng Student Involvement Unit para malaman ko kung saang room sila. Nandoon ang isa sa mga vets, iyung naka-salamin. Pumunta na ako sa isa sa mga classrooms sa 4th floor Mutien Marie Hall. Sa loob ng kuwarto may ilang members ng debsoc ng La Salle Greenhills (?) na nagko-cross train sa Debsoc.

Pagkapasok, malaking gulat ko na ang moderator ng Debsoc, si (Kuya) Jay [Huwag ko daw siyang i-"kuya" kasi nakakatanda daw sa pakiramdam ang pagtawag ko doon sa kanya, hihihi!] at si Phil nagtataka't tinanong ako na "Oh James! I thought you were quitting?]. Ganoon din si Che. Siguro ganoon ang tingin nila kasi hindi ako pumasok nung ilang training sessions dala ng paghahanda ko para sa ilang mga quizzes.

Sa tanong nila, medyo na-insulto ako konti kasi ilang araw lang naman ako hindi umattend ng training at iniisip nila na nilisan ko na ang org!  Hala, hindi naman ata puwede yan. Sinabi ko na lang sa kanila na hindi ako puwede umalis hangga't hindi ako mamaalam sa kanila ng maayos para kahit papano may pormalidad at direkta mula sa'kin ang nais kong pag-alis. Hindi alam nina Nat na umalis na ako kasi nasa kabilang kuwarto sila. Iniisip ko din na malaking gulat na rin sa kanya ang naging desisyon ko.

Hindi ko naman pinagsisihan ang pagtitiwalag ko sa org pero hindi ko rin naman pinagsisihan na sumali pa ako doon kasi kahit papaano naranasan ko rin naman ang pagiging debater-in-training kahit ilang saglit ibigan lang.

Lumuwag ang libreng oras ko at naging malaya na sa mga bagay na gusto kong gawin. Naayos ko na rin kahit papaano ang naging malabong relasyon ko samg blockmates ko dala sa mga oras na hindi ko sila nakilala nang mabuti (Pagkatapos nang nilisan ko ang Debsoc, doon ko lang nalaman na naging sila na pala nina Issi't Marlon).

 May magandang bagay din ang naidulot sa pagiging miymebro ko doon kasi nagkaroon pa ako ng mga kaibigan na nakikita ko pa rin naman mapa-hanggang ngayon.

Sa kasamaang palad, medyo nahihiya na rin ako sa mga beterano kasi bukod sa nirerespeto ko sila, alam ko na masama ang loob nila sa akin (kahit hindi halata sa mga mukha nila). Natatakot akong kumaway sa kanila tuwing nagkukrus ang mga landas namin.

Pero masaya ako na napanatili pa rin namin ni Nat ang pagkakaibigan namin.

Huling balita ko sa org ngayon, medyo nagkaroon ng konting hindi pagkakaunawaan sa ilang miyembro at karamihan na rin sa mga kasamahan ko ang umalis na rin sa doon.

Kahit ganoon ang naging kinalabasan ng aking pagiging miyembro ng org, hindi ko ito pinagsisihan. Sana lumago sila't maging matagumpay sa kanilangmga  mithiin!

Morning Glory

1. Gumising ako

2. Sinara ko gate ng bahay nung nilabas ni Papa ang sasakyan mula sa garahe.

3. Pinatay ko iang mga ilaw sa unang palapag.

4. Isinara ko ang pintong panloob ng bahay.

5. NagPC muna ako

6. Nanood ng TV hanggang nag-Robin Hood sa ABS-CBN.

7. Kinuha ko tuwalya ko

8. Bumaba ako ng hagdan

9. Pumasok ng banyo at naligo

10. Nagbihis

11. Nag-ayos

12. Kumuha ng medyas

13. Bumaba ako ng hagdan

14. Binuksan ko ang pinto ng bahay

15. Unang bumati sa'kin ang isang mabahong nilalang na nakadapa lang sa may sementadong sahig.

16. Sumigaw ako ng "TAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGH!"

17. Tae ng aso ng kapitnahay....Lintek!

18. Nakatsinelas, binuksan ko ang hose

19. Binuhusan ko palabas ang tae't nilinis ang sahig

20. Nagpasalamat at di tinaihan ang sapatos ko at ang payong ko.

Photoshop Set: The Zombie and the Smiley

Thanks to Photoshop CS and CS3

The CSB Experience 2: Me Mac Store Pala Kami!

Compliments from Gilbert: "Nag-iimprove na blog mo ah..."

It's like as if every day, there's always a story for me to tell and share.

It's been 2 months, and now I finally have the money to buy my own pair of earphones for my I-pod. I sold my Graphika Manila ticket to someone for Php1,500.00.

I was planning on going to the Mac Store in Robinson's Place-Ermita on one of my off-days during the week, either Wednesday or Thursday. However, some thing came up and I was able to buy one anyway just an hour ago.

Yesterday, Partdes was long over and I was at that time brainstorming two new blog entries that ended up posted on Multiply later that night. I chanced upon one of my classmates in Partdes at the elevator. 

She was wearing headphones attached to her I-Pod. I was fascinated with it and said "Nice headphones...". She thanked me for the compliment, I then asked where she bought those headphones.

She said it was from "downstairs". "Downstairs" meaning the ground floor of SDA I mistakenly mistook from what she's trying to imply. When the elevator stopped and opened at the 11th floor, she pointed her finger to a room fronting us.

"There's where I bought it..."

And I was like "What? We have a Mac Store here?!"

"Yeah..."

"All this time, I've always thought it was sort of a..."

"Showroom?"

"Yup, that's the one...Hahaha!"

--

Fastforward to today, class for Comgrap ended a few minutes ago. I put my things in a secluded place somewhere in SDA Caf. Went downstairs at the 11th floor and entered the Mac Store there (known as "switch@csb").

I saw this pretty-looking earphones so I asked the sales guy how much it costed.

"One-Five"

Great! I just had the money to buy those precious babies!

And now I'm wearing them!

The CSB Experience 2: Na-USTe Ako sa CSB!

Partdes, Rm. A1205, 3:30 pm-I was late obviously. Class had already started by 2:45 yet I wasn't there. Why? Egh...I was at the 11th floor inside on of the comlabs. I was doing something for tomorrow's Comgrap, using Photoshop CS and CS3. Glad I finished even though the final output was a bit synced---not

Anyway, I got into class. Sir was in the middle of a discussion and people are taking down notes. I sat in front, took my notebook and hurriedly copied what was written on the board, the topic was "The Language of Art".

I see that Patricia and M.A. are present, so was her friend, a very opinionated AB-FDM (Fashion Design and Merchandise) guy. He's quite the recitalist really, by that time I already have a gut feeling that I might get to know him better sooner or later.

It was sooner than I thought.

SDA Caf, 4:10 pm-I bought Cheese Curls, first time to eat one of these in months, went back inside A1205, went out again, and got back to the Caf. I saw Pat, her FDM friend and another friend from MMA.

We talked and talked, and something fruitful came out from that conversation. So the MMA guy is actually a transferee from DLSU and...

"You know, there's quite a lot of transferees here coming from UST..."

"Yeah, including me!"

"Whoah"

"Oh, yeah I forgot James. Let me introduced you to Will. Will, this is James...."

(We shaked hands)

"So what's your course back in USTe?"

"Arki (Architecture)...CFAD"

(Looking at the MMA guy) "What's your ID no. back in La Salle?"

"Make a guess of my age..."

"Uhm...21?"

"Gosh, you're right!"

Then....

"Why did you transferred from UST?"

"I found out I'm not good on designing house models....Batch 2007"

"Uhm...wait...2007? Then that means....Do you know...ah....Dianne..."

"...Naval? Yeah of course! How'd you know? She's my classmate..."

"Batchmate..."

"Small world" (Ako to)

"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears, it's a world of hope and a world of fears..."

"Hehehehe"

"If you knew her, then you must have known Nikko delos Santos"

"Wow! Yes!"

"Weird!"

---

More or less that was our conversation

And indeed weird!

As if I had enough of UST that morning, I was wrong! LOLz! :hahaha:

Na-USTe Ako!: Ang Panalangin sa Calle Padre Noval

Umihi ka na ba?

Thanks to Dianne, I was able to get directions on where I could buy relatively cheap art supplies along Espan(y)a Boulevard. Hehehe, funny story really.

Call me lucky, despite the presence of cumulo-nimbus clouds, it didn't rain. While fixing myself after taking a bath, I saw a stored value LRT ticket from nowhere! And I got myself inside the LRT the moment I arrived in Monumento Terminal. And rush hour was yet to commence.

Going down the stairs in Tayuman, I crossed Avenida Rizal and walk til the very tip of Tayuman Street, near SM SanLo. Rode a jeep which brought us to Dapitan-Arsenio Lacson. I walked  along Arsenio (named after the legendary mayor of Manila), and crossed Espana. From there, I walked yet again til I saw that Metrobank Dianne was talking about. Eventually, I arrived at Padre Noval Street. Turning a left turn, I asked some people on where I could find Joli's, a popular art supplies store among USTe people taking up CFAD courses. 

To make things short, I was able to see the string of art supplies stores sprouted just beside the Beato Angelico Building.

I bought what I was looking for at Lexan's and went on my way back to Tayuman. There seemed to be some commotion on the UST open fields. Quite a lot of people gathering there, especially UST's varsity teams practicing various sports like baseball, volleyball, and another one I couldn't recall for the time being.

This is probably my fourth time in UST, or at least area situated around it. Glad I got the opportunity to explore more of Manila, especially the northern tip of the University Belt (U-Belt), which stretched as far north as Espana passing by Mendiola down towards Taft (Bet you didn't know that!).

USTE LO MEJOR!
VIVA SANTO TOMAS!

"OUST GLORIA"

The CSB Experience 2: I Went There Her Way (a.k.a. Three National Bookstores in a Day!)

I don't know what's wrong with me today but lately, I've been blogging and blogsurfing this past weekend. Maybe because there's a lot stuff about life for me to tell and that my constant need to write it down is preventing me from ever keeping my mind off these things (Mind=Pre-production).

Hehehe! Well anyway, I just cannot believe for myself that I went to 3 different National Bookstore branches found each in three cities in the Metro, all in one day! Whoah, I'm utterly surprised with what I just did myself!

The reason is that I have to buy things for my Colrend: various nylon brushes, a set of 12 poster color bottles, and that ever "playing-hard-to-get" watercolor sketchpad.

Early during the day (Saturday the 20th), I had a freecut class so I took the time going to National Bookstore Taft Avenue to buy those stuff. I first started with the watercolor sketchpad, and i couldn't find one except for these loads of "acryllic colour" ones which pretty much includes "watercolor" in its resume. But given that I can't risk wasting money on buying something that I might regret doing so, I went on searching for those poster paint bottles, preferably the Sakura branded ones. I did some but unfortunately, they're all scattered so I can't find all the colors I was looking for. What I did bought were a number of paintbrushes, those I didn't include when I first bought a tip brush and a flat brush while I was on National-SM North EDSA.

That afternoon, I went home, but along the way I made a quick visit to National Bookstore-Ever Gotesco Grand Central in Monumento. I was able to find 11 of 12 Sakura-branded poster paint bottles, still no watercolor sketchpad found.

So I did the unthinkable: I decided to visit National Bookstore-Trinoma! So I took a 12-peso bus ride going from Monumento until dropping me off in a terminal in North Avenue. I went to Trinoma and got in.

I bumped into a very familiar face from school. She's the smaller version of Rini (hehehe kidding), an officer in MMx (I can't recall the name, dang!). Both of us got surprised and she was like "Don't tell me you live here in Quezon City?", and I answered "Ah no...I'm actually here to visit National.." She gave me some directions and I went off thanking her for the directions she gave.

But it was a Saturday, gimmick day for many barkadas. And that day was no exception.

Trinoma's jam packed full of people, especially at the middle of the mall wherein there's some sort of an event happening (sponsored by Pampers and hosted by one of my fave Philippine Star writers, Mr. RJ Ledesma).

I got lost because of the swarms of people getting on my way. Eventually I got through and go for gold to National. Unfortunately, the people there don't have the sketchpad I was looking for as well.

With nothing else to do, I decided to go home, but not without a short merienda at Jollibee! LOLz!

Thanks to Dianne, I was able to know where I could buy that sketchpad along UST. And thanks to Jomar for telling that watercolor sketchpads are being bought there in the first place!

*I took a mobile pic of the ongoing construction/renovation of SM City North EDSA, and all I can say is that it's progressing for the better. I can fully see what they were aiming at.

**RJ Ledesma is at the center sitting down, wearing glass, wearing a black sweater?.

The CSB Experience 2: Frehand, Colrend, Comgrap and Desprin

Ah, the reality of life indeed. 

So I guess it's high time for me to get my game on practicing sketching and photoshopping. Even it means having to learn all the basics from Grade 1 and above. Well, what can I do? I chose to do these things so I have to live with what I said.

I'm taking four design foundation subjects which all require me to possess certain skills, things to use, and a familiarity to specific mediums. Desprin (Principles of Design), Colrend (Color Rendering), Comgrap (Computer Graphics), and Frehand.

I. Desprin

First class for the week is Desprin. I have a very nice prof, a Fine Arts graduate of UP and runs her own company which are into producing events. 

The first thing she taught to us is scale drawing. Basic right? She showed us on how we could do it by first having to draw lines on a xeroxed picture of a jeepney. That's to help us draw the picture in detail. No need though of putting all the details but what matters is that we get the jeep right.

We have to use a 12 by 18 sketchpad for this plus a "looong" ruler, and of course, an HB pencil. For over 3 hours, all the students in class were quietly doing their own thing, including me. I was a bit impatient since I wanna have this done before the end of the class. 

Eventually, I finally got the jeep right and despite a little not exact to the original, it was perfect! I couldn't say anything less!

II. Colrend

After a few shuffles, we finally got ourselves a permanent professor for Colrend in the form of Sir Ulysses. All i could say is that, he's very "mayabang". He showed to us last time his resume as well as his vast portfolio of works ranging from sculpturing (he has a fascination with eggs, a major subject for his sculptures), painting, to any art medium thought possible.

He already have a perfectly planned syllabus on what shall do for the next remaining 12 weeks of the term. A lesson of the day followed by doing plates. He had us required to buy nylon brushes, a watercolor sketchpad (which I'm yet to buy), and a set of 12 poster colors (preferably Sakura). But the list of things to buy goes on and on for this guy.

III. Comgrap

My prof here is an MMA graduate, has his own advertising company, and looked way too young for his age (He's 25). He frequently uses this to his advantage, fooling unknowing victims about his youth. LOLz.

The only that he needs from us is that we must be familiar with Adobe Photoshop, prefereably version CS-CS3 (no need for technical advice please! :D). First to do was doing masks, although as how Jeco puts it, mine was "paint-ish". Right...

IV. Frehand

No need to explain about this. All I could say is that I sucked at friggin' Frehand! I suck at drawing effin' straight lines, circles, and even "rectangular-shaped" 3D squares! Hahahah!

It all means it's high time for me to start practicing what I ought practicing, 'no? :)

The CSB Experience 2: Freecut Sabado and a Wanted Silver Lining

Dapat sa mga oras na ito ay may class pa ako sa 7th floor ng SDA, Hartds2. Iyun nga lang hindi sumulpot prof namin, ikalawang pagkakataon na nangyari uli yon, ang una noong unang araw ng Partdes ko naman, isang linggo ang nakakaraan. 

So habang ala-una pa ng hapon ang sususnod kong klase, tambay muna ako dito sa SDA Caf sa 12th floor at mag blog muli.

Maaga ago gumising, mga 5:15 n.u. eh gising na ako kaso nakaset pa sa 5:30 ang alarm ko sa bumawi pa muna ng tulog. Kasi, kaninang alas dose y medya ng madaling araw na ako natulog dala sa pakikinig ko sa radyo at sa aking pagbabasa ng biography book tungkol kina Victoria Beckham at ang asawa niyang si David.

Paggising ko kanina, deretso kinuha ko na tulwaya ko, naligo sa banyo sa loob ng kinse minutos at bihisado na ng bandang alas sais.

Umalis na din ako para pumasok at 7:30 ay nasa school na rin. Deretso ako pumunta sa accounting office para mabayaran ko na iyung recollection fee para sa darating na recollection ko sa Huwebes.

Fast-forwarding, eh di iyon. Nasa classroom na ako, nandoon na rin ang mga kamag-aral ko. Lagpas alas nuwebe ang simula ng class pero hindi dumating si Prof. Pumasok na din doon ang mga wala noon nung unang araw ng Partdes. May isa na napagkamalan kong kaibigan ko sa States, si Anisah. Iyun pala, Pilipina rin rin siya pero nakabelo rin. Magkamukha talaga sila. :P

May isa pa na mukhaaang pamilyar sa'kin ang itsura. Medyo matangkad, maputi at makapal ang labi. May parang black-eye siya sa dalawang mata niya at mukhang tisoy. PInagmasdan ko muli mabuti at tama nga ang hinala ko.

Siya pala iyung dati kong ka-batchmate noong grade six. Matagal na rin sa school pero lumipat na rin ng eskwelahan nung high school. Nakikita ko siya madalas noon sa school kasama iyung mmga magkakabarkada, iyung mga tipong bullies pero hindi (may mga bullies sa school namin na nagsasakristan tuwing misa madalas).

Natural, mahihiya akong lumapit sa kanya at sabihin na "Excuse me, di ba pangalan mo si...Ka-batch ata kita sa SJA iyun nga lang grade six nung pumasok ako kaya di mo ako maalala...". So inisip ko na huwag na lang kasi hindi ko naman puwede ipagpilit sa tao na maalala man lang na magkaeskuwela kami noon.

Pero, kung sabagay naman, bukod pa sa magkaeskuwela kami ngayon sa CSB't magka-kurso, magkaklase pa kami sa isang section! Eh di ayos rin!

Photoshop Set: Ngayon...Mag-ingat sa Tao na May Maskaraaaaah!

For Comgrap ito. Halatang di maskara 'no? More human-like di gaya ng kay Sheena na more like Mardis Gras ung kanya hahaha (joke:P)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkzRQYZVInU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f1Adk1mGLI

The CSB Experience 2: Concluding the Court Drama

Continuing the on-going drama over the case that I filed 1.5 months ago. The OSB decided that my case to be submitted to the Board of (Directors?) for which they will have the final say over the case. The suspect declined to appear which led to the court's decision. 

Present was the chief of the OSB in SDA, Sir Aries; the head of the OSB, my "lawyer", and a member from the CSB student council, Chicco Fornier.

Let's see what'll bear fruit after all of these...

The CSB Experience 2: Me, Graphika Manila, and Clients

Grabeh, never have I expect this thing to be so much of a big deal to many. But I guess, it's their failing of doing so, ha?

So okay, a month ago, I bought this ticket from Mediamax which costed Php750 (which is a discounted rate till past September which is higher) for this event called Graphika Manila, a convention of sorts which is attended by quite many people coming from different walks of life, even reps coming from well-known media companies like Pixar and Dreamworks. The event is worth MMA points thus the reason for buying them.

But it proved to be worthless once I found out I never gonna use it anyway in the first place because I have classes on that day ranging from morning til way down in the afternoon.

I decided to have my ticket "auctioned" off on the MMA Yahoo Groups. I only thing that I posted there is that 'I'm selling this ticket for Php500 initially" and that they could contact me by texting me through my number.

One person came in the frontline. Naturally, I decided to give the ticket to her for Php500 and thus we had an understanding that this ticket is now reserved for her til further notice.

But the biggest surprise probably would be the following Tuesday. As early as 5:12 am until recently, I had a total of 21 people (contacting me either via SMS or YM) who took interest of my advertisement, texting me nonstop and wasting 3/4 of my cellphone load just to talk to them until the situation got a bit out of hand.

Then one of them bid my ticket for Php800 from 500 which is a total surprise to me. I texted the other buyers about the offer then another offered to buy the ticket for a whopping 1000 pesos! I asked him how much is he willing to pay for him to get that ticket, he replied that as much as 1.5k-2k pesos is what he's willing to give. I took notice of he's offer so I have to tell the other buyers of this development. Many dropped their claims on it except for one person, the guy who offered 800-pesos. He was just furious that he raised his price for Php1000 then when that didn't worked out, he started giving me anecdotes about me getting the bigger loss despite the financial gain that I have. He even shared to me his current situation, him being a recent graduate gone jobless and he wants that ticket to bolster his job description. How selfish is that, right?

I decided to give the ticket to a student who needs it the most. And that would be the one who offered the Php1500. I know that he needs it more for him to graduate (for the MMA points) than the other guy who just want i so he could land himself a job finally.

The good news is,  I am one step closer of buying myself a new pair of earphone for my IPod! Yahoo for that!

Networking?

"Networking?" was the first thing came up in my mind the moment a friend of mine invited me to attend this certain seminar about a little something related to the aforementioned. I can't really tell what it is due to a lack of a proper term for it but all I could say that heads did definitely roll. I may not be able to explain it very well but I hope you get the picture of the situation right.

So yesterday I went to Ortigas, following the directions given to me by my friend. I just came out from school for an org meeting held on a supposedly class-less day for me. I eventually found the venue, which is housed in a really tall building near St. Francis Square (Can't name names and places right now, sorry!). Once the guards let me inside, I went to my friend's meeting place at the 15th floor.

I really have no clue of what's this seminar is all about except that hints about "opportunities". It's kind of obvious that it's an invitation-only event since there also other people like me who got invited to people like my friend.

Then, a 20-something executive was introduced to me by my friend. He asked me of what I've heard about the meeting and what was my expectations about it. Feeling that he's going to drag me to a business-themed conversation, I also shared to him of my goals/plans in the future: about setting up a business, hooking up a partnership with me friends, those kinds of stuff. I just don't know what was going on his mind that time, but I have a feeling he may have misinterpreted my aspirations into something "more concrete", thinking that I am as much of a business-oriented guy as he is.

Okay, the seminar started with a short video preview of what the seminar's all about. Done ala-HSN style, it asked us if we want to earn more money given the economic situation and the recent boom of the health and wellness industry. Then a female speaker formally started the seminar with an overview of what the company is all about. She showed us about the general company profile, its vision-mission, its product line-up, its current target market (Baby Boomers), and the reason why we were here. 

It was quite interesting though but what really surprised me was that of the second speaker. He introduced himself as a UP graduate, having worked in a well-known multinational company, having travelled to different countries and is now a top executive in this company, earning hundreds of thousand of pesos (exaggerated yes but quite almost there). 

He stressed the types of working-class people: 1)Those who spend more time working for money but with less time for themselves, 2)Those who worked less but spends more time for themselves, 3)Those who don't really work to earn money nor do they free time, and, 4)Those who spend as much time working to earn money as they have time for themselves.

He pointed out their reason for inviting us in the first place (but never exactly mentioning the reason why we were there). They are looking for people who want to earn a lot of money but with less working hours, or even days! Heck, this guy who possibly earns hundreds of thousands of pesos only works for a minimum of three hours for three days a week! He says the company that he's in is going to train people, like me, to become "business-oriented educators' with enough training to balance time managing our other commitments like our studies, side jobs, etc. 

This speaker showed us a powerpoint presentation wherein it shows a pie graph of the money-earning populations for which 1 out of 100 people is classified as wealthy. From that percentage, is a pie graph showing the different groups of wealthy people. What quite disturbing though is how he made negative comments on traditional business ventures like franchising, he somehow made us feel scared by how he explained to us the bad side of the business corporate world. 

The seminar ended at 5:30 but the day is far from over. My friend and his mentor asked me how I felt with regards to the seminar. Puzzling as I was that time, I somehow contradicted all the past statements that I've made prior to the seminar. I was all too afraid of what I'm gonna say to them knowing that even as legal as this company of theirs is, what they're offering is a job in scamming and networking disguised as an innocent yet unnamed type of job.

Then came another mentor of my friend. Fast-forwarding details, I explained to him my qualms, and my thoughts about this "thing". I said to him that even though I like the kind of idea that the company is doing, I worry that this MIGHT or IS a RISK not worth taking. I have to give him all the possible factors to convince him and my friend that I am not willing to take the risk. I even pointed out my parents as a factor, but he said that I could always bring them down here to show what the company is about, but knowing my own flesh-and-blood, it's next to impossible.

I left Ortigas past 7pm from being there since 2:30 (it was supposed to be a 1 hour affair LOLz!). I got home at 8:30pm.

Even now, I still feel disturbed by the kind of job offering they were giving me. But after putting a lot of thought about it, I decided that it's not worth taking. For me it's dangerous, morally illegal, and very opportunistic.

They say that this is an opportunity for me to better my standard of living, but the thought of turning me into a "business-minded product educator" who's job is not "persuading" client to buy the company's products but merely "educating" them about it so they could be convinced on buying them anyway is an opportunity for me to become a greedy corporate monster in a corbata suit. Then my answer is NOT IN THIS LIFE TIME!

So guys, ingat lang talaga sa mga ganitong tao, lalo pa't sa mga taong malapit sa'yo pero nakumbinsing sumali sa mga ganito klaseng modus operandi!

james Habitan featured on BBC News

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=46832&altf=Kbnft&altl=Ibcjubo
Guys, mahalaga ito. Kasama ako sa isang featured story sa BBC tungkol sa sinasapit ngayon ng Pilipinas.

The CSB Experience 2: Still Adjusting

I thought that my new schedule for the 2nd term would do me a lot of good but for the majority of the 1st week alone, I never felt this empty and voided. I don't know why but I know that I should be happy that I have a very comfortable schedule, a 1-2 classes per day, and two days of the school week off. I thought wrong.

For the past four consecutive terms, the schedules of my classes does not permit me to enjoy breaks longer than 3 hours and my most busiest days are usually the mid-week. I've also grown accustomed of having classes during most of the day, as late as 8 in the evening. So it was really a big deal that I need to do something to not feel some kind of void within me.

So it was really much a surprise that the schedule that I chose for myself, became the hardest, of all the past ones I took, to adjust to. I don't know why but I always consider myself a workaholic of sorts, used on going to school 5-6 days a week. I also got used on coming home late at night as well as coming to school either being fetched by my mom's carpool or commute by way of the LRT. A routine I developed basing from the pattern of classes that I have then in past terms.

But this one's different.

I have an 11:30 class each on Monday and Friday, a 2:45 classeach on Monday and Tuesday as well, 2 classes from 9 am til 4 pm every Saturday, and two days off for Wednesdays and Thursdays. I considered this a very fortunate schedule since at the very least I get to rest in mid-week. It'll probabl take some time for me to adjust well to my new time settings but I'm hopeful I can get through this.

So far, my biggest dilemma would be those from Desprin, Colrend, and Frehand. All three of these subjects require art materials that ranges from the very small to the very large. My main concern though is the convenience of bringing one of my most basic necessities to school, a lousy sketchpad.

I know it may sound silly to you but I kinda find it awkard bringing one to school hand-carrying it. Desprin and Colrend requires a 12"by18" sketchpad while Frehand, it's 9"by12". I really need to find some sort of big shoulder bag in order for me to carry my things around without any hassle. For used plates, I could always trust on my old Steidler tube-container.

Then comes the two-day break. I have a break right in the middle of week which is kinda good since I get to rest for a while. I have two days of school in between those breaks so it make me wanna think why I should be happy about it.

I think it's my eagerness on going to school that's making feel uncomfortable with the whole break thing. I'm used on being a very busy guy 6 days straight that it probably took a toll on my body. It now functions on a 6-day workweek plan! Seriously, I really need to loosen up. I mean, I nee to think of something to make me preoccupied but at the same time take my mind off of school even for just two freaking days!

Ha! I wanna slap myself on the face and tell to myself that I'm finally IN MMA! 

It's now time for the hard part of being ABMMA.

Jaime in the Block

Mobile uploads taken last Sept. 11, 2008. Enjoy!

Jaime in The Block

It's been raining since Wednesday but I'm not worried at all since I don't have classes for yesterday and today. I took the opportunity to go to The Block to have my new pair of glasses adjusted and buy some supplies for my Colrend, Frehand and Desprin. 

My profs, Ms. Macasaet and Mr. Gascon (who may not be back as my prof in Colrend by next week) gave out a list of materials needed for my respective subjects. I'm yet to have my first day in Frehand tomorrow.

First on my list is that 12-by-18 sketchpad. Followed by a set of Sakura poster paints ranging from red to yellow to blue to green to black and to white. Steidler pencils, technical pen, rubber eraser, kneaded eraser, eraser, "loooooong" ruler, Pencil or mechanical pencil, a compass, and tip and flat brushes.

This morning, I went to The Block in SM North EDSA. It was raining so good thing I brought an umbrella with me. First stop was Executive Optical on the 3rd floor. Once there, I had my glasses adjusted, and as I write, I'm wearing them now!

While there, I saw this great photo exhibit, "Good Morning Vietnam"! It's an exhibition of photos taken by Filipino wedding photographers in Vietnam. The exhibits good til the 13th so lucky me!

Then there was this funny scene I saw on the 2nd floor, two guys and a woman dancing as part of their promo for Fitness First. I guess, they're doing this really embarassing stuff to ntice new prospective "victims" into joining their really expensive club. I heard a lot of nasty things about disguntled members and Fitness First. 

Then I went to the main mall which I haven't been in quite a long time now. I feel a certain attachment to SM North since this was my most frequented mall for the first 10 years of my life. So it's kind of like a welcome back party of sorts although it's obvious that I have outgrown SM North EDSA. I looked forward though for its eventual transformation.

There i went to National Bookstore to buy stuff there. Unfortunately, my budget doesn;t allow me to buy all of the things written in my list so I only bought the kneaded eraser, the sketchpad, the Steidler pencils and the two brushes.

I was supposed to eat lunch at Greenwhich but I opted instead on eating at The Block's Bibingka Cafe. Man, those treats are soooo delicious!

I went home, changed my clothes and took a nap at 3pm, only to wake up at 6. I cooked adobo for dinner and it tasted absolutely GREAT!

Tomorrow I'll have Frehand, my first and last class for the day. Good luck for me1

The CSB Experience 2: The Tardy, The Absentee, and The Big Dark Cloud

The 2nd term's 1st day started and ended with a bang! Uhm, not really but I assure youthat this particular day is certified HOT!! (Both literally and figuratively)

I was able to wear my personalized T-shirt which I design myself. I don't know though what's the problem with me but I have this feeling that this shirt smells like "expired water" if you know what I mean. I think it's just me since I'm not used on not putting Downy on clothes when washed. Eh that time, we ran out of Downy so I have no choice but have my clothes washed without it. Oh yeah, and I bought my own pair of Bermuda shorts.

It was so FREAKIN' HOT outside! I was sweating and everything. Good thing that the jeepney I was in drove very fast and with zero-traffic to face. By the time I got inside a train at the LRT, the airconditioner took too long to turn itself on! It was only when we were now at 5th Avenue that the problem was finally fixed.

As the train stopped by in every station, it was clear that it's getting a bit crowded from where i'm at. I took me sometime while in Quirino to get msyelf across countless commuters just so I could reach the door in time for my arrival in Vito Cruz.

As usual, the SDA's lobby is jampacked with several lines waiting for the school's elevators (Ellah, Ellah, ah ELEVATOR...). Luckily I was able to get into one just in time for my first class, DESPRIN.

The professor was later for 15 minutes past 11:30 am. She introduced herself as Mrs. Agnes Macasaet. She is in the media profession for quite a while now, having been a former DJ in both senses of the word, was involved with MEGA magazine, and has her own production company that are into organizing events and the like.

I am classmates once again with an AB-FDM student whom I've been her classmates for Reconse and Petwoda. A very similar face is also a classmate, Allan. The oldest probably would be Paolo Castro's buddies at the back of the classroom.

Good thing it was the first day, so we didn't have to bear all three grueling hours of the class just for the time being. I still have to buy my things for Desprin though. Maybe sometime this week, I would.

I ate lunch at the Caf on a table with Alex, Joey (Curly Fries=D), M---something and a friend of theirs. I also saw Paul, Yana, and Hoogie who discontinued from having his hair cut. They were with two of Paul's friends who are coincidentally former classmates of mine in Worlite and Hartds1 respectively. They were interested as to how I got my T-shirt so I told them all about Graphiquette.

I was to have my second and last class for the day, Patdes a.k.a. Philippine Hartds hehehe. I was there 15 minutes early and so were everyone else in that particular section. Glad that I'm classmates again with Pat of Hartds1 while I'm classmates with Jacob's buddies whom I've met during Mediamax' last teambuidling in Cavite. So does a number of former classmates from Worlite and Joseriz. 

Surprisingly, I have (once again) a celebrity as a classmate. He is in the form of Alfonso Martinez, the son of well-known thespian Albert Martinez. First it was Bianca King, then Serena Dalrymple, and now him. Weird!

Unfortunately, no Partdes prof showed up for most of the class' first hour so we took a freecut and left the classroom. I went home after that.

I got home, watched some TV (They Kiss Again and a spoof version of 'My Super Sweet 16' in MTV Philippines), and something else. I know it's going to rain past 5 but I never knew it's going to rain VERY HARD! That was until I heard the roar of thunder and saw a bolt of lightning just outside my window. I hurriedly went upstairs to take all the laundry being hanged to dry there inside and screamed "AHHH! IT'S GOING TO RAIN..AHHHHH!!!". 

The moment  stepped myself outside our roof deck, I saw this big dark cloud covering over the sky's horizon. As how I would describe in Tagalog, "Nagbabadyang umulan nang malakas dala ng makulimlim na ulap". Yep, that cumulo-nimbus cloud ain't there for nothing and it's covering up the sky at an alarming rate!

After I had all the dry laundry placed on safe ground, i hurriedly closed the windows of my room just so water couldn't come inside. Then again, my room's still leaks whenever there's a heavy downpour of rain, hay.....

And that's how my first day went. Hope you had fun on yours! (Ang corny naman nito!)

The CSB Experience 2: A break we call "Term Break"

I was a bit inspired to do this entry although I was originally planning on writing a day-to-day-per-post account of what went on during term break. Given my tendency to convert simple journal entries to long life stories of my experiences in life (HAha!), I decided on merely summarizing and straight forwarding all the events that occurred this term break.

It's the exact same thing when I did a similarly entry almost a year ago (although that is to shorten some events occurred during the 1st term last year and placed them all in one blog).

Saturday, August 30: The Ortigas Adventure

(For full details, check my other entry)

-My mom wanted me to retrieve my broken Samsung F770 phone from Greenhills after she disapproved on fixing it on a repair fee valued the same as how I bought the phone in the first place.

 Since I was in Ortigas anyway (again!), I went on a walking trip and went to Jollibee Plaza, and that means walking past across San Juan, Mandaluyong and Pasig. Walked across Megamall, The Podium, St. Francis Square, the parking lot beside it, the ghostly avenues of ADB and Opal.

 I met a hustler who want to sell me a Rolex, took a short break in Ortigas Park, saw Strata Bldg (in God we trust), finally made it to Jollibee Plaza, left the plaza quickly and went back to where I started. Saya , 'no?

Sunday, August 31: Countdown's Over, James@18, Powerplant Mall HERE I COME!

-It was actually my idea of spending my birthday in Powerplant in the middle of old suburban Makati City. My first time actually to be there as well as being in Rockwell Center as a whole (except for the Colgate Factory which I vividly remember having going there on a field trip years ago).

  I ate in an Asian-inspired resto, listened to a mini-concert of three musicians each playing a flute, a violin, and a guitar, surprisingly saw Ate's college friend there in Powerplant, wondered in a Apple store, bought a 9-Disc Spring Waltz DVD collection, went grocery shopping in a Rustan's Supermarket.

We went home forgetting to buy ice cream and cake for my birthday (a must), it rained that night (Why must it always rain on the most important day of my life?), ate spaghetti, and watched Episode 1 of Spring Waltz.

I forgot, I finally get to drink my first beer legally. But I have to contend by starting it out with drinking San Mig Light for the time being.

Monday, September 1: The RT Adventure a.k.a. Aymadi-El a.k.a. Mistaken Event

(For fuller details about my trip in RT and the course card thing, check my previous posts)

-I was awake as early as 4:30, never slept again by 5. That morning, I turned the radio around 5:30 and started waiting for the big event to happen. By 6, 99.5 went back on air as "99.5 RT". It started with Joshua intending to forget that 99.5's not HiT nor Campus anymore but once again RT.

Around 8, I left home to get my course cards. I found out later that day that I'm officially a Dean's Lister! How cool is that?! 

Around 1 in the afternoon, I waited a whole hour to meet up with Jeco, and spent 90% of what's left of my cellphone just to text him but with no returning reply. We were supposed to have a business appointment with regards to some matters pertaining to business (redundant!). He answered hours later, and to make the long story short, we rearranged another meeting on Thursday.

Past 3, I went to Paragon Plaza in Mandaluyong to visit for the first time a radio station, 99.5 RT. Got to meet a lot of popular DJ's there, mostly now-former jocks from Jam, Magic, and Campus. Met some cyberfriends from Pex in the flesh and stayed there till 7 pm. 

A lot of things happened for one whole day!

Tuesday, September 2: The Homebody, The Dog Poo, and The Mac-Filled Holiday

-I started the day by turning on the hose and washed my house's two driveways (yes, we have two garages, one for our Revo, the other for my mom's carpool van and our other family car, the Fortuner) so that i could clear them from the dog poo's that accumulated from the past night. How I wish we have barangay ordinance requiring dog-owners on cleaning up the mess their dogs have caused to create mass havoc and hysteria in the neighborhood.

I spent the rest of the day trying to get used to using my Mac (Yes, it is somehow mine, or at least 50% of it since I have to share this to my mom 50% of the time). I ate spaghetti with my unemployed sister. Decided later that afternoon to lay-off from the Mac at the time being to be able to watch my fave telenovelas on TV5 and Channel 2.

Wednesday, September 3: Life is a Beautiful Waltz

-I spent most of the morning on finishing Disc 1 of my Spring Waltz DVD. I skipped some parts about the lead's past as children (mostly the boring childhood happy scenes). I really enjoyed watching it, at least I have something to do to pass of the time. I also did laundry since it didn't rain that day (Busy bee). I learned that Andres was killed by Isabel in "El Cuerpo Del Deseo", Candy's secret almost got exposed by her ex-husband in "Las Tontas No Van Cielo" and Jeanie brought her Nursing friends to her family summer trip in "They Kiss Again".

That afternoon, I went to the gym finally after a week full of exams. At 8pm, went home, ate dinner, did some Mac-ing, watched My Girl, Iisa Pa Lamang, Dyesebel (no thanks to my Ate), Ako si Kim Samsoon (again no thanks to my Ate), and PDA. All before going to sleep.

Thursday, September 4: Enrollment and a RevisiT Well-Prepared, and Meeting The Bedan Boys Plus a Fatima Guy; A Story of Coincidences

- I went to school for my enrollment. Geez, the line in accounting is so freaking long! Got to sleep while waiting for my turn. Luckily I was awake long enough to hear my name.

Oh yeah, I submitted to Sir Dave Caballero my overdue photocopied course card from Bmat2x which I took as a summer course earlier this year. I also met up with Coco, Pax, and Sheena.

I promised Niko B. that I'm gonna take pictures of RT the moment I go there again. Met Ron/Jagger/Valentine on board. I finally took pictures, sketched a drawing of the radio booth, and met up with Lellie again! I also met some fellow listeners, 2 guys from San Beda, and the other from Fatima (Valenzuela). As the world is indeed small, one of them is a former gradeschool buddy of my best friend in Valenzuela. What a coincidence.

Rode the wrong train ride home on the MRT. I was supposed to go southbound back to EDSA but went unknowingly on a northbound train. Another coincidence when I was in the same bus going from North Avenue/Trinoma to Monumento/Caloocan with guys I met in RT, Benny of Fatima and fellow ka-Valenzuela, Ramon. The other guy already left earlier. All three of us rode the same jeepney en route to Polo. What a coincidence, AGAIN!

Forgot to mention, something came up so Jeco and I had to rearranged our supposed meeting on the following Friday. This time is for good.

I thought it was my turn to wash dishes for that night's dinner but Jorge did all that. By the way, I fell asleep on the couch while waiting for My Girl to return after a long set of commercials. I woke up at 10:30 pm, My Girl was already over, and PDA is already half-way through its episode. I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and went to sleep. Jorge was using the Mac. I woke up the following day seeing my Mac is not inside its bag.

Friday, September 5: FINALLY!

-Gladly, no more delays, no more sudden external factors, and no more scheduling conflicts. Jeco and I finally met up so that we'd be able to fully complete our business transaction. He got the t-shirts I ordered from Graphiquetee, I got the Php600.00 payment. We set the final venue in Jollibee-Bayan in Malabon. Our schedules despite having the same trimestral break week had conflicting times that prevented us to do the transaction at the soonest possible time. 

Although one of the shirts I found some anomaly, I was satisfied with it. At the very least, I could always order another, albeit one t-shirt the next time.

My dad didn't go to work in order for him do something for his masteral's. I went to gym again but was saddened to learn of an impending increase on their rates on the 15th. How sad.

Later that day, I also had my two newly-delivered shirts washed so that I could use them for the 1st week of the 2nd term. 

I was able to watch the finale episode of My Girl, but unfortunately failed to see the heart shaped formed by Julian and Jasmine (I got to watched it on Youtube later the next day). Albert Siochi, Fred's cousin texted me that ex-classmate Bianca's character, Betty in Dyesebel, finally woke up after a month-long coma earlier in the series.

Saturday, September 6: Palengke Day with a New Haircut

-Ate Jade went to her friend's birthday party ala children's outreach program, my dad left for school, my mom's away for her weekly beauty facial in Binondo, and Kuya is yet to leave for Mapua. I was tasked with Jorge to buy things in the market, ALONE! Good thing Ate wrote a list of things we are to buy: 3 kilos of chicken, 6 kilos of alumahid, 3 pieces of milkfishes/bangus (1 for pangdaing, the other 2 for pangsinigang). And vegetables. 

We ate lugaw after and later had my hair cut in my usual barbershop. I was surprised to see that they disassembled the glass doors and windows along with the airconditioner which used to keep the place cool. They did that because of their employer's financial constraints.

One thing I didn't like while I was there is that the barber who's cutting my hair was in the middle of smoking from his cigarette. It's not that I despise smokers or anything but I dislike him for his lack of good work etiquette. It was really uncomfortable on my part as a client but I couldn't say anything since that'd be rude of me to just do that. Fortunately, he had his cigarette placed on some shelf but the smoke coming out is still getting to my nose.

I just realized that he had my bangs cut too short.

Later that night, I wrote a poem called "One August Morning" which is largely inspired by an experience I had during National Heroes' Day Holiday, August 26, Monday morning.

Before going to bed, I read "Posh and Becks"

Sunday, September 7: A Break We Call "Term Break"

-Except for the usual attendance of Sunday Mass and going to South Supermarket to get some groceries, we went to The Block to eat lunch. We also went to its Executive Optical branch in order to get myself a new pair of glasses. I guess it's not time for me to have my own pair of hard contacts just yet. My new frames will be ready though by Tuesday. I also bought my own pair of Bermuda shorts, hahaha!

We ate dinner, I watched the second-to-the-last episode of 7th Heaven, and Ghost Whisperer, and prayed the rosary. And as of this writing (11:40pm), I'm typing my new entry for the J-Blog Files and having it reposted on Facebook. Just before I go to bed, I'm also planning to continue reading "Posh and Becks" by Andrew Morton. 

Hay! After an hour and 45 minutes of writing this piece (11:45 pm), I now close this off with a very interesting video i want to share with you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCou_PLZ8m8

(Finally got this uploaded despite low connection speed at 12:38 am!)