The CSB Experience 3: Third Time’s a Charm

*Image taken from Facebook.com

Back before I came to CSB as a freshman, I made an initial set of goals for me to accomplish before graduating. Among them: Become a part of the school paper, become an orientor for froshes, join the varsity, apply as a student DJ for Campus Aircheck and a lot of fantasies which eventually didn’t come into fruition: I got rejected on the paper, I didn’t make it to the deadline in time,  I was not qualified for the varsity, Campus Radio became Barangay LS, etc.

Then came this really nice opportunity to explore the possibility of applying for the school’s Frosh Orientation Program this summer.  For the past years, I failed to get my butt kick into doing this thing because of factors I cannot control (other than being informed about it a little too late last year). I saw a poster uploaded on facebook which fortunately got picked up by my news feed earlier this morning.

As I’m writing this article, I’m patiently waiting for the guys from the Student Involvement Office (or was it used to be "Office of Student Affairs", I don't know..) to furnish me a copy of the application form.

Even if this is the only thing I managed to accomplished out of all the things that I initially want to achieve, I will be happy. I don’t have much time left in the school, with only 3 more trimesters left under my belt (I’m on my 9^th term). I want to leave my beloved college knowing I managed to achieve something such as this.

The Consequence of "Fun"

Something unexpected, something bad. Something that it's hard to explain but I know it's never going to be the same. I thought everything's fine but then again, I though wrong.

Is it the beginning of the end? I sure hope not...Should I take the blame, I can't really say. How about the person involved, I don't know what's running inside his mind. I guess he doesn't see me much of a friend anymore nor being someone he could trust.

What have I done to deserve getting disconnected by him? Will our friendship return to the same old thing? Is the fall-out that serious?

A simple mistake, a wrongfully-seen act that is easy to forgive and to forget. I know I'm getting paranoid but I don't want to make enemies out fo friends nor do I was to make enemies to begin with.

Heck, I don't want to be a burden to him nor I don't want him to be one to me.

I know I'm asking too much but the moment I sense something is wrong between us, I tried everything that I could to correct what is it to correct. Am I being a bastard? Am I trying hard to get noticed in order for you to react? I can't help it because something is indeed wrong.

It's possible that you read this, you may have already have an idea that I'm referring to you but I'm not stopping you to react or bash on me. I probably deserve it. Call me names whatever you want, if that is the only way I could get through to you, to know what's wrong so that we could fix it.

We may not be that really close a friend but I regard you as one because I owe you a lot. I want to thank you for all the things you did for me, the good things. You're my role model, simply put.

Punch me in the face so that we could both return to the way we were.

J Pics Mobile Pics: Food, Books, Plates and Bias

Pictures taken from my cellphone.

Location: LRC-SDA, SDA Caf, 10th Floor SDA and LRT

The CSB Experience: Blazing in the Sea of Blue

I have long heard of stories and beliefs as people's views about Ateneo de Manila University. Although I couldn't say anything bad nor good about it because I haven't been there myself.

In fact, for the past few years I've been to different universities but never once did I think of going to ADMU. Basically, the reason for it is that it's simply too far for me to go to and besides, what reason do I have to go there in the first place?

That question though got an answer just a couple of days ago.

For more than a month now, I've been planning on joining this student filmmaking contest from an Atenean org, the Loyola Film Circle. It's called the Ateneo Video Open, a competition open to student filmmakers from different colleges and universities.



At the time, I was in the middle of doing my then current (and finals) project for Vidprod2, entitled "The Gift". I liked how the movie turned out although I still wished that it would have been better (better casting maybe for my lead character).



I made other films that are similarly good but given the mechanics that the AVO requires for their film screening, only "The Gift" has a good chance of not getting disqualified due to technicalities.

I could submit my entry either to my school's org affiliated to the LFC but I'm not sure if Kino Eye nor MediaMax knew about the event. I didn't notice any posters about the AVO posted around campus. Plan B of submission is to do it the hard way: Bring it over to Ateneo myself.

Crazy afterthought popped up all of a sudden but yes, it's the only way to do so.

The first time I went there was last Tuesday (Jan. 26, 2010). I thought everything was going to be okay all the way but I forgot to bring one requirement so I had to come back the next day.

Going to Ateneo is quite time-consuming, but fortunately, I didn't have classes at the time until later that evening. Hitched a ride at the LRT Line 2 in Recto then dropped myself off to Katipunan.



According to the street map at the station, ADMU is just a few blocks away but then again, it's quite a long trek. I don't want to take a tricycle/jeepney ride since I'm on a budget so walking seems to be the only viable option.



Once inside, I can't help but be amazed by what I'm seeing. Trees, benches, and wide open green fields dot the campus landscape.



Trying to figure things out around there, I ended up passing by this cool hang-out place near a parking lot, then later passed through a couple of brick-walled buildings then eventually ended up to my place of destination, the Manuel V. Pangilinan Building.




The building looks like a student center/mini-mall based from the number of establishments found in the first floor alone. They have an Apple store, a Figaro cafe, and a bookstore(?) among others. The LFC head office is found upstairs and finally, I got to pass my entry to them, including the last one, the registration fee the next day.



On the second day that I was there, I decided to walk around a bit in Ateneo, and maybe take some good rest sitting on one of their benches. By coincidence, I may have spotted a very familiar figure among the students I passed through, Abe. Not sure if it was him but I remember he's with some friends. I could have give him a shout and greeted him but I thought it'd be an awkward moment. Well, you know me...hindi mapagkali.



Just waiting for the one text from the LFC to know if I made the cut as one of their finalist. It's going to be my first time joining a contest such as this so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

:)

And I'm Blue Da ba Dee (The Ateneo Experience)

Had a nice time in Ateneo while I was there. I hope I could get the opportunity to come back again hehehe.

Went there yesterday (January 26) and earlier this afternoon (Jan. 27, 2010) to submit my entry for the upcoming Ateneo Video Open, an amateur student film festival open to students from different universities.

Here's what I got from the trip, enjoy!

The CSB Experience 3: The Third Third First Day (and the Rest of the Week)

At long last, the last term of the school year had finally started this week. I don't think that it won't even happen but it did!

Hehehe, got carried away there.

Right now, it seems like I have a very loosed schedule: one class won't start until past midterms on Monday, another 2 each start from 6pm until 3 hours later (one on Tuesday, the other on Wednesday). A lone morning class greets me on a Thursday while 2 more await on Friday.

I made an organized schedule just so I could make good use of the available free time opened up from my weird class sked. This includes me starting to take a few occasional trips to the public pool at nearby Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, costing only sixty-pesos per dip.



RMSC's "public pool" actually composed of three swimming pools: a diving pool, an Olympic-size pool, and a layman's 6-footer pool. No locker rooms though so I have to take an extra eye on my belongings lying next to the lifeguard's area.

My first day of class was on Tuesday, Webdev3 (Web Development). Compared to the past 2 web classes I had for last two-thirds of the school year, this one is more focused on the business side of web-design. One project we'll have to make before the term end is making a e-commerce website. Similar to how I did my Beauty ATBP website but something is added up.

The next class the following evening was Msciety (Multimedia in Society). The class is basically a start-up for my thesis so as early as now I'm prepping up already with all the research and stuff that I might face in the coming months. Just had to thank Ms Flores for gearing a lot of us with regards to making research projects, so at least we know what to expect.

Thursday, I had my first session for 3DAnim3. Feeling fortunate that I'm not ending up on Mr Gaw's class again. Then again, there is still the question on how I'll survive what seems to be another hard subject.

At least it's not the only one. Author2 focused on making a working interactive gaming program using the likes of Adobe/Macromedia Director. 2DAnim3 puts emphasis on animation post-production such that we develop our finished plates from the 2 animation pre-reqs into a fully-furnished animated short using Adobe Flash.

I already named my animated short as "The Soda Pop Can". (I'll try to upload my rough edit in the near future).


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Straying away for bit from my usual chatter about academics, the year 2010 brought about some interesting twists and turns for the students of CSB, particularly inside the multiple glass walls of the College's SDA campus. Here are some observations:

1) The SDA Caf has fully rid itself from the terrible army of broken chairs and got itself new more stable ones. To be specific, they made use of chairs similar to the armchairs used in the building's classrooms sans the arm.


2)  The Student Lounge has turned into another entity that does not bear the essence of why it was called a "Student Lounge". From being an glass-walled draw-table classroom exposed to be seen by passing students, it was turned into a "study area" although I doubt people would actually go there to study.

3) I thought it was only because of the long term-break why the school, as per what Jomar said in Plurk, about not seeing much students aroung last Monday, but I noticed there wasn't much student presence in the building, especially duing the noontime hours when a crowd of students would line in long queues in front of the lobby elevators or just hang out in the Caf at the 12th Floor.




4) Nikko introduced me into the hidden fantasy that is coffee jelly-said to be a best-seller among all the food served from Chef's Station-SDA. At 20-pesos, it's all worth it.




The term has just began but it feels like it's going to be an interesting one. Wishing I could make it past through this so I'd be few steps closer to graduating.

The CSB Experience 3: Look/Back

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Looking back at the years, I can't believe I've reached this far. Already a college junior, can't help but feel a bit of nostalgia. From being a lowly freshman to a settled-down sophomore to a wised-up junior. I wonder what lies ahead as I enter my senior and (hopefully) final year in CSB.

As early as now, I feel like I want to get this whole thing over with. Third term has yet to start til Monday (Tuesday for me) but I'm thinking of planning some things ahead. For one, my upcoming on-the-job training (OJT) this summer. With the lengthening of the current school year until May 5, it ended up leaving merely 20 days of summer vacation to students.

20 days may not even be enough for most of us to even fulfill whatever is there to fulfill with our OJT. I read in the guidelines that we are supposed to earn as much as 25-thousand pesos, depending on what job we're taking. According to my academic adviser, I could have my OJT moved to the regular term so that I'll be able to earn the needed points at a much longer period.

Right now, I heard there's an opening on this certain media entity. Hopefully by then, the spot is still available.

For the third trimester (My 9th term of stay), I'll be taking the rest of the "3" subjects in addition to some additional prereqs like MSCIETY. Totalling 18 units for this term, there remains about 36 more units yet to be taken.

Hopefully, I can get myself through this long enough to do year 4 of "The CSB Experience". :D