Bloggerz ni Guz

This post was composed after an early morning run… June 24th Anno Domini 2009...

I walk, I think, I hear myself breathing.

Why do people think?

Maybe it’s because people are generally afraid to make mistakes.

The world we live in follows the law of cause and effect. This is a world where every decision no matter how minimal in importance has a corresponding effect.

Everyone wants a desirable outcome not a haunting consequence. That’s why you and me think about it first before taking the plunge.

Contentment - the lack of yearn.

Whoever said that the end does not justify the means was clearly generalizing. There are some things in life wherein the whole will always be greater than the sum of it’s parts.

Discontentment - the absence of contentment.

I’m 20 turning 21. What have I done so far?

I haven’t really felt the Christmas atmosphere the past few days. In fact, it has only led me to conclude that mid-December is just for kids.

Today is December 17,2008. Another sleepless night…

Another consequence of working the night shift…

As I woke up early in the evening (6 pm to be exact), I heard a bunch of kids singing a Christmas carol in the vernacular. It reminded me of the time when we were like those little kids going around houses to sing our version of the carols.

Money wasn’t really the thing that drove us to do it. Receiving piso, singko or the occassional 50 pesos was just a consolation to the fun we had enjoying the crisp and cool December nights. It was also an adventure.

Basically, we had no adult supervision. Being almost always the oldest in the group, I was the leader of these ragtag group of kids off to battle.

We dodged firecrackers, held our own against angry dogs, discovered new paths and divided the spoils. That was back then.

These days, it’s a different story.

I’m not the one roaming around anymore, I stay at the house. Judging by the number of carolers we get in a night, there must be a whole lot of children in this area.

Now, I’ll be the 1st to admit that I’m pretty much what you call “tihik.” But hey, I’m no Scrooge!

Want one good idea you could use?

Prepare a fund of let’s say, a hundred pesos in coins and that’s what you give to those little kids. Caroling is a little like trick or treat sans the tricks. So you go give those kids a good time while enjoying yours.

Bleak economy? Screw that. It’s Christmas!

P.S. Caramel sundae deliveries highly appreciated.

Tinker Tinker Tinker…

What happens if you somehow accidentally press the wong button?

Kaboom!

8 years worth of contacts wiped out.

All I could do was laugh at myself for the sheer “oops” factor of what just happened. It’s been around 3 months since I started using this hand-me-down Sony Ericsson phone unit and I must admit, I’ve grown to lean towards it. It’s got the stuff I’d want in a gadget. This little thingamajig plays my music, takes nice pictures and has all those features they stack in phones these days. I’m even typing this blog entry using it.

But if there’s one fatal flaw that comes with it, it’s the phone book.

That’s the reason why all my contacts got deleted.
That’s the reason why I’m blogging about it.

And that’s the reason why I’m rebuilding my phone book.

Back to square one.

*To all long lost friends, relatives and acquaintances, I would welcome it if you guys text me and inform me about your contact details.

I still have the same number.

*To those who don’t have it, I’ve posted it on the Bulletin.

Thanks

Today is a Sunday, the 6th day of April, 2008.

Oh bother!
Another unremarkable Sunday?
Not.

Mass
I wasn’t really putting my heart into my spiritual obligations.
My mind was wandering as the mass went on.
Typical Sunday?
Probably.

Lunch - Around past 1 pm
We had pizza delivered to our place.
*This pizza is brought to you by Yellow Cab. [Can I charge an advertising fee for this?]
I ate a whole 10" Barbecue Chicken flavored pizza by myself while they helped themselves with Meat Lovers.
[yes, Cole, yes, Believe it]

2 pm
Found myself in the hospital - Oh come on!
Give me a break will you?
Great! School related stuff on a Sunday

My day was only getting adorable. [lol]

Well… anyways, that’s enough of the complaining lest I become enthralled to the joys of a police blotter.

413
I had to visit my friend who underwent surgery a few days ago.
He was there looking oh so healthy lying down in bed.
A smile
lol.
Atleast, he was making the best of what he had undergone.
My friend says he’ll be discharged tomorrow.
Get well, my friend.
Goodbyes.

Tick tock Tick tock…
Around 3 in the afternoon, we finally had something to do.
Assessment day.

I was assessing a 6 year old girl with a respiratory problem.
"Poor girl," Mabe commented when I told her about it.

Between 5 and 4
Got home after paying the full fare of 6 php on the jeepney. Which by the way, rarely happens. [Learn how to take advantage of the student discounts will you?]

Almost 6
After getting a call from my dad to go after them in my younger brother’s graduation ceremony, I quickly donned the clothes I wore earlier that day. We go flag a taxi and instruct the driver to take us to Canduman where the new campus of my alma mater is located.

Drive

70 php - the number the meter showed when the taxi was infront of USC-TC.
Hm… that’s the same cost of a taxi trip from my house to that university in the middle of nowhere where I’m studying in. [Grammar police, can you guys recheck all this senseless blabber?]

The Gates of the Alma Mater
Unfamiliar guard
Taxi window rolls down
moi: "ahhh… sir, kanang graduation"

Confusion rises
Babylon in our midst.
"Naa sa CICC ang graduation."
Tense humor
Taxi driver comments
A call confirms that we are indeed, lost.
Text messages sent
Bwahaha!
LOLZ.
- a message to mabe
- a message to cole
- a message to my friend lying down in a hospital bed

"Seek and you shall find."
Destination: CICC
We set our sights towards the ASEAN Summit creation.
Broom Broom!

100++ = taxi meter reading…
Good thing I had about 200 php in the pocket thanks to mom and Manang.
I guess the extra 100 php came in handy after all.

A few detours here and there to roads never traveled before and a few minutes later, we found ourselves in front of a structure the Filipino taxpayers wasted on.

"Di pwede kasud taxi."

We walked from the gate and marveled at parkour haven.

Rails here and there - oh yes.
We went inside, snubbed the misplaced escalator and climbed the back stairs.

50th Commencement Exercises
-whatever that meant…

I see some old HS friends and we update ourselves about each other and the like.
Moments later, we have a lively intelligent discussion with one member of the Jesuit faculty and he enlightens us with the value of Jesuit education.

It’s about helping the Filipino people by combining business principles with the intent of serving the  men who work for us…

It’s about the fair distribution of wealth…

It’s about preventing the chronic brain drain problem of our country by providing incentives that the employees have a right to have…

It’s about being men for others.

By and by, we got through a lot of topics.
Not the average "chikka" crap you get from most people nowadays.
It was an exchange of ideas.
Ideas that would help shape this nation.

Which brings me to issue this statement. [Quote me on this one.]
"The standard of education of a school in this country is merely
relatively better. It only gains a seemingly positive merit when
compared to other institutions of inferior quality."

In layman’s terms, our educational system sucks!

Tick tock…
Minutes pass
What seems to be hours start passing by

Graduation ceremonies last long don’t they?
We joke about it.
Sarcasms exchanged

To Tidoso: "abot nalang ka sa inyo [somewhere in Lilo-an], wa pani mahuman."
From Elddie: "Graduate na lagi mo uy. Gidugay dugay pa."

And then before we knew it, the graduates were singing their graduation songs.
Oh come on, our batch sang better than that.
Seriously. [hehe...]

The flood of people rushing outside the doors of er… conference room? [hehe...]
A glimpse

Coleski!!!

haha
same old Nikks Nikks.
gigil [lol - it's not my fault I don't see you often anymore.]
a few words…
…the usual

Tita Maricel
beso beso
She asks about dad.
He must be somewhere in the crowd.
Off they go looking for their graduation boy.

Yeah, the graduation boy…
Where was my graduation boy.

Searching…
[It took some time - sorry I'm not Google.]

A call

Found them.

Picture taking [grabbed the medals for the photo shoot. roar!]
Car
Reclamation
Angry looks at the dark facade of that university in the middle of nowhere. [hehe...]

Turns turns
Mango Avenue
Familiarity

YELLOW CAB Mango - They actually opened a branch for us so that we won’t have to go to Banilad anymore.
pizza + Sola combo
boring.
and oh yeah, my record for the CARRY-THE-SOLAS-TO-THE-TOP is 7 bottles
[beat that noobs!] hehe…

If you want your pizza free, call during a typhoon.
254-1111 = Yellow Cab Mango

Additional remarks:
PERKS of a HEARTER Awardee

[Please refer to your Graduation guidebooks.
If you don't have one, I'm selling the 2008 edition autographed copy by a silver medalist for 1.023 php. Sorry it has to be exactly that amount in coins. I don't accept anything more or less.]

Valedictorian - Ateneo Schola…err… jersey sized XXXXS
IT Awardee - Free 1 hour sa Netopia
Ricci Chinese Awardee - Eat all you can siomai from Tisa valid for one meal

*I had much adventure for a day. Getting lost simply gives you that much.

"The Sky Bears Dough"
(a mash of various stuff compressed in one silly poem for Speech class)

They ask me for verses
But not even Caesar could have asked me
My words may not toil the bells of inspiration
I may not even speak with an eloquence worthy of any oration
But words are words, and so it has been spoken

I have learned one thing
Freedom does not come for free

Hearter Blue Bloodedness Test

IF YOUR BLUE BLOODEDNESS WOULD BE GRADED, WHAT WOULD YOUR FINAL MARK BE?
Place an X inside the box if it applies to you.

1. Brains
[X] Got to be on the Honor’s list for atleast once
[X] Striven for bonus points
[ ] Had sleepless nights because of studies
[X] Got an F in a long test
[X] Promised to do better but didn’t

Score: 4

2. School Spirit
[X] Know the Like An Eagle Fly song
[X] Memorized and sung SACRED TIES whole-heartedly
[X] Called yourself a Hearter
[X] Knew at least 7 famous Hearter Alumni
[X] Knew why Jesuit education is priceless

Score: 5

3. Food and Style Part 1
[X] Ate at the Ngohiong House across the school
[X] Had fastfood delivered to school
[ ] Hated your class number
[ ] Camwhored a lot
[X] Went to Ayala after classes

Score: 3

4. Food and Style Part 2
[ ] Went to school in a car
[ ] Had a laptop
[X] Bought cellular phones to school and hid them during impending raids
[X] Hated hair-cut inspections
[ ] Obediently followed DRESS FOR SUCCESS day

Score: 2

5. Musically inclined
[X] Watched the plays "OLIVER", "THE KING and I"
[X] Screamed your lungs out in an INTRAMURALS game
[X] Danced during PALABAS
[ ] Belonged to a band
[X] Watched a band gig in the SHSB grounds

Score: 4

6. Hobbies and Clubs
[X] Signed-up for a club
[ ] Became active in that club
[X] Skipped a club meeting just to stroll around the campus
[X] Played cards/Scrabble/Chess in the Guidance Counselor’s office 
[X] Played basketball during dismissal

Score: 4

7. Religious
[X] Found retreats meaningful
[X] Got a Jesuit for a teacher
[X] Prayed to St. Ignatius of Loyola
[X] Tried attending early morning mass at the chapel
[X] Learned a lot about life due to your Theology subjects

Score: 5

8. Rebelde
[X] Wanted to tell the guards to F*ck off
[X] Went to the clinic just because you didn’t like to enter a class
[X] Slept in the library
[X] Ate during Chinese class
[X] Vandalized something in the DRAFTING ROOM

Score: 5

9. Friendly and Loyal
[X] Signed a SIGNBOOK owned by a student from an all-girl’s school
[X] Called all your classmates with a certain BAPTIZED name
[ ] Became a Free-loader
[X] Stood up for a friend
[X] Went out with a Theresian/Hearter girl back in high school

Score: 4

10. Politically Inclined / Zen
[X] Used the back gate
[ ] Read the Student Handbook thoroughly
[X] Tried to avoid Mr.Galvan/Mr.Diaz because you left your oh-so-precious id
[X] Voted for candidates in the Student Council wisely
[X] Engaged in deep-thinking while in the campus

Score: 4

TOTAL SCORE: 90
GRADE: B+

A= 92-100 (Certified True Blue Hearter!)
B+= 86-91 (Average Hearter)
B= 77-85 (So-So Student…)
C+= 69-76 (LOLZ! You repeater!)
C= 60-68 (You got kicked out of the school coz you really sucked)
D= 50-59 (You must be kidding me. You flunked the entrance exam. Too bad for you.)
F= 49 and below (Did you even study there or what?)

Eight-Nine
Another loss…
It seems that I have been losing too many one-on-one basketball games recently. As I retired, I heard myself breathing laboriously. Gasping for air as if it were oh so rare. It wasn’t always like this. There was a time when I was the mark of unbounded energy. I remembered basketball games back in high school where every other player looked dead tired while I was streaking along the courts. It was such a display of contrast that mistaking me as a user of contraband substances was not so far fetched. Stamina was never a problem. Conditioning was superb back then but here I was, feeling so sick and tired after just a few minutes of athletic activity. College life has seen me taking less care of my own body. Sleepless nights, delayed meals, absent physical activity for over two years has taken it’s toll. It can’t always be this way. This has to stop! And that’s primarily the reason why I’m taking up parkour. Parkour is going to be my new drug - an adrenaline infusion. An attempt once more to resuscitate what has been lost.

Parkour - a chance for redemption

*I’m going to make it a point to jam with fellow parkouristas atleast once  a week.If that won’t do any good, discussing Antithesis of the Law among Aramaic theologians sounds like a good alternative. Those interested in joining our parkour  jams can drop a message.

20th of May 2007
It came unexpected in the most unlikely of places.
Location: somewhere in the mountains of Cebu
Time: Early in the evening
There was no supply electricity that night and we enjoyed the eerie darkness tonight offered.
The crescent moon stood looming reminding me of an Islamic symbol.
It seems that I have forgotten how the night sky looked like. But there I was, enjoying every moment of it. Watching the night sky right there from the terrace seemed to make the burden I have been carrying seem a little bit lighter.
I stopped looking and went to my parent’s room to borrow my dad’s phone.
And as I was waiting for it, I looked out the window and saw a white streak pass.
It disappeared in a flash. One blink and I would have missed it.
At first I thought it was just a white bird flying by but then I realized what it actually was.
My first shooting star…

The hiatus is over, I am back in the city where the lights seem to eclipse the stars’ brightness.
No more night sky to look upon.

She said wishes do come true.

I was interviewed by a writer for this obscure magazine. Here are some excerpts of the interview…

PRELIMINARIES
Age: 18

Height: between 5′5"- 5′6" ft

Body: Ex Athletic
Hair: I’m trying to grow it to pre-college length

[yeah! The long one]
Accessories: [Left Hand] Baller [green - I found it at the SHSB gym, I think a kid left it there.]

Genre: Unbounded by genre
Fashion: Anything I’m comfortable with; monochrome shirts and white polos
Other Descriptions: simple guy with dreams beyond your wildest imaginations
Lovelife: I’m the type who will love you for who you are. The type of guy you would like to keep for as long as possible with no exceptions.

FORBIDDEN QUESTIONS

What was the most expensive thing you have recieved from an admirer?
I usually get handwritten letters bundled with their pictures. I’m not a materialistic type of person and I think they all know that. But if the price tag was being considered, it would be an authentic CD of my favorite band. And yes, with her letter and pic in it. [laughs]

Part of your body they find most attractive?
Eyes. I dunno why. I’m near-sighted.

Have you ever been rejected by a girl?
So far, nope and I highly doubt it would ever happen.

Do you stalk?
Nope.

Are you an overprotective boyfriend?
I used to be. {I was too young pa at that time} But I learned that being lenient is much more comfortable stand to maintain. [coz you don't have to IMPOSE anything! haha!]

Have you ever cheated on a girl?
Noperz. but-an man ko. Haha!

Worst/Cheapest gift you’ve given to a crush
It was her birthday at that time and I forgot to bring the cute bag worth more than a hundred dollars I was planning to give her. Now, baller bands were still the fad at that time and I was selling them for 20php after buying them from CHEAP [some ambulant vendor from my HS] for 15php. Anyways, since I had nothing else with me, I went to her and greeted her a "Happy Birthday [name censored]"  She was a girl and I reckoned she didn’t know the difference between the overpriced authentic one and a cheap rip-off and so I gave it to her. After that, I walked back to my room since the bell just rang for the next class. Lunch time came and I was there hawking my goods and shouting, "BALLER ID tag 20! barato lang" and when I turned to my left she was there passing by. I’m not sure but I think I saw her quickly taking it off and hiding it. I went back to my classroom and I couldn’t help but laugh to myself because I just gave someone something cheap and making her think it was expensive. Thinking back, it wasn’t actually a bad gift… It WAS a baller! <-haha!

Type of girl
Physical attraction counts - I’d be lying if I said it didn’t.
Intellectual capacity - Anyone who cannot impress me with her brains is definitely off the list.
Simple girls catch my eye.  I’m not after the ones who would do ANYTHING to attract EVERYONE’s attention.

Ever had a crush on a teacher?
hm… yeah. haha!

If you ran for senator and won, what would you do?

Bills for alternative energy resources (solar, wind) to reduce energy dependence from other countries and to help the environment.
Further improve education to give the people a higher chance to a better future. Those who are not that good in terms of intellectual capacity will be offered technical know how programs (vocational stuff)
Encourage entrepreneurship. From small to big businesses… Strengthen FILIPINO products so that the stigma against local stuff will gradually disappear and to further enhance our economic activities.

Do you read our mag?

TAP OUT! TAP OUT! lolz

Er… no!

This is not a pun of some pizza place.

Let me start this boring narrative.

Taxi colors differ all around the world.
Hong Kong cabs are mostly colored red. New York has the signature yellow cab but here in the Philippines, taxis are usually colored white with that yellow colored plate.

The past few days, I have been hailing cabs here and there to take me to our new campus IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!!!

Talk about inconvenience.

With a flag down rate of 30php, I usually spend an average of 70php for a ride towards my school from our place.

Ehem… That’s like 70 percent of my daily allowance. (Thank God I don’t spend money on food these days because my classes are after lunch.) <- haha! you know na pila ako allowance.

Taxi drivers come in a variety of personalities.

Some hardly say a word, others say something every now and then but the best ones are those who you can talk about practical things.

They can make an otherwise mundane journey quite interesting.
It’s like, "whoah! I didn’t know that"

But the moment you start enjoying the conversation, the next thing you see from the window is your destination.

After handing the fare and thanking the cab driver for driving me to my destination, I say to myself,"I guess it’s time to go."

I take a bus and 2 jeepneys on my way home.

*I SHOULD get a car najud uy! layo ayung skwelahana. yawn! hehe…