SOUND TRIP
Posted at 07:11 PM

NOON…(inspired ni Bob Ong)

Bumili ang dorm mate ko ng CD ng Eraserheads; yung anthology ng mga pinakasikat na kanta nila. Ayun tuloy, imbes na mag-aral ay nagsoundtrip nalang kami ng mga dorm mates ko. Daldalan habang nakikinig sa malamig na tinig ni Eli Buendia (swoon) at sumusunod ang ulo sa yagabag ng astig na tambol. Nagkwekwentuhan tungkol sa mga alaala ng elementary at haiskul na kaakibat ng mga kantang madalas naging sanhi ng Last Song Syndrome ng maraming tao noon: Toyang (they tried to tell us we’re too young…), Ligaya (gagawin ko ang lahat pati ang thesis mo…), Alapaap (ako ngayo’y lumilipad at nasa langit na-a…) at Ang Huling El Bimbo (kamukha mo si Paraluman…). Alaala ng mga mas inosente (raw) at mas masayang yugto ng buhay.

Para sa akin, yun yung buhay ko sa Abel (Santa Isabel College). Mga panahong limang piso lang ang 12 oz na Coke at P1.50 lang ang jeep papuntang Harrison Plaza, ang pinakamalapit na mall sa amin maliban sa Masagana. Wala pa kasing Rob at SM Manila noon. Mga panahong wala pang Internet at ang cellphone ay halos kasinlaki ng briefcase. Ang singko noon ay yung maliliit na cute na barya at hindi grade na pwedeng ikamatay. Kung tatawag ka sa payphone, tatlong 25c lang ang kailangan mo para ipakain sa pulang public PLDT phones.Mas makapal ang crepe paper noon at mas malaki ang size ng dyaryong Inquirer. Di pa uso sa amin ang yellow pad at ang proyekto ay pinapasa na typewritten o kaya’y sulat-kamay lang. Mas simpleng buhay, mas simpleng panahon…

Mga araw na ang pinakamalala kong problema ay ang paghabol sa sobrang aga na flag ceremony at pagkopya ng assignment bago mag-bell. Madalas din pala akong mapatayo sa likod ng klase dahil sa sobrang kaingayan. May oras pa akong tumambay sa quadrangle noon at maglaro ng patintero at mag-ghost hunting sa lumang building ng eskwela namin. Mga araw na nabubuhay ako sa paghingi at pakikikain sa baon ng mga barkada ko. Kina-career nang mga sections ang sabayang pagbigkas na laging rape scene or guwardiya sibil ang introduction at ginagawa nang tanghaling tapat. Kahit di ka marunong ay mapipilitan kang sumayaw, kumanta at umarte para lang makakuha ng tumataginitng na 95% mula sa mga teacher naming nangangarap atang maging producer sa Broadway. Nagpapakabait kami noon at minememorya ang mga dasal, Vision-Mission/Core Values at school rules and regulations para makakuha ng mataas na grade sa conduct. At sandamukal ang walang pasok dahil kapag may pista ng santo o kaya’y umambon lang ng bahagya, suspended na. Yehey!

Magaling akong magpanggap na gising kahit tulog at magtago ng pocketbook sa likod ng textbook tuwing boring ang klase. Inis na inis kami sa maiksi na jumper skirt namin kapag mainit ang panahon; waterproof ata yung tela kaya sobra ka talagang papawisan. Pero proud naman akong suotin yun kapag may mga quiz bee o soirees na pinupuntahan sa labas ng eskwela. At kahit puro kami babae sa eskwela, marami pa rin ang may lablayp sa mga kaklase ko. Hay… nalagpasan ako ni Kupido noon dahil ang tangi kong iniirog ay mga libro: kahit ano, kahit saan, kahit papaano.

NOW.

Last Saturday, my family and I (and Joni, a beneficiary of the adopt-a-KCmate project) watched a concert at the Folk Arts Theater: All Stars Live By Request. I rarely listen to the radio or watch TV so I only had a faint idea of who the performers were. We arrived in time to catch the Akafellas give their rendition of Bongga ka ‘Day. Wow; those guys could really sing! And I couldn’t imagine how the beat box guy still managed to breathe while doing a pretty good imitation of a full drumset. Karylle, Kyla, Nina, Jimmy Bondoc, Keith Martin and South Border also performed some of their more popular songs, most of which I only recognized by the time they were singing the chorus (and with my friend’s prompting).

But I was in bliss when this not-so-handsome guy came onstage to do a duet of Separate Lives with Nina. Nyoy Volante… haaay. A friend once defined lust as a state of kilig that lasts more than 5 minutes. If that’s true, then that’s what we experienced when Nyoy crooned “Nasaan ka na?” “Andito lang kami!”my friend and I would shout in response to the song’s refrain. I actually envied the girl who had the gall to wipe the sweat off his brow (I can hear my dorm mates’ loud snickering right now). I got goosebumps hearing his voice smoothly shift from the uber-masculine to the soprano range. And he’s a guitarist and composer to boot. Crudely put…makalaglag everything, hehe.

And I now have a thesis topic!
ABNKKBSNPLA ko! by Bob Ong Alapaap by the Eraserheads

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NOT-SO-JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Posted at 06:32 PM

Here I go again. Wasting time. When I should be studying (or doing a million other important things) I end up yakking my head off. Or listening to music. Or going “gallivanting.” Or reading stuff that have little relation to acads. Or hibernating (in my book, that’s a valid activity). I’m busy, I’m productive, but not with the things I’m supposed to do. Procrastination. The bane and life-support system of college life.

Notice the short sentences? A sign of my shrinking attention span. I think it’s inversely related to age. Which explains the title of this entry. I’m not a juvenile anymore. Huhuhu. But still screamingly delinquent.

ANGELS

People who…
…inspired me with possible thesis topics.
…prayed for and with me.
…helped me review/take exams.
…lent me acads stuff.
…fix recalcitrant PC’s.
…become persistent alarm clocks.
…miss call or drag me off the bed just to wake me up.
…give me pasaload.
…text me “Go to sleep now” every midnight.
…make me coffee.
…gently (and not so gently) rebuke my slothfulness
…lent me a guitar.
…taught me how to appreciate blueberry cheesecake.
…taught me how to use yahoo briefcase.
…forgive me when I fail to show up.
…cook for me.
…gave me a back rub.
…listen to me yak/chatter while reviewing.
…avoid poking me in the arm during Tuesdays and Fridays
…patiently plunk out the alto on the piano for my trusty recorder.
…harmonize with me when I sing instead of covering their ears.
…teach me new songs or poems.
…text back when I miss call.
…make me feel young.
…make me feel like a girl.
…greeted me last August 4 (twink...)
…will do my yearbook write-up.
…tell me, “inaabangan ko ang susunod na blog mo”

They are daily proof that God indeed loves me.

SONG OF THE MOMENT

I first heard this song in first year high school. Our section’s resident Lea Salonga sang it a capela during breaks; Guia would patiently repeat it every time I asked until I finally learned the tune. I thought it was just something she made up until I heard it with accompaniment in college, on a CD of Bukas Palad courtesy of TeGandz.

O Lord I seek you for I thirst
Your mercy is the rain on the desert of my soul
O Lord I raise my lifeless eyes
And see your glory shine how your kindness overflows

Though many times I run from you in shame
I lift my hands and call upon your name
For underneath the shadow of your wings
My melody is you

O Lord your sanctuary calls
I yearn to be with you in the rivers of your love

Though many times I run from you in shame
I lift my hands and call upon your name
For underneath the shadow of your wings
My melody is you.

And i had to change my thesis topic....hay.
the heart of the artist You are my song by the company

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YEARBOOK WRITE-UP
Posted at 04:17 PM

yes...malayo pa ang graduation ay hinarass na kami agad na magpasa ng write-up. as a floating in limbo student, nalaman ko lang yung deadline 2hours before...kaya nataranta ako ng todo. thank God for angels who are willing to suffer through writer's block just to describe the indescribable me. i actually asked several people to write, and they did (thanks 100x, mwah!), but i guess what all of them said can be found in the write-up made by my so-called twin, Hannah. i was too complex daw for just 200 words at gusto pa nya sana pagandahin, pero deadliest deadline na ngayon, so here goes...

Rita is one of God’s most fascinating and amazing masterpieces. She is a perfect combination of charm, giftedness, and heart.

Known as “the girl who always wears a tubao”, Rita never fails to make heads turn on those rare occasions wherein she decides to “dress-up”. But even in her typical get-up, she still exudes a vibrant aura and carries a natural charming disposition which makes people feel comfortable and at ease around her. She is effortlessly beautiful, and her simplicity makes her stand-out even more.

Rita has been gifted with numerous artistic talents. She articulates and communicates herself exceptionally well, may it be in speaking or writing. Aside from being blessed with a golden singing voice, she is also a promising theater actress. She works hard to perfect her craft and is very diligent in pursuing her goals. She continues to be humble and focused on giving all the glory to the Giver of her gifts. Aside from being involved in groups which help her maximize her talents, she is also a dedicated student leader. And yet, she still manages to strike a balance between maintaining her grades and carrying-out her extra-curricular activities excellently.

A faithful and sweet friend, all her friends can attest to the fact that she would often go out of her way just to make one feel special and cared for. She is also a loving daughter and sister. Her capability to give is boundless, and it is just amazing to see how her life touches the hearts of others just by being herself. Her heart is so pure and genuine that it desires to find its delight in Christ above all things.

Surely, our Creator must take pride in Rita. Simply put, she epitomizes what has been described as being “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

ganun pala ako? aww.
Ethnographic Interview Blessed Assurance

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RAINY DAY
Posted at 06:31 PM

It’s another rainy day… na may pasok. Atienza did a good job of clearing up the Manila sewers.. too good, actually. We haven’t had a single suspension of classes due to flooding for this semester, hmp. I’ve been rebuked for blatant selfishness when I voiced this sentiment, but still… I miss reluctantly waking up early in the morning to the welcome hiss of rain outside and the sweet sound of “classes are suspended” from my dorm mates. Then, gratefully and drowsily, I’d snuggle under the warm covers, hug my pillows tight and commence hibernating. One of the best feelings in the world.

REACTION
I’m a very sensitive person. For my friends who are now snorting in disbelief, I’ll qualify that statement: NOT emotionally. A couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis (symptoms: chronically sneezing my head off, teary eyes, stuffed nose, etc.) along with an old ailment, asthma (symptoms: feeling like you’ve been run over by a ten-wheeler truck and wheezing the Hallelujah Chorus every breath you take). It’s because my dear overprotective immune system has decided to take offense against, oh, around 13 allergens. Stuff like dust, cockroach, molds, kapok, cat’s hair, grass, pollen… stuff that are practically found everywhere. Since I can’t avoid them, medication (and the occasional trip to the emergency room) is necessary.

But the PGH doctors offered me hope of a normal respiratory system through immunotherapy. They would attempt to make me get used to the allergens by exposing me to them in gradually increasing doses. Basically, it involves getting 3 injections per session, twice a week for 4 months. I’ve been a human pincushion since last June. Rule Number 1: I should be consistent in getting the shots. But since the allergy clinic is open only in the mornings, I inevitably skipped several.

I will never skip my allergy shots again. I will never skip my allergy shots again. I will never sk- AAAAAARRGH! (frantically digs nails into a swollen face.)

Yep. Last Monday, I paid the consequences. Itchy, huge mosquito-bite-like weals erupted all over my face, neck and hands. My eyes were swollen and gushing tears, and I was red up to my ears. Fortunately, patients have to stay for 30 minutes after their allergy shots for observation, so I was still in the clinic when I broke out. The doctors gave me a tablet (which didn’t work) and finally, an antihistamine shot in the arm. It worked, but it hurt a lot and I was knocked out after a few minutes. I slept for almost two hours, but when I woke up…ahh, the wonders of modern medicine!
I got cured just in time: I was scheduled to have my graduation photos taken that afternoon. A little puffy, but make-up and digital enhancing can do miracles. I hope.

RESEARCH

After a month-long losing battle with procrastination, I was finally able to do some acads-related work. The sun is rising as I type this since it was 4:30am by the time I was able to force myself to sit down. I was able to browse through 2 books, type my list of works cited and dug through my files for useful material. It’s been quite interesting reading my old school papers, especially the ones I did for Intercultural Communication. I’ll post some of them here in the future; a fellow blogger inspired me by posting her political science papers. Organizational Communication deserves some exposure too (voice-over: ano yun?) Right now, I’ll post a book review I did as a requirement for a month-long leadership camp last year… ah, memories.

BASIC CHRISTIANITY: A Book Review for Kawayan Camp 2003 (4/06/03)

Summary. What is Basic Christianity? The author, John R. W. Stott, starts his informative book with an overview of the current attitude towards Christianity. He states that although many were hostile to the Christian church, still Jesus Christ holds a fascination for many. From there, he emphasizes that the deity of Jesus is the foundation of the whole Christian faith. Instead of rejecting such a seemingly implausible doctrine out of hand, the author said that one should consider the various evidences given by the Bible as well as outside sources. Before one could examine the validity of Christianity, one must have an open mind and cast aside any pre-conceived notions. There should be a realization that even before men existed, God had already acted; He sought them even before they thought of seeking him. The right approach to seeking God is to have an attitude of diligence, honesty and obedience.
There are three main arguments for the deity of Christ: his astounding claims, his infallibly good character and his miraculous works. Although none are irrefutable by themselves, together they point conclusively to the fact that Jesus was 100% man and 100% divine. However, the fact that Jesus became man, died for man’s sin and was resurrected would be useless without an active response from humanity. Man must humbly realize his need for redemption from sin and its negative consequences. Only then can he accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and become a Christian.
Lastly, Basic Christianity is not merely believing in Jesus but also following Him. A Christian has to be aware of the costs of discipleship: persecution, ridicule, and feeling like an outcast from the world. He should know his duties as a member of the body Christ, the Church. He should not ignore Christ’s call to share the Gospel with unbelievers. Most of all, he should also realize that none of these challenges could compare with the privileges and the reward he has in Christ.
Reaction. One of the lines that struck me in the book was the idea that one did not have to commit intellectual suicide to believe in Jesus. Often, matters of faith are treated with blind belief; people fail to seek the why’s and how’s of their religion. Sadly, this is also the case with most people who call themselves Christians. They may believe in Jesus, but they do not have a clear understanding of the doctrines of their faith. They cannot explain to others why Christianity is unique or necessary. Belief without understanding or knowledge is not faith, but superstition. This lack of understanding also leads to another common problem: Christians who are stagnant and do not actively share their faith. Being a Christian does not only entail belief. It requires us to live in a way that is pleasing to God and the courage and conviction to share our faith with unbelievers. The concise and orderly way the author explained Basic Christianity really helped me as a new Christian, and answered a lot of my questions about my faith.
Conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book, not just to non-believers but also to my Christian friends. Believers in Christ would find the author’s concise and clear explanations quite helpful. Hopefully, they would also discover the learnings I have gained from this book. First, that in order to find truth, one has to actively seek God; it is not enough to passively wait for wisdom to come on its own. Second, that it is possible to give a logical argument for Christianity, that it is not mere blind belief or superstition. Lastly, that basic Christianity is a commitment to trust God not just with our spiritual life, but also with every aspect of our everyday living. A Christian has to “walk his talk.” A Christian has to completely rely on this promise: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Organizational Behavior You are my song

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A WEEKEND IN THE LIFE OF A NOCTURNAL
Posted at 07:22 PM

ALIBI
I sometimes have the nasty habit of leaving people in the lurch- be it meetings, rehearsals, dates, etc. Mostly because of my severe gravitic attraction to the bed…waking up’s so hard to do. But I missed a lot last Saturday because of an iron-clad alibi. The previous night, our dormitory matron locked our room…with us outside and our keys inside. We spent a rather uncomfortable night in the dorm sala. My room mate was unable to sleep because she heard footsteps with no one around; mosquitoes also feasted on us. I was able to sleep because I took allergy medication…the sedative type, since my usual medicine was inside our room.

Miraculously, I was awake by 630 am..but to no avail, since the room was still locked. And it stayed locked until late in the day… too late to go to QC and to Remedios. But long enough for me to hibernate the whole day. Hmm…so I guess all’s well that ends well.

SINGIN’

It was a musical Sunday for me. Our dormitory choir sang in two of the worship services, since it’s Missions Month in Cosmo. We sounded like angels, said our conductor; from what I could hear from my recording, we sounded like a children’s choir. Then a record 26 of us sang in the Vesper Choir in the evening service; there weren’t enough gowns to go around. I skipped the rehearsal afterwards, though. They were practicing for a wedding singing engagement in Isabela on Saturday; I can’t go because of clses, huhu.

CRAMMING

Except for a short nap, I did not sleep from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning. All because of a crammed report for a major subject. It was my first time to make a PowerPoint presentation (I’m terrified of advanced technology) and my professor has very high standards. Things were so dire that I posted a sign at our dorm room that said “Please do not disturb. Serious cramming inside.” It worked.

LULLABY

There’s a commercial on TV recently that showed a mother and daughter inside a van, traveling. The daughter is asleep with her head in her mother’s lap, while her mother is crooning a traditional lullaby. Whenever I see it, I reminisce about the unusual goodnight song my mama sang to us when we were young…

When you’re down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even the darkest night

When the skies above you
Should turn dark and full of clouds
And the cold north wind should begin to blow
Just put your hands together
And call my name out loud now
And soon I will be knocking upon your door

You just call out my name
And you’ll know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again
Oh baby
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you’ve got to do is call
And I’ll be there
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You’ve got a friend.
thnography textbooks Ligaya by Eheads

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BASKETBALL… AND OTHER PLEASANT SURPRISES
Posted at 07:29 PM

In the midst of my hectic, whine-provoking final year (I hope and pray…) of college, I got a week’s worth of blessings. Unexpected, but very welcome surprises…

NO CLASSES
Yes! Four months into the semester, all of Atienza and Fernando’s efforts were for naught as Typhoon Marce submerged Taft once more. I finally relished two days of storm-induced vacation… or rather, sick leave. Perfect timing.

GRACE PERIOD
A report and an exam were moved to a latter date. My radar really works; I just crammed for both, so now I have more time to prepare. I wish.

BIG FELLOWSHIP
We had a wonderful speaker who was only informed the day before of our activity and who served as an impromptu praise-and worship leader as well. Plus a dozen or so SVCF’rs who braved the mosquitoes and darkness to hear God’s word, and a package of Hershey chocolates. Short and sweet.

DATE
I went out on a threesome date last Friday. A funny night of LCM (translation:lablyf) discussions with…ah, itago natin sila sa pangalang Ms. NBSB-BC (No Boyfriend Since Birth By Choice) and Mr. NBSGw/RM (No Girlfriend Since Birth with a wRong Motive). Ate my fill of tofu, laughed at the absurdities of the human hormones and hoped that my ever-patient papa wouldn’t blow his top because of his long wait in front of my dorm.

THANKFUL
Gary V staged a thanksgiving concert in celebration of his 40th birthday and 20th year in the entertainment business last month. I never got to see it live, so we begged for an extension for our dorm’s sole TV set. Sigh… there may be a lot of singers with better voices or wider ranges, but for me none can quite match Gary V’s performances. He pours out so much passion (or, as my dorm mate put it, angst) when he sings. I feel like I’m melting whenever I hear one of his love songs, since it always seems like he is singing to me personally. And his praise and worship songs for God move me to tears. Whenever I feel discouraged, distracted or joyless, I remember the last lines of Gaya ng Dati:

“Panginoon, ako’y nabulag ng mandarayang mundo, ako ay patawarin Mo…
Mula ngayon ang buhay kong ito’y iaalay sa’yo, gamitin Mo ako…gaya ng dati.”

REUNIONS
Finally met with a special friend whom I haven’t seen for quite a while… but who still managed to scare me into submission. And who brought me a very belated but much anticipated birthday present. I feel so feminine…

VICTORY
By accident, I was able to watch the UAAP match between UP, the perennial underdog, and FEU Saturday afternoon. It was my first time to see (or even be interested in) a basketball match since my high school days of rooting for Ginebra. I didn’t have much school spirit in the sports department (since we always lost in the UAAP anyway, hehe), but my nap was forgotten as I joined my dorm mates in front of the TV.
As I expected, UP was trailing behind, at times as much as 12 points. Their defense had more holes than a sieve, and their fastbreaks and rebounds yielded minimal results, prompting my dorm mates to bite off not-so-ladylike expletives.
By the third quarter, though, they managed to gain enough free-throw points to catch up. Our shouts (should I say shrieks?) of encouragement could be heard in the bank downstairs. Then came Cervantes’ three-pointers that put UP ahead (swoon)…and there they stayed until the end of the game. UP: 61, FEU: 55. In short, we won. WE WON!!!
Mars must be hiding near earth again, since the red planet was quite visible when UP beat La Salle last year. And now UP qualified for the Top 4… I can now graduate I peace. U-ni-ber-siDAD! ng Pili-PINAS! (RAHRAH!)
Let Me Be A Woman Narito by Gary V

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