Tuesday

I always aspire to be a good writer. Someone whose works will not make people feel bored; someone who has a knack at creative imagery; someone who is exemplary when it comes to grammar. That is why I try as much as I could to improve whatever there is to improve with my writing. I read books belonging to different genres to widen my horizon. I even read how-to-write books like the Element of Style to practice my grammar. And I blog once in a while to express my feelings and be creative as much as possible.

But somehow, my self fails me.

I do not know if it is because I lack the skills or even the will to write. Its just sad to think that when you really want something, the first person who is supposed to back you up can also be the first person who will fail you.

And that person is yourself.

lucia
6:43 PM

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Saturday

My and my sister's world turned upside-down after seeing GMA 7's teaser with Takuya Kimura. After series from Korea, China, Taiwan and some Caucasian countries have invaded our land, now GMA brings our (my sister and I) much loved J-Doramas in the country.

We felt a mix of joy and anger (mostly the latter on my sister's part) for we can now watch it on TV. Although we have already seen some of Takuya's dramas, we would want to see them all over again including the ones we haven't got copies of yet. GMA plans to show Goodluck first. But J-Doramas are partly different from that of other Asianovelas. They only have around 10-12 episodes and some are not even love stories, as what most of us are used to.

Anyway. what makes my sister angry is that everyone, even the "jologs and katulong," would drool over Takuya Kimura. "Its the end of a freaking era" was all she can say after we have seen the teaser.

I guess she'll just have to share her obsession with Kimura to the bakya people. Mwahahaha...

*One of my favorite J-Dorama is Beautiful Life. It has a very good plot. GMA got the rights to show it so watch out for it soon. Sassy Belladonna recommends it to you.

lucia
10:34 PM

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Tuesday

ang topic ng post na ito ay ang naganap na candlelight memorial nung sunday. kaming mga virus ay napag-desisyunan na magsuot ng black at mag-cap (kaso nakalimutan ko iyong huli).

anyway sa tapat ng quezon city hall ginanap iyong event. okay naman ang venue, ang problema nga lang ay ang kaunti lang ng dumating. karamihan ay mga peer educator at mga hakot nila. andun din xempre ang staff ng PRRM. at ang pinaka-shocking sa lahat for me-- UST interns.

happy naman kaming tatlo nila raine at may dumating na media at pati iyong mga ibang guest ay nakarating din. am not sure lang kung may mga donation sila.

so a little past six nagstart na iyong program. after that, may concert. kami ang in-charge sa pamimigay ng food. at dito sa portion na ito medyo nag-umpisa na akong ma-disappoint. hindi naman sa pamimigay ng food kundi sa mga nakita at narinig ko.

medyo na-cornihan ako sa mga banda. although i respect naman their music. its just that hindi ko sila feel. actually hindi naman din talaga ako mahilig sa sobrang ingay na mga ganon eh.

as i expected mga jologs siyempre ang madlang mga kabataang andoon. my god feeling ba nila ang cool ng itsura nila. duh?! ayoko talaga sa ganoong mga tao. ewww...

okay enough of those things. actually ang isa rin naman sa ipinunta namin doon ay iyong ka-block namin, si baj. may banda kasi iyong brother niya so tumugtog sila. xempre sabi ko na nga ba hindi makaka-relate ang mga jologs na audience dahil medyo iyong mga kinanta nila ay sa foreign artists. sad part lang, hanggang third song lang ako nung performance nila. medyo late na kasi at i had to go home na.

------

first time namin nila jack at raine na makapunta sa quezon city circle. isang malaking achievement. yipee...

lucia
11:38 PM

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Saturday

bye bye PRRM
yesterday was our final day as interns in PRRM.

i can say that the whole experience was fun, meaningful and irritating at the same time. it was fun because i had wonderful bonding moment with my blockmates and we learned a lot from the IEC materials scattered in the office. i also had fun doing some of the office work and all those things we talked about. the whole thing was also meaningful because I learned a lot and i realized that i am so lucky to be where i am now. I got to see other people's situation which made me think that i should be grateful for everything i have. and as i said, it was sometimes irritating because of some errands which were given at the wrong time. like those instances i have mentioned in my previous entries.

although we have completed our requirement of 50 hours (actually i did more than that), i am still looking forward to the fruit of our hardwork for the last couple of weeks-- the candlelight memorial on sunday. although i am not expecting that much from it-- to be a well attended activity (though i hope so), the attendance of the invited "dignitaries" and the pour of donations-- i am still excited to be there and witness that 'solemn' event.

also, i am so thankful that i ended up in a NGO rather than do some work under the super hot sun. at least we worked inside an air-conditioned building, had the freedom to use the computer, play foul eggs and even checked on our friendster accounts (hahaha) and were given these sumptuous food every once in a while. yipee...

so there, it is finished. i can now go back to my usual do-do's during summer breaks and watch, sleep, and eat as much as i wanted. the only problem now is the stock of books. but in the end, i am relieved. *winks*

of course what better way to end the whole internship is to capture that ever fresh smiles in a group pic. here is the whole sangka-UPhan with Miss Angela Bado, HR of PRRM. she's the one wearing black with the white lining. i am wearing a red shirt (second row please) *grins*. ain't i pretty?! hahahaha....

okay enough of this nonsense. i'll be posting the details on the candlelighting memorial sometime next week. it depends on how much it has made an impact on me. lol.

lucia
9:34 PM

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Tuesday

lucia
9:57 PM

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Sunday

cottony-winter in UP.

it was so fascinating. the sight of thousands of white fluffy stuff all over the grounds of UP. pick it up and you will see a seed in the middle. a cotton indeed! from the cotton tree. amazing. spectacular. fabulous. i love it.

but the rain started invading the once fairytale-like land. the fluffy cotton balls were washed away. all soaked in the madness of the sky. my fantasies are over.

now, the earth is wet. no fluffy cotton balls in sight. i just have to wait for another year for the fairytale-like land to come back.

(this picture was taken some time in April using Jack's sister's phone. it took him some time to upload it and mail it to me. anyway, it's a bit late for to appreciate the beauty of the grounds around AS. rainy days make me sick. not being able to come out in my slippers. and it destroyed all the cotton balls. argh... FYI: i just found out that a cotton tree exists. am totally amazed.)

lucia
5:14 PM

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Saturday

Books are love!
Just finished three books over the past two weeks. I've been craving for varieties of books to indulge on this vacation. or probably even at the start of classes.

Anyway, borrowed the next two books from Regine, who is a Gaiman fan. Am not sure though.




















=STARDUST=
A beautiful love story I must say. Well it made me dream of fairy tales once more. hehehe...

I wish someone would catch me a falling star. Aww... I am falling for it again...

=CORALINE=
A children's book. But I guess anybody can still read it. A bit imagination-opener (whoa, where did I get that term!?!)

Just read it. Its nice. A bestseller.

=STAINLESS LONGGANISA=

Bob Ong is back. Its is fifth book. this time I didn't enjoy reading it at all. It was more of a blog-- a compilation of his online entries.

good thing i didn't waste my money for some *--*. Borrowed it from Jack, who happen to have a complete set of Bob Ong's "masterpieces."

*****
Oh yeah, if it's not too much to ask, if you (yes you, the one avidly reading my blog) have any books that you think or is really worth reading, can i borrow it?!

To those who are kind enough, I found this book in NBS. its entitled In Lucia's Eyes by Arthur Japin. Can you give me a copy?! hahaha... just think of it as a donation or a gift for the coming holidays or even for my nth birthday. *grins*

**here's the link if you ever you are interested with the book. it has the blurb and the cover, the same as the one i saw in NBS. go ahead... **

lucia
2:05 PM

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Thursday

uuwi na ba kayo?
..no reply..
gusto niyo na bang umuwi?
..no reply..
ayaw pa ba kayong pauwiin?
..no reply..

ito ang mga tanong sa amin ni kuya noriel. Ang in-charge kina Angelo, Baj and Sheila. How I wish na sana ganoon dun ka-caring ang mga in-charge sa amin.

We are not employees there. But we stay there as if we are being paid for all our services. Damn that service to the nation thing! We would arrive at the office around 10am and leave past 6 in the afternoon or should i say evening.

We are so dreading to go home yet tons of work are coming. There was this time when we were ready to leave. Actually I was already carrying my bag. Our handler went to us and asked us if we were leaving. I replied a quick YES to get off the job. Luckily it worked. Although he left us with a job to do the foloowing morning which i guess just popped out from his head the moment he saw the three of us.

On the way home, Raine and I remembered our encounter with the ever caring Kuya Noriel. We should have said:

uuwi na ba kayo?
NO.
gusto niyo na bang umuwi?
YES!
ayaw pa ba kayong pauwiin?
HELL YES!


lucia
11:20 PM

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Tuesday

isang unforgetable experience ito. ang daming nakakaloka, nakakatuwa at eye-opening events.

for the nth time, naka-uniform na naman kami. all white ang drama. parehas pa kami ng shirt ni reg -- our UP shirt na binili namin in time for the cheerleading competition. saya!!!

okay, we went to cubao to document a FGD. so its our first time so we really have no clue. I just brought my mp3 player as a recorder so that hindi naman kami ma-lost sa bilis ng discussion. but we forgot to bring a camera.

let me frist describe the location. well its in cubao so expected na sobrang liit at dikit dikit ang mga bahay. Pumasok kami sa isang maliit na eskinita then underground (believe it or not, hindi ka-level ng lupa ang bahay). So ayun, sumambulat ang isang maliit na house na mas malaki lang ng kaunti sa room ko ngayon.

It was Ate Yda's house. Ung volunteer-slash-staff sa PRRM. she really does get into my nerves sometimes. with all the "paki naman po" stuff.

Moving on, we just sat sa floor then naka-circle na ang mga peer educators (PE). So start na. Ang topic ay tungkol sa HIV/AIDS. Siyempre ano pa nga ba?! Sa totoo lang kapag tinignan mo iyong mga peer ed, parang hindi kapani-paniwalang peer ed sila. They're not even serious during the whole FGD. Some of them were laughing. Some did not participate. Parang nagblu-bluff lang as reg said. Actually magkakamag-anak lang nga rin sila eh. Siguro dahil sa monthly allowance kaya napapayag silang mag PE.

Pero not all of them naman ay "useless". Iyong iba very truthful naman (i think so) sa pagsagot. Iyong isa nga kinuwento talaga mismo ang experience niya. With anal sex and condom use and everything. Kapag nansoon ka talaga, mawawarla ka. Siyempre hindi naman kami illiterate sa ganoong topic pero iba pa rin kapag sobrang straight to the point ang kausap mo.

Okay let's not elaborate on the ever-so boring discussion (due to lack of participation). We went to gateway after cause Reg is gonna meet with Ron. Okay don't ask questions about who is who. So there, gateway. Ate at food express and talked and talked and talked endlessly about everything that makes us funny. Had a good time.

Hay...

***********

Have eaten lots of fast food today. First, Jack brought me lunch. Chow fan. Next, we ate at Gateway. Frosty. Lastly, it's my sister's birthday. She's already *toot* (she might kill me if i say it). WE had KFC chicken for dinner at home. Actually it was good i remembered that today's her birthday. I planned to order KFC chicken meal when we were in G8way.

lucia
10:07 PM

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Monday

It's a wacky day. Had fun while working. Discovered a lot of things and been really busy with all the office work. *sigh*

Anyway here's the "rundown":

*aside from doing TONS of paper work, we were also asked to make a lay-out (wow! graphic artists?!!) for a fan they're planning to give the participants.

**during our free time (like 30 mins), we read manuals (later we named it "Bibliya ni Raine") or anything about HIV/AIDS. honestly, had fun reading about condoms (chapter 4). wahahah... it was written in Filipino so the terms used were really funny. there were some Filipino slang translations of some terms associated with sex. That what the funniest part of all... langit... paraiso... tagumpay!!! have any clue what it meant in english?! *lol*

***Angelo liked my hair. that's a first i guess. Nobody has ever told me my hair looks good. just now. I, myself am not too happy with my hair either. and I blame mama for it. If it wasn't for her genes passed on to me, argh... I would have been a super model now. hahahaha... Anyway, Angelo said my hair is different from the "treated-slash-ordinary" hair of other girls which make it look cute or something like that. Anyway, thanks friend. Don't worry, one of these days I will come to class without my ponytail. Promise. Just wait... (gathering all the strength until that day comes) *winks*

lucia
10:56 PM

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Friday

sunrise... sunset...
Overtime na naman kami as usual. Pero ang sad thing pa eh dahil pagod ka na nga sa dami ng pinapagawa sa iyo, iyong kakainin mo pa ay hindi masarap.

Sabihin ng maarte ako or something pero hindi talaga masarap iyong food namin kanina ni Reg. Parehas kasi kami ng kinain. Iyong rice lasang nasa mahiwagang baul at binulok doon ng panahon. Iyong ulam naman ay sobrang kulang sa lasa. Pero beggars can't be choosers nga di ba?! so tiniis na lang namin ang pasakit na hatid ng bawat pagnguya at paglunok ng aming mga pagkain. Yikes and drama!!!

Kailang kaya kami makakauwi na hindi pa lumulubog ang araw?! Sana maranasan naman namin iyon.

lucia
9:33 PM

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Thursday

question lang.
Phone-in question: totoo bang lalaki si tweety at girl si eeyore?

Ito ang topic namin ni raine. Sa tanang buhay ko ay ngayon lang ako nakakilala ng mahilig din kay Eeyore. At sobra kaming nagbunyi sa natuklasan naming ito. Parehas din kaming may-ayaw kay tweety for some reason.

So kung alam niyo ang sagot sa tanong ko just type LUCHA [=space=] SAGOT MO [=space=] NAME MO at i-send sa cell number ko. Kung hindi mo alam, too bad, hindi mo maipaaalam sa akin ang sagot. bow.

lucia
9:36 PM

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Wednesday

another busy day

Day 2 na ng office work namin. After lunch na kami nagstart. At kita mo nga naman, wala pa kaming gagawin, so nagpicturan na lang muna kami nila Anjo (formerly known as Angelo).

Kumain kami ng Churros ni Raine. Infrairness, ngayon medyo na-appreciate ko na siya. Before kasi nung kumain kami ni Jack, hindi namin na-ubos dahil nakakaumay.

Anyway medyo naging busy na kami. We (ang magagagandang magkakagrupo na sila LUCHA, REG at RAINE) went to Quezon City Hall for a resolution na pagbabasehan ng isa pang resolution na binabalak i-submit sa Manila. How nice di ba?!

Okay, here's the issue with the resolution: a certain SK in Tondo or Quiapo are suppose to come up with a resolution regarding HIV/AIDS Education in their respective areas. But the thing is, one of our handlers, who is a barangay captain told us to do the resolution instead. He argued na hindi naman alam ng mga SK na gawin iyon. Di ba ayos? from the BC pa mismo nagmula ang ganoong ideology. Kainis!!!

And because we're slaves there, we have no choice. So ginawa nga namin iyong resolution even if sobrang hirap niya. At hindi naman din medyo demanding di ba, tomorrow kelangan meron nang na draft na resolution. Kaasar talaga!!!

lucia
10:11 PM

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Tuesday

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.
--Jane Austen

As in its super hot! Super!

Today's our orientation at the PRRM or Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement where we will be spending the next two weeks for our CWTS2 (some office work and research). Okay, I know the sound of "rural" may seem like areas where there's no electricity or far flung areas talaga. So are we suppose to spend our time there? The answer is no. Although we hoped na sana nga.

Anyway, ayun nga, today's the orientation. Two in the afternoon. I met with Raine sa SM para sabay na pumunta sa office ng PRRM. Okay, so tanghaling tapat di ba?! Sobrang init. As in sa jeep pa lang papuntang Araneta Ave. siksikan na, ang init pa ng hangin. Then we rode another jeepnet na dumadaan sa Quezon Ave. Shucks, ten years yung driver maghintay ng pasahero. Sobrang init pa sa side namin.

Nasa Pantranco pa lang kami when we saw the building with the big CAPITOL MEDICAL CENTER. So dahil excited, bumababa na agad kami. Gosh! the footbridge na dapat bababaan namin was a block away. Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk under the friggin' sun. At last, we reached the building. The "red brick walled building" Kay described.

Of course, our pink uniform (sa hindi sinasadyang pagkakataon ay parehas kaming naka-pink) ay sobrang parang hindi na fresh. Yikes, tama ba ang description ko?! Wakekek... So haggard.

Wow! early birds kami. So we had a tour of the building first. On our own. First sa penthouse. Doon kasi ang cafeteria. Sossy and cafe nila ha, may billiards table ang drums. Then we went sa terrace thing. Si Raine na-excite nang makita ang Amoranto, swimming daw kami. As if marunong ako?! Then bago bumaba, we saw this huge aquarium na may 5 little gold fishes. Proportion di ba?! Well pagbigyan na, it was in memory naman daw fo Ate Rose. Yikes, katakot naman di ba?!

Fourth Floor (pababa ang emote namin, using the stairs na), dito ang pinaka-office ng PRRM. Siyempre after the orientation na lang namin nalaman iyon. Then third floor. Sosyal, may employee's gym. Kaya okay talaga sa mga NGO eh.

Sa second floor nakita na namin sila. Okay, naka-pink din sika Kay and Baj. Saya!!! So we gathered sa isa sa mga Conference Room nila. Wait, naka-pink din si Reg. May uniform talaga kami.

Ayun, we were given some background about the Organization and if what types of work ang gagawin namin. Eto na ang exciting part.

Obvious na sabik kami sa work outside Manila. As in sa rural areas nga. But the sad thing, five lang ang kukunin. So draw lots na lang. Kaya hindi an rin namin tinuloy nila Reg and Raine. We chose the project about HIV/AIDS. We are into some media related work. We will be part of the team that will prapare for a Candle Lighting/Concert Event on May 21. Coolness huh?!

So after the orientation, we got to meet our "bosses." There's still no final plan for the event. But they gave us some ideas of how it was during the previous years. And I hope we'll be able to do those things he said: like inviting media people/bands/artists, doing advisories, promotions, newsletters, etc. Whaaa... I can't wait!!!

So that's it. Although sira talaga ang beauty namin ni Raine sa pagpunta sa PRRM, medyo napalitan naman ng excitement after dahil "parang" sobrang fun talaga ng assignment namin.

lucia
10:58 PM

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Monday

the summas

UP Diliman has 12 summa cum laude

Twelve students who will receive the highest academic honor of summa cum laude will lead more than 3,000 candidates for graduation at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s 95th General Commencement Exercises, to be held on April 23, 3:30 p.m. at the University Amphitheater.

The top honors are headed by Christian Danve M. Castroverde, with a general weighted average of 1.038 earned from a BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MBB) degree, followed closely by Charissa Marie R. Carag (BS MBB, 1.097). The rest of the top honors are: Donald K. Ngwe (BS Economics, 1.104), Carla Cheryl A. Cordova (BS MBB, 1.109), Maureen Emerald H. Valencia (BS Business Administration, 1.114), Karen Katrina G. Manalastas (BS MBB, 1.149), Christine L. Honrado (BS Math, 1.15), Beverly Claudine C. Shangkuan (Bachelor in Music, 1.152), Frances Mae C. Ramos (BA Anthropology, 1.166), Christopher John P. Lao (BA Philosophy, 1.159), Louie John D. Vallejo (BS Math, 1.169) and Francis Norman C. Paraan (BS Applied Physics, 1.195).

Of the total graduates, the University will confer 2,734 baccalaureate degrees, 495 Master’s degrees and 50 doctoral degrees.

In addition to the top honors of summa cum laude, UPD has produced 124 magna cum laude graduates and 606 cum laude. The summa cum laude is conferred to a graduate with an absolute minimum weighted average (AMWA) of 1.20, the magna cum laude for an AMWA of 1.45 and the cum laude for an AMWA of 1.75.

--UP Diliman Information Office

Hindi naman nila masyadong kinarir ang pagaaral di ba?! If you'll notice most of them came from MBB. I am so not worthy!!! (with bowing effects) I wonder if how's their social life?! I am sure naman kahit papaano they're part of an org. But how about the night life, gimmicks and stuff?! Hmmm...


Anyway speaking of graduations, I went to my sister's graduation at the UP Film Institute. nakakatuwa naman ang mga taga-LAW, yung iba dala ang asawa, anak, lolo, lola at kung sinu-sino pang relatives. Proud!!!

At siyempre hindi ko rin napigilan ang sarili ko na mang-okray ng mga damit ng mga proud parents. Like I was so fortunate na nakatabi ko si Bobby Dacer ala Tito Sotto look-alike. As in naka-all white ang lolo mo except for the shoes. Then hawig din ni Tito Sen. Kaloka na nakakatawa!!! Kung alam niyo lang anu na mga pinaggagawa ko para makuhaan siya ng picture. Hahaha...

Iyong iba naman parang sagala ang pupuntahan. Todo make-up at naka-gown pa. Ponkan na ponkan pa ung isa. Naku try niyo rin umatend nga mga gatherings na kung saan ang mga parents ay sobrang mag-aayos, matatawa kayo sa finished product ng itsura nila.

lucia
9:27 PM

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