Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Weekend Round Up
During the weekend, my family and I went to Cavite, specifically in BLD Covenant House to sponsor the Family Encounter #82. The class we sponsored comprised of 26 families and a priest. The class was truly the largest in BLD's history. As a testament of this, one of the candidates have 11 members in the family which includes 9 children. The class was also populated by solo-parents. One of them is my favorite candidates, the Nayve family (see pics). The mother and daughter tandem was a very cute one specially during the first night when they were asked to introduce themselves. The kid told the class that "they were like suns to each other because each brightens up the other's day" (aaaaahhh...).
During the second day (Saturday) I was busy making the flash presentation for the night's Let's Take a Break which features the skit Family Portrait starring the Alcasid family. The featured family is headed by the one and only Omi Alcasid. Here are some pics of the family in action.
Featured here is a special scene wherein Omi Alcasid was caught stealing/hoarding from the bountiful freezer filled with free ice cream.
The FE weekend was very tiring but it was all for the Lord. With that thought in mind, all the stress just simply goes poof!
@ 
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Hasang a Day Keeps the Fragrance Away
A couple of minutes ago, and before a bath, my father asked me to removed our dinner's gills (hasang). It wasn't much of a task but it was my first time to do it. The hasang removal process is nothing alien to me. I've been to the market with my mom for countless of trips and I've seen the process many times over. I just have to open the opening (I can't find a better word) and clamp the gills with my index / middle finger and my thumb and voila, no more hasang. But after the first fish, the problem dawned on me. How do I know that the gills are completely removed as desired? With only my brother around, I have no choice but to use my gut (no pun intended) instincts. So, I was able to plow through 6 fishes with my bare fingers.
The point of the whole "experience", and maybe of the past days that I've been at home is that it's difficult to be alone in your house with only your younger brother and sometimes, your father. Since there is an absence of the female specie, disorder, laziness, and lousiness are imminent. And it is the older brother's responsibility to the mother to make sure everything is a little alright. And it's not that easy especially if the Suns-Spurs game is on cable. It's no wonder I have always wanted an older sister. But of course that's another story, and somewhat far from the hasang at hand
Later, I'll be in Ateneo for the meeting of the Comm Comm of the ACP.
No Look is the New Beach Look
As promised, here are some choice snaps of the FE 80 Beach Getaway.
Sorry if I seem to be a little camera shy.
FE Fever
For the past few months, we have been singing, dancing, swimming, acting, and plotting our way to our much awaited FE sponsorship. Now, it's only a sleep away before the actual sponsorship. Personally, I feel very excited since it's another chance to serve the Lord in a deeper way and it's also the perfect avenue to be a good witness to His Kingdom by bringing families closer to Him.
To date, FE Class 82 is composed of 27 families. Now that's a lot of families, and during the 2 and a half days, we have to make sure that they get something out of the encounter. Thus, we practice our songs and we run through all the physical and spiritual preparations.
But the biggest challenge posed on us children is the Let's Take a Break. I can't divulge the details of that one but it's safe to say that we worked our butts of with this one.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
12 Step Program Of Recovery For Web Addicts
This is for the addicts out there (in here!).
1) I will have a cup of coffee in the morning and read my PAPER newspaper like I used to, before the Web.
2) I will eat breakfast with a knife and fork and not with one hand typing.
3) I will get dressed before noon.
4) I will make an attempt to clean the house, wash clothes, and plan dinner before even thinking of the Web.
5) I will sit down and write a letter to those unfortunate few friends and family that are Web-deprived.
6) I will call someone on the phone who I cannot contact via the Web.
7) I will read a book... if I still remember how.
8) I will listen to those around me about their needs and stop telling them to turn the TV down so I can hear the music on the Web.
9) I will not be tempted during TV commercials to check for email.
10) I will try and get out of the house at least once a week, if it is necessary or not.
11) I will remember that my bank is not forgiving if I forget to balance my checkbook because I was too busy on the Web.
12) Last, but not least, I will remember that I must go to bed sometime... and the Web will always be there tomorrow.
Phew
I'm just trying to be simple. Well, actually, this is only temporary. There's a new layout in the oven but it might take a while before we hear the *ting* sound.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Daily Gulps
- - The Lion King is one big fat work of corporate plagiarism.
- - NeoOffice is an open source office suite.
- - Learn poker chip tricks here.
- - I hope I have this nifty gadget in times of need.
- - The lost of productivity caused by the new Star Wars film in America may amount to $627 million in the first 2 days.
- - Lucio Tan is the richest man in the Philippines and 12th in the whole of SouthEast Asia.
- - How did George Lucas create Star Wars?
- - The world's funniest joke is not funny.
- - Want artificial intelligence? Visit 20 Questions. Believe me, you'll stand amazed.
Debut Time
Last Saturday, I went to Gail's debut. As expected, it was fun to see my old high school buddies after a long hiatus. Supposedly, I wasn't going to attend because my parents want me to go with them to Cavite to watch F.E. 79's Let's Take a Break but after much discerning, I decided that I need to make up for lost time. I needed to be with my friends. Thus, I chose to stay home alone while I wait for Gail's debut.
Being home alone with a debut hours away can be quite problematic. Firstly, who would cook your lunch? In my case, I helped myself to a loaf of bread and a can of pork and beans. It was fairly easy but a little messy. Next, dilemma is finding something to wear. since the debut's motiff is lavender (and guys don't usually have lavender long sleeves), I went to SM Southmall to buy something to wear. Armed with only 500 bucks (from my Mom) and a few hundreds (from my savings), I scoured the mall for a cheap yet fashionable long sleeve, and find it I did.
The third dilemma is the gift or in my case, the gift wrapping. Not having any proficiency in wrapping gifts, I opted to but a small (but classy) paper bag for my gift in the National Book Store. The greatest hurdle of this dilemma is that I had to spend 20 minutes in the cashier's line. There was simply too many people buying school supplies.
The next hurdle was preparing the newly bought long sleeves. This was a little problematic since I didn't want it to smell like I just bought it plus, I needed to remove all the creases that were formed. It's a good thing that I'm an already proficient and experienced in ironing clothes. I also found out that a generous amount of cologne can remove that out-of-the-package smell.
The last and most imminent problem was how to go to Las Palmas Hotel with only a hundred bucks in my pocket. The only solution was to commute. No, taking a cab is not commuting. Taking a cab is in fact, against my principles. Besides, a hundred bucks won't get me anywhere near Manila. So, I opted to ride an FX with a crazy old driver (he talks to himself a lot and he stops at ALL the people in the sidewalk, only to be angry when he finds out that they are not looking for an FX).
Lesson learned: always have somebody around to help you when you are going to a debut. You may need someone to spare you a few extra dough for a taxi ride or for a more expensive dress/long-sleeves. Oh well, I'm not really a fan of debuts and if I were to decide, I'd rather have an informal party. Nonetheless, Gail's debut was still loaded with fun!
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Leithold Dies at 80
This post is for all ye who have went through the drudgery of going through Math 21 a.k.a. Ateneo calculus. Louis Leithold, the author of TC 7, has just passed away.
LOS ANGELES, May 9 (AP) - Louis Leithold, a math teacher who wrote one of the most widely used textbooks on calculus and was an adviser to many of the subject's best teachers, was found dead at his home in the Pacific Palisades area here on April 29. He was 80.
The coroner's office attributed his death to natural causes. [via NY Times]
Losing one of the most brilliant minds of our age is yet another loss to our race. Yes, Leithold's true love maybe what gave you the most traumatic experience (and lowest grade) in the whole of your academic life but for those who have came to know him and whose lives have been touched by him, his death is a devastating loss. Besides, where would you be if not for his book?
For more info on Leithold and his impact on people's lives, read this article in LA Times.
Push
When should I push and when should I stop pushing? When does self-interest starts and selflessness ends? When is enough, really enough? What if one last push is all that is needed to win the much coveted prize? What if bearing another budge would be the only thing that makes the difference between winning and losing? In such a case, going for the push is not the question but it's when can you tell that this is it.
I know they can do it. There's no doubt about it. But are they willing? Are they willing to bust their asses off for a goal we have set for ourselves since day one? Are they willing to give it their everything? Are they willing to give it one final shot? I know I am. In fact, I am more than willing to sacrifice whatever I have for them and for the attainment of that now seemingly elusive goal. I have been always ready to give my all - my time, my sweat, my heart, my soul to them. But maybe that's where the problem rests.. It has been, as usual, about little ol' me, all along.
One of the main reasons why I agreed (whole-heartedly) was because I know I can do it and that through me and with me, they could do it. But as time passes by, as days zoom before my very eyes, I see that I have been doing what I've been doing for the wrong reason - I have something to prove..
When do I push and when shouldn't I push? I need an answer and I need an answer now. I need to know that this is not a shot in the dark. I must be certain that there is something to all the sacrifices that we have done. I need to know, before it's all too late. Specially now that I'm starting to think that it's all because for the love of it...
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
An Ateneo Meme
Q: What's your ID number?A: 040614
Q: Passed or waitlisted?
A: Passed
Q: How did you know about the ACET results?
A: through the Ateneo website
Q: Was Ateneo your first choice??
A: Yes
Q: Do you know what your ACET score is?
A: No
Q: What was your first choice in course?
A: BS Applied Physics with Applied Computer Systems
Q: Second choice?
A: BS Applied Physics with Material Science Engineering
Q: What turned out to be your course upon entrance?
A: BS Applied Physics with Applied Computer Systems
Q: Did you have any plans of shifting?
A: Yes. But nowhere specifically. My "alternatives" included AB Comm, and Creative Writing
Q: Are you Chinito/Chinita?
A: No.
Q: Taga-Ateneo High?
A: Nah.
Q: Did you have fun in your Orsem?
A: Yes. Ang hyper ko na kasi noon. At medyo doon nagsimula ang myth na isa akong bading.
Q: Which Gate did you enter during the first day?
A: Gate 2.5
Q: Ever had an F in your grade report?
A: Not.. yet..
Q: How about an A?
A: English 12 and Lit 14
Q: Highest grade?
A: A
Q: Lowest grade?
A: D in Math 21 (Calculus)
Q: Worst experience in AdMU?
A: Going back to dorm alone after a Math finals (or was it a midterm exam?)
Q: Do you always attend class?
A: Sometimes. During the last sem, I often cut Math. Thus, the D.
Q: What was/were your org/s?
A: Gabay, Heights, LEAPS
Q: How many units have you passed?
A: 41?! (not sure)
Q: Nangangarap ka bang maglaude?
A: Hindi! (sarcastically)
Q: When will you graduate?
A: 2009
Q: Fave subject/s?
A: English 11 & 12, ECE 12 (AutoCAD), Fil 12
Q: Worst subject/s?
A: MAth 21 (Cabral Calculus)
Q: Fave landmark sa AdMU?
A: statue of De La Costa.. Colayco Hall..
Q: Fave kainan?
A: Sizzler's
Q: Are you always at the lib?
A: I go there everyday (nerdy!!!).
Q: Ever gone to the infirmary when you were sick?
A: Once.
Q: Did you have a crush in campus?
A: Uhm.. crush nga ba?!?
Q: May balak kang mag-MS, PhD?
A: Yes
Q: Have you ever watched a graduation ceremony?
A: Nope
Q: Do you know the "Song for Mary" by heart?
A: By heart and not by mind
Q: Memorize mo ba ang Fabilioh?
A: Hell no!
Q: ...ang Halikinu?
A: Yup
Q: ...ang Blue Eagle Spelling?
A: Yuppers
Q: Are you part of Team Ateneo?
A: No boy
Q: Who's your fave UAAP basketball player?
A: Larry Fonacier
Q: Ever had a perfect score in an exam?
A: Is a quiz considered an exam???
Q: Ano ang ayaw mo sa Hell Week?
A: Edi yung week!
Q: What do you like about our school?
A: It's condusive to being a "man for others"
Q: Ano ang ayaw mo?
A: PDA peeps - 'yung pagnakikita mo akala mo nanonood ka ng Animal Planet.. undying conyos and conyas.. LONG TESTS
Q: Have you ever bought anything at the A-shop?
A: One shirt and one pillow
Q: Maganda ba ID pic mo?
A: What can you expect?
Q: Done anything illegal on campus?
A: Yes!!!
Q: Bought anything at National Katips?
A: Yes
Q: Ever gone to Starbucks Katips?
A: NO
Q: May nakaaway ka na ba sa school?
A: Ray Bastien Silva Mayol (hahahaha!!!)
Q: QPI?
A: 2.70 (ga-baba!!!)
[via Piatot]
Monday, May 09, 2005
The Beach Boy is Back
I dig my toes into the sandThe ocean looks like a thousand diamonds
Strewn across a blue blanket
I lean against the wind
Pretend that I am weightless
And in this moment I am happy.. happy
I wish you were here...
At last I was able to dig my feet into something that is not all cement and asphalt. After much yearning for the feel of water that engulfs, I was able to swim in the open ocean. One of the things about the outing F.E. 80 is that we stayed in a part of the beach that could only be reached through the use of a boat. So, in the afternoon of Saturday, we (and our baggage) were loaded into three bangkas. It was a 6-minute travel from the part that is reachable through automobiles.
Arriving at the rest house, the first impression was - What? No sand?! Rocks and pebbles of different shapes and sizes filled the whole beach. These pebbles look like those found in home gardens and the Ateneo's Zen Garden. The rocks and pebbles created an impecable effect that instead of seeing an ocean, we are actually looking at a river or a stream. But of course, the sound of the crashing waves, and later, the taste of saline would snap us back to reality.
We spent the whole of Saturday's afternoon exploring the breadth and width of the beach. Unfortunately, our share of the beach was simply littered with slippery stones and pointy corals - making the water only knee high. After further exploration, I found out that once I reach the end of the coral formations, the water immediately becomes very deep. Though deep water is not good for casual swimming (is there such a thing?), it was great for snorkling and what a sight it was! The ocean floor was beautifully filled with fishes, corals, sea urchins, and even those pesky jellyfishes. The day ended with an evening prayer and a little segment on my parent's anniversary which involved me giving a speech.
I lay my head onto the sand
The sky resembles a backlit canopy
With holes punched in it...
For me, the real gem of the beach was not found in the sea but rather up above. At night time, the sky was spectacular. Never before have I seen such a spectacular display of stellar beauty! There were hundreds and hundreds of stars in the sky. There were so many stars that I can't find the popluar ones that I could easily spot in the metropolitan nightsky such as Orion's belt. There was even a patch in the sky that resembled the Milky Way Galaxy, the one that we see in pics and vids, that is. There was no moon and the ocean was rhythmic, almost hypnotic. I can't stop thinking of a certain someone. The place, the sensation were too beautiful for me not to feel her there...
Of all the kites I ever flew
Most came tumbling down
except the one I sent up with you
I dont wanna change a thing
break the spell or cut the string
when every wish I make is coming true with you...
The next day, Sunday, upon waking up, we geared up for our Mother's Day Surprise. First, we gathered the whole group in the pretense that we, the kids, would lead the morning prayer. Then, with the strike of the first chords in the guitar, we sang the lines "Of all the things I've ever done.. Finding you will prove to be the most important one.. Sometimes I forget to say how much I love you.. Purposely I bet cause I'm so busy thinking of you..". At first, it seemed as if the mothers don't get it. But as we continued with the little surprise and started giving our hand-written letters of love and appreciation to the tune of "Puno ang langit ng bituin, at kay lamig pa ng hangin.. Sa'yong tingin ako'y nababaliw, MOMMY, at sa awitin kong ito, sana'y maibigan mo.. ibubuhos ko ang buong puso ko, sa isang munting harana para sa'yo", tears gently fell down from each of their faces. Oh well, it was really a touching moment.
After lunch, it was time to leave the beach behind. With memories and wounds to take back home, we know we'll never forget the weekend spent in Batangas. The beach getaway with F.E. 80 is definitely a memorable one. But now, as I look back, I won't immediately think of the laughtrips and the bondingtrips, rather I would almost always remember the times I sat upon a rock and stared at the beauty of nature - be it the blue ocean or the sparkling stars and remembered a certain you... I wish you were there, with me...
Naaalala kita kapag pumapalo ang alon sa dalampasigang mabatong handa kong taluntunin, basta't ika'y makasama
Naaalala kita sa bawat paghalik ng maalat na tubig sa aking mga paang nagnanais na dalhin ako sa iyong piling
Naaalala kita sa 'di mabilang na mga bituin na nagsisipagkislapan sa gabing kay ganda
Marahil nga'y naaalala nga kita...
Bakit ang hirap magturo ng declamation?
Bakit kailangang umiyak ni Ces?
Bakit ba 'di ko magawang magalit sa kanila?
Bakit ko ba piniling magturo?
Bakit ba ako masaya tuwing uuwi ako mula sa isang nakakapagod na training?
Friday, May 06, 2005
Alone and Sleepless
Nobody's online tonight, I feel lonely. This may well be the immediate effects of losing three games of DotA, wasting RB's 136 pesos. I had no money left except for the coins in my piggy bank that are barely enough for tomorrow's (or later's) lunch and transportation for my way home. Why play DotA? What better way to celebrate Marc's birthday than to play our favorite game?! But that doesn't mean that I play only during special days, rather, I play as long as I have the money and the time. Thus, I can sum my summer life as this: in the morning, I'm a lazy student; in the afternoon, I'm a dedicated tutor; in the evening, I'm a voracious net scourer; in the wee hours, I'm a trying-hard gamer. But life isn't always this bad, for during the course of the day, there are choice moments that make me say "My life is beautiful".
At around 1pm, after surfing the net in the RSF, I went to Ateneo High School to start training my tutees. My tutees were Clang-clang, Madee, and Ces. Our training session lasted from 1pm to 230pm. Basically, what I did was read to them the piece, explain it to them (with the help of my research), define what declamation is, share my experiences as an orator, teach them the Ha-Hi Exercise, make them say "Give me liberty or give me death" without laughing or sneering, and let them read the first six sentences of the whole piece. Overall, I had fun and I know that during the next training sessions, it will be more enjoyable and challenging at the same time. The greatest hurdle for me is to find a way to teach them the secret of good declaming - to deliver the piece with enough emotion to let the listeners feel what they are saying. Other concerns involve motivating them that though they will go against a classmate who is their school's official declamer, they still have a great chance of winning as long as they have the thirst to do their best. As for me, I still don't know how to train them. I may be a good orator/declamer but this is my first try at being a trainor. I still don't know how to be one. It looks like I'll have to learn to be one as we go along.
I'm now getting a little sleepy. But most likely, I'll sleep at 4:00am and then I'll wake up at 6:00am. I know that's not enough rest for a busy body like me but whatdaheck. I have the whole weekend at the beach to regain my strength and gather my bearings. So it's ba-bye Mina No Nihongo and hello blue waters!
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Did You Know That
2. ...Patrick Henry's Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death inspired the beginnings of the American? Why the heck do I care? Because I'll teach that declamation piece to three incoming high school freshmen for the next couple of weeks for the Tulong Dunong. I don't know how to begin the training but one thing is for sure, I want them to learn and I want them to win. So please, prayers.
3. ...spatial distance is nothing? You may be out of the country but if your heart is with the people you left behind, you're never far from them. In reality, you are better off than a person who is with the people whom he sees as dear to him but can't find the time nor the avenue to really be with them.
4 ...Sleepless in Abada is still showing? The film may continue screening for the next few weeks or months or years or even, forever. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, I don't know for sure.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Summer Madness
Summer bites. It's hot and I'm drenched in sweat 80% of the time. Walking home is difficult since the noon sun torches my skin everytime I do so. Lazy afternoons in my room has become a full session inside a saun bath. The heat is killing me and the only thing I can do is take my shirt off and hog the fan at full power. Taking a bath is no longer enough to cool my body, and doing so would only increase our bill. What is there to do? Go to the beach.
During the course of the summer vacation, I have yet to tread sandy pathways and bathe in gallons of water. Yup, I am having a suckie summer un-vacation. But it seems like salvation is a few days away. This weekend, I'm off to Laguna on some island resort with the whole class of F.E. 80. Sounds fun, eh? But recently, I have been having qualms of going to the beach. I'm thinking that a dip in the ocean is not what I need, but rather, a long soak on a swimming pool. How come I choose a chlorine tank over nature's tub? Here's why:
1. I hate it how the water stings my eyes.
2. I don't like sand in my trunks (itchiness!!!).
3. The rocks are pain in the foot.
4. Beach sand is hot sand.
Voicing the above reasons doesn't mean I hate going to the beach. I'm just saying that I would truly prefer a swimming pool (even if the risk of swallowing human urine is not unlikely) over the beach. But with a temperature like this, who's complaining?
If I don't enjoy the swim, maybe I'll enjoy the sights (bwahahahahahaha!!!)
Is it possible to truly fall in love with a person you have only seen twice and whom you only communicate with through texting?
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Me and My Notepad
I am hungry. I have yet to eat my dinner. I am tired. I failed to sleep in the afternoon. I am flushed. This blog is not valid HTML 4.0 transitional!!! I know, I know, what the heck is that HTML transitional crap... Well, let's just say I felt a little nerdy the whole week so I decided to overhaul my CSS stylesheet (and the blog itself) to make this page properly marked up in the HTML sense of the word. Why? To make this blog meet the web standards. At around 2pm today, armed with only a Windows Notepad (never trust frontpage) and a book borrowed from Ateneo's library, I started handcoding and weaving the very fiber that bind this whole smorgasbord of quirkiness together.
The whole process involved deconstructing the whole jungle of codes that I have randomly (and insanely) thrown in during the months that I took the role of pseudo-webdeveloper. The task was really daunting. But the effects of hardwork were visible quite early since I was able to see how I trimmed 30 lines of HTML codes into a mere 5 lines. Monumentally geeky eh? Unfortunately, at around five minutes ago, when I went to the W3 Validator, I discovered that my code is still not good enough... GRRRRRRR!! LAR!!!
Oh well.. What can I do? I'm not that good, you know.. But at least my little endeavour did bear fruits, and if you're observant enough, you'll see them. Of course, the real beauty of what I did is that I am able to brush up on the little CSS that I know, in preparation for a web designing job for one of my orgs. Plus, I'm able to cut the weeds and grasses here and there to come up with a better, neater code.
It's not easy being a nerd.