cory aquino

today was the funeral of our late president cory aquino. you could see posters and banners of cory aquino everywhere. everyone was in yellow and the whole nation was mourning her loss. she was an inspiration to the country, and the country owes a lot to her. personally, i don't know much about cory aquino except the fact that she led the country before and that she's the mother of TV personality kris aquino. during her funeral though, i became aware of the hundreds and millions of people who supported, idolized, and loved the late president. she was a hero to our country. and as her coffin was being paraded (i don't know if that's the correct term or not) to manila memorial, she brought unity to her countrymen once more. through their shouts of "tuloy ang laban" to chanting out her name, the nation became united again. 

do you believe in destiny?

May 2009 is a month that I will not be forgetting anytime soon. A month full of happiness, full of excitement, and full of enjoyment - this month was when I joined the Dynamic Youth Batch '98 tour to Taiwan.

Our batch was composed of 138 people from different parts of the Philippines whose ages ranged from 16-27. We met new friends not only from Manila, but also from different provinces (e.g. Davao, Cebu, Tarlac, Baguio, La Union, etc.). The 138 people who were going were divided into four (4) groups, for bus and tour guide arrangements. I was given the chance to become one of the officers of Group 2, alongside Jake, Eric, Michelle, Ann, David, and Erickson.

Group 2 was made up of 33 members. There were 3 of my friends who were from Tarlac; the rest were from different parts of the Metro. Our group's bond started during the weekly meets we had before we left for TW, not to mention the practices we had for the performances we were asked to perform. We were told that we had to perform four (4) times - once in Manila and thrice in Taiwan. Our group was lucky enough to have Tim who did a remix-medley of four songs put together as one. No one had any idea that there were certain events in TW that didn't allow us to perform the same song twice, and the medley was considered as one song. But that didn't hinder the group from creating new dance steps and belting out our vocal chords while we were touring (thanks to Andy, Cess, and Cissey - brilliant choreographers).

The experience we had from the minute we arrived in NAIA 1 on May 3 was undoubtedly something different, something special. Conversations flowed non-stop while waiting in the check-in lane, immigration line, and most especially, the waiting area. Unfamiliar faces became friends and the shyness we felt was replaced with our natural selves. When we reached Taiwan grounds, you could see smiles plastered on everyone's faces. Our eyes glistened with just the thought of 23 days of being with one another - freedom, frolic, and fun. We were a hundred different personalities waiting to explode and experience Taiwan by ourselves. What more could we ask for? :)

Each group was assigned four (4) tour guides, or 輔導員 as we call them. The four knowledgeable people who accompanied us throughout our stay in TW, with a few of them taking turns or alternating every now and then due to studies and personal reasons, were 小雞，小蛇，花花，and Richi. It's really amazing how they adjusted easily to us, considering that there was a language barrier. Our Mandarin sucked for the most part. Good thing Michelle was there to translate pretty much everything to us. But in fairness to the group our Mandarin improved a whole lot by the time we were coming back to the Philippines. And in fairness to our tour guides, they learned a few Tagalog and English words from the group (bobo, tanga, and bully being their favorites). Ü

The goup traveled the whole of Taiwan, staying for just one night in certain places. We became experts in packing our duffel bags overnight and squishing our pasalubongs just so we didn't have to carry a lot of plastic bags. Our muscles were toned as well, since the organizers figured that the girls had to be put at the higher floor (compared to the guys) when there were no elevators around. Think carrying our duffel bags up 5 flights of stairs (>_<). There were times when the elevators were so packed that we'd rather drag our bags upstairs. Lucky for us chivalry still existed for some guys; they carried our bags for us. Yay :) Food in Taiwan is also something to look forward to. The articles of food that can be found in the night market is simply heaven on earth. Our favorites would have to be 鸡排 and 奶茶. Night market food was our satisfaction after daily dosages of congee and egg. We've had egg every single day of our 23-day stay in TW, seriously. And as if the egg being served to us was not enough, we just had to look for the adobong egg being sold in the night markets. :) The adobong egg is certaily a must-try. And just for the heck of it, Karen, Jacq, Michelle, and I bought a box of eggs for our midnight snack one night. 4 eggs a person plus the eggs we ate during our meals. ( -_- ') Go figure.

It's almost one month past our Taiwan journey. It was on May 23 when our Taiwan journey came to an end. I would say that all the members of our group experiences his or her own versions of separation anxiety from each other. We'd text each other and meet up till we all pretty much settled back into our normal, routinary lives. We still meet up every now and then, which is good. Every time I think of Taiwan, I feel a pang of uncertainty and sadness.. wishing that the 23 days could go on forever - worry free and pure fun. But there is a limit to everything. Through our Taiwan experience, friendships have remained; our experiences and journeys as individuals and as a group still continue to unravel. Our stay in Taiwan may have just been for three weeks, but the emotions and relationships that were formed will certainly stay with each and every member of Dynamic Youth Batch '98 forever.
Just to add to the experience I had, here is the speech I delivered during our farewell party in Taiwan:

SPEECH：GROUP 2 - ENGLISH

Do you believe in destiny? The whole lot of us was destined to cross paths and experience this whole Taiwan journey together. One hundred different personalities; four groups; and twenty-one days – all of which sum up to one even which fate has brought upon us.

Each group has its own uniqueness and unforgettable moments that make every member laugh out loud, treasure the experience, and feel that we are indeed one team. The whole Group 2 journey started on that eventful day when the choice of which group to join had to be made. Bonding sessions over coffee and pao mi contributed a lot to the group’s tightness, but it was the practices we had for the performances that really brought us together, simply because it was through these sessions that the group was able to showcase different talents and leadership skills.

Over the past few weeks, the group has gone through ups and downs. One of the challenges we faced as a group was internal conflicts brought about by personality differences. We had to learn to give and take in certain situations and accept each other’s opinions. Another difficulty was communicating with our 辅导员s. Being Chinoys, Mandarin isn’t our native language and the adjustment period was a rather tedious and nerve-wracking process. It took a lot of effort on both sides; but in the end, it was through these nosebleed moments that our group was able to connect and make use of the Chinese language in our own easy, even in the art of traffic enforcing. (Insert shouts from group members: 慢来；安全；自己人；As in, 现在).

With the guidance and help of Achi Grace, Achi Dada, Achi Lucy, and Ahia Johnson, we know that no matter how many challenges the group will have to face, we will still end up the way a group should be – happily bonded.

We would also like to acknowledge our 辅导员s. On this trip, they have put our best interests first before everything else. They have offered not only their knowledge but also their frien

dship to us. Our relationship with our 辅导员s is a unique mesh of cultures leading to a wonderful journey that will continue to unfold.

To end my speech, there is one main thing I can say about all four groups - about our group - and that is that throughout our whole 21 day stay in Taiwan, we bonded. We bonded when we had our 3:45am call time to 阿里山. We bonded when we exchanged hi’s and hello’s during our bus stopovers (CR breaks). We bonded because at certain moments in our Taiwan trip, we all shared the same emotions and experiences together – as Dynamic Youth Batch ’98.

A hundred different faces, a hundred different personalities, a hundred different stories - this Taiwan trip has given us experiences to look back at, relationships to treasure, and moments that will last forever. Now tell me, do you believe in destiny?

funny dream :)

i love having dreams - the weirder the better, the more i can analyze, the more i can remember. some dreams can be as simple while some can be very complex. but they still are dreams nonetheless.

my dreams usually involve chasing - with me as the person being chased. i guess it would do me good if i dreamt of guys or things i want chasing me, but no, i had to have the more scary things chase me - snakes, for instance. dream interpratation books say that when you dream of a snake chasing you, and you manage to catch the snake in the end, fortune and luck is on their way to find you. till now, i wonder when my luck and fortune will find its way to me.

anyways, i had a dream last night. and as some dreams occur, my dream last night was the continuation of a dream i had a couple of nights ago. you know how we dream of certain places or people over and over again without truly knowing who or what they are? well, my dream was like that. but instead of a person or a place, my dream involved a shirt. yes, a shirt - white dress-like shirt with a black vest (i'm not sure if the vest was stitched on the shirt or not). but anyways, a shirt.

my dream a couple of days ago was that i was with a friend (can't remember who). we entered a vintage-like shop and i saw the shirt. i completely fell in love with that shirt and i just couldn't get my mind off it. but being me, i had to "think it over" before i bought the shirt. so, i didn't buy it. and that was the end of the dream.

but lo and behold, because last night i was at the same vintage-like shop again, with the same friend (who i still can't seem to remember), and still looking at the same shirt. but this time around, i bought it.

simple as that. that was my dream. :) i love having dreams, and it still amazes me how dreams always manage to put a smile on my face. though some dreams can be terrifying or intense, they are still dreams. and i still love having them. though there are times when i can't remember the dream i had (though i knew that i had a dream) when i wake up.... i just wish there were a machine of some sort to record the dreams people have. :)

oh, and i did buy another shirt and a pair of pants along with "the" shirt i dreamt about :) hahahaha :)

P.B.B.

To honor the hype of reality TV shows nowadays, and just to satisfy our curiosity, I, along with my friend, lined up last Friday (Feb. 27, 2009) for the Pinoy Big Brother Season 3 auditions.

The auditions started at 9am, but we arrived a bit after 12 noon. I don't think we would have arrived that late had we foreseen the army of people who were going to audition as well. If you are familiar with the places at the ABS-CBN compound, then you would know the length of the line when I say that the line was from the PBB House to the block after Pier One (near ABS-CBN). And need I tell you that it was scorching hot, literally. You could feel the sun's rays piercing your skin. If we thought we arrived late, then the army of people lined up behind us must have thought we were the early birds.

We lined up for appromixately four excruciatingly hot hours. Too bad we didn't get to actually audition since our line got cut off when we were, might I say, around 5-10 minutes away from the house itself. But it was actually fun seeing the different kinds of people who lined up along with us. There were two gays in front of us who seemed to be having the time of their lives, meeting new friends and telling funny stories about their previous experiences. I overheard one telling the other that this season's line was by far the longest (compared to the first two seasons). And the other one was telling his newfound friends about how he reacts when people mistake him to be Chocoleit, an actor. Other than the two gays, there was a girl in front of us who couldn't seem to let go of her umbrella. Her umbrella almost hit my eye for a couple of times, until I became an expert at ducking. Two guys, also in front of us, were all hair and glamour - restyling their hair every ten or twenty minutes with the hair wax they brought along. We also saw a guy who we guessed to be half-albino. He was seriously way too white. And I believe that the tinderas were happy that their mineral water stock was, more or less, sold out. There were even people selling lumpia, mais, ice candy, and more choices of food.

The line was moving really slowly for the first hour or so. I was happy to see the line move extremely fast when we were about to reach the house. My happiness was soon replaced with a bit of sadness when we heard people shouting that auditions were over and that it was time to go home. The last I saw of the two gays were them charging towards the platform (though the platform was still a bit far from where we were standing). I didn't see where the umbrella girl went, as well as the two glamour boys. But I did see a girl beside me who touched my shoulder and exclaimed, "Kim Chiu?!" hahahaha :) And that was the end of the day for me.

I called my friend who was lost somewhere in the crowd. We went to Banapple for late lunch or early dinner, and we talked about a few stuff.

It is true that it's a shame we didn't get to be auditioned, and that we didn't even get the chance to reach the house. But the experience itself - lining up and all that jazz - was fun. :)

And the news reportedly mentioned that there were approximately 12,000 people who lined up for PBB that day.

BARE, the musical

Staged by ADMU'S Blue Repertory, I have only praises and admiration for the cast and crew who brought this production to stage. BARE the musical tackles the issues of homosexuality, religion, and love - three ingredients that contribute a lot to the success of the play.

I watched the musical last Saturday (Feb. 21, 2009) with my sister, her friend, and my cousin. I think my cousin, who is around 3 or 4 years my junior, was shocked out of her wits with the play. She's currently a high school student in a pretty conservative school, so imagine her horror when she had two guys and a couple making out on the stage in front of her. It was definitely an eye opener for her, at least she won't be as shocked as she was when she enters college. :)

To summarize the musical, the story revolved around Jason and Peter. Jason was the guy in school who was most likely to snag the "Most Popular" award while Peter was the quiet, intelligent, and boy-next-door guy whom everyone adored. The two main characters deal with their emotions- their love for one another, - their sexuality - if they were gay and why they were feeling that way towards one another, - and their religion - if it was a sin to God that they were feeling that way.

To help them deal with a really confusing state of their lives would be Sister Chantelle, the church priest, and of course, their friends. However, as much help as the people mentioned give, they also become part of the issue and generate their own problems with the boys, adding more chaos to the already chaotic world of Jason and Peter.

BARE the musical is certainly a must-watch. The production not only entertains you, but it also serves as an eye-opener to the realities of the world we live in.

Personally, my favorite character would be Peter - the naive A-student who battles with his emotions and sexuality. He has this innocence and sincerity that make people want to reach out to him. The audience witness his emotions as he, the altar boy of the school of St. Cecilia, is battling with his sexuality. It doesn't help the situation that his significant other, Jason, is the star of the school and the heart throb of the girls. He tries to confess his realizations to his mom, but his mom shuts him out. Unsure of everything, he asks God for guidance. The most heartfelt performance that Peter gives out in this production is his love for Jason - pure, innocent, and unharming.

I bow down to Bibbo Reyes, the actor who has done a splendid job portraying the character of Peter. And he is truly one gifted actor, having the voice and face of an angel. With his singing voice alone, he can catch the attention of all the viewers and leave them wanting for more.

Another favorite of mine would be the actor who was casted as Matt. Not only was he good, but he certainly topped my 1-10 scale of "guys who are cute." :)

My one and only comment for this production was that some lines and words weren't that clear to the audience. A few funny lines were not heard clearly; thus, making the comedic intent sayang.

But overall, kudos to ADMU's Blue Rep for staging such a controversial play. I admire the cast and crew for their bravery, artistry, and open-mindedness.

Kudos. Blue Rep's hard work paid off real well. :)

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Just something to share:

INT. MALL ELEVATOR. NIGHT.

Girl 1: Gusto ko panoorin yung Push. Alam mo ba kung tungkol saan yun?
Girl 2: Ah yung Push. Parang Twilight.
Girl 1: Twilight? So madami din siyang BamFires?

( -_- ')

damsel in distress. feeling close.

every time i encounter problems, i run to people. i talk. i vent out my frustrations. lately, most of my problems seem to be linked to the highly innovative modern-age equipment - the computer. there are tons of different viruses, trojans, computer crashes, and what nots. my brain can only handle that much. being one of the computer literate people at work, my colleagues (who are mostly from the earlier generation) think me to be an expert on computer sicknesses. yes, an expert - and i don't even hold a degree of a computer related course. but heck, i was happy to be of help. and shockingly, i was able to help in a few ways. 

going back to me being problematic, i always run to friends when problems arise. take computer problems as an example. i run to two people when i encounter computer problems - two of my best guy friends. i wouldn't be able to have dealt with the PC problems if it weren't for them. anyway, i tend to freak out when i can't deal with a computer problem. so i text or call them and ask for their help. and with the many problems i have encountered, i believe that sometimes i have crossed the thin line between helping a friend and getting paid to do the job.

with that said, my insecure and inferior self comes to character. i ask myself if i am the only one who is, as we pinoys love to say, "feeling close" to them. that maybe they're just helping me so that i can stop bothering them. i know them to be introverts and too kind to say what they truly feel, and that doesn't help my insecurity one bit. maybe they think I'm too clingy or that i ask too many questions. 

this makes me realize that i can name a lot of times that i could have managed to solve the problem without bothering my friends. i could have tried clicking this button instead of calling for help. i could have done this first before texting. trying to analyze the problem would have been way better than feeling guilty for bothering someone afterwards. insecurity is hell, seriously. 

but then again, what usually happens to me is this: i get stuck in a problem. i call. i ask for help. i get answers or sometimes just chat on the phone with my friend (sometimes without actually getting a solution). i get back to the problem. i try clicking a button. it works. the routine usually goes like that. i start with being agitated 'cause i don't know what to do with the problem. and after talking to my friend, even if the topics we talk about are far from computers, i eventually solve the problem. it spells out w-e-i-r-d.

maybe i was a damsel in distress in another lifetime. locked up in a castle tower, i would call out for help and wait to be saved without knowing that the door (as in literally a door in the castle tower) that lead to my freedom was unlocked. ( -_- )

rewind.

rewind on the two memorable things that happened for the past couple of days... or weeks... :)

1. BARISTA day for me (one Saturday in October)

- my aunt opened her very own coffee shop, Cafe Belly Rocks, somewhere near robinson's galleria. the cafe is located inside the corinthian regency building at sapphire road. it was our (me, my mom, and 2 sisters) first time to go to their shop, so we brought a business good luck charm for them to display in their store. :) the cafe was closed that day, but since my aunt heard we were going, she opened the doors for us. and it was then that i became a barista for an hour or two. :)

my aunt taught me how to make cafe americano, cafe moccha, vanilla smoothie, and nai cha :) my favorite was the nai cha. and i highly recommend the nai cha to the people who will visit my aunt's coffee shop :) it's super delicious. anyways, it was fun. i got the chance to know how being a barista felt like. though i wouldn't know how serving customers esp. during rush hour feels like, it was thrilling to be standing behind the counter and making coffee. one of the fun parts was putting whipped cream on a finished coffee drink. i liked squirting the silver can and hear the "poot-poot-poot* since 'cuz the can was almost empty :)

cafe belly rocks sells a wide variety of drinks - from coffee to smoothies to tea :) the shop also sells dishes like pasta, rice, sandwiches, and the like :) it's an affordable place to go to :) and i guarantee you that the nai cha (milk tea) is a MUST, MUST, MUST try! :)

cafe belly rocks - ground floor of corinthian regency building (the first shop on the left when you enter the building). sapphire road. just across robinson galleria's gold's gym. :)

as the name itself proclaims, cafe belly ROCKS! :D

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2. UHSAAI funfest (november 9, 2008)

-the UHS alumni association decided to have an alumni funfest, which was a totally great idea! kudos to the people who organized the whole event. they deserve so much more than a grand round of applause. :)

the challenge for this funfest was to actually get people to join our team (the 'o4 team/gray team). since the '04 batch was split into two teams, our team ('04 team) and the other team ('04-'05 team), we had to look for more people who were free that day and who wanted to join our team. :) in the end, our team had around 20-22 members. 20 (i think) from our batch, and one '03er and one '05er. :)

before arriving at UHS, i met up with michie, fen, lou, and jo at wai ying, benavidez. my sister decided to tag along so i had the sister-responsibility of taking care of her. after lunch, we headed to UHS (as usual, late). we registered, got our shirts, reunited with a few many friends, and waited for the games to begin! :) it was really fun being back at my high school again. it was fun reminiscing the times well spent in that gymnasium - deco com, events, P.E., CAT, intrams, tiong lian.. all those memories in just one place - magical. :)

i got to play 2 games - tshirt relay game and the paper suck-up game. it was pure fun and enjoyment. :) there were 8 games or so, and it was fun cheering our team on. it felt nice to feel so united once again. so much energy and laughter coming from our team. i'd have to say we might've been the noisiest team in the whole gym. :) but we didn't care even if we looked like fools cheering our team on like crazy, 'cause we were united. and we were having FUN :)

and it looked like our team did great! we won the UHSAAI funfest competition! :) we garnered first place :) it was really unexpected and really joyous! hahaha :) and we got cash! and we didn't even spend a dime! how cool is that?! :)

i love my batch :)