IT WAS MY FIRST TIME THERE

Buhi lake. Puto. Coke zero. Pancit bijon. Cassava Cake. Cheese stick. Lots of Photo session. Extremely aching feet. It's so damn good to be tourists.

Five seconds after the 'wild guess' house tracking

Now you see the glutton who ate the eggs on the bijon

Si Malakas, Maganda and peacock (when the bamboo broke into two)Okay guys, where's Iriga? (Louie's clueless)The so-called TOURISTS OF THEIR NATIVE LANDAs the sun sets... hunger raged.Ah-ah. That's not a funeral rite. It's definitely not a coffin!Emote-ish freaks: Shot at the Buhi Lake with a 'passer-by kid'?

Just DECLINED an Accounting Work

You read it right. I just declined an accounting work at the Bicol Medical Center today. I met the boss and she's so kind. It's just that I'm way to good for the job. The salary's not even that good. Sigh. It's too bad 'coz I really like numbers and balance sheets. I wish I find the perfect work for me soon.

Graduation Pictures

ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY FOUR PILLARS
Graduation Practice: Chiwee, Mike, Apz, Jan
Mike, Tang and the random peeps
The BMHP graduates at the Christ the King Church
Graduation Practice at the eight pillars
Baccalaureate Mass: Ulupong wearing their Togas
Before the Mass at Xavier Hall
The Early Birds

Graduation Catastrophic Burst of Emotions

Just as I thought it would, the Business Management Honors’ Program graduates marched for their diplomas divided and in conflict. The batch members remained unsympathetic and silent with each other, leaving an issue unsettled. They sat close to one another but the feeling of indifference raged predominantly. Simple misunderstanding of who’s who and who’s what have been raised a level higher causing extreme discomfort for some, and terrible feeling of anger and hatred for others. The culprit until now is not known, but the uttered words of who’s gay and who’s the greatest failure for not being acclaimed Magna Cum Laude, left an unbearable abrasion that will never be healed even by the passage of time. As some were reminiscing happy moments during the graduation, a batch member stood up angered and bursting out of disgust. That person screamed at the top of her lungs how mad she was for she thought she was highly insulted. From the great feeling of happiness, there was a sudden shift to hate.

Just then, at that very moment of tranquility, I realized how much the friendship was over. This is how my last day in the university will end. Sigh.

Righteous people create their own world

What do righteous people have in common? They have their own worlds. Some people who are self-righteous think that all people around them must abide by their own sets of norms and standards. Truth is, it is so hard to mingle with these types of people. They are reserved and they seldom talk (but they do when they are about to judge your actions and/or when they want to ruin your reputation behind your backs). Befriending righteous people is a big no-no. They can never be trusted and they never really exist as a genuine companion. They are self-centered; promoting their personal interests even up to the point of jeopardizing the welfare of others.

What could be worse than righteous people? Well, it would be the people who love righteous people. These overly loving stupid people tend to live in the world of the righteous ones and lose the identity they once have. In the end, they support whatever and however the righteous people think they are right (even if their not). That’s the magnitude and the peak of tagging along with bunch of egoistic freaks.

Excellence Runs in the Blood

My sister, Myka

It’s been know to me that I’ve got cousins who really excel in their own lines of expertise. During graduation rites at Ateneo, I was awarded cum laude while my two cousins were awarded magna cum laude. They were Eleonor Balaquiao, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sharlyn Mae Papica, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, both were among the only ten magna cum laude of the university. Not to mention my other cousin who took up Nursing and graduated cum laude at Universidad de Sta. Isabel. During this year, I also got a cousin who graduated high school with flying colors as Fourth Honorable Mention at University of Nueva Caceres. My sister Myka, who just started her first year in college was a consistent Dean’s Lister at WorldTech Resources Institute and the head of the secretariat committee of the Bicol Region Tourism Council.

SUMMER CLASSES

Breeding 101

Learn how to breed in and breed out. LOL. This 20-unit course is focused on proper behaviors and etiquette. At the end of the course, students are expected to showcase modesty, proper way of speaking and use of gestures, good eating habits and proper use of eating utensils, proper way of smiling and saying hi, proper way of walking, proper way of blinking and breathing, proper way of drinking from a fountain, proper way of combing the hair, proper hygiene and grooming (plus how to take a bath), and proper behaviors when dealing with people having achievement awards in a national competition. Learn these from the experts themselves who believe they, unlike ALL of us have ‘breeding’! Enrollment is now going on!

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 101

Ever felt like accounting is never for you? Not anymore! Enroll in Financial Statements 101 and learn the horizontal and vertical analysis of financial statements, using books of journal, ledger and worksheet, the financial ratios, proper financial statement adjustment and fabrication, and how to get an A even if your business only has 3,000 net sales after four months (and your coordinator himself was the one who imposed for students not to get an A if the 40,000 sales is not met.). Learn these and more and be able to pass judgment to those dumb enough not to understand and create basic balance sheet and financial statements. Can’t wait for the payback? Enroll now!

English 101

“My mum ROSE me well” and “I have PUTTED everything AT the drawer”… C’mon! you can do better English than that! Learn talk good English like a pro. Enroll at the English 101 and be grammatically literate. Be the talk of the town and be hip. Hey Yeo… DEFINE yourself!

JOKES 101

Can’t do good jokes? Do the knock-knock and make everyone laugh out loud! Ask the experts for the best way of cracking jokes and the latest innovations in the world of clowns. For example, what can you see below?

Wrong . That’s a SQUARE ROOT! Hahaha. ((Joke Courtesy of Ms. January Luzada, Cum Laude of Ateneo ). Learn all these and more! Enroll now!

GROW UP

Act mature and be mature. Take life seriously and avoid joking around. Learn how to do poker face and to always keep your hands on the side. Sit with arms on your thighs and eyes forward. Master the art of meditation and make less of talking. Think fast and make sense. Keep an emotion-less face even if others are laughing off their feet or crying out loud. Learn to create your own world and live different. Ultimately Grow Up! This course is so much fun! Swear to God! (Can we at least have one student in this course?) Enroll now! Limited slots available!

Fr. Tabora's Birthday

THE TERRIBLE ADVICE

Being aloof offers one hell of a deal. You are able to keep yourself free from any form of ‘outside intrusions’. Unfortunately, that certain feeling of personal security is often short-lived. Some people try to break the barriers and to collapse the stable walls you built like it’s their some sort of calling or moral obligation. These 'trying-to-help' people as they call themselves ultimately ruin the preservation of your inner tranquility and intrinsic need to be alone. They argue that they’re just concerned and they want to reach out… but for a highly standoffish (sunggo!) individual, there really is no need for that. Oftentimes, people seem to showcase excessive amount of care that isn’t really necessary. Anytime of the day, for instance, as you sit alone reminiscing the happy moments of your past, you’ll be surprised to have a friend approach [disturb] you and throw in the really irritating introductory question, ‘May problema ka?” After that, they will insist on you to answer all their questions until you end up falling on their traps and sharing sentiments. Grr… I really get pissed when this happens… it’s like you just fell on some incantations and hypnosis and you really have no choice but to tell everything. The thing is you’ll realize how stupid you are long enough for your listener to spread rumors about what you shared. Where’s the sense on privacy in that? Sigh. I share whenever and to whoever I want to. I have fully grasped the idea of how individualistic, composed and reserved I am… and this is the reason why I seldom want others to show so much care for me (though sometimes I appreciate it when they do). My reluctance to open up is driven by what other’s call ‘after-effect’, which includes people [wrongly] assessing the situation I am in, judging the appropriateness of my every decision, and giving out unsolicited advices which would often confuse me rather than help me clear my thoughts and burdens. I simply find listening to other’s advices less effective. I don’t know why I trust my own instincts more than others’.

THE AWARDEES

Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome, Ateneo de Naga Univeristy’s pride, the Business Management Honors Program graduates of 2008:

Ma. Michelle Abiog
CUM LAUDE

April Arcilla
CUM LAUDE

Michael Arevalo
CUM LAUDE

Barri Niño Lacbay
CUM LAUDE, ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Jennilyn Ludovice
CUM LAUDE, ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

January Luzada
CUM LAUDE

Cherry Vie Saballegue
CUM LAUDE

Jesus Tibi, Jr.
CUM LAUDE, ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Katrina Tordilla
MAGNA CUM LAUDE, ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

A round of applause please...LOL. Tanu garu dai kamu nagtutubod na awardees sinda? Hmf.

THE VERDICT

Uhm. Yesterday, the case filed against my classmate has been closed. Guess what? She won! Whoohooo! That’s just what she and the class needed... lesser burden and lesser things to worry about (well, especially now that we’re all graduating). No more public apologies… and no more shameful accusations. Name’s cleared and all were at peace (okay, not yet but pretty soon, I guess). Yehaa. Guess we’ll be marching our way to the stage with pride and honor after all (not that we’re guilty or anything). Hope those who were so judgmental (uhm… those who aggressively acted even without laid down facts) learn that they’re nothing but sore losers in the quest for truth.

HER MAIN MISTAKE

Once, during the Graduation Awards Committee interview, Jing asked me, ‘Why do I seldom see you with your friends, Mike? You always mingle with Batch 7 and you rarely tag along with Jan and the rest anymore.’ Then, instantly, I answered back, ‘Tanu Jing dai taka barkada? Why do you exclude yourself from my circle of friends? Kaibanan taka baga.’ Then there was a moment of deafening silence. I realized that Jing never really treated me as her ‘barkada’ all these time. I’m a complete stranger to her and an intrusive visitor in here own imaginary world. It’s about time (even too late) to treat her the same way. =P

So this is how it’ll end

One sunny afternoon of March, Tropang Ulupong was once again united for the Graduation Practice. We sat all together on a single row alphabetically arranged based on our surname. At that moment, I felt the real tension between each one of us. SO this is how it’ll end… the clique members are in conflict. Tsk Tsk. So much for the four long years of friendship. Sigh. When we were in first year, a lot of people realized how close we were (I guess they just envy us). Just then, an upperclassman uttered the words, “You’ll start united but end up divided.” At first, few of us took the statement as a fallacy. By then we believed that no strong catastrophe can ever set us apart. As I march together with this year’s batch of graduates, I realized that this conflict will never be resolved. The issues have grown so big that no other cure can ever mend the hearts of those hurt. Michelle waged war with me for some childish reasons. I set myself prepared for what she could possible do, but her aggressive maneuvers were never anticipated. I was deeply hurt by the street-lingo-ish verbal attacks and total discrimination. She has proven herself the queen of all back-stabbing and oral face-to-face frankness. Then goes Miguel, fighting so hard to join the 2008 graduates. He’s also overshadowed by pride and not so used to the begging and kneeling. He was in conflict not just with his personal principles, the teachers (who serve as his major obstacles) and the entire college department. He started a conflict with us, his former business partners: Cherry, Michelle, January and me. Upon the majority’s decision of dissolution of the partnership, Miguel took off on his own (by manufacturing yema and/or by earning through Internet blogs), I set up my own business (candles), and the other three made their own (Polymer Clay Accessories). Miguel’s business, unlike the former two, didn’t go perfectly as planned. With other commitments on some organizations (like Ateneo Debate Society Remontados where he was the president), Miguel found it hard to cope with his business. To have a fully operational business for at least four months was a major requisite upon graduation. That’s why no one knows whether or not Miguel sits with us on Saturday’s Graduation rites. Sigh (lets keep our fingers crossed).

(Part of me feels guilty on what had happened to Miguel. Even though he was such an apathetic partner, it was like he shouldn’t have been just… dumped. It was like out of the blue, we took off on our own and we managed to start as immediate as possible. He was so innocent (in fact TOO innocent that he never cared at all) when we were still partners at Soyworks and even when we decided to dissolve the partnership. It even stunned him when we said it’s over. The reason why he never got serious on his business was perhaps his reliance on his comfort zones, and his lack of preparation… these, we took away just like that. Sigh.)

Going back. The next conflict lies between our one and only Magna Cum Laude, Katrina and the all-time love birds, Jun and Jing. The issue has grown so extreme that it even involved legal intervention. I really don’t want to dwell on who’s who and what’s what. I feel like I’m in no jurisdiction to disclose any information especially now that the court handles it. Let’s just say that it’s about accusing someone he is not guilty of. Or maybe, about the good thing about apathy… keeping your mouth shut and your opinion reserved so no one will suspect you’re ruining the reputation of someone in authority.

So this is how it’ll end. We will sit an inch closer to each other with the predominant feeling of indifference. All the good times are now gone; the alliances during exams, the usual class’ lunch gatherings at some Restos, the overnight party and excursion at Barri’s, and the all the bonding moments at Xavier Hall and bull session adjacent to the church. Sigh. At least all ten of us got an award. Nine (or eight) are graduating Cum Laude, and we’ve got Katrina as a Magna Cum Laude. That’s honor over friendship. Maybe, that’s fair enough.

(I wrote this not with the hope of resolving the problem. I just wanted to feel its intensity.=P)

FUJITSU here I come

A few months ago, I took a shot at the Fujitsu. After a series of interview and a three-hour long exam (basically with a lot of ‘nosebleed’ calculus and computer concepts), they told me they would call me anytime the following month. Recently, they just did. They wanted me to process my application and eventually work with them as soon as possible. Honestly, right now, I’m still at lost on what to do. Considering other options like Accenture (though pending), Banco de Oro (Main Branch in Manila) and Sutherland (just waiting for my call), would it be best for me to choose Fujitsu?

Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused information technology and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting device technologies, highly reliable computing and communications products, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position us to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for our customers' success.

Did You Know?

• Fujitsu is the world's third-largest IT services provider and Japan's market leader.
• Fujitsu and Fujitsu Siemens Computers together are among the world's top five providers of servers.
• Fujitsu customers include nearly half the Fortune Global 500.
• Fujitsu innovations have garnered over 34,000 patents.
• Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and FTSE4Good Index Series, Fujitsu is recognized as an IT industry leader in sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Mum said that it would be okay if I choose to work for Fujitsu. My friends were also in favor. But I still don’t know. Sigh. Maybe I just have to grab this opportunity and see how it goes. After all, I like computers... Wish me luck guys!

More Pictures

THE LAST SUPPER
2007 Peñafrancia Festival… Somewhere in San Felipe.

ACCOMPLISHED ETCH-PEE
JCCI-Marketing Seminar, Richie Fernando Hall, Ateneo de Naga University.

THE REBIRTH
End of Recollection Session at Mater Ecclesiae, Pili, Camarines Sur.

THE EARLY BIRDS ENTER THE DRAGON'S LAIR
Five Minutes before the start of Tabirara’s Class… Shhh..

THE GLUTTONS
The culprits behind the missing donuts and Zest-O juice drinks for snacks.

AS THE BELL RINGS
The Church’s bystanders… Photo Op! ^__^

PONDERING ON WHO GETS EATEN FIRST
Movie trip at Kai’s… Frightened by the cannibal-eating-human scene of the movie FEAST.

STRANDED BY THE TYPHOON
Xavier Hall Stage. Shivering and trembling.

WHEN WE WENT CAMPING
Enchanted Kingdom Photo-Session with January. First Year Bad Acting.

E-MALL TRADE FAIR
The most unlikely traders.

NEDA ESCAPADE
First Stop for the Day. BMHP-Batch Four Manila Invasion.

Sayonara New Found Friends

Wow. This is the end of the line for me. Next week, I’ll be graduating and be officially unemployed. Tsk Tsk. I just hope the world will welcome a newcomer in the cruel reality of business world. Just as I’m about to leave it all behind: the usual school assignments, the harsh professors, the university buildings and ambiance, and the school security guards who often forbid me from entering the school if not in uniform, I can’t help but think of my new found friends who were just starting college. These are the friends I knew for less than a year… and I, just like Apz, wish we’ve shared more time together.

I will never forget Anna who was my neighbor (I didn’t know that she was) and is my constant text mate. Anna is a fragile lass who deserves a lot care and love. She is everyone’s best friend. She never runs out of problems… particularly in school, family and love life. She is the first girl to ever scream at me out of anger. She is sickly and frail, but so energetic when she’s with friends. She keeps a lot of secrets because others really trust her. She knows how to give advices and is very dedicated towards work (SA) and studies. Everyone will agree that she’s a beautiful woman in the making. ^__^

Then goes Mike, my godson. He has chosen me to be his godfather about a year ago during the acquaintance party done at the beach. He is so reserved, choosy when it comes to friends, follows whatever he wants even if others oppose it (like joining Days). He has his own sets of principles that I honestly don’t understand. Once, he auditioned as a housemate in the Philippine Edition of a reality show called Big Brother... and it really surprised us all! We’re complete opposites when it comes to line of thinking, but in the end, we respond to situations the same way. Mike, as he said himself, carries a strong devotion to his pride and arrogance (just like me LOL). He got an amazing appeal that makes girls go ‘ahhhh!!’ and which made him hook some of them (bad).

Then, Carlo, a young lad with a distinctive uhmm… chocolate complexion (yummy!). He is always on the go and is hilarious. There is never a dull moment when I’m with him. He never stops to make others smile. He got an amazing charisma in befriending others even on first sight. He is hospitable (he would offer to buy me Pizza Bread and Four Seasons Juice, or even give lunch treat over their house). He is an amazing dancer, choreographer (once a PE dance instructor), cheerleader (ABBS, during Intramurals). He knows how to have fun, and devotes time to study. In fact, he was among the group who won 3^rd Place in the recently concluded Regional Business Plan Competition. Wow!

Kookie Monster. She is the most soft-spoken girl I know. She excels basically in every subject, but I am highly amazed with her skills in math. How cool is that? I once had a crush on her for being really firm and proper. She is always in the serious frown, which often make others rethink about joking around. She’s a bookworm and a good poet and writer. She once made Louie a (laminated) poem for his birthday. She, in contrast with her silent character, loves rock: FOB, Red Jumpsuit, Vanilla Sky, Blink182, Dashboard Confessionals… name it, she listens to it. This girl really rocks! (Thanks for the One Tree Hill DVDs, by the way).

Ambisyoso ng Ateneo Xavier Dormers

Just Wanna share This...
Sooo FUNNY...^__^



Where's Barri?

Princess Hours Filipino Version

Princess Hours??^__^

Trust Issues

(not about condoms)

Why do I find it hard to trust people? Sometimes, I keep on wondering what is it in others that make me doubt their intentions. I often ask myself, why I hold back every time I try to interact with others even when I’ve been with them for a couple of years…

Recently, I was interviewed for the graduation awards by the school committee. We were 14 interviewees, 13 of them, except me, were presidents of various organizations in the campus (that’s why I was wondering why I was there… a mere honorary member of two to three orgs). When I came in the dungeon room, I was nervous, especially since everything was being videotaped. Then, the panel threw me a question about my weakness. I paused for a while and started to think if I will answer it with my usual ‘answer’ (a memorized response intended for my job interviews). In that case, my answer would have been ‘being too perfectionist… I always aspire for excellence and set high standards for myself and for others… and bla bla bla…”It was, according to my English teacher, a positive weakness (???). I, however, answered differently. I said, my greatest weakness is giving trust to others. And now, I regret answering it that way. It’s completely negative in all perspective.

I am not a loner. I am very much adaptive to the environment. I easily mingle with others and am very friendly. But there’s just a part of me that seem not to believe the genuineness and truthfulness of others. I keep on thinking that one way or another, these people, who I’m considering as my friends, would then betray me in the long-run. I want to be prepared when that day comes. It is safer to have impersonal, aka professional, relationship with others than be so emotionally attached to them. I’ve been betrayed a number of times, and the feeling sucks. I don’t want that to happen again. I decided to rethink my principles and change it for the better. I’m a whole new Mike now… ready for anything.

I never regret the kindness and hospitality I am bestowing to others. I’ll remain calm and serene, just the way I used to. Just don’t be overshadowed by my coolness and care. It has limitations. I am a fighter who can and will stab others’ back if they push me to. So, scared? Don't be... just kidding... Frontal thrust is more manly... ^___^

I miss SoyWorks

The SoyWorks Major Product Line:

Dinosoy “Taho with a Twist”

BMHP Batch 7 Acquaintance Party

Reggae!

Dog Tovarish

Imagine yourself tired and lonely from a whole day’s work. You went on your ride carrying excessive pile of papers on one hand, and a To-Go McDonald’s burger and fries on the other. You came home in your dark and small apartment in the middle of the night starving. You opened the door and switched on the light. You sat down and had a few moments to relax. Then, you once again bumped into a realization how alone you were. The place was so tranquil you could actually hear your heartbeat. Then, started missing your pet dog who died years ago. Just then, you realized how cool it would be to have a white, furry and jolly dog around. A dog that would bark and wiggle his tail when he sees you arrive from work. A dog that would stay beside you as you sleep, join you as you eat your supper, and keep you awake to finish the work you brought at home. Imagine his fine furs with distinct dark spots, beautiful rounded eyes, long flipping ears, and small black nose. Feel him as he embraces you, and smell him as he continuously scrubs his body over your arms just to catch your attention. Sigh. It’s so nice to dream. I soooo want a dog!!!!!!

The photo-shoot battle of the geeky ORANGES

On the red corner… my best research buddy, Tee Jay Tabinas… LOL. Jason, aka Tee Jay, was my classmate 3 years ago when we were both first years at Ateneo de Naga University. We were partners in a research study about the status of tourism in Camarines Sur. We’ve got a lot in common, not to mention being tagged as ‘the weirdos’. We were both ‘oranges’- in fact, the only oranges in the block. This was revealed during the NSTP personality assessment test. For a moment, I thought we were really different… Oranges are characterized as being too responsible even if situation does not necessitate them to. Anyway, Jason, is graduating this summer just like me. Magnifico! It’s been three years since we have seen each other… and that’s after he went several miles away to study in Manila with an Economics course. Rock on Tee Jay… Can’t forget your usual ‘Pambihira’ expression… your favorite song ‘Bright lights’… your creative way of courting Chiwee (by having a project dedicated to her)… your amazing way of solving economics and math puzzles… and of course, your favorite elephant jeans.. LOL.

I know you’re doing great out there… I heard you’re a great drinker (it shows in the balloon-like tummy…LOL)… Chiwee, by the way, already has her very first boyfriend… That’s what you get for being such a slowpoke…haha. What’s with sudden shift from English to Filipino literature? I just noticed you write basically all of your experiences in your Multiply account using Tagalog… which is cool…LOL… nice poems and essays (some I don’t understand)… soon, you’ll be as nationalistic as Jose Rizal- better start writing your autobiography as early as now. One day, you might be martyred at Luneta or somewhere...LOL. Just don’t forget to email me an invitation to your execution so I could get some first hard glimpse (and probably some photos) of your historic death… (knock on wood…LOL).

How about a duel? Let’s see who has better appeal on our graduation pics. Your ‘bookworm’ image versus my ‘pirate-wannabe’ image. Haha. The people will decide. Voting starts now. LOL. Here are my photos:. (photo not yet available)

And here are yours:

FORMAL

CREATIVE

Mike: The should-have-been

What would you feel when the thing you desire the most, which was at the palm of your hands, suddenly got swift away? I was on that scenario a month before the graduation. I was an inch close to being a magna cum laude... Too bad I messed up with one of my subjects two years ago. It took me 2 more years to realize how much I screwed my Financial Management subject. I had an 86… (God! This was the highest grade I got when I was on the first grade… didn’t realize it was so damn low for college!). Anyway, my average grade could qualify me as a magna cum laude. But looking at my 86, my aspiration suddenly crashed. If only had another point more… just one! If only it was 87… if only… Sigh. I wanted to blame the teacher, you know… but my pride took over my rationality. I don’t want to beg and kneel for grade… it’s not the sole basis of my dedication towards learning…Besides, the teacher had too much power- he might file a case against me just like what he did with some friend I know. Shhh.. I have nothing against him and I truly respect him… even if the highest he could give was only 88… (in that case, I was the third highest in class… but that wasn’t enough…tsk tsk.). I’ll be okay. I’ll just have to settle to being a Cum Laude- ‘with honors’.

Lenten Season at my Hometown

Believed to have the power to heal illnesses, the hinulid of Calabanga is being visited by various people who believe that their faith to God could heal them.

I am a person who easily gets fascinated by people’s behavior, tradition and other unusual conducts. This year’s celebration of the holy week was like no other. In my hometown, Bombon, Camarines Sur, people were really embracing the Catholic Tradition as one event worth preparing. The whole town served as one of the venue of the annual Alay-Lakad (I’m not good in translating words, but it means something like Offer-a-walk). Alay-lakad has been a tradition for decades wherein people from various places in and outside Naga City walk approximately 50 kilometers on bare foot. The youths, as I observed, dominated the thousands of participants in the Alay-lakad. They join their friends, and some even brought with them their boyfriend or girlfriend. Being in Bombon was like having a VIP ticket on a crowd-full concert. I saw people pass by our house in an unending file from sunset until the break of dawn. The objective of the Alay-lakad is not merely walking but experiencing to suffer just like Jesus did in the last few hours of His life. The real test lies on aching knees, ankles, in-grown, At the end of the route, people will line up (and stay there for almost half-a-day), with the aim of kissing the image of Jesus Christ called Hinulid. As my self-pledged obligation, I have promised to join the Alay-lakad and kiss Jesus’ foot. My mum agreed to join me in my ‘so-called’ sacrifice. We were so driven to reach the finish line, but my mum’s sandal couldn’t bear too much walking so eventually the strap tore off (so much for the bare-foot tradition). An hour of extreme walking and we were almost there (Bombon is just an adjacent town of Calabanga, the end of the line). It was an hour before midnight when we started to fall in line just like the thousand others. Few friends came by but with too many people around walking, we hardly talked. Hours went by and we got really dehydrated and hungry. Good thing there were free salabat (tea), soda, sandwiches, breads, juice, water, soups, candies and many more. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste any of these free stuffs with the fear that they were bribe for the next election or even worse, they’ve been poisoned. Anyway, so we stayed their desperate even just to touch a strand of Jesus’ hair. It was 3am that we realized that our situation was hopeless and so we decided to give up. After 4 hours, we weren’t even halfway of the finish line. Sigh. It took us few more minutes to realize that if we stay, we will have to wait for 5 hours more. And so the rest was history. We arrived home 5am fully exhausted. In just a few moments, none of us realized that we were already in bed sleeping.

Lent is the period of fasting, penitence, and self-denial traditionally observed by Christians in preparation for Easter. As a Christian, I did more than that. God, I’m so proud of myself.

Who says it’s not leaning?

The leaning tower of Bombon, Camarines Sur, as described by some publishers can be associated with the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy. People believed that the structure of the tower itself is not that stable making lean directly towards a public school in the said place. Several people, upon the creation of the tower, said that it must be destroyed because it is leaning. The church says that it must not be because the faiths of the people are just being tested and their continuous prayer would not let it fall. Years passed, yet the church’s leaning tower still exists- firm and strong- despite the natural calamities it had faced all over the years.

World War II and the Philippines

(Unpublished… now published)

The talk conducted on December 11, 2007 at Richie Fernando Hall dealt on some historical facts about the World War II and its effects to the Philippines. It has been discussed how severe the oppression was during those times. Thus, the magnitude of the suffering of the Filipinos was highly stressed especially in the hands of the Japanese colonizers.

The most striking about the talk was Ms. Padilla’s discussion on comfort women during the Japanese era. It has been said that her research revealed that even eleven year old girls were abducted and forcefully set to satisfy the sexual cravings of the Japanese. This was actually supported by the book I read entitled Heroic Virgins by Alfonso Santos, which depicted in a really concise and detailed manner how Filipino women were sexually abused, as foretold by the victims themselves. The firsthand interviews of Ms. Padilla have proven the severity of the cases of each woman who has endured the malicious sexual injustice. Aside from the women’s ‘physical service’, they were obliged to do household chores like cooking, washing the laundry, and all sorts of cleaning. At night, they would have to massage their Japanese master (yeah, as if they were slaves) and do basically everything to satisfy their ‘needs.’ It was just so unfortunate to some who served no specific ‘master’ but were sexually abused by several. These unfortunate ones were enclosed in a compartment until each Japanese (there were a number of them) lining up outside comes in and experience heaven in their happy hour…hell knows what happens next after they sneak in!

To put an end to what was happening; some Filipina victims had to think of ways to escape. They, as they shared, could no longer bear living beaten and abused for a single day. As study showed, some victims were locked up with the same situation from 4 days to more than two years. Some victims were successful to outwit the guards and ran back to their homes. Others failed to escape and were severely punished, if not executed. Poor Filipina. I just wish they knew something about Aikido or kung fu. WhaaaPaK!

Movie Marathon at Kai's

At Kai's place... Movie Marathon.... FEAST and Bring it On!! I came with the two other Mike's. It's the first time I ever made a 'gatecrash'... Felt weird trying to belong. I just wanted to watch Alvin and the chipmunks for free... but things messed up. Power failure. Tsk Tsk. Good thing Kai's a great cook. We were able to eat until the electricity came back. Feast (movie) was amazingly shocking. Everyone was stunned, except for Mona who was shocked by the cutting of the head scene moments after everyone did. LOL. Rock On Batch7... I'll surely miss all of you. Wish we bonded longer... Good luck in the 3 more years of college...^__^... I'll never forget this Movie Trip.. It's one of a kind... Because my purpose wasn't accomplished, I had to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks and Jumper in a movie house the day after... LOL.

The Prom

Uhm. Nothing much to say. Just want to post this. Miss Yah Guys!^_^
Rock On! Go Oracle! LOL!