Sticker Happy

• Adding me as a friend in Facebook.
• Dropping by my formal journal in Blogspot.

I have not posted an entry here for a month now, have I? In spite of the effort that I am currently making to update this site, this entry will be very brief.

I would just like to thank the readers of this site. There are only a few people who leaves a comment on my entries and they are the same people which I interact with almost regularly. Despite this, I reckon that some people read my entries but they do not leave a comment. I have nothing against you, people; I still want to thank you for the time you spared just to read my blog. I am sure that some of you might be sick of my rants and random musings. Hahaha! Oh, and the overuse of my cyber laugh, too.

I have achieved certain milestones in my life, too. Because I was too busy with Summer classes and also due to my current liking for Blogspot, I was not able to post them here. First, I will be an Organizational Communication student soon. I have passed the sets of exam and the interview even if I initially thought that I would not qualify for the degree program. Second, I saw my name on the list of _______________ . Whatever the list may be, I will leave it up to your imagination. I am not the type of person who brags about things, but I still want to express my joy for being part of that list.

I have a new puppy, too. His name is Ricky, named after the recent boxer whom Pacquiao defeated, Ricky Hatton. Other than my puppy's stout stature, he has no similarities with Hatton; my father just suggested his name out of the blue. The name "Ricky" has a nice ring on it, though.

There, that is just about the things that I would like to share. If my ardor for writing sparks by the succeeding week, given that I am not busy, I will post an entry here.

1. Speech Communication
2. Technical Writing
3. Conference Discussions
4. Public Relations
5. Audio and Visual ____ (I forgot what it is.)

My parents and I had a healthy open session last night at our home. Expectedly, my younger brother preferred playing with his PSP than joining the three of us reminisce happy memories as well as bitter events. It would have been better if my brother was with us last night, though I have always expected that in terms of these kinds of intimate family activities, he would retreat into his room and do what he loves doing best---and it's too obvious for me to even mention what it is, judging that most of the bedrooms of today's teenagers are filled with gizmos and techie thingamajigs that seem to hinder them from involving themselves into familial bondings. As sad as that may sound, I am still hoping that my brother would be more open to us in the near future.

Moving on to what my parents and I brainstormed yesterday, I would like to share what Dad repeatedly told me yesterday: "Look forward, don't look back too often." Those are not his exact words but they pretty much sum up what he had in mind yesterday. The reason why he was continuously reiterating these words to me last night was because I suddenly felt the urge to let out my previous disappointments regarding how I lead my life these past sixteen years---well, almost seventeen, actually.

Mom was there too during the time where I was venting out my regrets and frustrations, so as Mimi. While Dad was telling me his philosophical nuggets of wisdom, Mom was playing with and was keeping an eye on Mimi while the latter was running around our spacious terrace/receiving area. She would comment from time to time, especially whenever I speak of one of the tremulous experiences in my life; she told me how disappointed she was when that happened. I, for one, have heard her express her disappointment regarding that incident a number of times already but it was only now that I realized that I was indeed a disappointment at that time. When my father started elaborating that certain event, I covered my ears and started blabbing nonsensical mantras just to avoid entirely remembering the whole incident. My reaction was immature, I admit...and it only goes to show that I am still tied up to the past. Embarassment and regret fill my thoughts whenever I try to confront my past mistakes.

I attempted to look forward and picture my future. My foresight of how I would turn out years later turned out fine. Lately, I have been telling myself that from this point forward, I should be doing things the right way. True enough, I cannot assure that I will not stumble and falter along the way but the fact that I am motivated to rise rather than run is a sign that maybe---just maybe---my decisions will be more rational, more mature and more insightful. I need to grow up; I need to act my age. I do not want to haste nor do I want to be some sort of Peter Pan. I will take things slowly but surely. And if I put great importance to my future and to how I want it to be, eventually, I will stop these wasteful regretting. God is with me; I know He will never leave me walking towards the end of the tunnel on my own.
 

Slumdog Millionaire

The gist: Based from the novel "Q & A" penned by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal Malik, a chai-wallah (tea server in call centers) who was one question away from winning the jackpot prize in the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?". Although this was something to be excited for, Jamal was suspected to have been cheating, given the fact that he grew up in the slum area most of his life and that he has not achieved much in life to reach the certain round in the game.

The night after he succesfully answers the second to the last question, he was secretly sent to law officials for investigation. As the investigator and Jamal rewatched the game show's past episode, Jamal explains to him the reasons behind why he was able to answer each and every question of the game without having further studied them---in some twist of fate, Jamal explains that all questions had something to do with every part of his life and eventually leads him to revealing the sole reason why he joined the game show in the first place. The film wraps up on the part where Jamal finally answers the last question towards the 2,000,000 rupee finish.

My review: I first heard of this film from radio DJ, Mo Twister. He has been raving about this movie a month and a half before the Golden Globes and the Oscars, which means that he has watched the film even before it was even acclaimed by film critics. Curious, I researched it on the Internet and realized that Mo wasn't the only one who found this film excellent---there were a lot of them.

What I particularly admired in this film were its actors, especially the children. The child actors who played Jamal and his older brother Salim were so compelling, I could not believe that they are just as young as ten or eleven. I wasn't particularly impressed with the child actress who portrayed the young Latika but she's okay, not much to complain about her, really. The older versions of Jamal, the adolescent one and the young adult one, were really good. The aura of being the underdog brother can be distinguished from them and the actors who played Salim as an adolescent and a young man. The characters drastically developed stronger traits on the second half of the film and the actors never failed to bring out the best and worst in their characters. Oh, and the actress who portrayed Jamal's love interest? She's got gorgeously exotic facial features.

The balance and transition between the more recent scenes and Jamal's flashbacks are awesome. I actually feel that I am warped in some sort of time machine, simultaneously witnessing the characters' childhood and coming of age. Additionally, the events within the film are genuinely straightforward. I liked the fact that the film did not stray away from the premise of its story's plot even a bit. There were no sidelines nor were there any unnecessary scenes that would leave the audience thinking, "So, how is it connected to the story?" Well, MAYBE there is one but that's forgivable since this is a common trend amongst Bollywood movies and that is the dancing on the last part. It took me by surprise when I first saw the scene, to tell you the truth.

Oh, and the romance element in the story? One word: SURREAL. Jamal and Latika's love was very one-of-a-kind. It was not entirely cheesy; It was a tragic sort of bittersweet romance that you would definitely want to root for as the film goes on. Their relationship is the key to the plot's significance.

Of course, in spite of bagging the "Best Picture" award in the recently held Oscars, the film has its own setbacks too---just how did the characters know how to speak in English? Okay, I know you'll defend this shortcoming by saying that it is a film directed and produced by British people and since that is the case, the characters are portrayed to be speaking in English when actually they are speaking in Indian but...I beg to differ.

Yes, the characters did speak their native tongue on the first half of the film, during the times when they were just children but then all of a sudden, when they grew somewhat older, they were already speaking the English language like there was some sort of magic that made them to. The fact that they're speaking in English is okay, it's very fine with me, the only problem I have with it is how they actually learned to speak the language. They could have shown some hints in the film, right?

And about the remarks about this film being realistic, I believe that only the circumstances were the realistic ones and not their personal adventure or journey or whatever you may call it. The kind of life shown in the movie did seem to capture the sort of poverty occuring in the slums of Mumbai but the siblings' way of surviving through the challenges they were facing was a little too unrealistic for me. I am not saying that the concept of blind singers and robbery amongst children in India are not occuring in real life; I just find it bizarrely incredible how those two boys managed to fend for themselves in such a dangerous city. Nonetheless, their wit and own ways of showing unselfishness amazed and moved me.

I had two disappointments yesterday. First, I found that I am 0.02 points shy from potentially getting a good grade in Philosophy I. The shown result was only my Pre-Final standing so it still might be adjusted due to some unknown miracle I'm secretly wishing for. If not, then I'd still take the last set of exam for Philo despite being given the privilege not to take it.

Here's the more disappointing thing, however. I freakin' failed the second Mathematics 11 departmental exam. I wonder, though, why I'm not so overly depressed about it? Maybe because I could still make up for it on the third depEX and the Finals? Yeah, I think that's it. Well, on top of that also, I guess I have already accepted the fact that Math is never, and will never be, the subject that I could ever be triumphant with. HAHA. All it takes is ACCEPTANCE. But of course I'd strive hard not to get a singko or a tres. I'd rather strive for a 2.75. :)

Besides those mediocre feats, I have also realized that I didn't do quite well this semester---again. Hmm. It's not that I got low grades, they just didn't match my standards. Before the second semester began, I was desperately promising myself that I would pull my grades higher. Turns out that I still haven't let go of my easily distracting interests yet. Oh, screw you, Internet! Hahaha. Well, it's fallacious to put the blame on the world wide web though, seeing that it was me who succumbed easily to that addiction. Could anybody please bang my head on the wall? Please?

Oh, and I'm listening to the sixth Good Times With Mo, Mojo and Grace Lee podcast in iTunes. This time, they could curse and bash even more through this kind of communicational means. It's cool, though. They're currently talking about parents contemplating over their children marrying poor partners. I don't know if I will be able to marry a prosperous man in the future, though, especially if romantic feelings take over me again. LOL.

And before I wrap this entry up... I FREAKIN' FAILED THE SECOND MATHEMATICS 11 DEPARTMENTAL EXAM! So there, I need to practice my Mathematical skills and understand the concept of "inequalities" and "functions". OMG. I don't think I could even make use of these algebraic learnings in the future. *Sigh* Daaaamn.

I just wanted to write before I go to sleep tonight. I can't think of any title (and of any topic) that's why I just used the word I utter almost every day---chever. "Chever" is a word which allegedly originated from the gay lingo. The word doesn't have any meaning except if you stipulate something for it. It is frequently used as a filler in sentences. For example, if you're unsure with how to describe something, the way to use "chever" is like this: Ang chever naman niyan.

From this point onwards, you would be able to read a chain of random blabs.

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A few hours ago, my Mom made a large-sized lasagna. I haven't eaten a lasagna for months now, which caused me to consume three medium-sized lasagna slices now that I have the chance to eat one. I was even planning to indulge on a fourth one but since I was already experiencing fast heart palpitations either due to the white sauce or the lasagna paste, I stopped at three slices.

I want to learn how to make lasagna too. I don't know if it's easy to come up with one but I will try making one when I have the time---I hope.

-

I was mostly in front of the desktop and laptop computer screens the whole day. I admit of doing some leisure Internet surfing but this activity only lasted for less than half-an-hour. What I was entirely busy about was my Communication Skills II paper. I attempted to finish the whole paper itself, from the introduction until the conclusion. I even accomplished the whole reference and note-taking list. I hope I'll be soon freed from these Comm II requirements.

If I accomplish most of the paperworks earlier than the intended date, I reckon that I could  accomplish the requirements on the other subjects. There's nothing wrong with hoping this much right? HAHAHA. Requirement overload!

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Surprisingly, I shed some tears for Kiko Magalona earlier this day. While watching the tribute videos and personal messages of the hosts from the noontime show he was previously part of, Eat Bulaga, I could not help but get teary-eyed. I am not his fan as an artist but I honestly admire him as a person. I could tell from the personal accounts from the important people closest to him that he is a passionate man. When I heard that he didn't complain about the pain, not even to his own wife, I came to admire him.

Eternal rest, grant to him, O Lord.

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While I was checking updates on my Multiply network, a certain phrase from one of my contacts' blog entries caught my attention . The phrase "Chairperson: Lorenzo Guinto" surprised me since I was really expecting Kuya Joey to win. Little did I know that the whole blog entry authored by Kuya Robert Go [Dad], former USC Chairperson, was even more surprising. Out of the seven slots for USC Councilor, only one from the ASAP Katipunan party was able to make the cut. This implies that the six remaining slots would be occupied by six hopefuls from BIGKIS UPM. I honestly thought that there would be some sort of "balance" between the two parties with regards to the election of USC Councilors. On the other hand, Macky Mendiola, or popularly known as "[The] Big Mac", won the Vice Chairperson title. So basically, all of the BIGKIS UPM candidates won. Whoa. I guess they really are that popular...or maybe the militancy manifested by the whole activist alliance in UPM is not very effective anymore.

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My throat hurts. I have a strong feeling that I have tonsillitis. I haven't been drinking water immediately after indulging with sweets. I'm not entirely worried about having tonsillitis but I do fret of losing my voice in the coming days. For the past three years, every time I acquire tonsillitis, tendencies are I lose my voice, which elicits a hoarse sound whenever I try to speak.

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Last Monday (or was it Friday?), my mother bought pirated DVD copies of the list of movies I recommended my parents to watch. All of these movies were nominees for the Oscars except one feel-good sentimental movie. She purchased Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Marley And Me. Along with these movies, Mom also bought a pirated DVD set of Family Guy, comprising seasons from one to five. I initially requested for the third season since my brother and I have seasons one, two, four and five. However, Mom wasn't able to find a DVD of the third season so she bought a season one to five set.

I still haven't watched any of the movies I recommended and in the Family Guy DVD set, I was only able to watch two episodes from season three. I have a lot of things to accomplish first.

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The sleep bug has gotten to me already. I have to sign out now. Hooray for this day! :)
 

1. I went to PLM with Tessa, Lando and Rich (along with two other Behavioral Science majors and four UP Diliman contenders) to compete in the Math Wizard contest. Neither of us five UPM contenders were able to get through the elimination round. However, we were all beyond happy upon hearing from Sir Ji that we'll be receiving an additional 10% to our future raw scores in the next Mathematics 11 departmental exam. [Saturday - February 28]
2. My cousins from Ilo-Ilo arrived last Wednesday. While I was on the competition, my grandparents, my other cousins, my aunts and uncles, and my parents went to the Ocean Park. I wasn't able to follow them there so I ended up dining with them in Aristocrat. [Saturday - February 28]
3. All of my younger male cousins in my father's side were complete yesterday (except for the youngest one in California). They formed two teams and played street basketball. My father's brothers were complete that time too; the only ones that were missing are his two younger sisters. We had a lot to eat yesterday---in fact, there were three cakes last night. [Saturday - February 28]
4. Karla, Rich and I had to go to Gloria Jean's in Robinson's Manila to access the Internet. Unfortunately, Rich's wireless connection in her laptop was not configured yet. Despite that, we learned how to add credits, narrations and overlays in Windows Movie Maker. I think I spent 320 PHP that time because of the Mint Chocolate Bomb and the big chocolate chip cookie I purchased. [Tuesday - February 24]
5. I learned how to play the Who Has the Biggest Brain? in Facebook. As of now, I have earned a "Cyborg Brain" and is the second top player on the list. The game has four sections, two games featured in each. Conversely, for every time you play the game, only one of the two featured games can be accessed. The flash game tests your analysis, calculation skills, memory and visual processing ability. [Sunday - March 1]
6. I was able to pass my Communication Skills II body draft to Ma'am Miciano two days earlier than the deadline. [Tuesday - February 24]
7. We did Pilates in PE1 last Friday. It was fun but I experienced abdominal pains a day later. [Friday - February 27]

• Communication Skills II
  
  • Introduction Draft
  • Conclusion Draft
  • Notes
  • Reference List
  • Concept Paper
• Psychology 101
  
  • Third Long Exam
  • Dream Diary
• Political Science 11
  
  • "The Presidency" - exam
  • Concept Paper
• Natural Science 5
  
  • Third Long Exam (Environmental Laws, Philippine Agenda 21, Sustainable Development)
  • "Energy Conservation" report
• Philosophy 1
  
  • Third Long Exam (Logic)
• Mathematics 11
  
  • Departmental Exam (Radicals, Quadratic Equation)
• Fundamentals of Physical Fitness
  
  • Wall Climbing
  • Fun Run
  • Written Exam
• National Graduate Office for Health Sciences (S.A.)
  
  • GWA computation for new enrollees
  • Honorarium for December
  • Computation of honorarium for February

• The adolescent is newly concerned with how they appear to others.
• Ego identity is the accrued confidence that the inner sameness and continuity prepared in the past are matched by the sameness and continuity of one's meaning for others, as evidenced in the promise of a career.
• The inability to settle on a school or occupational identity is disturbing.

1. I am still disappointed with the fact that Michael Castro didn't make it through American Idol Season 8's Top 36. *Sigh* Bring him back! I'm also sad that Danny Gokey's best friend, Jamar, whom I think is more talented than some guys who got through, did not make it through as well. WTH. *Sigh*
2. However, I have high hopes for Nick/Norman, Anoop Desai, Anne Marie Boskovich, Casey Carlson and Danny Gokey.
3. Last Wednesday, during my weekly break, I watched all the twelve episodes of Paradise Kiss. It was often advertised in Animax before but I didn't pay much attention to it. But after some random Anime-searching, I gave it a try two years later. I was hooked! I liked the ending, contrary to those George/Yukari shippers. Don't get me wrong, I like them as a couple but realistic events appeal to me.
4. Subsequently, because of watching Paradise Kiss, I got hooked with its closing song, Do You Want To? by Franz Ferdinand. Franz Ferdinand, by the way, is not a single artist, it's a British band. The song currently playing is the one I'm pertaining to.
5. I'm starting to feel a lot of pressure. I want higher grades so that I could satisfy my personal competitive demands. I hate that I can't help but slack off. Aww.
6. I've been eating at McDonald's every morning. I think my constant fervor for fastfood meals are taking its toll on me. Oh no!
7. Good Times with Mo, Mojo and Grace Lee is getting more and more interesting.
8. I'm currently idolizing Grace Lee.
9. I want checkered blouses.
10. I want to finish my body draft for Comm II! I WANT IT DONE, NOW. I'm such an obsessive-compulsive writer. Grabe talaga. Naiinis ako kapag hindi ko natatapos yung mga drafts ko earlier than usual. OC talaga.

Learning how to operate the photocopying machine is...well, an accomplishment. I have loads of photocopied handouts but the irony is, I don't know how these papers actually "came to life". I'm assigned to photocopy a two-page document into multiple copies, 170 for the first page and 50 for the second. Sweet. Haha! But here's the twist. The machine is actually slated for repair since it has some parts of it that do not function. Funny thing is, the malfunctioning part is the one where you can assign the number of copies! This means I'd have to manually press the "Start" button 220 (170 + 50) times! Ang kulit, 'no? But anyway, I'm getting the hang of it. Pushing buttons are fun...I think.

*

We just had our Philo I exam a few hours ago. It was supposed to be easy but I'm too careless with my answers. Tsk. Actually, I am confident with my grade in that exam since I recently told myself that I should be competitive sometimes. Imposing a challenge on myself would definitely bring the best out of me. I should procrastinate less. The only distractions which hinder me from being productive are the Internet and...eating? Lol.

*

(Note to self: I'm hungry.)

*
 

4:50 PM

My photocopying progress? So far, I've photocopied 46 pages out of 220. Wish me luck. It's the first time this month that I showed up for work during four in the afternoon. Ten minutes from now, I should be leaving. I have to study in advance and eat some snack.

Though this is a brief post, I still believe that it's meaningful, in a sense that I reached an unexpected "milestone" in this afternoon. Lol.