Thursday, November 30, 2006

Of Best Friends And Quotes

When we have the time my best and I have interesting conversations... it's not that we are talking about anything life altering but they are rather interesting. The words are pretty disturbing, sarcastic and funny... our own brand of humor I guess...

I haven't chatted with her in awhile because we have both been busy with our world. She has her busy life in Australia and I have my own chaos here in the Philippines. And tonight we finally had the chance to catch up after weeks of no contact.

Our conversation inadvertently switched into talking about the male species. We were talking about how guys never know what they got. And when we were about to say goodbye she was wishing me luck on some personal issue where I just replied by saying: "That's life I guess..."

The funniest line came from her: "Hindi life yun… stupidity." She went on saying how the possible was already there and they just keep on hoping for the impossible. I can't specifically say what we were talking about but it had to do with the opposite sex. It had to do with oppurtunities, possibilities, circumstances and the whole kazaam... seriously funny stuff.

In connection with the conversation about the other gender I just have to post these quotations I got off some Xanga.com sites...

--I need a boy to give me a good hug and say, "I'm sorry my gender sucks." (I LOVE THIS ONE)
--You never really stop loving someone you just learn to live without them.
--If he's the first person you look for when you walk into a room, he might just be a little more than a friend.
--My dream is to hear rocks hitting the window and see you standing in the rain.
--To continue loving somebody even though there's no chance of that love ever thriving... that's romance.
--When he's nearby my entire body knows it.
--Don't you just hate it when your falling for that one boy and you keep telling yourself to stop before you get hurt but your heart won't let you?
--Oh... the things I'll do for a boy who won't do anything for me.
--Boy: I love you
Girl: Where did that come from?
Boy: My heart... (AWWW)
--Every girl, no matter how strong she is, wants someone to save her.
--There's a someone out there for everyone, except this is the world's biggest game of hide and seek, and you bet that he found the best hiding spot he could find. And he's waiting for you to find him, or better yet, maybe he'll get tired of waiting and come find you.
--You hit me with the truth but I think a bus would have hurt less.
--But young love is adorable, the kind where a boy will do anything to sit next to that girl he's had his eye on since the first day he met her.
--Just once in my life I want someone else to kiss first. I want someone else to lie awake and wonder what the right words are, if they'll be rejected, if they're ruining a great friendship. I want him to want me so much that he can't help himself, that he's willing to risk everything for a chance to be with me. (HERE! HERE! HAHA)
--Nice guys became extinct along with all the dinosaurs. (A lot of guys would probably argue with me on this one)
--Unless it's mad, passionate, extraordinary love, it's a waste of your time. There are too many mediocre things in life, and LOVE shouldn't be one of them. (I totally agree with this one)
--Sometimes I think we fall in love because our HEARTS are beating too loud to hear our minds screaming "Don't do this to yourself."
--It's easy to fall in love... but the hard part is to find someone who'll catch you.
--Cinderella walked on broken glass. Sleeping beauty let a whole lifetime pass. Belle fell in love with a hideous beast. Pocahontas risked her life for a feast. Jasmine could have had anyone instead she chose a poor man. Ariel walked on land all for love and for life. It was all about blood, sweat & tears... I guess loves all about facing your biggest fears.
--I wonder when I pass by does his stomach do a flip? Does he get nervous? Does he ignore his friends, just to look at me? Does he wait to see my smile? Does he get sweaty palms? Does he think to himself ... "Oh gosh here she comes?"
--Love is when you walk all the way to the other side of the classroom to sharpen your pencil in order to walk by him, then realizing that your pencil is a mechanical one. (CUTE!)

For The Lack Of A Better Title PART 2

I changed my layout to fit the whole Christmas season. But you could also say that my other layout had problems. I like this one though. It's a bit festive and sad at the same time. My usual Christmas sentiment I guess. I'm up for the holidays as much as the next person but I have my own reasons as to why I feel sad during this season. I wrote in an attempt to continue telling my story on the whole leadership training thing. I probably should begin with that.

After dinner, we headed for the hall where we held our training because we wanted to meet with the youth of LAKAS who met every Friday night to talk about what they did in school. There was this one girl who said that she was disappointed because she got 14 out of 15 in a Math quiz. We Thomasians were dumb founded by her statement. That girl was one hell of an over achiever.

That first night when we returned to our host families I was pretty tired. I did not sleep on the bus that morning and it was a pretty draining ride. I felt guilty because when Zel and I returned on the second night I was also drained. I just slept and I only got to talk to Nanay Isang when we first got to the house to settle in and in the mornings before we headed back to the library.

I headed straight for the bed when we returned. Zel was asking me about my Journalism classes and college life in general (since we’re both taking up the course but I’m a year older) and about other random stuff. I can’t really remember. I do recall that I was in bed by 10:30. I dozed off as she was writing in her notebook.

I woke up from my sleep when I heard Zel's voice. She was outside talking to Tatay Toto and one of his sons. I did not have the energy to get out of bed though. I felt like I was glued on the bed. My eyes felt so heavy like hooks were attached to them just to keep them shut. She told me the next morning that they talked until 12:30 about politics and a lot of other stuff.

But I really didn’t sleep too well. I kept waking up every two hours because namamahay yung katawan ko. It was a whole new place and I needed to get used to it. We set our alarm at 5 in the morning because we were instructed to fetch our own water from the poso so that we wouldn't disrupt the family's routine. We did wake up at 5 but we got up at 5:30. Zel and I are both not morning people. But it was harder for her to get out of bed than me.

When were ready to get water we saw that there were already two pales of water near the bathroom so we got water after we both took a bath. That morning was the first time I got water out of a poso. Call me whatever but it was an awesome experience. A little daunting because a few of the locals were watching us.

After breakfast, we had out first session with the elders and instructors of the leadership training. I remember that we were focusing on ourselves in the first part. The first thing we were asked to do was to get anything around us that we felt represented ourselves. I got a pebble, there were rocks, leaves, grass roots, a bamboo stalk, a plant and even a cell phone (courtesy of our beloved Allan). It was the beginning of us getting to know each other's thoughts and ideas.

I remember that morning we were also told about the Johari window in their own version where the upper left part of the heart was bukas (open), the upper right was sarado (closed), the lower left was bulag (blind) and the lower right was sorpresa (surprise). Our weaknesses were exposed in that activity.

Our instructors had a lot of “ice breakers” as they called them. There were the different types of clap and a bunch of songs. It helped loosen us up in between topics. That morning Ka Puroy (Sir Froilan Alipao) arrived and so did Ate Cords, Ate Renee, Ate Sharon and Kuya Joyeth (the students who couldn’t leave with us that Friday morning). They were the ones who had to introduce themselves that morning.

I’m going to continue this in another entry because I don’t want to jam everything in one entry. I am also trying to recall what happened that morning. Until the third part!

Saturday, November 25, 2006

For The Lack Of A Better Title

I am not able to think of an appropriate title for a life altering event and so I decided to leave it alone... the story and lessons are much more important anyway.

Last weekend from Nov. 17-19, 2006, I attended a Leadership Training Adventure in Lubos na Alyansa ng mga Katutubong Ayta ng Sambales (LAKAS) Bihawo, Mambog, Botolan, Zambales sponsored by the Arts & Letters Student Council for the class presidents of the faculty. I was very apprehensive to join this seminar because I did not know that much people in the faculty except for my blockmates and a few other people outside my class. We were encouraged to join but we had the option to say no if our parents won't allow us.

I could have said no and to be completely honest I wanted to. I wanted to because I was scared. I've always had excuses to avoid getting into unfamiliar situations. I have let a lot of oppurtunities pass in my short life time. Although I can't really say that I regret making those decisions because as the saying goes: "There's no use crying over spilt milk." I wanted those decisions I made in the past. I know that I have to take responsibility of them.

This time I could not find any valid excuse to let myself off the hook. And I did not feel like I really wanted to get out of this. There was this big part of me that was so afraid of what I was getting into but I heard this little voice in my head say that I needed this. I heard that voice tell me that I should stop running away from life. Sir Emer's words these week on experience and how it is something personal could not be that far from what the little voice's sentiment was.

So I mustered up all the courage I could and reassured myself that everything was going to be okay. When Friday morning came there were only a few of us who arrived before the call time. I remember seeing Allan, Tiff, Char and Sir Robert Ampil arrive. And when Sir Lino Baron arrived at Plaza Mayor in front of UST's Main Building, he was mad at how there were only about six people in the meeting place. We actually left UST at around 7 'o clock.

It was a pretty quiet ride on the way to Bacolor, Pampanga (we had a side trip to San Guilliermo Church) because we didn't know each other. There were about 21 of us on the bus so you could imagine how spacious it was. Kuya Milfen was even joking about how we could play hide and seek on the bus.

Most of the students who came were from the first year classes. There was Allan from Economics, Brigette and Anna from Political Science, Tiff and Char from Asian Studies, Tei, Cheenee and Zel from Journalism, RJ from Philosophy and Nica from Behavioral Science. There were only two of us from the second year classes. JP from Sociology and me from Journalism. Then the third year classes were represented by Kuya Roel from Sociology, Kuya JC, Aaron and Itchan from AB-BSE. The only fourth year people on the bus with us were Ate Jang from AB-BSE and Kuya Milfen from Legal Management. Then the other fourth year students Ate Cords from Journalism, Ate Renee, Sharon and Kuya Joyeth from Sociology arrived on Saturday. Sir Ampil and Sir Froilan / Ka Puroy were the professors who accompanied us while Sir Baron just wanted to see the place.

People were starting to loosen up once we got to Bacolor. Although you could still feel the apprehension of trying to talk to someone you don't know. We were a bit more relaxed when we stopped at the market area in Botolan proper. We had lunch there because we got to Zambales at around 11:30. We were already getting to know each other by this point and I was already loosening up a bit. By the time we got to Lakas, we were already laughing about random stuff. The light atmosphere I must attribute to Allan who has a great sense of humor. The lunch and long ride helped me feel a bit more secure around them.

We arrived at this community of indigenous people who lived in houses partly made of cement and bahay kubo materials. It was a very homey and unpretentious place. The children were already out looking at us eagerly. It took us a long time to park in the community because the bus driver had a hard time turning at this one corner and when we finally got settled we were greeted by their chairman or head Tatay Carling. He was this pudgy man who was very warm pleasant and jolly. He gave us a tour of the facilities we were going to use. Sir Lino even got a chance to know what pieces of equipment the community needed which could be donated by the faculty.

The tension was gone by the time we were oriented and introduced to one another. We were told that we were going to live with host families who would be taking us in as their children. We drew lots and there would be two of us per family and I, along with Zel, lived with Tatay Toto and his family. He had ten children and we only got to meet him on Saturday because he was out that Friday. Tatay Toto was a very jolly man who enjoyed making jokes. Nanay Isang, the quiet and sweet mother, was the one who let us into their home which was very comfortable and homey like all the houses there. What we pretty much did at their homes were rest and when we had the time chat with the families. We spent our time in this place they called the library because it contained their books and other facilities. This was where we ate our meals and in those few days, this was where we students bonded.

The first night was a rest night for us because the elders wanted to wait for the other students and they wanted to give us a chance to rest. This was the time when we truly began to get to know each other. We were talking about our professors and our experiences in the college. We were slowly becoming friends by this time. We spent the night laughing and talking in that library area before we headed home to our respective host families.

I will continue this story in my next entry because I don't want to overwhelm you guys with details. I'm just narrating what happened to us. I will talk about my thoughts and the lessons I learned in that next entry. I'll be going now... wait for the second part!

Friday, November 24, 2006

Binding

I'm in the process of filling my Multiply account with stuff. I just got one and I'm going to advertise it here because I am cross posting with Multiply blog. Whatever I write here would show up in my account. I now have a place to put pictures and write my reviews and stuff. I won't let go of this account because I have too much history with this site. I'm still writing this entry in my Blogger acount and not in the Multiply one. I'm old fashion in that sense. I can't let things go. I just wanted to give another update because I have been relatively busy this week and I might talk about the Zambales trip in my next entry (especially for those people who wanted to hear about it).

Here's my Multiply account, check it out when you can and add me as a contact if you want to:

http://twistedhalo04.multiply.com

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Just Checking In

I'll be heading off on Friday for a little adventure... I'll be part of a Leadership Training Seminar in Zambales courtesy of the ABSC (Arts & Letters Student Council). I do not know what to expect but I'm hoping for the best. We will be immersed in an established Aeta community in Botolan, Zambales. This is something very new to me so I'm just waiting to see what's going to happen to me.

I can't say that I've gotten into the groove of studying yet. I'm still unbelievably lazy. There aren't any extraordinary stories that I can tell at the moment. You could say that there is still a lull between my current activities that involve two things: home and school. Although there was this great basketball this afternoon. The AB Men's team won against the Engineering team! I extend my congratulations to the players, even if I don't know any of them personally... : )

I just wanted to give a little update. I'm a whole lot better since the last time I wrote in. I want to thank the people who were comforting me here. I needed that. I have to go now though. I still have to wash the dishes. I'll most likely have an update next week after my weekend trip. Bye!

Friday, November 10, 2006

Trying To "Hang In There"

I'm a smorgasbord of sentiments at the moment and I need to face them right here because if I don't I might lose my mind... now where should I start?

Well, I saw a friend today who was leaving for the States in the very near future. I do not know when I'd see him again... it saddens me really. I've never felt this sad when he told the news to me a few weeks ago but seeing him made me realize the gravity of the situation. He's just a big part of my life. We've been through a lot and he has helped me a lot... I'm going to miss him terribly... to be completely and utterly honest with myself. If someone told be a few years back that I'd be friends even good friends with him, I probably would not have believed them. I was so wrong about him and now I have to say goodbye... it's just not fair.

With his leaving another emotion sprung out of me aside from sadness... I felt lost. I should rather say that I feel lost. I still feel like a part of me is missing. I've lost touch with a lot of people I promised myself I never would lose contact with and it saddens me. That's why I feel lost... a part of me has gone missing with them and I feel so alone right now...

I just want to say thank you to SARAH who left a message on my tagboard that said "HANG IN THERE". That is something I needed to hear at the moment. I feel like I'm not being the person I want to become and I can't seem to find anyone to talk to... I just don't have the heart to intrude into other people's lives. I feel like I'm always trying to fit into everyone else's lives and it's starting to take a toll on me...

I'm losing people left and right while I can't seem to find anyone who is willing to stay and for once listen to me. This is probably a result of keeping everyone at an arm's length... no one is willingly staying behind. Probably a result of my never asking them to as well. And to sum it all up: I'm just a lonely person with no one to talk to.

Sarah's right though... I'm just going to keep fighting, try living and continue being who I am... I'm going to try my best to be a good daughter, sister, friend and student... mostly I feel that I should be a better person for myself. I know I deserve better... surrender is not an option in this situation.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Testing My Limits

Today was the first day of my second semester. I wasn't really in the mood when I got up this morning. All I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and sleep. Of course I did not do that and even if I wanted to I probably wouldn't have because I can't run away from my life. I'm a college student and at this moment that is my life.

It was a pretty good day though. Got to see my friends again and since I only met the first batch of our professors I have to say that we have an interesting bunch. My classes this semester include: Theology (Social Catholic something, I forgot), English (Public Speaking, not to keen about that one but as I was thinking this morning I guess this is the time to test my limits... I just have to see what I can do), Math (Statistics, interesting... let's see if I can handle this class... although I am wondering how much harder this is than my last Stat class), Philippine History (I'm being taught by the chair of the Student Welfare Development Board in the Office of Student Affairs which means that she handles all the organizations inside the university AND she's married to my Stat prof... you read that right... they are married which we think is actually a cute thing!).

I have four more professors to meet tomorrow... let's see what they bring to the table. I'm a little excited to do some work... I'm all about testing my limits at the moment. I would try to take every challenge that I could handle let's see where that takes me. This might be an even more interesting semester than the last one...

I'm going now. I know I promised I won't play The Sims on weekdays but since we don't have anything for tomorrow yet I am playing to my hearts content tonight. I know that I over indulge myself... whatever. HAHA Bye!

Friday, November 03, 2006

Milk The Cow

I'm milking this vacation for what its worth... that's what I've been up to.

I have been playing The Sims 2 with all the expansion packs lately because that would be lessened to a once a week thing every weekend... when I'm not busy anyway...

Busy... hmmm... I will definitely be busy in this upcoming sem... I have to. I must work harder and that is honestly pretty daunting but let's see what happens.

I'm not online as much because of Sim playing... I'm milking the cow for what its worth... in this case anyway, I am being a complete and utter sloth... can't seem to motivate myself to be anything else. I will probably be in overdrive next week. See I can't even come up with a decent entry right now. This entry is waste of time... just an update for everyone... I guess...