Moving Forward!

Yes, I am alive!

I can't say "I'm back" though, for one main reason: there is no assurance that I am indeed back on the blogging, and if this time it is for real. The past three months were a whirlwind of learning and adjusting to new people, places, things... New life, perhaps?

What I can say is that my blogging would still be intermittent bordering on nil-nada-zilch. Aside from the fact that I rarely use a computer outside the office now, when I do, I always end up choosing to do other things. I love writing, especially if it's recording my daily life experiences, musings, and whatnot, but sometimes I find comfort in just keeping things reserved. At some point, I felt like I was on the verge of winning the Queen of Overshare crown. As much as it sounds like it's a royal award, I don't think I would like that.

Anyway, this will probably be the last of my journal entries...

For the year! Haha! I don't think I can ever let go of this blog. I've deleted a ton of things that contained years of memories; all those posts prior to the first entry of the rebirth of this blog, and I'm not about to put this all to waste. I will keep this like it's treasure.

I probably won't be writing as frequently as I did when I was in school; back when I had time to write endlessly because I always put off doing my homework. Haha! And I probably won't be writing as much about the details of my life, just because. I never really worried about security or stalkers or whatever; I always believed that I was responsible for everything I published and I still hold that idea that everything that goes on here will be accountable to me. It's just that life gets pretty mundane one moment and super exciting the next. I guess if I write about everything from both ends and everything else in between, I would run out of things to say, and I wouldn't want that. Or if I keep having words to say, which is mostly the case, I would become less interested in what life has for me.

I want to keep this blog for... I dunno. I don't wanna have a purpose for this anymore. Maybe this creature of habit finally found her kryptonite at breaking the writing habit, I don't know. It would be sad but rest assured that I will be coming back. To write about a new career opportunity, to write about family, to write about life and love, to write about the random things I always do, to write about what what drives me to go through day to day...

That said, I will be moving forward, with myself, with work, with family, with love... With life. I am now keeping a journal (yes, the old school one!) and so far have been unsuccessful at making the quota of writing one entry a day! Haha. Quantity doesn't deem to important nowadays when all that matters is that I write with the heart and the mind in the same direction.

Thank you, 2011. You have been an amazing, amazing, amazing year. No words for the greatness you have brought into my life. Welcome, 2012. I have high hopes with you!

And to you, my friend, here's to yet another year gone by and to another year to make hella awesome memories again! Cheers!

Quarter Life Musings

I wrote this earlier this afternoon while I was in the office, idling away into a void. There are days like such at work. Oh, but that's a day in my life lately. The amount of work spikes and dips like crazy, which solely depends on the demands of my boss. Not that he demands in-a-bad-way-demands for things to be done, he's a nice boss! *buyaaag, knocks on wood*

Anyway, it's the eve of my 21st birthday, and for the first time in weeks, I shall post an entry in my seemingly neglected cyberspace of a blog.

It's the eve of my 21st birthday and for the first time in weeks, I have decided to write down all my musings that have been on my mind for a couple of months now.

It has been just a little over a month when I defended my thesis; yes, my thesis that has plagued this blog for almost a year! Before my thesis term happened, I vowed to focus, focus, and focus! Having no more than three academic units that term when thesis started, I certainly had no other responsibilities, save for my beloved Green Media Group (GMG). Since then, I seem to have lost connection to the outside world. It's not like I lost my social life totally (because I admit I lost half of it) or that I suddenly decided to become a hermit or hide under a rock; it's more like living life entirely and solely for the completion of thesis. For seemingly endless months, thesis had been my life.

I won't delve on thesis any more since, like I said, this blog is full of it. If you track back until around say, September 2010 in Retrospective Perspective (archives), and you'll find the answers to all your questions. Haha!

Anyway, that part of my life is over and done, but the heartache lives on, insiiiide. TOTALLY KIDDING. (If you're someone I really get along with, admit it, you sang that part. Haha.) Seriously, now that it's over and done, I have been thinking about a lot of things: from the past, all those mistakes and learning from them; the present, how thankful or spiteful I have become toward a lot of things; and the future, what lies ahead as I linger in this uncertain present.

This isn't exactly "quarter life crisis" like what a few of my peers say that they're currently experiencing or recently have undergone. For one, I see no crisis in my situation; and two, let me save us the argument by saying that the average lifespan of a human being is about 80 years old, so I can definitely say that at 20, this is quarter life. Haha!

I have done way too many things in only two decades. Presenting, my life summary so far.

For the earlier part of my life, I may have only acted according to somebody else's will (say, my parents) because they say it's what's right or it's for the best. Also during my childhood, I probably just thought, acted, and spoke the way that society and culture expected me to. Looking back on that part of my childhood, I have no regrets. I was just a kid after all. I can even say that I have had a great childhood. You know, nothing tragic like homes catching fire or serious illnesses; nothing extraordinary like winning the lottery as well. I couldn't have asked for anything more when I was born into a loving home with a dad and mom who love each other unwaveringly to create a nurturing environment, and a brother who I share a love-hate relationship with; you know how siblings are.

When I finally learned to think, act, and speak out of my own volition, I also began to realize how complex the seemingly simple things have become. Maybe they were complicated to start with and I was just too young to realize it; or that they have always been pretty easy and I have grown to be the eccentric over-thinking being that I am. Either way, I have no regrets. I have done stupid things that cost me and some others their valuable time, effort, and energy; something I'm not very proud of, but we all have those skeletons in our closets, don't we? Yet I make sure to never let it surface. I have become a beacon of negativity during a short phase of my adolescent life. That's one thing I would prefer to be erased from my memory, but that would mean I won't learn from it.

I can proudly say that I am not that person anymore. Well, at least when it came to perspectives about life in general. Dad constantly reminds my brother and I about, beyond physics, how the law of attraction (The Secret by Rhonda Byrne) will keep us motivated about anything we set our minds to; and mom makes sure we don't just hear dad's words of wisdom but actually listen to it and live it.

The new chapter of my life when I started studying at the university back in 2007 was a turning point for most of what and how I am now. College changed me from that wallflower back in high school. 2008 didn't make much positive difference, though, making a big leap from awesome to plain ohmygod-why-is-this- happening. Gladly, 2009 was the year of recovery and recuperation, the year of steady! Come 2010, my college batch mates started graduating and gettin jobs, while I, completing my course curriculum requirements stayed at university and making good use of my spare time being immersed and trying to be useful to GMG. Thesis was set to commence that year as well. The rest is history, let's leave it at that. Haha, you know it when you know about it and my lips stay sealed; I'd love to give my emotions a break! Haha.

As for 2011... Brace yourself for the cliche. It is a rollercoaster ride.

Inexplicable level of stress. Too much unnecessary drama. Bewildering spontaneity. That and everything else! I'd be exaggerating but it's safe to say that everything that can happen to me to make my life interesting has probably happened already.

And most recently, my forthcoming graduation from the university, finally. October 15, 2011, mark it.

Highest of highs and lowest of lows, thirteen terms of going to and from both ends of the emotional spectrum is the best four years and three months of my life. For everything, regardless of anything, I am and will forever be grateful! Thank you, Lord.

Today, I say good bye and thank you for the irreplace much more and memorable twenty years! And cheers to you for being a proactive part of my life. Cheers to creating a lot more of those in the years to come!

See you around in this voyage to greatness!

Emotions On Overdrive

You know when a girl has this time of the month that the red flag is raised? Based on observation, hearsay, and experience, that's when the girl becomes too emotional and sensitive over the smallest things. Well, my hormones must be running wild! See, I recently finished that part of the cycle, okay TMI, but I can't get any more ridiculous today!

I stayed home all day, partly because I had no business in school or elsewhere. I was drained from yesterday, too. But for the most part, I was (still am) scared to bits about the recent bus bombing incident at Ayala Ave. So I stayed in my pajamas, had n bowls of cereals, and watched newly downloaded movies.

Emotions On Overdrive (EOO) Symptom # 1:

I laughed too much while watching Easy A. Well, props, if it really was that funny. I loved it! Also, I got too excited about Olive's wit and the whole wordplay thing going on. I felt so down for her when things got really messed up. Like, come on, Cee. What up?

EOO Symptom # 2:

I cried over a random scene in Across the Universe when the movie barely started laying out its plot. I thought I recovered well when I began to sing with the cast to the tunes of The Beatles. No, bad recovery, even. I bawled my eyes out some more during Jude and Lucy's forcied means of separation.

While enjoying my movie-watching, Mom alerts me about an incident in one of the residential condominiums currently under construction at Paseo de Roxas. Construction workers were killed from a gondola fall of almost 30 floors.

EOO Symptom # 3:

Add to the fact that the recent incident was spine-tingling, I can't believe I got goosebumps all over my body. I can't help but be all jumpy and jittery at the smallest things. Makati City has been the hot spot for bad news lately.

Last year's season of American Idol bored me. After the new set of judges for American Idol 10, though, I got myself quite hooked again. Plus, I expected that talents were running low, so I felt rejuvenated to see that this year, a lot of hopefuls can still bring it! Take Chris Medina from the Wisconsin auditions.

EOO Symptom # 4:

Come on. It's not only his tragic story, which I think will be bashed by haters very soon; say a couple of hours. He sang the most beautiful of all songs in my life's soundtrack. He sang it really well with his own twist. I'm the The Script was proud of him. And how can I not shed a tear when he said, "What kind of guy would I be if I walked out when she needed me the most?" I hope men in all forms and walks of life were listening.

My eyes are too puffy now.

Going Zombie

I get the weirdest dreams lately, ones that don't make an inkling of sense or reason. I wake up early only for thesis, and if not, I find that it's only early enough to sleep again. And when I do need to sleep, I can't seem to have my eyes shut and mind relaxed. Sure, maybe all I need is to reset my broken body clock. I've been working on it.

Meryl and I revised our script for thesis for five hours at the Yuchengco lobby. My body hurts; back, neck, and butt. Even my jaw aches sometimes. Am I deteriorating? Anyway, I almost lost my phone today. I was in a rush while I packed up my laptop and charger that I forgot to place it in my bag or even my jeans pocket. Sigh. I almost died panicking for two minutes. It lasted that fast because of the kindness (quite expected, so luck perhaps would be apt?) of the friendliest Diar's maintenance lady I know in all of La Salle. Like, I make small talk with her sometimes, but mostly, I flash a big smile and wave at her. Hehe. She's super nice. I thanked her so much I thought she'd get irritated. Hahaha. Sorry, phone is life these days. Anyway, I hope I don't get a disciplinary offense for "losing" a property or valuable, no matter how minor it is. *SIGH*

Makati, after yesterday's bus bombing at Buendia-EDSA, does not look safe to me anymore; neither business nor residential district. Manila never looked safe to me, ever. Haha, okay, you get the point. Some riding-in-tandem snatching happened again earlier. *SHUDDER* What is happening to Metro Manila? To the Philippines? It's not safe anywhere anymore!

Okay, last leg of word vomiting... Look at this!!! :)

ADORABLE, RIGHT? Aaaaacccckkkk!!! My friend inboxed me the link in Facebook because she said the piglet reminded her of me. O_O Thanks a lot, huh. I don't mind, the little piggy's cute anyway. Haha. Photo from Flickr user: Brittney (whisker snaps photo)

The photo made my day, really. I have a new desktop wallpaper, if the owner won't mind. Hehe.

Randumb Musings

I realized that I will soon be enrolling online, and I will finally have to click the "YES" radio button when asked: "Are you graduating?" Or was it? Basta, to that effect. I'm so giddy. I pray that all goes well with thesis, this and next term.

Speaking of thesis, I currently have five books from the university library. And note that last Wednesday was my first time to check out a book. What is I've-been-a-passive-library-person all my life in college until now?

I love it that my R&B-, Rap- and Urban-loving 16 year-old brother loves the song Little Person by Jon Brion. Cute, yes? :) He even asked how I got it. Thanks, Meryl! Hihi.

I want to thank Meryl in advance for posting our treatment shoot behind-the-scene photos from last Friday. I hate, hate, hate that my Bluetooth still isn't working. Aghh. In line with the first part of this entry, Macbook Pro for graduation, please, daddy? Haha! I hope you didn't get tired of visiting my blog, dad.

I'm almost always hungry even though I eat at designated meal times. That fact makes me sad. I do my best to exercise, as in run laps at the university Sports Complex's Olympic-sized oval, but I don't seem to make any progress. And I'm sad that I won't be able to run tomorrow! Huhu, my friend Arlene and I sorta made it a Tuesday-Thursday ritual, and now we'll have to break that streak! Hmpf.

I need to get my priorities straight. I have pending errands/responsibilities and it's been sitting on my to-do list for forever. Dentist appointment, almost a year. Contact boxing gym, one month. Inquire at nearest driving school, two months. Meeting minutes, one term. Revamp and do general cleaning on my room, one year. Get on with it, Cee. Please!

Another Round, Anyone?

October

was

ridiculously

awesome.

I

sure

hope

November

can

top

that!

Enough said.

Musings And More Musings

My legs are still sore from yesterday. It was such a long day! I went to: a meeting, a digital film screening, a lunch date and bonding with my guy best friend, an orientation for our office's sports fest, a celebratory bonding escapade with a few GMG, a theater decorum video shoot, a dinner date with an old friend and my other guy best friend, a meet up with a few course mates. There was so much walking around involved. I was dead tired when I got home.

And today, I wasn't able to sleep in like I usually do on weekends. I had to go wherever my family planned to go because they said so. Agghh. Dad had leather car seat covers customized, brother bought new shoes again. As form Mom, she wasn't much of a spender today, as well as I. Maybe we have other plans for tomorrow. Haha.

In line with yesterday and today's events, I muse:

• I missed Bru a whole damn lot. I got to see him for a couple of hours or so yesterday and of course, it was super bitin! More soon, I hope.
• Give me one day with the right set of people and I could rapidly kill a body organ.
• We never seek for anything that's already there because obviously, it's just simply there. But we never stop seeking for anything because maybe that's how we were made to function. How else is the act of seeking significant if we get satisfied with what's here and now? (I think I lost my train of thought after the first sentence of this soup-y bullet.)
• Over dinner, AJ, Laine, and I had a meaningful topic for conversation: How do you know that you really, really, really like somebody? Like, how can you gauge? Isn't it solely subjective? We all had different takes on the issue and we never found a conclusion to it. Maybe it shall be an open question forever. Or at least until we're sure about it anyway. Hmm, food for thought.
• My friend Tracy asked me last night how I was, after not being able to see each other regularly since she and almost everyone else already graduated: "Kamusta ka?" And I, "Uhm, okay lang. Just school-bahay. Haha! You?" She said, "Wala, steady. Uhm, work. So, love life?" And I, "Huh! Wala, boring nga eh!" And Tracy goes, "Kahit crush?" Me, "Eh... Wala talaga. I mean, like, meron pero walang balak. Walang plano." Then AJ chimed in, "Walang pag-asa?" And I go, "Yes! Exactly!" And Tracy wins the conversation with, "Ang meron lang tayo ay wala!" Actually, I just wanted to say how I think she's so right on so many aspects.

Give and Take

You know how life turns out to be a shiz-hole for a time that it feels like eternity and you can no longer find reason to be utterly happy? That's how I've been for the past week. Or weeks? With the org responsibilities piling up and the midterms coming up, I have never felt so stressed in my life. Add to that, I found out recently that my favorite uncle has been diagnosed with lung cancer. What is stress, right? I finally found the Achilles' Heel of my dependence on Stresstabs. There can never be too much tabs when there is so much stress. What. Hahaha. K.

Today has been pretty much a give-and-take day.

It started out as me being all grumpy cos I didn't wake up early enough to review for my two quizzes scheduled for the day. Despite the cold shower, hearty breakfast, and running late, my eyelids wouldn't stop drooping! And my mind tells me that my body is too tired that it's numb and that I feel extremely exhausted. (LIFE TAKES!) Like I said, I've never felt so tired in my life. I concude such because I had to stop by 10-Q, a convenience store along Taft, to down 180ml of ionized energy drink so I could stay awake, if not focused. I can't possibly screw up either quizzes. True enough, I didn't feel like dozing off the whole morning! (LIFE GIVES!)

Feeling pretty much alive, I go up to the office and find that it's crowded with so many newly accepted trainees! I planned to review for my next quiz but it didn't happen. Too much people! Well, not that it's a bad thing; we did want to hoard on newbies this term. (LIFE TAKES! LIFE GIVES!)

I headed out to meet Joh and AJ during my lunch break. Joh told me over the weekend that she bought something for me because it reminded her of me. ADORABLE, YES? Mini magnets in the form of my favorite creature on earth!

Look! It's on our fridge door already! Heehee. Oh, and yeah, I had to include that photo of my Lola, brother, and I in the frame. Hee.

I found out that she sat in AJ's Art Appreciation class wherein they made pretty little collages. She probably had nothing to do and there were art materials available. Look what she made for me! This is why Joh makes a perfect girlfriend. Too bad I'm interested in a perfect boyfriend. Haha! But she's an awesome bestfriend, that's for sure.

Snapping back to reality, I took a flabbergasting 100-point exam. (LIFE TAKES.) I head to the office in time to prepare for the highly awaited GMG General Assembly and Newbie Orientation. We hoarded new trainees. I'm not sure if it's a good thing, though, but I hope it will be. I had my apprehensions but as soon as we started, everything flowed as if they have been determined to happen in such way. (LIFE GIVES!)

We were... CROWDED. I'm not sure but I think all there were more than 50 of us crammed in a 45 seating capacity class room. Hahaha.

I forgot the title. Red Rover? Haha. Mimi's game.

Sir Brad giving a pep talk to the Green Media Group.

LIFE GIVES. Life gives a lot. When things turn bland from mundaneness, bitter from stress, and sour from ugly experiences, life gives. I waited and endured patiently, and alas! It all ends sweet after all.

001 to 100: DLSU Centennial Countdown Celebration

SKIP THIS PART. Not important. Proceed to photos. Thanks. Haha.

I had a humongous role and an extremely easy task. What could have gone wrong? Unfortunate circumstances, that's what. The effect of that mishap wasn't a major disaster, I think. But of course, having done productions for quite a time now, I knew that it wasn't excusable. Once the production/show/event has started, there never can be room for mistakes. Enough vagueness, it isn't helping.

Overall, the program was a success. It wasn't an ordinary program; it marked the day that De La Salle University counts down to the University's 100th year. I'm very drained. This entry is ugly; it falsifies my knowledge and competence in the field of writing. I don't normally write this way. La la la.

After the countdown, I was literally a walking zombie. So here are photos:

A photo from last night during the one and only technical run that the entire production had.
*HINT* My simple task with an enormous role: Babysit and guide our La Salle Greenhills representatives, Kevin and Roniel. Photo taken from inside the sacristi of the Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
While the show had been running smoothly since the flash mob dance, Stage Manager, Sir Brad, takes a breather and sits with the Lasallian Youth Orchestra. Congrats, Sir!
Countdown done! Time to party! (Look at all that confetti. I've never seen so much in my entire life!)

© Meryl Algenio 2010

WE ARE ROCK SOLID. I love you, EB loves. ♥ All drained but all smiles, still. (I just noticed how forced my smile is. Eckh. Haha.)

© Andrew Pamorada 2010

We are the Green Media Group. We make things happen.

Cheap Thrills

After almost a week of not updating this blog, I decided to write about how I've been so into playing games lately. One of my best friends, Kay, and I are the two most kids-at-heart among our group of friends, and we agreed that we do play too much sometimes. Roll call of games, yeah? On Facebook: Hotel City, Baking Life, Nightclub City, My Town; elsewhere: The Sims 2, Mall-O-Palooza, HP Games (that came with my laptop), and uh... That's it. Haha.

So anyway, my primary objective (which is what was aforesaid) was steered when I saw the Template Designer here on Blogger! Oh, how I am delighted! From a boring old template of light grays, a slab of burgundy for a banner, and a tinge of oranges and pinks here and there, to this really simple, ergonomic (really? Haha), yet colorful page!
I bonk myself on the head *virtually* a hundred times for not print-screen-ing my old template (just for comparison) before I got click-happy with the very convenient Template Desginer. :(

Either way, I'm really delighted. I had a really tough week in school, so I was really looking forward to this weekend... Of more games, movies, running, family bonding, dining out, and just chilling, maybe? Ack, life's cheap thrills! I feel the awesomeness already! :)

A Day of Sorts

MOST AWESOME FAMILY BONDING WEEKEND YET!

We all woke up at the ungodly hour of 3AM because we headed to Nuvali in Laguna for the Bull Session 3. No, I didn't participate in it (wish I did, though), but Daddy did! And yes, the whole family was there to support. Haha. :)
The Bull Runner, Jaymie Pizarro, giving out instructions on groupings.

If I'm not mistaken, that's The Bull Runner's group doing a 5 minute run, 1 minute walk.
I think 5:27 AM is pretty late starting time for a long run. By long, I mean marathon long. It'll be too hot by the time runners cross the finish line. Then again, that's just my musing.
Mom, brother, and I ran our own route. I disappointed myself with my performance today. My mind, lungs, and legs weren't in harmony. I lack practice! I've been a bum for three weeks now. But can you really blame me for bumming and pigging out after the finals week of my third term for junior year? Haha.
Hi-ho, hi-ho! Laborers on their way to work on a bright Sunday morning. Two more and they'd pass up as the Seven Dwarfs. Heehee.
With these signs, Nuvali seems like a very friendly place. I like it there!

While we were running back to Solenad, we decided to quit so we could take in the scenic surroundings. They may be man-made but it's almost unnatural to not be awed.
So yes, we had to stop for photo-op. Haha! :P
And so after we cleaned up, we fed millions of Koi fishes! They're gross when they crowd and go crazy over tiny fish food pellets. It's fun, none the less. :D
The taxi boat ride was just too tempting to let it pass up. Haha, such dorks. Besides, Daddy was still running then. Haha, excuses!
Speaking of Daddy, spot Dad run! In case you can't zoom in, he's making a funny pretend-binoculars gesture with his hands against his eyes; and I wonder why I get too goofy at times. Haha!
Yay, fun boat ride! Dorks 101.
I am not ashamed to say why this photo looks pathetic: I'm such a chicken for not going up to Jaymie Pizarro (The Bull Runner). All I wanted was to take a photo with her but I don't know what got to me. Hey, don't judge me for being pathetic, okay. We have our days. Haha.
So... Here's Daddy, with really bad tan lines. No, it's brown lines. It doesn't show how burnt his arms and legs were, though. Anyway, it got too hot that morning. Point is, it's a summer morning. I hope the TBR Dream Marathon starts earlier so each first time marathoner can finish the run sans injury and heatstroke! Haha. I'm excited for my dad! Someday, I will run my first marathon. Someday!

We were exhausted! It wasn't from running, I'm sure about that. Say, the Koi fish feeding? Or the boat ride? Oh, it's the heat! We were too tired that after an Italianni's lunch, we weren't so interested in shopping at Paseo. There wasn't much to see anyway. Too lazy to have taken photos on this part of the day as well. We all collapsed onto our beds and woke up hours later. After hearing mass, hello, Selecta Ice Cream Land!
Selecta Ice Cream Feast at the South Parking of the SM Mall of Asia! For only P50, you get a free ice cream on a cone, and once inside, line up all you want and get high on unlimited ice cream! Well, it got limited when they ran out. Haha. I had a cone and three cups. Ow, my tummy. I know.
The ride wasn't THAT great. It wasn't too shabby, too. But I. Was. In. A major screamfest! HAHAHA. I blame my brother for pushing me to experience "Underworld" on the X-Rider. Haha. The lady at the counter sheepishly nodded when I asked if my screams were too loud. Dammit. Hahaha.

I look forward to more days like this. It's hella tiring but it's great to get to spend time with folks despite my unfair summer schedule. :)

My Tiny Contribution

In the previous entry, I had this spiel about taking on the world as the stage instead of the other way around. That's in the light of me being a "student-artist" because of my affiliation with my organization in the University. In simple words, I dedicate my leadership for social awareness and change. My generic but sincere life goal: MAKE A CHANGE. Regardless of size and intensity, make a change. I know that it's not a student-artist's priority in life, but as a leader, I believe that it's one of the most essential things one must value. After all, what value is there in one's craft if sense and sensibility does not go beyond that?

Before I get too deep and philosophical (if I ever do haha), I think it's about time that I start my tiny contribution for my society, and maybe, if I'm lucky, to the world at large.

[Okay, this just in. I can't find that video file that Meryl and I did for our WRIMULT (Writing for Multimedia) final project. This is so frustrating. I've been searching for it in my hard drive for more than an hour now. I might just have to give up... For now. I'll replace the video as soon as I get the file from Meryl. *SIGH*]

Disclaimer: This is a project for class and isn't meant to be distributed for public use. The use of "La Mesa Ecopark" and "A Project of ABS-CBN Foundation" are copyrighted (or something like that) and I am fully aware of that. Again, it's for a project. And in my degree program, Organizational Communication, we usually just assume a client organization that we're communicating for. (Isn't my course just the best! :D) Besides, I'll take this down as soon as I find the right file, and of course, edit out the copyright infringing part. :)

Welcome to Finals

Finally, Lasallians will soon face the wrath of the stresses of finals week. It may not be the prettiest sight one's hopes and wishes can muster but I definitely would choose that over any other academic week. Third term felt so long, my oh my. I don't like the idea of final exams because I like projects, papers, presentations, and deadlines better. I'm weird like that, I know.

I was supposed to see my best friend, Bru, and a good friend, Carizza, fresh from Davao City today. Unforeseen circumstances and unlikely mishaps got in the way. I'm sad. But! The weekend is beckoning! Hopefully, they'll have time between their debate tourneys to squeeze in some bond-with-Cee-time. I want to make this meet up happen. I miss them both so bad! So there, I'm sad. But not sad enough to shun away how great my afternoon and evening went!

Even though I'm missing two people, I had an awesome time with another set of two people anyways. My other best friend (yes, I have quite a list of them), Joh, and my lover-friend (no malice on the title), AJ, are a match made in awesome-land. We went to Greenbelt, despite the lack of purpose (which was supposed to be the meet up), and just had fun. I couldn't say more. Us three are crazy. Hahaha.

ANYWAY. I have a packed weekend ahead of me. Projects, papers, and a presentation to work on are on an OC-made time block. apart from that, I have org term-end responsibilities to tend to in between study time and examination days. I normally would have gone on a serious rant-fest given this scenario. I'm actually surprised how calm and collected a state I am in. I'm looking forward to an extremely busy-but-fun-in-between weekend.

I'm loving my life. :)

Back From Hiatus

Such an eventful Friday! (Okay, fine, fine, delayed post. Hahaha.)

"Ladies and gentlemen, please, walk this way!" Mr. Carlos Celdran, thank you, I had an awesome walking tour! Manila never looked so different until you made us see beyond aesthetics. :)
On a kalesa with Meryl, Kay, and Paula! Thanks manong kalesa driver for this photo!
Later that Friday, Royale: Rule the Night at Gasthof, A-Venue, a party for the benefit of Project: Brave Kids. I rarely go to parties but my friends, Lych and Reg (and their group for their event class) organized it. Congrats!

(Okay, so they're not in the photo. Hahaha. Sorry, the ones with them aren't up yet!) Here's Pam, Ate Clarence, Kuya Jojo, AJ, and Mommy Ria! Some heart-to-heart with Ate Clarence made a lot of things make a lot of sense! :)
And then my Saturday and Sunday were very uneventful. Home, grocery shopping, church, dine out. But it was awesome, nonetheless.

I didn't mind three things for three days:

1. SCHOOL - Yes, I know it's almost finals week but I think I can manage to take a break. Besides, my classes this term don't require a lot of reading, reviewing, studying, and the like. Most of them (if not all, hmm) are method- or process- application classes. Of course, having Monday as a no-class-day is always a plus! :)
   
2. WORK - I know I'm not really "employed" but GMG, more than an extra-curricular school activity, is almost my life. Well, my lifestyle is dictated by it sometimes. I haven't been very MIA (missing in action) because I'm like glued to my phone, still. I think I really, really deserve a break from all the production services request. After all, I have academic, family, and social life to lookout for as well.
   
3. CYBERSPACE - My mom always told me that I'm an internet monster. Or a computer monster. Something like that. I look like a zombie because I stay up until the wee hours of dawn, just hooked up to the internet, eyes glues to the monitor, fingers typing away to infinity. And beyond! (Haha, Buzz Lightyear in the house?) I'm glad to see only 77 email messages for a span of three days, as opposed to my more estimated 50+ email messages per 24 hours.

Now that I'm back from my so-so but relaxing weekend, I expect my world to be the way it was three days ago: noisy and erratic despite the awesome, cheap thrills. I don't expect the stress to be murderous anymore. I think I owned the weekend.

Happy Panda

Sometimes I just wanna hide from the world (well, MY world, at least) and from everything that's happening with it.

Photo downloaded from somewhere in the web, I don't own it. I wish I owned a panda, though.

What makes a panda sad?

Sometimes I just wanna hide from the world and from everything that's happening with it.

1. Sleeping at wee hours in the morning (try 2AM?) to make sure that the day ahead is planned, spic and span
2. Making endless phone calls and sending text messages that depletes a P100 credit to P12 in a matter of three days
3. Listening to ramblings and bickering from the bosses and higher ups about how wrong things were done
4. Setting three to four meetings in one afternoon just to meet deadlines

What makes a sad panda a happy one?

1. Getting a hug from mom, dad, brother, and puppy
2. Getting a pep talk from the ultimate hero, mommy
3. Crying a large bucket of tears as a way to de-stress
4. Getting by with classes and school work
5. Hanging out with friends (and best friends!) who actually listen even though some don't understand

I was Happy Panda at the beginning of this week. Tuesday came and I was Sad Panda. After today, request problems were resolved and issues were cleared. I'm no Sad Panda no more! But I ain't one that's happy either. Tomorrow, perhaps? :)

Taking The Wheel

Today wasn't my usual class-chill-stat-hangout-MIA-chill Thursday.

I drew this on my best friend Joh's nape, see? CUTIE! I think I wanna be a tattoo artist if worse comes to worst. Bahahaha!

I took the wheel tonight and boy did I drive! (Haha, what?) The Green Media Group had its last general assembly for this school year and it was awesome. Hehe. Well, generally, maybe not really that awesome, but it was to me! It was the first time that I presided a general assembly. It was nothing much, really. It's just like talking in front of a class, telling them about your plans and all other agenda. It was cool.

Two weeks ago, the Executive Board for the next academic year was announced. Tonight, more brave souls were summoned to the call of leadership and responsibility: the Pool Heads for GMG's six unique pools.

[L-R] Incoming pool heads for an awesome year ahead: Frank (Hosting), Hannah (Creatives), Raj (Production Design), Celine (Coverage), Robin (Scriptwriting), and Joan (Audio-Visual Production).

Outgoing (and proxy) pool heads and incoming pool heads!

Outgoing pool heads, incoming pool heads, plus the executive board! We are gonna have an awesome year, loves! ♥

Going through a transition phase yet again, and this time, I really should take the wheel. Note to self: In everything that you do, DFTBA! (Don't forget to be awesome!)

On Satisfaction

We never get satisfied, do we? I have always said and believed that it is human nature to never get that certain level of satisfaction. It's not a bad thing, though. This only urges us to

1. do something even greater than what we already have,
2. to motivate ourselves to be better,
3. and to constantly move forward toward change.

Change is a constant thing in this world, after all, so the cliche goes. In my opinion, when humans fail to be contented, it usually deals with one's selfishness and personal interest. Simply, it is just the WANTS that make us ever so inconsistent.

A timely, concrete, and apt example is the fact that here in Metro Manila, we ask for something and we're given the extreme. We wish for a little bit of sun during the wet season to fight off floods and whatnot. Ugh, typhoon season, the weather is just so awful. During the summer season, we wish for the slightest cool gust to touch our faces because the sun is more than scorching. Behold, we get an El Nino instead.

The heat is unbearable. I wish I could stay in the shower all day.

The Future Started Today

Responsibility is something I've always had, but it wasn't something I always chose to deal with. Sometimes, random circumstances tweak the way your life was supposed to go... Or at least how you wanted it or how you planned it. It's all a matter of recognizing priorities and acknowledging what's urgent and important.

Today marked the beginning of a future (I hope will be) filled with surprise, excitement, new insights, new learning, and maybe a bit of healthy stress. Haha! Come on, I'm not being pessimistic; it's all part of the job. Pressure will always be there to create stress, eventually. Just a reality check. Haha.

Today, the gods have spoken. Haha, what gods? I have one and He's the only one I got.

I know and I believe my Father loves me, He never leaves me.

My Father's Child
(A gospel song I learned back in grade school.)

I am more than scared than confident, which isn't such an advisable start. But the more that I think about it, I am constantly being reminded that there will always be my GMG mommies and current co-executive board members who I can run to when all is set on rocky ground.

Outgoing and incoming EBs.
[Photo courtesy of Joan Guinto]

All geared up? Good to go? Let's do this, darlings!
AJ, Meryl, Mimi, Sheila, and Angge... WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, OKAY? I believe in us! :)
[Photo courtesy of Joan Guinto]

Green Media Group - Second General Assembly,
AY 2009-2010, T3 | Y505

Photos, photos!

Coverage Pool!
[Photo courtesy of Joan Guinto]

So, here.
[Photo courtesy of Meryl Algenio. Thanks, sis. CONGRATULATORY!!! Haha!]

*** EDIT ***
So just to give you more than just an idea, haha, I've been to vague, yeah? Haha. I was elected as the DLSU Green Media Group's President for the incoming school year of 2010-2011. There. Whew. It still feels a little weird to say (or type) that. La la la. :)

Good Start

Midterms week. Ack!

It's Tuesday, I know, but it's technically the start of my school week (just for this one) because of the special holiday (People Power Anniversary) yesterday. In my previous blogs, I have mentioned a couple times too many about how my February weeks haven't turned out to be so great. Ergo, wishing hard that the last week of this month would turn out okay, at least.

So today, as I start this week right, I tried to be productive, see. I did normal stuff. You know, the usual class-Agno-meeting-tambay combination. Today proved to be worth all the stressful weeks that passed. Thus far, that is. I hope this week is awesome-epic-like-you-can't-imagine. Although I try not to expect a lot, I have high hopes because life makes bawi in due time like that. (Sorry for the poor grammar, brain and body's tired and is shutting down earlier than expected.)

Something extraordinary that I did today was voting for the next set of Green Media Group Executive Board.
Enough said.

To top the day off, the La Salle Dance Company - Street (LSDC-Street) invited us, the Danz Dish 5 production crew of GMG, to their post-concert celebration at the Torre Lorenzo roof deck. I got there and I saw all the LSDC-Street members/dancers in costume! How cute they all looked! They sported different looks: Avatar, Boys Over Flowers, WWE, Saw (?), and yeah, that's all I remember. Heehee.

I felt unsure as I entered because I believe I was under-dressed, you see. It took me a while, though, to realize that my white shirt topped with a navy blue vest/chaleco made me pass as one of the hosts! Jay Leno and Ellen Degeneres, go figure. Hahaha!

Ellen Degenereses: Ikat Gallardo and Cee Salvador. There are a couple more from them dressed this way but she's the one nearest me that I could grab a photo with. Haha.
[© Leia Anne Medina 2010]

Hahaha. REALLY FUNNY COINCIDENCE, MAN.

Personal Worst

In running, as a sport, there is such a saying as: BEATING ONE'S PERSONAL BEST. As in, "All my training paid off because I beat my personal best of 50 minutes today." It's when you break your record; your fastest time.

After almost three weeks without training, my legs gave up on me in the middle of my run. I'm quite proud, though, that even though I abuse myself with useless vices (sleeping late, erm or dawn-like-early, ingesting junk, missing proper exercise, whatnot), my breathing is better than ever. The downside, though, is that all the overworking I do with my body and all the fatigue my body is forced to face make my body parts weak. My lungs could have taken more but my legs were more than screaming at me, maybe around my third kilometer, at least. Ugh.

Well, I've gotta say. I disappointed myself today. I beat my personal worst! (If there is such a thing.) Good thing I didn't register for the Century Superbods Run at The Fort. Otherwise, I could have wasted a good amount of P600 just so I could run with Derek Ramsey, and fail at it. Hahaha!