Bas-Zinga

hello starcity !!

2012-01-05T21:31:00.003+08:00

Ah. this is something me and my friends had been planning about for yeeeaarrrsss. A starcity getaway is just what we need to de-stress away those acad stress. :))

Here is the link to join the contest!
http://thefoodandtravelbuff.com/2012/01/08/the-food-and-travel-buff-giveaway/

SPONSORS:

http://www.thefoodandtravelbuff.com http://www.thejournalisticview.com http://www.fadandglamor.com http://www.pilipinasngayon.com http://www.hotfunstuffs.com http://thenewsmakers.info http://caraeclesiblings.info http://www.divinefully.blogspot.com

*fingers crossed

a camera, finally

2011-12-10T05:15:00.001+08:00

You can't always get what you want... instantly.

I spent a whole year working for the biggest Operations Research project I could ever imagine. I'm so happy it was over. Having the company actually use the recommendations, plus the experience of handling a serious project. Seriously, the money was just a bonus.

I saved all my salary. After countless times of going back and forth to malls, camera stores it is an amazing feeling to finally own my own (FIRST) digital camera. On my 21st birthday, I bought a canon a1200 of the powershot series- worth Php 4,000, with batteries, charger, case and a year of warranty. 32scenic modes, 4x zoom, 14.1 megapixels. It has canon lens bitch! best.deal.ever.

Canon a1200

More on this: http://www.photographyblog.com/news/canon_powershot_a2200_and_powershot_a1200/

My parents are apprehensive with these kinds of technology. They don't see the value in purchasing an apple or mac products when you can buy the same thing, different brand, functions in the same way, in a waay waay more cheaper price. They don't see the fuss about extra harddrive space when purchasing computers. Plus, more often than not, the shelf-life of these products, they say, depends MORE on the user. As a consequence, I have to buy my own stuff. Which is okay, really, since I learn to value them more. I take care of 'em nicely as my hard-earned money is waay waay to precious to turn to nothing.

So hello blog, you shall now be bedazzled with loads of pictures. :)

SOLILOQUY

2011-11-26T01:32:00.001+08:00

I think I may be on the verge of madness. I often find myself in a plethora of wild vivid daydreams. Like today, I was on my bed the whole day, eyes closed, far from slumber. I retraced myself from as far back as I could remember and delved on all the big time decisions I've made. I decided to imagine my life thinking what happened in the alternate universe where I chose to be an athlete, or a painter, or a politician, or a hippie, or maybe an out-of-school. I hated the feeling it brought (exception: fantasy on being hogwarts student) but I can't seem to stop the fantasy. At first I was so sure it's a graduating thing. But the more I think about it, I think it's my fear of what will happen after college, of being completely independent, of being in constant pressure of responsibility.

I hated the fantasies. It made me realize my life is dull. No matter how much I delude myself into thinking I'm contented, deep inside I know I can do more with what I was given. I'm going to be a year older this december. I am growing old and yet, it seems I am not growing up.

It scary to think death can take its toll at any time and I haven't felt like I'm living my life.

Having said that, here goes an oath.

I, Camille, otherwise known as Bas, shall promise to put my utmost effort in completing my bucket list. May it be that I finish said list before I lie eternally on my grave. May I reiterate that I do, solemnly swear that I will do WHATEVER it takes to succeed in this mission.

So help me God.

Goodnight stranger.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

2011-11-17T18:21:00.001+08:00

PRESENTING!! MY WISHLIST!!
hello secret santa, make my dreams come true :)
Note: number of asterisk directly proportional to weight of preference

1. snorlax jacket **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

there! no further explanation needed!

2. External Hard Drive****************

>Masyadong maliit ang 500gb ng laptop ko para sa tambak na movies at series haha!

3. BOOKS*******

*Dahil sumasakit mata ko kakabasa ng e-books, gusto ko naman ng totoong libro

>Conan Doyle's SHERLOCK HOLMES :))

>HUNGER GAMES!! :) nabasa ko na yung tatlo pero gusto ko ng hardcopy ng first book :)) pero pwede din kung kumpleto yung tatlo :)

>The Hobbit

>Lord of the Flies, William Golding

4. DVDs of my favorite tv shows*******

>Criminal Minds (Season 1-6)

>Detective Conan(season 1-20) OHA! 637 episodes to date

>House (meron na ko ng season 1-3, so if ever season4-7)

>Grey's Anatomy (season 1-7)

>Ally Mcbeal (5 seasons)

>Doctor Who

5. Working Camera! ************************************************************

EKK!! cross this out

new #5.
EARPHONES/ HEADPHONES basta pag nakahiga ako hindi uncomfortable, plsssss yung magandang klase at hindi yung ganito kasi palaging nawawala yung white squishy stuff

6. Vintage rucksack*******
(pweds nadin sling bag)

wag masyadong malaki. dapat kasya payong ko ah :)

7. http://www.monopodmanila.com/ :)) dahil gusto ko kasama ako sa pic

Narealize ko mahirap pala ang wishlist ko soooo...

Additional:

*superman shirt exactly like the picture below.. at maroon UP baseball jacket! :)

*me likey some slouchies!! blue,green,black or grey

*shoes na parang ganito:

*BLAZER! :) foldable sleeves, black, light brown, blue

*light colored blouses(with smart casual feel) yung pwedeng isuot kahit mainit,kahit nakapants or slacks :)

*i want a set of plain colored shirts!!! hindi v-neck, hindi tight fit, cotton (black,blue,violet,green,yellow,red)

*eyes. yung nakakakita ng matino. seriously.

ADIOS!

SM's bullcrap labor agenda

2011-10-20T04:31:00.002+08:00

*just because i miss writing editorials.

Maria needs a job. There's a newly built SM on their province and apparently, just started hiring salesladies. Wow. Imagine that- a job which pays you with just standing up and guarding the stalls, wearing a nice uniform on heels with nice make-up on, and best of all - you work inside an air-conditioned mall.

She applies for the job. She buys her own uniform to wear - too expensive, so she'll just have to deal with washing the same uniform every single working day. She needs to pass SSS, TIN, Brgy and NBI clearance, Mayor's permit (WTF right), medical certificate and x-ray, and she needs to pass an interview.

She got the job. The contract runs up to five or six months only. After which, to get back the uniform investment, she wishes to be a regular employee to somehow increase her daily wage by a whooping Php80 along with thousands of other sales lady. The unlucky ones will go through the whole application ONCE AGAIN.

Monday to Saturday. Imagine having to stand up - on heels for 12 fuckin hours six days a week. She cannot sit. She must not sit. After a grueling day, she has to wash her uniform to wear them neatly the next day. All this work for the love of a minimum daily wage.

Desperate times - desperate measures. When sales are low and the salesladies are not much of a help, Sy lays some of them off for some time - oftentimes weeklong. Poor Maria, cruel luck, jobless for a week, no salary.

Poor Maria. No one to run to. Apparently, Henry Fuckin Sy repressed the employee's trade union rights. All of them are prohibited from discussing union matters during work - of course, Sy gets them monitored. He'd rather pay for spies than increasing the salary of his puppets - no problems, less costs.

Contractual labor, the very euphemism hiding its true meaning - massive slavery slash human coercion and extortion. Maria gets no benefits, no vacation leave, no sick leave, no 13th month pay, no job security, no individual development.

Fuck Henry Sy and his fuckin $3 billion net worth of an ass. I hope you meet Moses soon enough.

source code

2011-09-13T05:47:00.001+08:00

yessss!! another movie that cripples an entire movie plot with an underlying plot. if you watched shutter island and inception, and enjoyed it.. then you will enjoy this movie equally.

So, this is my own interpretation. I warn you for spoilers ahead.

The whole movie revolves around this new technology-they call it the source code. wherein they have to use functional brain waves from someone to access another someone's parallel reality. It's the first time they use it and they used Colter(Jake G.), former member of the army, who was basically-dead. The other reality they were trying to access was from a Sean something, a teacher supposedly on a date with Christina. The source code allows access for upto 8minutes before the bomb goes off in the train Sean was boarding. The belief is that this alternate reality can be a means of decoding who the bomber is(as they believe there is another bombing incident to happen) - and that no matter what happens in that alternate reality, there is nothing that can be done to save the lives of the people who died on the train. So-the mission is to find the bomber, not save the train from the bomb. ok? (look at the visual below that I got from google to get a better picture) So after a few 8-minute tries, Colter succeeds in finding out who the bomber is :) also, he found out that he was- as good as dead.

Ah but there was a twist. Since the mission was finished, Colter asked- no- begged for Goodwin(one of the operators that communicates with him) to give him one last try and cut him off(LET HIM HAVE HIS DEATH). so this time-he'll reaaaally try to save the passengers. BTW- the last 8 minutes of his life is amazing. watch it. i actually almost cried hehe. anyway, in that 8minutes, he fully disarmed the bomb and he had sent a message to Goodwin(saying that if she receives this message, then the source code can do more than what it is meant to do) After 8minutes, he did not come back to being Colter. He continued his date with Christina as Sean.

HOWEVER. the movie goes on and Goodwin receives the message that Colter sent her and the scenario at the lab is that the source code has never been used before.

What happened? Colter's consciousness enters Sean's body(Sean's already dead) --and it leaves his half- body. (hehe) This is what I think: when Goodwin terminated the source code, Colter's consciousness remained at Sean's reality. They were accessing another reality--that entails time travelling. Colter was able to create new realities every time he enters the 8-minute reality as Sean. In the last- new reality that Colter created, he succeeded in saving all the people in the train. When you think about it-this is the only time he did not die. So- he continued living on as Sean XD (and the body that Goodwin saw, yeah Colter's consciousness was no longer living in that body.) And its like the whole thing never really happened. ((:

However when you think about it, he travelled and failed six times(?) through the source code (i dunno if my count is right) SOOOO.. that means he created a lot of new alternate realities every single time he enters Sean's body. One time he even saved Christina-so that means there is another alternate reality where another Christina is alive. And these realities do not really end every 8 minutes.

One last problem: Colter was able to get back info's and he was able to access the parts Sean didn't even knew or you know- wasn't even part of Sean's memory.

Of course I went for the more complex explanation when really- it is also plausible that everything that had happened after the frozen scene can be post-death -or you know- just Colter's idea of "heaven."

artemis fouls

2011-09-10T02:49:00.000+08:00

This week was both thrilling and exhausting, physically and mentally. I did things I normally deem stupid like watching a movie without prior notice to my wallet and schedule, starting a debate over almost pointless topics, cutting whole day of classes (dysme and uti--not a very good combo), buying anything online, blurting out anything that I had an urge to say no matter how little(sparked trouble I tell you), lying to someone I never lied to, joining an essay contest, and lastly, eating too much that I barfed. I just want to detoxify this weekend.

My friend, my instincts are not just instincts because I absolutely make sure I have data to support whatever claim I make before I even tell anyone about it. (I make sure I insert a "my-hypothesis-is" phrase before the claim if data ain't sufficient/available) Yes, I'm pretty sure I didn't use it this time. One more thing, you are a pretentious fool. You think you have successfully fooled everyone, you are wrong. I am watching you and later on, the truth will always come out in some way. I'll be waiting for that day, and when it comes, you better think of a better excuse this time jerk or you'll eat your words.

okay. detox, commence.

twenty years

2011-09-06T06:43:00.001+08:00

I just watched one day and I can't help thinking about what happened to both their lives, Em and Dex. Somehow I relate to Emma, she was a robot, weird what with too far fetched ideas of changing the world, making a difference. she's always making snide and rude remarks about politics, but never really makes a stand. she had an ambition yet life pushed her into making took a wrong turn. she did not resist, instead, merely chanted a you-can't-always-get-what-you-want sigh. best comparison of all, she's scared of being too happy. Wow. Why did I not see these stuff in my yearbook writeup?

When I was a kid I thought blatantly I was going to be a doctor. (I still want to be one) I was very curious with how the insides of the human body were that I actually deemed anatomy one of my more favored subjects even though it stresses my brain thoroughly with all the memorizing. I pictured myself with raccoon eyes wearing a white cloak, underneath I'm wearing blue scrubs. My apartment is near the hospital, I'm alone and yet my place is full of certificates, gifts and cards from patients, and it reeks of coffee.

Now here's what I see twenty years from now. I see myself stuck in an office cubicle, wearing clothes that must be neatly ironed or else I get fired. My hair tied neatly up. I see myself with bazillions of papers that needs to be reread and signed. I am paid by I own a house, where I stay with my brother and my family. My room is full of paper clutter. I will grow old rich but unhappy and lonely while seeing my friends get married and have babies. I'll probably make sure I have a movieroom inside my house, (investment on a projector) so I won't be miserable all the time. ha ha

That's how I see it, not how I want it to be.

What I really just want is to travel with a camera and a notebook, wearing my tshirts and jeans, with
enough money to feed myself.

i've been sorted

2011-08-29T05:49:00.000+08:00

I had a hunch this would happen xp
One, I can't be in gryffindor because I'm a coward. let's just say I'm good at pretending I'm not.
Not Hufflepuff, I'm lazy. So it's either ravenclaw or slytherin! I'm not saying I'm that smart but I think I have.. ah see? I'm arrogant. perfect slytherin character.

apparently, here's how they do welcomes in this house:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations! I’m Prefect Gemma Farley, and I’m delighted to welcome you to SLYTHERIN HOUSE. Our emblem is the serpent, the wisest of creatures; our house colours are emerald green and silver, and our common room lies behind a concealed entrance down in the dungeons. As you’ll see, its windows look out into the depths of the Hogwarts lake. We often see the giant squid swooshing by – and sometimes more interesting creatures. We like to feel that our hangout has the aura of a mysterious, underwater shipwreck.

Now, there are a few things you should know about Slytherin – and a few you should forget.

Firstly, let’s dispel a few myths. You might have heard rumours about Slytherin house – that we’re all into the Dark Arts, and will only talk to you if your great-grandfather was a famous wizard, and rubbish like that. Well, you don’t want to believe everything you hear from competing houses. I’m not denying that we’ve produced our share of Dark wizards, but so have the other three houses – they just don’t like admitting it. And yes, we have traditionally tended to take students who come from long lines of witches and wizards, but nowadays you’ll find plenty of people in Slytherin house who have at least one Muggle parent.

Here’s a little-known fact that the other three houses don’t bring up much: Merlin was a Slytherin. Yes, Merlin himself, the most famous wizard in history! He learned all he knew in this very house! Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Merlin? Or would you rather sit at the old desk of that illustrious ex-Hufflepuff, Eglantine Puffett, inventor of the Self-Soaping Dishcloth?

I didn’t think so.

But that’s enough about what we’re not. Let’s talk about what we are, which is the coolest and edgiest house in this school. We play to win, because we care about the honour and traditions of Slytherin.

We also get respect from our fellow students. Yes, some of that respect might be tinged with fear, because of our Dark reputation, but you know what? It can be fun, having a reputation for walking on the wild side. Chuck out a few hints that you’ve got access to a whole library of curses, and see whether anyone feels like nicking your pencil case.

But we’re not bad people. We’re like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood.

For instance, we Slytherins look after our own – which is more than you can say for Ravenclaw. Apart from being the biggest bunch of swots you ever met, Ravenclaws are famous for clambering over each other to get good marks, whereas we Slytherins are brothers. The corridors of Hogwarts can throw up surprises for the unwary, and you’ll be glad you’ve got the Serpents on your side as you move around the school. As far as we’re concerned, once you’ve become a snake, you’re one of ours – one of the elite.

Because you know what Salazar Slytherin looked for in his chosen students? The seeds of greatness. You’ve been chosen by this house because you’ve got the potential to be great, in the true sense of the word. All right, you might see a couple of people hanging around the common room whom you might not think are destined for anything special. Well, keep that to yourself. If the Sorting Hat put them in here, there’s something great about them, and don’t you forget it.

And talking of people who aren’t destined for greatness, I haven’t mentioned the Gryffindors. Now, a lot of people say that Slytherins and Gryffindors represent two sides of the same coin. Personally, I think Gryffindors are nothing more than wannabe Slytherins. Mind you, some people say that Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor prized the same kinds of students, so perhaps we are more similar than we like to think. But that doesn’t mean that we cosy up with Gryffindors. They like beating us only slightly less than we like beating them.

A few more things you might need to know: our house ghost is the Bloody Baron. If you get on the right side of him he’ll sometimes agree to frighten people for you. Just don’t ask him how he got bloodstained; he doesn’t like it.

The password to the common room changes every fortnight. Keep an eye on the noticeboard. Never bring anyone from another house into our common room or tell them our password. No outsider has entered it for more than seven centuries.

Well, I think that’s all for now. I’m sure you’ll like our dormitories. We sleep in ancient four-posters with green silk hangings, and bedspreads embroidered with silver thread. Medieval tapestries depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins cover the walls, and silver lanterns hang from the ceilings. You’ll sleep well; it’s very soothing, listening to the lake water lapping against the windows at night.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Btw. I hate pottermore. I expected more. Each of the chapters are represented by ONE picture. as if that's enough. Plus, it's too inefficient. needs too much effort to get through. but one thing irritated me the most -- Why the hell is there no background music? HONESTLY noone thought of that? but anyway, the ala mystery-case-files backed it all up. i hope we get to read the books, or just parts of it. I wish everything in the pictures would move. I wish the sorting hat actually screamed SLYTHERRRIIIINN when I got sorted, I wish they let you play real chess. I wish they have more games. i could go on and on about how I want the pottermore site to be but I'm getting sleepy. soooo goodnight!

all is well.

2011-08-11T05:02:00.000+08:00

4am. I decided to not sleep.

I looked in the mirror and I saw my thin eyebrows. Whoever started the notion that graduation pictures have to be like this -- I am terribly annoyed. When we grow older, imagine looking at a yearbook with thousands of pictures of women who look like drag queens and men with lipstick and greasy hair. Sure we all looked "better" but how would you even recognize these people ten, twenty years from now?

I frantically refreshed my visual memory of how my gradpic looked like this morning. Dammit. I should've worn my glasses.

Jennifer

2011-07-27T07:54:00.002+08:00

My family and I had just moved to Pangasinan and frankly, I was quite disappointed there were no malls plus add that dose of bitterness knowing my awesome friends back at our small house in Novaliches are having the time of their lives whilst there I am, playing alone. I remember my mom leeching, cooking me all sorts of my favorite dishes. Even with that, I wasn't very happy.

My kindergarten school sucked big time, I hated going to school and I would always-always remind my mom how cool the system was at St. Anthony, Lagro. The store was always busy and I hated being fetched from school by some anonymous tricycle driver whilst the rest of my classmates have ates and kuyas. I miss my mom taking me home. Yes, I lasted for about a year with nothing but grumpiness in my mood meter.

I skipped prep.

First grade. I finally succumbed to the awful truth that we are indeed, staying at Pangasinan for good. But I still hated my school. XD and yes, finally stopped pestering my mom.

So, of course I had to make some friends right? This phase marks, ladies and gents, the start of my story. I don't particularly remember why and how I developed a special interest in watching her, esp. during recess and whilst waiting for the school bus. All I remember was she was always alone, she always-- has colds, she never talks, she always cries(when the jerks-- my boy classmates--teases her.)

I think it was July(if my memory serves me correct) when I finally had the guts to talk to her. This is how I remember it, prolly biased. but nonetheless, we were waiting for our schoolbus, as always... I love the swing so I was watching her by the swing. She was sitting near the gate, anticipating.

Bat ka nagiisa palagi?(why are you alone?) first sentence- (ultimately dumb) conversation starter I could ever think of.

I remember wanting to run away this moment realizing how stupid my question sounded. But alas! APPARENTLY, SHE CAN SPEAK.

Wala kong kaibigan(I have no friends) she retorted whilst looking away dramatically. I knew that was a cue for me to stop talking or should i say annoying her. But what can I say, I'm a curious kid, and so I blurted out another stupid question, Bakit ka walang kaibigan? (why do you have no friends?)

She ignored me. I was a very hopeful and stupid girl back then so I waited eagerly for a reply following her annoyingly with a blank stare. I got no answer. One of my busmates screamed in joy for our bus finally arrived. We both joined the crowd. I got no answer but I remember that she smiled at me before I got off the bus.

I do not remember what happened next. Amazingly, we became bestfriends, together with four other girls, talking hours and hours on the phone on weekends, playing during breaks, having our own codes and inside jokes, calling each other cheesy nicknames, going into each other's houses.. wow. how did that happen?

After graduation, they all went to the same school(private), I went to a public high school. We lost contact for years, then I saw her on facebook and we chat occasionally(once in every... year?). Last update I had of her, she had a lot of boyfriends, likes taking pictures of herself, she graduated nursing, and she has twice as many facebook friends as I have. To sum it up, she's changed, A LOT.

We grew apart, that's normal, i guess. Seems like a simple story but it actually means a lot to me. Sometimes when I feel useless, I remind myself of this story. She's one of the few people who made me realize I my existence had a bearing in this world... that once upon a time, had I not been born, this girl will prolly have a grim and lonely childhood, who knows what else could've happened..

I was Jennifer's first friend.

toxic

2011-07-21T19:21:00.000+08:00

I never had a camera. We had one, an old one, but I hate that its limited by the film. I'm saving up for a good one, I think I've saved enough for a simple digicam but I'm too foolish and hopeful the real good ones would dramatically drop their prices. So I was stuck at borrowing my friends' cameras. Oh, and I can't believe it--how some people take their awesome cameras (jaw-dropping specs) for granted. I would prolly go gaga, quit engineering and travel the world once I got one.

I was always bad at directions. Our family travels a lot but I'm more concerned with seeing every possible detail in the sceneries that we pass rather than how many times we turned, where to take the turn etc. Haha. I remember me and my dad having an agreement that I would be a lousy driver, he gave up tutoring me.

The world's going on and on so fast, I want it to stop. I want to go to places, take shots of the trees, the animals, the buildings, the people... Just sitting somewhere with a nice view with nothing on my mind, no pressure, no noise.. it's just me-- enjoying the sight. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

periods.to.further.emphasize.my.point.

2011-07-20T23:41:00.001+08:00

ONE. your facebook profile picture is prolly the most unsecured element in your facebook account. You can almost hide anything from people you're not friends with, except for the profile picture. So please (this is me speaking as a concerned friend) CHANGE YOURS. All I can really see is besides your gorgeous hair is your deep cleavage and shorts. (contorting your body.. that's genius) I can't even see your face. Quit playing the pademure act, somebody took this shit--because obviously, looking the picture, even idiots can tell you were the one holding the camera. If you are doing this to lure boys, (jerks that is) I am totally sure you will be successful in your quest. Congratulations.

TWO. Quit calling your boyfriend "asawa ko" when you're never really legally married and quit posting all the near sex pictures because quite frankly NO ONE CARES. I repeat. NO. ONE. FREAKIN. CARES. did you see that the only likes your album garnered is from you and your lover (perhaps a perv using it as his porn) For all you know, you won't end up together and you'll have to erase every thing, for all you know your destined someone might see this atrocity. Oh sure people supported you when you changed your relationship status, you got about a hundred likes and comments but that's really all we need to know. Btw, typing "muah muah" is equally disgusting.

Ugh.

Day 08 → A photo that makes you sad

2011-07-17T21:59:00.000+08:00

I cried the first time I saw this... very troubling indeed. It is painful knowing that somewhere, some people never even had a decent meal their whole life.

from: http://www.bspcn.com/2009/07/16/the-29-saddest-pictures-in-the-world/

the greatest lie of mankind. checking the box.

2011-07-16T23:18:00.000+08:00

Day 07 → A photo that makes you happy

2011-07-16T20:29:00.001+08:00

This is my baby brother, Mico. He was four months when he started having seizures, and as a consequence, he had GDD. Global Development Delay. He was five(if my memory serves correct) in this picture. Up to now, he still can't write legibly, still having a hard time controlling his hand muscles, still can't draw anything distinguishable, but nonetheless, me and my family were proud of him.

Baby steps, Mico. You'll eventually grow up to be normal.

reBel bars

2011-07-16T20:11:00.000+08:00

I was sixteen, sweet sixteen when I entered UP. I was very eager to conquer it and all I really cared about is doing good in my classes. By the end of the first sem, I got really high grades and I was, for a moment, victorious. The semester after that, I only had four subjects, lots of free time. I have no idea how it happened but I became a rebel. In some way, UP made me realize there are more great achievements in life rather than good grades and a complete attendance record. College life, particularly in UP, is intoxicating, and as such, most students are vulnerable.

Once upon a time, I just came from a three-hour long exam. Before the exam, I was so sure I can ace it but apparently, I can not be so sure all the time. The exam ate my ego and to get it back, I hastily agreed to join my friends in a RockBand session KNOWING I have a paper due 12midnight. Yes, many others turn to alcohol,cigarettes,drugs or worse, suicide. I turn to rockband, computer games and, most especially, food. I got home past 12midnight and as it turns out, a lot of my good, influential friends haven't submitted their papers too. I crammed the paper for two hours, e-mailed it and prayed for a bug to mess up yahoo mail's time zones. No bug answered my call and so, my professor, furious of the number of late turnovers, decided to turn to punishment. We were asked to write a paper about procrastination for bonus points. Ironic. I never wrote such a paper for I was too proud.

I was too proud. I write papers with more than ten pages in a matter of hours. I study only a night before the exam. I cut some of my classes(that I deem useless) way more often than I am present in them. Once, I was the straight A's girl, now, just-passing. But what's wrong with that? Over the course of my stay here, I had acquired some things which I believe are much, much more important than uno's in my transcript. I had a family. I learned so much in life that sadly, some people fail to value.

This post is not to brag about my arrogance and stubbornness. On the contrary, I know very much it isn't something to be proud about. No, the purpose of this is an explanation, not an excuse. I am about to graduate. I was surprised by how much some people(particularly my relatives) are expecting much of me, asking me about my class standing, and all. At first, I was having a good laugh about this but now, it just seems exhausting.

I may not be the same girl I was back then. My happiness does not depend in my grades anymore. But what the hell, I did what I can do. I attended the classes I'm interested about. The cuts were done for a reason, mostly because I figured there are things worthier of my time than attending that. I study a night before because I know I can pass those exams. I am responsible when I need to be. That should have been enough.

Cheers to all the students having the time of their life.

DAY 06 → Whatever tickles your fancy → the adventures of mea

2011-07-15T14:13:00.001+08:00

If you do not know me well enough, let me do a bit of a flashback. At the start of my fourth year of high school, I never thought I would need the list of courses for I was quite definite I would pick out journalism. Yes, I loved writing most especially when I was in high school(almost 5years of math and purely technical writing made me rusty). I have a notebook full of short stories, fictional characters, random phrases, words I like, vivid descriptions of feelings, rants and almost everything that pops to my mind. For many who does not understand, it was a silly thing to have but for me, it was me, my world.

Last weekend, at home (home-home), without even thinking, I rummaged through the dusty pile of stuff crammed in the corner of my small room. I came across a paper, torned from THE notebook and in that paper, with my messy handwriting is this:

I was deeply annoyed. The fact that I did not speak need not mean I don't care. I walked the long alley leading to the track field, kicking all the stones I can reach. "I will not cry. I will not cry," I chanted. "You're crazy." A deep familiar voice broke my song. I looked back and sighed. It was the devil. Oh God, I hate his eyes. I was cornered. I sat down for surrender. He sat beside me and said once again, this time in a mocking tone, "You're crazy." I was to strangle him in my imagination but in reality I babbling-babooned him. without looking at him, I repeated, "You're crazy," same as his mocking tone. He knew my strategy too well so he went straight to the point. "Mea, she didn't mean it." Out of annoyance, I continued to babble, "Mea, she didn't mean it." "STOP REPEATING," he said, "NOT FUNNY." I smiled. I won. In a proud voice I said, "Stop repeating. Not funny." He paused. I was resisting my triumphant laugh. He was looking at me, I felt it. Then he said, "I love you." I froze. That was a low blow. I hated him... more than ever. I forced myself to look at him, our eyes met and he was dead serious. Out of cowardness, I immediately raced through the alley away from him. I was running so fast I couldn't feel my legs. "IT WAS JUST A JOKE. HEY! COME BACK HERE!" He shouted in loud, clear baritone. I did not stop but for a moment, I was decelerating, catching my breath and wishing I never heard that last bit.

I miss Mea. She was the main character for most of my stories. She's playful but suicidal... not me, I daresay.

*Something happened which led to that moment of epiphany and for the last minute, I wrote some engineering courses.. If you ask me, NO. No regrets.

**The last thing I remember about THE notebook, I don't remember why but I was writing, then out of nowhere, I threw it away.

Harry Potter will never end.

2011-07-15T00:21:00.001+08:00

Harry potter will never end. For so long as I can remember, I have been chanting on and on those incantations, charms and curses; I have been secretly wishing for a Hogwarts acceptance letter, of course delivered by an owl; I have been using the word 'muggles' too often as if it's a real word; I have been swishing and flicking twigs and sticks, expecting to put up sparks; I have been making a lists of what would've been my patronus; I have been imagining living in the alluring world Rowling has created.

Harry Potter will never end. Google returns nearly half a billion hits for the keyword 'Harry Potter,' Harry Potter merchandise from books to movies to toys to theme parks to robes to elf socks, a very much booming business. Harry potter books were translated to over seventy languages. All over the world, Harry Potter exists.

Harry Potter will never end. Chocolate companies will try to make chocolate frogs, kids from everywhere around the globe will continue waiting for owls, the passengers will continue to stare at that wall between platforms nine and ten, Harry potter will have its own lexicon, publishing companies will never go tired of publishing the books, sport junkies will continue to write quidditch as one of their favorite sport, the red heads will be called weasleys, and fans will continue drawing lightning scars in their foreheads.

Harry Potter will never end. This is its magic.

Day 05 → Your favorite quote

2011-07-14T23:43:00.001+08:00

My favorite quotes (inspirational ones) are from Harry Potter, and yes they were given by Albus:

"It doesn't matter what someone is born but what they grow up to be." and,

"It does no good to dwell on dreams, and forget to live."

For comical quotes, I would love to enumerate all of them but I'm still a bit overwhelmed by the last HP movie so let's do this again sometime.

Day 04 → Your favorite book-slash-movie, out of boredom

2011-07-13T01:37:00.002+08:00

My absolutely most favorite book and movie of all time is the twilight series. no kidding. really. -_-

It's totally original, I mean, come on guys, who would have thought that a simple vampires-human-werewolf love triangle would sell just by hiring the hottest cast there is? I mean, i'd totally watch the movie just by seeing the poster, and i wouldn't care how AWFUL they act and how DREADFUL the script is. really.

There's so much action going on, like every single character is an obstacle for Bella and Edward's love. It's truly one heck of a fight. like in the last installment, wherein the volturi was about to attack them + werewolves (united), and i was getting really really excited because FINALLY there was some action going on, blood!blood!bloooood!! but then Bella immediately began her superpowers of shield and the volturi realized how weak they are compared to Bella and began to retreat. RETREAT!! COME ON!! that's super cool for Bella.

It's super romantic. Falling in love so deep in just a few days and resolve to spending your whole life with a vampire is impulsively romantic. Having the most gorgeous anemic guy in school watch you sleep without you knowing is not weird and creepy at all. It IS romantic having him smell you and look at you so deep as if he's going to eat your brains out. It also triggers a lot of teeny bopper fantasizing manias. Being restrained of love so they do other wild stuff like go to the forest alone or dive cliffs, or ride a motorcycle and DELIBERATELY bang it against a tree or post just to get noticed by a boy miles away from you. Fake kiss a werewolf so your boyfriend gets jealous. Join a vampire-to-vampire fight even if you're human just so you can be with the one you love and never leave him. Go inside a vampire house ALONE without any melee weapons. Be bestfriends with a werewolf just to complete your bizarre collection of love interests. Everything's just so normal.

Day 03 → Your favorite television program

2011-07-11T16:19:00.001+08:00

this list makes my blog boring. but nonetheless, since i bowed to finish this, i shall finish this.

Friends
Sherlock
Detective conan (best anime ever)
Ally Mcbeal
House MD
How I met your mother
Modern Family
Chuck
Grey's Anatomy
Will and Grace
Felicity
The big bang theory
leverage
hell's kitchen(guilty pleasure haha!)
lots of other reality tv shows where judges curse at the contestants and contestants bitch each other lol

Day 2-Your favorite movie

2011-07-06T00:53:00.002+08:00

maybe i should stop this. i can't think of particulars haha. but anyway i'll try my best to enumerate all the awesome movies i know. *no particular order

Pinoy movies

Magnifico. This is the epitome of what pinoy filmmakers ought to be doing, not the flimsy, shallow and PREDICTABLE love stories(with trailers so long you already know the entire plot), not the superhero movies with mediocre visual effects(not to mention mediocre costumes) all with the same stupid plot (superhero is an ugly man whose head over heels inlove with this girl. then she gets into trouble, then he saves him as a man in spandex who can fly, bursting with machismo, then they kiss, then the story ends), and most importantly, not the annoying horror movies with the same people casted as the mumus over and over and over... Magnifico is simple, riveting and touching, reflective of pinoy traditions and culture.
Hiling and Princess Sarah. as a kid, these are two of the movies i'd watch over and over. ahh i have no idea why the usual pinoy movie is degrading (as technology should've been making it more easier)

so it's hard to actually think of pinoy movies i liked, so let's proceed to some international ones. being the couch potato that i am, i may not mention everything i want(sometimes remembering the titles gets tiresome and sooo i'd try to mention only a few. plus i need to get some sleep :)

Shawshank redemption
The godfather
3 idiots
Bourne identity
E.T.
pride and prejudice
Matrix trilogy
The girl who leapt through time
never let me go
atonement
Titanic
Batman:Dark Knight
King's speech
toy story
wall-e
perfume
sixth sense
the social network
avatar(the blue one)
cast away
a beautiful mind
boy in striped pajamas
Love me if you dare(french)
Amelie
I just didn't do it(jap)
Chungking express
Heavenly forest
Julia roberts' chic flicks (too many to mention)
Inception
500days of summer

goodnight guys!

Day 01 → Your favorite song

2011-07-06T00:05:00.001+08:00

Darn, this is hard. i cannot possibly think of one song that is my MOST favorite. it actually depends on my mood. but overall, i think i always listen to acoustic music, bossa novas, mellow music, epic scores,old songs.. or just anything that is relaxing or the kind that i can close my eyes and imagine the sky full of stars. wow, that sounds weird. I'M WEIRD. right now, most-played in my playlist is stiiiill from the beatles --here, there and everywhere. i started loving this song the moment phoebe(Friends) got married and this was the song that was playing whilst walking down the aisle :)) the harmonies are amazing.

just 'cause

2011-07-04T23:34:00.001+08:00

just because everybody is doing it. fine. :))
*but i'll start tomorrow as i am currently rushing my paper haha!

Day 01 → Your favorite song
Day 02 → Your favorite movie
Day 03 → Your favorite television program
Day 04 → Your favorite book
Day 05 → Your favorite quote
Day 06 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 → A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 → A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 → A photo you took
Day 10 → A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 → A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 → A fictional book
Day 14 → A non-fictional book
Day 15 → A fanfic
Day 16 → A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 → An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 → A talent of yours
Day 20 → A hobbie of yours
Day 21 → A recipe
Day 22 → A website
Day 23 → A YouTube video
Day 24 → Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 → Your day, in great detail
Day 26 → Your week, in great detail
Day 27 → This month, in great detail
Day 28 → This year, in great detail
Day 29 → Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 → Whatever tickles your fancy