Claum's Outlines

5 Years and 8 Months

2013-12-21T15:39:00.001+08:00

It's been a long time. I missed this. Ang dami nang nagbago, sa blogging world, sa buhay ko, sa akin.

For my "welcome-back-to-blogging" post, gusto ko lang magkwento at magshare ng mga nangyari sa buhay ko in the past few months. Kung dati naco-conscious ako sa grammar ko at nag-iisip ng creative writing and all, ngayon hindi, I just want to let my thoughts flow.

18 years and 8 months. Ganyan katagal ang ginugol ko sa pag-aaral. I spent most of my life in school. I thought once I earn my degree, I would be free from studying. Hindi pa pala, may review pa kasi. Eh bakit naman kasi sa dami ng course na pwedeng kunin, yung may board exam pa talaga ang napili ko. It would be long and boring if I tell you the entire story of how I ended up taking ECE, kaya wag nalang, gora na tayo sa next paragraph.

So ayun, 5 years sa college. Hindi madali, maraming ups and downs. Survivor talagang maituturing yung mga nakatapos ng Engineering course, matira matibay ang labanan. I graduated April 4, 2013, isa sa pinakamasayang araw ng buhay ko. Kung pwede ko lang balikan yung moment na yun, gagawin ko araw-araw. Kahit dun na lang ako mag-stay. Pero hindi naman pwede yun eh. Hindi porket 'pagtatapos' ang Tagalog ng 'graduation' eh tapos narin lahat ng gawain mo. Kailangang magising sa katotohanan na hindi pa ko ganap na Inhinyero, wala pa akong lisensya, may board exam pa. Jusmiyo aral na naman?

After graduation, konting YOLO days lang tapos may klase na sa review center. October pa yung exam, sa loob-loob ko: 6 months review? para sa 2-day exam. Ang tagal nun, sayang oras. Gusto ko na mag-trabaho. Right after grad, naging tambay na ko ng Jobstreet at JobsDB. I really wanted a part-time job so I could work while reviewing. Naisip ko na nuon pa na magiging mahirap, nag-dalawang isip din ako kasi baka hindi ako maka-aral ng maayos dahil sa trabaho. But I have to do this. One reason is because I need an income. Kailangan kong suportahan yung pamilya ko. Hindi naman kasi kami mayaman. Nung college ako, sa scholarships and benefactors lang kami nag-rely. Eh ngayon, paano na kami? Isa pa, ayoko maging bum. Feeling ko talaga sayang na sayang yung 6 months. Ayokong maki-join sa tumataas na unemployment rate ng Pilipinas. I want to jumpstart my career immediately. Ayos na ayos yun after ng board, may lisensya na ko, may work experience pa ko.

Then a crazy thought came to my mind, what if I teach? Hindi naman ako yung tipong "pangarap-ko-talagang-maging-teacher-eversince" person pero isa siya sa maraming bagay na gusto kong gawin sa buhay. I have a very high respect for the profession and I believe it's the most fulfilling job of all. Kahit gusto ko na siyang gawin, nag-dadalawang isip parin ako kasi sa tingin ko, hindi ako magaling magturo. Minsan kasi may mga bagay na alam mo naman kung ano at kung paano, pero hirap na hirap kang i-explain. Ganun ako eh. Hanggang sa may dumating na sign. A friend offered me a tutoring job in a learning center. Aalis na kasi siya dun at kailangan nya ng kapalit. I was really interested, I considered taking it. Pero may lightbulb na lumitaw at may kasama pang callout: "If I would be teaching, why not teach in UST, my alma mater?" Next thing I know I'm already applying in UST. To cut the long story short, I didn't do good in my teaching demo, but I still got the job. Woah.

I proved that teaching is really fulfilling. Masaya at nakaka-proud mapabilang sa ECE Faculty. Yung mga idol mong prof, ngayon "colleagues" mo na. I want to thank all of them for making me feel welcomed. Masaya rin na makasama ang mga students, feeling ko bumabata ako, parang estudyante lang din. The respect you get from them is priceless. Kahit na alam kong hindi ako magaling, marami pa akong bigas na kakainin. Kapag nakikita kong may natutunan sila kahit onti lang, sobrang saya na. Whenever they say a simple "thank you", it melts my heart. May pros and cons ang pagtuturo. Yung mga pros, sobrang dami. Yung cons, isa na don yung matinding pressure. Alam ng lahat na mag-eexam ako, at lahat sila nag-eexpect na papasa ako. My goodness kung alam niyo lang, masarap pakinggan yung good lucks and words of encouragement, pero nakaka-stress siya sobra. Nakakabaliw isipin na kapag bumagsak ako, ano na lang ang mukhang ihaharap ko sa mga students ko? Expectations bring frustrations.

Ginamit ko nalang yung pressure para mas lalo akong ma-motivate mag-aral. Habang palapit ng palapit ang exam, patindi ng patindi ang kaba. Until one unexpected thing happened. One of the examiners, the chair of the ECE board passed away. A new set of examiners is needed. Our licensure examination was postponed, and the date was indefinite. Nung time na yon di ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako kasi may time pa para mag-aral o maiinis kasi pinatagal lang nila yung paghihirap namin. For one month hindi namin alam kung kelan na ba talaga yun exam. Nawala yung momentum, tinamad na lahat mag-aral. Naisip ko rin na wag na munang mag-take. Pero nung inannounce na sa December 14-15, 2013 na yung exam, sabi ko nalang "Sige magte-take na ko, bahala na."

We were given 8 months to prepare for the exam. Oo matagal na panahon yon, pero hindi ko nasulit. I regret those days na natulog o nagpaka-tamad ako instead na mag-aral. Pero hindi ko pinagsisisihan na nagtrabaho ako habang nagrereview. Kahit pa sobrang nakaka-drain ng energy at brain cells. Yung tipong review class sa umaga, lunch sandali tapos takbo na agad sa school dahil may klase pa. Matatapos ang klase ng 9pm, pag-uwi sa bahay instead na mag-aral, matutulog na lang sa sobrang pagod. Mahirap talaga. Multitasking to the highest level. Maraming beses kong inisip na malaki yung chance na bumagsak dahil hindi ako nakaka-aral. I cry every time I think of it. I've had doubts in myself, but I never had doubts in Him. Pinaubaya ko na lang sa Kanya lahat.

Yung one month before the exam siguro yung pinakamatindi. Kung sinu-sino na ang nakakapansin na madalas akong tulala. Minsan pumapasok ako sa klase ko ng wala sa sarili. Akala ko graduate na ko sa cramming, pero hindi pa pala. Two weeks before the board, dun lang ako nakapag-focus sa pagreview. I had to take a leave of absence para makahabol naman ako sa dami ng materials na hindi ko pa nababasa. Hindi ko rin natapos yung mga libro at reviewers na target ko dati pa. That's why I worry too much. Natatakot ako, I've had the feeling that I won't make it. Kulang na lang lahat ng santo tawagin ko para tulungan ako. Novena kay St. Jude, nag-alay ng itlog kay St. Clare, nagsimba sa Manaoag. FAITH lang ang tanging sandata ko sa exam.

Eto na, dumating na yung araw na matagal ko nang hinihintay. Hindi talaga ako nakatulog the night before the board sa sobrang kaba. Nung mismong araw ng exam, nagrereview parin ako sa labas ng classroom. Hindi ako mapakali, pinaka nakaka-kabang araw ng buhay ko. First exam: Math. Ang hirap. Bakit ganun. Second exam: Elecs. May mas hihirap pa pala sa Math. Bakit parang wala akong naaral. Naluluha na ko pero pinipigilan ko lang umiyak dahil mababasa yung answer sheet ko. Nakaka-lungkot yung first day, pero hindi pa tapos, may second day pa. GEAS and EST. Mahirap, nakakaiyak din. Sobrang unexpected yung mga lumabas sa board. It was quoted as the "hardest exam since the implementation of RA.9292 in 2007". Marami talagang nahirapan, at sabi nila ito na nga daw ang pinaka-credible na ECE board exam so far. Hindi pa lumalabas yung results pero parang alam ko na yung dapat kong iexpect. Gusto ko sanang alisin nalang sa isip ko eh, kaso day after the board, may klase pa ko, at lahat ng tao sa school nagtatanong.

As I wait for the results, wala akong ginawa kundi magdasal at humingi ng milagro. Kahit tanggap ko na kung ano man ang mangyari, I was still hopeful. Hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. I kept myself busy para hindi ako kabahan at mag-isip ng kung anu-ano. Parang ayaw ko pa lumabas yung result at the same time gusto na din, ang labo. Wednesday night, ito na, magkaka-alaman na. Nung nalaman kong lumabas na, ang una kong nakita ay yung sa Top 10. Wow, 3 Thomasians in the list! Nabuhayan ako ng loob nun. At masaya ako dahil for the first time in 10 years, bumalik na ang UST sa top. This is indeed the start of something good, sana sa mga susunod na exams mas magandang balita pa. Mga ilang minuto din akong tulala sa listahan, hanggang sa naisip kong tignan kung may complete list of passers na. Meron na. Shocks eto na. CTRL+F. Nanginginig pa ako habang nagtatype. Number 1094. Ako ba 'to? Wala naman siguro akong kapangalan no? Oh my God. Thank you, thank you Lord! Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga nakikita ko. Totoo pala yung hindi nagsi-sink in, akala ko pang beauty pageant lang yun. Sobrang saya, para akong nabunutan ng espada sa dibdib. Sinabi ko agad kay mama, at naiyak ako.

Next thing I did was to look for the names of those close to me. Panandalian lang pala yung saya na nararamdaman ko. Bawat pangalan na hindi ko mahanap, dagdag sa sakit na nararamdaman ko. Yung tears of joy, naging tears of sadness. Hindi ko magawang maging masaya. Kung pwede ko lang yakapin isa-isa yung mga kaibigan ko nung time na yun. Gusto ko silang kausapin pero hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin na "okay lang yan" kasi alam kong hindi sila okay. Ang kaya ko lang gawin sa ngayon ay magdasal. I pray that God would give them strength and courage to keep them moving forward. Masakit din para sakin kasi nakita ko yung mga effort at paghihirap nila during the review period at kasama ko sila hanggang matapos yung exam. Guys, kasama niyo parin ako hanggang ngayon. Lagi kayong nasa prayers ko at alam kong malalampasan niyo to. Do not feel discouraged. Taking the exam is already an achievement. Nauna lang kami ng onti but that doesn't make us better than you. I know everyone of us will reach milestones. Pagdating sa trabaho, hindi naman titignan kung topnotcher ka ba o kung pang ilang take ka. Ang importante ay kung paano ka mag-trabaho at kung paano ka makisama sa mga tao. Sure ako lamang na lamang tayong mga Tomasino pagdating diyan. God bless UST ECE Batch 2013! Mahal ko kayo!

Ang dami ko na palang nakwento. Baka wala nang magbasa nito. Teka last na. Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa lahat ng tao na nakasama ko sa paglalakbay ko patungo sa kung ano man ako ngayon. I thank God for giving me a very loving and supportive family. Kayo ang motivation ko sa lahat ng bagay na ginagawa ko. Thank you to all my friends, lahat ng naging teacher ko at sa mga students ko ngayon. Maraming salamat sa lahat-lahat.

All glory and praise to Him!

Tips Para Masulit ang Tuition

2011-05-25T14:40:00.002+08:00

Nagpunta ako sa school kanina para magrenew ng scholarship. Kumuha narin ako sa Dean's Office ng Schedule of Fees.

Ang mahal ng tuition. Pero di na ko nagulat. Sanay na.

Sa totoo lang, sulit naman talaga ang tuition fee, kung quality education ang pagbabasehan. Pero ang Miscellaneous + other fees + other charges? Yun ang padagdag sa bayarin. Hindi rin naman masyadong nagagamit.

Kaya eto ang mga tips ko para masulit ang binabayad natin sa paaralan:

1. Laging mag-library- Manghiram ng libro. Hindi ko naman sinabing basahin mo, basta hiramin mo lang. Tapos siyempre ibalik mo. Kapag mainit, tumambay sa library, sa tapat mismo ng aircon. Kapag umuulan, sa library sumilong. Yung iba kasi may phobia sa library eh, malaki kaya ang library fee!

2. Magpacheck-up kahit walang sakit- Alam niyo ba na kasama din sa miscellaneous ang medical at dental services? Kaya kung boring ang klase, magpanggap na nahihilo para makatulog sa clinic/health service. Note: acting skills required.

3. Mangolekta ng school paper/journal- Para sa mga UST students, akala niyo ba libre lang yung mga Varsitarian na inuupuan niyo tuwing Paskuhan? Binabayaran natin 'yon, pati ang mga journal ng bawat college/course.

4. Magcharge ng cellphone sa school- Sulitin ang binabayad na energy fee. Pwede rin ang laptop, PSP, iPod at lahat ng portable devices. Siguraduhing malapit ka sa saksakan habang nagchacharge. Mag-ingat sa magnanakaw. (Pramis, bumaba ang bill ng kuryente namin nung ginawa ko 'to. )

5. Mag Facebook sa computer lab- Pwede rin sa mga computers sa library dahil kasama yan sa computer fee. Kaso nga lang blocked ang Facebook sa UST, mabuti nalang may proxy sites. Naalala ko nung naglalaro lang kami ng games o kaya Tumblr dahil nakakatamad ang tatlong oras na Cisco class.

6. Maging suki sa Guidance office- Kasama din sa Misc ang Guidance Counseling fee kaya kung may problema ka sa pag-aaral, pamilya o lovelife, diretso ka na sa Guidance office!

7. Sumali sa mga org at school activities- Student activity fee, University wide org at seminar fee. Ilan lang yan sa mga binabayaran natin. Kaya sali lang ng sali, attend lang ng attend. Swerte mo pa kung may libreng chibog.

8. Mag-aral ng mabuti- Siyempre ito ang pinaka importante. Sa sobrang mahal ng matrikula, dapat lang talaga sulitin natin ang tuition. Para naman hindi sayang ang binabayad ng ating mga magulang. Kung meron kang hindi naiintindihan, magtanong sa Prof. Siguraduhing hindi ka lalabas ng classroom na walang natututunan. Piliting maipasa lahat ng subjects dahil gastos lang kapag bumagsak ka.

Senti Sabado: Prinsesa Sarah at Prinsipe Cedie

2011-05-21T14:54:00.002+08:00

Sinong may sabi na sa London lang uso ang Royal family? Meron din sa Pinas niyan 'no, kahit Republic/Democratic/Presidential pa ang type of government at hindi Monarkiya.

Kaso sa TV nga lang...

Sino ba naman ang makakalimot sa "Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa"?

Naalala ko lang bigla kasi nung isang araw may replay sa Studio 23. Ilang beses ko narin 'to napanood at dati talaga tuwang tuwa ako. Dahil sa palabas na 'yan, buong buo ang paniniwala ko na may snow talaga sa Pilipinas.

At siyempre kung may Prinsesa, dapat may Prinsipe rin. Naalala niyo pa ba ang "Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe"?

Ang mga titulo ng pelikula noon.. "[insert name here], Ang Munting [insert title here] ".

Ang sarap lang balikan ng ating kabataan.

Hanggang sa susunod na #SentiSabado!

First Time Inside a Real Casino

2011-05-20T15:13:00.001+08:00

It's been almost two months since I've last seen my classmates and I really miss them.

I remember during those busy days of project-making, when we have to stay in my house to finish etching, drilling and soldering our circuit. PCB etching is such a long and tedious process and it involves a lot of waiting. While waiting, my groupmates and I play Pusoy Dos in our garage and I have to admit, we got addicted to it.

Monopoly is one of the games in Casino Adelina

Even those from the other groups come by my house to ~~finish the project~~ join the Pusoy Dos fun. It happens almost everyday that's why our garage was named "Casino Adelina" (based on our street's name). The casino was also extended in our classrooms (I hope my profs aren't reading this). We form groups and sit on the floor during breaks or when the prof is absent.

A few days ago, I went to Duty Free with my mom and tita. We finished shopping early so my tita decided to spend some time in PAGCOR before we go home.

It was my first time inside a real casino. It wasn't like those I've seen on the movies. It was quiet and full of not-so-young people, not like what I imagined it to be--poker tables, men on suits, noisy and some entertainers like those in Vegas.

Slot machines are everywhere. There are few other games as well like roulette, video poker, and a card game that I'm not very much aware of (I think it's Three card poker, not sure). I was looking for the Texas Hold'em table, but I was unable to spot it.

My tita was very much concentrated on slot machines but she wasn't really lucky that day. My mom and I were just watching. I didn't understand the slot machine at first, but I learned that it was just pure luck, no skills required. We didn't want to play because we might lose our money in the end. We just enjoyed the free drinks everywhere. I had one cup of coffee, two glasses of orange juice and one Coke.

I enjoyed my first time casino experience. I really am into card games, but just playing, not gambling. It's better to stay safe than risk your money then end up penniless.

May 21st Judgement Day

2011-05-14T13:31:00.001+08:00

They say December 21, 2012 is the scheduled date for the end of the world. Apparently, people are making doomsday an urgent matter.

An evangelical group in California, headed by Rev. Harold Camping, founder of Family Radio Worldwide, believes that the Judgement Day will happen on May 21, 2011. He predicts the world will end that day and only true believers of God will remain with Him.

If that prophecy is true, then we only have 9 days left here on Earth. So why am I not bothered?

As a Catholic, I sincerely believe that there will be a Judgment day and it marks the end of time. The Bible clearly states that the Lord will come and only those who believe in Him shall have eternal life in His kingdom.

But when will that happen? Can we really predict the exact date through the galactic alignment, the Mayan calendar or the continuous war and earthquakes?

According to Matthew 24:36,

"But about the day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

It can happen anytime, maybe tomorrow, next year, or next century. Only God knows!

The exact date doesn't really matter. What's important is that we must be prepared for it. Let's live our life to the fullest, love God and our neighbors and party like it's the end of the world.

What is Paris Hilton's Real Motive?

2011-05-10T22:32:00.006+08:00

Who would have thought hotel heiress and socialite Paris Hilton is a huge boxing fan? Or not?

Paris Hilton became a trending topic not just on Twitter but also in the local media for her I-love-Manny-and-Jinkee tweets during the Pacquiao-Mosley fight.

She is rooting for Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and even joined the post-fight press conference, sitting with Jinkee.

It seems like Pacman gained another avid fan and this event somehow made Filipinos more proud that Paris is very vocal of her love for the Philippines.

She even greeted Charice on Twitter! By the way, Happy birthday Charice and congratulations for a job well done singing the National Anthem!

I know the Philippines is a great place and many international celebrities love the country, but the sudden fuss just feels weird. I was thinking maybe Paris has another motive.

Is it because she's opening her 3rd store in the country? And everything is just plain advertising?

I'm still keeping one eyebrow up.

pictures taken from http://www.parishilton.com/

Watch Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley Live Stream

2011-05-08T07:30:00.008+08:00

Two great fighters will face each other on the ring again. It's Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley on the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas for the welterweight championship.

Will Pacman do it again? Or will Sugar release his knockout power to beat the eight-division world champion?

Nothing can stop these two men fight for the belt and nothing can stop boxing fans from witnessing this historical event.

Watch Pacquiao vs Mosley Live Stream

Not Working? Refresh or Try this.

UPDATE 5/8/11 12:55pm
Filipino champ Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao defends WBO Welterweight Crown against "Sugar" Shane Mosley by unanimous decision. (119-108, 120-108, 120-107)

Why is there no Children's Day?

2011-05-07T22:11:00.001+08:00

...

Because for mothers, everyday is children's day.

Happy Mother's Day to all moms in the world!

Senti Sabado: Aaron Carter is the former Justin Bieber

2011-05-07T14:30:00.001+08:00

For my first #sentisabado treat, I'd like to feature the Justin Bieber during our time.. Aaron Carter!

Remember this little guy over here?

Aaron is the most popular kid for young girls back in the 1990s. He is the younger brother of Backstreet Boy's Nick Carter (also a heartthrob back then).

I went to YouTube to watch his music video for "Crush On You". I can't believe I still remember the lyrics.

Unfortunately, kids grow up. A few months ago, Aaron Carter entered rehab for some issues he's dealing with. He was once arrested for marijuana found in his car.

And it seems like he'd become a gym buff too, or steroids buff? Whatever.

Aaron is 23 years old by now. He doesn't look the same anymore. I like him more when he was young.

The Return of Senti Sabado

2011-05-06T18:10:00.000+08:00

If you're a Twitter active user, then you may already be familiar with Senti Sabado.

A few months ago, Pinoy Twitter users reminisce the 80's and 90's using the hashtag #sentisabado every Saturday, hence "Senti Sabado".

It was fun to read tweets on my time line regarding old movies and songs, long lost celebrity stories and other remember-those-days facts.

Now I would like to do this on my blog and I will start tomorrow, of course, because today is Friday Friday (fun fun fun!)

I'm inviting other Pinoy bloggers to do the same. Let's relive those good ol' days!

Chicken Inasal + Thor + Mom

2011-05-04T14:14:00.003+08:00

I had a really great bonding time with my mom yesterday. We've been planning to go out ever since but it was always postponed due to our previous appointments.

We went to Bayan Center to upgrade my DSL speed. I was complaining for the slow internet connection that I'm getting these past few weeks. My DSL plan is just 768kbps so I decided to upgrade it to 1mbps. I really wanted to have at least 1.5mbps but it's too expensive for me.

As usual, choosing the place to eat is the most difficult thing to do when you're in the mall. There are so many restaurants and a variety of cuisines to choose from. Since I'm a Pinoy food lover and I was craving for something grilled that time, I suggested that we eat at Bacolod Chicken Inasal. My mom hesitated and said, "Chicken na naman?". But in the end I convinced her that the food is really great and she should try their bangus.

Bacolod Chicken Inasal is the place to go if you're very hungry because they have combo meals with eat-all-you-can rice at affordable prices. I ordered Chicken Inasal and mom ordered Inihaw na Bangus. We both loved it! I finished my mountain-ful of extra rice in unbelievably fast speed. The chicken tastes really good that I'm not even talking while eating. Mom was glad I convinced her to eat there because she loved it too.

After eating and window shopping, we went to watch Thor. It's a very good movie, from the characters to special effects to the story itself. I loved what they did with the casting. I can't think of any other actor that fits the role of Thor, the God of Thunder than Chris Hemsworth. The movie is very entertaining, packed with action and adventure with a pinch of humor and drama.

Marvel never fails to amaze me. I heard there will be a movie in 2012 called "The Avengers" where Thor, Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) will join forces. That's promising!

It was a very fun day. I hope to have more times like this. Maybe on Mother's Day! Suggestions? :)

Paypal Giveaway by MisoGlam

2011-05-02T13:31:00.000+08:00

Who wants to win Paypal cash? Misoglam is giving away $50 to one of her lucky readers!

Who can enter?

Anyone 18+

Must have a valid email address

Must have a paypal account

All you have to do is subscribe to her blog to be eligible for the raffle. There are other ways to earn more entries, check it out on her blog!

Giveaway ends May 10, 2011 at 11:30 central time. The winner will be chosen by random.org. Winner has 48 hours to reply. Good Luck!!

Blessed John Paul II Beatification: Remembering the Most Loved Pope

2011-05-01T22:41:00.002+08:00

I was one of those who attended the World Youth Day in 1995 and I consider myself very lucky. I was fortunate to see Pope John Paul II, even from afar.

I was very young back then. I'm not really sure what's going on but I know everyone was celebrating. Everyone was so joyful to see the Pope. I felt joyful too.

World Youth Day, UST (1995)

with my mom and aunt

Now that he's already beatified, I became more proud that I have witnessed his love, his humility and kindness. He was a very well-loved Pope for he had done so many great things to the church and to its people.

Beatification is the last step before canonization. I'm not sure if I could still witness that momentous event 'cause that's a very long process. But I'm sure he will be a saint.

The Pope's beatification took only 6 years after he died. He was beatified because of the miracle that happened with a French nun who was cured of Parkinson's disease after she prayed to Pope John Paul II. And now he is only one miracle away from being a saint.

Let's continue the legacy of Blessed John Paul and make our own miracles come true. I remembered these two songs from the World Youth Day:

Let us tell the world of His love, the greatest love the world has known. Search the world for those who have walked astray and lead them home.

For together we stand, divided we fall. Together we climb to the top of the world. We can be what we want for the world to see. That we are the children of yesterday's dream.

Blessed John Paul II, you will always be in our hearts!

AJ Perez on MMK

2011-04-30T22:37:00.001+08:00

It's my first time watching AJ Perez on TV. I must say he did a good job on Maalaala Mo Kaya. He was a handsome guy and a good actor.

I never really paid attention to him when he's still alive. I guess we could only see something or someone's value when it's gone.

It really felt sad and awkward to see a deceased person so alive on TV. AJ's face is very cute even for his role in MMK as a homeless/beggar. His lips make him one of the cutest guys on the screen. And he seems to be a really nice guy.

The MMK Episode entitled "Tsinelas" is basically about two young brothers travelling from Manila to Samar by feet. Most of the scenes were shot in the roads of different provinces. There were also times that they get almost hit by cars and there's a scene that they passed by a cemetery. It's like a premonition. Come to think of it, AJ Perez died in a road accident. Isn't it ironic?

Who would have thought this would be AJ's last TV appearance? Life is indeed short. He was very young and on the peak of his career. Just like Rico Yan, Miko Sotto and Marky Cielo. Look at this photo I found on the internet:

AJ Perez with Rico Yan's poster. I hope they're all happy now. R.I.P. AJ PEREZ.

Vote and Get a Chance to Win Gift Packs!

2011-04-30T14:24:00.002+08:00

Hey there! Since I'm bored and I really want an iPad..

I joined the Century Tuna Totally Packed Video contest this week. One of the criteria is online voting and I need your help to win.

I'm only 30 votes away from the first place so PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU.. VOTE FOR ME! :)

Century Tuna will be giving away gift packs to lucky 'likers'. Winners will be notified via FB message. This will take you only less than a minute.

First, LIKE the Century Tuna Superbods Facebook page:

Then, LIKE my video entry:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1569533253194&oid=149833938363019&comments

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! It means a lot to me. I really want an iPad! :)

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T23:55:00.004+08:00

The Royal Wedding was definitely ROYAL! It was seen all over the world, covered by every channel.

We watched the live coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton's (now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) wedding, from the preparation to the wedding ceremony. Monarchs of different places witnessed the ceremony. The British people were celebrating, and so is the whole world. It was definitely the wedding of the century.

Kate Middleton was stunning on her long sleeve laced gown and tiara. I heard she did her own make-up. Amazing! Her wedding dress was made by Sarah Burton. Prince William saw the dress for the first time when Kate walked on the aisle of Westminster Abbey.

The wedding ceremony was almost the same as those held by ordinary catholic people, although their religion is The Church of England.

The newlyweds proceeded to the Buckingham Palace for the traditional first public kiss at the balcony.

..and they lived happily ever after (hopefully!)

I wasn't really paying attention to every frame of the live coverage, like what everyone in our house did. I didn't even see Mr. Bean on TV! haha. But I saw Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, the camera love them. Besides the bride and groom, two people also caught everyone's attention for their choice of headdress:

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were EPIC! Who among them has the weirder look? I bet Princess Beatrice for the what-the-hell-is-that thing on her head!

And of course, who would forget Queen Elizabeth's yellow dress. Raise your hand if the first person you remember when you her was Cory Aquino!

My mom and my aunts seem to be Princess Diana fanatics. They all agree that Kate is beautiful, but Diana is still the most beautiful princess for them. But who cares anyway? They're both pretty princesses!

Do you know that Kate Middleton is the first commoner to marry a prince? She may not have royal blood, but she came from a wealthy family. And she has the qualities of a woman that every man would dream of. No wonder Prince William fell in love with her!

If a prince could marry a commoner, then it seems like fairy tales do come true! I'm pretty sure we all grew up watching Disney films and there's a point in our lives that we've dreamt of being a princess. So to all the women out there who wants to be the next Kate, I have good news for you..

THERE'S STILL ONE PRINCE LEFT!! :)

Honestly, I find Prince Harry cuter. William's receding hairline is a major turn off. Prince William looks like PNoy on top view! haha. But personally, I'm not really into royal bloods.. All I want is Harry... Harry Potter!

British men, oh well.

I'm Back!

2011-04-29T22:31:00.001+08:00

I'm back! From where? Away from the blogosphere!

It's been 2 months after my last blog post. I was very busy in school. The last days of March were terrible, so many requirements to pass and organization papers to be processed.

For those of you who have been to this blog before, you may have noticed a BIG change on this site. Oh yeah, I finally had the guts to change my 1 year & 4 months old blog layout! I've been planning this since the start of the summer vacation. I really wanted to make my blog more personalized ever since.

The layout and blog title is inspired by Schaum's Outlines, the popular textbook series. I based my concept with it because I was amused that my name rhymes with it and besides, Schaum's Outlines textbooks are part of my school life.

This blog is still under construction. I have more ideas to incorporate on this site. Hopefully it would reach to perfection before the summer ends.

I want to ask for your help with this new blog. Please feel free to comment and suggest on anything about the new concept, layout, etc. I would really appreciate it.

By the way, this is a screenshot of the former layout:

I forgot to take a screenshot of the whole page. But I hope this would bring back memories! :)

So what do you think? Do you like the old one or the new one?

P.S. If you have my link on your blogroll, please do me a favor to change the title from Time to Shine to Claum's Outlines. Thanks!

About

2011-04-29T15:56:00.000+08:00

The owner of this blog is residing in the Philippines. She wanted to be an astronaut but ended up being an Electronics Engineer. She is currently teaching in UST, her alma mater.

She started blogging in the year 2006 but took it seriously in September 2009 when she heard about bloggers who make six figures online. She created her personal blog, "Time to Shine", with the aim of making money through SEO. Information regarding whether she was successful or not... would not be discussed in this section. :)

This blog was later called, "Claum's Outlines", based on her favorite textbook series.

Besides blogging, you can also find her ~~studying~~, watching movies and series, reading a sci-fi/mystery novel, playing and daydreaming.

Her name is pronounced as 'klom'.

And lastly, she accepts donations. Thank you. :)

Super Excited for a Super Weekend

2011-02-05T15:39:00.002+08:00

What makes me super excited about the weekends?

Tomorrow is the Rotaract District Annual Sportsfest! I'm super excited because I'll be with my org friends. It's gonna be a super fun-filled and exciting activity. We'll do our best to win! :)

with my org friends

Also, Glee is back! It will be aired tomorrow after the SUPER Bowl. The episode is entitled SUPER Glee! Isn't that exciting? Watch the sneak peek:

Win P5,000 worth of a fun & pamper package for you and your friend by joining Globe and Azrael Merryland's contest. All you have to do is answer this question, "What makes you super excited about the weekends?". It's very easy, for more details click HERE.

Have a SUPER WEEKEND everyone! :)

UST Quadri Week

2011-01-30T22:03:00.003+08:00

Nothing can stop me from partying and enjoying the Quadri week, even flu. I've been suffering from sore throat, colds, muscle pains and headache for more than a week now. But I couldn't just stay at home and rest, because I want to attend the activities and enjoy the one-week celebration of UST's 400th birthday.

Wednesday. January 26, 2011. The Q Parade.

Our classes were suspended so we could join the parade or watch the Cheermania. More than half of the class chose to join the parade, including me. There were colorful floats and students in costumes. It was actually more than just a parade, I call it parade-procession-rally-marathon. We walked from UST to Mendiola and back to UST. There are times that we have to run, then stop, then walk again. We were waving and shouting "EN-GI-NEE-RING." It was so much fun.

We passed by other schools like FEU and UE. The Tamaraws and the Red Warriors were watching us, some were even waving and shouting with us. The parade lasted for more than an hour. I was very tired and my feet were hurt. But still we all enjoyed it and we all thought it was a great experience.

Thursday. January 27, 2011. The Q Grand Party.

Now I know why Paskuhan 2010 wasn't very bongga. They saved the best for this grand party. It was the most fun, star-studded, and probably expensive UST event ever. There were a lot of celebrity guests, most of them were alumni, such as Albert Martinez, Archie Alemania, Mr. Fu, John Lapus, Jamie Rivera, RJ Jimenez and Sarah Geronimo. Gary Valenciano, though he's not Thomasian, was also present to show his pure energy. Itchyworms also performed in front of the large crowd.

Aside from the celebrities, the whole UST community also enjoyed the performances from their fellow Thomasians. And of course, the most awaited part is the fireworks display. It was the best I've seen so far, though it lasted for only 4 minutes. Medyo bitin talaga.

Friday. January 28, 2011. Mass and Quadri Fiesta.

Happy 400th birthday, UST! Technically, this day isn't really the foundation day of UST. Insert History lesson here: The University of Santo Tomas was founded by Bishop Miguel de Benavides on April 28, 1611. But since April 28 falls on summer vacation, UST traditionally celebrates it's anniversary during January 28, also to commemorate St. Thomas Aquinas' feast day.

We attended the mass at the grandstand. It was very inspiring and it made me more proud to be a Thomasian. The mass were attended by the Papal legate (representative of the Pope, since Pope Benedict couldn't come) and several bishops. After the Holy Eucharist we lighted our candles. It was an epic scene.

After the mass, the alumni went to Plaza Mayor for the Grand Alumni Homecoming. They were serenaded by the UST Singers and entertained by some local celebrities like John Lapus (again), Beverly Salviejo, Arnold Clavio and Jed Madela. The first three celebs are UST graduates. Their buffet looks really good and they were also given souvenirs. They paid P1,590 for that.

For those who cannot afford the Alumni Homecoming, the Quadri Fiesta is the 'knight in shining armor'. Free food for everyone: students, faculty, staffs, alumni, parishioners and even passers-by. It is literally a fiesta. We had Max's chicken, roasted calves and lechon baboy for dinner. Eat all you can. YUM. There was another fireworks display after the homecoming, but I was not able to watch it in UST. Good thing I live nearby.

The best part of the night was when we saw Polo Ravales walking. I ~~stalked~~ followed him and said, "Excuse me po, pwede po magpa-picture?" This is his answer:

Overall, I really super-duper very much enjoyed the Quadri week. It is indeed the best week of my college life. I am so much proud to be a Thomasian. Others call it existence, but we call it 400 years of unending grace! HAPPY 400th BIRTHDAY, UST!!!

photos taken from Tumblr

The Q List

2011-01-23T21:12:00.003+08:00

Whew. That was one hell of a ~~week~~ month. The last two weeks for me was very stressful and very tiring. So I spent the whole day resting. The results of the exam are still bothering me though. I can't help but think of it.

Good thing the Quadricentennial week is coming ahead. There will be a lot of activities in UST. I went there earlier and I saw the preparations. They were setting up two stages at the Grandstand and at Plaza Mayor. There were also tents beside the field and a huge yellow hot air balloon-like thing. Classes would not be suspended but it's still up to the professors to give permission to the students to go to the Q Fair.

In cooperation of the 400th foundation of UST, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will release 200 peso bills with the Qudricentennial logo. There are also UST commemorative Swatch watches and other merchandises available at the Quadri Cart located at Plaza Mayor.

A 200-peso bill with the UST400 logo

I'm not sure when the commemorative bills, coins and stamps will be released but I'll make sure I can get one. I wanted the Swatch too, but it's too expensive for me. I'm also planning to buy another UST shirt to wear on the grand party. There are so many Quadri memorabilia, I wouldn't be surprised if they release Qtix: the Quadricentennial Nail Polish and Qcumber: the Quadricentennial vegetable. :))

So here's the list of events for the coming week:

QUADRICENTENNIAL WEEK EVENTS

January 24, 2011

OPENING OF THE QUADRICENTENNIAL FAIR
8:00 am UST Plaza Mayor

OPENING OF THE JUBILEE DOOR
OPENING EUCHARIST FOR THE Q WEEK
5:15 pm UST Chapel

January 25, 2011

Q SHORT FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS NIGHT
7:00 pm UST Plaza Mayor

January 26, 2011

Q PARADE
8:00 am UST Campus, University Belt

OPENING OF THE 10th BIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITIES OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (ICUSTA)
9:00 am UST Chapel

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA OPERA
5:00 pm UST Medicine Auditorium

January 27, 2011

ICUSTA CONFERENCE
9:00 am UST TARC (Thomas Aquinas Research Center) Auditorium

UNVEILING OF THE QUATTROMONDIAL MONUMENT
6:30 pm Quadricentennial Square

Q GRAND PROGRAM
7:00 pm UST Grandstand and Open Field

January 28, 2011

UST ALPA (ALUMNI PRIESTS ASSOCIATION) HOMECOMING
8:00 am UST Central Seminary Gymnasium

Q THANKSGIVING MASS
5:00 pm UST Grandstand and Open Field

ONE@400: Q GRAND ALUMNI HOMECOMING DINNER
7:00 pm UST Plaza Mayor and Benavides Park
(Tickets sold at P1,590 may be purchased from TicketNet at all SM Department Store Customer Service Areas and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket booths. You may call 911.5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph. Tickets are also available at the UST Office for Alumni Relations, Tel. No. 743.8431 or 406.1611 loc. 8556. Proceeds of ticket sales shall be for the UST Simbahayan project.)

January 24-27, 2011

QUADRICENTENNIAL FAIR

Source: UST Quadri Facebook account

I'm really excited for this. I hope I could attend every activity. This is a once in a lifetime event and I'm very proud that I'm part of UST's history.

Everyone's invited! Come and visit us at the University of Santo Tomas, January 24-28, 2011!

Bad Day. Prayers Badly Needed

2011-01-19T23:02:00.002+08:00

Bloody Red Books

Done with 4 exams, 3 more to go. The first day was good. I'm confident with my answers in Electronics and Computer Networks. I guess studying for 3 days straight was a good idea. Unlikely, the second day (today) isn't really good. I slept late last night to study Materials Science. I thought I've reviewed everything, but when I saw the test paper, everything just fell off. Mental block attack, hate it. We took an hour break to talk about that dreadful exam and for a last minute review in Mechanics. At first, I thought I did good in Mechanics, but after the test I heard my classmates' answers and they were all different from mine. I realized that I was very careless that I omit some of the details in the problems, resulting to wrong answers.

Moving on, we received bad news earlier during our Mech exam:

Prof.: Your Electromagnetics exam (scheduled tomorrow) is postponed.

Class: YEEESSSSS! YEHEY! YEEEEEY!

Prof.: May sakit si Sir Bangles.

Class: Aawwww. :(

Honestly, we were a bit sarcastic. Everyone's rejoicing that it's rest day tomorrow. Of course we thought it was just an ordinary fever or something so we continued with our exams. After the exam, we learned that Sir Bangles was rushed to the hospital and he's in the Intensive Care Unit. The reason why he collapsed is still uncertain but it is likely due to aneurysm (a dilation in the arteries of the brain). We were so shocked because my classmates even saw him earlier with his usual high spirit and he was very masigla. We came to the hospital even if we knew that visitors are not allowed. We saw the head of the ECE department and she told us that Sir Bangles will undergo a major brain surgery. She added that Sir Bangles just had his CT scan and that the operation is very crucial so we really need to pray for him.

Sir Bangles is probably the jolliest and most approachable Professor in the department. He is very close to us because he was our adviser last semester. It's just so sad to think that a young, energetic guy like him is undergoing this kind of challenge. He really needs our prayers right now. Please do him a favor and add his successful operation and speedy recovery in your prayers. Thank you very much. I know he can make it with God's help.

Virgin No More

2011-01-15T21:14:00.004+08:00

My life has changed in an instance. Who would have thought this would happen? Often considered a shy, "lady in waiting" personality.. now becomes a fearless, majestic, leader! From Virgo the virgin to Leo the Lion! Virgin no more.

Gotcha! I'm talking about the zodiac sign change, of course. What were you thinking? Hahaha.

There's a fuss going on about the new zodiac signs due to the change in the earth's axis. A 13th zodiac sign was added to the list: Ophiuchus, the serpent holder. Because of this, dates have been moved in the zodiac chart. See if yours have changed too:

Capricorn

January 20- to February 16

Aquarius

February 16 to March 11

Pisces

March 11 to April 18.

Aries

April 18 to May 13

Taurus

May 13 to June 21.

Gemini

June 21 to July 20

Cancer

July 20 to August 10

Leo

August 10 to September 16

Virgo

September 16 to October 30

Libra

October 30 to November 23

Scorpio

November 23 to November 29

Ophiuchus

November 29 to December 17

Sagittarius

December 17 to January 20

I don't know who started this 13th zodiac thing. Even astronomers insist that our zodiac signs would never change, no matter how fast the earth revolves. It's as impossible as adding a new month to a year. So I personally don't believe this. I'm not a fan of astrology and I don't believe in horoscopes. The future cannot be found in the calendars, neither is success. My prediction is: Whether Virgo or Leo, if I do my best, God will do the rest. So let's leave it all up to Him.

What can you say about this? Has your zodiac sign changed? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. :)

Sources:
Red Thread
Cafe Astrology
MyFox 9

K-Pop Domination

2011-01-09T15:37:00.001+08:00

Is anyone here not familiar with the song, "Nobody nobody but you! *Clap clap, clap clap*"? If yes, then prepare to be stabbed to death. Not by the Wonder Girls, but by some drunk men, just like this:

Absurd, isn't it? Getting killed because you can't sing "Nobody". What an ugly way to die. The lesson here? ~~Drink moderately~~. Memorize "Nobody".

K-Pop or Korean Pop is indeed the widest phenomenon of the 2010 scene (second would be the Jejemons). I remember when I was in High School, there were only 3 Korean students in our school. Now there are more or less 300 of them in UST. It seems that the Koreans came here not only to study, but also to invade the music and television industry.

After the successful hit of the Wonder Girls, K-Pop became more prominent in the Philippines when Sandara Park, who happens to live and work here as a teen actress a few years back, became popular together with the all-female group 2NE1. Though Sandara Park isn't Filipino, she at least gave us a boost of Pinoy pride when she became successful in Korea.

Honestly, I'm not much of a K-Pop fan, but I'm not a hater either. I admit that I was once hooked to Koreanovelas and I think Korean guys are cute. A good example of a cute guy would be Nichkhun, a member of the K-Pop group 2PM. I learned about him when I saw a compilation of pictures and videos of him winking. Yeah right, he is best known for his winks.
I watched a few videos of him in YouTube and I found out that he's not just a handsome face, he can play the guitar and piano too! I also learned that he is Thai-Chinese. He turns out to be not Korean, after all! Amazed by his good looks and talent, I followed him on Twitter. But still, that doesn't count me as a fan. Because by definition, fans would be something like this:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is not the feast of the Black Nazarene. This is when Super Junior arrived in Manila. Avid fans were so much excited to see SuJu that they mobbed NAIA to welcome the famous K-Pop group. This just proves how phenomenal Korean Pop really is. As of now, not only their music and television series are being adapted by the world, but even their culture. Try shopping in Divisoria, you'll find the Chinese store owners wearing Korean fashion. K-pop fans are also studying the Korean language.

Some would find this obsession ridiculous. Some people says it's not patriotic. You could even read rude, racist comments about it. What I think about this is simply RESPECT. We have our own preferences, or should I say, addictions. So let's just mind our own business. Besides, it's better to be addicted to other country's culture than to be addicted to drugs, right?

The question is, will K-Pop still be IN this 2011?

My fearless forecast: YES.

11-Point Agenda for 2011

2011-01-01T18:48:00.002+08:00

2010 was a year filled with pressure and stress. So this year, I will lessen my worries, have more fun and enjoy every moment 2011 has for me.

I don't make New Year's resolutions, primarily because I know I would just be disappointed at the end of the year. To start the year with good vibes, I will set my goals and I would like to call it, My 11-Point Agenda for 2011:

1. Academics- aim for "Claum-laude". Studying is my first priority, of course. My biggest dream is to graduate cum laude. I still have 2 more years to work on that dream.

2. Be an earth-warrior. Caring for the environment is my advocacy this year. I'm planning to join Earth-UST next semester and join more tree-planting activities.

3. Be more socially-active. Not by spending more time on social-networking sites but by participating on school and club activities. I already have a list of organizations on my mind.

4. Sleep early, wake up early. I don't want eye bags this year and I don't want to be late for class.

5. Exercise. No, I would not be hitting the gym. I don't have enough cash for that. I want to join marathons, like run for a cause and such. Also, exercise instead of sleeping.

6. Live a healthy lifestyle. I would not be on South beach diet, for I don't have much fats left. I'll just eat healthy food, stay away from sickness.

7. Spend more, but spend wisely. I would not be buying unnecessary stuffs this year. I realized that I was a bit thrifty last year. So I will reward myself on every achievement I earn, because I know I deserve it.

8. Be a better blogger. I'll try to update my blogs more often. I also have this big dream--to be a popular, filthy-rich blogger! But I still have a lot of catching up to do, I have to work my fingers to the bone.

9. Lessen FB hours. Spend more time reading a novel or watching movies instead of browsing Facebook for hours.

10. Party harder. Not necessarily clubbing. I missed a lot of birthday parties and get-together's last year so I'll make sure I wouldn't be missing any celebration this year.

11. Pray harder. I need to spend more quality time with God. Never forget to thank Him everyday and ask for his guidance. Prayers move mountains.

I hope by the end of the year, I could present a complete checklist and make a blog post saying, "I've done it all."