UAAP 72 Opening

Looks like I'm not covering the event. I wasn't able to get a media pass.

DLSU lost to UE. 46-65.

Fell asleep while watch the intense German GP Qualifying.

Late Birthdays

There is a new trend among my high school peers.

So far, for this year, Migs celebrated his birthday, 4 days after his birthday but ironically, he was the first to celebrate for the year. Aston's birthday is on Jan. 27, he celebrated it today with Migs.

If the trend goes well, my birthday celebration will be on October, and those on December, will have it on March.

We had the celebration at the usual place in Greenhills, Grilla. I arrived late but not as late as the others. Sky said that when he arrives, it would be Sky + 1. So Dax and I anticipated it. Everyone who passes by and who happens to have a partner, we tend to look and see if it was Sky. Dax and I never got fed up until Sky came. Sky + 0 that is.

Gelo followed after and said he was with Mac, but since Mac had stomach problems, as Gelo calls it, Mac's new car freshener. Mac went home to do what he had to do. He returned afterwards.

There was a moment, I was thinking of the next 5 years. What will be of us? Most of us knew each other since grade school, and that's 10 years ago! It really amazes me how this group of friends really stay in tact.

The night was filled with laughs and stories that kept everyone intouch. Too bad Chia and Kat weren't there.

We left around 2:30am; when the store lights were already closed and nothing else in Greenhills was well lighted.

Hosting

I was the host of this year's LSCS 1st General Assembly, and I was wearing green.

I was supposed to be paired with Elaine but it didn't happen. Instead, she became my photographer.

The GA was fun with the games but I do must admit, everything was not really in order and I hated it. One word, impromptu. I had no program flow, I had no cues, I had no knowledge of the activity. I was left with a wireless headset-microphone that I first thought was cool but later became a pain in the ear.

I noticed I wasn't a very good host, not good at all. If I would reflect back, I would just say that I did for the organization.

After the activity, we had food, turon and a burger. During that time, I invited Marc to go to my house to jam. Elaine found out and told me she wanted to talk to Marc, She looked upset and frustrated when I told her that we would be leaving soon. I ditched my neighbor, Iris, who had a car that would bring us home. Jerrick and I waited for Marc.

Upon arriving home and at the band room, we stumbled upon the band room's stupid clock. As we changed the time, the second hands turns clockwise but at very high speed. Awesome.

Not For Sale

After my class, Marc was waiting for me. I invited Irrise to come along and she did. We went to my house and then to Greenhills to look for gift. It was frustrating because the ideal gift was in front of us already, separated by a glass frame:

Not For Sale.

We headed back to the train station and back to school. Marc was absent-minded as her boarded the wrong platform and went with Irisse and I. I had to get my thesis and journals in school. Marc and I were able to catch up with Jonats and Rui for a ride home.

Later that night, as I searched for my thesis files, I asked Jonats about my missing flashdrive, and it was in his car. So I drove off to get it.

I've been here and there, and back again twice.

More drama for the night. Y!M, Plurk, everywhere..

Closure

I woke up today knowing that she would pass by.

I found out that Peter wanted to borrow my SB-600 so I thought that to save Riva the hassle of commuting, I told her to have a ride with Peter.

A Jolibee lunch was all that Peter needed as he fell asleep after eating. Riva and I continued capturing her old family videos and converting them. Peter left around 3 or 4pm.

The time I thought would never come, came. It was just the both of us. After asking the heavy question, "how are you?" the minutes turned into the most dramatic and emotional night.

I found out about old news, I found out a lot of things. She showed me things that I never thought existed.

What I can say is, when she drew out the first tear, mine followed right after.

Hours passed and the burden, the pain, the drama, filled my room.

We had last moments before dinner, and after dinner in the car. My parents wanted to bring her home and that's what they did. At the back seat we sat, staring and gazing at each others eyes, everything came back to me. The motion-blurred streets fills her background, as the dim street light lit her face as I got lost in her eyes. The grip of her touch, the fear of letting go.

We arrived at her building and I went upstairs with her and had the longest good bye I myself could not imagine. The last sight of her face, her eyes, her hand. Never to be seen as how I saw it before and tonight.

"No photos tonight.. only memories to be remembered by you me.. never to be immortalized.. but never to be forgotten.."

Thank You

I would like to thank the following for my 22nd birthday gift:

• Marc Obaldo
• Kebs Yson
• Riva Uy
• Peter Lee
• Glenn Chua
• Karol See
• Dianne Anes
• Shelley Co
• Jerrick Chua
• Allen Dizon
• Vea Novenario
• Jon Ng
• JM Chan
• Xtian David
• Audrey Ong
• Joyce Sia
• Joyce Dayego
• Jag Talong
• Elaine De Dios
• Raisa Aquino
• and a few more from the Kamiseta

Thank you, Riva, for the conference you started, even though it was difficult for you.
Thank you, Marc and Jerrick for the assistance.

I got a waterproof DSLR casing. :)

Human Computer Interaction

Earlier in class today, the class wasted the first 30 minutes having the best debate in class vs. professor-who-can't-speak-well-or-teach-well history.

I entered the room after receiving a text message from Kebs, Kebs wanted me to sign his attendance for him but it didnt matter, even if he arrived late. The class had a debate they were longing for. Here are some reasons why:

the prof always:

• says "quite sometimes" in a wrong grammar
• has wrong grammar
• constructs poor sentences
• reads singular form words as plural
• reads plural from words as singular
• thinks she is supreme over the students

the class believes:

• each of us know more about the subject
• that we can make her wonder at computers
• she doesnt know how to use a computer
• she sucks
• she really has to improve the PowerPoint slides
• we dont learn anything new
• that we dont need to learn about the color wheel in this class
• she wont criticize our Graphic User Interfaces or GUI's

I think:

• that she should quit
• that the IT Dept. should observe her
• that the CCS Faculty is desperate for professors
• that Joseph can teach the entire syllabus in 3 sessions

The debate was about the assignment she gave out, she stated that we should create a function which means in ComSci terms, we have to code it. She gave no deadline, which means we have to wait for a deadline. According to her, we just needed a PowerPoint presentation. WTF. The debate was also about why less than half of the class didnt submit. She finally gave in on when the assignment was due. Then Kebs enters the classroom, missing nothing but the debate.

I'm expecting nothing great from this professor. I'm going to pass this course, learning nothing but how to speak stupid English.

The Cat

Today, I went to school for another canceled thesis meeting which I hope will push through tomorrow. Our 11am call time was canceled as I kept asking the CT Secretary for our thesis adviser's attendance. She didn't arrive.

On the way back to the nook, Rui spotted a kitten on the stairs of our building. We decided to bring it inside the nook. Everyone who entered were surprised that there was actually an animal (that was not a rat) in the nook. The girls awed at the kitten especially when it drank milk, milk that Joyce bought mainly for the kitten. The kitten stayed on the table until lunch time and later in the afternoon. Murphy, the cat lover, was really enjoying the kitten and as for the ones who were scared of the kitten, such as Rich, Irisse and Richmond, remained scared. The kitten was so cute with a colorful old handkeerchief wrapped around it while it was sleeping. I got the kitten sometime after having lunch and placed it in the canteen where there were other cats.

I had lunch with Marc, Jegs and the others were missing. I accompanied Jegs as she bought her food because she wasnt feeling well. She was asleep during the kitten-attention-invasion in the nook.

Marc and I later seeked for something to eat even though we had lunch 2 hours earlier. We went back to the canteen with Irisse, Audrey and Richmod. The kitten somehow recognized me and approached us. Richmond paniced as if it was the beetle I was holding during the Zambales outing.

Afterwards, Marc and I installed the new printer in the nook, I fell asleep for 5mins somewhere in the middle, then later went home with Jerrick.

No photos today. I didn't expect so much could happen in a predicted useless day.

Cholesterol

Woke up late today from yesterday's fatigue.

I uploaded my photos at my Multiply site to keep it updated.

My lunch was Cebu Chicken on stone grill then had a Shawarma for a snack then watched Ice Age 3 with my parents. Went to church for the 7:15 mass where I fell asleep during the Homily. We had dinner at Freska, still in Green Hills, and I ordered Chicken and Pork barbecue. I wasnt able to finish my meal because I felt the oil running through my body. My meal came with La Paz Batchoy soup which my dad devoured with his steamed oysters. My appetizer was Sizzling Garlic Mushrooms (swimming in oil).

No Formula 1 racing today, I have to wait next week, instead, I watched a documentary about a local having a parasite twin. The man was called Octupus Man.

Teaching & Drumming

Early this morning, I was the speaker for the LSCS activity, the Know Your PC series. I'm expecting I'll be teaching again for the next episodes of the activity.

There was a small number of participants. I wasn't to pleased with it but there was nothing I could do. I was happy in the end of the activity because it turned out to be interactive even for a small group. I have Marc to thank as well for helping me out during the activity. He took the pictures and showed vidoes from YouTube to the participants.

We saw Sir Kaloy after and had a short talk about what he owes Marc and I. Upon arriving at the nook, I took 3 chairs and slept until the people from their Game Design class finish.

I had lunch as usual with the 107's, buying Fruitas' Buko Fruit Salad. Some of the Kamiseta were planning to watch Ice Age 3 in Gateway and I wanted to join if I could but I had band practice.

While waiting for my band mates, Em, Derrick, Hiro and Renz, I was keeping myself busy by texting them where they were. Since Derrick was driving, my band mates rode with him and the Kamista group rode in my car, clown style. 8 people consisting of Rui, who just went along for a ride home, Mykel sitting on Marc, Joyce sitting on the center piece, Jegs seated at the center of the chair, and Jerrick sitting on JC. Yes, the manliness. I dropped them at the LRT station as I headed home for practice.







We had troubles getting the sounds balanced for the instruments, the guitars were too loud, the drums overpower the vocals and the bass sometimes just shuts off. Eventually things turned out a bit ok. My dad took some clips of us practicing. After practice I was knocked out. Tired. We had a Jolibee burger steak dinner which was way cheaper than our last band practice dinner of Pizza Hut.

My day was done, and I was tired. My body started to ache so I decided to put myself to rest. Thank God it's Sunday tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Alloy

Alloy turns 19 today.

The LSCS had their Process Workshop with the CSO. I was in school because I had a thesis meeting that was eventually canceled.

A big birthday card was awaiting to be signed by people who cared for Alloy. I drew a small camera at the bottom right side of the card greeting him a happy birthday. There were alot of participants in the first part of the workshop. I just entered the room to check and to be part of the fun.

Before the lunch break a virus was able to enter my laptop through Irisse's flash disk ,so I had to clean it both my laptop and her flash drive. After cleaning, I felt dizzy, feeling like the virus from the computer transferred to me. I rested my head then asked Irisse to accompany me to the clinic. I got my medicine and rested in a bench located at the SJ Walk. Irisse and I bought the same drink while the Buko Fruit Salad wasnt available. We followed the some of the 107's and 106 to the canteen where most of them already started eating. When they were done eating, they left. Jerrick didn't leave right away. He was just there staring and probably listening to Irisse ans I's conversation.

Jerrick was hesitant to play billiards and was inviting almost anyone to play. My mood changed after knowing that my thesis consultation was canceled. I felt like a day was just about to be wasted. I decided that I wanted to go out, play billiards probably.

The plan was, to get Irisse's and Mykel's OJT papers at Coke, then go to MOA to play billards but becauseof the traffic and the time loss, we became lazy to play. We contacted Marc if he wanted to tag along. As long as we are going to eat something and somewhere, he's game. After picking him up at the Gox Taft Gate, stupidity becomes fun. Marc was so drained that he was singing the tune that was being played in the radio while his lyrics were absolutely whatever his eyes read. We headed of to JT's Manukan where we had our merienda and where Marc had his lunch and passing by Pan de Manila afterwards.

After dinner, I again invited Kim to hang out and this time, she had a 10:30pm curfew. We were at the Lanai then later Jerrick follows, so much for cousin bonding. My ways of storytelling changed for that moment as more interruptions came like my other neighbors who were shooting pellet guns at each other. As my cousin's curfew approaches we started walking home and just in time before the rain hit hard.

Many ups and downs for the day, a bit of frustrations balanced out with shallowness. I had to teach the next day, so I started preparing.

The first thing I saw in school today was this cat that stuck in a fence 5 feet above the ground.

Day # 183

My Interactive Storytelling class was moved back to its original room in the SJ Bldg. The renovation of the room had some improvements like the freezing aircon, glass boards and the new computer tables. The renovation had more disadvantages because the computers were still the old ones and worse of all, the room didn't offer much space for students.

Our professor let us watched a video in YouTube and she required us to listen. In a class of 40, watching YouTube videos with sounds coming from cheap speakers at the same time was not the best idea. Good thing I had my earphones that came with my Ipod.

My next class was pathetic as ever, the subject is cool but the professor needs to go back to English 101. Imagine learning nothing from a good topic because of lousy PowerPoint slides and a professor who mixes her own language with the English. She said "quite sometime" for more than 10 times in a span of 15-20 minutes and totaled over 30+ for the entire hour and a half.

I had my lunch with the 107's. After Irisse and I bought the same food, the rest wanted to have something similar to what we bought. Fruit salad inside a coconut filled with the juice and sweets of the mixture. I spent the rest of the day in the nook mostly talking to Irisse until the next adventure it me.

Some of the 107's wanted to watch a show in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and needed student discounts for the tickets. They also needed a proxy for their blockmates that werent available at the moment so I tagged along.

During the walk and commute I was sharing my Ipod with Irisse as the rest of the pack were walking slowly despite that they were the ones in a rush and who were after the time. After waiting for the orange jeep to be filled up with people, we arrived at the CCP and bought tickets. We decided to walk back to school and missing the planned Starbucks sidetrip.

Andrew informed me later about having a practice shoot for the school's UAAP basketball team and he wanted to learn how to shoot sports. I went along with him and got frustrated. I wasnt frustrated at Andrew, I was frustrated with the poor lighting in the gym, I felt the limitations that my camera had and was pulling me down. Andrew and I had a small camera talk with a coach who had a DSLR. I do hope he remembers what I told him. Jon later appeared and tagged along with Andrew and I for a short while. After an hour, we headed back to the nook at Andrew's tasks were somewhat complete.

I waited for my blockmate, Jonats to finish swimming for a ride home and we were joined by the usual people; Marc, Rui, and Allen. The Jonats car moments always keep the bonding alive, with unlimited stories to share and ofcourse the shallowness of whatever topic making us forget the down side of life.

I asked my cousin, Kim, to go out. I told her stuff that I'm not ready to tell other people, especially people I see everyday in school. That's what I like about my cousin, she's innocent having a 7 year gap from me, she's so adorable that she makes me smile. She often asks for girl related stories or JC-fail stories.

First of the Half Year

I had no classes today. I just went to school to meet up with my thesismates, Rai, Nikki and Kebs, to have a consultation regarding our thesis. We met our adviser at the Emphatic Lab where Kebs and Rai were mysteriously searching for microphones that could be hidden just for laughs. Sidenote, the computers in the Empathic Lab had Core 2 Quad processors. Wow.

My neighbor happened to be in school that day. He offered me a ride home but I told him that he would just have to go home by himself because I had my thesis to finish. After the consultation I headed down to the Nook where I found some of the 107's still staying in school. Marc wanted to go home and played a pranked on Joyce and I but eventually was ruined by Jegs. Marc and Audrey were hidden in a not so good hiding place in the lobby. I went home with Marc, Audrey and Joyce by the means of public transportation common in the Taft area: the LRT.

In the train, our eyes (except Joyce's) saw something disturbing, and since we can't laugh out loud about it or talk about it in public, we decided to laugh at the 'Danger' sign in the train. Marc read it as 'dang-ger.' As Marc and I arrived at our station, we just let a flow of people pass us by before we steop foot on the platform. Laughed about the plateau with hair on the sides we saw earlier. We call it 'dang-ger.' In the next train, Marc told me something that I wasn't surprised about. Our topic was cut short as I went down my station.

As the rain poured down on the street, my mother calls me and says that she would fetch me at the station closer to our office because of the strong rain. So I waited for the next train.

Upon arriving home, life was no different, going online and chatting, surfing the web and feeling sorry over something.

No photos for today, only memories that will remain abstract and a blur in the next few years.