Another reason to go home

I love Manila.

Okay, I lied. Some parts of Manila, I absolutely love, the rest I just don't. It is not the place itself but me and my "hilo" moments when the temperature is too high. Masaklap

Anyway, back to Manila.

One very interesting thing about Manila is its culture - yung mga streetfood, yung naglalakihang mga buildings, yung mga nagbebenta ng kung anu-ano, yung init, yung makukulay na jeepney, yung traffic, yung Luneta, yung naglalakihang billboards...some might see some of these things as negative but for me, these things make Manila unique and full of adventure. Not that tamang may traffic jam or whatever but somehow, being away from home makes me miss Manila with all its negative and positive sides. Weird I know, specially because of numerous Filipinos hating the weather and a lot of other things about their homeland.

Ang saya tumambay sa Intramuros, ang sarap magbyahe sa may Roxas Boulevard, enjoy ang adventure sa paglalakad, etc. I love the hustle and bustle of this city. Even if I love QC more, I must admit, iba pa rin ang Maynila.

Imagine when I saw these designs from Team Manila. Their designs feature things that are uniquely Pinoy at syempre iconic emblems from, san pa, Manila! I love Jose Rizal sporting those aviators! Haha!

Real Cool.

Here's an article about the store from clickthecity.com.

Image from clickthecity.com.

Bad feng shui?

I want to drop my Women's Studies class. Okay, it is interesting but I'm having problems with it. I can go on and on with the reasons but the main things is I am lost in that class. Everything the instructor says just won't penetrate my brain cells. My mind is always floating midair everytime I'm in that class.

I'm supposed to write a paper that is due on Monday but I can't start 'cause I can't understand what the hell I'm supposed to write about. Bwiset talaga. No offense meant, but I have a problem with feminist writers. I cannot understand what they are talking about without me getting crazy and panicky. I am only able to understand their essays when the due date for my paper is too near. Pero dito talaga sa A Theory of Gendered Organizations, grabe! I understand the point of the article and what she wants to happen but I cannot expound on her arguments because I cannot understand what she's really trying to say on each. This is mainly because, I have no idea of the theories she is talking about. I wish my instructor discussed them but she did not. Bwiset na "organizational processes" yan. She repeated those two words a thousand times in the article but I don't have an idea what is it.

I really want to drop the class NOW.

Aside from that fact that this class has a lot of requirements (tests, group report, different kinds of written assigments, and surprise quizzes), I really don't feel "comfortable" in this class. Lost talaga ako sa mga pinagsasabi ng instructor kong kahawig pa naman ni Rachel McAdams. "Lost" hindi dahil hindi siya magaling magturo, nawiwindang lang talaga ako at ikinukumpara ko ang teaching style niya dun sa nag-sub sa kanya na dati ko ring prof.

I hate to think that I'm giving up this easily on an elective but this is really stressful. 15% ng final grade ang paper na 'to which means, if I don't hand this in, the highest grade that I can get is 85% which of course, impossible to get given the circumstances. So, I'm guessing getting an A or a B+ will depend largely on luck. Bad trip. Di bale sana kung ito ang priority ko. Syempre, I'll devote all my time and effort if this is class is so important para lang makabawi. But no, so I guess...

Ahh. Kaasar.
I have the whole night to think about this.

Isang malaki at malakas na sampal

Galing ito sa getrealphilippines.com. Basahin para matauhan.

Worried about racial discrimination when travelling overseas? Try to evaluate your current standing in your own country. Just by virtue of your regional accent, skin tone, alma mater, and even height, you are discriminated against in your own country. In the presence of foreigners, we Filipinos are often reduced to sheepishly-smiling and highly-accommodating buffoons. No wonder we are touted as a friendly and hospitable people. With the proper attitude and flair, most foreigners can make their way into any Philippine society clique, gain access through any security measure, and secure limelight space in Philippine showbiz – generally schmooze their way into the hearts of the political and social elite of the country. For us, mere association with one of them is a validation of our place in our own society. Imelda Marcos was the most famous embodiment of this trait.With the amount of preferential treatment that is given to foreigners in this country, we are lucky that we haven’t yet found ourselves hosts to a new generation of foreign carpetbaggers and opportunists. Yet foreigners get better service at restaurants and banks and are given serious consideration when they raise a stink about anything. Among ourselves, however, complaining about bad service, raising relevant issues, or even standing up for certain principles in a serious manner goes against every principle of our ‘pakikisama’ mentality and general apathetic disposition.

One of my "Priestly Moments"

I just realized how I loathe people who are assuming.
I hate people who interpret things in unbelieveable ways just to satisfy their ego.
I detest people who can't be true to themselves just to please everybody.
I hate it when people think they are important to you when they are not.

Haha. I just want to spread bitchiness once in a while. Haha.

Gising Pinoy

Dahil hindi ko pa gamay ang Wordpress (napa-convert agad ako ni Arianne at Ate Karen. Dapat pala nagpakipot muna ko. Haha!), dito ko muna 'to ipo-post.

Napagusapan namin kanina nila Sybil at Arianne yung pinalabas na documentary sa CBC titled Selling Sex in Heaven. Narrated by Keifer Sutherland, the documentary tells about the story of Mila, a prostitute in the Philippines. Now, I can't really tell you much about it because, sadly, I did not have the chance to watch. Ang maibibigay ko lang ay ang opinyon ko sa isyu.

Sa totoo lang, paulit-ulit na yang pagtalakay na yan tungkol sa prostitusyon sa iba't ibang palabas sa telebisyon PERO hanggang ngayon wala pa ring solusyon dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin tayo nagigising. Hindi pa natin nakikita ang mga dapat nating makita.

Tayo? Bakit tayo? Sasabihin sa akin ng iba, wala sa atin ang ikakabago ng Pilipinas - nasa sistema, nasa gobyerno, nasa mga taong nagpapalakad ng gobyerno. Hindi daw natin responsibilidad ang kumilos at tumulong dahil ang gobyerno ang dapat gumagawa noon. Ang gagawin lang natin ay kalampagin lang sila para gawin ang mga hinihingi natin sa kanila. Mag-rally, magreklamo, magpapirma ng mga petisyon at kung anu-ano pang mga pampagising para malaman daw ng gobyerno na nagbabantay ang mamamayan sa mga ginagawa nila.

Pero mabuti ba talaga yun? Mabuti ba ang magreklamo habang ikaw mismo sa sarili mo, hindi mo ginagawa ang mga dapat mong gawin?

Madalas kong naririnig na nagrereklamo ang mga Pilipino dito sa Canada na kesyo masyado daw ang traffic sa Pilipinas. Kahit sa Pilipinas, madalas na sinasabi yan ng lahat ng tao. Inirereklamo nila ang mga kapwa nila motorista, ang mga pulis, ang mga kalsada at kung anu-ano pa PERO malalaman mo naman kapag tumagal na ang kwentuhan na sila mismo, HINDI SUMUSUNOD SA MGA BATAS TRAPIKO. Nakakainis isipin na mayroong mga taong malakas magreklamo pero sila mismo ay hindi gumagawa ng kanilang mga responsibilidad. Batas trapiko pa lang yan.

Matagal na ang isyu ng prostitusyon pero wala pa ring lunas na naibibigay sa problemang ito. At kahit pagbalibaligtarin at halungkatin pa ang mga dahilan kung bakit nagiging prostitute ang ilan sa ating mga kababayan, mauuwi pa rin ang lahat sa kakulangan kung hindi man kawalan ng edukasyon. Oo, totoo, ang gobyerno ang dapat magbigay ng edukasyon sa mamamayan pero tayo, ano ang papel natin sa problemang ito? Dahil ba hindi tayo apektado sa problemang ito, magsasawalang kibo na tayo? Mali yata na wala tayong gawin. Mali na manood lang tayo habang naghihirap ang mga kababayan natin.

Hindi ko sinasabi na mag ala-Wowowee tayo sa pamimigay ng pera sa mga kababayan natin dahil HINDI ito ang sagot sa paghihirap nila. Hindi madaliang pera o madaliang pagkita ng pera ang solusyon sa problema. Edukasyon ang dapat ibigay.

Kung ang mga may kayang pamilya ay makapagpaaral man lang ng kahit isang bata, malaki ang maitutulong nito. Isang tao ang magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na mamili kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari sa buhay niya at marami siyang pagpipilian dahil nakatapos siya. Alam nating lahat kung gaano ka-importante ang diploma sa Pilipinas o sa kahit saang parte ng mundo. Ang pagtatapos ng pag-aaral ay nakakapagbukas ng pinto sa lahat ng tao para malaman niya kung ano ang pwedeng gawin niya sa kanyang buhay. This way, they will have more choices, more options. They will not be imprisoned with the limited choices they have if they haven't studied at all.

Walang babae o lalakeng gustong ibenta ang katawan nila para mabuhay. Ang pagiging prostitute ang kinauuwian ng ilan nating kababayan hindi dahil ginusto nila ito kundi dahil wala na silang nakikitang ibang paraan upang kumita ng pera. Kailangan nila ng pagkakataon at kakayahang mamili kung ano ang gusto nila sa buhay nila at magiging madali ito kung sila ay may sapat na edukasyon.

I believe that everything should start in the individual. Kung kaya nating magbigay ng pagbabago, bakit hindi natin gawin? KUNG MAY KAKAYAHAN KANG GUMAWA NG MABUTI SA KAPWA MO, BAKIT HINDI MO GAWIN?

Nakakapanghinayang na hindi nakikita ang galing ng Pilipino at ganda ng Pilipinas dahil sa mga problemang ganito. Madalas ay napapansin ang mga pagkukulang natin kaysa sa mga kaya nating gawin.

Gusto ko din sabihin na hindi natin dapat ikahiya ang problemang ito ng Pilipinas. Isa itong hamon upang ipakita natin na kaya nating solusyunan ang problemang ito ng bansa.

HAMON ITO SA IYO KUNG ANO ANG GAGAWIN MO PARA MAKATULONG

o

KUNG UUPO KA NA LANG DYAN AT MANONOOD.

***

Ikaw na marunong magbasa at gumamit ng internet, ikaw na nakakapag-aral, pinapahalagahan mo ba ang edukasyon mo?

Hindi masamang minsan ay tamarin o kaya ay magpa-easy-easy. Tao ka lang din naman. Pero tanungin mo ang sarili mo sa huli kung nagawa mo ba ang dapat mong gawin.

May natutunan ka ba?

Gusto ko lang mag-post (seryosong entry 'to!)

Haha. May dapat akong gawin pero nagta-type ako ng entry kasi gusto ko lang.

UM-Sigaw is doing well. We have new members! Dumami na kami. Haha. It's so nice to do something that has sense. Ang corny pero I really have dreams for our student group. Haha.

I hope someday we can really make a difference. Sana in the future, we can do something big that can help people. Hindi yung mga fundraisings or yung donations. I'm thinking of something that... ummm... hindi ko na ma-explain. Basta sana may magawa kami na makakatulong na pangmatagalan at hindi para ma-alleviate lang ang kung ano mang nararanasan ng mga kapwa Pilipino.

Kung ano yun, iisipin ko pa. Matagal na pag-iisip ito.

The picture here has no connection to what I've said. I just want to share the view I saw today. Haha!

-40 and below

Absent na naman ako. Haha! I skipped FA yesterday and now I'm missing 3 classes. And it is only January. Wala pa nga kaming 2 weeks sa school.

Blame it on the weather.

Ang mga magagaling

Napanood ko kanina sa Bandila ang prusisyon ng Nazareno. Katulad ng dati, marami pa ring tao. Nakakatuwa kasi nakikita pa rin kung gaano karelihiyoso ang mga Pilipino. Kahit sabihin pa natin na hindi lahat ng pumunta doon ay nandun dahil sa tamang dahilan, yung dami ng tao na nandun ay tama ng ebidensya para sabihing hindi pa rin namamatay ang pananampalataya.

Nakakainis lang merong mga taong nagsasamantala sa okasyon.

Oops, mali. Hindi mga mandurukot ang mga tinutukoy ko.

Mas matindi pa sa kanila!

Sirit na?

Sila yung mga mahilig magpapansin at umeksena.

Sila yung mga pulitikong lahat ng pagkakataon ay susulitin para makapag-kampanya.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pa nilang umepal sa isang dapat sana ay sagradong tradisyon. Mamigay daw ba ng mga t-shirt at kung anu-ano pang gamit na may mga naglalakihan nilang pangalan at mukha. Nakakainit ng ulo. Gawin daw bang campaign day ang Piyesta ng Nazareno. Ang gagaling talaga.

Wag sana kayo manalo.

***

Pupurihin ko na rin dito si Ms. Pinky Webb na talaga namang nakipagsiksikan para mai-dokumento ang Piyesta ng Nazareno. Ang tapang nya. Kahit sabihin pa na syempre pagbibigyan sya ng mga tao kasi taga-media sya, saludo pa rin ako sa kanya.

Kung ako lang, baka di ko kayanin yun at himatayin na lang ako sa isang sulok at matapak-tapakan. Hahaha!

On fake religiosity and 'utang na loob'

I don't understand why people help but then ask for something in return. Even before, I really hated the concept of 'utang na loob'. I am not being a saint here but when I help someone, it is because it is my choice and because I am willing. I don't expect him/her to pay for whatever I did for him/her. It is really disappointing seeing this mentality in this place. The disappointment is magnified a hundred times because this place is actually really small where almost everyone knows everybody. You would expect that because it is small, everyone should be friendly with one another but sadly it isn't. Nagiging mentality na kapag natulungan ka ng isang tao, dapat mong tapatan yung nagawa nyang 'yon kung hindi man higitan. If you failed to do it, you should prepare yourself for the chismis that will come around. Everything is so fake.

Which leads me to...

Fake religiosity. I am absolutely disgusted with people who join and lead religious organizations and pretend to be oh so holy when they hold grudges, pass along gossip, and expect to be paid when they offer help. I mean, really, why? Let me just make it clear that I am not expecting them to be angels or something but some of them don't even have respect or enough decency which is really sad. I could not resist to think that this is all ostentation - to be looked up to and be known.

***

About this entry:

Isn't it obvious I am talking about someone? If you are asking if I am angry with this person, well, yes I am but more of disappointed because of reasons I implied above.

This person does not know how lives will be affected because of what he did. Buti na lang nakahanap agad ng solusyon. Kung hindi, I wouldn't let him have a good night sleep. And I'm not joking. Haha.

If you are asking if I will hold a grudge on him, no. I don't plan to have wrinkles at an early age because of this person.

Winter term kwento

Yay! 2nd term na! I wish this term wouldn't be as demanding as the previous one. Ayoko na nung sunod-sunod na papers and exams. I promised myself that I will work harder this sem. Now I know how the system works, I should be doing better so I'm pushing myself to study more and be responsible.

After attending Bio 1010, I have this feeling that I can't do what I did with Bio 1000 (e.g. skipping, leaving early) in this class. Bleh. Kailangang mag-take down ng notes. Hay.

Interesting din ang Women's Studies ko because I got lost. Haha! I was sitting there waiting for the instructor. One by one students arrived tapos naisip ko, 'wow, ang daming lalaki ngayon a'. I was also wondering why my classmates look old. Tapos ayun, dumating ang prof. Lalake! Naisip ko 'Lalake ang instructor? Jill yung pangalan a'. And then he wrote information about the class on the board. Iba ang pangalan, iba ang class number. Nasa higher Linguistics class ako! S**t. I went out casually. Kunwari hindi ako nagpa-panic. Nagpunta ako sa Dafoe para mag-log in sa Aurora. Apparently, I went to the wrong room. 215 pala not 308! When I went to 215, walang tao. So I was like, 'Am I lost again?'. Thankfully, other people who are late like me arrived at nagkaroon ako ng mga karamay. Umalis na lang kami pagkatapos maghintay ng ilang minuto.

In Fine Arts, I have the same classmates. Karamihan mga art majors ang natira dahil required. Konti na lang kaming mga feelingero at feelingera. Haha! I am starting to like FA again after I got my final grade for 1350. Interesting naman talaga yung class at ang dami kong natutunan yun nga lang, ang daming 'holidays'. We suffered in the end because we had to rush, I think, 4 chapters just to finish the course. Lagapak tuloy yung class average nung 2nd exam. I think it would be more difficult now because we have to memorize artists' names and their works - most of it in Italian and French. Good luck sa spelling at pronounciation. Haha!

Because my classes are almost identical with the previous term, there are no big changes. Heck, even my schedule is the same. So there should be no problem at all. I hope!

Nga pala, UM-Sigaw will officially function this term! Ang saya! Recruitment next week!

Dahil hindi ako mapakali

Bagong blog for 2007!
Eto na talaga. Hindi na ko magpapalit. Promise!

My first blog got too crowded, my second one too boring kaya eto, I made my third! Papanindigan ko na talaga 'tong kwentuhan na 'to.