Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda

Last night I saw the final episode of Sex and the City. I already know how it would end but of course I had to see it for myself.

Samantha finally let go of her fears and fell in love with Smith, an actor almost half her age. Sluts, after all, also have a right to fall in love.

Miranda learns to accept her new life as a wife and mother.

Charlotte gets her wish to become a mom and gets a baby from China.

And Carrie, she ends up with Mr. Big, whose name is apparently John (he's name was never said or shown till the last few seconds of the series). She went to Paris but life there was not what she hoped would be. She goes back to New York. Back to her friends.

Although I'm still an Aidan fan... Mr. Big isn't so bad. I guess you'll really end up with the person you're meant to be no matter how much you try to fight it.

Why by Avril Lavign

This song is posted on my desk in the dorm...

Why, do you always do this to me?
Why, couldn't you just see through me?
How come, you act like this
Like you just don't care at all
Do you expect me to believe I was the only one to fall?
I could feel I could feel you near me, even though you're far away
I could feel I could feel you baby, why

It's not supposed to feel this way
I need you, I need you
More and more each day
It's not supposed to hurt this way
I need you, I need you, I need you
Tell me, are you and me still together?
Tell me, do you think we could last forever?
Tell me, why

Hey, listen to what we're not saying
Let's play, a different game than what we're playing
Try, to look at me and really see my heart
Do you expect me to believe I'm gonna let us fall apart?
I could feel I could feel you near me, even when you're far away
I could feel I could feel you baby, why

It's not supposed to feel this way
I need you, I need you
More and more each day
It's not supposed to hurt this way
I need you, I need you, I need you
Tell me, are you and me still together?
Tell me, you think we could last forever?
Tell me, why

So go and think about whatever you need to think about
Go ahead and dream about whatever you need to dream about
And come back to me when you know just how you feel, you feel
I could feel I could feel you near me, even though you're far away
I could feel I could feel you baby, why

It's not supposed to hurt this way
I need you, I need you
More and more each day
It's not supposed to hurt this way
I need you, I need you, I need you
Tell me It's not supposed to hurt this way
I need you, I need you
More and more each day
It's not supposed to hurt this way
I need you, I need you, I need you
Tell me, are you and me still together?
Tell me, do you think we could last forever?
Tell me, why

They Come and Go

Our foreign exchange classmates are going home one by one. We were having so much fun we didn't realize three months have passed and it's time to go. It's so difficult saying goodbye especially if you don't know if you'll see each other again.

I hate goodbyes.

Boracay Hang Over

I went to Boracay over the weekend. Despite the typhoon I went with some of the foreign exchange students in school. Although they didn't like my style of traveling since my mom booked me in a hotel rather than letting me rough it out with them... everything went well. I would say it was the best vacation I've been because it was the first time I traveled with friends. No schedule. No plans. Just whatever the beach breeze brought us. We ate in a very good Indian restaurant on the first night. It was thursday night when we got there and while Yoying was leaving its mark on Eastern Luzon, we were experiencing slight rainshowers. It was fine with us. As long as we were all together, we'd find a way to have fun. We didn't have to suffer with rains because the next days it was all sunny. We hang out in the beach and got a massage during the day. At night we'd stuff ourselves senseless and drink to oblivion (well, almost). We went on a boat ride and snorkeled till our backs turned red.

I had to leave earlier than them because of some school stuff but I had memories to keep me happy for a few months:

1. Sleeping with a kulambo over the bed
2. Watching the sunset by the beach
3. Skinny dipping at 4am under the moon and stars

Hmmm... so nice. Such bliss. So devastating to go back to reality called school. But then again, life goes on. I'll just have to wait for the next trip.

Thanks Dave. Hope to do this again with you =)

Lost and Found

"Life can only be understood backwards. But unfortunately, can only be lived forward."

--Soren Kierkegarde

Healing

After several weeks of intense emotional rollercoaster ride, everything seems to be slowly falling into place. We have come to accept our faults and the inevitable state of our relationship. It is definitely difficult to wake up every morning and suddenly realize that we're alone again. But being alone isn't THAT bad. We're discovering new things about ourselves that's helping us heal and become better people. We're also re-discovering things we used to love doing but has been pushed aside eversince we got together. I'm also very happy that we have overcome the anger and spite.

So, we're back to square one. I'm back to square one. But like the cliche goes... it's not the destination that matters, it's the journey.

ABYSS

I close my eyes and remember
the feeling of my despair
the ache of my heart
and the pain of my soul

I try to scream for freedom
I try to cry for help
but the empty room
only brings echoes and no answers

I reach for you
to pull me out of this nightmare
to bring me back to reality
but you push me back in the darkness

I hear you whisper to me
this is the reality
then you hold my handand close your eyes

Together we fall.

ABYSS

This poem is for our Poetry Reading session tomorrow for our Creativity and Intuition class. It's been awhile since I last wrote a poem so please bear with me.

I close my eyes and remember
the feeling of my despair
the ache of my heart
and the pain of my soul

I try to scream for freedom
I try to cry for help
but the empty room
only brings echoes and no answers

I reach for you
to pull me out of this nightmare
to bring me back to reality
but you push me back in the darkness

I hear you whisper to me
this is the reality
then you hold my hand
and close your eyes

Together we fall.

Prayers of the Faithful

For our Creativity and Intuition class, we made a film to unleash our creative side. Having been an Entablado member for several years, my inclination was towards socially-oriented story lines. Our film was entitled Prayers of the Faithful. It's a 9 minute film about four women who seem to live a different life in front of God and in front of the people around them. There was Lisa, a bored housewife; Rowena, a secretary by day and a wild child by night; Jenny, a molested high school student; and Flora, the prostitute with a conscience.

The highlight of the film was seeing my groupmates come out of their shell and do the stuff they did. Alisa did Rowena and she did some booty-shaking that could blow your mind! Jaraiza had a rape scene with Ked, her boyfriend. Imagine Jaraiza letting a guy on top of her?! It was amazing.

And guess who did the prostitute?! Maybe I won't go into the details of what I did. Suffice it to say that it was very believable. Thanks to one of our exchange students from Denmark, Kenneth who did the 'love scenes' with me.

Johnny Delgado was there to critique our works. He said, truth about ourselves should come out to make it believable.

After doing our film, I'm scared of what that means.

Footnote: Thanks to all those who helped make the film a success and those who went to support us during the showing. My love and gratitude!

Touch Move

People should be careful when in anger. Words can be said that are impossible to take back. And words said in anger usually hurt the most. In just a single breath, six years worth of relationship can be thrown away.

Even when you try to take it back... things may never be the same again.

Just Because

There are moments in our lives when we have to make decisions that no matter how uncertain the outcome will be, we jump into it anyway because we have to... because we suddenly find ourselves older and wiser... because we have to think of our future... because we're not getting any younger.

Others may get hurt along the way and they might not understand it right now. But eventually, when everything starts falling into place, they'll be thankful.

"And Then She Was Gone" by Ginger Fontley

This is a poem from one of my favorite cartoon shows "As Told By Ginger"

She chose to walk alone
Though others wondered why
Refused to look before her,
Kept eyes cast upwards,
Towards the sky.

She didn't have companions
No need for earthly things.
Only wanted freedom,
From what she felt were puppet strings.

She longed to be a bird.
That she might fly away.
She pitied every blade of grass
For planted they would stay.

She longed to be a flame,
That brightly danced alone.
Felt jealous of the steam
That made the air its only home.

Some say she wished too hard.
Some say she wished too long.
But we awoke one autumn day
To find that she was gone.

The trees, they say stood witness.
The sky refused to tell.
But someone who had seen it said
The story played out well.

She spread her arms out wide.
Breathed in the break of dawn.
She just let go of all she held...

And then she was gone.

This Woman's Intuition

I'm taking an elective called Creativity and Intuition for Entrepreneurs. It's been great talking about existential and philosophical stuff. Last time I dwelled on these things was when I was still in college. Finally made me appreciate the 16 units of Philo we had to take. Anyway, there was part of our reading today that I couldn't forget. It's about the Four Principles and the Law of Two Feet, which Harrison Owen (author of Expanding Our Now) learned in a party in Balamah, West Africa.

Four Principles:
1. Whoever comes is the right people.
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
3. Whenever it starts is the right time.
4. When it's over, it's over.

Law of Two Feet
If, at any point during the time together, anyone finds that they are neither contributing nor learning, they should use their two feet and leave.

Such simple saying but great impact on me in just a short time. It's weird... this whole creativity and intuition thing got me all twisted! Now I'm thinking of things I don't ever want to think about because it's so scary... it's totally out of my comfort zone. But being in the brink of uncertainty is also exciting. It's like realizing there's actually more out there.

Maybe if I could stretch my arm long enough I'll reach it.

Rest In Peace

I'm tired of...
... Being the big sister who has to put up with a brother who stopped calling me 'ate' years ago
... Being the daughter who has to help around the house even when I'm just there during weekends while my brother gets away with his responsibilities
... Being the student who has to juggle my classes and thesis that means life and death for me
... Being the girlfriend who always have to make the first move to patch things up everytime something goes wrong even when it's not my fault

I'm just really tired of living. But then again, what other choices do I have? Lately I'm losing energy trying to pull myself out of bed every morning and doing almost the same thing every day.

I want to do something else. I want to do something exciting.

I want people to think I'm important to their lives once in awhile and pat my back for doing a good job.

I want to go somewhere were I don't have to be me.

I want to really live life and not just exist.

Naming Our Baby

I have been wracking my brain for the past several hours thinking of what to name our business venture. Tintin and I are actually putting up a medical apparel store. Initially we were only thinking of hospital scrubs... but more on the printed ones. But after our FGDs and other interviews, we realized there is a need to put up an actual store that sells more than just scrubs. We'll be including patient's gowns, masks, caps, shoes, and other accessories. Tomorrow, we have another Entrepreneur class and we have to share the names we thought for our business. I have already several in mind like Cure Wear, More Than Scrubs, Life Wear, and Happy M.D. But I don't feel the eureka moment when I hear those names. There's no uummph! in it.

Well, feel free to share your thoughts. This has to be perfect for us because it will represent the whole image of our store. Gandamit! I'm tired!

For Coach Sandy

Again... just I was surfing and checking my email in iAteneo.com when I encountered this article about Coach Sandy Arespacochaga and the last season in general.

The Red Caper's Last Flight

I was surfing the net a few minutes ago and saw this sad news: 'Superman' Star Christopher Reeve Dies

I remember thinking how stupid Lois Lane was that she couldn't see through Clark's dorky glasses.

What's In A Name?

In our Entrepreneurial class this morning we were talking about brand and business names. Tintin and I went around yesterday to look for names we liked and these are few of my faves:

1. Wicked Sistah - a bath and body brand in Beauty Bar.
2. Oneteaspoon - an Australian clothing line in Rustan's
3. Philosophy - a cosmetics brand in Beauty Bar
4. Pout - another cosmetics brand in Beauty Bar
5. As Four - a clothing brand with four main designers
6. Imitation of Christ - another clothing brand
7. Sari-Sari Store - a local clothing store. Although I like the name, I'm not impressed with their styles anymore.

Here are also some creative names. Some work and some makes you scratch you head and ask... what the hell were they thinking?!!!

1. Cooking ng Ina Mo - a small karinderya, I think in QC
2. Cooking ng Ina Mo Rin - another karenderya across the street
3. Anita Bakery
4. Obeertime - not really THAT bad!
5. Edward Scissorhands Salon - will the stylist be as cute as Johnny Depp?
6. Sinavon - laundrymat

Hmmm... feel free to add on the list. On monday, our teacher will bring us to UCC in Paseo. The wife of the owner needs help naming the cakes sold there. Of course, product sampling is part of the activity. I don't usually eat breakfast but, in this case I'll make an exception.

26 on 26th

A week ago, I turned 26. It feels weird! I don't look my age, I don't know if it's me or the kids are looking older nowadays. I also don't act my age. Not because I don't want to but I guess since I don't feel like my age, I can't act like a 26 year old. Ten years ago, if anyone asked me what I would be doing when I turn 26, I would've said married and successful... I think I missed my mark by a mile... I'm neither near getting married, nor being successful. Hopefully by next year I will be both. I know I'll get there it's just getting longer than I thought.

Anyway, I blew my cake with the candle 2 and 6 on top. My wish? Just to finish my thesis unscathed. After that, I know I'll be making my grand dreams a reality.

The only good thing about turning 26 is the knowledge that Tini will be turning 30 next year! Hahaha!

Treasure Hunting in Baguio

A few days ago, the whole class of AIM MBA2005 went up to Baguio for a field trip of some sort. Aside from the late night drinking sprees under the pine trees, the girls (most especially the 315 Babes) were in nirvana because of the numerous ukay-ukay shops littered in Session Road. It was like looking for buried treasure under those dusty piles of clothes...some may call it second hand...we call it vintage clothing! I'm in a "girlie" phase right now so I got four skirts for about 300 pesos, a black People Are People type of jacket for 150 pesos, and several blouses for 65 pesos each. One thing I regret is that we left the place to meet up with some people and didn't get to go back. I had so much stuff I was still planning to buy. Great thing about ukay-ukay is that pieces tend to be one of a kind and very unique. Tin-tin got this great skirt you'd only see in fashion mags for 50 bucks!!!

I love the clothes I bought because it fuels my imagination to mix and match it with key items in my wardrobe like a Nine West pumps and a Gucci bag...then it doesn't look like 50 peso outfit at all! It takes a more than a queer eye to spot the jewels in ukay-ukay! It takes a passion for fashion and experience.

In my books...

Our constant male companion here in school, Rahul (a.k.a. "The Petulant Child"), always makes fun of our choices of reading materials. He calls it pornography...we call it romance novels. He has this annoying habit of reading it out loud which actually makes it sound worse than it really is. He laughs at phrases like "heaving breasts" and "straining against her bodice". He claims it gives us a wrong idea about love. But how can it be the wrong idea when the story lines are universal and ageless. It's the usual girl meet boy but either boy can't have girl for some reason or another. Nonetheless, boy faces all adversities to marry the girl. Or, girl and boy are forced to marry against their will. Despite their animosity to each other they can't help but fall in love. Hene, they all live happily ever after. It does sound mushy but admit it, one or two couples out there started out the same way but with a little permutation here and there. And probably not all live happily ever after. Just until they break and find someone else.

In my books, the girl always gets the boy. In my books, the boy is incapable of continuing his life without the girl. In my books, it's not only passion, but love that gives strength to both of them. In my books, I get to escape for awhile and be in some other time and some other life.

Papa's New Harley

Several years ago my father went gaga over big bikes. I forgot which one came first but now he has two: a Honda and Yamaha. One of which he actually bought from Aga Muhlach. He loved motorcycles since his youth but he came from a poor family. Eventually, responsibilities of family life put his dreams of owning one on hold. Thirty years later, he is financially stable and can find time to indulge in his hobby. Along with some buddies, they go off to far off places every sunday morning. My mom lets him because he has worked hard over the years and deserved it. My brother and I are simply amused since he's a little over five feet and not much beef in his body and yet he rides this thousand pound bike like its nothing! He spends a lot of money on the bikes too. Whenever my parents go to the US he'd stuff his baggage with saddle bags and other accessories. He'd buy clothes too...he has one that looks like an astronaut suit complete with boots.

Now, he has another baby. He recently purchased a Harley Davidson. It's just second hand but still in mint condition. My mom said he didn't want to tell my brother he bought the bike because my bro's been bugging my parents for a new car. Oh well...he's a working man anyway, he can save up for his own car. Naks! A million pogi points for you Papa!

My Brazilian Experience

Note: This may be too graphic for some people...if faint of heart or squeamish about kinky stuff, think twice before continuing.

Yesterday I felt like Carrie Bradshaw while I was on the salon bed getting my first Brazilian wax! I felt so sophisticated and I was excited to see my new look...until the first rip came. I was howling in pain! Oh, I tried waxing before. I have my upper lip and legs regularly waxed. I even tried bikini wax several time already. But to get totally bald down there...it was a different thing altogether.

Okay, maybe your asking...what got into this girl's head? I was reading Metro Magazine when I saw this article about girls going Brazilian down south. They recommended three places where Brazilian wax was offered and I chose California Nails & Day Spa in Greenhills since they're the most affordable. So saturday morning I called them to set an appointment. Ms. Len, the waxing lady, was very nice. She talked to me the whole time to get my mind off the pain. She told me the advantages and benefits of having no hair. She'd ask me to inhale then exhale as soon as she pulled the strip off my thingie. In my mind I was thinking, doesn't she get tired waxing pussies everyday? What goes through her mind while she trims those bushes? I never did get to ask her. Although I did ask if they did men? She said in their Alabang branch, a gay guy does that. Woohoo! That's a job any gay guy would want! Anyway, she asked me not to get it totally wet since the pores are still open, just clean with a damp towel. She assured me that any swelling or redness for the next few days are normal. After an hour of agony, I dressed up and went home with my new hairdo!

Twenty-four hours later, I feel okay and there's no real swelling or redness. It looks okay and I feel even cleaner. I definitely recommend women out there to try getting one. Heck, even men should trim their bushes! After all, I believe everybody should try everything once. Will I keep this new look forever? I think as long as I can stand the pain...I will!

YULO Manila

Amidst the stacks of readings and long hours of can group meetings here in school, I have found a home with three lovely ladies. One of which, I am proud to say, is the proprietor of a shoe brand that should keep all the shopaholics out there on their toes. Jaraiza Yulo and her sister Kristel are the beauties behind YULO Manila. Their shoe designs are fresh and unique! My favorite is a mustard colored pumps aptly called Dijon with three-inch heels, which I have yet to buy. You might say..."Mustard?! Yuck!" But for the true fashionistas out there, it is a must in your wardrobe. My first acquisition is actually a bakya made of white wood with a gold buckle on the black leather strap. The one-inch heels makes it comfy and stylish at the same time. I plan to get Splat next, a slingback made of white leather and black suede. Last friday, they threw a Shoe Party to launch their new line and also shout to the world their presence in the fashion industry. It was a great party! And why wouldn't it be...we were surrounded with shoes and beautiful people!

Hey, I'm not getting any shoes advertising YULO Manila! I am just a shopaholic at heart and would like to make this world a fashionable place! Also, it's not everyday I get to be friends with visionaries like Jaraiza and Kristel.

YULO Manila is sold in Ishq in Ortigas and Solea in Rockwell. The price is worth the quality and design.

Oh Pieter!

Yes...I have found another man to add to my eye-candy collection. It's none other than Peiter van den Hoogenban, a very yummy olympic swimmer from Netherlands. He won the gold in the 100 meter freestyle last August 18.

My recent Eye-Candy List includes:
1. Matthew Goode - "Chasing Liberty" (it's the accent)
2. Luke Mably - "Prince and Me" (definitely the accent!)
3. Diego Luna - "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "Dirty Dancing 2"
4. Collin Farrel - "Phonebooth" (I love baaad boys!)
5. Chris Pine - "Princess Diaries 2" (what can I say...I'm a sucker for Prince Charming!)
6. Andy Roddick - Tennis player

...and more to come...

I am in MBA because...

...I am a very materialistic person. I am here because I want to learn how to make money because money will get me my clothes, shoes, house, and all the comforts in life. I will not be a hypocrite and claim that my ultimate goal is to make a difference in the lives of the people I will meet. I haven't matured enough to take on that challenge. I will not spout out the need for social awareness just because it will make me look good in front of my professors. I will not be pushed to do good deeds for the poor. I will help them in my own time and in my own way because I want to. And not because I need to buy a piece of heaven when I die.

Do you think I'm a truly an evil person? Does this make me a brat? This is not apathy. This is honesty. How many of you out there can really say you've done something meaningful in your lives? How many of you can actually say that the acts of selflessness that you've been doing are without motives? I gag everytime I hear someone extolling their virtues and goodness when they're actually reeking of hypocrisy...like a whore hiding beneath a virgin's gown.

7-1

Enough said.

8-0?

Tomorrow, Ateneo will be playing against University of the East, their first game for the second round. I can't wait! But, I still can't get over the win last sunday so, check out this nice write up about the sweep!

7-0

The first round for the UAAP Basketball has just ended last sunday, August 8. The Blue Eagles, Hail Mary Team finished with a 7-0 standing, the best first round standing in history! I was lucky enough to watch the game in Araneta. I even had to throw a tantrum just to force Tini to buy tickets! After the game, he was thankful we watched live. The Ateneans came full force filling up more than half of the coliseum. And this wasn't even a La Salle-Ateneo game! It was a really exciting game, specially everytime LA Tenorio threw a three-pointer. He's timing was always perfect!

The biggest question now is, how long can we keep this unblemished record? I think the game now is, who's the first team to beat Ateneo? The next game is on thursday against UE. Let's cross our fingers.

"...win or lose, it's the school we choose...this is the place where we belong..."

It's Now or Never!

In the next few months, my roomie and I will be entering a new territory. We will be putting up our own business. There has been a few changes since my last posting. My new partner will be Tin-tin instead of Alisa. Our venture will be on garments instead of food. To our knowledge, this concept has never been done in AIM history. One of our guru, Prof. Jay Bernardo, has continuously been pushing us not to lose hope since there are many things needed to be done and it can be very overwhelming. Nonetheless, we are excited about our new business. I cannot disclose yet the nature of our business, suffice it to say it will bring happiness to dreary places.

I am on my way to be a millionaire.

"See what no one else sees. See what everyone chooses not to see... out of fear, conformity or laziness. See the whole world anew each day!" -- from the movie Patch Adams

July 30, 1998

I'm proud to say that today is our 6th year anniversary. Although we did not come this far unscathed, we continue to take each others' crap and love each other to death! Ours is not a fairytale romance but still deserving to be featured in television. Tini was after all, my brother's Math teacher. Our courtship was short, about two weeks. I say "our courtship" because if I hadn't been a bitch about it, he would've taken even longer! Despite the short courtship, we still lasted this long. Pretty impressive huh?!
 
So Tini, here's to our 6th year! Next year may we surpass the itch and hopefully get hitched! You're the only man who can stand a bitch like me. And I'm the only girl who can stand a brat like you! I love you so much baber!!! Muah!

Venture MRR

Thanks to my practicum I realized I'd rather put up a business for my thesis (we call it MRR here) than work for a company. My personality cannot handle being ordered around anymore. I wanna be my own boss and reap the profits (or loss...) that I rightfully deserve!

I've been thinking of putting up a business connected to my core competency...which is fashion. I'm lucky my roomies and I share the same passion. We all would like to be partners someday and create a fashion empire. I can imagine walking down the runway with my three other friends in our uber fashionable clothes! Well, were starting small with pajamas. This is actually Tin-tin's (my roomie) baby since she's been doing it for awhile. She had one made for me for my last birthday. We hope to conquer the jammy world!

I almost backed out going through with this but thanks to our entrepreneurship mentor really pushed me to pursue this. This is my first step to being an entrepreneur and a fashion mogul!

Shopaholics Anonymous

There should be a Shopaholics Anonymous here. Then me and my roomies would be in it. I don't know if our impeccable fashion sense is a curse or a gift because it can be very difficult resisting our urges to shop. Just this week (our first week back in school) we went shopping last monday at our favorite tiangge store, Trix, in Geenbelt 1. We justified our shopping spree by saying we needed new clothes for school. Yesterday, we went again to Greenbelt. Our intention was to go to Mr. Quickie to have our indian shoes (pasalubong from our good friend Kris) resized. We ended up shopping at the bazaar on the 2nd floor. This time we used the excuse that we got our stuff REALLY cheap because it was a sale. I ended up buying this cool brown suede Puma shoes. Believe me, it's really nice! This matches well with my khaki mini skirt and my Esprit tennis skirt too! Okay...I digress...where was I? Oh yeah! So, in the afternoon, I went to Glorietta to look for a possible skirt for our Cubs' Night Party for the new students. Alisa (one of my roomies) told me about the sale at Tweeds. I go there and sale was over! I was suppose to give up when I happen to pass by Mango. Their sale was still on. I already looked at their stuff in Rockwell and I didn't fit in most of the clothes so I gave up. I wasn't really going to buy anything when I say this awesome brown asymmetrical skirt! It clinged to my hips so well...it'll look good while I dance the night away...so I ended up buying it.

Now, I have to have a firm resolve that I will not shop for the next...few weeks(?). Well, probably till end of July...

Record Breaker

For the third year, Ateneo has broken DLSU's record. 2002, we became champions after their running streak of...was it four years? Then last year, Ateneo beat DLSU making them lose their seat in the championship. Last sunday, Ateneo broke DLSU's sixteen year record of not losing in the opening game. How cool was that?!

I was suppose to move in back to the dorm but I stayed home instead to watch the game. I was disappointed in the first three quarters and almost left for AIM but decided to finish it since my mom wanted me to stay for the night anyway. Well...good thing I stayed coz it was a game I'm glad I didn't miss! The Blue Eagles overcame a fifteen point lead!

I wish I was in Araneta singing the Hymn along with thousands of others. Or at least with some friends watching it while drinking beer and eating pizza. Tini had his own basketball game with his officemates. I just kept on texting him whenever something significant happened.

I hope we break more records. I hope we reach championship again. I hope I get to watch the next game live. I already bought two blue blouses for it!

In memory of AdMU ORSEM

Apparently four years in Ateneo made a bigger impact on me than 16 years in St. Scho Marikina! Ateneans in AIM are totally revamping the orientation Ateneo style. It's gonna be fun and exciting! Lucky for the next batch they have people like us. Well, we'll get first shot at the hotties and the cuties so that's incentive enough. I hope we go down in history as the best party class ever... I think we're doing a good job living that reputation already.

Can't wait for next year and start partying again!!! Oh, and study, of course.

Greetings to all Daddy...

I'm already greeting all the Dads out there... Happy Father's day! My dad is in US right now with my mom so, no family lunch or dinner for us this year. But at least I'll see him when they get back on sunday. Last minute hurrah before the day ends. So... papa... love you! Thanks for sending me to school and loving me even when I'm a brat!

Dial 1-800-Conci-d-Cupid

I took it upon myself to play matchmaker to some of my friends, with the help of Tini of course. To date, I already set up three blind dates. Unfortunately, I could only claim success with the last one. I won’t mention any names. I don’t want to incriminate any of my friends, or even Tini’s. The first couple, the girl was a feisty one and since it was an ambush blind date, she was already resistant from the start. I’m partly to blame. The guy, I guess, felt it wasn’t going to work too so, communication was already strained. One thing led to another…BAM disaster!

Couple number two’s date went pretty well. However, it didn’t go further than that. What happened? It’s what we call in school cultural miscommunication. I’m being diplomatic when I say it was nobody’s fault it didn’t work. They were just coming from two totally different worlds!

The most recent couple dated last Saturday night. It was a success by my standards because after three days, I haven’t heard any bad things from both of them. I can also sense both had fun. Even I had fun hanging out with them! Yup, Tini and I babysat but left about 30 minutes earlier. During the date I tried to get the 411 on what the girl thought of the guy, but we were interrupted while we were in the bathroom. I think Tini was able to squeezed something out of the guy while we were doing our thing.

I continue to play cupid to my friends. So, anybody there willing to be my guinea pigs, just holler!

Partying Harder...Again

MBA2005 in AIM have lived up to the Instituion's unofficial motto, "Study Hard, Party Harder". Last friday, the signal has been sent out to everybody for a get together in Blue Onion. Despite the rains and some of us still taking the CFA exam on sunday, we met up. With a beer in hand, we entered Blue Onion. It was full and no empty table was in sight. We found a place to sit by the ledge and in no time, was dancing for the whole bar to see! Rico Pena and his pretty wife was there swaying to the beat of the music. Jehan Machacon, our respectable class president, was bumping and grinding with Awesh Shreshta and James Tagorda. Even Joao Manikan, still wearing his polo barong, was there. Our buddy Rahul Singh was applauded by the crowd when the Indian sounding club tune was played and he was dancing on the ledge. Sriram Krishnamachari got lost somewhere but I found him amongst the crowd dancing too. Al and Liezl followed too. As for myself, I got hungry and tired and left a little bit early. It was nice seeing everybody. It was really a day for celebration because we just got our grades and we're now full-fledged seniors!

Hooray for the batch! Congrats to all and especially for those who just took their CFA exam. Next weekend I hear there's another get together, this time in Halo in Makati. Hope to see you all there!

New Links

Just have a few friends linked here on my site. Have to ask permission from some people to add their sites. Have fun reading!

Blood, Prints, & DNA

If Tini has his basketball...I have my CSI. I'm a CSI junkie. Whether it's Miami or Las Vegas (and hopefully New York), I try to watch every episode. My favorite though, is Las Vegas. I dunno, I just like Gil Grissom's personality better than Horatio Caine. It's wednesday right now and I have my CSI appetizer on Studio 23...later, the main course on AXN. I also watch the double episode every mondays. My fascination doesn't stop there. Every friday and saturday I watch Crime Night on Discovery Channel. Although it's not as dramatic as CSI it's still fun to watch. I'm just a sucker for mysteries.

I have to watch CSI as much as I can before school starts again.

Send me back to School!

I can't believe I'm going to say this...but I MISS SCHOOL! I'm bored with my AC already. It's such a brainless and thankless job. I remember now why I love being a student. Having an allowance...getting to eat anytime of the day...taking naps between classes...and most of all, having your friends around you. Yeah, school is full of shit and lots of work, but at least your suffering with your friends.

I have seven weeks of practicum to go... well, maybe six if I can wheedle out of it so I can get some sort of vacation before school starts.

I'm also looking forward tormenting the freshmen next year. Bwahaha!

We got scammed!

Me and a few of my classmates had a hilarious experience today. We're suppose to have this practicum thing for school for the next two months. We're supposed to act like consultants for a company so we can use what we learn here in school. It's supposed to start on the 17th and I'm panicking already because I don't have any company yet to work for. So when I got called for an interview, I was hoping this could be my back-up company in case no other company would call me anymore. I went there with Inyas (an Indonesian), Jeff, and Stephen. We met another classmate there, Lori. We sat together in a small room and there was a projector in front of us. They presented their product, it was a golf membership club. It's like getting playing rights in different golf courses around the Philippines. I was thinking...okay, this is good. Then slowly, they showed us the membership fees, and I'm like, so far so good. Then they brought out another slide about recruiting members. Uh-oh! That sounded weird. Then she was talking about pairings and direct referral fees...whaaaat!!!! A pyramid scam!!!! Okay, that was so harsh. The politically correct term is: Multi-level Marketing. Stephen and I were texting each other though we're a few seats apart. He goes, do they want us to sell? Then Lori, like the real Chinese she is, starts asking questions about how to earn money. I was just counting the minutes when I could leave the place. Stephen and I still exchange texts, Inyas kept on sneezing behind me, and Lori still asking how she could earn more money! Then Stephen asks how will we be graded since we were supposed to give a paper and the company was suppose to grade us. The girl goes...Oh, by the number of people you get! Hah! I don't think so! And before we could recruit, we were suppose to be members ourselves. We were supposed to pay Php20000. I was itching to storm out of the place! When she mentioned about the interview, I politely told her we had to get back to school for our class... which was true. Stephen and Inyas couldn't wait to get out either and said we could just schedule another interview, never mind that they weren't my classmates in Finance! Lori wanted to stay but didn't want to be left there. She was hooked with the millions they claim she could earn! So we left, acting like true Asians by telling them we would keep in touch and even exchanged calling cards. We went down the building and took a cab back to AIM.

Back in school we ran to the secretaries in charge of our class. We told them what happened. I couldn't stop laughing! Apparently they thought of making money out of us by helping them do networking. Oh! It was horrible experience and a total waste of time! But it was really funny!

I should have followed my instincts! I wanted to ditch the interview already but just couldn't bring myself to ignore it. Now I know...always listen to your instincts!!!

This is insane!

Can't...keep...my...eyes...open!

Have...to...finish...paper!

Weddings, Bouquets, and Garters

After so many weddings Tini and I went to, finally I get the bouquet, and finally he makes an effort to get the garter. Well, we didn't have a choice... we were set up. We've been together for almost six years now. We have attended several weddings and somehow, we managed to get out of that particular part of the event unscathed. But thanks to the 4J Boys, namely Jay Tan, and the groom himself, AA Albano, we had our fifteen minutes of fame. It was definitely well-planned! They put all the names in a fish bowl and one by one they call out a name. The last name to be called gets the bouquet. Jay pulls a switching stunt and voila! "Mericon Clemente, you get the bouquet!" Neat huh?! Of course, once I got the bouquet, the garter went to Tini! He broke out in cold sweat! His hands went cold and clammy! Hahaha! Serves him right! Hope he dreams of this tonight. As for me, I just went along with it. At least I'll be in the wedding pictures! It's inevitable anyway. Whether it was this wedding or someone else's, it was bound to happen. Now I have a small bouquet of pink flowers here in my dorm room and a blue garter hanging over my desk.

Are we next? Maybe! After a couple of years, when it's my turn to throw the bouquet, I'll remember this moment fondly and hopefully give the same memory to the one who will catch my flowers.

Whew!

First year is almost over. It was almost a year ago when I suddenly thought of taking my MBA. I thought of going to where the the grass was greener but I guess I'm such a true blue gal I couldn't fathom my life there (no offense to the Archers...). Instead, I ended up here in front of Greenbelt. Yup, AIM. I can't believe freshman year is finally over! I'm relieved because it means I'm half way through...and yet, until I get through my action consultancy (on-the-job-training) and my thesis, I can't celebrate yet. Business school has been really tough for me since I'm not really good with numbers. Unfortunately, there's a lot of that here. Nonetheless, I'm surviving and I've stopped questioning my fate everytime I pass. We're into our last week and I'm up to my neck with papers, presentations, and exams! Gawd! Just today, I did a presentation, submitted a paper, and did my orals in Finance. What a day! I just had to grab a beer after dinner, a reward for torturing myself.

Everytime I have a day like this, I get all existential...what is the meaning of life? Why am I here? well, you know what? I don't have the answer to those questions. I'm twenty-five and still screwed up with what I want to do with my life. I thought I could find them here...Alas! More questions abound! I would like to think that by the end of these two long years, I can say to myself..."Conci, you've finally found you're calling. Go forth and wreak havoc to the world!" But, getting out to the real world is worse now than when I finished college. Five years ago I could still make mistakes and fool around. Now, that's pretty hard to do. My parents are expecting me to be a little more mature...duh?! They would love to see my life with a better direction...well I say... I'm headed to the mall! But I think I've matured more here than in my three and a half years working. I think I could handle a lot more things better. After head-butting with forty indians, four vietnamese, a nepalese, singaporean, indonesian, and other aliens... I think I'm better prepared to deal things thrown my way.

Enough whining... I've released my philosophical musings for the day. Aaaahhh... the bed has finally called and the beer is settling in my head.

Vindictive Women

I had this teacher who hates women. It would take ten guys before he would call a girl for recitation. No, it's not that she can't see us, but she chooses not to see us. How do I know this? Well, she deliberately ignored me several times already! And I know she saw me because I had eye contact with her!!! But I could feel she was just looking right through me. Like I wasn't there! And then she would call the guy behind me or beside me. What is this? What does this mean? Classic case of women being vindictive to other women? I have concocted several theories about this... (1) She feels threatened because I'm a young, nubile girl so ripe for the picking, while she's a woman in her mid-thirties with no prospects for a husband and no sex life to look forward to. (2) She feels threatened because not only do I have sex appeal, but I'm smart as well! She has only one of my traits. (3) her boyfriend dumped her for a young, fresh, and smart girl... Like me... Okay, okay, maybe all of these are way unbelievable. But is it?! Actually, she does it to all of us... girls that is. I also noticed a different kind of smile, just for the boys. Or maybe a lilting tone on her voice when she asks them a question. And sometimes, even a small giggle escapes her.

In reality, I think girls can be very vindictive when they want to. Personally, I'm way up the vindictive chart . My boyfriend usually complains about it since he gets all the crap. All my friends know how bitchy I can get. I can't help it! I feel like throwing up everytime I try to be cute and cuddly. Everytime I try to act like a dainty, little virgin girl, I get rashes all over! But deep down inside, I still know how to appreciate people. I wait until people show me their evil side before I show my fangs. And I don't get all snappish to girls only, I give the guys their fair share!

It's not really bad being a bitch as long as you know your limits. To my teacher, I say...I weigh less than a hundred, can eat anything I want and still stay sexy...how about you?!

My Bro, the Voyeur!

Check out my brother's photo gallery linked on this page. He has found a passion in photography... a very expensive passion, I might add! I know he's a pesky little boy but, he really has a way with cameras. (www.pbase.com/el_jong)

Virgin Blogger

I'm a virgin in this blog thing... just thought of putting up one to release my pent-up emotions while I'm here in grad school. Oh yes! I'm in grad school. I used to be in law school but I realized that it wasn't for me. Then I went to work for an airline. I was with the baggage department. It was hell and heaven at the same time. It was fun but working night shift and getting cussed at by irrate passengers took its toll on me. So, I transferred to a recording company. Nah, I wasn't a singer. But I hang around with many of them. The social life was great but pay was awful. I finally decided I needed to stop all these nonsense and do something about my life. So, here I am. In grad school... staying in the dorm. It's not all that fun but the friends I found and the experience I'm getting makes it worthwhile. I just hope I get more than I invested... or rather... more than my parents invested.

I just have a little over a year left... let's see what's in store for me then...