"A conversation with a female friend might be important today," my horoscope said. "Give this person your undivided attention. Perhaps someone needs to share his or her pain or joy to you."
Then again, despite our many attempts, I didn't meet Ranice, and we didn't get to have pictures together. Somehow we decided yesterday to meet today and take advantage of my five-hour break, and she even promised to bring her camera so that we could make a decent replacement of our admittedly aesthetically unpleasing photo. I just read my horoscope from the newspaper now, and that's what it probably could've meant.
If I met her, though, it would've meant one more exciting chapter in the novel that is my life. In other words, today wasn't just boring; it was me, me, and me alone. I think everything boiled down to necessary contact - nothing spectacular, and even the five-hour break didn't help. It could've made things worse, even.
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9/26/2006
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9/25/2006
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One hundred tickets. If I don't sell them all, I'd probably end up paying for the remainder anyway. It's similar to what Charmaine and Trixia were up to - I don't know if they ended up paying but those tickets to the TeamComm party last Saturday, that was the same deal. They pay (at least for five, not for everything - those cost P250 or something) for the remainder.
And I know, that's what Huey's been telling us. I didn't buy tickets, anticipating exactly this to happen. Jaja would then text me in the middle of the jeepney ride. I'm to pick up the tickets tomorrow. Then again, I'm confused as to who I get the tickets from.
It's somewhat inevitable when you arrive in this stage, that despite honestly not liking the outcome, you end up taking it and transforming it into something wholesome, something efficient, something that would actually work. It's felt different recently. I've been disturbing people, yes, and I'm aware of that. I've been opening it up, but not to new people.
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And I know, that's what Huey's been telling us. I didn't buy tickets, anticipating exactly this to happen. Jaja would then text me in the middle of the jeepney ride. I'm to pick up the tickets tomorrow. Then again, I'm confused as to who I get the tickets from.
It's somewhat inevitable when you arrive in this stage, that despite honestly not liking the outcome, you end up taking it and transforming it into something wholesome, something efficient, something that would actually work. It's felt different recently. I've been disturbing people, yes, and I'm aware of that. I've been opening it up, but not to new people.
Read more »
9/23/2006
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A huge distraction has gotten inside me throughout the past two days. Uncertainty.
And no, it's not because of anything emotionally-related. Somehow things aren't, well, happening the way they are supposed to happen. Thursday's research class didn't push through, all too ceremoniously - I got to the second floor, waited a bit, and realized that the door to M208 is still locked just as Y2K told me somebody told them there wasn't a class. So, congratulate me for pushing my record further - six hours and forty minutes. But that isn't really a break, though. It's just a really huge gap between campus arrival and class start, one that Derek already set long ago.
And John - I can't blame him, but we can't seem to start our trip to the People's Journal offices. Today he's just finished his shoot for photography class, and tomorrow he's off to the ABS-CBN studio tour. And Sir Mariano isn't telling anybody whether the data we collect about the newspaper is due on the next meeting, which, on our case, falls this Monday.
Read more »
And no, it's not because of anything emotionally-related. Somehow things aren't, well, happening the way they are supposed to happen. Thursday's research class didn't push through, all too ceremoniously - I got to the second floor, waited a bit, and realized that the door to M208 is still locked just as Y2K told me somebody told them there wasn't a class. So, congratulate me for pushing my record further - six hours and forty minutes. But that isn't really a break, though. It's just a really huge gap between campus arrival and class start, one that Derek already set long ago.
And John - I can't blame him, but we can't seem to start our trip to the People's Journal offices. Today he's just finished his shoot for photography class, and tomorrow he's off to the ABS-CBN studio tour. And Sir Mariano isn't telling anybody whether the data we collect about the newspaper is due on the next meeting, which, on our case, falls this Monday.
Read more »
9/20/2006
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Marcia and I decided to ride the bus together, and in a fit of Jana-like smugness, I decided to say goodbye to the people around.
"Thanks for the donut, Myrene!" I blurted out. "Oh, and thanks for the hug, Aia!"
I actually feared that I wouldn't get to watch Imago today. After all, we were in charge of the free food giveaway. The moment my only class was dismissed, I went to the Marian Quadrangle to assist in placing the different snack foods in student right-labeled plastic cups. I was already tired - my heart registered 158 beats per minute after realizing I left all but one notebook in either Y503 or M316, only to find them nowhere - but I still found some fun in grabbing plastic bags improvised as gloves to place fish crackers in those cups. And, of course, the anxiety in wondering whether people would pick them up.
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"Thanks for the donut, Myrene!" I blurted out. "Oh, and thanks for the hug, Aia!"
I actually feared that I wouldn't get to watch Imago today. After all, we were in charge of the free food giveaway. The moment my only class was dismissed, I went to the Marian Quadrangle to assist in placing the different snack foods in student right-labeled plastic cups. I was already tired - my heart registered 158 beats per minute after realizing I left all but one notebook in either Y503 or M316, only to find them nowhere - but I still found some fun in grabbing plastic bags improvised as gloves to place fish crackers in those cups. And, of course, the anxiety in wondering whether people would pick them up.
Read more »
9/19/2006
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Let's just quickly get over the fact that I lent seventy bucks to Sars today. Well, I thought she'd photocopy a few pages and quickly offered to shoulder it like I usually do, but then again it's their film class under Sir Groyon. And she's photocopying for three people, so that's ninety bucks all in all. I got paid partly, though. But imagine those handouts. There just too many pages, and too many people asking for it.
I can go on and on about my day, and how my five-hour break was spent with either Mirielle and I putting Jan in the hot seat at Z2, or helping Jaja do a "major revision" for the long-delayed batch newsletter, or reading the first chapter to Chronicle of a Death Foretold. However, the most interesting moment of the day probably happened during the first LA Core meeting - well, not really a meeting per se, but more of a crafts workshop.
So last night things were pretty much set - Y2K texting me in the middle of the bus ride asking whether I had colored bond paper, Nadia sending me an accidentally misspelled rights sleeve for cutting and taping - and then, after getting hell-annoyed at a classmate in Literature 2 class, I got up to M315 and realized that we've moved a room ahead, and Miss Pam was at the building faster than I expected. Oh, and should I say this was some sort of bonding session, a long-delayed one, with the girls of our batch's LA Core?
Read more »
I can go on and on about my day, and how my five-hour break was spent with either Mirielle and I putting Jan in the hot seat at Z2, or helping Jaja do a "major revision" for the long-delayed batch newsletter, or reading the first chapter to Chronicle of a Death Foretold. However, the most interesting moment of the day probably happened during the first LA Core meeting - well, not really a meeting per se, but more of a crafts workshop.
So last night things were pretty much set - Y2K texting me in the middle of the bus ride asking whether I had colored bond paper, Nadia sending me an accidentally misspelled rights sleeve for cutting and taping - and then, after getting hell-annoyed at a classmate in Literature 2 class, I got up to M315 and realized that we've moved a room ahead, and Miss Pam was at the building faster than I expected. Oh, and should I say this was some sort of bonding session, a long-delayed one, with the girls of our batch's LA Core?
Read more »
9/16/2006
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It was a striking scene, really, a week into our first term as communication arts students. I chanced upon Nadia and we ended up walking together, in that short distance from the stairs at the second floor of Miguel building, to our classrooms just around the corner. In between questions about STRAW and, obviously, classrooms, she was holding - yes, seriously - a Red Bull bottle.
Well, it's pretty much a given that she's a busy girl, but I then remembered Caresse. Sleepless Caresse, technically - we met at the library previously and, despite her seeming to have regained all the sleep she didn't take into Thursday morning, she didn't sound as peppy as what she did during the previous term. She was looking for resources at the library for her research class and she still sounded as if all she wanted was to sleep. I, on the other want, was getting drowsy only because I was in front of the computer all afternoon checking out our online subscriptions for stuff to read up on.
I somehow consider myself lucky because I got no classes on the Wednesday after the next, because Sir Correa announced a free cut, which effectively removes that class - my only class - from the schedule. If things go well I can drop by Anima and do my participant observation there, but technically, I've been scratching my head because I still don't have an idea as to what would come next. When to actually start researching, I still don't know. And I find myself waiting for another email reply. Seems it would be a normal thing to do, right?
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Well, it's pretty much a given that she's a busy girl, but I then remembered Caresse. Sleepless Caresse, technically - we met at the library previously and, despite her seeming to have regained all the sleep she didn't take into Thursday morning, she didn't sound as peppy as what she did during the previous term. She was looking for resources at the library for her research class and she still sounded as if all she wanted was to sleep. I, on the other want, was getting drowsy only because I was in front of the computer all afternoon checking out our online subscriptions for stuff to read up on.
I somehow consider myself lucky because I got no classes on the Wednesday after the next, because Sir Correa announced a free cut, which effectively removes that class - my only class - from the schedule. If things go well I can drop by Anima and do my participant observation there, but technically, I've been scratching my head because I still don't have an idea as to what would come next. When to actually start researching, I still don't know. And I find myself waiting for another email reply. Seems it would be a normal thing to do, right?
Read more »
9/14/2006
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Another overreaction, you might say. Being me I tend to do so, and as such you must try to do something about it or you'll end up getting irritated. So much for finding that out, though - Kevin decided to go solo, so I haven't got a choice but to go solo as well. Miss Averion's been pulling out surprises - today we've been doing our initial reflections, and I understand the other room has had a lot to do and a lot being demanded for. Miss Diaz walked along the corridors and told her students - most of my blockmates included - to not linger in the corridor in such a ceremonial manner. That just drilled down the gap I apparently made between me and my blockmates, at least during Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
I'll say. I have the suckiest schedule someone could possibly have. I mean, more than the boredom that a five-hour break brings, what more about the psychological effects? Just five weeks ago I met a lot of people, and today I suddenly have to fend for myself. Spending time with a mixed bag of blockmates somewhere in the campus in the afternoon, though, does wonders. Believe me, I'm thanking you guys this early for just sticking by.
We're all supposed to have that gap once in a while. Maybe this time we're being trained for a much larger gap, one separated by city borders, physical obstacles and radio wave shortfalls. Maybe Monday and Tuesday just started so well, I relied too much on these things repeating on the succeeding days to actually make me feel better. Or maybe it's my paranoia, that fatal combination of observation, instinction and familiarization, that killed me today.
Read more »
I'll say. I have the suckiest schedule someone could possibly have. I mean, more than the boredom that a five-hour break brings, what more about the psychological effects? Just five weeks ago I met a lot of people, and today I suddenly have to fend for myself. Spending time with a mixed bag of blockmates somewhere in the campus in the afternoon, though, does wonders. Believe me, I'm thanking you guys this early for just sticking by.
We're all supposed to have that gap once in a while. Maybe this time we're being trained for a much larger gap, one separated by city borders, physical obstacles and radio wave shortfalls. Maybe Monday and Tuesday just started so well, I relied too much on these things repeating on the succeeding days to actually make me feel better. Or maybe it's my paranoia, that fatal combination of observation, instinction and familiarization, that killed me today.
Read more »
9/12/2006
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If I only had in excess of twelve grand, I would have solved my terrible problem that's facing me on Tuesdays and Thursdays: a five-hour break. I would have immediately snapped up that iPod nano Mae's sister has been surprisingly selling, went to making it work during the weekend, and just settle down during the dead hours of those days, pretending to lounge with headphones in my ears. Then I could even fulfill Jenn's description of me that involved the headphones I used to rely on three terms ago.
I almost arrived late for research class - or, to be exact, I arrived five minutes before 08.00, just to be surprised to see my other classmates get in the usually locked rooms. For the second time in two days, I wore something against my will and found myself seeing Sars wearing (surprisingly) a black jacket. Settling on a seat beside Mae, because that was the only free seat I wanted to sit in - it was in the middle of the classroom, in the second row - I waited, and waited further, for Miss Averion to come in. At the same time, those at the other classroom - those with Miss Diaz on board - are getting orders to read chapters of a book for Thursday. That was a thick handout, honestly.
Well, Miss Averion finally arrived, arranging another one of those round-robin things (which wasn't technically an introduction, but everyone was necessarily reminded of LPEP). Then Kevin arrived - which was technically a breath of fresh air, and a much-needed one. Not that I hate LIA-COM students - why should I, if I have a handful of friends from their ranks? - but I worried about whether I would have a partner, and since the two of us are the only regular LIA students in the class, it seemed more than obvious we'd pick each other.
Read more »
I almost arrived late for research class - or, to be exact, I arrived five minutes before 08.00, just to be surprised to see my other classmates get in the usually locked rooms. For the second time in two days, I wore something against my will and found myself seeing Sars wearing (surprisingly) a black jacket. Settling on a seat beside Mae, because that was the only free seat I wanted to sit in - it was in the middle of the classroom, in the second row - I waited, and waited further, for Miss Averion to come in. At the same time, those at the other classroom - those with Miss Diaz on board - are getting orders to read chapters of a book for Thursday. That was a thick handout, honestly.
Well, Miss Averion finally arrived, arranging another one of those round-robin things (which wasn't technically an introduction, but everyone was necessarily reminded of LPEP). Then Kevin arrived - which was technically a breath of fresh air, and a much-needed one. Not that I hate LIA-COM students - why should I, if I have a handful of friends from their ranks? - but I worried about whether I would have a partner, and since the two of us are the only regular LIA students in the class, it seemed more than obvious we'd pick each other.
Read more »
9/11/2006
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I slept last night - later, of course - after wishing too fervently for what's been always wished to happen.
I woke up, went up the bus jittery, and saw minutes later another one of those reactions to Ariane's layout. And, I'll admit, I had quite a laugh.
It was Kizia. "Why don't you try joining GMG[?]" she said. "Magaling ka sa Photoshop eh! Hahaha! Join GMG!"
Read more »
I woke up, went up the bus jittery, and saw minutes later another one of those reactions to Ariane's layout. And, I'll admit, I had quite a laugh.
It was Kizia. "Why don't you try joining GMG[?]" she said. "Magaling ka sa Photoshop eh! Hahaha! Join GMG!"
Read more »
9/09/2006
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Only because I might not get to post anything here tomorrow - in which case I've missed my target by a single entry - I'm posting what I'm supposed to post tomorrow tonight. If, however, I get to post tomorrow, then that just ruins the momentum, but who cares?
I actually have a few things to say to the people who'd be affecting my life for the next few months or so. Not that they haven't been doing that since the day I stepped into the DLSU campus, but with the things people have been saying about our majors program - the classes, the teachers, the demands, the occasional but absolutely normal fallouts - I better do stuff right now. So, on goes with us being slaughtered and turned into "fresh meat", as someone put it during course card day, being sold in your neighborhood supermarket.
We still have one last weekend. And maybe I should stop painting such a bleak picture of things to come. Although we couldn't do anything about those already there (possibly) unintentionally painting such a dark picture of our major subjects - the very reason why passing by the offices of the Department of Communication gives me the jitters - it must be put to mind that everything would remain positive as long as we do. Take this point - we've been through different version of what we've always loved to call hell week. Now, take that week of yours and put it through one of those really expensive microscopes...
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I actually have a few things to say to the people who'd be affecting my life for the next few months or so. Not that they haven't been doing that since the day I stepped into the DLSU campus, but with the things people have been saying about our majors program - the classes, the teachers, the demands, the occasional but absolutely normal fallouts - I better do stuff right now. So, on goes with us being slaughtered and turned into "fresh meat", as someone put it during course card day, being sold in your neighborhood supermarket.
We still have one last weekend. And maybe I should stop painting such a bleak picture of things to come. Although we couldn't do anything about those already there (possibly) unintentionally painting such a dark picture of our major subjects - the very reason why passing by the offices of the Department of Communication gives me the jitters - it must be put to mind that everything would remain positive as long as we do. Take this point - we've been through different version of what we've always loved to call hell week. Now, take that week of yours and put it through one of those really expensive microscopes...
Read more »
9/08/2006
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Three days. I can hear my heart beat. For some reason I started to not look forward to school, because three weeks - heck, three weeks is long enough for rest, but students like us need more. Change that - make it want more. It never seems enough, and it never will be.
In the remaining three days, I've at least done one thing - Ariane's layout. Surprisingly it took me three hours to do it - or, maybe it's because it's less complicated that Clarence's layout, which took five months to finish, including the initial conversations. (To be honest, though, Ariane asked me for a layout at the start of the year, which makes development time nine months. Similarities abound - crammers unite!)
And, as usual, I've been sleeping at midnight. Now this isn't correct, simply because at this point in the term break I'm supposed to be adjusting my body clock to wake up at 05.15, and not 07.30 like I did today! Then again, I always tend to do this until Sunday, where I try hard to sleep without success. At least I get trained to rely on my mobile's alarm clock, which I've been doing for most of the last term. Think about it, though, I ought to be getting used to not getting sleep.
Read more »
In the remaining three days, I've at least done one thing - Ariane's layout. Surprisingly it took me three hours to do it - or, maybe it's because it's less complicated that Clarence's layout, which took five months to finish, including the initial conversations. (To be honest, though, Ariane asked me for a layout at the start of the year, which makes development time nine months. Similarities abound - crammers unite!)
And, as usual, I've been sleeping at midnight. Now this isn't correct, simply because at this point in the term break I'm supposed to be adjusting my body clock to wake up at 05.15, and not 07.30 like I did today! Then again, I always tend to do this until Sunday, where I try hard to sleep without success. At least I get trained to rely on my mobile's alarm clock, which I've been doing for most of the last term. Think about it, though, I ought to be getting used to not getting sleep.
Read more »
9/07/2006
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Hell no.
I just saved myself from Jakarta. We almost moved there. My prayers were answered; the offer was pulled back, and I couldn't thank the fickle-minded boss enough.
But Colombo. Now it seems we're all too sure we're moving. Just when I fought for majors, for sanity, for friendship, I'm gonna have to start anew again.
Read more »
I just saved myself from Jakarta. We almost moved there. My prayers were answered; the offer was pulled back, and I couldn't thank the fickle-minded boss enough.
But Colombo. Now it seems we're all too sure we're moving. Just when I fought for majors, for sanity, for friendship, I'm gonna have to start anew again.
Read more »
9/04/2006
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I am the most obvious person in the world.
I mean, I always keep secrets and end up telling them to everyone anyway. But who could help it? Every secret's bound to get out of the leash sometime - in a showbiz talk show, in an open forum, in a Freudian slip attentively caught.
Stacie Orrico's song doesn't attract me that much. Who knew she'd do the shift from alternative pop to almost manufactured soul? I'm Not Missing You doesn't strike much but I somehow enjoy listening, precisely because I realize I'm finding myself one of the lines she kept on singing. I don't feel the distance.
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I mean, I always keep secrets and end up telling them to everyone anyway. But who could help it? Every secret's bound to get out of the leash sometime - in a showbiz talk show, in an open forum, in a Freudian slip attentively caught.
Stacie Orrico's song doesn't attract me that much. Who knew she'd do the shift from alternative pop to almost manufactured soul? I'm Not Missing You doesn't strike much but I somehow enjoy listening, precisely because I realize I'm finding myself one of the lines she kept on singing. I don't feel the distance.
Read more »
9/02/2006
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Niko Batallones writes The Upper Blog.
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Some photographs have been edited using post-production curves from Shalla Yu.
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