Easy like 1, 2, 3

I missed being in a block section. I miss my friends. Also, the feeling of no hassle because every resource you would be needing is already at hand’s reach. I feel this way because I was in different sections last semester. It is still kind of semi-block because for major subjects, I was with the other section wherein some other friends are there. What happened was not by choice at first, but somehow I saw it as a blessing in disguise. I made peace with it; I even loved it. :))

As it turns out, all the hardships that I've been through paid a lot. It was worth it. I learned valuable lessons. There were problems, but I’m fine. We all made it through the 3rd year 1st semester.

This coming semester, I am going back to the other section. Yesterday was enrollment day. I was fascinated at how fast and easy it was. With just a blink of the eyes, it was already done, easy like 1, 2, 3 and tada! I’m enrolled. :P

I still hope that I get to visit the other section because after all, I'll miss them. I had lots of fun with them. :D

This is going to be a new semester and I believe I’m still going to enjoy it. :))

Moving On...

To be able to fix my malfunctioning Nokia 1680c phone, the repairman said that everything had to be restarted because while repairing it, it still malfunctioned. How about that?

After finishing the job he was supposed to do, yes, my phone was fixed but it comes with the fact that everything it had is now gone... forever. I have made peace with that. PAST IS PAST. I don't regret losing everything it had. I don’t remember them all anyway but clearly, I have moved on. It was a nice feeling, actually. Letting go and moving on from all those messages of pain, of suffering, of hurting others via group messages. Even those of getting to know each other better are now behind me. The important thing is that I still have communication with my friends and all that matters is NOW. Moving on... :P

Hooray for Today!

I AM SO HAPPY TODAY!!! You are probably wondering why so, let me tell you.

First of all, my fourth phone, a Nokia 1680c (present), malfunctioned for about two months and is now finally fixed. Yehey! [For the record, I first owned a Siemens (old); second, Sony Ericsson K70i (old); third, Nokia 1208 (old); and fifth, Torque DTV37 (present)]. I feel great. It is my favorite phone. My mother gave it to me. :)

Second, when I got home, placed my sim card on the gadget that i regard to be new again, after i opened it, the first thing i got was a call... from my mom! Isn’t that amazing? :))

Third, before all of that, today is the day that i got my report grade. I may not be a scholar again, i may not be a cum laude candidate long ago, and i may have just lost the opportunity of being part of the honorable mention, but I am proud of myself with my performance. I am so thankful to God Almighty for bringing me through it all. I survived because of Him. I am happy and contented with what i have and it is God who gets all the glory. Hooray for today! :D

Simply Amazing

"Things are not complicated, my child. They are never and they never were. It's what you do that makes them complicated."

-Taken from

"CROSSROADS: Love and All That's Left"

by MJ Mariano

It has long been in my mind that this is very true. Now that I finally have the opportunity to make a composition out of this, I might as well grab the situation and make good use of it. XD

Every thing is simple. That's how it is. What's complicated is actually us because it's kind of programmed in us to make things complicated. You may say that it is some what our nature.

For instance, people who have misunderstanding will keep on explaining their sides that eventually leads to an argument which will involve shouting. Where in fact, a brief explanation will do, then end it by saying sorry (all of you people involved!). Our pride will keep us like this because many of us won't admit that some things are our fault. The usual  "It's their fault!" drives people to be so stubborn.

In a school set up, some students will make activities more difficult when you can easily finish them fast and simple. I get the point that some will really exert so much effort to have a good quality output (because I'm one of them ;P) but some people doesn't take into consideration the capabilities of their members (not me any more because I know how to divide labor according to capacity). My standards are high, but I know how to adapt to this kind of situation. I do this simply because I want them to learn... that they should not depend on others always. But, you see? It's also my nature to make things complicated. Hahaha! XD Nevertheless, I BELIEVE IN THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLICITY because that is how I work most of the time - individually.

There are a lot more scenarios like this but I will not tell them one by one. It might be better if you guys will reflect on it.

Some people may be happy from a simple thing. In Filipino, 'mababaw ang kaligayahan.' I am like that because I know how to appreciate the simple things. As Sherlock Holmes says (my favorite quote as well), "It has long been an axiom of mine that the simple things are infinitely the most important." because at the end of the day, after all, every thing is simply amazing.:))

Masining na Pagpapahayag

Kung ako ay nag-enroll na lamang sa iisang klase, mas dadali ang pamumuhay ko. Pero marami ang nagtatanong, bakit nga ba pinili ko pang maging "irregular?"

Marami akong bagay na isinasaisip bago ko gawin ang kung anuman ang nais ko. Mukhang mahirap, oo. Pero para sa akin, sa paglipas ng bawat araw, dumadali rin ang lahat.

Ngayong isa na akong "irregular student," mas marami pa akong bagay na natututuhan. Napag-alaman ko na rin na kahit kailan, mukhang walang gagawa sa akin ng mga bagay na nagawa ko na para sa mga irregular students. Marahil ay hindi ko na kailangan iyon dahil kaya ko rin namang tumayo mag-isa, pero habang nasa ganito akong kalagayan, mas lubos kong naiintindihan at nauunawaan ang hirap na dinaranas ng dati kong mga kaklase.

Sa kasalukuyan, masaya ako dahil may mga bago na akong kaibigan. Masaya silang lahat kasama. Hindi ko na rin masyadong nararamdamang irreg ako. :))

Para sagutin ang katanungan, pinili kong maging irreg dahil gusto kong maranasan at makita mismo ng sarili kong mga mata ang buhay sa ganitong anggulo. :D

Not For Sale

I FEEL SO WEAK...

My eyes are watery; my body is aching; I feel defeated.

I just finished reading a friend's short story. It reminded me a lot of Saw - the brutality of it. But he is just a kid. A lot of things is to learn from the story, I just hope it's not happening in reality.

I like the way it was written. From a third person point of view, a narration is made. Not the usual narration I read that describes the scenario, a narration that seems to tell the character what to do. It's new to me. It's the first that I encountered one, I believe.

Poor Boy's Pain is really painful. As I was in the middle, I cannot continue reading anymore. What pushed me and kept me going on is my determination to see how it will end. I'm glad to say I found hope. I was happy that he was able to come to his senses. No matter what happens, it is your family that's your starting point, and no matter where you are, you can always return to your home base.

Philippines is a country wherein poverty is an issue. I am thankful that my family is not poor, and equally not rich. We're just in the middle, average. In spite of that, it is unavoidable that there are times when I myself experience poverty in this family. Having no money is very difficult, it immobilized me. I cannot move because I cannot go some place else, I can even buy neither what I need nor what I want.

His case, of course, is a lot worse than mine. He's not properly educated so he doesn't have enough knowledge of how other people are capable of using the likes of him. He took the bait because after all of his experiences in that tunnel, he longed to taste a good life. He kept his dignity, I liked it. But it seems that he was inconsistent of being a good child when he decided not to go back to his family and do whatever it takes to stay in that luxurious room. His charge were fingernails, hair, skin, and eyeballs to be able to stay there.

The ending was very smart and turning. The character I knew from the beginning of the story has finally returned, and he realized that despite a lot of hunger and pain, he is not for sale.

We Will Survive

"French films are not commonly recognized."

This is some of Mr. Martin Macalintal's words before the movie was played. He is from the Embassy of France to the Philippines who accompanied Director Stephane Rybojad to promote the film in SM Mall of Asia.

Special Forces is a film about a French journalist who was kidnapped in Afghanistan.*  The word journalist is present, but the story is mainly about the special forces, a military team sent out to rescue Elsa and return her safely to her land.

Some brutality were depicted. There were murders. Those scenes reminded me of Maguindanao Massacre. It was so cruel. That's one reason I felt some tears around my eyes. But, primarily, all was because of those men who gave themselves willingly to distract or hold the enemy off for the safety of the others.

I have friends who are taking AB Journalism. I was with one when I watched the film. We can relate to all that has happened in the movie because we are aware that it is part of life in media. Only two were left on my batch in Lyceum. Unlike in first year, second year, and fourth year college. They are also few. But compared to our batch, it is considered plenty. It may somehow be recognized as the normal count because only a few take Journalism in LPU. I salute those who choose to take and stay in Journalism.

From a viewpoint of someone who watched for appreciation, I always admire how courageous journalists are to pursue the truth. I will never wish, or even think, that the main character will die in the end. The movie was also her story. Moreover, if she died, everything those soldiers did will be for nothing.

From a stand of someone who watched to critique the camera angles and shots and those alike, I'm sorry to disappoint you, I did not care. I did not take mental notes. After learning all those stuff in production classes, my friends and I looked, from that moment on, at how every scene is executed, how the scene was shown, etc. But I believe, they are not always to be applied, most especially when one merely watches for the sake of entertainment. For this film, I was more after what would happen next because of the action and the drama than all the preparation done for the movie.

Those soldiers made a lot of sacrifices, even at the cost of their lives, just to fulfill their duty. They know what they've signed up for when they decided to join.

That's why I, as well, will not shift on any other courses. I know that there are some dangers attached to the career I've chosen to pursue, but this is my choice. This is what I want. This was given to me. I will not back down; I will not quit. I know what I've signed up for.

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*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1656192/