Before the year ends

We visited the cemetery to offer prayers for my late grandfather today. We also made time to go to the mass today for Sharleen Tan in the Ateneo College Chapel. My sisters and I each offered one incense stick wrapped with little unspoken prayers. The feeling, though, was a bit uneasy since I did not personally know this student, and there was an ABC 5 camera and a reporter videotaping the event.

May she rest in peace

I do not personally know this student. However, we are still bound by the same Atenean, student and human bonds one way or another, and probably, have crossed paths somewhere before in school, and may be, sometime in the future.

---

Sharlene "Sharky" Tan [2 BS-BIO] (1985-2004)

Let us all take a moment to pray for Sharlene May Tan. Known to most as "Sharky", she is an active Celadon officer and a would-be doctor, who was in Phuket when the 10-meter tsunami hit the shores of its beach and claimed her life. Her body was found only just yesterday morning (December 29, 2004) along with his dad and cousins. Only her mother and sisters survived the incident. Grieving for her unexpected and undeserved loss...

Celadon together with various units of the LS community will be holding a mass for Sharky:

December 31 2004 | 10am to 12nn
Ateneo College Chapel (Gonzaga)
with Father Aristotle Dy, SJ

Let us all unite tomorrow and pray for her departed soul.


This tragedy makes you think that all unhappy moments that happen to you in your lifetime seem petty.

A little discovery

My youngest sister came back from her sleepover. From what I've heard, they played PS2 the whole night, playing Ku-on, WWE Smackdown vs Raw, Silent Hill, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Battle Nexus (TMNT: BN). I was surprised, since she does not actually play PS2 games like Sel does. To add to the story, I've gathered that they've beat up the other pair in Smackdown vs Raw, and posted higher ratings in TMNT: BN.

So we played TMNT: BN later in the afternoon. Although rough in some parts, she was pretty good for a first-timer. She was actually teaching me some stuff in a few parts. We reached the fifth stage (actually fifth level since each stage had like five sub-stages in it) before having a break since our thumbs were getting stiff from beating up from mashing the buttons.

It was fun since it was the first time for us to be playing together on the PS2 and enjoying the game. She usually refuses to play with me since she does not know how, and does not want to learn how to play. Well, it seems that she's a natural.

More than a thousand words

Since I wasn't able to post in November and around three weeks of December, I'll post a few photographs to commemorate some events that happened during those times.



My grandfather's wake

I miss him a lot. He did a lot of great things that changed a lot of people's lives. Including mine.


IAC Division Champions!

No one thought it would be possible, a 5'7 average height first-time together team with no star players sweeping and winning the division against a land filled with giants. But it happened, and wow, it's a nice medal.


ACLC Caroling

Invaded by the ACLC'ers in red, we were forced to pose in this photograph.


Lovers in Paris?

Taken late during my Dad's birthday, my mom was in "stalker" mode taking pictures here and there. According to her, this photograph of my sister and I reminded her of "Lovers in Paris", a popular Korean telenovela shown here in the Philippines.


First Trials

These are my first three attempts in my whole life in painting. I'm taking a painting class right now, and these are my first three works, a self-portrait (and an ugly one at that), a skin tone portrait (that's a part of Frodo from Lord of the Rings), and a grayscale painting (I picked the Church of the Gesu.)

Pineapple Orange

The return to the ritual-happy schooltime draws near, yet I still do not want to go back. It is not due to the heavy workload I must once again bear on my shoulders, being a Senior AVP of IT in the Placement Office, the project head of Parada: The Fine Arts Festival, and of course, a fourth-year student as well. Sometimes, I think I've developed a craving for work nowadays, too much in fact.

The last few weeks of classes left an awful taste in my mouth like an expired can of juice, and no matter how long you brush and gargle, the taste of it still lingers in your tongue and in your mind.

I did not leave for the Christmas break happy. Unthinkable moments happened, something that if one knew me heard about those stories, they would tell that person that it was not me who did all of those things. However, it did happen, and I hate myself for not being able to resist all those provocations. Sometimes, a can of juice explodes when applied with enough pressure like placing that unopened can in a microwave.

I never usually get angry, but people must know that all humans have a certain boiling point. Sure, I may play a martyr most of the time, but they must know when to stop repeating the same thing over and over again. You do not need to repeat it when it's liked bombarded me for the past hour. Yes, there was a meeting, and ever since the start of the meeting, the same "be professional, we have to give in to their likings since they're the one's paying" has been repeated. Is it my fault for being pissed for such an inconsiderate request? Yet, I never dropped my work into another person's hands, isn't that professional enough? Afterwards, here comes this guy who repeats the same message again after the meeting as if it was my fault for all the problems that existed. C'mon, I get it already, so I apologize for putting my hand in front of your face and letting you talk to it.

Now I am the bad guy. I am the inconsiderate one. I've destroyed the harmony of the four seasons juice we've together mixed up. I apologize for voicing out my opinions instead of being the suppressed robot I should've been. It was way out of the line, and I must get my hands and feet attached again in their bondage ropes. Money is power, and I do not have that. All hail the almighty power of the dollah-dollah bill.

I've sent a new design, and I understand why no one commented on it, or probably even saw it. I am the evil that must be punished by ignorance. I'm sorry for what I've done -- to stand up and be a human.

I'm sorry. Let me be part of the bandwagon once more. I submit. I must be one again, to be drunk like pineapple orange, together once more in a harmonious entanglement.

One Time Iron Chef Reprise

Lunch: the place, our home kitchen. Chairman Kaga unveils the theme ingredient: leftovers! After one hour, Sel & Milo unveil two new dishes. First, potato rice, a delicious fried rice dish with a mild taste of soy sauce and potatoes decorated with scrambled eggs and circular pieces of longganisa, a hearty all-in-one treat for the hungry customer. Spaghetti with mushroom & cheese, a little addition of another type of sauce added a new twist in the taste of this everyday recipe.

In the Fantasy NBA angle, after a great game by Sczerbiak today, I withdrew my offer for the meanwhile. I still want to trade Sprewell and Jackson though, but I couldn't find a taker.

If you want to follow my progress, visit: Public League 292808 -- and look for the team "Change of Heart"

One Time Iron Chef

Our household helpers had a day-off but they did not go back home early. My mother and youngest sister were cleaning the house, so that left Sel & I to do the cooking today. Although my cooking skills were not really that good (close to none, in fact, but I'm getting better), I managed to help out with the rice and all the needed knife cutting (my sis is afraid of knives). And after watching Iron Chef (who says this show is stupid?) and watching Sakai magically turn food into art, I was inspired to do create a masterpiece (Fine arts in food... interesting). I made a salad using lettuce, carrots and two different types of experimental thousand island dressing (one for decoration, one for dip.) Somehow, it looked so good that my family was, at first, hesitant to touch the food (or afraid that it might give them indigestion =p) --- I call this dish, Swan's Offering... (corny) --- see pic below to see before it was eaten.


Swan's Offering

I found out that I dropped to #9 in the NBA fantasy basketball game I'm playing after going up as hight as #6. I lack people who rack up assists and steals. I wanted to trade some players, but the other team never responded to my offer. Now, I'm trying to get Udonis Haslem and Rafer Alston in exchange for Latrell Sprewell, Bobby Jackson & Wally Sczerbiak.

It's not Christmas

I got four presents under the tree today: a DKNY pouch bag, an art book, a pack of CD labels and a homemade t-shirt that would take a lot of guts for me to wear. It's a simple black shirt with the same message that a shirt has in Artworx but was only made for girls. It was a dare shirt that was brought about as we were passing by Artworx. It's the "Sorry boys, I'm taken" shirt. Probably, the only time I'll wear that shirt is when I'm actually taken, by a lady that is.

I'm actually not in the Christmas mood today. The shitty client encounter still lingers in my atmosphere like a skunk scent that would never go away. I remember my grandfather who passed away a month ago as well as the many others who perished during the strongest typhoon to hit a country this year.

Little Get-togethers

We went to my Ninong Terry's house since they've invited us for Christmas lunch. Their son, TJ, toured me around their house, showcased his skills in Survivor Series on his Gameboy Advance and showed me his pet guppies, guramis & goldfishes. We watched Finding Nemo after a scrumptious home cooked lunch. Later, TJ showed me his NBA Live 2004 on his PC. I asked if he also watched college basketball, and pointed him to the UAAP-NCAA Live 2004 mod website. My ninong marveled at the screenshots in the site since he was a die-hard Ateneo alumnus, and was longing to play the Blue Eagles in a computer basketball game. I'll give them a copy of the game, just don't know when.

After the Christmas Mass and dinner, I stayed up late just to send Christmas text messages to a lot of people. I used my computer to send them just to make it easier than actually using the keypad on the phone. It also allowed me to send special messages, picture messages, MMS, blinking texts and other gimmicks. I’m sure that Migs liked the pic message he got. :) Right?

A little suprise

In Jack's Loft, Eastwood, we had a Christmas dinner celebration with my relatives. Unexpectedly, we met Migs & Jim hanging around in the area too. We haven't "hanged out" for a while so I went with them for a short time. Stories were told back and forth since we had a lot of catching up to do --- it went a bit crazy, especially when it came to love life (still all still single & looking!) Grabe, saya!

Shitty Clients

I'm not even sure if it is going to be used since I left all design duties to our Publicity head in the Placement Office, however, my competitive and professional nature took over once more and I've created from scratch another design.


New Design?

The client is so difficult to please, but since it involves a lot of money, even if some of my mates want to side with me, they've shifted to the other side. Thank heaven I have one-third of the IT triumvirate, Anton and "the future" Rory, the one I'm passing the IT Placement torch to help me out with all IT duties.

Well, if they have told me earlier to change the design and not on the week that it was needed to be sent to the printer, I would not be pissed as to stress me out. And for the first time, I felt like wishing that I was getting paid for this project.

I admit

Yes, I admit I do like her, ever since the first semester. It was never a secret to the frequent people in the Placement Office since it got discovered little by little. I must be so transparent when I really like someone.

My feelings gradually grew everytime I saw her, being attracted to her charm and intelligence like a woman's perfume becharming a man. It was never her looks that drew me in, although she has that certain cuteness, the one I call "hidden beauty", that type of beauty that always attracts me, a mixture of innocence & happiness. Music also attracts me quite well, and she's a really great singer.

I do not know if she already caught a whiff of this uneasy atmosphere whenever we are in the same location together. I remember all the times the Placement People tried to always put her and I together in one location, whether it be in the same room, the same timeslot during work shifts, or even the same table seated next to each other when having those complimentary dinners after a Placement event.

I have a difficult time striking up a conversation with her. Our interests seemingly do not relate to one another. I remember browsing through her resume when we were nominated for a position in the Placement Office and reading her testimonials in Friendster. I did not realize that by doing so, I felt really intimidated with her capabilities. She was up there riding in a lot of success, whileas I'm still struggling to find my way up. I even felt that if I pursued this relationship, I might be bringing her down, and I do not want to do that to her. I even had bad dreams in my sleep showing me probable consequences if I pursued this, constantly quarelling since we are located in different poles.

Yet, lately, I could not stop thinking about her. I still have those bad dreams in my sleep every now and then, but it is still about her. Some anecdotes I've written recently were inspired by her. I've never felt this way since my first girlfriend.

The placement peeps have been urging me to tell her this already so that (1) they can finally nominate someone for Placement Couple in the traditional senior's farewell party in the Placement Office, (2) I do not regret not telling her that I like her and kill myself in the future & (3) they could watch a true-to-life telenovela unfold before their very eyes. They've used several techniques to coerce me into coming out of my torpe shell. They told me stories, joked about this, had simulations of talk shows with blind items, attracted me to buy their stuff to give to her, drew love symbols on the whiteboard and more.

I really do not know if she knows this secret already. However, like the placement peeps said, she's a smart girl, and she probably knows it by now.

I'm scared.

pushyo pushyo - nang nak & other incomprehensible stuff

If my memory serves me correctly...
TH 151 - Catholic Commitment of Today's Filipino (MWF 0930-1030, Rosana)
POS 100 - Politics and Governance (MWF 1130-1230, Oreta)
FA 199 - Practicum II (TTH 0900-1030, Bolipata-Santos)
PH 104 - Foundations of Moral Value (TTH 1030-1200, Hermida)
FA 175.4 - Introduction to Painting (T 1330-1630, Dy)

Despite my random number, I managed to tweak my schedule in order to attain something that I've never or rarely experienced throughout my class.

1. No night class
2. No Saturday class
3. MWF only up to 12:30

And I've managed to avoid the known "leftover teachers". The unknown, I don't know.

Nang Nak
No, I have not watched Nang Nak. However, the title of the movie has become a jargon word amongst us. Nang Nak can mean sppoky, freaky, bad luck or almost anything negative. We then searched for its meaning hoping that it would mean something frightening, but we were disappointed. It turns out that "Nang Nak" was only a name of a person. Nak is the name, Nang is a term used to respect women. Translated to english, the title would be "Miss Nak." It's amazing how the Filipino language could have two similar terms --- Manang & Inang.

Pushyo Pushyo! (Can somebody Korean translate that?)
I played one-on-one basketball with Migs in Ayala Heights. We were surprised that we managed to score almost every single time now compared to the last time we "battled" each other. In his house, we toyed around with their organ, playing Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough", the Bodies in Motion and Iron Chef theme using similar instruments. Looking back at Migs' creative graduation pic, he does look like a member of H.O.T. (Korean boy group) sans the extreme highlights. Star talk, romance edition.

To boggle your mind

seeing the two them sitting
on a bench in berchmans,
a ray of sunlight making
them glow, they look like
proud swans, heads up high,
smiles in full display as they wave hi,
then return to their comfortable state
as if nothing happened.
maybe i should start singing this swan song
and end it before cacophonious cries
make everything real.

A New Website is born

Visit it, and join!

http://phiction.f2g.net

ACP: The Lack of Concern for the Other

We can forgive the ACP committee for apologizing for the blackout that apparently crashed their systems that disabled students from registering.

ACP Website Downtime
Thu, Sep 30 2004 8:54 AM
Due to technical difficulties beyond our control, the ACP website was offline last night. Currently, reservation is disabled until we receive further notice, but you may log-in to update your profile. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check back again for further updates.

We can also forgive them for the lost passwords too, since they released a public apology. However, since then, there have been numerous problems that arose especially regarding the thousands of glitches in their system. Yet, they kept "fixing" things undercover and this caused the hundreds of complaints in their inbox to rise to the thousand mark.

Over the Limit
Some classes in the site enabled students to still register for a class even though it says it was already full. This problem caused a lot of venue problems (due to lack of space), and also brought troubles for the speaker, especially those who specifically stated that they only will accept X number of students.

Kickout
To fix the "over the limit" problem, an ACP member confided that to fix this, they removed everyone who registered in that specific class, and opened it up for everyone to register again (this time with the limit enabled). However, they never released an announcement saying that this happened, not on their site, nor through e-mail or through any means known to man. Now, students who registered early to get that class never knew that they did this, and now are facing a problem that they do not have a class now since they were overtaken by other students who were looking for a class.

The Unhelpful Helpdesk
For complaints, students can e-mail acpwebreg@gmail.com. However, many students have complained that they never answer back. Sure, they said on their site that they will get back to the concerned student ASAP. However, this doesn't mean that they could have the freedom to respond in the next century. It is common courtesy to at least reply to an e-mail saying that they couldn't solve the problem right now.

The Downward Slope
This lack of concern for the other has caused the ACP, a helpful program where a student is given the opportunity to take alternative classes to expand their horizons, to fall grace from students' eyes. Many have considered the ACP days as a holiday instead of an opportunity especially since they are now conscious of the empty threats of cuts in their homeroom subjects the past ACP committees have led them to think. ACP is now a laughing matter among many students, and some refuse to sign up because nothing will actually happen if you do. Most classes offered are deemed time-wasters, and some students would rather have a regular class day than take an alternative one.
Seeing the boxes containing thousands of registration CDs remaining in the ACP operations room is a sign that the ACP is really on the way down.

Just an ordinary boy

I'm no Jimmy Neutron
Back then in second year, Denise Roco usually called me "Boy Genius." Maybe so, since everytime we checked who were the top students in Fine Arts, I always placed second, behind Mine Chavez (We miss you!).

I got my grades earlier and it wasn't up to par with my previous grades. It got hit with my first semester syndrome, one I've seemingly developed since second year. The first semester will always be lower than my second one.

Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino: *
Seems like Sir Yapan wasn't able to submit our grades in time. Oh well. Hopefully, I'll get a B so my over-all QPI for this semester would be 3 flat.

Practicum I: A
I didn't expect this... oh wait, I did! :)

Theology 141: B
Seems like I did pretty well in my orals. My class standing before the orals was C+.

Philo 103: B
I was a bit surprised with this one. The "midterm" orals and paper probably helped a lot since we (Ella Chua & I) got B+/A for the paper.

History 166: C
My weakness in History rears its ugly head again. I hated that right-minus wrong long test (Inhuman to finish)

I'm no Earl Strickland
I went mall-hopping (Megamall, Shangri-La, Star Mall) with Migs & Christian afterwards. After eating and sight-seeing, we played billiards and got defeated 4-3. I couldn't change to Earl form, think I was too sick. I was having a hard time breathing. Pasaway lang ako. :)

How random is random?

The Ateneo has employed the random number system since 2003. It is a system where a computer randomly generates a number that determines the "place in line" of a student. It replaces the deemed inefficient, first-come, first-served system that has been used for several years already.

Improvements
Gone are the days when a student will go to school at four o' clock in the morning and start to line up for registration at eight. There are no more complaints regarding people cutting in line, and claiming that lines get thicker, not longer. If they unfortunately get a high number, students can now still sleep and arrive during their expected time of arrival. No one has to go to different departments and sign up for their class. Everything is concentrated in one computer room per school. Nitski* of AB COM attests to this, "I could finish the entire registration in under twenty minutes without any trouble at all."

What it does not solve
Random is defined as lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance. However, there are a lot of instances where students observe that the random numbers seem repetitive, or floating around the same range. Some boast that they never got a high random number in their entire stay. Others, like Wallace* of BS MCT complains, "I never got a good number ever. This forces me to take the well-known terror teachers or the avoided ones every semester. Would a student like to have Arcilla, Calasanz, and Parco at one time?"
There are also "couplings", two or more students who seemingly are always "paired" during registrations. Some even noted that well-known students are seemingly "prioritized" and usually have a lower number compared to the average student.
It also does not solve the perennial problem of majors conflicting with the core subjects due to students' high numbers. This usually affects the Science students who only have one schedule for their majors. High numbers usually spell doom to the students that some opt to do late registration in order to avoid waiting for hours and the teachers that are left by that time. Students are willing to sacrifice a little bit of cash to prevent falling into a class where they'll abhor for the entire semester, a moneymaking scheme deemed by some.

No one knows
The registration committee only knows one thing about the random numbers, that they are generated by a computer. Beyond that, no one knows exactly how random numbers are picked, the process it undergoes. No one could explain why there are instances where the same students get the lower numbers more than the others.

Refinement
Despite its improvements, the random number system still has its flaws and needs to be further refined. A student's suggestion brings up the idea of a circular random number system where it takes advantage of the four divisions created by the expected time of arrival. For example, a school is divided by fifties. A student, in the first semester of his third year, his number falls in between 50-99. In the next semester, his number can fall in between 1-49, 100-149 or 150-200, never again 50-99. If he gets 1-49, then in his fourth year, he could only have a random number in the range of 100-200. Using this process, every student will have the experience of having a low and a high number throughout his third and fourth years where random numbers play a vital part in their registration since they usually do not have predetermined subjects. This suggestion removes the "unfairness" the random numbers seem to bring.

* Names have been changed to protect the people involved

I miss my Placement Family!

Dear Ateneo Placement Office,

I am obsessed with you.

1. My Insaniquarium Virtual Tank backdrop/screensaver sports a photograph of the Placement Reps.

2. My Puzzle Express game has photographs of the Placement people.

3. My blog has a photograph of the Placement Reps.

4. I spend most of my free time there, eating, studying, working, playing, or hanging out there even without any reason.

5. My Friendster list is full of Placement Reps, and most of them know my secrets.

6. My laptop is full of Placement photographs.

7. I've spent time knowing every function the Placement Office does, especially in the Office Assistant position.

8. I do stuff for the Placement Office without anyone telling me to do it.

9. Nanlilibre ako! (Shock!)

10. If there was one thing I regret in my entire stay in the Ateneo de Manila College, it would be, "I didn't join the Ateneo Placement Office earlier."

Probably, you helped me grow so much. You've created an atmosphere where we love everyone there, and cater to each individual's strengths and weaknesses, no faceless individuals who just work for a project, something that no organization ever offered me.

Looking forward to being there once again next semester, and sadly, the last semester,

SAVP-IT
Milo

The House of Flying Reality

Warning: Will Contain Spoilers

When I watched "The House of Flying Daggers", I do not understand why most reviews found in the internet hated it. Although I admit that Hero was the better movie, HoFD doesn't deserve the raps it got from them.

I got excerpts [shown in italics] from a review in http://www.imdb.com (The International Movie Database) and will place my comments afterwards.

Unfortunately, the story doesn't work. The action scenes and the character drama have been given unequal time; something like 25/75, percentage-wise. Obviously, the plot and characterizations are important to the director. Regrettably, the plot is enormously protracted, and about two thirds into the movie we get extreme twists that turn everything around and completely undermine the premise of all the earlier key scenes. If Mei and Leo knew each other, what was the point of the initial fight in the pavilion? To what purpose were all the pretending, when everyone involved were in on it?! Also, many of the fight scenes from the first half of the movie (esp. in the forest) where Mei is supposedly blind are made meaningless once we know that she was never blind. That's not clever storytelling; that's cheating!

The extreme twists weren't really exteme, if one is observant during the film. We were given hints, a lot of them in fact, during the earlier scenes that the captain was also part of the Flying Daggers. The echo game, the singling out of Mei, the one-day "break" from the torture and Mei's smile during the echo game were just some of the hints given. The initial fight served as a way to make everyone think that they were on opposite sides. Her planned escape later would then draw out the general and his troops to where the house of flying daggers were waiting to ambush the government (who killed the old leader of the house of FD). Mei acted blind so Jin, as well as the government, would believe that she was the daughter of the old leader out to take revenge on her father's death. There was a story floating around in the government that the old leader had a blind daughter who left the group. She was a "big fish" in the eyes of the corrupt government, and would surely be an asset to lead them to the hideout of the HoFD. There were also subtle hints that the movie gave out to say that she wasn't blind.

The love story was too silly and preposterous to be believable, and all the worse for being so long-winded. And we never did see very much of the skill (or the members) of the Flying Daggers, which I thought was a great shame. Nor did we see the outcome of the final fight between the Daggers and the government soldiers! From starting out as an action movie, the film descends more and more into a bad love story, even to the point of supplying hardly any resolution to the action part of the story.

One wouldn't know this if he hasn't experienced loving two people at the same time --- his ex, and his "moved on" love. The love story was exactly like that, and even Mei couldn't choose until the end. (grabe... parang tunay na buhay.) Although it would be nice to see the skill of the Flying Daggers in the battle with the government, it would just add glamour to the film, nothing else. The flying daggers throughout the movie were enough to showcase this skill. The outcome of the final fight was implied in the final scene, as well as in the song that recurred twice in the movie. Watch it again, and "see".

The taste in movies nowadays have shifted back to the spoonfed era, but with a technological taste in it. "I must see high flying breathtaking action like the Matrix, and see a clear-cut in-your-face ending (with a strong theological or philosophical background)." Implied stories are sadly, not sufficient once more.

The Send-Off Party

It has been a week since we gave Ate April, the "former" Ateneo Placement Office Assistant, a nice chocolate, blueberry cheesecake & tear filled send-off party. We, the placement reps, managed to sneak inside the office two ice cream tubs, two cakes, a tumbler of M&M's peanuts, and a bilao of pancit malabon without her suspecting. I also managed to plant a Flash presentation commemorating her stay in the Placement Office in her computer without anyone knowing. Grabe, ang daming ginawang palusot at panloloko upang maipasok lamang ang mga pagkain. May kakausap na lang sa kanya, tapos dadalhin sa kabilang kuwarto --- sabay pasok ng pagkain. Mas madali talaga kapag maraming kakontsaba.

The mini-party started with my Flash intro, showcasing her photographs accompanied by a piano soundtrack that brought tears to her eyes, as well as some of the Placement reps (sabi nila). Everyone was silent during the presentation, as if a great void was created inside them. Roki, then, broke the silence by joking, "O Ate April, puwede ka nang umalis. You're fired!" Tawa na lang lahat.

Natawa pa nga ako, may ilan pa ngang humingi ng kopya ng maikling palabas na iyon. Napuri pa ako ni Tita Chit --- maganda raw ang aking nagawa.

Afterwards, some placement reps gave her gifts, and Tita Chit presented her with a picture frame containing a gigantic card crammed with different messages from everyone in the office. JD Uy, our newly-elected Execom president led the prayer, and Ate April opened the party by taking the first bite out of the pancit and slicing the cake. Photographs were taken left and right since this would be the last day Ate April would officially grace us with her presence in the office. Kuwentuhan, kantyawan, kainan, nasarapan ang lahat sa mga hinanda.

It was sad to see her go, since she contributed a lot to the office, both job-wise and friend-wise. However, it was time for her to move on and venture out into other career fields, to grow and absorb new things that would make her more whole as a person. Hindi ka namin makakalimutan, Ate April.

Sembreak Half-Time

Catching Up

Usually during a semester, I work so hard, accept jobs left and right without batting an eye that my body seems to have developed a kind of armor that repels all types of lethargy. Now that the semester's over once again, this armor that I sported now becomes a dead weight, becoming a breeding ground of sickness. Since last Sunday, when the semester officially ended, I'm carrying this cold and cough combination virus that luckily, hasn't turned into a flu yet. It was though it was saying, "I kept you healthy all semester, and now, it's time for us to react to the punishment you brought upon your body." Sometimes, hard work has its own share of negatives.

Insanity

Since my body refuses to work efficiently as of today, I've been resting/sleeping almost 15 hours per day. I don't want to start the next semester in a lackluster state especially since I'll be heading the Fine Arts Festival as well as all the work a Senior AVP for IT in the Ateneo Placement Office does. To ward off boredom, I usually place my laptop beside me on my bed and either plan for the next semester by designing stuff, or playing Betrapped! or Insaniquarium, one of the craziest games to be ever invented. I also managed to escape the new rooms (Viridian Room and the Blue Chamber) in this site ( http://www.fasco-csc.com/ ). Try these games. They're a nice diversion from the hectic lifestyle we have. We must also play hard while we work hard.

10 Biggest Brain Damaging Habits

I got this via e-mail, and I believe we are all guilty of some of these habits listed here.

1. No Breakfast

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation

Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping

Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.

One of Ateneo's Main Attractions

Church of the Gesu

Thanks for believing in me

Earthquake
After two orals that sent tremors throughout my body (my Theology professor even said, "Milo, relax. You're shaking." I was not feeling a bit confident about my performances. I'm expecting at least (hopefully), a 2.8 this semester, way below my goal of at least 3.35. There goes my goal of graduating with honors.

Tricks no Treats
The halloween theme that the Reg Committee used for the second semester sure fits the news it brought. I found out that my reg number is 179. Hooray... Vicky Parco forever! Why wouldn't the registrar give me (ever) a good number? Are they angry at me or something? It's amazing how random numbers do not seem random at all.

Election of the Execom Results

The Ateneo Placement Executive Committee elections are now over and here are the results. Looky looky!

CLICK HERE

Oooooohhhh.....

A Little Laugh

According to the IAC Official stats after 3 Games:

Milo Angtuaco - That's me!
Games Played - 2
Points - 2
Average - 1.0
Offensive Rebounds - 1
Average OR - 0.5
Defensive Rebounds - 0
Average DR - 0.0
Total Rebounds - 1
Average Rebounds - 0.5
Assists - 8
Average Assists - 4.0
Steals - 1
Average Steals - 0.50
Blocks - 0
Average Blocks - 0.00
Defensive Stat Points - 12.0
Total Stat Points - 37.0

----

And my first reaction was:
Oh my heck, I have 2 points? Where did that come from?

My second reaction was:
Wow, I have 8 assists! That makes me the assist leader of the division!

My last reaction was:
I have more stat points than Hans Tan?

Well, that's what the official standing says. I'll take it. Milo, point guard extraordinaire! =P

I have no mouth, yet I must scream.

I have no mouth, yet I must scream.

I’ve been to a hundred workshops, literature bootcamps with different generals stepping on my work, tearing it apart, nitpicking every speck of dirt embedded in the pores of the white paper my stories have been on. Every experience made me stronger, tougher, probably, a better writer.

Never in my mind did it cross that the workshop earlier would make all those workshops I had before seem like a kindergarten classes.

The workshop earlier made it seem like my story was the demon incarnate, out to destroy the foundation of good literature.

I thrive on criticisms especially negative ones, but this time around, I was forced to swallow a bloodbath then was tortured with the water cure. I was rendered helpless, never given the opportunity to defend by taking away my weapon of voice. This completely killed me. Now, I’m starting to doubt whether I am fit enough to be the leader of this pack, or as a writer.

Different workshops would kill the strengths and praise the weaknesses of another workshop, leaving the writer confused at which road to take, which armaments would be removed or equipped.

I have no mouth, yet I must scream.

Nominations for the executive committee in the Placement Office have started in preparation for the elections next week. I’m happy to say that I’ve been nominated. Hopefully, I would snag a position, any position for that matter, even if I don’t have the background of becoming a committee or team head in the office. My resume doesn’t boast much, but hopefully, my actions would speak louder than this piece of paper.

However, whatever the result may be, I would still be their friendly neighborhood, and resident assistant of the office assistant Milo.

Go to Elevation: The Further Studies Fair. It’s the last day tomorrow. Get a copy of the newsletter, I’m proud of it.

I have no mouth, yet I must scream.

Twirling the spaghetti noodles around my fork

The Literature Sauce
Long, firm strings of words refined from high-quality writing workshops are now being served once again to panelists in anothe writing workshop. Garnished with a few choice bits of flowery words, seasoned with fresh strips of ideas and added a twist of twists, these works would hopefully bag me a Palanca sometime in the future. Two writing workshops in one semester is tiring, especially when sometimes, you cannot serve something new to the literature tasters just when you needed to. Times like these make Math and Accounting taste sweeter than the Literature sauce since this idea-intensive topping doesn't have a recipe to follow.

The IAC Sauce
We managed to salvage the third game in the IAC. For the first time, we were trailing three-fourths of the game, and was down by one with only a few seconds to go. Luckily, our MVP managed to make a contested lay-up near the buzzer to win the game for us. Prior to this game, we had a two-week lay-off inside the refrigerator of long tests and projects, and cold spaghetti sauce never once tasted good. I didn't get to play a second of the game, but I didn't mind if I was left warming up the bench. A wins a win, no matter how bad it tasted. Hopefully, we could whip up a fresh new batch for our next game since it would decide who would remain undefeated in our division.

The Placement Sauce
A lot of ingredients would be removed from the tried and tested Placement sauce next semester and I'm training myself to be the bridge between the two semesters. We will have new career counselors, and a new office assistant (it's like having a heart transplant due to the importance of this position). Now, I've taken the liberty to know and understand everything an office assistant does (since I'm the most "qualified" whatever that means) in order to help out more, especially when it comes to the new assistant, in the future. Tita Chit, the Placement director, already told me to learn the ropes of this position since Ate April, our current one, will be leaving around October. It's like an OJT without the money.
Meanwhile, I'm brewing the bookmark designs for the upcoming Further Studies Fair, as well as creating a website from scratch.

The FA Festival Sauce
Currently, this sauce is on top of the stove, just simmering. It has been a standstill lately due to the hell weeks. It would pick-up once again next semester. I know it will. Sponsors, directors, plays and auditions!

Someone's handing out those heart-shaped candies

Browsing through the documented lives of my friends, I see that Cupid's been hitting his mark lately. Almost everyone's in Shangri-la, or at least, walking on the cobblestoned road lined with roses and candy clouds to get there.

With a glaring sign that says "Couples for Christ only, No PDA allowed" in front of them, couples still stay in the Berchmans benches. They're "playing around" as if they were in Luneta, in broad daylight, the sun their moon. Berchmans has become a sort of motel with only two walls separating the rooms.

Inside the hot tub of small pebbles formerly known as Quad 1, benches are laid in a circular formation under a huge tree. Now a park, or as they claim, a Zen Garden, it has become a Luneta Park for couples with Zen injecting harmony in their relationship.

In the cafeteria, people are hungry, for love. With walls of people surrounding them, they find comfort in this heated makeshift room, different aromas enhancing the atmosphere.

Gawd, where was I when they handed out the love treats? Was I underwater swimming in the added sea of work I've placed personally in my own shoulders to fill the void?

One

Sometimes, one unexpected event happens that would make your day complete.

For me, it happened earlier. :) Yey! dd

Idle Hands.

I've been so busy the last few weeks that now, when I sit down just to relax, my hands and fingers start twitching as if they're looking for something to do again. After that, I'll stand up and, keep pacing back and forth a certain distance looking around for something to do.

No wonder I've been so sleepy lately. My body's taking over my mind!

Arrgghhh! IDLE HANDS!

51-33

Just got to love that D!

We felt like Jack in the land of the giants. Almost everyone in the opposing team was taller than all of the members in our team. We got outrebounded throughout the game. However, just like before, defense was the key to victory. The game was raining fouls on both sides, but it didn't get really dirty. It was just intense D. =)

I still can't make a shot. I've attempted thrice, 2 from the outside. All were close, but just rattled out. I still can't believe I did a Chris Tiu on a lay-up. My sister said that it was because I was sporting a headband.

But I did get a steal, a rebound and managed to assist three times. I now have 8 assists in 2 games. I'm turning into a point guard! Noooooo! :) I guess this shows my nature to "assist". Everyone was supportive. I heard them repeatedly saying in the sidelines, "Milo, ok lang yan. Good job!" everytime I missed a shot. I play a bit emotionally, reacting to every missed or made shot I took. All J peeps were doing this "encouraging" act to every team member in the game. Everyone was giving tips, helping each other improve aspects in their game. And when one of us "graduated", everyone was still light-hearted, even toying and "celebrating" his graduation.

It won't net me the Defensive player of the year, but every little thing helps.

My thumb still hurts. It got jammed earlier due to a hard pass, but it won't affect my game... I think.

This team, born not to win, but just to enjoy and build upon the memories of high school, have managed to overcome the odds. We are small, a "ungelled" team, no star players, no varsities, no experience, just a team slapped together like a quick sandwich for five-minute breaks, but now are leading the division, 2-0.

Besides the team, there were five more J boys that came along to watch the game. I'm proud of the J spirit.

And I got to hang around with some Placement Reps after the game.

Loved this day, even if I couldn't resolve all the problems Team 2, the "baby of the Placement Office" according to Antonn, was having earlier.

*giddy*

---

Which poem are you? The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot God, you're indecisive. You're not that great, but you don't know if you want to accept that. You appreciate beauty and observe things others may not, but you're also hopelessly impaled on your own foolish romanticism. Go you.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Physically Impossible

I had my History long test earlier.

Twenty questions, right minus wrong. It still looks manageable.

Add to this, it's a modified true or false, and you have to write down the entire statement with the changed words/phrases.

Still looks manageable? Add that you have to explain what the sentence means. Let's say the sentence you wrote was, The Philippine government has a two-party, bicameral and unitary system. You have to explain what is a Philippine government with a two-party, bicameral and unitary system.

I felt really bad after the long test. I only answered 50% of the questions, to be more precise, only 10 out of the 20. And that's not counting if I made a mistake in any of them, right minus wrong remember?

I know that this is a bad idea to wish for, but the idea of having a high mortality rate in order for the teacher to make drastic changes crosses my mind every now and then.

I asked some of my classmates. Some said that they were able to answer 13, another 7, another 12. Mathematically, you have to answer 16 correctly to pass the test, or fifteen + all the bonus points.

Oh well, hope that this stint in History 166 doesn't go down the drain.

And it seemed that the tarot card prediction for this test was right.

Now, off to my Philo orals tomorrow.

40-26

First game of the IAC tournament. Played only 3 minutes, never got to attempt a shot, only touched the ball once, one foul, one TO, and *cough* 5 assists.

Feels like I'm back in my PE days.

I wonder when I'll make my first three, or at least get my first attempt.

And we won over a stronger team, Walang Iwanan.

Because we have what allas Mavericks, on Nelson, and irk Nowitzki don't have. =p

PUNTA KAYO! (please!)

Where is the Love?

Oh Almighty Team One Members,

Where is the love you have shown the world when we did the Marketing and Sales talk? Is it because our talk is about manufacturing, a talk known to be have the lowest guest turnout in the history of the Placement Office? Are we already doomed to repeat that spiral Atenean seniors trends shape it to be? We may not be able to replicate the Marketing talk output, but we can certainly defy the odds, much like what Team 6 has done with POP.

Why are we just starting now? Why are we moving so slow like a quiet stroll in a park under the moonlight? We had six weeks to prepare, and now we are facing a problem that might make the talk cease from living. Some of us even do not know that our talk is in this upcoming week.

Why do you not hear me anymore? Have I already served your purpose? The team that I grew to love, I feel, has abandoned me this time around. I speak, yet the words are filtered through the air and become a language unknown to man. My voice is drowned out by voices that do not accompany bodies.

Some of you might have heard me admit jokingly in the office that I wanted to transfer to team two. Well, as some say, jokes are half meant. I feel the passion emanating from the other teams, and like a moth to a flame, I am drawn to that fiery fervor, something that we used to have.

I miss you people. Where are the people I used to know? Where is the team that made Supermarket a whopping success, one of the best talks the Placement has ever had?

I will be just here, still doing my part, but I cannot do other parts alone. If you ever manage to rise from the dead, call me.

My predictions for this Sunday's UAAP game

ADMU vs DLSU

Overall Game

Ateneo will win by 4 or less.

The final scores for both teams will be between 50-55 (if low), 66-72 (if high).

ADMU Bench will outscore DLSU's.

ADMU will turn the ball more, but steal more than DLSU.

DLSU will be outrebounded by 3-5 boards.

ADMU

Intal will score around 10-15 points, so will Tenorio.

Bugia and Del Rosario will back up Tenorio and LA. Bugia, around 11 pts. Del Rosario, 8-10.

Intal will make at least one dunk.

Aguilar will surprisingly score between 3-5 points, and get one block.

Ateneo will convert around 5 triples.

Membrere will have a hard time scoring.

Free throw percentage will be around 50-55%

DLSU

Yeo will lead all players with an 17-21 point production.

Cardona will score around 8-12 points.

Casio will be DLSU's second top scorer. His 3's would keep DLSU close.

My Laptop is Famous!

That's JC, Yuri, Jobe and Johan with my laptop playing UAAP/NCAA Live 2004. Of course, I took the photograph.

Now back to work with the UAAP/NCAA game. August 20 (tentative release date)

Recovering

Due to lack of sleep, I drifted in and out of consciousness during the first part of the recollection.

After an emotional-stressing week, probably, this was a perfect way to end everything, being on your own, alone, reflecting, shedding a tear or two every now and then as I looked back in the past. All the reflections about stillness hit me hard even if I was half-asleep at one point.

Even if it was available, I didn't go to confession earlier. I was afraid that I might end up in a sea of tears.

I just had a personal conversation with God in one corner, hope He understands.

I'm not that strong as I thought I'd be.

I do not feel like myself anymore.

I'm sorry for being so selfish.

...

I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)
Selena

I hear you're taking the town again
havin' a good time with all your good time friends
i don't think that you think of me
you're on your own now, and i'm alone and free
i know that i should get on with my life
but a life lived without you could never be right

chorus:
as long as the stars shine down from the heavens
long as the rivers run to the sea
i'll never get over you gettin' over me

i try to smile so the hurt won't show
tell everybody i was glad to see you go
but the tears just won't go away
loneliness found me, looks like it's here to stay
i know that i oughta find someone new
but all i find is myself always thinkin' of you

chorus

oh, no matter what i do
spending a lifetime to live through
i can't go on like this
i need your touch
you're the only one i've ever loved

chorus
i'll never get over you gettin' over
i'll never get over you gettin' over me

The Death Card

My friend did a reading on me using tarot cards. When it came to the card that symbolized me, this appeared.

Now maybe, this card is starting to make its prescence felt.

I have been in an emotional rollercoaster ride this past couple of days. However, it seems that this rollercoaster has only one way, down. I couldn't think straight, mind cloudy most of the time, blankly stairing across a room; I am just floating in the air. (I am not on drugs.)

I researched more about the meaning of the Death card, and this is what I got:

1. It can point to the death of somebody old or sick in the life of the questioner, but this is quite rare, and certainly never its only meaning.
2. At the very least, the card does point to dramatic changes in the offing. Since most people who ask questions or present issues, change is desirable. This change clears the way for a fresh start. It can even point to the end of an era leading to new experiences, including rebirth, like the Phoenix rising out of the ashes.
3. It can also indicate that an apparent misfortune will turn out to be blessing in disguise. This is the reason I always see the Death card as the Chinese symbol for crisis, which is a combination of two glyphs, one meaning danger and the other meaning opportunity. The danger element is not as strong as the opportunity aspect.
4. despair giving way to hope,
5. Loss of friendship or long-standing relationship.
6. Financial loss,
7. loss of home (rarely),
8. Use creative, active energy early or depression & lethargy might set in
9. Fear of losing what one has or has achieved, especially if the achievement is recent,
10. birth of a child
11. building of a home,
12. start of a new business
13. a relationship is going to come to an end (if it hasn't already), but your love for that person will continue. You will come to the full realization that your relationship, as you have known it, has come to an end . . . and it's over.
14. forget the past (or your lover) and all that was and try to rebuild your life
15. you will be overly concerned about what others think of you.
16. A new idea, plan, or action will be implemented (could be connected with your work), and/or you will want to move or relocate
17. a slight delay in travel plans
18. Happiness will come through good friends and reuniting with those who have been absent. Someone is about to go out of your life temporarily

I put in boldface some meanings which I find relevant in my current status. My question for this reading was about the future of the Fine Arts Festival under me.

2, 3, 8, 9 and 16 describes the FA Festival.
A lot of creative ideas were used to put the foundation down for this festival, and now I feel that our progress is going at a snail's pace. My fellow FA's keep on cutting the classes, and if they're inside, act like if they do not care at all about this project. We have achieved a lot ever since we began these plans, and I'm afraid that they wouldn't come into fruitition, that we would lose everything that we've achieved due to these recent actions. Hopefully, 2 & 16 would bear fruit pretty soon. I've decided to become stricter with everyone, and maybe, this would signify change in a good way.

4, 5, 13, 14, 15, & 18 probably tell something about me.
It has been a year and two months since we broke up. However, 13 is right. I still love her. however, during the recent days, she looks and acts like she's found another someone, and has moved on with her life. And last Friday, maybe, that was a sign that it's really over. I really don't like it at all. I really feel bad, awful, broken up. I couldn't bring myself now to face, even talk to her at this moment. I feel like 5, and maybe 14 will now kick in. And hopefully someday, 4 & 18.

Just had to vent these.

I can't stop myself in shedding tears while writing this post.

Strong... what is strong?

And the card probably sums everything up, "The emphasis is on letting go of situations that no longer serve a purpose in your evolution. If you try too hard to make things happen, you will seem to be moving ahead, when, in fact, you will find that you will be running in the same place. At the very least, a new order will be established, and like the Phoenix, you will rise up out of your own ashes and begin again."

Realistic?

Since I was staying over in the Ateneo up until 4:30, I figured that I wouldn't be able to watch the Ateneo-UE game. I decided to simulate the game in the UAAP-NCAA Live 2004.

Araneta, UE vs Ateneo. In the simulation game, ADMU trailed all the way, UE led as much as 11 points. ADMU, being the second half team that they are, took charge in the third and fourth bringing it down to two before succumbing to the Warriors by four points (two of points came from Hubalde's free throws).

I finally got home and managed to see the dying minutes of the game. Ateneo trailed UE, came close to two, Hubalde made two free throws, Ateneo fouled KG Canaleta, made one, and UE beats Ateneo by five.

This is freaky... much like when it simulated ADMU blowing out UE in the first round, having a hard time with AdU, and winning over FEU with a slim margin.

Playing with the Ateneo Blue Eagles

Whew, went back to Ateneo today at 6:30 pm 'coz Ace and I were going to take photographs of none other than the Ateneo Blue Eagles for the game UAAP/NCAA Live 2004.

It was a blast. After their practice, you should've seen Bajjie, Johan, Yuri, and Chris trading playing times in an Ateneo vs CSB match while Jobe, Ford, Japeth and Doug watched on my computer. The Eagles were down by 30+ points at the half, but Bajjie, playing himself, suddenly caught fire and rained threes down Johan's CSB team. With help from Intal, Membrere and Tenorio, The Eagles won it big, around 20+ points. Bajjie became the best player of the game with 38 points, season-high daw.

It's good to help out creating "the game" of the season.

-----

In Tanong High School front, I taught Catechism in a new class, section 5. I made a mistake of going to section 1 last week, so virtually, this is my first time meeting my class. We finished two modules earlier. Bilis nga. And they had fun... I'm sure of it. Tawang-tawa sila sa letrato ni Yao Ming na tila dinidilaan siya ng kanyang kalaban sa kilikili.

Immersing in future endeavors.

With my name firmly set on IAC paper (or so I was told), I went to a practice session with my fellow teammates. I found out that it was especially dedicated to the "weaker" players of the team, and yes, that "weak" team includes yours truly.
We almost beat the "better" guys earlier. We started off slow, then we started to pick-up reminiscent of the "dismissal boys" routine back in grade/high school where we usually start off bad, and later in the game, we say, "Tama na ang warm-up!".
We could've beaten the "better" guys, but one factor was missing from us "weaker" players. It wasn't the shooting (we were shooting above par), or the defense, but rather, stamina. I found out that when I'm trying to find my second wind, my three-point accuracy went down (my forte), and my defense became lax. However, I passed the ball pretty accurately in the game as if I was a point guard. The score remained tight due to our ball movement, and screens, give & go, and pick and rolls really helped in our stand. I loved the breakaway lay-ups. Sayang ang reverse lay-up ko kanina. Ang layo nang inabot ko upang maiwasan lang ang supalpal, ngunit gumulong lang doon sa back rim. Fun din iyong turnaround three.
Grabe, doon sa aking immersion sa Tañong Highschool kanina. Walang sinabi ang Tulong-Dunong. Mahirap patahimikin ang 40+ na mag-aaral. Nakakapagod, ngunit, masaya pa rin siya. Nakatutuwa ang lawak ng mga hilig ng buong klase. Na-"Victim" namin sila kanina ng aking kasama, at mabuti naman at game sila. Siyempre, ayaw nilang magpatalo, at napakanta nila ako ng Spiderman Theme kanina.
Daming patawa kanina tungkol sa gatas. Pa'no, iba talaga kung Milo ang palayaw mo.

Bash the mutilators!

I want to bash these guys for ripping and mutilating a perfect song.

K9 & Dice
"Itsumo"

Chorus:
Itsumo kokoro we hoshi itstuka
Dare katu mata koi nei utchitimu
Itsumo kokoro nei eiro itsumo
Anata dake no basho ga aru kara

First of all, they do not pronounce some of the words correctly *hence the bad translations*. Second, if you are a J-Pop fan like me, you would recognize that these lyrics come from none other than the tear-jerking ballad "First Love" by Utada Hikaru.

First Love
Utada Hikaru

You are always gonna be my love (translated as itsumo kokoro we...)
Itsuka dareka to mata koi ni ochitemo
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta uataeru made

Tachitomaru jikan ga
Ugokidesou to shiteru
Wasuretakunai koto bakari

Ashita no imagoro niwa
Watashi ha kitto naite iru
Anata o omotterun darou

You will always be inside my heart (Translated as: Itsumo kokoro nei...)
Itsumo anata dake no basho ga aru kara
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made

Nothing to say...

I'm just happy. 

Long test in History on Friday.

But I'm still happy.

Swimming in Waters with Red & Yellow Lights

MWF 2:30-4:30.  Two classes back to back.

However, when I tried to go to my 3:30 pm class in SEC C, I was met with a torrent of raindrops and a raging murky river in the Faura driveway.  Seeing that all roads leading to SEC were flooded and being the "I don't want to cut" person, I took out my F4 umbrella (Thanks Jen!) and trudged first towards the Placement Office to drop off my laptop (I don't want to get my baby wet.)

Afterwards, I began working my way to SEC.  I plodded through so many rivers and ended up gaining twenty pounds of weight when I reached the complex.  I waded through the crowds and climbed up the "raining" stairway, and when I opened the door...

Sir wasn't around.  Galing.

So I ended up playing bridge while I waited for the rains to weaken.  Sure, we won like 3 games out of 7, but we won big, 3 diamonds in two rounds, even if my partner didn't know how to count points, and one of our opponents was a master.

I went to the Advertising Career Options talk in SS AVR.  Now, it was team 2's turn to handle things.  However, due to the rains, traffic was rampant, three speakers were missing, and us non-team 2 members decided to assist them in any way possible.  At least, it ended in a happy note.  We got freebies from Nestle once more courtesy of Sir Benjie.  Galing pa rin kumanta ni Den Decena!

Now due to the rains, I left Ateneo at around 8:40 pm.  Consider this, I live around 15 minutes away from Ateneo.  What time did I get home?  1:30 am!  What the heck??  I was forced to cut my Saturday class due to this.  I was freezing all over since I was drenched in rainwater, and got stuck in two venues with air conditioners.   I lacked sleep, preparations for the quiz, health and requirements. 

Not a nice combination for a class. 

And it hurts my ego to see me cut more times this semester than the past three years combined.  

What's more, these are forced cuts.  I'm powerless when nature, or other teachers hold the aces, just like bridge.

Hamartia?

I just love helping out people.  I couldn't resist helping out people in need without anything in return.

It is

a blessing (Love to see people's smiling and thankful faces)

and a curse.  (Never use me for marketing jobs.)

Eagles Soaring High

It seems like my guess on who are the strongest teams this UAAP season is on track.  After 3 games, all of those teams are in the top four.

Ateneo (who crushed UE earlier, 74-50) is now at 3 wins, 0 losses.  FEU, Adamson and La Salle at 2-1.

"KUYA!"

It was a pain to see the OSCI to run out of slots for the immersion program.  You are now forced to look for an immersion place on your own, and who knows if the one you find is sufficient for the TH 141 needs, and above all, safe.

However, earlier today, I would like to thank all the students in Theology 141 who have successfully gotten an OSCI immersion slot.  Due to you guys and gals, this problem turned into a blessing in disguise for me.

Up until September, I'm teaching Catechism in Tanong High School in Marikina.

Sure, it's like two months.  Sure, you wouldn't see the sights in the Philippines.

But I don't care.  I love teaching.  And teaching loves me back, just like the TD days. 

I remember that I was telling one of my friends that even up to now, my TD kids still call me via landline, especially on my birthday, and greet me.  They even proudly say that they are doing good in English, the subject I taught them back then.  My friend said, "you made a strong impact in their lives."

Yes, I'm one of those crazy guys who do not care much about earnings, who do not think "Corporation" after graduation, who just loves serving others.

And I've even asked if I could still continue teaching in the second semester, to which the speakers replied, "We'd love to have you."

Hmmm... Interesting moves in the NBA
Vlade Divac goes to the Lakers
Nick Van Exel goes to the Blazers in exchange for Dale Davis and Dan Dickau.
Eric Snow goes to the Cavs in exchange for Kevin Ollie and Kedrick Brown.
Greg (P)Ostertag goes to the Kings.

I wish this cough would stop.

The J Instinct

Back in high school, our class, Section J, had a knack for tempting the deadlines.  However, we often end up producing better works, and performing better presentations.
 
Take for instance, the Citizen's Army Training interflight competitions.  We only prepared for our entire routine for just around five minutes before the competition.  To add to the difficulty of the situation we were facing, the entire routine was supposed to be silent, no commands were allowed to be given.
 
And we bagged third place.  I still have the banner hanging in my room to remember that moment.  Hey, I was the one who mostly designed our routine.  I'm pretty sure that I was the only sane cadet that led into getting me the best cadet award in our flight.
 
This brings me to today, where I "magically" crammed all my Aegis requirements.  No, it's not a slapped-on scrapbook for my senior's page (hey, I have a name to maintain when it comes to computer stuff), but an animated 242 kb flash page.  I used a Harry Potter theme, and made me the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Yes, there is a wanted poster in there, and it's animated, just like the film.  I could've put more like dementors bearing the "terror teachers" faces, but due to file size, I had to settle for plenty of text.  At least, there's animated snow, and one slow flying dementor in the background.
 
"Crispy Potter and the Prisoner of Ateneo" - the title of the "short film"

How do I Look?

Look back: My graduation picture day - mobbed by homosexuals
http://miloman.blogspot.com/2004/07/weve-got-something-kinda-funny-going.html
 
Maybe it's because of these...
 


Feeling like a graduate
 

How to make a trash can cute.

 
Yes, guys.  If you haven't heard of it, I've lost my F4 locks.
 
So, how do I look?

Warrior is a Child

When I woke up yesterday, I had a headache much like a car would have being crushed by a compactor, a fever like a pandesal off the oven, a cold that flowed like a waterfall, and a cough that echoed several times in the span of a minute.
 
Yet, I forced myself up, like a battle-torn warrior would just to attain victory.  I trudged through my three classes for the day, and was unlucky to face a graded recitation in Theology.  I couldn't think straight, couldn't fight back, only forced to defend with a travel pack of tissues in hand.
 
I couldn't miss Supermarket, the talk about Marketing and Sales I was preparing for the last two weeks, the baby I took care of even at the expense of my sleep, the lover I went with each hour of the day and cancelled other scheduled activities just to be with her.
 
And she didn't fail me.
 
The audience came like a raging river filling up every space possible, overflowing the Escaler Hall quickly.  The Glee Club calmed everyone with their voices, and the four invited speakers became number one hits in everyone's charts.  Sure, there were a lot of freebies like bars of Nestle Crunch and Kit-Kat, cans of Gilette shaving cream, Fita biscuits, packs of hair gel and other stuff, but it was through the words of the speakers that turned the "I was forced to come here by my teacher" attitude into a "Wow, I do not regret coming here."  Only true artistes of the spoken word could turn a college student's mind around.
 
Many commented that it was one of the best talks the Placement Office has ever had.
 
Thanks, Team 1.  Together, we made this one super.  I can't wait to work on our next talk five weeks from now.

Thumping Heart

Got my contact prints already. I look like that?

SuperMarket, the Marketing and Sales talk happens later, 4:30 pm, Escaler. Punta Kayo! I'll be there.

Chao vs Majid, Huang vs Pagulayan, Kang vs Luat, Kuo vs Strickland, Chamat v Schober, Manalo v Reyes, Orcollo v Chang, Archer v Bergendorff - The final 16 in the World Pool Championship. Yes, Bustamante and the defending champion Hohmann (got slaughtered 1-9), are out.

Shaq is now a Heat. Bryant is still a Laker, but not after flirting with the Clippers. Now, he is the salary cap of the Lakers. The salary cap the Lakers gained by dropping Shaq has mostly been transferred to Kobe's bank account. $136 million. Wow. Lakers would never be the same again. This is the season where they might actually fail to make the playoffs.

Palpak(?) sa Pagiging Pinuno

Tama ba na ako talaga ang namumuno sa aming proyekto sa Fine Arts? Pinaglalaruan lang ba nila ako nang inilagay nila ako sa puwesto?

Wala akong sinasabing na walang klase sa Martes, ngunit hindi pa rin sila sumisipot. Napipilitan na lang tuloy ako na pakawalan sila ng maaga. Tuwing tinatanong ko sila kung ano na ang kanilang mga nagawa, tila iisang alingawngaw lang ng nakaraang linggo ang aking naririnig.

Pinaglalaruan ba nila ang aking kabutihan, ang hindi makapatay ng langaw kong asal? Labag sa aking loob, ngunit kinakailangan ko na bang ilabas ang kamay na bakal upang makinig lamang sila sa akin? Ayaw ko naman maging guro ko sa Basic Graphic Design.

Sinasabi ko naman na hindi ako magtatawag ng klase kung may nakikita akong mabilis na pagsulong sa aming proyekto. Subalit, hindi ko pa rin nakikita ito.

Trips Down Memory Lane

My sister wants to have the heavy desk removed out of her room. To lighten the load, drawers must be removed.

Among the contents of the drawers, they've discovered some memories of my childhood years. Some Our School awards, drawings, and other stuff were unearthed.

My Mom bought a new VCD player to replace the broken one in the "activities room." The player, apparently, could play games using the CD and two controllers that came along with it.

And the games in the CD were old NES games. Apparently, people now have the means to convert NES games into VCD format. Rockman, Double Dribble, Contra, Adventure Island, Legend of Kage, Mappy, Bomberman, Super Mario, Tennis, Pro Wrestling are among the few games included in the CD. Wow, childhood.

These games never get dull.

The Fork in the Road

Throughout my stay in college, I've used two strengths in my life namely writing and computer designing.

This morning, a few events occurred that placed me back in the fork of the road I thought I already passed by. Apparently, I was going around in a circle.

Saturday Events:

My story proposal was rejected in my Filipino Creative Writing class. I have to revise it further.

I've seen the finished Mario tarps along EDSA walks, and the Mario flash ad in the Ateneo Placement Website. They looked amazing, too good to be true.

Teef told me that I should become the IT chair in the Placement Office next semester.

Now, I'm beginning to doubt again if I am in the right course. I know that this is a bad time for it to happen since I'm already in my senior year and the head of the Fine Arts Festival, but my work in computers seems to be more appreciated and used.

Appreciation in IT

Became the AVP for Website design in COSA for two years

Designed three websites - Jen Someone's Official Website, SOH Thesis Primer, AteneoCOSA official site, and more upcoming (Arete, Parada, co-designer of Placement Website, etc.)

Most, if not all, appearances of Super Mario for the next week in e-mails, tarps, flyers, and advertisements.

In all groupworks, I always handled the computer aspect.

"[I've] set the bar", "It's going to be hard to top", comments I've heard quite a number of times already in the Placement Office.

Appreciation in writing

Sir John Labella liked my essay, "Watching Cherry Blossoms."

Sir Vince Serrano liked my short story, "Seven Days."

Ma-anne Escobar's testimonial in my Friendster account.

I hope to resolve this as soon as possible.

---

I hope that this does not become my other dilemma, another fork, I've been avoiding to face. I like this girl, but I fear rejection and I think I still like my "ex". In a world where it is conditioned for men to make the first move, I'm having a hard time deciding.

Playing teacher

Apparently, some people in the Placement Office were impressed with my designs for the tarps, flyers, and the flash ad for the Team 1 talks on Marketing and Sales that I "taught" some IT people how to use Photoshop and Flash today and last Wednesday.

Now, they know a closely-guarded secret of mine and is now a main weapon in the Placement Office. I wouldn't be surprised if almost everyone in the Placement Office has their own senior's page in Flash.

Anton keeps on telling me that team 1 has set the standard, a high standard. It made it harder for the other teams to raise the bar even higher. Sorry, guys!

We've got something kinda funny going on...

Yesterday, I had my senior's photoshoot for the AEGIS yearbook.

I entered the room and surveyed the scene.

All make-up and hair artists were gay except for two ladies.

I had my make-up and hair done. The first thing "he" asked me is, "Puwede bang akin na lang ang isa sa contact prints mo 'pag lumabas na siya?"

Later, "Alam mo, ang cute mo."

Later still, "Anong pangalan mo?"

Afterwards, when the "happy people" heard my name, one said "Hi Ovaltine." Another said, "Hi Milo, ako nga pala si Nido."

Soon, "May cellphone ka? Anong number mo?"

After my pictures were taken, the one who decorated me with Avon accessories looked at the previews in the computer and said, "Ay ang ganda naman niyan."

Gad... O_o

Tarp Stop

I'm currently stuck in the Ateneo Placement Office making/designing fourteen huge pieces of tarps (measurement in 3 by 6, 4 by 4 feet). They all have to be done by today.

Give me a strong computer, it can be done, but with my laptop, it'll take me a week.

Galing.

Ken Zhu is dead

I've done the unthinkable, I've killed Ken Zhu.

I suddenly feel cold, as if I was left shirtless in Siberia after wearing three layers of wool coats.

It would be printed in the pages of Aegis. I have my photoshoot this coming Wednesday. Everyone would see that Ken Zhu has disappeared. Is this good? Honestly, I still do not know.

Friends, teachers, officemates would immediately notice this when I return to school tomorrow. It is virtually impossible to cover up this deed. I'm expecting a lot of words thrown at me.

Well, I just have to face tomorrow with a smile. It is my rebirth in ways, a new era in Fine Arts history is about to unfold.

Be ready.

*smile mo kita ko feel ko!*

6 colors, 1 destiny

While I was moving around National Bookstore in Cainta yesterday, I located something that I've never solved back then in my childhood, a Rubik's cube. Ok, laugh if you may, but this three by three cuboid wonder suffered at my hands back then, usually ending up in pieces or missing stickers.

I bought one, just to relive that childhood memory, just to see if twenty-one years and a month of living in this earth had made a difference in my ability to understand this cube. I started solving it this morning, around 5:00 a.m. I even toyed with it during my two meetings. Don't worry, I know what happened during the meetings.

Well anyway, I finally solved it around three hours ago. Geez, finally, yippee! Now, if I could do it quickly enough to amaze friends. 10 hours to solve a cube isn't going to cut it especially since in the Guinness Book of World Records, the fastest time to solve one was clocked at around 20 seconds.

Babaw ko 'no?

Ok, back to lit writing.

Never ApART anymore

I can't wait for the Fine Arts GA where all of the Fine arts majors from freshman year to senior year would conglomorate into one venue. I finally got my wish (that I've been clamoring before) to meet with all the people who have the guts to enter a course as stable as a platform of clouds in the job market.

I wanted a link to each FA year level so that we all could support each other -- freshies adjusting to the requirements of the Ateneo, sophies searching for their respective genre, juniors looking for the right electives, seniors needing man power for their practicum.

I wanted a place to ease a main problem of the Fine Arts people, which I experienced before and even up to now, the fear of writing. A huge chunk of pressure is placed on the shoulders of the FA students since more or less, we are expected to write better than students from other courses, a pressure I experienced when Sir Labella back then in En 11 constantly compared our lackluster descriptive essays (*sorry to brag* but I did manage to impress him with mine [it is found online in Skylab Magazine in aplomblue.iscool.net entitled "Watching Cherry Blossoms"]) to a person in his other class who wrote about eating a baguette. In his description, he could almost taste the baguette in the essay.

I wanted to share my experiences as a 4-year mainstay in the Creative Writing course so that the future doesn't shock them that bad. This is not an easy course, as some students may think. We must develop an ability to be able to write, and write creatively at that, and our writing prowess cannot be quantified in a single answer. Unlike a math solution where 1+1 is always equal to two, writing has different styles and different results. No one is forced to write the "Shakespeare" way, the "Remoto" way, the "Yuson" way. We are individuals, each providing his or her own answer to that problem, that 2 in 1+1.

Here's hoping that unity will reign in one of the most oppressed courses in the Ateneo.

T-Mac Rocket

Could this be the next Kobe-Shaq connection?

It is official. Tracy McGrady of the Magic, along with Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines are now in Houston. Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato are now in Orlando.

My projected first five for the Rockets now...
PG - Tyronn Lue
SG - Tracy McGrady
SF - Jim Jackson
PF - Maurice Taylor / Juwan Howard (better off the bench)
C - Yao Ming

Lately

I've been so sleepy that I couldn't stay awake past 9:00 pm.

I'm practing my computer, writing and typing skills. Flash & website design, poems, and 80-90 words per minute.

I'm having a difficult time coming up with activities, arrangements and preparations each T-TH to head the FA Practicum class.

I've been thinking of what I want to do in the future.

I get happy whenever I get to see this someone. A happy "Why do birds suddenly appear" type of way.

I'm spending my free time in the Ateneo Placement Office.

I've been conditioned to automatically move to answer whenever I hear a phone ring.

I have this longing to teach children

I have the urge to join any contest available, try all sorts of stuff.

Promises I've made are catching up to me.

-----------
it's not the best poem I made, but who cares...

Torpe
by Milo Angtuaco

Dumaan ka na parang
ulan sa tagtuyot;
binuhay muli ang
damdaming nalanta na sa
unang init ng pag-ibig.

Bawat patak ng
iyong salita’t galaw,
likidong kayang pukawin raw
ang uhaw sa aking puso, ngunit
nangangamba akong sipsipin ang
enerhiya nito dahil maaaring
‘di pala ito totoo.

Kuya June

Ms. April, the Placement Office secretary, has been feeling under the weather these past couple of days. Ma'am Therese has been also absent. To lighten the load of the remaining Placement authorities, a new persona was born...

Kuya June. He is the guy who sits in Ate April's seat, eagerly anticipating for any phone calls or fax messages. He is the one who greets, with a smile, anyone who comes in the office. He also tries to answer any questions students may have regarding Placement Office matters. He tinkers around with the Placement computers to search for viruses, bugs or anything that needs to be updated. He is always on-duty when he is in the office. Any errands that need to be done may be assigned to him, and he does it with a smile According to Monika Limpo, he is in a "winter wonderland" mood whenever he assumes this role as Ate April's shoe-filler.

Kuya June (formerly known as Kuya April)

------------------

The continuation of the billiards game with Migs ended 5-2. Migs, after leading 2-0, lost 5 straight racks hence proving that his quota remains at 2.

More than 24 hours

I'm happy that I could still find free time within all the school projects I am participating in.

Mahirap palang mamuno ng iisang lupon ng mga manunulat.

Ang hirap ng teolohiya!

Ateneo Blue Eagles / Charlotte Bobcats Line-up

Ateneo Blue Eagles
1. Japeth Aguilar
2. Ford Arao
3. Ken Barracoso
4. Paolo Bugia
5. Macky Escalona
6. Yuri Escueta
7. Larry Fonacier
8. JC Intal
9. Doug Kramer
10. BJ Manalo
11. Magnum Membrere
12. Jobe Nkemakolam
13. Martin Quimson
14. Bajjie del Rosario
15. LA Tenorio
16. Chris Tiu

Charlotte Bobcats
Primoz Brezec (Indiana)
Predrag Drobnjak (L.A. Clippers)
Brandon Hunter (Boston)
Jason Kapono (Cleveland)
Zaza Pachulia (Orlando)
Aleksandar Pavlovic (Utah)
Jamal Sampson (L.A. Lakers)
Theron Smith (Memphis)
Gerald Wallace (Sacramento)
Jahidi White (Phoenix)
Lonny Baxter (Washington)
J.R. Bremer (Golden State)
Maurice Carter (New Orleans)
Desmond Ferguson (Portland)
Marcus Fizer (Chicago)
Richie Frahm (Seattle)
Tamar Slay (New Jersey)
Jeff Trepagnier (Denver)
Loren Woods (Miami)

Rundown

Thesis Primer
I've finished uploading the site I was making for the Sanggu: School of Humanities Leg. Visit it now at http://sycsoh.f2g.net And I've received the first positive remark regarding the website. I'm happy. It's the first time I've tried the professional look instead of the org-ish or the design-savvy look.

The letter:
"Hi! Just wanted to congratulate whomever's responsible for the Thesis
Refresher Site. Informative and uncluttered. Bagay yung design. Galing!
Wala lang, amazed lang talaga me sa mga taong marunong gumawa ng mga sites
and stuff. Asteeg talaga kayo. Yun lang po. Nytnyt! (",)"

Stress
Stress doesn't even begin to describe the first week of senior year. Three projects before the week... plus more during the week. I hope I can manage them all.

Jen's Birthday
It was fun prolonging the conversation with Jen on the phone (landline) just to greet her a Happy Birthday as soon as the time passed 12:00 am. Greet her if you haven't yet, or else...

IAC
Hopefully, this isn't the future. I was pretty off on the offensive on our first practice run as the J boys. 1/5 3pts, 1/7 FGs, 2 stls, 1 blk. Yuck. There's another game on Monday, but I'm not sure if I could join, since I have class 3:30. And I've noticed, we're a small squad.

FA Festival
Parada - the official theme of the festival. It means a lot of things. And it also means a lot of work ahead!

Bananaphone
A funny song that us IT placement reps have been listening to for the past week. Look for it online along with the Flash files.

Bean in my Coffee Cup

I do not drink coffee. Milo's enough for me.

Some placement reps now have this knack for teasing me that I like Jen. Once it started, it went on for about ten minutes, and I don't have a decent counterattack that I could use.

Attended the "2nd" (it was actually the same GA we had before classes started) GA today, and got assigned to be the cameraman.

Meetings, meetings, meetings... Got one on Friday 6-7:30, Saturday 8-5. And I have this FA festival and career talks to worry about.

But I'm invincible. I thrive on challenges. I drink leadership. Ha. I've got the power (Enter Bruce Almighty)

----

Detroit thrashes LA, hahaha 4-1!

The Soul in the Fine Arts Festival

I am now officially the project head, along with Tia, of the FA Festival.

When Ma'am Rica asked the class who wanted to be the project head, I didn't raise my hand at first, fearing that I might not be that capable of handling such a huge job. However, when a few of my classmates said, "Milo", I volunteered without hesitation. My coursemates have faith in me. Thanks.

After the core group meeting, I went down to the chapel and saw a sign that said, "What is the gift of the Holy Spirit for you this year? Pick one and find out." (or something to that essence)

I got one, and I received The Gift of Counsel. - The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in the truth."

Through this little strip of paper, I believe that this is God's way of telling me that He has chosen me to take on this role, that I should accept this role fully, in mind, heart and soul. And if ever I do stumble along the way, I have His guidance and blessing to go and move on.

Afterwards, I went to the Gesu, attended the Mass of the Holy Spirit, prayed, and accepted my role as the head of the festival.

I'll do my best guys.

We'll make this the best festival ever.

Kata-One

Sumisid na ako sa dagat ng unang pasukan. Rumaragasa ang mga alon tulad ng dati sa lahat ng mga kaguluhang kinakailangan pang ayusin bago matapos ang linggong ito.

Unang klase: Kasaysayan. Wala si Sir Gealogo, ngunit nandoon ang TA niya. Tatlong araw daw siya wala, kaya ang ibig sabihin nito, tatlong araw rin matatapos ng maaga ang klase.

Pangalawang klase: Teolohiya. Dito ko nalaman na wala na akong pag-asang makakuha ng A sa kanyang kurso. Ang patakaran kasi ni Sir Manaloto, kinakailangang kasali ka sa isang "Christian community organization" at magsulat ng tatlumpung pahina ng pagdidili-dili sa karanasan mo rito. Medyo hindi ko na kayang isingit pa ang mga aktibidad ng isang organisasyong ganoon sa aking talamdan dahil may tatlong hanggang limang proyekto na akong inaasikaso. Bwisit, may sagabal na sa aking paghahangad ng DL ngayon.

Pangatlong klase: Pilosopiya. Limang minuto na ang nakalipas, wala pa rin si Sir Miroy. Sampu, labinlima, dalawampung minuto na, wala pa rin siya. Kalahating oras... wala pa rin. PRIKAT.

Grabe, mukhang nagbabanta na ang taong ito. Kinakailangang doblehin ang pagsisikap. Kakayanin ko ito. Pangangatawanan ko ang lahat ng humarang sa aking daanan.

Maghanda kayo.

The Calm Before the Storm

Hindi ko alam kung bakit tila tinurukan ako ng pampatulog sa nakaraang dalawang araw. Maaaring dinadamdam na ng aking katawan ang unang araw ng pasukan. May tatlong proyektong nakabinbin sa aking mga kamay ngayon bago pa magsimula ang pasukan. Babatiin pa ako ng tatlong klase pa ako bukas. Naghahatak pa ng IAC ang aking mga kaklase noong mataas na paaralan.

Ngunit, alam ko na kakayanin ko pa rin. Tigas yata itong mokong na ito. May tililing rin ako at hindi pa ako masyadong nakapamimili ng mga gamit sa paaralan.

Mga gagawin sa taong ito. (Tapang!)
1. Dalawang Dean's List. Sana iyong first honors naman. Hinuhulaan ko na may pag-asang may dalawang A ako ngayon, ngunit kulang pa rin iyon kung upang matupad ang aking pangarap.
2. Makakuha ng kahit anong gantimpala sa kahit anong paligsahan ngayon, maging sa panunulat o sa aking grado.
3. Magandang at kakaibang FA Festival na mag-iiwan ng aming marka sa mga sumusunod na taon.
4. Para kay Den, pangako kong magbibigay ako sa Heights ng aking mga isinulat na literatura.
5. Maging mas-organisado ngayon. Wala ng mga pagsusulit na lukot-lukot ngayon sa aking bag.
6. Makatulong sa ibang tao sa iba't-ibang pamamaraan, kahit sa IAC.
7. Maging pinakamagaling na Placement Rep ngayong taon --- (kailangan rin ng kakaunting yabang paminsan-minsan)
8. Magtapos sa Ateneo na may parangal, at walang kaaway.
9. Magbigay ng panahon sa paglalaro! Huwag masyadong malulong sa trabaho.
10. Maging pinakamahusay sa aking kurso. (Lakas ng apog mo Milo!)

OK? GAME!

ONE TIME, BIG TIME!

PIGLAS!

Gomenasai Miya-chan!

The Emergence

Ken Zhu, Earl Strickland, Gilad, Bruce Bowen...

These famous personalities are now part of my arsenal, alter-egos I can bring out, when needed, in different situations.

Yesterday, another one was added in an Ayala Heights basketball court. It was a debut of some sort, it was a day of firsts like a small feather coming out of an egg.

3/4 FG's, 2/3 3pt. Not bad for a rookie.

In a five-on-five full court, donning a sky blue and white ensemble, they witnessed the birth of...

CarMILO Anthony (Antonio in Tagalog)

you reach...

Livejournal

milokels

Me, in Livejournal. Critical information inside. For selected friends only. No outsiders allowed. Sorry.

Battle Royale Quizzes

Which Battle Royale character are you? by liz.


"RUN!"
-#15 Nanahara Shuya


Which Battle Royale Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Reg Deja vu

Morning Exercise
The Reg Gods still wouldn't cooperate with me.

I was patiently waiting for my turn (my number was 92), when a Regcom person wrote on the board that ADMU dependents also needed an OAA stamp. We were already in the fifties when I needed to run from CTC to Kostka. When I got there, they told me that they required the stamp since last year. HUH? Then how the heck did I get to register last year? It didn't stop there as they told me that I had a missing encoder's stamp in my grant-in-aid form. What the heck was an encoder's stamp? I sure didn't get one last year Apparently, I had to run to the second floor of Xavier and have it stamped in the personnel office. After a heated discussion, I finally got my encoder's stamp, and ran back to the OAA office. Ten minutes later, I got my stamp and rushed back to CTC. Luckily, I arrived in the nick of time. If I arrived around three minutes later, I would've missed my number, became a straggler and sent to the back of the line. Looks like I've escaped another registration problem.

The Final Verdict
Not my dream sched, but hey, it'll do. Many would kill for my sched.

MWF
0930-1030 - HI 166 C/D (Gealogo)
1430-1530 - TH 131 Q (Manaloto)
1530-1630 - PH 103 C (Miroy)

TTH
0900-1030 - FA 198 A (Bolipata-Santos)

SAT (not another one)
0900-1200 - FIL 119.2 A (TBA)

Moving on
I'm staying in Makati/Greenbelt area for two days. Huling hirit bago magpasukan!