Oh, nothing much happened to me today except that I lost my phone on a jeep! I was on my way to MRT when two hoodlum-looking men (at their 40's, I can say) squeezed themselves in, one to my left (my phone conveniently hidden in my left jean-pocket), the other, just in front of me. Then, what happened next made my spider-sense tingling; I knew what these men were up to. Judas (to my left) was oddly squishing his side to mine, with his left hand curiously hidden underneath his blue nylon envelope which obviously looked empty. I was really suspicious, so I looked at him; he pretended to stare out the window. Next thing that happened left me really dazed! Brutus, the crook opposite me did the most climactic thing: he sent coins flying and dropping onto the floor! Some got stuck under the sole of my flops which he tried to unload by raising my left foot up, without me knowing that Judas was coolly dislodging my phone out of my pocket. Once the "deed" was done, Brutus got off the jeep. I told the passengers my phone was gone, and another man (Caccius?) was forcing me to run after him. And I knew it was a diversion. Judas had my phone. So, I looked at him as suspiciously as I could, but he shrugged his shoulders, and said he knew nothing. Then, off he went! I got off the jeep and asked for help from two bank security guards along Quezon Ave, but all they could tell me is to call the police stationed near MRT. I knew it was the end of my mobile phone.
Lessons learned:
1. Crime in the Philippines knows no time and place. Be it daytime or night, anything evil could happen. The impulse of greed is simply irresistible; the call of need cannot be postponed. One is capable to do whatever it would take just to satiate the animalistic urge to "have".
2. It's hard not to be cynical about people. No matter how much I'd like to be blind to the potent evil Manila has successfully bred, and look only at the latent goodness of man, the stench of moral corruption will always seep through one's very being. Some people are simply incurably evil.
3. Evil cannot be deceived by looks. No matter how simple one is dressed and humble one looks (like me in my white shirt and baggy jeans, plus flops [no other adornment]), one could always be a target of devious plans. The poor can be (and has always been) victims of the poor. You call these artful dodgers, in Marxist-Leninist terminology, Lumpenproletariat.
4. Taking jeepneys should be avoided as much as possible. Pickpockets and thieves of sort abound on jeepneys. Statistics say that incidence of thievery is higher in jeepneys than in most public transport in Metro Manila.
5. Cheap cellular phones are better if one is in downtown Manila. If they get lost or stolen, they wouldn't be much of an "economic loss."
and along with these lessons, I also have one realization:
That I'm not the luckiest guy in the world after all. Oh yes, I suddenly got disillusioned that mine is not shielded by invisible forces that have kept me safe for years. In my adventure-filled years, I've tried walking the darkest and dingiest streets
Oh well, as they say: Welcome to the real world, Manila's real world, that is!
***
Hilarious part: I told Rachelle what happened to me. She was more worried that her pictures might be posted on the web, computer-altered to nudity. Of course, she was kidding. Speaking of pictures, I totally lost all the precious memories of me, my family, friends, Pisay events, etc. I never had the time to save them in my laptop. :z
After getting hysterical upon hearing the news, my mom's offering her spare phone to me-- a Philips S220. I think I'll decline. I'm looking for a much cheaper unit which pickpockets wouldn't even dream of stealing.
- Mood:
aggravated
Hello blog! Long weekend we had, don’t you think? Now, it’s back to work again, for them! For me, the fun continues. Hehe! Please pardon my gloating. This only happens once a year! Xb I’ll be running off to Pisay today to submit some reports to the Guidance Office. But before I could saunter up to Ms. Turingan, allow me to get some things out of my head and down to this journal once and for all. ;)
I’m thinking of getting a temp job (aside from the English textbook project my team is working on ßa different story) this summer, to fuel up my bank account. Something in the darkest recesses of my intuition warns me that I might end up in the fringes of Philippine society begging for money after burning all the resources I have in thoughtless summer meandering. Okay, that’s an overstatement. I’m just trying to rationalize my plans of working this summer. Joyce Simpas was inviting me to conduct English review sessions at LSC in Katipunan. I was interested at first; now I’m having second thoughts. I want to break free from the shackles of teaching just for a moment. (Do I make teaching sound oppressive?) Though teaching is my first love, it’d be nice if could venture on other fields like advertising or events planning. Let’s see where my whim could bring me. XD
***
Yesterday was the second time I’ve gone to Antipolo since I could remember. First was when I was in 3rd grade (if my memory serves me well) with my aunts and grannies (from different sides of our family). My friend, Mea or Mamang as I normally call her, invited me to go swimming at Cristina Villas Mountain Resort along
- Mood:
chipper
Well, I call this day Brothers' Day. Not brother in its fraternal sense, but Brothers in its gustatory sense. I’ve been treated twice today to Brothers Burger, my still-undisputed favorite burger house in town. First, by my college friend who felt the urge to celebrate (and be generous) after passing the bar exam; the other one by my atsi2, who had her post-birthday3 bash with her office barkada (I just couldn't resist the invitation XD). I was at Brothers PeopleSupport4 at 5pm, and at the Tomas Morato branch at 9. So, that would be two Pounders at a four-hour interval. What's the third ring in Dante’s Inferno5 again? Where they get to be exposed to freezing rain, black snow and hail? Don’t tell me.
***
Ms. Malu Capundag must be thinking of me as indiyanero after saying yes but not showing up in three occasions: first, the send-off party for the graduating SCA members (at the UP Sunken Garden) three weeks ago; next, the after-the-baccalaureate-mass-practice coffee chat with Fr. Mon and Tin two weeks ago; and the most recent, the swimming-despedida for Sir Ed of the Computer Science unit last friday. There were reasons for my ala-Houdini6 escapist acts, and I hope Ms. Malu wouldn’t think of them as just excuses. I’ll make up for all those no-shows next time. XD
***
My bayaw7 is here in Manila now. He finally got his vacation leave approved. Alas, the family has reunited! Meaning, my surrogate-father role has finally come to an end.8 I can be the good, ol’ uncle once again. ;)
_______________________________
1 Not a real word, atleast, for The New American Handy Dictionary
2 Term for elder sister
3 Her birthday was last March24
4 On Ayala Avenue in Makati
5 Read Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy (with three books namely Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso)
6 Hungarian magician/escape artist
7 Brother-in-law
8 Move two posts back to see entire story
- Mood:
apathetic
pic from http://www.americanidol.com/myidol/forum
pic from www.variety.com
Sad to see her leave, but something has to give!
Bye, Ramiele! Thanks for the weeks of thrill and entertainment, though. Plus, the Filipino pride, of course! XD
- Mood:
sad
This will be the second week that such gay and festive mood could be felt emanating from my Q.C. pad. It’s a humbling and enlightening experience to witness the innocence that is infancy to early childhood wandering about the new habitat nonchalantly, frolicking with so much gusto, harping on their mom for food or whatnot with that angelic and clueless look, manipulating with insurmountable interest any thingamajig within reach, and doing what they can’t help doing: infecting joy and laughter to the dazed and jaded souls surrounding them. The charm of children is disarming.
My sister from
I remember taking up in college this psychologist Erik Erikson. I reread his study and got reacquainted with his psychoanalysis. Mr. Erikson discoursed on “An Ego Theory of Personality”, his framework mainly on ego development throughout man’s entire life span. He presented the eight stages of what he labeled as psychosocial development where particular values and virtues are formed in each stage, still depending on one’s experiences and environment. Applying the stages to my nieces, one of them (five-month old) would fall under the oral-sensory stage whose psychosocial challenge is to build trust or mistrust to the people around her. The other (two years of age) is within the muscular-anal with the goal of building the virtue of will power after going through the binary autonomy vs. shame and doubt. In a nutshell, Mr. Erikson gives guidelines and scenarios on how one attains the virtue at stake in each psychosocial stage that would eventually lead to a healthy and meaningful existence. Otherwise, one would suffer the feeling of incapacity and utter absurdity that might shun one’s ability to perceive the world from a psychologically apt vantage point. For my nieces, to attain trust and autonomy, they should be given consistent care and attention (the crying of my five-year old niece being a signal awaiting response), and shown confidence in their capabilities (thus, not dissuading the elder one to do what she wants, or not making her feel incapable of doing certain things she insists on doing). I, then, should have a higher tolerance of the kakulitan of my niece-darlings. And my sister should lessen her scolding of her elder child.
Looking at the other stages, I am ongoing early adulthood where intimacy conflicts with isolation. In the end, love would be the virtue formed. Now, that’s something really interesting. o_O
***
American Idol tonight. The group is going to sing Dolly Parton. How will Ramiele fare this time? Randy should try to be less harsh on her, but I like the way Simon treats her– subtle and constructive. Ramiele can be a malevolent force if she could be more clever in her song choice. The pouting and eye-and-head accents should stay, too. That’s what we call style that becomes a trademark. J
- Mood: satisfied
Many teachers say that the very first classes one has handled during his first year of teaching are always the most memorable, and are the ones who the teacher has possibly forged very close ties with. My most memorable classes (memorable in a sense that memories – bitter, sweet, or bittersweet – could still clearly recur in my mind even in my most “pre-occupied” state) are not entirely about the first batch I handled when I first penetrated the all-too-demanding-but-oh-so-exciting world of teaching. The students I have fashioned tight alliance (or intimate friendship) with are from a diverse pool; some haven’t even been my students. Ergo, what many teachers perceive (as aforementioned) does not apply to all. The first, then, does not necessarily always last (especially if you have a mild-severe case of Alzheimer’s XD); that’s from my standpoint, at least.
History keeps on repeating itself— on me. The first classes I had at Zobel were with the juniors (and some sophomores); my second year, with the freshmen. Then, I transferred to Pisay. Before I taught 1st year, I had a year with the 3rd year. And on the year I left Zobel, it was the year my first students left (graduated from) their alma mater, too. This year, my first students at Pisay, Batch 2008, will march (literally and symbolically) out of the sphere of high school. (So, does it mean I shall be marching out and away of Pisay, too? Hmm. . . Let’s keep that one shrouded in mystery and suspense for the moment. :D) And they just did! ^.^ 20 hours ago, Batch’08 held their graduation at the grandstand/field. It was a dazzling event (made even more dazzling by the fireworks), for it seemed to have released and emancipated all the students’ dreams and hopes, dreams which the school has safeguarded and somehow helped crystallize for four years. The event was momentous, indeed. Congratulations to Batch 2008 for a feat marvelously done!
The batch has, indubitably, played a significant part in my early chronicles at Pisay. Theirs is a multifaceted, multifarious, and multidimensional personality that helped me remember the uniqueness of every individual despite the stereotypes formed out of perceived conditions. It is from their batch where I met some of my most sincere student-friends, my most headstrong defenders against my equally obstinate detractors, and the most fun (a consensus among the 3rd year teachers) and easy-going third year section one could have for an advisory class. It is also from the batch where I met my first post-HS prom date XD, and the very talented fashion designers (who gave a sterling debut to my modeling career :b). Most of all, it is from the batch where I met the most mature and levelheaded individuals of our modern times. I thank them for everything.
***
Most of the graduates had a celebration of their own. Some with their families, the others with their friends. Giselle, my former student from Batch’08, is one of those who chose to celebrate with her family, other relatives, and some of her teachers. Rachelle, Ma’am Dinah, and I were invited to her dinner-blowout at
- Mood: jubilant
Two working days to go and free I am again! Free to be a self-possessed soul whose main concern is how to have a prolific or, at least, fun-filled summer. On the other hand, I could also be that free spirit who could just bum around or be a sloth (which I am very much capable of being) for the duration of the two-month break. Whichever way, I still get paid doing nothing— absolutely nothing— school related for two months. And that’s one of the perks of being a teacher. ^,^
We are going to have a tea-party later at that spacious and tree-lined area near the gazebos. It’s actually a send-off party for this year’s four (take note: 4) teacher-retirees at Pisay. And sad to say that my boss is one of them. It’s sad enough to lose some of Pisay’s matriarchs (mga institusyon na, kumbaga) like Ma’am Yu-hico, Ma’am Cruz, and Ma’am Torres, but to bid farewell to the one figure who was responsible for giving me the luxury of having a taste of Pisay life, who tolerated my delinquencies (late submissions, bad attendance, and some misbehaviors {which were very rare}), who gave me advice when the need arises, who showed confidence in my capabilities as a teach/lead/advis-er, who kept on rehiring me despite it all, thus, giving me a job for almost two years, who we (the young ones in the unit, at least) see as a mother figure and truly look up to. Yes, Mrs. Anna Oblepias, our unit head, will be bidding goodbye to Pisay. Though she could still stay for two more years, she opted to have an early retirement, with her time to be spent on one thing she missed doing: WRITING. Not having Ma’am Anna as our boss next school year would entail HERCULEAN adjustments for us mainly because we have to deal with a new boss we (new teachers) barely know and who barely knows us. We just hope that everything in the unit would still run smoothly under a new supervision. I’d surely miss Ma’am Anna, our unit’s fashion icon and real beauty queen. Btw, Joyce Simpas and I will be the event’s emcees. I wish I wouldn’t get melodramatic while doing my thing. :z
- Mood: lonely
For the past weeks save Holy Week, teachers in Pisay are everything but idle. I am no exception, of course. Meetings hither and yon (scholarship, committee, faculty, unit); deadlines galore (grades, report cards, PES, portfolios); and applications never ending (medical reports, government certificates) all work hand in hand to keep our minds from traversing— even for a jiffy— the realm of fantasy. And I liked it. It made me feel connected once again to the real world (Read: utilitarian) –- something I have quizzically abandoned for what seemed to be a long time now. Today is card-reading day where teachers (in groups of five) do a rather tedious task of scrutinizing some students’ report cards, from the academic and character grades to attendance and remarks from 1st-4th quarter of this school year. And since two of us in the team are advisers (me and Mr. Barcelo), Emerald and Diamond are ours to dissect. {Tools of the day: 40-inch ruler and magnifying glass, and Visine should come in handy, too. x_X]
***
I spent Holy Week in Ilocos and Nueva Ecija to do some soul searching. At least that’s what I said to some of my friends. One of them texted me yesterday asking, “Do you have a soul now?” :z
For the past weeks save Holy Week, teachers in Pisay are everything but idle. I am no exception, of course. Meetings hither and yon (scholarship, committee, faculty, unit); deadlines galore (grades, report cards, PES, portfolios); and applications never ending (medical reports, government certificates) all work hand in hand to keep our minds from traversing— even for a jiffy— the realm of fantasy. And I liked it. It made me feel connected once again to the real world (Read: utilitarian) –- something I have quizzically abandoned for what seemed to be a long time now. Today is card-reading day where teachers (in groups of five) do a rather tedious task of scrutinizing some students’ report cards, from the academic and character grades to attendance and remarks from 1st-4th quarter of this school year. And since two of us in the team are advisers (me and Mr. Barcelo), Emerald and Diamond are ours to dissect. {Tools of the day: 40-inch ruler and magnifying glass, and Visine should come in handy, too. x_X]
***
I spent Holy Week in Ilocos and Nueva Ecija to do some soul searching. At least that’s what I said to some of my friends. One of them texted me yesterday asking, “Do you have a soul now?” :z
For the past weeks save Holy Week, teachers in Pisay are everything but idle. I am no exception, of course. Meetings hither and yon (scholarship, committee, faculty, unit); deadlines galore (grades, report cards, PES, portfolios); and applications never ending (medical reports, government certificates) all work hand in hand to keep our minds from traversing— even for a jiffy— the realm of fantasy. And I liked it. It made me feel connected once again to the real world (Read: utilitarian) –- something I have quizzically abandoned for what seemed to be a long time now. Today is card-reading day where teachers (in groups of five) do a rather tedious task of scrutinizing some students’ report cards, from the academic and character grades to attendance and remarks from 1st-4th quarter of this school year. And since two of us in the team are advisers (me and Mr. Barcelo), Emerald and Diamond are ours to dissect. {Tools of the day: 40-inch ruler and magnifying glass, and Visine should come in handy, too. x_X]
***
I spent Holy Week in Ilocos and Nueva Ecija to do some soul searching. At least that’s what I said to some of my friends. One of them texted me yesterday asking, “Do you have a soul now?” :z
- Mood:
busy
My new acquisitions: Teacher Man by Frank McCourt, and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Rachelle and I went book shopping last Friday, but unlike my usual book-shopping getaways, it did not bring out that kind of elation I get whenever I am about to buy books. I wonder. I ended up at the counter paying for the two: one, a memoir; the other, inspirational.
I read the inspirational one first (something I truly need). The Four Agreements is not a difficult read at all. It’s quite simple, even rustic, in its use of language. The writer, a “nagual” or shaman of Toltec wisdom (from the Aztec tradition, I reckon), shares four tenets, sort of a code of conduct, for one to achieve true happiness amidst the chaos of the modern world. These are:
1. Be impeccable with your words.
2. Don’t take anything personally.
3. Don’t make assumptions.
4. Always do your best.
His teachings sound easy to do at first (easier than the Seven Habits), but I guess it would take a long time before I could truly apply them without any conscious effort.
***
I got to meet two of my old buddies last Friday. One, accidental, the other, planned. Yet both surreal. The first meeting was with Hazel, my college housemate (daughter of my landlady). That chance encounter was something I thought had already happened before, at the same place (on a jeep), at the same time (dusk), with the same conversation. Good, old memories from my college years came flooding in at that very moment. And I remember how naïve, idealistic, and crazy I was then, how I always viewed things through rose-tinted glass. It seemed that nothing has really changed now, not a bit. But things change. I’ve changed.
The second meeting was something I’ve been looking forward to for days, for it concerns someone who added texture in my eventful years at Zobel, and whose dark and ominous force was once felt even in the sturdy hallways of Pisay. Yes, Erika, that’s you! *evil laughter* We met at La Salle Taft (a school she loves yet sometimes loathes, and which she did not tour me around). She grew a few inches tall, garbed in a hippie/gypsy fashion, and talked in such a manner iridescent with gusto, somberness, and love. And boy, was she in love! Which was something I half-expected from a girl who I thought, as I told her, would be the last girl to entertain such thought. So, she’s straight after all! Hah! (Just kidding, Eri!) I am happy for her, of course. She’s starting to get a taste of college life. Which made me think of my life. Have I become too pragmatic in my dealings with life that everything I ignored before is starting to catch up with me now? Our tete-a-tete was cut short when her parents called and asked her to meet them already. Our talk was not that long but it made me reconnect with a person very dear to me. ‘Til our next CQ reunion, I guess.
***
I’m getting too emotional for comfort. I know what’s causing it, but I still don’t know how to deal with it. Pity.
I was alive again.
There was a slingshot.
- Mood:
indescribable
I'm in dire need to practice for the Ms. Mel Crisostomo-organized concert tomorrow. Rache and I are going to sing duet. And I could not give a decent rendition of even the most indecent song. Oh well. We're doing this for Ma'am Mel whose term will end this year. A sort of despedida, perhaps.
While in Trinoma, Rache and I were able to concoct the most beautiful metaphors one has yet to hear (not read. Ha!) Our deluge of creativity helped us to link those words to the hubbub of our present lives. We were able to formulate MY life guiding principle, too: The HAPL Improbability (which has zero probability of being explained here xb). Hopefully, this "golden rule" could 'mis'lead me to any life-jeopardizing experiences I have much been prone to.
***
Today's Tuesday, brothers and sisters! And I totally forgot about my favorite prime time show. Oh well.
- Mood:
creative
I am reading this book by J.M Coetzee entitled "Disgrace". It shows the life of a professor who loses everything he worked hard for, including people's respect, after having an affair with one of his students. I'm in Chapter 7, where a committee interrogates David Lurie, the twice-divorced Communication professor, and the central character of the story. The "scandal" is starting to leak all over town, and some people are happy about it (schadenfreude!). My insights on the book later.
***
Teachers are all cramming for the grades. I'm becoming an aggressive blogger. . .and a laid-back teacher.
Finally got hold of Maroon 5's sophomore album (and currently playing it). I've been wanting it since I heard their song "Won't Go Home Without You".
Been to Airdance three hours ago. It's just on the second floor of an old building (Outlet Yard) in Quezon Ave. The place reminded me of JLo's dance studio in "Shall We Dance", just a little less spacious. So, I was greeted by an ongoing dance number by the company's in-house dancers. And awestruck I was with their daredevilish acrobatic moves! Some were literally doing airdance (read: gliding in the air) with the aid of a cloth only suspended 20 feet above the ground. No way I'll be doing that! Anyway, the choreographer informed me that the group would be performing at CCP sometime this month, and the actual lessons weren't THAT advanced. (sigh of relief) Then, they gave an overview of their programs blah blah. . . They offer street dance, jazz, breakdance, modern, etc, and martial arts. I might settle for street with jazz, and start this summer. Oh well, I just need to get more physical now. I'm also considering going to the gym, but I guess it's too mechanical and "soulless".
***
I'm into (white) wines for a couple of months now. I like its taste. Compared to red, it's sweeter and smoother for a dilettante like me, and it complements my dining too. I just bought this wine Inglenook (12.5% alcohol content). Unusual name but it looks tasty. Let's see how it would fare against my previous one (Carlo Rossi).
That's all for now. My laundry's turning into a hill. Calling my laudromat for the rescue!
- Mood:
quixotic
I'll have a more dynamic lifestyle now. Looking back, my past months have been doldrums (I've done nothing but restau-hopping as my pastime, aside from the usual sedentary film/tv series watching). So, I texted a friend and inquired about this dance lessons she's into. And Airdance it is! Just along Q. Ave, near my abode. I also heard a lot of Salinggawi members rehearse there. Oh well. I'll do my inquiries later, after work. Then, I'll meet up my friend (an ICA teacher) and have some unwinding to do.
Intrams at Pisay now. I've got things to do, but I choose to bum around and post an entry in my journal instead. XD
Shela and I were just playing this sadomasochist version of bato-batopik. The loser gets to be whacked on the arm or half-slapped on the cheek. (Shela's idea) That was laughters galore for us, and I got almost 70% of the punishment.
Someone's giving a talk on LOVE right now. That four-letter word has been the very theme of today's talks, with three speakers giving their own version or perspective of it. I was supposed to be the fourth speaker, but my incapacity to even fathom this love thing makes me uncertain of how to discuss it. I could just blabber about popular beliefs about it but I'd rather not, with my not-so-motivated condition now. So, what is it that bothers me? or should I say distresses me? (bother is an understatement.) It's this feeling that the world suddenly collapsed and all fragments fell heavily on solely my whole being. Is it just me? I would admit: This is so not me. I am the level-headed, unflinching, cool, collected, almost stoic type. . . until now. Could it be that I'm having bouts of this quarter-life crisis? Bah!
Curious how getting emotional propels people to write. Ha!
So, let me enumerate the tragicomic events that befell me for the past days:
1. I screwed my report in my Lit Hist class. I overread the book of Galileo Zafra. I lost track of its tradition. Worse, I inadvertently used Salazar instead of Zafra in my quotes. Speaking of being verrry absent-minded. Freudian slips, perhaps?
2. I blabbered nonsense in a poetry talk in my Western Trends in Lit class. We were given two weeks to read a poetry collection, but I never read it. I even never got a copy of the book. And when the poet/teacher (an Iowa University grad) asked me about the images I remember in the poems, I had not a single image to say for I never laid my eyes on the book. I sense reversal of roles here. At that very moment, I became the delinquent student.
3. My friend asked if she could borrow my laptop for a very crucial report. I said yes. We set the meeting place. And I totally forgot about it. When i finally remembered, it was too late. I'm stuck in the middle of a talk. She was in big trouble.
and the saddest of them all . . . (drum rolls)
4. I forgot that today is my mom's birthday. and i probably wouldn't have remembered had she not sounding half-brokenheartedly texted me. I was teary-eyed.
I have to be back to my senses!
Thanks to the people who gave me a piece of their mind. I'm getting a broader perspective.
Tomorrow's Intramurals at Pisay. I might just need some physical activities to boost my spirits.
Currently in the Comp Lab, in Pisay, that is. The SCA is having its KyutCamp today until tomorrow, and I'm one of the teacher-participants (together with Rache, Shela, Sir Tayco). It's okay here except that my emotions don't really cooperate with their activities. I guess I'm just really distressed by the series of unsystematic events that came my way for the past weeks. I was even supposed to give an inspirational talk which I know would turn out as a de-inspirational talk because of this emotional state I am currently in. *sigh* Life's too much to handle sometimes...
oops...
Time to head off for Sunday mass at the Boy's Dorm.
I'll type in part 2 of this entry later.
and I'll try to blog more often now.
. . . and after three weeks, here i am again! let's just say i have all the time to "kill" (two hours? 0_o) since i'm just waiting for my sister to come home from work before we can leave for baguio. oh yes! after a while of spending my weekends in this hazardous city, i'll finally have a taste of something fresh and a little health-friendly. what makes me more excited is the much-awaited family reunion we've long been planning for. but here's the catch: i'm not really sure if i could get back here in manila by sunday or monday morning since the party starts at 1pm and (normally) ends till the break of dawn of the following day. and i really can't afford to miss my classes on monday! i still have some lessons to tackle and matters to discuss, especially the ones concerning the periodic test. oh well, i think i have to do something about it; either i leave the party early (7 or 8 pm) on sunday, or i travel back to manila verrryyy early (like 4 a.m.) on monday (and suffer the feeling of being so wasted in school). awww!!! here i am, worrying again! anyhow, i'll make sure that my stay in baguio would give me my much-needed R&R.
next week is periodic exam week at pisay and i'm sure a lot of students are filled with pressure (and anxiety) as they cram to meet deadlines and to hurdle the tests (concocted with love by their teachers). XD so, i'll just be wishing you all (especially my third year children) the best of luck! well, i think the things you guys need to have while studying are patience, full concentration, and a cheerful disposition. don't worry. we, teachers, are cramming too to finish your grades! ;b
hmm... i wonder how the other four members of the "crazy quintet" are doing. . .
oh yes, my darling eri! i've seen the film already, and it brought back a lot of memories! i was so touched! would you believe that i watched it five times in a row? a bunch of thanks to you for coming up with such a wonderful gift!
well i guess i have to end it here. i'm starting to feel the strain in my eyes as i stare at the computer screen! so, bye! X_X
i feel really glad that things are getting better now. i hope people would realize the power that words wield. People may say that words are cheap, but words breathe life: it is potent; it burns! but it could also heal wounds, and it could bring about change.... this journal is a testament of the existence of such dialectics.
the world moves in many different ways. what happened to us all could be a milestone which can define and refine our relationship(s), thus, leaving everything in its purest and most profound state.
eda, angel, jc, and the others who never took my words against me, i'm sure things would turn out better than expected. thanks for understanding my situation right now. knowing that there are still people (my students) who look up to me is more than enough reassurance that i would survive (with utmost enjoyment) life at pisay.
sir martin, you, in a way, shed light to all my uncertainties. i see how the students love and respect you. i'm not rushing things here, but i'm filled with hope and optimism.
erika, dana, trish (and nikki) - you have no idea how much i appreciate all that you did (and wrote here). hats off ako sa inyo! you just showed me what true friendship means. it never occurred to me that you respect and care for me THAT much. thank you! (this is new, don't you think? me getting melodramatic! Xb)
i now believe in serendipity....
i wasn't expecting that my most recent (and most controversial yet) journal entry would inadvertently cause emotional damage to my students at pisay (there! so enough of the secrecy already! XD);none of which was intended,or even thought of, to happen.
to those offended or insulted or perhaps, hurt, i would like to apologize for whatever seemingly negative thing i wrote (or didn't write but gives that impression) about the school and the students there. i wouldn't have found out about the grudge you harbor against me if not for the comment/suggestion activity that i asked you to do during HR. but i guess it's better to immediately straighten out misunderstandings caused by a play of words.
but please don't get me wrong with what i wrote in my journal. i'm just airing out sentiments caused by my insufferable nostalgia caused especially by my separation from a place which has been part of my life in the not-so-distant past. i might have given out impressions about pisay and the students there but we all know that things can always change, with the movement of time, that is. that's why i wrote at the latter part of that topic that i'm opening myself to the possibility of seeing the yet-unseen beauty and fun that life in pisay could give me.
i hope what was written and what my student-friends wrote as reply to my entry won't cause much commotion and heartache that might destroy the relationship still being built by you (my students) and me.
this being said, i once again apologize to those who were offended by the journal entry....
honestly, i'm starting to enjoy the company of the teachers and students at pisay, but i'm not really enjoying the lack of modern facilities. i'm still on the process of adjusting. please do understand....
i'm still praying that they'll bring back Charmed! sheesh...
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kiwi_sorbet- victor van dort
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