a short video

keri sent to me about a month back, real cute!

Notte Sento (English subtitles) from napdan on Vimeo.

Since receiving Keri’s email, I’ve realised that there are just so many people I haven’t spoken to in a while. All those close friends who have gone overseas or ones I’ve left behind, and its simply so hard to keep it touch with them – it takes effort on both sides. But it sure feels great to receive a short message or a long email, knowing that someone close to your heart halfway round the world still thinks about you and cares. I will find the time to go to Canada and spend a month or so with my dear cousin – the endless talks and shopping! and food! XD And to pay Amaris a visit too! And I can’t wait till my uncle gets married, that means we’ll all be back in Manila for a proper reunion that we’ve not had in years. To go on a trip to Vietnam, with Christine as my guide ((: and to head down under to experience the future doctor Melissa’s life – honeycombs!! Hahaha, I am in serious need of a holiday, don’t you think?

what’s so wonderful?

I miss the times in kindergarten – where going to school involved threading string through coloured shapes of cardboard, pouring water into differently sized jugs and singing your heart out as loudly as you wished. A simpler life, no doubt, where your worries were about making friends with that brunette girl or curly-haired boy in the corner, and when ’stupid’ was a bad word. The term ‘after school’ meant waiting for mom to take you on that walk down sunny lane, where you’d stop to look at tiny insects crawling on the ground, admire flowers growing out of unusual places or to pick up that pretty leaf.

Troubles came in the form of missing erasers, whether your mom would get mad at you for losing that eraser, and so not allowing you to watch some sing-a-long show. Afternoons were spent playing, at home or at a friend’s. I remember some names vaguely: one of my best friends, keenan mckenzie, danielle, moeko, boo kyeong, thomas, trevor, zubir, and surprisingly chris hussey was a classmate of mine too, though I don’t recall that. In fact I can’t remember the names many of those I posed with - with that buck-toothed grin – faces that seem all too familiar yet they could well be one of a stranger’s.

Life today is just different. So varied, so complex. Nevermind the issues that plague the world, just look at what the average person faces. Gone are the days where you can declare boldly and truthfully declare that all’s well and life is trouble-free, with that innocent vigour and absolute faith. Where you thrive without knowing what trust and responsibility meant. And so they say, the grass is always greener on the other side. Perhaps.

the juniors I have in choir…

they can’t stop teasing me, can they? Nothing beats going home on the bus, a 45 minute ride mind you, with juniors who tease me in whatever way possible. Culprit No. 1: John See. Guilty of teasing me with obvious pleasure while we were walking out of school and that short ride he had with us enroute to the mrt station. Culprit No. 2: Mervyn. Guilty of being direct and blatantly suanning me whenever he has the chance to. Culprit No. 3: Wan Feng. Well, actually he’s not a culprit, cause he didnt say anything haha.

Interesting conversations we had, brainstorming on my biology practical. Run an electric current in a frog and see if that changes its rate of respiration. Can’t get better than that. LOL Strangely merv and I realised that our brothers are in the same secondary school, the same cca and used to be in the same class – until my brother got transferred to the ’smarter’ class. Oh and apparently they were best friends. Singapore is a small, small world.

in the holiday mood…

I find myself humming lean on me over and over again. and thinking of doing something fun and something that does not include TOK, EE, WL and IA. something like shopping. (:

yayyy holiday! (who am I kidding) this holiday season, its a mad rush to…

finish work. so as not to drown when the next wave comes in. sure, the list doesnt seem that long, but its the time it takes to actually finish them. Also, to prepare myself for the tests coming up in the next few weeks – knowing fully that I will definitely not have enough time later on to study.

yesterday was an um…interesting day. the horror of horrors – performing for the school’s chinese new year concert. Though I must admit those 2 year 1 classes had it worse off than us. poor things. the utter embarassment of standing there clapping along to this horrendous karaoke arrangement of the most famous chinese new year song, with the screen showing some weird karaoke video. thank goodness many did not notice the choir standing behind the year 1s, they thought we exited already. I quote Ian Long: where were you guys? hahahaha. and thankfully we got to wear our school uniforms instead.

On a happier note we were dismissed right then and there, so it was off to Alyssha’s house to hang around for a while. The joys of multi-tasking: polishing off 3 bags of chips, a bottle of soda, whilst watching a movie and playing bridge -  all under 2 hours. Now that’s the life. And,  ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ is really funny…especially when you’re watching it with guys. to be continued at Jeanette’s on friday! (: we love Jeanette!

Eryn’s mom kindly dropped me off at bishan, and thereafter I headed to orchard for a while. A little shopping doesn’t hurt…haha. Heading back to bishan I bumped into Albert – hope he gets posted back here! we need more people in choir! Dinner with Marilyn afterwards, Huijie couldn’t join us. (who told you to join chinese drama hmmm?) had a great time talking to her…can’t believe a whole year has already passed! I am totally amazed at how she can survive in cj…hat’s off to her! top econs next time, k? ;p

now to make the most out of this week. I wonder what will happen next week? sneaky Jacqueline has something up her sleeve…

I’m supposed to be doing TOK but…

this is just too hilarious. If you’ve lived in the Philippines, this is a MUST-read.

When I travel, people often ask me why I live in the Philippines? Well here it is….. It is the only place on earth where……

1. Every street has a basketball court.

2. Even doctors, lawyers and engineers are unemployed.

3. Doctors study to become nurses for employment abroad.

4. Students pay more money than they will earn afterwards.

5. School is considered the second home and the mall considered the third.

6. Call-center employees earn more money than teachers and nurses.

7. Everyone has his personal ghost story and superstition.

8. Mountains like Makiling and Banahaw are considered holy places.

9. Everything can be forged.

10. All kinds of animals are edible.

11. Starbucks coffee is more expensive than gas.

12. Driving 4 kms can take as much as four hours.

13. Flyovers bring you from the freeway to the side streets.

14. Crossing the street involves running for your dear life.

15. The personal computer is mainly used for games and Friendster.

16. Where colonial mentality is dishonestly denied!

17. Where 4 a.m. is not even considered bedtime yet.

18. People can pay to defy the law.

19. Everything and everyone is spoofed.

20. Where even the poverty-stricken get to wear Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger (peke)!

21. The honking of car horns is a way of life.

22. Being called a bum is never offensive.

23. Floodwaters take up more than 90 percent of the streets during the rainy season.

24. Where everyone has a relative abroad who keeps them alive.

25. Where wearing your national colors make you baduy.

26. Where even the poverty-stricken have the latest cell phones. (GSM-galing sa magnanakaw)

27. Where insurance does not work..

28. Where water can only be classified as tap and dirty.

29. Clean water is for sale (35 pesos per gallon).

30. Where the government makes the people pray for miracles. (Amen to that!)

31. Where University of the Philippines where all the weird people go.

32. Ateneo is where all the nerds go.

33. La Salle is where all the Chinese go.

34. College of Saint Benilde is where all the stupid Chinese go and;

35. University of Asia and the Pacific is where all the irrelevantly rich people go.

36. Fast food is a diet meal.

37. Traffic signs are merely suggestions, not regulations.

38. Where being mugged is normal and It happens to everyone.

39. Rodents are normal house pets..

40. The definition of traffic is the ‘non-movement’ of vehicles.

41. Where the fighter planes of the 1940s are used for military engagements and;

42. The new fighter planes are displayed in museums.

43. Where cigarettes and alcohol are a necessity, and where the lottery is a commodity.

44. Where soap operas tell the realities of life and where the news provides the drama.

45. Where actors make the rules and where politicians provide the entertainment.

46. People can get away with stealing trillions of pesos but not a thousand.

47. Where being an hour late is still considered punctual (Grabe talaga ‘to!)

48. Where the squatters have more to complain (even if they do not pay their tax) – than those employed and have their tax automatically deducted from their salaries.

49. And where everyone wants to leave the country!
FILIPINO SIGNS OF WIT:
1. The sign in a flower shop in Diliman called Petal Attraction.

2. Anita Bakery

3. A 24-hour restaurant called Doris Day & Night

4. Barber shop called Felix The Cut;

5. A bakery named Bread Pitt

6. Fast-food place selling ‘maruya’ (banana fritters) called Maruya Carey.

7. Then, there are Christopher Plumbing

8. A boutique called The Way We Wear

9. A video rental shop called Leon King Video Rental

10. A restaurant in Cainta district of Rizal called Caintacky Fried Chicken

11. A local burger restaurant called Mang Donald’s

12. A doughnut shop called MacDonuts

13. A shop selling ‘lumpia’ (egg roll) in Makati called Wrap and Roll

14. And two butcher shops called Meating Place and Meatropolis.

Smart travelers can decipher what may look like baffling signs to unaccustomed foreigners by simply sounding out the ‘Taglish’ (The Philippine version of English words spelled and pronounced with a heavy Filipino such as:

15. At a restaurant menu in Cebu “We hab sopdrink in can an in batol” [translation: We have soft drinks in can and in bottle].

16. Then, there is a sewing accessories shop called Bids And Pises – [translation: Beads and Pieces --or-- Bits and Pieces]

There are also many signs with either badly chosen or misspelled words but they are usually so entertaining that it would be a mistake to ‘correct’ them like…….

17. In a restaurant in Baguio City, the ’summer capital’ of the Philippines: ” Wanted: Boy Waitress”

18. On a highway in Pampanga: “We Make Modern Antique Furniture”

19. On the window of a photography shop in Cabanatuan: “We Shoot You While You Wait”

20. And on the glass front of a cafe in Panay Avenue in Manila: “Wanted: Waiter, Cashier, Washier”..

Some of the notices can even give a wrong impression such as:

21. A shoe store in Pangasinan which has a sign saying: “We Sell Imported Robber Shoes” (these could be the ’sneakiest’ sneakers);

22. A rental property sign in Jaro reads: “House For Rent, Fully Furnaced” (it must really be hot inside)!

23. Occasionally, one could come across signs that are truly unique – if not altogether odd. City in southern Philippines which said: “Adults: 1 peso; Child: 50 centavos; Cadavers: fare subject to negotiation”.

24. European tourists may also be intrigued to discover two competing shops selling hopia (a Chinese pastry) called Holland Hopia and Poland Hopia – which are owned and operated by two local Chinese entrepreneurs, Mr. Ho and Mr. Po respectively – (believe it or not)!

25. Some folks also ‘creatively’ redesign English to be more efficient. “The creative confusion between language and culture leads to more than just simple unintentional errors in syntax, but in the adoption of new words, “says reader Robert Goodfellow who came across a sign …..House Fersallarend’ (house for sale or rent). Why use five words when two will do?

26. According to Manila businessman, Tonyboy Ongsiako, there is so much wit in the Philippines because  ”We are a country where a good sense of humor is needed to survive”. We have a 24-hour comedy show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors.

Now I ask you where else in the world would one want to live?

HAHAHA! If you need explanations, do feel free to ask…

never ending

Sing with me, sing for the year

Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear

Sing with me, just for today

Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away

I can’t get this song out of my head

why?

too much going on too soon. my head hurts, my throat hurts. this is not good.

information overload during bio. another english presentation to do. surprisingly, had an interesting chem lessons – wonderful videos that might just save my life. a very confusing tok presentation. (christine, ours will rock! once i get around completely the powerpoint slides and script, that is lol) one more english presentation.

presentations force you talk – or at least say something. so I dont like to talk much during english. partly cause my brain refuses to function – I dont like to think you see – and I am quite contented simply listening to what others have to say, thats what makes things interesting, right?

oh and I’m lugging two boxes of polvoron to school tomorrow. it received a very welcome and warm response today. guys + food = where did the food go?

grabe naman, nakakainis! daming assignment, tapos walang oras. ano kala nila, isang subject lang ung ginagawa namin? minsan parang hindi nila maintindihan ung sitwasyon namin… paguwi sa bahay pagod na pagod, ano p b magagawa? san ko ba mahanap ung oras…

angels and demons – part 2

interesting sermon topic, of which I only heard the last part of, in between collecting offertory and counting the money while listening to vanessa’s singing and comments: I’m going to your[zavier's] house and bring my own bak kua to eat and watch my own tv! (iuno what that’s about) and complaining about plastic notes and how it makes counting the money hard, to which we all agreed that she should use whatever she gets for chinese new year to donate a cash counting machine to the church. loll.

anyway, there was this guy who shared about how he was born into a staunch Hindu family and how he rebelled from his father’s controlling ways. he recalls one vision he saw of this street in India where there was a temple – to which he found out later that his father had in fact dedicated him to some idol in that very same temple. there was also a story told of this woman, who by the power of God was able to remove objects that cast a shadow on her family’s life, amulets and figurines and all, and her entire family was finally able to experience peace. it goes to show the extent of that one action in allowing such spirits a firm stronghold over our lives. I’ve heard of these stories many a times, though I’ve not witnessed any, hence I have doubted the possibility of these things even occuring. but that is perhaps what keeps my faith strong – the constant questioning of everything, of the world, of people and their ways, and learning to see from God’s point of view.

a decision made

and so I’ve finally left xanga, and maybe i’ll still keep it. I’ll simply jack sparrow it – you know, make it up as I go along…

once again there’s so much to do, work is piling up, each task on top of another, till the last one is hanging precariously on the edge – would it fall?

one thing’s for sure, I am glad to have today relatively free, to do all the work, which, quite obviously, isn’t done yet. Still, I’ve done a fair amount of work and am indeed happy about it.

was wonderful hearing from marilyn and rowena again, a reminder of the fun times we had together in 1T13, a glimmer of light in my otherwise gloomy journey – that 2 months in cj. I was even happier and pleased to find out that there will be a class outing, hopefully I can make it. It’d be great to see everyone again, to see how people have changed in that less-than-a-year period, to do lots and lots of catching up. Please let that day be kept free.

on to the highlights of the week: that unforgettable geography lesson. on how to talk your way out of getting a speeding ticket from malaysian police – football’s the way to go. about how he has taught people who became famous: stefanie sun and nick middleton. and how he almost shot to stardom, the close fight to earn a dream job – to become a sports commentator, and losing at the beginning of who wants to be a millionaire, he didn’t have the ‘fastest finger’. Its interesting to note that I find it harder to remember what he said about rivers. Hahaha.

then there was of course, the release of o level results. so my batch got beaten, the juniors brought the average down to a 13.6. sadly for music, only one got an A1, though a 62.5% distinction is good anytime. Next batch of music students: work hard and raise that figure! joshua – the godbrother – has a final score of 13 for poly. interesting choice he has – aviation management. I was quite disappointed with the performance of the secondary 5 students of henderson though, they didn’t do as well. anyway, I wish them the best in their next step ahead and hope that they’ll give their all.

quite a week it has been, hasn’t it? and work is never far, and I am so looking forward to the next week (not)