manghuhuli ng tarsier si mama

nakatakda ngayon ang pag-alis ni mama papuntang bohol. of course, daan muna siyang manila via air then manila-cebu then cebu-bohol via fast craft (ata). good thing, may pasalubong. bad thing, hindi ako kasama! tsktsk. sayang ng opportunity. hmm. well, it was kind of a reunion for mama and her high school friends and parang excited na din ako na magkaroon ng ganoon with my high school or even college friends in the future. haha. hm. nasabay sa birthday ni tatan ang pag-alis ni mama kaya walang handa. tsktsk. kawawa naman. first time atang mangyari ito sa kanya pero sabagay ayos lang yun ng mafeel naman niya ang naffeel ko. haha. pero siyempre meron pa rin naman yung handa or kain sa labas. just wait tatan!

hm. dahil maaga ang alis ni mama at kami ay gumigising ng tanghali na ginawan ko din siya ng ingat greeting at pinost ko sa tabi ng kay dante. haha. hmm. self-explanatory na ang message kaya yun. ingat na lang ma sa panghuhuli ng tarsier. :D

kaarawan ni tatan

it is somehow a custom to our family that whenever one would celebrate his/her birthday, someone else from the family would make a birthday greeting in a coupon bond with the celebrant's picture and message of whatsoever. since i am the somehow techie member of the family who knows how to do this and that in photoshop, i make the birthday greetings more often than not and have it posted at the front of the glass cabinet where mama's cup collections are kept.

since today is april 29, it's tatan's birthday. nyahaha. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TATAN!

take note: wag kakalimutang magsipilyo. haha. :D

interview101

just last April 11-15, the second year social work students underwent their Battery Exam (a do-or-die examination) which would dictate if they will eventually graduate with a Social Work degree or not). well, since i am one of the sophomore students taking up social work, i also took the examination which bears 40% of the total score with the 50% coming from the GWA or general weighted average for the last four semesters and the 10% from the panel interview with all the faculty members (ideally) sitting as interviewers.

i decided to write a post not about the battery examination but about the panel interview. for some reasons, i think that my answers to some of the questions were insufficient thus making this post the addendum for the panel interview. i know this will not bear anything meaning it cannot change my score in the panel interview but i still decided to post with respect to my self-fulfillment and freedom of self expression. nyahaha. :P

well, the question and answer plus commenting of the faculty consumed 20 minutes i think. after the interview, i feel that they just spent the longest time interviewing me compared to any another interviewees for that day. pero tapos na yun. kaya eto na. umpisahan ko na ng matapos na. ang mga mababasa niyo sa ibaba ay ang aking mga karagdagang kasagutan o kung hindi naman ay ang mga ideyang tumatakbo sa isip ko habang nagaganap ang interview kaharap ang aking ginagalang na mga miyembro ng fakulti.

1. hindi po. hindi ko po napanood yung interview ni jessica soho sa summa cum laude na graduate ng upd dahil wala akong tv sa boarding house pero meron pala. maliit nga lang na black and white pero pwede na. pero kung tatanungin nyo po ako about sa 4Ps, RH bill at Kaso ni Willie, may aabangan kayong sagot.
2. no question po about sa academic performance ko? hm. thank you po. pero feeling ko po ay dapat tinanong niyo kung pano ko mapagsasabay-sabay ang Academics at HWA at BlueFeatherSociety. sayang, kung natanong niyo po yun, tiyak hindi ko alam ang sagot. hahaha.
3. maintenance po ng performance ang possible problem? haha. wag po kayong mag-alala. ganyan din po ang tingin ko. apir! pero of course, i'm optimistic that i can and i will maintain whatever i have.
4. dedication to the profession po? hm. meron ako niyan. dedication. sabi ko nga po, it's just like doing what you want to do which is to help which happens to be your job also.
5. reaction no intimate boy-girl/boy-boy/girl-girl relationship policy? it's okay po and i understand it's purpose pero feeling ko kung sakaling inlove man ako sa kapwa ko social work student ay hindi yun okay at labag yun sa constitution of the Philippines. good thing, may payo po si mama na wag daw magggirlfriend ng parehas social work dahil mahirap na daw. nyahaha.
6. what if ako po ang habulin ng babae? hmm. feeling ko it feels good pero kung magpapahabol naman ako na wala naman palang pag-asa yung girl, kawawa naman siya. i'll stick na lang with my answer, to say to the girl that perhaps this is not the right time, the right place and the right situation. hehe.
7. fields of social work after graduation and board po? hmm. ganun pa rin, community organization, forensic social welfare, international social welfare pero hindi ko po nasabi na gusto ko ding ma-try ang academe. kahit hindi sa college, kahit sa high school lang, i want to teach ever for a short period of time and i'm serious. i want to teach and touch the life of my students. furthermore, i am standing with my answer that i definitely don't have plan for anything yet. i am not really sure if i will take law after ang mahalaga, i am enjoying where i am today.

yan lang ata ang natanong nila sa akin. sabi ko nga ay bakit parang puro commenting ang nagaganap pero ganun pa man. may mga idadagdag pa ako...

1. thank you po sa puno ng buhay na pagtanggap sa akin dala marahil ng pagka-shock sa aking suot na smart casual na halatang hindi niyo inaasahan pero dahil nag-usap kami nina melvin na mag-ayos ng itsura para sa interview ay yun nga ang nangyari. salamat po sa aking sponsor, thanks Dan Baldoza.
2. wala po ba kayong tanong tungkol sa aking personal na buhay lalo na sa lovelife?
3. eh sa plano ko po sa HWA?
4. eh sa personal na aspeto talaga?
5. eh sa lovelife?
6. eh sa apple of the eye tuloy?
7. eh sa kaso ni willie?
8. eh sa plano sa buhay?
9. eh about sa anything under the sun?
10. nga po pala, binabawi ko po ang good study habits na pinagmayabang ko. nabigla lang ako. na-out-of-words kumbaga kaya nasabi ko yun. haha. lagot!

hmm. feeling ko nagiging makulit na ako. pero sayang. nabitin ako sa interview. dapat tinanong na ako ng faculty ng kahit na ano. game pa naman ako ng mga panahong iyon. haha. well, next time naman. hanggang sa susunod na interview. baka sa ayala young leaders na yun. lagot!

now i know who they are

the first time i saw storyline on the abs-cbn news channel, my attention was easily caught. it's unique cinematography including its effects, sounds and others plus the way they deliver the stories of their interviewees is very appealing for the story is first hand and directly came from the interviewers themselves. however, since we do not have a tv at the boarding house in legazpi, i cannot really watch it per episode on a weekly basis on the ANC then. today, it is also shown in abs-cbn but still there is replay in ANC. hm. i think i had seen a couple of episodes including those that of Ninoy, Atty. Saguisag, Sec. Robredo, former senator pimentel and also a couple of episodes involving ordinary people like the story of a "kariton boy" who amused me because of his english speaking skills and interest in comics.

well, i forgot that last night was a storyline night and i don't even have a clue when will storyline be aired in ANC. worse, i saw a comment commending how beautiful the story was. good thing, it happened that i was doing a channel hop and i drop by in ANC and poof... it was STORYLINE. what i saw was the story about Dukot and if i am right it was about the torture victims. but the last story really really caught my attention and even caused goosebumps. it was the story of the "tragic story" of the sweetheart Alexis and Nika who were shot by robbers one night in Alexis' home at times st. sayang naman si Alexis oh! he can make a difference. tsktsk. worse thing is that they were good people who can bring and do a lot for the good of the Philippines. nakakahinayang! i may not know them personally but their story affected me. tsktsk. well, i hope justice will be serve for them anytime soon.

ps. while browsing some tumblr blogs, i came across a cover of UNO Magazine which bears the phrases "Justice for Alexis and Justice for Nika. during those time, i am really ignorant of who they are and i even told myself that maybe they were children who were victims of child abuse. good thing, my ignorance was changed and social consciousness aroused when i saw the episode.

pss. two thumbs up for storyline. :D

psss. JUSTICE FOR ALEXIS AND NIKA! Good people deserve it!

pssss. photos below were grabbed from philstar.net and fb page of in memoriam of alexis and nika.

no2mininginpalawan

i've never been to Palawan. i only saw Palawan and it's beautiful places through the internet, television shows and tourism ads plus the pictures that my mama have when she went to Palawan and went home not just with a bunch of photos but also with a rainmaker courtesy of the good mayor of Puerto Princesa, Mayor Hagedorn. and certainly, Palawan is in my list of MY TO MUST VISITED PLACES SOMEDAY. well, just after the CSC election (or maybe before), ate aubrey gave me two signature/petition forms saying NO TO MINING IN PALAWAN. of course, since i am a green warrior and environmental advocate in my own capacity i asked my classmates to sign and affix their name if they also believe that the Philippines Last Frontier should be protected against environmental destruction and . most of them signed, but sadly not all. perhaps they were attacked by apathy which was the long running disease of many (not all) students of bicol university for the last few years but it's another story. going back to Palawan and mining in palawan, here in Bicol, movement against mining corporations is also strong especially the one that can be found in Rapu-Rapu Island in the province of albay. even Gov. Salceda, a green economist approved a resolution or a provincial ordinance (i forgot) stating strong opposition against mining. the good governor himself stated that mining gets more yet it returns very little. well, we have seen the bad effects of mining but why we are still allowing them? Below is a screenshot of the GIF found in no2mininginpalawan.com wherein i also signed an online petition against mining in palawan.

the bottomline of this is that while it is true that mining is an investment and it provides cash perhaps to the people around the area and revenue to the government, mining destroys the environment. OUR ENVIRONMENT. palawan is such a treasure of the country in terms of biodiversity and we should not dare destroy it in exchange of some coins which mostly will just go in the hands of the crook politicians and rich owners of mining firms. perhaps we can gain money in millions but the destruction it can bring to Palawan's natural resources is priceless for no amount of money can replace the destroyed Fauna and Flora. Palawan is a gift for us and we should not let irresponsible people lead it to the path of destruction. NO TO MINING IN PALAWAN! better yet, NO TO MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES!

if it happened that you have the same sentiments against mining and for the environment, sign the petition online at no2mininginpalawan.com. it's a little step and quite of little effort but it signifies your intention and conviction for environmental conservation. :)

The World Is Just Awesome (Boom De Yada) - Filipino Sytle

i'm a Discovery Channel fanatic and the World is Just Awesome Boom De Yada Station ID of theirs captured me and i personally think that it's great and very beautiful. i found this Boom De Yada Filipino Style while browsing in tumblr. according to the post, this will be probably aired this year.

BOOM DE YADA. BOOM DE YADA. BOOM DE YADA.

THE WORLD IS TRULY JUST AWESOME!

superRUSS

probably you laughed upon seeing the "badly" photoshoped picture of superRUSS. well, again, it is not known to many that i am regarded by atleast two friends as superman. sabi ko nga ay kung si kuya harry daet ang spiderman ng cssp, ako naman ang superman. well, actually it started with kuya lou lauraya who happens to be the BU presidential son and an incoming senior of social work and then the story continued. poknat also calls me superman because according to her, i'm kinda her savior and mavic calls me superman because she thinks that i can do anything or just everything (which is humanly impossible. haha)

of course, i'm flattered with me being associated to superman. it's a whoah! because how come i can be associated to superman. i don't have special powers like the power of flight and the superstrength but perhaps they called me because that's what they see and i thanked them. but then just like spiderman's famous quote, with great power comes great responsibility, with them calling me superman would mean that i should always be that superguy in their eyes. gladly, i'm not the kind of person who lives everyday fulfilling the expectations of others towards me for i think it would be better if i will live according to what i want and who i really am. living with the expectations of others comes second only because i am the driver of my life not them. katunayan, when i have the chance, i expose to them and i try to expose to them my weakness point and the not so superguy attitude. haha. that's life! that's reality!

but with the different events that happened during the last month of the recently concluded academic year plus the expected pressures, expectations, twist and turns of the junior year in social work (if ever i passed the battery exam), i just think i literally need to become a superman or let's just say superRUSS and let me dissect the different reasons/factors on why is that so.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR. first on my cape, i got on my hands a university based organization but its not a simple UBO - The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society: The Official Honor Society of BU. it is the organization of the cream of the crop of BU. the top 10 and top 15 of the different colleges/units of BU. worse, i am the president or the chancellor once the new draft of the constitution is finalized. actually, our term should end august of AY2011-2012, however, my co-officers are thinking of extending our term so that we could finish one academic year considering the facts that we are elected just one month before the closing of AY2010-2011. Dr. Bibi and the assistant dean of the BU Office of Student Services said that i should be up for reelection once a new election happens on august or perhaps july after we have finished laying the foundations of the organization but i don't really know. for now, i'm into the idea of not running for reelection but i think i can change my mind as the days pass. well, it's not just hard but it's very hard handling a UBO. Second on my cape under extra-curricular is the HUMAN WELFARE ADVOCATES. well, just this march i was promoted from being the HWA secretary by being elected as president with overwhelming votes with Angelo fielded as my opponent but then suggested that voters should vote for me instead thus it's as if i don't have any contender to the presidency. well, HWA is just a small organization, a college based organization and is the organization of all the students of the social work department. eventhough, it's a small organization, soo much is expected from HWA being the Best College Based Organization for AY 2010-2011 and the constant successes it enjoyed during the past years. meaning, i with my officers should strive to maintain the title and to even surpass what last year's hwa had done.

ACADEMIC PRESSURES. Maintain, Improve, Keep whatever academic achievements i have and the rest is self-explanatory being true to any student. haha. :p

THESIS. Though part of academic pressures, thesis deserves a lone spot because of the fact that this is the major stressor of the junior life. sleepless nights, tiresome data gathering, brain cracking write-ups and re-writes - more to come and yet again, the rest is self-explanatory. perhaps i can also add here our counselling subject and the practical for counselling. well, counselling is not that easy.

LOVELIFE. first question, meron ba? haha. hmm. i don't know but just like what i wrote in my Ten Years From Now article in the book of myself, junior year is my lovelife year but i don't think so. if ever, wawa man future girlfriend ko kaya wag na lang. i think i'll just wait until i finish college. haha.

OTHERS. these includes friends (MNT/BESTFRIENDS/NAGA FRIENDS), family and such other things.

well, they are truly some of the facts but i must say that after all, i am quite confident that at the end of Academic Year 2011-2012, i can proudly say that I MADE IT! better yet I MADE IT WITH FLYING COLORS! i am very optimistic and just like what i always bear in mind, positive thinking will transform into positive results. haha. :D

logo-logo

it is not known to many BUenos that a society of academic scholars particularly of the students who compose the Top 10 or Top 15 of every college/unit in Bicol University was established just this February or March (i can't really remember it well) to first and foremost, gather the creme dela creme of Bicol University according to Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres, the University Scholarship and Grants-in-Aid Officer. furthermore, it is not known to many that i am one of those elected first officers of the society tasked with laying down the foundations of the society for the full go of operations next academic year. aside from finalizing the constitution and by-laws of the society, prepare it for a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registration, design mechanism for membership and such other pertinent tasks related to building the society, we are also tasked to design the society logo since it is also related in establishing and laying out the foundations for the society. well, a first logo had been suggested by a member and it looks like this:

since i am not the kind of person who easily nods and easily satisfied, i decided to make yet another suggestion for the society logo. and here it is with the explanation of its symbols and colors.

The unconventional shape of the logo was inspired by the traditional shape of the coat-of-arms being used in Europe which symbolizes that the Blue Feather Society is not just another student organization having in mind the stringent qualifications that one should meet to become a member. In the uppermost part bears the full name of the organization which is the "The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society." The logo is divided into four quadrants. The upper two quadrants have exhibit the four pillars of Bicol University - Scholarship, Service, Character and Leadership which the members should uphold honor and excellence with. The lower left quadrant bears a torch, wreath, key and a book. The torch symbolizes the fire for learning and excellence. The wreath for glory and victory. The golden key for the way to success and knowledge while the book is for academic freedom and brilliance. The last quadrant which is located on the lower right bears 15 stars representing the 14 academic colleges and units of Bicol University and a star for those non-BUenos who will qualify for membership in the society. Dividing the upper and lower quadrant is a kind-of-a scroll which bears two important years in Roman Numerals. on the left side is the Roman Numeral for 1969 - BU's founding year and on the left is Roman Numeral for 2010 - Blue Feather Society's Founding Year. On the other hand, dividing the left and right quadrants is a big blue feather which is the very identity of the society and taken from its name BLUE FEATHERS society. Of course, the blue colors of two different intensities symbolizes Bicol University. Lastly, the latin maxim puts emphasis that the society's members are not only intelligent but also virtuous in character.

Hmm. nonetheless, i need an honest critiquing of the suggested logo for i know that there is a very big room for improvement. just like ate dianne's comment that it looks like a logo of the police. well, just in case, you read this and have a comment, don't be shy to leave one either through my blog, facebook account or even email. Thank You! :D

semana santa

Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday at Easter Sunday. tapos na ang mahaba-habang bakasyon para sa ilan samantalang isang nagtapos na pagkakataon naman ang tingin ng iba sa semana santa upang magnilay-nilay, magpasalamat, humingi ng tawad at panahon upang mas lalo pang palakasin ang kanilang paniniwala sa Diyos na siyang ugat at puso ng selebrasyon ng buhay at kamatayan ni Hesukristo. kumbaga eh, balik na tayo sa kanya-kanya nating buhay sa mga panahong ito.

hmm. masasabi kong kahit papano ay naging makabuluhan ang semana santa sa akin. kahit na nagkaroon ako ng sakit sa halos buong linggo ay hindi ito naging hadlang para ako ay makapagpasalamat sa Diyos - sa mga biyayang patuloy niyang binibigay kasabay ng mga pagkakataon at oras, sa pamilyang meron ako at sa mga kaibigang nakapaligid sa akin at sa lahat ng bagay at hindi mabilang na rason kung bakit dapat siyang pasalamatan. Humingi din ako ng tawad sa mga kasalanang nagawa ko sinasadya man o hindi, sa mga pagkukulang at sa mga panahong nakasakit ako ng iba. Sinabay ko din ang paghingi ng patuloy na gabay mula sa kanya sa ano mang bagay na ginagawa ko. at higit sa lahat, patuloy na ginagawang inspirasyon ang mga ginawa niya hindi lamang para sa aking sarili kundi kahit maging para sa iba. masasabi ko din naman na hindi na bago ang ginawa ko dahil lagi-lagi ko naman itong ginagawa sa tuwing magdadasal ako at higit sa lahat ay sinasabayan ko ng aksyon para masa maging makabuluhan ang mga bagay-bagay.

katulad ng mga nakaraang semana santa ay pumunta kami sa Sipocot, hilaga ng Naga at Camarines Sur. sa bayan ni papa at ang lugar kung saan naman nagttrabaho si mama. dun talaga kami nagpupunta tuwing holy week. isang rason na marahil ay ang pagkakaroon ng pamilya ni papa ng alagang santo (Maria Salome - nakalarawan sa ibaba subalit ang larawan ay kuha sa Polangui, Albay) na isinasali sa prusisyon tuwing miyerkules santo at biyernes santo. pero tuwing biyernes santo lang naman kami nandun. Dahil nandun kami at nandun ang mga pinsan (first at second), mga lolo at lola (kapatid ni lola) at mga anak nila ay para na rin kaming nagreunion. sabi nga ni mama, noon daw ay kapag biyernes santo, bawal ang maingay. dapat tahimik ka lang at nagdadasal. pero ngayon, ang ingay namin, napuno ang bahay ni lolo badong (kapatid ni lola) ng tawanan at tawanan pa rin dahil na rin sa kwentuhan pati ng pikchuran. bago nga kami umalis ay sinuggest ko at ni Ate Dianne na sabihan sila lola at mga kapatid niya na magpagroup picture dahil napakabihira nilang makumpleto dahil sa paminsan-minsang away nila. gayunpaman masaya talaga.

siyempre dahil nandun na kami ay nagprusisyon kami. medyo nalate kami pero siyempre nakahabol pa rin. habang nagpuprusisyon ay tumitingin ako sa paligid ko at nag-obserba. napagtanto ko na iba-ibang tao ang nasa paligid ko, iba-ibang tao na may iba-ibang rason kung bakit nagpprusyon sila. merong mga sumama lang dahil nandun ang mga kaibigan o kung hindi naman ay ang pamilya. meron namang sigurong napilitan lang o kung hindi naman kaya ay mas pinili na lang na magprusisyon kesa manatili sa bahay at mabagot pero meron din namang naglalakad para magdasal. sa isip ko, marahil iba-iba din ang ipinagdarasal namin, iba-ibang mga kahlilingan pero iisang direksyon ang aming tinatahak. sa isip ko ulit, "kung ganito ang tao - naglalakad patungo sa isang direksyon kahit iba-iba man ang mga kahilingan, pinagdadasal, motibo at maging paniniwala, siguro makakamit natin ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran hindi lamang sa buong pilipinas kundi maging sa buong mundo." Malayo-layo din kahit papano ang prusisyon pero mas nadama ko ito ng ako na mismo ang isa sa apat na taga-buhay ng andas o karo ng santa ng pamilya. datirati ay sina papa, mga kapatid niya at mga kamag-anak lang nila ang nagdadala pero ngayon kasali na kami ni don-don ang aking nakababatang kapatid. oo, mas mahirap. mabigat pero pagkatapos ay rewarding na nabuhat mo at nakaya mo kahit sa hindi katagalang panahon kumpara sa ibang taga-buhat. sa aking pagbubuhat ay may napagtanto na naman ako, na kailanman, "hindi kaya ng iisang tao na buhating mag-isa ang anumang responsibilidad, mas madali at mas maganda kung tulong-tulong kayo at sabay-sabay sa paggawa tungo sa pagtupad ng responsibilidad."

well, so much for the realizations but i guess it's the all-abouts of lent. for us to realize the truths and beauty of life in the image of God. i hope you too had a meaningful and wonderful holy week. :D

photos taken from the fb account of sir dennis mirabueno (without permission because i'm shy. haha. sorry sir.)

a piece of OUR reality

it is very seldom that i watched a noontime show when i arrived here in naga due to wide array of choices over the different channels (both international and national) to watch. but one noontime, papa watched Eat Bulaga! (the longest running noontime show in the Philippine TV) and during that day, it was Ryan Agoncillo's birthday. of course, it is quite a custom to TV shows especially variety shows to give the birthdayperson a kind-of-blowout and greeting. Ryan's birthday celebration was highlighted when he gave the earnings of his brother-in-law to mang rogelio, an impoverished jeepney driver which he knew from BBC's Toughest Place to be a Bus Driver. So as a curious audience, i searched and actually watch the BBC's TOUGHEST PLACE TO BE A BUS DRIVER which i can say is a real piece of OUR very own reality in the eyes of a foreigner.

The close to an hour documentary revolved around the story of Josh West, a British Bus Driver from London who drives a state of the art double decker bus and the challenge imposed upon him to actually drive and have a taste of how it is to be a bus/jeepney driver in the Philippines specifically in Manila which according to the narration is being referred as the most densely populated city in the world. Of course, as a first timer, Josh found it hard to navigate the streets of Manila and much more to drive using the jeepney which he even described as "a vehicle which he thinks as not roadworthy." But eventually, he made it with the aid of attending to a driving class and with the help of Mang Rogelio.

Well, i decided to post some sort-of-a-review for the documentary not just because a Filipino and the Philippines is being featured but because on the important pieces of our reality it captured while Josh's story is going on. the first of our piece of reality is that many filipinos are still trap under the spells of poverty, that no matter how hard they tried to work and work and work even harder, when the sun rises anew, they are still in the same situation they are in. it's as if a trap wherein poor filipinos no matter how hard they strive will still end up being poor just like Mang Rogelio's situation which happens to be the very sentiment of Mang Rogelio. that everyday, many filipinos do job that at the end of the day will hopefully suffice their needs for that day alone. another thing is that even the Reproductive Health Bill or popularly the RH Bill was featured. well, personally the situation of Mang Rogelio's neighbor (which unfortunately i forgot the name) made my personal stand firmer that there is a need for the passage of RH Bill not because it gives everyone an artificial contraceptives but it gives the couple a chance to choose on what they think is better for their family.

Hmm. so much for the RH Bill. what was truly saddening i

s the part where "pagpag" - a kind of food in tondo wherein it's ingredients are collected, washed and recooked remains or remnants of foods from a fastfood chain is being served. it is shocking and saddening but we cannot blame the people of tondo in making and patronizing pagpag. it is their situation that made them do that. come to think of it, if they have better access to foods or let's say opportunities for employment, they will not do that. Josh even cried upon hearing the story and the sentiments of the pagpag maker (photo below). it is saddening because it once again caught a piece of our reality through a foreigner.

perhaps the reality that the documentary gave Ryan and inspired Ryan's decision to help Mang Rogelio even for the short-term. the realness of the story and the documentary itself is so good because even though foreigners made or produced it, there is no exaggeration but it tells the story on how the people say it. Nonetheless, the documentary made me proud that i am a Filipino. that no matter what obstacles or hurdles we face in life, we fight and we try our best to become better. Furthermore, just like josh for sure, the story of Mang Rogelio humbles me and made me appreciate our and my status now and it inspired to do more once i started working because there are jobs that are worse than mine.

Lastly, Josh was successful with his challenge though there was a part where he was lost along the route and had a hard time with driving and counting change. I hope that Josh's adventure in the Philippines would become an eyeopener to the British people as to how lucky they are that they are developed and perhaps could share some not only to the poor Filipinos but to the poor people all over the world

.

ps. Jollibee was kinda featured but not really. it's just that Mang Rogelio and his family together with Josh ate at Jollibee when Mang Rogelio's jeepney was covered by the number/colorcoding. (seepicturebelow)

wowBATANES

during the holy week, the television was packed with different shows which are mostly replayed. it just happened that i became interested with GMA NewsTV's Pitong Paglalakbay which i thought was made some three to four years ago. well, because of that i just added BATANES, the northermost islands of the Philippines to the Places that i want to visit. it's quite preserved bahay na bato and very simple style of life plus the fresh winds blowing from the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean and the Ivatans and their unique Ivatan Hats being used to protect themselves against the sun and rain and their lush mountainsides along with their preserved lighthouses. wohooo! i think Batanes is just the perfect destination if you want to reflect.

MARARATING DIN KITA BATANES!

SOMEDAY WE'LL MEET! :D

totoong MAGAYON

since there are many things to catch up with my blog, i think it would be better by starting with the latest happenings in my life. well, april is quite a challenging month for me so far (basing things from the first half of the month). i am referring to our battery examination and panel interview with the faculty members of the department or our qualifying exam for us to make it through third year social work and just like what i said it's just like a do-or-die examination meaning one's future is at stake. of course, the simple challenge was to pass the examination but the great challenge was to pass the exam with flying colors. well, the result was not yet out and based from what i have learned, the results will go out by may 10 or may 11. also, i know that there are some people expecting me to become the battery exam topnotcher but i'm not really up to it. i actually did not targeted it because of some personal sentiments and beliefs. actually, i spent less time reviewing and instead i watched movies on the eve of the examination for passing is what i really wanted. hmm. moreover, i think our Saint Jude's intercession was effective (MnT attended mass at St. Jude Parish in Legazpi and the priest blessed us exclusively, if the term is right.) and i think we're (MnT) up to a 100% passing rate, as to the batch, i hope we're a hundred percent. i really hope.

well, moving on. APRIL IS MAGAYON FESTIVAL MONTH in ALBAY! and i mean saying that i think this is th grandest, happiest, hippest and longest month-long festival i attended so far in my life with so many events in lined. it's as if everyday, three programs are happening, one in penaranda park, one in the SMB beer plaza and one in the Albay Astrodome - choose where you want to be plus the different activities in Pacific Mall, LCC and Embarcadero de Legazpi with a fireworks display every saturday night and Rapapa night every

wednesday and friday night. It's a mixture of cultural and social festivities centering around the majestic Mt. Mayon.

gladly, i was able to attend the GRAND OPENING of the festival. i attended the Sponsor's parade of lights which featured the Star Power 5, a free concert show of Ate Shawie, Katrina Halili and 6CycleMind and the Mini-concert of Brownman Revival, saw the grand fireworks display for the grand ope

ning and of course, partyparty afterwards with Angel, Melvz, Rodette and Jade. yeah! we actually went home at 5 in the morning. haha. cool!

while the festival is continuously being staged with different activities continuously being conducted, MnT were never a stranger to Penaranda Park. even the battery exam did not block the group from spending time and attending interesting activities in Magayon Festival. after every examination, we will go to the park and eat some finger foods and importantly, witness the different activities of Magayon.

lastly, before leaving albay to have my well-deserved vacation in my homecity - Naga. of course, we went out for one last time in Magayon Festival. we rode in the ferris wheel and this time, we were greeted with a fireworks dispay or the "silyab sa magayon" and we witnessed Dianne Necio and Governor Joey Salceda dancing the Rapapa in the what so-called "Rapapa sa Magayon." well, of course, we're there just to see what's happening but then things get turned, a magayon dancer forcibly pulled me to go in front of the stage and join the crowd as they dance the Rapapa not minding my pagmamakaawa and recommendation that they should instead take my friends melvz and angel since they are the ones who are talented in dancing. i'm thinking, it might be because of my looks that made them pulled me first which fortunately was followed melvz and angelo. fortunately again, there was a lack of space so i really did not dance. haha. whoah! what an experience! though i was hesitant at first, i was glad that my last Magayon Festival 2011 day was a blast because of the rapapa experience which i had which by the way was accompanied with pictures i got from the fb account of the official photographers and governor joey himself. just find me in the pictures if you could. haha. yeah! rock on. I'M LOVING MY BIRTH PROVINCE - ITS PEOPLE, ITS PLACES AND EVERYTHING ALBAY! ALBAY MABUHAY!

i need to catch things up... BADLY!

well, its been month or perhaps months since i last posted here and aside from the limited-or-nothing-at-all connection i had in albay, i can also attribute it to that fact that this last few months have been in fact the busiest i have for this academic year if my assessment merits me right. the point is I NEED TO CATCH THINGS UP BADLY! i think i would love to write a couple of movie reviews, experiences sharing because this past months were also in fact months full of adventures, lovelife? sharing (if there is any) and a couple of articles i would love to do. hmm. i think i need to challenge myself with one article a week which would cover anything under the sun. my superego says its a good idea but my id says i need to catch things up first. haha. well, i better start catching things AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

:D