2nd

It's our 2nd month. Happy 2nd month baby! I'm pretty optimistic that more months will come! haha. Love you! :)

Employed!

In a span of two days, the number of valid IDs that I have jumped from one to four. Aside from my Driver's License, i now have my BIR TIN ID, PhilHealth ID and of course my Professional License! wohooo! aside from that, i also now have my SSS number and my very own LandBank account. I  underwent medical check-ups and filled-up many forms as well.

And all that happened because of one very important thing - i'm EMPLOYED! yohooo! I'll be working with and for the DSWD Field Office V and i'm hoping for simply the best of the things to come with a little bit of extra challenge and opportunities to prove my worth as a person and as a professional. As a tribute to my status as a newly employed as a challenge to myself, i decided to change my twitter bio with words that fit my eagerness, excitement and enthusiasm for my job and my practice of profession. ;))))))

Giving :)

Something inspiring for me and maybe for you as well! Hope we'll never grew tired of giving whatever we can to others! :)

Happy Birthday Ruksii Baby! :)

Wow Cubao!

Spent some time in Cubao going around SM Cubao, Gateway Mall and Ali Mall with Ruksii and Pareng MJ. After more or less six (6) hours, we ended up with the items pictured above. That's what we call Shopping Galore! Hahaha. Excited to do that again soon! :)))

Something for you!

ITO AY PARA SAYO! Sa nag-iisang ikaw at wala ng iba! RRR! :)

#iThought

If we fail to get through this today, we'll never succeed in getting through this in the future.

#Save651

I must admit that during the first time i heard about the project of DPWH about transforming the current two-lane maharlika highway to a four-lane highway, my ears clapped and my heart was filled with joy. Come to think of it, widened highways aside from booming infrastructure are somehow indicators of progress. But when things started sinking into me, i started feeling ambivalent towards it because of the immaterial and irreparable costs that it would give cause to the Nagueños.

After thinking things out, i decided that my conscience will haunt me if i say to the world that i would want things like this to happen. Besides, i really do not like the idea of cutting trees (i remember i once wrote an article about the cutting of trees in BU to paved way for the construction of the gate that is still closed up to now despite being completed some three years ago). Moreso, 651 good old tress will be cut and it's very much, too much. I just don't know but i find it not worth it to cut the trees just to have widened roads if there are alternatives. Alternatives that are not far from reality.

So to sum things up, i am one with the people of the city in saying #Save651.

PS. I am not against the project, i am against the cutting of trees. :)

photo courtesy of #Save651 FB page.

A Fresh Start

After hours of searching, selecting, editing, finalizing and many other processes, I now have my new and enhanced blogsite. By the way, i decided to transform this blog as a photoblog. Soon posts will be posted. :))))

Cheers! :)

I dreamed of reaching the top and i failed. Not only did i dreamed but i also gave my best shot but my efforts were somehow futile. I was disappointed with myself and i have no one and nothing to blame except myself. I was scared about what other people might say. About their expectations that i failed to meet and about what they will be saying. That was my initial reaction.

But now, i'm over it. I accepted things as they were and as they are. Perhaps there's something greater that is waiting to be realized. The horizon is wide and far ranging and instead of flooding myself with disappointment, fear and ill-feelings, there are countless reasons why i need to celebrate what had happened like the fact that BUCSSP remains as the Top Performing School of Social Work in the Philippines and of course, the fact that almost all of my friends (of course including me) passed. 

So sa lahat ng nagturo, gumabay, umagapay, dumamay, tumulong, nagmahal, nagpasaya, nagpangiti, nagbigay ng inspirasyon, naghatid ng motibasyon, umasa, nagdasal, nagpamisa, nagpakain, nagtweet, nagmessage, bumati, nakiramay, nakibahagi at nagpugay sa akin -- SALAMAT at SALAMAT ng marami!

With love na may halong pagmamahal,

Russ Daniel Oliva Baldoza, RSW

#mntXMAS

we conducted our group's Christmas party last December 16 and it was a blast! reminiscing the parties we had since first year, i decided to 'combine' it and presto, the Mababangis Christmas Celebration through the years! MERRY CHRISTMAS MNT!

my 2011 Christmas Wishlist

Christmas is fast approaching. it's actually just less than a month before the celebration of the birth of Jesus. personally, isa ang pasko sa mga bagay na pinakahihintay ko. masaya, makulay, kumukutikutitap ang mga ilaw, people on a Christmas rush, Christmas songs, priceless smiles and happiness of the people around, cold air at napakarami pang mga bagay na kahit anong liit ay sapat ng rason para maging maligaya.

at dahil pasko, i deem it timely to produce my 2011 Christmas Wishlist. baka may makabasa at magdecide na i-fulfill kahit isa lang. i'll be presenting it in no particular order or preference basta nasa lista gusto ko! haha. walang kokontra. gawa ka din ng wishlist mo besides hindi masama magwish. also, this includes some unrealistic things pero yun na yun. haha. let's start!

NUMBER ONE: BAG or BACK PACK preferrably

matagal-tagal na rin akong hindi nakaka-experience ng back pack of my own. gusto ko lang matry ulit pero wag lang yung masyadong malaki pero wag din namang masyadong maliit. mas maganda kung kasya ang laptop. haha.

NUMBER TWO: CELLPHONE

my current cellphone which happens to be a china phone is now three years old. way beyond the normal "life expectancy" of a china phone which is one year. mama said she will buy me a new cellphone and i am excited over that fact. however, perhaps it is still unrealistic for the moment given our current financial situation. anyway, gusto ko pa rin. i don't care kung anong brand pero mas feel ko ang nokia or samsung wag lang china phone. :)

NUMBER THREE: HANKY LOTS OF HANKIES

i am a person who is uncomfortable without having a handkerchief with me. i guess my explanation is enough. haha.

NUMBER FOUR: TUMBLER

para mas makatipid na ako ng pera dahil hindi ko na kelangan bumili ng mineral water everday. instead, hihingi na lang ako sa department. haha. :)

NUMBER FIVE: UNDERWEARS

i'm not being scandalous here and i think there is nothing wrong having underwear in my wishlist. eh may mga pangyayaring hindi inaasahan and besides magtotour kami this summer for 11 days at walang labahan. share lang. :)

NUMBER SIX: MALETA

isang maletang kasing laki ng picture on the right would do. haha. pang-adik lang. pero pwede rin naman ang maleta in anticipation for our summer tour as part of the curriculum and for my future travels as well

NUMBER SEVEN: TEEs

gusto ko din ng bagong t-shirts or anything that i could wear. size: medium or large depending on the brand. :)

NUMBER EIGHT: TEAM MANILA WALLET or

ANY KIND OF WALLET


i'm dedicating this item for lekks. haha. anyway, i will also appreciate wallet (not necessarily that of team manila. kay alekks lang yun). pero mas appreciated kung may laman. :p

NUMBER NINE: SAPATOS (vans, toms or kahit rubber shoes)


sapatos, eto ata ang isang bagay na mahirap hanapin para sa akin. marami akong gustong bilihing sapatos noon pa. ang problema, walang kasya sa paa ko. gusto ko ito! sapatos! sapatos! sapatos!

NUMBER TEN: DSLR CAMERA


isa sa mga pangarap ko at isa din sa mga unrealistic things that i included here. haha. share lang. :)

LASTLY,

ANYTHING FROM THE HEART ♥

personally, kino-consider ko ang sarili ko bilang isang taong hindi maarte pagdating sa mga regalo. i mean, anything na magagamit basta binuhusan ng effort, oras at panahon, at anything na galing sa puso ng nagbigay ay maaappreciate ko. hindi ko man maipakita ang appreciation towards sa taong yun dahil hindi ko alam kung paano magrereact eh appreciated ko. Christmas is the time of sharing and gift-giving and i believe it's not the time to demand things from other people. i created this list not to demand from people who is considering giving a gift to me but to give them a clue as to what i prefer. but let me reiterate it again, i appreciate anything from anyone basta galing sa puso. :p

siyanasiBUDOY

haha. madali akong kausap. :)

second semester worries

the second semester for this academic year is dawning. new set of classmates, new professor, new and harder course or subjects to attend to, same old notebooks, new schedule that i personally don't like so far and i guess a different me. i don't know but i guess i should step up my game in academics thinking that mama personally said that she wants me to graduate with a laude honors. sabi ko, ayos lang yan ma miski mayo basta maggraduate but she insisted. i said i am worrying because i think my grades for the first semester are low and thus, i will not be eligible for academic scholarship. worse, if i have a grade below 2.4, my and my mother's laude dreams will be forever gone. personally, i told myself that whatever happens, it's okay with me. pero ibang kaso kasi kung nagsabi na ang magulang mo na sa graduation day mo ay may laude honors ka. this is the first time my parents demanded such things. noon wala naman, saan at anong kaya namin, okay na sila. things change nga naman talaga. rock on! pero ang sa akin, i'll do my best that's to achieve a laude honor. pero ngayon pa lang ay tanggap ko na kung wala. pero habang may pag-asa pa, the flame of optimism still burns inside me.

moreover, with the advent of the second semester, i'm preparing myself for lonesome times. i mean, having breakfast and lunch alone which though i personally dislike, the new schedule and the situation will compel me to do so. inaasahan ko na ang mga oras ng kalungkutan lalo na at hindi ko kaklase ang mga kaibigan kong madalas kong kasama. pero classmate ko ngayon sina angelo and melvz. we were supposedly the los lakwatchero brothers because of what we did last summer (if my memory serves me right) which was to have movie marathon, and lakwatcha of course! pero things changed. hindi man nila alam or hindi man nila napapansin, i feel aloof when i'm with them. ni hindi ako minsan nakakasakay sa kanila dahil may mga bagay na alam nilang dalawa na hindi ko alam. tipong, magkasama nga kami pero parang hindi rin. perhaps, masyado lang silang nagcclick at napag-iwanan ako. haha. actually, i would have wanted to ask angelo kung bakit hindi na kami ganun ka-close ngayon kumpara nung dati pero i don't have the guts and i can't find the right timing. aaminin ko, nalungkot ako at first pero natanggap ko na. ewan. wala na akong masabi. yun lang naman ang naisip ko ngayon. ACCEPTANCE and good thing that hindi ako yung taong sinisiksik ang sarili. haha.

moving on, what i am actually worried about this new semester is the prospect of me having many lonesome times. yun lang naman. pero still just like what i had mentioned a while ago, i am still optimistic that there are ways to reduce that lonesome times of mine. tingnan natin. maaga pa para magsalita ng tapos. GOOD LUCK FOR ME THIS SECOND SEMESTER! >.<

realization 2

because of a 10 minute call last night,

GUMAAN ANG PAKIRAMDAM KO. YUNG TIPONG PARANG MAAYOS NA ANG LAHAT SA KABILA NG MGA NANGYARI. I THINK, IT'S A GOOD AND VERY CONCRETE JUSTIFICATION THAT I'VE MOVED ON ALREADY. ACTUALLY, MALAYONG-MALAYONG-MALAYO NA TALAGA ANG NALAKBAY KO. HAHA. WALA LANG. NAKAKATUWA LANG.

>.<

realization 1

I JUST REALIZED THAT HAVING A CONVERSATION THROUGH CELLPHONE ANNOYS ME YET, PAG-IKAW ANG KAUSAP KO NAKAKAYA KO.

>.<

first time

this is the first time that we will not be going to Polangui as family to celebrate undas due partly to the fact that mama and papa need some time to rest for they are fresh from Manila because of Dan's continuing chemotherapy sessions. so, ate dianne and i were the emissaries or representatives of mama and papa for our annual undas visit in polangui wherein we got the chance to visit the tomb of my late grandfather and uncle as well. also, it was the perfect time to have some kind of reunion with our relatives, makipaglaro sa mga nakababatang pinsan at makipagkwentuhan naman sa mga ka-edad. nag-enjoy ata kami that's why we decided to deviate from the plan to just go home at the evening of october 31. instead, we spent the night there with our relatives and went home the day after. walang dalang extrang damit, charger, walang-wala kundi mga sarili lang namin. ngapala, we were with uncle aron and baby jandi.


at this juncture, the first time thing will be inserted. magsisinungaling ako kung magsasabi akong hindi ako umiinom or hindi pa ako nakainom dahil ang totoo ay ilang beses na rin akong uminom kasama ang mga kaibigan pero maniwala ka kung sasabihin kong hindi pa ako nalasing simula ng first time kong pag-inom. promise! well, if ilang beses na akong uminom ng kasama ang mga kaibigan eh never pa yung kasama ang kamag-anak not until october 31 when uncle aron invited me together with my other cousins to drink. actually, tinatanong ako kung ano daw ang gusto kong inumin. sabi ko sila na bahala dahil nakakahiya magdemand. mas nakakahiya pa at TI lang ata ang gusto kong inumin. masarap pero may kamahalan. red horse ang binili nila. kahit ayaw ko ng beer ay lumaban ako. una, nakakahiyang umayaw pagkatapos kong pumayag na sasali ako sa kanila. inubos namin ang gabi ng pag-iinom. all-in-all, tatlo at kalahati lang kaming uminom (kalahati dahil umalis si george na pinsan ko at nakiinom sa labas) ng limang bote ng litro (kung litro man yun) ng red horse. good thing, naka-survive ako pero natamaan ako dun pero hindi nalasing. ewan, feeling ko madaya lang talaga akong kainuman or sadyang mataas ang alcohol tolerance ng katawan ko. haha. kung gayon man eh, good for me. kaya pagkatapos ng drinking spree ay naghanap na ako ng tulugan at natulog. may tama eh. buti na lang paggising ko, walang sakit ng ulo, normal ang buhay ko. good for me ulit! wohoooo! haha.


at pinuntahan na namin ang sementeryo, nagsindi ng kandila habang umuulan,nag-ayos ng bulaklak para kay papa doro at tito jun, nag-alay ng dasal at umalis sa pangambang abutan pa ng malakas na ulan. umuwi ng bahay nila lola, pinuntahan si lola sa trabaho at umuwi na papuntang naga. ako dapat magddrive pero hindi ko dala ang lisensya ko. bad thing! haha. anyway, nag-enjoy naman ako sa first time ko. :D

resignation

if you have the patience to read my past blog posts, perhaps you know what blue feather society is and that i am the chancellor of the prestigious honor society in BU. things change now because i choose what i think i should do and what i think is right.

Supposedly, i will post this after being signed and approved by Dr. Lauraya but due to the usual process in the bureaucracy (i think), the president has yet to sign my resignation letter. Considering that it will be almost a month now after i formally submitted the letter, it would be good that everyone would know.

I hope you'll find time in reading my resignation letter, as to give light on why i choose to resign irrevocably. It is a pleasure working with you as your former chancellor and rest assured that i will always be in support for the officers and its society. Good day!

****************************************************************************

THE ORDER OF THE BICOL UNIVERSITY ORDER OF THE BLUE FEATHER SOCIETY
The Official Honor Society of Bicol University
Daraga, Albay

05 September 2011

Dr. FAY LEA PATRIA MATA – LAURAYA

Adviser, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

SUC President IV, Bicol University

                            Through: Dr. BABY BOY BENJAMIN D. NEBRES III 

                                           Asst. Adviser, The Order of the BU Blue Feather Society

                                           University Scholarship, Financial and Grants-in-Aid Officer

Dear Dr. LAURAYA:

Greetings of Peace and Prosperity!

It is on March 2011 that the first cornerstone of the first honor society in Bicol University was laid on the ground through the First Scholars’ Assembly organized by the Office of Student Services through Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres III, gathering the top students of the different academic units of the university to select the would be interim officers of The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society, the first honor society in the university and perhaps in the entire Bicol Region.  With pride and honor, I accepted the challenge to become the first president of the Society with the first mission of establishing a strong foundation for the Society as I am proud that together with my fellow interim officers, we have achieved what was expected of us through framing the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society.

After four months, the Second Scholars’ Assembly was called to adopt the Constitution and By-Laws prepared by the interim officers and to elect full pledged officers who shall lead the organization in forming its identity and attaining its vision of promoting excellence in scholarship, leadership, character and service in the entire university. Again, with pride and honor, I accepted the challenge to become the first-ever Chancellor of the Society.

Since my election to the office, I have yet to prove my worth and my capability in leading this prestigious organization to greater heights and making the BUeños proud and aware of its existence. Sadly and truthfully, I must accept the fact that I am failing myself, the Society’s members and I am failing the Society as a whole. It is as if it was caught on a standstill with just papers and officers to prove its existence, nothing more, nothing less. I must accept the fact that while I am proving myself in my department and the college as the president of the Human Welfare Advocates in BUCSSP, I am failing in the university as the chancellor of the Society.  Perhaps in simpler term, I must admit my incompetence as the chancellor of the Society.

In this regard, I am submitting my irrevocable resignation as the chancellor of The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society: The Official Honor Society in Bicol University effective immediately due to the following reasons, to wit:

1. Incompetence to perform the duties expected of me as indicated above;
2. Conflict with some of the values that the Society wish to impart;
3. Desire to focus more on my studies and my extra-curricular commitments to my college and department; and
4. Personal reasons related to family which I do not wish to disclose.

Moreover, I would like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres III, the Society assistant adviser who unselfishly offered his time, ideas and efforts in organizing and guiding the Society, to the officers and members of the Order of the Bicol University Order of the Blue Feather Society who placed their trust to me since the First Scholars’ Assembly up to this day. I would also like to wish Mark Evan Aniel, the Society Vice-Chancellor for Internal Affairs, my constitutional and rightful successor all the best and that he may be able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities that I failed to meet and so as with all the officers of the Society. Rest assured that I will be supporting the Society one hundred percent in attaining its vision, mission and the purpose why it was founded.

Furthermore, before I end this resignation letter, I wish to convey three recommendations to the officers and to the administration as well on how the Society can be improved:

1. First, given the special nature of the organization as the official honor society of the university, it shall be accorded the same privileges given to the University Student Council as the Official Student Organization and Council of the whole of the university, The Bicol Universitarian as the Official University Publication and should not be simply regarded as just another university based organization left to stand on its own. Unlike other UBOs who get support outside the university, the Society must be supported by the university itself considering that the Society speaks of the best of Bicol University. For instance, financially, without the aid of the university, the Society can do less to become financially viable to create programs and projects especially that its members are academic scholars who perhaps worked hard for them to pay less tuition fee;
2. Second, political patronage must not be promoted in the Society by not allowing the nominations and eventual granting of honorary, emeritus and distinguished membership to politicians as a way to secure funds or funding. By doing so, the Society is sending the wrong message to the good breed of future leaders that Bicol University wish to produce; and,
3. Create and organize programs, with the aid of the University Administration who can encourage more BUeños to aspire to become a member of the Society and to do all things necessary to discourage the division that the Society could promote given that its members are branded as the crème de la crème of the university.

Again, my utmost gratitude and appreciation for this opportunity and my fervent wish for the Society’s success under a new leadership.

I am hoping for your favorable response regarding this matter and God bless!

Sincerely yours,

(SGD) RUSS DANIEL O. BALDOZA

Chancellor, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

Recommending Approval:

(SGD) Dr. BABY BOY BENJAMIN D. NEBRES III

Assistant Adviser, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

University Scholarship, Financial and Grants-in-Aid Officer

Approved:

Dr. FAY LEA PATRIA MATA – LAURAYA

Adviser, The Order of the Bicol University Blue Feather Society

SUC President IV, Bicol University

***i originally posted this in the facebook group page of BFS and there are some who leave their comments and some did...

while a member from BUPC chose to write on my wall... 

and these people make resignations regrettable. i owe them some appreciation but i must stand by my decision. ADIOS BLUE FEATHERS! i started with a happy heart and i leave with a heavy heart but with a smiling face looking in the future. wish them all the luck!

photographic dream

PHOTOGRAPHY
picture paints a thousand words

i always believe that picture paints a thousand words that's why i would want to become a photographer someday or let me just say it, i have with me my photographic dream. haha. so from photography 101 session we had after dinner at jollibee albay which i also blogged about, this time, we're out in the field to take pictures on different subjects and these are the pictures i taken. comment ko sa sarili ko, not bad for an amateur though i know that there's more to improve.  :)

oktoberfest!

HELLO OCTOBER! :)

starting october (perhaps the busiest month for the first semester of AY 2011-2012)

with optimism and joy! KAYA TO!