A Rainy New Year's Eve

Oh yes, just a few hours from now before we bid adios to 2008 and officially welcome the new year! Hell yeah! This has been a wonderful year since a lot of memoraable things happened to me (e.g., I had my first job and I started blogging!). And what makes this year even more memorable is that we probably will have to celebrate the turn of the year with umbrellas on our heads. It's been friggin' raining since this morning! No wonder I wasn't woken up by the sound of our neighbor's firecrackers like the usual. But as of this moment, I can see a faint glow of sunlight breaking outside. Seems like my friends' 'Sun Dance' is working perfectly. Keep it up guys!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

'Takipsilim': The Pinoy Version of 'Twilight'

To all Filipino Twilight fans out there. Did you know that there are rumors circulating around the Web about a Pinoy version of this frenzied novel? Seriously. According to my cousin, ABS-CBN was able to buy a franchise of it for a whopping US $ 1 million and the working title is, well, 'Takipsilim'. So creative! Duh. And guess what, Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz will star as the lead casts. Kill me now, PLEASE!

So after the Filipino-translated Rihanna hit songs comes this awful idea of having a Filipino version of 'Twilight'. Good luck with that.

But if you want to express your rage about the idea, you are very much welcome to visit this link http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/say-no-to-twilight-filipino-version and make a petition!

Spread the word, guys! Stop this effin' madness NOW!

Here's a mock cover fans made for this silly bullcrap. Funny. Haha.

Twilight: Remix

Wow. It's been a long time since I sat on a swivel chair and poised my fingers on a keyboard. I've been soooo preoccupied lately with tons of school works especially rehearsing for our department's annual event called 'Bombshell of Talents' (pretty lame, huh?).

It's actually our section's first time to join the said event so we try to make it as flamboyant as possible. So incorporating all the talents that we have, our section decided to make a spoof of the ever-so-popular Twilight and named it, yes, it's on title, Twilight:Remix. And who else should play the role of Edward Pollen but yours truly, the one who brought the whole Twilight craze in school. Sucks. I'm really not a good actor on stage. Usually I'm the one who's behind the stage, either a script writer or a director. But I guess I now have to prepare myself to be thrown tomatoes on the face. Sigh. Anyway, it's really not that hard since my Isabella Kwan would be my close friend, Angelica. In school, we're like the co-ed Jose and Wally, so we'll just try our best to make this farce an even farcical one.

Wish me luck, guys!

And the Race is Down to Three

Oh, what a heartbreak loss! Just when everybody predicted who will be the top three teams to race for the million came an unexpected setback from the mother-and-son tandem of Toni and Dallas. Cruel. They're actually my favorite team this season; such a humble pair. But good stuff doesn't always go along good people. Oh, well.

Now we're left with three of the most irritating teams: Nick and Starr; Dan and Andrew and; Ken and Tina. They're such a pain in the ass especially the exceedingly self-righteous Tina. This is such a weak season.

So who do you think will win the race? I hope it's not Nick and Starr. I don't know. I just don't like their tandem. Dan and Andrew? Uhm... Well, right now, I'm actually rooting for Ken and Tina, no matter how irritating the woman is. I just don't like Nick and Starr, that is.

Movie Review: Twilight

So it was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The question now is: Is Twilight really worth the wait?

I've been reading the series for so long now so I'll try not to let any cloud of infatuation for the book cloud my judgments. First, the main disappointment in the movie is its lack of technical efficiency. The camera angles and movements were poor, snappy and shaky. The flashback scenes were horrible; very "TV quality". The special effects were not so special as well. It was so obviously low-budgeted I almost felt like I'm watching an indie flick.

Since this is just an adaptation, I expected a lot of "should be" moments. I just felt like the movie was too...rushed. Fast paced. I mean, the book was I think fast-paced itself but it appeared much faster when translated into film. Some scenes were not well-emphasized (especially in the earlier parts).

On the plus side, I don't think the movie was that disastrous. There were also scenes that I enjoyed so much, like how the Bella-Edward moments were developed. The modified scenes were not that off as well. I would be a lot harder if they strictly followed what's on the book and I guess the alternative scenes fit better.

Again, like what I've said in the last 2 Harry Potter films, you will fully appreciate the movie unless you read the book first. My friend May, who had not read a single line from the book at all loved the film so I guess it's not that bad for Twilight virgins. Or was she just too mesmerized by Robert Pattinson? LOL

If there's one thing that's redeeming about the film is when they played Leave Out All the Rest during the credits. Seriously love that song. And guess that made it all OK.

My final rating: 3.75 out of 5.

The Biggest Joke in the World

I’m a big fan of funny reads. From joke books to comic strips to humorous satires…everything that stimulates my funny bone. You name it, I’ve probably read it. Little did I know that the biggest joke of all will be featured on TV. And guess what, I found it on the news.

So I was watching the night news when I almost fell off my seat because of a particular headline. It read: 5-ANYOS NA BATANG NAIWAN SA TAXI, IDINULOG NG DRIVER SA GMA NEWS! Kewl. LOL

Now seriously, what are he chances that you’ll leave a sleeping child at the back of a taxi? My, were the people the child was with that tired. And can someone please explain this to me: Does the cab driver really have to bring the child to a TV station? Surely he’s not another case of temporary amnesia to forget that easily where he dropped his last passengers. So what for? A good 15 seconds of fame? To proclaim to the world about his good deed?

Welcome to the World of Absurdity.

Name Game

It’s been two years now since I last visited our departed loved ones. Aside from idleness, it’s probably because I like the idea of scaring myself out of my wits because I know I’ll be one of the few who will remain at home. Wonder why my parents tolerated this. He-he.

I do remember still, aside from scavenging semi-melted candle waxes and forming them into balls, one favorite activity my cousins and I usually do is rummaging through the entire cemetery, searching for the most ridiculous names there are.

It’s funny, looking back at those memories, but then again, I find myself guilt-stricken. I couldn’t believe I could make fun of people (dead people) because of the peculiarity of their names. Shame on me!

Perhaps the reason why I’ve acted like that is because, modesty aside, our family was blessed with a fine surname: Orleans (that’s French, btw he-he) But you know what’s funny? I’ve realized as I was writing that my family name is no less than unusual than the ones I make fun of. Search for it in the phone book and you will only find a handful.

Having a surname like ours (though not laughter provoking) also has its own downsides. One very common instance is when people moronically ask me whether I’ve got foreign roots or something. Duh. Do I look like I do? I don’t even have the fair skin to match. Half- Indian siguro pwede pa. besides, none of my family members knew where the hell we got that surname. LOL

Well, it just shows that, whenever you’re blessed with something, be it material things, looks or even a name, it is still best to keep your mouth shut.

Shirts of Pride

I've been really wanting to buy either a 3 Stars &a Sun or a Team Manila t-shirt for months now but I guess I have to sacrifice a little bit more since I definitely need a serious prioritizing of my expenditures. For those who don't know, those two brands I've mentioned are the 'in' thing right now for they produce shirts and other clothing items whose designs showcase the national emblems of the Philippines and everything that is Pinoy.

It's very amusing and undoubtedly uplifting seeing youngsters like me sporting these patriotic shirts. It's like showing to the whole world how proud you are of your own race; that being a Filipino is something to be grateful of.

I just hope that it goes beyond being just a fad. I hope that every Filipino who wears these clothes live up to what their shirts say. I hope that nationalism doesn't end in fashion, but with passion. The kind of passion that will eventually lead to the transformation of the society where we all exist.

"I am a [Filipino]. I am a HERO."

Into The Twilight

I hate to admit it, but I am one of those who had never, as in NEVER, went trick-or-treating before. Apparently, it's rarely practiced her in the Philippines, except in some elite subdivisions but since I only dwell in a small, serene village, I bod goodbye to the thought a long time ago.

And because I'm quite old to engage in such (if there'll be a chance), I think I'll just settle for another favorite Halloween activity: Halloween parties!

I do admit, though that I am a virgin as well when it comes to Halloween parties. One reason is that, yep, it's seldom performed by typical Filipinos and second, modern Halloween parties are frequently held in bars and other 'nocturnal' establishments, making it more impossible for me to attend one. But my hopes are still high. Probably after graduation, I, together with some friends, would finally be able to wear our most splendid costumes and party the night away! Woohoo!

And speaking of costumes, I already have a fixed image of what I'm going to look like at the event: Edward Cullen of Twilight.

Alright! Alright! I know many ladies would react violently to this and I'm sure it would be a tall order for me. Edward's too perfect anyway so I'll just settle for Dracula then. LOL.

Good Ol' Days

A few days from now our high school batch will be celebrating it's second grand reunion (Yep, that's how badly we miss each other.). Sadly (and quite despairingly), I won't be able to attend the event due to some friggin' school agendas. Besides, the reunion will be held in a bar and hell no do I drink. Also, most of my close friends can't go as well; can't risk being out-of-place in a sea of hard partying people. It's still sad, though. Big time. I really miss those guys. We shared a lot of memories (good and bad) with each other and I can just imagine the overflowing nostalgia and...joy as we relive those memories together. :(

Fast forward to 2021. So what would it be like 15 years after graduation? Probably most of us have a stable job and have established a family by then. Some might even be comfortably enjoying their position as a high-ranking official in a prestigious company (I'm probably one of them. LOL.). Maybe our reunion will now be held in a grand hotel with us wearing ties and gowns. That only means we have to excel and be well-established for us to attend the event. Because by that time, the reunion is not intended to celebrate but to intimidate. Sad.

I hope that won't happen to us.

Baby Talks

So it was a boring Thursday night and I was scanning thru the channels of my newly fixed TV (Yey!) when I came across probably one of the most interesting episodes of Oprah. It was one of those replayed episodes shown on local TV here in the Philippines (I think it was originally aired November of last year). It features four incredible stories about life and science but what fascinated me most was their cover about this 'special baby language'.

The invited guest was Priscilla Dunstan, a woman who claims to have been blessed with a 'photographic memory' for sounds which she eventually used to develop her theory on baby language; that these angelic little creatures actually produce different sounds to relay various messages to people. Interesting.

My interest even went maximum when she discussed about the five general sounds that babies produce: the 'neh' sound which refers to hunger; the 'owh' sound which they make when they're tired and sleepy; the 'heh' sound which signals discomfort; the 'eair' sound for lower gas, &; the the 'eh' sound when they want to say, 'I wanna burp, Mom!'. They even showed super adorable babies making those actual sounds! I was soooo..amazed (it's an understatement)! My jaws were left hanging till the end of the entire segment. It was so unbelievable...but true.

I seriously want a baby now! LOL.

Cheesy

Last Sunday, I was able to catch a few parts of a special presentation of the wedding ceremoniesof two celebrities here. I don't know how to put it but I seriously felt so..inspired by the young couple. It's really weird for I got so absorbed imagining myself to be on that very special day, wearing a nice, well-cut suit, waiting for the most beautiful girl as we walks down the aisle and professing our love for each other. I don't know if it's normal for guys like me to feel like this, but I simply couldn't help myself (I'm actually having second thoughts till now whether I'm going to post this or not). It's really cheesy, you know. But it's the kind of cheesiness that makes me smile incessantly and blush so wildly. LOL.

The on;y problem is: will she be willing to exchange vows with me? Instantly I realized, love is not always about red roses and happy endings.

Gosh. I said I hate emos.

Losing a Bestfriend

I went home today elated because it’s the last day of the semester only to find out one of the biggest upsets of my life: my TV broke down. I felt I could’ve died.

I know that it would happen anytime soon for it felt like it’s been suffering on its deathbed for weeks now. What I didn’t expect that it would happen this soon. I was just watching my favorite show last night but when I went up my room today, I couldn’t turn it on! Poor buddy, I should’ve brought you to our friendly technician the moment your symptoms appeared. I’m sorry.

I was totally devastated. It seemed like my whole world crumbled right before my very eyes. I didn’t realize till then how much of a couch potato I am. It felt like my life depended (almost) on my TV. My best techno buddy.

The good news is, he will be reincarnated by tomorrow. Good luck. See you soon, bud.

An Open Letter to the Devil's Advocate

So it's Goodbye now for us. Finally.

I cannot say that time flies fast 'coz each class we have with you was dragging, every bit of second spent (wasted?) was sacrifice. Every time you enter the room you out us all in a defensive mode, anticipating the shrapnel-like tirades about our awful 'mistakes'. Mistakes that you just made all up. And if we ever have one, it's the only thing that you'd see.

Instead of providing us the essentials, you shower us your 'destructive criticisms', which will all boil down to one thing -- WE LEARN NOTHING. Heck, as if you teach us something.

You are the mother of ironies. You regard yourself as a mentor yet you don't understand how we, students feel. You talk about Psychology yet you act as if you haven't got a speck of idea of how our minds work. So didn't learn anything now?

It's sad. 'Coz I give teachers (though you seriously don't deserve to be called such) my deepest admiration but knowing someone like you? I think i'll have a second thought in generalizing.

You are nothing. You impulsive, self-indulgent hag.

The Best Stress Reliever

Being a typical college student, it’s inevitable for me to be put under a lot of stress (especially during the last weeks of the term!). So, trying hard to avoid it, I tried every possible way that I know to do so: exercising in between breaks, listening to Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli all day, doing my own style of yoga. They help up to some extent. But just yesterday, amidst the pile of paper works scheduled to be finished, I, inadvertently, discovered the best stress reliever of all -- texting.

Ah yes, texting. The Philippines in fact has been dubbed as the texting capital of the world due to the millions of text messages being sent everyday. Many thanks to the Unlimited text service of local Telecom companies, all you need is at least 20 bucks worth of load and you’re off to send countless messages to anyone around the country.

However, I am not one of those who are so into this texting thing. I usually avail the Unlimited service once a week, typically when I have nothing else to do, very unlikely to many who avail it almost everyday. So it was quite surprising (for me and for my friends) that I was able to find time to reload in the middle of cramming. But what surprised me more is how I was able to find respite in this supposedly tedious and callusing effort. It became my instant Stresstabs. Just perfect.

But it is not texting per se that truly brings comfort, it’s merely a tool. What does the magic is COMMUNICATION. It brings this certain feeling that embraces you when you finally siphoned off all the demons rumbling inside you and knowing that there are persons ready to listen about your rants and frustrations about the world. When all the world is pressing you, it is gratifying to know that there’s someone who is willing to carry the burden with you.

O,h I love my friends! Even though they stress my fingers.

Stressed Out

Ah, the hell weeks are back again. It's just a week to go before the end of the term but here we are still cramming and trying to accomplish a mountain pile of requirements.

For this week we've got a pre-final examination covering ALL of the topics that we've (or should have) learned, a research paper and a written report to submit. And adding to my burden are my *oh I don't wanna curse* group mates who are so cooperative that they could've just given me all the workload. And oh, I almost forgot, I still have to finish my Humanities notebook 'coz that's a big part of my final grade. Gosh, does our professor think he teaches high school students?

And of course, next week will be the time that I dread most. It's actually the most ironic week of all. At first, a feeling of excitement and relief will burgeon you 'coz obviously, it's the remaining days of the whole semester. But heck, imagine your last week jam-packed with 4 major examinations, 2 additional reports and another written report. How I envy the worms. I could've just died.

I've always believed that I have mastered the art of cramming back in high school (our batch had the reputation of cramming over almost everything). But I seriously got myself wron. College is a lot more seriuos business.

I badly need inspiration right now. Seriously.

The New Meaning of Blue

Blue no longer relates to sadness and depression anymore as the Ateneo Blue Eagles are soaring high with immaculate exaltation after lording over their arch rival the De La Salle Green Archers yesterday and eventually snatching the 2008 UAAP Men's Basketball Championship, a title that has eluded them for six years.

I know, I know, this is so yesterday, but can you blame me? I really can't get over the euphoria that was yesterday. I've been an Ateneo fan ever since I can remember -- watching their every game, regaling wiht their triumphs, weaping over their most painful defeats. I even took their rivalry with La Salle by heart, if you may ask (haha). This feat seriously means a lot for me as well.

GO ATENEO!

OK Archers, you can turn green with envy right now. Haha.

Frustrated

I hate it! Why, of all the episodes of UAAP, does today;'s match the one I have to miss? It's Game 2 of the finals , for crying out loud! And it's not just an ordinary finals, coz if it is, I wouldn't react this way. It's an Ateneo-La Salle finale! C'mon. it's like the greatest rivlary in Philippine sports history. It's the biggest sporting event of the year, next to the Olympics! I'm totally devastated right now. Screw this Chemistry Departmental exam!

But for now, I’ll just keep my fingers (and toes) crossed. GO ATENEO! ONE BIG FIGHT!

I Hate Emos!

Before I thought the saddest part of one's birthday is when you celebrate it on your own. But I realized, it's actually when all the world seems to remember it but alll the while, only one person is enough to make that day truly special. And that person didn't even bother.

Gosh, this is soooo emo..

A Very Happy(?) Birthday

Just a few hours ago I turned 19. Yes, it's my birthday. So what's the big deal? I'm 19! For heaven's sake.

Well, there's nothing totally wrong 'bout being 19. Actually, I can still imagine myself almost jumping out of excitement for my 18th birthday last year 'coz finally, I can do those things normal 17-year-olds and below cannot (e.g., voting). But now, knowing that I only have one year left before I say bye-bye to my teenage life, I can't help but dread this day. I don't know if you guys also feel or have felt like this before, but being called a twentysomething? sounds very ancient to me.

But on second thought, better be old than dead, right? I'll just accept the fact that people grow old. And of course, with age comes maturity, Sometimes.

Hmmm. I wonder what flavor of cake will I eat tonight. Yum-yum!

Intrigue, Drama and Romance in Survivor Philippines

Here is some of my views vis-à-vis the first week of Survivor Philippines:

As expected, a lot of changes in episode patterns were seen, focusing more on the castaways and the life and issues revolving around the tribes. On the first day alone, bonds were formed, real attitudes were shown and characters were tested. So much drama and so much emotion prevail.

One surprising highlight in the series is the early – as in EARLY – re-shuffling of the tribes. It happened on the third day, just before the Immunity Challenge kicked off. Old alliances were immediately broken and new posses were hastily yet carefully formed. And what’s even more surprising is that after the tribe switching, fresh romance instantly blossomed. Talk about active hormones.

But you know what made this franchise even more unique? It’s where the castaways base their votes on. It’s very noticeable even in other reality shows here. Instead of voting off the person whom they feel threatened of or whom they consider as the weakest link, people base their votes predominantly on two things: looks and social status.

The first one is given. People will always have a strong bias to people whom they are attracted to. The other one is something that really gets my ire.

I don’t know, probably Filipinos are generally sympathetic so they’d rather choose those who belong to the lower ranks of the society than those whom they refer as “already has a future”. For crying out loud, if that’s what’s on their frame of mind, why not ask the producers of these shows to just pick those who belong to the slum areas who are more ‘deserving’. Thankfully, people learn to grasp the real essence of these shows during the latter stages.

My overall rating: EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS.

Superheroes

Everyone knows how miserable life is in the Philippines right now. With the Philippine Peso breaking records in terms of all-time lows, with crime and poverty continuously spreading like wildfire, and with corruption slowly becoming a permanent element of the state, there seems to be o cure for this ailing third world country. No wonder why there are some who seemed to have had enough and decided to search for ‘greener pastures’. Others do that as well, not to stay there for good, but to look for an elusive high-paying job that they cannot grab here. They are the Overseas Filipino Workers or simply OFWs to which we proudly call as ‘mga Bagong Bayani’ (Modern Heroes).

And why not, considering all the sacrifices they made like living in a foreign country and being away from their family, enslaving themselves and ignoring the threats of discrimination and the bitter truth, even death, they truly are worthy of one’s admiration.

There is one major problem, though, and it is something that I think most people (especially the ones involved) fail to see.

Let me first share this to you: One night as I was watching the news, my full attention was suddenly caught by this woman being featured regarding the Peso’s declining value. Apparently, she’s a relative of an OFW she was gleaming at the camera, wearing a smile that reaches her earlobes then she made this devastating remark, “Of course the weak Peso-Dollar exchange rate is such a big advantage for us, for one thing, it will increase the value of my husband’s salary.” I couldn’t believe my ears! Unbelievable. She said it with so much pride and conviction as if money is the only valuable thing for her. The problem is that people would rather let others suffer as long as they continue to live in affluence. This is the root and also the fruit of all this depression – people doesn’t seem to care but them.

The issue now here is not whether you’re in relation to an OFW or not, nor whether you’re a Filipino or a foreign blood. The real issue now here is us – ALL of us. And how we are all accountable for whatever’s happening to the society where we exist.

People, let us be reminded: the roots of real change springs from within us. It is only ourselves who can MAKE it; it can never be brought by one person alone. We cannot continue living in a world of superheroes; there’s no Superman to save us times of despair. Only us. After all, we can all be superheroes in our own rights.

Me? Authority?

What Your Black Umbrella Says About You

When faced with adversity, you respond with authority. You don't let problems faze you. You are naturally powerful and commanding. People look to you to take charge. You are elegant and classy. You know how to always say and do the right thing. While you stand out, you also fit it. You thrive in a variety of situations. On a rainy day: you carry on as normal - a little bad weather isn't going to get in your way!

The Umbrella Test

Survivor Philippines Kicks Off Today

Alas, after years of waiting the Philippines has finally come up with its own version of the US reality show Survivor which will start airing today at GMA 7. I am so overwhelmed with excitement right now for two big reasons: First, I am such a fan of the show. Big time. It's actually the main culprit why I can't seem to control myself from watching each and every reality show that I come across on TV. Talk about addiction. Second, unlike the original and the other franchise series, Survivor Philippines will be shown on a daily basis, which means expect a lot of deviations in terms of its episodes.

Why the change in format? Well, I can only come up with two possibilities. The first one is so that it can adapt to Philippine primetime TV since soap operas and other primetime shows here are being shown daily. The other one is to be able to compete with GMA's rival channel's franchise of another US reality show, Big Brother (though the latest season has already ended a couple of months ago). That's simply where Philippine TV revolves -- competition that is.

I can only assure you one thing. This is going to be one helluva trip.

The Catcher in the Rye

Just finished reading the J.D. Salainger classic The Catcher in te Rye and, not surprisingly, I liked it. Totally. Unlike most of the novels that I’ve read, this one is something that I can most appreciate probably because of the spontaneity of the scenarios and the language. Being ostracized before due to its overwhelming profanity and angst, I find the book, well, inspiring. It’s in fact the most inspiring novel that I’ve read so far, if you may ask. Just forget about proper language usage, or complex plot twists, or even a protagonist to fantasize of, you won’t find those here. Instead, what you will stumble upon is the author’s views and thoughts about the human condition, the society to which one evolves, and the concept of getting up and moving on that would make you stop, think and probably utter, “Hey, that’s right.” The novel was simply put and very genuine which is one thing that I liked most about it.

During the early part of the novel the narrator and protagonist mentioned, “What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up whenever you feel like it.” And truly, Salinger made me feel that way.

Five-peat for FedEx

Yes, he did it again. Roger Federer and his tennis racket once again proved to the world that he's still the best person to play the sport of tennis by smashing number 6 seed Andy Murray in the final of the 2008 US Open with a score of 6-2, 7-5, 6-2.

Not only did he grabbed his fifth US Open title, he also made history for being the first person to catch 5 consecutive titles in two grand slam events (Wimbledon being the other one).

He still hasn't regained the top spot but it's definitely just an inch away.

Way to go FedEx!

To Ana Ivanovic

I know you've been through a lot lately. Being world's number one? Man, that's no joke. All eyes are fixed on you. Criticisms flock here and there, it's the world against you. You against yourself. And I completely understand that.

Yes, let's admit it, though you definitely have the makings of being a top seeded player, let's just say you reached that spot where you are right now by default, with Justine Henin's early retirement and all. So suddenly you're there, to the spot everyone's dying to get. Only quite abrupt. Earlier than expected. And now you're pressured to excel, to do better than everyone else.

But you're just human. You're not perfect. You have flaws. People have to understand that. You have to understand that. So don't feel depressed or anything just because you're not performing well lately. It's not entirely your fault. Anyway, you're still the reigning French Open champion. That's a big leap. Use it to your advantage. Make it inspire you and not weigh you down. And c'mon, you're not even in your best form yet. Just imagine what you can do if you're in top shape. Jankovic and the rest must be shaking right now.

Remember this: You are great. And nobody can make you believe otherwise except you.

P.S.

This also goes to the great Roger Federer. I know you've had a pretty rough year as well. But I guess nobody would dare disagree if I say that you are still by far the greatest person to ever – ever-- hold a racket. Show that butt-tugging Spaniard what he deserves. Way to go for both of you!

First Day of Christmas

Today's September 1. There's nothing so significant about this date except that for us Filipinos it's officially the start of Christmas!

Oh yes, it's the 'Ber' months once again. I haven't even gotten over last year's celebration and here we go again preparing to give gifts to our dear ones (save for those compulsory 'exchange gift' ceremonies in school or at work). Oh well, Christmas has always been my favorite season of all. I don't know, I just love the peaceful and engaging vibe it carries whenever it arrives. As if there are no problems in the world, like we didn't suck at the Olympics or as if there hasn't been any turmoil in Mindanao.

But times do change, though. During these past few years, I've noticed that the celebrations intended to remember Christ's natal day had slightly decreased in 'intensity' (here in our neighborhood at least). As if every thing's delayed.

If the cool Christmas breeze which usually comes weeks before December is a student, it could have been expelled for tardiness and absenteeism. Seriously, I cringe at the idea that it's the Christmas season yet I wake up in the morning all sweaty. But once it gets cold, it really is cold. Urgh,that global warming!

The carolers seem to be not in the mood for jamming as well. Sometimes three songs is enough (including the infamous We Wish You A Merry Christmas which has become sort of a requirement for some reason) for them to shout 'Namamasko po!'. I don't know, maybe they're just saving their golden voices for tomorrow's gig.

Christmas lights are also making their own disappearing act. Save for our neighbor who puts Christmas lights even on their dog house, people seem to be content putting up one one set of these decorative doodads. Maybe they're just being safe and they don't want to get caught on fire. But most probably it's because of their blowing electric bills.

But despite all these, it is still undeniable that, for so many reasons, Christmas is still the most joyful time of the year. There are the colorful Christmas lanterns, the snowmen (without the snow), the puto-bumbong, the tyangge along the Marikina River, the gifts!, Noche Buena, Santa Claus, and of course, World Peace who visits so rarely. This sounds trite already but I seriously wish it's Christmas everyday.

Wanna be one of the first to greet you this -- Have a Happy Christmas!

Ang Plastik Mo!

Well, this is something that popped out of my silly mind just recently. I realized, even if everybody, as in everybody stops using plastic bags in their evryday lives, but if the plastic manufacturing industries doesn't ceases, nothing will happen at all! For crying out loud, just imagine what will these manufacturers do to their wasted products. Surely they will not use them as fetilizers, right? What should be done is not to stop using plastics but to extinguish all of those plastic manufacturing companies! But I guess that would be a tall order. Hey, I made a point, right?

Parting Ways

So today’s my last day at work. Great. No more waking up at 3 in the morning. No more 10-minute talks with Koreans. No more bloody English. No more evaluations. No more TDRs (Teacher’s Daily Report). No more monthly reports. No more stress. Finally.

Dang. I’m surely going to miss this job.

Haay…

Now back to PUP.

Things You Don't Have To Know But You Have to

Here are some interesting facts I got from Brain of Brian.

» The average chocolate bar has 8 insects' legs in it. [Hershey’s, anyone?]
» More than 2,500 left handed people are killed. [Thank God I’m right handed.]
» It is estimated that at any one time, 0.7% of the world's population are drunk. [Mga kapit bahay ata namin yun.]
» One thing that humans do more than anything in their entire life is sleep. Most Americans sleep more than 6-8 hours a day, which is on average around 24 years of ones life! [Paano pa kaya si Sleeping Beauty?]
» The average human eats 8 spiders in their lifetime at night. [Go Web! FLYYY!]
» Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour. [Anong sinabi ni Belo at Calayan dito?]
» Odds of being killed by falling out of bed - 1 in 2 million. [Sa kutson na lang kaya ako matulog?]
» Termites eat through wood 2 times faster when listening to rock music. [Rakenrol!]
» The average talker sprays about 300 microscopic saliva droplets per minute, about 2.5 droplets per word. [Yung teacher ko sa History nung High School 10 droplets per syllable!]
» Right handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left handed people. [Really thank God I’m right handed!]
» It has been calculated that in the last 3,500 years, there have only been 230 years of peace throughout the civilized world. [:(]

Huli Ka!

Minsan sa buhay ng tao talagang may dumarating na kamalasan. Bigalan. Di inaasahan. Bigla n lang bubulaga sa harap mo at para ka ng binuhuhsan ng malamig na tubigdahil hindi mo maisip na mangyayari ‘yon.

Haay.. .

Sa kaso ko, ‘yun ay ang mahuli ng TC (Team Captain) ko na nag-bubukas nitong Multiply na ‘to at makitang nag-sasaksak ng USB sa hinayupak na PC na ‘to. Akala ko talaga sa aking pag-pasok ngayong araw sa korap na opisinang ‘to e bubungad sa ‘kin ang isang naghe-hello na Memo. Awa ni Buddha, hindi naman. WOOHOO!
Kaya nga nababasa niyo pa ‘to e. TUT.

Marami Ka Pang Kakaining Bigas!

Alas! After months of relentless voting America has finally reached what it has been dying to get in the first place—a David-David finale. So much was the hype for these two guys to the extent that people actually place bets online! That, I must say, is plainly overrated.

If you are a wise voter, choosing the next Idol would just be a piece of chocolate cake. AI is a talent show and it must remain as such. So to all Americans who are reading this (as if) and also to my kababayan, you are now free to cuddle and vote for David Archuleta that is if you are a cutie little girl that belongs to an age group of 12 years and below. Of course moms are also encouraged vote! Surely he reminds you of your teenage son, right? TUT.

I don’t know why people are making such a big fuss about the competitions between the two. As what I can see, the people are simply being misled by his looks and age and not solely on his talent. Undoubtedly, DA has talent. BIG talent. That is if you compare it to others of his age. But comparing him to DC? C’mon, it’s like comparing a newly born pug to a fully-grown bulldog. No match. There’s no basis for comparison at all (save for the first names)!

Just imagine: advance DA’s age to 25 years but suppose his vocals and way of performing remains the same, do you think he will be as impressive as he is right now? Do you think his failing falsetto and horrible dance moves would appeal too much on Randy? Definitely not! Dog, he might not even be a fan!

I know some might react differently to this and probably say, “Of course DA will still improve! Just give him another 4 years or so and he will sweep DC off the floor!” well, yeah, that can be. Unfortunately, we are not talking about the future here. We are dealing with the present, with what they are and what they can offer NOW.
DA needs a lot of catching up to do if he wants to compete against the greatness of DC.

On AI

On predictions

Consistent with my clairvoyant powers, it did not came as a big surprise to me that David Cook had a hard time last night on American Idol. Particularly giving him a pretty hard press was Randy Jackson. I don’t know dog, but Randy’s really been critical with all the contestants this season (save for little Archuleta; he’s a fan, dog). I’m not sure if he’s imply not satisfied with their performances or if he sees something special with these bunch of newbies. But either way, criticisms all equate to improvement, if taken constructively.

On eating my words

“You did not beat the competition. You crushed the competition.” These words from Simon Cowell directed towards David Archuleta should have gotten the ire of me but surprisingly it did not. Apparently, the competition he was referring to was DC, who, despite delivering solid performances last night seemed to share an uneasy, awkward moment for the entire show (blame it on Randy, guys…hehe). On the other hand, DA did not totally wowed me, but I can’t agree more that he really did out sung The Great DC.

[Hey, DC was pressured, man. Besides, he was the first one on stage. Noticed that show-starters are almost always part of the bottom group?]

On reminders

Before the show ends host, Ryan Seacrest reminded the voting public of the nostalgia that was in the past seasons. Mentioning the names of Tamyra Gray and Chris Daughtry, he reminded the people that it is not enough to be confident about your bets. One can never be so sure. So vote for David Cook!

Grave Talk

I was a bit preoccupied doing other pointless stuff these past few days so it was gravely shameful to admit that I have little idea of what’s going on this country for quite a while now. Finally last night, I decided to watch the entirety of 24 Oras to refresh my awareness. I was expecting to hear usual stuff like rice shortages or another MMDA demolition job but I was thinking frivolously. It was far worse than I expected. The following are of grave impact to me:

· Oil price hikes (Again?). This topic was actually brought up by one of my Korean students yesterday and I almost cursed him for doing so. Of all the news have I been hearing everyday, this is one of those that have less importance to me. I don’t have a speck of an idea on oil trading or this controversial Oil Deregulation Law. What the hell do I care about oil prices? Why should I give a damn when I don’t even have my own car yet? It was just then that it finally sank into me why it is one of the root causes of the corrosion of this economy. And that I am gravely embarrassed of.
· Inflation rate had shot up to 8.3% this month. Talk about economics here. I actually have veeery minimal knowledge of this subject (that I am not embarrassed to admit) -- thanks to my carcinogenic professor—but as far as I know, inflation is the general large increase in the prices of goods and services. And 8.3% as compared to last month's 6.4%? That only means the prices are enjoying their stay there on top of the bar graph with our mothers’ purses suffering.
· MERALCO’s Systems Loss Charges. Now what the funk is this? I’m sorry but as what my simple mind comprehended it, this über egoistical electric company will now start putting up charges on the ‘lost’ money we, people are not even accountable for. I don’t give a damn whether it is acceptable by the law or not for in the end it will remain UNFAIR. Not to mention the plethora of taxes imposed on electricity alone. PoTAXteng buhay to…

Unfortunately I can do nothing right now save to throw rants and get peeved by our condition. I cannot totally blame the malfunctioning government for everything. Whose fault is it anyway but us? Who put that wicked liliputian in the high seat in the first place? WE did! For the reason that we though of her as the ‘lesser evil’ back then. What we forgot to consider is no matter how ‘less’ of an evil she is, she will always remain EVIL. It is our impatience that caused us our misery and now we have to bear the grave consequences.

Will It Be David Cook's Time to Leave?

I’m a bit worried ‘bout David Cook for next week’s episode of American Idol. As what Seacrest mentioned, next week’s theme would be Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. At first anyone would think that DC will have a big edge above everyone else ‘coz it definitely is his niche. However, there’s this BIG possibility that it would turn out to be otherwise. Chances are his performance would be too overrated. C’mon, it’s rock ‘n roll, no wonder all eyes and all ears will be tuned in to DC, wondering if he would be able to pull away from the stalwart marks that rock legends left before us. How will he be able to do something different to something that he makes to be different? I don't know. Only he knows It is now his duty to create the most unexpected of all the unexpected. Talk about pressure!

Well, all I can say is good luck DC! People of America: vote WISELY!

Ironic -- Moronic

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now implementing stricter measures regarding the distribution of the so-called ‘access cards’ that is supposed to be used in order to purchase the apparently cheaper NFA rice. This is to avoid all the long lines and unfair mass purchasing of NFA rice that leaves the ‘poorest of the poor’ empty-handed at the end of the day. On the other hand, if you can remember, this brilliant government had once claimed that there must be no need for worrying since there is no rice shortage here in the Philippines.

Ah. Now that makes sense to me.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

What Joel Means

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

I'm 1113

I'm # 1113

WOAH

An Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

This is the car Edward Culllen used to bring Bella to the prom in the film adaptation of Twilight. And man, this is definitely one of the most handsome cars that I’ve seen ever!

Into the 'Twilight' Zone

The official book cover of Twilight

To all booklovers there, go check this baby out! It’s one of my current favorites now and I guarantee you it’s worth the bucks. This is one love story like no other!

Now boys can have an excuse to read love stories.

Earth Day

It’s Earth Day today!
Be aware. Be active. Be potent.

Change the world. Make it a better place.

Gotcha!

The fish will always be caught through its mouth.

Upon the declaration of her Tita Anna’s decision to leave the PBB house, Kuya’s little pet imp, Josef, openly wept in front of the other housemates. Apparently, according to fatso, the main reason behind this devastatingly irritating bogus weeping is he is sooo concerned about her aunt’s physical and emotional well-being. Yeah, and I'm George Clooney.

Aha! But here’s the catch. During last Saturday’s episode, where he was allowed to talk to his father regarding the matter, Josef overtly expressed his rants about his Tita Anna’s decision. He almost—almost—condemned her aunt for not considering all the hardships he had partaken just to get inside the big yellow house, for thinking only of herself and not his own sake. So he really is concerned—not for her aunt, but for his own goodwill.

The truth, though impliedly stated, was already revealed. And it came straight from the big fish’s mouth.

Last Song Syndrome

Kapag ikaw ba na-LSS sa kantang hindi mo naman narinig ang tawag pa rin ba don LSS?

Talk About Talent

To say that David Cook is amazing would be too much of an understatement. As a matter of fact, David Cook isn’t amazing. How could someone be so amazing if he is talent himself? Yes. David Cook is talent personified. And I bet no one would dare disagree.

He’s just simply…Urgh! I’m simply out of words to describe the talent of this man! Every time he goes up the spotlighted stage I always grip to the edge of my seat, knowing that he will deliver another breath taking, head bangin’ and house rocking performance. He never fails to provide me with some good goose bumps! His performances give me LSS nights for a whole week—that is, until his next performance.

Permit me to quote Randy Jackson this time, “ Yo! That was hot! BLAZIN’ HOT!"

If David Cook doesn’t win, I’ll cut my head of. But I guess I’ll never have to do that.

World Voice Day

Today is World Voice Day (yep,I mentioned it in the title, obviously), the day where all the people in the world should celebrate and take care of the so-called spoken voice. Ideally, I should be conserving my precious voice right now. But here I am talking to Koreans, teaching them the enigmas of the international language, which only a few of them seem to absorb.

Hey, I’m not trying to imply a discriminatory remark here. I’m simply stressed out lately.

Right now I just want to go out in an open field and jump as high as I can and then let out a big SCREAM! But then I thought it would do no good to my delicate voice box either *sigh*.

Hmmm…guess I’ll just show off my vocal prowess by belting out MCR’s I’m Not Okay then. That would be a better stress-reliever. I think.

Have a happy World Voice Day to all!

Scary Story

This is one story that totally scared the hell out of me the first time I heard it form a radio station. Even until now...

One night, a man was driving safely back home from work. Since it was way past midnight, he decided to take an alternate route in one of the subdivisions that happens to be along his way. It appeared that he was he only awake soul in the vicinity.

As he continues his journey, he suddenly caught sight of a little girl walking on the sidewalk. Concerned (and a bit more surprised), he stopped his car and asked the little girl why she was walking alone in the dead of the night. The girl said she had no money to ride a tricycle (plus, there were no other tricycles in sight). So the man concernedly offered to bring her safely home. The girl gladly agreed.

Being young that she is (maybe around 7 or 8 years old), the girl doesn’t know her exact address, so she just instructed the man where to make his turns.

After a few minutes they finally arrived at the little girl’s house. Wanting to make sure if the girl’s security, he decided to stay until she gets inside.

The house appears ominously on the outside. Strange feelings of melancholy…of fear seem to flit around the seemed to be abandoned home. All the lights had been turned off, as if the family living there wasn’t awaiting someone. This mystified the man even more.

On the other hand, the girl was walking unusually slowly towards the house. Suddenly, she turned around and faced the direction of the then confused man. Yet, she still continues to move…as if she’s floating, gliding to get inside! With her face were a blank stare and a frozen smile…

The man completely freaked out with what happened hastily revved up his engine and sped up as fast as he could away from the house. It was then when he suddenly realized where he had brought himself into—the ‘Vizconde Massacre’ house…

[Many say that this story never did happen, but still…it's kinda cheesy though...hehe]

Lasalista Pala Si Big Brother

I hate it. The favoritism. The just hate it.
From the very first season of Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) up to its latest offering, favoritism has been circulating inside the “most famous house in the world”, producing the likes of Kim Chiu and Wendy Valdez, unworthy and irritating.

So who’s the latest ‘Kuya’s pet’? I really don’t have to say that it’s Josef cause it’s straightforwardly obvious (just count the number of his appearances as compared to the other housemates and you’ll see). So much attention was being given to him. Almost every special task was assigned to him; he already had one long before his feet touch the concrete outside the house! Even the micro-miniest of all tasks such as calling a housemate or watching others perform while they do a task was being give to him! Aren’t there any housemates inside? And I wouldn’t mention how the fat imps attitude irks me to death!

Man, too much exposure and too bad attitude, means he MUST leave. NOW.

OK. Now everybody’s mad at me.

Record Breaking

During the fifth elimination night of the reality show American Idol, Ryan Seacrest surprised the episode’s special guest, Jordin Sparks, with three special awards: a platinum record for her hit Chris Brown duet “No Air” for reaching more than 1M downloads, a gold award for her self-titled album, and another platinum record for her debut single “Tattoo” which also exceeded 1M downloads. Seacrest then made this remark: “It means Idol works.”

It means very few actually buy records these days. Blame it on the Internet.

Challenge ( The-Article-With-No-Title 2)

The Noli de Castro Academic Excellence and Exemplary Leadership Awards did not last without a surprise. I was gradually getting uninterested with the show until Sheryl Cosim, the event’s emcee, introduced this particular awardee. “ Karen Leslie Dematera…”—hmm...what a familiar name, something I’ve heard before but I'm not sure.Then these words struck me, “…From the Marikina Science High School.” – now that’s familiar.

At that point I finally realized that the name I just heard belonged to the current valedictorian of the school mentioned, the school where I came from.

Astig!

Speaking inside the Palace in front of the Vice President and other esteemed individuals? That ought to count for something.

Still, I am not totally impressed. For the achievements of one do not reflect the capabilities of all.

I have firmly believed that, not that I’m bragging about it (konti lang), my batch (batch ’06, by the way), so far is the best batch that the school has ever had all throughout its existence. Bagging numerous awards and recognitions inside and even outside the country, breaking records in terms of the number of students who qualified for the country’s top universities, in short producing the most talented and the most competent students to beat.

I’m not totally taking it away from our descendants, though. Success and achievements still continue to pour, but not as “glorious” as the ones we’ve had under our belt. You guys have a lot of catching up to do.

So to our successors, it is now your duty to prove that I am wrong. Prove it.

The-Article-With-No-Title

Last Friday, after I arrived from work, I immediately retreated to my hell-ventilated room to have some good siesta. I turned on my TV and switched the channel to NBN 4. I was expecting to see another taped match of the Shakey’s V-League but apparently that was not the case. Instead, what took its place for the moment was an awarding ceremony in Malacañang with the title, Noli de Castro Academic Excellence and Exemplary Leadership Awards. Intrigued, I decided to stick to the show.

Apparently, the ceremony was, as the name suggests, intended to recognize the twelve most outstanding public high school graduates who outstandingly exemplified the core principles of academic excellence and leadership (Actually, I’ve always been imagining myself to be in a position similar to them and I’m proud to say that this dream has been fulfilled…in my imagination again *sigh*).

As I listen to the student awardees deliver their speeches, I can’t help but…laugh. Bombarding each sentences with highfalutin words, putting into use every idiomatic expression and figure of speech possible -- a typical high school literary work, that’s what I got from those smart and talented kids (Hey, I’m just months older than the legal age, OK?). High school na high school ang dating. Just makes me burst with laughter. Just makes me remember myself.

Guilty? Haha.

Euphoria...Dilemma

At last after two weeks of having back pains and severe eyestrains due to sitting right in front of the PC monitor for almost eight hours a day, I finally got what I was dying for—my first salary. Well not a salary exactly but that's how I want to consider it. It was actually my training allowance equated to two weeks of training minus one day of absence. The entire amount—P 2,870.00—all in cold hard cash placed in a small brown envelope and sealed with a kiss (pretty old fashioned, huh?). Of course it would be more ideal for me if it was in ATM, but who cares?! It is money right there at the palm of my hands! No matter how small it is it’s still MONEY! It’s the fruit of that oh-so-large-but-still-growing-bigger eye bags procreated by my early morning madness. Now I can buy anything I want without the discretion of my parents! Woohoo!

I have one grave problem, though:


I don’t want to spend my money at all! Urgh!


Stingy…

[Lesson: Having no money is hard. But having more money than usual is a lot harder.]

Abnoy

Bakit 'pag ang hayop sumobra ang ulo, o kinulang ng mata, ang tawag SWERTE. Pero bakit 'pag ang kapwa mo tao, 'pag nawalan ang paa, o ang utak 'di 'buo', ang tawag MALAS?

Education is a Privilege..What the..?!

Kumento lang tungkol sa episode kagabi ng PinoyBig Brother Teen Edition Plus kung saan sinabi sa talumpati ng housemate na si Robi ang mga katagang ipinantig talaga ng mga tenga ko. Ayon sa kanya,

“Ang edukasyon ay isang pribilehiyo. Hindi lahat ng tao nakakapagaral…”

Tama ba naman yun? Kung taga-PUP kang tulad ko ay malamang nag-pantig din ang tenga mo gaya ko.

ANG EDUKASYON AY HINDI ISANG PRIBILEHIYO. ISA ITONG KARAPATAN NA DAPAT TINTAMASA NG BAWAT PILIPINO.

Sabagay, hindi ko rin namn siya masisisi. Taga-Ateneo siya. Ano ba naman ang alam niya sa kahirapan? Isa pa, sa panahon ngayon, hindi nga ba’t pwede na ngang tawaging pribillehiyo ang edukasyon? Sino ngayon ang dapat sisihin?

BAKASYON

Ang utak ko’y laging tulog
Lumilipad, inaantok
Nag-iisip, pero ‘di naman maisip
Mga bagay-bagay na ‘di ko mawari...

Ang utak ko’y laging tulog
Nalulumbay, nagmumukmok
Naiinip, naghihintay maliwanagan
Mga tanong kong walang kasagutan...

Ang utak ko’y laging tulog
Nangangarap..tumatayog
Ngunit nang malapit ng maabot ang rurok
Saka binalot ng isang bangungot…

[Bored]

MY FIRST TIME

“It was pleasure at its paramount…”

It was such a memorable first time for me. Every minute detail, every breath-taking movement, and every heavily heaved sigh, all still run vividly through my precocious mind. Yet, I am still at lost, groping for the perfect words to fully describe how I felt back then. Let me just put it simply as ‘wonderful’.

Honestly, I was very reluctant to try to do it at first. I am too young, and facing all the consequences that awaits me might be too hard for me to handle. However, I cannot seem to resist the temptation that it brings, as if it’s calling me, beckoning me from a short distance. Adding to my agony is the peer pressure that hovers around me. My peers…they were urging me, forcing me even to do it just like them, just like everybody else. For experience’s sake, they used to say.

After pondering heavily on this and mustering enough courage to suffice my will, I finally decided to do it. So I went to this place I hardly knew before, a place that is barely awake at morn but is totally alive at night…

It was hard, really hard for me. My heart was pounding like crazy. I was overwhelmed by my nerves, and was even heightened up by the cool breeze circulating around the small air-conditioned room where I’m in. My whole body was frozen as if submerged in a frozen lake, yet my knees felt like they transformed into jelly. Worse, my voice cracked as I talked with the seductive lady staring right in front of me…

It was a rough entry at first, especially when I noticed…blood. A voice inside my head tells me to quit, but I can’t! I’m already there, and I’m stuck in it. There’s no turning back now. So I tried to relax my self, taking deep breaths before every utterance, and loosening up a bit. Then everything went on smoothly…

Then, at the end of several exchanges, I finally gave off a big splash of relief. It was like all the tension that I felt had vanished at once, and all that’s left is faultless gratification. It was pleasure at its paramount…

Ecstatic was I as the lady praised me for a job well done.

Haay…hirap palang maghanap ng trabaho…Nakaka-nosebleed! [*Sigh* Man, it was hard finding a job. I had nosebleeds!].

Bahay Ni Badong is the brainchild of a simple teenager torn between boredom and his insatiable need for expression.

'Bahay' in Filipino means house and apparently, this spot in cyberspace serves a refuge to his most insignificant yet important, senseless yet profound, and valued yet priceless thoughts, rants, raves, opinions, sentiments, feelings, views...everything that's generated within the cranium of your bespectacled neighbor that is worth posting and worth reading.

Chillax. Feel at home.

It's Me

I'm a 19-year-old Psychology student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines who's excessively infatuated with Ana Ivanovic and has this incorruptible dream of becoming a big time tennis superstar (though I've never played with a tennis racket once. Being a Freudian follower, I'm looking forward to psychoanalyze myself before a legit psychiatrist does. And for the record, my real name's not Badong.

So you're really interested, huh? Well if you are, here are

TEN MORE THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ME

1. I have a strong conviction that i have ADHD or some sort of learning disorder.

2. I have an eclectic set of interests ranging from astronomy, dinosaurs, everything that has something to do with TV and radio, geography (capitals of countries and their flags), etc etc.

3. I am ADDICTED to Ana Ivanovic. Did I mention this already?

4. I looove sports but I extremely hate boxing. I don't understand why people seem to enjoy watching two men exchanging blows to each other just for an over sized belt.

5. Few people know this but I can actually carry a tune and that I'm a frustrated dancer.

6. I'm a huge Titanic fan. I even had a poster and a T-shirt to match.

7. I'm an undercover Celine Dion fan. Blame it on Titanic.

8. I am sentimentality personified. My room is close to looking like a dump site now for i can't seem to throw away even a raffle draw ticket.

9. I have a 500-550 vision. But no worries, I can still walk without my spectacles on.

10. I LOVE LIFE. Life's so beautiful and I hope everyone would see that.