awesome 2014

I just want to clock in at the last day of 2014 here in freezing Seoul, South Korea to greet all of you a Happy New Year!

I doubt this is a comprehensive year-end blog post because, as you can very well see, I haven’t been updating my blog lately (last post was my birthday? *facepalm*). I was looking through my social media accounts for a timeline reference but oh well, that seems to be sorely lacking as well. It seems randomly conversing with my friends via LINE and other messaging apps can already satisfy my need to be “connected”.

As was expected, 2014 definitely brought in a lot of changes – decided to enroll in Korean classes (which I only got to the most basic level *sniff* super hard to go to UP given my schedule), turned the big 3-0, and moved in to my new place! Still adjusting to single living life, especially with the fact that I’m always treading near poverty line every time the monthly bills arrive T__T But generally it’s all good! I’m back in Makati, where everything I need is so accessible and I get to dictate my own pace.

window treatment ^^

And this year’s trips were so much fun…costly…but still fun! Finally, after n years, I was able to go to Japan with my family and see the sakura that I’ve been dreaming of since my anime days in high school. Then made a quick trip to HK for another insane bout of fangirling and watch the EXO concert (which thankfully pushed through since the Manila stop did not happen, pfft). Then went to Korea on a sudden solo trip (my best friend wasn’t able to make it), which was fun and eventful. And then a few weeks after that, I went back to Siem Reap to tour my best friend (who I finally dragged out of the country).

 

sakura at Ueno park *hearts*

 

 ...these pictures will haunt me in a decade, i can feel it

she wasn't able to go with me to Korea, but i'm glad we still managed to go abroad

So now I end the year back again in my favorite city (to date). First time to spend the new year away from home and I’m having a great time so far (but seriously, how can anyone NOT have a great time in Seoul?) Memorable way to end what has been an interesting year.

 worth braving the subzero temperature

I end the new year grateful for all the blessings that I’ve received, especially to my family and friends who have helped me through it all (I seriously cannot count how many “house blessings” I had lol). 2015 will be another big year I think – I have a major trip planned that hopefully will push through. So have a blessed New Year and may 2015 be good to all of us! Always be happy! 사랑하자!!!

한국어 를 공부해요

인녕하세요!!! I haven’t blogged in a really looooonnnngggg time. I’ve been busy since the start of the year (still have a lot of “projects” in my pipeline, ugh) and whenever I have any downtime my brain is so spent that I just want to lie on bed and stare into space (or watch feel-good shows, hihi).

So one of the things that took up most of my time is (finally) attending Korean class. I’ve been meaning to do this since forever but my schedule won’t allow it. Having that multiple entry Korean visa and not being able to talk to Lee Seunggi in his native tongue last year finally pushed me to learn it.

Since January, I’ve been attending the Korean Module 1 term in UP every Saturday. The lessons are crazy fast, I’ve long conceded that I won’t be as quick on the uptake as my classmates are (is it a function of age? KMN) and just focus on just even passing the blasted module. Well at least I can finally read and write Hangeul (time to head for the noraebang). I also got to meet a lot of new friends (who share the same *cough* love for Korean dramas and music *cough* read: EXO). I’m one of the oldest in class hahaha (again, why haven’t I enrolled sooner? Oh well, better late than never).

My first decent paragraph (a previous homework). You have no idea how many drafts I've gone through to do this.

So yeah, just dropping by my blog to post this up and remind myself that I’ve done something substantially productive this first quarter of the year. My final exam for Module 1 is this Saturday, and then (provided I even pass) I might go on to Module 2 in May and take TOPIK from thereon. After that, let’s see how it goes.

아자 아자 화이팅!!!

what the google algorithm will yield

I was (slightly) bored the other day and I decided to google my name in the internet (admit it, you've done it once or twice in your life). From past experience, I know that I wouldn't have a Wesley Gibson experience when he searched himself on the internet. I was expecting almost the same results as before (that is, social networking results or mentions in my friends' blogs). But imagine, to my surprise, when I typed in my full name, it yielded this (click on the image for a clearer picture):


I totally forgot how many hardbound copies of my thesis I submitted to my thesis adviser (was it seven?), and I don't recall that one of them would be in the National Library for crying out loud. Well, actually it's standard procedure to put theses in the National Library...I just think it's absolutely cool (sorry, geek outburst) to have a work of your own in the National Library of all places. I recall researching at the National Library before, although the experience itself wasn't as productive as I thought it would be. But hey, I think (?) this calls for a celebration! LOL

Now, if I unexpectedly found SOMEONE quoting my work in their research, I believe I would first ascend to heaven, go back to earth, and ask what the hell was the person thinking...

bye 2007!!!

ok, im here now with my end-of-the-year post...hahaha what can i say? this year really marks the transition from school to the workplace, and there are a great deal many changes, but im also glad for some that remain unchanged...

as expected the first half of the year is the most stressful, nerve-wracking, and emotional months that i've undergone, all thanks to my thesis and all those people (not gonna mention them though) who made it worse, hehehe. nonetheless, the end was bittersweet, i finally got my master's degree (and maintained my cum laude *phew*) and i again didn't cry in my graduation. hay, weird talaga, i cry easily when i watch dramatic stuff but when it comes to the actual emotional moments, i rarely do.

so at last i said goodbye to my second home for 5 years... i can't say that i'll miss the school itself, but i'll miss my barkada, my iep friends, and all the hangouts that hosted a lot of memories for the past five years

what followed next are a few months of laziness and job hunting...i soon grew tired of the whole applying process, and i'm glad that i get to watch FABULOUS asian dramas to tide me over (these asian dramas are also my saving grace during thesis)...soon enough i thankful got employed...here's to taxes!

i guess the topmost thing that made me grateful to have a job is that now i have money to spend any freaking way i want! therefore: more night outs, buy some gadgets, go out of town (corregidor, cagayan de oro and camiguin!!! here's to adding more next year!) and go to concerts (sugarfree, beyonce, akon.... maroon 5 naman next year!) and i plan to engage in more for 2008. as for my financial plan...well, let's plan that when i get regularized, bwehehehhe

a glaring realization that seem to resound this year (and i bet will also be the same for 2008) is the fact that im getting OLD (i know, 23 really isn't THAT old, i can just imagine the 33-year old me strangling the 23 year old me). i don't know why...argh...is this because of the fact that im still single? hahahahhaa. basta...i am now more sensitive to noise, can't keep up with all-night marathons, paying bills (well it's about time, hehehe), one of my friends getting married....waaahhhh basta i feel OLD!!! best recourse? a YOUNGER guy!!! hahaha, don't quote me on that

before i get way out of hand, just want to say that this year is pretty good to me despite the suicidal academic months...i got a good job, my mom got promoted, and my friends are as crazy as ever!!! here's to getting older in 2008!!!

At last...

...I am a master in Industrial Economics! Wait, that didn't sound right, hehehe. After a long hiatus from blogging (though I still am connected to the cyberworld), I now return after the laborious journey we call thesis. I am proud to say that I only had a breakdown once throughout the whole time (and it was induced by Aldous' "it's ok to cry" speech) and was able to come out of the experience still optimistic about the human race (that's how potentially depressing doing a thesis can be). So, now I'm saying that I am done with the University, finally ending my 18 years of being under the Philippine educational system.

Looking back...
I enjoyed University life for the most part of it, with the diverse subjects that somehow I was able to pass, with great friends who make each second as interesting as it can be, and all the happy times in and out of school (college is really the time i had a social life in the connotative sense, tama ba?). The moment that my adviser signed my thesis approval form, I cried by myself at Prom A due to utter exhaustion and relief (I don't know if I'll cry at grad, i didn't in HS but we'll see...). I just want to say that it was a memorable time for me, and I'm also glad that it's over.

I finally cleaned my room, only filing the important stuff from Econ and getting rid, ahem, recycling the leftover CAS stuff, then I came across the papers my friends used to pass notes on. Needless to say it was very reminiscent of "the days". I felt so old now, looking back at the stuff we used to talk about in our notes (mind you, we just pass notes when we're bored, it's not a habit, hahaha). I think going through graduate school really does bring out a sense of maturity in one's life, although we still pass notes during grad school (mostly love quiz, promoted by Roxy of all people).

Forging ahead...
Now, I'm basically afraid since I don't know what to do with myself (like that song in My Bestfriend's Wedding). When anyone asks me about my plans before, all i say is "let's finish my thesis first, no long-term goals yet since the short-term goal is so blinding," but now that thesis is done, I'm honestly in limbo. I don't think I feel the full effect of it (the state of unemployment, i mean) yet since technically I am just beginning my summer vacation. Maybe when i run out of money that's when I'll feel it, hahaha.


So there, I was thinking of doing an intense looking back entry, but i don't know if i still have the entire recollection of the past years if i just reflect on my own. Anyway, I just want to say thank you to everyone, my family, my friends, my teachers, and my fellow students who have helped me in one way or another, making the past five years as meaningful as they can be. Here's to finally graduating! Can't wait to wear our Harry Potter-inspired togas, hehehe.

Burn out

As the legendary Kurt Cobain said, "it is better to burn out than to fade away"...Yeah, although you would want to credit me for my extensive knowledge of rock music, I just got the informed of the line from Sugarfree when they wrote Burn Out and Fade Away for their 1st album. Anyway the full meaning of burn out in Kurt Cobain sense is not reflected in this entry so...

The word just popped into my mind last week and it unexpectedly brought in some thoughts that reflect my seemingly sudden shift in perspective as regards school work. It was again reinforced during my conversation alone with Roxy (a rare event) when she mentioned the word too, although it's not in the same context as i was thinking.

As plainly as I can put it, I feel like I'm burned out. I felt that I've exhausted all that I can for the past four and a half years in college (let me just say that I don't do bad as a student). I won't say that I'm too diligent before, but it's just that my perspective towards school before was always fueled by a sense of thirst for learning (how nerdy that sounds) in such a way that I don't damn the fact that we have 26 units every semester (although in moments of weakness I do) and I have to do extra work for my scholarship. As of now my whole perspective has changed--I just want to do the thesis to get it all over with, no more than that.

I attribute it to the fact that: I don't have to maintain any grade anymore to retain my scholarship and there's nothing that I can do (except not pass the thesis at all) that will deprive me of that cum laude. As simplistic as that sounds, i just realized that all this "thirst" boils down to just meeting the grade. Hence, my current frame of mind is settled on doing a thesis that will pass and get me to graduate on time, that's it. The essence of Opus Dei is wasted on me in this case, hehe. No trying to get Best Thesis, no attempting to kick-ass in my presentation, no dreaming of impressing my panel. Even the noble intention of doing a thesis, i.e. Using research as a means of improving welfare, is lost as of the moment. I just want to get it over with, graduate, take some time off, get a job, and enjoy living with me supporting myself.

I don't know how long will this perspective last...who knows, i might get a lengthy bashing from my thesis advisor about my lack of focus and will therefore give me this consuming desire to make the best thesis ever written on this earth, or at least in this school (highly doubt it, btw). Depressing blog entry haha, back to doing my rrl again..

OT: Speaking of Kurt Cobain, i saw a biography of him yesterday at Powerbooks...looks interesting, kaso mahal, haha. Sana walang plastic para nasilip ko man lang.

Disjointed stuff...

Yeah, it's nearing the end of January...thesis work...hopefully finishing my rrl by monday next week (i cannot count the times that i've postponed this)...pressure-o-meter: 30% (pa lang? Hehe)...i need a boost of diligence so bad...

At least the past few weeks weren't such a waste. I even manage to get fit, my classmates (who apparently also have extra time away from thesis) always round up to do some badminton (even ice-skating!) once a week. I also got to play table tennis with Ice (just realized that the last time i played with her was in high school!), bitin sobra, I really need to bond again with my favorite sport, haha.

Also went out last Saturday (I know, I still go out eh?), had dinner with Carm, Eds, Daene, and Dozi, major chika mostly due to Carm's Myx win for the John Legend concert at Singapore (btw Carm, Dale was so jealous! Hehe). Then we all (except Carm, sayang) went to Embassy to meet up with IEP peeps...super fun! Thanks to AA and Donna for getting VIP access for all of us! Although di ko man lang nasilayan ung VIP area, haha. Malaking katipiran un! The drinks were majorly expensive, but the crowd (and partly the music, although im not a big fan of house music) was worth it. As i always said about that night, ang daming beautiful people (us included of course) and they are the type of people one would want in a club---those who don't need encouragement to dance! There was this kinda old guy foreigner who was dancing all-out, a bit creepy, but what the hell. Going there is a unique experience but one that i can't possibly do regularly (i would go bankrupt in no time).

I desperately want to go clubbing with my HS friends (watcha think guys? Can u even read this? Hehe), para new experience naman! My bro doesn't want to go clubbing coz he can't "think" daw amidst the noise (duh, who goes out to think anyway? Hehe), which is actually good since he can't dance, even passably (is that a word?)

Totally hung up with this song by The Isley Brothers (from my motown cd): This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)...no reference to me of course nyehehe. Expect the usual Temptations-like vibe, but it's great background song to just chillin' out...

Ok im blabbing na, sori im just waiting for my classmates to arrive for our ice skating day, haha...

Next blog entry: Burning out...

Looking back and forging ahead

Hay...2007...even if they say that those born in the year of the rat are lucky for this year, I enter it with much dread since it's my wake up call: "Mabelle! Do your frigging thesis already!" waaaahhhh...

Anyway, the year 2006 is probably one of the most eventful years of my 22 years in this world, madrama sobra (kinakarma ata ako). Started the year with major problems in my life although I think I coped with them relatively better than I expected I would. Ended my senior year with a sense of relief since wala na kong Dr. Terosa, hehe. Started my masteral year with a sense of euphoria since 19 lang kami...also experienced probably my most enjoyable subject (intl econ) under Dr. Manzano. Also learned the art of looking for ways to earn money, hehe. Ended the year with a slew of night-outs (grabe, ang dami nila, hehe) and bonding with my old and new friends. Also endured this laziness phase which actually in the thesis world is grossly unacceptable.

So here are a few shouts to my hommies (yuck di bagay sa kin) for making the past year a blast...

To God, for pounding my head once in a while when I get off track...

To the academy, for giving me this award...hehe joke...to my family, kahit na madaming nangyayari, carry pa rin natin, haha. To my mom especially for hanging in there...

To my HS barkada: Ten, Ice, Abelle, Donna, Anna, and Yang...miss ko na kaung lahat, hehe, thanks for always being there at laging gumagawa ng effort na magkita-kita tau (kahit na di kumpleto, nyahaha)

To my UAP barkada: Eds, Daene, Carlo, Dozi, Maze, Angie, Carm, and Trisha...kahit na halos lahat wala na sa skul, nafefeel ko pa rin ang presence niyo, naks! Pero pag lumabas naman tau sobrang guaranteed na blast siya! Miss ko na ang mga tambay moments natin. Thank you for teaching me how to let loose (I won't enumerate the ways, haha) once in a while.

To my IEP classmates: Especially those in the 5th year...can't believe that I would have a great time despite the suicidal demands of our course, hehe. Ang dami nating adventures at kwentos...salamat sa mga drama ninyong lahat, reprieve yan sa thesis, hehe.

To the entertainment industry: for coming up with wonderful koreanovelas, animes, and for making Prison Break! Hehe, salamat sa pag-usbong ng pinoy rock scene at success ng L'arc en Ciel for 15 years! Sa VH1 specials ng MTV, dahil marami talaga akong natututunan.

To my schedule, for giving me more excuse to go out, hehe, and for finally giving me a break to obtain my driver's license.

Lastly, to the makers of coffee and alcohol: kahit na pinapahamak niyo ko ok lang...drink moderately

Yun na here's to 2007...I know you'll cause me a lot of pain and grief but I know the reward will be there in the end!

Insane!

The past two weeks have been crazy to say the least…got to hang out with my friends and did a bit of thesis work (blech!). I think I drank too much the past two weeks that I’m devoting this week to getting fit and “cleansing” myself, bwahaha…

Nov. 9 – finally relented to Daene’s invite to watch The Bloomfields…dang, they are good at what they do. It made me think back to the days that I always keep track of the music scene and watch the gigs of my favorite bands (never got to do that lately…). Anyway, it was a weird combination – Daene, Carlo, Aldous and I – were at Aruba Metrowalk. We never got out just the four of us so it was a bit surprising that the whole night was sooooo much fun…and I totally blame it to the happy hour before 8pm. We got there at 7:45 and Aldous and Carlo don’t want to waste the happy hour, hence, their drunken state the whole night (they’re even more drunk than Daene and I!). It was such a memorable night, somehow the grad students just let loose and had more fun than the usual (we were so misplaced at that place!).

Nov. 16 – shotgun lakwa again to Aruba Metrowalk (this was my most immediate night out to date). Naalala pa kami nung waitress from last Thurs (hinanap pa sina Aldous), sobrang nakakahiya. This time it’s Daene and I with Dianne and Nina. It was crazy night, made a complete ass of myself, but it’s an experience that I can have a good laugh at when I’m 30.

Nov. 17 – went out with my IEP classmates to where else but Metrowalk again! Haha, eventful din to, it is like a drinking/photo session combined! My classmates are so camwhores, hehe. Anyway, cool din since we get to wind down after school. Also made a complete ass of myself, but at least it’s in front of friends so they love me either way, haha

In conclusion, I will not go to Metrowalk again in the immediate future… I’m also glad that I had some part-time work before so I still have money left…for now, I need to refocus on my life’s goal, a.k.a. my thesis, to get some sanity back in my life.

Happy feet na tomorrow! Yehey!

Sugarfree’s 3rd album will be out on Friday! Double yehey!

weeeee!!!

sembreak is finally here!!!! bwahahhaha...even though i still have, um, 3 papers to submit, I feel so happy now that classes are gone!

just went to Donna's bday party this afternoon then went straight to Won's interior design exhibit at Greenbelt. for anyone who likes looking at great rooms, check it out sa G1, it's the exhibit of PSID, libre ang entrance, sobrang saya ng experience, as usual ma-comment kami ni Ten...using words like "sterile", etc. haha, great art pieces, dami kong natutunan at gustong bilhin kung may pera ako!

un na muna, i hope that i can do my blog entry plans for this break, as of now:
1. koreanovelas ---> PRESENT (tatlo pa cla)
2. pocket books -----> PRESENT (dalawa from Ten)

ok ready na ko!

First time I’m saying this…

…but I soooo hated the fact that classes are suspended! What’s the point of class suspension if there’s accompanying brownout?!?! My days were characterized by nonstop boredom plus agitation over the fact that I have three papers this coming week that I cannot do due to the inactivity of power supply, not to mention having our garden completely destroyed by the typhoon…huhu

There, I just ranted…skul’s been hectic, only have 2 weeks before sembreak but we have a lot of things to do, haaaayyyy. My mom, bro and I went to greenbelt on Friday night (before we die out of boredom)…went to my 2nd home, Powerbooks, and read Sweet Liar…*happy!*

On the good side, my lakwatcha with my barkada last Saturday in celebration of Carm’s graduation from make-up school was eventful to say the least…Eds, Daene and I went to Temple Bar after we had dinner…it was a blast! Despite the people who are totally bumping our back with their elbows and over-eager high school boys who obviously went on their first night out…I had a hell of a time…of course the vodkas helped…

Checklist of things to do:

1. International Economics paper (this was due last Friday, but was obviously moved, which still wasn’t a blessing since the brownout didn’t give us time to revise a lot).

2. Monetary Policy paper (how the hell would we do this?!?! how would I learn to do structural VAR now that classes are suspended?

3. Regional/Urban Eco paper – huh?!?! Yun lang

4. Critique paper – ayoko pang gawin to

5. RRL matrix

+ exams…

One word: Yipeee!

entertain!!!

been busy again on and off...lotsa things been happening, and we just had the IE exam this morning so I think it's due time that I update my blog again since the next three weeks (after that finals na....tapos SEMBREAK!) will be full of papers to submit...

since I want this to be light (and I have no time)....just wanna share all the entertaining things that I have done...warning *SPOILER* ahead...

Prison Break.....season 2 episode 4 rocks! wentworth miller (let's call him wenty) proved that he can really act than just look shockingly good-looking on screen...sobrang napa-emote talaga ako with his voice! "It's real, Sarah...you and me...it's real..." ~swoon~ and I wasn't expecting Abruzzi to be the first man down...exciting!

Read some romance novels c/o Ten...weeee....so love Jo Goodman (although I don't see her books sold in mainstream bookstores)....anyway, may bago na kong tambayan: BOOKSALE! hehe

Watched John Tucker Must Die....I must admit, I liked the movie! No nonsense chick flick na walang pinipilit...luvit!

I almost got goosebumps by the prevalence of High School Musical connections that have been surrounding me...our SEC night video (unsubbed and subbed version...that's how manic we are) is already out and have been playing it for over 20 times...I also danced with the dance-a-long last Friday, bwehehe. Went to a kid's bday party last sunday and got bombarded with the OST (it's kinda creepy to see three yr olds dancing what we 22 yr olds were also dancing)...

un na ulit...another disjointed entry...i think im expecting things to turn out this way.

soon planned blog entries (sana by sem break):
1. inventory of asian movies and series
2. the evolution of the romance genre (for people in the HS book club and my romantic college friends :D )

*Yawn~~~~

Hay, my blog has been missing me already…haven't really devoted much time to writing a decent entry (and I doubt that this would be a decent one too), since there is too much stuff to do…I think August and September are really the busiest months of an IEP student (which already foreshadows the frequency of entries that you will be reading for the next month)…so for updates…

School matters…thesis work has been a bit depressing already…much of the adrenalin has gone in research, hence needing a boost badly…and the uncompromising teachers of our school have compounded the depression, haha. On the good side, SEC week has come and gone…and it was a blast! I’m glad to say that the Best Theses that Lulu and I organized went well…of course our High School Musical inspired performance during SEC night was GREAT…still have a hangover till today, 2 weeks afterward, of the songs (and dance moves) that we’ve mastered. September also marks a lot of requirements to be submitted – thesis critique and 1-pager (sort of like a topic proposal), international economics paper and exam, micro paper… also been doing stuff for SBEP (which is a program of the School of Economics catering to working professionals), also going to Baguio this weekend for the SBEP workshop where we will be assisting the executives… hay un lang naman…

Non-school matters…along with the demands of school, I have been as usual reading and watching a lot, hehe. My mom and I went on a Booksale trip and of course got a lot of books with great prices that I have finished in less than a week. Also borrowed Kiss an Angel and The Prize from Miyay, both of which I’ve read before but want to "recapture" again (The Prize is one of my top Julie Garwood favorites). Also watched It Started with a Kiss (Taiwanese drama that is now shown in ABS-CBN) and currently in the middle of watching Fireworks (Koreanovela) both c/o Carla…hay, what would I do without my friends who maintain my sanity? Our anime group also got together two weeks ago, got to watch some interesting anime’s again :D My brother’s birthday party was just concluded last Saturday so I’m still eating the leftovers till now, hehe

I’m planning to make a special entry showing an inventory of all the Asian goods that I’ve watched (movies and series), I’ve talked about this with Concha (my buddy when it comes to Korean and Chinese entertainment and fellow Eric&Se7en fan), but I might be able to do this towards the end of the sem for accuracy’s sake.

Prison Break is totally the IT series for me right now, haha, thanks again to my classmates who are always up to date with these matters that it’s hard for anyone to be left behind. I even had a Prison Break-inspired dream the other day (same characters, I’m one of the inmates, and the setting’s like Dungeons and Dragons instead of the usual prison), probably because of the second season finally being shown in the US (what would we people from developing countries do without Internet? Hehe)

Yun na muna…does anyone have Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux that I can borrow? I want to read it again, hehe. Although it might take a long while for me to conjure up another entry (hopefully not as disjointed as this one), I always go online and drop by to check msgs, so feel free to put anything ;)

But wait, there’s more!

As evidenced by the timing of this post, I’ve been pretty busy these days…”busy” not exclusive to academic work of course :D My fifth year, my last year in the University, with hopefully a master’s degree at the end, started just last week…

Non-University Life

Spent the last few weeks doing all my “entertainment” stuff before becoming swamped with all the homework…watched Goong again (really one of the best Korean series I’ve watched), Which Star Are You From? (this series is the cutest I’ve seen Kim Rae Won so far…highly recommended to Eds), Prison Break (the second half of the first season, ibang klase talaga! Love you Wenty!), and of course, watched Nonstop (my favorite Korean sitcom, if you’re watching Let’s Go in ABS, watch this instead) to pass the time. Already finished all the pocketbooks I’ve borrowed from Trisha, and now trying to start reading the books Miyay lent me.

Speaking of books, Aldous is sooooo falling in love with Pride and Prejudice! Welcome to the club! Also got in touch with one of my book club buddies, Aei (as one can see in my tagboard), got to read her fics at last (the last one was five years ago)

I’m going to abandon my intention to write a post-birthday entry since it’s almost a month now, haha. Here are some pics c/o Carm to reminisce:

Just want to say that it’s the hottest birthday (as in literally, ang init) I’ve had. Also went to my goddaughter Angelica Sofia’s christening last Saturday :D unang inaanak ko ‘to! Hehe…also had a wild ride in Donna’s car en route to the reception…I swear she has this road rage beneath her calm exterior…I almost prayed in her car…

Also watched Pirates of the Caribbean with Dianne and Miyay yesterday…feeling ko ang babaw ko kahapon (or I may be desperate enough to loosen up hehe)…sobrang tawa lang ako ng tawa sa lahat ng scenes! Even the shallow ones are hilarious…as usual my love Johnny Depp lived up to my expectations…can’t wait for the third!

University Life

Dunno what’s wrong, sometimes I’m excited, sometimes I’m just plain lazy…I mean, it’s 5th year, my graduating year, but I don’t feel it…yet. For this year, going through school without seeing a familiar face (aside from my classmates of course) is already normal….haaaay, I need an energy boost, to think that I have 4 romance novels on stand-by pa, haha. We also had a team building, aka 5th year bonding session, last Saturday—intense!

In fairness, I’m loving my international economics course…because so far I’m getting everything that he teaches…yun na yun! A bit pressured due to the things I have to do (I haven’t progressed much for my DBP project and I haven’t researched much for my thesis). Still a bit pissed with my school because apparently since we started the year late, we have to makeup for it…as in EIGHT sessions per course…why don’t you just kill us?!? Haaayyyy…as Anne in Anne of Green Gables would say, this is the depths of my despair.

So there, I’m trying to recall the other stuff that occurred to me but I seem to be having a writer’s block…Thank God for letting it rain again…the notable moments are those happening under the rain (dang, I’ve been reading too much romance novels…)

Gtg, wish me luck on my thesis…aja!

from hiatus...randomness...

yes, im not dead yet, bwehehe, been busy lately too much going on for the past two weeks that everytime i muster up the ability to blog, my thoughts are all random and i don't know which one i should focus on...add that to finishing 1 Jude Deveraux, 4 Jo Goodman, and 2 Amanda Quick books, watching 2 koreanovelas (and another one im currently watching, and crying and lamenting on WHY Chris Daughtry got voted off American Idol...throw in my OJT, driving lessons, and summer classes... there you go, a hectic 2 weeks... so i won't attempt to be cohesive right now in my entry, i'll just throw in whatever comes to mind at the moment

Speaking of Korean...
waaahhh...i just watched probably one of the best Korean series that i've watched thanks to Ica...it's Goong (The Palace)...contemporary setting, where the leading guy is the modern-day prince (and a sexy one at that!) and the leading gal is a commoner (yeah, lucky bitch)...what i liked about this series is that both of the protagonists are teenagers, wc is not im used to...so kinda upbeat siya (although may mga political chuva din)...haaayy...can't go on...the guy is sooo sexy, tapos two years older lang siya sa kin, bwahaha...and i LOVE the soundtrack (im very partial to soundtracks talaga, especially in korean series, so far, Perhaps Love by Howl and J in this series is the best and most apt i've heard)...hay, sobrang kinilig talaga ako, can't beat a prince who masks his hurt because he doesn't know how to act that he cares...awwww...

MTV Asia Awards for this year is soooo cool...even cooler than last year's, since we finally have Rivermaya to represent the Philippines (no one from the country performed last year, although i was happy to see Boa and Sun Yan Zi onstage)...and throw in my favorite R&B guy Se7en (my obsession is explained in the sidebar)!!!! *drool* haaay, sobrang kilig! kinda apprehensive when i heard Kang Ta is performing with Vannes Wu (im not a big Kang Ta fan, but i like H.O.T. as a group before it got disbanded), but dang, their performance rocks! no one upstaged the other! cool dance moves!

School life...
as most know, im already in my OJT...at last! it's kind of funny to think that i landed an ojt which is not in my list, oh well at least nakapag-practice ako ng interview skills ko in 3 companies....ayun lang, don't wanna elaborate on my bank life, at least project-based so i don't have to report everyday in the office...Makati is great minus the pollution and the noise, and my building is the Stock Exchange building so nagfeefeeling ako palagi, bwehehe

also started my summer class last week, shet, ang konti talaga, sobrang subdued na kami, although comfortable naman...di ako pumasok kahapon (due to the weather bwehehe...) hay, tamad

Speaking of the weather...
grabe bagyo bigla...i really welcome the coldness and the wind...sayang ung mga may planong magbeach, naudlot na...grabe ang lamig...mahilig din ako sa ulan (yes di naman ako magdradrama)...if you're so immersed with chick-lit and romance fiction, one would definitely know that the "moments" happen under the rain... yoko pang maligo

Ok! un na muna, also hung out with my college friends last wednesday to "catch up" hehe, but we all have to go early because of things to do the next day...yeah, we're being mature, knowing our responsbilities...yuck... it seems that im going to continue this hectic schedule till July (grabe may yearbook pa pala akong gagawin)...oh well...ja ne!

holy weekend...

At last nakumpleto na rin ang grades as of kagabi…so delayed celebration na ito…im officially going to 5th year! At matino pa rin ang grades ko (contrary to what I predicted), whew!

***

Been busy lately because my uncle, aunt, and baby cousin (the one I mentioned before) stayed with us for the holy week before going back to the States. Along with them, two of my aunts, and my mother’s cousin also stayed with us in order to spend more time with the family. In other words, jampacked! One of the few times na nakita kong puno ang mahaba naming dinner table, bwehehe.

The holy week also revealed something to me…I will NEVER become a vegetarian…or any other –an that involves not eating meat…I almost died for the past four days eating only fish and shells (I actually love shells, but there’s such a thing as having too much baked tahong) also because there aren’t any crustaceans (crabs, shrimps, lobsters haha) in the menu.

We spent Easter at Tagaytay since my uncle and aunt want to go around there before going back to the US. We first went to picnic grove, which was partly disappointing because we just spent 10 minutes there hehe. Although I’ve gone to the place many times when I was young through school field trips, I went because I thought we will go through the ecoadventure trail (which is this new trail cutting through the forest, with matching hanging bridge pa). Well, we didn’t go (one of the disadvantages of having adults around hehe), so technically sayang ang rubbershoes ko. I’m obsessed with going through that trail because when I was in second year, we went to the picnic grove for our school picnic. In a sudden rush of rebellion me and three of my friends went beyond the picnic grounds (I think may harang pa nun hehe)…and went through this forest, as in no trail whatsoever…so yun palaboy laboy lang…muntik nga kaming maiwan ng bus pabalik eh, hehe. Yun lang, nagdradrama lang ako, hehe.

***

Nabuhayan din ako that same day since I got to watch Bon Jovi at Oprah that night (as in naka-alarm pa siya sa cell ko)…Ritchie Samborra fan kasi ako…(oooOOh! We’re livin’ on a prayer…) then I got to watch Anne of Green Gables Part 3 which has no basis on the books whatsoever…but it’s nice to see the same actors more than a decade after the part 2 (part 2 was made in 1987 while part 3 year 2000 na)…tanda na grabe.

***

Also discovered another nice classic movie c/o TCM again…Shop Around the Corner… Ten mentioned it to me before since she saw that scene akin to the coffee shop meeting in You’ve Got Mail…sobrang sakto grabe…so technically YGM is an updated version of SATC…also liked James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan’s chemistry, haha. So love the last scene at the shop nung nagkaaminan na *kilig*

memory lane...

(made last Friday, April 7)

Back at Starbucks again…killing time before I have to do yearbook matters…

Last Monday marked the end of my senior year (to think that it’s enrollment the day after, it goes to show how late our school is in complying with requirements), as soon as I handed over my Econometrics and SocEco papers, I was disappointed to not experience a sense of nostalgia…probably because I’m still thinking I’ll be back next school year for my master’s degree…

So technically it’s hard for me lately to reminisce a whole lot about memories…except for the time when I got to watch a few Nonstop episodes that Carla willingly downloaded for me…that series made me think of the dorm life that I wished that I have experienced, as in dorm life ala US or Europe, where there are a lot of student dorms with the college in its very center. Sadly, there’s no such thing here…It also reminded me of the days when my college barkada always meet up and talk about what happened in the series.

I was looking for some bursts of inspiration that will trigger my memories (in order to make a decent post, hehe)…then I woke up two days ago and turned on the TV…voila! There is my burst of inspiration!

The Anne Experience

Movie Plus channel is showing Anne of Avonlea! For those who do not know, Anne of Avonlea is an adaptation of the successful Anne of Green Gables series penned by Lucy Maud Montgomery. What I saw was the movie sequel (there was also Anne of Green Gables the movie made by the same company). I admittedly am a BIG Anne fan…I have the whole eight books to prove it, hehe. Now this triggered memories, although this unexpectedly made me reflect on my grade school and high school days, hehe.

This series was memorable to me because it was because of this that I met my bestfriend, Kristen (haha ten, I know you’re not an internet person so asa pa ko makita mo to!). We were classmates in grade 7 (first time I had her for a classmate), then in true Mabelle fashion, I was on a corner reading my thick Little Women Apple classic…then she approached me (out of nowhere I might add…) and started chatting with me about the book. She looked at the back of the book (where there is a list of other Apple classics with the corresponding prices), and saw Anne of Green Gables. She recommended it to me and told me that it is a great book (if you think I’m a bookworm, wait till you meet her). I followed her advice, bought the book (which obviously I love, and bought the whole series hehe) and the friendship also followed :D We both got to watch the two Anne movies through Seaneen (uso pa VHS nun) when we were in high school. We even unintentionally formed a book club out of the girls in our section (pilot class kami all throughout high school), talking (mostly) about romance novels, haha.

Grade…High…College

When I was young, I remembered praying in the church (I barely reached the pew while I was kneeling) that I would grow up fast because I think college people are so cool… well, look at me now! Haha, this is evidence that perceptions may deceive people to thinking it’s the absolute reality. I got to be with my highschool barkada last week and we barely changed (I think the most overhaul that I and Kristen had was that we brush our hair more often, hehe). Same hirits, same brand of humor, same people who bag boys (in other words, Ten and I are still the ones lacking love lives), and I’m still attracted to Tamahome-looking men (my dose of anime and asianovelas haven’t subsided for nine years!). Despite my UP friends who address me bakla all the time (gay lingo talaga), it’s still the same camaraderie.

Of course there are still a few changes…we have grown (I would like to think we are more mature now) a lot, I think. Ten and I used to joke a lot about how I’m more cynical about love and she was the hopeless romantic in high school but it reversed in college (um, I don’t think so, I’m still cynical but she’s more cynical, hehe). I now drink a lot (which for me is not bad, haha), we are now more conscious of how we dress (dammit, even I’m contemplating on wearing skirts on a mall day), my friend already has a daughter, and Ten and Donnabelle are off to UP-PGH for their medical profession (Ten was so ecstatic about this, I really felt it when she called me). So if we define coolness in this matter, then I guess I got my wish.

So now I’m longing to go back to CSA…looking at our enormous field (I hope the trees are still there), where we once made impromptu MTVs with our backs on the bark of the trees, the midnight society’s (group of people who are always late in getting fetched from school, to which I am part of) flag pole, where one of the members made a spontaneous dance with the pole (I won’t go into details…), and our super long canteen (do you know that we have the longest canteen in SEA? I forgot who told me. So imagine my mortification when I saw UA&P’s caf, hehe), where we have our countless “discussions”… hmmm…

Another Pride and Prejudice entry

Warning: If you don’t give a zit about my rantings about Pride and Prejudice, do yourself a favor and don’t read on ;)

What, no end-of-senior-year entry? This might take a while…still haven’t finished my last paper (it took me four hours to do my Econometrics, a.k.a. 2^nd to the last, paper…so proud of myself :D)…anyway, this is yet to be another Pride and Prejudice entry…

I AM obsessed with it…can’t you tell? It’s the most widely read classic in the English language (or so they tell me)…anyway, despite the absence of my last paper, I was able to watch the 1995 BBC series version of Pride and Prejudice, with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle…now I can do comparisons!

I was figuratively tearing my hair apart looking for this version, then voila, my school library has a freaking copy (though I had no idea why they do, our Lit classes don’t require it that’s for sure)! Anyway, now I have a chance to watch the version that catapulted Colin Firth to stardom. For brevity’s sake, let’s label the Colin Firth version as PnP1 and the Keira Knightley (movie) version as PnP2.

I had high expectations for the series, and I think I would have appreciated it more if I had watched it first before PnP2. Possibly the main difference is that PnP1 was made for television while the other is for the big screen. There is really something wrong with PnP1 at first glance, and it took me 15 minutes to know why…they are not wearing makeup! Haha, at least it really brought a sense of realism to the version, and there were no annoying facial features (pimples, etc.) although they look so pale hehe.

What I like most about it is that it stays more true to the book compared to PnP2…although there’s this lake scene where Colin Firth dives down on the lake, gets wet (of course), then was surprised upon seeing Elizabeth on his grounds while he is dripping…I don’t think there’s such scene in the book, but entertaining nonetheless…the awkwardness was classic. There was no rain in the picturesque ruin and meeting at dawn confession unlike in PnP2 (the proposal scene actually happened indoors and the final confession of love happened while they were walking, which is really what happened).

On to the actors…though I’m not a big fan, I really like Colin Firth’s work. Even though he is not much of a looker, he grows on you (quoted from Kristen)…watch him in What a Girl Wants, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’ Diary and you’ll know what I mean. Colin Firth definitely does not look like the Mr. Darcy I imagined, but once again, in true Firth fashion, he grows on you. Compare: Colin Firth (CF) vs. Matthew McFadyen (MM)…CF is more accurate in portraying the Darcy I knew (yes, close na kami!), more stoic and proud (hence the title) than MF’s Darcy. He is more disturbing (yes, I like men who disturb me, haha) and mysterious than MF. He is also more self-assured, harder than MF. That’s why the struggle within (how he is in love with Lizzie but does not want to conceal it) the character of Darcy is also a mystery and more gratifying when the revelation happens. This doesn’t mean that I don’t like MM’s Darcy. MM is more passionate I think (the eyes speak volumes, I swear) and endearing…although the major fault is that his Darcy looks more of a misunderstood being (that it’s just his misfortune that he is perceived as proud, etc.) and that it is Lizzie’s fault that she is too prejudiced (hence the title again). Though he is indeed misunderstood because of the whole Wickham issue, Darcy’s faults are more amplified in CF’s version (ang suplado niya dito grabe), which I think is more appropriate. But I think MM looks better in breeches compared to CF, haha. I think the contrast is evident in the 1^st proposal scene…in my opinion, MF’s proposal is very touching and flattering, very poetic (of course with the matching rain and drenched hair, how can you go wrong?), almost pleading to be loved in return. It’s obvious that he loves Lizzie and he cannot deny the fact anymore. With CF’s proposal, in the confines of Collins’ house, you could really feel the insult implied in the proposal. The proposal was more direct, no BS. It really feels like it pains him to even admit that he is in love. Now I don’t know which I like better, hehe.

On to Elizabeth Bennet… I admit I prefer Keira (KK) to Jennifer (JE), the only objection I have to Keira is that she’s too pretty (which she isn’t supposed to be in the book, though she must not be ugly of course). With KK, I feel more of the spunk implied in Elizabeth’s character. I like JE in the sense that she projects a more demure Elizabeth but her words show the strength of character in Elizabeth, but she reminds me of Meryl Streep, hehe. And JE is ummm, well-endowed (if you know what I mean), which again for me is a bit disturbing.

The Jane in PnP1 is not pretty at all in my opinion, PnP2’s Jane is definitely pretty. The former is very masculine in her features with blonde hair (I even feel like she’s in drag, damn I’m so mean). I like PnP1’s Bingley better than PnP2’s…he’s better-looking, same wide-eyed innocence (quoted from Miyay), but more likeable. I prefer Judi Dench’s Catherine de Bourgh than PnP1’s…she’s more aristocratic I think. With Wickham’s character, I tell you, you’ll be more pissed with the Wickham in PnP1 than Legolas-in-soldier’s-uniform Wickham in the movie (possibly because Wickham in PnP2 has less screen time, but look at Wickham in PnP1 and you’ll know what I mean).

Damn, this is a long entry (I’m typing this in Starbucks so sue me)…I like the cinematography in PnP2, showcases more of the beautiful landscape (though PnP1 also is good in this regard). The Pemberley in PnP2 is based from the same Pemberley in PnP1…I really love it…makes me want to have a lake in my own backyard.

Both versions still have the same appeal—the hate, the attraction, the awkwardness, the longing, the holding-back, the reservations, the fleeting but intense moments—buy me a copy of the BBC version and I’ll love you even more ;) Or better yet, I have another goal: look for Laurence Olivier’s PnP version (black and white pa to!)…better start looking for it… I’ve been scouring TCM (Turner’s Classic Movies) channel for it, but all I see are nice Greta Garbo flicks (same channel where I got to watch Gone with the Wind)…hehe let’s see…

***

Yuck pahabol pa: Congrats to my best friend Kristen, Magna Cum Laude in UP Manila! Lupeeettt!

last stretch...

well, it's almost the last stretch...just had two reports this morning (wc went relatively better than i expected, especially in Soceco where the group before me was reprimanded --- kasi naman, kala namin presentation of results lang, un pala full-blown defense na pala siya!)...hay so things to do (although i don't wanna do them):

1. Econometrics paper, Econometrics finals
2. Macro Hyperwage paper, macro finals (thank God I got out of the Orals because of the contest)
3. Soceco paper
4. Resem paper and presentation (wc we're trying to get out of)
5. Finance finals (argh)
6. Ecodev class project

yun...there has been another "incident" at the front of the school, the owner of one of the buildings there was shot, broad daylight...grabe, dami kayang students nun...ibang klase talaga...

after hell...

yes!!! this week has passed...survived 3 exams occurring every other day and our ecoknowmics contest...

we got 2nd place in the contest! Congrats and thank you to my team mates, Aldous and Miyay, who contributed a lot more to answering the questions compared to me, hehe. Congrats also to Rox, who got 3rd place in the individual category (who won in more ways than one!), and thank you to Nina and Carlo who toiled in our trainings, and lastly to Lulu, Dianne, and Z who were super harassed looking for stuff for us to study.

still annoyed since the 1st place only got 5 pts. ahead of us (which is just one easy or average question right). but we did good granted that most of the questions were in micro (which we didn't expect based on the questions in the previous years). we are already ahead in the middle of the difficult round...then bang...David Ricardo...2nd place na lang hehe

thanks to all those who texted and went to UST to support us...sobrang ingay natin!

now back to reality...have a lot of papers and reports...