last school day of the year

Today is the last school day of the year.  I actually don't have any class for this day because all my teachers have declared a free cut.  So here I am typing on this multiply blog of mine.  Later, my block will be having our christmas party at TJ's condo unit.  My (and also Patrick's) contribution to this party?  Utensils.  At least I don't have to worry about what food to bring (plus bringing food is more expensive than bringing plastic spoons and forks).

Tomorrow, I'll be leaving for Iligan.  I still haven't finished packing my things.  Strangely, I don't feel excited.  Not at all.  Nothing.  Nada.  Is it because I've just been to my hometown last November?  And maybe despite the fact that I'll be having a christmas break, it's not really a break because of the 20-page english research paper I have to write.  On the other hand, there is the comfort of home.  But I don't miss it!

What is wrong with me?

oh brother

Instead of going to Gap 2 or the CERSA Christmas Party, I opted to go out with my high school friends and watch the lantern parade. While I was at the UP Diliman campus, Andrei (my eldest brother) called me and asked where I was at that time. He knew I was going to UP today and he just called to check on me. He said that I should text him when I've already arrived in the dorm. The status of the battery of my phone that time was only one bar or less.

Dominic (my brother directly before me) texted me when my friends and I were in Chocolate Kiss. The text said that he was in the sunken garden near the econ building and he asked me where I was. I promptly replied but he did not text back. Much later, while walking around the campus to catch a jeep or taxi, I heard a rather loud voice. I turned around to find out who was the source of that sound and found out it was Dominic. I uttered something like "it's my brother!". He did not notice me but one of his companions did and pointed out that fact to him. Dominic saw me and just asked whether I was going home. And that was that.

The battery of my phone was already dead after we ate in Chocolate Kiss. When I arrived at the dorm, I charged my phone. I turned it on a few minutes later and it said that I had 1 missed call and 1 message which were both from Andrei. He asked me where I was. I replied that I was already in the dorm. He replied that I should've texted him when I arrived and that I should not do that again (that is, texting him late). Some minutes later, I got a text from Sir Tim (the dorm manager) asking me if I was already in the dorm because Andrei was looking for me. I told Sir Tim that I was already in the dorm and that I already texted my brother. It seems my brother was really worried about me.

Well, that's just a glimpse of my two brothers. By the way, I still have another brother I haven't mentioned. His name is Oliver.

the list

Instead of posting my wish list, I'm posting a different thing... Here is my not-to-give-me list for Christmas:
1.mug - A mug is still a mug no matter how beautiful its design is. Besides, I already have a mug that I can use.
2.photo album - What can I put inside it? The pictures that I have are mostly digital.
3.scrapbook - I was already given a scrapbook, so I think I won't be needing another one.
4.picture frame - Again, what can I put inside it?
5.planner - I'm not the OC type. I find it tedious to write down the things that I have to do.
...
Let's just say I don't want the kind of gifts that people first think of when they want to give something for kris kringle.  I hope that sentence made sense.

funny

This has been a hilarious evening.  Why?  Just continue reading.

1. Kristine was really worried about my not-to-give-me list. She argued that my mother might have already bought me a gift which was on the list. She said I was demanding.
This is from my YM conversation with her:
kristine Patricio: you're so demanding
kristine Patricio: na nakakaiyak
kristine Patricio: i dont know
kristine Patricio: seryoso
kristine Patricio: muntik maiiyak ako
kristine is having her bouts of craziness again :P

2. I hid in Kyna's closet while she went outside of the room (yes, my frame managed to squeeze inside it). I waited and a few minutes later, she went inside the room. She opened the closet door and let out a loud shriek and said "p****g ina!". Karla and I could not stop laughing for a couple of minutes. It was so funny.

That's all :P

no to reming

Agap Bikol.  Typhoon Reming.

Helped for a few hours in the relief efforts.  Karla felt good.  I felt normal.  There is something wrong with me.  Oscar Wilde, you are partly to blame for this.

another long weekend

No classes today.  3-day weekend.  Some assignments to do for this period of time :(

Yesterday (or a few hours ago), my english block had a Christmas party at Howie's house.  I had fun, though there were periods of boredom.  Almost everyone was present in the party.  Too bad a few were not around.  I'm happy that my manito liked his present.  Coincidentally, he also picked me.  His gift was nice.  There was some booze but it was not heavy (not like the dorm parties!).  I took a sip of rum-coke, which I think tasted like cough medicine.  I only drank a little (just one glass of San Mig light, I believe).  I discovered that Erika can drink.  She can even beat the other guys at it.  There's still much I need to know about my blockmates.  I learn something new all the time.

It's 1:28 AM as I write this.  I need to sleep.

All About Death

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

back again

I am back once again in the concrete jungle called Manila. Almost all the people surrounding me are speaking Tagalog. Not Bisaya. Samok.

I got my grades today and I was somehow contented with it.

En 12 - B
Lit 13 - C+
Fil 11 - C+
Ch 1 - A
Ch 2 - A
Ma 18a - B+
Ma 18b - B+

My semestral QPI is 3.21. I needed a one-letter grade increase in two 3-unit subjects to be a dean's lister. Still, B+ in Garces is okay enough for me. I consider it a feat. Haha. Seems like the languages are my problem. Damn merit english. I'm not good enough for it and I wonder why I was put in that class. Oh well. I'll do better this semester. Note to self: stop having inferiority complex and be more confident. I'll recite more in class. Maybe it might help. My writing skills are already hopeless. Filipino was my weakest point even when I was in elementary. I don't stand a chance in the languages. I used to do okay in English in high school. However, I came from a public school that does not have an extraordinary reputation in English (read: the school sucked in English). The world is cruel. And I'm pessimistic but happy.

Memoirs of High School (unfinished)

I
always sat by the window. The classroom only contained 2-3 electric fans. I was
outside the range of the circulating air and I could only get a few wisps of
it. A breeze would occasionally pass by and bring a wave of relief. One could feel the hot and humid weather the
most during math time in fourth year.
The period was right after lunch and it was perfect for siesta time. Ma’am Balberona, the calculus teacher, talked
softly. Her voice and the warm
atmosphere lulled some of my classmates to sleep. Ma’am Tenido, the organic chemistry teacher,
also caused the same effects on the class.

We
had a period of relaxation whenever a teacher was absent. There were also times when either afternoon
classes were suspended or all classes were shortened. That means a lot of time to waste. The boys in our class would sit on the
circular benches fronting the third year and fourth year rooms. Some would bring their guitars and the others
would take turns playing the latest tune.
A couple of boys from another classroom would join them and all of them
would jam together and alter the lyrics of some songs just for fun.

* * * * *

We
had many practices. It was for cheer
dance, pop dance, other kinds of dances, plays, and many more. The frequent victim of these activities was
Karyll’s house. It had a sizable garage
where everyone would assemble and do all the necessary tasks and routines. Even if we were not finished, the helper or
Karyll’s parents would arrive and bring snacks for everyone. The usual fare was banana cue, bread, or
pancit from Lai-Lai, to be accompanied by Coca-Cola. Some people who were not satisfied by what they
have eaten asked for a nibble from the plates of those whose appetites were
easily satiated. There were times that
practices reached until 9 PM or 10 PM.
Many opted to eat dinner at Karyll’s house. I would eat at my house since I lived
nearby. Karyll’s parents were hospitable
enough to accommodate and cook food for everyone. My classmates still retained a sense of shame
and they would buy eggs, instant pancit canton, or canned goods to eat for
dinner.

One
memorable practice was for the Science Month inter-section cheer dance
competition (plus points awaited us).
The garage in Karyll’s house was not big enough to achieve the proper formation
necessary for the presentation. We
decided to practice at JD’s place because there was a huge lot near their
house. It took a lot of persuasion to
convince the guys in our class to practice.
Only when Jerese cried did they relent to our heeds. We hailed a jeepney and all of us managed to
squeeze inside it. All of us still have
not eaten dinner. Some decided to buy a
bunwich from Dunkin Donuts or a burger from the canteen. We immediately practiced the moment we
arrived. The dedicated leaders pushed us
because the contest was only a day away.
It was 6 PM or 7 PM when Karyll cried because she was very hungry and
her body could not take it anymore. The
others also started to protest and all of us went to JD’s house to eat. Karyll contentedly bit into her bunwich once
we were there. A huge tray of instant
pancit canton and slices of cake greeted us.
Voracious eaters that we were, we devoured the food in no time. Jade grabbed the tray with a few bits of
pancit canton left and asked us whether we would eat the remaining food. Having our permission, she finished it
off. With our contented stomachs, we
practiced once more, and we eventually garnered a prize in the contest.

(I
notice I have been putting a lot of things about food in this part of the
entry… I must be hungry)

* * * * *

Still
thinking of things to add… Mindanao State University
– Iligan Institute of Technology
Integrated Developmental School batch 2005-2006: help me think of more things
to write

* * * * *

Writing
all of these is the only way I could evoke the memories and reminisce it, lest
they become forgotten or buried among the weight of thoughts and worries that
constantly bombard us. Truly, high
school was the time of my life.

Break Syndrome

There is a syndrome that strikes recurrently during breaks. Those who are usually affected are college dormers. Information is gathered from sources like own experiences and blogs of other people (*cough*Mina*cough*).

Some symptoms of this disorder are the following:
1. Inability to be immediately comfortable when coming home; there is a period of adjustment.

2. Feeling alienated in one's hometown for a short period of time.

3. Missing the other inhabitants of the place where you reside during school days.

4. Confusion of the concept of home; is it your house or the dorm?

5. In relation to previous syndrome, it is the recognition of having two homes.



Care to add some more?