A Post for 2010

I don't have a single post for 2010. The blog title says "20 years old and counting", and here I am, going to turn 22 this 2011. Hence, I am going to devote this post to the year I graduated, entered the "real world", and turned 21. I'm going to make my descriptions brief because I'm cramming a whole year into a single entry.

1st Quarter (January to March)

The months of January and February were my final months as a real student. Selling vegetables was the most memorable and most painful school requirement for me. I never liked waking up in the wee hours of a Sunday morning and ending it by 9 PM. Saying goodbye to Philo classes with Jean Tan was a great relief. I regret I took her class. For finals week, I cannot remember much. It was kind of a blur and I already knew I was not going to be cum laude.
March was a very relaxed month. A few job interviews.. And my first job interview was with McKinsey of all companies! Well, I got rejected. But I'm glad Chris Beshouri was kind and honest enough to tell me that the career is not for me (goodbye to the P150,000/mo salary though :( ). For this month, I had my first silent retreat and the "it's wild men!" Laguna trip. I don't think the silent retreat made me more spiritual, but it was a good opportunity to reflect in solitude. If I could go on another silent retreat, I would (and I might make it 5 days) :)

Laguna trip was an adventure! The PoPeR (Poor People Roadtrip) group really took the pauper theme to heart by commuting all the way, not to mention mishaps like Verns's sprained ankle.
What else conspired during the month of March? Grad ball (awarded as the temptress :|), Blue Roast (gave my rose to Chu), graduation (graduated Honorable Mention.. still a good feat).

2nd Quarter (April to June)

"Welcome to the real world she said to me, condescendingly..."

Ah yes the real world. I knew I would reach this stage. But before that, there was the Davao escapade with the dormers :)
Job hunting was a tough time. It's not easy, I swear. I hate how the Ateneo faculty conditioned us that ME students were in demand. Well, I have to admit, we can get a job, but not in the ones we desire (which are usually management trainee programs). It deflated our ego, but maybe it was all for the best. But I have to admit that period was depressing.

3rd Quarter to 4th Quarter (July to December)

I really like to thank PLDT for giving me the opportunity to be part of their company. It was the first decent job offer I grabbed (sorry Ayala Land, but your offer was just too low for someone from the province). I met new friends, got mentored by a great boss, and learned some new things. But the company and the job just wasn't for me. And luckily, I was accepted in a company I greatly admire (and I'll be starting in it this January 17!). Thank you PLDT for giving me sanity when I needed it the most.

Other Notable Things to Mention

- CSI Nights
- Organika
- T2
- Dormers
- HS Friends
- Bohol :)

Probably My Only Post For this Year

My first entry was about my mother's longing to see her own children get married and produce grandchildren. One year later, nothing has changed. I just find it annoying that being a single 20-something is seen as a problem by some. It's not my priority right now and I wish people would let the happy single people go on with our lives. And hey, if it comes, it comes.

Months Ago...

My siblings and my mother just finished watching Mamma Mia

(the conversation went something like this)

Mother (to me): When you get married, I'll surely help in planning your wedding
Eldest brother: No, I should be the one planning your wedding. For sure, I'll do a better job than mama.

Me (thinking): okay... :|


It was during this time that the daughter of the close friends of my parents got married. I was 19 this time, and my 3 older brothers (aged 23, 25, 27) were all single. The only brother that had a girlfriend that time is unattached at present. Children of the friends of my parents (who are within the age range of me and my siblings) are getting married and/or having babies. My mother has 3 best friends and 2 of them are already grandmothers (the other one is single and unmarried). My mother really wants to have her children getting married. I swear she also wants to have grandchildren.

I'm still 20 years old right now, and I'm not entertaining thoughts about getting married and having children. Sorry to disappoint you mom.

looking back: Delta Site

I received an email from yahoo informing me that all websites made in geocities will be closed.  So I took one last look at the site I made back in 2nd year HS.  It was supposed to be my personal website for my 2nd year section, but it became a links page for Neopets freebies.  Hahaha.  I had fun looking at the tagboard, the people and the subjects part of the website.  I had the most fun with the subjects part as I read the description I made for each subject.  Even back then, I was sarcastic (e.g. "Have fun in Chemistry with its happy long hours of laboratory work and its very easy tests.  How could you not fail in Chemistry when it's this fun?").  And even back in 2nd year, Ian already occupied internet space (e.g. "Single-sealed organisms or single-celled organisms, that's part of our lessons in Health.  For more information about Ma'am Makara's pronunciations, just ask Ian O. Palermo.").

It was also fun looking at the love teams back in high school.  I'm pretty sure almost all or if not all of the mentioned love teams are no longer relevant.

LOVE TEAMS:
Jesther and Geraldine
Arjay MJ
Melvin and Keith
Paul Sheen and Marnelle
Neil Mark and Jerese
Zachary and Kristy

Here's the About Delta portion:

"Delta is the first section of the second year Pure Science Curriculum in MSU-IIT Integrated Developmental School.  There are two curriculums in 2nd year, the Pure Science  and the Applied Science, and both are science curriculums.  The sections in Pure Science are Delta and Epsilon while the sections in Applied Science are Zeta and Omicron.

        People think that the students in Delta are quiet and serious.  Some of us are serious (*cough*Lolo Jesther*cough*) but most of us are not serious.  There are times when all of us are serious, like studying for an upcoming test or just copying the homework of other people.  Another thing, we are not quiet.  Well, maybe some of us are quiet but many of us are really very noisy.  Why is Delta noisy?  Fact is that many of the noisy people from the different sections in 1st year have merged into Delta.  I think that's all that I can say of my beloved section and hope you enjoyed what I wrote."

---> The way I wrote was so immature.  But then, weren't all of us very immature back then?

Oh yeah, the guestbook contained lots of very amusing entries like:

"What is your name?

ian_soy_f8_k8

Please enter your comments?

wla lang...soysoy love neil mark
ian love marnelle
faith love ------
keith love sr ayop"

"What is your name?

emma despi

What is the title of your website:

florante at laura

Where are you from?

bisong sa akong mama [buang :))]

Please enter your comments?

day angeli, musta man"

"What is your name?

ian

Where are you from?

palermo

Please enter your comments?

hello....i would like to greet my classmates in ateneo...lav ya.." [wah Ian, ako na nuon ang na-Ateneo. hahaha]

senior's syndrome?

I've been catching up with high school friends the past few days.  One common topic in our conversations is on what will happen to us after we graduate.  We can't help but talk about it - we're already 20 or turning 20, and many of us will graduate in a year's time.  That reality just seems so near.  I don't want to think about it yet.  I don't want to.

Do You Remember 01: Kinason

Memories that make one smile or laugh :D


Kadumdum pa mo atung magsturyahay ta sa high school na walay limtanay pagdako natu?  Basta naabot ta ug sturya kanang dako na kunuhay ta dayun ang mahitabu kay successful na kunuhay kaayo ang usa dayun makatagbo dayun ug usa na tindera or tindero na lang diay sa merkado.

Kadumdum lang ko ani kay gatabi mi ni Kara.  Ana ko niya na walay limtanay maskin matindera na ko ug isda.  Naabot dayun mi atung si Jepoy mamaligya na lang ug kinason.  Hahaha.  Wala lang.  Nalingaw lang ko sa kinason :))

Play By The Rules

If you comment on this blog I will:

1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you which song or movie you remind me of.
3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle you in.
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.
5. I'll tell you my first memory of you.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll ask you something I've always wondered about you.
8. I'll tell you my favourite thing about you.
9. I'll tell you my least favorite thing about you.
10. If you play, you MUST post this on yours.

that ym bug again...

Don't you just get annoyed of receiving YM messages such as this one?

"Hey , been a while since I found something this awesome. It let me drop 21 pounds in two weeks and only cost me 5 bucks. Check it out here http://wadebake.com"

One Good Day Coming Up!

So I was not able to catch the service bus today.  Good thing my father drove me to Fuentes, up to the point where cars are able to pass through.  While I was walking across the makeshift bridge, I saw the bus (because there's a smaller bus on the other side that drives workers to the company) moving away.  Gah!  I don't know why I did not decide to just pay a motorcycle driver for a ride up to the company.  I just decided to walk up the stairs, lugging my laptop backpack with me.  It turned out to be a tiring walk O_O  Did I mention that those stairs also had the 14 stations?  It seems I need to have penitence early in the morning

rainy days and mondays, and agus bridge broke down

This day has got to be the most interesting work day so far.  I doubt I can have this experience if I had my OJT in Manila.

Early this morning, someone planted bombs in the bridge in Barangay Buru-un (the one we have to cross if we want to go to Ozamis City, Linamon, Timoga, or in my case, the company where I work).  Others said the blast was even heard in the part of the city where I’m residing.  I was probably too asleep because I never recall hearing any bomb blast (Baka sanay na sa terrorist training? Joke! Di ako terrorist. Hahaha).

I first heard this while I was onboard the company bus.  My father did not have an inkling this happened because I had to hear it from someone else (OT: He did not even know that Uni City got bombed until I asked him about it the day it happened).  The bridge was deemed unfit for vehicles to pass through so we had to get off the bus and wait to walk across it instead.  Other people were also lining up to cross the bridge.  While lining up, I happened to meet my high school friend Hanilyn (that’s one more high school classmate I’ve seen since I arrived here).

We had to wait for an hour just to be able to cross the bridge.  They only let 5 people cross it at a time, for fear that it might collapse if too many people walk across the bridge.  Others opted to ride pump boats to be able to cross the bridge because they were too tired to wait.  At first the rate was P10/person but it later increased to P20/person (Supply and demand in action!).  It was interesting to observe everything that was happening while I waited to get across:

- The mayor was there busy doing mayor-ly stuff.  He even rode the pump boat for I-don’t-know-what reason.

- The person in charge of letting people through was visibly agitated.  He was shouting stuff like: people should only line in the middle area; those in the sides should go away lest an ambulance run over them, and the only ones who can be seen is him (kay gwapo daw siya) and the other authorities; the highway said that people can no longer cross the bridge (He meant DPWH, but I find it funny because it’s as if he’s saying it’s the inanimate object that is the highway who’s giving the command); then a minute later he says people can cross the bridge K.

- The reporters I first saw enter the site were foreigners.  ABS-CBN arrived later, then followed by Bombo Radyo.

After all the waiting, it was finally my turn to cross the bridge.  They gave me a wooden stick as my ticket.  While crossing, I took pictures of where the damage was (Too bad I left my USB connector back in the dorm, so I can’t upload my pictures).

What an interesting day to start the week!

On the other hand, we need to be vigilant during these times.  So watch out for those papaya bombs!

During Holy Week

Scene: Living room with mother and all 3 brothers.  We just finished watching Mamma Mia!

Mother: Kung magpakasal na ka, ako biya himoag wedding planner ha
[Kung magpakasal ka na, ako ung gawin mong wedding planner ha]

Kuya: Ayaw si mama. Dapat ako noh
[Huwag 'pag si mama. Dapat ako lang]

Scene: Next day

Kuya: Strict biya ko kung ako ang magplano. Maskin kamo ni mama ako sigurong makasab-an.
[Strict ako pag nagplaplano. Baka kahit kayong dalawa ni mama mapagalitan ko]



I don't even have plans of getting married.  Now there's one more reason not to have a wedding

Buotan Nga Iliganon

BUOTAN NGA ILIGANON

I

Ang tanan nangahanaw
Sa pagsakop sa adlaw
May usa nga nagpakita

II

Sa layo may misidlak
Bulawanong kahayag
Bu-otan nga Iliganon

III

Ikaw ang Iliganon nga Bu-otan
Nagpakita ka sa imong kaanyag
Dad-a ang maayong pamatasan
Kay aron ikaw mabulahan

IV

Aron I-uban sa atong mga damgo
Gihigugma ko ikaw


=))

attention IDS batch mates

*note: IDS refers to my high school

laag? outing? anything lined up for this summer?

I'm so bored here. Hahaha

15 people

Just catching up on all the tagging done to me in Facebook.  I just don't feel like posting on Facebook though, so Multiply na lang. I'm doing this while I'm checking on the status of the room's defrosting refrigerator.

THE RULES
a. Write something about 15 different people
b. You can NOT say who they are
c. If someone asks you which one is about them, you can NOT tell
d. Tag 15 people who you think would do this, too. You don't have to tag the people you wrote about* (nakakatamad magtag, so I choose not to follow this rule)
___________

1. Play-doh buddy

2. Malandiiiii, hottah hottah, assets, etc.

3. Kyna and Claudia (and also Kristine) know who this is

4. Loser L-) :P

5. Para kang little brother.. *gulo* *gulo* *gulo* :P

6. Choice of song during Rock Band: "My Sharona". ahahaha

7. Favorite character: Winnie the Pooh

8. Ang plastic mo.

9. Dr. Igsu ;)

10. I am excited to see you when you'll visit the Philippines

11. Blog ala ______ >:)

12. Wag ka nang mag yosi

13. "Okay lang" (in a monotonous voice)

14. The pork for "pork and beans"

15. Forever groupmate. Sumo na ka ug dagway dah. Joke! Hahaha

puhr-soh-nah-lity kwiz

Taken from the Facebook entry of Mich :)

Instructions:
1. Open this website : http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx
2. Take the Personality Quiz (it's VERY short and easy, really)
3. Copy Paste the result to Facebook (or in this case, Multiply).
4. Tag your friends including me... (too tired to tag... hahaha)

Your view on yourself:
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love:
You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.

Your views on education
Education is less important than the real world out there, away from the classroom. Deep inside you want to start working, earning money and living on your own.

The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:
You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

2nd sem surbei

FREEDOM!

To Dyl: Here is your desired survey

Who was your favorite teacher?

- Marijo Ruiz :) (No offense to Sir Aly though because he is also a good teacher.  It's just that he was the one who recommended Marijo.  Also, he's been my teacher for two terms already).

Who annoyed you the most this semester?

- Hmm...

Who did you sit with at lunch?

- Either dorm mates or block mates :)

most memorable moment of the semester?

- The feeling of relief after the Marketing panel defense

Which period was the most boring?

- Makehting

Were you were most likely to fall asleep or not pay attention?

- Not pay attention

Which class did you get the most homework?

- Operations Research

Which class were you the most hyper?

- Six Sigmaaah

What was your favorite class?

- Operations Research :D

Did you like lunch?

- Of course. Although I prefer sleep over eating :))

Do you like going to school?

- I live in the school.  I cannot hate my second home (literally second home).  Hahaha

What teacher do you dislike the most?

- Two teachers to be exact.  I just won't say who.

summarize your semester in FIVE words?

-Most Tiring Semester So Far

what do you hope next year is gonna be like?

- It will be more tiring, but I hope I can handle the pressure.  Also, I hope to graduate with latin honors *crosses fingers*

How Apt...

This was taken from my horoscope:

The Bottom Line

Be patient about a new opportunity. It might take longer to come than you thought.

I'm still anxious about having no OJT offers.  What a timely statement for me.  Well, I do hope I get an offer to work here in Metro Manila.  The suspense is killing me

Wanted: Model

Is there anybody interested in modeling for a photo shoot (for free)?  I'm helping out a friend for a photography project.  He is part of a photography team called Certain Kind of Hue.

According to him, their shoot will be a kind of "editorial", in the sense that they will interpret a certain issue/topic/subject through photographs.

Just e-mail, YM or PM me if you're game :)

:(

I know you worked so hard and did your best.  Maybe it's just part of a greater plan.

why read?

taken from Zafra's blog:

Life Extension Systems

At the awards lunch for the Philippine Star and National Bookstore’s “My Favorite Book” contest at Le Souffle, the jurors were asked to talk about their own favorite books. I was about to go with my default settings—The Catcher In The Rye, The Great Gatsby—but the more I thought about the question the less decisive I got. I’ve read a bunch of books since Catcher and Gatsby and loved them. There’s A Sport And A Pastime by James Salter, Love In A Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford, A Handful Of Dust by Evelyn Waugh. Dostoevsky’s The Idiot took me a year to get through, but I loved it. And Persuasion and Dune. I love Tess of the D’Urbervilles, the Old Testament, The Ogre by Michel Tournier. Catch-22 knocked me flat, as did The Age Of Innocence. Why do I have to choose? It’s like being asked to choose which one of my cats I would save from the gas chamber.

I got to thinking: Why do I read? That seemed an easier question. And I figured that I read because I only have one life and much as I love it, I don’t like the limitation. So I read books, especially novels, for the extra lives. By my reckoning, a good novel is an extra life lived. I’ve never fled Moscow at the approach of Napoleon’s army, but I know what that’s like. As a child I never met an escaped prisoner at a graveyard and helped him get away, but I know what that’s like. I didn’t personally fight in the Trojan War, figure out a way to end it, then spend ten years meeting cyclops, sirens, witches who turned my crew into swine, before getting home, but I remember the experience as if I’d lived it. That’s why I read books. Don’t make me choose one.

It reminds me of the question on what book prompted me to start my love for reading.  The fact is, I don't remember any particular book.  I was just drawn to the experience of reading when I was young.

It's been a long time since I've actually read a novel.  I miss reading