NO PAIN, NO GAIN

Here's a flashback of ArtStud2 accomplishments:

Sagada-Banaue-Bontoc Trip

After four stopovers, finally, we landed on the grounds of Banaue. We first visited the Tam-an village to see the town's woodcarving and souvenir shops. We next fed our tired eyes with spectacular sceneries from our next itinerary, the Viewpoint. Afterwards, we sat into the cushions of Banaue Hotel to watch true blue Igorots perform their traditional dances and music.

The next day, we traveled for 2 hours to get to Sagada. From there we witnessed the town’s legendary complex weaving methods. Of course, we bought some souvenirs from them. Then we headed for the Sagada caves. For about an hour we reached the bottom of the wet and dark cave. Afterwards, our mud-covered bodies tracked the same path to go back to safety. We securely returned to our hostel [“Come to where the flavor”] by dusk, then fixed ourselves, and packed our things. By midnight, we hit the road to return to civilization.

For three days, I found new friends, huddled great memories, and experienced a different set of adventure. Some of these new experiences are listed below:

1. Ride on the "roof" of a jeepney and get sick.

2. Sing restlessly on a trip for 2 hours.

3. Slide accidentally and get filthy and wet in a muddy cave.

4. Dance the Igorot moves.

5. Look and even get a grip of a cluster of spooky ancient bones.

6. Walk onto the wondrous Banaue rice terraces.

7. Savor and eat their pride and glory, the Banaue rice.

Stick Wit U: Music Video

Having packed our clothes and props, my group commuted to Pasig for our scheduled shooting. For 7 long hours, we kept shooting every scene with extreme patience. By 3 am, we finished our taping and concluded to wait until dawn before going home for our own safety. The following day, though lacking enough sleep, we continued shooting scenes in the Math building. Finally, by dusk we completed our purpose. Just a week after, we were able to watch our final music video.

It's just so relieving to see the finish product of your team's efforts. Having watched the video for myself, my weariness and the sacrifices I made have paid off. It wasn't the job of taking video shots or the acting part that I enjoyed most. But it was working with people having great talents that I do appreciate. Given another chance, I’d accept another trouble of making a music video to be proud of.

Art Hunt: College of Business Administration

The clue we randomly picked tasked us to find a painting that illustrates something about barter. Skimming through the next clues, we are left with our obvious destination, the CBA. I spent my night wondering its exact location in CBA. The following day, I went there only to find out that it’s placed literally at the main entrance of the college. So, that was both a save of time and sweat. By afternoon of the same day, we were able to take shots of our group with the painting as instructed.

If you are to read the pages of this semester, you'd probably agree that I couldn't ask for more. But given the power to cross time and change things, I’d say I want to improve this one tiny detail. I'd like to establish friendship with this classmate who seems very interesting. I expect you to recognize the person I’m talking about. Try to make a guess. It's free.

THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

The thought of this term finally coming to an end has sunk into my mind just now. Perhaps, the chains of tasks and grueling responsibilities blocked my mind to think of this apparent reality. But now these burdens are singly completed as days left go by, I’ll have to spend these times to ponder on the "ponderable" things.

Let me share my chem16 lab class.

I'll begin with the experiments we had. Aside from the concepts that need to be applied, what're glued up in my 1 GB memory are the meticulous procedures. And from these procedures, I was able to absorb a new truth. No matter how bright you are in chem., you would still wish help from others for assistance as well as for enlightenment.

That's why I won't easily forget the unknown analysis. It was the best experiment for me. For concepts alone won't save me; I had to utilize my resources, including those from others. Thank God for enabling me to realize this before the actual performance starts. Never imagined this would be fruitful. 10 out of 10.

One more thing, the moving practical exam has proven itself worthy to be remembered. For it requires me to use not only my brain for applications but also the confidence to pass through the talent test. Yes! I had to compose my guts so as to share my “practiceless” voice. Again, my neck was saved by this opportunity. Good thinking!

Needless to say, for four months of classes, it would be very impossible to say that we won't form a certain bonding. 16 long experiments of sharing reagents and equipments made the way for us to know one another. Thanks to our jolly prof who made all these feasible.

I enlisted in this class aiming to boost my chem knowledge. But on my way to its end, it wasn't the sole science that I learned. I was also able to appreciate the existence of abstract "chemistry" in one's life. That one which exists among people blending with, sharing with, and learning from each other.

Living a life like this while appreciating what's in store for me everyday gives me this unexplainable satisfaction. Life may be hard but it surely is fun too. Ponder on your own experiences. Think of it to believe it.

After four [?] months of waking up every 6 am of Tuesdays and Fridays, finally, from now on extended na ito dahil tapos na tapos na ang Geog1. Bago pa man mag-evaporate yung memories ko on the good things about that class, eh, bibigyan ko ng justice ang kabuluhan nito sa UP life ko.

If my memory serves me well, late ata ako nung first day. Na-shock na lang ako at jam-packed ang maliit naming classroom. Dahil, my prof's so bait. In-accept nya lahat ng prerog people. And di ako nagkamali, super bait talaga nya, mahaba pa ang patience, mahirap nga lang magpa-exam.

Sa class naman, naging very dynamic kaming lahat. Everyone participates and laughs sa bawat report. Yung tipong dinig hanggang Admin Building ang mga discussions namin sa super-duper ingay. Kaya nga lots of us nabbed high grades sa report. Kapalit nga lang nito ang pagtataas ng kilay ng mga naistorbong classes.

Interactive din naman kasi yung mga lessons namin kaya kami hyper. For once, we made our maps na naglalaman ng scraps at kabasurahan. Nag-amazing race, charade, picture perfect, and Chinese whispers kami. So, hindi na kaila sa iba ang bonding na na-form namin. Sensya na lang sa disturbance. Di namin kasalanan na boring yung mga klase sa kabila. Behlat! ;p

Before I overlook this pa, nag-field trip nga pala kami sa National Museum. Ayos. Gumala lang kami to create holocaust sa big-time na museum. Mabilis lang yung trip. Pero masaya dahil may pictures. Yun talagyan yon eh! Yun ang pinakamahalaga, para ma-document ang mga pangyayari at para na rin ma-ease up ang aming Narcism.

Nasundan pa yun ng another environmental trip, dun naman sa LB, Laguna nitong Sunday lang, March 12. We trekked the slippery when wet Mt. Makiling. Tiring nga lang because we have to return from where we started. And triple hassle pa talaga with no water to rinse off mud. But di ulit namin napalampas ang mga picture moments. Of course, kailangan talaga yun. Then, we make libot to UP LB. Madaya sila, kaya pala sila pinakamalaking UP campus kasi kasama dun ang mga kabundukan.

But yes, overall na-enjoy ko lahat. From exam results to final standing to outings, I’m fully satisfied. Geog1's in the list of unforgettable, as in totally unforgettable, classes. Kahit pa demanding yung subject, it turns out na ayos pa rin kahit burden siya sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan tulad ko. Salamat for being one of the few reasons kung bakit memorable ang sem na 'to. Sana we regularly keep in touch pa rin. Happy-happy tayong lahat. Until we meet again. Hay!

www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/geog1astig

FACT FINDING 

….......

5th of February, ’06 – Manny Pacquiao earned victory as he outmaneuvered Erik Morales in the much awaited boxing fight of the season

[13 days after]

18th of February, ’06 – An unforeseen major landslide in Leyte buried hundreds of our fellows underground.

[13 days after]     [What could happen next?]

2nd of March, ’06 – Nothing notable happened! Haha!

Believe it or not, this thirteen day pattern of conspicuous Philippine events has hurried the minds of the few.

But the question is why do some bother on contemplating things which are generally trivial? As for me, instead of considering such forecast, they could have fathomed more important national issues. Or they could've helped lessen the population of those ignorant to the current state of our mother land. It's just difficult to accept that time is wasted for nothing.

These days, opting to support a sole political force is a must. We as citizens with the gift to think, must get involve and fight for what is righteous. But this is not the current status. Hardly any follow. Indeed, this principle needs to be reinforced.

Though, I must say that up to this present time, I still haven’t made up my mind as to which side to choose. Just place yourself in my situation; I live with a family avidly supporting the existing administration as I study in a state university having the opposite stand. See what causes my indecisiveness? I am sandwiched between opposing beliefs. It’s not that I don’t own a mind to use. It’s just that listening to the biased explanation of both parties’ has drawn me into confusion. Both sides have unquestionably given out their logical points.

But this indecisiveness should not last for long. Soon enough, I’d have to choose only one even if it entails me to give up things. For one thing, I want to stand with bravery and fight for my principles. I just pray that the Lord will lead me to His right instrument/s. And I hope that I wouldn't end up being brainwashed.

Our leaders [I demand change!] with full cooperation from the citizens should settle this growing problem now. We can actually start this from erasing our recurring close-mindedness. This has been hindering our understanding for a long time. After all, having an open mind won't hurt, right?

Just a little knock on our heads will do. [I hope so]

Having a cold love life this month of hearts? Thinking and praying that a cupid would suddenly fall and help you find a date? No? Just be honest. After all, what matters today is our happiness. Forcing ourselves into having someone we couldn't really get won't work.

True love waits. If you persist on "finding" and not "waiting" for the right one, then you'll most of the time end up hurt. This seems hard to swallow and harder to apply in our lives. But just give it a thought every time you feel "alone".

One more advice: you can always watch romantic movies. But don't ingest too much of those "kilig" factors. It'll just ignite your heart again to search for love. Barely feel the happiness as if you were the couples' friend. In contrast, don't land your mind on the idea that the entire love story was like your ex's fate. This will compel you to visualize how your "ex" has easily replaced you.

[And to sum it all up, just watch and process, and then forget the whole thing afterwards.]

We don't have to go on a date. We don't need chocolates or flowers. We just wanted to be loved. Then, why do we have to push ourselves into something that is not yet set for us? If we want to feel loved, we could always close our eyes and converse with Him. It's only God who can love us exceedingly, beyond our personal expectations.

But the next time your cupid returns to meddle with your life, don't shove him away. Instead, let him do his job. Allow him to shoot the arrows of compatibility. Somehow, you might learn a valuable lesson. Just don't fail on reminding him to save the best golden arrow for the best and last one.

By the way, Happy Hearts Day! Love, love, love.