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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

  • Currently Listening
    Angel of Mine
    By Monica
    Angel of Mine
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    This might be a pretty long post.

    Bigger Dreams. It has been awhile since I last updated my life here. I've been online for the past few days though. I just wasn't in the right mood to write. But I guess, now is the time to be in the mood (though I'm still not.) So anyway, I've been to some pretty fabulous places this past week and most of them seem to get me more inclined to pursue my dreams.

    I will start from what happened a few hours ago, to way back last week.

    Trinoma!

    Yup. The latest addition to the Ayala Malls is finally open. I was supposed to meet Cheng at the McDo Cyberzone to talk about something about the SSG but a few minutes after I got into the SM North jeepney, Ate Nica texted me to say that Cheng called at home and said that the meeting was canceled because Ms. Awitan was nowhere to be seen and since she is the SSG Adviser, we obviously needed her.

    Nevertheless, I was already on the jeepney and Finella and I already made plans to study some Math (or perhaps, Science) at The Block (at the Fully Booked Cafe or maybe at that new cafe, Chocolat.). So there I was on the jeepney, in my tita's I COSMOPOLITAN shirt, brown skirt, and white peep-toe flats, hurriedly texting Finella about the change of plans.

    When I arrived at SM, it was about an hour 'till Finella arrived at Fully Booked. We ate at Tokyo Tokyo (Japanese forever!) and we were strolling around talking about stuff when one of us (I can't remember if it was me or her) brought Trinoma to the conversation. I immediately realized that today was May 16 and Ma said a few days ago that the opening of the Trinoma was May 16.

    So I told Finella (or did she tell me?) that we should take a look if the mall was open.

    And there it was, right before our eyes. There were already plenty of cars in the area and a lot of people were bustling about the mall entrances.

    Ha! Wait for us!

    We didn't waste another second more of hesitating. Trinoma, here we come.

    What must I say?

    I think the whole place was a cross of Ayala's malls in Makati: Greenbelt and Glorietta.

    There were lush gardens and fountains surrounded by establishments such as Dencio's and Gerry's that resembled Greenbelt's night life. Then there was the signature Glorietta Activity Center, Timezone, a hip food court, and of course, the Cinemas.

    Then zooming in the fashion shops, there was a new Crossings branch, X (for more fun prom dresses), and the will-be shops such as Jellybean.

    I can't wait to be back on Friday (where we'll most definitely watch Shrek 3 (though it was already showing today at Trinoma) and I can't wait to do my school shopping there. There was already a Hush Puppies store and an NBS and there's a really great possibility that SM would still have the majority of the crowd come later May.

    Anyway, next topic.

    The web.

    I entered my picture to WWF's tiger mosaic, their latest campaign to save endangered tigers from all over the globe (and especially in China). I've been alert on the whaling campaign of Greenpeace. I've also been actively reading the threads and posts in the "What's Happening" section of teentalk. I also want to volunteer in one of Gawad Kalinga's efforts to help others. I also want to include Rock Ed in my school.

    This obviously means that I've been a tad bit more active and alert to what has been happening around me.

    And so, for the first time since I first had a blog, I will talk about this:

    May 14, The Elections.

    It's the first time that I want to be in the know about what has been happening in Philippine politics. It's the first time that I suddenly want to know more about corruption, the pork barrel, the Hello Garci controversy, the past elections, and the backgrounds of the candidates.

    I guess it's mostly because I will be able to vote in the 2010 presidential elections. By that time, I want to make the right decision. I also want to tell everybody who is more or less my age (meaning, the Filipino youth) that they should vote to make their voices be heard. They do not have the right to complain about the current situation of the country if they do not practice their right to vote.

    I know that many would say something like, "Eh dadayain din naman ng mga corrupt na politiko yan eh, so bakit pa?" but still, they should not be indifferent about what would happen to our country. They should not let some corrupt politician to crush the hopes of many to have a better life here. Kailangan mong bantayan ang iyong boto. Pero bago mo mabantayan ang iyong boto, syempre kailangan mo munang bumoto.

    I heard a lot of stories about corruption from Sir San Diego yesterday and I hope and pray that it wouldn't happen this year. More than a hundred people died already and I really hope that the next elections would be more peaceful.

    I read in the cover of STAR yesterday that May 14 was a relatively peaceful election; only five people died. But the fact that five people died (and now, more than a hundred), isn't peaceful at all. I guess it was a relatively peaceful elections, but in 2010, let's not aim for just a relatively peaceful election, let us aim for something more.

    I wish I had joined Rock Ed's "concert for peace on the Election Day" but I've only heard of it today. But if I had heard of it earlier I would have surely gone to the occasion. Then again, I'll just go next time. Besides, at least it inspired me for a theme in this year's Himigsikan in QueSci. Scientians out there, do you agree? I hope you will. I really want this plan to push through.

    I have plenty of plans for this year's school events to not just be fun but also worthwhile and I hope the rest of the Scientian community would help me (and the SSG) achieve this.

    Confirmation.

    After years of trying to be confirmed (is that the right term for it?), Ma finally got me registered at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in UP Diliman (which incidentally was my baptismal church too.).

    At first I thought the two seminars (which is a requirement before the actual sacrament) on the whole was going to be really boring.

    I was wrong though. The first seminar strengthened my faith not only to God but also to the Catholic church. The catechists were even open-minded in our discussions about the Ten Commandments and all, and it was really nice to see that all of them were sinners (I mean, all humans commit sins but knowing that they really do makes "holy" people such as these catechists more human.). Our lecturers weren't perfect at all and some of them openly admitted that they still have doubts about some of the practices of the church and some other religious stuff.

    The talks (there were four) weren't boring also because all of them had a quite active participation from the audience. The lecturers also didn't sound like they were sermoning us (I thought the talks would be like that.). They sounded more like narrating a story. A story about God. Our God.

    And, I've found a new friend. Her name is Ann and she's an incoming third year in a private school in Antipolo.

    There will be another seminar this Sunday. I hope I learn more.

    I also found out something that I was meaning to find out for quite some time now.

    I finally had the guts to ask Pa why he doesn't go to church with Ma and me on Sundays. He answered me without hesitation.

    He told me that he was to scientific or agnostic to be exact. He said that to him there could and couldn't be a God. And whether or not there is a God doesn't matter that much. I was about to ask him something more, but I was busy contemplating on what he just told me that my next question faded as quickly as I thought of asking it.

    I think this is also the first time that I found out a big difference between Pa and I. Usually it was Ma and me who differed in views about the world, but this time, here was Pa, agnostic as I had just realized it and here was me, having doubts then and there but still having a strong faith in Christianity.

    Still, he is Pa and he will always be, and nothing can change that.

    Scuba Diving and Snorkeling at Anilao, Batangas.

    This was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. I know I have been raving about wanting to be an environmentalist and a marine biologist when I grow up but I never actually dived down there.

    So, this was what happened. A few days before Saturday (I couldn't exactly remember when,) Ma came home with a surprise that she and Tita Odette had inquired on a diving site in some resort in Batangas. Oh, and we were going (or I was going) to give it a try on Saturday.

    I was not as enthusiastic as I should have been partly because of the two Simulated Exams by the two review centers that I was attending. The UPCAT and ACET mock of Expert Guides was held last Thursday and the UPCAT mock of SCRC was held last Friday.

    Then come Friday night, I was watching Dante's Peak (a film that I shouldn't watch if I were to be having my intro dive the next day) when Cheng called to tell me that we were going to have an emergency meeting the following day, at 10 AM.

    I was really disappointed then because for a few minutes I thought the whole trip was going to be canceled. But when I received Ma's reply, she told me that we would have to push through and I should just attend the next meeting.

    A few phone calls, guilt trips, and a pretty good night's sleep later, we were on our way to Anilao, Batangas.

    I had a good peek of the place through Balai Anilao's (the name of the resort) official website and it was enough to tell me that people don't go to the place for material luxury. They go there to take a view of the beautiful sea and of course, to dive.

    But around four hours, food trips, gasoline breaks, and a jeepney ride to the resort later, we were finally there.

    And it surely wasn't luxurious if you're talking five-star hotels in the metro, but it was a damn good place.

    It has been quite a while since I last saw the sea so serene and it has certainly been a long time since I saw, stepped on, and swum on a rocky beach.

    But it was surely beautiful and I didn't expect diving to be that wonderful.

    The resort was small and it was nice to see that there were only a few people. The place quite contrasted Boracay in terms of population and overall appearance but I think I prefer the place (considering the fact that during the time I thought of that, I still hadn't gone to the water).

    Besides, it was much nearer and I saw some WWF poster in one of the lamp posts (the reason why I joined in the tiger mosaic and have the icon below the Greenpeace banner here) so it had that aura of being more environmental-friendly; something Boracay failed to impress upon me.

    After a quick lunch, the dive master gave me a quick talk about what he expected me to do (and what I should do) once we're down there.

    Then, after wearing the goggles, oxygen tank and marine socks, we finally walked to the beach and into the water slowly.

    The first time my head was submerged in salt water, I hesitated, and we had to come back to shore because some water went inside the goggles.

    There was also this factor that I was nervous to death. Sea water fascinated me, but not as much as I would dive in it and explore.

    But that was then. This is now.

    We walked to the water and it grew deeper still and this time I was less afraid. I just tried to concentrate on the marine life that I was seeing. That part of the sea (or beach) was so diverse in terms of marine life that there were already schools and families of fishes, anemones and other marine creatures when my head was one feet submerged in the water! The most exciting part however, was when we went to the deepest part of where I could go through.

    There was this huge rock that looked like a rock from afar but up close was really so diverse in marine creatures that a whole community actually lived there by the looks of it. I also saw many Nemo-looking creatures around which made my marine appreciation rise a few more notches.

    The water trip wasn't over though. Because after having the intro dive, I went snorkeling and everybody (including Ma) did too! That's when I discovered that the sea was really full of amazing creatures. I mean, all you have to do is submerge your head in the water (even if the water's only two feet deep) and you'd already see a lot of fishes!

    I have never had so much fun in my life and that dream of becoming a marine biologist is becoming more solid by the second.

    I cannot wait to be back in that place.

    Next time, I would have to take Finella and Monica and if possible, the rest of the gang with me.

    They should definitely see that marine sanctuary. I, myself would want to work as a marine biologist (and even as an ordinary individual) to protect places like these too. You wouldn't see anything like this in the city.

    Nothing could be compared to this place.


    Ha! Moving on...

    I would like to add something about what happened in my review, but I've been writing for two hours and I am really tired. All I can say is, I guess I did pretty well, but I WOULD REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARDER.

    Hmmm... I really need a planner. I guess I should look for one on Friday.

    This was one long post.

    Good Night!











Friday, May 04, 2007

  • Currently Listening
    A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
    By Panic! At The Disco
    London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines
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    The Usual Friday Post...hehe...

    It's Friday and I had time for a bit more rest than usual before reviewing again. I'm not really in the mood to review today but I still have a make-up session in SCRC tomorrow: Biology and Statistics.

    So, I really have to review. But then the review won't be 'till tomorrow afternoon so I guess it's okay to relax...

    I've been reading and rereading my header and I've just realized that it's somehow ironic to love the "heat" of the summer sun when it has become so dangerous to us, people. I mean, I know what I meant in my header was that I love summer and the sun shining and all but still it gets to me.

    As I've said in my previous posts and as stated in one of the banners in the bottom of my blog, I have recently joined and am a firm supporter of Greenpeace. I've also just recently read articles about the greenhouse effect and global warming and even melting polar ice caps and it really is just scary.

    And I can't believe few people (who are educated and who are very much aware of the consequences of these events) are taking a stand against the hundreds of pollutants that are causing these problems.

    Don't you think we should do something as early as now?

    I, for instance, have become a bit OC about lights that are turned on but are not being used and throwing the garbage in the right bin.

    Sir San Diego has been telling us all over again that we should at least throw the garbage in the right bin because he knows for a fact that many Scientians aren't doing it. But they really should.

    If you're a Scientian and you're reading this and if you have been doing what I had just stated above, please stop doing it. I mean, the least you can do to help this poor earth is to throw the garbage in the right bin, and if you can't do that... well, you're supposed to be a Science High School student...

    But that doesn't mean the rest of the world's population is excused from such irresponsible behavior. I think throwing the garbage in the right bin is a huge step forward to making this place a better place to live in... if and only if all of us are doing it.

    I have to watch Al Gore's "An Unconvenient Truth".

    I think you should too.



Friday, April 27, 2007

  • Tired, but happy!

    Yup. I am tired but happy.

    I've just about received relatively low scores (or average) in most of my review exams but I am happy.

    I've been reviewing in two review centers and I've also got piano lessons and most would think what I'm doing is toxic but I am happy.

    I'm not sleep-deprived but I need a lot of exercise and yet again, it is tiring, but I am happy.

    I haven't been online lately and going online has always been a must-do every summer and even though I can't be online as much as I would want to, I am happy.

    Though Monica, Kru, and the others are with me in our review, Finella isn't but yet I still talk to her a lot on the phone and through text messaging so I'm happy.

    I am supporting Greenpeace's save the whales project and aiding to this cause makes me happy.

    I think I will end my post here but before I do so, I would like to say a few more things.

    I am happy not because I'm in love (this was my reason around the same time last year.). I am happy because I'm learning a lot of new things, academic or not, these past few weeks and I think I for the first time in years, I'm really studying (and am going to) not for the sake of grades but for the sake of knowledge (and of course, for the college exams.).

    But I am afraid of what will happen in the future.

    Senior year is the year when most people are uncertain of what they want to do with their lives. Or probably in my case, I'm uncertain of what I am going to be in the future.

    I have to be someone whom I want to be.

    I guess, I'm just like any other person.

    I want to change the world.

nakawalak

  • Visit nakawalak's Xanga Site
    • Name: Francesca
    • Birthday: 11/14/1990
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 11/1/2006

About Me

  • "Who am I? Why am I here? Does it matter?"..."Yes, it does. We do matter. What we do matters. And that is both a challenge and a joy." ~A note from Madeleine L'Engle (New York, 1995), author of A Ring of Endless Light ...And by this statements, I hope you learned something about me...^_*

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