Biking and Bruce Lee Exhibit @ Hong Kong Heritage Museum 08292015

On the morning we planned to bike, it rained hard and I was afraid the plan will not push through. I've always wanted to bike, to feel the grounds while pedaling instead of walking and running, for a change. In my recent trip to Hong Kong I did just that but with rear bike trainers because I'm just a beginner and I'm not yet used to cycling and yet I biked some 20 km though not a traverse.

By the time we exited Sha Tin Wai Station, the rain had not yet stopped. We spent [read: wasted] time waiting for the rains to let up while engaging in conversation with the boys manning the bike rental shop across the MTR station. That plus a few arguments because they misunderstood us. I was already in a foul mood, mirroring the weather. So we all decided to visit the Hong Kong Heritage Museum first to check out the exhibits but I was sad to say that we didn't go around to see everything. There was a a temporary exhibit on Bruce Lee's life and we only came in for that. [Sad because there was also an exhibit in Chinese paintings but they were in a hurry to bike when the sun was out. #cries]

Photos were not allowed inside the gallery because it contained Bruce Lee's personal items on loan temporarily. While many of us know Bruce Lee as just one of the greatest kung fu artist in films, it should be noted that this man was also instrumental in making kung fu popular in the West. I have seen his academic records and he is pretty much an average student BUT he has an entrepreneurial mind with a clear vision. What I found interesting is that he is also a very insightful person with very little regards for anything shallow. He hates parties, the things that go with fame which separates him from his beloved wife and children many times, but his is a passion unsurpassed for his chosen field. That passion brought him to achieve the status of a legend for which he is known today.

Needless to say, his life provides much inspiration. Born in San Francisco, USA, he grew up and went to school in Hong Kong. He went back to the US to pursue his college studies and he met his wife Linda Emery there. What endears him to me and what I find common in us is that we both love reading, writing, and reflecting on things. He even wrote a poem "Walking along Lake Wash", incorporating many elements like the moon, the water, merging water and sky... common motifs I also use in my poems. Reading it, I felt like I should really read more about him as I might pick up a thing or two on how to also achieve my dreams. His is a philosophy that merges learnings from martial arts to everyday life. Also of note is his notebook, with clear legible handwriting in cursive form. Here he noted down cha-cha steps in a methodical way. 

After that quick museum visit, we proceeded with biking. Fresh air. I made sure to breathe very deeply because I seldom get a chance to have such fresh air. It also helps that we biked after the rain. And so we were treated to awesome city sights as we pedaled on the bike trail overlooking Shing Mun River.

heart-shaped rock art in Ma On Shan beach

stopover at the beach in Ma On Shan

where we had snacks of siomai and fish cakes

 Many times I would find myself almost falling over and I could feel my cousins being worried about me. I told them that I only bike around in circles in a very small area in UP. LOL. I do that without trainer wheels but well, its more manageable because I don't have to worry about cars and people. Here it was different. We crossed streets. We biked with other bikers. We had to be alert lest some overtaking jerks send us flying to the river. One thing I learned is to focus. Biking may just be the very thing  to help me work on getting a focused mind. Another thing is that a relaxed mind creates wonders. It helps that we passed by many picturesque views.

I LOVE reflection photos :)

one more reflection photo

 On the way back to my aunt's house, I could feel my butt hurting. It was my first time to bike that far. It was an awesome experience and one for the books [in my opinion LOL]. But I know that once I go back to Manila I will crave that pain, that I will certainly miss the tiredness, the sweat, the minor panic attacks, the adrenaline rush...

And my aunt, a very good cook, must knew how tired we were. We were treated to a sumptuous dinner of shrimps and  vegetables. YUM!!!

dinner after a tiring yet fun-filled day

Read: My Hong Kong 2015 in a nutshell
------------------------------------------------------

I will have to thank IB for teaching me the basics of bicycling. And I hope that my other friends who promised to teach me how to bike will keep their promise. Except maybe they lose patience because I can be a scaredy cat sometimes. M invited me once to bike along NLEX and I had to decline her invitation because 1.) I don't have a bike 2.) I don't think I can bike that easily with cars moving on my side. @.@

I am so proud of my cousins for being such courageous bikers. I wish I could be like them... except I was so sheltered when I was young. #cries [This brings a resolve to never do the same to my children... But okay, I need a lover first. #criessomemore]

One Direction

So this month I finally decided to quit being a drifter. The years following my highschool graduation have been spent in fantasyland, with me not owning up to my shortcomings, thinking I would be okay and that I would do well in any field. The message from my peers and teachers in highschool about me being able to excel in anything has, despite the good intentions, drove me to be complacent and mediocre. While I found myself being good in the fields I entered, I knew deep inside that I could have done better.

Just that I got distracted a lot. Just that I loved too many things too much. The humanities--- the arts, literature, music; mathematics, science and technology, the outdoors. People often comment about how well-rounded I was. But they do not know how this has impeded me from achieving my true potential.

Take math and logic for instance. Those were my favorite subjects (alongside English) but come college I would choose foreign languages although many times I thought of shifting to Math or ComSci had my parents not been too strict with me when it comes to financial matters. Back then all I thought about was finishing my course to land a job, earn money, then travel the world.

But such linearity does not suit me because right after graduation as I was taking up Trigonometry, I chanced upon the announcement at ASP about grad school application. Without thinking, without even a plan, I submitted the requirements and found myself toiling hard with coursework while joining fieldworks and making sure I work hard to earn money on the side. Those were difficult times because I literally came to know what "hand to mouth existence" means. Sometimes I would feel as though I were wasting my time attending classes where I leave the class not even a bit wiser, or wasting my youth getting sun burns and insect bites which, according to my mom, is a ridiculous thing to do when I should be taking care of my fair skin thanks to her genes.

In hindsight, I guess what I truly got from those two years was not archaeological knowledge and knowhow but the construction of character. Had I not delved into archaeology and met different kinds of people, I would have remained the world's most naive person. My friends still think I need to work something out to balance my naivete but they often remark that at least I am learning. If there is one thing I learned it's that people will use you as much as they can if you let them. It took a while before I learned to say no. I was just too naive and stupid to think so nobly of others, that they won't ask for help unless they reached their limits. Apparently I was too locked in my own thoughts that my ideas I project unto others. Until concerned people noticed. Until I felt the unsettling feeling of carrying too much burden, burning myself out in the process.

For a change I decided to finish my diploma course and quit. I have to see what the corporate world has to offer, to see for myself if it's really a jungle out there with all the nasty gossips and ugly politics. I entered in all my naiveté. A whole new world full of pretentious and insincere people. But I also consider myself lucky finding friends in the corporate jungle. I used to think that everybody could be my friend, until I learned about people with two faces. I was aghast. I became cautious, and now I learned how to filter people that enter my life. I wouldn't have been forced to learn that had I not experienced what the corporate world is like.

Even with all its negativity, I would have to say that my experience in the corporate world has been invaluable. There I learned to tap into my erstwhile unknown pool of knowledge. The things I never thought I could do, I did there, forced by circumstances. Because in my mind, I am getting paid to do my job, but deep inside of me, exceeding expectations has been the default. Because I always think that there's a better way to do things, that we can all grow and learn even though on the surface everything already looks perfect.

Stretching myself further from the apparent limits I used to set on myself has been a double-edged sword. I got immersed in many things and my desire for continuous excellence drove me to explore more at the expense of the things I have loved doing. Many times I wish I could do kagebunshin no juutsu to do many things but at the end of the day is the realization that I am no Superwoman, that I am a mere mortal who must prioritize or perish in an overwhelming ocean of possibilities.

Today receiving two emails from a university I applied for, I am more determined to complete the requirements to make myself eligible for the program. This month I resolve to have one direction: work on my deficiencies and leave all unrelated things in the backseat.

I will not be young forever so I must hurry to achieve my childhood dreams before it is too late. Recently I have just turned down many travel offers because I need to focus more on building skills and competencies for my future self. This with the consolation that I have traveled a lot anyway the past 3 years. Not that I am quitting my backpacking adventures, just that there will less of them in the coming months.

For now, my objectives include working on my huge backlog: 2014 (HK and South Korea) and 2015 travels (SG, MX, numerous local trips), practicing the violin and keyboard, and continue studying Japanese.

Stressed

I haven't been blogging a lot since the year started. Funny how one of my plans this year was to increase my blog posts but I found myself unable to do so due to my commitments.

A volunteer project is to end in four days and this month saw me racing against time to contribute as much as I can. When before my laptop was largely ignored in favor of my tablet just so I could read the news online, in April I worked nonstop on days when I came home early from work. There were just too many photos to edit and to upload, too many articles that need to be updated and created. I even allotted one Saturday and Sunday to just stay home and work on backlogs, same as what I am doing now as I type. [I'm taking a break from editing pics!]

Earlier this month I was able visit the light of my life and as soon as I finish all the requirements for the project I'm going to pay her another visit. I haven't been receiving news of her lately and everyday I think about her, stress slowly creeps into my system.

No wonder lately I have been experiencing morning sickness. It's very inconvenient especially when one is not accustomed to taking sick leaves. But what the hell, when you're attacked by it, you have no recourse but to stay in bed and wait until the headache subsides then you decide whether to report for work or not. It just so happens I need to do many things at work, too, since we're on a transition period (at least I think so...). 

And I blame those morning sicknesses to stress.

Not that I'm totally being affected. But you know how much work needs to be done and you can't just sit still and relax. I do that but only to prepare myself for nonstop work after. So my weekends have been allotted lately to just mapping and/or relaxing at home. No adventures for now until I finish all the requirements. Besides, I love what I'm doing, I love seeing my outputs. I love going down memory lane, laughing at the crazy misadventures and... the thought of meeting kindly souls in this materialistic world warms my heart.

And stress. People view stress as something negative. I don't. It's one of the ways to advance human civilization. It pushes one to act, to create a difference when nobody wants to step up to do all the dirty work. It is a means to improve one's self, not just in terms of managing it, but also in terms of making priorities. Ultimately, a healthy dose of stress is needed to keep ideas flowing.

Lately I am engaging in more musical activities than ever. I need music nowadays to relax and to soothe my [just recently broken] heart.

____________________________

More adventures once I finish the project. I miss the mountains and the sea!!!

Reminders

It's been a looooong time since I wrote something here in my blog. Just that for the last couple of months I had been too busy with a lot of things. Not that I am complaining; we all know getting busy is the best cure to a single heart. But because I was suddenly flooded with chores and there were just too many events I could not say no to (thus most times I would just end up in bed as soon as I arrive home), I have unfortunately neglected writing altogether. In fact even my non-digital diary is suffering from blank pages so I guess I'll have to find a way to spend time alone to rethink the recent past and to put them on paper.

Just why the obsession to accumulate records, you might ask. This is actually a project I have taken, a personal project supposedly, but which I don't mind sharing with strangers on the net. The reason being there is a huge chance that I'll end up a single woman and I hope that if that happens I can look back and see what I've done here on earth. It's just to somehow cushion the harsh blows of reality and see in my old age that at the very least, I tried to live a fruitful life despite the immanent chaos and the lack of meaning. It's a record of struggles and happy times, of different experiences which helped make life bearable, which somehow pushes me to live again tomorrow, and the day after....

In short, this blog is a reminder of things done and of things yet to be done.

For instance, some of the things I should have written about are:
1. My first ever time to join a group of strangers in a trek to a waterfalls in Laguna. At first, I was scared alright but before the day ended, I felt as if I have known some of them for a long time already.

2. My trip to HK where I got to hang out with my cousins whom I haven't seen for soooo long. I think it's been almost 20 years! And I got to know our other relatives there. Big plus includes getting to hike twice in that place known for shopping and Disneyland. And how can I forget the four museums that I visited??? Never mind the fact that my itinerary was ruined because of visits to relatives but oh well, we never see each other that often. I just wished I was able to prepare something really uniquely Filipino like for example cloth from Ilocos and the like as gifts for them.

View of Hong Kong from the Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsui

3. Chino's violin recital last month where I was left utterly impressed. There just is something in him now that is sooo attractive. Well it helps that he decided to do away with the moustache hehe. I also discovered that he's soft-spoken. (I wonder if he'll be annoyed at me if he were to know me better since I'm too boyish and too well, too unladylike, in a word.)

4. The books I have finished reading but which I did not have time to write reviews. Oh well, it's not as if I was able to read many books these days given my ultra hectic schedule.

5. The conference I attended last month where I presented my paper. On second thought I might not write about it since there really wasn't much to say except that I was extra happy to have received free books for being a presentor. The books are in Filipino and are composed of essays on Philippine literature. Welcome addition to my already gigantic book collection. (reminder to suggest to the parents that I NEED big bookshelves in our room. I hope the sisters do not mind.)

6. The advanced Christmas wishlist. Doesn't matter if year after year I do not get the things I truly wish for but what the heck, making one is fun JUST BECAUSE. (never mind that nobody reads it or takes note of it. LOL!)

So there. Backlogs again so I'm not writing about my recent food trips except of course Ganeeza in Fisher Mall since I think I knew what 'love at first sight'... I mean, BITE. I now know where I can find some comfort when depression kicks in. And oh yeah, I prefer to shop there than say SM. SM is just too damn crowded I'm always eager to get out the moment I enter.

So anyway, this post just ended up with a few reminders (or things my readers can expect in the days to come).

Note: I can't believe I just blogged using my tablet. Maybe I ought to do this more often so I can blog anytime anywhere.

February

Today is the first day of March. I just came back from Bohol, tired and sleepy but just the same, eager to blog about this trip which I took with an officemate with whom I wasn't really that close but we do exchange jokes and pleasantries when we see each other. However, I'm feeling a bit lazy and can't seem to find in my heart to organize the photos I took, much less to edit them and create collages.

So here I am blogging about February instead. January was well spent travelling and attending lectures related to archaeology. In February, the focus is travel again. The last day of January saw me being absent at home for Chinese New Year and then succeeding days were spent in Catanauan where I was a visiting volunteer. It was my first time to excavate a burial amidst the sands so I made sure to be extra careful and just use wooden sticks. I so miss volunteering in the field full time but I'm afraid I might be fired if I would request for leave of absence for a month. Besides, I need money badly to fund my travel plans so I still don't see myself quitting my job at this point.

took a photo of this wonderful view of clouds being reflected in Caliraya Lake in Laguna while on the road

Last month, aside from Catanauan, I finally was able to climb Mt. Pulag. The trek was okay because of the gentle slope but the FREEZING cold is something that one must really prepare for. My friend and I didn't prepare for the climb physically but we did finish it. Unfortunately, we saw no sunrise nor sea of clouds so I'm thinking of joining another Mt. Pulag climb and won't stop until I see the famed sunrise and sea of clouds with my own eyes.

view upon descent, near parking lot

Also, my trip to Bohol is my second time to go to Visayas  (like what I've said above... I'm getting repetitive, maybe I should just sleep...) Anyway, we didn't go to the usual tourist spots like the famous Chocolate Hills, but just went to visit the churches destroyed by a very strong earthquake late last year. That, and also the beaches since Visayas really have the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines (I think... I can't be sure of this but of all the places I've been to, Palawan and Visayas seem like paradise and perfect for snorkeling.) It was heartbreaking to see some of the churches in their present pulverized state. On the brighter side, I got to explore one cave in Panglao--- the Hinagdanan Cave where one can swim in its cool waters.

aerial view of Bohol, taken form plane

My trip to Bohol allowed me to get on the motorbike. No, I didn't drive (I don't anyway...). But still, since it was my first time to ride as a motorbike passenger, it was very wonderful. I love the speed, the wind, even the noon time sun that scorches everything and burning my skin in the process. At night when the temperature has dropped down significantly, we still hopped on the habal-habal and looked up at the sky full of stars. After the ride, we couldn't help but think how ugly Metro Manila is for its polluted atmosphere thus preventing stargazers from doing what they love most.

So in the coming days I will be posting about my Catanauan trip, my Mt. Pulag experience, and of course, Bohol.

And because of my many travels, I have finally amassed many travel must-haves. I finally bought a four-season tent which can house two persons. I have bought a new compass, a pair of aqua shoes, more carabiners, and a stainless bowl (for camping). Now I can definitely go camping and just eat processed food in tetra packs (ugh! I hate those, really, but if camping I will have no choice.) That is, unless I will be able to buy cooking utensils for camping. I also need to buy outdoor clothes.

Plans for March include going extra thrifty again to prepare for another trip and also to allot some of my money to my savings. (Japan will be a reality soon...) Aside from travelling, I would also like to keep my promise to my sisters to clean our room. 

December Plans and Christmas Wishlist

We're now in December and only a few days to go before 2013 ends. Sound scary since I just turned 25. Suddenly feeling like a lost kid again. People tell me I've been getting addicted to Math. It's not that. Id like to think that Math is that thing that keeps me struggling in this mundane world. Most friends warn me that too much nerdiness will keep the guys away more. To which I retort, let them! I care not for insecure people and I do not subscribe to the idea of dumbing myself down just to get a boyfriend. @.@

Because I've been very busy these past few days, I'd like to somehow create plans for the last few days of 2013.
1. read at least 2 books
2. do more math exercises and read up on difficult topics
3. find more applications of calculus (relate to archaeology, business, life???)
4. clean our bedroom
5. watch some episodes of One Piece
6. start learning Vietnamese phrases and commonly used sentences
7. another out-of-town trip would be VERY NICE

And I just realized I haven't made any wishlist yet so here goes:
1. more kind people, more warmth (no to global warming though!!!)
2. free hotel accommodations
3. more time to learn something new and to do the things I want to do
4. travel buddies who can match my zeal and energy
5. books on history and science (I would love to have books by Richard Feynman...)
6. love, courage, and hope... and strength
7. salary increase

June 2013

How time flies! Half the year is done and yet there are too many things to do and accomplish. It's still a wonder I was able to post entries in my blog last month,but if my dear readers notice, most are just about travels which are way past the deadline. Still, I hope readers get something from reading my posts.

Heavy rains start to visit us and so I see the need to rise up earlier than usual and to report to work early to avoid the rush hour in the afternoon. Our MRT system sucks big time and it doesn't help that we have irresponsible, undisciplined commuters. Buses are not the best choice especially when it rains since major thoroughfares get flooded way too easily and one simply doesn't want to get stuck in bottleneck traffic for hours on end.

Last month, I finished watching Game of Thrones Season 2 and finally got hold of a copy of Season 3. When HBO aired the penultimate episode of Season 3, the internet was abuzz with spoilers the following day. An officemate spilled the beans on the death of two important characters so I was in a dilemma as to watch Season 3 or wait until the year is finished so it won't be long before they release Season 4. Then again, my reading pace of "A Clash of Kings" has been slow thanks to my suddenly hectic schedule. I told myself to finish the book first before proceeding with the third season.

A friend and I attended the showing of Wanko - The Story of Me, My Family and Rock at the Japan Foundation. Before heading to the venue, we had early dinner at Lola's Best which was just across Pacific Star. There really is nothing special about the food and the servings are too small. Anyway, the movie is a touching story on human resilience and animal loyalty. It's an inspiring story about how a family starts a new life following a disaster that wrecked havoc on their beloved island. At times funny and most times touching, it's the sort of movie that one will love to watch over and over again.

In line with a promise to myself to reconnect with people who played an important part in my life, I finally met up with my highschool friends after almost 5 years of no meetups. It's fun to reminisce about highschool life with people with whom you share fond memories.

Add to my hectic schedule is my acceptance to tutor a friend. We would chat online and discuss French grammar and such. It's a somewhat nice way for me to refresh my memory and it forces me to think of efficient ways to teach the language.

On June 24, I went to a friend's house for the San Juan Fiesta. We had so much fun singing karaoke. It's my first time to experience a Pinoy fiesta and I'm relived to find that it's not as crazy as I thought it would be. My friend told me that in the morning of the feast day though, people would throw buckets of water at random people. It's a good thing we went there after office hours.

Last, my proudest achievement this month is that I succeeded in practicing frugality. The last two weeks of June are a testament to how I can spend less, by focusing on important things (like food and transportation) and by resisting the urge to buy books. It helps that one of my projects this year is to read at least 50 books from my collection. The first half of the year has passed and I am nowhere near my target. (Fail!)

May 2013

May this year has been a mixture of many things. Following April spent mostly away from home, May saw my life going back to normal, meaning that I follow the work-home and occasional work-home-gimmick routine again.

The day I got back from Palawan on the last day of April, our team lead announced that on that coming Friday, we'd be heading off to Tali Beach for our team outing. I was aghast, feeling that a war might ensue between me and my parents as they have a tendency to get mad when I tell them I'd be travelling away from home. But realizing that controlling me is impossible now, I went on ahead even while suffering from LBM.

I joined our company's sportsfest, signing up in the bowling tournament. I'm no bowler, I very rarely go to the bowling alley but I wanted to try it again and the rest is history. I luckily landed in the finals, having passed the elimination round. But I brought shame to myself when I ended up the weakest link in my team. Oh well, at least I had fun.

I finally finished season 1 of Game of Thrones. It's one of those few TV series that got me really hooked I always end up doing a marathon. Before May ended, I got my hands on season 2.

Dates with close friends kept me sane again. My archaeo friends and I met in our usual date place and watched Star Trek Into Darkness. I am no Star Trek fan, am not even familiar with the storyline, though I do read about it a lot, and I know that its popular character is Dr. Spock who's got a funny hairstyle. Unfortunately I was so tired after a day's work that I fell asleep. I felt like I threw money into the garbage can afterwards.

My other dates are happily spent in Maginhawa and Greenhills Town Center where food are not as expensive. As seems to be a monthly habit, I found myself in another formal dinner this month with a friend ar Ilustrado in Intramuros. It was raining then, which I consider bad luck. I don't go to Intramuros when it rains. I was traumatized once at having had to seek shelter in NCCA Gallery because suddenly the streets were flooded following a downpour which didn't even last an hour.

I'm back to reading again. It probably must be the weather which has become a bit kinder with cool winds at night, setting the mood for continuous reading again. And I've drawn another list of books I will read for the coming cold months. (And looking forward to free some space for new books...)

That, and I'm proud to say that this month has been quite productive when it comes to blogging. I finally finished blogging about my whole Ho Chih Minh trip. Still have lots more to write about (Shanghai and Palawan). Since I'm not travelling any time soon, I'm expecting myself to at least finish writing about my Palawan experience. As of writing I have edited pictures I will be needing for my two blog posts.

Starcraft

So I finally installed Starcraft in my machine and played a game. As always, I chose Protoss as my team and Zerg as my opponent. I just love it when Zerg gets crushed.

Because of this, I expect to stay up late at night and play this beloved game until the wee hours of the morning, as I did many years ago. Will be very busy indeed this month. :)

On the other hand, I have to pay extra attention to my backlog. Still haven't sorted out photos taken in Shanghai and Xiamen. And will have to write blogs of those two trips. Also, I have to find the time to finish writing about my Ho Chih Minh trip.

Aaaaand, there's just a mountain of good reads, and unfortunately, there's not enough time to do everything. Sigh. So much to do, so little time.

Still I'm happy for this diversion. Will shun dates for now to save up for upcoming trips to Anywhere. 

From Multiply 073: Before Graduation

Lately, all I've ever been thinking about is graduation. I am excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time. Thoughts of those old dusty books stacked away inside the lonely archives in the library fill me with sadness. It's such a pity I only discovered it last semester. Had I done so earlier, I could have read many old books. If there's one thing I'll miss, it'll definitely be the libraries--- CAL and the Main lib, most especially.

The biggest thing, though, that bothers me now, is how i shall fare after graduation. These past few days, I've been pondering on many matters, like how mediocre I am, how wild and reckless and oh so boring.

Here's a list I made---things I should/ must do before graduation.

Before I graduate, I must...

1. learn how to write well.
   Coz really, everything I've written so far just sucks. I didn't know how I was able to win in essay-writing contests when I was in HS. In college, I bluffed my way when writing supposedly scholarly papers. Mayhaps I rested on my laurels for long. It's my fault, for getting too intoxicated after winning that Quintin Yuyitung Journalism Award. Now, it doesn't at all mean anything to me, seeing how sloppy and slipshod my writings turned out to be after HS. Obviously, I lack cadence, I lack a style that I can proudly call my own.

2. learn how to argue well.
    I've often saw myself as the living paradox. But in arguments, my being highly paradoxical certainly doesn't offer much help. It only gives way to confusion and many people actually think I'm some sort of retard. And going with this, I must learn how to express my ideas in a coherent manner.

3. learn to control my mannerisms
    People who know me can attest to my having a plethora of weird mannerisms especially when confronted by nerve-wracking situations. Sometimes, those are just unnecessary gestures. I must, at all cost, put a stop to all those. Surely, I must build my confidence.

4. learn good manners
    People often find me ill-mannered. It's just that I reject all sorts of formality. It's not a valid excuse, I know, but it's so hard for me to enter a world of rigidity and stiffness, being much more accustomed to be wild and free. I might as well call myself a noble savage haha! Having refined tastes certainly doesn't translate to having refined manners. I might as well learn how to be more lady-like so that, together with my refined tastes, people will soon look up to me as a model.

(But really, who cares for such stupidities???? Damn it, it's not a agreeable place, this world of ours!)

5. go on a food trip in UPD
    I have always been a miserly person, I admit. I very seldom buy food in the cafeterias because I am of the opinion that food there are overpriced. I bring my own food, and so I don't have any idea what the food is like  in the cafes. There are instances, of course, wherein I am forced to purchase food in school. (Like when a terrible hunger conquers my stomach....) And so, I MUST have a taste of ALL the eateries in UPD!!!

6. establish friendly rapports with profs
    And I do not mean here ALL profs. Only those who share the same values as I do. I'm afraid, I'm too shy and too easily intimidated to approach profs though. T.T

7. buy a book written by a UP prof and have it signed by him or her
    In my almost four years of stay in UP, I only have one book with an autograph of the author. And that one book was a required reading in a class. I can't say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. But it did inspire me a bit.

That's all for now. And one more thing, I MUST START PAYING ATTENTION TO MY THESIS. I'm in a hiatus now, I haven't even discussed anything with my thesis adviser!!!!


Nov 30, '09 10:13 AM
for Miracle's contacts

From Multiply 058: Sem Break Agenda

This semester's gonna end and I can't wait. (Okay, goodbye STS crush, I had the ultimate pleasure of sitting behind you in class and gazing at you from behind.)

Because all I ever did this semester was read, research and write, I feel like a robot who has to meet the needs and demands of his master. While I have no qualms about the reading part, I do complain that for months, most of what I'm reading is about antisemitism, myth and ritual studies, phenomenology, existentialism and other class-related books. And when I get to sneak in a book or two which are not for school, I already feel like in heaven. It's already a luxury to be able to read a good novel.

And so once sembreak comes, I'm so gonna:

1. go back to watching anime (Blood +, One Piece, etc.)
2. clean our room coz lately my stuffs are everywhere and my sisters   reprimand me almost every time we see each other.
3. read at least 15 books in my collection. And here's the list:
     Tales from the Annex
     House of Mirth
     Tess of D'Urbervilles
     The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
     Watership Down
     The Legend of Luke
     The Pearls of Lutra
     Marlfox
     Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy
     The Spear of Destiny
      Abel Sanchez
      Una historia de amor
      L'etranger
     Ivanhoe
     Shosha
     Myths to Live by
      La multitud errante
4. visit Lanzhou Ramen house and eat a bowl of hot noodles coz I miss it badly.
5. SLEEP!!! (Oh sweet sleep, that you accompany me for at least 10 hours a day...)

Sep 29, '09 12:20 PM
for Miracle's contacts

From Multiply 020: Project Valentine 2009

Since I haven't received any valentine invitations all these years, I decided to start Project Valentine where I would do something worthwhile instead of listening to emo-rock music and ponder on reasons why I still am single though I blame it mostly on the fact that I am sexist thus boys probably get pretty much intimidated and I don't care haha.

To set the project into motion this year, I opted to write 20 poems to celebrate or lament my 20 years of being single.

I have already written 4 poems. I only started this Monday, mind you and I feel like I won't be able to reach 20 by tomorrow, but we'll see haha.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting the poems on my blog. Feel free to read and comment on them.

Feb 13, '09 5:42 AM
for Miracle's contacts

From Multiply 019: Another New Leaf

I have an addiction of making lists of things like for example, the things I’ll be doing for this period of time, the things I will buy, the books I will read, the anime I will watch, the places I will visit, etc. But I always have the habit of vainly making them, as I never follow them because I still prefer a life of spontaneity. And of course, being such a list maker, I’m one of the many people who write their New Year’s Resolutions but never bother to live up to them. I’m posting here my list of resolutions for the year 2009 but I don’t guarantee that there be any changes in my life.

1.    For years, I’ve been telling myself to be serious in my studies and not to get distracted by anime and books so totally outside my courses. People would mistake me for a student of English Literature because my bag’s always full of English novels and I sometimes forget to bring the required textbooks for my classes. It has always been pleasure over obligations for me. In my whole college life, it was only in my Latin class where I became a diligent student coz it was the only course where I really studied for exams, although quite hurriedly towards the end due to lack of time. The reason? It’s because I like our prof and I have always wanted to learn Latin anyway so why not be serious for once? And it’s a very difficult language. No wonder it died haha!!! So anyway, again, I’m telling myself to take my studies seriously. (sob)

2.    These past few years saw me changing from a cheerful girl to a very indifferent one. I admit that I have become a cynic and a misanthropist, partly because I was enlightened of the cruelties of the world. Humans eating one another in a race to superiority does not appeal to me. The world’s been devoured by a great evil which is already quite impossible to remedy. And I want to escape it all, being a great romanticist that I am. Perhaps I should give the world another chance.

3.    Despite my innocent looks and babyish visage, I actually am self-centered and proud. I know that pride is the starting point of sin, which caused Lucifer to rebel against God and to result in his fall. I don’t let people mistreat me, especially not when I know where I stand, and also because I’m not a martyr. I fight back with the truth I believe in.  And I think, that’s why a lot of people don’t like me. I’m too gutsy for them. Or maybe they’re scared of me? I don’t know. Maybe I should try to be calm more often? But why should it matter to me if people like me or not? The most important thing is to be honest with one’s feelings.

4.    I will pursue my interests with a newfound fervor. I’ve left a lot of things unfinished because of my hectic schedule. After this semester, I’ll go back to studying Latin and Japanese, and probably review the things I will have learned by the end of this semester. I’ll start writing my novel so I can get it published before I turn 24. I’ll continue my top secret research. I’ll visit museums, art galleries and churches. I’ll start painting. I’ll reinforce my faith through reading the Bible. I’ll participate more actively in forums to gain more insight and to be more aware of the different opinions from different perspectives.

5.    I won’t make another list like this, knowing full well that it’s altogether useless, anyway.

Jan 13, '09 1:19 AM
for Miracle's contacts

From Multiply 018: 2009 Reading List

It’s not in my character to plan ahead the things I do, being the spontaneous type of person that I am, but here are books which I plan or would like to read. I seldom follow the lists I make. When I’m inside the library, I would have a book in mind but come out later with another. And some of the books included here are stocked away at home, especially those by Brian Jacques. Either way, here they are:
1.    Memnoch the Devil
2.    The Vampire Armand
3.    Merrick
4.    Blood and Gold
5.    Blackwood Farm
6.    Blood Canticle
7.    Pandora
8.    Vittorio the Vampire
9.    The Feast of All Saints
10.    Cry to Heaven
11.    The Mummy
12.    Servant of the Bones
13.    Violin
The first 13 are all by Anne Rice. I’ve borrowed the first four books of the vampire Chronicles from Claire and I wish she now has a good collection of Rice’s novels coz they’re something I don’t wanna buy for religious reasons.
14.    Redwall (I’ve read this before, w hen I was in HS, but I wanna read it again to refresh my memory and also to write a review of it.)
15.    Mossflower
16.    Mattimeo
17.    Mariel of Redwall
18.    Salamandastron
19.    Martin the Warrior
20.    Lord Brocktree (I’ve read this once before and I want to refresh my memory to write a review of this book.)
I already have these 7 precious books by Brian Jacques. I wish to be able to buy the remaining books which I still don’t have.
21.    The Diary of Don Juan
22.    Como agua para chocolate (I started reading it last year but I misplaced the book so I’m reading it again.)
23.    Le petit prince (On loan so I’ll read it during the summer vacation.)
24.    Vanity Fair
25.    The Prince (by Machiavelli)


Aside from the aforementioned books, I would like to try authors who I’ve never read before. My list includes:

1.    Doris Lessing
2.    Ezra Pound
3.    Miguel de Unamuno (pretty much because it’s required in my course)
4.    Philippa Gregory
5.    Lian Hearn
6.    Amy Tan (I’ve been hearing a lot about her works but I still haven’t tried reading her works.)
7.    Kazuo Ishiguro
8.    Murakami Haruki (I’ve always wanted to read him but never got the chance.)
9.    Emile Zola
I would also like to delve into African, Thai, Russian, Indian and Korean literature. I’m always browsing through shelves containing Japanese, Chinese, American, French and English literature and I feel like I’m missing a lot. (I’m taking up Spanish literature this semester and I will be forced to read so I don’t have problems when it comes to approaching Spain’s literary aspects.)  I believe that to be a true lover of literature, one must be a voracious reader of any country’s literature. I hope that by the end of 2009, my knowledge and appreciation for world literature will have been broadened.

Jan 13, '09 1:17 AM
for Miracle's contacts

Backlogs

Third week of November and I still haven't done a lot of things.

1. I still haven't read all of Margaret Atwood's books. I'm currently stuck with her 'Life Before Man". And I haven't started with Tolkien's LOTR Trilogy.

2. No progress whatsoever with my Japanese language study. TSK! So I'm not taking the JLPT this year. Hopefully next year in May.

3. I have watched very few movies. Some of the most memorable films I have watched so far are: Bwakaw, Haevnen, Peak, Ashita no Joe, Metropolis, Legend of the Fist: Return of Chen Zhen, The Artist, L'Arnacoeur, Abacus and Sword, Black Gold, Flowers of War, Columbiana, Battle Royale, Batman movies, The Avengers, Kung Fu Panda 2, Hugo, and Rashomon. And I am hoping to be able to watch Perks of Being a Wallflower if my budget permits. Haven't watched LOTR Trilogy again.

4. Transferring of Multiply blogs still on-going. I hope to finish by mid-December or else it will be goodbye, writings!

5. I haven't sorted out my books yet. And so the Garbage Island in our bedroom remains....

Busy month. Tsk!

Before 2012 Ends

Before 2012 ends, there are lots of things I have yet to do. Out of graduate school and I find myself leaning more towards movies and J-dramas, and spending less time with books. In just a few months I think I have become a screensucker and I find myself thanking the internet for classics I can read online.

When I finished my course in archaeology, I told myself that I would start leafing through the pages of my books as I have accumulated more than 300 books and am now having problems concerning space since I share a bedroom with my sisters and it disgusts them to see books everywhere from my so-called Garbage Island to my bed.

After years of focusing on too much non-fiction, I developed a short-lived thirst for fiction and so I planned to read all of Margaret Atwood and Robertson Davies' books in my collection, especially after reading the first's Lady Oracle and the second's The Papers of Samuel Marchbanks. Both authors are Canadians and I guess theirs would have to be my introduction to Canadian literature.

Other books I plan to read before 2012 ends are:

R. Davies' The Cunning Man, What's Bred in the Bone, The Lyre of Orpheus, The Deptford Trilogy, Leaven of Malice, A Mixture of Frailties

M. Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, Life before Men, The Robber Bride, The Edible Woman

Because this year 2012 is a special year in that the Phantom of the Opera will be staged in Manila, I also plan to read Gaston Leroux's novel of the same title from which the musical is based.

In addition, because  The Hobbit will be shown in theaters this December, I also told myself to read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and if I were lucky enough to find a cheap copy of The Hobbit I would also gladly read it. All these before watching the movie.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) will have its opening concert on September 21 (Friday) at the Philamlife Auditorium. (Click here and here for more information) To show my support for our own wonderful musicians, I have made it a point to attend at least the opening concert. (And also because I just miss Philamlife Auditorium that much.)

If I still have money and time, then I would no doubt go see The Seagull (Ang Tagak) (Sept. 19-Oct. 7), a play by Anton Chekov, staged by Dulaang UP and directed by the great Tony Mabesa, with Filipino translation by Rolando Tinio.

On my birthday this December, I would love to cook for my family. This is to showcase my cooking skills (if indeed I gained any... LOL). Menu would be a mix of Italian and Mexican. There will be nachos and home-made salsa. I will also prepare a new pasta dish never been tasted by the world (yes, it will be a new invention by yours truly). If chance permits, I would buy salmon and grill it. For dessert I would just ask my sisters to buy a cake from Conti's. (Thinking about all these make me drool...)

And of course, I'd like to go out more with my close friends since it's been a long time since we did something meaningful together. Eating out would be the best option. Or perhaps we can go hang out at some karaoke bar and goof around as in the old days, this time by trying hard to be wonderful music artists, or in my case, being a rockstar wannabe.

Concerning travels, I would love to go to the Visayan region and visit the lovely beaches which I hear seem like paradise on earth.

Last but not the least, I would be very happy if I were to be able to take the JLPT this year. I shall only allow myself IF AND ONLY IF I can finish studying my materials. As of the present, I am stuck with Japanese for Today with six more lessons to go. At this rate, I doubt if I will be able to study my other materials. Maybe I'll just take the exam next year at the latest.

Less than 130 days to go...