First day high

Summer has come and passed, the thought of school never lasts. Well, school time has just started. Yeah, it’s different here; we start our classes at June. And first day just took place yesterday.

I thought I’m going to be late as I left the house around 7:30 in the morning and my class starts at 9.

Got there at school pretty early, around 8:45 and saw my classmate before. We talked for quite a bit and then my peers came one by one. We got in the room and probably fell asleep or our minds went floating to different places, as the professor is somewhat boring. The class is literature and it would have been much fun if the teacher is lively but it’s still too early to judge.

The next class was Constructive Accounting. The professor is quite young and seems like a good one. He specializes in auditing and tax, it’s his first time to teach Constructive Accounting so it might be a problem.

After that, we had our lunch to the usual place and went to the mall as soon as we finished our meal. We roam for quite a bit and my legs got stressed out early. We went to a videoke/karaoke room and they sung their hearts out. I really have a terrible voice so I participate just a little. We finished singing and went back to school for our last two classes.

Next on our schedule at 3 in the afternoon was Speech. The professor is funny and really good at speaking (duh). Well, I’m looking forward to the subject since I’m not really good at oral communication. He introduced himself and we all had our turns to do the same. Before I was called, he asked us if he could ask us personal questions, like boyfriend/girlfriend, virginity, etc. So, when it was my turn my friends teased me about the virginity thing. The prof got amused, asking how in the hell did she know (one of my closest friend) that I’m not a virgin anymore. But he leaved it at that. What’s wrong if I’m not a virgin? The other two was asked if they’re still a virgin, both said yes but that’s nothing to me.

Our last class went fast as the professor didn’t attend and we went home early.

So, that cap off a very long first day. Whew.

Me, my brother & basketball

Things we share in common: Name, School (he's back to school after a year of stoppage), Room, Computer, Shirts (even though he's on a chubbier side), Shoes and Sports. Basketball is one of them.

When we were young, pre-teen phase, we always play basketball. Be it in the garage or outside the streets. Thankfully, our coach before found our house and recruited us.

I remember vaguely the size of the opponents, Goliath. Poor little David, we end up mostly on the bench. If not, we'll play the last few seconds/minutes when their lead is blown up in the heavens.

We knew that our time would come. Just a little practice here. Just a little practice there. And then it came.

A few years later after warming the bench for quite some time, we ended up in a good position. We have a championship caliber team. Too bad, it's just in mosquito division. Players should be 11 years old or younger. The starting five is pretty set. We're both the starting guards.

Our first game was forgettable. We were beaten black and blue by Purok 8 (Purok is defined somewhat as a designated area here in our village. There are 11 Puroks overall. We're Purok 10, by the way). If I can remember correctly, when we were running down the court, one of their players muttered while sheepishly pushing me, "Get out of the way!". With my skinny frame, I just let it go.

Coach knew we had the potential to go all the way. We practiced during mornings. We learned how the 2-3 zone works and that's really something. Defense is far more important than offense that's what he told us. Well, it is. As you can get the ball rolling in the offense once you've settled in.

The next games we've won with ease. Then playoffs came. We cruised the first round and went to the Finals. Guess our opponent? You got it right, it's Purok 8. Well, our first and last game that year is pretty much the same. So, we lost. That's pretty much the closest we got to a championship up to now.

Oh well.

Before handing out the awards after a few days, our coach told my brother that he's going to be named the Mythical Five. Good for him. The awards night came, he even scored the games of the night while I was sitting at home playing Heroes of Might and Magic. It was late that's why I went to the court to check on him. The announcer called the Mythical Five one by one. His fourth call, "From Purok 10, Patrick…." I was there amidst the crowd. They doesn't know me. The one who pushed me the first game, even pointed out my brother, as they were in the court. But I went up the stage to get the medal and a much-needed boost of confidence.

It was good getting the recognition. It was ugly seeing my brother disappointed. While we were walking home, he's way ahead of me. When we got home, he remained quiet while my housemates tease him. I just laughed it off, as it's just a stupid medal.

Right now, it just became a running joke in our house. Especially to the two of us.

Well, basketball came to mind when I watched Glory Road awhile ago. I missed him when we're watching DVD together. I miss his quirky inquiries, unstoppable questions and every little bit of his silliness.

I hope he'll come back soon. Well, he will in a week.

Physical Appearance: Does it matter — not!

I don't know about you but for me, it's not really that important. Yeah, you might not believe me but appearance is just like a side dish on the table during dinner.

Those who know me will agree that what I'm saying is true. It's pretty evident with the girls I've been connected to. I'm not saying they are not beautiful. I'm saying that they are beautiful in their own right.

For example, in High School, I liked a girl who's twice my size. My arms are not even half of her thigh. That's not a shot to her, I'm just citing an example. Also, in HS, I had a crush on a girl who has a birth mark on her face, it didn't matter, she's intelligent anyway.

What prompt me to write this? Well, I just had a haircut done and it sucks. If you want to see, let me know. I actually don't have something to write, so I'll just leave you with a famous Confucius quote: "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

100 reasons why she’s the best

1. She is always happy
2. All the time, she is smiling
3. When she smiles, her eyes close  (^-^)
4. I love the way she laughs
5. She can make me laugh with a single look, even if we don’t know what we’re thinking.
6. She is very friendly
7. She likes to keep everyone happy, putting their feelings before her own.
8. Even if I only knew her this semester, it feels like I’ve known her forever
9. She can be trusted with my life and secrets
10. She’s addicted to movies
11. She’s afraid of dolls (Chucky?)
12.  Her hair is so nice, especially when it is tied pony-tailed
13.  Her dimple is so cute
14. Her glasses fits perfectly [nice color, by the way (transparent)]
15.  She makes me feel comfortable around her, I don’t have worry how I would act
16.  Talking to her on the phone is great. We could go on for hours
17.  Her life is busy yet she takes some time to go to service-oriented organizations
18.  Her smile makes her more beautiful
19.  She is the nicest person on the planet
20.  She’s devoted in her studies, she could stay up to 4 in the morning reading notes
21.  Her simplicity stands out for me
22.  She is understanding, you can easily talk to her about any problem
23.  Her advices are so admirable, you really have no choice, but to follow it
24.  Optimistic. Thinks positive in every thing
25.  Loyal.  Especially to her friends
26.  Down-to-earth.
27.  Ideal girl
28.  She is beautiful
29.  She has a strong faith, never misses a mass (even if it takes several hours)
30.  She stands up for what she believes in
31.  I love the fact that she’s not afraid to cry
32.  She has taught me about life and myself
33.  She’s fond of Mickey Mouse and I don’t know why
34.  There’s nobody else in this world like her and no one will ever come close
35.  She has incredibly big heart
36.  She knows both my good side and bad, and yet she still accept me anyway
37.  God blessed me with the best gift imaginable – her
38.  She is comfortable alone, she can shop & eat by herself
39.  She is my best friend
40.  She lets me be honest with her
41.  She doesn’t hide anything from me
42.  She loves her niece, Dale is definitely lucky
43.  Did I mention she’s beautiful?
44.  She is more organized than anyone I know
45.  She is very neat
46.  Smart. Has wit and wisdom.
47.  She has a loving family
48.  She loves to sing
49.  One of her favorite songs, Crazy for You, I think. I saw her singing in the classroom. (I hope she knows that I’m crazy for her)
50.  Her mole under his right eye is cute
51.  She never drinks Coke or any other soft drinks for that matter
52.  But she drinks alcohol occasionally
53.  She’s into action movies and silly comedies (how come?)
54.  She has a playful sister, they bite each other sometimes
55.  Her mom looks just like her; I’m not sure though who’s prettier
56.  [too personal]
57.  She loves the color pink, I guess. Her watch is pink, her bag is pink, what else?
58.  She has a handful of bag. Everyday it’s different
59.  She has a Mickey Mouse bag
60.  She also has a Mickey Mouse earring
61.  If I can remember correctly, she mentioned before, she has a Mickey Mouse pillow, too.
62.  Patriotic. I asked her before, Jollibee or McDonald’s, she said Jollibee, we’re Pinoy eh.
63.  She always say that she’s fat even though she’s not
64.  One time, when it’s raining, she didn’t use her umbrella just because she doesn’t want it to get wet
65.  She doesn’t complain
66.  She has a lot of suggestions
67.  She doesn’t lie to me
68.  She puts up with my humor
69.  She had me at “hello”
70.  She is courteous
71.  She couldn’t ride a bike (unless it has support)
72.  She knows when to walk away
73.  She listens to my advice (sometimes)
74.  She is kind to strangers
75.  She is afraid of beggars, I saw her eating before, outside the school and a boy came up to her and asks for something, she takes cover through her friends. Maybe the boy is aggressive :p
76.  She likes to sleep
77.  She completes me
78.  She will probably be the only one who reads this list
79.  She is older than me
80.  She is beautiful without makeup (I don’t think she puts on during ordinary day)
81.  She is humble
82.  She is funny
83.  She speaks her mind
84.  She is not high maintenance
85.  She likes scrap booking
86.  She has a smile that lights up a room
87.  She loves going to church
88.  She has a cute penmanship
89.  She laughs at my jokes even though it’s not funny
90.  She has a soft but big hands for a girl, according to her father, who said she’s good at massaging
91.  She’s a good listener, I can tell her everything
92.  She has a short-term memory
93.  She says words differently
94.  She makes me smile
95.  She is Ewoks
96.  She calls me McDo
97.  She makes me nervous but in a good way
98.  She made this semester a memorable one, not just this semester but my life as well
99.  She’s literally the girl of my dreams, even if I forget my dreams. I always remember when she’s part of it because she always does
100. Every little single detail about her that makes her who she is

The fact that this list was so easy to write, but also so hard because I had to limit it to just 100 reasons when I can think of at least a million plus reasons why you are the best. I wanted to write this list for you to give you just a little glimpse of how much love is in my heart for you and how much you mean to me and maybe do something that no one else has ever done for you before.

*Gave it to her last March 31. Put it in a number of small sheets of paper. Well, I just wanted to share.

What is love?

Love is all around. Remember the first time you wrote in a slumbook, and answered the question, it’s funny, just the thought of reminiscing those days.

For me, love is not merely gazing at each other but looking in the same direction. It’s easy. Gazing at each other may not be love but lust. Looking in the same direction is love because that’s what it is, two people sharing their views on love and life.

Watching Little Manhattan made me realize what love really is. There’s a quote that goes, Love is not about those crazy little words. It’s about grand gestures. Plane pulling skywriting in the sky, proposals over jumbotrons, etc. It’s about going that extra mile, even though it hurts. Love is finding the courage inside of you that you didn’t even know was there. 

Back with a vengeance

Vengeance in a good way. Oh well. In the last three months or so, you might have missed a lot of happenings on my end, here are some of them:

My old blog got “infected by a virus”. Hence, I’m creating a new one.

I had my 19th birthday. Pretty forgettable one.

I now have a love life, it seems hard given our situation, but at the end of the day we still manage to smile.

Summer classes is history. Finished third best in one of the subject, Law on Partnership and Corporation.

That’s just about it really. You thought it’s going to be a lot eh.

Sound of music

Who said English is the universal language? I guess not. I think its music.It’s been said that music is the universal language. The older I get, the more I perceive that this seems to be truth rather than a pretty cliché. Despite what background or country one hails from, music is implanted in the daily way of life of its people.

Music is the inner or universal language of the world. I do not know any other language aside from Tagalog and English. But if music is played, immediately the heart of the music penetrates into my heart, or my heart penetrates into the music. My heart is connecting with the heart of the music and in our connection we become inseparably one.

Music is called the universal language of the world because of many reasons. First and the foremost, music is made up of 7 main notes. No matter, what part of the world you are, and what instruments you occupy yourself with, all the music created are one of the 7 notes. There may be different names for all 7 notes in different parts of the world, but for the musician, they are still the same. Secondly music, being a form of art can reach the deepest parts of your heart and soul. You don’t have to be a psychologist to understand music. As long as any tune and beat make you feel yourself, it is the best doctor a person can find, and best medicine anyone can recommend. Thirdly music, like any other language can express any and every type of emotion. But where it scores more is where the words fell short of expressing, while music can go on and on vocalizing all that you ever want to say.

Music has an ability to transcend. You can lose yourself in another world with music, just like Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself”. It can calm you or it can stimulate your senses. It can motivate you or make you imagine. It can rejuvenate you or bore you to sleep. Music can surprise you, provoke you, or be a voice for the anger you are feeling within. It can make you happy or bring you to tears. It can summon up lingering memories of the past. Music can give you the longing to suddenly play the imaginary air guitar, head bang, or dance around your room. Music is the essential communicator and conductor of emotions.

I am pleased that there is such a diversity of music. To me, music comes and goes into my life, just like my relationships do. Some are here for a short period of time. Some come into your life and stay for a while. Then you may "grow apart" and go your separate ways. Others come into your life at just the right time, giving you strength or a significant voice when you need it most. Others come into your life and never leave, becoming "life-long friends." Some grow on you like a fungus, slowly and painfully. I feel that, like a relationship, each type of music has its spot, and it came into your life at the precise and perfect moment.

Currently, the mood of my play list is melancholy. I guess I’m depressed but there are still some things that offset my problems. Thanks to my friends and especially my best friend. Here is a quote for them: “Time alone can prove the worth of a person. As time goes by, we lose the false ones, and keep the best. Because true people stay when all the rest are gone.” (This makes me teary-eyed really. :’c)

I'll just end this with a quote by Shakespeare, "If music be the food of life, play on".

Table for one

For me, every year it comes, always the same. It's still cold during February but it seems it feels a lot colder than December.

What it's like to be single? It's a roller coaster ride of solitude when I sit in a bunch of happy couples at school, church, restaurants, annoyance at being asked for the nth time why I don’t have a girlfriend yet, contentment from the freedom to travel at the spur of the moment, and grief over the unmet expectations for this phase of my life.

Just by walking at school or in the mall, my sense of sight radars in on couples that are a bit close to each other, unintentionally taunting myself. All I can do is to breathe a heavy sigh, realizing I'm alone. The feeling of loneliness stings me when I don't have anyone to be with, even to talk with, when Valentine's Day is just a few days away. It's kind of depressing. What makes the other couples happy is what makes me suffer in agony.

I always muse over what I had before. Everything was lighter and easier to stomach. The thought of having to share some stories, a few laughs and knowing that there's a person cares as much as you do. Now, it's gone and it seems it doesn't want to return. I've already gotten used to it but still the memories are still there.

Thoughts will come about what could have transpired. But it will just remain a thought. It's always been the case since last February and it has never changed.

What brought me into this situation in the first place? Probably, I haven't met a lot of people besides my classmates because I'm too focused on school and have a short time for socializing. Can anyone blame me for this feeling, when I've been waiting and waiting… and waiting for something that doesn't seem to want to knock on my door?

Its 2006, out of all the special days, Valentine's day is probably the loneliest. The atmosphere of the love month is everywhere, from stores to malls, probably saying it's not the right time to be alone and yet I am. God's crazy about single persons and that genuine fulfillment isn't found in the arms of "Ideal Girl" but in making the most of wherever God has given us even if that's at a table for one.

Best things in life are free

There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's… Oops, I'm not advertising.

Actually, that advertisement campaign made some strides as it moves and touches those who are watching the said less-than-a-minute ads on TV.

For example, in one such commercial there is a father and his young son headed to the baseball park. It first shows the dad buying his son a hot dog and you see the words, "Hot dog at the big league game…$3.00." The next scene displays the dad buying a game program and the words, "Program…$6.00." Then, one of those large, orange hands with the fingers forming a #1 is shown and you hear something like, "Large, orange hand…$15.00." The ad finishes by exhibiting the father explaining some important aspect of the game to his son, who is listening intently as he looks up at his father with eagerness in his eyes, "Meaningful conversation between a father and a son…priceless."

Just like in our life, there are those priceless moments where we do not know the value, until we ponder about it. Thinking about it long and hard, I've got a few on my list:

1. Family

Well, it may sound clichè but having a family who is supportive in everything you do is a definite plus for me. It's a blessing to have that kind of family. Actually, we're not that close in the sense of talking out loud our problems or happenings in our lives, but at the back of my head, I know that they're just there for everything, whatever happens.

2. Friends

Gosh, I don't know where to start. As you might know, I haven't had a (serious) girlfriend for over three or four years already but it didn't made my life miserable. Thanks to my friends. I treat them just like my brother or sister. Here's a good quotation to sum up what I feel:

"A man pointed a knife at me and asked: "Would you die for your friends?" I laughed. He didn't know I have a gun. So I shot him, saying… "No, i'd kill for them.."

3. Dog

And to borrow a quote from Tony's signature:

"The more people I meet…the more I like my dog…"

Just remember there are some things money can't buy. I know you have your own list for it, just remember to value them right. Do not wait for some other time, do it now.

Number 6, please

It's like a doctor's prescription.

That's what I order every time I visit McDonald's, the never ending cheeseburger meal. When I have a lot on my mind, before going home, I eat at the said fast food chain. Sometimes I have company, more often than not, I'm alone.

It's actually good as I can think of a lot of things. Ranging from problems to problems, did I mention problems? In our house, I really can't think rationally as we also have our fair share of problems at home.

I've found my separate peace sitting, eating, thinking on a four-legged chair in McDo, with all the people inside just a blurry reminder of the outside world.

In the last month or so, I went there 6 times.

But as I swung open the door, leaving the place, I always feel relieved. I'm relieved, knowing that these problems shall pass. Just one number 6 and it seems that it's just like what the doctor ordered.

One last thing, before I forget, I went there yesterday.