Thank God I Didn't Reach 5th Year

some of my students, waving goodbye as i temporarily left them for my BBDO interview
(sabi ng isa, "teacher tim, saan ka pupunta?", sabi ko babalik ako bukas, tapos sabi nya "basta bukas, wag ka na aalis ha?"... awww.... )

i'm soooooooooo thankful to God that I didn't reach 5th year, or to put it more positively, that I'm graduating and I'm free. Things are going quite well, and the happenings won't be possible if I'm in 5th year taking summer class. God is really great!!! i'm so blessed. the church retreat last Holy Week was such a blast, bonding moments with friends old and new. this week, i'm teaching a dozen 3to4-year-old preschoolers. sobrang asteeeg!!! and thanks for my beautiful young assistant ;) makulit, masakit sa katawan, masakit sa ulo ang preschoolers, pero worth it... sobrang saya. then, amidst the traffic and stupid van drivers, we still made it to our Ugly Writer Session, though we're late, i think we did well on the given exercise. agggst! we're not bums anymore. sabi sa akin kanina, "so wala kang ginagawa ngayon? gusto mo na magstart bukas?." sabi ko sa tuesday na. we're still in training and probi, but i think it's good that we're absorbed in BBDO GO. we're still under prob, so we can't afford to be complacent. now, it's time to raise the bar higher, and make the prayers stronger. Thank God for us going this far! :) i hope for bottomless creativity

goodbye summer break. hello real advertising world! i do hope i get a nice account to work on. hmm... summer would now get busier. hmm... another step in conquering the world...

"ON TUESDAY MAKATI, TOMORROW THE WORLD"

MAJOR CHANGE coming soon

i might change my blog's layout and title. i'll maintain the dark look but will make it a little more grungy. and it might not be "the shadow laboratory" but "confessions of an angsty artist" or "angst of an optimist" or whatever that comes to mind. help me brainstorm on the title...

Pre-Landian Moments

Flirt ka ba? Mahilig ka bang makipaglandian? Sanay ka ba sa kulitan at harutang walang humpay sa opposite sex matapos lang ang isang iglap? Kung oo, ikaw ay isang haliparot. at dapat mong tantanan yan...

Nakakasira ng samahan ang landian. Nakakasira ng existing relationships, nakakasira ng emerging relationships. Bago ang flirts, bago maging haliparot, bago makipaglandian... merong tinatawag na "PRE-LANDIAN MOMENTS" (thanks to Jown for the term)

ano ang pre-landian moment (PLM)? bago maglandian, bago magflirt, may mga moments na napre-preempt ang landian. ang hirap iexplain. basta, kunyari ang pagputok ng baril ang landian, so ang prelandian ang moments ang triggers o mga bagay na maaaring tumulak sa iyo na i-trigger ang baril. bago pa may mabaril na biktima ang flirting moments, dapat iwasan ang pagtrigger o iwasan na makalabit ang gatilyo ng baril para walang masawing puso at damdamin. minsan may ligaw na bala na pwedeng ibang tao ang tamaan ng hindi sinasadya dahil sa mga landiang hindi maiwasan, dahil nangangati ang mga daliri para kalabitin ang gatilyo. kung sana iwasan ang mga moments kung feeling mo may masasagasaan ka, o may posibilidad na magflirt ka sa isa pang tao, edi sana hindi na makakasagasa ang mga palikero at hindi na rin mauuso ang two-timing, ang sulutan, ang pagpapasulot, o ang mga pagseselos.

examples of pre-landian moments:

• friendly text messages
• pag-epal sa barkada
• pagsama/pagyaya sa mga lakaran
• eye contact
• facial expressions
• pagiging touchy
• mga friendly hirits

ang mga pre-landian moments na ito ay sa landian din ang dating. it will all end in flirt. why initiate the pre-landian moments kung hindi mo naman balak makipaglandian? may dalawa akong mensahe dito dahil ayokong may makaranas ng sulutan, nagpapasulot, two-timing, at pagseselos o ang pagkasira ng mga samahan. bago pa man din ang landian, iwasan na ang pre-landian moments.

1. kung nasa relationship ka, iwasan ang PLM. since may mga landian na hindi maiiwasan, ung initial contact pwedeng tantanan na kung alam mong nasa relationship ka. kung may BF/GF ka, iwasan ang initial contact para hindi na mauwi sa landian. para hindi magkasulutan, at maiwasan ang two-timing, o maiwasan ang pagshift ng focus mula sa tao mong mahal papunta sa tao mong nilalandi.
2. kung sadyang pinanganak kang haliparot o palikero, hands-off naman sa mga taong nasa relationships. respeto naman tsong. bastusan eh. walang ganyanan. wala ka naman palang balak pumasok sa relationship, pero eepal ka at uumpisahan ang PLM, in a sense, nanunulot ka na. hindi lang isang tao ang sinaktan mo, ngunit dalawa: ung "inagawan" mo, at ung "sinulot" mo, dahil parang nilinlang at niloko mo sya sa iyong bitag para lang paasahin sya sa wala.
   

*gatilyo = trigger
**palikero = playboy or flirtatious male
***haliparot = malandi
****sulot = agaw

SURPRISE!!!

(ganda ng cake ko, nakakahinayang kainin)

Backtrack. Some weeks ago: my mom collected my highschool barkada's contact numbers (something fishy). A week ago, i saw my baby pics scanned (still fishy). My close gal friends said they can't come to my birthday outing on the 10th. I invited most of my barkada but many of them said they can't make it because of enrolment, OJT, vacation, etc.

April 9, my big natal anniversary.

• 12AM - text greetings started pouring in...
• 430-7PM - church (gave the gift to the birthday girl)
• 730PM - started to travel towards the resort
• 845PM - had a flat tyre. mom calls. some guests are already hungry. i knew some churchmates and relatives were already there since i told my barkada to come the day after, para reunion na rin.
• 930PM - i arrived at the resort. they told me to put my bags in the room. my guests are preparing the tables to eat.

i opened the door of the room. SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!! my whole barkada was there waiting for me. i was surprised, but i didnt look surprised. asteeeg sobra! mga sinungaling!!! white lies. ang galing magpalusot ng barkada ko, may nalalaman pa silang hindi sila makakapunta. i was really touched by their presence. inside the small room, they were standing on the bed and the couch holding a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner, throwing confetti and some pop-up party ek-ek. galeng! my mom's modus operandi worked. they had good coordination. happiest birthday so far. woooot!!!

we ate. we bonded. sabi ko kay nanay wag na magprogram kung hindi, uuwi ako. we did have a program, but i cant back out, the people who attended were so special i cant leave them behind. walang cotillion. but they gave words of wisdom and advice to me, who i am to them, and what i did to them. i love my highschool barkada, walang kapalit, walang hihigit, the best, never failed me. it's where i really belong. we talked. we chatted. we played children schoolyard games. we shared stories. we swam. i didn't swim of course because i can't. i just soaked and floated with the "salbabida" gift. hehe. walang tulugan. half of them left 6AM the next morning. the rest left about 1030AM. walang tulugan to catch up with stories. connection, connection, connection.

i would like to thank the presence of my highschool barkada (plus their special someones who tagged along): allain, jan-michael, ryan james, pat, mark, gregore, sammy, john eric, marvin, uly, joedz, anj, elaine, mabel, ange, joy, lala, joan, danes

haaay... im eternally grateful. asteeg kayo!!!

next up! wedding year 200x!!! :)

Araw ng Kagitingan

Maraming mahalagang okasyon ang ipagdiriwang ngayon. Palm Sunday ngayong April 9. Araw ng Bataan. Day of Valor sa Ingles o Araw ng Kagitingan ay ngayon din ipagdiriwang. Ang araw ng pagsuko ng Bataan. Ang araw na nagsimula ang makasaysayang Death March.

Ano ngayon kung Araw ng Kagitingan? Bakit nga ba natin ipinagdiriwang ito? Bakit sa isang araw ng pagsuko at pagpapahirap dahil sa Death March? Hmm... matanong ko lang. Naranasan mo na bang mag-"let go"? Mahirap bumitaw sa isang tao o bagay na pinakamamahal mo. Mahirap isuko ang isang tao o bagay na pinakamamahal mo, na handa mong ipaglaban at ialay ang buhay alay-alay lamang sa kanya. Nasabi sa isang Sentenyal na article:

"Bilang paggunita sa makasaysayang pagsuko ng Bataan, itinalaga ng pamahalaan ang Abril 9 ng bawat taon, bilang Araw ng Kagitingan, upang parangalan ang mga kababayan nating nakipaglaban, sukdulang ialay ang buhay para sa bansa."

Dahil sa pagmamahal sa kalayaan, ang Bataan ay hindi basta-bastang nagpagapi sa mga mapanupil na Hapon nung panahon ng Hapon. (trivia: sa Japan laging Panahon ng Hapon) Ang Bataan ang nagsisilbing ehemplo na ang mga Pinoy ay hindi basta-basta magpapasupil sa mga banyaga. Hanggang sa huling sandali, pinagtanggol ng mga magigiting na Pilipino ang kalayaan at ang bansa.

Siguro, ang mga pinanganak sa araw na ito ay sadyang magigiting. Kagitingan = Valor. Valor = The qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle). Masarap sigurong tanghaling magiting. Maging dakila. Pero sa kagitingan kadalasang sakit ang dinudulot. Hindi mawawala ang sakit, ang parusa, ang Death March. Isang salita ang madalas nating naiisip... Martir. Patuloy ang laban, kahit na nasasaktan. Ipaglalaban ang prinsipyo, ang mga kalayaan, ang pag-ibig. Mahirap maging magiting, maging dakila, maging martir. mahirap kumapit. Pero mas mahirap bumitiw. Mas dakila, mas magiting at mas martir ang mga taong sa kabila ng pagbitiw at pag-"let go" ay patuloy pa ring nabubuhay at buo ang loob, na hindi nawawala ang prinsipyo, at hindi nawawala ang pag-ibig. Alam nating sinuko nila ang Bataan, pero hindi nila sinuko ang Pilipinas, ang kanilang pagiging Pilipino, at ang kanilang pagmamahal dito. Hinarap nila ang mga hirap at pasakit (Death March), at patuloy na nabuhay hanggang sa huling hininga.
____

Itinatatag ko ang araw na ito bilang ang sarili kong Araw ng Kagitingan, ang araw na sinuko ko ang aking "Bataan". Pero tapos na ang aking "Death March", at sisimulan ko naman ang aking "Life March." ika nga sa Ice Age 2: "Let go of the past so you can have a future. " "FOOOD!!! GLORIOUS FOOOOOOOOOD!!!"

p.s.
Birthday ko po ngayon...

Salamat sa mga Nagtext: (in order of appearance)
angel & nades (parehong may maling kalendaryo, bumati na nung 8), karla dearest (saktong 12AM), doti, joan stacey, my angel joedz, prend pat, co-BBDO pat, ate chii-chii, micah, little sis rish, luchie, aspe, ange, unknown texter #1, miyay, nins, prend jess, dianne, unknown texter#2, liz, hongkong tourists (sam, jinielle, kate and mich), mon, hot singles international (ibang klase international na), boss danes, ideza, tippy, sis/angel mabel, macy...

March on June

(my Tolits moments about 16 years ago)

No Such Thing by John Mayer

"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above

So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits and
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you got to rise above

I am invincible
As long as I'm alive

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above

I just can't wait till my 10 year reunion
I'm gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for

Weak End

no comment. walang lumalabas sa utak ko. agggst. eto na lang quote:

"A single deed is way better than millions of good intentions."

***start of rant***

haaay... sana lahat ng tao may isang salita. sana lahat ng tao naaalala at pinapangatawanan ang mga salitang binitawan. sana lahat ng tao hindi nakakalimot sa mga magagandang nakaraang pinagsamahan. sana lahat ng tao hindi lang puro intensyon. sana lahat ng tao totoo. sana lahat ng tao kumikilos at hindi ka lang pakakagatin sa mga magagandang pangako. sana lahat ng tao hindi parang pulitikong nangangampanya. sana lahat ng kaibigan nananatiling kaibigan. sana lahat ng tao namamansin hindi lang tuwing may kailangan. sana lahat ng tao matino mag-isip. sana lahat ng tao nagbibigayan. sana lahat ng tao may dangal sa kanyang sarili, sa kanyang pamilya. sana lahat ng tao kayang humarap sa mundo nang buong puso at taas noong hinaharap ang lahat ng problema at hindi lang ito tinatakasan. sana... sana... dapat.

***end of rant***

p.s.
week end was a blast!!! the last day was just weak
thurs-friday(afternoon): great! got to get close to God, to nature, and the birthday girl
fri(7-9:30pm): briefed and oriented in BBDO!!! CCO David Guerrero gave words of wisdom. I wish i get absorbed during the course.
fri(late night): party with the block with the JimenezBasic creatives! :) lot of fun, and i learned Mahjong
sat: badminton with the block... dapat. only a few showed up, well... it's alright. my body aches, pero ok lang. till next time. ayoko na magRELAY. afterwards, aspe, sam, and i met rish at Market!2x, then we met her bestfriend in Glorietta... then they helped me looked for gift items for the birthday girl... hehehe...