| Rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | History |
| Author: | Khaled Hosseini |
December 31, 2008
The Kite Runner
November 20, 2008
Kaluha
If there’s one person I can metaphorically tag as a friend since we were still zygotes inside our mothers’ wombs, that would be Lily. Our fates crossed when we were six years old, during our Kindergarten graduation practice. I remember her as the chubby, curly-haired little girl who owns the Chinese garter I attempted to borrow. Little did I know that we would be glued to each other until adulthood. Our friendship is not a perfect one, we had our fair share of squabbles (lots of them I can’t even count with my fingers and toes) nonetheless we still survived. We were classmates until high-school until I had my academic shortcomings although we went to the same school until college pursuing the same degree. Those times we were classrooms apart in high-school, I recall she would call me in the middle of my class just to hand me a heart-shaped colored paper with the words: “Take Care, I Miss You!” signed with her name on the bottom 
(her trademark is a spiral-shaped sun that comes with a macaroni-shaped rays, or sometimes a deflated heart. Hehe.) . Since grade school, we always go to school together (we used to be neighbors) and go home together. We never ran out of topic to talk to—mostly about her boys. However, we’re not the kind of friends who are exactly alike. In fact, we are quite the opposites. Physical law of magnetism truly applies to us. She’s more of the talker while I’m the listener; she’s the life of a party while I’m a flower vase; she a fashionista while I slip into whatever comfy clothes I have in my closet; she loves socialization while I’d rather settle into the solitude of anything readable; she jumps to the showbiz section of the newspaper while I stick into the front page; she loves loud color while I choose quiet colors; she's the talk of the town while I live a quiet life..Hehe... In spite of our characteristics collision, we also have our numerous commonalities—more on the way we think. We share the same principles in life and somehow, some interests. Now that I’m academically one-step behind her, I follow her tracks and try to avoid whatever mistakes she stumbles into. In other words, she serves as an example to me. Cheers to a lifelong friendship! Mwah! 
Us. Now.
November 14, 2008
Ken Zhu (my love) sings "Here We Are" in Manila
This was during the unforgettable visit of Ken Zhu, member of F4, in Manila sometime in 2004. He's the first Asian actor/singer I love (as in real LOVE..hehe) which started during the Meteor Garden mania. Nagpaka-jologs ako nang dahil sa kanya..haha! I used to buy stickers of him, life-size posters, etcetera. Lahat ng ka-jologsan ng isang fanatic. I studied the Chinese culture, Buddhism, Singapore (self-reading lang); I sung Mandarin songs (F4's and Ken's songs) by heart. Feel na feel ko ang moment. Because of him, I ultimately dream of going to Singapore (he grew up there). wahaha! Kaya mahal ko ang Asya at ang kultura nito. I also remember, I had my ear pierced (upper lobe edge) coz he has lots of body pierces (a total of seven). Until now, I still can't get enough of him. I am a proud MRS. ZHU! Haha!
October 26, 2008
Good Frog Hunting
| Rating: | ★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Entertainment |
| Author: | Laurie Graff |
Why she’s searching for a boyfriend:
“…knowing the travel time would be spent praying you wouldn’t feel awkward standing alone with no one to talk to during all the awkward moments you’d be standing alone with no one to talk to because that’s what happened when you went to one of those things dateless and alone.”
Yet again,
“Was commitment fate, or just a decision one chose to make at a certain? Did love propel
commitment, or was it the other way around? And if that was the case, what’s love got to do with it?”
Ano ba kasi talaga?
August 4, 2008
Last Night at TEDT'S
Open na ang McDo dito sa Iligan! Yay! But the mall, per se, is not yet open. It will take million years pa siguro bago ma-entirely furnish at magkaro’n ng laman. Hay. Finally, may existing mall na dito sa Iligan (“pero Gaisano parin” ‘ika nga ni Lily). Dahil hindi mahulugan ng karayom ang McDo, Ate Ayin (my housemate) and I ended up at Tedt’s, just some few steps from the mall. I love their Chicken Pasta Supreme and Kubori Biko. Speaking of biko (a local dessert made up of sticky rice topped with sugar or coconut milk latik), we were at the library the other day talking about what snack is available at the canteen when I suggested biko to Jho, she referred to it as “eeewww..biko, I don’t eat that!”. It was a joke, of course! One who doesn’t eat biko mustn’t claim him/herself as Pinoy or Meranao! We kept on laughing when I called her: mamanti and sumasayan. (Meranao slang, I don’t know how to translate them neither in Tagalog nor English..hehehe).
Anyway, I’m not gonna talk about biko though masarap talaga ang Kubori biko nila sa Tedt’s. But my conversation with Miss Ayin at Tedt’s. We were in the midst of conversation about our lovelives or rather about her palalabs (kasi wala nga naman akong lovelife na ikukuwento) when she told me na mataas daw ang standard ko. Gosh! Coming from someone na madalas din mabansagan na mataas ang standard! She sensed it! I didn’t take it as a compliment. My “lofty” standard doesn’t make me proud nor does it make me happy. I consider it as a defect that causes my impaired lovelife.
Maybe I’m becoming too idealistic, too choosy, well, I’ve never been into a relationship so I don’t have hints, only what I see in my friends’ relationships and on TV and on movies. Consequently, other people’s mistakes in their relationship are learned lessons for me. And, I thought, since I’ve been a real good girl all my life, I think I only deserve the best. Hihi.
July 18, 2008
brain food
Every person should maintain at least three kinds of friendships:
1.) Friends of your own age with whom you can talk over your problems, plans and goals with confidence.
2.) Friends older than you to whom you can confide and be assured of wise counsel.
3.) Friends younger than you with whom you can share your life’s experiences.
It’s not only in being helped, but in helping others, that you can find release from your inner tensions.
The Fourth Treasure
| Rating: | ★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Literature & Fiction |
| Author: | Todd Shimoda |
May 25, 2008
One Hundred Years of Solitude
| Rating: | ★★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Literature & Fiction |
| Author: | Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
May 8, 2008
My Fabulous Summer!
Tell you what? I’m the busiest person on earth this summer. Everyday, I woke up past
Then,
Then at night after dinner, I would go to my brothers’ room and check what’s new in the internet. Most of the time, I left their room when I’m too bothered with their snoring. Imagine four men snoring heavily and simultaneously. I bet that wouldn’t be like music to your ears. Then I would quietly sneak into my sister’s room where I am an official squatter. I don’t sleep in my own room because of the scattered mess that my things from the boarding house created. I will fix them again when I am to return to the boarding house.
Yes, that is summer of 2008 for me. So darn busy!
On the serious note, I chose this sedentary lifestyle to spend my summer. It really feels great to be back home, and just plainly staying at home. I really miss doing the household chores and making tea for Mama and Papa when they come home from work. I better seize all these opportunities of being at home because I will never know when this is gonna happen again. You see, our lives has its unexpected turns and twists. Things happen the way we never expected them to be, stuffs that never lingered into our thoughts just come our way. And as we grow older, our attention is pulled to numerous stuffs that we forgot to stay at home and feel the essence of resting into our abode. That’s why this summer, I chose to stay home.
April 29, 2008
L.J.J.
I am about to share a guy that occupies most part of my thought and of my dreams at almost all times these days. I never knew him personally, in fact I only met him once. He never kinda got my attention at first because I was too drawn to the other guy, I even loathed him before. He is a lawyer, tall (around six feet), chinky-eyed and he has a well-formed body that will make women drool. He has an aggressive personality that he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants and he will fight for it. Two months ago, I happened to see him again after that first meeting and a memory of him flashed in my mind like a lightning. Since then, I could not remove him from my mind.
His name is Alex Hong. Remember him? In Love Story in Harvard. I really love that series that I watched it entirely before it was shown on Philippine Television. Aside from the story (which I wanna relate myself into), I am so much into Kim Rae Won that time that’s why I finished watching it and I even planned of repeating it all over again (but I think I’m lacking time now). Presently, it’s Lee Jung Jin who steals my heart. So, consider Kim Rae Won as my ex. Ha ha!
Somebody just asked me how my lovelife is going on. I told her about Lee Jung Jin and she called me “nuts”! Fine.
Nuts kung nuts. A good friend told me that only a courageous man can wall off that barrier surrounding me. I don’t know, sometimes I wanna experience that kilig of your own story, not by others. I think they're different. But when an individual knocks, I slam the door shut and conclude to myself that I am not ready for anything. I am hurting people, I know.
I am hurting also, so that’s fair enough. Hehe. I am hurting because I hurt them. They’re hurt because I never give them the chance to break into that wall that envelopes all that kilig emotions in me.
Nuts kung nuts. A good friend told me that only a courageous man can wall off that barrier surrounding me. I don’t know, sometimes I wanna experience that kilig of your own story, not by others. I think they're different. But when an individual knocks, I slam the door shut and conclude to myself that I am not ready for anything. I am hurting people, I know. I am hurting also, so that’s fair enough. Hehe. I am hurting because I hurt them. They’re hurt because I never give them the chance to break into that wall that envelopes all that kilig emotions in me.
God, let my Alex Hong-slash-Lee Jung Jin come.
April 28, 2008
Life of Pi
| Rating: | ★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Travel |
| Author: | Yann Martel |
April 1, 2008
Tinago Falls
Going nearer the Falls per se. =) It was like playing tug-of-war against a HUGE piece of rock!
March 3, 2008
Justice for ROSKOSKI!
I feel like a wretched, good-for-naught owner upon laying my eyes on my Biochemistry book ruined, wrecked, destroyed and even lost some of its leaves. If only my piteous book could speak to me, no doubt it will utter such words:
”How irresponsible of you for allowing them to borrow me and get burned above the photocopier machine. That man handled me didn’t have any tinkle of compassion. He smashed my every leaf like I’m a worthless sinner. His filthy, black-tinged hands left my once-upon-a-time glossy pages some unforgettable stinky marks. How can you afford to see me like this?”
I can hear my book growl in misery. My answer to my book would perhaps sound like:
“Roskoski, dear, I am no irresponsible owner. I love you just the way I love Harper’s, Harrison, Guyton, Snell and the rest of you. There are just some reckless borrowers who didn’t seem to see how much I care for you. You see, you’re the most precious among them all because it is you whom they successively borrowed due to their immediate need of you. God grants victory to those who forgives.”
I don’t understand why they can’t buy their own copy when it won’t cost them thousands of bucks. Imagine, I guess I am the only student in the entire college who has Roskoski—the entire freshmen and most sophomores and juniors have it photocopied. (Most didn’t even ask for my permission). My point is, they can afford Schwartz, Nelson, Williams, Goodman and Gilman, etc., that cost them a couple of grand but why not Roskoski? It is one of the cheapest medical books.
Okay, I’m NOT stingy, just to make it clear. I have willingly and wholeheartedly let them borrow it because exams are due next week, but they should have been extra careful with it. I handed it to them new, shining and sparkling. It is returned raped, torn and unloved.
JUSTICE FOR ROSKOSKI!
February 22, 2008
Rants of a Baby Girl
Childhood is part of everyone’s lives that don’t vanish abruptly only because we reach what they call adolescence and eventually, the peak, adulthood. When I was 10, I see my cousins who are in their late teenage years as way, way too old. When I turned eighteen, I told myself to change into more ladylike, the way an eighteen-year old should act. But it wasn’t easy. I’m 22 now, but I don’t feel like one. I want all aspects in me to grow, but sometimes, I don’t wanna be labeled as grown-up. Being grown-up have many restrictions, you can’t do this or that because you’re not a child anymore. Where is that blurry line that puts a mark between immaturity and childishness from maturity and adulthood?
I watched Finding Nemo last night. I still watch cartoons, I’m still fascinated with colorful things just like when I was six when Tazmanian Devil/X-Men/Ninja Turtles appears on the boob tube, or reading Archie back in fourth grade. In fact, Mulan and Monsters. Inc are one of the best movies ever created. At least, for me. I still indulge myself with ice candies available at Manang’s store, stain my teeth with chocolates, and melt candies on my saliva. I still chase butterflies and play tug-of-war with my younger brothers. I haven’t stopped cursing nasty mosquitoes every time they bit me and I still have no answer to my question: What is God's purpose in creating mosquitoes? Only as a vector for debilitating diseases? Perhaps. I haven’t gone away with my childhood. I say, gone NOT are the old days.
I am like Nemo. Or, I was. When I thought I had the mind of my own, I desperately want adventure. I was very eager to become independent and get away under the roof of my parents. I wanted to decide things on my own. I thought I was old enough. I wasn’t a rebel but I found myself arguing with my Mom sometime. My very first out-of-town-trip without my parents, but rather with high-school classmates and professors for a science field trip, was a total disaster. My father won’t let me go, he wanted to talk to the school principal. I knew then what would happen—there’d be no more field trip. I pleaded him not to talk to, otherwise, all hands will be pointed at me for spoiling it. My classmates were so excited planning out the entire journey, while I spend whole night crying hysterically at my room. I had extra-bulging eyelids and eye-bags the following day, such pitiful appearance convinced my Dad to sign the parent’s consent slip. I couldn’t contain my happiness that very moment. I felt like a bird out of its cage. The following field trips I had underwent through a loooooong sessions of debates and discussions for its approval, without the edematous eyes.
Now I understand why Papa’s so uber-exagg-strict before. I am his eldest, and he was not ready to see me swim into the vast Ocean alone. He thought I am not ready to meet huge sharks along the way. Maybe he doesn’t want to lose his kiti-kiti bulalan, his little baby girl. My younger siblings are extra-lucky because they haven’t experienced all those things. Perhaps Papa saw me unharmed when he opened the gate of the Ocean for me and so he loosened a little bit to my siblings (Read: Unfair. Hmp.) At the end of it all, he hasn’t lost his little girl. I am still exploring the Ocean and I know that for every obstacle that will come along my way, it is my family whom I shall turn my head to.
January 30, 2008
Late-Reaction Syndrome
What do you call it when a certain circumstance happened and you went initially phlegmatic? A few moments later, I mean days later, you realize you should have shown some reaction.
A month ago, I happened to connect (via text messaging) to a friend whose whereabouts I haven’t heard of for almost/more than six years. The usual “kamustahan” went on, and when the inevitable goodbye came, I said goodnight and told him how nice it is to be texting with him again. He replied: “…Ok, you too.. Just study hard, mahirap ang med. Nyt.” [Just study hard, med (pertaining to medicine) is difficult] I didn’t reply back coz I already said “goodnight” which means the end of conversation. A month later, I found the message in my inbox for it’s not my habit to erase messages immediately and that’s when the un-/intentional implication sunk in. I ponder, why did he tell me that? Does he think I’m not serious with my studies? I should have replied him immediately: “Ya, I know. And, I’m experiencing it down to the deepest layers of my bones.” But, it’s too late na already to and there’s no point of telling him that. It may be a pathetically petty thing, but somehow it has an impact on me.
A month ago, I happened to connect (via text messaging) to a friend whose whereabouts I haven’t heard of for almost/more than six years. The usual “kamustahan” went on, and when the inevitable goodbye came, I said goodnight and told him how nice it is to be texting with him again. He replied: “…Ok, you too.. Just study hard, mahirap ang med. Nyt.” [Just study hard, med (pertaining to medicine) is difficult] I didn’t reply back coz I already said “goodnight” which means the end of conversation. A month later, I found the message in my inbox for it’s not my habit to erase messages immediately and that’s when the un-/intentional implication sunk in. I ponder, why did he tell me that? Does he think I’m not serious with my studies? I should have replied him immediately: “Ya, I know. And, I’m experiencing it down to the deepest layers of my bones.” But, it’s too late na already to and there’s no point of telling him that. It may be a pathetically petty thing, but somehow it has an impact on me.
January 18, 2008
The Actress
THE ACTRESS
Instead of doing what I oughtta do—study for my exam tomorrow—I cleaned the fridge, the toaster, washed the dishes, sweep the floor, do my laundry, and watched a couple of movies. Lots of time wasted. This is something I hate about myself. I sometimes set aside things that need to be accomplished first. I have this disorder that if I can’t do something I’m thinking to do, or, eat what my mouth craves for, I can’t proceed doing the more important one. So now that I’m done of those things mentioned above, I can now bury my face on my notes.
By the way, I’m loving the British accent. I wish I could speak it without ridicule.
**
I wanna write. Write about something. But there are just no ideas sprouting from my underloaded brain. There are unpredictable minutes when words unstoppably pour down from my head, but they usually happen when I’m in the middle of awkward moments to write like in the bathroom, in a jeepney, in a class with the most feared professor (you should listen, not write), or when I’m about to rest into a deep sleep (half-asleep, half-awake state).
**
I wanna tell a story. A story about someone I know whom we shall call under the alias “Hillary” to protect her privacy. It has been months since the last time I saw and talk to Hill. Few months after that, we learned that she didn’t proceed to med school as planned because she was forcibly married for some unknown reasons. She has a boyfriend so her parents’ unwished conspiracy was not a success.
I regularly read her blog. How she has improved. Her writing skills are at its peak, her choice of words is excellent and natural sarcasm (pretends to be subtle) is evident in her articles. We still have communication, of course, what’s the use of Friendster, YM, and Globe?
Her peculiarly funny demeanor didn’t change a bit. Her love for music and magazines and fashion are still the same. Also, her inner actress gestures remained. And for this year that she’s currently an OOSY (out-of-school-youth), she occupied herself with enhancing what was left with her. In spite of the undesirable circumstances, someone makes her happy. I know she’s optimistic of continuing her calling as a medical doctor. And I wish that the pillar that she and her guy built will get stronger—to prove what they wanna prove.
She used to be the single-and-independent-girl-is-fun kinda girl. We were alike, that’s why we call ourselves “buddies” because we have the same feathers, therefore we flock together. People change. Cliché. She broke our unspoken vow, one of the elements that tighten our friendship. I got mad, initially. Things like “how could she?” blah-blah. I found myself later on at the right place, I am just a friend that devoid me of any right to cease her happiness just because of one stupid unspoken vow. I wasn’t even able to stop my own best-friend from getting herself a boyfriend. Anyway, I thought, she holds herself responsible for whatever the consequences are. And now she’s happy with him. I am here left having a strong affinity with our vow.
**
If I am to put the story of my life in the big screen, I am certainly NOT the lead actress. I am the best-friend who receives the after-midnight phone call to hear the whining of the lead actress. I am the one who supplies advices, the confidant, the listening machine, the accomplice. I love my role, just being that. Apparently, I don’t like being in the limelight to receive compliment. The more you receive compliments, the more criticisms are thrown back at you. I admit, most often that not, I am afraid of criticisms. That’s why I always stay on the safer side, by being the good girl everybody knows. I can’t afford to be mean and sarcastic, although sometimes the situation calls for it. I can’t afford to throw back at people because karma gets even at me faster than I did the deed.
I am thinking of auditioning for the next lead actress role. Surely, that’s take a lot of proper attitude and hard work. Better watch out for the upcoming trailer in the cinemas, you might not recognize that the star of the next biggest motion picture is none other than, Yours Truly.
January 2, 2008
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