| Rating: | ★★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Literature & Fiction |
| Author: | Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
May 25, 2008
One Hundred Years of Solitude
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
December 31, 2007
meet Outlandish
“We live in times when political positions are becoming polarized and cultures are considered fenced-in entities that cannot be united. The world is often viewed through a faulty prism that divides “us” from “them”. That’s why it such a tension-breaker when someone takes the time and uses their talent to remind us that we are all human beings. That the blood running through your veins is significantly different from the blood that flows through your neighbor’s body, even though you may not share the same social status, political views, religious conviction or hail from the same latitude or longitude.”
This is where Outlandish enters the picture.
Their story is an uplifting tale about three friend’s common adventure, which starts in the youth clubs and soccer fields of the western Copenhagen
With the release of Outland’s Official (2000) Outlandish publicly unveiled a unique mode of thought and approach to creating modern music: a musical, socio-cultural melting pot heated by the hip-hop Lenny, Waqas and Isam had had a passion for since early youth. It was like a special type of fusion cuisine in which the fundamental ingredients were clearly American, but with dashes of spices that might be beats, samples and snatches of Arab pop, Bollywood soundtracks as well as Latin American rhythms. The lyrics were expressed in English, Spanish, Urdu, Arabic—and Danish. Or as Isam later painted a verbal picture: “I was in my room listening to Tupac, my mother was playing Moroccan folk music on the stereo down in the living room, and somewhere along the line the idea popped into my head, that I could unite the elements of my life in music.”
Considering the quantum leaps the band has taken from album to album, it will be interesting to see how their music will leap into various areas of the world. One thing is sure: Outlandish has created its own definition of world music. And no matter how many differences there are in the world, the humble human being will be heartened, entertained and educated by listening to Outlandish.
Soon
| Rating: | ★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Religion & Spirituality |
| Author: | Jerry B. Jenkins |
December 23, 2007
Rubik-ation
Guess what swept our classroom by storm this past month. It’s not any movie star or the latest fashion items, not even the newest published book or the just-released music album. It is this four-sided cube composing of four different colors, four rows and four columns. I’ll give you a clue: the mechanism of playing is that one has to arrange all the scattered four colors from the four rows and columns by making sure that same colors stay on the same side. Ring any bell? Ya, it’s Rubik’s cube.
More than 50% of our class’ population is addicted into this cube. From everywhere you look, even at the corners of the class, whether there is doctor or not, you can observe an individual enthralled by the magic of solving the puzzle. I belong to those less than 50 percent who were spared by the spell of Rubik’s cube. I want to learn albeit seeing my classmates wrinkling their foreheads and their eyes almost popping from their orbital sacs from figuring out how to place a single color from where it belongs without disturbing other colors made me back off. Heheh.. Cellphone na lang kinakalikot ko.
November 28, 2007
Choosing Hiatus
“That is why it is so important to let certain things go. To release them. To cut loose…Don’t expect to get anything back, don’t expect the recognition for your efforts, don’t expect your genius to be discovered or your love to be understood…Stop being who you were and become who you are.”
For three weeks now, she’s scrutinizing her heart as somebody stole it from her chest—crushed it, stepped on it and ripped it on the open. She saw it bleed until no more viscous blood gushed from the poor organ and it went pallor.
She does not blame that person.
She’d rather blame herself for being vulnerable, for letting that person snatch the organ that keeps her alive. She could have guarded it.
She’s still on the process of picking up the fragments of her heart and vascularizing the bruised, contused, and battered organ.
She does not deny the presence of pain, for pain makes her human. This excruciating experience may be an indicative of growth. Awareness of its presence is at the same time reducing it and gradually letting it go.
Her world’s may be gloomy these past three weeks, but she’s optimistic that the sun will shine on her again to nurture her heart so it can return to its place and start beating again.
She presently chooses to dwell into the state of hiatus especially in circumstances that involves the fragile heart. She chooses to preserve her heart.
“In the words of a Persian sage: Love is a disease no one wants to get rid of. Those who catch it never try to get better, and those who suffer do not wish to be cured”
November 17, 2007
Memoirs of a Geisha
| Rating: | ★★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | History |
| Author: | Arthur Golden |
November 5, 2007
beinte dos
Exactly twelve years ago, I was celebrating my twelfth birthday with my group of friends back in sixth grade. Our juvenile minds were already concerned with what will become of us in the future. I imagined myself twelve years from that day as a tall, sophisticated, young lady; driving her own car; earning her own money; single; wearing a clean, white vest with a stethoscope clenched around her neck; her outfit matched with a glittering stilettos and a properly pinned hijab; and a pair of spectacles may add to my japorms.
Twelve years had passed since that afternoon and what had become of me? You see, I thought I would become a doctor at the age of twenty-two. Certainly not. I’m still in school, still a parasite to my parents. I never grew taller than five feet and two inches. I don’t know if I look sophisticated from other people’s eyes but surely, I am a young lady. I don’t have my own car because I am not yet earning my own money. (I’m gonna learn driving pretty soon). Yeah, I’m not committed. I wear clean, white uniform during schooldays, without a vest. I’m gonna have a stethoscope strangling me this semester and onwards. I’m not comfortable wearing stilettos on ordinary days and I try hard to pin my hijab so it would look orderly. I dread the day that I would wear spectacles for it indicates an eye disorder.
At twenty two, I may not be the woman I imagined I would become but I’m proud to say that I finished a degree with quite a few flying colors and I am working on becoming that woman I dreamed of twelve years ago, without the spectacles please.
For my 22nd birthday, I made a wish list of what I want to receive this year (ei, I’m giving you guys a clue, don’t you get it? Lol!) I actually made this three weeks ago.
- Littman stethoscope
- A pair of comfortable shoes
- A huge rectangular shoulder bag (to stuff in my essentials so I would no longer appear like a Christmas tree going to school with all the bitbits)
- An alarm clock that sounds like an earthquake that about to swallow the earth. I badly need one to keep me awake.
- Original DVD of House, M. D. and Grey’s Anatomy.
People, you know where to find me on my birthday. You know my number, you perfectly know where to contact me and where to mail the box! Hahah! And oh, I also like surprises.
October 26, 2007
The Lake House
A love story of two people from different periods of time. The man (Keannu Reeves, plays Alex an architect) lives in 2004 while the woman (Sandra Bullock, plays Kate a doctor) lives in 2006, a difference of two years. Their means of contact is through a mailbox by the lake house owned by Alex, which, eventually was rented by Kate. They virtually enjoyed the company of each other though they haven’t met for once in their lives, considering that they live in separate era. I mentioned it is a love story, well, yes, they fell in love. They fell in love to the point that they’re ready to give their whole heart to each other contemplating that the entire scenario is genuine.
“Here’s a man who wants to spend the rest of his life with me, but I push him away. In the meantime, the one man I can never meet, him I would like to give my whole heart to.”
October 20, 2007
October 18, 2007
Semestral Brrr-eak!
Semestral Break was the time I look forward to when I was still an undergraduate student. It is synonymous to sleeping 'till noon, watching movies whole day and whole night, subscribing to unlimited texting, going out freely with friends, and reading fictional books that I missed during the peaks of exams.
Now that I am in PostGrad School, I still look forward to SemBreak, but it's a lot different now. This is my time to patch up my social obligations with my family and friends. This means attending family affairs/gathering and catching up with friends whom I haven't seen and talked to for quite a long time.
I got home from Iligan last week (Thursday), a day before the Eid. As expected, I get bombarded with family and organizational events. My family had a small salo-salo at home during the Eid, where my aunts, uncles and cousins traditionally brought food. The next night (Saturday night) follows the RC Rites for the new batch of members (Al-Fatihatul Aq'l), which includes my brother Jalal and my sister Amanee. The RC (Ranao Council) held a special assembly on Sunday, which I wasn't able to attend because I failed to get up early that morning due to fatigue caused by consecutive overnights preceding that day. My body surrendered to the luxury that sleep has to offer. Nevertheless, I went to the RC Dinner that night. Yesterday, Monday, I stayed at home the whole day and did my chores that I owe to my siblings for the entire semester that I've been away from home---cleaning the house, cooking and washing the dishes.
I am at the Main Library at this very moment (Tuesday), I am planning to do an advance-reading on my Surgery book. This one made a great difference with my SemBreak, I used to throw all my notes and books under my bed when SemBreak comes and forget them for a while. This time, there's no way I'd do the same because I'd be leafing through them over and over again for the next four years, even after Med School I'll still find myself going back into the loving arms of these books.
I'm halfway into the chapter I'm reading when the framed Map of the World caught my eye. I remember my fascination for world geography and history, so I set my book aside and looked for the World Atlas on the shelf and here I am locating my fave places in the world that I've been targetting to step my feet into in the very near future.
For the next two weeks before the opening of the second semester, I'm planning to finish all my L.I.'s (Learning Issues) that I'm going to present on the first day of school, finish reading Memoirs of a Geisha and The Zahir, finish House, M.D. series, visit to ukay-ukay, and more bonding with friends (ASS Kickers and Lily).
Now that I am in PostGrad School, I still look forward to SemBreak, but it's a lot different now. This is my time to patch up my social obligations with my family and friends. This means attending family affairs/gathering and catching up with friends whom I haven't seen and talked to for quite a long time.
I got home from Iligan last week (Thursday), a day before the Eid. As expected, I get bombarded with family and organizational events. My family had a small salo-salo at home during the Eid, where my aunts, uncles and cousins traditionally brought food. The next night (Saturday night) follows the RC Rites for the new batch of members (Al-Fatihatul Aq'l), which includes my brother Jalal and my sister Amanee. The RC (Ranao Council) held a special assembly on Sunday, which I wasn't able to attend because I failed to get up early that morning due to fatigue caused by consecutive overnights preceding that day. My body surrendered to the luxury that sleep has to offer. Nevertheless, I went to the RC Dinner that night. Yesterday, Monday, I stayed at home the whole day and did my chores that I owe to my siblings for the entire semester that I've been away from home---cleaning the house, cooking and washing the dishes.
I am at the Main Library at this very moment (Tuesday), I am planning to do an advance-reading on my Surgery book. This one made a great difference with my SemBreak, I used to throw all my notes and books under my bed when SemBreak comes and forget them for a while. This time, there's no way I'd do the same because I'd be leafing through them over and over again for the next four years, even after Med School I'll still find myself going back into the loving arms of these books.
I'm halfway into the chapter I'm reading when the framed Map of the World caught my eye. I remember my fascination for world geography and history, so I set my book aside and looked for the World Atlas on the shelf and here I am locating my fave places in the world that I've been targetting to step my feet into in the very near future.
For the next two weeks before the opening of the second semester, I'm planning to finish all my L.I.'s (Learning Issues) that I'm going to present on the first day of school, finish reading Memoirs of a Geisha and The Zahir, finish House, M.D. series, visit to ukay-ukay, and more bonding with friends (ASS Kickers and Lily).
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