Friday, August 28, 2009

Exam Jitters.

I have never worried on an exam this much since I took the board exams. It is a make it or break it in the program. Graduate school isn’t college anymore. You fail a subject you drop the program, unlike in college that you could just have retake. There is no room for mistakes in the program. Mistakes are for the youth and we are considered people of maturity.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

We are more than him

Weeeh!!! I got to finally see Mama after such a long time. Last seen her Independence Day when I went home.

Mom is here for a seminar courtesy of her office. Good to see and know that she is hanging on despite Papa’s unfathomable actions. She is still wounded and I understand if it would take a long long time for her to heal. But at the very least, I am pleased that she is recuperating. We assure her that it would be ok and that there is more than him…we are more than him.

We love you mom!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Devastatingly Bored

Here I am again whining about work when I have nothing to work on today and everyday. That is the problem really, I am bored with work because I don’t have anything to do. Yes.. talk about being idle for the whole day.

Oftentimes, I would end up pretending that I am doing something at my desk. And that alone drains my spirit each day. I am not used to idleness. And most of all I am not used to pretending. Coming from the BA where everyone is on their toes maximizing time to finish as much work as possible afraid that things would be piling up. Here, work is a monthly thing. You release reports required once a month. And once you are done, idleness will creep and swallow you again.

There is no wonder why previous TAs has moved out. Mai for instance, had her stint in only a year and moved on to Wastewater Department. In one of the many talks Frank and I had, he told me that he is wondering of how I am with work. He is worried that I might get bored and would leave him. He knows that he could never tie us down with the position. He knows that well be leaving. He is just concerned that we leave too soon.

I am bored. I am devastatingly bored. I am complaining. But then I know, this is a blessing in disguise. I need the time to study, I need the time for school. Many often I am doing my homework for design subject or research for our laboratory class. It is only with Frank, who also encourages his people to pursue further studies, that studying and not doing work is “allowed”.

Don’t worry, I am thankful of the life I have with work and would never go back to the life I had at the BA…but let me just use the space to complain. Hehe!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

PVS

Post Vacation Syndrome.That is I guess the hardest. After going through days of idleness, relaxation, and nothing to think about but things you would enjoy, you would not like to go back to the reality of work, school and stress. After a time of escape, however brief, you would feel like you would want to extend, or even just stay where you are and not go back to the chaos of reality. But a strong will power will overcome and even cure you from PVS until the next attack when you take that ultimate and grand vacation.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Scorched

Who would have thought that a dark skinned would still get a sunburn?

I could now feel the ache in my brown skin. My labmates (who were also Filipino brown skinned) noticed right away that I have gone to the beach. They love my color!!! Weeehh!!!

But today, my skin feels scorched. I have applied sunscreen for like a gazillion times so that I won't get a burn... a tan is ok but I would forgo with the burn. Yet I have it amidst the Nivea that I almost finished up.

Sunburn is I guess the consequence of having fun in the sun... and it won't have me regret it. =P

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Don't be Fooled by the Airport Cab

We have "deplaned" Cebu Pacific plane in NAIA at around 7:10 AM. Boy and I just had a grand vacation in Cebu and Bohol. We were thinking of taking a cab home but were cautious to avoid the expensive ones: (1) the yellow airport taxi, the flagdown is 70Php and a 4Php as the meter continuous (instead of Php2.50) added to the base fare; (2) and the coupon taxi where there is a ticket with fixed amount written in it which corresponds to how far your destination. Both were off our budget so we trudged the arrival area which, according to 5 security and policemen that we have asked, is where the metered taxis are.

Since Boy and I were of different destinations we took 2 separate taxis. Upon entering my taxi, the driver, after asking my destination, already started with the smooth talk. He said that it has been raining hard in Manila and some streets are so flooded. He then told me that because of that, there would be a hard time driving through the metro. He then dropped the bomb... he will be charging me Php800. I was flabbergasted!!! In my entire 9 years in Manila I have never gone home to our QC home from the airport for Php800. I told the driver "no!" and that he better drop me off asap in a  shaded area (hehehe!!! it was raining!)

In just a few minutes, I got in a new cab and had myself dropped at Magallanes station where I had my MRT ride going to Quezon Ave. Then rode again a jeep to Sandigan. I would have opted to wait for other passengers to occupy the tricycle but I was running late for my laboratory class. I would have just paid Php 8 than pay Php 40 for occupying the whole vehicle. In total I spent only Php123 to get home. I don't need to get home with Php 800 and surely I would not allow myself to get fooled by some taxi driver!!! I just wish I got the plate number of the cab so that I could post it here how much disgust and loath I have for its driver!

-o0o-
P.S.
Is there such thing as deplaned? A Cebu PAcific crew used the term and by context clues, it meant going down the plane. The word had me and Boy think if there is such a word.

5-Day Mobile Life

I have been wandering for 5 days. And the movement had me realize that I have somewhat an imbalance that has kept me sick when traveling.

I was around the southern part of Manila doing plant visits in our wastewater and water treatment plants in Makati and Taguig. Since Frank is away for a month, one of his requests was to visit as much facilities as possible. He was very particular with our facilities in Jala-jala and Baras in Antipolo which we did two Thursdays ago.

When I went back to the office, I finished off a report needed for United Utilities in UK. I then requested Mang Aster, Frank's driver to send me off at the airport for my most awaited trip to Cebu.

But Cebu was not our ultimate destination. Cebu was only our meet-up point. Joined by my beerkadas Lenny and Boy, we set foot Bohol via a fastcraft in the afternoon of Wednesday.

Bohol was splendid... I will make a separate post for the whole trip.

Then we were back again in Cebu Friday afternoon in preparation to go back to our busy and real life in Manila (as for Len, in Bacolod) the following day (which is today).

And now that I'm back. I have no time to rest. I am really back to reality, I am back to attend my laboratory class to be a day closer in getting my Masters Degree. =)

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Olats

Olats... super olats! I have missed going to Boracay to attend to a class with no professor. Even the shadow of our prof was nowhere to be found. Argh!!! I missed bora to be in class because there was a scheduled reporting. I missed bora because I don't want to regret not going to school...

Olats!!! Duper olats. I woke up with the feeling of laziness. Laziness to go to Lumbayag. I just don't feel like going to EK. I just want to spend time with myself...

But all through out the day, we cleaned the house. It is much better now... yet more things to do. Laundry, toilet, the windows, and the garden is all done...clean and sparkling...the rest of the house, will get our hands into it... =)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

I need those falling stars for my wishes.

Boohoo for last night’s sky. Clouds were everywhere totally covering the night sky. Damn. I have hoped to catch the meteor show last night but then the clouds won’t even budge and open up.

I looked though National Geographic and according to the site, Perseids meteor shower are the by products of Swift - Tuttle. Also known as the "Tears of St. Lawrence" because the shower roughly occurs on the date of the martyr's death.  Out ancestors thought of it as tears of a martyred man burned because of his beliefs.

Like a child, I often wish on falling stars. My first falling star was during highschool, sun has set but there are still traces of its light. And then a falling star was there in the mid-sky. To my surprise I never got to make my wish.

My most memorable meteor shower was during college. We were at the garden of our dorm in Ilang and were just gazing at the night sky. Some of my sisses at the dorm got out their “banigs” or woven mats and we spent the night under the sky of bursting falling stars at the moon deck of the dormitory.

I was eager for another spectacular meteor shower. I have a lot of dreams to wish for, I need a number of falling stars for them. To my dismay, all I got were clouds. Poor me! I guess I’ll fulfill them on my own with only the divine intervention helping me.

Wishing and fulfilling dreams, it may not matter. The bottom line is, it would have been a great night.

Bora, bye bye.

Today, I feel sick at the gut. If I would reread this entry in the future, I would surely like to kill myself.

My friends from Taguig have planned a trip to Boracay last April. Since we booked early, we have availed of super cheap tickets. And today is the day. My friends have gone to Bora. I was left in my cubicle whining and doing this entry before I start with work.

I could have gone. I could just pack my bags and be at the white beaches of Boracay getting a darker color. But I chose to stay. Not because I luurvvv my work but because of my Saturday classes. And you may think that I am the goody-goody student who wouldn’t want to miss class once in awhile. Don’t get me wrong. I have planned on that. But of all Saturdays that I would be reporting to my laboratory class, it is this Saturday that we have to do an update with our professor. So I better be there than be trapped with inexcusable absences.

I would like to be angsty about how school has destroyed my plans of touring the world but then again, I am at fault since I have gotten my finger back at school. I wanted to get a Masters degree badly then sacrifices has to be made.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Of Vids and Music

Lately, I have been browsing a lot in youtube and been enjoying it...

Good finds were Chris Browns's Forever used as a wedding march.


This was absolutely enjoyable... and I would like to have friends who would get crazy with me in my special day... uhm, girls, game kamo? Wait, I don't have my groom yet..hehehe!!

My brother has discovered 2ne1 and Sandara Park, a Korean who became popular in the Philippines having won 1st runner up in Star Cirlcle Teen Quest was part of the group. 2ne1 is growing fast in the Korean music scene.

Sandara, or better known as Dara in Korea, is the girl in pink pants in the video. It is amusing how she has grown confident after going back to Korea. I guess after going through so much in the Philippines, it has done her good.

Friday, August 07, 2009

Pesto Zest-o!

Pesto sauce is I guess the easiest pasta sauce ever come up… Not to mention that most of its ingredients are affordable and nutritious.

Almost a decade ago, my friend Chloe had ordered Pesto for dinner which we thought of sharing because we have eaten dorm food before we met up with our highschool buddies from Ateneo in one resto in Katipunan. I think that was my first encounter with Pesto and I would never forget how much I disliked its taste… talk about buying something, have a taste, then another and then eventually quit on it. The only thing that kept you on to the second forkful of noodles was the thought that the money you will be paying the bill would be totally put to waste. Chloe and I ended up wasting on food that night.

I have avoided pesto for quite sometime. Not until I have tried living healthy with options of fruits and veggies for food. So when deciding on pasta, the popular choice for trying-to-live-on-veggie people like me would be pesto. I don’t know if taste buds mature but I clicked with pesto. Time and time again, when I feel like eating healthy, pesto was my reliable choice.

But the high and irrational price of pasta and pesto for that matter (and everything else) had me buy a blender. First was just for craving of fruit shakes. But 2 nights ago I thought of dropping by the supermarket and dropped in my basket were ingredients for a pesto sauce.

And today, I brought to work some cooking. I brought pesto pasta topped with extra parmesan cheese. I love the fact that finally, I have done something for craving’s worth. I have fulfilled my stomach as well and the did away with the notion that I don’t know how to cook. Best part of that is, I got to save on lunch. =)

For Pesto Sauce, here's how to make one:

Ingredients:
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons pine nuts or shelled pistachios
1 large clove garlic, mashed
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:
In a blender or food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse until minced the basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil in a steady stream and process until emulsified. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and refrigerate, until ready to serve, up to 5 days.

Have a zest with your pesto!

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Bring my Respects, President Cory Aquino

Tomorrow is declared a non-working holiday. Nice. More time in bed. Don't get me misunderstood. I entirely salute and acknowledge the woman behind the holiday. Not the person declaring the holiday though.

Tomorrow is the burial of the late President Corazon Aquino. Cory died in the early morning of August 1 of cardiac arrest after suffering from colon cancer. Since her death, a lot of the Filipinos came to the wake, to take a last look, to pay their respect.

I have always believed that Cory Aquino was the passive leader. I can't remember how great her term was as a president. I was very young then. I could just remember the catastrophe in her years of service. There was the Earthquake in Baguio and the Mt. Pinatubo earthquake. The rest, never sank with me because I never got to witness them.
the wake
But the people who have witnessed her term, speaks of her highly. The prayers offered during her fight with cancer were numerous. Peoples of different backgrounds have gone to the streets to see her remains transferred from Greenhills to Manila Cathedral. People have endured rain, stroking heat and long queues to see her for the last time. Yellow ribbon have been attached to buildings, trees, and cars. Confetti has been everywhere. Sympathies are overflowing.

Corazon Aquino was the first woman president of the Philippines and of Asia. From a housewife and widow, her world turned 360 when she responded to the cries of her people to run for presidency and deliver all of them from Marcos' Martial Law. Cory Aquino brought back democracy to the country.

But the greatness of the woman was not right after the fall of the dictator. The greatness of Corazon Aquino started way before when she has acknowledged God as her Father. She lead the country with greath faith in God and great faith in the Filipino people. The late president believed so much on the Philippines.

Tomorrow, a great woman will come to her final rest. Tomorrow we celebrate her life. Tomorrow a woman comes home to her Father and to her one great love, Ninoy. May her soul rest in peace, smiling.
cory aquino

Saturday, August 01, 2009

oh oh August

August is here and I'm excited.

First, work would be, I guess, lessened with Frank going to UK for the whole month. I would miss the old man and his quirkiness but then he also needs the vacation. So with the boss not around, I would be making my own outputs...

And there is the up and coming Cebu-Bohol trip I am planning with my friends for days..I'm afraid that it would be expensive and would shatter my savings account but then I have to see the place and even if summer's over it is not late to hit the beach... and I need this vacation. With school eating up my time, this is my first vacation after I have myself enrolled in grad school.

And mom would be here in the last days of August. She will join a seminar for 3 days here in Manila with some of her officemates. I miss ma. It has been a while since I last seen her.

August will surely be a blast... and I can't wait.