Monday, June 28, 2010

Run To Eng’gfinity

As part (Yes, back to school once again!!! I'm currently taking my Masters in Environmental Engineering) and proud alumni of the UP Engineering, I would like to invite everyone to the
Enggfinity: The Centennial Engineering Run
Enggfinity Run Poster
Enggfinity: The Centennial Engineering Run

This RUN is open to all.

As the College of Engineering celebrates its CENTENNIAL YEAR, prepare to go the distance. The Engineering Student Council brings you Eng'gfinity: The Engineering Centennial Run on July 18, 2010.
Register at the ESC Office, Room 123, Melchor Hall (College of Engineering)..

100 years. INFINITE LIMITS.

RUN DETAILS:
EVENT TAKES PLACE RAIN OR SHINE!
-The Run is on July 18 2010(Sunday). It will start at 5:30 AM.

RACE CATEGORIES
2.2k Oval Challenge
5k
10k
Enggfinity Singlet
Enggfinity Singlet

-Stage, Starting point and Finish Line of Race.Engineering Lawn (Melchor Hall)
-Promotional Booths and Onsite Registration also at the Engineering Lawn.
-The route will pass through the academic oval and branching streets including the University Avenue.
-Water Stations are located at the 1.5k/3k/5k mark.
-Prizes will be given to the Top Finishers for each Race Category

Registration Details:
You can get Registration Forms at the ESC Office or download it here by Wednesday June 16 2010.
Singlet Dimensions
Singlet Dimensions

REGISTRATION FEE:
Php350* for 10k and Php300* for 5k and 2.2k
(Race Kit includes Singlet^, Racebib, Route Map and Race Analysis)
*50 pesos Discount for UP Engg Students/Alumni/Faculty
*^Less Php100 if you do not want to avail of the singlet

Those who will register before JULY 6 2010 will have the official race singlet. Limited Singlets will be available for those who will register after JULY 6 2010. For online registration send your forms thru email to josegabriel.mercado@gmail.com.you can pay at the ESC office or bank deposit.

For Bank Deposit
Bank : Philippine National Bank (PNB)
Account Name : ENGINEERING STUDENT COUNCIL
Account Number: 39168900016

Present your Deposit Slips upon claiming of race kits with your waiver of liability.

For more info, you can contact
Jose Gabriel E. Mercado
09064012332
josegabriel.mercado@gmail.com
or check the Frequently Asked Questions.
2.2k Bib 5k Bib 10k Bib

See you guys at the finish line!

Bad Weekend

The last weekend was the meanest. 

Saturday. After spending time in bed and wasted hours doing nothing, the day ended with a big fight with my brother.  Big to the point where he banged the keyboards till all the keys are out of its sockets.  I didn't say anything and had that "poker face" telling him I don't care at all and went to the bathroom.  After taking a bath, I found the monitor of his computer down and the electric fan as well.  I was not bothered.  And all through the night, we have left the appliance as is, as pride enveloped each on of us.
 sibling fight
Sunday. We're still not in speaking terms.  While my brother is asleep and I was in front of the tube, we heard our most feared voice.  It was like a nightmare turned to reality. Good thing, I lowered the volume of the TV beforehand so it was not obvious from the outside. I instantly turned off the dvd and ran towards the door and locked it.  Then I ran towards my brother's part of the house and woke him up...And he just replied, "I hear him".  And we decided to pretend that the house was empty. 

My father was outside our house.  We heard him asked for us from the neighbors but we pretended that we were not in.  It was a terrible 4-5 hours of pure agony.  I don't want to see him for I dont' know what to react.  Mixed emotion of anger, contempt, pity, etc.  I don't know... And mostly, I don't want to regret anything I would do or say towards my father.

I don't want the last weekend to ever happen again.. it was, by far, the meanest.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Lost Gleam

I have been on sitting and felt like rotting, bored again... a lot of things to do and things to study but I'm not up to it again..for now..

Need to find my gleam again.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tears for Home

I have had seen old people cry.  When my lolo died, Lola cried a river of tears as well as his sons and daughters.  Likewise, family members cried when my Lola died.  I have seen old people cry in the movies, tv series because of grief, sadness and all that but is a different story altogether.. 

But seeing Frank get teary eyed and cry, I can't stand it.  Because those tears, I could not name except for longingness for home.  He has long been gone from UK and for sure, it has been awhile that he felt estranged. I may be Filipino and belonged to the Philippines but there is that distinct longiness for Bacolod alone which I don't feel in Manila.  And I know Frank felt the same way especially with language barriers, lesser familiar faces and family not always around.  He has been back and forth to UK but that will never be enough.

crying
Missing home
-o-

Last Thursday, Frank invited Sheena and I to watch the Desford Colliery Band at Brittish School Manila.  It was my first time to see a brass band and to hear it for that matter so I was quite excited and very willing when Frank invited me. 

When we arrived at Brittish School Manila, I felt very foreign.  Ironic because I am still in the Philippines and still in Manila but for a place such as BSM where it all seems like everyone is either white, black or some other asian national, I felt alien.  Frank felt like he's home with all the British folks sorrounding him.

at_home_2at_home
Frank, at home.

So after grabbing some drinks (beer and wine?!?!) and our reserved tickets, we went around BSM looking through the artworks and activities of students. 
art works 
Looking through artworks of students

I am very pleased to see this building, the Rizal building to be in the heart of the BSM!!! Yeay!!
 Photobucket
Rizal Building

So when the gates open, we were the first to get in for I need good seats for a good photo opportunity and there's little of them because most front seats are reserved for sponsors. 


Hot Seat for the Night
While members of Desford Brass Band were setting up, I approached the stage to take some pictures.  And I took this photo of a man and his brass instrument as he approached me.  And being a very engaging and friendly people these British folks are, this guy started conversation with me:

Guy:  You're here taking photos for somebody?
Me:  Uhm, no.  Just storing for my own consumption.
Guy:  Let me see… (moving towards looking through my camera which I willingly let him see his photo)
Me:  I'm not even good.
Guy:  Nah…Could you load it up at Facebook and I'm gonna grab it from there?

martin whybrowdesford
Members of Desford Colliery Brassband

Then his buddies went to the stage for their picture taken. Which I took along one of the members.  Then Frank approached us and urged me to join them taking my camera away.  The usual me, I would easily go and have my picture taken with celebs or any monumental structure, so I stood beside the guys…Then seeing Sheena, I signaled Frank to join me with them. And this, I think started all my disaster for the night.

He was hitting on me!! He was asking if where would I take him after the concert or where we would be after the concert so that he will go there as well.  It was a mixture of thrill and embarrassmest so I was respectfully declining while Frank was pushing me to go out since I am available and all that.  I was laughing it out while the two Brits are talking and so I slowly went to the instruments to take pictures and when I got back to my seat, I saw Frank whispering to Sheena as if they are conspiring against me….grrr!!!!  And Frank said, "You know what he said about you? He said, "She's bloody beautiful! And he gave me this, he said to look you up at Facebook and send him his pictures."  He was handing me Frank's calling card with a name Martin Whybrow written at the back.  I was just rolling my eyes at Frank but the typical girl like me was all flattered.  Hahaha!

conspiring
Sheena and Frank, conspiring

So all throughout the concert, Frank and Sheena were teasing me towards the tuba player especially when he looks towards our directions which was a thousand times that night.

Desford Colliery Band


desford

So who is this Desford Brassband? I'm not really sure about them as I am a newbie with brass bands and it was only Frank who introduced us to such and that each town or city has their own Brassband and there are competitions among cities.  Of course Frank was biased and saying that the brass band from his town is the best.

After doing a little research this is what I have found.

Founded in 1898, The Desford Colliery Band comprises of twenty-five brass musicians with percussion and performs a repertoire spanning Baroque to Jazz, with fine soloists as well.

The name in itself has a rich history.  After the Second World War, the band was assisted by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation. Also at that time, most of the musicians were miners, and thus the band was renamed the Desford Colliery Band.

Today, the band has more than 30 championship titles to back its name.  Desford has achieved great popularity and success as an ambassador for British Culture and heritage abroad. With a CDs gaining popularity and a TV show, 'The Real Brassed Off' the Desford Colliery Band is a brassband envied by many.
 
Photobucket
Desford Colliery Band

The Desford Organisation is commited to a policy that states that future generations should have access to playing brass band music. To implement this policy, the Desford Academy was set up to promote brass playing to the younger generation.

-o-
The band played two sets and it was only the first set that the old man started teary eyed. I was teasing him about it at first and all the more that his eyes well up.  But at the end of the first set when I got up to go to the toilet, Sheena followed me telling me she can't stand when somebody is crying.  Oh no!! Frank cried when his Indian friends at BSM asked him if he is ok and then tears just fell like a dam broke.

PhotobucketPhotobucket
magnificent play

I think the songs are really familiar to Frank, include in that the history of the song, it made him think and long for home.  After sorting himself, he went out to the crowd and was back to the jolly man approaching and talking to people mostly from the band.

Sheena and I were in a total hunger.  And I was afraid that the beer would get to me fast because of the empty stomach.  IT was my second beer during the break. So I decided to buy some ensaymada to just fill me but goodness, it was not a good pair!!!  And there was this Brit who even commented on why I have bread and beer which I have to explain why such a sight.

The next set was a bit familiar just because of one piece from the Harry Potter movie.  Hahaha!!!  But we really don't know if what part of the movie was it played!  All throughout the new set, I was glancing towards Frank checking if he is crying or maybe there is a sense of familiarity in the songs that the band played.  I'm afraid that he will cry again and I just don't know what to do…

PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
Desford Brass Band

Frank is not the typical guy… he cries whenever he feels like crying.  Machismo is a taboo.  Maybe being old gives one an excuse to be emotional. Afterall, you no longer impress the oppositee sex.  But then again, strength is tied with respect and awe for another.  Strutting a weaker side like crying will surely have others give you a questioning stare.  But for the old man, my respect and wonder is intact.


trio
Sheena, Frank, and I