The UAAP Season Has Begun

There are more important things to blog about but I really wanted to post this photo of Enchong Dee, who represented DLSU yesterday for UAAP's season opening. I was able to watch the first half of the Archers' game against the Fighting Maroons (also yesterday) and I'm quite satisfied with the scores. (I honestly think that the latter has improved this season) And then a while ago, my friends from UP informed me that the Archers won the game. Not bad. I hope they make it until the last days of 73rd Season (keeping my fingers crossed). :)

Hi, Zac!

I watched your movie, 17 Again, last Sunday night on HBO. Yes, I did not sleep early just because I wanted to know the reason why millions of girls are so “head over heels in love with you”. Now, I think I know why. Vanessa is one lucky girl. :)

*Note: The second part of the epilogue will be posted soon.*

The First of the Two-Part Epilogue

(Meet my friends from left to right: Trish, Icca, Mye, Nikki, Mau,
Kat and Lo)

This photo is a sneak peek of what happened in school today. We’ve been active participants during the recognition rites, baccalaureate mass, class picture taking and graduation rehearsal. It’s definitely tiring yet fun day. Anyway, in general, the place was filled with an extraordinary level of craziness, because it’s two more days before our much-anticipated graduation! :)

See You Tomorrow

(Yuchengco: February 10, 2009)

This building has been a witness to a number of events that increased the awareness of not only the students, but of other people as well (in the field of politics, arts, literature, business and the like). The auditorium in the seventh floor is the “Araneta Coliseum” or the "CCP" (Cultural Center of the Philippines) of this prestigious university. If you, by any chance, get to perform on its stage, you are indeed lucky. :)

By the way, I'm going back to school tomorrow! We'll be having our academic attire fitting (the toga), class picture taking and recognition rites in the morning, and baccalaureate mass and graduation rehearsals in the afternoon until evening (9pm to be exact). It's going to be a long day but I don't mind. As a matter of fact, my friends, myself and our other common friends in our department are planning to have a mini-pictorial during our free time. It would be fun, I'm sure! I can also imagine that tomorrow will be like our first day of school, without the first day jitters.

Taft, here we come! :p

Surprise!

Look what I found while surfing the internet two nights ago!

Isn’t she pretty? She was born on the 28th day of March 1986. When she was eleven years old, she studied at a private Roman Catholic school somewhere in Manhattan. During her highschool years, she played the lead roles, Adelaide and Philia, from the plays Guys and Dolls and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum respectively. At the age of seventeen, she enrolled at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she learned more about music. Here, she was able to improve her songwriting skills as well.

In 2008, she became one of the successful artists in the field of music. Her music influences include David Bowie, Queen, Madonna and the late Michael Jackson. She fondly calls her fans, “Little Monsters”.

Friends, her name is Stefani Germanotta. Or should I say was.

Does the name ring a bell? Not yet? :p

She won as the Best New Artist in 2009’s MTV Video Music Awards. She also won the Best Dance Recording Award and the Rising Star Award. Recently, she collaborated with Beyonce and their song, “Telephone”, became a hit. Her new music video/song, Alejandro, is in the Top 10 of Billboard Hot 100.

Are you ready? Brace yourselves.

She is none other than THE Lady Gaga. :)

P.S. I was so surprised when I saw this photo. I can’t believe that it was her (if I remember it right, she was 17 years old here) before she started wearing eye-catching clothes. She’s so pretty! :p

Reference: Wikipedia, Billboard.com, Modern-pop-music-suite101.com

The Best Batch

Okay, the school spirit is hitting me. I feel like posting stuff that is related to my college life. Well, I just want to share with you an interesting site which I found while browsing through my Facebook page. It's still "developing" though. Well, I honestly believe that every batch in my alma mater is cool and unique in any way. However, because of this site, I can't help but agree that our batch, the ID 107, is the best among the rest. Do you want to know why? :)

Where Heroes Are Made

The De La Salle University has been chosen to host the 73rd season of the UAAP games this year. I remember the times when my blockmates and I grabbed the opportunities to watch the games of the Green Archers at the Araneta Coliseum during our frosh year. Some of our professors were cool and nice enough about canceling our classes, so we could join the Animo Squad and the other supporters in cheering for our team. It's totally one of my best and most memorable experience in college. And oh, did I mention that I've learned how to ride the LRT and MRT because of this?

I hope to watch another game this coming July and feel the animo burning once again. It's been a long time since I screamed with my college friends to inspire and motivate the players, most specially if they're playing against the Ateneo Blue Eagles. I also miss the over-all craziness inside the big dome. :p

Green Archers, let's bring the crown back. It's our time to shine (again). :D

P.S. I got goosebumps while watching the video. Heehee.

Chocolate Madness

Here's a photo of the "chocolate sauce" that my aunties and not-so-little-brother loved so much. They said that the it tasted better than the one we ordered in this posh Spanish restaurant. They were surprised when I told them that it's just Milo and not cocoa powder, which is usually used for baking. And they gave me two thumbs up. Yay! :)

A Sweet Sunday Afternoon

I had a very productive Sunday afternoon. Ate Rosie and I made churros con chocolate merienda. It was nice seeing Papa, Mama, not-so-little brother, and our three aunties enjoy it. Yummy! :)

Mischief Managed

Hermione, Harry and Ron are all grown-up! I’m looking forward to watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But it also makes me sad because we have to finally say good-bye to people whom we learned to love and hate. :(

On the brighter side, I’ve read that the Harry Potter theme park is opening soon (Spring 2010). I will really save a lot of money so I could visit the wizarding world in the future. The people behind this brilliant idea are making my dream to explore the corridors of Hogwarts and the busy streets of Hogsmeade come true. :)

P.S. I visited this site and it features the wizarding world. If you are fond of Harry Potter, you might want to see it too. http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/ :)

Jenny

My TREDONE professor said that you are not a La Sallian if you don’t know Jenny. Since I was a frosh then, I didn’t have any idea who Jenny was. I asked some of my classmates about this person. I was surprised when I learned that Jenny was a beggar in Taft Avenue who befriended the students from La Salle and CSB. And he’s not just a beggar; He wore “Havaianas”.

He was like a student from La Salle because he knew everything about what’s going on inside the institution. He knew the schedule of the classes and of the UAAP games. He also helped some of the students who were crossing the streets. And I was one of them. This was the only closest encounter I had with Jenny because I didn't have a chance to talk to him, unlike the other students, during my entire college life.

Last night, a blockmate of mine tweeted that he already passed away. I was in school last Monday and for some weird reason, I didn’t see him. Oh Jenny.

Well, if this is true, Taft Avenue will never be the same, Jenny. You are the one who gives life to this busy street. Thank you. We will definitely miss you.

Because Everything You Do is Super Duper Cute

Let me share with you this song by Nevershoutnever, Can't Stand It. It may be disturbing at first but you'll realize that it is as sweet as candy (and cheesy) as you go on. I honestly think that it's the anthem of every guy who's in-love. Haha! ;) I've been listening to it since the first time I heard it. I'm also loving the concept of its music video. So vintage! :)

When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time?

Wow, this is my first time to post a photo of a guy (aside from my father, brother, cousin and friend of course) in my blog. Friends, this is James Reid. He is from Australia and he is currently living inside Big Brother’s house. I admire him because he is such a talented person. He plays the guitar and he can sing. And just recently, I discovered that he can dance. Haay, I wish I were seventeen again. Haha! :D

(photo I found from his page on Facebook)

I Will Follow My Dream

“Cambridge is a blessing in disguise.” These were the exact words that I said to my aunt when Teacher Blue, the directress from this preschool, sent me a message three weeks ago. I got excited as soon as I received her message and I replied immediately. She asked me to prepare an activity about homes, and it should be developmentally appropriate for three year old children. She also told me that I would have a storytelling session with them. I spent the whole night making a lesson plan and I even created an instructional material to make it more interactive and fun for them. I looked for my of copy of Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and read it for the nth time and practiced infront of the mirror. As far as my memory was concerned, I slept at around 4 in the morning.

I considered it as a blessing in disguise because that was the time when I felt that I won’t get a job by June. The Little Apprentice, the other preschool where I applied, told me that I can’t be their lead teacher because of my soft voice. They don’t think that I could be an assistant teacher either since they already have one. But I’m still welcome to have my second demo-teaching. I took a one week break and tried to look for other preschools. After my one week break, I decided to contact the preschool’s administrator to tell her that I’m ready for another round of demo-teaching. Unfortunately, on that day, something went wrong with my phone. I lost everything—- my treasured messages, photos and the numbers of my friends, former classmates and groupmates, etc. I sent her an email instead but she didn’t answered it. And as usual, I prayed to God to make everything okay. And He did. A day after my phone “died”, I convinced my father and aunt to buy me a new one. It was a Monday, a week after the elections, and I was playing the Sims 3 when my new phone vibrated. To my surprise, it was a message from Teacher Blue and I jumped (literally) and danced like nobody was there. Finally, I got a call from my “dream preschool”. Had I not insisted on buying a new phone, I wouldn’t be able to know that Cambridge is interested to see my “teaching skills”.

It is my dream to work at Cambridge in Alabang. As a matter of fact, I can see myself working there and spending time with the children. The preschool is unique because unlike the others, it has an open-environment—- the classroom has no walls; instead, there are fences that separate each classroom. When Teacher Blue asked me about their setting, I said, “I was surprised because even if the children in the classroom where I had my demo shouted and laughed during their play time, the others who are inside their own “rooms” didn’t mind them. I noticed that they’re completely focused on what they were doing and they didn’t go outside to see what is happening.”

I was told that the children loved and enjoyed my activity. The teachers, on the other hand, liked it. They were happy with my performance and with the outcome of my interview. I was one of the lucky two teachers (out of three who had their demo) who was sent to Makati, where their main office is located. The head of operations (not the HR department) conducted the interview. Teacher Jane (the one who interviewed) will be the one to choose between the two of us. And whoever she chooses will be interviewed by the head of their HR department and then the president.

A while ago, Teacher Blue sent me another message. Since last weekend, I’ve been waiting for a message from her. And I didn’t expect it:

“Hi T.Dana! With the recent developments, it seems that we won’t have to hire a new teacher. A teacher from Cambridge Makati requested to transfer in our Centre. Anyway, thanks for sharing your talent with us. I’m sure that any school would be lucky to have you. We’ll keep your CV in our active file. Good luck and follow your dream! God bless!”

I didn’t expect the message to be like this. I was expecting the worst because the other teacher already has a seven year teaching experience. I was expecting that this teacher will get accepted and not me. I was wrong. I decided not to delete the message because I find it touching, for some reason. In addition, it will serve as a reminder for me to give my 100% in everything that I do.

This experience has made me realize that being soft-spoken and mahinhin are not a hindrance to fulfill my dream. I may have these characteristics but I can prove to others that I am more than meets the eye. :D That inside this facade is a strong young woman who is inspired and willing to share what she has learned to little children. Like what I said to Teacher Jane during the interview, “…Siguro po ngayon I’m still a caterpillar but once I enter the real setting, I would become a butterfly”.

I didn’t get my dream job but it’s okay. At least I tried and took the risk. I feel sad in a way but maybe, God has something better in store for me. This isn’t the end. This is only the beginning of a new chapter of my life.

Having said these, Cambridge will always have a special place in my heart. :)

P.S. Teacher Blue, I will not disappoint you. Thank you for believing in me. :)

Excited

I'm going back to school tomorrow! It's the first day of school in DLSU for this year. But this time, I won't be attending classes since I'm done with school. My friends and I decided to visit the place to say hello to our old friends and dear professors. Our other agenda is to apply for an alumni card and to check out the froshies. Goodness, I feel so old. :)

The Bandwagon

It took me more than two hours to vote. But waiting for my turn to shade those circles was totally worth it. I felt responsible, happy and proud of myself in a way because I was able to contribute something for our country’s future. :)

*P.S. Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Kat Reyes! :)*

The Prayer

God, tonight I’m going to make a big decision. Please help and guide me in choosing the people who deserve to become the next leaders of our country. The Philippines is in need of leaders who are selfless, hardworking, idealistic and nationalistic. Please make me an agent of change. Amen.

To The Most Special Woman in Our Lives

(March 28, 2010: With Mama and Papa)

For my mother, I really don't know where to begin. For the past nineteen years, you have been patient, understanding and hardworking. You are always here to care, guide, love and support me (and even my brother, Papa, your friends and other loved ones). Without you, I wouldn't be the person that I am today. Thank you for everything. I love you. Happy Mother's Day! :)

P.S. Happy Mother's Day to all moms as well! :)

It's Our Time to Stand Up for What and Who We Believe In

A lot of tweets and articles have inspired me to write a blog about the upcoming elections here in the Philippines. If you're an avid fan of television news, newspapers and other types of media, you must already have an idea about what is happening in our political arena. Since the election day is almost near, those who are running for a position in the government are doing their last minute campaigning. Different issues may be thrown at them at the moment but these do not stop them from proving the people that they deserve to become the next President, Vice-President, Senator and the like.

I admit that politics is my least favorite topic. Nevertheless, I can't help but say something about it because some of us have reached the extremes. It's good to know that the Filipinos today are vocal about who they are voting for. It makes me happy in a way because in my opinion, it means that we are becoming more involved for change to happen in our country. However, there are people who get too carried away. They begin to call the others names or labels such as "You're bobo (stupid) if you vote for him or her". Friendships and even the family ties are broken because of the election brouhaha. Even the media is accused of not giving them, the politicians, the fair share when it comes to giving news. Election and politics nowadays, I realized, are becoming too personal.

My point is that we have our own beliefs, standards and reasons why we choose to support a particular candidate. It's not nice or ethical to call them names just because they're not voting for who we think is the right one. I think that we should learn how to respect each and everyone's opinion and decision. And for me, this is one of the more important things to remember than anything else at this time.

So on Monday, let's all go out and maximize our right to vote because our vote really counts. Let's vote for who we strongly believe in. And if you're not of voting age yet, please help us in praying for a clean, successful and less violent election. Good day everyone! :)

White Shades

After my demo at Little Apprentice last Tuesday, I met up with Chia at Alabang Town Center. We both had a lot of catching up. It was fun reminiscing our good old gradeschool days. Eating lunch and frozen yogurt together, talking about random things, taking crazy pictures and even reading children's books at Powerbooks are way better than watching a movie only. :)

Interesting

Where the MILD Things Are by Maurice SEND-UP.

Look what I found in Powerbooks! This book is a parody of Maurice Sendak's Where the WILD Things Are. I didn't buy it though. But it definitely made my day. :)

The Champ

(February 2007: SSC-Westgrove Family Day)

I’m not a fan of Hale but I like some of their songs. When they performed in St. Scho-Westgrove, (I was a high school senior then) for some unknown reason, I stood in the middle-front row. I was “squeezed” by a sea of lower batch screaming girls who have a huge crush on Champ Lui Pio, the band’s vocalist. I can’t blame them because he’s really good looking in person. Haha! My fellow Humblebees were at the back during this time, eating food and taking pictures of themselves. :)

Job Hunting Part 2

Last Friday, I went to Little Apprentice and Cambridge to pass my resume. Good thing, these two preschools aren't too far from where I live (both are in Alabang). Since Friday, I've been waiting for some calls, texts and even e-mails from the teachers/administrators. Teacher Rina, the very accommodating teacher from Little Apprentice, told me that she might schedule an interview for me tomorrow or anytime next week. I'm getting nervous and excited at the same time. Again, wish me luck! :)

By the way, I made my own Formspring account since my friends are so into it. They influenced me! :p I posted my link at the right side (Get Connected). Feel free to ask questions. Thank you! :)

Word of the Day

It's funny how this word is making our world turn upside down. I always hear Jejemon in school and most of my contacts on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr are talking about it. It's like a nationwide phenomenon. Apparently, I learned that it's a new definition for Jologs. It's also a word to describe the style of a person in terms of texting, and it has various levels--- the mild, moderate, severe, and terminal. For instance, if you type like this, eOw poH, mUsta Na pOh Yow, then you are considered as a Jejemon. By the way, what I just typed belongs to the mild level.

This photo of the presidential aspirant, Gibo Teodoro, made me laugh so hard. I really find it hilarious, for some reason. On a more serious note, isn't it nice of him to send these people back to school? It is surprising and alarming to know that there is a growing number of Jejemon in the Philippines. Perhaps it is time to teach them the proper way to text or type.

On the other hand, don't get me wrong. I'm neither campaigning nor voting for him, even if he is a La Sallian. May 10 is fast approaching and honestly, I still don't know who to vote yet. :l

P.S. If you want to know more about Jejemon, just google it. :)

Beating the Deadline

After working hard on it for almost three months, Yana and I are totally done with our action research paper. We just passed the CDs to Ms. Tina, our department’s secretary, since Sir Jasper didn’t go to school because of a “terrible headache”.

This paper is the fruit of our hard work, and I’m so proud of it. Thank you, God! :)

What the Fudge

This video was a segment from a Filipino comedy show, Bubble Gang. I really find it funny and entertaining. Who wouldn't laugh at the facial expressions and the tone of voice of these comedians? Making people happy is indeed their forte. On a more serious note, I honestly think that they have a point here. The politicians, specially those who are running for a higher position in the government, always reach out for the poor (some of the obvious reasons were mentioned in the video) The routine is always the same; nothing is new. :l

Hello there aspiring politicians! Be creative naman for a change. :)

Dilemma

(Canyon Cove: Nasugbu, Batangas)

My college friends invited me to come with them on Friday, after our final exam. They planned a trip to Batangas and unwind at Canyon Cove. I've been thinking about this since last week and until now, I haven't given them my final answer. I already asked my parents about it and they gave me the "go-signal". It would be nice to relax in a beach after a nerve-wracking and brain-draining exam but I'm saving up my allowance for our Boracay trip in May (yes, we're also planning to go to Boracay). I'm such a kuripot. Haha! Should I go or not? Oh well, I still have four days to decide. :D

*Disclaimer: I got the photo from http://digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=10074*

Job Hunting

Instead of doing the schoolwork as planned (yes, we're still going to school while most of you are enjoying your summer break), I ended up looking for preschools in the South. Most of my friends and batchmates already passed their resume, got accepted or had gone through job interview. Thanks to modern technology, I was able to find five preschools in two hours. Four within Alabang area and one near Paseo de Sta. Rosa. I’m also considering Gymboree which is located in Trinoma and Cambridge branch in Serendra. My aunt told me to visit or inquire in these preschools next week. Wish me luck!

Goodness, I will be a real preschool teacher soon. :)

Pag-Agos

Before the batteries of my camera “died”, I got the chance to take a photo of Up Dharma Down when they performed in school last February 25. They were invited by the students from the College of Liberal Arts for the event, Ating Gabi. I had a great time listening to their songs. It was very relaxing. The vocalist of the band, Armi Millare, amazed me because she can sing and play the keyboard at the same time. I wish I could do it too. :p

On a sad note, while looking at the photo, I noticed that the band was incomplete because I was not able to include the drummer for some unknown reason.

One Wednesday Night

(First term of school year 2009-2010)

In this photo, my dorm-mates and I are having a fun time in our room. I can still remember this day, as if it happened only yesterday. It was a night full of laughter and vain-ness. We were doing our respective schoolwork at this time but when somebody suggested that we should take pictures first, using Mau’s camera, we stopped whatever we were doing. The headboard of my bed was used as the tripod since we didn’t have one in the room. When the camera was all set, we started to make faces and do funny poses. The rest, as they say, is history.

This is one of my favorite shots because we all look so funny here. What you see in the photo is the different side of Dana, Marita, Mela and Mau. :)

The Good Old Times

(Having Fun in the Playground: Christmas in the middle 90's)

This is a good example of a super old photo. Instead of doing our schoolwork, I scanned and uploaded our childhood photos on Facebook. In this photo, my cousins and I were playing "catch the ball". Luisa, Keithy and myself seemed so happy here. I wonder where Cente was during this time. :)

Over and Done

Defense Day: The Big Day (March 26, 2010)

Our thesis defense was finally over. I think we did a great job while defending our paper because the panelists didn't grill us with questions. Actually, when Yana and I were defending, the panelists and our mentor were smiling or laughing, which was odd. We were expecting the other way around because they, the panelists, are known for asking tricky questions and are very knowledgeable in the field of early childhood. On the contrary, the happy ambiance in the room (at that time) made Yana and I feel confident in a way. Nawala ng kaunti ang takot at kaba namin.

I congratulate my fellow Team Jasper groupmates who also did well. They were not grilled by the panelists too. They were able to answer all the questions that the panelists asked. Sarah and Mye and Chynna and Sab defended without Sir Jasper. Good job! Congratulations to others as well. Because of this, we have a reason to party and celebrate. Thank you God! :)

P.S. We still have to revise our paper though. And thanks Sab for the photo. :)

(The guy in the middle is our mentor, Sir Jasper Alontaga. Nakakatuwa ang pose niya. Haha! Thank you Sir for being patient with us especially when we ask too many questions.)

The Fountain Meets Manila Bay

(SM Mall of Asia: September 1, 2009)

I just noticed that I keep on uploading and posting old photos recently. The schoolwork and thesis are the things that matter to me at this moment. I have no time to take pictures and I only depend on my friends and other classmates who are still fond of taking the priceless moments, despite our busy schedule. Also, the batteries in my camera need to be replaced because they're not working anymore. Hence, no new photos. Come summer, I hope to update this blog more often to compensate for my absence. :D

Thesis Update: Actually, it's called Action Research but my batchmates and I call it thesis, for some reason. Yana (my AR partner) and I passed our final paper last Wednesday to our mentor and panelists. And on Friday, March 26, we will defend our paper. It's our big day. Oh, I feel so nervous. Please, pray for us. Thank you very much! :)

Food for Thought

Our life is a series of storytelling. There is no such thing as truth, only useful lies.

I've been thinking about this since Thursday. From our discussion in class, I've learned that "truths" are socially constructed through a series storytelling. All our thoughts and ideas come from what is imposed to us by the society. The useful lies are what we believe in. We are not free in a number of ways because these useful lies determine the actions that we do and the decisions that we make. They control our lives.

Michel Foucault really makes me think beyond the box. He's such a smart guy. And he reminds me of Mini-Me. :)

For Once, the Dark Side Saves the Planet

My highschool friend, Kristine Latorre, tagged me in this photo on Facebook. I actually like its concept. (Look at Darth Vader, he has a butterfly on his head! Haha!) And I honestly think that it’s adorable. Please show our love for Mother Earth by participating in this event. Let’s make March 27, 2010 a date to remember. :)

The Great Work

(November 11, 2008: Kaspil 1 Fieldtrip Around Manila)

This is an original copy of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, according to our Kaspil 1 professor. It is currently displayed and preserved at a museum in Fort Santiago in Intramuros. I have always loved this novel more than El Filibusterismo. I hope all Filipinos would learn to appreciate and be proud of it. :)

P.S. I suggest you read Soledad Lacson-Locsin's version. Trust me. Sana na-discover ko siya noong high school pa ako. But it's too lateee. :p

Just Like the Old Times

Does anyone of you know where we can buy a polaroid camera? My bestfriend and I went to Mall of Asia last Wednesday after class and we visited a camera store. She asked the guy there if they are still selling polaroid cameras and unfortunately, it's already "phased-out". She badly wants to have one since she's planning to have a "one photo a day" album. Oh well, I hope she will have her own polaroid camera before the year ends. :)

P.S. If you know any store that sells polaroid cameras, please feel free to post on my tag board on the right side (the blue one). Let's make my bestfriend the happiest girl in the whole wide world. :p Thank you very much! :)

Our Song, Still Plays On

(Urbandub at the Animo Fair: February 19, 2010)

Would you believe me if I tell you that I own an Urbandub CD? Yes, I do. When I was in my junior year in high school, I bought Embrace for myself because of their songs First of Summer and Endless, a Silent Whisper. Last week, at the Animo Fair, I sang along when Gabby, Lalai and the rest of the band played First of Summer. It was nice seeing them again, after five years. By the way, I just realized that I’m much taller than Gabby (the vocalist) and Lalai (the bassist). :)

Paparazzi

(Imago at the Animo Fair: February 19, 2010 DLSU)

Maybe I was destined to be trapped in the backstage area. It was a good spot, really. I was just walking around, taking pictures and I ended up there. I was lucky enough because the organizers didn’t mind me at all. Perhaps, they already had an idea that it’s my last culminating night in school as a student so it was okay (in a way) to invade their territory.

On the flipside, I missed the company of my friends who were having the time of their lives, either buying food at the bazaar or riding the ferriswheel. Yes, I lived in my own world. :))

I Feel Good

(Capuchin Retreat Center in Lipa, Batangas: February 6, 2010)

I'm thankful because I was given this wonderful opportunity to attend a retreat before I graduate from college. I was able to reflect on a lot of things and learn from my experiences. I really enjoyed my last retreat as a student. I never expected that I would have a great time. And thank you Block 2 and LS (and even the students from other colleges who enrolled in our class) for making it truly memorable. :)

Are You Ready for the Future?

I found the latest and updated version of Did You Know? And all I can say is, shift really happens. The world has changed in a lot of ways. :)

Did You Know?

Here are some interesting and quite surprising facts that most of us do not know (or aren't aware that they're actually happening). And I think, this video is totally worth watching. Enjoy! :)

Torpe

Okay, I'll just nod my head because I can relate. :)) As much as I want to do something to let you know that I care, I end up doing nothing. Hanggang tingin at "hi" na lang siguro ako. ;)

Sunset and Twilight

One Sunday afternoon, I went outside the house and then saw this wonderful view (the sky, the silhouette of the trees and the buildings). Good thing, I brought my camera with me. It’s not really a good shot, and I think I need to be enrolled in a real photography class to learn more about focus, aperture and other photography-related terms. But I hope you like it. :)

Not Just Ordinary Toys

My brother's incomplete collection of Ben 10 action figures. I'm wondering why a lot of kids these days love Ben 10. My brother is totally addicted to it. Whenever we go to a toy store, he will always buy at least one of these. And each costs more than three hundred bucks. Haay. :p

Chapter 1: The New Beginning

2009 had been a tough year for all of us. Unexpected circumstances occured and we were not prepared for them. However, they made us stronger, wiser and better individuals. Whatever we had experienced enabled us to learn how to become caring, loving, grateful and unselfish to others. And despite everything, always remember that there's still much to be thankful for.

May this year, 2010, be more prosperous, meaningful, memorable, and even better. Let us fill it with more love, hope, happiness, peace, dreams and magic. Cheers to an amazing and awesome 2010!

Happy New Year and thank you for being a part of my 2009. :)

Star-studded

United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It on the Pop): A Mashup of the Top 25 Hits of 2009 According to Billboard

To the person who made this one (I'm not sure if he's DJ Earworm), I'm giving you five thumbs up because I feel that two aren't enough. You deserve a recognition for this one amazing masterpiece. What a way to end the year 2009! :)

P.S. Listen carefully because you might hear something meaningful. Trust me. ;)

Because I'm Spending All My Time Thinking About You

This is Gabe Bondoc's cover of Colbie Caillat's Fallin' for You. I have to agree with the people who commented on his page. His cover is great! And he made the song even better. He makes me happy. HAHA.

I hope he is a Filipino though. :)

Humblebees

I had a blast with my highschool friends a while ago (just got home). We celebrated our batch's Christmas party and Mikee's homecoming at Ayeen's house. Unfortunately, some were not able to come because they're still in their hometowns/provinces.

I've learned something new from this mini-reunion: Wala pala nagbago. Magulo pa rin kami. HAHA. Kidding aside, for the past three years, I realized that college has totally changed us in a lot of ways. I'm glad to know that we have become more determined and passionate towards our chosen careers. That we are giving our best shot in everything we do because we want to be successful in the future.

I'm very happy to see you guys again. Until next time, fellow Humblebees. That in all things, God may be glorified. :)

P.S. Karmin can cook an extremely delicious sisig. It's definitely a must-try. :)

Picture Almost Perfect

The highlight of our Christmas celebration at home: Auntie Sari playing hide and seek with Tyler. :)

Everybody has his or her own version of this photo. We just can't miss this moment. It's really worth remembering. I'm looking forward for another photo like this on New Year's day. :)

It Isn't All About Fairytales and Happy Endings

Sometimes, it's not easy to be loyal. Three years of keeping my fingers crossed, hoping, waiting, praying and believing. When is this going to be real? Or is this the perfect time for me to stop being loyal? *sigh* I guess there's no more you and I.

By the way, this is a cap. Just in case you're wondering.

So long, good night. :)

A Taste of Vanilla Twilight

"I'll sit on the front porch all night

Waist-deep in thought because when I think of you

I don't feel so alone."

- Vanilla Twilight by Owl City

I've been listening to Owl City since yesterday and I realized that... I like the band. The songs, which the band plays, will bring sunshine to anyone's gloomy day when he or she listens to them. Feel good music. Fireflies, West Coast Friendship, The Technicolor Phase, Designer Skyline and of course Vanilla Twilight are nice selections (they belong to different albums, by the way).

Hope you had a great Christmas! :)

Greetings!

Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy this special day with your family and loved ones. God bless all of you. And oh, Happy Birthday Jesus! :)

A New Adventure Begins

Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr. Potato Head and the rest are back! I don't know when they're going to show Toy Story 3 here in the Philippines. Hopefully by next year too. This one seems interesting now that Andy's all grown up. Hmm, I wonder what's going to happen. :)

Good bye Captain Jack Sparrow, Hello Mr. Mad Hatter

I'm looking forward to watching this movie on March 2010. Good thing, defense and thesis are over at that time. Great! And this may serve as a good reminder for me to save up my allowance. HAHA. :)

Nothing is Impossible

Who would have thought that a very famous actress could fall for an ordinary bookshop owner?

The movie Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, tells me that nothing is impossible. Anything can happen, whether we like it or not. Life is short, so live, love and laugh to the fullest. :)

I'm going to watch this movie again this Christmas break. Sweet. :)

P.S. I passed and survived the most crucial term in DLSU. Thank you God for hearing my prayer. Miracle, indeed. :)

Photobooth Session

(Practicum exhibit: December 14, 2009)

Because we're all too happy and excited, we decided to take pictures of ourselves using Sab's laptop. This is my favorite. It's just so funny! Chynna, look at you! HAHA. Okay, I'm such a bully. :))

Practicum

What I usually do every morning in the preschool--- play with the kids. They are so cute and adorable. I love them. :)

*Welcome home, Mikee! I hope to see you soon. :)*

The Drama

Yesterday, during consultation with our thesis supervisor:

Dana: I need my "old" brain back. :(
Yana: Where did your "old" brain go?
Dana: It went somewhere over the rainbow. Can you help me find it?
Yana: Sometimes, what you're looking for is right where you left it. :)
Dana: *sigh* Okay, then, let's go. :)

Lucas Scott, is that you? :)) We can't help being sabaw because it's finals week. Everybody is busy with all the paperworks, thesis, projects and exams. Since this is our second to the last term, we are really doing our best to get good grades and pass with flying colors. :)

Oh well. This term may be so tiring but hey, we are almost there. :)

On a High

For some reason, I am extremely happy. I hope that this happiness will lead to a great success, most especially by the end of this term. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Haaay. :)

By the way, here's one of the pictures which I took last night after dinner. Hindi naman halata na nag-enjoy ako sa pagkuha ng pictures kasi may decorations na sa bahay. :))

The Greatest Time of Year

Ah, at last! My favorite season of the year has come. I'm quite excited because my cousins from California are coming home to the Philippines to celebrate the big day with us. Twenty more days to go and it's Christmas. Time flies so fast! :)

*Happy Birthday my dear Action Research partner and friend, Yana Magsanoc!*

Right Dude

This is the sweetest message I have ever received in my entire life as a student. I never imagined that Thesis would love me this way. Thesis makes my world go round and round and round.

To all those who are taking up their thesis this school year, good luck! :)

* I feel so unproductive today. I wonder why. Moreover, even though it's a National Holiday tomorrow, we still have to go to school because of make-up classes. How sad. :'( *

A Desperate Fairytale

Last term, our professor showed this comic strip to the whole class because she wanted to know how we, early childhood education majors, will introduce these fairytale princesses to preschoolers or children who don't have any background about Disney characters, particularly them. It was very challenging in a way since we had to consider a lot of factors such as their environment, economic status and even culture. But in general, it was a fun (not depressing, haha!) activity because it's something new for us. Instead of using the usual "prettified" pictures of the princesses, this comic strip was being used. And the class gave really interesting answers. Some of them were totally beyond the box. Hence, imagination and creativity had been utilized very well. :)

How about you, how will you do it? :)

*I think it would be more delightful if you share your brilliant ideas to me. :)*

Sandwich, I Like

The dashing Mong Alcaraz and the super talented Raymund Marasigan of the famous Filipino band, Sandwich. They rocked our school last August 27, 2009. They made my last first trimester in DLSU more memorable. I hope they would come back. :)

We can be the HOPE

(The event ended with letting the balloons go up in the sky.)

My fellow Early Childhood majors and I attended the I Am Hope Campaign last Saturday (November 14, 2009) at Quezon City Memorial Circle. It was truly fulfilling because we were able to make the children with cancer happy and hope through balloon art and face painting. We all had a great time.

(This cute pink balloon dog was given to particular child.)

It feels good to have had helped and making people happy. We felt very lucky in a way because we were given this wonderful opportunity to become involved in this campaign. :)

I will end this entry by sharing a quote from Pauline R. Kezer:

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better."

May YOU be the HOPE of others. :)

A Dose of Caffeine

Lately, I’ve been drinking a lot of coffee to keep me awake and alert, most specially if I’m in the preschool. I craved for a peppermint mocha (frap) today so I went to Starbucks to buy one for myself. And I got my first sticker for the planner! HAHA. Truly a stress-reliever. :)

Yummy

Vanilla Sunshine from Cupcakes by Sonja. When I saw this photo from one of my albums, I felt hungry. HAHA. This was given to me by my cousin when he visited us last January. I ate it for breakfast. :)

I want to enroll in a real photography class come summer, and buy myself a new camera with cool effects. I’m getting really fascinated with photography, seriously. I got inspired by the people who love to take wonderful and amazing pictures. Haay.

On the other hand, I'd like to apologize for not blogging lately. I have been very busy with schoolworks and practicum requirements. I will update as soon as I'm done with everything. But you can also check on my twitter. It's more updated. Thank you for understanding. :)