Buhay Artista

Ang hirap pala maging artista. Sa shooting pa lang ng UP SIKAT para sa CSSP Freshman Orientation, pagod na pagod na kami, paano pa kaya yung mga artista sa mga teleserye? Imagine, para sa isang 2-minute video, naka-isang oras na kami.

Ang daming sakripisyong kelangan gawin para lang mapaganda ang video. Nag-shooting kami ng tanghaling tapat dahil habol namin ang ganda ng lighting. Dahil dun, mga nasunog kami. Lahat kami ay nangitim. Kahapon naman, buong araw kami nag-shooting. Nakakapagod talaga dahil may costume changes, re-touch ng makeup, lakad pa kami ng lakad all over UP para sa iba't-ibang view na ipapakita sa mga Freshies. Dahil dun, nagka-paltos-paltos ang mga paa ko. Para sa isang portion ng video, kelangan apat na beses ulitin para iba't-ibang angle ang makuha. Isa lang kasi ang cameraman. Syempre, bago ang actual shoot, kelangan mag-rehearse para makatipid sa film at battery ng camera.

Hindi pa iyon ang lahat, may shooting pa kami ulit para naman sa isang music video. Haaayy...nakakapagod talaga. Ewan ko na lang kung hindi matuwa ang freshies sa mga ginawa namin.

Since the last post...

Since the last post, lotsa things happened already.

1. I went to Bohol last May14-16. I flew on my own (my first time to do so), hehe! I may have stayed only for 3 days but it was jampacked with activities. Mind you, I was sick (coughs, colds, slight fever) during my stay in Bohol.

May 14---> upon arrival, I rushed to our home in Bohol and changed into formal clothes. A grand-aunt and grand-uncle celebrated their 5oth wedding anniversary. In the afternoon-, I went to Bohol Bee Farm and stayed there till early evening with my mom, my sister and her friends. The food is yummy there...we ate Fresh Flower (yes, you read it right...FLOWER) Salad with honey mustard sauce, Unmilled rice with camote, grilled blue marlin, cassava chips, seafood soup, lasagna, honey chicken, bread with honey spread, and squash muffins. Everything they serve in the Bohol Bee Farm is sweetened with honey. The place is nice, and you can select whether you want to swim in the pool or the beach.

After dinner, we went to the MetroCentre Hotel and bought some souvenirs.

May 15---> We went to Bohol Beach Club in the morning. Right after lunch, my lola, my mom and me left because we attended the burial of a relative. My sister stayed with her friends but she was able to visit our dead relative.

After the burial, we visited my grandfather's grave. It's something we do everytime we are in Bohol. Then, we went to the Island City Mall (ICM), the largest mall in Bohol. After ICM, we went to Bohol Quality Department Store. That's where I bought all the pasalubong I gave to my friends.

May 16---> Our flight back to Manila.

2. I testified in court. Quezon City RTC Branch 89. I'll probably tell the story when everything's finished. I still have to be cross-examined.

3. Summer classes ended last Friday for me! My PI 100 class ended with a picnic at the lagoon. We ate pan de rizal and drank maria clara sangria. It was really fun! A great way to end summer classes.

4. UP SIKAT recorded the theme song for the 2005 CSSP Freshman Orientation Program. I never knew that recording a song could be sooo tiring! Watch out for the final version of the song!

5. Today, my sister and I watched Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It was pretty good. The dialogue may have been cheesy but that's typical of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Opening sequence pa lang, astig na ang special effects. Ilang milyon kaya nagastos para dun? Now I'm curious about what happened in Episodes 4, 5 &6.

Can I just say that I hate this year's FOPC? The rules are very unreasonable...the chair of the steering committee made FOPC very much un-fun. hmph.

But I have something to look forward to, and that is, UP SIKAT will start shooting the music video for the theme song! Yay!

Now, I'm a stand-up comic

CSSP Freshmen had their advanced registration this morning. My only intention was to accompany a friend, an incoming Political Science freshman (same as my course). I had to do a lot more than that.

Since I am a member of the CSSP Student Council Volunteer Corps, I have a duty of helping out the council in times of need. Today was a time of need. There were a lot of PolScie freshies and me and Arianne were the only escorts for the polscie freshies. Essentially, Arianne is not supposed to escort them because she's the council's Chair and had a lot of other things to do; but since there was a shortage this morning, she helped me out.

I also had Tyrone/Tyrene/Tyra (referring to one person only) with me. The line going out of PH 400 was really long so we (me and Tyrone) entertained the polscie freshies (they were the last to go for they were a lot...amounting to 4 blocks already). How did we entertain them? Well, I did a lot of talking. I became a stand-up comic. I was doing most of the talking because those who remained were polsci freshies and I am a polscie major so I knew what to tell them. Tyrone/Tyrene/Tyra was by my side, telling me to announce the council activities. I am just happy that all went well this morning. At least all the polscie freshies know my face..haha!

After PH400, we escorted them to AS101 for them to get their registration materials. Another round of question and answer followed. Tyrone and I were the only students answering their questions. Of course, there were parents who asked questions as well. I felt sad for those who were not able to get slots from the CRS. They have to go back on June 1-3 just to enlist. There was one girl whom I sensed wanted to cry because of it. While answering questions, me and Tyrone had to continue "our show" just so the freshies wouldn't feel bored while waiting in line. It was fun though; I felt like a freshie again.

Tyrone/Tyrene/Tyra told me afterwards that we should repeat our show tomorrow for the next batch of CSSP Freshmen. Hmm...maybe I should consider a "stand-up comic" career. I could make it as my sideline...I'll apply at comedy bars in Malate and Quezon Avenue. UP has produced comediennes and comedians like Giselle Sanchez, Tuesday Vargas, Jon Santos, Ate Glow, Ogie Alcasid, and a lot more. Maybe I'll be able to add my name to that list.

Oh, and Papa Bear gave me a new title for what I did this morning. He told me that I am now "The Emergency Joke Time Diva". Thanks Papa Bear!

Mt. Banahaw

I arrived home yesterday from my PI 100 Banahaw trip. I am dead tired.

Saturday May 7, 2005: Our class left the bus station 7:30am and arrived at Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Dolores, Quezon around 10am. We went around the area, exploring the different Rizalista sects (under the hot, noontime sun). We ate lunch, then started our trek along the "Daang Kalbaryo". Our first stop was the "Buhok ng Ama" and "Buhok ng Ina", found in the "Ilog Jordan". They're two separate falls which we had to pass through.

We visited a lot of caves (kinda like spelunking, hehe!). The caves were really crazy! For every cave we visited, we lit candles because the people living in Dolores, Quezon consider them as sacred places.

Cave 1: San Isidro is the name of the first cave we visited. It was rather small and short and not so challenging to pass through.

Cave 2: "Prisintahan". We literally presented ourselves. We went down using a ladder, lit candles, then stated our names.

Cave 3: "Santong Jacob". This is a difficult cave. We had to go down slowly (no stairs, only rocks) and near the bottom of the cave, you literally have to slide down. I had to stretch my legs, (practically in a split) then slid down carefully. After lighting candles, we took a dip in the water found inside the cave (very cold!it was ice cold!). It was so small, we had to dip ourselves one by one. Also, it was cold inside. The description my classmates used was "umuusok kami sa baba". You know, when it's really cold that when you talk, your breath is frosty.

Cave 4: "Husgado". I learned a word that the natives use. It's "bartolina". If you're sinful, and you do not pray inside this cave, the cave supposedly adjusts it's size so that you wouldn't be able to pass through (binabartolina ka na). This cave was difficult yet fun. For me, getting in is much more difficult than getting out. You see, you literally have to dangle yourself, then jump forward, to get in. If you make a mistake, you can fall into the "bangin". The "bangin" is not so deep, so it's not that deadly, but dangerous enough to get yourself injured if you fall into it.

After Husgado, we went to the peak of the hill. The "Daang Kalbaryo" is really punishing. I had to use all of my strength to climb the rocks. The path was very rocky...I think there were more rocks than loose soil. It was really a vertical climb. You may find this weird but going up was easier than going down. On the way down, it was already dark so we had to use flashlights and candles. Plus, we had to be extra careful for if anyone slipped, the whole class could fall. There were "cliff-y" portions. It took us 30-45 mins. to go up and an hour to go down.

Sunday May 8, 2005: We went to the foot of Mt. Banahaw. It was fun there because we got to swim. But before swimming, we went into a really long cave. The cave had fruit bats in it. Half of the cave is filled with knee-deep ice-cold water. After that, we went to a makeshift altar, lit candles, then passed through the smallest cave ever. It was soo small, you have to be flat on your chest to get in. I was lucky because I could crawl in it, but most of my classmates had to lie flat. After that, we went swimming!!! It was sooo much fun! Some of my classmates jumped from the cliff and dove into the water. We were all shivering; that's how cold the water was.

Though it was tiring, everything was really enjoyable. I still have some bruises and I am aching all over but it was really fun.

A Hot Afternoon

I like summer, I really do. But it seems to me that every year, our summer just keeps getting hotter. I commuted home today at a very ungodly hour. My summer classes end by 1pm and this afternoon, I commuted home right away after my last class. Really hot...the jeep I rode in was searing hot.

So I boarded the jeep, and a little later, my prof (Nilo S. Ocampo) boarded the jeep too! Well, at least he paid for my fare...hehe! I saved Php 6.50 for that.

While the jeep was on its way to the MRT station, I was thinking, "there shouldn't be that much people because it's a Friday, and a lot of offices are closed due to the 4-day workweek, plus it's not rush hour". Boy, I was wrong. There were a lot of people at the MRT station and when I got down at the Ayala Station, practically all of the passengers got out too. I guess they all wanted to go to Glorietta/SM Makati/Landmark/Greenbelt not necessarily because they want to shop, but to keep cool. Or, just maybe, they wanted to participate in the Araw ng Makati festivities.

It's been a long time since I last commuted from UP Diliman to my home. I don't exactly enjoy commuting because it is quite tiring. If I'll be coming home straight from UP, this is the order or my trip: jeep-MRT-bus-tricycle-jeep. Of course, in between the rides are long walks.

Though it was very hot this afternoon (I wasn't even able to take an airconditioned bus), I actually felt pretty good when I arrived home.

Tomorrow, I will be going on a class trip. It's called Lakbay Aral sa Bundok Banahaw. It's for 2 full days, and our class will visit a lot of places in Banahaw. Hmm... now I have to pack the stuff I need.

Sa ibang tao:

Pasensya na ha? Hindi ko kasi kaya na masaktan siya. Mas mabuti na malaman niya habang maaga pa, kaysa naman may mangyari sa inyo tapos saka lang niya malaman. Sinasabi ko sa iyo, mas masakit yun para sa kanya.

Hi to my blockmate Joseph John V. Lumanog!!!
Ryan Oliva!!! Nasaan ka na? Miss na kita! Kelan ba tayo gagala at kakain/lamon? Andami nating pagkukuwentuhan! Updates sa mga buhay-buhay.

Hi to Paolo Sanchez too! aka the Green and Black Chancellor! Tambay ka naman ng mas madalas sa council office....miss na talaga namin ang aming resident Papa Bear!

Ok, now I really have to start packing. Till next time! *sings* We've got the whole wide world to explore...

Miss na kita

Sa unang pagkakataon, Filipino ang gagamitin kong wika sa blog ko.

Miss na kita. Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkikita, halos 3 buwan. Pumunta ka nga dito sa amin pero ako naman ang wala. Andami ko pa man ding kwento para sa iyo. Mga bagay bagay na alam kong gusto mong malaman: kung ano nangyari nung eleksyon sa UP, mga problemang dinaanan ko, tungkol sa iba pang mga tao, etc. Syempre, gusto ko rin malaman ang mga kwento mo.

Para naman sa ibang tao:

Hindi mo na kailangan pang magtago sa akin dahil alam ko na ang totoo. Hindi naman masama itago ang tunay mong saloobin pero di mo ba naiisip na kung ilalabas mo yan ay makakawala ka sa kung ano man ang gumagapos sa iyo?

Mas marami ang natu-turn-off dahil sa bagay na iyan. At ang mas mahirap, pinag-uusapan ka ng patago; hindi kinakayang tanungin ka ng diretsahan. Wala na sa akin ang bagay na yan, at marami na rin ang nakakaalam noon pa man, kaya walang humahadlang sa iyong paglabas kundi ikaw. Siguro, noong una ay nalilito ka pa. Pero sigurado ka na ngayon. Kung ano man ang maging desisyon mo, andito lang ako lagi.

Ito ang awiting bagay sa iyo:

I'm coming out
I want the world to know
Got to let it show
I'm coming out

There's a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I'm completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I'll make it through
The time has come for me
To break out of this shell
I have to shout

That I am coming out
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show
I'm comingI'm (coming out) coming
(I want the world to know)
(I got to let it show)

I've got to show the world
All that I wanna be
And all my abillities
There's so much more to me
Somehow, I have to make them
Just understandI got it well in hand
And, oh, how I've planned
I'm spreadin' love
There is no need to fear
And I just feel so good
Everytime I hear
I'm coming out
Coming
(I want the world to know)
(I got to let it show)
I'm coming out
I want the world to know
I got to let it show

Especially For You

Especially for you
I wanna let you know what I was going through
All the time we were apart
I thought of you
You were in my heart
My love never changed
I still feel the same

Especially for you
I wanna tell you I was feeling that way too
And if dreams were wings, you know
I would have flown to you
To be where you are
No matter how far
And now that I'm next to you

No more dreaming about tomorrow
Forget the loneliness and the sorrow
I've got to say
It's all because of you

(CHORUS)
And now we're back together, together
I wanna show you my heart is oh so true
And all the love I have is
Especially for you

Especially for you
I wanna tell you, you mean all the world to me
How I'm certain that our love was meant to be
You changed my life
You showed me the way
And now that I'm next to you

I've waited long enough to find you
I wanna put all the hurt behind you
And I wanna bring out all the love inside you, oh and

(CHORUS)

You were in my heart
My love never changed
No more dreaming about tomorrow
Forget the loneliness and the sorrow
I've got to say
It's all because of you

Nope, I am not in love. It's just that the song is stuck in my head. LSS. I guess it's because I have a seatmate who plays this song on his guitar everyday.

I had a wonderful day. I went ice-skating with Arianne, Lyn, Chris Lao, Chris Ocampo, and Jamir. It was fun! Lalo na't marami kami. It was also fun being a teacher to arianne and lyn especially since they did not know how to skate till this afternoon. Although, I was not able to teach them a whole lot 'coz Jamir concentrated on teaching Lyn while Chris Lao concentrated on teaching Arianne. Chris Ocampo, though it was his first time to ice-skate, did pretty well. He was really fast.

Jamir had a camera with him...which was a good thing because finally, someone was able to take a picture of my Bielmann. Hehe!

Ice-skating is such a fun activity...it exercises the whole body. Plus, since it's summer, ice-skating is a temporary way of escaping the heat.

If there was one spoiler today, it's the fact that my dad supposedly committed a traffic violation. We were on our way home. My dad was driving and we had just gotten out of the parking lot, took a right turn towards Pasay Road. At the end of that block, a Barangay San Lorenzo Traffic Enforcer waved at us to park at the side of Anson's. The Brgy. San Lo. traffic enforcer told my dad that right turns towards Pasay Road isn't allowed from 4pm-9pm. Yes, my dad knows that rule but TAKE NOTE: TODAY IS MAY 2, 2005, A HOLIDAY AS DECLARED BY OUR PRESIDENT. When it's a holiday, traffic rules such as the number-coding scheme, no right turn/no left turn-at-this-hour-of-the-day is AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDED. It has been like that since time immemorial. Plus, we have been doing that right turn towards Pasay road during holidays and have never been apprehended. The traffic enforcer even had the gall to say "nasuwertehan lang ho kayo at hindi kayo nahuli". Huh? Obviously, the barangay traffic enforcer was being an opportunist. Besides, that area is not Brgy. San Lorenzo's jurisdiction. Pasay Road is a national road in Makati so the MAPSA should have been the ones on duty or the MMDA.

So anyway, Mr. Traffic Enforcer (TE) told my dad to pay Php 2,000.00. My dad said, "wala bang mas mura diyan?" TE said "Php 500.00 ho".

Kaya tuloy ang dami gustong umalis ng Pilipinas. Hindi lang dahil mahirap ang buhay dito kundi dahil na rin maraming mga opportunista, na kahit ikaw ang nasa katuwiran, porke't naka-uniporme sila,dapat sila ang masunod. Ang habol lang naman nila ay pera, pero hindi dapat sa ganung paraan.

On a lighter note, at least we got home safely. I thank God for that, and for giving me a happy day today.