MOVED

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Of Aetas and Storytelling and ABS CBN

Weekend before classes start. Who would have thought 'd still be able to go up the mountains and do something worthwhile like say, storytelling to the aetas?

Saturday. June 7. woke up at 2:30 AM, took a bath, dressed up and checked my bag I've packed the night before. The cab service I hired the night before picked me up at around 2:45.
With no breakfast whatsoever, i was headed for Sgt. Esguerra Street to meet Miss Lia, a segment writer for ABS CBN's morning show, Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG).

Yup. Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines sent me to go with a UKG team for a book drive to the Aetas in Lopez, Quezon where i will be telling to the kids. As part of the the Buklat Aklat program of ABS CBN, the team will be doing a segment on the book drive, progress on the school that has just been built in the area and the storytelling as well.

Thinking it will be one of the usual volunteer storytelling stints im always up for, I had no idea that we had to travel 6 hours just to reach the place. Exciting. Scary. Plus, I didn't expect that i would be the only one from Alitaptap who would be going with them.

4:44 am. We, Miss Lia (writer) and Miss Lorena (the public service person of ABS) together with the driver and a cameraman left abs cbn after a quick breakfast at their cafeteria (aslo a quick tour of the place haha). We then headed for ayala where we had to pick up 2 Miss Karens who were the public affairs heads of STI (basically whenever you see STI in ADS on TV, Miss Karen and MIss Karen are the ladies responsible for that).

Having only slept 3 hours the night before--owing to the fact that i had dinner and a cocktail with Mico and Paul (the Yale guy)--i basically slept the entire half of the journey.

6:57 am NEWS reached us that Rudy fernandez died. Which was weird. As I am not really a fan of showbiz, I didn't feel anything for him unlike the 4 ladies i was with, who was shocked and what not.

8 am. we finished the scary counterflow the driver pulled off. We had n choice, the traffic to Lucena was bad since a bidge itnt he area gave way. Talk about what an ABSCN LOGO in your van can do for you.

9:50 am. Reached port of Antimonan where we had lunch.

11 am. After more sleep, we finally reached the place.

Really exciting. It has been a year since I last taught Aetas in the North, specifically in Zambales, for our community service that's why when Alitaptap asked for voulunteers, I immediately signed up. The only reason i had not to was the fact that there is a possibility that it would be aired on TV--an idea im not really a fan of. But who cares? I wanted to storytell!

And so I did.

I told the kids Pikpakbum and Tiktaktok and Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Lola both of which making them laugh which was so nice to see and hear. The moment I started, all my anxiety went down the drain. Basta ang saya! Whenever they laughed, i felt so happy and even more motivated to continue with the story.

Sabi nag nung mga kasama ko: "akala mo to si JM tatahi-tahimik lang, yun pala pag nag-storytell e parang kalog." It was really flattering hahahaha.

Definitely an experience. It was also my first time to see how the media set up their segment, part of which is practicing the aetas how to say "SALAMAT PO SA ABS CBN." Weird.
I saw what was happening behind the scenes eliciting some issues i ahve with the MEDIA but i told myself, as long as we got to help, im good with it.

WHOO!

3:02 pm we left the place
I REALLY HAD FUN.
After another 8 hours of travel time, i reached home at 11:30 PM

This has been the longest time of travelling i had in just a single day. Moreoever, this has also been the farthest I've reached South of the Philippines.

Onga pala, this will be aired on UKG sa wednesday, June 11

What a busy, tiring but nevertheless fulfilling day.

UPLOAD pics later

June

This week has been so long and I just can't wait for it to be finally over.
A few more hours and it's week's end for me.

The registration week of the University proved to be hectic and even chaotic (sorry for the rhyme), which I think did me so much good considering the things that took place this week.

Sighs...

Splooh-Splah

(Splooh-Splah=wordplay for splurge)

With nothing to do today, i decided to head for Southmall and continue shopping for my boarding house. Last time, i bought school supplies, this pm i bought toiletries which aren't in our cabinet of supplies hehe

Here's my original list (the list before you get overwhelmed):

• AXE Deo Stick
• AXE Deo Spray
• Toothbrush
• Dental Floss
• Vaseline Lotion
• Clear Shampoo (my name is Mike. haha)
• Alcohol
• Gel (for when my hair grows back)

haha! Who am I kidding? There will always be additions to my lists. So here's my altered list:

• AXE Deo Stick
• AXE Deo Spray Adidas Ice Dive perfume


• Toothbrush
• Dental Floss (too expensive! Let mom buy that)
• Vaseline Lotion (ang mahal ng Nivea for Men!)
• Clear Shampoo
• Alcohol
• Gel
• Checkered & colored bandaids
• toothbrush case
• alcogel
  

Hehehehe, Napamahal tuloy. I went way past the limit of 600 bucks. Tsk. Tsk. That's the problem with me, i kinda get overwhelmed with stuff not in my list. Ayun, e bumili pa ako ng MH mag and book @ BOOK SALE plus a song book from St. Paul's.

Bad Budgeting.

I then decided to go home, basically cause i don't have any money left.

Onga pala, i bought a coin bank to start my 5-peso and 10-peso coins saving. hehehe.

The Velascos

I'm a sucker for nostalgia. So when i see people from somewhere in my past, it really make me happy 'casue I'm quite sure that somewhere in me was affected by my knowing them.

Tita Mildred, Ate Mara, Mariel and their youngs siblings Zill and Zy visited this afternoon. Since it has been 8 years since we last saw them we exchanged stories, shared pizza (and a captain's choice platter--my fave haha),and shared more stories. So many catching up to do.


Then, i kinda babysat Zill (5) and Zy(4) while they were playing in our playground.
Nakakatuwa. These kids are quite smart. They are kinda tri-lingual--Filipino, Chabakano, English.
Kaya naman, being the teacher that I will be, i didn't miss this chance to interact with them. Ayun, nagpaturo ako konting Chabakano.

I would ask them to translate some words to Chabakano. Well, what can I say, ang galing nila.
It sounds like Spanish, Chabakano that is, like "quiero leche" for "I want milk." COOL!


Nakaktuwa, I watched them play in our playground, the same playground where their ates and our friends played whene we were still kids.


Good 'ol days nga naman...


more pics at http://themistermistaker.multiply.com/photos/album/75/The_Velascos_29_May_2008

UP IKOT

Yesterday, 27 May 2008.

I accomplished my college clearance form--one of the final steps of shifting out.

Too bad no one gave me a heads-up on how hard this step can be. I thought you only had to secure the signature of your home department, but when i returned it to the college secretary it turns out that I had to get all 12 blanks signed. WHAT?!

I had no choice.

Instructions: basically, get the signatures of 12 deaprtments/institutions/blah blah which simply means-- "hey, walk around UP!"

So at around 9 am my walking adventure started.

First stop, Faculty Center. I got 5 signatures here including my own department Speech Communication and Theater Arts.

Next, Institute of Chemistry. It was a bit nostalgic that I returned to this old building where I took my Chem 16. It reminded me of how daring I was in taking subjects outside my curriculum (which eventually sealed my fate 'cause daring things like this is a sure kickout from your course). Hahaha. At least I had so much fun, especially with my lab class where I met my lab partner Ian who was really funny (pareho pa kaming dapat walang Chem haha!)

Next, Institute of Biology (Zoology building). No memories here. I never took a Zoology subject.

Speech Comm and Zoology are not really pals i presume haha.

Then, Department of Psychology. Good ol' Psych 101 days where my professor was an orgmate--ate Prof Anna. Saya! I met nice people in this class-- an endorphin addict, a jerky person, a giant, a curly creature among others. HAHAHA! seriously, my classmates were really nice.

Vinzon's Hall up next. The building for most student affairs, it is here where i had to secure the signature of the Student Loan Board and the Student Discipline Tribunal. Good thing i never had an experience with any of these two. No records. Cleany Clean.

So around 9:49 am, only 2 blanks were left in my form. But then, these blanks mean that I have to walk to the other end of UP Diliman. And so I did.

National Institute of Physics (NIP). To reach NIP, i had to pass by the UP observatory which i haven't seen for quite some time now. i really like to try the telescope. hehehe.

Afterwhich, mud, tall grass and insects were waiting for me. Parang trekking lang. Buti na lang hindi ako nagkaroon ng physics class dito. hehehe. But when I reached the building, i really liked it. It was quite nice.

NIP new building

Last stop, National Institute of Geological Science. This is where I took my community service 1 (CWTS1). Nice people and professor (I actually see her in EDUC).

WOOHOO! Tapos na!

What an experience! around 10:30 i was back at the Office of the College Sec and was told that i just had to return for the forms today. Well, that's that. Konti na lang EDUC na talaga ako!


A nice thing about this experience is that it somehow proved that i really want to become an EDUC major. Imagine, securing all the signatures without a break in-between!


Plus, it was an instant trip around UP. A trip to buildings I never have gone to before. Hehe.

Ayan! Pagod na ako. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

My Teaching Toolbox

Classes are about to start amd since I'll be living in a boarding house yet again (goodluck with that), i have to preapere all my stuff so that i won't have to go back and forth our house and UP.

Plus, now that I'm officialy an EDUC major, it's about time that i get to have one of these.

MY TEACHING TOOLBOX

Well basically it's not the like the toolbox my dad has with all his philips, negatives, screws, knots and bolts. Intead of those what my mine has are adheseives, measuring tools, writing instruments and what have you--stuff that most teachers need (especially by preschool teachers like me).

However, my toolbox ain't complete yet. Marami pa ako gusto ilagay. For one, I would really like to have an Elmer's Adhesive spray. Instead of using masking tape to post my visual aids, i'd simply have to spray the adhesive spray and stick whatever i want to stick onit. Yun lang, di na sya maalis hehehe. Still cool though.

just can't wait to use my 'tools' this coming sem

SEE YA!

Whatever

Know what? I don't care

I'm gonna spend whatever time is left with you

I'm gonna wait for you like I always do

and in these two months, even if i'm so scared of the attachment,

I won't care, I'll think about it until then

'cause I love you gummy...

Storytelling with a 38 deg fever

Me, k. Wacko, a. Cha, a. Mars, k. Percy

Yesterday, we performed a chamber storytelling of Si Aliguyon at Pumbakhayon: Mga Bayaning Mandirigma ng Ifugao at a National conference held at Seameo Innotech in Quezon city.

For those who are dummies to storytelling (haha!) chamber telling is similar to role playing its just that the focus is still on the book.

I was Aliguyon--my first ever lead role with Alitaptap. Kaya naman scary. what made it even scarier is I was the only newbie in the cast so go figure. So despite my 38 degrees celsius fever, storytell pa rin. Masaya kasi e! (plus, i have a feeling they'll kill me if i don't show up). Haha.

It was again a great experience!

more pics at http://themistermistaker.multiply.com/photos/album/68/Storytelling_at_the_bIg_Circle_Time_National_Conference_15_May_2008

My L72

I have a new phone!

Well, my Nokia 7610 finally gave way. First, the backlight got busted, then the display got lost entirely. (I knew this was coming considering how i have been treating my good ol' phone. i'm really really sorry Mr. phone-y).

Panic mode. Why now when its just now that i have someone to actually text

So yesterday my mom brought it to greenhills to have it it swapped with my one and only condition-- nothing less than a megapixel, for blogging purposes of course. Fortunately, she got me a 2 -megapix phone. Yehey!. Just have to pay her monthly for it. hahaha

It's a Motorola L72. Not BAD!

11 May 2008

we ate, we sang, we talked, we watched, we hugged
it was simply the best date i ever had

I never thought doing things with someone you like and probably love made that much difference.
too bad it's complicated
I really enjoyed this night.

Thanks, Gummy.
Miss ya

Bui na lang i hugged you so tight 'cause your perfume remained on my jacket. Now i have a scent to remind me of you. ahahaa

My parents' 20th wedding anniversary

Saturday night. Heavy Rain.

We surprised our parents with a pseduo-wedding to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.
Ang saya! I was even the priest. hahaha. Plus, nakakatuwa yung vows nila kasi it included stuff like "... i will love you despite your hair loss..." and " I will love you despite your Kaskasero driving skills." hahaaha.

So fun.

The wedding was complete with the veil ( a first communion dress), cord (made from knotted pieces of cloth), a bouquet of kalachuchi ata. Then there was the part where you get to ask if anyone wants to put a stop to the wedding (lahat sumagot, "KAMING LAHAT") hahahaha. Then of course there was the kiss.

Reception followed where there was the cutting of the cake (my first well-earned cake. haha) , wine (limejuice pala), bouquet throwing and stuff. We planned to catch pa nga mayas instead of doves pero ang hirap e. hehehe. Nakakatuwa lalo, may Sinigang na Baboy sa menu. hahaha.

It was really fun! Im so thankful i have my parents despite whatever.
I love you MUMI! I love you PAPS!

More pics @ http://themistermistaker.multiply.com/photos/album/67

Sugar Rush

During an errand to the bank I finally got to encash the other half of my salary for April. In other words, i encashed my first ever check. Cool.

...................................

Went to Makati kanina. Makati day pala.

Well, what did i do in makati?

Basically, I ate and drank sugar at Krispy Kremes.

hahaha.

Well, napilitan lang ako cause someone forced me.

I think i was hypnotized actually.

hahahaha.

Hypnotized by a smile and a nice personality.

Weird.

Fascinatingly weird.

I kinda liked the feeling of being hypnotized.

hahahahaha.

Wala lang, you simply lose control 'cause of the charms some people ooze with.

Charms, coupled with plain goodness.

I guess you dont get to meet people with these traits so much nowadays.

So you could just imagine how you can easily fall for them.

Anyways. Masakit ang ulo ko ngayon simply because i ate and drank so much sugar and met someone who was super sweet. haha.

Sugar rush nga naman. Kaka-adik.

ayan ha, proof that i finished your treat...

Kahit masakit na ulo ko, pinilit ko pa rin...(",)

MAY blooh-blahs

1 May 2008:
Went to Bulacan for my dad's company outing

2 May 2008:
A first happened

3 May 2008:
My first Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines Meeting

4 May 2008:
A nice friend left our choir. Sad. Sad.

5 May 2008:
Finally got the music sheets of One Republic's Apologize
and So Close from the movie Enchanted.
Music waiting to be played. YeaA!

6 May 2008:
Had my hair shaved to a "dos-uno."
I received a weird friendster message,
a message i actually liked.

7 may 2008:
My parents' 20th Anniversary.
Just realized I was a honeymoon baby. Haha!
Salvaged my bleach-stricken clothes to make them wearable again by using bleach to re-design them. They turned out nice. I think.

8 May 2008:
I'm falling again. Stayed up until 5 am on the phone
Sighs...

9 May 2008:
I'm happily sleepy at work, writing this entry

My Second Youth Camp

Just came home last sunday around 2200 from this year's summer youth camp...

What can i say, syempre masaya na naman sya!

We boarded the bus around 7 am then travelled for at least 3 hours. Around 1030, we finally arrived at the campsites where we sang songs of praise and worship, met the participants, got introduced to our groupmates, pitched our tents then ate lunch. The rest was all about fun and learnings.

Can't tell every detail though kasi this isn't Pigafetta's blog anyways.

Anyways, survival cooking on the first day, then mountain and water trekking with cave exploration heading for the Daranak falls on the second day. 5 am pa lang, i was already good to go. With my trekking shoes, shorts, muscle T and my trekking backpack, i would pass as an experienced trekker hehehe (look what GQ can do for you). Well i really want to join UP Lakbay ( a trekking org ata) actually.

In the falls, I wasn't suppose to swim because of some issues (hahahah) but i did when i saw a Manong climb a high crevice beside the falls and dive from there. I had no choice. That jump was waiting to be done, and the water was waiting to be plunged.

Ayun, the next thing i know i was in that same crevice preparing to jump. Did it twice. The first one, to the cheers of my co-campers was awkward 'cause i landed on my butt. hahaha. The second one was better.

Grabe!

Adrenaline rush I really loved it. I have a video to prove it cause i think people just wont believe it without actual proof. Seems to be out of my character i guess. Well, i like adventure and in that moment that was the best adventure possible.

hahaha.

On the third say I got to rappel and do military rope courses among others.

It was my first time to be a facilitator in camp after my first camp last year. So it was quite an experinece. Here are the names of my groupmates:

GROUP ALDO:

GellyBelly

Gregor

Tina

Dona

Eirene

Raf

Seph

Carlo

co-faci ate JOYCE

Hahaha we were named the Most Organized Group. Plus imagine, i won the male best faci award hahaha. Weird. Last year mr. congeniality award ngayon this one. Ano to, career?

HAHAHAHA. Sori. Na-enjoy ko kasi masyado hahaha. And i guess i really take care of the people i'm responsible for (drama. drama.).

In going home we got to ride a military truck (think cargo truck) without a roof or sumtin hehehe. At siksikan pa. San ka pa? It wa a nice experincec. Habang drenched sa rain and sobrang sardined ayun we were holding on to our dear lives and dear bags as the truck traversed arount the mountain cliffs to a place where the bus was parked. hahaha. Pero ang saya. Parang evacuation. Parang roller coaster.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

This year's theme was about the parable of the prodigal son. And what was so cool about it was that we did not just learn about the prodigol son (the younger one) yet again but also learned about the elder son. I actually got more struck by the story of the elder as i can relate more to him.

Hay... know what sometimes i tend to be self-righteous that i think other people are more sinful than I am. Pero i have been teaching myself this past few years that i'm not. We all have our imperfections it's just that they come in diferent forms.

I guess the prodigal son wasn't just referring to the younger one but to the elder as well. With that note it actaully refers to everyone.

>>>>>>

CAMP. I'm so gonna miss you...

More pictures at http://themistermistaker.multiply.com

Laguna

Laguna

arriving at around 10 pm last saturday, I hurriedly jumped into the pool as this is one of the few vacations i will be getting this summer considering my student assistant stint.

it was fun. seldom does my relatives in my mom's side hold reunion so it was nice seeing all of them after some time.
One thing i noticed that made me realize we were not getting any younger (not that it needs proving or sumtin hehe) is that every hour, we religously re-apply sunblock. Unlike before when we didn't mind how chocolatey we'll look like after swimming.

Vidoeke, food, alcohol, volleyball
Also reviewed the swimming strokes i have long forgotten ehhehe. Up to now, i still can't do the butterfly though.

it was a good rest from LIFE hehehe
...

fix this later

IPOD at ORAS

Friday, 11 April 2008

The first day of the EDTEG sumemr fun class in UPIS. Ang hirap palang kausapin ng mga parents, tama si Roald Dahl hehehehe, sometimes parents can get way over themselves especially when it comes to their kids. It was fun meeting the kids nonetheless. After 2 months of enlisting their children, it was nice to finally see the kids themselves who were so cute.

After such a busy day in the department, and since it was a friday, I decided to drop by a mall to finally buy something with my first ever salary. So, I went to Glorietta and window shopped for clothes but ended up buying an IPOD Shuffle. Cool. There it was, my first ever self-purchased gadget.

--a silver IPOD which I can conveniently clip unto my shorts whenever I jog--which tranlsates to additional distance since it kills boredom hehe.

Then I bought a book in powerbooks that I so wanted to read--Boys Turning to Men.

There, with my money depleted I had no choice but to go home.

Saturday, 12 April 2008

I spent most of the day reading, sleeping, then reading again. Then in the PM, went to the gym with Marlon. Bad thing was I forgot the last part of my program, instead of doing my biceps I did tricep exercises instead. Well, to lessen the damage of my careless mistake, i did a couple exercises for my triceps then another couple for my biceps.

Afterwhich, we hangout in SM para magpalamig and to check DVDs. Tapos, i was introduced to another tapsihan called ORAS. Ang sarap, i ate longsilog plus really enjoyed the in-house soup. Ayun, umuwi na ako. hehehehe

Onga pala, i realized, im not that scrupulous anymore. Not sure if it's a bad thing though.
Anyways, I really like this thought:

"The signs were there, but when you don't know where your're going, you can't read them and the signs don't mean anything.
--Raymonde C. Green

Hay, is it one's fault then that he did not understand the signs at that time?

Wednesday blooh-blahs

9 April 2008, Wednesday

My first-ever-worked-for money (aka salary)
Never thought it would feel this good to receive well-earned money, money i got from my student assistant stint.

My first-ever-completely-consumed ballpen
a Standard black ballpen was the first ballpen i ever used up to the last drop of ink. Cool. Imagine, I did not misplace it!

Lesson learned for this Wednesday:
prepare
to be disappointed by people you look up to or even probably like
to be judged and to be interpreted negatively
to be taken as a weakling just because you consider someone's feelings,
emotions and personhood
to meet people who accept what wrong they have done but
who do not realize how inconsiderate and insensitive it was

Friends and Cheesy-ness

In ATC I met up with a couple of high school friends (Kathleen and Mervin) after the Parish Fiesta Misa Cantada.
After almost three years, it was just today that we saw each other again so many things needed cathcing up. At Shakey's, over a pizza and a basket of mojos, we chatted and updated one another with one another's life. hahaha. Hindi namin napansin na ang mahal pala ng na-order namin (well, expensvie for our budget anyways).

So after that, with no money left, we had no choice but to tour the mall. Of course, I was succesful to drag them to check on clothes and books. Ako pa. I really enjoy shopping for these stuff. kahit wala pera, masaya mag-fit at mag-browse. hahaha. Nakabili naman ako ng isnag shirt so at the very least it wasn't JUST window shopping. hehehe

Then, we seated in the outer cloister of the mall and chatted more. COOL. It was there that I saw Nicsoai--another close friend in High School. So there. Mervs, Nicosai and I were reunited--the three class CUTTERS of our section in Masci. hahaha. Good old days nga naman. I remember cutting chemistry to study English and to let Nicosai tutor us in Calc. Miss those times.
Dami na nagbago. But the thing is, even after 2 years or so, I still felt the warmth and comfort one feels whenever he or she is with his or her close friends. Parang we didn't really NOT see each other for a long time. It was as if it was just another ordinary day back in High School.

I know it sounds cheesy but don't give me any of that crap. Everyone needs cheesy-ness.

Ang saya!

Hay. Seeing your close friends again after a long time sure fires you up, recharges you to take on one's life. Nakakapagod na kasi minsan, but knowing you have friends kinda gives you the hope and strength you need to face problems, issues, dilemmas and what have you. Hahahahaha.

I know I'm (somtimes lang ha!) forcing myself to be happy being single for reasons i keep secret but then again i have friends anyways so I'm not that sad again.

haha!

Grades and Tea

After such a busy day in the department (imagine recieveng calls non-stop while accepting payments from peole while in my work clothes while searching for materials hidden in cabinet-caves of dust and allergens) i went striaght to Starbucks for a meeting with Koro. I was late of course (first friday kasi e).

After having a sausage roll (the first REAL food i ever had in starbucks) and a green tea frappe, we talked about issues and issues and more issues.

What was interesting though was that everytime i go to starbucks (which is like 6 or 7 times pa lang) they always seem to be quite sure that I'm a first timer. I guess it is obvious if your not used to going to some place--especially if that place carries a social stereotype with it.

Funny and weird. Hehehe.

GOOD NEWS: I got a 1.25 in PI100 which i almost dropped. Woohoo! Thanks groupmates!
BAD NEWS: Di na naman ako na-swelduhan kanina.

Long weekend, but so many paperwork to do.
Oo nga pala, for some weird reason, naging assitant conductor ako ng KORO, Weird.
At least di na ako SEC. OFFICIAL MEMEBRS na kami ng KORO STIGMATINO! (",)

more pictures at http://themistermistaker.multiply.com