Busy Week(end)

Just got back from Animo Squad team-building from Tarawoods, Batangas, and also just finished my mid-terms. Will spam your blogs and sites soon, friends.

Expect a LOT of pictures, and some reviews. ;)

Readers: Thanks for hanging around even if material has been lacking lately. :)

Jay~

Animo Squad, Debate, and Exams

Hey readers.
I apologize for being away for such a long time. I have been very busy with school, dance training, and friends. Here's a nice big update on what's been cooking.

The past 2 weeks, Animo* Squad, De La Salle University's official CheerDance Competition entry in the UAAP, has been practicing hard for a show during the Animo Rally (previously known as the Pep Rally). We have been hard at work putting together a team that has never danced together before. Our dance coaches, Coach Mycs Villoso and Sir Peter Alcedo, together with our gymnastics and liftings coaches respectively, Coach John and Coach Gardes, did an amazing job.

For the past week alone, we were clocking up 3-5 hours of dance daily, and 1-2 hours of conditioning training for dance and/or gymnastics. It has been really hectic, since we don't often get a full team at any given practice. The polishing of the dances was really stressful, as we began to see and try to fix certain mistakes in choreography, or timing of lifts. Tiring, but hella fun. :)

July 4th comes, and we were still not sure if we were going to dance or not. Luckily for us, we did a complete run-through, and Sir Peter was sufficiently impressed with our performance that he decided we were ready to show De La Salle that we are here to represent the school in the UAAP. Before the show, we did some blockings at the Amphitheater (where we will perform) before heading to the Conservatory for a talk with Brother Bernie.

Brother B is the creator of the Animo Squad. He had the idea to get the CAO groups (La Salle Dance Companies - Street and - Jazz) to work together with the DLSU Pep Squad and represent the school in the UAAP CheerDance Competition. Anyway, he has been hearing that there have been some unhappy incidences in the Animo Squad, so he sat down and gave us a really encouraging talk (for me, at least). There was a memo also that was passed around which, if not exactly ordered, then encouraged the members to 'prioritize the UAAP competition above the other performances and/or other extra-curricular activities in the school. Must have been hard for the members of LSDC and DLSU Pep. :(

We danced. It was going to rain, but it stopped, and right after we finished, it poured. A sign perhaps..?

The dance went very well, and we wowed Brother B. In fact, he was sufficiently amazed that he told our coaches how 'great' we were. LOL. That's 2 weeks of practices, sir. Imagine if we have 2 months. :)

Other than preparing for the show last Friday, I also had to study for a Spanish exam, and to debate (part of the debate team training). I have not gotten the debate results because I am in the Sports Complex during my free time, but I did, however, get my Spanish test results. It's pretty good in my opinion. I got a 96. :D

I might have to put on hold debate until next term. We only have 2 months to prepare for a national competition (CheerDance Competition is in the first week of September), and I think the National Debate tourney is also in September. Might have to put it on hold until next term. Shouldn't be a big problem if I did.

I have a month-ish to prepare for two speech deliveries for Speech Communication class, and another couple of days to study for my Theology 2 exam. I'll probably be pretty busy, but I'll update as much as I can. :)

Go Animo! :D

* Animo = spirit, like in the context of 'school spirit'/'fighting spirit'

Jay~

UC Alumnus?

While riding a trike (a motorcycle-cab mode of public transport), I couldn't help but notice that the trike operator happened to be a very educated person.




I will never look at University of Colorado alumni the same way again. LOL.

Disclaimer:
This post is not meant to rag on UC graduates. It's for entertainment only.

Jay~

Brent is 19

Happy 19th birthday, Brent!
You've been a very good and wise friend to a lot of people, and you're always setting a good example to every dancer in Animo Squad. Keep it up, Mr. Chua. LOL.

You're one sick dancer man. I don't know where the hell you got your isolations from. Ahaha..

Have a good one. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your party. You know why. =/ Wish I could have though.

I put that picture up because it's damn funny and you know how we love freaking people out with our 'gay dancers' routine. LMAO.

Jay~

Hey One Year

It's June 24, 2008.
I have been in the Philippines for exactly one year.
Save for a 5 days food trip/visit to Kuala Lumpur, I haven't been anywhere else.

In this year, so much has changed in my life. I live more or less independently, in charge of my own finances, and responsibilities. I know the feeling of having to pay bills and rent, and of going to the market for some produce, and the almighty supermarket for toiletries and house supplies. It feels good to have my own apartment, mine to lord over. *grins*

So many people to be thankful for!

I have met some wonderful and incredibly great people here in such a short space of time. Skittlez Crew, each and every one of you have challenged me to be a better person in the space of 12 months. I have learned to be a better friend through your friendships. Aldz, Decky, Brent, Nica (thanks for bringing Skittlez into my life!), Ann, Matt, Coyi, Liz, Kevin, Jess, Jake, and Francis, in your own ways, you've all made me better. :) Chyeah!
The UNO dance gang, I don't know how I could have survived without knowing all of you. Boss Redd, Aileen (thanks for all the rides!), Michie (condo hangouts), Ate Charlene (dimples!), Evelyn, Joyce, Achi Kat and Irish, Kate, Ahya Kurt and Mon, Steph, Maris, Karina, Avery, Ken, Goldie, and Princess, it isn't any more fun than when all of us are dancing in the albeit cramped dance area at UHS. You guys are awesome.
For my campus buddies Luis (first friend in the Philippines!), Marisse, Bob, Jiet, Kenneth, and Darryl, each of you make my otherwise horrendously boring classes beautifully special. Especially Ken, bro, we've been through hell and high water, and I'm glad to find a real friend in you.
To the ENGLCOM group, while not all of us were classmates, all of you are among my first friends in La Salle, and in the one year I've been here, you are all still the fun and wonderful group that I met. Riakins, Anj, Janille, Christian, JJ, PJ, Sandee, and Patmig, thanks for the friendship. :)
In this year, I was also fortunate enough to be placed in a Sports Block in my first term, and I am honored (and inherently annoyed to be around such fit bastards) to know all of you. Ferdie, Walshie, Raf, Si, Pato, Monti, Rian, Ralph, and our resident model (seriously) Carlos, hanging out with all of you on a daily basis taught me more than I need to know about chicken sandwiches, Pato's sexual preferences (chicken, anyone? LMAO), and the much unwanted advice on how to get high school girls. ROFL. My year here has been amazingly fun knowing all of you.
And how can campus life be enjoyed without some 'churvaness' from my 'churvaloos' from LSDC-Street and LSDC-Jazz! My recent weeks have been incredible thanks to you Jazz girls. I'm sure Gayle won't mind the 'gayness' you're all rubbing on me. LOL. Nadine, Corz, Rika, Totie, Monica, Cams, Ren, and Ara, all of you have made me laugh so much! Recruitment week, "Join Jazz!". LMAO. My LSDC-Street buddies Efren and Japheth, we'll be training more together for Animo. Thanks for the dance tips. Mico, you will be in Jaipur more and more with Skittlez. Haha..
My DT family from Philippines United, you guys helped me so much when I was still new here! You are all little 'daddies' to me and I appreciate your help and kindness. Games do bring people together, and your welcome party for me was incredible. Special thanks to my "Yabang Pinoy" and HOC brother, Joseph, who's been a great and true friend to me. Edison, Vlad, and Dexter, you are all good real-life dads, and I hope your kids turn out to be the men you all are. :)

The various dancers I've met and befriended, and the tons of campus buddies, you guys have made it a year to be thankful for.

Saving the best for last. :)
To my Gayle, meeting you and being friends with you was already awesome to begin with, but when our friendship blossomed and grew, you have been, quite literally, an angel to me. :) You've inspired and taught me in more ways than you can imagine, and even though we haven't been together for long, I look forward to dancing beside you, and being your man, for much, much longer. You've made me stronger, and you've made my staying here incredible. Thanks for the love, hugs, kisses, and the uncountable moments of laughter that we share together. <3

In this year.. Amazing what one can accomplish!
So okay, I was rejected in two school organizations, Lasallian Ambassadors (late forms, LMAO), and LSDC-Street, but look what doors opened when these ones closed! I am now in Animo Squad, a varsity dance group, and (announcing it here) training with the La Salle Debate Society. If you really know me, you wouldn't ask why is Jason in the debate society. LOL. I just have to do well this term as a trainee, and who knows, it could be a second varsity next term. :D

It's been a year of many blessings.
I can only wonder at how much more is in store for me.

It's been a year.
Bring on the next three. :D

Life is good. :)

Theme Hospital

I want this game.
And I want it right now.

It's a very old PC game.
We're talking 1994/1997.
I can't find a site to download it, or it takes way too long.
The old memories of playing this on my PS1 is haunting me.

I want Theme Hospital, and I want it now.
I need it. I effing need it.

If you have an old copy of it for PC please lend it to me.
I have this immense and sudden craving to play it. :(

Jason is not happy right now.
Jason needs his Theme Hospital fix.

Jason is upset.

EDIT:
I downloaded it from a torrent.
After 2 hours I got it.
Guess what?
A CD-ROM is required, and I can't fix it with a patch.
Someone get me a box of tissues.

:(

Jay~

AS Trip.. Not

Our Animo Squad team building trip to Batangas was canceled literally within a few minutes before we set off. Reason was due to the Signal 2 Typhoon Alert at Batangas.

In the interest of safety, De La Salle University officials have canceled the trip.
I was really looking forward to it. :(
Get to know my new teammates, and do fun activities together.
Instead, the team building is postponed until further notice.
Sucks real bad. :(

The wet season of the Philippines has officially begun.

Manila has a Signal 2 Alert now too.
Hopefully it doesn't flood, though I shouldn't be too affected since I live 5 floors above street level.

Oh crap.

Jay~

Aldz is 20

Happy 20th, bitch. LOL.

Hey buddy, hope you have a great one this year. Stop turning on the cool already, and start getting them chicks more. Ahaha..

Sorry couldn't go to your party man. =/ Clashed with training schedules.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.

Jay~

Gender Impressions

How To Impress a Woman
Compliment her.
Cuddle her.
Kiss her.
Caress her.
Love her.
Stroke her.
Tease her.
Comfort her.
Protect her.
Hug her.
Hold her.
Spend money on her.
Wine & dine her.
Buy things for her.
Listen to her.
Care for her.
Stand by her.
Support her.
Go to the ends of the earth for her.

How to Impress a Man
Show up naked.
Bring beer.

ROFL.

Jay~

Chef Wong's

Another dinner date, this time at a Chinese restaurant called Chef Wong's, located at SM San Lazaro.

Sipping my iced tea.

Roast Chicken Rice

Spicy Squid and Noodles Set.

The place was a little disappointing, to be honest. Coming from Malaysia, I personally find commercialized Chinese food here in Manila to be a little too heavy on the flavors, and very much lacking in authenticity. :( Sad, really, since the food looks great. I emphasize on the 'looks great' part, because I wasn't crazy about it.

The roast chicken was alright, though it will not stand up against commercial Malaysian Chinese restaurants like Singapore Chicken Rice. Vegetables were pretty good though. It is painfully obvious that my squid meal is not Chinese, and a poor attempt at making it seem so was done by adding noodles. LMAO. Pathetic. To be fair, it wasn't half bad.

The UFO (unidentified foam-like object) that was on my set remained uneaten. I will not eat anything that resembles Spongebob Squarepants. It was bouncy, yellow, and worryingly reminiscent of a dish-washing sponge. =/

I will not bring Gayle, or anyone for that matter, to eat at Chef Wong's again any time soon. Just too disappointing for my liking.

Jay~

Loving Cardio

I love the varsity gym.

Snazzy, and full of really cool exercise apparatus (torture machines).
The Physical Therapists are all quite nice too.

So yesterday, I did nothing but cardio. Just 20 minutes on the stationary bike, lugging it out at Level 8 intensity. I felt like a wuss beside the guy training beside me, a guy who looked like he could be in Men's Health any time he wanted to, clocking up 7 km in just 5 minutes, at Level 32 intensity. That's like pedaling up a 45 degree-incline hill! OMG.

Today, my friend and now-turned-trainer Rafael Millan from Venezuela and football varsity, has become my unofficial trainer. He is bloody good, not to mention fighting fit (literally; he competes in Mixed-Martial Arts). I told him I needed more shoulder strength, but little to no bulk-ups, so my training began.

Shoulder presses, dumbbell fly, forward dumbbell raises, twisted forward dumbbell raises, upward rows, and elbow fly, all to target my shoulders. 10 reps for 2 sets each. 30-second rest between sets, and since I also wanted core workouts, instead of resting, I did planks and bridges. Dammit. Planks and bridges also uses the shoulder muscles. :( I survived it though, even when the second circuit was performed while sitting on a Swiss ball. :(

Then in the afternoon, another session of cardio. 20 minutes at Level 4 intensity, light and easy. This is mostly due to my playing on Brent's PSP instead of actually focusing on cranking out the mileage. :P

Cardio again tomorrow. :D I am starting to love the heartbeat-raising intensity of the stationary bike. Easy on the knees too. Legs aren't sore now, which is a good sign. :)

Jay~

Happy Father's Day

It's Father's Day! :)
It's kinda funny that I am blogging about Father's Day since I obviously had not had my biological father for a long time, but in my 20 years, I have been so blessed with so many father figures that I feel that what I have is a lot better than what others get (with their own fathers) in their lifetimes.

First of all, the father figures of my life.

Happy Father's Day to Pop, Franco Lim for always taking care of me and making sure I never get into trouble back home in Miri. Thank you for the guitar sessions, our crazy jamming (usually in G because that's your best note, haha), and all the football craziness. Tottenham Hotspurs still suck in my opinion, but you will always have a soft spot in my life Pop. You're very cool, and you know it, but you always remain humble. It's not everyday a guy like me can comfortably call an ex-bodybuilder, football player, and a musician a 'dad' but that's exactly what you have been to me.

Happy Father's Day to Pastor Lim Thien Leong, for always being a wise spiritual mentor, and who, more often than not, had to tolerate my 'modern teenage ways'. Hahaha.. You are an awesome pastor, cool to the bone. Thank you for never refusing to answer any question I ask, for staying late at church just to entertain my ridiculous questions, and all the rides home and spontaneous dinners you always seem to invite me to. You rock.

Happy Father's Day to my Piasau Baptist Church daddies, Lawrence Low, Kuek Chiaw Oi, Pa Hmun, and Chan Kwok Mow, and also to my Full Gospel Assembly dad Yeoh Pit Chai. For Uncle Lawrence, Uncle Pa Hmun, and Uncle Kwok Mow, thanks for the hours and hours of football discussions! Sad to say, your silly little Liverpool will not win the EPL any time soon, but at least, you three are some of the smartest and wisest men to give me advices on life. I would not be where I am without your subtle guidance. For Uncle Kuek, thanks for never refusing me at your house, and for giving me three wonderful friends in your children, Nicole, Michelle, and Eddie. I greatly admire the quiet aura about you, and you are probably one of the smartest dads in PBC. Thanks for all the rides home, and the overnights I have at your place. For Uncle Pit Chai, the smartest man I know, you are the reason I know so much about so many things! You are indeed a walking encyclopedia, and hanging out with you 2 hours a week made me know so much about seemingly random things like electrical properties, molecular behavior, and why a car needs balancing. I admire you so much, and I am sure you would have been a great dad.

To young dads Cris De Lucas, Benj Manalo, Drew Naval, and Brian Ilad, Happy Father's Day. :)

Finally, Happy Father's Day to the man who made my mother's life so special. It is said that the greatest gift a father could give his son is to love his son's mother with all his heart. For your patience, kindness, compassion, dedication, and above all, loyalty, Happy Father's Day Roger Bilodeau. :) I understand that you will never be bored of your silly armored football, and that I can no more tell you that it's called 'football', and not 'soccer', than to tell you the Red Sox suck. Haha.. Thanks for all the fitness and workout advice, and the little life lessons you impart to me when we get the chance to talk. I'll see you soon, and no, we're not having a one-on-one in the basketball court, unless you battle me in dance. :P Thanks for taking care of the woman I love with all my heart. Go Gators!

I know you love Maine. :)

Jay~