Wednesday, 31 December 2008

As The Year Ends

Wow. 2008 is over. 4 hours to go, and a new calendar year starts.

As the year ends, I look at my blog - the stories I've told, the pictures I've posted, the thoughts and feelings I've shared - and I wonder at how I matured in 2008. I reckon not much, but significantly so. This year, more than any other in my life, has seen the best ups of my life.

In the beginning of the year, I decided to be with someone special who has been the rock of my existence here in the Philippines. <3 I learned so much from her, from commuting, to treating people better, to a new language, and to always keep humility at my side.

In the summer holidays, I experienced going for a holiday with absolutely no one to rely on but myself, planning everything, booking the hotels and tickets, and financing most of the costs. The independence was amazing.

In the first term of this school year, I proved myself right; that a student can both be an excellent scholar while also submerging himself (excellently too) in co-curricular activities. I received Second Honors and had the honor of representing De La Salle University with Animo Squad.

Second term was no less blessed. With my family and friends of Skittlez Crew, we managed to win, hands down, the championship of Remix08 dance competition. To have gone through so many conflicts, fights, and altercations, and yet surface as a team held together by love for each other, was amazing.

And after four hard months of work, I have finally achieved clear definition around my mid-section. I believe they are called 'abs'? LOL.

Christmas was beautiful, and I'm glad I had someone very special to spend it with. <3

Now, a new year approaches, and I can only look forward to more blessings, more victories both in my academics and athletics, better time with family and friends, and another beautiful year here in the Philippines.

To all my friends and family: Nothing else but thank you.


Jay~

Monday, 29 December 2008

Men of Cosmopolitan

LOL, this is not a post about models or what; I bought a new book that I've been looking for since August, and Gayle got herself this month's Cosmopolitan magazine. The book I bought was Men of Bronze, by Scott Oden.





Book was pretty good! Then again, a history buff like me would be biased towards history-based novels. LOL. Not too sure about Cosmo though. I think I'll stick with MH. :P


Jay~

Saturday, 27 December 2008

2009 Custom Journal (The Making)

When everyone else have a ready-made journal, The Jason opts to make life complicated and makes himself a custom one. :D

Of course, at Coffee Bean again. :P






It turned out pretty well. I'll post some more pictures once I get it fully tricked-out. Chyeah!

Thanks Gayle for wrapping up my book. :D


Jay~

Reading Crichton and Pelzer

I bought a new book, Jurassic Park, by the late techno-thriller genius Michael Crichton, and Gayle is currently reading My Story, by Dave Pelzer, and when we have new reads, we go to Coffee Bean. :D

Finding CB at Midtown is really a blessing. Starbucks here in Manila is way too over-rated, and is increasingly getting more populated by rowdy crowds. :( Not exactly a place to mull over a novel.








Ah.. That book was awesome! I'm definitely going to get the sequel, The Lost World. I cannot believe I put off reading that book for such a long time!


Jay~

Thursday, 25 December 2008

Catching Up

Wow, my very busy pre-Christmas has finally come to an end.

End of a somewhat disappointing second term (grades-wise), an awesome year with Skittlez, and of course, a beautiful eleven months with Gayle is nearing to a close. :)

I'll try to blog as much as possible in the next few days and post up what I've missed on posting. :) Sorry about the lack of posts, readers and visitors.


Jay~

Merry Christmas

Okay, I won't be a grinch, and greet everyone who reads or visits my blog a wonderful Christmas, and may the God(s) you worship respectively bless you and your family.

Merry Christmas.

Always, always remember the true reason for Christmas. :)

P.S. My presents are great. :D


Jay~

Monday, 22 December 2008

Christmas?

It is, without a doubt, the emptiest, most meaningless, least practical, and most useless pagan tradition adopted by Christianity, and then commercialized by capitalism.

Then again, most 'traditions' have been commercialized.

Have a "Merry" Christmas, everyone.
After you've had your fun, have a good think where your lives are going.

And please stop re-telling the lie Christmas has become to your children. How about you teach them basic work ethics, manners, and good values instead? Do the planet a favor, leeches.

Jay~

Monday, 15 December 2008

Business Attire, His and Hers

Gayle and I, hanging out in Yuchengco Lobby, after our business attire days. Note that I went a little casual. :) I don't want to look too uptight, y'know.








I think I look a lot better now, with more definition, and looking a lot fitter. :P But that's what I think. :P


Jay~

Saturday, 13 December 2008

Second Honors' Certificate

This has to be one of the coolest things I have collected so far in my one year-ish here in the Philippines. :)


You don't need to know my full name. :P
I received this for my grades last term. New target: First Honors. :)


Jay~

Hell Week Part 2

Finals are over! =D

The crazy week saw me complete what I first thought were impossible tasks. I was surprised to see that sort of grit in me, to be honest.

My to-do list was the following:
Foreign Relations Final Paper (due Tuesday)
Spanish 3 Final Exam (Wednesday)
International Political Economy Final Paper - Electronic Copy (Wednesday)
International Political Economy Final Paper (Thursday)
American Economy Final Exam (Thursday)
American History Final Exam (Friday)
American History Final Paper (Friday)
Theology 3 (Friday)

To add to that, I had to teach a dance routine to the Economics department for the College of Business and Economics' Christmas dance competition. ROFL. One of the songs they chose was 'Buttercup'. Lord knows I needed help with that.

Anyway, with exams over, I should be back and blogging again (regularly) in no time. Grades are due next week, Friday, so I'm pretty nervous. I hope all the plus points that I have accumulated can count for something. :)


Jay~

Friday, 5 December 2008

In Loving Memory, Hannah Nawan

The Chicken Board misses you.
We love you.

Hannah Nawan
August 19, 1988 - December 5, 2005



Jay~

Wednesday, 3 December 2008

Hell Week Part 1

The first week of my 2 weeks of hell are about to conclude, and I must say it has been very productive.

So far, I've accomplished the following:

- IPOLECO Film Review.
- USAHIST Book review.
- USAECON Presentation.

I will be delivering my USAECON presentation on Child Labor in the United States tomorrow. I can't wait! :) I haven't had a class yet where I was not the best presenter, and I don't see any reason why this should be any different.

Off to the books again..


Jay~

Sunday, 30 November 2008

"Family", Yeah Right

After making a birthday party for you, the first thing you say when you see my laptop screen is "Why is she so ugly?"? Thanks for the gratitude. Get over it.

I thought the older one gets, the wiser one becomes?

What a piece of hardcore bullsh*t.


Jay~

SmartBro, Listen Up

Letter to Smart Communications' Customer Care.

Good morning.

Apart from your hard-to-use registration form (it clearly does not explain what is the right format to key in the SRN), the service f SmartBro (which I am a subscriber to) has been terrible at best in the past month.

I have kept a log of the times on which my Internet would lose its connection. Starting usually at 7.30pm, I will lose my Internet connection until 2am the following morning. This time slot is the time I usually use my Internet.

I use the QuickFix program but I must say that it is the most inaccurate program you have ever created. From 7.30pm, the diagnosis says that there is something wrong with my antenna. If this was true, then I would not have any connection all day, would I? Suddenly at 2am, my antenna would 'fix itself'? Amazing.

I clearly applied and is paying for a 24-hour Internet connection. Kindly assure me that I would get this kind of service starting in the next few days. I would hate to think that Smart Communication is a telecommunications company that skimps on its consumers and users.

Thank you for your time, and a hasty reply is very appreciated.

-==-==-==-==-==-

Hopefully that gets something done.


Jay~

Saturday, 29 November 2008

Mum is 44

A big and awesome HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most wonderful woman in my life. I wish you so much happiness (which you are receiving right now) and peace in your life, and may you have even more successes professionally atop your many achievements, and may your heart's desires be accomplished.

Thank you for the support and the role-model-factor that you have given and showed me. I am who I am today because of everything you've done.

I love you Mum. Happy birthday. <3


Jay~

P.S. I didn't put any pictures already. :) You know why.

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Tasha is 18

Happy 18th birthday to the only other person I know who knows anything about the Ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire, and the height factor of some of history's best leaders. LOL. It's been good to have a friend like you.

(The one NOT wearing a red tie)

Have a great birthday (18ths are important here, no?) and may you have Palawan as your birthday gift. :P And yeah, see you in Remix 2009! :)


Jay~

Monday, 24 November 2008

20081117

Another one of those days when we're having breaks from classes. :) Take out the camera! At our favorite hangout, Yuchengco Lobby.






M&Ms make a for a very interesting Philippine flag. :P



Don't mind the constipated looks. :P We had too much sugar in our systems by the time only those colors remained. LOL.


Jay~

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Skittlez at Remix 2008

The biggest day for Skittlez Crew, Remix 2008!
November 14, 2008. Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium, DLSU.
Remix 2008 is the annual inter-Lasallian (DLS-College of St. Benilde included) dance competition between the very best non-professional dance crews of De La Salle University. It is hosted by the Cultural Arts Office and the La Salle Dance Company. This year's theme was "Stepping for Life", promoting healthy living through dancing.

22 teams signed up. 7 made it into the finals.
The finalists are Skittlez Crew, Crew A615 (CSB Champions), Z-Ave, Raindrops on a Sunny Day, Heels on Fire, Crewdose, and AftaSkoo.

Before call-time.


In the dressing room.







Dancing!












The results (hold your breath!):
Champions: Skittlez Crew
1st Runner-Up: Z-Ave
2nd Runner-Up: Crew A615

CHYEAH!!

Awarding ceremony.












Our customary prayer and sharing.



Dinner at McDonald's.


Thank you for always being there for me, making sure I go home early, making sure I'm eating enough, and cheering me on when I'm down or can't get a particular choreo. Thanks babe. <3

The champs are here! :D


Jay~