Escape with my forever friends!!

Roomates, schoolmates and girlfriends roll into one--my forever friends. I last saw them months ago except for Koren who I last saw like around 5 years ago. Being with them was unexplainable. It was wonderfully fun and amusing--the simple talks and the "kakulitan". We took a walk down memory lane. We reminisced about the funny and crazy things that we did back then. We talked about our future plans and it was so amazing to find out that some of us planned to find a new job and relocate.

The past few days were quite tiring but it was worth it. DJ who just came back from Canada have her vacation in P.I. She had plan a lot of things to do here in Manila. It seemed like her schedule was always fully booked. She painted the city red. Good thing that our friends took turns in going out with her since I could not accompany her everywhere since I have to work She was so full of energy that it sometimes made me wonder where got it all. . I think I would die in tiredness if I were in her place. She went out everyday--shopping, partying and hanging out with friends.Oh! one of the highlights these past few days was Koren's visit here in Manila. So, all the girls got together and  went out of town last weekend to celebrate our valentines day. The valentines day of the single ladies with one exception (BTW, Koren is the only one who is in a relationship. *wink*). We went to Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas and there we stayed for one night. The place was superb though we didn't have much time to stroll and use their facilities. Our escape from the city was indeed worth remembering not just because of this beautiful place but because of the laughters that we shared, the hilarious things that we did and the weird imaginations that we had every time we talked about something. How I wish we could travel again and have a get together even though we live in different places.


Feb 16, 2010--Kitchen, Greenbelt 3


Last night, we had dinner with some of our high school batch mates. It was Koren and DJ's last night here in Manila though DJ would be coming back next week since her flight would from Manila to Vancouver [I think]. Time flew so fast that I realized we didn't have a chance to have serious talks. It was a little bit disappointing because I realized that I didn't actually know much about their lives these past few years. Yeah, we hanged out and chilled out but then I think the most important thing is to know more about them. We might be the same person as before but some things changed. In a way, we are different.


Anyway, I'm glad that after all these years, we remain as friends even though we have separate lives. We are still familiar with each other despite the fact that we seldom see each other. It's so amazing how we easily blend even though we don't see each other as often as we want to. It's like chemistry. How fortunate I am to meet these people in my journey of life.

Graduate studies

Yes.. I always rant or complain about how difficult grad studies are. My friends who are always with me might be deaf by now--hahaha! Well, most of them understand me anyway. I think it's not really that bad. It's just that my hands are always full. I do things at the same time that sometimes being alone in my crib doing nothing is a heaven already. It's been months since I experienced cramming and I quite miss it. Yeah! I think I'm falling in love with pressure. Funny, isn't it? Several months ago, I wished that my grad studies would be over and now that I officially graduated, I feel like there's something missing. I want more. I think I'm one of those people who always seek headaches and pain in the ass--hahaha! 

Graduate studies--one of the most memorable parts of my life. I met a lot of people and I gained friends. Without my friends in grad school, I think it will be a lot challenging for me to pursue my masters. I can still remember those days where all of us had to help each other out just to pass the courses and the exams that we had to go through. These are the people who understand me well. They know how hard it is to be in grad school. Because of the common ground that we have, our friendship blooms and it makes our life in grad school more bearable. Also, I can say that we are so lucky to have professors who encourage their students to dream and to chase it. I can't believe that they are so approachable and humble. They don't think highly of themselves and they always make us feel that we can seek advice from them all the time. I'm so glad that they make our lives easier by giving us all the things that we needed in order for us to do the requirements that they expected us to do. The only thing that I can say to these people is THANK YOU for everything. 

Year 2010

I chose to be HAPPY. Whatever happens, my days will be lovely. They say that happiness is a choice and it is indeed a choice. We face a lot of challenges but then who doesn't. All of us are. It's just a matter of how we are going to handle it. Instead of counting the mishaps that are happening and might going to happen, I will now count the reasons why I have to continue enjoying life and be happy.


1.I have a very nice family and relatives.
2.I have a lot of friends who love me.
3. My future is bright. (That is how I see it.) 
4. I only live once


HAPPY HAPPY ME!

Christmas Wish list!

Books

I love reading books and everyone knows that I can't live without one but  these past few years were quite different. My high school friends might be shocked if they're reading this. Yes, it's true. I couldn't find time or the urge to read books with the exception of few renowned books like Twilight Saga and The Alchemist. It's been months since I told myself that I would read again. It's my dream to read as many books as I can but then I think it will always remain as a dream. It's quite expensive to buy books which I'll only read for a day or two if I want to but then the satisfaction that I get after reading can't be paid off. Maybe someday this will come true, if I'll marry someone who runs a bookstore or something. *wink* 


One afternoon, I went to a mall with one of my friends and she wanted to go to a bookstore to buy something. I went with her and we went to the different sections of the store. As usual, I ended up browsing some books in the literary works section. I saw the books of Paulo Coelho on a shelf then something caught my eye, the book that I had been longing to read--One hundred years of solitude. As my eyes roamed, I saw a lot of books that I wanted to read. I picked them out from the shelves and the last thing I noticed was my hands were full of them already, I could barely hold them. I was overwhelmed that I forgot to consider that books are expensive. One by one, I chose which book to buy and finally I settled on buying the book of Paulo Coelho and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I kept on telling myself that I should not be greedy. I had to stick with these two books and buy for more if I am done reading. 


Now, I'm starting to read 'Like the Flowing River'.  I get teary-eyed and smiles while reading it. I'm halfway through and I try to read it slowly for I think it will be better that way. The book is a collection of short stories and reflections. Before I read this book, I always think of Paolo Coelho as someone who is extraordinary but then I realize that he is just like any other person here on earth. He's so real. He did a lot of funny things that others might think of it as stupid.  This book let me have a fascinating glimpse inside the life of P. Coelho. A must read!

2009 is almost over

2009--not a best year for me. It's one of my most challenging years in life. I always think that once 2009 will be over my life will be better. I hope I'm right. Oh!I think I am. My intuition says so. Twenty-0-nine, the year that I don't mind saying goodbye. It's not that bad though. There are a lot of good things happened to me. Quite a lot if I'm going to think about it. I just recent the fact that this year I wasn't able to make decision freely because there were a lot of things to consider and I felt my hands were somewhat tied. This year is kind of a breaking point to me. I have had enough. What I want is to be free but then I have OBLIGATIONS. The thing that I'm not so fond of. Obligations and how to face it in an optimistic manner are part of growing up. Knowing that I don't handle obligations well and big responsibilities scare a hell out of me makes me say that there are a lot of things that I have to learn for the years to come.


Twenty-one days from now and twenty-0-nine will be over. I scanned my long-ago blog posts and I stumbled on my christmas wish lists and sort of New Year's resolution blogs. I found out that more than half of my list and resolution did not happen. Too bad, right?


One of the things that I remember writing is to travel. What the heck..I can't even go to Baguio or to a beach somewhere in Batangas. Oh! There's one thing--spend less and something like about having savings? So funny! I don't even have a single centavo in my account. Yeah, yeah, yeah..I get it. I was so busy these past few months. I could hardly breathe. I also had a lot of payables. Excuses? Well, it's a good thing that I stumbled on them just to make me realize how useless my list and resolution are. I guess I just have to include these things in my list/resolution/plan again for next year. BTW, so excited to make one.


At the end of the year, we always question our self, "Did I live my life or Did life simply pass me by?".

Things I'll miss in grad studies..

There are things that I love and like to do. These past few days were great for me. I was able to do the things that I want and like. I'm just so glad that for once I'm not rushing and beating a deadline. Yes, it's fun to be this way but then there are things that I'm sure I'm going to miss. This is life. We cannot have everything we want.

1. I'll surely miss my classmates/friends especially the things that we do during Saturdays..After class dinner and drinking. LOL!

--For so many terms that I've stayed in school, I think last term was the best term despite the fact that there were a lot of papers to do. Friendships blossom and I get closer and closer to my classmates. We finally get to know each other well. Why is it when you only have limited time to be really together is also the time where you have to depart? hahaha!

2. I'll miss the adrenaline rush when there's a paper due and the feeling when you've beaten the red light.

3. I'll miss Andrew Building and my professors who made our life miserable..;-) kidding!

This is just one chapter of my life and it's almost time to end this chapter. This journey is so memorable to me--the tears, stress, challenges and laughters. I feel so great that I've reach one of my goals but the most interesting part is the steps that I took and the process that I've been through. It taught me a lot and it made me a better person.

Until then...looking forward to my next goal in life!

Crazy about HITMAN REBORN

YES! I'm crazy about Hitman Reborn these past few days and since I don't have any school stuff to do anymore, I fill my afternoons by watching this anime. It's quite fun to watch this due to the wild actions they have and the family values they show. They reiterate that our friends are our family. Family is not all about having same blood running through our veins. It's how we regard each other than bind us. It may be so cheesy but then I think it's true. There are reasons why we meet people that we later on called friends. Either we bring some changes on them or the other way around. Friends coming in our life has always have a purpose. We may not have realize what we are doing in their life and what they can do to us.

Friends--Some of them may stay and some of them may leave. Others accompany us in our journey and others are a mere passer by but having them around even in just a few minutes, hours, days and years make this world a better place to stay.

What male Katekyo Hitman Reborn character are you

YourResult

You are...Takeshi!You're outgoing, adventurous, and friendly. You're very loyal and you'd do anything for your friends. As a good person at heart, or all around nice guy, you'd rather get hurt yourself then let anyone else come to harm. You might act absent minded sometimes but you know when it's time to get serious. Go you, you're the nicest guy in the worldThere are things that I love and like to do.

These past few weeks and months

This term is my last term in school. Finally last Friday, my oral comprehensive exam was done and I am now qualified to apply for graduation. YAHOO!

These past few weeks or let's say months were so hectic. So after our oral exam, we hanged out in one of our classmates house. I will really miss Andrew Bldg, DEAL office and my classmates. OH! my professors too. After all the tears and laughters, everything is almost over. We are just waiting for our graduation day. I feel so glad these past few days because I don't have to worry about deadlines and research papers anymore. This kind of thing seems so new to me. It's so funny that I don't really know what to do after my work. Since I'm now done with my studies, I can certainly do the things that I've been planning for quite some time. I hope almost all of my plans will be pushed through. I'm so excited for 2010. I feel like it will be an awesome year because many things will surely change. SO EXCITED and HAPPY!

Here are the pictures we took after our exams...

Happy moments

Yesterday was so stressful for me. The waiting was unbearable. I thought someone would just grab my heart or stop my world. I've been under stress for quite some time now but then yesterday was incomparable and one of the happiest moments of my life. It was yesterday that the result of my written comprehensive exam was announced. I couldn't bear to go to DLSU just to check the result so I chose to call the office instead. I think it would be better if I received the news over the phone than in person. My classmates and I were edgy because the result of the exam would determine if we were fit to proceed to the oral exam--the last exam that we have to take and its result will then be our ticket for graduation. All we need to know was if we passed or failed. Thank god, one of our classmates went to our department's office and asked the secretary about the result. Fortunately, all of us passed. Well, not really all of us but me and my circle of friends. One-third of the examinees failed. Quite scary, right? It was really nerve-racking. If I failed in that exam, I would surely feel bad and guilty at the same time. Bad for the wrong decisions I've done these past few weeks and guilty for not giving my 100% because I could have resigned. It's a good thing that everything is over for now because tomorrow will be a very very long day.

Good luck to me and my other friends who passed for tomorrow will be our oral exam.

Good luck to those people who will take the exam again next term. Hope it will be your last take.

MISS BLOGGING..

okay..I'm so caught up with so many things these past few days, weeks and months that I forgot to blog. grrr! just remembered today. Do I have a selective amnesia? I have so many things to blog that I don't even know where to start. I think I just have to summarize everything and I'll get back to it two weeks from now after my comprehensive exam. Gosh! got to do a lot of things today and the rest of the days to come. This is driving me crazy and it's making me nervous. Hope to blog soooonnn. So many things to write--about me, friends, school and work.

september

It's been a long time since I last blogged. It's now September and many things happened already.

1. my last term in theory ended a week ago

2. i already celebrated my birthday last week

3. my friends and I had pre-bday celebration last week

4. I went to my grandma's place last weekend since it has been months since I last went home.

Yes, many things happened already and I felt like I was in a rollercoaster ride. I fell for someone and I want to think that I'm not into him anymore. I realized there are things that are not meant to be but then I can say that it was a wonderful experience. Things happen for a reason.

Well, I also found friends---real friends. Friends who made me feel better when I'm down, who made me laugh when I'm sad, who listened to me when I whined. I'm thankful that I am blessed with friends. Friends who are always there for me.

so distracted

I'm so distracted this term. I'm struggling with my grades and I can't just concentrate. Those who know me, might know the reason as well. Well, the feeling is some kind of new to me so sometimes I just couldn't figure out on what to do.

random thoughts..

Its been weeks since I last posted something in this blog. Well, here's the summary of the things I did and the events I experienced...

1. My office friend, Noreen, said goodbye to us yesterday..She's going to start another chapter of her life.
TO NOREEN:
Thanks for the company for these past few years..See you soon if you are not so busy and if I have time..;)

2. I like someone..oh..oh..I don't easily like someone so this is a good news for me. It means I'm not abnormal..Looking forward to see him every week.

3. I almost vomitted last Saturday though I wasn't drunk. It's been ages since I last went to a bar and drink.

4. I quit my job--the part time job. I can't do many things at once and I'm so dead tired already.

I think these past few weeks were exciting and maybe there might be more to come. Live LIFE..

summer is over...

Last Monday, it was officially our first day of class and summer finally ends. There were many things happened, to me and my friends.

Last summer...

• I found out that one of my friends is going to have a baby but then after a couple of weeks, bad news came. There would be no baby anymore since the "baby" didn't have a heartbeat. All of us feel so sad about what happened but then everything happens for a reason.
• I was so lazy. I didn't open my books or my laptop. In short, I didn't study. I told myself before summer that I have to start studying but then I ended up watching soap operas and tv series.
• I planned to go home to my grandmother's house but since I had so many commitments, I wasn't able to do it. Part of me is pissed off since I will have no time to go home after summer. For the next few months, I'm sure I will be stuck here in the city because of my hectic schedule.
• My sister and I fought. I'm a little bit guilty about the things I've said to her but then deep inside I know she deserves it. Guilty or not, I didn't regret what I did but it irritated me that I didn't handle it well. I should have handled the situation calmly. I still have so many things to learn when it comes to handling emotions.
• Many things happened in our office and most of them were not so pleasing. I don't want to think about those things because they give me mix emotions.

Summer is indeed over. I hope the next one will be better than this summer. More time to spend with my family, friends and myself.

MY 100

1. Last beverage -water
2. Last phone call – Koren (yesterday afternoon)
3. Last text message –Astrah (about the picture that I saw in facebook)
4. Last song you listened to –Korean song(forgot the title)
5. Last time you cried –last night while watching dvd

HAVE YOU EVER:

6. Dated someone twice -yes
7. Been cheated on? - no
8. Kissed someone & regretted it? – yes
9. Lost someone special? -yes
10. Been depressed? -yes
11. Been wasted? –yes

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

12. pink
13. light green
14. baby blue

THIS YEAR HAVE YOU:

15. Have you made new friends this year - yes
16. Fallen out of love – yes
17. Laughed until you cried -yes (last tuesday because of wrong grammar--salbahe ko!)
18. Met someone who changed you - nope
19. Found out who your true friends were -yes
20. Found out someone was talking about you –yes
21. Kissed anyone on your top friends list? -nope

TRUTH:

23. How many kids do you want to have – two (twins)
24. Do you have any pets - had dog after college graduation
25. Do you want to change your name - A BIG YES...
26. What did you do for your last birthday – stayed at home..i think...can't remember
27. What time did you wake up today – 3:40 AM
28. What were you doing at midnight last night –watched dvd
29. Name something you CANNOT wait for – to graduate
30. Last time you saw your father - summer 2008
31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life –my temperament
32. What are you listening to right now – my officemate's ramblings
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom - yes
34. What's getting on your nerves right now? – my naughty (kid) student
36. What's your real name - Kristine
37. Relationship Status – Single
38. Zodiac sign – Virgo
39. Male or female – female
40. Elementary –St. Mary's College and Agape Christian Academy
41. Middle School – N/A
42. High school –Silliman University High School
43. Hair color – Black/Brown
44. Long or short – Long
45. Height - 5'4 1/2
46. Do you have a crush on someone? –yes..he's been my crush ever since...
47. What do you like about yourself? - broad minded..think so..
48. Piercings – Two
49. Tattoos – in my dreams only
50. Righty or lefty - Righty!

FIRSTS

51. First surgery – my right wrist
52. First piercing – I can't remember...think around 4 years old
53. First tattoo –just wishing
54. First best friend –Faith Emily Ang (elementary best friend)
55. First sport you joined –SOCCER
56. First pet –dog
57. First vacation –can't remember..I was too young back then
58. First concert –maybe violin or piano concert..either of the two
59. First crush –elementary crush..
60. First alcoholic drink –GILBEY's..I think..or beer?

RIGHT NOW:

61. Eating – nope
62. Drinking –nope
63. I'm about to - leave the office in a few minutes
64. Listening to –nothing
65. Waiting for –this to finish

YOUR FUTURE :

66. Want kids? – After marriage
67. Want to get married? yeah
68. Future Career -entrepreneur/teacher

WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?

69. Lips or eyes - eyes
70. Hugs or kisses - Kisses
71. Shorter or taller - Taller
72. Older or Younger – Older
73. Romantic or spontaneous - Spontaneous
74. Nice stomach or nice arms - stomach
75. Tattoos or piercings – tattoos... aaay...PIERCING pala..
76. Sensitive or loud - neither
77. Hook-up or relationship - relationship
78. Trouble maker or hesitant – neither

HAVE YOU EVER :

79. Kissed a stranger - nope
80. Drunk hard liquor - Yes
81. Lost glasses/contact - almost
82. Sex on first date - No
83. Broken someone's heart – Maybe
84. Had your own heart broken - yes
85. Been arrested? - No
86. Turned someone down - Yes
87. Cried when someone died - Yes
88. Liked a friend that is a boy? - Yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

89. Yourself - Yes
90. Miracles – yes..it always happen
91. Love at first sight? - I think so..
92. Heaven – yes
93. Santa Claus –nope
94. Kissing on the first date?-it depends on who the guy is..lol!
95. Angels –yes

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:

96. Is there one person you want to be with right now? -not really
97. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time? Never
98. Do you believe it's possible to remain faithful forever? Yes.
99. What's the one thing you cannot live without? -my eyeglasses or contacts
100. Posting this as 100 Truths? - what do you think?

I was tagged by a friend in facebook to do this "MY 100" but instead of posting it in facebook, I rather have it here. Answering this "MY 100" was fun. It made me think of some things that I've never think of.

year 2009

This year 2009 will be one of my most important years. If God permits, I will finish my studies and hopefully I will find a job abroad because I really want to travel and experience new culture. This year seems to be my turning point. I have to play my cards right. I have to plan and make the right decisions or else I will have a terrible year.

Last night, I wasn't able to sleep because my thoughts were wandering. I can't deny the fact that I'm scared because I know I have to make decisions that can change my life. There will be many changes that will happen soon and I hope I can cope with it. It scares the hell out of me because it's my call. Nobody has to make decisions for me and nobody has to take the responsibilities except me if I screw up. The things that keeps me going are knowing that if I will succeed, everything will be better and knowing that God will help me no matter what. He's the only one who can ease my worries and bring me happiness.

God, I really need your help.

ranting about my friends rants..

"Being an adult: TOTALLY overrated. I mean seriously, don't be fooled by the hot shoes and great sex and no parents anywhere telling you what to do. Being an adult is responsibility. Responsibility really does suck. Really, REALLY sucks. Adults have to be places and do things and earn a living and pay the rent. And if you're training to be a surgeon, holding a human heart in your hands... Hello! Talk about responsibility! Kinda makes bikes and cookies look really really good, doesn't it? The scariest part about responsibility... When you skrew up and let it slip right through your fingers. Responsibility. It really does suck. Unfortunately once you get past the age of braces and training bras, responsibility doesn't go away. It can't be avoided. Either someone makes us face it or we suffer the consequences. " --- meredith grey

I read my friend's blog [Grace] few minutes ago and I stumbled on this quote from Grey's anatomy--one of our favorite tv series. My friend is ranting about stuffs and so am I. Well, responsibility really sucks! I think, Grace and I feel the same way about things though she really has a lot of responsibilities compare to me but still they are responsibilities and sometimes I feel like they are choking me alive.

To Grace:

Beh, we really need a break. Good thing that we will have no work this Friday and Tuesday. Ayka invited me to go with them this coming Monday. They are going to have night swimming in Antipolo but I don't know if I'm going. I'm still thinking about it. Ayka told me to go out and have some good times but then I'm too lazy to do it. I think this is where some of my problems lie, laziness and so in love in hanging out in my apartment. So, what are you going to do this weekend? I just realized that I didn't really have plans for the next few days because I am so hook in watching BOYS BEFORE FLOWERS...waaahhh! Any plans for angels?

Krizz

To ANGELS: Aja! Chayo! FIGHTING!

EDITORIAL - Growing illiteracy

Once upon a time Asians came to the Philippines to avail themselves of top-quality education. Today, despite free, compulsory elementary and high school education, an estimated 5.2 million Filipinos are illiterate. The country also has one of the highest dropout rates in Asia, worse than the situation in Indonesia and even Vietnam

These disheartening facts come from the Department of Education, whose officials want stronger literacy programs for both youths and adults. DepEd officials warn that the growing illiteracy rate would take its toll on the economy. Illiteracy and the slide in the quality of Philippine education are already taking their toll on national competitiveness, as shown in numerous international surveys.

Local executives must show leadership in improving the nation’s literacy level. A literacy mapping project undertaken by the Department of the Interior and Local Government among fifth and sixth class municipalities – the most economically backward in the country – showed that literacy programs were not making much impact. DILG officials observed that literacy programs were not given priority by certain local governments.

Education programs have rarely attracted politicians’ interest. Some politicians, believing that patronage thrives on poverty and poor education, deliberately shelve programs to raise literacy levels and improve the quality of education in their jurisdictions. In some underdeveloped areas, there are simply not enough funds for literacy programs.

But the problem cannot be left to fester. In the global economy, quality education is indispensable. Development is accelerated in countries that give priority to educating their citizens. Emerging economic powers including China and India are investing heavily in public education, providing their people with the tools they need to excel in a highly competitive global environment. Countries that do not treat education with the same urgency risk being left behind. In the Philippines, educators themselves are sounding the alarm. It would be folly to ignore the warning. - (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

**********
Isn't this so ironic? After reading this article, it just made me so sad and pissed off at the same time. Filipinos have to do some actions now. We don't have to only rely on our government but we also have to do something. If our situation will be worst 20 or so years from now, then it will be our fault..each and everyone of us.

For those Filipinos who are so selfish and corrupt to think of their country. I know that corruption is everywhere and it can't be totally be erradicated but then "wag naman masyadong makapal ang mukha". They can at least give back something and not just always getting something from their country.