Yes, it has been quite a LONG while since I last blogged! Been so busy lately that I haven’t gotten the time for myself to do the things I love most: write/blog, shop, eat (okay, so I got a bit puyat due to staying up all night studying — still running for honors!). The most I’ve probably done was to use Instagram and watch series during my free time. (Now that I’ve mentioned about series — I loved how Gossip Girl ended & the very recent How I Met Your Mother ep!!)

So here’s an overview or the highlights of my September-December.

Robyne’s 16th @ EDSA Shangri-la
 One of the nights to remember! Need I say more? No one parties like Justice does! 

Canon 650D & Instax mini 7s
Waited so long for these! I was supposed to get the 650D way back at May @ HK, but the release date got delayed to July, then there were errors on the cam grip during August so I got it end of September with kit lens 18-135mm. It’s sort of annoying how it would appear grainy when zoomed (on the mac) when it’s not like that on the Tamron 17-50mm which my brother uses on his 550D. I got the cam strap from Quirks Novelties and Curiosities in Rockwell — love how it matched the current trend that people have been styling for months now: aztec! 

I think it has been also months wherein I told my friend “okay, I’m going to buy the Instax the next time I go to TriNoMa!!” but I wasn’t able to because I was too busy or that mall’s just not where my family really ends up in during Sundays. It’s a fortunate thing that Robinsons Magnolia opened in the area where I live — when I saw the Instax mini 7s in Digital Walker during the Sunday before I would be going out with my friends (in the weekend after it), I really told myself that now’s the chance to get it! Cheapest that I’ve found so far in the ph and it was the last piece in this branch (felt all the more lucky to get it in time). In Digital Walker, I bought it for 3,500 PHP (there’s a less 200 PHP if paid in cash). Film can be bought in 20’s @ 840 PHP (I think the name of the store is Picturecity).

It’s really ironic that teens my age (or those within the 2-4 years age difference from my age) are “going back to the past” — in modern days, digital cameras are used instead of film-based ones but it has been a popular trend to have a camera that prints pictures in an instant. It may be fun to take pictures using the instax, but I’d advice to use it wisely — film’s so expensive!! 

Prod work & promposal 
 Amidst the workload I have (or every student in my batch has/had), some do prod work, some just get set up (so that doesn’t really have prod work) for prom. 
I think that memories like this count a lot and even though some people (I won’t mention who these people are) don’t think it’s necessary to do a promposal since it’s a one night thing, I wanted this to be something that I would go back to when I’m grown up and say “oh! I remember doing that!!”. There was a lot of compromise, but with the help of my class (and to the guys who knew and helped keep it a secret), it was a successful promposal! 
I still remember being so praning about everything…
had to hide outside to set up the letters with some of my classmates, run to the back door, plan via text (and know whats going on in the main room while preps were going on as well!)
…and so shaky while asking!
That was one experience that I really considered a challenge. Cheers to the “yes”! :)

INTRAMS 2012
I think that this was the most intense intrams as compared to last 2010 & 2011, and a very memorable one too. First time I’ve ever experienced witnessing a quiet start and end: a quiet start because we all prayed for the last game, and a quiet end because of mixed emotions coming from the student body. Nonetheless, I’m proud to say that each batch has shown much potential and cheered until the very end for each other. 

Robmag & Moi’s house w/ friends
 Finally, a getaway from all the school stress during December: the time of the year wherein everyone’s just stressing about gift giving or not even stressing at all — why stress out during Christmas time? It’s been great spending time with these people! 

MIA on 1st picture: Abigs, Earl
MIA on 2nd picture: Shawn 

Hoping for more great memories before 2012 ends! 

The past week has been one terrible week for some of us, especially those affected by the 2 recent typhoons, Gener & Haikui. It was worse than Ondoy (well, in my opinion, I didn’t really feel that much wrath coming from Ondoy..from what I remember, it didn’t really rain as hard), as heavy rainfall increased per hour. I’m lucky enough to not experience the same thing that happened during Milenyo: no electricity! And the area where i live in doesn’t flood like other well-known areas to be flooded. My prayers go to those who were flooded, to those who died, to those who risked their life to save someone, to those who are feeling hopeless in the midst of the state of calamity that they have just gone through. Maybe it’s not the first time that they’ve been flooded, but the house that they would call as their home wouldn’t be the same anymore. Whenever it would rain hard, maybe those people have a heavy feeling in their hearts, because they would think of the possible unfortunate events that’ll follow right after. To those who have loved ones who died, they always mattered. In one part of our life, we’d question ourselves, ‘Do i really matter to others? Do I really exist?’ even though we’re just a small fraction of what makes the population. Each and every one of us makes us one Filipino race that’s worth dying for. To follow up on that, I’m glad to say that we have people who would actually think of others before themselves. In every calamity we have, Filipinos are always ready to help, thus living up to the reputation of being hospitable. I saw posts on Facebook, such as “THE FILIPINO SPIRIT IS WATERPROOF” or “Aahon tayo.”. And true enough, it happened; it stopped raining last Thursday or Friday, and people’s hopes started to rise. 

Of course, there were tons of relief operations during the week held by different schools. I was active in Xavier since it was near & it’s the school next to mine. I helped out also back in 2009, in the Ondoy relief ops that Xavier held, but it wasn’t as productive as how I turned out this year, nor was it as long as how I helped. You can say that it looked pretty much like a tiangge, since it was noisy, crowded with people from different schools or volunteers (fellow parents of students, or teachers). It also looked like a soiree since most of us didn’t really know each other, but then we would eventually converse and we’d also meet other people whom we know and talk to them. With music at the background, you don’t know whether it was a party or a relief ops, but I’m pretty sure that every person thought that it was worth it, fun, tiring (since we’ve been carrying bags from the MPC to the classrooms), and a memorable experience. 

It was a good feeling, how people immediately responded to the call (it is after all, the Call of Duty, right?) just right at Day 1, August 8, Wednesday. Cars or trucks filled with the needed goods and supplies came and this continued on until today, August 12 (assuming, since I only helped until yesterday, August 11). Every station (plastic bag givers, water, canned goods, biscuits, noodles,etc.) was so busy until 4 or 5 pm! The volunteers even seemed to be smiling the whole time and enjoying what they’re doing. I think that’s true service right there, since you should love what you’re doing & at the same time, being selfless in the first place proves enough that you’re willing to help. I felt that, probably because I liked helping out in work and I knew this is something I can do, something I’m capable of. (photo below was taken at the end of Day 1)

What touched me was seeing little kids help out, even as young as a 3 year old! At an early age, they’ve learned how to become a useful citizen (I felt like a useless one last Tuesday since I couldn’t do anything to help those affected) and to be responsible. When I was young, I’d be stuck at home playing with dolls or something but seeing this new generation stand up really opened my eyes. Photo below: Andrieu and Ben (the 3 year old) helping clean up the MPC after ops have stopped (this was Day 3).

So here’s an overview of each day I spent in XSCOD: 

Day 1 - 1st photo: I was in the water station with my friends, and I can still remember that we had to pack 6 350mL bottles, or 2 1000mL bottles, and a lot more alternatives as long as it summed up to 2000mL. 2nd photo: This was a candid shot of me talking to someone, probably about how many mL of bottled water did she put in the plastic bag already, or I was asking something else. Apparently, most of my candid shots in general look as if I’m mad, but I’m actually not! D:

Photos courtesy of Deondre Ng 

Day 2 - For me, it seemed so messed up because they were modifying the layout and stations. This time, I was carrying bags from the MPC to the Grade 5 classrooms, and it was tiring! Having to fall in line again and again, go through each station, go to the Grade 5 classrooms…yes, it was one cycle which you’d think it’s tiring, but once again, worth it. To reward ourselves for a great job done, we headed to Mcdo & ate there for lunch! (I wasn’t able to have a photo taken in the MPC)

Day 3 - Noodle station with the noodle gang! From passing boxes to the front table, I switched places with my friend & from there, I spent the whole day giving 2 pieces of noodle packs or 2 packs of noodles per plastic bag. Found this really fun! After ops stopped, I helped clean up the MPC (no picture) and it seemed like it was something usual. In the picture: a part of the noodle gang (since a lot left early) & the floor manager (the tallest one)

Day 4 - Last day of work for me since Sunday’s family day and I needed to rest/study for the tests on Monday! Again, I was in the noodle station, but not with the same noodle gang #sad. Early at 8 am, we headed to the Grade 7 classrooms and passed plastic bags to the trucks..and this was just SO TIRING. Arms and legs ache! And then back in the MPC, I stationed myself at the noodle area again, but there were some pauses (at around 4pm) since there was a shortage in goods, so I shifted to the clothes area, where some of my classmates and friends were. (photo was taken in the noodle area, at around 10 or 11am, estimated. Photo credits stated at the bottom right corner: Chino Andin)

So, to sum up all that has transpired:

- Filipinos are always ready to help out.
- No matter what age you are, you can help & it still counts.
- Students helped in making a difference, a big one at that, because this isn’t something students would really do in daily life. They’ve also proved that they can be responsible and become men (or women) for others. Any selfless act makes you a person for others, because you’re dying from self-centeredness (from the CLE book).
- What I just did for 4 straight days was productive, even though I didn’t devote it to studies. Productivity could mean many things or come in many forms, but it would depend upon the person who performs it. In my case, productivity was giving my time to help out.
- I think I lived 4 straight days well. (there’s a connotation). 

j9co:

Trend this please! #PrayForThePhilippines 

(Source: itsjanineeeeee)

It was my first time going to this event! Can’t believe that I missed the 1st & 2nd one, but only because I wasn’t knowledgable yet about bloggers that time. Only last December did I become interested in fashion bloggers. On the way going to Makati, I was kind of impatient, because of the traffic. I honestly don’t think that the rain causes the traffic, since it’s just water! Makati is not really the area I would end up in since it’s pretty far, so I wasn’t good with directions to go there. Anyway, when I arrived there, I had this deja-vu feeling because I know I’ve seen the inside of the building, but I’ve never been there! It was just in my dream long time ago, around last year or early this year. Weird!

The booths that featured branded accessories were few, like Pinkbox or Accessorize. I only bought a black hair clip from Pinkbox for CAT (at the very end of my day). There were photobooths, but I had no time to take pictures there. 

I arrived there at around 2pm, so most of the things that I wanted to splurge my money on (based on the sneak peek pictures) were bought already. The good side is that I saved money! Not even a single bit of sadness in my face because taking pictures with the bloggers and getting a short message/autograph or talking to them for a short while made my afternoon worthwhile. Most of the things that were sold were neons, accessories (bracelets and rings), clothes (prints, florals, shimmers). Didn’t buy any of those since I didn’t find any that I liked or that would match the clothes that I already have at home. 

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Incomplete picture of us all after work. Missing in picture: Audrey, Wendy, Angie, Denise, & to the rest who weren’t assigned near to the bookstore area. 

My summer job started at May 9 and ended at May 17. It was pretty exciting and quite a rush since the start was 2 days after I got back from Hong Kong. I actually always wanted to try to work in this area, the bookstore, because I saw my friends working in the previous years and it made me think that it would be fun to work and be with friends too at the same time. I was assigned to the Grade 7 books and supplies with a partner (who is my classmate) and it wasn’t that stressing since there were only 7 books (and those working in lower levels have around 14 to 17 books). The only thing I would consider as a con in this job is that there was no air conditioning in the rooms so we were all sweating while working. In this kind of season (summer), I’d prefer to be lounging in a breezy place but then it’s not like I could do something about having no air-con.

A few things that I missed about this job would be one, signing papers everyday (I’ve signed around 400+ papers in total, counting the copy & original) and talking to my partner whenever there would be no clients. They say that there’s a 15 minute break both for morning and in the afternoon, but in the end no one takes it because there are usually not that much clients per hour. For how many times already, I’ve kind of messed up on ticking the boxes or circling because it was OVERLOAD. Two, advising parents or the student about what’s in store for Grade 7. We encountered 1 client who asked us about what kind of school bag would be recommended for her daughter. Another would be if the student would memorize the whole Constitution (and believe me, when we were grade 7, we only memorized the 1st page!). Three, going to school everyday BUT in civilian and we can eat anytime we want and use the speakers in the classrooms. Four, eating with a circle of friends and talk about anything that comes into your mind. Lastly, Frappucino Happy Hour (after work on a Monday) & making pabili food from any of our co-workers who can buy for us! Glad I was able to experience drinking Starbucks for half the price!

So, what made me work again instead of being a lazy bum at home? I needed to earn money and save it up to either buy something I’ve wanted for a long time, or put it in the bank so that I can use it when I grow up. I actually used only a part of my salary, on paying for my expenses in Fully Booked (I think) and for the repair of 12 of my outfits because they were too big on me (I still bought them because I know I can just adjust it and it’ll look perfect on me right after). This was the busiest summer I’ve ever had, but I can’t really say if this was the best or not. 

Next year, despite having to have a review schedule for the CETs, I still hope that I’ll be able to work & earn some money!