I Talk To Carrot Sticks

20

2012-01-26T04:44:00.000-08:00

I've always thought that, once I hit 20, that would be it. I thought that by 20, I'd have been through enough and understood enough to start seriously working towards an adult future. I could run around and put wet toilet paper on half open doors or hide firecrackers on ceiling fans and be as rash as I cared to be but once I got to 20, I was responsible. Thing is, I don't quite remember ever being rash. I've never had alcohol or kissed a girl I liked or caused trouble in school. I've never even finished reading all the Harry Potter books. The worst thing I've ever done was draw sexytime pics on my classmate's quiz notebook. That got my Dad's attention (made him cry a bit) but, in retrospect, it was bound to happen. (I was a very curious boy) And it's hardly noteworthy. I'm two days away from turning 20 and I've never (ever!) done anything significantly stupid. It's like I've always been 20. It's almost sad. I know that I should be happy I've had such a distinguished upbringing but I'm not. I've got a few more hours left tonight and the entire day tomorrow to do something ridiculous before I become old enough to be held fully accountable. I wish I hadn't let myself grow up so fast.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. My father is a pastor, which should explain the Harry Potter and the crying.

My Sister is Awesome

2011-03-02T05:11:00.000-08:00

Written by: Regina Mora and Kathleen Ferrer

Conclusion.

During the course of writing this paper, we have realized that Lord of the Flies is such a boring book, despite the numerous awards it has received. Animal Farm is not much of a page-turner either. However, because of the very valid and interesting symbolisms in both books, we would still like for the authors to put their ideas into writing. With that said, we strongly suggest Golding and Orwell to write really nice and substantially long essays stating their thoughts. This will avoid confusion when interpreting the story and save valuable time for junior highschool students who plan to use their literature as study materials.

We would also like to question the need for a literary analysis in our lives as adults. Aside from a career in education, we see no legitimate use for such time-wasting papers. We would now like to require the reader to write his or her thoughts on the importance of a paper like this in no less than eight pages, just to see if he or she can find the importance of such a waste. Also, we require notecards and bibliocards to be made, citing sources. If these sources are his or her own thoughts, we would like for the part of the brain responsible for the thought to be written down in the biblio card. We will take a CT scan after the passing of this paper to see if he or she is telling the truth. Otherwise, we will issue a very scary-looking piece of paper recognizing his or her plagiarism.

Everything is to be submitted no less than a week after reading the said paper. Each page and notecard must be framed. If the reader fails to comply, he/she will be given a 30% deduction for not following instructions. Also, attached should be the payment for the CT scans. Otherwise, we will assume the thoughts of the author false and fallacious.

A bag or a very sturdy sack should also be provided for the framed notecards and bibliocards unless the reader insists on carrying these things themselves. We will also be requiring a late fee and checking fee, if the reader submits late or is very unpleasant and we deeply feel that checking his or her paper would just be a waste of time because he or she is a stupidhead. Please refrain from being a stupidhead.

We do not feel the need to end this paper with a restatement of our thesis statement because it is capitalized and centered on the top part of the cover page of this paper. The reader could easily flip back to the said page if ever he/she has failed to remember it. If, however, the reader is incapable of reading or blind, then he/she should stop trying to understand this paper and do something productive with their handicapped lives. This applies to the other details of the paper.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. That first sentence: GOLD.

Vow of Passive Agression

2011-01-27T02:37:00.000-08:00

Please raise your right hand:

I ________ vow that from this moment on, and on all things, will I take a stance of passive aggression. I will be mildly insulting and vaguely threatening. I will procrastinate. I will not be punctual. I will limit my conversational repertoire to deadpan humor and will prefer tactless, contextually humorous post-it notes over direct, personal confrontation. In the event that I find it necessary to perform an act of true aggression, I will inform all concerned parties of my intentions with a well-written memorandum printed out in comic sans.

Congratulations new brothers and sisters!

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. was supposed to write a speech for a communications class. Did this instead. You think I-

Development

2011-01-26T05:16:00.000-08:00

Strange thing happened yesterday. Long story short: there is now a very substantial chance that I will loose my scholarship. It's not that I've been getting bad grades. My academic performance so far has been uh... par. It's always been par (well, maybe more of the middle of the leading bell curve). I've never failed horribly but I've never really been academically outstanding. And I've been a scholar since I started high school.

I'm not worried about my education though. My parents are perfectly capable of paying for my education. And my God is a god who can and will provide all my needs according to his riches and glory. Why am I so annoyed about this then? It's probably because the bulk of my self esteem has come from the fact that I was some sort of achieved academic. The rest of it came from the fact that I actually don't mind talking in front of people. If I loose my scholarship now, it'll be like I'm starting from square one. I know it's stupid but when was ego ever not? I'll have to start working on that. (my ego, I mean)

My current situation has shed light on myself and allowed me to finally see that I have indeed lost practically all good aspects of my work ethic. No, scratch that, I've never had a serious work ethic. I've coasted since I started school 13 years ago. It's time to change. And although I've said this at many times before and failed keep my word, I can say with all certainty that I'm about 10% more certain than I've been before. (give or take 10%) So with that in mind I know announce my plan for me next few years of college.

PLAN

Get a grade of 1.75 in math 53 by the end of this semester.
Pass all my subjects this semester and in all semesters in the following years.
Pass all my tests in all semesters following this one.
Get into the Engineering Registration committee.
Get a service part time job (most likely food service) in my second year of college.
Run for any facet of public office in my third and maybe fourth years of college.

Disclaimer:
This document is in no way legally binding.

If you've noticed, I've put nothing about maintaining my scholarship. That's because I'm having second thoughts about government scholarships. I've always had second thoughts about it. Affiliation is almost always cons over pros but so far I think I can live with or without it. This is my resolution. From this moment on, may I be judged (fairly, or with a slight positive bias) by my actions.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. To those who might know me and by some miracle are reading this: yes, I deactivated my Facebook account.

Mary Mary Magdalene

2011-01-23T07:50:00.000-08:00

Mary Mary Magdalene
The one who came first was never my queen
Though she be in love with me
I love you

Very merry Magdalene
Please quench my thirst with a sip of you
Your lips taste like morning dew
I love you

CHORUS
You shine like a star
Oh, so bright but oh, so far
May your light never leave my view
Come to me and I'll run to you
Mary Mary Magdalene

I don't know if this is supposed to be Beatle's cryptic or Broadway-ish but there it is - my first song since tired rant. Made it in a few minutes, so it's not even arranged yet. Now all I need is to master an instrument so I can finally turn this into a song.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. In case you're wondering: No, the lyrics means nothing. Okay, subconsciously they might mean something but I was probably just trying to rhyme. I swear I don't know any "Mary Mary Magdalene".

What could not have not been is all I really have been but was exactly what I wasn't not thinking about.

2011-01-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna try this again. It was a failed endeavor and I'm sure it's gonna stay that way but it's an early weekend morning and I've spent the last few hours asking the uberLAN (yes, I mean the internet) what happened to Gordo and Miranda (and to a certain extent, Aaron Carter). Maybe I miss grade school. Maybe I miss high school. Maybe I just can't sleep, whatever. I just need to try to do something. I don't feel bad. I actually think I'm in a pretty good place right now. I mess up from time to time but it always (somehow) works out. All apples in the end - and I don't hate apples.

I do feel tired though. I've gotten bored. No longer do I find pleasure in the challenge of academics. I'm in college now, and It feels exactly like high school. I love Pisay and I thank it for a lot of things but right now I'm just in that mood where you tend to think you could have made better life choices. Gah. High school took all the jazz out of college. Now all that's left is Justin Beiber.

Should I do something new? I find that as long as it's not particularly life threatening, I tend to enjoy "new". Then I get bored and get "newer". Maybe I should buy a video cam? I can make movies. Or get Blender and try animation. Maybe I should try a new sport. Maybe.

I'm in between indifference and apathy. I go around with my moral compass which I've developed with almost 19 years of church, bible study, and my personal relationship with Jesus but I'm also an academic who scrutinizes and waves the flag semantics and definition. (When I finish making this, I'm going to make a flag that says semantics and definition) I don't have all the answers. God made me that way. So when I need one I don't have I just go plan B and throw some "right-wing" excuse. It's not that I don't believe in what I say 'coz I do. It's just that sometimes I feel like a coward. Then I start to think about grade school when a lot of things didn't matter and I had the most awesome set of friends. I'm still awesome with some, not so awesome with some and fell out with some. It's why I started looking for Gordo and Miranda. Maybe what I want is a "best" friend, but I already have that. Maybe I want church friends again since things are a lot less complicated in church. Maybe, God forbid, I even want a girlfriend. I am such a teenager!

Still, many are the plans, right? God will come though. It's what he does. I just wish I never felt like having to look for Gordo and Miranda. Gordo and Miranda. I swear, there's something else here - something subconscious. Gordo and Miranda.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. About Gordo and Miranda, Gordo's doing indie and Miranda's in a band. Also, Crystal Meth? Really?

Blogging is not very easy to keep up

2008-12-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

It takes effort to keep up a blog. Especially if your as unmotivated as I am. I don't know if I chose to be unmotivated but I don't think it matters. See what I mean? Anyway, all for the ComSci!

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. When I started this blog, I planned to change names and places with food and kitchen utensils and stuff. So yeah, I wonder what happened to that?

Thanks Guys

2008-11-26T03:14:00.000-08:00

I'd just like to say thank you to a bunch of people who helped me out today. I sprained my left ankle in a game of dodgeball so yeah, so much for that. If it wern't for the help I got I wouldn't have been able to move. Thanks Izo, for helping me get up right after the bad landing in our game. Thanks you the Ryan, Nate, Jeff, Cudia and Gian for making sure I was alright. Thanks you Gaby and Kristina for the crutches. Thanks you Franco and Cueto for carrying my stuff when I was on crutches. Thanks you King for always bugging me to go to the clinic (even if I didn't listen). Thanks guys.

-italktocarrotsticks

I'm Back

2008-11-05T04:01:00.000-08:00

Finally, after the longest time I like chemistry again. The whole organic chemistry nomenclature is like a complicated board game. Hydrocarbons and double bonds, Isomers and functional groups. It's a simple set of rules with so much you can do. The best part is I don't need to memorize formulas, or at least not yet. I feel pretty confident about the long test tommorrow. I hope confidence isn't all I'm good at.

On another note, today was Nathan's birthday. Happy birthday Nate! Sorry The Dunkin' Donuts Gian and I bought didn't even come close to the Krispy Kreme. We'll make it up with love and friendship. Haha.

-italktocarrotsticks

Water Rockets

2008-11-04T04:21:00.000-08:00

Today we had probably the best problem based physics class since the year started. We tested our water rockets today. Our rocket went really high, Haha. Joel is some kind of handyman expert or something. We also had fun getting wet and stuff.

We had more of the japanese movies today. All of them were really slow like the last ones. They made me think though. There was this one movie where Mt. Fuji was erupting. Everyone was escaping cox there were nuclear power plants near Fuji. Then there was a scene with a family and a business guy. They have a complicated conversation on the stupidity of humanity then they all die. Great movie.

-italktocarrotsticks

Blogging...

2008-11-03T04:34:00.000-08:00

... is not as easy as it looks. At least that's what I first thought. To have to come up with something good everytime is not easy - at least not for me. Let's see. I went to school today after a night of not being able to sleep right away. After which I went to class. After the morning stuff I had lunch and my lunch friends and I began to have a very lively HSM 3 conversation. There was watching of a bunch of japanese short films during english. They we're apparently by some really good director. Think of the best japanese director and there's a good chance that that was him. Anyway, the movies were really slow. I mean really, really slow. There was one movie where a kid was watching a parade he wasn't supposed to watch. Usually the bulk of stuff ur not supposed to do movies is the part where he lives the consequences of doing what he wasn't suposed to do. In the movie, however, the bulk was the kid watching the parade. The whole movie was about 15 min and the kid watching parade thing was like 12 min. It was that slow. Ok, that's enough for a good blog entry.

-italktocarrotsticks

OK, This is it

2008-11-02T05:40:00.000-08:00

Okay. I'm taking my studies seriously now. No more cramming. No more procrastination. I should at least try to get good grades.

/sigh

I need some kind of accountability buddy or something.

-italktocarrotsticks

HSM 3

2008-10-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

High School Musical 3 - Senior Year

Watched it today. If your some sort of movie buff then this is not the movie for you. I'm not going to go into all the details coz I'm not good at them anyway but really, if you watch a movie to watch a good movie then HSM 3 or any HSM for that matter is not for you. But if your the type of person who watches movies with friends and laughs at over-reacting acting, cheezy lines and unnatural breaking out into song then why not? This is at least a good movie to watch twice. Still, compared to the previous HSM's the choreo improved and it seemed that they actually spent good money on sets this time. I'd give it 6/10 stars overall. Not that good but still a must watch. The fact that they've made three of this is something amazing. Oh yeah, they're making a fourth. This might as well be some sort of Disney movie series. Like Narnia or Final Fantasy.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. Dane = afro basketball guy. Go Dane!

Some one give me a title

2008-10-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

Today felt different. It was fast with a lot of thing happening and yet I spent almost the whole afternoon doing nothing. Our section quit Paskorus today. We just didn't want it enough. If Be quits, Cesium's going to be the only 3rd year section left. Haha. Default win. I did not, at all, feel like myself today. Or was it that today didn't feel right? I really don't know. It was just a blur of mixed emotions yet I was bored enough to not care. I don't really know what happened.

At least the late afternoon/evening was fun. We talked about honoring our parents in the Acts Fellowship today. It was 2010(My batch) who lead the program. It was fun. I realized that I had to start saying "thank you" to my parents when they give me my allowance. You'd be surprised at how much people actually say "thank you" when they do get their allowance. Oh yeah, a bunch of us are going to work in the Pisay cafeteria sometime so watch out.

Yeah, this whole blogging deal is getting tiring. I can only get so much insight in a day.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. It's most probably just boredom. I need recreation. I think amma start taking running a bit more seriously. Track and field, here I come!

I am such a lazy person

2008-10-28T03:21:00.000-07:00

I finally decided. I'm not joining the Paskorus. I just don't feel like singing. For those of you who don't know what Paskorus is, it's the Christmas choir competition of our high school. I've been it the past two years but its not required anymore. So yeah, why the extra responsibility? Still, I'm going to be in every practice, even the weekend ones. Haha. or at least I'll try to be there.

Go guys. Strontium all the way. We can beat Rubidium, and Cesium, and the fourth years. I'm moral support all the way. WootWoot! XD

-italktocarrotsticks

Dane's Haircut

2008-10-27T04:23:00.000-07:00

What can I say? It takes a while to get used to. Haha. When Gian and nathan saw it, they couldn't stop laughing. He really didn't look like Dane anymore - and he wasn't the only one who didn't look like himself. Jp shaved for the first time today. Haha. He was still Jp but his face was just too bright. Nope, not just clean. His face was glowing. Haha. I should get to my shave too.

A lot of things happened ever since my last post. My batch just had it's retreat last week. It was from Friday to Saturday. I honestly was had my doubts before the retreat but the actual thing surpassed my expectations by so much. The retreat was great. I never knew Tagaytay could be that cool. It was the October wind maybe. The ghost stories and talking with my roommates was really fun. The meals were buffet so yeah, I love to eat. And the best part was, after a really long time, I just got to sit down with a bunch of people with a guitar and start singing songs of worship. The whole time I got to think a bit and enjoy a bit and I finally found that very much needed motivation for school. Really, I was just refreshed.

Also, there was Gian's birthday. Haha. Best day of last week. Everyone in school celebrated "Pando day". Gian of course was a bit awkward with the whole thing. After all, everyone in school was saying hi to him and some even harassing him. Still, it was a great day. He'll eventually get used to all the attention. And btw, Ma'am Butaran, thank you for the cake.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. here's a pic of Dane. We're currently accepting donations for the Dane Fund. The guy could use a re bond XD

Break's Over

2008-10-06T01:40:00.000-07:00

Our school burned. (what a way to start XD) It burned around 2 am last Tuesday and thanks to that we didn't have classes till today - 6 days later. And guess what came right after the long break - periodical examinations, yes. The best time to test the knowledge of young men a women is when they've still got a hangover from a long break. Still, I guess I'm happy about the vacation. I've been really bored with school since the start of the third year. I'm trying to get past this but somehow its that all the hard stuff that Pisay is has just become another thing. It's not exciting anymore. I really am trying though. I'm trying my best to get past this and start getting the feel for studying again. I hope I do get there.

Anyway,the break wasn't really anything special. I just did a little studying for the examinations and caught up on a few projects I needed to do. Most of the time was still leisure though - D. Gray Man marathon. (ep 1 - ep 72, no streaming sites stuff. special thanks to anime-eden) It was nice to get school off my head for a few days.

The first episode of Gundam 00 season 2 came out yesterday, and I just got my hands on a sub this morning. (special thanks to nyoron fansubs) It was a sort of strong start, a lot of things happening, a lot shown and just left there. (tries to keep you curious) As usual Setsuna is still the same serious, blank faced, monotone guy. He met more old friends in 20 min than my parents do in their high school reunions. Things were way too fast. As for the Gundams, I don't know if its me or its because the way they move in the opening is too fast or something, but I thought that the other Gundams (besides Exia) were a bit too box-ish. I liked the last season's Gundams better. Also, I knew about the whole Exia on twin drives thing from preview pics and stuff but still, they gave it right at the start and what's worse is that its the same old Exia. He just has two hunchbacks now. And now that they're two they don't look good anymore. I was hoping like a bit more time before he got an upgrade. Still I'm interested on how the group is going to move now that the old guy's gone. (I forgot his name. The guy who made celestial being) Also, Louise Halevy's in the bad guy group and I think Saji's going with the Gundams. There was also a part about Lockon. (It seemed as if he didn't remember his Gundam past. Might be a twin :O) Ah well, a bunch of disappointments but I think I'll stick with the series. I am after all a Gundam fan.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. There's a chance that right after the exams we get an early sembreak. Haha.

Unimportant

2008-09-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

I have to get in one last post by today and so here I am, doing what I have to do. This post is just for the requirement. Pay no attention. It is unimportant. Just like the mosquitoes and cockroaches and the 2008 NBA Semi-finals - where for some reason which nobody seemed to care about, the Lakers beat the Spurs.

Still, it must be done. And if something must be done it must be important. And so since this must be done it must be important. Do, forgive me. I'm just trying to come up with a post. A bit more meat without spice. *insert more metaphors*

. . . . . .

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. But really, what happened? How did Kobe in his one man-ess beat the smartest team in the NBA?

An Old Pastime

2008-09-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

I was looking for an adapter I lost for my printer a while ago when I found my old NBA sticker book (aw, grade school fad). It's pretty old - season 2002 - and most of the stickers were gone. I was browsing through the pages when I saw the one I used to cherish the most. It was the Indiana Pacers page. I was a big Reggie Miller and Jermaine O'neal fan and I just started to remember how big an NBA fan I was and the stuff we did with my friends before. See, I used to collect NBA trading cards. And I'm not talking just easy collecting. I was really in to it. I knew the prices of all the cards (beckett.com) and with all the cards came all that NBA knowledge. Still, you really couldn't call me a NBA god of some sort because we were all like that. I still have most of my cards now, although I don't collect anymore.

I still remember the 2004 NBA finals which was, in my opinion, one of the biggest NBA upsets in history. Right before the season started the Los Angeles Lakers signed Karl Malone and Gary Payton for a lot lower than people think they would sign for. Those two are legends from the Jordan era. They were really good. The only reason they didn't get too famous was because they just couldn't beat Jordan. Haha.

Anyway, the Lakers just came past K.G. and the Timberwolves to face the Detroit Pistons, who had just came past my favorite team, the Pacers. By the way, 2005 was the last year Reggie Miller played - a year after this one. Anyway, you could almost be sure that the Lakers were going to win. They had Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone and Gary Payton - 4 all-stars in their starting line-up. Detroit had Chaunsey Billups (a nobody before this), Rip Hamilton (not too bad but not too good either), Rasheed Wallace (a guy who raises his arms straight up then flicks the ball with his wrist to shoot), Tayshaun Prince (a guy with really long arms) and Ben Wallace (a guy who was 7' 2" coz he had an 12 inch afro). They had also come from making one of the worst drafts picks in history, drafting some spanish guy for a #2 first round pick instead of maybe, Carmelo Anthony who was the #3 pick by the Nuggets. Anyway, to sum it up, it wasn't looking to good for them.

But despite the odds against them they won. They won the 2004 World Championship. (it could still be called "World Championship" back then) They held the Lakers down to a hundred points in all 6 games with their zone defense. Ben Wallace, who looked like he was a foot shorter than Shaq, actually pinned him down. As for Kobe, well... Rip took care or Reggie Miller so Kobe was nothing. Tayshaun had arms that could stretch to block anything and Billups was hitting 3s everywhere. Amazing. As for the 2 Matriarchs, Malone and Payton - the guys who signed below market value because they wanted a championship so bad - well, too bad for them. No ring. Ouch. And I was there, looking at all the laker fans I knew and telling them: I told you so. Haha.

Anyway, after that one year I started to lose my interest. Reggie retired the next year and there was this brawl thing with the Pistons. And during that time I went back to Yu-Gi-Oh! so yeah. I just lost interest I guess.

Ah well, I was just remembering things.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. Have you guys noticed how unimportant the PBA is now compared to the UAAP?

A Peso's Worth

2008-09-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

I was in Robinson's Galleria last Thursday waiting for my sisters to be dismissed from class. I was just there, walking around with nothing but a hundred pesos. It made me remember a long time ago, when that much money was worth more than it is now - when a bottle of cola worth 5 pesos was not smaller than my hand. I'd go to school and 20 pesos was good money for a meal. Of course this was in the province but I'm sure Manila wasn't as expensive as now before. Inflation rates have really caught up to people, especially people in the city. Diesel used to be around 15 pesos per liter. That was around 9 years ago. A hundred pesos of gas then was a week's worth of travel. Now you can't go to the mall in a car with a hundred pesos. I've never noticed the effects of a crisis this much - and for good reason. The world really is in a tight spot now.

Anyway, since I was in a mall with nothing to do for the next 30 minutes, I decided to see if I could get a good meal with a hundred pesos. The rules I set were simple, I had to buy a good amount of rice, ulam and a drink. I could buy anything no matter how cheap or unhealthy it was as long as it wouldn't killed me - oh yeah, and no freebies. ( ruled out them water stations) Anyway, after about 10 minutes of walking around the food court I came to a food shop named "Paotsin". It was a dumpling shop but more importantly they had a "dumpling rice" meal that cost 41 pesos - cheapest so far. As for the drink, I was about to buy Zesto (for those who don't know it's one of those juice drinks sold in tetra packs) from Mini Stop but I saw some new product I haven't seen before right beside it. It was named "Vitwater" and was some kind of cheap sports drink with words like "anti-oxidants" and "isotonic" on the label. It was selling for 14 pesos and was a bit bigger than the size of a C2 bottle. That solved the drink. Now for the taste-testing.

The Dumpling rice was served in a purple Styrofoam food container. It had 4 fried dumplings, (you get to choose which kind of dumpling) flavored rice and some kind of dumpling sauce. The dumplings were okay. They didn't taste to bad but weren't the best either. The rice was good (something like but not like java rice) and there was a pretty good amount. The sauce was really just soy sauce, vinegar, calamansi and that oily chilly sauce in Chinese restaurants put together. (It tasted good with the rice by the way) As for the Vitwater, well, if I had to describe it I'd say it tasted like a dilute gummy bear solution. (the kind of gummy bears you get in candy corner) It's wasn't bad but it takes some time to get used to.

All in all I spent 55 pesos. If you'd settle for free water you'd only have to spend 41 pesos. That's 123 pesos everyday if you ate out all the time. There are, of course, cheaper alternatives outside the mall. Cooking at home might be cheaper. There's also the sardines + rice from home formula. Real cheap. Anyway, it's good to know that somehow I think a fresh grad can still survive with a 10 k salary. That is, assuming he's living, electricity and water expenses don't go past 6 k. No vices allowed either. He'll probably die at forty with all the preservatives and bad stuff that comes with cheap food though. Ouch.

-italktocarrotsticks

A Good Look

2008-09-24T04:54:00.000-07:00

Today was an easy day. We didn't have to pass any sort of homework and we didn't get too much homework either. I got to relax most of the day. It's been a while since that last happened. Also, today was, in the spirit of September, the birthday of Gabo and Kristina. We greeted Kristina when she walked in the classroom. and I tried to greet Gabo in the morning but he was already in class so yeah, tough luck. It had to wait till the afternoon. Lunch was fun though, and we were a lot more than we usually are since it was Gabo's birthday and all. Haha, we sang and stuff, and we also had "inuman at pulutan" (funchum and hello panda). The conversation was light and fun, and Gian even ate a piece of paper (Panda powers) dipped in orange juice to honor the birthday celebrant. It was a pretty fun lunch.

That lunch made me think a bit about how I've been going about my school. I've been saying that I hate school and that it was boring and a bunch of other stuff. I guess today I just realized that I don't have it so bad. I got my friends. Haha. I guess I should just be a bit more happy and stuff. Amma try that from now on. Happy birthday Gabo and Kristina.

-italktocarrotsticks

English 3 - A Social Science

2008-09-16T05:22:00.000-07:00

English this year is a bit different than what it was the last few years. It's a whole year dedicated to literature. We have Indian Lit., Chinese Lit., Middle Eastern Lit., etc. It's practically Social Science. Anyway, today we read "Old Man who could move Mountains". It was a Chinese parable used by Mao Zedong to help rally up the Chinese to fight. It was a very unstable discussion that lead to well, communism. Our teacher, Ma'am Bernal started with Imperialism and then flaws of governments etc etc etc. Anyway, like I said, we ended up in communism. It was really more of some speech or speaker thing than an English class.

Sometime in the middle of the talk (I've decided I'll call it a talk) we ended in the subject of the Philippines and how it was doing. To say it short we're not doing so well. We've got HUGE inflation rates, a lot of poor people and a lot of corruption in the government. Ma'am goes on to explain that we're tied to the US which isn't doing too good right now so we're going down with them. Now to the main part of my post. She starts talking about the Filipinos and how the professionals just leave the country since it doesn't look like we're going anywhere anyway. She said that there was a pretty good chance that a lot of us we're going to leave the country. Then she talks about giving back to our country and tries to stir up some nationalistic spirit in us or something. To examine this point, lets look at statistics. (I think?) Like she said, a good number of us really are going out of the country. In fact, some will probably get scholarships abroad and stay out there. Some come back to try to serve their country but then really, as much as they want to they can't do anything with their expertise here. There aren't just too many things for a scientist to do here. Some professionals do get to stay here in the country and contribute though - mostly doctors and teachers. Teachers can definitely do something here. Our education is so bad that they decided to just compensate with homework. As for the doctors well, medicine makes money. And, people are willing to invest in medicine here in the Philippines so yeah, go figure. Be a doctor. Get rich and give back to your country - double whammy. There are some biologists who give back too. We have IRRI (did I spell that right?) but that's pretty much it. You graduate some other degree, your better suited for another country. It's really what happens so yeah, don't blame us please. Give us a good job we'll come back anytime.

As for me, well, I'm studying out of the country. And I'm not coming back - at least not right away. Like I said, not much opportunities here. That's why I'm staying out. I'm going to work my way up and get a name for myself as a scientist. I'm going to get money to do something. When that happens, that's when I'll come back. I'll come back and give myself a job. Set up some sort of Private DOST - yes, private. (I just don't trust the government yet) Make it into something that actually makes use of our scientists. It won't solve the whole lack-of-jobs-for-scientists-thing but hey, it's a start. So to all the young people reading this, you better make yourself into something science-y. Amma need you guys when I get back.(Old people can come too :D) And as for communism, I'll have to figure that one out later. One problem at a time. Sorry Ma'am. XD

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. IRRI - International Rice Research Institute. It's now PhilRice I think. (or were they two different thing altogether?)
P.P.S.It's funny how we're the ones teaching other countries how to plant rice when we can't even make enough for ourselves.
P.P.P.S. I wonder if 30 years from now I look at this and laugh at myself XD. I totally hope not

Rains, rants, and something about a good story

2008-09-11T03:40:00.000-07:00

I got to talk a bit with a friend of mine today since I stayed after we were dismissed in class. We were just there, in the front lobby, talking while listening to music from my phone's music player. There was something about OPM bands then and now, something about homework, something about food, something about coffee - something about almost anything. At some point we talk about how classes were NOT suspended despite the continuous rain we've been having. (really annoying) Anyway, we eventually changed our topic to how nice it'd be to just sit or lie down in some hammock in a vacation house in Tagaytay or Baguio, the sound of raindrops on the roof and the view of mountains full of trees, grayed by the rain - and how we had to do homework instead.

My friend, Gian, had to make a short story for Filipino, along with the other numerous things a Pisay "scholar" had to do, but this was what his particular concern then. See, we aren't the kind of people who like doing schoolwork. In fact, we usually just cram our homework like every other Pisay "scholar". But this one was different. It wasn't about the grade, it was ego. He wanted to make a good story and that was it. He was having a hard time thinking of a good plot though - a good, original and interesting plot. That made me think a bit about myself. What was I doing with my life - my own story? Yesterday another friend of mine asked me if I was going to U.P.. I said I most probably would then I asked why. He said he was thinking about going to U.P. or not. He was afraid that U.P. might just be like Pisay again. He wanted something more fun. That made me think a bit. Hey, wait a minute, if I do go to U.P. it'll be like Pisay all over again - all the homework and stress and boring stuff. Why don't I just go to an easier college and enjoy it. Then I remembered why. I had to remind myself that I wasn't in school to play. I was here to study as a "skolar ng bayan". I had a job to do. I'd be wasting taxpayers' money if I just loafed around in school.Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying. That's part of it too, but its not everything.

Scholars, as cheezy as it sounds, we have a job to do. The future of our country is in our hands. We have to do it. If we didn't, then who would?

-italktocarrotsticks

Batch Lunch 2.0 - Gaby Day!

2008-09-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

There are two places in the world where people forget Their differences and come together to be in peace with each other. One is a hospital, where the saying "misery loves company" is not just a saying, and the other is Gaby's birthday. (A.K.A Batch Lunch 2.0 or Gaby day featuring Nigel, Utanes and Macaraig. Haha) It's really funny how food brings people together. Like I said in a past post our batch has all different kind of people. We don't always get along, but today was different. Today was Gaby's birthday. So, in the spirit of birthdays and blowouts she brought food to school - a lot of food. There was spaghetti with really good sauce, (don't know why but it was good) Yellow Cab Pizza, (a must for any birthday) chocolate mousse cake (actually I'm not sure what it was but it was my favorite) and of course, soft drinks. Anyway, what happened was I was told that there's food in the front lobby so I go there and for the first time in a long time I see almost the whole batch, with all the cliques and stuff in the front lobby united in the spirit of Gaby day. Haha. So I was just there, eathing a lot of the chocolate mousse cake and talking with a bunch of people, etc etc. It was great. Also, it was Utanes' birthday as well as Nigel and Macaraig - a four way birthday. We could definitely use more of this kind of thing. A very happy birthday to the four of you and Kudos for the blowout Gaby!

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. I guess everything is better with a Red Ribbon

The Talisman Unsealed

2008-09-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

David Ples. Batch 2011. I - Garnet. II - Champaca.

I've honestly never really talked to the guy. He probably doesn't even know me. Still, I can't help but feel sorry for him. He's got a whole bunch of uhm, well, haters in my batch - batch 2010. I don't exactly know the details but what I do know is that this whole thing started as a writer's feud. See, when Ples was first year he got a book of his published, The Talisman Unsealed. And there's this other writer in our school who doesn't really like Ples. I will refer to this man as the Black Olive. Black Olive is A batch mate of mine. He's a writer just like Ples. Anyway, this feud continues on to the next year until finally something bad happens and Black Olive sort of goes out of bounds. It was around this time that I found out about this feud thing. Anyway, Ples goes to his LJ and vents his anger. This particular post is met with wide range of criticism, including but not limited too: consolation, strong advice, flame posts, profanity and human genitalia. Now some of you people out there may be used to these things on the web but I don't think Ples was. Now, for some reason, most of my batch has come together, put aside their differences to bring down the existence known as David Ples. This is absolutely outrageous.

My batch is a very mixed batch, we have people from all walks of life. This is probably one reason why my batch isn't always the most united one. But for a lot of us to come together for this one guy - and were not praising him, were *&^$% him - is amazing. Gah. This is just too much. It doesn't even matter if he really is annoying or something but no one deserves this kind of treatment. To be hated and ridiculed by a whole batch, and it isn't even the type that makes sense. It's a lot of times just his name + profanity. His book was even shown in front of the school in the Talent Show teaser by a band. Yeah, you said the book was good but anyone could tell you were saying something else. Well, maybe it isn't the guy. Maybe it really is the book. A classmate of mine brought it today (which is mainly the reason im blogging about this now) and I was able to read like the first few pages. I went a little past the first chapter and I guess it isn't the best book in the world. It's definitely below average for a published book. I've read like 2 of Ples' Inkwell works and comparing them to his book, I'd say he probably wrote it when he was eight or something. Still, this much for a bad book? Even Black Olive said it was too much. I guess all I want to say is that we really have to stop this guys. I know that we have our reasons for not liking the guy, and there's a general dislike of batch 2011 in 2010. But this is no reason to totally bury a guy and spit on him. (metaphor) I bet most of you have never even talked to the guy. Can't we just drop this whole thing and at least TRY to get along. Really, this is just immature. And to David Ples of II - Champaca '11, I guess its kinda late but I am really, really sorry. Not everyone in my batch unreasonably hates you. Although, you probably know that already.

-italktocarrotsticks

This Thing Called Life Has Sidequests

2008-09-08T03:01:00.000-07:00

I talked to leftover mashed potatoes yesterday and well, I laughed a bit and cried a bit with what they had to say. I was classmates with these potatoes, I myself being a potato head, and we shared a lot with each other during elementary. In fact, one of those potatoes was my neighbor. We talked about everything in the past, and the stuff that happened to us while we were gone. After our elementary graduation it seems that both of them walked a bit farther than I have, or maybe just in a different path, it doesn't really matter. What I mean is well, haha, they've had a few ups and down getting into different relationships. Some good stuff of course but its just regret that's left now. I also got into a relationship myself, 2 in fact. It's been three years since then but still, there's always that small feeling of regret and guilt. 1 of those relationships was with one of my best friends. I guess we just kinda went along with puberty. Now that I look at it, all it did was destroy a friendship. The post-breakup was pretty painful too. We're friends now but still, there's always that awkwardness and stuff. It sucks. The really funny thing is, one of the potato heads I talked to went official with that same girl. Now they've broken up and he's going through the same thing I went through with her. Also, him, that girl and me were in the same barkada in gradeschool. Ouch. Ah well, at least we kept in touch with each other after gradeschool.

Now to today. It was okay, we had it easy since everyone just got out of the week-where-nothing-happens week. AKA Humanities week, affectionately known among its celebrants as inhumanities week. haha. Now we had P.E. today and My good vegetable friend King was kind enough to lend me his uniform since I left mine at home. After PE I go to the front lobby to enjoy the 50 min break before Chemistry. Here I talk to another vegetable, the easily excitable and very cheery Lima Bean. We talk then she tells me about how she's having problems with another Lima bean. It's a bit complicated so I won't go into this. Anyway, after thinking about all this I finally ask myself: Why do we try to get these things? I mean, don't we just have to to live? Why the heck to we complicate things when its so simple to just live. See, that's the thing, we can't just live. I guess its not really important to have all this. After all, they're just sidequests. We don't need to complete them to get to the last boss and beat him. This may be true, but it's in these little sidequests where you get the little spice of life. In every sidequest you get a new power, and in every sidestory you get to learn a bit more. It'd be really boring if we just leveled up all the time then defeated the boss. We people just really want something more than just living life. I guess I kinda want a side quest too. I'll just have to finish school first, haha. Message to other sidequesters out there: Well, get a good relationship with God first. Only he can make you feel truly complete and secure. Also, try to finish your studies first. Haha. But no, seriously.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. Keep Love Real :)

Dikum

2008-08-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

I talked to a carrot stick today, and he said he didn't want to do dikum (di-kumbensyonal music) anymore. Haha, I don't want to either. We just came from the biggest production of the year, the Ramayana, and I guess we're not motivated to do anything anymore. We have to present this thing on Sep. 2 which is 2 weeks and one day after the Ramayana. Like I said, we're just not motivated anymore. We worked a lot on the Ramayana and I'm very proud of what we came up with. Ma'am Guimarie said she's expecting a lot from us. >.<>

I wanted to do something good with the dikum though. When I was seventh grade my art/music/H.E. teacher showed us a DVD of a group of street performers, Stomp Out Loud. They make music (really good music) out of stuff u see around like basketballs, trashcans etc. and when I found out about the dikum, they were the first thing in my head. (check em' out on youtube) But when I first watched dikum I was kinda disappointed. It was during my 2nd year when batch 09 did their dikum. Going inside the auditorium I was thinking Stomp Out Loud stuff, and I knew pisay people could come up with something like that. But when I heard their dikum it was like a song with a bunch of people singing a pop song while drumming on just about anything. There was a lot of food on stage and you could see all the instruments they made. You could also see how much the practiced playing the "water in gatorade bottles" xylophone thing. Undeniably there was creativity but it was too messy to be appreciated. I'm not saying they're bad or unskilled or anything. I just realized all the limitations of the dikum. The unconventional music I was imagining just banging a bunch of stuff to a beat. I never knew that we had to do it to a pop song. This year however, we got to make our own song. The theme was "Kapayapaan" and although we were given the chance to make our own song, were not exactly gifted in that area. We came up with good songs though, just not good to go with a WHOLE lot of percussion.

Today we had our probably most progressive practice so far. Finally the whole song has a melody and we have an idea of how were going to present it. Haha, practice ended up becoming a paskorus kinda thing. Joanna sings really high. We've decided that since were not too inclined to music that we'd do something we think can do better, theater. Our dikum is sounding more and more like a theatrical/musical thing. Were moving along but I have a lot of doubt as to it being really good. Ah well, I'll do my best and leave the rest to God. Especially since we have 5 days to go till the presentation and all we have is the song. :O I hope we can come up with something pretty good.

-italktocarrotsticks

P.S. No, really. I do.