Duty Free-ing

I woke up early this morning (8 a.m.), moved to the terrace from my room carrying my pillow, and  graciously lay down on the sofa terrace and closed my eyes, prepared for another hour of sleep.

Lola was there having her coffee, then mom came and also sat in one of the chairs in the terrace. She said she wanted to go to Clark again. Since today was the last day of this long weekend and it’s mom’s birthday tomorrow, lola and she agreed at once that we would be off to Clark today. Ang bilis ah!

In an hour and a half, mom, dad, lola, me, and ian were all set to Clark! Wuhoo! I hadn’t been there since 7 years ago, more or less. We tried the SCTEX route to avoid the traffic in San Fernando. Indeed, it was a fast travel; along the way, you’d see many…rice fields. haha.

After the SCTEX exit, we were a bit disappointed by the lack of arrow signs. We took wrong turns several times, and it would have been better if they had big signs pointing to Clark or free directory. With the help of passersby, we were able to spot the place — Puregold Duty Free.

When I was a teen, I loved tugging along with my parents. There were so many signature clothes and jeans (you know, a kid) on discounts, plus I get to choose which chocolates I want to have and the Combos!!! Sometimes, they were even on buy 1, take 1 deal! Sulit!

Sadly, I was a bit disappointed with what happened in the area. There were many shopping centers that were already closed, and I can’t seem to find where the signature clothes are. Before, it was easy to spot them. The prices were still discounted, and there were still items one cannot find in an ordinary grocery store. But they aren’t as good a deal as they were (considering the travel expenses). I wanted to show Ian (high school cousin) how nice the place was. He was not impressed with the shopping centers.

BUT we had fun! All the time, lola, Ian, and I were exchanging stories. Actually, the three of us spent more time waiting for mom to finish her shopping outside the Parkson center, in a monoblock table beside a pizza stand, than looking for things to buy. I am sure mom also enjoyed shopping and window shopping!

PLUS I got to buy from an old female Aeta a 20-peso wind instrument made of wood (kawayan I think), just as big as my palm, which could recreate the chirping sounds of birds. Fantastic, ha? And I also bought a 20-peso flute from a little Aeta boy. Eric will sure like it!

Ta-ta! Got to try my new toys.

Ready for December!

I went out today wearing only walking shorts, T-shirt, and slippers. I knew there were gonna be a lot of walking today, so I’d have to dress as comfy as I can. It was a bit of a mistake. The cool breeze of December was unmistakable, and I had to wear my jacket all the time. If not to cover my arms, to cover my legs. haha. I’m sure I’m gonna have a good night sleep tonight. I hope the oldies here won’t be needing heated mattress pads for their rayuma. haha. Sarap ng simoy ng hangin!

It’s a sign. We have to be ready for December! I love December!!!

with spices and love

Thank goodness there are so many holidays here in the Philippines. It feels good waking up in our good ol’ home in this quiet province of ours.

I slept 11 hours last night. It feels good not to force myself to wake up so early in the morning because I have to.

It feels good to have breakfast ready when I wake up and to have home-cooked lunch when it’s noon. No more dilemma which food to choose from the counter displays, not because they are all so good, but because nothing is appetizing.

Tonight I do not have to worry where to buy food because all restaurants are already closed. I just have to wait for a call to dinner. I gain a number of pounds just staying here for a week. Even if it is just plain corned beed or chicharon, I can eat a lot. I might acutally need an appetite suppressant if I’d have to stay here for a month.

I guess more than the spices, the food is prepared with love.

do you know your enemy?

As we start our day by pouring coffee from coffee makers and watching or listening to news, what do we think about? Or even as we sleep after watching the late-night news? Or even if we do not actively seek the news but hear of it from people? What do we think and feel?

This is of course with the presumption that we care about the news—about the events that happen around us.

Bananaman, PJVP, and I discuss current events every day over lunch; though at times, we talk more about the latest on bands, actors, movies, and directors, or PJVP and Bananaman talk about the latest NBA game and their online league (and I stare at my food or listen haha). But at least we know what is happening around us; we laugh about the stupidest comments of Malacañang and express indignation to everything unreasonable and unjust.

As my classmates and I were discussing about the Maguindanao Massacre, while I was and still is outraged by that abomination, one said, “yan na naman, sawa na ko diyan.” I felt a tingle of irritation, and I just told him, “the problem with society today is apathy.” If he understood what I meant, I wouldn’t know; he just kept quiet.

How can we be “without interest” on what has happened to our fellow Filipinos? How can we be concerned with Mafia Wars and daily soap operas than about the plight of our nation? There is no way we can survive as a nation if we choose to live only for ourselves. We cannot act unless we know and we care. Ninoy Aquino’s best contribution was that we were awakened from our indifference and apathy. With that, we deposed a tyrant. We are best as a nation when we care, when there is sympathy instead of apathy.

Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all—the apathy of human beings. - Hellen Keller

Grassroots Integrity

This was a paper I submitted for my legal profession class. The question is how will the integrity of the legal profession be maintained? I just want to share it here (aside from lack of topic to write about). Perhaps I can look back on this (or you could remind me, like promotional pencils do) on my true ideals and what I really aspired to be.

(Warning: This might bore you to death. I trimmed it down a bit, so it won’t be all too long a bore.)

(more…)

law school showbiz

In law school, rumors also abound. And we students seek those rumors, especially about the professors. Is he nice? Is she that bad? Does he like verbatim recitations? Does she always come to class? Is it true that she fails most of her students?

Honestly, I kinda believe those rumors. Before we met our lady professor last sem, we have heard rumors that she “hates” her female students. Undeniable, she was harder on us girls. There were also news about this super nice professor, and indeed, he made law school a little less harder for us. We even gave him a cake for thanks.

But today, I have heard the most peculiar rumors. They said our old male professor was nice–especially to girls. I’ve seen him twice, and he was lenient to 1 or 2 girls in our last recitation, but not enough to confirm the rumors yet. And there was another rumor about him. They said he is inclined to fail surnames starting with C and D. Uh-oh…that includes me! To save myself, they said I have to smile sweetly when I get called on recitations and to never forget to wear sexy clothes. Sweet and sexy. I better lose belly fat fast. One’s gotta do what one’s gotta do.

Just kidding!

musically inclined

Musically inclined are those people who have the talent for music. Musically inclined are those gifted children constantly asked by their parents to sing on every occasion, whether they like it or not.

I myself had piano lessons every Saturday morning. The teacher said I was a fast learner. I can easily memorize the pieces. I can master a piece fast and play it without mistake. And my teacher would honestly look convinced.

But every week, I did all I can to avoid these lessons. My most common strategy was to pretend asleep until after he leaves our house. If my parents did not know any better, they would think I’m dead.

The problem is, it was mechnical for me. I can play the pieces because I can memorize which keys to press and which notes would come after. I was so unlike my cousins who are “widows.” I admire them so much. Marunong silang kumapa. I can only play what I was taught. The last piece I was able to play was Fur Elise, composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Now, I can barely play Old MacDonald.

However, I have always liked music. I know a lot of songs, and singers, and bands. If I had those iphone accessories, I’d probably have more than a thousand songs. I love singing, and this without hesitation nor reservation. But I want to really learn to play a musical instrument.

Several taught me to play the guitar, and those several lost their patience. t2rad and I have been planning (for years already) to have actual drum lessons. I hope we can find the time. More importantly, I hope I can really learn…so I can be one of those musically inclined.

Six Hours

Warning: rant post

Six hours. This is the number of hours I waste whenever I go to school, wait for professors, and nobody appears. Since the start of this semester, this has happened several times already! Frankly, it’s pissing me off. They could have informed us throught text that they are not coming, which some professors actually do. How hard can it be? Time is so precious to me, and when you are juggling everything all at once, a wasted time is twice more annoying! I could have worked more to save my dying bank account. I could have studied more so I could catch up on my backlog readings. And I could have rested to avoid a have a dark eye circle and slept well to replenish my sapped out strength.

When you come home 11 pm after long hours of classes, it’s tiring. But at least you learned. But when you come home and achieved nothing, it’s not only tiring; it’s also quite irritating!

Sunset Looking At Me

At the back of the FX, I was concentrating on my book. It was hard to memorize when the music was so loud, and outside of my taste. After reading a sentence or two, I close my eyes to recite them in my mind. But it was not working. I repeated the process again and again—to no avail. For the last time, I read the provisions, and instead of closing my eyes, I looked away from the book. There were no passengers or hair supplements ads blocking the window view.

Sunset. In the distance, I saw the sunset. For some reason, I just paused and looked at it. It was a perfect circle, with a golden orange glow. It was setting, but it was glowing. It seemed a contradiction. The sun was so quiet and solemn, and the long road of Roxas Boulevard was so loud and uncaring.

For what seemed a long time, this golden sun never left my sight. It was constantly directly in front of me, as if flaunting its glorious color. I have been passing by this road every day, and I never paused to appreciate Manila’s sunset. Instead, the sun decided to look at me.

just another semester

Tomorrow, I’d be back to my not-so-comfortable office clothes and the long travels to school. The sad thing is I haven’t recharged yet; I barely had a semestral break. Since August, I was hoping for this break and planned to meet up with many old friends. My little cousins and I planned on decorating our old artificial christmas tree and malling; we weren’t even able to set the tree up. What can you do in a week?

I guess I’d have to wait for another break. I hope this total unenthusiasm is only for the meantime.