portfolio 1: confessions of a commuter

**I'll be posting my three best essays in English 1 for the next few days. Since I'm supposed to encode them, why not also post them? Hehehehe. Seriously now, I'll be submitting these essays as a final project so please feel free to point out any mistakes in spelling, grammar, and common sense. Violent reactions and brutal comments will be most appreciated.

Confessions of a Commuter

I want a car. No, I need a car. How I wish that I could get from Point A to Point B with minimal effort, like the lucky souls who have their own cars, instead of having to contend with the chaotic public transportation system. As a commuter, not only do I have to live with barely controlled chaos, I also have to compete with other commuters. I am also witness to one of the fiercest battles of our time. I see it nearly every day, even on those rare occasions when I'm lucky enough to ride in my dad's car.

This battle is between two of what can arguably be called the most Pinoy of our public utility vehicles (PUVs): the jeepney and the FX taxi. These two are certainly unique to our country, and they are the most prolific PUVs on our streets. They are also locked in an inevitable conflict over the one resource which drives a PUV: passengers. The question then is, who is winning the battle? Will the iconic jeepney eventually triumph over the FX, or will the upstart FX sweep away the jeepney? I think that it's a bit of a stalemate, but see and judge for yourselves as I take you along on one of my days as a commuter.

I encounter three types of PUVs every time I step out of the house: short-, medium-, and long-range PUVs. Usually, I just walk to the main road, so I dispense with the short-range PUVs; the foot powered pedicabs and the more advanced tricycles. A normal day won't have me going to Makati or Paranaque, so I won't need a long-range PUV; either a bus or the Metro Rail Transit (MRT). A normal day would definitely have me using medium-range PUVs; the jeepneys and the FX taxis. I won't count the normal taxi cabs here, as I simply can't afford them.

A normal day would have me walking to the terminal at the top of the main road, where I will have the choice of taking a jeepney or an FX taxi. I usually queue up for an FX taxi, as it is (usually) the first to leave the terminal. Another reason why I prefer the FX taxi is that it its fast.

The FX taxi was originally supposed to be a high-capacity cab, but it has since evolved into a mini-jeepney capable of carrying 10 passengers. It is fast, but its speed is not of the Formula 1 variety. Travel by FX is usually quicker because the drivers follow a defined but flexible route. They tend to go for the shortest way possible, utilizing shortcuts and back roads which they also use to go around traffic-prone areas. My daily commute -from home to Katipunan Avenue- is about 11 kilometers. Travelling that 11 kilometer stretch by FX takes only about 15 minutes.

A trip on a jeepney would take twice the time, since jeepneys are confined to a fixed route. In my case, the jeepney route from home to Katipunan is more circuitous than that taken by the FX, adding some 10-15 minutes to the travel time. In terms of travel speed, the FX taxi beats the jeepney.

The jeepney was born at the end of World War 2, fashioned out of surplus American utility vehicles. Since then, it has become an icon of Philippine society and culture and, some say, has become an art form. Indeed, with all the ornamentation and colors of the jeepney, you would feel like travelling in a mobile art gallery. However, the beauty of the jeepney is only skin deep, for past the ornate decorations and paintings is an old and oftentimes broken-down body.

The jeepney has been with us for decades, and it shows. The interior of most jeepneys these days are dirty at best, corroded at worst. The floors are often rusted and littered with food wrappers and dirt, the seats are torn and frayed, and the engines are an environmentalist's nightmare. I have had an experience wherein cockroaches were quite literally crawling out of the woodwork. Mosquitoes are also present in many jeepneys. 60 years is such a long time, yet the only innovation in the jeepney's design which has been adopted nearly everywhere is the string in the ceiling which switches on a light that signals the driver to stop.

An FX on the other hand, does not have intricate statuettes on its hood. No paintings adorn its sides. However, it is air conditioned. Its seats are soft and cushy, which is a huge improvement from the sometimes hard and even wooden seats of a jeepney. The interior of an FX is so comfortable that I always take the opportunity to sneak in a few minutes of shut-eye. Most FXs are also well-maintained, and some come with air fresheners or even fresh sampaguita which really does a lot to lighten one's mood.Yes, the jeepney is a work of art on the outside, but the FX is a work of art where it counts.

The FX taxi is still a bit of a puzzle though. All FX taxis have LTFRB- or LTO-registered fare meters, but these are never used. Instead, passengers are charged flat fees. 10 pesos is the minimum while 25 pesos is the maximum, depending on the destination. This is where the jeepney trumps the FX. A jeepney charges a minimum fare of 7 pesos which increases with distance, and students and senior citizens can even avail of a discount which lowers the minimum fare to 6 pesos. Travelling by jeepney is so cheap that -all things being equal- I would rather take a jeepney than take an FX. All other things are not equal, however, so the relief you give to your wallet will cost you quality of service. To cash-strapped individuals though the savings would be more welcome than the few minutes in an air conditioned FX. The jeepney clearly takes this round.

So far, we have looked at the major qualities of the jeepney and the FX taxi. The FX provides faster and more efficient service and is a more comfortable ride than the jeepney. The jeepney, on the other hand, is more affordable. Now, let's look at how they affect their surroundings.

Not a day passes wherein I don't mutter a curse directed at a PUV driver, be it a tricycle, bus, taxi, jeepney, or FX driver. I'm a stickler for rules, and it's a fact of life that Filipino public utility vehicles have little or no regard for traffic rules and regulations. They swerve and overtake carelessly. They stop and disgorge passengers at areas clearly designated as "no loading and unloading" zones. They clog up roads by stopping and waiting for passengers in the middle of traffic. Traffic grinds to a halt as enterprising drivers try to turn 2-lane roads into 6-lane highways in a mad race to be first; instead of lining up in an orderly fashion these drivers persist in exploiting every gap in traffic, at the expense of other drivers and even of road safety.

Of course there are exceptions, but they are few and far between. I have seen FX drivers blatantly ignoring traffic enforcers who flag them down. I have been in a jeepney whose driver had ambitions of joining the Air Force; he kept swerving and banking the jeepney at such high speeds that we were clinging on to anything which would keep us from flying out onto the street. I could go on and on, but that would require another essay. Suffice to say, both the FX and the jeepney fail in this round.

The FX taxi clearly beats the jeepney 2 to 1. Both negatively impact their surroundings with their effect on traffic and their contribution to problems with road order and safety.

However, I still think that this battle will end in a stalemate. Why? Even though the FX taxi provides better service, its relatively high cost still ensures demand for the jeepney. Not everyone can afford to ride an FX, especially the masses who have come to depend so much on the jeepney for getting around. No clear winner can emerge, as those who can afford it would pick the FX over the jeepney. Of course, this assessment is based on my own experience, so you are free to agree or disagree and form your own judgement.

For better or for worse, both the jeepney and the FX taxi are here to stay.

portfolio 2: surviving the university of pila

**I'll be posting my three best essays in English 1 for the next few days. Since I'm supposed to encode them, why not also post them? Hehehehe. Seriously now, I'll be submitting these essays as a final project so please feel free to point out any mistakes in spelling, grammar, and common sense. Violent reactions and brutal comments will be most appreciated.

Surviving the University of Pila

The enrollment process in UP is really simple. You simply get a Form 5A from your college, verify your subjects, add some more or drop a few if you want, then transfer the information to a Form 5. Have the form checked and assessed, and then all you have left to do is to pay your tuition fee. That simple, at least in theory.

Reality, however, is different from theory. Enrollment in UP, oftentimes referred to as registration, is oftentimes an exercise in frustration. Yes freshies, it's not as easy as you think. You've gone through it once, but we upperclassmen have gone through it lots of times. You still have top priority over us, so this coming semester, enjoy it while you can. Once you enter your sophomore year, you'll find out what I'm talking about. Better for you if you find out now though, so read on.

We UP students are very lucky; we get to choose which classes to attend every semester. We're not forced to follow some rigid schedule, and we can even avoid the so-called terror professors! However, this comes at a high price, and payment is due during the enrollment period. Yes, this is the main problem you will encounter once you become sophomores. The mad scramble for subjects and classes is what makes enrollment in UP so frustrating.

Let's go through all the steps once again. The aforementioned Form 5A is the product of what we call PRE-ENLISTMENT. The Computerized Registration System (CRS) is responsible for getting you the subjects you want. As freshies, you can just collect and select any subject you want, thanks to your "priority" status. Once that's gone, you'll join every other student in what amounts to a lottery; when you pre-enlist in a subject, there is a large chance that you won't get it, especially if it's a GE subject. The CRS will randomly select from the students who pre-enlisted in that subject. So while you get to see filled-up Form 5As, the rest of us end up with nearly blank pieces of paper come ENLISTMENT time.

So we've got our Form 5As. You haven't gone through ENLISTMENT yet, so let me tell you now: be prepared. While PRE-ENLISTMENT is done in front of a computer, ENLISTMENT is the hard leg work. Bring food and water with you. Charge your cellphone and stock up on prepaid credits. Grab a thick paperback book as you leave home. This is where you'll find out why UP is often referred to as the "University of Pila". Woe to the poor schmuck who didn't get his classes through CRS; he now has to line up at various enlistment rooms to get the class he wants - or even worse, needs. Pray that you don't end up like that. But, in case you do, the food and water and book will help greatly. You won't have to leave your line and you won't die of boredom. The cellphone will help you keep connected with your friends who might send you important information, like when new classes have opened up. I can't stress this enough: come enlistment time, the person who is the most well-informed has the best chance of surviving the entire enrollment process with his sanity intact.

Aside from keeping informed, you have to be mobile. This is not the time to bring laptops with you. Limit yourself to a pen and essential documents, plus the other items mentioned above, as you will find yourself running to and from different and often widely separated buildings. You have to memorize the layout of the campus - where the important buildings are, the routes of the jeepneys, even the best shortcuts to take. Remember, you are also competing with thousands of other students, so the faster you get to that newly-opened GE class, the better your chances of getting it.

Once you get all your desired classes, you have to transfer all the information from your Form 5A to a Form 5. Be careful with this! Check that all the information on your Form 5A is correct before you write on your Form 5, as this will save you the trouble of having to rewrite and start from scratch when the people at CHECKING find a mistake.

When you've had Form 5 checked by the registration assistants, your next step will be ASSESSMENT. This is the easy part. You go to a room where accounts look over your Form 5 and tell you how much your tuition fee is going to be. You are then all set for PAYMENT. One last line, and you're all done.

As you can see, the major problem with registration is in the ENLISTMENT part. This will take up most of your time and will be the main source of your frustration. Trust me. I know. To get through the enrollment process, or more precisely the ENLISTMENT process, you have to be prepared, be informed, and be mobile. Those are the keys to surviving enrollment at UP.

Don't worry. You'll only be doing this at least four times during your UP life, unless you opt for summer classes. Once you reach "graduating" status, you'll be a "priority" once again.

portfolio 3: addicted to anime

**I'll be posting my three best essays in English 1 for the next few days. Since I'm supposed to encode them, why not also post them? Hehehehe. Seriously now, I'll be submitting these essays as a final project so please feel free to point out any mistakes in spelling, grammar, and common sense. Violent reactions and brutal comments will be most appreciated.

Addicted to Anime

I miss my childhood days. School was not much of a problem then, and I was blissfully unaware of what was happening beyond the four corners of our home. I spent my time reading books and playing with the many toys in my room. I also reserved certain hours for watching cartoons on TV. I remember mornings watching Robotech, afternoons with Gundam Wing, and weekends with Voltes V. I was fascinated with robots and spaceships then, and the rich helping of colorful explosions which came with such fare brightened up my life. These cartoons also told stories which made me look forward to every episode.

I now know these cartoons as "anime" since they originally came from Japan. There are many different kinds of anime, ranging from those dealing with more mature and violent themes to those which portray magical fantasy worlds. A common feature of most anime is the existence of what most of us would consider as weirdly-drawn characters, in the sense that no one in the real world would look like them. Other anime would have characters who are so cute and adorable that you would really enjoy watching them on TV. A lot of people do enjoy watching anime, but some can be said to have become addicted to it.

Anime can become an obsession. You may have noticed people walking around in outlandish costumes. You may have heard them singing in Japanese. You may have seen them having animated discussions about things which only exist on celluloid and paper. These people may only be pursuing a hobby, but I won't blame you if you believe that they are on the brink of addiction.

What is it that drives people to become obsessed with anime? Why do some people become anime addicts? I asked some of my anime-loving friends, and they gave me a lot of answers. Some said it may be because of the cute and adorable characters, such as those in Pokemon or Super Boink. Some find the fantasy and science-fiction plots intriguing and unpredictable, and this makes them long for anime such as Cardcaptor Sakura and Gundam. Many enjoy the "sense of childhood" they feel while watching anime like Time Quest and Akazukin Chacha. Others love the spectacular action scenes of Samurai X and Flame of Recca. Many find watching anime as an escape from reality, and many also admit to being influenced by peer pressure and the drive to be "in".

Anime can be good for you. It may provide good moral lessons. It can spark the imagination and inspire creativity, especially in children. It most certainly exposes us to another culture and shows us other worlds beyond our own.

However, too much of anything is bad, and anime is no exception. People hooked on anime may sacrifice contact with their family and friends when they are glued to the TV screen. Their pockets and bank accounts can be drained by the urge to collect merchandise associated with anime. Over-identification with the characters and the plot may distort their sense of reality. The more violent-themed anime may cause easily-influenced children to become violent as well.

Anime provides entertainment for many children and young adults today. It may provide a good influence, but it is likewise capable of distorting their lives. As with all things, we must take care not to become (too) addicted to anime.

first strike

CRACK!

She just stood there for a moment, her eyes fixed on the wall behind the other people in the room.

A moment later her lifeless body slumped onto the desk; the back of her head now an odd mix of red and gray.

The echo of the shot, the unmistakable sound of a sniper rifle, was soon drowned out by the blare of alarms.

Spotlights lit off all over the compound as people started running around in a vain attempt to find the assassin.

In all the confusion, no one saw the western horizon turn a bright yellow. That is, until the man-made thunder reached them.

The western sky was suddenly full of smoke trails seemingly reaching for the stars - until a certain point. Steel rain was coming.

***
A desolate and blackened landscape greeted the morning sun.

cold night

Damn cold.

My nose feels like it's been pounded again and again AND AGAIN by a baseball bat. My every breath is punctuated by a sniffle, then a cough, then another sniffle. Once in a while I sneeze, blowing away everything in front of me. My head and my eyes hurt so bad that it's a miracle that I could even think straight right now.

I've been like this for days now. No amount of medicine seems to work. I consume orange juice by the gallon every few hours, yet the cold is still there. I eat like a starved animal every meal time, yet the cold is still there. I sleep way past my normal waking hour, yet the damned cold IS STILL THERE!

I can't breathe. I can't smell a thing. Food tastes bland. I can't think.

Damn cold.

stranded

It's raining cats and dogs outside right now, so I'm quite stuck here in the Shopping Center. It really isn't that bad; I don't have anything else to do before my Comm 3 class at 5:30.

I already got 15 units through CRS. Apparently, the much-vilified Computerized Registration System works quite well within the Diliman campus. I just hope that I get the subjects I want for the next semester.

This semester is already ending. Most of my classes have already ended, and those left would be ending this week. All I have left to do now is to write a whole lot of papers and prepare for my final exams.

I... have run out of things to write about, save for the crappy keyboard I'm using write now. Hordes of DotA players have wiped away the keys - thank God for those typewriting classes in elementary and high school.

Anyway, I have to get going. The rain is still coming down in torrents, but I have to get to CAL within the hour. I guess I'm going to have to ride a jeep again - yes, more money down the drain...

attack of the jitters

I'm a total wreck. I can't concentrate. My mind is going everywhere and nowhere.

It will all end in six hours. After that, all I have to worry about are papers, papers, and more papers. However, typing on a keyboard at 3 AM has got to be a whole lot easier than standing in front of a class and speaking for seven minutes.

I need a cup of coffee.

rude awakening

Something has got to be done about flash drives.

I woke up this morning feeling 'relatively' refreshed thanks to that wonderful Korean movie I watched last night. Yes, I watched a Korean movie last night at the opening of the Korean Film Festival. Taeguk-Gi was about two brothers drafted to fight in the Korean War... and everything else was just fluff to me. They had me at 'war'. Hehehehe...

What made the movie even more enjoyable was the beautiful story and the way the makers of the film integrated the drama and action sequences together. It was seamless, almost perfect, and it nearly brought tears to my eyes. The experience would make my Film 100 paper easier to write come next week.

Back to this morning. I turned on the computer and, strangely enough, the my anti-virus program was not working. A quick look at the hard drives saw a huge drop in memory. Task Manager was also working strangely, since when I hit CTRL+ALT+DEL all I got was a message saying that 'the computer administrator has denied access to the Task Manager". That set off the alarm. My account was the administrator account. Someone screwed up big time.

It had to be a virus or a hacker. I turned off the Internet connection and fired up Avira Anti-virus. The program turned on, but when I clicked on 'start system scan' nothing happened. My anti-virus software had been compromised. I tried the Administrator Tools hidden away at the Control Panel, and I got my first break: the Event Log showed that Avira had detected a virus in my dad's flash drive two days ago. A quick check with my dad also revealed that the anti-virus program had been non-functional for at least a day before.

I tried to clean up the registry, but that too had been compromised; I couldn't get the msconfig utility to run. It was only when I ran Lavasoft Ad-Aware that I found and fixed the problems in the computer's registry. Yes, it also checks the system registry for errors and possible malware. Time check: it was already two hours after I first turned on the computer.

With my anti-virus program compromised, I had to get a new one. I first tried an online scan from Trend Micro, but for some reason or other it wouldn't start. I finally gave Avira the boot and replaced it with Avast!. This was just what the doctor ordered. The download took less than 5 minutes, the installation even less. The best part of it all was that the program turned on even before Windows itself was completely started up. A three-hour complete system scan turned up five different worms, trojans, and an 'unknown'.

I spent the better part of the day cleaning up the computer; it was only at 3 PM that I finally got to go online. I must say that I'm extremely relieved to have taken care of that virus without having to resort to a complete reformat.

I've traced the infection to my dad's flash drive, specifically to a file named 'Nicole.exe'. My cute little sister's ears should still be ringing from all the screams... Hehehehe...

I could use this little debacle as an introduction for my speech on Friday. Yes! Although the quote from Josef Stalin ("One death is a tragedy, while the death of millions is just a statistic") is more apt for a speech bordering on a call for genocide; plus the shock value of squishing on ant then pouring a bottle of alcohol on a jar full of the little buggers would really score points for "visual aids".

Speaking of ants, there are a whole lot of them in the garage right now. Time for some stress relief...

eighteen hours plus 36 minutes later

This will be my first sick day in ages. The headache and cold turned into the flu. Crap. It's like waking up from a blissful dream into a terrible nightmare.

Better take the day off now than take a week off later.

eighteen hours later

And I have a splitting headache, plus one hell of a cold. But I had fun, and that's what counts.

I need MORE sleep.

killing time

I won't be going home tonight. I'll be having a break at the Cattleya Resort in Antipolo. That it would also be the venue for our Final Rites is no problem; all I can think of right now is the pool and the view. Expect some panoramic shots of Metro Manila in the coming days.

We just had our rummage sale this morning. I had extremely low expectations about the outcome of the sale but, lo and behold, we made a whopping 1000 pesos! Easy money indeed from bags and bags of old and worn out clothes.

Speaking of easy money, join Facebook. An application available there called Cash Cliques allows you to make money in a few minutes just by clicking on some ads. While you're there, look me up and add me as well.

Yikes. Enough of the self-promotion! It's time for lunch (at one in the afternoon?), and I'll be shepherding our applicants through a "short" race for the rest of the afternoon.

Logging off now.

another thursday morning

It's a beautiful day to stay in. It's cold, it's dark, and I'm still sleepy.

The semester hasn't even ended yet, but I'm already in vacation mode. Unfortunately, a lot of things still have to be done; I'll be working up until the second week of October.

The good thing is that I don't feel that stressed anymore. Is it because I've finally adapted? Or is it because I'm actually having fun? Maybe it's because I've finally seen where I want to go, and all I need to do now is to go for it.

It's 8:30 already, and I need to get going, else I be late again for my English class. But then again, I've only been absent once in that class. Maybe I'll exercise my right to be absent just this once, or I'll flip-flop all over again and mosey on down the road to Katipunan. Whatever I do, I don't know. Hehehehe...

Haaay... Life...

quicker quickie

I've just finished my Comm 3 papers. Hehehehe... Just sneaking in a few minutes of online time!

why did the chicken climb the tree?

The chicken did it. That big, fat, brown hen did it.

There was a chicken in the branches of the tree right beside our Comm 3 classroom. I do not know how it got there, but it turned out to be one hell of a lucky break for me.

Today was slated to be the first round of our impromptu speeches for Communications 3. We would draw our topic from slips of paper, then we would be given 2 minutes to prepare a short speech about the topic we got, then we would be given another 2 minutes to present our speech.

I was very anxious at the beginning of the class. My classmates gave great speeches, and I started to worry about not doing as well as they did. My turn finally came after about thirty tense minutes. I drew my topic from the many slips of paper on the desk:

What are the three countries you really want to visit?

I took one long look at the paper then I went out of the room to prepare my speech. The chicken, America, Germany, and the Philippines; that was all I thought about for the next two minutes.

The bell rang, and I walked into the room. Pointing at the windows, I started my speech:

Look outside the windows. Everybody, what do you see?

And, as expected:

The chicken!

I spent those thirty tense minutes before my turn thinking of a way to integrate the chicken into my speech; whatever topic I got I resolved to use that chicken in my speech.

Mamaya na yung chicken! Look at the world outside, it's so big and beautiful. Now, look at the chicken. I want to be that chicken. I want to be able to go wherever I want. I want to travel all over the world. First, I want to go to America...

All my anxiety and stage fright evaporated during the first few seconds of my speech. Maybe it was because I really liked my topic. Maybe it was because I was wearing my favorite black polo. Maybe it was because my confidence was boosted by my well-received introduction. But I like to think that maybe it was because I was really inspired by that chicken.

I got a one.

Thank you, o magical and mysterious chicken.

quickie

Wow! I'm early for my English class!

Now all I have to do is get the hell away from this computer and YouTube!

Hehehehe...

of sandwiches and sardines

TRINOMA. I finally got to go to Trinoma.

For the first time in months I set foot in a mall. I spent an hour just walking around, getting a feel for the place, staking out places of interest, killing time.

Uncharacteristically, I went there alone. It was the first time I rode in an SM North jeep, and surely enough I handed over 10 pesos when I should have given 8.

There is a hobby store in Trinoma with a window display showcasing a scale model of the US Navy carrier USS Enterprise. The detail was exquisite; even the deck crewmen and officers were visible. If I ever have time -and money- for a serious hobby it would be collecting and assembling model ships, tanks, and warplanes.

A Powerbooks store is finally within striking range. If only I had the time -and yes, the money- to sink into books I would not be as prolific a blogger as I am now. I would spend my nights curled up on a couch with a book in my hands instead of sitting in front of a computer monitor.

After a few years I once again got to play Red Alert 2. With Timezone filled to the brim with people of all ages and sizes, we had a few games at Netopia. Victory was so sweet. Jed, rematch?

Erika's dad treated us to sandwiches and iced tea. I'm not really a sandwich person, and I'm afraid I made a fool out of myself when I tried -unsuccessfully- to cut my sardine sandwich.

I don't even eat sardines.

But there's a first time for everything, and I have one more dish to choose from next time. I feel sorry for the poor sardine though; his life was cut short when he was caught and then stuffed into a can, never to swim again in the deep blue sea.

He had one advantage though; he sure as hell was not in an elbow fight to get into that can.

The MRT has often been likened to a sardine can, with people stuffing themselves into a confined space in a desperate bid to beat the dreaded rush hour EDSA traffic. I am no stranger to the MRT, but today I had the singular experience of being carried into the MRT by a wave of crazed flesh vying for a comfortable place in the train.

I didn't even have to walk; everybody was pushing and shoving as if the world was ending and that was the last ride to a better place. Hands and elbows and knees and toes were everywhere as people came in from all sides trying to fit into the small aperture offered by the train's sliding doors.

It was all I could do to stop from screaming at the barbarians at the gates. A bomb threat right there and then would have landed me in jail for violating the HSA, but it would be well worth the satisfaction of seeing the frenzied crowd run and duck for cover.

It's another annoying example of Filipinos' tendency -obsession- to be the first in everything. It would be nice if that drove our people to excel in everything, but the unfortunate end result is a people that would choose to flirt with danger rather than wait a few minutes in line, or queue up in an orderly fashion, or wait their turn to cross, or stay in one road lane, or -you get the picture.

The sheer lack of discipline so prevalent in our society is extremely frustrating. We were talking about Singapore in class this morning, and I can't help but wonder how much better this country could have been if a person the likes of Lee Kuan Yew held office at Malacanang.

Getting out of the train was just the opposite of getting in. I had to push my way out of the sea of bodies that just wouldn't budge even to my repeated cries of 'excuse me'. At the door was another wave of people jostling and pushing and shoving to get in, effectively hampering my exit.

Needless to say, I was already in a very evil mood by the time I got down to the FX station. The woman who cut into my line sure as hell didn't help matters!

This day has strengthened my resolve to reach for my ultimate dream. I will have order. Freedom, democracy, and human rights be damned, but I will drill order and discipline into the generations that will follow me.

Somebody PLEASE give me a Venti White Chocolate Mocha.

waiting is the hardest part

Who knew that I would be spending so much time in Internet cafes this month?

Our interview project is due in an hour and a half, yet I still don't have it in my hands. We will be having a quiz on the Chinese and Japanese press(es?) tomorrow but our handout and the quiz itself is not yet ready.

I do have a lot of time on my hands, but most of it is spent waiting. Yes. Waiting. Waiting for my groupmate to send our interview project to me, waiting for my other groupmates to finish our handouts so I can make my quiz questions, and waiting for the YouTube video I'm watching to kill time to finally load!

I envy the guys on the other computers; they have all the time in the world to play online games. Of course I was just about ready to wring the necks of the damned fools who were screaming out their kills on DotA a while ago, and I have reservations as to the legality of providing computer games so close to an educational institution.

I now believe the horror stories I've heard about PLDT Internet service. The Internet connection here, previously way faster than what we have at home, has been erratic. I guess it's the same at other 'Net cafes here at the Shopping Center.

The timing is just right. I've got an essay to write for English 1, and the topic is on 'addiction'. There are a lot of people here right now, almost all of them lining up to play DotA. What's up with that game ba? Yikes. Conyo side asserting itself. Hehehehe...

I've just about finished downloading the last four parts of our project. Now all we have to do is to have them printed. In color. At 30 pesos a page. With 9 pages. Waiting's over, here comes the pain!

first of september

Back on a public computer, I am.

I've been here for an hour now. I'm hungry, but my meeting at Jollibee won't be until 1 o'clock. After that will be our group interview with Edgardo Vinarao. The knowledge I gained from my Film 100 class would be really put to the test, as he's a film director who directed and edited a lot of Filipino films.

My Journalism 100 report this morning went well; I barely stuttered and I even managed to make the class laugh a bit, which is quite a lot given my record with public speaking. I hope I get to cure my stage fright in the future. If I want to rule this country with an iron fist become a politician or a lawyer I have to learn to control the stress and anxiety associated with addressing a large group of people. It's really no problem when I know the people I'm speaking to but it gets dicey the moment I step up to speak before people I barely know.

That's why I took Communications 3 this semester. That subject is why I'm typing on a public computer right now. This public computer does not have Mozilla Firefox, it has Internet Explorer. I miss the tabs. I get lonely without the tabs. I love tabs. Internet Explorer does not have tabs. I hate Internet Explorer.

Not as much as I hate Joma Sison and his army of communist terrorists. I squealed with delight the moment I heard of his arrest. Yet I wholeheartedly agree with the militants' demand for his release. Yes, "Ka Joma" must be released. Preferably from an airplane 10,000 feet above ground level. With no parachute. Weeee! Splat!

Oh, will you look at the time. I now owe Cafe Manila 23 pesos. My meeting is in fifteen minutes. Gotta go!

of faces and photographs

I have a confession to make. I can already feel the brickbats heading my way, but what the hell.

Let's keep that for later though. Hehehehe...

The lunar eclipse last night was just beautiful. It was a total eclipse, in the sense that we did not see anything, not even a sliver of the red-tinted moon, since the thick clouds blocked our view. To think that I ran all the way from my class in CAL just to be able to see this "not very common" (as opposed to "rare") event -the next one would be in 2011- and probably get a few shots in with my PDA/cellphone/digicam.

I did get a few pictures though, however these were of the more terrestrial variety. The media was out in full force at the PAGASA Observatory last night, and I had to dodge a few reporters and cameras and the ever-present paparazzi *ahem* as I went up the road to our tambayan.

What greeted me there was no different; as I climbed up to the moon deck the flashes of assorted cameras lit up the night. It's amazing how the press did not even notice the photo-op happening at the next building from where all their cameras were set up. Hehehe...

So Anna, Carlo, Dj, She: asaan na ang pictures ko?

After the "event" we went to Jollibee Philcoa again. A week after the Astro Dinner and we were back. I think the staff already recognized us by sight, although the sheer number of noisy and hungry people who poured into the building may have played a minor part in their decision to open the normally reserved area for us.

So there. I've delayed long enough. My former and current classmates and groupmates are going to hate me for this.

I have trouble remembering names. There are times wherein I've just met someone and then I immediately forget their name. There are a lot of times where I meet somebody who smiles and waves at me, blissfully unaware of the chaos going on behind my gracious smile: Who the hell is this?

I smile back even though I can't remember the name because I recognize the face. That is the one thing that has kept me from making a fool out of myself, or at worst appearing as a snob. If I have trouble remembering names I have no problem at all remembering faces.

Or so I thought until yesterday.

There I was, walking out of CASAA after having a drink, when someone met my eyes and waved at me. My brain went into overdrive as I tried to put a name to the face, but it really went haywire when I didn't recognize the face.

Maybe it was a mutual misunderstanding, maybe it was a mistake by either of us. Maybe she just happened to look at my direction while swatting a fly from her face. Or maybe I'm really starting to lose it.

To whoever that was, if you knew me and if you're reading this right now, I'm really sorry about that.

To everyone else, please keep the "you're getting old" and other related comments to a minimum. It's hard enough as it is!

Anyway, I have to get back to studying for my Film 100 exam tomorrow.

they got him!

FINALLY.

let's end this war

Casualties are mounting in the ongoing military offensive in Basilan. The latest skirmish cost the lives of 15 soldiers, including 5 junior officers. This brings the total count of losses to 57.

57 soldiers have already died fighting the Abu Sayaff. Why continue fighting? Why send more to their deaths? Let's just halt the offensive; stop this war and bring our soldiers home.

Let's heed the call of the bishops, civil society, congressmen and the media. Stop wasting lives and recall the Marines. Call off the airstrikes and silence the artillery.

Withdraw all troops from Basilan and Sulu. Send in humanitarians instead; doctors, teachers, engineers. Send in food and supplies for those displaced by the fighting.

Yes, let's back down from the fight, for peace is the only way.

But wait, aren't we forgetting something?

Something like the 300 or so terrorists calling themselves the Abu Sayaff?

What about them? Should we leave them in peace? Should we leave their group intact, their cause alive? Why did we send 9,000 troops to the South in the first place?

Why the hell did 57 soldiers die?

They died doing their job. They died fighting the enemy. They died protecting our freedom. They died for us.

And yet there are some among us who couldn't care less about the soldiers' sacrifice; those who balk at the mere thought of bloodshed, those who wish to surrender to the terrorists, those who want to coddle and abet terrorism.

These people seem to forget that we are in a war, and in war, people die. This war is no exception. If we want to rid ourselves of the terrorists, we have to crack down on them. Hard. That is the job of the Army, of the Air Force, of the Navy, and of the Marines. A war without casualties to our side would be most welcome, but we must remain open to the idea that some of our soldiers may never come home.

The root cause of terrorism is terrorism, for the radical ideas spawned by terrorist leaders are not born out of poverty and social inequality. Rather, they feed upon and exploit these ills of society, and they actively work to sustain their largest source of manpower and resources regardless of the loss of life and property.

If we don't want this weed to spread and wreck all that we have built and created we have to uproot it from the ground with full force. And once it's out of the ground we have to burn it, incinerate it and scatter the ashes to the wind.

No amount of economic development and humanitarian aid can deter these terrorists from sowing chaos and confusion; we would end up sending unarmed civilians to unsecured areas. The Abu Sayaff won't stop their violent ways unless their goals are attained, and you can be sure that those goals don't include a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao.

If we want a true and lasting peace in the South, we must act now and completely destroy all traces of the Abu Sayaff and Jemaah Islamiyah. Then, and only then, when the islands are secure and combat has ceased, can development and aid flow in to secure an even stronger peace.

So, let's end this war. Withdraw the troops, and give the Abu Sayaff some breathing space. Let's surrender to the terrorists, and watch and wait for more terrorists to arrive at the pushover which was once the Republic of the Philippines. Let's bicker among ourselves instead of wholeheartedly supporting the troops in the South; let them see what they're fighting for, and watch as demoralization sets in.

Or we can continue the offensive. Push hard and never let up on the terrorists. Keep them on the run and maintain the pressure. Hound them to their graves, and pursue the mission to its true end.

Let's end this war, but only when the enemy is completely and utterly destroyed.

The quickest way to end a war is to lose it. --George Orwell

raindrops are falling on my head

This is starting to become a habit.

With Monday having been declared as a 'special holiday', I'm looking at an extremely long weekend. I've been cooped up here at home since Wednesday, thanks to the torrential rains brought by the typhoon.

Of course this 'vacation' will cost us all time and money, not to mention opportunities. Yes, opportunities to learn and do things, to meet other people, to go places. But for me, it's mostly about missing my allowance.

Having to go to school at 10AM everyday has been a blessing. I haven't yet experienced the frustration of learning that classes have been suspended again while being stuck in a flooded street. However, that has not made me any less annoyed at the dolts in the DepEd or CHED or NDCC or the local government or whoever the hell is supposed to suspend classes. You would think that these guys would have learned by now that suspending classes at the last minute is not a very good idea.

The irony just amazes me. The DepEd and CHED should have learned something by now about typhoons and their effect on our overcrowded metropolis.

There's something else I wanted to write about here, but I just can't remember what it was. My short-term memory seems to be going haywire; sometimes I look up from what I was doing and forget what I was doing. This problem manifests itself mostly when I'm doing something on the computer. I open up a new tab and then I forget what page I wanted to open in that new tab. I open up a webpage and once it's up I forget why I opened it up. I plan to do something yet a moment later I forget what it was and end up doing nothing. It's really frustrating.

Maybe it's the stress of having to do so much in such a small amount of time. This little vacation sure as hell won't help matters! Once the rains end the work is going to pour down in a torrent, and time is against me. One and a half months to go ladies and gentlemen. One and a half months to go before my fate is finally sealed.

Nah, September is still a long way off. I'll probably be able to manage, especially with all the success I've experienced in the past weeks. Unless something else really screws everything up.

Haaay... I really love the weather, especially now that my shoes have finally been fixed. What were once battered pieces of leather worn and weathered by two years of unforgiving use are once again 100% capable of charging through mud and flood, keeping my feet safe and warm. Now all I need is a new jacket and a new bag. Attrition is eating everything up, and the meager resources I have on hand are just not enough to keep my things in shape.

So, what else can I write about? The final battle scene from Return of the Jedi is taking quite some time to download, and I have to do SOMETHING to combat the boredom inherent with waiting.

Ah... Waiting. My most annoying pet peeve. I don't like waiting. I can't emphasize this enough. I abhor, despise, loathe waiting. I HATE waiting. I-- well would you look at that, download complete!

I need some coffee.

midnight coffee break

Mid-semester already, and things have taken a turn for the better. The two typhoons which hit the country last week did more than fill up reservoirs and water dry fields; they also gave me a lot of breathing space.

My Film 100 report has been pushed back a full two weeks, giving me a lot of time to fix up my Powerpoint presentation. My Natural Science 2 exam, originally scheduled for last Thursday, was a cake walk when I took it this afternoon.

I also got the results of my English 1 exam today. I really enjoy being singled out for recognition and, yes, this morning was no exception. Ahhh... I can already hear the Hallelujah chorus...

How I wish that everyday would be like today, with everything falling into place right where I want them. THAT is my perfect world - everything goes MY way.

Maybe that's why I have such an aversion to democracy.

Right, my inner dictator is once again asserting itself- down Adolf, down! Okay. The caffeine is really coming in strong.

I'm back to two cups of coffee everyday; the regular supply of milk and sugar has been reestablished. The random instances of perkiness and unexplained delight have also returned.

Remember my posts about anti-insect weapons, what Albert so fittingly called SLLs (sandatang laban sa lamok)? Well, I guess my dream of a complete and effective defense against those useless and annoying bloodsuckers is one step closer to reality.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, one step closer, thanks to the USB Rocket Launcher! I'm not kidding folks! For only a little less than 5000 pesos I can have one of these babies up and running (firing, actually) in minutes.

Of course it's not accurate or fast enough to take out my little bloodsucking friends, but it's good enough to defend my space from my little sister's dog. Hehehe...

Who knows? Maybe in a few years my dream would finally become a reality... Bwahahaha! Now if THAT dream could become a reality, why not the OTHER dream too?

Guess what that one is...

who the hell are these people?!?

time out

The Internet cafe is now my friend. Globelines really messed up this time.

I have been out of the online loop for four days now, and the withdrawal symptoms are starting to show. Yes, thank God for outsourcing. At least I'm not completely cut-off from the world!

But there are times when being cut-off from the world (well, the online world at least) can be a real blessing. I was swamped by a virtual deluge of messages the moment I opened up my email accounts: over 200 from Gmail and Yahoo combined. I've just spent the last hour reading through requests for jackets and various org-related stuff, and now I've got one hell of a headache trying to make heads and tails of all the conflicting requests for this and that color and all the work that's piling up on me.

Maybe my 'friends' at Globe were doing me a favor by keeping me away from my email. At least I had a 'relaxing' weekend (yeah, when I was not worrying about all the messages I was missing).

Oh, there was the Wii. Yes, I finally got my hands on a Nintendo Wii. Weeee! Beating my cousins on virtual tennis was very satisfying, though getting beat up in boxing was extremely frustrating.

Well, my time here is up. Duty calls. I really need a vacation. Yep, and this is only about my frustrations with the Internet. Wait until you hear about the other stuff. Hehehehe...

peace through power

It's all a waste of time. Having "peace talks" with people who have all but declared their burning desire to have you crash and burn is at best a pipe dream. Accommodating those who use the promise of peace as leverage to get what they want yet stab you in the back again and again AND AGAIN is plain stupidity.

When people actively work to bring you down and destroy you, would you try to talk to them? And if you did, could you get them to lay down their arms, shake hands, and let bygones be bygones? You would have to be a saint, a martyr, or absolutely moronic.

You do not talk peace with such people. To do so would be like digging your own grave. Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it is the presence of justice. Justice, in this case, is best served with overwhelming firepower.

Fourteen brave men died last week. That should have been enough, but no, the powers that be want restraint. They wish to protect a ceasefire agreement which was all but trampled upon in that treacherous ambush in Basilan.

Scores of people have died in the past. That should have been enough, but no, hypocritical ideologues and activists want to turn a blind eye to reality. They wish to repeal a law which, weak though it is, defines and penalizes terrorism.

We have all seen the signs and the evidence. We have all been witnesses before. Should we let such cancers as the Abu Sayyaf, the MILF, the CPP-NPA, and all their ilk continue their reign of terror? Should we accommodate their duplicitous offerings of peace, or should we speak to them in the one language they understand?

Enough talk. Wipe them out. All of them.

a break in the clouds

I love this weather. It's cool outside, and I have the perfect excuse to wear my favorite jacket.

My life is nearing some sort of normalcy, as my schedule is achieving some regularity. Yep, it's now normal for me to leave home at 9 in the morning and be back by 8 in the evening. My academic life takes up most of my time, and my social life is squeezing into whatever gaps my subjects and readings leave behind. This leaves barely enough time for my online life, hence the dearth of any serious posts.

A lot of things have been happening around me. I have a lot of things to do, foremost is my job as Finance Cluster Coordinator of the UP Astronomical Society.
*oooh... that felt good... cha-ching! hehehehe...*
I don't count the academic work here because, quite frankly, it's not worth mentioning. All I have to do is to read, read, read, read some more, maybe write a bit, speak up some, read even more, (did I mention read?) and pass some exams. I just blew through my Nat Sci 2 first exam last Thursday, and I didn't even break a sweat. Of course the semester has only just begun, and things are bound to change.

I plan on joining the UP Debate Society (while I have a chance!) to further enhance my chances of getting into the UP College of Law some two years from now, assuming I get into a decent course by next semester.

This is probably the longest post I've written in a month as I have had to compete for ample computer time at home, hence the spate of one-liner posts and random photo uploads. I'm using Erika's laptop to write this one. Yes, I'm now into outsourcing.

It really is relaxing to just let your thoughts flow from your mind. If only I could feel as relaxed when speaking to a group of people or in class... Effective communication translates into power; power to affect views, power to influence thoughts, power to change the world.

Hala. Ayan na. Tama na muna. Hehehehe...

here comes the rain

Being stranded by the pouring rain at the Katipunan LRT station along with fellow commuters was a most enjoyable experience punctuated by moments of joyous exaltation and fruitful conversation.

I need new shoes. Toss in a new umbrella and jacket. Maybe even add a car. Thanks.

monday morning blahs

Tinatamad na ako.

It's Monday, and the virus spawned by my ill-advised and hasty decision to skip class last Friday is manifesting itself once again.

My head hurts. I want to lie down. I want to sleep more. I want to rest.

My coffee is still too hot, but I have to get going in 15 minutes. I can't afford to be late again. Here's to another caffeine rush.

I feel like I'm being pushed to the limit. I want to push back. I want to strike back. I want to- nah... I'll keep that one for myself - in places no one will find.

070707

Wala lang. Still nice to have a record of such a unique date though.

Hehehehehe...

Labo ko talaga...

now this is cute... :p

This is one of the cleverest
E-mails I've received in awhile.
Someone out there either has too much
spare time or is deadly at Scrabble.
(Wait till you see the last one)!

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION: When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES: !
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

Yep! Someone with waaaaaaaaaaay
too much time on their hands! (Probably a son-in-law).
Bet your friends haven't seen this one!!!

outsourcing

I'm using a public computer for the first time in months.

Go figure.

thoughts on a saturday

What's worse than waking up at 5:30 in the morning just so you could get to your 8:30 class on time and then finding out that said class was cancelled?

Waking up at 5:30 in the morning ON A SATURDAY just so you could get to your 8:30 class on time and then finding out that said class was cancelled!

It was a good thing that my dad drove me to school this morning; if I had commuted I would have been doubly frustrated and annoyed at having to go to school on a Saturday. Yes, it's my fault for enlisting in a Saturday class. However, bad enough as my one-day weekend is, the alternative is even worse.

Well, look at the bright side. I got some other things done. My English 1 readings are complete, my hair is back to normal length, and I got some bread for the table. Too bad the computer shop near our home was packed; I could have gotten in two hours of Command & Conquer 3.

My reading and writing skills have been in demand for the past few days. Aside from papers and assignments for class, I've been writing some parts and editing almost all of the documents needed for our org's recognition. Maybe I've found my true calling... Hehehe...

I'm still adjusting to the new school year. I have always been late for my first class of the day, which, by the way, is at 10 in the morning. I seem to have trouble getting out of the house; the computer monitor is just so hypnotic...

***
I've been giving some thought to what I've posted before. Easy subjects plus multi-hour breaks equals a lot of thinking time. I really don't think it's going to be an effective deterrent, given some of its shortcomings.

A CIWS (close in weapon system) is just that: close range only. Targeting, tracking, and shooting are limited to line-of-sight only. What I really need to deter would-be blood-suckers plus the more maneuverable flies and the tougher-skinned cockroaches is a mini SAM (surface to air missile) system.

With an even greater engagement range than the aforementioned Phalanx CIWS, the ability to home in on locked targets, and the capability to deliver high explosives to the targets, a SAM system would effectively deny the airspace around me to any annoying insect.

Of course fighter jets are needed to maintain complete air superiority, and once I get some I plan to keep a full combat air patrol around me at all times. However, in their absence a SAM battery would do quite well in keeping me safe from dengue and malaria.

I need a new computer. Obviously, I need to get some things out of my system. Hehehe...

university of pila

So much for the first week of class. I got my PI 100 class, but the cost was just too much. I spent half of my day in a long, winding line at Palma Hall. It was hot, it was tiring, and it was all a waste of time. I spent nearly two hours standing there, only to be told that I had to go to another line at the University Registrar, where chaos and confusion reigned.

It was a good thing that Erika kept me company for most of the time, as I was already fuming and foaming at the mouth for having been forced to hop from building to building in a vain effort to find out just where the hell I had to go to get my change of matriculation assessed. And as if just to add insult to injury, all the waiting and walking was just so someone could write ''910" on my Form 26. I could have done that myself! Of course there's probably some bureaucratic purpose for all the building-hopping and waiting in line but spend some time in my shoes and I'm sure you would understand why I spent the last few hours in an evil mood waiting for a chance to snap at somebody -anybody- just to be able to blow off all the frustration welling up inside me.

''Vents" did appear from time to time, and light moments prevented my mood from getting worse. However, I still haven't paid for my PI 100 class, and I'm afraid that I would have to once again endure the endless lines which rightfully give UP the moniker ''University of Pila".

***
So what else is new...

The mosquitoes are currently feasting on my royal blood. I'm back to my Sunken Garden moments, thanks to my very open schedule. Of course this would mean more time for me to complete my requirements, but somehow I feel that... Nah... It's still too early in the sem to be thinking about that.

Someday I'll develop a miniature anti-aircraft gun which I'll carry everywhere with me. Think of a Phalanx CIWS gun, only the size of a 10-peso coin. I'll have someone else develop nano bullets and a virtual reality targeting system. Killing mosquitoes will never be the same again, or at least until I get my hands on a squadron of micro fighter jets... Won't that be sweet...

deterrence

While checking my email this morning, an article on Yahoo! News caught my eye:

Studies say death penalty deters crime

Hmmm... Interesting.

What the article says is that several studies over the last few years have shown that the death penalty DOES act as a deterrent to murder.

'They count between three and 18 lives that would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer.'

If the analysis and the conclusions of these studies are proven correct, they would make a very compelling reason to cut short the moratorium on executions imposed by President Arroyo here in the Philippines.

I have always been a proponent of the death penalty, more so after I was mugged on the way to school - even more so after hearing news of people being killed in their own homes.

In a supposedly Catholic country like ours such a view would be frowned upon. But how such barbaric acts as murder and rape still happen here escapes me.

There is the argument that crime is created by poverty, and that fixing up the economy rather than executing criminals would eliminate the crime problem. Fine. I agree, to some extent. However, explain to me why congressmen and mayors are in jail for rape and murder. Explain to me why a former President is being tried for plunder and corruption.

The pro-life movement and the Church would rather have death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. With our jails being packed with even more inmates, Amnesty International and other 'rights' groups would complain about the welfare of criminals.

The welfare of criminals.

What about the welfare of their victims?

I believe that convicted criminals should have no rights at all, especially those found guilty of capital crimes. They forfeited their rights the moment they violated the rights of their victims.

Of course everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but once proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt... Well... There you go. I prefer hard labor for lesser criminals, and the electric chair for the bigger ones. A firing squad would do for the more high-profile criminals. (A more detailed entry on my views on this can be found in an earlier Blogger post)

Justice, swift and sure, would do much to prevent more criminal acts in the future. A few 'examples' here and there would probably obviate the need for a death penalty. Yes, take the esteemed congressman-rapist from his luxurious "jail cell" and put him up against the wall. Or strap him to a chair. Just don't use the syringe; it's too humane.

Deterrence worked well in keeping the Cold War from turning into World War Three; having an answer to the other guy's big guns seems to have done the trick.

Deterrence today would make our streets and our homes safe.

what's your style?

Andre, you've got a Cool 'n' Casual style

Fashion is a balancing act for a mellow mind like yours. Comfort reigns supreme, and you won't sacrifice a lot of it just to stock up on what will likely be a passing fad (Ugg boots, anyone?). Your closet is probably filled with more classic styles, colors, and looks than anything else.

After all, you try to make your look fun and don't take fashion too seriously. But that's exactly what makes you so stylish and interesting. Your look highlights who you are — and that's the hottest thing going.

what color do you need?

You Need Some Black in Your Life

Black will make you feel powerful, in control, and not bound to what other people think of you. And with a little black, you will project an aura of mystery, rebellion, and dominance. If you want people to respect you, you've got to get a little black in your life! For extra punch: Combine black with orange or red. The downside of black: People won't be able to "read" you - and may perceive you as more aggressive than you actually are. The consequences of more black in your life: You'll become a figure of intrigue and speculation. You'll be better prepared for life's unknown path. You'll rest better and free yourself of expectations.

What Color Do You Need?

my signature color

http://i.emode.com/tests/signaturecolor/images/sterling_s.gif" alt="Take this test at Tickle" border="0" height="115" width="120">

Andre, your signature color is Sterling Blue

You've got a good head on your shoulders and you're not afraid to use it. Serious, intellectual types like you meet their match with a cool color that sparkles with the same striking intelligence as you do. That's why Sterling Blue is the ideal match for you! This is not to say that you've always got your head in a book. Not by any stretch. While you may not be the person at the party kicking off the karaoke, you're probably the one starting up stimulating conversations and making your cohorts chuckle with your quick wit. You're likely to have an insatiable curiosity that's catchy, and friends who know that you are a great person to turn to when they need a logical head to help them sort through their problems. So keep it up with your sterling hue of blue. You probably have a way of keeping things deep that people truly appreciate!

What's Your Signature Color?
Brought to you by Tickle

three years ago...

Let's take a break from blogthings shall we? Hehehehe...

Tickle naman! (Thanks Ly!)

The tests below were taken three years ago [hence the title(obvious ba?)]. Yes. I'm posting three-year old test results from my just reactivated Tickle account. Phd-certified daw e. (Nagpaloko naman ako... hehehe...)
Let's see if I've changed much in the past few years...

***
Andre, on a scale of 1-100, your Power Quotient is 90!

This number is based on how you answered the questions in this test and how you compare to others.
Your power style is Fearless. This means you're the kind of person other people look to for answers. You speak your mind and are a natural leader. Your blunt, no-nonsense style and your ability to get the job done command the respect and admiration of those around you.

***
Andre, you're a Bargain Hunter

In your life, you're willing to go the extra mile in order to find a good deal. Whenever possible, you hold out until you can find the least expensive version of something you need. Your patience and persistence generally leads you to significant savings, which you likely take great pride in. While some may mistakenly think you are cheap and puzzle over why you prefer thrift stores to overpriced boutiques, you're content to let them squander their cash while you chase down a great bargain.

When it comes to your financial state, you tend to feel like you're about where you think you should be.

***
Andre, you're a Politician!

Your personality is actually determined by two personality sub-types - your primary, or dominant sub-type, and your secondary sub-type. You are a Politician which means you are a Success / Golden Your primary sub-type is defined by "Success" characteristics and your secondary sub-type is defined by "Golden" characteristics.

That means you're forceful, innovative, and popular with the masses. Chances are you aggressively pursue your goals, and you enjoy impressing people. You've always been surrounded by friends and loved ones and have a natural sense of showmanship.

***
Andre, your IQ score is 102

Your overall intelligence quotient is the result of a scientifically-tested formula based on how many questions you answered correctly. But it's only part of what we learned about you from your answers on the test. We also determined the way you process information.

The way you think about things makes you an Intuitive Interpreter. This means you are a highly conceptual thinker. Rather than focusing on facts and figures, you look at the big picture. You are less inclined to need to walk through something step by step to understand the logic behind it. This also lets you make connections between something you learned three weeks ago and something you are learning today. While other people need those types of connections pointed out for them, you just naturally make them.

***
Normal posting will resume (probably) next week. Hehehehe...

what kind of chocolate are you?

You are Milk Chocolate

A total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds. You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life. Also nostalgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment... even those from long ago.

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

are you a cheapskate?

You Are a Cheapskate

You're so cheap, you probably turn your underwear inside out to wear it the next day ;-)Seriously though, while times may be tough - you need to work on being a little more generous.No one likes a cheap person. So give what you can, and scale back on the things you truly can't afford.

Are You a Cheapskate?

are you a perfectionist?

You Are 78% Perfectionist

You are a true perfectionist. You are both demanding of yourself and others. While it's great to have goals and standards, they don't need to be sky high!

Are You a Perfectionist?

here's the kicker

You Are 68% Addicted to Blogthings

You lead the pack when it comes to posting Blogthings. And your friends (mostly) thank you for it. It's cute that you insist on being called your Japanese name. Just stop bragging about your IQ score!

How Addicted To Blogthings Are You?

***
hehehehehe... :p

inside the room of your soul

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are a warm hearted and open minded person. It's easy for you to forgive and forget. You are not a very grounded person. You prefer dreams to reality. For you, it's all about possibilities. You see yourself with pretty objective eyes. How you view yourself is almost exactly how other people view you. Your near future is still unknown, and a little scary. You'll get through wild times - and you'll textually enjoy it. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

are you immature?

You Are Somewhat Mature

You definitely act like an adult sometimes, but a big part of you is still a kid at heart. While your immature side is definitely fun, you're going to have to grow up sooner or later.

Are You Immature?

what color is your aura?

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

what temperament are you?

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything. You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life. You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you. Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace. You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life. Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times. At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you. You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others. You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperament Are You?

are you a tortured genius?

You Are 74% Tortured Genius

You are smart. Brilliant in fact. And while it's a blessing, it's also a curse.Your head is filled with everything - grand ideas, insufferable worries, and a good deal of angst.

Are You a Tortured Genius?

act of war

I just lost my Yahoo email account in a surprise dawn attack. The notification email I received through Hotmail said that *someone* changed my password at 1:05 AM. I tried to retrieve the password, but for some reason the new passwords generated by Yahoo don't work. Apparently, *someone* did more damage than I thought.

I know who did it. The sad thing is that I've trusted that person. Ironically, she doesn't trust me.
For the past few hours I've been scrambling to shore up all my other accounts' security. The enemy had achieved complete tactical surprise; I won't let it happen again. Note to self: never tell anyone else more than what they need to know.

I've always considered an attack on anything I own as an act of war. Call me crazy, but isn't the deliberate destruction of other people's property an unfriendly act?

And all this over such a stupid and trivial issue. Apparently, she would rather listen to the little voices in her fat stupid head than to reason and reality. I can't be with someone who doesn't -won't- trust me.

Of course there is more to this issue than what I'm writing here. But, as always, I won't tell more than what I need to write this blog entry. It's policy. And principle. If *someone* would only appreciate that then we probably won't be in this situation in the first place!

I've moved to a Gmail account. If you need to email me, send me a personal message and I'll tell you my new address there.

The best way to handle this situation would probably be with a proportional response. However, I cannot -will not- tolerate a repeat of this event.

Reciprocity. That's the answer.

ramblings

It's a miracle. I have nothing to do, so I now have some time to just sit back and relax, and maybe even reflect; if only the damned infernal heat would let up my relaxation would be complete. The past year had brought a lot of changes into my life; some welcome, most not. A lot of things have happened, but I shall spare the reader a long and rambling account of yesteryear. Let's focus on today, shall we? Dwelling on the past will get you nowhere. I am now forced to make decisions which I have never even dreamed of making. I am facing problems which I have never even considered facing. I must be getting old. Yes, that's it. I'm no longer a kid, I'm 20 years old! Damn! How I wish that I could escape from this nightmare. Sometimes l hope to wake up in a luxurious mansion, free from all these problems. Escapism. Shit. What the hell happened to "not one step backwards?" Well, you idiot, that's a line from Enemy at the Gates! And Call of Duty, in the Russian campaign. Those poor peasants, they had no choice but to run into German machine guns, or else face the guns of Russian commissars. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. I may have to rethink some of my policies. I may have to rethink my strategies. I may have to reassess my objectives. Machiavelli might have some good pointers. The end justifies the means.

Why is it so hard to build a relationship, so difficult to maintain it, and yet so easy to destroy it? It's so frustrating. Maybe that's what's keeping me up until the wee hours of the morning. But why am I so bothered by this? Why should I lose sleep over such a trivial issue? Why should I care about it? Because she's a friend? Haaay... Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I shouldn't care so much. She doesn't care. Why should I? Yes. That's it. To hell with it all.

My life needs to be reassessed. A lot of things will change. A lot of things have changed.

what time of day are you?

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

the five factor values test

Your Values Profile

Loyalty: You value loyalty a fair amount. You're loyal to your friends... to a point. But if they cross you, you will reconsider your loyalties. Staying true to others is important to you, but you also stay true to yourself. Honesty: You value honesty a fair amount. You're honest when you can be, but you aren't a stickler for it. If a little white lie will make a situation more comfortable, you'll go for it. In the end, you mostly care about "situational integrity." Generosity: You don't really value generosity. Your needs always come first, no matter what. And you'll possibly help someone else out... But only if it helps you in return. Humility: You value humility a fair amount. You tend to be an easy going, humble person. But occasionally your ego takes over. You have a slight competitive streak - and the need to be the best. Tolerance: You value tolerance a fair amount. You are open to new cultures, beliefs, and ideas. You have very few prejudices that you're aware of. And while you are tolerant, you do stand true to what you believe.

The Five Factor Values Test

what do your hands say about you?

What Your Hands Say About You

You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills. Idealistic and dreamy, you tend toward the impractical. You have a knack for getting yourself in sticky situations. Brainy and intelligent, you are intellectual to the point of being incomprehensible. Your emotions tend to be nervous and potent. Your energy - both positive and negative - deeply impacts your life.

What Do Your Hands Say About You?

what does your favorite color say about you?

What Your Favorite Color Black Says About You:

Timeless --- Stylish --- Sophisticated Overpowering --- Intimidating --- Dominant Perfectionist --- Controlling --- Competent

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?