February 2011

Admittedly, it was a busy month for me. I was surrounded by papers - pleadings and test papers! Nevertheless, it was still a month full of blessings for me!





Allan surprised me with flowers and chocolate! I am not the usual "flowers-and-chocolates" girl, but I do know how to appreciate one's effort!

Sidelights:
Gibb and Felai's wedding
Through God's grace, ironed a major kink in our tickets for March!

Sleeping Beauty

I'm a big fan of sleep.

Even if I was just a student, I was not the type who would study until the wee hours of the morning until I have covered everything and reread everything, except for a really few instances.

I really believe that one should have sufficient sleep to be able to think better.

I first learned that 8 hours of sleep is sufficient. I read somewhere that 6 to 8 hours will do. Then, a former office mate of mine said 7 is perfect number.

So, it has been like that - a goal for me: 7 hours of sleep each day.

Of course, when I was working as a Computer Analyst before, there were a number of times in which this was too much a goal for me. When work piles up, I sleep shorter than 6 hours. But, what could I do? Sometimes this would go on even on weekends just so that we would meet our deadlines.

I try to make up my lack of sleep during the weekends. But I read somewhere that this would still do no good. Anyway, in the beginning, I try to sleep until noon or even thereafter. on weekends. But later on, I realized that I would just be wasting my day if I spent half of it sleeping when there are some stuff that I could do.

I grew up with no alarm clocks. I had my own body clock and the rhythm of our household to wake me up. I began using alarm clocks when I started to work. When I went back to law school, I only used the alarm clock when we had a morning exam, and I just relied on my body clock for the other days. I am now back to using an alarm clock since I am already working.

I also read that a 15 to 30 minute nap each day would also do better for your brain. Actually, I grew up with this since my father used to go home for lunch and took a nap thereafter. Of course, I couldn't take a nap when I was in school. I also did not take naps when I worked before since I get a headache thereafter. I know, weird! But I do take naps on weekends.

I thought of writing these thoughts last night since it has been two weeks since the last time I did not use an alarm clock. I was so grateful for it yesterday and today - a weekend with no alarm clock and sufficient sleep. ;)

And after knowing that a friend is having difficulty in sleeping, I found time to blog this one today.

Good night. Sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite ;)

Estudyante Blues

Teacher: What comes to mind when you hear the word "EVICTION"?
Students: PBB!
(Wannabes?)

-oOo-

Student: Ma'am, pwede wala na lang adjusting entries? Lisod man gud.
Teacher: Aww, ayaw na lang pag-eskwela. Dali ra.
(Smile na lang!)

-oOo-

Student: Ma'am, katulogon gud mi. Hapon man gud.
Teacher: Ai, ako kanina katulogon din. Pero ngayon, hindi na. Alam mo ano ang solution?
Student: Hindi ma'am.
Teacher: Ikaw maglecture dito.
(Nawala jud ang katulogon!)

-oOo-

Student: Ma'am, nacheck na ang mga notebook? Pwede na namin makuha?
Teacher: Ah, oo .. nacheck na. Pero mamaya niyo na kunin. Alangan naman iwan niyo lang ako dito sa classroom.
(Nagklase pa di ai si ma'am)

-oOo-

Student: Ma'am, mag-quiz ngayon?
Teacher: Hindi man. Bago lang tayo nag-quiz last meeting. Bakit? Gusto mo? Sige, mag-quiz tayo.
Student: Hindi ma'am! Hindi ma'am!
(Praning?)

-oOo-

Teacher: Ok, that's it for today. See you next week since there will be no classes from Wednesday to Friday.
Students: Yehey! (Claps hands!)
Teacher: At masaya kayo na hindi niyo ako makita. Ganun pala ha? Akala niyo kayo lang masaya. Sige, class see you next week. Yehey! (Also claps hands!)
(Everybody happy!)

-oOo-

Student:

Statistically Speaking

"SWS : Unemployment up, now affects 11.3M Pinoys"

Yup, that's one of the recent news you have probably heard or read.

I think it is pretty much a known fact that a number of people here in the Philippines are not employed.

But are we just going to end up with that statistics that the unemployment rate goes up?

Has anybody checked out the number of job fairs held every now and then, not just within this city but in Metro Manila as well?

Has anybody checked out the classified ads in newspapers with companies looking for people to hire, not just the national newspapers but local as well?

Has anybody asked why these people, who are part of the statistics, are unemployed?

Maybe some are just overqualified.

Maybe some just lack qualifications.

Maybe some just do not want to work in those fields where there is much hiring.

Maybe some work is not that appealing to many.

Maybe some feel that the compensation and benefits are not enough for that type of work.

Maybe some just do not want to work.

I know that the government should find ways to answer the unemployment problem.

But it does not end there. And it does not mean that we all have to blame it on our government.

I read the news everyday. And everyday. I read both the local and national news. I know I have something that keeps me going but I always check out the ads - companies looking for accountants, bookkeepers, drivers, sales person, etc. - and that's just within this city. If you check out the jobs section, there are huge ads from companies luring people to apply with them. They do not just offer bonuses, they even offer free breakfast! Most of them are looking for call center agents, among others.

Aside from that, has anybody noticed the job fairs in the malls every now and then? Jobs that are offered are not just for those who are interested to work within the Philippines but outside as well.

So, I guess it's pretty safe to say that there is more behind the statistics.

Just something to think about ;)

Dying Young

I will turn 30 soon.

A batchmate of mine passed away last week. He was 30. May he rest in peace.

So forgive me if I get a little bit sentimental today. Maybe morbid is the more appropriate term.

The concept of death is not actually something I dare not to tread. Family and friends who know me for quite a number of years are not shocked anymore on how open I talk about it compared to the general population.

I don't know why I am like that.

When I was in sixth grade and my grandmother passed away, there were a lot of people visiting the wake considering that my grandfather was a barangay captain for 25 years. When I noticed it, I said "kung si lolo ang mamatay, mas madaming tao magbisita". I was told not to say that again, no matter how true the statement is.

In college, I was asked by my friend why I talk about death openly. She was wondering whether I get worried if I get to heaven or hell or purgatory. She worries about that. Truth be told, I pray I'll go to heaven but I don't really know where I'm going (who does?). But such concept of afterlife eludes my mind when I talk of death.

When this popular heartthrob died years ago, I thought of my college graduation picture as the one that should be placed near my coffin. I look happy and dignified and youthful in that picture. I can't find any other more suitable picture for now.

Don't be surprised if you hear statements from me like "ok naman sa akin mamatay" or "if mamatay ako, ok lang sa akin na ganito mangyari" or "hala, walang sisihan pag namatay si ganito" (Knock on wood!).

I actually could go on and on with my morbid concepts. Morbid but practical and real, I think.

I don't know where I get this kind of attitude. What I do I know is that this kind of thinking helps me appreciate more the fact of how blessed I am with this life and how I have to spend the rest of my life.

I had a teacher in philosophy who said that we are all dying. And I agree with him. We all know that we live with a borrowed life - and that's makes us all dying. It's not for us to decide when and how we are going to die. The only thing we can do is how we are going to live. And I am making the most of this borrowed life as best as I know I could.

Dear John

When sky blue gets dark enough
To see the colors of the city lights
I guess
I had to be there
Oh, make me a red cape
I wanna be superman
Yes, I'm grounded
Got my wings clipped

The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle days
But I can't break through it all
It's a heart, heartbreak
I've tried to define it
In a million different ways
It's just the way you move
The way you move me

I worry
Now, I'm starting to see
When you're dreaming with a broken heart
The giving up is the hardest part
Free fallin'
Now I'm free fallin'
Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down

Stayin' home alone on a Friday
Flat on the floor lookin' back
I send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my message in a bottle
Looks like the joke's on me
So call me captain backfire
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
Take out of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
We share the sadness
Split screen sadness
Oh, half of my heart's got a grip on the situation
Half of my heart takes time
So I keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change

Salt

I am not an Angelina Jolie fan.

I know she's beautiful. I am aware that she is a great actress. I am aware of her endeavours.

But that does not make me a fan of hers.

Let's just say that I am Team Jennifer .. hehe. Ok, let me explain it further. I just did not like the timing when she entered into the picture of Brad and Jennifer. Yeah, sure .. Brad and Jennifer already had their problems by the time she came. Yeah, sure .. Brad and Angelina are in love. I won't take it away from them. It was not just the right timing. And it just so that it happened around that time when my friend was in the same situation, more or less ...

And while my friend has already moved on and even watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I still haven't.

The last flick I watched which starred Angelina was Shark Tale. And she was not even there on screen.

Yes, I haven't watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Kung Fu Panda, Alexander, etc.

But around 2 weeks ago, I took the guts to watch Salt. Why?

I love action movies. I got curious with its trailer. My sister told me it was cool. And I need to move on (haha ..)

Salt was cool. Angelina did amazing stunts. But I sort of had an inkling of what's going to happen. That stole a little excitement from me.

No regrets there, though.