Nostalgia: Mabagyong Buhay Masci

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

I wrote this article 3 years ago for The Mascian:

"Sukob na! Halika na! Sabay tayo sa payong ko..."

Yan ang kinakanta ng mga kapamilya nating taga-ABSCBN the rainy season last year... Pero, pagdating sa Masci, hindi ganyan ka-romantic ang tag-ulan natin. Andyan ang pambaliktad-payong na hangin, nakaka-sipong ulan at siyempre, mawawala ba ang minsan lampas tao na baha --- bahang di lamang sa kalsada makikita kung hindi pati sa lovers' lane. Isama na rin natin ang mga tiny puddles sa quad, hallways at lalung-lalo na sa CR. Hindi nyo na matatakasan ang mabagyong buhay diyan sa Masci. Kaya ang mabibigay lamang ng The Mascian ay kaunting rainy-day tips sa inyo:

1. Alamin ang panahon bago umalis sa lungga mo.

Manood ka man sa "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" o sa "Unang Hirit", walang pagkakaiba yun. Basta malaman mo lang na babagyo o hindi. Kung may signal na, mas maganda na ring huwag pumasok. Pero huwag namang EXAG. Mamaya, ambun-ambon lang, di ka na pumasok...

2. Know your surroundings.

Kung alam nyong palaging binabaha sa paligid mo, laging magdala ng bangka... hindi joke lang. Kung binabaha nga naman ang lugar nyo ng matindi, mas matalino nang magstay sa bahay. Mahirap na ang ma-shoot sa mga manhole na nakakalat sa tabi-tabi...

3. Maging laging handa.

Alam naman natin lahat ang kailangan kung umuulan. Laging magdala ng payong, kapote o kung puwede pa - bota. Para safe di ba? At kung nasa FX o sasakyan kayo papuntang school, makinig ng radyo. Sa mga ganitong panahon, hindi advisable ang matulog sa vehicle. Be alert. Kaya nga may halos dose oras tayong klase di ba? Para matulog? Ooops.. joke na naman yun... Magdala rin ng extrang saplot sa katawan katulad ng t-shirt, pantalon, brip/panty (basta underwear), medyas, atbp. Para diretso na sa Robinson's pagkatapos di ba? (Joke joke joke!)

4. Huwag mag-panic sa baha.

Minsan, sa isang buhay ng Mascian, ay mapepeste ka. Lalo na kung ang mga dadaanan mo ay lubog sa baha, malamang ay ibababa ka na ng FX driver sa dulo ng street at lalakarin mo na lang... Para sa mga sitwasyon na walang takas katulad nito, ito ang tips namin sa inyo:
5. Yehey! Nasa Masci ka na!

Kung sa palagay mong masaya na ang buhay mo at nakarating ka na sa paroroonan mo, akala mo lang yun. Basa ka na, mabaho pa, jumingle ka pa sa underwear mo tapos papasok ka pa? Depende sa trip nyo yan mga tsong... Well, sa totoong buhay, pagdating mo sa gate ng masci ay lalo ka pang mapepeste dahil sa layo ng linakbay mo ay wala palang pasok. Pero mas lalo kang mapepeste kung may pasok pa rin pala (Ang gulo ko 'no?) Siyempre kung may pasok, puwede kang madulas sa CR, bahain sa lovers' lane, matalsikan ng putik sa quad, o ulanin sa classroom (oo, puwede mangyari yun sa Masci). Ano? Kaya nyo pa ba?

At yan ang mabagyong buhay Masci... saya 'no? Hehe.. Peace sa inyong lahat!

July 7, 2003

pepZ
10:20 PM
8 Episode Reviews

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Progress Report: Semana Uno

Monday, June 26, 2006

First week's done. Now let's see what we accomplished, sha' we?

Strenghten KADBin's Leadership

• Monthly Meeting: Present officers introduced
• Caucus: Plans for officer recruitment finalized
• District Meeting: Secretariat orientation and future activities unveiled
• Organization Census: Forms almost completed

CHECK!

Have a Closer Relationship with God

• Nightly Prayer Appointment: Estabished - every 9:30 PM
• Church Services: Indescribable

CHECK!

Be More Organized

• Daily and Project Schedule:Finalized
• Organizer Notebook: Filled-out

CHECK! This. Out.

Wonder how I spend a typical day? I took a Time Management test and look at this:

pepZ
9:39 PM
0 Episode Reviews

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Behind the Things #14: Backfire?

Friday, June 23, 2006

14. Be More Organized.

Funny.

It reads and sounds differently from what I'm doing now.

I'm more spaced out, more reckless, and lazier than ever before this week.

I maybe suffering from acute "First Week" flu. You know, when you allow yourself to slack off and screw up the first week of anything you do since you can "always" make up for it in the coming weeks. Well, the thing is you can never make it up. You get stuck; if not with the "flu" then with the consequences.

I feel like this task completely backfired on me. The plan was "be more organized", but instead, I felt the worst horrors and discomforts of being disorganized this week.

I relearned that when you're aimless and unsystematic:

• You lose stuff.
• You miss stuff.
• You forget stuff.
• You waste stuff.

Now that I've fixed my daily schedule, hope things fly right on target.

Tomorrow's another day.

pepZ
11:38 PM
2 Episode Reviews

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Juan

Thursday, June 22, 2006

I'm sooo frustrated.

I'm halfway into week 1 yet I haven't really accomplished anything yet.

I've been late to school Every. Single. Day. What's up with that?

Ang hirap pala kapag nakasanayan mo nang maging tamad at procrastinator. Even if I had my plans all laid out for that day, I just end up watching TV, surfing, or day dreaming.

Buti na lang at hindi pa naman nagugulo yung timeline ng tasks ko this week (see The Days). But I really need to be disciplined already. Siguro hinihintay ko lang yung pag-fix ng daily schedule ko tomorrow pero kailangan ko na talaga ng time management ngayon pa lang.

I have three things to do this week. Numbers 14, 20 and 21 (Am I playing Deal or No Deal?). I'm already having progress with 20 and 21 but not quite there yet.

I need to Pull. Myself. Together. NOW!

Late na naman akooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

pepZ
8:53 AM
2 Episode Reviews

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Yum

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

And it has begun.

It was a sky-high launch! The project made its debut last Sunday.

And to mark that new start, I made sure it would be un-for-gettable.

We had our KADIWA't Binhi (the Youth Organization which I preside) Monthly Meeting that day. The long, stressful days I had last week? It's all because of this. The preparations. The promotions. The event.

For those who don't know, this isn't just any ordinary "meeting".

Our main objective in the organization is to keep reminding the youth of our church not to stray - not to do things that might as well be left unsaid (READ: Naughty, bad, bad things). Meaning: As much as possible, we prevent them from being influenced by dark forces (READ: Masamang Barkada). MEANing: We invite and convince them to join several (wholesome but fun) activities in the org to expose them more to good deeds. MEANING: We have to be cool enough, funny enough, or good-looking enough to steal a fraction of their attention. MEEEANIIING: It's hard work.

Kids these days. Pffft.

It's hard to offer guidance to these people without sounding too preachy. And who likes too preachy? I don't. No one in this generation does. So we, as heads of the youth group, has to come up with different, interesting ways to snatch them into our "world".

And now - the "meeting". Just think of it as a live brochure of what the org is about and all its benefits to your mind and soul. We show pictures and video clips of our past activities and prove to them that having fun isn't about getting wild and drunk but doing things with your friends that are worthwhile, helpful and inspiring. In fact, last summer, we went to the beach, organized a sportsfest and then taught a bunch of (un)fortunate children. Now that was fun. And rewarding. Just ask Ching. And Jet.

And look, my to-do list that day before the Big Meeting at 4:30 PM:

1. Give out fliers. That was 6 in the morning and I looked really haggard and sleepy. I hope I didn't scare them off. Hehe.
2. Find a guest speaker. On the spot. Imagine that. I've been calling every nurse I know (since our topic was about Health: ChiKalusugan. Nice.) for two days and no one agreed to do it. I was sooo psyched when Joanna's mom showed up the last minute! She saved the day!
3. Make a music video. Since I'm no expert, editing and making that 5-minute video took me 3 hours. Time well spent, huh?
4. Make a powerpoint presentation. All recycled.
5. Encode. The Programme, the Topic Guide (which I coppasted* from the Net), the Certificates.
   
6. Photocopy. Freakin' 100 copies of everything.
7. Think of Ice Breakers. Pinoy Henyo. How original. But hey, it was fun.
8. Set-up the place. Tables, booths, souvenirs, etc. Whew!
9. Talk in front. This was the easiest. I could just ramble all day.

It was a success. Thank GOODNESS!

About 70-80 people attended. It was a small fraction out of the 800 sheeps(?!) we were looking after but it's ok. The promotion was weak but nevertheless, we were prepared.

But still, there were two things I would rather forget:

• Many of the facts I presented about the topic which I got from the Net was ALL. WRONG. As confirmed by our guest speaker. Damn you, GOOGLE!
• I forgot to retouch before I faced everybody! Nawala yung linigo ko! NYAKKK! It was embarrassing. Ang haggard ko raw. Halatang may binigay na effort sa event. Haha! Damn, my video coverage pala kami nun!
  

But all in all, at the end of the day, I felt great! Good start for the project.

Bad trip nga lang at on the way to Joe Kuan for my "Victory" dinner ay na-flatan kami ng gulong! Naglakad pa kami ni Jet waaay back sa bakeshop to get the extra tire. Whew! Exhausting talaga.

Yan tuloy naparami ang kain. Hehe.

Tocino. YUM.
Fried Rice. YUM.
Itlog. YUM.
Iced Tea. YUM.
Siomai. YUM.

Hay buhay. YUM.

*copy-paste

pepZ
10:07 PM
1 Episode Reviews

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Genesis

Sunday, June 18, 2006

This is it.

I woke up this morning feeling tired. I did not feel anything special. My thoughts were blank and I was a bit dazed. Then I remembered - this is the day. A reawakening. I got excited as if it was my birthday or something. It's funny how I make a big deal out of this stuff - this "project" - but I really was stuck in a rut for a very long time and it is freakin' time to get out.

But first, I need His help.

That was 4:30 in the morning. I stood up realizing how distant I have been.

I dressed up - wore Jet's shirt, pants and shoes then left.

I can't believe the sun's already peeking at 5 AM.

I went to church. I thought it was the best way to start the day and this journey. Of all things, what I need is guidance and I sincerely want it.

When I entered the building, I got really annoyed when it was already full - all seats were taken.

"Great way to start off, PePZ", I thought.

I had to sit in the "wings" of the building, waaay back in the church. I prayed, asked for forgiveness, and begged for His presence.

I did not feel a thing.

Then there it was - an empty seat. I saw one inside the main congregation. I knew that was what I needed so that I could be more focused on the service. I needed to feel something. Anything.

"Nakakahiya. Nag-uumpisa na tapos ang dami pang tao..."

Our church is very organized in our worship services especially when it comes to seating. And church officers are always around to make sure everything runs smoothly and orderly.

But still.

I stood up, walked a few steps across the room and took the seat. I got a few stares from an officer. He tapped my shoulder and said, "Doon ka na lang kaya." Pointing to a much better chair. Again, I went a few more meters.

Nothing.

Where is He? I was desperate.


FLASHBACK!

One year ago (June 14, 2005):


I just closed my eyes. Then the last choral song before the prayer started. Damn, I was still searching.

Inside me I was shouting, "God, please..."

And then there it was. It was the last 4 lines of the song when I got goosebumps. I felt Him.


FLASHBACK... (cont'd)

pepZ
9:28 PM
0 Episode Reviews

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Tick-tock

Friday, June 16, 2006

I'm exhausted.

One more day to go 'til I cut the ribbon on this project.

One. More. Day.

Can I do this? Ngayon pa nga lang ngarag na ako and my average hours of sleep is 4-5 na lang.

It has been a very long week yet I KNOW this weekend will be alot longer. Sayang ang dami ko pa namang kwento baka mawalan na ako ng time. Hehe.

Maaga na naman bukas. Need to regain strength.

Now Charging...

pepZ
11:09 PM
0 Episode Reviews

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Butterfly Carnival

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

First day high!

I proclaim this day as the Best First School Day in my life.

There really was no "event". It was rather a bunch of random stuff strung together.

But the day was great. I dunno but it was exciting and refreshing. It was as unpredictable as this horrible weather we are now experiencing. It has its downsides though. But I guess anything is waaay better than...

FLASHBACK!

My blog entry last year ("Second Day Funk"):

END OF FLASHBACK.

The horror. I remember it was like an endless horror train 'til I reached the Eng'g building.

At least today was all good. It was a nice roller coaster ride - with minor bumps, big drops and great rush.


THE TOP 3 BUMPS

1. Being tardy in my first class ever this semester. (Hate Public Transportation)
2. Sweating like a pig the whole day because of the damn weather.
3. Wasting money over a crappy dinner.

THE TOP 3 RUSH

1. Talking and catching up with old friends.
2. Compliments over my weight loss. (Yes, I'm shallow)
3. Being asked to sing tomorrow morning in front of freshies and different orgs. (I just rehearsed, imagine that)

THE BIG DROP...

... this freaking keyboard!


I cvan't type cvontinuously without looking like a eretaerfdedf idfiot!

See what I mean?

I'm done. I'm off to Compex.

pepZ
1:42 AM
2 Episode Reviews

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Independence

Monday, June 12, 2006

In 22 weeks, I'm turning 21 and there's no stopping it.

pepZ
9:00 PM
1 Episode Reviews

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