What about death?

I have always wondered:
How will I die?
Getting stabbed, shot,
hit-and-run, poisoned
Or falling, probably,
from the thirteenth floor,
Or, God forbid, slipping
(on a banana peel).

Dying is certain,
I know, but still,
an enigma in itself
sends chills down my spine.
It’s our finish line.
What happens after?

 Envelope of darkness,
blanket of cold?
Or the pearly gates,
St. Peter a-waiting?
We cross the bridge
when we get there.

 But, say, given a sign
“Death in a month’s time”
What do we ought to do?
What we can do: live.
Dying celebrates life,
seemingly reminds people:
living is a journey.

 Live life to the fullest:
Listen to music, taste every flavor
dance, sing, or kiss everyone’s lips
For when death comes a-knocking,
nothing can ever be
certain as dying.

#

This is a slightly edited version of a free-verse I submitted last year as a requirement in a philosophy class.

Crutches in the corner

Last year, I sprained my right ankle and spent about two weeks going to my classes walking with three legs (read: left leg and a pair of crutches).

It was a difficult period to have to walk with crutches, to say the least. My shoulders and underarms were extremely sore in the first few days. I got slight blisters on my palms. I am always exhausted at the end of the day, preferring to sleep over any school or org work.

On a lighter note, people (my dear friends!) who would lend a helping hand as I went building to building around campus, and up and down stairs and jeeps and cars now occupy a special place in my heart. Teachers who would announce that they won't be holding classes next meeting or gave free cuts became instant favorites. I felt relief more than anything for cancelled classes during this time for a thousand and one reasons.

In the end, I got a few good things out of an unfortunate event: muscle workout for my arms and chest, realization of the importance of a limb that has always been left for granted , and a support system with a lot of lovely people. (Yes, I was able to confirm that I have surrounded myself with people who would readily assist when needed.)

Now, the pair of crutches is left standing literally in a corner of the room, collecting dust. They were my best friends back then, taking on my weight and sweat-stench most days. But I do not want to have them as a necessity again any time soon, or not at all.

Rainbows and Cheers

With this year's UAAP Cheerdance Competition scheduled on Sunday, the College of Human Kinetics hosted this year's Pep Rally last night. As usual, our very own UP Pep Squad performed their complete cheerdance routine and their group stunts number. Twice.

Grabbed from UP Pep Squad

I think I got my motivation back

Just before he sang "Bitiw", Yael of Spongecola thanked UP for being such a wonderful audience yearly during UP Fair and praised it for having the cream of the crop populate its student body. He was rooting for us, Iskolars., and I'm really grateful for it. It wasn't their songs that tugged at my heartstrings in particular; the little anecdote he shared to us about a conversation between him and his mother did.

Mom: Anak, galingan mo ha? [Son, do your best, ok?]
Yael: Oo naman! [Of course!]

Fluids, materials and possibilities

Having juniors and seniors in the same course as friends can help you anticipate what can happen to you in major subjects and the rest of your college years. One time, they were talking about thesis projects and summer internships. From then on, I can't help but let my imagination run wild about my future in chemistry. Will my internship be in quality testing laboratory or in a factory of one of the country's leading industries? Will I receive allowances? Will I do a good job in it? Or will I embarrass myself and continue to live as a failure? Will my internship lead to choose a thesis topic so astounding it works?  What if it fails? What if I can't finish it? Will I ever get published?

Website-hopping, I chanced upon a video about non-Newtonian fluids and its possible applications. The video got hold of my interest. I thought it can possibly be an inspiration for a thesis project. Possibly, because I am not yet sure about anything regarding thesis. I still have about a year to think things through.

I would love to have my project go around materials science with environmental applications. I think a project with these two together will be quite useful in the current state of the world. Not that the other branches of science are useless, I believe the two that I have chosen can deliver more important contributions in this day and age.

Torn between education and vacation

I'm two weeks back in school for the second semester after a three-week semestral break, but I'm already itching for Christmas vacation, especially that I found out that it will be three weeks long again. I know, I know. It's pathetic to be looking forward for something that I still haven't earned, with classes only just began.

To keep my head in the game, I decided to find some sort of inspiration. It has been written that the mainstream thing any girl my age would do is to look for a guy of her preference (a face of a celebrity, the height of a skyscraper, a 160-plus IQ, etc.) and develop a crush on him and melt every time he passes and have friends tease her to death. And, voila, she's "inspired" to study, possibly to get good grades, but honestly, to get attention from the guy. However, I find this idea not feasible for me because (1) most guys are taken or prefer their own, (2) swooning and melting and daydreaming about guys eat up a lot of study time, and (3) having unattainable standards is the curse of a fan of many fictional fandoms. Sigh.

Finals are too soon

Before I drown myself in the depths of the sea of lessons I have to review and suffocate from the lack of social life, I would like to take this moment to appreciate life.

*long awkward pause*

If anyone out there would like to share something extraterrestrial, supernatural, a witty bit of wisdom, now's the right time.

And then here comes some memes to keep us from getting insane as the final examinations week, a.k.a. "Hell Week", otherwise know as the death of me, gets nearer by the second, but let's keep optimistic, shall we?

True story. We just got the news today.

Nothings on a Rainy Day

After a month-long hiatus in blog writing, it feels quite difficult to write non-academic articles. I have been writing laboratory reports and essays day in, day out this semester that I cannot see writing as a recreational activity or an exercise of imagination anymore. My usual excuse would be my academics and, well, my application process for an organization, but are they really valid excuses? Better time management skills and discipline to stay away from distractions (such as television shows, movies and the Internet) could have helped me do everything I want- both necessary and vanity- in all the proper time. Keyword is "proper".

I wish I have more thought-provoking things to say.

On the other hand, I have pictures as documentation of the events in the past few months. Nothing fancy, really. Just a few stolen shots of people I was with for the past 3 months.

Speaking of months, join me in celebrating my one year and three months of college life. Three cheers, everyone. Hep hep hooray! Hep hep hooray! Hep hep hooray!

Rain won't dampen the Filipino Spirit

From the deep abyss of her bed, the blogger gets up as if one of the living dead.

Somehow, I do feel like a zombie because of the consecutive days of suspended classes due to this infernal weather of torrential rains and strong winds that poured from the weeping heavens. I may complain about my academic hiatus (that I shouldn't have in the first place because I still have a pile of school work to finish) and how it made my mind mushy, but that would be very selfish of me. However, I would definitely tell everyone how proud I am of the Filipinos who helped their fellow citizens in the recent calamity. It should be noted that the calamity did not reach any storm signal. It was not even a typhoon but monsoon rains-- heavy monsoon rains that went on for more than 24 hours at that. It was also preceded by the typhoon "Gener", so I think the effects of the previous rains were not, uhm, washed off yet.

Over the weekend

My sister and I aren't masters of the kitchen. Heck, we rarely cook, having no skills to boast of; pancakes here, instant pancit canton there, but never a decent viand. As the need arises though, we have been learning, individually, how to cook simple to special courses through experimentation. (Yes, we are women of science.)

What's left of the diningding when I left the apartment.

Last Saturday, my sister cooked diningding, a Filipino dish with lots of vegetables and bagoong (the sauce part without the shrimp or fish bits). She cooked it perfectly: not raw, not overcooked and with just the right saltiness that I like. We always try to eat healthy if we can cook it since it's very toxic here in the city.

Back to School and Some Men In Black

Already harassed on the first week of school, I am. Not a good start for a post but it will do.

Yes, after only first three days of school I feel fatigued. I feel so weary since the first night that some unwinding this weekend should be on [top of] my to-do list. And what better way to relax on a weekend than to watch a movie in a cinema?

My sister and I watched Men In Black 3 earlier tonight. Seeing Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones way older than in the last MIB made me feel older, too.

Lift it All

Oh God, why am I crying? I should be studying for my Finals tomorrow. Lord, help me get through this phase. I know I am not the only one in this world who feel stressed and frustrated, and college might just be a petty problem relative to those of millions of others'. But sometimes, I get carried away and forget why I'm here. And forget that Your always there waiting for me. Now, I lift it all to You because what I do is all for You!

Finals start tomorrow

"I'm going home, to a place where I belong

Where your love has always been enough for me"

- Home by Daughtry

Finals

Lookie what I did with Meme Generator!

Ha! Well, that's just about it. To all students out there whose final examinations are coming, may you be an Isko from UP, an Atenista, a Lasalista, a Thomasian or any college student for that matter, be strong, have faith and study hard. Even if you have piles of homeworks to do like I do, keep calm and finish them all. Don't let your inner demons turn you into a lazy bone. We can do this!

And this is what I do to when I'm supposed to finish my pile of school work. Teehee.

Kiddie-Party-themed Acquaintance Party

Last night, I attended the kiddie-party-themed acquaintance party of our corridor.

Yes, it is already the second semester. Yes, it is a little too late to "get to know" each other in our floor. But, surprisingly, there were people that I only met as a co-corridor last night. It was both weird and satisfying. Weird because we have been passing by each other without eye contact and never knowing what we have in common. Satisfying because I met new people and not just new faces. At least I am now sure that I am in the midst of more awesome people, right? As I always say, better late than never.

First floor girls kids again for the night. 

It's My Fifth

What's supposed to happen now?

UP has welcomed me and my fellow freshmen to our second semester in college. But unlike the last semester, we finally experienced the reality of enrollment for every isko. But if you want to know, you have to go through it first. I just think that it is harder to understand something that is explained than something that is experienced. But at the end of the day, the feeling of satisfaction after being officially enrolled is just ecstatic.

And yes, my Form 5 was signed by none other than Doc Q. FTW!

I got paid zero!

Bitter, and at the same time, Sweet

I really really really miss writing for my blog. October is half-way through but I have not posted any update of my life. Or even a fictional story that proves my literary ability.

Alas, I have been very busy with college especially that the end is near- that is, the semester's end is near. A lot of paper works and final exams to study for made me focused more on my academics that, somehow, it made me a dull girl. This week, although my semester has not officially ended yet, others' already had and a lot of my dorm-mates and block-mates went to their homes in the provinces. And because the sense of vacation is contagious, I felt it. Unfortunately, I still have an exam tomorrow and three papers to write.

Oh the pain! Oh the cruelty! Oh the prolonging of my agony!

But, lo and behold, I still found time to change my blog layout from this:

My Rock Star Teacher

"You 'kinda' like his discussion today. Just kinda?" Val quipped at me.

"Well, yeah. I guess so," I replied.

"You have got to be kidding me. I like all of his discussions! Social Science 2 is my favorite class and, yes, he is my favorite teacher. And you just 'kinda' like today's discussion?"

Our Social Science 2 class just finished. We were walking out the Palma Hall building as we talked. I have to get to another building soon because I have a long examination waiting for me on the next period. As I walked down the avenue, I can't help myself from replaying my conversation with Val.

Of Exams

I am (brain) dead for the night.

Today, I took my second long examinations in Chemistry 16 in the morning and Trigonometry late in the afternoon. Chemistry is considered as one of my major subjects, weighing a hefty five units. The long exams I have taken with this subject would be worth more than a hundred points. On the other hand, Trigonometry is lighter in weight and has exams worth just about 50 points. But do not be fooled by the point systems. Both subjects are as complex as ever.

Start of Ber

Is it September already? Man, that was fast!

It feels as if my college days started just about yesterday. And somehow it is true, because of the the short vacation due to the recent long weekend. You have got to love national holidays.

Hurricane names (c) xkcd.com