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.

Alarm

The toughest battle I face is the battle that I go through almost everyday: waking and getting up early. Thank God for the weekends when I could extend sleep. Otherwise, say hello to Zombie Naj.

On BK's customer service

It was around seven in the evening, the time when the number of customers reaches its peak as it is dinner time, when I came to Burger King. It surprised me that there were many chairs and tables available in the store but I still had a hard time looking for one that was vacant. That was also the time when I met a guy who was fuming about the inconsiderate freeloaders who selfishly stayed in the store for the internet connection, to the inconvenience of paying customers. Last night, I sat with a stranger as I ate at Burger King, not because I wanted to know this guy but because I have nowhere else to eat. From his rants, to which I agree with, I believe that  Burger King should draft policies about its free in-store Wifi connection because freeloaders stay in the store indefinitely, actual buying customers experience inconvenience and the store might experience financial problems soon.

Hello, July

Last night, I ended June by cooking pasta for dinner and watching an LOTR marathon in HBO

One does not simply walk into Mordor.
Life is not a computer which can be screen captured, so I just took a picture of the TV.

Teaching Building

Finally! Here are some photo evidences of the new teaching building.

Institute's logo

Three floors of Chemistry

This is the new building of the Institute of Chemistry in UP Diliman. I'm so proud of my home institute! Can't you see the pride oozing in every corner and curves of these written words? I finally took some shots last Monday after our CWTS class (an alternative to the military training in ROTC).

By the way, our institute is accepting donations of cash or kind or air conditioner or room sponsorship. Names of the sponsors and donors will be engraved on a steel plate and displayed in a glass case at the first floor lobby, where anyone and everyone can see. Our institute, its teachers and us students will be very pleased.

Sully said he loves college

Is it because those who grew up watching Monsters, Inc. are probably tertiary education students by now? Sounds like Toy Story 3, doesn't it?

Maybe. Or maybe Disney has ran out of ideas that producing sequels and film adaptions of old books and series and video games are the next big thing-- big money-making thing, that is. I find this loss of originality and creativity very depressing, especially since a big part of my childhood was all about Disney movies and shows. Before, life watching the TV was colorful, fantastic, thrilling, inspiring and, sometimes, romantic. Now, I find the thrill gone. Most, if not all, of the movies have become cliché.

And that's the Monsters University teaser. It will premiere around this time next year.

Mike as a disco ball was a nice touch-- predictable but cute. And Sully, I wish I could say the same thing about college. In my present situation, it would take a miracle for me to finish my homework and have time to fool around. Frankly, I still miss high school.

Being Yourself

Why is this song always in the radio airwaves? I'm not annoyed though, just curious.

For those who can't understand, I am very sorry that it is in Filipino.


Yes, Ituloy Mo Lang by Siakol is a Tagalog song (if you didn't bother watching the video or didn't understand the song) about how it is alright to show your true colors. Its lyrics also has a deeper and wonderful message: don't let anyone stop you from being your true self. It makes the song versatile since it is not exclusive for the queer folks. Everyone has the right to be happy and to follow his own dreams, as long as they don't negatively affect other people. The message plus the musicality of the song deserves two thumbs up from this occasional radio-listener. I hope more songs with a similar message, or better one, and tune would hit the airwaves soon.

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.

My questions on Pac-Brad

After gathering my thoughts about the Pacquiao-Bradley bout earlier today, I have constructed a few simple questions to know your thoughts about it.

A little backgrounder first. Pacquiao lost even if his performance showed otherwise: more connected punches, almost knocked down Bradley twice (or thrice?). There were three judges as per policy and after twelve rounds, Bradley won by a split decision. This means one judge gave Pacquiao a higher score than Bradley; unfortunately, two did otherwise. And the news and chicanery spread all over the media and world like wild fire.

Of course, both boxers will still get money as per their contract.