Pumunta kami kahapon ng mga kaibigan ko sa Gold Coast, isa siyang sikat at sosyal na lugar dito sa Queensland para manood ng Philippine Festival. Yun, we enjoyed it. Sarap ng food nakakita na ulit ako ng siopao, kare-kare, menudo at kung anu-ano pang lutong bahay. Maraming mga pinoy ang hindi na din sanay mag Tagalog. Hahaha! Like nung bumibili ako ng halu-halo.
Jaime: Kuya, tatlo.
Tindero: How many?
Jaime: Tatlo po
Tindero: (Bibigay ang halu-halo) Have you paid?
Jaime: Already. (Hahaha! Lupet)
Yung sa Brisbane naman, ganito din yung taga tinda ng halu-halo. Sabi niya sa amin: how many halow halow? Hahhaha!
Back to Gold Coast.
Ang galing nung mga performers sa concert. They sang the best of OPM hits like “Manila”, “Bongga ka day”, “Awitin mo at isasayaw ko”. Tapos kinanta nung isa yung Big Brother theme na Pinoy Ako. Wala masyado nakakaalam. So nilakasan namin ang kanta ng kasama ko. Pagkakataon na to. Hahahha!
After the concert, nag ikot ikot kami sa perimeter nung area. Andun daw yung Versace Hotel papektyur kami sa may entrance. Lupet nga e. Tapos pasok kami. Ang lakas ng loob namin dahil si Ate Jo ay naka BMW tapos sa parking napagitnaan kami ng Jaguar tapos yung isa pa na sikat din daw yun na sasakyan. Sabi ni ate Jo, ingat lang sa pagbukas ha at baka makasagi tayo. Hahaha!
Tapos yun pasok kami sa Versace Hotel para magkape. Pagpasok pa lang ambango na parang oregano na hindi. Sabi ko ki ate aileen,”Te, anong scent to te? Interesado lang po ako para kasingbango na ito ng room ko. Sabi ni ate aileen, “Ano, linis lang to”. Hahaha!
Siya ikot ikot kami sa may lobby at nagpapektyur ulit kami sa may pool. At may naliligo pa sa lamig na to ha. May naliligo pa dun. Tapos punta na kami para magkape, nakita namin mura lang naman coffee kaya lang pag sa labas kami kumain may pagkain na aside from coffee. So labas kami ang bagsak namin sa McDonald’s. Hahaha! Yun kumain na kami. Masarap naman. Hey by the way harap nung Versace hotel ay Sheraton naman. Sabi ko, “te grabe dapat sa gitna tayo ng dalawa, tapos ang caption sa gitna ng dalawang bonggang hotel ay may mga dukha”. Hahaha!
Pagkatapos naming kumain sa McDo, pumunta kami sa Pacific Fair, mall siya. Yun ang galing nung dalawa kong kasama alam na alam ang mga bonggang stores dun. Like yung “Hermes” na kalahating milyon daw ang isang bag. Ako naman, “bag lang? Isang plant breeding study na yan sa PhilRice! O mahigit 3,000 na kopya na ng tekno bulletin yan. Tapos pag nilabhan yan mamantsahan lang!” Hahaha! Tapos sabi pa ni ate Aileen, bubutasin lang siya ng mga mandurukot sa Pinas. Hahaha! Hindi ko talaga maintindihan yung mga bag na yun. Pumunta din kami sa tindahan ng mga Prada, D&G basta sushal sushalan. Tapos nagpapektur kami sa loob. Nung next shot na namin, lumabas yung parang isa pang staff, tanong kami, pwede magpicture pa? Sabi niya, “Not really.” Suplada. So labas na kami.
The last time magkasama kami ni ate Aileen sa City tumingin kami ng mga relo yung Tagheuer. Lupet kalahating milyon din. Aanhin ko yan! Andaming wall clock sa bahay. Kahit saan ka pumanig may relo na. Pare-pareho naman ng oras. Grabe may diamond daw kasi yun. Naalala ko bigla yung teacher ko sa Chem nung High school, pag inis ka daw sa may mga diamond itapon mo lang daw sa apoy at magiging carbon ulit siya. Tsk, tsk tsk. Basta, inisip ko pag bumili ako ng relo na yun, ilang taong return service ko yun sa PhilRice katapat nun. Hahaha!
In all farirness ang saya ng lakad namin. Kung saan-saan kami nakarating. Ang dami kong nakitang kumikinang pero lahat sila hindi nakakasilaw.
Techno what?
Friday, June 18, 2010
I would never go to the City alone until when I was a month old here in Australia. I was very afraid to get lost. Buses just have numbers and places which were so alien to me. A short travel seemed like thousands of miles away. I got goosebumps whenever I started to see trees and lots of trees. Where am I? How do I travel back to my place? Not once did I enter no through road (unaware of the sign), asked strangers to direct me where to go. No wonder why it took me more than a week before I could find a permanent accommodation. I was just so afraid to navigate. I was too afraid to walk far from St. Leo’s College, where I was housed temporarily. I am just so lucky to have wonderful housemates who toured me around the place. We took public transportation to go to the places that I would need often: grocery, Church, and some places where I could buy the cheapest goods like the Chinatown.
Things have changed. I am now good at the basics. I can now top up my go card (it’s the card for taking public transport just like in MRT) using the machines in the train stations, the vending machines now communicate with me, and most of all I have stopped asking what bus to take and how to get to my destination. I have gotten accustomed to using Translink—the public transportation website that gives you a comprehensive direction including how many metres you need to walk once you get off a train or a bus! That frees me from interpreting the difficult Aussie accent (although I’m also getting good at it now). I have accepted the fact that people here want to communicate with you online. Yup, at times you would ask: where are the human beings? I have gotten accustomed to living in an e-mail society. People are very quick and more efficient in responding to e-mails. I am now used to filling in my username and password not less than 10 times daily. And yes, I am now good at shopping books online! E-commerce! I’m good at it. I find it amazing that I could get out of our house and go back with lots of groceries without a centavo with me! I am now an excellent card ‘swiper’! Forgive me if I am so amazed by all these things. I should tell you that I am a technophobe.
As you have just known that I am a technophobe (sorry for repeating I am really good at incriminating myself), let me tell you that I am also now getting good at communicating with gadgets. Prior to the start of the first semester, I bought a printer. A printer! I remember back in the office, I would have second thoughts touching our printer when there’s a paper jam. I would just wait until someone smarter gets near and fix it. So there I was, not having a choice, I tried to understand the manual very well clapping every time I was able to move from one step to the next. Until voila! It worked! I was just so happy then, and noisy too! I made it work. Second is my new DSLR camera and third is my new camcorder. And I should also tell you that I made internet connection possible in our house by following all those ‘config blah blah,’. I get stressed every time I remember it. I find it amazing and sometimes amusing how I get intellectually challenged by all these technologies. I even have some eureka moments like when I discovered that my earphones for my ipod can be connected to my laptop. Because of that I can now hear my favourite songs even when I’m in the library. And hey, in some presentations that I had this semester I got good marks for effective use of visuals. And mind you, I no longer use powerpoint. I use Prezi. Hahaha!
Before I end this short piece, I should tell you that I am now getting good at giving directions to people. Like yesterday when we were on the train, two Aussies asked me: "Is Milton the next station?" (we were in Toowoong). I confidently said, “No, it’s Auchenflower. Next to that is Milton.” Ate Aileen, my coscholar here had the same experience. Unfortunately she didn’t know the location as well so she volunteered to google it using her blackberry phone. Now, that’s being techno savvy.
Things have changed. I am now good at the basics. I can now top up my go card (it’s the card for taking public transport just like in MRT) using the machines in the train stations, the vending machines now communicate with me, and most of all I have stopped asking what bus to take and how to get to my destination. I have gotten accustomed to using Translink—the public transportation website that gives you a comprehensive direction including how many metres you need to walk once you get off a train or a bus! That frees me from interpreting the difficult Aussie accent (although I’m also getting good at it now). I have accepted the fact that people here want to communicate with you online. Yup, at times you would ask: where are the human beings? I have gotten accustomed to living in an e-mail society. People are very quick and more efficient in responding to e-mails. I am now used to filling in my username and password not less than 10 times daily. And yes, I am now good at shopping books online! E-commerce! I’m good at it. I find it amazing that I could get out of our house and go back with lots of groceries without a centavo with me! I am now an excellent card ‘swiper’! Forgive me if I am so amazed by all these things. I should tell you that I am a technophobe.
As you have just known that I am a technophobe (sorry for repeating I am really good at incriminating myself), let me tell you that I am also now getting good at communicating with gadgets. Prior to the start of the first semester, I bought a printer. A printer! I remember back in the office, I would have second thoughts touching our printer when there’s a paper jam. I would just wait until someone smarter gets near and fix it. So there I was, not having a choice, I tried to understand the manual very well clapping every time I was able to move from one step to the next. Until voila! It worked! I was just so happy then, and noisy too! I made it work. Second is my new DSLR camera and third is my new camcorder. And I should also tell you that I made internet connection possible in our house by following all those ‘config blah blah,’. I get stressed every time I remember it. I find it amazing and sometimes amusing how I get intellectually challenged by all these technologies. I even have some eureka moments like when I discovered that my earphones for my ipod can be connected to my laptop. Because of that I can now hear my favourite songs even when I’m in the library. And hey, in some presentations that I had this semester I got good marks for effective use of visuals. And mind you, I no longer use powerpoint. I use Prezi. Hahaha!
Before I end this short piece, I should tell you that I am now getting good at giving directions to people. Like yesterday when we were on the train, two Aussies asked me: "Is Milton the next station?" (we were in Toowoong). I confidently said, “No, it’s Auchenflower. Next to that is Milton.” Ate Aileen, my coscholar here had the same experience. Unfortunately she didn’t know the location as well so she volunteered to google it using her blackberry phone. Now, that’s being techno savvy.
Good news
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
While there were a lot of dismal things that happened like people in the queue for more than three hours, allegations of possible hacking, failure of elections—voila, we did it! The Philippines had a President in less than 24 hours. Back in college while I was doing my undergraduate research, I tracked ICT for development initiatives. From the looks of it, our automated elections is one of the most successful in the world. A number of countries that used automated elections for the first time resulted in failure of elections. I am so glad to note that in less than 24 hours the country had a President although the proclamation came in much later because of some complaints of irregularities which is a classic in the history of national elections worldwide. I am so pleased that this year’s election is the most peaceful we have ever conducted. I could just recall many election officials including public school teachers lost their lives before while performing their duties. I could exactly recall how I started to lose faith in our democratic process when as the manual counting starts, there would be brownouts, presence of goons around the precincts. We have experienced all that. Gladly, we’re over them.
Reflecting on the process, I am so proud that our national media had been very vigilant in making sure that our election would be successful. I appreciated the fact that they made the public aware to the littlest details of what was going on. No wonder we have the freest media in the world. Sometimes OA, but they did a good job this time. I am just very glad as to how the process went. We have just proven the pessimists wrong. I trust that this success could translate to people having their faith back to our democratic process. I hope that the success of national elections could translate to something more—people realising their role in nation building, people becoming active participants in development. I will pray for that.
God bless the Philippines!
Reflecting on the process, I am so proud that our national media had been very vigilant in making sure that our election would be successful. I appreciated the fact that they made the public aware to the littlest details of what was going on. No wonder we have the freest media in the world. Sometimes OA, but they did a good job this time. I am just very glad as to how the process went. We have just proven the pessimists wrong. I trust that this success could translate to people having their faith back to our democratic process. I hope that the success of national elections could translate to something more—people realising their role in nation building, people becoming active participants in development. I will pray for that.
God bless the Philippines!
Ang pagbabalik
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Kumusta na kayo? Grabe napatahimik ako ng UQ. I was intellectually harassed. Basta natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili kong madaling araw ng natutulog o gumigising ng maaga para magtype dahil baka lumihis ang idea na nasa isip ko. Wala ako kahit na isang exam ngayong sem. Meron lang akong sangkatutak na papers na sinulat. Parang writer pala ha,sige magsulat ka! Hahahaha! Sabi nga,kapoy kaayo!
Andaming mga nakakatawang pangyayari nitong sem. Sa class discussions, ang hirap sumingit kung minsan. Nag eenglis naman tayo sa Pinas pero ewan ko ba, iba Ingles nila di ko maintindihan kung minsan. May mga times na gusto ko magtanong ng ano ulit??? Ha??? May mga times naman na ganado ako at salita ako ng salita. Parati kasi ako nakaslouch. Feeling ko yung mga classmates ko, alam na pag magsasalita na ako: pag uunat na ang likod ko. Ang trend: sit up straight, unat ang likod, then fire! Hahahaha! (He’s gonna talk again!). Grabe ang mga sulatin dito parang theme writing lang na mahaba. Hahaha! Nakakatuwa din naman.
I enjoyed group work. Ang productive ng mga discussions. At bihirang bihira or should I say never kaming nag start ng di sa oras. It’s a blessing that my groupmates were all smart and industrious. Walang nanlalamang. Skill din yung iba iba na kami ng opinion pero bati bati pa din. Naalala ko lang sa maraming pagkakataon sa office or sa maraming lugar sa Pinas pag sumalungat ka, minus one friend ka na. Or tatawagin ka ng pangit or smelly, anything but good words. Hahaha! I’m really happy na matatapos tong sem na to na friends ko lahat. Sana madala ko to sa Pinas para love nila ako lahat. Yihee!
And my housemates. Anlaking pasalamat ko na di nila ako nireklamo ang madalas kong pagkanta. When I get stressed, I sing!. Hahaha! There was one time sa kitchen kumakanta ako habang nagluluto sabi nung housemate ko: ‘You’re like an MP3 player!’ Hahaha! Tapos nung nakita niya ako nung same time nay un na nagbubukas ng de lata gamit kutsilyo kasi ala kami can opener, ‘You’re not just an MP3 player, you’re a can opener too!’ Hahaha! Ang lupet! Sabi nung isa kong friend dito na ADS next time daw na may magcomment na para akong MP3 player sabihin ko daw, di lang basta MP3 player, 3 GB pa. Hahaha! Naku, na realise ko pag na stress ka na, magagawa mo hindi mo mga inaakalang bagay.
Like dito sa house namin, napagbuntunan ko landlord namin. Nagkaleak kasi sa CR at nababasa na sahig. Di naming pinansin hanggang nakakainis na talaga at napagod na ako sa kamamop. Inemail ko landlord. ‘Could you please fix the leak in our toilet?..’. The next day punta siya naayos. Then nakakita ako ng daga sa room ko. Malaki.Muntik na akong mapasigaw. Email ulit ako: “I can assure you I cleam my room regularly... (hulihin ninyo ang daga). And please adjust my door. I noticed that it’s a bit elevated from the floor.’ (siguro sabi ng landlady ko: Ito na ang pinakamaarteng tenant ko!). Hahaha! Tapos naglagay ako ng mga libro sa may pinto para di na talaga makakapasok ang mga daga.
At siyempre pa dumating ang time na lalaban ako sa padumihan ng room. Para kasing pag inayos mo siya malilito na ako. Hahaha! Tapos pag mag uumpisa na ako magsulat, maglilinis naman muna ako. At mga isang oras na linisan yun. Di ako makapagumpisa pag feeling ko may alikabok pa (OA). Hahahaha! Basta dapat makintab na sahig ng room ko at ang table ko kulay puti na ulit, yung di na ulit pwedeng sulatan ng pangalan dahil sa alikabok. Ang saya din ng balik buhay estudyante. Ang target ko makasali sa Australia’s Got Talent pero tapos na ata. Na inspire ako ni Jal Joshua na taga Cebu na first-runner up last year. I believe kaya kong manalo dun. Hahaha! Yabangan na to kaya dito ko na tatapusin.
Andaming mga nakakatawang pangyayari nitong sem. Sa class discussions, ang hirap sumingit kung minsan. Nag eenglis naman tayo sa Pinas pero ewan ko ba, iba Ingles nila di ko maintindihan kung minsan. May mga times na gusto ko magtanong ng ano ulit??? Ha??? May mga times naman na ganado ako at salita ako ng salita. Parati kasi ako nakaslouch. Feeling ko yung mga classmates ko, alam na pag magsasalita na ako: pag uunat na ang likod ko. Ang trend: sit up straight, unat ang likod, then fire! Hahahaha! (He’s gonna talk again!). Grabe ang mga sulatin dito parang theme writing lang na mahaba. Hahaha! Nakakatuwa din naman.
I enjoyed group work. Ang productive ng mga discussions. At bihirang bihira or should I say never kaming nag start ng di sa oras. It’s a blessing that my groupmates were all smart and industrious. Walang nanlalamang. Skill din yung iba iba na kami ng opinion pero bati bati pa din. Naalala ko lang sa maraming pagkakataon sa office or sa maraming lugar sa Pinas pag sumalungat ka, minus one friend ka na. Or tatawagin ka ng pangit or smelly, anything but good words. Hahaha! I’m really happy na matatapos tong sem na to na friends ko lahat. Sana madala ko to sa Pinas para love nila ako lahat. Yihee!
And my housemates. Anlaking pasalamat ko na di nila ako nireklamo ang madalas kong pagkanta. When I get stressed, I sing!. Hahaha! There was one time sa kitchen kumakanta ako habang nagluluto sabi nung housemate ko: ‘You’re like an MP3 player!’ Hahaha! Tapos nung nakita niya ako nung same time nay un na nagbubukas ng de lata gamit kutsilyo kasi ala kami can opener, ‘You’re not just an MP3 player, you’re a can opener too!’ Hahaha! Ang lupet! Sabi nung isa kong friend dito na ADS next time daw na may magcomment na para akong MP3 player sabihin ko daw, di lang basta MP3 player, 3 GB pa. Hahaha! Naku, na realise ko pag na stress ka na, magagawa mo hindi mo mga inaakalang bagay.
Like dito sa house namin, napagbuntunan ko landlord namin. Nagkaleak kasi sa CR at nababasa na sahig. Di naming pinansin hanggang nakakainis na talaga at napagod na ako sa kamamop. Inemail ko landlord. ‘Could you please fix the leak in our toilet?..’. The next day punta siya naayos. Then nakakita ako ng daga sa room ko. Malaki.Muntik na akong mapasigaw. Email ulit ako: “I can assure you I cleam my room regularly... (hulihin ninyo ang daga). And please adjust my door. I noticed that it’s a bit elevated from the floor.’ (siguro sabi ng landlady ko: Ito na ang pinakamaarteng tenant ko!). Hahaha! Tapos naglagay ako ng mga libro sa may pinto para di na talaga makakapasok ang mga daga.
At siyempre pa dumating ang time na lalaban ako sa padumihan ng room. Para kasing pag inayos mo siya malilito na ako. Hahaha! Tapos pag mag uumpisa na ako magsulat, maglilinis naman muna ako. At mga isang oras na linisan yun. Di ako makapagumpisa pag feeling ko may alikabok pa (OA). Hahahaha! Basta dapat makintab na sahig ng room ko at ang table ko kulay puti na ulit, yung di na ulit pwedeng sulatan ng pangalan dahil sa alikabok. Ang saya din ng balik buhay estudyante. Ang target ko makasali sa Australia’s Got Talent pero tapos na ata. Na inspire ako ni Jal Joshua na taga Cebu na first-runner up last year. I believe kaya kong manalo dun. Hahaha! Yabangan na to kaya dito ko na tatapusin.
My writing process
Thursday, April 15, 2010
This is probably the busiest time of the semester, and this will continue in the next few weeks. Endless readings, group meetings (with some minor fights on the side), this isn’t the best time to blog. But then again, I need a break. May I share with you some of my learning (coping) habits.
I have quite a few assessment papers due in the coming weeks. Pag magsusulat na ako, kailangan ko munang uminom ng coffee, tea (or me), or kahit na anong mainit. Dapat na mag init muna bago ako makapagsulat. Kapag kailangang mag argue ng malupet sa essay dapat kape para mejo highblood ako at ang pintas gene ko ay fully activated.
Siyempre bago ka makapagsulat ng essay kailangan mo munang mag literature review. E ang mga binabasa ko, mejo may kahirapan. So kailangan ko silang i digest. Then I realised ang average ko 2-3 articles per day. Reading lang yun. Habang nagbabasa, kukunot noo ko, magcocomment sa papel pag may disagreement o kakausapin ang papel. Hahah! First reading yun. Usually di ko pa siya maiintindihan so basa ulit. This time iba naman na posisyon. Hihiga na ako. Labas ang kulambo para makapag isip ng maayos. Pag di pa effective, read aloud. Then marerealise ko na mas concern na ako sa pagpronounce ko kesa sa pag intindi ng binabasa kaya silent reading ulit with understanding. Hahaha! Then mastress na ako kaya kakanta na ako. Papatugtugin ko na si Sitti (ang singer na inaantok na pinakanta). Then, makakatulog na ako.
After literature review, kailangan ko silang i group. Aling mga articles ang magkakatulad? Saan ako mag gu grouping? sa excel na lang para matrix agad, malinaw. Yun. Pag na group ko na, outline na. Pag may outline na, sulat na.
Pag mag-uumpisa na ako magsulat kailang may katabi muna akong isang baso ng tubig. Tungga. One paragraph. Tungga ulit. Three sentences, tungga ulit. Tapos bigla kong bibilisan, galit galit muna kahit may text, may chat sa FB! Galit galit muna. Then slow down ulit. Mapapansin ko na may dumi ang laftaf ko, lilinisin ko. Then mapapansin ko, yung keyboard ko may alikabok, hihipan ko. Ay ang desk ko maalikabok, pupunasan ko. Naku, yung lalabhan ko dumadami na. Then tayo, lalagay ang labada sa washing machine. On my way to the laundry area, mapapansin ko na mejo makalat na sa sala. Hmmm, di na naman sila naglinis. So magwawalis ako. Ayan, malinis na ulit. Jaime yung upuan nakatabingi, aayusin ko. Then mapapansin ko mga tsinelas at sapatos di nakaayos, papantayin ko sila. “Bakit ba kasi iba-iba size ng paa ang hirap tuloy pagpantay-pantayin.” Then, madumi na CR, kuskos, kuskos! Ayan, puti pala yung dingding! Hahaha!
Then maliligo kasi madumi na. Rest a bit then back to writing. Saang paragraph na ba ako? Ah, onti na lang to. Papaspasan. Galit galit uli. Matatapos ang first draft. Close ang word file. Then FB time. The next day, aayusin ang references. Kakarerin ang mga punctuations (pag natutunan ko yung software for referencing yari na to), aayusin ang text. Mag spell check. Leave for an hour or more. Then edit. Matang agila, ilabas na! Sana wala mag ingay kung hindi magkakaron ako ng kaaway. Then matatapos. Print, read aloud for readability check. Check sentence fragments. Voila! Submit.
I have quite a few assessment papers due in the coming weeks. Pag magsusulat na ako, kailangan ko munang uminom ng coffee, tea (or me), or kahit na anong mainit. Dapat na mag init muna bago ako makapagsulat. Kapag kailangang mag argue ng malupet sa essay dapat kape para mejo highblood ako at ang pintas gene ko ay fully activated.
Siyempre bago ka makapagsulat ng essay kailangan mo munang mag literature review. E ang mga binabasa ko, mejo may kahirapan. So kailangan ko silang i digest. Then I realised ang average ko 2-3 articles per day. Reading lang yun. Habang nagbabasa, kukunot noo ko, magcocomment sa papel pag may disagreement o kakausapin ang papel. Hahah! First reading yun. Usually di ko pa siya maiintindihan so basa ulit. This time iba naman na posisyon. Hihiga na ako. Labas ang kulambo para makapag isip ng maayos. Pag di pa effective, read aloud. Then marerealise ko na mas concern na ako sa pagpronounce ko kesa sa pag intindi ng binabasa kaya silent reading ulit with understanding. Hahaha! Then mastress na ako kaya kakanta na ako. Papatugtugin ko na si Sitti (ang singer na inaantok na pinakanta). Then, makakatulog na ako.
After literature review, kailangan ko silang i group. Aling mga articles ang magkakatulad? Saan ako mag gu grouping? sa excel na lang para matrix agad, malinaw. Yun. Pag na group ko na, outline na. Pag may outline na, sulat na.
Pag mag-uumpisa na ako magsulat kailang may katabi muna akong isang baso ng tubig. Tungga. One paragraph. Tungga ulit. Three sentences, tungga ulit. Tapos bigla kong bibilisan, galit galit muna kahit may text, may chat sa FB! Galit galit muna. Then slow down ulit. Mapapansin ko na may dumi ang laftaf ko, lilinisin ko. Then mapapansin ko, yung keyboard ko may alikabok, hihipan ko. Ay ang desk ko maalikabok, pupunasan ko. Naku, yung lalabhan ko dumadami na. Then tayo, lalagay ang labada sa washing machine. On my way to the laundry area, mapapansin ko na mejo makalat na sa sala. Hmmm, di na naman sila naglinis. So magwawalis ako. Ayan, malinis na ulit. Jaime yung upuan nakatabingi, aayusin ko. Then mapapansin ko mga tsinelas at sapatos di nakaayos, papantayin ko sila. “Bakit ba kasi iba-iba size ng paa ang hirap tuloy pagpantay-pantayin.” Then, madumi na CR, kuskos, kuskos! Ayan, puti pala yung dingding! Hahaha!
Then maliligo kasi madumi na. Rest a bit then back to writing. Saang paragraph na ba ako? Ah, onti na lang to. Papaspasan. Galit galit uli. Matatapos ang first draft. Close ang word file. Then FB time. The next day, aayusin ang references. Kakarerin ang mga punctuations (pag natutunan ko yung software for referencing yari na to), aayusin ang text. Mag spell check. Leave for an hour or more. Then edit. Matang agila, ilabas na! Sana wala mag ingay kung hindi magkakaron ako ng kaaway. Then matatapos. Print, read aloud for readability check. Check sentence fragments. Voila! Submit.
Si Sheryn, Ninna at ang bago kong printer
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Pagkatapos ng IAP biglang nag-iba ang mundo ko. Dati rati, araw-araw ka may ka meet na mga classmates. Ngayon, mag isa na lang ako. Ang hirap na nilang hagilapin, malungkot tuloy. At dahil nakaonline naman lahat, pwede ngang hindi pumasok. One time inemail ko teacher ko nung excuse letter for the conference di siya nagreply.
Tapos nung nagmeet kami sa class, may announcement siya said in a very warm tone: This is postgrad, it doesn’t matter if you show up in class or not. For as long as you pass the requirements, it’s fine. Nyay, hagip ako. Nagiging polite lang naman ako ah. Anyway, si Gwyneth yun.
Nakakatuwa dito kasi ang dami-dami ko ng readings. Ang technique ko: buhay ang text. Interact with it. Kaya ang mga piniprint ko na readings duguan. Mega react ako sa mga claims. Kung nakakapagsalita lang ang papel sasabihin niya: wag namang masyadong diinan ang pagsulat kasi masakit, at pakigandahan ang sulat, tingnan mo dumi-dumi ko na. Hahahhaha!
Bago ako umalis ng Pilipinas, priority ko talaga yung music sa laptop ko. Nung binili ko siya may mga nilagay na music yung mama natuwa naman ako. Magaganda yung tugtog. So nung nag-aaral ako one time, nagpatugtog ako. Maganda umpisa. Soothing. Nag umpisa na si Sheryn Regis. Tapos yung binabasa ko development planning na may mga kung anu anong issues, pero napapangiti ako. Pero basa lang ako. ‘Development planners blah blah...” tapos bibirit na din si Sheryn. Naiimagine ko siya sa ASAP, the jukebox princess. Mabuti na lang mataas talaga boses niya, ang taas.
Kagabi naman si Ninna. Binabasa ko about sa mga problema ng partnership ng world bank at mga NGOs. Background ko, “If I should love again”. Naiiyak naman ako. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa sinasapit ng mga NGOs sa pakikipagcollaborate sa WB or dahil kay Ninna. At ayun, bumirit na si Ninna habang ako naman ay napahawak ng mahigpit sa mesa at mas lumapit sa laptop. Grabe apektado ng emosyon ng kanta ang pagbabasa ko. Tapos parang yung nasa isip ko na, may iniwan??? Wala naman. Asan siya sa binabasa ko? Hindi, mali yung kay Ninna ang may iniwan. Whew! Haahhaha!
By the way, new acquisition (parang library), meron na akong bagong printer kasi ang hirap magbasa mula sa laptop nakakasira ng mata. Yihee!!! And take note napagana ko printer ko mag-isa. As in dinibdib ko ang pagbabasa ng manual. Dito daw to, ipasok ang cartridge. Ayan, pasok! Then hinga ako. Anon a? I-on daw ang printer. Hinga. Iinstall ang printer. Hinga ng napakalalim. Asan ang CD??? Asan??? Ay heto. Install, basta yes lang ng yes, pag na no ka di naman matutuloy pag install. Pwede ng mag try magprint. Naku sana OK to. Bat may pawis ako e malamig naman??HAhhaha! ayan, nag print! Palakpak!!! Kung nakikita lang ako ng mga housemates ko baka natakot na sila sakin. Hahhaha!
Have a good day!
Tapos nung nagmeet kami sa class, may announcement siya said in a very warm tone: This is postgrad, it doesn’t matter if you show up in class or not. For as long as you pass the requirements, it’s fine. Nyay, hagip ako. Nagiging polite lang naman ako ah. Anyway, si Gwyneth yun.
Nakakatuwa dito kasi ang dami-dami ko ng readings. Ang technique ko: buhay ang text. Interact with it. Kaya ang mga piniprint ko na readings duguan. Mega react ako sa mga claims. Kung nakakapagsalita lang ang papel sasabihin niya: wag namang masyadong diinan ang pagsulat kasi masakit, at pakigandahan ang sulat, tingnan mo dumi-dumi ko na. Hahahhaha!
Bago ako umalis ng Pilipinas, priority ko talaga yung music sa laptop ko. Nung binili ko siya may mga nilagay na music yung mama natuwa naman ako. Magaganda yung tugtog. So nung nag-aaral ako one time, nagpatugtog ako. Maganda umpisa. Soothing. Nag umpisa na si Sheryn Regis. Tapos yung binabasa ko development planning na may mga kung anu anong issues, pero napapangiti ako. Pero basa lang ako. ‘Development planners blah blah...” tapos bibirit na din si Sheryn. Naiimagine ko siya sa ASAP, the jukebox princess. Mabuti na lang mataas talaga boses niya, ang taas.
Kagabi naman si Ninna. Binabasa ko about sa mga problema ng partnership ng world bank at mga NGOs. Background ko, “If I should love again”. Naiiyak naman ako. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa sinasapit ng mga NGOs sa pakikipagcollaborate sa WB or dahil kay Ninna. At ayun, bumirit na si Ninna habang ako naman ay napahawak ng mahigpit sa mesa at mas lumapit sa laptop. Grabe apektado ng emosyon ng kanta ang pagbabasa ko. Tapos parang yung nasa isip ko na, may iniwan??? Wala naman. Asan siya sa binabasa ko? Hindi, mali yung kay Ninna ang may iniwan. Whew! Haahhaha!
By the way, new acquisition (parang library), meron na akong bagong printer kasi ang hirap magbasa mula sa laptop nakakasira ng mata. Yihee!!! And take note napagana ko printer ko mag-isa. As in dinibdib ko ang pagbabasa ng manual. Dito daw to, ipasok ang cartridge. Ayan, pasok! Then hinga ako. Anon a? I-on daw ang printer. Hinga. Iinstall ang printer. Hinga ng napakalalim. Asan ang CD??? Asan??? Ay heto. Install, basta yes lang ng yes, pag na no ka di naman matutuloy pag install. Pwede ng mag try magprint. Naku sana OK to. Bat may pawis ako e malamig naman??HAhhaha! ayan, nag print! Palakpak!!! Kung nakikita lang ako ng mga housemates ko baka natakot na sila sakin. Hahhaha!
Have a good day!
An Open TY Letter
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
To HASS Community:
Peace in Christ!
Thank you very much for giving me a chance to be part of the recently concluded Live-In Vocation Discernment Seminar last weekend.
It was a wisdom-filled, enriching and unforgettable experience for me.
I never felt that ‘welcome’ since I decided not to join the La Salle brothers’ postulancy program last 2006. As I implicitly said on my personal testimony on the last part of the program – the 3-day experience brought me back to the day I made a pact with the Lord that I will serve Him for the rest of my life.
As I am deeply moved by the experience, let me share with you my reflections as my way of saying ‘thank you’
As emphasized on the CASA talk by Father Dave, the desire to serve the Lord is not enough as a ground to enter the seminary and be one of the “priests-in-process”. I may agree with it, there should be the total surrender and the inner desire of serving because of the Love he gave us. Love that may come in different forms and cannot be measured by sight but by another heart formed in the likeness of God – full of love, compassion and mercy.
I learned a lot from this weekend activity and I am happy that as I head back home, I am challenged to go through the Paschal mystery of daily lives as presented by Father John. It is not enough that I experienced passion and resurrection, death is given emphasized as well. It is so timely that this activity falls on a Lenten season, that as I reflected deeper, this reminds me of the central theme of the Lenten season -- being with Christ in His sufferings, His death, and His resurrection. It is through death, self-mortification and dying of oneself, that a person may be compared to an ash that brings forth a new life.
Another lesson I imbibed is to have a life that is centered on Christ alone – there I learned how to be less of me and how to be more of Christ – an ‘alter Christus’.
I am very nervous by then when I was asked to speak on stage. I invoked the Holy Spirit to guide me because I really don’t know what to say. I even blurted-out, that I felt like humiliated, though what I meant was I really felt humbled. (A slip of a tongue but may still have meaning. I just laughed when I recalled these words – very humiliating..i mean..very humbling) Indeed the vocation program was a big humbling experience, an awakening that brought about a deeper sense of spiritual renewal and re-commitment to live with and in Christ alone.
I told myself, while at the duration of the seminar, that regardless of the decision of the resident priest formators, as lead by Father Rector, I would humbly accept it; for the 3-day live-in program itself strengthened my relationship with the Lord. Though I also learned that it is not enough that I knew Him, it is not enough that I follow His precepts, it is not enough that I study His decrees; it is not enough that I express my love of neighbors. But it is by standing boldly in front of the public, bearing the image of Christ and proclaiming the Gospel – which I believe was something observed that needs to be developed in me if I wanted to give my life fully for His own cause and will.
I am not yet as clear as the glass in the flash light that could reflect Christ to the community for I appear to be so full of myself. But as I reflect on the bright full moon hovering over the fields last night, I asked myself: would it also be okay to compare a priest to a moon, that despite its craters of different diameters and of its other flaws, it remains to reflect a bright and shining light to the people in the darkest hour of the night. And that brightness and the light that it could give can at times only be noticed when, man-made source of light and of power --the electricity, fails us? And for all we know we are wanting to see a light, perfect in its circular form but perhaps it is not yet full moon, when we have a glanced of it, and all the while the moon stood as round as it is with all its imperfections but it continually gives light not on the fullest form that we wanted to see but maybe it is still on its waxing phase?
I admit that I really felt bad upon receiving the note that I did not make it. It even adds-up to my affirmation about God that He is indeed humorous. He allowed me to receive a message that I passed and I qualified to take the exam this coming Sunday (March 7) because He knew that I prayed to received that message but I think I missed something on my prayer. I should have stated on my prayer that I will receive the congratulatory message and it is for real and not just wrongly send.
This at first hand was indeed as I tagged it was a ‘sweet rejection’ for as a whole, this experience, brings me back to my old senses, to my old commitment with Him yet at the same time as I actually feel it – it gives a sudden kick of sadness, of grieving and of death. I feel sorry and mournful for the day I refused to enter into formation four years ago. For the fact that behind my statement that I wanted to augment our family income that time, I am still afraid to face myself, I am afraid to undergo psychological testing for it may expose things that I am afraid of, things that I don’t want to face. But here I am now, laying down my cards, fully ready to whatever the results may provide, has been denied to continue on with what I initially thought was already the will of God.
Indeed, the message indicated that I am not qualified to go for the next step and I need to submit to it for HASS knew well what’s best for me; for they are the anointed ones to gather the called and selected few. HASS as I learned about since 2001 may not only be the place where I thought my seed of vocation will be properly nourished and sustained for its growth. For my role is limited to keep my seed of vocation safe and select the place where it will eventually grow and mature for I can’t predict what tree it will become and what capacity of fruits it can produce. My sense of being in the case of a seed would only last before it breaks, after it broken fully it will give life for a newer me, something I don’t know yet but only God and those, who manages the house for the seeds of vocation, knew.
And I will leave it at that, it is not really my will that will be followed, it is still the will of God that will always prevail.
As I would like to emphasize, thank you for giving me a chance to reach the application process this far, it is an experience that is really worth remembering. And on a personal note, HASS achieved the goal of making the live-in vocation discernment seminar experience more than just the ordinary experience of being with the seminarians, priests and other affiliates and got the sense of living inside the vicinity of the seminary. It is also an experience that enriches oneself as an individual who continually seeks for the Lord and His will at all times – and it has been true for me.
At a lighter note, given the chance that I will be accepted for a live-in seminar, I would pray all the more, I would not just pray that I will receive a congratulatory note but I will also pray harder that I will go straight right into the finish line not because it is my own heart’s desire but the desire of God who resides in my heart. And I would like to look forward for the day that I would thank again HASS for their wisdom that brought me to the place where I truly belong.
May Mary, Seat of wisdom, continue to bless and guide you all the more as inspired St. John Marie Vianney’s search for deeper understanding of going beyond intellectual emptiness with St. Paul, who seen Christ--- source of true light, later than all the disciples and St. Francis, who learned lessons from his brother moon and friends from seeds and trees, all the time.
God bless you always!
Committed to bear Christ,
Christopher Castillo
Peace in Christ!
Thank you very much for giving me a chance to be part of the recently concluded Live-In Vocation Discernment Seminar last weekend.
It was a wisdom-filled, enriching and unforgettable experience for me.
I never felt that ‘welcome’ since I decided not to join the La Salle brothers’ postulancy program last 2006. As I implicitly said on my personal testimony on the last part of the program – the 3-day experience brought me back to the day I made a pact with the Lord that I will serve Him for the rest of my life.
As I am deeply moved by the experience, let me share with you my reflections as my way of saying ‘thank you’
As emphasized on the CASA talk by Father Dave, the desire to serve the Lord is not enough as a ground to enter the seminary and be one of the “priests-in-process”. I may agree with it, there should be the total surrender and the inner desire of serving because of the Love he gave us. Love that may come in different forms and cannot be measured by sight but by another heart formed in the likeness of God – full of love, compassion and mercy.
I learned a lot from this weekend activity and I am happy that as I head back home, I am challenged to go through the Paschal mystery of daily lives as presented by Father John. It is not enough that I experienced passion and resurrection, death is given emphasized as well. It is so timely that this activity falls on a Lenten season, that as I reflected deeper, this reminds me of the central theme of the Lenten season -- being with Christ in His sufferings, His death, and His resurrection. It is through death, self-mortification and dying of oneself, that a person may be compared to an ash that brings forth a new life.
Another lesson I imbibed is to have a life that is centered on Christ alone – there I learned how to be less of me and how to be more of Christ – an ‘alter Christus’.
I am very nervous by then when I was asked to speak on stage. I invoked the Holy Spirit to guide me because I really don’t know what to say. I even blurted-out, that I felt like humiliated, though what I meant was I really felt humbled. (A slip of a tongue but may still have meaning. I just laughed when I recalled these words – very humiliating..i mean..very humbling) Indeed the vocation program was a big humbling experience, an awakening that brought about a deeper sense of spiritual renewal and re-commitment to live with and in Christ alone.
I told myself, while at the duration of the seminar, that regardless of the decision of the resident priest formators, as lead by Father Rector, I would humbly accept it; for the 3-day live-in program itself strengthened my relationship with the Lord. Though I also learned that it is not enough that I knew Him, it is not enough that I follow His precepts, it is not enough that I study His decrees; it is not enough that I express my love of neighbors. But it is by standing boldly in front of the public, bearing the image of Christ and proclaiming the Gospel – which I believe was something observed that needs to be developed in me if I wanted to give my life fully for His own cause and will.
I am not yet as clear as the glass in the flash light that could reflect Christ to the community for I appear to be so full of myself. But as I reflect on the bright full moon hovering over the fields last night, I asked myself: would it also be okay to compare a priest to a moon, that despite its craters of different diameters and of its other flaws, it remains to reflect a bright and shining light to the people in the darkest hour of the night. And that brightness and the light that it could give can at times only be noticed when, man-made source of light and of power --the electricity, fails us? And for all we know we are wanting to see a light, perfect in its circular form but perhaps it is not yet full moon, when we have a glanced of it, and all the while the moon stood as round as it is with all its imperfections but it continually gives light not on the fullest form that we wanted to see but maybe it is still on its waxing phase?
I admit that I really felt bad upon receiving the note that I did not make it. It even adds-up to my affirmation about God that He is indeed humorous. He allowed me to receive a message that I passed and I qualified to take the exam this coming Sunday (March 7) because He knew that I prayed to received that message but I think I missed something on my prayer. I should have stated on my prayer that I will receive the congratulatory message and it is for real and not just wrongly send.
This at first hand was indeed as I tagged it was a ‘sweet rejection’ for as a whole, this experience, brings me back to my old senses, to my old commitment with Him yet at the same time as I actually feel it – it gives a sudden kick of sadness, of grieving and of death. I feel sorry and mournful for the day I refused to enter into formation four years ago. For the fact that behind my statement that I wanted to augment our family income that time, I am still afraid to face myself, I am afraid to undergo psychological testing for it may expose things that I am afraid of, things that I don’t want to face. But here I am now, laying down my cards, fully ready to whatever the results may provide, has been denied to continue on with what I initially thought was already the will of God.
Indeed, the message indicated that I am not qualified to go for the next step and I need to submit to it for HASS knew well what’s best for me; for they are the anointed ones to gather the called and selected few. HASS as I learned about since 2001 may not only be the place where I thought my seed of vocation will be properly nourished and sustained for its growth. For my role is limited to keep my seed of vocation safe and select the place where it will eventually grow and mature for I can’t predict what tree it will become and what capacity of fruits it can produce. My sense of being in the case of a seed would only last before it breaks, after it broken fully it will give life for a newer me, something I don’t know yet but only God and those, who manages the house for the seeds of vocation, knew.
And I will leave it at that, it is not really my will that will be followed, it is still the will of God that will always prevail.
As I would like to emphasize, thank you for giving me a chance to reach the application process this far, it is an experience that is really worth remembering. And on a personal note, HASS achieved the goal of making the live-in vocation discernment seminar experience more than just the ordinary experience of being with the seminarians, priests and other affiliates and got the sense of living inside the vicinity of the seminary. It is also an experience that enriches oneself as an individual who continually seeks for the Lord and His will at all times – and it has been true for me.
At a lighter note, given the chance that I will be accepted for a live-in seminar, I would pray all the more, I would not just pray that I will receive a congratulatory note but I will also pray harder that I will go straight right into the finish line not because it is my own heart’s desire but the desire of God who resides in my heart. And I would like to look forward for the day that I would thank again HASS for their wisdom that brought me to the place where I truly belong.
May Mary, Seat of wisdom, continue to bless and guide you all the more as inspired St. John Marie Vianney’s search for deeper understanding of going beyond intellectual emptiness with St. Paul, who seen Christ--- source of true light, later than all the disciples and St. Francis, who learned lessons from his brother moon and friends from seeds and trees, all the time.
God bless you always!
Committed to bear Christ,
Christopher Castillo
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