THE KIWI WHO SOARED THE SKIES...

            Okay, since UPd people are posting "evaluations" for the classes they've taken, let me post mine as well.

1^st Semester of my First Year

"Evaluation"

Subject: Math 17

Professor: Mr. Clarrisson Canlubo

Grade Basis: Five long exams, quizzes and assignments (during the early days), his never ending board works, and the Departmental Exams (Midterm and Final Exam).

Class Description: His teaching style, in my opinion, varies from the rest. He would dissect each concept first, explaining to us how it arrived to that concept. He'd say random jokes and tell stories whenever he feels to. Well, I can say that as a teacher, he IS fun but I don't really like his teaching strategy. His long exams may vary from VERY easy to VERY difficult. As he says, it depends on his mood. Oh, and by the way, he may give off plus points for tasks that you succeed to do (ANY task, I mean. E.g. wearing a skirt and a tube) and usually, if not always, gives off exemption problems.

Grade Expectation: Well, a Math genius would always be a Math genius so if you ARE one, despite his unique strategy, a glistening ONE is possible. Well, I'm not that's why I found the subject hard but nevertheless, passable. Remember, MATH is PRACTICE!

I RECOMMEND him. J

 

Subject: Biology 1

Professor: Mrs. Sonia Jacinto (1^st half) / Mr. Perry Ong (2^nd half)

Grade Basis: Well, expect a reaction paper at least, two long tests, a group presentation, latest biological breakthrough reports (although in our class, I don't think anyone even submitted) and the Final Exam (optional). ATTENDANCE IS A MUST! (get it?)

Class Description: I LOVED this class. You can do anything you like. I mean ANYTHING. This is a large class so you won't be noticed if you don't want to be noticed. The 1^st half is a bit boring but still tolerable, you just have to jot a bit but if you're lazy to do so, worry not because Mrs. Jacinto provides a print out of her powerpoint presentations. The 2^nd half is lively. I loved this professor. I've learned so much from him. Just LISTEN to his lectures and I'm sure you'll pass. If you happen to forget things, he provides copies of his powerpoint presentations in the site http://uvle.up.edu.ph .

Grade Expectation: Well, I got a 2.0 without even studying HARD like everyone else did so you may expect a grade between 1.0 to 1.75 if you're a hard worker. If you happen to get a PASS grade, don't attempt to take the FINAL exam if you're not a genius. Another piece of advice: just LISTEN, LISTEN, And LISTEN!

I RECOMMEND them. J

 

Subject: Kasaysayan 2

Professor: Mrs. Alma Bamero

Grade Basis: Two Long Exams.

Class Description: Her class is plain but nevertheless interesting. She's the only History professor who doesn't require her students to make term papers and report things. She'll do all the rest. All you have to do is JOT DOWN NOTES. Her history is pretty much UPDATED so most History textbooks don't have them. You may feel sleepy, but be warned not to. :p Also, she checks attendance so always be present and avoid being late as well. She counts them.

Grade Expectation: Her tests are objective type so it's pretty much like telling a DETAILED story. I failed the first long exam because I failed to tell all the details needed but I know that of all the Kasaysayan courses out there, hers is the easiest to pass.

I RECOMMEND her. J

 

Subject: English 1

Professor: Mr. Arnel Galang

Grade Basis: Short Essays, Recitation, Two Major Papers and Final Exam.

Class Description: I simply hate English 1 but let's me be fair. His class is a scary one. He's O.C! AVOID, as in capital A-V-O-I-D tardiness. I almost failed to take the Final Exam. I was late by about eight minutes. He assigns specimen texts and analytic texts. Every class time, you should prepare AT LEAST three CRITICAL questions about those. Fail to do so, and you'd be immediately sent out of the room. Also, always bring a dictionary. He randomly calls people for recitation and HAS HIGH GRADING SYSTEM.

Grade Expectation: If you're an English wiz, you could expect a 2.0 or even a flat 1. However, if not, you should expect a grade between 3.0 or 5.0. His grades are just too high. His flat 1 would require a rating of 97 or better. IMAGINE.

I WON'T RECOMMEND him unless you're good because if you are, I know he would be able to unleash the beast in you. :>

 

Subject: Philosophy 1

Professor: Mr. Jerwin Agpaoa

Grade Basis: Presence, Group works, random works, midterms.

Class Description: This IS my favorite class. I mean, you won't be stressed about whether you would pass or not. THIS SUBJECT IS a sure pass unless you do something that won't let you to do so. Additional to that, this subject is FUN. The greatest thing about the subject is... NO FINALS!

Grade Expectation: Well, expect a grade of 2.0 or higher. J

I ULTIMATELY RECOMMEND him. J

 

Subject: P.E. 2 (Basketball, Men)

Professor: Mr. Edwin Barber

Grade Basis: Tickets (UAAP games of UP, Cheerdance, etc.) and the interclass tournament

Class Description: I LOVE Basketball even though I'm not good at it. If you love it as well, then this class is a must. The prof. is kind enough to understand the weaklings (like me) in the said sport.

Grade Expectation: At least a 2.0 or higher. It's a sure pass. ^_^

I DO RECOMMEND this for those who like Basketball (whether you're good at it or not). J

Credits: Thank you, Mico Subosa for the style. I hope you don't mind.

            The clock ticked and ticked and I can't seem to go to sleep. I was looking blankly at the ceiling of my room. Devoured by darkness, I looked at my watch and it's already 2:30 in the morning. The rain sang in a gentle sound outside my room. I decided to sit up and plug my earphones. I turned my iPod on and pressed play.

            "A strangled smile fell from your face. It kills me that I hurt you this way. The worst part is that I didn't even know..."

            A scene flashed as I close my eyes. I was sitting in a jeepney, looking at the perfect feature of the girl beside me. She tried to avoid my eyes and instead stared outside. I asked her if there's something wrong, but she just shook her head. When it was time to bid farewell, she gave me a smile and waved goodbye.

            "Now there's a million reasons for you to go but if you can find a reason to stay..."

            The scene disappeared into nothingness and I found myself back into my dark room. I looked for my cellular phone and when I finally found it, I browsed my saved messages and found one of hers. It was the message she sent to me saying she wants to break up with me. I stared at it for a minute or so, trying to comprehend the things that happened to us.

            "I'll do whatever it takes to turn this around. I know what's at stake. I know that I've let you down..."

            I made myself believe that it was my mother's fault. She texted the girl that I loved the most, saying that it was because of her that I became the black sheep of our family. It must have hurt my girl so much that's why she chose to break up with me although we loved each other. She was forced to be crucified because of the sins she didn't even commit. "It's my mother's fault! Why can't she understand my feelings for that girl? Why?" I blamed my mother. It even reached the point where I cussed her because of anger. However, just now, I found out that it's not my mother's fault. It was mine all along.

            "And if you give me a chance and believe that I can change, I'll keep us together whatever it takes..."

            I had been too honest. I didn't know back then that too much honesty would bring catastrophic consequences. I told my parents that I loved this girl. However, because our religion doesn't allow us to have relationships with those who don't have the same faith as us, my mother didn't like my girl. It fumed me so much because we've got everything planned back then. Or so I thought. I've become grumpy with my mother, been too honest to her about how I really feel and it might have offended her because it would seem that I would choose my girl over her. It was true though. We always fought especially when my girl's name was involved. Who wouldn't stand up for the one we love the most when he/she is getting offended by other people? If only I hadn't been cantankerous... If only I hadn't been too honest on how I feel... If only I hadn't told my parents about her...

            "But do you remember the time I told you the way that I felt? That I'd be lost without you and never find myself?"

            A tear fell from my face. I tried to wipe it out but the tears just fell one after the other. I succumbed to my loneliness asking myself: "Wouldn't we still be together if it hadn't been for my flaw? Wouldn't we still be laughing together and spending time together if it hadn't been for me?"

            "I'll do whatever it takes..."

            I continued to blame myself. I stared at the ceiling, tears still flowing on my cheeks...

            "And if you give me a chance..."

            "She's gone," I told myself. She won't be back. I would just be a part of her memory, a bad one that she would later on forget. I will just be a dream turned into a nightmare for her.

            "I'll keep us together whatever it takes..."

            I calmed myself down and wiped my tears away. The song ended at that moment but I decided to play it back and minimized the volume. I closed my eyes and talked to God. I prayed, telling Him everything that I feel, asking Him if anything would have change if I had been flawless. As I open my eyes again, I feel the pain fading away. I looked at my watch for the second time and it was already 5:20 in the morning. I looked outside the windows. The sun was about to shine any minute now.

            "... whatever it takes."

            The song just ended again. I wasn't aware how many times I played it back. I decided to turn my iPod off and stood up. I fixed my bed and realized that it's just another day where I'm stuck between times - that past and this present.

            (I would like to thank Ms. Arianne Balaoing for allowing me to use her style on this essay and for editing this. Thanks Ianne! :D)

            Ok. It's been while since I posted something. I was lazy. Sorry. Anyway, my life is the same so far. Nothing changed.

I'll just share the things memorable to me:

•I.        I got a + 60 points for the 5^th long exam! An instant pass!!!

•II.     I gave a birthday card for the person dearest to me.

•III.   Storm Ondoy destroyed lives.

•I.   + 60 points for Math 17 5^th long exam

So our professor decided to give us a + 60 points (for a reason I know not.) if and only if: the guy wears a tube plus a skirt and the girl wears a wedding gown. Well, if we do wear what the prof. told us to, it would make us look desperate... WELL, I AM A BIT DESPERATE!!! God, a once in a lifetime + 60 dude! An instant pass!!! Who cares about being desperate?

Well, I'm still a bit shy despite my desperation, so I told myself I wouldn't wear it if they won't as well.

Driven by desperation, I asked a friend/classmate of mine, if he would be desperate enough to wear the tube plus the skirt. Well, at first, he DIDN'T want to, but I managed to persuade him. So I decided to be desperate.

I told my parents that I need a tube plus a skirt (my father didn't react violently because of the additional points... he knows I need it that much.) but UNFORTUNATELY, there was no tube that would fit me. :| "Oh no... My 60 points," I told myself >_<

When I arrived at the room, the friend I talked to last night already holds the skirt and told me he's going to make a tube out of another skirt (it was a good idea.) and luckily for me, his block mate was kind enough to lend me two skirts. Some of the girls also wore wedding gowns. We, the "desperates", were the ones whom sir asked to solve the problems he had that day for the class.

It was worth it. After all, it WAS 60 points.

•II.     A Weird Birthday Present

         Last Thursday, I decided to follow a friend's advice on what to give the person dearest to me: A birthday card.

         I asked another friend to accompany me in the National Bookstore to buy a card. When we arrived, we immediately went to the corner where the cards were. When I picked this one card, I liked the cover, the message on the cover, as well as the message of the card itself. It was as if it was really meant for her. When I tried to look for another one, I noticed something: the card that I liked was the only one left! I tried hard to find another one, but there was really no other. It was weird. It was as if the card was telling me: "Pick me! Pick me! I'm meant for her." And so I bought the card.

         When the next day arrived, I finally wrote a message in the card. However, I received a text message that she wasn't around! "OMG! What am I going to do? Grrr... Don't tell me this card is going to be put in the garbage bin..." I told myself. Despite this, I still decided to go to school and pursue my original plan: let her friend give the card to her.

         Well, everything turned out well. I received a text from her friend that she was in the stage and so I gave the card to her friend when I arrived at the school. She accepted it and I just hoped she liked her birthday present.

•III.   Catastrophe: Storm Ondoy

On the day of her birthday, a catastrophe happened: the storm Ondoy showed its wrath. It made some of the areas of Luzon like a big swimming pool.

It was devastating. With just THREE hours... JUST THREE hours... the water already engulfed some of the areas in Central Luzon. The people crying for help were really heart-breaking... Many died... and most of the properties of people who managed to survive were eaten by mud.

We were lucky our house was located in a slope, making it hard to be flooded... Let's all pray for the safety of all of us. It's the simplest but always the most effective.

"TRUE LOVE doesn't and shouldn't end in happy endings because... TRUE LOVE doesn't and shouldn't end."

            "There was an old, rich man living in an island, who decided to give his three sons a test to know who would inherit all of his riches. The test was to fill his very large, empty lot. The sons can wish for anything from their father for as long as they fill the said lot.

            The first son asked for a million. His father gave him the said amount without further ado. He cut all the trees present in their island and had put it in the lot. It didn't even fill 1/8 of the lot.

            The second son asked for 2 million and thus his father granted it. He hired all their men in the island and had told them to catch all the fishes they can catch. When they returned to fill the lot, it didn't even reached ¼ of it.

            The third on the other hand asked for Php. 10.00. The father was shocked at the amount his son asked but gave it to him nonetheless. The third went to a store and bumped into a mendicant and he decided to give him Php. 5.00. When he returned on their home, he asked his father and two elder brothers to join him in the lot. When they arrived at the lot, he pulled out a box of match in his pocket and handed a stick to each of them. He told them to light each of their sticks and thus, light filled the darkness of the lot."

            Okay, I haven't posted for a while. Many things happened during that time. Btw, before I begin to share all the misfortunes that happened in my life, I would like you to know that I got the story above from Atty. Antonio Oposa who was the guest speaker in the public lecture we were required to attend instead of our Kasaysayan 2 class.  

The first misfortune was that I failed the 2^nd and 3^rd long tests and my Midterm exam in Math 17. Life is just too ironic for me. I love math and everyone including myself believed it was my forte... but I keep on FAILING it for an unknown reason! Argh!

            Second, Ex-President Corazon Aquino has already joined her husband in his grave. We all felt the loss for she was the one who truly gave us democracy. I offer my condolences to the family she left like the rest of the world.

            Next, Brother Eraño G. Manalo has already been given by God his deserved rest. He truly lived a fruitful life, led every Iglesia Ni Cristo in the whole world into righteousness and gave hope to every one of us. Every one of us laments right now but we know that life must go on. We will never forget you, Brother Erdie.

            Aside from that, she's currently giving me a cold treatment for a reason I know not. I don't want to give her up (Yeah, I know I'm a martyr.) but it seems she wants me to. Guess I need a bit of rest from this tiresome longing for her comeback. (Don't get me wrong there; I still have no will to give her up. I love her this much.)

            Additional to the misfortunes that are currently happening in my life, I didn't get so lucky in my class in English 1. I usually am. Mr. A.G. doesn't usually have a class or doesn't call me whenever I'm not prepared for his class. However, last Thursday, he sent out two of my classmates because they haven't prepared three critical questions he required us to have for the specimen text he assigned us to read. (Just like me.) You know what happened next? I got called! GOD! My brain crammed to make a question and it was very annoying in my part because I have something I wanted to ask though I didn't succeed in putting it in a coherent sentence at that time. Good thing he seemed to think that I just can't make it in a coherent sentence and he decided to call someone else instead. I wasn't sent out. I was still lucky, but starting to get unlucky.

            "We start living as soon as we are born. However, as soon as we start living, we start dying as well." -Arianne

            Okay, dahil Buwan ng Wika ngayon, Tagalog muna ang wikang aking gagamitin sa mga kalokohang aking ibabahagi ko sa inyo ngayong buwan.

Kakatapos pa lamang kanina ng isang nakadudugong pagsusulit sa Sipnayan 17 (Math 17). Aaminin ko, hindi naman ako nagbalik-tanaw sa aking mga aralin ngunit sadyang napakahirap lamang talaga ng pagsusulit. Masuwerte na ako kung ako'y makakuha ng 70 pataas na marka.

Sa pagtatapos ng aming pagsusulit, mga bandang 9:00 a.m. ng umaga, inaantay ako ng dalawa kong kaibigan. Tila kapareho ko naman silang nahirapan sa pagsusulit, ngunit batid kong mas mababa ang markang aking makukuha dahil alam kong nag-aral sila kahit papaano, hindi katulad ko. Sa aming paglalakad, mayroon silang pinag-uusapang dalaga na itatago ko sa pangalang Bb. Hindi ko kilala o HKK (paumanhin sa pangalan, walang ibang pumapasok sa aking isipan ngayon. Isa pa, kilala ko lamang siya sa pangalan). Sa kanilang pagkakakuwento, napakaganda nitong si Bb. HKK dahil ayon sa kanila, hawig daw ito sa aming kamag-aral nuong kami ay nasa City of Mandaluyong Science High School (CMSHS) pa, na tunay na mala-Diyosa ang ganda kaya naman ako'y nasabik na makita ang sinasabi nilang dalaga.

Ngunit sa kabila ng mga nakalilibang na mga gawain na tulad nito, isang tao pa rin ang hinahanap ko. Bawat patak ng segundo, siya lamang ang namamalagi sa aking balintataw. Kanina nga lamang, iniisip ko kung siya ba'y nasa mabuting kalagayan, kung siya'y nakakain na at kung iniisip din kaya niya ko kahit papano sa mga panahong iyon. Hindi ako matahimik, gusto ko siya makita... o kahit masulyapan lamang kahit sa malayo. Kaya naman ng sinabi ng isa kong kaibigan na siya ay pupunta ng SM Megamall, ako'y nagpasiyang sumama. Bakit? Manunuod ang aking hinahanap-hanap na dalaga ay manunuod ng isang pagsasabuhay sa makabuluhang buhay ng kabiyak yumaong "Ina ng Demokrasya", si Benigno Servillano "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr sa nasabing gusaling pangkalakalan.

Noong una, nagdalawang isip pa ako kung dapat ba kong mag-antay para lamang makita siya. Alam kong pareho naming hindi alam ang magiging resulta kung makikita namin ang isa't isa sa panahong iyon, ngunit hindi iyon ang tunay na dahilan. Natatakot lamang ako na baka hindi niya ko pansinin. Takot na masaktan ng gagawin. Ngunit talagang nangingibabaw ang kagustuhan kong makita siya, kaya naman nagpapapilit na rin ako sa isa kong kaibigan.

Noong dumating na ang pagkakataon na nasa Megamall na ang aking hinihintay (ayon ito sa isang kaibigan ng aking hinihintay), bandang 1:20 ng hapon, hindi na ako mapakali sa aking kinatatayuan. Makikita ko siya. Masusulyapan ko siya. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Natatakot, nasasabik, nangangamba... Lumipas pa ang ilang minuto... Halos sunod-sunod na ang aking paghinga... At sa wakas, naaninag ko na rin siya.

Halos tumigil ang mundo sa aking paligid. Nakasentro lamang ang aking paninigin sa kaniyang kagandahan. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nangyayari sa mga panahong iyon: Nakita ko muli siya sa isa pang pagkakataon. Tunay na napuno ng kaligayahan ang aking puso...

Matapos silang lumampas sa amin, nagpasiya kong umuwi na. Tinanong ako ng aking kaibigan: "Ano pre? Ganoon na lamang ba 'yon?" Tila hindi ko rin masagot ang katanungan niya. Gusto kong makausap muli ang dalaga, makakuwentuhan kahit sandali lamang... Ngunit ayokong magbaka-sakali. Kailangan kong makuntento sa mga simpleng bagay na pinagkakaloob sa akin, kahit sa pagkakataong iyon lamang. Alam kong makakausap ko rin ulit siya balang araw... Na maibabalik din ang dati, dahil araw-araw ko naman itong ipinagpapanalangin sa Panginoon... Pero hindi pa ngayon... Hindi... Kahit gustong-gusto ko... Hindi pa ngayon.

Sa aming paglalakad pauwi, ang kasiyahang bumalot kanina sa akin ay tila hindi ko na ulit maaalala. Tila ba nalimot na agad ito ng panahon, tila napakatagal na ng naransan ko iyon... Ngunit alam kong dapat ako'y maging matatag, kailangan ko lamang ng tamang panahon...

Matuto kayong makuntento sa mga simpleng bagay na nangyayari sa buhay niyo. Magpasalamat ka na nakakakuwentuhan mo pa iyong taong mahal mo, nayayakap o nahahagkan. Malalaman mo na lamang kung gaano mo hahanap-hanapin ang simpleng "Uy!" na bati niya sa iyo kung huli na ang lahat.

            P.S. Salamat nga pala sa kaibigan kong sinamahan akong mag-antay at doon sa kaibigan ko na kamag-aral ng hinahanap-hanap ko na tumulong sa akin para masulyapan ko siya kahit ilang segundo lamang. J

       "When I was a puppy I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.

       My housetraining took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed, listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

       Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

       She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."

       As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them, especially their touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be.

       I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams. Together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being your dog to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

       Now you have a new career opportunity in another city and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.

       I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog or cat, even one with "papers."

       You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

       After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"

       They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

        I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table, rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.

       She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"

       Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. With my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not meant for her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty."

            This story entitled "How Could You?", came from the book "Pieces of My Heart" by Jim Willis. As I first read this tale in a note of a friend in Facebook, I felt remarkably touched. I wanted you guys to be able to read and appreciate it like me that is why I posted it here in my blog. I hope you enjoyed reading and learned a lesson.

            That's all for now.

            "Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice."  

            So, this begins after my Mathematics 17 class. My Math 17 professor actually dismissed us at the exact time (it is not advisable for prof. to dismiss students like this because he/she would be late for his/her next class. You'll know why if you keep reading) and my next destination (unfortunately for me) is in College of Arts and Letters (CAL), which is about 10-15 min. walk or trip (via jeepney), for my next class: English 1. (Note that my designated classroom is in the 5^th floor so it would take me another 2-3 min. before I finally reach the room.)

            Time check:

                8:15 - time of dismissal from Math 17 class.

                8:30 - start of English 1 class.

            I was only thinking of one thing during that time: I'm doomed

            I sped up my walk (it actually felt like I was already running... slowly), hoping not to arrive in the room late because Mr. Minotaur clearly articulated to us on our first day of meeting that he/she doesn't really like latecomers and that one will suffer terrible fate and consequence if one is to be late. Well, when I arrived, I was so thankful he/she didn't send me out because it was the fate of those who came a minute or so after me. (I was, as if, saved by the bell because in my calculations, I was already 2-3 min. late.) Just got lucky, I guess.

            Let me give you a short background of Mr. Minotaur so that you'd be able to know how it felt today. So he/she is plain flawless. Exaggerated? BELIVE IT! He/she graduated in De La Salle University and taught in THE Ateneo de Manila before he/she became a flesh-eating professor of THE University of the Philippines, Diliman. (He/she used the article "THE", yes with the capital T-H-E, to emphasize the greatness of the two most prestigious schools in the Philippines. [Sorry La Salle students.]) He/she belonged to a wealthy (I based this on how his/her story sounded to me. He/she told us that when his/her mother's sisters wished for cars, jewels and riches from their grandfather, his/her mother wished for books instead. [Don't be silly, the books are not ordinary books. Some of them still needed to be ordered and shipped from other countries.]) family and just like his/her mother; he/she liked reading as much. Fortunately for him/her, as long as what he/she was requesting were books, no matter what the price would say, his/her mother will buy it for him/her. As he/she had said to us, this is how he/she became good at the language.

            So he/she started the class after he/she made us pass our homework. (uhhmm, it was a short essay with a requirement of two faces of paper, double spaced, which I just finished working with this particular morning. [oh well, I'm expecting a very low grade because even I know how my essay sucked.]) I thought he/she would be discussing again some rules about grammar and language but he/she actually didn't. Instead, he just called us randomly, asking us random questions with grammars (A form of reviewing, I guess) and spellings of words (I missed mine. I misspelled Mediterranean as "meditterranean." [There are two mistakes in my spelling. First, is my double "t" and I didn't say "capital m"]) and it actually turned out to be FUN. The discussion didn't turned out to be the usual brain torturing lessons because everything was based on our stock knowledge. Also, he/she joked with us making the room, which is usually gloomy, boring and hot, lively.

            Here are some of the things I've learned today:

            1. The way groups of certain people and things are called:

   Group of Girls            =          Bevy

         Group of Clouds         =          Column

         Group of Dogs            =          Bedlam

         Group of Geese          =          Gaggle

         Group of Small           =          Collection

         Antiques

2. The masculine and feminine form of certain animals: 

   Peacock = Peafowl (M); Peahen (F)

   Cat = Tomcat (M); Tabby cat (F)

   Dog = Hound (M); Bitch (F)

   Pig = Bore (M); Sow (F)

   Donkey = Jackass (M); Jenny (F)

3. In spelling, the letter "I" always comes before the letter "E" except if: it is after the letter "C"; in some cases after the letter "R"; and after the letter "W"

So, if you pass THE University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) and are designated in Diliman, or if you are already a student in UP Diliman and you became interested with him because of this, better look for the subject English 1 with the flesh eating Minotaur as its professor: Mr. A.G. It's F-U-N, trust me. Just be ready for a "not-very-pleasing-grade" if you won't do your best. *wink*

P.S. Mr. A.G. was the one who called himself as the flesh-eating Minotaur and I had just adapted it. ^_^

            "If you love a person, set him/her free. If he/she comes back, then he/she is yours. If he/she doesn't, he/she never was."

Okay. First of all, this is about LOVE. If you're sick and tired of the stories, entries, etc. about the said topic then just stop reading right at this point.

Now, I will assume that you're quite interested with what I have to say because you continued reading. So let's start of with the definition of love. What the heck is love anyway?

"Love is any of a number of emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong affection and attachment," according to Wikipedia;

"It is an unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others," defined by the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus;

"It can't be explained by any theories or reasons," speculated by Science;

And "it can never be calculated (of course)," stated by Mathematics.

Next question is: why do you fall in love with a person?

One person may say that "it's because he/she was so kind to me." Another may say that "it's because he/she made me feel comfortable and secure when I was in catastrophe." Another one may state that "it's because they had known each other for a very long time that's why we understand each other well." These are just some of the possible answers when you ask a random person the question that I am discussing but have you ever heard a person with an answer "I don't know?" (Thinking it's corny? Think again.)

If you have a reason why you fell in love with a certain person, then what would happen if that reason disappears? Wouldn't you fall out of love? Falling in love with a person shouldn't have any reasons, if that is "true" love. I know some of you are disagreeing right at the moment you've read that statement but think of this: if you loved a person because of a reason, then you don't love the person at all. You just like his/her qualities. Why? You loved the reason (his/her qualities), not the person.

Now, if you don't have any reason why you fell in love, don't you think it would be troublesome?

YES, it would be.

Look at this: if you have a reason and that reason disappears, then you can already fall out of love, end of story, but what if you don't have any reason that would disappear to let you fall out of love?

The answer to that is experiencing pain.

In a relationship in which love is in its center, we would really experience misunderstandings. With this, we would be hurt because, we're all different persons that's why whether we like it or not, even if we love a person, we would dislike/hate some of his/her qualities but if you're really serious with the said relationship, you should accept that fact that the person we love can never be the definition of our "perfect" man/woman. Loving him/her is accepting everything about him/her and making him/her the "perfect" one for us. "True" love would make you obstinate and irrational that's why despite of being in pain and being hurt, we still continue to love that person. Now, do you get it why people say that love and pain comes in pairs?

Then, how much pain should we endure? (Why am I asking this? It's because you might think that "true" love should be taking all the pain.)

The answer is: it is up to you. We have different ways of thinking as well as emotional capacities. Some may break up with you already because of situations that are intolerable for him/her. It would hurt VERY much when one decides to end your relationship just because of this (but please don't question his/her love for you. As I've commented a while ago, "true" love doesn't mean taking all the pain especially if you're beyond your limit.) When faced in this situation, two options would always be available for you. One is to be a persistent fool and continue to be arrogant; one that he/she would be considering as obsession and not love anymore (people have different perspectives in obsession. Some don't consider it as love but actually, it is just extreme love overshadowed by selfishness). Or just let go. "If it already hurts you so much then just let go," as said by my friends.

"Let go."

It's very funny how a very short word can be so hard to put into action. It may even surpass the ever-trusted quote "if there's a will, there will always be a way," if you're obstinate enough.

Can't let go? It's not his/her problem so set him/her free first. He/she still has the right to choose how to live his/her life. You can't choose what he/she should choose. He/she is not your puppet.

After doing what is right, choose whether to hold on for a while and stay as friends (even though I know you won't treat him/her as a "friend" even if you're just treated as such. *wink*) or isolate yourself from her. Both would make you feel hell but which one is better to choose? Whether you believe me or not, it's better to hold on for a while. It's a tormenting like the other, but it would provide you a very small amount of happiness, so it's still worth it (martyrdom? Well, if that's how you want to think of it, then so be it.) You don't have to rush things. You'd know when to give up being a "martyr" anyway. It would directly hit you in the face. So if you have time to worry about letting go, why not worry yourself with other things instead? Trust me on this. Just continue to love him/her like there's no tomorrow. Who knows, what you're doing may touch his/her heart and everything might end well.

If he/she wants to be freed, set him/her free. If he/she comes back, he/she is YOURS. If not, he/she NEVER WAS.

 

HAPPY 95th Anniversary to all Iglesia Ni Cristo out there!!! May God give us more blessings as we approach the end of this long and tiring journey! Hang in there, we're almost there. :)

I don't know how often I can post things but don't worry, you'd be informed anyway. :)