Halu Halo

Untitled

2011-09-18T13:35:00.000+08:00

It feels great…

when someone gives us sincere compliments and reminds us of our good qualities that we may have forgotten,

when a person beamingly introduces us to his family and is eager to meet our families as well,

when one is concerned and asks: how’s your dad and mom,

when a person proudly introduces us to his friends,

when someone sees us as the most beautiful person on earth despite of the unwanted fats around our tummies and few breakouts on our faces.

It reminds us that while others treat us as an ordinary being, there are those who think that we are special and perfect despite of our imperfections.

And then, we realize that we are worthy to be loved the way that we should be.

Perfect Day

2011-08-07T18:58:00.002+08:00

A perfect day does not necessarily start with a perfect morning. It can start in the late afternoon with someone whom you would like to share the day with.

It can be:

.. as crazy as one-and-a-half motorcycle ride in a heavy rain just to have a Pizza Hut’s Cheezy Pops experience.

.. a casual conversation of different types of mushrooms which will make you a millionaire.

.. a simple argument whether little baby boys can undergo ballet lessons.

.. a simple trip to the Burger Machine stand for a cheesy bacon delight.

.. doing stupid things together and then, laugh about them later.

.. listening to music while joking around.

.. a three-hour spur of the moment drive just to have a taste of Starbucks.

And, it can be just looking at someone’s face.

Just like any other day, the perfect day has to end. It is how the system works to keep things in their perfect balance. At the end of the day, all we have is the memory that will make an ordinary day perfect for as long as we live.

** from my journal dated 07.21.2007

Chocolates, Balloons and Red Roses

2011-07-08T12:10:00.000+08:00

Photo By Nico Salas

Chocolates, balloons and red roses on February 14…

I admit that at one point in my life, I have wished for these things. During my college years, I envied the girls who have unexpectedly received red roses in class. I even once wished for someone who would openly profess his love for me on the grounds of Sunken Garden.

For weeks, I have been wondering what my February 14 would be this year as I gladly watched one of my students gave his valentine gift to the girl of his dreams in my lecture class.

As always, there are no red roses or chocolates for me this year.

I had more.

I had the opportunity to glimpse and see a person’s life in a different light which made me understand and value the person even more. Finally, it hit me. I just had my chocolates, balloons and red roses. They, however, are wrapped differently but the impact is thousand times greater than what I have been yearning for.

NLEX, SCTEX, Hen Lin, Starbucks and a meaningful talk: This is my version of chocolates, balloons and red roses on my 2009 Valentine’s Day.

** from my journal dated 02.18.2009

Globe vs. Smart

2011-07-05T12:30:00.001+08:00

Elements of Retail Mix:

Type of Merchandise/Service
Variety and Assortment of Merchandise/Service
Price
Level of Customer Service

Have fun! :)

Jollibee vs. McDonalds

2011-07-05T12:29:00.002+08:00

Elements of Retail Mix:

Type of Merchandise/Service
Variety and Assortment of Merchandise/Service
Price
Level of Customer Service

Have fun! :)

ABS CBN vs. GMA7

2011-07-05T12:29:00.000+08:00

Elements of Retail Mix:

Type of Merchandise/Service
Variety and Assortment of Merchandise/Service
Price
Level of Customer Service

Have fun! :)

Popoy & Basha ~ One More Chance

2011-07-05T03:51:00.000+08:00

Some popular lines of Popoy and Basha from the movie, One More Chance:

"she loved me at my worst,you had me at my best yet you chose to break my heart.."

"kagustuhan ko naman ito di ba? bakit ako ang nasasaktan ng sobra,alam mo lagi ko pa ding sinasabi sana ako,sana ako nalang,sana ako nalang ulit.."

"kapag ang mahal natin ay iniwan tayo wag ka malungkot,dahil siguradong may darating na bagong taong hindi man maibibigay ang hinahanap natin matatanggap naman tayo at mamahalin.."

"mahal na mahal kita at ang sakit sakit na.."

"sometimes you have to break up to grow up,it takes two grown ups to make a relationship work.."

But this scene beats them all.

**Video edited by MKTG 200(2-1) students, SY 2010-2011.

Top 10 Panic Situations

2011-07-03T23:51:00.000+08:00

1. You forgot your cellphone at home.

2. You double murdered your empty toothpaste tube but nothing comes out from it and you’re late for an appointment.

3. Your mom does not bother you with petty questions anymore.

4. You’re too tired and weary to care.

5. You have a case deadline for your 5:30pm Strat Class and yet, you still cannot figure out the case problem at 4.30pm.

6. You finally cooked the best looking omelet but forgot to add salt in it.

7. Your best blouses/shirts are all in the laundry basket.

8. A person tells you “have it your way”.

9. You are only halfway done with the exam and the professor keeps on counting down the remaining last 10 minutes of the exam time.

10. You give up and the other person agrees to let go.

Buhay Estudyante*

2011-07-02T19:37:00.000+08:00

Photo by Nico Salas

Nasalubong ko ulit siya kanina. Mainit yata ang ulo kaya hindi man lang siya ngumiti. May problema siguro siya kaya siya ganon. Pero di bale, para sa akin, maganda pa rin siya.

Ewan ko ba at bakit di ako makapagsalita kapag nasa harap ko na siya. Lahat ng gusto kong sabihin ay biglang nawawala. Gusto kong mapansin niya ako sa klase kaya grabeng aral at basa ang ginagawa ko. Pero bakit ganon? ‘pag ako na ang tinawag sa klase, nawawala lahat ng inaral ko?

Magpapaturo sana ako sa kanya. Pero paano? Matagal ko ng planong lumapit sa kanya pagkatapos ng discussion sa klase. Siguro gragraduate na ako’t lahat, di ko parin ‘yon magagawa. Matalino kasi siya. Di ko kayang abutin. Marami siyang alam. Kahit hindi yata siya magbasa ng topic at lesson namin, alam niya kung ano ang sinasabi niya sa klase.

Natutuwa akong panoorin siya sa isang sulok kapag kasama niya ang mga kaibigan niya. Naisip ko, ordinaryong tao pa rin pala siya. Hindi lang puro aral. Tumatawa din siya ng malakas, nakikipagbiruan at mababaw din ang kaligayahan. Masarap siyang pagmasdan kapag ganon siya kasi di siya seryoso, walang maskara at siyang siya.

Minsan, narinig ko ang usapan nila. Akala siguro nila walang ibang tao. Umiiyak siya. Malungkot. Kinukwento ang nangyari sa kanya. Gusto kong suntukin yung taong nagpaiyak sa kanya. Wala sa sarili ang taong yun. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya, “Nandito ako.” Bakit di na lang ako?

Pero impossible talaga ang iniisip ko. Di nga niya ako kilalang talaga eh. Nginingitian niya ako minsan pero ni simula nga ng pangalan ko siguro ay di niya matandaan. Pero kahit ganon, masaya na ako. Makita ko lang siya bago pumasok o bago ako umuwi, masaya na ako.

Mababaw na kung mababaw. Corny na kung corny. Pero sa akin, di ito kababawan at ca-kornihan.

Dahil sa kanya, nagsisikap akong mag-aral. Noon, walang kaso kung magkaroon ako ng singko. Ngayon, hanga’t maari gusto ko ng maabot ang dos. Nagpupuyat na ako ngayon para magbasa at intindihin ang mga babasahin sa klase. Marunong na din akong mangarap. Kung puede nga lang, gusto ko ng matapos agad para makahanap na ng magandang trabaho at magkaroon ng magandang buhay.

Siguro, kapag may trabaho na ako, magkakaroon na ko ng lakas ng loob na kausapin siya at sabihin kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Pero ngayon pa lang, gusto ko na siyang pasalamatan kasi dahil sa kanya, nabuo ang mga pangarap ko sa buhay.

Balang araw, babalik ako sa CLSU para sa sabihin ang nararamdaman ko para sa ‘yo ma’am. Pangako.

*a letter from an anonymous student during my earlier years in the academe. My only contribution to this piece is its title, Buhay Estudyante. The content is solely attributable to the unknown author’s talent in creative writing.

Look, Glance & Smile

2011-07-01T18:12:00.000+08:00

It only takes one look

to know that he cares,

one glance to know

that he is there.

It only takes one smile

to bring back old times

& happy memories

that we left behind.

No more than

one look,

a glance

and

a smile.

from my journal dated 11.02.07

Birthdays

2011-07-01T01:21:00.000+08:00

What does it take to have a perfect birthday celebration?

Kids consider birthdays as one of the best days in their entire year. It is commonly associated with huge gifts, meatiest spaghetti, clowns, games, colorful balloons and cakes decorated with their current favorite cartoon character. As one grows older, birthday celebrations are redefined according to his/her own “adult and mature” version of it.

Birthday gifts are replaced with tiny (but expensive) gifts, hugs, emails and comments on facebook accounts. Birthday bash is limited to closest friends but the food is not already restricted to the usual spaghetti, hotdogs and cakes. Clowns and games are replaced with anecdotes, messages and wishes of friends during birthday dinners.

With these changes, one aspect remains the same: we choose to celebrate our birthdays with the ones we love. As much as possible, we want to spend every second of our special day with people who can make us smile and laugh even on the worst days of our lives.

Through the years, it is the people whom we spend our birthday celebrations with that we remember the most - NOT the food, drinks, cakes or even grand gifts on our birthdays.

(edited) journal entry dated 10.09.07

Bills, bills and more bills..

2011-06-29T22:53:00.000+08:00

I was able to practice my basic accounting concepts today as I browsed, balanced and checked my available cash against my payables. My eyes popped out (just like in cartoons) when I saw my credit card bill. I could not believe that I spent that much because I would like to believe that I am the most rational being when it comes to spending and/or shopping.

And then, fate is really testing my commitment not to overspend next month. While waiting for my 4:00pm class today, my (new) renewed credit card arrived and this time, with higher credit limit. Now, it takes twice the effort to resist temptations around. For the meantime, I will just have to say NO to books, sesame street shirts, cute post-it notes, colorful ballpens and some other things like this Canon camera. L

06.28.11: MKTG 4

2011-06-28T21:50:00.000+08:00

I sneaked into Dr. Maylem’s afternoon class to have a ten-minute moment with MKTG 4.

It is the same old class that I used to handle during their junior year. These students are still bursting with Marketista energy which can awaken people, both the living and the dead.

They were having their typical day when I entered the room. Some students were arranging photocopied materials. Others were joking around with their friends and maybe for some, they were just too busy with something else other than their course requirements.

When I was about to start my ten-minute talk with them, I heard the words: We miss you, Ma’am. At that point, I was lost for words and so touched that it took me few seconds to answer them back with my usual sarcastic quip. I was so thankful that my phone rang twice so I would have something to distract them with while I was trying to recall the things that I should be telling them. I even mispronounced words that sounded funny but I didn’t care because honestly, I was too busy pretending that “the class missing me” was not much of a deal.

But, it was and is a BIG deal.

After the most difficult exams, countless reprimands, never ending requirements and sleepless nights that I caused them, they still miss our class discussions. For me, this is life.

And, life is indeed beautiful. J

06.27.11

2011-06-27T23:06:00.000+08:00

Mondays and Wednesdays are my peak days. Today says it all.

I had four discussion classes with four different lecture preparations. Each class has 40 plus students with over-the-roof hyperactive teenage hormones. All classes are assigned in rooms with temperatures of near boiling point.

Then, I looked at the faces of my eager students as they learn from the topic of the day, share their out-of-this world ideas and laugh with me when I deliver my corny jokes.

Yes, this is definitely a tiring day but a perfect day as well.. J

Chocolate & Marshmallows

2011-06-27T15:46:00.000+08:00

Chocolate & Marshmallows

These are NOT my two favorite things in the world. It is funny how or why I suddenly have been craving for them since last week. Buying them is not much really of a problem since my paycheck, I think, can still cover for at least a pack of cheap chocolates and marshmallows.

I, however, still asked someone to buy them for me. For almost two days, I kept on bugging the person with text messages for these items. It must be a desperate plea to someone for something which I can ordinarily buy in a convenience shop.

The chocolate and marshmallows did not materialize. It was probably perceived as a childish act which irreconcilably came from a graduate student who has the means of casually buying the said items from a sari sari store.

We all have our own version of chocolate and marshmallows in our lives which can be far more serious things other than chocolate and marshmallows. They, however, have some things in common: broken promises and undelivered commitments.

Oh well, this is not just a plain “Chocolate and Marshmallow Story” after all…

**from my journal dated 12.07.07

Chocolate & Marshmallows

2011-06-27T13:28:00.000+08:00

Chocolate & Marshmallows

Oh well, this is not just a plain “Chocolate and Marshmallow Story” after all…

**from my journal dated 12.07.07

etc..

2011-06-26T14:25:00.000+08:00

they were never meant to be together but they found a solution to the problem.. harharhar

Ally McBeal

2011-06-26T12:45:00.000+08:00

I spent my weekend watching Season 1 of Ally McBeal, a cheesy for some but witty show to my taste. Each episode has quotable quotes that made me laugh and at the same time, cry because they definitely strike home.

Ally McBeal is the ambassador of romanticism. Despite of the paradoxical and harsh realities, she still believes in romance (in capital letters). There may be painful realities attached to romanticism but we cannot still deny the fact that some of our best memories were created by romance.

I concur with Ally McBeal.

I had and have my fair share of romanticism’s sting but I continue to hope and believe in it. I still believe in

ingat’s on simple post-it notes,

luv u’s on text messages, and

cheesy messages on jurassic greeting cards.

And, I still believe in

red roses,

marshmallows

balloons, and

chocolates.

I am not ashamed to admit that I still have faith in these things because they, on way or another, make our world a better place to live in.

My Hair*

2011-06-26T12:30:00.000+08:00

I made a drastic decision last week by visiting a salon for a very short haircut. As the hair expert did his work, I bid my long strands on the floor goodbye.

My new haircut stirred positive as well as negative response from my roommate, friends and classmates. I just accepted their compliments and/or even violent reactions with grace. The violent reactions of my friends were nothing compared to the feeling of liberation from the long hair image of almost eight years.

The feeling of liberation lingered until last night. As I was browsing some old pictures, I realized that I miss my old hair. I miss the long straight hair that I used to tie up with whatever available elastic bond on my study table. Suddenly, I just wished my old hair to be where it used to be. I started to bombard myself with the “if only” statements but such statements could not bring my long hair back. The drastic hair cut, however, remained the same.

The only solution is to wait until it grows back to its original length. Until then, I just have to live each day and enjoy the perks of my very short hair.

*from my journal dated 12.20.07