Chocolates, Balloons and Red Roses

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

Elements of Retail Mix:

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

Have fun! :)

Jollibee vs. McDonalds

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

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

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

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*

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

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

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