my life until november

study.

study.

study.

because PE2-PE1+KE2-KE1+P2/(rho)-P1/(rho)+lwf+Q+W=0!!!

(Oh how I miss the internet.)

my first few days in los banos

Today's my fourth day in Los Banos, Laguna. I'm surprised that I am not missing Davao as much as I have expected myself to be. Maybe because of the climate (it's unusually hot here like in Davao, I was expecting a cooler temperature) and the sight at my window (which reminds me of how green Davao City is, amidst the urbanization, though it's much greener here). 

When I arrived here in the dormitory, I immediately experienced the discomfort of choosing a room in the third floor. Good thing my brother accompanied me and helped me bring my things to my room. The room was full of dust and cobwebs. I didn't let the day pass without cleaning the room since I really really really don't like sleeping inside a dirty room (and using a dirty bathroom). But before I cleaned my room, my brother, together with my classmate and her sister, and I went shopping for things we need inside our rooms. I wasn't able to buy a table since my feet sored after hours of looking for things and walking from Robinson's to a nearby store and vice versa. It was rather discomforting on my part because unlike in Davao, the groceries here are packed inside brown paper bags or cartons and there are no taxicabs here. So we went back to the dormitory riding tricycles. So I cleaned my room and partially finished arranging my things. 

On the second day, I went somewhere to buy a table. I only rode a jeepney to get home with my table. Good thing the main road wasn't really that far from my dorm.  I finished cleaning up my room that day.

Yesterday, my classmate's sister took my classmate and me to UPLB so that we could have our lunch at IRRI (I don't know the meaning of the acronym but it is a reasearch institute for rice).  We had to walk to get there, and I got sunburned again. But it was all worth it since the food in IRRI's canteen is delicious and cheap! We then went to the Chemical Engineering Department to finish our enrollment for the review. We talked to Ma'am Mila (the Secretary) and she shared a lot of experiences with the past reviewees.  She said the reviewees from places other than Manila were the more successful ones.  She even jokingly told us that she could see it in our faces that we could top the board exam. Haha... What a good source of inspiration. :P

Today, I'm a bum. My classmate and her sister is in Manila. I was supposed to go together with them but I've decided to postpone my Manila trip to next Sunday because I guess I really have to spend some time here in my room first and adjust to the environment plus I should save money. 

My review is on Monday-Saturday. Mondays and Saturdays will be whole day sessions while the sessions on Tuesdays to Fridays will only be on the evening. Talk about brain overuse. The review will officially start on Tuesday. We will have our orientation and a pretest on Monday.  Ma'am Mila told us not to study for the pretest, so I won't. I will just be enjoying my last few days relaxing and adjusting.

To God be the glory!

before i take that leap of faith

Tomorrow, I will be entering another phase of my life.  I'm not sure if I am really ready for it but I'm trying to be enthusiastic about everything that's going to happen in a span of five months.

This boils down to one thing: I should pass the board exam. I WILL PASS THE BOARD EXAM. I claim it, I believe that I will.

I am having jitters.  I honestly don't want to leave Davao yet. If only there were review centers for the Chemical Engineering board exam here in Davao, I wouldn't have to leave. I am kinda conscious about the money my mom's shelling out for this. I really do not want to become a financial burden that's why I really have to save my money.  I am thinking about the possibility of not taking the refresher course and going home instead. For one, that would really save a lot of money because with the type of living environment I want and considering the cost of living in Manila, my mom should really have to increase my monthly allowance (which I really do not want her to do). I am planning to spend the remaining weeks before the board exam here in Davao.  The downside, however, is that I couldn't get a chance to exchange some notes with the reviewees in Manila. Anyway, I haven't really decided about this matter yet. Let's see. :)

I will only be surfing the internet once a week starting next week. So, for the next five months, byebye to Facebook, Yahoo Messenger, Twitter, Plurk, Tumblr and Blogger. :(

I NEED TO FOCUS. I NEED TO BE CONFIDENT. I NEED TO TRUST. I NEED TO KEEP THE FAITH. So help me God.

it's been a year

I was browsing through profiles of my friends in facebook when I came across the profile of one of my supervisors during my OJT in Nestle, Sir Bert Cual. He's not actually my direct supervisor, but I consider him as one of my mentors because other than being a supervisor also of the department I was assigned to, he helped me in one of the weaknesses that I have to get over with before I finish the OJT: reporting.  My supervisor (Sir Vic) and Sir Bert were members of the Toastmasters.  Sir Vic gave me and my partner an assignment to prepare a short presentation regarding one of the projects that we were handling. I guess this was intended for two reasons: one, to gauge how much we know about the background of the project and next, to see our reporting skills (because we had to report about the four projects that we handled on the graduation day of the OJT).  The "critic" they gave me was actually spot on (that I was too technical, and all the other stuff that I know I'm not good at), and they gave me some pieces of advice on how to deliver the report in a manner that everybody would understand.

Anyway, I watched a video of his humorous speech that he delivered in a Toastmasters contest.  Watching that he really performed like a pro, I am now in awe.  Now I say I'm really very lucky to have been trained in a good company under excellent supervisors.

It's been a year and six days since the OJT graduation, and reminiscing those days that I've spent in Nestle CDO makes me smile.  I have written it all down six months ago and I posted it in Facebook.  I'm reposting the entry again here in my latest blog site in remembrance of the happy times.

Think Summer

I sometimes wish that I could go back to Summer 2009. It was one of the happiest times for me this year (last year).

I still cannot get over the things that I have experienced during those times. It was my very first time to be independent, to be living alone (and gulay, ang hirap pala). I had a foretaste of how it is to be really working and earning a living for myself (though I still received my monthly allowance from my mother). I also enjoyed working inside an actual industrial plant, although at first I really had a difficult time adjusting to the work scenario, nevertheless I made it through the end of the training. I was amazed when I saw the machines and equipment that were discussed in the classroom (because I really had a hard time imagining how the machines really looked like). I was in awe when I had that opportunity to take a closer look on the machines (to the point that I could really touch some of them): cooling tower, pumps, activated sludge system, absorption machines, condenser, furnace, boiler, etc. Though I somehow feel regretful of not really maximizing my stay there, I was really grateful for having this experience of a lifetime. :)

The best part really was meeting and befriending a lot of people. Although we only had 2 months to be together, I will always cherish every moment that I had with the people there. I'm thankful for having been assigned under supervisors who were really supportive. I learned a lot from them, especially on reporting and speaking to co-workers especially to the executives (which were my waterloo. I was really lucky to be trained by these people who are also members of the toastmaster). I'm also thankful for having nice co-trainees in the department where we were assigned. I admit I had a hard time relating to them during the first week of the training (because I was still adjusting), but in the long run, I really really really enjoyed their company. I also had fun talking with the associates and workers, they never failed to make me laugh every time I visit their lungga. Bilib ako sa kanila, hands down as a matter of fact. I also learned a lot from them, especially about some of the actual operations inside the plant. I also gained a lot of friends from my co-trainees assigned in other departments.

I really feel happy whenever I look back to these memories. This is a blessing from God that I will forever cherish and be grateful for. :) To Nestle, my supervisors (Sir Vic, Sir Eric, Sir Bert and Sir Daryl), SH&;E co-trainees (Gai2x, Benjoe, Marrin, Karl, Baby Rona and Partz Marky), Voltes 5 (Peter, James, Nicho and Sarah), friends in other departments (Ivy, Aisha, Aldrine, Marianne), my co-trainees, Ma'am Lizette, sa lahat, THANK YOU and I miss you already.

- December 2, 2009

Reporting...

Receiving the certificate (Sir Bert is second from the left)

A snap shot with my fellow OJTrainees

note to self as the review for the board exam approaches

"If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence. Determination. The will to endure to the end, to get knocked down seventy times and get up off the floor saying, ''Here comes number seventy-one!''

- Richard M. DeVos

some random stuff

* I'm currently fixing my stuff because I'll be leaving the house in two weeks time. My sister was the one who initiated the general cleaning. Realizing that my stuff are the ones which are left disorganized, I started cleaning them up and at the same time packing those that I will be bringing with me to Laguna. I'm almost through with the cleaning part, 90%. I just have to turn over some stuff to my co-officers in the org and I'm done. On the packing part, I'm still far from completion. I'm having a problem with my travel bag because I only have 5 kilos allowance for my clothes (to think I only loaded 2 sets of bed sheets and three towels). My bag is too huge and too heavy (5 kilos, standalone). Excess, excess, excess! Time pressure!!!

* I lost 6 kilos since March. Six more and I'll be back to my high school weight. I guess my sister's food regimen contributed to that loss because these past two months, we've only been eating two meals a day. No pork, almost everything are veggies.  This was not intentional on my part though, since I normally adapt to changes here in the house pretty quickly.  My 3-day LBM also "helped" me lose 2 kilos instantly (a blessing in disguise, I guess). I think this unintentional way of losing weight is a success compared to what I did last January. Muscle pain was not worth it.

* In relation to fixing my stuff, I'm having a dilemma over a certain green bag. I've been planning to throw it away a long long time ago but I'm still keeping it. This scenario keeps on happening: I remember the green bag then go towards the drawer to get it and to throw it away, but when I finally open the drawer and see that green bag, I stare at it, then decide not to throw it. I admit I'm a very sentimental person that's why I'm really having a difficult time throwing away things that really mean a lot. I have boxes and another bag filled with letters, pictures and stuff from people dear to me. I have this tradition, though, of going over these stuff (of course, with that comes reminiscing) once or twice a year.  I have thrown some of the letters and stuff because I realized they bear no meaning anymore (maybe because I burned bridges with the persons who gave those things). What I have now are those things that still have that deep sentimental value. I guess this green bag still has that "precious" value, and maybe the person who gave it is still dear to me.

* It's raining heavily. The rainy season has finally begun. I love the rain. :)

cheers to boredom :|

(came across a blog and found this)

RULES:

- Answer the questions below.
- Take each answer and type it into Google.
- Take a picture from the first page of results and post.
- You can't copy the photos of the person who posted this before you.

1. The age you will be on your next birthday:

9 months to go. :)

2. A place you'd like to travel to:

Venice

3. Your current addiction:

Kasalanan ni Kuya Norman! :))

4. Your favorite food:

Cake, cake, cake!

5. Your favorite animal:

Rabbit :)

6. Your favorite color:

Blue

7. Your current cellphone wallpaper:

Smileys

8. The town in which you live in:

9. Your nickname:

Okay, he's a HE! 

10. Your current desktop wallpaper:

Black, actually. 

11. A bad habit you have:

12. Your worst fear:

13. Your guilty pleasure:

14. First name of a past love:

Not pertaining to a person. I wanted an ordinary life, until high school graduation came and changed my perspective.

15. Name of a past pet:

Panda, our dog.

16. Best friend's nickname:

Nat

17. Your first name:

'Di kasali ang P and U :)

18. Your middle name:

Rosaupan. This picture came from an article that mentions my cousin because he won a chess competition here in Davao City.

19. Your surname:

Coat of arms ba 'to?

20. Your major in college:

i will be the master of my emotions

If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I feel ill I will double my labor.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
Today I will be the master of my emotions.

- Og Mandino 

wish

There are some wishes that I do not mention one by one when I pray because:

1. I would feel guilty, though I know these wishes aren't bad and harmful, but the guilt comes from that notion that wishing too much is selfishness;

2. I know they're nearly impossible to come true;

3. Some of these wishes aren't really necessities.

Nevertheless, there were some instances in my life that when I actually mentioned them in my prayers, even for the first and only time, they came true. This experience, though, didn't really motivate me to pray for all the wishes because I am praying for more important things. I also think that the right time is yet to come for those wishes to be fulfilled.

I also believe that God would still know about those unmentioned wishes, that's why I always include them in my prayers in a general note and ask Him to give whatever it is that I truly need and to tame and guide my heart for it to become selfless and understanding.

see everyone halo bright in beauty

I know I promised not to blog about this anymore, but I'll make this an exception.  I am sure I have come to that point of really moving on. I guess things just fell into their rightful places.  I am happy about it, and I really do hope for better days.

I'm creating this entry since I came across this song that perfectly concludes that part of my life. I'm hoping to share this to him, but I just don't know how he'll react to it. Anyway, I'm sharing this song to you. :)

Halo

Kate Havenvik

Who do you love, when love is gone?

Who do you hunger in this great unknown?

Memories of me will fade

And you'll find someone new

See everyone halo bright in beauty

See everyone arrayed for you to try

You're not alone in being alone

Six billion people – one of them's right for you

Who do you mean when you change your tone?

Who do you dream of when you're half asleep with one eye open?

You'll become your life soon

And I won't be in your way

See everyone halo bright in beauty

See everyone arrayed for you to try

You're not alone in being alone

Six billion people - one of them's right for you

Who do you see when you stare into space?

Who do you seek out at night in cyberspace?

See everyone halo bright in beauty

See everyone arrayed for you to try

You're not alone in being alone

Six billion humans - one of them's right for you

God whispered

Dear Elaine,

Why do you do what you do? Always examine your motives. If you discover that what you're doing doesn't come from love, abandon your course. Stop. And pray for love. Everything you do must come from love. Everything!

I love you,
God

P.S. I've planted great love within you, Elaine. It's there waiting to guide your every step.

Love, love makes the world go 'round. :)

this morning

It has become my habit this summer vacation to check my Facebook account for updates. Today, I got messages in my inbox and was happy to see a message from my Philosophy teacher, Mr. Nonoy Tomacruz. He sent me a poem and told me it was his graduation gift. I read through it and it made my day. :) Starting my day by reading this poem brought some inspiration: that I should live my life to the fullest. Thank you Sir Nonoy for the poem. :)

The Puppet

Gabriel Garcia-Marquez

If for a moment God would forget that I am a rag doll and give me a scrap of life, possibly I would not say everything that I think,

but I would definitely think everything that I say.

I would value things not for how much they are worth but rather for what they mean.

I would sleep little, dream more.

I know that for each minute that we close our eyes we lose sixty seconds of light.

I would walk when the others loiter; I would awaken when the others sleep.

I would listen when the others speak, and how I would enjoy a good chocolate ice cream.

If God would bestow on me a scrap of life,

I would dress simply, I would throw myself flat under the sun,

exposing not only my body but also my soul.

My God, if I had a heart,

I would write my hatred on ice and wait for the sun to come out.

With a dream of Van Gogh I would paint on the stars a poem by Benedetti,

and a song by Serrat would be my serenade to the moon.

With my tears I would water the roses,

to feel the pain of their thorns and the incarnated kiss of their petals...

My God, if I only had a scrap of life...

I wouldn't let a single day go by without saying to people I love, that I love them.

I would convince each woman or man that they are my favourites and I would live in love with love.

I would prove to the men how mistaken they are in thinking that they no longer fall in love when they grow old

--not knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love.

To a child I would give wings,

but I would let him learn how to fly by himself.

To the old I would teach that death comes not with old age but with forgetting.

I have learned so much from you men....

I have learned that everybody wants to live at the top of the mountain without realizing that true happiness lies in the way we climb the slope.

I have learned that when a newborn first squeezes his father's finger in his tiny fist, he has caught him forever.

I have learned that a man only has the right to look down on another man when it is to help him to stand up.

I have learned so many things from you,

but in the end most of it will be no use because when they put me inside that suitcase, unfortunately I will be dying.

the beautiful process of falling in love

Nope, I'm not falling in love with a person (yet), but I fell in love with this song. The song simply brings that beautiful (yet agonizing) feeling of waiting and hoping that he/she might feel the same way, that he/she might actually be falling in love with you too. :)

The Fear You Won't Fall

Joshua Radin

Digging a hole

And the walls are cavin' in

Behind me

Air's getting thin

But I'm trying, I'm breathing in

Come find me

It hasn't felt like this before

It hasn't felt like home before you

And I know it's easy to say

But it's harder to feel this way

And I miss you more than I should

Than I thought I could

Can't get my mind off of you

I know you're scared that I'll soon be over it

That's part of it all

Part of the beauty of falling in love with you

Is the fear you won't fall

It hasn't felt like this before

It hasn't felt like home before you

And I know it's easy to say

But it's harder to feel this way

And I miss you more than I should

Than I thought I could

Can't get my mind off of you

And I hate the phone

But I wish you'd call

Thought of being alone

Was better than

Was better than

And I know it's easy to say

But it's harder to feel this way

And I miss you more than I should

Than I thought I could

Can't get my mind off of you

(Can't get my mind off of you)

And I know it's easy to say

But it's harder to feel this way

And I miss you more than I should

Than I thought I could

Can't get my mind off of you

And I know it's easy to say

But it's harder to feel this way

life in pictures

I saw this from somebody's blog, I was amused so I decided to do this. :)

1. A picture of you in your room

After an afternoon nap

2. A picture with a former crush

I will not explain this anymore. :P

3. A picture of you with a parent or two

After graduation

4. A picture of you from your younger years

Very young yet very matakaw :P

5. A picture of you in one of your favorite outfits

School uniform! Hassle-free

6. A picture of you making a goofy face at the camera

Pout2x :P

7. A picture you have edited to make yourself more attractive

I obviously edited this picture, but not to make myself more attractive. I just "removed" the pimples and dark spots from my face.

8. A picture of you in a club/team you're in

KEMENG/JPICHE

PIGLASAPAT

GACP

SAMAHAN CENTRAL BOARD

9. A picture of a night you regret

It's not about the people I'm with, it's what I did. 

10. A picture of you showing a new haircut

December 1, 2009

11. A picture of you being truly yourself

When everybody was blindfolded except Sanimar, Paul (the photographer) and me. 

12. Your most recent picture

See no. 1

13. A picture of you being absolutely ridiculous

Let the picture explain itself.

14. A picture of a time in your life that's over, but you wish it hasn't

It was a day that I really didn't want to end. :)

15. A picture of a time in your life that's over, and you couldn't be more thankful that it is

3rd year 1st semester - when all the hell broke loose

16. A picture with your oldest friends

Plus Kassy

17. A picture with your newest friends

Wala ata akong nakita...

18. A picture of you when you were anything but happy..even if you weren't smiling and did your best to hide it

See no. 15

19. A picture of you that you had no idea was being taken

During the GACP BOS

20. A picture of you when you were a different person than you are now

I have noticed that there was something different with my eyes in my pictures back then.

21. A picture of you in a fashion "DON'T".

Thou shall not wear pajamas in public. 

22. A picture of yourself that you hate

See no. 13

23. A picture of someone you love.

Some *people* I love

24. A picture of how'd you like the world to see you

Determined

25. A picture that describes how you'd like to spend everyday

Stress-free and full of love :)

26. A picture of a time when everything is changing

Graduation, time to drive my own wheel.

27. A picture of you looking drunk

Because I was really drunk.

28. A picture that makes your heart hurt

I will not answer this. :)

29. A picture that makes your heart smile

Best classmates ever :)

30. A picture of one of the best times of your life

Nestle OJT :)