Text Hits

Hit #1 (Feministic)

Never court a girl you can't love until all tomorrows end. Never go into a relationship you can't handle with the strongest storm and tightest schedule. Remember, girls are not toys. Love is not a game. If you can't stand women's moodiness and women's questions, don't court one. Never blame a girl for loving you too much, because just in case you forgot, you courted. 

Hit #2 (Inspirational)

God sometimes pushes us out of our comfortable lives to teach us to trust Him. We may fall a bit, but He will never let us hit the ground.

Hit #3 (Ironic)

In school, the lessons are given first before the test. But in life, the test are given first before the lesson.

Hit #4 (Life)

All things in life are temporary. If they're going well, enjoy them. They won't last forever. If they go wrong, don't worry. They can't last long either. What's nice about life is that each day is never like the other. So, seize each day.

Hit #5 (Life again)

Life is best for those who want to live it; difficult for those who analyze it; and worst for those who want to criticize it. Our attitudes define life. If people start criticizing or hurting you, don't be bothered. In any game, spectators make noise, not players. So just play on.

Hit #6 (Life and Horse)

A winning horse doesn't know why it runs a race. It runs because of the whip and pain. Likewise, if you are in pain, you are also a horse. (hahaha) Seriously, if you are in pain, then clearly, God wants you to win.

Hit #7 (Life and Test Papers)

Don't think too much of the problems in life. They are just test papers given by God to see how much we learn in his subject called "Life." If you think you failed, don't worry, 'cause He is always ready to give remedial classes. So, review through "Prayers" and have the perfect score of "Happiness."

Hit #8 (Love)

Love can't always be measured by how long you wait. It's about how well you understand why you are waiting.

Hit #9 (Figurative)

Sometimes, you've got to tuck your feelings away 'til the right time. It's just like stuffing coins into a piggy bank for a bike you want to have but you cannot afford to buy, 'cause you'll never know that maybe, when you crack open that piggy bank, you'll find out that all this time, you haven't been saving for a bike but for a car. In God's right time. Yes! His right time.

Hit #10 (The Bible)

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way to salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here, Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of Hell disclosed.

Late December

It has been almost three days already since this rain and cold weather arrived. When are you going home?

The winds are blowing incessantly. Good thing, the breeze did not continue to spoil the afternoon delights of the students in this university. Many are still wrapped with long-sleeved garments, jackets, and sweaters but at least there was no rain anymore. Good thing the pathways are starting to dry up.

I miss Mr. Sun. I know he'll be here soon. But what worries me is that perhaps, it would take time before he's going to come back. Mr. Rain seems very busy yet dropping his tears and causing walkways to flood. I cannot ask him to leave because he might cry more and the streets would bath in liquid. When that happens, the waters would be hesitant to subside or not. What a great mess it would bring, honestly.

It's alright to have a cold weather because we can hate taking a bath in the morning after realizing that the water is icy cold. We can have alibis on why we did not wear our complete uniform. "Ma'am, wala nimala." We can feel sleepy inside the classroom not because the teacher is boring but because the soothing breeze outside is starting to blow its drowsy charm on us. We can stay in bed the whole day and hide under those fluffy blankets. "Kapuy bangon ma!" We can enjoy Mama's hot soup very much especially when paired with something crunchy and sweet to chew.

Maybe it's just right to have a late December. There's no big deal anyway, especially when you are enjoying it. :D

Teynk You Letter Para Nimu Ma'am

Dear Ma'am nako (ug ninyo pud dagway),

Ang pinakarason kung nganung akong gi himu kining sulata kay para mahibaluan nimu ma'am nga nalipay gyud ko sa imung mga nabuhat nako kaniadto pa. Busa, gusto kong magpasalamat ug dako kay ug dili tungod nimu, dili ko ing-ani run nga pagkatawo.

Akong unahon katong naa pa ko sa una nakong tuig diri sa NORSU.

Sa pinakauna nakong pagkakita nimu ma'am, kaingon ko ug buotan ra ka kay sige ra man kag pakatawa namu ato. Pero diay, dili mao akong gihunahuna diha nimu. Bruha man diay ka. Wala ra kaayo nimu gipakita kay bag-o pa man tawon mi unya basin mutalaw mi dayun ug mang-undang.

Kadali lang sa pagdalagan sa panahon. Mas nailhan ka sa kadaghanan. Kahinumdum pa ka nga akong klase nimu sa una magsugod ug alas 7 sa buntag dayun akong balay baynti-otso pa ka kilometros gikan sa iskwilahan? Tawon pud nakong dinalagan kada Martes ug Huybes para ra maka apil sa imung klase. Unsaon ta man nga manirado man diay kas pultahan sa classroom para dili na kasulod tung mga tapulan mangmata ug sayo. Kaduha gyud ko nimu gisirad-an. Kabalo ka unsay akong gihimu sa guwas? Gatanga ra intawon. Wa gud laman ka nalouy. Wa pa gyud ka nakontento sa imung gibuhat. Nihatag pa gud ka ug exam sa klase nga perteng taasa unya atol pa gyud nga late ko. Nganung wa na gud laman nimu gihatag atong nakasayo ko. Salamat kaayo ato ma'am. Mura kog nabuang hinuna-huna ug unsa nay itsura sa akong grado.

Gikalimtan na nako to ma'am. Ayaw kabalaka ana. Pero naa pay usa. Naulaw jud ko ato nga taknaa tungod kay dako kaayo imung tingog sa pagbundak sa akong matuy-od nga apelyido. Abi far-sighted ka, imu na lang kong daug-daugon. Tablaw na kog dinali-dali para ra gud dili nimu masakpan nga ga flats ko. Pagkahinla pa, ni shagit jud ka. "Catanus!" Unya dayun imung simud nibuslo rag kalit. Ang imung mata nigamay ug ang imung liog ni taas.  Matay nakong kulbaa ato. Kaingon ko ug imu nakong lansangon ato. Maayo gani kay layu-layo na ko nimu ug nagpadayon na lang ko sa paglakaw bisan ug gitawag na akong apelyido. Nakabalo ko magbinaga atong mga panahona. Tungod na nimu ma'am. Salamat kaayo.

Karong naa na ko sa akong ikaduhang tuig diri sa NORSU, nakakita na pud ko kung unsa ka ka-bruha. Aw, ako na lang pung ingnon nga sala ni sa mga lalaking wala nag-paalot. Mutuo na gyud ko nga kung unsa imung isulti, mao gyud na imung buhaton. Pagkakita nimu nga tag-as na ang mga buhok sa mga lalaking future teachers kuno, nikuha dayun ka ug gunting gikan sa imung drawer dayun imung gibinagsa ug tawag ang kada-usa sa ilaha. Gihawiran nimu ilang mga tingkoy ug gipamutol. Bali pa gyung hiwia nga ma klaro gyud nga murag gi-tripngan ug adik. Luoya gud intawon sa ilang mga nawong. Nan! Nakapa-alot sila ug dili oras. Nganu man gung ganahan mag-maestra dayun mag-pataas ug buhok. Napahak na nuon. Kalataw-an man tan-awon pero naluoy pud baya ko nila. Sige na lang. Nahuman na pud bitaw tong panghitabua.

Ug karun, pinakabag-o sa tanang kabruha-an nga imung gibuhat. Niingon ka nga dili na ka mudawat sa amung Teaching Aids Bank kay walay mga sulat amung papel sa Episode 4. Nanghilak intawon ming mga tapulan manulat kay wa nami grado. Unsaon na lang amung major nga usa ra ka unit dayun mao pa gyuy hinungdan nga mahagbong mi. Bruha gyud ka, bisag unsaon ug bali sa kalibutan.

Pero karun nga ga-ulan ulan ug dayun nabuotan mig gama ug Teaching Aids Bank bisan pa ug wa mi ingna nga mag-gama, ni-ingon na nuon kang amung i-improve amung visuals kay ganahan kang makapasar ming tanan. Hastang lipaya sa amung mga kasingkasing pagkadungog nga gitagaan mi nimu ug laing tsansa. Mag pista kus amung baryo run ma'am. Adto ha! Ikaw amung letsonon. Wa man gud kay klaro uy.

Wala man ko nagdumot nimu. Wala koy kalagot nimu. Dako pa man gani akong pagpasalamat nimu. Kinsa guy dili magpasalamat anang naa nami tsansa nga maka pagwapa ug tarung kay dili gud tawon ka mudawat anang mga babaying dili mag-high heels, dili mag-stockings, ug dili magpapula sa ilang mga ngabil.

Dako na lagi kag natabang. Daghang salamat ani ma'am. Ikaw ug ang imung salimuang nga personalidad, di gyud nako hikalimtan. Ako ning dad-on hantud sa akong kamatayon. Amen.

Gamahal ug garespetar nimu pag-ayu,
Rolyn Jane P. Catanus

Her Cold Heart Has Melted

Is it a good thing? Yes indeed! Who would not be in cloud nine with the reconsideration she made to the whole class. She has made us a very great favor and a second chance to enhance our fourth episode. Though it meant sacrificing a big amount to buy so many materials for the visual aids making, it's alright. Though it meant not going with the gang to Talisay City for the three-day campus journalism conference (since February 3 is my dear schedule for passing the Teaching Aids Bank and that is also the fateful day when my colleagues will embark to Negros Occidental. I have to make a choice in this one, and though painful for missing such an opportunity, I have to prioritize my studies and my major grade *teary eyes*), it's alright. Though it meant another series of sleepless nights, it's alright.

She has finally given us another chance and this is the time that I will do the best that I can to make presentable and justifiable outputs for the lesson that I have chosen. Eight IMs for the specific content area and another nine for each of the rest of the subjects. Maybe more than that, depending on the lesson. Hoot! This is it.

I am so much thankful with the decision that I made a few days ago upon passing my paper in Episode 4 though it had no answers. At first inspection, she was very angry because we were unable to write anything in it except our name and the signature of the cooperating teacher. But now, the wind has blewn another course and her monstrous heart calmed down. She returned those papers and affixed her signature below it. All we need to do is answer them properly and carefully with the IMs completely presented.

Good bye frustrations for the year 2011. Good bye doubts on my Field Study grade. Good bye crying and OA days just because of an unanswered Episode 4 paper.

Paper Patching (Then and Now)

Materials needed: paper and glue

Assistance badly needed!

I have been a member in campus journalism since I was in elementary and there are always problems regarding the school paper. It's quite inevitable.

At present, everyone is busy covering the mistake of our banner story. Two errors, unfortunately, shocked the administration -- wrong spelling and wrong placement of the comma. How disturbing for a university like this one. We admit our mistake and clumsiness. We admit we were not able to make a religious proofreading to the dummy. We were already called by the Vice-President, scolded, or much more of a reprimand, and then was given the chance to correct the mistake that has been done.

Instead of stopping the circulation of the remaining papers, the best option we've got is to print strips of papers with the correct headline in it so that nothing will go to waste. This why every body is either holding a pair of scissors, glue, a strip of paper, or a copy of the latest The NORSUnian paper.

This isn't a surprising sight though. As a matter of fact, a very similar situation happened when I was still in high school. Our school organ was still The Horn that time where I was the editor in chief. I was the one pressured too much by the adviser, which I know is normal. We release one issue once in a year only though we were dubbed to make four in a school year. The satisfaction of finally having an issue produced was put to an end when we discovered that something is wrong with the banner story. The headline was also wrong. It was supposed to be like this and not like that. I got all the scolds from the teacher and all I did was nod and say "Yes sir!" I called all the 'staffers' and requested for their help.

We spent three days patching small strips on the 3,000 copies of the paper since we still have to attend to our classes.

I just hope this is not going to happen again. One mistake in high school and another one in college would, I think, be enough for us to learn our lessons.

Tisyu Kolektor

Two down.

Ang hirap mag English ngayon ah! Bakit kaya? Hindi ako marunong mag formulate ng magandang English sa blog ko at this moment. Mabuti na lang at may alternatibong paraan upang maipahayag ko pa rin kung ano ang gusto kong sabihin. Hay buhay!

Anyway, ilang araw na rin akong singhot ng singhot dahil nga sa sipon kong ewan ko lang kung kailan aalis sa ilong ko. Di ko naman pinangarap na magkaroon nito. Ayaw lang talaga n'yang tantanan ang ilong kong hirap na sa paghinga.

Naaawa na tuloy ako sa dalawang rolyo ng tisyu na na-ubos ko sa kakapahid lang ng mga asungot sa ilong ko. From time to time, dumarating. Ayaw mag cease. Parang kalaban na forward-backward lang ang alam na tactic. Hay di ko na rin alam kung ano 'tong pinagsasabi ko.

Sana di 'to magtatagal. Nakakahiya na talaga lalo na sa mga taong nalalapitan ko. Ayaw na nila sa 'kin. (uber) Ang arte naman kasi nila.

Pasensya! Di ako marunong mag Tagalog :D

Sweet Dreams, Dear Child

People have two kinds of dreams -- those that they wish to become or to have and those that they see behind their heads when they are busy closing their eyes.

I would say I want to become a teacher as well as a famed writer someday, aside from being able to tour around the world, especially the Middle Eastern part of the globe. Those are my dreams, when I mean the first definition. The second one would be different. I have lots of dreams stored somewhere in my hippocampus and though I forgot some of it already, I still have a neat number of dreams which I never have forgotten until the present. 

One of the dreams I retrieved from my memory was when I dreamed about my birthday. I was more or less 5 years old that time. Here is the complete detail of that fancy dream of mine.

It was already "Araw ng Kagitingan," my big day. I rubbed my eyes as I went out of my room. My mother and father was already in the kitchen, holding a circular cake with a candle at its center. I made a very wide grin on my face and quickly blew the candle. Just then, out of nowhere, came a lot of people. They were singing the birthday song while walking towards me. I did not erase my smile since my mother told me to do so. I whispered to my mother how hungry I was already and she brought me to the kitchen table, where platters of dainty foods were served. I was surprised of the sight for I know we cannot afford such delicious foods. Father summoned all the visitors to keep quiet, and then he made a thanksgiving prayer in front of the food. As we said amen, everyone was already in a single file, each holding a plate in his hands. Mother requested me to count all the queuing visitors so that we will be able to estimate how many could be accommodated. Excited, I obeyed her. I started to get out of the house with a boy friend which had a forgotten identity and began the counting. (Our house is about 200 meters away from the sea and overlooking the island is an islet, the Apo Island.) We reached the seashore and I thought it would end there. But still, there are many who were making a line. They were all murmuring already because the sevice is too slow and that they are already hungry. For the sake of giving my mother an accurate result of the number of people who queued, we boarded a banca and included those who are already in their respective vessels, following the long line. I was amazed on the number of visitors that I had. I did not even know all of them and they did not also know me. We finally arrived in Apo Island where the long file stopped.

Just like the rest my dreams, this one has no clear ending because I always catch myself staring on the roof, thinking of an appropriate dream-ender. 

Random Thoughts Parts 6

I have a new pet in my blog. After trying to enhance my other blogging world, which I failed to do so because of boredom and slow progress, I found this new offer in Abowman. It's a dog. Though not that cute, kasi mukha pa ring askal, I adopted one and placed it in my page. He seems boring, too, but at least I have added a gadget and I can take care of another pet.

Uncle Kracker's songs are great. Whether this refers to a band, a group, or a single singer, I like its/their/his songs, especially "Smile." I might sound primitive because it has been very recent when it was introduced to me but at least I was able to hear those kind of music.

Double Dose! I had two sets of exams this afternoon and both made me...uhm...nothing. It was confusing but I was used to taking those kind of exams. I did not study one of them but I still had answers. The other one need not to be studied since it is more on applications but too much confidence on the exam would sometimes drive you nuts. Anyhow, it's all over. Wait 'til the results come.

Aside from that, I saw two of my dear crushness twice this afternoon. Two times two equals four.  :0) It's very much enough to complete my day.

Hopeful, I am. After finding out that the P.E. fun day was actually scheduled on the second week of February instead of the first, I found a chance to join the anticipated National Campus Journalism Conference. Oh February, please be here as fast as you can. I just hope I won't have exams or special activities during those three days that I will be absent.

More surprises.  Not too surprising though, but the fact that it made me give a wide grin, then it is still surprising. Cheeno ha! Amazing ka talaga mang shock. Godspeed on that new endeavor of yours. Or perhaps let's say, Miss Complicated. Witwiw!

My Duplicates

They are as pretty as me. They are as witty as me. They are as 'big' as me. They are as perseverant in their studies as me. They are as talented as me.  They are as moody as me. They are as kulit as me. They are me.

Tej, Maypaz (3rd), and Everon (2nd)

With an age gap of two years, I don't have to deny the fact that they act more mature than me and they are more responsible than me. I am sometimes the one reprimanded by them and they sometimes do the things that I am supposed to do. Well, I am still older so I can ask and sometimes threaten them to do something for me, like ironing and washing some of my clothes and buying goodies from a nearby sari-sari store, which I know is wrong. (Now, I am trying to remove this kind of approach towards them because they might find a way to retaliate and that will be very offending in my part).

Sometimes, I miss being the younger sister and enjoy the things and even the guidance of my ate. I have never done that before. But that's another story. :0)

Anyhow, these duplicates of mine never miss to make me laugh when I am at home. They would make conversations about their experiences in school that day and how foolish one of their teachers would act. They would imitate the way she speaks, moves, and reacts and they are really having a good time making that in front of me. I am like their person diary. I tell them to keep quiet because they are disturbing my study time. They stop. But then, they will make another topic and another series of laughs. I cannot help myself but guffaw with them for they are really very good in making criticisms with their teacher/s, especially when they act them out. And the chat begins. I share them my secrets, too, my past experiences in high school which had a relation to what they are feeling or experiencing, and how my day went in school.

It would take us lots of minutes chatting nonsense and we enjoy it with either a cup of coffee or an energy drink. Then we realize it is already late in the evening and we have to shift our attention to what we are studying or else we will never have something for school the next day.

I always feel happy when somebody sees us and tells us that we really look the same -- the way we smile, the way we talk. I treasure and love them a lot, including my little brother, of course. They inspire me to move on and accept the criticisms of the world since they, too, are experiencing such. And when those times strike them like lightning, I want to be by their side and make them laugh, just like the way they do to me though they are not aware that they are already doing such.

Sooner or later, we will grow old, have careers and families of our own and even have separate fates. A time would really come that I will miss everything about them, including their scent, their laughs, and their shadows. This time, however, since we are still young and still living in one roof, I know I have to make every second count -- those seconds I am with them. :0)

A Sense of Bliss

I don't know how to assess my preparedness for this midterm examination but I can really say that I haven't put my best foot forward in studying the lessons that are supposed to be religiously spent time with. I always wanted to be ready, calm, and optimistic in what's gonna happen during the exam and that is what I am doing right now. I don't necessarily have to soak my brain with terms that hardly gets into my mind and formulas and equations that did not even make me a better person. 

This performance is for the sake of having a grade, for the sake of having something neat to show to my parents, and for the sake of schooling. If I am going to have my job, God willing, which would somehow be three years from now, I would look back to these moments where my brain seemed to burst with terms that are required to be contained in my limited-spaced cerebellum. 

No more pressures. I just wanted to pass and be contented with my answers. I don't have to bother thinking about those items that I missed to answer or have wrongly answered because it would just make me hysterical. I can't do anything anymore to undo what has been done so all I have to say in the end is "Godspeed."

More midterms and finals are yet to come and I have to do the best that I can on not to do these lapses I have done at present. I have to enjoy every moment, every person I get to smile with in the walkways and foyers, and the equivalent challenge these mind-throbbing questionnaires pelt on me. I know these will all be over soon. I just don't know when but I know it will. There would just come a time that I will be the one making the test papers and checking the work of whoever will take that exam. I am looking forward to that.

This time, I have to use my initiative, focus, but never be pressured. And most of all, never cheat. Except Math, perhaps! :0)

The First Major Frustration For the Year 2011

The bottomline: I will never have a neat grade for Field Study 3.

I do not want to blame anyone for what happened but myself for procrastinating and for not arranging my schedule properly but I also wanted her to get most of the blame for acting so inconsiderate and inconsistent.

This might sound so wrong. This might not be right thing to do. But please let me spill the ink and embose my frustrations.

* She gave us instructions on the first meeting. On the second meeting, she changed the course of instructions. And on the third, she changed it again.

* She let us pass the four episodes while the other classes she handled were only told to submit three episodes. Everyone was so surprised about what she said especially those who were not able to answer anything on their photocopy. So unfair, as to how I see it.

* At that moment, I don't know what to do -- to pass the fourth episode even without answers or not pass at all. My decision came the moment she called my surname. I brought the four separate sheets and laid them carefully in front of her.

* She inspected the papers and I am 86% certain that the first paper she picked was mine. Very clean. No answers at all. Then, she checked another paper and found out the same thing. I am doomed. Almost all of us are for not making the fourth episode.

* She told her other classes to pass their fourth episode next week, giving way for revisions, but she did not do it to our class. She collected the four and did not listen to our justifications. We plead but she remained emotionless.

* She will not change her mind on that Teaching Aids Bank, I know. She is a monster. grrr!

I won't definitely have a good grade for FS 3 and it has affected my whole system. No more chance for mongrels like us. *cross fingers.*

Marami kaming hindi nakapasa. It might ease the pain but the fact na hindi na kami makakagawa ng Teaching Aids Bank dahil hindi namin nasagutan ang episode 4 would be enough to make me super frustrated even until the Midterm Exams. Pa'no ba 'to? *heave a deep, deep sigh*