kahibangan sa makabagong krosing

Matyag

Mala-pelikulang panimula ang silid na iyon buhat ng buwan na hinaharap ang araw,
subalit may taglay na sariling kinang ang makalangit na anyo.
Daliaang nagiging obserbatoryo ang silid sa paglilipat-lipat ng mga tala,
at ako'y nahihigop ng mga Venus sa dakong mas mararamdaman ang kirot at init.

Sa paglipat niya, minasid-masid ko ang kapaligiran,
naghahanap ng malapit-lapit na upuan.
Napalayo ang tingin,
at bumagsak lang din naman sa pwestong pinapansin-pansin.

Mahinahong lumugar kahit na may pagkasikip sa lugar,
panibagong pakiramdam na naghuhudyat ng bagong lunan.
Hindi mapakali sa nasimulang gawain ang aking mga kamay,
ang nagmamanyika'y nasa lugar ng aking dugo o isipan.

Ang mga sulyap sa iba nagmumukhang nakaw na tingin,
biglang kakabahan at agad na babawiin.
Nagbabalat-kayo upang 'di masunog ang mata sa hinaharap,
at tanggap sa pagkakuntento sa banaag.

Mga tuksong liniligaw ako sa landas,
na aking sinumulang tahakin nang tapat.
Kabalintunaan o simpleng kaguluhan,
patupi-tupi sabay buklat at hindi alam ang kahihinatnan.

Kasi hindi talaga pwede ang "pwede na yan"

May pakiramdam na 'di kanais-nais. Alam mong nakinig ka, nagtala ng kung anu-ano, naintindihan ang sinasabi ng guro at nanghiram ka pa ng libro sa silid-aklatan.

Pagdating ng marka ng mahabang pagsusulit, saktong pasado ka lang.

Sa panahon na nag-aaral ka at mga minuto bago lang ibigay ang mga tanong, nakatatak sayo na handa ka at mauuno mo ito. Makalipas ang isa't kalahating oras, aatras ka ng kaunti at sasabihin mo: "Ah, siguro sampu lang mali ko".

Pagdating ng papel mo, nagulat ka na doon ka pa nagkamali sa bahagi na noong sinasagutan mo ay petiks lang.

At nagbabakasakali ka na may mali lang ang iyong guro, at huhugot ka ng pag-asa dahil mas mataas ka sa iba mong kamag-aral.

Pagdating ng isa pang pagsusulit sa ibang asignatura, naramdaman mo ulit ang lakas ng loob at kaliwanagan na nagawa mo ang lahat sa pag-aaral at pagsasagot.

Mangyari man ang lahat ng iyon, ito ang pinakamaasahang sagot:

what's the sign-ificance

nignja

Box12.S1

How would you treat such coincidences?
With pessimism or astonishment,
maybe we'd just ignore these little things that caught my senses.
For starters things can end with a German No,
and we'd be talking in Filipino.
It's an infectious disease that i'd rat
e as perfect,
only if you saw the slides I was working with.
We thought we were better than the other,
with keeping thoughts from one another.
Next to the initial reaction of mourning,
a failure may lend us time for a familiar morning.
Not all the time we made it through,
with pink and black stripes.
Sadly, there's was nothing I can do,
but take the plunge.
Bound by the craziness and uniqueness that you coined,
granted more time while you were just behind.
For some artists needed,
a sleeping canvass that didn't mind.
And i'd thought of running,
but you insisted on staying around.

And the rest were up to us, might not have been just chance,
for somehow we'd drift away to where we were then.
I'd need a choice and some luck right now,
for something to accidentally happen.

oxygen potassium, glycine thymine glycine

subterfuge

And i'll sit by a rock,
'til the wind passes by.
As the silver moon sits,
on her perch in the sky.
Amid the silver sky,
colors dance as fires fly.
Atop a hill
where the grass
sway and tap each other,
a stout, fine-cut log lay there.
Looking down the field, stood the wanderer. 

seemingly perfect

i finally found it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wisff3uyxD8

For years I have surfed on the surface of the net, and all the while i thought you were some sort of South American.

down dim sum lane

Siomai and i share some stories together.

Way back when I was still in grade 3, I remembered having Chowking beef siomai for lunch at school. At least 8 pieces, and sometimes it's from Hen Lin. It seemed to be the best baon, even for my classmates who often I trade food with or those who just stick their hands and grab some dim sum. Sobrang paborito ko pa nun yung lasa kapag sinawsaw mo sa toyomansi o di kaya'y yung makakain mo ng hiwalay yung piraso ng hipon sa loob. Nung nagsimula na ako humingi ng pera para bumili nalang sa canteen/caf, hindi na ako napapabaon ng pagkain nun.

Minsan kapag late na ako umuuwi nung grade 6 at naglalakad papuntang bahay, napapansin-pansin ko yung naglalako ng pagkain sa tabi ng tindero ng bopis. Madalas na sinisilip ko kung ano yung benta kasi walang plaka yung kart niya. Siomai din pala, pero hindi yung tulad sa Luk Yuen na buong buo o sigurado ang hugis. Balot siya sa pangkaraniwang molo wrapper na may isang kutsaritang laman. Ang sawsawan nito ay mas matatawag na sauce ito kumpara sa soy sauce dip. Ang unang sauce na nilalagay ay matamis at sinusundan ng malabnaw na toyomansi. Dalawang piso kada isang piraso. Masarap na rin kahit hindi ko alam kung ano ang nilalaman ng laman.

Siomai din ang aking panghapunan matapos ang late night Tae Kwon Do trainings ko na natatapos ng 9PM tuwing huwebes. Madalas kami ng aking ina ang huling kumakain sa Hen Lin na tapat lang ng subdivision namin.

Sa highschool, nakatikim ako ng dalawang masasarap na siomai. Una, ang galing sa Shanghai Siomai. Makikita (hindi ko alam kung hanggang ngayon) sa may gusali ng Yellow Cab sa Katip. Sharksfin at siomai ang tinda nila at sobrang sulit ng Php 25 mo. Astig din kasi yung chili nila na medyo matapang para sa akin, pero kutob ko sakto lang yung anghang para sa iba. Mapapabili ka din ng gulaman nila. Minsan ding naubos ang pera ko dito dahil talo sa DoTA o nanlilibre lang ako. Natuwa ako na may branch sa may Delta, at minsan ko itong dinarayo matapos ang aking takbo. 

Sumunod ang siomai na tinitinda malapit sa lugar namin. Ito yung isa sa pinakamaliit at manipis na siomai na nakita ko. Tatlo at umabot din sa limang piso kada piraso ang siomai na halos magaan ang lasa kapag nagiisa, pero matapos mo lagyan ng toyomansi, biglang lalabas yung lasa nito. Sa panahon na sawa na ako sa lutong bahay, nagpapabili ako nito at inuulam na laging nakauubos ako ng hindi kukulang sa 3 tasa ng kanin.

Iba pang mga natatanging siomai.

1. SSG Siomai - Isang grocery store sa lugar namin. 20 pesos yung isang siomai nila na pagkalaki-laki. All meat at nakakabusog ang isang piraso nito.

2. Arki Siomai - dahil sa natatanging surprise pugo! Sakto lang ang experience na ito.

3. Siomai House, Master Siomai, atbp. - Ang naglipanang mga tindahan ng siomai. Nagsawa din ako dito, pero astig yung ginawa ng Master Siomai na nagdagdag ng Japanese Siomai (covered with nori at may maliit na crabstick) at sharksfin siomai.

Japanese Siomai

4. Paotsin - at ang iba pang mga dim sum nila na masarap sabayan ng hainanese rice at buko juice. Maganda ring matikman ang fried siomai

5. Dimsum N' Dumplings - dahil may eat-all sila sa siomai Php150, pero di ko ito naabutan

6. Iskomai - kasi pinilit nila yung pangalan

Straight 4WD

This deserves a post.

CS Library
Maingay sa Cubicle-type reading room, feel ko sophomore na bio.
Maingay sa Reserve section na declared RED ZONE ( Silence must be observed ). Freshies, Math 17.
May 2nd floor para sa madaldal.
Pasalamat sila passive person ako. Di ko kasi naramdaman na may naingayan, kaya ayoko manaway ng mga kamag-aral ko. Hindi din naman s

ila sinita ng Library Staff. Bakit kaya?

Ikot Jeep
Matandang sumasakay, sumabit yung payong. Nasa likod ako. Sabi ng nagmamaneho, "Bilis-bilisan naman". Walang kotse sa likod at maayos naman ang lugar na sinakyan namin.
Di ko alam problema mo manong, pero bakit ang bagal mo magpaandar ng jeep at magsukli?

Waiting Area for Toki sa AS
Hindi marunong pumila kaya naguunahan. Hindi marunong makiramdam kung sino ang nauna sa lugar, kaya basta nalang ang agawan.

These deserve a post pala, andami kong naalala eh.

Medyo natuwa ako

CHK Canteen
Student: Kuya, may kanin kayo?
Vendor: Meron po
S: Ah ok. May ulam kayo?
V: Ano po?
S: May ulam kayo? (sumisilip-silip)
(Vendor seems puzzled)
Me: May ulam ba kayo?
V: Wala po

Nagpancit nalang si kuya student.

On ROTC: Mandatory?

On being mandatory

This was one of the items that I needed a stand on. During my stay in the Corps, there were small talks about two to three bills for the mandatory implementation of ROTC in college. Being one of the most sensitive topic related to ROTC, i actually didn't have a clear opinion on this one. I needed to be informed of all the points that each stakeholder or institution involved before I made my stand. For example

- How much support will the Armed Forces of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, UP Student Council and Republic of the Philippines give to ROTC?

Most revolve around that question since I believe, in an ideal perspective, that ROTC is the best choice among the NSTP options. Another question comes into mind, what does LTS and CWTS offer? I have no idea since I wasn't able to enroll nor observe their training. So I leave my bias at that point. For an individual, ROTC is initially a no-brainer course as early training focuses on physical training, drills & marches, standing operating procedures, protocols and your basic military subjects.

I mentioned the word early since, ROTC does not stop there for UP student's greatest asset has not been fully utilized. Once your learn the military code and SOPs, other military subjects are added to your training. Examples of which are Map Reading, Combat Training, Marksmanship, Emergency Response and Small Unit Leadership. You go up several levels when you decide to become a cadet officer. So much things can be learned during one's stay in this program that for me, one year of Basic training isn't enough. 

Given the conditions of the program, 5 hours a week for two semesters, not all may experience the leadership development that ROTC offers too. The application of classroom lessons onto the field involves the favorite critical thinking and decision making, that a UP student should yearn for. ROTC is merely a laboratory for leadership that could be hardly seen in the university. 

The skills that cadets learn, the principles and fundamentals, and the process of acquiring that knowledge are the acts that build character. ROTC sticks to specific training, in a military fashion and environment, to educate for it has worked for centuries already. To a certain level, it instills discipline and social responsibility among the cadets. Sadly, ROTC cannot boast that all its graduates are doing the right thing all the time, but the program guarantees better individuals, or until they have been influence by others. Imagine if students experienced a full cadet schooling, three years at least. 

Once a cadet finishes the course, he or she may continue onto being a Reservist or a Regular (as long as they pass thru the proper channels) in the Army or AFP. As far as I know, the AFP remains structured in a way that non-military professions are involved in its operations. Engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, researchers, scientists, teachers, athletes and many more have their place in the military. Military education and civilian education go hand-in-hand. Having one as part of your background would make you more stable in the outside world. 

You must experience it to truly understand. I know this doesn't only go for ROTC.

As a graduate alone, my response to ROTC being upped for being compulsory is a no. With the few who volunteer, ROTC should train these handful, compared to the thousands before, to become the best that the program wants them to be, or what the country needs them to be. From there, it may be an easy push for it being mandatory, but not per se - with the program being wanted and needed that its state of being mandatory will no longer be needed. No matter how many students enroll, there must be competent personnel ready to teach and facilitate the ROTC program, and of course, the material support will be handy in the process. 

I would probably write another piece once I get my thoughts in line.

sooner or later

I ain't that fat after all.

After four months outside the service, I was surprised that my Battle Dress Uniform still fits. Both, actually, and those were altered to leave just enough space. I actually had three BDU's during my stay in the Corps. The first belonged to a Corps Commander, the second i bought and the last one was issued to me. The last two carried on to my first class year with the 2nd as my combat/unrolled BDU and the third as my parade/training day BDU.

My favorite uniform would probably be the White Duck Uniform. Despite it catching up with the hottest days of the year, it boasted class and power, especially when we wore our decorations. It's the only uniform that i was able to wear a tie with, since the rest of the officers didn't have a green necktie for the General Office Uniform.

All I have to do now, is to get my orders and rank. And, again i think i have to buy stuff since i passed on most of my stuff to my lower classmen. Goodbye savings!

travel to the receptor

When you're extremely happy that tension builds in your cheeks
When you've suddenly been frightened that you feel a shock trembling your spine
When you sense the surge after sweating and breaking through the wall during your laps
and the unexplained warmth and accompanying jitters when, you know, feel it.

The magic of the human body is brought about by hormones that at this moment of my academic career, I'm just aware of the name, target, basic mechanism and understood effects. Most i'm already familiar with and i readily expect when i know i'm going to get a feeling, but not all.

Sometimes, it'll tell you you're hungry or feeling pain that the body wants to cover it. The best feeling is when you expect and unexpect your own and other people's action and reaction. A tug of war that spreads the hormones or maybe some other chemical substance. It may also tell you that you're on the right track or doing something unacceptable.

One minus one

Nakatatawa na mautak ang mga Pilipino. Simple lang.


Hinahanapan nila ng katumbas ang masama, o di kaya'y nagpapalusot para mapanindigan nila ang kanilang mga ginagawa.

Ang mga halimbawa:

Pagdating sa pagkain may mga naisip ako na ilan. Magpapakalasing nang sobra-sobra sa isang gabi dahil hindi uminom sa buong buwan. Ito pa! Kunwari healthy living. Isasabay ang gulay sa paboritong crispy pata, sisig at inihaw na laman-loob.

Ibibida na maraming masmalala sa kanya: isang taong naninigarilyo ng kalahating kaha, ay magsasabing ligtas. Hindi raw namatay sa lung cancer yung tatay o higit pa sa isang kaha ang sinusunog ng kapatid niya.

Maaring magdulot ng mahabang usapan. Ang traffic lights ay hindi na dapat sinusunod kapag madaling araw o tiyak na walang sasakyan. Maliban kung may manganganak o ginagago ka ng operator o makina, sige lang at huwag mo na hintayin mag-iba ang kulay ng ilaw na ito. Isabay mo na rito ang paggamit ng tawiran.

Sa pagsusulat nitong tala, bigla kong napansin na iba na pala ang sinusulat ko, at hindi na pumasok sa konseptong nais kong ilathala. Evolution in writing!

Review: Eli Stone

I'll do my best to make a review that should sound like something that'll make you watch the show.

Fast Facts

Series Title: Eli Stone

Seasons: 2 (26 Episodes)

Running Time: 39-45 Minutes

Genre: Comedy-drama, legal and musical

Ratings: 7.2 (IMDB), 8.5 (TV.com), 62% (Metacritic)

Starring

- Jonny Lee Miller - Sherlock Homes in Elementary

- Natasha Henstridge - Sil in Species

- Victor Garber - Jack Bristow in Alias

Watching Eli Stone makes you realize the value of the simple lessons that we often forget about or that we willingly choose to neglect. Eli Stone, who found out in his later years as a lawyer, has been diagnosed of a brain aneurysm that enables him to have visions. These miraculous ability to gain foresight aids him in his high profile job, in-and-out relationships and moving the audience across most episodes.  It's a show that dwells on some aspects of religious beliefs, but does not shake foundations. They constantly refer to biblical events and characters to put Eli right on the track of prophet-hood. In goes a mix of brief musical acts, a bunch of celebrity guests and easy legal humor that makes this tv show unique on its own making ( as i am not aware of others, or have not been acquainted with similar plots).

I do not line it with Suits, True Blood or the Walking Dead, but it's definitely on top of my tv series favorites. Sadly, the season ended on its second run last 2009.

I eagerly await the return of Eli Stone on TV!

Watch the first three episodes to get the feel of it!