Unfair...

Wow... I can't actually believe how long I've left my thoughts kept inside me!? I mean, the only reason I wrote was to capitalize on my current state-of-mind, which is both perplexed and at the same time vividly clear about my thoughts!

A recent film org mate of mine just passed on. His death came as a shock and despite all shortcomings, we never saw this one until it happened. Like a bright light of hope, his beacon never dimmed so much that we failed to notice any difference. His come-what-may and happy-go-lucky attitude to life and burning desire for love made him a valuable friend and insightful artist, but also a challenging character to hold on to, yet that was what attracted people to him. I only wish that it didn't have to go down this way. You will be remembered...

Things have been pretty much routine yet totally bizarre this last month of January. I mean, coming back right after a short trip straight into the grind, it's been a non-stop roller-coaster ride if you ever call it that, but an awesome trip nonetheless. I mean, what I've started last year is still pretty strong (i guess) but we're having fun and enjoying life and all its fruits! :D On another note, classes are slowly mellowing out to receive the incoming summer (which I'll be signing up classes for... there's not much time left, you know?) and then straight into my first semester... nice huh?

Need those 6

Need those 6

Ok, maybe 4 might work too...

Nice to see that Barry's still up for anything, like the hair bro! I wish I could've been there but man, it's such a pain leaving now. Especially since I'm really invested in several projects and my own to care for. Anyways, I saw some pictures, hope there's more.

This is a very delicate matter but no one likes to hear the truth about their own country, and I mean this will all due respect when I say that self-righteousness causes denial and will spawn all other deceitful traits that will help them covet the attention of other people. No, I'm not ranting and spewing unintelligible nonsense, I mean what I say but I hate to bring attention to any particular group/individual/organization/society/establishment. Nuff said.

What else has been happening? Hmm... I guess school's been funny. Productions are probably on hold for a while, or not. But what's keeping me busy are reports and papers, which are always a welcomed break from conceptualizing to shoots and readings, but nothing beats a good production. Sigh... he will be missed. Truly

Asta

Just had to post this.. gawdawfulshenaniganbeeass

http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3650224#toolbar

Read this, laugh, weep, and realise why Malaysia is considered a first world country in terms of its facilities, but third world in terms of its mentality. I don't know much about the official formalities regarding judicial processes or requirements, but as a layperson, I find this totally bizarre and a violation of civil rights (which I believe is a myth in the Country).

I rest my case.

So then there was this flood...

16 and some inches in just over 9 hours
311 deaths so far
1000 mayors who own garbage disposal sevices (?) wtff?
then again, i've got an ass-for-a-prime minister back home so why should i be so concerned about the socio-political scene here when my own country of birth is in need of some serious reality-check?

Check it out; cigarettes have gone up to RM9.30 (Php 124.62) per pack of 20s! That's like... EU or Singapore prices! I mean, honestly, how can a man earning less than RM2000 be able to afford smoking anymore, when it's his only vice- which is taken away from him because of the exorbitant prices?! It's ridiculous! Yeah, fine fine, blame it all on the Syariah Laws or the Ministry of Health for pandering to global pressure to reduce the amount of tobacco related deaths... but that's all a lie. For those who've quit, awesome! I salute you. Stay strong, stay healthy and stay out of my face! I will not concede to the lie that smoking is the number one killer in the world (high cholesterol, obesity, cardiovascular problems not-related to smoking). No, it does not cause cancer as many would have you believe, and believe you me, cancer is the last thing on your mind - especially now with the world in an economic state of despair. Marx would have been proud. (Tell me i'm mistaken on the last part. I always thought Marx was not particularly fond of capitalist ideals)

I'm sleepy... maybe I'll dream of floods and cute girls... ;P Aah...

So what now?

A note on interesting conversation topics and subjects of discussions: usually made up or over-sensationalised garbage!!!

just a thought...


Talk about long time comings... I didn't realise it had been almost 2 whole months since my last post and well, yeah, it's about that time of the year where I dread realising how little time I have left to fulfill all I want to do before cancer/fatal accidents/physical ailments/acquired immune deficiency syndrome/force majeure/impotency take over my already semi-deluded consciousness. Phew, glad I got that out of the way. So what's new in my life then?

Political news: Aquino-Roxas ... interesting. GMA ... *yawn* (hurry up already and get it over with). Lacson - Erap ... great *clears throat* minds think alike. I think that's all I wanna say about the political situation here. Be that as it may, I'm quite pleased at some of my other friends who are beginning to realise the value of being critically honest about their Country and establishments... and maturing while learning more about it at the same time.

Entertainment news: Too much to discuss. Basically lots of awards and recognitions where independent movies are concerned. I'm still quite surprised at the recent achievements by Pepe Diokno and Brilliante Mendoza. (Makes me wanna drop out altogether) Cinemaone Originals coming up real soon and I guess as much as it pains me to say this - Malaysian filmmakers, please please please buck up! Break the cycle! Religion is only a guideline for the benefit of the ruling class to hone in on its subordinates! Film is the new literature and we should abuse it as much as we can to make people realise that we're more than just a "melting pot" of cultures or a "religious-secular state" or that our main achievements come in the form of steel and concrete, not minds or ideas.

Sports news: Manny Pacquiao being accused of doping by Mayweather Sr. (Give it up old man. Even if he did, he did it well enough that he didn't get caught i.e. credit on the part of his pharmacist/coach - p.s. not libel or slander... think sarcastic cynicism) Ateneo finally bested UP in cheerleading. They only won because one of the UP cheerleaders fell from the top of the pyramid. Otherwise, it would've been ours. Congrats to FEU on a stunning performance!

I think that wraps up whatever I've bothered to fill my mind with over the last 2 months. Basically, I've been caught up in a whole bunch of other stuff, I'm actually pleased that those bits of information still held onto my slowly deteriorating brain cells. Apart from the fact that I have my own academic requirements to catch up and handle, I think I've been quite balanced in my schedules. (I do admit cramming and cutting classes to meet other requirements were necessary but all in good measure) Photography has been awesome but really tiring work, my first production class has been quite satisfactory (albeit mostly receiving critical acclaim for my first 2 group productions but, I'll take it!), I hate communication theories with all my heart, but I'll still find time to pass the damn thing anyways, Math 1 should be called Applied Arts and Crafts in Mathematics not Appreciation of Mathematics, P.E. (Swimming) is... P.E., and Persyan 10 (language class) is interestingly interesting (I'm running out of adjectives cos suddenly I was in Farsi mode. Don't ask why). Other than that, I guess I'm doing pretty well considering a lot of other things that have been pushed my way, (or whatever that I'm groping around in the dark for) but I can't wait for the end of the year. I can't wait for this semester to be over. I can't wait because tomorrow might be another opportunity for me to make a better impression on someone's life. I can't wait because if tomorrow never comes, I'm probably dead already. I just can't wait to see the light of day. Happy Birthday to me... doesn't sound too happy, does it?

What are our chances?

I am writing this in shock.
I am writing this in pain.
I am writing this in sadness.
I am writing this in despair.
I am writing this to tell people how I really feel.
I am writing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yasmin binti Ahmad, one of the greatest minds in our Country (no exaggeration, if you know what I mean), has passed away on the 25th of July, 2009, at the Damansara Specialist Hospital due to a stroke and hemorrhaging in the brain. I'm still reeling in shock. It wasn't about the movies she made, it was more of the intent she had making it that struck a chord with my own desires in filmmaking itself.

I am literally at a loss for words at the moment. No, I'm not crying but I should because this really means a lot especially that the fight for freedom of expression is once again cast into the shadows of religious ridicule and political hegemony. Do I feel angry? Does it really make sense to rant on about something so blown-out-of-proportion? It does. It is. It warrants the same respect out of any person who knows the importance of being able to love without boundaries, and how we can find this sort of love because to be frank, chivalry and romantic allusions are slowly becoming only a thing of literature and old movies. Stuff that you only see in Bollywood movies, yet in the same narrative would only be stifled by the 'powers that be' and that holds too true in real life itself.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dammit... I really need to take some time off for now.

Asta

Blitz! Blitz!!

So it's back to school for moi and it's like everything's the same as it was... yeah... pretty much. School got postponed for almost a week and that's thanks to the now infamous AH1N1 flu that's running rampant around the country! Talk about sweet shit luck when I thought I could avoid it, here comes 100 plus cases within the first week of my return! Then the numbers just grew ridiculously huge (not monumentally) hitting 311, last I checked. Thankfully, the government has since then begun a huge flu awareness campaign which spread to become a flu awareness month, which is this month, and has begun giving out vaccines and advising proper hygiene awareness like placing ethyl alcohol bottles for hand sanitizing in buildings around campus and offices. But the good news is that no fatalities so far and hopefully none, but it's really weird how some cases appeared in the most remote and unexpected areas. I guess when there's a will, there's a way, or maybe the virus managed to recreate itself within the locale? It's a mystery I'm intrigued to find out about but not gonna stick my neck out too far to unearth.

As it is now, the government is truly fucking with the nation's minds!!! Can't they see that all they're doing is aggravating an already irritated society which just doesn't want any more trivial problems like administrative inconsistencies? (a.k.a. shenanigans) I admit that in spite of the many achievements that have been attained by this proud and culturally historical nation, there's really much to be desired about its governance and the people in it. I know that as a foreigner, my opinion only matters as much as that of the next fil-am who comes on the occasional visit to see his mother's-land, but if it's too much for me to take, how much more is it for the people whom I see day-in and day-out, who have lived through and witnessed all their lives the unbelievable audaciousness of their leaders every single day???

I can't write anymore... I've got to go to a party and I don't wanna have a long face on just because of my post... although I do have plenty to say, but I'll keep it for another day.

Asta...

Immediate response

Now where was I...?

Oh yeah, about my return. So I'm immediately set-up for a meeting with my org committee and it was on Monday morning. (I got back here on Sunday) All's well that ends well and that was how the meeting went. I guess you could line me up as a workaholic-type bum but that's bordering on oxymoronism (don't judge... :P) I figured that getting a jump start on things would allow me more freedom to tackle the oncoming haggard enrollment period but hell was I wrong! Running back and forth from home to college was no fun trip especially with the never-ending rain which happened to be because of low-pressure (talk about irony!!!) but I needed to get this over with - which apparently isn't so.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday!!! And that's just last week cos I'm still not done yet! So I'll be hobbling back to school this Monday but that's just the beginning of things to come... wooo... scary ending. Hehe. So with sore feet and blisters on the most awkward places, I think I'm ready to enter my classes with gusto! :P But the fun doesn't stop in getting all the subjects I want, it's knowing that classes have been postponed til the second week that made my vacation even more enjoyable! Wow! talk about a cheesy grade school essay! I think I'm slowly losing my matured touch with vocabulary seeing as I do have to deal with mainly academic and less professional lingo on a daily basis. Trying to catch up with the language too doesn't help much.

But for now, everything seems to be in order, and as Terminator says.... "I'll be back!"

asta

Welcome back...

So how long have I been gone now? It's been almost over 3 months since I've written a decent post and I think I owe it to myself to keep this thing running as long as I have... plus the fact that I did fucking promise to write about everything that's going on as long as I'm living here in the Philippines. By the way, I only promised myself that I'd write so don't anyone get any ideas.

Lemme see... for starters, here's a little update about what happened while I was here after returning from Malaysia. I joined a film organisation (now for any of your smart-asses out there, it ain't as gay-ridden as you imagine it to be... only partially) named UP Cineastes' Studio. It's the oldest film organisation (about a year older than the course itself) and I am a proud member (no pun) of it. :D

My application was quite a roller-coaster ride having made to fulfill certain requirements and in the end face a Final Rites ceremony in an undisclosed location (the Final Rites were particularly interesting as myself and the other applicants were made to go through the entire ceremony blindfolded!) Nevertheless, it was an exciting experience and for those of you who think it sounds like a frat initiation, IT'S NOT! Let that be it.

So I made it through the entire application process, made a bunch of friends and had fun at the same time. Really something everyone should truly experience no matter how weak your heart may be. :P It's not really as harrowing or traumatising as you can imagine, but there were moments when I thought "what the fuck am I getting myself into?!". Still, fun and good times and waaay lots of memories for me to keep for a long long while to go.

Then org member activities were also quite interesting, but they were mainly shoots for assignments or final thesis shoots. I had the opprotunity to participate in one thesis as an extra and as a co-actor in another assignment which was shot in 35mm. All good stuff cos I was 'working' with really professional people who were equally into their work as much as they were into having a good time doing it. It's really a pleasure to see more and more of how different people react to certain situations and how they 'leave it all on the set' for the sake of their art (or their grade. :P) [Not every film school condones a bed scene made by students... although I missed out on being a part of that shot!]

Waiting for my flight going back to Malaysia last May was excruciating! Partially because I knew that there was another awesome trip to go to, but also because it was gonna be the last time in a long time I'd be back home. Pretty mixed feelings about this trip but some things just had to be done or else there wouldn't be another time like this. I spent my April attending screenings and just hanging out with my friends here, trying to drown away the hours and days without trying too hard. Come May 1st, I was wondering whether or not I'd really be able to spend the most of my time while I was back home, and spend it to the fullest I did! Going to the east coast on the next day having to drive there was pretty refreshing, especially after dealing with traffic on the right-side of the road for almost half a year. I'm glad that driving was like riding a bike... wait, they should change that to sex... PG warning flashing!!!

But the highlight of my trip was definitely the Bali trip and leaving, because no souvenir or dinner could top the parting gift I got from the gang, and I was really touched by the gesture.

Thanks for the memories guys and girls! *cries* *sniffs* *slobbers*

But jokes aside, I'd say that my summer vacation was very very jolly well spent, with a whole lot of other good times more to look forward to!

So it's "back to school" for me but there's definitely more to say and I think I'll retire for the now, maybe tomorrow I'll have more to say (or less to drag on).

Sayonara, asta la vista.

Too long gone

So what's up world? I've been away for a while... hope you haven't missed me too much.

That was lame...

So where have I been? It's a lot to write and I have some time, guess I'll just bore out the details.

Christmas vacation was cool. Had a great time (as far as I remember) with my best mates and family. Dinners all-around so I pretty much didn't miss getting stuffed back here in the Phils. I stayed through til New Year's so I got to watch the fireworks display from my condo balcony. Beats going out and shouldering my way through the throngs of party revelers. But heck, who am I to deny them their own way of having fun right? I mean, it is the New Year after all. And what else? Parties! Ok, fine, maybe one big bash which ended in a total wash-out cos someone (moi) forgot to put the cap back on the bottle! Thanks guys for not leaving a bud hanging over the side of the tub. Really appreciate it and well, if I can actually recall anything after the drinking, I'll be the first to know of course.

On another note, don't do drugs!
Smoking's fine...

So the vacation was short, but I think I'll spend an hour on the next post... filling in the gap between January til the end of March.

So long for now... hopefully not too long

Happy Holidays sucka!!!

Wow! The headspin's really getting to me!

First it was writing a script within 4 hours, and that came out pretty impressive. Next, getting my report presentations and assignments done within the small space I had was quite liberating. But the shoot which came after hit rock bottom and I knew it as soon as I was asked to join. Honestly, given the proper time and planning, I think we could've pulled off a good movie, but in all honesty, there was plenty lacking on all our parts. We'll keep the story, but they'd better not try to pull a fast one on me... then again, go ahead, I still have more where that came from... :)

It's T-minus 1 half days til my departure/return to Malaysia. I'm not counting the hours yet, but everytime I think of it, I get pretty nostalgic for no apparent reason. I never really got the homesick bug but I guess when you feel like you're at the brink of the moment of anticipation, sometimes that excitement is just what you need to keep you going on. I'm not going 'Oprah' here so don't take my personal intimacies verbatim.

I guess sometimes life's little plans really depend on the way you lived life and the decisions you make... for me that is. I got a little surprise a few moments ago and it just goes to show how much time flies and how little of it is left. We all want to live in Neverland but the reality is far from the story-book ending. I need a stiff drink...

Round 2! Fight!

I bought a UP jacket! Yay!! I'm officially unofficially a college brat! It looks pretty cool though so eventhough they suck at B-ball and have officially the worse name for a team; The UP Maroons (!!!), I still feel that it's my duty as an enrolled benefactor to this prestigious institute to embody the school spirit as long as I'm here.

... nuff said...

Anyways, it's been a long time since my last post (and in the truest form of JQ procrastination fashion). My list of subjects this semester are not too bad, ranging from a foundational and advanced Philosophy class to a sleep inducing Art Studies lecture, a couple of dyslexic-looking tweako's in World Music and Basic Radio and Television Studies and to cap it off, a confused Jappo named Filipina who tries to 'energise' her lectures in the Introduction to Communications. All in all, it's a pretty exciting mix of doctrines that I'm facing this sem and basically the most boring so far! My fun factor has dropped but I'm glad that I've got other plans to look towards to come end of the year and next year May - namely; Bali baybee!!!

So what have I missed that's been happening in Malaysia these past months I've been away? Leave the country for a while and see the mess it gets itself into! Haha! No, I'm kidding. I heard from my Lolo (that's grandpa in Filipino), that Badawi lost his post as UMNO Chair? Someone tell me otherwise. I'm not too bothered to dive into an in-depth research about this if I can't find it in The Star's website.

Enough politics already as I've had my fair share of incidents here too. As it is, I'm still wondering whether the weather will be beoootiful when I land my ass back there this December 20th, so please, let it be sweet!

I was almost about to sign-off...

Incident that happened in UP!
3 men were shot dead as robbers fled with cash that was being transferred out of a bank here in the campus this afternoon! Ok, lamer starting... but it happened! There was this hold-up, guys waiting in their vehicle for hours and all that - piss-filled bottles was what they left behind. There are several assumptions about the people involved in the heist but the obvious one is that UP's security is waaaay too lax that something like this could take place in broad daylight! Thank goodness that it wasn't exactly a full class-day otherwise I'm thinking panic and pandemonium... my first taste of anarchy. :) Still, this goes to show that desperate times are abound people... stick to your job as long as you can... or start your own business with the capacity to keep it going.

There's other scandals and juicy controversies that I probably should keep for later conversations so I'll end it here for now.

Asta!

1 down... 7 more to go... erk!

My brother's left for Bristol. (That's in England mind you) He'll be there for a year of jolly good studies and maybe longer for a hopefully bright career. I think all in all, our main concern is for our Mom who obviously is alone fending the fort.

I really want to go back... I really do. I've got nothing to lose except the time I spent and the money for the tuition... I really wanna go home.

I've ended my first semester. Finally! I doubt it's the most illustrious in terms of my grades as I feel the impending near failures (may be getting one for real), but all the same, I'm glad it's done with and I've got something to show for it. (Scratch that... I got good grades... muahahhahaha!!!)

The end of my semester was the 17th of October and my photography class was required to organise an exhibition of our photographs. Luckily for me (still quite a sad case this...) I managed to leech off some photos of the exhibit from my classmates' Multiply sites. So to Eki, Anton, and Jan, maraming salamat and I'm crediting these shots fully as yours! Although I'm gonna take full credit for the display design... (hehe), but I've gotta give props to my classmates who helped create the artistic backgrounds for the photos. Without you guys, it wouldn't have been the same. So to Abbey, Aby2, Anton, Jan, Kath, Joana, Kem, Geno, Eki, Justin, Rejane, Maricar, Geli, and last but not least Kristine, thank you all!

I now present you, disColor...

P.S.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARRY BADER!!! :D :D :D

... right... moving on...

Event title: disColor

Theme: Colorful elements
Irony: This is a black and white photography exhibit... so what!

Not too shabby for someone who hasn't done event fabrication in a while... I still got it!

... from another perspective...

I thought this was the same side but thankfully it wasn't

MINE!!!! MUAHAHAHAHHA!!!

I blame the photographer at that time for this blur pic... but I didn't really like this one anyways

And the most Out-Of-Place-Abstract-Art Award goes to....


Y' know, for a really good blogsite, I can't get around posting pics properly... give me Facebook anytime.

Missives

Hello... all.

A belated shout out to my momma!!! Happy Birthday!!! I missed being there but at least force majeure allowed me to make one call before your flight. Hope you had a good time there (eventhough you were practically baby-sitting)

Sigh... it's almost near the end of the semester... not the first time I'm ranting about this innit? It's the most glorious time of enlistment and assignment cramming. I wish I didn't like it but heck, the pressure's the only thing keeping me in one piece at the moment.

(Oh, I almost forgot to wish my Tita Tess a very Happy Birthday and while she sleeps in, hope you find that missing piece of the puzzle)

I'm pretty much set towards the end of this semester... surprising actually considering I have like a helluvalotta things to do! I've got 4, or 5 papers due within this coming week itself, an exhibit to design for the 17th of October and to boot, my finals for Philippine History falls on the same date as well! Looks like I've got my hands full but if it's any consolation to me, I can't seem to feel the pressure as yet. (Maybe I'll hold off everything til Monday night...)

No matter. The only thing bugging me as of now is really the transcripts which I'm waiting on from Taylor's. It's really stupid but I can understand why the O.U.R. here wants an 'original' transcript whereas why it's taking a while in Taylor's (because of format issues) is also understandable (something to do with how old my course is). But at any rate, I ain't going no where if I don't get these things sorted and my coming semester was nearly held back because of this! But it's a good thing I'm showing some effort... still on the dreaded 'provisional' status but as long as I don't take too long (that goes for peeps at Taylor's - gotta call them soon), I think it'll be fine.

Better get my online ID activated... stupid system... it's like tyring to work with Vista!

asta

Birthday, omitted fallacy

Yes, here it is, the dreaded signifier of the inevitable decline... I am once again reminded that there's a bigger force out there which makes all of us insignificant in the eyes of Father Time.

Blah blah blah... I'll leave the rest of my lamentation to be swept away by the rainy day. Oh joy, my Nina has arrived to wash all the delusions of grandeur and hypocrisy.

*mumble* brrrthuhhh....

Tamad!!!

It's raining again! Raining like a bitch!! I don't wanna go to class!!!

Class is at 1pm by the way and I'm about half an hour from getting my ass canned... sigh...

This sucks... hope something will cheer me up when I get back home later... and no, I don't mean a naked Monica Bellucci covered in baby oil... (that works too actually...)







I'm still here... it's no use... the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that this is what I wanna do. Just give me a blunt and I can make up my mind faster than a second of celluloid in a projector.









Nope... still here. Not working. It's fuckin freakin me out that I'm trying to write in an incoherent line of nonsense.

Yeah... that's what it's all about isn't it?


Crap, now I'm thinking about the pangs in my gut. Rice? Burgers? Or should I just let my pain remind me that there's a bigger cause to fight for? It's coming again.


Four...or was is third time's a charm?


Now my single-inverted comma is screwed... it is so not cool.

Gotta run... yeah... better go now... 20 mins left... still raining hard.

Damn....

MERDEKA!!! Mat Tou Ga!!!

First off, Happy Merdeka!!! Independent from oppression, liberated from degradation... bah! who am I kidding? It's like a vicious cycle...

So I've been busy,
hence the long break in my sentence. Classes have been building up on me (and I speak for my classmates too) towards the end of our semester as the papers and exams keep piling up one after the other. Strangely enough, I think I owe it all to the cram-training I got from working and a little from the last-minute-syndrome of rushing assignments in Taylor's. Can't believe I'm saying this but I actually learnt something there! Hehe...

So what's new in the Pinoy-hood? I gotta start from the-now and back-track to... the week after my last post? (Almost lost myself for a moment there...)

I learned a new word! Flipochino... well, it's actually a title to a poem written by his Fil-Am (Filipino American) poet Cyn. Zarco but basically it's what I am. For someone who never actually had formal literature lessons in high school, I've gotta say that my lit classes are actually one of the few that I look forward to going to everyday. Not that I don't read or anything, but to be completely honest, I think I've bought more books for leisure reading here compared to when I was in Malaysia... (that brings the tally to 4 btw.). Nice!

Anyways, the past couple of weeks have been on and off pretty drabby because of the rain in the most inaproppriate (need spell check here) times of the day! Rain, rain, go away. Johnny wants to play. Boo hoo... LIVE WITH IT! Can't tell you though how much this makes me miss home... then again, I have the luxury of experiencing earthquakes and typhoons, so what does that leave me with? I dunno... bah!

Twas nice of Terence to drop me a message on Facebook. Hey bud! I'll bring back some balot for you! Muahahahahhaha!!!

Hmm... I watched a local stage production of West Side Story. Finally, I get to see what all the fuss is about! And even though it was a full dress rehearsal performance, I gotta say that the play was really moving... almost made me shed a few tears too! (Yes, yes... I have a... watchamacallit...) The actors (Christian Bautista - singer & Joanna Ampil - Theater Actress) were really into their characters and the choreography was almost flawless. Can't blame the audio personnel as there were static cracks here and there but besides the few technical glitches and a really really off-timed slip of the main cop actor towards the end of the play, it was a watch well worth anyone else who was gonna see it on its opening night. I got free tickets so I couldn't really care less. Whatever my (bad) review is, if the play comes by, just grab a ticket and watch it... or buy the DVD movie version... hehe.

I gotta get my research done... dammit!

Asta!

Wet, wet WET

No not the group... *yerch!* It's been raining at consistently random intervals! I'm stuck here waiting for the movie house to open it's doors so that I can pass the time laughing off Rob Schneider's "Big Stan" but I'm still gonna mope about the rain anyways.

Had my haircut last Friday... finally! It's been a few weeks since and I do miss the velcro-ish feeling of a 'Zero' shave... hehe... also had one of those to clean up my jawline. Feeling good now... :)

Signed up for my coming semester's classes. I'm glad I got those out of the way. This time around I managed to include myself for the soccer P.E. classes so it's 1 down, 3 more to go in the coming sems. To my cultural delight, I bought a copy of George Orwell's '1984' although it's not a required reading for my academic purposes but I've heard quite a bit about it and well, thought why not? It's ironic that I'm starting on a new book but not quite getting my other assignment reading settled.. but heck, that's what I have copious amounts of free time for :D

Wow... either their Hongkies or Malaysian Chinese but hearing these two blokes speaking in Cantonese behind me brings me back to Asia Cafe and a large suet cha!! Lol! Now they're talking about wives dating young boys?! Maybe I got the translation wrong... sigh... wish I'd learn more.

Hmm... I still got a little over 40 minutes left til I have to go... what else is there to rant about?

Nope... nothing's coming to mind. I'm just browsing through Facebook... I'm supremely bored due to lack of physical movement. Oh ya, I'm back on the bike (although I think I kinda broke it; didn't realise that imaginary weight lifting is actually quite tough, try 100 reps of bench presses and curls!!!) Yaay! Salvation! Charmander aka Blurry just got online... hmm... kacau time :D

Guess it's time to chat... Asta!

Ba-Gi-Yo!!! Whoa!!!

Eh... lamer pun...
Just got back on a weekend getaway to the highlands. Again, I'm so sorry no pics as of yet... partially cos I can't be bothered to get them out of my uncle's digital camera but mostly cos... yeah, that. Anyways, it was bee-oootiful! First off, the weather was extremely cold and I kid you not; it kicks the shit out of Genting's climate anyday! There were pretty interesting sights, especially the architectural marvels of the mountain people. Building houses on the mountains was one thing - building them along the slopes was a work of art on its own! The atmosphere was reminiscent to being in Cameron minus the acres of plantations, and to boot; there's even a mall up there - talk about cray-zee!!

I was there for a couple of nights but despite my holiday fervor was swamped with weekend assignments that I couldn't afford to leave back in the house. (Although by now I've still yet to start out typing the lot, but I'll be done before tomorrow morning - swear on it!)

All in all, the trip was really fun plus it's been on my 'sights-to-see' list for quite some time now, and I'm glad I've gotten to see it. Next stop, Ilocos Norte; my granpop's birth place! For now, my next 'project' is getting them Eraserhead concert tickets a.s.a.p! It's restricted to 18ers and above only so I'm sure to at least get a hint of action there. :D (Strict staying-in-with-relatives rules are still in action, okay...)

Asta!

P.S.

Dammit! I forgot to say where I went. The place is called Baguio City, and it should be on your "places to see" list if you plan to visit the Philippines!

JQ-KC

HIStory

Corny title... even cornier day. I had my first official mid-term test... I think I pretty much blew it - well, not quite.

For the most of it, the questions were pretty straightforward, the answers were also equally obvious. The kicker here is about the way I was supposed to answer the questions. i'm not sure whether or not my answers were as it should be in the instructions, but to have facts as proof of elaboration seems a pretty vague and quite broad requirement for an hour and half test.

I'm not complaining about the time limit or the fact that it's most probably my fault anyways, but I guess I thought too much about what to answer and I'm guessing my answers are not exactly up-to-par as my prof would want them to be... dilemma.

Apart from that, I think I fared pretty well (I'll only know in a few days time).

I still think my group's play rocked!!! It wasn't fair cos ours was definitely easier to interpret as a short presentation, but in all honesty, the issues raised by the play are definitely no joking matter (although the play itself makes fun of the main issue of war and its toll on the human soul). Pretty stoked to be going to Baguio this weekend! I'm delayed for a group meeting for my report on an Indian art house movie "Pather Panchali" but I think we'll manage.

Anything else?

Oh ya, check out this chiquita. Her name's Grace Lee, she's 26 years, a DeeJay for a local station here (Magic 89.9) and she's SMOKIN' HOT!!! And she speaks tagalog too!!!

(Source: WikiPedia. Thanks!!!)

What You Will

A lot has happened over the past week. I acted in a short dramatic presentation, watched a few movies which were still no where near as inebriated as the Dark Knight was, learned of some valuable lessons in being penny-wise; pound-foolish, and that no government is perfect... and those who think they are are the worst of the lot!

That being said, it was pretty eventful so much so I'm just too tired to write more about it... but I'll say this much; Malaysia had better make up its mind on which side of the globe it's standing on otherwise as our populace goes - we'll all end up in the most awful rojak situation ever!!!

Cheers!