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....