"Me as Carrie"


From L-R: Snow White (Ech), Miranda (Zen), Charlotte (Car), Samantha (Marlin), and Carrie (Me).

This photo was taken from our Trumpets class showcase entitled "A Super Fairy Tale…Snow White and Beyond" held in Megamall Cinema 11 last May 27, 2005 in which I was casted as Carrie of Sex and the City. In the story, I was summoned by Snow White's sisters to do a make-over of their Ate Snow White who has become an old maid after refusing to marry his Prince Charming. The play was directed by our class head teacher, Ms. Sweet Plantado-Tiongson.

I just want to thank everyone who supported me while I was attending the two-month long workshop -- Anthony (for being very encouraging, understanding and caring althroughout), Marlin (for the merienda, the 'pautangs', and the cheering up!), all my classmates (you were all fabulous!), my mother (for waking up just to open the door and for encouraging me), my Ate Elaine (who watched the showcase and invited her friends pa and even took videos!), my senior team lead (Kit, who allowed me to leave earlier than usual so I can attend the rehearsals), and my RTS teammates (for all the well wishes...kahit hindi kayo nanuod, I know that your support was there). Thanks all -- this was truly a dream come true!

"Lovella-Paolo Nuptial"



Please feel free to view some photos taken from this intimate occassion which the couple shared amongst closest friends and family members. I wasn't able to attend the church ceremony so, the photos here are all taken from the wedding reception held at Discovery Suites in Ortigas.

To the newlyweds: Congratulations and best wishes to you both! Praying for an extra-ordinary and laughter-filled life ahead of you :)

"Lamoninc"



Introducing, LAMONINC! Leeyan. Vic. Raffy. Eden. Order. Chika. Pose. Janet. Rhea. Gezelle. Kamera. Tawa! Leeyan's BF. Ronan. Dennis. Ronan's GF. Food. Pelpel. Guido. Guido's GF. Northpark. Camera. Food. Food. Food. Kwento. Kodak! LAMON!

"Trumpets Playshop"

I uploaded some photos taken by Marlin during our playshop and yearbook pictorial.
If you're interested to see what we usually do or look like during playshop, click here. Enjoy!

"That Grad Feeling"



Not many people know about this story. It happened on my senior year in college at theUniversity of the Philippines, April 2000. The graduation season.

I have submitted and completed all my academic subjects for the BACHELOR of Computer Science course. Everything. But sometime last year, the CS dept heads and jedis decided to have a change in the curriculum. So there was an option for the students to either graduate with a BACHELOR of SCIENCE in Computer Science degree (BS CS) or the plain old BACHELOR of Computer Science degree (B CS). I could settle for either but i thought, if I can graduate with the BS CS degree, then I would no longer have people ask me where's the missing 'S'. After all, the only addition would be a 3-unit ELECTIVE, an innocent 3-unit elective, and for me that would be CS 180, AI (Artificial Intelligence) taught by Sir Pros. For some reasons, I was not able to complete that subject when I took it one semester ago, cuz i believe "it's what goes into your head, and not the grades". Plus, ang hirap ng machine problem!

But i wanted to graduate with a BS CompSci degree cuz i really don't like it when people say, "bachelor lang" although it really is just the same thing. So i decided to complete my elective and did the last requirement, a Machine Problem using neural network, and on FRIDAY (8 days before graduation) i submitted the source code together with my completion form. I thought it was over. I thought with a grin that finally, victory is mine.

My MP was there and the completion form was there. But where is the professor? What i didnt know was that the professor was "out of town" and of course couldn't sign my completion form. I was a bit nervous but i am pretty sure that he'd be back from wherever he is right now. Yes, I was sure.

I waited in the CS dept for some news. I was also trying to email my MP to my professor. The internet connection was sooooooo sloooow but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for at around 8pm the CS dept phone rang. I was the only one in the room, so i answered the phone, and am i glad to hear it was him! He wasn't "out of town"....he was out of the country....and wouldnt let me know when he will be back. I suddenly felt week in
the knees. I didnt know what i might have looked like when i learned this.

I had to think positive. At least now my professor is aware that one of his students needs rescuing. And i thought, if i couldnt get this subject completed, i am no doubt still a candidate for graduation under the BACHELOR of Computer Sscience degree...right.... right?

WRONG. The names and the degree endorsements have been forwarded months ago to the UP President. and my name was endorsed under the BS CS degree. Hindi na daw pwedeng baguhin.

MONDAY (6 days before the graduation rites and last day of submission of names to the President). Around 10 am. I talked to the dean of the engineering college without just to hear him say there is nothing he could do. That was the procedure. That was the law.

Now i realize, my graduation, my future, my dreams, lies in the hands of one man. I am just exaggerating, of course. But at that time, i couldnt laugh at even the funniest joke.

I was really nervous so much that i was asking other people to pray for me instead dahil i couldnt bring myself to pray really really hard...pero i know that god knows my heart even if i couldnt bring myself to my knees...he knows my heart and have I faith that everything will work out for good. I was trembling. Although i was with my best friend the whole time, he didnt seem to exist, there was nothing he could say that would calm me down or make me feel better. I was really close to bursting and crying out loud in those halls of the melchor hall filled with students smilingly anticipating the day of their graduation, talking about gimmicks or what to do for the summer or their new jobs awaiting them, while there i was...sitting on the floor, thinking what if my MP was incorrect and my grade a failing one? i couldnt imagine what could've happened...

Of course my MP was correct.
At around 4pm, MONDAY (i repeat, 6 days before the graduation rites and last day of submission of names to the President) Sir Pros, signed my completion form...with a 2.5 grade in AI...saying, "paano kung di ka nakapasa? paano kung di ako nakabalik...(or something like that)?". We both know the answer to that. But there was no need to say a word. I tried to fake a smile, but i dont know if it showed. Now, this time, it's finally over. But I was not in a rejoicing mood, i was simply thankful.

I think i was the last one who got cleared from the entire College of Engineering. Honest. I am just so grateful because the unimaginable thing didnt happen. I am sure that God allowed those things to happen to teach me something.
And to me, that is to trust in His unfailing love, that everything works for the good of those who call upon His name.

But in retrospect, even if the unimaginable thing happened, even if i didnt graduate, i would still have faith that everything will turn out fine, because God is always in the middle of things, He knows what He is doing and His plans are always more wonderful than mine.

"Bo Bice"



Here's my vote for the American Idol. Galing nya when he sang "Stand By Me" last week...Kayo sino?

Lumipas na pala 'yung Mother's Day... sana na-greet ninyo ang inyong mga butihing ina. Ako, I greeted her and bought her a cake. We didn't do anything extra special during that day, walang card or flowers (nagtitipid kasi ako)...Umalis din kasi si Mama at ako naman, natulog lang maghapon...Anyway, everyday naman I try to be a better daughter than the day before...and I make it sure that I make my mother feel appreciated and loved. Oks ba :)

"Home Run"

Ang ganda ng movie na ito. Napanood ko a few months ago sa ABC 5 at sana mapanood nyo rin. Nakakatuwa kasi yung dalawang magkapatid at ang mga kaibigan nila na very supportive sa kanilang dalawa sa kanilang quest na magkaroon ng sapatos na pamasok at panlaro ng soccer.

Nakakabilib rin ang kanilang capacity for compassion sa kanilang magulang at sa kapwa nila dukha...comedy-drama ito at kung mababaw ang luha ninyo tulad ko, e baka maluha kayo :) Eto 'yung synopsis nya:



One day, Ah Kun visits a grocery store to pick up grocery for the family meal, only to lose his sister's shoes-a disaster since his parents are eking out a meagre existence and can't afford to replace them. The siblings realize that revealing the loss would upset their financially strapped parents, so they decided to keep the loss a secret and leaving Ah Kun the burden of solving the problem.

Ah Kun now has two tricky problems on hand:
1) getting a pair of shoes for himself (for use during soccer practice)
2) finding back his sister's shoes.

Visit the movie website at www.homerunthemovie.com.

"Pasahero sa Jeepney"


Eto ang Maynila mula sa pananaw ng isang pasahero ng dyipni. Kuha nitong Marso 2005.

"Robert Marley"


To the uninitiated -- folks, this is Bob Marley. I just love his songs and his soul so thought I'd dedicate this space to the man who is reggae himself.

Lines from the song "Could You Be Loved":
Don't let them change you
Or even rearrange you, oh! No
We've got a life to live
They say only, only
Only the fittest of the fittest shall survive
Stay alive


Could You Be Loved was written by Bob Marley as a result of him witnessing the terrible Jamaican school system, people living in poverty, and a multitude of circumstances which caused the oppression of both the Jamaican and African people. In the line,"Don't let them fool you or even try to school you"Marley is writing about how the Jamaican school systems have a policy that says shoes must be worn in school. Many families in Jamaica cannot afford shoes, which prohibits the children from attending school and receiving an education. In the next line the song says don't let them fool you. This section maybe speaking about the lessons taught in school. Outdated history books teach Jamaican children a biased history that neglects to teach about slavery and fails to show where Jamaicans are from. Teaching practices such as these take away the peoples identity and their pride.

Marley's view of education by the public schools was very negative. He says, "Don't let them School You "because he believes this type of education shouldn't continue. Marley's education was unofficial so he learned about his people's history from music and by seeing life all around him. Marley always thought of himself as an ordinary person, but as the popularity of his music grew he had to acknowledge that he was a leader.