When you live in a cookie-cutter world, being different you can't win

Two posts in one day. I am on a roll.




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If you've seen my Tumblr lately, you must have chanced upon this post.

Last Saturday, I said that I don’t feel any remorse - YET. =/ A few days after, I still don't feel remorse. However, there's a tiny emotion that's of the slightly disturbed kind, though. I've said it on Tumblr, and I'll say it again: Yes, it’s my high school; yes, that school did some good things to me; yes, I met a lot of great friends there that I still keep now…but…yeah. The thing is, what I remember most from this school is that I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

I dare not elaborate.

I think the batch may be organizing some effort to help the school out. I have no qualms about it; I'm actually open to helping out, in spite of my feelings.



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When I comment on fandom stuff, I try to minimize the "AHHH OH MY GOD HE IS HAWWWTTT SHAKE IT LIKE A POLAROID PICTURE" kind of comments. I graduated from that already (except on Tumblr, which is another realm altogether!). I'd like some kind of meaningful discourse, so when I do post a comment on a group/community, it's often something that's aimed towards a good conversation.

But I realize that the more I try this, the more I frustrate myself.

Choo choo trains

Here's a map that every commuter in the city knows. It's the LRT-MRT map. All three lines of it. Amongst ourselves (ourselves meaning me and college classmates), we inject some SaiMono into these train lines for fun; hence, Yellow (LRT 1) is the Kou Line, Blue (MRT-3) is the Ran Line, and Purple (LRT-2) is the Shi Line. We especially find the coincidence of the LRT-2 being named the "purple" line very amusing, since the LRT-2 is the shiniest and largest of all three lines in the metro. (Ang biro namin, imperial line kasi, tapos ODA pa ng Japan XD).

I don't ride the trains often. My most frequented line is the MRT, followed closely by the LRT-1, because when I go on OL gimiks - whether they are in Makati, Ortigas or Quezon City - these two trains are my preferred way of getting from Point A to Point B. What's wonderful about the LRT-1 is that one of the train stations is just a ten-minute walk from my house.

So here I am, a not-so-frequent train rider, who's about to share my thoughts on train riding in this city.

Why do people love to gather near the doors of the train?

Take my train ride from EDSA (at LRT 1) to Vito Cruz today, for example. When I came inside the train, my first instinct was to find a spot that wasn't crowded. I guess I don't have to spell out the reasons why, right? (if yes, it's a matter of minimizing violations of personal space) However, my brand of common sense apparently isn't so common, cause most people will insist on standing near the doors even if their destination isn't less than three stations away.  They would rather be bumped and shoved and outbalanced than going to a place in the train with more breathing room. They'd rather increase their discomfort in an already uncomfortable situation.

I've experienced standing near the doors of the train a number of times. Most, if not all of the instances these happened were times when I didn't have a choice. The volume of people was just too much that I couldn't wriggle my way to the inner parts of the train. What I can tell you though, without a shadow of a doubt, was that when I had an opportunity to slither my way inside, I'd do it.

In my personal commuting experience, I've noticed people who situate themselves near the doors who "mark" their territory or space in the train. Now, sometimes I do this, but if giving way means more comfort for my stay there, I'd do it. These people, however, they're the type that even if push comes to shove, whether there are ten or twenty coming in on the doors at one stop, they will not relinquish their chosen spot near the exit - at any cost! They will stand there, get angry at times if they get hurt by people coming in or out, but they will stick to their spot as if they've applied epoxy on their shoes.

I do remember a time when I started commuting by train wherein I was advised to look for unoccupied locations inside the train the moment I step in. And this I distinctly remember- do not linger at the train doors as much as possible (in fact, I think this is one of the reminders that's endlessly being played in the trains' PA system), When my stop is approaching, I should discreetly (and politely) make my way towards the exit, but the priority should be to secure a spot where I can firmly plant both feet on the floor.

This method works for me because I am so particular with my personal space. When you violate my personal space, I will black list you for life unless by some act of genius/reconciliation I decide to change my mind. XD If you'll ask me if I've ever not gotten down the train in my station before the doors closed, the answer is no. I get down on time, cause I prepare for my descent - kind of like the way an airplane does.

Which brings me back to my question - why do people love to gather near the doors of the trains?

I guess, the most obvious reason of all is that they want to be the first to get down when their stop comes (whether it's the next or the last station). Or, following this logic, they're afraid that if they stay at the far end of the train, they will not have enough time to get out.

The thing is...you can get out of the train if you've got timing + diskarte. Now, about that "being first" thing...I really don't know. Would I like to be first one out? Well, it wouldn't hurt. But for public transpo (whether train or bus), I've realized that being first out doesn't amount to anything much. I consider being "out" more important than anything.

Not by might, or by power...

Hello universe, I am back. /le sigh

This will be long. Let's take this one event at a time...


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One hundred years of Lasallian presence

One hundred years of Lasallian education

One hundred years of Lasallian awesomeness

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Me, along with some college friends celebrated the Centennial last Thursday. We first met at CBTL in the newly renovated University Mall (promise, the University Mall that we experienced was FAR from the UMall now), then we had dinner at Persia Grill just beside it. By the way, DO NOT EAT THERE and spare yourselves terrible service and forced tipping. We had to be in school before 7:30 to get to the acoustic concert/poetry reading, but since service was poor, we got to school quite late. And yes, we were forced to tip. No joke here. They didn't have change for the money that we gave and the server had the gall to tell us "I-tip niyo na lang yan." We were late, so we didn't have time to argue. If we argued, it would have been over a Php20 bill, but then again it was worth the arguing because they didn't deserve the tip to begin with. Anyway, I hope that this blog post will serve its purpose when the adventurous person Googles Persia Gril U-Mall and finds this entry here. It will be worth letting go of the Php20. =D

Now, DLSU is very different from the campus where I spent a year and a half with. It's very urban, which very much suits the city where it is situated. It doesn't help too that the football field has been excavated in order to make way for the Henry Sy Hall, so now the school is left with but a few trees. But football field or none, the memories that we collectively shared in DLSU are the stuff that not even new buildings can take away from us.

Since we were late for the acoustic concert (THANK YOU TALAGA PERSIA GRILL UMALL), we celebrated the Centennial at *drumroll please* the 4/F of the Miguel Hall.

This building was my home for nearly a year and a half. M314 was my first classroom, so a lot of my "testing the waters" happened in this hall right here. What I'll never forget about Miguel is its ridiculously cold aircons. Ang lagi ko ngang biro in the workplace is that in La Salle, we are trained not only for the real world, but also to withstand cold room temperatures that are common in the workplace. Some go as far as believing me with wide-eyed wonder. HAHAHAHAHA.

Yes I know there's a concert and other things, and celebrating the Centennial in a deserted hallway seems like the most boring way to celebrate...but just reminiscing college life in sheer quiet, without sharing the humidity on ground and getting the sweat of other people on your arms is blissful.



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Have I mentioned that I lost my voice? *looks back at previous entries* Yes, I did.

It's been a month since then. The "breathy" phase of it is gone, but I still sound rough. What's worse, I seem to have lost control of my diaphragm/lungs, in the sense that I cannot hold air for too long.

This by far is the worst completely-lost-my-voice incident I have ever had. To make matters worse, I absolutely hate salabat.

Today, I visited the ENT again (two or three weeks ago he prescribed me some steroids, which goes to show how bad it was...), and he gave me some anti-inflammatory and anti-reflux meds, plus he told me to hydrate and refrain from vocal abuse. I wanted to snicker when he said that cause I absolutely loved the term...

So, there's nothing left for me to do but obey the prescription, do vocalizations...and probably take a swim at the Sports Complex so I could strengthen my lungs again.

Hay, hail to thee alma mater talaga.



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I mentioned the voice issue because...*breathes in*

I went to an audition yesterday. My first audition in...years. Like, seriously.

Against all odds (including my voice teacher XD), I decided to go with my audition for this musicale. It was the last day of auditions, and I chose to confirm on the last day on purpose cause I thought my voice will be back by then. Of course...if anything can go wrong, it will. /le sigh

I was the fourth to audition in the afternoon batch. When I heard the first one, I was like oh my stars, why am I here? I fumbled for my iPod inside my bag and tried to distract myself with my music and the lines that I was given for the audition. Inside my head, I was telling myself, why am I here? I was told that I shouldn't be here, and yet I came! My voice isn't in perfect condition! The one singing sounds incredible - how can I stand a chance with this voice?! 


So I prayed. I think I remember praying that God will help me do whatever I can in order to sing at the very least in tune, and not to sound too hoarse...and probably a hodgepodge of other fragmented thoughts that came at the spur of the moment, and then I distinctly heard:

Not by might, or by power, but by My Spirit.

At that point, I knew that whatever the outcome will be, it will be as God wills. And with that thought in my mind, with all fear shoved aside, I was asked to enter the audition room.

And, as how most anime episodes end: つづく . . . Heeheehee. The story goes on.

Pomp and circumstance

Today is the day - JUNE 16. One hundred years ago, De La Salle College had its first day of classes. A century later, De La Salle University, together with sixteen other La Salle schools across the country, will finally be celebrating one hundred years of Lasallian presence, one hundred years of Lasallian education, one hundred years of Lasallian AWESOMENESS. XD

Won't make this long...I still have school stuff to do (one hundred forty eight pivottables, Statistics knows no mercy), but I will be there at the acoustic party/poetry reading tonight with friends. It's gonna be awesome.

Hail to thee our Alma Mater! Hail! Hail! Hail!

The iris, it thrives in the rain

For someone who's not working, I'm kind of sort of very very very busy right now.

I'm just saiyan saying. (LOL sorry I can't help but make the reference.)

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Here's what I've been up to:

I did a rewatch of Rurouni Kenshin Tsuiokuhen. Why did I do that? I don't know. Maybe it had something to do with the 15th Anniversary...but I decided to indulge myself.

What happened? Oh, well, pretty much the same reaction when I watched it for the first time. I CRIED. Being a hardcore Kenshin x Tomoe shipper (never was for KxK, though I admit that the nighttime-fireflies scene struck a heartstring or two...), this OVA was basically my most anticipated part of the RK series, until it was doused in cold water when it became evident that the Jinchuu arc won't be animated (but the reanimation solves that problem, oh sweet rapture!).

Another thing that I love about this OVA is the blood. I remember when I first watched this, I was going "OHMAAAHGAAAHHHHDDDD" at the bloodwork that was happening. It's quite on the extreme side, but then again that plus the animation (including character redesigns) looked very realistic. I'm not sure if the key to fully appreciating this OVA is a good background on the anime series...but if you were to ask me it would be best if the non-RK fan will watch a major fight in the anime prior to watching the OVA so he'll be able to see (and appreciate) how striking the difference is with the rurouni and the hitokiri. Just my two cents.

Also, they symbolism. OMG THE SYMBOLISM. The top, the differing tastes of sake, dead bleeding Kiyosato with a buddha at the background...and more...when I first watched this I couldn't understand a lot of these things; though now I understand most of them  I sometimes feel that I'm still scratching the surface...

Okay enough about the serious stuff! The reason why I cry everytime I watch this is because of this scene: