Adventures Behind the Pages- Part 1

I have been reading books to kill time last summer and it is only this time that I get the chance to write something about it. 

It's my first time since I entered college that I didn't have summer classes so I had pretty much more time to do things I like to do, like reading. I didn't have much trouble in finding sources of books because I know one who loves to collect books she can practically build a library of her own. And the books she recommends were worth reading. Also, I have so many PDF files of books reserved in my laptop so I can read everytime I want to. Here are four out of the eight books I have read last summer. 

Can You Keep a Secret?

by Sophie Kinsella

Well, I started reading this book way before summer but I didn't have the time to finish reading it with all the things I have to do for my studies. During summer, I started reading it again and finally finish it. 

This is a story of a girl who, thinking that the turbulence during a flight will cause her death, spit out all her secrets to a stranger. Yes, to a total stranger. When they finally came out safe at the airport, she regretted it but thought that it's alright since she might never see the stranger again. What she didn't know is that the stranger plays an important role in her work, and eventually, in her life.

Remember Me

by Sophie Kinsella

I finished reading this book in less than two days (Friday night to Sunday noon). That's how much I love reading. 

The story of this book centers around a girl who thought her life was miserable with all the crooked teeth she has, a loser boyfriend, and a boring job. Then she woke up one day with perfect teeth, gorgeous and handsome husband, and a luxurious lifestyle and she has no memory how it all happened! But what she thought is a perfect life hides something that she has to find out if she wants the truth about everything, from the day she lost her memory.

Best Laid Plans

by Sidney Sheldon

I read this book during my working hours at the office. This author is really good in making thriller crime fictions. 

The story of this book involves politics and revenge. A beautiful but tough girl fell in love with a lawyer that is an aspiring politician but lacked the resources to win. The girl did all that she could to help the lawyer but was eventually betrayed by the latter when he found another woman whose father held so much promise for his career. The girl was shattered but she sought for ways to get back at the lawyer and started her personal campaign to overthrow him, not knowing that sooner or later, she will fall into her own trap.

Nothing Lasts Forever

by Sidney Sheldon

Well, I can say that I like this book the most out of all the books I read during summer. At first I thought this book was a love story but you should not really judge a book by its cover (or title). 

This is a story of three women nurses who want to prove themselves in a work dominated by men. The three of them have their own stories that were connected to each other. One died, another made huge mistakes, and the other was tried in the court for a case of murder.

Reading books rocks! Until my next book-reading posts!

You Are, I Am

You're an artist, I'm a frustrated one

You draw, I write

You play music, I play ball

You speak well, I write pretty good

You're fond of the future

I'm focused on the present

You're different

I'm like everyone else

You created a world for yourself

I can barely create mine

You're a mystery

I'm an open book

I admire you

You don't know me

I knew it

You didn't

the making

Fleeting Fondness to SNSD

     So I had this instant liking to Korea’s SNSD (Girls Generation) because of Yoona of Love Rain. When you look at them, they are like dolls coming to life with their fancy dresses and styles. Their different beauties and hairstyles and their seemingly flawless skin would make you wonder why in the world aren’t we created equal. Haha. Anyway, when I looked at some of their pictures, I noticed that some looked alike and I can’t even distinguish one from another. They are all beautiful anyway so no big deal. The only ones I can point out when I look from picture to picture are Yoona, Sunny, and SooYoung. I recognize Yoona’s face from watching Love Rain (with Jang Geun Suk). Sunny usually have her hair styled short and blonde and SooYoung has a unique beauty that’s why I can tell both of them apart from the other members. The other girls, Tiffany, Yuri, Jessica, HyoHyun, SeoHyun and TaeYeon were also beautiful and stylish.

SNSD with their smiles.

    

     I’ve only looked at their pictures and I haven’t listened to their music yet. I guess I will not reach that stage because I’m not into music which I cannot really understand (except OSTs of those Korean series I watch). 

I’m not a K-pop addict but I don’t see anything bad from those who are.

Some of their pictures. :)

From Google Images

These black dresses make them look somehow fierce. 

Different Views

I’d like to write something about my thoughts in philosophy and theology. This is not something deep and awakening. These are just my observations regarding the stand of the two subjects on religion.

In Theology

My teacher always teaches us the importance of religion in our lives and the significance of God’s presence in our everyday living. She stressed the value of faith and belief in God and explains to us everything she knows about Him, including His early life, the different experiences He got into, the teachings He imparted to the people and His disciples, etc. She also implied that everything in this world can be traced back to God and He is the source of everything. In short, she believes that God is the center of our lives and we must live our lives according to His will.

In Philosophy

My teacher in this subject is a little different because although he has a religion, he speaks of God daringly. By this I mean he can speak bad words to God (for discussion’s sake) and not take back his word. Anyway, some of this subject’s views about religion speak of it as something unreal and pointless. There are views that argued that religion is not something divine and is only created by man to have something to depend on and blame to if anything goes wrong in life. Religion, still according to some views, is unnecessary and must be removed from this world if people are to live independently and responsibly. This is quite a contradiction to theology’s view that God must be the center of our lives.

My View

Now this brings me to my question. Whose point of view are we to believe in? The theologians’ or the philosophers’?

Behind All These

You see that smile behind the sadness

…the carefree character behind the painful experience

…the fancy clothes behind the torn heart

…the happy facade behind the suffering feelings

…the cheerful expression behind the hurt pride

…the blissful person behind the hidden broken heart

Yes you saw the strong woman in front

But you missed the frail lady crying inside

Without You

It feels like an empty room full of memories

…a deserted airport with no life

…a silent phone with no messages

…a gloomy living room with no lights

…a quiet night with closed doors

…a broken radio with unfixable parts

…a blurred television with no sound

…a rainy weather on a Sunday morning

It all feels like a person full of lost memories.

Being an AFYOP Facilitator

Being an AFYOP Facilitator is not easy. It entails a lot of hardwork, knowledge and patience to teach the first years about the basics of the school, its rules and policies and of course the life of being an Atenean. But more than the difficult job is the wonderful overall experience you get while interacting with new set of people, from your co-AFYOP Facilitators to the first year students.

Amistad, A Movie Reflection

This post is my reflection paper about the movie "Amistad" in my subject Philosophy of Human Person.

The realities of slavery and human labor were clearly depicted in the movie Amistad. It showed how slaves were gathered and caught, brought in to the market to be sold, and their treatment while on their way to be sold. It was clear that they were not treated as a human being but rather as a material that can be bought and sold to the market and whose owners can do anything to them without them having the right to complain. The movie also showed how, amidst all the conflicts and difficulties, there are still people who want to help them be free. There are still people who care more about the humanity of people and their right to have their own life in their own places.

In the beginning of the movie, we would see the slaves as merciless and cruel because they killed their captors without hesitation. But as the movie progressed and looked back to their experiences before the detention, you would see the reason behind every brutal stab of the slaves. Not only were they treated ruthlessly before, but they were also deprived of the life they may have live. Their loved ones and comrades were killed, others were denied with food, some were raped, and others were thrown to the sea for very irrational reasons. We can see that human labor and human life were not really respected and acknowledged.

It's the Uncertainty

Waiting for someone is an experience every person has been into at least once in his/her life. Waiting to be recognized by parents, to be accepted by friends and to be loved by someone are all experiences that people find themselves into everytime in life. But what’s so bad in waiting? Why do people hate waiting?

Well, I guess it’s because of the uncertainty that comes with the wait. It’s the feeling that we may be waiting for nothing or for something that might never come. People want assurances and having to wait gives off the idea that nothing is assured as of the moment. When you wait for the result of an exam where you think you did well, there is still that feeling of doubt that something might get wrong. When you wait for the result of a job interview, there is that feeling of uneasiness that you might not get the job after all. When you wait for someone you like to love you back, there is that feeling of fear of being rejected. In all of those instances, there comes the uncertainty or doubt that something may or may not come and we may end up being hurt or discouraged.

My 3D Experience with Friends

It was an ordinary day in the office when we, the working students, thought of something to do. We decided to save a portion of our allowance everyday to save money for our “agreed-upon” Resident Evil Retribution-movie-watching together. We never missed a day while saving and so the amount we saved was truly abundant. We were able to save and the movie-watching plan was on its way.

From my experience

Watching Resident Evil Retribution in 3D was really thrilling especially since ‘twas my first time. Sitting in a couch wearing 3D glasses was a new experience and it was indeed entertaining. Dodging the knives thrown by Alice and catching the coins fired by their guns, I caught my hands flying up in the air touching nothing. I feel ignorant at that time. But like everybody else, there is always a first time and usually, you become ignorant during that first time. Anyway, all throughout the movie, I controlled myself not to scream even in the most terrifying part. The feeling was different and unusual but I’d love to experience it again.

Ateneo joins Pamulak Parade, Kadayawan 2012

(this post is from my previous blog which I decided to delete because of redundancy.)

The whole Kadayawan experience was amazing; all the efforts and hardworks of the people involved was worth it and the smile in the faces of the people watching was priceless.  

From the preparation until the day of the parade, people from different offices and departments of Ateneo de Davao gave their best and surely, the positive results were overwhelming. We started activity at 4:30 am where free breakfast was served. Students, scholars, faculty, staff, and administrators all gathered in Thibault area for the delicious breakfast that gave them the energy to finish the parade. At 5:00 am, all the members of the Ateneo community gathered in Finster open area to practice the cheers that made the whole parade lively and animated. At 5:30, they gathered at Roxas Avenue for the parade positioning. That same time, the highlight of the Ateneo contingent, the Blue Knight and the Lady Knight came out with their costumes that were indeed astonishing. 

The Knights 5 hours before the parade.

We expected the parade to last for four (4) hours. But instead of finishing the parade at 12:00 noon, we finished way earlier at 8:30 am. Although it didn't last long, we enjoyed the whole activity and our eyes feasted with the floats of other contingents that were really amazing. Kadayawan Festival is really enjoyable and it proved that "it's more fun in the Philippines!"

Summer Office Blues

What I hate...

...the endless ringing of the phone.
...bad hair day.
...awkward moments in the office.
...when I lose my patience.
...when I meet patience-consumer people.
...when I miss my favorite song on the radio.
...when I have to stop reading a good book to entertain a call or a customer.
...when we are so busy.
...when we have to tell someone that some bad news (like failing the exam.)
...when a person's writing is so bad that I can't read it at all.
...when the airconditioner is doing it's job very well; sooooo cold!
...when I'm feeling down with no reason at all.
...when I meet arrogant customers.
...know-it-all people.
...when I forgot where I put important papers.
...when I sound so rude answering obvious questions.
...applicants submitting their requirements on the moment we are closing the windows for break.


and

What I love...

...when I get to see friends in school.
...bloopers.
...the breaks in between working hours.
...the snacks! :)
...when I tell a person some good news.
...when someone says "Thank you" to me.
...when I get to listen to my favorite song.
...when I fulfill a very hard task.
...when I meet positive person.
...when I laugh my heart out everytime we share jokes.
...when I get the chance to criticize an annoying customer inside my head.
...when I see the pile of books waiting to be read.
...when I read those books during office hours.
...when we play table tennis after work.
...when I prove my self right after an intense exchange with a customer.


...and many more, so far. 


:)

Some Thoughts

Well, my life has been a real roller coaster ride for these past few days. I can’t get everything into perspective and I can’t seem to know what my priorities are. I guess I’m just overwhelmed with the effect of sleepless nights coupled with pressures during the exams and the rainbow of emotions I felt in all aspects of my life.

So where do I start?

Graduation pictures and glam photos now flood every social networking sites and I have to say I’m a bit jealous because I can’t really post mine yet. But more than the jealousy I feel is the overwhelming urge to say congratulations to those who made it this year. My classmates, friends and batchmates all did their best and they deserve a very big treat: their diplomas.

As for me, I still have a year left to learn more and face the challenge of being a college student. I figured there’s no need to hurry. I’m still young and am still not ready to open another chapter of life, working in the real world. I’ve been readying myself for the sadness I will feel when my classmates graduate and so far, I think I am doing fine. Well, I’ll have to see what I will feel when I see them march down that aisle towards liberation from the pressures of school, the terror teachers and the crappy deadlines. They may be ahead of me but I will surely catch up and meet them soon.

Unforgettable

           My OJT ended for almost a month now but I still can't forget the people I met and worked with in that company. I always think about the times I spent there and the memories I've created with them. I don't know why but it seems like I want to go back there. I'm a hundred percent sure the reason's not to work again because as far as I can remember, I am not very fond with the work given to me. But the people and the faces were unforgettable. I have to admit I miss them. In the short period I've been with them, I experienced what it is like to work and to have officemates. More importantly, i had a glimpse of how my dream work works. If I could only turn back time, I would want to be with them again. But I guess that's too much to ask. I'm already thankful that God let me know them even for a short time. I'm sure I will meet those faces again soon and I'm looking forward to it. :)

A Memorable Experience

Well, this is it. This is the end of my OJT experience at a certain company. In my previous blog entry, I wrote my sentiments as a trainee. Now, I will write my overall feelings for my dear company.

I did not realize how I enjoyed being a trainee there until I was saying my goodbyes to the people. I wanted to thank each of them for all the happy moments and for giving me the opportunity to become part of their lives even just for a little while. They may not be able to read this blog but at least, I can write here what I cannot say to them in person.

To my immediate supervisor, Sir Allan, thank you for everything. Thank you for giving me the works I had to document and for being there to supervise my work. Thank you for signing my OJT requirements and thank you for touring me in one of the substations. I had a great time being a trainee in that department.

To Sir Jimboy, thank you also for being the first person to give me a work. Thank you also for supervising my work. It was great meeting you.