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PISAY the Movie

film by Aureus Solito as an entry to Cinemalaya Festival 2007. This is not your usual highschool flick with your usual bullies and geeks. Can't wait to see this film about my highschool which was actually shot at there too.

Now I'm missing the Pisay experience. dorm life. rainy days in Pisay including the storms. the regular 32 peso meals. the oval and field. the creek area. the back lobby. the afternoon stroll with friends. and yes, bonding with highschool friends.

from Cinemalaya:
"Amidst the chaos of Martial Law in this Third World country in the 1980s, six teenagers in the top high school for the sciences discover themselves as they go through the joys and pains of adolescence. They were the top two hundred students from all over the Philippines who passed the examination for the Philippine Science High School, which was created for the purpose of giving an education highly enriched in the Sciences to exceptionally gifted Filipino children. Selected from the best and brightest from all over the country, they endure college-level courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics from their sophomore year onwards. Those who can make it are hailed as the future science and technology leaders of the New Republic, those who don't are deemed unfortunate victims of natural selection. They all learn however that they are neither isolated from the real world, nor are they exempted from living real lives. They find the world outside, erupting into the People Power revolution in 1986 against the Marcos dictatorship, being replicated within the school as they struggle to graduate, contend with teachers, classmates, family, school officials, and a new classification to segregate students meeting the high standards of excellence from those who do not."

screening dates:
PISAY by Auraeus Solito
21 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre /
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
22 Jul/Sun 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang
Alagad Ng Sining
24 Jul/Tue 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre /
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
25 Jul/Wed 09:00 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre /
Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
26 Jul/Thu 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng
Batute
27 Jul/Fri 10:00 AM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre /
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
28 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre /
Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

Sobrang nakakamiss...

Fourth Anniversary

Weather was not good, Metro Manila had a blackout and "The Invisible" was lame yet we enjoyed the 26th of June. Thank you Hans for the flowers and the dress. Mas magaling ka pa sakin pumili. =)

We both took a day off from work to celebrate. Nothing fancy was planned but being together was enough. It's been four years already I am glad we mad it this far and I am very much loking forward to the next years to come.

This year I was in a creative mood so I created a scrapbook for him. Tipid haha! Shally, I used the scrapbook you gave me for my 18th birthday, hope it's ok with you. I was really planning to use that scrapbook for our college stuff but I think the one you gave me is less girly than the other one I have.

Anway back to our scrapbook, I really enjoyed doing that. I looked at all the pictures and gifts we have collected so far. I even wrote down a table of our gifts for each year's birthdays, anniversary, and Christams. That time too, I had the chance to reread my past entries here in blogspot and also several livejournal locked entries. Funny how you forget some things and then remember them so vividly because of a journal entry or any other sentimental object. Memories are always nice to look back too, specially when their good and even if their bad. I laughed at my old mushy entries, at one poem written in answer to Dustin's (hindi ko rin siya kilala) poem, at my emo entires, and at one "hate" letter. Most of them were not shared with Hans. Because 1) he's not a blogger, 2) hehe. kakahiya yung iba e. One day I will share them. Someday.

pictures from our day:

How does your kindergarten ID pic look like?

My nephew's ID look like this. Laban ka?! pang-model student. Bawala agawan ng baon, tingin pa lang lagot na.

Who says creative shots are not allowed in school IDs?

My 23rd Birthday

The celebration started during a dinner with my friends when we went to San Juan, Batangas. I had a little dinner treat for them the night after we enjoyed at the beach.

the rest of Laiya summer pics here and here too

Then, I shared a birthday cake with my two teammates Len and Lloyd who also celebrated their birthdays last May. We also dined out at Gerry's for Lloyd's birthday and the rest of May celebrants. Lagi na lang Gerry's. Even the dishes that we order are the same.

Then, came the 28th my actual birthday and also my parents' anniversary. We went to Trinoma for the first time and had a family dinner at Crustasia. Food was overflowing! We ate the birthday cake that Hans brought to cap off the night.

birthday pics here

Hans' YM status for May 28. Actually pinapost ko pa uli yan so I can get a screen cap.

Six of Weirds

I've been tagged by Jepoi, so I have to play. Yikes! Pwede kayang too many to mention ang sagot haha!

To quote the game starter:
"Each player of this game starts with 6 weird things about you. People who got tagged need to write a blog entry of their own 6 weird things. They should as well as state the rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog."

Here goes my 6 weird things. I am not sure if this list is accurate as there may be things about me that I consider normal but might actually be considered as weird by others. Well, it didn't say that it has to be the most weird things e.

1. I really enjoyed watching Strangebrew. I believe it is educational and at the same time entertaining. My sister find this very weird. She had given me THE look whenever I watch it on unTV.

2. I have a "sali sis" (hi erma!). Explaining it would be too weird, but here are some clues: two glasses of iced tea + two licked lollipops.

3. I was "diagnosed" by my sister to be an abberation of girlhood.

4. I failed my Kinder Entrance Exams in SJA, eventually got in, and much later on graduated with honors from Grade School. Hehe!

5. When we were in high school my very relieved and excited friend Leah kissed me (on the cheeks lang ha!) after she learned that I found her missing watch. I was really surprised and a bit weirded out that time, I never thought I'd do the same later on. In college, Erma gave me her last dewberry cookie. I was overjoyed and sugar-rushed that I kissed her. Haha! And that was witnessed by Crismar, the king of autism. He gave himself the right to tease us lesbian lovers.

6. Most people are shocked when I make funny/weird/nasty comments. Never did they think that I am capable of a lot of (weird) things. I am used to people saying "Iche ikaw ba talaga yan?!" It took about one sem for Bars to accept that I am not quiet and meek as he thought. Louie was even surprised that I watch strangebrew.

I tag you [because]:
1. Erma [you're #1 dahil weirdo ka. haha. #2 ka dapat kung blogger si Crismar OT.]
2. Pame [dahil maforward ka naman sa emails at mahilig ka sa chain texts/emails]
3. Kristal [you multiply regularly. :-) haha ang weird non ah! parang dumarami ka. anyways you know what I mean ]
4. Ana [ikaw rin updated blogger, may daily updates pa! plus I know about the Darna stone.]
5. Leah [dahil may pagkaweird ka at ikaw yung gumawa ng mahabang survey sa notebook natin.]
6. Maita [isa pang hidden OT]

Goodbye Lolo

It has been a painful two weeks knowing you are sufferring greatly in the hospital. You're journey has been over and I pray that your in God's place now with Ima.

I would be forever grateful to you for being my mentor during my gradeschool days. Those were the days that I have learned to value my education. You are the one of the reasons why I was a good student. I am glad that you have been there every day to copy our notes. It was not an easy task to copy from a long messy handwriting, but you managed to do it. I have always been amazed by how you can copy one day's worth of lecture notes in about an hour. I can never forget your yellow pads full of my gradeschool notes written in shorthand. Thank you for being a great tutor.

I would always be proud of you. A great man who had always put his loved ones first before himself. A person who knows how to love unconditionally and is true to his words.

Lolo, we'll miss you! We'll all see each other again.
pinoyobituaries.com Tribute to Rafael Santos Taruc

The Notebooks

Nong highschool hindi pa uso ang blogs. Hindi pa uso ang forums. Low tech pa kaya nagtiyatiyaga kaming barkada sa isang notebook na pinagpapasapasahan namin. Ang title ng notebook na yun ay "Tech Research", pero sa totoo lang nandon ang aming deep darkest secrets.

Akalain mo, unang page pa lang, in big letters, sinulat ni toot "Ayokong ma-bohol! Nasaan na si _ _ _ _ n ko?!" Kung sino si Bohol, secret! Kung pano siya tinawag na Bohol? Malay ko, malimutan ko na? May "Cebu" pa nga kami dati e. Kung pano siya naging Cebu? Mahabang derivation and proving ang kailangan!

Notebook na puno ng kwento sa buhay. Seryoso. Mababaw. Bored. Angst. Surveys at Q&A, maraming lyrics, quotes, text transcripts, parang sinaunang barkada blog. Nakaktuwang balikan lahat lahat. Puno ng mga non-sense na storya, pero pag pinagsamasama mo nakaktuwa. Ultimo dream sequence nakadocument. Pati ang moment na narealize ni tooot na crush niya si Godzilla.

Punong puno ng code names, yung iba naman blatantly nakasulat ang pangalan. Malalakas ang loob! At hindi lang yun, may listahan pa ng crush. I congratulate erma for having the longest list. Sadly, hindi kumpleto yung list ko, according to Leah nawawala raw kasi. Nakakatawang balikan ang panahon na crush na crush ni Leah si "sumo" at "sushi." At si erma naman ay nangtetext pala ng "strangers" haha! At ang mga CP1 and CP2 anecdotes ni Jo.

Nakaubos rin kami ng isang notebook. Sadly nawala yung Volume 2. Huhu.. Kung sino man ang nakapulot non sa UP, "Hello sa iyo. amin yan. wag mo kami ichismis."

Eto kami nina Jo at Erma as drawn and described by Leah. Si Leah tong nasa baba. Deceiving self-portrait. Hindi siya ganyang kacute. hehe. Para malinaw lalagyan ko na rin ng "subtitle." Cherrys, magpadrawing ka na rin kay Leah, kaya lang may kasamang pang-asar. Hehe!

ICHE

eto si iche ang quote niya ay: "Uy, hawakan mo ang buhok ko, ang soooft."
STRENGTHS: Straight DLister
WEAKNESSES: mga frenshmen, sophomore at juniors, basta lower years!
COMMENTS: walang kilay, sunog na kasi (hehe)
Iche's own comments: Hindi po ako cradlesnatcher.

JO

eto si JoAnne at ang quote of the century niya ay: "Ewan ko, malay, beats me... I don't know!" (interchangeable)
STRENGTHS: magaling mambara, mantaray lalo na sa mga tulad ni **** (expert taray!)
WEAKNESSES: <censored>
COMMENTS: magaling magpaiyak sa kanyang mga letters/sulat.

ERMA

Iche's own comments: Hindi dual personality si Erma. yan ang kanyang high school transformation. Before and after pic niya yan.

before..... wt: 58 lbs after........ wt: 106 lbs na. What a miracle!
STRENGTHS: magaling mag-arteng loka-loka (o, natural ba yon?)
WEAKNESSES: isang particular person na nagngangalang _ _ _ _ n.
QUOTE: "Shemai, siomai, siopao..."
COMMENTS: di niyo ba napapansin, nakadrowing ang kanyang CULTURED DIMPLE! Matagal na rin niyang minimithi ang dimple na ito kaya naman magmula first year ay nagpapraktis sa salamin.

Jo, Erma, Leah, salamat sa memories na sinulat natin sa notebooks natin. Cherrys, salamat sa memories na di malilimutan, may notebook man o wala. :-)

Child's Plays

These are just a few of the activities and games that I have participated in when I was a kid. Most were done with my cousins and some with the other neighbors' kids as well. I've realized that I did have a good childhood. :)

Cliff-Hanger's Pusoy Dos
This is the normal pusoy dos, except that at the end of the game each of the players has a role to act. The ultimate winner would be meditating, all relaxed that he is safe in his place. The first runner up would act as if he's hanging but with both hands keeping his place. The third placer would be the ciffhanger. He has one hand holding on to the cliff hanging on for dear life not to fall. And the ulitmate loser woud act as if he's falling and falling, screaming his lungs out.
My personal favorites were the cliffhanger and the loser, just becuase the winner and the runner-up roles are boring. Hehe. Ain't we a weird bunch of kids? We hava also applied this Cliff-Hanger thing to other games as well.

Merienda Sale
Yep, we sold ice candy, juice, nata de coco, juice, biko and other merienda stuff to other kids in our neighborhood. We even had a script for the advertisement. We had assigned shouters who hides inside the house embarrassed while screaming the announcement that we sell those stuff. We even had accounting and inventory. And we realized that the most frequent buyers would also be us. Well, experts did say to patronize your own products!

Beauty Pageant
We have pictures to prove that my cousins have competed against each other at a homemade beauty contest. The contest was complete with sashes and countries to represent. Ms. U talaga! They even had the swimsuit category! Good thing, I was not part of the contest, based on the photos I was merely an observer.

Takeshi's Castle
The fun part was setting up the site. Digging up holes and fixing the traps. Arranging the path, up and down, muddy or not, slide or not.

Hotdog Sandwich
Lots of matresses... One person, rolled inside the matress. And the wresting starts!

Normal Games
Yes, we still know how to play normal child's play like taguan, piko, patintero, ten-twenty, takip-silim, marco polo, and the list goes on. I have played a lot of games whcih involves running, but I still don't know why I am such a weakling when it comes to sports. Oh well, probably I was also just as bad as a kid.
Besides outdoor games, we also keep ourselves busy with indoor games like bahay-bahayan, titser-titseran (complete with graduation and medals), stationary paper trade, Family computer games (favorite ko pa rin si Mario!), card games, and board games.

Indeed we were active, resourceful and creative kids. How lucky of us to have lived our childhood in a world where computer games and TV are not the primary sources of entertainment.

Easter Sunday Tradition

As a kid, I used to consider Easter as the real start of the summer break. My cousins from Quezon City woud be coming over by Saturday Night to prepare for the Salubong the next morning. Every year, our church celebrates Easter Sunday by holding a special 5 am mass out on our street. This special mass complete with an elegant temporary stage built in front of a factory is sponsored every year by Rufina Patis. That time of the year always give me much excitement. It was summer and I'm surrounded by my cousins who I can play with. Plus of course the Salubong and its baloons!

It was the same thing every year, church music will start very early to wakeup the entire neighborhood. People would be coming from all corners of Malabon to stand during the entire celebration just to hear the Mass and to witness the "Salubong". My cousins and I would either be at Nanay's window from the second floor or at the roof since we cannot see much from the street filled with people much taller than us.

The priest will officially start it off at 5 am, still very dark. Before the Mass ends, the statue of Mary and of Jesus will reenact the "Salubong". Both in their well-decorated karos, they approach each other as the audience watch in anticipation. Mary will be directly positioned at the center of the stage. Then, doves will be freed from the stage's ceiling and finally a (fake) white dove will take away Marys' black veil. The dove and the veil are both attached to a huge bunch of balloons. And up the ballons go, taking away Mary's symbol of mourning. This is when the fun starts! Rufina is not the only one with the balloons, other families have their own bunch of ballons to release into the sky too. Different colors, some the shape of the rosary, some with colorful tails, and some with banners so you'll know whom its from. This is the part when the kids would be staring up in the sky feeling that happy easter rush the balloons bring.

It was almost the same thing every year. There's still a big crowd of Mass goers. But the excitement was now different. My cousins are no longer going to Malabon to witness the Salubong. So sometimes it would be just me, my sister, and my parents. Sometimes we even fail to attend. There's still that good feeling every after Salubong Mass. But now, I can say that it's not from the balloons anymore. Probably because I have matured emotionally and spiritually? I do hope so, it's been years!

JERCK Get-Together

We finally had the chance to hang out again. I have missed my highschool friends so much. I do hope we can do this thing regularly. We'll make it happen. Konting kulit sa text at sa emails.

One thing never changed. We still love to sing together. While singing I had flashbacks f us singing at the back of a blackboard in Bio Room. We sat together at the cabinets, with the fetuses and other preserved creatures at the glass window behind us. On that awkward place we sang our hearts out loud until our classmates threw papers to shut us up haha!

The videoke session was capped off by singing "At Your Side". Senti-sentihan. When I celebrated my 18th birthday, they played and sang it for me. I was touched.. Awwww...

Finally we had our dinner at Sbarro courtesy of Leah. It was a very very late birthday celebration. She had her birthday last Feb 12 pa hehe.

PS. Click here for Erma's tots Click here for more pics

=====================================
When the daylight's gone and you're on your own
And you need a friend just to be around
I will comfort you, I will take your hand
And I'll pull you through, I will understand

And you know that

I'll be at your side, there's no need to worry
Together we'll survive through the haste and hurry
I'll be at your side
If you feel like you're alone, and you've nowhere to turn
I'll be at your side

If life's standing still and your soul's confused
And you cannot find what road to choose
If you make mistakes (make mistakes)
You can't let me down (let me down)
I will still believe (still believe)
I will turn around

And you know that

I'll be at your side, there's no need to worry
Together we'll survive through the haste and hurry
I'll be at your side
If you feel like you're alone, and you've nowhere to turn
I'll be at your side

I'll be at your side
I'll be at your side
You know that

I'll be at your side, there's no need to worry
Together we'll survive through the haste and hurry
I'll be at your side
If you feel like you're alone, you've got somewhere to go,
'Cos I'm right there
I'll be at your side, I'll be right there for you
(Together we'll survive) through the haste and hurry
I'll be at your side
If you feel like you're alone, you've got somewhere to go,
'Cos I'm at your side

I'll be right there for you
I'll be right there for you, yeah
I'm right at your side

- The Corrs