[46] The Terminator

[46]

The Terminator

Jan Margaux, a two-year old niece of mine is one heck of kiti-kiti. I took pictures of her. See all her alter egos. I know she's adorable but she's a lethal weapon sugar-coated!

Religious.

Commercial Model.

For a Horror/Suspense flick.

Constipated?

Wiz.

[45] My Cousin's Wedding

[45]
My Cousin's Wedding

I would think that marriage is much like jumping out from a flying plane without a geared up parachute on your back. It’s an ambivalent mode of fear and trepidation, as well as excitement and thrill that you're holding hands with the one you chose to grow old with. Getting married is a hard decision: you leave or limit all your bad habits like barkada outings, inumans, computer games, and etcetera, for one human who has an anatomy greatly different from yours, and practically brings out the Cornyology in you. Hey, I’m single.

Manang (Ilocanos actually use the term "manang" for politeness, as for "ate" in the Tagalog, to women older than ours) Julette was a jovial first cousin of mine, so much like a sister, who just came back in the Philippines after 2 years of nursing work in the Bahamas to renovate their house--- and to marry.

Sir Glenn, in my knowledge, was a nursing professor in St. Paul, College Department, Ilocos Sur; I saw him do theatre for 2 consecutive years namely "Annie" and "Sound of Music" (in which I was a performer too).

I did not know for a while that these people-one I know my entire life, and the other from school-reaped fame -were on.

Just last Saturday, their close-to-majestic marriage took place in Bantay Parish Church (or is it Cathedral?) with a motif of leafy green and Father Paderes as the celebrant, at 3 PM that I willingly absented myself for Friday in my NSTP-CWTS. It was a mass assembly of SPCIS nuns and teachers from the well-known, infamous to the unknown. Before that, I was handpicked by the bride to take pictures from her digital camera being a photographer. I thought of it as my photojournalistic career debut and it actually stimulated me! But with such disappointment, I ended up missing the "you may kiss the bride" portion. (All together now) STUPID BARRY!


After the sacrament, we proceeded to the St. Paul Atrium as the venue of the reception. I guess it was a little family reunion that all my relatives bring together to project support and bliss for the newly-wed couple. The family members either form Manila or somewhere else sprouted out. The weather cooperated not as well as Margaux's (my niece) mood and the microphone of the host too. Though, I had so much fun indeed that I had never regretted that one tally mark in my attendance in class. Besides, this can be the last reunion. I just hope not.

The Reintegrado clan and some relatives. As you can see, I was informal. Gee, I was a photographer; I can't run around and taking pictures in barong or long-sleeves or whatever.

Bantay Church (or is it Cathedral?)
It's located strategically in a hilltop. It's pretty cool here.

[44] It's Burning, Man!

[44]

It's Burning, Man!

The heat is on, and I'm being literal here. Bikinis, curves, tans and (salt or chlorinated) water are not enough to level with the scorching, blistering and searing weather that is currently settling unfavorably in the metropolitan, as well as in the other localities in the country. As obvious evidence can be the moments after I take a cool bath --that I get soaked in pure sweat, fast. Indeed, this is one adverse "gifts" of the sun which we basically had dealt with since birth. In a tropical country, Jose Rizal once said that we Filipinos have the potentials of getting tired easily (of course, as a justification of our languor as speculated by the Spaniards). Our perpetual dream to get rid of the sun in the Philippines is somehow proportional to that to have snow to shower upon us. But still I love the sun, occasionally.

The strategic geography of the PI excludes us though from the sub-zero temperatures, amusing snow angels, seasonal winter, ubiquitous ice skating and of course, fun. Almost everywhere in the country, the umbrella is used as safeguard from the sun’s rays. Though in Baguio, "The Summer Capital of the Philippines" ironically one of the areas in the archipelago with a tolerable cool temperature, you could put into overuse the quilts that your Lola stitched you and be likewise, cool. You also get to utilize your heater and chimney for-crying-out-loud, and start having hearth as make the entire experience as memorable as you wanted to be for God's sake. You see students with jackets and sweatshirts as part of their school attires. And now that the said place has been exploited gradually, we shall need another 'Baguio'. But how? Call Prospero Pichay. He’ll do the rest; when he questions, recite his illustrious quote thrice. If he still questions, claim yourself as one of his fans. And if he still questions, repeat first step and so on.

Now, how can we really solve this consistent problem? Take a look at my research from Microsoft Encarta (with my proceeding bobbing comments):

"First aid for heat exhaustion begins with removing the affected person from the source of heat to a cool place, preferably near a fan or air conditioner."
Translation: Allocate yourselves away from the PI. Let’s say, in Japan or Greenland.

"Elevate the person’s legs to improve blood circulation to the brain; loosen clothing; and cool the body with wet compresses or ice packs, but not an alcoholic rub. Massage the arms and legs if cramping occurs"
Translation: Enroll in a spa for a lifetime. Don’t worry about the fee it’s practically free! How? Collect all your garapons at home and contain your sweat in it. Those will constitute your alternative fee.

"If the person is responsive to conversation and not nauseated, give electrolyte beverages or water that is slightly salty. If neither of these is immediately available, give cool water alone. However, do not give the person alcohol or caffeine, which interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, and do not administer any medication to reduce body temperature. Also, stop the person from cooling too quickly to prevent shock, a reduction of blood flow to body tissues that can cause increased anxiety; pale, cool, clammy skin; rapid, weak pulse; possible fainting; or in more serious cases, coma or death. A person who experiences heat exhaustion should be checked by a doctor after several hours of rest, and should not engage in strenuous activities for one or two days."
Translation: huh?

Perhaps heat is inevitable (this does not actually make an excuse of why we're lazy); it’s just a balance of nature. Worrying about the weather is senseless if we stop there. I know it’s beyond our power that even PAG-ASA is so much far-fetched to believe in. The heat is just an obstruction to what we can attain dramatically. The point is that it’s just one of the skull-drilling environmental issues concerned. In reality, we Filipinos love to complain (ang init, 'tang ina!) and yet we subside upon done immediate lousy action where in fact, it can be drawn a solution. And the first is actually done more than solving.

Surely in the meteorological cycle, it will rain but I am a Filipino, thus I shall certainly again complain.

[43] Shake Rattle Enroll

[43]

Shake Rattle Enroll

The classic gag refering to UP as a "University of Pila" is virtually a fact.

Last Thursday when I arrived here in Manila with my weird haircut, at 6 in the morning, I had no idea what horrible thing would happen later that I took a nap for two hours. I woke up and ate breakfast then gulped on a Centrum Complete capsule. Consequently, I proceeded to UP a.s.a.p. for my summer NSTP-CWTS enrollment and saw the nose-flicking crowd which almost gave me a migraine. In addition, the pioneering Real-Time system of enrollment was ruefully introduced. It went like this: 'those who did not acquire their desired subjects through the CRS Online will have a chance to enlist again on the registration itself by going to the Computer Center and printing their own Form 5' [pardon to those who cannot relate; it's even harder than what you're thinking]. That is, if you take a line with ALL other UP students. So it's not just a line. It's a looooooooooooong line. We felt like frustrated wannabe stars who would risk our last ounces of fortitude on Earth just to have a 'slot' with the achievers of American Idol or even local Startsruck.

From 10:30 to 6, dusk I was with Sandy! Don't even imagine: we could not spell PROGRESS, PATIENCE, or HOPE anymore, for more than eight hours of waiting to death. Luckily at the beginning of the unexpected Calvary, she brought magazines and Sudoko collections that at least took 1/10 of the boredom we encountered hellishly. Then we resorted to having grade school games with the help of pens and papers. Our high hopes were in climax that we both thought of not surrendering till the end. When it was 4:30, we looked so stressed that AC who was before us in the line seemed lifeless, unresponsive and motionless. I then told Sandra, "Let's be optimistic, we can make it early.' And she replied, "Be realistic, we'll be there inside at 6!" Poof! We were inside by 6! Gratefully, the Internet server worked that we got our schedules in a breeze. But it didn't stop there.

The Friday the 13th came to the limelight when I continued the next steps of the registration. After I had the signature of the present adviser, Ma'am Lambino [infamous for making taray and all], I submitted with Ate Au my unissued Form 5 to the Administration's Office and asked, "What time will it be assessed po?" We got an answer of "3 o'clock siguro ng hapon...ng Tuesday. Joke!" Great, I thought, 4 coma-inducing days of enrollment, how hard can it be?! They tell me.

Waiting for our assessed Form 5's, my blockmates Mish and Gene and orgmate Ate Ge were in horror of the thought that by we can't make it that day. When it was 3:50, our names were called that we hurridly whooshed to AS to finally pay our matriculations! Perhaps the nightmare was neutralized after learning that the fee for NSTP was half the supposed one. Yipee! I had a good kickback, man!

And yes, I'll be in Manila for five weeks from now on but I won't get lousy out of it for sure. Summer for me this year has come to a lamentation, but hey what could I do? P.S. DISMAYING HEADLINE: Blockmates Jau, Shen, Shereen and Mics have shifted out of Mass Comm. I hope they find their own real happiness in some other paths they take. :c