Miss No Good Last Episode

The Taiwanese drama series Miss No Good just finished its story in its 14th episode. Xiao Ha's hair went back to its natural curls and so she also went to back to her original fashion taste... the girl who dresses like a Christmas tree that she have to wear all sorts of colors. Jia Si Le went to Germany and asked Tang Men to go back to Taiwan for Xiao Ha. Xiao Ha was on her way home when she rode in a cab and suprised to find out that a guy had called that cab first. She was not surprised because someone had called it, instead she was surprised to recognize that familiar voice from a bad tongue. She saw Tang Men and they recalled the first encounter they had. Tan Men bought an apartment because he wanted to marry her. After the contract of five years, he will return to Taiwan and they will be together forever. Giang Mi and Si Le will be married. The story ended with Xiao Ha and Tang Men riding on Xiao Ha's scooter with their pajamas on the streets. There was a flashback of their funny and sad moments... It was fantastic...

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth book of J.K. Rowling. I was expecting this movie to be released on November 2008. However, to our dismay, it was not released. I was wondering what happened. I just saw the new trailer, I don't have any idea why they changed the release date and even the trailer. Anyway, I just hope that it will still be fantastic and superb. This will be in theaters on July 17, 2009. Here are some of the pictures and the new trailer...

Christmas in the Air

It was last September 1 when I realized that Christmas is coming. My friend was the first one to greet me since it was already a -ber month. Now, it is already December and I can hear Christmas songs and caroling of children in the streets. Lanterns, Christmas Tree, nativity and other decorations are all around. As I woke up this morning, it was already six but the sky was still dark and it was very cold. I even had to wear jacket in going to class.

Every time the Christmas is coming, I usually feel excited especially that I can finally go home after six months of waiting here in the dormitory. I miss my family and friends. Last year, we had our high school reunion and it was fun and memorable. It was such a rare moment to see almost all of your classmates after being apart for years or months. Most of them grew to be different from those high school teens that we were. I am indeed excited to see them again when I go home.

I usually smile each time I remember my Christmas with my family. We are busy during this season because of our business to the extent that we do not have enough energy to celebrate. Still, the important thing is we are together during holidays. Unlike in my birthday that I have to celebrate it with my friends here and the last time I had my birthday at home was when I was 16.

Christmas is the birthday of Jesus...Let us all be happy and prepare for his coming. Spread the love in the air...

Art of Moving on...

Moving on seems so difficult. When you are advised by a friend to move on, it is like asking you to forget what happened...

There are moments in life, usually down and depressing times, when we have to make choices of giving up or fighting more. In a relationship where you do not know the real score, whether the two of you still have that connection or the tie is about to give up, it is not easy to decide. You still love him but you do not even know if he still loves you. It is harder if he left you because he found someone new, better than you. The more you think of it, the more painful it becomes. You can not concentrate in your studies because you want to ask what went wrong or what have you done to make him look for another. Or maybe, you will ask if he did really love you, because if he did, he would not have loved someone else.

We are just human beings, capable of committing mistakes. Maybe things are just meant to be, he was not really for you and you deserve someone else, maybe even better than him. Now, the choice is yours, it is either you move on or move on.

Don't get me wrong, it is a fact that you have no other choice. Life is like a movie but life can never be turned back. You can not step backward, mistakes can never be undo but you can correct your mistakes in other ways. They say that you have to let go of the past but is there really such thing as letting go? Maybe yes, you have to learn to let him go. Don't hold him back or don't hold on to a failed relationship because you will only suffer. Who knows, God has His own reasons for letting things happen.

Moving on sounds so plain and simple but the truth is...it is far beyond what you expect. You know, it is not that easy when you are not there or when you have been there before and now, you can't still handle it. How can you move on if you can always see his picture in your wallet or in your room? Perhaps you can remove the things that remind you of him. How can you move on when you still remember him if you eat at your favorite store or when you do the things you used to do with him? Maybe you can avoid those things. How can you move on if you can see him smiling and fine when you are bleeding and suffering? How can you ever face reality when it still hurts and the pain is just hard to forget.

The answers are acceptance and forgiveness. There are so many blessings in life that we have to be thankful and one of these is the experience. Experience is the best teacher, even how painful and harsh it may seem but it teaches us many lessons in life. It reminds us that we should learn from our mistakes. We have to accept that some things are not just for us. We have to face the challenges and wake up to a bright new day. You can not hide and avoid your fears forever, bravery is always a requirement. Moreover, you have to forgive him for hurting you and for leaving you not way you wanted. But you also have to forgive yourself for committing mistakes. It was not a mistake to love him and you should not regret that you have met him because at that time, it was all you ever wanted. He just served as a lesson for you.

Someday, when wounds are healed and tears are wiped away, you will smile when you remember him. You will laugh at how you act when he left you. You will think it was too childish to cry over. Someday, you will love yourself more and be thankful that once or many times in your life, you experience to love, get hurt and move on...

Gender Bias

Just this afternoon, we had a laboratory exercise in one of my engineering subjects. We had to disassemble the parts of the engine to examine its internal parts, especially the piston. We were asked to group ourselves into three groups, with at least one guy in a group. My three guy classmates agreed to go in one group including a girl classmate. In our group, we were two girls and one boy. The engine assigned to us was more complicated than theirs. It was really difficult to disassemble the parts, especially that not all tools are available, one wrench was missing. Sometimes, we had to use our bare hands to turn the screws. Aside from that, we had to remember where did we get those parts so that it would be easier to assemble them back. I admit I was not used to machine works but it also does not mean that being a girl is a factor. The other group finished early not because there were three boys in their team but because they were four, we were only three and we had a different engine.

Usually, girls do not do such work. It is usually done by men. When I was a child, I admired my godmother because she is an engineer. That time, i hardly knew women engineers and maybe that was one of the reasons why I am studying an engineering course today. In our society today, gender discrimination is happening especially in jobs and other tasks. In some companies, they rarely hire women because women will get pregnant and will take maternity leave. They see women as fragile and weak.

They say that behind every successful man is a woman... But these days, women do not need to be behind men. They can be beside or even in front of them. There should be fair opportunities for both as we are all created fair and equal. I have even seen a jeepney driver who is a mother of two children. She had to feed her children because she has no husband with her. I also heard my high school schoolmate had driven an airplane. She is really something rare...

Dress on Sale

I just spent almost three hours looking for anything nice and cool in a bunch or it looked like a mountain of dresses. There was no proper ventilation and the room was crowded, just imagine how hot and uncomfortable it was. You really have to be patient so that you can find a good catch. The dresses were on sale but they were really cute despite the slashed price. It was not easy because I have picked five tees yet I just had to choose two due to financial constraints. After complicated thoughts and decision making, I just bought one. Maybe I will come again there this weekend and I would bring a friend to help me decide.

I was browsing over the sites of online shops. If you think about it, they also offer sale and discount especially these days that holidays are fast approaching. However, the prices are not that low as compared to the store where I just went. Also, they would cost me for shipment fee and I would not be that sure that the dress would fit me. If it would not fit, there would be no way I can exchange or return it. I am two hours away from Manila and it is not beneficial for me if I will buy through online shops. It may be a benefit for others especially to those who do not have enough time due to go shopping due to work.

Stop AIDS and spread the word...

,December 1, 2008 is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day... I am 20 years old and from thinking about this, I was born the same year when World AIDS Day was formed. It has been 20 years when the people of the world first joined their hands and hearts in stopping the spread of AIDS however, the worse this global epidemic becomes as every year passes. There are many victims who suffered and died. But what we do not know is that more victims are suffering now or more and more victims will suffer soon if this will still continue.

As the youth of today, we have a very big role and responsibility in taking a part in this campaign. We are the future of today and what we will do will create a big impact for tomorrow. We need everyone to spread the word, touch a heart and heal this illness. One voice is not enough but if this voice is very loud and clear enough, it can truly make a difference especially when this echoes to the world.

Imagine life if this epidemic problem will not be stopped. Imagine your friend who will be suffering and will die helpless because of AIDS. Or worse, imagine yourself being infected with this virus. You may not think about this now because it may not involve you but you will never know when it will affect you, maybe not now but maybe tomorrow. There are more things to do to save the world from AIDS...to save your friend or...to save yourself.

Act now. Help and stop AIDS...

Murmurs from the heart...

It is difficult to be away from home... It just means being away from the unending yet sweet words of my mom, the hard-to-understand commands of my dad, the annoying but cute grumbling of my dear brother, and of course, the almost everyday fights with my guy which usually ends with hugs and forgiveness... Just how sad to be away...

I am currently studying in this prestigious university where bright minds meet and struggle for the sweet mental torture and to attain survival. Graduates from this university are well known experts and land for high paying jobs. Though the process is really difficult yet the fruits it will bear are fulfilling and remarkable.

Being away from home also brings a lot of responsibilities. The decisions that you will make can either make or break. Sometimes, it is not easy to decide by your self, you might not know that you are already digging your own grave. There a lot of temptations coming along the way, the twist there is how are you going to make it despite all the odds and whatever have gone through your way.

Sometimes I can observe that some people are intelligent yet they lack the diligence in studying but there are also students who already did all the research and studying yet they still failed the subject. There are also times wherein luck is just too kind to students who even did not study yet they still manage to be in the top. Well, as they say, in this university, it does not matter who is in the top or who studied a lot, the more important is, who stand amongst all at the end of the line, the ones who survive and smile after going through all those hardships...

Indeed, it is not easy to be away from home and to study in this university. Yet I know someday, everything will pay off. Good luck for me.

Confused Heart

Distance is just a mindset, it does not really matter at all. Is this true?

When two people wanted to be together, even though how far they are from each other or how cruel fate seems to be for them, they will cross the bounds of sacrifices and time will tell when they will meet again. Do you believe in destiny? or in soul mates? They say that if you are destined for each other, you will really be. Then how can you tell that the person with you right now is your destiny? Can you feel that he/she is the one? You may not know that after marrying that person, you happened to meet another person and you came to realize that you were wrong after all.

Such things may happen to me or to you. I once believed that if you love a person and he wants to be with someone else, then set him free. Let him have his happiness. If he comes back, then he is yours. But if not, he will never be. But now... I guess I do not believe with this anymore. Giving up and letting go may seem different from holding on but both things are so selfish.

When the world looks so vague, when the thoughts in your mind are not so clear, when you ask yourself, is this still me, what would you answer? When love was the only thing that gives you hope and now, it is the last thing that left you, can you still smile? When he was once there by your side and now, you have no one, can you move on?

Now tell me, is distance still a mindset? The bigger the distance between you and him, the bigger also the chance of forgetting.

Lights off...

It rained so hard yesterday... The lightning even scared me to death. As usual, they turned off the electricity in selected places and as expected, we have no electricity in the dormitory from 5 PM yesterday until around 6 AM this morning. It was a pity for those who have exams that they have to use candles for studying, lucky for me since I just had my exam yesterday morning. Yet I was so bored that I just slept until the night came.

After having our dinner, we decided to go outside the campus, my roommate's phone got no more battery. We ate at Mc Do just to have a free charging and we stayed for a while. After an hour or so, we left the place and we just walked on our way to the dormitory. There were lights from the gate to the Physci Building but it was so dark when we were crossing the bridge...

Having no electricity is really annoying but what can we do? Well, that's the consequence of paying lower fees in staying in the dormitory. I just hope the weather will be good today...

Classes...

Usually, when the teacher tells the students that there are no classes for that day or classes will be suspended, the students will really jump for joy, or sometimes, other students will react with an exaggerated dismay. I woke up this morning and I read the message sent to me last night. It was from my teacher telling that there will be no classes for two days but we will have a make-up class on Thursday. I was happy though. As a result, I was able to save some money which was intended for my fare. Lucky me!

In our bowling class, it was our last day of class. My classmate took some pictures of us, when I asked her to take a picture of myself while playing bowling, her camera ran out of battery...how sad for me! I am thankful to meet new friends in that class, even for a short period of time we have been close and I hope we will meet again some time!

Talking to Myself

There are things that you thought would happen to you anytime, your are kinda sure about it but you are not really prepared on what you will do. Expectations and hopes can just result to disappointment and depression. Dreams and aspirations are all part of our lives, you have to dream, set your goal, do your best to make it happen and ask God for guidance. Sometimes, failure happens but you still have to stand up from where you fell down and wipe away your tears...facing your fears and cruising through life's struggles are more fulfilling than just sitting there and wait for miracles to happen. They say that you will not be disappointed if you will never hope. Yet how would you know that you have reached success if you never dream? After all, trying and failing are not bad, there is still a bright tomorrow waiting for you. I am saying this to convince myself, it is not easy to listen to your own advice but other's will not understand me, how could they advise me?

Piece of Chocolate

Yesterday, my room mate gave me chocolate cookies. The box says it's called addiction and by the name itself you will be addicted right after your first bite. Unfortunately, I was not amazed after my first bite. It was only after I finished a whole piece that I realized how fantastic it was. The sweetness and bitterness of the cocoa blends well that you might forget you are eating a cookie. Try it to believe it...

Sometimes or most of the times, a piece of chocolate can be my addiction, comforter, or friend. After taking a very difficult exam which can make me cry, I usually look for any chocolate. It will be better if I will find chocolate sundae or chocolate cake. But I prefer the cheaper one. It comforts me with its delicious taste. When I am happy and I want to celebrate, I tend to look for a chocolate again but the more expensive one. Death By Chocolate is the cake you will surely love other than Black Forrest.

Every time I am in a grocery store, I usually choose chocolate milk over the plain milk, the chocolate biscuits rather than the vanilla flavored and the chocolate chips instead of cheese-flavored chips. Even though my mother tells me from time immemorial that too much chocolate can cause toothache, I am still fond of it. I love it indeed.

Each piece of chocolate reminds me that life can still be sweet and tasty in spite of the bitter things happening to me. The darker the chocolate, the more bitter it is. Yet its delicious taste is beneath every bitterness you taste. Have some chocolate and feel the taste of life!

Love Marriage

These are the main casts of Love Marriage...The story is so cute!

Wallace Huo

Wallace Huo is a Taiwanese actor and I have watched his drama series, 100% Señorita.

Away!

Summer classes are soon to be over. My friend has already bought for her ticket going home. My other friends are already excited while I am not happy at all. My roommate has packed her things this morning and seeing her only adds to my loneliness. This will be my first time not going home for this summer vacation. I do not know how will I spend the coming days, I just hope I will still enjoy no matter what.

Being away from my family is not a big deal anymore since I have been here for three years. The fact that I can not go home is not a problem if I will not think about it. Time flies so fast... Life is like that...things are just meant to happen even how you try to prevent them...

With You...

I'm into you,
And boy,
No one else would do,
'cause with every kiss and every hug,
You make me fall in love,
And now I know I can't be the only one,
I bet there heart's all over the world tonight,
With the love of they life who feel..
Wat I feel when I'm

With you...

Best Friend

Anyone can have lots of friends... different or similar friends. Sometimes, distance may be a reason to separate us from them yet time also helps to build friendship again. Though I have many friends, I still long for one thing. One thing that you may think it sounds so simple yet for me, it is not. I envy other people who have lifetime best friends. I mean, they have this best friend who has been with them all their life and they have shared so many memories even they are sometimes away from each other. So many close friends have come in my life yet I still want someone to call mine...someone to call best or bessy... I have best friends but they are not only mine, they are also their's. I want to experience that feeling of running into that someone after a painful heartache or in a depressing problem or to share my overflowing happiness. These things can be done with a boyfriend or with my mom or with my brother yet the feeling is different. I am happy with my friends but I still need that thing...

History

Traveling is fun and interesting. You will learn the history of the place or the events that took place there. When we had our field trip in the museums in Manila, I have learned the essence of taking History 1 as a subject in college. Just by looking and examining the different artifacts in the museum, you will not understand them unless you have read or heard about it. In elementary and high school, the teachings in History subjects are not that enough since some of those teachings are just meant for memorizing, afterwards you will forget about them. But when you analyze and understand the occurrence, you will learn many things by heart that you will still remember them in the future. Also, in our History 1, I learned how to dig in beneath the issues, asking yourself how and why did these things happen, or how those events affect us in this present generation... Before, I was hesitant to take History 1 because many are saying that you have to memorize a lot of things in that subject. Yet my teacher proved them wrong! As a Filipino, it is essential to know and learn more about our history. As a student, now is your chance to make that happen!

Shopping

Window shopping is an enjoyable hobby for most women, although for some men also. When I was with my brother and mother last December, my brother kept on complaining because my mom and I were busy looking on dresses and other stuffs and in the end, we did not buy anything. He told us that we were just wasting our time for nothing and I guessed he could not understand how women love window shopping.

You are inside the mall and you have to buy something important. You passed along a bunch of stores and your eyes were caught by the sight of a beautiful dress. You found out that the price of that dress is just the same with the price of the thing you have to buy. Now, the problem is you only have enough money to buy either of the two. Whether you are a person who is materialistic or not does not matter at all because we are just human and we can be attracted to these worldly things. The question is how would you weigh such matters and choose the right decision.

That scenario is just one among those many cases we can encounter in window shopping or in shopping. If you are a wise buyer, you will be keen even with the minute details of what you will buy.

Numbers

What is with the number 27? or 9 and 11? or even 13? Some people may find it a bit odd and strange if I talk about things like a certain number follows me everywhere and even on the times I least expected it, it just appeared in front of my eyes and again, I saw that number. I was third year high school when I realized these things. I was counting the number of papers and I counted 27 papers in all. Our house was along the national highway and when I went out of our house, I saw the plate number on the car with 27 on the first or last digits. About three persons I knew died on the 27th day of different months. Most of the times that I look on my watch, the time is 1:27, 3:27, 9:27, or any hour with 27 minutes. These are just some of the many things that I experience with the number 27.

I shared this thing with my friend and he told me he also felt that way. He always see the numbers 9 and 11 everywhere, just like in my case. It was interesting and surprising as well that not only me encounter those things. In fact, we searched on the Internet for the same cases and we found out that there are also a lot of people who have the same experiences.

Others are looking for answers, why? what it has to do with them? If I was wondering a few years ago why did I always see that number, today I am already used to it and I do not need answers. I will know someday...

Food or Fuel?

Last June, we had a forum on "Food or Fuel, friends or foes?"

With the present economic condition of the country, our university has been and will always be aware of what is happening and doing actions to help alleviate the problems. Among these are the fora in different issues. Several government agencies attended together with the researchers and scientists in the university. The students were also there to hear both sides of the issue and ask for questions.

One of the speakers said that there is nothing to argue whether food or fuel even with the present situation because it should be food and fuel. We need fuel to cook our food. We need food to survive. There was also a speaker who said that the results of his research proved that Jatropha should not be used as bio fuel. There was one who suggested that we can ask for our indigenous people to plant Jatropha in their areas and they will sell it to us for lower price because these people are not hungry of money. My seatmate reacted to that and he told me that we will be exploiting our indigenous people if we will do that suggestion which is not really good.

Another spokesperson said that we have plenty of fuel resources, the government only needs to tap these. Also, it had been said in the news that our agricultural lands are being replaced by bio fuel plants and that is why many are against bio fuels. The speaker corrected that issue and said that they will not be using agricultural lands, instead they will utilize the unused lands to plant Jatropha.

Oil price hike leads to increase in fare and prices of other commodities. With the increasing price of rice in the market, it looks like there is rice shortage but many are saying there is rice hoarding. The prices are high but the salaries and wages are not going higher. The typhoons happening in the country just worsened the situation.

Again, it should not be food or fuel, indeed it should be FOOD AND FUEL.

Birthday

Everyone has a birth date, who does not? This date is just a simple remembrance that God gives us another year and we must be thankful for it.

I saw in my photo albums that my parents never miss a single party for my birthday. From one year old until I was 16, we celebrate it by inviting other people. I was used to that feeling that I was excited every birthday, my family will prepare for it and our relatives and my friends will be there. I miss those times. When I entered college, I did not get the chance to be with my family anymore because my birthday is on august and I can not go home. It was on my seventeenth birthday when I felt how sad it was to be away especially when my parents called. On my eighteenth birthday, my father was there and somehow his presence made me more than happy. Although it was my childhood dream to have a cotillion for my debut, I was still satisfied with our simple celebration.

Another birthday means an additional to your age, the thing that we are often afraid of because we are not getting any younger. When I was two years old, I wanted to grow old faster so that I could go to school just like our neighbors. Yet now, I wish I were young, carefree, and innocent. Wounds and bruises were easier to heal when we were kids but wounds in the hearts take time to heal. The older we are, the more complicated the problems become and the world expands more than you thought.

Your birthday can represent your identity through the year or zodiac sign you were born. It is up to you if you believe these things. But for me, those things are often true and happening. I do not know if those are just mere coincidences. I am Leo and born under year of the Dragon, what can you say about my personality?

Incentives

In economics, there is theory of incentives on solving social and economic issues like giving incentives to small size families to alleviate population problem, giving free green bags to shopping center customers to promote environment protection, and deduction on taxes to taxpayers who pay on time.

Incentives do not only work in economics. These are very effective in enhancing the academic performance of the students in class. When teachers give extra points for students with no late and perfect attendance, the students will be encouraged to comply to these requirements. In attending seminars and fora, without bonus points, there will only be few students who will have the willingness to attend such events. in that way, they will not only earn bonus points, they will also learn new insights and acquire more knowledge aside from what they learn inside the classroom. If the teacher announces beforehand about the forthcoming exam, more students will be prepared and their grades are better than the unannounced exam. However, there are times that these incentives are not good like when the student knows that the teacher will give bonus points, he will not study more because he depends on the incentives, that he will pass the exam because of the bonus points. Other teachers also give bonus problems related to the topics and those can not just be mere bonus problems because those need some effort. Another teacher, for the bonus questions, asked what is her full name, age, room number, and address.

Lastly, incentives are also useful at home. When parents motivate their children to do well in school, they use positive reinforcement rather than punishments. They will reward their children to inspire them to do well and to do more so that they will receive more and more benefits. An example of this is the parents will promise to their child that they will give her the doll she wants to have if she will get a high score in her exam. Or if the child is an adolescent, the parents may offer him for a new phone if he is among the top students in class.

Incentives are very useful. However, these must be use in a right way and right time for these to be effective.

Harry Potter

I have just finished reading J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince which is the book six of the series. I started being interested in these books when I was in first year high school and when the first movie went out, we really hurried for the first day of showing. As usual, the movies lack some important parts in the story and it would be hard for anyone to truly appreciate those movies if they did not read those books.

This book six contains a twist of thrill and excitement, as well as grief and sadness. It carried me away when Dumbledore died, though I have known that thing before I have read the book. It is just that I could not help but feel sorry for Harry. When I finished the last page, I was hungry for more and I am excited to read the last book. Out of my curiosity, I read the last chapter of book seven and I have not yet read the first chapter. Even though I already knew the ending, it is still exciting to read the last book.

I hope so...

My feet were just too tired and the heat of the sun annoyed me. I woke up early this morning for the hope that I could get the subject I needed. Though there are still no results, my hopes are high and I am being optimistic about it. In other universities, students do not experience this dilemma and they do not have to worry about their subjects. But here, things can not go that smoothly. I went home for the vacation and I was not able to get an earlier flight. Because of that, I lack one subject now and I am facing this problem. That is one of the many differences between UP and other schools, we experience the torture and difficulties that others do not. I just pray I can manage to get a slot... There are still more days to wait so I have to have faith! Everything will be alright.

Being The Shorter One

Sometimes you want to blame genetics for what you look like and how you act but still you can not because science has also its own ways of modifying the creation of genetics. Nowadays, many are open to surgery, liposuction, and the like which can alter the body parts and make anyone look more beautiful or weigh less. Also, there are vitamins and food supplements which can help you like tea for making a fat lady thin and sexy, or vitamin B 6,12 which is for growth and I have known a few people who attested to the effectiveness of this one.

Some friends describe me as petite and I can not deny my height. Though I know that vitamins do exist and they can help increase my height, still I did not go for those. I did not know why... When I was in elementary, my height was the average one but it all started in high school when I realized I was not growing any few inches anymore and I should accept that fact. Just a month ago, I was talking to a new friend and I told her I am a college student. She was surprised to learn that I am a senior student and she thought I am still a freshman due to my height.

I am almost five feet and I got this height from my mom. I hope that my brother will be tall, not like me. Just this morning, I was with my classmate and we used my umbrella because it was hot. Since she is taller that me, she was the one holding it. In getting something from the cabinet, I have to use the chair so I can get it. I also fold the end of my pants because they are too long.

See? There are two sides in being the shorter one. Those are just few of the many things but if you ask me, I am still glad I am me and I am contented with it. Thank God for giving me a complete body and I am truly blessed!

Staying in a Dormitory

My university is truly far from our place. While most of my classmates and friends can go home during weekends, we are just left in the dormitory or sometimes hanging around the campus. I stayed in an apartment for one semester and I did not try it again. There is a big difference in the apartment and in the dormitory, especially the living expenses, house rental, electricity and water bill, and house maintenance expenses. We are not rich and so I rather stay in the dormitory until I will graduate from my course.

A dormitory owned by the university is cheaper than the private dormitories. But the cheap price has its own consequences. Electricity and water supply is not always available. Water supply is from five in the morning up to eight in the evening. If you planned to go back late in the evening, you better save a pale of water for yourself before you leave. Typhoons and bad weather occur often and when these occur, electricity will be unavailable with or without prior notice for how many hours or days, and sometimes even the water supply. I have experienced the nights where we have to study for exams and we have no other choice except to use candles. The generator can not accommodate all the rooms. As always, these are the things that most freshmen complain with regards to our dormitories and so others will transfer to apartments or dormitories outside the campus.

But for us who can not afford living outside, we still choose to stay here. Our payment for one semester here is equal or less than their payment there for a month excluding the electricity and water bill. Safety is always assured inside the campus, I just do not know if the same goes outside. I also work as a student assistant in our dormitory, which is exclusive for women, and I can work more here than in other offices.

As you can see, there are more good things than the not-so-good things brought to us by staying in a dormitory owned by the university. That is why many still choose to stay here even those who can afford staying outside.

Art of long distance relationships

Love in a specific sense, the love for the opposite sex, is too complicated that no enough description can truly explain it. Unlike a game, the relationship has no rules, only mutual understanding and commitment. Sometimes, commitment is not even there at all. When there is no commitment, you can be jealous and get hurt but you do not have the right to be angry. When the other person chooses to leave, you can wait or forget. However, if there is commitment, even when the feeling of love is gone and still you cling to that single piece of commitment for the relationship to survive, there is a greater chance of reviving the feelings and making it work again. If the other person is far from you, you have to wait because you trust that person...wait for the time to come and God will make it happen. Feelings may come and go but true love remains.

Not everyone believes in long distance relationship for it is indeed difficult to keep the lines open. Communication is very important in whatever relationship. Many believe that seeing each other and being together most of the times can help both of you know more about yourselves. You will discover more good and bad things about the other person, your compatibilities and differences. Still it is not an excuse for a long distance relationship not to work.

When you are far from each other, you will learn to trust and be faithful. Most of all, you will learn to wait and be patient. It may be very difficult and challenging but there is nothing easy in this world, all of us will encounter the tough and sad times. As they say, the roots may be bitter but the fruits will be truly sweet and fulfilling.

The test of love does not come when you are together, it comes when you are apart. You will realize that despite the distance, love still survives.

Weigh less or eat more?

When I was in my childhood years, I observed my mom was not conscious about how she became fat before and after she gave birth to my younger brother. Yet years after that, she slowly became aware about her figure and she started doing measures on reducing weight. She did ballroom dancing, some exercise early in the morning, and she also drank tea which others confessed as effective in reducing weight. I observed all these things and I wondered why is it that being sexy or slim is important for a woman, even to some mothers.

Now I will be turning 20 on August and I am not getting any younger. It was when I was in my second year in college that I started to gain more pounds. I love bread and cookies...and I can eat a meal with more rice and little viand. In short, the foods that I mostly eat are more on carbohydrates and these can make a person fat. It is good to eat more and to be healthy. I remembered when I was told by my mother to eat more because I was so thin and she stressed that I am lucky enough to have enough food while there are street children who are begging for alms just to have something to eat.

I went home last summer and I just love being at home because I can eat whatever I want and I can add more without worrying how much would I spend for everything I ate. And again, I gained more pounds... When I came back here in the university, people were telling me that I am fat and I just told myself not to worry because I would lose weight as days would pass. However, these days, I just can not stop myself from eating and eating more. My friend told me not to hinder myself and that friend is thin despite the fact that she can finish three to four cups of rice in a meal.

For now I am thinking about how to erase my worries and enjoy my meals...

Tourism of today

The country spends much for advertising the beautiful spots in the Philippines, to promote tourism and attract the foreigners, and to uplift the economic status of the country. In a TV commercial, it was said that the tourism industry provides many jobs... the hotels, restaurants, resorts, and others. In Boracay alone, many people invest in hotels and bars.

Few years back up to present, there are countless incidents that threatened the foreigners and as well as the economy. The peace and order, the lack of understanding among government officials, and the cases filed against high ranking government authorities are just some of the reasons why investors and tourists refuse to go to our country. On the television, we can see journalists being kidnapped and these are not only local journalists, these are also foreign newsmen.

Graft and corruption is rampant. Dishonesty. Lies.

How can they trust us if some of our fellowmen can not be trusted?

How can we promote that our country, filled with natural resources, is the best place to live in?

With the present economic status and the peace and order situation in the country, the question is, do we need to spend more on advertising our country?

Unpredictable

Life has always been like that, so unpredictable that you really have to expect the unexpected as what they say. Worst things happen even when you feel you are very lucky enough and in that case, depression and disappointment are normal. Problems and challenges in life are usually expected to be present to anyone at anytime. Yet you still do not know how to deal with those even when you have prepared for it.

Exams in school are similar to those things. The teacher announced the date of the exam ahead of time and you planned for studying strategy. You did the necessary preparation, went to the library, read and understood the concepts, practiced solving the problems, and everything seemed to be running smoothly. The day of the examination came and you were ready for it.

There are many things that might happen. One is due to unknown reason, your mind went blank and you could not think of any answer to the questions or way to solve the problems. You kept on looking at the exam paper and asked yourself what went wrong. So that was mental block and it was one of my depressing experiences in a Biology exam.

Another is your watch did not register the correct time and you were not aware of that. When you arrived at the examination area, you were five minutes late. The teacher was about to give you the exam when you suddenly remembered that your calculator was left in your house and it was a computational exam. When you informed the teacher, she told you to get back your calculator. Good thing if you are living near the university and the delayed time is lesser.

The third is when you felt your fully prepared, you did not sleep the other night just to practice solving problems, and the exam did not turn out the way you expect it. Others often asked why, what is wrong? They have done their best yet the questions in the exam are undoubtedly nerve-cracking and mind-puzzling plus the time limit.

These are just some of what I experienced in my previous exams. Sometimes, you thought you failed but luck happens and you are the top scorer in the class. Life is indeed unpredictable.

Lost but not found

Whenever someone gives you any thing for a gift or on any ordinary day, you will value it. More especially if you value that person much. Even though it is just a material thing, the thought that you cherish what has been given to you means a lot to that person. You will take care of it and make sure it will not be lost.

My mother gave me a wrist watch and that had been with me for more or less than two years. When I wake up, I would look at it and check the time. It was my constant companion, especially during exams, it would always remind me of the time. I did not buy for a new watch because I am already satisfied with what I have. Sometimes it could make me late due to its battery. Even though I prefer more the digital clock in my phone, I still brought it with me always, just like when I was on a plane and using of phones is prohibited. Indeed it was very useful to me.

It was yesterday. I remember that its lock was not that tight and it had been fallen out of my wrist for how many times but I was aware on those times. Yet yesterday, I only realized it was gone when I arrived here in the dormitory. I looked around and I did not find it. Careless... It was lost. If only I repaired the lock, it would have been with me now. Regrets...

Goodbye to you wherever you are right now. If somebody found you, I hope he or she will take care of you. I know I am not used to the emptiness in my wrist but I have to accept my negligence and learn a new lesson. Just this morning, I woke up and checked for the time...only to realize that what happened yesterday was not a dream. I may buy a new one but nothing can ever replace what my mother gave me. I know your my lost.

Agricultural Engineering

Engineering may seem to be familiar to anyone, it is the application of natural and physical sciences for the benefit of mankind. It is also termed as applied science or technology. In the simplest sense, it is application. There are plenty of engineering courses, may it be the usual ones that you hear like civil engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, industrial engineering, sanitation engineering, geodetic engineering, materials engineering, electronics and communications engineering or the not so common engineering fields like ceramics engineering, automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, molecular engineering, genetic engineering, and bio-systems engineering.

Agricultural Engineering is the application of fundamental and known principles of engineering to agriculture. This branch of engineering is not that familiar to anyone especially to those in rural areas. Universities teaching this course need enough agricultural space which is not found in cities. The degree Bachelor of Science in Agriculture is often misunderstood by some people. They though that you will only be farming if you will take that course. They are not knowledgeable about that field that is why they have said that. If only they knew what agriculture has done and is doing for the benefit of mankind, especially the fact that everybody eats and everything they eat is part of agriculture. Agriculture is more on research and concepts while agricultural engineering is more on practice and application. Agricultural Engineers develop new ways and machines to increase the productivity and enhance the process.

Agricultural Engineering in our university is divided into four major divisions namely, Agricultural Bio-processing Division, Agrometeorology and Farm Structures Division, Land and Water Division, and Agricultural Machinery Division. Each has its own way of improving agriculture. These engineers contribute much to the nation especially in helping our farmers produce our food.

Accepting and Loving

Sometimes, we are in a crossroad of loving someone whom you can not accept a part of his life. Our parents manifest the unselfish love for us that despite our mistakes, they still accept us. In friendship, we love our friends though we can not understand some of their principles. As long as we love the person, we are willing to accept the bad along with the good. There are cases when the guy is in love with a single mother and we can not deny the fact that not all men are willing to take care the child and wife of another man. Also, we often say that we accept his whole being but we can not erase in our mind what he has done or what has happened to him before. In relationships, it is not enough that you accept him of what he is, you should also accept him of what he is not. We can not expect him to be the person that you want him to be because that is not anymore him.

Friendship

Sometimes, we just love our friends so much that we do not even care whether they feel the same way too. There are also cases wherein we are too callous not to feel that we have hurt a friend and our words are more than enough to break friendship. Breakups are normal in boy-girl relationship, petty tiffs are also normal to any relationship. But... are breakups also normal in a friendship?

Have you ever felt it when all along you thought they were your friends only to find out that they were just using you? In a novelty song, it has been said that the so-called friends are just there when you have the money they needed. They will leave you when you have nothing. In times like this, it is hard to trust those type of friends anymore. The friendship can be revived but not the closeness, there is that gap called uncertainty.

We have lots of friends but only few are true and are willing to be there for you in your worst moments. We can not choose who we knew but we can always choose who we will get along with... Take care of your precious friends and cherish the friendship.

Fun(ny) Day

Yesterday, I went to Quezon Province because my friends invited me for their town feast. I was hesitant to go at first because I would go there by myself and I was not even familiar of the place. They just gave me directions on how to go there. Finally, I got the confidence.

We ate lots of food, from viands to salads and other desserts, that I could not take to eat anymore. We did some strolling around the town and I saw big and old houses, just like ancestral houses. We visited an old house where my friend's family used to live before. It has three floors and it has many doors that you would think you are in a maze. The pictures that were hung all over the place were also old and creepy, somehow. The bathroom has a bath tub inside, just imagine how rich those people were before. It was my first time to visit such kind of house.

When the night came, we went to the carnival. We agreed to go inside a horror house. It was so funny because the ghosts (if they call those as ghosts) were dressed in rugged clothes and they wore masks of ugly faces. If I guess it right, they aged 15-18. Most of the girls were screaming while the boys were used as shields against those ugly ones. We were stranded inside since it was dark and we could not find the way out. When we finally found the exit door, we all burst into laughter. The next stop was the ferris wheel. Only four of us rode on the ferris wheel while the rest, including me, just enjoyed watching them. Our last events were gambling and wasting (sorry for the term) coins. There was a color game and you have to bet on one of those six colors. The dice would determine the winning color and your money would be doubled if the dice revealed the color you bet for. The other game was throwing a coin on a table with colored squares and the coin must be inside the square for you to win. This was the most enjoyable game we played. When one of us won, he or she would share the coins and all of us would throw a coin again. We were just repeating until no one managed to win and we do not have coins anymore.

The night was over and I slept over at my friend's house. It was nice meeting new faces and playing with them even though we were not that close. Well, everything was worth it.

Survival of the fittest

Here in the university, every student is being tested in a ring of fire. No one escapes from experiencing the torture, specifically mind torture, and it depends upon that student on how he or she will handle everything until the end of the semester. When June comes, you can still hang out with your friends without worrying exams and papers. But when August is on the way, be prepared to feel the so-called 'hell weeks' where anyone will be stressed and depressed.

It was my first year in college and I was not used to the weather here. It was August and you could not understand the inconsistent weather that time. Due to the low relative humidity of the place and the trees around, I became sick and it was pneumonia. After a week of exams, I went to the university health service for a check-up and the doctor required me to stay there for medication. My friend accompanied me and she left to get some clothes at out dormitory. She did not come back, I just learned she got fever. Another sad thing, I sent my phone to my mother a week before that because it was not functioning well. So I could not contact my family and friends. My only visitor was my dorm mate. After two days, I was fine.

It was my first and last serious sickness. Now, three years had passed and thank God that I am still fine despite all odds. Last week, I had to absent from my class because of my fever. This week has been so stressful and depressing for me. My performance is not good and I blame myself for being lazy sometimes.

Exams and requirements are always there. The challenge is, how will you survive? It is just a matter of time and management. Time lost is lost forever. I just hope I can advice myself more than this.

Random quotes

These are from my friends...

Curiosity killed the cat. But don't worry, you are not the cat, you will never experience what it is to be curious.

Never let someone be your priority while allowing yourself to be just their option.

You may have chemistry with him but you have history with me.

Never change your originality for the sake of others because in this world, no one can play your role better than you so be yourself and win the world.

Age appears to be the best in some things... Old wood is best to burn. Book of old authors are best to read. Old wine is best to drink. And old friends are still the best to keep.

In every great accomplishment, there will be certain sacrifices to be made. A sacrifice is not simply giving up something. It means giving up something good for something even better.

It is never nice to forget things you are supposed to remember. But it feels worse when you remember things you are not supposed to forget.

If you feel like no one cares about you, think again...look in the mirror...because the person you see needs you more than anyone else.

The Gift

Whenever you think that the world is so unfair and all the misfortunes are in you, think again and look around. Maybe you will say that you are the unluckiest person for that day because you experienced so many bad things but you may not notice how God works in mysterious ways. You may not realize that there are still people out there, both poor and alone, who face bigger problems than yours but still they trust to the Lord their fate. We often neglect the fact that God will not leave us empty handed. Reflect this over and be thankful that despite all the odds, you are still alive. Life is a borrowed gift, appreciate it while you still have it.

Absolute Boyfriend

I was watching this drama a few hours ago... I was not supposed to watch it because I have other things to do. But my friend told me the story is cute, especially the guy. The story was based from a Japanese manga. It revolves around a girl who bought a robot for a boyfriend. Guess what? He is a perfect boyfriend. He is smart, jealous sometimes, caring and sweet. The girl is sure so lucky but she gets irritated when the guy is always around her. The guy even worked at her office just to be with her all the time. Well, I was not finished watching the entire series and I am looking forward for a wonderful ending.

Long Distance Friendship

Long distance relationships sometimes last. Let me reiterate the word sometimes. I mean, it depends upon the two persons involved on how they will work on their relationship so that they will survive. For two lovers who are separated by distance, time can only tell how long they will withstand the temptations and difficulties. If they still end up together, then love indeed conquers distance.

But what about in a long distance friendship? How will it survive? It usually happens that you will gain new friends in a new place, close friends whom you have just met for a couple of months but have already known almost every secret you have. Yet they are different from your childhood and high school friends who have been with you all those years and have known you, the original you. You tend to neglect those "old" friends because you have found your new ones. If this is the case, how will a long distance friendship survive?

Miracles do happen

There are times in our life when we are so down and you feel that the world is turning its back from you. You may think that you are so stupid to commit those mistakes which made up all the mess. You blame yourself for not doing what you supposed to do in those times. This must be normal to anyone.

For every student, the exam, projects, exercises and papers are always the "make it or break it" part of each subject. These will determine whether the student will pass the course or repeat it. Sometimes, it is the exam that matters most.

I am in my fourth year in college and it is my first time to experience such hardship. They say that it is normal in this university to get a passing grade. All students aim for the highest grade but with the difficult life here, getting a passing grade is a relief, it is much better that a failing grade and repeat the subject. Before, I wonder why some students flunk their subjects. I felt sorry for their parents who worked so hard just to send their children in school yet these children failed to pass the course. I blamed these students for neglecting their exams and wasted their time. The government is spending a big amount to subsidize our education yet they are just wasting this money.

Now I have a different view. It does not matter whether you are intelligent enough and you have prepared well for the exams because the moment that you receive your test paper, many possible things will happen that make you fail the exam. First, your time was consumed in the essay part and you have little time for the problem solving. The teacher was not satisfied with your essay and you have answered only one problem. Second, you made a wrong input in your calculator and the rest of your answers were also wrong because of the first answer. Third, your professor did not accept your test paper because you passed it almost a minute late. And fourth, you were so careless that you converted the given parameters which should not be converted. These mistakes may look so simple but they can make you fail in your exams.

I was praying and hoping that I will pass the subject even though I knew that there is little chance. I was very bothered that my head kept on aching everyday. I even had dreams about it. It was this afternoon when I fell asleep and had a dream that I passed the subject. I was praying that the dream was a good sign. When I went to check my grade, I was really happy and thankful for the miracle. Thank God for answering my prayers. So now, I do believe that getting a passing grade instead of a high grade is not really bad after all. That miracle taught me so many things and I am thankful for it.

Money matters

People think that it is money that destroys relationship and even people. They compare today's scenario with that of the ancient's wherein there is no really a concept of money, just exchange of goods and services, no currency, no exact value at all.

However, we can not deny the fact that the evolution of technology, the development of one's mind to imagine more and the varying changes are the reasons why do these things happen and differ greatly from the past. Money is not really the root cause, it is just a stimuli of man's attitudes just like greed.

In a family, the husband and the wife usually fight over financial issues especially when the husband lost his job or has low salary which is not enough to feed his family. Within friends who are also business partners, their relationship is affected when they argue about the financial aspects of the business. Usually, shoplifters say that they are stealing because they have no money to buy it and robbers also steal because they need the money it costs. Some kids drop out of school because of lack of financial assistance. Most children complain about their parents who are always at work and these parents just want to give their children everything they need. These children said that they need their parents more than their money.

Financial problems are varying but the main subject is money. They say that money can not make you happy. Maybe not the money itself... but if you spend it well and right, you will be satisfied. Happiness can be cheap but cheap does not mean no cost at all. Indeed, money matters to us but just be careful in using it. It can destroy you or relationships if you let it do so.

Within longing and missing

I miss that day when he was so smiling sweetly while gently holding my hand... I miss his scent which I guess still lingers in my mind... I miss his cute and smiling face that made my heart jumped for joy and excitement. I miss him and I miss the girl he was loving, I mean the girl he used to love and cared for.

Those may be my thoughts three years ago when I was not still able to move on... Moving on seems so easy to say yet very difficult to do, so easy to advice to others but very hard to advice to yourself. They say that your first love is unforgettable. It is indeed true but for me it is unforgettable because I have learned to correct my mistakes through that past heartache. I have realized that hurt and pain are not that bad after all. You may think that the world has turned its back on you when you felt your greatest heartache but you may not be aware that the heaven is only making a way for you to experience the real happiness.

I am happy for the sweet things happening to me. I must thank him for teaching me the lessons I never expected, may it be bitter or sweet...I must also thank him for hurting me because I might not have met this person I truly value now if he had not done it. Today, I miss this guy who wiped my tears and made me realize how beautiful it is to love and be loved. He may be far away physically but I know that he will always be with me, with my heart.

Learning Experience

We are in the classroom since pre-school to elementary to secondary then college or tertiary. Our knowledge and skills evolved from the simple ABC's and counting 1, 2, 3. As we became older, we learn more and more things not only from teachers and books but also from classmates and friends. We also learn that there is more learning outside the four walls of the classroom and that application can be done best in real life situations. We realize that the score or grade you get in every exam or in every subject is not really the measurement of your knowledge and understanding.

In the university, there are students who failed in the subject not because of failed exams but due to excessive absences. However, there are professors who do not check for attendance and in case like this, there are students who get high grades even without attending the class regularly provided that he or she will take the exam and submit the requirements. Thus there are countless ways of enjoying and striving in college.

We are learners and will always be students even after we receive our college diploma. There is more to learn outside the campus and more mistakes to commit in our lives. Yet the challenge is, how can we practice what we learn? Experience is the best teacher as an old adage says.