Positive with Problems

It is only now that I posted at my blog. I had so many problems this past few days, and I was not in the mood to post. It is only now that I had the will and the chance to say what I want to.

First of all, summer class is over. I am not in Los Baños anymore to go to a nearby Internet Café where I can surf the net, which is one of my leisure activities. Now that I’m here in Magdalena, there’s the TV and I can watch all day long, not mentioning my PC where I can play offline games. I have also my books to read on. There’s so much to do. But the thing is, we have no Internet. I have to go to a computer shop to surf, and that’s so…inconvenient. So there, I had no time for surfing the net. Now, I managed to get online because dad brought the laptop and I can surf using Smart Broadband. I don’t want to surf in my PC because loading is too slow.

Secondly, I had to work on my thesis. Because of this, there came up with other problems. I had to prepare my proposal for my adviser to check for revisions. I also made the request letters for the zoos. I came back to LB to present it to her. And there were some things in the letter and questionnaire that needed to be changed. So I worked on it. I emailed the revised versions to her, and still she is not yet checking her email. I have to start gathering data as soon as possible, before the classes for 1st semester starts.

My third problem is about friendship. In my thesis, I have to go to three zoos, one in Manila, one in Malabon, and one in Rodriguez, Rizal. I have to give questionnaires to the visitors, as well as the zoo staff, so I can get information regarding the animal welfare management of zoos. I have to do that in three days, so I will not waste money for costly transport fare. It must be one zoo, one day. And I think I can’t do that all by myself. I need help. I need my friends. And there was only one person I thought of who will help me—the one who I consider my best friend. We don’t say to each other that we’re best friends, but I think we know to ourselves that we are. And then, I asked him to help me with my thesis. We will be in Manila for three days, and at night, we could stay at the house of our friend in Sta. Mesa, Manila. But he refused. I made all efforts to convince him but still, he did not want to go. He said that he couldn’t stay that long in Manila. I was so depressed that my only best friend refused to help me. This thesis is very important to me, and I was so sad that he couldn’t make a sacrifice for himself just to help me. I thought to myself that he still has many things to learn in life. Because of that, I forgive him. He is still not communicating with me, and so do I. I hope I can do this on my own. I can do this.

The fourth problem is about my sister. I thought to myself that I am being a bad brother to her. I am the one who should give way, because I am older that her. But no, I am treating her like she’s the same age as mine. We don’t think the same, and because I’m older, I should know the best thing to do for the situation not to get worse. However, it was not the case. I think she hated me for being an unforgiving brother. We are still not talking to each other. But I sensed signs that she wanted to make peace with me. One time she offered me chips. That was the first time she spoke to me for…5 days I think. But I refused her offer. I was so bad. I hope we’ll be better soon.

My fifth problem is just recent. It’s just a while ago, at dinner. It is about my dad. We were having dinner; he was drunk, when suddenly the topic was about my sister and me. He asked my why I was acting badly at her and we were always quarreling. Then I said that it’s a normal thing about siblings, just like in husbands and wives. He took it as an unserious answer, and he started to hate me again. I hope we will be better soon.

I have so many things to improve on to myself. Now I know that problems really do make us stronger individuals. They make you think what things you should work upon so that next time, you will do better and become an improved person. They make you know about yourself, as well as other people. Now I believe that problems really make life…fun and exciting.

Last Look

Whoa! I was so busy. I have to rush-edit our music video which is due today. We already presented it to class, and I was surprised that my classmates made a positive feedback to my music video. By the way, our MV is entitled "Last Look". It is an emo song performed by the local band Chicosci. Here it is:





I have to go through hardships and all just to rush this video. I stayed at the computer shop till 2pm just to finish this (This is a group work, actually). I was in PC 13 and I was so unlucky that I have to shoot the whole video flashed at the monitor! The video cannot be published in that PC, so I have to shoot it in whole. So I made solutions to fix that technical difficulty, and voila, it's finished.

But my unluckyness did not just end there. I went to the apartment just to see that the gate is locked and I have no key! So I have to wait for someone who is still awake, or gonna be awake, at that time (it was 2:30 am!). No one heard my call, and so I had to stay at the stairs and wait...and wait...until I fell asleep. FORTUNATELY, there was someone who woke up to get a glass of water (I suppose) and heard me calling at the gate. Thank God! I was saved! I could finally sleep in my nice bed (it was quarter to 4 am).

I woke up nervous of what could turn out in our MV. And here it was. All efforts were paid for by their positive comments...:) (I hope Miss Potchi noticed me more. O_O)

I have another problem. Mask project! And four papers due tomorrow! I am not yet starting it. I hope for a miracle....



So far away, one last look...

A Study on Lack of Sleep

This is an article on Yahoo! that I got interested in :


from http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100505/hl_afp/healthsciencesleepbritainitaly#mwpphu-container

Lack of sleep linked to early death: study
AFP

Wed May 5, 9:44 am ET

LONDON (AFP) – People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, researchers said on Wednesday.

Those who slumbered for less than that amount of time were 12 percent more likely to die early, though researchers also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours and premature death.

"If you sleep little, you can develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol," Francesco Cappuccio, who led research on the subject at Britain's University of Warwick, told AFP.

The study, conducted with the Federico II University in Naples, Italy, aggregated decade-long studies from around the world involving more than 1.3 million people and found "unequivocal evidence of the direct link" between lack of sleep and premature death.

"We think that the relation between little sleep and illness is due to a series of hormonal and metabolical mechanisms," Cappuccio said.

The findings of the study were published in the Sleep journal.

Cappuccio believes the duration of sleep is a public health issue and should be considered as a behavioural risk factor by doctors.

"Society pushes us to sleep less and less," Cappuccio said, adding that about 20 percent of the population in the United States and Britain sleeps less than five hours.

Sleeping less than six hours is "more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift work"

The study also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours per night and premature death, but Cappuccio said oversleeping is more likely to be an effect of illness, rather than a cause.

"Doctors never ask how much one sleeps, but that could be an indicator that something is wrong," said Cappuccio, who heads the Sleep, Health and Society Programme at the University of Warwick.

Research showed no adverse effects for those sleeping between six and eight hours per day.


And here's some comments:

So what your telling me is that even though I feel better after just 4 hrs then i do with 8, and now I'm gonna die because of it. (Justin Wed May 05, 2010 07:10 am)

Why can't science just admit it's flawed and no matter what you do, you're still going to die? Just live life as best you can do and stop worrying about stupid things. It's all anybody ever asks. (Dragon Of Heaven Wed May 05, 2010 07:11 am)

ALL centenarians, when interviewed, repeat the same short list of advice:
Get plenty of rest.
Eat right.
Exercise regularly. (Rattle and Hum Wed May 05, 2010 07:31 am)

Let's all sleep ! (Taiyo Wed May 05, 2010 07:16 am)


---> So... I usually get only 4 to 5 hours of sleep a day during the regular semester. Does this mean I have to sleep more than that so I can live longer? Life today is really stressful. I should try sleeping earlier...if I can do that. I hope I can. I can do that...

for the sake of health. :)

Thank God It's Friday!

I'm in a very very gooood mood today! Why? Here's my list:


First, it's Friday.

Second, I've got to post at my blog again.

Third, I've fixed the time zone on my blog.

Fourth, I've got to see Miss Potchi again.

Fifth, I topped our HUM2 exam, but tied with a classmate.

Sixth, I became instantly famous because I let my classmate, who tied up with me in the exam, to have the prize for the highest scorer.

Seventh, my teacher in that class gave me a compliment for what I have done.

Eighth, I hoped that Miss Potchi recognized me because of what I've done.

Ninth, I'm excited for my HUM1 class this afternoon.

And tenth, I'm excited with our HUM2 field trip tomorrow at the National Museum!


Whew! Ten reasons to be happy this Friday..
Is it OK to shout?

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!

Time Zone!

Aaarghh! It's my dumbness again! I was wondering why the time format was so different! It's always my problem since I started blogging. It's just now that I realized. How embarrassing...

GMT +8 Manila!

Reader's Digest Asia

I'm very happy to have a free Reader's Digest Asia magazine February 2010 issue! Last Wednesday, I bought two novels from a nearby bookstore. And I was just so surprised that the cashier gave me a free magazine! Just how great is that? But here's the thing: it has no cover! Was that the reason why it's free?

Since then, I became interested with the magazine. I searched the net on the Feb 2010 cover issue. But didn't find it. What I found out were Pinoys who became the cover of this famous magazine:





Comedian Michael V in the September 2008 issue (He was the second Filipino to be on the cover, the first one being the late former President Corazon Aquino)





Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao on November 2008 issue





Actor and Model Diether Ocampo on RD Asia's December 2009 issue





International Actress and Singer Lea Salonga on March 2010 issue


Proud to be a Filipino!

Miss Potchi

I have a classmate in HUM2 (it's an art class). I don't know her full name. So let's just call her 'Miss Potchi'.

Why 'Miss Potchi'? One time, we had a drawing activity on wild dreams. When the activity was finished, our instructor selected three drawings that most amused him. One of them was Miss Potchi's drawing. She drew a large talking Potchi Gummy Candy. She said that in her dreams, she was talking to a large Potchi candy. The candy begged Miss Potchi to eat him very gently. She added that when she was a little girl, she likes eating many Potchi candies. By the way, Potchi candies are pink, half-circle shaped gummy sweets that have straberry cream flavor. The packaging looks like this:




I find that girl funny. She's cute. She has the same course as mine (Biology), but belonged to a younger batch than me. Lately, she's always late so I always see her coming inside of the room.

And just a while ago, she is sitting right next to me! It's so great, because our instructor is performing with his bandmates, and the musical atmosphere is just so cool! There I was, watching the performance while sitting next to Miss Potchi, who was then reviewing Chemistry 160! How great was that, right? Okay so I still didn't get the chance to talk to her, even to know her name. So I will still call her Miss Potchi.


I also like Potchi Gummy candies when I was still a child...

Winged Beauty

Someday, I want to see this sculpture:




The Winged Victory of Samothrace
(also the Nike of Samothrace)


It is a second century B.C. marble sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike (Victory). Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world.

Nike of Samothrace was discovered in 1863 in the Greek island of Samothrace, but was estimated to have been created around 190 BC. It was created to not only honor the goddess of victory, Nike, but also to honor a sea battle. It conveys a sense of action and triumph as well as portraying artful flowing drapery through its features which the Greeks considered ideal beauty. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_Victory_of_Samothrace)

This is my favorite sculpture at this time. I first saw this in a book where I was so amazed of its supreme beauty and splendor. I said to myself that at some point in my life, I should see this sculpture at the Louvre in Paris. By the way, one of my lifelong dreams is to go to the romantic city of Paris.

Mon amour!

Got Busy

Before, I said to myself that I am going to post at my blog everyday. Now, I failed to do it! How sad. I am beginning to get busier and busier. I'm having a hard time finding a slot in my schedule wherein I can go to an internet cafe and post at my blog. It is also costly. Here I am, surfing the net at the computer services section of our library. It's free so I can surf the net as long as I want, but of course, during school hours only.

I am planning to do more to improve my blog. I plan to post photos from my camera, post stuff that interests me, and all. I just regret that it's only now that i discovered the enjoyment of blogging. I knew blogging before, when I was still in high school. I never tried of creating an account because I thought it would be just a waste of time. But now I realized that blogging is interesting. It keeps your thoughts, just like a diary. It reflects the way I am, and how I see the world as a whole. I wish I would never get tired of doing this. Because when I grow old, I can look back again at my past experiences and share it with people whom I would like to see me better as a person.


LOVE THE WORLD WE'RE IN!

Thought for the Day

Okay, I know. What I want and think will not always be the final group decision. I 'wanted' the song of our music video to be Break Even by The Script. By the way, the music genre that was assigned to us was Emo music. We had a meeting last Saturday, and we finally decided the song to be Last Look by Chicosci. I did not like it in some way for an unknown reason. I couldn't do something to change the song because I still have no idea about other emo songs.

After that meeting, I went to an internet shop and researched on emo songs. I remembered one song called Break Even by The Script but I did not know what genre was it. I asked at Yahoo Answers and found out that it wasn't an emo song. So I searched again and decided for It's not Over by Secondhand Serenade. But I end up deciding that Last Look would be ok. Because it's what my groupmates have decided.

It is not always that what you want is what you'll always get. Sometimes, you have to give way for the ideas of others. I learned to accept the ideas of others even if I don't like it at some point. At the end, I finally appreciated the song and started to think of creative ways on how to make that piece a good music video.

A First in May

It's my first post in the month of May!

Today is our clan reunion. I decided to leave because I feel bored. LOL. I'll just watch a good movie. And make preparations for our music video project. Yeah! Exciting... ;D

The 10th

Yes! My tenth blog post. My favorite number!
Anyway, I'm starting to love blogging. Keep blogging!

Struggling for a Music Video

We have to make a music video. Genre? EMO! I am having a hard time deciding what song we would make a music video. My group mates said "Last Look" by Chicosci. Hmm. I find the song...complicated, confusing, whatever. If I'm the one who would decide, I'd say "Break Even" by The Script:




Break Even
The Script

I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing,
Just prayed to a god that I don’t believe in,
‘Coz I got time while she got freedom,
‘Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even.

Her best days will be some of my worst,
She finally met a man that’s gonna put her first,
While I’m wide awake, she’s no trouble sleeping,
‘Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even, even no.

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you
What am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up and you’re ok
I’m falling to pieces
I’m falling to pieces

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
‘Coz she’s moved on while I’m still grieving
And when a heart breaks no it don’t break even, even no.

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you
What am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up and you’re ok
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces, (One still in love while the other one’s leaving)
I’m falling to pieces, (‘Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even)

You got his heart and my heart and none of the pain,
You took your suitcase, I took the blame.
Now I’m tryna make sense of what little remains, oh.
‘Coz you left me with no love, with no love to my name.

I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing,
Just prayed to a god that I don’t believe in,
‘Coz I got time while she got freedom,
‘Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break, no it don’t break, no it don’t break even no.

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you
What am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up and you’re ok
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces, (One still in love while the other one’s leaving)
I’m falling to pieces, (‘Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even)
Oh, it don’t break even, no
Oh, it don’t break even, no
Oh, It don’t break even, no

Fruits of Creativity

I had a hard time with group work this week. The first one was to make a PowerPoint presentation on Expressionism, and the other one was a little skit.

Our PowerPoint presentation went out good. I think our goal was fulfilled. That is to clarify to our classmates the principles and techniques of Expressionistic paintings. However, I had to make sacrifices. We have to present a presentation that is not texty. As we all know, texty presentations are all boring, all those reading the text and all. What I wanted to emphasize was the use of key concepts only, and not "copy-paste from the Internet" style. I always make presentations that are brief and easy to understand because I want my audience to fully embrace what I wanted to say. I also wanted to appreciate them the efforts that I made just to inform them with our assigned topic. I think the result of our work was good, because our instructor made a comment that he had nothing else to add because it's all there in our report. Good job!

The second one was a skit. I was one of the two characters there. I have to download the appropriate music for that so it will set the proper mood in our play. I have to memorize lines. I have to internalize. Whew, it was stressful. But that's ok, because ours turned out to be great even though I did some script-reading while performing (I couldn't do it perfectly because we just rehearsed like one hour before the class!). Our classmates appreciated what we've done and they liked it. Another good job! Way to go! :)

Love this Song!

One of my fave songs-- Collide by Howie Day:

Collide

Howie Day

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Don't stop here
I lost my place
I'm close behind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide