I almost forgot about this blog. I feel awful. I had such a wild, eventful school year so I guess I couldn’t talk about it much - for my sake and the sake of a lot of people. But it’s all good. I’m just glad it’s finally over. God, I thought it would stretch on forever.

So to make up for it, here’s what I’ve been up to.

In my attempt to make my senior year more exciting (read: complicated and busy), I ran for two Executive committee positions in two orgs. Yeah. I am now the layout editor of Mandala (Psych yearbook and senior council of sorts), and the publicity head of Buklod CSSP. But to contextualize my victory, I did not have any opponents in both positions, so yeah, it would seem like both positions just fell comfortably on my lap. Hey, at least I didn’t lose to abstain. Haha.

The funny thing about being both layout editor and publicity head is that the job descriptions are pretty much identical - designing layouts and publicity materials. I remember this one night a few weeks ago. I had already won as layout editor and Buklod elections was coming up. For both Mandala and Buklod, I wanted to show the electoral body that I know my Photoshop, so I placed both my General Programs of Action in flashy layouts that I made, and printed it in full color on 7×11 board. So there, that night, as I was cramming my GPOA for Buklod at 3 AM in the morning, I had a mental image of what my life is going to be like next year. Talk about a preview of my senior year - a groggy, sleepless me, glued to my laptop/PC (duh, as if I don’t do that everyday) tinkering with Photoshop, churning out layouts and publicity materials at 3 in the morning.

Gah. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much responsibility in my life. The last time I was ever elected for any officer position was in second grade; my opponent got 14 votes, I got 15 - but that included my vote. Haha. Probably the biggest job I’ve ever had was being junior batch representative (which was offered to me) just this year. But yeah, if there’s one thing I learned, it feels great to be useful to people. Student service may sound really cheesy and all, but it is strangely quite fulfilling, going out of your way for other people and making sure they’re satisfied with your output. Yeah, I like feeling useful. So that is why I decided to run for two positions knowing fully well that I’ll be taking at least 19 units each for my last two semesters in UP. Go me!

But it’s okay. I love my batch a lot, so being in the Mandala Editorial Board is like being batch rep all over again, and I loved being batch rep (most of the time, anyway). I certainly love Buklod CSSP, too. That part is kind of funny, though. A year ago, I swore off campus politics after a very controversial local elections had a lot of people biting my head off. And now, I am affiliated with a political party, and I’m in the Executive committee, too. Huzzah! Initially, I only joined because a good friend of mine asked me to be his campaign manager. Politics just grew on me I guess. I mean, how could it not? The dedication, the late nights, the struggles, the blackmail… it was exciting. But more than that, you gotta hand it to them: what people do in political formations - and it doesn’t matter which one - is pretty amazing. Apart from being the brightest student leaders in UP, the Buklod people are some of the most intelligent and hilarious people I have ever me. I almost regret not joining sooner.

So there, my life so far. The filtered version, anyway. If you know where my Livejournal, Multiply and Tumblr accounts are, you can check that out. There’s more dirt on me there. Haha.

Fireworks and bubbles - these are a few of my favorite things.

Yesterday at the UP Centennial Kick-Off Parade, my friend brought a bottle of bubbles (the one that come in a plastic bottle, a certified hit with little kids like us) with her.  My orgmates and I were so amused that we scoured the stalls along the Acad Oval for bubbles.  Eventually we found some in the Everything for Php 10 stall for 10 bucks a pop.  Sweet.  We were blowing bubbles at the paraders.  Haha.

Then we watched the concert, which was admittedly not very riveting.  So we were back to blowing bubbles to pass the time (and I think we amused the people around us, too).  But the fireworks, oh god the fireworks!  There was even a heart-shaped one.  Aww.

A night of fireworks and bubbles on damp grass under a starless sky with my favorite people.  I love it.  If that was just the kick-off, I wonder what else is in store for the UP Centennial celebration.  More fireworks, I hope.

On a slightly related note: I can’t wait for the World Pyro Olympics.  My friends and I agreed we’d watch it on March 1.

EDIT: An orgmate of mine took great pictures of the fireworks last night.  See them here.

This week, I allowed myself to be sad. I allowed myself to cry even if I couldn’t afford to break down, what with all the schoolwork I had to finish. Sheesh. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that much in my recent life history. Every time I felt like I’ve cried my eyes raw, the tears come back. But I knew I couldn’t stay sad for very long, especially with the friends I have. There’s only so much negativity I can take; you have to get tired of being miserable sometime. I forced myself to be happy, and I’m glad it worked. I don’t want to waste my time being sad when I could be enjoying moments with the people that still matter.

I think it was a good choice to feel too much all at once.  All I needed was a week to be sad.  Now I’m okay.  I’ll use this break to recharge and get back on track.

Things I learned this week:

• I am allergic to beer. I had 1.5 cans of San Mig Light a few nights ago and not only did I get drunk (yes, I am weak), my entire upper torso was red. Ugh.
• I talk a lot when I’m sloshed. A lot. If you want to know all my secrets, ask me when I’m drunk. I’m willing to tell just about anyone.
• I also learned that some boys like girls - all girls in general. It doesn’t matter who it is, as long as it’s a girl.
• A lot of people are sinners. Haha.

Ugh. I really need to finish my papers now. I foresee a tiring week ahead.

I’m re-reading some of my blog entries and damn, I’ve been vague.  Sorry, I think blogging has lost its magic for me.  It used to be cathartic, a shock absorber of sorts (this is consistent for a lot of Filipino bloggers, according to our study, haha).  I can’t imagine not having a blog, but I’ve been dealing with things that aren’t really for public consumption, and when I’m like this, I can’t bring myself to think or write about anything else.

At least I’m better now.  I’m proud of myself, actually, for handling this better than I did the last time it happened to me.  I feel like a whole new person.  Ok, that was really corny.  But really, that’s the only way I can describe what these past few weeks have been like.  I’m so glad I’m finally learning, albeit slowly.

Perhaps the only good thing about all this is that I realized I have good friends. I have friends who willingly adopt me for a weekend because I’m home alone. I have friends who keep me from ruining things when I’m sloshed with alcohol. I have friends who answer my distress signals (i.e. call and text) and keep me distracted. I have friends who wait for my class to end just so I could pour my heart out to them. I’m surrounded by good people. Thank you, people! You know who you are. I just can’t thank you enough.

The semester’s been okay so far.  I’m back to writing papers again.  Damn it, I so didn’t miss this part of college.

By the way, I’m condoning capitalism again this year by collecting stickers for the Starbucks planner.  Coffee date, anyone?

It’s only mid-week and I’m very broke. I’m also nursing a hangover (although I’ve had worse). This isn’t like me, you know. Normally, I would rush home after my last class. But now I consciously look for people to hang out with after class, and find myself eating, drinking and talking more than I should. Where was all this when I was still staying at a boarding house in Katipunan? You know, back in my first two years of college when not only was I just a few paces away from all the fun places, but the workload pales in comparison to the stuff I have to deal with in my junior year? Why did I only start to crave for a social life now that I’m at the mercy of my parents again? Rrrr.

And later, a couple of my friends and I are going to Trinoma to watch One More Chance. We’ve been planning this movie date for days now. What.

I’m having a really shit time trying to keep my personal life in check. As usual. My stupid mouth, it’s going to get me in trouble.

Addendum: Written at the back of my org’s tambayan’s logbook:

Putanginag puso, mapagod ka naman!

Hahahahaha! That’s gold right there.

I’m enrolled!  AND I got Bio 11!  Never mind that my Mondays and Thursdays start at 7 AM and end at 5:30 PM.  At least I have my Bio.  Wheee.

The new system of registration was kind to me.  Actually, registration has always been relatively easy for me all my UP life.  In my first three semesters, CRS gave me all my classes. Last semester I was a registration assistant, so I got to skip the lines and had someone write my name down on the class list.  The only “difficult” enrollment I had was two semesters ago when I went to school at 5:30 AM to be in line for a class (I wasn’t the first to get there. Haha), and that worked out to my favor as well.

I hope this sem’s a good one.  Hooray for good vibes!

Because being part of Psychedelics means I have to help out on registration week, today is technically my last day of sem break.  Finally, something to do besides overeating.

I really hope I get a Bio 11 class.  I’ll die if I don’t.  Well, not really.  But if I don’t get it this sem I’ll have to take it over the summer.  It’s a prerequisite of one of my major classes so I must take it before fourth year.

Don’t know what else to say.  Except, maybe, I’m glad sem break’s over.

I hate you, oh CRS. Not only did you not give me a Biology 11 class, you had to take away the Psych 155 you gave me in the 2nd enlistment run! GIVE ME BACK MY CLASS, DAMN IT! And give me a Bio slot while you’re at it. I cannot not take Bio 11 this sem! I don’t want to take it over the summer! Curse you! I’m just glad you let me keep my Psych 162, because if you didn’t there will be hell to pay. Heeeellll!!!

 Edit 6:23 PM : They gave it back! I have my 155 slot back! Wheee!

Things are a lot better now.

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