Counting minutes..

First sem is almost over. If this were any other semester I wouldn't fuss about it too much.
But you know being a senior has its perks and well its down side.
I'm happy cause I'm down to my last sem as a student.
and I'm sad cause UP has been my life for the past three years and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else for college.

Sadness and happiness.
Very conflicting feelings.
but if you were in my shoes right now, you'd feel the same way.

Maybe its too early to say goodbye.
A lot could still happen.
But you know the pressure is still there and...
Damn it! its Finals Week!

Good luck to all of us...

Acquaintance Party 2008

Glamour, Is Still In Me

Redd Nuñez

This is the time of my life that I can firmly say: Only Change Remains Constant. I feel sad that this is how it’s been for two months now. For 20 years, I have never come out of Iloilo (school trips aside). During those years, I have stayed with my family. But what saddens me the most is to recollect the last four years of my life. My life in UP Miag-ao and Hall 1- The Best Place in the Planet!

Miag-ao is such a nice place. I did not like all of the people there but loved some for they had made my life easy (labanderas, tricycle drivers etc…). I miss the church, lovely isn’t it?! I miss the banwa, where you can find the “batchoy-an”, “fisball-an” and “halo-halo-han” (is there such word? Ahahaha!), which I believe indulging yourself with these are great luxuries. I miss swimming in the infamous OWL. I’ll be missing the glutonic fiesta foods. I miss the buildings even though a few only exist there.

Now, I’m in the business capital of the country. And note, Ayala Avenue! Super, isn’t it?! But it’s not as beautiful as it may seem. Everything here is expensive and eating at Mcdo or KFC is never a luxury. If you wish to find cheap foods, you’ll settle it for 35 pesos (1 small cup of rice, 1 not so-delicious viand, no beverage and add 3 pesos for a styro). Compared to Lola’s Inn, you’ll think that you had been a gluton for that price.

What I love here is the avenue’s underpass. It’s like a subway in New York. I get to walk going to work. No fare and no Traffic! Moreover, seeing people in corporate attires are usual but it you would wear such in Miag-ao, you’ll be the talk of the town. Ahahaha!

Work is the reason why I am here. I believe that this will give me a good future. Actually it’s not work but training. I go on training from Mondays to Fridays and rest on weekends, which I don’t get to enjoy most of the time. It’s like college, UP, but way beyond, way beyond worst. I need to pass two national exams (1 for IT and 1 for Nihongo), which I believe passing the first one is impossible right now. Here, 1 book is covered 1 week the most while back in college, 1 book for 1 subject. The assignments are overflowing. Super! You would wish we had a 48-hour day. Back there, I would say life is unfair if my class starts at 8 am and ends at 4pm. Here, I start 8 am and end at 7 pm the least. Regrets. None. But if only I have studied hard and smart during college for there are many to learn. Sometimes, I feel insecure when I’m with my co-trainees from other UP campuses, La Salle and Achineo(Ateneo)! Of course, I get to handle such things. There’s no turning back that’s why I push myself.

For the finale, Hall 1, the place I miss the most. I miss the “pok-poker” nights, the tv-series and movie marathons, the “kulitans” with first years and upperclassmen. I miss the “lafore” nights during birthdays. I miss the “girl” moments. I miss the TV babaran (with never ending side comments). I miss the chismisan, 5 hours for that and only an hour for school work (this happens most of the time). I miss everything! Mostly, I miss being called Mama Redd. I wish I could fly so that I can go round trip from here to Miami. Of course, I can’t.

I have found a new family here, at work. But 3 months from now we will be deployed to different developments. See? Nothing is constant. Everything changes. But then, I am happy with what my life have been. It keeps getting better. Thanks to those who have always believed in me.

But then, only two things remained, I am still the same person and I am still GLAMOROUS! Ahahaha!

To those who are privileged to stay in once Ujin and I called “Glamour House”, you will be experiencing the best. Not because the institution is there but because of the people inside. Make the most of it! To the council of Huaya’s, Good luck! I sooooo miss you all! Super! To the newbies, you all are in good hands. The dorm isn’t perfect but it gave me the best 4 years of my life.

Gambatte!

Our Frank Experience

Unaware of the devastation that Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) was bringing to the neighboring towns and provinces, Balay Lampirong residents were mostly having a lot of fun and having a great time getting acquainted with each other.

Blame it on the black out. UPV Miagao was without electricity for a whole week so news from the outside world was slow to creep in. No TV, no internet, and hardly any mobile phones with charge left. Hall 1 was back in the dark ages. Bored dormers even had to resort to thousand-year old board games just to entertain themselves.


The raging wind also threatened to bring total isolation to the dorm area when it toppled a large tree near the staff house area. All efforts to nudge it back in place failed.

However, blessings were also falling from above, quite literally. During a short walk at the height of the storm Julex chanced upon a cluster of fallen mangoes. It took two expeditions to gather the mangoes and another trip to Lola's to ask for patis and salt before the dormers got their generous rations of yummy green mangoes.


During one of the expeditions, Julex also found several birds' nests - four in all - that fell from the trees. We did what we can to take care of the little birdlings but without their parents, their fate wasn't all that bright.


Aside from the rations of green mangoes with salt and patis, dormers were also rationed with cups of Selecta ice cream - mango and rocky road flavor - unmindful of the chilly temperature and wind. It's ice cream and ice cream is meant to be gobbled up regardless of the situation.


And this was the picture of Hall 1 for what seemed like a very long time. The board games donated by previous batches were put into full use during this time of catastrophic boredom.

Some of the board games were from the House Council elected in 1991. That's the year most of these freshmen were born!


Typhoons and black outs aren't that completely bad after all. It was a chance for the freshmen to temporarily shun their rooms and congregate at the grand lobby of Balay Lampirong. After the typhoon, everyone will eventually return to the scurry of their busy lives, and the board games will retreat to the drawers. However, I do hope the friendships started by Frank will outlast any typhoon that may later come. That's the stronger kind of H-bond. The Hall 1 bond.

Rainy days and Fridays.

Rain has finally come! We rejoice at the cold brush of the wind upon our skin. Why wouldn't we? The heat of the summer sun is simply unbearable! The cold rain soothes the dryness of our inner depths(asus!). We just like the rain because our room is so hot and that we don't have an electric fan that could beat the heat of the midday sun! Imagine sleeping in an oven? That's how our room feels like during the afternoon. Well, at least now our room is cool and refreshing. Ahhhhhhh!

Enough of the "rain" talk and my ramblings about the heat. As usual, Friday makes the dorm seen empty. Most of the dormers went home and those left are forced to entertain themselves with childlike games. hahahahaha! One, two, three..Pass! wink!hehehehe

Well, let's not forget that today Is Ethel's birthday and a hearty free dinner was the best!hehehehe Gracias Ethel!:) As write this blog the "Maalaala" fanatics are again watching intently(?) well let's just say that Joefer, Stepanie and Pio are making scenes as though acting a scene!hahahah What a laugh!

It was a long time ago when Friday nights were the nights we looked forward to. we can stay up all night because we wont have classes the folowing day and that we are so engrossed with our "educational talk." Which honestly, are all about school life and our humourous conquests(hahaha).

Well, in just little while Gelai's birthday, a long over due celebration, is to celebrated(Forgive me for the lack of a better term). Well happy birthday Gelai. And advance Happy Birhday to Kaven Tablada (Gelai's better half)hahahaha

Love you all guys!

Mama Redd Special mention ka di....