sentosa outing..

the tv has gone haywire.. blue became green, green became red, and red became blue.. now i can't enjoy all my late night shows.. arghh.. Desperate Housewives! CSI!! Survivor finale!!! damn..

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anyway, was in Sentosa with the NUSCO gang last saturday for some sun-bathing.. haha.. my tanning oil was working (a bit).. but i still got burnt on the shoulders..

playing frisbee and captain's ball under the hot sun was indeed tiring.. so tired that 2 nights of 10-hour sleep don't seem to be enough.. =P



and NUSCO has found out ways for perfect self-photo-taking with more than 4 people.. by getting a tall person with long arms to be the photographer a.k.a. the bi-pod.. haha..



and we decided to try out the skyride and the luge that day.. oh well, it was fun, for a $9 attraction..



and it was our first time taking the Sentosa Express, which has replaced the old monorail..



yar, really had fun that day.. we should be out in the sun often.. so that i can achieve my tan.. muahhaha..

kids' results..

the kids got back most of their results.. can't say that i was satisfied with it, there are much room for improvement.. there were questions which i had gone through similar ones days before their papers, but yet they still got them wrong.. there were many marks lost due to carelessness.. and things that are common sense (at least to me) they got them wrong too..

but i was surprised, that some questions with a certain level of difficulty, they managed to score.. =)

i didn't expect the girl to pass her science, but she did.. then again, she failed her maths and english.. sigh.. with lots of funny excuses thrown to me too..

sometimes i just wish that they could be more sensible when it comes to their studies.. and less horrors for me..

sigh.. kids..

phantom.. again..

now i know why a musical can be so good.. because it is able to move you, touch your heart, regardless of the number of times you have watched it.. =)

my favourite parts of the musical - at the roof top where Raoul and Christine sang "All I Ask of You" with the Phantom overlooking at them, and when the Phantom looked at Christine leaving him and said "Christine, I love you.."



and yes, it was worth the money.. =)

but this time round, the female lead was different.. she was so much shorter, more than a head shorter than the two male leads.. what a great height difference.. but in terms of the voices, i would prefer the original one..

but the effects were still the same.. and less glitches.. haha.. and we were nearer to the raising chandelier.. haha..




and i'm going to enjoy listening to the cd.. yeahhey.. but, why is there no video recording of the musical??

festivals of Philippines..

wanna share an article i found.. quite interesting, especially now that Philippines is having a huge fiesta celebrating these festivals.. how i wish i would be able to experience it..

Our country is rich in traditions handed down by our ancestors. Festivals are part of the Filipino culture which are largely influenced by Spanish religious practices. Some festivals are in honor of a patron saint or major events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A festivity is held every month somewhere in the country. Each city or barrio comes to life with at least one festival. Visitors, both local and tourists, are always welcome to celebrate the festivities which are special occasions for Filipinos to extend their hospitality and friendship.

The colorful month of May blooms with fiestas such as the much-awaited Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan. Flores de Mayo is the flower festival during May in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This month-long revelry is distinctly separate from the Santacruzan. In the Tagalog region, this custom began after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla’s translation of the devotional Flores de Maria.

Many towns celebrate Flores de Mayo with people gathering inside the church every afternoon to pray the rosary and offer fresh flowers and songs to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Children visit the church with bouquets of flowers and baskets of fragrant petals which they sprinkle while walking to the altar. This custom is called Alay sa Birhen. Nine days of prayer or novena in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of our Filipino tradition.

A Santacruzan or Festival of the Holy Cross is a religious-historical procession held in many cities, towns and small villages throughout the Philippines. It is one of the most colorful May-time festivals which commemorates the finding of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. There was a joyful celebration of thanksgiving after the Holy Cross was found and brought back to Rome. Hence, the most important sagala is the Reina Elena and her consort, a boy called Constantino.

The procession has evolved throughout the years. The Santacruzan is now a unique blend of beauty pageant and religious procession as attractive belles walk in their stunning gowns. It is definitely more than a competition as to which sagala’s canopy is the brightest or has the most creative flower arrangement. As May starts, processions that showcase beautiful maidens and handsome consorts under floral arches are common evening fixtures in many parts of the country. Movie and TV personalities are also invited to participate in the Santacruzan as sagalas and escorts.

Pretty young ladies and gays are chosen to represent various biblical and historical characters and attributes of the Blessed Virgin. Each one is dressed in exquisite and resplendent gown, looking regal just like the queen she portrays. It is also required that gentlemen joining the Santacruzan wear Barong Tagalog.

The beautiful belles walk with their consorts under hand-carried bamboo arches adorned with colorful flowers. Some of the queens in the parade include Reina Fe who symbolizes the virtue of faith and she carries a cross; Reina Esperanza represents the virtue of hope and carries an anchor; Reina Caridad symbolizes the virtue of charity and carries a red heart; Reina Justicia personifies the "mirror of justice" and carries a weighing scale and a sword; and Reina de las Flores who carries a bouquet of flowers.

The highlight of the procession is the majestic Reina Elena who carries a small cross and walks with her consort, Prinsipe Constantino, under a huge canopy of beautiful and colorful flowers.

The highest honor given to a woman’s beauty is to be selected as Reina Elena. Behind her is a float carrying the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary followed by a brass band that leads the festive sounds of the procession and the singing of Dios Te Salve. The devotees who walk with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands, praying the rosary, and singing songs of praise.

The origin of the Santacruzan has its roots in the stories about the historical discovery of the Holy Cross on which Jesus was crucified. It is said that Queen Helena was sent by her son, Emperor Constantine I, on a mission to find the true cross on which our Lord was crucified. Queen Helena traveled to Jerusalem in 326 A.D. in search of the Holy Cross. She recovered three crosses during the excavations. She tested each cross by making her sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant was healed was identified as Christ’s.

In another story, Constantine I, the first Christian Roman Emperor, went on a battle against Maxentius in 312 A.D. and asked God for help. Constantine cast his eyes heavenwards and saw in the night sky a glowing sign of the cross with the words In hoc signia vincit which means "By this sign thou shalt conquer." He used the cross as his battle insignia with the words and defeated the Roman Army in the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Constantine’s victory led to his conversion into Christianity. His mother, Queen Helena, was inspired by her son’s experience and went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to seek the Holy Cross.

like the article has mentioned, every town, every province in Philippines has their own festivals.. Bago City has its Babylan Festival, and i bet it is as colourful as the other bigger much celebrated festivals in major provinces in Philippines.. but if given a choice, i would choose to experience Babylan Festival first, then slowly immerse myself to the rest of the Filipino culture..

to all in Bago, i miss you guys so much!! hehe.. elections coming up, all the best to papa and tito carloy.. take care yar? haha..

the green van..

it isn't that exciting after all.. i spend half of my day sleeping away into my lala-land.. haha.. and everyday i would have funny and weird dreams that i would end up continue daydreaming after waking up.. this isn't reality manz.. haha..

and last night, the green van appeared in my dream.. the green van that brought me around in Bago City.. =)

in the van, i travelled, i saw, i thought, i laughed, i sang, i cried..

i always sit by the window, looking out to the passing rice fields, squatter homes, sometimes met with interesting things and beautiful sunsets.. when i'm not talking to anybody in the van, thoughts would race through my mind.. when i'm listening to songs played on the radio, i would sing along with it, occasionally belting Tagalog tunes that surprises the gang in the van..

there would always be laughter in the van.. how i always joke around with the gang, how i always ask funny questions and give funny answers.. haha.. and how the van got stuck on the way to Astro Farm Elementary School, and how it got stuck again in some hole along a small alley in Bacolod.. haha..

the van is also a place to eat.. sometimes we would buy food from the roadside and savour them in the van.. i remembered the filipino's version of goreng pisang, but coated with caramel, burgers packed from home, sugarcanes freshly cut from the plantation, and my mash potatos specially prepared by tita tessa when i was sick..

the tears were only on the very last day.. for 3 years, no fail.. haha.. i'm such a loser..

things may change for the coming year (Philippines elections coming up), i don't know if i will see the green van the next time, but whatever it is, i still enjoy the company of the gang and the van.. =)

kiddy horrors..

another round of kiddy horrors..

1.
me: take out your science text book..
girl: har.. in my bag..
me: why har? take out from your bag only what..
girl: tomorrow i have science lesson, later i forget to put back the book..
me: ok, later i put on top of all your books so that you won't forget, can?
*girl reluctantly went to take her book*

2.
me: ok, science quiz..
girl: har?? why quiz.. last week also got quiz..
me: your exams coming soon.. need to revise..
girl: still got 2 more weeks! the last subject leh..
*so young, yet already mastered the art of hugging buddha's leg.. haha*

3.
boy: teacher, why i cannot use calculator?
me: because you are not smart enough..
boy: then why you can use calculator?
me: because i smarter than you..
*muahaha*

4.
me: do these questions first..
boy: why leh?
me: so that i can mark your other homework first..
boy: don't want.. hand pain..
me: then do the comprehension cloze..
boy: ok ok ok..
*another of my tactics.. haha*

5.
me: this question, calculation mistake..
boy: my calculation is never wrong!
me: wanna bet?
boy: bet with what?
me: you lose, do 2 comprehension cloze..
boy: don't want!! i don't want to bet!
*hahah.. my tactic is a proven success*

here comes my freedom!

yesh! yesh!! yesh!!! i am now officially free from the clutches of the evil NUS!! muahaha.. and i better not fail any of my papers.. *pray pray pray*

the moment we were dismissed from the lab, the first reaction from me was, "yesh!!".. haha.. that was my last exam paper of my life.. no more lab work, no more stoopid modules, no more irritating tutors.. muahaha.. but provided i can get pass this semester smoothly lar.. yar.. so pray for me.. haha..

i was so eager to get out of school, to the extent of wanting to throw my book into the rubbish bin.. haha..



went to have lunch with my (hot and sexy) cousin who came down from malaysia.. haha.. it has been a long time since we saw each other.. or rather, all the cousins don't get to come together.. if you were to ask me all my cousins' names, i will fail at that.. serious.. and i jokingly told my cousin, that if i were to go back to malaysia for any family gathering, there would be people asking me who i am.. haha.. anyway cousin, i will sure look for you if i ever go to KL, provided i have the time and the budget.. haha.. =)

and after that i went to meet up with my CO friends for a heavy dinner and a beer-drinking session at Paulander.. time for some celebration, i suppose.. haha..



i ain't a very good drinker (i haven't got to test where is my limit yet) but i ain't a bad one too.. haha.. had a few glasses, which i think would be able to make me sleep better.. haha.. the place was alright, but it's the company that matters.. haha..

ok, time to sleep!! no more late nights with all the notes and books!! =D

one left!

finally.. i can get some good sleep tonight.. haha.. i miss my 8-hour sleep.. too much caffeine is no good for the health..

one last paper left.. after that, i'll be FREE~~~!! =D

today's papers were like.. oh well.. wrote a lot of crap.. just hope they make some sense.. i think my three years in NUS has made me a better fisherman.. so many "crabs"..
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ok, not funny.. see? too much caffeine is really no good..

why compare?

when we were young, we liked to dream big - to be rich, to live in mansions.. huge ambitions of being a doctor, lawyer, celebrity, pilot or a billionaire always seem so possible with imagination..

there wasn't much for comparison between kids.. how many toys you have, how many coloured pens you have in your pencil case, how often do you get to go to MacDonalds..

as we grew older, things became complicated.. we started to compare what we have.. we started to compare our academic results and how much pocket money we get.. we started to care about our image, our looks - branded goods, handphones, material needs.. and what kind of friends we were mixing with..

when reality really strikes, we started to compare pragmatic things like our jobs, our salaries, our status.. life just seems to revolve around the big M (money, that is), isn't it?

we all want to lead a good life, to be comfortable in everything.. more often than not, reality and dreams don't go together.. dreams do crash, dreams do change.. how many of your childhood dreams and ambitions do really come true?

i never like comparison.. it either makes you proud, or it makes you even more depressed when you know you are not as good as the others.. why are we comparing among ourselves, when we are all different anyway?

life shouldn't be that boring.. do what you feel that's good (of course that does not include committing crimes or taking drugs).. do what will make you happy.. do what is being true to yourself..

live your life, as if it's a shooting star.. short-lived, but brilliant..

but sometimes, i just wish that luck could be on my side.. i just wish that i could pluck enough courage to pursue what i want..

kiddy horrors 2

silly things my kids say (again)..

1.
boy: teacher, your parents are americans ar?
me: do i look american to you?
boy: because you said "yar, right"..
-_-"

2.
me: let's say you are given two strings and some weights. how are you going to show which string is stronger?
girl: i don't have anything!
me: LET'S SAY..
-_-""

3.
me: ok, look at the picture and answer the question below. what do you think the person is trying to do?
girl: i don't know!
me: (demostrating) ok, so if i put the ruler here, and try to do this, what am i trying to show?
girl: i don't know, i'm not doing it what..
-_-"""

4.
me: do your corrections now..
boy: can don't do? hand pain..
me: then use your leg.
boy: leg pain..
me: then use your mouth.
boy: mouth pain..
-_-""""

5. (my favourite.. haha)
me: can you do your work?
boy: hand pain..
me: then use your leg.
boy: leg pain..
me: then use your mouth.
boy: mouth pain..
me: mouth pain still can make so much noise??
=D

love-hate relationship

for the record, i stayed at home for 4 days.. haa.. and sleeping at odd hours, i wonder how i'm going to cope during the exams.. maybe i should start condition myself for the exams.. yesh, my last set of exams!! haha..

oh well, another phase of my life is going to begin.. but before that, the love-hate-relationship with the school still lingers around..

love -
1. the field trips! =)
2. wonderful lecturers and tutors - it's so fun imitating them.. haha..
3. the long holidays - because of the holidays, i can get to travel, be away from home for as long as a month.. something not really possible when i enter the workforce.. damn..
4. friends - of course they have been playing a major role in my life.. just hope that we won't lose touch when we go our separate ways.. =)
5. wearing slippers! - haha.. i'm a person who hates wearing shoes, who likes to wriggle my toes and cross my legs on the chair.. i dread the days of wearing shoes to labs.. haha..
6. student discounts! - who doesn't want cheap deals? =)

hate -
1. lousy lecture halls and chairs - just when i am going to graduate, they are going to renovate the super old and horrible LT26.. and i was put through 2 years in that LT.. yucks.. now i don't have to put my termites in there to destroy the LT anymore.. hmmph..
2. 8am lectures - i just hate it, when i gotta get up early in the mornings (especially monday mornings) and struggle through the lectures in a half-asleep mode..
3. horrible lecturers and tutors - enough said, they give you a hard time when they are incompetent.. arghh..
4. endless projects and exams
5. sucky timetable
6. bad groupmates - where is the teamwork?!

sigh.. sometimes i wish i won't grow old.. haha.. i wouldn't mind being a student forever, with the exams and projects done away with, of course.. haha.. =)

kids.. damn..

silly things my kids say..

1.
when going through answers for comprehension questions,
me: ok, this question, what illness did Chopin die of?
girl: i'm not a doctor, how do i know??
*slaps forehead*

2.
me: what is a buoy?
girl: boy lor..
me: no, a buoy is a thing, not a person..
girl: you take away the letter "U" then becomes a boy lor..
*slaps forehead again*

3.
when going through composition outline,
me: so you must tell me in your story, why he chose to do that..
girl: i don't know..
me: this is your story, you have to tell me what..
girl: but i'm not the boy..
*slaps forehead again and again*

4.
boy: you are very lucky to have a student like me, you know?
me: i will be lucky enough if i don't get a heart attack while teaching you..
boy: i so smart, and i'll go take part in Campus Superstar.. then you'll be honoured..
*rolls eyes*

5.
boy: teacher, you married or not?
me: you wait long long.. why leh?
boy: i want my ang bao..
*slaps face*

there are laughters, there are frustrations too.. so, 3 kids are enough.. haha..

the phantom of the opera..

"let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears
i'm here, with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you.."

"anywhere you go, let me go too
love me, that's all i ask of you.."



my favourite song from the musical.. =)

it was a much awaited performance, and indeed i was truly mesmerized by it.. the whole musical was magnificent.. the chandelier, the river, the candlelights and the magic.. words can't describe how wonderful it was to be led into a mystical journey through the songs and the characters..

and tears almost rolled down my cheeks when the phantom said, "christine, i love you.." awww..



but really, this was the best musical i've watched so far (out of 3).. haha.. the seat was good, right smacked in the middle.. woohoo~~ but there were minor glitches in the musical.. even world-class performance makes mistakes.. haha.. but the merchandise were really damn expensive.. the programme booklet alone cost me $25.. gosh..

i would very much love to watch this musical again.. anybody willing to treat me to that?? =D

rivermaya rocks!

rivermaya rocks my day!! woohoo~~!!



it has been quite some time since i last went to a rock concert.. i attended rivermaya's outdoor concert at esplanade last year, and decided to come again, to relax myself, amidst those exam and assignment stress.. besides, the ticket was cheap.. haha..



but the venue was so damn far away, literally at the other end of the island.. downtown east.. my god..

the show began with 3 local bands and 1 filipino band.. they hyped up the crowd a little, but... ... that was not what i want to see!! i want rivermaya!! haha..

after almost 2 hours listening to them, rivermaya finally came on stage!! yeah!!



they were real good, i tell ya.. the songs, the band.. oh my.. mark the drummer was impressive.. and they were damn cute too.. they took photos and videocam-ed themselves while performing on stage.. haha.. mike, the guitarist, was so cute, he was really playing and enjoying himself on stage.. haha.. japs, the bassist, even played with those fire sparklers when the vocalist, rico, was singing his love song.. wahaha..



i got even higher when i start hearing tagalog songs.. haha.. as if i'm one of the kababayans (fellow countrymen).. haha.. and i became the translator when my cousin and his friend asked me what they were saying.. haha..



the concert came to an end with their hit song "You'll be safe here".. that was the best part manz.. the whole crowd was singing with them..

it was really enjoyable.. but tiring, because we stood for 5 hours.. and my knees are now crying for help.. haha.. and my ears, they are temporarily deaf, for now.. haha..

day before havoc..

the good thing about going to the supermarket with my mum (especially before she's going away for a few days) is that i can get to buy all those junk food for stocking up, at no cost.. haha.. using exams as an excuse is workable too.. haha..

and i can demand for a 50c macdonalds ice-cream after that.. haha.. yes, i'm still a kid at heart..

my mum was nagging in the car on our way back, and was still giving instructions before she went to sleep.. but really, i can take care of myself.. it's only a few days home alone.. besides, i've tried being overseas for a month, and nothing major happened.. haha.. i think the only problem i will face is that i know nothing about cooking, other than instant noodles.. haha.. there's always something called "eating out" or "delivery services".. haha..

so yes, i can still survive.. =D

poor stitch..

my little stitch broke its ear!! oh my!! my poor stitch.. boohoo.. this little stitch was from wanfen and wanying.. because they know i love stitch.. but now its ear is broken! so sad..



took another picture of my big and little tofu.. and i think it's time i bring the big tofu to the laundry shop.. oops.. haha.. will do it after exams.. haha.. but i really enjoy his company.. he has replaced my smelly pillow (which my mum threw it away when i was away in Bago, without my permission!!) but he doesn't smell k.. haha..



heard this from somewhere, "losing is important, because that's what make us stronger".. but there are some things that i wouldn't even want to entertain the thought of losing them.. i would rather give up my strength, than to have them taken away from me..

time for a good sleep..

"eh.. you look very concussed.."

"i dunno how many times i've concussed in a night.."

for the past few nights i've been surviving on chocolates, potato chips, coffee, coffee, coffee and more coffee.. luckily i have been stocking up on my Nescafe Mocha.. haha.. and will continue to do so.. it has been very good at keeping me awake.. haha..

and yesh~~ finally i can have some good night sleep.. at least for a few nights.. haa.. i'm only left with one confrontation (yucks..) and one term test before those BIG ones come along..

and havoc this weekend! haha..

fiery lecturer..

for the first time in my 3 years in NUS, i witnessed how my lecturer got frustrated with the noise level in his class, so frustrated that he chased students out of the lecture hall.. *eyes wide open*.. and i supposed those 3 gals were super embarrassed when the whole class turned to look at them.. haha..

sigh.. the crucial month has begun.. besides the endless rush for reports and assignments, time to start panicking over exams.. oh shucks.. that means more late nights, later late nights.. and perhaps a grouchier me.. haa.. but i can be easily pleased with chocolates, coke and chips.. haha..

and don't ask about me getting a job.. i'm not going to think of that until after the exams.. haha.. i still have plans for what i want to do.. haha.. we'll see..

finishing all those bloody reports are more important at the moment.. haha.. good luck to those on the verge of going crazy over reports too.. haha.. like me..

really random..

deadlines deadlines deadlines.. i'm slowly walking into my grave.. oh well, at most i'll just jump out of it and become a vampire at the end of those deadlines.. muahaha..

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my godson's name is ryzel! haha.. ryan + leizel = ryzel.. haha.. how convenient is that? but the name is indeed one of a kind.. =) can i see him? pictures??

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i'm going to create havoc next week! muahaha.. because.. i'm going to be home alone!! everybody else is going back to malaysia, while i'm stuck here with all the deadlines and exams.. time to stock up instant noodles, chocolates, biscuits, and extra money for macdonalds' delivery.. haha..

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i'm a zombie in training! muahahaha.. arghh.. getting cranky.. this is what deadlines would do to you..

someday..

someday, you'll gonna realize
one day, you'll see this through my eyes
by then i won't even be there
i'll be happy somewhere
even if i cared

i know you don't really see my worth
you think you're the last guy on earth
well, i've got news for you
i know i'm not that strong
but it won't take long, won't take long

'cause someday, someone's gonna love me
the way i wanted you to need me
someday, someone's gonna take your place
one day, i'll forget about you
you'll see, i won't even miss you
someday, someday

but now, i know you can tell
i'm down and i'm not doing well
but one day, these tears
they will all run dry
i won't have to cry sweet goodbye

'cause someday, someone's gonna love me
the way i wanted you to need me
someday, someone's gonna take your place
one day, i'll forget about you
you'll see, i won't even miss you
someday, i know someone's gonna be there

someday, someone's gonna love me
the way i wanted you to need me
someday, someone's gonna take your place
one day, i'll forget about you
you'll see, i won't even miss you
someday, someday

listen to the song here

random

i miss doing the high-5.. it's like the oh-so-natural thing with the filipinos around.. but i think i'll get to do it more often.. =)

and i think i am running low on my chocolates again.. shucks.. and brain cells too..

sigh..

seriously, i think i really need more than 30 hours a day in order to survive.. with so many things to do, i think my shrinking brain is unable to accommodate any more bloody irritating things..

somehow i just wanna sit down, listen to music and stone the whole day.. =(

and i'm getting less and less sleep.. think my brain cells are going to suffer sudden cell death or something..

i want my icebox cake!!!!

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listening to NUSCO's concert songs right now.. somehow listening to own performance is different from the on-stage experience.. don't know if this sounds good.. haha.. but i think we did relatively well.. =)

performing has really becoming a part of my life.. though i would like to try out other forms of performances.. i think my first time performing on stage was during my graduation night of my kindergarden.. haha.. then subsequently i've been performing in my primary school, and some mini-concerts in my music school.. when i got into RVCO, it became a regular thing.. school performances, external performances, competitions.. and it came all the way until now, in NUSCO..

i can't say i'm really that passionate about chinese orchestral music, but i do enjoy playing the pieces.. and i am never that good when it comes to playing solo.. haha..

i think i'm better off singing in my own little world (and also in the bathroom).. =)

no more performance for now..

the NUSCO concert was over.. after the whole event, i was tired, mentally.. after performing for so many years, nothing memorable in particular, though there was disappointment in some aspects.. this could be my last time performing with them.. if i'm set on roaming around, doing overseas volunteer work for a year (or more), that is..

perhaps that could be the explanation to why i took more photos than usual.. but i still hate the bright red costume.. not only it doesn't fit, the design is bad.. grr..

so anyway, here are some pictures.. =)

the strings section!


we were just trying to be funny.. hehe..


the girls with our dear pipa soloist, huiyan! she was really good, i tell ya..


with the guest conductor, mr wong.. i find his belly cute.. haha..


with dai da..


with aditya (su feng).. before i got to remember his name (i still have problems pronouncing his english name), i used to call him my indonesian boy.. because of him, i became the official translator in nusco.. haha.. it can be challenging at times, when i have to translate those long stories by mr lum, from chinese into english.. haha..


with yihui and kathy..


this guy, i really don't know what to say.. cannot stand his cold jokes and lame-ness.. eric, sometimes your cold jokes don't work on me.. bleahz.. but thanks ar, for cheering me up and tolerating with my temper when the need arises.. haha..


with wenhui..


with andrew, sunjing, dai da, eric, wenhui and helen..


thank you, my friends in nusco, for being a part of my life.. i don't know when and how long i'll be away, but if i can still play, i may be back.. haa..

dear cousin..

Dear cousin,

how are you up there? i suppose six years there, you would have grown accustomed to the life, and perhaps made a lot of friends..

any birthday cake for you today? maybe you have got 20 candles on your cake.. =)

things have changed, since you've been gone.. somehow the cousins are not that close anymore.. you were the only one whom i could confide in, share my secrets with.. remember those nights i used to stay over in your house, and we chatted till we fell asleep? gone were the days..

i've never mentioned how much admiration i had for you, despite me being the older one.. you were better than me in sports, and was more active than me.. sometimes i felt that my thoughts were more childish and naive than yours, and it seemed like you were the mature one, not me..

perhaps i was over-protected by my parents (you know how strict they are), i didn't get to have the kind of experiences that you had.. that's why i was often envious of you..

i shall not think about the pain of seeing you leaving us, but rather, reminisce about those happy days when we were kids..

thank you for the companionship.. and i wish you well.. happy birthday..

miss you much,
hui

she ain't heavy, she's my sister..

i was on the bus.. sitting opposite me were 2 little girls, falling asleep during their (maybe a long) ride home from school.. then the elder sister woke up, realising that it was nearing their destination.. she tried to wake her sister up, but perhaps she was really too tired.. the little girl then briefly opened her eyes, carried her bag, and both of them got down the bus..

the older girl then piggy-backed her tired sister from the bus-stop back home..

will you do that too, if your younger sibling is tired and can't walk?

she ain't heavy, she's my sister..

morbid talk..

has it ever occur to you, what will happen when you get old? will you be an active old man/woman who still be able to jog around the park, or down with health problems?

i know it's kinda morbid to talk about it, but the fact is, people do get old.. i admit i'm afraid of getting old, afraid of dying.. i don't think i can come into terms that easily, for an outdoor-loving and freedom-craving me to deal with it.. not at this age..

my family has a history of diabetes.. it hit my dad and my uncles at a young age.. whenever i see my dad sorting out his medicines, i will think to myself, will i become like that too, a few years down the road.. my mum always tell me to watch my diet.. but i would always shrug it off, continuing to indulge in my chocolates and coke, thinking that i'm still young..

some people told me before, that i would get some women-related health problems in future.. i don't know how true is that, but i suppose it wouldn't be a mere coincidence when more than 1 person said that to me, and when those fortune-telling seems to say the same thing.. i think there is some family history to this too, perhaps i ain't told about it, or maybe my family finds it a taboo to talk about it..

and for the past few months, my knees and ankles have been aching more than usual.. sometimes i even feel wobbly while walking.. even my finger joints are getting stiff.. i remembered that during my primary school days, the nurses would always write the same thing in my health booklet during annual check-ups - "drink more milk, three times a day"..

i used to never give it a hoot, but i suppose age is really catching up on me.. i can't imagine the day when i can't enjoy my favourite outdoor activities, when i can't roam around as freely as i want to.. or worse still, when i can't even perform simple tasks or losing the strength that i have.. and i don't wish that to come so soon..

how about you? what is your most feared thought when it comes to ageing?

a long day..

sigh.. i'm really tired.. it was another long day for me.. was in school from 8am, with a field trip to Tanah Merah beach, and then a 3-hour tuition.. only got home at 10pm..

and this week i have to meet 2 deadlines, and then the NUSCO concert.. i'm really dead.. sigh..

and when the bus passed by Changi Airport back from the beach, i wished i could fly away.. anywhere.. a place where i could stop thinking about things..

sigh.. i need more chocolates..

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ryan has a baby boy! i'm now officially a ninay (filipino for godmother).. haha.. show me the pictures of my godson! =)

field trip to Gunng Belumut..

sheesh.. i was really exhausted after yesterday's field trip to Gunung Belumut.. i slept for almost 12 hours straight.. but it was an exciting trip indeed.. how often do you get to go out of Singapore to do a practical? haha..

i had to wake up at 5am to get ready, and was in school by 7am.. when was the last time i got up so super early?



it took us almost 4 hours to get to the forest.. and we were all geared to conquer! creating a stir, i mean.. haha..

so it wasn't your normal sight-seeing kind of field trip.. we were doing our practical.. which means, we were there, armed with equipment, to collect specimens, doing data-recording and measurements.. so who says we were there to enjoy? haha..



we had to do the practical at 2 different streams.. the first one was a little one, water level was perhaps below the knees.. nothing much to describe, only managed to catch sight of some small fishes..

then we had to take the bus up to the inner forest, and then to walk through the forest to reach the other stream.. we had to cross many obstacles, such as big tree logs blocking our path, muddy patches, steep slopes.. this time round the stream was a bigger one, with large, slippery boulders.. and the depth was greater.. many of my groupmates slipped and fell, getting themselves all wet.. haha.. but i was lucky enough.. :D

again, doing the same thing, collecting specimens, doing the measurements..

and then, lunch time!! haha.. yes, we had our lunch at the stream.. sitting on those large boulders, passing potato chips around.. what an ambience.. haha..



me and my TA, eunice.. =)


and then it was time to move out of the forest.. thank goodness there were no leeches.. but i still got some small cuts, by sharp branches or leaves..

i suppose this was the most interesting field trip i had so far.. something memorable before i graduate? maybe..

arghh.. my brain is still stone-ing.. wake up!!

rainy field trip..

the field trip today was an ultimate failure.. haha.. even before we got off the bus, it was already starting to drizzle.. the moment we started walking into the forest at Lower Pierce Reservoir, the rain got heavier.. and it was really impossible to continue walking in such heavy rain..

imagine, walking in the forest, amidst of all the trees, with an umbrella.. what if lightning strikes? haha..

and so the field trip was called off within 1 hour.. and we had to hide in some prata place for shelter.. haha.. but we were all drenched by then.. from head to toe.. haha.. what a wasted afternoon.. and they better not make us go back there again..

------------------------------

anyway, yesterday's yusheng was the best! haha.. that big plate of yusheng.. more than enough for that 8 of us.. haha.. with extra ingredient - shedded roast chicken!! haha..



and this was what being left after chomping down the yusheng.. haha.. notice that there was 2 pairs of mini-chopsticks and a fork.. not enough chopsticks for everyone! haha..



die lar, this week is filled with 2 term tests, practices, tuition and 1 more field trip to Johor.. i want my new year holiday back!!! give it back to me!!

judy ann..

before i stepped into Astro Farm Elementary School and Day Care, i had heard so much about "Judy Ann".. tricia, bong, remia, and serlu kept mentioning about "Judy Ann", so much so that i was so looking forward to seeing who this cutie was..

it was a long and bumpy ride to Astro Farm.. when we were approaching the school gate, many children were already waiting for us, and seeing our van, they all ran from the backyard to the classroom..

"there! judy ann!" bong was pointing out of the window.. but how could i identify which girl was it, when there were so many children running around.. haha..

but when this little girl with an oversized yellow dress walked into the classroom, i knew she was the "Judy Ann".. it was a bit weird, because all i could do was to stand there.. you know, i didn't know how to speak illongo, and i supposed a girl so young like her wouldn't understand much english..

then when she was quietly sitting at the door, eating the porridge we prepared, i squatted beside her, and just said, "hello, judy ann!".. she smiled at me, and muttered something that sounded like "what's your name?" in illongo..

"yuhui.." (pronounced as yoo-hwee, and that is what i'm known as in Bago.. haha)

then i was busy helping with giving out extra bread and taking pictures.. but everytime i passed by the door, we would smile at each other..

when it was time to leave, she would run to the backyard, waiting for the van to drive out of the gate, and waved at us..

i would always remember how she came running to me after receiving new toys and clothes, to give me a kiss on my cheek.. when will i be back to Astro Farm? i don't know.. but i still hold the hope of being back there again.. =)

so be happy, and healthy.. and i wish for many learning opportunities for you.. =)

bored..

i'm bored.. on the 2nd day of the new year, i spent the whole day playing computer games and eating.. arghh.. and i refuse to do anything related to schoolwork.. what a boring new year.. at least it was slightly better than last year, when i had to call for MacDonalds delivery for my meals.. haha..

my dad decided not to go into Malaysia, because of all the possible trouble that the custom officers may give.. and we would have to "lugi" some ang baos and oranges everytime we get our passports chopped.. i just don't understand.. these officers have no sense of righteousness whatsoever.. they will boldly demand ang baos and oranges from the drivers.. luckily we would always have some $1 ang baos ready.. haha.. but with so many recent incidents of people getting detained in Malaysia because of their passports not being chopped, we decided to play safe this year, and have some steamboat at our grandparents' house instead.. =)

but i miss the goreng pisang along the shophouse near po po's house.. that's the only thing i look forward to, when we visit her in johor.. =(

but anyway.. today was the charter anniversary of Bago!! the festival!! =D

yar, i know i've been saying this for umpteen times, but i really wish that i could be there!! it's kinda a pity, that despite being in Bago 3 times, i have never get to experience their very own festival.. arghh.. timing is always not right..

but i guess it will be a success anyway.. haha.. i wanna see pictures!! many colourful pictures!! =) thanks tricia, for receiving the award on my behalf.. i think i'll only get to see my plaque at the end of the year.. hehe..

sian.. tomorrow's the start of work.. gotta teach tuition.. really, what a boring new year..

new year eve..

i gave up getting new clothes for the new year.. after quite a number of futile rounds of shopping, i gave up.. all the shops are selling similar clothing, and they are all not my cup of tea.. arghh.. forget it manz..

and i was too lazy to get out of the house anyway.. so i did some spring-cleaning of my room instead.. spent almost 7 hours doing it.. got rid of some old stuff that i've been keeping for years (and i have no idea why i do that).. so... less rubbish, less dust in my room now.. haha..

so, wishing everybody a very happy chinese new year! good luck all year round, and money all year round!! hehe..

oh, and all the best to Bago, for the coming festival tomorrow and monday!! send me pictures ok?? =) miss you guys..

valentine's day..

"teacher, today is valentine's day leh.. can end tuition earlier?"

"you got a valentine meh?"

"no lar, but i think you got a valentine mah.."

"if i have one, i won't be sitting here, having my dinner with you on your tuition table.."

happy valentine's day to all the lovey-dovey couples out there, and happy friendship day to everyone!! =D

and what a great way to start the day, with a 8am lecture and a not-so-interesting lecturer.. arghh.. pleeeaase.. you won't get an explosion by mixing dilute hydrochloric acid with dilute sodium hydroxide.. but thanks to temogen, who woke me up with his v day message.. haha..

and then news of my friend's brother passing away came.. joseph, i hope that you are ok now.. you have always been a fatherly figure to me, i know you are strong.. and i hope that things are going ok for you.. =)

thanks biyun, the chocolates came just right in time.. hehe..

and i realised that i didn't really have time to sit down, relax, let my mind settle down, or even have a sip of juice (coffee is bad for a good sleep at night.. haha).. i was running places to places while in school, having tuition.. and my handphone kept beeping and reminding me of all the things i need to settle.. it has become another handy reminder alarm clock for me.. haha..

but thank god a piece of good news brought a nice end to the day.. i'm chosen to receive an award in Bago City!! whee!!! i don't expect to get rewarded, other than friendship and inspiration, for doing all the charity work.. but then, it's this coming sunday, and it's the first day of chinese new year.. i will get killed by my parents if i were to go.. awww.. how i wish i have a clone of me right now..

talking about new year, i have no time to do my new year shopping! arghh.. everyday is so packed, with days ending as late as 10pm.. how to shop? arghh..

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support my performance tomorrow! 7.30pm at marina square.. presenting to you some chinese new year music by NUSCO!! =)

support NUSCO annual concert!! 11 march 2007, sunday, 5pm at UCC.. =) get tickets from me!!

a fieldtrip and a night of cycling..

i can't walk anymore.. my feet are in a terrible state, with one new crack and the old ones deepened.. and my knees are sore.. *ouch* it really hurts.. sooner or later, i may need clutches, or a wheelchair..

putting that aside, the fieldtrip to Little India and the night cycling quest really took those frustrating things off my mind.. i was back to making silly jokes and nonsense for the day.. which was a good thing (i hope)..

and i happened to meet 2 sweet korean girls in Little India.. they are the same age as me, but they have been touring around countries.. sigh.. when will it be my turn?



and then the night cycling.. thank god there was no mishap this year.. =) only came back with some bruises and painful feet, knees and butts.. haha..



we like to make fun of our dear friend, ryan, for his small eyes.. haha..

with some regulations to follow, we had to wear helmets..



which the picture reminds me of this.. haha..



but anyway, the night cycling was quite a feat, knowing that we cycled for 33km (based on waipeng's speedometer) for almost 6 hours, with stops in between for good food.. heh.. we weren't so concerned about the points and the games, but we just wanted to have fun and explore around places.. but then hor, i really want to complain.. the clues for the various checkpoints were so lame! my goodness.. "7023 set in stone beside the lake house" actually means this..



and the "rosy orb on the head".. alamak.. but oh well, we did had fun.. over the lame clues.. haha..

but i really need some rest, for my feet at least.. and you will see me walking like some freak with 2 big bandages in school tomorrow..

happy day..

happy happy birthday to tricia and papa! =)

it is becoming a yearly thing, to call back to Bago on this day, other than to wish them, but also to get to talk to the rest of the people.. of course it would be impossible to speak to every single one of them, but at least i know i will hear many familiar voices.. =)

tricia and papa, don't worry, i'm fine here.. =) though i misses all of you, and i know you miss me too.. haha.. take care of yourselves.. tricia, hope that your cough will be gone forever.. and papa, i wish you the best of health, and i'll bring you more food (and potato chips.. hehe) the next time.. =)

and tricia, go get a date soon.. remember that i told you that you will get married in a few years' time? haha..



i really miss the mornings that i sat outside of the house with papa.. sometimes we just kept quiet (i think i was just stone-ing, or my mind was flying around) but i like papa's company.. i like the way he called out to the "Ta-ho" man and bought me the beancurd.. =) and with him around, i would have to eat whatever he asked me to.. haha..

and ton-ton refused to sing "hawak kamay" to me.. boohoo..

moments ago, i received temogen's texts.. good to hear from him.. i miss all the nice chats with him.. i look up to him as my elder brother, and i always learn something from him.. =) kaibigan ko, ok lang ako, at masaya din.. sana, makita kita muli, siguro sa Bago, o siguro sa Singapore dito!! hehe.. miss kita! =) hope that your wishes will come true, and i'm sure they will.. dahil maniwala ko na siyempre mangyari ang wishes mo.. =) haha.. i hope i phrase it right..

i miss all of you!!!! muacks muacks muacks!!

endangered species..

i now truly believe that i'm an endangered species.. =D.. after today's first tutorial for psychology, i truly do.. haha..

well, it is always believed that people see and process faces with the right hemisphere of their brains.. i.e. they tend to notice and see the left side of the faces and process the information with the right hemisphere of the brain..

but today's test proved that i don't do it that way.. as in my brain doesn't choose to do it that way.. haha.. or rather, i don't purposely control it.. haha.. i broke the record, out of 36 photos, none of them i process the left side of the faces.. that means, i process the right side of all the faces, and which means, i work with my left hemisphere of the brain.. haha.. even my tutor was doubting me, and thought that i was dozing off during the lesson.. haha..

so, i'm truly an endangered species! haha.. so i should be protected! wahaha..

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my secondary school's classmate is leaving for Denmark for an exchange programme.. and over dinner i was hearing so many plans of friends going to places, travelling around the world for holiday, for studying..

where am i? where will i head to? what kind of path that my future will lead me to?

monday blues..

i think i will oversleep on every monday, and i think i will need to take a cab to school every monday.. who likes to have lessons at 8am, on monday?? arghh.. and it's 8am to 6pm every monday.. 10 freaking long hours.. my goodness..

one of my favourite lecturers, Prof. Benito Tan, is one of my lecturers for this semester! yeahhey.. although he will only be guest-lecturing for a few lectures, but i think it's good enough, at least i know it's not some other sucky lecturers.. haha.. and his philippino accent.. ooohh.. reminded me of my dear friends in the lovely city of Bago.. haha.. his "actually", "back", "rank" and my favourite - "fungus" (he pronounced it as "foong-goose").. haha..

but i don't like my TA.. serious, i really don't like him.. he doesn't understand what we are trying to say, and same goes for us.. we don't understand his questions, and he doesn't understand our answers.. and he likes to drag the lesson, and talks non-stop.. he can only understand our answers if we phrase them in his words.. and i mean, word-for-word.. arghh.. i can't imagine i'll have to see him for the next few practicals.. arghh.. what happened to all the other good TAs? why is my good TA from the last semester not teaching us this semester?? why???

new pyjamas for my tofu..

my big tofu is going to sleep in his new pyjamas.. =D



isn't he cute? haha.. although his legs are kinda short, and the arms too.. haha.. but his legs are still swollen.. haha.. but i'll make him do some leg exercises.. wahaha..

random..

finally i decided to throw away my notes from my JC days.. haha.. don't laugh, i always thought that those notes will come in handy anytime (and they did, during my first year in university).. haha.. but now, when i'm settled with the thought of graduating this semester, these notes seem to be just occupying space and collecting dust in my room.. so i've decided to dump them, though not everything.. haha.. so as to make way for more notes for this semester.. haha..

and while clearing up my shelves, i saw the book containing messages from teachers and students, which was given to us during our prom at the end of our JC years.. i almost forgot that this book exists.. hmm.. 2 years in JC is too short to make it memorable enough.. and friends come and go, and most of my classmates i have not been in contact with for quite a long time, and sometimes i wonder where have these people gone to.. sigh..

anyway, another little story from philippines..

as i've mentioned, i travelled out of the island of Negros to Cebu and Bohol.. my main objective to Bohol was to visit NUSCO sponsored child, Jen Melfe, and hopefully to visit the famous Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers in Bohol..

Jen Melfe is a shy little 9 year old girl.. her family is poor, and they have to support 4 young children.. when i visited her, she was having fever, so i guessed she wasn't that active as i would expect her to be..

although we didn't get to talk a lot due to language barriers and her being sick, i felt something whenever i held her hand.. it felt different from the feelings when i hold the hands of other children.. i couldn't describe, but perhaps her skinny hand made me feel that there should be more things to be done, to help these children.. even with monthly contributions, it would still require much more effort to change the lives of these children..

bringing her to Jolly-Bee was something new to her.. that was her first time going into a fast food restaurant.. at 9 year old, that was her first time eating in a fast food restaurant.. how old were you, when u had your first meal in MacDonalds or any other fast food restaurant? 1 year old? 2 year old?

and she didn't eat a lot.. only a few bites of the spagetti.. she asked me if she could have an ice-cream.. i would very much loved to buy her one, but she was running a fever.. and i told her, "next time ok? when you are not sick.. when you recover.." and i hope there would be a next time..

initially i planned to bring her around the city, or maybe perhaps shopping for a christmas gift for her.. but she was not feeling well, so after lunch i let her return home, and i continued to tour around the little island of Bohol..

with only a few hours stay on the island, it was impossible for me to visit the Chocolate Hills, but at least i managed to see those cute little tarsiers, close-up!



they are smaller than the size of my palm, and with their big eyes staring at you, you would really love to get one to bring it home.. haha.. aren't they adorable? haha..



too bad they are endangered (or so i thought).. but i was only there for about half an hour or so, and i had to return to the port to take a ferry back to Cebu.. so much for travelling 2 hours to-and-fro just to see the tarsiers..

oh well, the next time, i want my Chocolate Hills!! =D

rain..

rainy nights tend to make me think a lot.. more than usual.. haa.. a quiet journey from school back home can be something challenging for my mind, because my mind can fly to a faraway place..



listening to "Hawak Kamay" brought me back to Bago City.. it means "to hold hands together".. and i really wish i could do that right now.. and this song made me remember the last morning i sat outside the house with papa, and ton-ton came singing this song and made me cry.. aww..

and coming home, to know that my previous lecturer had passed away due to a sudden heart attack.. he was one of my favourite lecturers, whom i truly admire.. i liked the way he made the lessons interesting and funny with his jokes and his weird laughter.. it's really a pity, and if given an opportunity, i would very much love to take one of his modules again..

sigh.. rainy night..

busy..

there goes my reputation as a responsible tutor.. arghh.. blame the agent, i did not agree to the new assignment, but she told the parents that i would be there.. and it so happened that they are the neighours of my kids.. and my kids' mum called to ask me what happened.. -_-""

but still, it's the agent's fault! how could she tell the parents that i accepted the assignment when i didn't agree to anything?? worse still, i was not given any contact number or address, so where am i suppose to go to teach?? arghh..

oh well, i may not have time for the new student anyway.. haha..

and i've got a part-time job, working in CFA, doing those nitty gritty things like tearing labels and removing plastic covers from books.. it's ok to be paid for doing brainless jobs.. because i need my brain cells for other things.. haha..

anyway, a little story from Bago City.. =)



this was taken during the christmas party (19 Dec 2006) at Astro Farm Day Care and Elementary School.. we were playing games with the kids, and in this game, they had to form the longest line with whatever they have on them..

because they only had simple clothing on them, all they could use were their shoes and their clothes.. even if the prizes were only candies and simple toys, they wanted them so much, because they were really that attractive to them.. they wanted to win so much, that the boys took off all their clothes, including their undies.. even the girls were half-naked.. but of course the boys' team won.. =)

and all of us really had a good time, laughing and playing along with them.. =) another interesting fact about this photo, it became 2nd most viewed photo (54 views!!) after only 3 days of uploading it to flickr.. haha.. and you are going to wonder what is the most viewed photo.. haha..

and hello to everyone in Bago!! =) i miss all of you, i really do.. hope everybody's doing fine there.. and like what tricia said, i should be back, to make everybody happy, especially papa.. haha.. don't worry, i've been thinking about my next trip already.. hopefully it will happen.. *cross my fingers* so pray for me too!! love you guys!! =)

first day back to school..

damn.. first day of school, 8am lesson.. i almost overslept.. because i didn't hear the chickens.. haha.. tricia and papa will know what i mean.. when i was there, i woke up at around 6am everyday.. almost no fail.. haha.. and i always told them that "the chickens are working very hard".. haha..

but next week onwards, every monday is going to be a 8-to-6 day.. 8am to 6pm.. arghh.. monday blues!! but thanks goodness tuesday is my free day, and the rest of the days are short days.. but i don't think it will not be a free day anymore, after i put in all my slots for the kids' tuition.. in another words, i may be working almost 7 days a week.. sheesh.. and i have already started tuitioning the kids yesterday.. no time to rest.. haha..

anyway, i've already uploaded the photos from my Bago trip to flickr.. so just click on the icon to view them.. =) perhaps i will select some, and post it here, because every photo has its own story to tell.. =)

once again, thanks to all my friends who have made the big tofu for me.. =) i had a good time hugging it to sleep.. hehe..

thank you all for the big plush toy!

thank you all, so much.. for the big plush toy!! it was really a nice surprise.. =) now i'll have something nice to hug at night.. =) maybe that's why my mum threw away my smelly pillow while i was away in philippines.. although i really miss it right now, and i couldn't sleep well last night.. i should have brought it with me to philippines.. damn..

bigger than my bolster.. =D.. the small one is the original version, but the big one is handmade.. wooh~~

and it's big enough to take the driver's seat.. haha..

anyway, thank you all so much.. i know there are many people involved in this, different people sewing different parts of the plush toy.. thank you so so much.. =)

i've yet to give a name for it.. tentatively it's "big tofu", since i called the small one "tofu prince".. haha..

now it's back to my usual life, back to orchestra practice.. thankful to have friends that care for me even when i'm away.. somehow the transition period after coming back from Bago seems to be better than the previous times.. =)

anyway, bago pictures to be posted in a couple of days, after i'm done with all other nitty gritty stuff, like packing all the pasalubongs and settling the school's timetable.. =)

back from my second home..

i'm back, from my second home.. =)

coming back, was again, something hard to do.. saying goodbyes, and all the cryings.. haha.. but i think i cried less.. at least i didn't cry when i entered the boarding gate.. =)

this time round, although the transit was more convenient, without having to claim my luggage at the domestic airport and moving out of the airport.. but i still made a booboo.. my passport was not chopped, so i had to get out of the boarding gate and requeue for all procedures again.. and the people there all thought i was a filipina when i spoke tagalog.. haha.. and i surprised them by showing my passport.. haha..

and the customs at changi airport is so self-service now.. scanning my own passport and thumbprint.. and that's it.. haha..

but anyway, a sincere and heartfelt thanks to everybody in Bago City.. TRY, the Matti family and relatives, the Mondia, Singson and Torres family and their big family, the HRMO staff, joenil and family, and everyone else in the neighbourhood, in the schools, and people i've met.. thank you all so much, for giving me such a wonderful time and memories.. =) thank you, for being so nice to me, helping me, giving me treats, allowing all my requests.. hehe..

but please, the next time i fall sick, no need to make a fuss out of it.. i can take care of myself.. hahaha.. =D

i'll remember all the good time i have spent there, the ice-box cake, my specially-prepared mashed potatoes, the jokes and the new words i've learnt.. =) and also our theme song, hawak kamay.. =) i'll make ton-ton sing that to me again.. haha..

and sorry, for any inconvenience caused due to my requests, for any unintentional silly jokes i've made, and whatever trouble i have given.. =)

i'll remember tricia's two words, "Be Back".. and papa's words too.. and everybody's.. and i'll be back *hopefully so*.. =)

so for now, i'll miss all of you.. we are just a text away, and there's always emails, calls, and my blog! =) love all of you, miss all of you, and i'll be back.. *hopefully*.. =)

big update..

sorry for the no-post.. haha.. due to me travelling around islands, and the poor internet connection..

anyway, christmas was fun, so was the new year.. firecrackers bombing around the town, non-stop.. haha..

the mission to Bohol was completed, after meeting up with NUSCO's sponsored child, Jen Melfe.. =) and bringing her and her family to a meal in JollyBee.. and it was her first time eating fast food in her 9 years.. although she was quiet most of the time (she was running a fever then), but still i could sensed that she was happy, or at least i hope.. haha..

and i also got to see the cute little Tarsiers in Bohol.. hehe.. but too bad, no chocolate hills this time, due to the rushed schedule.. haha..

so, at least for now, i have been out of Negros Occidental, to Bohol and Cebu.. wahaha.. but the trip back was horrible.. 5 hours of waiting at the bus terminal, and more than 8 hours of bus ride.. and that caused me to have a bad cough.. arghh.. sadly to say, i'm still coughing..

christmas spent with the Mondia family was good.. =) and new year with the Matti family was good too.. food, food, food.. eat, eat, eat.. haha..

so, tentatively, i have more or less done with my mission, except for some stuff to be distributed by them when the school reopens.. i'll leave it to TRY to settle it.. =)

and i still have 2 days left here in Bago.. of course i'm sad to leave, but i'll still have to go.. i'll miss this place..

christmas parties..

yesterday's christmas party at A.M. Espinos Elementary School was overwhelming.. and indeed, i had fun.. =)

the children were so excited about the party, that they were already sitted under the hot sun when we arrived.. and seeing upon all of us wearing red santa hats, they were estatic..

we watched the children's performances, played games, sang songs, danced to the currently-popular "Boom Tarat" song.. and we also prepared spagetti, bread and juice for the 250 students in the school..

the later part of the programme was about giving and receiving.. it feels good to see smiles on their faces when they received the stationery, toys and clothes from us.. at some time, i had to give out little toys to children randomly, and when all of them came crowding around me, i couldn't move at all..

the most touching part was when the whole school sang a "Thank you" song.. i have never heard people singing a song with lyrics filled with thanks, and they sang it with their heart.. manz.. indescribable..

today will be another christmas party for another elementary school, which the condition is worse than the previous one.. i don't know what to expect, but i know, i will see smiles.. =)

update..

ok.. another short update..

went to 2 schools, Ramon-Torres Malingin National High School and Ramon-Torres Taloc National High School to distribute things to the top 10 students of each level and Ms Teen TRY candidates..

ok lar, they are grateful, they appreciate, and i am happy too.. =)

next week i will be having 2 christmas parties for 2 elementary schools, and then i will distribute the rest, including the toys and stationery.. more kids.. =)

schedule for the day..

ahh.. back from lunch break.. =)

this morning was going to place after place..

1st stop: Astro Farm Elementary School
we were there for TRY's feeding program.. around 50 kids are part of this program, where they will be provided with food, bread and juice.. this little girl, whom we named her Judy Ann (after a very popular actress here in Philippines) lost one of her parents, and she is part of the program.. and she's soo cute!! haha.. the road to Astro Farm is super bumpy.. we past by a "forest of sugarcane", and sometimes i saw no roads ahead of us... =X.. at one point, the driver and Nonoy had to get out of the van to check the depth of the mudpool, just in case the van gets stuck in it.. haha..

2nd stop: Ma-ao Sugar Central High School
we distributed the sponsored notepads and pens to the top 10 students from each level, and files for the top student of each level.. the candidate for Ms Teen TRY also received a package of 1 file, 4 notepads and pens.. hopefully these items will serve as a form of inspiration and motivation to study hard.. =)

3rd stop: Ma-ao Lousiana High School
went there to give a package to a candidate for Ms Teen TRY too..

4th stop: Sagasa High School
the same goes to this high school, distributing the same thing as the Ma-ao Sugar Central High School..

later in the afternoon, more places to go to.. Malignin, Dulao and Taloc.. busy day... =)

oh, i will be going to Bohol to visit NUSCO's sponsored child! yeahhey!! =)

in Bago!!

hello everyone!! =) i'm here again in tricia's office.. using my 'boyfriend' computer.. wahahah..

anyway, the flights here were ok, except for a little turbulence.. and the settling of air tickets in the new terminal of the Ninoy Aquino Airport was kinda messy.. and the plane, as usual, was delayed.. but i survived.. haha..

but it was kinda disappointing, when clara couldn't come with me.. well, parents are parents afterall.. with the news of terrorist attacks and the typhoons, i understand.. oh well, i can survive anyway, knowing that i have so many friends here.. hehe..

the weather here wasn't good either.. there was a typhoon, but it was Signal 1, so it was only non-stop heavy rain.. so don't worry.. =) and now the sun is out!! i can play under the sun!! woohoo!

some updates from here.. everyone here is well and good.. joseph looks thinner now, so is Bong.. haha.. temogen is away in Manila, but will be back for christmas.. hehe.. ryan's wife is 5 months pregnant!! =D and princess has a new baby boy!! =D papa's health is getting better too.. and joenil was shocked to see me!! haha.. 'cos tricia purposely didn't tell him about my trip.. haha.. in general, everybody is doing well lar.. hahaha..

this 2 weeks i will be kept busy with all the TRY's activities, but i will still try to find time to come to the office to use the computer.. =)

ok, that's all for now! will try to come online often.. happy early merry christmas, and tata~ =)

flying soon..

ok, bags are all packed (finally.. after hours of dilly-dally-ing).. haha.. every year it seems like i am going with more and more bags.. cannot blame lar, so many people, so many presents.. =D

a whole new journey is about to begin, with a friend to share my joy, experience, and of course, workload.. haha.. i hope that this trip is the best, and perhaps the next trip an even better one.. haha..

but i am a bit disappointed, because my plans for visiting my sponsored child may not come true.. problems cropped up at the last minute.. sigh.. will see how when i'm there..

meanwhile, if you guys need to contact me, i can still be reached at the same number, or email (though replies will be a few days delayed)..

ok, a happy merry early christmas to all, while i wait for a few more hours to my flight.. =) take care all!

~ i'm leaving on a jetplane, don't know when i'll be back again, oh babe, i hate to go~

one more day..

ahh.. one more day.. =)

sorry for the lack of updates recently, despite the end of those horrible papers.. hehe.. i was busy preparing things for my trip lar.. and my spending powers came into play.. haha..

although this time round, things are a bit rushed, but at least they are much more smoothly carried out, compared to last year.. i am more prepared this year, more plannings done, though i am more ambitious too.. but at least i have achieved it.. =)

this may be the last time i am doing this.. i don't know if i will get a chance to do it again.. i don't know what i will do after i graduate, and i really don't know if i will have the time to be away for a long time.. so now, i tell myself, make this trip the best, and the most rewarding one.. =)

to all friends who have been showing support, helping me with my donation drive, a very BIG thank you.. and i will see all of you next year.. =)

new toy!

yeahhey! i have a new toy, a new baby!! hahah.. a brand new camera!! whoosh~

if not for the spoilt old one, i could have saved up a little bit of money.. the old one was only 2 years old.. so young, and it died.. sigh.. and the specs were not that good anyway, and i don't know why i bought that in the first place.. haha.. besides the repair was supposed to cost me at least $200.. i might as well buy a new one.. haha..

so i'm going to play around with this new toy, but of course, taking good care of it, at least try to reduce the number of scratches, the chances of dropping it onto the floor, and lengthen its life span.. haha..

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one last paper to go!! in fact, one last horrible paper to go.. i'm praying that prof ip is not going to kill us all (but i think he is).. good luck to all, especially those who are still in the midst of their exams!!

5 more days to Bago City! =D