Today is SUNDAY.

Today's SUNDAY. Really.

Five us - Me, Rue, Karl, Chester and Aris are supposed to meet and watch prince of Persia today. Yet, we were still anticipating Aris to come. He's about to arrive from a long arduous journey from Mindanao up to here since they came here with the means of RORO. They brought their car dude! (Rich)

We've gone tired and each decided to meet up at SM City with distinct purposes. I, for an LBC pick up, Karl and Rue to withdraw some cash, Chester didn't come though.
We met up at circuit city, watched Karl as he plays a game, and constantly go to the cinema for a movie prospect. Yet we aren't watching, we'll be waiting for Aris to come, tomorrow, probably. Rue and I have gone tired of waiting Karl and decided to buy some refreshments from Mang Donaldo.

We went upstairs again and peered for Karl again. He's already left, yet we found him again, a little later. Rue still had not enough of his McFlurry so he asked for another one. I didn't dare to have some once more 'coz I still have a Monster Coke Float to relish. HAHAHAHA. We lingered, waited for Karl for his order, talked, joked around and stuffs. We also came to formulate a mocking phrase. Everytime any of us talks about something without being asked, we often say, "SHARE MO LANG? CUTE EH!" It sounds offensive and not funny, yet we laugh out loud with it. Are we nuts? haha. Later, Karl joins us with that phrase too.

Anyway, I just realized how idiot and forgetfull KIKAY is. REALLY!!!

After SM, I decided to go to West to pass a requirement, a pahabol actually. Well, since Rue and Karl are bound for CPU, were taking same Jeepney ride. I convinced them to accompany me to school, they agreed and stopped the jeepney beside Jollibee. West is nearer so we decided to walk than waste "LIMA" for a jeepney. It wasn't that sunny that's why it was okay. As we neared the institution, I noticed the school looked so peaceful.. .

The apprehension struck me hard, real hard. I suddenly gasped, put my hand in my face, laughed and said, "Ai ka tanga!!!" I keep on repeating such until i noticed Karl said something. I realized he was sharing something in the midst of my waggish trance. He protested when i said "tanga" which he thought it was him i am addressing. I stared at the twins, and laughed again. They were completely unaware too.

To tell you guys, anew, TODAY IS SUNDAY. No office hours!!! oh, men! SHAME ON ME. haha. How am I going to pass that requirement? hahaha

P.S Sorry Karl and Rue, I let you walk for miles for nothing.

Did Paranoia Knocked and I let it enter?

I still dunno the crime rate here in Iloilo, I guess, that's laid upon me to research. haha.

Even though, I often go to places here, did you know that I dreaded being out of the house? not actually out of the house - I loved being out of this freaky home though the prickly heat breaks into my skin, but i dreaded walking out of the subdivision under the scrutiny of lots of mundane people.

I am afraid, yes. Passing everyday, walking like an idiot, bowing low. There are variety of people I could see just by passing by. A group of kids boasting their new toys (under the heat of the sun, eh?); group of wenches giggling and speaking sotto voce with their heads hung low together; a group of men playing basketball at the center of the road; men and women playing golf on a ram shackled golf course alongside the road; groups of pedicab drivers; and people just like me, anticipating for a quick ride for a jeep.

The group which bothers me most is the basketball men and the pedicab drivers. I hate them staring at me head to toe, (Not trying to be feelingon or what. haha)
I disdain them for always saying, "sin.o ka text mo ga?" What the hell you care anyway? haha. Since i always clench my cell phone and flip it open every time i pass by. I do that to avoid those prying eyes. I also pretend to be fumbling for something in my bag, or in my wallet. Sometimes, I dress ordinarily and boyishly to make me look a stronger personality and NOT a WIMPY GIRL which would be scared with them. Did you know that i bought loads of bubble gum and chewed it hungrily, producing a sucking sound. haha. It made me feel stronger too. haha.

I also heard them talk to each other and say, "amu na tung pangayu.an niyo number part?" That's why before i take a turn at that road where these assuming, show-off, trying hard basketball players are, I pray that they're sick and couldn't get out of bed so that the road is clear and spotless!!! this means, I only have to deal with those pedicab drivers.

Hey, You tell me, am i paranoid? Or Idiot? Did too much heat penetrated my thinking? huh?

After all the rubbish, it's done

"No one touched me like that..."

I've just complied everything for my medical certificate. And i tell you, it wasn't that easy! For the record, the process was more convoluted than students taking up marines.

I've undergone CBC check, X-ray, Urinalysis, Fecalysis for my laboratory. They checked my Blood pressure as every school normaly does, my pulse rate, cardiac rate, height and weight. They also checked my eyes through Snellen, I had my dental check, and the most dreaded of all was the breast check! I don't know what was that for, but they had a stethoscope and - I don't wanna go with the details. ahaha. I hated it.

Well, progression of the medical tests were strict. We had a dress code: wear shorts. I thought it was okay not to follow the dress code yet, i saw a girl, with only a towel draped right at her waist. We chatted and i knew why. She wore jeans, and the doctor asked her to take it off. She remained at that state from the start of the tests until it ended. oh, pity!

I also came to have a few acquaintances. A political science student too, soon to be classmate, HENNA. And Mary Jane, an AB english student. We exchanged few words, jokes, infos, history and stuffs. I hope we would get along someday.

Stupid Kids

I hate kids. I mean, filthy kids. And I hate the way they sit next to me, their noisy noises ringing in my ears, their pungent smells. Urg! I also hate them staring at my stuffs just like my phone and my laptop. A filthy little boy here often comes in the house with her sisters to watch tv. I don't care as long as they don't get near me. But this little boy has a bark skin i guess. He keeps on coming and tells me he wants to play with my laptop. Everytime I set my hands on my laptop, every time i work with something, he sticks out his hand touches the screen, and covers everything until i don't see a single thing. When I use a mouse, he reaches out moves his fingers on the touch pad. I pushed the touch pad lock yet he still sees how it's done. He often tells me to move faster with my work so he could play! Urgh!

See??? I'm just forcing my self not to hurl him outside the house.

Smooth as silk

The smoothest, tearless break-up incident I knew.


She: Break tayo. Mag aaral na ako ng mabuti.
He: Ai? Okay.
She: Friends?
He: Friends. . .

See? hahaha.

Med results

I tell you, i envy my classmates who has already been enrolled to their future colleges 'coz as of now, I'm not yet enrolled. I still have to go through a needle's eye before enrolling.

I hate being at hospitals. I don't like the scent of drugs permeating the whole establishment. I also don't want to see someone on a stretcher heaving for breath, and the most dreaded thing for me is seeing myself being pricked by a syringe.
But there is one thing i like about hospitals. I love to see nurses and doctors strutting in every part of the edifice. I love to see them wear their white tunics and nurses' caps and carry medicine. I idolize them for being so expert with syringes and stuffs. Of course, they learned it. haha.

Well, just this day, I have undergone my x-ray, and they sucked out my blood. I still don't have my urinalysis and stool. Urinalysis isn't a problem but what about stool??? huhu. How?

Anyway, here are my results and i understand none of it.

Hemoglobin, mass concentration is 101 g/L
Erythrocyte volume fraction is 0.32 L/L
Erythrocyte number concentration 4.31x10 raised to 12 L.
Leucocyte number concentration 8.4x10 raised to 9.
Neutrophil number fraction 0.65
segmenter 0.65
Lymphocyte number fraction 0.34
Eosinophils number fraction 0.01
Thrombocyte number fraction 360

What i only know for now is that some of the aforementioned were abnormal.
and then what????

Goodbye for now

Now I knew how it feels to be totally away from your family and friends in exchange with entire strangers, distant relatives and a few friends from your hometown. Yet, it’s a relief to have someone you know than no one at all, right?

It was hard to bid everyone goodbye in person, ‘coz my stock of tears are all on the verge of falling. Though I would only be away for 5 months or more, yet it was the longest span that I’m going to be away for consecutive months. I kissed my relatives older than me, and the kids kissed me. It’s already a tradition in our family. I was on the edge of crying but I forced it back. My eyes were glassy when I pulled out.

When I was at the van bound for Davao, my tears splashed down. I draped my hair on the other side to hide my upwelling tears from my Dad who was just right outside the van. I keep on pushing the upsetting momentum yet it knocks out of my brain. I was still crying when the van lurched forward and set off for a long bumpy journey.

Yet, pictures of my family flashed involuntarily at my mind. I always try to wave it off. I turned to observe the clouds we were traversing thousands of altitude on air which seemed like cotton sprawled everywhere; the blue seas which looked like a vast tile of unwavering water and scrutinize it properly and relish as I see the tiny ripples; and the green mountainous surface below, the tiny squares of the civilization, the snaky white paths of ridges, and the labyrinthine paved roads of the cities.

In that way, I temporarily forgot the idea nudging me a while ago. When I got tired of examining the profound resources below, I open my book “The Tenth Gift “ and read, moving to another world of 16th century England.

Anyway, enough of my imaginations. Haha. Now, I must face my new life here in Iloilo.

Bitch!!!

Premature fornication is a trend nowadays, haven’t you noticed? hahaha. Such an enticing deed for opposite sex yet has a grave consequence when tolerated.

The day we brought Manang Daping to the hospital, we noticed a woman weeping on the rear end of the emergency room. I moved around and surreptitiously peered behind the curtains next to Manang’s. Then I held my gaze on a pregnant girl, weeping, flinching with pain. It was such a pity to see a child suffer from early child birth. We queried with the mother beside her and confirmed that the girl was 15 years old, and the one who has buried a seed on her is her teacher. Such a foul thing to sully the said noble profession. I suddenly felt a tinge of outrage towards the teacher who has maltreated this poor girl.

I went home, and was back at the hospital a day after Manang’s operation. I was with Manang Kring-Kring that day and went to watch for her for a day. We slept on the hospital premises and made ourselves comfortable. During our stay, we came to close watch of the girl maltreated by his teacher. Yet, with great disappointment, the benevolence felt was replaced by scorn and utter contempt with the girl. We discovered that she wasn’t raped. The teacher was her lover!!! Disgusting. I felt a sudden insolence toward the both of them.

We also learned that they couldn’t be released out of the hospital due to paucity of money. We were informed that their hospital bill was 1000 more. They’re broke indeed. They stayed a little longer. They dispute on the fact of calling the culprit or I should say the lover. I heard the girl,”Ambot, pabay.e tana ng linti nga diputa na!” So, I felt a sudden remorse on what I’ve said, after all, she regretted what happened. At least, that was good.

The dusk came, and we were shocked to see a man, we found out that he was the teacher who screwed up the girl. He brought food for them. I glanced up the girl at the privy, I thought she was dreading the man, but then again I felt an upsurge of emotions. I saw her giggling and her sister was nudging her. Bitch!!! I thought she was mad at him.

The teacher stayed long, they lay together along with the infant between them. It was sunrise when we saw such immorality. We saw the man cupping the breasts and running his fingers down between her legs. All people in the ward were staring with scornful looks in their faces yet, it was just as if no one’s around. In fact, everyone inside the ward, knew their case. Eew! Gross!

The girl really doesn’t know how to babysit. Every time her baby cries, she just slept and ignored the poor thing. When she was nudged to wake up by her mother or anyone in the ward, she often gets mad and mutter some almost inaudible words of disdain. She also doesn’t seem to care about herself, she has a messed up hair, stained clothes and blood sputtered pajamas. Yet, she doesn’t care, she still sleeps sprawled on the bed with her bloody pajamas exposed. Sigh!

Babies

Babies - How cute these little things are. How I love to cuddle and flung my arms around them. I’m fond of carrying them around, strolling till my arms ache due to weariness. I opt to be with babies below 1 year old because, they don’t move too much, and I don’t have to chase after them. I just wanted to sit and stand in place. It’s heart-warming when you see their first smile, you’ll really love it when they cooed, your heart breaks when they cry out loud. I don’t know what babies feel when they cry. Perhaps, they feel uncomfortable with their clothes, they look for their parents, or they wanted to be entertained.

In our compound, we already have three babies. The eldest among these infants is Abiella Marie Kapunan or Jelai, she is my cousin. I guess she’s seven months old, yet turning eight this May 22 or something. I really don’t know. Haha. I don’t have time to ask while typing this post. She already crawls, sits, and stands with something or someone to lean on. She’s a very sensitive baby. She tends to be with her own brothers and sisters, and parents, of course. She doesn’t want anyone to hold her. You know what, every time I carry her, she cries real hard. She slaps her little hands on my face and stretches her body. I hate her when she does that. I’m really on the verge of hurling her out of the house. Haha. She also loves to ride on her rattan stroller. Well, she doesn’t have such exquisite cushioned stroller ‘coz rattan’s the only thing her family could provide. Jelai’s a malnourished baby. She’s underweight and often catches cold. Anyway, I spend more time with her than any other babies in our compound.

The second baby here in our extensive family is Brennan K. Chua. He is my nephew. Brennan’s 3 months old, I guess. He’s a plump little baby, with stubby fingers and legs. He has big round eyes which almost peer into your soul. We don’t see him often just like Jelai. I seemed to think that he’s isolated from everyone. His mother, his Wowa, and his Yaya Pani, in my perception, doesn’t want him to mingle with us. Anyway, he’s a real rich kid. Isn’t it obvious? He is Brennan K. CHUA. Haha. I’ll leave that fact for you to ponder. Yet, later on, as he grows up, he comes at his Lolo Totot and Lola Daging’s house. In that way, I could see him. I also, walk off to their house with some business. Manang asks me to talk to Brennan. Yet, there are conditions. You should speak English when talking to him. Well, it’s not a requirement but Manang prefers it. We also aren’t allowed to touch his face. Sigh. I’m not used to be with Brennan though he’s such a cute and healthy baby. I’ve never carried him in my arms. He’s heavy - Heavier and bigger than Jelai.

Our third baby, the newly born is Bai Alexia Kapunan or Alih, my niece. She has big eyes, a sculptured high nose, and wide lips. She’s a little scrawny, with long fingers and legs. Well, this thing is complicated. My cousin is unmarried, and got pregnant at the age of 19. She’s under graduate. I could not foresee the future of this infant. Her boyfriend is a muslim and also an undergraduate. I guess, they would depend on their parents. I also have no idea if Manang would marry Khalil. But, as far as I know, our family, particularly Manang’s father doesn’t acquiesce on the idea of her, tied on a Muslim family. For the record folks, Manang Daping is Jelai’s sister. So this leaves us the question, how would the family provide milk and other proper nourishments for the babies without support from the male’s side? Yet, I still see Khalil’s family support them. He and his sister Hauni often visits and watch Manang. Their parents do too. Perhaps, they seek responsibility and rights to the child. I can’t blame them anyhow. It’s their blood running on the child’s veins. The baby was surgically removed from my cousin’s belly which means a lot of money was used up. Pity! She’s suffering the pain from operation right now; she keeps on moaning and telling us that she’d rather have a normal delivery than ripped up.

Too bad I won’t be seeing these kids again. It’s going to be months ‘till I meet them again. They’ll be growing up, and I’ll miss it.

Swimming Craze

The day was 5th of May, birth date of two of my classmates - Glovarn and Tin Tin. I was invited to come on Glov’s celebration and not on Tin Tin’s. Yet, it was okay, I’d rather have at least one invitation than two and have a dilemma on which party I’ll be present at. I can’t be in two places at once.

I went there with Honey, Aika, and Kat. Honey and I met up at the terminal; we fetched Aika, and beckoned Kat from a waiting shed in front of NDTC.

I’ve anticipated finding at least 50 people ‘coz Glov told me so. Yet, There are only few. I just came back, so I missed my friends. We chatted, laughed, teased at each other like we used to do during our school days. We feasted on the food laid before us and a little while later, rode a truck jumping off to Seneres.

It was a tough bumpy ride. Some of us are in standing position, firmly gripping the iron railings overhead and beside us. The driving was harsh, that we, passengers seemed like logs piled up on the truck. We staggered on our feet at every hump we go straight into. Some of us fell off their feet and hit their butts with a dull thud on the iron base. We hunch down on every branches and twigs that brushed the truck as we chugged to our destination. The ride was fun, anyhow. Ha ha ha.

We reached Seneres, changed on our swimming attires. Some of the girls didn’t. They preferred to watch us devour the enjoyment of the waters. The boys played games with themselves. We dare not join them for we would really exhaust ourselves. Only I and Hani know how to swim, so we were swimming across the enormous pool. Aika and Cha really need assistance. I do, too, ‘coz I can’t last long on the deep waters, but I can swim forth for my own safety. Short distances, though.

We didn’t last long, we need to go home early. We eased ourselves out of the pool and changed clothes. The boys were left behind. Still, enjoying themselves. We lingered for several minutes which seemed like years for them to get tired of swimming. Yet, they didn’t. Did you know that they took of their shorts and swam with only their briefs on? But, we were not there of course. Glov just told me that they did. Ha ha ha.

We all got tired of waiting for them, so some of us decided to start walking out of this place. I, rhem and kat, were left behind, idling on our seats. I stood up reluctantly, sluggishly pacing after them, but before I made more steps onward, the truck came! Thank God. So, I called the boys out on the top of my voice for I no longer have the strength to go down the flight of steps and be back on top again.
I followed up a text message and yelled. After short moments, they came up, and moved out of Seneres. We had that enjoyable and bumpy ride again, and went on our respective homes.
Just another happy page of my life.

Iloilo

Iloilo – my would-be second home. There’s nothing so special about it, but lemme tell you some things about it.

Iloilo’s dialect is Ilonggo, or Hiligaynon. But, to tell you, the mindanaon ilonggo isn’t quite similar to Iloilo’s. There are terms in which we use differently - and the most importantly, the intonations. You wouldn’t get it right unless you come here and talk to them. You know what? I was really raising up my wards and fight off the Ilonggo’s sing-song tone. Yet, I ended up being the cause of laughter at home, back here in Mindanao.

Did you know? That they call BULAD as UGA?

When calling up at someone’s house, AYO is our term. But there. You should call, TAGBALAY.

As everyone know, our money is called, PISO, DOS, TRES. For example, tag SINGKO ang ice. Yet, at Iloilo, tag LIMA ang ice.

When riding a jeepney, once you were seated, you should pay forthwith. Ask for people infront of you to pass your fare to the driver. (Wala didto kundoktor)

Jeepney’s there are organized; they have trash cans inside their jeeps. They also keep their money into tiny rolls just like in cigarettes and place them in a translucent plastic box. They pile them there which would look like colorful minuscule bamboo walls. The coins are also classified into compartments.

When you have reached you destination, don’t you call out, sa UNHAN lang, while at Iloilo, they call out, sa BABAW lang.

These are some of the things I noticed. I’m starting to like the place except the intonation.

Which is Which?

It was 28th of April. The results on both WVSU and CPU are about to be unleashed. I was only nervous for West’s results ‘coz CPU’s exams we’re easy.

As I reached West, I scanned for my name and saw it immediately. I muttered a prayer of thanks and moved my gaze on further announcements posted beside it. Well, it was really like OMG. Wanna catch a glimpse?

Laboratory Tests ( anytime)
STFAP Bracketing and Interview ( May 18 – 21)
CAS Physical Exam (May 24-26)

You know what? I really planned to be enrolled before I go home and go back at Iloilo around the month of June. Yet, too bad, I’ll be back at May 18, which means, I only have almost 2 weeks of stay at Mindanao, and be at Iloilo for good!

I noted the schedules and called my parents to inform them that I passed, unaware of my wavering Ilonggo tone. Ha ha ha. Afterwhich, I went to CPU to get my results. I also passed and I could already be a regular student of CPU. Thus, I could already enroll. For the record folks, I took accountancy at CPU.

Faith and I we’re texting that time, she asked me if I already got enrollment requirements at West. I said no, and rushed back to West. I was confirmed and took some papers. These were; STFAP Application form (must be notarized by a lawyer and must also contain a cedula and my parents income tax); 2 Medical Services request slip; an Immunization record; and a Student – Parent Commitment. There are indeed a lot of things to attend to, before setting your foot at West Visayas - unlike CPU.

Well. As for CPU, you just take an exam for Math and English. If you don’t pass, just take up summer classes. This is one factor, my father don’t prefer CPU. I guess, he really wants me to have a hard time. Sigh.

As a matter of fact, I also wanted to be at CPU, for some of my classmates would be studying there, like Rue. Karl, and Jevah. I won’t be alone. Jevah’s taking up accountancy. Another is, I like CPU’s uniform, and the third is, Accountancy would be my course. Accountancy is a course to be, for you’ll surely have a work after you have graduated.

Now, this gives me a hard time choosing. Which is which?