You've Got Mail!

Yesterday I received this sms:

Rosella: Hi girls. I just wanted to share this with you. Today is one of the happiest days of my life. Dean just asked me to marry him...I accepted his proposal :) Kakasal na ako early 2006! Hehe. No concrete plans yet. I'll keep you all posted!:) mwah!:)

Jill: Wow! I'm so happy for you two! Congrats! Imbitado ba ako sa kasal? :)

Rosella: Ikaw pa! :) Imbitado buong HS barkada natin :)

Jill: What did your parents say? I bet umiyak daddy mo no?

Rosella: Hehehe:) They both cried, but tears of joy naman :)

Jill: Wow! WOW!

Today I received a card printed on scented paper. An invitation, to be more precise. But I have been sworn to secrecy, so this will be the last time I'll be mentioning said invitation. I can tell you if you ask nicely, but then I'd have to kill you.

Tomorrow I'm mailing a Christmas card to my Spanish penpal. We've been writing to each other since high school but sadly, our correspondence stopped around two years ago, because in the age of email and instant messaging, snail mail became obsolete. However, I recently chanced upon a stack of her letters and again experienced the thrill of actually opening, unfolding and perusing a piece of stationery.

For all the convenience that email can bring, nothing can still beat the allure of the printed word. Don't even get me started on love letters :)

So I'm going to reestablish old ties by sending a Christmas card from my part of the world. Besides, it's always good to have friends in all the corners of the world. It will definitely save a lot on lodging in the future :)

10,000 Strong

Wow! I'm about to breach the 10,000 visitors mark today (the tally is at 9,997 as I type this)! I remember the first time I reached a milestone and dutifully posted about it for posterity's sake. It seems like such a long time ago. My, how I've grown... :)

I first started blogging around two years ago but the first one was purely private, a venue for all my angsts back then (I have horrible handwriting and I'm a fast typer, so it was inevitable that I would keep an online journal, rather than a written one). I really didn't want to unleash all my emotional crap on the internet so I decided to keep it private but after a while, I found myself relatively free from emotional crap and reasonably conversant in html (meaning I could now post pictures and tweak default templates to my specs) so I ventured forth into the blogging world and the rest, as they say, is history.

At present, a comparison with my first blog (the sister, as I fondly call her)shows that my private blog contains more emotional outbursts and cringe-worthy posts than my public blog, which is admittedly more filtered. I guess I created a public blog because I wanted a piece of the net to call my own (courtesy of blogger.com) and it's always been my big dream to be a published writer (which I technically become everytime I click on "Publish Post"....) and finally, my private blog was becoming too small for me so I decided that the world was just about ready for the Jill. The world needed a piece of the Jill.

So there, this post was brought about by boredom because I cut Credit class today, just woke up from a long nap and there's nothing good on tv.

What is it with this weather? I've just been soooo lazy these past few days! It's been a challenge just to get out of bed and pretend to be a functioning individual. Some friends are going to Banawe for the long weekend and I was invited to go, but my lazy bug prevented me from going, coupled with the two all-important facts that (1)I've already been there and (2)I'm saving up for Christmas and a trip to Batanes in the summer. I'm not scared of meninggococcema. It's not an airborne disease. You can only get infected through close contact so if you don't kiss anybody (or anything involving other body fluids for that matter) and stay away from people who look seriously sick (coughs, colds etc) you're safe. Let's not spread the paranoia please.

On an unrelated topic, I watched "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" a few days ago and it was okay. It wasn't as funny as the first one though primariy because Bridget's friends had less screen time here than in the first movie but the fight scene between Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy was still there, so it was all good. That was the highlight of the movie IMHO. Question, did Bridget Jones waddle in the first movie? Because she waddled like crazy in the second installment and it was just soooo annoying! The Thailand bit is still there as well as the Madonna and bra scene. Funny :)

O-kay. I have seriously begun rambling now. Gotta go, The Simpsons is on in a few minutes.

Cheerio!

The Strike

Sometimes, it's just so convenient to stay ensconced in our bubbles and to remain oblivious to the world around us. Yet there always comes a point where no matter how much you may try to ignore what's happening around you, the current events just refuse to stay in the background and instead, take a hefty bite out of you.

Today promises to be one of those days.

So the major transport groups have finally made good on their promised transport holiday. The last minute negotiations have come to nil and so the metro must be paralyzed.

As a commuter, I am seriously worried. The DOTC, MMDA and other government agencies promise that they will field buses and the like to accomodate the stranded commuters. They vow to to send forth a minimum of 30 buses per agency to save the commuters from the inconsiderate transport groups. Wow! Thirty plus buses from every government agency! So granted that there will be ten (and I think I'm being generous here) agencies who will take part in the rescue mission, we will have a minimum of 300 buses/vehicles for the THOUSANDS of stranded commuters. Thank you. My fears have been assuaged.

For all the inconvenience that this will bear upon the people (by people I mean ME!), I am not surprised that this drastic step has been resorted to. My family is also personally feeling the economic pinch right now, and we're in the upper middle class, so I can just imagine how it must be in the C and D classes.

When money became a little tight and some financial juggling had to be resorted to, we had to sell my mom's car and make do with just one car for our everyday transportation needs. So I had to commute more and my brothers had to go out less. Really no big sacrifice there because we still had food on the table, we still ate out and we could still go shopping every so often. But I wonder how it must be like for the others who are not as privileged? Instead of eating one full meal a day, do they have to resort to half a meal now? Do they now look up to the heavens in despair everytime gasoline prices go up bringing up with them the prices of basic commodities, while their own salaries remained peg at barely minimum?

There's no doubt that I'm thankful for what I have right now, but being thankful is not enough. It shouldn't be enough. And that's where I am now at a loss. Save for joining the militant groups and ambushing military trucks, I have no idea how an ordinary citizen such as myself can contribute. Before, the answer would be easy. Work hard, raise good little citizens and pay the right taxes. But the same formula no longer holds true. Work hard- for what or rather, for whom, because it's definitely not for yourself? Raise good little citizens- what for? so that they'll also be used and abused by the system? I'd rather be childless then, thank you. Pay the right taxes- so that my esteemed congressman can maintain his pet's lifestyle at the poshest condominum in town? Errr...no.

Right now, my concern is missing my Labor 2 class, thus forfeiting the additional 0.25 for perfect attendance and my Spec pro class where I have to submit a probate of a will and a letter of administration. And being the nerd that I am, I am still thinking of ways and means to get to school. Will I: a) take my usual route and hope for the best? or b) ask my dad's driver to bring me to school (even if his office is in the port area and I'm all the way in Diliman?). Another thing to factor in is the inevitable rough-housing of the few jeepneys who will not join the strike. In short, even if by some miracle I do find a jeepney, good luck pa rin that it won't be barraged by sticks and stones (which can definitely break my bones!).

Welcome back GMA!

P.S.
Some colleges have already suspended classes in all levels because of the transport strike but the DECS does not think that classes in the elementary and HS levels should be suspended because "Some kids walk to school naman".

Right.

The Creation

On the twenty-third day, the Jill realized that her template needed a makeover to save it from becoming stale and tepid.

So with some tutorial from the Krissy, the Jill waved her magic wand and summoned all her paltry photoshop skills to come up with a new header and some lilypads for her posts.

She smiled when she saw that it was all good.

And on the twenty-fourth day, the Jill rested.

Pause

On most days you wake up with either a smile on your face or trepidation in your heart because you know it's going to be another one of those same old, same old days.

Then there are those days where everything seems to start as they always do and then life suddenly pulls a fast one on you.

You begin to wonder why life is unfair yet wonderful at the same time.

Why some lives are so fleeting yet their impact on others are eternal.

Why some people can still forgive those who intentionally hurt them.

Will we really know the answers when we reach the other side?

Will we? Berta?

Roberta Sandejas-Schroyer (1979-2004)

News Bits

1. Tatay's back from his Geneva Convention (law students can insert their smirks at my pathetic attempt at a legal joke here)! However, he brought no pasalubong for us (Men!) and told horror stories of just how cold it was in Geneva. But he still has some swiss francs left, so anyone up for a trip to Duty Free? I know I am :)

2. "I'm burnt out!" thus said Sir Ed (a.k.a Drago) when I asked him why he was home on a school day playing hooky when he could be enriching the minds of his young and eager students. I guess the novelty of teaching has just about worn out for him.

A Sir Ed Anecdote

(background: the student is the sister of his batchmate in high school)

Student (raises hand): Sir Ed!

Sir Ed: Yes?

Student: My sister says that if we're noisy and magulo then it's just karma for you

Moral of the story: What goes around, comes around. Be a good student because you never know how life will turn out and you'll end up teaching in the very same school you used to wreak havoc in as a student.

3. As per my brother Santi's request, I'll be posting his travel journal of his trip to Bangkok soon. Pansinin niyo daw :)

4. It's nice to be called "beautiful" even if you both know that you know that he's attached and you both know that you're both just outrageously flirting with each other. It's really all just fun and games. First one to fall loses :)

Fun and spunky, you link, therefore you are! This
is all fun and games, and you do what you
damned well please!


What kind of blogger am I?
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INDIVIDUALIST:
You make your own rules and boldly go where no one
has gone before. Some may think you are
arrogant and even rude, while others admire
your keen observations. Not that you really
care.


What kind of blogger are you?
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Wrap-Up

The first week of school has been filled with commuting to and from school, waiting for professors to show up to hand out their syllabi, commuting, catching up with friends, commuting and skipping as much classes as I still possibly can.

As my own contribution to the major changes happening at home, I have decided to skip carpooling this semester and just commute to and from school. My schedule is the lightest it's ever been since I entered law school so it's all good. I would have to admit though that I was also inspired to undertake the daily commute from Las Pinas to Quezon City by the movie "Now That I've Found You" starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo :)

However, im my week of commuting, I've still to experience any Star Cinema moments or even see someone remotely resembling John Lloyd Cruz. Instead, I usually find myself in between two sweaty guys in the MRT, prompting me to breathe through my mouth as surreptitiously as possible (note to self: in order to avoid rush hour, resist from dilly-dallying in school just to make "tsismis" with friends).

Another good thing about commuting is that I'm usually dead-tired from all the walking involved that I just plop straight to bed upon arriving home saying goodbye to my past insomnia problem. I've also convinced myself that it's already tantamount to a cardio workout so there really is no need to start jogging. If I indulge myself a bit more, I can actually swear that my legs are getting firmer with every day that passes (maybe I should also start bringing mini-weights so I can also work on my arms. Hmmmm....). The only downside to all this is that I usually pass this food stall that sells fried chicken skin. I've successfully managed to not give in to my baser needs for anything crispy and deep fried, but for how long? How long can I keep this facade up?

So that's about it. Who knows what next week will bring when school officially starts? I can hardly wait. The excitement is just about killing me. :p

A Humble Declaration

I am now officially declaring myself to be a genius.

I guess technically I may not be a genius because my definition of my geniusness will probably greatly differ from Merriam-Webster's definition of what a genius is. So let me revise the first sentence by saying that: In the Jill-world of make-believe and mayhem, Jill has solemnly declared herself to be a genius of unsurpassed intellectual prowess.

Let this be known to everyone near and far.

And now back to our regular programming. The above traipse through la-la land was brought about by my immense delight at seeing my grades for the first semester. They're the highest they've ever been ever since I entered law school (which really isn't saying much because they really had nowhere to go but up hehehehe)!

So there. I just wanted to share my joy and let all my beloved readers bask in the warmth of my huge grin :)

Break Time

I am currently in the middle of cleaning out all my first sem stuff to make way for my upcoming second sem stuff.

Upon inspection of the war room (aka spare room), I was aghast to discover that I had accumulated enough paper to make any Mamang Bote Dyaryo die in sheer ecstacy! And to think that I regularly make a ritual of weeding out my law school stuff every year, so it makes me shudder to think of how much paper I must have accumulated ever since I entered law school.

It should definitely be mandatory for every law student to plant a tree every semester, to make up for the denuding of forests just to support our manic photocopying habits. Somebody ought to pass a law or something.

An alternative use to photocopied cases and digests.




X: So Jill, how's law school?
J: Nothing to it ! I snoozed all the way to third year! (yeah right)

Bohol Diary

We left Cebu on board a ferry at around 7am, we arrived at Tubigon, Bohol 2 hours later and immediately began exploring the Bohol countryside. (Tip: Bohol is best experienced when you have your own private vehicle. Public transportation is virtually non-existent there and the car rentals can add up to quite a pretty penny).

We arrived at Dimaluan Beach, Panglao Island and I was mesmerized at just how white and long the shoreline was. Unfortunately, we were told that all the rooms were already booked because there was currently a Boysen sponsored architects convention and all the resorts in the area had been utilized for said convention.

In short, good luck in finding accomodations if you failed to make a prior reservation.

But we did not lose hope and continued trekking the beach looking for lodgings. We found some vacant cottages in the public beach area, and although I do try not to be a snob, there was just no way in hell I was going to spend the night in that rat-hole of a cottage! I guess we all felt the same way so we forged on and ended up in Alona Kew. A much, much better resort with nice and reasonable lodgings to boot.


We spent the entire day swimming in the pool, lounging by the seashore, stuffing ourselves silly with our baon from Cebu (Mommy Lou had prepared enough food for ten people for the trip to Bohol) and sipping ice cold fruit shakes (which sadly did not have those little umbrellas). Come dinner time, we hied off to one of the many restaurants along the beach and ate some more. It was a cool and windy night and I was dark from swimming the entire day and I was just about to nod off from sheer "kabusugan". Yep, it was definitely a good day.

The next day was devoted solely to sight-seeing (we had to skip spending another night at Alona Kew because Ate Grace had some emergency doctor business to attend to) and so we donned our tourist caps and played said role to the hilt.

The Blood Compact Shrine is a must-see for every tourist, if only for it's historical significance (which sadly escapes me as I write this entry). It overlooks the sea and, again, I was transfixed at how blue the sea was. But that did not stop us from goofing off with Legazpi et al (see picture).

We also stopped by the Baclayon Church and even viewed their museum of religious articles. It's amazing just how many outfits Sto.Nino and Virgin Mary had, it would have warmed the cockles of every fashionistas heart.


A close encounter with the tarsius kind is next on every tourist's itinerary. Unfortunately, the DENR already prohibits touching or holding the tarsier (apparently, doing so greatly stresses the poor animals...) so that definitely ruled out my grand plan of posing with a tarsius on my shoulder. Oh for shame!

The pic is of a mommy tarsier and her months old baby. I was worried at the possible long-term effects that tourism might have on them because it's probably unnerving to have giants shove lightning boxes at your face every single day. And the tarsius is a nocturnal animal with sensitive eyes, so how will the flash affect their vision? Hmmm...

We passed by the Loboc River and also saw the Loboc Musuem. You know, touristy things. But what took my breath away was the man-made forest. I don't know if there's a specific tour for that, but just driving under the canopy of leaves was more than enough for this tourist. Galing.


Of course, what would every trip to Bohol be without the Chocolate Hills? We first went to the Carmen viewing deck and then to the other viewing area (I forgot what it's called but it had a butterfly farm and there was even a streamer advertising a Halloween disco party...good luck). First off, they're not actually made of chocolate but of limestone. Now that we have that part straight, there was a very informative plaque about how the hills were formed, how many hills there are etc. From the viewing deck, you could see a school house and I imagined just how amazing it must be to see the Chocolate Hills while daydreaming during school time. Of course, I bet the locals already see the Chocolate Hills as part of the fixture and are no longer awestruck with their grandeur as the typical giddy tourist tends to be.

So there you have it, Bohol in two days.

Tara na, byahe tayo!

Nang ating makita

Ang ganda ng Pilipinas

Ang galing ng Pilipino

Manila, Manila

I keep coming back to Manila, Manila

Simply no place like Manila

Manila I'm coming home.

:)