Colors from East to West

Usually, experiencing a new culture requires travel and a lot of money. But today, I feel so lucky to have attended a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration and a performance by Quatuor Diotima String Quartet without the need to fly to Japan or France.

I think I have posted enough entries to express my fascination with Japan and its culture. And it has always been a dream of mine to witness, if not take part, in a Japanese tea ceremony or, in Japanese, cha no yu. Witnessing the demonstration made me realize all over again Japan's "obsession" with restraint and order which is incomprehensible yet sensible to me. 

Despite the seriousness and solemnity called for by the tea ceremony, I was still able to enjoy the occasion due to a couple of things. Seeing my sensei in her kimono as she performed the ceremony got me totally amazed. Watching my classmates' attempt on the said art was kind of amusing too. But the fact that I got to taste the wagashi and authentic matcha made by sensei sent me immediately to cloud nine. Too bad I wasn't able to bring a camera and take pictures to share though. :(

Just after attending the cha no yu demonstration, my friend and I immediately went to the venue for Quatuor Diotima's performance. We arrived a bit late as the quartet already started their first song so we had to wait before we can enter the hall. Too bad for us youngsters as a strict-looking lady scolded us while we waited at the lobby. :|

To be honest, I have a love-hate relationship with classical music. But when we were invited by a friend to go see a French string quartet FOR FREE, I'm like, 'why not?'. And, the invitation really came on time as I am currently rekindling my affair with classical music since last month. I realized that it helps me keep my sanity through all the things I have to do. 

I can't help but respect Quatuor Diotima and, along with them, all those who are so dedicated to playing instruments. I really felt goosebumps while listening to them perform and sometimes, I would get so carried away by the melody the my head sways to the beat. Watching people like them inspires me to just be good at what I can. I mean, if they can affect me so much by being so good in their music then, I must work hard to be good in my craft too before I can start aspiring to influence others in a positive light. I feel sad that I am not able to speak French. I wanted to express me appreciation but I can't. (As if I can do such thing in Japanese if I will be able to attend a Yuki Kajiura performs. LOL!) Maybe I should start studying French too?

In the end, my friends and I got to get a picture with the quartet members. :P 

I'm really thankful for this day. Makes me love my school even more for bringing in such rare opportunities closer to students. 

MORE! MORE! :D

Before I Hit the Books

If I am to describe the previous semester, I am definitely choosing ‘crazy’.

What started with the A(H1N1) plague ended tragically with the Ondoy-Pepeng typhoon tandem lashing. Add to the equation the other personal messes I got caught up. Simply, my sanity (even my heart) undertook a rollercoaster ride. I can’t deny the fact that I felt really tired in the duration of the semester. You can even take the scarcity of entries as another sign of how crazy things were.

But the semestral break has come, I gratefully dispatched all the weariness and stress I accumulated from the past four months and welcomed the vacation with a huge hug! I do hope you guys did so too.

Tomorrow, I’ll be going back to school with a more intense workload and crazy schedule. I’m really excited! Crazy, I know. But that’s the result of a happy and eventful vacation! :D

The first day of my sembreak, October 16, 2009, was uneventful… really. That was until my mom told me that she booked us a flight to Kalibo. Not really exciting then, she continued saying that we’ll head to Boracay upon landing. Now that’s sweet~!

Actually, I was just tagged along by mom upon my dad’s suggestion (yay, thanks daddy!). She attended this nurses’ convention to be held in Bora. But before that, we actually did the more fun activities. We toured Boracay island by boat, did snorkeling (I saw lotsa fishies! So colorful!), had a spin on the banana boat (I sat in front – felt like a rodeo on the sea :D) and had lunch by the beach.

For the succeeding days of the seminar, I was left to my own devices and what’s a good girl gonna do? WANDER! I walked the entire long beach, looked around, bought pasalubongs and simply enjoyed. It was cool walking on the sand all the way since it was white and really finely grained. On my way back, I walked near the water. It was really relaxing since the weather was not really hot and the water was not too warm. Too bad my mom borrowed the digi cam for her convention so I wasn’t able to take pics during my alone time wandering. I wanted to get my hair braided but I pushed the thought away… my curly hair might get curlier :|

After three days in Bora, we headed to Aklan, specifically Caticlan then Kalibo. In Kalibo we visited this reso

rt called Sampaguita Gardens and it was really nice and cute. They have this shop dedicated to everything Precious Moments. There a lots of cute dolls and other cutesy stuff. My mom and I could not resist

cuteness that much so we gave in to the temptation. We bought this adorable doll looking like a native participant of the Ati-Atihan and the other one was a cute ballerina doll. There were lotsa other cute dolls but I don’t think we’d be able to bring them back properly. There are other cool places inside but my favorite is the Precious Moments store… no wonder really. Oh, and I saw the owner of the Precious Moments foundation there, in the flesh :D He was there.

Kalikasan Nature Detachment which is actually a forest with a path leading to underground waterfalls. It’s so amazing! In fact, while trekking down towards the waterfalls, I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones film. The forest is sooo cool! But before I got to enjoy that part of nature, I first had an intense dose of adrenaline from what the Army men call Slide for Life.

If you have experienced Zipline in Tagaytay and got really scared, Slide for Life will definitely make you run for your life! Slide for Life is a commando-style version of Zipline. Suspended 100 feet off the ground, wearing one set of waist harness, your hands grabbing on to the ropes above your head for dear life as you slide high speed… I swear I thought my heart stopped. But it was really worth it! The guys should really try this if ever they get the chance. WOOHOO!

After the adrenaline-filled morning, later that afternoon we were able to get to visit the Sta. Barbara Church in Ilaya, Capiz. The said church houses the largest bell in Asia. The church was built during the Spanish era so imagine how old that bell is. We climbed up the bell tower and the steps were really steep so if you have acrophobia, I suggest that you go there with a couple of friends to help you if you really wanna see that cool bell!

On our way back from the church, my mom and I bought lots of dried food stuff which were popularly made in Roxas as pasalubong to the peeps back in Manila. We still went back to Camp Peralta but it was really late and our flight back to Manila was really early so I was really beat.

Back in Manila around 8:00 am last October 21, I was kinda groggy-looking but I felt really great. I feel relaxed, energized and real happy! I kinda missed the city too though. :D

After my week-long vacay over Visayas, I became more than ready to cheer for my sister in the 27^th foundation celebration of SSA. I missed those practices and dancing every October back in high school. But hey, it was also fun to be the one watching. ;D

As for the rest of the vacation…let’s just say I had more fun :D

I’m gonna go grab some sleep coz tomorrow, it’s gonna be war all over. Toodles!

Bakit Single ka pa rin?

Note: I just got the following write-up from an e-mail sent from my organization. I found it real funny! READ ON :D

Destiny Addict
--> Ito 'yung mga taong hinihintay na gumawa ang tadhana ng paraan para pagtagpuin sila ng kanilang mga "soulmates" and whatever. Ayaw kumilos o kung ano pa dahil naniniwala siya na kung sino man 'yung talagang meant for him/her ay darating na lang bigla sa paraang maaaring hindi niya inaasahan--wow, parang Serendipity.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "Dadating din 'yan. 'Wag kasing hanapin!"

Perfectionist
--> Simula nung magkamalay ang taong ito, nakalista na ang mga bagay na gusto niya sa kanyang magiging boypren/girlpren. Kapag may nakilala siya at nakitang madumi ang kuko, magkadikit ang kilay, may butas sa ngipin, o parang penguin maglakad, wala na. Turn off na 'yun para sa kanya.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "Ok na sana siya e. Kaya lang gusto ko 'yung ganito..."

Busy Bee
--> Pasensya na sila pero masyado kang maraming inaasikaso tulad ng libro, bolpen, papel at calculator. Umaalis ka ng 6 am sa bahay at umuuwi ng 7 ng gabi 'pag weekdays. Pagdating mo sa bahay, gagawa lang ng homework at matutulog na. Masaya ka nang makanood ng TV 'pag Sabado (at gumawa ulit ng homework). Sapat na sa'yo ang kumain sa labas kasama ang pamilya 'pag Linggo (at gumawa pa rin ng homework).
-->Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "Sorry. Wala akong time sa ganyan e."

Friend Forever version 1
--> Kunwari ka pa dyan. Alam mo namang gusto mo talaga 'yang best friend o special friend mo pero hindi mo lang sinasabi at pinapadama dahil ayaw mong masira ang pagkakaibigan niyong dalawa. 'Yung tipong 'pag may kasamang iba 'yung gusto mo, kunwari ka pang masaya ka para sa kanya pero sa totoo lang, gusto mo na malusaw na parang ice caps dahil sa Global Warming.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "I'm so happy for you!" o "Sayang naman 'yung pinagsamahan namin e."

Friend Forever version 2
--> Wala tayong magagawa pero talagang malapit ka lang sa kabilang kasarian--pero bilang kaibigan lang. One-of-the-boys, ladies' man. Hindi ka naman homo o bi pero sadyang kaibigan lang ang tingin mo sa mga taong hindi mo kapareho ng chromosomes. Masaya ka nang nakaka-hang- out lang sila, nakakakwentuhan, niyayakap nang walang halong malisya.
-> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "May inuman ba mamaya?" (kung babae) o "Hatid ko ba kayo mamaya?" (kung lalaki)

Born to be One
--> Single-blessed ka at wala ka nang magagawa kung ganun. :) Nilikha ka siguro para maging mag-isa (pero syempre may pamilya at kaibigan ka naman, duh) hanggang tumanda ka na at ipadala sa Home for the Aged. Marami akong kakilalang mukhang ganito ang patutunguhan at hindi naman sila mga pangit o abnoy talaga. Minsan lang, masyado silang masungit.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "Mag-isa ako."

Happy-go-lucky
--> 'Eto 'yung taong masaya na sa trip-trip lang at kung anu-anong mga happenings. Kahit sino na lang basta no strings attached. For fun lang at walang seryosohan please. Personally, ayoko nung mga ganito. Umaapaw lang siguro 'yung mga taong ganito sa L. Magbuhos ka nalang ng malamig na tubig sa iyong buong katawan at solb na 'yan.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "I'm not ready to commit e, but I really like you."

Wrong Time
--> 'Eto naman 'yung mga laging idinadahilan na masyado pa silang bata o kaya masyado na silang matanda. May mga tao raw na ganyan, 'yung pakiramdam nila laging may tamang panahon para sa pag-ibig. Pero ang labo lang kasi tuwing may pagkakataon naman, lagi nilang naiisip na maling panahon pa iyon. Oo, wrong timing lagi ang pag-ibig para sa kanila kasi madalas sumasakto kung kelan meron silang board exams, problema sa pamilya, o long test kinabukasan.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "We had the right love at the wrong time..."

Parent Trap
--> Ayaw ni mama o ni papa na magkaboypren/ girlpren ang kanilang unica hija/hijo kahit na 22 years old na ito at kumikita na ng sarili niyang pera. Kailangan daw magkaron ka muna ng isang strand ng puting buhok bago may makadalaw sa'yo sa bahay. O kaya, baka ikaw 'yung may problema dahil natatakot ka sa iisipin ng mga magulang mo tungkol sa taong iyong gusto. Baka kasi sabihin nila na masyado siyang bansot/ matangkad/ baboy/ payatot para sa'yo.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "Baka kasi magalit si Papa."

Trauma
--> Dahil sa dami ng mga heartbreak na iyong nadama at emo songs na napakinggan mo na noon, sinumpa mo nang hindi ka magmamahal. Ayaw mo na. Sawa ka na sa paglalaslas ng pulso, este, sa paglalagay ng mga madramang stat message sa YM at pag-iyak ng balde-baldeng luha. Awwwww. >:D< Pwede rin namang masyado kang insecure sa sarili mo kaya hindi ka makapagmatapang na magventure into some love quest.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "Pagod na pagod na akong masaktan!" *hikbi*

Your Ex-Lover Is (NOT) Dead
--> Yikeeee. Mahal pa rin niya ang kanyang ex at hindi siya maka-get-over the person. Boo. Pilit pa ring inaalala ang mga tawanan, iyakan, at PDA moments nilang dalawa kahit 'yung ex niya ay nakikipag-(insert verb here) na sa ibang babae/lalaki. Sasabihin mong nakapag-move on ka na pero pag nagkwentuhan tungkol sa pag-ibig, tandadadaaaaan! Siya na naman naiisip mo.
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "I'm over him/her..." *tapos iiyak bigla :))*

Ayaw
-> Dalawa na namang kaso ito. Una, ayaw mo lang talaga magka-"someone" . Hindi ko na pipilitin ungkatin 'yung dahilan pero may mga pagkakataon lang talaga na ayaw mo. Ikalawa naman, baka...ayaw kasi sa'yo nung gusto mo. And that's the shizzest thing ever! Pwedeng ayaw niya sa'yo dahil may girlpren/boypren siya, busy siya or whatever, o kaya ayaw ka lang niya talaga at wala ka nang magagawa kung ganun. :(
--> Laging maririnig na nagsasabing: "Ayoko pa magkaboypren/ girlpren e." o "Hindi naman niya ako gusto."

~o~

I think, Friend Forever Version 2 applies to me :))

How about you? That is, if you're still single. ;)

Do tell!