Showing posts with label summer activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer activities. Show all posts

Friday, April 30, 2010

terrifying future

As I closed a chapter in my life, it is inevitable that I start a new one as I continue breathing and my heart continues beating.

I look forward to what lies ahead in the future but at the same time, I can't help but feel scared, terrified, of the uncertainties presented by the unknown. It was just recently that I successfully pulled myself and my heart together again. Obviously, I don't want to get lost nor heartbroken all over again.

Yet what will be the point of living if I don't even bother risk everything?

I want to continue and be brave for whatever, whoever, comes. As of now, I'm still uncertain if I am already at that optimum point but as a first step towards that goal, I acknowledge the fact that I'm actually scared.

Recently, I find inspiration in the song "Terrified" written by Kara DioGuardi. I first heard this over at YouTube.com sang by Didi Benami for American Idol. It was hypnotic. Warms my heart. :)

"You by the light is the greatest find. In a world full of wrong, you're the thing that's right. Finally made it through the lonely, to the other side. You set it again, my heart's in motion. Every word feels like a shooting star. I'm at the edge of my emotions... and I'm in love. And I'm terrified for the first time and the last time in my only life.

...And nothing's worse than knowing your holding back. I could be all that you need if you let me try... I only said it 'cause I mean it... 'Cause it's true... 'Cause it keeps me up and holds me close
whenever I'm without you."

Hopefully, we all find courage this summer season. ;)

Friday, March 12, 2010

First Rain Fall

For days, the sky was just filled with heavily-burdened clouds.

And then, it just rained recently, washing away all the heat of summer. It was a bit eerie yet the rain fall made me happy.

Much as I love the summer season, the sudden rainfall was refreshing.
I really love the smell and atmosphere brought about by rain falls.

---
This is gonna be the first official entry of the year. It is just now that I felt the energy back into my heart. Finally, I got rid of all the drama from last year that desperately clung unto me for the past two months. Aren't you happy for me??? :D

Let's get this party started!

Summer season is up!

Monday, April 06, 2009

S-U-M-M-E-R is a Three-letter Word

gian.ia.joseph.jules.kiel.mico.migs.nikki.stacey.vince.yves

After a roller coaster of a year (which ended with a Math20.3a Final Exam), what is there better to do than commence the summer season with the XX2 ULTIMATE SUMMER OUTING?!

March 27, 2009
Who even remembered the Math 20.3a finals after it was done? After packing all the necessities for a four-day and four-nights stay off Manila’s glitz and glamour, eleven of XX2 people hit the road to Calaca, Batangas.
The group had to split in to two subgroups for the transportation. I rode with Stace, Yves, Joseph, Kiel & Jules and despite the heavy traffic near the outskirts of the Metro, the ride was super fun as we told stories, sang songs, joked around, got carried away while driving along the zigzagged road and scared each other (Jules is a meanie). It was already quite dark when we reached Calaca so we got quite confused (i.e. lost) while looking for the place we were supposed to stay at. Getting a bit lost was quite reasonable since the place was very far from the main road, the path to it is not really paved and it was dark. Thankfully, we arrived safely to the place and said hello to Whispering Waves Beach House – our home for four days. Kuya --- (I didn’t really catch his name), the caretaker, helped us settle down when we arrived. After slightly exploring the place and arranging sleeping assignments, we all ate a happy dinner with roasted chicken and rice.
Despite the time and travel, sure had lots of energy on reserve as we still played this little hot spot game. Nikki and Kiel prepared questions which we are to get from a bottle. The questions were not really difficult and spot on but there were some that really perked up the attention of those who are present. It was indeed a long night and we all had to wake up early for we are to prepare for a surprise for Stacey the next day!
March 28, 2009
Equipped with two hours of sleep, I quietly crept out of the bedroom and joined the once who slept less or none at all (Gian, Jules and Yves) to set-up Stacey’s surprise advance birthday celebration. It was a super cute surprise made up of “H.B. Stace” pancake cut-outs, letters-in-a-test-tube hunt and 18 songs. The lack of sleep is worth it as Stace really showed her appreciation. XX2 hearts Stacey!

Before the noon, everyone scrambled, donned our swim gears and hit the cool pool! Though the beach is just nearby, we opt for the pool for the day since it was high tide, making the shore seem non-existent. Despite our watery pool fun, Nikki had to leave for Laguna by high noon so before she left, we took lotsa pictures with Kiel’s dSLR. We had fun with you Nikki! The ten of us continued pool fun for six hours before we decided to step out of the water for pasta dinner care of Jules, Kiel and Yves.
After dinner, most of us decided to stay-up and participate in the Earth Hour. We lit a couple of candles, mixed up pitchers of punch (if you know what I mean), played ‘I’ve never’ and just chilled. That night ended a bit weird as we got freaked out by things and stuff (sorry about that guys). Well, at least we got to sleep a bit. On to the next day!

March 29, 2009
Mico, Joseph, Gian, Stacey and I headed to the town’s market to buy food stuff for the day. With Kuya the caretaker, we rode a tricycle to the said area where the trade is on. Thankfully, the goods are still fresh as we bought fish fillet to fry, chicken breast, pork belly and tilapia to grill, hotdogs to roast and veggies to complement all the protein-rich foodies. After acquiring the necessities, everyone is on to preparing the Super Brunch.
SUPER BRUNCH
Crab and Corn Soup
Breaded Blue Marlin Fish Fillet with Asian and Honey Mustard Dips
Tomato Rotini Pasta
Fresh Melon Juice
Watermelon Wedges
When we were done enjoying the yummy brunch prepared by everyone, we got overwhelmed by the pile of soiled wares waiting to be cleaned up. I really salute Jules and Kiel for taking on the challenge of washing those stacks of plates and kitchen stuff. Our stay in Whispering Waves would not be complete if we did not take advantage of the beach and nature seemed to agree with us since the sea created a more spacious beach and a lower level of water. I personally liked the fine black sand and the gentle waves of water as I saw the sunset live. Too bad I didn’t have my camera back then.
I had this personally significant experience in the arms of the ocean that I want to share. While we were playing in the open sea a bit after the sun had set, I felt that I had stepped on something. I reached down to the sea bed and grabbed a handful of sand, assuming that along with that comes the thing I stepped on. I touched the lump on my hand and to my surprise, there sat a small starfish. No, friends. I did not remember him – I saw someone else and now, the term starfish has certain significance. It is no longer a name that popped out of nowhere. There is life to it. Despite the cheers of my blockmates for me to take the said starfish out of the ocean, I opted to throw it back to the waters where it belongs.
When the skies started to darken, we raced back to the shore and retreated to the pool where they played water-based dodgeball while Kiel and I started marinating and cooking for the night’s grilled dinner. If we had a Super Brunch, we sure did prepare the Supreme Dinner. Us, girls, did all the indoor and kitchen parts while the boys took over the grilling. Preparing meals sure is rewarding!
SUPREME DINNER – Grill Night Special
Grilled Pork Belly
Grilled Chicken Breast
Grilled Stuffed Tilapia
Sautéed Kangkong
Salted Egg and Tomatoes Salad
Fresh Melon Juice
Pineapple Slices
Dragon Fruit Cubes
Mango Slices
Watermelon Wedges
So what do you guys think of our last dinner menu? If you think the night is over with such a meal, you are entirely mistaken. After eating, it was time for another surprise – KIEL’S 18th Birthday! The surprise for her involves a “H.B. KIEL” spelled out by candles near the beach, 18 plans (since she plans a lot), 18 songs and 18 flowers by a warm bonfire participated by dressed girls and polo-and-board-shorts-clad boys. I’m super happy that Kiel enjoyed her 18th birthday celebration! XX2 hearts you too Kiel! :D

With a bonfire present, marshmallows and hotdogs sure made their appearances. We talked and stargazed until we all felt the need to sleep as we are soon to head back to Manila.

March 30, 2009

As soon as we woke up, everyone was on adrenaline rush for we were running late for our slated departure time. Added to that were the tons of dishes needed to be washed from last night’s feast, personal things to pack, furniture to tidy-up and breakfast to cook. Fortunately, we were all moving to accomplish things faster. By the time our ride home arrived, we were all set to go. We said or thanks and goodbye to Kuya, the caretaker, and headed out of Whispering Waves Beach House of Calaca, Batangas.

Any fun-loving soul would appreciate a little detour especially when the destination is Zipline at Tagaytay Highlands. A super daring yet cool experience! Try it when you are in Tagaytay and feel what it is like to almost fly!

After all the fun at Zipline, we seriously headed home to Manila.

I personally want to thank Kiel for organizing this outing. Rock on, you one glamorous and lovely lady! Of course, the fun would not be complete without everyone’s – Gian, Joseph, Jules, Kiel, Mico, Migs, Stacey, Vince, Yves – presence. You guys did fire up my summer! XX2 will also rock summer school!
The beach. One house. Eleven people. One block.

Let’s get this season started!

F-U-N
*photos are from me and from Kiel's site.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Season Finale

How ironic.

When summer was supposed to end, I found myself going gaga here and there just to be able to attend all the up and coming rendezvous with my family, chill-out moments with my high school friends and weird, spur-of-the-moment gimmicks with random acquaintances.

To tell the truth, this summer is the worst I had in my sixteen years of existence. Heck, I spent most of my time at home due to the unstable weather condition. It’s summer yet it always rains hard to the point that I feel like having a jet lag. My body is conditioned that this season is supposed to be hot and activity-filled but really, it’s raining. All I did was read (not that I mind doing so) but my life already lacks thrill. A rainy summer just made me sad. Much as I love the rain, I’m so not ready for it this time. So much for my happy summer before hitting university life…

Though I really sound pessimistic right now, I’ve had my share of exciting and fun-filled moments. Are you ready?

I'm lovin' this cute ensemble from Juana.I’m not really a shopping-is-my-hobby type but when I get into the zone, I only have eyes for über kawaii stuff. Contrary to popular belief, despite to the socio-economic predicament we are currently experiencing, it is not impossible to find cute and wearable clothes at affordable prices. Actually, I found this clothing shop at the popular 168 mall. The name of the shop was Juana (they have three stalls at different areas of the mall) and they sell different styles of blouses for every shapes and sizes at great prices starting at P250. I fell so in love with this black, cute lolita-ish blouse. It’s so cute that even my Dad (who’s really picky with what I wear) agreed on it. Gosh, I had so much fun with that shop that I bought two more blouses from them. It’s for university, you know, since we don’t wear uniforms anymore and my dad disapproves the t-shirt and pants attire that I am planning to wear everyday. So now, I already have seven pieces of blouses. And I admit it – I had fun trying clothes on.
I'm gonna miss this Coro bud of mine.
You guys know that I was an active member of the high school choir and recently, we scheduled this mini get-together. I felt so thrilled because after two months, we all finally got to see each other. Although I didn’t get to see everyone, the feeling of just going back to the music room is enough. I just hope that I’d be able to have the chance to enjoy their company once again especially now that school is about to begin. I’ll really miss Coro.

You bet that I’m sure going to miss my closest high school friends especially that we are now headed to different paths in life. And so before that fated moment, it’s totally great that we managed to meet up and use up the time to make memories and have fun together. Though this sounds cheerless, I’m not really feeling sad ‘coz we did so many happy things. We caught up with each other’s happenings, we ate together, had a group pic, went to the arcade center (though all I did was laugh, watch and cheer), watched the movie 21 while occasionally making noise inside the theater, chatted some more, gawked at Ray’s house, played a round of Uno Stack-o, went crazy while singing at the videoke, ate popcorns and turon with Coke Zero, had a videoke battle wherein we, girls, lost (those guys…we should hold a rematch) and just took in the moments. Yep, I’ll be missing you guys. You know who you are.

After my little adventures this summer, the sun finally radiated the heat it is supposed to let out the whole summer. Too bad, summer season is ending. Well, better be late than never. Recently, I heard this Vanessa Carlton song entitled “White Houses”. It is so fitting. Here it goes…

The summer's all in bloom
The summer is ending soon

It's alright and it's nice not to be so alone
But I hold on to your secrets in white houses

The final verdict: I’m happy.

Sweetness,
Allyne

Friday, May 16, 2008

Washing Regrets Away

Sleepyhead on the loose!The last time I checked my calendar, it said May 12, 2008. According to the natural course of weather for the past first decade of my life, the month May is still included in the season called summer. But recently, it has been raining cats and dogs that my sunny spirit got swept away. I can't do anything fun like I used to. And as I write this entry, the sky still shows no sign of the sun shining today. Such sudden weather shift melted me to the point of remembering the most depressing period (so far) of my young life. The number of trees within our yard seems to be doing nothing to help ease the effects of global warming. I want my warm summer back!

I’m a self-professed rainy season lover but it feels like having a jet lag. The fact that the climate shift is occurring has so much effect on me that during the first May 2008 downpour, I got a pencil and a piece of paper and just scribbled how I feel. It was very dim but I didn’t mind. I didn’t bother looking at what I was writing for it would defeat the purpose. I just want to know how I feel. And your happiest moment can also give you your most depressing one.

May 11, 2008

Today is very rainy. I usually feel happy when it is raining for I really love the water and the cool breeze it brings. But today, it is different. The moment the thunder rumbled, I fell onto my pillow and felt sleepy as if I had no energy at all. And then, I just felt sad. The gloomy atmosphere surrounded me and just like that, I remembered a painful memory that I wanted to forget.


It has been 5 years since I first met a person who once became very important in my life. It was also raining like this day when I first met him. Yes, he is a guy. The first guy who I can probably say, appreciated my being. I did not expect him to become special to me since we only knew each other in a civil manner. Maybe it was just part of my growth that we crossed paths in a personal degree. It cannot be coincidence for God doesn’t play dice. I was happy with him though he is far from my ideal. I liked him. He was a friend, brother and a special person. He taught me things I might not be able to discover by my self back then for naivety was still a close companion of mine. Eight months passed by. We had our share of happy moments, disagreements and some other special moments.

While a lot happened that I felt so attached to him, a sudden realization dawned to me. Might he became a some sort of a guide for quite some time, I realized that what I felt for him was different from what he was feeling for me. The very thought of it just disgusts me that I did and said little troublesome things just to slowly inch away from his grasps. I know that I might be hurting him in some way but I just let my mind rule over my heart. I’ve been misled for a long time and it hurts to know that you’ve been taken advantaged of. When he left town, it made the process easier for me. I just told him that I don’t feel right anymore. The moment I said those words to him was the first time I felt so good in a long while. I broke whatsoever contact we had but he kept bugging me. I just ignored him.

But after five years, I felt that I should have given him the chance to explain and maybe, to formally part ways. My confusion, youth and naivety back then blinded my reason. Given a chance to meet him, I just want to tell him that I’m happy that he became a part of my life and that I have forgiven him even though I missed out on many things because of him.

I was not being emo, just nostalgic in a sense that I have a small regret. Though the rain that day made me really sadder than as I was (read Absently Celebrating Mothers’ Day), I still feel grateful of being reminded that we only get one shot in life. We must live each day to the fullest, making it sure that we have no regrets for the most tormenting feeling is that of wondering what could have been. To deny one’s self of experiencing the rainbow of feelings is tantamount to suicide minus the blood. We’ll only know happiness if we’ve felt how it is to feel down. Same goes with the idea that we feel the joys of love is because we had the thorns of it. To live is to feel.

No regrets.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Hello Sunshine!

Summer’s officially in!

Finally, I can stretch and move around more freely after all the weeks of restrictions, commitments and scholastic stuff. I want to do loads of activities for this summer but I know I’ve got to set up my priorities so that I’ll have a set of accomplishments before the season ends, right? Haha. No wonder I already have things in mind that I would like to share with you though you might find some of them to be so-not-cool! :)

- Get refreshed with all my past lessons in order to pass all the colleges and universities

that I wanted to get into after high school.
- Overcome my not-so-good mannerisms like nail biting and frequent day dreaming
- Have enough sleep for the rest of the season
- Meet new people!
- Continue teaching Tagalog to some interested Westerners
- Do an emotional check and be more nice to people
- Lose some weight! This is a step to a healthier lifestyle!
- Do some charity works.
- Be more trusting to people who already asked for my forgiveness and I’ve already

forgiven. They should have earned it by now, right?
- Be more outspoken
- Read more novels for some amusement
- Hit the beach (or pool) at least twice
- And lastly (at least for now), express to connect! People won’t understand me if I won’t

myself be understood right?

I don’t really know what’s really gonna happen for the rest of my summer break but so far, so good. I mean, we all want to do a lot of things in our lives especially when we have some time to spare but when certain circumstances occur then, it’s up to us on how we’re gonna act to it. For now, I just want to perfectly fill up my application form for the University of the Philippines and maybe everything will follow afterwards.

I’ll keep you updated!

‘Til my next entry!