I found my diary from 1998 and was laughing my lungs out reading it. I can't believe the things I wrote almost twelve years ago! Here I want to share with you two sample pages of it... behold thy thoughts of a sophomore high school studying in a Catholic school:
"CLVE" is a subject in that Catholic school which stands for "Christian Living and Values Education".
At the mall, I was trying on some fabulous pumps when a familiar voice called my name excitedly. “Staceeeeeyyy!!!” – Looking at the stunning woman brightly grinning and looking my way, I thought on my feet and looked around to see if she was really referring to me and it turned out, she was. (Hey, it’s not like Stacey isn’t a common name.) She approached me and gave me this massive hug while I was still clueless and frozen why this beautiful stranger knows my name and even hugged me!
“It’s me, *Sheila!” My eyes widened and realized why I sort of knew her voice. I cracked up and said “Oh my… you look so different! Where are your curves?! Who took them?! You look gorgeous!” It went on for a couple more minutes until we realized we need to sit down and talk over a cup of tea. There’s much catching up to do.
She’s an old friend from high school although we really didn’t attend the same school back then. She was a Filipina beauty. Copper-toned skin, full-figured, dark wavy hair, average round nose and chin. But now, she’s absolutely skinny, pale white skin, her nose and chin are more obviously pointed than before, and her hair is now light brown, thin and sleek.
“Did you realize I didn’t recognize you?!” I said while stirring my soy chai latte.
“I know, I know… it’s not like I don’t remember how I looked like before going under the knives. I wouldn’t have a boyfriend now if I hadn’t done it.” She confessed without hesitation. Hearing her say that made me really sad for her. I still think that guys will go crazy for her even if she didn’t change her looks. She has soulful eyes and smile. And the most important is her amazingly bubbly personality that any guy would kill for.
She transformed quite well but it didn’t stop me from telling her that I miss the old Sheila, the cute simple girl in my high school photo album. She changed to a point where she looks like a totally different person. Think of those Korean girl band singers who look exactly like each other – that’s how Sheila looks like now: Beautiful but no longer original.
She can’t say that her decision made her really happy. It’s always awkward for her now to meet with old friends like me because no one could easily tell who she is. Just like what happened to us earlier. She honestly said that each time she meets up with someone who knew how she looked like before, it only brings back the pain of her past experiences which drove her to undergo several surgeries.
I felt compelled to write about this because what Sheila did was such a life-changing decision that young women often resort to because of unhappiness. It’s sad but I’m not prejudiced about women who have done this or wanted to do this. All I hope for is if that time comes when my urge to change something in me becomes so strong, I pray that I can divert that urge, that energy for me to change the way I see things and bring me back to where I love myself for what I’ve been given. So help me God.
I may not be blogging much recently but believe me, I’m still very textually active… at Twitter! (http://twitter.com/staceyavenue)
So please feel free to send me a message there or follow my tweets so I can follow yours too. I like the idea of being able to know what’s going on with my friends as it happens and being able to chitchat with them in 140 characters or less.
So who do I follow? As of this date, I’m only following less than 50 twitters which include close friends, blogger friends, officemates, inspirational public figures like Mashable’s Most Educational Blogger to follow (@BroEliSoriano), Shorty Awards’ finalist for best Journalist (@DanielRazon), and a few celebrities like those kids from Glee (@chriscolfer & @frankenteen).
If you have suggestions like really funny or interesting twitters, please do let me know.
Rendezvous’ first three tracks took its sound from the psychedelic jazz era of the sixties. However, their debut album to be launched this year borrows inspiration from a diverse collection of ideas from Rendezvous’ members, Itai Simon and Hagai Izenberg.
Because of the big welcome that Rendezvous received after they released their first EP five years ago, Simon and Izenberg pursued their vision of making a debut album that reflected their music ideals.
Although Rendezvous’ original influence came from the likes of Pink Floyd harking back to about half a century ago, their own music is both timeless and reflective of the present generation’s music, fusing electropop, jazz, Asian instrumental music, and even compositions that feature string orchestral music. This varied union of tastes gives Rendezvous’ fans a package that is very much worth the wait.
Rendezvous’ YouTube channel alone has received more than 150 thousand views, proving more than before their worth in the music industry. For a sneak preview of their debut album, watch their production video of End of the World by tuning in to Rendezvous on YouTube.
Even with the huge success that Rendezvous has already achieved with their previous EP, they did not want to rest on their laurels. To give their album the authentic Rendezvous flair that their fans yearn for, the band collaborated with David Bascombe for the mixing of their album’s eight tracks. Bascombe, a known name in the world of music, has already worked with Natalie Imbruglia, Kylie Minogue, Depeche Mode, The Verve, Suede – and the list does not stop there. One thing’s for sure: Rendezvous’ team-up with Bascombe assures that you’re definitely in for a music treat.
Before Rendezvous finally launches their eight-track album, find out what got music buffs listening in the first place. Listen to their first three tracks, Incognito, So What, and No Man’s Land through Rendezvous’ official web page. Watch Rendezvous in action on YouTube if you need the whole audiovisual experience.
Ridiculous. And I just can’t believe something like this could actually happen to me. I don’t suggest you to go on reading this if you don’t want to ruin you day by knowing that somehow, somewhere, traitors exist; and sometimes, they come in as 9-yr. old stuck in a 30-something male body.
I thought such drama could only happen to really, really good people – like in paperback novels where the person is unbelievably kind to everyone and anything in this world. And they have some sort of personal backstabbing critic who happens to be undeniably jealous of them. Ideally speaking, I grade myself C- for taking a lead role in any story. First, I’m not the nicest person around and I’d like to think that I can even make onions cry. Second, I don’t see any reason why anyone should attack me. I may not have the cleanest slate but I can say that I’m a law-abiding citizen who deserves peace.
I was new to this place when I met this ass… I mean this guy. He was totally nice to me, like oh-my-gosh nice. He’s very accommodating, sometimes way too nosy about every little thing I do which I tried to tolerate since I thought he was just being friendly. Initially, I could sense that there’s something wrong about him. I wanted to trust my intuition but you know I could be wrong sometimes. So I gave friendship a shot.
Little by little, I started to notice his preferred trend of conversation… he likes to gossip – a lot! 60% of what he’s saying is mean stuff about almost everyone else around him. He even pointed out several people that (as per him) I should avoid because he had issues with them in the past. (Duh like I care, right?) While 40% of his statements are self-serving details which if you scrutinize, are just trying to silently scream that he’s the righteous one and everyone else is bound to damnation. He started to irritate my delicate ears until I came to a point where I couldn’t bear it anymore. I started to get allergic reactions and when I do, there’s no hiding code red.
Civilly, I tried to let him know that I don’t entertain such ridiculous gestures from anyone, and it doesn’t exclude him just because he’s been accommodating and kind to me at first. I started to open up conversations with everyone else – including his personal enemies. I wanted to know them in a different light because first and foremost, they’re not my enemies. Second, I could use some basking in the sun after that guy’s dark, blinding perspective held me for a while.
That’s when I started to find out that 9/10 of his statements aren’t true. When I giggle and laugh with other people, I can see from the side mirror how his eyebrows meet heavily and dissolve in gloom. Now, is this telling me that just because he’s been nice to me, he expects me to be his ally in his pathetic war against everyone else?
I didn’t want to make brash judgments until I proved my inner voice right when he started to obviously, exaggeratedly avoid me, make personal attacks, false statements, and all that crapagainst me. He even called me a “traitor”.
Hey punk, “traitors” are people who can’t face anyone he or she has anything against with and I, on the other hand was only saving my mind from getting polluted with all the by-products of your bitterness, insecurities, and low self-esteem. Geez, you really can’t take a hint? You really want me to be this brutally honest with you? Then eat this: You’re popular because a lot of people I spoke with don’t seem to like you one bit.
I would know from someone’s fruits if he or she is nice and noble. And you, you need to get help. This blog isn’t written to get even. That’s not my style, dude. This is to warn you that you can’t just go messing around if you can’t back it up. Now let me share with you something I wrote about a year ago. I hope you’ll find this helpful somehow even if I can sense that you’ll deny it.
“50,000 runners in just a fun run? That’s too ambitious!!!”
“50,000 participants? Good luck…”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but you can’t get that many people…”
Those are just some of the doubtful comments thrown at sports37.net’s blog about “Isang Araw Lang: Takbo Para sa Libreng Kolehiyo” (Just One Day: Run for Free College Education) – an event that aimed to involve no less than 50,000 participants to run for a cause which is to send Filipino youth to College, for free. So last Sunday, I went there with excitement up and down my spine to see what happens…
You know how it’s like in movies where the antagonist beats up and bullies the protagonist first? Then later on, the protagonist rise (with a Rocky Balboa kind of background music going on) after all the hard work and commitment exhibited to achieve his goal. It was perfectly like that when spectators dropped their jaws in awe while looking at MORE THAN 50,000 RUNNERS last January 31, 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds! And I am grateful to God that I witnessed this monumental event.
With high hopes and sincerity, Mr. Daniel Razon initiated the said fun run project which turned out to be a humongous success. Majority of the runners are members of the Church of God International and far from the expected chaos in gathering a huge number of people, the whole event was surprisingly very well organized.
Kuya Daniel's message is simple and clear: by just devoting a day to do something good, or by doing something good whenever there’s an opportunity, we can make a big difference… and a world of difference there will be as the inauguration of the new La Verdad Christian College building is nearing. To God be the glory!
A wave of applause, delight, and empowerment filled the air when he cried “No to drugs! Yes to God!” as a sign of new hope for the Filipino youth who will be spending their days studying AB Mass Communication or BS Nursing instead of wasting their lives away. Now that’s what I call a first real step in fighting poverty!
Aside from Dr. House from the famous TV series, I know most doctors schooled themselves to have enough gumption to conceal any ugly truth before blurting out a sinister medical condition to their patients. However, I came across a serious, and I mean dead serious offender.
It was after work and I’m so tired but I have to wait a long wait for the doctor to give me the annual checkup. Finally, it’s my turn – she made me open my mouth wide and examined my soul, took my blood pressure, tapped me for knee jerks, asked me a couple of questions like “when was your last period”… the usual stuff.
But while she was listening to my heartbeat with her stethoscope, I heard her say “Uh-oh” softly with a scary hint of worry and as a natural snap response, I asked “What is it?!”
“Nothing…”
“I heard you say ‘Uh-oh’, that couldn’t be just nothing! What did you find?” I insisted.
“It’s nothing,” she said.
“Come on, Doc!” Worry and impatience rising. I began to connect all the uncomfortable feeling I felt lately with what the doctor just found out.
"Okay,” she sighed while I brace myself for her next words… which may be my life sentence.
“I just remembered I agreed to a dinner tonight and I forgot about it.” She bit her lip.
My heart skipped a beat and my eyes narrowed. “You are impossible.”
I swore to never ever go back to that doctor again. Practically, I don’t want any doctor with his or her mind floating somewhere else while conducting medical examination. Ultimately, I don’t want a doctor who says “Uh-oh” in the presence of a patient. Not only does it make a doctor seem ditsy, it creates a lot of unnecessary tension and fear.
“Uh-oh” (and the like) should not be uttered by medical practitioners in front of patients – it should be banned, there should be a law against it, it should be illegal.
