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Drumroll please..
SECOND SEM WIN! Ngayon napatunayan ko na, inspirasyon siya talaga :">
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Patikim na update: (dahil tapos na ako mag-patikim ng picture :P)
I'm back in Singapore! ♥ Since Monday morning pa actually.
Kanina pumasok ako sa freeze chamber ng National Geographic Museum sa loob ng Vivo City :D Haha potek, -16 degrees Celsius! \m/ Nanlamig pati mga kalamnan ko. (LOL -- kalamnan! Epekto ng lamig! :P)
Literal na brain freeze :)))))
I miss Manila! :) Will update soon :)
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From Bali with Love.
Patikim na picture! So far, I've been to the beach, shopped, met locals and some foreigners.. and I'm taking in the beautiful Bali culture. :) It's so much like Manila but the differences are incredibly beautiful.. Unang picture muna! This was taken from the Tanah Lot market/beach. YES, there is something in the picture.. I'm back on cryptic mode -- though that's not exactly hard to get.. oh whatever :P  :">
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On leaving.
Tomorrow, I shall leave Philippine soil and embark on my much-awaited "world tour" this 2009. First stop: Singapore & Indonesia! Haha.
One teeny tiny detail I haven't been mentioning about my life since God-knows-when is that I decided to not have an extravagant debut party for my 18th birthday. Yes, folks, the only daughter and only child will NOT have a grand celebration of her womanhood. You can wipe the awe off your faces now. Anyway, I decided on this a long time ago but I really had it finalized just a couple of years back when the sudden realization that 2009 will both be the year of my 18th birthday and my Papa's 50th. Hence, I made a proposal: instead of throwing a lavish party, why not just travel?
Contrary to popular belief, I am not a spoiled brat. I am unlike any of the poor little rich girls you see on MTV, with their lives depending on Dad's credit cards, bringing on the bitchiness and whines 24/7. So I am not one to say, "Papa, I want a party! I want a big big big big partyyyy with all my puh-retty little friends in a puh-retty little gown in a puh-retty big hotel!" (I am not suggesting, however, that people who do throw debut parties are spoiled..) Contrary to popular belief, I do care about money and how it is spent. And so, based on my opinion, it is so much more worth it to spend bucks on plane tickets (and indirectly shopping and tourist attractions) rather than on a gown I will probably never use again in my whole entire life. Contrary to popular belief, I would not want to be the center of attention for one whole night with everyone watching me dance with 18 men, being swayed by 18 mushy messages, and being critiqued by all the guests on how fat my arms are and how big my tummy is. No freakin' way. I cannot stand the attention for that long.
SOOOO.
The Singapore and Bali trips are technically not part of this proposal because we really are supposed to go there this year whether or not it is my 18th birthday-year. Two of my mom's sisters work there respectively. The last time I've been to Singapore was when I was five years old -- I was anything but a disciplined little girl. I was so hyperactive and restless, I was lucky my mom did not give up on me. I was too young to enjoy it then -- I remember the toys I bought more than the actual places we visited.
 5-year-old Karla in a Singapore double-deck busMeanwhile, it would be my first time to go to Bali. I am psyched because from the way my aunt describes it, it seems like paradise. For real. The beaches, the temperature, the people -- very romantic. Well, I'm honestly not a beach person (for many reasons: the heat, the possible darkening of skin, and yes, my flabs :-s) but I still cannot wait! Bali sounds like a treasure to me.
We leave tomorrow evening (April 3rd, Friday) and come back after two weeks or so. Then after a few weeks, we leave for the States. Now, THAT is the supposed 18th birthday celebration trip. But details on that trip later.
(On to the profundity..) *organizes thoughts*
Traveling is an unavoidable allusion to so many things in life. Often, traveling is associated to the idea of leaving -- leaving things, leaving home, leaving people. It is associated with closing doors behind you, never to look back on them again. With leaving comes detachment.
When you go on a journey, you get to explore so many other cultures, meet different kinds of people, and gain unbelievable experiences. When you leave the place you call home, you realize how big the world is -- and how minute a detail you are compared to the billions of other people on the planet. Your eyes are opened to numerous opportunities and options.. you see outside the little bubble you've created around yourself.
Then you come back. And that's when you realize what you've been missing, or what you already have.
Leaving is inevitable. But it does not always mean ending things. After all has been seen, heard, said, and done, different routes are paved for us and many answers are presented to us -- it is only in separation that we recognize what is actually essential to us.
Hmm, I think this is just me expounding that the absence makes the heart grow fonder. Hahaha! Oh well.
(Late-night blogging either makes me sabaw or makes me profound. LOL.)
I shall update soon enough.
SINGAPORE & BALI, welcome me into your arms! :)
Buona notte! Arrivederci, filippine!~
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Para Kay B.
"Me quota ang pag-ibig. Sa bawat limang umiibig ay isa lang ang magiging maligaya. Kasama ka ba sa quota?" This is the main premise of Ricky Lee's much-acclaimed novel, Para Kay B. And given that love is such a universally accepted theme in whatever genre, be it literature, music, or art, of course it's bound to get noticed. Especially if it ends up in anguish or pain. (Because we're all secretly broken emo souls inside..) The novel is composed of five main characters with each of their unique and individual stories intertwining in the end. They each have twisted and rather complicated tales to tell, not the typical "He-doesn't-love-me-huhuhu-my-life-sucks" kind of theme, but leaning more on the dark and peculiar side. Despite their eccentricity though, what surprises me is how well I can still relate to the characters. I'm just an average seventeen-year-old girl with not enough experience to grasp the complexities of life (and love), but somehow I felt the rawness of every emotion. Like an itch I couldn't stop scratching, the book got to me so bad, I couldn't put it down. The way it was written was so interactive; it really brings the readers into the story. Along with the characters, you can't help but think about the entire situation too. What will happen? What will I get from this? Is love really as messed-up as this book says? Am I doomed to fail?I usually dislike being left hanging. This book did just that -- but in a good way.Kudos to Ricky Lee. I hope love doesn't become too harsh on me, but if it does, well I'm taking this book with me through the heartbreak and the loss! It would probably be all I need to get through it :) ----Okay so, I've been thinking of a good way to get people today because I have been a victim of two pranks already (NYARRRR).. and the only thing I could think of is a joke on my current relationship status -- not very unique, I know. I did fool one friend.For like two minutes. HAHA. After that I gave up. I can't lie well. That's one of my biggest waterloos (or strengths? Hmmm..) ever. My nostrils flare, my cheeks burn, my mouth grins -- basically my whole face gives me away into the first five seconds of the lie. I have to turn away from the person I'm talking to or raise my voice (make it seem like I'm angry) to disguise the bursting laughter. On the very rare occasions I do succeed, I have to get away from the scene of the crime to grin like a maniac or laugh like a hyena just to let the "guilt" out. In short, I SUCK. EPIC FAILURE. Well, at least I got one friend. It was easier because it was through YM. I'm sorry it had to be you, Mikka :) I hope your pranks turn out better than mine :P Happy April Fools' Day!"At.. paminsan-minsan lang naman, napapaluhod siya't nanghihina sa tapat ng kanyang kama, sa dilim ng silid ay nakayukong iginugupo ng isang letra."
(Really can you blame me for believing that life imitates art? Why, of all letters!)
Oh, BTW. I'm leaving on Friday for Singapore and Bali. The first leg of my summer world tour 09! Haha \m/ Can't wait!
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Last hurrah with CrEngg!
I went to UP today because it's my friends' Math 53 finals. And being the ever-supportive friend that I am, I wanted to see them and cheer for them :)
And also because they might eat out. And because we don't have Internet (again) at home. And I don't want to be stuck at home all day.
In short, gusto ko gumala. Haha :)
I won't be telling you the seemingly gruesome details of what I heard from their finals. Basta from the looks on their faces as they left their rooms -- well, let's just say Math will forever be a subject of torture. : Hehe. (I'm really lucky my course does not require any Math AT ALL. English foreverrrr! \m/)
So after their finals we went straight to the UP-Ayala Technohub, and ate at KFC. Upon our arrival, the rain fell really hard! As in. So it was a good thing we got there in time. Of course while eating, picture-taking (courtesy of my camera and Enzo as the official photographer, hehe) and some kwentuhans. We can't believe we already survived first year! It has been ten months since we first laid eyes on each other, and yet there we were, as if we've known each other for years! Awww drama much :))
After that we went to Timezone. YEAAH BABY! Thanks to Jan for being the financier. Haha :)) We played Dance Revo, Air Hockey (with Jan), Time Crisis, Basketball, and Racing. OMG INNA IS THE BEST SHOOTER! Grabe, I didn't know she had it in her! X consecutive shoots in a row -- my god! She deserves Chris Tiu! Haha :)) In all the games I played, I sucked. Well, not really pero still, I didn't really win anything.. or I wasn't great in anything.. harhar! L-) That's not very surprising; I'm the least athletic and coordinated person I know. But I still had soooo muuuuuch fun. I'm not one to give in to cliches, but really, just being with friends made my day. Even though it was raining like crazy, I did not feel senti or emo at all -- it was one of the most fun days ever :D Sayang lang we weren't complete :
I'm gonna miss CrEngg. SOOO MUCH. This summer all of them will be taking summer classes except for me (and Andy, I think?). I'll be leaving so for the next two months I probably won't be seeing them :(((( Awwwww.
If there's one thing I'm extremely thankful for this school year, it's my group of friends. I know I've said it already lots of times, but as far as friends are concerned, I could not ask for more :D Ang bait ni God sakin grabe :) I love y'all, CrEnggBB ♥
Sayang I want to upload the pictures but I don't think my mom has a card reader or a USB cable here in her office. So maybe when we have Internet at home again :)
So, how's the first week of your summer so far? Hope you're all having a blast :)
SUMMER, HERE I COME! \m/ Let me rock you. Haha!
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Dahil na-survive ko na first year ko sa UP.
Bago ang lahat, isang malaking.. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!! \m/
I cannot believe it. Freshman year is officially over. I survived ten months of college! Ano baaa! Ang bilis! PARANG KAILAN LANG, AMFFFF.
I hate cliches. But really.. how time passes by!
As a college freshman, of course having so many second thoughts and fears was inevitable. For one thing, I chose to go to a very errr-- liberal and open university, a far cry from the school I came from. You can probably call me a "pampered little private-school girl" because really, I haven't been outside the walls of St. Paul for twelve years, tapos sa UP ko pa piniling pumasok. I was sure that UP will at me alive.
Err. Well yes, UP did eat me alive. At some point it stepped on my pride, deflated my ego, dampened my spirits and rained on my parade. But you know what? I looooved it. \m/
Top 10 Things I learned in my freshman year in UP :)
- "UP is a stress factory." -- Sir C.P. David
Wala na atang mas tatama pa sa sinabi na 'to ng Geol prof ko. In UP, you will only have two states: either stressed or super stressed. So many nights have I stayed up late to study, finish a paper (!!!) or cram about something for the next day. Totoong sa UP ko nafeel na 24 hours is not enough. It never issss.
- "Akala ko, matalino na ko. Pag pasok ko sa UP, hindi pa pala." -- Inna De Castro
Aminado naman kami nila Inna, Drea at Cathe na nung high school, syempre there was a feeling of confidence because we've been awardees for so long. So of course, we felt that, "Ah kaya ko 'to, matalino naman ako eh." WRONG. SOOOO WRONG. Even three years of Physics, four years of Chemistry and X years of academic excellence certificates wil NOT make you intelligent enough para hindi na ma-intimidate sa mga classmates mo. Dyos ko, ang dami-daming halimaw sa UP -- halimaw sa katalinuhan! Mga tipong nakapikit na, makakasagot pa rin ng problem. Or yung kahit patulog-tulog lang sa klase, parang nagmemorize ng libro pag nag-rerecite. Super nakaka-insecure minsan. But the good thing about this is the intimidation will drive you to work harder. Syempre panis ka naman kung hahayaan mo na lang na ganun ka di ba? I cannot count the number of times I studied 20x harder because I also wanted to prove for myself that I deserved to be here. Kahit para sa sarili ko lang, dba.
- People don't care.
Akala mo lang they do, pero they honestly don't. This is actually what I really love about college. Nung high school, konting mistake lang, the teachers will come calling for you already. Magpalit ka lang ng chuba, pinag-uusapan ka na -- everyone in school will be talking about you. But not in college. Go dye your hair red, hold hands with a new guy every week, cut classes -- people don't care. You can comfortably be yourself in UP.. kahit pa ano ang sexual preferences at guilty pleasures mo. You go live your life, and I'll go live mine. It will actually make you realize who you really are because you won't be afraid to explore so many options out there and worry about what they'll think of you.
- People do care, actually.
One of the unexpected things in college, kahit pa freshman lang ako, feeling ko ang tagal-tagal ko na sa UP. Kasi everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Kahit di mo ka-close, minsan may sasama sayong mag-cram sa isang subject. Or pag may nakasalubong ka, willing ka sabayan bumili ng pagkain. Or pag may kaklase ka na kasama mo sa pila sa photocopy, papahiramin ka muna ng 2 piso. Small things, really. But isn't it the small things that count? :)
- "Tataba ka rin!" -- my cousins T_T
Oo na bitter ako :)) Pero totoo. Halos 75% ng kilala ko ngayon, nag-college lang tumaba na. Nakakainis. To think na lakad ako ng lakad sa UP. Paano ba naman.. tapsilog shawarma taho peanut-butter monay dirty ice cream buko juice fishball siomai.. ANO BA! :)) Pero in fairness, pumayat na ko ngayong second sem kasi may class ako from NIGS to CAL fifth floor na magkasunod! Grabe din. CAL 5th floor everyday!! Tapos wala ko lunch pag TTh. Nako lang eh :| Pero still. Mataba lahat! Ano ba. That's a fact :)) Tanggapin na lang. :P:P
- You will meet the greatest people ever.
Let's set aside the fact that high school friends are irreplaceable. That's a given. When you go to college, you fear that no one will get your complexities the way old friends do. But you'll be surprised. I was. Sobrang mahal na mahal ko talaga CrEnggBB. I cannot ask for anything more pag dating sa college barkada ko. Akalain mo ba namang SOBRANG SOBRANG SOBRANG we get each other -- lahat ng complexities and weird fetishes namin. Dyos ko. Hindi ko inakalang there are people out there as crazy and sabaw as me! :) Tipong same wavelengths talaga eh -- magkatinginan lang gets na. Ano baaaa. :D Pati sa chur-churan, winner \m/ Ang galing nga eh. Woooh lahat kami Claretiano na! HAHAHA :))) And it's not just with my barkada. In every class, you will meet the coolest people talaga. Sobrang diverse ng mga tao sa UP, you'll realize how small your world was in high school. And kahit sino ka pa, tanggap ka. Even if you don't have a car, or live in a snooty subdivision, or go to bars, or have the newest cellphones; even if you rally for political issues, stay in the lib during break time, or whatever your thing is -- you're just as good as everyone else.
- Chur-churs are everywhere ♥
Ano baaaa. Dami-daming gwapo at maganda sa UP. It's just a matter of diskarte. Syempre not all people in UP are book nerds and anti-social.. we have our share of churchur lives too! Sa UP natuto ako that nothing is impossible. Walange excuse for you to not make a move on your crush. Ano ba. Dami-dami inaaral sa UP, okay lang naman mag-indulge sa mga guilty pleasures noh.. :P At san ka, swerte mo kapag yung crush mo.. halimaw na sa ka-cute-an, halimaw pa sa katalinuhan. WHAAAT. Yesss, such creatures exist, my friends :D
- "Mga taga-UP di nag-cocompete sa iba eh. Nakikipag-compete sa sarili.. sa perfection." -- Hey Arnold!
Haha. Seryoso. Inspiring words from Arnoooold :D :)) Pero totoo. Ano ba. Narealize ko after ko siya tawanan nun, totoo nga naman. Unlike high school, you don't hear your profs saying na you need to do better because somene else is getting higher scores than you do. To each his own dito. But still, it doesn't mean you have to be petiks. You have to strive and work harder -- for yourself. Totoo naman. Sabi nga, dapat lagi mong matalo si Perfection. Yon dapat ang goal lagi :) Hindi naman sa GC eh, it's more of kung alam mo namang kaya mo, bakit di mo pa ibigay best mo? Di ba.
- Basta makapasa, blessing na.
Hindi rin naman sa lahat ng oras maaabot mo si Perfection. Sometimes, napaka-sarap na talaga maka-tanggap ng 3. Ako that's one thing I also discovered in college -- dati I was sooo afraid of getting so-so grades. Pero sa hirap talaga sa UP, sometimes you just have to be thankful for whatever grade you get. Hindi na pwede magpaka-selfish. At all times, just be grateful. The 3 could be your friend or fiend, it all depends on how you look at it.
- IT'S A SMALL WORLD, AFTER ALL.
This is probably, hands down, the biggest lesson I've learned so far. Sa lahat talaga ng pagkakataon, this always proves itself correct. Countless times na na yung kilala ko, kilala ni ganito.. ganyan-ganyan. Ang galing nga eh, sometimes when you step back and take a look at the big picture, that is your social life, sobrang daming connect-connect. Ang galing! Kaya talagang it's important to treasure every friendship you establish with everyone 'cos you'll never know.. :> PS. Syempre napaka-useful nito pang-chur-chur. Madali lang mag-research kapag marami kang kakilala. Chances are may kilala ka na classmate/friend niya! :P
There are so many things I can still say about this year. Pero sige yan na muna. After all, first year pa lang ako. Madami pa ko ma-eexperience. UP has been a wild ride. Madaming ups, downs and all that. But do I regret choosing this over any other school? HELL, NO. College is such a new experience -- but I'm in a school rich with diversity, knowledge and spirit. I could not ask for more, really.
Thanks, UP. Next year ulit :)
ANG HABA PALA. PAGBIGYAN NA :))
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Let's be cryptic.
"When you say too much about anything important, it always ends up sounding more trivial than it is. Words trash it." -- Jessica Darling Because some things are better kept unsaid. And un-blogged :) I'll be back.
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Excursus on Love.
No. This is not me not getting over Valentine's. This is me in Socio10 mode. We're discussing the Sociology of Loooove tomorrow, and we're required to read and write a paper about it. Slumbook much? Hmm. You decide. SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY APPLIED Excursus on Love
Love is the polar case of intrinsic attraction. Love appears to make human beings unselfish because they enjoy giving pleasure to people they love. Generally, this devotion actually rests on the aim to maintain the other person's love. Exchange processes occur in love relations. It differs from social associations of extrinsic significance in that rewards are exchanged because they are means to produce the ultimate reward of intrinsic attraction. In other social association, exchange of specific rewards is its very objective. In love relations, rewarding the partner is due to the need to express and to confirm commitment to the association, not the expectation of rewards.
During the early stages of falling in love, each partner hides his/her true feelings due to fears of rejection and dependence. This concealment, together with increasing dependence on each other, causes frustration. Here, dependence on each other is tested. This threatens the survival of the relationship. Individuals are compelled to express sufficient commitment in order to save the relationship. When one of them is not yet ready to commit, the conflict may terminate the relationship.
Human beings derive pleasure from sacrificing for those they love. After having sacrificed for a loved one and repeatedly rewarded for it by increased attachment from the other, giving pleasure eventually seems to be intrinsically gratifying. Favors and presents, being signs of love may stimulate one's affection for the other and vice versa.One may encourage more gifts and favors not because of the material benefits themselves but because of the need to foster the other's love for him/her. This is just the first page. It actually is quite interesting to read about love in a non-romantic kind of way. The whole idea of cheesy, cringe-worthy love is so overrated, it's refreshing to see an analytical and sociological perspective. Well, for me at least. Now I have to go and finish my paper. Describe your ideal romantic partner. Define Love. What do you think are the prerequisites of a long-lasting relationship? Wowww. Admittedly this is difficult. Sure I may have my types (ehem ehem Nathan Scott, Chris Tiu.. the likes. Haha) but they're just feast for the eyes. Ideally they may be perfect, but who knows if our personalities will mesh well? Can I handle being the girlfriend of a major basketball star? And am I capable of being in a real, mature, long-lasting relationship? NGHHH. Things like this make me realize how much I DON'T know about life. Haha. Maybe I'm just not old enough to know what love is yet. Maybe. So how am I supposed to answer this? I think I know enough about love to understand that it's more than just an overwhelming wave of emotion. It encompasses so many things on so many levels. It makes everything a couple of shades brighter and darker at the same time. It makes you sensible but also a bit stupid. It wounds but it also heals. It's too complex. But then again, I'm just 17. Maybe I shouldn't try too hard to demystify love.(The little voice inside my head) Karla, it's just a paper. Let's not get too carried away.
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Let's get these teen hearts beating faster, faster!
Whatever your status is today, I hope you had fun. Valentine's isn't supposed to be this dreaded holiday, instead it should make you realize that at the end of the day, love (and not necessarily romantic) will always get you through. I sound so.. cheesy. Eww. Minsan lang 'to. HAHA! :)) Happy Churchur Day, everyone! :)
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Of growing up, and life imitating art.
Has it really been that long?I'm having this very meaningful trip down to memory lane with my very dear friend, Cathe-slash-Cars. We just came from our friend Kaila's 18th birthday party. After getting our caffeine fix at Starbucks and reaching home, we started talking over YM about how unfortunate and difficult it is to not have water supply here in Paranaque, then we ended up reminiscing about our friendship. From our bondings at leadership trainings, to our first blogging years.. we have so many memories together and yet all the moments we shared feel like it was only yesterday. In fact, everything feels like it was only yesterday.These days, I try to avoid nostalgia. Because it brings back memories both good and bad. And I'm not good at dealing with unpleasant memories. But mostly because I really don't want to get stuck in the past anymore. I've gotten myself stuck in a rut for the past few months because I could not get over unfinished business in high school. I could not settle things not just with other people, but with myself as well. It was as if I was in a mess I could not and would not get out of. Then 2009 happened. And yes, I'm proud to say I've grown up a lot already. I know it sounds impossible to "grow up" in a month or so, but I really felt like I did. I started talking to some friends again, I stopped being angry at certain people, I learned to let go of things that I held on to. I started to realize that there was no point in holding any more grudges. Looking back, I still feel a pang of pain. But now it's as if I've begun seeing the bigger picture. I've started connecting the dots, and now everything is making sense. I guess feeling sad over things that ended is natural -- but I don't feel regretful anymore. And maybe that's a good thing. Because it's only when we start accepting things that the healing can actually begin. "There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave You were what I wanted I gave what I gave I'm not sorry I met you I'm not sorry it's over I'm not sorry there's nothing to save." -- Your Ex-Lover Is Dead; Stars (Sometimes, it's easy to believe that life imitates art. Thanks for recommending this song, Cathe-slash-Cars!) I did not mean to sound morose tonight -- err, this morning. The rude awakening just happened unexpectedly :P I'm still on a caffeine high! Woooh, thank you very much White Mocha. Now I can't sleep. Good thing I have Cathe-slash-Cars to keep me company in my sabaw-ness. We're planning our future joint venture. Let's just say it probably won't get us to Santa's Nice Kids list this year! Haha. Ciao, mi amici :) Live through this and you won't look back.
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A little something to explain my absence.
Yes, yes I knowwww. School is eating up my time -- all of it. I hope you get it. But just in case you don't, here's a little something for you: THIS IS COLLEGE!
Every New Semester:
After First Week:
After Second Week:
Before the Mid-Term Test:
During the Mid-Term Test:
After the Mid-Term Test:
Before the Final Exams:
Once Get to Know the Final Exam Schedule:
7 Days Before the Final Exam:
6 Days Before the Final Exam:
5 Days Before the Final Exam:
4 Days Before the Final Exam:
3 Days Before the Final Exam:
2 Days Before the Final Exam:
1 Day Before the Final Exam:
The Night Before the Final Exam:
1 Hour Before the Final Exam:
During the Final Exam:
Once Walk Out From the Examination Hall:
After the Final Exam, During the Holiday: It's February! I think I hear sneers and see some eye-rolling. Haha. I don't really want to be such a Valentine Grinch, so I'm gonna share with you what keeps me all perky and hyped up these days. I got myself a chur-chur! :P :P So go ahead, why don't you just go ahead and get yourself a crush if you're single? TRUST ME (and all of us from CrEngg), it's the beeeeest way to keep you awake and excited! Crushes give you a natural high -- kapag binati ka, woooh kilig levels go beyond the roof! :"> Masarap chumur-chur! Yeah, let's feel the.. love? :P Happy Churchur Month! :)
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Back is Bombastarr.
I'm back! You better have missed me, online world.The last day of one's hell week is always one of the happiest ever. Despite the uncertainty brought upon by the difficult examinations or papers, there will always be a sense of relief in the end. And right now, I'm basking myself in this relief. So.. I will not talk about academic-related stuff. I refuse to comment on my exams in fear of jinxing them or overreacting toward them. "Past is past," is my current motto after my tests. So don't ask. I suddenly remembered I don't have anything interesting going on right now other than studies. I am sooo lame. Haha. I'll blog over the weekend probably when I have more coherent things to say :P Arrivederci! :)
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Bombastarr's Guide to Finishing Senior Year
It is once again that time of the year when doors have been opened, dreams have been fulfilled, and the future has been made real: yes, it's College Entrance Exam Results month. (If you can give me a cooler name for it, that would be great :P)
Has it already been a year ago when every weekend, I would wait oh-so-patiently for the websites to load, and type my name in absolute precision, then to jump out of extreme delight five blissful minutes later because I found out I passed all the major universities I applied in? I can think of no other idiom to describe it: Time slips by so quickly. I can still almost feel the euphoria of knowing that I'm thisclose to going to college and finally living out my dream. And that euphoria extends to days, weeks, and yes even months. Unknown to many, it evolves and becomes this lame excuse to not get anything done, all because you know your future is already secure. "What's the point of studying? I already got into my dream school anyway," will surely keep ringing in your head. And trust me, if you let this little voice in your head take over, well let's just say it's not such a great idea to leave high school with failing marks.
Trust me, I know exactly how that feels. It's tempting to be all petix and relaxed this time of year, but somehow I got around it. So here are some tips that hopefully will make things a little bit easier for all you seniors out there. They may not work for you the way they did for me, but they're worth a try :)
- Make a countdown.
I swear to God, nothing motivated me more than the calendar Mikka and I made on the back of our Calculus notebooks. Just the idea of crossing out a day and taking one step closer to Graduation made me want to do better every time. It also help made me look forward to Calculus, because we made a pact to cross out a day only in Math class, so at least, I have an excuse to be excited for the period!
- Go to the website of your future school, and know more about your course.
I basically had two career choices after the results were released: Accouting/Legal Management or Creative Writing. It sparked something inside me that made me want to study more in our Accounting and English classes. I mean, just think: the next four or five years of your life will be centered on this field. And what a better timing to start than now. It may be difficult to really "love" (like Accounting), but trust me this will be like the pull that will set you flying in the next months or so. Up to now this still works for me. I chose English of course, my first love. And to some it is relatively easy (compared to say, Engineering), but every so often the idea of shifting (to Econ or BAA) would come swinging in my mind. Going to the CAL website makes me realize why I chose Creative Writing in the first place.
- Talk to your friends about the future.
Let's put behind all the drama first: you will be separated from the friends you've had since you were in diapers. I still haven't heard of barkadas with all the members going to just one school. This really is one of the saddest facts about college. But think of all the great possibilities too: you can visit each other's campuses and meet new people, venture out to new malls and tambayans (nakakasawa ang Courtyard, Paulinians. Aminin niyo na. Haha) and know your way around Metro Manila. Then, think of all your future careers. I remember our long and seemingly never-ending discussions of the future during recess and lunch: how in ten years we would all be successful and rich but still the best of friends. I would be a successful editor or columnist and corporate lawyer, Trixie would be a diplomat or ambassador, Nica would be big-time in an advertising agency, Mikka and Inna would be filthy rich engineers, Hope would be busy travelling and making the Philippines a major tourist destination, Tin would own a very successful restaurant or chain of hotels, Kassey and Kaila would be sought-after accountants and ITs. And trust me, it puts everything into a whole different perspective. It really made us want to prove our worth. Our fourth quarter grades were proof of that determination :)
- Buy a book related to your course.
Being the geek that I am, I bought one book, The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writing from Book Sale. Like the previous tips, reading it just made me want to excel more, especially in English. I mean, it would suck to get such a low grade on the subject you would major in, right? And of course, this book would be a great use in the future (it is to me now), so it won't hurt. I suggest you go buy in Book Sale or stores selling used books because they're cheaper and the selections are more diverse.
- Relish every last bit of high school.
Accept it, people, these are the last three months of high school -- ever! Don't you at least want to leave an impressive mark? Nobody wants to be known as the alumni who rocked all her years in school, but sucked big time in the last three months. It's your last time to shine, impress teachers, do good, make everything perfect. I suggest you lie low on provoking teachers or collecting reprimands, and focus more on being a really good student. At least try to make your teachers feel that they were able to mold you in some way, and that they made you a better person one way or another. After all, they did make you who you are, regardless of how much you loved or loathed them. You owe it to your school and your teachers to be at the very least, a good (not perfect) student. It's just three months to go after all, how hard would it be?
When you come right down to it, it's all just about making that extreme bliss into something positive and productive that will help you make it through the last of your senior year. But I guess the most important thing to remember is to ENJOY! I'm sure your family, friends, and teachers are all very proud of you. Brag all you want -- I really think with passing comes bragging rights, even for just a few weeks. Haha. Just make the most out of it because five months from now, you will embark on one of the most exciting adventures of your life: College.
To the future Ateneans, La Sallians, Thomasians, and of course future Iskolars ng Bayan, CONGRATULATIONS! :)
As for me, I might have to go and find a way to motivate myself to study this weekend. The coming two weeks are packed with tests -- Comm3, Socio10, and NatSci2 exams plus Ital10 orals. Good luck na laaaang sakin. My life depends on my colored index cards and pens -- I hope they will do their job in making my reviewers more interesting and exciting. :| Weber, Marx, and Durkheim, I'm all yours for the next two weeks. (Yes, this is me announcing I will be on a short hiatus) (P.S. Advanced Happy Birthday, Ayiene Silvestre! :* I am so lucky to have you as an offline and online friend. Labyu, classmate!)
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I know I still love you.
OHMYGOD. I seriously cannot wait. *hyperventilates*
I still really do love the books better than the show.
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Arrivederci, 2008!
I've always wanted to do this because this year has been particularly lucky and eventful for me. So many things have happened, both good and bad -- and in the end, there was a silver lining to everything. I'm more than grateful for everything that God has bestowed upon me this year. Let's do a little recap, shall we?
January
- I passed in La Salle, Ateneo, UST and in the University of the Philippines! It was most certainly the best month of my life! Passing the four most prestigious universities in the country is definitely one of my biggest achievements ever. I really didn't think I would (and could) but I did, especially UP: my dream school since I was in kindergarten! This was the month that really opened the doors of the future for me. It was the beginning of a new chapter in my life -- and everyone else's too! We were going to our dream schooools! \m/
February
- Had my last long test ever in St. Paul!
- Got my yearbook photos. Yikes! :)) I looked like I had a nosejob!
 LOL =))=))
- As one of the major projects of the SCC, we went to Bilibid for our yearly outreach program. It was my first time there, and to say that I was moved would be an understatement. Everything about that experienced really changed my outlook on prisoners, and life in general. That trip taught me a valuable lesson -- everyone deserves a second chance. And that forgiveness goes a long, long way.
- I learned to enjoy Calculus. -- HAHA, UNBELIEVABLE, I know :)) But yeah, for a while I did.
March
- Graduation Ball! One of the best nights of my life! It was a night worth remembering -- from the pre-ball preparations, to the food, to the dancing, and even to the last minute of the program.. everything was just so surreal. It was admittedly one of my prettiest nights too. Haha! *winkwink*
- Gratitude Night. The first time ever I got to sing onstage. Haha. Feelingera ako eh!
- GRADUATION! Of course, this was the highlight of my entire year. I was finally leaving the halls of my beloved alma mater, St. Paul College of Paranaque, with a Loyalty Award and a Second Honorable Mention medal. All my hard work has finally paid off, and it was time to reap the fruits of my labor. Hooray!

The Top 5! :)
April
- I basically just continued my love affair with Edward Cullen. I was always a very determined bookworm. I wouldn't stop until I get the next installment of whatever book series I am currently crazy about.. so it was only obvious that I went to every PowerBooks and Fully Booked branch in the Metro in search of Eclipse. "Nananananana! Never giving up, giving up.. never giving up!"
- I got a haircut after X months of sporting my long almost-waist-length hair. I figured, soon I'll be in college and I'll be needing a new look. Thus, the Karla College Look. (My rebond wore off too, which made this look completely new, because for the first time in God knows how long I didn't have straight hair!)
- First ever pre-enlistment for UP Diliman. It was such a nerve-wracking process simply because I had no idea how the whole thing worked! I had to surf at least five other websites and consult UP friends just so I can do the pre-enlisting correctly. Luckily, I got everything on the first go (thankyouverymuch, Freshman priority!) and had the luxury of having Inna an Drea as classmates in PE!
- I got into my Classics phase. I started reading Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, and the likes. I most especially loved Pride and Prejudice. I'm still very much into the Classics, and I'm well on my way to finishing William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair.
- Megan Fox was hailed FHM's Sexiest Woman Alive. I just have to include this because I have the biggest girl-crush on her!
May
- Freshman enrollment and orientation. Two of the most exciting days of my life. Truly, my journey as a UP student is about to begin. It was on these two fateful days that I got my first taste of the infamous "pila" -- everywhere I went, there were lines here and there! I saw hundreds of other scared and anxious faces just like mine, and somehow felt relieved that I was not alone. I met my blockmates and now my current kabarkadas, Jamie and Andy too. It was just all too overwhelming for me, but it was exciting all the same. I learned the UP cheers too, taught to us by none other than the UP Pep Squad! UP Fight! :)
- Vanessa Carlton. I got to watch her perform live at Trinoma. I swear, I fell in love with her music all the more! She is such a wonderful musician and I really look up to her. It was me and my mom's Mother's Day date.
- Dorm. We started shopping for Inna and I's dorm, and boy did it get me excited! I can't believe I will be living away from home 4 or 5 days a week! It made me feel all grown-up and independent. I think the idea of living in the dormitory was a reminder to myself that I was no longer a little girl, but in fact an independent lady. Yes!
- Bangkok trip! Thailand has got to be my second favorite country after ours. Our trip this summer was my third. And obviously it was spent for the thing us Vistan girls loved the most: SHOPPING! We went not only to MBK and Chatuchak, but also to Platinum Plaza, City Center, and Pratunam. Trust me, Bangkok is a shopping mecca. 168 does not stand a chance! :P And of course, a trip to Thailand would not have been complete without a visit to my most favorite creatures in the whole entire world: Elephants! ♥ If you still don't know by now, I'm completely head-over-heels in love with elephants, and I will never get tired of playing, feeding, and riding them! I miss Bangkok because it's so similar to Manila yet also completely different. I hope the political turmoil will come to rest so that I can come back and visit again soon.
Karla loves elephants! ♥
June
- Start of College! This was the official start of my Iskolar life! I cannot even begin to explain and recount all the details of this months simply because it was just so surreal! I met lots of great people from different walks of life, and got a chance to be on my own for the first time in my life. Going to UP was far better than being accepted in UP! I just knew the first day I stepped onto UP soil on the first day of classes that I made the right choice. I could not ask for anything more -- I was going to study in the most prestigious university in the land for the next years of my life! And, I am a Centennial Freshman too, which makes everything just that much sweeter! I feel so blessed. UP kong mahal, woooh!
The Maroon 4! Karla, Cathe, Drea, Inna
KAL, baby!
- My first Oblation Run! Ayayayayayay! Thank you, Centennial Year! I saw a hundred different.. men.
July
- July was pretty much the adjusting period. After the hype of the first month came the normalcy. Everything started to settle down and I was beginning to get used to things. Though it was very demanding, I'm glad to say I managed!
- I had my first long exams ever in UP. And yeah, I passed! \m/
- Dark Knight. Oh, I miss Heath Ledger. His performance was indeed very remarkable. Seeing the movie made me remember why I love Batman the most among all the superheroes -- because he's very mysterious and is kind of a jerk, and I'm the kind of girl who wants to demystify her men. *winkwink*
- Kas1 Field Trip to Mt. Banahaw. Hands down, Kas1 was one of my most favorite subjects ever! I had a great teacher, topics I really liked, and beyond awesome classmates! Everyone was just really close and it felt like we've known each other since high school! I terribly miss my Kas-mates :|
Miss y'all, Kasmates!
August
- WASAKKKK: word of the month, thanks to Drea Reyes.
- Emotional meltdown-- don't ask.
- UAAP Fangirl-ing. I guess it was really just in God's plan to put Inna and I together in one room (the two biggest UAAP fans) so that we can share the love for our basketball fafas. We practically spent the whole month ogling over both the UP Fighting Maroons and Ateneo Blue Eagles. We've had a couple of encounters with them, like the greeting from Jai Reyes on NU107, the ACLE with the Fighting Maroons, and random sightings of Martin Reyes and Mike Gamboa. All in all, having Inna as my roommate is a complete blessing! Love you, Roomie!
Maroon love!
- High school for a day. Because my Kas-mates are just complete geniuses, we decided to wear our HS uniforms for our Kas1 quiz bee. We enjoyed wearing the uniforms more than the actual quiz bee! Of course, we couldn't help feeling nostalgic since we will never get to wear them again, but it's fun to look back and realize that if it weren't for our beloved alma maters, we wouldn't have gotten here to UP. Oh yeah :)
September
- UAAP! Definitely, the highlight of my month was being there in the gigantic Araneta Coliseum and participating in what seems to be the most sought after sports event in the whole country.. and actually representing a school! :) It didn't hurt that we were the champions of the cheerdance competition too! Woooh! Getting the tickets were soo worth it! UP Fight!
with Inna and Drea!
- The Crush Saga. Yes, my crush-affair(s) reached its peak this September. What, I'm a convent-school girl! Ngayon lang ako magkaka-matinong crush na mga lalaki!
- Wall climbing. Thank you very much, Chalk magazine and other sponsors! I was able to reach greater heights -- literally :P

October
November
- Twilight. You can say whatever you want to say about it, but I liked the movie. Period. :)
- Second sem begins. New subjects, new classmates, completely the same level of stress and anxiety! Hooray :| HAHA. But I honestly love my subjects now compared to last sem's.
- My lola passed away. This has got to be one of the toughest times for our family. I miss her terribly.
December
- OBLATION RUN! I think this was very recent enough, it needs no further explanation :P
- Christmas with my family! Enough said :)
WHEW! Writing it down just made everything that much.. exciting! I can't believe so many things happened this year. I guess it's true what they say that often, we overlook the blessings as they come to us and it's only when we look back that we realize how truly grateful we are for them.
2008 has indeed been a good year for me. Despite the many trials that have come my way, the good things still outweigh them. I'm hoping 2009 will be the same, or hopefully even better. I'm ready to rock the new year. :)
Buon Anno Nuovo!
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Merry Christmas!
Buon Natale!It's the most wonderful time of the year..so have a blast! And spread the love. Happy Birthday, Jesus! ♥ Bombastarr.
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An open letter to Santa.
Dearest Santa, It's been a while since I last wrote you a real letter -- well, actually it's been years. Did you even notice? I'd like to believe so, since you seem to be the most magical man in the world. I mean, how else would you know I lived somewhere in the south of Metro Manila and have my present delivered by the eve of the 25th if you didn't know me at all? How else would you know that I've been consistently good in school and that I deserve my gift? You knew me. That's what the Christmas carol about you said -- and it seemed to be pretty true. No, Santa, I won't be asking any toys from you this year. Don't you worry. At least that's one kid less in your list (that is, if I'm still on your list -- I think I've been mostly nice than naughty this year. HAHA) I guess I just wanted to say thank you for always making Christmas a truly exciting and memorable experience as a kid. I can still vividly remember the anticipation I felt every 24th of December as I lay in bed waiting for your sleigh to arrive. I never caught a glimpse of you, but I knew you would pass by. And true enough, every Christmas morning, there underneath our tree would be your gift. The gift I secretly wished for since September, the toy I drooled over every time we passed by Landmark's toy section, the present I've been longing to open. Yours was always the one I looked forward to because you were special -- you only gave once a year, and yet it was always right. Always a bull's eye. It was always perfect. I remember receiving a Barbie typewriter from you in second grade. It was one of the best among all the gifts you gave. It can type on actual paper with real ink, and I would spend the rest of my Christmas vacation just typing anything there -- from little short stories to even the most mundane things like the complete names of all my close relatives. I could not imagine how I had lived the past seven years without this typewriter. I could not think of any other eight-year-old who had a typewriter. I felt so grown-up, so important. It was cooler than cool. Of course, it didn't hurt that it was pink and had the Barbie logo on it. I honestly couldn't remember anything else I received that year. I recall telling myself, "Santa is the bestest awesomest man in the whole wide world," and honestly believing it. You really were extraordinary. And every year, you never let me down. But what happened in the Christmas of 2001 was probably the most heartbreaking of them all. I accidentally discovered a secret. That year was not supposed to be any different from all the others -- I got an awesome gift again (a Barbie cash register that really scans bar codes from the Barbie items and Barbie credit cards) and I was once more so convinced that you were the most amazing man ever. I was busy showing it off to my cousins and other relatives, when one of my lola's maids accidentally pointed out that my cash register was kept in my lola's house by my parents until Christmas. Of course, my mom denied it, but I already knew -- you weren't real. You were a freakin' imaginary person. I think that was the first heartbreak I ever experienced. How could that happen? HOOOOW? I have been dooped, and I couldn't believe it. I didn't really had a hard time accepting the fact that you were a fantasy though. I mean, I was already 10 years old that time, and somehow I was already starting to question your existence. But what hurts the most was the fact that next Christmas, there'd be no more Santa. You have been such a huge part of that holiday, I couldn't imagine a Christmas without you. What will I be looking forward to? No more letters to write on September. No more tossing and turning on the 24th, wondering if you came. No "major" gift to open on Christmas morning. Nothing. My Christmases have all been ruined. And yet here I am, writing you a letter. I'm thanking you still, even if you caused me a pretty unfathomable anguish at ten. Why? Because you were the one who made me feel an indescribable wanting for something. Want. It's such a strong word, and it is quite funny that I learned it from you. To quote Oscar Wilde, "We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible." You made me want to replicate that experience year after year because after I lost the idea of you, I was determined not to lose the feeling. So whenever I want something (and not necessarily material things) I push myself to strive harder so that I can get it. I work hard for it. And yes, often by being a good girl all year round. You taught me a valuable lesson: nothing is impossible if you really, really want it. So I guess I haven't really lost you then, because I carry you around wherever I go. Even if our lola's maid ruined the physical idea of you, she didn't destroy the experience of knowing you. And for that, I will always be grateful.
Thank you, Santa. I'm certain you will be making millions of kids happy on the 25th. So I just wish that a couple of years from now, when they find out the truth about you, they won't think of you in regret or bitterness, but in gladness.
Love,
Karla
P.S. Jesus is and always will be the star of my Christmas. And wanting Him to be in my life all year long is the greatest desire of all.
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OBLATION RUN: May rose akooo! :))
FRIENDS, allow me to speak in the vernacular. Yung mga pangyayari ngayong araw na ito ay masyadong mahirap ikwento ng English. At besides, tinatamad ako.NOTE: Not for the faint-hearted. At kung tinatamad ka basahin lahat, okay lang. Importante yung mga dialogues :P So ayun nga. Today was the much awaited.. OBLATION RUN. Una sa lahat, ano nga ba ang Oblation Run? Well, hindi ko i-eexplain sa inyo. Kaya nga may Wikipedia. I-research niyo dun. O ayan, alam mo na? Kung gayon, alam mo din kung bakit sabik na sabik ako dito. Last week pa lang may game plan na yung buong CrEnggBB+. Lalo na kaming dalawa ni Drea (my partner-in-crime). Dahil we got a pretty good "view" nung first OR nung July, we decided na gawin ulit yun: Dumikit sa press. Sure fire way. Wala talagang palpak. After ng Nat Sci 2 test ko sa Geol (na nasagutan ko naman agad -- at hindi naman dahil sa excited ako ha! HAHA) punta ko agad sa AS steps kung saan nakaupo na ang ibang CrEngg peeps. So syempre, while waiting, cam-whoring. (A little trivia about me: pag nagdadala ako ng camera, super tinatamad ako mag-picture. Ang lame ko. Gaya nung party ni Nica nung Saturday. May dala nga ako, pero halos hindi ko naman nilabas. Sinisipag lang ako kapag idle, or walang ibang ginagawa. In this case, wala talaga kaming ginagawa, so fortunately nagamit ko naman yung camera ko. Haha. AAAAND. Medyo "bago" siya. Inarbor ko kasi yung old digicam namin na hindi na ginagamit, so akin na siya. So parang bago siya for me. Labo. ANYWAY..) Unti-unti na dumami yung mga tao. Feel na feel talaga yung excitement sa crowd eh! Yung talagang.. may collective effervescence sa kasabikan. (O HA, SOCIO10 YUN! :P) Nagsimula na din dumating yung press. Aba, syempre, medyo pumorma na ko. Malay mo naman makunan ako sa TV dba. So yun. A few minutes later, may nagsisigawan na from inside of AS. Signal na yun, na magsstart na. Nagsimula na rin mag-drums yung UP Pep. So sige, tayuan na. Nagkahiwalay na ang CrEngg. Syempre ang kasama ko si Drea. Napunta kami sa may MEDYO harapan. Di kami napatabi sa press, nasa may kabilang side sila. Pero sige okay lang, close enough. FAST FORWARD. Di ko na ikkwento yung mga pang-gigitgit na ginawa namin ni Drea para mapunta dun at yung paghihintay ng ilang minutes na nakataas lang yung kamay (ready-to-video mode) kasi I'm sure ayaw niyo na basahin yun. "Aaaaah!"Phase 1.AYAN NAAAA. Sigawan na talaga. At doon, nakita ko muli -- YUUUN EHHH. Haha. All shapes and sizes! Wooooh! At oo, compared sa unang Oblation Run ngayong taon na may mga oldies (or "alumni" -- para mas less harsh), mga binata yung ngayon. So yeyy? Anyway, talagang concentrated ako sa pag-vvideo. Nag-promise kasi ako sa ilang mga kasamahan sa bahay na kukunan ko for them. So yun. Medyo hindi ko pa natingnan yung actual "things" kasi nga nakafocus ako sa pag-vivideo. (Kaya magpasalamat kayo, lahat kayong mag-bebenefit sa video ha!). Shit, let me just say na sobrang hirap mag-video pag tinatangay ka ng sandamakmak na tao!JUSKO. Na-stampede talaga kami ni Drea. Higpit ng hawak ko sa kanya ba. Talagang all or nothing. So yeaaaah! Naamoy ko na kili-kili ng katabi ko, pero carry lang! All for the sake of.. them. It. Yun. Sadly, wala pa kong nakukuhang rose. Phase 2.After ng first na takbo, hindi ko pa hinayaang maka-recover ako. May Plan B agad kami ni Drea. Sumunod kami sa mga photographers. Pumasok sila sa loob ng AS.. at doon, may parang maze ng mga tao na pasikot-sikot naming sinundan. Never give up talaga kami ni Drea eh. If there's a will, there's a freakin' way! So ayun. We ended up at the APO "headquarters" dun sa may daanan papuntang CASAA. Nakita ko pa prof ko sa Kas1! Haha. Pagod na pagod na kami pero okay lang. We didn't have to wait long kasi once again, they were there! Woohooo! Medyo hindi na ko concentrated sa video, pero nagrerecord pa rin ako. Nung 2nd time, medyo mas nakita ko na ng mabuti yung mga bats and balls, pero ang bilis eh! Saka ang sikip dun. Pero okay lang! Whooo! Wala pa rin kaming rose ni Drea, though. Dahil sa aming plan na dumikit sa photogs, hindi pa rin kami umalis. Nagtanong ulit kami, and turns out: BABALIK PA ULIT DUN! Wooooh! So syempre, we stayed put. Medyo inayos lang yung porma para sa third time. Sooon.. may nagsisigawan na ulit. Ayan naaa! Phase 3.Eto na yung last. Tumakbo na ulit sila papunta sa headquarters nila. This time, nasa front row na talaga kami ni Drey. Ang hirap videohan kasi sobrang close up, so it's either kuhanan ko yung face or yung.. yun. Pero as I said, medyo second priority na lang yung video eh. Priority na namin ngayon is yung rose. Sigaw kami ng sigaw ni Drea, "Wooh! Kuya! Rose! Rose!" Then, the inevitable happened. KARLA: Aaaah! Kuya! Rose! Rose! RUNNER: *inabutan ako ng rose* Ano pangalan mo? KARLA: O_O Karla po. RUNNER: Hi, I'm [his name]. *sabay tanggal ng mask*
KARLA AND DREA: @_@ @_@ @_@ O_O O_O O_O Sorry, pero ang initial reaction ko talaga eh ang matuwa. Haha! Imagine, nabigyan ako ng rose ng isang runner -- which is THE goal of most of the watchers. After a few seconds lang nag-settle sakin yung fact na, SHIT NAGTANGGAL SIYA NG MASK. I SAW HIS FACE.. AND HIS! YUN! Oh my freakin gosh! Pero, hindi ko naman ma-process yung thoughts ko nung mga oras na yun noh. Basta, sigaw lang ako ng sigaw. Kami ni Drea. Shouting for many reasons. Totoong, words are not enough :P [Because may konting respeto pa naman ako sa pagkatao ni not-so-Mystery Runner, hindi ko na lang irereveal yung pangalan niya. Haha] (Secret info: Na-interview din ako ng isang small-time network at hindi ko sasabihin kung ano dahil sa kahihiyang maidudulot ko sa pamilya ko. Dahil tae, ang excited ng boses ko! Parang kinikilig na ewan. Taena. Haha.) So yun. Lumabas na ulit kami sa AS steps. I shared the "news" to my CrEnggBB+ friends. Ewan ko kung masaya sila para saken, or sadyang na-ggross-an na sken. Pero okay lang. IT WAS ALL PART OF MY UP EXPERIENCE. Sobrang.. adventure talaga eh! Grabe. Grabe. Grabe. After, I was hyperventilating. Ewan ko kung dahil sa init, sa dami ng tao, o sa.. raging hormones? HAHAHA :)) SPECIAL MENTION: Andrea Reyes! Couldn't have done it without you. Labyoww! Next year ulit ha! :P It has been so many hours later, marami ng nangyari between twelve noon and now. Lunch at Beachhouse (with Nikki and Tophe!), tambay at Sunken Garden (:"""> -- at nanalo ako ng Pusoy Dos!), and watched Maskipaps at Engg (O_O).. pero syempre, the Oblation Run was still the highlight of my day. Woooh. Finally, I can say: Mission Accomplished! (Uploaded na rin ang videos sa Multiply :P O ha) Kung ang tingin niyo na sa kin (or sa amin) ay pervert.. ang masasabi ko lang ay: let the sinless cast the first stone! Whapaaaaak! :)
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Lessons from Pumpkiny.
Living in a dormitory has a lot of perks, especially when your roommate has been your friend since grade school. You get to share secrets, tell endless stories, talk about certain people, eat and sleep whenever you like, study while the other takes a bath, and all within the confines and safety of your room. It's pretty exciting, most particularly for me because I grew up with no siblings, so it's like having an automatic sister. It's all good.
But then of course, after all has been said and done, more often than not comes the inevitable -- awkward silences. And utterly, extremely dorky moments.
Meet Pumpkiny.
Pumpkiny disguised as a Halloween jack-o-lantern; Pumpkiny disguised as the forbidden apple from Twilight; Pumpkiny as an emo ponkan-slash-pumpkin
Pumpkiny is was the unfortunate tiny ponkan (kyat-kyat) that suffered severe identity crisis from Inna and me last Thursday night. We wanted to load ourselves with Vitamin C so as to not catch the colds or the flu most especially this time of the year. So we bought a basket of kyat-kyats at our friendly neighborhood grocery store, and for several days we just ate and ate the delightful citrus fruit. But alas, just eating them became too boring for me at least. So, when we I picked up Pumpkiny and realized that he looked quite different than the rest (he really was shaped like a pumpkin), I thought, why not. I made a "masterpiece" out of this unique-looking ponkan.
"So what's the point in all this?" I hear you ask. There are a few, I promise.
First, our health is of extreme importance. It's easy to overlook our physical well-being because of school work or other seemingly more relevant aspects in our life. But it should be our number one priority. I only realized this more now that I'm in college, living on my own. Before, I could just absent myself from school when I feel a little feverish, and my mom can cook Nido soup for me back at home. Now, I have no one taking care of me other than myself so I have to really make sure that I'm strong enough to go to school everyday -- and not just to be physically present but to be mentally alert as well. Attending a class when you sneeze every thirty seconds and your head aches like a hammer is being smashed on your head is no fun. So, better load up on your ascorbic acid, people!
Second, for very obvious reasons, my Twilight obssession has been reawakened for the past couple of weeks. Like what I said before, I tried downplaying it, in hopes of not being one of "them" -- meaning, the super crazed Twi-hard girls [and boys haha] that go gaga with the very mention of anything related to the series. But so what if I'm supposed to be a writer who should only appreciate "real literature" and not a lame hormonal narration of an impossibly ridiculous story? Whoever said I cannot appreciate both? Sure, Meyer's writing and plotting could have been better, but in the end it moved me and I think that's what matters. To me, literature is supposed to take you to a completely different place and touch your life in more ways than one. This so-called "crappy piece of writing" did that just to me. So yeah, I guess I'm a fan-pire. \m/
And lastly, because of Pumpkiny I realized the importance of self-worth. In a world where everything about you can be defined by just simply how you look, it is so difficult to pay no heed to the pressures -- especially of vanity. I am after all a seventeen-year-old girl, a typical prey to the mundane insecurities of life. On some days I feel extremely good about myself, but on most days I don't. It's part of human nature I guess. After all, who doesn't want to be beautiful? Last week, I had a little makeover [Secret kung ano! :P] As much as I wanted to deny the fact that I don't care about how I look, I do. So I went for it. I don't regret it at all. And you know what, I realized that I don't feel guilty about pampering myself every once in a while, because I know I deserve it. If I can't appreciate myself, then who would? And I guess there is no harm in doing what you think is best to help make you feel better. At the end of the day, you're still you -- whether you have curly or straight hair, flabby or thin arms, a big or toned tummy. Like Pumpkiny, his pumpkin-like features doesn't make him anything more than a ponkan. Just as long as you have a strong sense of self, you're gonna turn out okay. [I doubt that Pumpkiny realized his self-worth though.]
All this because of one little ponkan. Wow. I should get myself more Pumpkinies.
[By the way, if you are wondering what happened to Pumpkiny.. I ate him. Haha.]
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Drumroll please..
SECOND SEM WIN! Ngayon napatunayan ko na, inspirasyon siya talaga :">
-----
Patikim na update: (dahil tapos na ako mag-patikim ng picture :P)
I'm back in Singapore! ♥ Since Monday morning pa actually.
Kanina pumasok ako sa freeze chamber ng National Geographic Museum sa loob ng Vivo City :D Haha potek, -16 degrees Celsius! \m/ Nanlamig pati mga kalamnan ko. (LOL -- kalamnan! Epekto ng lamig! :P)
Literal na brain freeze :)))))
I miss Manila! :) Will update soon :)
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From Bali with Love.
Patikim na picture! So far, I've been to the beach, shopped, met locals and some foreigners.. and I'm taking in the beautiful Bali culture. :) It's so much like Manila but the differences are incredibly beautiful.. Unang picture muna! This was taken from the Tanah Lot market/beach. YES, there is something in the picture.. I'm back on cryptic mode -- though that's not exactly hard to get.. oh whatever :P  :">
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On leaving.
Tomorrow, I shall leave Philippine soil and embark on my much-awaited "world tour" this 2009. First stop: Singapore & Indonesia! Haha.
One teeny tiny detail I haven't been mentioning about my life since God-knows-when is that I decided to not have an extravagant debut party for my 18th birthday. Yes, folks, the only daughter and only child will NOT have a grand celebration of her womanhood. You can wipe the awe off your faces now. Anyway, I decided on this a long time ago but I really had it finalized just a couple of years back when the sudden realization that 2009 will both be the year of my 18th birthday and my Papa's 50th. Hence, I made a proposal: instead of throwing a lavish party, why not just travel?
Contrary to popular belief, I am not a spoiled brat. I am unlike any of the poor little rich girls you see on MTV, with their lives depending on Dad's credit cards, bringing on the bitchiness and whines 24/7. So I am not one to say, "Papa, I want a party! I want a big big big big partyyyy with all my puh-retty little friends in a puh-retty little gown in a puh-retty big hotel!" (I am not suggesting, however, that people who do throw debut parties are spoiled..) Contrary to popular belief, I do care about money and how it is spent. And so, based on my opinion, it is so much more worth it to spend bucks on plane tickets (and indirectly shopping and tourist attractions) rather than on a gown I will probably never use again in my whole entire life. Contrary to popular belief, I would not want to be the center of attention for one whole night with everyone watching me dance with 18 men, being swayed by 18 mushy messages, and being critiqued by all the guests on how fat my arms are and how big my tummy is. No freakin' way. I cannot stand the attention for that long.
SOOOO.
The Singapore and Bali trips are technically not part of this proposal because we really are supposed to go there this year whether or not it is my 18th birthday-year. Two of my mom's sisters work there respectively. The last time I've been to Singapore was when I was five years old -- I was anything but a disciplined little girl. I was so hyperactive and restless, I was lucky my mom did not give up on me. I was too young to enjoy it then -- I remember the toys I bought more than the actual places we visited.
 5-year-old Karla in a Singapore double-deck busMeanwhile, it would be my first time to go to Bali. I am psyched because from the way my aunt describes it, it seems like paradise. For real. The beaches, the temperature, the people -- very romantic. Well, I'm honestly not a beach person (for many reasons: the heat, the possible darkening of skin, and yes, my flabs :-s) but I still cannot wait! Bali sounds like a treasure to me.
We leave tomorrow evening (April 3rd, Friday) and come back after two weeks or so. Then after a few weeks, we leave for the States. Now, THAT is the supposed 18th birthday celebration trip. But details on that trip later.
(On to the profundity..) *organizes thoughts*
Traveling is an unavoidable allusion to so many things in life. Often, traveling is associated to the idea of leaving -- leaving things, leaving home, leaving people. It is associated with closing doors behind you, never to look back on them again. With leaving comes detachment.
When you go on a journey, you get to explore so many other cultures, meet different kinds of people, and gain unbelievable experiences. When you leave the place you call home, you realize how big the world is -- and how minute a detail you are compared to the billions of other people on the planet. Your eyes are opened to numerous opportunities and options.. you see outside the little bubble you've created around yourself.
Then you come back. And that's when you realize what you've been missing, or what you already have.
Leaving is inevitable. But it does not always mean ending things. After all has been seen, heard, said, and done, different routes are paved for us and many answers are presented to us -- it is only in separation that we recognize what is actually essential to us.
Hmm, I think this is just me expounding that the absence makes the heart grow fonder. Hahaha! Oh well.
(Late-night blogging either makes me sabaw or makes me profound. LOL.)
I shall update soon enough.
SINGAPORE & BALI, welcome me into your arms! :)
Buona notte! Arrivederci, filippine!~
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Para Kay B.
"Me quota ang pag-ibig. Sa bawat limang umiibig ay isa lang ang magiging maligaya. Kasama ka ba sa quota?" This is the main premise of Ricky Lee's much-acclaimed novel, Para Kay B. And given that love is such a universally accepted theme in whatever genre, be it literature, music, or art, of course it's bound to get noticed. Especially if it ends up in anguish or pain. (Because we're all secretly broken emo souls inside..) The novel is composed of five main characters with each of their unique and individual stories intertwining in the end. They each have twisted and rather complicated tales to tell, not the typical "He-doesn't-love-me-huhuhu-my-life-sucks" kind of theme, but leaning more on the dark and peculiar side. Despite their eccentricity though, what surprises me is how well I can still relate to the characters. I'm just an average seventeen-year-old girl with not enough experience to grasp the complexities of life (and love), but somehow I felt the rawness of every emotion. Like an itch I couldn't stop scratching, the book got to me so bad, I couldn't put it down. The way it was written was so interactive; it really brings the readers into the story. Along with the characters, you can't help but think about the entire situation too. What will happen? What will I get from this? Is love really as messed-up as this book says? Am I doomed to fail?I usually dislike being left hanging. This book did just that -- but in a good way.Kudos to Ricky Lee. I hope love doesn't become too harsh on me, but if it does, well I'm taking this book with me through the heartbreak and the loss! It would probably be all I need to get through it :) ----Okay so, I've been thinking of a good way to get people today because I have been a victim of two pranks already (NYARRRR).. and the only thing I could think of is a joke on my current relationship status -- not very unique, I know. I did fool one friend.For like two minutes. HAHA. After that I gave up. I can't lie well. That's one of my biggest waterloos (or strengths? Hmmm..) ever. My nostrils flare, my cheeks burn, my mouth grins -- basically my whole face gives me away into the first five seconds of the lie. I have to turn away from the person I'm talking to or raise my voice (make it seem like I'm angry) to disguise the bursting laughter. On the very rare occasions I do succeed, I have to get away from the scene of the crime to grin like a maniac or laugh like a hyena just to let the "guilt" out. In short, I SUCK. EPIC FAILURE. Well, at least I got one friend. It was easier because it was through YM. I'm sorry it had to be you, Mikka :) I hope your pranks turn out better than mine :P Happy April Fools' Day!"At.. paminsan-minsan lang naman, napapaluhod siya't nanghihina sa tapat ng kanyang kama, sa dilim ng silid ay nakayukong iginugupo ng isang letra."
(Really can you blame me for believing that life imitates art? Why, of all letters!)
Oh, BTW. I'm leaving on Friday for Singapore and Bali. The first leg of my summer world tour 09! Haha \m/ Can't wait!
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Last hurrah with CrEngg!
I went to UP today because it's my friends' Math 53 finals. And being the ever-supportive friend that I am, I wanted to see them and cheer for them :)
And also because they might eat out. And because we don't have Internet (again) at home. And I don't want to be stuck at home all day.
In short, gusto ko gumala. Haha :)
I won't be telling you the seemingly gruesome details of what I heard from their finals. Basta from the looks on their faces as they left their rooms -- well, let's just say Math will forever be a subject of torture. : Hehe. (I'm really lucky my course does not require any Math AT ALL. English foreverrrr! \m/)
So after their finals we went straight to the UP-Ayala Technohub, and ate at KFC. Upon our arrival, the rain fell really hard! As in. So it was a good thing we got there in time. Of course while eating, picture-taking (courtesy of my camera and Enzo as the official photographer, hehe) and some kwentuhans. We can't believe we already survived first year! It has been ten months since we first laid eyes on each other, and yet there we were, as if we've known each other for years! Awww drama much :))
After that we went to Timezone. YEAAH BABY! Thanks to Jan for being the financier. Haha :)) We played Dance Revo, Air Hockey (with Jan), Time Crisis, Basketball, and Racing. OMG INNA IS THE BEST SHOOTER! Grabe, I didn't know she had it in her! X consecutive shoots in a row -- my god! She deserves Chris Tiu! Haha :)) In all the games I played, I sucked. Well, not really pero still, I didn't really win anything.. or I wasn't great in anything.. harhar! L-) That's not very surprising; I'm the least athletic and coordinated person I know. But I still had soooo muuuuuch fun. I'm not one to give in to cliches, but really, just being with friends made my day. Even though it was raining like crazy, I did not feel senti or emo at all -- it was one of the most fun days ever :D Sayang lang we weren't complete :
I'm gonna miss CrEngg. SOOO MUCH. This summer all of them will be taking summer classes except for me (and Andy, I think?). I'll be leaving so for the next two months I probably won't be seeing them :(((( Awwwww.
If there's one thing I'm extremely thankful for this school year, it's my group of friends. I know I've said it already lots of times, but as far as friends are concerned, I could not ask for more :D Ang bait ni God sakin grabe :) I love y'all, CrEnggBB ♥
Sayang I want to upload the pictures but I don't think my mom has a card reader or a USB cable here in her office. So maybe when we have Internet at home again :)
So, how's the first week of your summer so far? Hope you're all having a blast :)
SUMMER, HERE I COME! \m/ Let me rock you. Haha!
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Dahil na-survive ko na first year ko sa UP.
Bago ang lahat, isang malaking.. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!! \m/
I cannot believe it. Freshman year is officially over. I survived ten months of college! Ano baaa! Ang bilis! PARANG KAILAN LANG, AMFFFF.
I hate cliches. But really.. how time passes by!
As a college freshman, of course having so many second thoughts and fears was inevitable. For one thing, I chose to go to a very errr-- liberal and open university, a far cry from the school I came from. You can probably call me a "pampered little private-school girl" because really, I haven't been outside the walls of St. Paul for twelve years, tapos sa UP ko pa piniling pumasok. I was sure that UP will at me alive.
Err. Well yes, UP did eat me alive. At some point it stepped on my pride, deflated my ego, dampened my spirits and rained on my parade. But you know what? I looooved it. \m/
Top 10 Things I learned in my freshman year in UP :)
- "UP is a stress factory." -- Sir C.P. David
Wala na atang mas tatama pa sa sinabi na 'to ng Geol prof ko. In UP, you will only have two states: either stressed or super stressed. So many nights have I stayed up late to study, finish a paper (!!!) or cram about something for the next day. Totoong sa UP ko nafeel na 24 hours is not enough. It never issss.
- "Akala ko, matalino na ko. Pag pasok ko sa UP, hindi pa pala." -- Inna De Castro
Aminado naman kami nila Inna, Drea at Cathe na nung high school, syempre there was a feeling of confidence because we've been awardees for so long. So of course, we felt that, "Ah kaya ko 'to, matalino naman ako eh." WRONG. SOOOO WRONG. Even three years of Physics, four years of Chemistry and X years of academic excellence certificates wil NOT make you intelligent enough para hindi na ma-intimidate sa mga classmates mo. Dyos ko, ang dami-daming halimaw sa UP -- halimaw sa katalinuhan! Mga tipong nakapikit na, makakasagot pa rin ng problem. Or yung kahit patulog-tulog lang sa klase, parang nagmemorize ng libro pag nag-rerecite. Super nakaka-insecure minsan. But the good thing about this is the intimidation will drive you to work harder. Syempre panis ka naman kung hahayaan mo na lang na ganun ka di ba? I cannot count the number of times I studied 20x harder because I also wanted to prove for myself that I deserved to be here. Kahit para sa sarili ko lang, dba.
- People don't care.
Akala mo lang they do, pero they honestly don't. This is actually what I really love about college. Nung high school, konting mistake lang, the teachers will come calling for you already. Magpalit ka lang ng chuba, pinag-uusapan ka na -- everyone in school will be talking about you. But not in college. Go dye your hair red, hold hands with a new guy every week, cut classes -- people don't care. You can comfortably be yourself in UP.. kahit pa ano ang sexual preferences at guilty pleasures mo. You go live your life, and I'll go live mine. It will actually make you realize who you really are because you won't be afraid to explore so many options out there and worry about what they'll think of you.
- People do care, actually.
One of the unexpected things in college, kahit pa freshman lang ako, feeling ko ang tagal-tagal ko na sa UP. Kasi everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Kahit di mo ka-close, minsan may sasama sayong mag-cram sa isang subject. Or pag may nakasalubong ka, willing ka sabayan bumili ng pagkain. Or pag may kaklase ka na kasama mo sa pila sa photocopy, papahiramin ka muna ng 2 piso. Small things, really. But isn't it the small things that count? :)
- "Tataba ka rin!" -- my cousins T_T
Oo na bitter ako :)) Pero totoo. Halos 75% ng kilala ko ngayon, nag-college lang tumaba na. Nakakainis. To think na lakad ako ng lakad sa UP. Paano ba naman.. tapsilog shawarma taho peanut-butter monay dirty ice cream buko juice fishball siomai.. ANO BA! :)) Pero in fairness, pumayat na ko ngayong second sem kasi may class ako from NIGS to CAL fifth floor na magkasunod! Grabe din. CAL 5th floor everyday!! Tapos wala ko lunch pag TTh. Nako lang eh :| Pero still. Mataba lahat! Ano ba. That's a fact :)) Tanggapin na lang. :P:P
- You will meet the greatest people ever.
Let's set aside the fact that high school friends are irreplaceable. That's a given. When you go to college, you fear that no one will get your complexities the way old friends do. But you'll be surprised. I was. Sobrang mahal na mahal ko talaga CrEnggBB. I cannot ask for anything more pag dating sa college barkada ko. Akalain mo ba namang SOBRANG SOBRANG SOBRANG we get each other -- lahat ng complexities and weird fetishes namin. Dyos ko. Hindi ko inakalang there are people out there as crazy and sabaw as me! :) Tipong same wavelengths talaga eh -- magkatinginan lang gets na. Ano baaaa. :D Pati sa chur-churan, winner \m/ Ang galing nga eh. Woooh lahat kami Claretiano na! HAHAHA :))) And it's not just with my barkada. In every class, you will meet the coolest people talaga. Sobrang diverse ng mga tao sa UP, you'll realize how small your world was in high school. And kahit sino ka pa, tanggap ka. Even if you don't have a car, or live in a snooty subdivision, or go to bars, or have the newest cellphones; even if you rally for political issues, stay in the lib during break time, or whatever your thing is -- you're just as good as everyone else.
- Chur-churs are everywhere ♥
Ano baaaa. Dami-daming gwapo at maganda sa UP. It's just a matter of diskarte. Syempre not all people in UP are book nerds and anti-social.. we have our share of churchur lives too! Sa UP natuto ako that nothing is impossible. Walange excuse for you to not make a move on your crush. Ano ba. Dami-dami inaaral sa UP, okay lang naman mag-indulge sa mga guilty pleasures noh.. :P At san ka, swerte mo kapag yung crush mo.. halimaw na sa ka-cute-an, halimaw pa sa katalinuhan. WHAAAT. Yesss, such creatures exist, my friends :D
- "Mga taga-UP di nag-cocompete sa iba eh. Nakikipag-compete sa sarili.. sa perfection." -- Hey Arnold!
Haha. Seryoso. Inspiring words from Arnoooold :D :)) Pero totoo. Ano ba. Narealize ko after ko siya tawanan nun, totoo nga naman. Unlike high school, you don't hear your profs saying na you need to do better because somene else is getting higher scores than you do. To each his own dito. But still, it doesn't mean you have to be petiks. You have to strive and work harder -- for yourself. Totoo naman. Sabi nga, dapat lagi mong matalo si Perfection. Yon dapat ang goal lagi :) Hindi naman sa GC eh, it's more of kung alam mo namang kaya mo, bakit di mo pa ibigay best mo? Di ba.
- Basta makapasa, blessing na.
Hindi rin naman sa lahat ng oras maaabot mo si Perfection. Sometimes, napaka-sarap na talaga maka-tanggap ng 3. Ako that's one thing I also discovered in college -- dati I was sooo afraid of getting so-so grades. Pero sa hirap talaga sa UP, sometimes you just have to be thankful for whatever grade you get. Hindi na pwede magpaka-selfish. At all times, just be grateful. The 3 could be your friend or fiend, it all depends on how you look at it.
- IT'S A SMALL WORLD, AFTER ALL.
This is probably, hands down, the biggest lesson I've learned so far. Sa lahat talaga ng pagkakataon, this always proves itself correct. Countless times na na yung kilala ko, kilala ni ganito.. ganyan-ganyan. Ang galing nga eh, sometimes when you step back and take a look at the big picture, that is your social life, sobrang daming connect-connect. Ang galing! Kaya talagang it's important to treasure every friendship you establish with everyone 'cos you'll never know.. :> PS. Syempre napaka-useful nito pang-chur-chur. Madali lang mag-research kapag marami kang kakilala. Chances are may kilala ka na classmate/friend niya! :P
There are so many things I can still say about this year. Pero sige yan na muna. After all, first year pa lang ako. Madami pa ko ma-eexperience. UP has been a wild ride. Madaming ups, downs and all that. But do I regret choosing this over any other school? HELL, NO. College is such a new experience -- but I'm in a school rich with diversity, knowledge and spirit. I could not ask for more, really.
Thanks, UP. Next year ulit :)
ANG HABA PALA. PAGBIGYAN NA :))
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Let's be cryptic.
"When you say too much about anything important, it always ends up sounding more trivial than it is. Words trash it." -- Jessica Darling Because some things are better kept unsaid. And un-blogged :) I'll be back.
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Excursus on Love.
No. This is not me not getting over Valentine's. This is me in Socio10 mode. We're discussing the Sociology of Loooove tomorrow, and we're required to read and write a paper about it. Slumbook much? Hmm. You decide. SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY APPLIED Excursus on Love
Love is the polar case of intrinsic attraction. Love appears to make human beings unselfish because they enjoy giving pleasure to people they love. Generally, this devotion actually rests on the aim to maintain the other person's love. Exchange processes occur in love relations. It differs from social associations of extrinsic significance in that rewards are exchanged because they are means to produce the ultimate reward of intrinsic attraction. In other social association, exchange of specific rewards is its very objective. In love relations, rewarding the partner is due to the need to express and to confirm commitment to the association, not the expectation of rewards.
During the early stages of falling in love, each partner hides his/her true feelings due to fears of rejection and dependence. This concealment, together with increasing dependence on each other, causes frustration. Here, dependence on each other is tested. This threatens the survival of the relationship. Individuals are compelled to express sufficient commitment in order to save the relationship. When one of them is not yet ready to commit, the conflict may terminate the relationship.
Human beings derive pleasure from sacrificing for those they love. After having sacrificed for a loved one and repeatedly rewarded for it by increased attachment from the other, giving pleasure eventually seems to be intrinsically gratifying. Favors and presents, being signs of love may stimulate one's affection for the other and vice versa.One may encourage more gifts and favors not because of the material benefits themselves but because of the need to foster the other's love for him/her. This is just the first page. It actually is quite interesting to read about love in a non-romantic kind of way. The whole idea of cheesy, cringe-worthy love is so overrated, it's refreshing to see an analytical and sociological perspective. Well, for me at least. Now I have to go and finish my paper. Describe your ideal romantic partner. Define Love. What do you think are the prerequisites of a long-lasting relationship? Wowww. Admittedly this is difficult. Sure I may have my types (ehem ehem Nathan Scott, Chris Tiu.. the likes. Haha) but they're just feast for the eyes. Ideally they may be perfect, but who knows if our personalities will mesh well? Can I handle being the girlfriend of a major basketball star? And am I capable of being in a real, mature, long-lasting relationship? NGHHH. Things like this make me realize how much I DON'T know about life. Haha. Maybe I'm just not old enough to know what love is yet. Maybe. So how am I supposed to answer this? I think I know enough about love to understand that it's more than just an overwhelming wave of emotion. It encompasses so many things on so many levels. It makes everything a couple of shades brighter and darker at the same time. It makes you sensible but also a bit stupid. It wounds but it also heals. It's too complex. But then again, I'm just 17. Maybe I shouldn't try too hard to demystify love.(The little voice inside my head) Karla, it's just a paper. Let's not get too carried away.
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Let's get these teen hearts beating faster, faster!
Whatever your status is today, I hope you had fun. Valentine's isn't supposed to be this dreaded holiday, instead it should make you realize that at the end of the day, love (and not necessarily romantic) will always get you through. I sound so.. cheesy. Eww. Minsan lang 'to. HAHA! :)) Happy Churchur Day, everyone! :)
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Of growing up, and life imitating art.
Has it really been that long?I'm having this very meaningful trip down to memory lane with my very dear friend, Cathe-slash-Cars. We just came from our friend Kaila's 18th birthday party. After getting our caffeine fix at Starbucks and reaching home, we started talking over YM about how unfortunate and difficult it is to not have water supply here in Paranaque, then we ended up reminiscing about our friendship. From our bondings at leadership trainings, to our first blogging years.. we have so many memories together and yet all the moments we shared feel like it was only yesterday. In fact, everything feels like it was only yesterday.These days, I try to avoid nostalgia. Because it brings back memories both good and bad. And I'm not good at dealing with unpleasant memories. But mostly because I really don't want to get stuck in the past anymore. I've gotten myself stuck in a rut for the past few months because I could not get over unfinished business in high school. I could not settle things not just with other people, but with myself as well. It was as if I was in a mess I could not and would not get out of. Then 2009 happened. And yes, I'm proud to say I've grown up a lot already. I know it sounds impossible to "grow up" in a month or so, but I really felt like I did. I started talking to some friends again, I stopped being angry at certain people, I learned to let go of things that I held on to. I started to realize that there was no point in holding any more grudges. Looking back, I still feel a pang of pain. But now it's as if I've begun seeing the bigger picture. I've started connecting the dots, and now everything is making sense. I guess feeling sad over things that ended is natural -- but I don't feel regretful anymore. And maybe that's a good thing. Because it's only when we start accepting things that the healing can actually begin. "There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave You were what I wanted I gave what I gave I'm not sorry I met you I'm not sorry it's over I'm not sorry there's nothing to save." -- Your Ex-Lover Is Dead; Stars (Sometimes, it's easy to believe that life imitates art. Thanks for recommending this song, Cathe-slash-Cars!) I did not mean to sound morose tonight -- err, this morning. The rude awakening just happened unexpectedly :P I'm still on a caffeine high! Woooh, thank you very much White Mocha. Now I can't sleep. Good thing I have Cathe-slash-Cars to keep me company in my sabaw-ness. We're planning our future joint venture. Let's just say it probably won't get us to Santa's Nice Kids list this year! Haha. Ciao, mi amici :) Live through this and you won't look back.
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A little something to explain my absence.
Yes, yes I knowwww. School is eating up my time -- all of it. I hope you get it. But just in case you don't, here's a little something for you: THIS IS COLLEGE!
Every New Semester:
After First Week:
After Second Week:
Before the Mid-Term Test:
During the Mid-Term Test:
After the Mid-Term Test:
Before the Final Exams:
Once Get to Know the Final Exam Schedule:
7 Days Before the Final Exam:
6 Days Before the Final Exam:
5 Days Before the Final Exam:
4 Days Before the Final Exam:
3 Days Before the Final Exam:
2 Days Before the Final Exam:
1 Day Before the Final Exam:
The Night Before the Final Exam:
1 Hour Before the Final Exam:
During the Final Exam:
Once Walk Out From the Examination Hall:
After the Final Exam, During the Holiday: It's February! I think I hear sneers and see some eye-rolling. Haha. I don't really want to be such a Valentine Grinch, so I'm gonna share with you what keeps me all perky and hyped up these days. I got myself a chur-chur! :P :P So go ahead, why don't you just go ahead and get yourself a crush if you're single? TRUST ME (and all of us from CrEngg), it's the beeeeest way to keep you awake and excited! Crushes give you a natural high -- kapag binati ka, woooh kilig levels go beyond the roof! :"> Masarap chumur-chur! Yeah, let's feel the.. love? :P Happy Churchur Month! :)
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Back is Bombastarr.
I'm back! You better have missed me, online world.The last day of one's hell week is always one of the happiest ever. Despite the uncertainty brought upon by the difficult examinations or papers, there will always be a sense of relief in the end. And right now, I'm basking myself in this relief. So.. I will not talk about academic-related stuff. I refuse to comment on my exams in fear of jinxing them or overreacting toward them. "Past is past," is my current motto after my tests. So don't ask. I suddenly remembered I don't have anything interesting going on right now other than studies. I am sooo lame. Haha. I'll blog over the weekend probably when I have more coherent things to say :P Arrivederci! :)
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Bombastarr's Guide to Finishing Senior Year
It is once again that time of the year when doors have been opened, dreams have been fulfilled, and the future has been made real: yes, it's College Entrance Exam Results month. (If you can give me a cooler name for it, that would be great :P)
Has it already been a year ago when every weekend, I would wait oh-so-patiently for the websites to load, and type my name in absolute precision, then to jump out of extreme delight five blissful minutes later because I found out I passed all the major universities I applied in? I can think of no other idiom to describe it: Time slips by so quickly. I can still almost feel the euphoria of knowing that I'm thisclose to going to college and finally living out my dream. And that euphoria extends to days, weeks, and yes even months. Unknown to many, it evolves and becomes this lame excuse to not get anything done, all because you know your future is already secure. "What's the point of studying? I already got into my dream school anyway," will surely keep ringing in your head. And trust me, if you let this little voice in your head take over, well let's just say it's not such a great idea to leave high school with failing marks.
Trust me, I know exactly how that feels. It's tempting to be all petix and relaxed this time of year, but somehow I got around it. So here are some tips that hopefully will make things a little bit easier for all you seniors out there. They may not work for you the way they did for me, but they're worth a try :)
- Make a countdown.
I swear to God, nothing motivated me more than the calendar Mikka and I made on the back of our Calculus notebooks. Just the idea of crossing out a day and taking one step closer to Graduation made me want to do better every time. It also help made me look forward to Calculus, because we made a pact to cross out a day only in Math class, so at least, I have an excuse to be excited for the period!
- Go to the website of your future school, and know more about your course.
I basically had two career choices after the results were released: Accouting/Legal Management or Creative Writing. It sparked something inside me that made me want to study more in our Accounting and English classes. I mean, just think: the next four or five years of your life will be centered on this field. And what a better timing to start than now. It may be difficult to really "love" (like Accounting), but trust me this will be like the pull that will set you flying in the next months or so. Up to now this still works for me. I chose English of course, my first love. And to some it is relatively easy (compared to say, Engineering), but every so often the idea of shifting (to Econ or BAA) would come swinging in my mind. Going to the CAL website makes me realize why I chose Creative Writing in the first place.
- Talk to your friends about the future.
Let's put behind all the drama first: you will be separated from the friends you've had since you were in diapers. I still haven't heard of barkadas with all the members going to just one school. This really is one of the saddest facts about college. But think of all the great possibilities too: you can visit each other's campuses and meet new people, venture out to new malls and tambayans (nakakasawa ang Courtyard, Paulinians. Aminin niyo na. Haha) and know your way around Metro Manila. Then, think of all your future careers. I remember our long and seemingly never-ending discussions of the future during recess and lunch: how in ten years we would all be successful and rich but still the best of friends. I would be a successful editor or columnist and corporate lawyer, Trixie would be a diplomat or ambassador, Nica would be big-time in an advertising agency, Mikka and Inna would be filthy rich engineers, Hope would be busy travelling and making the Philippines a major tourist destination, Tin would own a very successful restaurant or chain of hotels, Kassey and Kaila would be sought-after accountants and ITs. And trust me, it puts everything into a whole different perspective. It really made us want to prove our worth. Our fourth quarter grades were proof of that determination :)
- Buy a book related to your course.
Being the geek that I am, I bought one book, The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writing from Book Sale. Like the previous tips, reading it just made me want to excel more, especially in English. I mean, it would suck to get such a low grade on the subject you would major in, right? And of course, this book would be a great use in the future (it is to me now), so it won't hurt. I suggest you go buy in Book Sale or stores selling used books because they're cheaper and the selections are more diverse.
- Relish every last bit of high school.
Accept it, people, these are the last three months of high school -- ever! Don't you at least want to leave an impressive mark? Nobody wants to be known as the alumni who rocked all her years in school, but sucked big time in the last three months. It's your last time to shine, impress teachers, do good, make everything perfect. I suggest you lie low on provoking teachers or collecting reprimands, and focus more on being a really good student. At least try to make your teachers feel that they were able to mold you in some way, and that they made you a better person one way or another. After all, they did make you who you are, regardless of how much you loved or loathed them. You owe it to your school and your teachers to be at the very least, a good (not perfect) student. It's just three months to go after all, how hard would it be?
When you come right down to it, it's all just about making that extreme bliss into something positive and productive that will help you make it through the last of your senior year. But I guess the most important thing to remember is to ENJOY! I'm sure your family, friends, and teachers are all very proud of you. Brag all you want -- I really think with passing comes bragging rights, even for just a few weeks. Haha. Just make the most out of it because five months from now, you will embark on one of the most exciting adventures of your life: College.
To the future Ateneans, La Sallians, Thomasians, and of course future Iskolars ng Bayan, CONGRATULATIONS! :)
As for me, I might have to go and find a way to motivate myself to study this weekend. The coming two weeks are packed with tests -- Comm3, Socio10, and NatSci2 exams plus Ital10 orals. Good luck na laaaang sakin. My life depends on my colored index cards and pens -- I hope they will do their job in making my reviewers more interesting and exciting. :| Weber, Marx, and Durkheim, I'm all yours for the next two weeks. (Yes, this is me announcing I will be on a short hiatus) (P.S. Advanced Happy Birthday, Ayiene Silvestre! :* I am so lucky to have you as an offline and online friend. Labyu, classmate!)
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I know I still love you.
OHMYGOD. I seriously cannot wait. *hyperventilates*
I still really do love the books better than the show.
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Arrivederci, 2008!
I've always wanted to do this because this year has been particularly lucky and eventful for me. So many things have happened, both good and bad -- and in the end, there was a silver lining to everything. I'm more than grateful for everything that God has bestowed upon me this year. Let's do a little recap, shall we?
January
- I passed in La Salle, Ateneo, UST and in the University of the Philippines! It was most certainly the best month of my life! Passing the four most prestigious universities in the country is definitely one of my biggest achievements ever. I really didn't think I would (and could) but I did, especially UP: my dream school since I was in kindergarten! This was the month that really opened the doors of the future for me. It was the beginning of a new chapter in my life -- and everyone else's too! We were going to our dream schooools! \m/
February
- Had my last long test ever in St. Paul!
- Got my yearbook photos. Yikes! :)) I looked like I had a nosejob!
 LOL =))=))
- As one of the major projects of the SCC, we went to Bilibid for our yearly outreach program. It was my first time there, and to say that I was moved would be an understatement. Everything about that experienced really changed my outlook on prisoners, and life in general. That trip taught me a valuable lesson -- everyone deserves a second chance. And that forgiveness goes a long, long way.
- I learned to enjoy Calculus. -- HAHA, UNBELIEVABLE, I know :)) But yeah, for a while I did.
March
- Graduation Ball! One of the best nights of my life! It was a night worth remembering -- from the pre-ball preparations, to the food, to the dancing, and even to the last minute of the program.. everything was just so surreal. It was admittedly one of my prettiest nights too. Haha! *winkwink*
- Gratitude Night. The first time ever I got to sing onstage. Haha. Feelingera ako eh!
- GRADUATION! Of course, this was the highlight of my entire year. I was finally leaving the halls of my beloved alma mater, St. Paul College of Paranaque, with a Loyalty Award and a Second Honorable Mention medal. All my hard work has finally paid off, and it was time to reap the fruits of my labor. Hooray!

The Top 5! :)
April
- I basically just continued my love affair with Edward Cullen. I was always a very determined bookworm. I wouldn't stop until I get the next installment of whatever book series I am currently crazy about.. so it was only obvious that I went to every PowerBooks and Fully Booked branch in the Metro in search of Eclipse. "Nananananana! Never giving up, giving up.. never giving up!"
- I got a haircut after X months of sporting my long almost-waist-length hair. I figured, soon I'll be in college and I'll be needing a new look. Thus, the Karla College Look. (My rebond wore off too, which made this look completely new, because for the first time in God knows how long I didn't have straight hair!)
- First ever pre-enlistment for UP Diliman. It was such a nerve-wracking process simply because I had no idea how the whole thing worked! I had to surf at least five other websites and consult UP friends just so I can do the pre-enlisting correctly. Luckily, I got everything on the first go (thankyouverymuch, Freshman priority!) and had the luxury of having Inna an Drea as classmates in PE!
- I got into my Classics phase. I started reading Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, and the likes. I most especially loved Pride and Prejudice. I'm still very much into the Classics, and I'm well on my way to finishing William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair.
- Megan Fox was hailed FHM's Sexiest Woman Alive. I just have to include this because I have the biggest girl-crush on her!
May
- Freshman enrollment and orientation. Two of the most exciting days of my life. Truly, my journey as a UP student is about to begin. It was on these two fateful days that I got my first taste of the infamous "pila" -- everywhere I went, there were lines here and there! I saw hundreds of other scared and anxious faces just like mine, and somehow felt relieved that I was not alone. I met my blockmates and now my current kabarkadas, Jamie and Andy too. It was just all too overwhelming for me, but it was exciting all the same. I learned the UP cheers too, taught to us by none other than the UP Pep Squad! UP Fight! :)
- Vanessa Carlton. I got to watch her perform live at Trinoma. I swear, I fell in love with her music all the more! She is such a wonderful musician and I really look up to her. It was me and my mom's Mother's Day date.
- Dorm. We started shopping for Inna and I's dorm, and boy did it get me excited! I can't believe I will be living away from home 4 or 5 days a week! It made me feel all grown-up and independent. I think the idea of living in the dormitory was a reminder to myself that I was no longer a little girl, but in fact an independent lady. Yes!
- Bangkok trip! Thailand has got to be my second favorite country after ours. Our trip this summer was my third. And obviously it was spent for the thing us Vistan girls loved the most: SHOPPING! We went not only to MBK and Chatuchak, but also to Platinum Plaza, City Center, and Pratunam. Trust me, Bangkok is a shopping mecca. 168 does not stand a chance! :P And of course, a trip to Thailand would not have been complete without a visit to my most favorite creatures in the whole entire world: Elephants! ♥ If you still don't know by now, I'm completely head-over-heels in love with elephants, and I will never get tired of playing, feeding, and riding them! I miss Bangkok because it's so similar to Manila yet also completely different. I hope the political turmoil will come to rest so that I can come back and visit again soon.
Karla loves elephants! ♥
June
- Start of College! This was the official start of my Iskolar life! I cannot even begin to explain and recount all the details of this months simply because it was just so surreal! I met lots of great people from different walks of life, and got a chance to be on my own for the first time in my life. Going to UP was far better than being accepted in UP! I just knew the first day I stepped onto UP soil on the first day of classes that I made the right choice. I could not ask for anything more -- I was going to study in the most prestigious university in the land for the next years of my life! And, I am a Centennial Freshman too, which makes everything just that much sweeter! I feel so blessed. UP kong mahal, woooh!
The Maroon 4! Karla, Cathe, Drea, Inna
KAL, baby!
- My first Oblation Run! Ayayayayayay! Thank you, Centennial Year! I saw a hundred different.. men.
July
- July was pretty much the adjusting period. After the hype of the first month came the normalcy. Everything started to settle down and I was beginning to get used to things. Though it was very demanding, I'm glad to say I managed!
- I had my first long exams ever in UP. And yeah, I passed! \m/
- Dark Knight. Oh, I miss Heath Ledger. His performance was indeed very remarkable. Seeing the movie made me remember why I love Batman the most among all the superheroes -- because he's very mysterious and is kind of a jerk, and I'm the kind of girl who wants to demystify her men. *winkwink*
- Kas1 Field Trip to Mt. Banahaw. Hands down, Kas1 was one of my most favorite subjects ever! I had a great teacher, topics I really liked, and beyond awesome classmates! Everyone was just really close and it felt like we've known each other since high school! I terribly miss my Kas-mates :|
Miss y'all, Kasmates!
August
- WASAKKKK: word of the month, thanks to Drea Reyes.
- Emotional meltdown-- don't ask.
- UAAP Fangirl-ing. I guess it was really just in God's plan to put Inna and I together in one room (the two biggest UAAP fans) so that we can share the love for our basketball fafas. We practically spent the whole month ogling over both the UP Fighting Maroons and Ateneo Blue Eagles. We've had a couple of encounters with them, like the greeting from Jai Reyes on NU107, the ACLE with the Fighting Maroons, and random sightings of Martin Reyes and Mike Gamboa. All in all, having Inna as my roommate is a complete blessing! Love you, Roomie!
Maroon love!
- High school for a day. Because my Kas-mates are just complete geniuses, we decided to wear our HS uniforms for our Kas1 quiz bee. We enjoyed wearing the uniforms more than the actual quiz bee! Of course, we couldn't help feeling nostalgic since we will never get to wear them again, but it's fun to look back and realize that if it weren't for our beloved alma maters, we wouldn't have gotten here to UP. Oh yeah :)
September
- UAAP! Definitely, the highlight of my month was being there in the gigantic Araneta Coliseum and participating in what seems to be the most sought after sports event in the whole country.. and actually representing a school! :) It didn't hurt that we were the champions of the cheerdance competition too! Woooh! Getting the tickets were soo worth it! UP Fight!
with Inna and Drea!
- The Crush Saga. Yes, my crush-affair(s) reached its peak this September. What, I'm a convent-school girl! Ngayon lang ako magkaka-matinong crush na mga lalaki!
- Wall climbing. Thank you very much, Chalk magazine and other sponsors! I was able to reach greater heights -- literally :P

October
November
- Twilight. You can say whatever you want to say about it, but I liked the movie. Period. :)
- Second sem begins. New subjects, new classmates, completely the same level of stress and anxiety! Hooray :| HAHA. But I honestly love my subjects now compared to last sem's.
- My lola passed away. This has got to be one of the toughest times for our family. I miss her terribly.
December
- OBLATION RUN! I think this was very recent enough, it needs no further explanation :P
- Christmas with my family! Enough said :)
WHEW! Writing it down just made everything that much.. exciting! I can't believe so many things happened this year. I guess it's true what they say that often, we overlook the blessings as they come to us and it's only when we look back that we realize how truly grateful we are for them.
2008 has indeed been a good year for me. Despite the many trials that have come my way, the good things still outweigh them. I'm hoping 2009 will be the same, or hopefully even better. I'm ready to rock the new year. :)
Buon Anno Nuovo!
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Merry Christmas!
Buon Natale!It's the most wonderful time of the year..so have a blast! And spread the love. Happy Birthday, Jesus! ♥ Bombastarr.
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An open letter to Santa.
Dearest Santa, It's been a while since I last wrote you a real letter -- well, actually it's been years. Did you even notice? I'd like to believe so, since you seem to be the most magical man in the world. I mean, how else would you know I lived somewhere in the south of Metro Manila and have my present delivered by the eve of the 25th if you didn't know me at all? How else would you know that I've been consistently good in school and that I deserve my gift? You knew me. That's what the Christmas carol about you said -- and it seemed to be pretty true. No, Santa, I won't be asking any toys from you this year. Don't you worry. At least that's one kid less in your list (that is, if I'm still on your list -- I think I've been mostly nice than naughty this year. HAHA) I guess I just wanted to say thank you for always making Christmas a truly exciting and memorable experience as a kid. I can still vividly remember the anticipation I felt every 24th of December as I lay in bed waiting for your sleigh to arrive. I never caught a glimpse of you, but I knew you would pass by. And true enough, every Christmas morning, there underneath our tree would be your gift. The gift I secretly wished for since September, the toy I drooled over every time we passed by Landmark's toy section, the present I've been longing to open. Yours was always the one I looked forward to because you were special -- you only gave once a year, and yet it was always right. Always a bull's eye. It was always perfect. I remember receiving a Barbie typewriter from you in second grade. It was one of the best among all the gifts you gave. It can type on actual paper with real ink, and I would spend the rest of my Christmas vacation just typing anything there -- from little short stories to even the most mundane things like the complete names of all my close relatives. I could not imagine how I had lived the past seven years without this typewriter. I could not think of any other eight-year-old who had a typewriter. I felt so grown-up, so important. It was cooler than cool. Of course, it didn't hurt that it was pink and had the Barbie logo on it. I honestly couldn't remember anything else I received that year. I recall telling myself, "Santa is the bestest awesomest man in the whole wide world," and honestly believing it. You really were extraordinary. And every year, you never let me down. But what happened in the Christmas of 2001 was probably the most heartbreaking of them all. I accidentally discovered a secret. That year was not supposed to be any different from all the others -- I got an awesome gift again (a Barbie cash register that really scans bar codes from the Barbie items and Barbie credit cards) and I was once more so convinced that you were the most amazing man ever. I was busy showing it off to my cousins and other relatives, when one of my lola's maids accidentally pointed out that my cash register was kept in my lola's house by my parents until Christmas. Of course, my mom denied it, but I already knew -- you weren't real. You were a freakin' imaginary person. I think that was the first heartbreak I ever experienced. How could that happen? HOOOOW? I have been dooped, and I couldn't believe it. I didn't really had a hard time accepting the fact that you were a fantasy though. I mean, I was already 10 years old that time, and somehow I was already starting to question your existence. But what hurts the most was the fact that next Christmas, there'd be no more Santa. You have been such a huge part of that holiday, I couldn't imagine a Christmas without you. What will I be looking forward to? No more letters to write on September. No more tossing and turning on the 24th, wondering if you came. No "major" gift to open on Christmas morning. Nothing. My Christmases have all been ruined. And yet here I am, writing you a letter. I'm thanking you still, even if you caused me a pretty unfathomable anguish at ten. Why? Because you were the one who made me feel an indescribable wanting for something. Want. It's such a strong word, and it is quite funny that I learned it from you. To quote Oscar Wilde, "We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible." You made me want to replicate that experience year after year because after I lost the idea of you, I was determined not to lose the feeling. So whenever I want something (and not necessarily material things) I push myself to strive harder so that I can get it. I work hard for it. And yes, often by being a good girl all year round. You taught me a valuable lesson: nothing is impossible if you really, really want it. So I guess I haven't really lost you then, because I carry you around wherever I go. Even if our lola's maid ruined the physical idea of you, she didn't destroy the experience of knowing you. And for that, I will always be grateful.
Thank you, Santa. I'm certain you will be making millions of kids happy on the 25th. So I just wish that a couple of years from now, when they find out the truth about you, they won't think of you in regret or bitterness, but in gladness.
Love,
Karla
P.S. Jesus is and always will be the star of my Christmas. And wanting Him to be in my life all year long is the greatest desire of all.
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OBLATION RUN: May rose akooo! :))
FRIENDS, allow me to speak in the vernacular. Yung mga pangyayari ngayong araw na ito ay masyadong mahirap ikwento ng English. At besides, tinatamad ako.NOTE: Not for the faint-hearted. At kung tinatamad ka basahin lahat, okay lang. Importante yung mga dialogues :P So ayun nga. Today was the much awaited.. OBLATION RUN. Una sa lahat, ano nga ba ang Oblation Run? Well, hindi ko i-eexplain sa inyo. Kaya nga may Wikipedia. I-research niyo dun. O ayan, alam mo na? Kung gayon, alam mo din kung bakit sabik na sabik ako dito. Last week pa lang may game plan na yung buong CrEnggBB+. Lalo na kaming dalawa ni Drea (my partner-in-crime). Dahil we got a pretty good "view" nung first OR nung July, we decided na gawin ulit yun: Dumikit sa press. Sure fire way. Wala talagang palpak. After ng Nat Sci 2 test ko sa Geol (na nasagutan ko naman agad -- at hindi naman dahil sa excited ako ha! HAHA) punta ko agad sa AS steps kung saan nakaupo na ang ibang CrEngg peeps. So syempre, while waiting, cam-whoring. (A little trivia about me: pag nagdadala ako ng camera, super tinatamad ako mag-picture. Ang lame ko. Gaya nung party ni Nica nung Saturday. May dala nga ako, pero halos hindi ko naman nilabas. Sinisipag lang ako kapag idle, or walang ibang ginagawa. In this case, wala talaga kaming ginagawa, so fortunately nagamit ko naman yung camera ko. Haha. AAAAND. Medyo "bago" siya. Inarbor ko kasi yung old digicam namin na hindi na ginagamit, so akin na siya. So parang bago siya for me. Labo. ANYWAY..) Unti-unti na dumami yung mga tao. Feel na feel talaga yung excitement sa crowd eh! Yung talagang.. may collective effervescence sa kasabikan. (O HA, SOCIO10 YUN! :P) Nagsimula na din dumating yung press. Aba, syempre, medyo pumorma na ko. Malay mo naman makunan ako sa TV dba. So yun. A few minutes later, may nagsisigawan na from inside of AS. Signal na yun, na magsstart na. Nagsimula na rin mag-drums yung UP Pep. So sige, tayuan na. Nagkahiwalay na ang CrEngg. Syempre ang kasama ko si Drea. Napunta kami sa may MEDYO harapan. Di kami napatabi sa press, nasa may kabilang side sila. Pero sige okay lang, close enough. FAST FORWARD. Di ko na ikkwento yung mga pang-gigitgit na ginawa namin ni Drea para mapunta dun at yung paghihintay ng ilang minutes na nakataas lang yung kamay (ready-to-video mode) kasi I'm sure ayaw niyo na basahin yun. "Aaaaah!"Phase 1.AYAN NAAAA. Sigawan na talaga. At doon, nakita ko muli -- YUUUN EHHH. Haha. All shapes and sizes! Wooooh! At oo, compared sa unang Oblation Run ngayong taon na may mga oldies (or "alumni" -- para mas less harsh), mga binata yung ngayon. So yeyy? Anyway, talagang concentrated ako sa pag-vvideo. Nag-promise kasi ako sa ilang mga kasamahan sa bahay na kukunan ko for them. So yun. Medyo hindi ko pa natingnan yung actual "things" kasi nga nakafocus ako sa pag-vivideo. (Kaya magpasalamat kayo, lahat kayong mag-bebenefit sa video ha!). Shit, let me just say na sobrang hirap mag-video pag tinatangay ka ng sandamakmak na tao!JUSKO. Na-stampede talaga kami ni Drea. Higpit ng hawak ko sa kanya ba. Talagang all or nothing. So yeaaaah! Naamoy ko na kili-kili ng katabi ko, pero carry lang! All for the sake of.. them. It. Yun. Sadly, wala pa kong nakukuhang rose. Phase 2.After ng first na takbo, hindi ko pa hinayaang maka-recover ako. May Plan B agad kami ni Drea. Sumunod kami sa mga photographers. Pumasok sila sa loob ng AS.. at doon, may parang maze ng mga tao na pasikot-sikot naming sinundan. Never give up talaga kami ni Drea eh. If there's a will, there's a freakin' way! So ayun. We ended up at the APO "headquarters" dun sa may daanan papuntang CASAA. Nakita ko pa prof ko sa Kas1! Haha. Pagod na pagod na kami pero okay lang. We didn't have to wait long kasi once again, they were there! Woohooo! Medyo hindi na ko concentrated sa video, pero nagrerecord pa rin ako. Nung 2nd time, medyo mas nakita ko na ng mabuti yung mga bats and balls, pero ang bilis eh! Saka ang sikip dun. Pero okay lang! Whooo! Wala pa rin kaming rose ni Drea, though. Dahil sa aming plan na dumikit sa photogs, hindi pa rin kami umalis. Nagtanong ulit kami, and turns out: BABALIK PA ULIT DUN! Wooooh! So syempre, we stayed put. Medyo inayos lang yung porma para sa third time. Sooon.. may nagsisigawan na ulit. Ayan naaa! Phase 3.Eto na yung last. Tumakbo na ulit sila papunta sa headquarters nila. This time, nasa front row na talaga kami ni Drey. Ang hirap videohan kasi sobrang close up, so it's either kuhanan ko yung face or yung.. yun. Pero as I said, medyo second priority na lang yung video eh. Priority na namin ngayon is yung rose. Sigaw kami ng sigaw ni Drea, "Wooh! Kuya! Rose! Rose!" Then, the inevitable happened. KARLA: Aaaah! Kuya! Rose! Rose! RUNNER: *inabutan ako ng rose* Ano pangalan mo? KARLA: O_O Karla po. RUNNER: Hi, I'm [his name]. *sabay tanggal ng mask*
KARLA AND DREA: @_@ @_@ @_@ O_O O_O O_O Sorry, pero ang initial reaction ko talaga eh ang matuwa. Haha! Imagine, nabigyan ako ng rose ng isang runner -- which is THE goal of most of the watchers. After a few seconds lang nag-settle sakin yung fact na, SHIT NAGTANGGAL SIYA NG MASK. I SAW HIS FACE.. AND HIS! YUN! Oh my freakin gosh! Pero, hindi ko naman ma-process yung thoughts ko nung mga oras na yun noh. Basta, sigaw lang ako ng sigaw. Kami ni Drea. Shouting for many reasons. Totoong, words are not enough :P [Because may konting respeto pa naman ako sa pagkatao ni not-so-Mystery Runner, hindi ko na lang irereveal yung pangalan niya. Haha] (Secret info: Na-interview din ako ng isang small-time network at hindi ko sasabihin kung ano dahil sa kahihiyang maidudulot ko sa pamilya ko. Dahil tae, ang excited ng boses ko! Parang kinikilig na ewan. Taena. Haha.) So yun. Lumabas na ulit kami sa AS steps. I shared the "news" to my CrEnggBB+ friends. Ewan ko kung masaya sila para saken, or sadyang na-ggross-an na sken. Pero okay lang. IT WAS ALL PART OF MY UP EXPERIENCE. Sobrang.. adventure talaga eh! Grabe. Grabe. Grabe. After, I was hyperventilating. Ewan ko kung dahil sa init, sa dami ng tao, o sa.. raging hormones? HAHAHA :)) SPECIAL MENTION: Andrea Reyes! Couldn't have done it without you. Labyoww! Next year ulit ha! :P It has been so many hours later, marami ng nangyari between twelve noon and now. Lunch at Beachhouse (with Nikki and Tophe!), tambay at Sunken Garden (:"""> -- at nanalo ako ng Pusoy Dos!), and watched Maskipaps at Engg (O_O).. pero syempre, the Oblation Run was still the highlight of my day. Woooh. Finally, I can say: Mission Accomplished! (Uploaded na rin ang videos sa Multiply :P O ha) Kung ang tingin niyo na sa kin (or sa amin) ay pervert.. ang masasabi ko lang ay: let the sinless cast the first stone! Whapaaaaak! :)
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Lessons from Pumpkiny.
Living in a dormitory has a lot of perks, especially when your roommate has been your friend since grade school. You get to share secrets, tell endless stories, talk about certain people, eat and sleep whenever you like, study while the other takes a bath, and all within the confines and safety of your room. It's pretty exciting, most particularly for me because I grew up with no siblings, so it's like having an automatic sister. It's all good.
But then of course, after all has been said and done, more often than not comes the inevitable -- awkward silences. And utterly, extremely dorky moments.
Meet Pumpkiny.
Pumpkiny disguised as a Halloween jack-o-lantern; Pumpkiny disguised as the forbidden apple from Twilight; Pumpkiny as an emo ponkan-slash-pumpkin
Pumpkiny is was the unfortunate tiny ponkan (kyat-kyat) that suffered severe identity crisis from Inna and me last Thursday night. We wanted to load ourselves with Vitamin C so as to not catch the colds or the flu most especially this time of the year. So we bought a basket of kyat-kyats at our friendly neighborhood grocery store, and for several days we just ate and ate the delightful citrus fruit. But alas, just eating them became too boring for me at least. So, when we I picked up Pumpkiny and realized that he looked quite different than the rest (he really was shaped like a pumpkin), I thought, why not. I made a "masterpiece" out of this unique-looking ponkan.
"So what's the point in all this?" I hear you ask. There are a few, I promise.
First, our health is of extreme importance. It's easy to overlook our physical well-being because of school work or other seemingly more relevant aspects in our life. But it should be our number one priority. I only realized this more now that I'm in college, living on my own. Before, I could just absent myself from school when I feel a little feverish, and my mom can cook Nido soup for me back at home. Now, I have no one taking care of me other than myself so I have to really make sure that I'm strong enough to go to school everyday -- and not just to be physically present but to be mentally alert as well. Attending a class when you sneeze every thirty seconds and your head aches like a hammer is being smashed on your head is no fun. So, better load up on your ascorbic acid, people!
Second, for very obvious reasons, my Twilight obssession has been reawakened for the past couple of weeks. Like what I said before, I tried downplaying it, in hopes of not being one of "them" -- meaning, the super crazed Twi-hard girls [and boys haha] that go gaga with the very mention of anything related to the series. But so what if I'm supposed to be a writer who should only appreciate "real literature" and not a lame hormonal narration of an impossibly ridiculous story? Whoever said I cannot appreciate both? Sure, Meyer's writing and plotting could have been better, but in the end it moved me and I think that's what matters. To me, literature is supposed to take you to a completely different place and touch your life in more ways than one. This so-called "crappy piece of writing" did that just to me. So yeah, I guess I'm a fan-pire. \m/
And lastly, because of Pumpkiny I realized the importance of self-worth. In a world where everything about you can be defined by just simply how you look, it is so difficult to pay no heed to the pressures -- especially of vanity. I am after all a seventeen-year-old girl, a typical prey to the mundane insecurities of life. On some days I feel extremely good about myself, but on most days I don't. It's part of human nature I guess. After all, who doesn't want to be beautiful? Last week, I had a little makeover [Secret kung ano! :P] As much as I wanted to deny the fact that I don't care about how I look, I do. So I went for it. I don't regret it at all. And you know what, I realized that I don't feel guilty about pampering myself every once in a while, because I know I deserve it. If I can't appreciate myself, then who would? And I guess there is no harm in doing what you think is best to help make you feel better. At the end of the day, you're still you -- whether you have curly or straight hair, flabby or thin arms, a big or toned tummy. Like Pumpkiny, his pumpkin-like features doesn't make him anything more than a ponkan. Just as long as you have a strong sense of self, you're gonna turn out okay. [I doubt that Pumpkiny realized his self-worth though.]
All this because of one little ponkan. Wow. I should get myself more Pumpkinies.
[By the way, if you are wondering what happened to Pumpkiny.. I ate him. Haha.]
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She's a modern lover; it's an exploration, she's made of outer space

Hello, I'm Karla Bernardo. If you Google my name, you will find the Wikipedia entry of a Canadian serial-killer (and trust me, you do not want
to read about that - but I'm sure you will because now you're curious), which is why I suggest you type Bombastarr instead so you can stalk me better.
I spent eight-and-a-half years of my life in the University of the Philippines, where I graduated with degrees in Creative Writing and Juris Doctor. It is also where I learned how to speak a bit of Italian, got a taste of the best tapsilog, and took striptease for PE.
I love telling stories, as much as I enjoy finding them.
____Want more?
Featured Works
Stargirl ( Cover story for Nadine Lustre, Scout, January-February 2017)
Surreal / So Real (at Scout)
Ode to a Great Love's 17-year-old Self ( Love.Life, Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Postcard from Diliman
( Youngblood, Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Writer for Philippine Law Register
A Call to Arms (January 2017)
Expecting the Expected (March 2016)
Former Writer for Stache Magazine
The Hero's Journey (June 2013)
The 8 People You Become In Your Youth (June 2013)
The Best Bad Idea That Is Argo (April 2013)
Mike Ross Remembers Everything You Don't (August 2012)
Style Between the Riffs (August 2012)
Book Lovers Never Sleep Alone (June 2012)
A Spectrum of Change (December 2011)
Digital Art (October 2011)
Elements of Style (June 2011)
In Her White Dress (All-Art April 2011 issue)
Morning After Pill ( Fervore: Literary Folio 2013, UP Portia Sorority)
How To Make a Blueberry Cheesecake ( Kalas: Kalasag Literary Folio 2011, UP College of Arts and Letters)
January 14th ( 100: The Hundreds Project, UP Writer's Club)
An Ode to The
Pillow Book (at New-Slang)
Introductions (at TeenInk)
One by One (at TeenInk)
Ask, and you shall be answered
Got a comment, question, violent reaction, love letter, or random piece of information you want to share with me? Just fire away. I don't bite.
(I changed my form and went back to Freedback because Ask.fm's being a bitch, requiring people to sign up for accounts before asking questions. Because I love you guys, I tweaked my ask box a bit, so that the questions will now go directly to my e-mail, but I'll be posting the answers still on my Ask.fm for convenience. TL;DR - I'll still be getting your questions so no worries. You're still free to harass me / send me your love.)
Answers
Most Frequently Asked QuestionAre you a pornstar?No, I am not a pornstar, stripper, or your friendly neighborhood call girl. It's just a fancy pseudonym with a long history, and two R's. Rawr.
Bombastarr.com
Bombastarr is my personal blog and my little corner in the Internet since 2005. Yes, I started writing here when I was 13 years old (aka when I was very angsty, hormonal, and always gushing at the littlest things) -- ergo, you'd have to forgive me if you come across an old post that reeks of immaturity and slightly unpolished grammar. I did a lot of growing up here, and from the looks of it, there's still a lot of growing up to do, so I don't think I'll be leaving this place any time soon.
The domain, Bombastarr.com, was purchased on June 2014 and
launched on July 2014, on the blog's ninth year (and fifth month, to be exact).
It's crazy to think that this blog is now thirteen years old, because (1) that seems like an eternity in internet years, and (2) that means if my blog were a kid, it's a teenager! That's insane.
Here's to more tales, explosive and otherwise.
So, why Bombastarr?
If you've been living under a rock and think I'm a threat to world peace or an object of covetousness, sorry to disappoint you, folks: it's just a fancy pseudonym.
As in most things, it started in high school. It began as a joke between me and a couple of friends during our freshman year. We were practicing for a field demonstration dance which involved the use of shawls, and being the crazy-always-trying-to-be-funny person that I was (or I always attempted to be) I started doing poses with the garment. Someone started taking my picture using my phone, and one shot looked like I was posing for those B-list movies (or should it be R-list, as in R-rated?) of the vegetable-nomenclature variety. #IKYWIM. Hence, the word, "Bombastarr." Yes, very cheeky, I know, but for a 13-year-old, it was quirky enough to figure as a username. That was 2005, right around the time I trying to decide on a URL for a new blog. It's been a lot of years since, and what started as a joke became something I've eventually embraced as an identity.
Despite the many other chances I've gotten to permanently move (to Multiply, Livejournal, Tumblr, Wordpress; to a bigger platform where I can earn or use the blog as a venue for commerce), I've come to realize that Bombastarr is something I can never truly leave behind. It is a place I've grown to appreciate and love because it is a place I can call my own. It's a venue for my rants, my views, my writing. It is home, and it is who I am.
Bombastarr is a glimpse of my life: the thoughts, ideas, and stories that shape it into what it is, and what it will still become. This journal has been with me for all my crazy, often embarrassing adventures, but I'm sure there will be more anecdotes and feelings and people to write about. Which is something I'm really looking forward to. After all, you know what they say about the greatest stories - sometimes, there's still a lot that's left unwritten.
Credits and thank you's
This blog is hosted by PhilHosting.net, and powered by Blogger. The layout is coded entirely by me.
Photo hosting: TinyPic, Photobucket
Question box: EmailMeForm, Ask.fm
Copyright © BOMBASTARR
Elsewhere, she wanders
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