the one with starting 2013 with..

If 2012 is learning new things, 2013 is for letting go and breaking free..

the one with 2013 is to writing

Photo via the fancy

Kung isa akong tshrit - ako to.

One month. Been very busy. 4 weddings, to one I was a maid of honor, frustrating unfinished storylines and the holidays made the last month of 2012 an unforgettable one.

With all that's happening to me right now, I will try to document everything here. Just because I can see that 2013 will be pretty interesting for me. I have 3 writing venues for 2013 - scriptwriting workshop, thesis writing (which reminds me I need to study for my comprehensive exam) and "play" writing (yes what you call blog writing)

Back when I was in Grade 3, I dreamed if I can be a writer someday. I was not specific but I am hoping, ITO na yun.

2013 is to write with love, dreams and happiness.

merci merci

the one with nothing sweeter..

Nothing sweeter than the togetherness we share

Thai food, avocado cafe and a movie that we just watched for a fund raiser may seem to be a weird combination but if shared with a friend, it makes sense. Believe me.

Will never get tired of catch up chika..

Thanks Mel *smiley*

merci merci

the one with the learning never stops

Grabe kapatid! Ikaw lang ang taong alam kong may ganyang hilig sa pag-aaral! 

I remember this line when I told my friend Dianne that I will be quitting my 5 year corporate job and concentrate full time as a graduate student. Well, she blurted that one after I told her that I just finished my French (language) lessons and that another sem in grad school was about to start. She does not get my "liking" for being in school. I am no nerd I told her. I just like being there. True to my passion, learning new things indeed..

I decided to go full time just because I wanted to finish all my course work. Why? Beats me.

3 months of 2nd sem 2011-2012 and 4 months 1st sem 2012-2013 were the best months I must say. But summer 2012 made me think that I can not and should not spend the entire year being a full time student. That after my 1st sem this year, I should and must be looking for a job since I will no longer be on classroom lectures anymore. Or so I think.

As Marie would always tell me, Life happens while you plan.. 

I was so ready to put myself out there and be a part of work force; any work force (well not some kind of mafia or bad guys association). I even considered working for a government agency and took and passed the career service exam. But no. Life happens while you plan, and I think the only thing that would ruin your Plan A - Z is that if your dreams get in the way...

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Isa lang sya sa mga iniidolo ko eh. Sa mga pagkakataong nakikita ko sya sa personal, hindi ako humihingi ng kung ano mang picture kasama sya at hindi ko rin inisip na maging kaibigan ko sya o makasama sa friend list ko. Dahil gusto kong manatili yung identidad nya sa kamalayan ko bilang isang hinahangaan.

Dear yeye, fly high yet be down to earth...

Hanggang "autograph" na nga lang ang drama ko dahil hindi pa kayang yakapin ng kamalayan ko.

Bakit ba ako nagkakaganito? Isa kasi sya sa mga hinahangaan kong magaling sumulat sa Filipino. Well, isa sya sa mga sikat at kilala. Karamihan kasi sa mga hinahangaan kong mag-sulat sa Filipino ay mga kaibigan ko na hilig rin ang magsulat at magbasa ng/sa wikang Filipino.

Mabalik tayo..

Hindi ko inasahan na magkakaroon sya ng bagong mukha sa aking kamalayan. Sa unang pagkakataon, sa taon kung kailan nagpasya akong matuto, magiging "mentor" ko sya. Masarap pakinggan ang salitang mentor sa pagkakataong ito kesa guro, maestra, teacher, sensei dahil pakiramdam ko nababagay ito sa kung ano ang ituturo niya sa akin..

Ganito kasi yan. Iigsian ko ang kwento. May scriptwiritng workshop. Nagpasa ako. Nag-audition. Natanggap. at si Sir Ricky Lee ang magiging mentor ko.

O diba? Sino ang hindi maintindihan ang sarili ngayon?

Lalo na nung mabasa nya ang gawa ko..

Beautiful prose.. worth in workshop

Ito ung sinulat nya sa dulo nung narrative na pinasa ko. Ang sarap sa tenga. Sabi ko sa sarili ko nung nabasa ko to, kahit hindi na ako matanggap sa workshop basta alam kong nagandahan si RL sa sinulat ko, keri na..

E kaso natanggap ako..

Ang nakakaloka lang, yung ipinasa kong narrative ang una at huling narrative na isinulat ko sa tanan ng buhay ko. Partida, college ko pa sinulat yun. Requirement para sa literary writing ng magazine writing and lay out design subject ko. 2003 pa ata. Kaya masasabi kong hindi naman ako magaling na manunulat; gusto ko lang magsulat.. gusto ko lang magsulat sa Filipino..

Siguro ang salita parang alak, tumatamis o umaasim sa pagdaan ng panahon..

Ilang beses ko na syang nakita nitong mga nakaraang buwan kahit naghahanda palang para sa workshop. Sa loob ng ilang linggo, magsisimula na ang pagtingin ko sa kanya bilang isang mentor. Mananatili parin syang idol, wag mag-alala.

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I can smell 2013 but it seems my 2012 blessings won't stop from pouring.

I started my 2012 believing that learning new things is my passion. It did good to me. I always emptied my tea cup and it was never full.

merci merci

the one with what sem break and coffee can do to me

My 2012 - 13 1st Semester ended last Tuesday afternoon after I was drained to the core by my statistics final exam. It was the only exam I took this semester and boy it did beat the sh** out of me. Glad I'm done with that.

I have been lounging around since, savoring each moment that at this point of my life, I am free as bird with no office or school work bugging me. #noworkandnoplaymakesjillahappygirl

After my lunch date with my college friends yesterday, before going home, I had some coffee and doughnuts. Yes, another comfort food of mine.

It was late when I realized that I shouldn't have drink caffeine on later times of the day as it will kick my "antok" far from my sleeping time.

10pm and I am still wide awake. "Topak" strikes at ungodly times of my life hence...

I decided to cover my books with plastic cover.

Please don't judge me by the books I read. Chic - lit is one of my guilty pleasures :-)

My books have been sad for quite a long time because I have not paid much attention to their well being, not even putting them on a shelf. They are just sitting together, stacked one by one, books tears falling of the pages.. OK fine OA lang. But I do believe what Rory of the Gilmore Girls said when Paris, her roomate, kick her out of their pad and all of her stuff was in the hallway: My books look sad, do books look sad?

Marie introduced me to time saver pre-cut plastic covers so instead of the tedious cutting of meter long plastic covers, I am enjoying the simple way to protecting my lovely books.

And I forgot how therapeutic covering books can be! I don't have crafty hands so I am pretty sure my books will not pass the bookworms' inspections but I know that the covers will protect them from "external factors". hehe..

Meron din palang nagagawang mabuti ang sem break sa akin..

merci cappucino (to whom I owe my caffeine jolt) merci 

the one with here's the deal

I have to admit.

I am a fan of the group buying sites. I am a member of 4 group buying sites: CashCashPinoy, Metrodeal, Ensogo Living Social and Deal Grocer.

Neighbor introduced me to to this kind of shopping. The first thing I bought was the group discount for the Spiral Buffet in Sofitel. I think that was 2 years ago, I forgot. Well, I was not the one who purchased it. Neighbor just asked me if I wanted to try since Liz and other friends were raving about it. It was a good deal - 50% of the regular buffet price! Since then, I was on the look out for great deals..

Here are some of the good deals that I got..

There are now cheaper deals like this but at that time this one's the cheapest. I can say that this is the best deal ever just because I was able to learn a new language hehe. #biasedlang

the one with rappler snapshots

Believe it or not, I am a Journalism major and even if I am not on practice, it will have a place in my heart. So I appreciate seeing Maria Ressa in person, hehe.

Last Sept 18, the Development Communication Graduate Students Association (DEVCOM GRADSA) spearheaded the Move PH presented by Rappler.com in Los Banos. I only had glimpses of the chat sessions where Rappler CEO Maria Ressa,  Rappler's citizen journalism director Chay Hofileña, Social media head Michael Josh Villanueva, Rappler's multimedia reporter Patricia Evangelista and our very own Dr Serlie Jamias shared their insights and experiences on journalism, development and social media. Since I was one of the committee members, I had to usher guests and help man the registration area,  I can not give you a detailed account of what happened.

Just what happened to me..

I know this photo is a big boo! Not really good with light effects.. I was able to listen to the last 10 minutes of her presentation and it was really good. Sayang I wasn't there the whole time.