Of LIFE, LOVE and INVOKING the WRATH of GOD
POSTED AT 03:59 AM as a stickied post

swim_bud

Whew! If I tried playing with words to depict, I know I'd just fail. Instead of helping people figure me out, the adjectives might just blur the real picture.

It's always tough to be asked to describe something we can't see. Can't see ourselves unless we looked at our reflection on the mirror or a clear calm pool of water.

So, instead of making a litany of some fancy theasurus babble bullshit; let me just put down real experiences that have, like puddles of clear water on my trek through life, mirrored my being.

STOOD AND WALKED ON MY OWN TWO FEET WHEN I WAS 11 MONTHS OLD. BECAME THE CLASS FIRST HONOR WHEN I STARTED GRADESCHOOL. RAN THE TRACK WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD. GOT INTO ART AND SWIMMING CLASSES EVERY SUMMER TIL HIGH SCHOOL. FINISHED HIGHSCHOOL WITH 5 MEDALS AND A TROPHY. FIGURED INTO THEATER ACTING IN THE UNIVERSITY. FELL IN LOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME RIGHT AFTER GRADUATION. WORKED AND PURSUED TWO GRADUATE DEGREES SIMULTANEOUSLY. HEART GOT CRUSHED AFTER FOUR YEARS OF "LOVE". STOPPED WORKING AND HAD DIFFICULTY IN MY ACADEMICS. LOST MYSELF FOR ALMOST A YEAR. TOOK ON AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE AND INVOKED THE WRATH OF GOD. FOUND MYSELF IN THE COOLEST CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. RECOVERED. FELL IN LOVE AGAIN WITH SOMEONE NEW. WAS TAKEN IN TO WORK FOR A GREAT COMPANY. RECONCILED WITH GOD.

And when everything else would have been said... The most essential has remained unsaid. --- Fr. Roque Ferriols, SJ
Reading: The World Almanac
Listening to: This is the moment
Feeling: Omnipotent

BLUE on GREEN
POSTED AT 01:37 AM

swim_bud

UAAP Season has gotten me all psyched, had been in attendance on most of the games the senior team has played; and I'm still hung over with the spirit of the most recent win. Woohooo... Ang sarap maging Atenista!

Anyways, since I think there's enough account of that classic game on the internet (even Captain Chris Tiu has an entry of it on his blog), lemme digress with a jest against our fabled rival:

DLSU and ADMU Final Exams

Have you ever wondered how you would have fared as either a LaSallite or an Atenean?

Here's your chance to find out! Take either the La Salle Final Exams or the Ateneo Final Exams. Or take both and find out what makes each one tick.

ATENEO de MANILA UNIVERSITY FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Instructions: Read each question carefully. Answer all questions. Time Limit: 4 hours. Begin immediately.

1. HISTORY Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present day, concentrating especially, but not exclusively, on its social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, and Africa. Be brief, concise, and specific.

2. MEDICINE You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a bottle of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been inspected. You have 15 minutes.

3. PUBLIC SPEAKING Twenty-five hundred riot-crazed aborigines are storming the classroom. Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek.

4. BIOLOGY Create life. Estimate the differences in subsequent human culture if this form of life had developed 500 million years earlier, with special attention to its probable effect on the English parliamentary system. Prove your thesis.

5. MUSIC Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat.

6. PSYCHOLOGY Based on you degree of knowledge of their works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed frustrations of each of the following: Alexander of Aphrodisias Rameses II Gregory of Nicea Hammurabi. Support your evaluations with quotations from each man's work, making appropriate references. It is not necessary to translate.

7. SOCIOLOGY Estimate the sociological problems which might accompany the end of the world. Construct an experiment to test your theory.

8. MANAGEMENT SCIENCE Define management. Define science. How do they relate? Why? Create a generalized algorithm to optimize all managerial decisions. Assuming an 1130 CPU supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate your algorithm; design the communications interface and all necessary control programs.

9. ENGINEERING The disassembled parts of a high-powered rifle have been placed in a box on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual, printed in Swahili. In ten minutes a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel is apropriate. Be prepared to justify your decisions.

10. ECONOMICS Develop a realistic plan for refinancing the national debt. Trace the possible effects of your plan in the following areas: Cubism Donatist Controversy Wave Theory of Light Outline a method for preventing these effects. Criticize this method from all possible points of view. Point out the deficiencies in your point of view, as demonstrated in you answer to the last question.

11. POLITICAL SCIENCE There is a red telephone on the desk beside you. Start World War III. Report at length on its socio-political effects; if any.

12. EPISTEMOLOGY Take a position for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position.

13. PHYSICS Explain the nature of matter. Include in you answer an evaluation of the impact of the development of mathematics on science.

14. PHILOSOPHY Sketch the development of human thought; estimate its significance. Compare with the development of any kind of thought.

15. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Describe in detail. Be objective and specific.

***EXTRA CREDIT*** Define the universe; give three examples.

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY FINAL EXAMS

(Take Home Exam) Time Limit: 3 Weeks

1. What language is spoken in France?

2. Give a dissertation on the ancient Babylonian Empire with particular reference to architecture, literature, law and social conditions or give the first name of Pierre Trudeau?

3. Would you ask William Shakespeare to: a. Build a bridge b. Sail the ocean c. lead an army or d. WRITE A PLAY

4. What religion is the Pope? a. Jewish b. Catholic c. Hindu d. Polish e. Agnostic (check only one)

5. Metric conversion. How many feet is 0.0 meters?

6. What time is it when the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 5?

7. How many commandments was Moses given? (approximately)

8. What are people in America's far north called? a. Westerners b. Northerners c. Southerners

9. Spell -- Bush, Carter, and Clinton BUSH: _ _ _ _ CARTER: _ _ _ _ _ _ CLINTON: _ _ _ _ _ _ _

10. Six kings of England have been called George, last one being George the Sixth. Name the previous five.

11. Were does rain come from? a. Macy's b. 7-11 c. Canada d. the sky

12. Can you explain Einstein's Theory of relativity? a. yes b. no c. maybe d. I don't know

13. What are coat hangers used for?

14. The Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem for what country?

15. Explain Le Chateliers Principle of Dynamic Equilibrium or spell your name in BLOCK LETTERS.

16. Where is the basement in a three story building located?

17. Advanced math. If you have three apples how many apples do you have?

18. What does NBC (National Broadcasting Corp.) stand for?

19. The DLSU tradition for excellence in education began when (approximately)? a. B.C. b. A.D. c. still waiting

***You must answer three or more questions in order to graduate Magna Cum Laude.***

A Tale of Two Years
POSTED AT 07:33 AM

swim_bud

Why the present tense of TORN is TEAR...
POSTED AT 04:22 AM

swim_bud

"Tita Vicky has gone back to the States."
"Mr. Sun has left Ms. Lim. "
"Lot lost her Dad to goddamn criminals who shot him in his line of duty."

So alright, I won't lay this post on too thick; because all I really want to say is that 'FAREWELLS SUCK!'

To close relatives flying to the US for a better life... good friends moving away to farther places for convenience, and loved-ones unwillingly or purposely torn separately; each goodbye thrusts painful stabs right through the heart.

It just tears me apart. Like milk on my cereal, why the present tense of torn is tear, now makes sense to me.

Sure, pretending makes it more bearable for other people to see us move on so quickly; and sometimes even to us, it might seem to help a bit. In the long run however, memories persist, and it follows us just like shadows lurking in the night.

Thank God for the sun. It only takes waiting, for time to run its own course; and the day is bound to take the darkness away.

Post Script for Roxy:

What happens to Mrs. Sun when Mr. Sun leaves her cold?
--> She becomes a star on her own!



ME and TITA VIX

5s and 7s and Vin Diesel
POSTED AT 03:31 PM

swim_bud

Spoke to my friend Vin Diesel the other night (I'll bet you would've figured it's a code), and told him my thoughts on things without really thinking about it (which is rare because I normally think my lines like ten times over before I deliver). It made me realize afterwards how much of a relief it was (talking sans the editing, and not necessarily with Vin Diesel), because it gave me back the sense of spontaneity I've lost from overexposure to the so-called "supers" (who, like the radioactive meteors that fell on earth from space) attract, but contaminate with their out-of-this-world brand of.. uhm "sophistication".

It started with me blurting out that I was ready to die because I felt like my life's lived; like a level completed in Super Mario (or Ragnarok if you want to be updated about gaming). Seriously pointing out that after completing a stage you just have to move on and wing the next level.

To all this he had only three things to say: (1)That the last time he had thought about ending his life was back when he was 8, and it was only to make his parents feel guilty for something he can't remember anymore, (2)he laughed (and did so in Spanish: dyedyedye); and finally(3)recommended I watch the Thai film The Eye: Infinity with him.

Yep Vin, let's just enjoy life.

My pent-up existentialism hosed down, I resolve to loosen up and not philosophize so much, so help me TAG:

Caz and Raquel, here you go :

Seven things I can do:
1) swim in my trunks boldly (ok, it's redundant)
2) sleep without snoring (if I want to)
3) run the 1500 and finish not half-looking like I was spent (i think they call it endurance)
4) make the right decisions without knowing I have
5) pretend like I've forgotten and forget I was pretending
6) mime getting killed in a swordfight (even if you request it in slow-mo)
7) finish answering this Q&A tag

5 CDs in your player:
1. Mc Donald’s Male Hits
2. Mc Donald’s Love Hits (so, I like my music to go, sue me)
3. Piolo Pascual’s The Gift
4. Absolutely Male Videoke Hits
5. Best Contest Pieces (for humanitarian reasons, I only do it at home)

Seven things that scare me:
1) snakes
2) ghosts
3) hold-up
4) psychos
5) growing old alone
7) losing people i love

5 things I can't do (but tried):
1. tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue
2. clean my room
3. cheer for NU's basketball team
4. wear orange
5. score perfect in a math long exam

Seven things I like the most:
1) clothes
2) trips
3) sports stuff
5) computer gadgets
6) 80s movies and new wave music
7) summer

5 movies I’ve seen recently:
1. Karma
2. War of the Worlds
3. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
4. Mean Girls
5. Disclosure

Seven important things in my room:
1) bed (for obvious reasons)
2) pc
3) full-length mirror
4) cd collection
5) superman pillows
6) College Portfolio
7) blinds (because I have this huge french window in front..)

5 nice things that happened to me lately:
1. Night-out at "overlooking" with Bong, Ford and Tonsy
2. Two-day out-of-town with Tim and Art
3. Was thanked by Dad for the two birthday cakes I bought for his two parties, both of which I attended (see picture below)



4. Had a brother-sister talk with bunso again
5. Got reacquainted with a friend on Friendster

Seven random thoughts on things:
1) Bacteria is persistent. Persistence is not a virtue.
2) Kare-kare can't be good for you everyday.
3) God, I miss Nanay.
4) Fights are started by shouts, egged by chants and ended with groans. So, if you don't want to get hurt, 2 words: Shut up!
5) I have to start working on my obliques. What obliques?
6) YOU have nice feet.
7) Don't live life like it was a video game and go looking for the princess on the next level. Though you're bound to find mushrooms, they don't give you 1up.

5 old friends and 7 new ones I'm passing this to:
1. Elvin
2. Melch
3. Gerry
4. Kathy
5. Jones

1) Slim
2) Keng
3) Reefer
4) David
5) Enrico
6) Lei
7) Ays


Feeling: happy

From Being All PACKED Up...
POSTED AT 06:43 AM

swim_bud

Having just gotten back from out-of-town, I am once again fresh and juicy.

FLASHBACK
Work and work-out has taken its toll, and I was at that point where if I didn't make time for an outing; exhaustion and dejection will surely have the time taking it out on me instead.

BACKPACKERS
Yep, I think timing is not only important in comedy. If you have it (timing, not comedy), it's like things happen through sheer will.

Together with Tim and Art, two of the best outing pals you can ever have (feel-good DVD collection included), I left Manila to chill.

Found the coolest perfect place an hour away:

Gym eqUipmenTS: the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY
POSTED AT 05:28 PM

swim_bud

The good thing about dumbells is that their egos don't swell despite the many times you raise them up.

The baddest thing about the treadmill is that you might think that things are running smoothly until a power interruption puts a stop to it, and you are thrown off-track.

Interestingly, the ugly exercise mat never fails to give comfort when you're down with it and sweating your cares on crunches up to failure.

At the end of the work-out, gym apparatus is just equipment because ultimately, it's YOU who's really makin me stronger.

REALITY less the TV
POSTED AT 11:35 AM

swim_bud

Lately I'd been hooked on reruns and current reality tv and talent shows, the whole string of them: The Amazing Race, Fear Factor, The Apprentice, Survivor, American Idol and Rockstar INXS.

In most cases, I find the participants endearing and the shows worth anticipating because of their legitimate affect. The same reason why I don't like The Last Comic Standing as much.

Meanwhile, I am carried by an affirmative tenacity to move on with topics about reality and talent minus the tv:

This Saturday morning, I woke up not in my own bed, but in a room half-filled with other men. Another normal scene from Call boys Call back SURVIVOR Call Center Edition.

At 1pm, I left the sleeping quarters and went about preparing for the task ahead. Got out of my work clothes from yesterday, took a quick shower in the office bathroom, and changed into my new set of casual work clothes.

Almost felt sorry for me spending the good part of the weekend this way, but it was imagining getting invited by Trump together with colleagues Art and Tim in the boardroom that drove me to get things done while I can swear I heard The APPRENTICE's ma-mone-money-moneh theme in my head.

As there was only one concessionaire serving on weekends at the office pantry and the nearest fastfood being a good kilometer away, even late-afternoon lunch was a task having to eat a plate of dried gabi leaves with rice FEAR FACTOR style . I didn't finish but managed to take in enough not to get eliminated because of starvation.

Three hours later, back in my station and done with the work for today, I am counting the hours before I join friends for a Saturday night-out at Red Box in Greenbelt or Kismet near Metrowalk. I can already hear Ford belt his AMERICAN IDOL selections, and Arnold do his ROCKSTAR: INXS songs. Throats are going to get sore and ears about to bleed. Saturday night here we come. Swim_bud out.


Weekend at Work

Swim Bud becomes Construction Worker
POSTED AT 07:13 PM

swim_bud

"Shitty things happening do not a good week make."

Right again Master Yodel.

It's very difficult to win a race that's started off on the wrong foot; like it's almost impossible to clock well in swimming with weak strokes in the first few meters.

Having said that, I'm always extra-careful with my Mondays. That's why I'm in my good black monochrome adidas pair instead of the plain white reebok; and why I went for the neutrogena bath gel in place of the safeguard white in the shower earlier.

I am feeling swell...

In a good way, not swollen as in infections; more like cool as in iced yelo (variations of ice tubig) on a hot humid construction worker's day - just refreshing.

I will need to accomplish a lot this week: have to put together a major presentation for Ops; and work on the online policy website with QA and Training.

The foreman says the building needs to be finished by the end of the week.

Just thinking about it is making me break into sweat, inspite of the airconditioning.

I'm all psyched to work it, looking forward to play even harder at the end of the week for the blogger's night when I'd be meeting up with hotties Caz, Pam and Bibay. Now, what can be cooler than that?

There's my hard hat, am ready to hammer. Bring it on!