Family Day 2008

Our school held a Family Day once more. This year, more were able to participate because the school and the Student Council made sure to publicize the event while the current term still has sufficient weeks remaining. Uniform color assignments for each year level were posted beforehand.

The event kicked-off with a parade in the morning. As expected, our group has the smallest population because as Seniors, we are so used to the ways of the school hence our excitement towards such events had ceased especially that it meant getting up early on a Saturday morning and walking under the heat of the sun. Just the same, the law-abiding and self-proclaimed model student that I am, I came to school on time. Our colleagues who thought of avoiding the parade by coming late didn’t triumph however since the parade also started a little later than scheduled. We met them on the way and pulled them in the assembly.

We had so much fun while walking chatting about the most hilarious and nonsense things. Why not? We wondered about the purpose of the numbered poles stuck on the ground to label the small trees lining the sidewalks. Somebody suggested that those are markers for “eyeball” (slang for “meet”) so it’ll not be obvious if people plan to check-in in a lodge short-time. Instead of being seen checking-in together, they may just agree to meet in Tree No. 234 for a while so nobody will speculate what naughty business they have afterwards. HaHa :-) And we passed by a bar with a sign that says “[Bar's name] welcome the graduate’s of batch 2008” (emphasis provided) and our comical registrar who was walking with us remarked, “Be forgiving. Whoever composed that is a ‘dysfunctional literate’”

While we were nearing the campus grounds where the parade ended, I initiated a gimmick so that our small group will grab the spotlight: to halt until the Juniors had entered the grounds creating roughly 10 meters break of the line. As planned, the emcees noticed and reacted on the mic – exactly what we need to proceed while cheering loudly.

My whole family came for the event shortly after and they’re so supportive to wear blue which was our team’s color. I’m sure they enjoyed watching the activities that day. I myself joined the marshmallow-eating game where I partnered with a good friend Gracie where she tried to eat 15 big marshmallows stung together while I was wearing it like a necklace. We didn’t win but we sure had fun.

True to its theme “Bigger and Better”, this year’s family day was exactly that way especially that several sponsors had set up booths exhibiting their goods.

Metro hiM

My e-mail sent last December was published in the latest issue of Metro hiM magazine. I find it hard to describe this exactly but I had doubts that it’ll be published considering the many others that write to the editors thus the need not to be cliché but neither should praise be lavish that it would seem superficial however I also had the feeling that my letter will make the cut somehow.

hiM has been my magazine for a couple of years now. It comes out quarterly but in their last issue prior the one where my letter was printed, they mentioned about releasing the mag once every two months thus I ‘m a bit confused counting and expected this issue as early as February. Although my letter was not the top pick for the month (which could have won me a very nice jacket), I still smile on my humble achievement and few square-inches of fame.Metro hiM is published by ABS-CBN Publishing Inc., and just like Metro Society and Metro Weddings, it emerged from Metro magazine. hiM features the lifestyle of the modern male from style, fitness, events, homes and profiles of various noteworthy men who are remarkable in their respective endeavors. Their fashion sections give significant style tips such as how to wear one piece of clothing in 10 ways, how to wear a slim tie, what works for your body type, what to wear if the invitation prescribes a dress code, which suit buttons to fasten and leave out, assembling a designer look on a budget, and many others. I also enjoy reading the various articles about luxurious living, managing finances, experiences and The Buddy page which is an essay about the contributors’ prized possessions like a notebook, a backpack, and a bow tie. And yes, I read the Editor’s, the letters, the contributors’ pages, and the styling, wardrobe, photography, model and location credits in the spreads.

(View the story behind the letter)

Backstage Pass to My Sister’s Prom

My sister is a junior and as expected, she looked forward to her first prom with much enthusiasm most likely more than the senior students did. Of course just like other girls her age, she equates prom night to being beautiful above the more significant meaning of the event. From the first time we talked about it last year, she had been so eager to wear a gown and constantly bugged me to rent one from the local designer from whom I borrowed several impressive formals I used in my own events. I’m acquainted to several designers and models hence I’m quite familiar with how much gowns and formals are priced and I know that renting a stunning gown would cost no less than PHP 2,000. I tried persuading my sister that it would be more practical to purchase an RTW cocktail dress with that amount for obvious reasons but she’s so into the flamboyant princess look hence I casually describe her ambitious. Fast forward mid-January this year, I was still insistent with the idea of a cocktail dress being confident that I have the right to be because I’ll be financing the expense although that was voluntary on my part. Until something fortunate happened…

The Dress

I was invited by my good friend and former mentor in Gen Psych to host a fashion show which served as a Personality Development activity for his students in Public Speaking. A segment of the show was formal wear and since some of the participants are my friends, I was able to borrow right after the event a black Chinese dress with dominant gold embroidery. I’ve learned that it was bought from Singapore hence the care instructions by the owner to hang it inside-out to prevent damage of the tinsel needlework. I also tried borrowing a heavily beaded red gown but since the lady who wore it just borrowed it from somebody else, she’s not able to commit lending it to me.

Although in another occasion I was able to borrow also a set of the Ad Congress usherettes’ uniform in her behalf, it was the Chinese gown that my sister opted to wear.

The Slippers

Having available dress options, we moved to the next item in the list: her slippers. Due to the limited selection of footwear in the stores in our city, we planned to go to SM Pampanga the Saturday before the week of her prom. Eventually our parents changed mind on the last minute to let her go with me so I traveled alone to the mall. It took me an hour before I was able to decide to pick the gold slippers thinking that it would look good with any of the 3 dresses she was still considering to wear then.

When I got home, I asked her to fit it immediately and we had good time laughing as she confidently strutted around the house and upstairs on 3-inch heels.

Accessories

Since the dress wants the spotlight, we kept the accessories simple. I purchased a gold-plated bangle along with the slippers and I asked my sister to get a faux pearl stud earring when she went with our parents to the same mall the following day.

The Big Day

Mom and I went home from work earlier. We had borrowed a curling rod and shopped for additional cosmetics. I was kuya (older brother)-cum-stylist in full support. Roughly 2 hours before she leaves for the prom, we started prepping her but I had to groom her eyebrows when mom was not in the room because she’s sure to protest. I think it’s ok as long as we do not deviate from its natural shape so it’s not overdone. First was ironing her hair straight then pulling the top back. Mom had to help me secure it because my sister’s hair is quite thick and difficult to hold in one grasp. Mom also did the curling but under my supervision as insisted by sister dear because she doesn’t want it curled too tight and high.

Makeup is my forte having learned to apply it on myself when the occasion demands the need for it. However, it’s my first time to do it on a female and female makeup is far different than males’. YouTube was a big help to learn the smoky eye. Mom was against the dark eyeshadow but then again my sister trusts me more as the style authority.

I accompanied her to the Convention Center. No I wasn’t an escort for that is not a custom in most schools here; I just dropped her off the venue. But I didn’t leave immediately to discreetly make a fashion review of the other students as they arrive. It’s undeniable that most of the dresses are expensive but the problem was it seemed that everybody was wearing the same thing in different colors although blue was dominant that night. I saw that bulky bubble skirt ball gowns are the trend now. Also, the once scene-stealer tiaras are now omnipresent thus became boring at all. Well, these things are so beautiful when they’re on display individually but would fashion police would flash its red lights if worn with the wrong shoe or accessories, wrong makeup/hairstyle and worst is flaunted with wrong attitude.

Our Cinderella might have worn something that is thousands cheaper; in fact it was loaned for free. No MAC or Revlon for her and didn’t spend P700 on salon services. No, she’s not prom queen yet she looks worthy for the red carpet and more importantly, she enjoyed the experience as we wished she would.

Macarthur on Drug Addiction

“I came through and I shall return” were the noted words of Gen. Douglas Macarthur that were among the very few things which were retained in the memories of people like me who has selective amnesia especially towards History 101.

Filipino Author Bob Ong made a notable return with his 6^th book, Macarthur. First printed in April 2007, I found it in the local bookstore only a few weeks ago and immediately bought a copy. I’ve never even heard about Ong’s latest book before neither did I anticipate it because if I recall it right, he wrote in Stainless Longanisa, his 5^th book, something similar to having fulfilled his purpose in enlightening the Filipino people about our socio-political situation and even discontinued his website bobongpinoy which derives from his name (or is it the other way around?) but when concatenated translates to “stupid Filipino”. Thus, I construed that Longanisa will be his last work.

Since I’d read a Bob Ong, I’ve always admired his writing style. Foremost, he’s able to tackle significant social issues in an amusing manner. He employs humor from daily life scenes to disguise his criticisms of something or someone as a light but lasting blow hence make readers ponder again on his stories and nod in agreement to his point. Second, Ong’s books are always full of surprises and intriguing not only the text itself, but also its titles and cover designs. His first book, ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!?, derived from the old native alphabet which when read syllabically imply the statement “Aha! I can read now?!?” is written on a chalkboard as cover art while Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang Mga Pilipino? (Why do Filipinos read books upside-down?) has its cover literally upside-down. On the other hand, Stainless Longanisa features different pens on its front when longanisa is a kind of local sausage. Macarthur’s front gives us a silhouette of what seems to be a top view of a toilet.

While ABNKKBSNPLAko?!? tackled issues with our education system, Bakit Baliktad Magbasa on the common forms of our negligence as Filipino citizens, and Alamat ng Gubat (Legend of the Jungle) on greed of power especially in politics, Macarthur gives us the vivid picture of the lives of youth hooked on illegal drugs. More than a stereotype story of chase, police corruption, and effects of drugging, this book is a story of struggle for self-worth, dreams, friendship, family and reformation. Ong’s talking in native tongue reaches to more readers and assures that his message is clearly conveyed to his intended audience. His casual but tactful style creates the impression that he’s just chatting over a cup of coffee and even invited us to the different homes of the characters in the slums and to their pot sessions. Macarthur compares its characters to its slang meaning: stools that cannot be flushed at once hence the lives of these youth are but a waste. More inspiringly however is its implication that some of them are given a chance to return to a loving family abundant of concern and acceptance.

Macarthur is a triumphant return of an epic author too interesting to be flushed down the toilet.

Illiterate in Literature

In six years that I’m in college, I first flunked an exam recently; as in F-L-U-N-K-E-D. Considering that I begged my instructor to let me take the test 2 weeks past than scheduled so I would have time to review because there were a lot of things that needs equal attention, I still failed in Panitikang Filipino (Philippine Literature).

The midterm covered 3 chapters: the pre-revolution against the Spanish colonizers, the American, and the Japanese periods. I focused reviewing on the descriptions of settings thinking that the test shall ask what forms of literature were prominent in a specific time say for instance, poems and plays during the Japanese era although English was restricted. Part 1 of the exam is matching the authors with their pen names and I broke no sweat for the few who just spelled their surnames backwards but the rest are so tough that should they be living and using their aliases today, most would not be able to identify them still despite the absence of threat to sue them for libel and the like. Part two listed the titles of the works which are not so famous to a common citizen and its authors must be provided. Listing at random the names provided in column B of the preceding part is tantamount to suicide; I did it nonetheless. Last is identification where of course we had to provide what’s being asked such as “The Japanese who supervised the publication of Liwayway” and “The first Filipino woman debater who’s eloquent with Spanish”.

I went over the questions blankly until I felt like I would be fossilized as time went by. When I had answered about 12 questions, I was told by my instructor that I already got 8 correctly. After scribbling 10 more answers, she said nothing’s changed. Waahhh! In times like this, 8 is not a lucky number at all. Worse, since this course is my special class because I can’t attend its actual schedule, scores for quizzes and other classroom activities rely in this exam. Fail this, and I fail all.

I’ll bet that if these questions were asked in a game show, nobody shall win the million-worth grand prize in its entire season. Or maybe, eight will.