threaded

Have you ever experienced a day when you intently wait for something to happen—which is supposed to happen—only to realize the happening go nowhere out of sight, gone into oblivion? I just did.

This may be one of the most mundane thing to “wait for something” in this era of extensive logical thinking but what I had just waited a while ago was for my stitch (in my recently operated wisdom tooth, as if it matters, euch) to be removed, only to discover that the thread was not already there. Gone. I am sure it’s there in the bowels of my being.

Argh. I’ve waited for about an hour in the clinic just for my dentist to recommend this in a two-minute talk: “Oh, the thread is gone. And gargle it up with Bactidol at home, okay?”

And so that was it. Now I have doubts on what Lyde had quoted from my very own short story I let him read last week through text messaging:

“Waiting is never a stressful task nor is unproductive, as long as you are
willing to accept the end as it is, good or bad. Waiting is rewarding.”

-Waiting Days and Story Nights

Argh. That silly thread!

_____________________________________________________

chromosomes

Aging is never a disease that cripples one down to his knees.

Last April 3, 2007 four kittens were born, and I had written a post about it, but then on the following day the four became two.

And now, seeing the remaining two springing kittens in our kitchen remind me that no single human being is capable of an instant getaway of getting old, unless you decide of cutting your life short.

As days continue to pass by, I like to call these mammals, now 7 weeks old, simply as “X” and “Y”. The two were having siesta on their favorite soft broom in this picture, literally looking like they were swept away.

I don’t know why I am calling them as such but it seems, as if the fates made me gravitate towards the calling, the letters “X” and “Y” create a deep impression inside me that is truly indelible.

The time we have spent with “X” and “Y” is one special time any machine couldn’t bring back. The two are leaving our dwelling due next month, someone is getting them. But we always know, distance is the twin of progress, change of perspectives is the lifelong companion of aging.

For sure, I will miss "X" and "Y".

I should let them go as I continue to age.

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impact of the world

I just had blood for lunch; my very own blood to be exact.

One will always have a special childhood memory of going to the dentist’s clinic and sit upon the Chair—waiting and gleaming in its sterile wonder. You obviously know how this frightened us out of our senses when we we’re little rascals.

But just this morning, my childish nightmares of meeting the dentist were rushing, vivid and grotesque images, back into my mind. Because what I had just gotten through was no simple root canal extraction but, rather, an Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal.

Sounds groundbreaking? It is.

Posted in the website of My New Smile, my case is this: “[when] there is not enough room for them [teeth] to erupt into the arch normally, they attempt to come in sideways or have other similar difficulties. They then become impacted, that is, impeded from normal eruption.”

If left untreated, “risk factor for problems such as tooth abscess, cyst formation, damage to adjacent teeth, or any life-threatening infections that can swell that could close off your breathing or can spread to your brain” may happen.

To have a clearer picture of how it looks like, I think this picture could help:

As of the moment my whole face felt like they have been banged on a concrete wall for several times, and much more the throbbing pain increases as the anesthesia’s powers are ebbing away.

My dentist mentioned that my third molar (or commonly known as Wisdom Tooth) was undeniably bigger than the usual size, which explained her vast effort in extracting the tooth. Imagine, she even needed help to hold steady my jaw while she pulled, pulled, pulled, and then pulled some more to greater extent.

I thought the pulling never stopped, with the words “Lord, Lord, Lord…” repeatedly chanting in my head and numerous anesthesia shots numbly stinging my mouth. With a rare move, the dentist decided on breaking the tooth for an easier removal—if which she was successful.

The session started from 10:35AM and ended at 12:15PM, which made the other waiting patients silently anxious (but they projected their cheesy smile when I got up from the Chair). Basically, the process almost took us 3 long hours.

And the pain won’t stop in disturbing my preferred lifestyle! Spitting on an ebony white sink, swirls of red streams endlessly appears; you can just envision a cherry and cream candy.

Tonight, stale blood for dinner is the least thing I am looting for. Oh God, heal thy wound in haste.

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do not be offended

Your Vocabulary Score: B

You have a zealous love for the English language, and many find your vocabulary edifying. Don't fret that you didn't get every word right, your vocabulary can be easily ameliorated!

How's Your Vocabulary?

You Have Good Manners 42% of the Time

Your manners are generally pretty good. You know how to behave, but you don't always follow the rules. A little extra effort on your part, and you could be the next Emily Post!

How Are Your Manners?

You Are 64% Abnormal

You are at medium risk for being a psychopath. It is somewhat likely that you have no soul. You are at medium risk for having a borderline personality. It is somewhat likely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at medium risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is somewhat likely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at high risk for having a social phobia. It is very likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at high risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is very likely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

How Abnormal Are You?

Well, all of these are computer-generated so credibility and stand-on-facts will always be considered vague—if not at all slightly true. But if you want to test for yourself those blog questionnaires, go ahead.

And hey, don’t ever try changing your results by taking up the same test but filling up a different response. It’s much more fun knowing something off guard.

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fast approaching

Just as I have thought: Time runs so fast when you are supposedly enjoying what is with you at the moment.

And what else is fast approaching but the 5th installment of the now ultra-commercialized Harry Potter movies (opening worldwide on July 13, 2007), and its dreaded final book six known by now as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

And browsing through a couple of webpages this day, I had stumbled upon a site with the poster of my most-preferred character in the novels, Sirius Black, who will eventually lost his presence in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. To avoid any biases, I’m posting the major poster as well.

For more images, click here.

Another pseudo children’s novel-turned-movie is Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass coming out very later this year--the first of the set trilogy. At the least it is a fresh attempt of changing fantasy movies’ male protagonists for in this book it showcases a little spiteful and deceiving heroine, Lyra Belacqua.

I’m calling it “pseudo” for I have just read the book last month and it just shakes me to find out that it is a confusion (okay, a mixture) of a children’s book and an adulterated read. But given to its numerous praise and critical achievements, maybe that was the charm of it all. Shrugs.

I like it.

For more images, click here.
For its official movie website, click here
and for the novels' website, click here.

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the metal mouth of may

The mouth being one of the most important parts of our body, from verbal communication to food consumption, will never be that effective without its consisting set of teeth. These stubbed little bones, 28 all in an average adult person, will always share value with the mouth the same way the table is with its legs.

Teeth, as far as we’ve known since childhood, are bone structures found in our jaws that bite, chew, scrape, tear, or any possible usage that you may think.

For some a little bit of information, a single tooth in the most basic sense is made up of two parts: the crown and the root.

The crown is the part of the tooth starting from the gumline to its tip. It’s what you always see in a person while smiling, while eating, opening the mouth, and many more.

And the root is the opposite. If the crown is what you visibly see inside your mouth, the roots are the ones beneath those.

In some cases these set of teeth, from the incisors (the four front teeth), the canines (the fangs extremely elongated in horror flicks), to the molars (last three biggies), will misalign upon growing up—just like mine. Let’s not talk about its degree of disorder but let’s just say my dentist, Dr. Susan Yvette Morgia-Navarro, D.M.D., had little reasons to smile upon seeing my pearly whites last May 8, 2007, Tuesday.

On that same day, I finally had my braces. Wow, what joy I felt upon picturing myself flashing, smiling my straight set of teeth to anyone (no, not the horizontal kind of straight but the curving kind if you get what I mean). But my, oh my, the great happiness that came into my mind that time was just suppressed by the great stinging pain I am experiencing today. And still I am going to deal with my two impacted wisdom teeth next week, but that’s yet to be mentioned in a much later post.

According to the HealthyTeeth organization in their website, “Orthodontic treatment (or braces and retainers as they are sometimes called works by exerting a gentle pressure over time to straighten teeth that are growing, or have already grown, out of place.”

Braces have three basic parts:

1) Brackets - brackets that are attached to each tooth

2) Bonding or band - the material that attaches the bracket to the tooth

3) Arch Wire - a thin metal wire that runs from bracket to bracket

“Braces have come a long way from the "train track" look of years ago. Today, many orthodontic patients can get braces that attach to the backs of the teeth, or use transparent brackets.”

And because of this excruciating contraption wired in my teeth, I can neither bite nor chew. Oats and cereals in the grocery stores are trendy for me these days.

Mentioned in the same website, “having straight teeth is important. Teeth that are crooked or out of place (misaligned) affect the way a person chews and talks and how their smile looks. Because they have unnatural spaces, crooked teeth are harder to clean and are more likely to have cavities.”

This is very true.

Two years. Two years! That is the duration I have to patiently endure before witnessing the glory that impends before me.

And there’s just one thing that keeps on horrifying me aside from the fact if this metal-mission would fail: What will become of me this school year as a junior in a college?

Why, I don’t have plans strutting around the acacia-lined campus in a skeleton look!

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bookfest

As if my potency in every so-called skill that is in me has surge away from my knowing, all that I am left with is the strength in, what else but, lazing around.

What I had been trying to do since time immemorial (circa summer 2007) was read, read, and read some more. I’ve read 5 novels by now and still counting. I am not saying that this is not productive, since you get to comprehend and enrich your vocabulary, yet what I am looting for this summer is to move around and around my hometown and this province as whole like never before.

The grave thing is I have no one to spend my time with (aww). Everyone seems to be busy even in this season of re-lax-a-tion and f-u-n. Summer class, extra jobs, and even campaigning—what the...!

So here I am, slumbering with a book for the rest of the day until the blue gives way to indigo-black in covering the skies.

__________________________________________

winner of the 2007 romeo forbes children's storywriting competition

In just a few weeks after its deadline, the results are in.

CANVAS or Center for Arts, New Ventures And Sustainable development, has finally revealed the grand winner of this year’s Romeo Forbes Children’s Storywriting Competition, both in their official blog and website.

This year’s written works that exceeded expectations from the judges are surprisingly few, and actually there are only two chosen authors out of the hundred who submitted (including me!) compared to last year’s eight short stories.

Rex Abraham Rowald Almazar won the competition and beat Raissa Rivera Falgui in a very slight difference. All stories are inspired by a single untitled oil on canvas artwork painted by John Santos III.

To read the stories, click the title of the work:

Si Lupito at ang Baryo Sirkero by Rowald Almazar

How Juan Tamad Learned to Work by Raissa Falgui

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call for submissions: philippine speculative fiction vol. 3

Dean Francis Alfar is now accepting submissions of short fiction pieces for consideration for the anthology "Philippine Speculative Fiction volume 3".

Speculative fiction, as defined by the editor himself on volume two’s introduction, is an umbrella term that covers types of stories which spans the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror and magic realism, and those difficult to categorize such as slipstream and interstitial texts.

1. Only works of speculative fiction will be considered for publication. As works of the imagination, the theme is open and free.

2. Stories must cater to an adult sensibility. However, if you have a Young Adult story that is particularly well-written, send it in.

3. Stories must be written in English.

4. Stories must be authored by Filipinos or those of Philippine ancestry.

5. Preference will be given to original unpublished stories, but previously published stories will also be considered. In the case of previously published material, kindly include the title of the publishing entity and the publication date. Kindly state also in your cover letter that you have the permission, if necessary, from the original publishing entity to republish your work.

6. First time authors are welcome to submit. In the first two volumes, there was a good mix of established and new authors. Good stories trump literary credentials anytime.

7. No multiple submissions. Each author may submit only one story for consideration.

8. Each story’s word count must be no fewer than 2,500 words and no more than 5,000 words.

9. All submissions must be in Rich Text Format (.rtf – save the document as .rft on your word processor) and attached to an email to this address: dean@kestrelimc.com. Submissions received in any other format will be deleted, unread.

10. The subject of your email must read: PSF3 Submission: (title) (word count); where (title) is replaced by the title of your short story, without the parentheses, and (word count) is the word count of your story, without the parentheses. For example - PSF 3 Submission: How My Uncle Brought Home A Diwata 4500.

11. All submissions must be accompanied by a cover letter that includes your name, brief bio, contact information, previous publications (if any).

12. Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2007. After that date, final choices will be made and letters of acceptance or regret sent out via email.

13. Target publishing date is December 2007/January 2008.

14. Compensation for selected stories will be 2 contributor’s copies of the published anthology as well as a share in aggregrate royalties.

Help spread the word as what I have done here. Feel free to cut and paste this on your blogs or e-groups.

Thank you!

_______________________________________________________

end of the plight

The concept struck me hard, and then what followed was a series of dumb inspirations which later on leaked on various outputs that filled my distressing summer stay here in humid Tagbilaran.

If you still can’t get what I supposed to mean here, I think this acrylic on canvas painting I made last April 30 (a product of one of those dumb inspirations) will get my insane thought into your nutshells a bit.

I entitled this infantile work of art as The Young and for the Love of Fishing.

So basically, this is still about the “fisherman” mini-series drama that I had accidentally created and revolted with some guy. Mini-series because it didn’t last that long; for if it could have stretched to months I would say it is a full-length movie feature.

I hope this will be the end of fishing stories for me.

______________________________________________________

i am a fisherman

"Give the man a fish and he will live for a day,

but teach the man how to fish and he will live for a lifetime."

In all walks of this extraordinary randomly spiced existence, a lot will definitely agree that in this particular point of the year when everyone goes splashing in the waters even without the need of dorsal fins, goes publicly flaunting with “friends” for the populace to see what was saved on the previous months of academic and anabolic spending, or goes incessantly attempting of making a full day out of the night, I am living on a perpetual summer stagnation.

Though there are some interesting inserts that took place such as the 67th College Editors Guild of the Philippines Press Convention, some simple once-in-a-year celebrations, and the various shots of submitting written works to competitions and publishing opportunities, these could just sum up to a measly ball of crumpled paper, compared to the gloom as huge as a hot air balloon. Aside from this account that I have done less instead of doing more the pesky idea of doubt of capability creeps over me, takes precedence on me.

And there it goes: the last line of that paragraph just gives the hint of what’s more to come in this sad and humdrum account. Consider that as a normal everyday hurdle of acknowledging mistakes and failures but the trouble with me is that I make it a great deal. Pardon for the word but… shit! No matter how I suppress such trait from all people, it will eventually come out as a sugar-coated, self-pitying, needy-for-compliment ramble of thoughts.

Of all these years when I have thought the word bullfrog is the most faultless uncanny identity I (together with the help of my Grade 4 classmate) had mustered and proclaimed to myself 9 years ago, I just recently found out that I am one discreet fisherman, or so somebody thought.

You know what a fisherman does? Of course he fishes; with a net, hooks, baits, and all, or if you want something primitive, with a spear or even with bare hands. I do not recognize yet which kind of utilization I got my interest on, but one thing’s for sure; I am one unique kind of fisherman. If statistics shows the ratio: I am one of the 2 out of 10 fishermen who fishes for the different thing, not going for those slippery scaly swimmers under the sea.

I fish for compliment.*

Admiration, apology, countless congratulations, honor, nobility, pity, praise, reputation, respect, sorry, title—these are some of the many precious catch my fishing aptitude rewards me whenever the need requires me to handle.

How do I do this fishing spree, if you may ask? Let us set this in a systematic way:


1) Create a topic to discuss with. Tip: Much better if the discussion involves only two people.
2) Continue talking—come what may—until a melodramatic turn of events occurs.
3) Anchor all concentration on that gravest repertoire of stories in your life.
4) Stop talking when the other person is about to speak.
5) If the person talks, listen intently.
6) Sob more, if tears are necessary.
7) If not, be very very sad. Exhume it all through dismal expressions.
8) Allow a minute of silence.
9) Let the other person talk first for in this part comes the moment of your achievement as a fisherman.
10) Accept what the person have said that should uplift your spirits. And congratulations, you have just a caught a big tuna! Salmons can be good too.


That’s it! It’s that easy. If you want to learn more in this Art of Fishing Compliments, call you local operator, connect to the most prestigious university in town, and demand to have this learning as soon as possible—if it’s available.

Truthfully, it’s not actually good to fish like this at all time. For me, I consider the practice as mundanely stupid and trash-worthy. It never, ever, came into my mind of the slightest touch, that I am a fisherman of such kind. It unmistakably pains to hear, from the most unexpected source who you just knew lately, that I am like one.

Candidly saying that the source has no right of divulging such statements, well, it is also like I have been denying, all the time, what I actually haven’t noticed. I believe that other people outside the comfort zone of your tightly-knit philosophy that their words might spell right. The more it would be very logical if you are compared to someone who got the unanimous reputation of skill on that field.

For it could be, deep within the dark recesses of myself, I am a fisherman at spirit, mind, and deed. Though the looks may deceive, I could be one.

And I beg anyone who successfully comes into this part (of which I shall commend you); I don’t need your compliments this time.

Pardon me.


Hook.

Line.

Sinker.

[plop]

_______________________________________________________

updates

- Tagbilaran City, Bohol experienced a heavy downpour a while ago, this morning.

- Father finally knew what my course is, after doggedly thinking I majored in journalism.

- I am Fisherman, not a Bullfrog, but still judging on its validity.

- Did a large-scale triptych for my sister’s living room.

- Courageously submitted works of fiction and poetry for Luksong Tinik: the Philippine Collegian Literary Folio 2007.

- Everyday unlimited internet connection: zilch.

- Due to some unexpected state of affairs, I finished reading Ben Singkol by F. Sionil Jose just last Tuesday.

- Five years of waiting and at last I procured Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass novel.

- Got pissed a bit for having not seen the latest extended movie trailer of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. YouTube’s got to have it.

______________________________________________________

embracing the numbers game

Happy birthday to you..

happy birthday, happy birthday...

Happy birthday to you!

Today is April 21, 2007; the date of someone’s birthday I just eventually knew a while ago who have aged twenty-three years old by now. Honestly, I have never expected that person to be that, uhum, old.

This person was a bit worried for he still haven’t done anything exceptional (of which I don’t believe in), his plans of “doing this, that and all those bullshit” has not yet attained possibility, and most especially this irksome reality that he remains to be a student up to now. His frustrations can be considered absurd—but not totally.

As humans capable of feelings and logical thinking, falling into that situation is normal. We people are never content. I myself just turned a notch higher just last March, and I did blame the fast-moving numbers chasing after me—you know I want to do more things!

Frustrations will always be there but I explained that it is really not the whole thing. As if the momentous event of celebration had already gotten into him, he said that I (sensibly referring to the younger ones) should respect the elders. Talk about elders! So rebounded his statement; “the younger ones know some words the elders cannot spell!”

Well here’s a little fact about age: they are nothing but numbers. They are numbers that accompany us all throughout our lives; they can even live longer than we do. Our flesh may deteriorate but the count does not stop, for as long as someone remembers, could it be from a tad clichéd yellowing picture, age is still there.

It is a good thing this person acknowledged his stunted maturity after a series of light arguments. He humbly mentioned: “Rough seas make a good sailor.” And I added this to his familiar quote: “who in a matter of minutes will be drenched in coldwater.”

To momentarily escape from his agony, he forfeited any more debates then dozed off, and I went on to recount what we had just discussed and faced a mirror.

“Ow, what are those lines near me eyes? My, wrinkles…” I said to myself.

[ discussion was done through short messaging service ]

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instant artistry?

Last night, nearing twelve o’clock, I was busily typing away on my computer, with adrenaline rushing to my fingertips, and I there was one more click—really, one, this is not for dramatic purposes—to complete a task when darkness embraced me and the whole room where I was seated.

Nagbrownout, bullfrogs!

To suffice my anger, I decided to have a late-night snack when I saw my mum lighting up a lamp, a kerosene lamp to be exact, and lit its cotton wick then left it on the table where I was munching on my sandwich with a mug of hot chocolate at hand.

Staring blankly on the only bright and lighted thing in the kitchen, the lamp, Jose Rizal’s moth story or any of the historical brouhaha that are involved with lamps didn’t gave me nostalgia, but this instead this morning in my phone:

I am really astounded with myself. Can you imagine, I did this even on the midst of ethereal obscurity and darkness? Narcissism could really do wonders.

___________________________________________

call for submissions for luksong tinik: the 2007 philippine collegian anthology

The Philippine Collegian is accepting submissions for its upcoming anthology to be released this May. Submissions may be in the form of fiction, poetry and essay for print; and short films, flash animation, games, and other digital art for the DVD. Send your entries to kulefolio0607@gmail.com (kuh-le-fol-yoh-0607-at-gi-mayl-dot-com) in the following file formats:

Fiction/poetry/essay: RTF (rich text format)Short film: in DVD format or AVIFlash: SWF or EXENon-Flash: EXE

CDs/DVDs may also be brought to the Philippine Collegian office, Room 401 Vinzons Hall. Submissions are accepted until April 20.

April 20 is little bit, uhm, soon (and actually it's tomorrow!), and as far as I've known the editorial staff still have only a handful of contributions, so I guess they will move the deadline to a later date. But as of now, though, I still haven't heard anything from the editors. But just keep sending in your entries! (Just please make sure you follow the correct file formats.)

Vic and Karl, thanks for the information provided.

_____________________________________________________

2007 dumaguete writers workshop fellows

Hitting the last minute has always been my flair in my college years. And this happened too in this year’s Dumaguete Writer’s Workshop; submitting my entries for a possible slot in a fellowship for poetry. Unfortunately, all those bustling efforts didn’t bear fruit. I didn’t made it. Well anyway, I’ve heard that the great poet Marjorie Evasco tried three times the effort before she finally got into this prestigious workshop.

All I can do right now is smile in a corner and applaud to my fellow LitCritters—Michelle Eve de Guzman and Robert Jed Malayang—who made it. Currently they can be tagged as “fellows!”

Congratulations also to the other Sillimanians who passed the strenuous and critical study from the applications committee. Pong, Justin, and Primy, good luck!

FELLOWS FOR POETRY

Krisette Sia-Valderia (De la Salle)

Kristian Abe Dalao (De la Salle)

Pancho Villanueva (UP Diliman)

Jennelyn Tabora (De la Salle)

Sharleen Banzon (UP Diliman)

Cecille La Verne de la Cruz (UP Diliman)

FELLOWS FOR FICTION

Sasha Martinez (Ateneo de Manila)

Catherine Alpay (Ateneo de Manila)

Robert Jed Malayang (Silliman)

Michelle Eve de Guzman (Silliman)

Janina Marie Rivera (De la Salle)

FELLOWS FOR CREATIVE NON-FICTION

Primy Joy Cane (Silliman)

Justine Megan Yu (Silliman)

Martin Villanueva (Ateneo de Manila)

Jan Paulo Bastareche (Silliman)

Mia Tijam (UP Diliman)

I may as well apply for some auditing purposes. I'm in stagnant mode these days; I want to do something.

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2007 gawad ernesto rodriguez jr.

To recognize excellence in campus journalism and literary outputs, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) commemorates the Gawad Ernesto Rodriquez, Jr. awards at Silliman University, Dumaguete City last April 15 2007.

Named after the journalist who founded CEGP and started it all in the University of the Philippines through the Philippine Collegian, this award-giving body serves as the mark for any student publications’ maturity. Here are this year’s winners in their respective fields.

BROADSHEET

1st – Heraldo Filipino, De La Salle University Dasmariñas
2nd – White and Blue, Saint Louis University
3rd – La Rock, San Pedro College


MAGAZINE

1st – The Medium, Lorma Colleges & Matanglawin, Ateneo de Manila
2nd – The Crusader, Xavier University
3rd – La Salleno, De La Salle University Dasmariñas


LITERARY FOLIO

1st – Aklas, Philippine Normal University
2nd – Veritas, Xavier University
3rd – Yano, Southeastern State University

ALTERNATIVE FORM
1st – Rebel Kulé, UP Dilliman
2nd – Ang Sulo, Philippine Normal University
3rd – Magningas. Magtaya. Mangmulat., Ateneo de Manila


TABLOID

1st – Philippine Collegian, UP Dilliman
2nd – The Catalyst, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

3rd – EARIST Technozette, Eulogio ‘Amang’ Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology

67th college editors guild of the philippines press convention

Sumulong. Sumulat. Manindigan. Magmulat.

This year's 67th National Press Convention of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) cry was indeed hard-hitting, if not bravely mooting some of the nation's standing dirty actualities. "To write is already to choose," this is thier undying motto.

With Jose Cosido, Heidi Sarno, Rowell Madula, Gerg Anrol Cahiles, Karen Baral, Annaliza Tolentino, Vijae Alquisola, Trina Federis, Allan Billiones, Ronoriendo Roxas, Yshmael Cabaña, Laurence Robledo, Mara Manalang, and Darren Mangado who composed the Organizing committee and together with Rachel May Palang, Kimberly Gari, Michelle Eve de Guzman, Ma. Fe Jayme, and Sarah Alvarez as the Hosting committee -- these people successfully pulled the event into one piece.

Held at Silliman University, Dumaguete City with the Weekly Sillimanian as the host, being one of the 105 delegates from student campus publications all over the country, the practice I have encountered and studied was worth the profuse sweating during my almost one-week stay.

The whole 5 day deliberation of various important matters, which started last April 13 and closed at April 17, was basically divided into 6 parts: first with the 1) Batayan, Intermedya at Abanteng Pagsasanay at Palihan sa Pamamahayag, also with 5 classroom discussions to tackle with in each day as a delegate; 2) 8th Gawad Ernesto Rodriguez, Jr.; 3) Diskusyong Sosyo-Politikal, of which words from different Highly-regarded national personalities is still ringing in my mind; 4) Palihan sa Sining at Literatura discussed by various Palanca awardees; 5) acknowledging this year’s Gawad Marcelo H. del Pilar; 6) and the 4th Gawad Beng Hernandez.

Michelle Eve de Guzman (editor-in-chief), Anthony Gerard Odtohan (news editor), and Jan Alistair Villegas (columnist), and I represented as the Weekly Sillimanian delegates. While some of last school year’s staffers—namely John Boaz Lee, Kimberly Daphne Gari, Rochelle Bacay, Aiken Quipot, Springzeal Pherps Baccaro, Donna Bernardo, and Janseven Quijote—acted out as one of the CEGP secretariats. It was frustrating though that some didn’t exert enough effort as what was expected from them.

Acquaintances were made and having heard both sides of the coin that dealt with campus press freedom and its innate relations, I and the rest of my company now have in mind what is best for next school year’s the Weekly Sillimanian. And I personally feel that change is direly in need for our paper.

inspecting once more on what was previously left

Finally, the power of blogging is now back in my hands!
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prose as art

“I have never bothered before with definitions of feelings—the gross animal that I am, my motives were circumscribed by the most basic appetites but at twenty-one, having felt this unexplainable hankering, it could be no other but love, pure and all encompassing, sensual yes, but not tainted by lust. That word was alien to me and, perhaps, would always be.”

- Benjamin


“The worst enemies of the poor are the poor themselves. And never, never appear as if you are virtuous and without sin. It is the virtuous who have many enemies for they shame the many who are without virtue.”

- Francisco



With Francisco Sionil Jose's beautiful yet powerful prose, enamoring the book “Ben Singkol” will never be a fault. Though I am not yet in the near-half of the novel, it got me into straight reading even with those social and historical morsels. This specific work is artistically crafted yet it doesn't compromise the general reader. Emotions are well encapsulated that enable all kinds of readers to easily take its depth and core; effortless but never shallow.

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