Singapura

Been so long since I posted photos. Here are some of my shots taken in Singapore during our 'field trip' there.

Marina Bay from afar. Semi-filtered by the glass of the bus I was in.

Boat by the Bay.

'Trees' in the Gardens by the Bay.

My skills are quite rusting. Must get down to this photog business again soon. Haha!

Confusion at its Finest

How can you sort things

When you are not even sure of yourself?

When what you like and you don’t

When what you want and you hate

Is not even clear to you?

How can pain exists

When you tried so hard to guard yourself?

When you have built a barricade

When you have covered yourself

So hurt won’t pain the slightest of you?

How can things be so unclear

When they are as simple as can be?

When the things that are easy to understand

When the things that are easily afront

Are hard for you to take?

How can one’s heart be discerned

When one’s heart is unsure?

When a heart has been covered, barricaded

When it has been hurt and has grown weary

Is it even possible to call it a heart?

Not the Usual Kind of Thing

Last Tuesday, we were required to submit a 'reflection paper' on the movie 500 Days of Summer. Our professor is, however, open to creative expression, so she was alright if we did a not-so-formal reflection paper. Heck, we could even draw if we wanted to. I was thinking of doing an essay - yeah, the usual thing - when the thought of writing a poem suddenly struck me the day before the submission. And so I did a poem on the dawn of Tuesday. I hope it turns out well in the eyes of my professor. 

Here it is. Don't judge me, okay? :D

When the Man Falls in Love

I once thought that only women can fall in love

That the heart that skips and melts

At the sight of the man

Is a feeling only a woman can have;

But when the man falls in love

His heart also skips and melts

Beating as if leaving his body

And his world stops.

I once thought that only women can get hurt

That the tears and the pain

And the sorrow of love

Are unfelt by men;

But when the man falls in love

His heart is as vulnerable as the woman

That even the slightest, single attempt

To break his heart

Can turn it into a thousand pieces.

I once thought that only women are unforgetful

That the memory of her love

Can be brought back

At the sight of a once shared abode;

But when the man falls in love

Drowning himself in liquor

Vodka, beer, whisky… whatever it is

Could not even erase her memory.

I once thought that only women can love

That only women can get hurt

That only women can get so reminiscing;

But the man

Because the woman is born from the man

They are tied together

That when the woman loves, hurts and remembers

The man also does

Because he, to, is a creature of love.

Love and Hate

I have this love and hate relationship... with my studies.

I love it, and I miss it when I don't do it ('study'), but when it's there, flashing its stressful and not-so-inviting nature, I'd need a lot of motivation from myself to keep on pushing and find a way to pass through those rainy days.

Gah, why can something you love be so loathing at the same time?

You Can't Spell WELL Without EL

I cannot deny that my first days in De La Salle was a hurting experience.

(Tres Marias; From left: Elladen Punzalan, Jamille Pajarillo, Me)

(Crammer's United; From left: Me, Faye R., Kenneth P., Kenji L., Ryan R., Meg G., Bien C., Denise S.)

Most of my high school friends and classmates chose the academe of UP Manila and Diliman. I was left alone in De La Salle, left alone in the confines of the towering buildings, left alone with no idea who to know and what to do. As I entered the gates of my beloved Alma Mater, I was full of apprehension not because I was afraid of the discovering the unknown, but because I knew that if I just went to UP, then I would still be with my dear friends. The thought of not being with them ate my morale, and it made me melancholic.

Weeks before the first day of classes, we were feasting chats about our orientation days (DLSU, UP and ADMU). We were all boasting each of our future college's welcoming. I was so proud of LPEP2k10 - its activities and food and all, but the back of my head still says that it would've been a lot of fun if I were with my friends, crying shouts for Peyups. Suddenly, I had a paradigm shift after getting close with my blockmates.

Being the shy creature that I am, seldom do I initiate conversations with other people. However, I felt the need to open up because I wouldn't survive life if I constantly shielded myself from civilization. Fortunately, my high school unconsciously taught me street smarts and made the effort to give me some confidence, so I mustered the courage I had and started talking. I offered a beaming smile whenever I shared a word or two to my then new-found friends (and I can say that the smiles I offered were genuine).


My first term stay in De La Salle was made bearable because of the family I now have. I am very fortunate for destiny seemed to have written my life story almost perfectly, I was able to meet some great people. In my block I saw not only friends, but artists, writers, comedienne, singers, dancers and dreamers - people who, like me, are bound to the great future unknown to all. With my beloved block (EL/E82 - ECE) did I share laughs and aches, joys and pains.

It would be a great pleasure to list the great memories I have with my blockmates, but I know that a hundred, or even a thousand words won't do it justice. Like a photographer, I believe that to capture moments in still frames is one of the best ways (if not the best) to preserve such great happenings. However, I cannot help but share with you some of the momentous events I had with my block.

(1) Grapone.
They say that love hurts, but I say that Grapone hurts even more. I am one with the sentiments of my blockmates whenever it comes to Grapone.

(2) Engtrig.
All I can say is that the shifting of teachers we had was one of the life-saving actions DLSU did for majority of our block.

(3) Engalg.
My head ached after having a 1-day straight Algebra discussion with my blockmates, but it was fun. Way too fun. If I could just have a steadier mind and a healthier body or two, I would not more so share the things I know to my blockmates.

And this list would go on and on.

9 Girls.
34 Boys.
14 Weeks.
9 Subjects.
One block.
EL.

Perhaps I am just one frosh full of sentiments of the soul, but this testament of mine is all I can offer to my dearest blockmates who have done a great deal in honing me. I know it has been a mutual relationship among us, sharing what we can to each other.

I also know that someday, this will end, but I also know that these memories will forever remain. So why dwell with the impermanent when one can always linger with thoughts of forever?


Maraming maraming salamat, mga kaibigan!
Kamsahamnida, chingu!