Hell Week

Exams week here at the Academy. I have lots of exams, and no time to study. There's this subject about Japan Constitution and the professor is very famous for being "happy" of his image as a "terror" teacher who laughs when he sees failing marks. Hell, I don't even know a thing about the Philippine Constitution and they are asking me to know all those things!?! Well, as I always say... "Life Sucks."

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I have a new harmonica!!! It was given to my by three of my underclassmen as a gift for "teaching them" things when they were still first years. I'm so touched.... they asked me some time ago kung anong current interest ko. Eh, I was holding a small harmonica at that time. They gave me a veery big one! Super cool!

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In a month, I will be a fourth year cadet... which means I'll become a God here (ehehehe). My underclassmen will do favors for me and stuff "Gods" enjoy. But take note, it also comes with a very heavy load... Responsibility.


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I want to sleep. I want to rest. I want to climb. I want to dive. I want to love. I can't.

DODOMPA

This is the Guiness Book of World Records holder of the fastest roller coaster in the world. It's located at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan.
Maximum speed 172 km/hr (in 5 sec)
Course length 1189 meters
Ride time 60 sec
Maximum acceleration 4.25 G
Tallest point 52 meters
Maximum drop angle 90 degrees

I want to go home

Hearing the news last Valentines Day really made me want to go home... and do my job. I don't know how, and I don't know when. But one day, I'm gonna put an end to all of these "stuff". Just give me a good opening...and I'll shoot.

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A friend of mine from the Red Cross told me that she was about 5 meters away from the explosion site. All the people were running after the explosion and she also found herself running with them.

I imagine myself on that situation. As a person having some training in first aid, would I try to help out, or as the others did, run? I wouldn't know.

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People have been asking me, "Is your family okay after the explosions?". These Japanese watched about it in the news, and read about it in the dailies. This made me think.... are they "really" okay there? As I have been always telling these Japs, the Philippines is a safe place and the "resistance" you've been hearing is an isolated case. Convincing them to go travel with me to the Philippines will not be that easy after this. Oh well...

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Is everyone okay?

Valentines' Mode

Ready to take the fall, I jumped
The weight of the world I felt on my shoulders
I can’t bear the pain in my heart
When all you said was “thank you”

But being the fool I was before
I can’t explain why I did such a thing but

Let thy be my reminder all my life
To trust love the moment it strikes
And never on this lifetime be in love again
To anyone other than the name within
My mind, my heart, and my soul.

Meeting Pong Pagong

I intended to publish this blog originally to share some underwater pictures when I dived the seas of Okinawa. I had a picture of me taken with a sea turtle at that time and I made "Meeting Pong Pagong" as the title to this blog.

While searching for some pictures of the "original" Pong Pagong, I found out some things I didn't know about my childhood companion.

As I discovered the reality about Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing, I was a little bit disheartened... that my childhood idols were originally from Sesame Street (which I also watched as a kid) and was just borrowed to appear in Batibot. They were a key reason why Batibot was made in the first place. It came to a point that Indonesia wanted to have their local version of Batibot and this disappointed Sesame Street. It complicated and eventually, Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing were returned to their owners...

I watched Batibot earnestly when I was a kid. I knew all the songs and the characters by heart and they were my idols. Batibot taught me a lot of things and when I think of it today, it really affected who I am right now.

Salamat sa inyo, Pong at Kiko.

***I'll share with you anyway the dive pictures***

Aikido

Aikido

I started Aikido last April 2002 and I have been doing it since then. I suggest you try it... it's a good sport.

Good, Old Angelicum Days

"Angelicum, Angelicum, Immortal Name Resounding, Proclaim We Now With Mingled Awe......" the song goes on. To us graduates (some didn't), this song we will not forget. Angelicum... a lot of memories.

I remember having "convicted" as one of the boys who made the "bottled smokey mountain" inside the cabinet at the back of the class room (done this with Rene Boy...), strumming some guitar during recess and lunch, and losing a LOT of lunch boxes. I remember also cutting some classes when I don't feel like attending class, coming late for the moderatorship time even though my house is only about 15 minutes away, and lending and borrowing some notes (or test papers..eheheh). I remember playing Cops-n-Robbers and "tatsing bol" (a game similar to dodge ball) with a knotted handkerchief as a ball, and while doing that, tearing my school pants wide open in between. I also experienced shitting in my pants (that's why they called me "Salbaho"). I remember always aiming for the "second-trip" of the school bus just to hang out with my friends, but always fail. A lot of memories.

I had lots of firsts during those days. My first love and heartbreak, my first achievement and failure, and a whole lot more. It makes me want to go back in time just trying to remember those.

Haay... naku.

"...Glorious Name Forever."

some pics here