Ateneo Blues

Well, this is just a simple test for Ateneans of all seasons. At one point or another, we all have experienced these school blues that make us all proud to say, "Win or lose, it's the school we choose!" Makes me reminisce my good old college years.  Thanks Ros, I copied the questions from your blog:

Freshmen Year
[x] got brainwashed in orsem
[x] had at least one gay fil or english teacher
[ ] you really know that you're in college when you begin reading gay lit
[x] went to NSTP with 4 or so hours of sleep.
[ ] went to the Big Blue Eagle Cheer Rally, and realized that it sucked.

Score: 3/5

[ ] panicked when you forgot to get your exam permit
[x] never told your parents about the lab breakage
[x] joined at least 3 or more orgs, because they all sounded pretty.
[ ] joined at least one business org, since you wanted to go partying.
[ ] never knew the difference of each SOA org

Score: 5/10

[x] panicked that you got low grades in your freshman advisory.
[x] thinks that AMS is there just to give you sample exams.
[x] went to different restaurants along katipunan on a daily basis.
[x] tried to get in ADS and CADS, only to get yourself humiliated.
[x] thinks that Celadon is only for Chinese people.

Score: 10/15

[x] voted for this guy coz the friend of your friend's friend says he's good.
[x] never really knew what the difference was with Partido Agila and that other sanggu party.
[ ] thinks that Mr. Abstain is a very influential person in campus.
[x ] Realized that your research topic in english sucks.
[x] Discovered that your blockmate smokes under stress.

Score: 14/20

Summer
[ ] realized that your random number could go to as high as 2000.
[x] blamed everyone for the crap that is reg.
[ ] attempted to take a class with airconditioning.
[x] took two long tests in a week, in just one subject.
[ ] regretted summer just because you wanted to take subjects in advance.

Score: 16/25

Sophomore Year
[ ] Knows who Jimenez is and vowed to do anything in your powers to avoid him..
[ ] … But you failed to do so.
[ ] Tried to get either Tirol or Lozada for history.
[ ] you didn't take the Guidance Test seriously.
[x] Have considered shifting.

Score: 17/30

[x] Already has a favorite spot in the Lib.
[x] Knows the best place to get a xerox copy.
[ ] Knows the best place to take a dump.
[ ] Realized that many Povedans don't know how to speak Spanish. (same goes with Chinese schools)
[ ] you (or your friends) don't smoke in Sec anymore.

Score: 19/35

Junior Year
[ ] Took Fr. Dacanay
[ ] Spent the whole day studying for an oral exam, yet you forgot most of it in the end.
[ ] Still has no idea what Meron is exactly.
[ ] Began writing long rants in your blog.
[ ] Got screamed at by Fr. Dacanay for whispering in his class.

Score: 19/40

[x] You meet new friends in your favorite pocket garden/ tambayan
[ ] Never went to Manang's ever since.
[x] You realize that the book you just borrowed had nothing to do with your research paper.
[ ] Didn't care to vote anymore.
[x] Despite the calamities elsewhere, you still wish that the school will cancel classes.

Score: 22/45

Senior Year
[x] Resisted going to a Call Center
[x] You end up thinking of the lamest idea for your Creative Pic
[x] Found out that there's actually a hell month.
[ ] Didn't care what your grade is so long as it meets the 2.0 QPI requirement.
[x] Felt like killing yourself after 2nd sem is over.

Score: 26/50

Bonus (1 pt each):
[x] Was/is a dormer
[x] Your flashdrive got STD thanks to a visit to any comp lab
[x] Stalked someone in Friendster or Multiply.
[x] Thinks that Wikipedia can be used as an online source.
[x] Got addicted to Dota, or any other online game.
[ ] You didn't notice that there are other sports in the UAAP besides Men's Basketball.

Your Grade: 31, Well at least I suck in a nice way. Haha!

46-50 (A) : You're Hardcore!
43-45 (B+) : Pretty hardcore.
39-42 (B) : Not bad!
35-38 (C+) : The typical Atenean! yay!
30-34 (C) : You suck in a nice way! *hugs*
25-29 (D) : You buy A-Shop merchandize so that people won't notice!
Below 25 (F): You're from Lasalle! why the fuck are you taking this survey?

An Inspiration from Mr. Chris Gardner

I just finished watching Pursuit of Happyness.  It features the struggles and success of Mr. Christopher Gardner who now owns a big stock brokerage company.  I'm sharing below a synopsis of the movie from his own website:

In The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a family man struggling to make ends meet. Despite his valiant attempts to help keep the family afloat, the mother (Thandie Newton) of his five-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) is buckling under the constant strain of financial pressure. No longer able to cope, she reluctantly decides to leave.

Despite his troubles, Chris continues to honor his commitment as a loving and caring father, using the affection and trust his son has placed in him as an impetus to overcome the obstacles he faces.

While watching the movie, I can't help but reflect his life on mine. I am not exactly homeless and I do not have a son but I am financially challenged.  I absolutely earn my own money, live on my own, and help sustain the needs of my family while working in one of the most esteemed company that is pursued by many. And like Mr. Gardner, I also wanted to be a good father and a philanthropist someday. He once said to his son, "Don't let anything or anyone stop you from achieving your dream. Protect it and make it possible."

As I go on with life,  I am looking and pursuing my own state of happiness.  I'm having this movie as my inspiration.

My New Phone (Again)

I finally got a new phone last Sunday and if you're asking me why, my answer is the usual reason -  I lost my old phone.

Yes, I lost a phone again and I know it has been happening every year. The one I lost was a Nokia 3530 which I also bought for a pretty similar reason - it got lost while riding a public transportation last Friday.  My records in the dorm show that my number changes every year since freshman. You might probably know by now that I only buy low-end phones since I might be losing it in a year's time.  Perhaps it's a curse, oh well, I must have accepted it by now. The one I lost last Friday was already a year old and so I just believe time is up for him already. Funny!

Here now is my new phone: Alcatel OT-C 825.  It was recently featured in FHM having the functionality of a media player and a style of a high-end business phone. What actually amazes me is its direct USB connection which means that I can directly transfer and store files, capture photos or music or videos, and even view people online by making it a portable webcam.

Trivia: it's my first time to have a phone with a camera and a music player in it so I might be able to enjoy it for now. I was actually looking for a phone with a built-in FM radio but unfortunately this new buddy doesn't have it. Reviews say it's one of the best phones for this quarter and so far, I receive positive feedback from the people about the way it looks. Seems like I made a good decision then. This is so far the most valuable asset I bought since I came in to work. So that curse? It must be no more!

Oh by the way, you can now reach me at 0921-9692020. Yes, I already changed to Smart. The people closest to me are subscribed to Smart, so fine, now's the right time to change networks. Goodbye Globe and goodbye to that good old blue ribbon that's now changed into bursting bubbles which I don't like at all.

Teambuilding in Canyonwoods

Last Thursday and Friday, the whole FSS (Financial Solutions and Services) Group went to Canyonwoods Residences in Tagaytay for its annual teambuilding activity. It's my first teambuilding in P&G and I had a good time. It was engrande and I know that there will be a lot more to come. Meaning, I should work more diligently then because I realized the company is ready to give you whatever you need if you prove you're deserving enough to have them.

Must Do a Life Plan

Yes, I need to do my life plan now. I just realized that I should carefully plan my direction especially that a lot of things have been happening to me lately - to my family, to my work, to my love life, to everything! I needed something which I can hold on to when things go out of my way. I wanted to ground myself because I have a tendency to decide impulsively and follow whatever is currently flowing.

I need a family plan. My mother is ill now. She has kidney problems on top of her returning asthma and myoma. I could not express more how depressed I am for not being able to be physically present at home. I wish to take care more of my mother, I wanted to save my family. That's my goal. Right now, I content myself by giving financial assistance to them - for my mother's medication, for my brother's tuition and hopefully for my father's recovery from middle life crisis.

I need a work plan. I need to know what are the immediate things that I have to accomplish as I go live to real jobs. I'm already on my 4th month and I should have a clear direction on where I am going. I know that until now I am somehow and still struggling inside given my personal passion and career interest so I should definitely clear out my options.

Also I need to have a personal plan. I need to know how I can fully sustain personal relationships given the situation that I am in. I learned that love is not enough and that sometimes, you have to have certain things and certain capabilities in order for love to grow (I hope I'm right). Right now, no matter how hard I try, it all leads to the point when the answer really is "I can't".  I have to have a plan so that someday I could finally say, "I can."

All these plans I must reflect and make. Each one affects one another and there is no way that I can isolate one from the other. I should make a life plan - a plan that can help me direct my life better. I need a life plan because I learned that when you fail to plan, you're planning to fail. And I certainly don't want that to happen.

Just only one thing: I know that God has a plan for me and I have to reflect, listen and talk to Him more. I know that I can't create my life plan alone. I surely need Him. And so as I create my life plan, let my hands write what He wills for me.