Prinsesa’s Anatomy

I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying this summer vacation. For one, it is the first vacation I actually had in about five years! I love staying home, worrying about nothing, and just eating!

The weather today is a very fine one. Sure it is still hot but the wind is blowing sweetly so it makes up for it. The endearing chirping of our love birds add to the fresh, beautiful feeling of summer!

When I went around the house this morning, I discovered that I am not the only one enjoying this day!

Kulot volunteered to bathe our dogs.

I think Biko enjoyed the bath and was well-behaved!

Of course the perfect thing to do for a cat on a perfect day is to sleep.

I think Pusing got a heat stroke LOL

But Jin wanted to stay indoors even if it was gorgeous outside.

***

Yesterday, my Man and I went out to get some ice cream because it was inferno in the city. I think this is the only thing I do not enjoy about summer vacation: missing my Babe!

Mouth-watering ice cream!

My Babe and I frequent a cafe that my friend owns. Their ice cream is so wonderful!

But the best part of summer for me is this: flowering Narra trees!

Naturally perfect

It makes walking on the sidewalk wonderful even on super bright days!

I just love the way the flowers fall down to the ground as it gets blown away by the wind! The lovely traces they leave on the road is just amazing!

Here’s to summer, and hoping you get a wonderful one too!

I spent today on the beach, on Don Domeng’s beach (you can come if you want btw we are on Bataan) and I had so much fun with my siblings, plus the food is great, thanks to Mother Goose.

It was scorching hot though! At first during the morning, we were staying on a nipa hut near the ocean until lunch but after lunch, it was so sweltering hut I think I was melting! Well, at least the lotion I put on was melting LOL so we transfered to an airconditioned room and it felt like I’ve died and gone to heaven! LOL.

However, when I opened my blog tonight just moments ago, I felt another warming presence, not the sun of course because it is night time LOL, but the love coming from my blog friends and readers. Thank you so much for taking your time to spent some moments with me, even if you just read me and leave your comment, I really feel such a connection, like that friends share, so thank you so much, especially to the ones who greeted my Jin for his birthday yesterday!

These were my most favorite comments for tonight though that I really appreciate because it seems like they were first time visitors and they had a blast, and that makes me so glad.

Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo

I love your site. Keep it up ! – knowledgetoday

This blog’s great!! Thanks . – matt

Sometimes I wonder if I am achieving my advocacy through keeping my blog, especially when days come when I feel low, or when my hits are low. But each time I ponder on it, even if there is just one person out there who somehow manages to smile after reading my posts each time, then I can smile and say that yes, I am achieving my advocacy through keeping my blog.

You see this is the way I try to make the world a better place, no matter how weird that seem to came out. LOL

Thank you my friends, you are not just my readers, but my friends.

Two days ago, one year back, I graduated from college with a BSN degree. My Man did not hand me a gift that day, until two days later, March 28, 2008, when he gave me my precious Tabatino cat, Jin, who turns one today.

Happy Birthday Jin!

Well, not really birth day because when Jin was given to me he was already 2 months old, but still, that was when he came to me and he became my baby. It was actually a pretty interesting story. My Man and I were at the city and he said we would visit our friend, Deer. When we came to his house, as he opened the door, this tiny Siamese cat zoomed out and the moment I saw that fur ball I fell in love with it. Good thing it was mine!

It turned out that my Man asked Deer to find him a Siamese cat for me, since I adore cats, and Deer did and brought Jin from Manila to us. Deer told us he smuggled Jin aboard an airconditioned bus but the cat was so restless that he had so many scratch marks trying to make it stay put. I told him I appreciated his efforts.

My Man and I just take so much pleasure in having Jin that we really celebrated his birthday, today, with lots of food.

Cake for the Cat

happy birthday Jin!

I can’t believe it has been a year, and what a wonderful year it was.

Jin on March 28, 2008

First Day with Mommy PM

Jin on March 28, 2009

All grown up

But still lazy, and cute

Yesterday, I attended the commencement exercises of my Aunt’s pre-elementary and primary school, St. Agnes Institute. The kids were great! All along I was thinking, if only Jin could talk he’d be on that stage with those kids LOL or maybe not because he is too young. LOL

I so love my cat.

I actually have no clue what alla luce del sole means but I can tell you that it is a good song, and for someone like me who is a lyric buff, as I’ve told you before, me liking it really means something.

I heard this song for the first time when I watched the David Foster concert on DVD in Kuya’s house and I fell in love with it, even when, as I have said, I do not understand a single word – well maybe for amore, I know that. LOL.

I think the song is Italian, is it not? It was sung by Josh Groban who looked amazing that time btw. Sometimes I wonder if it is really the song or just Josh Groban and the way he sang it. LOL.

I tutored Koreans before in English as a second language, and this one guy made me listen to a Korean song, then piapot told him that it was non sense because I would not understand a single thing and he replied that the melody is what is more important.

On that light, did you know that there is this thing about melody or lyrics people? My friend told me that more often than not, people who are right handed would care more about the lyrics than the melody while people who are left handed would be more concerned with the melody and could not care  any less as to what lyrics the song contained. My Man is left handed and it proved true for us, I just haven’t seen any study that proved it by research though.

I did not even know the title of the song but when I watched it over and over on the copy that my wonderful Babe got for me I could not resist but find out what it meant, so I asked Kuya what the title was and I searched the net for its English translation.

Alla luce del sole - Josh Groban
(Maurizo Fabrizo - Guido Morra)
Transcription and English Translation
by Flavio Ferri Benedetti (1492@dragonet.es)

Qui c'è il buio fuori di me            Darkness lies outside me, here,
ed anche un pò dentro di me...         and a bit inside as well...
che assurdità questa città             how absurd is this desert city!
senza persone!

Io non so spiegar neanche come         I can't even explain how,
ma non è questa la mia dimensione,     but this is NOT my dimension,
e la mia mente non è mai in pace,      and my mind gets never comfort,
è sempre altrove.                      it is always somewhere else.

Tu dove sei?                          But you... where are you?
La tua voce dov'è?                    Where's your voice?
Senza di te, senza il tuo aiuto       What about me if I don't have you,
che sarà di me?                       if I don't get your help?

Tutto sembrerà migliore               Everything will look better,
alla luce che verrà                   under the light that will come from
dal sole!                             the sun!
Questa notte passerà,                 This night will be gone,
il buio che c'è si dissolverà!        darkness will fade out!

Si vedranno le colline,               Hills will be seen,
io continuerò a cercare te.           I will go on looking for you.

Via da questa malinconia,             Away from this melancholy,
invidia o rabbia che sia.             envy or rage alike.
Qui nel mio cuore                     I don't want these words anymore
non voglio più queste parole.         to be here in my heart

Tu dove sei? Il tuo sorriso dov'è?    But you... where are you?
Senza di te, senza il tuo amore       Where's your smile
che sarà di me?                       What about me if I don't have you,
                                      if I don't get your love?

Tutto sembrerà migliore               Everything will look better,
alla luce che verrà dal sole!         under the light that will come
dal sole!                             from the sun!
Questa notte passerà,                 This night will be gone,
il buio che c'è si dissolverà!        darkness will fade out!

E alla luce di quel sole              And under the light of that sun
Io continuerò a cercare te.           I will go on looking for you.

[Interlude] Tutto sembrerà migliore,  Everything will look better,
alla luce, al sole.                   under the light, under the sun,
Il silenzio morirà,                   Silence will die,
la gente che c'è si confonderà.       People there will feel confused.

E alla luce di quel sole              And under the light of that sun
Io continuerò a cercare te.           I will go on looking for you.

This is one of those times that I am comfortable with not knowing, only feeling. I am a logic buff. I love reason and I hate not understanding. I do not buy anything that I have not gained peace with yet in my brain.

But as is the case with this song, I realized that there exists a time when what you think doesn’t matter at all compared to how it makes you feel. Maybe this is the reason why many smart people make what others think as ’stupid mistakes’. Because they were fed up with thinking and just went on with how they felt.

I think there is a logic behind this confusion too. Maybe it will go well if we thought about how things make us feel, if they are real, if they are worth it, if they will last. Feelings can be some kind of a compass of what to do next, but ultimately, it is still the brain that has to decide where to or what next.

I have said it many times, the brain is on top of the head for a reason. But it is funny how I, and many others for that matter, succumb to that statement in the end.

During my party, my mentor gave me a present: Tuesdays with Morrie, the book. It was funny because prior to that Saturday, I was actually searching for Mother Goose’s copy because I suddenly had the strongest urge to reread it for some unknown reason. And what do you know, her gift was perfect timing.

My mentor and I really have the same wave length, though I am not as wise as she is, and knowing each other in such an honest,  deep way, I can say that there is this kind of connection between us that is like a communication line, only that there is no need to say anything.

As I was leafing through the book for the nth time, a passage caught me, and I remembered the last time I read it, I was also taken by it. It was about silence.

The book told of Morrie’s class back in Brandeis, where he entered the room and just sat there mum for a good number of minutes, so still and quiet that an uncomfortable weight began to fill the room that made the students fidget and do all sorts of stuff just to make do with the silence.

I guess silence has a way of making us do just that, not just inside a class but anywhere we go to. When things fall to a silent still we get anxious, we fidget, we try to focus on something even completely pointless, like staring at a flying plastic bag like it’s the most interesting thing in the world, just to make up for the silence, to keep us preoccupied.

In the book, Morrie was right. People do tend to be uncomfortable in silence because often they find comfort in all the noise. They are scared shitless of silence. I am like Mitch however, because I could also sit there in complete silence, and not minding at all, reveling in it in fact.

I like silence. For one, it gives me rest, because the world in all its glory is a loud one that just seem to suck out all of your energy with the noises it makes. Silence also keeps me from making stupid mistakes, from saying things I do not mean, from saying things that I will regret saying later, and from saying things that I do not believe in but will have to live with for the rest of my life.

But only a few people are like that. They cannot seem to bear the unspoken words, or the weight the air suddenly takes when people are silent, the way it always happen, that all of the things remaining unsaid just seem to float to the air, making it heavy, giving it weight.

Silence is an interesting thing. In its stillness it makes us understand, and gives us an opportunity to listen to so many things unspoken, to the pounding of our hearts, to the whistle the wind makes when it blows.

It makes us wise by giving us time to think and reflect and finally decide. That when we finally break our silence, the noise we will be making is something that is worth it.

***

Things always change. And it is funny how we try to go against it, because ultimately, no matter what we do, things will eventually change, as they always do. The only problem is, sometimes when they do change, we are not ready. But we don’t have much of a choice do we?

To accept what is already has been, no matter how we feel about it, always ends up a must, for if not we will be left behind. And who would want that right? I do not know if you will agree with me, but as is the case, I feel that it is always kinder to the spirit to leave things behind than to be actually left behind.

It can be painful, especially when we are not ready as I’ve said, but as is in any learning situation, sometimes growth can also be a painful process – acceptance and surrender can be really painful, but that act of letting go is one of the tests of being human that we must all pass. It is not always pretty but more often, it is the only way to go, because it is the only way to be free.

***

In all my years of formal schooling, I have never known hell week. It seemed that I was always on top of the water, perfectly able to juggle everything and even finding time to squeeze a lot of sundaes on the side.

Well it was like that until this last week when work from the finals week at the university just washed me out, work practically coming one after the other like heavy water rushing from a broken dam, a pressing deadline included.

But no matter how heavy the workload, I was happy about it. You know me. I love pressure. I soak in the pressure cooker that was my work and everything that it demanded of me, so well that if I was meat, I’d be perfectly tender, and moist, and succulent by now. I revel in pressure – and coming out of it outstanding.

It has been a week of living on an unbelievable pace, operating five things at once, and going around submitting the final copies. It was great, but all the buzzing left me locked away from the keyboard, failing to go type-type and updating my blog that frankly, as of this time I feel like a lightning rod of ideas, like I want to post ten different things at once just because of everything I had experienced the past week.

Deep breathing… deep breathing…

Now let me tell you all about it. The Ox[en] signing on and reporting for duty.

***

Last Saturday, my family threw a huge, huge party for me at Don Domeng’s beach resort to celebrate many big moments in my life actually. It was four occasions rolled into one: my 18th birthday, me finishing my BS Nursing degree, me passing the state nursing licensure exam, and my graduation again, next Wednesday from the Certificate of Teaching Program (CTP) that I took in the university that made me Ma’am PM.

If you’re wondering why I was celebrating just now, it’s because I am not fond of parties, or maybe I just don’t find gratification in basking on my so-called achievements. When it was time for my 18th birthday, I told them I’d celebrate after graduation. When I graduated, I told them I’d celebrate when I pass the board exam. When I passed the board exam, I said I’d celebrate after I graduated again. But they did not buy that last one because they probably saw what I was doing so the party last Saturday happened.

There were a lot of people, guests of the family, not mine really, but it was still fun because my friends from the university paper, who were all so supportive of practically everything I do btw, were all there, and all my family were also there, extremely proud of me for sure, even Kuya came from Bulacan just to be with us. He did not sing though, what a miss, I was sure my friends would drool over hearing him sing.

I would like to say to my family and friends that the reason why I did not want to throw many parties over my achievements was because of the fact that all that I had achieved really meant nothing compared to the joy I feel with the simple fact that they were my family and friends. I do not rejoice on material achievements, because they do not really mean so much to me, well at least not as much as my family and friends, because ultimately, their love is my joy. I could have all the achievements I have received and more, but without them, I really do not have much at all.

***

It was as if the cosmos took revenge on me after the party I threw last Saturday because I discovered the ‘hell’ in hell week when Monday started. I was swamped with so much work!

***

Last Tuesday, I gave my students their final examination in their course that I taught, Natural Science 213, and after their test we bid goodbye to each other because that was the last time we would be meeting with me as their teacher.

We were all both happy and sad, I knew they would miss me and I too. One even joked that it would be great if I would follow their class, that next June I’d go and take sophomore sections so they’d still have me as their teacher. I took a lot of pictures of them, in class, while doing activities, and finally just group photos. I told them I would need those pictures for the narrative report that I would pass on that coming  Friday.

But of course those pictures served more than the narrative. I needed those pictures for the final requirement sure, but more than that, I wanted those pictures so I could steal something from the suitcase of time, so that I would always remember my students and all of our experiences together, my first year teaching, and all of the lessons we both learned from each other.

When they evaluated me, all of my students from the three sections gave me so much more to remember. I would treasure their words, and keep their letters, because I know for sure a time would come that I would need those to remind me why I wanted to teach, and why I was teaching.

That Tuesday was out last meeting, and when we saw each other around campus on the days that came after that, we were all so excited and giddy and grateful for some reason that we do not say, but know exactly deep within.

***

I had to finish all of my paperwork on Thursday because Friday, yesterday, was already Recognition Day of the College of Education, graduation would be on Wednesday.

Interestingly, the company of the national daily who had a monthly magazine that I passionately wish to write for informed me that they would like to see me for an interview the next day, Friday. Of course I cannot come and with the risk of being put off, I honestly told them my predicament and asked if they would be kind enough to reschedule. Fortunately they were, so the interview would be on Monday.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

***

Now let me tell you what happened on Recognition Day. First of all, I was the only one who came and brought my parents. You might find that interesting, because after all this was my second degree and I still have my parents attend these kind of functions.

See we are a very tight family, we are involved in each other’s life, and even when I tend to undermine my achievements, I know that they give my parents a deep sense of pride and joy, so why not. The faculty appreciated this of course, for one, my parents were good friends of the university, particularly the campus that I attend, so it went well.

So well in fact because I received Best CTP Student Award and this of course is equivalent to valedictorian, best in demonstration teaching, and outstanding student teacher honors. My mentor liked to joke about it later telling our friends that I was ‘best in everything’.

All I can say is this, thank you to the student teaching program for giving me a most wonderful time, thank you to my cooperating teacher for giving me a better time because of all the opportunities, and thank you to my students for giving me a best time basking in the teaching-learning process.

***

You might be wondering at this point where my Man and I had been this whole week. Since it was hell week, we were both on our separate universities, attending to our own businesses. We seldom saw each other and when we did it was quick, if not it meant we were helping each other finish a project or a paper.

I liked to call it a kind whirlwind romance for special occasions. I think we are fine though. We are being supportive.

***

I cannot imagine another point in my life where I was this busy. I started keeping a schedule book just to help me battle it all out. I remember catching some sort of horoscope prediction for my sign this year, I was born apparently on the Year of the Rabbit and this year meant work I had never seen in my life coming.

Not that I believe it or enjoy reading these kind of things, but I find them interesting and the way people enjoy them fascinating. But so far, I think I am starting to get convinced. Whew!

Yesterday was a call for celebration.

My Man had been working so hard on his circuits project and defense day finally came, it was yesterday, and what do you know all his painstaking labor was worth it when he earned a 1.25! Congratulations Babe.

We met up at lunch time and we thought we should celebrate his success on his project, and what better way to celebrate than a lovely dessert.

I'm a proud Babe

Since we were at the mall, we decided to visit the arcade on the second floor. When we were younger, we used to frequent it because we do love to play those arcade games. It was a lot of fun to be there again after a long while. Guess growing up can damage even the most enjoying relationships! LOL.

That's my Babe shooting hoops the way tall guys always do

He did not beat the high score though. LOL

It’s funny because looking back, I realized since  half a decade ago, we are still the same people to this day, well at least the good parts are still the same. LOL.

One secret is this: we really do try the hardest to be supportive and involved in each other’s life even outside of the relationship that through it all, we make sure we are still also the best of friends. I mean, I really do not understand a lot about circuits, or on-line and arcade games, but I try, and I am lucky because in the end I find it enjoyable too.

Before I post this, we were again together working on yet another project of his. This time it was a design for a traffic light system. It was really hard work! Especially for me who did not have any clue about traffic lights, hell I do not even know how to drive! But it turned out right, we were able to come up with the correct explanation for the design he made, well at least I hope what we did was correct. LOL

Now if only a lot of girlfriends were cooler than average, I bet this world will be a happier place. LOL

I strongly believe I know how it feels like to be run over by a truck, even when I have not been actually road kill. The Year of the Ox is still on its perfect Ox form for me. Ugh.

***

Yesterday, Mother Goose and I, together with her wonderful former student, Dc. Ana, a registered dentist, went to PRC to fix all of my papers with regards to the oath taking and the professionals registration. I filled out a lot of forms and claim slips that I have to remember not to loose since I will be needing them next month when I am getting my license and board rating and passing certificates. We did so much in a day it felt like an episode of Amazing Race minus the cameras and plane trips. LOL.

But PRC was the same pitiful sight – lots of hurrying people like they were on their way to some mendicancy-infested game show to the point of hurting each other and lots of PRC employees screaming and going ballistic trying to ‘regulate’ people, their papers,  and their lines.

Somehow, I am amazed with this scenario. People who actually call themselves ‘professionals’ box each other out to get the better way or line. People who actually call themselves ‘professionals’ choose to behave in such a rowdy, too unprofessional-like manner in public that watching them go at it from afar will shed some light on why the Philippine Republic is the way it is these days. One has to shake his head in disbelief, or horror, whichever you prefer.

More amazing was the way the employees at PRC behave towards their clients. It was as if they were unaware that the people they were dealing with were professionals – who actually pay for their salaries. It makes me laugh thinking about it, because they yell so much, like who they’re dealing with were students, not that it is proper to yell at students of course. Mother Goose was at the brink of explosion yesterday she almost hit a lady on one of the counters. LOL. No respect at all for the professionals of this country. What a pity. And they tell me it has been this way since the beginning of time. OMG.

***

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of my family who went out of their way yesterday to help me deal with the unbelievable hell that was PRC.

Thank you to my Mother Goose for coming along with me. I don’t know the city, I really don’t know how I’ll manage without Mother Goose, then again, Mother Goose has forgotten how to get by the city these days. LOL. Imagine, I am 21 years old yet each time I have to go to the city my Mother Goose is with me. It’s fine though because we saw a lot of mothers accompanying their professional kids at PRC. LOL. I guess it’s a trend!

Thank you to Dc. Ana for taking a leave at work only to be with us and helping us find our way. Although hers and Mother Goose’s directions seldom meet, we still end up on our destination. LOL. Thank you for walking as quick as us. I know Mother Goose and I walk very fast. You’ve been so wonderful helping me again in PRC, and sorry we were late again. LOL!

Thank you to Kuya to for giving us a ride to San Fernando so we can be home earlier and I really appreciate everything you have been doing for me ever since my Manila saga began. Going to the city will never be fun for me but because of you I find comfort somehow.

Thank you to Don Domeng for picking us up from Balanga City so we can be home at last, even when it was late and even when he still had to borrow a car because ours was at the machine shop with a broken transmission.

***

You know what, I am a very blessed girl with all of the people who are always there to help me find my way.

And speaking of blessed, for someone who was a bad ass at the review center, an 81.60 board rating isn’t half bad at all.

The last time the family and I went back to Bulacan to visit our dear Kuya’s family, Kuya is Mother Goose’s brother, he made us watch a truly wonderful concert on DVD titled ‘You’re The Inspiration’. It was the Hitman concert of  David Foster and Friends. You might have heard of this concert because Charice Pempengco was a guest performer together with to-die-for stars Michael Buble, Josh Groban, and Michael Johns among many others.

It was two hours long and I enjoyed every bit of it. I do not normally enjoy watching concerts for the same reason I do not love to see movies: I find them too long, but the David Foster benefit concert was something special and I loved it. In fact, I loved it so much that I asked my Man to get me a copy, and he did! Thank you Babe!

I just finished watching it again. I never get tired of it. I still laugh at the jokes and still appreciate the good music they create. I love the look of David Foster that night – he looked so happy it’s contagious.

One particular part I like very much was the turn of Michael Buble. He is such a wonderful entertainer, apart from having a voice that’s so soothing. When his song ‘Home’ first came out I fell in love with it. The lyrics was great! Unfortunately, not so many songs these days have desirable lyrics, too bad. But I adore the lyrics of ‘Home’ for special reasons.

Michael Buble

Home lyrics

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not come along with me
That this is not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
I still feel alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It’ll all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home.

On the concert, Michael Buble sang ‘Home’ with Blake Shelton, apparently he has a country version of ‘Home’ and he is also adorable! I could drown in his amazing blue eyes. I am a sucker for blue eyes, hence, my cat Jin. LOL

‘Home’ is close to my heart because it could’ve been the soundtrack of my life when I was on college with my first degree. There really is no need to explain because the song more or less sums it up.

These are my favorite lines: “And I know just why you could not come along with me. That this is not your dream. But you always believed in me.”

I have discussed phagocytosis with my students in class weeks back.  It is the act wherein the white blood cells rid the body of pathogens or disease-causing microorganisms by engulfing or eating them.

To show an illustration:

That is my sister Kulot and my baby Jin. Don’t get it wrong though. They are friends now – most of the time.

I realized it has been so long since I posted something about my Jin! Anyway, he is doing very well – still fat, but he is starting to change his color the way Siamese cats do.

I just gave him a bath. He looked so pitiful. If dogs hate baths, imagine it for cats. I think Jin got so tired from the struggle of taking a shower he immediately fell asleep afterward.