On Emotional Diabetes, Regrets and Star Stuff

"The need for love is akin to emotional diabetes. Who needs another when you can produce insulin yourself?"

-Pao Soriano

Last night was supposed to be “SAKITAN NIGHT”, an event that happens every Monday in Good Earth Roasts, Rockwell with my closest friends in law school, just because a live band plays emo songs and we are reminded of our stupid mistakes in the past. True to its form, there were painful moments, especially when you are put on the hot seat and are made to realize that you’ve been doing it all wrong. With some twist of fate, Paopao, my source of joy in law school, was in the area, and he became our very able guest for the night. In the words of Jason, he was our “neutral”, especially because they’ve decided to dub me as the negative thinker and they, with much protest from me, are the optimistic ones.

I don’t know if it was the alcohol (which I would assume, Joan and Paopao will not agree with since they only consumed sugar), or the fact that we, once in a while, long for meaningful conversations that hit the spot, but hell we were talk show productive. We started with the question, “When did you realize that you are smarter than the others?” went on discussing more mundane stuff like using the statement, “Then he inserted his manhood to her pussy vagina vulva.” in answering the bar exam, and enthusiastically discussed the question, “Can you live with the possibility that you will, in fact, die alone?” The consensus was that it’s okay to be alone, it’s just hard to accept that in your moment of death, no one will be there to celebrate the life that you thought you lived. Paopao was envy-worthy, always the sound one and always reminding us of how we should ideally live. He didn’t care about being alone, was oblivious of the fact that he is smarter than a lot of us, and cannot seem to grasp our positive answer to the question, “Despite our celebration of singlehood, if somebody comes along, would you be willing to love?”

I mean, I’ve always believed in the mantra that “I am happy now, but I know I can be happier in the future.” But he challenges my stand by asking, “But if you are happy now? Why does happy have to compete with happier?” Then he concluded that it would seem like I live on being goal-oriented and that if there is no goal, there is no point in living. I wholeheartedly agree. And it boils down to human want, our nature to want more after getting one thing, the testimony to the toast, “May you get everything you want, except for one, so that you’ll still have something to look forward to.”

Then there was the question of, “Do you attribute who you are now to fate or decision?” We were united in saying that of course, it was us. There was that turning point, when you decided, “This is how I will live my life.” And the rest, as they say, is history.

Then we got to that never outdated issue that is LOVE. It was inevitable, really, I mean, most of the bad decisions that we’ve made are relationships-wise. We’ve gotten everything we’ve hoped for already (except for financial freedom… but we’re getting there too.), and with love, we just can’t fucking seem to get it right. Paopao asked, “Would you rather that you don’t need food? Or that you need it, but you can enjoy eating it in the process?” And I said, ideally, you don’t want to need anything. Self-sufficiency is the perfect scenario. But that is not to say, that maybe, enjoying eating is so much worth being needy for. Oh and then we got to discuss the hierarchy of our basic needs and got stopped with the dilemma of which is higher, the need for clothing or the need for sex? Because admittedly, one need can be enjoyed without the other, right? :D

So everything has been open-ended, except for the acceptance that we all are star stuff, or in the context of Big Bang Theory, we all are made of nuclear waste and sooner or later, we will have to face the need to explode. What needs to be done is to stop welcoming misery-generating things in our lives. Stop being in a situation that will create regret.

Our fear of denial is stopping us from knowing and having the opportunity to move on. We’d rather be turned down than spend our whole lives thinking of what might have been. Being passive aggressive didn’t work the first, second and nth time, it will not work now. Just do it. Or err, do him. No day but today. And when you get turned down, you don’t turn back. You smile, shrug your shoulders and carry on, because “We are young. Heartache to heartache we stand. No promises, no demand. LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD.”

Seriously, at the end of the day, you just want to be with people whom you can share bad ass conversations with, laugh about life with and will accept you, no matter what your cup size is. Believe us, Katy Perry has it right when she said, “No regrets. Just Love.”

Mga Pasasalamat ng Isang Bagong Alipin ng Batas

The following people made my passing the BAR possible:

1. My family, my brother Aldrich and my sister Hazel, especially my parents for not saying a word despite my spending too much for coffee and having to deal with an absentee daughter for the past months. For believing and loving me unconditionally.

2. My relatives, both the Nallas and Monsod families, especially my Lola Seng for continuously giving me words of encouragement and for never of praying for me in every single church. TO Lolo Kit, Lola Deng, Lola Itang, Lolo Ito, Tita Edith… salamat at alam kong tinulungan nyo akong i-convince si Lord dyan sa langit!!!

3. My two inaanaks / sisses / bar auxies, Ruth  and Catsky for making me one of the most pampered bar examinees of 2009. Thank you for having patience and for making me feel that you truly love and support me all the way. Thank you for listening to my kwentos, for checking up on me and for giving me everything that I need and more. Thank you for going all out in making sure that my bar examination experience will be as smooth and fun as it can be.

4. To my partner in crime, Cecilia for drinking with me after reaching our quotas and for tolerating my love issues (as expected)

5. To my batchmates, BATCH FIVE Jelaiah Sorelle Insieme, Dial , Gea , Chris , Dae , Ethel and Ces for just being THE BEST. BATCH FIVE 100 percent baby! PRESSURE!

6. To my Momsy Love and my Papeeto Mar for the visits and the libres and for being the sweetest pseudo parents that one could ever have.

7. Ona , na sumagot ng lahat ng kape ko for the four Sundays. Na naniwala sa akin, na unang nagalit pag nahahassle ako at na stressed lang talaga. haha

8. To REGINA IUSTITIAE, sorore lex atheneum for not only defining sisterhood but for demonstrating that our ties go beyond being mere sisters of the sorority. For helping us achieve our full potential, for being our constant. Special mention to Mitch and Aubs for being the best BAR Ops heads! Mitch, rubbing your belly worked. Aubs, pound it!!! Kahit na-trauma tayo sa mga nangyari (Hai?) at kahit na napuyat tayo kaka-analyze sa mga “sumasakit na likod”, pumasa parin ako. Sabi ko sayo we’re gonna make you guys proud!!! Sa mga inaanaks, anaks, TMI co-founders… mahal ko kayo!!!

9. To my Ateneo Law family, the Bar Ops team, faculty, admin and staff for equipping us with everything that we need to fight this battle. Special Mention to my thesis adviser, Atty. Chuey.
10. To Jason for being my sounding board, for readily going to Highstreet every single time that I asked him to just because I was stressed and I needed to talk to someone who is not from law school. For going with me to my last pre-bar gimmick, the SugarFree concert. For listening to me rant and rave about my bar, love and stupid issues. For being the best guy friend ever!

11. To my YSPEAK barkada, Angel , Carlo and Jason for being the most gorgeous barkada of ‘em all.

12. To DUHPERM, my law school Barkada, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT din!!!! Grabe, Atty. Diaz, Atty. Lumawag,Atty. Ylagan, Atty. Gaviola, Atty. Pallarca, Atty.  Galang, Atty. Salud, Atty. Abutan, Atty. Cordero, Atty. Closa, Atty. Castro. To yves , shem , kiko , patty , hazel , lew , Carlo … KAYO NAMAN! 100 percent tayo ha! :p

13. To my Starbucks Bonifacio Highstreet Family, the baristas, the security guards, to my Starbucks study buddies Atty. Liong, Atty. Sy, Atty. Aguirre!!! All those sleepless nights, cups of coffee, yosi breaks and kwentuhans paid off. Di man natin uulitin na ito, salamat for spending with me one of the most if not the most memorable period of my life. Fred, salamat sa paperboat race, sa lahat ng music videos, songs, status messages at lahat ng mga kasabawan na kwentuhan. Rach, sa lahat ng Frozen Yogurt, yosi, pakikinig sa mga kalokohang ilusyon na naiisip ko, sa pagiging matino, sabaw, praning. Anthony, sa pagiging chill. Sa Starbucks Block 9 family ko na nag-aruga sa aking ng apat na taon!

14. To Trici , thank you for coming into my life when I needed you the most! You don’t know how great of a blessing you are to me.Thank you for introducing me to good people, Crissy, Heidi, Aia... Oh, and for making the best pre-bar gimmick possible!!! Thank you for the Sugarfree Concert tickets. For the prayers. Sa mga kwentuhang walang kinalaman sa batas, puro tungkol sa puso lang. :p

15. To the PERKSQUAD, Japhet , AM , Abby, Sam , Nate , Bon , Paul ! Japhet, salamat sa pagpunta mo sa Highstreet bago ka magpunta ng Bacolod, sa pagtawag ng disoras ng gabi at sa chat para ipaaalala sa akin na WAG KA NANG BUMALIK SA NEVERLAND!!! Kayo ang bestfriends ko. WALA NANG IBA!!!

16. To my Us Whole family!!! Ang aking high school barkada na sumuporta, umantabay at naniwala, Ivee , Mirla , Jen , Leida , Lorelei , Ivan, Josepher , JC , Gerald , Paul , Karen , Kim , Jommel , Dyan , Christopher .

17. Sa lahat ng mga former schoolmates ko, sa COLEGIO DE STA.ANA. Ananians rock!!! Sa lahat ng mga nakasalamuha ko sa kolehiyo, UP School of Economics, I HEART UP Diliman!!!

18. To all my mentors, all the teachers, instructors, professors I had. Especially to the two people who gave me my recommendation letter for Ateneo Law, Ms. Lennie Montevirgen, Franvis. I hope I made you proud!!!

19. To my GOOD EARTH family. Sa lahat ng bastusan, inuman at kamanyakan! Sa SWINGERS’ CLUB!!! Woohoo, inuman for the win! Tito Robert, Kuya Vincent!!! Sa Gram’s. Sa buong BLOCK 9.

20. Sa lahat ng bumati, nag-congratulate, nagdasal, nagmahal at naniwalang kakayanin ko ito! Lahat ng ginawa ko inaalay ko sa inyo. WAG MUNA KAYO GUMAWA NG KRIMEN, DI PA AKO NAGS-SIGN NG ROLL.

21. To all my 1000+ friends in FACEBOOK whom have touched my life in ways they can never imagine. 

22. To all the guys I’ve loved before. The lady is now an attorney. In your face, bitches. (Kiddin!)

Lord, I lift your name on high. Ang pagiging abogado ko ay gagamitin ko para sa’yo.
SALAMAT SA LAHAT.

BAR RESULTS WILL BE OUT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010

THIS IS IT. God bless everyone!

WHAT WOULD EUNICE FEEL?

picture from POSTSECRET 

I’m writing this piece just so I’ll remember  what I felt a few days before I finally am out of this limbo. I have always been the calm one. It could be attributed to the fact that I have been through a lot of dilemmas in the past that didn’t give me the option to panic and pass on my stress to other people. I have lived my life independently, choosing to handle everything by myself and not minding the gravity of the situations that are unfolding before my very eyes. I have learned this skill from my dad. Through the years, I have seen my parents struggle, I have seen my dad handle these situations with grace and finesse that only a man who has been tested in infinitely many times can demonstrate. This does not disregard the fact that I am scared too.

Sometimes, I find myself imagining that exact moment. That exact moment when I become informed of what the future has in store for me has been played and replayed over and over again that I wonder what it would really be like. When I finally get that revered Atty.  before my name, I have imagined a lot of crying, of hugging and of praises that are deserved by the only supreme being who made it possible, God. I have it all figured out. I imagine myself to be talking to the people who believed in me, endlessly thanking them for the support that they have unconditionally showered me with. Sometimes, I imagine myself to be looking to the heavens and talking to those who have died but have made it clear that they believe and that they are proud of me wherever they are. My Lola Itang and Lolo Ito,  Lolo Kit, Lola Deng, Tita Edith... they are all a part of this even if they are not with us anymore. I imagine talking to them, telling them that I have kept my promise to eventually make them and our family proud. I imagine my parents to be somewhere between hysterically happy and unbelievably sentimental, I imagine my sister, Hazel, jumping around, holding hands with me and reciting her litany of what kind of house I should buy for her in the future. I imagine my brother, Aldrich giving me a pat on the back that says, “Buti na lang pumasa ka. Pinakaba mo ako. Libre naman dyan.”  I imagine myself getting ready to go to Good Earth where my fellow new lawyers are waiting for me with bottles of beer on their hands. I imagine myself to be relieved. When I pass…

Of course I could not dismiss the idea that by some very unlucky turn of events, I will fail. And that scene has also played in my head with so much vividness that I find it hard not to believe that its statistical probability is off the charts. But unlike the display of emotion that I imagine the perfect scenario would be, I imagine myself to be calmly going home, smiling at my family and telling them that, “I will bounce back.” People often find it weird that I am calm, that I laugh at the gravity of the situation and that I am able to just brush things off without even feeling a bit helpless. It’s all a part of this grand scheme that is my defense mechanism. I won’t feel great, but I have just achieved this certain sense of security that God has and will always reveal his grand plan if only I learn to listen to him and wait. I imagine myself to be crying, while everyone else is asleep, thinking of how I have broken my parents’ hearts. I imagine myself to be blogging a lot. I imagine myself to be making a lot of jokes about it, just so I can conceal the pain. I imagine myself to be the way I have always been, grounded and optimistic.

But this I have to say, just so anyone who will try to contact me on that fateful day will have an idea how to handle the outcome and just so anyone who are praying and hoping that I finally become a lawyer this week can have a clearer understanding of what is going through and what will be going through my mind with or without that ATTY., “YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME.” I know that no matter what the results will be, I will continue to live a wonderful life. I know and I have claimed the fact that my life will be a testimony of how good and merciful God is. I know that I will continue to strive to be the best that I can be even if I fulfill my dreams on my first try or the second or, heavens forbid, on the third, fourth or fifth try (hanggang limang beses lang e. hehe). When we see each other again after the results have come out, one thing will be certain, I will be the same Eunice that you’ve known. I will be there, smiling and making a big fool of herself through her jokes and stories that are worthy of being a reality tv show plot.

While we’re at it, let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who has stayed with me and has decided to stick with me through thick and thin. I am forever proud to have lived a life full of established friendships that are not only worth being thankful for but are worth being proud of. I have always been blessed. When I become a lawyer, I promise to not try to repay everyone, because that would be totally futile to attempt to gauge the value of all the love and support that you have given me, instead, I promise to pay it forward. I promise to continuously become a blessing to others who have not been as lucky as I am in finding love and assistance from wonderful people.

This is how I feel. This is how I will feel.  Grateful, grounded and eternally optimistic.

My Little Tribute to Tita Cory

“I'm not sure what the theme of my homily today ought to be. Do I want to speak of the miracle of Our Lord's divine transformation? Not really, no. I don't want to talk about His divinity. I'd rather talk about His humanity. I mean, you know, how He lived His life, here on Earth. His *kindness*, His *tolerance*... Listen, here's what I think. I think that we can't go around... measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think... we've got to measure goodness by what we *embrace*, what we create... and who we include.”
-Père Henri, CHOCOLAT

As an attempt to stop myself from weeping for Tita Cory’s death, I stopped watching television for a few hours and decided to watch Chocolat instead. I watched it for the nth time and it was one of the best decisions I made in the past months (I haven’t been making a lot, in fact, I haven’t made a few). I have been meaning to write about the death of “the woman in yellow,” but I just couldn’t figure out how. I recognize that I am not in the best position to talk about Patriotism at this point, especially since I started this hiatus to prepare for the bar, four months ago. It felt like I couldn’t give justice to Madame President’s death if I write about something that is not personal. So, I am honoring her by applying her teachings to my life as a bar reviewee, as a struggling future bar-taker…

When we sacrifice, work hard and do our best no matter what, we tend to expect people to understand us and recognize our effort. We feel frustrated that people are not adjusting to us, not being responsive to our needs, not being enough. That is the problem. We have the tendency to blame people for not caring, for not feeling what we feel and for not understanding us that we tend to forget that the essence of sacrifice is not recognition but inspiration. Inspiring others not by imposing on them what we think should be done but by showing them that we are happily carrying our burdens because it is, precisely, ours. Corazon Aquino’s husband was imprisoned and assassinated. Her government was challenged by a series of coups, she was looked down on for not knowing enough… for not being enough. She sacrificed a lot for a country that didn’t only disappoint but even actively hurt her. Then, as an icing to the really sad cake, she got cancer. But she never saw it as a justification to be vengeful, hateful or even the least hurtful. Instead, she saw it as an opportunity to teach everyone the lesson of patience, forgiveness, love and faith.

As bar examinees, we always jokingly say that we have the right to be cranky, to be inconsiderate… to be taken care of. It is perfectly understandable, especially at this point when we feel the pressure of the impending doom that is the Bar Exam. We are so engrossed in our preparations that we forget that other people are living their lives too. The world did not stop turning when we began to study for this supposed make or break exam. These people too are facing challenges that are different from ours. This is not to underestimate the mental and emotional suffering that we all are going through, but this is to remind us that we chose to be here. We must not forget what we are fighting for, why we chose to embark on this journey. It is not to alienate people but to eventually include them in a better life that we wish to have after we achieve our dreams.

It got me into thinking, have we at least said thank you to the people who tirelessly prepare meals for us, who put up with our tantrums that we brand as stressed-induced, to everyone who has irritated us for asking how our reviews are going even if at the back of our minds we know that they mean well, to our family and friends whom we have temporarily excluded from our lives just because we want to focus on the bar? Have we stopped for a while to recognize that we have hurt others by being apathetic, for being unstable, for being the monsters that we have become as we struggle to become supposed better creatures of the law? Have we at least tried?

Do we really have to lose control over how we act, how we feel, how we live our lives? Did we really earn that right? I don’t think so. I take it back, “The bar is not a justifying circumstance for everything.” It mitigates but it still makes us liable for how we have altered our ways and how we unconsciously affected others. There is no excuse for being rude, for being impatient, for being insensitive, for being inconsiderate… for forgetting humanity. Yes, we are having a hard time, but it doesn't give us the right to give others a hard time too. Cory didn't see it that way. She had a lot on her hands too, you know... HER WHOLE LIFE.

What the hell are we complaining about?

Dahil ang Buhay ko ay Isang Aklat ng Maling-Mali!

Ngayong araw na'to ay ang araw na tumapak ako sa lupa ng Supreme Court para pirmahan ang isang bagay na dapat naman sanang napirmahan. Bakit maling-mali?

Unang una sa lahat, di ko kasalanan na walang pirma ang verification ko, dahil ang papel na nabigay sa akin ay PUTOL. Putol sa part na may nakalagay na blanko at naka-type na Affiant sa baba. Grabe. Ako lang talaga e no? Sa buhay ko lang talaga?

Pangalawa, at mas mahalaga... Kanino pa ba nangyayari ito. Kasi usually, sa MRT may special train for Children, Women and Senior Citizens.. so di ko alam na sa LRT ang special train ay para sa ibang category.. KIDS, Senior Citizens and PREGNANT WOMEN. Soooo... Sumakay ako sa train na un. Pero sumakay din ang guard at pinalipat ang mga babaeng sa tingin nya ay di pasok sa kategorya na un. Dito na pumapasok ang pagpapasalamat ko na mataba ako... Mejo tumingin sya sakin, pero para lang wala nang issue, huminga ako ng malalim, pinalaki ang tyan ko at humawak dito... PARA MAGPANGGAP NA BUNTIS. Bakit ito nangyayari sa akin? Ang malupit, ramdam na ramdam ko na nakatingin sa akin ang mga tao dahil tingin nila ay isa akong babaeng buntis na di man lang sinamahan ng tatay ng anak ko na mag-commute sa Maynila... To make matters worse, un isang Senior Citizen ay kinabahan yata na makunan ako kaya in-offer nya sa akin ang upuan nya. Magmamatigas sana akong wag umupo, pero masisira ang disguise ko, lalo pa't naka-heels ako.

So ayun ang buhay ko, isang aklat ng mga bagay na talaga namang MALING-MALI! :D

A Letter to My Blue Rose

I have almost given you

through the years,

you sad blue thing.

Almost.

Petal by petal,

You withered

Into a portrait

Of my life.

Your thorns

Pricked my heart

Aggressively,

without sympathy

nor hesitation.

Your stem remained

In my shaking hand

which refused to let go

until its grip was loosened

by the tears that you left

flowing from my eyes

that were once

sparkling with glee.

My eyes remained

Fixated on you.

On the me that was

Left behind by not a few

I have almost given you

through the years,

you sad blue thing.

Almost.

But for now, I shall keep you,

along with the names

that I once engraved

inside my heart.

Until the right

time comes.

Until the right

person

Comes.

Un

til.

Stepping-Stoners’ Act

An act to reinforce the policies of justice and fair play and establish a higher standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of selfless persons, their families and normal people in distress through the penalizing of acts of step-stoning and for other purposes.

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE. - This act shall be known and cited as the " Stepping-stoners’ Act of 2009.”

SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICIES—

(a)   The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from crab mentality through policies that provide adequate penal sanctions for step-stoning acts, promote full disclosure, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. Towards this end the state shall provide adequate aid in hedging the risks of our selfless persons through the compulsion of stepping-stoners to disclose their true acts and intentions.

(b)   In pursuit of the promotion of social justice that shall include the commitment to create economic opportunities based on freedom of initiative and self-reliance, this law shall be implemented with the goal of aiding selfless and gullible persons in their subsistence, and equal opportunities.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. - For purposes of this Act:

(a)  "Stepping-stoner" refers to a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in an undisclosed activity in a state of which he or she is able to deceive normal persons into believing that he/she is in equal footing with them with regard to preparation and knowledge.

(b)  A person "to be engaged in an undisclosed activity" refers to person who has promised or assured another and acting on such promise or assurance the other person sustains damage and/or injury.

(c)  Academic step-stoning refers to acts, whether intentional or through negligence, of another aimed to make another believe that he/she has not yet prepared for an exam/recitation when in fact, he/she has adequately prepared for such.

(d)  Non-academic step-stoning refers to acts, whether intentional or through negligence, of another aimed to make another believe that he/she has not yet prepared for any non-academic activity, when in fact, he/she has adequately prepared for such.

(e)  Stepping-stone damage refers to the injury caused by the abovementioned acts to another, as a result of misinformation.

SECTION 4. Definition – For purposes of this act, all persons are ordered to prohibit from committing step-stoning acts.

SECTION 5. Who may avail – The following are qualified to file a suit based on this act:

a)    Offended Party

b)    Spouse of the Offended Party

c)    Ascendants, Descendants and Relatives within the 2nd degree (by affinity or consanguinity)

SECTION 6. Prohibited Acts –

1.    Relaying untrue information as to how far he/she has gone in his/her review.

2.    Allowing another to believe that they are on equal footing with regard to preparation for and knowledge of a certain subject. (Intentional Step-stoning)

3.    Smoking in front of a person who is studying. This will constitute passive (negligent) stepping-stoning.

4.    Mere hanging out with a person who is studying, hanging out includes drinking, smoking, chatting, and analogous acts. (Passive)

5.    Other analogous Circumstances.

Section 7. Penal Provision -Violations of this law shall make the principal, accomplices and accessories liable for damages and may be a possible ground for the revocation of one’s certificate to have a SOCIAL LIFE, a  LOVE LIFE, and a FINANCIALLY-STABLE LIFE. This is a non-bailable offense.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, this law does not care.

Sec. 9. Applicability of Laws. — The provisions of other laws, insofar as they are applicable and not in conflict with any provision of this Act, shall apply to persons affected pursuant to this Act.

Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

(sgd.)
EUNICE MONSOD

SALSA 2009

Fr. Bernas' uploaded video of SALSA's performance last saturday a MUSIKA MANILA: ALS Night of the Arts.

http://gallery.me.com/jbernas#101229

MUSIKA MANILA (ALS Night of the Arts '09)

Link

ACP Hiphop Abs feat. Eunice : A Disclaimer

Ok, this i gotta do to save people from the disappointment that they'll eventually feel for having too much faith in me.

I am not the "instructor". I can never be. Kung alam nyo lang na nilalagnat ako everytime may attempt ako na mag sit-ups. Haha.

So, what's the real story? Ganito kasi.. One lazy morning, Reg texted me to ask if I can head the Hiphop abs ACP. I was kinda dumbfounded kasi nga. (See reason in the preceding paragraph. Then I got a follow up text from B. Nicka. I seriously said, I can't because of the following valid reasons:

1. I have never done any hiphop ab exercise.
2. I am not credible. (Have you seen me lately? Do i have great abs? I have no pack, unless you are willing to consider the layers of fat that I have.)
3. Nakakatawa.

So i replied and suggested Rimo. They both agreed that it's a great idea. I said, if kailangan ng tao, dadating ako.

Lo and behold. I am in the ACP Manual. I am the "our very own Eunice Monsod" that shall head the ACP feat. hiphop abs. THe horror of being the subject of tons of ridicule immediately surface. Got text messages and lots of promises if only to see me lead the way to great abs.

So there. I will still be there. BUT PLEASE, let's not get our hopes too high,.

I really thank the people who believe in me, ang love talaga ay blind. Trust and faith overflows.
BUt if there's anything I can promise, it's that we'll have lots of fun and well, we're gonna sweat it out, literally and figuratively..

Salamat David Tan. Salamat Dial at Gea. Salamat Lord.

Chronicles of JLErs

JLErs*

Pumasok ka na ba?

What: Jesuit Leadership Experience

Where: Capuchin Retreat House (imbento), Lipa, Batangas

When: January 30 – February 1, 2009

Why: Why not?

Motto: It is not the end, not even the beginning of the end… But it was the end of the beginning.

Yun e!

So what?

This is a collection of quotable quotes from the JLErs. If you’re looking for my learnings, this is not the blog about it. But if you’re looking for pieces of evidence that will prove how much fun we had, then read on.

Atty. Balane talked about the wonderful life of St. Ignatius a.k.a Iniego (assuming na ito ang correct spelling). It was an interesting storytelling session especially because, if you know Atty. Balane, he is very passionate about these things. Here are my favorite lines from his story.

(quote on how St. Ignatius chose to undergo another anesthesia-free surgery because of his vanity)

“… to martyr himself for his own pleasure.”

Eunice’s thought bubble: Sounds like love to me.

“Nothing succeeds like SUCCESS!”

Euns: Mabuti naman. Mahirap naman kung nothing succeeds like failure.

After Atty. Balane’s storytelling, we were asked to react on the talk, notice how the reactions seem to be almost always sound like the JLErs were still talking about love.

“It was worth the wait.”

“If it’s worth it, you have to give it your all.”

“It was an opportunity to learn.”

Enough with my love ramblings. Here are the funnier exchanges of ideas.

JLEr: (on change) Mahirap sya.

Faci: Mahirap? Bakit nakikikain lang ba sya dito ?

JLEr: (on answering some exercise questions) We weren’t able to tackle the question thoroughly.

Faci: So, nagchismisan lang kayo?

JLEr: We got enganged kasi on the quote that we got. (long explanation)

Faci: So, wala talagang sagot?

Panalo.haha

JLEr: My partner is _____, kilala ko sya kasi minaneho ko sya papunta ditto.

Too much info.

JLEr: ______ and I didn’t follow instructions but I can see that she’s an innate leader.

Irony nga naman.

Activities on LOVE:

Scenario: Everyone’s blindfolded , instructed to make an equilateral triangle out of the rope that was provided for them. (Equilateral pa lang numose bleed na yata mga tao, haha.. Math alert! Math Alert!!!)

JLEr #1: Let’s figure out first how long the rope is.

JLEr #2: (shouts) Oh my God, it’s LOOOONG.

JLEr #1: Please don’t say that while we’re all blindfolded.

Faci: What were your learnings?

JLEr: I realized that… love is where the fun is.

JLEr: I was touched because when I was trying to get through the hoops, people started helping me , they were trying to lift my foot.

Euns: (sa isip) Ganyan talaga ang love, umaangat ang paa mo.

JLEr: Sobrang daming tumulong, un ibanag-offer ng helping arm, helping hand… helping body.

HELPING BODY?

JLEr: Love? We can DO IT NOW. We can DO IT IN THE LAW SCHOOL.

Sabagay. Pag gusto mo na, gusto mo na talaga.

JLEr: (on a traumatic experience in rallies) Nakita ko ang mga kasama ko na lumuluha… kasi nga TEAR GAS.

Dialogue

Father: I didn’t have problems with sick Jesuits… well except that they just died.

JLEr: Kailangan mong ilagay ang malalaking bagay sa maliliit na package.

JLEr: With regard to the video clip, I think self-awareness is about humility.

Faci: Ah… San un?

“Sometimes, you have to get hurt to find out what you’re meant to have.”

Faci: Ok, so… any more reactions? Dito? (turo sa isang row) sa COMMITTEE OF SILENCE?

JLEr: Ingenuity is about humility too. Like in the video, ok lang kahit na sabihin mo na Hey, pukpukin mo kami!

JLEr: Schools should not reward answers but questions.

Euns: (kailangan kasi ipaalam na ako para magets e) We need the admin to encourage us to become more well-rounded people.

Fr. B: Well, it seems like you are very well-rounded.

Euns: Foul!

JLEr: (on the presence of CLV, Cande and Fr. B) I never thought I could address the trinity.

CLV: Well, at least we all know who the Father is.

JLEr: It was nice to hear the story of St. Ignatius because coming from La Salle, I am not aware of that story.

Fr. B: Well, when we talk about spirituality, we don’t only speak of Ignatian spirituality naman. Anyway, St. LaSalle is also in heaven no?

EATING QUOTES

JLEr #1: Bakit kaya walang sighting ng Capuchin brothers?

JLEr#2: San kaya napupunta un mga natitirang pagkain?

JLEr#3: Alam ko na. Siguro kinakain lahat ng mga brothers. Tapos kaya walang sighting kasi nga obese na sila lahat sa kakakain ng mga tira.

(May dumating na brother)

JLEr#1: E bakit kaya un di naman obese?

JLEr#3: Dude, kasi may exercise sya. Sya un kumukuha ng pagkain from the caf to the house.

JLEr#2: So, kailangan para matulungan natin sila maubos natin ang pagkain?

JLEr#1: Tama. Eat your food, pass it on. Yan ang advocacy natin.

JLEr#1: Wow men, pareho pa tayong mustard yellow ang damit. Para tayong Mongol Pencil at Cartolina.

JLEr#2: E bakit hinubad mo na un yellow jacket mo?

JLEr#1: E kasi, pag pareho tayo ng kulay para tayong love team sa That's Entertainment!

----------------------------------------------

To end my JLE Chronicles, I want to declare that the official theme songs of the whole thing are…

“You cut me open and I… keep LEADING, keep, keep LEADING LOVE.” (Bleeding love tune)

“Got to believe in MAGIS….” (Hulaan nyo kung anong tono. Heler)

--------------------------------

* A JLEr is someone who attended the Jesuit Leadership Experience. It is pronounced as JAILER hence the tagline, pumasok ka na ba? This term was coined by Mayco Romulo (I think).

The Day After...

... what shall be remembered as our last Midterms day.

We had to go to class at 12 noon still. Yep, This is Sparta, este (ang slapstick) Law School. No time for long breaks and celebrations. Anyway. These are the things that I was writing in my notebook while the discussion of Provisional Remedies was playing in the background.

"Your hands are warm... it may be that your heart is cold."
My prof quoted a dean whom he had to talk to regarding a case he was handling. Our instinct was to hold our hands and test if they're warm or cold. Mahirap na. Ninang Nikki had cold hands, uyy warm heart. At ako... WARM HANDS. Therefore.

Which leads me to a sort of summary of: what we decided to talk about last night. Present and past loves. The ability to move on without closure and finding it in your heart to forgive that one person whom you have given everything to only to be left cynical and well, a tad bit short of being frigid. (Haha, I just had to include that word Japhet).But the thing is, in the end, you always end up in a way better place. Whether we like it or not, we end up being in better places because a place becomes better when we become better persons. The ability to find happiness, contentment and well, love becomes not a task but a happy vacation full of stopovers and a lot of time for camwhoring. When you are able to look back at the places you visited and the pictures that are posted in the photoalbums of today (translation: Multiply, Friendster, Facebook, insert name of a social networking site), you don't feel the pain anymore. You only are reminded of good times. And i guess, it,'s quite a clear sign that finally, you are happy.

JOKE BREAK:
Prof: Class, have you heard of BPI Leasing?
Euns: (naisip) Kaanu-ano kaya nya si Gary? (Hopefully na-gets nyo. Haha)

Last night really was a night of being in the hotseat. I was more than happy to answer queries about "stuff" from my closest of friends. They raised a lot of valid points and well, i wouldn't be friends with them if they don't know me that well. YET.

I am happy. I really am. Done with hurting, with complications and a lot of what could've been's..I have been found. Not only by someone, but I have been found by me.

And that's more than worth everything.

Talaga Lang

(Starbucks, habang binubutingting ko ang aking maliit na MP3 player na napiling masira during midterm, pumasok si Krisette...)

Krisette: (beso)... Ano yan? (Pause) Pregnancy test?
(Na-shock ng sobra un mama sa tabi ko.)

Pregnancy test talaga ang unang naisip e no.lntense. Sa starbucks.

Splinter

(palakad-lakad un malaking rat sa block 9, nagcause ng hysteria)
Guy 1: tangina ang laki.
Guy 2: Wag mo galawin pare, gumaganti yan.
Guy 3: Master Splinter?
Guy 4: Baka mamaya biglang dumating un Ninja Turtles tapos hanapin sa'tin si Master Splinter.
Tanging sabaw. Haha.

THE DARE

Last week, as a result of our search for meaning in our otherwise monotonous and alcoholic lives, we embarked on a journey we've never been embarked on before. The ROAD LESS TRAVELED [I wonder why], THE NIGHT WHICH SHALL NOW BE CALLED....

DARE NIGHT.
Are You "Dare"?

Participants:

Nicka Bayot
Ces Pallarca
Ruth Declaro
Jove Capanas
Eunice Monsod

and

Carlo Luna - bet you didn't see THAT coming.

Objective: to be "DARE"

Tasks:

Nicka - pumunta sa big table in front of Starbucks na may nakaupong isang babae. TUmabi ng di nagpapaalam sa kanya at magyosi. [MISSION ACCOMPLISHED]

Ruth - Pumunta sa isang table sa loob ng Goodearth at mangaroling. Dapat may makuhang pera. [MISSION ACCOMPLISHED]

Euns - Pag-alis ng isang table sa GOODEARTH, ligpitin ito at magpanggap na staff. [MISSION ACCOMPLISHED]

Jove - Ilipat ang channel ng TV sa GOODEARTH. [MISSION ACCOMPLISHED]

Ces - Pumunta sa table ng isang nagp-PDA na couple sa Starbucks, umupo sa harapan nila at magyosi. [MISSION ACCOMPLISHED]

Carlo - MAGSALITA. [MISSION ACCOMPLISHED] Nanlibre pa ng beer. hehe.

GROUP DARE: Umupo sa magkakahiwalay na table at uminom mag-isa. [MISSION ACCOMPLISHED]

IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL DARE NIGHT.

We have proven that WE ARE "DARE".

Therefore, in addition to The Lane, THe Line and the Lone... another bar shall be named...

THE DARE.
Are you Dare?

Beggars can't be...

... CHOOSY.

-AR Polinar

It was last night's quotable quote. Of course, one could only take a guess as to what we were talking about. Love, sex, prayers, songs, panawid-gutoms, maggots, "if you were's", snakes, sharks and a whole lot of "acting out shit."

Because San Miguel Beer is not an option anymore and our nightouts just became more interesting and expensive, I LOVE IT. Because we just had to talk about the VENGA BUS and SPICE WORLD and all the cheesy, jologs and kadiri childhood fads that we went through.

PLUS the ever recurring A WALK TO REMEMBER CONVERSATION triggered by anything that can be connected to it, music, films.. hell, it can even start from a totally remote topic like... uhmm, homosexuality. Don't get me started.

Cheers to our LAST THIRD FRIDAY as LAW STUDENTS.

As a tribute to all the feelingeros in the world, lemme share our "song of the night" by SHania Twain.

That Don't Impress Me Much

I've known a few guys who thought they were pretty smart
But you've got being right down to an art
You think you're a genius-you drive me up the wall
You're a regular original, a know-it-all
Oh-oo-oh, you think you're special
Oh-oo-oh, you think you're something else

Okay, so you're a rocket scientist
That don't impress me much
So you got the brain but have you got the touch
Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright
But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night
That don't impress me much

I never knew a guy who carried a mirror in his pocket
And a comb up his sleeve-just in case
And all that extra hold gel in your hair oughtta lock it
'Cause Heaven forbid it should fall outta place

Oh-oo-oh, you think you're special
Oh-oo-oh, you think you're something else

Okay, so you're Brad Pitt
That don't impress me much
So you got the looks but have you got the touch
Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright
But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night
That don't impress me much

You're one of those guys who likes to shine his machine
You make me take off my shoes before you let me get in
I can't believe you kiss your car good night
C'mon baby tell me-you must be jokin', right!

Oh-oo-oh, you think you're special
Oh-oo-oh, you think you're something else

Okay, so you've got a car
That don't impress me much
So you got the moves but have you got the touch
Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright
But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night

That don't impress me much
You think you're cool but have you got the touch
Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright
But that won't keep me warm on the long, cold, lonely night
That don't impress me much

Okay, so what do you think you're Elvis or something...
Oo-Oh-Oh
That don't impress me much!

Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh-No
Alright! Alright!

You're Tarzan!
Captain Kirk maybe.
John Wayne.
Whatever!
That don't impress me much!

Dahil Champion ang Ateneo...

.


.. at never pa ako nakatikim ng UAAP Basketball Championship from UP. Woohoo! Maraming nangyari sa araw na ito. At talagang kasama ko pa si Gaviola. Kami ang partners-in-crime yesterday.

... I HEART TIU CHRIS TIU.

... At I don't concede to my "Lasalista newfound friends"'s contention that Atkins is hotter than Tiu. Bakit? Kasi lasalista sya. =P

... napainom kami ni Chris ng pale pilsen ng di oras dahil wala e.. PANALO ATENEO.

... At kahit na nag-breakout si CASIO sa stress, favorite ko parin ang "bata" namin ni Lew na si Revilla.

... Magkasuntukan na ang magkakasuntukan... masama na ang ref kung masama... ILLEGAL TUCK-IN man, ILLEGAL FACE, ILLEGAL PLAYING WITH THE BALLS o kahit ano pa...

CHAMPION PARIN ANG ATENEO. PERIOD. Woohoo

Scandal

Parang nagma-makeout kami ni ATHENA along Taft. Winner.

Updates

A lot of things happened in the past few weeks that I haven't been blogging.

BOTTOMLINE: I am blessed to have friends who truly love me.

Sometimes, you just have to have faith in people to see that you don't have to endure everything alone.

I'm just glad I found someone whom I can finally be weak with.