Summa cum laude Donald K. Ngwe on behalf of the graduates

Mga miyembro ng Lupon ng RehentePangulong Emerlinda RomanChanselor Sergio CaoAting panauhing pandangal Dr. Edgardo GomezMga dekano ng iba’t-ibang kolehiyoMga miyembro ng kaguruanMga natatanging bisitaMga mahal na magulang, kaibigan, at kapwa nagsipagtapos…
Isang mainit na pagbati sa inyong lahat.

Simula noong hapon hanggang ngayong gabi, tayo ay nagkasama-sama para sa isang katangi-tanging okasyon. Ngayong gabi, sabay-sabay nating gunitain ang unibersidad, ang karunungang ipinamahagi nito sa atin, at higit sa lahat, ang ating pagtatapos. Ang unibersidad natin, parang bahay ni kuya. Tayo ang mga housemates—kanya-kanya ang mga hangarin, mga problema, at mga pinapangarap. Ang ilan sa atin, magkakapamilya. Ang iba naman, magpapayaman. Ang iba, uuwi sa probinsya at tatakbong konggresista. Habang ang iba, mamumundok upang hanapin ang sarili. Mga iskolar man tayong lahat, iba-iba pa rin tayo ng pinanggalingan at patutunguhan sa buhay.

Sa likod ng mga pagkakaiba natin bilang mga indibidwal, ang katotohanan pa rin ay tayo’y nagkakaisa. Para tayong mga housemates na may kanya-kanyang personalidad pero iisa pa rin ang hangaring tumagal sa bahay ni kuya. Masscomm ka man o Educ, BA o FA, ikaw, iskolar, ay nagmimithing mapabuti ang kalagayan ng ating bansa. Nais mong mabatid, sa iyong paglisan sa unibersidad, na ika’y naging bahagi sa pagbibigay lunas sa iba’t ibang sakit ng ating lipunan. Ito ang isa sa pinakamahalaga at di-mabuburang aral na dapat nating dalhin sa labas ng unibersidad. Ito ang tatak UP!

Mga kaibigan, hindi mahirap maghanap ng paraan upang makamit natin ang ating layunin. Sa ginawa nating pagsusumikap na magtapos ng kolehiyo, ipinamalas natin ang pinakamabisang paraan ng pagsulong sa ating bansa: ang pagtuklas sa katotohanan. Ako, bilang mag-aaral mula sa Econ, ay natutong intindihin ang tunay na dahilan sa pagtaas at pagbaba ng piso. Kayong mag-aaral mula sa KAL at mula sa Music, ay naghanap ng kagandahan at silbi sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang uri ng sining na katutubo sa ating bayan. Kayo, mula sa CS, CSSP at Eng’g ay nagpatunay sa mga konsepto at palaisipang kayo lamang at ang Diyos ang nakaiintindi. Gaya nga ng mga housemates ni kuya, mayroon din tayong sari-sariling mga diskarte at pamamaraan upang magtagumpay. Lahat tayo ay nagsilbing susi sa paghahanap ng katotohanan, sa iba-iba mang paraan, sa iba-iba mang larangan.

Hindi tayo mag-isang naglakbay sa UP. Nariyan ang mga taong walang humpay ang suporta sa atin—ang ating mga magulang, na pawis at dugo ang ipinundar upang tayo’y pakainin, pag-aralin, at patabain sa kabutihang asal; ang ating mga guro, na nagpayaman sa ating mga isipan sa kabila ng mababang sahod; ang mga kawani at non-teaching staff na nagtrabaho mula umaga hanggang gabi upang mapadali ang buhay natin sa unibersidad. Tatay, nanay, prof, ate, kuya, klasmeyt, sa lahat ng gumabay at tumulong sa amin… maraming maraming salamat.
Ngunit huwag nating kalilimutan ang mamamayang Pilipino, na siyang nagtustos sa ating pag-aaral. Kung daan-daang tagahanga ang naghihintay sa tuwing lalabas ang isang housemate, milyun-milyong Pilipino ang naghihintay sa bawat isa sa atin upang sila’y ating pagsilbihan at upang magampanan natin ang ating tungkulin sa sambayanan.

Kaya nga mga kasamang nagsipagtapos, gamitin natin ang ating galing sa masigasig na pagtupad sa ating tungkulin. Bilang mga musikero, payamanin ninyo ang musikang Pinoy sa paglikha ng mga natatanging obra. Bilang mga mamamahayag, iulat niyo lamang ang balitang tama at tapat sa diyaryo, radio, at telebisyon. Bilang mga guro, gabayan ninyo ang mga susunod na henerasyon tulad ng paggabay sa atin ng ating mga mahal na propesor. Mga inhenyero, protektahan ninyo ang kapakanan ng mga mahihirap habang pinapalakas ang imprastrakratura ng kanayunan. Mga negosyante, kawani ng gobyerno, at kapwa ekonomista, magpatupad kayo ng mga patakarang makapagpapaginhawa sa bawat sektor ng ating lipunan. Sa lahat ng ito, marapatin nating gawing batayan ng ating tagumpay bilang tao kung gaano tayo nagpakatotoo sa ating mga sarili, at sa mga mamamayan ng ating bansa.

Nakalulungkot mang isipin, hindi namamayani ang katotohanan sa lipunang ating ginagalawan at kinabibilangan. Kung minsan nga, ang katotohanan ay nasa harap na, ngunit malungkot mang aminin ay walang nagnanais tumanggap dito. Tinatawag ang ating henerasyon na harapin ang mga isyung bumabalot sa lipunan natin. Gamitin natin ang ating lakas at talino sa pagpapaunlad ng sarili nating bayan, sa halip na lumikas na lamang sa ibang bansa. Sama-sama nating palakasin ang ating ekonomiya, habang tinitiyak na mapapabuti ang kalagayan ng mga mahihirap. Patunayan natin sa lahat na kaya nating maging isang matatag na bansa sa pamamagitan ng tamang pagbayad ng buwis, sa matuwid na pagsunod sa batas, at sa buong-pusong pagtupad natin sa ating tungkulin bilang Pilipino.

Mga kaibigan, ito na ang simula ng ating pagharap sa reyalidad ng mundo, ang mundo sa labas ng unibersidad. Ito na ang simula ng susunod na yugto ng ating kasaysayan. Ito na ang teleserye ng totoong buhay.

Mabuhay ang iskolar ng bayan! Mabuhay ang UP!
Donald K. Ngwe

-------------
huli man daw at magaling, congrats sa mga graduates at Iskolar ng Bayan.
Donald, sabi ko na nga ba nag-iisa ka, thanks for being a source of joy back when I was still in UP!

[from www.upd.edu.ph]

Reunited and it feels so good...

.. yesterday I met with the members of DuhPerm for a lazy afternoon get together. I decided to go to school earlier than our "call time" so I can check my mail but since my life's one big "what are the chances?" my landline's not working, therefore I have no access to the internet. But noooo, it turned out that I cannot enter the library yet since I havent enrolled. [enrolment's on the 15th] so i just bonded with Mel and after a few minutes, Pepe arrived. We chatted about Pepe's exceptionally high grades only to find out that Mel also had superb grades. It was a great sem for us... at least some of us. =(

Since the summer heat was getting the most out of us, we walked our way to our "home" Starbucks Loft but on our way there, we bumped in to Yves and Jayvs [para lang mag-rhyme,haha] and they somehow managed to convince us to go to Powerplant to see Haze's new dress which she bought for Dorts' wedding. [Yeah, it IS a BIG DEAL] It's a very elegant dress, Next we decided to look for the right shoes, and went to Starbucks Powerplant to wait for Shem. But since we're so restless, we convinced Pepe to treat us to a drinking spree at Grams.. he [un]happily obliged... therefore, INUMAN SA HAPON. One of our fave things to do. THen SHem arrived and we went back to Ateneo. Ano ang highlight of my day? Yihee, na-realize ko na sobrang crush ko talaga si BSB ko. As in un pa-demure na nagb-blush ang drama ko when I saw him.

Since Mel had to stay sa LSAC and Yves and Jayvs had to go home, I, together with Pepa and Haze went straight to Shem's condo. "Walang masama kung may pagkain na nakahanda." Shem made us watch her video presentation of all our pics through the year... God, twas almost an hour long! Sabi nga ni Pepe, "Kung papanoorin mo yan mga pics natin parang wala tayong ginawa sa Lawschool kungdi tumambay ng tumambay." Oh well, we really made a lot of good memories and what's better is we were able to catch it sa pictures.

Nakakasukang kabusugan ang aming naranasan sa CONDO ni SHem. Seryoso, if we stayed longer we wouldve gone home with a stock of food in our stomach that's good for a month. [OA!] That's why I am sincerely thanking Shem.

Nakakatawang thought.

While we were at Grams Pepe once again wowed us with his hilariously funny idea.

Eunice: Did you text Dorts na para sabihin na darating ka sa Wedding?
Pepe: Oo naman. Textmates na nga kami ni DOrts e. [Blahblahblah] Sa wedding nga nya ganito na ang sasabihin nya... "I'm sorry Sweetie, pero mahal ko na si Pepe."

LAUGHTRIP! I-imagine nyo na lang un.

Ito pa.

[While watching the video]
Pepe: Ang laki ng boobs ko. Parang di ako nagpapalit ng damit a. [kasi lagi sya akawhite shirt] Bigyan nyo naman ako ng picture na maayos ang itsura kol.
SHem: Walang ganun. Walang ganun na picture.

Hay naku, twas a really great day.

SURPRISE! SurPRICE?

Japhet : oist!
Nice : hey.. question, anong gagawin mo on may 12? that's a friday.
Nice: depende, di ko pa alam kung anong oras un meeting namin for OrSem e..
Japhet : gabi most probably.di pa rin keri?
Nice : pwede siguro, ano meron?
Japhet: like for dinner or sumthing? may gustong makipagkita sayo... inask ako to make a date sana..super nakiusap..
Japhet : di ako makahindi...game? sige na....
Nice : sino? si AM?
Japhet : hindi noh...
Japhet : someone from ur past...
Nice : ayy..talaga..sino un? err..
Japhet : hehehe. sige na.. sobrang nakiusap lang talaga saken... di ko pedeng sabihin..masisira yung element of surprise...pero im sure matutuwa ka talaga... promise!!!!!!!!!!
Japhet : o dapat pumayag ka na ha...
Japhet: may 12!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice : sige. san naman?
Japhet : promise ha? sa green belt lang...
Nice : mahal..hahaha..matutuwa ako? clue!
Japhet: basta...
Japhet: matutuwa ka talga...
Japhet : magbihis ka ng maganda ha!!!!
Japhet : hahaha
Nice : gaga!bakit? ano meron? teka lang kinakabahan naman ako sayo. di pa pwedeng Rockwell na lang? nakaset na ang lahat e..naayos na e...
Nice : ha?adik ka ba?
Japhet : wag ka na magulo dyan...
Nice : ang creepy nito
Japhet : wala kang dapat na ikakaba noh!!! timang!!!!! trust me on this!!!pasasalamatan mo ako after!!!
Nice : ah talaga.. hmmm.. payn payn.pero kelangan mo ko makausap muna ulit. kasi matagal pa, friday. wala ako pera.
Japhet ): di na problema yun just be there and be dressed properly!!!!
Nice : properly?: bikini?san dun?
Japhet : hahaha .. il text you the details sa mga susunod na araw..di na pedeng magback out ha...
naayos na ang lahat...
Nice: teka lang. wala ako phone.
Japhet: tatawagan kita sa bahay nyo..
Nice : sige sige..anong bihis ito?
Japhet : or imemessage ko yung mga details..email pede rin..hehehehe
Nice : MATABA AKO!
Japhet: keri lang yun noh!!!
Nice hahaha..
Japhet: it goes beyond that trust me!
Nice : wow,,, grabe naman itech.sige sige.talk to you soon
Japhet: alryt!
Nice: aight
--------------------------

JAPHET, SIGURADUHIN MO LANG NA MATUTUWA AKO. =P

THANK YOU LORD

The only appropriate words which I could utter are words of gratitude. God decided to continue his rain of blessings in my life. I am just so happy that there will be a next semester for me. It was more than a struggle, it was like the battle of my life... so far. I literally jumped for joy when I received that EMAIL. Yeah, "THAT EMAIL". The dreaded and highly-anticipated email that we waited for and silently wanted to not be sent.

The first thing that came to my mind was to run to my mom and tell her. I was overwhelmed and my mom was teary-eyed when I told her. I know that she felt victorious too, she knows that I continue to fight for them. "Kaya pala parang tensed ka kanina... hinihintay mo pala un grades mo." My mom joked. She didn't have to tell me that she's proud of me, I saw it in her eyes.

My dad arrived a little late but it didnt stop me from running towards him.. I was so excited to tell him the good news. "It paid off. Di mo alam, your mom and I did a novena for you... sa Ina ng Laging Saklolo." I almost broke down. Everything was worth it. The sleepless nights, the pain and tears I had to shed. There is a next sem for me.

GOD is good. HE knows how badly I want it.

But why can't i completely be happy? I guess it's because of this void that is fastly becoming bigger... a resulting void from goodbyes.

Keepin' the Faith

image from POSTSECRET

I am officially freaking out. Today's April 29th and on the 3rd of May, my life will officially change. Everything's a blur but all I pray for is strength. My dad asked me about my grades and I couldnt give him a straight answer, his words stuck to my mind... "Bakit parang nawawalan ka na ng faith? Faith kay God, Faith sa sarili mo." It's a very painful truth that I have to face. I am kind of losing faith in myself. Not in God. God has always been good to me. I just don't know if I am still good enough. If I am still worthy of His blessings. I don't know if I worked hard enough.

My mom is supportive. She asked me where I would want to transfer "if ever" things don't turn out as planned. Argh. I cannot even imagine myself not being in lawschool anymore. I can't believe I am here again. That emotional limbo that I enternally hate to be in.

My friends are equally helpful. They keep my hopes up everytime I talk to them. They assure me that I did pretty well this sem. I dont know if they're just being kind or if I really did better. I have always believed that LIFE IS UNFAIR. So, following this assumption, even if I worked doubly hard... there is a chance that I will not get the grades that are proportional to the effort I exerted. Life is unfair that some people who didn't work as hard are going to stay. I don't hate them, in fact I will not deny that a couple of times, I even envy them. I was once like them. Never exerted much effort, still I manage to get out of the jungle alive. It's really hard when you're on the other end, when you're the one who's losing faith in yourself because you feel like YOU WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH.

I have faith in God. I know that whatever it is that He will decide to give me, it will lead me to the best road that I should travel. This brings me to Carrie Underwood's single, JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL. I think it's a very appropriate song.

Jesus, Take the Wheel
Carrie Underwood

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way to fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus take the wheel Take it from my hands Cause I can't do this all on my own I'm letting go So give me one more chance To save me from this road I'm on Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight

Jesus take the wheel Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this all my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Oh, Jesus take the wheel Oh, I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel
Oh, take it, take it from me Oh, why, oh

The World Taught Her Masturbation

image from Postsecret

The world taught her masturbation.

It was more than fifteen years ago when the game started. She sat beside her newfound playmate while he started the engine. Her body trembled along with everything that’s vibrating around her. She felt a spider inching its way up between her legs. The unnamed playmate was at the driver seat, and she was kneeling beside him, waiting for her classmates to finally come.

What’s taking them so long? They’ll miss our game. She watched other kids playing games she played before. This was different. She didn’t have to do anything but she always got rewarded. The controlling playmate took her left hand and directed her to caress what seemed like a bulge inside his pants. “Kailangan mo yan himasin, kasi ahas yan at pag di mo hinimas, tutukain ka.” She nodded.

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

Inside her room, the little girl could hardly hear what her mom and dad were discussing. She couldn’t understand why they looked so upset when she finally told them her secret. A secret that only she and her playmate knew. Wag mo sasabihin sa Mommy at Daddy mo, hindi ka na nila papayagan maglaro pag nalaman nila. But she didn’t intend to tell her Mommy; it was like an accident. While her mom was bathing her, she proudly narrated how her playmate would also touch that place between her legs. It was like a series of games that she always won. Her playmate lavished her with toys. “Kaya nga po madalas ako may mga dalang new toys, Mommy e.” The little girl eagerly bragged with eyes expectant of her Mommy’s approval. She could tell how surprised and proud her Mommy was, the little girl felt triumphant for having achieved something this big. For a second, she thought her Mommy was going to cry.

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

The girl never understood why she couldn’t sit on the passenger seat of her School Bus anymore. Why she wasn’t allowed to talk to her favorite playmate. Why one day, the School Bus stopped fetching her and her playmate stopped playing with her.

She didn’t need to play with anyone anymore. From then on, she decided to just play with herself. She was in control.

The world taught her masturbation because for a time, her playmate was her world.

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

DISCLAIMER [added the day after this story was posted]: Didnt think 'twas necessary to write one but apparently IT IS needed. This is FICTION. Please stop sending me messages consoling me for being sexually molested. I mean, I appreciate the concern but seriously, I WASN'T HARASSED.

WELCOME BLACK

Eunice, your true color is Black!

Your color is black. The color of night. Serene and mysterious, black conjures up images of elegant evening gowns, dashing tuxedos, and gleaming limousines. Traditionally a symbol of success, black also represents power and an uncompromising demand for perfection. Not surprisingly, you tend to set challenging goals for yourself and do whatever it takes to achieve them — your strength of character is second to none. This unfaltering determination, along with your natural elegance, impresses people. But keep in mind that your personality might be intimidating to some. Try to temper your demanding side with a little softness — trust us, it won't kill you. Overall, though, black is the color of professionalism and achievement, which means it's clearly the color for you.

What's Your True Color?

Brought to you by Tickle

Remnants of an Alcoholic Eunice...

Sarah's @ UP diliman

thanks Kitel for the Blast in the Past that I needed.
I say, "More! More!"

-----------------
after a loooooong time, i was able to chat with my dear,dear friend Abby.

Lew, para sa'yo 'to...

Sa totoo lang, nakakamiss talaga ang Captain Planet. Naalala ko dati pinapantasya ko pa na maging un girl na parang dyosa. Minsan din inis na inis ako kasi parang ang illogical, bakit di na lang si Captain Planet lagi un lumaban agad? Nagmumukha lang tuloy na incapable un mga planeteers.

OKELAMPA

Para din yang Maskman na ang stand ko talaga ay dapat inuuna nilang patayin si OKELAMPA1 (ito pala ang tamang spelling, buong buhay ko akala ko talaga UKIRAMBA!), kasi kung wala sya di lalaki un mga halimaw.

SHAIDER

Tapos sa Shaider, dapat di nila pinababayaan si Alexis na matawag un Babylos para natatalo nila.

Pareng Lew, ikaw ang inspirasyon niyong entry na'to... isa ka ding source of joy. Sana may next sem pa tayo para sa ating *plano. (winks)

---------------
1 Okelampa - insectoid which fires a monster enlarging beam

Silent Play

It's my music playing
games with silence;
Continuing to strum
the strings out
of tune. I hear
silence... Fingers
plucking, following
the rhythm that dictates
not where to go. Stop
not and flow. Play
amidst the craving
for rest.

------------
image from Postsecret

DISORDER IN THE COURT

Distilled from
Disorder in the Court: Great Fractured Moments in Courtroom History
by Charles M. Sevilla

These things were actually stated and recorded by court reporters.

Q: Are you sexually active?
A: No, I just lie there.

---

Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15th.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

---

Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

---

Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?

---

Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.

---

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy."
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.

---

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.

---

Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
A: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

---

Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?

---

Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?

---

Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at the time?

---

Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
Q: None.
A: Were there any girls?

---

Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

---

Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male or a female?

---

Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

---

Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

---

Q: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.

---

Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

---

Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?

---

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.