Grumpy Takoyaki

not again?

2009-05-10T21:16:00.002+08:00

i know i know, i've done this more than a dozen times already, okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration, i've only moved at least 10 times.HAHA. what can i say, i'm the queen of blog moving. and the reason why i move a lot? i'm always unsatisfied with the name of my blog.

want to know all the blogs that i abandoned?

gemoih(blogger)
mickycheken(blogger)
b-gatan(lj)
thepervandroid(lj)
gyabo(lj)
mikimikidesu(lj)
mynameisgem(blogger)
bipolarinstinct(lj)
one in wordpress that i cannot remember
and now this, grumpytakoyaki

all of those i abandoned because i couldn't feel a connection with the name.HAHA.wth.or if they do, i suddenly come to a realization one day that i'm not that username anymore.weird.

well now, hopefully i can stay put with the newest blog that i made in lj. gemilita. i like the name, of course because it came from my name.that was a nickname that a schoolmate suddenly called me with, i didn't like it at first but as time goes by, i'm starting to appreciate the childish sound of it.it sounds like a bratty spoiled girl's name.LOL.

anyway, if you have an lj, add me up. (why am i using lj? well, just look at the previous blogs, more than half of it is in lj.that must mean i love its features more than blogger.LOL) i think this account will now only be used for commenting on blog friends that use blogger.

grumpy takoyaki is signing off.

free jonas burgos

2009-05-06T17:46:00.010+08:00

Today for my OJT, i had the chance to interview the younger brother of Jonas Burgos, JL Burgos, on his brother's abduction and how their family is coping up with his enforced disappearance by the military two years ago.

I was aware of this case when it surfaced two years ago. Jonas Burgos became a household name during that time, thanks to his famous surname.His late father, Joe Burgos, was the iconic press freedom fighter during the Martial Law. But all i knew was that he was just one of the names in the long list of enforced disappearances by the government.Just the same little importance that i gave with every name in the news that i encountered.

During my interview with JL, his brother's disappearance created a change in my thoughts about people in the news. I realized that these people are not just individuals, but are someone's brother, sister, father,mother, son, and daughter. These people are part of a family, a family desperately searching for answers, seeking for help of others to take part in their fight against the oppression of those who abuse their power.It was heartbreaking to see JL look at the pictures of his brother, recount his memories when they were little kids, and see him try to compose himself and breathe out a deep sigh when he said , "Intay lang..(Just wait..)", as his message for Jonas.

http://www.freejonasburgosmovement.blogspot.com/

Balisong

2009-05-06T09:00:00.003+08:00

"Never in my life have i been more sure, so come on up to me and close the door. Nobody's made me feel this way before, you're everything i wanted and more."

When i was 15 years old, i met this boy who seemed to be the perfect human being i've ever met.I was totally infatuated. Thinking that the feelings that we shared would last forever.But as the summer ended, my memories of him faded away, so was my infatuation.He was at the other side of the world, while i was in a world of my own.I grew up, realized that fairytales do not come true. Much more with our situation, because there's this one big factor that makes it forbidden.And then i decided, that i would end my big dreams of happily ever after.

"I try to tell myself wake up fool, this fairytale's got to end."

Fast forward 5 years, destiny brought us back together. It was like 5 years ago, only this time what we have is a mature kind of relationship, but more complicated.He's still on his side of the world, and i'm still in my own.But with maturity, comes the saying if there's a will, there's a way. The other night i had this conversation with him where we talked about what happened to us 5 years ago.He told me about the letters that i wrote to him everyday, which he kept and arranged in chronological order.I DO NOT remember sending letters to him everyday, i don't even remember sending any letter! But the way he described it makes it feel real. He reminded me of the song in the video, Balisong by Rivermaya, sang it to me as if it was his favorite song, while nostalgia crawled up in my veins.He told me of his other memories of 5 years ago, and i just listened as if i was hearing everything for the first time.

I thought he had already forgotten everything, i thought the silly summer fling that i had was also a silly summer fling for him. But i was wrong, i think he really loved me.After all these years, while i found other people to love, he had those memories in his head,and a love still waiting to be returned.If only i knew earlier, i would have came back and loved him.Now i have a lot of what ifs in my head.Oh, how wonderful the past 5 years would have been if i only did not turn a blind eye on him.

the wedding

2009-04-16T09:52:00.008+08:00

I couldn't come to my cousin's wedding last March 28 because I was still in Manila preparing for my thesis proposal. I was really excited about her wedding because c'mon, who doesn't love weddings? I think every girl loves weddings. I especially love the parts where the bride walks down the aisle and the groom's face lights up as he watches her coming towards him, and of course the i do part. I can't help but feel very touched and inspired and imagine my own wedding.

Too bad I wasn't there to feel their love.To my dear cousin,Ate Love, and Kuya Jimmy, congratulations and best wishes. :)

Jimmy and Love SDE from Mayad Studios on Vimeo.

Another cousin will be getting married next year, still on the same side of the family.Me and my cousins talked about who's going to be the next one to get married.HAHA! it definitely won't be me!

But if that day does come, i want it to be a simple beach wedding.That would be so romantic. :) The only thing missing is a groom.

shhhhhhhhh

2009-03-28T16:07:00.005+08:00

My thesis mates fell asleep while watching DVDs that i gave them while they were waiting for me to finish uploading my site for my electronic newsroom class. we were supposed to do our revision of the thesis when i finished but i'm taking advantage of the moment of freedom to blog and do stuff.*evil laugh*

so the last post clearly said that i was too busy to live huh? well, i only have to do the thesis proposal in the 1st of april and then by night i'll be flying to Boracay!

Photos by: Msbernal

I so can't wait to get out of that conference room where we'll have our proposal. It'd be so dramatic once we finish: I'll say thank you to the panel, discuss with my group about how excruciating it was inside, then say my goodbyes, board a bus back home, get my luggage, get in the car with my tita (aunt) who'll drive me to the airport, say my goodbyes and thanks, get in line, X-ray stuff, get my boarding pass, wait, wait more, get excited when i hear the voice of the woman who'll say our it's time for boarding the plane, get in line once again, walk in the tunnel, find my seat, open the window (i hope i got a seat next to the window!), fasten my seatbelt, smile to the person next to me, watch the flight attendant do the emergency stuff but don't listen because i'm too excited, then wooooosh! WE FLY!!!!!

My family is in Iloilo (my hometown) for my cousin's wedding that most likely is happening right this moment while i'm typing.Too bad i won't be able to sing.My cousin really requested for me a year ago to sing today.I had my song, Just The Way You Are (Diana Krall's version), ready months ago.And my dress.OMG, my dress is really beautiful.It would have been great if i was there to wear it.I'd look like a goddess.HAHA! And the matching shoes are even prettier! I can't post a picture of it because my sister took the camera.

But the dress that i really wanted was like the greek-inspired Oscar de la Renta dress of Serena.

And oh! My OJT will start on April 13, instead of April 6!Yey! Extended vacation!!!!

i wish i have...

2009-03-18T22:52:00.003+08:00

CLONES

One will do my production, one will do the task of documenting the graduation on saturday,one will do the music video, one will edit the short film that we shot this afternoon, one will do my thesis, one will go on a date, one will get my hair colored, one will get my films developed, one will go to the wedding on the 28th, one will sleep the whole day for me, one will get my cards on april 1, one will watch House for me, one will tour Maku when she comes to visit the country, one will go to the hospital for all of my illnesses, one will exercise for me. And what will i do? NOTHING.i want to do absolutely nothing even just for a day.

Friends from other universities are having their final exams this week and i'm still two weeks from freedom!then after about 5 days of freedom, i'll be busy with my OJT.oh, i need a clone for that one again!Where have all my happy days gone to???

shall we dance?

2009-03-08T08:16:00.006+08:00

i dreamt that i was in a ballroom competition.when i woke up, i stood up from the bed and danced a little bit.

I've always wanted to dance ballroom.But ballroom dancing is one of those things that i wanted to do so much but i couldn't find the time to do it.Back in my high school prom, i was included in the group who danced ballroom, with the song I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston. I was in the front because the dance instructor liked the way i danced.I remember how much effort i exerted whenever i danced, even if it was only a rehearsal.

My mom once took me to a ballroom dancing club. I was so excited to dance again. But upon arriving, i realized that this club was for old people.I did dance, but i wasn't feeling the dance instructor. He chewed gum the whole time and it distracted me.

Every time i come home, the bus that i ride always pass by this ballroom dancing school located near my high school.I've seen their posters when i was in high school too, but the schedule didn't fit in to mine, until now of course.

Maybe one day i'll be like Richard Gere in Shall We Dance. I just hope the dancing school will not only be for seniors.

Has anyone seen Innocent Steps? I love the Rumba part in the competition. I want to dance that.

priorities

2009-03-06T21:53:00.003+08:00

March is a very crucial month for me.let me lay down all the things i have to accomplish within the next days/weeks:

~~produce a video campaign against mining~~ (just finished yesterday)
direct for a children show production
compose a song for music appreciation
direct/produce a short film for art appreciation
direct/produce a music video
OJT application/interviews
FINAL EXAMS
THESIS PROPOSAL

Our family are scheduled to fly to my cousin's wedding on the 27th.Then spend the holy week at the beaches of Boracay. By April 5th, i should get back here in Manila because my internship starts on the 6th.My mom has already booked us 2-way tickets. The problem is, i'm hearing rumors that our thesis proposal will be on the 28th, the day of my cousin's wedding where i am supposed to be singing.

This is frustrating.

the four words that made me cry

2009-02-26T21:10:00.003+08:00

i was checking my inbox when someone messaged me in my yahoo massenger. it was my best guy friend who migrated to Australia!!! we haven't talked for months since i never got the chance to sign in on my messenger or my social network accounts that he's in too. that's why the only news that i get about him is from my friend who has a crush on him (when he was still here, i introduced them to each other). Of course i was jealous. I confronted him saying that he always only tells her his stories! He doesn't message me as much as he messages her. Then i said "I may not be as showy as her but i miss you as much as she misses you!"

Then he said "I miss you too".My heart wanted to melt, though i was feeling really angry that time, i was really touched.I'm not the type who gets soft when someone tells me that, but in his case, he's really special to me. He's one of those people that i'm really comfortable with. And he's not like the other guys who are jerks. I remember i once told him "you're like a modern day prince charming".

But then, before i could reply. I got disconnected. I tried to reconnect but my computer was bitching on me. I stood up, paused, then suddenly cried.

I hate technology sometimes.

coffee addict

2009-02-18T20:47:00.002+08:00

le Café - Oldelaf (english subtitles)
Uploaded by Boebis

I love the French as much as i love the Japanese.
If i could be born again, i'd kill to have a crazy mind of a french and make surreal films.

I stumbled upon this short cartoon about a man who drinks coffee a lot and turned out to---well, just watch it.

paranoid

2009-02-18T10:51:00.003+08:00

A few minutes before midnight, while i was PS-ing title cards for our tv production class, i heard a noise on the roof.My dad had just left (he works overseas) that morning. But before he left, he made sure that the house would be secured from break-ins.With three dogs guarding every corner of the outside of our house, i still think that the thieves can strike again for the 3rd time.

As soon as i heard the sound on the roof, i stopped what i was doing. I listened carefully despite the fact that my heart wanted to jump out and run from my chest.The barking of the dogs didn't help much in making me calm.It made me wish that i had x-ray vision to see through the ceiling.When i couldn't take it anymore, i rushed to my mom's room where she and blister were sleeping soundly. I woke her up and told her that i heard something in the roof, but she just told me to turn off the lights in her room. I sat at the foot of their bed, listening for almost half an hour to the barking of the dogs and the doors creaking. When the thumping of my chest died down, i got back to my room to turn off the computer and get my pillow. But i couldn't get in at once because i imagined that someone was looking from my window, though it was closed. (I should have covered it with black paper like my mom told me) I inhaled and exhaled deeply, got in and did everything i had to do as fast as i could.

When i got back to my mom's room, i lay down on the foot of the bed, not minding if my sister kicks me off of the bed. I dozed off for a bit but woke up after a few minutes when i heard again something.But this time it was only my brother from the other room. I kept on hearing weird sounds, and kept on imagining things that it must be. Like the sound of water gushing down, thinking that the thief might be washing his hands on the sink at the backyard. The sound of a machine, thinking that the thief might be using some device to break-in through the roof.(it sucks sometimes when you have a wild vivid imagination)

I thought to myself, i'm getting paranoid.

When i woke up this morning, my neck and back was aching.

raging hormones

2009-02-17T07:47:00.002+08:00

When i was 13, i wasn't thinking of sleeping with someone.I was thinking of how i can go home fast enough from school before Card Captor Sakura starts.Read the article here

The makings of a future journalist

2009-02-03T03:14:00.008+08:00

A journalist's camera during the Vietnam War.
photo by psyc1one

You might be wondering why I'm blogging at this time of the day (it's 3:25 AM as of now). I'm not pulling an all-nighter again.I woke up around 2 AM after I dreamt of Maruyama Ryuhei.Then by 2:30 i was trying to fall back to sleep when i suddenly heard a noise outside my window(thank God i always keep my windows closed). Then i heard a man shouting and dogs barking. At first i thought some men were fighting at the house beside my room(at the back part of our house) but after listening to all the ruckus,i realized that the man shouting was my dad and the dogs barking were our own dogs. I got up from bed, my heart was throbbing really hard and fast as the memories of the first break-in incident that happened 7 months ago flashbacked in my mind. I went outside with my dad as he talked to our neighbor who is a cop, and his son that i had a crush on when we moved in went out too(LOL, moment!). I wanted to know what happened, and i wanted to ask all these people. But then my dad and the cop heard someone in our roof. My dad told me to go inside the house but i stayed with our dogs outside.Again, while my dad, the cop and his son, where getting ready for attacking the unknown person in the roof, my dad scolded me to go inside the house. This time my mom scolded me too.So i looked through the screen door to see if the man at our roof was the thief.False alarm, it was another neighbor checking if someone was at the roof.LOL.

My mom and dad told me that i shouldn't be going outside during situations like these.Because if that thief is still on the loose, he could hurt me or whatever. I seriously didn't thought of that, all i wanted was to know what was going on. Though i did feel that what i was doing was very dangerous.I could tell with that hard throbbing in my chest.HAHA. Oh, while all of these were going on, i woke up my sister and told her "you're missing all the action!" with a bright smile on my face as if what was happening was a movie.

So what happened? According to our cop neighbor, some men were chasing a thief from the house on the other street. The houses here are very close to each other that's why it's easy to run around the roofs. The guy who was chasing the thief wounded his hand on our wall (we have broken pieces of bottles cemented in the upper part of the wall) so he washed his hand in the sink in our backyard. That was when the dogs started to make noise and my mom and dad woke up.

After all these, i remembered when journalist,Ces Drilon, visited our school.She read an excerpt of Conrado de Quiros's (i love reading his column in the Inquirer) article and this sentences made a mark on me:

Whenever there’s gunfire or a volcanic explosion, everyone rushes away from it, the journalist rushes toward it. The world flees from it, the journalist flies to it.

read the whole article here

Basically, journalists risk their lives for the information that the people need. Now i know what she must have felt like when she impulsively went to the Abu Sayaff camp and ended up being a hostage.

I needed this reminder, as to why i chose this course. It's not because of the glamorous life, but because i want to make a difference in my own little way.Even if it means putting my life in danger.

Guilty Pleasure # 1

2009-01-31T12:14:00.003+08:00

photo by star5112

Who doesn't love marrow?

Eversince i could remember me and my siblings would always fight over who gets the fat inside the bone marrow.But as time passed, my sister got too conscious of her body.now, she lets me take it. And my brother? I'll beat the crap out of him if he dares to challenge me. But then after i eat all of that yummy fat inside, i'm too afraid of the consequences of loving fatty food.Actually right now i'm feeling dizzy with all that fat i ate.(yes, i just ate marrow)

what are your guilty pleasures?

6 years ago...

2009-01-28T18:03:00.003+08:00

i was going gaga over a 37 yr old blue-eyed blonde hair man that i saw singing in Disney.

that is the same video (minus the interview part) that i saw 6 years ago.Youtube is really fascinating huh?

John Rzeznik, the lead vocalist of the band Goo Goo Dolls became the man of my dreams. I was only 13 years old back then and all i wanted was to grow up and get married to him.My sister was making fun of me for collecting pictures of him and talking about him 24/7.

When we had to write an article at school, i wrote one that included him. I think it was about kids with separated parents or something. And guess what? My teacher was so impressed with my writing that i was given the Writer of the Year award.And six years after receiving that award, i bet my teacher would be happy to know that my minor is Print Journalism. So i guess John Rzeznik is one of that elements that made me who i am today huh? if i wasn't so obsessed about him, i wouldn't be exerting that much effort on the article.I guess that's what they call fate.

Carpe Diem!

2009-01-26T22:39:00.006+08:00

sigh not so my lady, sigh no more

men are deceivers ever

one foot in sea, and one on shore

remaining constant never

and sigh not so and let them go

and be ye blithe and bonny

converting all your sighs of woe

into hey nonny nonny!

-Much Ado About Nothing

Last saturday, a free day, i watched Dead Poets Society after also watching The Breakfast Club. I have this list of movies that i want to watch and these two movies were in that list. Of course I didn't have any knowledge before that Robert Sean Leonard was in DPS.I mentioned before in my old blog that I have a ~~huge~~ massive crush on Wilson from House. So when i learned that he was in that 1989 film (take note: i was born in 1989), i downloaded it.And OMG, HE WAS SOOOO CUTEEEE!!!!

He hasn't changed much huh? He did get older but he still has that charm that makes me swoon.LOL! *lately i've been noticing that i'm liking much older guys.HAHA!*

I also learned that he was Claudio in the movie adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.I watched that film a year ago in our Literature class, and wow was I surprised. I didn't like Cludio's role in the story,haha, he's too gay for me. Also, i'm noticing that i crush on guys that i have seen before in real life or reel whether i took notice of them or not.Very much justifies the poem Love at First Sight by Wislawa Szymborska.

Then on sunday, we had a field trip for our Art Appreciation class in Angono, Rizal. It was called Artists' Haven Tour

We went to this gallery house of the Blanco family, the family where all the members from the oldest to the youngest (we're talking about up to the third generation here) are painters.The youngest, Peter Paul, started painting when he was 11 months old.Also, when he was a young kid, his father would always draw him in his paintings, as an extra element for balance.It was fun playing 'Find Peter Paul' in his father's part of the gallery.

That's why I named this paper mache red horse (they call this Taka) after Peter Paul, my classmates nicknamed him Pipoy.

We also went to Orville Tiamson's studio.That man is so cool.

To the Angono Petroglyphs where we passed through a long,dark, and cold cave.

And Rafael Pacheco's Gallery/Kingdom.haha

I'm going to be very busy starting this week because i've been given the position of EP/Director for a production for an awards show in our school.Wish me luck! Take care everyone! :3

On the rocks please

2009-01-22T23:02:00.001+08:00

Bartender, originally uploaded by Texas Fight!.

Today was the 1st day of the job fair at our school. Juniors and Seniors were required to come in a corporate attire.My classmates looked very corporate-ish.Though i did tease some for looking like an archeaologist, a young mom going to a PTA meeting, a godmother going to a baptism, and a manager of a local supermarket. So of course they had to tease me back, they said i looked like a bartender.I had a white buttoned blouse and a black vest for the top, black pencil skirt and black tights.

Interesting experience in the bus when i was on my way home this afternoon:

old-ish male foreigner(OMF): *sitting beside me while i make way for him* thank you.salamat.

after a couple of seconds

OMF: thank you.salamat(thank you in filipino). you're very beautiful.maganda(beautiful in filipino).
Me: *smirked*

when i got home, i told my mom and dad about what happened in the bus.of course it wasn;t really a big of a deal for me.

mom: was he old?
me: yeah?kinda
dad: you should have asked him why he didn't have a car
mom: *thinking the man is a D.O.M(dirty old man)*
me: why would i ask him that?
mom: *worried about D.O.M's*
me: *turned on the karaoke*

Impulsive

2009-01-20T16:11:00.004+08:00

Before riding the bus to get back home, i dropped by the bookstore. I really didn't have anything in mind to buy but i still went anyway. I saw my classmate and she laughed at me when i told her that i just wanted to go in and see if there's anything i need to buy.What's so weird about that? O_o I walked around the bookstore and there wasn't anything in particular that caught my attention, though i did thought of buying a canvas but i decided to get my mom to buy that for me. I looked at the magazine section but i couldn't find Preview, the only magazine i've been paying any interest to lately.

Then just when i was about to go out, i saw a stack of coloring pens. I stared at them for a few seconds, as i pondered if i really needed them.But before i knew it, i got one set and paid for it at the counter.

Again i started to walk to the exit door, but i suddenly remembered about this book i saw in the newspaper the other day.I looked around and alas! i saw it. Grabbed it without even thinking again about the money going bye bye.

Para kay B is the first novel of Ricky Lee, a renowned Filipino scriptwriter who wrote the classics Himala, Moral and Anak.

When i had a film appreciation class, my proffesor told us about Ricky Lee's scriptwriting manual, Trip to Quiapo.The way he wrote it was really interesting, he doesn't care about conventions and traditions in writing. If only all textbooks are written like that, learning can be so much fun and easier.So far, the novel doesn't dissapoint.I feel like i'm watching Amelie.

Last week, i bought a Domo-kun lanyard and coin purse!!!!! I love Domo-kun!haha!

I use this as a cellphone strap.Everyone who sees it goes 'KAWAIII!!!~" though 99% of them don't have any idea who Domo-kun is.

I really didn't want to buy anything because i'm saving up for...actually i don't have anything to save up for.i just want to save up. But then Domo-kun flashed that big mouth of his and i just couldn't resist.

Graphonomy

2009-01-19T18:30:00.005+08:00

Today at school, my professor suddenly felt like teaching us on how to read a person's handwriting, also known as Graphonomy.That professor actually teaches Filipino but he likes teaching us random things like how to know if a person is lying, how girls show a guy that she wants to be courted, and even how to write Alibata(which is cool btw).

He told us that if your penmanship slants to the right, you're can be a very emotional person at times. if it slants to the left, you're an anti-social most of the time. And if it's straight like mine, you're an independent person.I think of myself as an anti-social, but i thinkthe independent analysis fits me better.

Then he asked who among the class writes their small i's like

I raised my hand and then he gave me this weird look, as if i was a ghost or something.I asked him with much curiosity and he said that people who write the dots of their small i's like that have another world of their own.The class of course made fun of me saying that what my professor said was so true, they said that i'm from Mars (i don't know, maybe because i'm hyper most of the time at school). My professor explained that people who write like that are mostly those who keep double personalities.I just nodded and smirked because that is so true.I'm a hyper and friendly person when i'm in school or with my friends but around my family/relatives, i'm very grumpy and untalkative.

He also analyzed our signatures, and 100% of what he said about mine was really true.Coincidence? Maybe this Graphonomy stuff really is something.

whiz kid

2009-01-11T09:12:00.006+08:00

My ~~little~~ younger brother's a whiz kid ever since i could remember.Before even having a proper education in preschool, he watched cartoons in Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network(we didn't have disney channel back then i think)and mainly enjoyed The Rugrats, Hey Arnold, and Little Lulu (I LOVE THIS!). He would immitate the lines in these cartoons and suddenly perform a monologue even without someone asking him to.I could remember him shouting "ANGELICAAAAAAAAA!!!!" the way Tommy did it.But what was most fascinating about him back then was that he read all of our encyclopedias.He did this because he had nothing else to do while me and blister went to school.First he was only interested in flags, so he memorized all the flags.Point out a flag and he'll tell you what country that is.The next thing he did was study the world map.Yes, he memorized the world map.I remember i was in my 2nd year in high school and in our geography class, we had to identify countries in a nameless world map.He did that for me.Aside from the flags and map, he memorized all the capitals of all the countries.He had all of these information stocked in that big brain of his that up until he was in 2nd grade, my 6th grade classmates would challenge him by saying a country and then him saying the capital without any effort.Everyone was just flabbergasted.Everyone that challenged him ran out of countries to ask.

Now, he's 15 years old and in 3rd year high school.He's a government scholar.And take note, his favorite subject is MATH (wtf?i hate math).If i'm not mistaken, he's the best in math in his high school.He's always the representative of the school in interschool Math competitions and never fails to win all the time.

You might be thinking, "Wow Gem!You're very lucky to have a brother as smart as him!Can we trade brothers/sisters?" Well, you'll be surprised to know that he's not as wonderful as i have described him earlier.And yes, i'd love to trade him with your brother/sister.Why? He irritates me (not because i'm insecure of his intelligence) because he eats everything on the dining table and doesn't think of leaving out some for people. (While i was typing the first paragraphs of this post, he ate all the fried rice.Now blister is cooking a 2nd batch for me) He's very anti-social (not anti-social like my case) He's just really not into talking to people. To make the long story short, he's got a world of his own. Well i guess nobody's really perfect.

why have 1 when you can have 50?

2009-01-10T15:41:00.004+08:00

I'm reading the 10 academic journals that i have collected for my thesis(2 down, 8 more to go), summarizing them and making essays, my professor wants them all done by monday.But i have to get them all done tonight because me and my thesismates have a meeting tomorrow where we'll also bind together our journals.Tough work huh?

But this guy,Daniel Seddiqui, has 50 jobs!, one in every state

Seriously, i'm envious! I'm the type who gets bored easily, (i've only had one job though) so that kind of living would be perfect for me! Probably get 7,107 jobs because Philippines has 7,107 islands!

Devotion

2009-01-09T19:58:00.001+08:00

I've been very busy with my thesis for days now, i stay up late and wake up early everyday to finish all the requirements for school.It's hard being a college student, specially when you reach that point where you have no choice but to do your best to finally graduate.So i'll give myself a short break and blog for a while.

Today a number of universities in the city suspended classes to give way for the annual feast of the Black Nazarene. I've lived almost 20 years in this place but it's only the first time that i've taken notice of this feast. Maybe because the strong devotion of the thousands and thousands of people inspire me to work harder with my thesis.You see, this feast is not an ordinary feast where people walk the streets, chanting loud happy music as colorful conffetti fall down from the sky. Devotees walk the streets of Manila for hours with their bare feet.Then they squeeze in with the biggest crowd you can imagine during the procession with the hopes that they can come close to the Black Nazarene, climb it and touch it, believing that it has some kind of miraculous power; even if it can unfortunately result to a number of people dying.

I've never seen this feast personally, i only see it in the tv.But i do hope that someday i can be able to witness such an event.Maybe stay in a high place to avoid the wild crowd.I'll try to be that devoted to my thesis, even if it causes me intense stress and lack of sleep. The feeling of finishing something that you worked on so hard will be all worth it.

photo by: grandphage

Edit:

I realized that that picture above isn't enough to give you an idea of how this feast looks like.so here's a video.I'm telling you, it's not an ordinary feast.

Here comes grumpy!

2009-01-07T11:00:00.000+08:00

Welcome to Grumpy Takoyaki! The new home of Gem, the grumpy author of mynameisgem who hasn't eaten takoyaki before in her life.This blog will be quite the same as the old one, only the name has changed.

Why the sudden change you ask? It's because i got angry with my sister when i woke up this morning because she took my House DVD.As simple as that.Actually it's also because when my family describes me, it's always that one word, GRUMPY.So with this new blog, i'll feel more connected to it than the old one that was just a lame name just because i couldn't think of anything at that time.

Ok, i have to go to school now and get grumpy!