Fine Prints.

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Profile. Hi I'm Rod, 16 years old. I'm an avid blogger (links in another part of this blog). I am a desperate person trying to do things that I can't be good at. But I know I'm good at some things. I play guitar. I sing. I write. but here's a good generalization about me, as written by me. written 5/14/10 I am different. For so long, I have been judged because of my actions, words, choices and fantasies. It is because, as I said it, different. I do not stick with the status quo for most times. I am handicapped. I am weird. But does it have to be that way all the time? Do I have to live with what people say forever? Can it be changed? I may be different, but I have done better things in life. And if you continue to judge, you can never find out what these are. Likes and interests. Well, there is music. There is television. Wow, I don't have much of a life after all. Stalk me. facebook /

Within the white walls of a certain cafeteria in the University of the Philippines- Diliman, the way of living of Iskos can be seen. Even just by sitting there, silently, as if you were invisible, you could see a lot of things going around you.

And the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association Food Service was that place. Otherwise known as CASAA, this home of 8 food stores plus a soda station and about 50 tables was where I could see UP life in general. After all, it has been there for ages.

And I went in; I sat down and looked around. There was a student sleeping silently at my back. There was a group of students endlessly cramming and freaking out over their Physics exam. There was a couple enjoying a study date while munching on loud crackers. And unusually, it was a very silent place that day.

I stood up and thought about what to get for a small snack. Would I go heavy with hot, roasted chicken, whose juices I couldn’t get out of my mind? Would I go light with some long, slender, yet satisfying Chinese noodles? Or would I go just right with Pinoy food, always tasty?

I chose none.

I got up, and went to the Italian store. I ordered my favourite--- pasta. The soft noodles all covered with the red, meaty, pasta sauce, was what I needed for a good brunch. To push it all in, iced tea.

I got back into my seat and that’s when I realized. I can taste the world without spending much!

I got back and started observing again; still the same sight. Sleeping boy was still sleeping. The lovers were still enjoying the company but dreading the studies. The girls who were cramming were almost ready to tear their hair off. And it hit me. These are typical UP students. They do what they feel to do, in any place because they want to do it. The couple could have gotten a room, but chose not to. The sleeping boy could have slept in a more private place. The girls could have studied earlier. But we’re in UP. We are independent, and we do what we want to do because we have the right to do so.

So I noted all of these down, finished my pasta and chugged on my iced tea. And I got back to reality. How did I see all of those in a rectangular box with red chairs, white tables, screened doors, a sweet aroma and constant whirring of electric fans?

I must be crazy.

Politics and the English language
I. Decline of English Language
A. Political Causes
B. Economic Causes
II. Example Analysis
A. Laski’s Essay
B. Hogben’s Essay
C. Essay on Psychology
D. Communist Pamphlet
E. Letter in Tribune
III. Faults
A. Staleness of Imagery
B. Lack of Precision
IV. Tricks to Dodge Mistakes
A. Dying Metaphors
B. Operators or Verbal False Limbs
C. Pretentious Diction
D. Meaningless Words
V. Political Writing in Our Day
A. Political Writing as Bad Writing
B. Political Writing as defence of indefensible.
VI. Tips and Rules in Correcting Writing

The Series of Events in the Essay ‘A Hanging’
I. Description of the Jail
II. Description of the Prisoner
III. Events before the Execution
A. Removal from Cell
B. Bugle Call
C. The Dog
D. Author’s Conscience
IV. Execution Proper
A. Description of Area and Hangman
B. Execution and Crying Out
C. Death
V. After Execution

A random person like me would oftentimes go under crazy nostalgia. Maybe once in a day, I would remember what it would be like to be a kid today. I would remember all the great television shows like Ren and Stimpy, where I got the epic song, “Happy Happy, Joy Joy”. Once in a while, I would sing along to the Rocko’s Modern Life or remember Dexter’s Lab.

Speaking of which, I really was fond of Dexter’s Lab. I guess if you would mention any scene, I would remember what happened in that episode. One particular episode was the reason I had a very good day as a child. This particular episode was when Dexter and his dad did almost all they could to go fishing before sunrise. I pitched in the idea to my dad, who immediately agreed to the thought of going out one morning for fishing. He texted my uncle to bring my cousins and we went out early morning the next day.

The fishing area was like a small, circular hut in the middle of a lake with four bridges connecting it to the mainland. The place was good for roughly around 30 people. Behind it was the beautiful view of Mayon Volcano smiling to everyone in Legazpi. Inside it, around 4 families were enjoying a nice morning.

My cousins, brothers and I started fishing. For about an hour, I was desperately waiting for a bite as I saw everyone around me snagging fish, after fish, after fish. Even my dad and uncle caught a couple ones. I then remembered I’m not really good at things like these.

It was around eight in the morning and I was still hopeless. We all had time for one last attempt before we would get breakfast. In the spirit of family tradition, my dad and my uncle made things very interesting. They offered 500 pesos to the next one to catch a fish. So everything was set, and the competition began. 7 people, 7 poles, 7 worms, 500 pesos, but only 1 winner.

I went to the middle of the bridge with my long bamboo pole and I tossed the hook and line into the water. Suddenly, all the fish came flocking towards my hook like a group of fan girls chasing a Korean Pop star. And there was a bite. I remembered what I learned from Pokemon --- pull with rhythm. I did it to no avail. It was too heavy. I was shouting and an employee there assisted me and pulled with me. And there it was. One big tilapia came out of the water. My bamboo rod broke, but I still got the fish. The man told me it was one of the biggest catches of the day.

I got my money, and a great meal out of that.

I made the right choice.

Twelve years ago, the institution was the best choice for Grade School education in the province. You were known very well. I, for one, had no choice but to go to you. My family, specifically my mother’s side, had stepped in your hallways since the 1920s and all of them had different stories and different journeys.

Over the years, I grew. I excelled. I cried. I threw tantrums. I got sick. I rejoiced. And you were there to witness it all. In return, I learned all about you. I watched you grow. I saw you change. I could see right through you and through everyone who maintained you.

In 2006, I was faced with a decision on whether I would stay for High School or go to a Science High School, either in Diliman or just a few kilometres away. I decided to stay, mainly because of my scholarship. I thought it was a very shallow reason.

Later that year, my education was scarred forever. When Typhoon Reming destroyed your historical hallways, I stayed away from you for a month. And that’s where it hit me. I was behind, academically. Compared to other schools, the topics taught was very much behind because of the suspension of classes.

But then again, that was just academics. That wasn’t all there was to life. You continued to help me grow. You opened up opportunities to me and other people. You gave me subtle clues on what I should be and what I should do. You helped me discover who I am.

And it has just been roughly 3 months since I left, and I cannot thank you enough. Though I grew slowly in academics, I made up for that. However, what was important is that I grew morally, and I know that is really hard. I am now in another house, which could be my third home. Every day, I am faced with tests of mind and heart and I will always remember what you’ve taught me.

You’re turning 98 next week, Happy Birthday. I wish you all the best. I wish I was there. But as every Agnesian sang before, “Forever your student, I will be, for your spirit lives in me.”
Ut in omnibus glorifetiur deus.

This is from one of your products.

Disclaimer. All works here are in partial fulfillment for the requirements in English 1. Archive, by months. September 2010

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