To Zambales and Raining

After our Rurals expedition, we planned an excursion trip after the Reunion. It was supposed to be on the 14th, but you know Typhoon Caloy swept the land (unless you were obliviously living under a rock for the past few weeks).

So we rescheduled. Ria, Iwi, Angel, Christine, Clara, and I slept in the living room of the Center last Saturday (20th). Before sleeping, we watched a short film of St. Josemaria then the claymation Wallace and Gromit with the ladies who live there. It was so fun. I could never wish for a better sleepover party.

We woke up at 4:00am of Sunday and prepared for our 4-hour trip to Zambales. Long trip, really.

Me, sleeping in the van. Shot taken by Marisel, pinagti-tripan ako.

We arrived at Eli's family's resthouse near the white-gray sand beach. I never really loved the beach, 'cause I grew tired of it. I spent every summer since I was a baby in Quezon where our house is a stone's throw away from the beach. But our trip to Zambales was different. When we got there, all I wanted was to swim right away.

Me, studying the sand. That's Iwi's back.

Me, Marisel, Christine, and Iwi enjoying the ambience.

Art shot kuno, taken by me. Ria's, Iwi's, Marisel's and Christine's backs.

After two minutes of spending time at the beach, it rained. Then it poured really hard. Then it was like Typhoon Darna or something. Frustrated, we just walked back to the resthouse in our swimming gear, wet because of the rain, not of the beach.

Bumabagyo na!

Mga basang sisiw.


Still, we wouldn't let some rain ruin our day. We hang out back at the resthouse with pictures and stories.
On our way back to the Center, we shared more stories and love lives tales. Well, I don't technically have a love life, so I just told them about my real-life crush whom I miss so much 'cause I rarely see him around school. Hay, so dreamy.


The Zambales team (Iwi, Angel, Moi, Ria, Marisel, Clara, and Dess)! That's us, having lunch in the resthouse before we took off to swim. We missed the other Ruralers there, but we still had a great time. :D

The Last Rock

My hands are blistered. My arms are strong and hard with lactic acid. My back is straighter than ever, with pain of course. My fingernails are dusted with magnesium carbonate. My veins are better seen.

Ahh, the sweetness of wallclimbing
Never again.

I went home early from my last climbing class today. There was supposed to be an interclass-competition. I was one of the lucky ones who could join. Of course, I wanted to participate. Who knows? It might be the last climb I could ever make and it could be a winning climb. Too bad, really. I just had to go home early 'cause Sweet Home Angono is too damn far and I wouldn't risk leaving Tandang Sora at 8pm in the evening to reach home at about 9:30 at the earliest. I also have tons of film to edit for my summer course. I knew deep inside that I wanted to fight, but I was already satisfied that I was picked and Iwi also happened to be in the same team.

Climbingmate Cookie just texted me and reported that Iwi's team - my team - won first place! I'm so darn happy for them, really, without any trace of bitterness that I could also taste some winning kudos and gym freebies if only I wasn't too strict about my self-proclaimed curfew. Well, okay, I'm a litttttle bitter. Just a little. But knowing that I could also well be one of them is already fulfilling. I even went to the adoration chapel late this afternoon and prayed for Iwi so they'd win. Ahh, answered prayers.

I'm going to meet Iwi tomorrow, and I'm going to bug her to tell me about their legacy. Kasi naman noh, she's the best female climber in that competition I bet. And I think when all other gymnasts like her shift to wallclimbing, they're going to be a breed of champions.

Bidding Seventeen Goodbye

One day and one night to go, I'm leaving 17 behind. Have no choice but to accept my new age. I'm still protesting inside, y know. It's so difficult to adjust to a new status when you're so used to labelling yourself "17."

I'm trying not to be melodramatic here but I don't want to turn 18. For me, 18 is old. Not old old, but old enough. Point is, I'm entering another phase in my life and I'm turning some things in, things I haven't figured out yet.

Before I pack my bags to technical "adulthood" (the very word freaks me out), I'm going to sum up the seventeen years I've spent on Earth roaming and rambling about:

I've been a U.P student riding Ikot and Toki jeeps, skipping from building to building, cramming, studying, not sleeping, walking, listening, writing, laughing, talking, hanging out, playing, praying. I've learned so much and changed a lot. All those people that I've encountered and learned to love made me Me.

I'm thankful to have known my K5 friends. Without them, I'd be insane. I would keep on worrying about things and I wouldn't have found a cure for scatterbrain. They were my consolation in that dreadful J100 class. They're smart, entertaining, and wonderful individuals who are so easy to love. I told them one time that if it wasn't for them, I'd be a bobo UP student. Not that I'm smart, but I'm definitely not bobo.

My joining Klub Tala and Task Force completed my U.P life. Nothing beats the feeling of fulfillment for having helped myself by helping others.

Moving into a boarding house was also a good decision. I didn't have to endure the carbon monoxidic air of jeepneys to Antipolo and I didn't anymore bug my parents to drop me to school instead. My roommates are wonderful. They're hardworking and fun, and so easy to talk with. Whenever I'm spacing out and jaded by my studies, they're good ways to spend space-out time with.

Throughout my 17th year, I tried hard to get my interests back on track and discover more. I was into basketball and wallclimbing. It was impossible for me to catch up with pro tennis news. I tried to write. I tried to design. I had to quit movie updates and Hollywood goings-on because I had no time for them. I discovered my fascination in psychology and philosophy.

Last but definitely, definitely not the least - the Center. I hope no one from Daniw will read this 'cause I sound so sentimental but man, I love that place. Well, it's not only the place per sé, it's the people and the formation. The Center and the people I've met there (with God, hand in hand) changed the way I am, for the better I can say. It gave me opportunities that I've always wanted to have: UNIV, Rurals, Klub Tala, sidestuff. I also have never been closer to God than now.

There might me more responsibilities and expectations when you're 18. There might me more opportunities and more ups and downs. But now that I realize it, God has given me too much. And y know what? Every single thing is wonderful.

Restless

When you're in college (or even high school), you can't resist the forces that pull and push you. They're strong. It's almost impossible for you to not get into anything. It's silly that when someone asks you your interests, you'd say you have none or you have a lot but can't enumerate them. You have to have an organization, a hobby, a bunch of people who have similar interests, or a job.

Probably I'm speaking for myself. I can't be satisfied if I'm just sitting around my house doing something I enjoy but don't learn from. Somehow, I have to go out and show my face to the world.

It's just a nice way of saying: Darn, I'm busy.

Okay, so I'm into a lot of things now. I'm back to wallclimbing, devouring Time magazines, tinkering with softwares, attending activities in Daniw, computer editing jobs for extra bucks, psychology, films of course, and real books. I took summer classes so I won't be staying home watching films all day. I love doing that but I couldn't let my brains cells go hungry and die. Nakakabulok kasi ng utak. Still, it's as if I want to rip my butt off my seat. There's always this yearning that makes me want to do something else - something tough, fun, and worthwhile.

I keep my hands full all the time but I'm not satisfied. All I know is that I want to do something else but I don't have the remotest ideas what that something is. I keep on telling myself that small things make up big things and that in the future, near or distant, an opportunity will open up right before my eyes.

My problem is, why can't it be NOW? I hate to always wait.