You know you're subconsciously trying to gain weight when

Your breakfast consists of Yangchow Fried Rice (homestyle), Di Marks Pizza and Clover Ham & Cheese. And you didn't even think when you put them together.

God, I can see the monosodium glutamate on my pizza.

Oh, have I mentioned? I'm now using a pair of brick red chopsticks when I eat. I haven't had a decent spoon-and-fork meal at home in two weeks or more. Chopsticks make eating rice a real bitch, too. I'd provide a picture, but my baby's jammed. To the repair shop, lovies!

Some quotes of the day:

"Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end."

"I wasted time, and now doth time waste me."
"Be great in act, as you have been in thought."
- Shakespeare

"Think about how a person half way across the world knows the instant their loved one
is hit by a car. It's because they're struck with a sudden burst of love, a psychic shock, the kind of shock that can only come from total loss of a loved one. You need to let go. You need to die." - Cole Turner

"Think of me when you dance." - Drake

We'll Fight, Not Out of Spite; But Someone Must Stand Up For What's Right

6 Days ago... Was the last time I blogged. A lot's happened since. Let me try to recount:

First Friday Unplugged (Of the Century): This was undoubtedly one of the best FFU’s we’ve ever had. And I’ve been to all of them, mind you. There was a lot of raw talent in this one, some even rather honed, but everyone (well, almost) did really well.

We had a total of nine acts.

Let me try to remember them. There was C.O. (that’s his nickname) with “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. Carlo Chong sang “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down (I personally really dislike this song). Some H1 band with Enzo (forgot his last name, but I used to play badminton with him when I was younger) as their lead singer sang some song that sounded quite positive, but with very little skill. Then BARDO (!!!!) came and sang “Can’t Cry Hard Enough” by Bellefire, although Bardo was singing an earlier version, and scampered off before I could congratulate him. Next was Mr. Bumatayo with “Do I Make You Proud” by Taylor Hicks (yeah, the American Idol guy) (Hello, Alexis.). It was quite touching, as it was about his dad, God rest. Then came Mr. Pinlac singing some Bamboo song (I think its name was “Flowers”), Mrs. Ocampo with a medley of Barbra Streisand, The Carpenters and The Beatles, Mr. Asis with “100 Years” by Five for Fighting (with these disturbing but mondo-cool falsetto sounds that you just didn’t expect from him), and, the final act, Wesley, with I’ll Be by Edwin McCain. I only didn’t like Carlo’s and the H1 Band’s, and Mr. Bumatayo’s song could’ve been done better.

Moving on . . .

Editing Xtreme Makeover with Mr. Asis: on Saturday, I went to help Mr. Asis with the Xtreme Makeover crap. When I got there, Mr. Asis hadn’t arrived yet, so after bugging/making-epal (that sounds so bad)/cam-ho’ing with TJ Quidilla (who I will henceforth refer to as TJQ) and Lawrence, I ran around the school grounds aimlessly. Sometime later, Mr. Asis comes out of the workroom with McDonalds and his laptop. We retrieve the research documents (forwarded by Stanly via email) and find that it amounts to a not-so-grand total of five. Yes, five. Including mine. Well actually, Kyle’s was a proposal for the fair. So four.

Damn. I spent the next hour and a half just typing away at his computer and brainstorming about ideas. We decide that he will go to the mall and take pictures of products and improve everything, and I go home.

XSH3ICAH2 Interaction: At about 3:30, I leave for the Clubhouse at Greenhills West to attend the Interaction. But it’s a bit too early, because it’s supposed to start at four thirty, and I got there at about 3:40. Walter and I go to Starbucks. As he scavenges for his wallet, I meet up with Martin and Walter and I talk.

We go back some time later and arrive back at the place, signing up and getting our I.D.’s. Now, I seemed to be the only person who knew how to tie them together (Mom taught me way back when I was 6 years old, and I never used it since then. Muscle Memory is grand, isn’t it?) so I did so for Kenn, Walt, etc..., eventually wasting time until we were admitted in.

The actual thing was just plain boring (but everyone who asked me how it went got the answer “It was okay.”). It was the bands that were absolutely … hmm, how do I describe this? Well, let’s just say I didn’t really mind the fact that it was boring—I was busy picking my jaw up from the floor, which was hurting from dropping so often.

Ralph sang in Red Shift. That was just… amazing. The song, Dance Inside by All American Rejects, was BEAUTIFUL. Amazing song. Amazing performance. And no one expected Ralph to have such skill. Wow.

Aldo actually sang well this time. The other times… well, usually, hehe, when he sings, Banshees sounds like professionals. But this time… wow. He got all the notes right, sang just loud enough, raised his voice just high enough. Very nice.

Then we had Disco (sorry, decapitalize that in your minds), where our DJ just SUCKED. He kept killing the song at all the good parts, then we’d just stand and wait for it to come back. That was sucky.
Then at some point, everyone started yelling “Sexy Back! Sexy Back!” It IS a nice song, after all.

Went to Ash Creek with Walter afterwards, drank me some water. See his friend’s mom wanted to “請” cnia me to some food. I told her I was full. She persisted. I told her I had diabetes. We chatted some more.

So we chatter away as Walter takes a panning video of himself, and I focus on his mom and his mom’s friend’s conversation, which consisted of Fukien, some Mandarin read out from paper, and lots of Cantonese-y code switching. It was pure bliss.

And when they spoke Hokkien, it wasn’t like my parents, which had English and Filipino squirming their way into the language. It was STRAIGHT Hokkien. I had to pick my jaw up from the floor again.

Dad picked me up and we went home.

Monday and Tuesday: Are a blur. But in Soc Sci, we’ve been studying The French Revolution. Can I just say? I think French is SEXYHOT!!! Hear a native French person say “Marie Antoinette”. Gods…

Oh, and my camera broke. So henceforth, no pictures. Yep. On the ONE MOST IMPORTANT DAY, I won’t get any pictures.

Today is Wednesday: I first went to the mass at six thirty (or was it six forty five?) in the morning, which Fr. Guy presided over. In the Homily, he mentioned how last quarter, he taught a class that he had to leave at the end of the quarter *swells with pride*. He asked how they had been lately, and one of them said that they were struggling. Fr. Guy said he was saddened, and very sorry to hear that. He was quite surprised when the student replied, “You should be. You left us.”

I stopped short at that point. Who, among our classmates, would dare to say that to Fr. Guy?

"Stanly" was the first thing that popped into my head, but I had to make sure. Also, it is at this point that I would like to tell my class: YOU SUCK. Seriously, the one time that Fr. Guy mentions our class, you guys are absent. There were about 4 of us in the entire mass!

God.

Anyway. I head on over to the canteen and check out my ACP sched, and I am in the classes that I signed up for—Flying Solo and Law & Order.

Thing is, right under the name “Flying Solo” on the piece of paper posted at the canteen, there’s this clause that says, “Bring a minus one or accompaniment (guitar or keyboards) for your piece.” Or something to that effect.

Crap. Not only do I not have one, but I don’t have the skill to play one anyway.

And so we head on over to the MPC for the Career in Business talk with Mr. Rudolfo Ang, who Mr. Asis said was rather cranky. He was everything but, actually. Very nice, easy-going, professional (and you KNOW how much I value this trait), knowledgeable and accommodating. It was all in all, a great talk. Then we waste time for an extra thirty something minutes while Gian attempts to draw me. We then have recess and I eagerly await my doom.

Then out of nowhere, Ms. Magallona appears near the Media Ed., where Flying Solo was supposed to be held. I asked what she was doing, and she said she was the assigned moderator and would be with us throughout.

I was almost expecting this evil, hard-edged, old hack for our guest speaker, but I guess I should do my digging next time. This guy was 29 years old, and he was already a seasoned performer. Yes, his old band Smokey Mountain was a part of his childhood. As in, pre-teen. As in, 12 years old.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Jeffrey Hidalgo.


http://www.yehey.com/lifestyle/culture.aspx?artid=1306
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/mar1805/showbiz_bb.htm
http://www.titikpilipino.com/album/reviews.php?albumid=499
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2005/08/26/life/jeffrey.and.raki.in.once.on.this.island.tomorrow!.html
http://www.titikpilipino.com/news/?aid=430

He’s even got this (now defunct) website at www.jeffreyhidalgo.com

This guy, my friends, is Mr. Asis’ friend. Yes, Mr. Asis has connections.

And my God, can he sing. But he doesn’t look like how he does in the pictures anymore. The hair is grown longer.

So anyway, most of us are asked to sing a song each. C.O. sang The Way You Look Tonight, which had Mr. Hidalgo showering him with praises. Wesley sang I Will Be Here and Mr. Hidalgo was willing to work with him on it to help him. The rest were just kind of… comments and criticism. But that was his job after all. Mav also sang this song that I can’t remember right now (the O2 Jam playing in the background is clouding my thoughts), but it was really good.

Yeah, and that wasn’t the most disappointing part. I usually don’t run out of breath, especially on She Called Me Kansas. I ran out of breath. God. Crap. His review of my (crappy) singing did raise my respect for him by several tens of degrees though—he was able to identify a country song immediately. And his description was quite apt, too—“Na-iimagine ko siya.”

And I had to do acapella, which was just the death of me.

So I have lunch, read that story that Raphie was given for his Fantasy class, which was mostly about Santa and Old Winter Death. Yeah, it was weird and noir-ish but cool and saddening.

Martin tells me of his experience taking pictures of two female models. On the spot. With SLR’s. In photography class. Oh, envy. Envy.

So anyway.

He and I go straight to Law & Order, which is a two parter of sorts given by Atty. Henry Co, a Xaverian alumnus, and Atty. Cherrie Cruz, who is apparently the attorney of Mr. Gringo Honasan… That’s two V.V.V.I.P.’s today.

To say that the talks they gave on Law were interesting would be like saying watching Aaron Lines live in concert is breakfast fodder.

MY GOD I’M IN LOVE WITH LAW.

The radio announced it today. No school tomorrow! Which means no notecards and debate! Which means a five day weekend! ORGASM!!!!!!

Here're the shots of Bro. Haw (All new and improved, sleek, shiny and glossy), all courtesy of Alfonso Solano.

She Called Me Kansas by Aaron Lines

We sat and watched the sun come up
With a blanket wrapped around us
We spent all night out on that beach
Couldn't hold her close enough to me
That was love I won't forget
And I still remember what she said

She called me Kansas
She said that I reminded her of home
She called me Kansas
And I know I've never been there
But it's a place I’d love to go

The April air, the crescent moon
Two wild hearts with nothing to lose
That weekend was all we had
But what I'd give for two more days like that
She looked at me and said goodbye
And kissed my lips one last time

She called me Kansas
She said that I reminded her of home
She called me Kansas
And I know I've never been there
But it's a place I’d love to go

Kansas, I'll always remember
Kansas, I hear your name and I am with her

ZOMGZ!!! What the F? Who SAYS things like that?

Gahds! You should've been with me the whole day!

Have you any idea the delights I have witnessed? Physically and auditorily.

Physically: (it's not really a delight) BROTHER HAW LOST WEIGHT!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!

Seriously, I was just yapping away with Martin when suddenly, I hear him say something like "Kailan kayo mag-si-sign up?" And then... he entered the garden from the side entrance.

And then... I saw him.

HOLY HELL. Once I quibble with Alfonso for the picture, I'll post it here. But seriously. Brother Haw apparently lost 25 pounds. It was due to this diet that his supervisor (is that what you call him?) suggested because he was at risk for diabetes. And lo and behold, he's gone waaaaaay down.

Seriously, I couldn't stop repeating it to him [partly to myself. Hehe] because I was so deeply mired in disbelief. WOW.

Anyway, as we continued to talk, he suddenly stopped short, stared at me, then asked, "Bakit mo ako kinakausap sa Ingles?"

"Nakasanayan na po?" *wide YM-emoticon-like grin* *plus braces*


Before I move to the auditory aspect, mag-intermission muna tayo. MULTIPLY WORKS!!! FEAR ME!!! QUAVER IN YOUR RICKETY COMPUTER CHAIRS AS YOU WITNESS THE VERY [imminent] RETURN OF... *creepy music* THE CAM-HO'!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yo'.


Elsewhere, I attended the practice for tomorrow's First Friday. Let me just say...

WOW. And double WOW.

We have TALENT this time!!! (that's a mean joke, I know, but you can't disagree. Some of the previous ones like Sherwin weren't exactly made to sing). I'll update you tomorrow on who sang what, but let me just say:

Mr. Asis can sing damn well. Falsetto O.o

Wesley is okay. He's got a strong voice. [Bardo: "Di' mo na kailangan ng mic!"]

Bardo sang great. Like... wow. It was wonderful. Plus the song he sang was beautiful. One of my favs.

In other news: I met Alex's college friends today. Word. And there was mention of Alex and his...

NOLI. IS [well, will be. Oh, shut up and let me enjoy.]. OVER!!!!!!!!!!! 2 Chapters! [actually, one chapter, and an epilogue.]

I'm having a dinner of rice with beef and sinigang. And I love it. Normally, I would wince in disgust, but tonight, it's especially delicious. Amazing how life looking up can change your view.

I'm a debater. Oh Dear God.

Martin's got my sheet of paper with the Alternative Class Project (ACP). But I wanna join Law & Order, and Flying Solo. I wanna siiiing. But I don't know what to sing.

Too bad I can't sing in Chinese. Eason would be so perfect for it. I like how his voice sounds.

古巨基 - 愛得太遲

我過去　那死黨　早晚共對　各也紮職以後沒法暢聚
而終於　相約到　但無言共對　疏淡如水
日夜做　見爸爸　剛好想呻　卻霎眼看出他多了皺紋
而他的蒼老感　是從來未覺　太內疚擔心

最心痛是　愛得太遲　有些心意　不可等某個日子
盲目地發奮　忙忙忙其實自私
夢中也習慣　有壓力要我得志

最可怕是　愛需要及時　只差一秒　心聲都已變歷史
忙極亦放肆　見我愛見的相知
要抱要吻要怎麼也好　偏要推說等下一次

我也覺　我體質　彷似下降　看了症得到是別要太忙
而影碟　都掃光　但從來未看　因有事趕
日夜做　儲的錢　都應該夠　到聖誕正好講跟我白頭
誰知她開了口　未能挨下去　已恨我很久

錯失太易　愛得太遲　我怎想到　她忍不到那日子
盲目地發奮　忙忙忙從來未知
幸福會掠過　再也沒法說鍾意

愛一個字　也需要及時　只差一秒　心聲都已變歷史
為何未放肆　見我愛見的相知
要抱要吻要怎麼也好　不要相信一切有下次

相擁我所愛又花幾多秒
這幾秒　能夠做到又有多少
未算少　足夠遺憾忘掉

多少抱憾　多少過路人　太懂估計　卻不懂愛錫自身
人人在發奮　想起他朝都興奮
但今晚未過　你要過也很吸引

縱不信運　你不過是人　理想很遠　愛於咫尺卻在等
來日別操心　趁你有能力開心
世界有太多東西發生　不要等到天上俯瞰

What did I ever do to you?

My God, Henry.

Life Is Screwing With Me

Seriously. I've still got so much to do, too. Here's this week's updates.

There's now this new thing called "Bituin... U & Me" in school. This is this year's edition of last year's dedication star thingies in which for a pithy P50, you get a star-shaped lantern and a piece of paper which you can write a dedication on and have hanged up wherever you like. Student volunteers man this booth during the breaks.

Ms. Magallona had asked me to ask Raphie to write an article about the good things Fr. Johnny had done (*cough**wheez**gag*PROPAGANDA*snort**die*) for him, as a student, but he would be representing the student body. Thing is, I forgot to ask Raphie so when, the following day, Ms. Magallona asked for it, I freaked and did it during dismissal in about five minutes. Somewhere later, Raphie came along and read my work, and I added his name beside mine as an afterthought. He stopped me, though, so I only got as far as "Rap". Then when I submitted it to Ms. Magallona, she finished his name for me. Hehehehe. Raphie feels bad about it though.

Also, while I was plotting to completely erase my name and put only Raphie's, he mentioned that the very fact that I used the word "Personally" indicated that it was so very, patented me. He's right. I'm the only person I know that uses that word.

Apparently, Hongers call "erasers" "rubbers". Well, they have a very different meaning here and many other countries [i.e. American-influenced ones], I assure you. In Math, Mr. Sy explained this, and after the Povedan Interaction, handed us some extra small rubbers for use in Math class. The same day that he gave us these rubbers, he wrote this on the board.

Kyle spilt moppit ink all over my table during Chinese class (when I was out of the room). I even ended up getting moppit ink all over some of my hands when I touched the sides and legs of the table, which were still dripping with the black ink. Good thing they come off with water.

This one was taken from a book called The 7 Habits of Effective Teens: Personal Workbook by Sean Covey (Stephen's brother?). It's got all these wicked quotes and stuff. Whee! I also have to work on this for club.

We had to do an experiment in Science with ammonium hydroxide. Yeah, the stuff that reeks. It was so strong that it broke through Ralph's stuffy nose and caused him to recoil for several seconds, clutching his nose. Upon answering the question "Describe the smell of ammonium hydroxide." on our experiment analysis sheets, he wrote "piercing." The airhead above would have to be Gerard, who probably sniffed (instead of the highly recommended "waft"), and is now feeling its effects.

Stroke of inspiration during Filipino.

The picture says it all. This is for MRX Most Requested in Xavier.
During PTC.


The Soupiness of Bert (Ang Kasabawan ni Bert)

A very interesting bullet in one of the higher floors of the EED, overlooking the football field no less.

Leigh was asking for directions to YCLC while I was taking this.

Ah, and the man of the hour. Mr. Hernando, our new C.L.E. teacher. I don't know what the school or Fr. Guy saw in him. Because seriously, this guy is crap at teaching. Paris Hilton could do a better job. He has absolutely no respect for the students' opinions [or for the students, for that matter] ("Kabarumbaduhan"), just cannot, cannot, cannot admit that he is wrong ("Pride"), criticizes other peoples' English, voice and accent, when he doesn't have what one would call the correct enunciation either ("sin" becomes "seen") ("Hypocrisy"). And wtf, he GRADES prayers! What kind of C.L.E. teacher GRADES prayers? And that's not even the worst part! The worst part is that he subtracted points because he felt someone's prayer was too long! I mean, God, how dare you? Not only are you stripping the very meaning of prayer, but you're telling the person that it's wrong to pray for the things you want to pray for because it'll take too long! It's no wonder this idiot didn't become a priest.

I have been very patient with this guy. No more.

Worse, when I went to see Fr. Guy about him, Fr. Guy was all, "Give him a chance." I told him I'd already given him more than a week. Fr. Guy asked me to give him two weeks. I told him I'd already given him two weeks. Fr. Guy tells me he'll see.

周傳雄 - 寂寞沙洲冷

自你走後心憔悴
白色油桐風中紛飛
落花似人有情 這個季節

河畔的風放肆拼命的吹
無端撥弄離人的眼淚
那樣濃烈的愛再也無法給
傷感一夜一夜

當記憶的線纏繞過往支離破碎
是慌亂佔據了心扉
有花兒伴著蝴蝶 孤雁可以雙飛
夜深人靜獨徘徊

當幸福戀人寄來紅色分享喜悅
閉上雙眼難過頭也不敢回
仍然撿盡寒枝不肯安歇微帶著後悔
寂寞沙洲我該思念誰

陳奕迅 & 梁漢文 - 拔河

陳: 你說她又失蹤 一整夜電話撥不通
不敢睡怕噩夢 醒著又怕想到心痛
血滴在心中 多苦我能懂
絕不讓一步 把自己逼瘋
你很想知道 誰盜走 她的夢

梁: 我們都會失控 有人搶 越是不放鬆
如果忘了初衷 最後爭到手也沒用
感覺自己像 面對個黑洞
多努力激動 回應都是空
除非自己想通 掙脫這場捉弄

#

陳: 你為誰拔河
梁: 女人之間計較特別苛
陳: 愛恨在拉扯
梁: 男人的錯很快不記得
陳: 感情怎麼分割
合: 怎麼曲折 都等她選擇
你爭的究竟是愛 還是種資格
梁: 你別再拔河
陳: 真心不是誰比誰坎坷
梁: 能捨才能得
陳: 淚水不能解幸福的渴
梁: 愛其實說穿了
合: 不該你的 不怪誰招惹
只拖著 她的軀殼愛著 那又如何

陳: 我們都會失控 有人搶 越是不放鬆
如果忘了初衷 最後爭到手也沒用
梁: 感覺自己像 面對個黑洞
多努力激動 回應都是空
除非自己想通 掙脫這場捉弄
#
陳: 你別再拔河
梁: 真心不是誰比誰坎坷
陳: 能捨才能得
梁: 淚水不能解幸福的渴
陳: 愛其實說穿了
合: 不該你的 不怪誰招惹
只拖著 她的軀殼愛著 那又如何

Are we done here? Because I have to go get fired.

I'm supposed to be doing a portfolio entry in English on an obituary for Caesar.

I had no idea how to do one, of course, so I asked mom to bring me home a few copies so that I had framework for it.

I opened the first page, and saw the name of an attorney from a few days ago. All over the page, there were just these names of people who died and relatives who I didn't know and it was just overwhelming for me. It's so... saddening to realize that hundreds to millions of people will be combing through an obituary page everyday and when the day finally comes that it's your turn to have your name show up there, they're going to look through it and feel nothing.

No, actually, it isn't sad. Not even pathetic. I just really don't know how I feel about it.

The past week and four days have been stressful.

There was the Poveda Interaction, which was exhausting. I had this envelope with a form with blanks for names and contact numbers/addresses that I didn't get to fill up. Plus, there was this point where I accidentally said something rather embarrassing and slightly mean to a girl I was with (Arrie, her name was.) and she ended raising all this hoo-hah about how I was "not forgiven". It would've been a pity, too, since she was so cool, but she eventually "forgave" me and things were only slightly tense after that. Turns out, Lawrence [his nametag read Laurence] and a girl named Alexa were our facilitators. It was great, because we got an airconditioned room (but unfortunately only 3 girls) and they didn't force us into doing anything we didn't want to.

Somewhere later, Frances, another girl, started talking about shows. It turns out, I watch more cartoons than I realize. And she, JV and I were the only ones on Team Peyton (yes, from One Tree Hill) (yes, Payton Yao was in our midst) (but no, that was not a pun on his name). Then at Lunch, everyone scampered off elsewhere leaving only Walter, Charlie, JV, Arvin and a few other people with us. Lawrence, dressed in full Freddie Flinstone gala, did this adorable/hilarious chair-banging (and I do not mean"banging") thing. Too bad it was just a monoblock [that word fascinates me]. Which reminds me, there was a part in the interaction with the girls upstairs in the "1-D Math room" where Payton suddenly looked at Lawrence's costume and noted, "Since when does Freddie Flinstone wear pants?" Lawrence looks down at his jeans, then quips, "E, ano, gusto mo wala?" Yes, I will leave you to Lysol that image from your mind.

So anyway, when everyone eventually came back, we had a sort of Scavenger Hunt (which the saucier people syncopated into "Scav Hunt". Jeez... it reminds me of the time when a bunch of coño girls came over to our school and asked Henry and me where the "Caf" was. Turns out, "caf" is kolehiyala-ese for "cafeteria". I literally had to pause and register before I understood what they were talking about.) where we were supposed to do some rather lurid things (the ten of us who were members (why am I thinking of such green things right now?) of the male population had to dance like women in front of two other groups (the girls had it easy), and Lawrence had to eat a cracker with sardines (?) on it (probably an innocent but rather gross reference to a Soggy Biscuit). Although, I'm not sure if that's as lurid as the man-gyrating thing). Eventually, Alexa and Lawrence, the two game-est people in our group, each ate half a bag of peanuts (?) and sang the chorus of that High School Musical song (thank God there were peanuts (?) to mangle their voices. I might have gone huramentado on someone if I had to sit through THAT song again). We won the Scavenger Hunt. By a mile. And then I got to rub it into Lee Panopio's face. Nyarharhar!

But the victory was bitter sweet, because there was this damn nice song which I heard but couldn't decipher the lyrics of (it came from the green iPod which they were drawing songs from) and eventually, it ended without me knowing what it was. All I know/can remember is that it was a guy singing, fast-ish beat, and a line that goes "She said, 'Aaaaah' " wherein "aaaah" goes into falsetto, although I'm beginning to think that that was actually a prolonged "I". I saw Frances dancing to it and singing along, but for some reason, I didn't ask.

Then we had a talk. A Povedan, a Xaverian, and a Povedan-Xaverian couple. It was alright, but not exactly good. I was able to pay attention to everything, but it didn't get my blood racing, and I had to roll my eyes at some of the things they were saying.

Then, of course, there was the bandfest. I hated that part most. Why? Let's just say the bands that performed were not the greatest ones I had ever heard. Peterson with that costume of the green, one-eyed monster from Monsters, Inc. Blech. That is a thought best left for days when a cold shower is necessary, but no water is handy.

Then there was Kenn's Chinese Speaking Contest, which was a load of fun, considering all the bonding I got to do, and the places I got to visit, and the people I got to see and meet, but equally exhausting and tiring all the same.

I got to Xavier at about seven something. I went to check the workroom for any sign of life (the school is actually deserted on Sundays) but found only a creepy light on. Kenn texts that he's there, so I went back down to Gate 1 and found him in a really cool costume. All white (with interesting shoes) and then an auxilliary clothpiece that I can't seem to name. I listened to his Jay Chou album (依然范特西), especially this really interesting song called 聽媽媽的話 which features Jay doing all sorts of falsettoes. The laoshi's come and we all hop aboard the bus.

H3's Candidate!

Okay, now something I find really... weird... is that laoshi suddenly mentions how I'm a good friend for showing up. I just don't know what to make of that *thinks: "What, and miss an opportunity to camwhore [Kenn]? YEAH, RIGHT!!!"*. No, but seriously. I mean, of course the praise is nice, but it just felt disorienting. That was not the primary motivation when I decided to come. What was it, then?

Anyway, as He Laoshi [Hazel Wong, people] appears. Kenn gentlemanly-ly (wtf???) opens the door, steps down, and allows her to get in. Camwhoring ensues. Kenn rants shamelessly about how Mr. Hernando is rather... well, let's just say he's not Fr. Guy standard. I mean, really, I thought Fr. Guy was bad--well he's a seraph compared to this guy. I honestly couldn't agree more. I got most of Kenn's little Random Rant on video, too. He laoshi was laughing at the end.

So we wait a bit, and 田老師, 余老師, 莊老師, and 莊老師's little girl (who He laoshi was been known to give inappropriately large amounts of PDA to). Then 余老師's other son, 王忠德 (I think) is also joining. I end up sitting in front, Tian laoshi, Yu laoshi, Zhuang laoshi, her daughter and He laoshi in the row behind me, the four teachers who came first in the row behind that, and Kenn and Jean Paul at the very back.

We arrive at St. Peter the Apostle (it's a school) (篤學培德) and schlep on over to "Hope Hall", where the whole competition is supposed to take place.

The road on the way.

The way to Hope Hall.

Ye laoshi and Kenn prepping.

Jean Paul's props.

The Chinese Teachers. [Pre-Contest]

Kenn and Jean Paul listening to sick parts of House, M.D.

那幾位尊敬評審.

Kennzo is at ease. And in all white.

This guy's costume was a bit... lacking in imagination. His costume was a green shirt. That was it.

Of course... this girl was a bit on the overdoing side.

11, yo. (Hello, Henry.)

Our very own Kenn was just right. Didn't mind Lee Hom-ing with his number, either! He laughs in the face of danger and competition. Or modelwhores.

This guy. THIS guy was the guy who blew the crowd away. He did damn good.
That's Jean Paul!

Alright, so anyway. There were to groups. The first group was the group that recited 猴子救月 a.k.a. 猴子撈月. Honestly, just hearing the story once or twice was okay. But at the third repetition, it became 無聊. The fourth til the nineteenth, well... you can just imagine. Still, during Jean Paul's turn, I got really psyched up.

The next group recited something called "五個手指" which was basically my oral test, so I knew it by heart. There was this awfully saucy girl that went up on stage. Hated her sauciness. Annoying!

So a bunch of people (that weren't from Xavier. Boo.) won, and we all went home. But Kenn went with his family (Mom and Dad) and Jean Paul with his Dad and Mom.

Since Ye Laoshi was holding her camera when she went upstage to receive her certificate, I took her picture for her.

Kennzo, in his all-consuming post-speech After Glow.

Time to go home. :(

When we did, I stayed for a while, saw Fr. Guy, and when he asked me how Mr. Hernando was, I told him to ask Mr. Hernando what I told him. He got scared and said "Never mind."

The thing was that Mr. Hernando had asked me how his class was last time. I told him straight. "It's not up to Fr. Guy's standards."

Of course, he expected some sort of explanation, so I gave him one.

Really, I've got my mind wide open for this Hernando guy, but I want Fr. Guibelondo back.

Guess who's using traditional characters now?

陳奕迅 - 全世界失眠

想起我不完美 你會不會
逃離我生命的範圍
想著你的滋味 我會不會
把這個枕頭 變得甜美

想起白天的約會 忘了晚上的咖啡
只怕感情如潮水 遠離我夢中的堡壘

一個人失眠 全世界失眠
無辜的街燈 守候明天
幸福的失眠 只是因為害怕閉上眼
如何想你想到六點 如何愛你愛到終點

一個人失眠 全世界失眠
無辜的街燈 守候明天
幸福的失眠 只是因為害怕閉上眼
如何想你想到六點
如何愛你愛到終點
如何愛你愛到終點

想起我的時候 你會不會
好像我一樣 不能睡
想像你的曖昧 我會不會
數不到綿羊 一雙一對

Ending So Soon

I feel terrible. I'm not rested enough. I can't go back to school yet. I just CAN'T, alright? I'm not ready to face it all over again. I can't take it. I can't handle it. I'll go berserk.

Especially with all my Jackie problems lately.

God.

Multiply is failing me. Yeah, I have over 5 other albums to upload and Multiply is failing me. *whacks the monitor* *many times*

I've been watching Charmed the whole day, and it felt good. So good that I didn't want to stop. I don't want to stop. I didn't even get to go skating today, which I've been planning to do with my family for months now. This is just ridiculous. I don't do anything that I REALLY want to do. Instead, I settle for shallow joys and shirk on my responsibilities (like that second molar extraction that I have yet to follow Dr. Macasiray up on). These braces are gonna be here forever.

All I'm hoping for are good songs now. I'm tired. Very tired. But I also want to do something around here.

It's Friday. Meaning in two days, I'm school-bound again and I don't think I can handle that just yet. My life sucks, and it feels like it's gonna keep sucking for a while before it gets better.

I wish things were like Charmed--apart from the normal everyday crap, I'd get to do demons in for a sideline job. At least I'd have purpose.

I need purpose and direction these days. Apparently, Jess hasn't answered my call yet. I'm still vision-less. Still waiting here, Jess.

陳慧琳 - 兩個世界 (BEST SONG I've heard in a while)

＊天已黑　你躺在夢中沉睡
我卻　獨自在尋找一個仙子的光輝
兩個世界　應該在哪裡交會
或許我　對愛有著太多的無聊體會
因為我想　衝出你的憂傷包圍
要逃開我們愛的　無言局面＊

＃我厭倦　你的無所謂
去尋找　一種無情的思維

我不進不退　不想陶醉像個傀儡
寧願只擁有你的曖昧你的撫慰
我無心去思念你多情的眼眉
如果這一切能讓我遠離愛的自毀
但我為什麼會　有幾滴眼淚在眼裡輪迴＃

REPART ＊＃＃

天已黑　你躺在夢中沉睡
我卻　獨自在尋找一個仙子的光輝
兩個世界

Just To Tell... Someone

I've been feeling like this for a while now, but because I don't think I can say it in English, I'll just use very vernacular Mandarin to do so. Appeals to wider audiences anyway.


有時候好像和你擦肩已經精彩了。可是擦肩以後不再聯絡太讓我傷心了﹐又讓我懷疑命運是不是真的。儘管﹐我會一直想你﹐掛念你﹐愛你﹐求你﹐希望會有一天﹐你會一樣想我﹐掛念我﹐可能也愛我。但是﹐我明瞭幻想和真實的分別。這個只好希望有一天會實現。
Haaaaaaaay. That feels a hell of a lot better.

So anyway.

I've been writing some poems lately (in Chinese, of course. What did you expect???) in Fukien, Cantonese and Mandarin (in that order) and I'm quite proud of them. Of course, I haven't exactly written a Mandarin one yet, because it's only been the second night since (third, actually, but I stayed up last night writing the above) I began.

Here they are. Try to read them and see if you get how they're supposed to rhyme. And please, please don't guess how they're pronounced based on how the colloquial dialect translates from Mandarin, because that simply murders the dialects. Insidiously.

十月二十九日 [閩]

一法對結果
日沒借别好
這月笑熱土
事決否設無

十月三十日 [粵]

力大 覓快 吃細
活鬆 血紅 絶望
另國 希落 寂寞
被逼 非識 未夕
還可 決我 結果
縱晚 毋人 認真

言承旭 - 隔離

愛情起風和霧　我拉著你的手　讓你我更沉默
愛你不能和幸福畫上等號的　你走了證明了
我像影子被隔離　呼吸剩下的空氣
我是用心愛過你　住過你心裡
你先說分手　要我放手　你是不是沒有愛過我

還相愛的那一年是多久以前　你右臉的弧線記憶還是很明顯
分手後照片還你有什麼意義　只是設下了陷阱　讓我走向你

過去聽你怎麼說我就怎麼做　沒想過是誰錯
討好著你好像沒有你不能活　一步錯全都錯
我像影子被隔離　呼吸剩下的空氣
我是用心愛過你　住過你心裡
你先說要分手　要我讓你走　你是真的愛我過

還相愛的那一年是多久以前　我雙眼的想念怎麼還沒有復原
拒絕所有故事的結局想著你　也許你不再哭泣　允許我重新愛你

Singing to me　還沒有復原　拒絕所有故事的結局想著你
也許你不再　你不再哭泣　不允許我重新愛你