What's Happened So Far

Okay, hi, I bet it's been a looooooooooooooooooong time since I started about thinking to blog again. Why? First of all, there was a part of me that had given up hope as a writer, but that was about a year ago. Two, a lot has been happening since I got accepted, yes, ACCEPTED, at the UST Colleg of Nursing (Go me!). Three, you already know I have no computer, and every time I found one, I ended up trying to write a novel or play Neopets, and now, like everyone else, I'm using Facebook. So, it didn't bother me that I didn't blog for a while (I had given up hope that anyone would ever read this). But, my aunt has encouraged me to go farther instead of making a new blog.

First thing's first: what's happened so far? Well, like I said earlier, I got into the UST College of Nursing. I've moved to Manila to stay with my Lolo Cing, one of the most well-educated women of the 1940's-2009. I stay in a big room that used to be filled by y former working roommates, but now manage it alone (it's so boring without a tv in there. Or an electric fan). Oh, and how could I forget!? The BFFL got back together by the last months of my manic high-school life. In fact, Sam and I are even in the same university, however she is studying Accounting (I hate math, I hate math, I hate math). Darwyn, who used to attend the summer recital (read one of my entries) is my blockmate and seatmate. He's kind of a mix of Matthew Borderick, only babyish and chinky eyed and always very, very tired after staying up the entire night (sleeping disorder, still helping him on it). Oh, and I'm also part of the Nursing Journal (THE BEST), the college publication where I am a literary writer, even though I meant to be a feature writer (but lit's way cooler for me). I even got a few poems published, but to be honest, they were'nt my best work.
I've also gotten pretty along with my cousins in my dorm-like new home at Tandang Sora, but I go against the cigarette-ish smell that lingers on our floor (where on earth does it come from). I miss my family and the BFFL terribly, especially since my last visit. Huge bonding time with Nanay, a dinner at Flaming Hot with Alerose (even if Ivy was supposed to be with us and the spaghetti tasted weird), a good talk with my friend Rosiefe and others, and the most relaxing beach swims with my family. Not forgetting mornings of peanut-butter sandwiches and constant time on the laptop either doing my novel Starcrossed (yes, another plot I haven't finished) or Insaniquarium (I do hope Cup Cup is feeding my fish there). I've also got the knack texting with Aaron (either to annoy or nag or advise without being asked), Rosiefe, Nica, and Aika. BFFL texts too at times, but Jaja's Smart (not Globe), Alerose and Ivy have load problems, and Sam can't come to the phone at all times.
I've made new friends at UST (it took about a month to find people to be with without feeling a bit overwhelemed, shy, or out of place). These people are Altrixia and Nikki. I have other friends I like, but spend most of my time with these two. Altrixia and I seem to like the same music. In fact, she introduced me to great songs and she helped me find the one place on the entire planet where printing cost only Php 1.00. I also hang out at Altrixia's dorm when she invites me. Nikki is pretty sweet, and as Altrixia puts it, she always makes you smile. We often meet first at school before classes since Nikki is quite the early bird. I like Nikki's sense of style to be honest, though it wouldn't suit me. Today, she told me this was one of the few times she wore running shoes with jeans (which is apparently my trademark). So, I'm finding it pretty sweet right now. Sure, the subjects are hard (Chemistry SCREAMS death), but I liked practically all except Chem (of course) and Math (since the day I was born).
The school's pressure on you will have you to your neck. People are actually SMART here. I try to put myself to the top at points, but thre are just some people I can't beat. Jeanne, for example. She's a studying machine as well as a dancer. She might be shorter than even Alerose, but she really packs a punch. Her grades make me wonder if I'd ever do it. Haha. Then there's Deewai, the class president. Fashion queen, sports machine, you name it. And she leads us so well even if we can get up her neck and she still keeps her cool and her grades. There are so many others I'd like to mention like Inah, perfect in everyway I think, or Nico, speech king, but my hands are number than ever.
It is Nursing Week next week for the second semester. I am in charge of the script and voices for the radio drama. I know what you're thinking: I'm a leader now, but that is rarely the case.Okay, so maybe I did do a lot of editing and major stuff for my psych group paper, and maybe I've done a lot of stuff like acing an intemporary speech. I've gotten a lot of skills so far down, but I still need a whole lot more. Honestly, I keep on wanting. I want to read all the classic books and own them all (a new interest of mine), I want to master theology and philosophy, which is why I take Doctrine Classes at Tanglaw University Center which is for Opus Dei. I want to write a novel and sell it. I want to pay back everything my family's ever given me (that meands Php 1,000 every week, tuition, treats, flights, loans and so much more). I want to be a great nurse.
I have lot to do. I have a lot to learn. But maybe the tiny voice in my head is right: take it one step at a time.

Well, that pretty much wraps it up today. I hope to blog soon.

Infinite x's and o's,
Pitat

JAMI: What we will hold onto

"I'm going on a plane ALONE?" I whimpered when Mom handed me my passport. Apparently, the USTET(University of Santo Tomas Entrance test) was already on Sunday and I had to fly into the City of Manila. It had been bothering me a lot. "Me" + "Alone On a Plane"= Panic Button. I didn't know how to get my ticket nor what the departure area and the check-in were. So what if the Tacloban airport only has two planes? I couldn't go on my own. I kept on biting my nails like crazy. Dad said he wasn't gonna go with me to the airport so that just added to my worrying. My friends Janessa, Alerose and Ivy agreed with me.
"You? On a plane alone? Even I couldn't manage!" Alerose immediately said.
"That's just because you're still a baby," Ivy assured. We had been used to calling Alerose the "baby" because she was stilll only four feet and eleven inches. A whole lot shorter than us, though, she had some grown-up pair of jugs that jumped up and down when she danced to "Low" or whatever people were dancing to. "You'll be fine, just pay attention!" Ivy said.
Alerose twisted her face and started throwing back the nicknames "old lady" and "senior citizen" at Ivy. You all know that Ivy is terribly skinny. Not in the Vogue runway type of skinny either. Janessa just kept on telling me what it might be like if we were all on a plane.
"Crazier than ever," I said. We were heck crazy teens. Laughed at whatever, whenever and whoever.
If Sam were still part of the group, I'd ask her when she'd be going to Manila, but that wasn't the case. She left us. B. F. F. L. no longer existed. No more "For Life" just four girls seeing her leave us for the likes of Krizelle. I think it has to do with our frankness with her ways nowadays. Couldn't she see we were just trying to keep her on the safe side of life. I guess not. But the odd thing is now, that she talked to me more than before. I was still neutral about how I felt about the whole conflict. But it somehow hurts me because it just means I'm a "Last Resort". I probably always am.
Anyhow, I was still worrying about my "going solo" thing which happened to tie with the "lost friend and cousin" thing. I only had a few bits of good times during school such as I got the third highest grade in Physics, but I don't see the big deal when Sam's second in Math.
"I still don't feel smart," I told my besties in modesty. "I'm not feeling so good about Filipino(which I'm sure isn't on the highest level of my report card)."
"Mari, if I were only you," Alerose said. "I'd do my best." I felt that I had disappointed her. The topic then changed when Sam and her new-found friends started hollering"Let's get a caterer for the Christmas party!" Ugh. Cater!? How materialistic! Me and my friends and I changed annoyed looks.
"What? We're not rich and cater is so full of disadvantages!" I kept saying to my friends.
"She's just trying to be saucy," Janessa rolled her eyes. "Remember Prom? They only gave us a single plate of food AND it was all gross!"
I wanted to hiss at Sam, but I don't know if my "Evil Me" is even alive. Then my eyes widened and I snapped my fingers(even if they don't Snap at all). "I'VE GOT AN IDEA!" I burst out. "What?" Janessa asked. My idea was finally pouring out.
"I bet the Christmas party is gonna suck AND end early," I began.
"And?" Alerose said.
"Why not we have a little after party complete with cheese sticks and Twilight. It'll be oodles of fun!" I said. They exchanged looks.
"Let's do it, then!" Janessa said after short thinking.
"Okay," Ivy gave in.
"Sure," Alerose said. "But where?"
"My place," I replied. The three stood quiet. Okay, so last time wasn't the best. Cup cup was too cowardly to watch The Strangers and Mag mag was too annoying. But this time I knew what to do. I just had to prepare.
"We'll give it a shot,"Janessa said.
I felt the same enthusiasm I felt when we went to do our projects at the i-cafe. It was the weekend after Sam's fiasco. We were making our T.L.E. projects and we were still glum. "No more BFFL..." I moaned.
"Whatever," Janessa said sadly.
"She left us," Alerose said.
Ivy was absent in our gloomy moment because her mom wouldn't let her out the house. I was on Friendster and the featured friends included the BFFL. I was hurt.
Then I said, "Let's move on," It made their heads turn.
"Well, we can't call ourselves BFFL anymore," Alerose assured.
"I know. How about JAMI?" I asked.
"JAMI?" Janessa asked.
"You know, Janessa, Alerose, Mari and Ivy?"
It took a while before they agreed with the name and then we maid a Yahoo! and Friendster account for it.
I said, "Unless Sam comes back for us, we're not letting this go." And they agreed. And we got used to Sam's absence from the group, and missed her. But since the Hairspray fiasco when she didn't let Alerose in when she "forced" her to join, the fire's been up. Now it's not so high, I'm just wondering if she'd come back to us. But if she's not. Fine. We'll just have to adjust our expectations.

Love, Pitat

Fiesta!

There's always a good side and a bad side in everything. Apparently, it was the same for our town fiesta. I worked so hard yesterday-- I was practically called by my mom and dad every second-- I didn't get to do any of my projects. I was really pissed off. The first day of the fiesta, we had lunch at Mimi's house (she's my aunt) and I loved the food and all, but there's just something really fishy about my cousins. If each house in the compound was a planet, I'd been on Mars and that wasn't a good thing. I really don't like being with my girl cousins; it's like a plastic world and I'm the fish out of water. Guess who's leading it: Sound the trumpet! It's Sam! She's so different at the compound. She's too girlie, she's popular and she's not the nice, fun gir in front of my seat at school. I don't know who the real her is, either. I feel so left out. And now that Mikey and Christian (the best cousins a girl like me could expect) are gone, i'm left with the cirle of lip gloss hell.
They were even watching Kung Fu Panda and doing all that stuff w/o me-- not that I would go. Then again. like they would invite me-- and it's been like this for years. How did I survive? The next day was a lot more stressful, but a glee came into my heart just for even lunch and pre-dinner. You know how I'm previously over guys, well at the table right next to us were two guys-- a bit cute, but doesn't hit it-- and I ouldn't help noticing the other guy and I look at each other everytime I refill my plate. He was even there when I went back for dinner. I'm so glad my cousins don't like them or anything, but they're not my crushes either. It's just nice to see some eye-andy then and now. Not only that, Papa Don was the host and I had oodles of Jelly Belly jelly beans. I tasted some sweet flavors: strawberry shake, roasted marshmellow, hotreds, cappuccino and bubblegum and not so nie flavors: one tastes like my mothers candles.

Well, enough for now. Love ya!
-pitat

According To Kate

Hahahaha! I've decided to start writing again, but the only difference will be I'll be finishing it. After watching a very hot scene of Timothy Olyphant and Katie Holmes in Go on youtube, I've been inspired to create a New York persona of mine...Kate Walker. She's spunky, she's brunette, she's in love with her godfather's mysterious protege-- Sly. I think this'll lead me somewhere like The Principles of Love series. It'll be something very special, I was thinking of it while my U.S. cousins visited us (You're the best cousins in the world!).

Here's a tiny excerpt:

Maybe I was overreacting, but Sly's right. I sigh and just sway myself lazily on the swing (Sly carefully observing me).
"So, are you telling me Randall isn't gay like he said he was?"
"Yeah..." I still don't understand why Randall still needed to lie about being gay. I still would've been his friend even if he wasn't.
The snow's falling down on STA's playground. Sly looks up and smiles.
"Beautiful...simply beautiful..." he says. Then, he sits down on the swing next to me.

Who's this?

Hi, my name's Mari Begonia A. Cinco. My relatives call me Pitat, my friends call me Mari. I live in the small and noisy city of Catbalogan. I'm fourteen and just plain simple. I stay in a dingy little house in the Cinco Family Compound along with the rest of my extended family, though we live in diffewrent houses. I have four dreaded but loved little brothers, a mom who I look very much like and my City Veterinarian dad.
Life's pretty much dull since all I do is sleep, eat and do chores. My friends help me with that problem though. My rich and girlie cousin, Sam, is the one who started it and named it B.F.F.L., but we all know she got that name from a tv show called TrollZ or something. It means Best Friends for Life. Janessa (aka the dancing superstar) wants it different. Alerose and Ivy are the newest members of our batch since Lucille moved to manila to become a celbriy in Iloilo or wherever. We're five. Sam's like the leader (funny...), Janessa and Alerose are the limelight, Ivy's the big sis since she's older than all of us, but we call her old lady coz she's older and skinny XD! We're currently the second or third most popular barkada (group of friends) in the senior class and that's because it's dominated by the XE or Xtremez (yeah, whatever!).
Nothing's really happenin right now, so I'll just say Hello, thank you and bye! :-)