UP Survey

1. Student number? 96-29299. I still remember it and probably won't forget it.

2. College? College of Science

3. Ano ang course mo? Math

4. Nag-shift ka ba o na-kickout? Nope

5. Saan ka kumuha ng UPCAT? Sa NIGS

6. Favorite GE subject? Does foreign language count as GE subject? If yes, German 10 and 11.

7. Favorite PE? Line dancing haha!

8. Saan ka nag-aabang ng hot guy sa UP? Not really nag-aabang pero may nakasabay ako dati sa pila ng Katips na super cute guy. Inabangan ko kung san sya bumaba.

9. Favorite prof(s) Felix and Almazar.

10. Pinaka-ayaw na GE subject. Humanities...hina ako sa arts and literature e. Duh!

11. Kumuha ka ba ng Wed or Sat classes? Wednesday class for PE. Kaasar! Naubusan kasi ako ng slot. Then Saturday class for Math subjects.

12. Nakapag-field trip ka ba? Yep. We went to Rizal and Laguna (Morong, Paete, et al) for a Hum class. Tapos nagpunta din kaming Calamba for PI kasi di ako pinayagang mag-Banahaw

13. Naging CS ka na ba or US sa UP? Yes hehe

14. Ano ang Org/Frat/Soro mo? Sums-UP na kami ang founder

15. Saan ka tumatambay palagi? Kung hindi sa Math bldg...sa CS lib natutulog hehe

16. Dorm, Boarding house, o Bahay? Bahay. Lapit lang e pero traffic dahil naabutan ko yung road widening ng Katips dati tapos non yung construction naman ng LRT2.

17. Kung walang UPCAT test at malaya kang nakapili ng kurso mo sa UP, ano yun? Computer Science

18. Sino ang pinaka-una mong nakilala sa UP? Si Ning!

19. First play na napanood mo sa UP? Di ko matandaan.

20. Name the 5 most conyo orgs in UP. Mga org sa BA and AS.

21. Name 5 of the coolest orgs/frats/soro in UP. Sums-UP all the way! Charing!

22. May frat/soro bang nag-recruit sa yo? Wala

23. Saan ka madalas mag-lunch? Bukod sa cafeteria sa Math...CASAA and Beach House.

24. Masaya ba sa UP? Super!

25. Nakasama ka na ba sa rally? Not really rally but I attended a "gathering" when a student died because of fraternity related violence. His name escapes me at the moment but he died as a result of mistaken identity. Biruin mo yon nakatambay lang sa AS steps nagbabantay ng table ng org mo tapos binaril ka dahil akala member ka nung kabilang frat. Kaasar di ba! As in naiyak ako nung time na yon because I really felt for the family and friends of that student.

26. Ilang beses ka bumoto sa Student Council? Once siguro nung freshman tapos nung tumakbo kong college rep haha. Gosh! kung ano-ano palang pinaggagawa ko nung college.

27. Name at least 5 leftist groups in UP? Samasa. LFS. di ko na alam.

28. Pinangarap mo rin bang mag-laude nung freshman ka? Opo

29. Kanino ka pinaka-patay sa UP? Kay Joema? Yihiii!!! ahahaha

30. Kung di ka UP, anong school ka? Ateneo or should I say the Ateneo.

Apology

Dear Credit Card Guy,

Sorry if I snapped at you when you called a while ago here at our house. I don't like it that you call here...here at home where I am supposed to be resting after a hard day's work. Please don't call me here at home. I hate it when you do that! Honestly, I don't like it when you call at work either. That is why I don't answer your counterpart from another credit card company because I already know his number (it appears in our caller ID haha!). Also, I got irritated at your voice. While some telemarketers are trying their best to sound perky and have that colegiala-English twang, you sounded like someone who's not even interested in what he's offering. After I told you that I'm not interested, you don't have to tell me again what you are offering. What in the "I'm not interested" did you not understand?

I know you must be cursing me after that call. I was a b*tch. But in fairness to me, I don't play favorites. I am a b*tch to other credit card guys/girls. If I don't let you finish your spiels, that's only because I don't want to waste your time and effort because I'm not getting anything you are offering anyway. By cutting you off, you can immediately proceed to the next one in your list. And no I won't refer you to any of my friends. Unless they're not really my friends and want to irritate them too.

So there, I am sorry. Really I am. I'm sorry you had to make that call, and you had to ruin my night, and in turn I ruined your night.

Not loving your calls,
Cris

Sergio

Goodbye, Sergio...we miss you already! We're sorry we didn't bring you to the vet sooner..

*Photo taken when he was about a month old.

Finally!

The good news was delivered by Mia.

High-profile Taiwan celebrity couple Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu has broken up, according to local media reports.

Hsu confirmed the split via her assistant during an activity in Hong Kong on Monday. Zhou's agent also confirmed the news. Both declined to make further comments.

Barbie Hsu's mother told the media the couple parted amicably.

Barbie Hsu, 31, and Vic Zhou, 26, gained wide popularity through the 2001 hit television drama "Meteor Garden." They collaborated in another series, "Mars," in 2004, and officially began dating in July 2005.

Sorry ka na lang ZZ dahil magpapakasal na ko LOL Pero super happy ako na sa wakas nagbreak din kayo! Wahooo!!!!!

08.11.08

Finally booked the church. Our wedding will be on 8 November 2008 at the Archbishop's Palace, Villa San Miguel.

Color

Last Friday, Rhoda and I went to Carolina's at SM Megamall to look for some tela for my entourage. I already have a particular color in mind so I was happy to see it in shantung. Here it is...wine and aqua. I initially wanted to pair the wine with champagne (gets? hehe) but the colors didn't turn out as lively as I imagined. So maybe we could use the wine and champagne for the mommies' gowns.

When I showed it to my officemates they loved the colors! Yey! Kaso when I showed it to Joema deadma sya. Sabi ko nga lalaki talaga sya e. As in super kabaligtaran kasi ng reactions ng officemates ko who are women..sila they said in glee how they loved the colors. Si Joema NR. Sabagay sbi nga nya I should worry kung super ma-excite sya sa kulay ng tela lang hahaha.

Search for the Church

Yesterday Joema and I went around the metro scouting for the church for our wedding. Thursday before Saturday I already called up Archbishop's Palace (AP) and Sta. Maria della Strada (SMDS). I was heart broken when the contact person in AP told me they don't hold Sunday weddings. Our preferred date is November 16 kasi and it falls on a Sunday. Anyways, I didn't bother to ask the other available dates but was told we can view the church on a weekend but their office is only open for reservations from Mondays to Fridays 10am to 5pm. And then I called up SMDS office and lo and behold Nov16 3pm slot is still open. I was so happy, it felt like an answered prayer. I called up again to block off the date and was told that we had until the following Thursday to pay the reservation fee of P3000 to officially book the date. I texted Joema and told him about it. I even told a few of my friends. Come Friday night, we settled on going to SMDS to book the place and look for a venue around UP Diliman - Chateau Verde, UP Bonsai Garden and UP Balay Kalinaw - the next day. Pero when I woke up Saturday morning it was raining and then nag-brown out. Ewan ko ba basta I had the urge to meet up Joema so that we can take a look at AP. He was supposed to go straight here at the house from work so that he can sleep first before we go to UP. But because I am very fickle minded he came straight from the office when we did our occular.

Kaasar pa coz the battery of my digicam was dying down on me. I have recharged it the previous night pero mukhang di na-charge. Buti na lang I passed by the office and charged it for a few minutes.

Archbishop's Palace - Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong

After breakfast at McDo, we hailed a taxi and were on our way to AP. Of course, I love the place the first time I saw a picture of it on the internet. Joema was a man of few words so I didn't know how much he liked it when we were there. He just commented that the place was just right for 150 guests and that we can have our pictures taken at the garden right outside the chapel.

We also went inside the small chapel just across the main chapel. It was really pretty too. Although it can only fit around 90-100 guests.

Our Lady of Pentecost Parish - Varsity Hills, Loyola Heights

Before going to SMDS, I asked Joema if we could pass by Our Lady of Pentecost since it's already on the way. We were a bit disappointed with the place because it was open to anyone who can enter. But I guess you can request the glass walls to enclose the church. We didn't even pass by the office to ask for the fee because Joema said if he had to choose between AP and Our Lady of Pentecost, he preferred AP. It was good timing that there was a wedding while we were there. Katawa lang when the priest said something and the people started laughing, si Joema said he might consider the church coz the priest was good. He wanted someone who will make the people laugh during the ceremony. I had to remind him we already have a priest (Yes, I have booked the priest first even before the date, church and venue is finalized) and told him not to worry because our priest is really good.

Sta. Maria della Strada - Katipunan Ave., Diliman

It was raining last Saturday but we walked the few blocks from Miriam College to SMDS. If at the Our Lady of Pentecost there was a wedding, at SMDS there was a mass for the dead. Joema was a bit disappointed with the church coz it seems so busy outside. He was worried that the vehicles passing by will be heard inside the church during the ceremony. I love it how he considers the small things that I am considering too. And again he compares this church to AP saying that there we won't be bothered by the noise outside and that no outsiders will come and go (like what we did) because AP is gated.

UP Chapel - UP Diliman

We were really lucky because when we got to UP Chapel, meron ulit wedding so we saw how they set up the place. Although, they were already cleaning the chapel for their 12nn mass pero inabutan pa namin yung couple with their guests taking pictures. Ewan ko basta parang di ko na-feel na okay sa UP chapel. Siguro kasi I read from Tin's supplier rating na minamadali nila yung picture taking because may kasunod nga na mass yung scheduled wedding times nila. Imagine we were there 11:30 but they were already taking out the drapes (tama ba tawag ko?) sa aisle and the floral arrangements). E supposedly the wedding started at 10am (based on the schedules posted outside the church). Of course, Joema commented na atleast sa AP walang magmamadali sa amin to finish our picture taking.

Chateau Verde - Apacible St., UP Diliman

We ate our lunch at Chateau Verde. We were also considering it as a reception venue if ever we get SMDS or UP Chapel. We had their buffet lunch which costs P350. The selections is salad, oysters, Mongolian barbeque and pork and beef steak. Hindi sulit coz konti lang pagpipilian na kainin. But we liked their Mongolian bbq and beef steak.

Anyways, this is were we discussed and weighed our options. Hay naku kakatuwa talaga na si Joema likes Archbishop's Palace. And he was able to enumerate the things he liked na pareho ng in-enumerate ni Jolly (from w@w) without me even telling him about it ha. Gusto ko kasi objective yung maging desisyon nya. Kasi ako biased na talaga ko sa Archbishop's Palace. Nakakatawa pa kasi joke ni Joema "Grabe! Ang hirap pala mag-ayos ng kasal. Sana di mo na ko sinama." Kaya lang kami medyo leaning towards della Strada coz we're afraid we might not find an affordable venue near Archbishop's Palace. We're on a tight budget so we can't just make a decision on the church without considering a venue and caterer. Plus I thought we really wanted Nov16 to be our wedding date. It turns out the ambiance of the church is much more important than the date and we can always look for affordable reception venue and caterer. So yes, we've finally decided to get Archbishop's Palace and will reserve tomorrow. So happy!

The Good and The Bad

Yey! We have music na for our wedding. My cousins Adam and Ariel will play at the wedding. Si Andro sana but he probably won't be here around that time. Ka-chat ko si Adam the other day when I asked him to play at our wedding. (Sorry super haba ng chat namin)

adam : ate patanong nman k jom ung gingawa nya sa mac para daw maclear ung cache,nkalimutan ko eh hehe thnx!!
cris : sige teka itext ko
adam : ok..
cris : oy, pag kinasal kami...sagutin mo naman yung music sa church at venue hehe
adam : pede ako kaso cno pa ung ksma ko?kung and2 c kuya kme na lng hehe
adam : san ba venue nyo?
cris : hay naku oo nga e
cris : sana andito si andro...kaso sa november pa yun
cris : malamang nakasakay na ulit sya ng barko
cris : maghahanap pa kami this weekend e
cris : si ariel na lang...di ba tumutugtog na rin sya? hehe
adam : actually c ariel pede na rin..basta aralin ng ahead of tym ung kanta na gusto mo
cris : uy na-excite ako haha!
adam : oo nman pede na c ariel...
cris : sige sige maghahanap na agad ako ng piyesa ng mga gusto kong kanta para mabigay k na sa inyong magkapatid
cris : haha nauna pa ang music bago ang church at venue ko
adam : binibigyan ko na nga ng raket un minsan eh nagrerecord kc ako lately for rannie raymundo,ung ibang songs c ariel na nagpiano..kumita pa sha sken hehe
cris : eto: option+apple+P+R
cris : intayin mo daw magdalawang start up sound
adam : pero suggestion ko.para maganda mga spot nos. ang focus nten,halimbawa ung bridal march,fahter daughter dance mga ganun lng...
cris : tapos ok na yun
adam : ok thnx...
cris : huh? panong spot numbers?
adam : ung dinner music mo,may option ka na mag cd na lng ung mga fave songs nyo...
adam : cguro mga 2 years nko puro wedding gigs na rin kya alam ko na ung gnagawa...mas mganda may mga special songs dun sa mga part na ganun...
cris : e naku wala kayong kikitain sa kin hahaha...i-gift nyo na sa kin yun :D
cris : ah okay sige pwede pwede
adam : kya nga shempre..
cris : yehey yehey!
cris : sige babalitaan kita pag meron na kaming church at venue
cris : pero i-save mo na yung date nov 16...wag ka tanggap ng ibang gig
adam : basta magmeet tyo ni jom minsan then discuss ung mangyare kc may idea nko kung ano ung mga gingawa,tpos kung may request kyo ok din..
cris : oo sige :D
cris : teka ok na ba yung mac mo? tama ba yung sinabi nya?
adam : uy shet cge wat day yan? regalo ko na un
adam : ah later ko pa try eh pagnagrestart ako
cris : nov 16 sunday yun
cris : wag ka din mag-book ng piso fare flights ng cebu pacific
cris : :))
adam : bakit?
cris : ibig ko sabihin wag ka magbook on that date
adam : buti sunday hehe kc last quarter of the year puro gig na eh hehe...
cris : kasi d ba non-peak season yan kaya during that time yung promo ng cebu pacific sa mga mura nilang flight
adam : hehe d ako magbook nun cguro b4 mag bday ako dis year pede,gusto ko kc singapore kc dun kme tira k tito ramon haha
cris : oo nga
cris : super ok yun kasi ang nagpapamahal yung hotel e
adam : gud!! hehe
cris : actually kami ni joema dapat may plan din magsingapore ng september dahil f1 racing sa sing
cris : kaso dahil sa kasal hindi na lang muna...dami gagastusin e
adam : hmm mahilig ba sha dun?
adam : oo nga tama ka jan...
adam : buti na lng bata pa c cam hehe.cguro ako mga 2 yrs pa...
cris : oo mahilig sya don
cris : haha tama yan..mag-enjoy muna kayo ni cam
cris : syempre iba pa rin yung single kayo
cris : kami ni joema 8 years din kami e
adam : tama bakasyon muna haha..
cris : oo noh...sarap sarap magbakasyon e
cris : ako tuloy ngayong taon wala pang nakaplan na out of town trip haaay
cris : siguro sa honeymoon na lang
adam : tagal na pla kme mag 3 yrs pa lng dis year..tamang tama lng ung 5th yr,kasal na hehe
adam : o nga honey moon na lng..
cris : oo okay na yun..tama yan :)
adam : ako nga may inaabangan na us tour dis year eh un tlga ang pinagdarasal ko hehe
cris : f1?
cris : may us visa ka na ba?
adam : kc dami relatives ni cam dun,kya pede rin sha sumama
cris : si joma kaya gusto sa sing kasi street racing
adam : wala pa pero pag gig kc dun,bahala nman ung pruducer smen hehe
cris : aba ok ah
cris : hahaha
adam : sana tlga...
cris : US tour for promotion nung album nyo?
adam : hinde,manila phil orchestra un..kya magandang gig tlga pati budget hehe,naku sna tlga...
cris : ok sana nga
cris : ang saya non
adam : masarap kc nun,khit magbakasyon kme,d talo kc may pasok din ng pera
cris : all expense paid :D
adam : oo
adam : f ever gagastos lng kme sa airfare ni cam
cris : oo yun lang kaya sulit
adam : naaamoy ko na ung america haha.sbi ko nga for the longest time.khit halos lhat ng pamilya ko eh nagaabroad,ngayon lng ako nagkaron ng interest at excitement tungkol sa states :d
cris : :))
cris : teka kelan ba yan? baka naman masabay sa amin
adam : dont wori around mar-may ko to ineexpek hehe
adam : teka kain na muna ko cge usap tyo minsan

Hay super okay pala magkaron ng kamag-anak na musician harharhar.


Okay around the time na binanggit ni Adam that MPO might have a tour sa US when I realized na maybe I should tell Ms. Benz of Weddings At Work that I have a cousin who is a member of the orchestra. Because the night before that I was browsing the archives of the yg when I came across some bride to be's who got into trouble with the group. I came clean to her and asked her if I should unsubscribe from the group. Unfortunately, I really have to unsubscribe since a lot of the bride-to-be's have MPO as supplier. Mahirap na daw na malagay ako sa situation na may magpost ng review. Conflict of interest kasi. With a heavy heart I sent the email to unsubscribe. Honestly, naiiyak ako nung ka-email ko si Ms. Benz. Feeling ko ang OA ko coz I've only been a member for a few weeks. Pero kasi I know that the group is a treasure trove of information about weddings and at the same time parang support system na rin coz everyone's a bride or groom preparing for their wedding so super nakaka-relate ang isa't isa. Ms. Benz is really nice she even told me to just email her if I need anything. Haaay... Well, I gain some, I lose some, right?

Kwentong Peyups

As part of UP's 100th year celebration, we are putting together '100 Kwentong Peyups', a series of columns which will appear in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star throughout the year. We invite all past students of any of the University of the Philippines' units to submit their stories. Submissions should:

1. Be a maximum of 1,000 words
2. Be a personal experience and written in the 1st person
3. Emotionally engaging---funny, sad, scary, etc.
4. Make the connection between the story and a life lesson that serves you well today.
5. If possible, please include an oldphoto/scanned memento

Please include your name, College or Unit and Course, and year you entered UP as well as your email address. If you remember your Student Number, even better. Send your submissions to 100kwentongpeyups@campaignsandgrey.net. You will be notified via email if your story has been selected for publication or for use in other Centennial celebrations. Submissions will be accepted starting January 1, 2008. Btw, pls. feel free to pass this on to other UP alumni. Thank you very much and we look forward to your "Kwentong Peyups".

On the Left Corner...

Today, Pam and I tried boxing. And I had fun! Boxing is fun! It was just a trial so no payment yet. But we will be enrolling and doing it again next week. We'll probably do it once a week and then the other days of the week I'll have cardio and weight training. I'm getting bored at the gym doing cardio exercises and weight training. Although my program is changed every so often by my trainor it still gets a bit too boring. So for this year I decided to do boxing. Might be a good way to lose some fat in these big arms of mine. So I need to buy those hand wraps and boxing gloves. Since it was just a trial, we only borrowed the wraps and gloves that we used. The instructor said I can buy the 12 0z. gloves. Didn't know those had weights. Anyway, the session was for one hour that includes stretching, warm-up exercises and then the actual sparring which is around 2 minutes per round (Pam and I did alternate sparring with the instructor) and then some ab workout and another set of stretching. My hands were a little weak after the session, I had a hard time writing my name in the "attendance sheet". After a few months of boxing, do you think I could beat Pacman? Hihihi

Pamamanhikan

The blueprints of wedding plans are drawn or made known during this occasion. The pamanhikan is often hosted by the bride's family as the groom and his folks visit them to formally ask their daughter’s hand in marriage and discuss plans for the upcoming wedding over lunch or dinner. This can be an uneasy situation if it's the first time for both parties to meet. The soon-to-weds may feel a little awkward (nervous even) seeing and listening to their parents consult each other on matters like their wedding budget, guest list and the like.

It is customary that the visiting family bring a gift (often, the best home-cooked specialty of the groom's mom) for the hosts. Others may opt to hold the meeting on neutral grounds (a restaurant is a likely choice) or invite a mutual acquaintance to the gathering and help ease the awkwarness of the first meeting. Why do Pinoys bother with all the trouble? We all seek our parents' blessings for a happy and trouble-free marriage. Afterall, pamanhikan is a treasured Filipino heritage which, first and foremost, avoids the embarrassing situation of having the parents see each other as strangers come wedding day.

Source: Weddings At Work

We already had the pamamanhikan on the first of January 2008. We had so much food. My mom prepared ginataang hipon at alimasag, inihaw na liempo and california maki. Joema's family brought lechon kawali, pansit palabok and kalamay. Yum yum yum! It wasn't actually an awkward meeting of the two families because my family went to visit him last year when he had his operation and met his mom and two brothers then. His dad was in the States at that time. Plus we had the best conversation fillers ever...our pets! Of course they loved Mini at first sight. Who wouldn't! My brother on the other hand was late for lunch and slept after he ate. He didn't have enough sleep the night before (New Year's Eve) because he stayed at his girlfriend's. Just a quick explanation why he's not in the picture haha.

As for the wedding details, it was agreed that we'll have a small wedding. Maximum of 150 guests so not all relatives and friends will be invited. We told them that our preferred date is November 16 of this year, but since that's a Sunday we might opt for November 8 which falls on a Saturday. We also informed them that we're looking into the Archbishop's Palace as ceremony venue. But as of writing this blogpost, we are considering holding the wedding at UP. I'll get into that when we have the details already. So there, we had that out of the way and we can now scout for wedding suppliers. Hopefully next week we'll have our church.