Tuesday, November 29, 2005

[not yet]

Sir Ericson Mejia or "Coach" as most of us call him, the UPLB Arnis Team's founder, asked me yesterday if I wanted to become coach of the Arnis Team, maybe sometime after I graduate. Kuya Quan (our team's current coach) asked me the same thing a few weeks back.

Coach and Kuya Quan will both be leaving for Korea sometime next year (or later) and will be staying there for a long time (2 or 3 years). They said they needed someone to take over the UPLB team for them while their gone. They asked me. I told them I'd think about it.

Now I won't deny that a part of me has always wanted to someday become the team's coach and I know I've always enjoyed teaching arnis to anyone who was willing to learn. It's just that I never expected it to actually happen. I know I'm supposed to be feeling good about this but... me? coach? Now that the opportunity has finally presented itself.. I suddenly find myself having doubts. Somehow, the thought of it scares me. Can I do this? Do I have enough confidence? Am I actually good enough? Will I be able to live up to it? ..Do I really want this? And why me?

Right now, I don't know. And at the current level I'm at, I know I'm not worthy - I'm not being humble here, I know I'm not cut out for something like this.

Not yet at least. I guess it's time I got serious.

Monday, November 28, 2005

[SEA games part 1: high]

Seeing the Opening Ceremonies of the South East Asian Games was something I never thought I'd be able to experience at the start of the sem. The music, performed by the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra, Chorale and Rivermaya was simply beautiful as well as the costumes, dances and display of Pinoy culture.

The Quirino Grandstand was packed yesterday, but being there was well worth all the trouble (as Eco-Waste Philippines volunteers - imagine our horror when we saw just how much trash had to deal with); All the cute chics err.. delegates from all the participating countries (especially Vietnam. I have found new love for this country), the fireworks (wow), the torch-lighting, and seeing in person great Filipino legends like Paeng Nepumoceno, Lydia de Vega, and Manny Pacquiao among others (Angel Locsin as the most unexpected).

Working as a SEA Games volunteer wasn't so bad after all. I'm actually enjoying it more than I expected, especially being assigned today to the Wushu competitions in the Emilio Aguinaldo College (near UP Manila). Although we missed the Forms competitions (was looking forward to seeing crouching tigers and hidden dragons), the Wushu sparring matches made up for it. Watching the Philippine team OWNING was absolute coolness (as well as seeing the ladies from Vietnam again, heh).

I'm almost sorry I went back to Los Banos (may pasok na bukas) instead of just ditching class for (just) one whole week. And I curse myself for having second thoughts before I submitted my application papers a few weeks before - how could I have let myself think of passing this up?

I'm still feeling euphoric. I am currently high with National Spirit.

I can't wait for my next shift this Friday and Saturday for the Arnis Competitions. I have a good feeling we're going to own this again.

[wushu]

In an internet cafe somewhere near Emilio Aguinaldo College. The Philippine Wushu Team is currently owning.

Astig. Yun na lang muna.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

[updates]

I am finally registered. Raarness.

7 days of prerog (teacher's prerogative) for almost every possible subject I can take ("Mang Jose" saves the day), asshole GE instructors, form 26 signatures, paperwork and appeals for the approval for the revision of my plan of coursework, student loan, looooong registration lines, the heat, obnoxious people at the end of the line, ... it was a looong struggle against the UPLB registration system but in the end, I have prevailed.

Ang ganda ng sunset kanina.

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Got myself a new bokken (I don't know what it's called in Filipino). Kuya Quan and I were purchasing arnis sticks in Quiapo the other day (we planned to sell the sticks to the arnis classes in UPLB), I saw lots of well-made Bahi, Kamagong and Rattan sticks. It took me a while to decide whether to buy a pair of Bahi (a type of wood that outlasts Kamagong, although Kamagong looks better) or one of the carved out "bladed" arnis sticks (the bokken). I eventually decided to get the bokken.

It'll help me practice forms for bladed weapons, in preparation for bolo handling. scar3?

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*Spoiler Alert*

Watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie last Sunday. As usual, many parts from the book were axed but the movie was still satisfying, especially for an HP fan - in fact, I think it's the best one out of all the HP movies.

I've lost my crush on Cho Chang after reading books 5 and 6, but after watching the movie again... my crush on her is back. Of course there's also Hermione and Fluer, the movie's full of cute chics. Haha.. *ahem*

Some things I noticed: Ginny's getting a lot of screen time now; Sirius only appeared as a bunch of embers, Hermione's growing up (in the words of Detective Hartigan from SinCity: "She grew up. She filled out.") ; Harry asked about Priori Incantatum but Dumbledore didn't bother to answer him; and Voldemort was Ralph Fiennes!! Astig.

A few disappointments though: Dumbledore still doesn't feel like he's realy Dumbledore; I expected Fleur to be much er.. hotter than that; I wanted to see the other dragons in action, especially the Chinese Firebolt (or was it Fireball?); and I wanted to see Sirius as a dog; the Quidditch World Cup was too short; I really wanted to see the sphinx; I expected the mermaids to be... prettier; and Mad-Eye Moody's 3 Unforgivable Curses lecture was barely understandable amid the chaos.

Pero yun nga, astig pa rin yung movie. Looking forward to the next one (Dumbledore's Army!).

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I need money. I must have Urbandub's Embrace Album now.

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I've been trying to find a way to free up 10gigs on the PC because I want to play this again. (I don't like the PC version cover so I linked to the Xbox cover instead.) Playing Metal Gear Solid (for the PSX) on ePSXe on my computer has made me want to play Metal Gear Substance instead. I wanna see E.E. again :D

Saturday, November 12, 2005

quiz [the gematriculator test]

This site is certified 46% EVIL by the Gematriculator This site is certified 54% GOOD by the Gematriculator

Hmm.. curious.
Like what angel test said.. seems I'm on the brink of having sympathy for the devil.

Of course I don't really buy what the test says about "the amount of matches divisible by a certain number such as 7 (which is said to be God's number)" which suggests that "there is an incontestable argument that the Spirit of God is ever present in the text."

Take the Gematriculator test here

Friday, November 11, 2005

quiz [where in hell are you?]

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Sixth Level of Hell - The City of Dis!

You approach Satan's wretched city where you behold a wide plain surrounded by iron walls. Before you are fields full of distress and torment terrible. Burning tombs are littered about the landscape. Inside these flaming sepulchers suffer the heretics, failing to believe in God and the afterlife, who make themselves audible by doleful sighs. You will join the wicked that lie here, and will be offered no respite. The three infernal Furies stained with blood, with limbs of women and hair of serpents, dwell in this circle of Hell.

Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level | Score

Purgatory | Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo | High
Level 2 | Moderate
Level 3 | High
Level 4 | Very Low
Level 5 | High
Level 6 - The City of Dis | Very High
Level 7 | Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge | Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus | Low

Take the test here

quiz [what order of angel are you?]

Congratulations, you're a Power, a member of Heaven's elite guard!

You stand at the first line of defense against the demon hordes that want to overrun Paradise, and guard the borders between Heaven and Earth. You are also charged with securing the safety of virtuous souls on their way to Heaven, and are invariably at the front lines of any battle, slaying demons with a terrible and holy efficiency.

Unfortunately, your position comes with a price. Because of your constant contact with the fallen world, you are more likely to be corrupted than other choirs. In fact, there are more fallen angels originally from this choir than any other. Be careful you don't come to love your strength or accomplishments more than you do your God.

Take the quiz here

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

[back in elbi]

and somehow everything feels like it's back to normal.