The aiweenee-mimi mayhem Early Christmas! :)

Snowmen... Always remind me how cold the season should be. But the freakin' hot Saturday afternoon almost melted our Krispy Kreme(TM) snowmen for the supposedly afternoon delight, but became a near dinner dessert after the spiritually fulfilling activities we had. :)

Saturday is the day I always looked forward to eversince I felt home at Tanglaw. Going there always made me feel that there's always more to life than seeing the flaws of what the world bring: hatred, frustrations, and disappointments.

When I was about to take the train going to Quezon Ave., I met a pretty baby with her mom. :) Mom's really friendly, and baby loved to talked to random people, saying baby phrases, which turned out like: "Andyan na yung train, sasakay kami sa train, choochoo!!!" (The train's almost there, I'll be riding the train, choochoo!)

It was amazing, indeed, how simple conversations with a toddler make one's day and give you a permanent smile. :) They still don't know how harsh the world could be, and all they know is to trust evryone that comes their way. And as soon as they see what's in store around the place, they find all goodness in it: a running train would be exciting to see, despite the fact of the flaws on how late it arrives or how jampacked it could be.

If we could all see the goodness in each one of us, no matter how flawed they are in terms of other issues they have in their lives, probably, all of us won't feel insecure. Seeing the goodness in each and everyone is tantamount to love, a love that is indispensable, voluntary, and would eventually turn out to FREEDOM: a feeling that we imbibe out of charity, selflessness, compassion, and sacrifice, without feeling disappointed or robbed out of our freewill.

Well, it's not to late to start anew. And why not start changing our lives today, before it's too late? Well, I must say, that the way to perfect happiness is being in God's arms, and believing in Him, no matter how hard the world could be. :)

And I thank You Lord, for Saturdays!! :)

Spending last days of a gratifying sembreak. :)

Wednesday. In about four days, I'll be going back to where my heart belongs. :)

Medschool life is not just about diagnostics. They have this saying that it takes one's treasury and knowledge at risk once you enter Medschool. Well, I'll check them both, but what's lacking is: DEDICATION.

The school's giving breaks not for us to rest, but to assess how far can we still go and push forth. As for me, although I have subjects to remove as early as now, this doesn't stop me to do my best on the next semester and prove myself of the dedication I have not just for myself, or my family... But for the nation as well. ;)

I know I still have 8 enrollments to do for me to become a doctor, but I'm getting closer and closer one step at a time. It'll take time, but the fulfillment will soon pay off as we all pass the boards. It will be tough, but why bother? If you have to think twice, or a thousand times for you to gratify yourself with the profession you chose to make a living, DO SO. And all I can say is... Take the opportunities presented to you while they last.

I felt like quitting as the first semester startled me with problems and emotional disturbances, but what would stop you from reaching your dreams? I've given enough of myself to a lot of things, but I thought: Why not take the pieces back to the things you know that's not worth it and start placing it to something that will pay off in the end? I know being a doctor takes a lot of sacrifice, but I've known how it feels to sacrifice one's self for others' sake... So why not do it for more people, by saving their lives?

I'm still not losing hope of reaching my dreams and prove something to myself. Despite disturbances, I know it would be possible if I'll keep track of my time management skills and focus on studying.

So for now, no more disturbances. And try to meet my own ground: Swim, and Serve. :)

Whatta Day! :)

November 7, 2009: Was the start of a new beginning.

I canceled all appointments and upcoming events to finally meet a good friend of mine for the very first time: MIMI!! :)

But behind that, I know I have lots of reasons why I want to go: To replenish myself with a good long travel, to stop EMO moments at home, and to finally indulge with a new commitment with a new activity I'd be loving to do for the rest of my life.

The place should be near when I'm from Ortigas, but because I'm still indulging myself with a good sembreak to think things over and to finally BE OVER THE STRESSES, I came from home and started to count travel time: A travel good for at most 1 hour from Ortigas will be good for an hour or two from Alabang. Whew. :)

I love to travel. I enjoy traveling late, when the sun's out and only neon lights are the ones flashing on the streets of EDSA 'till SLEX. That's why it'd be more convenient for me to buy a car than invest on a condo unit. But I want both as soon as my profession will pay me up for a day's work. ;)

So... Back to the topic: It was the beginning of a commitment of being with girls whom I can study with for the rest of my medschool life and will continue to be there until we grow with each other, with a good relationship with God.

As soon as I went back home, I never thought that things would really happen. :) I experienced a minor accident, hurt my shin and knee just to get on the bus rapidly. Good thing I haven't broke any bone, but got some concussions.

But no matter how hurt I am, healing the wounds by that accident brought me would soon be over, just like what wounds will eventually be, thanks for my platelets and coagulation factors that made things possible. :)

Just thinking of how wounds can heal with our own system, sooner or later, some negative things will just be fed by my system as well. Would it be possible for macrophages to go in the depths of my brain cells just for me to forget the worst memories I had? Well no, and I have to deal with it myself. 'Coz healing won't be possible just by letting the wounds wide open. You have to cleanse it, especially the pus (dead WBC) that if just left there would eventually lead to infection... And may infect not just my skin but my whole leg!!!

So there must be some kind of help, a cleansing agent that would let me heal the in depths of my soul, and my brain, from all the wounds I had from the past years. Something that would purify the soul, and would eventually lead to a better you. And that would be my relationship with God.

Whatever hatred that experience brought me... I should know, that someone's being prepared for me, and eventually, Lord will let me meet that Man whom he perfected just how He perfected me with all those pains and frustrations.

So why lose hope? Everything happens for a reason. And if you haven't known it yet, just wait. For that time will come that you'll laugh out on the tears you've cried, and soon see that it all make sense.

Thanks Mimi. :)

Two weeks vacation. :)

This is the start of the life I've always wanted: plainly busy, monochromatic, and energy-requiring. That's the life of a doctor, and that's how things should be, I suppose.

Although it zaps everything to you, like what you just ate minutes ago, the exhilaration of the intense coping-up from simplest to finest case scenarios would bring you adrenaline rush. Simply the fact of knowing how your kidneys affect the way your heart pumps blood could be more exciting than knowing what's hot and what's not on the latest gadgets of the month.

This would simply be a vacation, a thorough assessment whether I'm still into it or not. But no matter how hard things were for me, and how hard LIFE is for me, I'M STICKING ONTO THE LIFE I WANTED TO LIVE IN. :)

I'm keeping track of my life on the past months and I've noticed that in one way or another, a lot of things affect me. But that must not be the case, for eventually, time will come that I know how to handle everything.

The next semester will come with a bang: the hardest and toughest subjects will come and will test our endurance to how far we could cope. And the only thing that will keep me up 'till the end of the battle is my optimism, and prove of self-worth. To all positive thinking good things come. :)

A lot of things should keep me going. Although somehow, I wasn't able to prove myself in one module or another, the only thing that will make me prove myself is on how I'll go on starting this semester. Self-discipline is the key, and I wish I could have a dose of it.

Now, there's no turning back. I have loads to discover, loads to learn and loads to keep up with. I should better be adjusting to 4-5 hours of sleep everyday.

And it's just now that I figured out that life could be so much fun living it by your own means, and loving yourself more. ;)

What's Up WORLD? ;)

After the whole busy months of preparing myself for Medschool, now, FIRST SEMESTER is finally over. :) I still have 4 years and 5 months of pursuing my MD-MBA degree, and reach for my dreams. :)

For six months, I've been through A LOT. And when I mean a LOT, name it: from tears to laughter. But what's significant is: I finally decided to let go and move on. TOTALLY.

I met a lot of people, have my new bunch of friends and barkada whom I run to through those hard Medschool moments. :) Although I still can't compile our pics, you know who you are. ;)

As for now, I'm preparing for the semender party tomorrow. :) Probably they won't require us to drink alcoholic beverages, but... I don't know. :) We'll just see. :)

Well, I haven't prepared enough for this post, but sooner or later, I'l have time to update this up... or finally transform this into something worth reading than pondering on. :)

As for now... I just want to start the next semester right... and end the last semester with all that imperfections and stupid decisions.

I have to start it all with MAGIS. :) And now, I won't deny, I'm finally turning ROYAL BLUE (with shades of MAROON, of course).

Pain Staking Love. :)

After a year, I've finally decided to keep track of my files and stock them up.

Seeing this heart warming letter from a good adviser, it made me feel contented to my feelings right now. I shouldn't be in a hurry, 'coz everything has it's right time. :D

I just wanna share this letter with you guys. Remember you're the chosen ones. :)

"When you were born, somewhere out there, someone was born, too, just for you. Do not agonize over the wait for time is perfecting him just as you are perfected. On the right moment, the right circumstance, the perfect place, destiny and fate will align for you to find each other. You may break your heart many times just as he will surely be for the moment has not yet arrived for two destined hearts to meet. You need not find him, for trying to causes sorrow. Just wait and enjoy each passing moment for he will find you, no matter what. Distance and time has no meaning. Not even culture, belief and chances can stop what has been written before time ever began. Love yourself. The ONE is out there. In time, he will be there only for you."

Don't you agree?

My wholehearted thanks to a very inspiring thought, from a teacher whom I appreciate and treasure most. :)

Graduation Photoshoot! :D

I was not really deprived from photos when I was a kid. In fact, I've got loads of it, about a drawer or so, and my mom loved to take my pictures every month back when i was still the only baby in the family. :)

But then, this really made me excited, then finally, the day came for our graduation pictorials. I've seen most of my batch mates turn into lovely princesses or handsome princes as they went through their pictorials a week earlier. But yesterday was the moment for me to unleash the model in me. :D Hahaha! XD

I'm quite expressive with my feelings, and I'm really shocked after looking on myself after that complete transformation that Mama Argie did to me. It wasn't me. :D I swear. :D

Pretty! XD

I looked like my mom when she got married to my dad. :D Hahaha! XD I am indeed, a carbon copy of my mudra after all, no doubt! XD

And with that, my dream of becoming a model came true, even just for a day. XD

Three Plays

I missed my blog. I wasn't able to post a lot of info and personal notes these past few days 'coz I was duper busy with the batch pictorials, and with my acad life. Still, what's amusing is that I managed to finish my second purchased book of Ayn Rand. :) Weee! :)

During free time, or whenever I'm dozing off to sleep, I went through the book, for about 5-10 pages every reading session, or from 10-30 pages whenever possible (e.g. duper free time, no exams, or relieving stress). I really got addicted to Ayn Rand's style of writing, and her plays really deserve to be played on broadway.

The Three Plays featured in the book are The night of January 16th, Ideal, and Think Twice. I loved Think Twice most, 'coz it really made me think of the story, and the psychological intervention she had incorporated with the play. However, I loved them all. :)

Soon after reading the Anthem, I knew how Ayn Rand will define or characterize her antagionists and protagonists on her play. :) I loved on how she defined individualism, on how one can manage his or her life by his or her means. And I was able to buy another Ayn Rand novel... :) I'd be posting that soon after I finished reading. :) Woohoo!! :)

Sweet enough, a lot of people got addicted to the plays as well. My mom had a dose of the book while waiting for me during my psychological exam at one of the medical schools I've applied, then my close friend Angel wanted to read it, knowong that she's deeply in love with scripts and dialogues, for she's a theater artist. :) Waw. :)

And probably, as I travel tomorrow to Q.C. for our photoshoot, i'd be more that happy reading that new novel I've bought. :) I'm so excited! :) Probably after work, i'd start up on that new novel, and my batchmates wouldn't be amazed of seeing me with another copy of Ayn Rand 's novel.

As for the graduation photoshoot pictures, I'd be posting it as soon as I get home tomorrow, with another batch of pictures from the editorial board photoshoot. :) Just wait for them guys! :)

Yehey! :)

Anthem (Expanded)

It's been a week since I've had my last blog, and for this week, it's all about Ayn Rand's Novel: Anthem.

It just took me two weeks to finish the novel... er... Novelette, as Ayn Rand called it on the introduction, for the said literary piece was her "scribbled notes" while doing her novel "The Fountainhead". The story was really short, I should have finished reading it for three days if not for a great load of work for acad stuff, but reading it from time to time was good enough for me to learn a lot of things, on Ayn Rand's Philosophical perspective: Objectivism.

What triggered me to read her novels was due to the inspiration given to me by my Philosophy teacher last semester, Miss Abbie. She told me through e-mail that my opinion over things are the same as Ayn Rand's. Actually, she told the class before to try some of her books, just to have an idea about Objectivism, for further reading.

I thought before that Ayn Rand's novels would really be technical over Philosophy, but she really did a great job of making the readers understand what she wants to impart in her novels. She gave a good writing style, for the readers to relate. And that's a good skill as a writer. :) How I wish I had those writing skills. Haha! :D

I won't be able to site some details regarding the good read I've experienced in the novel, because it was really short and I would really recommend it to you guys! :) Your appreciation of the novel all depend on how you lived and believed on your concept of individualism, and how you define "I".

Ayn Rand really had a good definition of Individualism, but still, I have my own choices and decisions. As what she said, we are capable of volition, or the ability to make choices, and she cannot completely persuade the readers to believe or to live with her concept. What matters to her is to share her concept, and her belief on how man can manage to live his life, and how man must live his life, and that is through searching for the true happiness that one has in mind. :)

Every philosopher has his or her description of things, with ultimate regard on the philosopher he or she looks up upon. And not all Philosophers don't believe in the concept of God and the Almighty, for a number of Saints are philosophers as well. :)

As for me, Ayn Rand had a good job of making me realize a number of things, and she made me stand up on my own decisions in life. Thanks to her, I'm back on my feet, and now, I'm walking my path towards personal stability and fulfillment.

And now, moving on, I learned to think about myself. It's kinda selfish, but how would I be able to share a part of me if I don't know myself that well? We all live in this world for our own sake, and we all battle for existence.

And with all that, I got addicted to Ayn Rand's novels, and now I'm starting up on the next book: her three plays, featuring "Night of January 16th", "Ideal", and "Think Twice".

How I wish I could avail "The Fountainhead" by next week... I've signed up a reservation for that. :)

Love in the Time of Cholera

"Think of Love as a state of grace: not the means to anything but the alpha and omega, an end, and itself."

The room for complete fulfillment lies on the individual doing his hobby, along with his burning passion and desire to forget bad memories. That made me think of a good hobby to start the year with, and probably, I'll end it 'till the day I die: reading novels and reviewing 'em up.

First stop: Love in the Time of Cholera, from the Nobel Prize awardee Gabriel Garcia Marquez. An online buddy recommended it for a good read about Love. Ideally, we see love as something that is made out of marriage, or a bond between two people, but in this novel, Florentino Ariza did eveything he could just to have the girl of his dreams, the one he loved most, until the age of 70+.

From the title itself, the setting of the story is on the time when cholera was an epidemic, when the world started growing up its population, developing its cities, but sewage problems lie for the people lead their garbage, as well as household sewage, at the rivers. These are the common problems of districts and countries in Latin America. Circa late 1800's to early 1900's.

I've got a glimpse of all kinds of love in this novel: Love made out of pity, love made out of the desire of having a family, domesticated love, and true love, among others. Garcia Marquez proved that love has no other means but patience, as what he wants the readers to see on his main character, Florentino Ariza, towards Fermina Daza, the woman of his dreams. He waited for Fermina's husband to die, who is ten years older than them, just to seize the moment of renewing his vow of internal fidelity and everlasting love, just what he did fifty years ago.

Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza had a dose of their puppy love moments, the time during their teenage years where they swore love to each other on letters due to the fact that Fermina's father didn't want Florentino for her. Time passed by and Fermina's love for Florentino faded away in time, probably because of maturity, but Florentino, whom I thought would forget her sometime in the story, really loved her, with the real definition of love, at its truest sense.

With the novel, I had the opportunity of opening my eyes on the hardships of married life, on infidelities, just how I knew regarding my Aunt's experiences. It's really hard being married and committing yourself to a person, without knowing how love works in your relationship. What's sad is that, even the bond of marriage don't work on your impulses. It's more decent to be single and living your life with your own means.

What Florentino did made me realize one thing: that man cannot live his life alone. He spent times forgetting Fermina through other ladies, doing the domestic stuff, but then at the end of the day, he still sees himself drowning on the memories of what was used to be between Fermina and him. What's more hurting is that, in important occasions, he sees Fermina along with her husband, a known doctor and respected man, Dr. Juvenal Urbino. Heartaches? Probably those thorns that really made his heart bleed were sharp enough.

But without pain, Florentino wouldn't push himself to his limits. He won't be that eager to develop his own skills, feed his mind with various knowledge, take his work seriously, and, it won't be possible for him to be the President of the River Company of the Carribean. Pain really does its job, destroy you for some point in your life, then later on, make you feel worthless, until you're back with your senses, and make yourself strive for something to happen, something impossible for others: Strive for perfection.

But he was really meant to be with Fermina. Even they only have short remaining days to live their life together, they knew that they are together because of love, not because of needing someone to be with, someone who'll help you out, or someone for show.

Love is patient, should be patient and must be kind enough. If it's not, then it's not love. And it's a matter of self-sacrifice, that one must be a person for another. They must meet halfway, and complete in their own selves.

Ice Cream!! :D

I loved Ice Cream ever since. It's my ultimate good mood food, next to coffee. :D So coffee flavored ice cream would really be my favorite. :D Hahaha!! :D

Even though I've flooded my self with all kinds of ice cream, I never attempted to buy the most expensive ones. But with the grace of God, I had a taste of one of the most delicious Ice Creams in the world.

Haagen-Dazs!!!

As we strolled at Duty Free this afternoon as part of family tradition every time my dad goes home, I had self-control over the things I wanna buy: A Ferragamo perfume (Incanto Charm), A pair of shoes from Crocs, or a printed version of Jansport. I let go of them all, coz it's impossible for me to persuade my dad of buying those, and the Jansport bag, although possible, would be up for April, as a new dude for Medskewl. I have to laugh every time I imagine myself wearing those all-white Med school uniforms, on a skirt at least, and using a printed Jansport Bag. But it won't matter to me anymore, as comfort must be first than fashion or style. :) Medschool would mean a lot of school books, Medical books of course, characterized by hard-bound ones, up to n thousand pages. :) So a backpack would really help. :)

Anyway, we just walked past through that portion of the shop, so it didn't matter at all. The thing is, what I always looked forward everytime we go at Duty Free is the grocery shop where you could find stuffs rich in Sodium: junkfoods. :) Next to ice cream would be junkfoods, of course. The day won't be complete without my parents seeing me loading a lot of Friday's chips, cans of PikNik and Pringles, and all sorts of goodies. :)

And then I saw the generic Haagen-Dazs freezer somewhere in line with their chiller. Everytime we go to a grocery store, I just walk past through their freezer, 'coz I can't afford to buy one. But then, because the price were all in dollars, I just checked out their prices. A pint costs $8.00. Wow. So I didn't bother to continue reading at the prices anymore.

But then, another freezer, at the other end of the corner was there, standing. begging like "Hey Aine! Try Me, Try Me, TRY ME!!!!" So I brought the topic to my dad about eating expensive ice creams. He told me, "You can't blame them, they're one of the best." So I stared on the contents of the freezer, and there you could find: tiny doses of ice cream, those Php10.00 ice cream cups that we have in the supermarket. My dad followed us on the freezer, and told us "Okay girls, you can have some, just for you to have a dose of it." My heart jumped with joy, as if I haven't tasted ice cream before, then I picked up the coffee flavored one, then my sister picked up the Belgian Chocolate one. Then my dad laughed at me, saying: "If you're going to taste it, better the unusual flavors, ones that you haven't tasted before." So I made my sister change my ice cream to Belgian Chocolate flavor as well, bearing in mind that the word "Belgian" is something that really makes it unique to any oher chocolate ice creams. Haha! XD

And so, as we paid up the items, and opened the ice cream, my spoon was broken. I have to wait for my sister to finish her ice cream up before making me eat mine. Haha! :)

And what's the difference? Really Belgian. Exotic Belgian Chocolate, with Belgian Chocolate bits that melts in your mouth. A real Belgian Chocolate experience. Exquisite. :D

And the price? $2.90. Converting it up to approximately Php 130.00. :P

Size? 100 mL. Wow. For the price, it's like having half a gallon of local ice cream. Hahahahaha!! XD

Going Back to my Childhood Moments

I can't deny the fact that one of the reasons why I was left all alone was all because of my childish attitude. But I can't blame myself, 'coz I wasn't able to spend my childhood days going to places, experiencing picnic moments with the rest of the family, or having frequent reunions, because my Dad's been working abroad ever since I was not yet born in this world. :)

Childish. Duper Childish Me.

With that, after spending those hard times bearing the sadness of just seeing him once a year, it became possible for us to see him twice a year, and now, spend our vacation altogether going to places, for we now have the means, and probably, my Dad has spared enough for me and my sister's future, as well as for his retirement. :)

This year was a hard year, but as we welcomed the new year, we ended up the day going to Star City, after visiting my Godfather and Godmother's house, which was a family tradition, if not on Christmas Day, on New Year's Day. :)

Star City is located at CCP complex, somewhere in Sotto St., and we went there by bus (from Boni Avenue, we rode the bus with signboard LRT Ayala/Leveriza). The bus would be leading you somewhere on the side of the theme park, that would take you a five-minute walk for you to reach the destination. :)

When we reached the destination, we we're so excited to experience the rides, the Snow World and the Dino Island, so we hurried up to the gate, my dad fell in line for us, and made us avail the full amenities of the theme park: A ride-all-you-can wrist tag, with the fees for Snow World and Dino Island!! Weeeee!! :P

The Tag and the stamps, after availing the amenities (Snow World, the rectangular one on my wrist, and the Dino Island, the fuzzy one covered by the tag)

As soon as we went inside, me and my sister parted ways with my mom and dad. We were together for the rest of the day, and we enjoyed our shrieks as we tried fearlessly the rides that were designed for adults. Both of us are grown-ups now, so we laugh out loud whenever we find each other still afraid trying on the tummy-turning rides. :) Haha! :) My spectacles almost fell off with that topsy-turvy ride, with circular hoops and inverted stunts. :) I shouted like crazy!! :)

We enjoyed the rides, and Snow World, but we weren't able to get pics because using gadgets were prohibited inside the Big Freezer, approximately having -15 degrees Celsius. :) I enjoyed the duper cold and snowy experience, 'coz I thought of it as an opportunity of experiencing New York's winter once I get there. :) The last time I experienced that so much cold was 11 years ago, at South Korea. :D As we find our way towards the exit after several minutes of cold, my ears and nose are numb, as if they could be taken off when pinched. :) haha! And as we took off our jackets at the conditioning room before going out, my glasses were all eaten up by fog. Good thing my iPod and cellphone didn't moist after sudden changes in temperature. :)

So, most of the pics were taken at Dino Island. :) Good thing you could capture images inside the exhibit area. :)

Me and my Sister. :)

Rawr. :P

Smoooch!! (See Dino's Face!! Hahaha!! :))

With Dino bones (those were replicas, of course.)

Cave moments. :D

What's funny is that you'll spend almost an hour filing yourselves to experience a ride, but will have the ride just for about 5-10 minutes. :) So what me and my sis went in most of the time were the exhibit areas. :) Harhar! :)

And after all those shrieks, painful rides (for some of them don't have soft seats at all), long standing and walking hours, I was really, really tired, and was haggard looking. :)

Ann: "Ate, ampanget na ng buhok mo!! Haha!!"
Aine: (see the photo above)

Tired. :)

I thought it was only me and my sister who'll be having fun, but my mom and dad had fun as well after seeing the ballet dancers from Lisa Macuja-Elisalde's School of Ballet at Aliw Theater. :)

And so, we finished the moments hungry (but of course, we had series of pica-picas while strolling the park). We decided to eat out, at Festival Mall, but the van that went in front of us as we crossed the road was going to Mall of Asia, so we ate there.

We ate dinner at Bangus. :D I saw Monsi with his pile of relatives. :) And what's fun was, I had showers of novels from my dad! :)

Still the day isn't over yet, so the last thing I decided to do was: To Blog it all up!! :P