Wounds that forgot to heal

Wounds that forgot to heal

Yey. About time for an update eh? Yeah, before this blog gets moldy despite its new template and all. 2:56AM and I should be sleeping as I should wake up at 8AM to do some work for Matriculation Fair, but what the heck. Let me type some stuff here before the past few weeks go unchronicled and I lose my sanity from not being able to well, talk about stuff.

Now that seemed to be an intro for something long and profound and insightful, but I've taken my nightly drugs already and according to the label, it "may cause drowsiness" and I shouldn't "drive or operate machinery". I wonder if the computer is some machinery I operate, but what the heck. I've been taking the drugs for three days and I've been having more restful nights since. :) They're not bad drugs, don't worry, they're for this incredibly itchy skin rash I developed the past weeks, which happen to come in two variants, dry and wet. I'll leave the icky details to your imagination. I'll say, though, that it's not chicken pox, but it sure feel likes it. That's half of the "wounds that forgot to heal" story, too.

Anyway, since my last entry, I've flown to Manila, and did a lot of socializing with friends and relatives. It's been fun, and I realize how super important regular albeit occasional contact with friends and family is. Most of my high school peers in the Philippines are in their fourth year in the universities already (I'm in my third since I took a bridging course here in SG), and so it was important for us to meet up before we venture into the dark urban jungle and get caught in the money-making scheme. I also met up with some of my closest friends aside from my High School batchmates: Jacques, Kerwin, Dea, Jasper. I rode the bus too by my lonesome to visit my grandma's sisters in Bulacan. They're extremely nice, and they gave me a lot of food! Hehe yum yum. I stayed in my aunt's place in Quezon City, too, so it was good to catch up with my uncle, aunt, and cousins.

I'll post photos soon. The HS class photos I took are up already, actually, on www.gashong.multiply.com. Gashong is the yahoogroup of my Electron class ("gashong" is a Visayan expression whose meaning I'm not sure what), and I made a Multiply account so I could upload the photos. I'm still waiting for Raissa to upload the pool photos though. :) More photos from the rest of the summer vacation soon.

* * *

I've flown back here to Singapore, and I've moved in to my new room here at the Ridge View Residences, still within the NUS campus. I like my room, although it wasn't too sparkling clean when I arrived. It's still super anyway, as it's on the 8th floor (top of the building), and I have a balcony to my right, the pantry to my left, and it's the laundry floor too. I had this mysterious neighbor when I arrived, and thought he was a sociable Indian guy because some Indian girl/s and Malay/Chinese girl went over to his place the first night I arrived, and all I saw were his slippers. Lo and behold I met him the next morning in the washroom, and it was none other than Keng Khoon my previous NUS Choir president and fellow basso. Haha. It's a choir country this place. I'm this year's Secretary, Aaron the Choir VP is a few doors down, Iris the President is on the 6th floor, KK across me, and his girlfriend and ex-Soprano-Section-leader Michelle near Iris, Joanne ex-Alto-SL on the 4th floor. Nice.

And scholarshipmates and Pisay schoolmates Ivy and Korinna are staying here too! And Karen and Wayne are just blocks away. It's a good place, this one, although I'm a bit worried that we might get sick of each other so soon. Haha. No, really.. how can I escape from my duties now when I'm so easily accessible? Haha.

* * *

So for the past few days, I've basically been doing two things: Matric fair stuff for Choir, and settling my stuff down. That's mostly it. Aaron and I are in-charge of the choir booth, and it's been a pain doing it, but thanks to the help of Joanne, Iris, Johni, we just finished about 90% of it an hour ago. It's nice! We were going for this classy look, and although I'm not sure we accomplished that totally (yet), it's a very decent effort. I'm proud of it.

I'm to help out with the schoolpaper booth, The Ridge, tomorrow too, and hopefully that will turn out less draining. I always treasure Ridge meetings though, as I don't get to meet my fellow writers much as we most always just email, so it's gonna be fun.

* * *

My skin thingy on my arms has been a major pain too. It was diabolically itchy this one time, especially after I moved a huge load of boxes and bags and into my room from the storage place in nearby Raffles Hall. It was so itchy, I had to take bath and say a prayer while scratching stroking the itchy areas on the back of my elbows and neck. I went to the doctor, and hence the creams and tablets. I've been feeling better and less itchier since, although some of the boils are still wet, and thus I'm still disgusted with myself, and worried I might scare people away.

* * *

More than the skin allergy on my arms, I'm worried about my emotional bruises. That sounded too cheesy, but it's true: I'm an angrier, more bitter version of me. Maybe it was last semester's grades (I daresay this is a major factor), maybe it's having strained relationships with some people, heck could it possibly the very rare case of homesickness? I dunno. Maybe I'm missing people too. Maybe Singapore has gotten to me? Maybe it's the excess emotional baggage that's been piling up over the years? Beats me.

I'm thankful I have this balcony to the right of my room. No other floor except the eighth has balconies. It has a splendid view of the track and field oval, some tennis court, the soccer field, the adjacent residences, a lot of trees, the commercial buildings at a distance and a good view of the sky. I go there when I'm pissed, I go there when I'm incredibly pleased. I've been there to visit, at least for a few minutes, every day since I arrived. Easily my favorite place.

Well, if I'm really super pissed, I can easily go to the balcony. Maybe jump too, if I feel like it.

Kidding.


3:35AM, and I think the drug is kicking in. Time to bed, Jose. Goodnight world.

Two Weeks' Notice

Two Weeks' Notice

Heya! It's the 7th of July, and that means it's a mere two weeks before I set foot again on Singapura, and the manic schoolyear begins anew. Today also means it's exactly one week before I leave my lovely city of Davao, to drop by Metro Manila to spend a week with friends and relatives. Ahh.. time. I'm running out of it, so I'm trying to make sure I settle all my affairs pronto.

A lot has happened in my two-month visit back home, although I'd have to say that the second month was more of "Me Time", as, well, it was mostly spent by my lonesome, as my friends and my sister had to go off to school. I suspect I've mentioned this too many times here, so pardon the repeat. I don't mind being alone, really, as the Me Time I so wanted was finally here, and I got to REALLY think about my life, how much of a mess it is, and the steps I need to make to fix it.

Anyway, this post is basically just a mouthful of what I wanna say right here right now. I realize I haven't been blogging as frequent as I would have liked, but that's fine, I keep a record of the happenings in my head anyway. Of course, my blog-reading friends can ask me if you want a blow-by-blow account, although nothing is quite groundbreaking, I must warn you.

That's one long intro, but so what. Haha. Right now I'm letting my fingers do the talking, and that's how this blog entry will play out. Let's get it on.

* * *

Today is the Foundation Day anniversary of my high school, Phil. Science High School here in Davao. I would have loved to go, if only for this (usually kick-ass) Cultural Show, as I'm especially fond of my teachers over there, but I decided not to go, as I would have to go alone. My sister Kai, also a graduate of Pisay, has class till 7PM. I texted my batchmates, but most of them too had classes. I even asked my fellow Singapore scholar Carina to come, but she was busy helping her little bro with his assignments. As far as I know, the other Singapore scholars are still in Singapore, like Karen, Ivy, Korinna, Michael, Robs. My Dad's also not here, as he's out of town for a trip to Mati, for some meeting regarding the family business, so that means no car too. So instead, I'm staying home tonight.
Come to think of it, I don't know any of the students in Pisay now, as those who were in their 1st year when I was in my 4th, have just graduated in March. So except for two or three students introduced to me before, I don't have quite an affinity to the new kids. At least last year, I was able to cheer for the 4th year group (who were 1st year when I was 4th like I said) in the modeling and singing and dance competitions, as I had really good friends in that batch.

Anyway, I might still drop by to say hi to the teachers sometime before I leave. If not, maybe in December. They will still be there for sure anyway.

* * *

Last night I was slightly upset with myself for apparently being the cause of the car breaking down. My Dad says it's not my fault, and 80% of my brain is telling me that, too, but I dunno, it's still a great big coincidence that the car decided to break down right after I told my Dad that I'd like to go for driving practice.

We had just arrived from a trip to the house of my folks' friend and super-architect Tito Ed (He has designed subdivisions for the Alcantara Group, Churches, Parks, and currently the big Nature Park project by Davao City Mayor Duterte). My mom was adamant we go visit his newly-constructed treehouse, which is a good four storeys from the ground. It was lovely, and hip and cool. That man's a genius, setting up this nice outdoor open-air place, where one could have a nice chat under the trees or go stargazing. He even put a room with glass windows in the third level to serve as his office, and a bedroom on the second level. The place was still under construction, and Mama even pointed out where an outdoor jacuzzi would be mounted. Coolness.

Anyway, when we reached home, I told my Dad I wanted to go for our second driving practice, and proceeded to go to the driver seat and set the gear back to neutral, and prepared my feet and legs for the footwork. Then the car just didn't start! Sad. Dad was supposed to drive the car to Mati today, a good 3 hours from Davao, but too bad he had to take the bus. Sorry.

* * *

I had thought it was gonna be a restful two weeks before I left, but not so, apparently. From my email inbox came the news that the NUS Choir would be setting up a workshop involving secondary and primary school choirs, which would take place on August 8th, right about the time we sing for Freshmen Inauguration Ceremony, and hold the Welcome Tea. I'm bracing myself for preparations for the Matriculation Fair preparations for the choir, AND some manning time over at The Ridge booth as well.

The shocker yesterday, though, was really the deadline of submission of my desk's articles to my Exec Ed. The Chief Ed's email said it's on July 14th, and I was stunned. That was 8 days from yesterday, and I had only received three ideas from my writers (writers send their ideas first before writing their articles). I had said the deadline for ideas was on June 28th, but I MYSELF FORGOT about it so I did not bug them. Sigh. Nonetheless, it's still their responsibility to email me their ideas without me nagging them right? Sigh. I hope everything goes better next time. See, this is for the September issue, and I'm thinking it's a wee bit early. Anyway, deadlines are coming, and I pray my writers deliver, and don't hate me in the process.

I predict it's gonna be a hectic week for me, as July 14th happens to be the day I leave Davao for Manila too. I'm gonna be editing articles and submitting them just as I arrive Manila.

And, dare I say it, I haven't written my own article yet!

* * *

It's Italy and France in the Finals! Yahooo! I watched the England vs. Portugal match the other day, and that was so freakin' SAD. Beckham injured, Rooney fouled out, and England had thus only 10 players against Portugal's 11. The match was 0-0 till the end of the 90 minutes, and later even in extra time. I was rooting for England because Portugal didn't seem to play too clean, but alas, Portugal proved superior in the heart-stopping Penalty Shoot-out.

France had defeated reigning champions Brazil too, so that was an interesting development. They beat Portugal in the Semis to advance to the finals.

I just saw too the Italy vs. Germany match. It was a major upset for the home team, Germany. It was a thriller of a match too, if only for the remaining few minutes. It was 0-0 for 90 minutes, still goalless for the most part of extra time, and everyone seemed to ready themselves for the nerve-racking Penalty Shoot-out. What do you know, Italy scores a winning goal in the remaining two minutes, which sent the crowd roaring (both the German and Italian supporters, but for different reasons). The German team struggled to tie the game what little left of remaining time, and what do you know, Italy scored again! Two goals in the remaining two minutes. Awesome. Tears and broken hearts for Germany everywhere, but oh well, that's life. Sometimes it sucks.

I've mentioned my dislike for Italy for personal reasons, and so my vote will be for the French come the final match.

* * *

Last shout-out! I bought my first pirated CD's! Brownman Revival CD that's laced with a whole lotta fun Pinoy Reggae, and Ultraelectromagnetic Jam, the all-star tribute to the monster band of the 90's, Eraserheads. Whoops please don't arrest me.

Viva Original Pilipino Music (OPM)!