The Ocean of My Being

After almost four years of dreaming about it and projecting it, I am finally going to visit Japan again! Come October 1st, with four other people, I will be flying to Osaka for the Pan Pacific Youth Exchange Program . I really can't thank God enough for giving me this chance, this opportunity to see Japan again. After my first visit to Japan in 2000, I promised myself that I will, one day, go back there. I have thought and thought about this many a day. I have dreamt about this many a night! Since 2001, I have been seriously thinking and planning to apply for this year's PanPac . I chose 2004 because I was thinking, then, that it might be my last year here in Manila unless I decide to work here (which isn't my plan right now). And, no, I am not finishing this year yet, but I knew I just had to take my chance at the program. And, luckily I was chosen as one of five Philippine delegates! I am sure this is going to be another unforgettable and enriching experienc...

Back when I was still in MSU , after my college graduation and just after SSEAYP , my mom and I would sit down and discuss my plans for further studies. What I love most about my parents is that they always make us decide for ourselves. They suggest things or some alterntive plans, but in the end, it's really up to us (the children) to decide what we really want. They allow us to commit mistakes and, eventually, learn from them. My dad, wise and weird that he is, would term this " the freedom even to go to hell and back ". Sadly, not all Meranao parents are like that. This is why I couldn't be more thankful for being part of my family. Back in college, it was my decision to stay and study in MSU rather than in any other school. Staying in MSU would mean studying close to my loved-ones, friends and it would mean never having to leave home. I've lived in MSU all my life (our house is inside the university!) and I wasn't just about to give the comfor...

Our ship, Nippon Maru , sailing the blue ocean... The 31st Ship for SouthEast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) was in the country from September 14th to 17th . As usual, every single activity brought me (us) to a journey back in time - to the time when we were the PY s. The annual coming of SSEAYP never fails to do so. Usually, at this time of year, almost all SSEAYP alumni are just so emotionally charged. Much as I would want to explain how SSEAYP makes me feel, words are lost to me right now. They always say that only a fellow alumnus/a would really understand another. Drew from Bidlisiw 2003 , a very good friend of mine, couldn't stop his tears from falling as he talked about how SSEAYP changed his life. Indeed, SSEAYP is a life-changing experience, aside from its being absolutely THE BEST experience in the whole world! Being part of SSEAYP really taught me a lot. Daddy Nel of the Philippine Homestay Association , an educator, once said that SSEAYP was the best classroom h...

I know I mentioned in my last entry that the last two Sundays were really great ones, but I only got to write about the first Sunday. So, this entry will be on how the second Sunday ( September 12 ) went. It was my brother's birthday , and Dominattyrix 's too. It was also the day of the Cheer Dance Competition of the UAAP . It was really exciting for me because it was my first time to actually catch the event AT the very venue. I used to only watch it on TV. Some dorm friends and I went with the same group MaCho and I went with during my first UAAP game . So, we sat, of course, at the Ateneo side and we wore ONLY blue and/or white shirts/tops. Even my Japanese friend played along with us. We cheered for Ateneo (4th place) and, of course, UP (2nd place)! The experience was another unforgettable one for me. The energy was just so high the whole time, it was impossible not to be carried away by the cheering crowd. It was just so much fun. It's really weird tha...

The last two Sundays were great ones. These days afforded me experiences that I'd like to forever keep in a section called "fondest memories" in my brain. I imagine my brain to be composed of different sections and I assign names to these sections. I don't know, but doing this, rather than imagining left and right hemisphere and all those things, makes me feel more human and, well, more in control. Hehehe:) Okay, so first stop is Sunday of last week, i.e. September 5. Kuya Frankie texted me Saturday night to invite me to go with the Osaka Association Youth Development Exchange Program participants and some other SSEAYP alumni for a trip to Pampanga . Since it was to be my first time to visit the place, I was naturally very excited. The next morning, I was up by 6 o'clock to prepare for the trip. I slept for only two hours that night. So, anyway, I went to the meeting place and met the participants and saw good friends from the SSEAYP alumni. We left for Pa...

18.75 % My weblog owns 18.75 % of me. Does your weblog own you? -- Good, my blog doesn't own me! :) ********** 25% There's a 25% chance that I'll win a Bloggie™. What's Your Chance to Win a Bloggie™? -- 25%, huh? That's not bad... Hehehe:) *********************** BabyPink's different names... (stolen from Anj ) YOUR PORN STAR NAME: (name of your first pet + street you live in) Bantay Ford (MSU house) or Bantay A. Roces (UP dorm) -- wow, those are both weird! with a name like that, i sure won't have a shot at being famous... at all! YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (name of your favorite snack food + grandfather's first name) Cheetos Pangandaman (maternal grandpa) or Cheetos Benasing (paternal grandpa) -- i'm so not cut to be a movie star! YOUR FASHION DESIGNER NAME: (first word you see on your left + favorite restaurant) Polaris Chocolate Kiss -- yikes! EXOTIC FOREIGNER ALIAS: (favorite spice + last vacation ...

I got this from Friendster's Bulletin Board. I liked it, so I posted it back so that my "friendsters" (especially the non-Muslim ones) would also get to read it and find out a little bit more about Islam and Muslims. A good friend of mine, Kuya Mike , commented that it would have been better if I had explained or expounded on some things because that way it would be easier to see things clearly. So, in this entry, I will try to expound on things and explain each item in the best way I could. The explanations I will give are based on the knowledge that I have gained from reading, from listening to wasi'at (sermons) and from the Madrasah (Islamic school). I would just like to emphasize that I am not THAT knowledgeable. God knows best. :) The Top Ten Misconceptions about Muslims: 1. Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists. -- Muslims are peace-loving people. The term Islam came the Arabic letters S-L-M , where the word " salaam " (peace) is ...

Another one of my closest (best) friends, Ate Khair , got married last August 20th. It's actually so funny when we think about everything because we never really thought she'd end up with the guy she married. He was my very first major crush ever! I had this really huge crush on him for about two years. Days after she found out and confirmed that the guy was the one her parents and family chose for her, she called to tell me the news and asked me if I was mad or something. Yes, it was such a big surprise, but mad?! Of course, not! I couldn't be happier for them. And now, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that they're really perfect for each other. What made me sad and still makes me sad, though, is the fact that I wasn't present during one of the most important days in Ate Khair 's life. Not being in Leyh's (the first one in our barkada to get married) wedding doesn't help at all! Even if my mom was there calling me ever...