I haven't posted any blog this weekend coz I wasn't at home. I spent my weekend at Pangasinan together with my mom, aunts and cousins. We left home at about 8:30 am and then went straight to my aunt's home to pick them up and we're on the road by 9 am. We drove for about five hours. We had two stopovers. Then stopped at CARMEN, PANGASINAN to wait for the person who will lead us to the place. While waiting my cousins and me decided to eat at McDonalds. From there, we drove for about an hour to our destination.

It was located at the foot of a mountain and man it is so far. Not very far from civilization because there is electricity but what drove me crazy that there was no celfone signal. I have to raise my hand so high just to get a single bar of signal and man it was tiring.

When we got there, it was soo hot and Im sweating to death (not actually but sort of) and there was no electricity because there was a problem I think and will be brought at 6pm. It was already passed 2 in the afternoon when we got there and we ate without any spoon or fork. I was surprised at first because I was not used to use my bare hands in eating. But I was forced to because I dont want the people there to think that people from Manila are very choosy. But when I was actually eating, I find it very cool and not only that, I actually thought it was fun. Then it was like a mango feast because the house was flowing with mangoes and it was so sumptuous. Then I rested for a while. Later on, they told us if we wanted to take a bath and since the electricity has not come back yet, there was no water too. So they recommended us to a spring near by (i think its far by). Since it was up in the mountain, we cant take the L300 with us.

Guess what we rode?

A tractor that carries I think cement and large rocks. They put a few chairs for us to sit on. It was actually my first time to ride that vehicle. On the way to the site of the spring, I saw lots of very nice views I have not seen before. When we got there, I was amazed of the spring since the water was very clear and no stinky smell at all. The water was very cold but I enjoyed taking a bath there together with my cousins. Then we went back to the house all wet at around 5 in the afternoon.

Bored.

At around 7pm, the place was so dark. Good thing there was already electricity. The wedding eve soiree started. The place was filled with loud sounds and dancing children. We were all ready to get our grub on. Then I was surprised once again to see that the place where we are going to eat is a long table without any spoon or fork. Then it was like a catering system, since they were the ones whose going to put the food on your plate. It was totally a first experience. It was like the eating system of our former president Estrada where he joins the poor people in eating using bare hands in a long table. It was kinda like that. After that, I was so full and went back to the house.

Bored once again.

I realized if there was no wedding or any occasion in that place, that place will be so lonely. The place here has no light at all. From that, I was so glad that here in Manila, everywhere you go, there's light that brightens the night. I cant imagine life would be if there was no electricity here. But snap back to reality, lights are present. Then I was kinda getting tired getting signals from a lot of angles.

I slept at 9:30 pm. Not my usual sleep but I was so sleepy and I felt it was already very late at night.

All night long, loud music is all I can hear. People are dancing with the tune of their folk songs. Kids, teen agers and elders dance all night long.

Awaken at 4:30 in the morning. The wedding was supposed to be at 5. but we left at 5:30. From the house, the church was 30 minutes away. When we got there (6 am), I thought we were already late but to my surprise the priest was not even awaken yet. I was also surprised with their wedding. Compared here in Manila, the godparents are suppose to sign the papers during the wedding itself, but in Pangasinan, they signed the paperworks before entering the church.

Guess what else? They paid 150 pesos for the payment of the sound system of the wedding and church bills. We waited about an hour and it started at 7. The language used during the whole wedding was pangalatok or ilocano. I dont know but I cant understand it. Now I know what it feels if you dont know what the people around you are saying. There was no homily, sign of peace or even communion that is why it only took 30 minutes for the whole mass. The wedding was a total comedy. Someone slipped twice and the wedding couple are so shy with each other. The parents were not happy at all. So I said to my aunt whose sitting right next to me that parents does not want their children to get married since I cant interpret the look on their faces. The couple was also shy to kiss each other so I thought maybe one of them had bad breath. Haha. Ang sama!

So I did not wait for it to end so me, my mom and my aunt went to our vehicle and just wait for my other aunt and cousin (who was one of the bridesmaid and god mother).

At the reception, the place was crowded. If you finished eating already, no time for talking, but instead, stand up and many people are waiting for their turn to eat. Once again I was surprised. It is like having batch by batch people eating the food.

Then after that, when there was only a few people left, I *your cuteness* gave the couple a song number. *ASTIG* Then my aunt gave the couple money by placing it on their clothes the traditional wedding style wherein the couple dances and people sticks money to their clothes.

Then we decided to get mangoes from the mountain. I did not left myself behind and just stay at the house, instead I went with them (the elders). My cousins decided to stay at home and sleep. I dont want that kind of lifestyle. It seems that I prefer to be with older people than being with my cousins. I had fun going up the mountain though we did not actually went to get the mangoes but instead I just went down the spring and soaked my feet in the cold water and waited. There were a lot of mangoes they picked.

Went back. Relaxed and rested for a few moments then I ate. It was my first time to eat *padas*. And I had no intention on doing it again.

By two in the afternoon we hit the road. Drove for about 5 hours and my back was aching for sitting 5 long hours. In Manila by 7pm, went in the house of my aunt first then got home at 8 pm. Tired and hungry, I reminisced my first experience and truly will never forget going there. Well, it is very long already. Thats my Pangasinan trip and I enjoyed it.

Feb. 19 (what really happened today)
Went to my teacher's crib because it was her birthday. Brought lumpiang ubod. Then went straight home. Then went to SM Centerpoint. I wont blog all because I'm already tired and sleepy. Ciao! ~definitely tired and my eyes are already starting to close~ ZzZzzZZzzZZzZzzzzZ...

I was supposed to post a blog earlier this afternoon but I was so busy finding another template for my blog but unfortunately I wasnt able to. So I decided to turn off the computer and just go down stairs and get some grub. So thats what I did. I got my tummy full with lumpiang ubod which my mom made.

Then I became irritated.

Irritated of the kid next door because every afternoon at exactly 4:30pm, she always comes here and play with my nephews. Actually I wasnt that irritated to the kid, it was her yaya. She leaves the kid here and guess what she does? Man I cant believe Im saying this:: she's just uggghh I cant even mention it. Anyways, its so pissing. So I was pissed and good thing her mom came and pick her up. I dont know what happened to their maid. But who cares?

I was supposed to be at a birthday bash at this very moment coz it was the birthday of one of the friends of my dad. Politicians and Manila city hall people are gonna be there so I decided, there aint gonna be no kid around there my age, to stay home and finish my blog of course.

Nothing special happened today. I just stayed home and guess what, I woke up passed 11 but with a little help with my dad. He asked me if I could print a couple of his resumes. That wasnt so hard so I was able to wake up at 11. It wasnt normally me because usually I wake up at pass 12 or even onwards.

Im just bored and I wanna eat. Good thing I signed up for the enrichment this summer so that I can do something for at least two weeks except from using the internet and watching tv. Gosh, Im really excited with this enrichment. Well thats it for now.

Oh yeah, my dad just called and said we should go. Im going to that party. Once my bro gets home, we will go straight there. Better get ready. Ciao.

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL (2003-2004)

There are a lot of things I will miss in my second year being in Mt. Carmel. Everything was memorable. The tricks we pull to each other, the noises we make whenever theres no teacher around, the unity of all when it comes to eating and especially tests.

The EERRR stuff they always shout out when someone cracks a stupid joke or even simply just for fun. I must say that I was always one of the victims of this EERRR because whenever I ought to say something in front of the class or even sing, they always shout out loud. Good thing I wasnt *pikon* or anything.

There was this also singing of Happy Birthday in the first period of class (Filipino) and made everyday a birthday for our teacher Mrs. Bautista.

There's also the earsplitting sound of the lockers just to annoy our teacher and my classmates always reason out, *Maam, ayaw pong mabuksan nung locker ko eh.* Haha, I just laugh at that stuff.

The everlasting *Huwag susuko* line was the most popular one and never lost in time from first quarter up to the last because when we we’re asked to tell the values learned from a certain story, this was the best one from them. Especially me!

There was also the time when half the class was outside, some were at the canteen, at the comfort room or simply just roaming around second floor fooling around.

We also had a VICTIM corner at our bulletin board. Snap shots of pictures that were taken when we had our field trip last December 11, 2003 at Eight Waves Water Park. These pictures had silly captions below like endorsing a movie. I must say I was also one of the victims of that snap shot. We made fun at the pictures and made stories out of it.

Theres also the friendster mania. At first, I was the only one talking about it in the class and no one listens and the *EERRR* stuff was blotted out to me. By January of 2004, slowly they were getting used to it. By February, everyone in class had one. And now, theres this *EERR ONLINE BARAHAN*. A high-tech *barahan*. Who says its only limited inside our room, we will also conquer the net. Hehe…

But in spite all of that there are times we were scolded by most of our teachers and there were also times when there are certain issues at classroom, we still afford to be at our best behaviors. Hey, we’re not perfect so don't expect too much from us.

I really had fun in my second year highschool at Baste in our section Mt. Carmel. There are still a lot of foolin’ around but I wont mention it all. I’m kinda tired already. Hehe…All I can say is that I will miss those. Everything. I hope next year we will still be classmates. Eeerrrrrrr!

"Change is the only unchanging thing in this changing world." This sentence struck me. I read this sentence while answering the starter exercise in our Reading class when I was in first yr highschool. Actually, it's not a sentence, its a fact. A truth. A reality. Then I realized, why change itself doesn't change? Pretty stange huh? Yeah, it may be confusing but its reality. There's nothin' we can do about it but accept the fact that changes occur no matter what.

A lot of things had already happened to me. Things that became a part of me. The part of who I am right now.

At first, I was afraid of these changes. Afraid because I thought no one cared. No one knew what was going on and scared that 'it' might ruined me. Scared that I might fail myself and never be able to rise up again and embarass myself. Scared also because my friends weren't there to support me. But somehow I dug up the courage inside of me. The courage to face everything with my family. My family never let me down. They helped me all the way. From that very day, I was able to face this so called "CHANGE".

The courage that my whole family had provided for me somehow became my stepping stone to prove that I can stand on my own without "THEIR" help and "THEIR" pity.

At first, when I looked back on the things I undergoed, Anger and Bitterness reigned all over me. Just reminiscing all those what happened, I felt a lot of "PITY" for "THEM". I also felt grateful of all what had happened because if the whole 'drama' hadn't happened at all, I wont be where I am today. I wont be the better part of me and I wont be as happier as now. I wont be as glowing and as brighter if you all could see me before and NOW.

But it already happened. Past is past according to my classmate's bro and we can't change that. But I'm really thanking "THEM". Thank You very much!

CHANGE really is for the better of all people. To some, it may be the opposite effect. But come to think of it, it's the BEST for us. So now, I understand that we shouldn't be afraid of facing a change in our life. This is another level. Face it and who knows, it might, it will rather, lead you to a better place and become a better YOU. Take it from me. :)