Hug ko be... bahala'g awkward

She texted me “Mata pa lagi ka?”

I replied, “Mata pa man ka.  Hangtud naa pa ka itext or ishare sa ako, di ko matulog…”

While texting these words, I thought about the days we had since we became classmates.  We are friends since high school and the major thing that links us, not considering our course, is our genre.  She sings and plays guitar; I sing and play flute.  The big difference is that she performs and I do not, and she is way too better than I am a million times.

I admire her voice and the way she sings.  Her soft heavenly voice and her eyes (eyes: according to my mother… and I do not argue with my mother so let that be) are her best characteristics.  She is not sweet but her voice, when she sings, makes her sound sweeter than anyone does.

We had lots of fights and misunderstandings mainly because of my fault.  There were times when she didn’t like the way I talk about some matters and she’s very conservative and sensitive in some topics, which are not worth sharing (She will understand when she reads this).  Once, I assumed and said something and she got insulted about that.  I felt something punctured my heart when she said she was hurt for what I said.  We both knew that sorry was not enough to cover it but still I was very grateful that she had forgiven me for all I had done (not forgotten).

She'd upset me also but I chose not to remember them.  I expect more fights in the future because I believe that misunderstandings are form of communication between friends so they may know each other more and adjust or improve something (just fill in the something).

I am very blessed to have her and she is one of the persons I would not like to lose.  She may not appreciate the way I appreciate her (I admit it is awkward) but still I will not stop showing her how grateful I am even in simplest gestures.

Let us go back to the first two paragraphs.  That day, things got sour; she was not on the mood; and was very lonely because of that.  I could even imagine her weeping the whole day (though she is not the crying type).  I honestly supposed that she had only me to talk with about her problem that day.  I tried my best to boost her self-esteem and at least ease her agony but I also said that she has to experience pain before she can get through it.  She did not know that I too wept with her.  I understand her, I had been in her situation and I know how gloomy to be on her spot.  One that added my sympathy was when she said that she did not share it to anyone, even to her parents or to “someone special”. I kept on telling her that pain will ease faster if she would share it to anyone who loves and understands her just like what she did when she texted me.  She said she’s not comfortable and she’s scared of sharing her downfall to anyone including to her family.  I did not dig deeper why that was so—she needed a listener more than an investigator.  Then at the middle of our conversation, I said, “Hug ko beh”.  She replied “yikes” so I said giving a hug is a therapy, and what’s with it anyway, we’re friends.  She added, “Awkward lang”.  I was serious and I don’t consider hugging a friend an awkward thing so I replied, “Hug ko be, bahala’g awkward!”

...like a stone

By English 8 Students

Like a stone, tested, heated and polished into an incomparable priceless jewel, Mindanao State University – General Santos City after decades of learning, achieving and excelling has now become the unsurpassed jewel of the MSU System.

Nestled between scenic Sarangani Bay and rustic Mt. Malibato, this 153.6-hectare campus is located at Fatima, General Santos City. First occupied on June 21, 1982, it was inaugurated on September 5 of the same year.

The University houses one 2-storey, 16-room building, one 2-storey H-shaped, 32-room building, one square-shaped 12-room building, eight 1-storey academic buildings, one 3-storey Y-shaped administration and library complex, faculty lounge, a 3000-seat gymnasium, an infirmary and an ROTC office building. 

The University is also home to individuals with its 2 dormitories each for men and women, two Bachelor’s Quarters, four faculty and staff apartments, one guesthouse, and thirty-six 2-bedroom faculty and staff cottages, and a Chancellor’s residence. 

The University holds three elevated steel reservoirs with three deep-well pumps, 2 electrical generating sets, a road network and electrical power systems. It also has two tennis courts, one outdoor basketball court, two volleyball courts, and a mini park.

It is guided by the commitment of developing and promoting its special areas of concern in agriculture, fisheries, agri-business and industry. 

MSU-Gensan, one of the top performing universities in the region, highlights intelligence and abilities. These are all credited to the institution’s trained human resources required for the development of SOCCSKSARGEN and Southern Mindanao who uplift the living conditions of the Muslim and other tribal communities therein. The administration has carefully selected the best educators within the region. The professors, holding Master’s or Doctorate degree, are considered the best in their field of specialization.

With these educators, the university is capable of providing good quality academic services and producing topnotchers in different fields of study to become globally competitive professionals. 

It has seven colleges that offer courses that suit students’ interests namely Business Administration and Accountancy, Education, Social Sciences and Humanities, Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Engineering, and Law.

The applicants are filtered through Student Admission and Scholar Examination (SASE), a standardized examination that measures the individual’s capacity – analytical, mental, linguistics, and manipulative skills.

The applicants that passed, bearing with their choice as to which course they’d like to take, are then sorted if they pass the provisions set by the college to which their course belong. The MSU System honours the indigenous and the minority. It offers Pre-University Program (PUP) and College Bound Program (CBP) that are mainly for catering educational support of the SASE non-passers that belong to the indigenous and the minority.

The MSU System also gives due privilege to exemplary applicants with above-average level in their SASE and to applicants with honours in their high school by scholarship grants.

The university does not only produce excellent and highly competitive individuals but also future leaders through the leading bodies that have been in the students’ disposition. In addition, the university homes socio-cultural organizations such as the sororities, fraternities and ministries that bring about the social uprightness of the students.

In exercise of the students’ leadership, initiative and unity, activities are employed to facilitate the students’ socialization. Such activities are the college and departmental weeks and intramurals. These activities expose students to various academic, non-academic and socio-cultural competitions that highlight their ability and capability to excel in those various categories.

A haven of intellectual culture-oriented competitive individuals, this institution was, is, and will remain the “Jewel” of the whole MSU system.

...once upon a time

October 11, 2007

2:45 am

Hello yaby!  Mustah?  Ok lang ka dra.  Mingaw na baya au mi sa imo.  Wen daw ka magbalik? Tinuod 2ng sa October 17?  Mag-uban ta sa ako b-day o dili?  Nagausa ka karon? Lingaw ka dra.  Aq dri dili mingaw au ko sa imo.  D q makatxt, makatawag.  Bskan 2 o 3 oras na magtext ta ok na man na.  nganong completely man jud ang pagwala sa ato communication?  D ba di pwd nga hinay2 lang.  Sila daw sa a2 beh kali2n lang kung dli lalim.

Wala man d ba n2 gnapriority ato relationship?  Sige gani ta 2on, study, review kung ag uban ta. Tanda pa ka k2ng cge ta patas-anay ug score sa mga quiz or assignements?  Nalingaw jud bya ko a2.  Wala bya n2 gipasagdan a2 studies g.himo pa gani n2 inspiration d b kay ang k2ng ato dream na kung kta jud dapat chui a2 house taz mahatag na2 tanan na kinahanglan sa a2 mga baby.  Nktanda pa ka a2?  K2ng gnareview tka pirmi sa chem unya ako ginatudluan mo ko sa english o math?  Wala cla kabalo sa positive side sa a2 relationship.  Naningkamot jud bya ta ug study, abi nila cge ta txt2, tawag, uban nga ma timingan ra man pud nga gspend ta ug tym para sa isa’t-isa.  Bskan sa phone cge pa ta discuss ug lessons kay d n2 gusto nga magbaba a2 grades.  Kung hapon after practice muoli dayon para d makasab-an.  D man guroh n2 sala b kung gbie na mahuman ug practice.  Wala na ta kabalo unsa himuon kau murag tanan gnahimo n2 mali.  Karon nga naa naka Manila lisod na kaau.  Abi nila nga ordinaryo lang ta mag-uyab nga sige ug away pero wala cla kblo nga mura ta ug mag-igsoon.  Kung ang isa may problema tabangan sa isa.  Kung ako walay balon g-nalibre mo ko.  Tnx sauna nga mga tym Momy!!!  Ulaw gani au nga pati balon nimo usahay mabauasan 2ngod sa ako.  Mubawi man pud si Dad d b?  G-natreat d b tka f may xtra money c dad?  Mahimo pa kaya na2 2?  D man gud ordinary lang na relationship ila gipu2l.  kabalo bya ka Momy nga dependent au si Dad sa imo unya kaw pud kay Dad, db?

  

Kung dra ka sa Manila, Asa ka mag-skul? D makatulog c dad!  Tanda mo pa 2 k2ng naa pa ka dri sa balay.  Gilutuan pa ka ni dad, gpaligo, gpahiram ug shirt, g-alagaan kung may sakit.  Gnalambing kung suplada kaau o kung init kaau imong ulo.  Lain au Momy noh?  Na break akong promise nimoh?  Na mag-uban ta pag-bday nako.  Ghimo bya naq 2 tanan para lang mkita tka k2ng bday nimo.  Gnalagnat man d ba q a2? Taz nag-apas ko sa polomolok.  K2ng nag-uli ta nag hapit sa ka kadali sa balay kay ghatag naq ang rose sa imo.  D jud naq 2 makalimtan imong smile after naq mahatag nimo.  Asa naman 2 tanan karon?  Asa naman ka.  Wala na magkulit nq, wla na mag-ingon na gwapo au c dad, wala na magbawal sa ako magpasingot kaau, wala na magtudlo sa mga lessons, wala na maglambing, wala na maglu2  sa ako rehas ka special sa imo.  Kung pwd mag-luhod ko sa imong nanay na dri lang ka paskwelahon.

Hapi pa kaya 2?  May reason pa kaya q nga maging hapi nga wala na ka?  Naa pa kaha?  Kabalo jud ka nga kaw magpakompleto sa aq bday.  Kblo ko mao nan i pinakamaot nga bday f muabot pa ba na sa ako.  Nganong kinahanglan pa man putlon a2 communication?  Nganong dra pa man sa manila?!

Ang black na singsing tagu-a jud na ha.  Sige lang baya hilak si dad.  Wala man lang ka nakaingon sori dad, o I love you dad, take care, before ko naghawa sa inyo balay.  Unsaon n2 ni Yabi, f makuha mo na imo fone sugtan pa b d I ka mgtxt naq?  I think di na siguro…

(This letter was never sent by him who loved her... his friend, his dearest, his life.)

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

Indeed, Cirque du Soleil has captured the perfect mix of performances in a single movie.

Picture paints a thousand words or perhaps more so here are some snapshots for you to see and describe for yourselves.  Also, try to term the stunts and costumes in words.

A short woman goes to a carnival.  Moments later, a gloomy speechless clown approaches and pushes her to watch an aerialist perform inside the canopied circus.   While doing his acts, the aerialist slips and falls.   The woman hurries to help but the ground opens down and eats them both.  They fall in a world with colorful tents (they call it tent worlds) but they are not together.  They keep on finding each other inside the tents with the Cirque du Soleil people executing wonderful, stunning, and unbelievably breath-taking performances… and alas, they found not only each other but also love.

They prove that love is (literally) in the air!

National Convention of Partnerships in the Accounting Practice

MSU Graduate School Conference Room—we had our final requirement in English 8 Technical Writing, which was an expo showing different accounting firms fighting for honor and merits.

Each group created an accounting firm that suited the needs of the guest stakeholders.  The reports, proposals, letters, and memos showing how well these firms had done through the years must impress the judges.  The judges will then choose which firm to trust their company with by rating these reports and one big factor for this rating is the groups’ way of presenting these in front.

When I came, I saw everybody was nervous more than excited.  Some were worrying about the unclear brownout schedule and I too was worried not for the brownout but for our group.  I could not imagine what our group would look like in front of the stage knowing that we were not that prepared. Mr. Russ, our instructor, told us not to read in front and that added our tension.  I admitted I had not memorized my script because it was too long and I was too busy to spend time for it.

Ms. Melody emceed the event.  She was beautiful in her simple red blouse and skinny jeans.  When she talks, you will already know that hosting is not new to her because she acts naturally on stage and she is good in what she does.

We commenced the event with a solemn prayer led by our JPIA President Ms. Allure.  Then Ms. Claire officially opened the program and our honorable guest speaker Atty. Gen, CPA gave his inspirational message.  Atty. Gen also happened to be the sole judge.  The businessperson whom Mr. Russ had invited did not come due to some business appointments.

Next was dinner!  The buttered chicken was delicious.  The cook placed margarine instead of butter but it was still yummy and I felt it melting in my mouth like ice cream.

While we were eating, Kathy and Kay rendered songs.  They were beautiful and their voices were so sexy.  I could not stop taking pictures of Kathy.  Her make-up was glamorously simple and her skin tone matched the light. She was also hot and lovely, and she looked wonderful in her corporate attire.  The thing was she did not reach some of the song’s standards.  Anyway, I still love her… I mean her voice.

The first to present was SkyLar.  They were very formal and sophisticated. I heard they shopped new clothes for the event.  I liked the way they delivered their speeches. Their best speaker for me was Kay.  She delivered her speech well in proper poise, vocal rendition, and she maintained eye contact to her audiences.

After the presentation, groups must have an intermission number to kill the seriousness and boredom before the next presenter begins.  SkyLar danced “I saw the sign” and “Kahit na”.  They were very cute especially Nen—she is always so bubbly when she dances.

Second was Credence Accounting Firm.  This was the firm where I belong.  There were some technical difficulties before we started and the videos were not playing in other laptops.  Some adjustments had to be made, so, to kill the time, I gave an intermission.  With the guitar, I played forbidden games, canon, and one friend.  Fortunately, after perhaps three to five minutes, our operator solved the problem.

Our Marketing Head, Rom, introduced us one by one.  I was the Unit 1 IT Head: Accounting Database Management Systems Director.  Some of my group mates had not delivered their pieces well including me.  I was not satisfied by my performance but I was happy that everybody listened to me when I talked.  I heard positive feedbacks but still, I was not confident with it.  Our best speaker would be Rom.  He could really speak his mind always.  He does not need to have a script because he knows what to say.

Our intermission number was so simple.  I sang few bars of “The way you look tonight” and we danced “Kahit na” by Tony Gonzaga after that.  All I could say is that it was epic...haha

The third and fourth presenters were The Diplomats and Kassiopé ABC.  I do not remember much of what they had presented.  All I can say is that they were too technical and too boring.  I bet, only Atty. Gen listened to them very well.

Last presenter was Infinutim Accounting Firm.  They were the best group in terms of preparation.  This time, most of us were too sleepy.  It was already quarter to eleven and they still kept on talking.

Their intermission number was the best.  They were all jolly and they did funny things.  We kept on laughing downstage because of their surprise numbers.

The breathtaking moment came, the awarding.  Atty. Gen again occupied the stage and said some encouragement.  I remember he said, “In a competition, there is always a winner and there is always a loser...” This did not appear to be encouraging but I did not mind anyway.

Infinitum won The Best Presenter, the highest award.  Credence won three: Best in Slogan, Most Attractive Company Name, and Social Service Award.  I forgot others’.  Good thing was that all groups got awards.

Overall, the event was successful.  Everyone went home tired but satisfied and uplifted.  For me, it was not just an ersatz expo but also a great experience that I know helped us somehow shape the competitiveness within us.  I hope someday, we can attend real expos with real people in real profession just as real as what we can be… successful CPAs!