Dr. Nicanor Reyes woke me up!

It seemed to me that Dr. Nicanor woke me up this morning since I stirred up 3 o’clock in the morning despite the fact that I slept late the night before. However, still, I wasn’t able to attend the floral offering for the FEU’s founder since I have to accomplish several academic requirements the late day.

Happy 79th Founding Anniversary, FEU!

Go Green and Gold!

***

I watched a play yesterday at Greenbelt One as a requisite to our Literary Criticism class. It was Frank Rich’s Moose Murder. I was with my friends Vanj, Davis, Lhen, Jill, Abby, Gai, Lars and the rest of EL0431 block. I realized that I really missed my ‘complete company’. Young, Rachel and I fed ourselves to death as a protest to the theatre we just viewed while discussing the weak and strong points of Rich.

***

The other weekend, I was at the Ateneo with Kua Ago, Ilo, Grace, Haiyes and Rj for the 4th Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations National Conference 2007 themed: Locating Filipinos in the Globalizing World. I found the conference very insightful.

Favorite sessions (in order):

1. Atty. Enrique V. dela Cruz, Jr. - Students' Rights in the Age of Globalization

Atty. Enrique dela Cruz, Jr.
Senior Associate, Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Office
Master of Laws, London Metropolitan University

2. Dr. Benjamin Tolosa - Introductory Notes on Globalization

Dr. Benjamin Tolosa
Chairperson, Political Science Dep't., Ateneo de Manila University
Ph.D., Political Science, University of Minnesota

3. Mr. Bobby Benedicto - Philippine Sexuality in Transition
4. Dr. Filomeno Aguilar - Migration and Identity

Dr. Filomeno Aguilar
Professor, History Dep't. Ateneo de Manila University
Ph.D., Development Sociology, Cornell University

5. Fr. Jose Magadia - Comparing Philippine Democracy

Fr. Jose Magadia
Assistant Professor, Political Science Dep't,, Ateneo de Manila University
Ph.D., Political Science, Columbia University

6. Fr. Luis David - Postmodern Critiques of American Imperialism

Fr. Luis David
Associate Professor, Philosophy Dep't., Ateneo de Manila University

Ph.D., Philosophy, Boston College

***
I already sent a request for financial subsidy at the OSACS for the Paragon. We are waiting still for the development. Meanwhile, everybody seemed much occupied already for the upcoming FEU elections. Such a headache for me. I dunno still what post I will be running.

***
On the lighter note, I will be joining this year’s FEU-Athletic League for Team IAS – Badminton-Doubles. A very good way to de-stress, I guess. Hope i will find time to practice-play with Joseph (BS Math), my team-mate.

Prof. Barogga was absent today. We were then left to wonder how we scored in our DevReading exam. I just took the chance to talk with a Korean classmate named Hana and learned a lot of things, such as Korea is divided into two: the North being a communist nation and the South, democratic just like the Philippines. Hence, every single Korean we see in FEU or in any other part of the country comes from the southern border.

Also, I have come to know that the government pays for the expenses (i.e. medical, educational) of the third offspring. Yet, typical Korean family doesn’t risk bearing more than two believing that it is arduous to raise children.

***

Reporting was re-convened in our Cross-Cultural class. Lhen and Vanj, who tackled non-verbal communication and ethnocentrism across cultures, volunteered. We (I and Rain) haven’t delivered our report oral evaluation though because of time deficiency.

Meanwhile, we computed our grade in Technical Writing. I am happy to receive an early flat mark though I did not study for the Px (tough luck!).

***

Despite stress, I had to force myself to attend two meetings after classes. I felt like I had to divide my body into two because of the superimposed schedules.

I couldn’t believe, still, that I became emotional during the Paragon’s meeting. I may be just starting to get tired, with all the efforts I have been exerting for the publication and not receiving the necessary emotional back up I need. But I will never get loose from the grip. Believe me.

***
Immediately after the Paragon meeting, I went straight to the study area for the TAMVOL’s Executive Board meeting. I just sat down listening with the dialogues. My interviewer from the Advocate did not come as it was set the next hour.

***

After all the meetings, I had dinner with friends Ilo, Josef and Arvin. Unplanned, we had coffee at Starbucks – San Lazaro together with Nursing friends (Mitch, Bryan, and Doms). A very good way to end the stressful day. Josef and I slept over Arvin’s place and the following day, I lost the phone given to me by my sister as a pre-Christmas present. Sad.

Prof. Miel was absent, which made some of my classmates literally jump. Today was supposedly the deadline of the short story we crafted for our Creative Writing class (15-page minimum). I was also happy though, honestly, since it would also give me time to employ minor editing.

The next class, Anglo-American Lit, we viewed ‘First Knight’, a sweeping romantic epic about love, betrayal, and passion in legendary, enchanted kingdom of Camelot featuring Sean Connery (as King Arthur), Richard Gere (as Lancelot), Julia Ormond (Queen Guinevere) and Ben Cross (as Megalant). We haven’t finished it though.

During our Literary Criticism class, we watched another movie: Dr. Seuss’ ‘A Cat in the Hat’ which we will be critiquing using the Psychological approach.

My celebration of the Yuletide Season had been completely inspiring for me. Days before the Christmas, we threw a gift-giving project for the people of the FEU Village through the Tamaraw Volunteers in cooperation with the Office of Student Affairs and Community Services. It was really moving to see the children smiling upon receiving their present. Equally touching was the music composed by a group of mothers as a sign of their gratitude to us. (How sweet!) A couple of days after that, we went to Montalban, Rizal together with the volunteers of the V4CHANGE for another gift-giving endeavor. This time, for the Dumagats. New members of the FEU Tamaraw Volunteers were exposed to a totally exciting and heart-filling affair.

I organized a batch party last December 27, 2006 and was very glad to see, after a year, some of my batchmates who, unsurprisingly, grown matured already. I missed Rain though who wasn’t able to make it since she is presently in Singapore for a practicum (she called though). Meanwhile, I felt nostalgic seeing similar faces of Zyreen, Kristoffer, Paul, Jarra, Ian (who is also in FEU taking up Financial Accounting), Kath, Mitch, Bob, Morris, Erika, Mae, Elgene, Philip, Erjay and Carmi. I attended a number of parties (V4Change’s, IASSC’s, Arvin’s, TAMVOL-CYC’s) which seemed to drive away the sad thought that I have to finish a lot of things before classes resume on the 4th including a lengthy short story for my creative writing class, the finalization of the Paragon (sighs…), and a number of narratives and project proposals…

umingajc@feumail.feu.edu.ph