Euphoria

For the past week this has been a summary of what I've felt. Just like alcohol this time the blood levels is decreasing and before it totally gets out of my system I need to verify its authenticity by writing this post.

1.) The results of the Medical Board examinations came out last week. And I passed! So did my other classmates. We achieved a fifth straight 100% rating for August and tenth straight overall since February 2007. And it is very much rewarding after everything that we have been through - stress, pressure, anxiety, self deprecation and to pull it off again for the school though the faculty were confident from the start that we would, but somehow it seemed as if we pulled a rabbit from a hat. I have never been fulfilled and satisfied. My parents practically reached cloud nine!

2.) Thanks to cheap airline tickets and early booking, I was able to fly to Manila and continue feeling elated. There is always something to do in Manila whether if its your first time or nth time there are lots of things to discover and see. This time around I got to explore the Ayala Triangle Gardens, see San Sebastian Church (the only steel church in Asia) up close, lighted a candle in Basilica ng Nazareno in Quiapo, pigged out pasta and homemade apple pie with the best Black Forest Coffee in Coffee Therapy, Fairview, had the best Italian dinner at Bellini's in Cubao (this is where "One More Chance" was filmed) and immersed myself in the mall culture of Metro Manila a.k.a. mall hopping! Thank you to my lovely hosts for having me and feeding me with great food.

3.) I've finally set foot in Bicol! Thanks to the sexiest attorney in Makati's CBD, we totally pulled off a day tour of Bicol which included a half day of wake boarding in Cam Sur's CWC and an afternoon of cam whoring and planking at the Cagsawa Ruins in Albay. It was a great trip to get to know deeper one of my closest friends. And yes the trip would have been less awesome had I did it solo so a thousand thanks for coming with me despite your busy schedule and mountain loads of paperwork at the office so that I'd look smooth and slick in the world of FaceBook!

4.) Meeting new trivia geeks from another city has been a worthy experience. Cebu vs. Manila II also happened last week and we ended up in fourth place even though we were lesser in number and though some people backed out at the last minute I still had a nice time answering questions and being the coolest dork ever! You win some, you lose some! We will get you next time!

5.) And most important of all what matters most is my parents are the happiest people on earth right now and it will continue like that. And making them proud one more time just tugs my heartstrings and to see them basking in this glory more than I do is just an indescribable feeling of greatness.

And now just like alcohol after being absorbed from the mucosa of the stomach of the GIT and with constant piss breaks it will be eliminated from the body. Just like my euphoria what's left of it are bits and pieces and now it will soon be just a memory that I will be fond of.

27 Life Lessons

Two days ago, I finally turned twenty seven and I am now officially in my late twenties. Three years to go before the Big 3 - 0. This year has been the most simple birthday. I did not get to do a huge birthday thing or something spontaneous to mark the day as I was and has been preoccupied, preparing for the board exams. This weekend it will be over. Plus I am also saving my finances in anticipation that I might not get a job or get paid right away. However because of these circumstances I was able to reflect on the past twenty seven years and I have realized that I indeed learned a lot - some the hard way, some through other people's mistakes and some through reading voraciously half my life. These are twenty seven life lessons - some cliched and some unconventional.

1.) Your parents will never ever leave you or abandon you despite the fact that you are worthy of such condemnation. They put up with all the crap and emotional baggage and still let you stay in the house.

2.) Surround yourself with people who make you feel great. They are called "positive reinforcements".

3.) Every thing is okay when done in moderation. Like what the Spice Girls used to sing: "Too much of something is bad enough".

4.) The simple things in life are indeed free - fresh air, scenic sunsets and laughing so hard!

5.) Books are good investments!

6.) In relationships and falling outs, salvaging the bond is a must try. But if you feel that it is already weighing you down, burn the bridge!

7.) Mistakes teach you to be humble.

8.) When you are wrong, move along and ultimately you will get it right!

9.) Always make sure to spend time and make rituals every now and then with your friends.

10.) Distance makes people grow apart.

11.) The TV is actually educational - choose wisely which channels to watch.

12.) A good breakfast can carry you through a long day.

13.) Most of the time, you never learn to appreciate someone or something until they've already gone.

14.) Never count your eggs until they hatch - this will pave the way to disappointments.

15.) Be passionate about something.

16.) If it is meant to be then it will happen.

17.) Choose your battles wisely. But it still does not a guarantee a win for your side.

18.) Thinking before speaking is way better than making amends thereafter.

19.) Prayer gives you peace.

20.) Music regardless of what genre is uplifting and comforting.

21.) Money will not get in the way of a real friendship.

22.) Be willing to try anything once.

23.) Relax!

24.) Do not give up the quest for learning. Ever.

25.) Take risks if you think its worth it.

26.) Always learn to appreciate the simple things in life.

27.) It is okay to grieve, be depressed, dig a hole as long as you know how to get out of it!

Cheers everyone!

I guess this is it!

I am no longer in denial and I am almost on the stage of full acceptance that tomorrow, the inevitable, the looming cloud, the pseudo kinda pink fat elephant in the room will be happening in less than twenty fours. Though I was initially looking for a state of panic, I already got it and it was great because it brought me back to my senses and I regained my composure and Zen-esque state of mind.

Tomorrow another medical milestone will be hurdled and all I can do now is hope for the best and expect the worst. I am pumping myself up by putting on my "game face", maintaining a state of mental tranquility and repeating to one's self in silence but loud and clear, "You can do it!". Over and over again.

After two weekends my life will either go forward or do a stand still. Whatever happens I vow to continue on living. I owe myself this and I choose to do happy things and think of happy thoughts.

And the support, encouragement and motivation from family and friends have been very efficient in being the fuel to undertake such huge task. So Good Luck and God Bless us all!

Breathe in. Breathe out. Smile. Say to self: "I can do this! Kick Ass!".

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. "

Wants

I haven't realized that its my birthday in less than one week. Yup I was too preoccupied lately because of the looming presence of judgment day this weekend. Not until my parents asked me what are my plans for my natal day, in which I have replied "nothing", same retort for three years now. And I think this year they are taking it seriously. They usually go out on their own, on a limb to throw a dinner party which I do not approve of and invite a couple of relatives and neighbors. And I am M.I.A. Always M.I.A

This year my mom actually sponsored nine days of masses for the fiesta of our chapel's patron saint. It has been her tradition to sponsor the mass on my birthday since I was like five because I was a very sickly child and it was one of her devotions. She believes that I do not get ill or battle any malady as long as she sponsors the mass on my birthday.

I am nonchalant on my birthday. I do not get excited for it like I do anticipating Christmas and advent. But this year I got to have time for a little thinking and I decided that I do a birthday wish list (first time!) like I would every holiday season. And hope maybe the universe will conspire to get it for me . Hehe (wink!) I am very simple and quite cheap actually.

1.) Any of the following books - The Wind Up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami, Columbine by Dave Cullen, Palo Alto Stories by James Franco and the Hunger Games Trilogy in paperback by Suzanne Collins.

2.) Any of the following graphic novels - Blankets by Craig Thompson, Ghost World by Daniel Crowley and From Hell by Alan Moore

3.) DC Skater Shoes or Vans , not the slip-ons. (I am turning 27 and I still want to wear skater shoes when I go out!)

4.) any checkered shirt from People are People

5.) any vintage T shirt from Artwork or a Super Hero printed shirt (vintage or not)

6.) Gray Blazer or Khaki colored blazer!

7.) Operations Board Game (to be played when intoxicated!)

8.) any new pair of straight cut jeans

Or a card delivered by snail mail will do since its quite rare to get one nowadays or just buy me a yummy healthy dinner since the culture here among Pinoys is the celebrant gets to treat everyone a meal or a drinking spree.

This year I have no concrete plans really - I am too busy to do the drinking game like last year and I am financially strapped to have multiple celebrations and invite everyone. (Sorry). Oh well. And I can't pig out anymore since I am watching what I eat and no binge drinking I might add since I am staying away from alcohol till August 15! I'll just go with the flow or have a late birthday thing some time this month.

30 Years of Music History

Today I am taking a little time off from my so-called busy schedule (which basically involves getting intimate with different books that are NOT fun) to say Happy Birthday to one that's made a huge part of my growing up years. Happy Birthday MTV!

I started watching MTV Asia on Cable TV when I was around eleven but it got obsessive about a year later when all I want to watch on the tube is MTV - all those different shows. It was the boyband/girlband/pop era and the fever caught me early on.

Way back MTV was actually a music video television network. They were different shows that catered to different styles of music. There were a couple of request shows in which viewers can send a creative letter by snail mail (yup those requests were grand, indeed!), call in long distance all the way to Singapore or just write an e-mail. The VJs were cool and hot! I abandoned Cartoon Network and The Discovery Channel for a whole day of music.

During high school, MTV accompanied me in the midst off all the puberty drama. Every weekend I would watch The Top 20 and would whine if any of my favorite songs were not on the list or was knocked out of the top. Yup I was that compelled. I remember watching TRL live from the United States via satellite which was shown at around midnight here Cebu time and I have school at seven the next day. I enjoyed getting to know more about my favorite artists and hearing them perform live even just on TV. It was a compulsion that was hard to shake off.

When college came around, MTV started introducing those reality TV shows and was showing less and less music videos but I still tuned in. I spent idle time catching up on dating shows like Dismissed, Singled Out and Room Raiders. I loved watching Making The Video, a thirty minute documentary on behind the scenes of a music video shoot. I also was secretly addicted to all those seasons of Laguna Beach and tried watching some episodes of The Hills. I was a certified MTV junkie.

Three years ago, MTV was scrapped off the program list from our cable TV provider and a year later it was not available on air for Philippine audiences. One of the reasons why is that it had less viewers and poor ratings compared to its counterpart MYX. I miss watching MTV and those award shows and live performances.

MTV greatly influenced pop culture for the past thirty years. It made stars of Michael and Janet Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga among others. It made you cool if you were a famous person and appeared on a music video that's became viral and hit number one. It made reality stars celebrities and tabloid regulars. And it started producing hit films as well.

Though MTV somehow lost it's credibility and prestige, it will always be a reminder of those years growing up and how music and videos made it easier for a social butterfly with a rebel spirit hidden underneath to fit it growing up! Cheers!

In commemoration, I will post the first ever music video to be aired on the music channel on August 1, 1981. Its "Video Killed The Radio Star" (somehow appropriate) by The Buggles. This song was remade by Presidents of the United States of America in 1998 for The Wedding Planner soundtrack. Videos have come a long way from then. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs