YOU ARE NOT YOUR MIND

I remember how, this time last year, the Atenean grounds are but an unfamiliar territory in my consciousness. As I wandered in the huge campus that, in less than a month, was to be my school, I was held in awe by the grandeur of nature infused into an urbanized modern setting. Among the things that then amazed me about Ateneo was these tall trees that bore vibrant red flowers. How I stared at them as I made my way to the OrSem, and how I would pause on my way to my dorm simply to behold the beauty of raining red petals and how they carpeted the staircase connecting Ateneo’s hill to Marikina below.

This is why it saddens me to see that only four of the many, many fire trees in the Ateneo campus have bloomed. Some of them were destroyed by last year’s Typhoon Pedring. Others are weathering. Perhaps, when June comes, I’ll see the sky ablaze with their flowers again. I’m hoping.

Papa—

There’s something I wish to tell you, something I wouldn’t be able to tell you in person because I know that you would simply brush me off. I know that if I tell you this upfront, you wouldn’t even give me the chance to explain. So here I am, typing away what I really feel, something you should know.

I have shifted out of BS Psychology and shifted into AB Psychology; an action I know you would oppose strongly, telling me how I am risking my future away. Papa, I want you to know that I absolutely hate studying the Sciences in the academe. My heart is not into it. Now that I have shifted out of it, I feel as though a huge amount of pressure has been lifted from my shoulders.

Another thing; something much more important. Papa, I wish to double major in either AB Social Sciences or AB Developmental Studies. I have consulted with the Office of Admission and Aid, and they said that the chances that this too will be covered by my scholarship will be pretty slim, so I ask that you support me, for once in my life.

I know that from the very beginning, you have opposed even the idea of my going to Ateneo. You even got mad at me when I got a scholarship. But Papa, please, for once, hear me out and try to understand how I really feel.

Papa, I have a dream. Sadly, it may be far from what you want for me. Fulfilling my dream may mean that I wouldn’t earn as much as you want me to. I dream to help build the society, to help build the communities of the poor, those who are in the depressed areas of the Philippines. I want to see my countrymen living a better life. If not, I would like to become a journalist—not the type that money follows. I want to be the type of journalist who truly raises awareness and not simply says what the people want to hear. I want to do researches that would be relevant to the improvement of society and the implementation of justice. I want to lessen my countrymen’s ignorance at the very least, Papa—to see them aware, to see them knowing their rights, and living their lives to the fullest.

And law. Of course, law. I would still take law, Papa. I promise you that. But I wouldn’t be taking law for money. I would be taking law to defend those who most need it. And Papa, perhaps the greater understanding that this double major would give me is something I would be able to utilize as a lawyer. I hope that one day, I would be able to infiltrate the judiciary, to change it from within. The proper implementation of justice is something this country sorely lacks, and I hope that I would one day be able to help give it to the people.

I know it wouldn’t be easy, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Papa, I know that you think that I’m simply a dreamer—a youth who doesn’t know what she’s getting into. I know that you’ll tell me to be more practical, that money makes the world go round, that I should instead stabilize myself. I know that you might tell me how very idealistic I am. I do admit it. I am idealistic. But weren’t great countries founded by men who acted on their ideals?

Papa, unlike most of my generation, I will care about my nation and I will not run away from my ideals for the promise of a “better” future. I know I might fail. I know I might end up poor. Yet I will have no regrets because I know I tried my best to make a difference.

Papa, I have another dream. One day, I will have children of my own. When that time comes, I want them to live in a better world not because my income would be able to shield them from the harshest realities of life, but because I had helped make the world a better place.

I will turn 18 in a year. I ask for no grand celebrations, no grand gifts, no weekend getaways, not even a fancy dinner. I wouldn’t even mind, if, like this year and the past years, you wouldn’t even bother greeting me for my birthday. What I do ask for is something my mother also asked you to give me a decade or so ago—the gift of education.

Happy, happy birthday, Papa.

Your bunso,

Marisse

I JUST CAN’T HELP BUT POST THIS.

I first saw this in the I <3 Ateneo Gabay group. (Ateneo Gabay is the org for scholars.) Just epic. It’s true, though. Atenean scholars are really well taken care of and enjoy a lot of perks (say, food stubs, subsidies and discounts here and there).

I made the right choice of choosing Ateneo over UP indeed. :)

Credits to Jim Sta Isabel for posting this and to Kuya Math Dumlao for the original picture. :)

randomchill:

iiresurreccion:

either incredibly sweet or brilliant advertising. either way, incredibly sweet and brilliant advertising.

Under the Stars 2011

CLAP CLAP TO THE PERSON WHO THOUGHT OF THIS PROPA!

This is the promotional material for the event I’m heading on Wednesday. It’s a discussion/debate on a current political event. I don’t wanna spill the details here.

“Kapihan Sessions” means “coffee sessions” so yeah. We’ll discuss the issue over a cup of coffee.

It’s something for one of my orgs, Ateneo Gabay, our university’s organization for scholars.

“‘di masamang maging kasing init ng kape.” means “It isn’t bad to be as hot as coffee.” —that’s kinda what it means, but it doesn’t sound as good when translated :(

“Makialam” means “be in the know”, “participate”, etc. There’s no single translation for it.

I’m excited, and I’m having my fingers crossed. I’m a freshman and it’s my first time to head an event in my university, so I’m not quite sure if this event is going to succeed. :(

Something’s been bugging me lately and I just can’t brush it off.

The problem started in the Super Planning of Ateneo Gabay, my school’s organization for scholars.

There’s this guy in that org, and I can say that I’m pretty close to him. We met online during the summer, and he’s the first Atenean I’ve ever met. My first Atenean friend—online and in person. Anyway, ever since we met, we sort of “clicked”. For one, we’re both scholars. Another thing is that we’re really similar to each other; allowing us to talk and endure each other’s company for hours on end.

And hours on end, we did spend time with each other—for four days. We usually woke up earlier than the rest, and slept later than the rest. But you know what we did? We just talked and talked and talked. We didn’t seem to run out of topics. Yeah, we found it easier to talk to each other, maybe because we understand one another. That’s what made us good friends, really. We’re really just FRIENDS. I don’t know why people can’t understand that. We even agreed that there’s close to zero chance (para lang sabihing hindi kami nagsasalita nang tapos) that there will ever be a romantic relationship between us.

I bet people would even find our conversations really weird if they get the chance to read our chats and texts to each other, or even by simply listening to us talk.

Now, what other people in our org doesn’t know is that we rarely see each other in campus, save for the rare instances when we pass each other by on our way in and out of classes or when we’re both at the org room (and I’m not in the org room that often).

Even when I run into the upperclassmen from the orgs, they’d be like, “Ui, si ****** ganito.” “Ui, si ****** ganyan.” “Ay, sayang, wala na si ******” Amputek, para namang siya ang ipinunta ko doon. :| Worse, they ALWAYS find ways to pair us up in org events, and some of them are pretty shameful. Urgh. How I’d wish they’d stop tripping on us.

Although I’ve asked many people there if we look like a romantic couple, I’ve never gotten a “no” yet. I mean, wtf? It’s not like we hold hands or anything. Ni nga hindi umaakbay sa akin yun eh. We don’t even TOUCH each other AT ALL. Really. Just wtf. Wtf.

Can’t a guy and a girl just BE FRIENDS in peace? :|

estelabags:

eloraflora:

lollistar:

This is just too funny. Good job Rizal Lib. 

Best lib ever.

I love my school 

ATENEO HAS THE BEST LIBRARYEVER.

Seryoso. Walang halong biro. Papasok ako nang maaga para lang dun. Mahirap nang maubusan.

I’m going to the hospital today. Haha.

Then I’m going to school to enroll and shizz.

Off to the hospital now.

arsenicofmarikina:

cmwannabe replied to your post: Can you elaborate more? How different is it in ‘the’ Ateneo? I still don’t get the difference between saying Ateneo without ‘the’ and ‘THE Ateneo’

Alumna here: “The Ateneo” is used by very proud Ateneans who use it against La Salle. “Ateneo” is just the short cut version of it. Personally I like Ateneo more than “The Ateneo”. Napakayabang ang dating ng “The Ateneo.”

AMEN. I don’t think Ateneans need to boast.

(Source: arsenical)

theseschooldays:

Props to Marisse Galera for taking the photo. I had fun during our manila trip.

I had fun too, Graham! Wow, I never knew the picture would look like this. I really suck at taking photos. It was a pleasure showing you the beauty of my beloved Manila. ‘Til next time!

Oh, and show me around Baguio if I ever get there! :)

Hahaha! :))))

GO AHEAD AND STALK ME NOW! =))))

This is my second sem sked. I love it. It’s just too awesome—bordering on sorcery, even. I just hope I don’t end up with a shitty sked in the coming years.

This coming semester is promising. I have my hopes.

I’m looking forward to having Muay Thai as my PE! HYA!