Yes, I was listening in mass today.

It was my brother's confirmation this morning, so I heaved my ninety-something pound self out of my bed on a great cold Saturday morning to take a shower and dress up suitably for confirmation mass considering I'm ninang for the event. That means I'll be buying the boy gifts nao.:P

Anway, Confirmations require the presence of a Bishop, and the Bishop read the homily which got me laughing and listening. Something we Catholics have a hard time doing.

First he mentioned:

"Don't think that because you're young you can't make a difference in this world."

He's right. I believe we have to keep reminding ourselves that we all have chances to make the change in this world. Most often we focus on the people who do great differences in the world, like Mr. Penafrancia of the Kariton school and Mr. Magallanes the eighteen year old who died saving neighbors during Typhoon Ondoy.

"Alam nyo bang as young as eight years old there is a boy who changed the mindset of many Filipinos out there? His name is Santino"

You might laugh but it's true. Bishop continued by telling the story about a parishioner who went back to praying because of Santino.

I keep telling my boys that. They don't need to be in High school to make a difference. All they need to know is that they alone can change the fate of the world.

Bishop also mentioned that all of the pain, the murder, the corruption are all part of the war of man.

Man can be instruments of peace or bringers of destruction. Again, we have the chance to become one or the other.

and his "power of love" and "love for power"

People forget to love when they thirst for power, and you can't have both. A lot of people wish to have both but end up choosing without their knowing.

I was listening, and that made the difference.

Of course, the mayhem afterwards is another story.:P

Reasons why I should thank the Lord:

1. It would be nice to become an author of a book
-not exactly how I imagined it to be, but yes, I am.

2. It would be nice to travel
- Cebu, Ormoc, Batangas back and forth...yes, I am.

3. It would be nice if I could be the emcee for once.
- Sudden changes made me Emcee for Recognition day...yes, I am

4. It would be nice to be huggled by kids of my own
-not really mine but...yes, I am

5. It would be nice if people like me for who I am
-Poldo, Elea, Renchan etc....yes, I am

6. It would be nice if people saw the good things I do
-They keep coming back to ask me to do things...yes, I am

7. It would be nice if I am affirmed with the path I take
-A good job, good friends, good opportunities...yes, I am


-

Any outing I have with MIKKAELA is deemed as such, even if were rarely complete.

Anyway...

I got a text from magiqa during my field trip schedule with the boys, inviting for a coffee run one of these days. I of course, wondered why the sudden reconnection and why a weekday. Experience has taught me, that when friends suddenly ask for a coffee run, something good, bad or ugly has happened to one of them. So I said yes, I'd make time. I haven't seen you all in a while anyway. This would be a treat as well.

Plus, my Saturday tour of duty has ended. I can savor my Saturday weekend again.

After work Friday, I proceeded to Trinoma in my uniform. Because of the implications of 'carrying the name of school/ workplace' and all that jazz, I always hate going out in my uniform. I made me feel marked, known, dissected.

But I didn't want to lug another bag just for clothes. I took the chance.

I did some errands before I met up with nesan. I had to have Sora MP3 fixed because baby seemed to have lost her juice considering she's only two months old. The shop Said that they would send it to the service center and I would have it back in three weeks.

I'll be MP3-less for three weeks????Oh the sheer horror!!!!!!T_T

Phone will now double as an MP3 player starting today.

I also had my mms activated. It took a while before my turn came, so I chilled by playing around with the iphone dummy model and plurked on it. XP internet is so cool.

I got to Starbucks Garden and caught nesan reading a book. We chatted a bit, talking about her, her work, and other whatnot while waiting for the others. The sky was blue, the wind was just right and the chairs were comfy. I could just sit in that place forever.

Fraulien came, after informing us at around 5pm that she just woke up from her nap. The meeting time was five. oh well.:P

taisa_ayase came next, lugging around her big bag and is slightly bigger than the last time I saw her.

The sun had set by then, and the sky darkened. sakurabaka was the next to appear, squishing Sab's arm in the process.

datenshiaoi came last, and as I noticed, I was the only one who wasn't in casual friday attire. I am the kind of person who just can't wait to get out of uniform for a night out yet there I was, in straight pants, a corporate blouse, and black flats I wouldn't be caught dead in while in the mall.

Consider me dead.XO

Dinner was priority and as nesan said: "Mara's morphing into Delandel. We better feed her.". So yes, I was really hungry.

We took a few pictures at the white Christmas display inside the mall while looking for a place to eat.

Once again MIKKAELA stumbles into a japanese restaurant. For the record though, the last time we met up, it was Italianni's. So we're flexible, but we still prefer japanese. XP

I needed a bank run, so I gave my order and went to the nearest atm of my bank, thereby avoiding losing eleven pesos for the atm transaction. Luckily, there was one not so far away, and not so crowded.

And thank God, my salary was in.

I was happy when I went back up, and just listened as they told stories about Osaka, work, medical diagnosis, children, food and others.

It was just a treat to be with them, nevermind that I didn't do the talking, but it was nice to hear their stories, to listen to their pains and to give advice when needed.

Funny how I could do that with them and not with anyone else.

To top the evening off, was the usual tarot reading of nesan. I'm glad to say that my cards are not reversed anymore, which in nesan's book is a start of change. She said some things that were true and acceptable, while others were true, but being the arrogant prick that I am, denied or made some excuse as to why I'm doing things. And yes, it all boiled down to my one and only semi-invisible major problem. you know what that is.XP

We parted ways, sabs, cherry and fraulien to the direction of the carpark where sab's car is parked, while nesan, renchan and I went to the cab/FX station. My phone died by then so all incoming and outgoing texts are still unread as of now.

Nesan and I continued to chat while waiting for our turn in the queue. It was fun that she was sort of commenting on how I run my life, yet I wasn't offended in the least. That' probably how it is with these kind of friends. When you're sane and reasonable, no matter how right they are, it doesn't sound like an attack.

But being women, that objectiveness only lasts 21 days a month. :P

I got home around 11, dead beat, but happy.

Technically, all we did was coffee and dinner. There was no significant thing in between. no timezone, no movies, no desert.

I was simply just bonding with friends.

And I wouldn't trade that for all the chocobo plushies in the world.

There has been an increase in terroristic activities here in our city. Small explosions meant to scare rather than to harm people. Robberies, shoot-outs, theft, beheading, kidnapping...things the Philippines has learned to deal with.

I listened to the news about the recent small explosions in Ortigas, Commonwealth, Pasig and Katipunan. Crazy fireworks meant to impress and destroy public property. Fine.

The police said it was not meant as a terroristic act because there were no casualties and the damages were minimal, unlike major catastrophes like 9-11.

I disagree.

Terrorism. The root word is TERROR.

Are we saying that we should ignore these little mishaps because they haven't scarred any innocent lives? haven't petrified daily dwellers into holing themselves up in their homes forever?

Big or small, these incidents are done to instill FEAR and TERROR into the hearts of the people. These things are not jokes that we can brush off. They are things meant to catch attention, to gain popularity.

And to some people, they find scaring people cool, and do a copycat of things 'way more important than real life'.

As I keep on warning my students, I tell them "Don't run in the classroom". They refuse to listen, and in the end, someone goes home with a bruise on his forearm. Haven't we learned enough to see that this is a cycle of neverending pain? An Endless Waltz that is cliche yet true...and regrettably, nonstop.

It's sad that our young ones will grow up in a world where they know 'robbery', 'rape', 'terrorism' at ten years old. These aren't words they should be exposed to, yet in my short-lived life, I recall being exposed to this side of the world as well, when I was young.

People think that by scaring people the world will become a better place. Remember, we are 6 billion people and still growing. We cannot all bow down to the demands of one person holding a gun. We need to learn to listen and COEXIST. A skill we always forget.

THE WORLD CAME BEFORE ANY OF US, BUT YOU DON'T HEAR IT SPEAKING OUT AND CLAIMING AUTHORITY.

I received a text from poldo one time that made me think that "why indeed can I handle those kinds of situations without breaking a sweat?"

We were discussing the issues we had among peers and workmates. and the question came up as to how I can handle awkward situations between myself and another person.

It happened ten years ago.

I had a best friend. We became friends because we were to outsiders in the school where fashion and boys were in and we were just happy catching grasshoppers in the field and singing nonsense songs at the top of our voices. She was the first true friend I had and I was happy that we met.

But for reason I do not know until now, come high school she stayed away. I will admit that I am a bit clingy to people so her absence made me wonder if I did anything wrong, someone please tell me so I can fix it.

Nobody did.

And now that I'm older, I realize that I didn't do anything wrong then. There was just something off there that nobody could explain.

What ticked me off that the fact that she stayed away from me, yet she would talk to my close circle of friends and skip me as if I was the bug on the table that is to be simply ignored and brushed off. I hated her ignorance, but my friends, wonderful people that they are, acknowledged my presence and made her feel that there is still someone who cares that I exist.

A lot of things happened between her and me, one being I told her to shut up during art club and she called me a bitch, and how people would tell her off when she butts into my conversation with other friends. That's when I knew that there's no pleasing her and if she wants to be that way then fine. You and I no longer have a friendship.

So when he asked as to how I can handle being in the same room as W, considering there were a lot of emotional baggages hanging in the air, I remember that old friend of mine and credit her 'relationship' for this strength of showing the world that hey, I can be just fine hanging out with you around. The question is: are you?

I do the same thing with other friends. Friends who seem to forget that you were friends when they make the people around you feel that you're under them when in fact you're equal and accomplish just the same amount of things considering I have a path whereas said friends seems to be still searching. I have a lot to say, but I don't say it. Let karma be your death.

There are different people in this world. Dealing with them is just one of those things you have to do.

I watched that star in the sky for a long time.

Once long ago, I was a star myself, dancing in the sky along with many others, happy to shine down on those who could not be with us.

I met a star who shined very bright, and showed immense power.

I stayed with this star.

But the star, with the wonderful brilliant shine did not want to shine for others. It only wanted to keep its shine for itself.

And I left it.

I continued to shine, but not as bright as before. I left that star, knowing fully well that it was not by my choice, but by it, and I did not but fight was it said. I just let it happen.

I just let it leave.

I decided to stop being a star and lived like mortals do.

Gazing up at the stars and longing to become one of them.

Every night, I watch my star, who shines so bright yet only gives off a little of it for those of us below. I wondered if that star ever thought of shining for another star, just like it used to for me.

For years I watched that star, who stayed in its spot while the other stars came and went. I would wonder things about it, thinking if it changed, if it evolved, if it too is thinking of becoming like those who watch the stars.

I still watch to this day, but I don't look at it with the same awe and longing as before.

Now, it is just a star, just like millions out there.

I can still single it out in the black sky. But it no longer holds any meaning to me

Before, I would cry, regretting what I did. To make the choice. To allow it to leave.

But now I cry, because I lost that feeling.

And the feeling of emptiness is very cold and cruel.

Like the sky. It is kept company by the stars that do not but twinkle in it. Only a little light, just to entice the sky, but never to give in completely.

I too, feel the blackness. And once in a while I feel the twinkle of my star, my heart, but after a while, it will lose its light and become the sky once more.

The sky is lonely. And I hope the stars will realize how important their presence is to the black abyss and the people below.

Today's adventure made me reflect on how life has unexpected surprises and that there are reasons for everything that happen.

This morning, I was originally scheduled to be in two places at the same time: a. ADMU for my MA, and b. CSQC for Saturday make-up classes.

At four in the morning, I get  a text from one of my bosses, that classes were suspended in CSQC. I rush down to inform my mom and tell my drowsy brother to go back to bed because you're in luck, school was cancelled.

Which made me start wondering about my MA class.

MA classes are different from regular classes. They don't suspend despite weather or holidays because some classes, like the one I'm currently taking, only meet for five whole Saturdays. Missing a class would be very inconvenient and a lot won't be tackled for the day. And as written in my syllabus, classes are classes whatever day it is.

So I head out, and bless my parents, they offered to take me to school. They needed to get a little grocery done anyway so they decided to head out to bring me. That was 8 am.  It was rainy and dark, but there was no traffic, no signs of flooding. It just looked like a really wet Saturday morning...or so I thought.

I wore my plueys, thinking it would just rain a teeny tiny bit then I would have to switch to flip-flops for the rest of the day. TOday turned out to be the ultimate test for my plueys.

They dropped me off, and told me to text so that they could wait for me in the event that the class suddenly gets cancelled. AGS was having their fair and the grounds were littered with families and little ones, braving the rain to enjoy in an otherwise damp school fair.

at 8:30 am, I was the only one there, until my professor entered and we began talking a bit. It's actually fun to get to know your professor. I forgot how fun it was to speak to someone you respect with a sense of equality and familiarity.

My classmates trickled in and voila, we were complete, sans one who was a non-credit participant. Our prof decided to pursue the class but I noticed she seemed distracted. The rain fell continuously and at 12 noon, we were allowed to go home. Four hours early, a good blessing.

I was already heading towards the gate when I bumped into Ahrren, a classmate of mine one summer who is currently a teaching assistant in the Educ department while she finishes some units. She asks if I was there for my advisement and I look at her and say "advisement ba today?" and she says "last day today." 

On a normal day, I would have probably panicked and make rash decisions on my subjects next course, but I decided to check, ask if I could come back another day, and maybe find a good schedule to move around my Saturday work in CSQC. So I did.

I am currently thinking of taking a leave next semester because none of my preferred classes are available and the one class that I could take is scheduled too close to all my Sat classes, including Family day and the Christmas party. For all the diplomas in the world, no way am I ruining my boys Christmas party by being absent. Besides, that's the one day I can get a ton of gifts which I can brag about to everyone.:P

After passing by the office, I bumped into sakurabaka who just submitted a paper. I was supposed to meet her after my class to enjoy the fair but with the rain and all, I wasn't sure at that moment. I was already texting my parents and at that time, my understanding was that they were on their way home. I figured, since I was going to have to go home on my own anyway I could spend a little time with Cherry before I left. So we had a little lunch, and I walked with her back to AGS.

AGS was packed. It seemed that, instead of getting stuck in traffic, the families decided to stay and enjoy the fair. Which was actually a good choice which I will get into detail later. I entered Cherry's room to dry up a bit and began texting my parents. I understood wrong, apparently, they were heading back to get me because they got my text that I ended early. They were going to meet me in front of Ateneo in 10 minutes. I bid Cherry goodbye and was off.

And Cherry, I hope you and your family are okay.

I was told to meet them by the overpass fronting ADMU that led to Jollibee. I walked my way, not really minding that all around my plueys, the water gushed and cars stood still on either side of me. I was a pedestrian, and on occasions like this, I didn't mind that I didn't have a car. It was easier to find alternate means of getting to places since there was a jeep, with its cheap flat rate, the LRT that has no traffic, or simply walking. I was smiling like some sick bastard under that rain. MY only concern was the laptop in my backpack, but I was told it was waterproof, and I HOPED that it was.

When I got to the pedestrian gate, I blinked.

In front of me, which was usually a bumper to bumper case of exodus, was an empty Katipunan avenue....waist deep in sewer water.

I called my parents and told them they would never pass, and that MMDA opened the U-turn heading back to Libis. They told me to wait by the main gate, so with a heavy bag, I continued walking in the rain.

I didn't feel wet, mainly because I knew my feet were bone dry. It was just that I didn't want to end up playing Quasimodo in the next Hunchback of Notre Dame remake because of my bag. I still dream of seeing five feet!!!!

When I got out there, traffic stalled. I stood there, with the wind blowing water down my neck, and my umbrella attempting to free itself from my grasp, it wasn't the way I wanted to spend my Saturday morning. Or any morning for that matter. My phone, bless it's ticking heart, was still letting me make calls and my load was still clicking. I felt secure.

Now that I write this, I realize that God was with me all that time, because as I recall myself, and with what has happened now that it is dark, a lot of things could have happened, but God saw me through until we got home.

I called my parents and they told me to start walking up towards the flyover to meet them. At least I'd be dry, they said.

And that...would probably be the first and last time I will trek Katipunan avenue and live to tell the tale.

I found the car and got in.

I felt warm and secure. My parents were there and there was food in the trunk. We didn't need to worry if we ever got hungry.

Then I saw our gas level.

We always fill up with just enough for our rides, what with gas prices sky-rocketing every month. It worried me that we would never make any gas station at the rate we weren't moving. My dad would turn off the engine everytime we stopped, and turned it back on to move another five feet. We did that snake like trance for around an hour until we got to the u-turn and got to the opposite direction of Katipunan. We pulled the car to the side and began planning our route home. Most of the other cars would stop in front of Mcdo and park along Katipunan island (as in the middle island separating north and south bound) so the otherwise four laner was reduced to a two laner of empty cars.

We decided to take Aurora, knowing that there was a gas station nearby.

It wasn't smooth sailing as we thought.

The traffic moved at a snail's pace, and we entered the project 2 side streets. Gas was really low and I was worried that we might have stalled in the middle and create an even worse case of bad traffic than original. We only needed to turn left and the gas station would be in sight, but a big truck was in our way and...the engine stalled.

I was freaked out. my dad started it up and it clicked. He moved the car slowly to the side and we parked there for a while until we decided to trek to the gas station. At least there, there was a rest room, and a convenient store. We could wait the rain out there.

We stayed and talked for about an hour and watched the ebb and flow as the rain poured, stopped, traffic came and went, and more and more people came by, with folded pants, a ruined umbrella and a full bladder. We sat cozily in that shop.

The rain let up a bit, and the road was clear. My dad got the car and quickly brought it to the station, and we filled it up...to just enough.

After we ate, we headed on our way, taking the Cubao route. We passed EDSA and the smell of victory was near...or so we thought.

Right in front of Mayor Belmonte's house, just a few meters away from where we could turn...was the biggest swimming pool I saw today.

We ended up going back to EDSA and going via Kamuning. And it was smooth sailing from there.

We got home, a trip that began at 8 am, to 4pm, drenched, wet, tired, but home. It was as if I had a whole day class.

We unloaded the groceries, ate dinner, dried up, and now I am typing using Saiya, who is safe and dry (her sleeve is another story ), checking all the other techie gadgets in my bag and making sure they're all working properly, and drying out all my papers and readings. My Tranformers book is half-drenched, my papers, looking dog-eared as if they were five years old, and my bag the remnants of a battle of moisture and protection. It served me well, and I look forward to using it again.

As I sit here, warm, back to the comfort of my home, and I watch as people are still heading home at this hour on TV, I am glad that God showed us the paths we had to take, and the decisions we had to make,to get us safely home.

Here were the small miracles that happened today:

1. My brother, Miji, wanted to come originally. We all thought it would be just a trip to school and back. I was glad he didn't come, otherwise he would have been with us, and I wouldn't want him to get any wet, nor feel uncomfortable during the whole trip.

2. I originally was going home on my own, taking gate one to grab a cab heading out to Philcoa then Quezon Ave. Buti na lang I made those calls with my mom. It was a traffic there as anywhere else.

3. My bag, with all it's stuff, got wet. But the laptop was bone dry.

4. my phone was working the whole time I stood there in katipunan waiting for mom and dad. When I checked it this evening, it hung. I decided to turn it off. Now it won't even open. And I wonder, what if that happened in the middle of my phonecalls?

5. THe money I had in my wallet was just enough for a little lunch and gas. and we were both full and we got home with, just enough.

I actually wondered why I even went to school today, because I felt that all that traffic hulabaloo could have been avoided if I decided to stay home. But like the incident with the advisement, I just sighed and said.

Lord, I don't know why you made me and family experience what we just did today. I am thankful that you allowed them to pick me up. I know that you guided us safely home and that you helped us get gas at the right time, and turn to the right streets. You have showed me miracles today and I am glad that you are always there to watch over us. For now, please watch over everyone who are still out, especially the pedestrians who are caught in the rain, and for the people who are flooded,like Cherry. I know that this is a trial you are letting us face, and I know that you will help us through it. Thank you Lord for the miracles and blessing of this day.

and with that, I say good night.

Mara out~

</div></div>
I wonder - the slender dragon</div>

alright, a post in a long time...begin.

So, after months of not being able to attend cons because 1. I was out of town, 2. I had work or 3. I had school, I finally managed to fit in this one event in cramped and hot Megatrade hall. 

Itwas a normal day for me, with a list of objectives that I aimed to meet for the day.

A. Meet up with Richie and let him take nice pictures
B. Watch Poldo play
C. See friends
D. LEAVE THE EVENT HALL BEARING NOTHING IN MY HANDS!!!!

I'm glade to say D went by nicely. XP Anyway...

When I got there, the place was still kinda...empty. Sure there were snakelines sprouting in some parts but you could still do somersaults in the place and not hit anyone so obviously majority of the expected attendees are still not in the event hall. I went about, hoping to catch a glimpse of a few people and true enough, I spied Poldo with a few of his band mates. In the middle of my jabber, four people in masks come up to me and stare me down. I looked in one of them and realized..."Ice?"

So there was this sentai group wreaking havoc in the hall at 11:30 in the morning. So much for a normal morning.:P

I decided to lurk around a bit more and took to seeing the cosplayers who were already gathering in the corner. I smiled and gave my internal comments and feedback as I waltzed through the floor, eyeing and guessing since I'm so old school I only know 10-20% of the characters they're portraying. But I know my western comics, so that joker in the far back is easy to spo-----WAIT A MINUTE!!!!

I walk to Poldo
"Dude, is it just me or is that...."
"Yep. That's him"
...

Pardon me while my brain does a temporary shut down.


So I continued lurking around, and met up with Richie. Richie is a friend of mine from way back. We went to summer camps together and well, we sort of bonded. Though I haven't seen him in 4 years, it was a treat to see him again.

He took a few pictures of Poldo's gig and we decided to have lunch.

Lo and behold, we bumped into project_eivah .

Ice was cosplaying as Talim of Soul Caliber and dark_profanity as Yowane Haku, vocaloid.

Insert mind numbing destruction courtesy of Eco and consider the day done.

Add in a little music, crowd, a little irritation from all the little ones thinking they own the place, and of course the competition...it was a good day..

I went home with Poldo and we talked a bit. Analyze that, so to speak.

Good day.

COMMENTS:
1. I was bone tired, meaning either my body needed to rest or I really had a great time
2. Aside from that joker incident (bless my heart, it still thumped even after my close encounter with him), cosplay is always a good thing to watch.
3. crowds are both good and bad. I don't think I need to explain this.
4. Friends are always a comforting sight

Thanks everyone for making that day fun and memorable

I expected today to be a normal day, full of laughing and reminiscing and plain being young again. I was wrong.

To start of, I had to meet with datenshiaoi in ADMU for her inquiry. The blue-green bacteria is thinking of shifting schools. I had to get my homework anyway so it was okay. XP

We chilled in the Canteen and waited for sakurabaka to arrive for her lunch break and we discussed some serious stuff going on. We told Cherry that we would meet her in Trinoma after her class with magiqa and milk_monger . She said she will follow.

Renchan and I chilled in this lounge place and talked about stuff, things we already discussed before and wanted to dwell in and to share things about college that we weren't able to say because at that time we were so uber busy with everything else. We got a text from nesan and we met them in Coffee Bean and talked some more until Cherry came.

We needed those fruity alcoholic drinks, so Renchan suggested Italianni's for said drink and a round of pizza and pasta. We were laughing again after being stuffed and slightly drunk. and I start to think...

We're grown up now, no longer little kids worried about the next quiz or what mom will say when I ask if I could stay late in school tomorrow. We complained about work, life and how ours does not seem to be going our way. We have evolved from our happy lala-lifes into living in a world we don't want, yet have to exist in.

We don't forget our past though. Maybe that's why we can still smile even after our frustrations and purr against a friend's loving hand on your head.

I may be evil at times and I'm sorry. I may be uncaring at times, and I'm sorry. But I don't forget, and I love you all, and I will find a way to set things right. If all I can do is pray, then that's what I'll do, but I know in the end, our lala-lifes, with our gorgeous husbands and children a-plenty and melrose place-ish lifestyle will come soon, a little realistic, probably a little warped, but it will come.

We're all waiting here. We just have to wait patiently in line.:)

Italics mean I wrote this down in my first Stage post. I planned on putting an LJ cut but LJ is being mean right now and is ruining my post.

1. Lupin the 3rd OP
- no creativity. Still Lupin running away from Zenigata.:P

2. Midnight Crow-Kaikan Phrase/Aucifer
-Introduction of Wing and MIKEL as Preventers and how they go about dealing with double lives.
- yes It's still in my list. It wakes me up in the morning.:P

3. Love Together-Parappa the Rapper
-A psychedelic Project Eivah show. Neph plays a pianist in a rock band while i play a guitarist in a rythms and blues band. -My three chocobos are mainstays here. They love dancing and running about.

4. Stardust- Sound Horizon
-It starts with a Lady who got her heart broken by her current boyfriend (turns out he's gay.XP) and she extracts revenge. She recalls an old legend where the guardians of earth (taisa_ayase ) , wind (magiqa ), fire (Hell Akuma) and Water (datenshiaoi ), should they be awakened from their slumber in the amazon forest, would do the bidding of the said waker. So she goes on an expedition and finds the temple, awakening the four and unleashing them on the city where she and her boyfriend lives. Instead of just catching her current ex, she goes and wrangles up all her exes, a total of four.
    Her current ex, who has this hot young male thing as a new boyfriend, after the kidnap of his boyfriend, discovers the legend and sets out to find the temple. Unlike the girl who had bodyguards and a guide, he went alone, getting caught in the traps laid and almost drowning in a whirlpool. The whirlpool magically ends up in the main chamber, where, as he grasps for breath, does a figure loom in front of him. I look at him in my aviator glasses, trying to find out why he's here.
    Meanwhile, the four exes are about to be fried by the elements.
    I, grab hold of the young man and teleport to the location of the girl who took my friends.
    Upon my arrival, the four elements lay down their weapons and look at the girl, and as I close my fist, a bright light envelopes the girl and she disappears into thin air.
    I lead my friends out, leaving the men and two lovers behind. We disappear into the earth, the wind, the water, the sky, and I reach out my hand to a nearby Telephone, and circuitry envelope my hand, changing me into data, and entering the phone, and as my body slowly disappears, I remove my glasses to reveal the ciruits in my eyes. My elements is METAL.

AN: I really love how I made this one up. so classy and creative.

5. Growing Up-TF Galaxy Force OP
- basically, this is just an introduction of the Winner family, and our corresponding powers. Elliot is fire, Queenie is Water, Q and Sora are Wind and me, metal.

6. Asa to Yoru no Monogatari-Sound Horizon
- It's a creepy and morbid AMV.
- Preventer Five and I enter a dimensional hole that leads us to a war-stricken land. We fight this war with our other Preventers in Motorbikes. Preventer Alpha are included. I am the one who brings this dark land to light.

7. Everlasting Dream-Ayumi Hamazaki
- redundant
-oooh I love this one. It's a white wonderland of forests and mountains, and you see a knight all in black riding his horse through the forest. Up above a forest nymph flies high and as soon as she locks eyes with the knight, she descends, rushing into his arms as more sprites dance around them as the wind blows faster. the scene ends with a kiss.

8. Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi- Gundam 00 OP/Uverworld
- It's a Preventer AMV again. It talks about the relations that surrounds the five gundam pilots and MIKEL. Usually set on a balcony and what these people do early in the morning, from morning coffee, to DS playing, yoga, and guitar strumming.

9. O2- Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion/Orange Range
-I'm still working on it. ^^; It has something to do with Cybertron and how I'm the new autobot prime.

10. Hoshikuzu no Kawahimo- Sound Horizon
- I posted this here. Yes, one whole post just for this song.:P

11. Now or Never- Josh Groban
-still the same.
-He who must not be named, what did you expect?

12.Sunchyme-Dario G
-This is my feel happy song. no AMV yet.:P

13. Karma-Bump of Chicken
-none on this one either. I'm thinking more in the lines of introduction of the entire MIKKAELA gang, including newer members likekyokou_kuroda , sakurabaka , feitan  etc.

14. Colors-Code Geass/Flow
-A day in the life of a Preventer. This starts early morning. Just think of Midnight Crow but on a different day with Preventer Alpha and mao_ni . This was made at the height of our short-lived love affair. XP

15. Echo Again-Katekyo Hitman Reborn ED/Splay
-This one talks about Preventer Alpha, a team of five men who were chosen to succeed the Gundam Pilots in the unlikely event of old age or death. This also includes special officer preventer mao_ni  who will succeed me in the unlikely event of my passing. They inherited Five Gundams that were owned previously by MIKEL. On their first trial date, The Gundam Pilots were to assist them in their flying skills. This includes Olba Frost (Gundam X. Like I said, a cross-over of epic proportions) and his Gundam Virsago. There is an agreement with Preventer and the Federation which allows Frost to work in Preventer, while Wufei takes his place in the federation.
Anyway, Preventer Alpha are never able to get the Gundams into the air. The AI's of each of their Gundams refused point blank to let them operate the Gundams. The Gundam Pilots decided that the only way to get the AIs to let Preventer Alpha work them would be to get the original pilots to talk some "sense" into them. so they split up and talk the pilots to coming back. The five pilots are MIKEL.
Fei goes and searches for L in a hospital. Since he's also a doctor well.... cameo for Pao

taisa_ayase  is currently having a class in college. She bumps into someone who helps her pick up her books. It is Tro. Cameo for Karl.

datenshiaoi  runs for dear life as she spots Heero in her office building. He throws a book in the general area of her feet and she trips. cameo for PJ

magiqa  gets an unexpected visitor in the office.And he brought flowers! who else?XP

as for me, I am walking my usual route towards the bus stop and in the distance someone watches me. In his mind, memories of the past emerge, the good the bad and the ugly. He is assigned to talk me into coming back to Preventer but he is cut off by mao_ni who got to me first. All five of us agreed.
We come back, talk some sense into our AIs but they just flip us into the cockpit and auto-pilot us into the sky. (we were standing in the gundam's hand). and as our gundams fly off, a hatch opens up from where the gundams last stood to reveal five shiny new Alpha team gundams.

AN: wahahahahaha!!!!! I love this one too! Epic crossover!!!!

16. Feel Good Inc-Gorillaz
- This is basically Duo singing, Tro on Bass, I on lead guitar, Fei on drums and Heero on acoustic guitar. The group sans Heero are in the dark part of town, all emo and stuff. when Heero walks by playing his acoustic, we leave Duo on by one to join him in the bright light. Until finally we become one band altogether. in the light side.

17. Endless Love-Two Mix
- Location is a circus tent, like the one Dumbo performs in. MIKEL are performing in the middle of the ring in ringmaster's outfits. GWing pilots are high up and as one MIKEL sings, her partner drops his top hat which she wears, and her black MIKEL ringmaster suit changes into the color of her partner's suit. BLue for Heero, Forest Green for Tro, Red for Fei, Black for Duo, White for Q.

18. Gara Gara Go!- Big Bang
-test flight of the new gundam synchronization system. The only three metallists, or the only elemental people who can manipulate metal (in short the avatar. there are only supposed to the two in a lifetime, but there are three.) take flight from the Preventer Base, with eight gundams in their wake. The eight gundams hold pieces of Gundam Firestorm, which is piloted by me, but I can always fly with my metallic wings. Heero and mao_ni  take flight with their gundams following behind. like me, they can fly with metal wings. When they get closer, their gundams "form feet and leg (mao's gundam), arms and torso (heero's gundam)" and mine change form to make the head.


By this time you should realize my obsession over Gundam Wing Preventer Five? yes, I am still waiting for that sequel.XP


19.Hishoku no Sora-Shakugan no Shana/Mami Kawada
-Haven't made one for this yet. I'm still on the first half where it is actually the weekend for Preventer Five and their gfs but for a Gundam Pilot there is no such thing as a weekend.:P

20. Kiss in the Dark-Two-Mix
-Seriously. No idea yet.^^;

21.Jera-Edea
This has a bit of an EVERLASTING DREAM in it. I researched and found out that this song is sung using Ancient Runes so you can't translate it. And according to my Dragonology book, Ancient Runes was the language of the Dragons, so This is the song I sing, in once again, the hangar of the Preventer base, the one that overlooks the ocean, and as I sing it, four dragons come forth from the earth, the sea, the air and fire.

22. Don't Say Lazy-K-on ED/ Yoko Hikasa
-no idea as well.^^;
Freakishly long and detailed I know.which is why this is cropped and simplified. Hooray for lala-land!!!!!

I've been cleaning out my closet lately, getting rid of clothes I don't wear and other bits and pieces that take up space. I am a bit of a monger so yeah, I keep a lot of stuff, from way way waaaaaay back.

I already disposed of My College stuff, and for some reason, after four years, it was easy to let go of them. Probably because there were things I wanted to forget that are associated to that time, or probably it didn't make any significant memory that would make me keep things I generally don't need.

This afternoon I tackled the small space in my cabinet where my old mangas are kept. These are mangas that are Chinese translated since that was a time when Japanese manga was a myth in this country and mangas were only 200pesos and can be bought in a book sale in my grocery store. I brought out an envelope that I knew held a lot of my drawings from high school. I guess it was time to get rid of them. I managed to throw all my Magnificat magazines, only saving articles, poems, pictures of MIKKAELA and pasting them in my slumbook. We looked so happy and carefree then.

I went through my old drawings, half wanting to shut it because I was embarrassed at the way my drawings were, and the contents of the speech balloon, like how datenshiaoi  and I would fight over Mamoru Chiba of Sailor Moon and how even then, I saw my fascination with scars, blood and anything related to morbidity. I drew pictures of myself and my version of Mamoru or Sapphire, the evil brother of Prince Diamond in the Sailormoon R series. I know for a fact that until now, I have a son by Mamoru Sapphire and, inventing some sort of advanced space-time continuum in that planet, grew my son to 18 years old considering he was born in my mind  some ten years ago.

I also saw a lot of Drawings that I asked for/stole borrowed from people, like KalQ who had this obsession with an unknown anime character she saw on a Chinese channel and thus called him DG, and taisa_ayase  with her "It's called Love" Gwing fanfic which thus founded my lala-land of blond arabians, a house in the desert, and three adorable kids. This my friends, is called an obsession.

It's funny too that I started writing songs then. I realized now, part of who I am started in High School, and the other part in College. I'm currently forming the third part, and I hope these three parts can still work together to make me a happy me.

I smile when I remember, and as I throw some of the drawings away, I ask myself: "Is my throwing away of these papers mean I'm throwing away my past?" and I remember Meet the Robinsons: "Let go of the past and keep moving forward."

I can never get back to those carefree days and fanfic writing where the possibilities were endless and so were the phone conversations. but I also look forward to what I might find as I keep going. So far the ride is fine, and I don't see any reason why I need to stop.

I'm not throwing my past away. I'm keeping some, to remember, and I'm throwing away some, to make room for more stuff I might pick up along the way. I know you people who can read this are one of them.:)

Or in this case, how to find out where that girl got her lovely shoes

I watched HP6 with my brothers, as penance for my lack of sisterly duties lately and to keep mom at peace when my last movie outing was questioned somewhat. anyway, I reserved tickets in Trinoma, learning from the TF2 fiasco and left the leisure of lining up to other people. I can do that on a regular movie.

I got my tickets in the morning. It was a five pm show, but I needed to be in SM that morning anyway so I took the chance to get the tickets while waiting for my phone to be fixed. On my way to Trinoma, I passed the Imax floor and movie line. There in the line of the popcorn was this girl who wore the most darling set of Wellington Boots I have every seen. It was polka dot blue and black. It was an eye catcher really. I ignored, deciding that good for her, she has a nice probably made in US boots.

Trinoma, I got my tickets, returned to SM for my phone then went home.

Come movie time, around four, my brothers and I were in line at the popcorn stand where strike two! another lady with another pair of lovely boots. This time they were tear drop shaped in colors of pink, light green and powder blue. I couldn't help it, I asked her where she bought her boots. She directed me to a Pinoy-owned website and I've been drooling over the Pleuys eversince.

well, that's one way to shop

</div></div>
new day, new dawn - the slender dragon
 </div>( Fanfic no. 9 )

Disclaimer: Does not own GundamWing, Heero Yuy or Haro, or Chocobos

( Fanfic no. 8 )

I haven't felt myself smile like this in a long time. That...I don't care but I'm happy smile. The smile you make when a loved one is near and just beside you. The same smile you give as you gaze upon your newborn child. The same smile you show the sun as it kisses your face. The smile you just want to do...because you feel like it.

I hope this sudden smiling me at 9 in the evening is good news. I could use some good news right now.:)

Mara out~

In a post I made regarding my purchase and reading pleasure of Arnold Arre's Martial Law Babies, I focused more on the aspects of refusing to grow up in a world that wishes to grow eternal with it's workers wishing they never wished they grew up so fast. I read it again today, after being on my re-read list for weeks. I always re-read books, hoping that I would come across something I never saw on my initial read. Probably a character I missed, a concept I forgot, a memory reborn. Books are fragments of people's memories capture in print. All of them hold something dear to both the reader and the author.

They also make me cry. My 9/11 comic always makes me cry. I don't know those people, didn't even believe it when it happened and only watched it on the news, the only time I remember that Miriam brought out TVs in the cafeteria.

So I read the graphic novel again and a spark of emotion emerged.

My age then, high school, young, flourishing, discovering what I wanted to be, and planning my route to get there was a scary yet exciting feat. I never realized that the road I chose then would take me here, happy, content, loving boys I never thought I could touch and have a hand at shaping their future. I am proud that I can teach such wonderful leaders of our future.

Then I wonder, as I observe how they move, that these boys, at an early age, know the meaning of faithfulness. They share secrets with friends, hold a bond that even the teachers can't undo and despite far-away classrooms and age gaps, they make friends, forge ideals and make their parents proud. Faithfulness, not loyalty. I had a heart to heart talk with my ninong who came home from the states and stayed here for the past two weeks. Here's a man who comes home to his roots, basking in the light of old memories and family, but tells me that there is no such thing as loyalty, and that if a company were to lay me off, it will not matter of the loyalty I gave it for the past years of my service. I don't think it's called loyalty. I think it's called Faith.

The same faith that keeps me here in the Philippines, amidst corrupt government officials, capitalistic marketeers, realistic societies and dreary living conditions.  In the end of it all, we smile, thank god that we have a Philippines and move on, brushing up on history, avoiding our past mistakes and learning from them, making sure that we teach the young to reach their goals, but reminding them that in life we share what we have, and we can make it good by believing in God and honoring him for his works. It is faith in my country and in my people that I can stay here, and honor my homeland. I am Filipino.

A blogpost on being Filipino yet speaking in english? What are you playing at?

True, I speak English. Our food is Mcdo. Our malls are run by the Chinese and Spanish. Our cartoons are Japanese. But even as it is so, it does not stop us from being who we are as individuals, the blood that flows in us that enkindles us to speak up during elections, pick up a piece of trash or two on our streets, remind the jeepney driver that he owes us our change, to laugh at the entities of floods and school on a storm day. These things, these "only in the Philippines" things are what shape us to become Filipinos.

And you can't find those anywhere else in the world.

Aaaaah, now that it's Sunday, let me bask in the glory of a fulfilled weekend. I've been having a lot of do-nothing weekends wherein I spend more time looking for things to do outside of the house and creating things to do for the sake of using my weekend. This weekend though was all business and pleasure, all done with moderation and purpose. Here goes:

Friday
: Happy Independence Day! For all it's worth, I'm proud to be Pinoy.

:A thank you God moment: I began computing for my tuition for my enrollment the next day. I got the numbers from a friend and frowned as my computations left me with my tuition falling slightly under what was in my bank account. Luckily for me, I have a teacher's discount, which is one reason why I chose Ateneo in the first place. I would have enough for my tuition but not enough for GH. Resigned, I checked my payroll account, knowing that it was only the 12th and there was no way on earth that there would be anything new in my account. I was dead wrong. My sweldo came in early. Thank you God. Now I don't need to worry about my tuition and savings, and I can still go to GH.

: I needed to buy a few stuff over in GH and knowing that Poldo would be returning there for the Creative MUVO mp3 player(which he didn't. He bought Soundwave instead. I was supposed to get that! T_T), I texted him the night before and made arrangements. Apparently, there were other people who were itching to go to GH too. Their names are Karljoe and W. So there we were, four "Scouters" in a table in Le Ching restaurant, ordering Chinese and discussing "weeeeerk" and looking for ways to keep on laughing until the waiters shoo us away. We parted ways when  I needed to buy my Binyag gift and new shoes while the said two boys went to score some new Xbox games. Thank you Poldo for being gracious enough to accompany me through the jammie hunting and failed Shoe expedition. We trooped to Karljo's house afterwards for a round of Guitar hero and "Tunay na Lalake" qoutes. I left early to go to a family dinner. Ninong and Tita were leaving early the next day back for the states and since it was also my lola and lolo's wedding anniversary as well as said lolo's birthday, we had reason to celebrate.

:unforgettable moment: When Poldo asked why I didn't get jammies of my own and why not buy a boys pair with Hulk and power rangers rather than Tweety and Disney Princess. I said, when I have my own kid we'd have matching jammies.

Saturday
: I had to get up early to enroll for my MA classes. With the H1N1 scare over at the grade school and high school you'd think the college, being between both, would think their schedule over but no. Enrollment is as scheduled, and no ma'am there's no case of an infected student here. The face masks? We're just wearing it for safety precautions. Though I sat in an air-conditioned room, waiting around can be very boring. Good thing Onyx is also every dependable. A really long line awaited me over at the cashier which I managed to get through at 11:59. Perfect timing. As I lined up with one person in front of me for the cashier, some of the other booths were already closing for lunch. I breathed as sigh of relief as I heard the RegCom tell the person behind me, "Sir, last na kayo." I trooped to SM for my usual withdraw and deposit ritual for my funds and with enrollment out of the way, I can finally focus on that phone I've been eyeing. Unfortunately, it seems to be getting more expensive compared to a few months ago when the price was actually going down. I had my solo lunch over at Kenny Rogers and scoured Cyberzone for my beloved phone. Still there and good, there's still one store that is still selling it for below 10k. Paid my internet bill and headed home.

:Unforgettable moment: Had a craving for Shakey's in the main mall but saw that it was packed and there was a line to wait to be seated. Walked all the way to Cyberzone looking for the perfect place to eat and settled for Kenny. That's one way to starve yourself.XP

Sunday

:got up early to go to mass and to do binyag duties. I wasn't Ninang thankfully, and this was my first time attending a baptism as a tita rather than a cousin, sister, kababata. We spent an hour in church and another hour in Chowking where the meals were served quick and all, but no plates and drinks were served after we were done eating. I left after buying Halo Halo for parents.
: mom went and had the desktop reformatted. Big problem, now the monitor won't work. I need to get it fixed otherwise there goes my budget for a new phone.T_T

ah well, a fulfilling weekend indeed.