My Memory Box

Out of nothing to do on the last day of my vacation in my hometown, I thought of searching of my memory box, where I kept the letters, cards and other stuff from Elementary to College. They are no longer complete, though. Sometime ago, I was forced to destroy many letters. Forget it. I still have some stuff which I mean to keep for life. =)

Here's my memory box and the stuff therein.

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This is the greeting poster from my SCA Family on my 13th birthday.

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This one is from my PMT co-officers, on my 16th birthday. I saw this posted on the wall behind my table at the PMT office when I went back to school after taking the UPCAT.

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I kept a few gift cards. I wonder how many of them I would have now if I kept everything.

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If you haven't experienced filling up a slum note/autograph notebook, you were never a young girl.

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These are from my friends. Do I have anything here that came from you? Some are missing and I have to find them. Hay.. =(

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These are from my friends in Elementary School. Our group's name was LEA M KIM, which name came from the first letters of our names: Leyden, Eden, Arra, Minerva, Kaye, Irish and Maylene. The oldest of these is the brown card at the center. They gave it to me on my 11th birthday.

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I was a delegate during the 2nd SCA Diocesan Conference. The other delegates wrote their messages for me  in this notebook. I'm still connected with some of them.

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These are love letters. Haha! They were from people who did not become my boyfriends. The letters from those who did are already gone. Those are the ones I was forced to destroy. That's why I don't mind. =p The large photo on the left is, I think, the first love letter I received. Hahaha!

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Almost half of my memory box are occupied by letters from my friends in SCA Gumaca: Joenabie, Joenathan, Mitch and Grace. Most of them are from Joenabie. We shared stories about school, crushes, troubles, etc. Joe, I have your entire high school life recorded. =p

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I was also kept informed about what's happening with SCA Guinayangan through Jessica.

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The 10 CGs (now Mongoloids) of St. Peter School of Calauag were in constant communication with us, the girls of PUP Lopez, for reasons known to many people. Hehe... These are their letters to us. Cheesy, huh?

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These are also from 10CG, addressed only to me. I keep their secrets untold... but documented. Woot woot!

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These are from my High School classmates (except for one, that's from Ate Joya of Bicol, whom I met during the GSP Southern Tagalog Junior Journalists Guild Workshop in 1998).

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Budz (Zaira) told me to keep this. I did. =)

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When I went to Manila for College, I exchanged a few letters from my friends who stayed in Quezon. That was until telecom companies put up cell sites in Lopez.

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Even when there's internet all around, I still received a few traditional cards and notes from my college classmates. That's a whole lot sweeter than a thousand e-mails.

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These are from Jologz. When there were only 3 of us in Manila (me, Louie and Mitch) and one of us goes home, those who were in Lopez would send notes. I love my BFFs!

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During the send-off program of SCA for us, I was awarded Miss Pakipot and Miss Photogenic. I didn't know I was "pakipot" then... but the other award needs no further questioning. =p

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I also found these materials from QueMarLaBaRo (Quezon, Marinduque, Laguna, Batangas, Mindoro) Jubilee Youth Camp.

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I have lots of other old stuff here, but I still have to find my second memory box.

Balik-Tanaw

This is the material for the Balik-Tanaw portion of our program during our high school reunion. I couldn't come up with anything when I tried to write it a week ago. I started writing the midnight before the big day. It's really true that the stream of ideas flow smoothly when you cram. =p

I.    School Activities

      June 1996, the students that would be one of the best batches of PUP LHS met in one class for the first time. Most of us had academic honors in Grade School to be proud about. Some were loud, some were quiet… Some were serious, some were playing it cool… But one thing is common in everyone… one undeniable thing… we are all good-looking.

      As days, weeks, months and years passed by, we developed a strong friendship, both in our respective groups such as Amigas, MC, Tropang T, SAPPI, Unicorn, etc., or in our class as a whole. There were conflicts and misunderstandings, but those things amount to nothing compared to the countless happy memories we have shared. We are strongly bonded, and staying in one section helped a lot. Some were bullies, some seemed passive, but this, guys have to admit… you were in love with Unicorn.

      Let me walk you back to the not-so-distant past… when we were in high school. I shall go through the most memorable school activities we had in PUP.

      a. Mousike Festival

      Naaalala nyo ba ung unang Music Fest natin? Nahihiya pa tayo magpresenta nung nagpipilian ng mga sasali. Pero nung nagsimula na ang mga rehearsals kina Ma’am Del, F na F naman pala. In fairness, maraming pwedeng singers! Nakabuo tayo ng choir. Me interpretative dance na, me ballroom dance pa. At syempre, ang grupo namin na nagwagi ng major major at di na mapigil ang kasikatan simula noon… ang Quartet!

      Music fest naman ng 2^nd year… Naaalala nyo pa ba ung pinagtulong-tulungan nating i-compose na kanta? Ako, Ikaw, Tayo. Kaya siguro di tayo nanalo, kasi Ako, Ikaw, Tayo lang… di kasama ung judges. Me Mambo #5 pa! At sino ang makakalimot sa entry natin sa Tunog-Tao?

      The following year… salamat sa winning duet na “Christmas in our Hearts”, kahit paano me 1^st place tayo. Kaloka lang.

      b. COED Camp

      Dito nauso ung skit sa campfire na me nagna-narrate tapos inaarte ng actors ung mga sinasabi nya. Tapos ang ginagawa ng mga narrators, ginagago nila. Dito rin natin ini-imagine na nasusunog ang buong campus habang kumakanta ng “Campus burning, campus burning… no classes, no classes…” Gaano katagal kayong nagtaka kung paano nagagawa ng apoy na mag-travel mula sa 3^rd floor papunta sa bonfire? Akalain nyong nalalakad natin ang buong zigzag road tapos deretso tayo sa Tumagay? Wala namang nadedo sa ‘tin dahil jan. Buti naman.

      c. English class activities

      Unang beses tayo nagpakitang-gilas sa pag-recite ng “I am a Filipino”, pero hindi ko ma-gets kung bakit me narinig akong “I am a Felefeno, born of the distant fast, hostess to an uncertain future”. Dahu ito?

      Is there a fire? Lahat tayo nagkatawang-squatter for Oli Impan. Natatandaan nyo pa ba kung sino ang partner nyo dun?

      Me declamation contest din, at natatandaan nyo pa ba ung dinivide tayo into groups tapos inact-out natin ung short stories sa book natin? Sa amin noon ung The Lottery Ticket, pero di ko na maalala kung sino groupmates ko.

      d. Foundation Week

      Maraming gimik kapag foundation week, pero the best ang dedication booth. Dahil sa dedication booth na yan nagkaroon ako ng boyfriend 2 days pagkatapos ko marinig ung song ng 911.  Sino pa ba ang me love story kung saan naging instrument ang booth na ito?

      e. Intrams

      Wala ako masyadong maalala sa intrams kasi hindi ako active dito. Ang naaalala ko lang, dito na-showcase ang talent ni Rodjerry sa pagde-design ng t-shirts. Naging champion ba tayo? Me nag-MVP ba? Basta kami ay fans ni “Papa-pa-shoot-shoot-shoot!”

      f. Sabayang Pagbigkas

      And God said, “Let there be light”. Galing ba sa class natin ang winner dito?

      Sa “Kaninong Anak Ito” naman, alam ko kung sino ang winner dun… KAMI! Sa rehearsal naming kina Balls, nag-walk out pa si Kuya Lala kasi tinago naming ung tsinelas nya. And I wonder… kaya pa kayang i-recite ni Sherwin ung sariling version nya ng “di ka salat, ngunit ako’y nagpalaboy, nagpalimos”? I’d like to know the stories of other groups.

      At syempre ang paborito ng lahat… Setyembre 14, 1900… Alam nyo pa ba ang pangalan ng parents ni Don Gregorio C. Yumul? Florentino Yumul at Lorenza Ano daw ang ibig sabihin ng Gregorio? Matalino, maginoo at maprinsipyo.

      g. SAVER/PMT

      Iba-iba ang trip natin dito. Me nag-PMT officer, me nag-SAVER, me kadete… Maraming nakakabaliw na pangyayari sa PMT. Ayoko lang ikwento kasi ayoko ng gulo. Sa SAVER siguro marami din.

      With that, I can reaffirm to myself, and I’m sure kayo din, that our years in PUP LHS had been a perfect mix of ups and downs, serious and crazy moments, and the clever and dumb asses that we were.

III. Spoofs, Bloopers and other Funny Moments (Guess what?)

1.   Nangyari ito nung 1^st year under Sir Beng. Ang me kagagawan nito ay nabinyagan ng pangalan hango sa bagay na ginamit nya para i-bully ang isa pa nating classmate. Anong bagay ito?

      BATO

2.   Tungkol saan ang choice piece natin sa Tunog-Tao nung Music Fest 1997?

      SINGSING

3.   Ano ang tawag sa cheating tool kung saan bago pa man magtanong ay may nakahanda ng sagot?

      READY-MADE EXAM

4.   Sino ang kawawang napagbuntunan ng galit ni Weng noong president natin sya at maingay ang buong klase?

      JONEL

5.   Ano ang tawag sa mala-BINGO na laro natin sa Chemistry class?

      SYMBO

6.   Ginagamitan ito ng bills o perang papel. Importante dito ang serial number.

      DIGIT

7.   Ipinagbawal ito noong 4^th year kasi nakukulele ang mga teachers kapag pinuputok natin ito ng paloob sa bibig.

      BUBBLE GUM

8.   Sa subject na ito, isang sheet of paper lang ang ginagamit natin sa lahat ng quizzes natin sa isang buong grading period.

      ENGLISH

9.   Ang pangalan ng isang grupo sa klase natin ay galing sa sayaw na ito.

      MAGIC CARPET

10. Ang larong ito ay ginagamitan ng 2 pinggan. Importante ang lookout para hindi mahuli ng teachers.

      DICE

II.  Love Tales (Matching Game)

Mechanics:

1.   2 groups with 5 members each

2.   Names are arranged alphabetically. Rearrange them according to love teams

3.   Time limit: 2 minutes

4.   The group with more correct matches wins

5.   Criteria for the correct loveteam: truth and time, as determined by the organizing team; determining point is high school years

Disclaimer:

      Kung di nyo yan nakwento sa mga asawa/jowa nyo, di na namin kasalanan yun. Hehe…

Correct matches:

- Sherwin-Adora

- Daniel-Vivian

- Rodjerry-Zaira

- Vacio-Sharon

- Leo-Eden

- Louie-Rexie

- Gerry-Anna

- Augen-Cath

- Lala-Adette

- Meyrick-Julie Ann

Nuisances (mga ka-love triangle):

- Jaja

- Adonn

- Mac Lester

- Uno

- Tonie Cris

- Weng

IV. Milestones

1.   Mr. PUP LHS 1997 – Leo

2.   SSC Auditor 1997-1998 – Weng

3.   Music Fest Champions for  Duet Category (3^rd year) – Karen B. and Melvin

4.   Ms. PUP Coed 2000 – Karen P.

5.   Music Fest Champions for Quartet Category (1^st year) - Karen B., Eden, Weng & Rexie

6.   Outstanding CCA Member 2000 – Weng

7.   Math Olympiad Achievers – Eden, Lala & Karen

8.   Inter-Level Spelling Quiz Champion (1^st year) – Adonn

9.   SSC Auditor 1998-1999 – Lala

10.Declamation Class Representatives 1997 – Weng, Adonn, Rhodora

11. Outstanding LHS Student 2000 – Karen P.

12. GSP Provincial Senior Planning Board Co-Chairman – Weng

13. SSC VP 1999-2000 – Karen P.

14. GSP Southern Tagalog Junior Journalist Guild Editor - Eden

15. Mr. Foundation 2000 – Augen

Hurting and Learning

Every bruise represents knowledge that is now mine to keep and use for my Tax Review and Bar Exams. Those, I will never have acquired if I didn't have to write 120 case digests. I'm happy about it.

Good Food on Purple Styro

I must admit that Paotsin is one of the good things I got to discover with someone from the past. Would I let the great-tasting sharksfin dumpling go with the close of that chapter? Definitely not. Good thing Sam loves Paotsin, too. If you haven't tried it, it's about time you do. We ate there last week and got our stomach full for only P90. It was the first time their food was served to me on a purple styro with a purple sfork (is that how you call the half-spoon, half-fork thing?). I find it cute so I took a photo. I wonder if somewhere in the mind of its owner is a plan of using pink styro. I would probably ask Sam to eat there often. Hehe...

Net Neutrality

Disclaimer: The communication is not intended to be a legal opinion of the author. The article is written for the sole purpose of complying with an academic requirement.


There could be some things that I don't understand as a mere internet user, but given the experiences and whatever understanding I have as a non-tech savvy and an ordinary "netizen", my stand in the issue of net neutrality depends on whether it pertains to "broadband provider - consumer" or "broadband provider - website owner".


When we select an internet service provider, we consider many things such as other's opinions, our own experiences and those of other people, the area where we will use the service, etc. Aside from the possibility of clogging the lines due to many users, the kinds of technology these providers could be using, and perhaps the proximity of the spot from the nearest satellite, how much you pay for your internet also says a lot about the quality of service that you will get. It's understandable that the channels through which internet data are being transmitted cannot handle everything and still work at its fastest and most efficient state. Hence, I don't see any harm or injustice in seeking to get fast internet connection if you need it and you are willing to pay for it. The needs of internet users vary, and we respond to it depending on our ability to address such needs. A big corporation that depends on data transmission obviously needs a faster internet connection than an individual who only uses the internet for personal purposes, so that big corporation could be willing to pay more. If an individual, however, desires to get fast internet connection, he may get it by paying more. The different internet connection packages offered by service providers are there to give us the freedom to choose the level of service we wish to get, and for me that is OK.


However, once you get your choice of an internet provider, you must have the right to expect equal access to all the contents of the web. Making those big websites, whose owners can pay the service providers, easier and faster to access and load data works to the disadvantage of small and less popular websites. If the internet is not neutral, providers can manipulate the lines to increase the speed of websites of entities who pay. And how do they get the extra speed? It could be by decreasing the speed of other websites whose owners pay less or cannot pay at all. Worse, websites of competitors could be blocked at all. This restricts freedom of information. I cannot apply here the reasoning I laid down in the "provider-consumer" aspect because it is my thinking that all websites have the same reason for being put on the web, and they have the same need to be viewed by people. They should be treated equally and generate traffic based on their merits, not on accessibility. Absence of net neutrality in this aspect is anti-competitive, unfair and oppressive.

Statement of support for DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo

We, the leaders of the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership greatly appreciate the statement of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to clear the name of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo from accountability regarding the failure of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to respond effectively to the Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis last August 23,2010. In Aquino’s statement which was published in several major newspapers, he clearly said that he had made a previous arrangement for Secretary Robredo to focus on local government matters and designated Undersecretary Rico Puno to be more directly in charge of the PNP, thus it was Puno and not Robredo whom Aquino said was partly to blame for the botched response of the PNP. We also strongly support the move of Aquino to immediately convene an investigation led by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima and Robredo regarding this very unfortunate incident.

As such, we believe that persistent calls made by some of our government leaders for Robredo to resign from his position and/or to inhibit himself from the on-going investigation are unjustifiable and baseless. We urge our government leaders to set aside politics for the meantime as we try to move forward with the investigation to find out what really transpired during the hostage crisis.

We believe that a swift, fair and impartial investigation on this matter will help restore the credibility of our nation’s government in the eyes of the international community. Finally, we urge the President to act decisively towards giving the appropriate punishment to government leaders who are found to have neglected in their duties and responsibilities during the hostage crisis. By doing so, our government can send a clear and strong message to our countrymen and the international community that justice will be served to those who failed to perform their duties regardless of influence or position.

SIGNED:

HON. EDDIE PANLILIO, former Governor, Pampanga
HON. GRACE PADACA, former Governor, Isabela
HON. TEOFISTO GUINGONA III, Senator
HON. TEDDY BAGUILAT, JR., Representative, Ifugao
HON. BOLET BANAL, Representative, Quezon City
HON. NERIC ACOSTA, former Representative, Bukidnon
HON. SONIA LORENZO, former Mayor, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija
HON. GLORIA CONGCO, Mayor, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija
HON. MABEL SUNGA ACOSTA, former Councilor, Davao City
HON. ROQUE VERZOSA, JR., Mayor, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur
HON. FLORANTE GERDAN, former Mayor, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
HON. MARIVIC BELENA, Mayor, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija
HON. VALENTE YAP, Mayor, Bindoy, Negros Oriental
HON. MARY JANE ORTEGA, former Mayor, San Fernando City, La Union
HON. FERMIN MABULO, former Mayor, San Fernando, Camarines Sur