We surprised Chris Ng and Karol Yee last Friday night at Arcadia Clubhouse. Although they weren’t that surprised because of some people who slipped or wrong texted them, we sure had a lot of fun. People from CSA (old and new), MassComm, CLC, and their HS friends went.

I didn’t know that CSA people can also “party.” Fun! But anyway, I can say that that night was definitely a “night to remember forever.”

I also can’t believe how brave and daring Sarah and half of the CSA people, who were present that night, were. Fire, Drinks, Spirits, Plungers, and all that.

Needless to say, it wouldn’t be complete without the Sober Club, a mobile bar who spread their wackiness and liven up the despedida, and even got the non-drinkers drinking. The bar and their drinks were very colorful indeed.

Tiffy arrived later, and the night became more amazing… let’s just put it at that. To Karol and Chris, best of luck in Melby!

Photos by Sarah Wu and Oliver Co

Last June 18, 2008 marked the 100th Birthday of the University of the Philippines. Celebrations were supposed to start 05:30 a.m., with the Photo-Op of the 100 Oblation poses; but unfortunately, it was canceled due to reasons unspecified. Instead, it officially started 08:00am at the Oblation Plaza, where every department, college and student were represented.

But before the official start of everything, it kicked off with the Parada Patungong Oblation Plaza (Parade going to the Oblation Plaza) with the U.P. Constituents, GHQ and QC Bands around the Academic Oval. Basically the bands, while playing, fetched all the contingents waiting around the Academic Oval.

After everyone arrived at the Oblation Plaza, we started with the singing of the national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, which was led by the bands and the choirs present. (U.P. Symphonic Band, GHQ Band, QC Band, U.P. Cherubim and Seraphim, U.P. Staff Chorale and Dean Ramon Acoymo)

Right after the national anthem, we sang the U.P. Naming Mahal (U.P. school song), which followed by the singing of Happy Birthday U.P. (to the tune of “Happy Birthday to You”) after.

President Emerlinda Roman gave a speech after, on the balcony of the Quezon Hall. Being on top of everyone and commanding everyone’s attention is the most amazing way to deliver a speech, really. Nearing the end of her speech, she pulled off a “text” joke, saying that the text message/ announcement coming from the higher ups was late/ just arrived. Everyone was shouting and really ecstatic at that moment.

She later announced that as per approval of the Department of Budget and Management and signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the centennial bonus of 20,000 pesos will be released to the UP workers. She instructed all accounting offices to process the pay already. Everyone was jumping, very happy with that news.

After the speech, the newly elected officials of the University Student Council were sworn into office.

After that, President Emerlinda Roman, and other U.P. officials led the launch and the unveiling of the new U.P. Centennial Stamps.

Almost everyone was holding red/maroon and green balloons for the synchronized release of the balloons at the end of the event at the Oblation Plaza. The emcee counted from 1 to 20. After he said 20, everyone bid goodbye (and of course, wished for good fortune and a good year also) and released their balloons to the skies.

I bought a set of the U.P. stamps for my collection (watch out for the centennial stamps post later). Everyone headed to Vinzons Hall for some food and refreshments, and the launch of the Vinzons Hall, as a more student-centric establishment.

UP National College of Public Administration and Governance

More Photos at 100 Photos in UP’s 100th

Where can you find this little cute rat? ^^

Only in UP Chinese Student Association - outside AS 101, Palma Hall ^^

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Logbook Design By: Kimberly Tan-Afuan and Claire Florentino

I got this link from a friend, and I guess I’m giving it a shot (at the same time, helping them in their project). The blog title’s Inspire_Me. They created the blog to continue a successful thread in their Yahoo Answers question “Who or What inspires you?” The goal of their blog is “to be an outlet for people who would want to share where or from whom they get inspiration from.”

I found this really interesting, and decided to create a post for them. And since I want to give this entry some “kick”, I’ll answer both (who and what) to make this entry more interesting.

WHO? Besides the usual answer “family and friends” blah, and probably the “Hello Kitty answer”, I know, and I am proud to say that my inspiration is (or rather my insparations are) my org-mates at CSA (Chinese Student Association). Cheesy as it may sound, they’re like family to me now, and I owe a lot to them :3

Photo By: Sean Tiu

WHAT? I would like to share a poem by former Jesuit Superior General, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. My uncle, Martin Gomez, introduced me to this poem, and since then, I have fallen in love with it. It ever fails to lighten up my days. It never fails to give me hope, and a spark when the light’s starting to dim, or when all else seems to fail. ^_^.

“Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in a love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”

So, if you want to share who or what inspires you, you can visit their blog here, or email them your own story, and get featured in their blog.

We planned to watch Forbidden Kingdom today at Trinoma. But since a lot of unforeseen things happened, and an original attendance of 7 just became 3. I met up with Ainna hours before and we ate lunch at Oki Oki, this Japanese resto right adjacent to Max Restaurant at the ground floor.As I am really indecisive when it comes to ordering food for others, I just let Ainna do the picking. We ordered this Crazy Maki (Php 270). It was a lot larger than the normal maki you see anywhere. It was fried or breaded on the outside. The inside was just plain - seaweed, rice - just like an ordinary maki, but more of those two I just mentioned. It was topped off by kani salad. It was something new for me, and I think this is one of their better dishes. Caution though, you wouldn’t want put the whole thing in your mouth, it doesn’t fit.

And since I forgot to charge my digital camera, I had to use my cellphone for the next pictures. Sadly. We also got their Tofu Steak (Php 125). It had pork, lots of onions and other vegetables with it. I would say that it’s nothing new, nothing spectacular about it, but it was actually better than most I’ve tried.

The next dish is the Yakitori Chicken (Php 110). It was grilled chicken in skewers, with this vegetable. Ainna says it’s leek. The sauce was great. The chicken was soft and tender. It had this lettuce with it, for presentation.

Lastly, we ordered Yaki Soba (Php 225). It had this moving thingy, Bonito Flakes (fish flakes), on top. Ainna’s comment on this dish was that it was like Pansit Canton. Truly, it looks like it. But it had all these seafood and vegetables in it, so that’s good. The dish tasted okay. But I like this dish the least among everything.

After lunch, she decided she wants to eat dessert, so we went to Razon’s to buy their famous halo-halo. We saw Neil, Harroun and Maxi having a 3-way date. (yihee) :3

We headed to the movie house and met up with Merryan for the movie. I liked it. Even though people said that it wasn’t that good, I think it’s one of the movies I would love to watch again, just because of the fight scenes and the humorous twists. Don’t get me wrong, it’s something I would watch because it’s just fun to watch it, not because of the story though.

HELL DAY TIME LINE:

07:30 - Arrived in U.P
07:45 - Reviewed for PA 151 (Local Government & Regional Administration) Finals.
08:20 - Went to Vargas Museum just in time for 09:00am opening.
09:00 - Joyce arrives
09:01 - We both went in the museum to look at the exhibit
09:20 - Dramaturgical Revelations of Everyday Living
09:30 - We went back to the tambayan.
09:35 - Started writing Art Stud 2 paper
11:30 - Finished with 4 pages of painting analysis (thanks Joyce!)
11:35 - Joyce printed our papers, while I finish peer evaluations
11:37 - Bought brown envelope (thanks Che!)
11:40 - Submit AS2 stuff @ FC in time for 12:00 deadline
11:50 - Bought lunch at CASAA, then rode IKOT to NCPAG
12:10 - Ate lunch at the Atrium
12:15 - Wrote PA 151 Learning Diary while studying for the Finals
01:30 - PA 151 Finals (FTW! bahala na…)
03:00 - Finished the exam, and continued writing the diary.
03:20 - Submitted the Diary
03:50 - Went back to CSA Tambayan
04:20 - Went to Cordillera Cafe, bought a drink and waited for the sundo.

AND NOW, IT’S SUMMER TIME! LET’S ALL DO THE SUMMER DANCE!!!

Congrats to my shoti for being UST COMMACH VP for Internals!

Patrick was really stressing out since weeks before about his 3 exams on his birthday. So just days before, I thought of surprising him. I got in touch with Joey and Hannah, and came up with a fantabulous (fantastic+fabulous) plan. I got Sheena and Tiffy too with the letters. Got help from Ces, Yao, Pam, Renz and Maxi too♥

Sarah, Renz, Annabellee, Pao Pei, Merri, Harrell, Hannah, Joey, Tiff and I waited outside the Math building for Pat and Yao to finish their Math 17 exams. And then, we surprised him. :)) We kidnapped him and ate out at Pino Bar after (just near U.P.)

Blowing his Nerds sprinkled choco cake
Photo By: Joey

We ♥Patrick Balloons
Photo By: Joey

Shots, Sarah, Sheena, Yao, Renz, Anna, Pat, Pao Pei, Me, Harrell, Hannah, Tiff
Photo By: Joey

Pat, Hannah, Bong, Joey, Harrell, Sheena, Tiff
Photo By: Merri

@Pino Bar, Q.C.
Photo By: Joey

“Appear disappear, one half, one fourth, one fourth, one half, disappear, appear.”

All photos by Tiffany Chua, using her new MacBook

I was with one half of the incoming execomm (Alvene, Tiff, Thea, Merryan), and one fourth of the outgoing one (Kim, Laureen), plus Chris and Harrell, at Fazoli’s Eastwood for dinner. We bonded over stories, food, and “ducks” instead of bridge (woah), which is the perfect CSA Bonding Experience (CBE)

This duck?? o.O

Nah, not this rubber ducky…but a board game:P

(Photo from: www.tubz.net)

I was as excited as Tiffy for her new MacBook! Welcome to the club new MacHead! Newb! (joke!) And now Kim, Laureen, Alvene and P want one…convert people, convert!