| An Ondoy Reflection |
[14 Oct 2009|06:08pm] |
Please bear with the length of the entry. Tried my best to keep it short, but the thoughts just kept on coming :)
I have to admit that while the many Ondoy stories being shared are very much emotion-packed, the me at that time, while worried was quite far from it. I was reading books and watching videos in my laptop. I was joking with my roommates and I was laughing my head off because of the lack of stock food in the room. To summarize, 90% of the time I was acting as if nothing was happening outside the confinements of our dormitory. In denial or plain apathy? You be the judge. But deep inside the reason I was not like the others was because worrying would not do anything. I was getting sick of people repeatedly saying that someone’s house was being submerged, that they’re on the roof already and stuff like that. I was not being apathetic. I just hated people who kept on yapping about it. I knew what was happening; well not really the nitty-gritty details, but I knew that very bad things were happening. I need not be reprimanded about it for a zillion times. It made me feel I was not doing anything. Really—what could I do at that time? I was not like the Ateneo Rowing team who were athletic enough to buy rubber boats and use their skills to bring relief goods to people who were stranded on the roofs. I was not like the rescue teams that had boats with them and had the guts to traverse the bad floods. I was just one of the thousands of youth in Manila who like me wanted to do something grand, but just cannot find the way. However, the whole event taught me otherwise. It was very fortunate that the Sanggunian or the student council, together with the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) and the Ateneo Residence Students Association (ARSA), and in partnership with the Office of Student Activities (OSA) and the Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) acted fast on the drama that unfolded during the typhoon and opened up relief goods operations within campus. As an officer of COA, I was asked to help in the operations. Feeling helpless that I could not do anything and frustrated with the people who kept on yapping, I jumped into the bandwagon. The first night that I helped in the operations, I did not get to sleep and so I was awake for more than 24 hours. We were busy trying to fix the operations especially since the whole thing was moved to a bigger venue at the College Covered Courts. I remember being frustrated on the Tuesday of operations since we had to revamp the whole place and we were only six at that time. Thankfully, volunteers came pouring in and we were able to make the place ready for the new operations after 5 hours. The whole week was a little drama by its own. I had one more instance where I had to keep awake for 24 hours and there were some minor arguments with the offices and fellow officers. I had shuffling jobs, but most of it was secretarial in nature. I would man the registry booth. I would brief the volunteers on the operations in the Covered Courts. I would check the inventory. Was I doing the grand thing that I was envisioning? To be honest, it’s a big NO. What I was doing was something small and basic. I was not there in the action—going through the flood and interacting with the victims. But as I continued to do my jobs, I realized I was truly helping the victims, but in an indirect way. As a secretary, I was there to help maintain the order of the operations. If the operations were not in order then the relief goods would not reach the victims. My small job was keeping the big objective going. I was not doing something grand, but my own little skill in the secretarial job was keeping the whole project afloat. The same goes for all the volunteers who packed. By their simple act of picking up goods and putting them into plastic bags, they were able to give families a reprieve in their grief-stricken moment. By standing there and passing the goods towards the trucks, they were able to mobilize the goods towards the persons who needed them the most. By sorting the goods into the different stations inside the covered courts, they were able to prepare the goods for packing. The volunteers in their small way were keeping the operations in the covered courts working, just like a tiny ant bringing a single food to feed the whole colony. It was true that at many points the covered courts were over-manned and I’ve had my frustrations with it, but the fact that they sacrificed their time was enough. Their sacrifice of time is what makes the operations in the covered courts work, regardless of efficiency (which I know was affected due to the over-manning). In addition, it was magic to see the many people willing to work. The number of volunteers for the relief operations when typhoon Milenyo struck failed in comparison to Ondoy. As one of the brothers from Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan said, “Seeing all the volunteers help is like seeing the miracle of the multiplying of loaves in action.” Whenever I hear people saying that that they felt helpless during Ondoy, I would get angry, but somehow I could not blame them. I went through that stage as well and I remember a friend telling me that the my generation right now is hungry for something epic. Our parents did something epic and grand during the 1st and 2nd EDSA Revolution, and now my generation is looking for something of the same degree. For many, they saw that Ondoy presented the right opportunity. And they are right. Ondoy did really present it, but one does not need to do something grandiose to save the day. It was the small acts, though not publicized (except for all the celebrities and politicians), that was saving the day for all Ondoy victims. Each one of us is just a speck in Manila, but if all these specks work together, then something huge happens. I’m really happy of the volunteer work that I did. While I badly wanted to be in the forefront of the action, I knew that the chances that I can do it was slim so I had to revert to whatever means that I can help and that was through helping in the operations in the Covered courts.
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| Hey Big Spender! |
[31 Jan 2009|05:47pm] |
I should stop spending money. For the past days I've been on a spending spree: from clothes to food, I've been tempted to buy anything I laid my eyes on.
Claudia, get a hold of yourself.
I must save enough money to get that phone I've been eyeing for some time already.
---
I finished taking P&G's Online Assessment test awhile ago.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to get an internship there. (Though a lot of my batchmates have already been rejected :( )
---
I am currently addicted to Wonder Girl's "Nobody" and Utada's new US Single "Come Back to Me". I can't stop listening to them especially Nobody. I want to learn the dance steps :P
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| A Short Reprieve |
[17 Jan 2009|01:49am] |
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mood |
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 sleepy |
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I miss blogging.
I miss the times when I would sit down in front of our PC, open up Photoshop and try to draw the blog layout I had in mind. I miss the times when I visited my friends' (including online friends) blog almost everyday to see how they were doing and leave a small comment of encouragement when they're down, of congratulations in their victorious times.
College has really changed me. Blogging is not really in my to-do list anymore. I've moved on to other things.
But from time to time I just wish to sit down and write something. Write anything that I want.
I hope to start that with this little post.
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| Burn out! |
[13 Oct 2006|01:25pm] |
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mood |
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groggy |
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I am so tired!
I feel so burnt out!
I want to sleep but I can't. I still need to study for my exams!
Just one more week. One week of finals!
Argh! Must hold on...
Good night!
As you can see, I'm really brain dead...
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| proof of life |
[08 Oct 2006|02:34pm] |
It'll be almost one year since I lasted posted here.
I'm currently doing my Physics paper and I suddenly had the urge to do some blogging.
Life has been a hurricane. I feel like time is closing in one me. It's teasing me or something like that. I guess it's because of rehearsals that I lack time to seriously concentrate on my studies. But now that the show is done I feel so free. Finally I can concentrate in writing my papers.
College is such a new world. I really thought that the transition from high school to college won't be that hard, but reality struck me hard. When I was in high school, I never really gave time to study for Math. An hour would be enough, but now I need to study a week before the exam to barely pass it.
Argh! College is hard. But I'm surviving it harhar :P
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| ain't it cute? |
[13 Oct 2005|07:33pm] |
Awww... isn't it cute? I decided to visit my lj.
Hehe that was sarcastic.
Anyways, how's life? One word: stressing
A lot has been happening and I haven't been in the mood to post in any of blogs especially ND.net since no one's commenting there, which is my fuel for posting. Haha a kinda pathetic answer, but that's that. I guess people have different preferences lol
2 days ago, a letter from the University of San Diego came. I don't really know why they sent me a letter. I didn't even sign-up for that school. After reading it, I didn't even know if they were offering me admission, meaning I am sure that I will be accepted. I'll talk to my mom about this when she gets home. She's currently out on a business trip.
Hmmm... tomorrow until Sunday night, I won't be home since we'll be having our retreat. I'm really excited. Been waiting for this since the start of the school year.
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| hey! I'm in school! |
[08 Sep 2005|11:35am] |
Out of nowhere I decided to post in my lj right now. I'm currently in school and we're doing 3d Studio Max. Well... we are supposed to, but judging from this post, do you think I'm doing it? Haha! How mean of me...
It's been some time since I've posted in lj. I'm somehow starting to miss posting just anything in here. (Have I really been posting here?). Maybe I'll try to post more often next time. And maybe I'll make a new set of profile pics especially the "school-stuff" logo (The one active right now). I was deprived of a good graphic program when I did that.
So yah... I don't have anything to share right now, except that we're doing 3d studio max right now in school. Oh! And I've been getting sick of my blog (http://ninedreams.net) layout. I've been wanting to change it, but I've been having layout-blocks for the past weeks. Can't think of something decent lol
Any suggestions for a new layout? It would be very much appreciated :D
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| 2nd Day of Classes |
[14 Jun 2005|07:30pm] |
Today is the second day of classes. It should've been yesterday, but it was a holiday. Speaking of holiday, belated HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to all Filipinos out there. I know it's late. I should have greeted last June 12, but I had no internet connection available so oh well...
School was fine except that my "PhySci" classmates are teasing me about being an ex-"MedSci" student. Whenever the teacher (as per subject) inquired who were new in the class, she would ask from what section we came from, and when I say 'medsci', the class would erupt with a loud "Boo!" Talk about a class full of ego! (There are only 10 girls in the class out of 42 students) But, I'm really cool with it. Boys will always be boys. I know they're just joking around especially since I know about 75% of the class. It's because some of them have been my classmates in elementary level.
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| Wee... |
[10 Jun 2005|07:00pm] |
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mood |
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 amused |
] |
Wee... finally, I was able to change the layout in my domain.
http://www.ninedreams.net ---> Click! Click!
What do you think of it guys?
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| Bored... |
[27 May 2005|02:14pm] |
Right now, I should be studying for my SAT II, but I'm just surfing the net, reading whatever I want to read lol.
It's sad to think that during the summer break I have been studying only and in 2 weeks time, I will be back in school. It's like I never had any summer vacation at all. But still, I must continue this sacrifice hehe. I've telling myself that this is the only summer I will have to study and next year, I won't be doing anything since it's the summer before I enter college. Yay!
*sigh* I should go back to my studying...
I've missed my LJ... I think I'll be posting here and in my xanga more than my domain for now
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| It's Over: Part 2 |
[16 Mar 2005|05:23pm] |
Muahahahahahahahahahahaha!
The finals are now FINISHED! Well just awhile ago that is... lol
Anyways, the tests were okay except for Chemistry and FBZ. I think Science teachers are punishing us. They're making us rip our minds trying to find answers to their "practical" questions lol.
Together with my musical theater class, I'm planning to take a review class for the college entrance exams I will be taking this coming next school year. The system here is different from the US. There in the US, you just need to take the SAT and SAT II and give your scores to the schools you want to enroll in (Am I right?), but here in the Philippines, you need to take a college entrance exam for every college/university you want to enroll in. So if I want to try for 8 schools here, I would have to take 8 entrance exams. Scary... haha
Hmmm... I'm also planning to look for a SAT review program here in my area, but I just can't seem to find one. Hehe without writing it here, I guess you would already know what my intention is for doing this.
Oh and please visit Self-entitled. It's my fanlisting for Kitchie Nadal's album. I had it open for almost a month now, but I wasn't finished in tweaking some areas so I wasn't able to publicize yet. I still have some parts to fix, but it's all good. Please join if concerned lol :D
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| Chorale Results... for now... I hope... |
[14 Mar 2005|05:43pm] |
Well the first day of the finals have passed, and I am really ecstatic about it though I still have to face 2 more days excruciating exams.
Anyways, Eryka told me that the results for the chorale are out now. I was really surprised when she texted me. Didn't expect the results to come out earlier now. Well, Eryka passed and me... I'm on the waiting list, but I pity my other friend, Sean who wasn't able to pass.
Well, I semi-passed. I should be somewhat happy I guess, but I really want to join the chorale. I do hope I will be fully accepted. I'll continually pray for that. And ummm... please do pray for me that I would be accepted in the advanced class of the musical theater I have been attending.
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| It's Over!: Part 1 |
[11 Mar 2005|10:28pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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accomplished |
] |
Classes are officially over, but not the current school year. All that's left is the finals. Wah! I'm really excited. Just 1 more week to go and I'm free from school work...
Today, I auditioned for the chorale and I think I did well. I do hope I'll pass, but to wait for the whole summer before posting the results? That is gonna be one excruciating wait for me lol
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| Ebil Chemistry! |
[09 Mar 2005|08:43pm] |
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mood |
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 naughty |
] |
I noticed that almost all things I post here in lj has something to do with chemistry. I feel like it's destroying my life (haha just joking).
So right now, as what I have posted previously, I'm stuck here making my final project in Chem, which really sucks since our career track has the hardest project. I just don't know what went inside our teacher's head. I'm dying here researching stuffs I have no idea what they mean at all.
Argh! I can't wait to pass this so that my mind will be set for the finals.
Good luck to me lol :D
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| So soon... |
[08 Mar 2005|09:19pm] |
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mood |
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 awake |
] |
In less than 2 weeks, it'll be goodbye school for me. *sigh* Once more, another school year has come to pass. I'm just really dead nervous about it. Our finals will be next week and I hope I'll be able to do well.
I'm kind of in a hurry in posting this one since I'm doing my final project in chemistry.
Ta ta! I'll try to post something tomorrow if time may allow me hehe
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| big big bump on my head... tra la la la |
[17 Feb 2005|09:11pm] |
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mood |
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 energetic |
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We had our HS Intrams awhile ago and I have big bump on my head though it's not that noticeable.
I got the bump from a large bamboo stick (diameter is around 3.5-4 inches). it was heavy. It even hit my shoulders which kinda hurts right now.
The bamboo log, if I must say lol, came from the game Dinuron. It's like tug-o-war but the complete opposite. Rather than pulling your opponents across the line, you need to push them out of the ring. Haha we were spinning around the ring just to confuse the other team, but we still lost. My classmate then threw the bamboo log and it fell on my head... Nice! lol
Anyways, tomorrow is the JS Prom and I just had my nails done (cleaning only) and had a hot oil treatment. Wee! My hair feels so soft and it follows my every movement lol. I'm a bit nervous about the event tomorrow night. I hope everything turns well.
ta ta! I'll just post here tomorrow about it...
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| Back in action! |
[16 Feb 2005|08:51pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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 giddy |
] |
Yes! After 41 days, I am back here posting.
I wasn't in any mood to post here for the past days. But actually I didn't come back to really post something. A lot has happened (duh! 41 days!) ever since my last post and I'm tired to post them all here.
All I want to say is with my comeback, I've created a new layout for my domain. lol
http://www.ninedreams.net ---> click! click!
I do hope you like it. I've posted in summary what happened in that 40-day period in my blog so be sure to read it (if you're willing to read a long post that is).
All criticisms are welcome.
Yay! I'm back! *dances*
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| time ticks away |
[04 Jan 2005|06:28pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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 drunk |
] |
I sit here in front of the computer, embracing the englufing air around me. Looking back at the 2 weeks that have passed I can't believe it is time for me to bid adieu to my christmas vacation. Tomorrow, I would be doing the same thing I have been doing since the start of June: face the school life once more.
I sigh as I type this entry. I don't want the moment to end. I just want to be here, relaxing and goofing off. I don't want to go to school tomorrow.
*sigh* How dramatic of me!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! Hope you had a blast in celebrating it :D
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| Bored... |
[19 Dec 2004|11:02am] |
Stole this from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) papertowels (Melody) ^^
| CLAUDIA |
| C |
is for |
Captivating |
| L |
is for |
Legendary |
| A |
is for |
Amazing |
| U |
is for |
Useful |
| D |
is for |
Delicious |
| I |
is for |
Industrious |
| A |
is for |
Ambitious |
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| 3rd Quarter Exams Update #2 |
[14 Dec 2004|06:56pm] |
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mood |
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 ecstatic |
] |
*sigh* the 2nd day of our exams have finished and I'm so ever glad. This day had the hardest exams ever. I just hope I'll pass them all.
SS - 10 PAGES OF AGONY!!! I've learned a lesson from this test; never always trust reviewers. Read the lesson from the book since you might be surprised with some items in the test (thank God I decided to do that). The chart completion for the Age of Exploration was so hard. I hope my guesses were correct
English - all the test for this quarter was really hard. This is the first time I really had difficulty with this subject. My hand really hurt with all the writing. I hope I'll pass.
Math (Advance Algebra) - I almost thought I was a goner for this subject, but I'm so grateful to God for helping me remember how to graph functions. I was staring at my paper asking God to help me and thankfully he asnwered my paper. I can still hope that I'll be able to perfect the test.
Yes! Last 2 tests tomorrow... CVE and Chemistry. I can't wait for tomorrow to be done. Gotta go study and write my permission letter so the school can allow us to hold our dramafest meeting tomorrow.
I want to buy Kitchie Nadal's CD!!! She's a Filipino singer and because of her I've learned to love OPM (Original Pilipino Music) again, our local music here. Here are 2 songs by her.(The 1st song is in English while the 2nd one is in Filipino)
1.) Run
2.) Wag na Wag Mong Sasabihin
Enjoy! (tell me what you think of the songs ^_^)
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