CHED just announced that because of the damage typhoon Ondoy left, classes are suspended until Saturday. My parents told me to go home to Pampanga. Tomorrow, I will finally (after 3 months) go home! Yey!!!

I'm sort of half-hearted to go home tomorrow because I want to volunteer and help those who are badly affected. But oh well, my parents requested me to go home. So now, I'm just trying my best to tweet some places where people can donate or help. Visit my twitter site to know how you can help.

We can change the world. Don't ever think that what you're doing is just "a small thing". Remember: without those "small things", there will no "big things".

This is the worst storm I've ever experienced (as far as I can remember). I pity my fellow Filipinos who were stuck in traffic because of the floods and those who needed to evacuate because it's really flooded even in their own homes.

Water slowly "crept" in our house but good thing it's only 'til the soles of the feet; nothing major.

I sometimes get irritated to some people who kept on complaining about their situation:

Why complain? Can't you just say...

We are so blessed. We still have houses where we can be safe and dry. Some Filipinos are just living under the bridge. We are so blessed that power was cut off. At least further damage can be avoided.

My fellow Filipinos, this is the time to be thankful for what we have. This is also the time to stop being so selfish; to stop thinking about ourselves only. There are people who are experiencing a lot worst than what we're experiencing. Let us not indulge in self-pity. Instead of whining, let's just pray for our fellow Filipinos that are REALLY affected because of Ondoy.

To pray is the only thing we can do to help (if you cannot donate relief goods or clothes to those in need). Pray for their strength, for their faith, for their health. Also, pray that they will never forget that even if the Philippines is full of chaos, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.

Woke up raining. Dragged myself to school. Fil class. By 10am, classes were suspended.

Carmelli and I decided to take the jeep going to Rizal Ave because we already knew that it's already flooded.

Nung bumaba kami ng jeep, biglang nagbaha na sa tinatapakan namin. Oh my. Namihasa pa ang mga snatchers. Madaming tinututukan na students so they will give the snatchers their phones. We parted ways na because magkaiba kami ng dadaanan. Hindi na ako makatawid because it's already flooded. So tinawag ko na si kuya na nagpepedicab kung pwede ba na ihatid ako sa Sta. Cruz church. Bente daw ang bayad. Pumayag na ako.

Almost 30 minutes ako nakaupo sa pedicab dahil hindi makadaan sa mga jeep yung driver kasi ang traffic. Buti nakadaan din. Super ang ulan. Naihatid na ako sa sakayan ng jeep papunta sa house namin. Imbis na P20 lang ang ibinigay ko sa driver, I gave him P40. Naaawa ako sa kanya. Matanda na siya. Walang bubong yung pedicab niya for his protection. At kapote na butas-butas lang ang suot niya pangcover. Kung may pagkain at extra pera lang ako, I swear, I will give him everything I have.

Texted my mom to fetch me sa kanto ng bahay to give me boots. Good thing she immediately replied and kaagad siya nagpunta.

This is my first time to experience all of these.

Dagdag pa na baha na sa loob, as in LOOB, ng bahay. Hindi lang sa garage, kundi sa loob. Nasa island study table na ako ngayon.

I feel so sad. Wala akong magawa to help. All I can do is pray for everyone.

We are now suffering the consequences of our actions. Dahil sa kawalan ng disiplina ng mga tao sa pagtatapon ng basura, tayo na tuloy ngayon ang nagsusuffer. When will we ever learn? :(

As promised, I will post a meaningful entry soon. Well, for me, this is "meaningful" so please, bear with me. Hehehehe.

My laptop mouse for the past 3 or so years is already worn out. I found a heart-shaped mouse at a popular store where they sell all kinds of cheap computer stuff but when I asked the saleslady the price, she told me that it's not yet for sale because the stocks just arrived the day before. I was about to ask her why they put it on display if it's still not for sale but decided against it. So I just bought the second mouse that caught my attention: a white transparent one. I never thought that the mouse I bought was this colorful and bright! Anyway, I'm not complaining. I actually love it. :))

I also bought a crystal-I-don't-know-the-real-name something for my phone. Because my phone is not that pretty anymore (hahaha) I decided to buy something that will make it look pretty again. And thank God I succeeded in beautifying my phone. Hahahahaha. I still love my phone even if it's turning itself off every now and then.

Next, I'm trying to be a "well-rounded reader" so I decided to buy a Jane Austen book. I really wanted to start reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice before reading other classic books (or before reading her other books) but sad to say, NBS ran out of Pride and Prejudice (published by Penguin Popular Classics which distributes cheap classic books, by the way). So I bought a different Jane Austen book, Mansfield Park because 1) I want to buy a book written by her just because, and 2) it was on sale! Who could ever refuse a book that's on sale?!

Just this afternoon after classes, I went to NBS again to look for Pride and Prejudice. But... when I saw that Sense and Sensibility was also on display, I never thought twice; I grabbed both the books and made my way to the nearest cashier and paid for it. Now, I have to suffer not buying junk foods because I used my extra money buying not just one but two books! Well maybe buying books is not a bad thing after all because it prevents me from eating junk foods!

Now can you tell me who's excited?

I'm starting to get afraid for my blogspot site. Have you noticed that I'm not updating this blog for some time? I'm scared this blog is nearing its end. And the culprit is... Tumblr!

My mom texted me and asked me to call up Tita Lydia (my paternal grandmother's bestfriend) and ask if she knows Dr. Harvey Uy's clinic hours. (FYI: Dr. Uy is mom and Tita Lydia's ophthalmologist. My mom had retinal detachment a few years ago and Dr. Uy was the one who treated her.) She was complaining of seeing "lightnings" when closing her eyes. So I called up Tita Lydia and asked her what my mom was asking.

Upon knowing that Dr. Uy has clinic hours today at Rockwell, my mom and dad immediately went to his clinic.

Upon arriving here, Tita Norma was reading mom's text message to my other titas. I checked my phone and saw that my mom texted me the same thing that my tita was reading:

*

Now, isn't that what you call a miracle?

My dad is suffering from cataract for more than a year now. He keeps putting off his surgery because he keeps on telling us that he doesn't want to use the money that is reserved for my education. He keeps on telling us that he still doesn't need it (even if we all know he needs it badly). Talk about sacrifice. He keeps on telling us that he will have his surgery when we finally get to sell our lots.

At times, I can see my dad reading the newspaper with the newspaper so close to his eyes. Whenever he drives, I'm so nervous because he cannot see the road clearly. He cannot drive when it's dark because it's not safe for him. He really suffered. He didn't want to use the money for me. He was willing to sacrifice his vision just so I can study. Just so they can give me what I need: a good education.

And because of his sacrifice, God gave us more than we could ever hope for. We were praying that God will help us sell our lots so my dad can have his eye operated at PGH (because it's cheaper there). But what God did was He touched Dr. Uy's heart. Dad will be having his surgery not in PGH, but in Rockwell.

And the best part is: IT'S FREE.

Last Friday, I went out with my UP friends. I was so excited the whole week to see them!

I missed going out with them. :))

Midterms is over!

I don't have to do anything this weekend. How fun is that? I can play The Sims 3 without feeling guilty! Yey! (Yes, I'm a self-confessed sims addict) =)

After two (or more?) weeks of staying up late to study, I can now relax!

Thank you Lord! =))

Breathe. Just breathe.

Breathe in, breathe out.

First wave of exams is coming! And I'm prepping myself up!

On Tuesday, I have 2 major exams. Oh don't tell me "Dalawa lang?!". Don't you dare say that. Hahahaha. Because one of my exams on Tuesday is 107. Yes. Physiological Psychology. And you know what that means (endocrine system and sensation and perception). And studying it is no joke.

Second wave of exams: maybe on Friday.

Third wave of exams: Saturday.

Well, it's still a good thing that all my exams were not compressed within two days. It gives me more time to study. And also, it's a good thing that God is on my side guiding me while studying and helping me encode, store, and on exams day, retrieve (oha! I know by heart the 3 systems of memory! hehehe), everything that I studied (or will study).

I'm still blessed. :D

I just remembered. Next week (September 7-9) is theology week. What a coincidence. Midterm exams are also scheduled next week (September 8-10).

Oh my. It's already September? Time really flies so fast!

After 116 days, it's already Christmas. And four days after Christmas, it's already my birthday. And it's not just any kind of birthday, this year, I'm saying goodbye to my teen years and saying hello to the big 2-0.

I still haven't felt like I turned 19! Then after 120 days, I'm already 20?! I still haven't gone to Hongkong Disneyland! (I was sort of hoping that I'll get to go to HK Disneyland before turning 20 hehehe)

Before I know it, I'm already turning 30. No, don't laugh now. Because we all know that 10 years is not that far away.

Still, I'm thanking God for the 19 happy years He gave me. I'm one of those blessed people who's still here, living.

You know the feeling of not buying anything too extravagant because you want to save and put your money in the bank (sayang ang interest!) but when you find something that you really really really want, you'll never think twice buying it (even if it means using your savings)?

Well, that's what I felt today.

While walking outside the school, I saw a lady selling almost all of Nicholas Sparks' books (second hand) for only PHP 180 each. It's really a great buy! But still, I took time to think about buying the books (yes, books). But after how many minutes, I decided to "splurge" and buy two of his books, The Choice and True Believer. I wanted to buy his other book, The Lucky One, but I thought that two books are enough. For now.

Did I regret buying the books? Of course not! Are you kidding me? Reading makes me calm. Whenever I read, it takes me to places I've never been. When I read, I can really relate to the characters in the book and I love it. Reading takes me to a world I never knew existed. It makes me travel using my imagination.

I'm so glad I bought those books. Even if it meant using some of my savings.

I will never get tired of buying books. NEVER.

By the way, nakatawad pa ako! Hahahaha!

Thank You Lord for the blessings!