Published Yet Again!

.:Oh, Mikey, You're So Fine!:.

In line with the upcoming elections, here's another article for the POC. This time, it's me throwing my support behind Mikey Arroyo. Hope you like it.

.:The Day Of Reckoning:.

Can't believe it's come to this, but in the end, some things are just not meant to be.

.:This Is By A Good Friend...:.

Fabucelles is also a pretty good writer. Maybe she should write more.

Enjoying My Last Day As A Bum...

.:Got A Move-On, But Still No NBI Clearance...:.

It was annoying because the line was so long the cut-off was made earlier than anticipated. I don't know when I'll get around to it, but... feh.

Nonetheless, I'm very stoked about going back to work after almost a year of being a "bum" thanks to my thesis. Took the time to hang out with some people from Team Massacre, namely Andres and Tong, and even treated 'em to Mang Jimmy's. The bad news was there was no Tapa Mix or Lechon Kawali that evening. Boooo!!!

So when I went home, I ran into Dr. Kaelin who was having dinner with Dr. Ibana. Dr. Kaelin's one of my favorite teachers from the Philosophy Department, not to mention the fact that he's gonna be in town for only a month, really. It was great running into him, making my last day of bumhood a very exciting one. Not only did I hang out with some magician friends and talk about a lot of things, including the ruthless ribs I throw one of the "top mentalists in the country", but I even ran into one of my favorite teachers of all time.

Given the fact that Mrs. Cardenas has said her goodbyes to the Ateneo, I feel that in some way, the things I've gone through as a hopeful of employee of the University have left me a bit... smarting, but nonetheless, optimistic. I have faith in my ability to adapt to any situation that comes my way, and Nuffnang.com will be quite an adventure that I will be finding myself heavily immersed in as the days go by.

The thesis is still a question mark, but I am determined to finish it and graduate in 2010 (March, more specifically.). I have worked long and hard over it, and though I'm not entirely certain if I'll be able to have much of an academic career at this point, it will at the very least put a definitive bookend in my foray into Philosophy. Doing events and marketing sales is something I'm very excited about, and I don't see myself just changing horses in midstream all over again after this one.

I'm hanging in there. Despite feeling lonelier than I ever have, I'm doing what I can to survive, because one thing I know for certain is that after everything has been said and done, I gave all my love, and all my heart, and even if in the end, I wasn't given the same in return, nobody can fault me with the passion I put into everything I've done.

Last year was a year of changes. This year is a year of direction.

.:Another Literary Attempt...:.

It Was Just Me
by Kel

Everyone knew that you are my fire
That's what you are, my one desire
Now that we're through, it's plain to see
You never felt the same: it was just me

My love was all I had to give
Without you I don't think I could give
You never shed a tear when you left finally
You never really cared: it was just me

I should have known from the start
That you won't quit playing games with my heart
You said you would stay with me eternally
You never came through: it was just me

Looking back on the things I've done
I realized I was trying to be someone
You never saw that, you took it so casually
You never loved me: it was never me

Oh, Happy Day...

.:Take That, Thesis!:.

Finally, finished writing my thesis. About bloody time!

Up next... revisions? Defense? Urkk...

.:After Two Months...:.

Except for a quick but absolutely sweet drive-by for a hug by My Beloved, yesterday was the first time in two months we've seen each other.

I'm just so happy, and I can't tell you enough how glad I am I managed to give her my present already. I gave her a BDJ Planner, and a pair of crochet dolls courtesy of Nissie. Fortunately, she wanted me to keep one of the other dolls, so...

Isn't that just the cutest thing ever? I love this doll. Of course, if we ever get into arguments with each other, I think I know what she's going to do with the crochet doll made to look like me... urk. Hehe.

Thanks, My Beloved! I'm glad we made it through, despite all the problems and complications. You know there's nothing I wouldn't do to be with you... ::gushes::

.:As An Aside...:.

My brother and I are both straight edge, but his party at our house today yielded a guy who drank so much, then stood on his head.

Soon enough, he started puking while he was sleeping on the floor. They tried to revive him, but he was really only semi-conscious at best. Eventually, they had to rush him to the hospital, putting a stop to the festivities.

I'm sorry, but after seeing that, I really don't see the appeal of alcohol... ah, well.

Quick Rundown...

.:Nerdy Fanboying...:.

Last schoolyear, Mr. Calasanz introduced us to a certain man named Jean-Luc Marion. He seemed to be a student of Emmanuel Levinas, so it was natural for us to assume that Professor Marion, the Philosopher, would be very old and most likely no longer alive.

At this year's COMIUCAP in Manila, we just discovered that not only was Professor Marion still alive, but he was also the keynote speaker for the first day!

Needless to say, I just had to be there. Not only is his expertise on Levinas essential for my thesis, I actually found myself fanboying over him ever since I encountered his writing in class.

Fanboy that I am, over lunch, I bravely approached him...

"Professor Marion? I know this is very embarrassing of us to ask, but may we have a picture taken with you?"

He scratched his head in bewilderment, but was kind enough to oblige us.

I am hopeless, hopeless, hopeless. Heh.

.:Still To Come...:.

- The awesome CPK event.
- Hanging out at Bo's Coffee.
- A picture or two from the gig last weekend.
- Being on air on RT the other day, and another radio station comes a-callin'...
- Hosting the PBA Press Launch last Monday.
- Spending time with Mark and Diane throughout the weekend.
- Weird hot flashes involving MB.

My Progress Is Slow...

.:Thesis Crawl!:.

In line with my desire to be well-paid for my magic shows, I think it's good to know that Ned and Ardy Roberto releases marketing business solutions book. Jay and I have been considering an agent as of late, and I think there's room for that.

Unfortunately, this means that I've been focusing a lot on an upcoming mall tour, some shows here and there, and my thesis has been left to the wayside.

Well, I want to change that. I'm going to have to do a lot of research this month, but the goal is to have fifteen serviceable pages by the end of the month for my thesis, and proceed to writing another thirty pages by the end of October.

With any luck, I'd be finished writing come December, which would mean I'd be in time for my thesis defense, and I'll be graduating in 2009.

It's crunch time, and admittedly, Monster Hunter has been taking way too much of my time lately, further keeping me from making much progress. I must be one of the most horrible examples of time management ever... yarr.

.:On The Employment End...:.

Well, there's still no word from RT regarding getting me, truth be told. Having said that though, I've applied in a few stations already, including Magic 89.9 for the very first time. While this by no means guarantees me anything, the mere fact that I finally dared to apply in Magic seems to be a sign to me... of what, well, I can't tell just yet...

A Pleasant Surprise...

.:A Lovely Shock:.

My Beloved dropped by my house last Friday, taking me completely by surprise, to say the least. After a week's worth of woes, headaches and various other mishaps, the sheer surprise I felt over being dropped in on when I least expected it simply made everything all better.

Just having the opportunity to spend time with her and hug her really turned my week around. I was tired, cranky, and ultimately, going through a lot of stress. Thanks to my Beloved, though, I managed to make it through the week despite all the stuff flying in my face, getting my spirits down somewhat.

Having said that, I'm really just in a haze the past few days. I feel so lethargic, and I can hardly really write anything, despite the fact that last week's pair of shows were extremely interesting, to say the least, and they definitely helped fund me this semester, as I had to pay quite a hefty tuition since I not only am doing my Thesis, but I'm also keen on taking Fr. Bulatao for Audit...

Comprehensives, Part II...

Well, here goes nothing. Wish me luck!

Review Is Slow But Progressing...

.:Kierkegaard, Descartes, Marcel:.

For this Saturday's comprehensives, I'm reviewing one reading apiece from each of these three philosophers. You might say that for me to work through this, all I'm lacking would be a training montage video set to the tune of "Eye Of The Tiger"...

Can't wait to finish my Masters. Given my rapidly expanding distaste for being around ADMU though, I have a feeling I won't be putting it to use there, sadly.

Preparing For The Second Half...

.:Still More (School)Work To Come...:.

Well, I'm preparing for my next comprehensive exam this coming Saturday. Lots of stuff to work on, but I'm confident I'll be able to pull through. Had a boring weekend, but at least I did well for Modern Philosophy, since the questions were about Kant and Desacartes, two thinkers I'm very familiar with.

I've got a lot on my plate when it comes to this, to be honest. I really want to make sure I finish my thesis this year, which explains why I'm not taking a full-time job at the moment, even if it might be financially risky for me to do so. Finishing my M.A. would allow me leverage to teach Philosophy, and that's something I'd certainly want to do.

.:A Prelude To My Planned Series Of Posts On Radio...:.

I've been thinking of what to write about radio for the longest time, essentially writing much the same way I wrote
about teaching.

As most of you know, I've had a love affair with radio since I was a kid. From the moment I learned how to speed-dial my way to victory in radio contests on 93.9 DWKC, radio became my best friend, over and above television. I can't tell you enough how much I've always wanted to be a DJ, and when I found my chance way back in high school to be on the air regularly, you just know I had to jump at the chance to do it.

If I didn't love this industry, I wouldn't give a damn about it at all, nor would I willingly accept my current role as a Campus Air Checker despite having been an actual jock in WAVE 89.1 for three years. But here I am, still training as an Air Checker, and doing so out of my own free will, because I believe in the station that much.

For now, that is all that remains to be said. As I go through this thesis year, I'm also taking the necessary steps to go back to radio and show just exactly how much I want to be here.

Half-Done!

.:Comprehensives Was Quite A Challenge...:.

... but I made good on it.

I think this calls for a celebration... of preparing for the next comprehensive exams. Heh.

I can't blog sensibly at the moment, except to point out that I'm just glad I managed to get questions I was capable of answering this time out.

And The Setbacks Begin...

.:Sigh...:.

I was going to post a bit longer, but guess what?

The Philosophy Department just informed me that they won't be hiring me this year.

I'm going to sit down with Dr. Barbaza to talk about why this was the case, but y'know what? I'm this close to just saying "eff this" and not bothering with teaching in Ateneo anymore.

After encouraging me to push myself in this path, the department leaves me high and dry again. I'm beginning to wish I never listened to them and instead did something more productive with my time and money than take an M.A. in Philosophy...

Well, I guess teaching high school isn't a dead prospect for me at this point. That's about the only good thing coming out of this...

Believe In The Power Of Your Cards!

.:I Can Breathe... Woo-Hoo!:.

I got a B+ in my final oral exams! I hope this means I'm passing Dr. Angeles' subject!!!

Whoooooo!!!

.:And My Next Client Will Be...:.

ZOMG! Mike Defensor!

Must get pictures!

Random Thoughts Since The Weekend...

.:You Know What Certain Much-Hated Politicians Really Need Right Now?:.

I think they need to look up a good PR Agency in the Philippines. Seriously. Wherever they're getting those spin doctors from, they really should stop already, because they're not convincing anyone with how they spin every single issue against them as a "destabilization plot".

Guys, truth is not destabilization. We want to know the truth, dagnabit! The more you spin, the more we see you're hiding something... yeesh.

.:This Weekend Was Heavy. Really Heavy:.

I had three shows this past weekend, and one of them even had quite a mishap, since something happened to the client which kept her from going to her own party. It was scary, to be honest.

There was also the whole party thing at Sacha's house, so you just know it was a hellaciously busy weekend...

.:Appointment:.

Finally got to speak with Dr. Angeles, and it appears that while she's biased against me, my last test results were low mainly because of mistakes I made on a fundamental level.

To be honest, she's right on that count. If I can't make a distinction between Schleiermacher's hermeneutics and Dilthey's, what business do I have explaining either at all?

It's a tough pill to swallow, but knowing this, I resolve to really work hard for my finals with her so that I can make it through. I just hope she realizes that I really am not a slacker, and I really want to teach Philosophy. It's what I've worked hard for, and I'm not going to give up that easily.

I was a bit put off when she mentioned that she feels "kindness" isn't a virtue imperative for teachers, though. As a guy who teaches high school kids, I can't help but disagree... but maybe that only applies to high school kids. I'm not really sure...

W-Wha?

.:I Call Shenanigans!:.

Despite the fact that I actually improved a paper I was asked to revise, I got back my paper with the same grade!

This professor of mine is really getting on my nerves already, because I know she's doing it because she thinks I'm just winging it, which is ridiculous simply because there are students who are doing far worse than I am in her class, and yet they get higher grades than I do based purely on her "perception" of who I am.

For someone who teaches how prejudices can cloud judgment and how it should be overcome when it hinders one's self, she's doing one helluva job of keeping her eyes closed to this obvious double standard.

.:The Obstacle:.

I'm trying to schedule a consultation with her, but in all honesty, I don't see what good that will do me. I'm enough of a mind-reader to know she's been itching to tell me all semester long that I should just give it up because I'm not meant for Philosophy, and this is based solely on her perception of me. It's a load of codswallop, and I know I don't deserve to have people judging my passion when I know very well that there's nothing I want to do more with my life than to teach Philosophy.

Does she have a problem with my other interests? Since when did my magic ever keep me from reading our readings? She's been working solely with her prejudices, and I'm incredibly incensed about it, because her prejudice is clearly going to keep me from finishing my Masters in time. I paid good money to finish my Masters, and everyone knows that there's little worse you can do than cutting me off from what I love doing: teaching.

Dear Dr. I'm-Better-Than-You-Because-I'm-Older-Than-You, I'd really like to point out that your radar may have a high accuracy rate, but it's never going to be 100%. You are severely mistaken if you think I'm just a slacker who doesn't give a damn about my work, because I take pride in what I do, and I take my Masters very seriously.

You won't deny me the grade I know I deserve. That I deserve to actually pass is the truth, and no amount of post-modernism and hand-waving can possibly erase that.

Worried About Failing For The First Time...

.:Tricky, Tricky...:.

This past semester has been proving very tricky for me.

For the first time in a while, I'm worried about failing a class... good Gawd.

Amazing!

.:Mr. Bulaong's Back In Town For A Bit...:.

Jon Bulaong's back in town until Sunday, and it was great hearing from him again. He delivered a lecture about the relevance of Immanuel Kant in today's post-modern world, and his ideas were incredibly thought-provoking.

While I didn't get to spend much time speaking to him, it was definitely amazing, to say the least, that after two years or so of studying in Germany, he still hasn't changed at all, and that's a good thing.

Jon's one of the people I always looked up to, so I'm extremely happy for him, knowing he's doing very well in Germany.

Finals Week For Me And My Students...

For me, and for my students.

Expect miniscule posting from me today, if at all...

Heh.

.:It's Interesting To Know That...:.

... it's harder to tell someone what they need to get an A in a paper the closer they are to an A. Mr. Calasanz made me realize that it's just a very tricky question to answer, unlike if my paper was simply a C or something. I guess it's just a knack that you develop, where when you see an A paper, you'd know it for sure, but once you're still asking yourself if it's an A paper or not, then it's simply not an A paper yet.

It's a knack I need to develop, I guess. Funny how sir brought up that when I was still a freshman, I was visibly upset over failing a quiz under him back then. It was six or so years ago, and he still remembers it like yesterday, and it's leaps and bounds different from the kind of rapport I find myself having with him nowadays, as I see him as some kind of a mentor who really guides me as I embark on my oft-hazardous philosophical journey.

.:I Love My Students:.

A majority of them are brilliant and funny, but at the same time, I'm glad that most of them really show me that I have much cause for pride in being a teacher here.

Now, if only they could stop with the intrigues, but I guess this is high school... =P

.:Finally...:.

My Beloved and I rarely get to meet each other lately, so I'm just grateful that we found the time yesterday.

While things have been rocky as of late because of my busy schedule, I'm glad that she's still there for me. She's a very wonderful person who has given me great cause for joy in my life, and I love her so much.

I was just glad we had a bit of time with each other to just simply hang out and talk because we really needed to clear the air about a lot of things that have been going on lately, to say the least.

The Dress Code Debacle

.:Taken From Arbet...:.

Brilliant.

.:This Is Interesting...:.

Dr. Cuyegkeng, one of the administrators of Ateneo de Manila University, was reportedly given a standing derision from a few students who were actively voicing their displeasure over the university's current disposition to set specific guidelines for the existing dress code in the student's handbook, much to the dismay of some of the students whose current fashion choices will inevitably be affected.

While there are no definite items that have been taken up for discussion, several assumptions can almost be safely made, including the idea that chances are, the likes of Havaianas, flip-flops, spaghetti straps, and so forth will meet the axe once such a dress code is implemented.

Will I personally be affected by this? No. I always dress in office attire.

Do I care that they are "impinging on my personal freedom", as was posited by Bobby Benedicto? Quite frankly, I don't think that is the case. How we dress is not an essential "right" that is inextricable from our ability to do well academically. If anything, I'm inclined to think that it's merely a privilege, and not at all a right.

If that be the case, therefore, then yes, given the flagrant violations of what is already a vague dress code as is, I think that the only hindrance to enforcing the dress code at the moment is the lack of specific guidelines so that one can have a rubric of sorts to determine who and who is not in violation of the dress code.

At the same time, if the students have to meet a dress code, then the faculty must also be a step ahead, and thus, all members of the faculty have to follow a dress code all the same.

Now, of course, that might mean certain trademarks, like Fr. Ferriols' slippers, and the gothic attire worn by some teachers at times would have to be out of vogue, but what's good for the goose ought to be good for the gander, right?

At least, that's what I think. What do you think?

Oh. Em. Gee.

.:Oh. Em. Gee.:.

I actually did well for my midterms in Mr. Calasanz's class in advanced metaphysics!!!

I can't believe it!

.:Tomorrow, Destiny Will Unfold.:.

Tomorrow is going to be the day that the Sandiganbayan passes judgment on the drawn-out and extremely volatile case of former president Joseph Estrada.

Will hoping for a "guilty" verdict make me a supporter of the Arroyo administration? Not by any means, which is why I hope that we get a guilty verdict for a man who has exacerbated the rich-poor divide by turning his personal battle with Arroyo into a class battle.

And when we're done with this, one can hope that we can round up the other rotten people in this country who deserve to be punished all the same for their role in this insurmountable schism among people.

I wish I could write at length about this, but I'm really pressed for time at the moment...