Dear Ma'am Mendoza,

I went to class on the first day thinking I would suck so bad at your course. After all, "intimidating" was an understatement of how your greatness at Perception made me feel.

Nonetheless, I found myself being immersed in our class discussions and behaving more conscientiously in your class in a kind of conscientiousness that paralleled that in Bio 102.

I saw my grade this morning and I could not help feeling greatly rewarded. It's a bit more than what I expected and I couldn't be any happier because it was hard-earned. Harder-earned than most of my subjects, definitely.

I am happy because I learned so SO much not just about the course but about life in general. (I also learned so much about study habits because of you.)

Because of you, I now have higher self-efficacy for learning anything technical and initially difficult.

I will never forget Psych 135. Thank you so much, Ma'am!

Yours truly,
Ms. Sumilang


P.S. Sorry for always being late in class and even in your exams. :p

If you've had at least one experience of online bashing (either you were the basher or the bashee) in at least one message board, we would like to invite you to an interview or FGD for our study on online flaming as a requirement for our Social Psychology class. Lunch or merienda's on us. :)

Please don't hesitate to contact the following numbers and email addresses. You can also leave a comment or a PM here.

Do contact us ASAP!


( CLICK HERE!!! )

I wish I had a choice.

Or a year, at least.

He knew exactly what to make me happy, and how to complete those little surprises.

He had painted the sky for me again, this time with streaks of pink and peach at the center. I giggled, marveling at His work. "Thank you Lord," I said. At that moment, I felt His love and presence.

Because the bad vibes couldn't stop creeping in, I want to distract myself by giving more shit about other people's feelings, fantasies, whatnots.

I want you to post anything that you want in reply to this entry.

Anything. A story, a secret, a confession, a fear, a love, an opinion, a critique--anything. Be sure to post anonymously and honestly. Post twice if you'd like. Then, put this in your LJ to see what your friends (and perhaps others who you don't even realize read your LJ) have to say.

This can be about me, or anything you want. Regardless, just use the "anonymous" radio button to post anonymously. You can reveal who you are if you want. I turned off the "log IP" option for this, temporarily. Post what you'd like, or if you don't want to post anything, that's fine too.

I like this feeling, being happy for other people -- sharing in the kilig, the excitement, the triumph. It makes me a lot less bitter about my own issues AND it encourages me to find my own happy moment.

I should hear happy stories more often. We all should. :)

Just when I thought I had screwed up my interview, I realized that God still isn't tired of rewarding me for following my heart.

So friends, it's your turn to help me! I landed as a finalist in Sony's I Am VAIO contest and I need your votes to help me become the face of VAIO Pink.


Ready? Steady? Go!

1. Go to http://www.iamvaio.com.

2. Click on the photo of the pink VAIO laptop. It will lead you to http://www.iamvaio.com/pinkindex.htm.

3. Click on my photo! If you have forgotten what I look like, click on my name Francesca instead. It will lead you to http://www.iamvaio.com/pinkfin001.htm.



4. pinkfin001.htm, okay? Do you see a Francesca Sumilang heading? Alright. Click on that cute pink button saying "Vote for me!" When the vote has been entered, the text will change into "Thank you for voting."

5. Since you are allowed only one vote per color and actually only one vote per person on your computer, you will have to tell your friends and family too! *evil laugh*


THANKS SO MUCH, GUYS! :)

The world doesn't realize a good one when it sees it.

You told me a couple of moments ago that you once hated your life for being so boring. I am going through that right now. And even if your own experience of teenage angst was years ago, you made me feel that moment that I wasn't alone.

Thank you for always knowing how to make me feel better. Happy Mother's Day, Ma. :)

(thru SMS)

Can I make paalam? :-) :-)

"Where are you going? With whom? Who will join you? What time are you going? What time will you be home? Why do want to go?"


It's official. I may stay single for the next five years. :|


DISCLAIMER: I was asking permission if we could hold the Mandala sem-planning here at the apartment, haha! Akala siguro date. :p

I don't remember the last time I said this, but it feels so right saying this right now: "I'm so proud of myself!"

Cross-posted from my Multi, reposted from Tin V.

What does your music say about you? hehe
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it sounds!

Here are the questions:


1. If someone says "Is this okay?" you say?
"Fix You Up" by Tegan and Sara


2. What would best describe your personality?
"Tears and Rain" by James Blunt (Emo? Hahaha!)


3. What do you like in a guy/girl?
"Slow Decay" by Dashboard Confessional (Nabubulok? Haha, ano ba 'yan! Wait kung may deeper meaning 'to, it's too deep for me. HAHA.)


4. How do you feel today?
"Back Where I Was" by John Elliott


5. What is your life's purpose?
"Beautiful" by Goldfrapp (Purpose ko ay magpaganda? Haha! Lalim, mehn.)


6. What is your motto?
"I Hate Everyone" by Get Set Go (Bagay sa #2, in fairness!)


7. What do your friends think of you?
"Feel So Free" by Ivy


8. What do you think of your parents?
"You are the Music in Me" from the HSM Sountrack (HAHAHA! Ang baby!)


9. What do you think about very often?
"So Weit" by Urbs


10. What do you think of your best friend?
"Not Tonight" by Tegan and Sara (Haha, nantataboy? Pero iba 'yung message ng lyrics ha!)


11. What do you think of the person you like?
"It Don't Matter to the Sun" by Rosie Thomas


12. What is your life story?
"Miniature Disasters" by KT Tunstall (Damn right.)


13. What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Lotion" by Greens Keepers (Masahista paglaki?)


14. What do you think when you see the person you like?
"No Illusions" by 78 Saab (No illusions kasi real. Yihee.)


15. What do your parents think of you?
"The Secret's in the Telling" by Dashboard Confessional (Yikes!)


16. What will you dance to at your wedding?
"Truth" by Vaughn Penn (Hindi ito slowdanceable.)


17. What will they play at your funeral?
"The Best Deceptions" (Dashboard Confessional cover) by The String Quartet

18. What is your favorite hobby/interest?
"So Close" by Jon McLaughlin (Di ba pwedeng ito na lang 'yung #16??? Grrr. Haha.)


19. What is your biggest fear?
"Simple, Starving to be Safe" by Daphne Loves Derby (MAGUTOM, haha!)


20. What is your biggest secret?
"Snow on the Sahara" by Anggun

Okay, so I have been bitching about Bio and what-else as if nothing could cheer me up. And then I learned that my dad loves "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat (!!!) -- isn't that the cutest?

P.S. And because my parents are cool like that, I made them watch Juno on my laptop and Silent Library on YouTube. <333

Bakit kung kailan ako nagseseryoso, saka ako mabibigo?

Ang lapit ko na kasi e, kaunti na lang... biglang mababalewala lahat.

Paalam, UP College of Medicine. :(

HINDI KO NAKUHA ANG BIO 102!!!

I MUST SUMMER YOU, BIO! I MUUUUST!!!

(Kung kelan nakapagpa-advise ako, lech.)

Realtime enlistment, please be good to me. :(

Things to look forward to from tomorrow until next week:

Bahasa test
PSSP Conference presentation (!!!)
Bio plate-cramfest
Ald's prom
Parents' two-day stay in Manila
Juniors' batch presentation (na malamang ay hindi ko mapapanood because I need to help my mom with Ald's prom preparations)
162 proposal
Bio 12 report
Bio 12 paper
Bio 12 lab exam
Env Sci reporting
Bio 12 lec exam
162 data gathering

X_X

Two weeks ago, I prayed for something to look forward to. Lord, naparami po ata. Hehe.


***

Realization lang pala from last night's Ms. Psych: May hairstyling potential pala kami nina Meg at Joy. So I'm adding that to my list of career options if I don't get into med school. Hah!

Clauds, ituloy ang parlor business!

MIA CONSTANTINO, M.I.A. KA NA NAMAN! (Unless humabol ka nung Ms. Psych at hindi tayo nag-abot, haha.)

***

I shall reward myself with Juno after all these. :)

(I'm really, really tempted to open it now though. ACK.)

Dear Ma. Margarita de Rivera,

At this point, I so hate you because you're meeting Happy Slip on Thursday and I'm not.

And at this point, I so want to be you I'd kill to be you. So maybe that's what I should do. I should stuff you in my car, steal your ID, and be your ultimate poser.

And then I'll get to meet Happy Slip. *evil grin*

Yours truly,
Anonymous


P.S. This is a death threat.

P.S. I love you! Congratssss! *hug*

Greetings from Yehey.com!


We would like to inform you that you have been pre-selected to attend the Happy Slip Meet-and-Greet event happening on February 7, 2008 at the Mag:net Café, Bonifacio High Street, The Fort from 11:00AM – 3:00PM.


To confirm your attendance, please send an email to happyslip@teamyehey.com with the following details:


* Name
* Blog Name
* Blog URL
* Email Address
* Mobile Number


Please be reminded that your slot reservation is only valid until January 30, 2008, Wednesday at 12:00NN. Beyond this date, we’ll open your slot to other interested participants.


***

I didn't get to check my email today because I had to go to UP early.

:|


I HATE YOU, WORLD.

While doing some research on local anti-poverty organizations, I stumbled across MaidCity.com. My first encounter with the site was a profile page of a woman from Isabela. So then I visited the home page and browsed through different profiles, one of which was of a woman from Baguio who didn't finish her course in Computer Engineering.

The good thing about this site is that it easier for employers abroad to get to know the type of people they plan to employ. The working descriptions are comprehensive and very specific.

The bad thing about it is that it appears to "commodify" maids, as if they were just shoes and accessories being sold online. They also have specific checklists for looks, which actually put the applicants in danger. I mean, what if they get hired by a manyak employer and his only basis was the way she looked? And if she gets raped, she cannot just fight for your rights since she's in a foreign country and she doesn't really know how things work there.

Another bad thing about it is that around 60% of the applicants are Filipinas. It's really sad how because of our situation here in the Philippines wherein getting employment is one big obstacle course, a lot of Filipinos resort to working abroad. And I think this is one of the reasons why a lot of less-fortunate girls are reared to become maids.

It's not that I'm looking down on maids. In fact, I really have high regard for them. I'm proud that they didn't choose to become prostitutes. And I salute them for being really patient with their jobs and their employers. I just feel that our Filipino women should be given a wider range of job opportunities.

My yaya Ate Pam reads John Grisham, Harry Potter, and Mario Puzo. She was on her way to becoming an accountant but she had to stop because they didn't have enough money for her tuition. We were actually planning on getting her into night school, but she had to go back to Davao to take care of her mother.

I mean, see? A lot of women have the potential but aren't given the chance to live their dreams because of poverty. (Calling Oprah, please build a leadership school for girls here too, please?)

I have two points to summarize this entry: One, I feel that MaidCity.com tends to treat maids as commodities, therefore looking down on them or "dehumanizing" them. Two, if not for the economic situation in the Philippines, I'm sure not all women would choose to be maids. They deserve the chance to become who they really want to be.

Ito lang, please give your yayas due respect. They deserve it. Get to know them -- their stories, their likes, their dislikes. Don't make them feel as if they don't exist. Commend them and reward them for jobs well done. Give them a chance to live happily by making them feel part of your family. And please, discourage them from building a profile at MaidCity.com.