Carnaval

Terça-feira, Agosto 31, 2004

Defense Delayed For The Third Time

Still, I think it's a message from God. Time remains very persistent, but it seems like God is saying to us, "Wait a little, dearies. It isn't time for defense yet." So God let our clinical instructor attend some emergency meeting at 9a today. And it suddenly appeared to us that the defense at the health center has a 'No clinical instructor, no defense' policy.

Maybe He sees that had we pushed through with it today, we would've messed up badly. My entire body felt funny minutes after we arrived at Esperanza Health Center. It was my first time to experience my pair of legs wobble relentlessly while I was 'trying' to prepare my discussion. I was stuttering like mad in my practice speech. And I felt really hungry, albeit I have taken breakfast before leaving the house. Maybe it's the exhaustion. I've been awake for thirty-four hours and counting. The erg in me slowly fades away. I just got to have a bar of chocolate.

From the health center, we went to Budoy's place in Pandacan to revise whatever still needs to be revised. And during the moment we we're on our way to his house, I had ran across an extraordinary transit that could bring a strong, sudden adrenaline rush to your entire body. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's indeed much exhilarating than any other roller coaster ride. And it will only cost you seven buckaroos. My friends, I am referring to the indigenous trolley of the squatters along the railroad tracks. How I wish I could recount to you in detail how I really felt while I was seated along with the Mitochondria on that simple trolley, but I think even the best words could not come close to the thrill we'd just experienced. I recommend you to ride this piece of 'de-tulak' transportation at least once in your lifetime.

The trolley made me shriek like mad and feel pity ad nauseam. There's a point along the trip that the only thing that bridges the Pasig River was the old and rusty railway tracks. There's no other support besides the metal trails. You stoop directly, and you can see the dead, deep, and murky river right below you. You got no harness to keep you attached to the trolley. One stupid move, and you can fall directly to the stinky, water lily-covered water below. Eeew.

That aside, you also begin to humble yourself. You pass along the railroad, and you could see an authentic form of poverty. It's a staggering sight to see. I have never seen such place face to face. I realize how much blessed I am to be living away from this rundown area. Besides that, the scene struck me, being a student in a nursing profession. I had no idea how or why it actually hit me, but it did. And it hit me pretty hard. Sociologist Oscar Lewis devoted much of his lifetime studying the culture of poverty and being able to personally see the poor people living along the tracks, Lewis' thoughts seemed pristine to me now. Poverty indeed has a life of its own. It persists from generations to generations because of its effects on slum children.

By the way, I now wonder how Miss Vange Bengaro's doing. She was the sociology instructor who taught about Oscar Lewis' work. She has left the university last semester. Wala lang.

Carnaval took a nap at 7:10:00 PM

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Segunda-feira, Agosto 30, 2004

Hey, Look! I Got A Brain!

I didn't tango with chance so I could win in the elimination round. In the first place, I just signed up for fun. For the experience of competing with people who I believe are much smarter than I am.

FYI, I joined the 'Brain Damage' with some friends in Block 5 some week ago. It's like the usual quiz contests we see in television, the LG Quiz show for one. Yesterday evening was the elimination round. Soc, Aton, Calvo (as always), and I got our selves excused from BaCon. Boy, was I so bored with the subject! Yesterday's meeting was very dull because Miss Dumag let some group of seniors teach us instead.

So yeah, Xyza and Hazel were there, too. Momentarily, I began to think we're still carrying MaSci's name. Well, we still (and always will) do. Anyway.

The questions were pretty hard. I am not the person who cares about what happened in politics and warfares. Plus, it's very difficult to squeeze out the answers from your memory. However, my eyes sparkle and my smile widens each time I know the answer. Reminiscing the early years, Discovery Channel was (and still is) my all-time favorite program. My favorite book in third grade was the Guiness Book of World Records (1993). That's how I knew the cosmic extremes: longest scientific word, longest word, longest personal name, highest mountain, highest falls, the deepest valley... Dear, you can now get the picture. I was already a freak in my childhood. I still know these things by heart.

Plus, my Ma exceedingly influenced me in appreciating art. She made me listen to Emily Marcelo in the only classical FM radio station at night. Now, I can remember that the first compact disc we've ever had was a Mozart. How could I ever forget his Eine Kleine Nachtmusik? Years ago, at five in the morning when the alarm goes off, it was always the same song being played. It's a beautiful piece. At least I didn't have to worry about last-song syndromes. And the entire house is hung with paintings. The books here are all delightful to read as well. I learn the most interesting facts at home.

Now, in a nutshell, I was surprised to win the elimination round. It was a shining moment from God. Hahah! It's been years since I made an achievement such grand as this one. I (along with another nursing student) get to represent CN and compete in an inter-college quiz match soon. I don't intend to pressure myself with winning the upcoming competition. I have to reiterate that I signed up just for fun. Serendipitous moments don't happen the second time.

Carnaval took a nap at 1:06:00 AM

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Domingo, Agosto 29, 2004

Defense Postponed To Tuesday!

And yeah, I think it's better that way.

I didn't realize that the space at our pocket garden couldn't accommodate twelve people. Indeed, we were extremely congested the entire DAY. But they're happy anyway and they didn't mind the jam. I admit we quite slacked off the first few hours after they got here. (By the way, my group mates have agreed that my house is like a rest house. Can you actually believe them?) We almost thought we'd found refuge from Jek when she asserted that the defense wouldn't be as hard as it would seem... until my sister nurse intervened last night.

After hearing Ate Nik's critique on our CDx draft, I myself wasn't sure at first if she had really been a blessing to us, or a slight sort of disaster. At one point, it was as if some divining finger had finally removed the tight blindfold fastened behind our heads. Suddenly everything was clear to us! We learned that we've made a bunch of flaws in each given topic. Thank you, my dear Pamela-wan-look-alike sister! However, it was also obvious that she had left us with many things to work on. It was already 9p at that time so we only had twelve hours to revise everything, almost starting from scratch. Boy, I didn't think we were ready to face an Augean task! Drowning in apprehension and weariness, we desperately sought for some miraculous deliverance... All of us were thinking of only one thing: that the super typhoon SHOULD arrive by morning to cause suspension of classes. Tumultuous as it may appear to you, we could no longer think of any other possibilities. We are so sure we won't get out of Esperanza Health Center unscathed. So there you go.

We occupied the entire ground floor of my house and I've taken several snapshots of my dear group mates, too. Please comment on this post if you also think that my house reminds you of a retreat house or something of that sort.