Oh, what a revelation!

In the span of 1 day, I’ve been demoted/promoted (depends on how you look at it) from blogger to shrink.

Yan ang sabi ko almost 2 weeks ago.

Pero ang totoo niyan, nauna akong naging shrink bago ako naging blogger.

It’s nothing new na marami akong kaibigan na nagco-confide sa akin dati, when I was younger. Sabi nga nila, ako ang ultimate choice pag hihingi sila ng adviser ng mga nakakakilala sa akin. Malupit daw ako magbigay ng advice; sagad sa buto at tagos sa puso.

Psychic nga ako kung tawagin ng iba dahil alam ko raw kung may problema ang isang tao kahit hindi niya sabihin. Malakas ako makiramdam pagdating sa feelings ng ibang tao. Maingat.

Pero lahat yun ay naglaho nung nag-3rd year high school ako (syet, dramatic).

Marahil alam ng iba kung anu-ano nangyari sa akin nung 3rd year that eventually led to my stopping school. Na-alienate din ako sa father’s side ng family ko dahil sa mga nangyari na yun, pero buti na lang at kahit papano ay tight ang bond namin ng mga insan ko kaya hindi rin ako masyadong nahirapang mag-cope sa mga pangyayari. Pero yung mga tito at tita…it’s another story. Lalo na nung ni-reveal ko sa isang Friendster bulletin ang mga sentimyento ko noong mga araw, linggo, at buwan na lumayas ako ng bahay at natutong mabuhay mag-isa, sa tulong na rin ng nanay ko at ni ate Susan. Si lola, iniyakan lang ang predicament ko at sinabing mag-stay na lang ako sa Marikina (iyakin kasi talaga yang si lola…sa kanya ako nagmana, hehe). Nanirahan sa isang boarding house habang nag-aaral (although fluctuating yung attendance ko…50% ng school year ay di ako pumasok), nagpunta ng Baguio ng isang buwan para “magpahinga,” umiyak araw-gabi para ilabas lahat ng hinaing ko sa mundo.

Simula noon, naging…callous…ako. Manhid, to a point. Malaki ang pinagbago ko, at maraming tao ang nakapansin nun. Di na ako ang masayahing si Shari. Para na akong wa care sa mundo, basta mag-survive lang ako bawat araw ng hindi nasasaktan ang feelings ko ng sobra. Naging maingat ako sa pakikipagkaibigan. Naging maingat ako sa pakikihalubilo sa ibang tao. Naging maingat lalo na pag involved ang feelings ko.

May mga tao na, when I most needed them, eh inabandona ako. Kung kailan ko kailangan ng understanding, dun sa punto ng buhay ko ipinagkait yun. Kaya ngayon, kakaunti lang ang matatawag ko na kaibigan. Samantalang dati, naive ang definition ko ng kaibigan, dahil lahat ng tao, para sa akin, ay kaibigan ko (except for the leeches they call politicians). Na dahil nandoon ako para sa kanila all throughout the storms in their lives, in-assume ko na ganun din ang gagawin nila para sa akin. Pero hindi pala, may mga hangganan pala ang suporta at pang-unawa.

Nagalit ako sa mundo. At blogging lang ang naging solusyon ko para mapahupa ang hindi kaaya-ayang pakiramdam na yun. Mahirap kasi magdala ng galit sa puso eh, mabigat sa pakiramdam.

Ang hirap pa ‘run, ang galit ko ay mostly directed sa sarili ko. Lahat ng nangyari, kasalanan ko rin naman. Kumbaga, sa lahat ng problema ko nung bata ako na tinago ko kung ano ang tunay kong nararamdaman, sumabog lahat bigla dahil sa iisang pangyayari. Di ako proud sa naging reaksyon ko. Noong mga panahon na yun, ang inisip ko lang ay kung paano ako makaka-survive sa punto na yun ng buhay ko nang hindi magbe-break down ng husto.

Oo, inaamin ko, suicidal ako. Ilang beses na rin akong nagtangka during the years na naghihirap ang puso ko. I didn’t know pa’no ihandle yung ganuong problema, kasi sanay lang akong ihandle ang problema ng iba. Hindi ko akalain na yung mga nangyayari sa iba ay maaari rin pa lang mangyari sa akin. Kasi shempre, alam niyo naman, madaling magsalita pag hindi ikaw ang agrabyado.

Inamin ko sa sarili ko na mahina ako. Di ako kasing tatag tulad ng iniisip ng iba. I’m an emotional and psychological mess, to put it simply. Kaya ang nagiging scapegoat ko ay ang blogs ko, dahil kahit papano, kahit di man ako maintindihan ng mga tao, at least may’ron akong mapaglalabasan ng mga iniisip at nararamdaman ko.

I want someone to listen, not just merely hear what I have to say. And I think I’ve found it in the form of blogging. Even if my blog can’t talk back, the notion that it’s “listening” is enough of a comfort for me.

BYAHILO first time experience in Manila Zoo


It may be embarassing to say, but it’s a fact: Last April 12’s trip to the Manila Zoo was my first. I grew up in Bacolod City thus I din’t really have the chance to visit this place when I was still young. My former officemates from SYKES, Ryan and Angge and I decided to go there last week take to some photos.

Manila Zoo

I was so giddyas a kid upon entering the place. A lot of familiers were there having some quality time. Upon entering the zoo facility, we then entered the Kinder Zoo area. It’s here where you get a hands-on experience with some birds like cockatoo. There is a large brownish turtle from one corner. At first I thought it was a preserved specimen. But no. It was alive. It barely moved when we were there.

Manila Zoo

There were also other animals that can be found in Manila Zoo and Botanical Garden. There were ostriches where young kids can ride on its back. There are reticulated pythons where you can hang it around your neck for posterity’s sake.

Manila Zoo

At the other end of the zoo is where the large animals are located. The tigers have their own individual cages. At the other side are the deers silently grazing on the grass. There are also ponds with crocodiles and at the other end of the place is a huge field for zebra.

Manila Zoo

All in all, my experience with the Manila Zoo is quite interesting. It was my first time to see a hippopotamus and zebra with my own two eyes. How pathetic I am. ahehe. But the quality of how they take care of the animals is really disappointing. There aren’t a lot of species of animals here.

Manila Zoo

I could say that the Avilon Zoo in Montalban Rizal is way way better than the Manila Zoo. The 300+pesos entrance fee at the Avilon Zoo is all worth it. They have a better collection of animal species. And their collection is well taken cared of by veterinarians at the zoo.

Manila Zoo

WARNING!!! If you are reading this from another blog, it is possible that this has been copied without my permission. BYAHILO: Ito ang Trip Ko!

BYAHILO first time experience in Manila Zoo

How to Handle Pressure: Training

I’ve been attending Java Boot camp since last week and from then I kind of feel pressure because of some reasons. One of them is being chosen as one of the trainees for a large global IT company, I mean out of so many candidates five of us were chosen to attend the trainee. Second is that we need to pass the training in order for us to be hired full time. And last, since our training is not in house, we have other co trainees from different IT Company and most of them are really good like a rock star coder. Anyway, I always feel the pressure every time our instructor gives us our exercises or more commonly known as machine problems or MPs for short so I made a list on how I handle pressure during the training.

1. Bear in mind that you are good. As what I’ve said, the company wouldn’t choose me if I don’t have the potential. So every time I go inside the room, I’d think and tell myself “man I’m good!”

2. Always ask questions. Do not pretend that you know everything. I mean, we are there to learn and not to brag about how good we are or how fast we code but how we do our best to enhance and grasp every modules that were being discussed. The instructor might even think that you are good enough and expect so much from you. Asking questions does not equate to stupidity but try to not ask the obvious.

3. Relax. I always advise people to relax in every situation. Just remember that we are there to learn and not to compete.

Well, this does not apply to everyone but by following these three points I’ve made, I think you’d be able to handle the pressure that you’re getting especially from the training.

Oh, I forgot to include this one. Enjoy and have fun. If you get too serious with the training, you’d be more pressure but if you just enjoy what you are doing and have fun while coding then I guess the pressure will be a lot less.

May 1 Labor Day a non-working holiday–Palace


Ok folks, we will not be having a long weekend for the Labor Day holiday. As reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

MANILA, Philippines — Labor Day, May 1, will be a non-working holiday, Malacañang announced Monday.

Although May 1 will fall on a Thursday, the holiday will be on the same day and will not be moved to Friday or the nearest Monday as an exception to the holiday economics, according to Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

The holiday economics is in keeping with the Arroyo administration’s policy of rationalizing the observance of national and special holidays under Republic Act 9492.

To implement RA 9492, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed on Feb. 18, 2008 Proclamation No. 1463 which set the specific dates of movable holidays.

Under Proclamation No. 1463, the following regular holidays will be moved to the Monday nearest the holiday: Araw ng Kagitingan (from April 9), Independence Day (from June 12), National Heroes Day (last Monday of August), Bonifacio Day (from November 30).

The Ninoy Aquino Day, a special non-working day, observed on August 21 has been moved to the nearest Monday August 18.

The following regular holidays shall fall on the following dates: Maundy Thursday (March 20, Thursday), Good Friday (March 21, Friday), Labor Day (May 1, Thursday), Christmas Day (December 25, Thursday) and Rizal Day (Dec. 30, Tuesday).

This year, Special (Non-Working) Holidays such as the All Saints’ Day falls on Nov. 1, Saturday and the Last Day of the year on December 31, Wednesday.

Proclamation No. 1463 also listed two additional special (non-working) days this 2008 which are December 26, Friday and December 29, Monday.

WARNING!!! If you are reading this from another blog, it is possible that this has been copied without my permission. BYAHILO: Ito ang Trip Ko!

May 1 Labor Day a non-working holiday–Palace

The Medical Industry Is After My Money

Today’s realization: doctors are the best salespeople for the pharmaceutical industry. They capitalize on people’s fears of sickness and they do it well, because with ten years of med school (with diplomas on the wall for proof) and a white coat, anyone will believe what they say about your health. Or lack of it.

My health is just about as important to me as religion - which is to say, not very important. Oh sure, I think it’s important to think about the existence of God every now and then but I’m not going to go out of my way to do research about why he doesn’t exist. Nor am I going to go out of my way to earn brownie points so I can sing hymns and play the harp beside the cherubim and seraphim when I’m dead, just in case I’m wrong and God is actually up there, being great and all. Normally I don’t go out of my way to make sure all my parts are in working order either. But get me paranoid enough and you’ll find me waiting outside the doctor’s office within the week and cranky, because doctors are ALWAYS late.

Two weeks ago, Anne and I went to the gyno because that’s what you do with your friends when you’re a woman in your twenties. The following day, our YM conversation looked something like this:

(1:31:03 PM) Anne Gomez: Did you get your meds?
(1:31:05 PM) Anne Gomez: Fucking vaginal suppository
(1:31:08 PM) Anne Gomez: Fricken weird
(1:31:15 PM) darthlaurian: hahaha i did
(1:31:23 PM) darthlaurian: i used one na last night
(1:31:35 PM) Anne Gomez: Now I’m discharging yellow shit and she told me not to use pantiliners
(1:31:40 PM) Anne Gomez: Eugh
(1:31:40 PM) darthlaurian: ohhh o_o
(1:31:56 PM) darthlaurian: bah i hope these wont be a bitch to wash
(1:32:01 PM) Anne Gomez: It’s from the meds, sabi nga nya wag daw akong mashock
(1:32:11 PM) darthlaurian: yeah
(1:32:18 PM) Anne Gomez: How grown-up are we? Talking about vaginal meds and shit
(1:32:32 PM) darthlaurian: we gotsta take care of our sex organs, ya know!
(1:32:41 PM) darthlaurian: they’re like, the most important part of our bodies
(1:33:03 PM) Anne Gomez: Ya ya!

Today I went back to the gyno with my mom because she was concerned that I might get cervical cancer like, sometime in my life. Apparently, boys don’t just bring babies - they could bring cervical cancer without their knowing it too. The gyno then informed us that the cervical cancer vaccine will cost six thousand pesos a pop. I’m getting mine on Wednesday, and then one in two months, then the last one in six months. That’s eighteen thousand bucks to protect myself from the possibility of cervical cancer.

Naturally I freaked out at the price. My mom mom will be subsidizing the vaccination costs, but come on - I could be using that money for my travel funds! But noooo, my hard-earned sweatshop blogging money will be used to protect myself from a mere possibility instead. When I pointed out to my mom how ridiculous this all sounds to me, she shot back by saying that my uncle who got leukemia went bankrupt because of the treatment. The saddest part of the story is that he died anyway. “Prevention is better than the cure” sounds like a cheap advertising slogan to me, but I guess my mom has a point in there somewhere.

Today’s visit to the doctor got me around to thinking - are all the pills prescribed to us by doctors really necessary? I mean, I had to take anti-depressants for months but I stopped when I found out that I could deal with the serotonin imbalance without the happy pills (which didn’t even do shit to make me happy to begin with). The anti-depressants were supposed to prevent me from doing something crazy, like killing myself or raining bullets on people. But I’m still alive and I’ve never taken out my bad moods on anyone, not even when I was at my worst. You know what did make me snap out of the depression though? Quitting my shitty office job and going back to school. Whenever I start feeling nihilistic I give Ale a call, or one of my friends, and a few hours later the world doesn’t seem like such a half-bad place to live in. Pills aren’t the answer to the meaning of life. The don’t even do that much of a good job supplementing it.

So now I’m going to be x amount of pesos poorer because of the damn cervical cancer vaccine which is, now that I come to think of it, really quite clever of the medical/pharmaceutical industry.


Medical/Pharmaceutical Industry

So maybe we’re not gonna get rich off your family because you won’t be getting teh kansa anymore. But at least we’re making money while we’re preventing it! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


Lauren

…I HATE YOU ALL.