4 DECEMBER 2005: A Cultural "Monthsary"
My kanojo and I celebrated our 2nd month differently ....
After her lakbay-araw thingy in some sites in Intramuros in the morning, we had our own tour of the walled city, braving the rain, heat, and exhaustion. We didn't mind, for it was really a full afternoon just beeing together, walking on and around the walls of Intramuros, scouting and reading significant sites of the walled city, and even stopping by Manila Cathedaral at the time when the Archbishop of Manila himself as celebrant, and none other than the President and her entourage with the churgoers! Our tour was cut short by 3:00 pm when I was summoned by our LC chairwoman to serve the 6 pm Novena mass for the 50th anniversary of the UP chapel.
After serving in the 6 pm mass at the UP chapel, we continued our simple "celebration" by just walking along the Academic Oval when we chanced upon a free program in the University Theater. Lo and behold, what I thought was a boooooring show turned out to be a memorable cultural experience! We had just chanced upon the Manju Shaka tour stop at UP Diliman, showcasing talents in kabuki. The performances were awesome, including performances by the group's leader, known only as Mama Rosa (they didn't give us her real name).
It was really a unique "monthsary" celebration for me and my labs.
Too bad we forgot to bring our camera ^_^;
7 DECEMBER 2005: The Lunch Faculty Meeting
Not much significant, except for the free lunch ^_^ ... Oh, and another thing:
I was indicated as a resource person during the last faculty meeting in the minutes of the meeting. Huh? I didn't present anything during the past meeting... : O
It was a good thing our chairman clarified the matter. He said that since lecturers are not really required to attend faculty meetings, those lecturers who will attend will be indicated as "resource persons".
Thank goodness also that some professors and teachers -- me included -- agreed to change such heading to "lectureres attended".
Mas okay, 'di ba? ^_^
8 DECEMBER 2005: Start of the Controversial Christmas Party Awards Sagutan
On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, most of the faculty members of the department feasted, albeit surprisingly, on the start of the raging e-mail sagutan regarding the Math Department Christmas Party Awards.
Conceptualized by my co-teacher Alex, the somewhat "immaculate" awards will recognize the best of the department's faculty members, with awards such as "Haligi" and "Ilaw ng Tahanan" and the "Most Promising Instructor Award". There's a twist, however, since there are such awards as "Alicia Silverstone Award" (for the "clueless" teachers), "Lulubog-Lilitaw Award", and the "Thank God You're Not A Call Center Agent Award" (pinakamagulong kausap).
Well, a professor didn't find the set of awards that "fun", as stated in the professor's December 8 e-mail, and our e-mails started to be filled with comments and side-comments regarding the matter. The matter even touched such eery topics like idol worship (!) and renaming the Christmas party as the year-end party if the awards will be included (huh?!).
It's a good thing, though, that amidst the furor, a female professor has this to say in her e-mail:
Let us celebrate the coming new year by giving love, a priceless gift. So let's have a fun year-end party, mga idol!!! yehey!!! :-)
Love, Merry =p
P.S. Amidst the controversy, natuloy ang "award's night"... see my entry on our Christmas party ^_^
13 DECEMBER: The "Joined Forces" Christmas Party Year 2
For the second year now, the classes of Rose, Iris and I had a joint Christmas party at 11:30 am at my 11:30 am classroom, MB 313. We did it last year in MB 329, Iris's classroom then.
We had a few games for all classes -- "Lyrics" game, "Name That Tune", and the "Friends/Blockmates Game". We also shared the food brought by the students, including our pancit and drinks. My class had our exchange gift also after the program.
Mas masaya talaga 'pag sama-sama ^_^
P.S. My 8:30 am class had their separate Christmas party last December 15.
14 DECEMBER: The Controversial Christmas/Year-end Party
The Department held its traditional Christmas Party on this day at 6 pm amidst the previous bruhaha on the awards. We had games, presentations, and a sumptuous dinner!
Well, the Awarding Ceremonies pushed through, with much fanfare! And there were special awards given away during the night, such as the "Who-is-Jimmy-and-who-is Jesse" award and the "FHM" (Fascist, Hitler, Masochist) award.
Well, award talaga!!!! Asteeg ^_^
15 DECEMBER 2005: The Announcement Dilemma
"You're confusing the people"!
That was what Fr. JBoy shouted to me when I announced the wrong venue for the Student's Simbang Gabi during the 12 nn mass.
While it was finalized that the said big students' dawn mass was to be held at the Chapel, most people knew of the Sunken Garden Simbang Gabi, which was circuled via a memo from the Chancellor. That confused the people, me included.
Well, I admitted my fault, but I felt heavy after thast insident, and was a bit shaken because I felt I made a very big blunder.
Please forgive us for whatever faults we have committed during the Holy Mass....
P.S. That incident didn't tarnish a bit my reverence to Fr. Jboy. He was just concerned about the activities of the Church, and how to do things right. Asteeg pa rin siya! ^_^
Peace tayo, Father ^_^
15 DECEMBER: Lantern Parade with my Love
For our date, me and my labs watched the parade of lanterns at the back of Quezon Hall in the evening of this day. We even watched the marvelous fireworks display, with fish balls in our hands, after the parade. We then went to church afterwards.
17 DECEMBER: The Separation
On this day, me and my labs parted ways to give way to the Christmas break.
Weh... I will miss my labs... -_-
20 DECEMBER: Happy Golden Anniversary, UP Chapel!
The UP Community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the UP Chapel on this day with a concelebrated mass at 5:30 pm. Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, presided over the Mass. Many priest and guests, including Chancellor Cao and some UP Diliman officers, joined in the celebration.
Before the celebration, all of us in the church were really busy preparing for that momentous occasion. The LC'c were in charge of making the missalette for the mass and in guiding and registering guests.
It was not just a solemn and historic occasion, but a fun one for a small group of LC's who joined there -- Ate Boots, Florence, Angie, Clint, Mike, Jepoy, Limuel, and myself. We danced, cheered with the people, and even laughed at Fr. JBoy's jokes.
We finally ended the euphoria by joining Fr. JBoy to Starbucks Katipunan. There we continued to have a good time.
After the fun time at Starbucks, Fr. JBoy invited Jepoy, Limuel, Florence, and I to sleep over his quarters in the UP Parish complex. We were wowed by the simplicity and elegance of Fr. Jboy's quarters. Asteeg!
It was a grand celebration indeed! ^_^
21 DECEMBER: Her Trip to China
On this day, my labs together with her family went to China to spend the break with her mother there.
We still exchanged text messages in the morning befroe her flight.
I miss her na...
22 DECEMBER: The Forced Eviction (See my December 22 post)
I saw my stint in my boarding house ended in a flash.
Just because of me shouting at their pesky kid (naalimpungatan ako nu'n kaya naasar ako), my life became in danger because of the scathing threats of the son of my land lady, who was at that time was in the influence of alcohol. "Hihilahin ko 'yan palabas eh!", "Baka kung ano ang magawa ko sa kanya", and "Babayaran ko 'yang kuwartong 'yan, lumayas lang 'yan!" are some of his threats.
After he left the house (Magpapalamig lang daw siya... Duh, it's only his excuse to drink more!!!!), I decided abrupty to pack up and leave without haste.
After renting a tricycle, I bade my goodbye to my kind landlady and went off to the Math Building to sleep there.
It was really a terrible, forgettable experience. But got to move on....
As of now, I am in the Ipil dorm as a transient till Christmas day morning (Thanks to Tata's convincing power ^_^). I slept at Jepoy's place last December 22.
Thank you, O Lord, for guiding me amidst this crisis. Thanks for your presence....
Thanks also to those who gave cheers and smiles to me during that episode. Thanks guys!
23 DECEMBER: Ipil Night
Thanks to my churchmate Tata, I would've slept on those wooden chairs again in my faculty room....
It was good that the dorm manager, through the guard-on-duty's phone call, allowed me to be a transient in the dorm, starting on this day till the morning of Christmas day.
I decided to go home on Christmas day to give time to fix my things, plan my next moves, and do this blog... plus play my favorite game hehehe :-D
