How long has it been since I wrote a decent blog? A week? A month? A SEM? I'm not really sure, but if I remember it right, my previous blogs were random or too informal. However, this blog is going to be basically about anything about my college life so far (may sound random but hopefully makes sense).

UAAP. Awesome. It gives me a nice feeling that I'm in a prestigious school that subsequently is good in sports (with players who are sport!). It's a great feeling that I'm in a school that can be united by the uaap games. I was personally amazed by how much of a big deal the games were to the school -- you could feel the tension between rival schools but at the same time, you could feel the bond that holds all the students in one school, may they be of acquaintance or not. What more could I ask for?

ATENEO. Ateneo itself. Yes, it's not just the games, but the school as a whole. No OrSem could compare to that of Ateneo's. Even the dormitory OrSem was amazing, but I'm personally ashamed by how I didn't take it too seriously at the start. However, I did take it more seriously as the days passed by. Anyway, Ateneo develops its students not only in terms of the academics (which by the way is really good) but also in the well-roundedness of its students (which is their edge). Ateneo has also already risen in rank among the top universities worldwide, now even above UP. Great, huh? And its not just the images that Ateneo portrays which makes it great, it is also the great teachers and classmates and orgs! hahaha. :D

GRADES. Grades came out on AISIS! I didn't quite expect my grade, but I'm glad!! Thanks to the people who helped me out!! Ate Mia and Kuya JD, thanks for the MAC tips and tutor on our first pre and post labs! Irwin, Math!! Thanks for helping me ('coz I just sometimes doze off during our Math class with Mr. Garfield!). Emem, thanks for the late nights together! That includes you, too, Nice! Wayne, thanks for the input for our Lit finals! Roomies, thanks for the help, too! and the late nights together! Dormates and blockmates, thanks a bunch!! Let's help each other out! There's another sem ahead of us!

DORM. The dorm is a home away from home, and with great friends. It's not just a place of shelter, it's a place of fun, laughter, and actually a home. It's great to stay in the dorm, especially since a lot of activities happen there. Orsem, IAC (sportsfest), birthday surprises, gimmicks, etc. fill up our free time and weekends which makes the stay in the dorm a lot more exciting and not boring. Plus, there are a lot of friends who help out when we have problems -- either personal or academic! And even money!

But the dorm, ugh. I love the dorm, really. I just had a bad last-night-stay there on Oct.20. I was alone on my floor since all the other dormers went home already and I just arrived from Baguio (Induction Climb at Mt. Pulag, 2nd highest peak in the Philippines). I hadn't packed up my stuff to be brought home so I kind of had to stay late. While I was packing up, I fell asleep. Then, I dreamt. It was creepy 'coz Emem, my blockmate who stays in the dorm, said "We, patabi lang muna ah..." and went to sleep on my side. Remembering that nobody stays in the dorm anymore (except for the athletes and some guests on the first floor) and that she had already flown home, I jerked (in my dream) but her legs were locked on my legs which makes me unable to move away from the bed and stand up! Then I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. CREEPY!!! 0.0 I told my brother about it the following day. He said it could've been true (although he was just pissing me off). But it might've been true. I'm just glad I didn't see it/her with my own eyes...

Still, dorm is FUN!

LOYOLA MOUNTAINEERS (LM). Best org ever! I do not regret passing by that booth that fated day, got called by my brother to the booth, signed up on that sheet of paper not knowing that there was a P100 registration fee and going through all the hurdles of the sem-long APPLICATION PROCESS. Yes, LM is not the typical org that once you sign up and pay, you're in. It's neither the typical org where you audition for an hour or a week and get in. It's a ONE SEMESTER-long application process. They take this seriously, and make no reconsiderations (if you flunk it, you flunk it) -- definitely an elite group. It's application process is even more challenging than that of a frat's! haha. And now, I can finally say, without a doubt and with pride, that i am no longer an applicant! "Puchang ina, montanero na ako!"

So why do I say LM is the best org ever? At first I thought because I'd be physically fit while in the org. Then I thought the climbs would reward me the best first-hand views one could not imagine but crave for (not only nature but the sky as well!). Then again I thought and thought. The environmental activities? The parties? No. As the application process progresses, and as the number of applicants diminish from a hundred(? more or less?) down to 16, it's the people in it that matters -- not just the applicants but as well as the members and alumni. Being in this elite group is not just being a mountaineer and an enviroment-concerned-slash-friendly member but also being part of a family (drama? hindi naman siguro noh? It's TRUE!!!). We eat together, dress up together, sleep together, name them all! It's the bonding that counts. It's the respect we get as family members and sons and daughters of Sir Max! It's the people that counts (Max Pulan is immortal!!!). At the same time being true to the code/ethics of a mountaineer.

Batchmates, I've made it alive; We've made it alive. If you've been through the application process, there is no doubt you'd understand me. If you've felt how we felt during the application and induction (body heating each other, caring for each other, etc...) -- God, you'd no doubt agree with me. You'd be too numb or stupid not to. Batch 19, inducted on October 19, and the biggest climb yet (Brgy. LM on Mt. Pulag!), I love you!



Gui. (the TL! Go! Go! Go!) Weanne. (Owen's sister!!) Enny. (the German!) Niquo. (the wild pet!) Cecile. (highest sa written test!) Jops/Joanna. (ang katapat ni jamby!) Jan. ("it's not 'ching,' it's 'king' ") Carlo. (the tuta, a.k.a. kikiam! Stop playing innocent!) Miko. (the frisbee player. i mean, ultimate...) Carmen. (induction party host! awesome house!) Luke. (the saviour of niquo! offered his own sleeping bag eh! nagkasakit tuloy!) Elvin. (the one with cute socks!) Elle. ("cheerleeding is a sport!") Jhambhert/Xavier. (the SPOILED. "P*T*NG INA! GAGO!" what's next?) Bleaker/Patrick. (the rich kid! Stop playing innocent,too!) Aames. (ang nagpa-emo sa lahat after induction post climb!) Guys, I miss you na!! See you next sem!








Pictures taken on top of Mt. Pulag.
Photography by Kian!! Thanks!

P.S.
It's been long since I wrote a blog this long. :))