post-surgery

Whenever our pc runs this smoothly (not that very fast though, our pc is ultra slow still that opening MS Word takes me ten minutes now), I do everything that I can to utilize to the fullest this rare moment. I don't have much activities to blog because I am confined here in house with my bruised right cheek after the surgery. As of this writing, I still look like someone who was punched by bullies. Sans going out, I am still much capable of flirting via the landline and unlimited texting of Globe. (sidebar: I started using this number for five years now. Talk about loyalty now.)

Another flirting tip anyhow: Always have a fallback. But this doesn't equate to infidelity or ruthless playing around. Remember that both verbal and non-verbal (note: both) pacts ought to be made to call the character your property/territory yet. If those requirements are not met yet, you are very much free to flirt around. Just don't do it hardcore-ly, karma is fast.

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Watch KABATAAN X-PRESS on Feb 10, Saturday, 7:50 AM on ABS-CBN 2. It's kinda early but make sure to catch my story on teen tattooing. Criticisms are very welcome! =)

this was what happened to me this friday... *sigh*

Introduction: (yes, for more brilliant effects) My HS grad (annual) picture reminds me of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) blunders I/we/she committed in the nineteen years of my superb existence—that is, wearing those braces made by someone who claimed to be an expert. I was all smiles in that picture with my first set of braces (note: first set). Lest I forget (in fairness), I thank that lady dentist for somehow arranging the misplaced canine in my mouth. But that dentist wasn’t able to repair my open bite.

Okay, for the benefit of us who are non-specialists, our upper set of teeth should be in front of our lower set of teeth when we bite. Mine is somewhat the reversal, my lower teeth in front protrude when I smile/bite but in the back part of my teeth, the positioning is normal. Ergo, I am cross-bited. My two front teeth are also a little misaligned already due to some movements of the teeth after the nightmare braces which I wore for almost three years.

Body: So what I am talking about here? To make long yarns short, I have to wear braces again to make my smile more palatable to my target market. Hahaha… Flirting remains unabated I told you people!

Anyhow, the first step to this brand new me is extracting six of my teeth like what I posted earlier. This is to enable the teeth to move back to its normal position. And so this afternoon, I absented myself from class to go to the specialist at PGH. (Sidebar: This is my first absence for this semester. Gosh, I’m not used to this).

Since it is not humanly possible to do all six at the same time (and besides being inhumane), the dentist only did two. And mind you, the first wasn’t any normal extraction. It was a surgery! As in operation! As in with suture (stitches for us laymen)! Good thing, mom accompanied me and the lady dentist was good enough to psych me in saying: okay, you’ll feel another pressure (but I know she’s pulling something already), okay, Angelo, there will be water (but I know she’s injecting something), okay, very good, Angelo (but I know that she was having a hard time removing my teeth which according to her and to my new orthodontist are too big and hard already). I willfully didn’t open my eyes from the time she said: okay, this will be bitter (but I know it was already the anesthesia) to the time the assistant was putting gauze at my teeth in my blood-flowing mouth. I don’t want to see and know anymore what paraphernalia and metal things they used because the process is not yet done. Or even if this whole process is done, I never want to see their equipment for that will only create panic and fear in my mind. I remember Saw III while the surgery was happening. I could also hear her say to her interns: suction, OS please, etc. I don't want to know what were those codes.

Then the dentist wanted to show me the extracted teeth but I gestured my head and hand, as if saying no, thanks. No need. My mom already went to storytelling on what that dentist did to me but I signaled her to stop. I didn’t want to hear anything. But while giving me post-surgery advices, the dentist unconsciously disclosed that she actually opened my gums because the tooth was already lying and deeply-rooted. Since this tooth (the backmost one, I don’t know how they cal it, a molar?) was lying, the other teeth had to move to find space and thus they protruded. My mom asked me if I could still carry another round of in-fairness-not-so-painful extraction and I signaled yes, but the dentist said no because my teeth were too hard and big and said I wouldn’t carry it.

My mom and I commuted back home via the LRT with me pressing this cold compress at the swollen realm of my cheeks. Of course, I still had to look good so I made sure that I was presentable. Vanity reciprocated as there was this girl at the LRT sitting beside me and rubbing her arms against mine. My peripheral vision also told me that she was ogling at me (note: ogle, as in looking flirtatiously or lustfully). I didn’t look back because I didn’t want some serious flirting moment at that time. In fairness, she smelled and looked great (oh, smelling moment again. Haha…).

Conclusion: Okay, so as a concluding statement, I thank God for giving me the courage to fight and making my pain threshold high enough, for giving the dentist the expertise (super thank God because nothing so serious happened), for giving my mom the time to accompany me. Thanks also to Gina (my marketing-mate) for the prayer and other well-wishing friends who know about this commotion in my life. The battle’s not yet over: four to go. Plus the braces that bring as well pain, both physically and fiscally (pun intended). Whew!

the half-week that was | it started with a smell

Monday: I went to PGH (my first time) to meet the orthodontist who's going to extract six of my teeth. You read it right, folks, whopping six teeth. I will tell you in future entries what is this commotion I am going through. Since Monday is my endeavor day, I malled myself after the hospital visit and that's it, just malled and window-shopped. For the record, no tooth has been extracted from me yet as of this writing. I fear hospitals because it reminds me of death. And oh, in their dentistry ward, I can hear sounds-like-steel-machines piercing through sounds-like-stainless-steel-slash-metal-slash-brass-slash-alloy. Gosh! That was a hardcore ward/hospital. I deliberately did not panned my eyes through their equipment. And when I got home, the scene run through my memory again as I finally watched my favorite trilogy/film of all time (so far), Saw III. You must catch it! But it's extremely, super, exceedingly, morbid, mind you. The twist this time was somewhat predictable for me probably because I was already saturated by the first two installments' tweaks plus I already read a review of it prior to my watching.

Tuesday: The day when my concept of break time is lost. TV Writing class in the morning, Mass Comm Ethics for lunch, and impromptu interview for TV Performance class. I felt so productive.

Wednesday: C'mon BC 111. We had our jingle recording for the blind advocacy project we have. Uy, please help us! We recorded all the way until eight in the evening. Our class is just from 1-4 pm, but since we don't settle for mediocrity (yes, for more pretention! haha), we had to repeat and repeat each verse of the song which i wrote. This is a must-hear song because it teaches one has to take care of the eyes. Haha.. And oh of course, classmates, it started with a smell! Where will this smell bring us? We'll find out next meeting/recording. Sorry for this inside joke. We cannot divulge information yet. Hahaha... Oops, time check: 11:59 pm. OMG, this is not, you know, me. I get eight hours of sleep always... well, almost always. No, uhm, let me rephrase, I should get eight hours of sleep!

your emotional carnage

Now I am more than enlightened. I am no longer deceived by your pretentious text messages, phone calls, and dates. So you want to play. I give you what you want. I don’t get mad—I get even, honey. You don’t know what the best slut in town can do. Good thing: I never, said, that I love you, though I was ALMOST in the brink of doing it. Get ready for your emotional carnage. You won’t forget me after this. Haha…

KNN now on ABS-CBN

KNN is back on-air with more exciting stories and a new title, Kabataan X-Press!

Watch out for its first episode on ABS-CBN 2, February10 at 7:50 am!

Make sure to set your alarm clock and catch us firstthing in the morning every Saturdays.

Join our yahoo group - kabataannews@ yahoogroups. com

Text KNN - KNN Mobile to 2256.


Catherine C. Colmenares
Associate Director - Children's Media
Probe Media Foundation, Inc.
116 Maginhawa Street, Unit 505 Sterten Place Condominium
Teacher's Village East, Diliman, Quezon City 1101
(+632) 433-04-56
website: www.probefound. com, www.kabataannews. com


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you have to catch this first episode because I have a story there on teen tattooing. don't you dare miss this chancce to watch and critique me! haha...

call for donation

Hi guys! Last time I was talking about our project in one my classes. Here's the solicitation letter for the funding of that project. Hope you can help, or at least, refer us to people who are more capable of sharing their resources. Thanks!

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Dear Sir / Madam:

Be blessed a thousand fold!

We are Broadcast Communication students from the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines - Diliman enrolled in the course BC 111 or Advanced Radio Production. This course teaches advanced concepts, principles and applications in radio production.

The class has come up with the idea of producing audio podcasts (multimedia file available over the internet and may be played in personal computers and mobile devices such as an ipod) on the visually impaired --- their medical condition, lifestyle, career and the support they receive from the government and other organizations. Our project aims to promote public awareness, break stereotypes and empower the visually-impaired.

In line with this, we would like to ask for your support for our project in the form of cash donation. Being a self-supporting production team of students, we are in need of financial assistance in covering the extensive costs of audio production, podcasting and a planned launch. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated and will surely benefit our project. Rest assured that your generosity shall go a long way in making our project significant and successful.

Thank you and God bless!


Very truly yours,


(Sgd.) Ramon Angelo Barrister Supe
Marketing Committee
The "I" in Life Production
Phone #: 02 364 16 13
Mobile Number: +63917 917 4112


Noted by:

(Sgd.) Mr. Reev Robledo
Lecturer
Advanced Radio Production
College of Mass Communication
University of the Philippines - Diliman

finally

I was able to open this site after some 20 minutes (kidding aside). Unlike the competitive me, this PC doesn't have any concept of multi-tasking. You have to open window one at a time. At the most, one MS Word and one Yahoo site. Whew!

Anyhow, I feel like I'm watching movie every week. It was 'Ligalig' in January's first week, then 'Griffin and Phoenix' (which I didn't understand because besides of my sleepy moments in the cinema, I wasn't able to start it) the next week, then 'Blood Diamond' this last Sunday. It was my first time to watch a last full show again (with the national anthem) after a long time but I didn't finish it because I was too sleepy already and my dad was texting me (suggestive of go-home-it's-late-face) as well.

Monday, as always, was a rest day. I spent my time at home thinking of what to do for the week and exploring our digital camera for a shooting project.

Tuesday is the day of the week when I lose my concept of break time. My classes are from 8:30am to 4:00 pm, and I prefer schedules like this because it keeps me on the go always. Had a quiz in Comm 191 (Mass Comm Ethics) and a Filipino newscast in BC 124 (TV Performance).

Wednesday is the only day when I can get out of my dear college, with Philo 171 (General Ethics). If you notice, I have two ethics classes. I think it indicates that it's about time for me to have a sense of ethics in this much-loved life Haha... And oh of course, our BC 111 (Advanced Radio Production) where we'll be producing our original jingle next week. Thanks to groupmates Karen and Jei who know a network of cooperative musicians.

Segue: We need solicitation for this one. I'll post the letter once I get the soft copy. C'mon people, help us. This is a very worthwhile endeavor. I'll blog about it some other time. Being a part of the marketing committee, I have to bring money to the class. It's a sort of an advocacy endeavor for the blind people. I chose that committee so I can have background in marketing.

Anyhow again, I feel like my thoughts here are so random and zero-coherence. Haha... Apologies. What pops into my mind, I write.

Then Thursday, I had this ACLE (for non-UP readers, I'll explain it some other time likewise) that elucidates the philosophy of language and space inside the jeepney. We ACLE-d inside a moving jeepney. 11:04 pm! I have to sleep. I don't want to abuse and misuse my fresh and exuberant body. Haha...

the week that was

Since an un-updated blog is not worth visiting (with profuse apologies to Socrates), I am trying to recall now what I did for the last week. I did have time to blog actually but since this computer is showing anew signs of corrosion and sluggishness, I did the more urgent things I had to do. Let me begin with this slowly-but-surely-dying PC. I already installed two anti-viruses in here so I’m quite positive that the slowness isn’t brought about by viruses. Besides, I only visit Yahoo mail and online newspapers (that is, safe and wholesome sites) these days. But I’m still thankful that I can type and surf the net here albeit I have this guilty feeling that if our electricity bill comes, one-fourth of the cost is from this ultra-slow PC. Imagine opening MS Word for eight minutes.


I had fun going to classes again. It’s always nice to learn things and connect one lesson of one class to another lesson of another class. When I was in early years of my college, I thought of working in fast food chains or call centers (I applied in one but refused to sign contract) just for the experience of working while studying. But I realize that after I study, I will be working for the rest of my life. I may study graduate course but that studying is different from the experiences I have now as a (regular) student who doesn’t have to worry much about paying bills, budgeting, etc. So I gave up that thought and focused more on my studying, but no longer to the point of grade-consciousness (I admit I was one during HS. Side bar: One of my UP profs quipped that UP students have been GC in one point of their HS lives). Here in college, indeed, your competition is yourself. Speaking of college, another thing I develop in college is my social skills. High school days were generally school-home, home-school. Now, it’s school-flirt-home or home-flirt-school or flirt-school-home or school-home-flirt or flirt-flirt-flirt. Hahaha… (Note: For the nth time, flirting is not something pejorative in my context.)


Anyhow, some of this week’s highlights include plotting my activities in a new calendar planner courtesy of Blessings Photocopy, Vivian’s surprise UP Wednesday visit, and dates with some characters. Speaking of date, instead of spending my money on material things, I use it to build relations and networks via (you guess it) dating and socializing.

on filmfest '06

I was able to watch two filmfest entries (in movie houses) for this season: Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah and Ligalig.

Zsa Zsa: This caught my interest because I already read and heard good reviews on the graphic novel and play versions. The movie didn't disappoint because aside from the good translation from novel to screenplay, the visual effects were good albeit computer-generated images (especially in the giant frog battle scene) looked extremely faked. The zombie attack scene was far better as those creatures floated naturally. With stand-up comedian Chokoleit playing as Rustom's sidekick, the film was funny but what was more hilarious was the reaction of the other moviegoers (I assume, mostly thunders) who were laughing to death as if tomorrow wouldn't come. Chokoleit was the same Chokoleit I had seen in primetime soap operas; he really didn't show anything new. I could imagine him how he punchlined in comedy bars. Meanwhile, it could have been better (even in the box-office returns) if Rufa Mae would play Rustom's alter ego. Zsa Zsa was convincing but Rufa Mae would be better. I expected this movie to be in the top 3 of this year's entries but the last time I checked, it was in the bottom 3. When I watched this at Galleria, I could count the persons who entered the cinema. I tried private reading the graphic novel at National and there were alterations in the story as in the character of Pauleen Luna.
Rating: 7/10

Ligalig: If I were to prioritize/rank all the movies in this filmfest, this would be the very first that I would catch for three reasons: 1. Knowing Cesar Montano, the film surely would be twist-laden; 2. Not so many people watched the film (and I like films/items/entities that only few people recognize because it gives that feel of ownership and novelty); 3. If this film would be pirated, it wouldn't be a clear copy unlike the Star Cinema's KKK that I'm confident would have a DVD/VCD version that could be pirated impeccably. The film was both a vanity project (with Montano being the director, actor, producer, editor, etc. Name it and he did it) and very commercial (bring it on, Dr. Calayan, Nescafe and coffee creamer). I heard the movie was given an A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, and I believe the movie was great but it didn't deserve such high rating as there were tons of morbid scenes (barbecuing a girl's stomach and Sunshine's foot) that disturbed me. The twist was good enough to get my nod. It was like my favorite movie of all time, 'Saw.' The camera movement was experimental by having that 360-degree angle manuever in car scenes but the mise-en-scene outside the car looked unnatural. Acting was convincing. The two actors deserved their awards.
Rating: 8/10


PS: My notes here are anemic. Prof. Pagli (My Film 100 prof) would surely give me a not-so-ace grade here. Hahaha... Kebs, this is not my portfolio/reaction paper.

very special love of a natural flirt who dates like a man

I never believed in love. I was deceived by love. I never had much luck with lovers before. And I couldn't compete. I seemed just part of the street to be walked on by everyone back then. Then I found a very special love in you. It's a feeling that's so totally new, over and over it's burning inside. And I found a very special love in you and it almost breaks me in two, squeezing me tighter. But I never gonna let go. =)

You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt. And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting. Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt. And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

And there's more!

You Date Like a Man

According to studies on dating, you date like a man. You date casually and frequently, getting serious with select people over time. Physical attraction and chemistry is very important to you. And if there's nothing more than a physical connection, that's okay with you (at least for a while). You are definitely looking for love, but you are in no rush to find it. You figure love will eventually come your way, and you're not going to live like a monk while you're waiting!