Happy Fathers Day!

I am very much blessed. I am blessed with a father like Eduardo "Eddie" Tan Amik. I am forever grateful.








Yes, that's me. Younger years. I was little, and my dad was fat. Hahaha!










My father is an amazing man. He may seem scary at first, but when you get to know him, he's a really kooky kind of guy. He likes playing pranks on people (especially his siblings). At his age, he still manages to make his siblings cry. Imagine that! hahaha! Apart from his goofy personality, he is one of the greatest philosophers that I have met. Through my rough times, he was the one who gave me advice. Just advice. He didn't tell me what to do. He gave me his opinions and views, and it was up to me if I was going to take them or not. He never forced me to do anything. But he always reminded me, that THIS IS MY LIFE. Whatever I do or decide, I would have to live with it. Not him. Not my mother. Not my siblings. But me and me alone. I agree.


I am a stubborn daughter. I know that. I'm hard-headed, maldita, lalalala. I know. Everyone knows. While my Mom would reprimand me endlessly, my Dad keeps quiet. It's a Dad's role to usually discipline a child, but my Dad isn't like that. After my Mom would finish reprimanding me, my Dad would approach me and say, "I don't want to hurt you, because I get hurt too."

He is a very sensitive person. Below the surface, he is very sensitive. He cries more than my mom! Anyway, I just got off the phone with him around 30 minutes ago. I was looking through our old photos together, and I was saddened. He's miles away from me. I miss him knocking on my door everyday and calling me to eat lunch or dinner. Also, him knocking on my door every time our Internet connection was down. Yes, he's a tech-savy dad. hehehe He's actually the one who's into photography. I just harborned his camera for a couple of months. hehehe.

"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud

My dad would give up anything for his family. He's selfless. He puts his family before himself. It doesn't matter if he doesn't get what he wants, I am talking mostly about material things here. All that matters to him is that his family is satisfied, and healthy. Those simple things would already fill his needs. It makes him happy.

During my high school graduation

Oh, and one last thing. He is my karaoke partner!!! His favorite songs to sing: Puff the Magic Dragon, Top of the World (with me, of course), and Wonderful Tonight (for my Mom.) He influenced me a lot, actually. He made me listen to old country singers like Kenny Rogers, etc. It's also because of him that I'm into photography.

Dad, thanks for being there for me always. You've always supported me. You are an amazing person. I am very lucky and grateful to have you in my life. I am the person that I am today because of you. I am wiser and mature (Well, I think so. hehe). Thank you for EVERYTHING I am grateful and very proud to have you as my Father. You are one and only. I love you, and I miss you!


Special Mention:

This is my Dad's father. Angkong. Even though he is no longer with us here on Earth, he will always be in our hearts. Thanks for guiding us, and for keeping us healthy, Angkong. We miss you!


I was an Angkong's girl. Being his first grandchild, I got everything and anything I wanted. Really spoiled. I think my Dad got his prankster side from Angkong. He used to pull pranks all the time too! hehehe!

I miss and love you all. :)




Are you a CARROT,an EGG or a COFFEE BEAN?

Yesterday, one of the Guidance Councilors from UST, went to our classroom and presented this Powerpoint presentation. (Well, it's not a Powerpoint presentation HERE.) hehe

So, let me ask you, are you a Carrot, an EGG or a COFFEE BEAN?

Pick one and read on. Don't cheat. :P

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?
by Mary Sullivan

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen.

The mother filled three pots with water.

In the first, she placed carrots.
In the second she placed eggs.
And the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil without saying a word. About twenty minutes later, she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. (You known the tone of voice.)

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they felt soft.

She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "So, what's the point, mother?" (Remember the tone of voice.)

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt
and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?

Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial
hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle Adversity?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

So, what did you pick?

Believe it or not..I...I..

I called up my siblings this evening. Just to check on how they're doing in school. As usual, my brother is still the same sulky yelling kid, and my sister is still the same shrieking girl. I wonder what they're gonna look like when I go back to Zamboanga in a couple of months..during the last week of October to be more specific. I talked to my Mom for a bit and told her about my school experiences. There's still nothing much to tell...I just told her about my new friends, our building, the curriculum, and asked for money. hahaha! Kidding. OK...not really. I did ask for money, but it's for our really really expensive and thick books. *wink* My mom sent me this picture of my sibs. My brother is older..but it seems like my sister is bigger. hahaha! Giant kid. She's big. Really.


I had to send this image to my e-mail via my phone! I didn't bring the cable wire that would allow me to transfer files from my phone to my laptop. Oh well. So, aren't those two stubborn kids adorable?? It's really not the same without them. I don't have kids banging on my door and demanding that they watch Barney on my TV. Or waking me up early the morning. Or crying 'coz they want their yaya. Or calling me to give them their milk. Or asking for help in making their assignments and/or projects. Or to fix the computer 'coz they want to play games.

Yes. Believe it or not. I miss them. :)

Schedule for the First Semester

Here's my sched! I'm lovin' it :) I hope it's big enough. hehehe Actually, just click on it to get the BIG view.

Home..for now.

Hello! Hello! Hello! I am back! I haven't blogged in a while 'coz I didn't have net connection for a few days. I only had limited time whenever I use my Globe Tattoo. It costs me 20 pesos per hour, it's pretty steep, so I try to cut down Internet time as much as possible. I only go online to check up on my social networking sites and clear out my emails.

So, anyway. I've been living here at the apartment for about a week now. It's fun. I have 24/7 WiFi connection..FREE ha! Plus, I'm with my two aunts Abigaelle (Medical Technology) and Ailsa Maye (Architecture) Salazar(but they prefer that I call them my 'cousins' coz we're from the same generation anyway). We go grocery shopping by ourselves. Wash our clothes, cook breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are now independent souls. WOW! hahaha! See, we did it. =P


So my classes started this morning. It was fun, but I think I'll have to write about it in a different entry. It's going to be a good entry, 'coz as I've said I had a very good first day! Lots of laughter! hahaha!

So, I'll be back when I get photos from my blockmate. I want to post photos too. hehehe. 'Til then, reader!

New Home

I left Zamboanga 2 days ago. I just didn't have the heart to blog about my departure. It was too sad. I cried. I hugged everyone at home. I cried when I called my aunts over the phone. I cried. It's sad. I can't help but miss the comforts of home.

Anyway, I'm now here in Manila with my parents. We're living with my Aco for the meantime. Today though, we brought my stuff here at the apartment. This is where I'll be staying when classes begin. It's a good place. I'll post some pics later. I'll have to take photos first. hehehe.

I'll cut this short. Got to settle down. Will update soon. :)

June has finally arrived.

June has arrived, and I'm leaving. *sigh*

A couple of months ago, when I got my UST Entrance Exam results, I was ecstatic. I was so happy. The feeling was beyond description! I still remember the moment, actually. It was on January 12, around 10 A.M. or so. The results were posted online. My girlfriends and I visited the site using Jenny's Nokia E51 phone (since we couldn't use the computer lab that time). Since I was the only one who remembered my code from the test, I was the only one who could check my results. The bell already rang. It was time for Math class, but we didn't really care. We were checking our results, and we were always late for that class anyway. Hehe. So, we were climbing the stairs leading to the overpass...I inputted by code and waited for the page to load. Then the page loaded. My heart was racing. I scrolled down...and there it was.

PASSED.
(It wasn't in big bold letters. This is just for effect. haha)

I didn't jump. I didn't scream. Instead, I left the phone on the overpass floor and ran to our classroom. That's the funny part. I was so nervous about my results that I forgot we had a substitute teacher for Math class. Unfortunately, we got locked out of the classroom for coming in late. BUT HELL! I didn't care! I passed! I passed! I passed! That was all I could think about at that moment.

When my parents gave me the go signal...I was overjoyed! I could study outside of Zamboanga. I was excited to go and confirm my slot, and to enroll. But now, after a few months, I already have all the things that I'm bringing to Manila in one corner of my room. I'm taking around 90% of my possessions. hahaha! If I need clothes, I don't need to go to my closet. Coz my clothes sat in that one corner. And now it's June.

I'd just have to stuff my things in a bag, or in boxes. And I'm all set to go. Well, I'll be taking my material possessions with me..but a part of me will always be left here in Zamboanga. I grew up here. This is where I became the person that I am today. I can feel the sadness now. I haven't even left, and I miss home already! I will miss Zamboanga. :( But I have to sacrifice certain things in order to get what I want now. That's life. You can't have it all.

So, today is the first day of June. I'm gonna make my remaining days here count. I'll be outta here on the 5th..and frankly, I'm not so excited anymore. I'm excited, and scared at the same time. I guess it's normal. I hope it gets better. Still, nothing changes that fact that leaving is sad...but it has to be done. *sigh*

MTV Best Kiss 2009 goes to...



They didn't kiss! All the winners of this award kiss on stage! Hmpf. Anyway, Rob was really about to kiss the lady. But Kristen backed out in the last minute. Scripted much. hahaha! Still lovin' Rob's accent. :X

NEW MOON TRAILER!



I can't wait! I'm feeling all giddy again! Movie will be out in November! Watch it! EEK!!

Ok...relaxed. Bella's acting improved. Edward is still....awwwwww. Jacob did gain more weight! He looks awesome! How he transformed into a wolf was so cool! I hope the movie will be as good as the book. As heartbreaking. *sniff* New Moon is my favorite book among the four books in the series. And the Twilight movie did disappoint a little. So, I hope this time it'll be better. WATCH IT! hahaha!