Because I don't know how to say no, I ended up walking from Monumento to Balintawak* fighting the wind and the rain with a broken umbrella. I also had to endure a full bladder.

The experience was so horrible I was tempted to pee in my pants. I figured no one will notice anyway. Luckily there were still some open establishments in EDSA and I managed to relieve my bladder.

However, I still had to contend with a broken umbrella.

Did I mention I had my camera and cellphone with me? Thankfully,  my mother bought a Logitech camera bag for it so it remained dry while I was wet, cold and numb.


The experience really tested my character. In one of the events I attended today, we talked about peace, war and conflict. I think I now know a little about the suffering they endure. Of course, their suffering is a thousands or a millions times greater but now I know what real suffering is.

The moral is when the weather bureau tells you that there's going to be a storm on a certain day, stay at home regardless of other commitments you have. But if you do that, you'd have one less funny story to tell your descendants.

And I really am grateful for having a home on a higher region where flooding remains a foreign concept. The highest "flood" we ever had barely reached my ankles and that is only on certain areas of the road. I feel sorry for those living in the lower regions though. Some residential areas are severely flooded and some are nearly underwater. Roads have submerged Balintawak has turned to a lake and Taft cor P.Gil waters achieved a new record: waters reaching up to the thighs (I heard one person say "abot panty.")

* - Actually, I walked a few more kilometers to Balumbato but you probably don't know where that is.

So our university graduation ceremony was this morning. I had to wake up real early (3:45 AM) because I move so slowly and need at least 1 hour to prepare. Note that most of that is spent just sitting on the couch and staring into blank space.

The ceremony was shorter that I had expected. It was fun seeing our professors in different garbs and we got jealous of the unique gowns of the professors with doctorate degrees excluding the MDs and DMDs.

I managed to bring my camera but the place was dark and I avoid using flash as much as possible so that.

The student commencement speech was ok, full of generic phrases and not fun. The speaker even spent a good amount of her time talking about her own degree program, I don't know what she's thinking. I expected a refreshing treatment of the theme but oh well. The delivery could also be improved, maybe a little bit of angst or persuasiveness rather than calm and pleading.

Oh BSPH mates, I'll miss you all in med school but I'll probably still see a quarter of the people here because they'll probably work in CPH.

---
Yesterday was Earth Day. I went to CCP hoping to see something new and exciting.

I didn't though I had an exciting trip returning to UP. Because it rained HARD in the middle of effing SUMMER.

It rained so hard that the streets of Manila became flooded in ankle-deep water. The flood was similar to the flood during typhoons. WTF? And the horrible part was the jeepney driver kept making detours that I ended up in F*cking SM Manila instead of Faura. Really! The jeepney driver should announce changes in route because eff man, we don't have the same final destinations. It was a good thing I was wearing sandals because one of the worst things in life are wet socks.

I've been getting in trouble with "the rules" lately. Mostly resulting in confrontations with security guards. I know it's their job to ensure everyone's safety but they also have to use their brains and be practical or at the very least consistent.

The first involved a confrontation with the LRT guard. He was being stupid so I got angry at him. He was finished inspecting the bag of the passenger in front of the line and she was just packing her things up. A rare and empty train arrives so I decided to approach him with my OPEN bag to allow him to "inspect" it. Instead, he tells me to step back. Hello? Lumapit na nga ako eh! Eng-eng ka ba? And to add further insult, he said that there would be more trains. Yes, it is a train station but do you know how uncommon empty trains are during rush hour? Angrily, I've emptied my whole bag on the table and showed him the lack of dangerous objects inside my bag. Not contented, he told me to empty the smaller pocket of my bag. After the whole ordeal, I entered the boarding area.

After this incident, I've decided to one day wreck some havoc on them. Hopefully, this week but I've tons of exams and haven't made sure that my schemes would not result in a lifetime ban from using the LRT. Some of my plans:
1. After the inspection, I'll stand behind them and comment on their "great skills."
ex. "Wow! Ang galing naman ng stick na yan! Nakakakita!"
"Kuya, saan niyo nabili ang stick na yan? Ang galing mag-inspection eh!"
(Brings out my own stick) "Kuya, pwede pasubok?"

2. After an inspection, I'll stand behind the guards and bring out a survey form/check list and try to ask the passengers if they were satisfied with the "inspection." Or, write marks on the paper after every inspection.

3. In the case of really fast inspections(ie those that involve the stick entering the bag without the guard even looking inside), I'll say, "Ayusin mo nga ang trabaho mo!" or "Ang dami-daming bulsa ng bag ko, isa lang tinignan mo." Then, I'll stand behind him and act as a supervisor(with the occasional "tsk" and "ay, ang daming bulsang hindi nabuksan" and "ano kaya ang nasa loob noong plastic sa loob niyong bag?". I'll probably do this on a Friday.

4. Inside my bag, I'll place a smaller bag, which in turn contains an opaque plastic, which the contains tons of clothes and a small black box which would then contain nothing.

The other situation was initially my fault but the guard aggravated the situation by being a proud bastard. I too am a proud bastard and would not grovel and beg to be forgiven of my mistakes. I'd take the punishment and apologize but I'd not fall down on my knees and beg for forgiveness. The only thing I fear now is that there is a small chance that I'd not be able to graduate; then again, my offense is not a major offense and they didn't even confiscated my ID.

MAYBE, I should try being more patient, forgiving and less proud. Hah! I respect authority but if they start being irrational, I start rebelling against them.

You Are 96% Feminist

You are a total feminist. This doesn't mean you're a man hater (in fact, you may be a man). You just think that men and women should be treated equally. It's a simple idea but is somehow too complicated for the world to put into action.

Are You a Feminist?

-----
What do you do when you feel like you're outgrowing your old friends? Do you become some kind of preacher and tell them that the things they believe in are wrong? How can you teach something to them without losing their friendship? I guess, if the thing to be learned is easy, it's okay but what if it is something more serious? And what do you do if they think you're just joking? Example, I always say to my friends that in the LRT(anywhere and in any situation actually) there are only two kinds of passengers(people) able and unable(elderly, disabled, pregnant and, obviously sick) but they seem to think I'm just joking and seem to think I'm going bonkers again.

Related to this, I hate that the LRT management allows female passengers have first dibs on seats(of an empty train). It'd be alright if they have stored value tickets but no, even those who buy single ride tickets can avail of this advantage. As if they pay double the amount we pay! And the argument that female have a disadvantage because they're physically weaker than males is just wrong. I'm physically weaker than most males(due to my small build) but I manage to get a seat most of the time, it's not brawn, it's brains!

Then again most male passengers have the wrong attitude also. They give their seats to female passengers for no apparent reason except maybe chivalry. Pfft! I actually took advantage of this. Last night, I was riding the LRT with a female friend. She gets off at Doroteo Jose Station. One station before that(Carriedo), a seat became available. Usually, I'd take the seat(since my friend is getting off anyway) but a man was standing in front of it and seems to be offering it to my friend. Cunningly, I let her have the seat to avoid any conflict(hey, I'll even appear like a gentleman, hah!). At the next station, she stands up and I take the seat before the man recovers his senses(and inside, I was laughing). A previous incident with the same female friend is even funnier. A man offered his seat(he stood up) to my friend. Instead of sitting down, she gave it to me and I took it(she's getting off at the next station). We ended up clutching our stomachs and biting our lips. We couldn't bear to look at the man's face, I just sensed that he moved to another part of the train, far away from the two of us. Hah!

Grabe ang ulan kanina nung pauwi na ako. Bigla ba namang bumuhos ng kanda lakas-lakas! Sa ikli ng lalakarin ko papuntang LRT station, nagawa pa niyang gumawa ng baha sa Pedro Gil. Hindi pa naman super baha pero sapat na para mabasa ang loob ng aking sapatos. Kadiri! Napabili tuloy ako bigla ng Hawianas(pekeng Haviannas; mas matigas ng onte kaysa sa isa pang peke, Havannas).

Sana lang hindi ako nangangamoy sa LRT kanina. Hindi ko naman naamoy kung mabaho ako pero siguro iyong may mga sensitibong ilong naamoy ang aking kinakalat. Heh! Ikaw kaya subukan mong magalakad buong araw, magsayaw tapos ilublob ang paa sa baha ng Pedro Gil.

Ayun. Ayos lang naman na nabasa ang paa ko kanina. Hindi ko lang matanggap na nabasa lahat ng laman ng bag ko. Eh ang tanging laman ng bag ko ay mga photox; puro mga papel! Kaya ngayon nakalatag sila sa may sala namin para matuyo sila. Dahil nabasa sila, hindi ako tuloy makapag-aral ng biochem. Pati nga iyong isang libro ko hindi pinatawad ng ulan eh. Biruin mo mas matanda pa sa akin at glossy paper, nabasa ba naman!

Pero sige, ayos lang naman ang ulan. Dapat na matigil na ang dry spell. Wish ko nga lang sa may bandang North ang ulan hindi sa may South.

Nag-tennis ako kanina. Hindi ko alam pero parang pagkatapos ng 30 mins nagsimula na akong magsawa sa kakapalo. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na nagsasawa na ako sa tennis. Naisip ko lang na oras na siguro na magsimula na ako maglaro ng mga friendly matches. Kaya lang may problema ako, una wala akong makitang kalaro. Nandiyan si Madie pero magpapasukan na eh at iyong isa ko namang kaklase... uh... hindi ko alam kung makakapaglaro kami ng matino. Pangalawa, hindi pa ako marunong mag-return ng serve. Sa tingin ko madali lang siya pero kapag malakas tumira ang kalaban paano na? Pangatlo, hindi pa ako marunong mag-serve. Grabe, magdadalawang taon na ako nag-aaral hindi pa rin ako consistent. Sorry naman. Oo, sige na. Magpra-praktis na ako ng serve. Dati kasi naipapasok ko pero super hina as in hindi umiikot; ngayon naman may ikot at mabilis pero kanina 3 lang ata naipasok ko sa 30 na hinagis ko. Ang kawawa ko talaga.

------
Pauwi naranasan ko ang tatlong bagay na pahirap sa mga nag-co-commute. Ang una ay ang hindi pagdating ng gusto mong sasakyan. Kasi, mga 8:50 ako umalis ng tennis court at nagtungo na ako sa UPD Shopping Center. Doon kasi dumadaan si UP-SM North na jeep. Alam ko naman madalang ang mga ganoong jeep kapag Linggo pero 9:20 na hindi pa rin ako nakakakita ng nagpapasakay na jeep. Grabe! Ayaw ko naman sumakay ng Philcoa kasi nagbabakasakali ako na may dumaan. Siguro mapalad na ako kasi may iba diyan araw-araw nag-aantay ng mga bus at jeep ng mga 30 mins at iyong dadating biglang punuan pa. Nang mga 9:25 may dumating na jeep at tuwang-tuwa ako. Buti na lang hindi puno at nakasakay ako at ang kasabay ko mag-antay(kawawa rin siya. hehehe. pero mas kawawa iyong dalawa kasi sumakay sila ng philcoa tapos biglang may dumating na sm north. malas na lang nila).

Eh di ayan. Nakasakay na ako tapos mamaya-maya biglang mas sumakay na malaking babae. Hindi naman puno ang side ko pero sa tingin ko hindi talaga siya kasya kahit ano gawin niya. Iyong kabilang side naman hindi puno at kasyang-kasya siya pero hindi eh, nagpumilit siyang sumiksik. Ayos lang naman na siksikan basta makarating ako sa destinasyon ko pero sa Philcoa may sumakay na mama, malaki rin at itong big woman na ito bigla ba naman pinasiksik sa side namin! Buti na lang payat ako at iyong mga katabi namin kung hindi. Kaya nga minsan naiisip ko na dapat doble ang price ng mga matataba at half-price ang mga payat eh. Kapalit kasi niyon pwede pa magpasakay ng payat o kaya bawas ng isang tao na uupo. O kaya sinusukat ang pwet bago sumakay tapos may formula na gagamitin para makompyut ang capacity pa ng jeep at ang bayad. Oo, alam ko mali iyon at hindi dapat ipatupad pero siguro isa rin siyang paraan para mapilitan na magpapayat ang mga tao. Oo, sinasabi ko na masama ang maging mataba! Hindi ko sinasabing mga pangit kayo sinasabi ko masama! Masama sa katawan at kalusugan. Fine kung fat is beautiful pero marami ka namang problemang pangkalusugan.

Eto na ang huli, sa bus naman ito (Ang dami kong sinasakyan noh?). Eh di ayan. Onte lang kami sa bus. Ayan, nagbayad na ako sa konduktor, bingyan niya ako ng sukli pero walang tiket. Sabi, baka nakalimutan lang at ayos lang iyon kasi basura nga lang naman iyon pero mamaya-maya naisip ko na iyon nga pala ang ginagamit nila para malaman ang kita ng bus. Aba! Huwag niyang subukang i-bulsa ang sampung piso ko(Ang pera ay pera gaano man kababa.). Tinawag ko ang kanyang pansin. Sabi niya sandali lang. Ok. Sandali pero bababa na kasi ako kaya tinapik ko siya. Humarap siya sa akin at parang naiinis na sinabing "Sabing sandali lang eh!" Che! Mahirap na bang magpunit ng papel? Hindi ba't trabaho mo iyon? At bababa na ako, sandali-sandali eh pupunta ka pa sa dulo ng bus para kolektahin ang bayad ng ibang tao. Tigilan mo nga ako! Pero hindi ko naman siya sinagot. Bahala siya. Ayun. Bumababa na ako at natapos ang kwento.

Buti na lang pauwi na ako nang naranasan ko ang mga ito kasi kung papasok pa lang ako. Naku! Kawawa naman ang mapagbubuhusan ko ng galit. As if naman sobra-sobra akong magalit. Marami pa rin na mas malala sa akin.