So long sweet summer

I may have neglected this blog this summer but I surely am not abandoning it. That said, here's a quick rundown of what went down last summer.

First stop: Batangas

The weekend after I went to Singapore, my mudraks invited me to come with them (the steppudraks and Evette) to Batangas for a wedding. The wedding wasn't memorable but Malarayat Gold and Country Club was awesome. Too bad I don't have the pictures with me here in my laptop but here's a memory:

Le sister and I trying to order some midnight snack. Too bad the chef's already gone home. (Huhu, my BB)

Next stop: Subic

Yeah, like there's something new about me being in Subic. But this summer's Holy Week in Subic was awesome because I got to spend it with my cousins.

Logos Hope -- a ship full of books, where we decide to indulge in ice cream

White Rock Beach Resort -- Artificial waves, more fun than real ones

Third stop: Cavite
For some reason I have been in constant search of some solitude and cleansing of the soul since the start of the year. Finally got the chance to have some this summer with the BLD Community in Cavite. It was a weekend of realization, repentance, and healing. I met new people, learned more about my religion, and let go and let God. Too bad I don't think I have pictures.

Fourth: Boracay
I was finally able to check this island off my bucketlist. It was random and I'm broke because of it but all's well that ends well. We tried a handful of water activities (flyfish, zorb, and parasailing), swam to take loads of pictures, and drank like we own the place. Unnecessary circumstances, bullshit, lost havs, and my big tummy aside, I had a great first time.

No more calamansi muffins for us but we're still happy bananas.

Moments before I realized I'm allergic to sea water. That, or the water's just too dirty.

Touchdown Boracay!

Yay for underwater cameras!

Final Destination: Potipot
And just before I entered law school, I went to Potipot, Zambales with my sorority sisters for some awesome bonding experience. It was the perfect chill icing to my awesome summer cupcake.

Welcome, sisters!

Off to the island!

Stop looking at my big arms.

2010s for Pink Team!

Something I missed: Anawangin
Too bad though, I was not able to come with my crazy high school barkada to their spontaneous island trip to Anawangin, Zambales. Oh the odds of growing up (aka work responsibilities).

I miss these crazy ladies so terribly much.

So that was my awesome summer, despite all the other thorny things last few months. Next stop, law school!

Disclaimer: Pictures aren't mine! Grabbed them from random friends' accounts on Facebook. All credits go to them!

Forever young

Before anything else, I just really need to share this: guess whose first PR for work got picked up by Manila Times today? http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/top-stories/11005-more-young-pinays-take-to-smoking--tobacco-study

I'm a very happy and superbly thankful kid.

----

Today I had my first class for the semester which was on women and work with no less than the Prof. Judy Taguiwalo. So imagine my surprise when the class discussion suddenly became a conversation about my family.

Ma'am Judy: Saan ang probinsya mo, Erika?
Erika: Sa Zambales po, Subic.
Monica: Magkababayan tayo. Cabangan naman side ng father ko.
Erika: Yung side po ng mom ko, Deveraturda, originally from Iba.
Monica: Kaano-ano mo si Dennis Deveraturda?
Erika: Tito ko po. Second eldest nila mommy.
Monica: Mother ko yung nagsulat ng article tungkol sa kanya!
Ma'am Judy: Dennis Deveraturda? Kasabayan ko yun! May mga pictures pa nya ko.*

I have spent a lot of time writing about my crazy antics, random adventures, and passing thoughts. It's about time I write something that is actually worth somebody's time.

I never met Tito Dennis. Everything that I know about him I only got from the stories of the clan. All that I am sure of is that he was one of the reasons why it was not an easy decision for me to choose UP over the others.

Luckily, Google knows him better. He was one of those who "lost their lives in the night when they were in the cusp of youth and did not get to see the breaking of dawn."** He was a champion of and for the farmers. He was studying Economics and was just 19 when he was killed in Botolan, Zambales. Google, however, does not have any real picture of my uncle.

DENNIS ROLANDO R. DEVERATURDA (1952 - 1972) of Subic, Zambales
For courageously joining, and later, generating and leading discussions with fellow college students at the University of the Philippines concerning the country's worsening political situation; For showing a wise regard for the role of ordinary people in the growing struggle, by bringing these academic discussions to his hometown Zambales, enlightening his provincemates through debates at plazas, hiking long kilometers and living with farmers and fishers in their village homes to elicit their views and participation in the struggle to resist abuses and defend civil rights; For giving and sacrificing his young and very short life, having his future snuffed out in his prime through assassination by constabulary soldiers. (from Bantayog ng mga Bayani)

It is overwhelming and heartwarming to see his name alongside Lorena Barros, Renato Constantino, and many, many very notable others.

I was never the UP student that he was. I wasted a big chunk of opportunities for learning and serving the people for trivial matters that I do not even remember now, at all. Nevertheless, wherever you are, Tito Dennis, please know that your death will not be for nothing. I, too, envision a society wherein the poor does not get poorer when the rich get richer; a country where women do not need to assert their own specific rights anymore because they we are also humans in the first place; a population who does not deprive their children of their youth through various exploitations; a nation who does not take the cost of destroyed natural resources for granted for a supposed misconception of development.

I may never be as brave as you were and my priorities can sometimes be crooked but I swear I'll never stop aiming to contribute, however little, to the realization of that vision that you had for this nation. But I can only try as much so feel free to give me a slight bump on the head whenever I go the wrong way.

"Gwapo yung si Dennis, matalino. He will be forever young."


* Conversation not verbatim. They had a lot of awesome things to say about Tito Dennis but my memory can only retain this much.
** Doyo, M.C.P. 2006. Munoz-Palma leads 10 Bantayog heroes. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20061130-35574/Mu%F1oz-Palma_leads_10_Bantayog_heroes

I know everything that shines ain't always gonna be gold

Today I received another reason to be happy. And they money can't buy you happiness?

I actually wrote a blog post offline the other day to celebrate the greatness of October but I'm iffy to post it now because I have happier things to write about. Oh don't get me wrong, no, October was beyond awesome - no exaggeration. Let's not go into the details anymore but you know what they say, when it rains, it really pours. Hard. (I think other than the words awesome and happiness, you'd realize that quotes and cliches are the most numerous in this blog.) And I'm pretty sure the November and December are going to be even greater.

So I went to Subic last super long weekend. As expected, I pigged out and bummed around. We watched Praybeyt Benjamin (oh the things I'll do to see a naked Derek Ramsey), played poker (I'd like to think that I actually won - I ended up having all the chips but my stepdad played it at first so the seat was already winning when I took over - but I still ended up not getting any money because they used the pot to buy loads of ice cream), went fishing, ate a lot, and a lot more but I'm too lazy to think. It was crazy hot in Subic and it felt like summer. I had an awesome time with my family so despite all the allergies the heat gave me, I remain a happy kid.

And because all my old blogs lacked pictures, I'm going to load this one with lots. (I'd love to post Subic pictures but my big little sister has not posted them on facebook yet so I'll edit this and just post them some other time.)

Xtremely Xpresso's Big Ben, how I missed thee

My dad and brotha. (It's kinda weird to post something like this in here but they're the reason why I went home to Subic in the first place so yeah whatever.)

Vacation time's over. Time to cram for work and prepare for the coming semester. Yes Eka, you asked for a stressful life.

Last Friday night

@ Shang EDSA

@ Ronza

With Tin, my batchmate-slash-partner-in-crime-last-night, and our Archon Jella na DL sa Ateneo Law. Haha <3

I have not seen my sorority sisters in a while. Actually, I have not "gone out" in a long while. I threw my social life out of the window along with the bad carbs and fattening stuff of life. So last night, I was reminded of how awesome it is to be with the people that I can just be super comfortable with.

And this morning, I was reminded why I don't like drinking anymore. I woke up with a bad headache, kind of a sore throat, and aching body parts. Why do I feel like I'm too old for night outs already when in fact I'm just 20? The lola vibes are attacking again.

But then again, there were loads of awesome (however crazy) conversations last night that I wouldn't have wanted to miss for the world - from wonderful jobs, crushing on old men, dermatologists, our lives last year, being single, lovelife buraks, "hindi talaga binibigay lahat", to starting a family at 35.

And since the Bar Operations are coming next week, I'm sure there will be more of these fun with my sisters.

On other things, I have found another source of happines. Please allow me to gloat:

Hello first sem grades!

Yes, they aren't perfect but I never got grades as good as these when I was an undergrad. I mean at least not as consistent. Whatever, just let me be.

And it's another long weekend, baby! I'm actually heading off to Subic anytime soon. This weekend is going to be fattening but I don't mind because next week, I'm going to start boxing. Let's do this, self.

Lastly, happy Halloween everybody (although it's actually my least favorite occasion; I mean, why do you have to be scared or scare yourself?)! Have an awesome life, friends.

* First three photos from Tin Penia's facebook