pidc 2009.

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It's the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship 2009!

call us geeks (like we care!).

July 8, 2008. The UP Institute of Creative Writing awarded five writers (with one writer nabbing two categories) who won in this year’s UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan. And to grace the event, some of the Philippines’ greatest writers (from malachite to genesis) were there to witness the ceremony. How does F. Sionil Jose, Gemino Abad, Jose “Butch” Dalisay Jr., National Artists Bienvenido Lumbera and Virgilio Almario, to name a few, sound? Of course, (UP) Epistaxis had to be there! We even had the chance to chat with Senator Edgardo Angara (who was very politician-ish).

(R-L) CAL professors J. Neil Garcia, [guy in blue], Priscelina Pantajo - Legasto, and Anril Tiatco.

(Even if you don't believe it, that's) F. Sionil Jose with Cristina Pantoja - Hidalgo.

and this one (behind the man in pink) is Gemino Abad.

with Alfred Yuson

with Sir Jose "Butch" Dalisay Jr.

and that's us doing the "Sir Dalisay pose" after the event

with National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera (a.k.a. Sir Bien daw).

with with College of Arts and Letters Dean and National Artist Virgilio Almario.

Senator Edgardo Angara (who was like "Cynthia [the BS Biology graduate from UP turned Senator's secretary], bigyan mo sila ng calling card." WAW!)

and the winners of UP Centennial Gawad Likhaan.

the cat, the mangoes, and the soaps.

I woke up this morning thinking about the readings that made me sleep for the night. As soon as I got up, I tried dragging myself to the bathroom so I can take a bath before finishing things up. It’s not that common to see Sean, my beloved cat, to be sleeping after most of my family left for school or work. So before immersing myself to the cold water of morning, I went to where Sean was sleeping. Still in his uncanny sleeping position, I whispered his name so to wake him up, poked his body lightly, and scratched his head. But, there was no response. Panic attack. I can’t help but think that he might be dead. Paused and checked, he was still breathing. But still no response. I was starting to imagine things; like those were his last few breaths before he dies.

Mutilating as it may sound; I tried to open his eyes by force and kept calling him by his name. The feeling was so vague. I don’t want him to die because he’s Sean. At the same time, I don’t want him to die because I don’t want to be the one to carry a cat’s carcass for its decent burial. In any case, I told Sean that he won’t die today.

Then, I knew what to do. I got food and scooped it in to his feeding dish. With a few wiss, wiss, wiss, he was alive.

***

I think we have the largest mangoes here in the Philippines. I’m thinking if it’s possible that we also have the largest mango in the whole world! Well if ‘largest’ can’t get the message across, think of HUGE mangoes. Check this out! And please remember that the tree from where these fruits were picked is found in our yard. No fertilizers, no special care. It was just left to grow and be fruitful.

***

I was in the grocery last Sunday. It was the same grocery where I found the ‘fake imitation’ warning on a gelatin box and others (clueless? here). It never failed to surprise me every time I go there. You just have to know where to look and you’ll see things like…

Yes. Because penises need to be clean and fresh. Just in case.

Do we really have to use ‘fem tight’ as a brand for an antiseptic vijeyjey wash? And ‘virginity soaps’ inside groceries? Come on!