choices.

I chose to be the private. The only phase that they knew of was post-break up – when things got so heavy, and I just couldn’t keep it anymore. I knew that I was just waiting for it happen. I was waiting to give up, to break down. And that’s it. It happened.

Things are now back to normal. We’re friends. That’s also something that I chose. Am I happy about it? Maybe. But honestly, I just don’t care. I already gave too much. It’s about time to make “better” choices.

Now, I still choose to be private. But things don’t always go as planned. Privacies break, things leak, and they eventually become part of it. 

Everything becomes so different when you already mapped out your plans, and convinced yourself that this will be it, then, all of a sudden, a shift in circumstance. It disturbs me. But when much rationality is not needed, how can you think on your feet so you can adjust?

Choices always require two paths at the barest minimum – the perceived ideal and the way out. It’s too tempting to take the other way when it’s always an option. But I’m still taking the path I chose from the start. (Or maybe I should have ended that previous sentence with a question mark instead). 

It’s so hard to stand for a decision, especially when you constantly pressure yourself of thinking of the best option. In the end, you just don’t want to get hurt.

But yeah, I’m choosing you. But this time, I think I need to sacrifice a little privacy.

farewell, cory aquino.

Philippine’s icon of democracy, Queen of the Philippines, Mother of the Nation – few of the many words and phrases used to describe former President Corazon Aquino. True enough, we can describe her in many ways, in different perspectives and convictions. Nobody said she was perfect. She had her own faults – conceded. But we can’t deny that she did her best. Now that she reunites with her equally noble husband Ninoy, I join the rest of the Philippines in saying farewell. Farewell, Cory Aquino and thank you.

definition.

Friday noun - (1) the sixth day of the week; (2) a weekend, bunched with Saturday and Sunday; (3) time to unwind and let go of the stress brought by the previous days; (4) for some, marked by flowing alcohol, perhaps with cigs, and much dancing – flirty or otherwise; (5) maybe a perfect moment to reenergize; (6) also a time to be crazy and wild; (7) time to seek something new and do something new; (8) sadly, can also be a time to be occupied with work; (9) a day to not care about work; (10) or simply, love (like this most recent Friday). 

Happiness, choice, it is. Love. Friday.

totally NOT about cha-cha, k?

In a lecture about Charter Change – no sides and biases, just the facts – I said, “Let’s start with the basics. Let’s discuss how to form informed judgments.” I expected that not everybody would really pay that much attention because for one, it’s about basics and two, everybody assumes that they know it.

Step one is getting to know the issue. In the discussion concerning Charter Change, it’s not going to be all about the poor, it’s not going to revolve around who are the ones who’ll be oppressed, and who are the ones who’ll be left behind. But this is not to say they’re irrelevant. This is just to say that it is also important to try and also look at the motivation. Ask: why is there such a call to pursue this at this point? Maybe, just maybe, this is called for, and it is needed. Who else are involved? Examine all sides. Shut up first and know the issue.

Step two is getting your facts straight. It doesn’t mean that just because your mom said it, it’s true. It doesn’t mean that just because your best friend advised it, it means that it is the best. And we don’t even care if the bishop or the highest authority in your religion declared it amongst thousands. It pays to get informed. Read. Start being unbiased. Because what can you get solely reading a pamphlet produced by the pros? Obviously, pro sentiments. In the same way that pure anti sentiment readings will help you form anti sentiments. Why not read both rather than saying something or someone is right or wrong on the basis of bias?

Step three is using your brain. It’s about being critical. After step one and two, the assumption is that you are ready to make an informed judgment. It doesn’t matter if you’re for it, or against it. You also have the liberty to be neutral. Whatever your position may be, have the balls to stand up for it. So that even if somebody comes up to you and asks why you’re taking that side, you can say all the negative things about it, you can also say all the positive things, and yet, you can still slap to that person’s face why you’re taking the side you’re taking. But it’s better not to slap. Slap when obnoxiously asked and provoked.

These are too trivial, they say. We can almost do away with this. But look how people form judgments – not only about Cha-Cha, but life’s issues in general. I thought they knew the basics. Judgmental much.  

today's prayer.

Dear God,

Yung probsheets ko po, lahat for revision. Tanggap ko naman po na tao lang ako at nagkakamali, pero bakit po ganun? For revision na nga lahat, ibig sabihin wala pa akong topic, tapos sa August 7 pa rin yung deadline ng annotated bibliography? Ang sakit sakit po sa puso at isipan. Pwede po ba magpatulong? Naguguluhan na rin po kasi ako. Patatagin n’yo po ako.

Kailangan ko rin po ng tulong sa pag-aayos ng buhay ko. Kasi naman po, kung hindi kailangan, hindi ako makatulog. ‘Pag naman sobrang kailangan ko, ang bilis ko dapuan ng antok. Sobra ah. Alam ko po na hindi bawal matulog, pero po kung hindi kasya ang bente-kwatro oras para matapos ko ang lahat ng kailangan kong gawin, sa tinggin ko po, dapat matutunan kong isantabi ang mga bagay na pwede ko munang kalimutan. Matiisin naman po ako eh. Kailangan ko lang ng tulong. Tao lang po.

Mabanggit ko na rin po, ano? Itatanong ko lang din po kung bakit yung ibang mga tao ang insensitive. Minsan kung makaasta sila hindi nila alam na nakakasakit sila. Pero kapag naman ibinalik mo sa kanila yung ugali nila, akala mo kung sino magalit. God, kamusta naman? I think, kailangan nila ng guidance mo. 

At God, tama po ba lahat ng ginagawa ko? Kasi po kung hindi, sana po sabihin n’yo nalang sa akin. Ayoko po ipagpatuloy ang isang bagay na wala namang naghihintay sa huli. Matututo naman po ako sa ibang bagay, ‘di ba? Kaya ko masaktan, pero hindi po ngayon. Tulad po ng nabanggit, yung probsheets ko po for revision. Madaming trabaho na kailangan tapusin, mga deadline na kailangan habulin. Pero dahil kayo si God, alam n’yo po na masaya rin naman ako ngayon. Pero, tama naman po yung logic ko, ‘di ba? If you’re happy today, why not try to be happier tomorrow? God, patulong naman please. Salamat po. 

Amen.


Ay God, P.S.: UPCAT na po this weekend, pero yung kapatid ko hindi ko nakitang magrereview kahit minsan. May usapan po ba kayo na aanigan s'ya ng karunungan sa araw ng UPCAT? Or narinig n'yo po s'ya na kumakanta ng Jesus Take the Wheel? In any case, kayo na po ang bahala sa kanya. Salamat po ulit.

Amen.

'cause i doubt, i fear, i hesitate.

Truth is a creation of the mind. Part of it is convincing people that you have a point; that what you hold true is true across situations; that it’s better to accept it than not to understand. 

Thus, truth is also relative. People will always believe in different things. So that what is real, a creation of combined truths, is also relative. My reality is different from yours, or we may share certain truths, so to some extent we may say, my reality is also your reality. 

But it is in this partiality that we get lost. Reality, for the most part, appears only to be real. Appears to be real, unconfirmed, left to be debunked. For this partiality, we hesitate, we get afraid, we opt to wish and hope and not do anything about it. And sometimes when I think or feel that our realities touch, know that I doubt. 

I can’t force something that seems that’s not bound to happen to be real. This is my truth, we share it, thus this is our reality. But part of this reality is that we’re also partial. And even though how much I like you, I doubt because things only appear to be real. I fear. I hesitate.

***

Fred said, “If you have a chance to take the moment that you know will be memorable, grab it. Always think that the word ‘next time’ is always too far.” 

But Issa said, “Do not ever pursue a decision when you’re having even the slightest doubt about it. Save yourself from regrets.” 

But at the same time Fred answers, “Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will.” 

And yet Issa says, “There are times that it is better to let things happen rather than to insist on how you want them to be done.”

So, I wait because of doubt, fear, and hesitation. 

***

I want to wait. But at the same time, I feel that I can’t wait for something I want so badly. And for this partiality, I doubt, I fear, I hesitate. And I feel I’m bound to get nothing, and go nowhere.

because they appreciate me.

I love my Comm 3 class for different reasons. For one, my freshmen classmates are so perky - bibo at the right level. My professor is super nice. She laughs with us, not the pokerface kind. But above all, I love my Comm 3 class because I know they appreciate me. Well, at least I’m sure that one of them appreciates me.

Chapter 3 was about The Self and Intrapersonal Communication. So part of the reporters’ activity was related to the Johari Window. We used to do this back in high school during retreats and recollections. I thought it was going to bore me.

The reporters gave us paper. We folded it into two and were asked to put the characteristics we know of ourselves. This is what I wrote:

Then we were told to tape the blank side of the paper to our backs, formed groups, and were asked to write on each other’s sheets. This is what I got:

I’m sorry nalang. Hindi ko kilala kung sino nagsulat n’yan. So, it must really came from the heart.

***

I need to pass three problem sheets this Friday – two to three pages each, with a flow chart dissecting each problem, with 60 references in total. Mabuhay! This is the graduating student’s life.

the bar, better than any in the metro.

Probably during this same time, I was lying on the floor occasionally puking in a plastic bag while something else was happening around me. It’s such a pity that I can’t talk fully about last night. Because first, what happened there stays there. And second, my bad memory was severed by vodka.

At first there was a live guitar and drums performance, then came the singing, then the party music, then the dancing, then the pranks, and the things that happened in between. It was one hell of a night.

This is becoming a habit. Pero, kailangan maging strong. Next time, we have to fight the temptation. But of course, we’re not promising anything.

I don’t know how to end this entry. I’ll just post the last shot I took before leaving. This, I think, sums it all.

ethics.

My professor asked the class today, “What will you do if an advisee of a colleague consults you regarding his/her thesis?” We started making noise with our answers, so she had to call somebody. Random classmate answers and she agrees. My professor said, “Well, that's correct. But actually, you have several options. You can inform your colleague and tell him/her that his/her advisee is asking for your help.” There was a pause, then she added, “If that was my advisee, I’ll tell my colleague that it’s okay. Kanya na siya. Kanyang-kanya na.”

Advisers are there to help. But if you don’t trust your adviser’s capability, then at least have the decency to ditch him/her properly – given that you can. Don’t make your adviser feel irrelevant.

Because when he had enough, he’s had enough.

first day and mikee's day.

Rain isn’t really good for the first day of classes. It just makes everything wet and slippery. Instead of being able to roam around the University, run across the fields, and smell the fresh air of independence, you’ll end up under your umbrellas, cold, and if you’re lucky enough, wet under the rain because you forgot your rain gear.

Most of the UP freshies are now different. They weren’t the freshies that we were or the freshies that were before us. They put the CHA in chaka, especially that most them bring their moms, and even yayas around. They put the PA in pathetic, when they can’t even ask for themselves and would rather get lost looking for classes in the Faculty Center. They put the E in ewww because they would rather talk about their new phones, new condos, new cars, instead of, I don’t know, fostering great, lasting friendships. And yes, this is a hasty generalization. In any case, I still believe in them. Much more that they have the financial capital that will enable them to do so many things and embody what UP education stands for.

On a gloomier note, I enjoyed my first day today, not because it was perfect, but because I have learned to love the imperfections of the day. WTF.

Hindi ko lang talaga kinaya yung may seat plan sa auditorium. It was, at best, challenging and life changing. You’re forced to sit beside two random persons who, for the most part, are capable of nothing but awkwardness. Buti nalang groupmate ko si Jovan.

Today, I also skipped a class for the weirdest reason – I forgot I had a class. I don’t know how to explain it to the professor next meeting. But she can always check the time stamp on my Form 5 to prove that I did use the time enroll and not to flutter around looking for freshies with potential.

And also maybe because I wasn’t myself today, I just happened to have lost money. Money, which by the way, is very scarce lately. Sabi ko nga kanina, ‘Wala na nga akong pera, mawawalan pa ako ng pera.’ Pero sabi ko rin, ‘Kung wala na akong pera, bakit nawalan pa ako? Ibig sabihin, may pera pa ako, konti nga lang, sobra.’ I need to get a job.

Finally, just before I went home, Chel noticed that my left eye was swelling a bit. This eye swelling phenomenon has been happening since the summer of my first year. It has happened every summer then. I didn’t notice that it didn’t happen last summer because it didn’t. Apparently, it just got delayed. Hello, unwanted protrusion!

Anna O is also back in UP. It makes me happy ‘cause we’re now louder. I think this is going to be a great year with most of my friends around. So much for my first day. I’ll see you tomorrow.

P.S. Today is tomorrow because I just technically crossed a day. That means, it’s Mikee’s birthday today. Happy Birthday, Mikee! I wanted to post a photo, but you may not want the exposure and the attention that comes after. Cheers!

kinikilig ako, ayeee.

Moment 1: Today I was supposed to hear the 6:30 pm Mass in a nearby church. But I got too happy watching vids and playing Internet games. I turned off the computer at exactly 6:30 and told myself that it’s okay to be 15 minutes late. When I finished dressing up, it’s already 7.

Moment 2: I aimed for the 7 pm Mass. I told myself that it’s okay to be 15 minutes late. I rode a jeep to church no. 2 and paid 20 pesos. I was expecting a 13 peso change, but the driver told me to wait for it. When the church was just around the corner, I asked for the change, but he was snubbing me. So, I raised my voice. He asked for 2 pesos, I was then expecting a 15 peso change. I pulled the string to make the jeep stop, grabbed my change, and jumped off the jeep. I opened my hand and got 5 freaking pesos.

Moment 3: I easily get dizzy when I stand too long. Guess who fainted during his grade school graduation because his fellow graduates, and their parents, were so in the zone marching?! Ehem. Anyways, because I was late for the Mass, I had to stand at the back of the church. I thought I was strong. I expected to finish the Mass strong. But I got dizzy towards the end. Read: hazy eyesight, hot ears, and weak knees. Good thing I found an extra space where I can kneel. I faked praying, and told myself to breath, you are strong. Then, I opened my eyes and found a vacant seat. I took the seat and hoped to be fine to receive the communion. When I thought I was okay. I walked towards the lay minister. And that’s when he turned his back and went back to the altar. Oh yeah!

Moment 4: Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin, Body of Christ). I didn’t understand the homily because the priest was old and gibberish. And out of everything that seemed like a rant, this was the only one that made sense: “When you give everything to a person, you expect to be given everything back. But as Christians, we should be selfless like our Lord Jesus Christ.” I was like, “Oh yes, father! Let’s talk about giving everything, and being selfless.”

Moment 5: Mama and Papa were watching a feature on Manila Ocean Park earlier. Obviously, they were showing swimming fishes. I don’t know what my father saw, but I heard him protest, “Oh! Ginagataan yan ah!” I wonder what fish that was. Kinunot na pagi? O kinunot na pating?

Moment 6: My new play list includes, ‘I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You)’, but I think ‘1234’, so please ‘Give Me a Chance’, because I want you to be my ‘Everything’. FTW!

That’s all folks! I’m back!

sorry.

I woke up at around 12 pm because I can’t force myself back to sleep anymore. I went out of the room, sat on the sofa, and stared blankly at the floor. My mom saw me and asked what’s wrong. Maybe she heard me cry last night. And I wish I knew why I cried last night. Sabi ko pa naman kay Ferds na parang ang corny umiyak mag-isa, parang episode before suicide – walang ibang tao para i-comfort ka, ikaw at ikaw lang talaga.

Sa totoo lang, sobrang gulo ng mundo ko ngayon. From manageable to chaotic in one night. I really find it hard to fix everything lately. Maybe I did things to offend people. How I wish they’d just understand me right now. I have grown paranoid, and extra sensitive. And it’s not helping.

I’ve been thinking about so many things lately. That includes death. I trust myself that I won’t do it. I didn’t even want to mention this here. I don’t want sympathy. But I feel the more I hold things back for myself, the harder for me to handle myself. I need to breathe.

You just don’t have the idea how weird it feels to look at the ceiling and think of hanging yourself, to remember that you can hang yourself and die sitting, to take a late night bath and feel like you’re preparing for something, to want to cry but you just can’t do it, to remember how to be strong.

I’m not writing for show. I just want people to understand that I’m just human. I commit mistakes. I always try to be happy. I get frustrated. I get tired. And I understand that I can’t ask the world to be gentle.

I’m not dying soon. Or at least, I wish. I took chances, got overwhelmed with uncertainties, it bumped me off track. I’m on the process of reverting, stay with me, people. Stay with me.

it was me, not the alcohol.

I feel shitty especially after everything that happened last night. I just don’t get it. I don’t blame the alcohol. I blame friends who tried to play savior. I don’t want people thinking that just because I’m tipsy, it follows that I’m too loose to think for myself. Puta naman.

Oo nga, nandun na tayo. Friends, we love each other like brothers and sisters. But sometimes, let me fall off the cliff. Or let’s jump off the cliff together. Or you can always break my fall. Or after falling together, let’s talk about the experience. ‘Cause friends, sometimes, I need to learn it by myself. I love y’all, but I just have to do things on my own.

But love is solid when I have like 8 out of 10 friends who’ll be willing to catch me after the jump. For that, much love and thanks goes for everybody.

And as for you: I’m an English major. We learned how to analyze sentences on the surface, down to its deep structure. But you know what; there is something in ‘I appreciate your honesty’ that I don’t get. That’s something that you have to spell out for me. And that’s something that I have to be okay with.

I remember bits and pieces. I trust my friends when they try to fill the gap. One question: what’s holding you back?

touch my hand.

I’m currently listening to Touch My Hand. This is ultimate LSS. I was listening to it from the moment I sat in front of the computer, and it’s 2 am in the morning. It makes me all light and jumpy. It bangs my brain cells. It makes me feel happy.

So common y’all. Let’s sing:

debsoc semplanning.

I never thought of making a bathroom as a common hall. Or to even create one bathroom with two doors connecting two rooms. It’s as amazing as calling a place Malacanan as it shatters the affixed idea of an at least decent palace. Nevertheless, it was fun, because for one, there was the alcohol and two, because we were productive.

Not that I’m proud, but I was an hour late. Call time was 5 am, I arrived at 6. It was because I decided not to sleep anymore, but found myself snatching a quick nap. I woke up at 3:30 am with an unpacked bag. So just imagine the struggle to think what to prioritize first – bath or bag, bath or bag? Then, the morning drivers weren’t too energetic, and aren’t really willing to step on the accelerator. So, there I was late.

The sem planning proper was okay. With a sleeping bag, an uninflated air bed, and a double deck, we were locked up in a room for a whole day. The room had an aircon that froze with ice after hours, that explains the need to defrost to make it function again. And yes, the LCD projector made things worse. It released hot air like a bonfire for those who sat on the floor.

We had lunch and dinner breaks, and breakfast for the morning after. Angelo was our head cook. We also had a bagful of chocolates from Pearl. And I also understand that it was AnaRod’s first time to cook rice and Anna A’s first time to cook corned beef – which was …. Okay, moving on.

I don’t know what time we actually ended. All I know is that I wanted to sleep towards the end, and so I did after Anna thanked us for participating and for being strong and resilient like the bamboo. Okay, part false matter. When I woke up, people were already in the pool, some were just talking in other rooms, and some were living the rockstar life. Read: booze, cigs, and videoke.

And remember what I told you about not puking when drinking? I take it back.

This would probably be my last sem planning with Debsoc, as it is also my first time. It sucks to think that I’m on my last year. But I can always be the alumnus who would grace the next.

The start of classes was moved. That just gave me an extra week of being unproductive. Good thing, I attended this. Cheers for Pansol!

Special thanks to Pearl.

making it good for memories.

I just finished reading Lean’s entry today. His thoughts on his last year in college, on leaving his family again, on returning to a gloomy Baguio, on what has happened throughout the years, on the idea of ending, is just depressing. His is not that different to mine. It’s my last year in college and there’s that subtle pressure of making it good for memories. It forces me to pause, think, and sigh. Like every good thing, you just can’t help but wish it wouldn’t stop.

It’s depressing too that this is a depressing entry. Emo, at best. With the weather outside and the silent room behind me and this computer, being emo is the default mood for writing. I haven’t finished enrolling yet. This means that today, there’s a high chance to see friends, blockmates, coursemates, even random individuals that I seem to see often, again.

Last year. I’m now counting down the days that I’ll be able to see these faces again within UP. I’ll definitely miss CAL, DECL and the staff that makes it one of best departments in Diliman, my English professors, the Institute of Creative Writing, the Creative Writing professors that I have had, FC and our nook in Galeria 2, random instructors/professors that I love even if I haven’t been under them, classmates turned friends, the CAL librarians, who for the most part are still capable of being nice, our ever loving CAL guards Mang Boy and Mang Amor, Magdangal, Katag, even the chickens! And yes, including Debsoc.

I need to be happy. I have two full semesters ahead of me. This is my last year. I’m clashing head-on. Let’s all make it good.

wask, 'di buo.

Tumangis ako ngunit walang mga luha na magsasabi na sadyang ginawa nga. Naka-upo, nakalupasay, may pagnanais na itigil ang pagkilos sa magulong mundo na ito at hayaan nalang itong uminog hanggang maiwan ako. May pagnanais na maging tulad ng bato sa ilog – nakapirmi at nagmamasid – dahil sa lahat ng ito, seryoso, pagod na ako.

Si Patrick, balahura pero totoo. Sa sobrang totoo, nasaktan ako nung tinanong n’ya, “kailan kita makikitang hindi umaasa?” Sabi ko, “putang ina mo.” Pero siguro habang buhay nalang akong ganito. Kadiri, totoo.

1:30. Bahala na ang ulan lunurin ang pungay ng aking mga mata hanggang malusaw ang bugnot ng gabi. Nang sa pagputok ng umaga makita ng langit ang namumugtong mata. Ngingiti upang ikubli, dali-dali. Isang huwad.

Isa sa mga paraan upang dayain ang pagpapahayag ng damdamin sa pagsusulat: PUTANG INA.

Sa totoong buhay, hindi ako mahilig tumakbo. Pero kanina, takbo ako ng takbo.

Diwang pinagkaitan ng linaw at pagkakaisa, sa watak-watak na pangungusap nagkakasiya. Pilit mang lumikha ng isang buo, bandang huli, bumabagsak rin sa pormang ganito.

bleh.

I fell asleep with Sean on the sofa. I woke up at 3 am and decided that I can’t take it anymore. My back was then hurting and Sean was already occupying most of the space. I wanted to stretch so bad, and so I’ve decided to continue sleeping on my own bed. When I woke up, my back was still hurting, and it hurts even more. And as of typing time, Sean is still sleeping comfortably. I want to wake up the freaking cat for revenge.

Tomorrow is June 2. That means, with the 6 units that I got from the magnificent CRS, my miseries will also start tomorrow. I need 2 MSTs, an AH, and a major. June 3 is another Epistaxis day. June 4 is HS batchmate day. June 5-6 is Debsoc semplanning. June 9 is the start of first semester ‘09-‘10. Oh, how can I possibly rest? I feel so bleh.

My hair is frustrating. It makes me sad. I think I’ll get a haircut today.

quirky.

So, I was late for Fast Forward today. My mom can’t still absorb why I had to go to UP even if my summer classes are already over. Enrollment starts next week, then I’m off to Debsoc sem planning next weekend (hopefully), then come Tuesday, my days as a senior student will start.

***

Trix had to go to Math building to appeal the final grade that she got. And since me and Tina weren’t really doing anything earlier, we came with her. We took the old Toki route because we thought it would be faster. We went past the old Registrar, the then called Teletubby Land, and saw the abandoned construction site. And because we’re bibo and all, we chose to climb the steep slope instead of taking the long road that goes around. I slipped from the first slope I tried to climb and got my left hand peeled a bit. The next slope was kinder. I took pictures of Tina and Trix from the top.

***

I don’t know if my mind is too polluted. But, these pictures found at the back of Milo sure looks…weird.

me, first day, phil fashion week 09.

Last night I was at SMX for the first day of Philippine Fashion Week Holiday ‘09. I wouldn’t be there if not for Pom who gave the invites for Marlon Rivera’s show. Invites, which by the way, are scarce. So I really, really have to thank Pom for this one.

Going there was an event in itself. Especially when you have Mahon being in MRT when Karmina already passed 9 stations and me, being able to catch up when she already reached Taft. We didn’t know what happened to her. Maybe she mistook a PNR station as a MRT station. Trivia: Mahon arrived last at SMX. So, my theory has potential. Joking.

I felt bad for Mahon and Karmina too. They were both wearing yellow dresses. Karmina’s had prints, Mahon’s was plain. I was wearing green. Together, we looked like mangoes, or bananas, or even bamboos! So we had to spread out a bit.

I think Pom went out twice. She looked like a different person altogether. She was more of Andromeda, less as Pom. You can see that she really like love what she’s doing.

I also saw Sarah Myers last night. She was freakin’ tall, as in freakin’ tall. Mahon even said, “mahihirapan s’ya maghanap ng partner dito, kailangan pa n’ya manigbangbansa.” Ganun siya katangkad, friend! Gina de Venecia was sitting on the first row. I wasn’t really expecting her to be there, much more to be on the first row.

It was a quick show. But it was good. There were clothes that I wanted to have, but I wished there were more for guys. Charcoal and black were dominant. Some were in plum, some in silver, while some in a shade of blue that I don’t really like. For me, the strength of the collection is its wearability.

Fashion Week continues up until June 3. Again, don’t forget to watch Philippine Fashion Week TV at ETC, 9pm if you want to see the collections without leaving your homes. I just learned that they were showing last year's collection. But you can still watch for the sheer delight of it.