What happened to your high school valedictorian?

Saw this asked by one I am following on my favorite social networking site. No, it’s not the one one might be thinking of. Not you, Facebook, although I am tempted to post this also to my wall or to Alma Mater’s wall without having to sound negative but that’s not possible I decided otherwise.

This caught my interest and somehow the query have gotten some variable answers too which me all the more interested to the topic. Apparently, not all got successful after the graduation, but still some managed to live with the expectation for the title being given them. Some are reaping he rewards of hard labor, some still struggling to do so. Some have given up trying, some just stop trying while one happened to stop without trying. Successful and unsuccessful individual in different mix. Then again, success is relative term. It depends on the measure one has on how a person is perceived to be successful. I myself seems to be perceived by others as somewhat successful but I am thinking otherwise.

I have a lot to prove. Not only to other people but to myself. I haven’t reached the minimum potential I require myself to get into. Of course, I can only do so much and I have to wait for some thing to come into place. Heck yeah, destiny.

So what happened to our high school valedictorian? She’s happily married with two kids. She might not became a professional as others expected her to be but I’d say she’s on the right track. As long as she’s happy where she is now, then the title she got many years back doesn’t measure her success in life today.

Pinoy cares… less

Hours ago was kind of windy in here. While it was not exactly that strong, it was able to scatter the garbage bins all over the gas station island in the place I am working. Working alone at that time and with still much to do before the morning rush comes, I decided to leave those bins scattered and wait for the cover shift to come so he or I can get out and put these bins in place. Besides, I am not allowed to leave the vicinity so not much of a choice really even if I wanted to run out and do it.

So morning rush came and I pretty much occupied with the things to juggle inside the store – cleaning, coffee brewing, managing the grill and manning the register, almost all at once. So customers come and go the store and while I see one (or two) of the gas pumps outside is not serviceable since three garbage bins are blocking those pumps, I can only apologize to the customers if they have to ask why not someone would take care of the mess outside. Well no one really bothered to ask about it since there are other pumps they can use if they have to pump gas. Until one customer mentioned it when I am taking care of the stuffs he bought.

“Bakit nagkalat pa iyong mga basurahan sa labas.” he quipped.

“Mag-isa lang po ako kaya hindi ako makalabas para ayusin…” I answered.

“Mag-isa ka lang? Anong oras darating kasama mo?”

“Alas siyete pa po.”

“Bayaran mo na lang ako at ako ang mag-aayos. Sampu.” he smiled saying.

I just smiled back. The heck, a minute work to be paid for a hour worth?

From outside, one customer that is about to pump gas (and although the pump he is about to use is clear of the mess.) took his time to put the garbage bins that is blocking the pump in front of his truck. The man I am talking with notice this also.

“Hayan, maayos na iyong ibang basura” he told.

“Oo nga po.” I answered back though I have observed he was hesitant to point that out to me.

As he is going back to his car, at the back of my mind I was expecting him to do just what the other customer has done on the other island. It’s not because it was expected of him but out of courtesy. He saw what the other guy did and he even has the guts to tell me the deed so I suppose he can step up and do just the same on the other island. Never mind of the pay he is asking.

Ok, I am expecting him to do a good deed but also I know I expect too much and I was right. He past the mess and go on and drive to where I know he will be paid for the job he is about to accomplish. The hesitation was a dead giveaway. Mind your own business, eh? But wait, he just minded other’s business, I so thought.

It was a small gesture that if was done, I could have been more proud than ever. Instead, it left me a mark that asking, do we care for a solution on the messes around us even if it is not our job to do it but a person we know needed help at the moment? Do we just move on our lives and care less on things around us?

It the incident not a clear representation of who we are? I can only hope so.

Survivor Philippines revisited

For three days now, Facebook page of Survivor Philippines has been flooding my timeline with live updates with quotes from the castaways on each episodes that has been shown now. I, for one, don’t like it. One word – spoiler. But this triggered my curiosity to watch it anyways.

Okay, for the record, I didn’t saw any of the episode of the third Philippine installment of the franchise. It was mainly because of Richard Gutierrez. It was a miscast, I believe, and I still do after watching the episodes now. Everything is just wrong with Richard being the host. Everything. I really wished it was Paolo Abrera or even Drew Arellano doing the job. But I digress.

So, the three episodes is summed up mainly of the Geneva drama. It pissed me really. But I’ll go there later.

Some side comments first:

— As Betong have observed: Is this really a Filipino edition? English speaking much, eh? Honestly, this conyo and kolehiyala speaking castaways amuses me in a bad way.
— When the cast was revealed, I was going for Gino. Am still rooting for him this early but I have no problem so far whoever is going to win this time. But it’s too early to tell and the way they will play their games will help me determine on how I gauge them if they played it well and played it good. For now, I’m for Gino and John of the Volcanoes. And Stef.
— No problem with the casting, specially with the Coming Duo. I hope they will last in the game. They are badly needed there if only to endure the existence of the non-existing host that is of Richard Gutierrez.
— Rooting for Bulan tribe this early. I feel they are the better team despite the early misunderstanding between partners on the the tribe.

And there’s the Geneva drama. Honestly, I don’t know where the bursts of emotions are coming from. No, she is not misunderstood as she is trying to imply. She is just unreasonable. I’m trying to get the logic on her every burst but I just don’t get it. She’s talking about her values going against the way the game is played. The heck, she should have not considered of joining the game in the first place if only to decide to quit on the first day (just a few hours when everything has started.) That’s insane. She’s there for KC, because KC really wanted to play Survivor? Doh. She would declined the offer and still KC would played still. I bet there would other people KC have relationship with (i.e., his brother Colby!, or Heaven even or anyone except her.) I knew why the production chose her as she would seem to fit for the game. Apparently, the production got it wrong. She’s just a bad actress (sorry, but she is!) with so much attitude to handle. Oh well, maybe one day in the Survivor-setting island can really make one person like that.

So there, my first three episode rant on my beloved Survivor Philippines. Will I watch the fourth episode tonight? Probably not. Reason? As I have said before, this daily routine ala-telenovela treatment is not for me. Might as well have a marathon on a weekend if I have to. Also, did I already said that Richard Gutierrez sucks as the host?

——-
OT but still on Survivor: Ozzy Lusth need not win the game to deserve the title of Survivor. He already is without compromise in my opinion. Imba siya. I hope (although not totally convinced) that he will make it to the very end. The odds is against him but I strongly believe he can do it.

Discoveries lately

Just finished reading Tai-pan by James Clavell and I am proud of the accomplishment. Sure, it took me about six months to finish it but I am so glad I’m already done with it.

Got the copy of the book last December when I saw it lying on a bookstore selling second-hand copies. I thought I will never get a chance again of having a copy of it if I would opt not to buy it.  Besides, I have decided before that I will have to read at least one book that is I have thought myself of reading. A genre that is not the usual read for me (read: romance or humor). I have read somewhere of the title and there seems to be some raves on it so I decided Tai-pan would be it. Also, I only bought it at P30, a price too cheap that is equivalent to a cheap snacks.

Actually, Tai-pan is not the first book I have read on the same genre. I also have read a less known title before it. But I digress.

So, what have I found about the book? At first, I would say that I got intimidated of starting it since even at the start I know that the reading is too different from what I am used to reading. I thought it was too big for me since I have not read a 700+ -paged novel before. Also, History is not within my understanding so that is another would be another hindrance I am risking to understand really what I am reading.

But that said, I thought that I have done reading with much fun and suspense and I won’t mind of re-reading it again to see what I have missed without being bored with the book. Notwithstanding, I thought I already got the idea of the whole novel. More than a fictional history novel, it tells more of people and how they are related with each other. Personally, the novel got me to think more outside my own biases, opinions, and issues – to be more understanding of everybody’s beliefs not only as an individual but as part of a group/race.

Just a non-sense random thought.

BeLEEver

This could be the second (or third) season in a row when my bet since the start of the semifinals actually end up winning the American Idol title. Last time, Kris Allen was it.

But even if Lee will not make it, I’m still cool with it – just like last year. Crystal Bowersox has been living up with the hype eversince the start and there is nothing wrong if she will win it eventually. After last year’s upset, it could be good if that will not happen this year. But I am still positive that Lee DeWyze will be it.

Minutes away of declaring the winner. Can’t. Wait.

Procrastinating much

These last few days, I have so many time to kill that I was not able to accomplish much things that has to be done.

I have been neglecting so many things since I left the world I have been so familiar with in the last six years. I try to enjoy the moment yet I know that I will have to prepare for the next phase of this journey.

I’m taking it one at a time. Guilty of too much procrastination. This has to end.

——

And oh by the way, good luck to Lee DeWyze.

new beginning

With so many false starts that happened – from the new year, to the chinese new year, to some other “starting line” I have created just to have a decent thing to begin with – I hope this will be it.

It’s just so frustrating when you decided to begin on a clean slate then get it so dirty right away – getting sick, swamped with non-essentials, getting tired too easily.

But it’s not that bad, anyway. My rhythm is getting back with better things to look forward to in coming days. And 180-degree changes are coming soon.

I’ll just have to embrace to this changes as they unveil. Can’t wait for it to begin.

Again.

(Recap) The Unpredictable Survivor Philippines: Palau

It’s been more than a week when Amanda was declared as the second Pinoy Sole Survivor. Here’s my thought.

First off, I was disappointed that the ritual of remembering-the-castaways-that-was-gone-before-them-by-gathering-one-by-one-their-snuffed-torches-and-burn-everything-after was not done by the final three. Although it was less exciting when it was done on the first season, I was still looking forward for it but it was scrapped altogether much to my dismay.

I got a mixed feeling on Amanda’s win. While I was glad that one of my two initial favorites to win the game (together with Marvin), at the same time I am not thrilled of her win because her win meant that Mika got what she wanted – she, too, won when Amanda got the another three nods from the juries.

sp2: palau (cycle thirteen) it’s “sugar” all over again

Whew! That’s got to be the one of the best tribal council in this season.

Maybe it’s just me but I think I have seen this happen in Survivor: Gabon. Sugar – the swing-voter. Sugar – the power player. Sugar – the weak player that made it to the end. Sugar – the sweet girl. And the same Sugar who got no vote from the jury on the final tribal council. In this Philippine version, Sugar’s counterpart would be Jef. And I am betting Jef suffered the same fate as that of Sugar as I don’t see any of the jury will give her the title. Not one.

So that means jury will choose only between Amanda and Justine. And my instinct says that Justine will get at least four of the votes. For sure, she will get Echo and Charles’ vote. And maybe Shaun’s, Zuki’s, Marvin’s and Tara’s. Either one may give the vote to Amanda but I doubt there will be two of them giving the vote to her. The only vote that will surely be for Amanda will be Mika.

My fearless forecast is that Justine will be the second Pinoy Sole Suvivor. 6-1-0. It may be 5-2-0. I doubt it will be 4-3-0.

And if there will be texter’s vote once again, I think it will be close call but even without it Justine will still prevail.

sp2: palau (cycle twelve) keep your “enemies” closer

MIKA was voted off! YES! YES! YES!

(got busy – so i will edit this about my thots when this cycle was shown on tv) But I am happy that Mika will not make it to the top three. Yes!