I think this was taken May 6th last year after my entrance examination to my school. I don’t know why I have to re-take because I’m just a returning student. Anyway, the night before, this house where I’m in had their Housewarming Party. It’s actually the house that my mom designed. She worked on the interior and the landscapes.

Sorry for my bad hair day. It’s because of the previous night.

We ate dinner outside and saw this cute lil kitty prolly saying goodnight!

September 24, 2011

I just came home from our National Service Training Program (NSTP) exposure in a home for the aged nearby. Once again, I chose home for the aged because I simply love old people especially when they tell stories about their experiences and all the knowledge they earned over the years. It’s like my heart is attached to theirs. It’s like I understand them or maybe because I really am good in understanding a person.

I thought at first, that the home for the aged itself looks like a hospital. But no, the idea of it that’s a house is welcoming. Once we entered, I saw the elders. I sat beside this old lady on a wheelchair playing sungka (mancala) with the nurse.

When they finished their round, I realized that she couldn’t barely speak… I spotted next the other old lady right beside me. She smiled and I smiled back. She asked me if her duster dress is fine or she needs to change. I said it’s fine. I looked at everyone after. Other students were talking to the elders. My eyes got teary-eyed. I’m not sure about the reason but old people are one of my weaknesses. When the prayer started, I tried hiding my tears by wiping them. 

After the prayer, each group was given a piece of paper with names of the elders in it. We were asked to choose individually. I waited for my groupmates to pick their choice and the one remaining will be mine. I didn’t choose mine on purpose because I know He did it on purpose, too. The remaining name is Rosita and I’ve seen her already. She’s the woman with a surly expression who passed by me earlier. I knew the reason why she wasn’t chosen by my groupmates. Hmm… “This is a challenge and I like it!” She’s somehow like my grandmother who has the same expression when she doesn’t like what’s happening around her or simply because she doesn’t like the person she’s talking to. I’m glad I already know how to handle with this type of people. (It’s May 2012 and few weeks ago, she died. It’s so sad that I wasn’t able to see her before she passed away. I wasn’t able to give her the shirt that she asked me to bring her when summer comes. I was supposed to be there for our NSTP 2 class)

I tried starting the conversation when she interrupted me and asked, “Are you guys just here to interview?” I said while smiling, “Oh… no… We’ll probably do something later.” I was shy and I simply hid my paper and pen so that she won’t think that we’re just doing this for our subject’s sake. I stopped asking questions first and let her do the talking. At first, I was a bit afraid of her that she wouldn’t like me. But later on, she started smiling already. She’s from Davao in Mindanao and grew up in the mountains. I pointed out our same experience. She said that it’s good to live in the mountains when it comes to food. I told her about my experience when I was in Bicol. She said she misses eating fresh fruits and food in general. It’s because according to her, she doesn’t eat quite a lot when her urinary tract infection started weeks ago. When I asked her if she ever got the chance to go back to their home, she justified that she doesn’t want to. She was treated by her relatives badly. She was generous to them but when the time came that she had no money already, all of them said bad things to her. “It’s better to live with people that are not your relative.” She had one child and she died already. Her granddaughter, meanwhile, was raped by their relatives, too. When one of her relative learned that she knew about her granddaughter, he told her that he will cut off her head. She immediately asked someone to lend her money and flew away. She, then, went to Manila. She sent her granddaughter to other place though. She lost all her money and so she spent few nights in Quiapo church wherein Chinese people who passes by bring her to restaurants to eat. But after a few days, the social welfare asked her questions and sent her to a home for the aged in Quezon City which is the Golden Acres. She spent a few months there and was transferred to Kanlungan ni Maria last November of 2010. Some of the old women are not fond of her, too. Even old people have dramas with their lives just like what we see in chick flicks and I know that. They have insecurities too of course. 

When we were at the church already. She told me about how she spent her younger years. During her teen, she had this knee-length hair and wears short shorts with knee socks or boots on. She described how sexy she was. She told me that women during her time were all sexy and thin compared to the women now. “That’s why, take care of your body. It’s nicer to be sexy.” She brushes my hair with her hands. Maybe because she remembered her long hair before. “Ah! I’ll give you hair bands that I made later.” Anyway, about her married life, she had a husband in an early age of 16! She chose to split with him for the reason that her husband seems to love his friends more and oftentimes bring them home to drink or party and after that she’s the one who cleans up all their mess. They were just 21 during that time! I asked her why she didn’t marry again. “There’s no one. I don’t like guys who argues a lot.”

She saw other students laughing with their mouths open, “Don’t laugh like that, okay? During our time, ladies were discreet. When you laugh, laugh softly (like giggling). It’s because when you laugh out so loud, it’s like you’re calling the attention of all the men around you. That’s what we think during our time. I hate girls who laugh like that.” 

She even mentioned late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. She was a favorite because of her appearance. She serves with events like involving celebrities or politicians like a waitress. I could imagine how attractive she was way back then.

We played Bingo with them

Our professor showing his magic tricks

I cried while giving my goodbye message to the elders

Here’s my view walking back the dormitory

I’m really glad I took that course. Again, I learned a lot from this experience.

Wow! These are photos from last year! And twas Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding day. I’m not quite sure if I posted already from that time of the year using these photos but I might as well be sure and so here are they:

This is my cousin’s new pair of shoes

My older sister, cousin Joyce and I are attentive watching the Royal Wedding online

Had dinner at Sinangag Express

Went to Cherry Studios after dinner for a rehearsal. Oh no, it’s not me, it’s my younger sister

Me, trying to do the Demi Lovato pose

Lilbro

Here’s my younger sister diva

Family friend MJ rocking it off

Penny Laney

Psst.. Can I tell you a little secret?

I’ve been secretly posting posts on Facebook and setting its privacy to ‘Only Me’ then after a few days, changing it to Friends. Simply because I don’t want everyone to read the things I have to say. But what’s the point of having a Facebook account if that’s the issue? I don’t know. It’s just that, I’m not comfortable at the moment to publish my thoughts especially that I’m having the time of my life right now being a couch potato at home, spending a midsummer night’s dream.