It means exactly what it says.

Okay, let’s get this straight. First things first, we were - are would be a more appropriate word, since it’s still a necessity for the betterment of our grades - required by T. Ygy, our Comm. Arts teacher, to keep a blog and update it weekly. She’s going to give out questions at the start of each week and we’re supposed to answer them in our blogs with our thoughts, comments and, of course, responses to the given question. With no grammatical errors.

Oh, and hey. Due to a comment from my Dad (many thanks to you!) I edited my post and modified what was in need of…well, modification.

So, to the question!

For a “role model” to be a “role model,” he need not be perfect. He need not be a genius like Einstein, a world-famous athlete like Beckham or be the President of some country for people to admire him. For me, all that I can ever ask for in a person would be whatever there is in my Dad.

He isn’t perfect. Oh no, he also makes mistakes like everyone else. But the important thing is, he learns from them. A genius? What kind of knowledge are we pertaining to? Knowledge about Alpha-Carbon Reactions* or…or Nucleosynthesis of Heavy Isotopes*? No, he isn’t an astrophysicist. I don’t think he is. But the knowledge about us, his family? Oh, I can say he’s undeniably a genius in that field! And lastly, he isn’t world-famous. I don’t think a random guy in Caloocan who’s got nothing to do with him would give a damn about his name. But that’s what makes my Dad…him.

Before himself, his happiness, and even his well-being, he places us first. He’d gladly give anything to see us okay. He doesn’t go out with his barkada (I don’t even think he has one) but instead tries to go home early every day after work to spend more time with us. He’d try to help us with our homework when we need help, and even reads a book to my brother when my brother asks for a bedtime story despite his fatigue and desire to sleep. He laughs with us, eats with us, jokes with us, cares for us, loves us…

My Dad is just another ordinary father. He’s simple: he doesn’t need Armani designer clothes anytime during his whole lifetime. He’s caring: what else could be the reason behind the hours of work he spends everyday for his family? He’s loving: after all, what kind of un-loving father would put up with your mood swings and complaints and behavioral misgivings in your report card? And he’s well-versed when it comes to history. See? He’s just like any father.

But what separates him from them, what gives him a leverage and differentiates him, is the fact that he’s my Dad. And I love him for who he is. Bald spots and all.

—

* These are terms that I can safely say I have no idea what on earth they mean. Nevertheless, they are two words I got by searching for astrophysics terms. All disclaimers apply (do they, I mean I don’t know these terms and I just got it from a website?).

Well actually, the high schoolers are going to have this sort of buddy system that encompasses all four levels of…uh, for the lack of a better word to use, high school. What’s it for again? Wait a sec, let me consult our circular…aha!

“It is a form of mentorship-training program for the students, as well as means to welcome the freshmen into the high school family. The aims of this program would include the fostering of unity throughout the different high school levels, as well as to develp the value of accountability and responsibility for others.”

My thoughts ’bout it? It’s okay, I guess. I mean, I have no reason to complain yet (keyword: yet). We eat together every recess and lunchtime, basking in the infinite silence of our meetings - oh wait! Got that wrong. With Junichi there, I’m not exactly sure if silence could be attainable. In a positive manner, mind you, because silence isn’t exactly the best way to welcome our freshmen and a little bit of noise here and there could be a great way of initiating a “friendly” atmosphere.

Oh yeah, my buddies are: Kuya Justin Santos (he’s usually the first one to initiate our conversations), the eternally effervescent Junichi Saliba (need I say more?), JM Cabuquit (he’s a…classmate, a person who seats on the opposite side of the classroom, miles away from me; I’ve got no other comments, seriously), Marsha Nackaerts (the other girl aside from me; we’re busmates, in fact, and I’ve been seeing her face for the past five years and probably for three more), and Michael Ferrer (the cousin of Ate Mariel; Mr. silent guy). So, as you see, there’s a nice combination of the silent guys and the…not-so-silent dude - ahem! - dudes in our buddy circle. And I’m hoping it’ll will work out. The past two days have not been leading us closer to our goal of developing the value of accountability and responsibility for others but rather to … I prefer not to make a comment. I mean, we haven’t even properly assigned what food we’re gonna bring on Friday yet!

Sigh… Oh well. We still have a year to fix the glitches barring our way to the desired “friendship” relationship goal that this buddy circle is helping catalyze. A year more. A year to go. Just a few more months left…

…Dear God, I hope I don’t go crazy by the end of the year!

And the first week of school is done.

Personally, I thought it was just like any other first weeks of school. Except for the fact that the usual excitement accompanying first days of school was gone, our curriculum was different, and I was not late for five consecutive days. And yeah, I attended varsity practices faithfully. And washed my soccer clothes afterwards, and arrived home fifteen minutes past six… Well, fine. This isn’t like any other first week of school. It’s busier and more eventful and busier. Or am I just imagining things?

Needless to say, I am cutting time from completing my Chemistry activity sheet to update this blog since I am about 90% done (take note: 90% done; I am not shirking away from my responsibilities).

Yesterday’s general assembly was alloted for signing up for our preferred clubs. Boy, were the lines long! Good thing I immediately went in line for the IT Guild so I was able to sign up third in the club of my first choice after Ate Joan and Ate Samantha. Next was the very long line for the Ping-Pong Club. The first choice slots were full, but thank goodness the Ping-Pong Club was my second choice or I would’ve been disappointed. Sir Leo even extended the list for first choice from sixteen to twenty-four! And my third choice was the production group of Performing Arts. It was either that club or Cartooning but since the line for the latter was long, it was the former I went in line to.

Oh yeah, yeah. Since this blog entry is entitled Agenda For The Day, I must include my to-do list since…it is possible that I forget what I should be doing and be enraptured with some other task entirely. So here it is:

• Chemistry Activity Sheet
• Geography (4 cycles; can be done tomorrow)
• Fil/AP Homework
• Fix Biology Materials for Monday
• Fix Chemistry Materials
• and if possible, read Chapters 1-2 of Chemistry book

 So there, I have updated my blog again and it is 99.99% sure that my next update date would be next Saturday since it’s school time and I can’t afford to lag behind my studies. Ciao!

I’D LIE

Taylor Swift

I don’t think that passenger seat
Has ever looked this good to me
He tells me about his night
And I count the colors in his eyes He’ll never fall in love, he swears
As he runs his fingers through his hair
I’m laughing ‘cause I hope he’s wrong
I don’t think it ever crossed his mind
He tells a joke, I fake a smile
But I know all his favorite songs
And…

[chorus]
I could tell you, his favorite color’s green
He loves to argue, born on the seventeenth
His sister’s beautiful, he has his father’s eyes
And if you ask me if I love him,
I’d lie

He looks around the room
Innocently overlooks the truth
Shouldn’t a light go on?
Doesn’t he know that I’ve had him memorized for so long?

He sees everything black and white
Never let nobody see him cry
I don’t let nobody see him wishing he was mine

[chorus]

He stands there then walks away
My God, if I could only say
I’m holding every breath for you…

He’d never tell you but he can play guitar
I think he can see through everything
But my heart
First thought when I wake up is
My God, he’s beautiful
So I put on my make up
And pray for a miracle

Yes, I could tell you his favorite color’s green
He loves to argue, oh and he kills me
His sisters beautiful he has his father’s eyes
And if you asked me if I love him
If you ask me if I love him
I’d lie

First week of school is nearly over! Boy, we had a major curriculum change. For example, the first years are studying Noli-Me-Tangere which is for the third years instead of Ibong Adarna. And we’re studying Geometry instead of Statistics. But hey, I’m not complaining! It is a welcome change.

So our TIC is none other than T. Ygy! We have three new classmates: Patricia, a bubbly taekwondo athlete with an exotic personality, Art, a tall, thin guy wearing glasses, and of course, none other than classmate-since-Level-Two Erik. Well, I’m hoping our second year would be very fun. Along with the varsity practice everyday and THE deadly Kumon Math, that is.

And thus you see the new appearance of my blog (personally, I mourn the loss of the teddy bear on the upper-left hand corner of the page; though the notebook-y appearance does have a certain appeal to it).

Yes, yes. I must blame my absence yet again on the oppressive heat waves that has conquered the Philippine climate. It is, with much vexation, to my inability to stand them that I justify my disappearance from the internet community. But here I am, back from God-knows-where after doing God-knows-what with a certain uncertainty of when I’d be back again.

I’m not exactly in the best of conditions regarding my health since just yesterday, it was a scratchy and sore throat that became my main concern. Then there was the abominable colds which attacked my system after my daily afternoon siestas. Thankfully, the soreness of my throat is reduced though the colds have worsened. Despite some occasional bouts of nefarious headaches, I am quite ready to go to the training in Marikina later.

Speaking of soccer, we had a seven-aside match against the Marist girls last Friday. Once would’ve thought we didn’t come from an eleven-aside match earlier because of the seemingly unserious way we played. At the second half, though, we became less sluggish and more gamely and at the final whistle beat them with a six to nil.

We had quite an experience after the game, because when we departed Marist a wrong turn took us on the road to Montalban. It was after several inquiries (one guy even gave use wrong directions, curse him) and suggestions of wearing our clothes inside-out (in reaction to the popular belief to the solution of being lost) that we found our way back and had a stopover at McDonald’s since it was nearly lunchtime that we came once again to the familiar roads leading to Marikina.

Lunchtime. I’d have to be excused since it is half-past twelve and my brother and I haven’t eaten our noontime meal yet. Hope and pray that my updates will be coming in sooner than what has been the gap between my entries lately. So…yeah.