France, here I come!

I'll be at France to stay there and journey the best that the City of Love has to offer for 13 months. I can't believe I'd get a free ticket with free accommodations too. It's the best thing so far that's happened in my life since I've never had a trip, internationally! Plus, it might sound scary to travel alone yet this amazing experience will truly teach me a lot of lessons. My female friends too have been offered of the same thing and others have traveled to other continents of the world. Others go to the Dominican Republic, New York, Miami etc. This is such a beautiful thing that has happened as the year 2012 starts.. BUT.. oops!! Sahrey! It's just a spoof! Remember the time when women world wide had caught the attention of netizens all over the globe about the color of the bra thingy trending on Facebook, where to put the bag, what food we've been craving for days.. Those were done in honor of the annual celebration of the internationally recognized awareness campaign for breast cancer. It's been going on for years and is celebrated on October. People who support this movement usually not only do stuffs to gain awareness via various social networking sites but others have done running marathons and the likes while wearing anything that is colored pink. 

This is not just about playing games or just to post a status on your Facebook account but this is an event where we help spread the awareness about the disease, learning from it, how to prevent it and to help others who have been suffering from it. Breast cancer is not just for women, it is for men too. Everyone must be cautious about what breast cancer really is so that as early as now, we can help save lives and help raise funds for research on a solution for it. The power of the word of mouth and in the virtual world by posting breast cancer awareness campaign is very important to educate others about the event. It's not just about raising money to help cancer patients but it is to remind others about breast cancer awareness and then tell the others about what you know and how you can put a halt to this kind of illness. It may be too early to celebrate it since we still have 9 months to wait, still, happy breast cancer awareness ahead to y'all!

Oh well, a trip to Paris will just be a dream then. A dream I so wanna make it a reality. But nothing to worry about having it as a beautiful dream for dreaming alone is for free. Just be hopeful, you'll never know what lies ahead. You might one day travel to the City of Love alone or with someone you adore. In time..
For now, adieu! Catch ya later.. ♥ =)

Bagyong Sendong

Signal number 1 hits here in Mindanao! A thick knot hits deep in my stomach. I felt so scared. My heart stopped for a moment and my lungs skip a breath. This is the first time in the longest time that I've experience a storm invading our little City. I could not remember the last time we've experienced this intense kind of weather. Rains pouring down on our rooftops like bullets fired in armalite rifles and the winds gushing so damn hard as if the roof is about to fly. Lights flickering on and off just like in a horror movie and the environment is freezing cold. It's been raining so hard for hours now and my mind races sporadically of the possibility that sooner or later the lights will die out since my internet connection unexpectedly got terminated (for the first time!) and maybe in a few hours we'll be flooded so bad all because of this surging tropical cyclone now turned into a full pledged typhoon. I feel so petrified. Now I am starting to feel neurotic but I gotta stay composed and vigilant. 

My mom’s already asleep and I keep myself awake guarding the entire house for possible thieves looming just around the corner taking advantage of this kind of weather. I keep myself perky at dawn and prepared our emergency light, candles and matches just in case a power interruption happens. Just when I hit back on my netbook to make some coffee, the lights eventually died just as what I’ve expected. Now this is really bad. I tried calling my sisters who are a few miles from us but I cannot send a message through my cellphone for the Globe network itself crashed down and even the telephone lines too. All I can do is to pray for them that they are safe especially to those who are living near a creek. I can imagine the house floating, people sitting on their rooftops shouting for help or the worst case scenario, some people might be dead as Bagyong Sendong wrecks havoc at exactly 12 midnight.

The hours passed by slowly and the rain let up at dawn yet the electricity, internet and telephone lines are down. My brother from Jubail called me on my cellphone to ask if we’re okay and thankfully we’re safe for now but I am really praying for my sisters and their families to be safe and away from the flood and those sorts of stuffs.

My eyes eventually start to feel sleepy and I surrender to the muddled thoughts racing wildly through my mind and get on to bed. Then around 7 in the morning, we heard people talking in the streets about certain areas in Iligan being totally damaged and hundreds of people died. Since electricity was out and globe networks still down, we haven't had any updates from my sisters or what has happened outside our Subdivision. So when the people walking on the street mentioned many dead casualties at Bayug Orchids Home, Hinaplanon & Lambaguhon; our hearts beat fast. So mom visited where my sisters lived and thank God they are safe however their house and things are drastically damaged. I am just thankful to Jesus that my family is safe but I feel for those people who died and the families they left and to those who are still missing. No one thought this was ever gonna happen in the City of Waterfalls. 

Almost a day passed by and still, the number of casualties are increasing and I could still hear the noise of ambulance racing from one place to another getting the dead bodies of those who became the unfortunate victims of Bagyong Sendong. Various pictures and videos of those victims showing the aftermath of this calamity were posted on Facebook and other social networking sites. Here are some of the pictures I saw from my FB account:

Photo Credits from Atty. Tanya Lat's FB

And thanks to these social networking sites because we are also able to update our families abroad of what is currently happening to their families back here in the Philippines. Some organizations too have helped raising funds and getting donations for the victims. I even volunteered to repack relief goods in less than 8 hours from now. I also plan to donate some used clothes especially for the little children. I'll be at the City Plaza and IIT gymnasium to assist those families who have nothing left of them except themselves. All their things, their house and car have been completely washed out. So me and some of my fellow law students decide to help these people the best that we can so that at least in our small efforts we have uplifted their souls to never lose hope and continue to fight, to live.

And may we pray for the eternal repose of those who have died and may those people who are missing shall be found soon. This could be the most tragic thing that's ever happened in Iligan City but through prayers, only He can help us, Jesus Christ, to keep us strong during these difficult times and to make things better just like before.

Shoutout!

It's like FB. What's on your mind? Me and my best bud went wandering all over the University staring at those Christmas decors and stalls right after our class on Shariah, Public Corporation and Tax.1. The crazy girls that we are, we took out our ballpens and signed on this cutesy wall were there were colored papers plastered on it with written wishes and stuffs like that. I've even read there a note saying "Sana magkaroon na ako ng lovelife" (I hope I'll have my own lovelife soon) Haha! What a nice wishlist. We too have written something in it, wishing soon enough those wishes shall be granted in God's grace. Hopefully.♥ =) 

100 DAY PHOTO CHALLENGE

So here I am, back in the game. Haha! I just realized I have not updated my blog for like months already not because I haven't been online but because, like I said, I have been really preoccupied at school, in the student council and trying to find a permanent job. Although I love being a part time teacher at MTIM but circumstances pushed me to find a more stable job for me to suffice my cravings for books, gadgets, food, fashion, travel, for my education and to help my family as well. I have yet to go on job hunting but I've heard there will be a job fair in Iligan this 29th so I pray I'll find a good job for me with the right amount of compensation as well. Wish me luck on that one :D

Anyway, I've decided that in order for me to update this blog, I think the best way would be to accept this photo challenge. I read this crazy stuff over Facebook and so I decided to take the challenge. It says there that in one hundred days I will be uploading pictures of mine based on the challenge criteria listed below:

Day 1 - A picture of yourself taken on the first day of the challenge with 15 facts as to who 

       you really are.

Day 2 - A photo that makes you happy
Day 3- Favorite book that you own
Day 4 - A picture of yourself 10 years ago
Day 5 - A place that makes you happy.
Day 6 - Your favorite quote, in your handwriting
Day 7 - Something You love
Day 8- A picture of the best moment of your life

Day 9 - A talent of yours

Day 10 - Your bedroom (In it's current state)

Day 11 - Your favorite food

Day 12 - A prized possession

Day 13 - Favorite board game

Day 14 - Something you hate

Day 15 - Your childhood home

Day 16 - Something embarrassing in your room

Day 17 - Your pet(s)

Day 18 - Your favorite outfit

Day 19 - One of the best days of your life

Day 20 - Your Grades/Report card

Day 21 - A picture of your cell phone

Day 22 - Favorite CD that you own

Day 23 - A school picture

Day 24 - Favorite purchase ever made

Day 25 - A gift from a friend

Day 26 - A gift from your family

Day 27 - The shoes you wore today

Day 28 - The shirt you wore today

Day 29 - A pretty flower(yes go take a picture of a flower)

Day 30 - Your breakfast

Day 31 - A picture of yourself taken today

Day 32 - Something you collect

Day 33 - Something you made

Day 34 - Something that makes you smile

Day 35 - Favorite movie that you own

Day 36 - A place were you spend a lot of time

Day 37 - The last restaurant you ate at

Day 38 - A useless tricket you own

Day 39 - Your favorite picture

Day 40 - An embarrassing picture from your childhood

Day 41 - Someone in your family

Day 42 - Something you did today

Day 43 - The weather outside

Day 44 - A hobby of yours

Day 45 - Your favorite food

Day 46 - A picture of your favorite state

Day 47 - A room in your house

Day 48 - Your bestfriend

Day 49 - A day your remember really well

Day 50 - Something you drew

Day 51 - Something passed down from your parents/grandparents

Day 52 - A picture of yourself celebrating for getting this far

Day 53 - The last thing you bought

Day 54 - A picture of yourself from middle school

Day 55 - What your wearing today

Day 56 - A drawing of your favorite cartoon character

Day 57 - Everything inside your purse/backpack/wallet

Day 58 - Your favorite animal

Day 59 - Your most used electronic device

Day 60 - Last movie you watched

Day 61 - School class picture

Day 62 - Last place you traveled to

Day 63 - Sports awards

Day 64 - Favorite childhood book

Day 65 - A picture of you and your bestfriend

Day 66 - A picture in your room

Day 67 - Something Green

Day 68 - A magazine you like

Day 69 - Something Red

Day 70 - Something you borrowed from someone else

Day 71 - A picture of your favorite piece of jewelry

Day 72 - A stuffed animal

Day 73 - Your lunch

Day 74 - Something you found under your bed

Day 75 - You and a friend

Day 76 - Something that annoys you

Day 77 - The last thing that you bought

Day 78 - Your sunglasses

Day 79 - A ticket from somewhere you've been

Day 80 - Your favorite childhood movie

Day 81 - Something you baked

Day 82 - The most embarrassing thing in your closet

Day 83 - The moon tonight

Day 84 - Your favorite pair of shorts

Day 85 - Something Pink

Day 86 - Something your mom bought you

Day 87 - Something you hold dear to your heart

Day 88 - Your bathroom

Day 89 - What's in your fridge?

Day 90 - Your current school photo

Day 91 - Something that made you smile today

Day 92 - Something weird in your house

Day 93 - The view from your bedroom window

Day 94 - What your doing right now

Day 95 - Something yellow

Day 96 - A place you went today

Day 97 - Something heart shaped

Day 98 - Your favorite nail polish color

Day 99 - Something that makes you feel accomplished

Day 100 - The final picture of yourself.

Although I have already started it on Facebook a month ago, I decided to continue the challenge and bring it here in my blog. 

Suffice it to say, I cannot promise that I will be able to upload it on a daily basis or be able to comply with the challenge within 100 days but I can try to upload as much pictures as I could if I have enough free time the fact that it is examination month now at law school. :)

So, I guess I'll have to take on the challenge for day one ahora mismo, baby! Haha! 

This will be very exciting. Check it on my next entry. Xoxo <3