Christmas with IT

Sixteenth of December. IT/TA (Institucion Teresiana/Teresian Association) Christmas Party was scheduled on that day. And it was the first time that I was late on an event.

I left home at about 12:30 since I lived relatively far. I needed to have three jeepney rides before arriving in Guadix Open Center. And when I arrived at the location wherein I'd ride on my final jeepney, I took a look at my watch and it read 1:30. Too early for a 3-PM party. And since along the way I was texting with my twin bestfriend, Louise, I decided to meet with her in Ayala to have a short stroll around the mall. I, as usual, arrived first and went immediately to National Bookstore (our meeting place :D). I took a few glances on the books and all other stuff and went to the area near the ballpens/notebooks/others section, wherein they're selling sets of glittering ballpens at a reasonable price. Of course, I stopped and took a look and then SUDDENLY. Someone grabbed my arm and of course, I HAD NO CLUE WHO WOULD THAT BE; ERGO, NO ASSUMPTIONS, NO GUESSES. Of course, out of my outrageous surprise, it was a good friend who's a Chemistry teacher in my alma mater. And she's also an IT/TA member (like myself, but she's of higher "division" hehehe) and also the younger sister of my college PE instructor. Yeah. I said a lot.

We had a short conversation and when she mentioned she was with that someone (that someone would be her college batchmate, my previous Chem instructor and my CURRENT Physics instructor) and of course I greeted him :) Then they went ahead though since they'll be buying stuff for the Christmas Party. So, I went on to my forever-alone journey, checking out ballpens and notebooks and all other stuff, until Twin arrived. And then, last-minutely, we decided to give two of our closest teachers gifts (one teacher would be the one I met earlier, and the other one would be my highschool and Twin's current physics teacher). So, we went a little shopping and wrote funny messages on the greeting card. And then, I looked at my watch. 3:15. Nahh, too early. And I really mean the "too early" phrase. There was a time when we had our IT module. It was suppose to start at 8. Yet it started at 9. -_- Unbelievable Filipino time.

I texted one of my highschool friends who's an IT member if they're starting already. She responded with a "Haha o. Ikaw nalay gihulat (Haha yes. You're the only one we're waiting for)" And I thought of it as a joke. Thereafter, Twin and I decided to go to the venue already. And because it was superduper warm (thank you, sun), we decided to ride a jeepney rather than to walk. We arrived five minutes later and it was a BIG BIG surprise that they were starting already. Good thing when we entered the venue, some other IT/TA members arrived as well. Hehe. And of course, my highschool physics teacher greeted us and offered us seats at the back, near her. But two seats were reserved for us in front, wherein Maixz and Danica (two highschool students from my alma mater who are my good friends, too) were seated near. Hehe.

There was a talk about teenagers, focusing on the topic on "What are the questions teenagers are afraid to ask to their parents?". Of course, there were some silly answers, and there were serious ones as well. And shortly, after that, the party proper started with four games, prizes to those who came early (I SHOULD'VE COME EARLY! :<<<< ) and the main highlights: FOOD AND EXCHANGING OF GIFTS. I received a party games guide, Harry Potter notebook (IT'S SO COOOOL) and a pink baller with white "HOPE" written on it.

TA-ACIT members' dance number :)

Preparing the games

The one-hand gift-wrap result. Hahaha

Blindfold drawing. That's ours on the left :)

With Twin, Ms Sy, and Maixz. Heck, need to censore-ize my red lips from eating too much candies.

With Danica, Ms Pulvera, and Twin. :D

So lightyyyyy :D Haha with Ms Cathy, Ms Sy, Sir Jugar, Twin, and Ms Pulvera :D

 The food, the gifts, the games, the bonding with friends and fellow IT/TA members. My Sunday was worth the sacrifice since I was supposed to study for my algebra and calculus tests the next day. Oh well. Till the next party ;)

Christmas with SESO

December 21. End of the world. No classes. Well, in our case, that is.

But, we set aside the "no classes" part since some of us went to school as early as 7:30 AM. One of my Esprens, Chemaie (her nickname :D), also arrived early, and we stayed in Room 318, where our batch representative was staying. We had a little talk and stayed silent and did some doodles on the blackboard, on our notebooks and those kinds of stuff while waiting for 9:45 AM (our assembly at the school chapel for our Mass sponsorship). While we were still in 318, heavy rain poured like forever. It was dark outside and cold. But what really scared us to death was that moment when Chemaie and I were the only ones inside the room. Since there are two entrance/exit doors in the room (there are two others; one was an entrance to room 319 and the other was an entrance to the supply room for Chemistry), the other one was opened and we thought it was opened by our batch rep. Yet no one's there. We brushed the affair aside, thinking someone was pulling a prank on us. But I noticed that it was slowly closing (but not totally close) then opening, then closing, then opening. Chemaie and I were looking at each other for a brief moment and suddenly, BAM! The door slammed shut, and Chemaie and I had to run outside using the other door and went straight to the entrance of the building, then to the faculty office wherein our secretary was having her breakfast. We told her everything that happened and she told us not to mind. Things like that happen.

After a few more minutes of being scaredy cats, we decided to return to 318 and spent the remaining waiting time there. People were arriving and all. And the second years started making their mango float for the party (and had them refrigerated in the faculty room's fridge). At 9:45, we went to the chapel for our Mass at 10. And an hour later, we returned to SMED to do some preparations and to take our lunch.

In a while, we wore our costumes (since the motif is Costume Party) and at 2:30, we had our Advent talk by a IT/TA member :D And then we were given a 10-minute break to finalize our looks. And it was pretty funny since there was a commotiong in the girls' comfort room because of the hairsprays. Even the boys went in :))))) And then, the party started :)

Party hats I like :)

Purple and Pink :D

The game master and his assistant.

Let the games begiinnnnnnn!

Knee socks galore ;)

The food was fantastic, the games were fun, everyone was happy. Indeed, we felt the spirit of Christmas :)

12.15.12 :>

My Saturday was filled with various highlights. Started with a world-class performance by our university choir and ended with our department's quiz bowl.

I was greeted by the sun as I woke up Saturday morning. My phone read 11 messages, 2 missed calls, and most importantly, 8:55 AM. And that's when I panicked to the highest level. The concert show by our university choir (USC Choristers) would start in one and a half hour, and considering my residence location, I knew at that moment that I might show up really really late. And, all thanks to adrenaline rush, I took a quick and brief shower, changed into my NSTP uniform (since we'd have NSTP class after), ate two loafs of bread and headed out.

Thank goodness luck was on my side. No traffic problems encountered :3 I arrived at the south campus of our university and proceeded to Rudolph Rahmann Cultural Center, the venue of the event, where my group of friends (Esprens. Haha a "lazy" term for bestfriends) was waiting for me. We went inside together and even sat in the same row. Then, the show started at about 10:30 AM.
I say, I was truly jealous with their marvelous voices. Not jealous. ENVIOUS. Why wasn't I given such taleeeeeent? :( But anyway, we must be grateful of what we have, right? :) They performed sacred songs, Filipino classics, English songs, and musicale scores. The whole performance left goosebumps on us as obvious marks on how jawdropping and heartbeat-stopping the concert was. And another hightlight of the event was The Show Violinist who can play the violin while walking running jumping you name it. Such talented people! :>

Bahandi invitation :)

The Show Violinist :)

We (three of my friends and I) finished about 3/4 of the concert since we had to be back in the talamban campus (more than 6 kilometers away, I guess. Phew.) to get the goods for our NSTP activity. And, on our way out of the south campus, one of my friends had a really really bad stomach ache and had to vomit, like, three times? Of course, adrenaline rush came in and swear, we were like doctors and the jeepney served as the ambulance. In the end, I had to call my father to come and get us and send us to talamban campus since it would be too risky to ride the jeepney with a very very sick classmate under the heavy rain. Our friend was able to sleep in the duration of the trip, while the three of us were kidding around some of our classmates on the phone. Hahahaha!

We arrived in talamban campus, and in our department building, in no time. We had to run LITERALLY and headed to the resource room where all our goods were hidden. We had to pull four heavy cartons, containing packed goods, towards the entrance of the building. And, while doing so, we had to pick (draw by lots) who'd our manita/manito be for Christmas Party. And of course, the science and mathematics quiz bowl elimination round was on the go. And just before we finally bid goodbye and "see-you-later", I was able to greet my high school physics teacher, who was the coach for the CIC team in the quiz bowl.

We headed towards the NSTP activity venue. Talamban Sports Complex. We hosted a Kiddie Party for some kids. And after a few photos and sits and eating, we headed back to the department since we were "needed".

We indeed headed back. Now together with my Esprens ;) Two of them were using the steep hill towards the entrance while the rest of us used the Science building which was connected to our department. Of course, a marathon started. We really ran real hard and arrived at the same time and laughed out loud and had to be reprimanded by our org president. Hehe :3

We spent the rest of the time eating, watching Every Child is Special at room 316 with the rest of the teachers (only the students took the exam. And while taking it, the coaches were to watch a movie), selling raffle tickets (and I sold two to my physics teacher and her friend. Hehehe!), picture-taking, and the like. The day ended like the rest of the days that had passed. But it was a day well spent :)

Second years Erra and Tina :>

Piburd pose. The Sir Jugar style ;)

Mark, myself (Catherine. Hehe), Joane, Jayvee, Kaycel, Kevin, Cherry, Gwen, Nicolette, Dizza. DL's. :)

SESO Pres Roddy, SMED Faculty Sir Monell, CIC Team (Anna, Rica, Ms Pulvera), and Sanga sa Kaalam '13 OIC Emerlinda (MADAAAAAAM! :D)

Dean's List Awarding Ceremony

The University of San Carlos College of Education celebrated the COED days from December 12 - 14 wherein all COED students are class-free. Well, except for SMEDers. Too bad we weren't situated in the south campus of the university (some SMEDers with classes in south campus are class-free from their classes there). But in the end, we WERE EXEMPTED; some in the afternoon of 12th, all of us in the afternoon of 13th, and all of us for the whole day of 14th.

Ten first years, two second years, and one third year were exempted from our talamban campus classes and were asked to go to South (term we call for south campus) to attend the awarding ceremony. The fourth years couldn't attend because of their practice teaching. During the awarding, we were acknowledged by department and by rank, and we were given with certificates. Hehehe :)

SMED's Pride: Reginald, garning 10th place in the Sept 2012 LET

USC-COED's Prides: The first and tenth LET placers

Us and the giving of certificates :)

First year DL's :)

Hey, Dizzaleng!

The DOST scholars in the Dean's List.

JUMPSHOT! :)

PBED 1000 Teachers Program scholars :D

JUMPSHOT AGAINNNNNN! :)

All pictures courtesy of Gwen and ate Florean. :)

SESO | Mangrove Planting

Our sunny Sunday afternoon on December 9 was spent with planting mangroves in Inoburan, Naga, as a compulsory organization activity. Compulsory, it really was, but we were more or less 20 who attended together with the organization adviser. Well, here are some photos of the very beach-like activity ;)

All photos courtesy of Gwen :)

Fifth :)

Happiest day :)