Sira ka Talaga! :)

Today, we got to play with a Van der Graaff machine. Touching it makes your hair stand on end and grounds anyone who comes near you. It also makes strands of paper dance as well as future mad scientists squeal in fear--and that's always fun to see :p We also had a laser light show, which reminded me of Entrapment, for some weird reason... :p

Tomorrow, we get to make slime from scratch! And fly a paper rocket! The day before yesterday, we played with dry ice and simulated the "cemetery effect" seen in most low-budget horror films!

I've never liked science all my life. But Mad Science is making me change my mind.

It also helps that we all have cool nicknames, aptly called "Scientific Names". There's Magnetic Matt, Volcanic Vida, Kinetic Kelvin, Milky Way Mitch, Bubble Bob, Jellyfish Joan, Rainbow Rara...and of course, me--newly self-baptized as Electric Estelle :p (which was ironic, really, since I was one of the would-be mad scientists squealing at the thought of touching the Van der Graaff machine).

Sounds cheesy I know. But I've always liked cheese. *Grin*

Now to get some shut-eye so I make it to the 9 a.m. call time. :p I've been late two days in a row! Gah!

Today was our last day of training. I was so sad it had to end, as I really did enjoy the company of everyone in the Mad Science Headquarters.

Below are some pictures from the last four fun-filled days. Photos courtesy of Magnetic Matt, our bubbly, energetic trainor who introduced us not only to Mad Science, but to the wonders of Veggie Meat as well. :p




The VDG machine made my hair stand up! My eyes were closed because I was so scared of getting grounded :p





My Mad Science Gang - Me, Kryptonic Kei, Milky Way Mitch, Jellyfish Joan (In purple), Volcanic Vida (My taxi-mate, in blue), and Bubble Bob. Absent in the picture is Magnetic Matt, Kuya Joel, Rainbow Rara, Kinetic Kerwin, Alkali Alana, etc.

Hopefully we get to see each other soon, so that I won't have to miss them too much, hehe.

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If you would like Mad Science to perform for your school, company or private party, please feel free to get in touch with me. Yippee!

June 7 - Ocean Adventure with JP

June 9 to 13 - TOK's Training -- sadly, this isn't pushing through

June 12 - Independence Day Gig at Tiendesitas, with Rivermaya

June 14 - Avenue Q with NDC07 Adj Core

June 16 to 20 - Ayala Land Corp Training

June 20 to 22 - Days with the Lord @ Ateneo

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That doesn't count possible meetings at work, as well as plans that might come up spontaneously (i.e. Watch the French Film Festival at Shangri-La!).

I'm not complaining though. I've had a non-busy schedule for most of the year, it's time to start packing activities into my days, and making up for lost time

After June 22, I'd like to... :

* Go Wall Climbing
* Finally go to Corregidor
* Do something that won't cost me a lot of money, haha. I must restore the health of my bank account!

Toodles

Yesterday, I accompanied one of my bestfriends to the Manila Ocean Park. The entrance fee was exorbitant (P400 to look at fish! Additional fees for other activities, like the Fish Spa and Boat Ride), but the experience was priceless. I got to:

1. Hold real, live starfish! They're sort of stiff--you wouldn't know they're alive until you see them moving. The texture of their skin is rubbery too. But they're beautiful and star-shaped! Sigh, I wanted to take them home. Hehe.

2. See REALLY BIG FISH. As in--4 ft to 6 ft, and the Ocean Park Tour guides told us that they'll still grow longer!

3. See some really cool sea creatures. There were seahorses, sharks, sting rays, hermit crabs, etc. There were also a lot of unconventional and interesting creatures, like the razor fish--which basically swim/float vertically rather than horizontally. They look like living daggers/swiss knives actually. :p I took a picture, but the pictures don't do justice to the real thing.

4. Try the Fish Spa!! - I wanted to do this in Malaysia, but we ran out of time. Good thing, as it's relatively cheaper here (additional P120 for 20 minutes). Not for the ticklish though--I spent a good 5 minutes trying to get accustomed to the feeling of little fishies nibbling on my feet.

5. Enjoy the "boat ride" - Again, requires an additional P150/head. Gives you a top view of the big aquarium. Interesting, but not necessarily the highlight of my trip.

All-in-all, I spent... P670++. Not bad, considering I had lots of fun. I won't be coming back any time soon though :p I'll wait until they finish building the entire thing--apparently in a couple of months, you'll be allowed to "scuba dive" into their aquarium and swim with the fish (for an additional fee, of course. yikes). For P1,000, you can also stay overnight at Ocean Park and "sleep with the fish", whatever that means.

For now, some peekchurs!


Agh, my arm looks so big! Haha. BUT THE AQUARIUM BEHIND ME IS BIGGER--IT IS HUUUGE!


Look! A school of really cool fish is passing by!


Isn't this fish cute? She somehow reminds me of a nun--I don't know why.


My bestfriend JP loves wacky poses!

Two days ago, I was invited to attend the inauguration of the Hagonoy Water District. Apparently it was a big deal--not only because it was the first building to have an escalator in my hometown (oooh), it was also the first building with automatic sliding doors (!).

What made me go, however, was the fact that they were dedicating one room of the building as a museum and library in my grandfather's honor. This was aside from the fact that they decided to name the building after my grandfather (!). So yes, I officially love them.


My grandmother smiling and clapping after she cut the ribbon to my lolo's museum

Inside the "museum" (a small room, actually--but still something to be thankful for) were things I recognized from home. My grandfather's office table, which once greeted people who entered our humble townhouse, now served as the centerpiece for the museum. A framed sample of the Blas F. Ople Limited Stamps, once proudly displayed in the Ople Center office, was now there as well. Books from the Ople Library, some of them my favorites, now lined glass-encased bookshelves which the public would soon be able to access. I didn't mind. My grandfather has always dreamed of putting up a public library in Hagonoy, and maybe this can be a start. (Sir Danton Remoto of Ang Ladlad fame, who was beside me for most of the ceremony, said he will personally donate some of his books on Philippine Literature to our library)


A picture of the limited edition Ople Stamps. I wish I bought some of these when they were still printing it...


Sir Danton, who's always a joy to see and talk to, posing with me in front of my lolo's plaque. He promised to give us books, hurray, hurray--even more reason for me to like him!


Then, there were things I've never seen before. The signed memo from former President Marcos, for example, telling my lolo that he is now the Minister of Labor of the Philippines. A quote from one of his elementary classmates about how bright a student he's always been and how friendly and approachable he was. And a picture of my great grandfather and great grandmother, whom we used to pay respect to every All Souls' Day, no matter how crowded the cemetery. I never knew how they looked like, until that day.

Sigh.

And I guess what I'd really like to say is that I'm immensely proud and thankful to my grandfather. Without him, we'd probably still be in Hagonoy--a family making a living from building and repairing boats, walking to school without shoes (or probably not going to school at all...).

I am also incredibly grateful to the people of the Hagonoy Water District for dedicating a museum in my grandfather's honor. I hate admitting it, but my memories of my grandfather have begun to fade. I remember him most for the little things-- Sunday lunch at Saisaki. Him smiling as I *gently* forced him to headbang at one of my birthday parties. How wrinkly and soft his palms were, and how funny it was that he insisted to use a comb and spraynet despite his thinning hair :p COFFEE AND CIGARETTES, always, always--with his newspaper in the mornings. But I've begun to forget the bigger things, the things that matter in the long run. How hard he has worked, the sacrifices he has made, not only for our family, but also for our country. And it took a 4-hour inauguration of the most modern building in Hagonoy to make me realize that...


My mom--who has made it her mission to keep my grandfather's legacy alive through the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute--and, well, me!

Today, I spent nearly P2,500--but every single penny was worth it.

I got to watch Avenue Q (which, if you haven't seen--you really should).

I got to watch Miko Pepito again (one of the Philippines' best spoken word artists--another must see).

I got to watch 3 brilliant stand up comedians: Stanley Chi, Mike Unson, and another extremely funny guy whose name eludes me right now.

I got to go to the hippie flea market, courtesy of Cyris. (I will probably come back tomorrow for the pretty cole shoes).

I got to see Owel's band, Ang Bandang Shirley, play at last!!! (And they were awesomeeee! I love their music, it reminds me slightly of one of my fave bands--The Magic Numbers)

I got to see a great new band, Gorgoro, whose frontman is a PINK PUPPET! Must-see to believe! (http://gorgoro.multiply.com) Aside from having instantly likeable songs, they also played boys and girls by Blur, making me adore them even more!

I got to "dance" (in my weird, foot-tapping, swaying way) in public with Spazz Kid's music!

And I got to see and hang-out with some friends I really miss:

Cy, Yves, Nico and Sharms - of course :D

Former bandmates and/or kapwa grounders - Owel, Camille and Kathy G

Too bad I missed Ciudad's performance, which was partly the reason why I wanted to go to route. But there will be other gigs. And I will go to them! I have missed out for so long!

I want to go to Rockeoke at Boni Highstreet, June 30. Rivermaya's playing. Anyone want to come with?

I will attempt a more coherent, detailed post later. Right now, I'm happy but sleepy. Hehe. Thanks to everyone for such a wonderful, wonderful day!!

It always feels great to receive an award. Hehe. Especially when they're not expected.

Thanks to the De La Salle Debate Society, I've had my share of unexpected (but hard-earned) awards and recognitions. There were heartbreaks, yes. And lots of tears and sleepless nights--but everything so far has been worth it.

Without them, I probably wouldn't have the confidence I have now. And I wouldn't have as extensive a resume, lol. Most importantly, I'd also be missing out on a LOT of great friends.

So there. Thanks to La Salle Debsoc And hurray, hurray for me! Another medal! *grin* :D