suffering from the delusion

I am a Creative Writing student in the University of the Philippines Mindanao. That’s plain fact. Whenever someone asks me what course I’m taking in college, instead of answering Bachelor of Arts in English, I’ll simply say Creative Writing. I’ll tell you why.

People go loco whenever we mention our being English Majors. My classmates also has the same dilemma. People tend to be over critical to our english. Some people tend to be conscious with how they speak english when we’re around. They seem to be suffering to the delusion that we’re great experts of the language.

Though we tend to study the complex world of grammar and syntax, that’s not the craft we are really trying to master. We are being trained in the realm of Creative Writing. We may qualify in journalism, editorials, speeches and research work all in english, our forte mainly lies on literature, poems, prose, short stories and plays.

my pokerface

Bluff. It’s this game using a whole deck of playing cards (minus the two jokers). It’s actually more like poker with some differences. I’m not sure if it’s the same with the Bluff you already know but this perhaps is a version of it.

It’s a game where the phrase “the more, the merrier” is very applicable. I really am after the fun of it. I don’t exactly know why gambling and playing cards has its effect to people. Perhaps it’s the idea of getting to win and lose money in just a few seconds in playing the game. You win some, you lose some. Every decision is based on luck and a few tricks.

Maybe gambling and playing cards isn’t that far from real life. Actually, it’s really more like real life. You’ll never know what’s coming. All you have to do is to play the game and accept the consequences. Of course, I’m not saying you have to gamble and risk everything but in life it’s more or less like that.

I’m not really a gambling guy. I’ve been on a casino to see people bet on numbers and colors hanging on to dear old luck. There’s a lot of casinos even in the net. It’s best to read reviews to see how the different casinos are like. Try to be picky and choosy sometimes, you know.

isla reta expedition

No, it’s not really an expedition. But…

Summer’s definitely here! As expected from normal bloggers, I’m going to show some of my pictures in my trip this vacation. Of course, it’s all cliche and stuff but what are you gonna do about it?

Just the other day, my dad and some of his coleagues took their families in a whole-day trip in Talikod Island which is a separate island from Davao and Main Samal but still under IGACOS. The resort is none other than the famous Isla Reta! It’s actually my first time to be there. I think. I couldn’t recall being there before but, to be honest, it actually felt like I’ve been there before. Maybe when I was very young.

Yay! I hope you too have fun this summer! If you have time and money, try the place. It’s great there. The sand’s white, the water’s clear and the beach is awesome. Check out Isla Reta!

Of course, I’ve got pictures to show off. click on them to know the stories behind them:

me and my brother seeing the place for the first time

me getting buried in the sand by brothers

perverts!

here's us trying to get the croc shoes

look at us!

this is jasper buried by us

we took a barge. illegal. we've reached the limit. notice the people over the barge

carrying my sister

going home

 

of amateurs in business

This summer, I’m actually planning to go on to business. My friend Dario and I has already agreed on becoming business partners. For the past few months, we’ve been brainstorming of what we can do to begin our adventure in business. Yes, we expect to be facing bankruptcy sooner or later but it’s better if we face it this age than face it when we’re older. We plan in learning more about online payday loans if it could be a good source of capital. If not, we always got our parents to handle it. But it’s always better if you start with scrap. That’s what we’re planning.

One idea we got was to offer our services as facilitators of Memory Class Workshops under Memory Max. The memory class teaches a very important skill–sharp memory. This is very useful for high school and college students particularly those studying for the board exams or the entrance exams. It’s tested and proven effective. I know some of the basic tricks in mnemonics and I’m sure a lot are willing to pay to learn the skill.

Another idea we come up with was to start our own tutoring facility. Both Dario and I are quite capable in tutoring little kids irregardless of the subject. Of course, this is also useful because parents everywhere wants what’s best for their child. We hope to offer that. I’m positive that it would flop so I guess we’d better not hope much about it.

We still have a lot to learn. I’m not well-oriented with business yet. But the desire is there and we’re more than willing to explore the different possibilities. I know, we really sound pathetic. Then again, it’s all still in the mind.

cooking 101

I love food.

I envy people that can cook really really well. For me they are living legends! My father and two of my brothers are excellent cooks. Give them the right ingredients and materials and they would serve you the best dishes that would make your mouth water.

I want to learn! I’ve tried. Don’t get me wrong, I can cook. Just not that well. I can follow the recipe but the outcome seems to be not good enough. I even plan on enrolling on a culinary school. Just a few quick courses might help me improve.

Speaking of culinary schools, I’ve stumbled to this site that’s made for those who really plan on finding great chef schools. They’ve got bio-sketches of chefs and they feature the best schools for culinary! It’s the perfect site for interested people (like me) who plans to learn a trick or two in cooking.

how to cook rice

Being in an Asian country, I’ve been trained how to cook rice when I was still young. Rice is like the major crop in the Philippines and the rest of the Asian countries. I really don’t know what to feel whenever I encounter a grown man scratching his head in front of a cauldron or a rice cooker explaining his dilemma of not knowing how to cook rice. You need a cauldron or a rice cooker.

Step 1.
Put the rice in the cooker. It doesn’t really matter how you put it. People usually use cups. Go ahead and use cups. I don’t use cups. I pour the whole kilo down.

Step 2.
Wash the rice with water. If you already think it’s clean, I don’t care. Clean it again. You’ll never know how many impurities it may have. Let the impurities flow as you drain the water.

Step 3.
Pour water. The amount of water is debatable. Some people use the same amount of cups as the rice. Some say add an extra cup. As for me, I use my fingers. I use it as a measuring stick. I stop pouring until the water reaches half of my middle finger which stands from the surface of the rice.

Step 4.
Set the cooker. Do not forget the lid!

Step 5 (for cauldrons).
Set it on strong fire. When it boils, open the lid a little to let air out. Then wait for it to cook.

Caution:
Do not leave your rice cooking unattended. For rice cookers, the cookers accumulate a lot of watts. For those who cook in fire, rice burns easily.

shopping cart craze

I remember as a kid, I used to go with my mom shopping in the local grocery. My favorite part of it was when I get to ride the shopping cart! It’s like my mini-car where I sit and everybody moves around me. Grocery items crowd with me in the cart. I really didn’t understand everything back then, I was just having fun.

Of course, things change as I grew up. I couldn’t ride the cart anymore. I was the one pushing it this time. I kind of miss the time when I relaxed while I was browsing with no worries. Now it seems impossible.

But come to think of it, it’s not impossible anymore. With the help of the Internet, people can actually buy and sell online! No hassles and no worries. I can sense some of the sellers there raise an eyebrow. Try checking out this site about shopping cart software, they provide the quality software to make it all possible.

The shopping cart software is easy to set up. If you’re an interested seller, then your business will be perfectly organized for you. It’s like having your own personal assistant. With a shopping cart software, you can actually advance in the world of business.

Visit this shopping cart software website to satisfy the curiosity.

even seven

Here’s a picture of us seven in the family!

Yes, I am the one with the darkest complexion. No, I’m not adopted though at times I wish I was. And Yes, that is a fake smile though I really do fancy that I was happy that day.

My brother Jan Vincent known as Coycoy is that guy on the left. He’s next in line in the top spot of being the eldest. He specializes on little animals and partying. He has his own apartment in the third floor of our house. He seldom show his face to us and he’d been living as a hermit, or so we thought.

Justin Vikka the eldest amongst the girls is that young lady in the orange-striped shirt. She’s a newbie in the adolescent stage. She’s one of the Young Women in our Church. She enjoys watching anime stuff.

The mestizo-looking boy beside her is Jasper James also known as J-me. He’s good at gadgets and stuff. He’s quite healthy, if you know what I mean. A great cook! He’s a promising chef. He’s got good grades like his *ehem* big brother.

The little girl with the durian tart is Jasmine Joyce. She’s this sweet girl that’s a real fanatic of the anime Prince of Tennis and declares Ryoma Echizen (the protagonist) as his official crush. He’s got posters of the Seigaku Tennis Team and all that. She’s a good big sister for the little ones and a naughty little sister for the big ones.

James Victor commonly known as Mico in the house is that young man with no shirt trying to show his macho physique. He finishes more or less five bottles of milk a day and uses around three diapers a day. He likes cartoons, like any other kids. He’s the reason why the household is awake all night! He doesn’t seem to tire at all.

Jana Vernice, the youngest, is the sweetest little baby. She likes to be carried here and then. No, scratch that, she wants to be carried always. She could be quite a little monster at times. But you could never help but melt at her cute smiles.

That is a small review of the best picture we have as siblings. We never really managed to get another picture because everybody is so busy that we really can’t afford to stay together in the same place at the same time. Maybe someday.

But for now, that’s the seven children for you!