[	Tags	|	high school debate community	]
[	The Angel's Aura	|	giddy	]

Attention Highschool Debaters:
Sign up now for UP Debate Society's
FAST FORWARD Summer Debate Workshop
May11-12, 2007
UP Diliman Campus

Facilitated by Nico Cabrera and Claudia Poon
Champions, 8th National Debate Championship

P650 registration fee includes a debate seminar, UPDS workshop buddies, a 3-round mini tournament, hand-outs and matter primers, and meals.

Visit www.updebatesociety.org for more information.
Register with Anna Arcellana at 0917 8862232.

[	Tags	|	and the debate-loving community, the debating community	]
[	The Angel's Aura	|	excited	]

PIDC 2007 is the newest and largest national Asian parliamentary debate tournament in the Philippines that gathers hundreds of Filipino debaters for an exchange of various worldviews and perspectives. This year, the University of the Philippines Debate Society (UPDS) together with the Tarlac Convention Visitors Bureau (TCVB), the North Philippines Visitors Bureau (NPVB) and the Aquino Foundation (AF) will be bringing PIDC to Tarlac from April 13 to 17. Visit the PIDC website or the PIDC lj community for more information.

[	The Angel's Aura	|	calm	]
[	The Angel's Melody	|	"High" Barbie version	]

You’ll definitely know that summer’s almost ending when it’s time for the never-ending and often, dreaded good-byes. Now, I’m back to the “the-only-young?-or-teen-person-in-the-house” mode. My cousin Micki went back to Ozamiz already. Too bad she wasn’t able to go with us to Cebu. We stayed there for 5 days but when we came back to Manila, it was time for her to leave. :c It’s weird that no matter how our relatives can drive us insane sometimes, we still long for and cherish their company. It was a crazy summer. . .Micki stayed at our house for more than a month!!

Going Insane Moments. . . .Imagine living with a 12-year old who is a super insomniac!! Yes, super insomniac. Well, I have to admit I’m an insomniac too, but I’m not a super insomniac. SUPER INSOMNIAC = sleeps at almost 4 am every night. (I can sleep as late as past 2 am sometimes, but not 4 am every night!) And she wakes up at around 9 am (that’s pretty early if you sleep at 4 am). So, it’s Anna = going insane! Especially, since I’m a “light sleeper.” i.e. I’m very sensitive to sounds (lights, too). Even if my parents told me to just sleep before she does, I just can’t fully sleep. I keep waking up in between naps when I hear her turning the pages of a book, playing with my bead box, walking around the room, checking out my bookshelf. I couldn’t sleep completely when the lights were still on. Yes, I’m that sensitive!

But despite my “sleeping pattern upheaval,” I super miss my cousin.

[	The Angel's Aura	|	indescribable	]
[	The Angel's Melody	|	"High" The Speaks and Barbie version	]

A String of Random Summery Memoirs:

* Summer is always an “Ate” time for me. Now, my cousins from Ozamiz are in Manila and they’re staying over at my Lola’s house and our house, too. (hahaha, technically yes). Today, the oldest of the cousins went back to Ozamiz with their mom, leaving the youngest cousin here in Manila. And, she’s staying at our house over the summer, she’ll sleep in my room. I can sense insomniac times ahead. My cousin is a total insomniac. . .the last time she slept over at my house. . .she slept at 4 am!! Hahaha, I have to make a little adjustment over the summer. . .like having a companion in the room and sleeping with the lights on (two things I’m not really used to).

* “Ate” duties I was able to fulfill (for the past week):

- budget the money my tita gave for our “gimik”

- make sure cousins didn’t get lost in the mall

- watch over cousins in the moviehouse

[

The Angel's Aura

|

cheerful

]

Finally, home sweet home. =) Just arrived from China, had one full day of rest upon arriving in Manila.

 We spent 6 days in China – Day 1-3 (Mar 28-30) in Beijing, Day 4-6 (Mar 31-Apr 2) in Shanghai. The trip was actually my parents’ graduation gift to me, hehe. =) Dad told me last year, “When you graduate, I want you to see the land of your ancestors.”

I agree with the tour guides that the timing of our trip – last week of March – was perfect. It’s springtime in China – so the weather is cool but not “killing cold” and it’s not yet the peak season so the prices are not yet very high and there aren’t so many tourists yet. On the weather: Yes, the weather is cool, but it is “killing cold” in Beijing!! My Ninang went to Beijing a week before we did and she told us that it was so cold in Beijing, your skin will get very dry and your hands will get cuts because of the cold. Before we left, I told my parents my Ninang was OA. But, I swallowed my words. It was indeed very cold in Beijing – the minute I stepped out of the plane, I felt as if someone pushed me into a very, very cold freezer. Yes, I wore thick clothes and a very, very thick jacket, but they didn’t seem to work. When we went to the Forbidden City, I realized Ninang was right. My hands were very dry and I had about 3 cuts. But, in Shanghai, the weather was cool and beautiful (yes, tour guide was right) – just like Baguio. The weather was already warming up.

A rundown of our escapade:

Day 1 – Arrived in Beijing noontime, after a delicious lunch, we went to the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square. We had dinner at the original Quanjude Restaurant (I can’t get enough of the peking duck). After dinner, we watched a very impressive Kung-fu (or Acrobatic Show).

Day 2- We went to the Jade Museum, then we toured the Great Wall. After lunch, we went to the Silk Street/Yasiu Bargain Market Shopping. We had buffet for dinner.

Day 3 – We went to the Beijing Zoo Giant Panda Center and the Summer Palace. New Bargain Market in the afternoon. Had a Royal Banquet Style Dinner.

Day 4- We went to Shanghai. Had KFC for lunch (hehehe), then we went to Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (yes, I agree with the tour guide- this Ocean Aquarium is better than the one in Singapore). After, we went to my favorite- the Pearl of the Oriental TV Tower. I love the bird’s eye view of the city. Then, we crossed the Huangpu River through the Sightseeing Tunnel/The Bund. After dinner, I had the most wonderful time in the Cruise Tour around the Huangpu River. Shanghai is so beautiful at night!!!

Day 5 – We went to the Silk Museum, then to the Yu Yuan Bazaar. (I love the architecture – ancient China style). Buffet lunch at the Brazilian Barbeque Restaurant. After lunch, shopping at Nanjing Pedestrian Street. Dinner then we watched another impressive Acrobatic Show.

Day 6- Shopping in the morning. After lunch, we rode the Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train to the airport. It’s the fastest train in the world, the train is raised 6 inches above the rail. It took us 7 minutes to travel 30 km. Its speed is more than 400 km/hr.

We went with a tour group, so we were also able to “bond” with other people and the tour guide/s. Jason, our tour guide in Beijing, shared a lot of interesting stuff. He’s pretty brilliant. Judy, our tour guide in Shanghai, is an interesting character, ehehhe. =) More kuwento soon – a lot of unforgettable moments- getting lost in the Forbidden City, climbing the Great Wall, getting “stressed” in bargain shopping, etc. . .hehehe

[	The Angel's Aura	|	cheerful	]
[	The Angel's Melody	|	"Don't Forget About Us" Mariah Carey	]

FINALLY. . .OUR COMPUTER IS BACK!!!!

I’m now officially a non-high school student. And now, I’m having an LJ Build-up. So many “memoir-worthy” events before, during and after graduation unleashes the LJ traffic.

It’s the usual ceremonial stuff. Before graduation, we had the Honor’s Assembly and Recognition Day and the Baccalaureate Mass and Appreciation Ceremony.  I’m super thankful to get the First Honor’s card on the last quarter of high school , an Academic Excellence Award (for getting 90 + averages since 1^st year), and some club awards (hahaha, including a loyalty award). The Baccalaureate Mass and Appreciation Ceremony was very touching- especially the singing of “For Good.” Even if I didn’t want to have a senti moment yet, I just can’t help having one with my parents, teachers and dearest friends surrounding me during the singing part.

Pre-Grad Agenda: I didn’t fully follow Ms. Boots’ advice to get “beauty rest” during the 2-day break period before grad. But, I did some “worthwhile”, “high-school finale worthy” activities. The last, officially part of the schoolyear activity of the Forensics Guild. . .the Club Social Action Activity at Brookside. Even if we went through a lot of obstacles (transpo problems, venue problems, etc). . .at least, we were able to conquer all of them. We had a meaningful and fun interaction with the kids. . .amused talaga ako sa nangyari sa puppet show. It affirmed my belief that when you have a worthwhile pursuit, even the intense difficulties cannot stop the plan from materializing. Last on the Pre-Grad Agenda: JASMINE’S 18^th BIRTHDAY CELEB!!!! We had so much fun at her house on the eve of our grad and I’m so thankful she loved the “surprise program” that we prepared. We had modified 18 candles, modified 18 roses, Yes-No Game about Jasmine’s life, and Jasmine-only-participant-in-game thingie. Hehehe. . .

Jasmine's Debut: Pre-Grad Celeb, PJAM Reunion in One

Grad itself: One thing I’m sure of: The feeling of getting a high school diploma is much, much happier than getting a grade school diploma. I was touched by the speech of the keynote speaker, Ms. Magsanoc-Alikpala.. . . I could truly relate to some of her struggles. The cheerful grad song “Masayang Pamamaalam” neutralized the senti tendencies. I think it was better that way. We were able to hold on to the “victorious” moment of getting the diploma. At least I didn’t cry when I said good-bye to classmates and some teachers. After grad, we ate dinner at Katre’s. I saw two batchmates there. . .Steph Hirang and Anna Villareal.

Post-Grad: Swimming at Marian’s village a day after grad. . .PJAM POST-GRAD CELEBRATION! Wah. . it was so last-minute. . .we planned it on the day itself! Buti na lang pinayagan ako but my parents were not that happy about me going home at 12:15 am. (Thanks to Precious sa paghatid sa akin). . I love PJAM bonding moments! Last Post-Grad: GRADUATION BALL!!  I had fun as a stag. .. . eating good food, watching our long class video (hehehe), solo pictaking, and of course dancing, the most fun part. . . It’s my first time to remove my “instruments-of-torture” high heels on the dance floor. Hahaha, how symbolic of my liberation. . . .

And “memoir-worthy” post-grad experiences keep flowing. . . .