Popo

Popo's still missing. We aren't close, but I've known her since second grade, even before we were classmates. We've been classmates since the third grade until she moved to a different high school. We had called each other on the phone where I discovered her nickname is Nikki and she discovered mine is Geno. We teased each other every time we interacted, and she would have that mocking look on her face. She borrowed my Wild Thornberries shirt and never returned it, but I've always been fond of her. I made her write in all my slam books, which I still keep to this day. I used to know by heart her birthday. I still remember her full name. Her younger sister used to be my cadet, and we had fun times in high school. I know they have a younger sister, and it has always amused me (and most people I know) that they all look so much alike. I've seen their parents, and I know they look a lot like their mother.

We stopped talking in high school. But she's just too real. It's natural to feel this concerned.

Basha's Line

When I first watched One More Chance (2007), I was impressed with the dialogue. Not all of it, but in general. It's fun, witty, dramatic but not that cheesy-- a whole level classier than its contemporaries and predecessors. Except Trisha's lines which I hate.

Cannot even read this aloud without squirming!

My favorite is Basha's lines during her climactic confrontation with Popoy, particularly the last bit.

Last bit: sana ako pa rin, ako na lang, ako na lang ulit.
For full effects, watch this

An Uncanny Roster

UPCM Class 2019 has the silliest name duplications I have ever seen. It's like real life. People have the same names: those with exactly the same spelling and same pronunciation, those with different spellings but similar pronunciation, those that sound almost the same, those with the male and female versions.

We have four Migs(es) or Miguel(s), three Kim(s), two Benj(es), two Nathan(s), two Sam(s),  two Thea(s), two Hans(es), and two Kevin(s). Pronounced the same are a Maxx and two Max(es), two Adrian(s) and an Aedrian, an Ina and an Ynah, a Lenard and a Leonard and a Maika and a Micah. Then, there are two Mico(s), a Nico, and a Mica,  a Jade and a Jane, a Colleen and a Koreen, a Marion and a Marianne, a Geno, a Gina and a Janno, a Keeshia and a Keisha, and two Carlo(s) and a Carla. That's 29.7% of the class and the nicknames alone!

There are also those who share the same surnames albeit unrelated, I think. We have two Cruz(es), two Eugenio(s), two Go(s), two Javier(s), two Pascual(s), three Santos(es), two Valera(s), and obviously not the least, five Tan(s). That's 9% of the class!

What we do best.
Photo by Arden Quiambao

Aquinas and Fetal Circulation

I stole this from my former philosophy instructor's ancient Facebook post:

  "According to Aquinas, when the angel in Scripture said, 'Hail, Mary full of grace,' it was the first time in the history of mankind that an angel ever saluted a human being with such respect, because more often than not, human beings fell down cringing in terror and fright at angelic beings-- so otherworldly and powerful were they. But the angel said 'Hail,' only because she is higher than angels, higher even than the six-winged seraphim who guard the sacred throne. And when he said she is full of grace, he meant it--because her blood would mingle with the blood of God, who stayed inside her for nine whole months, while their hearts beat in sync in the same body. The heart of the mother, and the heart of the Son, so intimate, as to be One."

-J. Reyes

There are a few things about this that have been bugging me for more than a year now, but I had to make sure I understood them well enough to say something. A few months ago, I finally did.