The Mediator

There are people we take for granted in class.

They are ridiculed and taunted a lot.

They do things to bring people to gether. Perhaps their methods may confuse us but it is all for the right reasons. These people are called mediators.

We have our own mediator in class. He made the retreat possible.

To thank that friends, I write this blog entry.

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Vic, keep doing what you do! You always bridge lives, remember that!

If people tell you that you are chismoso, you relay information with the intention to make people understand not confuse them.

You make sure everyone in the group is safe and well.

In a way, you looked after us all.

There are harsh people in this world but thank God there are people I can count on like you!

Friends!

SM Surplus Deception

Times are hard but does that mean you have to decieve to boost sales? This is what happened yesterday in SM Bicutan Surplus. We were shopping for pants. There was a big sale on pants with prices P249.75 each. It says so in the rack that the price was down. Then in the counter, the price was P399.75. The sales lady reasoned that a customer might have placed it there by accident. But that was quite impossible for the rack was organized and all pants in that rack were the same! The sales ladies didn't want to get the sign down. We called the supervisor but she only smiled and said sorry. The sign was taken down but the price was not. When we were leaving, they put back the sign. Talk about deception!

This is a warning to everyone. Careful! Times are hard and people are harder! When there is a descreapancy on prices, complain so they would know they can't fool you.

This happened in SM Bicutan in Surplus.

Heroes Aging on Stone?

http://mermaidarium.blogs.friendster.com/photos/caloocan/index.html
Are the heroes vanishing? On their pedestal of stone, are they crumbling?
In our hearts, are they disappearing?
We had a school project to go to Caloocan last Saturday. I got some pictures form my digicam. Are these sites still worth seeing?
Now I examne in me if these heroes really died for something. I remember I wrote in my first novel(which got deleted) something one of the Characters said:

"Heroes dying, they get praising.

In the end, they died for nothing."

Did they?

What they did? The selfless act, the fighting, the dying... Are we proud to be called as Filipinos? Rizal and Binofacio, would they be proud of us?

We who patronize other countries? We who oppress the least of our brothers and sisters?

We who has forgotten our heritage?

And the ones in power? We who place them where they are, can we be proud of leaders who bring shame to our country?

The heroes have aged in our minds. We never even bothered to give birth to new ones. The heroes have aged in our hearts. They fade in the stone pedestal, they fade in our lives.

Aurum Est Potestas

Meet Artemis Fowl, criminal Mastermind since age twelve. What do you do when you have the highest IQ recorded in all Europe. This Irlandskii boy has many enemies on his tail. Also, loyal friends.

But who is Artemis Fowl?

Gold is power. That's the family motto he abides by. For generations now, the Fowls have been involved in illegal dealings though none proven. Our young Artemis Fowl II is not about to break family taditions. Not even after his father, Artemis Fowl Senior, vows a straight life for him and his family.

Not Artemis. The more dangerous the escapade, the more he feels up to the challenge.

He has 12 patented chess moves. He forged and auction a Van Gogh, Diary of Leonardo Da Vinci and others. What else can a genius do? Oh yeah! Write a psychology book.

He calls himself Artemis the hunter, after the Greek goddess of hunting. once in a while, as he claims, a mortal is fit enough to bear the name of Artemis and that, my dear friends, is our young Master Fowl. He hunsts for thrill and possible victims.

Gold is power and power is what he looks for. Not to mention every time he blackmails, he gets gold in ransom. That's our young Artemis Fowl.

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Read more about him on my book reviews:

http://mermaidarium.blogs.friendster.com/ictus/

Analysis of Two Plays

Two plays, a tragedy for Friday and a comedy for Sunday.

What are these play? For Friday, R'Meo luvs Dew-Lhiet. Its a Jologs adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The other for Sunday is The Taming of the Shrew.

The later play was in CCP. They tried to Tagalize and adapt the story to the indifent area of the Philippines. I can quite say it is very adaptable and we all can relate from time to time. It poses universal problems of unacceptance and discrimination.

The Taming of the Shrew is played at Onstage Greenbelt. It is performed as if Shakespeare himslef directed it. English, Shakespearean English and the whole costumes and stuff. It is a wishful thinking of man about the quality of woman they want to marry.

From the venue when the plays are set, we get an idea of the audience and the kind of play it is. Nothing against its quality, both has exhibited the right acting and the flawless memoried speeches. I guess I can say, I just wasn't the audience of the first play. I didn't appreaciate it so much. The only reason I paid for the ticket and watched because it was a requirement. You see my preference in more on the classics and traditional matters. It was not based on theme though. I do feel Taming of the Shrew is Chauvinistic. Something I'm against. It is all on the taste. Threater does excite me. Taming of the Shrew, Evita and all those Trumpet musicals. It's not that my taste is foreign. It just achieved its international standards.

Bringing it to the Present

Today's new ideas are yesterdays original ideas being modernized. Yes. They are all bieng reinvented today. We weave elements of the past and present into one up-to-date story.

Why do we bring these ideas to the present? Is it to bastardize it? Maybe just because we really don't have new ideas anymore?

Perhaps it really is just the fad.

Things, places, ideas and even people. If they don't change, they disappear. stagnation, as people say, is detrimental. We have to change. But that change has to be for the better.

Bringing past to present isn't just some wicked idea to mould without cause. Tey has to be a definite cause and certain influences why it is so. A whim of change is just a mere fab to fade soon in oblivion. Concrete ideas, no matter borrowed, can withstand the test of time. True, it may be alterable but it only shows its flexibility.

What is Filipino Fashion?

What makes a fashion Filipino? What sets it apart?

Ja and I browsed through the library and found that there was no definite meaning. Most of the books we found were about Baro’t Saya, Terno and Barong. These are already colonial influences. What is the true meaning of Filipino Fashion?

It dawned to me that Filipino Fashion is something you have to discover for yourself. It depends on each person on what her meaning is. As a Fashion Designer, you have to search inside what is Filipino in you that makes your clothes Filipino too.

Filipino Fashion is the history and identity of a true Filipino interpreted in clothes and accessories. Elements of this fashion dates back from pre-colonial times until the contemporary times.

Elements:
Pre-colonial.

Pre-colonial elements differs slightly from tribe to tribe. This is because each tribe has their own interpretations for each symbol and color.

• Weave: Ikat, Tinalak, Yakan cloth, etc.
• Cuts: bells sleeves, g-strings, tunic shirts, wraps etc.
• tapis, malongs, sarongs
• Beads, heavy in beading and accessories
• Patterns: Scrolling(plants), Geometric, Anthromorphic(human shapes)
• Animistic symbols
• Letters and figures: Sanskrit from Muslim tribes, Alibata, Devanageri, Austronesian.
• Color combinations
• Stones, gold, brass, copper
  

Spanish
Having colonized us for more than three hundred years, they left strong influences imbedded.

• Weave: Jusi, Piña, etc.
• Cuts: Terno, Baro’t Saya, Balntawak, Barong, etc.
• Religious icons
• Embroidery
• Lace, panueallas

Other Influences
Chinese. Because of trade, we acquired elements from Chinese traders bringing us goods and influences.
Colors and

• their meanings: Blue, red and yellow
• Shoes and slippers
• Fans and intricate bags
• Patterns, hand paintings etc.

Western. Brought by American, this is the latest influence that dominates the fashion.

Burry Dreams Broken

Farewell Dreams, we had quite a time
Love inbetween, It has passed.
'Tis was not our faults
Our destination's bound to fail
Forces come to shatter us
And Life has turned her blind eye
Yonder lies your fragment.
Shall I burry in the hopes it may sprout?
Nay, my heart's too heavy.
.
Perhaps soon when I sooth
You shall call me,
"Lady Dreamer, come and burry me
That I may start a new
in a sprout of more dreams bring
A new dawn for my lady of the shade."

The Ill-Made Mute, Rag among Rags

An Enchanting Novel By Cecilia Dart-Thornton.

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Mistifying struggle of a mute and her endurance in a world of danger and discrimination.

See my review and spoiler on http://mermaidarium.blogs.friendster.com/ictus/

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Imerhein, the deformed mute, is in a constant struggle with wights and people who look at her differently. It shows a gruesome reality that people do judge by appearance. It takes humble people to overcome her face and befriends her.

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Is there a humble person around? In this day and age? Will Imerheins of our time survive?

She will long perish and vanity will rule leaving her in a dark world that is a nightmare.

Reality? yes. We trap her to books yet we do not see what is around.

She is real and around.

There are many personifications and symbolisms to her.

Imerhein in society is the deformed person, ugly. Judged by appearance. She is mute because she is not listned to. She has no "voice."

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Im am always looked as a rag picker. Perhaps every Imerhein I've already met. And I can't help them all. It's hard to please everyone.

In time, I begin to see myself like her.

One of the voiceless.

And the very rags I try to help are the filthy ones that smother me slow and painfully.

It's Harder with Friends

It's harder with friends because you know how they would take it.

It's harder when you have to tell them an ugly truth.

And it hurts because they are hurt.

Tuesday with WORLITE

Tuesday and it's first day for WORldLITErature. I don't know if I remember having minors. I'm not comfy in sitting on these brown armchairs. Lots to do. Lots of literature to cover but I'm not liking her selections. There must be more interesting literatures that those.
Oh well.
Ang nakakloka part is PHILIEN. After waiting so long, wala palang teacher. Kakaloka!

Beaurocracy!!!

The problem with school, palpak.
That's one term to describe it.
Everything is run by useless papers. Something is wrong with the system. The country is chaotic because it starts with the school.
The students have had it! They choose to be passive and indifferent because they have had it. They would be sanctioned if they did something so they choose to swallow the everyday pangs and live until they graduate. Sadly, including me.
It all starts with the school. The students are formed apathetic and as citizens, they become apathetic. This is the plight of the college.
We have a sick reputation. It is soooo everwhere. Now I know why. I'm hating my daily existence in this school. Maybe the other students feel better. But they are not the ones given a classroom that have lockers falling apart. They are not the ones having fiting forms that are fitting-deformed! They are not the ones lacking sewing machines and it barely works!
Yes, that is the plight of the fashion students. We are few and discriminated by the school system. We pay an everage of forty-eight thousand per trimester but we don't get what that's worth. Poor us.
This is our plight. With this, I strive harder that one day I can make a school of my own that will shape citizens different from this school.
It might get yearly repainted. It might look pretty outside but usually, bulok and laman.

Choices

There are choices to make in life. Most choices are hard to make. It is often the simplest of things that are hardest. Then what is complicated? What is complicated is a simple matter made big because of many choices. There might be a lot involved or a lot at stake.

Hard choices have to be made. Currently, I have to make them. My life is turning because I am growing up already. I must choose which path to take so when the choices come, I am armed and prepared.

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Friends are hard to choose from. You have to choose them and in turn, they choose you. In relation to groupmates, you have to make the right choices and let them choose too. Not everyone I choose agreed and I did not choose all of my friends. I have chosen ones who want to make a difference for themselves. I have chosen ones who will not let my dreams and ideas go to waste. It was hard to make. Some would say it was obvious but the truth is, it was not.

The simple thing to say or reasoning would be that I chose them because they are the greatest and most responsible ones. As I said: the simplest choices are the hardest. I chose them but put at stake a lot: my dreams, ideas amd reputation.

Now that I have chosen them, it is up to them to choose me. If they do, they would share my mission and vision. For there are harder tasks in the coming months. Decmeber is our D-day. Through this journey, even more choices have to be made.

I hope we can do it together.

So sorry for the ones I have not chosen. I hope you are not angry with my choises. certain factors were considered in choosing and it was deliberated in a span of a term.

A New Endeavor

I know I should rest after the show but now, I'm restless. I've jumped right up to the next show. Yup!

The grad show.

I know, I know.

I should worry about that next term. But the next term is so short. Sponsors will not have budget for us. Christmas season na yun. 'Tis hard.

So Now I'm sending out sponsorship letters already. In secret to some people but now I'm saying it. I have big plans for the Grad collection. Yup!

I want it to be big and grand. Many would disagree to my ideas. They are too big. I need at least 300,000.00 in pesos. How do I do that? I don't know. I am Maita. I find a way.

I want this show to leave a legacy behind. I want people to remember it by. Even to set a precedent.

Too big?

Na!

Maybe. Only because this project is short term. Mind you the term is short.

I have to work fast!

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;;

This maybe the start of my career. We're ending already. Yes I know I am taking a huge step. Dad thinks I can do events planning. Because of the RObinson's show, there are people who want to team up wiht me. I create the show at least twice a year and they do the technicals.

Sounds good.

I can launch my clothes are stuffs or make shows for other designers. Still too big now?

....

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I think too big because I am big (my body that is!)

So? Big brains can only fit in big heads with big bodies!

hehehe!

Be The Man!

Kaloka!

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This is a very tiring week for me and my classmates! What makes matters worse, my partner's not breaking a sweat. Nooooooooo...

I became Cargador!

See my Muscle, heare me hustle! Pumping Iron!

Mind you, I'm an all-female girl in an all-female body. But no! This week I'm a testosterone pumping cargador! Even a little girl can carry more than he does.

Everyone's got a mix of hormones. For girls, more estrogen, for guys more testoterone.

I have nothing against homosexual until they mutilate thier bodies. There would come an imbalance. No male can ever be female. Breast might be implanted, hair maight be lasered, notes can be cut off. Heck! Gender transpant is possible but then, your blood has tell tale signs that it belongs to a man. DNA, darling! Plus, skeletal structure is another factor.

Female intuition? Puhleez! Its like water. The more you grasp, the more it falls out of your palms. So don't claim you have it! Nurture it if you do. Trust and use it well. Even men have female intuition. It means a connection of emotions that bond you to your loved ones spiritually. Its hightened to most females because we have motherly instincts and we are close to nature.

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So I'm the man! But more of a girl than I'll ever be. Not just for Market Week but for other things too. I have to depend on me and try to use my resources.

As mom says, Its a test of character. The refiner's fire, so to say. The more I'm tested in fire, the stronger I become.

Where God is

Mr (blank) said that God must be living in Chile. This is because he said it looked so wonderful and beautiful in Chile. He can't find any other place so beautiful as Chile. There is thought one big BUT to his story of beauty. No matter how handsome and pretty people are, he said they were all theives and liars. He wouldn't trust any of them.

.

Fine by me. God still lives there. I think he's right in saying God lives in a place like that because the healthy does not need a doctor.

God lives closer to where He is needed the most. If the people are really not trustworthy, God will try harder at that place. He gives them a peaceful surrounding amidst the unruly heart so that everymorning it would serve as a reminder of God's love.

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Jumbled

J
u
M
B
L
e
$

So much to do
So many to think about
So little me
So few hands
Too jumbled inside me
Too jumbled outside me
Everything is jumbled

Can't See

Yesterday Diki woke me up because a text rang for me that woke everyone up. It was Kaye texting at 3 in the morning. I heard the ring but just stuffed the phone under the pillow. I looked to the direction of the window to see the time.

Oh my gosh! I think I'm blind! I can't see anything! Even if it's midnight, I have to see the moonlight or just plain natural lighitng outside but none! I'm blind!

Morning, two rays of sunlight passed through a crack on the newspapers and foil.

Newspaper and Foil?

Yup. It seems dad put newspaper and foil on the window to keep the sun out. It was under the curtain so I wasn't able to see it before I went to bed. Man! I thought I was blind!

Whew!

Guardian Angel Falling

A teacher of mine shared to us that his grandfather told him

"Its not good to be good."

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I know. I've been trying to abide by the rules of being too good. I did good things to help others. It's not everyday I announce my good deed. I keep some to myself. It's the thought of helping. People will not often appreciate what I do. Nor will they appreciate who I am.

It hurts that I try my best to make people happy and I can't please the majority. Everynight I ask if there's a point to everything I do. Is there any good in being a guardian angel?

Is there a point to what I do?

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I often relate myself to the good guys. I feel for them when they get hurt. Inside, I say I'm like Guardian Angel Setsuna, I have a silver sword with me. But then, I have no Carin.
Hhhhh... This is a tough life.

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How come Diki's fine? That's because she loves the bad guys.

How come Jade get's what she wants? That's because she's spoiled and a totale B!-*-

How come others are fine as they are? Because they put themselves on top of the list.

While me--- at the bottom of the my priority list.

I hate this. I'm turning into an emotional eater. Also, hungrier and hungrier to be the best that I can be. I guess, it's the only way I can please a lot of people including myself. But then, it still isn't enough.

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Nothing seems to be.
It's no good to be too good. It's detrimental.

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I'm Me

This is who I am...

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I am

M A I T A

C

T

U

S

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Individual

Catholic

True

Understanding

Significant

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"... if only because no matter what you do, no one will ever think the things about you that you want them to think. What you do has to done because of how you’ll feel about you.”

-Deep Wizardry

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I am Maita and I am what I am. If being who you are is a choice then this is my choice. I love beilieving in things people call myths. I think there are some truth to the matter. I love ice cream and chocolate. I love reading. Books that intrigue me are fantasy books. Elis Peter's Cadfael is the only book not too fantasy but I love. Historic books and pre-historic subjects as good too. I love Dinosaurs. I like to learn about them. I like fashion but I'm not too keep up with the fad.

I don't like being put down. I hate people who are discriminative. I disagree with people who don't take a bath when they have a chance. I hate corruption and deciet.

When I grow up, I want to be set apart from the rest. I want to be recognized and make it good in the world.

I love to unwind by typing my stories. Soon, I hope to publish a few books. I just have this parallel universe of stories. This is where I base most of my drawings.

I hope to enter into numerous business not just fashion.

I do teacup divining and dream prophecy. I try to study aura reading and palmistry.

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Like mysteries, the more you try to explain them, the more they become vague. So don't warp me into something explainable because I am what I am.

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