Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Oasis

Before the Korean series Secret Garden's television debut, was our very own "secret garden" at the confines of the Institute of Biological Sciences, UPLB. Our home since the first day our feet landed on the mossy pavements along the unkempt grasses as members of our beloved academic organization, the four imaginary walls of the secret garden have been witnesses to the curses we made due to flunked exams, demanding professors, and even nasty classmates. But more often than not, the secret garden has been long offering us the warm embrace of companionship as we, members, share one-of-a-kind experiences throughout the day, the jokes that even though we know are out of line, we still throw and find very funny, the food trips, the heart-to-heart talks, everything. 

Oh, the things we do at our tambayan. :)








Sometimes, I wonder what would it be like if the secret garden never existed. I know, in one way or another, things wouldn't be exactly as what it is right now. And actually thinking of that pains me.

With less than a year of having the luxury of seeing our favorite tambayan every after class, I only have a single wish. That is for the secret garden to stand the test of time, still being able to provide what it had been and has been providing us: an oasis within the academic desert.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The After-Four Years Block Dinner

When I saw my blockmate Nalie's blog post on her pregnancy, I kind of bugged Ielle, another blockmate to organize a little something for the soon-to-be mommy and her angel which could bring our other blockmates to participate. And so the endless SMS exchanges begin RE: Block dinner.

Taking into consideration our respective schedules, we decided to have it on a Wednesday (Dec14) at a quaint restaurant near Raymundo Gate -- Faustina's. Danica, Bea and Claire were the first ones to arrive while Ielle and I arrived a little past six o'clock in the evening. Antonio showed up a just before we made our orders. And so the chit chatting took its rightful place while we wait for our dinner to be served.

Hi, girls! :-*
L-R: Danica, yours truly, Ielle and Claire

The early birds, Bea and Danica

Menu!

Hi, Antonio aka Tony! 

Girls♥

Oh, hello thurr, foooood! <3

Danica's Silindro Ribs


My Classic Crispy Bacon Alfredo and New York Iced Tea <3





Prince and Bernice arrived just when we're about to finish eating since they both had other matters to attend to. We finalized our plan of visiting Nalie on the 16th and just continued catching-up at Danica's and Bea's apartment. True enough, their housemate Angelo brought some bottles of lambanog and the Clebelro's (their apartment) annual Christmas party had just started. So we, too, partied the night away! I remember feeling hot and tipsy on my sixth shot of lambanog! But if I'm not mistaken, I got through fine with us drinking up to two 1.5L bottles of lambanog! Woohoo, life! :)

Hello, Bernice and Prince!
Blockmates! <3

Lambanog session at Clebelro

Take two!

With Claire and Prince

Fuuuun defined!
Was at the dorm a little after midnight, red-faced and dizzy. Thank you, Prince, for accompanying me to the dorm. Fuuuun night, it was! Thank you awesome blockmates! <3

Monday, December 19, 2011

LB-ish Christmas

Giant Christmas Tree. Santa and his reindeers. Wooden Belen.

All these adorned University of the Philippines-Los Banos' Carabao Park this December. And to further celebrate the most magical time of the year, the annual Parolan was held last December 15 at the Dioscoro L. Umali Auditorium. This year, the UPLB Corps of Cadets and Corps of Sponsors in cooperation with the UPLB Adminstration and the UPLB Office for Initiative in Culture and the Arts celebrated the traditional Parolan together with the 100th year of the UPROTC, hence the theme: "Handog sa Sentebaryo ng UPROTC: Pagpapalawak sa Kamalayan ng Pagkalinga sa Kalikasan Ngayong Kapaskuhan".

The colorful lanterns along with the gorgeous Mutya representatives from competing organizations clad the UPLB grounds during the parade. The rain didn't stop the elbizens from completing the parade route. Talk about Christmas spirit! 

UP Cells' lantern

Hello, thurrr! :))

With the renowned Dr. William S.M. Gruezo, UP Cells' Senior Adviser 


UP Gawad Kalinga Los Banos' lantern entry (photo from Nina Tuazon)
PASES' lantern entry

This is the first time that I've experienced Parolan inside the D.L. Umali Auditorium. Usually, it is held either at Baker Hall or D.L. Umali Freedom Park. This year's Parolan is kinda special, I thought. And indeed it was when UP Cell Biological Society's parol won 1st-runner up! Our sis, Krinzel Mae V. Pascua also bagged the Mutya ng Parolan 2011 title! Hurray! It also brought me extra joy when the parol from my other organization, UP Gawad Kalinga-Los Banos was announced as the Vanguard's Choice Award, despite being a newbie in this event! Congratulations, UP Cells and UPGK-LB! Happiness overload, it is! :)

Here are the results. Congratulations! :)
Best Parol: UPHILSAMS
1st Runner-up: UP CELLS
2nd Runner-up: ENTOMSOC
Vanguard's Choice: UPGK-LB
Commandant's Choice: ECOSS
Chancellor's Choice: ENTOMSOC
Most Artistic: College of Public Affairs
Mutya ng Parolan 2011: Krinzel Mae Pascua of UP CELLS

The stunning Mutyas (photo by Karee Sarmienta)


Ecoss' lantern entry, Commandant's Choice (photo by Karee Sarmienta)

Entomsoc's lantern entry Eden, 2nd-runner up (photo by Karee Sarmienta)
UP Cells' lantern entry, 1st runner-up
Ms. Krinzel Mae Pascua, Mutya ng Parolan 2011
(photo by Karee Sarmienta)
UP Cells's Sarimanok (photo by Karee Sarmienta)

Mutya ng Parolan 2011! Congrats, Intel! Proud momma! :) (photo by Karee Sarmienta)

Overjoyed! (photo by Karee Sarmienta)
Cells family♥ (photo by Karee Sarmienta)
The night ended with the newly appointed UPLB Chancellor, Dr. Rex Victor Cruz announcing that there will be no classes the following day. Hello, Christmas break! :)