LPL Foundation Week: Cheering Competition and HOTSPOT #GrandAlumniHomecoming

“Today is a day for change.”

We knew the moment Ms. A uttered those words that it was our day, that the thing we’ve all been wanting for the longest time is now ours. FINALLY.

We won the championship. CAS Pep Squad is this year’s champion. Just saying it still sends chills right up to my neck. I was not able to watch their performance live (I was late), but I saw a video of it. It was the most beautiful performance of CAS I’ve seen. It was the cleanest – the stunts, the routines and the aura. It did not feel like the kids were nervous at all. They were very confident that it showed in their dance. All there was was positive energy from the kids who were pouring their hearts out. Goosebumps.

I was there when the announcement was made. We, the alumni, were there. We were holding onto our seats, holding hands, getting ready for what was to come. From the second runner-up to the champion, they were called – College of Engineering, College of Allied Medicine and boom College of Arts and Sciences! What followed was frenzy. Everyone from the CAS went to the center of the gym. The pep members, students, professors, and alumni went all bonkers in the middle of it all without a care in the world. We won, and that was all that mattered right then. We won, and we savored every second of it. It was a sweet victory we could taste in our systems. February 22 is a day that would forever mark in our hearts. I am glad I witnessed it; I am lucky I was a part of it. Congratulations, CAS Pep! All for the love of God!

The fun did not end there, though. That night we were also there for HOTSPOT #GrandAlumniHomecoming. This happening, organized by the Alumni Society in cooperation with Palaestra Consortio, was something we were also looking forward too, as it was an event planned when my classmates and I were still volunteers of the org. Kudos to Sarah, Ate Clarize, Liezette, AlumniSoc, Palaestra Consortio, Alumni officers, and volunteers for a job well done!

It was ironically refreshing to see old faces, especially those ates and kuyas from our college. The hellos and how-are-yous were genuine. There were fewer attendees compared to the first homecoming (and we weren’t alumni yet at the time), but it was fun nonetheless because at least majority of them was from our department. That’s how much we love these gatherings. J

The videos shown and photos flashed before us brought nostalgic delight and sentiment. We were such totoys and nenes. We saw how drastically we changed not just physically but in general. We missed the activities, together with all the fun that went with them, we had back then. We were such active, crazy schoolers.

And after watching that promotional video of LPL, I became an even prouder Lycean. The vid talked about the kind of education that LPL offers. It discussed the root of the institution’s mission and vision. It’s a very simple video, but I, as its graduate, believe it covers all the aspects of the wonderful learning and experiences I’ve had in the four years I studied there that I think it will make for a very effective form of promoting its cause and purpose.

I was happy to be back. I had so much fun. It is these events that make Lyceum a place I would always want to come back to.

Photo sources: Jerome Satera

                       AlumniSociety Lpl         

Nasugbu: First of Summer 2014

I once again got in touch with the waters and the sand.

This time I was in Nasugbu.

The weeks leading to and following this trip have been super nippy. And that week of the trip when it got summery hot, we thought the warm season would continue, but we were wrong. Maybe nature just gave us that good weather for a week, so we could enjoy Nasugbu. We were lucky kids nature was on our side. 

:D

Nasugbu is a wonder hidden in Batangas. I must admit that the travel was long, the trip tedious and the road steep, but it was all worth it. The view alone compensated for all the hassle. There were lots of blues and greens around – the water, the sky, the trees. It is also overlooking other islands, and from afar, they look splendid and mysterious. The sand is not that white, but it is very fine – heaven to thy feet. It has a rocky portion where sitting and chatting felt just about the right thing to do when there.

Aaaaah!

Despite all these good things about Nasugbu, the most beautiful part of it still has to be the sunset. It’s the thing that truly stuck with me. We were at the beach, and everything that was in front of us was the endless sea and the clouds above. There was nothing that could block the view, which was why it was perfect. It was dusk, so we saw the sky change colors. The sun turned from yellow to orange, as it set. It was a beautiful process, really beautiful, but it was also really quick. I learned that now that I have given it so much observation.

I am truly happy that I shared this experience with the people who are just as nature-loving creatures as I am. Because we share the same enthusiasm with what the beach can offer, it becomes easier to just forget the qualms we have and just do whatever it is we feel like doing. Because together, doing crazy antics doesn’t look so bad and embarrassing. People would remember the group but not the people in it; the group itself is the camouflage.

A little something to all of us girls from Je. Thank you. :)

The beach always has that calming effect on me. More than witnessing it is experiencing it. Sure we swim in the same sea and walk on the same sand, but what truly make the experience personal and special are the degree of connection we make with nature and the people we are with.

It’s weird how I go all wild and fun when I’m actually at the beach, but when I start thinking and writing about it, I suddenly get all sentimental and over-appreciative.

I guess I’ll always just find myself out there every summer looking for something beautiful out of the breeze and the waves. Marveling at the effortlessness of every beach’s beauty is the reward itself.

Summer has just begun.

*Thanks to Jerome and Maricris for the photos!

MY BOOKY WOOK by RUSSELL BRAND

I have loved Russell Brand ever since. He has always stricken me as someone oozing with a strong personality. J The only thing is, I know nothing else about him aside from the fact that he is a comedian and used to be with Katy Perry. Haha! But I’ve always felt that he has an interesting life, that's why I decided to give his book a go.

My Booky Wook is Russell Brand’s own quirky memoir of drugs, sex and stand-up comedy.  In this book, he mainly relates to the readers how he came about getting addicted to drugs and sex and how he managed to deal with them through comedy. This is also about his life with his family, junkie buddies, hookers, girlfriends, talent agents, and savior friends. 

I shall have heroin, but I shan't have a hamburger.  – Russell Brand (on being a vegetarian) (HAHAHAHA!)

Obviously, My Booky Wook fed me with a whole bunch of new and old things about Russell Brand that I didn’t know yet before I read it.

And I was right! He does have a very, very interesting life! It gave me the feeling that if I were friends with him (I wish!), there wouldn't be any dull moments. It’s like something unusual is always bound to happen with him around. Haha! I love all his crazy adventures and misadventures! J

I felt like I was just having a long, long conversation with him while reading. Yep, I was imagining Russell opening up and talking to me with his sexy British accent, which I absolutely love by the way. You read that right, mate. Gosh, that would be such a treat. Haha! 

I can say that he is a natural comedian because, even in the way he had written his bio, it's still in a comedic/light fashion. Or maybe he really just has a funny and crazy life. Whichever, I love him just the same. This guy breathes comedy. Or should I say, he is comedy. Hahaha!

His naughty encounters, as a kid and as a kid at heart, were so cute and funny. Hahaha! The things he did would surely not set a good example and should make him look bad, but he told them in such cool and adorable fashion that their degree of awfulness is less. They made me go bonkers about him more, instead. Haha!

I loved the clippings he added – old photos of him, pages from his diary, copy of his evaluation forms, posters of his shows. They gave the memoir a more personal feel. I especially liked the poem he wrote for his nan. He has a soft spot for his nan, which I found very sweet. J

On a serious note, the book didn't make me feel like I should be sympathizing with him because of everything that happened to him. I mean, sure, he’d been through so much, but he didn’t write this book to get the reader’s sympathy. I don’t think so.

I admire that he really is into stand-up comedy and acting. In fairness, he takes his career seriously. He didn’t let go of it even during the times when he was almost out of himself due to addiction. It was actually what saved him. J

The part which got stuck on my head was when he realized that his little misdeeds as a child was a prelude to the greater misdemeanors he had as an adult. He saw how the things he did in the past as a kid would lead to the kind of person he is now. I think it’s a very interesting observation, and it’s something we could all use in our lives. J

He may be funny and all. He may sound like he’s just joking, but when you listen close, you realize his words have substance. Gosh, I love him. Haha!

I think many of the boundaries that convention has placed upon us are arbitrary, so we can fiddle with them if we fancy. Gravity's hard to dispute, and breathing, but a lot of things we instinctively obey are a lot of old tosh. – Russell Brand

The only thing I did not like much about it was the fact that I wasn't familiar with some of the people and shows he mentioned in the book. Even if there were footnotes, I still kind of found it hard to understand. Hahaha! (Well, this is a lack on my part. I should read more! NO TO IGNORANCE! Haha!)

His story may be compared to a roller coaster ride – full of ups and downs, sometimes nauseous and, most of time, wild. J

I love Russell Brand more now! Such a clown! J

Bye for now, feller. I’m going to indulge myself with more of Russell Brand by watching clips of him doing stand-up comedy and some of his TV shows. You should, too! Thank God for YouTube. Haha!

I have also been watching a bit of his Brand X with Rusell Brand on cable.  J

Forward ever, backward never. – Mr. Gee

Photo sources: http://www.wrif.com

                       http://mediagallery.usatoday.com

                       http://www.starpulse.com

CAS Week 2014: CASFA x Mr. & Ms. CAS

So yeah, CAS Week! The most awaited week of all the students, professors and alumni from our department. Why? Because CAS Week means revelry. That’s all you need to understand. Haha!

So here are a few photos to show you what went down that night. J There wasn’t much, just a whole lot of fuuuun! Yeah, baby!

with reina!

with judifei!

team powerful!

ri-ri, what's your issue? hahahaha!

awkward me on stage with sir boyet!!! lol

Truth be told, I felt a pang of sadness that night, as I realized how every time I would attend the CAS Week yearly, there are fewer familiar faces. But then again when I think about it, more than the faces, I go back to feel Lyceum again in its entirety, with all the memories and the people and the lessons and the experiences and the vibes. So with or without the familiar faces, I will still be coming back to this wonderful place.

*Thanks to Jerome for the photos!