[My] TeamTam0708: Friendship with a Purpose

Leading Tamaraw Volunteers is no mean feat especially because the organization so to speak exists as one of the most active & dynamic student organizations at FEU these days. This could have been for the reason that the organization founded in 2002 is just really acting on its credo of empowering the youth and enabling people to be positive contributors of the society. Nevertheless, heading FEU TAMVOL has been a fulfilling mission mainly attributable to the people we call the TeamTam, the FEU TAMVOL Executive Board.

Team TAMVOL 2007-2008: Soaring Higher, Serving Better

Let me take this as a special way to thank them. :)
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John Arvin Molintas - Arvin is more than a friend to me. He is a sib. Everybody admires his ability to share his didactic life stories & personal experiences. That for me made him an efficient VP. Though he may not be always present during meetings because of his demanding academic life, his role in TAMVOL could never be underestimated. I witnessed him grow from being the Children & Youth Development Chamber Director during Ilo's term to a seasoned FEU student leader who vocally attributes his growth to the org. If there was one thing that I admire about him, it is his capacity to speak his emotions. We share a lot of common, that maybe could explain why we were fit to be called 'halamang dagat' [he coined it]. Ka-tamfam, ka-ponkan, ka-sandigan, kapatid. That's my Jam.

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Rendley Alincastre - I honestly couldn't believe that Ren would turn out as a good friend. Dati, nakakasalubong ko lang siya sa third floor ng AB. Nerdy, nerdy. Tahimik. Parang lumilipad pag naglalakad. Ren & I had a share of good moments together. He was once a sleep-over buddy [Tony, Jane, RA, included]. I would remember we would sleep late playing games in his lappy. Isa sa mga taong nagturo sa 'kin ng basics ng Dota. As a volunteer, his love for the children is noteworthy. Certified Kuya [pwede ding Tatay!]. As my VP, he was ever present, just behind me whenever I needed assistance. Aside sa TAMVOL, Ren is the No. 1 Shy-Shy fan. Photographer pro in the making. Altruist EIC din. :) That's Ren, my VP.

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Nona Ianne Grace Palima - I'm sure she'll react upon reading the name. She just hates the name Nona, while I love including that as an address term. I consider Ianne my sidekick. It was her, to whom I would open up things related to the organization. Maybe because we share the same ride back home. Or more than that. Despite her seemingly strong personality, I found her accomodating. If I was the Tatay ng TAMVOL, she was the Nanay. Her role to the org went beyond documenting meetings and events, she was an ear to my concerns and even sentiments. She is an ideal girl not only to Dino but to the many, kaya habulin ng nakaraan. Haha. It is no denying that she was fit to the post. Once a stranger, now a friend worth treasuring. That's Ianne. :)

First TAMVOL Meeting: SY 2007-2008

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Anthony Ramos - I don't know how to start describing Tony. It could have been for the reason that this guy possesses multiple personality disorder. Haha. Yeah, isang taong may MPD na naging special na sa 'kin. Many times, I would get irritated to his jokes & ka-epalan. But that's the superficial him. What lies beneath is a guy, just like anybody else, who is capable of being appreciated. His industry is most admirable: one reason why I resorted to choosing him to run for IASSC. Though I really wanted him to focus sa TAMVOL, I know he will still be working as an effective VP. I remember he would mimic my phonetics, and write down things which I would say. Partner sa overnight sessions, UAAP games, badminton/volleyball, dorm-mate. That's my one & only Toni.

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Brigida Jane Tolentino - Bjane was once our bunso sa TAMVOL. Parang si Tony, her industry is impressive. She just proved that "Nursing students could not be an effective and dedicated leader" is a myth. Certified TAMVOL having started young in the org. The oldest if I may say so in TeamTam0708. Just like anybody else, she has her own sensitivities, which I appreciate most being his Kuya. Malambing na bata. At times, I see myself in her reflection. Jane will always be my younger sister.

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Rose Anne Guillermo - R.A. & I were batchmates in the IAS Student Council. Having seen her dedication as a leader, I was inspired to encourage her to join TeamTam, a decision which I never ever regreted. She is more than a friend to me. She's also a sib. We had a share of good and bad moments together, one thing that surely made our friendship stronger. Hers is a personality that is most inspiring & accomodating. Ka-IASSC, ka-tamfam, ka-ponkan. That's my Cuki.

Second TAMVOL Meeting: SY 2007-2008

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Author's Note: This post is of course inspired by *Chumie* RA's multiply blog entry. Chamber directors and committee heads, to follow :)

Lionel Cesora on Video

Lionel Cesora's winning presentation to GMA 7's Eat Bulaga Ang Joke Ko Competition is finally accessible in the You! Tube.

Lionel Cesora is a graduate of BA Mass Communication at the Far Eastern University

Feel free to access the video at this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1dYig84tfE.

Related Post: http://tamarawako.blogspot.com/2008/05/feu-masscom-alumnus-is-eat-bulagas.html

TOSP NCR 2008: On Formation Thoughts and the Batch

I attended the formation for the thirteen finalists of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines - National Capital Region 2008 last Friday held at the PLDT Innotech Lab in Mandaluyong. I was not surprised that the organizers are all members of the TOSP Alumni Community, but I must admit that I was all at once impressed the way they planned and executed the NCR leg formation.

Allow me to just enumerate thoughts and events that I would like to share about the programme which lasted from 800AM til 800PM:

1. I had to fly to PLDT for I was informed that the programme would be starting at 700AM. I was the second to arrive. I had mini chitchat with UST's Jen, my first TOSP friend. :)

2. Karl Ramoso was present. It was nice being with a fellow Tamaraw leader in the crowd of the best student leaders in NCR. *winks*

3. I listed some of the best teambuilding activities we had in the formation. I'm sure I will be needing them in the future.

4. Just in time with the culmination of the day, we were inducted to the TOSP Alumni Community. The TOSP insignia was pinned to me by Kuya Jonathan de Quiroz, TOSP 2007, from Angeles University Foundation.

5. Ate Jen Fabros, FEU TOSP 2006, was one of the facilitators. :)

6. I had to share my dancing prowess [which I would opt to hide] with my batch during the creative presentation. It was all of Maj [Assumption] and Ralph's doing! [hehe]

7. Thanks for Kuya Paul for sharing us a ride up to Quezon Avenue.

It's three days before the interview and awarding ceremonies. Being in the pool of thirteen [13] good hearted and outstanding young people, it already brings me a certain feeling of joy. God bless us all. 0:)

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Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines

National Capital Region

Finalists

Jim Eduard P. Trinidad
University of Santo Tomas

Medicine and Health-Related Professions
BS Nursing

Benjo Almonte Delarmente
University of the Philippines – Manila

Medicine and Health-Related Professions
Doctor of Medicine

Warren Ramos Bacorro

University of Santo Tomas
Medicine and Health-Related Professions
Doctor of Medicine

Timothy James L. Yusun
Ateneo de Manila University

Agriculture, Science and Math
BS Mathematics

Jennifer W. Ang
University of Santo Tomas

Information Technology, Engineering, Architecture and Marine Transportation
BS Industrial Engineering

Norman Giovanni Guevarra
Technological Institute of the Philippines – Manila

Information Technology, Engineering, Architecture and Marine Transportation
BS Chemical Engineering

John Paul C. Uminga
Far Eastern University – Manila

Humanities, Communication and Social Sciences
AB English Language

Marie Eugenie Y. Dizon
Assumption College

Humanities, Communication and Social Sciences
BS Psychology

Clark Jefferson N. Cue
Ateneo de Manila University

Criminology and Law, Business, Economics, Industry and Entrepreneurship (Various)
BS Management Engineering and AB Economics - Honors

Karl William G. Ramoso
Far Eastern University - Manila

Business, Economics, Industry and Entrepreneurship (Accountancy only)
BS Accountancy

Rafael Vicente R. Calinisan
Ateneo de Manila University

Criminology and Law, Business, Economics, Industry and Entrepreneurship (Various)
Doctor of Jurisprudence

Richardson E. Navor
University of the East - Caloocan

Business, Economics, Industry and Entrepreneurship (Accountancy only)
BS Accountancy

Ian Kristoffer P. Zamora
Centro Escolar University

Criminology and Law, Business, Economics, Industry and Entrepreneurship (Various)
BS Business Administration, Major in Management

Personal: Dinner at 11:00PM!

It's six (6) minutes before 11:00PM and I am yet to finish my dinner. Yes, my dinner. Hehe. The day broke the monotony of a typical May. I have to force myself to wake up at 5:00am [I slept at 1:00am], munch a cinnamon cake for breakfast, and fly walk [allow me to coin the term] in the streets heading to my direction.

I met interesting personalities: a future Ateneo lawyer, a Thomasian Nursing grad who would be taking up the board next week, soon-t0-be doctors, Ateneo & Assumption valedictorians, mathematician, UP leader-activist, and more. The day was filled with fun and insights. It was overwhelming that to even attempt to write about it now, I would surely not be able to organize my thought fully well.

For now, I think I will just have to finish my meal, shut the computer down after, and enjoy a good night sleep for tomorrow will be different. =)

Pre-TOSP Formation Train of Thoughts

Today, I will be meeting some of the best young leaders in the National Capital Region who qualified for the regional leg of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. I could not help but get excited inspiring me to write something about it even before leaving the flat.

I am excited to know how these young people as I am perform their role in building and re-building this nation, which have seemingly become more challenging and more pressing than any time in the Philippine history. I cannot wait to discover how these young people have responded to the challenges of the time and how they embody our National Hero's youth being the fairhope of the offing.

***

Just as I opened the homepage of my internet browser, Yahoo! shared in an article how thumbs up is being used in United States as a nonverbal gesture. While this may not be as universal as the peace sign, thumbs up, in America, according to the article, is gestured to implicate "good job" or "everything is right". [Read the entire article at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080522/sc_livescience/fromkennedytoclintonwhyeveryoneisthumbsup]

To all TOSP NCR finalists [well, my future new circle of friends], THUMBS UP to all!

***

For now, I think I have to proceed in the bathroom for I don't want to be late in the formation. Be updating you all tonight. :)

American Idol 7 Signing Off

American Idol Season 7 officially ended with David Cook owning the title, after a heartwarming and seemingly surprising result. If it could not have been for the performance night the day before which became an unconscious declaration of Archie winning A.I., I would have thought that the season finale is a mismatch. Well, the winner has been named. Cheers to David Cook for taking in the the bitter pills from Paula, Randy and Simon, and being triumphant at the end. That's sure sweet victory! You deserve Simon Cowell's apology.

Meanwhile, I could not wait to grab my own copy of the Season 7 Album. Thanks to my housemates for sharing me with this craze. I was not an A.I. fan before though I love listening to Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and Kelly Clarkson.

***

My top three Season 7 idols

1. David Archuleta

2. Syesha Mercado

3. David Cook

Yes, DA is still my number one idol. I am confident he will go far even without the title. I particularly like his rendition of Imagine, The Long & Winding Road, Think of Me, Another Day in Paradise, and Mary Did You Know.

Allow me to congratulate Ramiele Malubay, Filipino American in Florida, who made it in the Top 9 of the American Idol Season 7. She followed fellow Fil-Am Jasmin Trias' feat who was in the top three of Season 6. Kudos to these Pinoy prides! Speaking of Filipino pride, Reynaldo Lapuz performed during the Season Finale. I must admit that I was awed by his hilarious performance.

***

It's time to say goodbye to AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 7. Let's all root now for GMA 7's version of PINOY IDOL. Tangkilikin ang sariling atin!

Personal Writing History: Writing as a Theraphy & as a Curse

I started writing during high school sophie year, when for the first time, I discovered that I have this pen-sliding power waiting to be cultivated. That time, I even rarely passed the screening set for aspiring writers of our HS paper called the Rosean Chronicle and felt the initial blow of having partially rejected. Partially because I was assigned to handle a not-so-significant slash extra-editorial-position called the Entertainment Section [I hear you say, interesting. Not exactly]. The following years, I saw myself in progression as I was tasked as the News Editor and finally Editor-in-Chief, respectively, during my last two years in Mystical Rose School of Caloocan, a seemingly young private semi-Catholic school near our residence.

This was the first time that I attempt to trace my personal history as a writer. During our high school commencement, I was awarded 'Writer of the Year' which I credit to our [RC EdBoard] having published at least an issue which the batch ahead of us failed to do so.

Writing for me is life. I could still remember how I would keep, read, re-read [for countless times] and even share diaries where I religiously recounted minute-by-minute experiences: What I did in this subject and that. How many times I recited in class. How I compare my performance in class with the top students. What and where we ate [and who I ate with]. In other words, how I spent the day! I could not exactly remember though when I started scribbling and doodling in blank pages until I create a narration reflecting my train of thoughts.

College is a different story to tell. Leadership skills coupled with writing prowess can actually move mountains. I embraced the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 and inspired so well to initiate the foundation of the FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences the Paragon. I was Auditor-Editor of our batch in Council. That was in my junior year, but prior to this was the foundation of The Altruist, the official publication of the FEU Tamaraw Volunteers, my most fave organization.

But just like any passion, writing is a jealous mistress. It would require you to read, read, and read. But not only that, you must translate the products of your reading into words glamored with personal experiences. After all, the best book one could have is a book of life full of conversations and of silence, of encounters and agonies, of laughters and of sorrows.

As I grow up, I found comfort in writing as an activity as though finding a space of surrender & a zone of retreat. We have our ways of dealing with life's complexities, and writing becomes an avenue of self-expression. Whenever problems seem unbearable, a pen or a computer keyboard will surely lighten the load. I began expressing and channeling my thoughts of depression and sheer loneliness through the ostensibly powerless ink of the pen.

The pen has been my armor, a friend if I may call it. Many of us become so weak to express words esp. those which might hurt or disappoint others. Writers, for the most part, choose a better escape. We hide behind words masking our individuality with phrases and sentences waiting to be read. We reveal our emotions and agonies via letters and symbols so that when we face the world we are new. When we write, we allow people to understand us, to discover us in a pace which we ourselves set. But that does not mean we are cowards. While we create a labyrinth directing to the discovery of our greatest fears and mundane thoughts, we discover who our friends really are.

Or do we? Therapheutic writing can actually turn into a curse. While you heal in a singular basis, people tend to misjudge you. Writing can be misleading as it can be misinterpreted. But if there is one thing that I have learned in the past few days, it is that: a pen can never replace a friend. When we write down our emotions, we lessen the burden. It's theraphy. But when we open up with a friend, we tighten and deepen our relationship with him. Paper and pen cannot give us feedback. But a friend's mere presence is sometimes more than what we need.

While I write my life, I want you to read it. Not because YOU ARE my friend, but because I AM YOUR friend.

Because friends understand beyond spoken words. Will you?

Photo Credit: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0S0207shjZISi4A9WmjzbkF/SIG=12dc1juc6/EXP=1211619436/**http%3A//www.storm24.com/illustration/natural/pages/Pen.htm