Looking at it, with it’s clean and simple cover, the book looks decent although its pretty obvious that it was printed using cheap materials. The font of the title is like the one used in an old type writer machine and the name of the author is written in such a way that it looks like a shadow behind the title. Non standard shadow font means that the name of the author is not easy to read so maybe it’s the reason why I didn’t notice that the author of the book is Bob Ong! Bong Ong. Bob Ong. Bob Ong. I’ve heard about him several time before, from text messages maybe. How dumb am I not to see his name? Bob Ong is a popular writer and his books are best sellers (at least for teenagers or high school students. hehe). Suddenly I got more interest in finishing book solely because it seems cool to read it and I absolutely have nothing to do at home except for flipping pages on Friendster over and over again. After three and a half hours of sitting in one corner of our house, I was done with it… and suddenly what you are reading right now is a book review. He he. I guess this is really meant to be a book review I just didn’t realize it at first.

The book is not perfectly written (Duh!? Like all other books) but as you read along you’ll realize that it’s fun to read. It was written with subtle humor and seriousness that it makes you feel as if like an old friend is telling you a story. He is so relatable (if relatable is even a real word). Most of the contents are relevant (current) enough that a kid in grade school can relate to it, I would advise parental guidance though. The book is packed with great little trivias that you’ll actually find your self learning some new things like for instance, that “boondocks” is an English word derived from the Tagalog word “bundok” which means mountain, though I would assume that no one would ever use that word now except for the remaining survivors of the World War II.

Basically (spoiler alert!), the author is just talking about how he got himself into writing and that he has other books available in the book store. OK, maybe not (I know fans of the book thinks otherwise). What it has instilled on my mind after reading its mere 200 pages (Yes! it’s only about 200 pages and I’m writing this 300 page review) is that I should rediscover my love for reading again (well if you have read my blog post this far, I guess you have already rediscovered it! LOL). My education somehow took it away from me. I was so pissed by how I was forced to read text books for the longest time that I have forgotten how much fun it is to read, especially when you read what you want to read. I have forgotten how much fun I had reading fairy tales like Ugly Duckling and Snow White. He He.

The book moved me in a way that I was inspired to write a blog post again, he he, and more importantly to read more again (paulit ulit ba? xenxa).  There are something about non fiction books that makes it more believable than, let’s say, what we see on reality television. Maybe because writers won’t bother writing it if it’s not the truth but of course that is not the truth.

(Note: most of the time “He he” may also mean humility, if not, it’s the other way around)

    Now that I feel fresh and with less weights on my shoulder, I’m looking forward to the next five months. It is my last shot at college and I’m about to enter the real world!

Yehey ! I’ve just came up with another cheesy stuff for this blog… but hey… who cares, I’m happy.

click picture to see the album

Parang ayaw ko nang umuwi, kulang ung 10 days…

    All the fears I mentioned from the post did not materialize. I wrote about how everything would change if I fail to pass my major subject this semester. Obviously, the reason it didn’t materialize is that I did not fail. Yahoo!!! I think no one really did fail on his subject, he’s just good at threatening and scaring, or shall I say terrorizing. He talked about how he failed a lot of students before and all our current exams didn’t look so good. I even cut my hair real short so that he’ll let me take his remedial exam/s. I never really took the said exam because fortunately my grades were OK. That bitch, really scared the hell out of me and I’m not the only one. Alright, enough of him, its over and I’m looking forward for the next semester. I will stay away from distraction from now on and focus more on my studies so that no one could scare me again from failing a subject. Of course, if I really tried hard on my studies before, in the first place, I would have never minded any threats because I would be pretty sure of my grades. I recognize that I also have my shortcomings.
    I really should  study hard especially now I was appointed as the news editor of our school publication for the year 2007-8. It also mean that I should be more meticulous of my grades or else I would have to endure all the bitchy and mocking stares from my professors for being on a publication and not do good academically.

I’m really not that new to Intramuros. I’ve always went there since I was a kid but I never had the chance to go around and just see the place, without doing some other business.

We had a walk to the planes hanging on top of the wall first. Upon walking, it’s not hard to notice that most of the people hanging out on the place are couples. You’ll see couples from almost anywhere you can look in the place. You’ll see them holding hands, hugging  and caressing each other. The whole "couples" thing gave the place a romantic atmosphere. The thought kinda made me feel awkward momentarily, because Elena and I are not couples. We went there for just pure friendly talk and just to check out the place I’ve never been before so I didn’t let that awkward feeling bother me for long.

We had to have a long walk around the top of the walls to get to see the view of the golf course surrounding approximately a quarter of the place and to reach the Fort Santiago. You will not feel the essence of being in Intramuros If you don’t walk around the walls or just walk on the streets below.

I don’t have much time to describe every place and things we did so I’ll just enumerate the key places that I think is a must see for starters (Ordered from first place visited to the last):
1. The walks on the walls - the walls are still the most important place/structure on the place. The floors are not comfy at all, so for girls and girlies wearing high hills is a no no. The structure is quite vast, there a lot of place to standby and relax. Seeing some artilleries and looking on brick formation will remind you that the place really once became a fort.  You’ll also see old houses and buildings resembling  the Spanish era as you go along.
2. The circular ruin. I really don’t know its name. It resembles some kind of circular maze. I’m not good at describing, you can just look at the picture in the album.
3. The park before Fort Santiago-a typical park but theres a 15 peso fee before entering.
4. Fort Santiago gate- good for taking pictures, hehe.
5. Rizal’s foot steps before execution- after hearing about it on Philippines history since elementary, it will be a shame not to see and follow the steps.
6. Park inside the Fort Santiago- another typical park but a statue of Rizal can be seen straight ahead from the gate. One of my professors (Mr. Obillio) have something to say about his pose though. He told us that the pose looked weird and gay. I developed some kind of eagerness to see our national hero in a funny perspective but I got disappointed when we finally got in front of the statue because theres really nothing weird with the pose. Rizal appears to be like giving some kind of lecture while holding a book, with the other hand placed on his hips. Placing your hands ontop of your hips doesn’t make you less of a man. Don’t get me wrong, I was not disappointed not see Rizal on a funny pose but I was disappointed to again to realize that our professor is weaving some weird story and we still believe him. He’s the one who’s gay!
7. Rizal Shrine- a museum. We’re not able to get in because its late. so no story for that.
8. View of Pasig River- Again on top of the walls but now overlooking Pasig river. Polluted river and squatters areas on the other side, nothing new.

OK, now that Intramuros is already a "been there", I realized that the it is a good place to hang out. The atmosphere is generally peaceful, good if you just  want to read or talk with somebody. Though theres a lot people at times, there still a lot of place where you can chose to stay.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Elena didn’t allowed me to post her pictures here so I’m very sorry but shes nowhere in the album.

Photo Album…

Aynakuu… hindi pa tapos yung Family Nursing Care Plan na ipapasa ko bukas sa clinical instructor namin na 7:00 ang starting time ng duty eh 9:30 dumarating.

Alas onse na ng gabi, bakit ba ito ang ginagawa ko.

Muntik ko nang makalimutan si Obillio nga pala Professor namin sa NCM-Lecture.