Ang Papa, Mga Papa, And Everything In Between

May papal high pa ba kayo? Ako, almost back to normal programming na. (Ang Rappler, parang hindi pa. Hehehe.) I only watched the youth encounter ('cause, you know, I'm young, hehehe) in UST and the pope's, and his entourage's, departure, which brought me a tinge of sadness, dunno why.

It's remarkable how the visit of the pope, which brought millions of people together, unwittingly became an object of discord. After a former colleague posted some particularly biting criticism about the arrival of the pontiff, the Internet bit back (which is an understatement) and gave him the electronic equivalent of fire and brimstone.

Honestly, I wasn't surprised naman sa sinabi nya, in fact, when I saw the screencap of his infamous statement, I just shrugged my shoulders. Although, I admit, kahit nakakahiya, at the start of the brouhaha, I did have some "fun" about it. Alam naman siguro ng lahat how I love, ehem, "information" (read: gossip -- naku! magagalit ang pope sa akin), and pinag-chismis-an talaga namin ng mga friends and former officemates ko. Pero as the day, and the weekend, progressed, palala na ng palala -- it got posted in a number of websites, including Fashionpulis and PEP. *Shudder* Hateful Facebook sites were made for him as well. *Double shudder* There were death threats and ugly words. *Triple shudder*

Like I said, it's the Internet's version of fire and brimstone.

I guess, along the way, he rubbed some people the wrong way, whether coworkers or friends, and some did get some joy over his difficult situation. Schadenfreude. It's something I completely understand. We're humans, we have our frailties. If my enemies would derive joy from my difficulties (and, boy, one/some really did, LOL!), I would understand. Surely, it will both sadden and anger me, but I will understand and perhaps even respect, however grudgingly.

But you know what I don't understand? The people who posted their vitriol in the comment sections -- people hiding behind their anonymity, with not enough balls to tie a name to their [hateful] message. People who know not a thing about him yet passing judgment about him. People making fun of his weight. People who wished for his misfortune, his death, his downfall. Those indignant people, thumping their chest, contradicting his, daresay, hateful message with the same level of hate, if not more. Those who passive-aggressively implored for prayers for his soul yet said hateful words in the same breath. Good mother of ironies! What a great study on society and morality this could be.

I hope the pope's message of mercy and compassion, along with his humility, makes an impact not just on the millions of people who sacrificed and sweated to see him but also on bashers and cyberbullies. Admittedly, cynicism brings out the worst in me, making me bitter and critical, but seeing his humility and his bravery in accepting that there are things he doesn't comprehend either reminds me to be gentler to myself and others. 

Uuuuuuy, serious. Hehehe.

On lighter news...have you seen the very "papable" papal contingent? Teka, meron pa bang hindi nakapansin sa kanila? If hindi pa, go, head over to Chuvaness' comprehensive list. LOL! All that dizzying pulchritude. Whew. However, it's a travesty, I tell you, that the pope's interpreter wasn't included in that list. Msgr. Miles, the interpreter, is just so easy on the eyes! And with the perfect voice to match. How many languages does he know, by the way? Ma-review nga uli ang Spanish ko. *Perdóname, padre, porque he pecado...*

Dreamboat much, Msgr. Miles? JOWKE!!!
Source unknown

Isama pa yung mga Swiss guards. Papahuli ba yung UST seminarian? Guapo na, talented pa. Teka, para naman akong cougar. Also notable is Father Felloni, who serves in Caloocan and can give some models a run for their money.

Again, forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. *And babe, mas guapo ka dun, all of them combined.*

Oh, napansin nyo may UST lanyard and ID ang pope?

From News Around the World

You know why? Aside from UST being a pontifical university, strict ang guards dun. Talagang "no ID, no entry"! Hehehehe.

Still Alive! August Week 1

Yes, I'm still alive, like it or not. Hehehe. In fact, I celebrated my birthday just a few days ago. Yay for another year! *Thank you for all the greetings and gifts, so touched! Danke, grazie, thank you, gracias, salamat!*

This August, we've been so busy with travels and activities. I'm just thankful I was able to schedule everything before the trip. More importantly, I DIDN'T PROCRASTINATE *fist pump* *achievement* -- which means less stress for me. I don't like traveling with pending work -- di ako makapag-concentrate sa fun, fun, fun.

♥♥♥

During the first weekend of August, we went to Manila to celebrate Sharkteeth's birthday. We took the first flight out. Nasa Dumaguete airport pa lang kami, text na ng text si Madear. Pati si Auntie Dear. May bagyo daw sa Manila. Kebs. Dumaguete was bright and sunshiny naman. But during the trip, sobrang turbulent -- nahilo talaga ako. Meanwhile, ang aking dalawang kasama, tulog na tulog. Hmmmmppp...

Malayogenic. Huwag nyo nang i-zoom. Utang na loob.

We hitched a ride with TheHusband's officemate. Pagbaba namin sa may Roxas Boulevard,  ang lakas ng hangin! As in feeling ko eh natatangay ako. We had so much fun walking, or rather, being pushed by the wind. Buti na lang may cab kaagad. Otherwise, I dread the amount of conditioner I would have to use on my heavily tangled hair. Mahihiya si Bob Marley sa buhok ko.

Love you, anak.

We went to UST for S's pedia checkup. Then kain muna sa family favorite, Pancake House. UST is soooo different na. Ang dami nang relatively upscale food places. Dati mga coop lang ang kainan (miss ko na ang yummy beef mami na amoy aso daw sabi ng friend ko, saka yung siopao meow meow *kidding* sa taas ng Main Building); pinaka-upscale na nun yung Janet's sa Dapitan and Shakey's sa España.

I brought TheHusband and S to the museum. It's on the mezzanine, and walking up the steps always make me feel sentimental (the reason is here). The museum doesn't have too many artifacts, but there are many preserved animal specimens.

Kalasag

Steampunk?

That is one long boa!

Fauna

In the poon wing

There are also a number of paintings from the not-quite-old masters.
 

Amorsolo

Amorsolo

Manansala

Manansala

Nuestra Señora de la Palona (unknown artist)

Portrait of a Young Balinese Girl (Locatelli)

  

Shady...

For a moment there, I briefly toyed with the idea of staging a heist and stealing that tiny Miss Virginia Grace painting by Amorsolo. Kaso may CCTV cams covering all angles. Hehehehe!

JOOOOKE lang!!!

Actually, yung Locatelli painting talaga gusto kong nakawin. Eh sobrang laki, mahihirapan ako.

JOOOOOKE uli! Baka may maniwala and makita ko na lang bukas ng umaga ay may pulis nang aaresto sa akin.

♥♥♥

The rest of the weekend was spent with my family, celebrating S's birthday. After the luncheon celebration in a Chinese restaurant (can't remember the name -- it's the one in Centris, Yang Cha? Yam Cha? Uggghhh, memory lapse...anyway, love the food, but the crew were all unsmiling -- little TIP for you then), we went to SM North EDSA, and I realized that it has been so long since we last went there. May mall-wide sale. Ang daming tao. I'm getting old and grumpy na -- wala na akong patience sa malls na napakaraming tao.

We spent the last night in Manila. Nakuuuu, bago kami nakaalis ng bahay, nagpabaha pa si Madear and S. Iyakan na naman ang dalawa. Lagi na lang. Sumasakit lang ang loob ko pag nakikikita sila. Hanggang makarating kami ng hotel, may shade of sadness pa rin mukha ni S. Buti na lang binigyan ng concierge ng back copies ng Total Girl. She brightened up. We were supposed to visit our home in Laguna, but TheHusband, a mallrat worse than I am, requested that we just go to the mall. Ang dami na namang sale. Got some Martha Stewart glass containers with pistachio green rubber/plastic cover for only 120 each. Sayang, di ko pa binili lahat yung nakalabas na stocks. :( Madami pa akong small anik-aniks na nabili, pero pinaka-value for money yung containers. Saka yung Black & Decker na plancha (500?). Nakakainis kasi yung old plancha namin, sobrang ikli ng cord. Although the new plancha isn't exactly inspiring me to learn how to iron clothes...

Our flight back was early. And per family tradition, muntik na naman kaming maiwanan ng flight. Well, hindi naman tipong nagsasara na yung pinto ng plane... It took us so long to check out because I stained the towel a bit pink, as I wrung my red dress with it. So I paid for the towel and the housekeeper took his sweet time bringing the towel down. And when we reached the airport, we queued on the last call line. Then a CebuPac ground crew told me to get off the line as it was for the last call passengers. When I told her that we're bound for Dumaguete, which was leaving in a few minutes, she said, "Next pa sa last call ang Dumaguete." So umalis kami sa line. A couple (literally) of seconds later, ni-last call na Dumaguete and we had to go back to the queue we were asked to leave. Uggghhhh... Anyway, eventually, with much running, naka-abot din, and we got home safe and sound.

Home, sweet home. TheDog was ecstatic. 

Viva Santo Tomas!

Today is the 400th anniversary the University of Santo Tomas. Plans for the celebrations were in motion a couple of years ago, and I eagerly anticipated the event. I don't know why---maybe I'm just a total sentimental weirdo.

I have recently resigned, and as such, I'm now an aliping saguiguilid, but in honor of the occassion, my master and little mistress gave me a dispensation (READ: day off, 'Day) for the day, with the proviso that I have to be home by 4 p.m., lest no one would let the little mistress in when she gets back from school. I got to UST around noon and the preparation for the dinner celebration was in full swing. It's totally crazy, and so very cheesy, but I got goosebumps as soon as I stepped inside the campus.

(I'm hate to admit it, but it's quite obvious that most, if not all, the pictures I took suck; many people were milling about and I couldn't get a good vantage point. Taking the picture of the Arch of the Centuries was an act of bravery in itself because getting on the center means being in the middle of the road with cars passing by every minute or so.)

The Arch of the Centuries was a part of the original university in Intramuros. When the university was transferred to Sampaloc, Manila, the arch was moved piece by piece and was rebuilt. Bayanihan at its best. Apparently, there's an urban legend saying that any undergraduate who passes under that arch won't graduate from the university. I think this is a fairly recent folklore because I haven't heard about it when I was still there. All we heard were whispers of scary stories like the headless friar walking around once darkness sets in----we were always in a hurry to leave our microbiology class once 7 p.m. hits. Gullible fools.

This is the Main Building and where the College of Science is housed. When I went inside and climbed the wooden stairs, I couldn't help but feel transported to the time I first climbed those steps---maybe I remember it like yesterday because on my first day of school I was wearing a pair of new Figlia shoes that were not broken in and by the time I reached my classroom, my feet were covered with angry blisters. I remember going to the museum before PE class and my friend-classmate suggested that we change into our gym clothes in the museum---yes, that confirms it, we're dorks---that was the most daring thing we were prepared to do. (In case you're wondering, and I know you are, no, we didn't. The guard was giving us the stinkeye.) And, oh, there's another thing I remember well---as I was walking to an early class, I saw a pair of bra left on a secluded part of the hedges---and as a virgin freshman, I was torn between being appalled and being excited at the prospect of, uhm, a new experience. (Alas. It turned out I won't be leaving my bra, or any other article of clothing, on any hedge during my stay in UST. Or even after.)  This was where I found my dearest friends, and even for this reason alone, I'm thankful I'm a Thomasian. I have so many memories of the school and of classmates and friends, happy ones trumping the bitter, and I always look back at my stay as one of the happiest points of my life.

  

(That's Fr. Benavidez, and us Thomasians, and I'm guessing, especially the students of the College of Science, have a private joke about him. However, in deference to TheHusband and to friends from Morayta and Recto, I'll refrain from uttering that joke.)

I got these First Day Covers---I literally had to beg the clerk to sell me the set. I believe it was already reserved, but I let out my charm offensive and I eventually got my way. *Brat* In my defense, the person who reserved the set is from the university and can get his/hers once the supply is replenished, whereas I live from a land far, far away and would be totally inconvenienced. *Off to the precinct*

It was an enjoyable day for me, and the horrendous traffic didn't even dampen my mood.

You know what would make the quadricentennial celebration even better? Us winning the 2011-2012 UAAP men's basketball (and be the overall champion as well)! *Wish! Wish!*

Viva Santo Tomas!