[Project FeeTrail November 2013]: The reluctant blogger

Before you laugh let me explain.

I went to a Jenni Epperson book-signing event last year when this lady blogger approached me.

"Hi, I see that you're a blogger as well. Like naman my blog..." She said. 

I stared at her, still with a meeting-Jenni-Epperson-in-the-flesh high, and crammed for words for a reply:" Okay. How do I do it?"

I didn't know that bloggers now have a Like Page of their own under the category of a Personal blog. I thought Facebook pages are for businesses and public figures. 

"Do you have a card?" She asked. 

"I'm sorry I don't have one." 

"We have a bloggers group, you're welcome to join us". Then she handed me a card of a known blogging community. Unfortunately, I misplaced the card while I was walking towards the parking lot.

Thirty and thankful this Thanksgiving

I am honest enough to tell you that before my birthday, I had the bluest of all birthday blues. If I have to hang on to dear 29, I would.

You see,  I have all my birthdays figured out. For the past years I've spent my birthdays in Manila, Davao and last year Boracay. I was supposed to go to Cebu-Bohol this year, but something came up. Then I had another plan and booked myself at Nurture Spa Village in Tagaytay, but Typhoon Yolanda came to our country and I decided to use the money to donate it to victims instead. On the actual day of my birthday, I was scheduled to see my spiritual adviser but the day before our appointment, the schedule got mixed up. Therefore, plans A to C went down the drain.

Then I get a BBM from my guy friends. Jimmy is almost rarely in town and was just in elbi for the graduate school registration season. So it was an instant pick me upper seeing them outside my office building waiting for me. We had an instant pre-birthday dinner with lots of interesting catch up.

Birthday Salubong with my favorite boys

The next morning I have no plans at all. I mean, it's the big three-o and no plans at all. I decided to have a "do-as-you-please" day and have the day all to myself.

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 24 - Master's Degree before I turn 30...CHECK!

Submitted, sang, signed and sealed. Master's Degree before I turn thirty? CHECK!

My MS Thesis is titled : 

USE OF FACEBOOK BY A SCIENCE POLITICAL PARTY: A USES AND GRATIFICATION STUDY OF AGHAM PARTY LIST IN THE PHILIPPINES

I blogged before that I have a love and hate relationship with the internet, so I ended up befriending the enemy and make a study out of it. Initially, I was going for the LGBT as subject but then I had to be realistic about my plans and time line of graduating. So after three topic changes, change of advisers, switching of subjects, several drafts and an external review, not to mention blood, sweat and almost tears, I can finally say that I am included in the list of candidates for Graduation! Yey!

I am very grateful because 90% of what I prayed for that is Graduate School- related came true. I would like to give special mention to my adviser, Dr. Serlie Barroga-Jamias for always believing in me and "hard-selling" our self-esteem (hehe).

And also my amazing team of guidance committee: Dr. Benjie Flor, Prof. Teya Tirol and Dr. Mimi Ocampo (Ma'am Mimi, if not for your schedule then I would still be procrastinating my exam schedules. Thank you!)

I would like to write the extended version of my acknowledgment page here in this blog post but I don't want to miss out anyone. My family and friends, you already know who you are. Instead, I would like to post an excerpt of my dedication page from my MS Thesis instead:

DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to my late father, Mr. Nicetas Cabrera Araguas (†) , who served in UPLB for a good 35 years of his life - capturing events and history of the University through the lenses of his camera, who, on the 39^th day since his death, visited me in a dream to remind me to finish my MS thesis.

This thesis is also dedicated to my mother, Mrs. Dulce Dalisay Estrellado, whose support and unconditional love enabled me to achieve my dreams.

I now have two of these and God willing, I will have a black one in the future! Bottom: My undergraduate study in 2003; Top: My MS Thesis in 2013

And last but not the least, my savior, my angel, my army, and the one who is in charge of me: Papa  Jesus, who has never forsaken me. You really never fail those who put their trust in Your unfailing love.

We found the good samaritan UPLB Student, Kristine Marie Valenzuela

Remember almost three months ago, I wrote that I've been looking for this UPLB Student, Kristine Marie Valenzuela? 

As a quick recap my sister lost her ATM card and did not even realized until we get a call from a stranger named Kristine Valenzuela who used Facebook to reach my sister. We asked them if they can drop by our shop to return the ATM and also so we can meet and thank them personally, but they just dropped it off and went home.

It's been almost three months to no avail, until I decided to not rely so much on social media anymore and look her up directly at the College Secretary's office. If Kristine Valenzuela can exert effort in looking for the owner, then I, too, can reciprocate the same gesture.

But the university was on a semester break and practically all the students were some place else other than the campus. I was advised that they will inform the student once she goes to the office of the college secretary for registration.

One day, I finally got the visitor that my sister and I have been looking for since late week of August this year. We finally met the good samaritan, UPLB student Kristine Marie Valenzuela from Batangas City.

She told me that it was her and her cousin Edward who found the ATM on the floor of the machine and they thought that it might belong to another UPLB student. They feel that they need  to return it immediately because it might contain the student's allowance for the week. Since they're only staying in a dormitory, they asked their landlady if they can use her personal land line just so they can call us through the contact number that they found on Facebook to return the ATM. 

So I invited them to another meet up with her cousin so we can treat them out and thank them personally. I tell you, I had to almost beg several times until she finally agreed to just a simple meet up and not the dinner/coffee that I originally proposed.

Of course we prepared a simple token of appreciation for them:

And we finally met them! Here's my sister, Aprille with cousins Edward and Kristine.

Again, we also almost begged and pressured them into joining us even for at least a dessert for them to take home, but we did not succeed. They did not want any sort of reward, they just really want to return the ATM to its owner. But I insisted on having a photo, so it's a good thing they agreed. We just had a little chat then we let them go.

I still believe in good samaritans and I really hope there would be more students, other than UPLB students, who would do the exact same thing they did or probably even better.

Dear Kristine and Edward, thank you very much and may God bless you and your good hearts. Your parents must be so proud of you.

Tis' the season to go shopping: The 47th International Bazaar 2013

Tis' the season of cold wind, cuddle weather, merry lights, crazy sale, night markets and weekend bazaars! 

And oh what a jam packed weekend that was! The next morning after the Nuffnang event, we went to the 47th International Bazaar.

More Bazaar information after the jump!

The Realistic Birthday Wishlist

I realized that next week is my birthday. While the thought of it bring all kinds of both necessary and unnecessary emotions, I decided to divert my thoughts into having a realistic wish list instead. Realistic, because it's a list of possible gifts that my family and friends might think that it's okay to buy for me since I will be using/reading/needing them anyway and not just use the birthday pass to get it. Okay fine, I'm using the birthday pass. I know it’s awkward to post any kind of wishlist (unless it's world peace, equality, prosperity and Miss Universe-ish stuff statements) during this time of the year especially with what happened to our country, but please allow me to at least fantasize about this list since they are harmless wishes anyway.

You might be thinking I would love to get big ticket items such as my own townhouse, SUV, gadget, a trip to U.K., etc. but those stuff are actually reserved for my vision board.

So, without further ado, and in random order, here are the 5 things I would love to get: 

1. A Trodat Stamp (with my name on it).

I fantasize to have this in pink of purple and I will use it for the books that I got from Book sales. It makes me think I have a "personal library" with this stamp. Throw in ink refill and instructions how to DIY refill it too.

2. Either The Secret sequel books from  Rhonda Byrne...

Because I already have "The Secret" four years ago, these two would be a good addition. Plus, these are what I also consider "mental investment".

or the Archie Married Life Series Comic Books!

I have always loved Archie series but they've gotten so darn expensive! I miss reading comic books and Archie Series is one of the comic books that I miss reading. I wonder what the story line is now that it's about married life and no longer Riverdale High.

3. Pink stilettos tape dispenser (available at National Bookstore)

I already saw it last year , thought twice and did not get it. But because I am obsessed with wrapping books (even second hand ones that I got in Booksale) this dispenser, would be great too! If you don't mind, kindly throw in some magic tape refill too!

4. Personalized name tags for USB, and oh, another 32GB USB would be great too!

I still have the wood, ethnic-designed, personalized USB name tag that my co-supervisor gave me when she went to Bukidnon. I realized that I need these not just out of a whim but for work purposes too since I like to label my stuff.

5. 5-pc car mat that I've been itching to get since last year. I would love to get it in pink, para ang kire-kire lang.

I can actually see the expression of my guy friends when they see this. It all started when I saw the car mat of one of my guy friends' car and I've been on the look out for something like it until it has been more than a year! I don't know why I can never find the time to get exactly like the one that I saw. One time we were so decided to get one, the store that supposed to carry it was closed for the holiday (local elections).

 Anyway, those are the top five of my list. Do you also have a realistic wishlist?

(Photos are from the internet. Image URL of these photos were retained.)

Blogopolis 2013: The Nuffie Awards Night!

I still have that "high" feeling from attending the Blogopolis #Intothe WILD event held by Nuffnang. Part two of the event is the much awaited Nuffie Awards Night!

More of the Awards Night after the jump!

A first-timer at Nuffnang's Blogopolis #IntotheWILD 2013!

For the past few days, I've been excited that I got an invite to one of the hottest, coolest and informative blogger's convention in Manila, the Nuffnang Blogopolis. And because it was my first time to attend, I have no expectations or point of comparisons. I did not even google or researched the event, I was just very excited to attend and happy to take my sister with me. 

Registration started at 12:30 pm but we arrived at 1pm. I can already see a lot of bloggers all over the place, signing up at booths and checking out their loot bags and sponsors' stuff.

More blogging tips and other useful information after the jump!