The biggest influence in my life...everything I did with my brother.

I don't know why....I just don't know why I am making such a big deal of the 9th year that he is in heaven.

Before, this day was an ordinary day. Sure it was his last here on Earth but today, this year, this 9th time something is different.

Maybe I'm just pitying myself because of stress in school...

It's just this August 26, 2010 is different from the past 9 August 26 that my brother has been dead.

Something is different about today that I feel I just should write about it.

I meant the title above. Everything I am today, a fan of Anime and a lot of other boyish stuff is all because of my brother. He introduced me to all of this, so if there is someone to blame for me being childish most of the time, it would have to be my brother.

Reached a mental block here. Something is really different this 9th year. Is it really because of the bad news I got earlier today? Or is it because it is also the last day of the term? I really don't know.

I mean, I can't even remember what happened last year on this day....

But I clearly remember what I was doing at any given time exactly today, 9 years ago.

Why am I making such a fuss about today? Why am I such making a fuss about my deceased brother on his 9th death anniversary?

Maybe its because I got used to the fact already that we are really 4 in the family and not 5... Is it because of that?

Do I blame him for what I received this morning in class?

Am I scared that he'll suddenly show up and scold me for all the things I have promised but never did?

All I know is I am making such a big deal about today and I really don't know why...

It's actually a big relief writing all this down. I don't know if I want people to actually read this or not but I will post in anywhere I want to...

I do miss my brother. I wished we had more time together. I'm envious when I hear my friends talk about how close they are with their older brothers, how even if they tease each other, they still love spending time with one another.

Maybe that's it...I can't really remember having a brother figure in life and I wish I could but it was such a long time ago. I miss having him around. Someone to goof of with. Someone who can drive me wherever I want....but I highly doubt Kuya Ricky would do that.

I'm making such a big deal of today that I don't even know if I want this day to end or not.

All I know is today is the 26th of August. A lot of people are celebrating their birthdays, a lot of my friends are celebrating their birthdays. My family is celebrating his birthday in heaven.

Exactly 9 years ago today, my brother died. I don't even know the cause of death but I don't care. He had Bone Cancer. He was 15 when he died.

He died without any of us near him. He was on his bed, in his room, all alone.

And what i truly and utterly know. What is true, what is a fact....is that I miss him and I love him.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

I'd be going to two different sides on this one.

In other words I have mix views about the movie.

The Lightning Thief is the first in series of books depicting Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon, and his adventures. It tells Percy's first ever quest which was to retrieve Zeus' master bolt from whoever it was that stole it.

As a moviegoer, it was a great film. Nice effects great story line. The camera footage was a little blurry at some points but most of the time it was great. The lead actor was alright and the cast were a bunch of really great actors. The effect on the mythical creatures were satisfactory. If I was rating the movie on movie alone it would've gotten a much higher star mark.

The problem is I am a bookworm. I am not saying that Chris Columbus is a killer of book adapted into movie but he actually is. Fist Harry Potter and now Percy Jackson. A lot of things were changed and a lot of important side stories went missing. If you've read the book, you would know how important Ares is in the story but now we don't know who he even is. Chiron is the head of camp so what happens in the second film. Its those difference that may really change what happens in all the five storylines. Book-wise is would have gotten a zero in my book.

It is still a good watch for this weekend with the kids. But if you really want a sense of adventure I suggest you just buy the books instead.

Youth 2010: Boto Para Sa Pagbabago

That was the longest day ever.

I went to school at around 8 in the morning. The auditorium doors would be opened for the forum at around 10:30. My partner in English research decided to do first one of our assignments so we would be done then we would line up to get into the auditorium.

Our surprise when one of my friends told me that the line was so long already.

Chances of getting inside the auditorium were slim and since most of the students there were early because they were saving a place for their friends.

We ended up watching in one of the classrooms.

The debate was great to listen to. It was just a little bad that most of the students really wanted to get inside.

But nothing would compare to the mayhem that occurred after the forum. When Gibo and Noynoy left the Yuchengco auditorium and were at the lobby of Yuchengco building. I was told that Gibo wanted to roam around his old school but students wanting to shake his hand and take a picture of him wouldn't allow it.

You could see it in his face how grateful he was for all the support of the Lasallians.

The forum was pretty great. Some answers were exceptional, some candidates played it safe, some were just down right disappointing. Some candidates didn't even answer the question at all.

My summary would be: Gordon and Gibo were good but played it safe with the Arroyo question. Villar and Madrigal were at each others throats all throughout. Noynoy answered well but played it safe most of the time and I didn't like his closing statement. Delos Reyes wasn't prepared for his questions and it was evident that he was nervous. Villanueva and Perlas were, well forgettable.

Top 3 would have been Gibo, Gordon and Noynoy.

And Villanueva and Madrigal kept calling us Lasallites. I know that was what we were called before but now its Lasallians. Ted Failon even corrected them.

Funny thing about watching it within the campus is you would hear Ted Failon's off the camera moments. Haha. Like. "Oh, mga Lasalyano pag balik natin energy pa rin ah?!" Haha.

I have to say that Gibo's answer with the Arroyo question was what I was expecting from him. And Gordon defending him was also a great show of camaraderie. Just because Gibo is within the same party as the President doesn't mean that they are equal. And Gibo's answer towards Madrigal's question was also exceptional.

Villar's comment about having famous relatives was un-called for. Good thing that Madrigal stepped in and commented him as well.

Gordon's answer that the Philippines was ready for Dick Gordon was very smart if one would think about it.

All in all it was a great forum.

Waiting in line then realizing that you should just watch in one of the classrooms, waiting for the candidates to arrive, then staying to shake hands with them (I had the chance to do that with Gibo and Noynoy!) and take their pictures was well worth the whole day in La Salle.

It shows that the Youth are really active in this upcoming election and they will really exercise their vote. Like it's tag line says:

Boto Para Sa Pagbabago!

The weirdest account in my life...

Alright, I'm at work but there is no hear as of this moment so I am making use of the very expensive Internet bill that we pay.

I was in De La Salle University, Andrew Building earlier, having my History class. My professor, who I will argue is older than my parents, was talking about how the Philippines isn't progressing because it is a buyer of products and not a producer of exports.

Suddenly, out of the blue, I saw a white plastic bag floating in mid air. I know this may not necessarily be a very fascinating thing, but I was in the 10th floor of the building, a building with very high ceiling I may add.

I mean, if I would describe it, the white plastic bag was flying. Dragged around by the breeze and even went across the Enrique building which is only 10 floors. I mean it was flying. Having no care whatsoever and just letting the wind push itself in the right direction.

I couldn't take my eyes off it. (Arguably, it was only about 20 seconds that the plastic flew in front of the window.) But it was at the exact same time, that my History professor was stating that it was about time that the Philippines soared to new heights.

Analogy, the Philippines was that plastic bag and it flew not by itself but with the help of the wind. If the Philippines is the bag, what is the wind? A question that I will not answer but let you, the reader, answer for yourself.

Justice will prevail! (More of a rant rather than a blog)

Outrage isn't the word that I would describe what I felt when I heard that RP was named most dangerous place for journalists.

I felt down! As in, very depressed! Because, some point of time in my life, I was a journalist and I still am even if my college degree is not related to journalism.

Alright, maybe other people died in that tragedy and not just journalist. But that would be handled in another part of this rant.

Hear me out.

Those people, were sent their not really by their won choice, they were given an assignment to cover the filling of the candidates certificate for the upcoming election. They weren't part of this political dynasty clash. They shouldn't have been killed. None of those people deserved to have died like that, and what was the gain from their deaths, a society with nothing but the old C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N still hanging over the air of the Philippines.

The people responsible think they are untouchables, well they aren't. They've already been expelled from their party by a person who can actually have an intellectual conversation with Harvard professors. They given a bad name for the provinces in Mindanao. And they have disgraced the values of being a Filipino.

It was ironic, the the press conference for the young journalists of our country took place last week. Will this be their fate as well when they are in the job they've dreamed of doing? Are the Filipino journalist be famous for always getting killed while in the field?

What justice is this for the country and for the act of freedom of speech in itself?!

Rant. That is what's above and I really don't care if the ideas are all rumbled and I really don't care if it's the worst essay you've read so far. All I care about is that, whoever did this, may it have been the one giving the order or the one carrying out the order, you'll have to face the consequences of your actions. Every single on of your countrymen hates you. You'll have to live with that fact, and if I could have a chance I would like to ask those responsible:

What political power really worth what you'll be facing?

I sure hope you don't answer yes.

Last Day of Work! and The Gathering!

Start:

Dec 4, '09 06:00a

We take this rivalry too seriously!

Haha, my dad just told me that the 2010 elections would be just like your ordinary UAAP game. It's the green team versus the blue, not in basketball but in politics and in the highest positions in the country.

The presidential elections is a fight between DLSU alumni and ADMU alumni.

Gilbert Teodoro and his running mate Eduardo Manzano are both graduates of La Salle while Ninoy Aquino and Mar Roxas are both Atenistas.

I know this maybe just a coincidence and all that but the rivalry between my school and my best friend's school is just too much. It reached this level for Pete's sake!

Well I don't think both schools in question will support their graduates. The president of DLSU and DLSU itself is close to the heart of the Aquino family even if Noynoy came from Ateneo.

I just hope this election won't be like a DLSU-ADMU game wherein their's a fight after the match.

How it happened! The final hours of my PSP...

Alright! A fair warning. This post is very emotional and very materialistic. Do not read if you hate both!!!



Last Tuesday, I rode the trains LRT and MRT towards Makati to meet my parents there and will go home together. I waited for my sister in the station and hold and behold when she saw me, the front pocket of my bag was open. First I thought, no big. I don't put important stuff there anyways.

She asked me to check everything that I have in my bag. And suprise!!! No PSP in sight, I must have placed it in the front pocket of my bag.

To quote my dad, "Para kang nawalan ng boyfriend!"

Yes! That is how much I loved my PSP. I mean, it was the ultimate gadget! You could play games, watch movies, listen to music, take pictures (if you had the PSP camera gadget) and even surf the internet!

I totally miss it and always kick myself when I remembered how careless I was for not minding my bag while I was walking in the station.

Alright, my PSP was old and well it's been used and wanning in the years, but I still love it. I want my PSP back but I know I won't ever get it.

By some chance, if whoever took it is reading this. You can't open it because it has a password. there are no games except for the BOOK READER, and it has a memory of 2GB only. You picked the wrong PSP to steal just so you know.

Farewell PSP! My twitter, plurk, facebook, multiply, blogger, deviantArt and tumblr all mourn you!!!

My First Pay-Check (As in, hindi lang petty cash!)

Got my first pay-check earlier today! Haha! Php 1719.00! Haha!

My Birthday Gift to Myself: Second Place in Fully Booked-Book Geek Competition

See here, I am a current International Students Major in De La Salle University Manila and is a working student currently assigned to the Information-Reference of the University Library. My way of stress releasing is by joining a literature contest that is held once a month.

If you are wondering why I tagged you, skip to the end of these note but if you are curious as a cat to know the whole story then read ahead!

Yesterday, October 24 at 6 p.m. was the Book Geek for the month of October. 9 people were their. only 1 of them was a new comer, a Literature Major from the Philippine Normal University, Carlo.

I've joined that contest twice before and last night was my third try.

The Elimination was like this, you had to pick a number from the bowl with colored paper in it. Written on the piece of paper was a number which corresponds to a number.

I really thought that I would have been out after the first two questions. Since you do have life lines like Skip which is to skip the round but you have to answer two questions when your turn comes again and Pass which is to pass the question to another contestant and if they answer it wrong both of you are goners.

It was the first round and it was my turn. I already thought that I was going to use a life line then the host asked me if I was well aware about the boys in literature, and my heart was beating so fast. The contestants before me had Harry Potter questions, why didn't I get one! My heart was beating so fast from anxiety.

My first question, good thing was: Who were the Hardy Boys?

Whew, I was saved.

The next round I wasn't that lucky, I forgot the answer. I knew it was a type of fever but I forgot the name. The question was: What illness did Beth caught in Little Woman? So I skipped. I knew it was a fever but I didn't know which kind. The answer was Scarlett Fever.

So the next round I had to answer two questions. Again, my heart was beating so fast. Still I had no intention of winning. I only had the intention of not being the fist to be voted out.

First was: Who was the ghost in the bathroom in Harry Potter? (Hello! Harry Potter addict here!) Second was: What was the word branded in the first murder in Angels and Demons? I quickly answered Earth but then I asked if I could change my answer to Illuminati. I remembered that Earth was written on the first cardinal but not necessarily the first death.

I was saved!

My final question for the elimination was: Which Weasley Twin got his ear cut off by a curse? George of course.

So, that landed me in the final three.

The finals was a close game. Raise to five and we 3 had the same questions. It was like a quiz bee.

I answered the following questions:

Which to novels were Victor Hugo famous for? Les Miserable and The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Which German author sold his soul to the Devil? Faust (I was the only who answered it!)

What do you say when you want to summon your spellbook in Harry potter? Accio Spellbook!

What is the working title of The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown? The Solomon Key (I was the only who answered it!)

Who wrote 'Bata, bata paano ka ginawa'? Lualhati Bautista

Carlo, who won the first prize, and me were tied for five points and it was supposedly a raise to 5, the final question was something about an author winning a literary award back in 1920 and so unfortunately i didn't know but Carlo being a literary major took a guess and he won!

Good for him! But I wouldn't have had second place if it weren't for the following people:

Ate Sarah- For being addicted to Dan Brown and letting me be the only person to answer the Lost Symbol question!

Cholo-For getting me hooked to Harry Potter.

Mom and Dad-For buying the Hardy Boys for Ate and Kuya before! That saved me from the first question!

Ms. Millette, Ms. Angel, Ms. Rachelle- For teaching me all about literature and the wonders of reading. Without you guys I wouldn't have known the authors like Victor Hugo, Robert Frost and all their works.

Veritas Parochial School- The CL text book had Faust in it! That is why I was able to answer it.

Martin Candelaria, Thea Salazar, Portia Destacamento, MM Maglasang- For being my fellow book worms in high school. I wouldn't have remembered literary facts without you guys! Especially Portia, because of you I read "Love In A Time of Cholera" and "Memoirs of a Geisha". I might have misspelled the answers but it was okay that I still answered them!

GOD, JESUS- For letting me get that far and for guiding me in picking the number where my question lied.

The greatest birthday present for myself! Thanks everyone!

SCIENVB (Biology) Field Trip: Mt. Makiling

Start:	Oct 25, '09 06:00a
End:	Oct 25, '09 6:00p
Location:	Mt, Makiling, Botanical Gardens, Los Baños

Field Trip with A53 of SCIENVB class, with my professor Dr. Freitag!!! Haha!

When Nostalgia kick backs: Toy Story

When we got home earlier tonight, we caught Toy Story at the Disney Channel.

I so totally missed that movie. It was my first ever favorite movie! Haha, can you remember it. Woody and Buzz with their constant bickering. Realizing that maybe toys have feelings too?

I remember when I was younger, my parents promised me that they would take me to watch the sequel if I got a perfect score in one of my tests that week. I didn't get a perfects core but I did get a high score. And when they got home they told me we could go and watch it. At that time it was only Filinvest that had a movie house and ATC hadn't.

I really miss that movie and now I promise myself that on Monday, I'm going to watch it again as a birthday treat to myself! Haha!

I missed those kid movies that I adored back then and TOY STORY was my ultimate favorite. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to look for my Buzz Light Year t-shirt and my Woody doll.

Happy Birthday Alexei Sudario and Angel Salazar! My 17th!

Start:

Oct 26, '09 09:00a

Happy birthday!

First Pay day!

Start:	Oct 30, '09 09:00a
Location:	DLSU, Accounting Office

Haha, I'll be getting my first pay check! Haha, that is so cool!

Ate Myla's Wedding!

Start:

Oct 17, '09 09:00a

My First Day As A Working Student

Yup, you've read right.

I, Michelle Grace Ortega Lojo, is as of October 07, 2009 at8 a.m. a working student for the University Library of De La Salle University in the section of Information-Reference.

Haha, now that was a mouthful. Haha!

Well, earlier today I started with the START program of La Salle. Also known as the

Student Assistantship and Resource Training Program.

The students who apply to it are given secretarial jobs in any sections of the school that is need of additional hands.

My class was at 11:20 this morning and I was already in school at around 7. I think. It was fun. I had breakfast at Mcdo. Studied the reading I was given and at 8, started my job.

Funny that a blockmate of mine spent the time there where I was working. It was nice of her to keep me company, thanks Dups!

When it was 11, I walked towards Andrew and went to my class and I was not late! I even had time to talk with my friends and all that.

I hope this goes well. Haha.

My schedule is 3 hours every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 7 hours during Fridays.

Well that was it, being a working student just means that I have to wake up early every single day. Oh well! That's life, I love it!

DLSU Underwater!!! (Pix from my blockmate)

Again, DLSU underwater last Saturday...good thing we managed to get out.

SJVSTL Gazette-October 2009

Volume 1 Number 2

TAXI Cab VS Ondoy's Water Minions

Alright, a taxi even if the water was already up to its tires still went on his way! Short video but still that driver must be out of his mind!