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.

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!

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

Start:

Oct 26, '09 09:00a

Happy birthday!

Veritas Batch 2009! Please read this! Urgent po!

To my Batchmates! Batch '09!!!! Sinu-sino ang may birthday ng August??!!!!!Please comment with the date and name nung may birthday!

Happy Birthday Lala!

Surprise!!

Hehe. I love surpsie parties when they not done to me.

Today. March 23, 2009 is Carla Mae F. Ragudo's 16th Birthday that we kept secret from her so technically spaking it's a surpise party.

The party had games (provided by Mitchelle and I) 16 roses and well just fun stuff. Just look at the pix that I will upload and pix from Portia and Mikko.

Hehe, I really had fun today and Happy Bday ulit Lala!

16th birthday

Thank You!!

Thanks to everyone who attended my party last October 27, 2008!

Martin

Mitch

Dan

Carlos

Darwin

Dek

Kam

Den

Kevin

Jasmine

Ethel--Partner In Crime

Portia

Carla

Tina

Ray

Luis

Jessica

Kristine

Adrian

Iris

EMP

Mico-chan

Fico

Alexei

Chui

Jonica

Ayen

Nel

Jeremy

Paul

Starbright--AJ

Thea

Avery

Kung may nakalimutan ako just tell me. Thank you talaga for coming!

The Tale of the Flying John Paul

I actually don't know what happened. All I know is that while I was inside eating some of the cake that was served when all of a sudden I heard people laughing from the outside.

I went outside to see what the fus was all about then I was told of the story.

Apparently, John Paul was chasing Michael while holding Asahi's camera. It was dark and he didn't see the humps right in front of him and he tripped face first I think to the ground.

I was also told that he rolled over his arm.

The injuries weren't that fatal but his arm was filled with red marks.

Man, I didn;t see it but apparently it was that funny.

Birthday in Hong Kong and Hong Kong Disneyland!!!

 Last Ocotber 29, 2007, my family along with two of my aunts went to Hong Kong!!! It was like a birthday present to me and my sister!!! It was an awsome trip we had fun, Fun FUn FUN!!!!!

Reminiscing: Birthdays!!!!!!!

 Since my birthday just flew by, let's reminisce my past birthdyas.

 

 My oldest memory of a birthday, with the help of home movies, is my 3 or 4the birthday in Shakeys Makati. Everyone was their! I don't even know them because I wasn't really thinking straight at those times.

 

The next parties I remember are the parties that happened in school. I think from grade 1 to 3 I had a party at school. I even have pictures.

 

I don't remember anything from grade 4 but in grade 5 I know I had a party and I even have pictures to prove it. I remember that we, the grade 5 students, did not participate in the living rosary because of my party in KFC.

 

When I was in grade 6 I wanted to do something cool and different because I thought that I would change schools. So I invited people to play badminton and eat at Alabang. These people were Martin, M.M., Kevin, Jonica and Cedric. I had other guests but they weren't allowed by their parents. It was so fun!! (I had another one on the same year level because of the graduation)

 

After that badminton with friends, every year I have something planned for my friends.

 

When I was a Freshmen, I invited the same people to play bowling. Cedric couldn't because they had a varsity game I think. April, one of the new students at that time, joined us. Again, it was a memorable birthday.

 

I think Sophomore year tops all birthdays!!! First I just wanted my friends to play a DVD game my parents gave in my previous birthday but it turned to something bigger. We occasionaly go to this hotel in Pampanga called Mimosa. I invited a lot of people this time, but since it was so far only Martin, Cedric and Jonica went with me. It was such a fun weekend!!! We played and did everything!!

 

You've noticed that all the parties I have written above are all with my friends, well parties with my family is extravagant that I can't possibly describe them.

 

Birthdays only happen once a year but it's not the party that matters, it's always the company and the thought that counts.

My Birthday (2007)

  I am so happy I turned 15 last Ocotber 26, 2007 Friday!!!!!!

It was a outrageous party! I can't believe that my classmates and friends went to my house and celebrated my birthday with me! It was awesome!!!!

 

 Turning a year older it fun and hard sometimes. I am growing older, it's a big NO-NO for everyone. Still it's life!

 

 I never hosted a party before so I didn't know what to do with my guests but they eventually figured it out all by themselves!

 

Some of them walked arund my village, others watched "50 First Dates" a lot took pictures outside my house and all of them ate everything on the table!!!

 

 Like my mom said, our house was filled with people!!! In the end everyone laughed and had fun. Some even played a game we made up! (Adrian, Thea, Aljohn, Kamille, Ethel, Jasmine, Martin and I) The PAirs Game! Is was so fun!!!

 

 My birthday was such a fun thing that comes once a year. Thanks to everyone that attended and thanks also to those who greeted me last October 26. See yah guys next year!!!!

My Birthday 2007

My Birthday Party at my house last October 26, 2007, friday.