PBB = more money

This evening, Big Brother announced to the celebrity housemates some changes in the prizes that await the Big Four, a never before twist in the many seasons of PBB in the Philippines.

The housemates, who have just heard director Maryo delos Reyes' comments on their short film, were gathered in the living room when Kuya suddenly called his "special guests" and the Wowowee girls started coming in, all in skimpy clothing, with boxes full of money. You should’ve seen Baron going crazy! Haha!

What the hell are all the boxes full of money for? It appears that Big Brother has decided to double the cash prizes of the show: P400,000 for the 4^th placer, P600,000 for the 3^rd placer, P1,000,000 for the 2^nd placer, and a whopping P2,000,000 (plus other perks) for the Big Winner. Kuya also said that challenges will be tougher and only the toughest can stay until the big night on January 5, 2008.

January 5^th. Wow. The first thing that came to me was, “Oh, they have to spend Christmas and New Year inside the house!” At that instant, Kuya announced that he is opening the door and those who cannot take the challenge are free to exit the house. The episode was cut as the housemates were left amazed by this shocking declaration.

Initially, this season was expected to run until mid December, right before the holidays. I suppose this tremor was never anticipated by the housemates, unless this has been preplanned and revealed to them even before the show started. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I reckon the housemates joining because they know in the first place that they’ll be home for Christmas and New Year. If only they knew the twist, would they still go for it?

On a side note, it makes me wonder what drove the PBB production to come into this kind of twist. After four seasons, why double the prize only now? Is it to make the show more interesting to watch after the “hell week” that happened? Could it be because of the unexpected exits that took place this past week? I honestly think Mcoy was insulted by Kuya’s behavior and Ethel was just, well, being the pasaway that she is, but that's another issue altogether.

Anyway, back to the topic.

Okay, I thought, if I were in the housemates’ position right now, what would I do? Should I leave the house to spend the holidays with my family (as originally planned) or take a shot at the doubled rewards?

This dilemma, I think, is brought about by the culture which we have been brought up as Filipinos. I say it’s a difficult decision because we were taught ever since childhood to value our families just like how we value God, more than money or fame or anything material in this world. So not being able to spend Christmas or New Year (it is when family reunions are usually arranged) is a big no-no to most conservative Filipino families.

But as I look carefully into the situation, if I were a housemate, this can be the only holiday season that I am not spending with my family. I mean, it’s not like I will never come back or something. I can always have my next holidays spent with my loved ones, but this is a one-shot deal that may never come again, so why waste it?

My take on this issue: take up the challenge. After all, only 8 housemates remain; four will be evicted and there is a 50% chance of winning the money. P400,000 isn’t bad at all, so might as well take the risk. If the opportunity gets better, P2M might be on its way, which is a totally good thing!

This is just me being practical and all. Others might need 20 years working in the office to get this amount of money. I might need to work in the lab for several years to get my hands on P400K. It’s money, and no matter how we look at it, we are going to need it for sure. In fact, I even tried paid blogging to make extra moolah!

So now I pass on the question to you: if you were in this predicament, if you were a housemate, what will you do? What will you choose? I’d love to hear you guys out.

Rainy Thursday Randomness

I was about to leave the house and head to school when my Mom called to tell my Dad that classes have been canceled because of the non-stop rain. I had my mind set on visiting Doc Sev to give him our gift (it's his burrrrrdddaaay!) and at the same time present my experimental data to him. But because of the not-so-friendly weather and the floods attempting to fill Dapitan today, I am stuck at home with nothing to do but blog and read journal articles.

****

Speaking of Doc Sev's birthday, I might just drop by BF later to get him some Starbucks Coffee beans. He loves caffeine so we'll give him loads of it. Plus, I will have an excuse to go out of the house. Haha.

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While trying to print some documents earlier, I found out that our new HP printer software doesn't display ink levels. The page had several unprinted lines, so I guess the black ink's running out. I re-installed the software, found out that I missed installing some components, and that it woundn't complete its installation because my computer doesn't have enough RAM.

Argh.

I must really go out today and buy those RAM cards.

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I do not really watch local movies, but my friends have convinced me to go watch John Lloyd's movie, One More Chance, tonight. Hmmm...

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I hate it when it rains. It's sssssoooooo sad, so gloomy. It's like you have nothing else to do but sleep!

Therefore, I must really go out. Now na!

What's killing me

Thursday last week. 8 November 2007. I came to school early to spend some quiet time to do my reports for DOST. When I stay at home, I usually procrastinate until the day has ended without me typing a single letter for my report. I have constantly been putting it off that I totally forgot it's the 2nd sem already and I badly need to pass my reports ASAP. I needed motivation to do what needs to be done and the laboratory is the perfect place to get that motivation from.

As I was approaching our lab, I saw this blue paper stuck on our door. Announcements, I thought to myself.

Blue paper on our laboratory door

I moved closer and checked out what does it really say.

RCNS updates

So this was it. This was what Dr. Binag called me for 2 months ago. Researchers get to report to the "local scientific community" what they have been doing and improve their research work through the insights and suggestions of other researchers.

Anyway, I looked at the names of those who will be presenting...

names names names

...and nearly fainted when I found mine written under the December 5 heading.

December 5. 2:00 pm. DORCAS CROOC. ahh (faint!)

I was honestly alarmed to find myself presenting my study so early in December. I knew it's going to be in December, but I didn't expect it to fall on the first week! It's just too soon!

So for the past week, I've been doing follow-ups on my experiments to get more reliable and presentable data.

Experimental set-up

What's hard for me is that I have several other deadlines to beat for my money-making brouhaha. But who says I have to sacrifice one of my duties? I can always do things at the same time. After all, I'm not called ultra-amazing Superwoman for nothing.

Doing paid opps while doing experiments

My working area

And so for today, since I am finished with the last few experiments for the first phase of my study, I will be staying at home trying to encode my data. I will be having a meeting with my adviser tomorrow, so I need to prepare the stuff I will report to him. This research update thing goes at the top of my list (together with my paid opps), and next are my pending DOST reports which I hope I can prepare as the days (or weeks) pass by.

*As I was doing this post, the mail man arrived and handed me a letter from DOST. Yes, they are looking for my reports already. Waaaaaahhhhh! OMG, I'm gonna die! (Mariel Rodriguez way of saying)

To Hann and Chres

This post may have been 2 weeks late but that doesn't mean I totally have forgotten to blog about it. I will make this short and sweet. =)

To my dear Hannah and Chris,

It's the peak of the mountain, the end credits of the movie, and the period of the sentence. You have finally capped the MS program with the defense of your theses! I want you girls to know that I am very very very proud of you both! Two Magna Cum Laudes in a day! Beat that!

Hannah during her defense

Chris during hers

Mad props to you, girls! Congratulations! *smoooooch*

We are Dazers forever

I just got home from the 41st Days With the Lord Anniversary Mass and I am once again on a high. I was overwhelmed with the experience not only because this is the first time I attended the DWTL Anniv. Mass in my four years of being a Dazer, but also because of the fact that I am representing the Better Living-DWTL Community along with the other BL DWTL core members.

Actually, our attendance wasn't planned at all. Our originally scheduled meeting with our parish priest would coincide with the Anniv. Mass schedule and so we never thought we'd be able to attend the Mass in the first place. In the afternoon, we were informed that our meeting was cancelled. We then decided to just go to the DWTL Anniv. Mass sponsored by the St. Scholastica's College DWTL Community.

Before leaving MHC Parish

Waiting for Jerold outside his house

Backseat peeps: Zaldy, Apol, Grace, Jerold, and cross :)

We all thought that we were late when we got to St. Scho but it turned out that the Mass was just about to start. It honestly felt so good to see hundreds and hundreds of Dazers from different communities gather in one place to celebrate the 4th Day with our Kuya. And getting to renew our commitment as Dazers was the best part of it! The first and last time I got to express my commitment was like four years ago!

After the Mass, posing for the camera was just unavoidable. And it wasn't only us, as in everyone talaga!

Boys Batch 2

With people from UST DWTL (Yup, I serve this community too!)

With our cross

Just when we were about to leave, Mon's van seemed to have some start up problems, and so we took more pics while waiting for him to fix things up.

Apol and Grace

Picture-taking along Estrada St.

Si Grace lang naiba! Brown nga ang BL DWTL eh. Haha.

Some of the people I know from UST Days passed by as we were making tambay along Estrada St. Jhun (my co-BIL staffer) suddenly blurted out, "Wala pa tayong picture, Dorx!" Picture, you say? Madali akong kausap. Hahaha!

With UST Dazers (Karl, Jhun, Patrick, Ja, and the other girl. Awww, I forgot her name.)

Since our tummies were already making noises, we decided to head back to Parañaque and eat our dinner there. Pero the traffic was bad along Sucat Road, so we had no choice but to...

...take pics again!

While waiting for our orders at Sinangag Express BF

Can you tell Mon and Je are so hungry already?

Renewed commitment, time with Kuya, lots of pics, full stomachs, and a fun fun fun bonding time with the BL DWTL core members... the simple joys that made my day. It's good to be with Dazers. I am a happy girl! =)

****

Some thoughts...

Dazers,

We are called to be a Dazer, we are Dazers forever. Remember: He never said it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it. And we all know it was definitely WORTH it.

Let's live our commitment! Let's live the 4th!

+BIL+

I miss you.

In your lifetime, there will always be people whom you will remember for the many good (or bad!) things they did to you. That someone whom you had your first date with. That someone who first broke your heart. That someone whom you had very very good conversations with (which by the way lasted for hours!). That someone who first called you names. That someone who made you cry all night long.

Then there's this one who you can't seem to forget no matter how many years passed. Who made you happy with even the corniest of jokes. Who stunned you with his witty comments on life. Who was amazing by being simply himself...

We may never get the chance to talk like we used to, we may never be the same again. But just in case I wasn't able to tell you, thinking about our memories still make me smile. Thank you. You are forever in my heart. =)

I miss you, CJ. And you don't know how incredibly much.

(It's funny how Avril's "I miss you..." kept on playing in my head as i was doing this post!)

Call me Ultra-amazing Superwoman

Aside from the other gazillion things I have to do in life, e.g. thesis experiments, manuscript, household chores, DWTL duties, lector on Sundays, sell stuff on eBay, prepare GS publication, meet up with friends to keep my social life from completely going down the drain, tutor General Chemistry to a freshman, etc., I have recently decided to add "extra special blogging" in my to-do list for extra moolah.

Yep, I'm joining the bandwagon.

My future posts may not be of interest to anyone than the advertisers, but I will surely be doing posts that aren't paid from time to time.

So to those asking for a special article about them (READ: Sheila), I'm afraid I have to put that off for a while. I am getting paid to do articles now, you know. Hahahaha! Seriously Shi, I would do something for the barx next time. It's just that I have my hands so full right now. I know you understand. =)

Christmas Wishlist

Since the holidays are fast approaching, I have decided to make an early list of the top 100 stuff I wanna have at my doorstep this Christmas.

Here goes my Christmas Wishlist...

1. Apple MacBook Pro (17 inches)
2. 2007 Honda CR-V A/T
3. 3 pairs of jeans (Kahit Lee lang please...)
4. White iPod Video Classic
5. Crocs Khaki/Pearl Patra size 10
6. Red Sony T100
7. Hollister Applique T-Shirt
8. Gucci belt bag (brown)
9. cK be perfume (100 mL)
10. Bulgari BLV for Women
11. Cranium Set
12. Lacoste Drawstring bag (classic)
13. Ralph Lauren doctor's bag (classic brown plaid)
14. Nike Merge watch
15. GNC Vitamin B-1 tablets
16. Red Samsonite Luggage
17. Palm Tungsten E2
18. Nokia E90 Communicator
19. HP Laser printer
20. The Body Shop Beleaf and Amorito perfume
21. Victoria's Secret sparkling body ice
22. Shu Uemura Brush Set
23. Jimmy Choo Kennedy patent sandals
24. Manolo Blahnik Sedaraby pumps
25. Ellianto nail polish (earth tones)
26. Black Mango purse
27. Green Lacoste Pique shirt
28. One week vacation at the Bahamas (nakksss!)
29. iPod AC charger
30. Harry Potter 7-book set
31. Victoria's Secret hip hugger undies
32. White Guess? socks
33. HP Deskjet F4185 black and colored cartridges
34. White Hermes scarves
35. Disney Princesses bedsheet and pillowcases
36. 50,000 pesos cold cash
37. The Body Shop silver-toothed comb
38. Chips for Poker
39. Logitech optical mouse
40. Nike Free 7.0 (pink and gray)
41. Jansport polka-dotted bag (white)
42. Sony Bravia 40 inches LCD
43. IMAX passes
44. Roxy board shorts
45. Havaianas slim metallic (39/40)
46. JVC DVD Player
47. RL Denim jacket
48. Kate Spade classic nylon tote
49. GAP argyle sweater
50. Tumi wallet
51. Team Manila shirts
52. Play and Display orange bed
53. Kultura capiz frame
54. Trip to Hong Kong Disneyland
55. Burberry Baby Touch EDT
56. Clarion CD player for car
57. Bayo white pants
58. Marc Jacobs cream cashmere
59. Bottega Veneta large woven tote
60. Christian Louboutin Brudges pumps
61. Vivienne Westwood argyle tote
63. Miu Miu Prada Vernice white wedges
64. Oakley frogskins vintage sunglasses
65. Nintendo DS white
66. Esprit 3-fold umbrella
67. XOXO Blue Ink Hearts bag
68. Ralph Lauren make up bag
69. Bebe jeans
70. Nine West black satchel
71. Coach multistripe tote
72. Dooney & Bourke Quilt Signature Tassel tote
73. Starbucks Oreo Cheesecake
74. Microsoft Vista installer
75. Dove Energy Glow body wash
76. Vicky Belo gift cheque
77. Anna Sui eyeshadow #101
78. MAC Pro Golden Bronzer
79. Red Moleskin notebook
80. Apple iMac 20 inches (Core 2 Duo)
81. Ralph Lauren Pink Pony large tote
82. Beijing 2008 Olympics Opening passes
83. Obagi Skin Care System
84. Tommy Hilfiger travel bag
85. TechnoMarine pink Chrono Ceramique watch
86. DKNY Be Delicious EDT (100mL)
87. Black Fendi Baulotto Boston bag
88. Motorola D&G gold edition mobile phone
89. Louis Vuitton Petite Noe drawstring bag
90. Michael Kors Carly leather wedge
91. A year supply of Baby Ruth bars
92. Ferragamo slingbacks
93. Canon 400D DSLR
94. PSP (white)
95. Neutrogena Sun Block SPF 30
96. Bose Sound Dock for iPod
97. Levi's button fly jeans
98. Juicy Couture tote
99. Finish my experiments and defend my thesis
100. Graduate from the MS program in March

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UK - Philippines: Partners in Science

25 October 2007 -- Another crazy day for us sensors people at the TARC. UST hosted the UK - Philippines sensors workshop dubbed as "BIOSENSORS: Exploring New Domains in Bioanalysis" at the Research Complex. Foreign guests from UK and Singapore came over, and of course, as Doc Sev's minions, we had our tasks during the event.

My initial duty was to prepare the Souvenir Program. It took me a few days to finish the whole thing, which caused me to miss experiments and preparation of experimental materials. But what the heck. I have been doing layout stuff since college, so this was not something new to me. It's funny because until now I get excited when I do these things.

Anyway, a day before the workshop proper I was asked by Ate Karina to man the registration booth--wearing Filipiniana. I got to school really early the next day and helped Sir Bergs put up posters presentations, which by the way, kept on falling every minute or so. By the time the registration started, I was sweaty already and I still needed to change to my Filipiniana costume. Just imagine my haggardness. Argh.

I immediately went to help at the registration booth as soon as I got myself all made up.

Registration booth with Ate Karina and Ate Levi

Registration booth with Tita Beng and Ate Jacq

Chres, Erick, and I helping out at the registration booth

As Doc Sev's minions, we couldn't fully participate in the workshop. As I've said, we had tasks to accomplish for the day. And since we were assigned at the registration booth, we took pics while waiting for late attendees to arrive. We just had to unleash the camwhores in us.

Mam Karen, Chres, and me

Registration peeps at the TARC lobby

TARC gurls - Em, Mama K, Chres, me

At the end of the first session, people came rushing to our booth to ask for extra workshop kits. I tell you: we've encountered every type of human being imaginable. It's important to keep your cool at times like these. Really. Kasi if not, you know what happens.

Me and my Kopiroti bun after being attacked by really scary participants

We went back up to the lab to change into our normal clothes during the second session.

Hanging out in the lab

Prue, Em, Hannah, me

Just before having our lunch, we have decided to take a "batch pic." Yeah. Batch 2005 (BS)/2008 (MS)! Hopefully, this doesn't spoil our expected graduation from the MS program in March.

Batch 2005 / 2008

Doc Sev was the first speaker for the third session held after lunch. With full stomachs and a cozy auditorium, it was hard to keep our eyes open. We did things to amuse ourselves.

Doc Sev during his talk on biosensors and food safety

Doc Sev's minions

Chres sleepy na

Certificates in frames. Heavy.

Hannah pacute

The workshop was running an hour late already. By the time Doc Sev was doing the closing remarks, we, the registration committee, have gathered up outside the auditorium, took our seats, all ready to hand out the certificates.

Ready to distribute certificates

People came to approach us. We divided the certificates into groups. Surnames starting with R-Z were the ones assigned to us. A couple of names were mispelled and one wasn't even printed. Thank God Sir Dharm was ready to reprint certificates with corrections. I knew they would come for us if we didn't correct their certificates!

Filipino style cocktails soon followed. When I say Filipino style cocktails, I mean "fiesta-like." We had something like this when we hosted AsiaSense 2007 back in June. We had puto bumbong, bibingka, sapin-sapin, yummy pansit--basically kakanin--but we also had shrimp tempura, chicken lollipops, etc. I noticed our UK and Singaporean guests liked the pansit. They kept coming back for more.

Cocktails night

There was a short cultural show by the Salinggawi Dance Troupe and a game where a palayok needs to be hit while blindfolded.

SDT doing Maglalatik (is that what it's called?)

Dr. Higson trying out the Tinikling

And what is a Pinoy fiesta without karaoke?

Ate Karina and Sir Dharm singing

Our guests seemed to enjoy our singing because they began dancing as soon as we started with our Magic Sing!

Dr. Michel dancing with Dr. Su

Erick dancing with Dr. Hall

I was dead tired when I got home at around 10 pm. Nonetheless, we had so much fun during the day. How many times do you get to host an international conference with all -- as in ALL -- expenses paid by the sponsoring government?

UK, I heart thee. I shall visit you soon.