Superpower

Got this from Clar.

Your Superpower Should Be Manipulating Fire

You are intense, internally driven, and passionate. Your emotions are unpredictable - and they often get the better of you. Both radiant and terrifying, people are drawn to you. At your most powerful, you feel like the world belongs to you. Why you would be a good superhero: You are obsessive enough to give it your all Your biggest problem as a superhero: Your moodiness would make it difficult to control your powers

What Should Your Superpower Be?

It's somewhat true but I hope to work on my biggest problem because lately, it's been showing more and more often. I used to pride myself with being professional and not succumbing to moodiness. But I guess adolescence does affect everyone. I know I am more passionate about things I believe in and well passion often affects the emotions more than any other aspect of the person.

And one more thing. I don't like my power - manipulating fire because I feel it is too dependent on the amount of oxygen present in the system. Sad naman I can't use my powers siguro in outer space or in oxygen-deprived atmospheres :(

Choice

The past movies I've seen that had maximum media exposure but really very little new to offer but amazing special effects all seem to have the same theme or subtheme. "Everything is a choice." To be specific, the movies are "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer", "Spiderman 3" and "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".

In Fantastic Four, this theme is clearly depicted in the Silver Surfer who was to serve Galactus as his herald in exchange for the survival of his planet. He later realized, after Sue Storm gave up her life to save him, that what she was saying was true: that indeed he can choose to fight the planet-eating being and that he could choose to save Earth. He did and seemingly repelled the doom facing the planet.

In Spiderman 3, this is shown in the internal struggle of Spiderman with Venom, the symbiotic alien lifeform that seemed to amplify the darkness in his being. While on one level he was trying to keep his identity and trying to save New York, on another he was struggling with problems with his lover, his best friend and other human concerns. In the end, he decides he wishes to detach himself from Venom and in the end defeated the villians with help from his best friend.

In Harry Potter, the plot focused on Harry himself although in the book it had a lot of subplots. This theme is clearly seen in the last part where he had to battle Voldemort in his own consciousness to keep his identity. Dumbledore says it very clearly: It is the choices we make that make us who we are.

I really have no problems with this theme because I personally believe it as well. God gave us two gifts that clearly defines our humanity: intellect and free will. I do not believe in the idea of suppressing choice because it is simply impossible. If God Himself has decided to respect the free will of His creatures, what can we do to subject others to our will? Every event in our lives is a choice. Sometimes, we feel that we have no choice not because we really don't have it but we are afraid to face to consequences of our choice. A slave, even if he is supposed to be bound to the will of his master, can easily choose to rebel. Even if he does not succeed, clearly, it is his choice whether or not to serve his master. Every choice has a consequence just as every action has a reaction. Sometimes, it is this consequence that keep us from believing that we have a choice. We often choose to chain ourselves but it is our choice to make.

The great thing about these three movies is that they depict the power of choice in its most extreme form. In Fantastic Four, the Silver Surfer overcomes the fear of losing his own planet and decides to save Earth and eventually succeeds. In Spiderman 3, Spiderman chooses to do the right thing and saves the day in the end. In Harry Potter, Harry decides to not succumb to the power of Voldemort. Even in seemingly insurmountable odds, choice prevails.

An additional theme is, if you choose to side with what is good and right, you will eventually but surely succeed. Heroes are called heroes because in the eyes of others they did the right thing. And again this theme holds true in real life. The good and right is always the winning side. If we choose to side with it, success is inevitable. Every choice has a consequence and oftentimes, it seems goodness is rewarded by injustice and sacrifice. But again just as in all the movies. choosing to be heroic is choosing to be victorious.

Vindication of my choice haha.

You scored as Biology/Chemistry/Geology, You should strongly consider majoring (or minoring) in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or related majors (e.g., Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, Genetics, Marine Biology, Zoology). It is possible that the best major for you is your 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th listed category, so be sure to consider ALL majors in your OTHER high scoring categories (below). You may score high in a category you didnt think you would--it is possible that a great major for you is something you once dismissed as not for you. The right major for you will be something 1) you love and enjoy and 2) are really great at it. Consider adding a minor or double majoring to make yourself standout and to combine your interests. Please post your results in your myspace/blog/journal. Biology/Chemistry/Geology 100% PoliticalScience/Philosophy 94% Religion/Theology 88% History/Anthropology/LiberalArts 88% Education/Counseling 75% HR/BusinessManagement 75% English/Journalism/Comm 75% Nursing/AthleticTraining/Health 69% Accounting/Finance/Marketing 69% Psychology/Sociology 69% Physics/Engineering/Computer 69% French/Spanish/OtherLanguage 56% Mathematics/Statistics 56% Visual&PerformingArts 31% WHAT MAJOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU? created with QuizFarm.com

But this quiz is not very helpful if you're not really decided on what you want in life. I mean questions like are you good in math will obviously direct what major is right for you. Sometimes (in my experience) what you're really good at is not exactly the best course for you and vice versa haha.

Something to remember 8

"But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons." - Matthew 9:34

The Pharisees were some of the most well educated people in Israel during the time of Jesus. And yet they seem to have been ignorant of the fact when a miracle of God was being performed before their eyes. This reminds us that knowledge of the world must not keep us from truly knowing God. Sometimes, the more we know, the more closed we are to God's surprises - events and experiences beyond human comprehension and explanation. Seek knowledge of God and the knowledge of the world will follow. Be open to God's surprises and let God take the wheel.

Because it comes only once in a millenium...

Eto na ang tamang time to pay tribute to the best batch the world has ever and will ever see - BATCH 2007! (planned to post this on the actual 07/07/07 day but due to unforeseen circumstances duh di ko nagawa haha)

This "topic" is one of the most difficult to organize because of the sheer volume of the memories, lessons, victories and defeats I had in Pisay. I've been meaning to write a tribute for the past few months but there was something keeping me from doing it. More than laziness, it's like once you pay tribute to something, the experience is over and you're just looking at it in retrospect. But I realized no, this is just the beginning, because the Pisay 07 experience will last a lifetime.

So let me start with Emerald, my first year section. I found my lifelong barkada here and for that I am really thankful. I didn't really have a lot of REAL friends before but when I came to Emerald, people had this very welcoming atmosphere and we had so much in common. Kung wala ang Eme, siguro di ako makakasurvive ng Pisay. Maraming nangyari nun internally na siguro di ko pinapansin pero ngayon narealize ko na hindi lang puro gimik ang natutunan ko sa Eme. Most of the best experiences I've had in the past four years I've shared with these guys. Nandito ang best friends ko, ang soulmate ko lahat. At dito ko nasimulang marealize na marami pang bagay na mas mahalaga sa academics - like friendships. And for all of that and more, maraming maraming salamat.

Kung sa Emerald ko nahanap ang lifelong friends ko, sa Champaca ko nameet most of the best people makikilala ko ever in my life. Kumpleto sa Champaca more than the nerds kumpleto talaga. May leaders, may athletes, may math wizards, may science geeks, may mga loveteams, may ... basta lahat ng facets ng batch natin nasama sa Champaca. At the best part is kahit na gaano kadiverse ang section na toh, united pa rin at talagang nattranslate into quantitative victories. Sa Champaca ko nakita ang full potential kapag lahat ng tao sa batch nagtutulong-tulong to achieve a goal. Sa Champaca ang most active egroup ko haha. Sa Champaca one moment naguusap kayo tungkol sa Geom, the next Magic cards na. Grabe talaga. Best section ever pa rin ang Champaca. Champaca Forever talaga :D

Di tulad sa Champaca na collective as a section ang usually na pagtingin, sa Beryllium, dapat pala individuals ang tinitignan. Nung una parang di ko nagustuhan ang Be kasi di ako sanay. Nasanay ako sa Champaca, masyado. Pero buti na lang sa middle of the year mas naenjoy ko na ang Be. Mas marami akong nakilala sa Batch natin at mas nakita ko ang mga tao not as mere classmates but as individual friends - ung hindi lang friends dahil magclassmate lang kayo o magkagroup kayo. Pero talagang kaibigan. Dito ko nakilala ang mga taong di ko akalaing magiging kaibigan ko pala. Surprises ang nakuha ko sa Be at lahat yun pleasant at astig.

Sa Graviton, haha nasanay na rin ako sa Be. Mas ginusto kong personal ang level ng pakikipagkilala over section. At sa panahon ding ito mas naging focused ako sa buong batch over sa section lang. Kung sa Be andami kong nakilala na di ko akalaing makikilala ko, sa Grav mas dumoble pa yun. Sa Graviton talaga mas halo-halo lahat, lahat ng pedeng characteristic na maipangdedescribe mo sa batch natin, mahahanap mo sa Graviton. astig ang Grav dahil sa mga taong kasama nun. at minsan nagsisisi ako kasi parang kulang pa yung panahon na nagugol ko sa Grav.

Ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking bahagi ng buhay ko sa Pisay ay ang Batch Council. Sobrang dami kong natutunan sa tatlong taon ko dito, hindi kakasya sa blog siguro kung ililista ko (figuratively haha). Pero what it made me sure of was my passion for service through organized leadership. Lahat naman sa batch natin leaders in their own way at palagay ko lang dito ko nahanap ung niche. That passion was there long before Pisay but it consumed me all the more nung nasa Pisay na. I believe God started that fire in me at I thank Him kasi through the confidence of my batchmates, hindi namatay yung fire na yun.

Salamat din sa AstroSoc. More than the overnight stargazings at fun races and stuff, ang saya saya to be serving a really really big group (bigger than the batch). Ang cool kasi noong bata pa lang ako dream ko nang maging astronomer at kahit papaano I got a chance to get closer to that dream through AstroSoc.

Salamat sa Journ. Kasi marami akong natutunan (na hindi related sa Journ) haha na magagamit ko sa buhay ko. Grabe. I met the best people in Journ, people na di ko inexpect na magiging kaibigan ko at natrain ako to REALLY cram haha, stay up late, and a lot more. haha. Ito ang isa sa mga funnest experiences ko sa Pisay at talagang hindi ko pa rin pinagsisisihan na nagJourn ako sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap at pagod.

Salamat sa SCA at sa YFC kasi isa kayo sa naging tulay para mas makilala ko pa si God. Ang ironic pero kahit nasa secular school ako, nahanap ko si God sa Pisay through all the experiences and all the people I've met and everything that has happened in my life in the past four years. SCA at YFC helped me grow more in the faith at appreciate more ang pagiging isang Catholic at Christian. Marami rin akong nahanap ditong mga kaibigan na sure na forever ko magiging kaibigan kasi ang nagbobond sa amin ay ang pagmamahal ni God. Ang cool talaga ni God kasi nilagay Niya ako sa isang secular school para mas maappreciate ko pa lalo ang ginagawa Niya para sa akin.

Salamat sa mga nakakasama ko sa mga contests at iba pang activities. Noon iniisip ko, grabe ang gagagaling ng mga batchmates ko asa pa akong mapanglalaban ako. Pero galing ni God kasi kahit papaano He pushed me to strive for excellence at well yun natupad naman ang pangarap kong dalin ang pangalan ng Pisay sa mga competitions. I had my share of defeats and victories but everything was part of God's plan at lahat ng yun nagcontribute to make me the person I am today.

At finally super thank you sa buong BATCH 2007 kasi ang astig astig talaga. But the biggest thank you goes to GOD kasi Siya ang nagplano na malagay tayo sa iisang batch. Sabi ng ibang tao fishing ako, sabi ng iba humble pero kung may maipagmamalaki ako, yun ay ang fact na 07 ako. Ibang klase kasi sa 07. United not only by our experiences but our love of God. Ang bait ng lahat ng tao sa batch, matalino lahat, magaling lahat. Sabi ng ibang tao idealistic daw ako masyado to the point na naive na. Pero dahil yun sa batch na toh kasi pinakita nito sa akin na posible pala na lahat ng tao magwowork for a common and noble goal. Blessing talaga na lahat tayo gumraduate at feeling ko plan na yun talaga ni God para ipakita sa mundo how great His plan is nung pinagsama-sama Niya tayo. Grabe talaga. grabe. grabe. grabe. Our batch is what should give others hope for our nation. Kasi tayo na yung inaantay nila. I really believe our batch will make a difference in this world at it's only a matter of time before it happens. Kaya sana walang limutan, kasi marami pa tayong gagawin. Tong four years na toh simula pa lang yan. Marami pang parating.

Sabi nila 07/07/07 ang araw natin, araw ng 07. pero I say lahat ng araw, araw natin. 07/07/07 comes only once a millenium, a fleeting moment in the eternity of time. Pero palagay ko all of us sa batch 2007 are destined to leave a lasting mark of greatness in this world.

BATCH 2007 mahal ko kayong lahat. :D

Something to remember 7

"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." - Luke 9:58

Each human being is the temple of the Holy Spirit, an abode for God. There are times, however, when we choose to close the door and not let Him in. What an injustice it is to not be allowed to enter your own house.

If Mcdo is open 24/7 for us, shouldn't we all the more do the same for the Almighty God?

Climate Change

It's been four weeks since the start of our college life and I'm beginning to to realize I'm really not a student of Pisay anymore. Can you imagine how dense I am? I've been attending classes, activities and stuff all this time and the realization that "Hey, I'm not a Pisay student anymore" came just a few days/hours/minutes back (I'm actually not sure).

Sadly, the confusion in my life right now, what many call the adjustment stage is taking its toll on this blog. I attended a time management seminar (courtesy of the Chem Department for all freshmen Chem majors) and if there was one thing it made me realize, is that I can plan things but I can never completely follow it. And it's really a bad thing.

My parents often tell me sobra na yang computer (gaming) mo ah! or sobra na yang dvd (actually house/smallville) mo ah!. The tendency of most adolescents of course is to deny such claims and tell them e tapos na akong mag-aral e. This fortunately happens only in the weekends and I really mean it (usually) when I say I'm done. The time management seminar made me realize I've been wasting my time.

I started playing computer games when I was six or seven years old. I think the first games I played were Mario and then Dune, Starcraft, Command and Conquer etc etc. I've played so many games (PC, Sega, PS) and it's more than the number of books I've actually read in my life. So I grew up with the paradigm that my life wasn't complete without playing games.

The seminar was great because the speaker delivered it with such a compelling argument. This is roughly what he said, The time you waste doing those unimportant and not urgent things could have been spent doing more important things, studying, catching up with friends and most importantly serving others and God. And it hit me.

Every weekend, I'll set a schedule for myself and specifically give time for playing. Because
of the nature of games I play (usually long strategy games), I tend to not follow the schedule and eat up more of my study time. It doesn't affect my studies because I make it a point to finish everything I need to do before the weekend ends (even if I have to sleep late). But the sad part is I neglect some of the other important stuff that I could have done. I could have had a chat with a batchmate, watched an episode of pokemon with my little brother, read a book due at the end of the sem, prayed a lot more, read an extra chapter in the Bible, all those important stuff. This also includes not being able to write a blog entry. This is really important to me because it helps me analyze the stuff I think about and I really get something out of it.

So I must confess that the reason it was all cloudless here for the past four weeks is because I've been playing a lot and the assignments had began pouring. The last game I played was Disciples II. I've finished it before but it's so fulfilling to finish it at a higher difficulty level but it takes twice the time to finish. I have to deal with finishing a mission for that game and prepare prelabs and postlabs and other stuff at the same time.

I had a wonderful conversation with a friend which gave me a powerful image by which I could see my problem with gaming. It helped me reexamine what I thought was just harmless. It's like a chain that keeps me from reaching my full potential and ultimately showing my love for God. When I thought about it, I play games because I want to enjoy, to unwind, to satisfy myself. God had very little part in the equation being "I need to unwind so I could be a better Christian" which is just stupid. There is only true delight in the Lord and basically the fun I get from gaming is artificial, temporary and all together pointless.

So my resolution is to quit gaming at least for this sem. And you'll be seeing more clouds here every weekend because the time I've freed from not gaming will be spent in my other neglected but important activities.

Hopefully God will grant me the strength to break this chain completely. I hope you help me in this task by praying for me.