I'm now completely sold on the movie Juno, and I haven't even seen it.
And the reason is that the Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You" is the theme.
You're a part time lover and a full time friend
I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else
But you
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Davao : The Top 9
1) Let's see -- the first time I flew to Davao, I was by myself. The second time was a whirldwind weekend with my best friend. The third time? With my cousin M, her parents, her sister Icy and my lola. From a secret sojourn, to a crazy, heady girl-bonding trip, to an official, family event. Here is my cousin M, we are on our way to Eden Nature Park, and it's pretty much all smiles from here onward.
2) Swinging By - the crazy-swing-thing was the highlight of my Eden experience.
3) They got to go fishing at Eden, but I was "kapuy" from the long trek to find the waterfall. I hate hiking but I always end up doing it on trips. I don't see the point really. You can't enjoy the view because you're too busy trying not to slip or fall, and the upward climbs make me gasp and leave my knees weak. Hehe. I'm such a Debbie Downer.
4) We stayed at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, which beats Marco Polo any day, for its rugged,relaxed vibe.
5) I love my lola. She's one of those people from the old world when politically correct had not been invented yet. "Bakit ang taba mo na?" "Bobo ang mga tauhan mo." "Diba patay na asawa mo?" ("Ha? Hindi, nasa farm lang.")
6) M's boyfriend owns the legendary Molave restaurant located behind the Ateneo de Davao. And boy did we eat a lot. Every two hours we'd be stuffing ourselves with Davao's finest food. The Molave's greaseless chicken, tuna and crispy buntot at MarinaTuna, goto and arrozcaldo at the famous Dencia's, and pizza at Pizzaiolo.
7) A lazy Sunday afternoon at the beach. One of the things I marvel about Davao is that the beach, is just 30 minutes away from the city! Imagine having that option to go to the beach every single day.
8) She's crazy and silly , she wants me to dress up as a wood nymph for her grand day. She's also one of my two favorite reasons for going to Davao.
9) Davao always leaves me dazed and happy and heady. And I always leave a part of me behind as I fly back home.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
It's been a hectic week
-- with projects and deadlines and classes piling up.
But I'm past the halfway mark, and today, Thursday, is Sharpening the Saw day. If you know The Seven Habits (and here in school, it's one of our bibles), it's our favorite habit.
"If you’re overworking yourself and your productivity begins to fall off, common wisdom says to take a break, maybe even go on vacation."
The besssssst.
Today we are "sharpening the saw" by browsing through the wonderfully entertaining pictures of Harajuku girls and boys on the net.
Because -- and I'm giddy about this -- our monthly Thanksgiving party's theme this January is "fashion show." Reedley Fashion Week, if you will.
Each group has been tasked to come up with their theme, music and clothes for the Friday party. And in the grand tradition of Reedley competitiveness, we decided to "career" this little project.
And our group, in an especially inspired move, decided to go sashaying down the catwalk, Harajuku style.
I first came to know about Harajuku when I was still working for Mabuhay magazine. We had a feature on Tokyo, and our editor insisted on a sidebar featuring the different districts in Tokyo.
Like Manila, where we have -- Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, in, Tokyo they have -- Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Roppongi and others. Each district has its own personality.
But it's not like Manila, where each "district" is just a variation of the other -- Makati is a more upper scale version of Ortigas etc. Their districts are like brothas and sistas from different mothas. Hahaha.
They're very different and wayward and attractive in their own ways. Like I know Shinjuku is the luxe hotels/shopping district, while, Roppongi is the nightlife/expat area.
But the most interesting by far, fashion-wise, is Harajuku.
It's like the Teen Capital of Tokyo because of the very screaming fasyon statements that their teens parade around in, when they hang out in the streets.
According th WikiHow -- Harajuku is very slippery to define and categorize since it is by its very nature, a rebellion against cookie-cutter couture.
But there are some threads running through their threads (hehe). Some loose categories are as follows:
We've managed it so that each Harajuku style is duly represented. And we've compiled our music already -- a mixture of Gwen Stefani and System of a Down and Teriyaki Boyz.
It's so competitive that we have to hold covert meetings since we share the same work spaces with members of the opposing teams. We drop false leads by talking about whips and leather so that an eavesdropper will think we have an S & M theme. We even have "Polaroids" of our "models" wearing their designated outfits.
I think this is part of why teaching high school has been such a fun ride. The dressing up, the talent competitions, choral recitations.
When you organize events in the corporate world -- you have so many things to think about. The stakes are higher. There are clients to please and customers to cater to.
But here, it feels like playing dress-up with your siblings. You did it because it was fun.
But I'm past the halfway mark, and today, Thursday, is Sharpening the Saw day. If you know The Seven Habits (and here in school, it's one of our bibles), it's our favorite habit.
"If you’re overworking yourself and your productivity begins to fall off, common wisdom says to take a break, maybe even go on vacation."
- Exercise
- Improve your diet
- Educate yourself (read, listen to audio programs, attend a seminar)
- Learn a new skill
- Join a club
- Meditate
- Write in your journal
- Have a deep conversation with someone
- Set some new goals or review/update your old goals
- Organize your home or office
- Go out on a date
- Clear out a bunch of little tasks that you’ve been putting off
The besssssst.
Today we are "sharpening the saw" by browsing through the wonderfully entertaining pictures of Harajuku girls and boys on the net.
Because -- and I'm giddy about this -- our monthly Thanksgiving party's theme this January is "fashion show." Reedley Fashion Week, if you will.
Each group has been tasked to come up with their theme, music and clothes for the Friday party. And in the grand tradition of Reedley competitiveness, we decided to "career" this little project.
And our group, in an especially inspired move, decided to go sashaying down the catwalk, Harajuku style.
I first came to know about Harajuku when I was still working for Mabuhay magazine. We had a feature on Tokyo, and our editor insisted on a sidebar featuring the different districts in Tokyo.
Like Manila, where we have -- Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, in, Tokyo they have -- Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Roppongi and others. Each district has its own personality.
But it's not like Manila, where each "district" is just a variation of the other -- Makati is a more upper scale version of Ortigas etc. Their districts are like brothas and sistas from different mothas. Hahaha.
They're very different and wayward and attractive in their own ways. Like I know Shinjuku is the luxe hotels/shopping district, while, Roppongi is the nightlife/expat area.
But the most interesting by far, fashion-wise, is Harajuku.
It's like the Teen Capital of Tokyo because of the very screaming fasyon statements that their teens parade around in, when they hang out in the streets.
According th WikiHow -- Harajuku is very slippery to define and categorize since it is by its very nature, a rebellion against cookie-cutter couture.
But there are some threads running through their threads (hehe). Some loose categories are as follows:
- Gothic Lolita involves wearing gothic, feminine and elegant clothes, to the extent that you look like a living Victorian doll
- Japanese punks, inspired by the punk movement that began in London in the 70s, magnify rebelliousness with over-the-top clothes, accessories, makeup, and piercings.
- Cosplay entails dressing up like your favorite cartoon/anime or computer game character.
- Decora style favors bright colors, flamboyance and accessories from head to toe. You decorate yourself with plastic toys and jewelry, and it's not uncommon to have so many that you can hear them click together when the person moves.
- Kawaii (literally translating from Japanese to "cute") places an emphasis on childlike playfulness--anime characters, ruffles, pastel colors, toys, and so on.
We've managed it so that each Harajuku style is duly represented. And we've compiled our music already -- a mixture of Gwen Stefani and System of a Down and Teriyaki Boyz.
It's so competitive that we have to hold covert meetings since we share the same work spaces with members of the opposing teams. We drop false leads by talking about whips and leather so that an eavesdropper will think we have an S & M theme. We even have "Polaroids" of our "models" wearing their designated outfits.
I think this is part of why teaching high school has been such a fun ride. The dressing up, the talent competitions, choral recitations.
When you organize events in the corporate world -- you have so many things to think about. The stakes are higher. There are clients to please and customers to cater to.
But here, it feels like playing dress-up with your siblings. You did it because it was fun.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
I'm Praying For A Girl When
...I have kids of my own.
My female students can be divided into:
A. WHAT I WAS LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL
Like A., a sweet, shy unassuming Korean girl who likes school and never attracts too much attention to herself. She is the sweetest thing ever. She gave me a decidedly Korean New Year's gift
**porcelain Hello Kitty figurines with no other purpose in the world that to exist very cutely
**delicate-looking chopsticks that look more like geisha-hair accessories than eating utensils.
But it was the note made me tear up --
My female students can be divided into:
A. WHAT I WAS LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL
Like A., a sweet, shy unassuming Korean girl who likes school and never attracts too much attention to herself. She is the sweetest thing ever. She gave me a decidedly Korean New Year's gift
**porcelain Hello Kitty figurines with no other purpose in the world that to exist very cutely
**delicate-looking chopsticks that look more like geisha-hair accessories than eating utensils.
But it was the note made me tear up --
"Dear Miss Martinez, Since last year, you have been the best teacher to me. I luv you. -A."
B. WHAT I WISH I WAS LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL
Like T. who is so unaffectedly beautiful, effortlessly smart, is so assured and self-possessed, that is very extraordinary, for someone who is only15.
Or M. who I shall call Little Miss Sunshine. Her positivity springs eternal, but not in an annoying way. I wonder how she does it.
The boys, well they're just INSANE.
Do you know the brothers in the Oceans 11 movies that never quit fighting? That's exactly how J. and J. are in my class.
It's annoying, distracting, but also morbidly fascinating and entertaining.
J1 is one of my hippest students.
He knows The Shins, for one thing. He likes Modest Mouse. He was the one who told me about the Aoki-Embassy-comeback. And he's already had a House of Holland-style shirt while I was still trying to come up with my own slogan (I Like Your Mess, May Martinez?)
J2 is one of my smartest students.
During the times that his 12-minute attention span allows it, J2 is able to come up with insightful one-liners, that show the breadth and width of his understanding of a literary work that he has just breezed through.
For some reason, the two of them bicker and spar about EVERY. SINGLE. THING. that happens.
An example.
J1: Ok let's play a game, none of us can use the letter "S" in anything he or she says from now on.
J2: Dude, we just played that last night.
J1: Today be different from lazz night, hut up.
J2: Hahah. Hut up? What the hell? You sound like Tom Robinson (from To Kill A Mockingbird). And you're a nigga just like him. Miss you know why black people make the best basketball players? (doesn't pause for an answer) Because they can shoot, steal and run better than anyone can!"
J1: J2 izz gay!!!
J2: You just used the letter S!
J1: No I uzed "ZZZ!!!"
J2: Why do you have to play these stupid games. Miss give him a greenslip he called me gay.
Most of the time, I'm going "SSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" or I'd be writing their names on the Green Slip board, where warnings for offenses are written.
But sometimes, it feels like a tennis match, and I'm looking from one boy to another, unable to look away and just fascinated at this constant, and inane bickering. And sometimes, I even get into the fray when they turn to me with questions like
"Miss, diba people like stupid comedy like SNL more than they like smart comedy like Frasier?"
"Well, Iwouldn't exactly call SNL stupid comedy, and often what comes off as stupid comedy is... Wait. Why am I answering you? We're talking about Debate here!"
It's exhausting trying to make them focus at the task and topic at hand. Sometimes I just wanna give up and just use the rest of the period talking about movies and music.
Then they'll say, "Oh Miss Martinez is a cool teacher. But she used to just chat us up all the time, so we never really learned anything."
I had teachers like that, especially in college. I don't want to be remembered like that.
B. WHAT I WISH I WAS LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL
Like T. who is so unaffectedly beautiful, effortlessly smart, is so assured and self-possessed, that is very extraordinary, for someone who is only15.
Or M. who I shall call Little Miss Sunshine. Her positivity springs eternal, but not in an annoying way. I wonder how she does it.
The boys, well they're just INSANE.
Do you know the brothers in the Oceans 11 movies that never quit fighting? That's exactly how J. and J. are in my class.
It's annoying, distracting, but also morbidly fascinating and entertaining.
J1 is one of my hippest students.
He knows The Shins, for one thing. He likes Modest Mouse. He was the one who told me about the Aoki-Embassy-comeback. And he's already had a House of Holland-style shirt while I was still trying to come up with my own slogan (I Like Your Mess, May Martinez?)
J2 is one of my smartest students.
During the times that his 12-minute attention span allows it, J2 is able to come up with insightful one-liners, that show the breadth and width of his understanding of a literary work that he has just breezed through.
For some reason, the two of them bicker and spar about EVERY. SINGLE. THING. that happens.
An example.
J1: Ok let's play a game, none of us can use the letter "S" in anything he or she says from now on.
J2: Dude, we just played that last night.
J1: Today be different from lazz night, hut up.
J2: Hahah. Hut up? What the hell? You sound like Tom Robinson (from To Kill A Mockingbird). And you're a nigga just like him. Miss you know why black people make the best basketball players? (doesn't pause for an answer) Because they can shoot, steal and run better than anyone can!"
J1: J2 izz gay!!!
J2: You just used the letter S!
J1: No I uzed "ZZZ!!!"
J2: Why do you have to play these stupid games. Miss give him a greenslip he called me gay.
Most of the time, I'm going "SSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" or I'd be writing their names on the Green Slip board, where warnings for offenses are written.
But sometimes, it feels like a tennis match, and I'm looking from one boy to another, unable to look away and just fascinated at this constant, and inane bickering. And sometimes, I even get into the fray when they turn to me with questions like
"Miss, diba people like stupid comedy like SNL more than they like smart comedy like Frasier?"
"Well, Iwouldn't exactly call SNL stupid comedy, and often what comes off as stupid comedy is... Wait. Why am I answering you? We're talking about Debate here!"
It's exhausting trying to make them focus at the task and topic at hand. Sometimes I just wanna give up and just use the rest of the period talking about movies and music.
Then they'll say, "Oh Miss Martinez is a cool teacher. But she used to just chat us up all the time, so we never really learned anything."
I had teachers like that, especially in college. I don't want to be remembered like that.
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