MMMiii!

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I graduated yesterday, actually. In UP Diliman (I’m not sure with other campuses. I’m ignorant, sorry), we graduate twice. The college graduation where we actually go up the stage and get our certificates (not the diploma) and shake hands with the Dean, and the university graduation where we watch only the students with the highest grades or awards go up the stage and get their awards. That’s probably the biggest difference. Both events have speakers, speeches and awarding of the best in the batch, swearing/pledging and so on.

The College of Education graduating batch of 2008 is a special batch. We’re graduating on the 100th year of the university and the 90th year of the college.

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My family isn’t really very poor. Although, around the time he was elected into office in 1998, my family was experiencing a bit of a really rough time. My father came from a somewhat well-to-do family. My mother was practically a princess in her youth. And they both supported Erap. Actually, they still do. If Erap runs for presidency, they’re going to vote for him.

I knew they were Erap supporters, but I only realized how strong yesterday.

I told my mother that I won $200 dollars, and that I’m going to get about $300 from my PayPal soon. Then she said that’s not really a lot these days. And I do agree. That’s only about P12000. Not even enough to get the cellphone I want.

Our conversation progressed to how Arroyo sucked so bad and how Marcos was an even better president than her. During Marcos’ time, when prices went up, it was also mandatory for the basic salary to go up, or something like that (according to my mother). Now, the dollar exchange goes down, food prices and gasoline keeps going up, and the salary remains the same. My salary as a call center agent will not really be enough to live on with the way things are right now. I’ll be living on instant noodles, probably.

My mother never really supported Edsa II. She would have gone to Edsa III if she was really up to it. She said, Erap may be corrupt, and even if he does buy luxurious things like a rest house to give to his women, are the poor still being supported? Life wasn’t really as bad when Erap was seated into office. The country really started crumbling during the time or Ramos. And Erap was just there to clean up the mess Ramos made. Why should Erap take the consequences?

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Finally, today, I was able to get two other valid IDs. I’ve been having this problem for so long now. I had to get money from xoom.com before but stupid BDO was asking for two IDs even if it was written on the site that I could have 1 valid ID and a password. The only (supposed to be) valid ID I had that time was my school ID which they said that since the semester ended about a month ago, it’s not valid anymore. I thought to myself, “One day, I’m going to have a LOT of damned valid IDs and I’m going to slap it on your face.” I went to a pawnshop that also does xoom transactions and I was able to get my money.

Five months later, aside from my company ID, I now have a TIN Card and a Postal ID. I applied for them last week, and surprisingly, for government IDs, they were prompt. They said one week/3 days, and I got them on the date they told me.

At BIR, I almost had to wait. I arrived there a little past 7am and they still weren’t really fully open. So I bought some donuts and when I came back, they were letting people in already. I asked one of the people there where I could get my ID and he told me to go in the office in the back. I went there and I asked again where I could get my ID, the guy there told me that it’s still early and sit down back in the front and wait. On my way there, the first guy I spoke with asked me if I already got my ID coz I was so quick, so I told him that I was told that it was still early. He stood up and said, “If it’s still early, why is he there wasting electricity then?” then told me to follow him and then after two minutes of looking for my ID, he finally found it.

I had it laminated just outside BIR and ate Pancit while I was having some documents photocopied and the ID being laminated. I was good to go to UnionBank.

Last week, I applied online for UnionBank’s CyberAccount and to get the card, I needed to present two valid IDs. I only had one at that time, so with my newly laminated TIN Card, I could finally get it.

However, I was more than an hour early, so I hung out in Starbucks and read the papers until UnionBank opened. So now, I have my Debit Card but it will be activated next week. But still, at least I’ve got it now so I could soon get my PayPal money!

If only they would accept my school ID, then I would’ve applied for it sooner. But no. They didn’t. It wasn’t valid anymore.

Valid IDs are stupid. They won’t accept my University ID because I graduated already. It’s got my picture. It’s got my signature. It’s got a barcode. What more do they want? Just because I’m not enrolled for this semester (because I don’t need to anymore), they won’t accept it. That’s real bull. To support my identity, I also have my birth certificate, Barangay, Police, and NBI Clearance (the last one being a real biatch to get). I have my TIN application form, my pink SSS application form which I heard is supposed to be accepted as an ID as well. What kind of documents do they want to prove my identity? It’s just really stupid.

Such a stupid world.

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Yesterday, I went to SSS to apply for an ID because I really needed another valid ID. But after waiting on the line for almost an hour just to get the form, when I went to the line for filing, I asked the person who was giving me a number if I could apply in the first place, and I gave her what I know–that when I checked online, it says ZERO but I know my company has deducted from me already for three months. Then she took my number and said that even if the company has deducted me, but if they haven’t remitted anything, then I’m not qualified to file for an ID.

So… Blah. Annoying. What a waste of time.

I went to school afterwards and waited for this teacher so I could have her sign my clearance papers. And after waiting for her for almost 45 minutes, she asked me to have another person sign first because she wouldn’t know if I borrowed anything from the office since she only took over a year ago or so, so I ran downstairs because it was 11:45 already, and lunch was at 12. I had the said person sign, and ran back up to get that teacher to sign, and then she said that since I already got that person to sign, then she won’t need to sign anymore.

I was like… What the heck. I wasted my time on that teacher. *Angry >_<*

I needed two more signatures. So I asked around where I can find the division chairman. They told me where and his door was locked, so I stayed on the desk in front of his door for about 45 minutes again, and put up my portable electric fan (which was pretty awesome). Until this secretary person maybe came and was staring at me for sitting on her desk. I stated the purpose of my presence while packing up my stuff. She said that that teacher I was waiting for came at unpredictable times and that it would be better if I just leave the papers with her and come back for it at another time.

So..... I left the papers with her and thought about what to do next. It was already lunch time for most offices, and I'd need to go to the university registrar to file for the university clearance. Then I remembered that I needed to go to the bank to pay for our Sablay--probably the equivalent of most universities and schools' Toga. It's kind of like a sash with the colors of the university with writings on it. I'll put up my pic later when I go back to my desktop.

So I went to the bank because they don't really have a lunch break. Waited for about an hour. Went to the Alumni Association office thingie and gave the bank receipt and got my Sablays (I got one for Sarah too).

It was way past lunch break already so I went to the University Registrar to file for my university clearance and to get my transcript as well. It wasn't a very long process there, but getting the stuff I filed for takes about a month or so. The clearance I can follow-up next week (That doesn’t mean I can get it already if I follow up) and the transcript, good thing they have an option to have it mailed through a carrier (an extra fee, but at least I won’t have to go back and pick it up just to find out that it’s not ready yet).

And finally, I go back to the Division Chair’s office to check if the person has come by and signed my clearance papers. And no, he hasn’t. After doing other stuff for almost 4 hours, he hasn’t come by.

I went to another office to get the Centennial Planners I ordered last January and it says on the door that the planners can only be claimed Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm.

Broke and tired after paying for the Sablay and clearances, and trying to accomplish everything, I just took a jeep with the intention of going home. Part two follows.

I think I need to get some life insurance quotes just in case I get a heart attack from this country’s public institution systems. lol. I’ll get sick from running around accomplishing nothing.

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With the bomb explosion at Glorietta 2 yesterday, several questions are being raised.

What was the motive of the bombing? Who was behind it?
I can’t help but notice the timing. GloMac’s currently in hot water for the alleged bribes, and of course, I wouldn’t put it past her to be behind the bombings so people would steer away from her current issues. There’s just too much controversy regarding the explosion. What’s worse is innocent people got hurt.

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I attended the Bloggers Kapihan event at MonSay yesterday and I must say, it was very informative. It was called Bloggers Kapihan 2.0: Blog Ed 101. Before it started, I went to Cubao and met with Mama and I got myself a new wristwatch! And then I went to MonSay and climbed a mountain. With a not-yet-fully-healed sprain, it was really a high mountain to climb. I chatted with Mr. Lalon dela Rosa about the CEP, school stuff, future plans, what’s wrong with the Philippines and the Filipinos and a lot of other stuff. That was for about an HOUR (The event started late).  And then I asked questions… voiced my opinions… and stuff… The pancake donut thing of Mr Donuts is gewd!

I registered as “Mi” again. Maybe I should write Miii instead? Lalon asked me, “Why Mi?” maybe I should make up something prophetic… nanchatte :D (darnit! I still can’t figure out how to make wordpress accept japanese characters again T_T)

Oh. Ok. the forum.

The first speaker was Prof Danny Arao of UP Diliman and Bulatlat.com.

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A few months ago, this Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez branded UP students as destabilizers and naked runners. This is because of UP’s tradition of the students speaking their minds, being activist or leftist, and so on. The UP Oblation run where a bunch of fraternity men run naked was and is a form of protest against the government or whatnot.

Well, think again. That may be true before, but not anymore. A lot of students are now apathetic. Not just students of UP but the youth in general. They don’t care much about what’s going on with the world or with the country–unless it is required of them to know.

Admit it.

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I got this from an Email forward… Some other blogs have posted this though. :< Like The Four-Eyed Journal

What is a Philippine election? It all begins when the country’s brightest, most highly qualified inhabitants, the young dynamic professionals, citizens who have the potential to make good leaders, get together and examine the country’s problems, the state of politics and the long-term national prospects.

What happens next? They decide to emigrate.

And after that? Another group of bright people get together.

What do they do? They also emigrate.

And then? And so on and so forth.

What does any of this have to do with a Philippine election? When talented, smart and highly qualified potential leaders leave the country all the time, who are you left with? Retired basketball players? Toilet comedians? Bad actors and actresses? Spoiled vicious rich kids? Ageing and debauched hermaphrodites? You’re now ready to hold a Philippine election.

How important are elected officials to the Philippines? Nobody’s been able to figure out an answer to that one.

What’s at stake in a Philippine election? Prizes and surprises! Millions in cash! Dream houses! The vacations of your choice! Fun for the entire family! That’s from the politician’s point of view. (That’s why they kill each other.-B.H.)

How many positions are waiting to be filled in the coming elections? About 17,000 public offices and a still undetermined number of graves.

So it’s like a lotto? Sort of, except that when you lose you could lose your life.

Who are qualified to run? Anyone at all! Generally, any person of any citizenship who’s alive, of a certain age, good character and able to summon a mob huge enough to intimidate the Supreme Court.

What kind of candidates have the most chances of winning? ARTISTS who have the CONFIDENCE of the people.

You mean a con artist, don’t you? You said it, we didn’t.

Who are qualified to vote? Those willing to be bussed around and do a hard day’s work visiting a lot of precincts during election day.

Talk about parties in the Philippines. Everybody loves going to parties in the Philippines.

No, POLITICAL parties. Oh! Well, in the past there used to be only two parties, the Liberalistas and the Nacionalistas. Now there are several dozen, but they still all fall under two main parties: the Sosyalites and the Opportunistas.

What’s the difference between the two parties? Sosyalites love parties. Opportunistas will join any.

Explain what presidential elections are all about. Did you hear the one about the murderer, the thief, the incompetent and the idiot?

No, is that a joke? That’s the presidential election.

You’re a cynical bastard, aren’t you? No no no, we’re not running for office.

Why are there so many international observers who come to a Philippine election? They’re fascinated by all the strange phenomena which accompany it.

What are you talking about? Miracles are a dime a dozen during elections here. Vicious criminals suddenly become saintly leaders. Voters fly. The dead cast their ballots. Morons become national leaders.

Why is the Church so closely involved in elections? They’re also interested in studying the miracles. Also, priests are needed to administer the last sacraments to all the people who’re killed.

Philippine elections sound like they’re really violent and bloody. Not really. Not more than several dozen die on the average. Why that’s only a teensy fraction of the population! And everything blows over after election day, so the country can bet back to its usual kidnapping, wholesale graft, hostage taking and coup attempts.

How clean are Philippine elections? Let’s put it this way: if Philippine elections were your house you wouldn’t want to live in it.

What are guns, goons and gold?? Three traditional important elements of a successful election. There’s a new one: film credits.

How come this pamphlet doesn’t include a question that goes why can’t all candidates just jump in the lake?? That question looks like it was just gratuitously put into this article for very naughty purposes. We decline to answer it.

How can you tell an election outcome is suspicious? Power failures in very specific rooms where the counting is taking place. Numbers that start losing zeroes as the days go by.

Can’t the candidates, out of the goodness of their hearts, put a stop to crooked elections? You really ARE from another planet, aren’t you?

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I’m suddenly in the election mood. I might go out on Monday and cast my vote after all.

Read this. It’s good. :D

*OLD VERSION*: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house  and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the  summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.  MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

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*MODERN VERSION:* The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house  and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the  summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands  to know why the ant should be warm and well fed while others are cold and  starving.

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