Playing Favorites

It's fun to play favorites once in a while.

However, this might be a bore to some since I am going to blog about my favorite subjects. (huwaat?!?)

As we were about to leave the class last night, my classmates and I had a short conversation as to our favorite subjects.

So it got me thinking .. what are my favorites? But before I start, let me tell you that the greatest factor in these favorites is the subject itself. The teacher could be a factor, but not that great. The grade I get is not that much a factor as I get to find out about it at the end of an exam or semester.

Back in elementary (elementary tawag sa amin, hindi grade school), high school and even college, my favorite has always been English. I am not sure why. Maybe because I love to read and write about a whole lot of stuff. My interests are so varied and English helps me in putting things into perspective. The teachers I had were good. More than anything, it was their personality I liked best (sipsip). But as I've said, they are merely contributory factors. And yes, my grades in English were pretty good those times.

Statistics may be a weird favorite for a number of people. I am not sure why I like this subject. I am not saying that this subject is easy for me because it is not. But the grades I got back in high school and college were over and above my expectation ... hehe. I remember one time when my classmate and I went up front to prove our point that our answer is correct in one of the questions in our exam back in College. As in nagdrawing-drawing jud mi sa blackboard ... permutation ata topic nun (pero nakalimutan ko na ano ang permutation ... hehe). Our teacher gave in ... hehe.

Now that I am in law school, I still can't help playing favorites.

Looking back at my first semester when I was in first year, I don't think I had any favorites. I was still adjusting so to speak.

But come second semester, my favorite was Constitutional Law 2 - Bill of Rights. I think I liked it because it involves those stuff I see on TV - "you have the right to remain silent ...." - all those stuff. The subject was quite interesting. And it helps that I could feel that our professor is passionate in what he does. In addition, I seldom hesitate when I ask question .. that is a good sign for me. There was even a time when we had the usual Q and A the day before the exam and somehow I got lucky since the logic applied to the question I had was asked during the exam.

I also liked Criminal Law 2 as well as Obligations and Contracts. Crim 2 because it involves crimes (tv na sab akong reason). I am not sure about ObliCon but I was always looking forward studying for this subject, preparing those reviewers and even making my own questions at times.

Last semester, I enjoyed Labor Standards class. The topics were quite engaging and I was eager to listen because this subject is quite hard to pass. Yes, LabStan is a favorite of mine even though I got 78. Actually, I am thankful for that 78. See, the grade is not much of a factor in playing favorites.

For this semester, my favorite is Civil Procedure hands down. I think it is interesting for me because it involves a number of subjects I already took the past year or so. One major factor is our professor, no less than the dean. Grabe! Parang memorize na ata niya ang Rules of Court! Nasa heart and mind na niya iyong subject! I am grateful that I get to study CivPro under him. Civil Procedure is sort of a summation of how things are handled before, during and after trial of civil actions. So, I basically get the whole picture in my imagination. I know that this is a favorite of mine because right after we discussed the answers to our exam, I already had that sudden urge to study for the next exam, which should still be at the end of March. O kitams!

However, this does not mean that I hate all the other subjects because I do not. There are those subjects that I least like, but I do not hate them. If I will hate them, it will require much effort from me to study for such subjects. And besides, all those subjects teach me a lot of things, not just those technical stuff but as well as how to think about stuff and even about life in general.

We all have our favorites - movies, songs, colors, actors, actresses, books. So, why not favorite subjects?

What's yours?

At this point

(O di ba, picture ko)

I am not sure if you guys have noticed it. But my past blogs have generally been about how good my life has been.

Of course, this may be an unconscious effort on my part. Hmm .. maybe subconscious.

It may be unconscious in the sense that I just decide to blog whenever good things happen to me.

It may be subconscious in the sense that I may be trying to block out negative things from my life.

Actually, it may be any, both or none of the above. This is me. This is my life. And this is what I write.

I am happy with our family. Sure, there may be obstacles. But those may be petty ones. There may be frustrations. But I can get over it and pray over it. I take the good things. For the past 3 weeks, my mom, dad, sister, brother and I have been playing badminton on Sunday afternoons. If that is not a great thing, I do not know what it is. When I was in Manila, I had this thought of wishing I could play badminton with family. And it is happening. I am grateful.

I am happy with law school. Sure, we have back-to-back exams especially with the end of the 2nd semester coming up. But that is law school. I knew what I was getting into when I decided to enter into law school. What I didn't expect was the friendship ... hehe ... such drama! The spirit of camaraderie, since first year up until now, that I have felt is completely beyond me. Its great to have classmates who trust each other, who help out each other, who study with each other, who laugh with each other, who share their problems with each other, who sing and dance with each other, who eat with each other.

I am happy with my friends because I still get in touch with them. Most of them anyway ... hehe. It's nice that after a number of years, I still have that connection with them. There are only a few people who get to enjoy this kind of gift.

I believe in the wheel concept of life. Sometimes I wonder when would the time be when I am at the bottom since I am feeling on top for the greater part of my life. But I don't think it is worth worrying about. I live the life I have and constantly thank God for every blessing that come my way.

I pray that I am worthy of all these :)

Blur

The past weeks have passed by like a blur.

Things happened so fast. I have had so much fun that even though there were lots of stuff going on.

Yes! We were the over-all champions in our Conflict of Laws. We are "oh so happy" and "oh so thankful" about it because we know that we worked hard for it. I know that it has been over 2 weeks since we won ... but, yes, I am still jubilant over it ... buot-buot mo? I joined badminton and legal pictionary ... we placed third but I was still happy. I will make bawi next year ... hopefully!

I was happy that I got to know more people in law school and I got to know better those people I already know. I was happy to cheer for my classmates and was quite proud whenever I see and feel that we helped out each other.

Right after we won, we went out to celebrate. It was great fun as we get to talk and reminisce all the fun we had and look forward to next year ... haha!

But the elation did not end there as the Saturday after the Conflicts, a few of us went out for drinks .. hmm .. am not sure if that is applicable for me though ... hehe. Maybe, since my classmates bought a pina colada for me. And that was all I had that night plus a few pizza bites ;)

On Valentine's Day, I went out for dinner with 15 other 2nd year students. Thereafter, we sang our hearts out in videoke, with more people joining the party ... yeah! I so love singing! Haha .. truly fun!

The week went on as last Saturday, we had our Victory party (at last!). As usual, videoke na sad! Of course, we ate with gusto. Some danced, drank, sang and others simply talked or listent. Lingaw jud ba!

I will only live once. That's why I enjoy life to the fullest. I am happy that I am in the company of great people.

Events and all those gimiks may have passed by so fast. Things may have been a blur. But those moments will truly last a lifetime ... drama oi!

For sure, I continue to cherish it ... even with the onslaught of exams, make-up classes and recitations we have to conquer in the coming weeks.

Belated Birthday

It's been two weeks since I turned 26. And it has been 2 weeks and 4 days since my last post.

It's not that I got lazy. I think I just got a lot of things to do lately.

When I turned 26 two weeks ago, it was quite simple ... no fireworks! But I was happy and at peace .. hehe :)

The day was quite simple. Like any other birthday celebrator, I was up until two - multi-tasking between studying and answering text messages. Until lunch break, I was busy with my phone and studying at the same time. I was busy forwarding messages that we had no classes in Soc Leg (a happy birthday indeed) and saying thanks to all those who sent their birthday greetings. I was happy because a lot of people remembered my birthday - family, high school friends, college friends, former officemates and friends in law school. And it was from different parts of the world - Davao, Surigao, Zamboanga, Manila, San Diego, LA, Arizona. I got a long distance call, an e-mail, a friendster message, text messages and personal greetings. I felt I was a celebrity ... hehe!

But aside from that, things were pretty normal. This means I was off to school at 3. We practiced for our Legal Pictionary, discussed stuff for the Conflict of Laws, conducted classes in Civ Pro. I had dinner with my seatmates before helping out with the props for Intrams. It was quite a nice day!

More than anything else, I am grateful that I am 26 because it means I have been blessed by God for 26 wonderful years. I need not enumerate those stuff that I am thankful for ... hindi talaga ako matatapos!

Just an interesting trivia whenever my birthday comes up - someone always end up asking for confirmation if my birthday on the 30th or 31st. Sometimes, someone even greets me on the 30th. 2 people just did greet me on the 30th ... lingaw!

On another note, although being 26 is not necessarily a milestone, I love saying I am 26 because a number of people say that I look younger (actually, gapalibre lang sila ... hehe). Basically, wala daw koy buot ... haha! Yes, I sometimes go to school wearing a backpack with Mickey Mouse on it. Yes, I wear pink rubber shoes. Yes, I can make the corniest hirits. Yes, I am 26.

Last Friday, on the way to school on a cab (cab daw oh!), the taxi driver asked me when would be our JS Prom. I was laughing and told him I am a law student, 26 years old. He was apologetic (hehe) and he said that I look like a third year high school student. Haha! To think, that he didn't see my backpack yet. I was in a polo shirt and khaki pants ha. I replied that I had my JS Prom 10 years ago.

To top it off, my sisters and I were eating squid balls last Sunday when this somewhat middle-aged lady, (between 50 to 60) looking after her apo, asked if we are sisters. We said yes. She pointed to my youngest sister as the youngest one. Right on! Then she asked me what year in school am I in? I answered, without any hesitation, 2nd year law student. She was shocked .. hehe! She thought I was still in high school. Take note, high school ha ... hindi college. And then she added that my sisters look like elementary students.

I do not know what is in the air why I look like a high school student even though I just turned 26. Maybe I am at peace ... Yes, I do think I am at peace. I am ok. Life is good. I just keep my faith in the Lord.

But now that our exams are piling up, I would not be surprised if in a week's time, I would look like older than 26 ... hehe ;)