WUHOO!!!! I AM FREE!!!! I don't have anymore schoolwork to do! OMG I am so happy :D :D :D
The day after tomorrow, I will be going on the 8am bus to the Albuquerque airport, then fly my way to Los Angeles!
AAAAAHHHH! Yeeah baaaaaa :D

Then after some quality time with my tita and other relatives (shopping? tee hee), I'll be taking an almost 12-hour flight to Japan, then an almost 5-hour flight to Manila! For real na talaga 'to! THE LONG WAIT IS ALMOST OVER!!!!

OH MY GOOOOOOSH I AM SO FREAKIN' EXCITEEEEEEEED :D
COME HUG ME!

Yes, yes, I am still very much alive.
Just not blog-wise.
Haha. hah.

I miss the Philippines.
Yun lang muna.

Ok, so it's official--August has arrived. You know what that means?
Gah. My days in the Philippines are numbered.
NUMBERED I TELL YOU!!!
K.

I won't blog in straight English this time, kasi di ko feel. Masaya naman mag tagalog, bakit ba. I'm proud. Hahaha.
So yun, August na. I have 18 more days, baby. EIGHTEEN freakin' sunrises. Make that SEVENTEEN. On the 18th sunrise kasi, I will no longer be on Manila soil. Nasa high above the heavens na ko. Airplane yun ha, I wasn't implying death in anyway. HAHA.

Parang feel ko iblog about my sked for the days to come.
Hmm. Let's see now...

SATURDAY AUG 2
- Mara's birthday celebration at Moa
-Driving lessons in A1 (uuuy I know na how to park! And I drove to Cavite and Las Pinas na. YEHES)
-Life 101 (TCOA cell group. Fun 'to)

SUNDAY AUG 3
-church!
-photoshoot for debut-despedidaaaa

MONDAY AUG 4
-MIGHT go to Ateneo to give invitations to blockies!
-OR ewan

TUESDAY AUG 5
-sort out guest list/invitations
-driving lessons

WEDNESDAY AUG 6
-last driving lessons
-start listing things to bring and must not leave behind huhuhu

THURSDAY AUG 7
-go to Taft/Katipunan daw oh
-OR ewan

FRIDAY AUG 8
-Trio's quatro 43!!!

SATURDAY AUG 9
-STILL 43. Wooooo.

SUNDAY AUG 10
-church!
-START PACKING :((

MONDAY AUG 11
-pack

TUESDAY AUG 12
-get souvenirs from JCK

WEDNESDAY AUG 13
-Happy birthday to my tito
-death anniv of lola :(
-pack

THURSDAY AUG 14
-pack

FRIDAY AUG 15
-prepare for tomorrow's celebration

SATURDAY AUG 16
-debut-despedida!

SUNDAY AUG 17
-see if all gifts can be brought with me. haha
-pack

MONDAY AUG 18
-finalize packing
-go to ICA (farewell to teachers, TCOA, ...) HUHUHU
-double check passport, tickets, luggages, etc
-one last text to people :((

TUESDAY AUG 19
-HERE WE GOOOOOOO.

Aww men, this is just sad. Sad, sad, sad.
But then again, excited din ako in a way.

Ohwow. Eighteen days!!! Not even three weeks anymore.
Tapos tomorrow August 2 na. Then 3, then 4, then POOF!
Hello, August 19.

I still sometimes find it hard to believe that I'll be going to the States in just a few more weeks.
After months of uncertainty, I'm so thankful that I could finally say that I'll be studying abroad, confirmed. :)

I even got to get a dose of college life here in the Philippines! For a month, at least.
Yeah, I'll miss Ateneo.

So now, I spend most of my time at home.
Wala na kong ginagawa. :))

and I waited.

Seven days away from the cyber world was actually... interesting.
It was, after all, for a good purpose. :)

GOD is SO good.
Super.

Now, I must wait just a little bit longer.
Konti nalang. :)

Did I mention that waiting IS the hardest part?
Here we go again.

But, God is good.
I am thankful. :D

I confirmed my slot in Ateneo today.
I DO need a fall back school in case I don't get the scholarship, right?

I fell in love with the atmosphere yet again.
When I was walking around the campus with my sister, I couldn't resist feeling all college-y. Haha.
I received all the documents I'll be needing for enrollment in June, and I can't deny the fact that I felt so excited. :D

AND GUESS WHAT!
I have such an awesome random number.
twenty one, baby. 21!
Hahaha.

This time next week, I'll know where I'd be heading off to already.
In just a few more days, my future will "start".
Because by then, I'd be planning what I'll be doing already.


P.S.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Johanna.
TCOA's first debutante.
Love you. :)

Let me start off by saying, I AM CONFUSED.
Yeah, a rockin' intro right there, huh.

Just last week, I was elated upon receiving news that I was qualified for the UWC panel interview. For those of you who don't know what UWC is, it stands for United World College, which offers a course in International Baccalaureate. From what I've been hearing, it's supposed to be this really great program. Ask Dianne Reyes or Tanya Aritao, they'd know. :)

Anyway, like what I said, I was happy. I mean, come on, out of the 200+  in the Philippines who applied for a UWC scholarship, the selection committee only picked ELEVEN to enter the interview. I am so thankful I am one of those few chosen. When I was accomplishing my application form, I couldn't help but feel all giddy, pondering at the thought of studying abroad, and really living it on my own. I wanted the scholarship. I really did.

Not to say that I don't anymore.
I do, really.
But I can't help but wonder, what would it be like if I stayed here in the country, and begin my college life in Ateneo?
Will I be happier? I don't know.

So, out of boredom (and confusion), I decided to make a list of Pros and Cons.

STAY IN THE PHILS / ATENEO LIFE
PROs:
-Well, I'd still be here in the country, meaning I could spend more time with family and friends, all within arms reach.
-Ateneo! :D When I found out I passed the ACET, I started looking forward to ORSEM, meeting my blockmates, schoolmates, and all those shinanigans. I couldn't wait to meet new people, new friends.
-I'll be able to attend debuts. Haha.
-I am in my comfort zone.

CONs:
-hassle of Ateneo-PBT-condo schedule
-Who knows when I'd be getting another opportunity to study out of the country?
-I won't get to live my dream of starting out early abroad
(I guess that's enough reason. Hmm.)

Okidoki folks.
Let us now proceed to the Pros and Cons of the other aspect--the UWC side.

LEAVE COUNTRY / UWC LIFE
PROs:
-Studying abroad. Wow. An international student. I like.
-I've always wanted this.
-New friends, new INTERNATIONAL friends. ;)
-Experiencing a whole new culture
-An open door for many opportunities (Or so I've been told)
-Four months of summer, since if ever I will push thru, departure will be on August pa. :)

CONs:
-I'll be leaving everything behind. My family, friends, my home, my room, yeah you get the idea.
-I won't get to celebrate my 18th birthday with my loved ones. :(
-I'd have to learn how to be independent, even if it means fighting off homesickness.
-Four months of summer. While my other friends are out, starting their college lives, meeting their block mates, listening to their profs, complaining about their sked (haha), and well, most probably blogging about how their college kick-off went. While I, on the other hand, sit at home, and read about it and get jealous of the new fun experiences they're already having as college freshmen. *sigh*

But then again, it's not like I even got the scholarship yet.
I still DO have to go through a *shudder* panel interview next Saturday.
So, for now. I'm left wondering. Waiting.

Because, if I DO get that scholarship, by God's grace, if I DO get qualified, even after all these reasons I just stated, I'm quite decided on what I'm going to do already.

It's just a matter of preparing my body, mind, soul, and well, heart.
Cheers to 2am blog posts. :)

I really don't know what to say.
I just want to type.
It's 2am.
I'm so bored. I'm not even sleepy.

It's funny how, after learning that I passed my dream school, I couldn't wait for high school to end. It was like, "Wow, I actually have a college to go to after graduation, why can't high school go any faster?!" Seriously, I wanted high school to END. I felt as if every day in the classroom was just another drag, and I honestly couldn't wait to graduate.

It's exactly a week 'til our graduation. Looking back, I can't help but feel a tiny pang of sadness at the thought of leaving ICA, my second home for the whole 13 years of my schooling. Just a while ago, I was looking through some pics taken during our senior year, and really, I felt quite sad. Nostalgic, even.

Seven days til we graduate.
Seven days. Seven days.
SEVEN!

Waah.

We only have 12 days left.
12 days before we finally, FINALLY, graduate.

I don't know what to feel.

From Mico.
This is fun, but can also make you think. Hard.

Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, and things. Nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person who answered the survey before you had the same initial letter. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.


1.Your name: Lauren

2.Four words: Laughter, Loser [haha], uhh..Lithium, Laboratory

3.State/country: Luxembourg

4.Boy Name: Lloyd

5.Girl Name: Lianna

6.Occupation: Lawyer

7.Word that describes you the best: La eh, i dont know. haha. :]

8.Something you can wear: Levi's jeans.

9.Something found in a kitchen: Liquid soap.

10.Name one Object that is so valuable to you: Letter of acceptance to the Ateneo. :]

11.Something you shout: Loser!

12.Something you do at school: Laugh :]

13.Name of a friend: Larissa

14.Name of an animal: Lion

15.Name of a drink: Liquor [nyahaha]

16.Name of a holiday: Labor Day

17.Name of a subject in school: Lunch. Nyaha. >:]

18.Name of a cousin: La din. No one beginning with the letter L.

19.Name of a fast food chain: Luk Yuen. Buuut. that's not a fast food chain, is it?

20.Name of a person you're crushing or had a crush on: L? lihim! haha.

21.Name of a food you like: Lamb. Lobster. Licorice. Leche Flan. :]

22.Name of a food you do not like: Liver. No, no. Blech.

23.Name of a kid's toy: Lego!

24.Name of a flowering plant: Lily

25.Name of a shopping mall: LA Shopping Center

26.Name of a person you like: Lovely Chris Brown. HAH.

27.Name of a person you dislike: Lindsay Lohan now. She was so much better before. Doi.

28.Name of a place in your school: Legacy! [the] Legacy, that is.

29.Name of an object in front of you: Lapis. hahaha.

30.Name of an electronic device: Laptop.

31.Name of a color: Light blue.

32.Name of a tourist spot: Luneta Park

33.Name of your classmate: Larissa

34.Brand of a car: Lynux

36.Name of a candy: Lemon-flavored skittle

37.Name of a book: Little Women

38.Name of a cellphone brand: Lalala. can't answer this, there's none that I know of.

39.Name of a sickness: Leukemia.

40.Name of a kind of fish: Lapu-lapu. Heehee.

41. Make a sentence with at least 6 words starting with your first letter name only:
Liar Lieutenant Lee loses Lester's loyalty.

Lahaha.

January 5, 2008, Saturday.
The best day of the year so far. :)


God is SO good. I am still in awe. I am SO thankful. I love you, Lord! :)
It's such a wonderful feeling, PURE JOY, to know that I can actually go to my dream school now. :) (So you could just imagine how I reacted upon learning that I passed) This is reality! Yet it still feels like a dream. I am still on cloud nine. And I have no plans of getting off of this cloud any time soon.

I feel so.. peaceful now. :) Nothing could pop my bubble today!
I'm also grateful to those people whose faith in me was much stronger than the confidence I had for myself. I appreciate all the encouraging you-will-make-it! words. :)

I'm just elated, ecstatic, overjoyed.
Another proof of how God's faithfulness is super amazing!
I suddenly can't wait for college. :)

I have been bleeding blue and white for the past thirteen years in ICA.
Here's to another 4 years ahead of bleeding BLUE and WHITE. ;)
Animo Ateneo! ONE BIG FIGHT!

I can't take this anymore!!!
AYOKO NA!!!
Waiting IS definitely the hardest part.
The pressure! omygawwwsh.

January 2 lasalle!
January 5 ATENEOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to be optimistic, but I don't want to get my hopes up either.
It'd be too painful if those hopes went down the drain. ='(

I just REALLY REALLY REALLY want to get into Ateneo. :(
Or at least pass two other schools for back up!
Lord, PLEASE.

ATENEO.
   

I'm so in the mood to blog right now. But about what exactly, I do not know. So forgive me if what I'll be typing down gets too random. I swear, I just feel like typing--no particular topic to blog about in mind. Yet here I go, watching as my fingers do all the work. My brain isn't quite participating just yet.

I am typing this with nails colored metallic purple, because it is cool.
I went to ATC today to buy acetone.
I ended up going home with new accessories, a new top, 25 pieces of munchkins from Dunkin Donuts, holiday cards... and well, acetone.
I'm cool like that.

Huh.

Christmas parties have been fun these past few days.
Yeah.

Candle-light service in church today.
I have a happy heart.

Homaygawd. Peppermint mocha frappe. My nth one today.
Oreo cheesecake! Love.

Hello, munchkins.
Meet my mouth.

I asked for a good day.
I ended up with a complete opposite one.

Fast forward me to next year, please.
So that by then, I know what I'd be doing already for college.

But I won't worry--God told me not to. :)
Matthew 6:25
Psalm 24:4-5

I trust you, Lord.

I'm so bored.
Whee. No school tomorrow yet.

I do, I do, I DO!!! :))
Forgive me. I'm just ECSTATIC.

I know how to drive already! :D
This is a different kind of rush.
So driven. I love it.

I know how to drive, I know how to drive!
I know how to driiiiiiiive!