Day Thirteen. Too bad it's not a Friday.

OOOOHHHH MAAAAN. I already wrote about two paragraphs and I accidentally deleted it. And I can't seem to get it back. Shoot.

I'm not going to rewrite all of that.. ugh. 

 I wrote that last Tuesday... was pretty bummed that everything I wrote got deleted. (Dang non-MAC computers.) I was just gonna scrap this post but the title's too good to not use. Last Tuesday was my thirteenth day here in Manila.

Anyway, today actually is indeed a Friday. But it is in no way a thirteenth. Wait, it actually has been thirteen days since I saw Megamind with my grandma, he he. Random.

For the non-Philippine residents, I'd like you to know that Christmas songs have been playing EVERYWHERE. I simply can't believe that it's Christmas again. Ok, that was a lie. I can believe it. In some ways, this year has whizzed by. Or not really 'whizzed' 'cause for me, nothing much happened, ha ha. And in other ways, this year seemed to take forever... when you're really busy with stuff, time seems to fly by real quickly. But for me, as I'd had nothing really to do, time inched its way to the end of the year. So finally, it's Christmas!

"Christmas Cup" Taken by Jon Henson.

I'm tempted to say that this was a useless year. But I can't. This year, 2010 was not "useless". Most of the time I felt it was, but now thinking about it, it was far from it.

I experienced so much.

Early this year I had the privilege of working with Patric Chan. Though only for a mere month, I surprisingly learned a ton. In some ways I regret not working more, but I don't know, I guess there's really no use in regretting anymore.

Then February came and I had to deal with being denied a US VISA. That was hard. More than the fact that I didn't get to go to the states with my dad, it was the fact of being denied by a single someone access into an entire country. I'd hoped to finally visit New York. God has his ways, I guess. Before going for the interview, I asked God to let His will be done. To close the wrong doors and open the right ones. So, I asked for it, ha ha. He remained sovereign and kept me in His will.

The preceding months consisted of nothing. Really, nothing. I slept late, woke up late. Ate, but not too much (my appetite seems to disappear when I don't need the energy.) I lost a lot of weight, ha ha.

(Ok?? I just realized that I'm doing a whole recap of the entire year, heh.) I'll stop myself right here.

Aghh, fine. Just briefly though.

July was a total BLAST. Then Sept and Oct were real learning months. I home-schooled Sabina, cooked, budgeted and tried to keep the house in order while both my parents were in the states.

In short I really learned a lot this year. Maybe if I find the time at the end of the year to write a whole "recap" of 2010, I will. But if I end up not doing so, this might be it: my 2010 recap blog.

I'm learning to fully place my trust in The Rock, in the one who never fails. An important lesson I'm taking with me into the new year is the lesson that I'm nothing and He is everything. Time and time again, I'd make plans, try to get everything in order, get things to go my way, but God seems to keep smashing it down, in my words "ruining it". Yet in fact he was just getting me to draw back to Him--look to Him for strength. And what I have to do now is to trust that He has a plan. And more importantly, that His plan is better than mine.

 I want a polaroid. And I love Bokeh.

Photo by Brandon Christopher Warren.

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As I've mentioned, I've been here, the Philippines, for about two weeks now.

I arrived with a plan. And my plan was to apply into the De La Salle University and start studying by January-- studying Communication Arts. I did all that I could. That first day, I entered the Admissions office and handed in all, or so I thought, of the required documents (as stated on the website). As it turned out, I was missing a "Legitimizing Certificate" of my high school records from the Department of Education. So, the next day, we drove to DECS-NCR and when we were there, I was missing another document and had to get my mom to get it from my school back in Penang and FEDEX it to us. It took another week before I got my "Legitimizing Certificate" from DECS. Day after getting it, I went back to the Admissions Office of Lasalle only to find out that they don't offer the course I want on the January intake. I'd have to wait till June!

I checked out other Universities too. I'm too late for UP and Ateneo. CSB requires an "authentication of records" from the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur before December. And UA&P doesn't have any of the courses I want. Bum.

Again, I'm tempted to be mad. But I'll stay composed. And instead, look at the bright side. At least I have more free time? I haven't decided what to do next. Should I just go for the January intake studying a different course? Or should I wait till June (another seven months of nothing-ness)?

I'm considering taking Theater classes and workshops instead. Develop my singing voice, hone my dancing skills and just intern where I can. Sounds like a good idea. But it's a bit intimidating.

For those of you who believe in a higher power, please do pray for me. For the others, do wish me the best of luck!

I will be back in Penang for Christmas. Last Christmas in Malaysia!!

Adventure! C'mon!!

Here's a cool one for you from here. "Camera Obscura -- Abelardo Morell "

And I can't seem to leave without putting a video. I've already shared this one on my Facebook. "Boy With A Coin" by Iron & Wine. I heart Flamenco.