Quaere Verum

Graphic from AccuWeather.com . Yesterday, typhoon Milenyo (international code name: Xangsane ) cut a swath of destruction as it plowed right through eastern Visayas and central Luzon before heading out to the South China Sea. In it's wake it left about 50 dead, many more missing, and hundreds of millions of pesos in property damage. Milenyo is perhaps the most powerful typhoon to hit Philippine soil in more than a decade, and one of the most violent to hit the greater Manila area. As I type these words, approximately less than 60% of Luzon is receiving electrical power, courtesy of the fallen electical posts and transmission lines brought down by winds in excess of 110 kilometers per hour. Classes in all levels were suspended, as was work in all government offices, except those performing emergency services. And a number of roads have been rendered impassable, blocked by debris, overturned vehicles, fallen billboards, and uprooted trees. I guess this typhoon has really lived up to ...

It's been three days since the last exam, and somehow, I'm still finding myself. I've been doing basically nothing but read, sleep, smoke, drink tea and coffee for so long that, now, after the event I have been preparing for has lapsed, I'm struggling to figure out what to do next. I'm not due to go back to work until next week, so I guess I have this week to do some soul searching, and to catch up on some things that I have been putting off for some time now. On Monday evening, after sleeping for what seemed to be the entire day, I was extended an invitation to watch Melay , a former officemate, and her band perform at a cozy watering hole along Katipunan, about five minutes away from where I live. They were pretty good, and I'm not just saying that. I guess it was kinda nice being able to watch a live acoustic band and down a few beers at the same time. It's been quite a while since I did the same, and I was able to catch up with some friends that I haven...

Alive Pearl Jam Son, she said, have I got a little story for you What you thought was your daddy was nothin' but a... While you were sittin' home alone at age thirteen Your real daddy was dyin', sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked... Oh I, oh, I'm still alive Hey, I, I, oh, I'm still alive Hey I, oh, I'm still alive Hey...oh... Oh, she walks slowly, across a young man's room She said I'm ready...for you I can't remember anything to this very day 'Cept the look, the look... Oh, you know where, now I can't see, I just stare... I, I'm still alive Hey I, but, I'm still alive Hey I, boy, I'm still alive Hey I, I, I, I'm still alive, yeah Ooh yeah...yeah yeah yeah...oh...oh... Is something wrong, she said Well of course there is You're still alive, she said Oh, and do I deserve to be Is that the question And if so...if so...who answers...who answers... I, oh, I'm still alive Hey I, oh, I'm still aliv...

Yesterday was the last Sunday, the fourth Sunday in the grueling rite of passage for all law graduates and prospective lawyers in the Philippines known as the Bar Examinations. Amidst the cacophony of cheering fraternities, fireworks, drums, brass bands, and beer being sprayed everywhere, I left DLSU thankful and relieved that it's all over. What's done is done. Five months of continuous study, four Sundays of rigorous exams. And now it's all over. If you think this pen is looking kinda drained, you should have seen me after the exams. In hindsight, with regard to all of the tests, there were quite a number of questions that I wish could have answered better. Retrospection can be that way, make you second guess yourself. But there's no use crying over spilled milk. I put in my best effort, and that's all I can probably ask for. I think I put up a pretty good fight. Not in any way a 100% sure effort, probably not even 90% or 80%, but a pretty good fight nonetheless....

Prayer for my own Birthday Lord, let this feast of my birth be a reminder to me of all the gifts and blessings I have received from You this day and all the days of my life. On my day of celebration, I thank you for my life and all of my blessings and ask for another year filled with Your presence in my life that I may continue to grow in your love. Gracious God, I thank You for enabling me to celebrate my birthday. Lord You have been good to me all these years and I thank You for all the blessings I have recieved but especially for life itself. Creator God, I do not know what lies ahead for me this year. Yet I know that You are holding my future in Your hand. Let my ways be pleasing to you. As You have promised, be with me, Lord. Grid me with Your strength and grace so that I can live for Your light. Enable me to draw closer to You that I may walk in your peace and be the creative and loving person that you intend for me to be. I ask this and all things in the sure and certain knowled...

Filched this quiz from thefirthyone . Don't think she'd mind...well at least I hope she won't. :-) And the results? They're just about what I had expected. Long live alternative rock. :-) They kinda betray my age though... Your Taste in Music: 80's Alternative: Highest Influence 80's Pop: Highest Influence 90's Alternative: Highest Influence 90's Pop: Highest Influence 90's Rock: High Influence How's Your Taste in Music?

Only one Sunday left. At this point I'm pretty much mentally, physically and emotionally drained. Yet the last Sunday is probably the most important, as Remedial Law is worth a whopping 20% of the final grade. To tell you the truth, I'm no longer thinking of passing. All I want at this point is to finish. Fatigue certainly has a way of dulling one's edge. I better put my nose to the grindstone if I want to put up a good fight. The 2006 Bar exams will probably be remembered as one of the most difficult in recent years. And as always, with my impeccable timing, I chose to take it this year. Lucky me. Nothing else left to do but to gather up steam for the last Sunday, and hope and pray for the best.