When in Rome

Note: This was originally intended for the final issue of PAGASA for SY 2010-2011, but I don't think that issue will ever be released, and I hate to see an article of mine go to waste (whether it was worth anything to begin with, you be the judge). :D

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When in Rome…

by Stephanie Paige C. Abellera

…do as the Romans do.

Well, at least that’s how the saying goes, but unfortunately, that’s easier said than done – for me, at least. See, three years ago, my parents decided to drop a news bomb on me when they told me that I would be transferring schools. It was as if the fates thought that 2012 just wasn’t soon enough, and so they decided to bring an early apocalypse for my thirteen year old self. My folks were quick to reassure me that I’d adjust in no time and get with the school dynamics. But as I look back on my high school days, I’m pretty sure that I’ve never really gone with the flow; in fact, I went with a different current, a route out of the status quo.

My first day in XUHS hadn’t been the prettiest; after all, when was being the only transferee in your sophomore class what one would consider fun? I was forever in my own world, mechanically doing work and never really enjoying my time at school. Classmates would leave me to my own designs in fear of, and I quote, “disturbing her solemn self.” This went on until my senior year, though by then, I guess I loosened up a bit and looked forward to school more often.

Nevertheless, I stuck to my own principles. I always did my homework beforehand, either inside the classroom right after last period, or at home, instead of rushing it five minutes before the first bell rang the next day. Since I only lived ten minutes from school, I walked to and fro everyday with a heavy book bag in tow (I never had a locker). And because I was a Senior, no longer could I spend my Saturday mornings sleeping in and recovering the sleep I’d lost during the week; rather, I’d be working - running errands, editing papers, and such. For the whole of my high school life, I was without a Facebook account, so I couldn’t really count on getting tagged for any assignments, so I did things my own way. Not exactly the typical lifestyle for a Xavier student, huh?

Still, if you really look at it, I still made it, even without abiding by the usual customs of the school community. I guess that’s what high school was for me – a challenge to be different, not exactly to stand out from the rest, but to see if the road less traveled was any better than the worn dirt path of high school clichés.

So a few words of advice to you undergrads: Don’t be passive conformists and go by the rules of society (although, please do follow school rules!). Throw caution to the wind, step out of that rut, and own your high school days. After all, when in Rome, do as YOU usually do, and everything else will follow.

See you later, XUHS.

Oh, and hello, UP! :)

TAGGED

If I want to keep my dignity intact, then I shall post my answers here. Please read with discretion.

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- For the record, these questions aren't exactly going to help me in finding that guy (although who's looking?). I'm just doing this for fun. :D-

1. Do you need him/her to be good looking?

As long as he is a-DORK-able, then I'll take him as he is.



2. Smart?

YES. Someone who can hold intelligent conversations.



3. Preferred age?

Age is just a number, as long as he ain't a pedophile, and I ain't a cougar. :))



4. Preferred height?

Tall. :D But not too tall. I hate it when people make me feel like a total midget.



5. How about sense of humor?

YES, PLEASE. With a helping of sarcasm at the side.



6. How about piercings?

I'm okay with that.



7. Accepts you for who you are?

YES. If we're going to be in a relationship, then he's got to pay for his half of the bargain.



8. Pink hair?

NO.



9. Mushy or no?

Depends on whether or not I vomit first.



10. Thin or fat?

I don't mind a little squishy, as long as he works out too.



11. Black, Brown or White (skin color)?

Green. :)) joke.



12. Long hair or short hair?

Short.




13. Plastic or metal?

I don't get this question.


14. Smells good?

YES.



15. Smoker?

FU** NO.



16. Drinker?

As long as he's not an ALCOHOLIC. The occasional drink is fine.



17. Girl/Boy-next-door type?

I dunno.



18. Muscular?

Just not too muscular. With definition, but no "I can lift 500 pounds in five seconds" muscular.



19. Plays piano?

Aww, why not?



20. Plays bass and/or acoustic guitar?

OH GOD YES. :))


21. Plays violin?

Duet, anyone?



22. Sings very good?

OMYGAHD, PLEASE.



23. Vain?

NO.



24. With glasses?

That'd be cute. :)




25. With braces?

Well, I have them too, so why not? :D




26. Shy type?

That'd be cute too.


27. Rebel or good boy/girl?

In between.




28. Active or passive?

In between.



29. Tight or bomb?

I don't know what this means.



30. Singer or dancer?

Singer. But dancer would be nice too.



31. Stunner?

As in, would he catch other people's attention as well?



32. Hiphop?

Sure. I mean, I like dancing to hiphop, though I don't really dance. :D



33. Earrings?

Okay.



34. Mr/Ms. count-my-ex-girlfriendss-until-you-drop?

NO.



35. Dimples?

I think they're cute. :D



36. Bookworm?

YAAAY. Can I borrow his Powerbooks/Laking National Card and get all the freebies?



37. Mr/Ms. love letter?

Read, "Letters to You" ;D



38. Playful?

Yes.



39. Flirt?

Not too much.



40. Poem writer?

ala-Angelo Suarez? Yes please.



41. Pwd maliit?

I don't want to acknowledge what this means.



42. Campus crush?

aw. Then I'd have to fight for him? Bring it on!



43. Painter?

Sure.



44. Religious?

Yes, but he doesn't have to be.



45. Someone who likes to tease people?

LOL. Isn't that what relationships are made of?

46. Computer games geek? Or internet freak?

A mix of both. :D


47. Speaks 20 languages?

Not necessarily, but if he can, then YAY!


48. Loyal or faithful?

Isn't that the same thing?



49. Good kisser?

Ayay. =)) No PDA, kung pwede lang.



50. Loves children?


AWW.

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-I'm going to be stubborn with this one. Read at your own risk.-

1. Who was your FIRST prom partner?

- Renz Alinas. Sup, dude?



2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?

- My first love was, and still is, FOOD.



3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?

- Red Horse, lol.



4. Who's your FIRST grade school crush?

- JR Deang, SHATTAP.



5. Who's your FIRST high school crush ?

- JC Mendoza, SHATTAP AGAIN.



6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?

- Sid Butaslac



7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?

- Usui Takumi.. does he count as a person?



8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?

- Teacher Celine



9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?

- Cagayan de Oro, bebe. :D



10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk?

- Ina... *trying to place her last name* and not anymore. o__o I'm such a bad friend.



11. Where was your FIRST sleep over?

- Camile's house.



12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?

- My dad. Well, he did most of the talking, I just sat there (pretending) to listen.



13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?

- Tita Aw and Tito Simon's.



14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?

- Pee. I guess you didn't need to know that but oh well, it's too late for that.



15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?

- I don't recall attending any concert before.



16. What was the FIRST record/tape/CD you bought?

- Some weird OPM... can't remember.



17. FIRST hospitalization?

- Aside from birth, you mean? In my 2nd year of high school, I was rushed to the ER because of a major allergic reaction. I couldn't breathe, couldn't see, had rashes everywhere, and stuff.



18. FIRST foreign country you've been to?

- Hong Kong. I miss the weather there. :(



19. FIRST movie you remember seeing?

- Pocahontas?



20. When was your FIRST birthday?

- A year after I was born, durh.



21. What did you do with your FIRST paycheck?

- Cashed it in, then spent it in two weeks. :D



22. Your FIRST social networking site?

- Friendster, lol.



23. Who FIRST invited you to Facebook?

- JERIX, YOU TRAITOR. :)) Made my account against my will.



24. Who was your FIRST puppylove ?

- Same with my first crush.



25. Who was your FIRST love?

- FOOD.



26. FIRST boyfriend?

- Single, and it's complicated. :)) but then again, THIS IS THE LIFE. XD



27. When was your FIRST date?

- WALA. :))



28. Who was your FIRST MU?

- WALA GIHAPON. =))



29. FIRST heart break?

- Reading Gakuen Alice. don't mock me.



30. FIRST suitor?

- Ayay.



31. Who was your FIRST kiss (lips) ?

- well, THIS IS AWKWARD. (virgin lips LOL)



32. FIRST song you've heard?

- ABC.



33. FIRST tv show?

- Teletubbies.



34. FIRST dance you've danced?

- uhhh... something about clapping my hands.



35. First textmate?

- Andie, grade 2. I had this huge ass hand-me-down phone.

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fin.

it's 91, actually.

Name: Stephanie Paige C. Abellera

Age: sixteen... (hundred and twenty-one).

Address: unknown.



WHAT WAS YOUR:



1. last beverage = H2O

2. last phone call = Ate Nades, days ago

3. last text message = Justin

4. last song you listened to = Pink - F*cking Perfect

5. last time you cried = Yesterday, while reading a book.



HAVE YOU EVER:



6. dated someone twice = Haven't dated, period.

7. been cheated on = This question doesn't really apply if I've never dated anyone.

8. kissed someone & regretted it = Maybe. K2. Hehe. ;P

9. lost someone special = Yes.

10. been depressed = was, for the whole of my second year in high school, with a couple of relapses afterward.

11. been drunk and threw up = Thank God, no. ;)



LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:



12. Green

13. Violet

14. Maroon



LAST YEAR (2010), HAVE YOU:



15. Made a new friend = plural, please. :)

16. Fallen out of love = No.

17. Laughed until you cried = It's become part of my daily routine. :D

18. Met someone who changed you = Lots.

19. Found out who your true friends were = ang lalim naman. true friends? define that please.

20. Found out someone was talking about you = via backstabbing? or something else?

21. Kissed anyone on your FB friend's list = does my sister count?



GENERAL:



22. How many people on your FB friends list do you know in real life = Well, I know waaaay more than half, so that's a good sign.

-where's number 23?-

24. Do you have any pets = Yup. Three dogs, a mouse, a hamster, fish, a gecko... :D

25. Do you want to change your name = Sometimes, but I dig my second name, Paige.

26. What did you do for your last birthday = Took the USTET.

27. What time did you wake up today = 12 noon. puyaaaaat ako.

28. What were you doing at midnight last night = Hanging with my cousins.

29. Name something you CANNOT wait for = HP7, The Three Musketeers, Son of Neptune... anything I missed?

30. Last time you saw your Mother = Fifteen minutes ago. Just came from sm.

31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life = Life is beautiful as we know it. I wouldn't change anything.

32. What are you listening to right now = Nelly - Just a Dream

33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom? = I don't think so.

34. What's getting on your nerves right now = iTunes won't install in my netbook. o_____o

35. Most visited webpage = multiply, google mail, yahoo mail, deviantart. :D sorry, fb.

37. Nicknames = pipay :P

38. Relationship Status = single, and it's complicated. :))

39. Zodiac sign = Libra.

40. He or She = I don't bat for the other team, that's for sure.

41. Elementary = SMS :)

42. High School = SMS, XUHS :D

43. College = UP Manila XD

44. Hair color = black.

45. Long or short = in between.

46. Height = 5'1.5" (nanigurado gyud. :P)

47. Do you have a crush on someone? = fictional, or celebrity count?

48. What do you like about yourself? = my... sense of humor. and my vocabulary. you've got to give me props for that.

49. Piercings = ears.

50. Tattoos = Henna? :D

51. Righty or lefty = Righty, though I want to be ambidextrous. :D



RIGHT NOW:



59. Eating = popcorn.

60. Drinking = tea.

61. I'm about to = go deaf at the rate my headphones are blastic music into my abused eardrums.

62. Listening to = New Heights - Peaches

63. Waiting for = my turn for the bathroom.



YOUR FUTURE :



64. Want kids? = I want to adopt. Less lonely people in the world that way. :D

65. Get Married? = Aiiiiii... dunno.

66. Career? = One awesome cardiac surgeon. (goodbye, my youth, hello 10 more years of schooling)



WHICH IS BETTER :



67. Lips or eyes = eyes

68. Hugs or kisses = hugs

69. Shorter or taller = taller

70. Older or Younger = ... older

71. Romantic or spontaneous = spontaneous. romantic is just cheesy. humor wanted, bub.

72. Nice stomach or nice arms = nice arms. what's wrong with a little squishy? they make for nice pillows. :D

73. Sensitive or loud = either, just... not too much. gosh.

74. Hook-up or relationship = relationship.

75. Trouble maker or hesitant = trouble maker! mwahahahahaha.



HAVE YOU EVER :



76. Kissed a stranger = nope.

77. Drank hard liquor = naah. wine is soft, and I drank a glass of that last night and didn't feel the slightest bit drunk.

78. Lost glasses/contacts = I don't really wear glasses, though I do have a pair.

79. Sex on first date = No. The feminist in me is on a rampage right now.

80. Broke someone's heart = uhh..

81. Had your own heart broken = mmmm..

82. Been arrested = does the marriage booth four years ago during the SMS foundation days count?

83. Turned someone down = Yes.

84. Cried when someone died = Yes.

85. Fallen for a friend = No.



DO YOU BELIEVE IN:



86. Yourself = I'd like to start.

87. Miracles = Yes.

88. Love at first sight = How should I explain this? A person who falls in love at first sight is a bit naive and fickle-minded, don't you think? And I kind of abhor how so many fairy tales portray love as such. So no, I don't.

89. Heaven = Yes.

90. Santa Claus = The kid in me still does. Santa, you soooo owe me 17 presents this year. :P

91. Kiss on the first date = on the cheek. :D read: "The Dating Rules" to get my point. >> http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2779373/1/The_Dating_Rules

92. Angels = Yes. Even the fallen one.

you'll see.

:')

of pigs and boys

At three o'clock in the afternoon today, I swore to myself that any morsel of belief I had that chivalry was still alive went down the drain.

Why such a hasty conclusion? Blame it on these two chauvinist pigs that kept giving me nasty glances and hoot calls over their shoulders as I was walking home from school. Have these boys (for they do not deserve to be called 'men') no decency? Have they no respect? I was severely appalled by their behavior, and if I had my way, I would've come after them with a Swiss knife. It's a good thing that I didn't because one, I lost said Swiss knife in my dad's car sometime ago, two, I'm not exactly one for violence, and three, as much as I hate to admit it, I was outnumbered: two pig heads against one girl. Go figure.

It didn't help much with my disposition that it had started to rain, and I was without an umbrella. I'd tried calling my kuya for a ride, but no one would pick up. I had no choice but to brave the rain. But then, a stranger came up to me with an umbrella, and asked me where I was headed. Instinct told me to flee; my mum didn't drill into my head 'never talk to strangers' for nothing. But it was raining, and he was offering, so I decided to throw caution to the wind and give him the name of my subdivision.

Turned out, he was my neighbor (one that I had never met before nor seen around the village), and I visibly relaxed. We went on the ten-minute walk talking in Tagalog (don't look at me, he started it), and though it was kind of awkward, I did feel that this was Bro's way of telling me that not all guys were pigs. My guy classmates may be rowdy, but they're sweet. And Mark, the boy with the umbrella, was especially nice. Looks like you guys have redeemed yourselves, huh?

To the douche bags of the world who have ever disrespected or hit on girls, consider yourselves lucky. Next time around, you won't have such luxury anymore. To those decent guys, keep up the good work. This world definitely needs more of you. And to Mr-stranger-neighbor-umbrella-dude-named-Mark, thank you. My mom may have scolded me when I got home for not answering my phone, and my brother is probably royally pissed at me because I left him waiting back there when he was supposed to pick me up, but at least you saved me from more douches and pneumonia. I owe you one.

So chivalry isn't dead after all, but then again, it is still hanging on a thread there, but whatever. Suddenly, the world is right again.

iPlaytheGuitar

...sort of.

Compare and contrast, guys. First shot taken in the summer of 2005, second shot taken a few minutes ago, 2011. :D And I'm not actually playing a chord there, so...

Good times...

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Yeah, this is basically me feeling nostalgic about my childhood. I mean, I am, after all, graduating, and will probably be shipped off to college a few months from now.