gratifying my palate

©darrengarcia

This has got to be one of the best dishes in the planet. You got to try this rice along the luneta park, though i must remind you that it packs a lot of carbs. You might need to shed those extra calories after eating a cup of this. It might be costly, but it's really worth it. 4 stars**** 

Pyro-musical

©darrengarcia

©darrengarcia

©darrengarcia

              

                                                                 I had great time watching the Philippine national pyro-musical competition at the riverbanks amphitheater. The fireworks lasted for about 5-6 min only, compared to the 15-18 min exhibition in MOA. 

Dreams do come true...

©darrengarcia

                       Just like my dream to study in UP, another dream has also come true..."TO BE KISSED BY A WALL". I certainly did not want it to happen, but it was in my dream. And yeah, it got true which resulted in a black eye. I accidentally slammed my face on the wall while I was sleeping/dreaming. Cool ayt? 


        

Patriotism: dead or alive?

©darrengarcia

         Blood, sweat, and tears have been the foundation of this glorious nation; The bedrock of its freedom of which its men have striven, struggled, and fallen. We may not have the arsenal of weapons to fight in battle, but we will always have the heart to win.


        Many people are blinded to the fact that the Philippines is a great nation with exceptional heritage. The ideal may probably be brought up by their hatred of the government. Nonetheless, though I personally think that our government has considerable flaws, it should never be a reason to confine ourselves to our abilities to promote and serve our country to the fullest. 


It's more fun in the...PHILIPPINES

KOPI me LIKEY

 ©darrengarcia

                I just ran out of green tea to brew lately so I shifted to another ingredient...LE COFFEE. I am not that much of an avid coffee drinker but I do appreciate its taste. So I tried to experiment on drinks lately. Luckily, it didn't result in an LBM. Coffee has one heck of a punch, it can be mixed with almost any of my favorite drinks. Above all, there's this one thing I really want to be with my coffee, and it's cho....wait for it..colate powder. Yeah, u heard it right, chocolate powder then chilled with some ice cubes, incorporated some dairy and sugar, then shaken together using a cocktail shaker...OOOLALA! 
            

Advanced Placement Examination

  ©darrengarcia

        First day exam was humanities...2 hrs, 5 questions, Explain or discuss using not less than 10 sentences.


1.) Literature is basically moral but not necessarily moralistic.
2.) Literature produces an ideal which an individual strives to achieve.
3.)Literature transforms and intensifies human experience through special words, which results in an act of estrangement or defamiliarization.
4.) The difference between language of science and language of literature.
5.)The difference between language of poetry and language of fiction/ the narrative.


  Writing essays is one of my strengths yet this has really tested my skills and patience. In fact, this was the second of the easiest tests that I took. I had 6 exams all in all. I wasn't expecting the kinds of tests that they have given.
  In fact they barely gave us multiple choice items, imagine having that in your 2 history tests, 2 math tests, and a science test. I am frankly not confident about the results, though I think that I might have a great chance of passing the Philippine history exam.

PAILAH festival

  ©darrengarcia

  ©darrengarcia

  ©darrengarcia

         
                        When I was in Laguna I came across this festival called Pailah. It was truly an awesome experience. They really exhibited their creativity and ingenuity through their costumes which were  made from scrap and recyclable materials. Their vivid and festive atmosphere left a grin on my face.                               
         This has a resemblance with the "rehiyon-rehiyon" in        Marikina which i think was abolished about 2 years ago. To see such rich Filipino culture and dignified heritage makes me feel that my country is still a great place after all, despite the problems that cast upon our nation. With this, I take pride and honor to say that SUMMER IS MORE FUN THE PHILLIPINES!            
                                                                           

I made new friends this summer...

©darrengarcia

            During my exams in UPLB, I opted to stay at my tito's house. My cousins were there but I had no one to talk to since their ages are far from mine. Eventually, I met this guy on the pic, he's my cousin's cousin. We got along easily 'cause we had the same likes..."DISCOVERY CHANNEL" and "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC". hahaha. I can't believe that i'd found a nerd in that house ( just in terms of movies). And he was humorous like me as well, he's more makulet but i'm obviously funnier. just kidding. We played games every time I get home from UP, then we eat, then we watch our favorite shows and traded ideas. And if you were to listen in our discussion, you would certainly find us geekish. hahaha. Nevertheless, I just wanted to appreciate my new buddy for keeping me accompanied all the time, especially in times of eternal boredom, really had good laughs with him.

©facebook

   While I was in UPLB I also met a handful of incoming freshmen. This girl was the first of all. I was hesitating to introduce myself but eventually did and became close to her. She's from pasig science HS and we both exchanged random stories everytime we met in the university. Our friendship started when I forgot to bring a pencil, but luckily, I met this girl who has an extra pencil. From then on, we usually take seats that are beside together so we can chat more 'bout our lives and such. She is friendly, silent-type impression, yet very loquacious.I am really looking forward to meet people like her in the university.

What should have been my day today

 ©darrengarcia

       Tomorrow's my ride to LB. I'm gonna be taking my most-awaited FIRST seat,exam,and first entance to the university as a college student. 

But this day, I should have been spending my time bonding with my  fellow SSG officers. Nevertheless, my brothah and I decided not to join because we are much preoccupied by other things today.

 ©darrengarcia

 ©darrengarcia

 My day has really got out of my control (not in a bad way. Packing my things was what I had in mind, but it went out that I almost spent my time eating and wasting it going to malls. Pasheesh. 

   I guess my blogging days will soon be reduced 'cause i'm heading to LB tomorrow. Wish me luck and may God bless me as I take and ace those tests :)

cool earthly creations

this paint cleans the air
©darrengarcia

           

            I took this pic along the marikina riverbanks and it says that the paint used to make the graffiti cleans the air, how cool is that. 

Alliance of Earth Savers

glorious rays
©darrengarcia

               
                         One of the greatest problems which besiege us today is this global warming. Most people are just contemplating potentially dire predicaments. They do not want to experience possibly intractable problems, but they keep doing nothing for the betterment and the welfare of the environment and humanity.
       
        There are reasonable solutions to our problems, but they are not necessarily easy or pleasant. Until we recognize and accept the problem, including its severity, there is little hope that we will be able to take the necessary steps to extricate ourselves from the mess we inherited and contributed to. 

 WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS... "ACT NOW"        

     
                             "This article is a tribute (lol) to my friend/ co-officer in YES-O/ foodmaniac like me, Sydney."
                             

WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW...in taking college entance exams (undergrads)

intellectually disguised
©darrengarcia

                I have made this article to give few insights to undergrads who are about take eye-popping and mind-blowing college tests. I haven't listed those tips that are really common like don't cram, leave difficult questions...blablabla. Tips that are listed here are the things THEY DON'T TELL YOU.

UNIBERSIDAD NG PILIPINAS

1.INDICATE THE COURSE OF YOUR "HEART'S CHOICE"
     - Your admission to the campus will not be based on your chosen course. It will be based on your UPG, 60% from your HS grades, and 40% from your UPCAT score. 
     
       -It's not true that you will have a better chance of entering the university if you have chosen a non-quota course. What really happens is that each campus has assigned a particular UPG cut-off. If you did not qualify in your chosen course, BUT your UPG is within their cut-off, they will indicate that you have "PASSED" and you will pick another course with available slots.
     
       - PRAY FIRST BEFORE YOU INDICATE YOUR CHOICE ;) 


2. Review on all subjects. 
     -The UPCAT offers a diversity of questions. It does NOT focus on one lesson. Math questions range from algebra to geometry; Science deals with gen. sci, chem, bio, and a lil bit of common sense physics. English and reading comprehension are to be used with your skills and is hard to learn shortly.


3. DON'T LEAVE ANY BLANKS
     - professionals or even review center teachers tell you to leave a question unanswered if you don't really know. BUT LISTEN TO ME, UPCAT is a "right - 1/4 WRONG" ONLY and not "right-wrong". I have an experiment to prove that you have an advantage if you don't leave anything unanswered.

"Ateneo De Manila University--COMING SOON"

The beauty of dirt, mud, and land

farm
©nadiDANG

                         THIS IS SUCH A PICTURESQUE VIEW... 
                     GOD really has made his creations wonderful.


                

"Adictus Marikenyo "

U and I : a JK
©darrengarcia

           "Couch potato" has been my name since the start of summer. I have been really inactive physically. I tried to involve myself into vigorous physical activities, but all my efforts seem to fail. Anyway, I have found a game to keep myself busy with. The game is basically an online card game, well, it's yugi-oh.

            The problem now is that I am  somewhat addicted to this game. Well, it's good to keep myself preoccupied, but there are other things I have to accomplish....There are those sets of tests that I will be taking about 3 days from now in UPLB. The tests are given to those who have garnered an average score of 90% or higher in all of the four UPCAT subtests. If I pass the test for a certain subject, I would be given a perfect mark for my first semester. Not only does it give me a chance to get whooping perfect grades, but it also allows us to save money, 'bout 9k, since I won't be taking those extra units.

        Back to my addiction...this day, I have spent 45 pesos to rent a computer just to play, since my dad is using our computer. I can't believe that my addiction to this game has cost me a lot of fortune. I haven't even spent a centavo on those precious cheap foods that I want to buy. What I am planning right now is to block the site in our computer so that I could stop the spreading of this "adictus marikenyo virus" into my veins.

 

     

Hudas, Barabas, Hestas

melancholy
©darrengarcia

       Good Friday... well for us non-catholics, this day is just an ordinary day. It's just that stores and malls are closed and there's no where else to go except stay inside the house.

cross-aider
©darrengarcia

                           Nevertheless... we do respect that it has been a part of our nation's heritage. We do not have anything against this celebration, in fact, i even appreciate the people who preserve this momentous tradition.

smoking judas
©darrengarcia

                                     In our baranggay...kids wait for this very iconic character, "HUDAS". They wait for his arrival, then they run away from him. He really is creepy, it's as if he's the real "judas". Some kids even cry when he approaches them, and even some women run away from him... well, it just makes me laugh.

Rock, stones, and pebbles...

  ©darrengarcia

               
              High school was really a turning point in my life. I got a chance to meet AWESOME people. If I were to describe it, I would like to use the phrase "cloud 9 with some pabigat". 
   
             I found it arduous to manage my time: being a leader, athlete, friend, and a student...but fortunately, i survived HS :D I'm definitely NOT gonna miss those hapit moments and eye-bag moments. If given a chance, I even don't wanna experience more of it (too bad for me i'm in UP). I have heard stories from our alumni that those who will study in UP and ADMU  will experience the same horror they've encountered MariSci (Marikina Science HS), but luckily, for those who will study in UST,DLSU, and UA&P,well..they will be treated like royalties and geniuses since they really will excel in almost all of their subjects(IMBAS).


            I'm certainly not gonna forget all those HS memories, may it be a good one or bad one. Good thing we have the internet to keep in touch. If it wasn't invented, I would really be deprived of perpetual exuberance right now =)) 
           

Just some greens...

earth & style
 ©darrengarcia

            An AWESOME place  created by an AWESOME     architect...

                    earth maker/ architect/ developer / builder = GOD

UPLB life anticipated

UPLB oblation with sablay (sash)
 ©darrengarcia

             
                    Less than 2 months to go before I embark on one of my life's most challenging journey. From high school to college, from being dependent to independent, and from having lots of friends to making new ones again...


         I was really flabbergasted when I found my name on the UPCAT passers list. Despite my all my excitement, deep inside me was a feeling of fear. I had the fear of venturing into something really different. Since I only got a slot in UPLB, I wasn't sure whether my parents would send me to UP or UST. 


        After my graduation, it's now 99.9% sure that i'm gonna be spending college in UPLB. At first I was held back with the feeling of doubt and fear, but as I pondered, I have realized that God has a great plan for me that's why He has placed me in this premier and highly-sought university.