Last February 14th, Aivy and I actually kicked back at my old house in San Jose. We did the couple love stuff; like ate lunch at a fastfood restraurant, played video games, and slept. Wasn't that the perfect Valentine's Day? Maybe, but I know this year we can do better than last year's. After being together for more than a year, love is stronger, so the things we do and the things we don't do always makes a difference. I want Aivy to be happy. I want her to know that I'm the right guy for her. Reading her entries, she plans this surprise day for us, but I'm still waiting to see if I can even get off work. We wanted to be tourists in San Francisco, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what my boss says.
Chapter Two: The Beginning
During Christmas break, I spent my five weeks in San Francisco. I believe I was addicted to AOL4.0 and the PinoyPinay Chatrooms in Japan. That was a weird time in my life because I felt I was never good enough to find a girl in person, so I used the internet as a safe haven for my ugliness. I'm so glad that phase wore out soon and without a trace of remembrance. Although, I do return myself to the chatrooms in later years, not because of lonlieness, but boredom. I think back and remember meeting some interesting people. I don't quite remember any importance from any of those friendships, so I'll move onto my second semester.
By the end of the first semester, I was seeing myself in the company of the Akbayan cabinet, as Fundraiser Chair. That whole semester, I was intimidated to come up with any ideas, and when I did, I was somewhat ridiculed. It wasn't bad that my ideas were shot, I just didn't know the whole ordeal with issues containing money, members, and other non-sequential items. After the semester was over, I was ready to take on a higher role in the cabinet. I ran for Secretary against Christine L. Did I win? No, I lost like a turtle. I felt my participation in Akbayan was better off as a member. After seeing myself as fundraiser and losing an election, I just wasn't cabinet material. This information is included in the third installment, so be patient.
Spring 1998 was a big year for me because I was meeting a lot of people from PCN, Pilipino Cultural Night, practices. A majority of the dancers were in the dance group Barangay, based in South San Francisco - within time, I will also be in it and still am, kind of. So, my first commitment in my very first pcn would have to be Right Stage Manager at Santa Clara Convention Center. I took initiative as much as I can. A few nights before the show, on June 8th, 1998, I planned out the stage props, concreted each stage direction, and pretty much did what Ulo does for the past how many shows. I wanted to make everything easier for people to move on stage and for the backstage crew to flow like water. And guess what, during that show, my right side was the best side. Another incident happened during the second act. We accidentally put out the wrong scene. Imagine this, putting out a church scene in place of a living room scene. During that time, we only had 30-45 seconds to change scenes. By the time I found out what scene we were about to jump into, we were at the 10 - 9 - 8 countdown going. Within the last five seconds, curtains opening, and with pitch black vision, we pulled it. Darlene and the stage left crew were laughing at us. I thought we were tight to be able to pull off such a stunt. I never really go to see that show on tape. I only got to see clips of the show, and it wasn't good enough. I only have footage of practices in the SU Amphitheater. That PCN was my least stressed because I didn't really have to do anything that I would be at fault for. The story involved domestic violence, we managed twenty dances, and we made profit. Promise Ring was the last possible show that we would see a majority of all the senior/alumni dancers. Oh well, we managed. R.I.P. PCN1999
By the end of that semester, I picked myself back up in Computer Science and met a lot of new people. That year, the profit made from the show was used on the Spring Banquet, in which awards were given and people dressed up and had fun. This isn't the best way to blow all the money that you made from a successful PCN. The event was held at David's, a prestigious restaurant and country club. I guess we deserved it.
Late June, I moved out of Valley West and entered east William order, e.W.o, the House of Corinth. I would have been better off taking the single room to myself, instead of rooming with my brother. Oh well. No worries.
note: your motivation builds within as your self-esteem linearly aligns itself with your motiv.