old news

        Do you know how it feels when you're running a marathon, and you realize that you're almost at the finish line? Do you know what it's like to push yourself to run harder and faster - ignoring the frantic beating of your heart and the tiredness of your lungs - because you know that the end is only a few more breaths away?
        I've never run a marathon, so I wouldn't know! But right now, there are less than three weeks before the final exams. Figuratevely speaking, I can feel this run coming to a finish.
       Before the semester ends, I should probably post all the pictures of things I'd been meaning to blog about. I know I've hardly been blogging these past few months, and that I usually just post once every four weeks (a stark contrast to my 2010 record of about 20+ posts per month). To make up for that, here's everything you missed.

July

A mini-museum was put up in the Ateneo de Manila Grade School in honor of Rizal's 150th birthday.

 My friends and I only found out about it after we took an impromptu tour around the grade school, which I found to be unexpectedly huge. And full of nature. It's really very beautiful. Check out their sundial:

Jeth and Andy (pictured above) and Rap so kindly showed us around. I think the grade school is triple the size of Kong Hua. It's pretty freaking huge. And naturey. There was this long walkway lined with tall rocks that were covered in plants. I felt like I was in Where the Wild Things Are (WHICH IS TOTALLY NOT A KIDS MOVIE! :((((( ).

A week after those pictures were taken, crazy winds and rains came to visit Manila. This was the time when Ateneo college students were upset because the administration refused to suspend classes. Ateneo was even able to override orders to suspend classes by the Quezon City government. At one point, it took the powers of the Malacanang Palace to put a stop to the classes in AdMU. That was nuts. 

This wasn't the time of the infamous habagat yet. These were the days leading up to it. And because I had to go to school during the crazy weather , I was able to see this: 

It's the bridge leading to the Animal House. It snapped in half, probably because of the insane winds. 

August

Mico celebrated his birthday by throwing a Starbucks party!

I know it sounds weird, but it's a real thing. I know, I was as surprised as you are. 

I stuck that sticker on Rap's back without him noticing. This was back in August. I saw that it was still on him a few days ago.

SO BEAUTIFUL! My mom visited me and bought me this. OH MY GOODNESS!!!

 Then she wrote me this prescription:

 

"Take one donut daily for seven days to improve mood."

Around this time, Bel was looking to adopt a puppy. She and Pat invited me and Rap over to the PAWS PARC (Philippine Animal Rehabilitation Center). It was a ten-minute walk from school. We got to see all the different animals. The best part was that they let us play with the cats!

This cat was cozying up to a figurine of a cat cozying up to a figurine of a kitten.

Later that night, this happened! Rap's dad had been given some awesome seats at the Tears for Fears concert, and he didn't want to go. So he asked if Rap wanted the tickets. He and I weren't fans of the band, but why put two good tickets to waste?

It turned out to be a really great concert, even if I didn't know half the setlist. Check out Rap's post about it here.

The next week, in Computer Sciences class:

Micha multitasking.

A new exhibit at the Ateneo Art Gallery. Three separate videos being projected onto three screens. The leftmost one is of a Bisaya couple singing a Bisaya love song. It was really nice. 

Actually, I've got a lot more pictures to dump here, but I think this has been enough for one post. Now to wait two more months before posting them! :)) (kidding. hopefully.)