Annyeong-hi gaseyo

Today, I can say, is one of the saddest days so far since the start of this new year. Maybe it was the Math test this morning, or the boring Biology class. No. It was obviously more than that.

Today, I felt how to lose people I cared for and loved like family. My new friends left for Korea after their one-month vacation here.

When they arrived, I really didn't care much because, as many out there may know, I'm not very friendly. However, somehow, things changed. I came to like them, and even love them.

We did a lot of things while we were together, even things I never thought of doing! From playing football with varsity players at the Sunken Garden of UP (we lost 3-2) to roaming around Makati "Amazing Race"-style; they filled the child that is within me. I felt like a big brother to them (I'm older than any of them but one) And they treated me as one of them. We played cards, PS2 and a little PC games at night, not knowing I had an exam or report the next day. We went to a lot of places like The University of the Philippines - Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, Fort Santiago, Rizal Park (see picture) and Makati (Glorietta, Greenbelt and a lot more) just to name a few.

Now that they are gone, I realize the opportunity missed. It was only in the last few days that we really bonded. It never hit me that I would really miss them. Now I do...

Goodbye Kevin, Oliver, John, Eric, Tony, Lyn, Linda, Sue, Lucy and their Mr Paul.

Things to buy/get/receive this year

A new year means new hopes and new dreams, in addition to those from years past. This is my goal record, things to buy and stuff to get for this year, coming from all fronts and in order of priority...

1. get higher grades (at least higher than a 1.55 GWA) and of course pass
   
2. pass Math 53, 54 and 55 all within this year
3. Sony PSP and an iPod U2 Edition
4. get a broadband internet connection (almost there)
   
5. Finish all Metal Gear Solid games (MGS1 or MGS:TTW, MGS2:SOL, MGS3:SE and MG:Acid for PSP)
6. make new friends (i have made 8 new friends but gained 3 new nuisances)
7. build an AMD dual-core rig with SLI (from 2005-06)
   
8. get my little project going
9. learn XML, Apache and Professional PHP
10. look better (hehehe)

By the way, just to satify someone out there who begs to be mentioned on this blog, here goes (and in bold)

.::..:.:::Rhonda:::..:.::.
There, satisfied? It may not have any context or at least a story or some good reason, but at least you got what you've been nagging for.

Metal Gear Solid

There are things that I like. There are things I like a lot that it takes some time to fade. There are things I like so much; I think it will never wane.

An example of the first is food. I like to try out new foodstuff once in a while. After 10 dinners though, it seems like ordinary, no longer new. For the second, a good one would be "Slam Dunk" That is the Japanese anime about basketball. I was really hooked to it especially during the summer of two years past. In fact, up until now, I'm not sure it really belongs to the second rather than the third. The best example for the third is my love for technology and anything on the frontiers of science. My love for tech has been so pervasive that even though I'm no Computer Science Major, I think I have what it takes to talk technical with these guys anytime, sans some programming.

Right now, there is something that has been keeping my excitement in check. MGS. I liked the second incarnation and now, the third made it permanent. It has gained a special place in my heart like Final Fantasy X (my first RPG on PS2) and Gran Turismo. The Metal Gear Solid Trilogy has a story no other game can match, graphics and sound that is hard to beat and of course, gameplay that makes it immersive and even surreal. So, where does this stand in my simple groupings? I don’t know, yet.

What I'm about to say may make things a little more clear. I have not played the first in the trilogy. Because of that, I'm currently thinking/planning of getting a Nintendo Gamecube. Why? This year, or 2004 shall I say, Konami released a faithful remake of the original MGS in the form of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. In fact, it is said to be so faithful that even enemy placements and AI is preserved, together of course with the boss battles. All of these wrapped into a better looking MGS2 graphic details. Is this an obsession? NO. It's more than that...

the end

Like the looming closure of that certain show that seemingly everybody in the Philippines watches, I think something is also over in my life.

Yes, it is. I have lost the spark that was so warming. It is over.

Happy New Year

Yeah! 2005 starts NOW!