Life in UMak

     When I was still in my 10th grade in Benigno ‘Ninoy’ S. Aquino High School (BNAHS) and during the span of picking a school to go to for Senior High School, my mind was set to go to Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) because UMak doesn’t have the course Architecture. I know that it was still for SHS but I wanted to not have to move school if I take up Architecture, so I was really into PUP.

F5 RUN

Then my best friends chose UMak, they were the ones who pep talked me into choosing UMak for SHS, and there’s this particular best friend of mine who really encouraged me to pick UMak. She told me that make UMak as my training grounds; check it out, see if you’ll like it and train myself to move into a University that caters about 8000-10000 students – from SHS students to college students, and let myself adjust, so I did. I did chose UMak.

  At the first step I took upon entering the premises of the school, I was overwhelmed, since I wasn’t there for watching another play or whatsoever but I was there for education, for learning. I was stepping in to be another student of the school. I heard a couple of talks and rumors that professors in UMak wasn’t very keen on their attendance, that they don’t usually attend their classes, but I wasn’t there for that reason. Even though with those rumors, the professors they have are best at what they teach, that it was certain you’ll learn something and that was what I witnessed. I began to like UMak and I am certain that it’ll be soon to make me say I love it here.

     For my first year there as a grade 11, I experienced lots of things to add to my ‘achievements’, though not in terms of acquiring medals and such but for experiencing new things in the field of learning. The track I picked is Academic then the strand is STEM, even though I chose that, I was still scared of how it will play out since I am bad at math… but I want to prove myself towards that subject. I dreaded the subjects on that strand but when we began on exploring the subjects, I became less afraid to face them head-on. The teachers are really good in terms of teaching and personality. The time I spent learning in UMak was great, there are just no times that I will not laugh because they teach in a fun and engaging way to keep us on our toes and keep us listening. All-in-all, my life in UMak is looking great and refreshing.

About Me

Makati City

     First off, my name’s Alyssa Camille J. Jalmasco, supposedly, it should be ‘Louise’ but my aunt wanted to be that, so yeah. I’m 17 years old, old enough to know couple of things but not old enough to drink alcohol. I was born on September 5, 1999 in Sorsogon, Bicol but when my father relocated here in the city because of his job, my mother decided to just settle here in Makati, so for the past 17 years of my life, I grew up here.

     I am blessed to have Rodrigo F. Jalmasco as my papa, Elma J. Jalmasco as my mama and, lastly, Justine Rod J. Jalmasco as my annoying but lovable little brother – there are no words to describe how much I want to punch my little brother sometimes, I love, and at the same time, hate him.

The Jalmasco Family

     I can say I’m a shy person and anti-social. I’ll be social when needed to be but there is just no other way to suppress the timidness in me towards people, but when you get to know me better, you’ll witness how outgoing I am – I’m just afraid to show it because they might not be able to handle me. Since I was around 6/7, I got interested on watching cartoon then anime, then I discovered manga (Japanese comic book) when I was 11 and because of my love and interest in anime, I began to draw.

Drawing became my little escapade whenever I feel bored and down thus what I drew reflected what I was feeling at the moment. From that sort of hobby that I picked up, in Grade 7, I decided to become an Architect. I learned that my father also took Architecture but didn’t get to finish it and shift to become a Seaman but still didn’t because, at that time, my mother was already carrying me in her womb, so papa settled to become a security guard. When mama mentioned that to me, I suddenly got this resolve that I will finish what my papa didn’t.

Let me also add a few things that is about me, of course! I like to browse creepy pictures over the internet. It just became a thing for me. Add it with creepypastas, you know; Ticci Toby, Eyeless Jack, and others.

With the book and movie Percy Jackson, at first, I like Percy's character so much but then, Nico di Angelo came along, and then, boom! I was thoroughly captivated by him. He didn't even put much effort into making me lean on his character more, I swear. He just walked in and, voila! I absolutely love that little munchkin. Let me not also forget that I ship him so hard with Will Solace... Dang it. I need to protect him!

I also took a great liking to 'Pewdiepie' - a youtuber who I think is a man-child but nevertheless, who I love. He's just so funny. 😂 I think he's not even breaking a sweat in making me laugh so damn hard. Gosh. And there is also 'Cry', good Lord, his voice... I don't even know, and not just his voice, his gaming skills too. I got none of those. 😂😁

And, I think, that pretty much cover things about me.

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Disclaimer: Pictures are not mine, except for my picture and my family's picture. 😀

Let's Talk About: Pinoy's New Year's Superstitions/Traditions

FOOD RELATED

     Media Noche (Spanish for “midnight”) or Bisperas ng Bagong Taon (“New Year’s Eve” in Tagalog) is a festive time here in the Philippines. There are a lot of traditions that Filipinos follow in the belief of ushering in a prosperous New Year. Many of these customs you may recognize as bearing Chinese influence.

     Part of the fun in getting ready for New Year’s Eve is to come up with 12 round fruits, each to signify a month of the year. Ideally, there should be twelve different fruits — grapes, oranges, clementines, cantaloupe, pomelo, watermelon… It’s a tough challenge, so half the fruits likely end up being non-circular like mangoes and apples. The fruit that Filipinos most associate with the celebration of the new year and will rarely be without is imported ubas, purple grapes that are very round. 

     Filipinos usually don’t eat fish and chicken dishes during New Year’s Eve, as they symbolize scarcity of food.

BE NOISY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

     Filipinos go all out with the noise on New Year’s eve. Filipino paputok (firecrackers) come in so many shapes and go by very interesting names — Sinturon ni Hudas (Judas' Belt - a string of firecrackers), Super Lolo (“grandfather”), Kwitis (from the Spanish word 'cohetes' meaning 'rocket'), Bawang (“garlic”), Baby Rocket, Watusi, Pla Pla, Airwolf… Some firecrackers are already banned since they are very dangerous for children, not only for children but also for the adults. It's because some of their fingers are being blown-up and other accidents too!

     Children love scratching the dancing firecracker watusi against concrete sidewalks and cemented surfaces, although the government has been warning against it because of chemical poisoning.

     Pots and pans are clanged to scare away evil spirits. A few men shoot guns in the air if they think they can get away with it. Cars and trucks are vroomed and horns are tooted to cause as much noise as possible. Empty cans are dragged all around, whistles are blown.

     So by the end of New Year, lots of 'ligaw na bala' (stray bullets) shot a person will be all over the news, even the accidents due to firecrackers!

OTHER FILIPINO TRADITIONS ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

• Open all doors, cabinets, windows and drawers to let good fortune in.
• Filipinos try to dress in polka-dots because the roundness signifies prosperity.
• Pockets are filled with round coins, which are jangled to attract wealth. We scatter coins as well around the house.
• At the exact moment of midnight, Filipino children jump as high as they can because they believe this will make them taller. (Which I do all the time)
• Whatever condition your wallet is in when the New Year arrives, so it will be the rest of the year. Make sure to put in the money your received on Christmas.
• Filipinos spend the last days of the year vigorously cleaning everything, especially of dust. However, on the first day of the new year, you are not supposed to do any cleaning. No cleaning on New Year’s Day itself!
• And don’t start the year off by spending money. Frugality on the first day sets the tone for wise money management in the coming year.

     We also have these (from left to right - rice- water - salt). My mother said it is for the continuous grace of blessings in terms of primary needs. We also have eggs in a bowl, which is still unknown to me of what it is for.

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Disclaimer: Most information are gathered from the internet. 😁

Let's Talk About: The Perks of Christmas

     Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that is celebrated all around the world, therefore, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Eventhough, Christmas is a holiday in many countries, it is not to all.

    We are accustomed to include exchanging of gifts, decorating Christmas trees, caroling with friends or family, sharing meals with the family, attending church and, in other countries, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive through their chimneys.

     Christmas songs started to play immediately after 'All Saints' Day' (Nov. 1) and 'All Souls' Day' (Nov. 2), apparently, it shows to say how much we are excited for this particular holiday that every once in a year happens. I mean, why not?

     You get new clothes because of Christmas Parties, the foods (Ugh!) and let us not forget that you get presents - which are gonna be either a 'thing' you gonna like/love or money from your parents, friends, godmothers and godfathers, Oh, the joy of presents (and money, of course)!

     So by the end of Christmas, you are practically 'rich', hah! Though, you being 'rich' is gonna be short-live because you're parents will tell you to keep those money as your 'baon' (lunch money or so) at school. So much for buying what you have in mind... *sighs*

     Enough about that! Let's go onto the topic of foods, those delicacies you'll be eating for about a couple of days is absolute heaven!

     We might be on diet but when this time comes and your table is full of mouth-watering foods, you won't hesitate to dig in. I might as well share this little funny scene every time when it is time to eat. Well, we, my family, would grace food or pray first before eating so when their eyes are close, I would sneak a hand to quickly grab a food and shove it into my mouth. When they knew what I was doing, I began to openly eat. They don't mind since they long gave up on scolding me for it. Besides, I am absolutely not the only one doing this kind of sneaky thing *wink wink*. Of course, I do pray once finish to give my gratitude.

     There is also this thing that neighbors always do on Christmas Eve. Basically, we live in a compound which all residents are our landlady's daughters' and sons' family and there are only two of us residents who are aliens, haha! We share what we have and prepared.

     Here, in Philippines, we don't have winter, but around December, the temperature are cooler until February thus our (or just mine) sleep is good around dawn - its colder, that's why it's getting hard to wake up (for me, I guess). So, yeah, colder temperature is one of the perks of Christmas here as well.

     So, that's all I can think of.

Pinoy Christmas ft. New Year

     Apparently, after Christmas comes New Year, so we will also gonna cover New Year here in Pinoy Christmas.

     Here's Pinoy Christmas ft. New Year!