8.26.2012

SURVIVOR

Just a quick (super hyper) post: OH MY GOODNESS I FREAKING SURVIVED MY MATH MIDTERMS!!!! I can now rest peacefully and enjoy my semi-long weekend. :)

At least before I have to start studying for my Environmental Science long test and Literature midterms again. Ohwell....

8.21.2012

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major

Just taking a little breather from my research proposal, which is due tomorrow, but I'm only halfway done with. Well, three-fourths, maybe. But then again, I left the bloodiest parts out for last, so that I could do them in the quieter hours of the night. Strangely enough, I am trying to listen actually listening to classical, Mozart-y music, desperately trying to get my IQ level to go up even just a little. Just enough for me to survive this research paper, the Math long test on Thursday, and the Math midterms on Friday. Which isn't asking much, really.

Well, there's nothing I can really talk about right now that won't sound like I'm spilling s*&% out of my brain... so instead, here's a little inspirational thing I stumbled upon. It was written by my fourth year math teacher specifically for us, her little math nerd of a class. It's nostalgia and inspiration at its best:

My Dearest Math Geniuses, 
If there is one thought I had at the end of our regular meetings (I know I wasn't there, forgive me --- for the nth time), it was, time does fly whenever one is having fun. At the beginning of the year, I did not expect I would be thinking something along those lines. After all, I have always claimed that H4 Math would not be easy, but you would learn. 
The goal has always been to impart something to all of you. So it was a very pleasant surprise to find myself looking forward to our meetings. I mean, I look forward to each meeting because it's a chance to share wonderful math concepts, but because each of you contributed so much into making sure that you learned something everyday, and each of you went out of your way to produce interesting solutions and generalizations.  
Add to that your infinite patience in enduring my math nerd tendencies and "interesting" examples (not to mention quizzes), and I was truly enamored by your class.
Galileo Galilei once said, "The universe cannot be read until we have learnt the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written. It is written in mathematical language, and the letters are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without which means it is humanly impossible to comprehend a single word. With them, one is wandering about in a dark labyrinth." 
When Galileo wrote these words ages ago, they were particularly about geometry, but I think that he was able to touch what mathematics is all about. Mathematics is a tool used to solve problems. Sometimes the problems are direct, like the ones we've discussed in class about functions, or volume problems, et cetera. Sometimes, however, it is the skills or practices we have learned in mathematics that helps us solve problems --- thinking logically, exhausting all means to solve something, spotting errors and the like.  
I might have always been going about telling you how wonderful math is, and how interesting the patterns we see in mathematics are, but at the end of the school year, it is my fervent hope that I have, at the very least, imparted ways in which you can be better thinkers and problem solvers.  
Our world needs people who go out there and try to solve problems; it is my firm belief that no matter where your passion lies, you can be good thinkers and great problem solvers.
You all are talented, that much I am sure of. Your path may not be leaning towards the wonderful world of mathematics (hahaha!), but I know that you each have the capability to go out there and contribute in solving our world's problems. That may not happen in the near future, but it is my belief that you will each change the world for the better.  
Know that each one of you is in my prayers. I wish you all joy wherever life leads you, perseverance for whatever challenges you might face, and the courage to excel in whatever mathematics course you may encounter in college. ;) Never forget that your brains are the best things you can offer to the world, and that it would be a wonderful thing to share what you have (intellectually or otherwise) to those around you.  
I shall miss you all, and I shall always remain your nerdy math teacher.

8.13.2012

Indulgence ♥

I miss these guys so much! :) Don't judge, but I absolutely love Nick Jonas ohmygoodness. ♥♥♥ (I literally can't stop smiling/spazzing right now eeeeeeeee) Allow me to indulge in a little nostalgia and fangirling for just a moment, please

So here are my favorite, never-gets-old Jonas Brothers tracks: Fly With Me and When You Look Me in the Eyes. Enjoy!



8.08.2012

Rainy Day Playlist

I can't let this day pass without sharing my love for alternative, "chill", bed weather songs. I don't really have a word to describe my kind of music, so it'd be best if you just listen and get swept away by the amazing melodies and lyrics. Perfect sound for this weather. :)

   1. The Paper Kites - Featherstone

2. The Paper Kites - Bloom

3. Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson - Winter Song

4. Daughter - Youth




rain, rain go awayyy...

I wish it were that easy - that I only needed to sing a simple, kiddy song - to make the rains stop. Normally, I would be jumping up and down at the first few signs of strong rains because for me (and I suppose I speak for the rest of my fellow students as well), this meant the suspension of classes. Now that I'm in college, classes don't get suspended unless the storm signal is at 3, thus the common logic: the stronger the rains and winds, the better.

But it's a whole different story right now. It's been raining really hard for around 4 straight days; so many places are flooded, leaving families stranded on their roofs or in evacuation centers, and they don't look like they're about to subside anytime soon; people are stuck indoors, and although some are safe from the floods, they're running low on food. All these because of monsoon rains. No storm whatsoever, just freaking monsoon rains. :(

So I thought I'd spread some important information as my way of helping out, since I can't go out and help with relief operations currently ongoing in my university.

Emergency Numbers:


Philippine Red Cross hotline - 143, (02)911-1876; HQ - 527-0856

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) - (02) 911-1406/ 912-2665/ 9125668

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) - (02) 911-1406/ 911-1873/ 911-1906



Meralco - 16211/ 16220/ 09175592824/ 09209292824
Manila Water - 1627
Maynilad - 1626

For rubber boat/4x4 truck requests - National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) - (02) 8383203/8383354
For rescue dump trucks, text - 09174226800/09276751981
Philippine National Police (PNP) Hotline Patrol - 117 or send TXT PNP to 2920
Bureau of Fire Protection (NCR) - (02) 729-5166, 410-6254, 431-8859, 407-1230
Philippine Coast Guard - (02) 527-3877, (02) 527-8481, 0917-724-3682, 0917-PCG-DOTC

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) - 136
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) hotline - 7890 or 0918-8848484
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - (02) 304-3713

North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) hotlines - (02) 3-5000 and (02) 580-8910
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) hotlines - 0920-96-SCTEX (72839)
Skyway System Hotline - (02) 776-7777, 0915-6256231, 0939-5006910
South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) hotline - 0908-8807539

Quezon City Rescue - (02) 927-5914
Quezon City General Hospital - (02) 920-5002
Marikina Rescue - (02) 646-2436
Pasig Rescue - (02) 631-0099
Taguig Emergency Hotline - 1623
Manila Traffic Hotline – (02) 527-3087
Cainta Traffic Hotline – (02) 646-0044, 655-7368 loc. 164
Las PiƱas Traffic – (02) 874-5756, 874-3957, 874-3927
Mandaluyong Hotline – 534-2993
Taguig Traffic – (02) 838-4301 loc. 7112
Marikina STOC – (02) 646-1651
Pasig Traffic – (02) 643-0000, 724-5813
Makati Public Safety Dept – (02) 844-3146, 819-3270

Ateneo DReaM Team Operations are at the Loyola Schools Covered Courts. Please DONATE!
Or check out: http://mylittleways.com/typhoons/info-relief-ops-how-to-help/ for more information on how to assist in relief operations nearest you.


Keep safe and dry, everyone. Pray for everyone affected by these rains. Stay strong, Philippines.






8.05.2012

Snow Patrol - New York


I'm stopping myself from saying so much sappy stuff about this song. So now all I can say is that I love how haunting this song is, and that the world needs more beautiful lyrics like these. I wish I could also say that I'm excited to see Snow Patrol perform live in Manila.

Oh, New York... :(