2013 Wrap Up

Sunday, December 29, 2013

2013 was a great year. A lot of things happened, some changed for the better, some, not so much. I got close to many new people but I also 'lost' some friends. Not really lost but I just don't talk to them as often.
I love new years. They symbolize a new beginning. It always brings me hope that no matter how sad or great the past year was, it will only get better.

Before we welcome 2014, I would like to take this chance to celebrate 2013, the year that it was, by recounting all the major happenings during my past 12 months. So here's my 2013, in a nutshell.

January
My year started well. It was celebrated with family, as usual. This year was more fun than ever since the kids(me, my sister, my two cousins and my sister's boyfriend) were in-charge of the cooking. We decided what food to prepare.

February
I turned 19 on the first day of February. I celebrated it with my friends since it was a school night. 

This Valentines' Day was the most fun one yet. I didn't have a date or anything but me and my friend just bought all of these balloons for ourselves. Haha. Imagine the faces of people walking by us, thinking that we've got all these stuff from admirers. The College of Engineering and Technology won 1st place for the University Week 2013. During February also, we did a whole lot of field surveying, civil engineering stuff. I would always have a gear on(hoodie and a cap), so I don't get burnt by the sun.
Then it was my favorite nephew's first ever birthday. Happy Birthday Coby! We held a party, of course. 
I was awarded a medal during my school's annual 'Parangalan'. It was for being the Top 3 student for the College of Engineering and Technology. My whole family stood in support. :)
March

It was time the end of the school year. We said goodbye to teachers who were just teaching part-time, like our Mechanical Engineering teacher(see above). It was also however, the start of summer vacation, so parties and traveling. 
April
We attended my sister's bestfriend's wedding. Haha. Coby and I kept our outfits close to the motif which was turquoise. I always try my best to respect motifs. 
A few friends and I visited my bestfriend in Davao during her birthday. Don't I just have the most pretty friends? 
May
I can't believe this is my whole month of May. I just stay home during vacation. I kind of hibernate, I guess. I worked for a local shop as an usher when they opened up a branch. My sister was the marketing manager, she needed people, and her sister happens to be lying lazily at home. One of my friends also left to go to the Philippine National Police Academy. This was sad because it meant months of zero communication. 

June
Like every year, I became a TNT again. This meant that I was one of the people who welcomed freshmen to the university. The experience is always tiring but fun. The semester started a few days after the orientation. My schedule was not ideal. I had to go to school at exactly 7:30 am, everyday. Not to mention all my first period classes are on the top-most floor. It sucked.

 During the first meeting of our Materials Testing class, our teacher asked us to 'DEFINE ENGINEERING.' I, along with my 4 classmates, just sat there wide-eyed, not expecting the question yet not knowing the answer as well. Seriously, we didn't know what engineering was. I mean we do know, but we just can't put it into words. 

I attended a seminar for Civil Engineering Students. The speaker asked us a very important question: Why do you want to be a Civil Engineer? I didn't know what to answer. I initially didn't want to enroll in this course, but I did. So, I just quietly wrote 'because I CAN.' I'm not sure if it's an acceptable answer, but I think it is. 

June was quite a stressful month. We had to prepare for the Acquaintance Party, which I enjoy. 

July
It was a very successful Acquaintance Party. I haven't heard a bad feedback about it, until now. Well done. :) 

There was also this quiz bowl that I just got pulled to join. I have not prepared for it because I didn't intend to join. I was too afraid to because I already had this image that I was one of the smart people and if I joined and didn't even reach the top 10, shame! I even entered the room without a freaking calculator. Seriously, I was not ready. Everyone else had theirs. I was sad. But then again, the results came and I was on top of the list. I myself was shocked. I received P500.00 for this. HAHA. 
I also cut my hair. It was pretty long at this point.
August
Bonded with my friends. Since we had different courses, during the first semester we didn't have any more classes together. We didn't even have the same break periods. 
We went to Cebu for a random trip. I was so lucky I didn't get to miss classes because of back to back holidays. 
When I came back from Cebu, one of my friends was put through brain surgery. It was the hardest part of my 2013. He didn't wake up after the surgery. But we hoped. We visited him almost everyday after school and just stared at him through the glass of the ICU. I, however, would always cry. So I avoided visiting because I was in pain every time I left. Days after, the doctor said that he was now 'Brain Dead', which I knew basically means hopeless. But still, all my logic went away and prayed hard that he'd still wake up. He never did. I miss him. He was such a good guy. The nicest guy I've ever met. He's better off now. 
September
September was a good month. First, it was my mom's 50th birthday. So we had a party. Found my dress at an ukay-ukay shop. (HAHA) It was pretty cool, she danced with roses and had candles and everything. Just like a traditional Filipino debut. I joined Campus Patrol. We knew we were going to lose, so I ensured that I looked pretty. :P After the Intramurals, it was time for Civil Engineering Day. We met up with Civil Engineering students from other schools in the city. We were declared as the champions for the event although we were the most small in terms of number of students. 
October
It was the end of the semester again. It was such a stressful time. Hardest subjects we've ever had so far. We were glad it's over. I got picked again for being one of the students appearing on the university brochure. The above photo was the best I could do. It happened to be the time that I was struggling with my acne. Pimples just grew and grew. I didn't know what to do because I never had that problem before. :|
November
We went to Tagum this year for All Souls Day instead of our usual cemetery visits. It was an experience. When I got back home, school started. ERRR. My schedule and teachers are killing me. I can totally feel the pressure now. An addition would be my responsibilities as the Vice Chairperson of our College and as a blogger. I hardly have any time to finish all my requirements. So, I'm sorry if I've been quite inactive. There was also this project that we had to do. Everything was thrown to us during the first few weeks and it was just the first few weeks! What more would come when the semester settles in? I'll find out. 
This month was not only bad for me, it was bad for the country as well. Yolanda had to unleash its wrath and ended up killing around 5000 people. The silver lining though, we get to see the Filipinos unite. 
I attended a debut party of my friend and co-officer, Hannah. It was a fun night.

December
 We had this event every December that we call 'Pastoral Day'. It's when we feed scholars and give them gifts. This year we decided to just order from Jollibee, atleast we had a mascot. I mostly led since our president was away. Sooo stressful. Look at me in the photo. Haggard much? In the end though, it was truly fulfilling. I'm excited for next year.
Before we had our final exams, we opted to have a sort of 'mini christmas party'. For the five of us and our teacher. We had exchange gifts, I cooked spaghetti and then we ordered Jollibee meals for lunch. I received a Beatles Tshirt which I greatly appreciate. So now, moving on to the exams. One word: BOOOO! They were freaking hard. But I still don't know what the results are so let's wait until 2014 to find out.

Well, there you have it. I haven't realized this was turning out to be such a lengthy post. I don't mind if you don't really read through it, but I hope you do!

How about you? How did 2013 treat you? 

The Liebster Award

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Claudia from Miss Young Lady informed me that she nominated me for the Liebster Award. I was overwhelmed and grateful. But wait, what is the Liebster Award? I have just heard of it. Claudia also posted a short description of it on her post. I've learned that it is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers as a way of discovering new bloggers and welcoming them into the blogosphere. All you have to do is answer a few questions given by the person who has nominated you and then nominate others who would answer your own set of questions. Easy right? I don't know how it actually started but I think it's a really good idea. An easy way to promote other blogs and your own blog as well, so I'm happy that Claudia was nice enough to nominate me. :)

Here are her questions:


  • 10 facts about yourself and a picture
  1. 1.) I'm half Filipina and half German. But I was born and raised in the Philippines. 
  2. 2.) My hair is naturally curly. I love how I don't have to do anything to make it look made up. I never have to go through the process of curling my hair for parties. It does go frizzy though. Haha
  3. 3.) My eyelashes are real. Every new person I meet asks. 
  4. 4.) I am a 4th year Civil Engineering student. I like Math and Physics alot. 
  5. 5.) My favorite band is The Beatles. 
  6. 6.) I grew up wanting to become a film director.
  7. 7.) I'm interested in history. 
  8. 8.) The Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, The Godfather, Ocean's Eleven, Fight Club, Good Will Hunting and The Shawshank Redemption are some of my favorite movies. 
  9. 9,) I am an Aquarian, born on February 1, 1994.
  10. 10.) I am not musically talented but I love music. 


  • Can you forgive and forget? 
  • I believe that yes, you may forgive but I'm too sure about the forget part. 

  • Would you prefer to live an easy life or an interesting life? Why? 
  • I don't think there's such a thing as 'easy life'. We've all got our own problems. You may think that a certain person's life is boring but that's just because you don't full know them. We're all interesting in our own way. 

  • What styles define you? 
  • I'm quite girly yet quite not girly. Haha. I don't know what my style is actually. 

  • Talents? 
  • I write. No singing or dancing. 

  • Do you believe in love at first sight? 
  • Infatuation at first sight, yes. Love, no.

  • How will you recognize true love? 
  • You probably don't. I'm not one to have romantic ideals. 

  • A habit that you wish you didn't have 
  • I bite my nails. I don't like it but it helps calm me during exams and quizzes.

  • Write a letter to your reflection in the mirror 
  • Hey you, remember that whatever you put your mind into, you can achieve. 

  • Write a letter to your parents or boyfriend/girlfriend 
  • Dear parents, thank you so much for everything. I've grown to become a strong good girl and it's safe to say I wouldn't be this way if not for you. You have raised me well and I am greatly thankful. I promise to make all the trouble I've caused worth while. 

  • Why did you start blogging? 
  • I started blogging again because I was losing touch to my artistic and in-touch-with-my-feelings side. I got so swallowed up with the logical side that engineering brought upon me that I forgot my love for writing. 

  • What is the first thing that capture your attention when you visit a blog? 
  • The name. I would immediately judge how witty and carefully thought of the name is. 

  • If you could write a book, what would it be about? 
  • I used to dream about writing a book based on Beatles songs. It would be composed of young men in a band, just like the Beatles. How creative, not. 

  • Your treasure items 
  • My Ipod. That's about it. 

  • Describe your bestfriend 
  • I don't believe I have a best friend. Best friends though. It would be unfair to describe just one. 

  • Sony or Samsung? 
  • Although my phone is a Samsung, I actually prefer Sony. :D 

  • What is your favourite quote and by whom? 
  • 'No one I think is in my tree.' -John Lennon, Strawberry Fields Forever. 

  • Home-cooked meal or to go out to a restaurant? 
  • Depends on who's cooking. Haha.

  • What is your great memory from your past? 
  • I had a very good childhood so I guess anything from that. 

  • Do you have a former favourite outfit that you're now embarrased of? What was it, and why does it make you just ask "why??"
  • Yes. I had this shirt that just made me look fatter than I am and then I decided to put an ugly belt over it. Since I thought it was fashionable, I wore it to a concert. So my picture with the band's lead vocalist is me looking ugly in that outfit.


Okay, so I'm done with Claudia's questions. Now, on to the questions people I nominate will have to answer. 
  1. What movie never fails to make you cry?
  1. What is/was your favorite subject in school?
  1. How did you meet your spouse / girlfriend / boyfriend?
  1. If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
  1. Who are some people you’d like to meet someday?
  1. Who in your life has influenced you the most? How did they do it?
  1. If you could try out any job for a day, what would you like to try?
  1. What’s the first thing you notice about people?
  1. What’s the biggest turnoff in a man/woman?
  1. How do you feel about public speaking?
  1. Would you ever sky dive or bungee jump?
  1. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
  1. Have you ever unplugged from the Internet for more than a week?
  1. What’s one mistake you keep repeating (and repeating)?
  1. Have you ever stolen anything?
Now, on to the people I get to tag.
 I can't wait to find out how you answer them. Please inform me too if you do. :) Remember, you have to tag and follow other people as well. Have a great day!

PS; I can't get back to your messages right now, I am somehow banned. I don't get it. I'll chat back when I am able to. 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Fun fact: I'm a huge Lord of the Rings fan. You can imagine how excited I was for the second installation of its prequel, The Hobbit. Especially since everyone's favorite Elf Prince is back in town to let the wind blow through his long gorgeous blonde hair. 

Although last year's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, was pretty much(for the lack of a better word) boring, The Desolation of Smaug is in a league of its own. It's waaaaay waaaay better. It is action-filled from start to finish. I don't believe there was any dull moment. I didn't even care that its title character, dragon Smaug, didn't appear up until the final 30 minutes or so of the film. In any other way of presentation, I would have been bored once again. But no. Peter Jackson did well on this. He kept it entertaining, somewhat deviating from

the actual literature but who cares? It's an adaptation. Keeping the original text would be basically copying and what might have worked on the novel may not work on a screen adaptation. 

So the movie brings us back to where we left off. Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) and the Dwarf King, Thorin (Richard Armitage), along with a group of dwarves are still on their quest to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor. Along the way they cross a forest, encounter huge spiders, taken captive by elves, escape orcs and cross through Lake-town. When they finally reach the mountain, they have to find the keyhole. But after opening the door, the sleeping dragon Smaug, awaits them. If he is awakened, he could destroy the entire Middle Earth through his fiery ways. 

I would be biased here since I admire Peter Jackson as a director. The film is very well done. The scne where the group floats down a river while escaping orcs and elves. That was crazy exciting. The added love triangle between pretty pretty elf prince Legolas(Orlando Bloom), she-elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) and incredibly handsome dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner) was also handled well and was a good addition to make the story more interesting. Evangeline Lilly was fun to watch, adding the needed feminine touch to the testosterone filled 2 hours and 40 minutes. 


2 hours and 40 minutes. Yes, the movie is that long. But somehow, when it ended, I didn't expect it to end. I wanted more. It did though. So there, 12 months of waiting is ahead for fans, yet again. 

Here's a picture of Orlando Bloom as Legolas, just because....

My Tagum Family Holiday Day One

Sunday, November 10, 2013

It kinda feels like forever since I updated. It's because I'm too lazy to blog about my recent vacation to Tagum City, Davao del Norte. We stayed at my aunt's farm, located 30 minutes away from the city proper. It was an interesting trip since we got away from technology. Seriously, no cellular signal, no wifi, no nothing. All we did was cook, eat, cook, and then eat again. Haha. I got fatter, I guess. I mean, who wouldn't? The first day, they slaughtered a goat, the second day, a whole cow, the third day, a pig and lastly, before we went home, a chicken. You understand right? :)

So here goes Day 1.

Day 1: November 1, 2013
It was going to be a 5hr drive, at most, so we left early to get there sometime around lunch. Halfway to Davao-Gensan, we had to stop at Mers' Kitchenette because my Aunt, who is fresh from Germany, wants to buy some of their delicacies. They are very well-known for their Bibingka. If ever you'll be travelling along Digos City, I recommend you check Mers' out. Especially if you'll be shopping for 'pasalubongs'. 

The Famous Mers Bibingka.

When we arrived, a meal was already prepared for us to devour. Everything was made of goat meat. I didn't eat a lot because I didn't like goat all too much. But needless to say, the food was amazing. My cousin, who owns a food house, took the lead in cooking. After eating, we strolled around the farm and came across a bridge. I had to accompany Jacob through it, not because he was afraid to cross it or something, but because I was the one who was afraid for him. He's a pretty tough little man.

Banana Tress ready to be harvested.
Me and Ayanna. 
They had tons of kids in there. My nieces and nephews. Although things got crazy, fights everywhere, shouting, running, all the things kids are notorious for, it was fun to see Jacob be a kid with other children. At home, he'll just be locked up at our room with his mom, not being allowed to go out. He doesn't even have playmates. He just uses his mom's tablet(yes, he already knows how to do basic stuff) or watched television the whole day.

During the evening, my cousins prepared a sort of Halloween Party for the kids. They even had costumes and everything. Something I never got to do as a child. It's sad, I know. They didn't inform us ahead of time about the costume party so we didn't bring anything for Jacob to wear. But what good aunt would let her nephew be left out? With liquid eyeliner and red lipstick, Jacob is good to go. 



We tried our best 'mumu' face. He wasn't cooperating. Haha

The kids with their costumes.
So that's day one. I also got back to school last Thursday. My schedule is college hell. This is going to be one heck of a semester.



Best Horror Movies to Watch this Halloween

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Halloween is just around the corner. What more can get you in the Halloween spirit than a good old horror movie?

Here are some of the scariest horror movies that I recommend you watch this All Hallow's Eve. (Some are not for the faint hearted)

The Exorcist (1973)
Plot(from IMDB): When a teenage girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.


Ringu(1998)
Plot (from IMDB): A mysterious video kills whoever views it, unless that viewer can solve its mystery.

Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)
Plot(from IMDB): A mysterious and vengeful spirit marks and pursues anybody who dares enter the house in which it resides.

[REC] (2007)
Plot(from IMDB): A television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.


The Conjuring(2013)
Plot(from IMDB): Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.


The Shining(1980)
Plot(from IMDB): A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.
Halloween(1978)
Plot(from IMDB): A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets.




Paranormal Activity(2007)

Plot(from IMDB): After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.
Psycho(1960)
Plot(from IMDB): A Phoenix secretary steals $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
 SAW(2004)
Plot(from IMDB): With a dead body lying between them, two men wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw". The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them. 

 Scream(1996)
Plot(from IMDB): A killer known as Ghostface begins killing off teenagers, and as the body count begins rising, one girl and her friends find themselves contemplating the "Rules" of horror films as they find themselves living in a real-life one.

 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(1974)
Plot(from IMDB): Five friends visiting their grandpa's old house are hunted down and terrorized by a chainsaw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals.


 The Omen(1976)
Plot(from IMDB): An American ambassador learns to his horror that his son is actually the literal Antichrist.


 The Cabin in the Woods(2012)
Plot(from IMDB): Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.



28 Days Later(2002)
Plot(from IMDB): Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.







So that's the round up of my favorite scary movies. I hope you find them helpful. Have you seen some. if not all, of these? What did you think? What are your favorite scary movies? Recommend your favorites as well. I'm also looking for great horror movies to get my scare on this Halloween season. Happy Halloween. :)



She's Back

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Good Day Everyone.

My name is Veronica and I would like to make a comeback in the blogosphere.

Some of you might remember me, or at least I hope you do. I started a blog before and then BOOM, I disappeared. Just like that. My once treasured blog, abandoned. I don't know what exactly occurred to push me towards inactivity. I guess, to make the story short, school just swallowed me whole. I avoided to think about my blog and how I just left it to rot.

A few months passed and my blog's platform already got contaminated with all these issues such as comments being deleted and it just got loads of spam. A sign that it was poorly maintained. It was disheartening. I didn't even visit it anymore. Well, because I was very disappointed in myself. Once again, I wasn't responsible enough to make things work. But right now, I'm optimistic about the future of this blog. I'll try my best to maintain this blog for as long as I can. I won't pull a disappearing act anymore, no matter how busy I am with my life. That's a promise and I'm going to keep it. What can I say, I really miss writing about what I think/feel and reading about other people's lives too. It's really fun and keeps my creative juices flowing.

By the way, this blog is entitled as Joy to the World! because it's nearly Christmas time and I'm a really happy person, NOT! It's just a take on my middle name, of which I'm not even a tiny bit proud of and that  my classmates make fun of me for. It's JOY, okay, and I'm speaking to the world, so Joy to the World, get it? I just realized how corny that is and my sense of humor probably wasn't present when I thought of that.

This was my previous home, if you were wondering http://thewalrus.cotton-candy.net/. :)
Veronica Decides to Blog