The Power of Colt 45

I do not know what actually happened to me. I know I have high alcohol tolerance. I am even a Red Horse drinker, man! But come on! Just two cans of Colt 45 tonight could shut me up!
Trivia… Alcohol has already got into me when I am already talking straight in English!!! Haha! Cool but true! Many SPECers can attest to this.
It was Pi Sigma Fraternity’s Open Tambayan tonight, and UP SPECA was invited to come over. Because of the exhaustion I put up with these past few days, I was unwilling to go at first. But my orgmates persuaded me to death so I ended up joining them.
I did not want to eat so I just decided to take a can of Colt 45. After finishing it up, a friend immediately offered me another one. Who was I to beg beer off? Just as when I knew that gulping the second one would not affect me at all, I began to feel a little lightheaded. Good thing I was not speaking in English then! I was still aware of what was happening so I just opted to be silent, so as not to be regarded as inebriated by people around me. Although I was still given another can to imbibe, I did not bother to open it up anymore for we would still go to Marge’s place for a performance rehearsal.
I am really puzzled why those two cans of Colt 45 impinged on me in such a way. It is perhaps because Colt 45 has high alcohol content…or maybe because a strained person who takes alcohol is bound to get drunk easily…

A Laudable Loss

It’s over…
I admit I had a spark of hope when Scintilla Juris did not immediately show up. My fingers were really crossed when the moderator started the countdown for SJ’s default. I felt really cold…excited…yet very nervous for they could come in Claro M. Recto Hall in any moment.
I was reviewing our arguments when I finally saw one of SJ’s debaters coming in. I then prepared myself for a certain defeat. We were primarily not ready. Who the hell would have the guts to go in a debate ill-equipped, knowing that the opponents were experts in argumentation?! Only us!!! Hahaha! Funny it may seem, but it took us a lot of courage to do so.
I was truly shaking but I tried my best not to show I was intimidated. My mind was really blank despite all the words that were coming out from my mouth when I was having my first speech. I was exceedingly panic-stricken for our opponents were law students. They must know the law, right? So I thought that no matter what we do in the debate, we would still be doomed to failure.
But my senses were struck when the second speaker of the affirmative side utilized argumentum ad hominem. Instead of negating my arguments, he gave focus on the way I attacked their points…he attacked my character! I know my face went pale for he undoubtedly harassed me. Duh! Never in my life did I appear pitiable in an assembly like that. So it somehow boosted my arrogance to emulate what he did. The fright in me suddenly faded away. That gave way for me to grill him in the interpellation. Though it was quite apparent that he was avoiding my questions, I am sure I still made him concede to what I was saying. Hehehe! It was my first time to cross examine someone and to deliver a rebuttal speech without having even just an outline of what I would impart! I must be proud of that… I might look rude because of the way I spoke in all of my speeches, but no one could blame me. My ‘very respectable opponent’ initiated it. Anyway, it was just a debate…a competition… They ought to understand it.
I honestly felt relieved when the last speech was delivered. SJ crossed the house and shook our hands. With all the stress I was experiencing these past few days, I can say that the smile I exhibited was genuine.
While waiting for the results, which by the way I sincerely did not anticipate to favor us anymore, I joined my ever supportive orgmates who were watching behind us. I did not intend to look weak for we incontestably did great in the competition, knowing that we were not geared up and that our opponents have long been skilled in debating. But when some SPECers huddled to cheer us up and when Lea patted my shoulder, I unexpectedly shed tears. It was perhaps just a way to release all the pressure, and to reciprocate the warmth I feel in UP SPECA.
When SJ was already announced as the winner, I believed that we were NOT losers. Not only we were sheltered by those people who never doubt our abilities, but we have also proven that we were not abysmal debaters for the judges, themselves, announced that it was a very close fight.
We might have lost the chance to advance to the finals and be the champions of the Pi Sigma Fraternity Open Debate Tournament 2006, but this will not dishearten us. It will rather be a challenge for us to further enhance our knacks. We will keep on shining!!!

being egotistical…

Darn! I was not able to follow my schedule!!!
After typing my journal account last Saturday, I sat on the sofa and turned on the television. This was just for me to take some time to relax a little bit and to take pleasure in a moment despite all the hassles that are coming my way. But this leisure sanctioned me to nod off until 3am yesterday. OMG! I had no choice but to take a shower just to wake my wits up. After regaining my attentiveness, I finally sat in front of the laptop and tried to accomplish the first two chapters of my thesis. I temporarily cooled it by 7am just to have my breakfast, but I immediately came back and focused on my study.
Truly, when someone is under time-pressure, he/she is compelled to concentrate in spite of all the distractions. I even took no notice of hunger. The only thing that cut me short to be in the thesis mode that time was the message alert tones of my phones. Since I departed from my timetable, I was forced to move the debate preparations. I and Jen decided to do it as an overnight activity. Amy could not make for she has other appointments. But we were still fluky enough to have Lea and Jay spent the whole Sunday night just to help us build our arguments.
I was not yet done when the clock stroke 5pm yesterday. I had to shift to the debate mode then so I had to at least finalize my first two chapters. Though my thesis requirement for Thursday was not thoroughly furnished, I was still happy that it would just demand me a little more editing.
Even if I am deprived from sleep and would still need to get familiar with my speech and cases, I will cheerfully go to Claro M. Recto Hall few minutes after this to represent the University of the Philippines Speech Communication Association. Our team is not hoping to win this match anymore, but our presence as UP SPECA debaters, being cheered on by our orgmates, would make us more than victors.

Self-declared Superwoman

CALSC went to Antipolo last night for an essential overnight activity. No room for sleepy heads, dude! So I needed to brace myself for it was an agony!!! Hehe! My eye bags can speak for themselves! We finished this activity by 6 this morning. After about 30 minutes of power nap, I fixed myself and immediately flew to UP. Though I felt dizzy and weak because of lack of sleep, I forced myself to take pleasure in visiting different libraries in UP. Well, I was not being a genius or a grade conscious student. I just had to finalize my thesis topic and few of its components through RRL (Review of Related Literature). Seemingly, I went to UP to attend to my thesis’ needs. But while reading books and journals, Amy and I were exchanging SMS’s. We were discussing the plan on Monday. Amy already knew that I would need to focus on my acads so I requested her to ask our alternates if they can debate on Monday. I also texted UP SPECA’s chair (Lea) and vice chair (Marge), informing them that most probably, we will just default the debate for I am becoming overly fatigued because of all the activities I am attending to. When I was already accepting the fact that I absolutely cannot compete for SPECA on Monday, Amy texted me that no one among the alternates will be willing to replace me in the team. When I asked Amy if she’s still eager to participate, without any uncertainties, she replied ‘YES’. The moment I comprehended on Amy’s message, I said to myself, “If Amy’s on-the-go, who am I to turn UP SPECA down? I was fighting when I started this. Hence, I will end this…still fighting.” Amy and I decided that we will exhaust our means so as not to look pathetic on Monday. Although I am still hoping to win, Amy and I already accepted the fact that our opponents will defeat us, knowing that we haven’t prepared anything yet. So when I was absorbing the idea that Amy and I will debate on Monday despite all the tasks that are waiting for us, Lea texted me saying that she and the whole org would understand if we fail to show up in the next match. Upon receiving her SMS, I informed her about our resolution. Being the emotional person that I really am, tears fell down on my face when Lea responded. Her message was really touching… Take note!!! I was in the library! I felt that everybody was looking at me. Hehehe! With the bushed appearance I had, with all the photocopies of readings and the books I was carrying, with the aura I projected, and with my teary and swollen eyes as accents, people there would definitely think I was out of my mind. Anyway, I’m planning to concentrate on my thesis tonight…this whole night. And tomorrow is reserved for the debate’s preparation.

Matter of Choice

Enough of debate!!! How can I continue doing what I want, if I won’t be able to accomplish what I’m compelled to get done?!?! Just on time, I want to graduate with flying colors. With this goal, I must give premium to education. Given that I have this objective, how can I join the semifinals on Monday knowing that I haven’t typed at least a single word for my thesis…knowing that I will be having another midterm exam on Tuesday in one subject…knowing that I will be carrying out a report also on Tuesday in another subject…knowing that we have an overnight activity in CALSC tonight…knowing that I really am stressed out and will obviously be needing time to relax and rest?!?!?! How?! Damn!!! I’m really feeling worthless right now. I hope I can divide myself to pull all of these off… But it would be impossible…so better choose. That’s why I’m giving debate up!!! Anyway, our group has alternates. They can place someone on my behalf. I know they can…they are very eager to… Arggghhhhhh!!! I wish that fulfilling everything is as easy as typing it here.

Thursday Funk

Yehey! We are moving on to the semi finals of the open debate tournament. I was really overwhelmed so when Lea invited me to go to Seattle’s Best Katips, I immediately said ‘yes’! After so much hard work, it’s just but fair to treat myself with Brownie Java Kúla while chatting with Intet, Eraine, and Lea. By the way, we just established a new subgroup in UP SPECA. The four of us comprise the ‘Thursday Group’. Yeah, I know! Like…whatta name?!?! Well, many ‘good’ things happened today. And apparently, today is Thursday. So, for us to easily hark back to these fantastic happenings in our lives, we tagged ourselves such… After quite a number of disclosures in our SeaBest experience, we promised each other that we will carry out such a regular (well…as MUCH as POSSIBLE) gathering to enliven our bonding and for us to share more pleasurable gossips. Good for me ‘coz I’m getting addicted to SeaBest coffee…Herherherher!!! But I will always love the Strawberries & Cream Frappuccino of Starbucks.

Drained Brain

I didn’t sleep again… Yeah! I will be having my midterm examination later. Worse…I will take the test earlier than our schedule! I actually requested my professor to allow me to take an early test because the period allocated for the midterm exam is in conflict with the schedule of the debate later! This subject’s readings are deadly! I badly desired to give up…to enjoy the luxury of relaxation…of sleep. But luckily, I managed to stay awake. But I’m just not sure if I will able to make my brain function well for the rest of the day. I’m now suffering the muddling of thoughts. If only I could wash out the ideas not related to my subject’s lessons while taking the exam, I would die to do so… Huhuhu! Well, I will just look at the brighter side… *change mood* At last, I will be having an experience in formal debate! I’m so excited yet very nervous… What if I mess up? What if I won’t have questions for the interpellation? What if I will answer our opponents’ questions in such a way that I will just favor their side? What if…we lose… Hahaha! But to be fair, I am certain that we have prepared enough to win the debate later. Good luck to us!!!