Account.

This little story happened this Tuesday, April 26, 2005.

I went upstairs to the Speech Department after STS class at around 3:00 or 4:00pm to catch Ma'am Edna. I had wanted to ask her (1)if she had read my Submitted copy of my thesis proposal, and/or my play, and if she had, (2)what she had to say about it/them. I found her behind the enclosed Kitchenette area, and I went to consult with her after she had finished her business with Marte Nerona, another Theater Major. I first asked her if she had read my thesis proposal. After all, I was able to submitted it by Friday of last week, before the recommended 2:00 cut-off time, as my co-researchers ha told me. She said no.

I then asked if she, by some chance during the time she was away, had already read my submitted play. This play has been the last of six ideas, five of which went down the drain during Playwriting class. I gave in a full copy and slipped it into her pigeon-hole about a month ago, before the second semester properly ended. And again, she said no.

I then asked her when might I or we as her Playwriting class might know what she had to say about our final pieces of work. She said sometime around June. That, or middle of July. Thinking about it, I think she also said we might start rehearsing middle of July or something like it. Which time went with what event, those were unclear.

And to think I had hoped I could graduate by middle of the incoming first semester. It's just rather disheartening you try to get yourself started and roll your sleeves up for work, and something like this happens. On another hand, James did tell me I could use the time to take care of my other subjects that need my attention. Like my thesis. Wise thing to do.


Take it in stride. This too shall pass.

After the Colloqium.

Hello everyone. I've survived.

Yes, with merely three hours of sleep, a very upset tummy, buckets of sweat, nearly sleepwalking from the MRT Ortigas Terminal to Robiinson's Galleria, nearly getting run over by buses, nearly running into pedicabs and Ford Expeditions, I survived.

Oh, and I survived tripping on our front door.

But accident-proneness aside, the Colloqium went rather well, if I may say so. I had invited over two good friends from Grail as audience, Ruzella and Zenna. Speaking of audience, it was actually less intimidating than what I had first imagined. I was shivering at the very idea of around 30 people gathering to scrutinize our studies; the total head count n the room amounted to twelve, including reactors and presenters.

Joseph Cabrera was to go first, I second, and Raquel Regalado third, as she had to hurry from class. When my turn came, I tried to keep calm, speak clearly, and tried to keep things light and conversational yet professional. I'm glad it paid off.

I was surprised our reactors recieved my thesis rather well. It was very uplifting to hear what Sir Apoloniio Chua had to say, kung baga, nakakataba ng puso. He said he was very excited to see a study such as this happening, and he said I was confident, or at least I looked confident venturing into such a topic. Ma'am Ami Bonifacio-Ramolete said likewise; the problems very interesting as it was challenging, and it was courageous of me to take that direction. Dr. Belen Calingacion, the head of our Department, said it was high time someone did a scholarly study on our DUP directors, and she was glad I was going there, or at least I was starting this kinf of possibility. In a way, as I see it, it would also be like opening up a new avenue for academic papers on Dulaang UP directors and their aesthetics.

True enough, no study will be without its weaknesses, and so our reactors helped me by pointing out the parts where I could improve on, which ones ought to go where and which ones were not that necessary.

Now, I must decide where I want my thesis to go: either I choose to talk about the man himslef, or I choose to talk about his aesthetics. If I do choose to talk about his art(as Sir Apolonio has keenly observed my study was primarily heading into), I must have seen most of Sir Tony's productions as the plays, not just as recorded videos; if I were to rely solely on recorede material, it would not suffice to serve as material strong enough to support my paper. After all, videos are just secondary resources. On the other hand, should I choose to study the man himself, it might prove to be strong enough, as I can interview Sir Tony himself, as well as the people he has worked with in previous recent productions.

I find myself as thus: I wish I could say watching the videos may be enough for me, but the only plays I've really seen of Sir Tony's were Othello in 1992 and a portion of The Iceman Cometh last year. Not a good way to go. But Ma'am Ami and Sir Apo have suggested me two other options. I could either do a study on Sir Ton'y relationship with the palywrights of his plays (like Sir Floy Quintos with ... And St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos), or his relationiship with his favorite actors(like my grandmother, Mrs. Sonia Valenciano.).

Hmm. Decisions, decisions.

Colloqium Day.

An hour from now, I am to present what work I have done on my thesis to a public academic body. I sit in one of the hole-in-the-wall internet-xerox shops in SC, my CD-burned powerpoint presentation, notes, and sanity tucked between my legs. The butterflies in my tummy haver not stopped drumming against its sides since this morning. I honestly do not know why.

Why am I so worked up? It's just a colloqium, after all. As my co-presenters say, it's basically just like presenting your thesis in class, only your audience is composed of a much bigger spectrum of the academe ( like Professors, doctors, MA students, and other students who are either about to do their thesis, are in the process of doing so, or who just happened to wander into the discussion room.)

In a nutshell, I'm particularly nervous over something I can't even put a finger on.

James is somewhere in the Library, perhaps, poring over more information he can use for his thesis, or somewhere outside having lunch. I'll be meeting him after the ordeal, so in a way, it's something good to look forward to, albeit something worth surviving.

Note to self: It's not. That. Bad.

We'll see.

Here we go, then.

Foibles.

Hello everyone.

It's been quite a while since I've been back here in the Library to do real, honest-to-goodness work. Man, it's good to be home.

As of late, I have happily closed mySpeech125 Incomplete, and recieved a a grade of 1.75 from Ma'am Calingacion. We are most grateful. ^_^

I am here in the Library for two reasons:

One: Sir Alex Cortez has sent me off to do a little job for him to help him a bit with his disseertation. Nopthing much, just a job of sniffing out certain articles and photocopying them. I've learned a few things of how the Periodicals Section works, like for how long a publication stays on the racks before it gets bound and sent to the archives to projected and turned into microfilm. Pretty handy information.

Two: I was supposed to finally get personal with the Theater Reviews I've accumulated over the past semester, and I found I couldn't press myself to go anyfurther. Call me silly, but I don't like making notes with a scraggly, faint ballpoint line. I prefer bold gel- or signpen-type ink when I do serious work. I don't know, I just feel sort of constricted or inhibited with the damn thing. Meh.

I know I can't be picky, but... well, to each his own. Right?

Closure of one.

Today, I have finally completed nmy Incomplete for Speech 125 (that's Traditional Philippine Oral Literature.) That means a compilation of 20 songs from the Kapampangan/ Cebuano/ Tagalog/ Pangasinese/ Gaddang/ Manobo with translations, and a term paper on the little-known novena antiphonal called the Tresahiyo. One down, Playwriting-Thesis Proposal-Thesis Proper to go.

One out of four isn't all that bad.

News: my Thesis/Playwriting Prof seems to still be out of town. This could mean two things: One, a delay with hearing what she has to say about my play, or Two, more time to digest my articles for the upcoming colloqium this next Wednesday. If I want to get productive, I'd best start thinking quick.

And another thing, the colloqium. They say it's basically something like presenting your thesis to the class on PowerPoint, only your audience has grown bigger. (try a presentation of the thesis to the public.) But, well, I don't know. I must admit I'm somewhat nervous of what could come out of this... Baka naman parang defense level na pala ito. My insides shudder to think what could happen.

So... best we prepare, ne?

The first.

Hello everyone.

I encode this first entry in the cool, glassed sanctum of the UP Main LIbrary's Computer Section. This my first academic blog entry. I bid thee welcome.

For now, the main reasons I can think of as to why you are here:

One: I have somewhere offered a link. by word of mouth or by cyberscript, to this place, and you accepted the invitation.
Two: you are my thesis advisor, and I have mustered up the courage to open up my progress to you, or
Three: for some unhallowed reason, you have gained access to my dashboard and may plot to either wreck havoc or restore order to this little attempted-scholarly space.

In the words of Neil Gaiman's Dream Lord: I offer you my hospitality and protection. Be you welcome in my house tonight.

Here, you may find contemplations, realizations, rants and raves, and the habitual progression of my thesis. I hacve taken upon myself to do a research written study on the directorial style of none other than Professor Emeritus Antonio Mabesa from 1975 to present, as partail fulfillment of the BA Program of Theater Arts. God-willing, I aim to finish this thesis and graduate no later than October. The earlier, the better, of course.

Here, yo may as well find musings on other subjects and their respective requirements that need finishing, doing over, and what have you. In a way, perhaps, this may be therapy I take upon myself. Incompletes and other college foibles are not to be ashamed of, long as you learn from them and do something about them quickly. Rehabilitation is ongoing.


I bid thee welcome.