polsci_05

It's been 10 months since the last entry I made here. It's been a long tiring day for me. People who are close to me know how painful my experience has been. But well, it's about getting back on your feet and continue doing what you want. And I am really proud to say, I do belong to academia. I am equally happy to have been vindicated. In the grand scheme of things, I am happy.

This might be the last entry here as I move on with my life. New things coming up and more exciting events to look forward. Will be in Latin America next year. Rio, Sao Paolo, and Santiago will be my first three stops. Hopefully I'd be able to go to the Caribbean! crossing fingers.



alicante beach

After nine weeks, I almost forgot i have a LJ account. Luckily, I've been inspired to write (thanks Alvin for showing me the light at the end of the tunnel) on this blog. I intend not to please the sponsors who would probably give me money to go to a conference [maybe a debate tourney?] and end up not achieving anything except to travel. [But who knows, I have a conference in Korea this March anyone want to sponsor my plane fare?!]

Nine weeks ago, it may have been unimaginable where I'd be. Today, I'm a week close to receiving my Masters degree in Asian Studies at Lund University. So this is about me. Bear with me [to begin with you want to know me that's why you're reading my blog right?] Question and Answer portion.

Q: Why choose Sweden and why Asian Studies?
A: I like blondes and blue eyes. Sweden is the place to be. Asians are exotic in Europe. The North you go, the more interesting life becomes. I just want an excuse to see real blondes. Of course, the difference between me and you is that I'm able to afford to go here without asking a sponsor from the internet.

Asian Studies because... there are Swedes in Thailand. In fact, national statistics says that there are 10 million swedes who go to Thailand every year. Catch is, there are only 9 million Swedes in this world (Figure out the math). They know Asia. Why not study Asia from their viewpoint?

Q: What did you learn in Sweden?
A: Drinking, Clubbing, more drinking, more clubbing. Fridays and Saturdays are jump packed with activities. By the way, my parents still thought I don't drink. I gave my dad a Portuguese wine from the conference in Napoli. I wonder if he noticed the change.

Q: Anything else you learned?
A: Oh yes, Sweden is a socialist country pretending to be a social democratic country. The state schedules your doctor's appointment, fixes your teeth (oh this is done in Poland since dentist treatment in Sweden costs around 1200 USD per session), not to mention it is controlled by social democrats in the last 12 years. The cycle of electoral politics is pretty discernible: after 12 yrs people thought they'd have enough of SocDems they elect the right coalition. After a few months popularity ratings drop by 50% and they realise Sweden is better off being run by socialists and communists, so they elect them again after three years of right wing government.

Q: Any interesting insights on Swedes?
A: Pretty good looking people. And shy. And racist but just don't want to say it. They speak very very good English. They like using adjectives "nice" and "good". See in my sentence constructions and the way I speak.

Q: What will you do when you return to Manila?
A: I'm probably coming back this February. Drink vodka. it's only 700 pesos (100 SEK) for one litre. It costs 1701 pesos (243 SEK) in Sweden. Anyway, I'm pretending to look for work but really, I'm just waiting for my scholarship for PhD in UK.

Q: What do you miss about Manila?
A: Frankly? Not so much. Except hmmmm nothing much. I've had too much Filipinos around me in Sweden it's more of like studying in a colder place.

PS: If you want to know about the context of this entry, ask Alvin Camba or Gabby Valbuena.

Poor me, 6 % of the world. Good thing I'm doing my fieldwork in Latin America! Carribean islands, Rio de janeiro beaches, La Paz... here I come!!!

Let me make this short and sweet. UP deserves to win. We work hard and play hard. most importantly, we're more intelligent than most people in the debating community combined.

Congrats to your latest feat! Grattis!

Yes, I can finally claim I'm a jetsetter! It's been a wonderful two months for me. I went to Stockholm for the first time and I just fell in love with the place. I could see myself living in such clean and picturesque city! From there, I went to Bangkok and spent the night shopping in Patpong. From here, I paid 300 baht to go to the airport to fly to Kuala Lumpur, where I was based for two months. On the 11th of September, I flew to Italy and just fell in love with the country and the people! (yes, Nico was right :p) Naples was just fantastic.




I met good friends from, guess which country? SINGAPORE!!! They were the nicest people ever. If anyone wants to do their PhD in Sociology in NUS tell me and you'll get some backing hehe...
While there are many things that happened in between, the best is always the escape from reality to paradise. Two minutes after the Closing dinner, I caught the Birte walking home. She's a German girl who is working on HIV/AIDS in Germany. And in two minutes, we decided to go together to Capri. Her intention was to see the Blue Grotto. Mine was to just show off in the beach (And I was not disappointed!). Oh, and she's a professional photographer I'm just waiting for the pictures to be delivered in Sweden! haha.

It was a fabulous trip. I can get used to the life of a spoiled brat scholar traveling around the world presenting papers in conferences. Next stop, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Man, why are conferences held in beautiful places???

But I'm dropping off in Manila for two days. Anyone who wants to come to meet me is welcome! We'll have dinner at Little Asia located at Tomas Morato area on the 26th of September. See you soon!

If you think you are safe from detention despite an EU reszidence permit, you are definitely wrong! I've just crashed at Carlo's flat (thanks a million times!!!) in Singapore because my visa expires today and the university could not help me fix my visa anymore... With only two hours to plan everything, I luckily caught Carlo online and coerced him to accept me, put everything in order before I leave, and finally take a bus to Singapore.

Everything is ok thus far. Now I need to find a good excuse to go back to Malaysia... Such an adventurous summer I have had! very twisted life.

Hello everyone,

thanks for the greetings especially the emails. you have done what i could only wish for on my birthday. thanks for remembering me and this means so much to me coz I know somehow I've made an impact to your life for you to remember... Tack så mycket!!

Gratis på foldesedagen i mig...

May birthday wish na rin ako: sana matanggap ako sa Oxford. :p

Boy o boy tis the season to party! This week was Jazz Festival in Copenhagen. All kinds of jazz played by laid-back Europeans from 11 am til the sun rises! What more can you ask for?

I went there last Thursday night after sending Ne off back to Oslo. Evette, maybe you should have come like mid-July so you could have witnessed this! And this is what we do in Kopenhamn: DRINK WINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET!




The following day I was with Tito Tony and Mariana at Stortoget craving for fresh meat. hahaha... that's how they described our seemingly endless bar hopping in Lund...

But the best deal was last night! We went to La Haciendera, where good ol' young Danes are dancing like crazy til the morning comes. That was just the best. the only regret I had was that I was not too drunk to enjoy it. But hey, I was on stage for 30 minutes hahaha. I guess that basically makes my 7000 pesos worthit.

And why have I been doing all these???

I'M GOING TO KUALA LUMPUR! The Asian Political Science and International Studies Association have awarded me a research fellowship for my MA dissertation. This is a Phd and post-doc level research training given to selected 40 scholars all around the developing world (Africa, Latin America, and ASia) to write their research that is in line with the theme Democracy, Social Movements and Governance. This will eventually lead to a publication by the association.

So there, my academic career has finally set off. i also got a pseudo-acceptance from Sheffield and Newcastle in UK on my topic. The best is that I am sure I have a pretty good chance of securing a slot in the big schools due to this fellowship!

So there is reason to party other than looking for potential ----. hehehe




public performance in Stroget

My last song syndrome... watch the movie MUSIC and LYRICS! (highly recommended for people in love or want to be in love)

WAY BACK INTO LOVE

[Cora]
I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

[Alex]
I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need them again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

[Cora]
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's gotta be something for my soul somewhere

[Alex]
[Way Back into Love lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

[Cora]
There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

This time im not going to complain. I loved the weekend trip in oslo. it's just what i needed to think about what i want to do. I got back from my predispositions in life and am ready to work on my future again... will be in copenhagen in a few hours.

Vi ses Evette!

PS: Check my pics!