As I try to wrap up work for the year, once again, I find myself unable to focus on anything. And it’s troublesome, as I still have a some more important meetings to attend to, twp of which are coming up in a few hours as I write this. My Auntie Aida has just passed…
Florentino Librero (1934-2016)
As imposing a presence my dad can be at times, it may come as a surprise for some people that he actually did not have the last say in matters of the Librero clan. That honor belonged to his elder brother. But that has changed now. Florentino, Flor, Tino, my uncle, godfather, benefactor of my marriage and patriarch of…
Still weary, but with a bit more energy.
The past two weeks had been a relaxing and enlightening experience in so many ways. This was my first real vacation in a long time. I am grateful to my family, university, superiors and colleagues for allowing me to take time off at such a busy month. I am also thankful for the people over…
Maraming Salamat Po, Ma’am Gigi
Today was Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso’s last day as Chancellor of the UP Open University. It brings up a lot of memories and stirs a lot of strong emotions. It was around a year ago when I realized that I had only had a meaningful working relationship with one big boss my whole life. Of…
Visa Application: United Kingdom
As I write this, I still may or may not make this trip to London which I had been thinking about for the past month. But it didn’t stop me from applying for a visa despite the cost, anyway. Applying for a visa is always a stressful undertaking for me, as it may be for…
The five courses that impacted me the most
* This is a re-write of a past blog. Along with a few dozen others, I lost it when I screwed up my site’s database late last year. Honestly speaking, I am taken aback by the seeming obsession of some UPOU students with their grades. It would be ok, if this obsession went hand…
RIP: Jerico Tolentino
Last night, I received unexpected and unpleasant news which stirred a lot of memories and emotions. I was supposed to write about the UP Academic Leadership Conference that I just came home from. But this news prompted me to write something different, instead. October 2007 – I was probably within my first week on…
The (water) birthing of Aidan
It’s been a week since my son, Aidan, was born. And it has been great. Paternity leave rocks! I get to watch my son all the time in his first days of life outside the womb. Friends and family have been happy for us. Officemates are gladly covering for me while I’m away. Even some…
Visa Application: United States of America (2013)
I previously wrote about how I did not look forward to having my passport renewed. I did so, anyway, and much earlier than I expected. Here’s why. I got scheduled for a trip to the US, but it fell within six months before my passport’s expiration. I might not be allowed to travel when I…
A godsend of a repairman for photographers
Being into a number of hobbies can be a curse sometimes. For most people, myself included, the likelihood of doing extremely well in one of them can be quite low. But right now, the biggest problem entailing them is the amount of money one can spend because of these hobbies. It was particularly bad for…
Like day and night: passport renewal then and now
There are two renewals which I don’t look forward to. One is for my driver’s license, where I have to endure long slow-moving lines every three years. I hate falling in line. Who doesn’t, right? But what beat all the lines I queued up for in the four LTO offices I’ve had my license renewed…