Category: Uncategorized

Perfected Imperfections (Imperfect Perfections)

“Let Your will be done, LORD, not mine.”

“I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER, SIR.” Yes, like Katniss Everdeen, I volunteered to be one of the speakers in debate, while my colleagues were trembling due to nervousness, for fear of being picked out of that draw. But the hope of finding myself in this debate was different from that of what I expected. Here’s the story:

I can’t believe I really stood up for the legalization of Same-Sex Marriage the whole duration of debate even if it’s contrary to my pages-long position paper that I have prepared for four weeks. When we tossed the coin, I was relieved because we got to chose our side but my disappointment arose when our Prime Minister affirmed the motion. 😦 (But you are a versatile debater, Danielle! I admire you for that!) The “fighter” in me became a silent sanctuary, yet, I have to fight, even if it’s contrary to law and morals.

The loopholes for Government side were really obvious and I supposed I perfected to establish the arguments on my position paper, which I wasn’t able to use tonight.

Oh, how unpredictable God’s plan was! Just when you were looking forward for a certain day to come, yes, it did. But in a very different circumstance. I might have not used my intuitions but my bravery and the Holy Spirit’s motivation did work out, perfectly. Imperfect arguments can perfect your day. But I was hoping for the perfect arguments, yet, I wasn’t sure of having the perfect moment. My 8-pages position paper was, I guess, useless. I wasn’t able to establish these, contrary to what I hope and prayed for. All “possible attacks/loopholes” to my paper were greatly sealed with night-long ideas that I have been conjuring up every now and then. They were supported by provisions, situations, etc – both falling under the question of facts and laws.

*Regarding the “growing needs of society”…it is a established proof that the reason for this motion is because of the increasing demands of people, discreetly. If you agree with the amendment process, then, what is your reason for attacking this Doctrine of Necessity? Do we need a statistical data here, which is not, I think the end goal of the Asian Parliamentary Debate. Moreover, DECORUM is very important in Debate. You don’t argue, informally. You are supposed to do it, intelligently. It was well established that the reason for Debate was to stand up for what is right and to do it in the proper way. Rude? Better sit, still.

In the end, our side won the debate and I was even chosen by the five adjudicators as the BEST SPEAKER, which until now, I couldn’t fathom how does that happen after all my contentions tonight. Ora et Labora! To God be all the glory!

Lessons learned: Although Debate seeks the truth, it also seeks quarter-full of bravery, despite of your 1% change of winning over that of 99%. And yeah, I should have had a copy of my position paper before I finally passed it. Was I really thinking? That would be useful for future debates.

Hello, readers! (I know this is somewhat inappropriate but I had to greet you in the end. By the way, I missed posting. 😉 )

by: Samantha C. De Guzman

(NO PLAGIARISM)

Worth A Hundred Bucks

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You have always heard that, “When you are looking for social climbers, go for Starbucks! There are plenty of them there.” LOL. Of course, that was just a joke for your perusal.

I am not that fond of coffee shops but I have a great taste for milk teas. For a year, I have been drinking wintermelon milk tea, esp. in InfiniTEA because it’s the best one I ever tasted, yet. Last June was one of my “first time’s” to actually be inside this premium and refined world-class coffee shop at age nineteen. (All right, don’t look at me with those scrutinizing gazes.) I was with my sister and Ate Triny, my cousin, who treated us, because we brought her there.

It was my first time to sip Java Chip from Starbucks because it’s only then, it opened a franchise in Dagupan, and basically, I have no other means to go to Starbucks, other than traveling from Pangasinan to Baguio or Manila. So, I think it’s quite acceptable for me, who lives in the province, to have tasted a costly coffee after my teenage years. Anyway, it really pays the price.

This will not be the last time that I visit Starbucksl; this is for sure. When payday comes, you know what happens next…

“Some luxuries are worth the wait…”

by: Samantha C. De Guzman

(NO PLAGIARISM)

Shades of Sam

“We all sometimes fell in love with the same colors. Some like blue, while some prefer green. But despite the similarity of our favorite colors with other people, we differ from the shades that we like. Like life, these colors are facets; we all encounter the same phenomena, yet, we have our very own unique measures or ways on how we deal with them.”

(What is your favorite color?)

 by: Samantha C. De Guzman

(NO PLAGIARISM)

The Grandest Piano

The Grandest Piano

“Things taught me how to deal with life, wisely. But MUSIC sank into my deepest soul.” I first learned humming from my Mama and Papa. To my lola Carling, who delved with me through the thrones of harder times, thank you. If it’s not because of you, I won’t be playing the piano now. And without it, I can’t imagine a sweet soul with a dead rhythm.

by: Samantha C. De Guzman

(NO PLAGIARISM)

Stripey Acquainted

Tell them I was happy that I attended. Thank you, Lord, I came, safely.
With Sir Cortez, our department adviser. I cannot count how many laughs we had because of that somewhat funny incident. Plus, the fried chicken was wasted!
Here are the two birthday celebrants of August 25, 1994: Me and Ariane Mae. We never forget to take a picture in every acquaintance party because it’s a custom of having our birthday, a few days after the party.
Hey, hey, hey. The three of you? Illuminati?
Clap your hands in the air and groove with the MUSIC.
See? For those who didn’t attend the Acquaintance Party, “sayang kayo.” =P
(From left to right) Pisces + Virgo = Michelle and Ariane!
I meant that, no joke.
The two Psych majors: Ate Ann and Ate Reg.
Thanks for my co-Liberal Arts students who faced the camera and smiled, widely.
Do it all again! This is a display of fresh smiles from adorable ladies. #winks
Because we were out of dance steps, the picture above tells the story. Ha-Ha
The melancholic shot of me. Ariane Mae gave this shot a more detail to the background.

“It’s a night knickknack, and everyone’s buzzing around the stripey theme!”

Just before the Twilight welcomed the dusky evening, I got up on the wrong side of the bed. It was the 17th of August, 2012 – our university’s Acquaintance Party and Mass Induction of Officers. Honest as the day was long, I was having second thoughts whether or not to attend the party that night because I felt too weak and I wanted to lay down in bed and sleep.

To and fro, I have been changing suits to suit myself. With less pain pounding my head after an hour of sleep, I hurriedly groomed myself. And as you can see, there weren’t that make ups on because I was running out of time and I need to attend the Mass Induction, ASAP. Even my hairstyle was not an excuse like I just grabbed a rubber band and tied my hair, etc. I lived by my principle: “Simplicity is beauty.”

I didn’t feel sorry for attending the party because the pictures above tell the story. Thank you for waiting for the photos. Have a great day!

by: Samantha C. De Guzman
(NO PLAGIARISM)

Mid-Afternoon Drops

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“Somewhere in Binmaley.” Luscious green leaves, russet brown branches plus the delicate yellow flower made the rain worthwhile.
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Strikingly beautiful. This photograph is a combination of earthiness and allure, that it focuses on the focal part of the three flowers. I also love how the leaves showed its restful harmony in nature.
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One of my purposes in taking this angle is to splash an eye-view of the pouring rain.
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“Dad’s suggestion.” For me to give you a whole view of my subject, he asked me to take this, right after the rain poured.
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Here’s my most favorite shot. I don’t want to sound biased but look at its perfection, eh? Comment below if you disagree. (LOL)
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“The Flower and the Flower Buds.” When you spell daunting, flowers give us the first look that God created something pleasing to the eyes and to the soul.
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“A Discreet Beauty.” The single side view has a deep contour about nature’s universal love.
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“The exquisiteness of a woman is like a flower in a mild dew.” – Samantha C. De Guzman
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“The uniqueness of a thing depends on the plurality of the mind.” If I roam around the bush, I sure know there are abundant things out there. But this flower’s beauty is exceptional.

Photos by: Samantha C. De Guzman

Credits to: Tita Lulu, for the flowers in their place

 “If all the raindrops would taste like mint…oh, what a rain that would be!” Last month started raining so hard.I was with my pops back, then, and we were bounded to go home. The rain madly fell in a cloudy afternoon so we had no choice but to stop by at a near beauty parlor shop. Raindrops add refinement to flowers. They complement the drippy leer of these flowers. Aren’t they beautiful?

by: Samantha C. De Guzman

(NO PLAGIARISM)