Just another random badminton post

My old badminton shoes were already torn at the sides because they've been active with me for a good three years. When my Dad came over last Februrary, the first thing we shopped for was a pair of badminton shoes. We went to Glorietta 4 (because my dad's lazy to go anywhere else) in search of the perfect new pair. There weren't much shops there, though. I was rooting for Yonex because I'm a big fan of it, but the ones there didn't really please my taste. I can't really remember which shop we ended in, but I landed on this pair of Mizunos. I love them because they're super soft and comfy even during the first time I wore them.

Last Tuesday, I felt really bad because it was the start of my official forever-aloneness at the dorm. I got really bored and decided to go shopping at Trinoma after such a bad day. I went around different shops because I was hoping I could buy summer clothes, but I ended up buying 4 items from Juego. I bought two jerseys, one skort, and one overgrip.

I literally fell in love with this jersey at first glance. It was really expensive but I knew I'd walk out of the store with a heavy heart if I didn't buy it that day. It's beautiful! *insert heart here*

I also liked this one. It was on sale and I got it for Php 790 only! It looked really nice on me so I had to buy it. At first I was thinking of buying just one top, but I ended up purchasing both, anyway.

I spent around Php 3000 in that store and I didn't regret anything. Day made.

Why I'm not joining Earth Hour this year

If there is one thing I learned from UP in my first year as an Iska, it's to make a stand on something and not have "just because" as a reason for it. I do not intend to let you perceive this in any activist point of view by saying this. By this, either I mean I learned that I really am entitled to my own opinion and I have the right to voice it out, or analyze things in a deeper perspective and not just skid on its surface area.

The first one, for a fact is something we all know by heart - but the question is, do you get to exercise this right of yours or are you still entangled in that little web of fear? We all have opinions. Most of us are just afraid to let others know about it. Those who don't are only indifferent about it (don't even get me started on raging about indifference). Well, my dear reader, I am encouraging you to start a blog of your own, at least. Step out of your comfort zone, and start exploring the world around you. Fear voicing out your opinions? Blog about it. This I guarantee: it helps. A lot.

The latter is something I discovered myself. What I'm trying to point out here is that before you conform with society or the other way around, think. Read between the lines. Think of its metaphors and interpretations. Have reasons aligned with your opinions. Why are they doing it? Why are you doing it?

Well, here is one thing I am going to share with you guys:


I am not going to turn the lights off for Earth Hour.


If I don't tell you why, you'll think I'm this stupid rebel girl trying to go against the flow for the sake of being cool (I don't know, but because that's what I think of others who are indifferent and do things 'just because'). For the record, I'm not and I have my own stand about it.

Don't get me wrong, I've been practicing Earth Hour ever since this campaign started becoming this annual event. I have even started text brigades before, encouraging people to support this cause. Okay, I know this is getting sappy so I'm taking you straight to the point.

I only used to think Earth Hour was good for everyone. I never even thought about it being negative as well. I refused to look at it from another point of view, because I was being bombarded by only one side of the coin. I read an article last year about why someone did not turn his lights of during Earth Hour, and that was when I realized I had the right to toss the coin. Thus, I became exposed to the other side - a new world, new matters, new thoughts.

In that article, it said:

"Turning off the lights for one hour seems a meek and hollow gesture, a feel-good measure that may fleetingly raise awareness, but does little to educate or change long-term habits, let alone “take control over the future of our planet.” It is, simply put, a media event in search of actual content." (Makower, J.)

 He's right. I never did question Earth Hour, but I realized that it doesn't answer either of these questions - "so what" and "what now"?

Also, in terms of interpretation, I read this:

"Light has a vast range of positive and aspirational associations: civilisation, truth, health, intelligence, safety, hope, life and salvation. Those opposing action on climate change understand this well and frequently use images of electric light at night in their publicity as a metaphor for excitement, civilisation, and progress

So it is hard to think of any image more destructive to our cause than turning off lights. The metaphors of darkness are overwhelmingly negative: danger, decay, and death. We see the dark ages as a time of brutality. Poets such as Dylan Thomas call on us to “rage against the dying of the light”. Sir Edward Grey on the eve of the first world war said “the lamps are going out all over Europe”. Really the cultural resonance could hardly be worse." (Marshall, 2009)

 This was the statement that persuaded me to keep the lights on during Earth Hour. I was taken aback by the irony environmentalists presented right there. Maybe they have a different philosophy about the way they look at things, I don't really know. One might think this is over-analyzing, but in my opinion actions have interpretations and one has to look beyond what he sees.

Also, I think that it is stupid to "save energy" just for an hour annually. Come on, guys. We know better than that! Why vote for Earth once a year when we can show full support everyday? I'm not saying we turn the lights out everyday, but there are other ways as well.

You might think that I'm going against Earth Hour because of this article. I mean, I am, but hey I've heard both sides and because of this, I have the right to choose my stand and share what I think. I know you have yours, too. :)

I was supposed to participate in a Psych experiment earlier from 10-12 and 12-12:30, but I just woke up. I don't really care about Psych 101 anymore, since it would not be credited when I shift. I'm not enjoying it, and I don't see any reason to still perform well in it. 

I am completely happy about my new life now. 

I love how no one can take away this kind of happiness from me. :) 

You know those days when you're genuinely happy about one thing or another? Well, I'm having one of those days today. I don't even know why. I mean, I've a Chemistry and Anthro exam coming up, and I'm not feeling stressed out at all.

I. am. so. freakin'. happy.

How life is like a game of badminton

I started playing badminton when I was 9 years old, which means I’ve been playing badminton for almost half of my life. I’ve been competing from fourth grade to fourth year for inter-school, Provincial, Mayor’s Cups, Governor’s Cups, Invitational cups, etc.

There was this certain time in 4^th year during training that a thought just struck me. I’ve been hearing the words “drive, drop, smash, forehand, backhand, lob, drills, ready” and all the other badminton jargons millions of times since I was 9, and I never got tired of it.

Yes, I’ve been smashed on the face a couple of times, hit myself with a racket, tumbled towards the umpire’s chair, got badly bruised on the shoulder, experienced body ache for days, injured my hand, been screamed at. I had to give up ballet, piano, drawing, crafts, my grades, my friends, my parents’ trust, but why did I hold on to badminton?

That was the day I realized that life is like a game of badminton.

I realized that words like “smash, drop, drive” meant so much more to me than just imperative single-word sentences being yelled to me which I immediately needed to follow like a routine-based, battery-operated robot.

In a game of badminton, you may join a singles or doubles event. Either you play alone, or in pairs. Same goes for life, there are things that you have to do yourself, and there are things that you just can’t. A good friend always comes in handy, to tell you that you are not alone and you are fighting together.

Every little move in badminton counts. You hold the racket like shaking hands with someone. It is going to be the most important thing you need during the game.

Before every game, you warm up. You stretch, you work up a sweat. You prepare. You try to remember the things you do in training. In life, we also have warm-ups. For example, we go to school to prepare us for our real game, which is the future. Or it may also simply mean just studying for an exam.

 Before the official start, there is also a coin-toss. Here, you decide who gets to serve first, or which court you want. It may also be the time to meet your opponent. It symbolizes our decisions in life, be it our everyday decisions or life-changing ones, our opportunity costs (for choosing serve, opponent gets to choose court). The opponent may not necessarily symbolize a person or hatred personified; it may also mean certain objects or events like school, family, career, a relationship.

During the event of a game, every move you make on court matters because badminton is a give and take sport. You and your opponent may exchange a lob, a drop, a smash, a forehand, a backhand, or a combination of those. How you receive it and what you give back means something.

If he lobs the shuttlecock over, it’s a test how far you can push yourself to your limits. If he gives you a drop like a cross-court drop,  
he tests your ability to how fast you adapt to change. If he gives you a smash, you have to know how and be fast enough to demonstrate defense against him. A smash is the hardest shot to receive, but if you are able to block it, that’s already an achievement. For example, right now, the school year’s about to end, and we have a lot of exams coming up and requirements to submit. That’s just like a smash.  If we study hard and submit everything, it’s a block. The best one there is, I suppose.

On the other side of the court, when it’s you giving a lob, it means you have accomplished something, so you have time to get ready for the next shot. If he gives you the perfect shot for a smash, make sure you know the perfect angle, and give it your best shot, for you never know, it might win you a point.

Badminton is not a strength game. Being strong does not guarantee you winning. It’s a strategic game, where you need thinking, focus, and placement.

Sometimes, your score may be leading, but sometimes, you just have to catch up. Sometimes you win; sometimes you don’t. Winning is something, but it’s how you play the game that counts. In badminton, there is no such thing as failure. Losing is not equal to failure. It’s what gives us a drive to say “try harder”.

So the next time you play badminton, I hope you remember to play it with faith, with everything you’ve got, and with every fiber of your being, because the same goes for life.

Shifting where?!

I know I always start my posts with "I haven't posted for a while..." because I'm always busy with academic and org stuff. Either that or I'm busy strolling around the streets of Manila with my friends. =))

Anyway, I'd like to share another blog of mine. Go visit https://tomatocaitsup.jux.com/! It's my final exam/project for Art Stud 2 (Art Around Us). I'm not halfway done with it yet, though. Just another time-killer, perhaps, if you're bored.

Anyway, I was about to blog about the second biggest decision I made in my life so far (next to choosing UP Diliman, that is). Since I don't really share the link to my blog anymore, I'm announcing it here.

For the past days/weeks, I've been tweeting about shifting to a different course (and college), but I don't tweet the specific course. I've been collecting enough courage for me to post this online, but my courage is only until blogging level. Don't judge me, but here goes:

Yes, you are seeing it right. I am going to shift to Architecture. The purpose why I've been concealing it from public is that I'm afraid I might not get in, and people will think I'm boasting or whatever. Well, the fuck I care about that now. 

I really thought I was interested in Management already and I was this *pinches the air* close to applying for BS Business Administration. I mean, I still am, but I'm not absolutely happy by the thought of it. Ever since first sem last year, I've found Architecture a very interesting course, and I was ashamed to admit it to my mom, or to anyone in that sense, because I don't think people in the right mind would even imagine me (The Carina Morente) taking up Architecture. 

I've shared my thoughts with a few people though, like Ninang Patti, and even Architecture students. I told them that I wanted Architecture if only I knew how to draw, and they said you didn't have to know how, because you'll learn. And those words kept Architecture at the stuck at back of my mind when I had plans to shift elsewhere, if you know what I mean.

To be honest, I was supposed to stay one more year in Psychology, just because I was still unsure if I'd shift to Business Administration or not. I never told my mom about Architecture just until early March, and I got really scared because I was not sure if both my parents would approve of the idea of suddenly just having a thought of shifting to another world in a snap of a finger. Well, maybe they viewed it that way, but it was never a snap decision for me. I've always wanted Architecture since last year, like I mentioned earlier. 

I've cried lots of times because I really didn't want to continue studying Psychology anymore, and I knew I've lost track in life. I didn't want a course that was all science or research. I thought I was meant for business, then, before I realized that Architecture was where science and art met. I also think I'd enjoy Architecture, because if you know me well, you know I like doing tedious things (kung sa Ilonggo pa, ang natawag nila nga ma-uti). 

Everyone else thinks I'm shifting to Business Administration. I'm pretty sure people will get shocked when they read this blog, but oh well. This is my life, and I know this will make me happy. :)

If you were once a confuzzled kiddo like me, just think of two things: What makes you happy and what you are good at. Do not just take a course you don't want just because it will "make you rich" after.

"Do what you love, and love what you do. Money will just come in." (Lawrence Tan, 2012).

I swear next sem, I am going to take English 1 and write a research paper on subliminal messaging in cartoons.