I want to feel 8 feet tall

Although my sister did not inspire this particular piece, I often find that she leaves me in awe when I have the privilege of seeing her express herself freely. This is for my sister, the first person who taught me to have an opinion and be conscious. Happy Birthday Ate.

I want to feel 8 feet tall

So with each struggling breath of confidence I rise above pavements, trees, roof tops and infinite mountains, until all I can see is earth’s blue and silver blankets hugging its shores. My giant shadow looms over Wilshire street, extends across busy freeways and covers the ocean.

I want to see above the clouds, above experiences of broken confidence, above reflections of past failures, above storms of invisibility, away from silencing screams of thunder. But sometimes all I see is cumulus carved with past self-realizations of people who have already been here. And it makes me feel helplessly behind, helplessly alone and compelled to climb higher.

I want to embrace the sun’s outstretched arms, its golden rays graze every exposed surface of my vulnerable skin. Self-doubt abandoned, I meet with the sun and glow as beautifully as it does when it sets. And shine the same brilliant gold when I find you there.

I want to be friends with the stars. They call you their cousin. And when I find freedom to meet you, the meteors, astroids, blazing nebulas, moons and even jupiter cease to move.

I want to feel 8 feet tall, not to be measured in inches, feet or height’s ability to overshadow insecurities but in realizations that heightened contentment means embracing those imperfections that make me perfectly human.

Because until I grow and understand each shortcoming as an opportunity to be perfectly me, we won’t see eye to eye and I’ll never feel 8 feet tall at all.

End of Sophomore Year

I am done with my Sophomore year of college! Let me recap on my goals for the year

1. Grow beyond my expectations as a dancer/Audition for 220, TM, Common Ground

I am forever a student and understand what I need to do to get better. Also, I think I'm holding off on auditioning for other teams.

2. Lose 20 more lbs./Lift more often/Run regularly again

I have time to focus on this again! I have been working out every day ever since I finished Spring Quarter and I'm feeling really driven to make things happen.

3. Skydive

Waiting for the perfect opportunity.

4. Learn to speak Tagalog (w/ proper grammar)

Yeah, not sure when I am going to make this happen.

5. Volunteer in a hospital

Working on it, but I might not get to it for awhile.

6. Be more assertive/articulate

I would like to say my speech class is helping me with this, but I just need to put myself out there more.

7. Balance school, dancing and working

Check! I am almost certain I raised my GPA at the same time.

8. Grab a respectable job for a college student (during the school year and especially over the summer)

I am now a proud employee of the UCLA Central Ticket Office ($9.37/hr) and I plan on working there over the summer too.

9. Surprise my mom

:] can't wait to make this one happen throughout the year.

10. Stick to self-control

I am learning to give myself time to sleep and less time partying when I'm tired.

11. Bring my GPA back up

I will see in the next few days.

12. Surprise my sister

Work in progress.

13. Go to Disneyland with the Amazumies

Maybe over the summer.

14. Hangout more with the broski and company

Every so often I get to do this.

15. Spend more time with my mom

Working on it.

16. Build on and create more goals as I go on with the year: "We make mistakes and morals are subject to change. What matters is that we are satisfied with the end product."

FOR THE SUMMER:

I have the following to look forward to:

-Team Millennia Summer Intensive Session 1A (Monday/Wednesdays) and 2B (Tuesday/Thursday)
-Movement Project (Tuesday Nights)
-Free time to work out!
-Free time to hangout with friends!
-Free time to drive around with my car!

Did you know?

DID YOU KNOW that I am taking the following classes this quarter?

Communications 1: Intro to Speech (4 units)
English 88J: Print Subcultures Seminar (5 units)
WAC Adv. Hip Hop (2 units)
Fiat Lux: Bug Physiology (1 unit)

on top of that...

I have been helping out with student government elections--trying to make campus-life for students better. Make sure you vote QUALIFIED! www.qualified.com. I endorse Qualified because of their brilliant platforms:
(1) Finding more practice spaces for organizations (Cultural Affairs Commissioner Abigail Faelnar)
(2) Increasing transportation for students to experience Los Angeles off-campus (Gen. Rep Jason Tengco)
(3) Increasing the amount of podcasted classes (Academic Affairs Commissioner Layhannra Tep)
(4) Undie run for a cause: saving undie run by giving it a greater purpose (Gen. Rep Jason Tengco)
(5) Deconstructing the social stigmas of the LGBTQ community (Gen. Rep Jason Tengco)
(6) Art is activism (Cultural Affairs Commissioner Abigail)

AND These are JUST A FEW of the awesome ideas they have.

I am also working at the central ticket office at UCLA. It's where UCLA sells athletics and performing arts tickets. Whoot whoot.

Also, I found out that I am going to be a peer advisor for high school students next year through SPACE (Samahang Pilipino Advancing Community Empowerment) which means I am going to be a pretty busy guy.

You Make It Real to Me

Wow, this quarter zipped by really quick. I kind of failed at being able to reflect each week, but so much has happened. The most recent event being a trip back up to the Bay to surprise my mom for her 50th birthday. In addition, I got to hangout with my sister and spend time with a special someone. In short, it was probably one of the greatest weekends I have had in a long time and possibly in my life. I would not trade my mom's priceless reaction when I greeted her unexpectedly at her party, spending time being a dork with my sister and seeing the bay area from a new and beautiful perspective.




See you soon.

Good Job Moon

I started school on Monday and it was a pretty good week. I know this quarter isn't going to be easy, but I am definitely capable of managing my time. I am taking 5 classes, but it's not as bad as it sounds:

1. Nursing 20: Nursing Ethics and Issues (2 units)
2. DESMA 9: Art, Science and Technology (5)
3. Psychology 10: Introduction to Psychology (4)
4. Human Physiology (UCLA Extension) (5)
5. Fiat Lux: Still undecided between a seminar on community health or aging. (1)

On a random note: I really appreciate when I am reminded of the beauty of simplicity. A special friend of mine helped me realize how beautiful the full moon has been the past two nights. After an exhausting first week back in LA, noticing the sky was a breath of fresh air.














Thanks for that.

Pleased to Meet You 2009

I've never really complained about spending New Years Eve with my family, but NYE '08 was pretty much everything I didn't want it to be. My dad made us participate in a resolution circle and it was one of the worst experiences I've had.

"As my resolution I want JP to be more courteous." - Ramon Garcia Bongco

Unfortunately, the list continued on for about 10 minutes.

No worries though! This entry gets better. I promise. 2008 is done! I'm ready for better times in 2009.

This year will be much better as evidenced by this pretty picture:












Some resolutions for 2009:
1. Grow beyond my expectations as a dancer/Audition for 220, TM, Common Ground
2. Lose 20 more lbs./Lift more often/Run regularly again
3. Skydive
4. Learn to speak Tagalog (w/ proper grammar)
5. Volunteer in a hospital
6. Be more assertive/articulate
7. Balance school, dancing and working
8. Grab a respectable job for a college student (during the school year and especially over the summer)
9. Surprise my mom
10. Stick to self-control
11. Bring my GPA back up
12. Surprise my sister
13. Go to Disneyland with the Amazumies
14. Hangout more with the broski and company
15. Spend more time with my mom
16. Build on and create more goals as I go on with the year: "We make mistakes and morals are subject to change. What matters is that we are satisfied with the end product."

See you soon.

A Look Back On 2008

It's been years since I've typed in a blog! Reading my sister and my friends' entries really encouraged me to get my thoughts out on paper. Well--I guess--internet paper?

As you all know, December 31st (aka New Years Eve) is just around the corner. New Years has always been such a kick in the butt. It really convicts me to put my year into perspective. I mean, I would love to say that I've grown, learned and become a better person, but those are really difficult things to weigh out. If anything, I think I've become a lot more comfortable with certain parts of me that make me John Philip Abano Bongco. I guess another way of summing up the year is listing some highlights:

-Completing my first year at UCLA
-Getting accepted to the Nursing Program at UCLA
-Being a part of Samahang
-Falling in love with dance
-Getting into NSU Modern
-Losing the weight of a small child (60 lbs.)
-Meeting Rhommel Lacanare and Alma Riego
-Meeting UBD
-Watching my sister perform with Audiology and spending brother and sister time with her.

I'm sure there is more, but these really stood out to me. Attending UCLA has certainly been a huge growing experience for me. It's been great having the space to grow away from my parents and my hometown. I've learned a lot about who I am. I'm still the same motivated, ambitious, affectionate, dorky, nerdy, mistake-making kid you know from New Bedford Drive, but I think I've gained a lot more confidence living in a sort of pseudo-independent environment.



I'm still getting over the fact that I got into the Nursing Program at UCLA. It is a dream come true. The Nursing School faculty is so generous. They invest so much time into making sure we do well. Professor Heilemann taught my first class on Nursing Ethics and she was brilliant. I am happy that my major IS my job. I know that I'll be happy helping others improve in terms of their health.

I've met some of the most down to earth people in Samahang. Ashley Yu and G-Baby! Thanks for being by my side Freshman year. Without you guys I wouldn't have met my future roomie John Duong--haha, who I am equally thankful for. Jessica Ramos, I'll always know you as my partner in crime. Mark Sy thanks for being my SPEAR counselor. Amazumies (first years), I love you guys and girls. Thanks for the uncontrollable laugher you've brought me through things like lip syncing randomness, fobbish accents and being the fans of Jenina Sanmiguel (sp?).

Dance...I've really come to fall in love with. For me, dance isn't just movement. It helps reflect who I am. It teaches me to never settle for less.

NSU Modern is another dream come true. I never thought that I would be a part of such a great team. I can't wait to perform at VIBE XIV (2009).



Haha, "he lost the weight of a small child" -Jeff Gless. Yeah, I did this for myself.

Rhommel and Alma, I know I don't get to talk to you two much anymore, but you will always mean a lot to me. I'll keep it at that for now.

UBD, you guys are like my little brothers and sisters. I will always have your backs! Keep pushing for what we talked about. We will all get there!

Watching my sister pursue her passion in music is great. Audiology added a brass section into some of their songs this year. It made their band extrally great. Good job sister.



I don't think she knows how much she blows me away. I really love spending brother and sister time with her. I can just be me.

Hmm, not much closure with this note, but I will be back later. This year was definitely a unique one.

On a side note, I watched "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" with my parents the other day. I was surprised to find that I was not the only person who felt like the movie made me want to examine where I am in my life. This quote by the main character was really simple, but it meant a lot to me: "Life is all about opportunities, even the ones you miss." In the same way, history, our lives, my life is often written on the back of hard work. We acknowledge times of achievement and success, but we are very quick to move on from the hardships and heartache we experience rather than learning from them and acknowledging how they build who we are. Wow, I guess what I am REALLY trying to say is that I missed a few opportunities this year, but 2009 definitely gives me something to look forward to. Ultimately, missing opportunities are learning experiences. Maybe we'll be more lucky this year. Be back soon :].