It's the Night of Nights: Prom 2015

Promenade (n.) 
- a ceremonious opening of a formal ball consisting of a grand march of all the guests 

2/12/15: So since I am done with my Faber Men appreciation post {Click!}, it is now time to blog about one of the highlights of my senior life: Promenade. Click continue reading to read the post!

Faber Men x Polaroids

 

Before I flood my blog with prom photos, let me do an appreciation post to the fifteen men who made my high school life the best. Without them, I would have been a wreck. They are gentlemen yet jerks at the same time; geniuses yet pasaway. For short, they can be the most bipolar classmates yet the best classmates you can have. I have been with the most of them for four years now, and seeing them mature from naughty kids to mature adults (well, a little) is heartwarming. Most of them will go out of town for college, and thinking about that sucks because I will miss them bigtime.

Overnight Retreat 2015

  Love how candid this photo is!

Last Thursday and Friday, Faber had probably the best overnight of our life: our retreat. Attending the retreat is a requirement for our graduation, so we really had to attend it. The experience was great, and it was a great first retreat for me. Recollection is totally different from a retreat in a number of ways. It requires much more contemplation and things like that.

I feel so lucky that I have been given a chance to spend a retreat with Faber, because they are the people who I can be completely honest with and just be myself. Overall, the retreat was fruitful and spending it with Faber made it more meaningful.

Here are the 5 things I learned during my retreat:

✎ You need silence to be able to hear yourself. One of the highlights of the retreat (and probably the hardest) was to maintain silence during sessions and even during breaks. Brother Carlo continuously reprimanded us for being noisy during the first two sessions, but then after that, we managed to maintain an acceptable amount of silence. It was during that silence that I heard myself; knowing who I am and what I really wanted. It was refreshing because I realized that I haven't heard myself and what I truly want for so long.

✎ Sacrifice is needed to find true happiness. We surrendered all our gadgets at the start of the retreat, and we only got them after all the activities (the photos were taken after the retreat). I realized that sacrificing something as simple as a gadget was worth it, because it made my experience more fruitful and memorable. It's nice to be disconnected once in a while, you get to appreciate your surroundings.

✎ Letting go is hard, but fulfilling. I am a really sentimental person, so when we gave each other letters and had to burn them, it was really hard for me. All the emotions and confessions in those letters were so hard to let go, but I knew I had to. I could not swell in the past if I want to appreciate the present. I feel like I was a new person after I let go of everything. It was definitely worth it.

✎ Reconciliation is important. If there is anything that I am proud that I did during the retreat, it was when I reconciled with everyone. I might be unaware that I have hurt anyone, and it was nice to know about them. It was a little bit overwhelming because it all happened within a night, but I slept happy and fulfilled. Because of this, I realized that I built relationships with Faber that would last for a lifetime.

✎ Know yourself more than anyone else. I did not realize this was important until this retreat. I am now currently having a college-crisis, because of knowing myself, but I don't regret it at all. I did not know a lot was going on inside of me that I needed help and I needed to blurt it out. Thankfully, the retreat helped me. Forever grateful.

Here are more photos we took after we got our gadgets back :-)

 I introduce to you my sisters from another mother! The girl in the middle is Jermiss, and the girl on the right is Kay. They have been there for me since forever, and I am really really lucky to have them as my best friends. Sadly, Jermiss will be studying in Manila for college, while me and Kay will be here in Zamboanga. Nevertheless, we'll make sure that we keep in touch! Friendship never ends ❤

This is Faber's "puto" pose. The logic behind this pose is Bro Carlo's joke. We look so happy!

This is our we-are-totally-judging-you pose. Are you intimidated? Hahaha!

This is our breezy + pinky pose. Green inside jokes, I'm sorry. HAHAHA!

Just another groupie! ❤

 A selfie with Bro Carlo! He looks like a really happy kid! 

 How my bed/bunk looked like. I so love the sheets!

Of course, a couple of selfies! Sorry for my eyes, they were swollen after all the crying during the previous night. But, I'm still happy! :-)

The experience was really great. Could not ask for better people to spend my retreat with. Love you, guys! High school never ends.

*Sorry for the crappy photo quality, the photos were uploaded on Facebook and you know how much Facebook ruins photo quality, right? 

— Iana the Banana ✿

Faber's Last Christmas Party

The Christmas vibe is everywhere! And the best way to celebrate it is with the people I value most: my Faber Family. ❤

This party is probably the one that Faber has been looking forward to, becuse it's the first time that we celebrated it outside the campus; thus we planned for it HARDCORE. I was part of the planning committee, and I could not put into words how much we planned for this and how excited we were about the event. Admittedly, we were really stressed because there were a lot of last minute changes, but we managed to pull a great party for us. Let the pictures and a few (no) words do the talking. ☺

L-R: Moi, AJ and Bolyn

Lol typical me during selfies.

 

Meet our very cute moderator, Brother Carlo Lacang! Yes, he's a Jesuit. 

I honestly love this photo! This was taken during our first game, Yanks vs. Rebels. This would pass as a movie poster! Love my classmates forever!

With the bastardo who was recently eliminated from the hopia club! Congratulations, bro!

With Lae! She was the one who was able to pick my name for the exchanging of gifts, and I did not have the slightest hint. Sneaky girl.

HIGHLIGHT OF MY FREAKING CHRISTMAS PARTY!!! Typing this makes me want to cry again, really. Faber boys planned a surprise number for us, showing how they appreciate the girls for being there for them. Trust me, girls are the most supportive classmates you can get. From basketball games to yearbook photos, we got our guys' back. They sang Tenerife Sea  by Ed Sheeran, and obviously I was crying. It was just a simple gesture but it meant everything to the girls :( ❤

 L-R: Rafi & Kay (dem lovebirds), then there's me and Jermiss, the members of the hopia club.

Credits to my sister Jermiss for the photo! I look so awkward. Taken during the stressful race, where I was one of the facilitators. It was funny looking at my classmates suffer. HAHAHA!

Idk why I brought a Sharpie with me, but I took the opportunity to show my devotion to my section. Teehee. FBR 2015 ♛

Some photos of the resort! The resort had a nature vibe, it was really pretty. It's a perfect place if you want to unwind. They also have a lot of facilities, such as boating, biking and horse back riding.

Say hello to my favorite photo of the event. I mean, look at us. We look so overjoyed. This was taken using Lae's S5, and obviously we looked so ignorant because the phone was waterproof. I got a severe case of cramps after this photo, severe in a case that I ended up crying and it got me paralyzed for ten minutes, but seeing how cute this photo is makes it worth it. :')

hopia club (n.) a club of people who are single or doesn't have a "lovelife"

Overall, this was the best Christmas party ever. All the stress of preparing was worth it; seeing my classmates, including myself, really happy on that day. December 19, 2014 was one of the days I wished that lasted forever, and if given the chance to rewind the day, I would. This is why I would miss them so much; they can make me extremely happy even if they just throw a corny joke or say that they are there for me. I value them more than anything, because they have been there for me for so long I owe them everything. I love you so much, guys. High school never ends.

— Iana the Banana ✿

Ateneo Fiesta 2014 Sepanx

 SEPANX (n.) - separation anxiety; having a hard time letting go of something

For someone from our university, Ateneo Fiesta is the most awaited event of the year. Besides the fact that we won't have any classes, it's nice to get together and see everyone from the university. I made sure this last Ateneo Fiesta would be special because it would be my last fiesta as an high school student, so make the most out of it, right? So here am I, narrating my best Atfest yet, through lengthy captions.

12/01/14: The official logo of Atfest 2014! This year's theme was great; Colores, Vida y Alegria, which translates to Color, Life and Joy. I personally think the logo is created beautifully, it encapsulates what this year's Atfest is all about.

12/01/14: Another cute addition to this year's celebration is the compilation of St. Iggy's cartoons! I forgot what organization made this, but it is really cute! Each cartoon represents a certain academic org or an event; (L-R) Accountancy Tigers, Education Phoenixes, Faculty and Staff Wolves, Graduate School Owls, Grade School Hawks, High School Falcons (♥), College of Law Knights, Management Lions, Medical School Huskies, Nursing Angels, Basketball Events, Food trip, Open Air Cinema, Gallery Art, Music Fest, School of Information and Technology Griffins and School of Liberal Arts Dragons.

12/01/14: Since the high school did not have a frat shirt, I decided to order the Tribu Atenista Souvenir Shirt. I used it during the Alumni Homecoming Night. Sadly, I was not able to take pictures. :( But nevertheless, I love the shirt!

12/01/14: The Falcon and the Dragon ♥ During the Atfest, I also spent quality time with my bubba. I am really really proud of him because everyone knows him as the guy who has the great voice and sang during the music fest. He really has a great voice, and I am glad that he got to share it with everyone plus he told me he had so much fun. So happy for the bubba! ♥

12/02/14: I am not really a sporty person, but I really enjoying watching games, especially football. It just gives me the hype and I seriously wanted to run into the field and join them. HAHAHA!

12/02/14: I will definitely miss this sight; seeing banderitas everywhere! Sadly, I was not able to take a photo of the streets of ADZU during the night because trust me, it looks amazing. It really looks like a whole different place. Gahd, typing this makes me want to go back in time and continue strolling down these streets. Knowing that we occupy another campus far away from here, it makes me miss this sight even more.

12/03/14: This is what kept my Atfest really productive; joining the debate competition! This is Jermiss, my partner. Last 2012, we also joined the Atfest debates and we promised that on the next Atfest debates, we would pair up again. And it happened! We reached semifinals, but sadly got eliminated :-( No regrets though, the high school contingent still won! ♥

12/04/12: FREAKING HIGHLIGHT OF MY ATFEST 2014. I WON TOURNAMENT'S BEST SPEAKER IN THE ATFEST DEBATES!!!! AHHH!!!! I seriously did not expect to be the best speaker, because there were really good speakers against us plus they were college students! This really made me extremely happy and fulfilled. Finally, after a lot of debate competitions and a lot of top ten best speaker awards, I FINALLY GOT THE TOP SPOT! THANK YOU LORD.

12/04/14: I was the on who edited this screen cap and covered my face because haggard. HAHAHA! This is my bubba being forever supportive! The photo was taken right after the awarding ceremony of the Atfest debates, so believe me when I tell you I was "this" haggard. Hahaha! I appreciate my bubba's effort tho, he was really excited to take a photo of me with my certificate. Such cuteness. Hihi. Love that guy to the bits ♥

12/05/14: Me and the bubba had time to roam around during the morning of the Alumni Homecoming, so we decided to take a look at the booth designs. This is the booth of the high school, and we won second place! Yay!

12/05/14: I don't know which academic organization did this lantern, but I was just really amazed on how great it looks! Those wings and the eagle's face are made of plastic spoons. So resourceful and creative! Amazeballs.

12/05/14: This is the Atfest frame. They were located in various locations in the whole campus, so it means one thing: photo op! This frame was located beside our chapel, which explains that statue behind me haha :>

12/03/14: Blurry photos are ♥ hahaha! Taken during the high school night! It somehow started dull but ended up great! Spent it with my classmates since it is our last high school night :(

Overall, my Atfest 2014 was extremely great. Hopes up on the next atfest; it hard to top this yet. :>

— Iana the Banana ✿