Shape of things to come...

I chanced upon this garment at the mall that promises contour enhancement. The saleslady insisting that this piece of clothing works miracles and to me it sounded more like an insult to my unflattering figure.

Quick history:
Flashback 1996. I barely weighed 90lbs. I forked out some cash to buy myself a can of Ensure that tasted more like breastmilk. I switched to choco-flavored Sustagen mixed with full cream milk to add more flab to my anorexic figure.
Fast-forward 1999. 100 lbs. I've concluded that most effective weight-gain program - A steady boyfriend with a big appetite.
2002 - Another factor that has greatly affected my eating habits. Stable job. Daily dose of McDonald's value meal and fast-food specialities.
2003 - Pregnancy
2004 - Age.. holy sh--!

According to Dr. Bello, there is always a price for beauty. On my wedding day I wore this expensive maidenform corset that didn't do much for my empire-cut gown. That night my lungs hurt like hell and felt like my life would end on my honeymoon. The hotel nurse asked about all the things I ate and all my activities for the day. "I got married" I joked. No reaction from her side, then she said. "You wore something too tight no?"
Hotel Nurse cum psychic huh?

I later accepted the fact that things will never be the same again. I guess, that includes my figure.

The UPLB Men's Dorm

Came across an article about my home-away-from-home for 4 years at UPLB. T'was a life-changing experience. My first taste of independence..And after 12 years in super conservative St. Scho this was my big step to freedom.
The UP Men's Residence Hall...or Men's Co-Ed Dorm.. (Mens na nga, coed pa?-you ask..)
Brief History: (http://www.uplb.edu.ph/admin/shd/dorms.html)
Men's Residence Hall was originally a one-building dormitory, which accommodates male students. However, due to the increasing population of male students because of the expansion of courses offered in the university, four buildings were added in 1968. In 1974, two buildings were converted to house the increasing female population. In 1982 to the present, three buildings were assigned to the female residents.
In the first semester of SY 2001-2002, a new policy was instituted to gradually transform the dormitory into a "Kalayaan" type (patterned after the dormitory in U.P. Diliman) that caters only to new freshmen. Upper classmen will be allowed to stay until they graduate. In 2004, Men's Residence Hall will be exclusively for new freshmen, which will only be allowed to stay for one year.

I shared Room 2103 with 3 upperclassmen who gave me a solid orientation on campus survival and the mysterious 'blue book'. I occupied the top bunk by the window, a comfortable rather confining space. I figured this was a surefire way to attract a Makiling ghost. Imagine the stories I would tell my chain-smoking friends.

Unfortunately I had no ghost stories to tell. I did find it disturbing to see a "bayawak" hanging out by my window & eventually decided to make this his home. Friendly neighborhood bayawak. Had to get used to the tuko that tuko'd-tuko'd-tuko'd all thru the night and was intentionally annoying the crap out of my freshman butt. Thank God for screened windows.

Not everything here is rural. This, by the way, is UP's home of biological sciences. Los Banos being a nature park of sorts probably breeds the biggest specie of millipedes in the RP. I detest slimy creepy crawling creatures and everything in larvae form. But just like the bayawak, they have an affinity for the cold moist cement wall near my cozy space. Imagine the horror of finding one creepy crawler getting cozy under my mattress. I had no recollection how I jumped from the top bunk 5 feet from the floor & ran out like a bra-less maniac.

But aside from all the nature-tripping...my stay at the dorm was an eye-opener. Yes I did line up for the shower like a big hollywood blockbuster movie. There was a water supply schedule that I had to organize along with your class schedule. I paid less than P200 a month for my rent including electricity for this (moi) spoiled brat's necessities: mini-component and mini-refrigerator. I was even voted Dorm Treasurer which happened to be the most boring extra-curricular experience of my life. I watched TV along with 30 other occupants under the mercy of the fratboy jerk with the remote. But I learned to make this my home away from home. My family - 3 girls and 637 others under the same roof.