What's the Story, Morning Glory?

DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in this entry reflect only those of the author's. By no means does the author claim to have Lui's ideas on this unless she specifically agrees with what I have to say. Heck, suffice it to say that whatever I say in this article are my thoughts alone. Getz?

So what is it really with blogging that finally caught our fancy? Or should I say, what's the story behind the sudden blogging frenzy?

For some time now, I've been keeping secret blog accounts which I never really use. They were there simply to say that I have an account. Then when Multiply came around, I promised myself that I'd begin writing again, something my system seemed to have forgotten since I aced my Comm 2 papers back in UPM. I really started with the Friendster blog, then Multiply's. And then the LiveJournal account which I've actually been keeping buzzing for the last month.

Then one day, while Lui and I were chatting after our shifts, I asked if she has a blog of her own, to which she answered with an affirmative, only it's empty, she says. Then she sent me the link to her boss's account. One thing led to another and I found myself approving a contributor's invite to Huginn and Muninn. It was then that I discovered one of the many blog accounts I've had hidden all these years... the Drifter's Haven, also entry- less, which is a different story.

We made a pact then and there to REALLY start writing again, going so far as to commit to an entry at least in a week. And today, I realized how difficult, or should I say painful, it is to wrack one's brain for something to say. To think that I suggested we keep at least two a week?! Unthinkable!

We told each other that we'll just finish closing our Aspire forms, then we'd start writing. I finished my task 3 hours ago. Now, a movie and two cups of coffee later, I still can't come up with a coherent thought to put down. Literally, we are letting the ravens pick at our brains.

So who exactly are we? We are Huginn and Muninn, the Nordic raven whisperers of Odin. Lui bears news of the north, and I, of the south. Two Iskas. Two separate identities. Two varied worlds. Two different minds. Two points of view. One blog.

This is Huginn. This is Muninn. Thought and memory.

missing my old life

when i was little, i saw myself as a highly successful and happily married woman with a kid by the age of 25. now, i'm a quarter of a century year old and i'm neither of the things i pictured myself to be. but it's alright. i'm not planning to settle down anytime soon anyway. what bothers me is when i remember what i used to do and dream about when i was still in college.

when i took the upcat, i had no idea what course i wanted to take, so i settled with the one with what seemed to me to have the fanciest title: doctor of dental medicine. after 6 years, i'd finally be a doctor! but at the end of pre-dent, i realized that dentistry didn't suit me at all. i found out what i really am interested in: cultural studies. i quickly shifted to philippine arts and fell in love with the course. i finally felt at home. i tried my hand in every class that was offered, and was happily surprised when i found out that i excelled in almost all of them. i had such a blast learning about aesthetics, reading about different cultures and histories, dabbling in painting, drawing, shooting photos, playing music, writing, acting, designing, curating, etc.

i spent lazy weekday afternoons in libraries (upm cas, ccp, natl lib, nhi, upd cm, etc.), even if i didn't need to research anything for school. i would grab a backpack full of books and head home, reading under the covers until the wee hours of the morning. thursday evenings were spent going to exhibit openings and gala premieres of different production companies. friday evenings would be reserved for watching concerts, gigs, and poetry reading sessions. saturday afternoons would be spent watching matinee shows at the ccp or going to different museums around the metro. sunday afternoons were spent with my bandmates in rehearsal studios or in our tiny apartment, playing good ole rock 'n roll. i was also very active with a couple of school orgs and i was in charge of inviting several artists to give lectures / workshops. i was also the resident percussionist and set designer of our theatre company. needless to say, it was exhausting, but i was enjoying every moment of it.

i also remember going to provinces and experiencing different cultures. i was part of the research staff of the manlilikha exhibit in ccp and was sent to all sorts of locations to interview artisans and to get exhibit items. i was able to meet local politicians, tribal leaders, and shamans. i will never forget being invited by a mumbaki to join them in playing the tongatong in a healing ritual. it was a magical experience, in every sense of the word.

i really thought that i finally found my place in the world. that i would lead the way towards a philippine renaissance. i imagined myself travelling around the philippines and immersing in different cultures. afterwards, i would be writing about my experiences and get published internationally. i saw myself having a phd in philippine studies and heading the ccp or the ncca.

but then reality caught up with me, and i'm stuck where i am right now. bummer.

today we start to write...