The Construct

Would you look at that. It’s May already. A third of the year’s done. How quickly time flies. And surely, the first four months of 2010 hasn’t been without occasion.

I have to be really thankful that I’ve finally bagged my master’s degree. I actually consider it my consuelo de bobo as many of my friends are now living my shitty pipe dream of being a lawyer. No point in wallowing in self-pity. It took me five years but, at least, MA’s in the bag.

I haven’t really broadcasted it yet outside my friends (and through Facebook) but the bigger thing that’s happened to me so far is that the Dearest and I are engaged. Yup. Wedding bells a ringin’. As for the wedding date, it’s still yet to be determined. It’s going to be a long engagement but at least we’re one step closer to being together.

Now these leave me with the future to take on. It’s quite tricky really. UP wants me back full time. But going back means pursuing years of study for a PhD and getting a PhD means a life sentence to the academe. Quite honestly, I haven’t really figured if I want that.

For now, my motivation is preparing for the future especially with the financial part. Married life isn’t a joke. I wasn’t really able to maximize my money-making efforts working on my MA for the past five years. Now that’s done, maybe now I can.

I have formally concluded a semester of academic work after informing the department that I don’t plan on taking any more academic work. I’ve deferred my thesis work for next academic year to clear enough space in my calendar to sniff out some moneymaking opportunities.

My blogging work will be my first priority. I’m handling quite a number of blogs right now and I can think of no better way to spend most of my workday than writing for these blogs. If you have time, check them out. (Shameless plug but what the heck! :p)

• Tipz
• Money Blog
• AutoJab
• Car Front
• LifeSpy

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The workspace defines the worker and vice-versa. So if all you have to work in is a shitty space with shitty stuff, chances are, you’d do shitty work. So as one of the splurges I made for my new place is to make one room into my own personal office. And it’s got everything I need (well, save for my proper DSL connection).

I’ve got a relatively huge desk. I used to work on just half of that space in our old house. What I love most about this set-up is the boss chair. I’ve been having problems with my lower back after spending a lot of time on a crappy chair so I indulged in something way better. I threw in a couple of bean bags there for good measure. Figured that if Bryan would drop by one of these days so that we’d be able to work on our big-bucks plan, we’d be able to plan and brainstorm in comfort.

Another photo, after the cut.

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Author’s Note: Rant alert. This piece was written with rage. Read on at your own risk.

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Have we really reached the tipping point? A lot of people have been killing themselves recently but the one that still sticks to my mind was the case of Janeth Ponce.

On Tuesday [September 9], Janeth Ponce, 32, forced three of her children to drink a bottle of liquid toilet bowl cleaner before drinking the same substance herself in Magdalena town in Laguna province. Television reports said Ponce’s husband worked as a construction worker in Manila and has not been able to send them money for over a month.

Former cabinet member Dinky Soliman labeled the case as a reflection of how Filipino society is reaching its ‘tipping point.’

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