P.U.T.A. 4 Reminiscence - January 6, 2013 Post

First of all, I am not swearing in Filipino. It's just by chance, that the event name forms that specific acronym. The event name is Pump Up the Animo.

The term is about to start and training for P.U.T.A. 5 will start. Back then, P.U.T.A. happens on the third term, which used to start in January, before the calendar shift. I think the yearly event P.U.T.A. is already discontinued.

I remember how horrible last season's experience was. That season had our team perform a routine which became a performance that SHOULD win, not the usual just enjoy the dance and winning not the main objective. Of course, we also wanted to win, but this time, I did not enjoy the routine, just like how I used to do with my previous competitions. Every training night became a tiring night. We are falling behind in terms of completing the routine because in every training night, someone will be absent. WHERE IS THE DEDICATION? The training days are just wasted. That includes our energy, and include the effort of everyone who is present.

I am forced to be a base lifter, something that I don't really like to do because my arms are unable to support very heavy weights. I admit, I'm also afraid to lift, with my arms stretched, because there is something different with my elbow joints. My elbow can bend the other way for around 30 degrees, I think.  This is much harder because the one I lift somehow has a problem in maintaining balance with one foot, that is, when executing a scorpion. Most of my energy is depleted per training day during the mastering of this part, until the competition day, where we failed to execute this part of the routine perfectly.

It's easy to spot which part of the routine I'm talking about where we failed to execute the lift perfectly, and we're in the middle!

I got tricked by a girl. When she found out that I got a crush on her, I think she abused it. She is one of the people who made me drunk one night during a team gathering on University Week. Of course, there's peer pressure, but there's also her. During her debut, I just requested for a photo with her on the photo booth, she said "later" and I agreed. Then she never did a photo booth with me. I kept reminding her about it, but she ignored them. I just wished she never invited me to her debut. I walked out with anger and hurt within me. Damn her attitude!

I got left out. I know I'm the quiet type, but that doesn't mean they should leave me literally. On a debut of another teammate, there was supposed to be a performance by the team. I volunteered to be one of the performers. I kept asking them when and where the practices will be. Since I transferred to another school already, they said they can't let me in their practices because they are going to practice in their school, on the sports building. Okay, I would just accept that but "how the hell did our coach teach the choreography of the dance?" He is not a student in their school. They could have practiced outside of school but still what the hell. No one would reply to my questions. Damn again! Some teammates they are.

Lastly, those useless college heads. They are members of the university's cheering squad assigned to the teams for assistance. They are supposed to help us, like help us reserve a training area, show up during our training, ask if any help is needed, give reminders, etc. What did they do? The only help I recognized is they teaching us the traditional cheers, which is required as it is included in the routine. What made me really mad is them telling the whole team that a video presentation introducing the team is required. When did they tell us that? The day before the actual performance at around 10 p.m. I'm in a rage because I'm the video editor (I think video editor is not enough. I believe I'm also the scripwriter, cameraman, director, everything!). I told the team that I will be rushing the video the next day, since the performance is in the afternoon, and the video will be very simple. While we were shooting for the video, the college heads just told me to use the trailer that I made weeks before the performance day. I actually made the video for fun, and for endorsing our team on Facebook. Again, damn! They could have told me that the previous night. I already got my video outline, and a part of the video is already made. I just submitted the video of the trailer. Imagine that I have to bring my laptop on a cheerdance event where I am a participant. Added weight on the stuff that I actually have to bring.

During the event proper, our video is not played because of codec problems on the laptop used. They did not test the video to see if it is working, before the actual event. I found that out through my friend, who are one of those who watched the event. And again, DAMN!

This is the video which I made, and it's mostly based on the trailer of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. This video is made using Adobe Premiere CS3.

 

I just wished I did not join at all. We did not win the gold. I failed a lot of subjects, resulting to a lot of units this term and was forced to transfer to another school. P.U.T.A. 3 team is still better, because it is the competition where I actually enjoyed cheerdancing. P.U.T.A. 3 is the first one that I've joined since it is when I'm in first year college.

Note: Text in italic are added texts. I feel like placing a commentary on my own blog post from years ago.

Blog Title Origins

This blog page may be new, but the title says "It's Fearless 2.0". This would hint that there is a 1.0 version. Actually, there is a previous blog, named "It's Fearless".

The blog title actually came from a line of a song, from one of my favorite albums. The line "It's Fearless" came from the song Fearless, from the album Fearless by Taylor Swift. You would want to call me a Swiftie, which I was, during the albums Fearless and Speak Now.

Moving back to the topic, I chose that title, because I would want to express my thoughts though blog articles, without fear, fearless.

As I read through my previous blog, I've been thinking. What in the world was I writing? I tried to make a year of blogs, which was discontinued, after three months. I guess there is the pressure of thinking what to write, when you ran out of topics.

I'm trying to be active in blogging again, and I've decided to just leave out the old blog, and put my articles in this newer blog. I'm going to "migrate" some of the more meaningful posts to this blog.

I'd rather not share the link of the previous blog, unless you want to read a lot of useless discussions.

Toy Diorama Contest

Last June 12, the last day of Toycon 2016, I tried participating in a toy diorama contest. I wanted to experience making a diorama, with the use of my favorite game character, or should I say, game waifu.

On the left is the original colors. On the right is the customized colors. I have two of the original so I can have the second one painted.

The character that I will be using for this diorama is Terra Branford from Final Fantasy VI. The fig that I will be using is a custom painted Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Trading Arts of her. The scene that I'm attempting to create is the path to Narshe mines.

I would love doing the scene with the Magitek armor, but I do not own yet the Terra fig riding the armor.

I'm on a tight budget, so my diorama consisted mainly of recycled paper, and Styrofoam. Other materials used are cotton balls, illustration board, and poster paint. In short, my diorama is made of cheap materials.

First off, the illustration board will serve as the base. When I was at the bookstore, I made sure to pick the one which is really firm, as there are other brands sold which tend to bend when weight is placed on them.

For the steps of the stairs, and flat landscapes, I used styro boards since these are lightweight, firm, and easy to cut. The styro board which I bought is half-inch thick, which lessens the trouble of creating stair steps of the right elevation. Half-inch thick is also firm enough, making me not need to buy the 1-inch thick one.

I started off cutting Styrofoam boards for the stairs. To support the elevated steps, I rolled some paper to make poles. To make them even sturdier, I glued together four of them. Thankfully, these poles did the job perfectly.

These paper poles are also used to support the higher landscapes. Even these are used for supporting the elevated cave. Thankfully, these poles did not collapse under the weight of the cave.

For the rocky slopes, these are just crumpled paper which are glued together. It's pretty hard to keep them stable though. The same goes for the cave, same process and same problem. I tried my best to make it look like an actual cave, but it's pretty hard. For the color, I mixed white and black poster paint, with the ratio 2:1, to create a gray one.

Lastly, cotton balls are used to show thick snow. I unrolled these cotton balls to spread them easier. I spread them all over the stairs, and on the path that leads to the cave. I also spread them on the rocky slopes and on the cave, to hint snow accumulation.

The Terra fig. does not stand well, without the aid of her stand, and yet I have to hide it. To solve this problem, I glued the stand so it won't move. After placing Terra on the stand, I covered the stand using cotton. I made the cotton very thick on this part of the diorama, trying to show that the snow is too thick for Terra to walk on.

I did not win the competition. The other competitors are serious about winning the contest. How would you expect my budget-tight diorama to win against these?

A scene of analyzing Star Lord with live action screen just like in the movie

Batman breaking into Joker's lair

Deadpool

(I missed taking a photo of one of the entries)

Terra is one of the most underrated characters in the Final Fantasy series, and she is set to compete against characters from these popular movies. This is the greatest challenge of my favorite character for this competition.

Japanese inspired Star Wars

I did not win the competition. I thought Star Lord is going to win this one, but the samurai style Star Wars won this one. Even though I did not win, I had a great experience, and at least I was able to show my love towards my favorite character Terra Branford. Even though she's underrated, I took the time and effort to enter her into a contest she has low chance of winning.

My contest entry

I have a friend who also loves Terra Branford. She was very glad to see the diorama that I created, and the custom painted Terra. She is the one who told me to push through the Narshe scene, since that is where she is first seen in the game.

Terra lovers joined together in front of the diorama. (They are twins).

A Weekend of Going Back to Faith

This is my testimony for FCCY Youth Encounter 2016, which I spoke in front of everyone present at the final activity. (with some edited parts)

First of all, I really have no intention of participating in this retreat. My siblings are very active as they attend this retreat every year, so my parents requested that I try participating in the Youth Encounter this year.

My big change started during the second day, during the confession. I told the priest that my last confession was seven years ago. After the confession, the priest then told me this:

"Did you know that seven is a lucky number in the Bible? All these years, and when you come back to God, I'm pretty the first thing He will say is, 'Welcome back!'."

And here I am, back in faith.

During the empowerment, almost all of the songs had an impact on me, because of what I have been going through all these years. Each of these songs reminds me of what happened in my life these past years. During this activity, I also realized that I can be a very caring person towards my group mates, even though I am an introvert, because of something that happened.

Care Group: Fish n' Chips

I would like to thank the members of my care group, whom without them, I would not be who I am today. Thank you, my shobes, for a meaningful retreat. You are my first family of a new beginning.