Plinky, Inc. http://www.plinky.com/people/bubblygum.xml All Rights Reserved Hannah C - Plinky Answers 2012-06-08T13:59:36-05:00 http://www.plinky.com/answers/190759 Favorite Book from Childhood 2012-06-08T13:59:36-05:00 When I was twelve I read this children’s book about a kid who was jealous of his neighbor playmate. While his house was flawed in every angle and corner, his playmate’s house was always neat and sparkly clean. His house was small and unkempt with clothes and toys scattered around the floor, while his friend’s was spacious, modern, and always kept tidy. His own mom didn’t look like anyone special, while the boy next door’s mom always wore clothes that make her look respectable. Even the spaghetti that his mom cooks is detestable — it’s always the same spaghetti in red sauce every weekend. One day, his playmate invited him for a sleepover, and he was delighted to finally experiencing the fine life that his friend had. However, while he was there, he discovered that it was actually no fun at all. He couldn’t run around like he did in his house. TV time is limited because his friend’s mom drowns the house with opera music. Toys are kept on high shelves, only to be brought outside if they stay quiet. The beds look exquisite, but he discovers that they’re not as comfortable as his own squeaky bed. Worst, they ate a weird kind of green, slimy pasta that weekend. Oh, how he missed his usual red spaghetti!

When he got back in his house, he finally realized what ‘home’ meant. It doesn’t have to be fancy and elegant as his friend’s house, as long as he has his mom and noisy siblings with him, toys strewn around to be played with, hallways free of delicate china so that they can run around, and the best thing is that he always has red spaghetti to look forward to during weekends.

Please, if you’re familiar with this book, can you give me the title?

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/185471 When Kids Should Get Cell Phones 2012-03-31T05:09:14-05:00 I think 12 would be reasonable. These days, cell phones are more of a necessity than a luxury. I think 12 is the age when a lot of kids start wandering off from their parents' sight, and if I was a parent, I'd want to have a way to instantly talk to my son or daughter. However, I will not give them fancy and expensive phones that can be lost or stolen easily. "Basic" phones would be enough -- phones that can make calls and text messages but aren't too outdated (I refuse to be a dorky mom).

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/175511 Advice I Wish I Received Earlier 2011-12-03T12:22:48-05:00 1. You do not have to give everything to someone just to prove that you love that person.
2. Sometimes, your best effort is still not enough. You can't please everybody.
3. Nursing a grudge towards someone is like holding hot coal on your hands with the intention of throwing it to that person -- you are just hurting yourself.
4. Forgiving yourself is equally important with forgiving the people who hurt you.
5. Save for the rainy days!
6. Procrastinating may be a quick way out to something that you don't want to do, but you will never escape the responsibilities that you keep on postponing.
7. You are not alone :)
8. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
9. Admitting your mistakes doesn't make you less of a human.
10. Life won't always be how you want it to be. Stop whining and wishing for the 'good old days' to come back, because they never will, and you're missing the opportunity to create new 'good days'!

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/171056 Paper or Digital? 2011-10-10T18:00:11-05:00 Journal

I still prefer the traditional way of journal writing. Although it's easier and faster to type on a keyboard, I feel that writing on paper with ink has more 'feelings' to it. My handwriting changes depending on what's currently happening in my life. Am I in a hurry? I'd probably write in illegible scribbles. Am I angry? I'd probably write heavily and in big letters. Am I in love? I'd probably use cursive writing. I also draw on the edges of my journal notebook -- it's something that I can't do on a computer (unless I upload photos). Sometimes I stick related stuff on my journal like tickets to a concert, dried petals of a flower, small printed pictures of me and my friends, etc.

I have been writing a journal since I was ten. I use different notebooks for my journals -- big sketchbooks, small notepads, ordinary notebooks, etc. I have accumulated almost two dozen journals since I started, and I definitely won't stop soon!

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/169509 How I'd Spend a 28-Hour Day 2011-09-28T16:17:52-05:00 If I had four extra hours everyday, I would use one hour to volunteer at a charitable organization, one hour to play The Sims 3, and two hours to sleep longer at night.

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/168788 If Money Were No Object 2011-09-20T14:49:18-05:00 1. Grocery stockroom employee. When I was really young, I enjoyed going to the grocery with my mom or my grandma. I delighted in seeing boxes and cans and containers neatly packed and lined up on shelves. Whenever I saw items that weren't arranged properly, I would stop and line them up properly. My grandma used to have a sari-sari store and she would give me the boxes of containers of the items that she bought in the grocery. I would list down the names of the product boxes and pile them up neatly in a shelf in my room. Until now, I still love arranging things in an orderly way, sometimes in a way that only I can understand.

2. Babysitter. Those who know me are aware of my love for kids. I don't even have to explain this. I love kids. That's all.

3. Owner of a vacation house. I don't know if it's a 'job' but it would probably be awesome if I can have a vacation house for rent in a faraway beach. I would do my best to make sure that my guests would enjoy their stay. I don't want to own a big resort or something like that -- just a small house is enough for groups of friends who want to spend some time together, or a newly wed couple, maybe.

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/167947 What Makes Me Smile 2011-09-09T18:51:50-05:00

The children that I teach.

I see them every Sunday and we do all kinds of things, from storytelling to crafts to watching puppet shows to making cards for their mothers. We do a lot of things and it feels so great to see 'my' boys having fun with each other. I love children and this love for children was one of the reasons why I'm studying Psychology in college right now. I want to work with children. I want to understand them. I want to love them. People ask me if I want to be a preschool teacher. That would be awesome but it's not just about being a teacher. Even if I end up working in the human resources department of some office, I'd probably still insist that I get to spend a few hours of my week with children, whether it's in a school, orphanage, or hospital.

Anyway, about 'my' boys -- I get to see them every Sunday. I don't get paid for this, but just being with them, having fun with them, and knowing that they are eager to see me is the best payment that I can receive. I've been with these kids for more than a year now and I have grown to love them like my own children. I actually think that they have awaken the mother instinct in me (even if I don't have a biological child yet), ha ha! I could choose to rest on Sunday mornings instead of spending time with them, but that would be really sad. Spending time with them not only awakened the 'sleeping mother' in me, but the child in me which I thought was long gone. I don't have to pretend in front of them. I can go crazy and run around with them with my shoes off and they wouldn't care. I could make mistakes and know that a simple 'sorry' would be enough for them, and that they would forget it after five minutes.

Children are adorable, not only because they look physically cute but they have all the joy in the world that adults have forgotten about. They rejoice in the simplest things like finding their favorite color in a stash of crayons. They can have fun by simply running around and pretending like zombies chasing humans. Whenever they are upset, a loving hug can soothe all the pain in their hearts.

Oh, I just love them. My week is never complete without seeing them.

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/166670 Blowing Off Steam 2011-08-27T01:04:00-05:00 Clean this up

I clean the house when I'm mad!

I know it's a weird way to release anger, but it works for me. When I'm mad, I feel like I have this sudden boost of energy and I can push furniture around to clean hidden spaces. It's like I get mad at every dirt that I see. Because of my anger, I would sometimes get annoyed at how the house looks like and then I would start to rearrange the decors.

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/166465 The Smartest Person I Know 2011-08-24T22:02:05-05:00

My best friend Blanca is definitely the smartest person I know. She's all kinds of smart. What do I mean by that?

1. 'Brainy' smart. We became friends in 2002. We started as classmates, and got closer to each other every year. Even though she's not really one of the top students, everyone knows that she's intelligent. I don't know how to describe her intelligence without praising her too much, so I guess I'll just leave it there.

2. 'Talent' smart. This girl is a cheater because she hoarded almost every talent available in life. She's a singer, a dancer, an actress, a director, a visual artist (drawing, painting, crafts, design), and a writer.

3. 'Leader' smart. Another thing that I admire about Blanca is her leadership skill. She's not just a boss -- she's a leader who puts her heart into whatever leadership work she is involved with. Even when we were in high school, she was always chosen as leader in small group projects or in class leadership. Even now, she is still being chosen as a leader in different organizations.

4. 'Teacher' smart. I have always thought that she was meant to be an artist, but it seems that she can also be a teacher. She started tutoring kids a few years ago to earn extra cash. She's currently working as a preschool teacher!

5. 'Street' smart. She just seems to know what to do at the right time and at the right place. We can eat at a nearby isaw stand or at a classy restaurant, and she would know how to act accordingly. Whenever I ask her if she knows a place for this and that, she can tell me where to find what I'm looking for. When I had a European friend visit me, I talked to Blanca several times to ask for places where I could bring my friend. I also took her with me and my friend several times, because most of the time I'm clueless. She helped us not to get tricked by people who just wanted to extract money from my foreigner friend. I would sometimes talk to her when I needed instructions on different things. It seems to me that she knows almost everything about life.

6. 'Friend' smart. Obviously, this is my favorite. We have known each other for nine years now, and I continue to cherish the friendship that we have. She has been a friend through thick and thin. During the times when we saw each other everyday at school, I never got tired of her. When we had to go to different universities, we hardly saw each other. However, even though the frequency of our communication with each other dropped, I never doubted that I was still her close friend, and I bet she felt the same. Sometimes we wouldn't be able to talk to each other for several months, and then we would see each other. We would talk and bond as if all those months were nothing. We have our own lives, but we're still connected. She still comes to my rescue when I need her, and I am always glad to do the same for her. I'm happy that we're still friends. One time we talked about the problems that threatened to break us apart: boys, school, other friends, gossip, lack of time for each other, lack of communication, and even money. We have beaten those threats down.

7. 'Life' smart. She has been through a lot of joys and pains, and I admire how she went through all those events as a strong person. I cannot write about the things she went through because she will kill me if I did that, but one thing I know, she has been through difficult times... And she's still standing strong.

We used to talk about school. Teachers. Friends. Family. Boys. Love. College. Serious relationships. Heart breaks. Success. Failure. Jobs. Co-workers. Career. Plans in life. Time will pass and then we will start talking about our own families. Husbands. Children. Parenting. Teenage sons and daughters. Married children. Grandchildren.

I look forward to the day when we would sit together and talk about the life we shared with each other.

I love you, Blanca =)

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/166393 What I'd Like a Lifetime Supply of 2011-08-23T20:25:48-05:00 Parisian Summer Yellow mini cards

It would be awesome if I can have a lifetime supply of cards that say, "Things Will Get Better!"

I want them to be printed in bright yellow paper with drawings of smiling people and animals and a sun with a smiling face, and flowers and butterflies and everything happy. I will bring a dozen cards everyday and give it to random strangers with sad faces.

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/166168 Truth or Dare? 2011-08-19T23:40:01-05:00 I'd rather do a very embarrassing challenge than reveal secrets.

I am a very secretive person. I can count in one hand the number of people who truly know/knew me. I don't care if people force me to do embarrassing stuff, as long as my secrets are kept safe.

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/136109 A Difficult Decision 2011-03-06T13:21:40-05:00 One of the biggest decisions that I had to make was taking a break from college. Our family was going through a big financial crisis at that time. I wanted to help by finding a job, but I knew the consequences of leaving college. I have heard several times that it's difficult to get back, and I might fall in love with the working world, where I earn money instead of relying on my parents.

Eventually, I decided to take a break from studying. Our family's need was too big for me to ignore. I have been out of college since 2007, and working for more than two years already. What people told me was true -- it's difficult to leave studying behind, but also difficult to get back. I have seen a lot of people who have the same case as me, and most of them already enjoy the benefits of earning their own money. I am different, though. Right now, there is nothing I want more than to go back to studying. My family's situation is better now, and in April I will start processing my enrollment papers again.

I picked this as one of the biggest decisions that I had to make because it was a choice between myself and my family's needs. All my life, my family had provided for all the things that I needed and wanted. The decision I made has its pro's and con's. I could have graduated from college at this time if I didn't take a break, but then who knows what our family's situation could be right now, if I didn't do my duty to help as part of the family. I have learned a lot of lessons while on 'detour', though. Working for companies changed some of my negative attitudes like being slow (I can't be late everyday, or else I'll get fired), not speaking up (no one will do things for me in the 'real' world), my lack of initiative (I have to think for myself and act on it, or else I'll be left behind), and being irresponsible (we are accountable for things entrusted to us, including the money that we earn). I also met wonderful people that I probably wouldn't know if I didn't make this decision.

The decision and outcome were both difficult, but the experience is worth it. =)

]]> http://www.plinky.com/answers/105172 Reminders for the 16-year old me 2010-08-19T20:00:32-05:00 2008.11.12 - The letter

Dear naive, 16-year old me:

Hi. I'm your future self. I know, you're going through difficult times. You were removed from a scholarship program and have to deal with new classmates, new environment, and discrimination from other people just because you came from the "elite" group.

Do not hate them.

Someday, you'd be wishing that you spent more time making new friends instead of hating the people who are criticizing you. Someday, you'd wish you could have shown them what you are capable of, instead of cowering in shame because of all the hurtful words and actions that they are inflicting towards you, whether intentional or unintentional. When you get to my age, you will realize that opposition should be a motivation for you to prove people wrong, instead of letting it affect you.

Continue striving in what you are good -- writing. Yes, you have the talent. I stopped writing when I was in your place, because I was so discouraged of my situation. I pitied myself and ended up making my talents rot in the dark. I could have been 'someone'... instead, I became 'no one'.

Cherish the remaining friends that you have. You think that you're gonna find new and better people when you get to college but the truth is, as the 20-year old you, the closest friends that I have right now are not the new people I met after high school, but those who stuck with me when I was your age.

Make the most out of your experiences. Love the glee club! You are part of one of the best high school choirs in the country. After you graduate, the glee club will slowly die and our beloved conductress Ma'am Nady will file her resignation from the school.

Value your education. I know you have big plans right now -- finish four years in college, get a job, build a career and then get married. You thought that when you reach my age, you would have graduated from college already, but you are wrong! I am the 20-year old you, but I'm not done with college yet. I'm working because I stopped after my second year in college. Our family will have problems with our finances. Learn how to save. It's not easy to earn money.

Don't be like me, okay? I am at work right now but I am using the internet. Lol.

Love,
20-year old Hannah

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