A Concrete Example of Catastrophe

'Catastrophe'... How is this word formed? What words are combined to m ake this word? What's the history of this term?
Those were like the questions our professor was asking before a concrete example came after a few minutes...
We were already in the middle of the 'falling' discussion (falling since we were like losing our performance on Terror Prof M's class) when classmate Lovelyn protested on classmate RC's answer to a question.
I was already dizzy... I took out all the papers I could find in my bag to look for the right answer to our professor's example when suddenly there were moans of anxiety around me. I thought Lovelyn said something wrong with her outburst of knowledge. But I heard Marielle mentioned the word "lindol" (earthquake) and I looked out of the window.
The open window, in which one of the airconditioner is placed with some wooden wall to support it, was shaking back and forth.
I felt it. There was an earthquake.
I felt glad to feel it--because I was excited with feeling its action. Call me mean but I did not wish any harm on anyone.. It's just that it felt fun during that moment when I felt like the whole earth was swaying me in its hammock. I could even fall asleep...
But it lasted only a few seconds. Bitin.
Our professor, ever so calm, told us to go out of the building. Luckily, her type of seating arrangement fits such situation; we all got out easily. And it was a good thing we were downstairs near the main door of the building. We joined the other people gathered beside the field of the university.
Bitin.
We were walking as I tried to hold all the papers I've taken out of my bag during class. The papers fell as I walked and I felt really stupid. At least the earthquake was done. No time to haste, I guess.
Bitin.

I Let the Burglar In

Last wednesday, right before the Pageant, I left the house around six twenty in the morning... unconscious of the crime about to take place in our very home....
I was waiting in my usual position for the bus with the skate board in my hands.
At home, I was unaware that this small, thin and strange man entered our compound and managed to get into my grandmother's home. My grandmother was there, lying on the sofa, taking a short nap with her back on the sight of the thief.
I was so annoyed because, as always, the PVP Liner Bus hasn't arrived yet. It would always be like that. Maybe the drivers are lazy. But I should've thought of the door I left open when I left the house. But I wasn't aware that a thief managed to go upstairs and spy on the sleeping people in the bedrooms.
He could not come any closer. He feared of getting caught. He was in too deep now. So, he thought of grabbing the first thing that comes to his hands: some old shoes.
My brother went in and went into the bathroom. He noticed some figure rushing out of the house. But he wasn't able to figure who it was.
The thief left our house with some pair of old shoes in his sinful fingers. And he should've thanked me for opening the door for him.
He should've thanked my stupidity.
Because I was there, knowing nothing about my fault. I found a bus and was very thankful I was going to make it on time at school. But that grace worth three old shoes...
By the way, last week, somebody just stole our bicycle; the fifth of its kind to be stolen from us.
Damn...

Drastic Tuesday with Mrs. M PART 2

continuation...

And so, Ma'am M came in our classroom (if you have no idea who she is, try reading my other blog posts--like THE DROP and MONDAYS and THURSDAYS).
She went in with what seemed to all of us as a good mood. But you know the weather...
It rains..
Then the sun glares later on...
And then it pours hard after a few fours....
I saw her sit at the table in front and started calling names with the classcards already on her hands...
Everything went well until.... "Fule,...Gagaoin,....GUTING...."
I wasn't called!!! Everyone had eyes on me with shock. But Ma'am M went on. I saw Candy mouthed something. I consulted my bag and found out that my classcard was still in my notebook.
Panic time: Ma'am M doesn't like latecomers.
I stood up and saw what seemed like a reflection opposite me as I approached the table; Joanne, our class president, also forgot to pass her card.
"Ma'am," I said, in a nervous tone, "I forgot to..." I couldn't make up the sentences...
Ma'am M looked up at the two of us. Then, she looked down and moaned, "You're doing it again...." She was on the verge of getting mad.
I've never learned my lesson!!!
"Get out," she advised to the two of us, "find a new professor for the two of you."
Joanne and I reluctantly sat back on our seats. We did not leave the room though. And I was fingering my bag, preparing to pick it up in case Ma'am M shouts at us to leave.
THE LUCKY PART (Ironically): She returned the cards for us to write something on the back. This time, upon returning these, we get to join the cards as we hand it back to her, and join the long semester of new pains and sacrifices (oh, and learnings).
Well, I can't imagine anybody else teaching this course better than she does... So it's worth being lucky I guess...

Drastic Tuesday with Mrs. M

+Today, Tuesday, Second day of class this semester, It was a drizzling. was waiting for the bus to come while worrying---I'm going to be late for my first class. PVP Buses are so lazy and always late!!!
+Yesterday, Monday, Ms. H told us that she wouldn't orient on the first day because there will always be some people who are still absent after the vacation (break). In this way, she wouldn't be repeating all she will eb saying to each of us.
+This Morning, first class, I got almost on time. There were only a few of us in the classroom. The professor, Mrs. G., was there already. Then some of my classmates came. Then, came Von, late.
Mrs. G said, "This will be the first and last time that you will be late in this class. I don't know if I'm still going to accept you if you come late next time in this class. Huwag kang magulat if I tell you to 'don't come to my class on time'. I mean to say, you should come before the time."
Then, came Cherry... Another late student...
I thought I experienced a de ja vu when Mrs. G. said,
Mrs. G: "This will be the first and last time that you will be late in this class. I don't know if I'm still going to accept you if you come late next time in this class. Huwag kang magulat if I tell you to 'don't come to my class on time'. I mean to say, you should come before the time." Cherry took her seat.
Then, came Jobelle...
Mrs. G: "This will be the first and last time that you will be late in this class. I don't know if I'm still going to accept you if you come late next time in this class. Huwag kang magulat if I tell you to 'don't come to my class on time'. I mean to say, you should come before the time."
Then another classmate came, Mrs G: "This will be the first and last time that you will be late in this class. I don't know if I'm still going to accept you if you come late next time in this class. Huwag kang magulat if I tell you to 'don't come to my class on time'. I mean to say, you should come before the time."
I was beginning to memorize the refrain when another, and another came to class late.. And it went on, like a memorized prayer or chant: "This will be the first and last time that you will be late in this class. I don't know if I'm still going to accept you if you come late next time in this class. Huwag kang magulat if I tell you to 'don't come to my class on time'. I mean to say, you should come before the time."
Then, lastly, Ava arrived... I felt like a fortune-teller for the first time when I predicted the lined Mrs. G mentioned: "This will be the first and last time that you will be late in this class. I don't know if I'm still going to accept you if you come late next time in this class. Huwag kang magulat if I tell you to 'don't come to my class on time'. I mean to say, you should come before the time."
Oh, and one more thing: She's not strict, she's just straight. She's cool (but really strict, I guess)!!
+I bought a foot-long hotdog and an iced tea for my ten o'clock lunch.
+The Climax of the day came... Mrs. M arrived on our class as our professor again.... and I was the first one to irritate her this time...
to be continued...