Today’s blog is dedicated to my good friend, Mary Ann Palma, who just recently finished her PhD. Mean finished her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines; holds a Master in Marine Management degree from Dalhousie University, in Canada; and also has a Diploma in the Law of the Sea from the Rhodes Academy of Ocean Law and Policy.

Mean loves the Simpsons, playing with her drum set, and listening to music! She does not like going to the library or going to any ICIS-related activities. But if you do, she would still be your friend. Mean also loves the sun, James Blunt, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Regine Velasquez. Hahaha, just kidding. She does not like Regine. That would be me, but that is another story.

As I was saying… Mean loves good food but can go working for days without eating. Believe me, she can. I have seen it myself. She is a bit of a workaholic, I guess. Mean loves baking, makes yummy dinuguan and recently bought a happy chopper from Tupperware. Mary Ann introduced me to Ebay, listened to my incessant babbles everyday, opened her fridge for me every single time I go hungry at night after we go home taking the last shuttle and helped me over the years in oh sooo many ways, if I listed them all here, I would need another blog.

But best of all, she has been a true and loyal and helpful and generous friend, for which I am most thankful for. Before I break into tears (or into song, more probably), it would be a good idea to end this blog entry. Again, congratulations, dear friend Doc Mean!

P.S.

I forgot to mention that she got back her thesis from the examination committee just a month (!) after she submitted; without need of any revision (!) [which even my fave site, wikipedia mentions as "fairly rare"] ; and was even given a commendation (!). Wow. That is no mean feat. Well done!!! Now, we can devote our time finding her a boytoy.