Evolutionary speaking,

You know class, ideally it doesn’t really matter if you have a car or other luxuries in life. Do you think a man will look better if he owns a brand new car? It doesn’t make any sense! Your physical attributes (personality included, for a good reason) are one of your best assets in which you can ever present to the multitude. Earth has already been here in our solar system for at least 4.6 billion years. The first microorganisms appeared 2 billion years later, and then the complex evolutionary process occurred gradually until such time that it molded several genera and families base on the capability of the organisms to adapt on certain climatic conditions.

Nature will naturally select those who have the greatest number of advantageous traits. Those who do not have advantageous traits will soon disappear since traits will not be passed on to the next generation. Moreover, it will create a stable gene pool given at the right environmental condition.

But then again, we humans are so intelligent that we actually seek for practicality. We do not think of the possible detrimental effects to the future generations base on the way we choose our own lifetime partners. It may sound superficial to you, but think of it this way: If we continue to choose luxuries of life over the person per se, time will come that the next generation will have less advantageous traits and might lead to an event that we do not wish to happen.

—-

These are some of the things that I wish to discuss if ever I teach Evolutionary Biology in the near future.

Live Like We're Dying

It's already the fourth month since the introduction of my sea cucumbers to the pen. So as early as 0730, I swam into the 6,000 sq meter pond and I was shocked of what I saw: mass grave.

I was really, really surprised to see some dead sea cucumbers. It was really gruesome. In each pens, I saw four or five dead sea cucumbers and it looks like they were victims of a suicide bombing. Yeah, I think you have already surmised it right, their guts were open. Some of them were flat but all of their GI tract were missing. I first thought my sea cucumbers were attacked by those nasty crabs.

Since it was daytime, the recovery rate is lower since majority of them have already burrowed in the pond substrate. Just so you know, Holothuria scabra are nocturnal species. I still picked them even if they looked sick (or worse, dying).

I went back to land together with my research associate and did some measurements. I asked him whether my sea cucumbers were attacked by the predators and he said that the sea cucumbers in his pond, which is located a few meters from mine have also suffered the same predicament. They have this grayish discoloration on both of its ventral and dorsal side and secrete this slimy mucus from its anus and/or mouth.

According to the RA, this is probably caused by sudden changes in salinity and water temperature of the pond due to the abnormal weather. SEE? Because of El Niño, my thesis experiment has been compromised. I had the first sign of it last March 21, when one of the sea cucumbers eviscerated. You know, when sea cucumbers are subjected to stress, they vomit their own gut.

I will send this report to my thesis adviser later and wait for some possible actions to answer this serious quandary of mine. :(

Current Mood

Wanna know my current mood?


SABAW. AS IN SABAW.


Actually, my mind is literally empty. I only managed to have 3 hours of sleep today and I think it was the worst day EVER in my whole college life. It started yesterday.


It was 11pm. I was busy reading Bruce Alberts' et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. I was almost through with the 7th chapter (reading then writing a summary on a paper) when suddenly, the lights went off, except for the laptop. I was so pissed that I want to hit something very hard. The place isn't conducive, so I decided to sleep and just wished that the power will come back an hour after. Then I woke up at around 3am and was relieved that the power was back. So I continued reading that freakin' e-book, then reviewed, then took a nap.


Today, I have two long exams: Molecular Biology and Plant Ecology. I haven't had read even one single report on the latter since I chose to concentrate with the former.


Then I went to school and it was drizzling. O_O


11.30 am, I took the exam. I took a deep breathe...


and then...


and then...


AND THEN I FCKINGLY STARED ON MY TEST PAPER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. Seriously. I thought I was the only one who just stared on the paper and doodled something at the back page of the blue book (my doodle was still related to the exam since we were asked to draw the general structures of DNA, RNA, DNA Replication fork and etc...). I was not alone.


After the exam, all of us whined since it was really a difficult exam. Potek.

NAKABOBOBO ANG EXAM SA BIO101 KANINA PRAMIS.

And then this afternoon, I just crammed with my Plant Ecology exam. GOOD THING, the exam was NOT DEPRESSING.


Okay. So much for these things.


I still have an exam tomorrow, Elementary Statistics.


Then by Thursday, report on Plant Ecology.


I'll be reporting this weird looking plant.

Ahoy!

A Very Nice Experience

I won't regret on spending lots of money over the last weekend. It's just... it was all worth it (despite some minor problems during the trip).

I was not a field trip (that is... purely acads), but it was a fun trip!
Sigh. I won't forget those cheerful memories especially from my HALER van mates. HAHAHAHA!!!


The Initao Adventure was the best trip that I've experienced so far.

Can You Spot the Difference/s?

BS Biology Pep Squad
UP Mindanao, Dula 2007-2009


Can you spot the difference/s? HAHAHAHA



2007:

2008:

2009:

Habang tumatagal, lalong naging daring ang suot ng mga girls.. ang boys, always conservative. LOL

P-PO-POWER, the POWER, WOOO, BIOS POWER, Awoo awoo!

Photo credit: Dr. Reynaldo G. Abad

We'll keep on Fighting 'til the END

For almost two months, we have endured those black and blue bruises on our knees and hips.
We have sacrificed our time just to practice our routine and dance steps.

Our 300 pesos went to heaven. :(
Sleepless nights.
Academic works were almost compromised, but thank God we still made it to the top.
Lots of things were considered.
Got sick.
Lost someone close to our hearts.
The laughs, the tears, and the joys we have experienced.
The palm plant who have lost all of its seeds due to our "excitement".
The "initiation" process.
The Mommy jeep.
The never-ending "Kaon ta sa Jao Kiks" and "Guys, kita lang ta sa Siopao Factory ha?"
The accidents brought about by the almost impossible stunts, yet we performed it perfectly during the performance day.

Oh yes, lots of memories were stored in my mind. I didn't regret of joining BS Bio PEP SQUAD. It was all worth it.

To my BIOS Family - Congratulations!!! We had another triumphant victory!!!

Sa uulitin! :))

Remembering Toto

Life, though ephemeral, imparts memories and lessons that lasts a lifetime.

Life is like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes we experience triumph wherein we rejoice and wish that this euphoric moment would last forever. Sometimes we experience desperation and hope that this torment will end soon. You know, it is easy to tell people to move on, but moving on is the most painful part of life. Reality hurts.

Along the gloomy corridor of the east side of College of Science and Mathematics contains one of the most expensive laboratories of the university, the Molecular Biology Laboratory. This state-of-the-art laboratory is managed by this short, hairy and jolly man, Dr. Severo T. Bastian Jr., or “Toto” as what his colleagues and his family fondly call him.

I first saw him when I was still a freshie. He was famous to our batch since he’s the father of our classmate, Joie. And then he became the Department Chair of the BSES Department. I will never forget him, most especially during the preregistration and enrolment period. I would always plead him to let me transfer to another lab section despite some discrepancies with our schedule. Also, he helped us (with Anj, Mon, Mark, Aiai, and Yuri) to take BIO101 (Molecular Biology) despite on flunking one of its prerequisites, CHEM160 (Biochemistry). I will never forget the efforts he had exerted just for us.

He was not just a simple Molecular Biology professor, but a great father to all of us.

One time, I went to the Dean’s office for some reasons. I sat in the couch and then he entered the room. He sat beside me and cracked a joke. He’s the type of person who hates dull moments. Even if I didn’t understand his joke, I still laugh since he wanted me to be happy (I was kinda pissed off at that time).

Aside from jokes, he keeps on reminiscing his Japan moments. Every details of it were very vivid as he retold his Japanese escapade. He also shared us some funny stories about her two daughters, Joie and Jee Sean and how lucky he is to be the father of Joie and Jee Sean and a lovely husband of their mom.

One day when I got weary and tired after the first attempt of the skinning of the cat, he sat right in front of me on the entrance hall of CSM. He asked me why I’m tired. I told about the cats, the killing process and etc. He even gave me few advices; like chloroform is a carcinogenic substance and we shouldn’t be exposed to it for a long time. I could see his “fatherly” concern to us. I just smiled to him and he left right away since he had lots of things to do.

Every time he walks on the old corridors of CSM, he never removes his dimpled smile, until the last week of his existence.

Wednesday. I was in the Wildlife Laboratory, doing my Fil1 report. The door was widely open so I can see who’s walking along the corridor. I saw Sir Toto walking in the corridor every five minutes. There was something odd about him. I couldn’t forget his sad face. It was highly unusual seeing the “forever-smiling face of CSM” to be so sad. I thought he wasn’t in the mood at that time since he was very busy, signing all the papers from the administration and all application forms for the outline defense.

Thursday. Apparently, it was supposed to be our scheduled exam in Molecular Biology. At around 6 in the morning, Joie sent us a text message, telling that the exam was called off. He didn’t report to school, not until in the afternoon. He attended the outline defense of Kuya Weller since he’s the adviser. His voice was very odd. But still, he tried to smile despite his worsening condition.

The last time I saw Sir Toto was Friday. He was in the Molecular Bio lab, attending the outline defense of Joie, Cha, Neil and Maria.


Sunday, 2.30 am… Neil im-ed me about the critical condition of Sir Bastian. He was asking for prayers for Sir Toto’s fast recovery. He was in the ICU. Joie was crying all day, all night, as well as Jee Sean.


Sir Toto left the mortal world at around six in the morning.

---


I was really shocked by Sir Toto’s sudden demise.

We always think that what we see in drama series aren’t real – a product of man’s exaggeration.

Today, it’s not an exaggeration, but rather a bitter reminder to all of us that life is unpredictable.


Surreal.

The once happy moments of Sir Bastian are now shrouded with pain, despair and loneliness.

Sir Toto, we will miss you – your dimpled smile, your jokes, your coffee, your advices and most of all, your unconditional love for us.

Farewell Sir.

Happiness!

So yeah I went home at around 9.50 in the evening and after finishing my dinner, I started reviewing for my exam in Molecular Biology. For three straight hours, I had an undisturbed stance and started to understand those molecular bio terms, concepts and applications. But heck, around 2 in the morning, I started to feel groggy. Drinking coffee won't have an effect on me because God-only-knows-why I'm already immune with caffeine. It would be useless.


So I resort in a desperate act, write the outline of the reports (I won't print those reports since I'm saving the ink of my printer) even if I did not understand it.


Then my mind still wanted to work but my body can't. So I slept in front of my laptop and woke up at around 5 in the morning. I went immediately to my room and slept again.


When I woke up at around 10.30, I received one message in my cellphone, and I thought it was a nonsense group message again.


But then again, that message cured my insanity.

"BIO101 classmates, exam canceled, we'll have our exam this Tuesday nalang. Pls pass"

Hayyyyyyy. First time 'to nangyari sa buhay ko. Lingaw.

---

Snooze or work. The mind is willing but the body is half-dead. :(

Sacrifices

Okay, so Happy 16th birthday to my beloved brother. Yeeee.

Also, Happy 20th birthday, Carlo Castillo! Weeee.



---

Last week, I just turned 19. Nothing had changed within my physical looks or in my behavior. In just the same me. But anyway the point is, I wish for eternal happiness despite those unexpected things.


Okay, there are so many things in my mind right now - thesis, experimental design of my thesis, the never-ending saga in laboratory reports, surprise quizzes, long exams, origin-insertion-action of the muscular system of Felis domestica and many more. How I wish time wouldn't be that fast. How I wish. But yeah, there are so many things to consider nowadays.



Every thing in my life right now is very crucial to my future.

Tomorrow, my family and some close relatives will have a family outing somewhere in wilderness. I on the other hand will be at the beach not to relax but to continue with my thesis. Gaaaah. Good thing I have already been to that place. O___O Also, the reason is almost the same on why I don't update my multiply site. You know, I really miss my bffs here in multiply. Hahaha. Original online buddies, per se. :))


Some random thoughts...

Speaking of school, we already have killed two cats. Wanna know the reason? It's quite silly actually. The first batch of cats were infested by those pesky fat-assed maggots. We forgot to submerge it in a 37% formaldehyde solution. Tae. Plus the smell was really... UGGGHHH... pungent. We can still smell that.. ugghhh.. pungent smell of rotting flesh as far as 50 meters! Ewww. Now I have goosebumps. Yuck talaga.

Convenience Stores are so... uhmm... convenient. Last Friday I went to the convenience to buy my own toothbrush, because it's been ages since my last replacement of it. YAAAKKK. Hahaha. So I grab a cool lookin' Oral B toothbrush. I thought it cost 20 pesos. I gave the cashier 50 pesos and she said something. Worse, iba yung pagkarinig ko sa kanya (maybe brought about by stress).

I thought she said "May 16 pesos ka lang sir?"
I replied sternly: "Miss, 50 lang pera ko..."
"Sir, 60 pesos kasi toothbrush mo"
"Ay...Ganon, Hehe. Eto oh (binigay ang exact amount)"

Tae, nawala tuloy ako sa budget nang dahil sa isang toothbrush. But yeah, it was worth it, since I have forced my old toothbrush to extend its life about a hundred times. HAHAHA. Kidding.


So yeah, it's quite unusual to blog early in the morning. Hehehehe.


The geek is about to sign off. Stay tuned.

Teehee! =)

The Making of a Psychopath

I always think that the Junior life in college is more demanding than the Sophomore life. But I didn't think that it was a million times HARDER. Damn it.


It's almost three in the morning, and yet I'm still awake. There were lots of changes that occurred during the last few weeks.



I'm not getting enough sleep.
I sleep only 5 hours a day, or worse less than that.
For the first time, schedules of making lab reports, study periods, outline won't fit in my planner anymore. Time is insufficient.
I'm suffering from nightmares - terrifying and realistic scenarios from school, some sort-of-a bad premonition.


AND MOST OF ALL...

because of these, I can't sleep well. :((


Oh yeah, no more weekends for me since I'm going to start working with my thesis starting the second week of August. God, this is terrifying.


This is killing me.

Long time no blog.
Pardon if all of my entries since June were all stress-related.


Alright, I have to sleep. I still have to go to the Vanishing Island, still thesis-related.


It seems that I'm getting stressed instead of enjoying myself with the picturesque view of it whenever I go to the beach . But I don't have a choice. I have to deal with it.



There's no turning back; a point of no return.
Time is crucial.



Oh yeah, a big good luck to me. Four exams starting Monday and will end on Thursday. On Friday, I should start passing the first draft of my report in Molecular Biology. Plus, I think the practices in cheerdance would be, uhmmm, more tedious than I expect.

Ang buhay ng Iskolar ng Bayan. Bow. RAAAAR!

Eye to Eye Through The Storm

Fiiiiiinnnnaaalllllyyyy.



I can't believe that I actually survived this week, hell week to be precise. I think I need to detoxify my body. Stress is toxic, you know. I need..uhhhhh.. no... I HAVE to watch Half-Blood Prince tomorrow. Damn. Great, I have so many things in my mind.


I have to talk with that BFAR Guy or to my aunt regarding my thesis.
I have to gather lots of journals about my thesis. Crap.
I have to talk with Mamayko's RAs (research assistants) because I want to start with my experiment.
I have to pass the second draft of my outline even if I'm not enrolled with BIO200a.
I have to memorize the skeletal system of the ff: Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
I have to study Plant Ecology Lec/Lab, Molecular Bio, and Biochem too! Damn it.


But despite these stressful activities, we still smile in front of the camera. Nice.

Anyway, I have just noticed that a LOT of people in school were sick. Last week I got sick but recovered after a few days. Moreover, people are getting paranoid with the notorious A(H1N1) virus!!! What the hell. This virus isn't that deadly compared to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory System). Pandemonium is not necessary. Tsktsk. =/


By the way, this week, I really had an itch to read something, aside from those nerdy books from hell. I borrowed Dyan's Diary of Wimpy Kid. The first book was really funny. In fairness it was a good read. Dyan, pahiram ng second book ng Wimpy Kid! HAHAHAHA. Two weeks ago, mom finally completed the Harry Potter series (books). Scholastic had finally released the paperback edition of the last HP book (Deathly Hallows). Mom didn't hesitate to buy it despite its price - Php 575.00! Quite expensive for a paperback book. Tsk. But yeah, I'll probably start reading it this week. Well, IDK. Natatanggal lang talaga pagod ko pag nakababasa ako ng mga novels.

By the way...

Did you know that....

I signed up for the cheerdance almost a month ago. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Whatever.
Anyway, I still have lots of things to do.

The weather is killing me, literally. Have a sappy...ooopps, uhhh, HAPPY weekend everyone!

Long Week

There are few things that I have to consider...things that made my week longer than I anticipated.


Exactly 7 days ago, I felt this odd feeling around my upper palate. It was irritatingly itchy. But I didn't care about it and still continue to do things related to my major subjects. But hell, things get worse last Monday, right after the cheerdance practice. I can't breathe. It's like there are hundreds of hands squeezing my lungs. Breathing is supposed to be a necessity since we living things need oxygen. Instead, it was a torture. When I got home I took a bath (because I was all sweaty and had this weird sticky feeling at that time), ate dinner and had myself nebulized for about 25 minutes. Gaad, it was a relief. I slept for almost 12 hours.


Time is running out. I promised myself not to cram with my ZOO113 Lab exam. So little by little I started to memorize things starting to the unimaginable parts of Amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) to the carapace and plastron of the poor turtle. At least I have answered all of the questions... but... I'm... not.... quite.... sure.... if I hit the right answer. Pffft. Damn it.

Anyway, I am getting annoyed with this creature because this creature is supposedly to be extinct. Uggghhhhh. The creature's physical looks are terrible.


Speaking of terrible, mom brought this scary mask from my godmother last night. She said these masks came all the way from Bali, Indonesia. These masks remind me of something spooky. But heck, I think it's cool.

I and brother fooling with those scary-lookin' masks. HAHAHAAHA We looked like a twin here. Lol :))))

Last week was very long and the following weeks would be longer - more demanding, and more sleepless nights to consider. But yeah, weekends are supposedly to be nerd-free - as in non-acads day. So I decided to watch Ice Age 3. Man, it was surely entertaining.

Okay, so now, I'm feeling better. Better than Monday. For three days, my voice had changed due to my sickness.




So, how's you're week? Hope you're doing fine.



Stressed yet happy,
Renz. :)

It's been a while.

Brother's not here, so as dad. Brother's attending some youth camp at UIC. But duh, he's just there because his palalabs is there too. That's what lovers are for. Bitter? Naah. I don't care.


Yeah, a lot of things have occurred in the past few weeks.

The King of Pop is dead.
Michael Jackson is dead.
The event organizer (or sponsor?) of MJ's concert will soon face bankruptcy due to MJ's sudden demise.
Only one survived an Airbus A310 Yemen-based aircraft crashed near the Indian Ocean (or not?).
Heal the world, make it a better place.
The adminstration pipz of UPMin requires students to wear ID due to incoherent reasons.

Forgive me if the headlines were not that accurate. I rarely watch the idiot box. I haven't watched a single episode of May Bukas Pa, Only You, Tayong Dalawa, SNN, Bandila and the late night documentary shows. You see, I'm getting used with this behavior since the moment I've entered college.

Bro!
Bes!
Bok, walang talu-talo!
Showbiz news buuuuwkwaaassss!
Oo, Crizzzy, Euh-heh-heh-heh-heh

Ayshizzzzz.

Two weeks ago, I saw something in the National Bookstore, my favorite tambayan. The serial killer of the serial killers is already out in NBS! But wait there's more! Dexter's three books were fused to one book and cost around 795 pesos (compared to the price if you buy the three books individually, at 315 pesos per book). I should buy that book. YES. Gad, if only I had enough time. Sige lang.


Moving on...

Apparently, I am beginning to appreciate the sheer ugliness of my schedule. I used to hate it because every TTh, my class starts at 1.00pm and ends at 7.00pm and every WF, it will start at 8.30am and ends at 1 in the afternoon. Pffft. But heck, I just realized that I have enough time to sleep. As in SLEEEEEEPPPPPP.


Oh yeah, I have to admit that I have a hard time on writing something in Tagalog. It's not that I'm bobo in Tagalog, or not used to it (heck I speak Tagalog in the house all the time)... it's just... uhm... it's been three years since my last composition in Sulating Pangwakas. What a lame excuse, but SRSLY. I'm getting used with the English language. I write in English. I seldom write an entry in Tagalog. I am more comfortable with English than in Tagalog I found the latter to be more difficult when it comes to translating or associating things with words...errr...something like that.

I thought FIL1 wouldn't be that significant to our life. But yeah, I (or we) should take this course whether I (or we) like it or not. Various professors from the Math, Bio and Chem departments do not use Tagalog as their primary language on teaching. My God! I can't imagine if Biochem and Organic Chem would be taught in Tagalog. Yak no, It's not that I don't uphold the state of being Nationalistic per se, but it's very difficult. Translate cholesterol, amino acids, Ketone, Adenosine Triphosphatase in Tagalog please, and you'll know the reason why. Pffft. Anyway, we'll perform something during the Linggo ng Wika. Hmmm.


Good news for everyone, especially for my schoolmates - we're going to have the Torch Night and the Freshmen Night!!! Yahoo! I'm 75% certain about this, let's just wait for the final verdict guys.



YESSSSS! No NSTP2 tomorrow!!!

Early cleavage stage.

Today is Friday, free day. But heck, tomorrow, I should start memorizing those improtant terms. Hay, hopefully di ako mauubusan ng dugo sa ZOO113. Next week's gonna be our first laboratory exam in ZOO113 (Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy).

....and it's a moving exam.


Pusikatmemeng, I hate moving exams.


Bio students of UPLB, sinong tumetake ng ZOO113 this sem? HAHAHAHA. Aja aja aja.


Ta-ta-ta for now.

XX-XX,
you know I love her.

(Sa makagets lang. :P)

Do you remember these?

Seeing the innocent faces of fresh meats made me realize that I'm old. We're old. Their unending corny jokes (criiik-criiik-criiik), gazillion stories to tell and unlimited bonding moments reminds me of something.



Things do not move in a constant motion.
Things change as time goes by.
There is no such thing as permanent.
We have to move on.



Padayoooooooon.


PS: Oh yeah, welcome back Leizel!!! :)) HAHAHAHA

Let's Celebrate - BioGenesis 2009

Okay, the first two weeks of school was pretty tiring. Haggard. ZOO113 (Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy) really tested my memory skills. BOT150 (Plant Ecology) Lab tested my priorities in life. BIO101 (Molecular Biology) challenged my 20-20 vision, thanks to the eye-straining and nerve wracking assignments. Most of all, I'm going to start with the second draft of my thesis.


But despite all these, we have to move on and look on the brighter sides. Besides, for two years, I'm getting used with the stressful environment of this holistic institution, the only institution where bright minds and ideas meet. Yabang eh no. Lol


Anyway, we had our acquaintance party, the BioGenesis yesterday and I really enjoyed it. Also, I'm glad that a LOT of freshies participated in the activities prepared by the seniors, and they really enjoyed it. Here are some pictures, courtesy of Mon Abpi.

I took this shot. :)

Lots and lots of balloons.

The creative committee. :)

The fresh meats are here!

Ate Macel and Kuya Modda - the emcees.

Gimmmmeee fooooooood!

Lost.... and FOREVER LOST. joke lang Kring! HAHAHA

HAHAHA. I love this!!! :)) Like father like daughter. Bastian-y smile.

GROUP 4!!! HAHAHAHA.

Go KWATROOOOOO!!!! :))))

Trip to Jerusalem... with a twist. Tae. Trip to hell na ata to. :))

The BioFresh 2009. Yak Yuri joiners. Hahahahhaa

Isa pang Yak. HAHAHAHA. DOGGGG SHOOOOOOWWWWWW!

Ate Sasha!!! WOOOHOOO!!! Bro!!!

BIOS POWER, You can't conquer, we're no losers, 'coz we're fighters!

---


Party's over. Let's get back to work.