10 things I miss about being an Iskolar ng Bayan

It's been three and a half years since I left the premier institution, the University of the Philippines. The best days of my life were spent in UP and I can't help but to be nostalgic after watching the #OneUP video, which went viral on social media.

These are the things that made me miss UP.

Luntian at Pula. Sagisag magpakailanman.

Rejected UPCAT Essay Questions

I was really surprised when I found out that UPCAT comes with a new part - the essay part. Six years ago when I took the UPCAT, we were only required to answer four subtests - English, Math, Science and Reading and Comprehension. It seemed that the administrators are curious to know what's inside the minds of the future Iskolar ng Bayan.

I was browsing the trending topics on Twitter when I came across with this hashtag: #RejectedUPCATEssayQuestions

It really made my day (or night, whatever)! Whoever created this is a genius. I salute you mate!

Here are some of my favorites:

Adventures and Misadventures of an Iskolar ng Bayan

"Time's up! Please pass your booklet followed by your answer sheet".

UPCAT was indeed hard. The exam literally squeezed my brain up to the last drop of wisdom and knowledge. Several hundred hopefuls, including me, made their way to the atrium of UP Mindanao after the entrance exam. Mom saw me and excitedly waved her hand to me. I honestly do not know what to say to her. I was afraid that I might fail her. I didn't finish the math subtest because, holy kabaw the number-letter combination went complicated after number 21 (there were 60 questions). But she just smiled, knowing that I will make it.

Five months after the exam, I passed UPCAT... and I didn't expect it! From that moment, I knew that the next four years of my life would be more exciting. It took me days before it finally dawned on me that I'm going to brand myself as an Iskolar ng Bayan.

Tres Is Equal to Uno

Since grade school until the very last day of my high school life, I've always been an achiever. Like any other 'traditional' achievers, we always believe that grades measure one's intelligence. I'd do almost everything that would just make my grades high. I have never experience failure, until I entered college.

Life in the university was really difficult. Meeting new friends wasn't really that hard but meeting the demands and high standards of my professors was really excruciatingly hard. If there's one particular moment of my life that I would change, I'd definitely go back to the time when I made a promise to myself that my lowest grade should be 2.00. I'd probably tell my old self to straighten up your thoughts and be more open-minded!

In the first three semesters of my university life, I would always set high goals in all of my subjects - to have a grade of 1.00. I always did my best, really. I even made a sacrifice of not downloading and watching the latest episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Supernatural or The Big Bang Theory. I even tried not to watch the local news because I would always think that it's just a waste of time. Wrong move, dude. Even at weekends, I'm always stuck with loads of readings to review, books to read, problem sets to solve and laboratory reports to submit. What a bitter life you have, dude. Eventually I grew exhausted and became lazy weeks before the most dreaded week of the university - the finals week aka hell week. Sometimes I do not exert extra effort prior the finals week most especially if I already knew that I passed a certain subject. Basta matapos na ang lahat, matikman ko na ang inaasam kong freedom, which is the semestral break. Soon after, regrets would start to fill my subconscious mind. A lot of "what if" thoughts would invade my mind. What if I scored higher in my finals? My grade should have been 1.25 instead of 1.75. What if I got 100 in my first long exam? My GWA should have been 1.39000 instead of 1.46000.

In the end, I became dissatisfied and frustrated.  Thus I changed my mentality... and I didn't regret it.

I just realized that what really matters the most is the experience and not just that mere numerical value. I just remembered when my BIO 140 (Evolutionary Biology) professor gave the results of our first long exam. Almost everyone in the class failed the exam, including me. I got a very low 25/100 for that particular exam. I just laughed about my result but deep inside, to tell you the truth, I was hurt. Imagine burning my eyebrows every night for two weeks for this exam and I only got that score. So for the subsequent exams, we exerted extra effort because at that point we already figured that our best was NOT good enough, well based from the standards of our professor. In the end, I got a grade 3.0. Pasang awa, yes, but I knew that I worked hard for it and I felt this genuine euphoria after I received my class card.

It doesn't mean that a student is already intelligent if he gets the highest grade or a student is dumb and indolent if he gets a grade of three, four or five. Every grade has different stories to tell. No, not excuses but real stories on how they suffered and made a lot of sacrifices.

Although I still try my best but I learned to become contented with all the results and outcome of my work. More so, I had a happier disposition in life. Although grades do play an important role in the life of students, they should realize that life shouldn't just revolve with these numerical values. Indeed, there's MORE TO LIFE than grades!

In the end, grades will never dictate of who you are. It should not steal your real identity.

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!

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)

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.

Third First Bloc Encounter

Yesterday was UPMin's annual event, the Freshmen First Bloc Encounter. However, it was already their nth time to meet as one team... as one course. Pffft. This particular event was originally set on the FIRST day of school, last June 15. But due to the Madam Chancy's trip to Diliman, the event was moved a week after the scheduled date. Anyhow, that's not my point.

According to the Department Chair of BSES (Biological Science and Environmental Studies) there were at least 54 freshmen qualified on the BS Bio degree here in UPMin base on the UPCAT 2009 result. The department as well as the students DID NOT expect the number of students enrolled in our program. Usually, about 30 will confirm their enrolment. Last year, there were only 19 of them. In my time, we're almost 35.


Batch 2009 was different. VERY DIFFERENT.


They were only divided into two blocs. The total number of Bio freshies reached 42 (if I'm not mistaken). Funny thing was, there were only 10 boys regardless of their sexual preference. No offense. Hmmm. At least I and Anj were able to attend the first bloc encounter as the student facilitator. We were a bit worried since classes were not suspended on that day (talking about the prof's prerog...)


But anyway, we had fun on sharing our insights about the course, our experience for the last two years. Those experiences made us stronger and we eventually learn from our mistakes.


The Dark Past. Whatever.


Anyhow, I am quite annoyed with the internet connection. Damn it. I don't know. This is so annoying. Argh.


Enough of this. I still have to study Biochem. Last semester, I studied the same topic, memorizing all 20 natural amino acids (their complicated structures and the one letter and three letter nomenclature)... and then I woke up late, ONE HOUR LATE. And that was the start of my bittersweet demise. And this semester, the unlucky saga will not continue. Hindi na dapat.

...and the list goes on with reports and assignments on Plant Ecology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Molecular Biology.



So much for this. Just updating this page of mine...


I'm still alive and I have still a life, just so you know.

----

Oh, I can already see C's, T's, A's and G's. Agggh.
I feel the adenine moving through my veins. Spotlight on me and I'm ready to break.


Makalipong ang assignment sa Molecular Bio. Hahaha

Weird First Week

For the past three days, professors in school were quite weird. Usually, during the first meeting of semester, they'll just distribute the course outline, submit our class cards to them and after a few minutes, we'll leave the classroom. This semester, however, everything was a little bit weird. After some discussions, the class were divided into four groups, and each will represent a "unique family". Then, the highlights of the activities were "dog shows"... if you know what I mean. ;)


It was quite weird. I thought the professors were, uhhmm, controlled by happy aliens. Kidding. Nakapapanibago. Lol.



On the brighter side, the activities of this day reminded me of high school.

Memories.
Nostalgia.

Still Holding On

Surprisingly, I managed to finish the grueling enrolment process today. I thought na susulitin ‘ko ang four days. Phew =)

Yes final na talaga 'tung schedule ko.

Anyway, I think I’m lucky. After endless hours of waiting, standing, running, walking, jeep-ing, HH-ing around the campus, I am finally enrolled and I’m already a junior student of BS Bio. Can you believe that? I mean it’s was like, time runs so fast. Two years ago, I entered the campus of UPMin and I was all alone, thinking if I will survive on this kind of environment and situation. New school, new environment, new teachers and new set of classmates… and the only thing that came on my mind at that time was this: Are my classmates friendly? At first I envy my high school classmates because most of them went to the same school together, like in San Pedro and Ateneo de Davao and had the same courses like Nursing and Accountancy. I thought that I would regret this decision I made back in my senior year in high school. I took the road less traveled.



Seriously.




Then, after two years, here I am writing this entry and I’m still in awe. Two years seemed like two months. I’m indeed a survivor of this challenge. I have ACTUALLY experienced funny experiences that made my first two years in UP a memorable one.

I have invited by certain fraternities to attend orientations about their group. But I didn’t join because, wala lang.

Because of the unique system of UP, I actually gained friends from different courses and different year levels in UPMin (palibasa the population of UPMin isn’t that big, almost a thousand students).

I have slept many times inside the classroom. The most intense was during reporting in Nat Sci 2, my professor sat beside me to listen to the report. And I was on his left side, dozing, as if he wasn’t there.

I haven’t slept for more than 24 hours, thanks to that shitty Genetics report.
For the first time in my life, I flunked a subject and have to retake it this semester.
Nakabasag na ako ng separatory funnel during the synthesis of tert-butyl in our Organic Chem Lab last year. And it cost around 3,600 pesos.

What else?



Naaah.


So now, I am about to enter the second half of my college life.

This means more stressful activities, field trips, more sleepless nights and I think I’ll get used to the pungent smell of formalin, thanks to ZOO113 (Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy). Even if I didn’t enroll myself to BIO 200a (Outline), I’ll just start with my thesis and have continuous updates from my adviser. Lots of sacrifices should be considered. Despite all these, it would still be memorable. Ten to fifteen years from now, I’ll look back through the old times, probably browsing those wacky pictures and reading this blog. Ahhh, reminiscing those good old days…


Okay I can already feel the tension. So let’s jump and savor the last week of freedom.

This is it, all I need is to focus on my acads and I have to consider a LOT of things.


I hope I will graduate on time.
Peste. Ako pa.