From The Vault: True Friends

I absolutely have lost context about what they/we are referring to in here, but still, cool. :)

From The Vault: Isa Na Namang Tula

(All the way back to June 15, 2011, just another poem)

May kasiyahan akong nadarama

Sa tuwing tayo ay magkasama

Ngayon ko lamang tunay na naramdaman

Kung papaano magmahal magpakailanman

May katotohanan ang lahat ng ito

Walang bola, itaga mo pa sa bato

Aking prinsesa kay tagal kang hinintay

Ngayo'y mamahalin ka panghabangbuhay

Mula ng tayo'y magkakilala sa Tangway

May kailangan pa ba ako sa buhay

Ang aking kasagutan ay wala na, wala

Pagkat ika'y mahal kong tunay,...

From The Vault - Hey Daydreamer!

[author's note: This was written almost a year ago. But I decided to hold back posting this just to make sure if I still think the same way about this subject a year later. And since I do, here I am posting this.]

"Why is that your dream?"

What is your dream? Is it to be a doctor? Or maybe a lawyer? Perhaps to one day become an engineer? or be a stunning model, or roam the skies as a pilot?

Whatever your dream may be, have you ever thought why you have that dream? Maybe you already had. Maybe not. But in each and every case, we have our own reasons behind these dreams.

 But here's the catch. I feel like I don't have any of these dreams. I'm about to graduate in a few months, and some of batch mates have already talked about what they aim to do after graduating. A lot of them are thinking of pursuing law. Some have very specific goals, like to eventually enter the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Department of Education and end up with a high position in those said departments. Some of my other friends are going to pursue Medicine, while others are bound for other countries to either work or study more, all of those being part of what they dream to achieve.

Me? Wala! It's like all I want to do is to have a job after graduating, and I don't even have a specific agency or company that I wish to enter (to be fair, I do hope to enter the Presidential Management Staff). It's not like I don't have a plan for myself. I do. Maybe it is not just crystal clear at the moment, but I do. Nonetheless, it makes me feel like i'm inferior to the others. Others are on the road to becoming lawyers, or Secretary of the Department of Education. Me? I'm just hoping to land a job.

I've been thinking about this for weeks and weeks now, until it finally dawned on me. I do have a dream!

My dream is to have a great family, to be the husband my future wife dreams of, to be the father that my future kids would be very proud of, the husband and father that my parents molded me to be.

Cheesy much?

Okay, maybe some of you are saying right now "Hey! Lahat naman tayo gusto ng masayang pamilya!"

But the difference is (at least for me), for as long as I remember, that has been my dream. My actions have been towards aiming that goal. Some people would like to, say, be a lawyer first, THEN go towards that dream of a great family. So naturally, they'll prepare to be a lawyer first. They study to get good grades, get in to law school, and the like.

Me? I've been gearing myself towards being a great family guy. Everything I've been doing has been towards that goal. I'm learning how to do household chores, how to fix things at the house, how to cook, how to wash clothes and how to iron them. I've been budgeting, and saving money (and this is serious. For the past few years, as little as it may be, i've been saving up for things that I probably have to buy a decade later). I'm trying to learn how to take care of kids, how to make decisions, and to know how to prioritize. All those sort of things!

While I do prefer now to have a job here in Manila, I prefer to eventually end up having a job in Bataan, which is where I hope to settle down with my family. (Seriously, life in Bataan is awesome guys!). I'm planning to earn a Masters Degree since I need that to be promoted and earn a better pay. Plus, this goes hand-in-hand with my desire to serve the country in whatever way I could. The higher up I am, the more impact I could potentially have in helping the country.

All of these is for that dream. A dream of a simple, but very happy family. A family that takes away your stress once you get home. A family na kahit wala ng matira sa iyo, basta meron sila, okay lang. A family that will give sense to everything that you've been through. You might be saying that I'm still too young to be saying such things, that I should be enjoying my single life first. But maybe I already had enjoy my single life. Maybe, just maybe, since this is my dream, I'd even have a better time once I have achieved this dream. A great time unimaginable and incomparable to what I may have while I am a single guy.

That is my dream. The dream which potentially might be the reason why I am so critical of my love life ever since. Paano ka nga naman magkakaroon ng pamilya kung wala kang asawa? 
In addition to my dream of a great family, i'm dreaming of making my future girlfriend/wife the happiest girlfriend/wife that she could be.

I'd always look for new ways to make her smile and touch her heart. I'd write her letters and poems, each one containing a part of me. I would always believe in her, and make her feel how special and amazing she is, how she is my favorite person in the whole world. We'd go on adventures, both planned and unplanned, and make memories that we would last forever, or at least until our brain cells allow. I'd understand her, because I know she'll understand me too. We would not be perfect, it wouldn't be a perfect harmony at all times. There would be times that we might have misunderstanding, hard times, but the thing is I wouldn't let it take us down. I'd remember the little details about us, where we first met, the first food we shared together, the song playing in the background when we first went out of town. I'd be the man that'll make sure that she is happy. Sure, she may be happy with someone else, but she'll be most happy with me. And I have this feeling that it'll never easy. It's never easy. But that's fine by me. I'll fight for her. And that is coming from a man who doesn't just always fight for anything. I'll fight for her because I know she is someone worth fighting for. Because she would be someone whom I would feel I am destined to be together. Because in the end, it is not just about me really, it is about her.

That is my dream. My dream is her. My dream is our family.

Cheesy much?

From The Vault:

Bakit ka pa mag gi-girlfriend, kung magbre-break lang din kayo?

I wrote this six years ago, and due to that, the title of this article is long lost. Interesting to look back at how my mind worked six years ago. So many have changed, yet a lot are still the same.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It is no secret to anyone that I am a fool when it comes to love. It is also no surprise to anyone that I am single since birth. Not that I am complaining but still, I can’t escape questions from friends and families alike on why I am still single. I don’t know if this is normal or not, but, if ever I finally get to have a girlfriend, I want her to be the first and only girlfriend that I will ever have. I want her to be the one I would walk the aisle with. I want her to be the one I would spend the rest of my life with. But everyday knowledge would tell me otherwise.

Just think, how many married couples do you know would fit what is stated above? Personally, I don’t know of any. Plus we hear a lot of people say, “Masyado ka namang seryoso! enjoy mo lang”, or “Masyado ka pang bata”.

Now, that last statement is what I don’t understand the most. In my mind I am thinking, “Bakit ka pa mag gigirlfriend, kung maghihiwalay lang din pala kayo?” I mean, sure, the odds are that you would one day, face problems, deal with trials, and you and your girlfriend/boyfriend might not be able to sort things out and just decide to go on separate ways. BUT, shouldn’t that be some sort of warning? Getting in a relationship and facing problems, one should already be aware of that and be prepared about it. If you really love that person, then why give up? What is the sense of being in a relationship when you expect that it would end up in the two of you breaking up?

Some may say, “Akala ko kasi, ‘siya’ na.hindi pa pala”. Now, then my answer to that is, “Paano mo nalaman na hindi nga siya iyon?”

Just think of this situation; when someone comes into your life, and you love him/her, you would say “Siya na. Sa wakas dumating na ‘siya’”. But when the two of you break up, or hurt each other, more often than not, you would say “Hindi pa pala siya.”

You would say that over and over and over again, until you finally get married and finally say that your wife/husband is the one. But how sure can you be? Because you are together? Because you got married to each other? What if the two of you get divorced? Then he/she isn’t the one? How could you say that you have finally found him/her when you can so easily say that someone isn’t him/her just because things didn’t worked out? Don’t you think that that person could arrive in a less literal way? For that person to arrive to your life, it could be as simple as really loving that person, living your life with that person, understanding that person, coping up with his/her short comings, weathering the storm, suffering all the sufferings and still come out standing and smiling, and, just having trust and faith, not only to him/her, but also to Him.

Then again, people might say, “Bata ka pa, hindi mo pa alam sinasabi mo”, and I just won’t accept that. Sure, I never ever had a girlfriend before, but does that mean that I don’t have knowledge about those things? I never got into a relationship before, but I had experienced a lot of painful rejections, and each and every time, I learned something. Yes, I know that the odds are very small that your first and only girlfriend/boyfriend would be your partner for life. All the times that you would tell yourself, “Mahal ko pa ba siya?” and how many times you get to say yes, rather than say no, until the time that both of you would say the most significant ‘yes’ in your lives. Science, math, and the numbers are just all against me, but then again, science tells us that emotions are from the brain, and right they are, but why do people still insists on drawing hearts as a symbolism of love?

Maybe, just maybe, if a couple just really love each other, they might just beat the odds, and live happily ever after. But then again, I might just be saying this because I never had one. Still, when the time comes, I hope that what I had stated above would happen, and you can bet that I would do all I could to make it happen.

From The Vault: Ano Nga Ba Ang Patinikan?

(ed. note: I have a thing for speeches and public speaking. So here, I am posting my opening remarks speech during the Patinikan 2012. Added some pictures to make it less text heavy. :D)


To our board of judges, to our guest speaker, to all my co-members in UP Tangway, to all the participants and their advisers, welcome to Patinikan 2012, and good morning.

"Bakit Patinikan?" That has been a question asked to me countless of times before. They ask, shouldn't it be, Panitikan? Taking a look at the archives of our organization, it shows that Patinikan started off mainly as an essay writing competition. Hence, Patinikan is indeed a play on the word Panitikan. Not to mention, Bataan is a province very familiar with fishes, making the name Patinikan appropriate. But then, I am asked yet another question, "Ano ang Patinikan?"

Patinikan is an inter-highschool set of competitions. But is that all there is to it?

I'd like to think that there is more to Patinikan. That it is more than just the usual academic competition. I look at Patinikan, and see it as a medium to carry out a message, and raise awareness on the different issues that are prevalent in our society today. Two years ago, we talked about the role of mass media in the government, last year it was about the drive of the Filipino students in learning, and this year is about the responsible use of technology. To put it shortly, Patinikan transcends being a competition and is now a medium for awareness, a medium for change.

Yes, this may all sound very idealistic. Yes, we are not that big of an organization, and yes, who knows if what I am saying right now makes any sense, at all. But this reminds me of a video that went viral on YouTube about two years ago. It is a video of Professor Winnie Monsod's last lecture for that semester, and in it, she mentioned a quote. The quote was, "I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something." Patinikan is our something. And if we each do our something, if we each do our part, then that moves us closer to achieving our everything. It would take all of our collective effort to achieve that everything, and it would be hard. It would not be easy, it isn't easy at all, and frankly, we shouldn't expect it to become easy. But then again, that nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy.

Again, a good day, and may we have a very memorable Patinikan ahead. Thank you. :)

From the Vault: 60 2 Do

Bakit sixty? 


Because this is another article I wrote for the college. And 60 because it is the 60th anniversary of our college.

Ang mga superheroes, hindi basta basta nagiging superhero. Dumaraan din sila sa mga pagsubok at pagsasanay! Ang mga iskolar ng bayad, ganun din. Di lang basta basta nagiging iskolar ng bayan. Oras na para maging isang tunay na Isko at Iska! Pero papaano? Basahin ang sumusunod na ilan sa mga bagay para ikaw ay maging isang tunay na isko!

1. Hindi maaring magutom! Kaya mamili ng hot monay with cheese sa askal. Dahil paglipas ng mga taon nila sa UP, malilimutan na nila ang value ng pagkain, higit lalo ang breakfast.

2. Damhin ang kalikasan. Mag nature tripping sa Lagoon.

3.  Automatic na dapat ito, pero manood ka ng Lantern Parade!

4. Saan ka man nanggaling, burgis man or promdi, dapat ikaw ay makakain at makatikim ng isaw!

5. Kung masobrahan man sa pagkain ng monay at isaw, wag kalimutan ang jogging sa acad oval!

6. Pero kung sobrang dilim sa acad oval, isa lamang ibig sabihin nito at iyon ay Pailaw na! Manood ka nito!

7. Hindi ka din makakapag jogging kung sobrang daming tao at mid-February na, dahil ibig sabihin noon ay UP FAIR na!!!1!!?!,!!. Halata bang big thing ito?

8. Kaso pag fair, mahirap sumakay ng jeep pauwi, so dapat mapatunayan mo na walking distance lang ang anumang point sa UP, kaya maglakad mula Math Building hanggang gym!

9. Ngunit tandaan, ayaw nating maging forever alone, kaya’t sumali ka sa org! Acad org man yan, or frat/soro, or provincial org, or hobby org. Kung di naman yan ang trip mo, just make sure na merong kang mga astiging friends.

10. At pag meron ka ng sariling Justice League mo, halika na at tumambay sa Sunken Garden!

11. Syempre, nakagugutom tumambay, kaya after tumambay, mag food trip. First up, Kumain sa Roddics!

12. Pero hindi lamang tayo puro tambay at kain dito sa unibersidad na minamahal. Para pampalakas ng school spirit, panoorin ang UP Pep squad, sa UAAP CDC kung kaya.

13. At kung tatak UP na lang ang usapan, sumakay ng isang buong ride ng ikot at toki. Dagdag na challenge, patagalan ng nakasakay sa ikot o toki ng isang beses lang nagbabayad.

14. Kailangan din natin ng pag unlad, di lamang sa loob ng silid aralan. Isa sa mga magandang paraan para dito? Manood ng mga theatrical play!

15. Kung ayaw mo naman lumabas sa apat na sulok ng silid aralan, okay lang yan. Umattend ka na lamang ng ACLE.

16. Kapag ka nasa UP, dapat, praktikal at madiskarte, kaya manguha ng freebies!

17. At kung praktikal at sulit na food trip ang usapan, food trip na sa KNL!

18. Speaking of food trip, kung sawa na sa KNL, kaunting kembot lang at kumain na sa mga kainan along Maginhawa!

19. Kung may extra money ka naman, why don’t you know, like try eating along Katipunan?

20. Ngunit kung tinatamad namang lumabas ng campus, aba, marami naman within peyups!  Sa Lutong Bahay, sa SC, sa mga food carts!

21. Habang nasa loob ka pa ng campus, bakit hindi mo bisitahin si Oble? Yung totoo ah, at hindi siya yung nasa harap ng Quezon Hall (alam mo ba yung Quezon Hall?) Nasaan si Totoong Oble? Abangan..mamaya!

22. OR, kung di ka naman makapaghintay na, puntahan at pasukin LAHAT ng buildings sa UP!

23. Pero tandaan, WALANG building na TBA ang pangalan! Therefore, dapat maexperience mo din ang mabiktima and/or mangbiktima ng TBA!

24. At isa sa mga buildings na ito ay ang Vargas Museum. Sulit na sulit ang pagbisita dito. (Side quest, may cafe sa tabi nito, baka gusto mo ding mag food trip dun? :D)

25. Umalis naman tayo sa UP, kaya kahit man lang isang beses ay sumama ka sa isang field trip ng inyong klase!

26. Pag uwi mo galing sa field trip, pagod ka syempre. Magandang pamparelax? Makinig sa UP Carilion.

27. Para kumpleto na ang pagrerelax, bumili ng dinner sa may Area 2 at kainin ito sa may track oval.

28. Doon ulit tayo sa school spirit. Para kumpleto na, bumili ka ng mga UP shirt, lanyard, jacket, bag, or ano pa man!

29. At habang suot suot ang UP shirt mo na bagong bili, umattend ka na din ng mga seminar at forum. Boring pakinggan, pero sulit yan.  

30. Or kung gusto mo naman ng maaksyon, manood ka ng laro ng UP Fighting Maroons, mapa basketball man or ano mang sports.

31. Balik tayo sa acads. Ang masasabi ko lang, hindi kumpleto ang UP experience mo kung hindi ka  pumila para sa enlistment ng subject!

32. Para di ka naman magutom habang nakapila, kumain ka ng fishball at pancit canton!

33. Palakihin pa ang iyong social circle sa pamamagitan ng pag attend sa mga dorm activites like Open houses!

34. At kasama ang iyong mga bagong dormer friends, manood ng mga sobrang mura, or minsan ay libre pa nga na movies sa film center.

35. Dapat din lagi kang updated, kaya magbasa ng mga official publications ng peyups.

36. Matapos basahin, may tatlo kang pwedeng gawin. Itabi ang mga ito, i-recycle, o kaya’y gamitin ang mga ito para mag iwan ng giant message sa sunken garden.

37.  Kung ibang giant naman ang gusto nyong makita, tulad ng mga planeta at bituwin, mag observe sa observatory given the chance.

38. Sabihin natin na gusto mo namang tumambay, sa FC ng lang para makapanood ng mga nagrerehearse.

39. Pwede ka ding mag library. Double purpose na, masarap ng mag-aral dito, masarap pang tumambay at matulog.

40. Pero kung ayaw mong tumambay at ang tipo mo ay maglibot, pwede mag explore ng mga iba't ibang grafiti and vadalism sa mga pader at desks.

41. At kung sa iyong paglilibot ay nakita mo si Oble, magpapicture ka sa kanya.

42. On second thought, wag gagawin ang number 41. May curse daw kasi. Ang gawin mo na lang, alamin ang mga curse stories sa UP.

43. At dahil nabanggit na si oble, wag kalilimutang manood ng Oblation Run!

44. Kung mapapasigaw ka at mapapamura sa makikita sa Oblation Run, isave mo na lamang ang lahat ng ito para sa iyong pagsusumpa kay CRS. Madalas dalas mong gagawin yan.

45. Ang isa pang madalas na mangyayari ay makita si Zoro. Kaya meet and greet Zoro!

46. Madalas din ang mga rally at walk out, makiisa, makisama! (Pero yun lamang ay kung umaayon ka sa kanila at naiintindihan mo talaga ang gagawin mo).

47. Isa pang bagay na dapat ay naiintindihan mo bago pumasok ay ang magka lovelife. Parte ng buhay yan, kaya wag na tayo mahiya at tayo ay palaging...

48. maging open mided. Hindi mo lubus lubusang ma e enjoy ang mga nakalista dito, at ang buong UP experience kung hindi ka open minded.

49. Dahil malapit na ang rainy season, isa sa mga must do ay ang maghintay hanggang lagpas hating gabi para sa announcement na walang pasok. Lahat ng ibang schools, wala ng pasok, tayo, kahit announcement wala pa.

50. Kaya papasok ka kinabukasan, pero nagdadasal ka pa rin na sana masuspend ang class. Masususpend ito pag wala ka ng natitirang class at wala ng ulan. Nakakastress ba?

51. Kung stressed ka na, mag declare ng self declared holiday. Ayusin lang ang timing.

52. Pwede ding pang alis stress ang paglalaro ng bilyar at duckpin sa alumni center.

53. Matapos mawala ang iyong stress, i share ang good vibes at maglakad lakad sa campus at mag hi sa mga tao.

54.  Dahil malakas na ang loob mo, mag sit in sa isang class na hindi mo naman talaga class

55. Itodo na din ang confidence at lakas ng loob at pumasok na naka pambahay na attire

56. Pag may nagtanong sayo, sabihin mo gumagawa ka lang ng music video. Speaking of which, maghanap ng music video na nag shoot sa campus at hanapin kung saan ito sa campus.

57. Pero dahil nga nasa UP tayo para mag aral, mag aim ka na maka uno kahit minsan, kahit pe or cwts lang.

58. Subukan din ang maglakad along the university avenue, mas okay din kung may mga sunflower na.

59. At kung may sunflower na, kahit walang connect, kabisaduhin ang UP Naming Mahal. Kailangan mo kasi yang kantahin sa graduation mo, whic means na ang huling must do sa UP ay..

60. Grumaduate!

From the Vault: Survival Tips

Bakit?


This article is something I wrote for our college, so, enjoy!

            So you’ve finally made it to the premier university in the country. But as a famous saying in the campus goes “Mahirap makapasok, mas mahirap makalabas.” Passing the UPCAT and enrolling in UP won’t mean anything if you can’t graduate, be it on time or not. In short, you need to survive in UP! Since we are ‘sUPer students’, where else can we look for advice but from the best super heroes out there? So we would be looking at two famous super hero teams; the original line-up of the Justice League, and the Avengers in the recently released movie of the same name. Let’s start shall we?

The Justice League

            First of all, one of the most important thing to remember when in UP is to be quick and fast, like The Flash. One must be quick to think and fast to react. UP won’t wait for you to get yourself ready, in and out the classroom. Being late is not an option, and always remembers that deadlines are really deadlines.  Being quick and fast also helps a ton when it comes to buying your lunch during jam-packed lunch breaks, or trying to catch a ride, be it a jeepney or a cab, or being the first one to use the shower in the morning.

            Most of us are familiar with the concept of culture shock, and it should come as no shock (pun intended) that a lot of iskos and iskas experience culture shock. There would be those that came from province, or graduated from exclusive high schools, and some even came from outside the country. Aquaman came from the City of Atlantis under the oceans before spending most of his crime fighting time on land. You would experience culture shock, or some variety of it, at one point or another, but that is not the point. What is important is to be able to adapt. If you are a freshman reading this, you would spend at least four years in the university, and you wouldn’t be able to survive here without adapting. That does not necessarily mean changing your lifestyle or attitude. It simply means getting to know how things work around here, and then adjusting yourself to it accordingly. It is not easy, it is never easy, but hey, you are in UP, where nothing is easy.   

            Speaking of culture shock, most attribute it to being alone, to not having any friends to be with, to the feeling that you are like a Martian from Mars that came to Earth. Well, do you know who really (well, not really-really, but comic book-really) came from Mars and was the lone Martian on Earth? Martian Manhunter (or less known as J’onn J’onzz) that is! He was accidentally pulled to Earth by an experimental teleportation beam, and thus, he was the lone Martian on a planet of Earthlings. But hey, he found the Justice League who he considers as friends. In the same vein, it would help your survival here in UP if you have your own group of friends. You can find friends from your blockmates, or from various organizations, such as hobby orgs, academic orgs, and provincial orgs. While it is the common notion that UP promotes and develops independence, that shouldn’t come at the price of being forever alone. To put it simply, let me say it this way: The value of having friends can never be overstated.

             Moving on, among the things that I discovered to be useful while being in UP can be described using one word, “willpower”. The same willpower that, through his ring, gives Hal Jordan, The Green Lantern, his powers. There would be countless times when your confidence would be shaken, when you would doubt yourself, when you would be demotivated to the point that you would feel so worthless, when you would simply want to give up. It is not an issue of IF, but an issue of WHEN. Trust me, it would happen. The thing to remember is to be able to have enough willpower to continue, to stand up after falling. No one gets out unscarred. You would get hurt, you would lose and you would fail. But at the same time, you would stand up, you would be better, and you would succeed. And that would only happen if you have willpower.

            Just a quick question, do you recognize that Wonder Woman has a lasso? She has and it is called the Lasso of Truth, which forces anyone it catches to tell the truth. Now, I don’t know if this should be filed under ‘survival tips’, or under ‘everyday things’, but while in UP, and even out of it, tell the truth! I won’t make this long, it is not worth it to lie, or cheat. Let me repeat that, IT-IS-NOT-WORTH-IT. Keep honest, tell the truth, and just stay on the right track.

            Okay, given that you now a UP student, it only follows that you are one of the best students in the country. Which means that you are pretty awesome on your own. But you would even excel and achieve more if you are in a group. Much like Batman. Batman is an incredible superhero on his own, but he couldn’t do it all alone. There are just some opponents that could be bested with the help of the League. Like I’ve said earlier, surround yourselves with friends, but in this particular instance, friends that do more than just hang out with you. Have study groups before an exam, or have a discussion about that long reading that was assigned to your class, or solve problem sets together. Of course, you would accomplish an exam and other individual requirements on your own, but that doesn’t mean that you have to prepare for it alone. Not to mention that there would be a lot of requirements that are to be done as a group, and learning how to work within a group is such a vital lesson to learn.

            Now, we go to the man in blue, one of the most famous superheroes of all time, Superman. The Man of Steel has often been referred to as being the boy scout among the superheroes. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know what they say about boy scouts, that is that boy scouts are always ready. Likewise, UP students should also always be ready. Do not go to your classes unprepared. Do your homework, read the assigned readings, always have your course syllabus with you, have some extra money in case of emergency, always bring an umbrella, and never forget to bring your pen and paper. It goes a long way to at least have an idea of what you is being discussed in class. UP is a microcosm of the real world, and much like in the real world, there would be a lot of instances that would and could catch you in surprise. The only preparation against this is therefore to always be ready for any situation that may arise.

The Avengers

            Having an observant eye could be one of the most underrated skills to have while in UP. A sharp eye, like that of Hawkeye. For starters, your teachers most of the time would write a lot on the black board, or flash text heavy powerpoint slides. Do not be surprised if your teacher does not wait for you to finish copying everything before they erase the notes on the board or move on to the next slide. It is imperative therefore to be able to have a quick eye and spot all the important words and key ideas in all those texts presented to you. During exams, it would also greatly help if you would be more stringent in reading the instructions, the questions, as well as the answers. For instance, there would be some true or false exams that would instruct you to write F for true, and T for false, or in Math, multiple choice answers whose only difference is the sign or placement of the decimal point.  Outside the class room, being observant also help. Room numbers most of the time follow a pattern, and getting familiar with said pattern greatly helps. I’ll give one more example that maybe even the non-freshmen hasn’t noticed. Have you noticed that Ikot and Toki jeeps have yellow roofs? While Katipunan bound jeepnes are marooned/browned roofed. Going to Philcoa? Ride the jeepneys that are of green roofs with yellow on its side, while if you are thinking of going to SM North, or MRT, or Pantranco, the jeepneys with the pure green roofs are the ones to ride.

            So you are surrounded by the following people: The God of Thunder, a master assassin proficient with the use of deadly arrows, a hulking green giant with anger management issues, a genius, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist with a super powered suit of armor, and a legendary super soldier that lives up to the legend, how would you feel? Most would feel like an ant among people, but not Black Widow. Even among all these marvellous beings, she does not shy away and actually holds her own. The message is simple, even if everyone seems so special and you seem to be normal does not mean that you can’t do anything. You’ll encounter a lot of people that make it seem like getting a grade of uno is a part of their daily routine. The key is to not compare yourself to these people and just hold your own. Do your stuff, and do it in your absolute best. If you keep comparing yourself to others, your just wasting time that could have been used to actually catch up to them. 

             Quick question! What is one thing that Thor can do that no one else can? Lift up his hammer, the Mjolnir. No one else can do it. Likewise, there would be things that only you can do, or at the very least, be the best in doing it. There would be always someone better than you, that is just a reality of life, but even to those people better than you, there would be specific things that you would do better than them. It all goes back to having confidence.

            It could be said that UP is an obstacle course that challenges your physical limitations, mental prowess, social capabilities, and emotional capacity. With that in mind, keeping your emotions under control actually helps a lot during your stay in UP. Being the master of your emotions is a big thing, just ask the Hulk. All kinds of emotions could work for and against you. There would be times when you would be sad and depressed for whatever reason, be it a failed exam or an important paper that you failed to pass before the deadline, or a subject that you did not pass. The important thing is to not sulk in depression. Angry because you got late or missed a class because of whatever unfortunate accident that wasn’t your fault? Don’t let your anger get the best of you. Because if so, then you risk losing even more, without even actually having to gain something. Your emotions is the proverbial double edged sword; if used properly it would motivate and help push one to newer heights.

            I’ll go straight to the point for this next one; learn to step up as a leader, a leader like Captain America. Some of you reading this might have been leaders already before, while others might have shied away from the responsibility of being a leader. Nonetheless, you would have to take on the mantle of being the lead guy or girl on a team. As I said above, there would be a lot of group requirements, and at one point or another, you would have to lead. Even outside the classroom, such instances would rise, be it in your group of friends or in your organization. Learning to lead sooner rather than later would be a crucial survival tip while staying here in the campus. After all, we are UP students – future leaders of our generation.

            Finally, we go to the final superhero on the list, Iron Man, who is all sorts of awesome, which translate to a survival tip of...well.... just be awesome. That’s it. Be-freakin’-Awesome.

             

Image sources:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdYT8K0IAoI0OM6PSxd7se-AyRrLtt0gVVkWp1kzS5-Mf2Sdbiwm3qmYYXWwhLLGUndhrK2crKEGBrbiWTGbMoLI5ww6egb0HWLqpLKIwoURcEHgK6_cdE1O39-zZXihmMCdsOk2TLzk/s1600/Justice-League.jpg

http://botecogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Avengers-2012-Movie-Promo-Cast-Image.jpg

  

From the Vault: Análisis perfecto. Es verdad. tan muy verdad

(ed note: This one goes way way back from May 8, 2004)


got this from my kuyas and ates sa uptangway. hehe.. get yours too at http://www.handwritingwizard.com, then post them here! haha..

welcome kelvin rae rodriguez,  here is your handwriting analysis.

kelvin rae is moderately outgoing. his emotions are stirred by sympathy and heartrendering stories. in fact, he can be kind, friendly, affectionate and considerate of others. he has the ability to put himself into the otherperson's shoes. (wow..sakto ito..)
kelvin rae will be somewhat moody, with highs and lows. sometimes he will be happy, the next day he might be sad. he has the unique ability to get along equally well with what psychology calls introverts and extroverts. this is because he is in between. psychology calls kelvin rae an ambivert.(is that even a real word? haha) he understands the needs of both types. although they get along, he will not tolerate anyone that is too "far out." he doesn't sway too far one way or the other. (korak...tama tama.)
when convincing him to buy a product or an idea, a heart rendering story could mean a great deal to him. he puts himself in the same situation as the person in the story, yet he will not buy anything that seems overly impractical or illogical. kelvin rae is an expressive person. he outwardly shows his emotions. he may even show traces of tears when hearing a sad story.(true..d b? haha)
kelvin rae is a "middle-of-the-roader," politically as well as logically. he weighs both sides of an issue, sits on the fence, and then will decide when he finally has to.(parang kilala lang ako nung gumawa ah!) he basically doesn't relate to any far out ideas and usually won't go to the extreme on any issue.


people that write their letters in an average height and average size are moderate in their ability to interact socially.(so far, ala pang mali ang analysis.) according to the data input, kelvin rae doesn't write too large or too small, indicating a balanced ability to be social and interact with others.
 

kelvin rae will be candid and direct when expressing his opinion. he will tell them what he thinks if they ask for it, whether they like it or not. so, if they don't really want his opinion, don't ask for it! (tama! haha.. )





kelvin rae is a cumulative and procedural thinker. he likes to have all the facts before making a decision. he thinks or creates much like a brick mason, stacking fact upon fact. his thought pattern or the conclusion will not be complete until the last fact is in place. like that brick wall, kelvin rae learns faster through visual demonstration than through quick verbal instructions. once he has learned new material, and understood it, he won't forget. (ito napakatotoo. as in, ganyan na gnyan..)
kelvin rae is a methodical thinker, therefore he is able to build things and come up with new ideas. in an argument, he often loses to rapid thinking people because he is thinking thirty minutes later about what he should have said (so true..haha..kaya nga daw madali ako madistract ng aking mga pagkakamali..oh..talent's night..haha..). these people often are very booksmart, but can be out-gunned in a rapid fire verbal debate. (ibg sbhin. ung nakaktalo sa akin, booksmarts, but i can defeat them in a "rapid fire verbal debate, ryt? haha..tamang tama! parlia nga ako eh d b..)
he may learn new ideas at a slower pace than other "less detailed" people, but once he gets it, he can handle repetition. some people hate jobs with too much repetition, he can handle it better than most.





kelvin rae is a practical person whose goals are planned, practical, and down to earth. this is typical of people with normal healthy self-esteem. he needs to visualize the end of a project before he starts. he finds joy in anticipation and planning.(tama!) notice that i said he plans everything he is going to do, that doesn't necessarily mean things go as planned. kelvin rae basically feels good about himself. he has a positive self-esteem which contributes to his success. he feels he has the ability to achieve anything he sets his mind to. however, he sets his goals using practicality-- not too "out of reach". he has enough self-confidence to leave a bad situation, yet, he will not take great risks, as they relate to his goals.(tama pa din..lalo na ung "not take great risks" that's me! ) a good esteem is one key to a happy life. although there is room for improvement in the confidence category, his self-perception is better than average. (tama ito..kahit akala nyo wala akong self esteem, di lang xa super taas.)



kelvin rae has a temper. he uses this as a defense mechanism when he doesn't understand how to handle a situation. temper is a hostile trait used to protect the ego. temper can be a negative personality trait in the eyes of those around him. (not..so good, but true.)



something is incomplete in kelvin rae's life. he feels frustration relating to his physical needs and desires. somewhere in his life there is some disappointment, non-fulfillment, and interruption. this is very likely to relate to kelvin rae's sexual needs. (anung sexual needs???!?!?! haha..pero tama..i do feel those..frustration, non fulfillment..pero d naman kcng lala 2lad ng dati.)
 



for a graphologist, the spacing on the page reflects the writer's attitude toward their own world and relationship to things in his or her own space. if the inputted data was correct kelvin rae has left lots of white space on the right side of the paper. kelvin rae fills up the rest of the page in a normal fashion. if this is true, then kelvin rae has an unhealthy relationship to the past and has a fear of moving forward. the right side of the page represents the future and kelvin rae seems unwilling to face the fear of getting started living now and planning for the future. kelvin rae seems to be clinging to past events and spending lots of time thinking about what happened. it would be best to leave the past behind and move on. stop crowding that left margin. (katulad ng sbi ko, gnun na nga ako, hrap makalimot sa mga ibang pangyayari.. 2lad nung mga pagbagsak ko sa math, mga pagkakamali ko sa app process sa tangway, ung pagkaholdap sa akin..hehe..pero itong part na yung pina malayo sa katotohanan..i actually am moving on relatively good. haha..)


very nice..haha..i didn't expect na tatama xa ng gnung kataas ang accuracy!  try it sometimes guys, masaya! hehe..and oh yeah, mag iwan kayo ng comment ha! okie? salamat!