a long travelled journey

tama ba title ko?

Four months from now and ill be graduating na, whew! I really can never imagine kung pano ako napunta sa nasaan man ako ngaun. Getting a college diploma was a big imagination for me four years ago...but I guess it was destined to happen...do you think so?


Year 2002,
that was four years ago...time when I was still a senior public high student. And like any other, I was quite busy to minding where to apply and what to pursue in college. College admission was a big puzzle for me to solve, I worked hard in high school just to get high grades in order for me to apply for scholarships in college.

Being a product of our country's public education system, I also dreamt of studying in University of the Philippines. Two of my cousins who were just a year ahead of me were studying there...that's why I can consider that my relatives also pressured me to pass the UPCAT and study there.

Bonnie, one of my cousins (who used to be my classmate before he got accelerated) was an Athropology freshman in UP Diliman that time,and just like he also graduated from a public high school,Valedictrian,On the other hand, Kuya Kris was also a Biology major in UP Los Baños. Matalino siya talaga and a very nice cousin to me. Tulad ni Bonnie, he also graduated from a public high school, Valedictorian.

So kung titingnan natin, I was really pressured that time....as in sobra...biruin mo, lalake pa ang mga iyon...So in my behalf, they were also expecting a lot. Ang sa akin naman, hini mo kami maiko-compare sa isa't isa...Just like what Howard Gardner states in his theory,"We have multpiple inteligences"...and so do I...

So yun nga...napilitan akong kumuha ng UPCAT..not only to "compete" with my cousins but as well as to follow what my mom wants me to do so...

Journalism was my first choice while Literature placed secondth in my application form.I know that writing was my first at that time...so I relied hardly on it...Hoping that i'll pass the examinations...


Months passed by and still we havent got any news from the exam. It was already late in September that time so I got worried. I chose to apply to other schools...so if ever I wont be able to make it in UPCAT, at least may mga options pa ako...


Two other schools where I applied were Miriam College and PWU...

Ask me how i got into UST? hehehe a very unbelievable istori...

I was just accompanying my classmate (hs) to submit her application form in USTET since it was already deadline...then out of the blue, naisip ko na lang na magfill up na din ng application form.Hahahaha tlaga..as in hindi ko maintindhan kasi wala talaga sa plano ko na mag-apply dun in the first place...


So after kong sagutan yung application form,dahil sa hindi na ako sigurado, I chose Literature and Education sa choices ko ng course... pumila na din ako for the assesment. At dahil nga sa wala sa plano ko, humiram pa ako ng P500 sa classmate ko for the fee kasi wala akong ganong amount that time. After processing, nakita ko sa permit na October 15 pala ang exams namin...and to think na October 11 na that time (Friday) so it means I only have 2 days to go before the exam....sobra talaga!

Thinking of what might be the types of exams...and having the short period to browse me previous UPCAT reviewer, nalungkot ako and nanghinayang sa P500 na hiniram ko sa classmate ko...kung sana, pinag-load ko na lang yun..e di siguro may sense pa...


The big day came, and magkasama kami ng classmate ko nagpunta ng UST para sa examination..sadly, magkaiba kami ng assigned room.Room 223 ako, while she was assigned in Rm221.


Motnhs passed by and January na..mga 2nd week ata yun ng ma-inform ako na nakapasa ako sa Miriam College,sabi ko sa sarili ko, "1 down, 3 to go" since 3 results na lang ang hihintayin ko...USTET result came over late in January...luckily, I passed the entrance exams..and i just need to go there for the interview...

February came...and I patiently waited for the UPCAT results...1st week...2nd week..till 3rd week came..wala pa rin akong natanggap na result...I was sad..I anticipated na baka kaya walang dumadating na results ay dahil di ako nakapasa...


March came...and buo na ang desisyon ko to enroll in UST...siguro fate really want me to be in UST...kasi aksidente lang talaga...from the application hanggang sa pagkakapasa ko...so I enrolled and I chose Education..since sure slot na ako doon...


Till now...wala pa din akong balita kung nakapasa ba ako sa UPCAT...siguro nga =hindi.but i dont regret not making it there..KAsi for sure..kung UP man ako ngaun...wala naman akong scholarship...

Unlike sa USTe, libre ako mag-aral..and that's for my total fees,,,I got that priviledge since I was a freshman..and very thankful ako kasi nakakalibre ako...aba hindi biro din kasi ang tuition dito..kaya malaking bagay na ito sa akin...


Ngayon nga pag nag-uusap kami ng mga pinsan ko, they feel proud of what ive gone..kasi kahit paano nagbabayad pa din sila sa UP...kaya iyon napag-isp isip ko...Hindi man nila ako kasing talino...alam ko na on my own...may mga bagay din akong naabot na sila ay di din nila na-achieve.

well, were just hoping to make our things better after graduation...


As of now, Bonnie is working as a Human Resource Officer in RCBC in Makati...While Kuya Kris is still studying Medicine in UP Manila...