Flashback.

I told myself, 4 years ago, that being online distracts me more from juggling my studies and my work.  I ended up with a very, very long hiatus; I dubbed this as a cyber-hibernation.  For this reason, it took me 40 months before I was able to write again for this blog.  I miss this so badly.

  

Tomorrow I will be graduating for the fifth time.  It was my dream to obtain my master’s degree before the age of 30.  In God’s favor, I will be able to do it 18 days before I turn 29.  What took me writing 32 hours before I receive my graduate degree is an out spurt of vivid memories of my college graduation. 

Frustrations.  Expectations.  Excitement.  Thrill.  Anxiety.  I think I’m just stressed out.

Frustration.  Way back in college I really wanted to win the best student teacher award.  Without any reservations, I asked my supervising teacher if he could nominate me for the said award.  He then asked me to draft the letter and he will just check it.  I did what he told me and so I was shortlisted for the award. 

I was the President of a national organization during that time.  We organize and conduct science camps every summer for high school students.  That year, we went to Davao City for the annual event.  In the middle of the camp, I received an SMS that I have to be in the college the following day to do a demo teaching.  As much as I wanted to fly back to Manila, I have to give up the demo teaching.  I have to give up my dream.

It was very disappointing because it was my only chance to make my mom proud during my graduation day.  I was a ‘pasaway’ student during my undergrad years.  I have 19 units of 5.0 and 7 units of 4.0.  Because of that, I have to extend for another year so it took me 5 years to finish my course.

The best student award also has a cash prize.  Another reason why I badly wanted to win the award is because I needed the money so I can enroll in a review center for the board exams.  We were in financial constraints during that time and I know that my mom can’t send me anymore to a review center.  She would always tell me, “Kaya mo yan!  Hindi mo na kailangan ng review center.” 

And so, I was not able to enroll in a review center.  Worse, I did not review for the board.  Right after taking the exam sometime in August 2006, I called my mom.  I told her since I did not review, I am not confident with my answers.  I thought I would fail.

I did not fail.  

I passed.  I even placed 10^th among the 17,377 successful passers out of 59,457 examinees in the elementary level.  I was crying when I told my mom the good news over the phone.  How did I do it?  I don’t know.

Expectation.  Because I was born to be an achiever, receiving an award during graduation day is not a new thing for me.  I was 3^rd honors in kindergarten, with honors in grade school, and valedictorian in high school.  Maybe that is why I was so frustrated to graduate in college without any award I can bring home.  I lose my competitiveness in the academe that day.  Instead, that competitiveness was channeled to my students every time we compete in a science contest.  In the past six years, I ended up pushing all of my trainees to do their best. 

Nevertheless, I still exerted all my best to complete the requirements of my MA subjects.  I think that effort paid well.  January this year, I was invited to be a member of an international honor society.  Invitation to this organization is highly dependent on the academic standing of a student.  Hence, he/she should belong to the upper 10% of the graduating class.

The invitation made me compute for my general weighted average (GWA).  To my surprise, my GWA is 1.125, without the thesis grade.  I honestly don’t know where did this grade come from.  All this time, I thought only ‘halimaws’ could produce this kind of grade.  But no, I am not a ‘halimaw.’  Up till now, I am still haunted by my 5.0’s in Math 53, Chem 17, 28, 28, and 31.

Because of the 1.125 GWA and the honor society invitation, I don’t know if I will receive an academic excellence award tomorrow.  Though honestly, I am expecting to receive it.  Maybe that is why I feel stressed out right now.   I just hope my guts are right this time.  I hope so.

Another reason why I feel stressed out is because my paper was nominated for best thesis award.  When I went home two weekends ago to attend the wedding of my high school classmate, the twin sister of the bride got into an accident while we were traversing the ATV trail at the foot of Mayon Volcano.  The same day, I received a message from my thesis adviser that I should be in the college the following Monday because they will nominate my paper for the best thesis award.  I was still in a post-traumatic state from the accident that happened in the morning and then I received overwhelming news about being nominated for best thesis in the afternoon.  Just imagine my emotional dilemma that Saturday night.  I was a total wreck.

Tomorrow my suffering will end.  I will finally know if I will receive the academic excellence award, IF they call my name; at the same time, I will know if I won the best thesis award, also, IF they call my name.  For now, I think my gastrointestinal tract will suffer for the next 32 hours.  My functional dyspepsia is a manifestation of a psychosomatic condition when I am subjected to stress.  I think I can feel it right now as I write this post.  Or I don’t know, maybe I’m just hungry because it’s 2 am already.

(c) UP Lakan

Stress.  I am thrilled of what tomorrow will bring me.  I am excited.  I am also anxious.  Or maybe I am just stressing myself.

While exchanging text with an officemate earlier this evening, I suddenly realized that no matter how the graduation ceremonies would end up tomorrow, there is one more thing that I should be more excited about.

What will happen to me after graduation?  What should I do next?  Where will the Lord lead me now that I am done with my graduate degree?

The good Lord works in His own perfect timetable.  All of these things happening to me did not happen by any chance.  Or even by good fortune.  There was no ritual or repetitive prayers required.  No charms to hold on to or idols to worship.  Everything was just between God and me.  

In the past four months that I have been writing my thesis, I knew everything would push through smoothly.  This is because I knew He is my rock, my refuge, and the source of my strength.  All I have to do is let Him take the wheel.

What road should I take now that I’m done with my work here?  I don’t know.  That will be my next prayer item.  And then after five years, or ten, or maybe 20, I will go back to this page and reflect once again on how great the Lord had been to me.  And surely, have another flashback. 

Colloquium on Understanding the Tropical Storm Ondoy

Everyone is invited to listen and participate in the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) Colloquium entitled:

Understanding Tropical Storm Ondoy:
A Forum on the Meteorology and Hydrology of a Massive Flood Event

On September 26, 2009, Tropical Storm Ondoy hit the country, primarily affecting Regions III, IV and the NCR. A relatively small tropical cyclone with maximum winds of only 85 kph when it made landfall in Aurora, no one expected that it will bring in an unprecedented amount of rain - 367mm in 6 hours. It caused massive flooding in the Marikina River Basin as well as in areas surrounding Laguna de Bay. To date, more than 300 people have died due to the floods. Understanding such event from a meteorological and hydrological standpoint will hopefully shed some light on why such tragedy occurred; and hopefully aid us in anticipating and preparing for similar events in the future.

image source

A Panel of Experts will come from the following organizations:

• Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Department of Science and Technology
• National Hydraulics Research Center, UP College of Engineering
• National Institute of Geological Sciences,UP College of Science
  

October 6, 2009, 3-5 PM
NIGS Audio Visual Room
College of Science, UP Diliman

*The Urban gurU received this email from an alumnus of the National Institute of Geological Sciences. As part of the academe, let me invite everyone who are interested in knowing the scientific milieu of the said natural phenomenon.

Online Petition to Increase the Salary of Public School Teachers

Three weeks ago, I posted about the online petition to increase the salary of public school teachers.

Unfortunately, it turns out that for online petitions from Filipino citizens to be valid and legally binding, they must comply with the provisions of the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (RA 8792), specifically the provisions of Chapter II of the said Act. The petition at PetitionOnline.com cannot conform to RA 8792.

A new petition was opened containing substantially the same text, with additional text regarding the concurrence bill HB 4734 which is now pending with the House of Representatives. Please do sign that petition. The online signing process seeks to conform to the requirements of RA 8792.

Click here to sign the online petition to increase the salary of Filipino public school teachers.

Thank you very much for supporting our fellow public school teachers!



*from the original email of Mr. Isles of Education in the Philippines Forum

They do come true...

My Dearest Students:

In the year you were born, I took the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) National Competitive Exam. To my dad's amazement, I passed the First Screening. For him, it was not just an achievement, but something that brought pride to the name I'm carrying.

But that was just the start of my series of achievements. I marched in secondary school with the highest honors, passed the premiere state university of the country, and placed tenth in the board exam. I didn't know that the Lord paved me that road way ahead of time. Hence, I was happy for myself, and my parents happier.

I never knew all of these would happen. Way back in grade school, I struggled to top my class. But despite all of those hardships, I landed sixth, eighth, or tenth. The highest honors I received was being 3rd honors in third grade, cliche, isn't it?

Today, Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Chair of the PSHS System Board of Trustees, announced that of the 21,303 applicants, 1,119 examinees successfully hurdled the one-step screening administered of the PSHS National Competitive Exam administered last November 15, 2008.

Just like your parents, I am very proud of your accomplishment.



How can I ever forget you Naomi? You were a very sweet girl in fourth grade. A very shy kid, but really exerts your effort to understand the fourth grade Science lessons. I never knew that Science was your favorite. I should have encouraged you more back then...

Do you still remember the gift you gave me during the Holidays of 2006? The card wrote:

Dear Sir,

Please have a joyous Christmas.

From,
Naomi

How can I ever forget that card? It always makes me smile every time I read it. Unfortunately, I did not have a 'joyful' Christmas that year. Typhoon Reming struck my province a month before Christmas. My family needed to evacuate our house; strong currents of the river at the back of our house brought down our 3-meter high concrete fence. I was teary-eyed to see the leafless coconuts as my bus brought me home during the Christmas break.

But still, thank you very much...

By the way, I still have that bottle of chardonnay at home.
---



I was ecstatic upon hearing that Joshua will be a part of the GMA7 local version of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grade?" dubbed as "Kakasa ka ba sa Grade 5?" Janno claims that you were the smartest among the first batch of fifth graders for the show. Believe it or not, every time you mentions that your favorite subject is Science, I always feel a sudden rush of blood in my arteries.

You always challenge me in class every time I alienate you with a new scientific information you haven't heard before. You even bought a three-inch thick Campbell book for our Biology topics. You compelled your Mom to the bookstore because you want to use the same reference book as what I am using.


I was even flabbergasted to see the True Friend Test you've created when I googled my ego. It contains a question asking who your favorite teacher is. Of course, I answered the entire quiz just to prove that my hypothesis is correct!
---



Kitty, you're a Math expert. I've only realized that this year when you became a part of my advisory class. Hence, your analytical skills developed very much since fifth grade Science.

Look, here is a YM conversation that will prove me right:



All of us were surprised when we learned that you passed the PSHS entrance exam. You are very silent in my Science class. I even get mad at you every time you answers back with, "I don't know," and that happens very often. Grrrrr. I knew you know a lot of things! You're just too hesitant to push thru challenges given to you. I hope this one would be an exemption. I believe in what you can do. So please believe in yourself also...
---


JM is a very aggressive kid. He's very competitive. His alertness and agile sensory-inter-motor neuron stimulation caused their triumph over this school year's PSYSC Science Olympiad. Thus, he's really determined to bring home the bacon this year.

Our defeat during the 2007 competition almost brought down my sanity. And so I quote from my very first blog:


Remembering him teary-eyed after last year's competition gives me a sense of fulfillment when I saw him teary-eyed after winning this year's competition. A year of preparation paid off. It was a sweet victory for him. What more for me?
---



It seems that David has mastered already my teaching strategy. I have no more tricks left for him. He would always get a perfect score in my exams, surpass my standards in my requirements, and effortlessly digest and absorb all of the knowledge I share to him.

At times when he commits a mistake in an item in a quarter exam, I would really laugh out loud because he was not able to get that question. But when I return to him his paper, I would still reprimand him either verbally or thru my comments for committing a trivial mistake. Poor kid. I know, I am that bad. Sorry, Dave.

But how will I forget this comment of his on my Friendster page when he was just in fifth grade:


Teaching is a very crucial job. Teachers deal with lives. Fragile lives.

I've seen David grow for the past two years. Any parent would really be proud of this boy. I may not be a Science competition champion, but at this point, I want to brag that I've produced one. I'm really proud of you...

--o--

I flunked the second screening of the PSHS National Competitive Exam in February 1997. I failed my dad.

But from what you five have accomplished so far, it seems to me that I've passed already the most competitive high school entrance exam in the country.


And yes, dreams do come true...

Increase the Salary of Filipino Public School Teachers Petition

The Senate of the Republic of the Philippines has already forwarded to the House of Representatives for their concurrence Senate Bill No. 2408, or the Educators in Basic Education Compensation Act, last July 31, 2008. Until now, there has been NO action from the Lower House regarding this bill.

To recall, the bill proposes a Php 9,000 additional compensation, to be given over a three-year period in three tranches, to public school teachers, locally-funded teachers, non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education and Philippine Science High School teaching and non-teaching personnel. It likewise seeks a Php 1,000 medical check-up annual allowance for covered beneficiaries and a Magna Carta bonus to public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the DepEd.

Being the Representatives of the Filipino People, we urge the Lower House to pass a counterpart bill to Senate Bill No. 2408, and upgrade the salary of public school teachers.

Click here to sign the NEW online petition