2 weeks na lang... o 2 weeks pa?
Kung inyo pong mapapansin sa academic calendar ng UP, makikita po niyo na ang last day of classes ay Holy Tuesday. Tama po. Holy Tuesday. Medyo ang nakakainis e sana this friday na lang, pero, hindi.... Hindi puwede yun. Dahil, kung sa friday na, sana, subsob na ako sa kakaaral ngayon.
Iniisip ng aking inner child (concept na inintroduce sa akin ni Fr. Benny of PGH chapel, i.e. my hedonistic self) na 2 weeks na lang. Pero, hindi. Marami pang gagawin. 2 weeks. PA.
Kaya, wala akong magagawa. Sooner or later I have to disconnect and get bonded with my best friends, si Eugene, si Louis, si Neil at si Reginald **my inner self begs to disagree... yukkk best friends...**.
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Extremely excited din po ako for the coming week since, as part of Comm III, we would be interviewing either Noel Cabangon or Gary Granada... IDOL!!!! For many years I have tried composing songs, and sana, I may be able to get some tips and ideas from them. I really miss composing songs... One of these days I would post some of them here.
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Wala lang... Naalala ko lang almost a year ago when I wrote this article. It has never been posted in any site. Nakaimbak lang sa computer. It was written during the time that I least expected being in IMED... nakakagulat naman kasi eh. How would someone from a humble Catholic high school in Pangasinan be considered in such a prestigious (yet nerve-wracking) course program?
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Too Good to be True
The February sun was exuding its warm rays over the whole landscape of rustic Pangasinan and the surroundings were already engulfed in a bright shimmering hue, and yet I did not have the time to marvel at this sight outside. I was deep in studying for our high-school finals. It was then two days before I was to take the last set of exams under the fold of my high school.
That February day was especially strange.
Somehow a different kind of feeling surged in my system, some feeling that made me check over the results of the UPCAT. Sure, I was aware that God made me pass UPCAT, but I was feeling a bit eccentric. My feelings came into a culmination when after browsing through my WAP device; I saw my name with some peculiar cross affixed to it. I am not yet dead, I thought, since why would they put a cross before my surname?
Then I scrolled down and I saw the unimaginable. Me, an INTARMED candidate? I did not think it was true, I even pondered it was too good to be true. Me, who failed entering PSHS and studied in a public school? I never thought it was possible.
"Computer Science or Molecular Biology?"
My mind was especially boggled the day I received my UPCAT form. I was very much confused; my thoughts very much divided with the aspiration of pursuing either a career path in computers or in laboratory experimentation work. All along the aspiration to become successful in the future was there, but I did not know the way to choose that would lead me to it.
After finally choosing Computer Science, thinking that a career in computers would easily land me a job abroad (sorry UP), I ventured into answering the other questions in the application form. It was that fateful night when I encountered that fateful question:
"Are you interested in an accelerated program leading to Medicine?"
Ever since I was in my toddler years I really wanted to become a physician someday, but since my parents brought me up with the consciousness that the family is not opulent enough to send someone to some posh medical school, my hope that someday I would study Medicine waned little by little.
In addition, my parents discerned that they could only support me in my medical studies if I entered UP College of Medicine, preferably qualifying for the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Class. A sheer impossibility, that was how I dubbed the idea of passing INTARMED. It may seem that I did not have self-confidence at that time, since the pain of flunking the PSHS Competitive Examination was still reminding me how many students are more capable, more well-trained and more intelligent enough to outsmart and outlast the infamous UPCAT and make it to the top 100.
"Nah, I won’t be checking that box," with mixed feelings of pessimism and excitement I said. Excitement since I realized that I am really about to enter college, but pessimism since I then thought that even if I would check the box I would not have the chance anyway.
But my Mom was especially optimistic that night.
"Nothing bad would happen if we would check the box right? Who knows? Maybe you can grab the chance."
After pondering upon what Mom said, I checked the INTARMED box, uncertain of what was to happen but praying to God that He would be present and be at my side every step of the way.
The UPCAT was long and it was very tedious taking it. It took me five long hours answering it in its entirety, answering the questions in the best way I can. 20 days of summer review was a great help.
Then, after taking another admission test, all I did was do my best in high school and wait for the results, the future very much indeterminate for me.
When the results came, my parents and I really prayed a lot, hoping and praying that I would not only be a candidate but finally a member of Intarmed 2011. After storming heaven we achieved our end and here I am, about to enter the portals of the University of the Philippines, unsure how God will take it from here in guiding me to the way He chose for me, but optimistic that God would help me finish pre-medical and eventually medical studies, so that one day, seven years from now, the hallowed initials MD would be affixed to my humble surname.
Others said that my qualifying INTARMED was really a confirmation that I was one of a kind, others even going so far branding me a total genius. But I totally refuse being dubbed as such, always thinking that it only took a powerful, all intelligent God who never failed in guiding our family to the way He willed it to go.
And a guy who failed to enter science high schools and studied in lowly public and private schools (or as what roni_bats once said, schools from Lilliput. But otherwise, I am proud of my schools.).
Seven years is very long, but I know that with my family, friends and God beside, someday He would bestow upon me the privilege of being a physician. Besides patience, perseverance and determination, I know only of one thing that can bolster my chances of finishing medicine with flying colors: God's grace.
And I could never imagine myself without it for the next seven years and beyond.
The journey to INTARMED may have been a successful one, but, come to think of it, it’s only beginning.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Lord God, please... help me get through this toxic semester, and please.. help me get ready for a more toxic one next sem... Through the Blessed Mother and Saint Philomena. Amen.
Iniisip ng aking inner child (concept na inintroduce sa akin ni Fr. Benny of PGH chapel, i.e. my hedonistic self) na 2 weeks na lang. Pero, hindi. Marami pang gagawin. 2 weeks. PA.
Kaya, wala akong magagawa. Sooner or later I have to disconnect and get bonded with my best friends, si Eugene, si Louis, si Neil at si Reginald **my inner self begs to disagree... yukkk best friends...**.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Extremely excited din po ako for the coming week since, as part of Comm III, we would be interviewing either Noel Cabangon or Gary Granada... IDOL!!!! For many years I have tried composing songs, and sana, I may be able to get some tips and ideas from them. I really miss composing songs... One of these days I would post some of them here.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Wala lang... Naalala ko lang almost a year ago when I wrote this article. It has never been posted in any site. Nakaimbak lang sa computer. It was written during the time that I least expected being in IMED... nakakagulat naman kasi eh. How would someone from a humble Catholic high school in Pangasinan be considered in such a prestigious (yet nerve-wracking) course program?
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Too Good to be True
The February sun was exuding its warm rays over the whole landscape of rustic Pangasinan and the surroundings were already engulfed in a bright shimmering hue, and yet I did not have the time to marvel at this sight outside. I was deep in studying for our high-school finals. It was then two days before I was to take the last set of exams under the fold of my high school.
That February day was especially strange.
Somehow a different kind of feeling surged in my system, some feeling that made me check over the results of the UPCAT. Sure, I was aware that God made me pass UPCAT, but I was feeling a bit eccentric. My feelings came into a culmination when after browsing through my WAP device; I saw my name with some peculiar cross affixed to it. I am not yet dead, I thought, since why would they put a cross before my surname?
Then I scrolled down and I saw the unimaginable. Me, an INTARMED candidate? I did not think it was true, I even pondered it was too good to be true. Me, who failed entering PSHS and studied in a public school? I never thought it was possible.
"Computer Science or Molecular Biology?"
My mind was especially boggled the day I received my UPCAT form. I was very much confused; my thoughts very much divided with the aspiration of pursuing either a career path in computers or in laboratory experimentation work. All along the aspiration to become successful in the future was there, but I did not know the way to choose that would lead me to it.
After finally choosing Computer Science, thinking that a career in computers would easily land me a job abroad (sorry UP), I ventured into answering the other questions in the application form. It was that fateful night when I encountered that fateful question:
"Are you interested in an accelerated program leading to Medicine?"
Ever since I was in my toddler years I really wanted to become a physician someday, but since my parents brought me up with the consciousness that the family is not opulent enough to send someone to some posh medical school, my hope that someday I would study Medicine waned little by little.
In addition, my parents discerned that they could only support me in my medical studies if I entered UP College of Medicine, preferably qualifying for the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Class. A sheer impossibility, that was how I dubbed the idea of passing INTARMED. It may seem that I did not have self-confidence at that time, since the pain of flunking the PSHS Competitive Examination was still reminding me how many students are more capable, more well-trained and more intelligent enough to outsmart and outlast the infamous UPCAT and make it to the top 100.
"Nah, I won’t be checking that box," with mixed feelings of pessimism and excitement I said. Excitement since I realized that I am really about to enter college, but pessimism since I then thought that even if I would check the box I would not have the chance anyway.
But my Mom was especially optimistic that night.
"Nothing bad would happen if we would check the box right? Who knows? Maybe you can grab the chance."
After pondering upon what Mom said, I checked the INTARMED box, uncertain of what was to happen but praying to God that He would be present and be at my side every step of the way.
The UPCAT was long and it was very tedious taking it. It took me five long hours answering it in its entirety, answering the questions in the best way I can. 20 days of summer review was a great help.
Then, after taking another admission test, all I did was do my best in high school and wait for the results, the future very much indeterminate for me.
When the results came, my parents and I really prayed a lot, hoping and praying that I would not only be a candidate but finally a member of Intarmed 2011. After storming heaven we achieved our end and here I am, about to enter the portals of the University of the Philippines, unsure how God will take it from here in guiding me to the way He chose for me, but optimistic that God would help me finish pre-medical and eventually medical studies, so that one day, seven years from now, the hallowed initials MD would be affixed to my humble surname.
Others said that my qualifying INTARMED was really a confirmation that I was one of a kind, others even going so far branding me a total genius. But I totally refuse being dubbed as such, always thinking that it only took a powerful, all intelligent God who never failed in guiding our family to the way He willed it to go.
And a guy who failed to enter science high schools and studied in lowly public and private schools (or as what roni_bats once said, schools from Lilliput. But otherwise, I am proud of my schools.).
Seven years is very long, but I know that with my family, friends and God beside, someday He would bestow upon me the privilege of being a physician. Besides patience, perseverance and determination, I know only of one thing that can bolster my chances of finishing medicine with flying colors: God's grace.
And I could never imagine myself without it for the next seven years and beyond.
The journey to INTARMED may have been a successful one, but, come to think of it, it’s only beginning.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Lord God, please... help me get through this toxic semester, and please.. help me get ready for a more toxic one next sem... Through the Blessed Mother and Saint Philomena. Amen.
Itinuloy ni jimjim875 ang paglalakbay sa ganap na 3:23 PM
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