Uno

                Grades don’t define who you are.  I have constantly told this to myself whenever I get a low grade in one of my classes.  After all, when I start working, I doubt my future bosses would look at my grades as a basis of my work.  Yes, grades do have a factor when it comes to getting hired.  But it is not the only factor, and your grades can only get you so far.  If you don’t do well in your job, then getting high grades during college is utterly useless.  But even if grades aren’t a reflection of who you are as a person, it does have a factor on your emotions.  Getting a singko, or a failing grade, will surely make a student feel sad.  Who wouldn’t feel sad when you have to repeat a subject again?!

                The opposite can be said for getting an uno.  An uno is the highest grade you can get in the university.  It is a trophy of sorts for students.  The university is home to the crème de la crème, or so we UP students believe.  That is why getting an uno, especially in a difficult class, is no laughing matter.  An uno is not only the highest grade a student can get, it is also one of the best bragging rights to a student and his or her parents.

                Parents love bragging about their kids.  Whether it be about them painting a portrait of the family to when they were kids, to them getting accepted to the University of the Philippines.  Of course our parents are aware of how difficult it is to get in, and how difficult the classes are in the university.  That is why telling them that you got a perfect grade in a class would lead to them telling this story to a few of their friends, and you receiving a slight increase in your allowance.

                An uno is thing of miracles.  It can make anyone’s day wonderful.  It is even better than getting a new phone.  The first time I got an uno I remember jumping up and down in happiness.  Nothing beats the feeling of acing a class you know you worked hard in.

Nicola Fionna F. Delos Santos

IKOT

            There are numerous modes of transportation in the Philippines.  But hands down, no doubt the jeepney is the most popular of them all.  They can be found on all sides of the Philippines.  Whether it be on  the metro or some far flung province in the middle of nowhere.  The jeepney has been so deeply ingrained in this country’s culture that it would be next to impossible to imagine a Philippines without the jeepney.   Around 15-18 people can ride on a jeep, but depending on the driver some jeepneys can fit up to 20 people.  Do not be fascinated by how a 15-18 seater vehicle can magically seat 20 people.  Imagine a can of sardines, and think of them as people instead.  That is how a jeepney with 20 people look like.  

           They say that the University of the Philippines is a microexample of the Philippines.  This belief seems to be consistent even with the modes of transportation.  The university is so big that there are even jeepneys going around the campus shuttling the students from one building to another.  The jeepneys are extremely helpful, especially if the classes you have are located at buildings on the opposite ends of each other.  For 7.50 pesos you can ride an jeep which basically circles the university.         

          I remember when I first rode the jeepney in the university.  I was so clueless about the buildings that I ended up missing my stop and circling the university again. I was supposed to go down at the econ building at that time.  I even brought a map of the university to make sure that I would not get lost.  But it seems I underestimated my poor sense of direction.  I only realized I was lost when we passed by the stop when I first rode the jeep.  So I decided to just transfer my seat and go near the driver and tell him that I had to get off at that specific building.    Luckily the driver did not ask me to pay my fare again and even took his time point out some of the buildings to me.  It seems that it is normal for freshman students to get lost.  It wasn’t that bad since I had time to spare and it served as a sort of tour of the university.  At that time I was embarrassed because I did not want other people to know how clueless I was.  It was a good thing that I had a 30-minute break then. That incident made me realize how important it is to ask someone when you are unsure of something.  There is nothing wrong with asking someone.  At least next time you would not have to ask them again, and it certainly beats getting lost.

by Nicola Fionna F. Delos Santos
(Definition)

Source (Photos):
http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/104/9/3/day79_isko_po_ikot_jeep_by_tusoksiomai91-d3dyo9l.jpg