Enrollment in UP as a Freshman

                College has passed by so fast.  It seems as if it was just yesterday when I first enrolled into the university.  I remember it as clear as day.  I was so excited that time.  I was finally going to be enrolled in UP Diliman, one of the most prestigious colleges in the country! I was going to meet new people, and maybe even the friends I would keep for the next four years. I thought nothing could go wrong that day. Well, I was wrong. Nothing in my life could have prepared me for the enrollment process UP had, and still has.

Lines.  Lines everywhere.

                Growing up in the province, I was used to my parents paying my tuition fees for me and fixing whatever it is that has to be fixed during enrollment time.  My father new a few people in the faculty so he did not have such a hard time enrolling me.  The hardest thing he probably had to do was get the money for my tuition fees.  So this spoiled little piggy had no idea what was in store for her during enrollment day.  I honestly thought that the worst that could happen was a couple of machines breaking down which would result in us waiting a while.

               

                Finally, doomsday came. Lo and behold the lines for everything was unimaginably long.  It was supposed to be a day where only freshmen could enroll.  How the heck could the university have so much freshmen?!?  To make matters worse I had to walk to different buildings in order to get everything done.  To this day  I still hope that they find a way around this.  You have no idea how much time is wasted by simply transferring to a different building just to have someone sign on your paper or tell you that the subject you wanted is not available.  Anyway, sometime during the afternoon I finally arrived in the OUR where we had to pay for my tuition fees.  Surprise, surprise, there was another line waiting for me yet again.  I felt like I was waiting for ages.  It was so hot at the waiting area, I could even see the sweat rolling off my seatmates face.  Now that I think about it, maybe those were tears of frustration. I am not that sure anymore.  By the time it was m turn to pay it felt so good to part with my money.  Never in my life had I thought I would be happy to see my money go into the hands of a total stranger and watch it disappear into a drawer full of cash of other sufferers like me.  It was my first taste of the enrollment process in UP.  A premonition of the next years to come.

              

               I thought it would not be that bad the second time since I already knew what to expect.  Guess what? I was wrong.  Always ALWAYS expect the unexpected from UPD.  The second semester was three times worse.  I could not get all the subjects I wanted in the CRS, so now I even had to line for the subjects I needed.  I had to line up for an hour or more for a single subject!!! Unfathomable.  Why do you have to line up for something that you are required to take? But as my high school religious teacher always told us “It could have been worse.” True to his word, the next enrollment was worse.  Enrollment as a ‘regular’ student is an all together different kind of hell, meant to test your patience to the utmost limit.  But that is a different story

Nicola Fionna F. Delos Santos

Source (Photos)

https://aitsalimbay.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/tumblr_m592b0ewta1qgznsuo1_500.jpg

The SM Hunt

A security guard watching our every step, sweat dripping down our faces and our minds and bodies craving for rest. At a first glance, you may infer that we are going through a problem, but not that kind of problem you’re thinking right now. It’s not about breaking the law or anything. This was just about our group chasing SM employees. But to completely understand what we are trying to do, let me tell you first what lead to this activity.

Last week, our Fil 40 professor assigned group projects. Each designed to interview and target people who have gone or may be going  through rough patches and how they are dealing with it, specifically we are told to interview SM employees, comfort women and juveniles. Our group was assigned to interview SM employees about their life working for Henry Sy. My group mates and I created guide questions, planned the execution of the interview and agreed to meet in SM North that Saturday to carry on with the activity.

It was Saturday morning and all of us were there. We had papers, pens, two cameras, one tripod and one goal: to listen and hear what SM employees have to say. We were all set and ready to mingle. We decided to first start asking employees working in the supermarket. We approached a bagger and asked, “Kuya, pwede ka bang makausap nang saglit lang? Meron kasi sana kaming mga tanong tungkol sa pagtratrabaho mo dito sa SM. Ok lang ba?”He was shy and hesitant to answer at first. He then smiled and said, “Sorry, bawal kasi. Nagtratrabaho ako.” We replied, “Kuya, di pwede ka bang iinterview mamaya sa break mo?” He then stepped back and said, “Ummmm, may gagawin kasi ako sa break ko. Sorry!” He then left in a hurry. We then approached a customer service assistant and asked the same thing. But like the bagger, she too said that she was busy and apologized after. We asked 3 more people and all of them said no.

To our dismay, we went out of the supermarket and searched for other employees. And we thought of janitors so we went to comfort rooms. We went from one floor to the next to find a janitor. We couldn’t find anyone in the janitor’s room nor in the succeeding comfort rooms we went to. We wanted to look for other SM employees until we luckily found one in the ladies’ comfort room at the 3^rd level. We asked her the same thing. She said, “Sige, saglit lang ha” We then asked her if we could record this interview. She replied, “Basta wag yan lalabas sa TV ha, “We then said, “Oo naman ate, this is confidential. Sa atin lang ito” She then said yes and we started with the interview.

 We introduced ourselves to her. We told her that we were UP students conducting an interview for a requirement in one of our subjects in UP. We then greeted her and asked her how she was doing. We asked her about her children, her family and her status as a janitor.  Something intriguing during the interview, people passing by would always constantly look at us with curiosity as if we were celebrities but still we continued on with the interview. Then eventually we asked for more in depth questions about employment and problems she is currently facing. She first was hesitant to open up to us but eventually she expressed her concerns regarding the labor contractualization and minimum wage and how this impacts her family and herself as well.  We were so happy because she was able to vocalize herself. We then gave her a simple token for the interview. 

We were so grateful because we found one person wiling to engage in an interview and also to talk about concerns regarding the SM system. However, we were still looking for one person to interview so we decided to go back to the supermarket and try again our luck. We went to the back where employees enter and exit. But this time, we decided that only two people would go and ask since we thought that our failure of getting people to say yes was connected to the idea that a group of people can rattle them and make them hesitant. So I and my friend volunteered while others were at a distance.

My friend and I saw somebody went out, we carefully approached and asked her if she could answer some of our questions. But then we heard a loud yell, saying “Hooooy”. It was a security guard signaling us to get out. We stopped and went away. But as persistent as we were, we still went looking for someone a little further from the gate and out of the sight of the security guard. It was almost 30 minutes but no one entered nor leave the establishment.

So here we are sweating, perspiring and evading a security guard. We really wanted to give up and go home and continue on tomorrow until we saw a person leave. We calmly approached her and asked if she can answer a few of our questions. Like others, she was so shy and hesitant but I think our good looks and sweet charm made her say yes. The interview went smoothly like the first one. But we were so happy and astonished because she really was knowledgeable about the issue of labor contractualization and infringement benefits of employees. She really had striking comments, reactions and opinions on the SM system. After the interview, we thanked her and even hugged her and gave her a simple token. 

We went back to our group with all smiles and shouted, “Successss!” We ended the day with a prayer and a group hug and went our separate ways. This day was certainly a memorable one for me. This was my first time to conduct an informal interview as a UP student. All the sweat and fatigue were just small prices to pay for having an interaction like that. It was precious and a life changing one, my view on the whole world really changed.  Even though, we only had 5 to 10 minutes with them. I got a glimpse to be on the shoes of another person. UP makes you do crazy things but for a legitimate reason, just like chasing and begging SM employees. 

By : Benedict Guinto 
(Narration)

Sources (Photos):

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v_bRqkr73gu8NzUeAGeGchueSVDYibYLCG0MxyyTd-TiwQtzpIR09s9oY03uJDU-vVlx8BU9YdxJEux0vNR_rdTQInaLcu-qd1qh0Eg4Hp8uFiKxqKHNcMwazuijBEXedq9GhqEwbDiH/s1600/SM+North+EDSA+-+North+Pole+%252848%2529.JPG

Friends

                There are so many organizations inside the university.  When I first decided to join one I was already in my second year.  I figured that I should just use my first year to get myself used to living away from my parents first.  At the time of my second year in college, I was already adjusting pretty well to the university life.  Some of my friends wanted to join an organization, so I thought, why not?

                The organization we decided to join in was an organization for psychology majors, or for people who had at least taken three psychology units, which is equivalent to one class.  There were about 60+ of us applying in the org, and the application process was a tedious one.  As soon as you apply to be part of the organization, they give a calendar of sorts for the application process.  There were so many activities that us applicants needed to do.  But the first week was dedicated solely to the applicants meeting each other and meeting the members.   There was even a ‘tambay log’.  Applicants were required to be at the ‘tambayan’ of the organization for a minimum number of hours.  This was to ensure that applicants would really interact with the members and their co-applicants.  After that, a couple of applicants decided to drop out already.  They thought that the application process was such a hassle.  I’m glad that they dropped out early, because if they thought that the requirement to stay at the ‘tambayan’ was already a hassle, then they would certainly hate the other requirements that would come up next.  As the weeks passed by we were required to do numerous time consuming things that made me question my resolve to continue with the process.  But the requirement I hated the most was that we had to memorize all the basic information of every member and alumni.  If it wasn’t for the constant support of my co-applicants I would have quit.

                I realized during the process how important it is to have a support system.  When times become hard, sometimes all you need is a helping hand.  It also made me have faith in myself---  Faith that I can overcome difficult tasks as long as I do my best.

Nicola Fionna F. Delos Santos

Face to Face with Oble for the First Time

Just like how a kindergarten feels during his first day of school, I was very excited to enter my new school, known as one of the best schools in the country - the University of the Philippines. I was so innocent then about what was all about this school. I heard a lot of rumours, like the school being the centre of student activism, lots of jeepneys inside, huge buildings, and of course, its famous tradition - the oblation run.  I surfed the internet to know more about the university, and the first thing that appeared was a statue. It was Oble (Oblation or Pahinugod) – a concrete statue made by the famous Filipino artist Guillermo E. Tolentino, which serves as the iconic symbol of the University. Since then, I dreamed to see Oble personally until there comes the time that I needed to go to Manila for the enrolment. Finally, I knew that I will see him!

After a long eight-hour trip from Isabela, we finally reached Manila. As I, together with my friend, stepped out from the bus, the sun’s rays shone upon my face and hurriedly, the hot desert climate of Manila welcomed me, as if thesun’s rays werehuggingmedirectly.All things became new to me, specially the environment. Noisysurroundings, numerous cars,foul and hazy air and vast number of people -these were the things I observed, far from what I experience in the province. Besides from excitement, my mind and heart began to feel pressured as I saw how life was in Manila.

            As the green light turned on, “broom, broom, beep beep”, jeepneys, taxis and buses turned the highway into a racetrack. They were racing to get more passengers. Wewere picked-upby ahuge bus going to Fairview.The ride was very crazy- if the lion was the king of the jungle, the bus was the king of the road. The bus wasas fast as a camera flash, it overtookto the right and left making me feel unsafe. In justa few minutes, the conductor shouted “philcoa, philcoa”. The bus stopped to unload passengers. We went down and my knees began to shake as my friend told me that we were nearly there.

“U.P CAMPUS, CAMPUS U.P!” a thin man shouts as he walked towards us asking if we were going to the campus. We answered him and he helped us to load our things. The jeep’s small capacity I believed was good for only 10-14 persons but I was amazed how the jeepney driver managed to insert four more passengers- we looked like sardines in a small can, we were compressed. But besides that, I enjoyed riding the jeep because it was my first time to ride a public utility jeepney. The machine turned on and we started moving. The jeepney turned right into a very wide road, the University Avenue, which I thought was an expressway. There were flowers that looked like a fire dividingthe road into two partsI was so impressed when my friend told me that those beautiful sun flowers also symbolize the Graduation period of the school.

The jeep went straight up to the checkpoint and I noticed something- a gigantic building. A massive building views from afar to which looked likea palace floating on air. The statue stands approximately two meters and I noticed a plant on his foot. The statue seemed familiar to me; I knew that I alreadyhave seen it. I didn’t remember its name but I remembered the way it looked like. I asked my friend and she said “yan si Oble”.I realized that statue because of the famous tradition of the school-the oblation run.I can’t describe how glad I was when I saw him face to face. The tiredness I felt was lost as I read the markers on the statue’s base- It was a verse of Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adois. The long and tedious journey was well worth. This journey to see Oble is one of the most inspiring journeys I had in life. I will never forget this experience.

By: Mark Lesther M. Jacinto

(Narration)

Sources: (Photos)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/354096/scitech/science/no-more-blooming-grad-sunflowers-for-up-after-calendar-shift

http://irvinarenas.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/entry-058/

The Big Event

Last Sunday, September 14, 2014, a major event happened in the Big Dome, Araneta Coliseum, the UAAP Season 77 Cheerdance Competition. Many people have watched this contest, primarily the students of the eight universities which are part of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines(UAAP). These are UP, ADMU, UST, DLSU, FEU, NU, UE, and AdU. I've also witnessed this one of a kind event and the amazing routines each team prepared for the battle. By watching it, I remembered my incredible experience last year, during the UAAP CDC 2013.

It was a rainy Sunday, September 15, 2013, when the cheerdance competition of 2013 happened. It was held in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Luckily, I was able to get a ticket since my PE during that time was Cheerdancing and we're required to watch it live. I'm just a freshman back then and it was my first time to experience watching this kind of event so I was very excited for it.

UP Pep Squad in UAAP CDC 2013

When I woke up that Sunday, I instantaneously prepared all the things I need to bring and I quickly got myself ready to go straightaway to MOA Arena. I can't wait any longer to see the cheerful crowd supporting each pep squad of different universities and the astonishing dance they made to win the trophy everyone wants to get. After my preparation, I left our home already. Nobody can send me to the arena during that time so I just travelled alone by commuting. After waiting for five minutes, I immediately found a jeepney I could ride on. It was just easy for me to travel. Our trip went smooth. When I was to pay the jeepney fare, I looked into my wallet to get money, but I noticed that the CDC ticket was not in it. I panicked at first, but after some time, I was able to calm myself and to think deeply where is my ticket possibly located. Then I remembered that I put it in my envelope which was in my school bag. When this thought came into my mind, I quickly paid my fare and went across the street to go back and get my ticket. After 45 minutes, I came home with a shivering heart beating so fast like a drumbeat. I rapidly got my ticket and travelled again as fast as I could so that I will not be late. After two hours of stressing trip, I finally came to the big event everyone has been waiting for. As soon as I entered the arena, I can already hear the loud sound of the drums being played by the drummers of each team. I saw the excitement on the faces of the audience. I also heard the loud cheers and encouragement of the fans from different universities. I really felt the school spirit and pride by seeing the support of each student to the team of their university, how they uphold them in every possible way they know.

UP Pep Squad in UAAP CDC 2014

The program began and the first to perform was University of the East(UE), followed by Far Eastern University(FEU), then University of the Philippines(UP). Since I am from UP, I delightfully cheered and shouted for the UP Pep Squad when they performed. I am so proud of their performance and I am so happy that I was able to watch it live in the arena. After they presented their outstanding party routine, I received a lot of text messages from my friends telling me that they saw me in TV, cheerfully screaming for UP. One of them even said, “Cyrish, nakita kita sa TV, artista ka na.” This made me laugh and I thought that from the huge crowd MOA Arena had during that time, it's amazing that the camera was once focused on me. It's an assuming statement, but I was just too happy that moment. Another five universities executed their routine after the UP Pep and I could say that they all did well.

When the performances of all the teams were done, they already revealed the results. When they announced that UP Pep Squad was the first runner up, I felt sad because I really hoped for them to be the champion, but eventually, I accepted it and thought that they will get back the trophy again next year. When the program was finished, almost all the people there left but the UP students and fans stayed for a short while and sang all the cheers of all the universities. This act made me even more proud of UP because of the sportsmanship shown by the team. I will never forget how this competition influenced me to be happier with being a UP student.

UP Pep Squad in UAAP CDC 2014

A year after that memorable experience, I could still recall how that day have marked in my life. As I watch the CDC 2014, I cannot stop thinking how glad I was before when I am watching it live. This year, we were still not able to get the first place. Yes, UP Pep Squad was not able to win the eyes and hearts of the judges, but for me, they're more than champions because they won the eyes and hearts of many.

by Cyrishlyn Malubay
(Narration)

Sources (Photos):

www.static.rappler.com (http://static.rappler.com/images/up-pep-squad-20130917.jpg)
www.localpulse.net (http://www.localpulse.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014-UAAP-Cheerdance-Competition-Results.jpg)
www.fullcourtfresh.com

First class in U.P!

          The 1st semester of School Year 2014-2015 marked the beginning of my life as a college student. I had chosen Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering as my course because I figured out it was where my potentials and skills lay. Having lack of experience and self-confidence, I prepared myself early for the first day of school at one of the most prominent universities in the country – University of the Philippines Diliman - the best school in the country.

UP Diliman, Math Building

        I don’t remember the day of the week, probably a Thursday, nor the day of the month, but I shall never forget that day as I walked along the corridors of a large building - the math building, with a vast number of students walking and chatting around me. I can’t describe how nervous I was as I walked towards my classroom. I felt like what a probinsyano must feel like walking into the busy streets of Manila for the first time – overwhelmed and scared to death.  The tension and anxiety struck me as I faced the reality that I would be dealing with a lot of new people. It was early, 8:30 am, as indicated on my Form 5 (registration form) that I would be sitting in my first class - math 17, with other freshman students. I felt like I do not belong here.

        As I walked, someone caught my attention. He was sitting by himself so I walked towards him. He looked almost as scared as me; I bet it was his first time there too. He is a freshman mining engineering student, maybe 5”5’ in height, with well styled hair, medium build body wearing a black jacket, his name is Joshua David. He was the first person I spoke to. As I recall, we talked about college life and learned that we have many similarities. Having met each other was probably a good thing because we were able to understand that neither of us was alone in our fright.  It was a good first encounter and from then we became very good friends. He is my first college friend. We talked until we reached the Audio-Visual Room. Before I entered, I stood near the glass door, drank water and took a deep breath. I entered the room head down with my heart beating heavily.

        I found an empty seat at the back. As I remember, I was fixing my things when a woman entered the room. She introduced herself saying “I am Issa Ibarra and I’m your professor for this subject”.  I was amazed by how she oriented us in just 5 minutes. She gave us three things to remember to pass the course – “dream, struggle and become - dream to get uno, struggle to get uno, and you will get uno.” And then she dismissed us. Amazing, isn’t it?

UP Diliman, Kalayaan Residence Hall

As I walked back to the dormitory, I realized that my teacher had a very big point. In relation to my career, I have already built my dreams - to become an engineer; the next step is to struggle and reach for it because if I do my best in everything I know that in the end I will become what I dreamed to be. Every day, I wake up energized by these words I learned from my first class in UP.



by Mark Lesther M. Jacinto
 ( Narration )

Sources (Photos):
www.photobucket.com (http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/jafhoy3/100_0676Small.jpg)

www.blogspot.com (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VAa_XLKDcvgdoebe2SdeXet8Js0MFhNSto3iIzo6shcC6uuAfPQXc5SQ5_n4baKLOZJF-nbhuictEYzUmS1ify8kpm2Emuhf5Cf7hU6i8nMibxomVe4-VgVlP7ZOv-1II8xrjyP2aqI/s400/UP+Diliman+(2).jpg)