First Day High!

The first day of my college work has been very good. Actually, I quickly overcame all of the Top 4 Back-to-School Phobias that I enumerated in my last post in just a few minutes. It’s also good to know that I have a very nice schedule, considering the fact that my everyday classes are only half day.

My first discernment of college life is something very tough. It’s very far from what I experienced earlier this day. I have proven myself that College is NOT far from High school. Well, some would disagree with this but either way, I think that College is something students must not be afraid of. Another major concern for me is the professors. I must admit that before I enter college, I picture professors as somehow associated by the term “terror”. But those days were gone. And today, as college made its way to me, I can say that I’m very happy and contented.P.S. I made new friends. This proves that I’m really friendly. LOL.

Official PLMayer

Yes, it’s official. I’m going to spend my college life inside the four walls of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). I’m not really expecting that time has drawn an end to my vacation today, faster than I have expected. Back-to-school blues are now starting to fill my tranquil mind with disturbance and fear. I know that I have no choice other than to overcome it.College. A simple word which is defined as the “highest part of schooling”. This is the time when a person is given a chance to choose, from a wide range of professions, which course to pursue. It may sound simple but for me, this will be the most challenging part, not only in my school life, but also in my personal life.

These are the Top 4 Reasons why I’m fearing College Life:

1. New Faces. I still don’t have a friend whom I can talk to, especially because I’m the only Magdalenean entering the college. I wish I can meet new friends. LOL.

2. Introduction Phobia. I hate this part! I simply don’t like the idea of introducing myself in front of my new classmates and professors. Maybe because I’m just shy or afraid. Maybe I’m both.

3. English Speaking Campus. When I heard that speaking Tagalog inside the school campus especially during classes is forbidden, a sudden thought came into my mind: “Nose bleed!”. Anyway, I still find it a gift that some parts of the university is exempted to this rule. These are the C.R., Filipino classrooms, Field, and school Canteen. I think I’ll spend most of my time in these palces. LOL.

4. Less time for Hobbies. Surfing the internet, playing DotA, and blogging will be replaced by reading, studying, and reviewing. The quotation “Time is gold” will be proven true in school times because strict time management is the key to success.

I won’t include the positive reasons why we need to go to school because there are tons of them. School is a time for learning new and important things. But we must put in mind that life doesn’t stop at high school nor in college. We need to study hard because the real world is harder to manage than school. School teaches theories; life demands application, as they say. So, I’ll end this blog with a covenant, not just a promise because promises are made to be broken, that I’ll do good in college. And I’ll do better in real life.

Lessons From Tarlac

The toils we face seems to shadow our every move, making the once vivid days turn black. This also makes us think that the connotation “Life is unfair” true after all. Reasons to give up are often encountered during the ordeal which is an understandable phenomenon that humans undergo. But one day in your life, you’ll feel this special feeling of contentment, knowing that you still must be thankful because you are luckier than other people; that your present condition is still better compared to them. I felt this emotion during my last trip to Tarlac which occurred just a while ago.

Early this day, my father invited me, together with my brother and mother, to accompany him to one of his business trips in Tarlac. Being very keen at that moment, I never hesitated to answer “Yes”. I bathe, dressed, and prepare myself for the day to come. Just an ordinary day, I thought, unaware that it would not be just ordinary. At about 9:00 AM, we left the house and headed to Tarlac.

When we have reached the place, I took a sit on one of the benches available for visitors. Simultaneously, a blind man accompanied by a woman asked for alms. My mother gave them some money. Then just like a chained reaction, more beggars asked for money, most of them young children asking for food. My mother gave all of them some money.After a few more minutes, a cigarette and candy vendor approached us. Having no need for a candy, I still found my hands in my pocket to get some coins to buy. What forced me to buy is not necessity but pity for him. I realized that, unlike the beggars, he still finds a way to sustain his living family other than begging for money. I suddenly asked myself: “Who is better, the one who only asks for money and not using his skills to work or the one who utilizes his skills in the name of hard work in order to sustain a living?”. Of course the answer is very clear. I commend the vendor for his hard work and perseverance. He’s never seem to be affected by his problems because he uses his skills as a resistance.

My initial reaction was contentment because if I would compare my life to them, it is pretty obvious that the state of my life is tons better than them. I realized that I should not complain but instead be thankful for all the blessings that I have received. These thoughts clouded my mind for the whole day.

The toils we face seems to shadow our every move, making the once vivid days turn black. It’s our task to prove this wrong.

The Point Forward

I have spent most of this day staring at the computer, wondering what to do to alleviate my boredom. I have tried to visit several websites but I can’t find a way to ease myself. Suddenly, I remembered the date today - June 4. That is exactly two months after my graduation last April 4. The memories of that day settled into my mind. This was also the day when I delivered my Valedictory Speech in St. Mary Magdalene School Kawit, Cavite on the occasion of its 33rd Commencement Exercises with the theme “The Filipino Graduates: Celebrating Achievements, Pursuing Opportunities”. Below is the complete content of my speech:

Just a few days from now I, together with my batch mates, am going into a new world where we must prove our worth. This will be the deciding factor whether we will or will not be successful in our lives. And we can do it.

P.S. I would like to thank my very reliable English teacher, Mrs. Emraida Torres, for helping me with my speech. I miss you ma’am!

The POKEMANIA Strikes Back

It did. And it struck like a lightning.

Way, way back years ago, six years to be exact, I have started the collection of a lifetime. Being a young child is pretty boring most especially if you have nothing to deal with. That reason made me think of other things to do aside from playing, playing, and playing. It’s collecting. Collecting Pokemon Trading Cards to be specific.

The first time I watched Pokemon cartoons on TV, I knew there’s something special about this series because it kept my eyes glued to the screen every time I’m watching it. That led me to the mall to hunt for some Pokemon stuffs. I found some action figures and decided to buy them. I just found myself obsessed with Pokemon starting that day.

However, my Pokemon-action-figures obsession soon faded and it was replaced by my would-be collection that time, Pokemon Trading Cards.

I remember being an elementary boy going to school, carrying a dozen or so Pokemon Cards with the purpose of trading or playing with my class mates. And when I got home, the same routine takes place but this time, I do it with my cousins and neighbors.

That was the story six years ago.

Just last week, however, when I was searching my file cabinet for something, my eyes found a small, rectangular wooden box, which contains the Pokemon Cards I have collected. Suddenly, I found myself browsing through hundreds, or probably thousands, of them in my study table. The memories ran through my head as I slowly gather and recall my life as a young boy playing with them. I realized that many years have gone by, yet my collection still stands as a mute witness to my many jovial experiences during childhood. Those days may be over, but not my collection.

Today, I am now officially back into the business of collecting Pokemon Cards. It may seem weird for a teenage boy to do such things but I believe in the saying “Do what makes you happy”. And collecting Pokemon makes me happy so I intend to continue my hobby till I reach my adult years. I love Pokemons. I really do.