when your hard work paid off

I know this coming graduation will just be the beginning of another journey. But so just i could have something to look back to (or just to preserve this article because i know after a few months this page will not be accessible anymore), I am pasting an article that showcases all my hard work and perseverance during college.
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UPD holds 99th graduation rites

More than 4,000 candidates for graduation will receive their academic degrees at the 99th General Commencement Exercises to be held April 25 at the University Amphitheater at UP Diliman.
Leading the candidates are 25 summa cum laude, all of whom have earned a cumulative weighted average grade (CWAG) of 1.20 or better. Heading the top honors is Jordana Cristina R. Valencia, Bachelor of Science (Psychology), with a CWAG of 1.087, followed by Miguel Carlo L. Purisima, BS in Electronics and Computer Engineering (BSECE), 1.096.

The other top honors are: Raymund Siegfrid O. Li, BS in Business Administration and Accountancy (BSBAA), 1.101; Hyacinth Mae G. Tambago, BS in Chemical Engineering (BSChE), 1.102; Pearl Aimee C. Balleta, Bachelor of Science (Psychology), 1.112; Kenneth Robert C. De Guzman, BSChE, 1.118; Danielle P. Canlas, BS in Computer Science (BSCS), 1.124; Diane Lourdes G. Reyes, BS in Business Administration (BSBA), 1.129; Patrick Dela Paz Ramoso, BSChE, 1.132; Ma. Isabella C. Pamintuan, BS in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (BSMBB), 1.132;  Allyanna C. Anglim, BS in Economics, 1.142 and Anna May L. Navarrete, BS in Family Life and Child Development (BSFLCD), 1.145.
Completing the list are: Cristina Maria P. Cayabyab, Bachelor of Music (Conducting), 1.15; Maria Kristina S. Gallego, Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics), 1.151; Ryan Oliver T. Lim, BSBA, 1.157; Fides Angeli DLC Zaulda, BSMBB, 1.157; Monelle G. Capistrano, BS in Economics, 1.16; Miguel Carlos I. Gonzalez, BS in Chemistry, 1.161; Runyi Wu, BSBA, 1.175; Mynard Bryan R. Mojica, Bachelor of Science (Statistics) 1.181; Roana Bianca C. Reyes, BS in Industrial Engineering, 1.185; Sandra Mae T. Magalang, Bachelor of Arts (Public Administration),1.188; Joyce Jackilynn C. Tan, Bachelor of Elementary Education, 1.191; Nina Rebecca R. Ramos, BSFLCD, 1.193 and Israel Jordan R. Samson, Bachelor of Science (Statistics) 1.197.
Of the top honors, Gallego has been selected to speak on behalf of the graduating class.
In addition to the top honors, UPD has 236 magna cum laude and 928 cum laude. The magna cum laude is awarded to a graduate with a CWAG 1.45 and the cum laude for a CWAG of 1.75.
Of the total candidates for graduation, 3,443 will receive their undergraduate while 830 will be conferred graduate degrees.


Source: http://www.upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/index92.html

my boyfriend

Niga Higa.  I really like him. He's cute, he's smart and of course, he's definitely FUNNY. I even subscribed to his YouTube channel (which I'm proud to say has over 2,000,000 subscribers already! I think he's the first one to achieve such number of subscribers. :))

Here are some of his videos:


"Who just Beibered?" haha

This next video is really memorable.  My friend Cams and I watched this video in class! We looked really stupid because we were trying to prevent ourselves from bursting out and laugh as hard as we possibly can!

And this one, i just viewed now as I make this post. haha :)







That's my Ryan. Niga Higa. hahaha :) stalker much? no, just a fan. :)

Oh Lord, please make a way na magkita kami. Pretty please. Kahit mag college ako ulit para maging classmate ko sya. or whatever.

Mag YouTube na rin kaya ako? Maybe he'd feature me or something. TEEHEE!

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for more videos from Niga Higa, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/nigahiga

Fixer and Faster

I went to Riverbanks to finally apply for my NBI Clearance. My father and I were expecting that the queue will be shorter since not so many people visit that place. We were wrong. So, we tried checking out the QC City Hall office.

When we were looking for parking, someone helped us look for one. malamang. When we got out of the car, that person offered to "help" us apply for the clearance - "RUSH" version. So okay, at this point, he must be a FIXER.

I suppose everyone knows what a fixer is and what he/she does. He/she makes applicants' lives easier... and FASTER. but of course, there is a trade off. You have to pay a certain amount. In my case, I paid 450 for Police Clearance (instead of 520 for NBI) because the process is much faster. This amount already includes the processing and of course, the TIP.

After 15 minutes of waiting (compared to others who would wait for at least 2 hours), I got the clearance. He even delivered the clearance in the parking lot! HAHA

Obviously, this made people who avail of their services easier. but, have we ever thought that this certain act is unfair to others who woke up at 5am just to be first in line? Or in a much deeper analysis, this just shows that those who have the "money" are really more powerful and can avail of easier and faster things in life.

But wait. Why do these people (FIXERS) exist anyway? Most of them have connections to the people inside the office. Even some of them are those who are working inside the office!! is this another evidence that government employees are not compensated enough??? Or is it just that not these services/offices are provided enough investments to provide us with better services? Should we blame those corrupt officials? Or should we blame ourselves for patronizing these services?

Let's think. Let's ponder. Fixer and Faster? or Bigger and better? Bigger honest and clean investment to making the services faster, thus providing a better service to the people.

DR

Kalerkey's top 7

Exactly 43 days from now, I will be immersing myself to what they say is 'the real world.' They say that this real world is full of both challenges and opportunities that we need to face and grab. They say that one will only apply at most 30% of college learnings in this real world. But is it really that tough? Is it really that different? Isn't studying in UP for four years or being a working student for some enough to prepare us for this reality? I don't know. I have no idea. I guess I'm just not ready yet.

And yeah, I still have too many things to do before I fully plunge myself into work. Here's my kalerkey's 7 stuff i want to do.

• Chuck Marathon. I've known this series for so long, but I still have not watched a single episode yet. I think it's in its third season already and I really need to catch up. I guess I was so engrossed with my favorite 90210, One Tree Hill and Glee (+ Melrose Place and CSI) that I don't have time to watch this. Also, i need to update myself with HEROES!!

• Buy a planner. I was so satisfied with my Nokia E71 calendar synchronized with my MS Outlook that I did not bother buying a planner. Yet, as days come along, I always feel the need to buy one. It makes me feel more organized and prepared whenever I get to write and see what's need to be done. Is it still worth it to buy a BDJ planner now? Or should I just settle for a simpler but reliable Executive Diary we find in National Bookstore?

• Watch a concert. It's been 4 years since I last watched a concert at Araneta. It was Parokya ni Edgar's concert!! I was not able to watch foreign artists who had concerts here maybe because i did not like the venues (i.e., MOA open grounds, McKinley hill). I'd prefer the enclosed and safer Araneta Coliseum :)

• Travel Abroad. Yey! At long last, after years of dormancy, my passport will have its first stamp. haha! My friends and I will visit Hong Kong for 8 days. We'll depart on April 28, 3 days after our graduation! I'm really excited. :)

• Travel around the country. There are so many beautiful places here in the Philippines. Yet, only a few appreciate them. I am one of them. :) Yabang Pinoy! :) So far, I've visited Sagada, Banahaw, Puerto Galera, Tagaytay, Wawa Dam (Montalban), Bacolod and Linaon (Negros Occidental), Baguio and Batangas. This May (after HK), I plan to visit Vigan, which is known for its historical and Hispanic homes and establishments. Who wants to go with me?

• Have a car. When I entered college, I thought my parents would give me a car since they gave my brothers their own when they were in the same level. But i was wrong. But hey, I heard that they'll give me one as a grad gift! Yey! I hope they'd give me the Ford 2010 Escape Hybrid. FYI, it's the most fuel efficient SUV yet!

• Find love. No comment. HAHA

Maybe after achieving all these pleasure and leisure, I may be more ready to change my mindset and face the "real world." The real world that is full of challenges and opportunities. The real world which is reality. And a reality that I am currently facing now is hunger. I am hungry. :))

'Til my next entry! Kalerkey.

DR

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Sources:

1. http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/images/ilocos_vigan_street.jpg
2. http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escapehybrid/gallery/photos/