UP Mindanao Class of 2012

THE SABLAY

April 18, 2012 was a big day to UP Mindanao's Iskolar ng Bayan Class of 2012. It was our Graduation, or shall I say, SABLAY day. The Sablay is our alternative to the usual toga and cap, which made it very unique. One advantage of its advantages is that we don't just rent it, we have it for keeps. It is a very sacred thing especially to us UP students, because for us, it is synonymous to our academic success.We transfer it from the right to left shoulder upon graduation as a sign that our college life in UP has finally ended.

Sablay is actually a Tagalog word that not only means "failure or missed chance" as many of you might think. It also means "a loose piece of clothing, worn by a person, that is simple yet elegant and joined in front by an ornament, and two, the draping object or fabric on the shoulder. The Sablay gets its inspiration from the Muslim malong but incorporates various traditional elements found in other Philippine cultures. Running through the Sablay are geometric motifs of indigenous Philippine tribes."

It seems not so long ago when I was only imagining myself being a part of UP's unique college graduation  ceremonies and rocking the highly desired Sablay, and suddenly now, it's already my first day of being a UP graduate! I still can't believe it to tell you honestly. I know, of course, that life doesn't end when you get out of college; but it's just but normal to feel ultimate joy when you've accomplished something every student in this world covets for. It's one thing to actualize yourself. One dream down. To God be the Glory!

I could really say my college life was one heck of a ride, full of highs and lows in various aspects. You see, I'm not an achiever. I got my bachelor's degree without any academic or leadership distinctions at all. I've flunked a number of subjects many times, got extended for a year and experienced disheartening social issues along the way. I may have failed more often than not, but I believe those misadventures made me even more mature and equipped for the true battles of life. UP education truly made me a better citizen!

Anyhow, I know you want proof of our Graduation Day so here are I'll be dishing out the photos of what I'm talking about.

The iconic symbol of the University of the Philippines, The Oblation, also wears Sablay during Graduation Day.

Taken during Graduation practice. These Red and Green Vinta is one of the main attractions in our school's Atrium during Graduation Day.

Seats on the stage are occupied by the UP Board of Regents, The UP Mindanao Chancellor and the guest speakers. 

This is my only photo with UP Mindanao Chancellor Gilda Rivero, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel (our guest speaker) and UP President Alfredo Pascual.

Taken before the program when we still wore the Sablay on our right shoulder.

Taken after the program when the Sablay is finally on our left shoulder and when we already had our diploma.

Another shot of the most important people in the program yesterday.

With my sister Miko and her bestfriends Nica and Czeichelle.

With my family, Ate Mamu and some photo bombs.

With my mother and one of my dearest college friends, Charina.

We're not supposed to take pictures during the program, but hey, we can't help it. LOL! With my seatmate and partner in crime, Maicie; and with Troy and King in the background.

Our Graduation Ceremonies started at 6:45 in the morning; and since, there were only 135 graduates, the program ended as early as 9:30am. It's difficult to take decent and strategic shots during events like this especially when  you don't own one of those HD DSLR cameras. Thanks to those who have one, and also to our official photographers. I still have to wait for them to upload and print it though. Anyway, we headed straight to Loring's Lechon House & Restaurant (Matina branch) for our intimate celebration with only a few  invited friends and relatives. Thanks to my parents for making everything happen! Here are our photos there.

Wrong spelling for my sister Miko's name. FYI, Gelie is my nick.

Array of food.

Shanghai Rolls

Chopped Pork Lechon

Beef Kare-Kare

Chicken Pancit Canton

Sinigang na Bangus soup

Sinigang na Bangus

Mom's Home-made Brownies for Dessert

Mom's Home-made Chocolate Cake for Dessert

Watermelon and Pineapple for Dessert

Aunt Nerie and Cousin Patrick

My sister Mikee's forner nanny and her daughter

Shaira, my sister Janine's cute and bubbly bestfriend.

My sister Miko's bestfriends Czeichelle and Nica

My college friends Dolly, Harvey and Maxine

Hi Harvey!

Hi Maxine!

Me and my family went to Lito Sy at SM for our studio pictorial right after our party. The pictures will be ready by Sunday, and I just can't wait to let you see our family and prestige shots. I'll surely keep you posted for that. Now let me express my gratitude to our guests Aunt Nerie, Cousin Patrick, Ate Nene, Uncle Boy, Nica, Czeichelle, Shaira, Harvey, Dolly and Maxine. Thanks for gracing us with your presence!

My boyfriend Ciovic and my true friend Regine were also invited, but they weren't able to make it due to some concerns. Ciovic is still in Cotabato for a family affair, while Regine was in Manila for some training. I would love for the rest of my closest friends who are also part of UP Min's Class of 2012 to be with us for lunch, but I know they would be with their families to celebrate as well.

On that note, I would like to greet all of us a resounding, Congratulations!

PS: Thanks for bearing with this very long post. I will be writing another graduation post soon. :-)

A Book I Love

This is my first time to blog using Blogger's updated editor. I thought I'm gonna find myself having a catch by shifting to it, but I didn't. Why did it take too long for me to switch from my old editor? Blame it on my cognitive dissonance. Ayway, I've done a post like this before through Bookworm Adventures if you can still recall. I shared some quotes I got from my top five favorite books namely, Mitch Albom's Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and Jostein Gaardner's Sophie's World. 

I don't want to talk about the same book again, so let me give you my thoughts on another book that I love. It's Chris Martinez's Last Order sa Penguin. This book is a part of the UP Jubilee Student Edition. It's written in colloquial TagLish to bring the best of Philippine Literature. It's a book based on a theatrical play of the same title also by Chris Martinez himself. It won the grand prize for Three-Act Play in Filipino from the prestigious Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 2001. The play was first performed by the UP Theatre Council in the Tanghalang Hermogenes Ylagan, UP Diliman back in 2000.

The story revolves around five friends nearing their thirties -- "the cheerfully gay Tuxqs, the problematic Harlene, the sex addict Tess, the social climbing Dyna, and the druggie Mario." They met up for some drinks at the Penguin Cafe/Bar/Gallery in Malate to talk about love, life, sex, relationships, society, and turning thirty. Their conversation is casual and satirical. I really love their funny dialogs. I've watched my schoolmates perform this a few years ago, and I can say the lines are even funnier heard live! How I wish I can watch another Last Order sa Penguin play soon. Cross fingers to that!

This book is just a very light read that you can finish it in just a few hours. May I just tell you that the book is the script of the play itself. It only has 131 pages. You won't find it hard reading this because as I said it's in conversational TagLish, which is actually a dialect widely used within Metro Manila. I love this book because of its humor and entertainment value referring to the current events and local pop culture. I also love the lessons brought about by every character. It makes us think on what's going to happen to us when we reach 30. The story tell us that we can always turn to our friends when life don't turn out the way we plan it.

To my friends who want to read this book, just tell me and I will lend it to you. To those who just happened to pass by my blog, here are some links of the sites where you can get a copy of the book: Good Reads and Open Library.

#30 Day Challenge

TAG: 10 Things I Love

I have been tagged by my blogger friend to do this very interesting entry. Thank you Tessa! I was supposed to do this yesterday, but my thesis work got me busy. Enough of that! I actually remember writing a post like this before through A Few of My Favorite Things and The Mystic Collection. I yakked about all tangible materials in those posts. I don't wanna come off as a material girl so instead of talking about them again and again here in my niche, let me share you 10 intangible & valuable things I hold dear in my heart, mind and soul.

That sounded so dramatic. Right, folks? Here goes my list in no particular order:

University of the Philippines

In UP, I've learned how to work under pressure, not to mention poise under pressure. Teachers bombard us with a lot of paper works and stuff, and I thank God I was able to survive them somehow. In this institution, I've gained the confidence I never had before especially in dealing with difficult situations in academic and real life. I've gained strength because of the circumstances I've been through. Most of all, I gained new true friends here.

BA Communication ARTS (BACA)

That image above is our official logo. I love learning about communication -- from the theories to the practices. Communication really is my passion. My favorite communication subjects are Intercultural Communication, Public Relations & Advertising, Organizational Communication and Ethics in Communication. I would like to quote what our professor told our class before, "You might think communication arts is easy, but it's not." Very well-said, Sir!

Writing

Writing my thoughts out are one of those activities that ultimately makes me sane. I love to express myself through writing although I'm a Speech Comm major. That's how I spend most of my solitary moments alongside listening to my favorite music. I love doing it more than anything else. I write poems, journals, essays and even stories. But my stories are so weak. They're not like the good ones. You wouldn't want to read them.

Music

Music is my sanctuary. I consider it a safe place in this troubling world. Just like writing or blogging, it also makes me sane from all kinds of pressure that I experience every single day. Without it, I’d probably have an extensive degree of exhaustion every time I deal with some mind-boggling trials. It’s my preferred companion whenever I want to rest my mind, body and soul. I listen to 80% rock and 20% smooth music.

Simplicity

"Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful." That is a beautiful quote I found while searching for SIMPLICITY images. I was not born with a golden spoon. Now everything is handed to me on a silver platter. I am just a simple and average girl, but I feel happy just living my simple life. I love everything simple, from fashion to lifestyle. I don't know why, but I really feel intimidated with anything extravagant.

Art

With art, I can have great ideas when it comes to fashion, food, lifestyle and even in writing. Art is just everywhere, and I love it. I was really honored when I got the chance to enroll in one of the famous subjects we have at school -- Arts and Humanities. I talked about it in an entry just last year, December 2010. It gained 424 page views, so far. If you want to read it, here's the link -- Creative Juice: My Intense Devotion for Art.

Thoughts

I love to think. When in my deepest and wildest thoughts, I don't want anyone to disturb me. For me, thinking is a lot like dreaming. When someone or something interrupts, it's like going back to sleep to continue your dream. I admit that I get weird sometimes, but of course I don't show it to people. Thinking helps me come in contact with myself. With my thoughts, I can talk to myself. I'd rather do it than talk to senseless people.

Serenity

Because I mostly have troubled thoughts, I love to compose myself by going to places that invite calmness and peace of mind. Serenity for me is bliss. I don't like going to places that are too crowded and noisy. I actually think I'm a little enochlophobic (fear of being in crowds). That explains why I'd rather eat at restaurants than fastfood chains. I just get easily irritated with people moving back and forth when I'm concentrating on something (like eating).

Desires

I have a lot of desires from the materials I want to have, to the things I want to achieve and all that jazz. I want to graduate with flying colors soon. I want to have stable job when I graduate. I want to have a position in an advertising or marketing firm. You know, things like that. Those desires help me strive hard. They inspire me to do good in crafts that can help me get what I've always wanted to have and hold. I certainly hope I can get the desires of my heart someday!

Adventure

Adventure means fun. It is a kind that gives us natural high. It has that certain factor that yields excitement and amusement. When I say adventure, it doesn't only mean going on extreme activities like trekking, bungee jumping, wall-climbing or white water rafting. Adventure can also happen even in choosing what we wear, what we eat, and most especially, what we want to become. By taking risks, I also learn even if it means failing. That's how we grow, right?

How about you, what are those ten things that you love? I'm tagging Ate Gemma, Lavinia, Sergei, Jesse, Shimea and Maxine. Care to do this tag too?

All images in this post are not intended for copyright infringement.

day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere

One of the most memorable places for me was the Elias B. Lopez co-ed Dormitory of UP Mindanao. I used to stay there for almost three and a half months from April to July 2007. My parents allowed me to try sort of an independent life by letting me join the yearly Summer Bridge Program for chosen upcoming freshies of our school. It usually lasts for a month and is scheduled before the official start of the school year in UP. SBP participants are lucky enough to experience life in UP before the freshmen get to undergo it.

My dorm life was extremely one heck of an adventure. It was only there where I have tried late night crash courses and sleepovers with my closest girl buddies even though room-hopping was prohibited, and we do it almost every night! Well, that was pretty fun though despite the scolds we always get from the guard. The thing is, when you're young and adventurous you tend to break the rules just to enjoy every moment. But I know that's wrong.

When my friends and I get in a rut, we just trifle those boring hours away by listening to good music. We do it while chitchatting and food tripping. Girl thing, right? We loved to listen to Killer Bee 89.9 then, and the song we like to listen to all the time was Augustana's Boston. I love that song, not only because I love the soulful piano accompaniment of the song, but also because it reminds me of my happy dorm days with my friends. So, here's the song.

Boston by Augustana

Because I'm feeling so nostalgic today, I'm giving you 15 bonus tracks. These songs are what I listen to the most during my first to second year in college. I hope you enjoy them!

Running Free - Coheed and Cambria

Always be - Jimmy Eat World

Coin Operated Boy - Dresden Dolls

Paper Bag - Fiona Apple

Pandora - Madina Lake

Ricochet - Shiny Toy Guns

Rainy Monday - Shiny Toy Guns

Different - Acceptance

Prototype - City Sleeps

Business Time - Flight of the Concords

Oh oh - Taken By Cars

I should've been after you - Rooney

Feel Good Drag - Anberlin

Built to Last - Melee

Music is my hot, hot sex - Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS)

My college days are about to be over. Hopefully, I'll be down to my last 18 units this coming semester. I sure can't wait to shop for off-white dress, beige heels and of course, the much-coveted SABLAY. Please pray for me, folks!

The video used in this post is not intended for copyright infringement.

Tribute to my College Friends

I've already blogged about my bad experience in college, and how I managed to go through it. And then I thought, "Why not write about the things that made me happy in that stage as well?" Half of my memories in my college life are distressing. I fought the depression of failing my parents' expectations, not having a lot of friends and being hated by many, all alone. But I could say God is good for giving me even a few but true friends who helped me surpass those challenges.

My college life will not be memorable if not because of those people who chose me to share some of their experiences with. They made it easier for me to deal with difficult circumstances. They made me feel comfortable in tagging along with different types of personalities. Most of all, they made me feel that I'm someone who's worthy of their trust and respect, despite what others used to make me feel.

I wasn't actually expecting to have new friends, because I got used to being alone. All I wanted was to know how was it like to be taught by teachers from this premier university. The only thing I honestly looked forward to when I passed UPCAT was not wearing uniform in school. That got me so excited because I can mix and match clothes everyday in my student life. One more thing is that, I had the experience of dwelling away from comfort zone because I lived for three months in the dormitory. I just went home during weekends. I enjoyed it somehow, because it was like one heck of an adventure.

However, groups are everywhere whether I like it or not. It's quite impossible to live life in college without those people you can hang on to. We need friends, not to gain something from them, but to share countless memories with them. We need each other to survive. I may shy away from groups, but I know that I will always be part of them. So now, let me introduce you to the various cliques I had in college.

MUNTING BACA NI OBLE (MUBA)

This is how our second batch shirt look like.

Freshies at Ate Ling's Old Kubo.

We were getting ready for our speech presentation.

Bloc A of BACA 2007 literally took the floor.

PUDDING GIRLS

I met Mae Joy during the Summer Bridge Program in UP. I met Dolly because of Maej.

I miss Maej and Dolly's company. I miss our laughters and conversations.

SPCM

Biodiversity field trip at Philippine Eagle.

Business Communication Finals under Ms. Elaine Isip.

Intercultural Book Launching.

MAX and JEW

Max and I love taking pictures, while Jewel loves eating! :D

It was just recently when I got close to these girls, but they became special to me instantly.

THE QUITTER's CLUB

OSA, welcome our club with open our arms! :D

Too bad, Ria and Lavinia wasn't with us when we had this group pic.

This is Lavinia. She may look bashful, but she's really not. :D

With our group's clown, Ria Gene Petrache. :D

To all the groups I've mentioned, I hope you like this tribute. I’m very grateful that God gave me a chance to get to know some of the truest people in UP Mindanao. I must have done something so good in the eyes of God. I hope we still become tight friends after graduation. I can’t afford to lose some friends again. I will do my best to keep our camaraderie stronger.

Happy graduation BACA 2007! I wish I can march with all of you, but it's impossible. Before you go on in the next chapter of your life, let me just say that you all are very special to me. The memories I had with you will always remain in my heart and mind. It was a blast having you around, and I hope we get to reunite again someday. I will miss you, and thank you so much for the genuine friendship you've given me. As what I always say, I will remain a true friend to each one of you no matter what happens! Mikimoto Angel will definitely be with you along the way.