Ang Pagsusuri

©darrengarcia

Earlier this afternoon, I attended a debate of those running for senators. Incumbent senators, Trillanes and Magsaysay, were there. They were all good, even those that are first-time to run. I just hope that they live up to their words.

Eager for Learning

©darrengarcia

One of the coolest things in UP is that you can attend (sit-in) in any class you want even if it's not in your curriculum. My friend, from agri-biotechnology, invited me to sit-in in one of his class. It's so awesome to learn new things that you can never hear in your subjects. I really don't know why some people ditch their classes and take their opportunities for granted, when in fact thousands of poor Filipinos are eager but are not capable to send themselves to school.

Golden Words

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Chocolates from my LB v-group. It's gold and sweet just like what we learn. God's words are truly the sweetest and most enlightening words anyone could hear.

Day 2 survived

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Stayed up late last night. I had 2 major exams this morning. I only had 3 hours of sleep.

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There were no more people along the street, but I still made sure that I'm safe. This is just a meter away from the UP gate and there are visible law enforcers around. 

Reviewing: the LB way

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'Cause studying in the library is too mainstream. In order for us to review for our exam, we still have to go to the mini-forest. We need to memorize about 70 scientific names of plant species. That's not all, the challenging part is identifying the plants. In our exam, we should be able to identify the species given just the leaves (which all look the same).

Chamber of Secrets

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©darrengarcia

While strolling around, a room caught my attention. There were chemicals boiling in the room. It was like a room you see in movies, those enchanted type with magical potions of all sorts.

Stopclock

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Exams week...3 consecutive long tests ahead. I needed to study somewhere else. I planned to go to a milk tea shop, but opted to go to Mcdo with my #1 fan-- my grandma. Time passes by but memory remains.

"The best thing you could give to anyone is your time"

Process of Cloning

©darrengarcia

In UP, we evaluate the performance of every professor...my teacher in animal breeding is so fun that she is worth cloning. Though she always cracks corny jokes, her effort is commendable. She already had a promising career in DOA but she was convinced to teach in the academe to share her knowledge. 

Small Gifts

©darrengarcia

My friend was talking to a girl who sells sampaguita. They caught my interest so I peeped in. My friend asked this girl if she has eaten dinner, and the girl said yes, so my friend just invited the girl to ministop so he could buy her a drink. I finally joined their conversation. I found out that her parents are sitting by the streets while she sells the flowers. My friend and I made her promise to finish her studies, and that if she is able to enter UP, we'll guarantee her a scholarship (we'd have decent jobs when that time comes). We told her that she should prioritize education rather than working for small amount of money, and that she must study really hard if she wants to get rich. I felt so blessed that my sisters and I are able to study without even working just to earn our allowance. Eventually, I told my friend that I'd pay for the chocolate drink that this girl wants. I realized that though I sometimes experience financial troubles, I still have more than enough. 

Study Space

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I went to Marikina Library just to study. A peaceful place to stay. I finished my work in just an hour and a half, a supposedly 5-hour struggle. The power of concentration is true!

Humor in Inanimateness

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I took a picture of pictures.

Banana for Merienda

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My roommate cooked something for us...minatamis na saba (caramelized banana). You can never translate everything in English.

Heartbeat Overload

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While I was on my way to the bus station, a man beckoned the jeep and went in. There is just an old woman separating both of us. He was dirty and he has a plastic with him. Not that I make prejudices about the outward appearance, but I learned in our psychology class that "deviance" (being too different from normal people) is a sign of psychological disorders. The man stretched his arms. At first, I thought that he was just exercising. After a minute, he was swiftly punching the air. Then, he uttered words that only him understands. Everyone in the jeep was looking at him. The jeep stopped at LRT katipunan station, and the old woman between us left. I was supposed to alight on cubao, but out of sheer fear, I followed the lady and rode another jeep.

©darrengarcia

The second jeep paused at the gas station. There was another man which I think has some kind of behavioral or mental disorder. Personally, but I think the government has to do something about these people. 

Unending Labor

©darrengarcia

Honoring God through my studies. I don't do it to achieve or to prove my worth. I just do it out of love.

Fall of the Golden

source: http://www.theverge.com

Recently, we have witnessed the fall of one icons in the field of sports, Lance Armstrong. What could have made him do such thing? Besides, he was already good at cycling even without taking stamina-enhancing drugs. 

Eventually, I realized that most people do everything they could just for others to recognize them--to achieve fame. The problem with fame is that it's not constant. One day will come where you can no longer meet the standards of your fans or maybe someone greater than you will rise. 

The best thing to do is find your purpose in life. Live your life and not other's; knowing your true purpose will not only shield you from other's persecutions, but it will also build your character--the REAL you. 

Morning Jog

©darrengarcia

When I woke up, my dog came jumping at me, squealing as if he wanted me to come with him. He kept staring at the door and directed me to a shoe rack where his leash is kept. I couldn't resist the fur-ball so I jogged with him 'til he persistently pants.

Manila Labyrinth

©darrengarcia

My LB friend went to Manila to search for books in UPD library. The problem is, he wasn't sure how to go home so he texted me.Viola! I became an instant GPS. With the help of the internet, I was able to tell him the route of LRT and MRT. Fortunately, he was able to find his way to the bus terminal in taft.

TEDx (Ideas woth spreading)

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©darrengarcia

I was able to attend an international event a week ago. There were numerous speakers who shared noteworthy thoughts on how to grow a nation. I was amazed that everything they said was biblical. Although they quoted from different religion and races, the essence of their speech is enveloped by Christian principles. I think that even themselves don't even know that what they are saying can be found in the bible. Eventually, I realized that there is no thought greater than the very God-breathed words.

"In the end, man will be judged on love."

-Eddie Calasanz

"Three things will last forever— faith, hope, and love— and the greatest of these is love."

-1 Corinthians 13:13

Power Booster

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I am always excited to go home every Friday. There's nothing like ending your stressful week with a worship night. This is my alternative to energy drinks. I am recharged and renewed. Moreover, I get to bond and share experiences with my small group. Not only do we chat, but we also encourage one another, as brothers, in every way we could. Most of all, it is always good to know that there are God-fearing people around you, separated from the worldly thinking.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

^"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."

Season Greetings

©darrengarcia

We just got a letter...we just got a letter...we just got a letter...wonder whom it's from?

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I received a Christmas card from my friend, who is now residing in Canada. I appreciate it so much even if it has been almost a month since Christmas.

Belly Treat

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After an exhausting day, I went to one of my favorite restaurants. They serve "lutong-bahay" dishes at its best, with an affordable price. Their meals only range from 50-80 php. 

Sleepy heads

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These are my econ groupmates. The professor was late, so we didn't miss the opportunity to get a precious sleep even for a short time.

Patient and Friends

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Last night, my roommate was vomiting and was really dizzy. I urged him to go to the infirmary, which is located on the mountain, because I feel that he might be food poisoned. Along with two of my other roommates, we went there and found out that it was most probably be caused by toxins from unclean food. Then here comes the funny part. A nurse approached us and uttered words in a serious tone, "Tatawag na kami ng pulis, sumama kayo". We were all shocked by what she said, and we responded with a frightened face. Her laugh burst upon seeing the looks of our enigmatic expressions. Eventually, she explained to us that the police will escort to the UP gate since there are no more jeep for us to ride and go down.  

Tea 'til you drop

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A new milk tea shop opened in UPLB, and I wasn't allowed to miss it. Besides, it is relatively the cheapest milk tea I've ever seen. A large cup, equivalent to about 3 and a half cup, is only 55-70 php. The taste is of a typical house milk tea and the pearls were sweet and chewy unlike other brands. The downside of this one is that they only offer 3 flavors: Taiwanese milk tea, wintermelon, and assam tea. It took me 2 hours to finish this cup, it's much bigger in real life.  

Animal Breeding

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Teacher: What is donkey crossbred with horse?

Class: Mule!

Seatmate: Eh sir panu po pag mule at donkey nagbreed?...Monkey?!

A visit to the upland

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©darrengarcia

This is what you call interactive learning...we went to the mountainside  just to learn about soil and water conservation. It's just fun to witness such a picturesque view. Unfortunately, I only had my phone's camera to take shots. 

©darrengarcia 

©darrengarcia

We made contour lines and measured the slope. It was cool how farmers are well educated about these techniques. The last picture is me doing my own measurements. The great thing about this activity is that it has 2 parts, which means we're going back next week.

Midnight treat

©darrengarcia

Thanks for my mom who gave me a sodexo gift cheque. An unhealthy yet heavy snack.

Ala eh! Kape...

©darrengarcia

One of the benefits of having probinsyano friends are pasalubongs. My friend from Batanggas gave me a pack of kapeng barako. I don't really indulge myself in coffee, but this changed my perspective. Philippine products are truly awesome.

The Roads We Take

©darrengarcia

So ACET results have been released earlier this day...and I believe that a number of students are now rejoicing and the rest, well, pretty much depressed. 

Take it from a non-passer...You didn't pass like me? It's not the end of the world! We all have this urge to reason why we didn't pass. In my case, I chose quota courses (with honor courses). You have to be in the upper 10% of the ACET passers to be catered into the degree program. Talk about CONFIDENCE, I had the guts to indicate only "with honor" courses as my choice. Actually, it's because of the simulation test that boosted my ego. I remember getting a 93% in the ACET mock exam from my review center.

The point is... we have every reason to rationalize why we didn't pass, but will that change anything? Honestly, it's quite difficult to accept that some of your classmates passed, and you didn't. However, comparing yourself to others won't do you good. 

Things to do:

• Accept the truth- learn to little by little absorb the fact. DO NOT rationalize. DO NOT compare.
• Look back- deeply take time to realize what your main goal has been for the past few years. Have you been studying your whole high school life just to pass ACET? If you're saying "yes" and that it was your dream school from the start, think again...you don't go to school to pass an entrance exam, you don't waste 4 years in high school just for a single test...there's so much more in the meaning of education.
• Look beyond- DO NOT BE RIDICULOUS! Widen your mind. Universities don't dictate your life. You may have failed the expectations of people around you. BUT TAKE NOTE, everything on earth is temporary...their failed expectations will be surpassed by your achievements in no time. Look beyond your college life. Do not limit your mindset on the present.
• Hope for the best- if you know you did your best, maybe it's not really for you. Every year, when the results are out, it is a tradition/routine/habit that non-passers would say that maybe "God has better plans for them". It is in this season when Jeremiah 29:11 becomes famous. Why is this so? because the verse SPEAKS THE TRUTH and it becomes our SOURCE OF COMFORT. It might be tiring to hear that cliche, but I tell you, it has a reason why it made itself through time. IT IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.

True to life experience...

It is normal to feel sad, no one in the right mind rejoices when he fails. Nevertheless, you must learn how to overcome your depression and turn it into a challenge upon yourself, for your response to the situation has a great impact. Will you surrender  it to God? His ways are higher than our ways.

When I failed the ACET, instead of destroying the rest of my day, what I did was pray. I put my whole trust on him rather than on myself. The next disheartening event after ACET was UPCAT, instead of UPD, I got a slot in UPLB(my second choice). I never wanted to leave Manila and live my life in a province. But it is God who directed me to this path... After a week of seeing the UPCAT online results, another mail came. The letter congratulates me for getting an average of 90% in the UPCAT. It is very apparent that God's hand worked on me. He placed me where He wants my purpose to be fulfilled. 

AND HERE I AM...in the BEST place where I could be.

I am now in the University of the Philippines Los Baños taking Agribusiness management. I could not imagine myself being more happy. I am very much contented and satisfied, as my grades can reflect it. I have the coolest probinsyano friends and the coolest teachers too...Not only do I have a sense of emotional contentment, but also a realization towards life. God chose the right people beside me in the proper time so that I could ponder something greater than I expected. 

Bottomline is... 

"Do your best and God will do the rest"   

Zombie day

©darrengarcia

I woke up at 11 pm last night...so I had to stay up late. The good thing about staying in a dormitory is the accessibility of food establishments. McDonald's is just a 3-minute walk from our apartment, so I went there at 1am and stayed there until 3am. At least, I did something productive.

Grassy Delight

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A friend of mine, from the college of agriculture, brought something for us... KANGKONG ICE CREAM! Who would thought that it would taste that good. Aside from the color, everything was appetizing. You'll never know that it's made of kangkong unless someone tells you. It tastes sweet, cheesy, and creamy. Well, what treat would you expect from an agri-kid.

All in one

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Due to budget cut, I was compelled to use my project as a gift. Kidding, I'm just being resourceful. And the gift was in the paper bag and not the rubber band.

Greetings

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My Animal Science classmates greeted us. By the way, the third name should be Roy and not Roxy. The gap between letter o and y is large...so what I did was put an "x" between the letters. From then on, "ROXY" was born!

Pie hunting

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My roommates and I searched for buko pie last night. It all started when we were tuned in to our favorite channel, which I will tell why some other time. We first went to the nearest buko pie shop, but unfortunately was closed.

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We rode another jeep to go to a gasoline station where bus vendors usually stay to sell mini buko pies. Unfortunately, there was none.

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And finally...we went for another ride to go to the best buko pie shop, "D'originals". You must not miss it when you visit LB. But since it was already closed, we just settled for Collette's. 

©darrengarcia

©darrengarcia

©darrengarcia

Finally! after all our journey, we eventually satisfied our cravings. But since the law of diminishing marginal utility applies to us, after eating 2-3 pieces, we can no longer take more. It's not that we are "weak eaters", it's just that we took a heavy meal before eating the pie. 

When hunger strikes

©darrengarcia

©darrengarcia

We were supposed to do this exercise last year, but unfortunately someone ate the all the corn plants . A random cow came to the field and ate our experiments. Oh well, I bet that the cow was made into a noche buena last christmas.