I have been grinding like a mad man for the past six weeks. The demands of the job have really taken its toll on me. I was even open to the idea that I might be spending the holy week milling to meet the deadline. Working “overtawad” for the previous weeks were actually compelled by the seemingly insurmountable imposed deadlines and the great deal of backlog incurred before I was hired for the position. My baptism of fire in the world of publishing was characterized by the aforementioned compulsions and more – stringent office policies on break time, cleanliness to the point of being OC, and a lot more of petty things that add up to my already overwhelmed spirit.

 The task of writing 4 – 6 articles a day is a challenge that was overcome by extended work hours during the week and exacting more than half of the remnant of the weekends. Now, my eyeglasses had become a permanent companion, and taking a trip to the pantry to make some coffee has become more of a necessity.  The lack of a working background as feature writer for an educational magazine is not my nemesis (White’s Elements of Style has become my new bestfriend, the Chigago Manual a good acquaintance); it is the scarcity of the inspiration to write that might cripple me.

I was a compulsive writer. I started writing in my high school days but it was more of journal keeping. I write most especially when I am extremely sad or happy. I wrote about my encounters and my feelings. In college, I had voluminous journals that ended up in the ashes after each semester has concluded. Oh well, I was too afraid that people might find them and expose my inner self to the unassuming public.

 Now, I am a full time writer – a far cry from my previous jobs as an educator and an instruction specialist. I really love my first profession as a teacher and I would have not traded it for this, but that’s another story. I sacrificed much of my social life (and partly my studies) for my present job but hey, I already completed 75% of the work to be turned in before April 1^st. I am just glad that I was able to come home for the holy week and spend them with my parents. I enjoyed full hours of sleep; did some catching up with my reading (other than stuff from work); eat delicious food without being bothered by time; and of course, bonding with my siblings. 

I am enriched again with a chunk of experiences that fed my soul. With this, I hope I can put some spice to my future articles and hope that one day, the workload will ease up, and find myself actually enjoying my work.

It's a pity i was not able to attend this year's PACSiklaban.

pero... Congratulations pa rin sa UPLB team!!!!

National Champion for SIX straight years... hooray!

Congratulations also the the runners-up who are fellow UPians (UPD scored 86, UPM scored 76)

UPLB proudly shines with the highest score ever 120!

kudos to the brilliant team and their wonderful coaches!
miss you guys!

wala ako makwento tuloy this year. but i have also posted my 2003 and 2004 accounts of our victory!

originally written 23 February 2004 7:06 AM

22 February 2004. The cell phone alarm goes off at 6 am. Oh, it’s Sunday! It’s rest day for me. I can sleep all I want the whole morning. Snooze… alarm…. Snooze… Darn! Turn off that alarm!

A few minutes after eight, “Sex in the City theme” is shouting behind my ears… Who among the chempipol is calling me this early? “E Y calling” flashes on the LCD. Half awake I pressed the answer button… the line goes dead. It must be a miss call. Then something hit me! “PACS ngayon!”

I hit the showers and in no time, I made it to the Melchor Hall. I stepped into the familiar Eng’g Theater at precisely 10:30 a.m. The competition is already in full swing and in the middle of the Average round of the eliminations. I stood in the hallway for a good five minutes before showing my face to the UPLB delegation. My vision fails me. Not a single score in the whiteboard is intelligible and the stage is packed with groups of bowed heads in complete abandon… It all happened too fast… but not without the trivia.

On the outset, who would ever think that winning the PACSiklaban for five straight years in the new millennium could be lacklustre? NO! Not for UPLB, not for the dream team, the coaches, the past coaches, supporters… not even for me, the “spectator par excellence!”

Not with the growing enmity between UPLB and UPDiliman! Not with the delight of seeing UPManila’s star starting to shine anew. Yes, the sibling rivalry lives on.

The tension within me began to rise up again. I have to show myself to the UPLB constituents now and give my support and release that overwhelming energy. Expectant faces greeted me. Mader Joan, Daang, Lei, Chester, Ricky, Sir N, Rommel, Baclay… Pipay is yet to arrive, Estong with the UPD classmates and Gardee with the UST delegates. Excitement took the best of me. I felt I am alive again (oh, well my present job does not measure up and had me advanced in years, notwithstanding). I excitedly approached Joan for the updates. Thank God! UPLB is ahead with a very small margin over the other looming UP teams. The elimination round was concluded with UPLB in the lead, followed by UPD and UPM with CLSU, Ateneo and UST-Biochem completing the magic six.

The great spectators went for a quick lunch. OK fine, we slacked a little. We went back a few minutes after 2 pm. The average round of the championship is almost up. I made a sigh of relief when the scores were announced at the end of the round. UPLB 84, UPD 75, UPM 51 (sorry, couldn’t care less for the rest).

Then, the chilling difficult round arrived! The first question was asked. All the teams answered incorrectly! Oh well, the second question was not that difficult because everybody got it right. No change in the scores so far. The third question proved to be the springboard. Oh no! UPLB got it wrong. Both UPD and UPM cinched the frequently asked entropy question… transition cum effect of temperature. Irvin (UPLB team captain) contested but have been proven wrong (with subtle friskiness [or was it irritation?] coming from no other than the chair of the board, Dr Elma Llaguno). To which, our very own Dr del Rosario upholding Dr Llaguno’s claim. It’s the classic “wrong sign” thing, DARN! UPD is now at par with UPLB.

The fourth question made it even worse. Again, the other UP teams answered correctly leaving UPLB aghast, relinquishing the top spot. I am squirming in my seat. “Hindi kaya ng powers ko na makita ang UPD ahead!”

Then the eventful question on a particular proton NMR spectrum came. Appallingly, UPLB gave out a wrong answer (baluarte natin ang organic di ba?). Apparently, there was an inconsistency between the questionnaire and the quizmaster’s (Dr James Villanueva) attempt to illumine the rather unclear spectra provided by stipulating the peaks’ multiplicity. To this, UPLB contested and even solicited the support of other teams. Of course “hindi nagpatalo ang m******g b*****g team captain ng UPD na running for Summa” and even supported the decision of the board of judges that “one can still arrive at the correct answer just basing on the spectra.” Irvin sat downtrodden. Somehow, UPLB found a friend in UPM who has their own clarification on the subject. Irvin seizing the opportunity got up again and appealed for the second time. He valiantly but meekly laid out the discrepancy on the questionnaire and Dr Villanueva’s elaboration of the question. He moved for nullification of the question. He posed the eventuality that such an incident can happen again and may prove confusing to the contestants. To this, the board of judges held a conference.

After a few minutes the verdict came. The judges declared the question void and will be replaced by another question on spectra to the delight of the UPLB delegation and majority of the crowd.

The contest continued with renewed hope for the UPLB team. This can never be the year that will end our continuous winning streak. UPLB has to prove UPD wrong. I recalled vividly what the present UPD’s team captain uttered last year. “Hah, next year, ako na ang team captain, humanda kayo!” Of course, the UPLB team took this with a grain of salt plus the fact that UPManila is also exceptionally good. Meanwhile, anxious that UPM might come up as the unexpected champion, I checked my scores. It is still everybody’s ball game.

The next question was asked. “Yehey!” the green flag finally resurfaced for UPLB. “We can still win the championship now that we have tied again with UPD.” A couple of wrong answers came but this did not quench the fighting spirit of the UPLB dream team. The question on the spectra came and they have been vindicated! UPLB was able to come up with the correct structure, which the red-clad UPD team answered incorrectly. I uttered a small prayer “just one more correct answer and the championship is secured!” to which the LORD answered graciously with a correct answer for UPLB.

Joan Zap started to cry. Victory is ours! Suddenly, my phone began to ring after sending a text message of sweet victory to the US. It’s Rio calling. In the midst of the maddening crowd, we were able to exchange a few words. It was such an immense deal of support. The other previous coaches have made their calls previously… Jocy, Chey, Jay and they have uplifted the team enormously… but the last question still has to be asked.

The UPLB team can actually afford not to answer the last question even if it would mean a –3 to the total score. Champions that they are, they answered it correctly! UPManila too! Poor UPD, they faltered again. ALAS! This means UPM got in second place. Protest ensued with UPD trying to discredit the answer of UPM. It was such a weak contention.

The final reckoning: UPLB 99, UPM 75, UPD 72. Such a delightful victory!

UPD is still kicking. “It’s not over yet. We will top the board exam this year.”

Oh well, it is another story yet to unfold. As if I care.

Five straight years! The Lord be praised! The UPLB team prayed after the competition. The recounting of the events amongst the constituents will die with a murmur, but hey, we are great, eh?!

Oops, I have to post this now; else, sir J might get taut waiting.

-model


PS. Congratulations to the UPLB team: Irvin Domigo, Jr (team captain), charisse reyes, crisita atienza, karen lacerna, john mangaldan (new), allan jay cardenas (new), joan narciso (new, prodigy).

Joan Marie Zapiter, Chester Dabalos, Leilani del Rosario and Joanne Mae Aguila (coaches)

originally written 25 February 2003 3:42 PM


am sure you know that it is PACS season again and yes, the PACSIKLABAN 2003 was concluded last 23 (sun) february 2003 and YES!!!!! UPLB bagged the championship again (for the 4th straight year)!!! aren't we so proud?

this year, they recognized that the UPLB team is already in the HALL of FAME

it's an all-UP victory with UPDiliman and UPManila as runners-up. the sort of sibling rivalry was both excruciating and exciting!

of course the LB team breezed thru the eliminations topping the charts with a considerable margin over guess what? UPMANILA! UPDiliman and the pesky USTchem trailing behind. Ateneo and La Salle made it to the magic six.

It was really a shining moment for U-niber-sidad ng Pi-li-pi-nas (MATATALINO)

come the FINAL round.... the EASY round kicked of well, with UPM almost answering every question... LB and Dil, doing well and UST keeping the faith... in the middle of the EASY round, LB starts to get wrong answers, one after the other... the team really sulked into low morale being ranked 4th! arrrrgh!!!!

after the dismal -1, 0, -1, -1... they were back on their heels and correct answers kept coming.... the team ended 2nd to UPM after the EASY round. the AVERAGE round wasn't so different for UPM... most of the questions being asked were on biochemistry... i can't recall any biochem question that they answered incorrectly...but LB is fighting back...basically because biochem is the team's stronghold (irvin, the team captain is good in it, o well, lahat naman ng area kaya nya, parang si chester)...

at the end of the AVERAGE round LB is already in the lead with 49 pts and followed closely by UPM with 44 pts (UPD and USTchem tied with 35 pts on 3rd place).

the DIFFICULT is really gruelling!!!! syempre nilalagnat na naman ako sa tension, jenny macalindong can't even look directly in front...well ma'am fajardo kept her composure but u can't hide her anxiety as well....

ricky nellas is full of ANGST! (what with UST clapping and yelling everytime they catch UPLB lose a point during the earlier events) the coaches aren't better themselves...with all their small conferences now and again...chester raising his eyebrows over a very easy nitration reaction that LB answered erroneously. jocy pineda is disappointed (ako rin syempre, at lalo na si master EJ siguro) over a question on adiabatic irreversible expansion and particle in a box!

well rio andaya should be happy i guess (pero mega tensed ang byuti pa rin) because the team is doing well with analytical...joan zap was praning all the time hehe... we find solace from time to time with enki lomeda's antics (in his father's absence hehehe) much to the delight of EY.

the last round proved to be an "either you know it or not" situation. this time, UPDiliman is giving LB a hard time while UPManila slipped to quiesence. it's pchem and inorg time! not to mention na nangingitlog na nman ang USTchem (sori, can't help it!)... it's parang battle over middle-earth between diliman and LB na... there were questions na diliman lang ang may alam (syempre, meron din tayong atin!)...magtanong ba naman ng closo boranes! honestly, hindi ito alam ng LB people... i get to get acquainted with the boring boranes in one of my subjects in diliman... the arachno and the nido... kahit na-nullify yung question kasi nagkamali yung choices, sa halip na (B5H5)2- e naging (B5H6)2-... pero yung pinalit, obviously galing pa rin sa diliman and only diliman got it correctly... after the 7th question, edgy na talaga ako... with the three remaning questions, even if diliman answered them all (6 pts each) LB team will still be in the lead provided that they will not submit an incorrect answer and just play safe with "no answer"

8th question came...mali ang LB! shocks!!!!! minus 3.... if in the 9th and 10th question diliman got it right, they will win over LB by just a single point!

buti na lang, LB answered the 9th correctly at walang sagot (again) ang diliman. haaaay! sure win na!!!!

the last question is on analytical, LB was marked incorrect but contested and won the point....

82 for UPLB, 59 for UPD, 50 for UPM (never mind the others... they were like spectators during the last round)

ayan. ang sakit na ng ulo ko. i will diminish.... hehehe (effect ng pagbabasa ng tolkien books)

magigising kaya ang natutulog na egroup?

back to my quiesence,

model nag-uulat

ps... the LB team: Irvin Domigo, Jr (team captain), armi santos, charisse reyes, joey ancheta, annabelle abrera, crisita atienza (new) and karen lacerna (new)

Chester Dabalos, Joan Marie Zapiter, Jocelyn Pineda, Elleanor Rio Andaya, Jay Lomeda (coaches)

originally written Tuesday, February 08, 2005


whenever i deal with my personal papers, i can't help but frown. there's this question that keeps popping in my head. "am i really ever going to pursue a higher degree overseas?"

my friends tell me that i keep on procrastinating. how i wish it's as simple as that. their questions kept flooding that my mind learned how to compartmentalize.

did you send your applications already?
what schools?
did you receive the journals i sent you? how about the application forms?
just inform me if you're gonna need help on those, ok?
just keep it going ok? i'll pay for your GRE don't worry.
hey, do you have your passport na?

darn! that's the question of the new decade! the passport.
yeah. yeah. it will only take me a day to process it and presto!

nah. not for me. how would you feel if after finally getting hold of a copy of your birth certificate procured from far farland, you find it grossly erroneous? your name is misspelled, your surname misspelled and worse your registration of birth comes earlier than your natal day! duh!

and there's this NSO thing. everything has to be authenticated.
i asked my brother to do it for me. (i'm sorry, but i hate going to government offices. i had my dose when i applied for my licensure exams)and yes, they authenticated the blunder-laden BC! whoa! such enormous effect on my rather hopeful existence. my dreams turned kaput because of clerical mistake... ignorance... carelessness...

yeah right! it's raw stupidity! white christmas has suddenly turned into a gloomy winter!

i almost screamed at my father on the telephone when i queried about the details of my birth registration. i was so furious! but a certain section of my brain tells me that it must have gone beyond his control. i resigned and told him that i 'll get myself an agent.

hopeful still, i got me an agent. i overpaid. the prospect of making a personal appearance at DFA reminds me of snowflakes in intricate crystal variations lodging on my trench coat. then the agent suddenly disappears... with my papers... and my hopes. i was numbed that i worked my ass off for the next six months. with the projects at work and the subjects in school i have to toil about - i temporarily stashed the subject in another compartment of my brain.

two months ago, i re-opened it when my mom prompted me to work on it again. our hometown boasts of the government agencies that have now become fully operational. my former colleagues even bragged about how speedy they got their passport from my hometown. i gave it a thought. since my professional license can also be renewed there, i might as well get a shot at my passport anew.

i have gone through the motion again. my parents informed me that they have already secured an NSO-issued BC. i can come home for the holidays and have it processed between Christmas and new year. i was hoping that my renewed professional license would help augment the processability of the passport since it bears my correct name and birth date. i went home, enjoyed christmas eve and then the dreadful day comes.

my father accompanied me to the DFA after lunch. more than 200 people waited to be called. i kept myself busy by texting and chatting on the phone. both my smart and globe subscriptions might have exceeded their limits. as if i care. i don't smoke so i might as well burn my fingers until my name is called. at 15 minutes before closing, my time arrived. the personnel, without batting an eyelash said, "masyadong malabo ang kopya nito, pumunta ka dun sa kung saan ka ipinanganak at humingi ka ng CLEAR copy" with an air of nonchalance. my father approached and clarified to no avail. we went home. my mom brought us to a pizza parlor and bought the fancy wrist watch to appease me.

there. i don't know what to feel anymore. i felt it was next to impossible. my birthplace is 600 miles away and it would be difficult to get a time away from work and studies. besides, i am really late for fall semester applications.

2005 rolled and God renewed my hopes. 2004 had been a feat but the new year seems promising.. expectant... optimistic. the days passed without a thought about it.

my mom called me last night to inform me that a new affidavit is ready. they have talked to a lawyer from the city hall and laid my case open. tomorrow, i have to make a personal appearance at the city hall and the DFA and hopefully bring home the bacon. no the passport. whatever.