Welcome back!

I attended two parties in a span of one day after getting out of the hospital. One was our annual Hospital staff Christmas party...and the other, a high school mini reunion. Well, I've stumbled upon some realizations and a little bit of feelings after the reunion. It was really good to see familiar people in a yet--unfamiliar perspective. Everyone has changed yet still unchanged. Really happy to see everyone, especially Janel! hehe

catching up with Bien and Alex

I'm really proud of myself for getting out of bed to write this one!

The Reversible Reaction of Misunderstanding

It was believed that all chemical reactions were irreversible; that both sides of the equation would never reach equilibrium. Until 1803, a French chemist, Claude Louis Berthollet introduced the concept of reversible reactions. A concept of second chances: that it is possible to reach a steady state even how complex a reaction might be.

Communication can be represented in chemical equations. Sometimes, it is unidirectional (irreversible): if a person said something, the other one would simply accept it.

Person 1 + Message --> (Mis) understanding of Person 2

A reaction is said to be reversible (bidirectional), if it can go both forwards and backwards.
Person 1 + Message ⇌ (Mis) understanding of Person 2

Misunderstanding is dynamic. It is moving, changing, and it will never stop unless either one of both sides discontinue.

Sometimes, we only want to say what we have to say regardless of the consequences. But little did we know that, expression and reception occur at the same time. We’re in a closed system. Neither sides of the reaction can escape from the situation, whether the tension is acknowledged or not.

And when equilibrium has been reached, it does not mean that the reactions have stopped. It only means that the forward reaction continues to make the products, while the products continue to make the reactants.

Everything is occurring simultaneously. And most of the time, we can never really isolate the emotion from the situation. Misunderstanding creates collisions of the reacting entities in closed system: bonds will definitely be broken. And if an equilibrium point is reached, both the concentrations of the reactants and the products will no longer change.

Study Lamp

I went to Handyman today and bought two new table lamps from Omni Electrical & Lighting for only 250 pesos each! High quality table lamps for a very friendly price.

I got the MDF016-9W model. 

Product details:

Lamp: SU Pinlight, 9watts
Bulb: 9watts
Colors: Blue, Black, Gray, Yellow & White(20pcs/ctn)



the lamp can be folded and the lamp head can be rotated! You can adjust the lamp head angle :)
Perfect lamp for your study table/ office table.

It is true that OMNI offers "Energy-saving, long-lasting, and quality lighting!"

Unrequited sentiment

Rendered thoughts from a deadened mind;

Hope is sought--senseless, blind.

Of faltered whispers with an indefinite utterance;

Oblivious I was for another chance.

Stuck fixated in an empty space,

Where time is null--a fallen grace.

A moment when reason is obsolete;

The life I lived, still incomplete.

The bridge of hope and loss;

Perchance, I would cross. 

Mt. Pulag: Playground of the gods

My first ever trekking experience! Thanks to Arcobaleno Trailoutours for making it possible. I enjoyed the trek to Mt. Pulag, met new friends, and enjoyed my youth.


Mt. Pulag (Ambangeg trail) trekking details:

If my memory serves me right, I paid around 3500 for the whole trip. The fee includes the bus trip back and forth Manila. And also, 2-3 hours  jeepney ride. Our tour package already includes 1 dinner and 1 breakfast meal during the trek. We had a breakfast stopover in Baguio, and we already bought packed lunch there before we started the trek.

The more people in the group, the greater discount you could get for the trek package.

Additional info from http://wynngd.blogspot.com/2014/03/potg-playground-of-gods.html :

Bokod, Benguet
Major jump-off: Ambangeg Ranger Stn, Bokod, Benguet
LLA: 16°34'58"N 120°53'15"E, 2922 MASL (#3)
Days required / Hours to summit: 4-5 hours / 1-2 days
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-2
Trail system: Grand Cordillera Trail, Section 3
Features: Sea of clouds, dwarf bamboo slopes, pine forests


THINGS TO BRING:

canned goods (preferably sausages)
2L of drinking water
at least 2 jackets (one should be waterproof)
bonnet 
headlamp/flashlight
pancho/ raincoat (do not bring umbrellas)
trekking shoes
extra dryfit shirts
sleeping bag
tent (but you can rent for 500 pesos)
energy bars/ jellyace (trail food)
gloves
sanitizer/ alcohol
trekking pole ( not necessary)

Some helpful blogs I read before embarking on the trip:

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/349434/publicaffairs/brigada/brigada-blogs-rida-reyes-climbs-mt-pulag-in-subzero-temperature

http://mrbratpacker.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/dream-climb-mt-pulag/

http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2013/03/mt-pulag-adventure-this-is-way-to.html

http://destinationcebu.com/blog/climbing-mt-pulag-philippines/

CATCH A DREAM, IN A SEA OF CLOUDS

a photoblog synopsis of our trekking experience

camo touchdown

first stopover after a long jeepney ride

our ride

hanging bridge (form the left: Ikee, Janina, and Prince)

with my Bio friends and Med friends

Saturday worship for the locals

on our way up!

Janina and Ikee, ultimate trekking buddies

vegetable terraces

BOTTOM 5!!!

tent!

campsite

creepy C.R.

rocky road, in its most literal sense

Benjo, on his way to reach the peak

identify the pointed structure

SUNRISE!

we came in like a trekking ball

sea of clouds selfie

F4 :))

silhouette and sunrise

ikee selfie

Benjo selfie

Janina selfie

Sam selfie

swimming?

what a pro

Team UST!

Spring water

pagod na pagod na!

thanks for the free dinner Alex!

TOP 5: This Is War by 30 Seconds to Mars

My favorite 30STM album!

This album showcases 30STM's inventive rock poetry. I was lucky enough to watch their concert here in the Philippines during  their THIS IS WAR album tour. Like the classic 30STM, the dark quasi-meaningful style is preserved in this album.



1. KINGS AND QUEENS

2. THIS IS WAR

3. 100 SUNS ( my personal favorite)

4. CLOSER TO THE EDGE

5. VOX POPULI

Feed the World, Save a Life

"Everything is possible when children receive a nutritious school meal. Donate now!"

World Food Programme

https://give.wfp.org/4920/?step=country&lead_source=2014-wfp-worldcup-other&form_tag=2014-wfp-worldcup-other

SUICIDE PREVENTION

SCIENCE in my time and Med experience at present

·         I used to sleep with my uniform on, during bad times and stressful weeks when everything’s piled up.  It comes with a shot of Sting (lime) or Coffee! We used to have a handful of paper works in Psych, and I have a poor skill in time management. Honestly speaking, I still do this in Med huhuhu

·         Scantron’s red and slim. In Med, it’s green and wide.

·         Back then, I thought that “sleeping is a gift.” Now, “sleeping is a luxury.”

·         I don’t sleep in class before! Grabe =)) but now, I sleep in class 40% of the time =))

·         We had irregular breaks before! We had a lot of time to explore the 4 corners of UST to find a decent place to eat and possibly kill time, before the next class. Now, I cut classes in the morning to eat breakfast. Some days, our long tests are scheduled during our 1 hour lunch break! We had to manage our time to cram, take the test, and eat. We have no choice but to just buy food at the Med Cafe. In busy days, we eat standing; in bad days, we eat walking; in worse days, we skip eating.

·         Like what I said, we had a handful of paper works in Psych. I used to stay in, while my roomies were out to party. In med, it’s either I sleep or I party after shifting exams =))

·         We had frequent group meetings for projects before. Now, we do group works with no meeting at all =))

·         We were forced to go to the library before, to study journals, thesis and shit. Now, the library is considered one of the most conducive places for...sleeping and cutting classes to study for another =))

·         We had this college stereotype: when you’re in a pre-med course, you’re a nerd. When you’re in Med...you’re that fuckin’ cool fuckin’ hot fuckin’ rich fuckin’ intelligent kind of nerd.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following:

·         Ma’am Beth for always checking our rooms in Science every day. I was constantly seated at the back, so I was one of those who had the opportunity to smile at Ma’am Beth every day hehe

·         Ate xeROXANNE, who is really named ate Cecille =)) Thank you for helping me rush my UST-FMS application requirements. If it wasn’t for your amazing photocopying skills...I’m not in UST Med now =)) I’ll be forever grateful!

·         UST RED CROSS Science unit, for assisting me when I collapsed on the 3^rd floor due to severe hypogastric pain. And to the Science CCTV, for covering the whole moment of shame =)) of course, Doc Edgie and the student council peeps who helped me.

·         UST Health service, thank you for being a health service.

·         Main bldg. elevator, for giving us a free ride after 7pm classes.

·         Science guidance, my crib!!! thank you for the learning experience and friendship =)) best internship everrrrrr

·         last but certainly not the least, 4^TH FLOOR LAB OPEN SANDWICH. MUCH LOVE.

A Psych 5 exclusive blog post!

I miss my psych buddies! It has been more than a year now since we graduated. Everyone’s busy with their lives after graduation day. And sometimes, I would just want to go back to the carefree psycho-days with them. I write to reminisce.

THE P5 CLASSIC HASHTAGS:

#COMPETITIVE

Our class was known to be the most competitive section back in our days! Be it in pageants, quiz bees, and other psych society activities...we’re the motor-driven class! Noisy and energetic. Even in simple quality of folders to be passed, always a competition. During class games and activities, it’s like a battle for the Iron Throne. In our classroom debates and discussions, almost everyone is ready to counter what the other one said. We’re the epitome of “survival of the fittest, elimination of the unfit.”

#BACKSTAB

We do inter-classmate, inter-section, inter-batch, inter-college backstabbing sessions =))

#NAMEDROP

And during our “tsismisan sessions,” there will always be a name drop =)) we have a transparent hate list.

#HEAVYDRAMA

I think this only applies to Juhn Lanuza =))

O kaya naman, “kapag may alak, siguradong may iiyak.”

#HAPPYHAPPY

The famous P5 term for an all nighter drinking session! unlimited chips+ booze+ crazy music

#OPS

this word is applied to every facet of life. And you say “ops!” with a matching “look.”

#oofoof

As I could remember, this word was from our Spanish class audio session =)) and it makes no sense. 

What it feels to be a Med Student

My family pays more than a hundred thousand every semester to send me to school. Books, rent, other bills, med supplies, are also added to the growing list of expenses in Med school.

Med school requires hardcore studying, a lot of money, dedication, and emotional resilience. It's a demanding environment. And you should do more than just try to survive it.

It's a kind of investment, that'll take you years to appreciate the outcome. A long winding-way to reach the gold mine.

It's a working promise... that someday you'll be "worth it."

I should be worth it.
I'll be worth it. 

1st year Med Synopsis

Honestly, I’ve got a lot to tell about my Freshmen year in UST-FMS. After all the adjustments, stressors, and feelings I was caught up with...it did finish with the so-called, “Happy Ending.”

Of course, I had a busy summer before entering Med school. Before I succumbed into my most awaited (temporary) freedom, I did go to Japan for poster and thesis presentation—happiest 2 weeks of my life after graduation.

Life after graduation, was one of my humble zenith. Got my first degree! I could actually label myself as a “scientist” or “researcher,” got the chance to represent UST Psych abroad, passed both law school and med schools, and most importantly kept my promise to my mom—actually living it. Made my family proud the entire summer! left and right I could hear my sister say, “yung youngest namin, med student na ‘yan.” I chose to be a little less pressured; took a hiatus from the rest of the world.

So, I totally embraced the bum life after, made myself an epitome of a professional pig, a bed potato, and an average daydreamer. Then I got busy finding a new place to stay, getting the most coveted “med uniform” done, picking which books to buy, and a lot of whatevers.

After all the occasional parties, reunions, living the life experiences, YOLOs, and feels of poverty...Summer just drifted away.

My batchmates landed on their first jobs, entered post-grad studies too...updating their FB statuses into “another chapter of my life...”, “Good bye college, hello real world...”; uploading their grad pictures with endless “thank you’s” and “this is for my mom and dad’s.”

For me it was like: KEEP CALM and it’s ONLY FIRST DAY OF MED SCHOOL.

Basically, first days and first meetings would be always significant. It’s the time of free judgment, bias, and fresh start. But I didn’t have a fresh start. Well, in my case, literally. I felt all robotic with my new uniform. I wasn’t used to the “pencil cut” skirt. mobility compromised.

I couldn't afford being caught up in a “forever alone” moment in the first day of med school. Luckily, I went to school with Francis and Pat (which was kind of awkward since they didn’t know each other, and I’d be their common person). As I entered the room, I automatically searched for Psych/Science people I could sit with.

Some upper class men provided us with the orientation, games, and surveyed different courses in our class. I noticed there was an ample of medtech people in our class. Actually, I got intimidated by their number hahaha then I thought of being a psych grad would make me interesting and...rare hahaha

Had an intense building tour and org fair with my subsec. Of course, everyone was behaved and guarded. Then lunch came, I had to ditch my new friends for my beloved psych people #sorrynotsorry

To sum up:

Freshmen Walk!

random open sandwich experience

On our way home from Tagaytay

All the freshie feels

my first time to be stranded inside the Med bldg. (from the left: Andrea, Pat, Meh, and Reny)

working Psych friends visited Psych-Med students hehe

PSYCH TO MED meeting sponsored by UST ATPA

Buffet 101 with my subsec

RESPECT YOUR HORMONES 

Anatomy Lab with our 1st faci

THE CR3W

lunch at 1236 Grillery

Mob dance during Med week!

Freshmen night with Zombie Tita and Dado haha

D1 GIRLS

dinner at Wok during Elgin's Pharma boards hahaha

Props making for our Biochem Nutrifest

Tagaytay Big Brother House hahaha

Another random reunion with the Best Psych barkada on earth!

Crazy Christmas Party!

Hunger Games for Biochem Nutrifest

ALL NIGHTER FOR FINALS with the PPC!

Section D class picture 2014

HBD RENY!

Drink responsibly :)) 

Med Glee club in Cardioversion

Music 21 for our last YOLO day

Doc Ock (med uniform fitting)

Can't believe I managed to read GoT while in 1st year Med hahaha

lucky shot glass (this pic is not even relevant for this post hahaha)

Farewell Michelle

Physio Cr3w

trolled Reynold

first legit study for finals (with Faye)

ang pangit nung Tiger

hehe

Biochem Nutrifest

Physio MTV winners!!! 

1D

PLEASE READ

Mezza Norte with my Psych buddies (sacrificed my Biochem departs for this)

Sometimes a Punk, sometimes a Med student

Foam Party at Tomas Morato with Miguel hahahahaha

UERM and UST FMS reprezzzzzent

visit from Roxy!

HISTO

birthday gift from Kristina <3 td="">

MEDWARDS

Rob Magnolia with my Psych Barkada (can't remember the subject I sacrificed for this reunion haha)

Busy Histo peeps and a Millie

Official Christmas Party meeting

did a photoshoot for our Nutrifest 

chibi D1 Project

I have crazy friends back in Psych. Now, I’m stuck with a new set of crazy people. Not really in alphabetical order...just go figure.

Basically, these new people are like parts of me distributed in different persons.

1. The know-it-all kind of person. Extremely friendly and easy to get along with. This one’s a hard drinker with a soft heart.

2. the nice guy. the responsible type who cooks for everyone hahaha actually, I’m intimidated by his “kasipagan.” the ultimate bridge to the success of my love life hahahahaha

3. the rich kid with a nice car. really. nice. car. He taught me beerpong! the best mentor ever.

4. the party boy! invites everyone to the darkside hahaha

5.  the potential BFF hehe my boss! maybe the one person in our subsec I genuinely listen too. We’re totally different and alike, all in one breath. If I’m going to be Meredith Grey, she’s my Cristina Yang! she’s my person.

6. the cr3w. ‘nuff said. I find this person really cool and funny. We share quite a lot of preferences. I find it easy to approach this person. I admire this person for her strong personality.

7. the dancing genius. it’s a giveaway description already. she’s the leader material.

8. the sketchy one! wahahahahahaha I thought I’d never be friends with this person because she’s really pretty and sophisticated! apparently, she’s not so sketchy at all. You just have to give her time. She shares a lot.

9. the ulirang anak awardee. sobrang sipag and kind!!! huhuhu she’s so nice grabe and sporty!!! I really cling to this person everytime I need some serious studying. 100% good influence.

10. the one who is there, but not there. not the talking type and sometimes a...rock.

11. the kababayan. same province, same school. hehehe ayos

12. the sexy chick. best tita on earth!!! hehe with good and bad side =)) I love talking to this person. She’s witty and I feel like I can share almost everything to this person without being afraid of being judged.

13. the happy go lucky but malambing hehe

14. the brainy kid. really smart but always humble! She has a nice singing voice too :>

15. the random person who taught me how to care. you know who you are ;>

16. the person who really makes me laugh big time =)) imbued with funny antics =)) benta forever

17. that person I thought who wasn’t part of our subsec at first =)) nakakahiya talaga ako =)) such a shameful moment for me huhuhu

18. the fire extinguisher. sneeze-a-tron hahaha hardcore singer, a total performer 

For the record, they could really hate me for writing this. But I know for sure,

I can have them for keeps. 

D1 and ONLY <3 nbsp="">

** Got the photos from my blockmates, some from my ipad/iphone **