Voices within

All day long, I've been hearing voices [and it bothers me somehow]. Aside from the noise produced by my surroundings, something deep within me seem to cause me wariness...

God exists...

Teacher: Did God create everything?
Student: Yes.
Teacher: If so, then God created evil. Therefore, God is evil.

Suddenly 1 student stood up...
Student:  Ma'am, does COLD exist?
Teacher: Yes it does.
Student: Actually Ma'am, it doesn't. According to the laws of physics, COLD is simply the absence of HEAT...
              Now, does DARK exist, Ma'am?
Teacher: Of course it does.
Student: DARK doesn't exist...It is only the absence of LIGHT...
             Just like EVIL, it is only the absence of GOD in a man's heart...

Teacher left speechless...

Let there be PEACE!!!

from pastillas wrappers...yum yum...

delightful candy with a sweet message

An Overnight Stay in Intramuros: The Transient

               Yesterday’s an incredible day for me. I went to Intramuros, Manila to find a place to stay overnight for the following day’s exam in the University of the City of Manila (College of Medicine).  It was more or less 2 1/2-hour trip from Bulacan. I entered the walled-city through an ingress just in front of the City Hall. It’s always a great feeling to explore such a wonderful ancestral place but I won’t dwell on that matter for now.  With an unsteady gait, I walked inside the area and search for an apartment. I strolled through small avenues and corners of every street; there were many food stalls and carinderia and some old establishments that have remained standing for years. Some lanes were flooded by stinky left-overs and trashes [how I wish the local officials exert some effort regarding these] of which I found a good breathing exercise must be practiced, reminding me then those times when I was still part of a school choir [holding a lungful of air for a moment and controlling gradual inhale-exhale process]. I was indeed holding my breath as I struggle to cross and stride over some areas in the place until I found a row of commercial residences. Inquiring was far easier than walking through the streets [laughs..] and it was a relief when I finally found a place to stay. It took me almost an hour waiting for the landlady to show where I will be spending the night so I chose to take an early dinner. There was a carinderia in the first floor and I was wondering if the next two floors are for rent until I was lead to a typical student room upstairs by the landlady. Again, it stinks [laughs...] but had no other options to take so I need to grab the offer or else...hmmm...

                It was a four-cornered room with two double-decks and a small storage area. She told me that I’ll be the only one to occupy it for the night and that I should feel free to ask her boy for some needs. The stay will cost me a hundred and fifty pesos which I gave immediately before she left the room. I was planning to take a simple tour outside but I decided not to. Anyway, I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s exam and have enough rest. I was about to sleep at 9 when I heard not from afar videoke songs. Downstairs was crowded with people singing also and I couldn’t sleep [how I wish I brought my ear plugs, sighs...] It was really horrible; my eyes popped and my eardrums almost broke, I swear. The music, well actually the noise emanated just below my bed. All head turns, body curls, twists and the like; I did all of these but I really couldn’t manage to sleep and all I was thinking is whether I’ll still be able to take the exam the next day. It was 2:30a.m. when all of the stores decided to cease operations [operation sleep interference, grrr...] and I was very thankful, at least. I couldn’t sleep with lights on but I was forced by the circumstance because when I tried to turn it off, cockroaches came flying and creeping in the room and they’re disgusting, argh... [ I even heard squeaking mice]. It was 5 when I rose up and started preparing myself to do morning routines as fast as I can and leave the place, huh [far more relieving (laughs)].

PLM MCAT Day

With my eyes red and itchy extremities [mosquito bites, I guess], I went first to Mini Stop and bought two ham and cheese karimans; one for my breakfast, the other for a break [I hope we’ll have one]. It was already 6:30 and people are crowding the right side avenue of the university. Taxi’s and calesas came rushing from a nearby entrance to Intramuros. Aspiring medical students and hopefuls from different schools assemble in groups [maybe in an aim to find schoolmates. Some frat and sorority members added up with the crowd disseminating pamphlets and brochures of their societies [ain’t too excited to have us huh?!] No worries ‘cause I got nothing against them; in fact, I am thankful for the candies [oh so sweet] and the pencil. After signing in a logbook, I rushed to my room to find a comfortable place and some peeps also. I was surprised to see my co-UP interviewee, Josiah but we set off; he’s in the other room. I was assigned in the auditorium/lecture hall where seats fold themselves; the usual cinema type of seats. Some students have already occupied the frontmost seats so I decided to take the third row seat near the aisle. I saw my classmates Alvin and Aizelle with their 4^th yr friends.

The exam sheets came and I felt like there’s nothing to worry about actually [not because I am confident but the night-before experience caused me too much anxiety and stress, sighs]. A strict proctor and a conventional what-should-I-do-ma’am assistant guided us throughout the exam proper.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila), as far as I know, is the only medical school to administer yet another exam called MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). It will further screen the applicants from astonishing number aside from the GWA and NMAT score. Got no idea about the contents of the exam; all I knew was it will be like the NMAT. We were asked to complete the whole set of tests in 3 hours with 20-25 minutes for a 50 item subtest and 45 minutes for a 100-item subtest. Knocked-off by limited time and literally difficult and mind-contorting questions, I smiled and prayed in silence [Oh my, where should I get the answers?! D’ **ck!] There were the Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Ability, Physical Sciences (Chem, Physics, Geo), Life Sciences (I like!), and Behavioral Sciences. The thing is, the items have situational questions and answers, though in choices, are in long statements also. Most of the time, I really found myself stunned by the very concept-specific questions and rely on either my store knowledge or what my instinct suggested. Psychology almost broke me; one couldn’t base an answer from an introductory course indeed. I guess I won’t say in detail any other thing about the exam. As a Bio student, life and physical sciences were manageable. An EQ test was also given after the timed special area tests. All in all, it was still yet another great experience and am hoping to have myself qualified for the interview a few weeks from now.

Next to UP, am with great hopes aiming to get into PLM [may it be part of God’s plan... PRAY PRAY PRAY!] Aside from the high passing rates in medical board exams, it offers quality education in really low-cost fees [relative to other medical schools in Manila]. However, am not that certain on their teaching method [trad or the PBL type].

FEU-NRMF results

Yip yip hooray! Thank you Lord! The results for the qualified applicants to the Institute of Medicine, FEU-NRMF are now officially released. I am one of the lucky qualifiers for the first batch and I owe them to my family, to Assumption Development Foundation (ADF Family), friends and most especially to God. To  Tatay (mom’s late father), thanks for the inspiration. Am now ready to conquer the medical field [though I still have to wait for UP on March, hoping it will bear fruit also] c:

Here’s the link people:

http://www.feu-nrmf.ph/pdf/medwaitlistn1strel11-12.pdf

I believe I also have some batchmates of mine in the list. I hope they have checked it already.

UPCM-PGH Interview

Just had my interview in UP Manila yesterday. It was a 2:1 interview with the consultants of PGH. It was more of a healthy, soft and sound conversation rather than the usual mind-wrenching Q&A. Never imagined that it will take more than an hour; as in they tried to get each and every detail of my life. It was a structured interview with guide questions which they followed. The usual tell me something about yourself, your family, extra-curricular, school and community activities, stress tolerance, accomplishments in life, greatest frustrations/disappointments, etc. As the interview goes, I found that they were trying to get the real me by inquiring with my interpersonal relationships and social awareness at the same time. Well, am hoping to get a slot on March 15. Competition's getting tougher (I realized) when they asked me if I am a son of a UP faculty, alumni or doctor. Anyway, I presented myself well (I believe) to meet whatever expectations they're after to [though I just can't help having apprehensions].

My interview was scheduled at 1 p.m. It was a good thing that I came earlier at 11:30 a.m. because I had enough time to feel the institution and somehow roam around. They asked me also to write an essay; a preforma one. We were about 20 in the hallway waiting for our interview but I wasn’t able to know anyone though [I was actually internalizing some weird stuffs, hehe]. The thing is we all came from different schools and the search for the right students for the UPCM has just started. We have gone that far and as we aspire to be part of Class 2016, we couldn’t hide our apprehensions regarding the limited 60:60 slots for the Learning Unit III. We will be joined by 40 INTARMED students from the top listers in UPCAT 2010 to complete the 160 class for academic year 2011-2012.

While waiting for my interview [as in  2 more hours of waiting, laughs], I met Donna, a nursing student and my co-interviewee. Well, she’s beautiful and friendly [chill… c;]. We shared school-related info and some worries [just to relieve ourselves from anxiety]. We’ll we hope to see each other in UP this year, may it be God’s plan please. We wished good lucks before we partways for the interview.

On sunday, I'll be taking PLM's Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). It will be like NMAT [I think, well, got no idea actually]; part of the criteria of the admissions. They administer another exam in an aim to further screen the applicants. It will be part of my Plan B [but of course, my alma mater is what I preferred the most].

FEU-NRMF Interview

On February 5, I attended a pre-interview orientation at Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation (FEU-NRMF). It was my first time to attend a medical school orientation and I found it really great and exciting. The school introduced us to their curriculum, teaching methods, achievements and department heads. They also briefed us regarding the interview proper the next day. After that, the doctors toured us in their hospital. I was really more than happy and excited to see a typical hospital setting in the city. They presented their new facilities and laboratories as well. But I was expecting of rare diseases or cases and not the usual lifestyle disease of the rich people but more than anything else, it was the first time I felt as if I am already a medical student attending to the needs of those people (excited c; ).

The next day is a half-day interview for more than 700 applicants. It was not a 1:1 interview. There were two resident doctors and four interviewees at the same time. We were graded according to four categories: Personality, Communication Skills, Motivation and Insights. It was like a fine exchange of insights/thoughts and not the usual mind-contorting Q and A but it seemed like we really need to sell ourselves to them in order for them to select us. The only thing they asked us was: Say something about yourself. My co-interviewees were all girls; 1 from Siliman University , another one from UP Diliman and Manila Central University . The first girl even cried as she was sharing her experience as a nurse in a private hospital. The two were still students. As for my turn, I established eye contact first and greet them. I told them that I am John Mark Katindig Torres, graduate of BS Bio Major in Microbiology from UPLB. I came from Bulacan and I am a scholar of Assumption Development Foundation. What motivates me to pursue medicine is to follow my late grandfather. Even though he’s been dead for years, people still commend him for everything he has done. The only thing I can leave here on Earth is a legacy of compassion and service. I have personally observed the clinical situation in our place. We have no permanent government doctor to promote and support public health programs. It’s either they wait for the next schedule or they have to cross to the nearby town to seek medications.

I recounted, To be a doctor has always been my dream and everyday it grows stronger as I meet people of different outlooks in life. As I grew up, I realized that it’s not just simply fulfilling my dream, it’s actually more of developing myself as a model of service and inspiration to others. I was saying these final words (as far as I could remember) when the interviewer interrupted me and said the Philippines would be grateful to see us 6 years from now. I am pretty sure we all have convinced them to have us in their list. Well, again, hope everything goes according to plan. I surrender them to God. I believe the results will be released on February 18 [really fast, eh].

UERMMMC Interview

Yes! Finally, I am already in the interview phase and am more than excited. Last January 22, I’ve received a text message from UE regarding my application status and yesterday, I had my interview in UERM (University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center). A resident doctor/ professor inquired about my personal information, family and social relationships, experiences in school and all other stuffs in an aim to know me better. I am not that sure of the number of applicants and also the number of students they will admit for the next school year but regardless of the number of my contenders against the precious slot, I gave my best shot in answering all of her questions. It was a structured interview. My interviewer was Dr. Zotomayor from the Dept. of Pharmacology. She’s holding with her a two-page questionnaire from which she followed a series of questions. The usual tell me something about yourself, family, friends, groups etc. were the basic questions. In preparation for my interviews, I prepared anticipated questions and dealt with answers that will appear between being idealistic and realistic. I was wondering that for such encounter, I must play and present myself in between being an ideal and sensible. For an instance, she asked me about my stand on this situation:

Suppose I am on a paralyzed state or my patient is, what should I do?

I thought of it for a while and told her that, even if the tests have ascertained that the case of my patient is helpless, I should still strive to do my best to extend my patient’s life. In the advent of technological advancements, we can utilize resources to prolong his life. It’s not because Euthanasia isn’t legal here, it’s actually a question of the doctor’s principle. My patient’s life may be lost during the process (that would be in case of malfunctions) but not because I will intend to. Besides, it’s a doctor’s principle to save lives.

After saying this, she commended me regarding my stand and I feel like, surprised myself that I was able to express my point. I know that an interviewee’s goal is to impress the interviewer but as I ponder on my answers on situational questions (abortion and euthanasia), I realized that I should always hold on to my stand and develop my own principle in life not because I want them to feel like astonished but because I know for myself that I am living my principle. When I mentioned about our foundation, she was surprised to know that the scholars are not just receiving financial help but more of personality development; that ours is not the usual scholarship alone. During the interview proper, I see to it that she will find me not only as an aspiring doctor but as a socially-conscious member of the community. Well, I am hoping that it will reflect in the results.