Pearly Shells in the Philippines: Ruben Ranin's Birthday/ Luau Party

January 22 marks a very special day for Assumption Development Foundation (ADF). I guess for the very first time, a graduate celebrated his birthday with the foundation. Driven by wholehearted recognition of his being a member and realization of what the center had shared with him in his life, Kuya Ruben celebrated his day with us scholars. Everybody’s saying that he’s the most active alumni. I haven't seen him that much but I know he’s always been supporting the foundation. Motivated by this inspirational act, we graduates and current scholars found our ways to prepare for it. Behind the planning and conceptualization were Bobet, Ate Gercy, Ate Jess, Erwin and all others. All I knew is that they’ve been preparing for it for weeks only.

A Luau Party was successfully celebrated that night. There were leis and garlands, surfing boards, torches, flowers, palms and cocos giving light and colourful ambiance in the grounds. Enticing hula girls and male counterparts, performers and live music made the whole grounds vibrant and dynamic. Pasta, barbecue, prawns and squids, salads, pastries and the like brought delightful feeling as if everyone’s on a beach feast. Truly, Aloha’s in the Philippines.

Kuya Ruben brought with him his family, boss and colleagues. On his message, he mentioned that it was his first time to celebrate his birthday with the foundation and that he’s very grateful of having his little bro’s and sis' on his day. He also shared with us how ADF played a very big part of what he has become today; a very inspiring story of a successful man who looks back from where he used to be before. He told us that every year, he’s posting a sort of wishlist for his birthday. But for this year, in an aim to support the continuing students/scholars of ADF, he decided to give a big amount of money from the generous hearts of his fellow workers.

Well, the first time I met him was during a college seminar in centrex. He introduced himself to us graduating batch and shared inspiring stories of his life, of what he went through to be where he’s now. He’s working as an Operations Manager of the North Star Meat Merchants, Inc.

More than that of a birthday celebration, we actually endorsed our foundation to other people, eventually presenting this small community to the outside world. We have shown how we in small beginnings, can create an ideal Philippines where there is love, compassion, service, life offering , and sharing. As madam said in his message for Kuya, after all, that is what’s meant by aloha...

Images used fr http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=486213989541&id=607849541&aid=266775#!/album.php?fbid=486213989541&id=607849541&aid=266775

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/album.php?fbid=192410090771232&id=100000067260272&aid=52137

John Mark Katindig Torres

Green Thumb

              Early today I have transferred my tomato seedlings from the nursing pots to the soil. It reminded me then the times when I was still in my grade school years cultivating the soil in our backyard and growing vegetables and fruits. I always join my dad whenever he’s to plant trees both in the farm and in our yard. Today, coconut trees serve as natural fence and lot boarders in our compound. I used to have a row for pechay, tomatoes, squash and eggplants of which seeds came from dried fruits and flowers of the said veggies. I also have had a mini-garden with golden bush shrubs, the mayana and oregano herbs, euphorbias and santans. At the middle was a starfruit (balimbing) tree to which I had 2 orchids and red-orange ornament from Bocaue. Honestly, I presume I really have the gardening skill as everybody in our place commends me to have the so-called green thumb. Well I think what inspired me to start planting was my Inang who was at that time enthusiastic to grow crops in her farm. While Tatang’s busy in his ricefield, Inang grew corns, peanuts, string beans, squash and pechays. There were also lady’s fingers (okra), bitter gourds (ampalaya), bottle gourds (upo), sponge gourd (patola) and winged beans (bataw). From the underground tubers and bulbs to low-lying shrubs, from crops with prop roots to green leafy v’s with stunning tendrils , the whole farm created an astounding collection of glittering foliage and nutritious produce. However, I think, as years went by and as she grows older and feeble, she was no longer capable of doing farm activities. The same thing goes for my case as I became engaged to school and other related activities.

           

            After almost a decade, I am once more into a backyard project [well at least for the moment while waiting for the next academic year, c;]. Last October, my Tatang and I transferred 3 banana suckers in our backyard and one has already bear fruits since late November [though ‘til now, the fruits are not ripe] and it will take atleast 2 months more [sighs]. Our papayas are great. We have harvested many fruits for long same for my calamansi. Right now, am still nursing some ampalaya, squash and bell pepper seedlings, hoping that next week they’ll be ready for transfer.

            The funny thing here is, ironically, while I love growing vegetables, I certainly do not like consuming them [well at least I choose some recognizing the need to have them in my diet]. I eat cabbage, pechay, squash, carrots, tomatoes and water spinach [oh so great, in sinigang or simple blanch], toasted garlic and onions, potatoes and taro. I don’t know why but I just don’t like string beans, ampalaya [well it’s bitter anyway], okra, eggplant, cucumbers and family, mustards and a lot more [laughs]. I was actually raised in a farm but I just don’t have the taste for much of the veggies. All I know is I enjoy growing them, in a detail I know, protecting them from occasional weeds and opportunistic insects  until the right time comes and have them harvested.

Feast of Sto. NiÑo: The Child Jesus

We arrived at St. Peter Parish Church, Tungkong Manga around 8:30 when the second mass was about to end. In preparation for the next mass, we took seats at the front most pew just a few more steps before the altar. While waiting, I knelt on the hassock to give thanks for the past week and ask for forgiveness as well. As always, these hassocks serve two great functions for some people. While these thick firm cushions are designed for kneeling, many use it as footrest. I don’t know if the second way of using it disrespects the church. Well whether it creates an issue or not, anyway, it’s not my concern for now.

Today is the Feast of Sto. Niño: The Child Jesus. Am not sure though how long the celebration has became part of the Filipino (Christian) tradition, but the extent by which it has influenced our faith is very evident. Devotees came rushing from behind towards the altar as the presiding priest drew closer to a set of Sto. Niño emblems. With great hopes and faith, they brought with them their own graven images of the Child Jesus. After receiving some blessings and prayer, each placed their respective figures in front together with some others from the preceding mass. There was a variety of Sto. Niños; each differed from a number of aspects. Even with similar charming and hopeful face, there was definitely not a single emblem superficially comparable. From an inch or two to a life-size toddler, each was dressed distinctly. I heard that the color suggests some sort of luck for whatever field/discipline the owner of the emblem is into. Green is for money and business, etc.

For whatsoever way of presenting these revered icons of our God, what should be taken into great consideration is how we can put into practice the message it brings. The homily examined the qualities of a child in general. Like children, we should not keep things to ourselves, may it be tangible or not, verbal or material, emotions and the like. Always feel free to be ourselves (though, I thought that at some point, it may not be applicable), well just as long as exercising it won’t harm others. He mentioned that children are so expressive; limited by no constraints, they will cry whenever they feel the need to express something. They are indeed spontaneous; one quality we find hard to be (I think, hehe). On some point however, there will always be a right place and time to be somewhat unwary or impulsive. They are simple and thoughtless; unacquainted of the future but by what the spur-of-the-moment suggests. They are trustworthy and constant. All in all, these are the traits we used to have. Sadly, admit it or not, as we explore the world, or maybe as part of the human nature, we tend to lose a certain degree of these qualities. Maybe, when we ponder on these things again, we will be reminded how we intensely manifested the image of God. It seems very alarming for now, but unconsciously, as this year passes, and another feast comes, we will be again in this state of asking ourselves how we turned off from the course of living the qualities of a child. Devotion without practice and commitment is always useless.

Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas!

Season greetings from the Philippines!

looks like the text ain't that visible, laughs... Anyways, Merry Christmas peeps!

John Mark Katindig Torres

NMAT Result

Yeah baby! I have already viewed my NMAT result online and thanks God, everything went according to plan and prayers… I immediately informed my mom to go back home because I would like to show the fruit of faith, support and efforts. Admit it or not, the percentile rank would determine the applicant’s status in the schools we applied for. Part of the rules of every medical school in the Philippines in general is for the applicant to reach their preferred NMAT score. Luckily, I got qualified for all schools in terms of NMAT [because they will also assess GWA], anyway, am more than happy to receive such a wonderful Christmas gift from God. I made not only myself happy but also my family, Madam and Father Kelly [my sponsors] and some concerned friends. Am more than excited to receive the official result via snail mail this January 2011 and have it submitted to my preferred schools. Yippee yippee!

NMAT

I took the National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT) at De La Salle University, Manila yesterday. My family accompanied me right from Bulacan to Manila. We started the trip at pass 4 [we woke up like 3 a.m.] and I felt like really dizzy. We arrived at 5:30 and parked near the University Mall. We haven’t eaten our breakfast and we found no foodchain opened that time. I just ate 2 sandwich buns with patties [afraid that bowel movement and stomach wars will interrupt me during the exam, haha c:]. I went right towards the main entrance and saw a number of students in queue. The guard waved and told us to enter [even at that early] to accommodate perhaps a multitude of students later. Mom, Dad and Vin [my bro] went back to the car and drove to Quiapo as part of the family’s tradition every time Dad’s goes back for a vacation. Alice, my batchmate, came rushing towards me with her mother. Well, while waiting for the next instructions, we had a nice chat about our plans and what’s new in UPLB [I haven’t been to LB for a month or two]. We saw Clarice, Josiah, and many other schoolmates hurdling to get a seat while in queue until we were all allowed to find our respective rooms. I was assigned at the 5^th Floor of Yuchengco Hall [just imagine how many took the exam that day]. NMAT was simultaneously administered in other test centers like in Baguio City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City and Zamboanga City. I was really in great awe as I watch other aspirants rushing to their rooms thinking that with these number of takers, it would really be an achievement to get 90^th percentile rank in the result [that is, scores will be relative to that of the norm group’s performance]. A big WOW for that [and am positive to hear such word for me in a month’s time]! And as I enter my room, I noticed that we were like 6 Torres’ who will indirectly compete with the scores of each other. I just prayed to God that may I be able to recall what I’ve reviewed and prepared and that I surrender the day to Him.

The Test Proper:

The test consists of Part I (three-hour test) & Part II (two-hour-30-minute test). Part I is a 200-item test with 4 subtests:

1. Verbal (Word Analogy and Reading Comprehension),

2. Inductive Reasoning,

3. Quantitative (Algebra, Geom, Trigo and Stat) and

4. Perceptual Acuity Skills.

Part II deals in special areas of Basic Sciences such as

1. Biology,

2. Physics (College Physics),

3. Social Sciences (Socio, Anthro and Psych) and

4. Chemistry (Gen., Org, Inorg, Analytical and Biochem).

For non-science majors, they should focus mainly on theories and formulas in physical sciences. A good browse of introductory courses in behavioural ciences would also be of big help. Some questions were concept-specific also. For computations, the most commonly used formulas should be held in mind always. Some of my classmates opt to enroll in review centers [there are many institutions with such offers anyway].

I for an instance did not take any review center primarily because it would just cost me a lot [and I don’t wanna ask my parents to spend money again coz the applications to the schools were already expensive] aside from the efforts of travelling from Bulacan. I thought to myself that I can have a far more comprehensive review myself without paying someone else to the job I could actually do myself and besides, the scope covered all areas I took when in college [except anatomy and physio]. I just bought an MSA NMAT reviewer which is actually far harder than NMAT, I swear. I browsed high school notes in Math and Science and borrowed a Introductory Psych book from my cousin. Set priorities in areas you think you need to pay more attention. My technique was to list down first the major topics per subject and understand basic concepts, terminologies and formulas. Practice, practice, practice! You may not need to remember each and every detail of your concern because during the exam, all we have to do is to recognize which among the choices fit the answer. With time constraints, there’s no need to recall everything per subject but rather one should learn how to recognize the relevant ideas alone. Stay calm and always have a good sleep. Zzz…

I don’t know why I was able to write these tips I deem helpful [well I hope for my case, laughs]. Am with high hopes to get a pretty fair rank as results will be released 10 days from now, woooah! So help me God. [Everything depends on my NMAT]…

By the way, the very first step in taking NMAT is to register and pay for the corresponding fee. Follow this link peeps: http://www.cem-inc.org.ph/nmat/