day 1

Because you refused to see what you needed to see
and didn't realize what you needed to realize...

Credits to tumblr.com for the photos

a year later...

I know I have been away from the blogging world for a long time now. My last post was in September, back when I was still at the peak of reviewing for the board exam. Now, I am back to blogging.

I created this blog a year ago, that was when I was in the middle of mending broken parts of myself (by the way, belated happy birthday to my blog!). But all's well that ends well. I didn't just survive 2010, I also conquered 2010! (Well, I think so...)

I believe I made the right decision to take the review in UP Los Banos because I think I wouldn't survive if I took it in Manila (based from my two-month experience). I think I did great there. The environment in Laguna was really fit for me. I somehow regretted taking the refresher in Manila because I think that caused too much stress in my system (I am still recovering from it right now), though I take it as a consolation that I got to study and prepare myself for the exam because of it. My mom accompanied me during the week of the board exam, and this I am truly thankful because that somehow lessened the stress especially during the exam. And praise the Lord, I passed it, I am now a Licensed Chemical Engineer.

The greatest part of the year is my mom's long vacation, in time for Christmas. Yes, she went home twice this year. This vacation was the longest so far (almost two months). It's been two years since our last Christmas together, and this is by far the best Christmas we've ever had as a family. My mom had to leave on New Year's Eve, imagine how "bongga" our Christmas must have been compared to our usual Christmas celebrations.

I thank the Lord for all these. I also thank the people who have been there during these experiences.

And here I am, a year later. Some things have changed, and I did change, thanks to 2010. Five months away from home taught me how to become more organized, not just in things but also in thoughts. Now, the goals that I have with regards to my career are clearer. I am now bold enough to work away from home. Actually, I have been applying to jobs offered outside of Davao City, mostly to jobs located in the Luzon area.

And speaking of jobs, I am really excited to work already. I really100x hope I will land to a good job (with good pay, hehe). I am still in the process of waiting for the companies' replies. I am eyeing one company though, but I know the competition would be really tough, and getting in the company is tougher.

I don't have resolutions for this year.  I'll just go with the flow, as usual. I just hope that by 2012, I will be a better me. :) Always for Magis!

my life until november

study.

study.

study.

because PE2-PE1+KE2-KE1+P2/(rho)-P1/(rho)+lwf+Q+W=0!!!

(Oh how I miss the internet.)

my first few days in los banos

Today's my fourth day in Los Banos, Laguna. I'm surprised that I am not missing Davao as much as I have expected myself to be. Maybe because of the climate (it's unusually hot here like in Davao, I was expecting a cooler temperature) and the sight at my window (which reminds me of how green Davao City is, amidst the urbanization, though it's much greener here). 

When I arrived here in the dormitory, I immediately experienced the discomfort of choosing a room in the third floor. Good thing my brother accompanied me and helped me bring my things to my room. The room was full of dust and cobwebs. I didn't let the day pass without cleaning the room since I really really really don't like sleeping inside a dirty room (and using a dirty bathroom). But before I cleaned my room, my brother, together with my classmate and her sister, and I went shopping for things we need inside our rooms. I wasn't able to buy a table since my feet sored after hours of looking for things and walking from Robinson's to a nearby store and vice versa. It was rather discomforting on my part because unlike in Davao, the groceries here are packed inside brown paper bags or cartons and there are no taxicabs here. So we went back to the dormitory riding tricycles. So I cleaned my room and partially finished arranging my things. 

On the second day, I went somewhere to buy a table. I only rode a jeepney to get home with my table. Good thing the main road wasn't really that far from my dorm.  I finished cleaning up my room that day.

Yesterday, my classmate's sister took my classmate and me to UPLB so that we could have our lunch at IRRI (I don't know the meaning of the acronym but it is a reasearch institute for rice).  We had to walk to get there, and I got sunburned again. But it was all worth it since the food in IRRI's canteen is delicious and cheap! We then went to the Chemical Engineering Department to finish our enrollment for the review. We talked to Ma'am Mila (the Secretary) and she shared a lot of experiences with the past reviewees.  She said the reviewees from places other than Manila were the more successful ones.  She even jokingly told us that she could see it in our faces that we could top the board exam. Haha... What a good source of inspiration. :P

Today, I'm a bum. My classmate and her sister is in Manila. I was supposed to go together with them but I've decided to postpone my Manila trip to next Sunday because I guess I really have to spend some time here in my room first and adjust to the environment plus I should save money. 

My review is on Monday-Saturday. Mondays and Saturdays will be whole day sessions while the sessions on Tuesdays to Fridays will only be on the evening. Talk about brain overuse. The review will officially start on Tuesday. We will have our orientation and a pretest on Monday.  Ma'am Mila told us not to study for the pretest, so I won't. I will just be enjoying my last few days relaxing and adjusting.

To God be the glory!

before i take that leap of faith

Tomorrow, I will be entering another phase of my life.  I'm not sure if I am really ready for it but I'm trying to be enthusiastic about everything that's going to happen in a span of five months.

This boils down to one thing: I should pass the board exam. I WILL PASS THE BOARD EXAM. I claim it, I believe that I will.

I am having jitters.  I honestly don't want to leave Davao yet. If only there were review centers for the Chemical Engineering board exam here in Davao, I wouldn't have to leave. I am kinda conscious about the money my mom's shelling out for this. I really do not want to become a financial burden that's why I really have to save my money.  I am thinking about the possibility of not taking the refresher course and going home instead. For one, that would really save a lot of money because with the type of living environment I want and considering the cost of living in Manila, my mom should really have to increase my monthly allowance (which I really do not want her to do). I am planning to spend the remaining weeks before the board exam here in Davao.  The downside, however, is that I couldn't get a chance to exchange some notes with the reviewees in Manila. Anyway, I haven't really decided about this matter yet. Let's see. :)

I will only be surfing the internet once a week starting next week. So, for the next five months, byebye to Facebook, Yahoo Messenger, Twitter, Plurk, Tumblr and Blogger. :(

I NEED TO FOCUS. I NEED TO BE CONFIDENT. I NEED TO TRUST. I NEED TO KEEP THE FAITH. So help me God.