The next level

Maybe i am quite stubborn when it comes to park lights. Maybe i am overreacting. And maybe yesterday would be one of the best and worst days of my NDMU life..

I made posters yesterday after my finance class. It read:


mar·tyr
noun (plural mar·tyrs)


somebody put to death: somebody who chooses to die rather than deny a strongly held belief



WE don’t need to become martyrs. All we need to do is say…

..or die paying another 10% without being decently educated.

Make a stand..

And show what a true Notre Dame education means..

I had 2 posters tacked at the College of Business area even without approval from the DSA. What i had in mind was any thing posted by the council at our own bulletin boards would not anymore require "approved fo posting." Then i asked Leni to secure permission for the remaining copies so it could be posted at other conspicuous places inside the campus because i still have classes until 3:30. Fortunately, as i got out of my first class that aftenoon, i already saw some students huddling as they read the notice. It was just sort of overwhelming to hear them react about the TFI and more overwhelming when they said "kadto ta karon ha para makasali ta sa signature campaign." The afternoon before had also been striking because of the number of students who attended the general assembly despite of the abrupt information dessimination.

I used to think NDMU students are passive. I mean, most of them. I can quite count with my bare and stubby fingers and name some who are socially concerned with school activities and issues. But that day when i heard those words coming from a mediocre student, i couldn't help but be amazed at how a phenomenon such as TFI could beat the crap out of passivism or passivity (whatever you wanna call it).

Sometimes all we need for us to realize we should do something about someting is for us to be "terrorized." We wait for disastrous things to happen before we move out of our comfort zone and just stop playing safe. Life is full of risks - carefully assessed risks, that is. If we don't break the thin line that separates selw-awakening and foolishness, then I think we better just throw ourselves out into the ocean where seaweeds and anemones could benefit from our insensitivity.

Looking at the brighter side of life

I did not attend my English class yesterday morning. Not that I am proud of i. In the first place, being absent is one thing I should never boast of since I already am a legend when it comes to being notorious. I just seem to get bored from the monotony of mingling with my freshmen classmates. It gives me the creeps knowing I am actually becoming a constant reminder for them to do well in their classes so as not to end up like me being a campus relic. Anyway, as I was saying, I did not attend my English class because I had more pressing things I wanted and needed to do that time – to go to the library. First, because of the reason I have already stated and second, because I do not have anything to submit yet for my preliminaries in my research paper to think that this has been the nth time I have enrolled in this subject called writing in the discipline. Very motivating, huh?

I went straight to the internet section to do my proquest search at the second floor when I came across this book which really caught my attention. The cover page read "Cornerstone: Building on your best for career success" written by R. Sherfield, R. Montgomery, and P. Moody. I’d like to share the few things I have learned as I leafed through the pages.

The secret to life is not finding your self but creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw

All things are possible until they are proved impossible – and even the impossible may only be so, as of now. – Pearl S. Buck

15 ways to enjoy a happy life and be successful:

1. Take control of your own life
2. Adopt the idea that you are responsible for you
3. Keep your promises and be loyal to your friends and family but refuse to allow them to tear you down
4. Control what you say to your self
5. Take carefully assessed risks often and get out of your comfort zone
6. Don’t compare your self to other people
7. Develop a victory wall of your achievements to remind you and keep you motivated
8. Win with grace, lose with class. People love a humble winner and hate those who are whining losers
9. Set goals and maintain high level of motivation but your goals should be based on what you value
10. Work your way
11. Keep a sense of humor and learn to appreciate the simple joys in life
12. Focus on the positive
13. Don’t give in to adversity or defeat
14. Believe in your self!
15. Never make excuses
    

I then remembered what my Economics teacher repeatedly tells us in his class, the formula to success is Resources+discipline+techniques+willingness to work = SUCCESS


The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the same as the difference between lightning and the lightning bug. – Mark Twain

Also, there were brain teasers I had my mind working on that I forgot it was almost time for my afternoon class. Here, try solving these brain teasers. It will help you enhance your critical thinking skills. I have given two of the answers for you to have a hint on how to solve these..(Actually, I was only able to answer two with one still uncertain to be correct)
SW & 7 D ... Snow White and 7 Dwarfs
I H a D by MLK
2 P’s in a P
HDD (TMRUTC)
3 S to a T
100 P in a D
T no PLH
4 Q in a C ... 4 Quarters in a Century
I a SWAA
50 S in a TU

Good luck. i wish you could answer all these as much as i'd like them to be answered!

YES to 0% Tuition Fee Increase!!

I am a BS Accountancy major. And i pay almost three hundred and forty (P340.00) pesos per unit every semester plus more than three thousand (P3,000.00+) pesos in matriculation and other fees. In short, my total semestral fees for this semester is about P13,000.00. If the school administration pursues the proposed 10% increase in tuition fees, then i would need to add up another P34.00 per unit. So, if i am planning to enroll another 27 units for the next semester, i would probably be paying almost P15,000.00! I haven't even added the would-be increase in the miscellaneous fees! See the difference? Actually, i don't really need to be a CPA just to figure that out.

I can't see any reason for another tuition fee hike. as per CHED memorandum #13, it states that the propsed increase should not be more than the present inflation. Isn't it that OFWs have been complaining due to the sudden resistance of the peso to inflation? The latest peso-dollar rate i have known had been at the P40-1$ level. Is South Cotabato economy isolated from the national scenario? Or is south cotabato having another currency different from the peso that the national government had not yet discovered to exist? Well actually, i know the OFWs' dollar remittance is not the only determinant of inflation. According to my Econ teacher (again) and the daily papers, i have read the present inflation is at around 8.5 %.

Frankly speaking, i am quite puzzled by this undertaking of the NDMU administration. During consulation dialogues on issues such as this, they always try to compare the fees with other universities. But when students compare the facilities and the quality of education being delivered by those universities, they say they are two incomparable things. Come on..

Why am i reacting violently? It is because i feel the burden of earning the money i pay for these fees yet i do not get my money's worth. I do not get to enjoy the park lights at the college of business grounds because the guards say lights should not be turned on at night. How pathetic! I do not get to enjoy the liberty of being shielded from the rain or from the heat of the sun even when i am inside the MJH classrooms. Much more, i do not get to experience being developed by the development fee and i do not see any development or improvement in the campus facilities aside from the new administration building. I think the admin is facing a critical problem on how to spend and expend the funds of the school into the things they are not supposed to be focusing on. They say the energy fee they had imposed was still insufficient for the monthly electric bills of the school. Then why the hell do they have to put park lights in areas which are not parks? Considering in the first place that these whole bunch of lights would consume a big amount of electricity. Truly, some people do not know what irony is.

Anyway, i don't think i'm the only person in this world who has angst on the administration. We are all affected and it has a domino effect. So let's speak up and get ourselves involved. We don't necessarily have to put barricades or become mob leaders. We just need to show those in power that we are also concerned with or future and where our money goes..

My refuge

At some point in my existence, i feel the burden of doing and sharing more because i have been given more. I hate it when people think i don't seem to get tired of doing a lot of things because truth is, i do. Even superheroes do. Sometimes i wish i could be insensitive to the needs of others and be a mediocre of all sorts.

To be honest, i am sick of being gifted.. of being highly intellectual. But i have this obsessive-compulsive urge. I can't seem to just lay motionless and pretend to be dumb. I just feel the need to step on the brakes before i burn out. Then last night, i heard these songs playing in my pc while i was on the verge of breaking down. It made me sentimental.. and mental at the same time. In short, it struck me. It's as if God reminded me all of a sudden that He was there willing to listen to me. Ready to hug me at these times when i need a father to turn to. Believe it or not, i just let the tears flow as i fell to my knees contemplating. Try listening to these songs or just reflect on the lyrics. It will sure make you feel relieved especially if you feel pressured. It worked for me..


Warrior is a child

Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
I'm strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears


They don't know
that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know
who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
Cuz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child


Unafraid because his armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing I never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at his feet

They don't know
that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know
who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
Cuz deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child



Strong Arm

My child I knew you before the world began
I was there everytime you wrote your name on the sand
And lately I know you’ve been through quite a storm
My child I’ve been there since the day you were born

Oh and I rule the wind
Yes, and I calm the sea
And the sun don’t go down until I say it can leave
As sure as my word
I’ll stand here right by your side
And if you’re just too weak to hold on
Remember child, I’m your strong arm



Now people will wonder and they’ll stand amazed
They’ll say you’re a miracle and I will be praised
And even though your problems have been so hard to bear
Just know that I’m with you
There’s no need to despair

Oh and I rule the wind
Yes, and I calm the sea
And the sun don’t go down until I say it can leave
As sure a s my word
I’ll stand here right by your side
And if you’re just too weak to hold on
Remember child, I’m your strong arm

Home

Thinking back when we first met
I remember what you said
You said you’d never leave me
I let go a while of your hand
Built my castle in the sand
But now I’m reaching out again
And I’m not letting go till you

Hold me, mold me
Sometimes I feel so all alone
See I gotta find my way back home
So why don’t you
Shape me, make me, wash me whiter than the snow
I gotta find my way back home

Master, upon my knees I pray
I just wanna be the clay
Put your arms around me
Place my life in your hands
Lord, I know I’m just a man
Know you understand
This time I’m not letting go til you

Anoint me, appoint me
Sometimes I feel so all alone
See I gotta find my way back home
So why don’t you
Chastise me, baptize me
Wash me whiter than the snow
I gotta find my way

Cause I’m lost and alone
I’ve been wandering long enough to know
Humbly I search for you
And I’m not gonna rest until you

Choose me, use me
Sometimes I feel so all alone
I’m on my way back home
So why don’t you
Direct me, bless me
Wash me whiter than the snow
I’m on my way back home