Road to Success (Part 3)

My decision to finally gave in the idea of having UPLB as my choice to work on my PhD program created both a sphere of doubt and encouragement. For sometime, some of my colleagues were adversarial with my plan since they thought that i would be having a hard time dealing with a UP life. Although they cant utter it bluntly to my face, I knew that what they were trying to say was a sort of discouragement. I can’t simply ignore their despondency since they too have had a fair share of experiences as UPian before or stories passed through them by their friends or loved ones who struggled also to survive as Iskolar ng Bayan. These people whom I asked an unsolicited advice opted to enroll their PhD in private school in Cebu or Manila - an easy way out to get that doctorate diploma. According to them, there were no pressure, arduous requirements that can take away their time since everything seemed to be relax and easy. I didn’t expect to hear this from them since I thought PhD is like dwelling your entire life reading and researching. But anyways, I’ve listened more to the call of my heart - that is, to be part of UP community. I wanted UP as my habitat of learning since i want to go beyond my horizon - to expand my knowledge, to discover things which tend to be new to me and although the least reason, i want my family, colleagues and community looked up to me and value my education. In time, i’ll pay it forward to those who will need my help and service. It has always been my dream to serve the larger community through my works and researches. 

Road to Success (Part 2)

Road to Success (Part 2)





Yesterday, I was able to share the reason why i quit from my post as Planning Director and this has paved the way of my decision to push through my plan of going back to school again. It was a tough decision and this has drawn a lot of issues and talks from my colleagues as to why I vacated the position that too early. For some people who were closed to me, they would probably understand the reason behind it. In fact, they were too concerned about my health and often observed changes in my physical looks - the bulging eye bags, the thinning hairline and the slimmer physique. That was already a clear indication that I was able to developed a psychological stress and work fatigue out of the overwhelming work. So to fast track this thing I leave the office and started to plan anew. I was determined already to enroll my PhD program. I checked on the websites of schools who are offering PhD in Development Communication. There are only two state universities in the country who are offering the program - the UP Los Banos in Laguna and Central Luzon State University in Nueve Ecija. I first considered CLSU since one of my colleagues is finishing her PhD in that school and it would be easier for me to adjust to the environment if I have someone to keep me company. Then their is UP.









The UP Dream that was...









Ever since it has always been my dream to become a legitimate UPian . By legitimate, that is, one is not only that you passed the UPCAT but also someone who is able to survive the ‘the fittest of all’ specie. And that the validation is you wearing the Sablay, with your head up high and finally clinched that diploma stamped with a UP Logo. I happened to be an UPCAT passer and enrolled at UP Cebu before i shifted my course in Tacloban. Wayback 2001. Unfortunately, destiny decided that it wasnt really for me. I was so frustrated that i cut short my stay in UP Cebu. Not because i got eliminated but because the place wasnt ideal for my studies - the dialect difficulty, the financial constraints and the lack of sounding board - factors which hindered me to continue my stay in UP. I then told myself that someday I would be able to go back to UP and this time, by hook and by crook, i should finish my studies. The redemption began when i enrolled my masters at UPOU, the fifth system of UP. On April 2011, the board of regents of UP conferred me as one of the graduates of master of development communication program, I was in extreme happiness that time that i finally got my UP degree and my first time to have worn the Sablay. On that same day, i realized that dreams really do come true in a perfect time. It gave me a chill since i couldnt really believe that was happening to me. That incident had brought back my selfesteem that once had lost in me when i failed to reach my UP dream in college.

Road to Success (Part 1)

It’s a lazy afternoon everyone! As promised, I am going to pound this keyboard with the hope to share with you my thoughts on certain things and anything that goes under the sun. Let me reiterate that I dont want to brag anyone to like this piece. It’s my personal account and i demand a little respect for this. Nor I urge anyone to criticize this even if your intention is as genuine or as good as mine. Anyways, what I am going to share now is my journey towards fulfilling my dream and that is to become a PhD holder. I had plan this out a few years back when myself was drawn with so much vigor and enthusiasm that by the age of thirty, that elusive suffix three letters should now be placed next to my name. But sometimes things didn't turn out according to plans, as the old adage says. Mine was a matter of decision rather than fate. I decided to accept a responsibility whom I thought was going to be handled easily. I was WRONG. I accepted a position that demands time, effort and which requires mental agility because of the figures and numbers I have to deal with everyday. Not to mention the major decisions i have to make which may affect the whole institution. I struggled to balance my primary function as an instructor to that of a planning director which consumed three-forth of my working time. At the middle of the year, I was on the brink of giving up because of physical and mental exhaustion in trying to dispense my responsibilities. Time came when at the last quarter of this year, I was already losing my grip to come to office, hair starting to fall, and a waning enthusiasm were already manifested in me. That was the deciding point for me to end my struggle in that office. On January this year I have terminated my directorship to the University President. I have justified my reasons why i have to vacate my post and which he eventually accepted.

To be continued...