How Sweet It Is!

Ahhh.... finally.....a college degree I can be proud of!

Last January 27, 2010, I received my diploma as a degree holder in Public Administration. I walked with pride inside Justo Albert Auditorium of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Almost 3 years ago, PLM opened it's doors to undergraduates working in the government through their Distance Learning Program for the Degree of Bachelor in Public Administration. Luckily, our agency, PAGCOR, is one of those granted to be part of this along with other government entities like the Manila City Hall among others. Upon knowing the program, I quickly grabbed the opportunity and took the entrance examination. More than a hundred passed the exam so PAGCOR decided to put up 4 sections, me in section 1, ehem!

February, 2007 was our first day in class. A memorable first subject, Intro to Public Administration, which is a requisite to continue the whole course. Mr. Osido, our professor, was a perfect baptism of fire for us. He not only made us listen but also study harder which I can attribute to his teaching style.

Along the way, I started to feel the load and difficulties I'm going through. First, I had to sacrifice my day-off, which is a Sunday, to attend the class. Second, I had to finished my assignments and research works while doing my job at the same time during breaks in office hours. But the most, I believe everyone in the class would agree, is the memorization. For me, it's just a thing of the past. Memorization is already a distant memory!

Subjects involving numbers like Intro to Accounting and Taxation 1, made me scratched my head a lot.

Outside the two, everything was just easy for me. Public Fiscal Administration, Government Planning & Control, Urban Development Process, Management Information System and even Human Resource Management presents topics that interests me. Everyone in the class is cooperative & participative that made the discussions very interesting. Though we laugh on some classmates with favorite lines like Sir Lito's " what is ironic", we learn a lot through the exchange of ideas coming from different experiences shared in the class.

Also, a lot of memorable events took place or classmates leaving funny memories. I will forever remember, Mr. Delgado's coffee & fish offering to our professors. Mr. Benedicto, who's always the first to pass his paper during examinations. Mr. Tiquio's Wanders tickets. Our resident attorney, Mr. Lagabong, who mesmerizes all of our teachers. Mr. Calingasan's story as a retired Army. Ms. Evangelista, who was voted as the most beautiful in the class. Mr. Del Pilar, asking for our payments. Ms. Tuazon's nervous recitation. The ultimate "pasaway" in the class, Mr. Coronel. And of course, Mr. Global crisis himself, Esteban Mora.

This diploma I received not only symbolizes the course I've finished but my dream to be a good example for my children. Maybe, I committed a bunch of mistakes before but that doesn't prevent me from realizing my goal in life. Time is never a problem. Age is never an obstacle. Money is never an issue. What all of us just want is to finish what we've started many years ago.
 
Congratulations BPA Graduates!

Ooppss, My Kid is Growing Up!

Seeing my eldest daughter, Kyllie, preparing herself for her near graduation in grade school on March, made me think that I started to really aged. I’ve observed a lot of changes on her for the last couple of years. She can now wear her moms dress. Her feet is exactly the same as her moms size 6. She just want to stay in the house rather than go with us. Before, she asked P 10.00 to buy candies and chocolates, now she asks money for her cellphone load. But the biggest reason of my realization is when she asked her mommy to buy “modess w/ wings”.

I can’t help but remember all the stuff she did as a young kid. Blessed with dancing skills, she always perform in fiesta in our place. She dance impromptu in her school. But her biggest or shall we say, the highlight of her showbiz (?) career happened when she was 5 up to 7 yrs. old.

She had a lot of VTR tests before landing her first project, the Clusivol commercial. The said commercial also produces a space in newspaper and a billboard in MRT station. 3 paychecks in one project, not bad! Next came a starring role in Jollibee, TeenOlympics, toys included in Kiddie Meals. She was chosen among 100 hopefuls for the role. A separate audition was held for the role of her mother wherein the main requisite is to look similar to my daughter. Super Ferry project was a better one since the shoot will be done on board the ship going to Cebu. At the same time, the contract is much better than the first two.

Breaking in commercial stints, she now auditioned in Little Miss. Philippines in Eat Bulaga. I personally went with her in Broadway Centrum and what a nervous feeling I experienced! Talent is not a problem, my concern is the question and answer which she did quite well. She won the daily round but was not that lucky in the monthly finals.

A modelling opportunity knocked on her which we quickly grabbed. Touring SM malls, they modelled Disney Princess stuffs, from dress to toys. A great experience since all the kids that were part of the show where known commercial models.

She also joined the EVER Kiddie Star and made the final cut. She eventually lost in the final selection where the winner is the relative of.... never mind.

She was also engaged in some print ads, appeared in the sitcom Quizon Ave. and played as one of the students of Sharon Cuneta in the movie “Caregiver”.

Such a colourful childhood life for my first daughter, any kid would wish to have. At the moment, she seems to lose the appetite for lights and cameras. I just want her to focus more on her study and give emphasize on personal growth.

I knew that she already passes that stage but on a sad note, I realized that I started to get old. But in a very fruitful way, so to speak.