Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?

By Abigail Sunga

If you think you’ve already experienced all the fun, hardships and excitement anyone can imagine now that you’re in high school, then you are wrong. You’ll find the next chapter of your academic journey and identity quest even more challenging and exhilarating. The success of this new venture greatly depends on your decisions, your plans and your willpower. To cut it short, college is all about YOU.
Culture shock is what they usually call it. You, as a future freshie, will soon learn how to observe, adjust and adapt to the new environment you will be stepping in. High school and college are far different from each other. Let us count the ways.

FROM TEACHER TO PROFESSOR
You call your mentors Ma’m, Miss or Sir. They help you with every problem you encounter, may they be about academics, discipline or probably personal dilemma. They spoon-feed you with the words you have to define, equations to use, variables to find, lessons to learn. You can easily consult with them in case you need clarifications, explanations or more examples. They get anxious when you frequently miss class or when you are under academic or disciplinary probation. You and your instructor establish a real student - teacher relationship.
Once you enter the arduous world of college, you will call the professors that you hate different funny labels or conceal them with names of famous characters such as Power Rangers and Power Puff Girls. They will give you thick books to read after each meeting. They will ask you to accomplish assignments that are hard to decipher. Each professor will have his or her own policies and rules in class. It doesn’t really matter if you absent or not. And if you will be unfortunate, your grade will depend on a game of darts, your gender or your smile.

WELCOME THE NEW YOU
You are tagged to be the class nerd, leader, jock, athlete, dancer, singer or Ms. Congeniality. People in school attach you to a certain stereotype. They know your life story, your achievements and your misfortunes.
In college, you are given the opportunity to reinvent yourself and establish a new reputation. The friends you’ll be meeting will not be concerned whether or not you graduated with honors, won in this competition or sang in this event. You start anew. From being a geek in high school, you can join a drama guild and be a theatre artist. Search for your passion and you can be who you want to be.

LESS RULES = RESPONSIBILITY
Your student handbook contains a list of minor and major offenses and the sanctions that go with them. Be late, comb inside the classroom, bring cellphones or mall in uniform and you will be reprimanded and worse, your parents will be called for a parent-teacher conference to discuss your disobedience to school rules. Many eyes watch the violations you commit and you have no escape. Defiance of these rules will result to punishment.
There is a Student Tribunal to put you in trial in case of academic dishonesty or any major offense but other than that, you’re on your own. Whether you eat in class, forgot to put your cellphone in silent mode or cut classes, the university will not penalize you. Responsibility is expected from you now. Proper decorum and behavior are things you should have learned in GMRC back in elementary or CLE in high school. By college, you should have learned how to act accordingly. You should be aware of the consequences of your actions especially when cutting classes.

IT’S NOT A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL
You see the same people every day. You know every person in the campus, what clubs they are in, subjects they are good at and their boyfriends or girlfriends. You are familiar with every corner of your school. You have eaten all the kinds of food available in the canteen. You have found the perfect spots in the campus to hang-out or study. You stay in your chosen or assigned seat throughout the day.
Your memory must be really good if you know every person in the university. Chances are minimal that you know the person you come across the street. You will be meeting people of different cultures from different places of origin. Diversity is something you will appreciate. In terms of the university’s geography, it will also take you a long time before you will be familiarized with it. The subjects you are taking may be in different buildings and will require you to walk for miles in between periods. Start to learn how to walk fast to avoid being late.

YOUR TIME IS IN YOUR HANDS
You attend the first day of classes and you teacher hands you over the class schedule for the whole academic year. You can’t argue with the short time for recess and lunch breaks and for the late dismissal time. You are frequently reminded by your teachers on deadlines for your reports and projects.
You will make your own schedule for the whole semester, choose the subjects you want to take and have your adviser approve it. Time management is a key to survive college. Soon you will be bound to choose whether to study, sleep or eat first. Learn to prioritize. At times, cramming becomes a necessity but is often not advisable. Professors often give ample time for you to finish a report or write a technical paper. You have to learn how to balance your time for academics, extra-curricular affairs and personal leisure.

Sounds heavy? College can be very demanding. Your decisions become crucial. Responsibilities become heavy. It’s just up to you how to handle these. You can make college more enjoyable and stimulating than high school. Build a reputation for yourself, establish long lasting friendships and in time, make a mark in your university. But for now just ask yourself, are you ready to take the next step?

The Pautakan from a Spectator's Point Of View

By Katrin Raxiel P. Serrano

The PAUTAKAN. Kapampangan Schools usually look forward to this event every year. It’s an eminent contest wherein representatives prepare themselves really well upon joining it. Why? Well, it is because everyone has one thing running on their minds, and that is to win, to bring home the most coveted Oblation trophy, “Boy Negro trophy” as what we call it then, and to make their respective schools run the pages of history. As a spectator then, Let me now share to you my assessment of Pautakan as I take a deep look onto it.

DIFFICULTY OF QUESTIONS (5 out of 5) - I have no doubts about this! The Pautakan has these eruditely knitted questions that anyone will have to summon all of their brain cells to answer them! When I was in high school, I was wondering how they come up with these questions which can turn one’s mind into goo. The questions will make it seem that there is no such thing as an easy round. But hey, that wouldn’t be a problem, because the very best students all around Pampanga compete anyway. Right? The Pautakan definitely has the toughest questions for the toughest students to answer.

THRILL FACTOR (4 out of 5) – Looking for extraordinary excitement? The Pautakan has it! It has this buzzer-beater round which undoubtedly fills the contestants and audience with excitement. Moreover, this excitement doubles for the students, coaches and supporters of the lucky and great schools who are able to climb it up to the final encounters. Pautakan is definitely a thrill!

PRIZES (5 out of 5) – The top five schools are awarded with medals and trophies. I tell you, the prizes awarded to the contestants are definitely the COOLEST, especially the medals! Everyone in the winning team gets to have these cool medals inscribed with the UP Aguman Logo and attached to a cool strap, the trophy on the other hand will be for the school. Furthermore, other schools will get their certificate of participation and will be very proud that they got the chance to experience The Pautakan. Being a spectator of it is already a great honor. But how I wish I had one of those too!

FUN FACTOR (4 out of 5) – Before the contest starts, the hosts usually ask the contestants funny questions. And every time this happens, everybody just bursts into laughter especially with the amusing ones. In this way, the contestants are made to lessen the tension binding them. The hosts do not only ask the contestants but also roam around and ask the audience especially the contestants’ schoolmates. I personally experienced that and it was really fun! They sometimes make you show your talents by making you sing, dance or even cheer for your own school! It sure is fun. The whole Pautakan experience is definitely fun.

LOVAPALOOZA FACTOR (2 out of 5) – Looking for love? Well maybe, you can find your true love in this event! During the first day of Pautakan, there is this activity wherein the contestants from different schools get the chance to meet and know each other. In that way, they become friends and maybe, just maybe, they can make their friendship go deeper and... thus finding the one for them! All thanks to The Pautakan! Hahaha!

ORGANIZATION (5 out of 5) – The contest is very much organized. All the needed equipment, questions, and prizes are prepared. Souvenirs are even available! It is well-planned. I have nothing more to say. It really is organized!

UNIQUENESS (4 out of 5) – What makes Pautakan unique among the rest? The difficulty of questions would be the number one on my list! Second is the humour that the hosts show. Third is the location for it is being held at different locations depending on what school is to be declared the champion. The fourth is their having of the coolest prizes as what I’ve mentioned earlier. And last but not the least, is their noble aim of promoting camaraderie among the schools at a different level. This is something the students, I for one, will never forget for the rest of their lives.

The UP Aguman's Pautakan 2008 is co-presented by:
PNB Life Insurance, Inc.

In cooperation with:
Globe Telecom
Joseph David (Batch 1976A)
Daniel Manalo (Batch 1977B)

Also brought to you by:
Nepo Mall Angeles
Sushiya (SM Pampanga)
Susan Pugeda-David (1976)

We would also like to thank:
Hon. Prospero Lagman
Arvee Salazar (Tuglung 1998A)
Angelica Herico
Chick-Nine-Y Winners
Antonio Lim
Diogenes Dy
Cholo Construction & Trading
Camchardon Laundry
ABL Co.
Dr. Rufino Nicdao
Mr. Mar Bonifacio
Mr. Jun Baltazar

The 'Second Place' Champion

By Mike Gulapa

Dragging my way out of bed on a Saturday morning wasn’t easy. But that day, I was forced to do so. It was the first day of my school’s first time in joining Aguman’s Sining. Excited? No! I was displeased rather than being hyped for this competition. Come on! It was scheduled on a weekend, which was my favorite part of the week! How could I be grateful? Moreover, this competition unlike the other ones I joined before didn’t exempt me from class. Sayang! Rather, it consumed my supposedly blissful Saturday just so I could relive like Baltazar for a day and write poetry. Nice. Just nice.

Since I had no choice, I just comforted myself with 5 reasons. First, allowance on a weekend was great, which will be unspent because the school will be shouldering all the expenses. Second, I’ll see my friends and we could hang out after. Third, I’ll be having a ‘Certificate of Participation’ and an ambassador of goodwill recognition which I could add up on my collections. Fourth, I’m doing my school a favor. Lastly, this will be counted on the extra curricular points which would push me closer to becoming the batch’s valedictorian.

But still, these motivations didn’t overshadow my 2^nd place syndrome. Wondering what the hell was this syndrome? Actually I just coined this term, I don’t know if it really exists but I think for me it did. Why? To be honest I never actually won in any inter-school competition. I don’t know why but every time I was so near in bagging the elusive First Place; I always end up being the 1^st runner up. It was like in a beauty pageant where only two ladies are left, holding hands waiting for the announcement of the runner-up, and then winner. In my situation, I was always the one who gets called next. But if I’m to consider 2^nd place as winning, then I could say that I haven't won a lot, really.

These frustrations made me feel a little unenthusiastic in every competition and in different endeavors. I had this nagging feeling that I was never going to be the best at anything at all. Exaggerated as it may sound, but it was these insecurities that always dispirit me. So as I ascended the steps to the threshold of the event, my light head and heavy heart seemed to weigh me down.

The gun was fired, the competition has begun. One by one, the different events were held and I still wasn’t able to match the zeal exemplified by my colleagues. Even more, witnessing my classmate kicked some asses on the Impromptu Speech competition kind of frightened me, ako lang ata ang di nag-prepare. So I just read some poetry from a book I brought while waiting for my turn, so I could at least say that I had preparations for the event in case the hosts would ask, hoping that it would add up fire to my dying flame of confidence. I even took note of some words that might be of good use, but I never thought that these words would save my life minutes later. And then the moment came — the 3-hour Filipino Poetry Writing competition has begun.

The theme was “Sining bilang salamin ng katotohanan”. Oh my God! What was that supposed to mean? I wasn’t even sure of what my definition of sining was and what exactly is katotohanan! And at that specific moment, I pressed my panic button deep inside, because I was asked on-the-spot to write and express my thoughts, in a poem even, on two very ambiguous words — art and truth.

The clock started ticking and my seatmates fired off with their pens as they started scribbling stanzas. It was as if they all had brightly lit light bulbs over their heads. I was practically blinded by them! Damn! They obviously are already on their trail of thoughts while I was still busy squeezing my brain for some creative wisdom.

Only minutes had passed and to my surprise, someone was already done. Wow! Halimaw yun! I suddenly felt the pressure and it became so intense! So I resorted to my survival instinct and wrote something from my own understanding and interpretation. I had no choice so I used the words I memorized because it seems like they were the only ones juggling in my head. An hour has passed and almost half of the contestants were done. “I’m gonna lose again”, I thought to myself. Two hours and fifty minutes after, the last contestant on the table — which by the way was me — finally finished and handed over his piece. At last, the agony was put to an end.

It was over. I didn’t come the day after for the Awarding Ceremonies and I had no plans of coming anyway for I already had a bleak prognosis of a certain defeat. For me, the competition was over even before I ‘held hands with the soon to be proclaimed winner’.

But life can be pretty surprising. At the time when the Awarding Ceremonies were being held at SM City Pampanga, a text message was sent to me with the words “Man, ang galing mo!”

What?! Was that sarcastic? Did I make it to the 2^nd Place yet again? My heartbeat raced as my phone went crazy and started beeping, receiving messages from my coach, friends, and colleagues. Everyone’s congratulating me! I can’t believe it at first, until it was confirmed, that apparently, I won! Yahoo!

That was my first and last 1^st Place win in an inter-school competition and the medal awarded to me was the biggest I ever had. That triumph put an end to my era of drama of not being the best. The feeling of being able to outwit all the delegates from schools all over Pampanga was just priceless. Finally, I was able to taste something that before I only had a glimpse of — I was a champion at last! I even remember one of my colleagues saying “Baka next year niyan isa ka na sa mga organizers nito”. I didn’t entertain the idea, not knowing that her words would amazingly flesh out months after.

The champion feeling didn’t last long because a month after Sining, I graduated as my batch’s Salutatorian. What can I say? Is it really my fault or is it just fate that always places me second? I couldn’t help but think and be bitter about it. Until, I went to college.

UP made me realize a lot of things, one of which is there’s more to life than being obsessed with figures and rankings. In UP, it doesn’t matter whether or not one placed 1^st in competitions back in high school. Awards were merely titles but not privileges. There, you cannot brag nor boast about it, because they won’t care more of what you have become. I have realized that I should’ve just enjoyed every competition back in high school and learned rather than worrying myself for possibilities of humiliation and defeat. I should have trusted my capabilities and be confident of my talents. I should have gone to the awarding ceremony and had a picture of the giant gold medal around my neck with my future orgmates. I should have. These should-haves would have been lessened if only I put more faith in myself more than the desire of winning.

Finally, I learned that in this journey I should have always taken steps despite the fear of falling and having bruised knees because in the end, losing and mistakes won’t count. What will matter is the person we turned out to be — not naïve, but a person who is wise and beautifully molded by experiences.

It was then that I have come to appreciate being a 2^nd Placer. And it is not a discredit to be one, considering that there was only one better than you but you were better than several others was indeed, already something to be proud of. And in my situation, I must be more proud because not everyone reaches as high as second place with such consistency. Haha! Besides, being second gives room for improvement, reminding us that we can’t always be the best but we can always be better. Enjoy the wonderful Sining experience! You’ll never know that you might be one of us months or years after!

______________
Mike represented San Lorenzo Ruiz Center of Studies and Schools in Sining 2006. Back in high school, he was the Vice-President in class (1st to 4th year), Peer Counselor’s Club, and the Associate Editor of the school paper — all positions that are SECOND-in-command. Up to this day, he still complains that in his Certificate of Recognition, his second name and surname were erroneously spelled. He became an Aguman member 7 months after.

Sooo big, it can't fit this column's width

Originally published in the printed "ASLAG: The Pautakan 2007 Edition"

The following Pautakan testimonies were compiled from Aguman members and alumni that were former Pautakan contestants and Pautakan Project Heads. These are featured on the centerfold of the "ASLAG: The Pautakan 2007 Edition".

Pautakan is not entirely an intellectual competition; it’s a venue for social interaction. It’s not just a quiz show for unrelated talents; it’s a gathering.. An ENCOUNTER.
~Mike Penalba, DBA Pautakan Team 2000 and 2001

Being a Pautakan contestant was a great experience for me. At first, I thought that it would be just an ordinary quiz show, but definitely not because what I witnessed was a quiz show full of action and suspense! Seriously, ilang beses kong nasabing “Mamamatay nako, di ko na kaya!” sa sobrang kaba! That was almost every encounter. My Pautakan days were some of the best moments I will never forget in my entire life.
~Cindy Paguio, SSA Pautakan Team 2004

What does it take to be a Pautakan champion? Actually, there are several. First, you should have the passion and dedication on what you really want to achieve. Sometimes, it’s the innate love that drives your willpower to win! Second, you should have the interest to go beyond the basic knowledge a high school student has. Amazing facts and techniques in analysis are just in your school library. Discipline yourself to be diligent in further study you really want to dig; remember that it is so cool to be smart! Third, you and your teammates should have unity. Way back then, I personally learned that a systematic agreement among my comrades is such a crucial part of the game. Fourth, there should be NO PRESSURE! If you feel that heaviness, you would lose. Thank God I didn’t prolong that feeling in the succeeding encounters of my Pautakan days. This leads to the fifth one: You should have faith. Trust me. PRAYERS CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS! I just proved it the moment my team won. Moreover, it changed how I look towards my goals in life. Now, buckle up, break a leg, and prove the power of your mind!
~John Carl Gozun, CS Pautakan Team 2005

I joined the Pautakan during my Elementary and High School years — I never won, though, haha! Akala ko pa noon, the UP Aguman is just another campus, like UP Diliman and UP Manila. UP Aguman and the Pautakan’s essence dawned on me only during my high school senior year — that it is the most exciting and most prestigious academic competition. Parang Olympics talaga. It would've been more fulfilling if my team won (We lost by 5 pts dahil sinuwerte lang yung isang school, haha, bitter!), but the experience was not any less meaningful. The Pautakan really does make you assess yourself, your competence, your goals, etc. The experience really makes you wanna aim for more, to not settle for mediocrity, to raise the ‘bar’ — which apparently, was the real goal of the Pautakan, something I learned when I myself became part of the organization that’s behind the quiz show for the past 34 years.
I ALWAYS look forward to it each year, not only to secretly root for my alma mater but also to interact with the kids. And I am proud of the contestants when they get to answer the questions I made (DBA man sila o hindi). But more than that, it’s so great to see dreams of these kids come true (which was once mine, too, right?), especially for the eventual Pautakan Champion teams each year.
/Here in the UP Aguman, we don't get to give away cash, appliances or other monetary prizes. We really wish we could. Pero wala eh, non-stock, not-for-profit organization talaga kami, mas maraming kailangan pagkagastusan na mas importante. Besides, in the future, I can always buy those things, and probably even donate some of them for my alma mater school. But no matter how financially successful I become someday, I will only have one chance to give them that precious Pautakan trophy, and to myself, that precious Pautakan medal. And it’s something money can't buy.
~Rex Dizon, DBA Pautakan Team 1996 and 2000

Being part of Holy Family Academy’s academic team is a privilege. Winning in the Pautakan is a prestige. The Pautakan, one of the most prestigious elementary and high school academic competitions in Pampanga, is the most exciting and thrilling contest that our team joined. Its unorthodox rules made the event so memorable for us, especially when we clinched to proceed to the final round against CS, after defeating DBA by a single crucial point on the last question. Until now I can still recall how our team’s story became like a movie, with us of course, being the protagonists. We started out in the loser’s pool and ranked 4 of 5 before entering the encounters. Then we almost bagged the championship by winning 3 out of our 4 encounters.
Nevertheless, entering the final round was something we were not really expecting especially after how we’ve been left behind by our other competitors. When we won against DBA in the last encounter, it was like we won the Finals. We almost forgot that we still need to play against CS to win the championship. We were greatly overwhelmed. I guess the rules in Pautakan are responsible for creating dramatic stories in every team and in every batch of competing schools.
The Pautakan shares with its participants not only the trophies and the awards, but also the chance to be a part of a prestigious competition and the chance to meet new friends from other schools. It does not only foster a competitive ambiance but rather an atmosphere of friendship that makes the competition even more exciting.
~Dondon Dy, HFA Pautakan Team 2001 and 2005

As participant, I never really exerted that much effort on studying for these kind of contests. (Syempre, excuses muna) Kung alam ko lang how BIG of a deal the Pautakan was then, malamang di na lang ako nagbasa ng Pugad Baboy! Haha!
Pero truth is: bitter ako. Dami regrets, kasi the PAUTAKAN is PAUTAKAN. Peka-prestigious ya atang acad contest ini keti Pampanga! Sana mig-exert ku pang effort para mekapag-prepare.
Ampo enjoy ya eh? Sweet torture! Questions were damn hard but at the same time, a-meet kula ding eventual friends ku ngening college. From high school rivals to college groupmates! Oha! Sa batch namin, ultimo loveteams, nabuo, o diba? Napaka-holistic ng Pautakan.
As a Pautakan project head, I loved the job. But never did I imagined na sobrang matrabaho pala ang preparations for Pautakan! Instant liposuction kapag head ka sa kawindangan at ngarag! Two months before the event, nagpeprepare na just to make sure that it will be successful. Ing pamag-STS, market, solicit, at ultimung pamang-gawa ng questions, asna pala kaobra! Nung balu kung makanini la magprepare deng AguMems sana anyang contestant ku, mig-prepare ku rin to give them a good show (haha! Yabang!).
With the help of the mems, me-accomplish ngan ing dapat gawan. Pero syempre, ene man meging smooth sailing keng pamag-prepare — dakal problema, pero at least mesolusyunan. I’ve learned to appreciate how Pautakan supplements the mental and social development of its contestants. It’s not just a mere quiz show. It’s a rendezvous for students from various schools to share insights/opinions and a medium where friendships are built.
For the mems, the Pautakan is a training ground. Dakal ka abalu at adevelop na agamit mu in the future — being responsible, punctual, cool-headed ampo pagiging alisto or bibo. Patse akit mu ing abie ning Pautakan, emu isipan na obra or burden yamu ini.
~Fergie Panganiban, HAU Pautakan Team 2004, Pautakan 2006 Project Head

“Pautakan Team” — that was what the academic team at my high school was called. Even if we joined other academic contests not named “Pautakan”, it was still named as such. Eight years after my last stint as a contestant, I would have to say I miss the pressure. I miss the pressure of being the only school to answer some of the Physics questions. I miss being bitter about a question regarding Mariah Carrey's Song. Simply put, Pautakan changes you after the wins and losses. And I also witnessed how non-contestants are affected everytime a question is answered. If Pautakan were a song it would be Atin Cu pung Singsing for me — you can't live a life as a Kapampangan, without hearing about it... That is THE PAUTAKAN!
~Argel Casupanan, ACHS-SSC Pautakan Team 1998 and 1999, Pautakan 2003 Project Head

Every year, the Pautakan raises the bar on how a good quality quiz show should be. It gathers the most brilliant students here in Pampanga. It maintains its standard for its difficult but witty questions. Being a Pautakan participant in my high school years, joining the contest was such an honor, to carry your school’s colors, in such a prestigious contest like this. The Pautakan is, and will always be, the biggest quiz show in Pampanga.
~Renz Caliguia, SVA Pautakan Team 2003

Joining the Pautakan is plainly and simply a prestige. It’s one of the most difficult wit-battles anyone could ever encounter since it does not just gauge plain knowledge but your tenacity to stay put in fighting as well.
~Celine Dagdag, UA Pautakan Team 2002

As a high school Pautakan contestant, I used to get intimidated by the eloquence of quiz master Kuya Hermie in oral encounters, especially when SSC answers, and he says, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry HFA, but SSC’s answer is correct!” Haha! Being one of the organizers, I had numerous opportunities to actually sit beside him and do my own share of intimidation. Haha, kidding!
I also had a notion before that being a quiz master was that easy, but no, it’s not. Much like being a contestant, being a quiz master entails presence of mind. You have to pay attention to every little detail all at once – contestants looking at the audience, audience coaching the contestants, contestants answering before being acknowledged, contestants answering after the five-second time was given, and a lot more. I would have to say that the way coaches and contestants perceive the competition was largely dependent on how the quizmasters (and judges, for that matter) take on their roles. One little mistake could lead to complaints that could take too long to resolve. If complaints from any school made me feel tense before when I was a contestant, they make me way tenser now that I am one of the organizers. It’s more worrisome when the integrity of the competition that’s been here long enough than the senior resident member has is at stake.
~Pie Pamintuan, HFA Pautakan Team 1999 and 2002, Pautakan 2005 Project Head

Being in the PAUTAKAN is more than just a privilege. It’s more than just the usual boring quiz show that any entity can establish. Losing hurts. Losing as many times as you could imagine hurts even more. If it does hurt, then it’s really worth the pain.
~Buduy Mallari , DBA Pautakan Team 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006

I Called Kuya Wex a Pig

By App Nic

"The team which will be able to answer the following question correctly shall win this encounter, so guys, no pressure!" said the chubby guy who was introduced to us as the quizmaster, then promptly laughed at his own joke.

"Buta (Baboy ka)." I muttered under my breath, glaring at him. It was the do or die question, and of course we were dead scared. Didn't he know that at that point SSA was ready to use nuclear kunais (if we ever had any) and stab anyone dead for a win? HFA probably felt the same. Of all the introductions in the world, why did he have to use reverse psychology? Why did he have to say 'No pressure'?

A few months later, on June 2007, I was horrified to learn that the man I called a 'pig' was none other than Joeven Rex Dizon, a UP Engineering student, Don Bosco Academy Valedictorian and most of all, UP Aguman's youngest president ever.

**********
I am a Pautakan Baby. For two years, I participated in what my school (St. Scholastica's Academy CSF) believed to be the most prestigious academic competition in Pampanga, UP Aguman's Pautakan.

When I was first told that I was going to be among the Pautakan contestants, I immediately saw it as a heaven-sent competition. It knew it was where I would meet the academic wizards of the other schools and see who the best was. That contest was going to be my chance to bring honor to SSA. Most of all, it was the perfect excuse to skip all of school's misery.

See, my school regards that contest very highly. A weeks before Pautakan 2006, the academic team's schedule were already reduced to half day skeds, so we could have time to study for the competition. Of course, we were marked excused for the classes we missed. If the teacher was considerate, she would give us perfect scores in tests we missed, because 'they're representing the school'. We were comfortably accommodated in the fully air-conditioned library with special privileges and almost unlimited access to books, computers and the internet and other reference materials.

It didn't end there. Of course we studied, but half of the time… we didn't. I and my five other team mates frequently ended up swapping stories when we were supposed to swap information; read 'informative' entertainment materials when we were supposed to be reading textbooks and encyclopedias; visited our favorite websites when we were supposed to take online quizzes and slept when we were supposed to study.

Pautakan to me then was like the magic ticket to prestige, honor and fun.

**********
Yakushi Kabuto once said, "There is nothing today that is going to stay the same tomorrow."

He's right. The last three weeks of my application process, I've seen and read enough to convince me that my idea of Pautakan when I was in high school and now that I am in college cannot possibly stay the same.

Convincing factor #1: Kuya Gboi miserably begging each member to come up with 15 decent questions for Pautakan. Is that what every Educ Com head has to go through to come up with questions which contestants most of the time don't get right?

Convincing factor #2: Kuya Wex's article about Questions Night (ASLAG). You mean Mems actually have cram themselves in someone's house so they can make sure contestants have something to answer to?

Convincing factor #3: Ate Ferge saying that if thirty thousand were the budget allotted for Pautakan, twenty grand goes to trophies and medals. Aguman actually spends that much for Pautakan? (To think that there was a time in my life when I was ashamed of my 2 ^{nd runner-up medal…)}

Convincing factor #4: Educ Com's first workshop activity: How to be a paper boy/girl. They have a training for something we contestants often deem trivial?

The way I see it now, Pautakan is a magic ticket to sacrifice, effort and fun.

I realize where I went wrong about Pautakan during my high school days. I only appreciated what I was getting, I never even thought about what Aguman was giving. When contestants arrive there, all they have to do is wait for the contest to start. They just write answers on a piece of paper or press a buzzer and speak, and voila! A medal. They don't have to make questions, allocate funds, coordinate with people and fix technical stuff. After all this, mems don't get even the smallest medal. The only fun part gets to be being with your friends.

I made myself oblivious to how much difficulty mems went through so I could have a reason to skip classes and enjoy academic team life with my friends. Now that I'm seeing 'Pautakan The Making', I grow an appreciation for all I used to ignore, and a pride for all I used to be ashamed of. To me now, Pautakan is not just an event, a contest or an excuse – it is the fruit of dedicated labor and fervent passion, with friendship as the bonding consolation.

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My application did not only change my perspective of Pautakan – it also changed the way I saw Kuya Wex. Indeed, there was more to what the senses perceived about the chunky quizmaster who always said "No pressure!" in the most inappropriate times. My first conversation with him on a quite Wednesday afternoon at the tambayan during the early days of my application lead to nothing but admiration and respect for one of the most sensible and dedicated people I have ever met. Kuya Wex, my apologies for calling you a pig then. 'Buta' has been replaced with Sensei. I hope to learn a lot from you.

**********
My most embarrassing Pautakan experience:

"Manang, twenty na Haw-Haw po." I told the vendor while the losers pool contestants continued to lash at each other.

"Hi. Ikaw si Neicy, di ba?"

I looked up to see a tall guy with braces and glasses.

"Musta na?" he said, smiling weakly. His voice was somewhat sleepy.

I just stared at him, not knowing what to say. Who was he?

"Natatandaan mo ba ako? Ako yung kaibigan ni Lance. Nagkita na tayo noon." he said, searching for a trace of recognition in my blank face.

"Ha?...". I really couldn't remember if I knew him. I just stood there, unsure what to do. He stood in front of me, also looking unsure what to do.

Talk, I willed myself. You're embarrassing him, whoever he is. Talk!

"Um, kailangan ko nang balikan yung team mates ko." I finally said, rushing to SSA's place. I did not even want to see what his reaction was.

Moments later, I remembered my Haw-Haws. And his name. Roman.

'Sensya na no'n, Mike.

CEER 2007 to be held on July 21 & 28

The final dates and venues for College Entrance Exam Review 2007 (CEER) have been finalized. Members, please be guided accordingly.

June 21 - Holy Angel University
June 28 - St Scholastica's Academy
Time: 8am-5pm

Tentative list of lecturers:
Michelle Fabros (Mathematics)

In line with the CEER, here's an artik!
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Entrance exams: major alalahanin kapag fourth year ka na. Syempre, hindi ka makakapasok sa isang matinong university kung hindi ka magte-take nito. By this time, only a few of your fellow seniors ang nakapili na ng course at college or university. Yung ilang naman, iniisip pa kung dito pa rin sa Pampanga mag-aaral or luluwas ng Maynila or aakyat ng Baguio. At mas marami sa inyo ay ni hindi pa sigurado sa kanilang napiling course. Although majority sa inyo naman ay napilit ng mga magulang na mag-Nursing, diba?

Anyway, hindi naman dapat katakutan ang mga entrance exams. If you think about it, wala naman silang itatanong na hindi mo pa napag-aralan nung high school diba? Problem is, naalala mo pa kaya lahat-lahat ng itinuro sa iyo mula 1^st year hanggang 4^th year? Haha! Isa pang problema ay kapag pataasan ng scores ang labanan. Kapag kasi marami ang gustong pumasok sa isang university, hindi enough na passing ang score mo. Dapat ay one of the best ka talaga – gaya ng sa UPCAT. Each year, more than 60,000 students from both public and private schools take the UPCAT, umaasang makapag-aral sa premiere state university ng Pilipinas. At dahil around 10,000 lang available slots sa lahat ng UP Campuses nationwide, kailangan na paghandaan mo nang maigi ang UPCAT. For example, alam niyo ba na sa mahigit na 14,000 applicants for BS Nursing sa UP Manila, 70 lang tatanggapin?

Most common preparation for an entrance exam are review classes like UP Aguman’s College Entrance Exam Review (CEER). I'm sure yung iba sa mga classmates mo ay nag-review lessons na nung summer pa. Hindi mo nga naman kasi ma-re-review sa isa or dalawang araw at gabi ang more than 3 years worth of lessons. Reviews are always a great help but they’re not guarantees.

Don’t expect that doing some studying the night before your exam will do you any good. The probability na lilitaw ang mga mismong ire-review mo ay napakaliit. Mas maganda na matulog ka na lang nang maaga or huwag kang mag-puyat para maganda ang feeling mo when you take your exam. Research studies have proven that when you feel okay during an exam, your mind will perform better and you’ll actually improve your chances of remembering and analyzing things properly.

Ang pinaka-effective na paraan to get flying colors sa iyong entrance exam ay dapat na sinimulan mo na 3 years ago pa: ang mag-aral nang mabuti mula 1^st year pa. Aside from the fact that some entrance exams like the UPCAT take into consideration your high school grades together with your test scores, ang pag-aaral nang mabuti ay ang iyong ultimate review. A dependable stock-knowledge is a big contributing factor to ace your entrance exams. There’s a saying that only the real geniuses get into UP, not the bookish ones who know nothing more than what is in your textbooks. The inside joke is that while only the geniuses enter UP, ang mga masisipag naman ang nakaka-survive at guma-graduate on time.

If you’re not the honor student type, don’t fret na wala ka nang pag-asang pumasa sa UPCAT or sa mga ibang admission tests. Meron akong personal testimony dito. Out of the 15 who passed the UPCAT in our 180-strong batch, only 5 are medalists during our graduation. At eto pa, 3 sa kanila ay iyung tipo na hindi mo iisipin na may tinatagong talino, iyung paloko-loko lang. at huwag ka, ECE pa ang course nung isa while not even the 1^st Honorable Mention awardee made it, kahit non-quota pa ang course niya.

Just so you know, UP Colleges don’t sort their applicants entirely based on the applicants’ overall UPG (University Predicted Grade – which is a weighted score of your high school grades and UPCAT results). Your UPG is divided into different subgrades – the different subjects included in the coverage of the UPCAT. Certain colleges sort their applicants according to subgrades more crucial to their academic fields. For example, Engineering students are preferred to be good in Math, so all engineering courses sort their applicants according to their Math UPG. Simply put, kung importante ang Math (or other subject areas) sa course mo, yun ang may mas mabigat na bearing sa final score mo. Syempre, sa mga medicine-related courses, mas importante ang medical sciences grades and scores like Biology and/or Chemistry UPGs. Sa mga social sciences and arts-related courses, mas importante naman ang English UPGs. And so on and so forth.

Lastly, hindi mawawala ang factor ng luck. Kaya samahan mo na rin ng taimtim na dasal kay Lord ang iyong exam preparations. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. Kung hindi ka man pumasa ng UPCAT, don’t worry. May kinabukasan pang naghihintay sa iyo. Mag-aral ka na lang muna nang mabuti sa ibang university at transfer ka na lang sa UP after 1 year. Hehe!

Adapted from
kingofchocolates.blogspot.com