Exam Week

The preliminary examinations are finally over*.

If the results are favorable, then I can finally say with certainty that I can finish law school or that I haven't forgotten how to study.

*Except for one subject because the teacher moved it to next week at the last minute. I really don't know if I should be angry (because I'm going to suffer from amnesia and forget all that I have studied so far) or relieved (because I have another week to be more ready).

Congratulations Pa

I know it's late. But I just want to announce to the world that my father recently passed the national board exams for those aspiring to be real estate appraisers. He's part of the second batch of examinees and he passed it during his first take.

I'm proud of you Pa. Congrats.

Be Nice

Be nice.

Because the world desperately needs you to be.

That's my new motto by the way because I've realized that I'm sick and tired of people throwing tantrums, getting angry, and getting pissed. I'm also sick and tired of myself acting the same way.

Truth be told, the motto is quite hard to follow. Like everything else requiring self-restraint, being nice demands discipline and a state of mind similar to a Zen master's (I may be exaggerating but you get my point).

Personally, I don't believe in the beneficial effects of catharsis, when one lets go of inhibitions and does an emotional outburst in order to relieve herself or himself of "psychological tension". Yes, the one doing catharsis may feel better but, most often, the object of catharsis is another person and, if this be the case, the social cost of such an exercise multiplies exponentially. You may feel good afterwards but that's because you simply transferred your "negative energy" (if you're a psychic neo-spiritualist) to that person. This thought can be encapsulated in a quote I found in the internet: "One problem shared is another person's day ruined".

That's why I have to be nice. Don't hold grudges, conceal your anger, try to empathize instead. Smile, laugh, joke around, greet, and, in the immortalized words of Thumper in the movie Bambie: "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all".

Well said, Thumper. Well said.

Infernal Noise

As you know, I've moved out of the house to a little room along Bonifacio street. I'm indirectly across Giant's, which is a local pub offering alcohol to professionals, professional tambay, college and, occasionally, high school students (which is against City Ordinance 1627. More on that in a later post. I cannot find the text of the ordinance in the Internet).

Okay. Since there's a pub across my room, there's bound to be music. And I'm okay with that. I like the music of Parokya Ni Edgar and Eraserheads and the songs of that pseudo-reggae artist which they loop every night.

What I cannot stand however is the mind-numbing music of Siakol, which, in my humble opinion, is devoid of any recognizable artistic quality. Okay. I am a bit too harsh. The music is good but the lead singer's voice makes me want to pound my head against the wall every night. 

At least Chito, the lead vocalist of Parokya Ni Edgar, doesn't pretend his voice is angelic. The vocalist of Siakol (I dare not bother knowing his name because it might cost me another bunch of my neurons) tries to croon and swoon but ends up making me vomit, figuratively and literally. 

In sum, Siakol's disgusting. The lead singer's talent, that is.

The Art Of Studying

Sometimes, I hate myself. I say that I'm supposed to study in advance, preferably several weeks before exams but that resolution never sticks. In reality, what happens is a furious session of cramming (I prefer the fancy word "study blitz") a day before D-Day.

It's interesting to note that my study style hasn't changed since my days in college.

Back then, I would try to study in advance but the facts would never stick. Then, when the pressure is on, when exams, tests, and quizzes were already peeking behind the door, my brain would operate as if it were on steroids.

Information makes sense, memorization takes mere seconds, understanding and clarity brighten the day. It's a surreal experience I liken to being "in the zone", that moment when even the universe is working on your favor.

IQ is quite ephemeral, I've been led to believe. One may have a high IQ but if he wishes to maintain it, one has to exercise his brain. As for me, I was "diagnosed" with above-average IQ in high school but I never did feel intelligent except when I was studying on the eve of exams.

Right now, law school has found me trying to recapture my earlier superpowers. As I've mentioned in my earlier post (attach link to post), I've become dumber. Now, facts don't rush so fast, understanding doesn't come easily. It's a challenge, really, and I do hope that as I study more and more, things will eventually be easier.

But study blitz is here to stay. I guess I'll have to accept that cramming is and will always be my way of life.

UM

Sir Rojie shared a joke that he, in turn, got from a client. Knowing full well that I was studying in the University of Mindanao (UM), he narrated one client's reply when asked from what school he graduated. Since his wife graduated from Ateneo, the client answered that he graduated from "Kuya niyo", referring to his alma mater, UM.

(cue laughter. Harhar. Bisdak lang makasabot)

I had already written here about my experience during enrollment. Now, I want to share about another experience about this school.

Early July, I had the misfortune of knowing that my schedule for one class had been changed abruptly from Saturday 5:30 PM to TTH 5:30 PM. I remember feeling irked then because no one from the dean's office even bothered to consult the actual students affected, including me, about the change in schedule. When we were handed our new certificates of matriculation, many of us, working students, were caught off-guard. We had no choice but to drop the subject.

Still, I would have felt better if the school had the decency and fairness to inform us beforehand. According to tsismis, a clique of students had advised the dean's office to change the schedule since the original Saturday schedule was in conflict with one other subject.Obviously, they did succeed in lobbying for the change. So that probably makes me part of the inconvenienced minority, whose opinions weren't heard.

Okay. Time to stop whining. Back to work.

Funny Vandalism

Just want to share some random graffiti in my room. Some are interesting and I would have wished that the former boarders were more liberated and less frugal in expressing their thoughts on the walls. As for me, if ever the dark side should prevail, a simple (and cliche) "Paolo was here" would suffice, preferably in a place where the landlord would never attempt to look. But then again, I might change my mind. Who knows right?

"Sakit!!!"

"Jan 15 - June 15 - 2012"

"Warning! Libakera ang room # 6. Isa ra na ka plywood ang wall ->"

"I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!"
"YOU'RE MY PEACE OF MIND IN THIS CRAZY WORLD" (what song is this?)

"WE'RE ON THE ROAD, WE MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE (sic) AN (sic) OFTEN TIMES WHEN I'M ABOU TO CALL IT HOME WE'D HAVE TO MOVE ALONG. LIFE IS A CONSTANT CHANGE AND NOTHING STAYS THE SAME :)) "

"1 person P2,000 Rent per month"

"P2,200.00 2 persons - negotiable"

"Please clean the CR kay pirteng hugawa sa tiles og sa salog"

"Lata na ang kahoy"

"To the luck boarder my (sic) hard earn (sic) effort to make this room neat as possible (sic) David" (still, he couldn't resist vandalizing)

"Warning! May ilaga musulod gikan sa ilawum sa salog southwest corner of the bed there's a hole "

"Another warning! naay okok musulo gikan sa ubos sa purtahan"

Moving Out

I just moved out of our house.

Don't worry. I wasn't kicked out by my parents. It was entirely my own decision. As to why a guy like me should be willing to move out of my comfort zone and risk financial distress, I have my reasons:

1.) The road construction along R. Castillo and along Quezon boulevard is taking forever. I have been coming to office late for the past three weeks because I spend over an hour commuting to work. That's unacceptable simply because I'm not in Manila and I do wake up early.

2.) I'm already a law student ("Naglo-lawko na."). I need all the time I need to study and if I could do that by shaving wasted time during my commutes, then I do it.

3.) I'm turning 25 this August. I've made a personal promise to myself back then in Taguig that I'll be out of the house when I'm a quarter century old.

4.) My younger sisters are growing up and they're still sleeping in my parent's room. If I leave, Yanyan gets to move into my room (When Ate leaves later this year, Klengkleng gets to have her room. Personally, I prefer that Yanyan have her own room because she's becoming a teenager but the little senorita isn't interested because my room isn't air-conditioned).

5.) It's part of becoming an adult. I can't call myself such if I'm still semi-relying on my parents' generosity and goodwill.

So there you have it. I don't know if I shall be moving back in after a couple of months but I intend to stay out of the house for the long run.

Solar-Ready

California just passed a law that all new homes in subdivisions of ten or more must include a 250 square foot “solar zone” on the roof.

I got that from an article in Home Design Find. 

I'm interested in it because it is my first time to come across a piece of legislation intended to make solar energy a way of life. The law is intended to make way for homes which can be fitted with solar panels. These panels generate their own electricity and thus help reducing the demand for electricity generated from more conventional means (e.g. coal plants etc.). 

I envision a similar ordinance being passed in Davao City. But this will probably occur when solar panels have gone down in cost while oil prices have jacked up so high our government cannot ignore exploring other alternatives means of generating electricity.

Good luck to us.

Bataller

My surname doesn't translate, not even close, to a Spanish word. The best guess is "batalyon" or batallion, in English.

However, there's a theory in the family that the surname "Bataller" had its origins during the American occupation. Some soldiers working for the census had asked my ancestor what his name was. After having said so, the Americans found it too hard to write down so they concocted a new name instead. They glanced again at my ancestor and, noticing his short stature, wrote down "Be Taller". Over the years, the "e" in the name accidentally got inverted and the name itself was shortened to just one word.

Hence, the modern version: Bataller

It's apocryphal but you never know, right?