sa may tindahan.

A: di ko alam kung dapat ka ba mag-doctor.
ME: bakit?! matalino namana ako ah. (sites evidences.)
A: ang tamad tamad mo mag-aral eh.
ME: (gulps.) oo nga.

NEED.TO.WORK.HARDER.

fight!

FOR all the times that quitting seems to be the easiest way out.

Yes, it will be hard.
Yes, you'll definitely get tired.
But, trust me, it will be all worth it.

Sabi nga ni Sen Blas Ople:
"Umiikot ang mundo. Hindi pwedeng nakatayo lang tayo rito."

arggh.

I want my old vigor back!

now.

LET me start my new entry (after being on hiatus for a long time) with a passage from one entry I have read online,

We have been born for greatness. Not for the selfish satisfaction of fulfilled ambition, but rather for the addition of significance and contribution to the breathing multitude called homo sapiens.(sic)

It has been about a month since I started medical school and boy, am I STRESSED! Now that I am here, I really have to work very hard. It is no longer enough to just get by. To quote one of my classmates, "Mahirap na maging olats na doctor." But amidst all the sleepless nights, caffeine intoxication and stress, I don't have any regrets at all in choosing this field because I know soon enough, all of these is going to pay off and I would be great and I would be able to add a significant contribution to the breathing multitude of Homo sapiens.

Happy New Year!

THE Old Year has gone.
Let the dead past bury its own dead.
The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time.
All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!

-Edward Payson Powell



*photo not mine.

3 idiots.

I have recently watched the Bollywood movie "3 Idiots" and I must say that I enjoyed the three-hour movie. The film is a sad depiction of the attitude of most students towards education. This could be captured by the the passage written by Rizal in his novel El Filibusterismo, "pumapasok noon sa kolehiyo, hindi upang matuto mag-aral kundi upang matapos ang kurso."

On a different note, the reason I liked this movie, apart from I being able to relate to it, is the originality of the plot juxtaposed to the traditional boy meets girl romance storyline employed by Philippine movies -a sad commentary on the state of Philippine cinemas.

Going back to the plot of the movie, Rancho -a mechanical engineering student in a prestigious institute of higher learning in India, complains about how flawed the current education system which suppresses critical thinking and creativity is, and how most students turn a blind eye for the sake of obtaining a diploma -not necessarily gaining knowledge.

Pondering on this, I remembered how back in preschool up to high school, students were always asked of what they wanted to be when they grow up and the reply was usually to become a successful doctor or lawyer or whatever vocation. But how does one really measure success? Is it through one's monthly income? one's fame, prestige or influence?

Nevertheless, during my stay in college, I cannot remember an instance wherein one is encouraged to study or work harder in order to be successful. It was always to work hard in order to excel in a certain field. Excellence -and not success, was the goal. Hence, I agree with Rancho when he said that a student's attitude should be towards striving excellence not success. For in excellence, success will automatically follow. One must therefore study with utmost passion for gaining knowledge and achieving excellence and not for the sole purpose of getting a diploma and landing a good job. I guess that is the lesson that most students miss or forget upon entering college. It is not so bad relearning it again.

AHL IZ WELL. AHL IS WELL.

sigh.

There is this feeling again of intense fear of failure and living a life of mediocrity that cripples me and keeps me awake at night.