Block Reunion/ The Pit Restobar

On my birthday this year, I promised that I will not do anything that could possibly harm myself. I didn’t mean it in the grandest sense but merely wanted to keep away from even the most minimal forms of self-mutilation. So I neither did host a drinking spree nor went out partying on my 20^th birthday. Rather, my group mates in college and I went out and had dinner in one eat-all-you-can restaurant. Well, you might say that gluttony can be a form of self-mutilation but then again it’s my birthday so I guess that's an excuse.

Two weeks later, Reg organized “class reunion” for our freshmen block. Let’s just say that my promise joined the ranks of the forgotten and the postponed when I came face to face with this.

We went to The Pit, a restobar along the perimeter of UST. We had lunch, which later on, progressed to an unplanned inuman. We started drinking around 1pm (It was really too early. But Lady, another classmate, insisted that they even go there by 10am. Okaayyy).

 (L-R) Jayvee, Dazzle, Mikee, and me

(L-R) Mikee, Dazzle, Reg, and AC

The cheese sticks, which were true to their promise of being cheese sticks, was one of the saving grace of The Pit. Their French fries tasted like authentic, home-fried potatoes. 

The restobar itself had two floors, the first floor is primarily for customers who go for lunch or dinner while the second floor is for the drinkers and smokers. A videoke (one of my most hated things on earth) exists in the second floor. While I may not be totally happy with that, the drunks-turned-singers during our visit seemed to be. 

One of their servers, Ate Janet, was very nice and accommodating to our requests such as unlimited refill of the ice bucket. She’s like one of those servers who will not only take your order but even talk to you. As in talk to you in a way that you won’t feel irritated that she’s trying to pry over your life or something. She even offered to pray for us for the board exams. Now, where can you find a bar with someone like that?

At around 8:30pm, we packed up and left along with a classical drunk Reg, six buckets of beer, burnt up cigarette butts, and a broken promise.

Thesis Defense

Me and thesis-mates during our pilot study

It takes thirty minutes to present a thesis you’ve worked on for the last year. In those minutes, a panel of experts scrutinize every move you do, every word you utter, and every step you’ve taken. And you have no one to lean on aside from yourself and your research team who share the same hopes getting this over. You are sleep deprived for days and the manifestations from the caffeine overdose you inflicted upon yourself last night had become more evident. You could feel the blood vessels in your temporal pulsating and those episodes of blank stares increase in recurrence.

By the way, our study is a True experiment that utilized the use of a video to educate young males about to undergo circumcision. We had two groups: one who received the conventional health teachings while the other group was asked to watch the video. Then we evaluated its effects on the knowledge and the pain perception using a knowledge assessment tool and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain. Based on our results, there had been significant increase in the knowledge scores and a decrease in the pain perception. Therefore, our intervention can be concluded as effective.

Although our group had a bumpy start, we realize it is never too late to fix things and pave the way for a smoother, better road. The benefits of delayed gratification just gets even more satisfying as it gets delayed. We have good results, plus we were able to carry on with having a true experiment and it is just up to us on how we will convey the information to the panelists.

Minutes before the defense, I suddenly had this heavy feeling of the stress and exhaustion. Then I remembered a line from the Desiderata which says:

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Indeed, those lines were very comforting at that time. We started the presentation at around two o’clock. At around two thirty, the defense started and I was just simply amazed on how eloquent and spontaneous my groupmates were. At some point, I feel that we are already professionals defending a full blown research, citing sources in our responses, justifying our choices in the research design. Indeed, no one knows your research better than yourselves.

After our defense, the panelists asked us to wait outside while they deliberated among themselves. Personally, I was expecting a grade maximum of 88 based from what we presented. But it turns out that the panelists didn’t seem to agree with me and gave us a score of Meritus (91%) for the manuscript and Bene Meritus  (93%) for the oral defense. 

Good bye sleepless nights! :) 

Flood Can’t See Me

Arrgghh! I hate it when you exhort all your efforts to go to school during a heavy downpour only to find out that classes were suspended just as you entered the gates. 

Imagine how much I had to endure just to go to school. First, I struggle to delay my gratification of sleep, constantly reminding myself that my Rizal class starts at 7am. As I came into full consciousness, I see the clock’s hands point to 6:30, which gives me only half an hour to brush up. I resort to sacrifice and skip my breakfast, put on my uniform and hurriedly walk across the street to ride the jeep. Breaking news: THERE WERE NO JEEPNEYS! Arrgggh! 

Still aiming to arrive at school before 7am, I succumbed to the extortionist ways of the golden tongued pedicab driver who kept prodding me to drive me to UST for 60 pesos – that’s double the price if I rode the tricycle and about nine times the fair if I rode the jeep. Are there existing laws that cover up against these types of abuses? Can pedicab drivers be reported to the LTFRB? Can this be considered an abuse to my right to transportation? Enlighten me on this.

As the driver dropped me in Navarra St. (where the flood is still less than knee length), I had to put up with the flood and walk along the murky waters of Dapitan street. I winged it anyway, like a natural student of UST, formed to the core and made steadfast for these situations. At the sidewalk, I could see hesitant faces of freshmen, unsure of whether to dive or just keep calm and stay stranded. By the looks of it, they’ll choose the latter. I then theorize that the point of being stranded due to floods is not a hapless, uncontrollable situation but rather a choice – you can always do something, brave through the waves to avoid getting fixated from where you stand. This is only applicable is if the will is strong and if the disgust threshold is just as high.  

 After overcoming the hardships of finding something to ferry me to school and overcoming the disgust of walking in the flood, I reached the gates of UST. The guard was just announcing that classes were suspended. Great, now I have to figure out how to go home. Arrrgghhh!

Students in Euphoria

While I was walking around the corridors of the building, I saw a rare incidence of diplomatic student rampage: students rejoicing because classes got suspended.


Along the halls, everyone who knew of the good news cheered on the announcement by the Office of the Secretary General. Later on, as the message got passed through classroom to classroom announcements and via SMS, you'd see that uncontainable happiness from the eye bag circumscribed eyes of the students. "Yay! No case presentation for today!" or "No quizzes!" were all I heard from the lower year levels as they started to go out of the classrooms hugging each other like they were fresh from liberation.


I can’t get it why they were so euphoric; I was indifferent at the matter. Probably student nurses must be so stressed so these class interruptions served as their escape rope from all quizzes, duty hours, case presentations, and recitations. What the lower years don’t recognize is that these academic requirements are there to haunt them until finished and that suspension of classes is just prolonging the agony of even thinking about them. Suspension of classes is clearly not a Win-win situation as they would just be bombarded with the requirements and their deadlines once classes resume – additional stress for you then. You might say that, suspension of classes may allow the students to have more time to study, I digress. You’ll more likely sleep or watch DVD, or something.


Anyway, I’m heading home before Espana Blvd. Waterpark reopens.

Frustrated Artist Me

Photo from CFAD Student Council Tumblr

I actually wanted to study fine arts. You know, paintings, graphics, design, and other creative whatnots. As I am currently overloaded with the too technical nursing subjects this semester, I imagine if I did pursue with my plan of shifting to the College of Fine Arts and Design during my second year. Maybe instead of forcing a semesters worth of lessons of Obstetrics unto my brain, I would have been experimenting with a my colorful palette, mixing them colors, conceptualizing an artwork, working on my project until the wee hours in the morning. Maybe I would have grown my hair, wear the CFAD uniform in whatever style without anyone caring. (See photo on the left)

But alas, here I am struggling in my fourth year so shifting now would put my time, effort and my parent’s money into waste. Out of my frustration to become an artist, I decided to join my first design contest sponsored by the local student council. We were asked to submit entries of lanyard designs primarily using the colors green and yellow. 

Here are my two entries:

Luckily, both of my designs were chosen by the Dean and the Regent as part the finalists. Then an online poll was done and for another lucky instance, my designs got the top two places and are now the official lanyard of the college for this school year! 

Days after, me and the student council auditor met with the suppliers who showed us the prototypes of my designs. I was happy that they were executed very nicely in print and just needed minimal alterations. The next day the first batch of lanyards were out.

I get asked a lot on what I feel that a lot of people are wearing my work. Lemme answer it here: It’s really one thing to see your design worn by others, those people you barely know and those people who barely know you. I can say that there is that pride that goes like “Hey! I designed what you’re wearing!”. I get that sense that even though they paid 110 bucks for it, the thing that they wear on their neck is still mine. Maybe it’s my inner possessiveness taking over me but you can’t blame me because it’s still my work.

PS: Your copies will be sent soon. I’ll text you the code when I deliver them to LBC. :)

Musings of a College Senior

I come from a university with our course accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a “Center of Excellence”, whose passing rates in the board exams are consistently above average, and whose alumni had established high performance standards in the local and international field of health care – thus the pressure on us, fourth year students, to exceptionally be at par or even raise the standards set forth by the past graduates in terms of passing rates and clinical performance.

Let us not forget the pressure to meet the expectations that one may intrinsically be imbibed with as he graduated from the University when he starts to go into employment. There goes the expectation that one must know the whats, hows, and whys of everything in the hospital. I figure that personally, I still have a lot that I do not know and understand by heart  as manifested by several educated guesses (No matter how rationally supported it may be, it is still a guess.) during exams, selective aphasia as the clinical instructor asks questions, and episodes of less than two previous semesters’ lessons un-recall. So as early as now, I really try to force onto my neurons to absorb every skill during our clinical exposure, jot down the different lessons in my notebook, and review previous concepts from all the Nursing subjects in preparation for independent future practice and board exams. 

In relation to the board exams, let me just say that flunking the board exam may probably be the most terrible thing that could happen after four years of stay in college. With only one or two people failing the licensure exam from our school every year, finding out who they are is far easier than locating the tad too obvious clue in Blue’s Clues. I dread that.

And don’t get me wrong by thinking that simply passing the board exam may be enough because finishing as one top ten scorers is always more highly preferred. For even during as early as our freshmen years, we have been told that aside from being the most compassionate, committed, and competent professionals, we shall also dominate the board exams post graduation – and through unending grace, we always do. There must be a psyche stimulating effect by just saying “I will top the board exams” which works like a mantra you repeatedly recite every day.

Himig Tomasino: Intrate

It’s been three years since our college choir joined the annual intercollegiate competition, Himig Tomasino. It  had been three years of endless pursuit, emotionally exasperating frustrations, and countless struggles. 

But now, the UST Nursing Chorale is ready to come back. May the light shine upon us all. Rawr.

QUIET!!!

Why can’t the world just shut up?

Contrary to my verboseness in my writing, you’d normally find me sitting there, sulking in the corner, quietly minding my own business. Because I, of all people, happen to enjoy silence as much as I would devour a double down sandwich within five minutes. And if you happen to disturb me in my so called mute sanctuary, I would (a) on the most favorable of circumstances, just let that little disturbance slip off and pretend like it didn’t happen (b) be civil enough to tell you to shush up or (c) ragefully snap and transform myself into a 6-month starved lion ready to take you down anytime, anywhere. And oh, I just noticed how the word “ragefully” was underlined with red in my word processor. I love making my own adverbs. Thanks for the correction, but I’d have to ignore you for now MS Word.

I am especially enraged during times when my classmates seemed to have mania of the vocal chords, their voices sprouting from every direction I don’t know where, while I, being their Class President, is trying my best to announce something. How I hate those moments! Faced with a highly trained 45-man noise battalion who mercilessly weren’t so forgiving, I know I wouldn’t win.

Well, genius as I am, sort of discovered a very innovative solution: a microphone. That time, no one in the noise battalion dared to stand up and compete with me and my much, much better arsenal. I owned them, hurling higher decibelled words which outdone the battalion’s weapons, thanks to the built in speakers in the classroom. It was my personal Hellenistic age! Although the glorious golden days were only short lived until the skills lab custodian went beserk, reprimanding me of causing too much noise. I had to suffer a long sermon then. And that was five minutes post-discovery of the wondrous microphone. Boohoo.

The preschool teachers must have something in them that lures their students into silence. I remember my grade school days in O.B.Montessori when we would play “The Silence Game” where we would rest our butts on the little pink and yellow chairs, place our hands in our laps, zip our mouths, and stare blankly to your seatmates’ sipon smeared faces without saying a word . I loathed that then but now, I deem it very useful.

High school days came and the “Silence Game” was replaced by  “The Noisy List”. And I, being a human chat box would always top the list written in the least unnoticeable corner in blackboard. I was really noisy when I was young. I also remember the dramas and tampuhans behind those lists, especially the one when a classmate of mine allegedly accused the Noisy List lister of the day of injustice which was then followed by a inter-girl group derby. I can’t belive were that gullible.

Sometimes I wish that some brainiac would discover a remote that could mute the entire surroundings. And if that brainiac do come up with something similar that and sell them to the public , he will definitely make a market composed of me and other noise Nazi’s. I can just imagine myself hoarding the shops,buying myself two pieces so that if the other one gets broken, I’d still have one as reserve until I buy another one. And probably on my second trip, I’d would have saved some money to buy those hyperdecibelled people their own silencers.

While the materialization of that ingenious idea looks too distant, I’d have to start in conceptualizing it, just to speed up things.

To All Nursing Students

Just found this picture circulating in Facebook.

Grabe naman ang picture na ito.  Kung maka-bilak ang mga student nurse eh parang wala nang bukas. Kaya hindi nawawala ang stigma sa mga nars na mababaw eh. Dapat nating ikundena ang mga ganitong uri ng pagyurak sa propesyon ng Narsing. 

Kung tayong mga narsing istudents mismo ang bababoy sa imahe ng ating propesyon, sino na lang ang rerespeto sa atin? 

Nursing Diagnoses and Interventions for UST Nursing Students

1. HyperSTRESSia related to...
-emotional stress sa classmate or ka-RLE (pwede rin sa professor/clinical instructor)
-failing grades in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Parasitology
-overflowing quizzes and homeworks
-additional BIGTIME requirements of minor subjects (Literature,Filipino,English Theology)

Interventions:
-Classmate therapy (Okay lang yan! Ako rin mababa eh...)
-Problem Solving (24/7 na pag-aaral,walang tulugan)

2. Narcolepsy related to...
- impaired sleeping pattern
-extremely boring class
-extremely therapeutic voice of the lecturer

Interventions:
-Social interaction (Kwentuhan sa seatmate)
-Provide stimuli (PSP,DOTA, etc.)
-Chest Physiotherapy-Percussion and Vibration (para magising ung classmate mo)
-develop a coping mechanism (kunwari nakikinig, pero tulog na pala)
-administer crackers (or kahit anu na makakain para picnic)
-administer analgesics (to bear the lenghty sched)
-administer overdose amounts of caffeine

3. Anxiety related to...
-CUTOFF!
-failing grades in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Parasitology

Interventions:
-Classmate therapy (Okay lang yan! Ako rin mababa eh...)
-Problem Solving (24/7 na pag-aaral,walang tulugan)

4. Hyperalgesia related to...
-increased sensitivity to pain related to hyperSTRESSia
-extension of lecturer
-sabay sabay na quizzes

Interventions:
-bear with it. May magagawa ka pa ba? hayy...
-undergo SE (Shifting Examination.hihi =P)

5. Allodynia related to...
-extension of lecturer

Interventions:
-inspect from head tu to (for signs and symptoms of hyperSTRESSia)
-pain rating scale
-Hoy! umayos ka... nag extend lang professor mo, nag-iinarte ka na dyan.hehe =)

UST Nursing Freshmen FAQ's

Me featuring Lia Tagulinao and Christian Alipio as Rawr on UST Nursing Freshman FAQ's


DISCLAIMER: All statements shown below are just the views of the aforementioned authors. It does not intend to replace the announcements of the UST College of Nursing.

1. ANONG GINAGAWA SA FIRST DAY?

RJ: Wala naman. Introduce yourself lang yan. tapos kukunin ung mga registration forms nyo para maconfirm na enrolled kayo at un narin ang parang ID nyo

LIA: WALA. WALANG GINAGAWA SA FIRST DAY. Walang kwenta actually, but I don't recommend missing it coz it'll be the day you get to introduce yourselves. I know everyone hates it--I definitely do--but it's a good bonding experience. Besides, do you wanna get OP when months later your classmates start talking about the first day and you have no idea what they're talking about? :>

RAWR: Well, don't bring anything kasi USELESS mga people. (maybe a pen and paper but if yun nga. friendly ka. text text lang eh may listahan ka na ng kailangan para sa susunod na araw!! haha.) Nung first day ko naintimidate lang ako sa mga kasama ko dahil feeling ko, nasa lungga na ako ng mga matatalino (which is true) Lalo pa yung mga prof. And btw, kung sino man mapunta sa six floor ng med building, hanggang fourth floor lang po ang med bldg at kahit sumakay ka ng elevator e hindi ka magically mapupunta sa sixth floor. Nasa extension part ito ng ospital (for more details, magtanong kay manong jani) Although hindi naman ako mr. congeniality at walang habas na pinagkalooban ng uber confidence magintroduce sa mga taong hindi ko kilala, I made friends! At may nangyari pang mishap nung first day na hindi naman first day (basta kami lang ni ryan, igie, rizza at meiji ang may alam haha..)

RJ: Osige, Isecret mo na lang saamin ang nangyari.hehe

2. ANO ANG MGA DAPAT DALIN SA FIRST DAY?

RJ: Ballpen, Binder for minor subjects and separate notebook for the majors kasi talagang mauubos yan lalo na sa TFN at Funda,Pati pala Registration form

LIA:Must bring ang REG FORM. Guards can be strict at the entrance and won't let you in without it. And you'll survive with just one pen and a notebook to jot down all those requirements. Next time na yung notebooks and stuff ;) Oh, and girls, WEAR A LANYARD. Wala lang, kasi wala pang nameplate/ID and pag bare yung uniform magmmukha kayong yaya. =))

Rawr: NOTHING. pede kang hindi magnotes kung malakas ang memory mo tulad ko (at may kaibigan ka nang pede itext kung ano dapat dalin bukas) Wag ding magdala ng books NERD. Saka ifeel nyo muna yung mga subjects kung sino ang madalas magpanotes, sinong nagpapabasa ng books at sinong ang nagbibigay ng handouts para hindi sayang ang mga punong pinuputol.
RJ: Kids, wag tularan. =)

3. ANO ANG MGA MAGANDANG PE?

RJ: Kahit anu okay naman, basta iwasan ang Social at Folk dance, sayang lang oras nyo dun,aral nalang kayo.

LIA: Iwasan din ang Adapted na PE, para ito sa mga may kapansanan at sadyang napakaboring nito wala kayong gagawin kundi magpaint at gumawa ng kung anu ano.

Rawr: Kung tulad ko kayong umaayaw sa ARAW, well mag folk, street or fitness dance kayo. Tamang- tama na yun  hanggang next sem. Para sa summer, well malas nyo at puro outdoor sport talaga ang maiooffer sa inyo (kaya nahulog ako sa bitag ng soccer) Almost lahat ng natirang PE e sa labas na (hindi ko alam kung pwera ba dun ang basketball at korfball dahil baka sa p.noval covered court na ilagay yun) AT hindi sayang ang oras sa mga "dance" pe's take note, mahirap lang magpractice pero all in all mas magkakaroon pa kayo ng friends sa ibang college. Nangyari pa sakin sa folkdance e AKO lang ang nursing (biruin mo ang tapang ko, hindi nagsama ng partner) O dba! ang saya-saya napilitang magsocialize kaya yun, may kaibigan ako sa pharma at science! O para di narin kayo mapressure ilista na natin lahat ng pe na inoffer for nursing. Malas nyo na lang kung maubusan kayo ng slots at mapunta kayo sa AYAW nyong pe. 

basketball
volleyball
swimming
korfball
sepak takraw
pingpong
fitness
social dance
folkdance
soccer
arnis

4. NSTP/ROTC

RJ: I suggest na mag ROTC na kayo kasi pag Nursing student ka, medic ka lang tapos papetiks petiks nalang nun. Problem is, may pasok ka ng Sunday. Tsaka malaking hassle ung CWTS/LTS, andameng online modules and tests na hindi ko alam kung kelan due, ayun di na na nasasagutan.

LIA: ROTC IS THE SHIZNIT. For real. It's the only NSTP for freshmen. I had it last year and now I'm NSTP-free! I recommend it coz toxic na second year and madali lang swear. Fun pa! Nursing students are automatically medics and most of the time we're just sitting in the shade, waiting for people to get a heatstroke while doing drills on the field. ;) Yun nga lang, calltime is 6:30 AM on SUNDAYS. But idk, the pros were too awesome for me to pass. The other NSTPs are CWTS and LTS. Those are for sophomores.

RJ: Trust lia. =)

Rawr: AGREE AGREE!! Dito ako nag-agree ng SOBRA-sobra. LOSER ANG nstp-cwts for second year. Para kayong pinaparusahan dahil super HASSLE. Matrabaho sya people. Kung ako sa inyo, mag-ROTC kayo dahil walang ginagawa yung mga Medics dun kundi tumingin sa langit at magkwentuhan. Kung sa tingin nyo masyadong hectic sa schedule nyo ng first year. Trust me, kung pumasa kayo sa entrance e hindi makakaapketo sa inyo ang pagsabayin pareho sila. BASTA. hassle ang second year nstp. PWAMIS!

5. TERROR PROF ISSUE

RJ: Wala naman terror na professor sa Nursing eh, or baka hindi ko pa namimeet. Basta, be nice to them, they'll be nice to you narin, halos lahat therapeutic. =) Pero wala akong sinabing hindi sila nambabagsak ah.hehe pero tutulungan ka naman talaga nila

LIA: Hmm, if terror prof = scary prof, wala naman. Pero may mga sobrang nakakainis, promise. Swertihan sa profs. May profs na mataas magbigay, meron ring mababa. You should take your grades with a grain of salt, kasi minsan, fine-feel lang ng profs yung grades. :|

Rawr: Hm, to think about it, Hindi ka naman matatakot sa prof e. Natatakot ka sa gagawin nila sa GRADES mo. Meron yung iba,  maalala lang yung mukha mo, pagiinitan ka na. Malas lang talaga yung mga prof na hindi maganda magdiscuss at lalo na yung HINDI NAGBIBIGAY ng handouts. Biruin mo, iflaflash yung ppt ng napakabilis tapos hindi ka papakopyahin tapos sasabihin next day quiz at papabayaan kang magbasa ng napakakapal na chapter habang hindi lang naman sya lang ang subject mo bukas dahil may LIMANG long quiz ka pang nakapila. Pinakascary din yung mga paiba-iba ang quiz at hindi mo madetermine kung gaano ka dapat mabusisi magaral.

6. KAILANGAN BA NAKAUNIFORM NA?

RJ: Sa first week, okay lang na hindi pa, ma-oOP ka nga lang kasi nakauniform na halos lahat sakanila, tsaka diyahe pa ung susuotin mo for that day di ba?

Rawr: ME, well first day, madami nang nakauniform (kasama na ako dun) Kung gusto mong magcivilian, kaya mo pang mga two weeks tops. Wag ka lang aabot ng one month at mapupuna ka na nung prof baka akalain sit in ka or mali ata yung napasukan mo at pasakayin ka ng taxi papunta lasalle.

RJ: or ateneo.hehe =)

7. PWEDE BANG MAGPATAHI NG NURSING UNIFORM SA LABAS?

RJ: At your own risk. Usually nagkakamali sila sa sleeves and Peter pan collar ng mga girls eh, sa guys naman ung button ung problema. Kaya kay Aling Ising na magpatahi! =)

LIA: I don't recommend it kasi may profs na matatalas mata haha. They really know when it's not Aling Ising's and they'll tell you off.

Rawr: First year, pede pa dahil hindi ka pa naman naka-white uniform pa nun (at hindi pa kailangan magkasing kulay ang pants at polo mo.) I suggest kung naghihirap talaga ang buhay nyo e magpatahi muna kayo ng "sample" kay aling ising tapos paggaya nyo na lang sa inyong trusted mananahi. I was never naman nasita na bakit iba ang uniform ko. Grabe naman itong dalawa sa taas. Pakialam ba nila kung hindi "branded" yung uniform ko basta mataas yung grades!! Word of advice: Pagkatapos mag-enroll, first priority nyo na ang uniform. Dahil hindi lang college of nursing ang nagpapatahi dun kay aling ising. ALMOST the whole university ang nagpupunta dun. Walang special treatment dun at kahit yung sosyalin pa e makikitang mong nakaupo at nakapila, naghihintay na makausap yung secretary dun. Basta madaming tao, so kung kaya nyo, do everything you can para di kayo makipagsiksikan na makuha nyo yung uniform nyo

WORD OF CAUTION: for boys lang po ito tip na ito. for girls, kailangan talaga "aling ising original" since UST-CON upholds its standard on FEMALE nurses with regards to uniforms.

8. SINO SI ALING ISING?

RJ: Sya ung original na may-ari ng Aling Ising's Uniform Center at PATAY na siya. So please lang, pag umiinit na ang ulo nyo sa kakahintay sa uniform nyo wag ninyong sasabihing, "Nasan na si Aling Ising?! Asan na siya?!" Cge ka baka multuhin ka pa nun.

Rawr: Natawa ako dun. Which is seriously true. Ayon sa aking sources, Isa na sa mga anak ni aling ising ang nagmamaintain ng business nila. Makikita mo ang itsura ni Aling ising sa painting sa kanyang store.

RJ: Ayan alam nyo na kung sinu hahanapin nyo pag nabububwitset na kayo. Asan na ang anak ni Aling Issssiiiiinggg! =))

9. PWEDE BANG MAGPAKULAY NG BUHOK?

RJ: Okay lang naman ata, nakakalusot naman ung mga kilala ko kay Sir JV.

Rawr: for girls (first year) Pede pa, pero pagtapak nyo na ng second year, hindi na. Kasi mahahalata sa "bun" (which is kapag inipit nyo na yung buhok nyo.) Pag boys. So gay.

10. SINO SI SIR JV?

RJ: a.k.a. Sir Ignacio. Siya ung Student Welfare Development Board Chair and Logic professor tapos siya incharge sa discipline ng mga students. Very keen on uniform kaya umayos kayo freshmen =) Plus, sya ung twice na nagpamodel sa akin on the spot nung orientation ng mga freshman.haha

Rawr: Ang dakilang si Sir Jv. Mabait sya seriously. Kahit mahigpit, sa tamang lugar. Saka friendly po sya kahit nakakintimidate sa unang paghaharap. Get ready for him sa second year Logic and he will BLOW your mind.
 

LIA: Hehehe.

7.KELAN IBIBIGAY UNG ID?

RJ: Third week of August. Kaya payo lang sa mga freshmen, INGATAN ANG REG FORM. Araw araw nyo yang ipapakita sa guard pagpasok sa building. Yan na rin ung parang magiging library card nyo. P30.00 ang back-up nyan, hassle pa kasi pupunta ka pa sa accounting office. Ingatan. Wag basain o tupiin. Ung nameplates nga pala, 2nd year nyo pa makukuha.

Rawr: Isang MALAKING pagkakamali ang ID na yan. Grabe talaga. Promise ko sa lahat ikakahiya nyo ang first ID nyo sa uste. Dahil pinictyuran kayo nyang nung haggard state pa kayo nung nageenroll pa kayo. Kaya LAKING suprise nyo pag nakuha nyo yan mukha kayong hinabol sa gameboard ng jumanji. Malaki ring kalungkutan na second year pa nakukuha ang nameplate dahil habang ang iba nyong kaibigan e mukha nang thomasian kahit first year pa lang e kayo mukha parin outsider lalo na kapag hindi bumili ng NURSING lanyard! Saka yang Reg Form nyo, i suggest ipaxerox nyo ng 5 beses yan dahil mahirap kumuha sa accounting office (main bldg) ng replacement. Susungitin ka pa ng teller. At kapag nakuha mo na ang id mo. INGATAN MO. dahil bago ka makakuha ng replacement e haharapin mo si DEAN at tatanungin ka nya kung bakit nawala mo yung binigay sayo nung una (at feeling mo SUPER iresponsible ka na, which is true)

8. ORGS THING

RJ: Pwede naman salihan lahat, ung iba may membership fee ung iba wala naman. So eto ung mga organizations sa CON: Nursing Central Board of Students or NCBS (Kung trip mo magorganize organize ng activities dito ka,masaya dito kasi madami kang makikilala ang all), RedCross Youth Council - Nursing Unit (Okay naman, maraming matututunan), Pax Romana (Para sa mga banal, pero cool din mga member dito), Nursing Association of Student Achievers (para sa mga matatalinong tao, sila ung parang representative pag may quiz bee), Rotaract Club ( Wala ako idea sa club na ito eh, pero nagorganize sila dati ng parang concert sa Dean's garden), Nursing Journal (para sa mga writers at creative people), Nursing Dance Troupe (Cool people pero wala silang space sa org room), Medical Missons Inc.(parang mga volunteers,masaya to kasi iba ibang lugar ung pinupuntahan nyo, kaso wala talaga ako idea kung anu ba ung MALTA na sinasabi nila, magandang pang resume, mas ok daw kesa RedCross), Nursing Varsity Council (Fun daw tong org na to, tsaka super organized) at syempre ang Nursing Chorale (Para sa mga musically inclined nursing students, masaya rito, member ako nito eh.haha)

Basta ibalance mo lang, wag sali ng sali, at magpakasaya ka sa org mo =)

LIA: Trust RJ, P.R.O. yan ng Nursing Chorale. Yiii! :>

Rawr: never had an org, di ako masyadong active e. Maybe third year (hirap na ako sa chem nung first year e!!)

9. PAG MONDAY ANG PE KO AT MONDAY ANG PASUKAN, PAPASOK NA BA AKO SA PE?

RJ: First week ng opening nga sem, walang PE. Sa second week pa ung opening, wag masyado excited. Sa first meeting, pupunta lang kayo sa venue, tapos tuturuan lang kayo ng cheer ng UST, orientation ng konti tapos kukunin Reg form + photocopy ng reg form nyo tapos ayun okay na. No need to wear PE uniform.

Rawr: Totoo yun. Kung ako sa inyo, umuwi na lang kayo at iresearch ang tamang cheer sa internet. Magulo at maiingay lang ang mga tao sa gymnasium at mawawalan kayo ng gana lalo na pag nakita nyo nang nagprapractice ang ust basketball players (which is my point of view). Suggestion lang, para naman masiyahan kami dapat yung salinggawi nagpapakitang gilas lang naman diba!

10.FRESHMEN ORIENTATION

RJ: itotour kayo sa campus. Wag magpanic, iaanounce din ung ng council nyo.

Rawr: TIP: magdala ng payong. Nung kami yung nagtour, umulan. Yung ngayon year, Umaraw na parang matutuyo na ang mga fountain sa harap ng ust.

11. KELAN ANG PASUKAN?

RJ: June 9. June 8 is only the official opening of classes,may mas lang dun na tinatawag na Misa de Apertura

Rawr: Depende sa year nyo!! Basta MALAKING PAGKAKAMALI yung first day na itanenan ko e.

RJ: Kelan ka ba pumasok?lol

12. REQUIRED BA PUMUNTA DUN SA MISA DE APERTURA?

RJ: Hindi. Wala lang un. Pero I recommend na punta kayo, kasi un na ang simula ng buhay nyo ng pananampalataya sa UST.hehe tignan nyo ung kapalaran nyo dun baka nakaukit na sa simbahan. =)

Rawr: bait ni RJ. Well kung ako sa kanya. Pumunta man kayo e hindi kayo makakapasok sa chapel dahil VIP lang ang nakakapasok. Nasa labas din kayo nagtataka bat kayo pumasok dahil wala namang nangyari sa buhay nyo dun. Well, masarap din naman magikot sa UST (kung newbie kayo tulad ko nun!). Just make sure may kasama din kayo papasok.

RJ: Nakapasok kaya ako nun!haha VIP pala ako. Kanya kanyang technique lang sa pagpasok.

13. KUNWARI SA FIRST DAY ANG CLASS KO AY 1-7, 7 NA BA TALAGA ANG UWIAN?

RJ: Depende sa prof yan, pero most likely oo.

LIA: Most likely early dismissal mga yan. Minsan di pa kayo sisiputin. :| :)) Ganun talaga pag first day!

Rawr: Tama, Pagdasal nyo malayo din ang tirahan ng prof nyo. Kasi kapag pareho kayong nagcocommute, maiitindihan nya ang pinagdadadaanan mo. Saka yun pa! kainis diba! ang ganda-ganda ng porma mo sa first day at full confidence pa e hindi ka sisiputin! Dahil yan sa mga first day meeting (antagal na kasing hindi nagkikita yung mga prof at kailangan magupdate sa chika! joke!)

14. ILAN ANG MAJOR EXAMS SA COLLEGE OF NURSING?

RJ: Bale we have 3 grading periods: Monthly, Prelims and Finals. They are of equal percentage when computing for the Final grade. So dapat effort lahat ng mga yan.

Rawr: Well, Tatlong paghihirap din ang dadaanan nyo.

RJ: Bakit ba pessimistic ung mga nakikisagot sa FAQ's ko na to.haha

15. ANO ANG INTEGRATION DAY?

RJ: Ito ay ang araw bago ang Prelim and Monthly Exams, walang pasok pag integration day. Walang integration day pag monthlys.

Rawr: I LOVE THESE DAYS!!! Kung sino man nagisip ng ganitong holiday. Thank you! Ito ang araw para magcram at magsimba.

RJ: To my dear freshmen readers, di sya holiday talaga ah.. baka minamark nyo na sa mga calendar nyo yan.

16. ANO ANG MGA DAPAT DALIN SA EXAMINATION DATE?

RJ: Pencil, ballpen, eraser, calculator (optional) un lang naman. =)

Rawr: (bukod sa sinabi sa taas) Pantasa, Tatlong PANG pencil at yung "permit" mo kapag Prelims and Finals (yung resibo kapag nagbayad kayong mga installment. Yung fully paid e ibibigay ng president nyo yung permit) WAG NA WAG iiwanan ang permit dahil hassle ang magmake-up test (either may deduction or bibigyan kayo ng MAS mahirap ng exam)

18. SAAN INOORDER ANG PE?

RJ: Hindi po inoorder ang PE, PE uniform lang po ang binebenta sa may Gym. Sasabihin naman ng prof nyo kung saan.

Rawr: Meron dun sa gilid ng gym. parang tindahan. GRABE kung ako sa inyo, kunin nyo na kagad bago maubusan ng stock ng size nyo at wala kayong maisuot sa pe. By the way. Sa first meeting nyo ng PE. WAG MUNA MAGSUOT ng pam-pe nyo. Waste of time. Ma-oout of place ka dahil lahat sila nakaunifrom habanag ikaw NERD naka-pe na.

RJ: Pabayaan mo na, eh kung gusto na nya mag pe uniform ba't di mo pabayaan? =))

19. ANO ANG CUTOFF?

RJ: Ito ung kelangan mong makuhang grade para makapag second year ka. Sabi nila, 2.00 (equivalent to 87) ang cutoff, pero usually depende yan sa batch. At the end of the year ung top more or less 400 lang ang kukunin para makapag second year.

Rawr: Ang tanging bagay na tumatakbo sa utak mo BUONG first year. Hindi mo maalala ang kahit ano pagdating sa second year kundi CUT-OFF haha. Pero chill ka lang. basta maintain 2.00 and above. Safe ka. Pero depende sa batch. E kung lahat ng kasama mo e palaging 1.25 and above and grade e matakot ka na dahil tumataas o bumaba ang cut-off. Saka pag nag-cutoff, meron pang binabalik kasi may umaalis din mga tao (yung mga tipong nagsayang ng one year)

20. 2.00 BA TALAGA ANG CUTOFF?

RJ: Hindi naman, nagiiba iba yan depende sa performance ng mga kabatch mo. kasi parang kinukuha nila ung average nyo lahat, tapos un na ung basis for the cutoff grade. However, wala pa namang batch na mas mataas pa sa 2.00 ung cutoff, nung samin kasi may mga kilala akong 2.50 at nakapasok pa eh.

Rawr: true true.

21. MAHIRAP BANG PUMASA SA CUTOFF?

RJ: Hindi naman. Wag lang magpabaya sa pagaaral.

Rawr: Isang malaking emotional distress lang naman ang aabutin mo. Marami rin akong narinig sumanguni sa college guidance counselor dahil sa pagkaparanoid. Hindi sa pagyayabang pero may mga gabi din akong hindi ko kinatulugan sa pagiisp sa BWISIT na cut-off na yan.

RJ: Ay oo! marami din akong kilalang ganyan, ung mga kilala ko nga mga DL pa eh.haha

22. SINONG MGA PROF ANG DAPAT IWASAN?

RJ: Wala naman. Basta nageefort ka papasa ka naman eh.

LIA: MERON. MERONG PROFS NA DAPAT IWASAN. But you can't, no matter how much you want to because we don't get to pick our profs. Swertihan talaga. Best advice I can give is to just not get on their bad side. One sem lang naman, kaya mo yan. :))

RJ: Lia, stop. You're threatening them.lol

Rawr: Each and Every professor is legendary. Laging maniwala sa mga kwento ng upper-classman nyong kaibigan. Most of the time it's true but mostly, FACT na ang mga sinasabi nila.

RJ: They sure are legendary.

23. ANO ANG MGA TERROR SUBJECTS NA DAPAT PAGHANDAAN?

RJ: Chemistry sa first sem, Biochemistry naman sa second sem. Basta chem mahirap pero buti nalang pumasa ako.

LIA: RJ forgot to mention ANA-PHY (Anatomy-Physiology). Ana-Phy lab and Ana-Phy lec. Haha. You'll gonna die, friends. :)) But I got lucky with my Ana-Phy profs. If you get Dr. Guiang (THE BESTESSST) and Ma'am Pia (oh god I forgot her last name!), I think you'll be fine. :)

RJ: Oh yeah, I forgot anaphy lab. =/ Its Maam Albano, Lia.

Rarw: CHEMISTRY=MYSTERY. Kaya lang ako naging sane dun dahil sa guidance nila mam garcia at sir paragas. Rest is CHAOS kaya MAG-ARAL mabuti. Pero may times din nakakafrustrate ang chem kaya kung hindi nyo kaya e kumuha kayo nung mga tutors na ibinibigay ng ncbs sa program na "tutor anonymous" (malalaman nyo din yun kapag kumakapa na kayo sa hirap ng monthlies) Ana-phy lab lang ang MAHIRAP. Seryoso. Kung madali naman kayong magmemorize e mabubuhay kayo sa Ana phy lec. Pero kung bobo kayong maganalyze e magdasal lagi bago magtest ng anaphy lab

RJ: The Learner's Anonymous po kasi yun eh, hindi "tutor anonymous". LOL.

24. ANO ANG DAPAT AKYATIN NA STAIRS SA MED BUILDING?

RJ: Depende. Pag odd number ung floor nyo dapat ung right staircase , pag even dapat ung left.

LIA: Pag sixth floor*, use the side staircase at the right side. Pag magpapa-photocopy, use the side staircase at the left side. You'll see the side staircases when you turn the corner after going either right or left from the lobby.

*more on the sixth floor: the right side staircase will bring you the fourth floor. THERE IS NO FIFTH FLOOR in the med building. When you get to the fourth floor landing, there will be a hall/passageway to your right with a few more flights of stairs leading to the sixth floor. ;)

Rawr: Nawala ako nung first day
Xerox: (if your facing the building in front, left side meron din sa bridge na right parehong second floor)
Med cafe (left side din first floor )
Hospital cafe: (right side punta kayo papuntang bridge, tapos diretso sa charity hospital, bumaba kayo ng isang floor tapos turn left again and yun!)
Library and Med Audi (fourth floor)
Magical Sixth Floor (follow instructions above)
Deans Office (kaharap ng dean's garden which is on the right side first floor)
Org room (katabi ng deans office. If facing the dean's office. right side first floor)
Nursing auditorium (katabi  din ng deans office. If facing the dean's office. left side first floor)
Boys bathroom every floor(if facing the building, left side) napakaunfair dahil malayo sa side ng nursing
Girls bathroom every floor (if facing the building right side)

Mas prefer ko ang stairs depende sa location ng room. (sunudin ang taas para sa numbering ng room) Pero kung ako ang tatanungin. Mas nakakapagod ang mga stairs sa gilid dahil mas madaming steps (may formula pa kaming nacreate para dun) Hindi pinapagamit ang elevator sa students tulad sa ibang colleges. Kahit pilay ka na ay kailangan gumapang ka pataas ng stairs..JOKE!

  

25. PAANO PUPUNTA NG SIXTH FLOOR?

RJ: Pag nasa 4th floor ka na, may parang extension dun papuntang 6th floor. Wag magpanic, wala talagang fifth floor sa Med Building.

LIA: Ayun sabi ko nga. :))

Rawr: Nawala nga ako dahil dun. Akala ko maling college building ang napuntahan ko!! haha.

26. NAKAKATAMAD NAMAN UMAKYAT DUN, MERON BANG ALTERNATIVES?

RJ: Uhm. bawal kasi gumamit ng elevator ng building eh. Pero pag sixth floor ang destination mo, pwede ka sumakay sa elevator ng hospital. Beware lang sa elevator operator na pumapasok ng 8am kasi pag nahuli ka, lagot kang bata ka.

*UPDATE* - Hindi na sila nagpapapasok ng mga nursing students sa may hospital pag normal days eh, puro med na lang daw, ewan ko lang kung final na talaga un. Anyways pwede ka naman dumaan sa side ng hospital para makapasok at makagamit ng elevator, hassle nga lang kung taga Lacson ka.

Rawr: Kahit mga PT gumagamit nung elevator na yun. Kailangan lang maingat ka sa pagsakay dahil kapag Professor ang nakasabay mo pagsakay. Malas ka.

27. ANO MANGYAYARI SAYO PAG NAHULI KA?

RJ: Wala lang naman. Sermon lang. Naalala ko dati nagulat pa ako, kabukas ng pinto, ayun na si ate.haha

Rawr: Di pa ako nahuhuli. hehe.

28. SAAN NAMAN ANG ASTURIAS?

RJ: Sa may dapitan un malapit sa Jolibee. Dun pwedeng bumili ng mga gagamitin nyo for Chem Lab. (mga vials,test tubes,etc...)

LIA: When you go out the Dapitan gate nearest the Med building, turn left and walk a few meters. It the street where Jollibee is. Nandun din ang Tapsi! =))

RJ: Lia= BI. haha

Rawr: May malaking street sign dun. Masarap din ang kainan dun. Copycell atbp. Beware sa snatchers. Masama ang tapsi (unless na hindi ka allergic sa beer or any alcoholic beverages)

29. SAAN UNG MGA MURANG KAINAN NA MALAPIT?

RJ: Sa Almers (mga sizzling), Chumbayan (Siomai), at Tita Betty's (di ko lang sure kung bukas pa ito,sa may Rosarito St. un eh). Meron bago ngayon sa Asturia, Kopi Shop ata un, 38 pesos lang solve ka na.Pero most probably, wala na kayong time lumabas pa kaya kay Ate Eva na lang kayo.

LIA: CHUMBAYAN SIOMAI IS THE BESTEST! 5 awesome siomais for the low low price of P20. ;) The nearest one is on the street after passing Chow King Dapitan (right side of the Dapitan gate).

Rawr: Madami sa Dapitan at P.Noval. Ayaw kong magsuggest dahil kasama sa thomasian experience yun! Magingat lang at baka makarating kayo sa street na walang tao at mapano kayo.

RJ: Bakit napano ka na ba sa mga street na walang tao?haha 

30. SINO SI ATE EVA?

RJ: Hindi kami close eh. Basta sya may ari ng Ate Eva's Grill sa may Med Cafe, at wala na sya ngayon.

LIA: Mahal dun. :| Pero masarap naman yung food. Dun bagsak mo kung gutom na gutom ka na talaga at wala kang oras lumabas ng Med building.

Rawr: Sumalangit nawa ang kanyang kaluluwa.

RJ: Huy, di pa sya namatay noh. What I meant was wala na sya sa Med Cafe ngayon.haha

31. SAAN ANG MED CAFE?

RJ: First floor lang sa may left wing ng Med building.

32. PAYO MO PARA SA MGA INCOMING NURSING STUDENTS?

RJ: Ayun wag masyado papressure at magpanic, tapos wag kalimutang magdala lagi ng Alcohol, Payong at Tsinelas. Bakit? Malalaman nyo rin =)

LIA: Here's to hoping that you never have to use all three of those at the same time. Haha.

Rawr: extra money din. You can never go wrong with pedicabs. Saka lots of confidence. Thomasian nurse ka na! Saka about those three sa taas, necessity sya sa thomasian. At kung kaya nyo, battery light na rin pag nastranded kayo sa ating pinakamamahal na atlantis-like university.

33. FOR THE GRADE-CONSCIOUS FRESHMAN: (courtesy of LIA)

The Dean's List:

Everyone wants to get on it. Haha. 1.75 ang cut-off dito. The easiest sem to get into this is THE FIRST SEM. So galingan niyo na dahil medyo mahirap na ang second sem. For those on scholarship, I think you have to maintain a 1.75 average and stay on the DL.

For those wanting to graduate with a Cum Laude, kailangan din yata mag-maintain ng 1.75 average so no slacking off, okay?

The grading system:

Usually, the passing grade is 65%. But for Chem and some special circumstances, it's 50%. 1.0 is the highest grade you can get, 3.0 is passing, and 5.0 is failing.

For the subjects, you can get a 1.0, 1.25, 1.5...and so on in increasing increments of 0.25. Pero walang 3.25-4.75 okay. 1.0-3.0 and 5.0 lang! =)) Then they're computed with the number of units to get the General Weighted Average (GWA).

PE for four semesters and one NSTP are required, though they aren't computed with the GWA. A passing grade is good enough, pero kung gusto mo i-career, bahala ka na. :))

Rawr: No comment. Dinugo ako dun ah. Nagnosebleed yung brain ko.

DISCLAIMER: Not everything on this entry should be followed by incoming freshmen, as these are only opinions by the authors Thank you. =)