Oprah made me cry.

Oprah featured a rather unsurpriising episode the other day. unsurprising because, knowing O Show, it has always been successful in leaving to the audience an impactful message. it was all about the different faces of mothers around the world. What particularly moved me were stories of African mothers who were effortlessly inspirng. A Sudan mother, for one, is a mom of fifty (50) African children - most, if not all, are HIV positive. Despite personal struggles of poverty, she still took the courage of adopting tese children she calls her own. I just can't imagine how beatiful the Philippines would be as a nation should we all have the same 'emotional mentality'.

***

Speaking of HIV-AIDS, we are cosidering it an advocacy campaign topic for second semester (for FEU Tamaraw Volunteers' Chamber on Health Services). Ate Grace, who is involved with the Victory Christian Fellowship U-Belt, is pushy about the idea. We are yet to discuss though for planning and discussion.

***

The other night, Arvin, Mina and I saw one of our students in the TAMVOL - Kalsadaskwela Project, Kevin, in a very unholy hour in Malate. We could not help but purchase the roses he was selling. It was 4:00am then. I felt a pinch in me which made me consider reviving our tutorial project at Rajah Solayman.

Kevin is the kid in blue
Team Tamaraw Volunteers during one of our Kalsadaskwela Sessions in Rajah Solayman

FEU SchoolText Facility

For the benefit of every FEU students who are already itching to know their grades, please refer below.

FEU Schooltxt Facility
Students and parents can now avail of the following services using mobile phone texting: (A one-time registration is required to avail of the services, wherein the student number, birthdate and name are required)

FEU REGISTER STUDNO BIRTHDATE (MMDDYYYY) NAME (First & last)

(e.g. FEU REGISTER 2004171441 08311984 JUAN DELA CRUZ)

Send to 2622 for Smart and 2214 for Globe or Sun

School Information-on-demand - parents and/or students' urgent request for school information can now be entertained through the use of SMS-capable cellular phones, by typing in and sending a specific word to the designated SCHOOLTXT access number.

Available keywords:

To get OUTSTANDING TUITION BALANCE:
FEU BALANCE STUDNO PASSWORD

To inquire about PROMISSORY NOTE application status:
FEU PNSTATUS STUDNO PASSWORD

To get OUTSTANDING TUITION BALANCE:
FEU BALANCE STUDNO PASSWORD

To get GRADES:
FEU GRADES STUDNO PASSWORD

To inquire about ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP STATUS:
FEU DEANSLIST STUDNO PASSWORD

To inquire about ENROLLMENT STATUS:
FEU ENROLLMENT STUDNO PASSWORD

To know COURSE, YEAR LEVEL, ACADEMIC and SRP STATUS:
FEU ACADSTATUS STUDNO PASSWORD

To get FEU MAIL username and password:
FEU EMAIL STUDNO PASSWORD

To REGISTER PARENTS and get their access password:
FEU REGPARENT STUDNO PASSWORD

To get current CLASS SCHEDULE:
FEU SCHEDULE STUDNO PASSWORD

To get course-specific SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:
FEU ACTIVITIES STUDNO PASSWORD

To inquire about SUSPENSION OF CLASSES:
FEU CLASSES
No need to initially register.

(Send inquiries to 2622 for Smart and 2214 for Globe or Sun)

Emotero!

Words are not enough expressions of what i feel and think at this moment. All I know is that, day after day, I am feeling the burden accorded to me with my being the pseudo-eldest in the family. This was not the first time though, you migh tell me. I know.

God has a purpose, really, when he thought of making those drops called 'tears'. That, I have discovered, not yesterday, nor last week, but several years ago. I love my family. I really do. But I know I am not yet brave enough to sacrifice my 'other dreams'. I hope I could acquire the strength to surrender my other priorities. I love you, ma. I know you know. These are all for you! Unti na lang...

='(

Estudyante pala ako!

THE FIRST SEMESTER IS OFFICIALLY OVER since Friday. What a great relief on my part, really! For the very first time in my entire college life, I felt that I was indeed a student. I always have in me the thinking that college is no time for *pure study*. I even considered it to be just a fair preparation for a higher degree. This particular belief could have been inspired me, if not, pushed me, to totally immersed myself with student activities. At least I'm being honest, right?

As I have mentioned, for the very first, na-realize ko: "Estudyante pala talaga ako!". I had been bombarded with several requirements towards the end of the semester: translation project kay Dr. Ben Medina (na isang Palanca Hall of Famer), reading portfolio kay Ms. Mau Nivales (na isang Tamaraw na naging Atenista), isa pang portfolio kay Ms. Mary Grace Reoperez (na hindi naniniwala sa written exams as an effective evaluation tool), stage production kay Prof. Arthur Pizaro (na isa sa aking hinahangaang dalubguro ng FEU), position paper sa Expository Writing kay Prof. Vivian Estacio (na siyang direktora ng Center for English Language Studies).

For about a month, I busied myself accomplishing these requirements. Ganito nga talaga siguro pag graduating na. Busy-busy-han, sabi nga ng mga Mass Comm. As regards to our Language and the Performing Arts Production, I was very happy it had been successful! Whooh! Thanks a lot to the entire class (EL0441) for their cooperation (special mention, of course, to Glaiza, for such a great job!). Well, thanks for Ms. Perez for giving our mythology project flat 100%. It was worth all the effort, and the friendship we strengthened (Sarah, VP, Kristal). Three days ba naman kayong mag-overnight for the project e.

After ng puyatan for the brain-racking rekis, I think I deserve a good break. I just pledge for a more memorable second semester (my last). =)

TAMVOL is Cokebarkada Finalist! Thanks for Your Votes! =)

The votes are in! TAMVOL made it as finalist.
Date posted: Oct 12, 2007 11:59am

Emerging as victors at the end of the Countdown to the Race: Ten Things We Will Do to Save the Earth blogging contest are: UP Kalilayan, UP Sandigan, UST Mountaineering Club, UST Chemical Society, Flickers Photo Society (Asia Pacific College), Rizal Technological University Mountaineers, Far Eastern University Tamaraw Volunteers, Ateneo JMA, International Business & Economics Society (Assumption College) and The Ateneo Lex.

Congratulations to all the teams that participated in the blogging contest! It was a close fight for the top ten slots and all teams were worthy contenders.

Watch these teams sweat it out for the top prize at this year's Grand Gimik - the Coke Planet Project: A Race to Save the Earth - on October 20, 1:00pm at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. Bring your whole barkada and enjoy the games, exhibits, and live performances by Sleepwalk Circus, Paramita, Up Dharma Down, and Radioactive Sago. Admission is free!

Source: www.cokebarkada.com

Student Leadership in FEU and AYLC 2007

It's been a year since I qualified as National Finalist for the Ayala Young Leaders Congress 2006. I was called to report at OSACS and after the announcement made personally by Dr. Adelaida C. Fronda, I was asked to prepare for the interview set (I could still remember) on the forth day of the IAS Week 2006.

A year has passed. Much has changed already. I could say that I have matured so much as a leader. Well, two presidential positions really demand a high level of maturity to the leader - not to mention, it rather forces one to be that. While I have not qualified for the AYLC 2006, I cannot help but treasure that rare experience. I cannot blame the four executives of the Ayala Group of Companies for not choosing me - I having requested them personally to rethink their decision.

"It's completely okay for me should I not be one of the Ayala Leaders. I know AYLC could help me a lot to improve my leadership skills. But I would like to honestly tell you that my community,my school, and my family are enough for me to develop holistically."

Though not exact as I have said it, these were my parting words to my interview panel. I left the conference room with a smile, not regretting any of the single words I uttered.

This year, I was able to meet some of the Ayala Young Leaders of my batch. Some times, I would poetically consider myself the 71st AYLC 2007 Leader having acquainted with these people. My first experience with them was during the Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge followed by the Starfish Magazine Conference. I was really thankful to Kuya Ralph Morales for all these invitations that facilitated me in welcoming the realization that I am a no less leader (should pessimism dawn on me).

This year, I am hopeful FEU AYLC Qualifiers can make it at least as national finalists as I am (last year) and Danilo Cortez (in 2005). Not to mention, I evaluated: Ira Montecastro, Mina Akram, JC Zoreta and HH Bala. Mina Akram's and HH Bala's TAMVOL-CYC involvements could really help them a lot. JC Zoreta as an AHSE President and INSC VP could also make it. Meanwhile, Ira Montecastro, who I have been encouraging to immerse herself to community service, can, because of her academic excellence, her feat in public speaking and her being the FEUCSO President, positively be in.

Whatever the result may be, it just give the FEU, the Office of Student Affairs and Community Services and the student leader community in particular, something to ponder on. Are we really producing effective student leaders who are contributors of the community? Or, are we just pretending that FEU is a home of responsive and efficient leaders.

A VOTE for TAMVOL is a VOTE for FEU =)

Fellow Tamaraws, please support our organization, the FEU Tamaraw Volunteers in our attempt to win the Coke Barkada: A Race to Save the Planet Contest against other universities. We are one of the finalists together with:

Adamson ECE (AdU),

Alyansang Tapat sa Lasalista (DLSU),

Ateneo JMA (ADMU),

Flickers Photo Society (APC),

International Business and Economics Society (Assumption),

RTU Mountaineers (RTU),

SPUM JMA (SPU-M),

San Beda JMA (SBC),

UP Kalilayan,

UP Sandigan,

UST Chemical Society,

UST Medical Missions and

UST Mountaineering Club.

All you have to do is to vote for FEU TAMVOL at www.cokebarkada.com. You will have to verify your vote by confirming it via your e-mail. If you want to know more about TAMVOL, visit: www.feutamvol.multiply.com.

A vote for TAMVOL is a vote for FEU. Go Fight Tamaraws!