My Freshman Days

Foreword: After long, stressful weeks filled with deliverables and projects to be submitted, it was finally our vacation (April 13, 2007 - 12:00NN)...

After months of dormancy, my blog has come to life again, starting with this post. Enjoy reading!

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1. Pre-confirmation Orientation

I remember way back to the first day, no, the preconfirmation orientation we had in La Salle for our course. If I remember right, it was also the day that we were going to have our Chinese History (li shi) periodic exams in Uno, so we were permitted to wear civilian clothing inside the school grounds...

I, along with my mom, arrived late for the event held at Yuchengco. There were games, speeches (...), and an open forum. There was even a campus trip but we were not able to attend because I had a quiz. Oh well...

Back at Uno. I really regretted wearing civilian clothing that day. Eyes were fixed at me and people commented things like "o, ganda ng suot mo a" and other similar comments. It was humiliating. Mr. Yu (our school disciplinarian, also had a short talk with me about my attire. Apparently he wasn't informed...

2. LPEP (and first few days of college life)

LPEP was (an atttempt) to let blockmates know one another. We were at the Yuchengco Theater watching a presentation; I remember getting lost on our way to our seats at the chapel. We went to a classroom at Gokongwei and was introduced to our facilitator and his two assistants. We had a nickname elaboration session. I was so timid back then, avoiding speech. When people asked me what my nickname meant, I replied with this (actually, I had so many nicknames but I chose this one):

M - Mysterious -> someone asked me why I didn't write "mature" instead...
O - (I forgot. Pardon my short memory.)
N - Nostalgic / Not Nostalgic -> depends

Anyway, we had campus tours and were also dragged to the Sports Complex for a grand welcoming from (almost) all student organizations in the campus. It was funny how they said "Hello, [name]! Welcome to La Salle!"

Then I met my former facilitator from CCS Summer Camp 2005. She was very excited to see me; I was shocked. It turned out that she was a very high ranked officer in LSCS, the only professional organization in the College of Computer Studies. I thought about joining...

We watched the pep squad and other presentations at the top floor of the Sports Complex. There was even a mini-concert afterwards.

This was the time I made my first few friends. Vero, originally calling me "little bro," as well as Aya and Treisha, became my first few friends.

3. First Term

Additional people (Lou and Yan) were added to our lunch group, and I became more attached to them because or similar interests and the like. The other three became my groupmates in a subject called INTRICT (Introduction to ICT), where we had ouur group reporting on 'The Internet and the World Wide Web.' Because I was pretty reserved back them, I wrote them a letter discussing our plan instead of actually talking to them. I planned to make our report a very interesting one like how I had done my reports back in my high school days, and we partially succeeded. I made a short video (actually, my first video) featuring the different functionalities of the Internet (It didn't work during the first day. I was shocked.) I was also forced to bring my humongous speakers at home because I forgot to get the speakers from our store. I also brought with me my smoke machine...

I found many similarities in my block and my batchmates from high school...

We had our INTRPRG classes by Ms. Shirley Chu, a not-so terror professor (who looks like she's going to punch people every time she asks "Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo?") I vowed to do well in this subject, but was saddened by the fact that I wasn't able to answer one of her recitation questions. I struggled to eliminate the loss, and virtually succeded upon receiving a 98% and 105% for my two departamental exams and a 135% for my machine project. I was happy to get a raw score of 106.25 and an overall grade of 4.0 (I hope there's a higher grade that 4...)

We also had other subjects, which included FWSPORT (Taekwondo), SCIENVB, and the like. PERSEF1, Mr. Molano, Jake, The Venue, Period.

Was it Bea who invided us to her birthday party at Yellow Cab? I forgot...

Near the end of the term I really felt the need to have my very own laptop computer.

Other important events included my becoming an officer in LSCS, my being caught by a discipline officer for writing on the blackboard, et cetera...

4. Second Term

I finally got myself a laptop, no, it would be better if I address it as a convertible notebook...

It was finally time for us to have Saturday classes - NSTP-C1. Also, we had our ENGLCOM classes, where I almost got a 4.0 (if I didn't miss a quiz).

DATABAS was the hardest subject this term, and by that time, E-MAD Productions (formerly known as Solomon's Descendants) was formed. We struggled for weeks just to finish our MP. It was my first overnight experience at my own house.

Nica and Jerlou soon became close friends of mine (along with Bea, Cecille, Jamie, Joy, Kristine, Michelle, Raisa, Yna, and the others -> did I miss anyone?) in the absence of Lou and Yan (sometimes).

My video editing hobby also started this term wherein we had to make videos for our ORGMGNT classes and an MTV for our TREDONE classes (along with numerous Unean Reunions that took place).

The lowest grade I got this term was from ORGMGNT, a flat 2.0. I barely hung on to my stand as a Dean's Lister. Hopefully I'll do better next term...

Other important events not mentioned were te activities held in LSCS, the unretrieved shirt of Tin, the CCS Summer Camp Reunion, the Enchanted Kingdom trip, the confirmation trip to JCDC, my new camera, and many others.

5. Christmas Break

What I remember most in this span of time was the formation of the UniFuzion (formerly known as UniFusion) as Nikko, Yan, and I (known as YanMeMon by Nikko) went to SM Mall of Asia (up to 3 in the morning) to watch the Pyro Olympics.

Nothing much to say...

5. Third Term

The emergence of Windows Vista had become critical. I planned to buy an original one four years ago, and my plan will definitely be fulfilled. I bought the MS Office 2007 Professional first at XXXIII K at SM Mall of Asia during their launch. The place was packed. Computer illiterates were being conned into Microsoft's new product as they were enchanted by Vista's eye candy. Fortunately, I knew what to byt because I've tried the product two times before (MS Windows Vista Beta 2 and MS Windows Vista RC1). I ordered the Windows Vista Ultimate full edition and got it weeks after.

We had our very interesting SPEECOM classes wherein we made a video for our panel discussion. A video, a podcast, a blog (http://emadproductions.multiply.com/), and a flash presentation were made for our HUTECIN classes where there was very high competition among blockmates. The daring MTV for our FILKOMU classes.

Who wouldn't forget the hard quizzes in NETCOMM? The Saturdays on JCDC? The negative grades in FWTEAMS? The curse being passed on in FILKOMU (only applies for 'The C' of S18)? The weariness in coding MP's for APPSDAS? The funny speeches of Philip in SPEECOM?

I ascended in rank as I became the VP for Publications in LSCS. I was surprised when my firends showed me that I was in the Plaridel newspaper...

Just yesterday, The Comedic Trio (Jerlou, Nica, and me) had another overnight session at my house wherein we coded for a partially finished MP for APPSDAS. We also prepared for our NETCOMM defense which took place a while ago.

The funniest moment occured a day before yesterday, wherein the three of us (and none else) lost balance in the LRT going form Central Terminal to Carriedo.

The course card distribution day is on Thursday, April 19, 2007. I have high hopes...

I can't wait until April 22...

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My classmates notified me of my behavior change from the first day of classes until recently from my being timid to my being 'hyperactive and paparazzic.'

I replied with this story:

"Back in elementary, I was more of a warfreak type of person who usually picked up fights with other people. People also called me Pastemaster and other weird names because of my weird habits back then.

I wanted to change the bad stereotype my classmates had made about me, so in high school, I became a bit more timid. I became quite shy; however, and I lost the ability to express myself according to my feelings. The things I wanted to do, like joining in a FunFest game, getting a particular role in a play, et cetera, I lost my chance...

Fortunately, I got to do the things I wanted to do in college. How? I dunno... Figure it out yourselves. >:)

The GUI Master aka Gadgetkid will strike again!

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Lou... we haven't said goodbye personally yet, and now you've already left for Canada. Your video... I'll be done with it soon, and you'll be able to see it in YouTube. Let's meet again when I get a job in Canada! Until then, we'll miss you.

PS. Always be online in Yahoo! Messenger, alright? <(^_^)>