Green to Green Part III

Extremes. One on the upper level and the other on the lower side. Well, this is just the perception of people who really don't know the people from the two schools.

Coño versus jologs. Sosyal versus pasosyal. Maarte versus barubal. Overrated versus underrated.

These would be the view of many people. It just depends from which spectrum you are looking at.

I say this is purely B.S. To say the least, it is untrue, unfair and hurtful. These words are coming from an Archer turned Tams.

This is how I feel- HURT!

Somehow, this perception has crept into the consciousness of many people.
That the other should be given proper respect while the other left violated.
That the other should never kiss the ground while the other should never look up to the sky.

Let me ask you now, what sets the difference? Or the standard that you should believe and assimilate aforementioned thoughts? Is it the money? The reputation? The image?

Take for example the UAAP referee who got suspended indefinitely for not officiating fairly the game between DLSU and FEU.

Consequently, FEU lost the game. Uninspired and unmotivated with all the crap the referee had given them, they just lost it.

This I say is the real picture of the typical Filipino nowadays. Abused and harmed by a system that only few benefit.

Let me ask you now. Is it because the other one is rich and the other not-so? Or was the referee paid (this is just my theory)?

Is this how trivial the Filipino mind has become? Is this how the character of the average Filipino has become?

Think deeply. Ask with a goal in mind. Break the bondage of stereotypes and lift the cause of those neglected and unrecognized forces that somehow constitute the world as well.

The world is not just green and blue.

Green to Green Part II

Leaving DLSU was one of the most difficult things that I had to do in my entire life. Liberating but depressing. It was like my dreams are now shattered but stood in a new chance for rebirth.

My exodus was made difficult by DLSU and other factors. I had to go on several tests of my character as a person. Delayed grades. Failed subjects. Difficulty in finding the right school that I would like and the school that would accept me. Difficulty with family finances.

By May 2003 and after unsuccessfully finding schools that would accept me, I got to meet former high school classmates. They were studying at FEU then. With their recommendation of FEU, I tried.

I got in. I never experienced hassles. From then on, I never looked back.

Today, I am a registered nurse (but still jobless) and graduated in college with honors. I got new friends whom I know will stay true to me till the end of time. I got memories from here that I will forever cherish. I got to taste life as it is. No sugar-coating and embellishment. No hang-ups and no VIP treatment.

Raw. Realistic. First-hand. Grounded. This has been my life now. Actually, I could not ask for more.

Nevertheless, the "what-ifs" continue to pinch me once in a while.

Now here's the thing. I love these two schools. They compose me. They made me what I am now.

It's just that the image and the reputation of the schools tarnish how the world should be.

Green to Green Part I

I was an Archer. Yes, was is the right term because technically, I was there for only a year.

DLSU was my dream school. After passing the entrance examinations of all schools I applied for, it was no question that I'll go to DLSU. UP, UST and Mapua did not have that inviting prowess that DLSU had at that time. This always gives me conflicting thoughts if it was really a wrong decision or not. I'll talk about this in another post.

It has been five years since I left DLSU. I am a Tamarraw now. Still green though adorned with gold. This has become my color.

Let me talk now about these schools since an incident spurred my interest on writing this piece.

By March of 2002, I was ecstatic that I am going to college. College boy they would call me since they thought I was the most prepared to go to college. I can choose the school I like without having problems. Yeah right.

Come May, I was the earliest one to experience college life. As many would know, DLSU has three terms in one school year.

It made me excited but nervous. Scared. Unsure. Will I fit in? Back in high school, I did okay. I had friends and I can say that I was not a misfit.

Here I went to DLSU and my world started to change.

For one part, the system was great. From the Faculty, facilities, the educational system itself, the ambiance and the feeling were somehow surreal but good for me. Learning was never this exciting I thought.

On the other side, I kinda disliked some people. Those who live up to the name as "coño" and were unafraid of showing to the whole world that they indeed were such.

My classmates were somehow spurious. I mean some of them were not genuine as classmates or friends.

But I found real ones. Deep inside of me, I say that they were more than enough to have than befriend or meet other people at that time.

With my course, I felt tricked. I was not ready that it would be that hard.

And so I had to leave.