On Taking UPLAE

Just like any takers who share their insights and experiences about UPLAE, I have also this want to tell how it was to take one of the hardest entrance exams on the way to law school. But right now, I think, I am not in the position to give some tips on passing the exam since the result is not yet finalized. That only means that the strategies and techniques I used cannot be considered as reliable sources of information in penetrating UP College of Law.

But let's just take into account, my experience before, during and after the exam. Well, I am one of those who spent almost 11 thousand just to have my review in one of the review centers in Katipunan. That amount covers eight sessions,if I'm not mistaken, conducted every Sunday from 8 am to 12 pm. That is a four hour session every week. Having a review is somewhat an advantage but it doesn't give a 100 percent assurance of passing the exam.

It is an advantage because that knowledge of yours which have been long lost and forgotten will be revived. You will remember the basics of algebra, geometry, english like correct grammar, reading comprehension, abstract and logic. It is the same as taking college entrance examinations. The only difference is that, it has lots of logic. If you have taken Logic during your college years, all the basics of categorical syllogisms and hypothetical syllogisms are sure to appear in the exam.

During the exam,if my memory serves me right, we were given 45 minutes in every subject except the last part which is the essay part. Unlike in the previous years,in which the takers had given the topic, we had our chance to choose a topic of our interest. Mine, I chose Noynoy and Cory as symbols of hope and democracy. Everyone,I think, did not expect this. UPLAE is truly full of surprises.

All in all, taking the exam was really a great experience. This will test how far your knowledge will take you. It tests the foundation that you have built in your study for six years in elementary, four years in high school and four years or five years in college.

All you have to remember is that thousands of brilliant students are vying for only 200 or 300 spots.Failing the exam is not enough measuring scale of your capacity. It will neither predict your staying power once you are in law school nor your capability once you are already practicing your law profession.

And I still failed to pass the REQUIREMENT...

I don't know what's wrong with some of the employees at the university that i'm enrolled in, with some of the people in my college in partcular. I still lack the certificate of grades that is needed in my application at UP College of Law. I promised those people at Malcom that the certification will be followed and that is 2months ago. Fortunately, when I called and informed them about the said requirement,the person that I've talked with remained considerate and said that it was ok. That was very relieving on my part since I'm thinking of that almost everyday.

I don't want to put a blame on anyone. But it's just how the persons in the college treat students that freaked me out. I asked that particular person (I just don't wanna name names) about the status of the certification that I've requested, and she answered with her frowning face that the signatory is not yet around. So I asked again what time would she possibly arrive and what time would I probably get it. Yet again, while with her eyebrows brought together, she said that the question has already been answered (Sinagot ko na diba?). My question might look very stupid but my point of asking that is because she has the idea of the time that the signatory usually arrives. So I'm asking of the probable time that I might get the certificate.

I might understand that kind of expression of hers if I went there in the afternoon since she might be so exhausted due to a long day of work. But I came there in the morning and I intended that to caught them in the good mood. I entered in the office smiling at them and greeting them good morning, so I don't see any reason for me to be treated as harsh as that. I even say thank you when I went out but failed to be acknowledged.

I don't know why there are such people like that. And I don't want to know why..

THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

I consider myself fortunate to be in a company that gave me the chance to work while studying. I am thankful for my supervisors and team managers for being considerate when it comes to schedule adjustments. I am thankful to my collegues for being so nice.

I am thankful for my classmates. I am thankful for my fellow petitioners during our moot court competition. Although we failed to make it, the friendship that we had during those overnights while finishing the pleadings and memorandum, were moments that I would never forget. Thank you for giving me a chance to know you more. Even if there's so much differences among us, there's still a place where we are connected. There's nothing to cry for. As a tv commercial model said "Tomorrow is another day".

Thank you for those wonderful nights. Thank you for securing my safety by waiting outside our rendevouz during those nights that I have to finish my shift in the office. Thank you for being considerate. Thank you for the support you have given while we counsel during the moot court competition. I want you to know that you would never be forgotten by me.

Thank you for my friends. Thank you for the laughters. Thank you for the real friendship.Thank you for the hugs. Thank you for the unconditional love and support.

Thank you for my family, thank you to my special someone. Someday, we will love each other freely without hesitations, without fear, without burdens. You are the most wonderful person that I would be thankful forever. I want you to know that you are so much loved by me.

Moot Court

We will be having our moot court competition this 26th of October as part of our activity in our Intro to Law Class. After finishing the pleadings and memorandum, my next problem was the clothes I would wear in the said event. While googling, I came accross with this website called polyvore.com where you could mix and match clothes. What's interesting with this site is you would be able to choose clothes that would suit your style. It is also a perfect way to plan your outfit in different events.

By the way, this is the result of my experiment:


Find me on Polyvore

A Journey Towards a Law Degree

When I was a child I always wanted to become somebody that my parents would be proud of someday. Like any other child,I also had my ultimate dream. Some of my playmates wanted to become teachers. Some of them wanted to become doctors. But I wanted to become a lawyer. But things changed as time passes by. I told myself that maybe, becoming a lawyer was not part of my destiny. It would just be one of my childhood dreams that would never become real.

From then on, I sticked to that idea that another profession aside from becoming a lawyer is my predestination. But not until I went to college. The university that I have enrolled with permitted me to see the harsh realities of life. It allowed me to see a microscopic view of our country that I love so much. I've seen poverty in its most distressed manner. I saw how ruinous the justice system we have. As my eyes,my heart,and my mind become wider to see, feel and perceive these things that my country has, there was a loud voice telling me that I should act for a change. The voice became louder telling me that if I wouldn't do something about it, our country will be in catastrophe forever.

So I decided to take a walk to become a vital catalyst for change. I realized that maybe, the least thing I could do is to pursue my dreams and bring justice to the people. But the concept of justice is not that easy to understand. Justice is not just giving more to less. Justice is not just for the oppressed,the weak,and the poor. It shouldn't be one sided alone,it should be for the both.

Now I am decided. I already took the first step to a law degree. And I hope that the fire would remain burning.

How much do you know about the Constitution?

I was saddened by the fact that lots of Filipinos do not even know some of the fundamentals of the Constitution. I mean even those provisons which I think are essential in the life of an ordinary citizen of this country.

While I am having my lunch in a carinderia near our house I was attentive while listening to a college student while she explains to a woman which I think, is in her 40's, the quailifications of a president of the Philippines. Well, that I think was a very good point on her part because she tries to inform the woman of a basic knowledge that an ordinary citizen like her should possess espeially at her age right now.

She explained that a person, to be qualified as a presidential candidate should be atleast forty years old. On that part she is correct but not until when she added that an additional qualification is that, he who has the intention of running for presidency should have served atleast 10 years in the government.

I was on the verge of spewing the food in my mouth the moment that I heared that.The Constitution clearly provides in Section 2 Article 7 that "No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on the day of the election,and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election."

Now the question is where did she get that idea? Did she even browse the constitution or such are hearsays coming from unreliable sources. I pity not only the student but also the woman she's talking to because she was a recipient of a false statement and was deprived of a verifiable truth.

But I don't wanna blame them. Such case is an evidence of a weak system of education in this country. If there's an institution responsible for informing its citizens about the basics of the government, that should be the Department of Education.

Come to think of it, that woman, at her age might have exercised her right of suffrage for several times. And that college student may participate in the election in the future. It was just so sad to realize that maybe the reason of bad governance here in our country is that people are just plain ignorant.

RUN OF THE MILL

I was called for a recitation to my intro to law class this morning. It was actually the second time that I was called, the last time was last saturday. I might say that it was an average and a mediocre performance though I studied all night just to be capable of answering all the questions that will possibly be thrown on me. But as my professor said, reading is far from understanding all the cases. I don't know how I would change this lifestyle that I have. I'm being happy of being just an ordinary student without striving hard of becoming extraordinary.

But I know, life doesn't end there. I still have my chance of changing this kind of attitude that I have. I must overcome this notion that I must only become regular. I know that the chance of excellence is being robbed by this principle that dominates me.

I couldn't be like this if I am really determined of pursuing law in the future. I couldn't be like this in law school. Being a working student would not justify this kind of performance that I have right now. There are lots of working students out there who still manage to be the best that they can.

I need to have a strong inner motivation. I shouldn't be contented with mediocrity. I should not shrink towards it. :(