UBian Blues: Life of a UBian, by a UBian

When you make a mistake it’s wrong, when teacher does it’s bonus

Let’s face it, there’s nothing you can do when you forget to read the instructions or to even write your name during exams or quizzes. Rules are rules after all; one mistake decides what your future is gonna look like. So I suggest, be vigilant. Train your guts to always write your name. Who knows, you may get a point for it. Also, be vigilant if you find a mistake by your professors, points din yan.

Ang periodical section sa library gihimo nang tun-anan, mao nang kalingaw puno

So here’s the thing; when I was a freshman, I usually go to the periodical section to read magazines and newspapers. Guess what? I can’t even get a seat there because people bring their homeworks and turn the periodical section into a study area. I don’t know if that’s legal or not, but it lost its purpose. Whilst the main library where there are plenty of chairs and tables, became a hangout area for squads and lovers. Was it because the aircon is cooler at the periodical section? Perhaps. The periodical section feels like a sardine-can when there are many people, naa pay mag-chika-chika, definitely not a good place to read.

Pasumangil tan-aw sa blackboard wa diay to kasabot

When you’re extremely exhausted and struggle to keep your eyes open during a class discussion. You pretend to understand the lesson and nod your head every time your professor takes a peek at you. That’s the least you could do for your professor, ikaw kunoy magtindog magsturya unya balewalaon raka. Plus, it turns professors off when they see someone not paying attention.

Don’t study, finance your cheating sources so they can study properly

Regular cheating is so two-years-ago, and because some UBians are so smart, they devised a new system that makes them go through college without learning anything. When you’re at your freshman years, you can immediately identify who among your batchmates are good at what they call “studying”. Of course, that’s why there are no bullies here in UB. They befriend the nerds and treat them well, and in exchange, those nerds become their source during exams or quizzes. Win-win situation.

Lovers be like; dark rooms at ST Building no more babe

Finally, the ancient ST building got renovated. It’s generally a good thing, but not to the lovers who intends to do their sweet dirty moves at the rooms there. The rooms are well-lit (at least when you turn the lights on). Sometimes I think there weren’t any ghosts there like what others say, there were something more insidious haunting the ST halls before it got renovated.

Clash of Clans and Mobile Legends are for noob kids, DOTA 2 is for adults

Some kids proudly call themselves “gamers” for playing COC, Mobile Legends, Pokemon Go, Flappy bird, you name it. But a true gamer is a DOTA gamer. That sounded like a little bit of discrimination. But that my friend, is a warning. You don’t dare align yourself with the gold-blooded, respawning, nut-cracking, demigods. Mortals don’t belong in the arena, you’ll instantly get killed by creeps.

F*ckboy is what jealous kids call people with good sense of fashion

The first time I heard about that term, I was confused. The word f*ck means different to English slang. F*ckboy, according to some, are male flirts who would lie, cheat, and hurt girl’s feelings. But why do people identify such person by how they dress? I mean, what’s the point? Let me give you a little eye-opener; you cannot identify a flirt person by how they dress. Even rapists come in different shapes; they could be drunkards in the street or a wealthy executive. However, a fashionable person attracts the most attention, which makes them susceptible to praise and discrimination, pity.

I would give anything, just accept my FR

Stalkers are like spies, but what makes them more effective in spying is that they do it passionately, especially when it comes to their crush. In old times, when you see someone and find them attractive, you go straight to them and talk. But today, it only takes a bit of intuition and guts just to know their name and immediately proceed with search-and-add operation, simple as that. Then you can proceed to the chat-and-introduce-yourself operation. Pilyo turns playboy, pilya turns biatch. But if your crush doesn’t hit back the buttons, then you’re in for a big dump. Move on nalang, wa tay mahimo ana bes.

Millenials are long thought to be the future of the world, for there comes a time when the people who run the world runs out of time, and it is up to us to follow their footsteps. We may even think that what we are doing gives our elders shame, but it’s part of growing up. Being young is blissful; you wish you could stay young forever. But as we grow, we realize that youth is just a small beginning to the vastness of what we can achieve in the future. As a wise mentor once said; “Make as much mistakes and crazy things as you can, then learn from it. If there are no mistakes left to make, only then you can grow to be a responsible citizen of this country.”

High School @ 68: Education in the Afterglow of Sunset

He sat quietly on his chair on the last row, staring at the white text written on the chalkboard. Eyes, now exhausted yet still calm. A sunglass, tucked on the hem of his white T-shirt that is still surprisingly neat and gleaming even it is already pass 4 o’clock in the afternoon. He wore a pair of flesh white shoes, printed with thin black stripes; laces carefully entangled to each other. His pants is on a quaint faded effect that match his black sling bag which is embracing his body like a child. The bell suddenly echoed to the whole campus as if announcing freedom at last. He stood up, and put his ball cap in reverse. The tangle of his hair that is greying prematurely, now covered and he finally joined his classmates in a tumultuous utterance of farewell to their dear teacher.

He is Virgilio G. Penticase –a grade 11 student of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS) from Catarman, Dauis, Bohol. He is now 68 years old and still, a certified eligible bachelor.        “Basin naa moy silingan daga edad 40, ah kana lang akoa. Din-a pud ko anang batan-on kay maulaw ko ana,” he said jocularly before the interview started which gives an atmosphere of gaiety that promise a voluble conversation with this down-to-earth man.

Tatay, as what his classmates and younger teachers call him, finish his elementary education on 1963 and it took him almost 50 years before he decided to pursue secondary education. Tatay Virgilio’s story is a perfect epitome that no precious stone known to man can replace the value of education. And what motivates him to continue what he started way back 1963 will surely touch your soul.

Perhaps, we study to earn a degree and most us see education as an investment. But as long as Tatay is concern, he wants to study again because of one simple reason –to know how to fill-up forms. “Dugay na to. Ingon tong laki, ayaw usiki nang porma nong kay inihap ra ba na. Baw, komedya ra gud siguro to,” tatay recalled. “Ingon ko, saon man ni sir? Diktari nalang ko are aron dili masayop kay kahibaw man ko mosuwat ang poblema lang pagsabot sa English, lisod gyud,” he continued with a shy smile. 

But going back to school in era where technology plays a huge part in the learning process is too strenuous and far more challenging for Tatay Virgilio than filling-up a bio data. He needs to adapt with the vivacity of his environment despite his age. “Tanang subject galisod ko. Pulos man mga maayo motuon mga maistra  ari yamo may maot. Ahong utok maoy deperensya. Lain man ng dugay ka makaundang ug eskwela,” Tatay explained. There are even instances where he falls asleep during class discussions and he admits that he easily forgets their lesson. “Pero di nako tayuon,” he defended himself.  Tatay confessed that some of their assignments is too difficult for him and obviously, he does not have any idea how to use the internet. What makes it even harder for Tatay Virgilio to study his lesson is his diminishing eyesight. “Din-a maklaro ang letra gagmay kayo. Gawas ug nay antyuhos kanang para basa bitaw? Hing palit ko, nabuak man natumban,” Tatay continued. Nevertheless, he diligently answers all their activities through the help of his classmates who always offer him a hand. Still got an excuse for not completing your requirements? Talk about perseverance.

                As he watched other students who are busy chatting with their friends while others are staring intently in their phones’ screen, Tatay made a comment regarding the effect of technology to the youth. He said that the youth of the 21^st century can easily understand the English and Filipino language  because of television. “Kanang ing-ani (cellphone) gani kung tagaan ko ninyo, iasa man na naku? Di man ko kahibaw mogamit. Mga bata ron mao nay namat onan bisan tulo ka tuig kahibaw mogamit,” he stated.

 During his childhood years Tatay recounted, feeling nostalgic, that even a radio can be rarely seen in their place and it must be the reason why he finds it difficult to familiarize English and Filipino language which is now the medium of instruction at school. Also, his childhood and teenage years is not a typical play-day-memories or a growing-up-with-fun scenario. As a brother to six siblings, he decided to help his family in earning a living after graduating elementary through helping his father who was a fisherman. Thus he spent more time playing with the waves than reading a book.

However, if there is one question that you are dying to know right now it must be, “Why on earth is he still single?”

“Aw  wa puy kursonada,” is what Tatay Virgilio’s immediate response. And when ask why the idea of marrying someone did not cross his mind, Tatay simply answered, “Way kaya pud. Pila ra man ng pangitaana, managat, yamoy porsyento na gawas engineer, aw kana! Dako nag porsyento.” Though it did not answer the question directly, Tatay already offered a kind of answer that will make anyone speechless. Right now, he is living contentedly with his brother who also happened to be a bachelor. Yes, you heard it right -a bachelor.

After spying about Tatay Virgilio’s love life, he suddenly got serious and started talking about the E word again. As the only 68-year old student in their class, he always tells his classmates to take their studies seriously. He keeps on giving his advice that education is the only gift, the only “bahandi”, a person can give to himself. And as long as we are young, we should never stop yearning to learn. “ Labi nang nay ikagasto? Ayaw undang eskwela,” tatay said vehemently.

Just when Tatay is about to tell his plans after he will finish Senior High School, one of his classmates approached him and reminded him that he should be at school before 9 o’clock in the morning the following day for they have a skilled test. And Tatay simply replied, “Oh are lang ko mamahaw kay kung adtoa amua, malate man ko.”

Then there is silence.

* * *

* * *

 “Gikan sa Bohol Museum, magbaklay ko padulong are (DCPNHS) unya pauli pod basta dili mag uwan. Kara adlaw na,” he said, answering a question not yet asked.

* * *

* * *

Come to think of it.

While there are students who see education as a mere obligation, there are some student like Tatay Virgilio who genuinely wants to learn.

While there are students who spent their time squandering their parents’ money for fun, there are students, like Tatay Virgilio who bleed on their way up just to earn that precious diploma.

While there are students who wants to give up, there are students, like Tatay Virgilio who are willing to sacrifice for the sake of education.

And to those people who think they do not deserve a second chance, Tatay Virgilio is a living proof that it is never too late to continue what you have started.

It takes more than courage and perseverance; more than determination and patience to chase that never-forgotten dream - to learn.  As for Tatay Virgilio’s exceptional story, it’s humble beginning started with “aron makakat-on lage”. In the world where everything moves forward, what it takes for Tatay Virgilio in fulfilling his heart’s desire is not going ahead, but going back.