Things I learned from taking the Graduate School

1. Pursue your dream. I am a frustrated teacher that became a frustrated accountant, I ended up shifting and graduating a Finance course. During the college graduation, I really said to myself that one day I want to earn a graduate degree. I look up to my professors and bosses who are lawyers, CPAs, MBAs, and Doctors. I love listening to their stories, and since day one I keep on telling myself that someday, somehow I will be one of them. 2. Resources will come. After graduating, my first job was a bank front liner, a minimum wage earner, that rents an apartment, pay monthly bills, gives money to my parents, hands monthly allowances and tuition fees to my siblings. I never really have money to start studying again. I never owned a computer, I stay late in the office after overtime to encode my reports, I run by friends to borrow laptop for late night researches, case studies and take home exams. I accepted a transfer of job because the company will let me borrow a laptop. I save for saturday classes. My tuition fees came from my bonuses and salary loans. 3. Listen to your "believers". These are the kind of people that sees you strong, fierce and don't know how to give up, despite most of the people telling you that that's the hard way and at any point in time you can fail and never reach the finish line. I remember that I made a crucial decision of accepting another job, during the time that I was writing my thesis. It was because I needed money and the opportunity was right before my hand. A lot of people is questioning me why I accepted the job for money despite the fact that my previous employer and bosses support on my academic side line. A lot of people warned me that it is never easy, worst not meeting the deadline of my graduation. I heard and listen to thoughts but I also listened to the few people that told me "it was never just about your environment, it will be about you and your will to finish it". 4. Giving up is a choice. Graduate school is place that you can meet all kinds of people, with also all kinds of stories, work, family backgrounds. I had classmates who were given all the resources in the world, I had also intelligent classmates, I had also classmates who were the presidents of corporations, professors, lawyers and professionals, but sadly they did not reached the finish line for various reasons. As one of our professor tells us, this is not just about mind and money, this is about enduring everything that will come along the way that will test you, this is about surviving the race and never giving up your dream. 5. Find a partner that will love you more. Partner that is willing to understand, accepts and support you will all your academic priorities. This means less time for dates and adventures because of reading journals, reviewing for comprehensive exams, and coffee after classes. Partner, spouse or boyfriend that will encourage you to pursue and push you when you become tired and reminds you that you can do it, that you are the best student and that he is willing to wait for you after you finish your saturday classes, willing to cheer you up in the middle of the night, and who is so patient with you in times that your so impatient. 6. Have a support peer group. It is also important to have a group of friends who are under going what you are experiencing, classmates that you can ask what they did the last session that you were not around, seatmates that will share you the current events and that will make you laugh during 2pm boring lectures, super friends that will meet after class to look for something to eat after classes inside the walls of intramuros and binondo. They are someone you who will share the laughter and challenges of grad school life, they will not be just a classmate, they will be one of your true friends. 7. Look for a supportive adviser. I am lucky to have a campus crush adviser. There are a great number of professors that you can choose from, consider their background. But more than the insights that they can give you is the encouragement. I never remember anything he contributed on my paper. What I can vividly remember is that, he is like a father that never get tried of cheering me up, telling me that I did my best, in the times that I know I did not, he is someone that hand me the first congratulations during my colloquium presentation, he never gets tired to remind me that "I can do it." 8. Work-Life-Study Balance.This is one of the major challenges, you should learn how to know what to prioritize, be mindful of the deadlines in the offices, keep in mind that you can study because you are working, never forget deadlines of manuscripts, researches and group meetings. Also remember to spend time with your loved ones, spending sundays with them are the best stress relievers. Have a time for yourself, you also deserve to rest and most especially never deprive yourself from sleep. 9. Be friend with time. I can never count the times that I said "how I wish I could extend the 24hrs a day", for being a super woman in all the aspects of life, work and school, if only I can duplicate or triplicate myself to attend to everything and everyone at the moment. Accept and most out of the 24hrs everyday, don't rush, never cram, plan ahead, take a deep breath, yes, ever second counts, so make the most out of it. 10. Read a lot. Thank God I love to read, weather you like it or not you should read a lot, from current events to latest journals published, case studies and references. 11. Share. (Talk to people) Graduate school is not spoon feeding type, its more of about sharing your insights, opinions and experiences about certain topic. Its about sharing and listening to other peoples lives. I remember during our leadership simulation that its in sitting down and listening to someone's strengths and weaknesses is the best way to know the person. You may see him as the most weak person in the classroom but he is the strongest person in the group that can cross the thinnest log of life to go to the other side of the river. Never judge someone and remember that there is something good in every person. 12. Don't be afraid to fail yourself and cry. You will never finish grad school 13. Believe that you are a writer. 14. Have fun. 15. Affirm yourself. 16. Express Gratitude. 17. Think about your reasons for dreaming. 18. Sleep. 19. Best lessons are never learned in classrooms. 20. Trust God.

1st of July

All these time I feel that I cannot come out of what I wanted to tell to the world my thoughts and everything I wanted to say,. everything I post or that I say is not about I wanted to tell that I don't like my work or what... !!!!!! sorry for disappointing them by the way I speak or write brutally (as what they think about me and the way I write) its just putting into writing the reality that they are avoiding for the longest time.

Bilog. A Tribute to a dog that changed my life.

Early this morning, my brother told me that "Bilog" was not around. They already get him, because he is now weak and old. This is not a another "Marley Me" or "Hachico" story.

"Bilog". I don't know his breed and age (but I know he is now old, according to my cousin he is about 9 years old now.) He stays just outside my bedroom. He was the one left in the house of my tita, we are just separated by grills. I stay there alone.

I remember the time, that I feel so alone, inside my place, I used to cry and cry. the moment I opened my door behind the grills I saw the sad face of this dog sadder than me. "Yes, you're also alone?". Then I will cry again. "Yes, you're also hungry?" If only "Bilog" can speak to me whenever I used to speak to him. His eyes tells me the story how sad he was to be alone and hungry. For 9 long years he was stuck to a place when he can't see the world. Until I came. Crispy Pata. Fried Chickens. My friends and office mates knew its for "Bilog."

He became my ally. He makes me remember that I am with someone. He makes me remember that I should survive for him. He makes me realize that life is about helping another lone soul to be able to fight with your own battle. He makes me understand that you need someone who can help you and you can help.




Yes. It was a struggle, living life alone. But thank you I am surviving that battle. The greatest lesson I learned from you, "Change one heart a time." I maybe broken, still I try to help you and by helping you, you also helped me, alot, more that what I expected.


Thank You, "Bilog"
I miss you. The dog,outside the door of my bedroom behind the grills.

"Thank You and Congratulations"

Appreciated. This morning, I received an e-mail from a significant person reading it made me really speechless. This excerpt is his overall description of myself and how I work. Wow. This afternoon, someone told me, "Thank You and Congratulations!" Again, Wow. Wow.   

#100happydays 

My Engr. Brother

PRC Board of Registered Electrical

Engineers Oath Taking. Official! Congratulations!!!

God bless to your work. #100happydays

Family Escalator Groupie.

 Fun bonding lakad at tambay mode ngayong gabi. #100happydays

Day 15 of 100 happy days

 The royal surprise. Cupcakes!!! Its the

thought that counts kahit na epic fail.. salamat sa

masarap na pasalubong baby brother. Franco Ryan

Quinto Targa #100happydays

Dukhang Empleyado 1.0

3 years and 5 months to be exact. Regular employee. Below minimum wage salary. Voluminous workload.
Sobrang dami ko ng mga nakitang empleyado na dumating at umalis. Madami na din ako mga umaga na gumising ako at sinabi ko sa sarili ko "ayaw ko na", "nahihirapan na ako". Madami na din akong sakripisyong ginawa at pinagdaanan dito. Oo kayak o yung mahihirap na clients na kinatatakutan nila, kahit ng mga Managers, kaya ko yung mahirap na pinagdadaan ko sa BSP Audit, mga iba pang trabaho, pag gawa ng mga inutos mo, pagkulong nila sa isang sulok ng floor, minsang pag babalewala na andito ako lahat naman yun kaya ko.

Sana lang kaya ko pa pag kasyahin ang sahod ko sa lahat ng mga kailangan kong bayaran—sa kailangan ng pamilya ko, ng pag-aaral ko, ng bahay na tinutuluyan ko, ng pagkain naming araw araw, ng pamasahe ko, ng pag bibigay ko ng allowance sa kapatid ko, ng pambayad ni dade at sa pang araw-araw nila, ng pambigay ko kila mama at nanay kahit minsan pag-uuwi ako, ng pang tulong ko sa simbahan, ng pambigay sa kapatid ko para sa allowance niya sa review, paghahanap ng trabaho, at ngayon habang wala pa siyang sweldo. Pinipilit kong mag kasya lahat, oo hirap na ako actually hirap na hirap na dumarating mga araw na nag hahanap nalang ko nga barrya para makapasok sa opisina, minsan nakapila na ako sa sakayan ng fx pero kulang pala ang nabuo kong pera na nakakalat sa bag ko, minsan kailangan nalang nalang iiyak ko, nagalaw na pambayad ko ng tuition ng Midterms at Finals, hindi pa ako nakapagbayad ng bahay, naubos nap era ko kahapon sa pagkain naming sa labas kasi pumasa na kapatid ko sa engeneering board exam wala naman trabaho si dade, nabos, wala na din siyang pamasahe pauwi. Ang sakit na ng puso ko. Hindi pa din ako makatulong, kulang pa din talaga, ni mabilhan sila ng mga kailangan nila.

Hay, ganyan kahirap. 3 years and 5 months.
Bakit ko pa ba kailangan magtiis?

Day 14 of 100 happy days

Lucban Pancit Habhab and Longganisa. Sinundo nila ako sa office kasi di ako uuwi sabi ko. #100happydays

Am I aiming too high?

I just want to congratulate myself that after less than 4 years, I officially started to update my resume, have accounts in job hunting sites, and officially apply to companies. Too high? 3 international banks. 1 multinational company. It has been this long that I am clinging to a job that I've been hating from the start.

Congratulations for entering into the reality of many opportunities outside of your comfort zone.

Day 13 of 100 happy days

Conversation with Mama. Pinagsasabihan ko na mag payong pag-mainit. Missing our family. #100happydays

Day 12 of 100 happy days

 Ice Cream. No matter how heavy your load is, there's a Mini Stop Ice Cream. Salamat sa masarap na kwentuhan kaninang lunch. #100happydays

Day 11 of 100 happy days

My journal. 

I write because I love. I write because I live. I write because I write. Updated as of today. Yey! #100happydays

Day 10 of 100 happy days

Prayer. He knows. He listens. He answers in time. #100happydays

Day 09 of 100 happy days

Ang pag-aaral di kumpleto kung walang kaibigan. Feeling namin bakasyon na, kaya lunch out kahit malate. #100happydays #buhayestudyante 

Day 08 of 100 happy days

Questions have answers that will be given in Time. Remembering our BSP audit. (I made these from the annexes.) It has been a challenging job, it was the time that I thought I would give up, time that I really don't know to handle Time-to fulfill all that I should do and value it, you can never request for longer days but it's you that will make it productive. I learned so much and I know there is something more to learn. Keep seeking for questions. Tap at your back , you became tougher. #100happydays 

Day 07 of 100 happy days

You. 

1 month down, 11 months to go. 

#100happydays #happyday 

Day 06 of 100 happy days

Our St.Joseph Pastoral Station. Faith. Hope. Service. Love. Youth. Life. Challenges. Gift. Keep the faith and keep on serving. God knows and hears. Happy Fiesta! Celebration on saturday with Fr.Soc. How I wish I can go home, but I cannot, my prayers are with you. Aja! #100happydays

Day 05 of 100 happy days

"Why will we hire you?" Seminar. Conducted for the students of ABE Makati. Thank you! I had a great day. With my fellow MBA classmates as speakers. Epic day day but at least I survived. #100happydays

Day 04 of 100 happy days

Para kanino ka bumabangon? 

Para sa anak. Para sa kaibigan. Para sa 'di mo kakilala. Para sa bata. Para sa isip bata. Para sa marami. Para sa sarili. Para hindi ka lang basta gumigising. Bumabangon ka ng may dahilan. Dahil pag tinulungan mong bumangon ang isang tao, parang buong bayan na din ang bumabangon. 

Ikaw para kanino ka bumabangon? 

Let this be a reminder of our every breakfast, purpose and dream. This #nationalreakfastday and everyday.    Tara, kape at pandesal tayo. #100happydays

Day 03 of 100 happy days

PASINAYA 2014- to sit back and listen to the Philippine Madrigal Singers & Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, watch theater plays and dances and act in story telling session. It has been a great day of detoxifying, relaxing and realizing the beauty of our talents and culture.  So proud to be a Filipino. It started with a mass and ended up with tea. Thank you for spending my another #happiestday 

#100happydays 

Day 02 of 100 happy days

"Seriously? Do you want to write?" -Dean Cabulay, Speaker on our seminar about Writing, Best Practices, Trends and Strategies. Writing has been my passion, it is life put into paper. For a frustrated writer like me, it's just inspiring to hear a writer speak. Graduate School did a great job. #buhayestudyante #100happydays

Day 01 of 100 happy days

 A call that will wake you up in 2:50 AM to tell you how much he misses you. And that will made my day. Sweet start of my #100happydays 

Fri-date flashback

It was over and above. It was beyond our control. It will be over and over again. 1st date as classmates, and a hundred times eating and laughing together, great to look back, seat and eat in the same places in our hearts again. 

Status: "Feeling Loved"

God has a perfect reason why I didn't have enough courage to love you back then. 
God had a perfect reason why I stood still.
God had a reason why I cried so much. 
God had a magical reason why we used to hold on that long.
God had a magnificent reason why moving on had been so slow.
God had a ideal plan in our lives.


God uses people to teach us
God uses people to shape and mold us
God uses people to make us realize
God uses people to accept us
God uses people to learn
God uses people to believe
God uses people to Love everyday.

11/27/2013 11:01 AM

Random thoughts this morning.