Finally, my youngest sister Grace is now an alumni at Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Her course Bachelor of Office Administration is designed to prepare graduates for administrative, supportive, and supervisory positions in business or industrial settings, professional offices, public institutions, and government agencies.


I write down below some of my advices for her start-up age.

1. Dream Bigger.
   Everything you see started as a dream. And I congratulate you. Our parents first dream was to see us all finish college. Hindi tayo tinigilan nila Mama at Tatay sa mga payong mag-aral tayong mabuti ng makapag tapos tayo ng pag-aaral. Now na graduate ka na Grace don't stop dreaming #dreamBIG. Nothing will starts in your life if you don't start dreaming.
2. Make a plan (stick to it)
   List down your goals and make a plan. Planning for exactly when and how is the main ingredient in achieving your goals.
   Example: Savings for holiday
   When? This coming December 2014 my plan is to have 3,000 pesos in my savings bank.
   How? I will save 500 pesos a month starting July.
   
3. Never give up
   Never let an impossible situation intimidate you to give up instead let it motivates you to pray more, believe more, trust more, experience more, learn more, deliver more and grow more. Remember that every problem has a solution.
4. Smile big
   Always smile, I know you are very cheerful lady and the more you smile the more natural beauty comes out to your pretty face. :)
5. Attend seminars or read books
   Look for some seminars available about the topics that you are interested in or read the books. Maraming mga hidden gems ang nakasulat sa libro take their advices. This will help you think outside the box.
6. Don't get credit cards
   No no. Every time you owe somebody's money, you become a slave to the lender. Marami ngayong nagkalat na mga offer to get a credit card. Please avoid them. Credit card companies may offer low interest but interest is still an interest.
7. Take Control Of Your Cash
   After getting your salary leave 10% of it to your bank. Ito ang magiging bayad mo sa sarili mo. Pay yourself first and start building emergency fund. Live below your means and be disciplined in handling money.
8. Build a Network
   Networking is getting to know new people new friends but please choose right people din to accompany. Just keep your ears open and listen for information that could work to your advantage. Do not be afraid to reach out successful alumni working in fields that interest you. You can ask them to share their career stories and take their advice.
9. Continuing Education
   Never stop learning new things, develop new skills and discover your talents. Invest in yourself and acquire knowledge. Teach yourself new skills.
10. When you pray, believe
    Matthew 7:7  “Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
    Mark 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
    Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. :) 

I love you Grace, I love you all.

Tomorrow is the first day in uni of my youngest brother Oscar. He is taking BS Computer Science at Technological Institute of the Philippines - Quezon City. And because I'm far away I decided to write down some tips and advices for him and to all students out there.

1. Wake up early, go to school early, leave early and sleep early
   Gumising ng maaga, pumasok sa eskwelahan ng maaga, umalis sa room ng maaga at matulog ng maaga ito ang una ko sa listahan because this is the start of the day. If you start your day early you can plan your day's schedule. This will also avoid you rushing on the streets to get jeepneys. Start your day with a thankful heart. Everyday is a blessing.
2. Don't skip your meals, eat breakfast first
   Kumain sa tamang oras at pahalagahan ang agahan. Kapag ang estudyante ay nagmamadali na sa pagpasok sa eskwelahan minsan nagiging least priority ang pagkain sa umaga. Please change the habit and make it a priority to eat first your breakfast and don't skip your meals but don't practice overeating in school if you don't want to spend more time in the toilet.
   
   Drink water and avoid soda at all cost practice healthy living while you are young. Eat more vegetables and fruits to feed your mind.
3. Make a list, write down your notes
   Ilista ang lahat ng mahahalagang tips and reminders sa iyong kwaderno or notebook. Importante ito dahil ito magiging guide mo to avoid things left undone. Always get your notepad and pen ready para pag may important tips or reminders ang mga professors ay maisulat mo agad.
4. Check the announcement boards
   Some students might not pay attention to boards on schools but it's important to go out and check. Dito kasi nakapaskil ang mga mahahalagang annoucements, news and updates ng school. Kung minsan dito din nakapost un mga organizations and groups na available like yung mga dancers, singers, arts org etc. Find a group that will push your highest potential, yung mga skills and talents na tinatago mo ilabas mo sa school.
5. Visit the school library
   When I was a student I love staying at the library if I have time not because the room was air-conditioned but because I was reading few notes that catches my attention.
6. Raise your hands
   If you know the answer, raise your hands! Hindi masamang magtaas ng kamay or if mahiyain ka isang subject, isang beses. This will boost your confidence not just in school but if you know something there's no harm saying it. In attending seminars I noticed that those people who raised their hands get the rewards.
7. Do your assignments first
   Bago ka magcomputer or mag-internet make sure you did your homework first para mas marami kang magawa the rest of the day. Kapag may mga questions ka use Google. Take note, Google is your bestfriend.
   Ask questions, if you don't understand, ask. Hindi masamang magtanong lalo na kung kumukuha ka ng impormasyon but of course don't ask silly questions haha :)
8. Take a nap
   Kapag may mga problem solving at di mo masolve agad most especially un mga Math and logic subjects and you think na it consumed all your time na pero hindi mo parin talaga makuha ang sagot take a nap or rest ipahinga mo muna ung utak mo then balikan mo siya ulit makikita mo masasagutan mo na siya. :) Trust me. I'm not sure if this works for you but this works for me. Haha Sometimes if your mind have lots of things hindi ka makakapag-concentrate ng maayos but if nakapagcharge ka na ng brain madali mo nalang yan makukuha.
9. Create a budget, save 1 peso a day
   At early stage make a budget everyday make sure that you know where your money goes and be a smart spender. 
10. Surround yourself with good positive people
    Make sure you have friends that will help you, encourage you more in studies. Friends that values education and families.

Good morning Tuesday!

I always start my day checking notifications at Facebook, bulk of emails at Gmail and reading tweets at Twitter. While reading short tweets in Twitter, I saw gmanews tweets asking "Sapat bang ipagbawal ang mga computer shop malapit sa paaralan para iwas-bulakbol ang mga estudyante?". I replied, depends :).





I've been working in 2 years now, how I missed being a student.

Computer shops near our school plays important role in my student life, not just because I am a computer student in college but because computer shops was one of our favorite place to hang-out. :) There was a time when I was in highschool that I was so excited after class.. because after class was our time at Zirconia - one of the nearest computer shops at our school that time.

EJ was one of my dearest highschool friend, I asked him if he could help me in searching my assignment in Filipino. Nah! it was hard to searched because what we need were old filipino music lyrics. So I asked him if he could help me out.. I was beside him and I noticed that he was so familiar using the web and typed very fast at keyboard. Wow! I was really amazed that time. We have computer at home but we are not interested using it, kinda bored. No internet.

Then I knew, EJ spent lot of his spare time playing games that makes him very familiar using computer.

That's the beginning of my interest in computer. Gusto ko din ma-master, exploring the world wide web.

So nung nag-college na kame pinayuhan ako ni EJ na kunin ang Bachelor of Science in Computing na course kesa sa Engineering course (Civil Engineer). Wala akong regrets sa course na kinuha ko, ang sabi ko sa sarili ko kinuha ko to tatapusin ko :)

Ganto lang naman ang naging buhay estudyante namin noon.

Eksena 1: "Ang init! Tara, sa computer shop tayo"
Palamigan din namin dati ang mga computer shops :)

Eksena 2: "Asan sila? Nasa computer shop."
Sa malapit na computer shop sa school sila madalas matatagpuan (sila - refers to my classmates)

Eksena 3: "Dito lang ako sa BJ Computer Shop, wait kita dito"
Nagiging antayan din namin ang computer shop, Hehehe. Computering while waiting! Hahah.

Eksena 4: "Dota? Dota!"
Nanonood ako habang nagdodota sila.. Ayoko matuto. Heheh.

Eksena 5: "Wala daw si Sir! . . Sige, computer muna ako."
Haha. Mahal na mahal ko dati ang Friendster, so I always keep in touch. Changing my Friendster layout, adding bit html codes when I'm putting testimonials to my friends.

Eksena 6: "15 pesos x 5 hours = Php 75.00 para sa internet cost"
Ubos ang pera, ang bilis ng oras 5 hours na palang nasa computer shop.

Di ko na maalala ung ibang eksena pero lahat nangyayare sa computer shop. Doon kame natuto. Nagiging tambayan namin. Minsan nga me time na dun na kame nagkikita-kita magkakaklase, kahit di naman nag-usap. Super close kame sa mga computer shops. Nagiging friend din namin ang mga nagbabantay. Sa halos araw-araw ba naman na nakikita nila kame eh namememorize na kame. Pero hindi naman namin pinabayaan ang pag-aaral namin non :)

As college students, self-discipline pa rin talaga. Hindi palaging dis-advantage, me advantages din. Pag wala naman kasing magawa sa school, wala ang prof, talagang ang bagsak namin kung hindi sa mga foodchains sa SM Manila, sa mga computer shops sa may San Marcelino ang bagsak namin. :)

Halos 1 year na rin akong working.. Nakakamis na ang buhay estudyante..

Naaalala ko pa dati na sabik na sabik na kong gumradweyt at halos tamarin na sa araw-araw na pag-gising ng maaga para pumasok sa eskwela. Ngayon parang gusto kong ikwento i-blog ang buhay college ko.. Ako lang naman ang magbabasa nitong blog at walang magtitiyagang basahin to. Heheh

Hai.. Wala nang mga klasmeyts ngayon.. Wala nang group bondings.. Wala na ring fieldtrip. Wala ng exams.. Natapos ko na ang apat na taon sa kolehiyo. Tahimik na at mag isa nang tinatahak ang realidad ng buhay.

I miss my college life at Technological University of the Philippines -  Manila.

Ngayong nakuha ko na ang Transcript of Records ko last week wala na kong documents na need pa sa school.. Baka wala na rin akong balikan. But then I'm very thankful sa mga professors and clasmeyts ko sa college.. Hindi lang sila mga naging profs and classmeyts.. Silay naging friends, sisters and parents to me.. They touched my life in a simple way na mananatili sa alala ko hanggang sa pagtanda.

Tunay ngang ang lahat ay may katapusan. 

Ang kung anumang sinimulan ay matatapos din sa tuldok. Ang pag-sshare ko ngayon ay matatapos din. Kung sakaling binabasa mo ito ay aabot ka din ng dulo. Kaya ang college life ay mananatili na sa akin. Ang buhay na binuo ko kasama ang mga kaklase, guro, mga kaibigan, pamilya ay napakahalagang pamana ng panahon sa akin. Hindi na maibabalik ang edad ko nun college pa ko mga taong nag aadjust pa lang ako sa tunay na karera ng buhay. Nakakatuwang isipin 21 na ko ngayon at namimis ko na agad maging students pumasok sa skwela ng naka uniform. Hehe. Gusto kong ikwento ang unang araw ko sa kolehiyo maybe kung may time soon. Sa ngayong hanggang dito nalang muna :)