By the way, so I
woke up about 5:30 am preparing to take a bath early because I knew my other
siblings were also going to use the bathroom sooner. However, as soon as I was
about to get my clothes on the closet, Ate woke up and saw me, ordering me to
take my bath fast. Since it was still too early by the way, I just let her
first. Few minutes later, Kuya woke up next! Then I have no choice but to let
him first as well. I was able to take my bath almost 6:30 am.
I left the
apartment passed 7 am. As I stepped out of the gate, several things started to
play on my mind. I thought of those times when I used to go to school or to the
hospital, in white uniform, sometimes very very early. Now, I just wore ordinary
clothes. While walking, I kept on saying on my mind, much as if I was talking
to the people I walked by, "Don’t look at me. I'm not going to the school.
I'm a graduate already." Like it was a big deal that I’m not in uniform,
eh? Haha.
On the jeepney, the
next thing I thought was "Don’t I look like a college graduate?" Then
I saw a girl passenger. Though unsure, I couldn’t help but envy her because she
looks like one. Her clothes were simple but elegantly formal in some way. She
even had make up on and nail polish -- compare to me, who was on a plain
blouse-jeans pair with a bare face and very short nails. That made me feel like
something's wrong with my dress code.
On the way, I saw a
doctor from MCU-FDTMF hospital, where I took my internship. I guessed so due to
her familiar coat. It was a little traffic, but still I managed to arrive at
the right time at the meeting place MLA and I set. It was almost 7:30 am. While
walking, I could already see her on a far close distance. It was good to see
her again after more than one month of no meeting. We have some little talk and
we went on.
Pioneer Educational Review Center
is on the third floor. We have to take the escalator and to climb another level
of stairs. Actually, we both didn’t know what we were going to do. We first
went to the office. There we saw others who we supposed reviewees just like us
as well. The area was already crowded. We just did as the others. We fell in
line. At the counter, we saw lists of names with section and seat number. We
looked for our names in it. And we have it. We are in the same section --
Section B -- and are seatmates -- me at seat number 20 and she at seat number
21. I gave my unpassed requirement -- the 2 pieces 1 by 1 I.D. picture -- to Ma'am Secretary there. My friend had nothing to pass anymore because she have already
handed it when we first came there to file our reservation. So Ma'am Secretary gave
us instructions -- though we both didn’t understand well where we should go
next. We just wanted to get out of that almost getting hot despite the air
conditioner, crowded and noisy room.
We went outside which
is less crowded than inside the office and stood on one corner where we saw a
room. Perhaps it was what Ma'am Secretary mentioned where we should go? Because I
was the one closer to the door, I was the one who peek inside. I saw other
girls and boys there. I didn’t know how but I just found myself asking someone
who was about to get out. "What section is this?" "Section
A." "Ah. Okay. Thanks!" We were at the wrong room. We tried to
recall what Ma'am Secretary instructed us. "Section B, go downstairs."
We went downstairs.
While walking, we then started our little complaints. It is dark on that area.
The place lacks lightings. There are no even signs of some sorts like
"This way" or "Section A" or "Section B" whatsoever.
Soon, someone, who I supposed is working there, saw us and ushered us to our
room. Finally. Actually, we didn’t really walk that far. We were just at the
second floor.
We went inside the
room. Not really bad. Clean - check. Roomy - check. Air conditioned - check.
Nice desks and white board - check. Much
really like a typical classroom in a school. We looked for our seats. There it
was -- at the isle-most part! Front column even! Just that we were on different
rows. We sat. What we immediately noticed
was the writings on the board. We thought it was our schedule. Not really convinced
with our own thoughts, we just ignored it.
Few moments later,
we began to feel at ease at the place. We have a lot of conversation while
others continue to arrive, including some of our past acquaintances. The thing
was -- no one was sitting on my side! Where are my seatmates?! I could just
pout my lips and do an ugly face, especially when my friend noticed it too.
Suddenly, Sir Unknown -- who we first saw at the office while ago and was even greeted
by other reviewees -- came in.
Just as I thought,
he's some sort of a significant person at the center -- not just someone old
and/or known so to be greeted by few. Right after his short welcome address, he
immediately bid his goodbye and explained that he would be orienting Section A upstairs
first before us so for the meantime, we would take our assessment examination
first.
Huwaaaaaaat?! So
what is written on the board and we just ignored while ago is really true?! To
be honest, the very reason why we ignored the writings is because of that first
part: "Section B June 2 - Orientation and Assessment examination". Hahaha.
But no complaints anymore. There we were then. It was for us anyway. So Sir
Unknown -- still -- left, and Sir Usherette entered -- with test papers on his
hands.
We started
answering. Almost more than one hour passed, I already felt tired and hopeless.
Not mentioning those that I really don’t know, the exam is not actually
difficult at all. It was just that I already forgot most of it. Obviously, my
brain had gone on vacation after graduation, and actually until now. Good
timing, Sir Unknown suddenly came and started our orientation.
He shared some ways
to pass the board exam. The sharing was actually lengthy. To make it short, his
main point is the most important things to pass the board exam are: 1.) Review
contents itself, and the way or system and discipline of studying; 2.)
Determination; 3.) Health; and last but not the least, 4.) Faith.
A very inspiring
word of wisdom from Sir NM. Yes, the one and only! Oh, who is he? He's “just”
the very main reason why we, after graduating with our course and passing the
licensure examination can be called "professionals". He is “just” the
second president of Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Inc.
(PAMET, Inc.) -- the national organization of the said profession -- whose
during his presidency, R.A. 5527 also known as the Philippine Medical
Technology Act was enacted into law -- which made medical technologists in the
Philippines to be recognized as professional. Not really big name, yeah? Haha.
So sarcastic. Okay, I’m stopping. Honestly, I didn’t even know that he is the
director of this review center. I just realized all of these in the middle of
his talk.
So anyway, I guess
his share took about more or less an hour. After announcing that we could leave
after finishing our exam, he then left again.
We continued our
exam. If while ago I was thinking and digging -- well, at least -- this time I
suddenly felt rushed and uninterested losing my focus on the test. What a
shame. After those advices we just heard like "be serious" and others,
here I was then. But I couldn’t help it. Anyway, who wouldn’t be if you know
you were going to be finally free after that? Moreover, I was already hungry by
then. And my friends were done yet -- who I guess felt rushed too. Haha.
10:30 am. 175
itemed-five-paged exam -- at last, DONE! After our hesitation earlier and failure
to hear any explanation about the writings on the board, we just concluded that
it is really our schedule. We copied it. Then we prepared to leave. We stepped
out of the room and passed our test papers to Sir Usherette who was sitting and
waiting behind the door.
We started to talk
about what to do next -- of course none of us wanted to go home immediately. We
decided to fix our other requirement to avail free review at the center -- some
sort of certification of Latin honor. Remembering what RJLA have told me
before, we followed his instructions on how to request for the said document on
our alma mater, FEU, which is just around the corner, beside the review center.
Funny thing, things
really change. Now, we have to enter FEU through the Visitor's Lounge -- not
the main gates anymore. Inside the lounge, inside the campus, we asked here and
there this and that, until we finally accomplished what we ought to do. This
experience somehow made me feel like "Am I really a former student here?
Did I really study here?" These were what I thought.
On the process, I
encountered a little problem. It seemed like my account wasn’t still updated.
Maybe it's because I paid late. Hehe. I was a naughty student actually when it
comes to settling my account balance. I have already the money in my hand but I
always delay in paying. It is not because I was spending it but because I just
felt like not paying it yet -- anyway I could still take our exams even if I
was not still cleared with my tuition -- which I was too worried of before I
learned it, but after I realized that, I didn’t worry myself about it anymore
so it became okay for me to not pay as soon as possible. Hehe. Sorry for that.
After we were done,
we decided to finally eat lunch -- well for me, it was brunch since I haven't
eaten my breakfast yet. It was passed 12 pm then. Jollibee! MLA suggested it
since that branch was newly-renovated. The place was almost full but we managed
to get a table -- near the staircase! Haha! MLA stayed at the table while I
ordered our food. 1 pc chicken with 1 rice, regular coke and new Shakeys
chocolate for her while 1 pc burger steak with 1 rice, regular coke and mix in Kit
Kat for me. Ruined diet and budget again. Hehe. While eating, we have a good
and full funny talk like there was no tomorrow. We surely missed times like
this.
In fast food chains
like this, usually orders are serve all at one. But our desserts were served
later -- well at least good timing -- we
just consumed our main course. To my stupidity, I asked the server a straw for MLA
-- when I know it was supposed to be part of the self-service! Yes, I know that
too well. My problem was because when I got our spoons and forks the first time
I went to the utensils area, the straw dispenser was already empty so when I
got this chance, I just suddenly asked one. I didn’t intend to be like a richy
richy spoiled costumer, but I think I just offended the server -- or it was
just my stupid late guilt?
We finished eating
by 1 pm. And we decided to go home then. She went there and I went here. She
actually suggested me to go on her way so that we could still be together. It
was a good idea actually, since I could still reached where I could ride my way
home -- just not my usual route and I'm afraid I'm not used to that way so I
declined. Our ways separated then. Though not just like before that I would
again pass inside FEU campus, entering
at one gate and exiting at the other one on the other side, I walked my usual
way and rode home.
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