Kalumpit: Don't pop that cherry

It's June! It's kalumpit season!

Here in Manila, few are aware of what a kalumpit is. This is why a kalumpit tree and its fruits are sometimes left to rot in the ground. Kalumpit is a cherry-like fruit that is popular in Batangas but I knew it from growing up in Nueva Ecija (there are lots of kalumpit there, particularly in Cabanatuan). My grandmother would regularly prepare sweetened kalumpit for us, so mama became fond of it.

Kalumpit (looks like duhat, right? HAHAHA)

I have actually mistaken a duhat for kalumpit because I am more familiar with kalumpit than duhat. 

Going back, mama asked me to accompany her to UP Diliman because she wants to pick some kalumpit. Not surprisingly for mama, she does not remember where the kalumpit tree is since it was long ago when she last picked some. She told me that she first started picking kalumpit in UP when she was still in college.  

The gut feel challenge

This may sound ridiculous but for 5 months now I've been playing this game. It's really simple.

The game:
You just tabulate the number of times you followed or did not follow your gut feel and write a sad face or smiling face depending on how it turned out.

Why play:
I don't know why I thought of this game but since it has given me such an interesting result I want to know if this can be replicated by others (so I will be really glad if you could share your result with me)

My result:
My result was that I followed my gut feel for 27 times and it all led to a happy face or nice result but during the start of the game I did not follow my gut feel for 8 times and it all led to a sad face or disappointing result.

Conclusion:
See? Isn't it interesting how our gut feel can always turn out to be right? I would not believe it had I not done it.

Most of the situations where I used gut feel were whenever I was stuck with two options. Sometimes the other choice being a product of my reasoning. It's really simple but the most common situation I was stuck with was "Should I wear shorts or pants?" (shorts because it looks as though it's really humid outside, pants because I feel like it's going to rain). BTW I never used gut feel alone to decide when I'm in a relatively crucial moment where a lot of things are at stake.

Side story:
I read somewhere (Social Intelligence?) that as a part of an experiment, someone with Alzheimer's was introduced to a doctor who then pricked the patient's hands. Then after some time, when the patient has already forgotten of the incident, he will again be introduced to the same doctor.

Results showed that the patient was having 2nd thoughts on whether to shake hands with the doctor or not. I forgot where the result was attributed to, but I say that it is our intuition, our instinct, our gut feel. I think somehow, gut feel has reasons, it's just that we have forgotten how to connect with ourselves and listen to our body that we put it off as something that cannot be explained and is therefore "unreasonable".

I think that if the mind can forget, the soul/the heart cannot.

Bicol express? Try Bicol impress!

Okay, that was a lame and ungrammatical joke.

Anyway, I was at CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) last May 2-5 for the first ever TAYO summer youth camp (which was btw a real blast so I encouraged you guys to join next year)! Honestly, I didn't expect much when I decided to join the camp, especially because it was free. I thought that at best, it would be mediocre, but I was gravely mistaken. The camp was well planned, well organized, well budgeted, well implemented, and well documented! I was blown away.

HJ, Mae (photo courtesy of her too), Me

Since the camp was held at Bicol, I can't help but put a spotlight on the region, it is a fantastic place after all. That said, here are my top 5 impressive things about Bicol (and the camp).

5. Can be reached via bus (car)

Bus 1

You know I love plane rides but I like long bus rides just as much (especially if I'm with the right people, if you know what I mean, hahaha) However, I advise that you bring a really thick and large jacket because most of the buses will be really cold and you might have a hard time resting if the temperature is unbearable. The bus ride usually takes 10-12 hours, and freezing to death while in the bus is not a very good way to die, don't you think? hihi

4. Bicol Express 
or the Bicol cuisine is known for its use of chilies, coconut milk, and shrimp paste. It's usually spicy to very spicy in nature. I kind of like it since my father is a Bicolano (and he has greatly influenced what I like and dislike). My favorite would be laing (gabi/taro leaves in coconut oil and chilies) although their laing is presented differently since they have it wrapped in some kind of leaf. I actually like the unwrapped laing more because I find it juicier, therefore the spices spread more. Oh well, to each his own.

BTW they made me eat a whole chili (as a challenge that I needed to accept) and I immediately turned bulimic. I swear it is the only time when I am thankful that my stomach throws up everything that I don't like. I remembered the time when I ate a siling labuyo to sober up and I ended up puking every damn alcohol in my body. Well, if you can imagine that, then it's the same ugly sight.

Written between the lines

I told myself before that I won't write anything thesis-related once it's over. After all, I already passed and I'm already contented with that. Nonetheless, one email changed my mind and actually made me look back on my thesis life.

Not surprisingly, "Thesis-ing" is so much more than just Living the Brand: An Exploratory Study on Brand-Supporting Behaviors Among Selected Employees of Organization X. It is so much more than just learning how to decently write an academic paper, and certainly more than just getting your respondents done and over. In fact, I now quite understand why Dr. Sarile, the founder of Organizational Communication in the Philippines, insisted that a research subject like this be kept in the current and future curriculum of OrCom. Just like UP, "thesis-ing" is a very holistic way of learning, inside and outside the classroom. It is a holistic way of learning how and when to adhere and not to adhere with certain protocols of society. But that, you'll have to learn on your own.

Villanueva, AC | Living the Brand: An Exploratory Study on Brand Supporting Behaviors among...

Writing my thesis was mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and even spiritually taxing that I got really stressed out. There was even a time when literally my whole family was suffering from dengue but I wasn't. Maybe it was my mind telling me that I cannot afford to get sick at that moment. Another time, out of desperation, I wanted to pay people or have them kidnapped just to get an immediate interview, but instead, I went to company X and bluffed my way in. I pretended to know some random person from LinkedIn and had an appointment with her. While waiting for the random person, I interviewed employees who were passing time at the lobby. Good thing, she never really came, and I finished my quota. 

Later that night, respondents also emailed me. You could just imagine how grateful I was (and still am). As most people know, I am a devoted-Catholic-turn-agnostic-turn-i-have-my-own-notion-of-god-and-you-have-your-own-it's-cool kind of person, thus I'm not as "religous" as most people are. I don't "pray" but I say praise where it is due, and that time I honestly felt divine intervention so I was and am really thankful. Whether that was just a random, inevitable circumstance or not, I'm thankful, to the respondents, and to some powerful being that I cannot objectively explain right now.

Oh, yeah, the email! Here it is (kinikilig ako shet) HAHAHA

So yeah, my paper got accepted for presentation at the Lupcon Center for Business Research (LCBR) European Marketing Conference 2012 in Munich, Germany. I want to go but I can't. Why? GYAHAHA, because I'm poor and I don't have the money to fly to Germany just to do some kind of presentation that I haven't even done here in my country yet. Having said that, I haven't replied to the email yet, I don't know how to. 

Oh well. Maybe next time, when I have my own money, and am totally independent already. 

Still, this form of recognition is nice :)  

YOOPIE diary

Experiencing University of the Philippines



Tomorrow (at 7:30am) will be our college graduation, and 2 days after (same time) is our University graduation. And the usual dilemma of graduating students haunts me - I can't sleep. That said, here are the random bits of my UP life (excluding my thesis experience)

1. When I'm late, professors tell otherwise

A. 1st yr, 1st day

P: What time does your class start?
Me: ughm-
P: -I believe it was 5 minutes ago (locks the door, leaving me with a-wtf-happened-face)

Edited: I eventually chose this person as my thesis adviser during my senior year

B. 3rd year, 1st day

Me: Sir, I was late
P: Ah yes, you're absent.

Edited: I never really came to like this professor, but I respect him.

2. How professors and/or students talk

A. 1st year, Math class

Prof: What comes to your mind when you see "x"
Student: Inferiority complex

B. 4th yr, 1st day

Professor: The important thing is that you will all graduate
Student: -no matter how long it takes
Professor: exactly, quality education may take time

Edited: the same thesis adviser I mentioned a while ago

3. How we roll

Because there was a sudden brownout in UP Manila during the finals of the students, some stayed inside the class and sweat their brains out (see what I did there? HAHAHA), while some went out instead.

'Iskolar ng Bayan' will adapt. 

Lahat mahirap, walang madali sa UP, walang madali sa buhay.  

UPCAT sana makapasa ako...forever 

4. Complain to jeepney drivers: "Hindi porket walang uniporme, hindi na estudyante"
5. Rally and demonstrations are very common

6. Humor and wit everywhere (can be witnessed especially during random chats, events, vandals, and even application for the University's official publication)

see overheard at UP facebook for other "relevant" posts

7. Classic UP "banats"

A. The batman joke

courtesy of overheard at UP facebook fan page 

B. The annoying question

courtesy of tumblr.com 

Quotes from UP professors and students

A. Be rich, then speak for those who can't
B. We are so deprived that we are pushed to become creative
C. What will you defy for the future to enjoy?
D. Sell your soul to the devil, but know how to buy it back
(Sir Chong, audio visual comm class)

E. If you truly are a great University, produce knowledge and leave the transmission of that knowledge to less great Universities (Sir Paeng)

F. Developed countries exploited our nation and nature, let us fight back through piracy, take their 'knowledge' for free (I don't want to name)

G. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything (Mary Anne)
H. Don't aim to graduate in time, graduate on time (me to myself)
I. When you're a professor, you can't just be chapters ahead, you have to be at least several volumes ahead (Burn)

J. It's a tragedy to think that there's no more hope for the Philippines; what will happen to the 90 million Filipinos living here then? (Ma'am Castillo)

K. You are not trained to win a contest but to do the ultimate goal (Sir Barry)
L. Don't confuse practice with process (Ma'am Aya)
M. A thank you would have sufficed (Sir Vinzons)

UP does not just change people, it hones us. I have to return the favor somehow, because to whom much is given, much is expected.

Honor and excellence, padayon!

See you around!
Arlet

One step back, 2 steps forward

I'm probably not going to graduate.
I'm probably going to be ashamed because of that.
I'll probably not be able to forgive myself for some time.

I am dipshit scared that I am willing to pay someone to tell me that everything is going to be fine- not that I am rich, just desperate. No one from my batch seems to tell it with conviction anymore. Kony is abducting children in Uganda and I'm worrying about my thesis. Okay, forgive me, my thoughts are so disorganized  right now. I don't know, it's just that my pride will surely haunt me if things don't turn out well.

I try not to rant to anyone because I know that they have their own problems to solve. I can't be a burden to anyone, but at this rate, I'm going to blow up. I see high school friends who are already celebrating their soon graduation, and I can't help but feel intimidated. You might tell me, if you're so worked up with not graduating, what are you doing here blogging. Well, I can't keep it anymore.

It's difficult when you're sad, and you want to cry and you pick up your phone to call someone, but no name comes to mind. Oh Arlet, you and your great walls of China.

Thesis is it? #ForTheLoveofGrad

Hey everyone, Happy New Year!

So first, allow me tell you the story of Robbie, a rabbit who was doing his thesis out in the woods. One afternoon, a wolf chanced upon Roby, the wolf asked “hey, what’s up” Roby answered, Oh nothing much, just doing my thesis. The wolf was curious so he asked, what’s it about? It’s about how rabbits eat wolves, Robbie answered. HAH, such rubbish, there’s no such thing as rabbits that can eat wolves. Oh but there is, I have been researching about it. Do you want to see it? Yeah, I guess.

So Robbie took the wolf for a walk, inside a cave, and later on came back alone. Well, he then just continued to do his thesis until another wolf came by. The second wolf asked, Hey, what’s up?  Ah nothing much, just doing my thesis. The second wolf was also curious so he asked, what’s it about? It’s about how rabbits eat wolves, Robbie answered. Hah, such rubbish, that thing will never get published you know. Oh but it will, I have seen several experiments on it. Would you want to witness one? Sure, I guess, the wolf said. So for the second time Robbie took the wolf for a walk inside a cave and came out alone, just like the first time. But this time, we see that inside the cave is a lion, Robbie’s thesis adviser.

The moral of the story is that your thesis topic