It's a Ping Thing

My Experience with Braces: Expectations vs. Reality

I recently had my braces removed after about ten months of having them on. In this article, I want to talk about my experience with them, the fees, and the results. Bear with me here. This is quite a lengthy entry, but I hope it will help you in some way.

A Brief History

Here I am, happily smiling with my diastema.

First of all, I’d like to mention that the braces weren’t my first dental appliance. When I was a kid, I had this knack for inserting my fork and spoon between my two front teeth whenever I ate. This resulted to a pretty big diastema, or what is commonly called a tooth gap. For years, I had been living with that gap. It was my identifier. I didn’t mind it that much because I could pronounce my s’s very well due to that. However, when I was thirteen, my parents paid for retainers to correct my teeth. I don’t think the guy we went to was a dentist. We were at his house, and he kept his clients’ teeth casts on a table in their living room. I guess he was just someone who made retainers. Anyway, he made me my own retainer for my upper teeth. We had to go back to his house every week to have it tightened. What he actually really did was get some pliers and push the wires further inward. It was pretty unsanitary. I remember one time when we went there. He and his family were having dinner, and we were asked to wait outside, in the dark. He asked his nephew to tighten it because he was still eating. The nephew asked for my retainer, took it with his ungloved hands, washed it with a bit of water from a poso (pump), took the pliers and pushed back the wire, washed it again with water, and handed it back to me. Gross, I know.

That lasted for only a few months because one day, when we came back to have my retainer tightened again, his wife told us that he was gone. My father asked where he went. That’s when she clarified that by gone, she meant dead. That explained the big black ribbon on their door. After months of not being tightened, my retainers were getting really uncomfortable to wear, and I had no idea what to do with it anymore. Then the day came that it broke into two pieces because I was playing with it. That was Php5000 thrown in the trash. My diastema improved, but it quickly went back to what it once was after I stopped wearing the retainer. So I spent another two years in high school with my tooth gap still there.

In college, I stayed in a different city and had a year’s worth of allowance already in my bank account. When I saw a dentist’s house, I was willing to try the retainer thing again. His retainers were a lot cheaper at Php1500 each, so I got two for both my upper and lower teeth. It worked out for a while, but over time, I felt uncomfortable with the retainers on because I had this habit of pressing my lips against the retainers, which resulted to so many painful mouth ulcers. I had to stop wearing them. Months after that, the dentist actually migrated to another country, so that was the end of that chapter.

TMD

I was comfortable with my teeth situation back then. Fixing the diastema was merely aesthetic, so I didn’t care that much. On my last year in college, however, I experienced a lot of migraines, and I was vomiting almost daily. My wisdom tooth also came out that time, which added to my agony. I went to a dentist, and she advised me to have the tooth extracted. When I told my parents this, they told me to wait until they came. They traveled eight hours and stayed for a day with me just to support me during the extraction (my parents are very careful when it comes to health issues). The extraction cost Php5000 because it was a hard case.

The dentist started by injecting the anesthesia. After a while, she started to extract the tooth. This was when she discovered I had a condition. She told me to open my mouth a bit more so she could extract the tooth easier. I signaled to her that that was the biggest opening I could manage. She looked worried. She had her assistant hold my head and continued with the extraction. After that, she talked to my dad and told him I had to undergo therapy because I have temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). It’s a condition where your jaw has a hard time opening and closing. It could be dangerous because people who have this may have to undergo an operation if the jaws locked. I had noticed the symptoms before, but I didn’t know that such a condition existed, so I didn’t mind. I would often wake up and feel the pain every time I’d try to yawn. There’s this clicking sound that just wouldn’t go away.

I had my mouth X-rayed. That cost around Php3000 because it was not an ordinary X-ray. The machine occupied a whole room, and I had to stand and had to have my head propped during the process. After my dentist examined my X-rays, analyzed the angles, and decided which way my jaw should be, she called me in and made a cast of my teeth. I was fitted for a dental splint. It’s like a retainer without the wire that embraces your teeth, and it was quite thick so that my “jaw height” changed. During the first week, it was so painful because my jaws were still adjusting. I had to visit the dentist every two weeks for her to monitor the changes and to give me dental massages. It was a very awkward and painful massage. She inserted her finger into my mouth and asked me to bite. She would then press really hard against my temporomandibular joint. I had to gag the first time because it was excruciatingly painful. After about a month, however, I got used to the process, and I no longer had the pains. I could talk, eat, and yawn normally. I didn’t want to give up the splint. I was on therapy for around six months. It relieved me of my pain, but it cost my father Php40,000.

Getting My Braces

The cat obviously has better teeth.

I had my TMD therapy at Iligan City, where my university was located. The therapy ended on the month of my graduation. The next phase was to get braces to correct the alignment of my teeth so I wouldn’t need the splint anymore. If you asked me, I would have gladly kept the splint because I was so comfortable with it on. But I had to get braces.

My father found a dentist in Dipolog City, and they agreed on Php65,000 for the service. But this is excluding the cost of other things such as my elastics. I had to pay for them separately. I was staying in Cebu City at the time I got my braces because I was reviewing for the board exam. So I had to go back to Dipolog once a month to have the braces adjusted.

The installation of the braces was actually very much faster than I expected. I watched videos online prior to meeting my dentist so that I’ll have an idea what the process would look like. My dentist worked fast. He retracted my lips, cleaned my teeth, and proceeded to glue the braces on. After about an hour, we were done. I still had my splint, and I thought having that many things in your mouth would be too much. However, it took me only about a day to get used to it. I didn’t get that many mouth ulcers then because I broke my habit of pressing my lips against my teeth. I actually really liked my braces because they made me smile wider.

This was taken a few months after the installation. I still had a gummy smile, but it wasn’t that obvious with the braces on.

My dentist told me that in three months, I would have to undergo a small operation on frenulum, the tissue between my front teeth. He says it has to be removed because the diastema might come back after taking the braces off. I was so nervous. However, that didn’t happen because I had to look for a new dentist.

Switching to a New Dentist

For those who want a close-up, you’re welcome.

Around three months after, I made the decision to just find another dentist in Cebu that would continue the treatment because I thought that I would be studying law in Cebu and it would be impractical to go home every month for the next three or four years. My father had already paid Php22,000 to my dentist in Dipolog, and we had to pay my new dentist for his services.

For my dentist in Cebu, we agreed on Php40,000 with Php1500 monthly fees during the course of the treatment. My dentist said he had to compromise and consider the fact that I had already paid a lot. He said his regular fee for braces is around Php80,000, but he cut it in half. That covered everything, and I didn’t have to pay extra for any extra services. That also included the retainers after the treatment.

I went to my dentist in Cebu every two weeks, sometimes even more than that. I think my favorite part during the process was the scaling. It hurt a bit, and it made me nervous, but I had really clean teeth afterward. The problem with having braces on is that you have to pay attention to your oral health more than you used to. Food gets stuck easily, and you need to use orthodontic toothbrushes to clean your teeth. You’re more vulnerable to plaque buildup, cavities, and carries. While having my braces on, I didn’t feel very comfortable not brushing my teeth immediately after every meal. You get this icky feeling every time you finish eating.

The most painful part of the process is the mouth ulcers. I mentioned before that I had broken my bad habit of pressing my lips against my teeth, but I couldn’t stretch my lips that much when my dentist cut off the wires in two places when I had to use my elastics again. Just imagine four pointy wires sticking out, and every time your lips get too close, they will stab your lips and not let them go unless you actually pull your lips out. It’s like having a torture device in your mouth. The most painful ones happen when I yawn. I would often forget to retract my lips, so it would get caught by the wires and rip. I had so many painful eating episodes because of this. I had to protect my lips from the wires by putting tissue or cotton between them. That did the trick, but it made me look like I had candy in my gums.

Then came the time when I could finally let go of my splint. It was hard at first, but I eventually got used to it. My diastema was gone. My dentist announced that I would have my braces removed soon. I had my braces on for only ten months in total, which is shorter than most cases. I guess my teeth responded fast to the treatment. My diastema was actually gone after only a day after my dentist replaced the bands with the stretchy kind (I don’t know what they’re called). The cases vary from person to person, but I’m lucky that the process was expedited because I’m going to law school soon, and having the braces adjusted is quite painful. I think by then I’ll have more than enough stress that I could handle. I’m getting my teeth bleached in the next appointment to complete the treatment.

Final Words and Tips

My braces were finally removed 🙂

I always wanted to have braces before because I saw it as a symbol of wealth. In fact, fashion braces exist because of this. It is expensive to get them, and I thank my parents very much for supporting me financially. Having braces on is quite fun for me (except when the wires were cut), but you have to remember that care should be taken while wearing them. When brackets get lost, they do cost extra. This is why it is important to stay away from hard food. It is also very hard to bite because you might dislocate the brackets in your front teeth. Once the brackets fall off, it will be harder to make them stay back on. What I did was every time I ate, I would avoid biting and instead cut my food into smaller pieces so I could eat them easily. For example, I would break off a piece of cracker first before putting it into my mouth. Also, always use the cute tiny brushes to get between the teeth. With braces on, ordinary toothbrush just won’t do anymore.

No matter what the reason for getting braces is, be it aesthetic or therapeutic, it carries with it a lot of responsibilities. In order to get the bang for your buck, follow what the dentist says and always complain of any discomfort so they can fix it right away. So here I am, four dentists and around Php127,000 after. I definitely value my oral health more now.

Did you find this article helpful? If you had braces on before, share your experiences in the comment section below.

Hacking Motivation: Why It’s Important to Be Rebellious Sometimes

I’ve always wondered why a lot of successful people are described as the ones who defied the status quo. They are mostly the people who set out paths for themselves and chose to ignore the norm to choose their own unique course. The world has a lot of defined steps toward having a certain kind of lifestyle and achieving a particular amount of success. For most, the plan is this: go to school, study well, land a good job, have a family, and live happily. Unfortunately, millions of people are living proof that following the first four steps does not result in the fifth. A lot of people are broke, unmotivated, bored with their jobs, and are generally unhappy and unsatisfied.

I came to a realization about this topic from the book Smarter, Faster, Betterby Charles Duhigg. The first point he made in the book was the importance of decision-making and its relation to motivation. He describes an experiment where people were made to play a very boring game while scientists were monitoring their brain activities. The game was played like this: Each participant would see a number between one and nine. Before they could see the number, however, they had to guess if the number was more or less than five. The activity seemed relatively monotonous and unengaging, but the scientists were surprised to see that the participants were actually enjoying the game and would play for hours on end. The results of the MRI showed that the subjects’ brains’ central dispatch, the striata, lit up whenever they played, regardless of whether they guessed correctly or not.

This experiment and many others led to the revolutionary discovery of the nature of motivation in people—we are more motivated when we perform activities we know we are in control of. Our ability to make decisions make the process more engaging and more interesting to us than simply following a series of steps and a set of rules. Think back on your group projects before. Weren’t you more motivated to work on projects where you were part of the decision-making process compared to the ones where you had to do exactly what you were told? Employees who are given the chance to speak up and participate in making important decisions are more devoted to the projects than those who are not. This is not only because making decisions have a direct effect on your image, e.g., losing face when you choose poorly; it is also because it makes you feel more in control, and the project feels “more real” and important. This is why people who go with the flow and choose passivity over activity are less likely to succeed and are more likely to feel unmotivated.

“The trick, researchers say, is realizing that a prerequisite to motivation is believing that we have the authority over our actions and surroundings. To motivate ourselves, we must feel like we are in control.”

We need to believe that our life and situation is a result of our choices rather than external factors that might have hindered or promoted our plans. This belief is what scientists call our internal locus of control. Having more of this and less of its opposite—external locus of control—gives us more drive to do the things we set out to do. This idea challenges the belief that people are successful because they were born in certain circumstances like having a rich family, having more resources, and being innately smart. We know from history that successful people are made and not born. The notion that we are ultimately headed for a boring and unexciting life because of our current situation will be thrown out the window when we accept the fact that we could be in control of our future. God did not give us the willpower to choose in order to just settle for a life that we dream of escaping someday.

The book also talked about a study done in nursing homes in the nineties. They found that seniors who changed up their bedroom furniture even though they were told not to and who exchanged food items to make a meal different from the ones given to them flourished more than those who didn’t. These seniors were “more alive” and happier because they felt a sense of control by breaking the rules and choosing to live in an environment that they modified according to their liking and not just settling for what’s laid in front of them.

These and many more incidents in human history have resulted to the success of many people and the happiness of many more. The ability to make decisions and the power to choose the life you wish to live results in increased motivation, happier dispositions, and longer lives. Choose to choose, and be rebellious every now and then.

How BookTube Affected My Reading Habits

Source: http://www.kassidyvoinche.com/p/booktube.html

Youtube is one of the best places to find communities and materials that suit your own habits and preferences. Whether you’re a gaming addict, a beauty enthusiast, or you just want to watch funny cat videos, Youtube is full of content for your every need. For all my fellow readers out there, there’s a small niche for us in this huge community—BookTube. It’s basically a subset of YouTube where content creators focus on books and book-related activities. I discovered this around a year ago, and it has drastically affected how I read and how I viewed the reading community.

Reading More

When you see someone talking about the twelve books they finished that month, you’re gonna want to up your game by catching up with your own reading. Not all BookTubers read at the same pace, though. On some months, a few of them read only one to four books while others can read between eight and fifteen, depending on their schedules and the length of books they’re reading. Either way, it makes you feel more inspired to read and add to the list of books you read for that year. Personally, I read about three times as much now compared to my pre-BookTube days.

Tracking My Reading

I used to just read books and put them away afterward. But after discovering BookTube, I found out that most readers actually track their reading to compare their progress each year and to see if they are reading as much as they want to. The number one tool readers use to do this is Goodreads. It’s a site where you can search for the book you read or want to read or have just read, and it allows you to create virtual shelves for different book categories. It also enables the reading community to communicate and find out one another’s opinions for each book because it has a rating and review system. It also has a feature where you can set the number of the books you want to read for a year called the Goodreads Reading Challenge. Personally, I use Goodreads as well as a notebook where I write the name of the books I’ve read, the author, and the date and time I finished the book.

Book Events

Source: http://modernmrsdarcy.com/book-expo-america-bookcon-review/

BookTube introduced me to several activities readers look forward to annually. I didn’t know there were things like book conventions, where readers gather and celebrate their love for reading and meeting their favorite authors. Reading for me was always a solitary process, but through BookTube, I realized that it could be a fun group activity as well. There are a lot of communities that choose a book or several books for a particular time span, and they can read the books together and have a live discussion afterward. This creates an encouraging atmosphere and is a great motivation boost for those who are in a reading slump.

Book Synopsis

Every BookTuber and BookTube enthusiast is guilty of this: knowing the synopses of books and talking about them as if they have already read them when they actually haven’t. The majority of BookTube videos feature readers talking about the books they’ve read and books they are about to read. Aside from showing the subscribers the book covers, the main dish of every video is the synopsis. Since most BookTubers talk about the same books at the same time, those of us watching will already have a good idea what a particular book is about and could probably recite the synopsis by heart—without actually reading them.

Challenges

One of the most interesting discoveries I made when I started watching BookTube is the reading challenges. The most common is the yearly challenge, which is tracked through Goodreads, but there are lots more fun and weird challengesout there that keeps the readers reading more and discovering new authors and genres. I’ve never tried any of these because I don’t have that many books to select from, and there’s also the issue of time I have available for reading. But I think it’s a fun thing to try out when you have the resources.

New Genres

When I was starting out with reading for leisure back in high school, I didn’t have much choice about the books I could read. We didn’t have a bookstore in our city, and the only time I’d get to have a new book is when my father goes on trips. Because it was such a rare opportunity for me, I would choose books that have withstood the test of time—classics. I was the person who thought that there are no other respectable genres out there except for classics. I would laugh at other people who would read contemporary love stories or graphic novels because I thought they weren’t “real books.” But after watching bookstubers talk about different genres like fantasy, horror, young adult, sci-fi, etc., I got interested and decided to try them out. I was happily surprised after doing so because I found out that most of the books they recommended are actually really good and entertaining. I was opened up to a whole new world. It was BookTube that made me read the Harry Potter series, which I swore I would never like. Because of the enthusiastic BookTubers, I learned to love fantasy and horror and even introduced me to more classic books.

Overall, the BookTube community is a great help to me mostly because it widened my horizon and opened me up to new worlds that I refused to acknowledge before. It encourages me to read more and discover more ideas through reading. If you’re new to this idea, here are the links to the channels of some of my favorite BookTubers:

How to Survive College If You Don’t Like Your Course

Kids are always asked the same questions when they are introduced to an adult for the first time: “What is your name?” “How old are you?” and “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The first question is easy. The answer doesn’t change unless you legally change your name or if you suddenly got famous and choose to go by a stage name instead. The answer to the second question varies from year to year for obvious reasons. The third, however, is difficult. Just like how your favorite song or your favorite ice cream flavor change from time to time, so does your idea of the “perfect” college course for you.

I am an example of someone who took the wrong course in college. I didn’t like the discipline itself, and my college life was overall unpleasant. I knew from the first day that I didn’t like the course, but I didn’t have a choice at that point. Fortunately, I was able to graduate on time and without flunking any subjects (at least not officially, but I’ll talk about that in another article). My grades were average, but I was able to make it through without spending an extra year or an extra semester trying to get the degree.

You may have just changed your mind, or like me, you may have someone tell you what course to take. No matter what the reason is, being in a field you don’t like makes you feel like you’re stuck in a foreign world that you want to get out of. To help you ease your way out, here are my tips for coming out of college in one piece even if you dislike your course.

Tip No. 1

Know the Why

Let’s say that since you were a kid, you wanted to be an accountant. Now that you’re studying for it, why does it feel like hell? Sometimes, finding that something is hard does not necessarily mean that you were not born for it. If you truly know that this is what you want to become, think hard about the real factors that are making you doubt yourself. Maybe it’s just a really bad semester for you because you don’t like your teachers. Or maybe the pressure to excel is just so high. These reasons don’t necessarily mean that you don’t want to be an accountant anymore. They don’t mean that you’re not fit to fulfill that childhood dream. Maybe it just means that you’re choosing the wrong teachers. If so, change sections. Or maybe change schools. There are a lot of students who struggle more than others even though they are taking the same subjects because they have different teachers with different standards and techniques in teaching.

Once you identify these factors, the solutions will be clearer to you. If you’re sure that you’re enrolled in your dream course, don’t give up on it even if the road to graduation is tough. It’ll be worth it. If it’s not, however, pick a different course. But if you’re like me who didn’t have a choice, read on.

Tip No. 2

Take Breather Subjects

When you look at my less-than-impressive transcript of records, you’ll soon notice a trend in my GPA for the different semesters. In those that I did fairly well, I had subjects that were related to literature, humanities, art, or other subjects that are not related to my course. Some of them are electives while others are mandatory. Either way, on all the semesters where I got a really low GPA, I had only taken subjects that are related to my course, which I was not fond of.

The effects of these breather subjects to me were profound. I would use it as my springboard for every study session. So what if I don’t want to study my major subjects? I just started to study for the subjects that I liked, and that would get me in the mood to tackle the harder ones. I know it is recommended to do the hardest things first, i.e., eat your frogs first, but when you lack the motivation to even get your book out of your bag, you may try this technique. It certainly worked for me.

Tip No. 3

Talk to People Who Like Your Course

When we were on an educational trip, we visited lots of factories and manufacturing plants. I would get so bored with all the stuff I was seeing. No matter how big those reactor vessels are or how awesome the machines might be, they still fail to amaze me. However, whenever I talk to my friends who do appreciate the technology behind these things, I’ll have that insight that I previously didn’t. It made me understand why people find these things important and interesting. Realizing the importance of what you’re spending long nights on is a big factor for keeping your grades up. This is because you’ll find it easier to get to work on something that you know is important and is worth your time.

Tip No. 4

Be Mentally, Physically, and Spiritually Healthy

Depression is common when a person is confused and doubtful about his abilities. This is especially observed in cases that will have a high impact on your life like finding the right person to marry or figuring out your calling. This is why it is important to be healthy. Eating the right kinds of food will be very beneficial to your overall well-being and mood. That whole gallon of ice cream might feel good now, but later on, you’ll still feel as down as before.

Try exercising every day even if it’s just for a few minutes. I did yoga and jogged while I was in my most stressful semesters in college, and that has helped me stay sane. Exercise could also improve your mental health because it releases chemicals that would make you feel more motivated. It gives you a natural high, and you’ll definitely need that when you feel like the world is caving in.

Aside from physical and mental health, it is also important to be at peace with God and know that he is with you no matter what. Even the tiniest problems can seem big when you try to solve it with your natural strength and abilities. There is someone rooting for you, and he’s always got your back. You just have to ask.

Tip No. 5

Find a Support Group

Most people who commit suicide do so because they are not able to let go of their problems or tell anyone about them. Problems seem heavier and more difficult to solve if you do it alone. When you have a person or a group of people who will hear you out and empathize with you, you’ll feel much more relaxed. Your friends and family are always there for you and would be ready to accept you no matter what. They will rejoice in your achievements and will lend a shoulder for you to cry on when you’re down. You can count on them to hold your hand on the way as well. Choose people who will understand your situation and who know how difficult your problems are.

Tip No. 6

Know that Your Course Does Not Define Your Future

One of the reasons why I disliked my course is because I’ve always thought that if you graduate as an engineer you have to be an engineer. I thought it was that or nothing. Over time, I realized that this is not true at all. A lot of people work in a field that is unrelated to their course. For example, I work in the publishing industry as a copy editor even though I’m an engineering graduate. My manager is a computer engineer. One of our senior editors is a medical technician; another one has a degree in information technology.

Although your course has a big effect on your future, you have the option to choose a different direction after graduation. So what if you’re already a licensed teacher and you realize you want to become an astronaut instead? Go for it. What if you spent a decade studying to become a doctor and decided you want to become an Egyptologist? Hurray for you!

People will tell you that you’ve wasted your time, talent, and money, trying to reach for an “impractical” dream. That’s guaranteed. They’ll say you’ll be wasting your life. I beg to differ. My definition of a wasted life is one where you were not able to do the things that make you and your Creator happy because you were so busy trying to please others and conform to the standards of society that were set by people who didn’t get to live their dreams. You owe it to yourself to live a happy life because, in the end, that’s what matters.

My PhiLSAT Experience

Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/168998-list-2017-philsat-results

The Philippines had no national examination for students who want to get into the legal profession before. But in 2017, this changed with the accreditation of the Center for Educational Measurement to conduct the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhiLSAT). It is the nationwide test that aspiring law students have to take to be admitted to any law school in the country. I was one of the lucky few who were able to take the very first PhiLSAT in history.

For 2017, the passing score was set at 45 percent, taking into consideration that it is the first time this test was conducted, and there was a scarcity of review materials. To find out more about PhiLSAT, click here.

Application Process

The application process was quite easy. You just had to fill out a form then pay Php 1000 for the exam fee. A few weeks before the test, you just have to check out your account to print out the examination permit. I had a little trouble with this part though. You had to upload a 2’’ by 2’’ picture on the website, and it has to be exactly in those dimensions. You can’t stretch the photo out. I had paid extra during the picture-taking process so I would be able to get a soft copy of the picture, but somehow, the file got corrupted. I had to scan the picture and had to spend quite a long time trying to adjust it to the correct size. But other than that, applying to the exam was easy.

The Morning of the Exam

The exam was scheduled at 7:00 a.m., and it was clearly stated in the examination permit that late students will not be admitted. It’s written in capitals and in red. I took the test at Cebu, where the venue is at the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR). Since I had not been there before, I had to wake up super early so that if anything went wrong and I go to the wrong location, I’d still have time.

I woke up before 3:00 a.m., even before my alarm went off. It wasn’t because of exam anxiety or anything. I woke up because of the noise. When I finally realized where the noise had come from, I was a bit nervous. It was the sound of heavy rain.

I went out to get breakfast and discovered that the water was already quite deep. But I had to brave the flood because #foodislife. After breakfast, I got ready. I wore yoga pants so I could easily roll them up, and slippers so my feet won’t smell like a dead rat during the exam. I packed my shoes in my bag and prayed that the rain would stop.

Getting to the Exam Venue

I took a jeepney to get to USJR. I was afraid to get on a taxi because they are quite low, and I didn’t know the flood situation downtown. It was a good thing the jeepney had a foreman. I asked him to drop me off at USJR. When I got there, there was already a line formed outside. People of all ages were there, ready to take the exam. I, on the other hand, struggled to find a place where I could change from my slippers to my shoes.

I lined up with the rest, and that’s when I met Zelle, a fellow examinee from Bohol. I was not able to get her full name or her number, but she was truly a blessing to me. She didn’t have breakfast yet, and she just got off the boat from Bohol. She said there was a nearby 7-Eleven where I could change and she could have breakfast. I brought denim jeans with me, but I decided to just go with the yoga pants because they were more comfortable. PhiLSAT does not have a strict rule on the clothes you should wear during the exam. So there were examinees who looked like they were going to do a product presentation while there were others who looked like they were headed for the golf course. I looked like I was going to the gym afterward, but I didn’t care. I didn’t know anybody there anyway.

During the Exam

When I found the right room and the right seat, I stayed put until the proctor arrived. They were tasked to read instructions from a booklet and gave us pointers and reminders for the exam. The test had four parts, which is outlined in the snippet below.

Source: Center for Educational Measurement

Each subtest had fifty questions, for a total of two hundred questions. The exam had to be completed in three hours. The good thing was that you were allowed to continue to the next subtest after you’ve finished the previous one. This gave me more time to deal with the harder items. The proctor informed us after the ideal time set for each subtest what subtest we should be on at that moment. She’d say something like “By now, you should be on the third part.”

In terms of difficulty, I would say the test was really quite hard. It not only tested our ability on the areas involved but also tested our personalities. Doing the math, we had only fifty-four seconds to answer each question. Speed was important. There was no time to worry or panic. You had to be fast in reading the questions and, in the last part, in solving math problems.

If you’re looking for a sample question here, however, I’m afraid I’d have to disappoint you. It is clearly stated in the rules that we are not allowed to share any information regarding the content of the exam.

Source: Center for Educational Measurement

Results

The exam took place on April 16, 2017, and the results were scheduled to be released twenty-one days after. I found out from my friend that an initial list was out. The Legal Education Board posted on their Facebook page the list of examinees who got 90 percent and above on the exam. By the grace of God, I was one of them. A few days later, we were e-mailed the breakdown of our scores.

Taking the exam was definitely a memorable experience for me, one that I would never forget. It marks the first step of my aspiration to become a lawyer. It is only the beginning though. I hope and pray that I would be able to be consistent in the next four years in law school, which I will be documenting in this blog. For all of you who are aspiring to get into the legal profession, I wish you luck, and let’s support each other. It will be a tough journey, but we’ll get there eventually.

Ping’s April 2017 Wrap-Up

This month is perhaps one of the most interesting months in terms of reading for me. I read a graphic novel and a play for the first time. I’m trying to venture into other formats aside from novels, and I did pretty well in that area this month. Here are the seven books I finished in April. Tell me your thoughts about them if you’ve already read them, and feel free to leave book recommendations in the comments.

The Advance IQ Challenger by C. S. Canonigo

I bought this book as part of my preparation for the PhiLSATlast month. It’s the first IQ challenger book that I’ve answered completely. I learned a lot while going through the exercises, but for the most part, the best thing I got out of it for the exam is the speed and the test-taking practice. It’s been a while since I took an exam, and I needed to practice. This book definitely helped a lot.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Source:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19351043-nimona

This is my first graphic novel ever. I borrowed it from a friend and had wanted to keep it for myself. Nimona is a shape-shifter who applied as a sidekick to the most infamous villain in their world. The government soon finds out that she was far too strong for them, so they resorted to other methods that were against the law. Lord Ballister Blackheart, the villain Nimona was working for, was training to be a hero, but something prevented him from doing so. The past is then uncovered, the secrets are revealed, and the true motives of the ruling power are known.

The book is funny but is also packed with emotions. The backstories of the characters made the book even more entertaining and heartwarming. I started out laughing and ended up thinking about the deeper things in life.

The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

I have never heard of a book like this before. It was not only entertaining; it was also very informational. This is a nonfiction book that’s been recommended multiple times in different magazines and blog posts and for good reason. Rolf Dobelli discusses ninety-nine common mistakes and misconceptions that we might be doing, the reasons why we do them, and how to combat them when we are faced with the situations again. It opened up my eyes to a lot of the factors that affect my everyday decision-making.

Although the book is nonfiction and talks about a lot of studies, it is definitely worth the read. You won’t even notice that you’re reading a lot because each issue is discussed in around three pages only, and since it’s written well, it won’t bore you to death. You’ll enjoy discovering more about yourself and get to laugh at the many times you decided wrong for the silliest reasons.

El Bimbo Variations by Adam David

Source: https://curiouscouch.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/ultraelectromagneticlit/

This is one of those books that you could read in an hour or so. The El Bimbo Variations is a collection of different versions of the chorus of the Filipino song Ang Huling El Bimbo by Eraserheads, which goes, “Kamukha mo si Paraluman / Nung tayo ay bata pa (You looked like Paraluman / When we were young). (Now that I translated the lyrics, Adele might have stolen the title here.)

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Source: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/The_Tales_of_Beedle_the_Bard

For Harry Potter fans, The Tales of Beedle the Bardwill be an amazing experience. Yes, J. K. Rowling wrote the HP series, and we got to experience the story as if we were really there, but this book makes it even “more real.” It tells stories that were passed on from generation to generation in the wizarding world. While we have stories like Cinderella or Beauty and the really creepy monster that turns into a really hot prince, the young wizards and witches also have their own stories that teach them, at a young age, the importance of goodness.

What I like the most about this book is that it seems like a legit book from the wizarding community. It feels like I got hold of something that was of a different world. There are notes from Dumbledore on every story, and Jo added her own notes to better explain the points Dumbledore was making, which made the experience more fun.

Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Source: http://www.ransomriggs.com/

Yes, I know the movie just came out, and you might have seen it. If you did, here is what you need to know: the movie is worlds apart from the book. You might have read the differences online too. Emma’s and Olive’s peculiarity were interchanged. That was perhaps one of the biggest changes. However, aside from the plot and the character modifications, there is one particular aspect that, to me, is the biggest difference between the book and the movie—the overall feeling you get.

The movie was fun and colorful, and although we get to see scary monsters there, the creepiness is nothing compared to the book. I remember the feeling I had when I read the first few chapters. It was scary. It made me feel like I was with Jacob, and I had just entered a place that I was not supposed to be in. First of all, the children aren’t that attractive. Fiona doesn’t have those perfect braids. Instead, her hair is likened to a bird’s nest. Bronwyn is not that cute. She’s a bit masculine and hates dressing up like a girl. Secondly, you get to feel the emptiness more in the book. The loop they had lost allowed them to start a new life in a new place and in a new time. After decades of experiencing the same thing every day, the children are finally able to live another day (literally).

The creepiness and poignancy that you can experience in the book is worth the time and effort. The ending definitely made me speechless.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_Salesman_(2000_film)

This is one of those classics whose synopsis alone had me hooked. It’s about a man who had reached old age, thinking that he was already someone and who thinks so highly of himself. But the truth is that he has no job and, at his age, still needs one. His delusion drives him crazy. Secrets from the past are uncovered, and the story ends sadly. This is my first play ever, and I loved it.

I almost cried while reading this because the message resonated with me so much. Willy is the very person I am trying not to become. The play paints a portrait of a man who worked hard throughout his life and, in the end, had nothing to show for it. For me personally, it’s not about what other people think or say about you. It’s about the satisfaction that you get when you can honestly say that you’ve done what you needed and wanted to do in life and you’ve done it well, not regretting a single day. I don’t want to find myself someday wishing to go back and turn back time because I was living a life that is not of my choosing. This book makes me want to try harder and push myself more.

Ten Things I Learned in College

Not everyone is lucky enough to pursue college after high school. But for those who are, college is perhaps one of the most memorable periods in life. It is a challenging time for most, and few get out of it saying it’s been a breeze.

Fortunately, I got out of it alive, and here I am now, telling you the story. Here are ten things I learned while crawling my way toward a diploma.

1. Living alone is exciting . . . at first

When I was in high school, I hardly thought about the graduation ceremony itself. I only cared about leaving. I wanted to get out and move to a new city, where I could finally have my own room and have a larger allowance. To appreciate the latter, you should know that I wasn’t given monetary allowance until college. Our house was literally next to the high school I went to (we had a common wall), so I didn’t need money for fare, and I was usually just given biscuits for snacks. When I was finally graduating, I packed up all of my stuff and got ready to move out. My father and my brother came with me to my room in college and helped me set up. I was so excited about my newfound freedom. That lasted for about thirty seconds.

After my father and brother pulled out of the parking area, I took the whole thing in, and it dawned on me that I was all alone. Because I arrived really early to get settled in advance, I was the only one in the boarding house. The silence was deafening. After I realized that I would be on my own for the next five years, I dropped to my knees and cried. (I’m not kidding or exaggerating here. I literally went on all fours and bawled my eyes out.)

2. I’m not as good as I thought I was

I was an achiever in high school. I joined almost all of the contests in school, and I graduated as the valedictorian of our class. So I was super confident when I came to college. And then I discovered that the valedictorians and honorable mentions from different schools in different cities were my classmates. I went from super confident to super nervous. So what if I won in the division level for a math competition in high school? Others were competitors in the national rounds. What if I won in the nationals for journalism? Others already went abroad to present their speeches or their papers. Suddenly, my achievements didn’t seem that amazing anymore. The panic monster had settled in. When we were discussing about differentiation in math class, I was surprised to see my classmates not taking notes and nodding the whole time as if they already had this lesson. When I asked them, they said they in fact already did. I felt down and cheated. It wasn’t fair! We weren’t even getting off on the same level!

Over the course of five years, I discovered that a lot of people feel the same way. But your past does not define your future. A lot of achievers in high school mellowed down in college. They were just another student in the room. On the other hand, a lot of students who didn’t do too well in high school suddenly blossomed in college. There are a lot of things that could happen and change. College is definitely a new and improved battleground, and those who are not willing to fight will ultimately succumb to the pressure.

3. Budgeting is harder than I thought

As I mentioned earlier, I did not have a monetary allowance in high school. So when my father deposited one year’s worth of allowance to my account, I went nuts. I shopped a lot and bought a lot of things that I thought I needed. My boardmate often teased me about the number of bags I had. I thought that the money would never run out. It was such a huge amount. Then one day, I realized my money was, in fact, not unlimited. My allowance was more than enough for my needs, but somehow, I ended up short of cash. It was then that I finally did my research on budgeting, saving up money, and investing. I learned the hard way that money is difficult to handle without discipline. It’s still a struggle now, to be honest, but at least I know better than to buy three new bags in a week just because I was in the mood to do so.

4. Some teachers inspire. Others push.

Source: http://popkey.co/m/azG1m-im+a+pusher-mean+girls-tina+fey-lol

There are some teachers who will give you all the support you need if you just ask them to. They will be patient in entertaining your questions and adjust their lessons according to the class’s average learning speed. Their exams are also generally easier. These are the teachers you want to have, and every enrolment period, you silently pray that they will be the ones handling your classes for the next semester.

On the other hand, there are some teachers who will push you to your limit and drown you with course materials that you need to cram into your brain before finally having that tiny chance of passing their ridiculously difficult exams.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/549579960748291673/

These are the teachers who will make you feel like college is a living hell. They are usually willing to answer your questions, but you find yourself crawling back to your shell before even mustering up the courage to ask them. However, these are the most memorable and important teachers, in my opinion. College is about challenging yourself to become better. It’s about knowing your weakness and finding ways to improve on your problem points. Without these teachers, college will just be high school part 2. There isn’t much growth and improvement. Try to remember the teacher whom you found absolutely terrifying. Remember that feeling of accomplishment when you were finally able to graduate from their course even though you got out of it by the skin of your teeth. Would you be the strong person you are today without the experiences they gave you?

If you’re already a graduate, chances are you answered the above questions with a light feeling. If you’re still in college, however, you might be rolling your eyes right now. It’s okay. I get it.

5. Time management is yours to master

When you’re in college and you live alone, you’ll soon realize that you didn’t bring your alarm clock with you—your mom. Before, there was no need for annoying sounds to wake you up because your mom is annoying enough to get you out of bed. (Don’t get me wrong. I love that about my mom. It’s practical and handy.) Also, that same alarm clock had already served you breakfast. All you have to do is get your butt to the table and chew. In college, if you don’t have a reliable—in this case, loud enough—alarm that will wake you up, chances are you’re going to miss a lot of classes. Waking up is not your only problem though. How are you going to finish reading and answering the course materials assigned to you?

If you don’t know how to manage your time well, you’ll find yourself in school early in the morning, trying to copy that day’s assignment from your classmate because you weren’t able to do it yourself. And you do this without having breakfast (’cause you didn’t have time for that) and sometimes even without taking a bath (’cause it’s a long assignment and you literally just got out of bed).

Then after class, you’ll find yourself bored, annoyed, and hungry. Hey, grab a Snickers!* Then you spend the day going to more classes and copying more assignments. At night, you reward yourself for a very tiring day with playing video games, going out, or watching a “few” episodes of that TV series you reallyneed to catch up with. So you end up staying up late and waking up late, and the horrid cycle begins again. Cheers to us for being so consistent!

*This post is not sponsored by Snickers.

6. Laundry is a legit problem

This is my laundry basket from college. I miss it. But I don’t miss the laundry at all.

Growing up, I didn’t have ample training when it comes to laundry. Knowing this, my father included a laundry allowance so I wouldn’t have to worry about having clean clothes to wear. Over time, however, when I was about to go short on cash (see item 3), I had to roll up my sleeves (sometimes literally) and get to work. I found out washing your clothes is tiresome. Then I wondered why our labandera(laundrywoman) back home agrees with her daily salary. It hurts your back and your hands and take up a day of what could have been time spent for studying or hanging out with friends. I know I’m not alone in this, though. I would often hear other students missing out social events and get-togethers because they needed to do the laundry. Who knew a big pile of dirty clothes could hurt your social life?

7. Hygiene is oftentimes optional

When you haven’t disciplined yourself in the time management area, you’d end up going to class without taking a shower. Also, during the exam times, you’re going to find yourself staying up so late and sometimes not even getting a blink of sleep that you’re not even allowed to touch water. I had experienced this a thousand times in college. During exams, my classmates and I would meet up and study. We’d study until morning, have a quick breakfast, and take the exam. We’ve only had two hours of sleep. No one is allowed to go home to quickly fix themselves up because that was unfair to the others. Our boarding house was located just beside the school, so if I wanted to, I could easily have changed my clothes and tried to look better. But my classmates were persistent, so we went directly to the exam looking like zombies and smelling like hobos.

The “freshness” of a student is actually an indicator of how prepared they were for the exam. If you had the luxury of having the time to touch soap that morning, you can be one of the following: you were prepared, you knew the test was not going to be that hard, or you just didn’t care anymore. The zombies, on the other hand, are the students who know they have a high chance of failing but are willing to stake their lives to try. That’s why we ended up smelling like fresh corpses. We’ll die trying.

Source: http://www.stealingshare.com/zombie-apocalypse-real/

8. Breakfast, dinner, and lunch don’t exist

When I received my class schedule during my first semester ever in college, I realized I had a class that ended at 1:30 p.m. I usually had lunch around twelve. Confused, I looked at my father and asked him if we were going to have a lunch break in between classes. Knowing him, he never allowed us to eat our meals late. There was one time in high school when I tried skipping breakfast. He called me on the phone and demanded that I come back that instant or he would drag me back. So I was incredulous when he said that I’d have to eat lunch afterclass. Because of that, I learned a new word—brunch. Why have two meals that’s going to take up more time when you can have just one?

Over time, I lost track of what I ate and when I ate. Sometimes, we would stay at school until nine or ten. During our thesis period, we’d eat whenever we had the time. Sometimes, we’ll just be too tired to even be thinking of food, so we’d just go home and drop dead on the bed.

9. A lot of places become study areas

When you’re trying to cram for an exam in a course that you absolutely need to pass or else you’re going to stay an extra year in college, anywhere is a good enough place to study. The hallway floor suddenly seems cleaner than it really is. So you sit down and read. I have tried studying in a bakeshop. I have tried studying in church.* I slept in so many boarding houses and annoyed so many other boarders who were trying to sleep.

The twenty-four-hour fast food chain made the mistake of opening forever in front of a university. Students mostly just order the cheapest food available and stay there all night.

Sorry, McDonalds. You’ll have to find extra chairs and tables for your other customers ’cause we ain’t leavin’ till mornin’.

*a million thanks to the brothers and sisters who supported me all the way

10. College is a time for self-discovery

So far, I’ve presented only nine lessons I learned during college, but there are so many others I haven’t talked about. But no matter how many lessons there are, the most important lessons will be from the mistakes I made, which made me discover more about myself. College was a tough time for me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. There were a lot of times when I just wanted to pack up my bags and give up. I didn’t have my family with me, who could have given me the much-needed support. My friends, although they were there, had problems of their own and were also as lost as I was.

College is a time for making mistakes and learning. I learned about what I liked and disliked. I learned that some friendships are not meant to last. I learned that life is hard, but the taste of victory is sweet. It dawned on me that there are still so many things I need to learn and so many mistakes I have yet to make. The greatest lesson those five years had taught me is that I alone am weak. Whether or not you believe in a higher power, remember that you don’t have to fight the battle alone, and there’s a lot more in store for you after college. As my father always says, “College is just the training ground where you learn the basics. The theories you learn in school will be worthless if you don’t know how to make it in the real world. The real war starts after graduation.”

Happy training, everyone!

Our Family Day at Galas Beach

Apparently, pebbles become more interesting when you’re at the beach. It is because the wetness? If so, would a rock recently peed on by a dog be of much more interest than a rock peed on by another dog the day before?

Summer is upon us and with it, comes the scorching heat made more tolerable by—yep, you guessed it—sunscreen! Okay. We’re not here to talk about sunscreens. We’re here to talk about water. When I went back to Dipolog after a few months of staying in Cebu, the whole family decided to spend some quality time at the beach. I stayed there for only two days since I had to go back to work the next Monday.

The green green grass of home.

From the beach, we could see the very boat I was going to board that same evening back to Cebu. *sobs*

So at six o’clock on a Sunday morning, the whole family headed for Galas. We gathered our supplies and loaded up the car with the essentials—water, grill, rice, eating utensils, and towels. Unfortunately, we forgot to bring matches, but more on that later.

The water, towels, etc. (essentials), examined by my sister (nonessential).

The ride to the beach was not so pleasant. We had left an hour later than we planned. We were supposed to be out of the house by five, but Tatay (my father) decided to wait for the sun to show up. Unfortunately, the sun showed up late, which irritated my mother. Tatay had to explain that the days are starting later this time of the year because of the position of the earth, its angle of tilt, or whatever the heck his argument was. I was hearing science-ystuff early in the morning, which was not good for my system. Then we had to pick my still-sleeping sister from her boarding house. My father hates to wait, so another argument ensued when she got in the car. What a way to start the day! It reminded me of Jeff Kinney’s The Long Haul. Fortunately for us, there were no murderous birds in the car or a crazy family behind us. It’s a good thing, ’cause we already had enough level of crazy.

But although we had a rough start, the day went on smoothly. We got there, got a How to Cook Meat the Traditional Way lesson, and enjoyed the water. Well, 66.7 percent of us did. I wasn’t able to wade in because—as the Bible puts it—the manner of women was upon me. And my sister Faye was just not feeling it.

Faye attempting to do a hair flip for the camera. It didn’t turn out well.

We chose Galas beach because it was relatively close, and it was also one of our go-to beaches when we feel the need for an early morning dip. The others prepared the cottage while my Tatay, my brother, and I went to look for a store to buy matches from. We found one, but it was still closed. Tatay was quick to comment about the fact that it was nearing seven o’clock, and the people were not awake yet. (Waking up that late in our house was a thing that would earn you contempt.) Fortunately, the owner woke up and didn’t seem pissed at all that her alarm clock was the not-so-angelic voice of my brother asking to buy some matches.

My father and my brother on the way back to the beach after buying a lighter. Yep, we ended up buying a lighter instead of matches. They were more expensive, which may have made the store owner’s being awakened earlier more worth it.

Because the rest of the family was happily bathing, Faye and I were given the task to cook the meat for breakfast. We were constantly being scolded because of our incompetence. You know how it goes: “When I was your age, I could already . . . blah, blah, blah” Typical parent speech. It was hard for us to cook the meat because we kept on screaming and jumping when the fire goes crazy. “It’s because of the fat!” my father would say. Again, more science-y stuff.

The discovery of fire was a huge human feat, but here we are, still struggling to make one even with a lighter.

Our teacher and chief chef taking a break to smile for the camera. Meanwhile, I’m doing the best I can not to ruin the only food we brought.

Almost done!

We did not fail to comment that it was harder than doing it the modern way (whatever that is), but my father made a good point: “Yes, but it’s more enjoyable this way.” We didn’t protest. Anyway, the meat turned out well, and we enjoyed the process. We ate it with the rice that came from our farm, which was really good. I think my mom enjoyed it more than the meat. Exhibit A:

My mother is reaching out for the next bite before she could swallow the one still inside her mouth. That’s planning and preparing at its best, people! We have to be wary of the future.

You couldn’t blame my sister for taking such a huge bite in the previous picture. The meat turned out to be really tasty.

After eating, of course we had to wash the plates. And there’s no better place to do it than the very water we had to bathe in. That’s just how we roll. I’d like to think of it as an act of conserving the resources.

We can’t be selfish. The dishes need to experience the water too.

In the days when Instagram reigns supreme, even the dishes need to have their moments of vanity. We hope there’s no one buried in the sand. That knife is quite sharp.

The water was not particularly good. There was nothing special about the sand. It wasn’t white, but hey, we don’t want to be racists here. It was just a normal beach, but it was fun to bathe in because you could find lots of things there.

We were amazed at this orange-colored sea grass that we found. We were afraid to touch it at first because it might turn out to be a sea creature or something, but upon closer observation, we found out it was a clump of noodles. We’re not the only ones who wash their plates on the beach.

We went home tired but satisfied. Although the beach had nothing particularly special about it, it was a place I would always remember because we spent so many times there as a family. The moments weren’t all pleasant, but those imperfect moments are dear to me. I hope we can come back many more times after, and I hope that the next time, the “manner” won’t we upon me anymore ’cause having the manner upon you in any activity involving water is a bummer.

And before I forget, to give my sister justice and her dignity back, here’s a not-so-bad version of the earlier picture.

Have you been to the Galas beach before? If not, do you want to go there after reading this article? Are you sure? Write your answers on a one-fourth sheet of paper, and pass it clockwise.

Ping’s March 2017 Reading Wrap-Up

This month is my worst reading wrap-up so far. I read only four books this month. There’s a valid explanation for this, though. I was reading so many books at a time. At the time I’m writing this article, I am in the middle of five books. I know. I should stop doing that and read six instead. But despite that, here’s my review of the books I’ve read this month.

1. Pera na Hindi Bitin by Ardy Roberto

Source: https://www.goodreads.com

As a twenty-something struggling with personal finance, this book proved to be a joy to read. It encouraged me to be more aware of the money I spend and on the things I spend it on. It’s also only Php50, which is a plus since you’re buying it to learn more about saving money.

But the question is, did I apply what I learned from the book?

Source: http://www.relatably.com/q/funny-pork-barrel-quotes

2. Kristy’s Worst Idea by Ann M. Martin

Source: http://valleyofsweetness.blogspot.com

I was so excited to see the one-hundredth book of the Baby-Sitters Club at Booksale. I was even more excited because this is actually the first BSC book that I read that is told from Kristy’s perspective. I’ve always wanted to know how the BSC leader would sound like. However, it saddens me to say that this is by far the worst book in the series that I read. It isn’t particularly bad. It was that I expected so much from it and ended up being disappointed. Kristy can be super bossy at times and sometimes doesn’t consider her team’s opinions. In this book, the club actually broke up! It got better in the end, but I was already heartbroken. I expected more from you, Kristy. I really did.

3. Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner

Source: https://crimetimepod.com

It’s been a while since I last read a Lisa Gardner book. She is, hands down, my favorite thriller author. Live to Tell is the story of Anabelle, a girl whose family had been constantly on the run since she was seven years old. They moved from city to city, changing identities as they did so. They were avoiding something, but Anabelle did not know what it was. Twenty-five years after running away, she reads about herself in the newspaper. Apparently, her seven-year-old corpse was found recently.

Any story by Lisa Gardner is a sure hit for me. She tells the stories in ways that will prevent you from putting the book down. You have no choice but to succumb to the plot and narrative.

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Source: https://www.amazon.co.uk

You know that feeling when you’re not in control of your body anymore? That’s how I felt when I saw this book at Booksale. I looked to my right, and when I saw the title, I felt like I didn’t control my arm anymore. Suddenly, I found myself holding the book. I was lucky enough to find a brand new copy for only Php125!

I don’t think I need to provide any synopsis for this book. Many people have seen the movies. I didn’t particularly like it because I thought Willy Wonka was crazy. (I still think he is). But the book was a joy to read. Roald Dahl has never disappointed me yet. He tells each story in a manner that draws you in. There’s a lesson in every one of his books that applies to both adults and children. I’m looking forward to read his other works.

Event Review: Wealth Boot Camp 2.0

The road to financial freedom starts from having enough information to make better decisions and enough inspiration to keep you going. The Wealth Boot Camp does exactly those things. In their second installment, there were fewer speakers (two to be exact), but that did not lessen the takeaways.

The venue was the same—Harolds Hotel. The setup also didn’t vary much from the first boot camp. They served coffee, water, and mints. Foodwise, there was not much to look forward to, but since we weren’t there to eat, that was not a problem.

The first speaker was Mr. Jess Faller Jr., a licensed electrical and computer engineer. His talk was called “Financial Education as the Biggest and Most Powerful Innovation and How You Can Get Ahead.” He talked about the dangers of not being financially educated, which honestly scared me and made me question about my financial future. He discussed the effects of technology and innovation to the market and how it affects the various jobs in certain industries. I have been aware of this phenomenon myself, but I wasn’t really paying attention to it. For example, if you’ve seen the movie Why Him? Zoey Deutch’s father runs a printing business that has been operating for years. However, his business takes a dive because he did not go with the times. He was slowly losing his business because people are opting for paperless invitations instead of printed ones. Here’s another example of how technology can change and affect businesses:

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/reasons-why-we-love-bookstores?utm_term=.osMyrB4wg7#.kt9YJLAGOe

Engr. Faller’s talk was an eye-opener. We should pay more attention to the changing times and learn how to prepare for what is to come. The job you have today might be paying well, but in five years, maybe you’ll be replaced by a robot. What then?

The next speaker was particularly inspiring to me because of the fact that he was a chemical engineer by profession. Bunny Pages, the owner of famous brands like Thirsty?, Taters, Moon Café, House of Lechon, Lantaw, and others, shared his entrepreneurial secrets and his daily habits.

He was one of the few speakers who are a delight to listen to because of his eloquence. He speaks so well, and his pace and diction were just spot-on. So it surprised me when he said he used to be a bad speaker. He knew he was not that good, so he took classes and practiced. He’s one of those people who discover that if they lack a particular skill they deem important, they take action instead of accepting the fact that they are just “not good enough.” So it’s no wonder he’s so successful.

Engr. Pages during his talk. The institutions and brands he owns are flash on the screen.

Engr. Pages presented a lot of wonderful ideas that we could apply to our lives to become better entrepreneurs. There was one that particularly stuck with me: closing loops. The idea behind this productivity technique is that when something needs to be done, you do it right away. There’s no need to make lists. Within the soonest time possible, the task needs to be started so results show up much faster. This stuck with me for two reasons: (1) I swear by making to-do lists and planners and (2) all the books I’ve read and the videos I watched on productivity recommended making lists. But I see the point of the closed loop technique, though. If something can be done right away, there’s no point in delaying it. I’ll have to adjust my productivity methods soon. (I already scheduled it in my planner. XD)

Another one of Engr. Pages’s productivity habit is reading books and waking up early. He said he wakes up daily at around 5:00 a.m. and reads every day. Personally, I don’t know any successful person who is not a reader. Also, waking up is hard, but it lets you accomplish more than when you wake up late. Energy levels are generally higher in the morning than in the afternoon, so waking up early and having a productive morning routine is a must for people who want to get ahead.

He also talked about stories of how he got to where he is now, but the biggest part of his talk focused on the twelve things he deems the most important to succeed in business:

A business is given by God.
The organization has to be a learning organization.
The purpose of a business is to create more satisfied customers.
No one can do it alone. Business is a team sport.
Everything rises or falls on leadership.
Practice the Blue Ocean strategy.
Business is a game. Play to win.
The main job of a leader is to develop and grow more leaders.
Our best asset is not our people. Our best asset is the right people.
To grow and sustain success, develop three characters:

a. Ability to solve problems

b. Ability to capitalize on opportunities

c. The Japanese principle of Kaizen

You can only get the best from your people if they feel you care for them.
The universe likes speed. [Here, he means not to delay and to do the work and make decisions right away.]

I found Engr. Pages not only to be a really motivational speaker, but also a genuine person. He freely shares his secrets (for free) and is willing to help budding entrepreneurs. In fact, he told us that if we needed any help, we could contact him directly. You can do so too. How? His personal cellphone number is in every Thirsty? cup. So if you want financial and life advice, go buy a smoothie.