Passing the UPCAT

“… kumbaga UP or NOTHING”
“… pag hindi ako pumasa, tatalon ako sa bangin, PLAN B, B for bangin!”
“shaded circles”

--- lines from the UPCAT The Movie

I came across this 2-min trailer of the movie from the Youtube, and got these lines. And of course, naka-relate naman ako. Like the main character, I may say that back in high school, I also have that “simple” dream of passing the UPCAT because of:

>>>financial reason – during that time, there’s an insinuation that I should be sensitive enough to understand that it would be too hard for my mother to send me to college; and so I thought that passing the UPCAT would be enough reason for me to insist that I want to enroll in college. Also, most schools cost too much. I only took 2 college entrance exams, one is UPCAT and one from PNU, I passed my exam in PNU… and so my plan B, is definitely not bangin. And I did not entertain the idea of “UP or Nothing” because my primary concern is to study, but if I will study, why don’t I go to UP?

>>>pride, self-satisfaction, and “redeem yourself” thing – From Kindergarten to Grade 4, I was a consistent honor student, in the top 5, if I may say. But just imagine how the world turned upside down when I was in grade 5, I got the biggest flop of my student life when I collapsed from top 4 (in grade 4) all the way down to (there’s still a 4 in fairness!) 14th. I am not so sure how it happened, or what happened to me, but one thing for sure, I did my best (maybe it’s just good enough). Of course, I felt bad, just imagine the feeling of the 11-yr old girl, who used to be part of the recognition program, stepping up in the stage, receiving a ribbon or a medal, then all of a sudden, there she was far from the stage, watching her classmates in the stage receiving their medals. Then she had to answer everyone’s “why? what happened?” question, when she herself, doesn’t know the answer. Obviously I graduated from elementary not sitting in the stage, and never had the chance to receive or passed the “sulo”. So sad! But well, that’s life, and life must go on. Highschool. I just enjoyed myself, well, just a little pressure knowing that my classmates are valedictorians, salutatorians, etc. from different elementary schools in town, plus a little pressure of being known as the “sister of” as days went on, and of course there are some crying moments over the unanswered math homeworks. But aside from that, my high school days were fun; in general I truly enjoyed it. I don’t care if I failed those monthly or even periodical exams, or got a grade of 79 (my only palakol grade) in Biology; my only concern is I need to pass the final grades. Well, graduating in time wasn’t a problem, I knew from the very start that I can (magaan lang ang bangko!).
With what I’ve been through as a student, passing the UPCAT is really one thing I dreamed of. In our school, names of UPCAT passers are displayed near the gate, where everyone can see it, even the churchgoers (our school is just beside the church) and I somehow wanted my name to be part of that “display”.
“Redeem yourself” is from Sir Velandres (+), he often mentioned it in class. He has been my Math teacher from 2nd – 4th yr high school, and without he knowing it, he had instill it in my mind since then. I thought of UPCAT to redeem myself but still I am not 100% sure that I can do it, but I decided to take the risk, after all how can I pass if I will not take the exam.

August 6, 2000: my UPCAT day, I left the house around 8am, and then dropped by the church. Around 10am, we left going to Batangas City; our exam schedule is 12:30pm. For almost 6 hrs, we are inside the testing center, getting sleepy and dizzy rubbing the tip of the Mongol 2 pencil on the test paper to shade more than a hundred circles. After the exam, we dropped by the Jollibee to eat, then home sweet home. Within 6 months before the result came; different emotions, anticipating for a positive result then telling myself it is impossible, then again praying that I will pass, but somehow do not want to expect anything. It was a little torture. February 2001, here comes the result: I PASSED THE UPCAT!

I was so ecstatic during that time; I can’t believe that I really did pass the UPCAT. I was so happy; at least I got something that had at least made me visible. I left the school not just as one of the familiar faces that have spent days sitting in the classrooms and walking along the corridors. I may never have reclaim being part of the top 10 students, but on our graduation day, I was back on the stage to receive the certificate of recognition of being one of the UPCAT passers…. and of course my name had the chance to be part of that display near the gate.

I went through a lot before I took and passed the UPCAT… but before I can enroll and be accepted in UP is another story… and studying in UP is still another story… and graduating from UP is again another story!

So, I have 3 more UP-related stories to post!

UPCAT The Movie *** Robinsons Galleria *** December 3-16