ONE last glance at the famous oblation statue and off we go to the next destination > HOME. The long waiting period took place until I received a telegram. Yes dudette telegram instead of telephone call (we don't have telephone), no cellphone or email address. 1981, Year 1981 is when no one can afford a computer because it's not in demand and computer is not the kind of machine we Filipinos would acquire to use and learn. (!) (?) Duhhh! We believe in BOOKS. Cellphone? No one has cellphone yet that period of time nor year. You wont believe that only the well to do families or those with business, government and private companies have telephones. So what the telegram sent to me? UP (University of the Philippines informed me that BS Psychology is a quota course and it's already FULL. However, I can have the option to enrol in non-quota course which is VETERINARY MEDICINE. The ONLY available diploma course that time which they offer for me if I'm interested.
What? I was shocked. Who wont be? Who am I to have a degree in Veterinary Medicine? It's not even in my dreams. My God! I was unhappy at first but realizing I think it was sort of blessing in disguised. Thank goodness! Thank God!
Thinking about it and how could that be of quota program? Well, they only allowed to have an allowable list or numbers of students in every department. Knowing the standard of UP is so high and they have that "special treatment" for VIP's. You have to be rich, wealthy and very smart. Really? I was almost about to seek help from my Uncle Jerry who was a Summa Cum Laude in that University and working for Dole, Philippines. Then I realized I have so much pride. I have that so called HIGH PRIDE and dignity and better have to be on my own. If 94% mark is not enough then what could be the grade they want? Oh yes financial background. Who amongst you as a student in year 1981 has finacial stability or working in order to finance education? Not in Philippines. Most of the people I know relied on their parents for financial assistance in order to study, finish a certain degree in college and university. Even if after college education most of them are dependents of their parents. Well that's Filipino way of life. We're not Americans, Europeans or Canadians. I'm not rich but not poor. My daily school allowance is just for my snacks of one pop, halls candies, juicy fruit gum, one buco pie and bus and jeepney fare. Five to ten minutes walk from home to the bus station, jeepney ride from Echague to FEU or walk from FEU to Echague so that we could exercise and save at the same time. Sometimes my bestfriend and I walked from Echague to FEU to have extra money. Many students did the same kind of saving. To save even more we stop having snack, we're on a diet , no snack just chewing gum. Actually other students from other universities decided to walk from UP to FEU. That's another story.
I was admitted in FEU (Far Eastern University) instead. It is also a prestigious university and unlike other universities in Manila it is at the heart of the downtown shopping arcade, cinema > so many of them, bookstores, it is a university belt where other universities are close together in one zone area... fantastic! PERFECT PLAN! lol
Later did I know that it was only our Valedictorian who pursued her diploma course in UP with a degree in BS Marine Biology and at present time in Australia working as a Marine Biologist. The HS Salutatorian is now a famous doctor. I don't know if she was a UP Grad. or graduated from UST.
How time flies...Well too many golf balls flying. F O R E!
