BITTERSWEET by: Puto Pahiyas
BJ!!! Adj! BJ yada! BJ blah! Debate this! Quota that!
Clutter. Everybody chants just one name – BJ. Nah, he’s not Brad Pitt, nor Adam Brody or some Hollywood hunk, he’s plain BJ. The one and only BJ. BJ is genetically-engineered to become the surrogate mother slash runner of the embryonic oral cavities stemming from the month-or-so-old Petri dishes and test tubes. The fast-growing adult germ cells, on the get-go, well, umm, are growing. However, as it is BJ who engulfs the nearly neurotic, hyperactive orifices, yes my dears, mouths have weird tendencies, after all, he just never settles for the second best. Implication: if you are to talk might as well speak with all the sense and conviction in the world. Gibberish and BJ just don’t go hand-in-hand.
As everyone is near the verge of neurasthenia, exams on one side, app quotas on the other, BJ is not the end-all and be-all for these kiddos. There is still MAC to shed some light. No, we aren’t talking about the red and yellow mascot of this one large food chain or whatnot. MAC is like BJ, the descendants of him for that matter. Splintered BJ scattered to each corner of the MAC committee ensures that these embryos wouldn’t be flushed down the drain at the end of the day.
BJ and MAC are the applicants’ number one must-know. They are the sacred force that one could never go without knowing. Dude, not knowing a MAC member at this point in time means one thing, DEAD MEAT. It’s over. Whatever your problem is, these are the people you automatically go to. As cheesy as it may sound, they are the ones whom you run into when you sre on the brink of psychosis or what-have-you.
Debating is fulfilling. Heck, debating is love. But sometimes the urge to be just one cowardly little creature, run away from all this and once and for all, defer, is sometimes just too strong to ignore. Nonetheless, there is that driving force telling you to step forward. The lighting challenged, mosquito infested, dirty corner in Econ could be one of the happiest places in UP. Though intimidating at first, the members could be the most interesting, funniest entities in the university.
In retrospect, who would have thought that applicants could be superhuman in terms of how we could balance our schedules. That despite of all the exams, recits, and other academic related activities, we could still fulfill the requirements of the app period. The latter part of the process is the most fun part for me though. It’s funny how the apps become more bonded as we race against time to fulfill all our deficiencies. Regardless of how many exams we have to take the next day, we desperately stay up late in econ, hoping to debate and adj and work off our asses as we become weirder and weirder. The peculiar thing is, we enjoy it. I enjoy it. I get tired, yes, but never toxic.
To sum it all up, the application is a love-hate relationship. Sometimes, I despise it, most of the time I love it. And you know what, you wouldn’t know the sense of fulfillment anywhere else.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Eris Platito
Fun and Frustrations of a Freshman by Eris Platito
I first encountered BJ's name in a tarpaulin hanging in front of the faculty center. It was my first day in the university and I was about to go to my Kas1 class when I saw the tarpaulin congratulating him for winning in a debate competition. I was really impressed and that's when my interest in joining DebSoc began. I was a high school debater and there's nothing wrong if I continue debating in college, besides if ever I get to join DebSoc I will not just be any debater...I will be a UP debater. When I first saw BJ on the orientation, I can't believe that it was his name on the tarpaulin. I imagined him as a geeky guy who always has to speak about intellectual matters but he is actually the wacky but very concerned and helpful Vice President for MAC of DebSoc. I felt really intimidated to him at the start, well I was intimidated by all the members. I thought that he would be snobish and won't talk to any applicants at all. As my tambay days went on, I get to talk to BJ often and that's my intimidation to him and to almost all members disappeared. Even if I get to talk to BJ a lot, I never realized how great his concern for the applicants. One time he suddenly talked to me and my partner about our performance. My partner and I confessed how much we're having a hard time in the application period. When we have finished, he gave us advice on what to do and he suddenly called for a debate. He told us that he wants to adjudicate us to see how we are doing with our debates. After the debate, he even trained us on how to organize our speech and how we could substantiate our arguments and so on and so forth. I remember that we finished late from that training but BJ never cared at all, he's contented that he had done his part. I am really thankful to BJ for being always there for the apps. Even if we know that Levi and Paolo are his favorites, he still care enough for all of us. I am not afraid to tell BJ everything that I feel about DebSoc. I'm confident enough that he does not judge but actually understands our situation.
Besides BJ, I am also thankful to the MAC members. They are the ones that we always see around. They are the ones who always try to help us with the application period. Whether they are just warm to the applicants because it is their job or it is innate to them, I am still very thankful. Their constant checking on us make the application period a lot easier. As I ponder on this MAC requirement, I realized that it is mostly MAC members that I became very close to. Their presence really made my application period fun and really interesting.
My application period was such an adventure. At the start I thought that debating in college was as simple as it was in my high school debating days. I realized that there is a world of difference between the two. I always felt that my debates were awful. In most of my debates, I got 4th. The adjudicator always has the most to say about my speech...lack of substantiation, farfetched arguments, rehash, wrong definition and so much more. The only thing they always appreciate in my speech is my manner. It gave me the impression that I am good enough in acting out a good delivery of my speech but dumb enough to think of valuable arguments. It made me feel that whenever I stand in front of the adjudicators, they are thinking that I am the dumbest applicant of DebSoc ever. Along with my frustrations on my debate, I also have my acads. Most of the time, I am so tired when I get home that I don't finish all my readings in SS2 and Eng12 anymore. I am so stressed whenever I have to study on my test in one of my classes and also have to matterload for the coming graded debate. Sometimes, I am wondering if I gave myself so much to worry knowing that I am only a freshie but at the end of the day, I would just dismiss that thought. Even if the application period really stressed me, I don't take it against anybody. I don't take it even to myself. I know that whenever I want something, I have to work hard for it. In joining DebSoc, I have to experience this all.
Even if all my debates were awful and I felt that my classes are already affected, I did not defer. Even if I was only an inch away from defering, I did not defer. Simply because whenever I look back on the application period, whenever I look back on everything that I've done, I just cannot give up at once. I am not the kind of person who just gives up. Besides, I always have a great time whenever I am with my co-applicants. I became really close to most of them and I will surely miss so much fun if I defer. I love going to Econ Caf and chat with members and applicants. I also enjoyed learning a lot from debating. Besides learning the basic debating, I also learned a lot of new style of speaking. It makes me laugh whenever I think that I cannot finish my speech without saying, “ladies and gentlemen”, “at the end of the day”, “we question” and so many phrases that I get used to when I became a DebSoc applicant.
I know that I did not give such a wonderful performance on the application period but it was the most that I can give. I am happy enough that I have given my best, the rest now lies on the hands of DebSoc. Still, the application period was the most fun and also most frustrating days of my freshman year.
I first encountered BJ's name in a tarpaulin hanging in front of the faculty center. It was my first day in the university and I was about to go to my Kas1 class when I saw the tarpaulin congratulating him for winning in a debate competition. I was really impressed and that's when my interest in joining DebSoc began. I was a high school debater and there's nothing wrong if I continue debating in college, besides if ever I get to join DebSoc I will not just be any debater...I will be a UP debater. When I first saw BJ on the orientation, I can't believe that it was his name on the tarpaulin. I imagined him as a geeky guy who always has to speak about intellectual matters but he is actually the wacky but very concerned and helpful Vice President for MAC of DebSoc. I felt really intimidated to him at the start, well I was intimidated by all the members. I thought that he would be snobish and won't talk to any applicants at all. As my tambay days went on, I get to talk to BJ often and that's my intimidation to him and to almost all members disappeared. Even if I get to talk to BJ a lot, I never realized how great his concern for the applicants. One time he suddenly talked to me and my partner about our performance. My partner and I confessed how much we're having a hard time in the application period. When we have finished, he gave us advice on what to do and he suddenly called for a debate. He told us that he wants to adjudicate us to see how we are doing with our debates. After the debate, he even trained us on how to organize our speech and how we could substantiate our arguments and so on and so forth. I remember that we finished late from that training but BJ never cared at all, he's contented that he had done his part. I am really thankful to BJ for being always there for the apps. Even if we know that Levi and Paolo are his favorites, he still care enough for all of us. I am not afraid to tell BJ everything that I feel about DebSoc. I'm confident enough that he does not judge but actually understands our situation.
Besides BJ, I am also thankful to the MAC members. They are the ones that we always see around. They are the ones who always try to help us with the application period. Whether they are just warm to the applicants because it is their job or it is innate to them, I am still very thankful. Their constant checking on us make the application period a lot easier. As I ponder on this MAC requirement, I realized that it is mostly MAC members that I became very close to. Their presence really made my application period fun and really interesting.
My application period was such an adventure. At the start I thought that debating in college was as simple as it was in my high school debating days. I realized that there is a world of difference between the two. I always felt that my debates were awful. In most of my debates, I got 4th. The adjudicator always has the most to say about my speech...lack of substantiation, farfetched arguments, rehash, wrong definition and so much more. The only thing they always appreciate in my speech is my manner. It gave me the impression that I am good enough in acting out a good delivery of my speech but dumb enough to think of valuable arguments. It made me feel that whenever I stand in front of the adjudicators, they are thinking that I am the dumbest applicant of DebSoc ever. Along with my frustrations on my debate, I also have my acads. Most of the time, I am so tired when I get home that I don't finish all my readings in SS2 and Eng12 anymore. I am so stressed whenever I have to study on my test in one of my classes and also have to matterload for the coming graded debate. Sometimes, I am wondering if I gave myself so much to worry knowing that I am only a freshie but at the end of the day, I would just dismiss that thought. Even if the application period really stressed me, I don't take it against anybody. I don't take it even to myself. I know that whenever I want something, I have to work hard for it. In joining DebSoc, I have to experience this all.
Even if all my debates were awful and I felt that my classes are already affected, I did not defer. Even if I was only an inch away from defering, I did not defer. Simply because whenever I look back on the application period, whenever I look back on everything that I've done, I just cannot give up at once. I am not the kind of person who just gives up. Besides, I always have a great time whenever I am with my co-applicants. I became really close to most of them and I will surely miss so much fun if I defer. I love going to Econ Caf and chat with members and applicants. I also enjoyed learning a lot from debating. Besides learning the basic debating, I also learned a lot of new style of speaking. It makes me laugh whenever I think that I cannot finish my speech without saying, “ladies and gentlemen”, “at the end of the day”, “we question” and so many phrases that I get used to when I became a DebSoc applicant.
I know that I did not give such a wonderful performance on the application period but it was the most that I can give. I am happy enough that I have given my best, the rest now lies on the hands of DebSoc. Still, the application period was the most fun and also most frustrating days of my freshman year.
the effects of cigarettes on the brain by RAY(mund) PINIOCO
Applying for UPDS has been one of the biggest emotional roller coaster rides of my life. Whether the reason for this is that I just live a really boring life or that the application process is really hard I’m not sure, I’m just sure that it made me experience some of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life. Why exactly did it make me experience some of my lowest lows? It did so because at first (and up to now) I feel like there are a many applicants who are way better than me in debating. Sometimes when I watch them debate, I can’t help but feel that I don’t deserve to be in the same league with them. To be more particular, at the start of the application period I won one or two debates but after those debates it all went downhill. I lost almost every debate and had mostly below average debates. My ideas were called underdeveloped, my contextualization very poor, my views myopic, my rebuttals weak and untargetive and the structure to my speeches, -non-existent. I really felt like I was the dumbest applicant of UPDS and the slowest learner in my batch. However even before I applied for UPDS I already told myself that if I’m not going to make it, the only reason for my rejection would be my lack of talent and not my lack of effort and enthusiasm. And so, even though I was losing almost every debate, I continued on debating and debating and I never stopped bugging my buddy (who is one of the most competent, caring and patient buddies in the world) about possible cases for certain motions and so on. In the end I believe that I have improved. The reason that I can say this is that recently my partner and I have recently had very good debates although we also just recently had a poor one. I feel that this is an indicator that I have the potential to be a good debater some day with even more training and hard work.
One of the things that I believe helped me a lot in the application process is the MAC. They are very friendly patient towards the apps. They break the traditional stereotypes of UPDS people as snobs who look down on people who are not as good as they are. For instance Pluto was always checking if we were ok and if we were having any problems with out application process. They befriended us and made us feel like we belong to the society. Their joking around and sometimes even flirting with the apps made it easier for us apps to feel at home. Not only that, they were patient with us as well. In particular I really appreciate how Yang tries to find something good in a person’s speech no matter how much it sucked. He is one of those adjudicators who can really help a debater improve because he is patient towards those who still have a lot to improve. He criticizes but the way he criticizes doesn’t leave the debater disheartened.
BJ is also one of the members who the apps feel closest too. It might be because of his fatherly or motherly touch that the applicants just simply like him. When I first saw him during the apps orientation I thought that he was big tough guy perhaps because of the way he looks but the moment he started talking I immediately knew that it was going to be fun having him as our sort of “daddy” or “mommy.” And with that I believe that BJ stands for Big Joy just because he is really a fun person to be around with. But let me not confuse the reader by making it seem that BJ is just this funny gay guy who likes to have fun. BJ is a funny gay guy who likes to have fun and is an excellent adjudicator. ( I haven’t seen him debate yet) His australs caliber adjudication really helps debaters improve and gives apps critical points as to where they can improve and what good things they should keep on doing.
Diana Dyslexia
An Undefined Definition by Diana Dyslexia
There are things in this world that we can never always explain or define. When science can only do so much, we are left with the play of words. The struggle to choose among the broad spectrum of words is endless. At the end of the day, all we can do is hope that words would be enough to paint the perfect picture.
BJ: a living theory.
There are things in this world that we can never always explain or define. When science can only do so much, we are left with the play of words. The struggle to choose among the broad spectrum of words is endless. At the end of the day, all we can do is hope that words would be enough to paint the perfect picture.
BJ: a living theory.
BJ is a theory; a theory that lives by itself to prove himself to others. A living proof that excellence does not always translate to being immodest; that one need not to separate himself from the others to be praised because of his achievements; a proof that to be able to be successful and acclaimed, one must always remember how to be grounded.
If there is one thing admirable about BJ, that would be his honesty. Sometimes being confronted with the truth is harsh but I would rather be stabbed in the chest with the truth, than be fed with sugar-coated poison. In this kind of application process, wherein honest assessment is critical, there is always a Bernard Joseph Guererro, honest and reliable.
MAC: your support system.
If there is one thing admirable about BJ, that would be his honesty. Sometimes being confronted with the truth is harsh but I would rather be stabbed in the chest with the truth, than be fed with sugar-coated poison. In this kind of application process, wherein honest assessment is critical, there is always a Bernard Joseph Guererro, honest and reliable.
MAC: your support system.
BJ is infectious and good thing MAC is infected. Happy, perky, and pure fun, that’s what MAC is to me. Upon entering the UPDS application period these are the faces that one must remember. The reason of course is quite obvious, that it’s the Membership and Administration Committee for crying out loud! But above all, MAC is your plank of wood when the ship sinks. When things go wrong, you can cry all you want and do whatever you want to do but the smart choice would always be to talk to them. MAC is your breathing apparatus in times of comatose. They will make sure you will stay alive up to the end. They will help you stand and continue, alongside with other members.
ME: experience defined.
I am NOT brilliant. But the UPDS application period shaped me in a way that I would glitter, even though how faint, still they made me glitter. They made me do things that I did not know I can. They made me discover my potentials and juice out the best in me.
The whole application period is a path to the mountains - hard yet enjoyable. Starting at the lowest point, you feel at ease. But when it gets steep, chances are, you will struggle just to continue walking the path. The trek to the top is never easy. There is even no assurance of getting to the top. I stumbled once, but never had I had doubts that perseverance will help me make it though. Cuts, cramps, bruises, or what-have-you are necessary pains to make me, us, realize that this is not a stroll in the park. This is the UPDS application period. What we must understand that there is little room for doubt, fear, and even confidence; that we must be determined to take all things seriously.
I had the choice to settle at the foot of the mountain. I had the opportunity to admire the peak from below; where there is less pain and less effort needed. But I chose to take a risk – a risk to discover what is something up in the mountains to be admired. An admiration that made me change my perspective. A perspective I realized is kind that I wanted to have.
ME: experience defined.
I am NOT brilliant. But the UPDS application period shaped me in a way that I would glitter, even though how faint, still they made me glitter. They made me do things that I did not know I can. They made me discover my potentials and juice out the best in me.
The whole application period is a path to the mountains - hard yet enjoyable. Starting at the lowest point, you feel at ease. But when it gets steep, chances are, you will struggle just to continue walking the path. The trek to the top is never easy. There is even no assurance of getting to the top. I stumbled once, but never had I had doubts that perseverance will help me make it though. Cuts, cramps, bruises, or what-have-you are necessary pains to make me, us, realize that this is not a stroll in the park. This is the UPDS application period. What we must understand that there is little room for doubt, fear, and even confidence; that we must be determined to take all things seriously.
I had the choice to settle at the foot of the mountain. I had the opportunity to admire the peak from below; where there is less pain and less effort needed. But I chose to take a risk – a risk to discover what is something up in the mountains to be admired. An admiration that made me change my perspective. A perspective I realized is kind that I wanted to have.
the effects of cigarettes on the brain by RAY(mund) PINIOCO
Applying for UPDS has been one of the biggest emotional roller coaster rides of my life. Whether the reason for this is that I just live a really boring life or that the application process is really hard I’m not sure, I’m just sure that it made me experience some of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life. Why exactly did it make me experience some of my lowest lows? It did so because at first (and up to now) I feel like there are a many applicants who are way better than me in debating. Sometimes when I watch them debate, I can’t help but feel that I don’t deserve to be in the same league with them. To be more particular, at the start of the application period I won one or two debates but after those debates it all went downhill. I lost almost every debate and had mostly below average debates. My ideas were called underdeveloped, my contextualization very poor, my views myopic, my rebuttals weak and untargetive and the structure to my speeches, -non-existent. I really felt like I was the dumbest applicant of UPDS and the slowest learner in my batch. However even before I applied for UPDS I already told myself that if I’m not going to make it, the only reason for my rejection would be my lack of talent and not my lack of effort and enthusiasm. And so, even though I was losing almost every debate, I continued on debating and debating and I never stopped bugging my buddy (who is one of the most competent, caring and patient buddies in the world) about possible cases for certain motions and so on. In the end I believe that I have improved. The reason that I can say this is that recently my partner and I have recently had very good debates although we also just recently had a poor one. I feel that this is an indicator that I have the potential to be a good debater some day with even more training and hard work.
One of the things that I believe helped me a lot in the application process is the MAC. They are very friendly patient towards the apps. They break the traditional stereotypes of UPDS people as snobs who look down on people who are not as good as they are. For instance Pluto was always checking if we were ok and if we were having any problems with out application process. They befriended us and made us feel like we belong to the society. Their joking around and sometimes even flirting with the apps made it easier for us apps to feel at home. Not only that, they were patient with us as well. In particular I really appreciate how Yang tries to find something good in a person’s speech no matter how much it sucked. He is one of those adjudicators who can really help a debater improve because he is patient towards those who still have a lot to improve. He criticizes but the way he criticizes doesn’t leave the debater disheartened.
BJ is also one of the members who the apps feel closest too. It might be because of his fatherly or motherly touch that the applicants just simply like him. When I first saw him during the apps orientation I thought that he was big tough guy perhaps because of the way he looks but the moment he started talking I immediately knew that it was going to be fun having him as our sort of “daddy” or “mommy.” And with that I believe that BJ stands for Big Joy just because he is really a fun person to be around with. But let me not confuse the reader by making it seem that BJ is just this funny gay guy who likes to have fun. BJ is a funny gay guy who likes to have fun and is an excellent adjudicator. ( I haven’t seen him debate yet) His australs caliber adjudication really helps debaters improve and gives apps critical points as to where they can improve and what good things they should keep on doing.
Sabi-na Lacad
**Paradigms** by Sabi-na Lacad
BJ is a paradigm. It is a paradigm that enabled not only me but also the rest of my co-apps to appreciate the conflicting ideologies of debating.
MAC Paradigm.
It is the paradigm that gives me a glimpse of the soul of the society that I am applying for. It is a paradigm that fosters camaraderie and secures the links of the chain amidst conflict of interests. It values even the smallest contribution I can offer and convinces me that that small bit is indeed something worth sharing. Also, it is a paradigm that equipped me with the necessary tools to wage war, a war that is fought with not only with the best intellectual strategies but moreover with great moral high ground. A paradigm that makes me want to belong in their world at the end of the day.
Debate Paradigms.
I personally believe that a person can only either “super” love or “mega” hate debating. These are two extreme paradigms on both ends and crucial at the very least. This is precisely the reason why if you are a debater it is really something more than a hobby but rather a passion (key element to the “super” love paradigm”) – for it is this passion that drives/ mobilizes one to battle in an academic ground to fight for principles without any incentives (a risk that not everyone wants to take). One needs the passion to battle such a bloody war (a war of ideas which is bloodier than swords) which can either vindicate or destroy you severely at times. More importantly, this passion enables one to heal after the war and concede to loses. That is the main reason why the application process is vital personally, for passion sometimes is not inherent but rather something you acquire from the environment. And I am glad to say that it allowed me to share the same passion from the members and not discouraged me from it. Applying enabled me to further conclude that indeed the passion that this society has is worth sharing and knowing regardless whether you become one of them or not.
I am glad and proud to partake in these paradigms regardless.
BJ is a paradigm. It is a paradigm that enabled not only me but also the rest of my co-apps to appreciate the conflicting ideologies of debating.
MAC Paradigm.
It is the paradigm that gives me a glimpse of the soul of the society that I am applying for. It is a paradigm that fosters camaraderie and secures the links of the chain amidst conflict of interests. It values even the smallest contribution I can offer and convinces me that that small bit is indeed something worth sharing. Also, it is a paradigm that equipped me with the necessary tools to wage war, a war that is fought with not only with the best intellectual strategies but moreover with great moral high ground. A paradigm that makes me want to belong in their world at the end of the day.
Debate Paradigms.
I personally believe that a person can only either “super” love or “mega” hate debating. These are two extreme paradigms on both ends and crucial at the very least. This is precisely the reason why if you are a debater it is really something more than a hobby but rather a passion (key element to the “super” love paradigm”) – for it is this passion that drives/ mobilizes one to battle in an academic ground to fight for principles without any incentives (a risk that not everyone wants to take). One needs the passion to battle such a bloody war (a war of ideas which is bloodier than swords) which can either vindicate or destroy you severely at times. More importantly, this passion enables one to heal after the war and concede to loses. That is the main reason why the application process is vital personally, for passion sometimes is not inherent but rather something you acquire from the environment. And I am glad to say that it allowed me to share the same passion from the members and not discouraged me from it. Applying enabled me to further conclude that indeed the passion that this society has is worth sharing and knowing regardless whether you become one of them or not.
I am glad and proud to partake in these paradigms regardless.
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