The artwork format is assemblage (a three dimensional artwork made of different materials put together to form one unified concept art piece or composition.). This contest is open to all Filipino students currently enrolled in public and private high schools in Los Banos, Laguna. The assemblage should be a result of a collaboration by a team of three students. Any other team composition is disqualified. The theme of this contest is “Unity in Diversity” in line with EU’s motto.

The team should submit their entries to any of the following schools by 30 March 2009: Philippine High School for the Arts and the Los Banos National High School.

The medium or materials to be used should be made of recycled materials, preferably those coming from the home and including from the community, like the following: tin cans, rubber slippers, bottles, cloth or textile materials, paper products such as papers, paper boards and boxes, plastic materials such as containers and old toys, metal pieces. Materials that deteriorate are not permitted.

The dimensions include: height – 16 inches including base, not smaller than 10 inches, weight – maximum of 20 kilos and cubic measure of 12 inches x 12 inches x 16 inches.

All entries should be accompanied by a short rationale explaining the concept of their entry piece. Rationale should be not more than five sentences with a maximum of 500 words.

Students also should attach the following information to their respective entries: name, address, contact landline and mobile phone numbers of the members of the team, the year and section of the members of the team, name of adviser, contact number of adviser, name of school.

The criteria for Judging are: relevance to the Theme – 40%; Durability & Stability – 20%; Aesthetic Significance and Uniqueness – 20% and Commercial Viability – 20%. The jury will be composed of artists and officials from the organisers.

All winning entries submitted for this contest will automatically be considered as shared property between the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines and it is understood that the winning entries will be displayed in the premises of the Delegation.

Five winners will be chosen and each will be awarded a trophy and a medal as well as special prizes from the Delegation. In addition, five finalists will be chosen and each will be awarded certificates. All the winning entries including finalists will be exhibited in a venue to be identified before the awarding ceremony. The awarding ceremony will be held during the latter part of May 2009. All winners will be notified by mail.

Further information: http://www.delphl.ec.europa.eu or (02) 8595124

Actually, it is only this week that I’ve found time to watch a movie or two. I’ve seen two movies this week alone, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and W.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of the very few films that made me cry. I cried, really. Watching this film wasn’t really part of my plan until I’ve heard and read a lot of positive reviews about it. Well, I don’t regret watching the film. In fact, I loved it. Although the movie is a bit long than any other full-length film, this one didn’t bore me. The clock maker’s story at the beginning of the movie touched and moved me. Gateau, the clockmaker made a clock that intentionally runs backward in the hopes that it would bring back those who died (including his son) in World War I. If only we could turn back time.

The special effects used in the film were great especially the transition of Benjamin from being a baby boy with an appearance that of an 86 year old man to being an adult and back to being a baby. It is also fascinating that the story is being told in Benjamin’s point of view. In this way, the inner thoughts of the main character is also narrated and relayed to the audience. As with the cast, I can’t say anything but praises for they did a wonderful job in portraying their respective roles.

W.
W, on the other hand is fun movie to watch. No, it’s not a comedy film. It’s a film about the 43rd President of the United States of America, George W. Bush. The film showed how Bush goes from being an alcoholic bum to being the most powerful figure in the world. A friend was talking about this film a couple of nights ago. I was curious and decided to give this movie a shot. The movie didn’t disappoint at all. Why is it fun to watch? The cast is outstanding, really! Josh Brolin’s (the one who played the role of George W. Bush) performance is the bomb! It was like Tina Fey portraying Sarah Palin. There are many instances in the film that it felt like I’m watching the real George W. Bush, the real Condoleezza Rice, and others. I don’t know if this film would have a theatrical release here in the Philippines. But if you really want to watch the movie, I know you that you know where to score a copy (wink, wink). It is also in this film that you’ll learn where George W. Bush’s nickname, “Dubya” originated.

And those are the two films I’ve seen for this week. After writing this post, I think I need to go back and attend to the things I need to do (school-related or not). Finals would be on the last week of February so there are just too many things to submit in the coming days. But I can’t really focus on school stuff right for the news about Ugly Betty getting shelved is really bothering me. Why Ugly Betty? It’s the only show I watch on ABC aside from Grey’s Anatomy. Ugly Betty has been interrupted many times in the past. Please, please shelve / pre-empt any other show but Ugly Betty.

That’s all I’ve got for now. Stick around

UPCAT 2009 Results

The list of qualifiers would also be posted at the Office of Admissions, UP Diliman.

Congratulations to the UPCAT qualifiers!

Links:
UPCAT 2009 Results
UPCAT 2009 Results Mirror 1
UPCAT 2009 Results Mirror 2

1. March on March 2008 – Thank God I graduated from high school last March 2008. And yes, with flying colors!  I graduated second honors with two medals (Excellence in ICT and Loyalty Award). I was even part of the Top 50 of the graduating batch. The years have now paid off.
2. Enroll on a decent college / university – Who would have thought that a Jeric Peña would study at the University of the Philippines? I never imagined myself studying at the national university of the Philippines. Good thing my mom encouraged me to take the UPCAT (UP College Admission Test) even though there’s a slim chance of passing. Although people find it weird that I’m studing via distance education, I’m still proud that I’m a student from University of the Philippines, Open University taking up the program that I really wanted.
3. Attend the World Youth Day 2008 in Australia – The only goal that I didn’t accomplish this year. I felt really bad that I wasn’t been able to attend the World Youth Day 2008 in Australia. But who knows? I might be a part of the World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain!
4. Join a Blog Network - Aside from the multiple blogs I maintain, I also write for Chikadora and TechBlog.ph.
5. Set-up new niche blogs, improve current blog and earn more through blogging – This year, I opened a couple of blogs such as Kim Chiu Fan, Distance Education in the Philippines, Jeric on the Tube, and So Sick of Taxi. I also revamped the Toni Gonzaga blog I maintain while My Boring Life… Now A Blog gets a face-lift this year.
6. Buy a new gadget for myself - I was only aiming for one gadget but thank God for I was able to buy myself three gadgets. Although I already gave the two other gadgets I bought this year to my mom and my sister, it feels so good that I can buy things that I want with my own hard-earned money.
7. Nourish my spiritual side and Be closer to God – Only God knows if I accomplished this one. But this year, I’ve been more contented with my life. My ‘materialistic side’ has softened down. I stopped asking for this and that. In fact, this Christmas I have one wish and I hope that it would come true.

Wow, it really feels good to having accomplished almost 86% of my goals for this year. With the things I’ve done this year, I have no regrets. I am happy right now and looking forward to a brand new year full of joy and love. I won’t stop thanking God for the great things that happened this year. I feel great right now realizing how God has given me everything I needed and wanted. Happy New Year!

PS: Looking back at “My Goals for 2008″ post, I realized how awful my grammar and spelling before (well, up to now). It only shows that I’m truly dyslexic. Huhuhu. Where did the internal editor in me go?

The Chowking Halo-halo is a best seller. In fact, 25% of Chowking’s sales came from the famous halo-halo. The halo-halo from Chowking may be quite pricey if compared to the ones bought in your “suking tindahan” but with Chowking’s Halo-halo you are assured that the ingredients used are clean and fresh. Chowking’s Halo-Halo is composed of 12 ingredients, which I won’t list anymore but the distinguishable ones are Jackfruit, Sweetened Banana, Ube and Leche Flan. In preparing the Halo-Halo, Chowking uses their very special “blended milk”, which complements the halo-halo very much. The Halo-halo was presented in a very creative way with powder-like ice. The vibrant colors of the ingredients and its taste makes you wanna crave for more. Just to add, I consumed the Fiesta Halo-halo (with two scoops of ice cream) in a flash!

The marketing people from Chowking are very much hands-on. They entertained questions coming from the bloggers present. They also did some table-hopping to check on the bloggers which I took advantage to complain about the Chowking branch nearby (as in a stone throw away from our house, literally). They also shared about the story behind their Halo-halo and how Halo-halo finds it way to Chowking’s regular menu.

You can enjoy Chowking’s Halo-halo anytime (rain or shine)! You could choose from three sizes which are Half Dozen, Petite and Fiesta. If you want to add a little more sweetness to your Halo-halo, then add a scoop or two of ice cream.

Please do watch out for the video blog I would be posting on Jeric On The Tube about the event.

Other blog post/s:

Dianne – Chowking’s Halo-Halo Experience

1. My Boring Life… Now A Blog! – Of course, brinknotes.org is my main blog about everything under the sun. I write about different topics that interest me and would be probably interest you too. I also cover GMA 7’s Pinoy Idol on this blog.
2. Pinoy Idol Podcast – If you miss BrinkNotes Podcast, you might want to listen first to the podcast series I made dedicated to GMA 7’s Pinoy Idol. BrinkNotes Podcast is now on hiatus to give way to my new podcast show, Pinoy Idol Podcast.
3. BrinkNotes Podcast – BrinkNotes Podcast is only hiatus and I will be posting updates every now and then. I’m planning to clean and update the BrinkNotes podcast website in the coming days. Since, I’ve got two shows now, and I think it would be three if another interesting topic would cross my mind, I’m planning to make www.brinknotespodcast.com as an aggregator site of all my podcasts – except for Jeric’s Confessions. I won’t dare repost those embarrassing podcasts!
4. Jeric On The Tube – After almost a year of waiting, Jeric On The Tube is now online on its new home. Please do drop by Jeric On The Tube and check out the video blogs I’ve been posting. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Don’t forget to view, subscribe, rate, and comment!
5. Distance Education in the Philippines – Since I’m a student of University of the Philippines, Open University, one of the institutions here in the Philippines that offers open and distance education, I dedicated to create a blog that would chronicle my life as a distance learner. The blog will feature my experiences and hopefully news about Distance Education in the Philippines.
6. Just Jeric – If you want to start to hate me, why not visit my emo blog where I post poems mostly about love! I also post random musings over there. It is my pseudo-personal blog where I try to be just myself.

If you’re done reading the blogs above, then, follow my on Twitter. Hahaha! I can’t compete with Ria’s 12 blogs . I managed 6 blogs already and I’m having a hard time updating and maintaining these blogs.

If you’re an avid reader of my blog, you have probably read my entry called, “Pause to Pose ” wherein I narrated my UPCAT 2008 experience. And probably, you’ve seen me blog about the UPCAT 2008 Results, right? Plus, you’ve probably heard / read somewhere that I didn’t qualify to any of my preferred UP Campus.

I thought that University of the Philippines has closed its doors to me.

Luckily, not!

I’m now an approved student of the University of the Philippines, Open University! I just need to wait for my admission package, enroll, pick-up my course materials and I’ll be fine!

My mom got her MPH (Master of Public Health) at UPOU (University of the Philippines, Open University). On the other hand, she took her pre-med course (BS Psychology) at UP Baguio. If I’m not mistaken, I’m the third person from our family to study in UP. First is my mom (who’s ID number starts at 1978), and then came my oldest cousin, who is graduating in the coming days.

I’ll be taking up Associate in Arts (and then would proceed to Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies) at the UPOU this coming academic year. By the way, I’m under the UP Manila Learning Center. I would want to transfer to the UP Diliman Learning Center but the UP Manila LC is much accessible for me.

I’m excited.

Really, excited.

I’ve been looking forward to the results of this since the day that I took the Distance Education Readiness Test (which I took on the same building and room where I took the UPCAT). I was exempted to take the Undergraduate Assesment Test (UgAT) since I have taken the UPCAT 2008 already. They did honor my UPG (University Predicted Grade), which is not bad at all. In fact, I’ve been exchanging e-mails with the OUR (Office of the University Registrar) to follow-up my application. Good thing, they are prompt in replying to e-mails.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

LOL, I’m excited to know what’s my student number.

Any UPOU-AA students here? By the way, the registration for new students is on April 21, 2008. Yes, I’m excited!

Here are some photos from my trip to the University of the Philippines, Open University in Los Baños, Laguna.

Now, I can say it out loud!

]]> http://www.brinknotes.org/2008/04/16/now-i-can-say-it-out-loud/feed/ 9 http://www.brinknotes.org/2008/04/01/2007-bar-topnotcher%e2%80%99s-a-damer/ http://www.brinknotes.org/2008/04/01/2007-bar-topnotcher%e2%80%99s-a-damer/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:01:30 +0000 Jeric Peña http://www.brinknotes.org/index.php/2008/04/01/2007-bar-topnotcher%e2%80%99s-a-damer/ Mercedita Ona, the 27-year-old graduate of the Ateneo Law School topped the 2007 Bar Examinations. She finished her secondary studies in Notre Dame of Greater Manila (Caloocan City) -the same school where I finished high school. She took her pre-law course at the University of the Philippines.

A fellow-alumnus informed me about this so I hurriedly checked Google to verify the info. Thank you for the information, Kerwin. We are not yet sure when was the year she graduated high school.

Way to go Damers! Let’s continue to give honor to Notre Dame, our Mother! It only shows that Notre Dame of Greater Manila is living up to its mission of forming upright and globally competitive Christian Filipinos.

Congratulations, Mercedita Ona!

EDIT: Mercedita Ona is from Batch 1997. I confirmed this with our Principal. And, I think there was another female Damer who emerged as one of the Top 10 of this year’s bar examination. Sorry, I wasn’t able to take note of her name.

Our four years of stay in High School has finally ended last night, as we attended our graduation exercises. Eighty-four of us including me received the Loyalty Award for studying in Notre Dame of Greater Manila since Kindergarten. Although it was extremely hot onstage we still sang our hearts out. The whole graduation ceremony is very long. We started our processional march at around 4:20pm and the graduation rites ended at around 8:30pm. Anyway, here’s our graduation song composed by our batchmate:

More pictures from my multiply.

I don’t want to put clichés on this entry but I cannot. It won’t be long before I stand on the stage, receive my diploma and leave my Alma Mater, Notre Dame. Twelve years passed by so fast that I thought I still have the luxury of time to mingle with my friends. I don’t know but all I feel is sadness. Many would say that they’re both sad and happy but it is not the same for me. I have become emotionally attached to the school itself and the people in it although most of the time I hate my school for its obnoxious rules and regulations. And I often ask myself, “What would life be after graduation?”

I know graduation is not an end but a beginning. We’re like birds, which are being freed from the cage. High school brought a lot of memories that would surely last.

I don’t know how to spend the last two days with my friends and classmates. But I would surely miss everyone.

Thank you for bringing color in to my high school life.

Congratulations, Batch 2008! Together, let’s aim high and reach for our goals.