For God and Country

My brother once told me that if a person was legally allowed to stow away on every flight (his words in Bisaya were “mokabit sa eroplano”) to the United States of America (or other countries), it would not take long for the population of the Philippines to be dramatically reduced. It was meant to be a joke, of course. However, one can’t help but notice how much it touches on reality – Filipinos would go to great lengths just to get out of the country.

Have you ever found yourself asking God why He made you Filipino? Or found yourself wanting to go out the country so bad in hope for a “better” life?

Sadly, for many, the answer to these questions is “yes.”

What do the scriptures say about our nationality? In the New Testament, we can read these words:

²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸”For in him we live and move and have our being.” As some of your own poets have said, “We are his offspring.” (Acts 17; NIV)

Let us also remember that, during the Old Testament times, God did not only reveal His glory and grace to a person, nor to a family; He revealed Himself to a nation. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you” (Gen 12:2a) was God’s promise to Abraham, the father of our faith. It was to and through this nation that God made Himself known – He blessed them as a nation and, at many times, punished them as a nation.

If you think the Philippines is now hopeless and beyond help because of the corruption and all the unrighteousness in it, take time to reflect. Could it be that, as a nation, as His people, we have not sought Him like He intended? Could it be that, as a nation, we have not obeyed Him? Could it be that we have not considered our being Filipinos as a blessing from God?

Our being Filipinos, our nationality, is one of the most visible, tangible will of God in our lives. Let us honor it by being thankful for it and by actively participating in rebuilding our nation. It is not enough to do things for ourselves alone. Let us start doing whatever we do in life for God and for the country.

New Post

We are on the 6th month of the year and I've had only one post. Not quite a good run. As I recall, I enjoy blogging because it gives me a venue to express my thoughts. That's partly true. The other part of my satisfaction in blogging is knowing that I have friends reading my blogs.

Ever since microblogging (e.g., twitter) was born, my friends have completely abandoned blogging. Without people reading my blogs, I somehow lost the drive to blog.

Yet, I don't know why I have developed renewed interest in blogging.

Maybe the idea of letting my thoughts float around the web without assurance of anyone finding them allures me.

Maybe the thought of expressing my ideas without anyone contesting them or commenting on them somehow becomes a sort defense mechanism.

Maybe I am just letting these thoughts flow, with high hopes that SOMEONE will come to like or appreciate them.

Maybe there are thoughts that, for some reasons, I can not personally tell even the closest of my friends and the web, as well as all those connected to it, seems the friendliest "ear" I can find.

Maybe I have so many things I need to let out somehow after months of not blogging and not having a "listener."

Maybe, in this moment of being "lost," my blogs will act as a distress signal that will allow people who read them to help me find my way.

Maybe... Just maybe...

ERDT Cross-registrant Step-by-step Process

I spent the whole day enrolling for one subject (that's 3 academic units only)!

We were given instructions on how to go about the process but they were not very helpful. So I have come up with my own step-by-step instructions on how to cross-register in UP Diliman. (Refer to the map below for your convenience).

Step 1

From University Hotel (UH; red dot in map), go (you may follow the red line in map) to the Office of the University Registrar Admission and Registration Section (OUR/ARS; red circle in map), 3rd floor, and pay Php 100 Application Fee

***Note: You may not have to fall in line. Ask people in-charge.

Step 2

Submit the following to Ms. Jenn Mallari (at the OUR ARS - ground floor):

1. Permit to Cross-enroll (letter prepared by the Engineering Dean of USC or your university of origin)
2. Accomplished UP Application Form 3A (this form has previously been sent to you by email or provided by your university of origin)
3. Two (passport size) pictures with signature at the back - staple to Form (you may have your picture taken at the shopping center - green dot in the map)
4. Student Directory - 2 copies (again, you are expected to have a copy of this form from your university of origin)
5. Official receipt of Application Fee (from Step 1)

Step 3

Upon submission of the above documents, you will get a username and a password. Use this to update your profile online at http://crs.upd.edu.ph. Then print your Form 5A from the site.

***Note: You may use your own computer or rent one in the shopping center (green dot in map). You may take the "Ikot" jeepney (green line in map).

Step 4

Have your Form 5A signed by an "adviser." Then pre-enlist for the subject (Technology Entrepreneurship).

***Note: For our part, Dr. Vergel of NCTS (National Center of Transportation Studies; located at the College of Engineering [blue circle in map], beside Melchor Hall) signed our forms. We were informed later that we could have had them signed at the OUR ARS. We enlisted at the Civil Engineering Department (located in Melchor Hall). Other departments are offering the course as well and you may enlist there.

Step 5

Go to the ERDT Office located at Melchor Hall Rm 205 to get the Certificate of Authority from Ms. Krystle Mae I. Candolina

***Note: We skipped this step because the certificates were already forwarded to the OUR ARS

Step 6

Go back to the OUR ARS and submit all documents mentioned above. You will then be given Form 5, which you will fill out and sign. The student copy of Form 5 stamped "REGISTERED" will then be given to you.

- Done -