HANDA KA NA BANG MAGING ARKITEKTO?

Architecture Board Exam is just a month away for the next batch of Filipino Architects. Few weeks from now is the final step towards getting the license you’ve work hard for 5 years (or more) + 2 years apprenticeship.

It’s been 7 months since I passed the Licensure Exam for Architects, and 4 months since I passed the Master Plumber’s Licensure Exam, so I experienced the ups and downs of review. Preparation for the exam really need your focus, attention, and dedication to make sure you are not going to be a repeater. But before you decide if you are going to take the challenge, you must first question yourself: AM I READY FOR THE BOARD EXAMS?

Naaalala ko pa last year, hindi ko sure kung mag-dedecide ba akong mag-take ng Board Exam for June kasi unang-una, I am a fresh graduate of 2013. You have to comply for the 2 years apprenticeship, but because of the revisions on the RA 9266 (which includes the Internship acquired from College), I decided on the start of 2014 na I will take the challenge.

Here are the tips for the takers based on my experience:

1. TANUNGIN MO ANG SARILI MO KUNG HANDA KA NA BA TALAGA.

I decided that time to take the exam and ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na gagawin ko ang lahat para pumasa. Sa una mahirap kasi iisipin mo kung ano ang sasabihin ng tao sa paligid mo kapag bumagsak ka. Kung ano ang kahihiyang sasapitin mo kapag sumabit ka. Ayun ang una mong dapat paghandaan kung magdedesisyon kang kumuha ng exam. Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin na uunahan mo na ng negativity ang utak mo, ang dapat mong isipin ay kailangan mong pumasa. Dapat kang pumasa.

RA 9266, BP 220, RA 9514, PD 1096, Ang daming kakabisaduhin. Ampf.

2. WAG MONG ISIKRETO ANG PAGREREVIEW MO, BAKA MABALIW KA.

Nakapag-enroll na ako’t lahat lahat, wala akong pinagsabihan na kaibigan na magta-take ako ng exam. Iniisip ko na mas magandang malaman na lang nila kapag may resulta na para surprise. At magandang hindi na nila malaman para kapag bumagsak ka menos sa kahihiyan. Pero sobrang hirap dahil habang nagre-review ka, para kang bomba na anytime ay pwedeng sumabog. Wala namang masama kung ipapaalam mo lalo na sa mga malalapit na kaibigan mo, para kapag inatake ka ng pressure, may mapagsasabihan ka.

3. MAS MAGANDA KUNG MAY KAIBIGAN KANG KASABAY MAG-REVIEW.

Dahil nga sinarili ko ang pagrereview ko, halos isang buwan din akong pumapasok sa review center mag-isa. Wala akong kakilala, o kahit sinong makausap. Yung mga kaklase ko, naggo-group study habang breaktime, samantalang ako paulit-ulit binabasa yung reviewers na parang hindi din pumapasok sa kukote ko. Sa review center ko na lang din nadiskubre na may dalawa pa akong kaklase noong college na nagsikreto din ng review, kaya nagkaroon ako ng review buddies. Mas maganda ang may kasama ka dahil may karamay ka ng kaba at takot mo, at nagkakaintindihan  kayo ng pinagdadaanan niyo.

Meet my brothers and review buddies: Ram and Jolo. 

4. PWEDENG MAGREVIEW SA LABAS, WAG PURO BAHAY.

Tuwing weekends, napagdesisyunan kong sa UP mag-review.Tuwing Sabado at Linggo, dun ako tumatambay bitbit ang mga reviewers ko. Hindi din ako makapag-review sa bahay dahil maingay, kaya mas pinili ko doon para mas tahimik, mapayapa, at maaliwalas. Mas nakaka-inspire din mag-review na nakikita mo ang mga gawa nila Juan Nakpil, Cesar Concio, at ang nililok ni Guillermo Tolentino. Malay mo, matsambahan mo pa si Ramon Bautista, bibigyan ka niya ng words of encouragement.

Oblation by Guillermo Tolentino. Ang naging kanlungan ko during my review days

Ramon Bautista: Ang dakilang pogi ng UP Diliman.

5. MAGRELAX DIN KAPAG MAY TIME

Wag mong dibdibin ang pagre-review, maglaan ka din ng time para makapag-unwind ka. Nagse-set kami nun ng mga review buddies ko ng araw na pahinga muna sa pagbabasa. Kapag sumasakit na ang ulo namin sa pagbabasa, nagjojogging kami at nagkkwentuhan ng mga buhay buhay. Kumakain din kami sa labas, at minsan nagbi-bike akong mag-isa kapag feeling ko sasabog na ang utak ko.

Jogging during free time. Pwedeng pwede naman. From left: Ako, Julius, Marco, Ram. @UP Diliman Academic Oval.

6. MAKIPAGKAIBIGAN SA MGA KAKLASE SA REVIEW CENTER

Mas effective kung pati mga kaklase mo sa review center kakaibiganin mo dahil unang una, kahit sa iba’t ibang review center ang pag-enrollan mo ng basic, design at refresher, sila sila pa din ang makakasama mo. Sila pa minsan ang mag-uupdate sayo kung walang klase, na-move ang schedule o may anumang pagbabago sa lessons niyo.

Ang mga naging kaibigan ko din sa CDEP ang mga nakasama ko hanggang sa mga huling oras ng review. Madalas, inaabot pa kami ng hanggang hatinggabi sa review center sa paggo-group study para lang maalalalayan ang isa’t isa. Kaibiganin mo din ang mga lecturers niyo, admin staff, maging mga tindahan sa paligid ng review centers. Sila ang mga taong nakakaintindi ng pinagdadaanan mo, at mas masarap mag-aral ng may suporta galing sa ibang tao.

Certified Tropang CDEP: April, Julius, Ivan, Ram, Emman, PM, Brintong

With Interior Design lecturers.

7. MAKINIG KAY SIR JEJE

Marahil hindi na bago sa inyo ang “Living Legend” ng CDEP. Maski mga taga-ibang review center, kilalang kilala siya. Sa unang tingin, hindi mo aakalaing siya ang isa sa mga beteranong pangalan sa industriya ng review centers, pero sinasabi ko sayo, making ka sa lahat ng tinuturo at sinasabi niya. Ilista moa ng lahat ng mga sasabihin niya, dahil hindi lang pang-Board Exam ang matututunan mo sa kanya. Siguraduhin mong hinding hindi mo mapapalampas kahit isang araw sa subject niya, dahil malaki ang katumbas ng isang araw na yon. Naalala ko na halos lahat ng lumabas sa Building Tech at Utilities noong batch namin, naituro ni Sir kaya pilitin mong wag umabsent. Lalo na kapag Concrete ang ituturo niya kasi sasabihin niya din sayo na di niya na yun uulitin at yun ang pinaka-importante dahil magagamit mo yun sa practice. Magdala ka din ng alay para sigurado ang pagpasa mo. Pwede mo din siyang pahiran ng panyo, para mabatukan ka ng di oras.

Naalala ko nung mga panahon na yun, sa dami dami ng reviewers na nakolekta ko mula sa iba’t ibang review centers, magkakaiba ang sagot. Pwede ka namang magtanong kay Sir Jeje ng tamang sagot, wag mo lang ipapakita ang reviewers mo na galing sa ibang review centers dahil siguradong ibabato niya yon. Siya ang isa sa mga taong magiging inspirasyon mo habang nagrereview ka. 

A Goodluck from the Master. Medyo emotional the day before the exam.

Tropang CDEP: PM, Julius, Marco, Cara, Sir Jeje, April, Ako, Ram

8. AYUSIN MO NA ANG PRC REQUIREMENTS MO BAGO PA MAHULI ANG LAHAT

Sineseryoso mo ang review pero malalaman mo sa bandang huli na di ka pala qualified. Oo, unahin mo muna ang requirements mo at pilitin mong magpasa ng mas maaga para may allowance ka. Nangyari sa akin nun na 5 days before deadline nang mag-apply ako sa PRC, tapos dun ko malalaman na mali pala ang transcript ko. Dito maraming nagkaproblema dahil ang kailangan na transcript, may *FOR BOARD EXAM PURPOSES. Kaya ngayon pa lang, icheck mon a kung meron yang sayo at 30 days ang processing niyan. Siguraduhin mo din na ayos ang lahat ng requirements mob ago ka pumunta, or at least 1 month before the exam para wala nang sagabal kapag nasa momentum ka na ng pagrereview mo.

Ingatan mo din ang ibibigay nila sayong NOA o Notice to Proceed, iwala mo na lahat wag lang yan. Hindi ka makakapag-exam kapag hindi mo to napresent sa proctor niyo.

NOA (Notice of Admission). Please pakiingatan at
wag niyong iwawala. Importante to dahil di kayo makakapagexam kapag wala to.

9. MAGBASA NG MAGBASA NG MARAMING QUESTIONS, YUN AT YUN DIN ANG LALABAS

1 month before the exam, nagsawa ako kakabasa ng mga lectures at kung ano anong makakapal na reviewers. Ang pinakaeffective na review sa mga ganitong pagkakataon ay magpractice kang sumagot ng mga questions para nata-train mo din ang sarili mong manghula, process of eliminations, etc. Kapag kasama ko din ang mga kaibigan ko, nagtatanungan din kami ng mga bagay na related sa arki na madadaanan/maeencounter namin. Nagiikot pa kami ng mga buildings at ina-identify naming ang mga utilities, building systems, at standards. Maraming paraan ang pafre-review, wag yung puro basa basa lang.

10. MATULOG NG MAAGA.

Isa siguro ito sa mga pinakaimportanteng matutunan mo. Magpractice ka nang matulog ng maaga one month before the exam. Eto ang isa sa mga pinagsisihan ko nung nagrereview ako. The night before the board exam, hindi ako nakatulog dahil sa sobrang excitement at kaba. Kahit anong pilit kong matulog, hindi ako nakatulog. Hanggang sa sumapit ang mismong araw ng board exam. Bago mag-exam nun, naiyak ako hindi dahil sa pressure, kundi dahil wala akong tulog. Ang hirap magexam ng walang tulog, promise. Ang sakit sa ulo at saka mame-mental block ka dahil parang umiikot ang paningin mo. Wag mong hayaang masayang ang ilang buwan mong kinabisado at inaral dahil lang hindi ka nakatulog.

11. IIYAK MO NA YAN 3 DAYS BEFORE EXAM

Korni pakinggan pero iiyak at iiyak ka din bago mag-exam. Promise. Sa laki kong tao, akala ko babae lang ang iiyak pero halos lahat ng kakilala kong nag-review umiyak. Wag mong plastikin ang sarili mo. Dala na sa tindi ng pressure, stress at kaba dahil oras na lang ang bibilangin mo sa exam, kailangan mo ilabas lahat yan kesa kimkimin mo hanggang sa mismong araw ng exam. Naalala ko nun nung magdasal ako sa simbahan, dun ko nafeel yung pagod at takot ng maaaring kahihinatnan ng resulta. Pilitin mong umiyak 3 days before para 2 days before, relax relax ka na lang at bawas na ang bitbit mo. Mas nakaka-uplift din yung suporta ng mga kaibigan mo sa iyo. Sa mismong araw ng exam, ultimong good luck text malaking bagay sayo.

Meet our Nanay during the review days. One of our best encouragers.

With Ms. Jayzel. :)

12. MAGBAON NG CANDIES, BISCUITS AT TINAPAY; WAG SINIGANG O NILAGA

Kahit gaano karami ang baon mo, hindi mo rin yan makakain. Hindi mo na maiisip pang kumain dahil mas nakapokus ang atensyon mo sa sinasagutan mo. Nakakatakot din kumain dahil baka matalsikan yung answer sheet mo, at hindi mabasa ng machine. Magbaon ka lang ng pagkaing tuyo, at yung tipong hindi mo na kailangang gamitan ng kutsara. Ikaw din, kapag natalsikan yan, iyak tawa ka. Baka ibigay mo lang din yan sa mga batang nanghihingi ng baon sa labas ng MLQU.

13. MAKINIG SA INSTRUCTIONS, WAG KANG EXCITED

Oo. Eto siguro ang isa sa pinakaimportanteng part ng exam dahil magkamali ka lang ng intindi sa sinasabi ng proctor, tapos ang pinaghirapan mo. Makinig kang mabuti lalo sa mga isusulat at ishe-shade, kasi may mga ishashade na gagamitan ng lapis, at may gagamitan ng black ballpen. Naalala ko yung kasabay ko sa room, first day ng exam at dahil sa sobrang excitement, na-shade ng ballpen ang dapat ay lapis lang. Wala akong balita kung nakapasa siya o hindi, pero hindi mo na siya kailangang tularan. Wag mong balewalain ang mga instructions ng proctor. Excitement sometimes kill you.

14. MAGING HANDA SA MAGIGING RESULTA, WETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT

Ito ang pinakamahirap na part ng Board exam, ang maghintay ng resulta. Ang 4 days, parang nagiging isang buwan at nakakapraning. Dito mo na pinaparanoid ang sarili mo at pinipilit mong bilangin kung ilan ba ang nasagot mo ng tama, at kung ilan ang mali mo. Inihahanda mo na rin ang sarili mo kung paano mo haharapin ang kahihiyan kung sakaling bumagsak ka. Eto lang ang sasabihin ko sayo: basta binigay mo ang best mo, wala kang dapat pagsisihan. Saka wag kang panghinaan ng loob hangga’t walang resulta. Tanging PRC at ang Diyos lang ang nakakaalam niyan kaya wag mong pangunahan.

Oath Taking Ceremonies at SMX Convention Center.

Meet the new architects: Emman, Cyruz, Marco, Ram, Ako, April and Julius.

Ang Board exam, 50% Effort 50% Luck. Hindi porke todo ang pagsusunog mo ng kilay, sure ka nang pasado ka na. At hindi rin porke hindi ganung karami ang nakabisa mo, alanganin ka na. Swertihan lang din yan. Kung pumasa ka, very good dahil nagbunga ang paghihirap mo. Kung bumagsak ka, may mga hindi ka lang naseryoso pero hindi ibig sabihin nun katapusan na ng mundo mo. Mas pinaghihirapan, mas fulfilling. Syempre, wag ka ding mag-eexpect at wag masyado maging kampante sa sarili dahil baka iyan pa ang ikabagsak mo.

Hindi din masamang mangarap mag-top o kahit makapasok man lang sa sampu, dahil lahat naman tayo pangarap yan. Ang sarap kaya ng pakiramdam na nagmamartsa ka sa red carpet, pinapalakpakan ka ng mahigit isang libong arkitekto, nangangarap na sila ang nasa katayuan mo, pero syempre, wag mong masyado ilagay sa ulo dahil baka masaktan ka lang. Ang pagpasok sa Top 10, bonus na lang yan. Ang importante, nakuha mo ang lisensyang pinapangarap mo at pinagpaguran mo ng ilang taon. Eto na yata ang pinakamagandang maireregalo mo sa mga magulang mo. Ang maisama mo sila sa Oath Taking mo at makita ka nilang nanunumpa dahil isa ka nang ganap na Arkitekto.

With Architect Rey Gabitan, and my College Dean Architect Ted Inocencio.

My Proud Ermats.

Mayroon ka pang halos 2 buwan para mag-aral. Nasasayo din kung pakikinggan mo ang mga payo ko. Napagdaanan ko na yang pinagdadaanan mo. Magtiis at magsakripisyo ka na ng dalawang buwan, kesa magsakripisyo ka na naman ng anim pang buwan. Pilitin mo ding enjoyin ang review dahil isa yan sa pinaka-magiging memorable na parte ng buhay arkitekto mo, at ikukwento mo din ang mga pinagdaan mo sa mga susunod pang mga bagong arkitekto. Ito na ang huling hakbang sa katuparan ng pangarap mo, kaya don’t miss the chance. Pilitin mong isang take ka lang. At saka i-enjoy mo lang, hindi naman lisensya ang basehan kung sino ka sa field. Pantay pantay lang tayo, pinagkaiba lang may nakakabit nang Arch. sa umpisa ng pangalan mo at uap sa dulo. May dagdag tax ka lang din na babayaran.

Kaya galingan mo. Namnamin mo. I-enjoy mo. At panisin mo lang ang Board Exam. Apat ang choices kaya mayroon kang 25% chance. May dalawang buwan ka pa kaya may chance ka pang madagdagan ang chance na kailangan mo.

Kaya ano, handa ka na bang maging Arkitekto? :)

PS. I dedicate this to those people whom I shared these experiences during the review especially to my parents, for the unwavering support. Sa dalawa kong kaibigan na hindi ako iniwana hanggang sa huli, Ram at Jolo, at sa mga tropang CDEP na nakilala ko lang sa review pero mga naging kaibigan: Julius, April, Marco, Neil, Cyruz, Jeff, Emman, at madami pang iba. Sa Review Centers, especially CDEP, for the full support especially nung halos maging bahay na namin ang review center. Mam Jayzel, kay Nanay, all the lecturers of CDEP especially Sir Jeje, na naging inspirasyon ko at hanggang sa huling sandali nag-encourage sa akin lalo na nung pinanghinaan ao ng loob, Arch. Rey Gabitan for the design lectures, and my College professors and mentors. Hindi po ako magiging arkitekto kundi dahil sa inyong lahat. Maraming Salamat po! :)

MT. PICO DE LORO: MY FIRST DAYHIKE

Mt. Pico De Loro (Mt. Palaypalay) is one of my dream mountains to climb because of its reviews and feedbacks from my fellow mountaineers. Their pictures showed a breath taking view, and after one year of waiting for the right time to conquer this mountain, I can say this is one of my memorable climbs.

Major jump-off: Magnetic Hill, Ternate Cavite

Minor jump-off: Ternate-Nasugbu Highway, Nasugbu Batangas

LLA: 14 deg 12.855 N; 120 deg 38.785 E; 664 MASL

No. of hours to summit: 2-5 hours

Specs: Minor Climb, difficulty of 3/9, Trail class 1-3

ITINERARIES:

DAYHIKE

0400 Board bus at Coastal Mall Terminal to Ternate

0700 ETA Ternate. Rent jeepney or tricycle to jumpoff

0745 ETA DENR/ Jump-off point

0800 Start trek. Note that jump off point is 4 minutes walk away from DENR

0845 ETA Rest station, Basecamp 1

1130 ETA Summit. Lunch.

1230 Start descent to Magnetic Hill

1530 ETA jump-off point

1600 Back at DENR; take jeepney to Ternate then take bus back to Manila

1900 ETA Manila

Mt. Pico de Loro is situated within the boundaries of Cavite and Batangas. According to other blogs I’ve read, (and based from other mountaineers), you can choose between two jump-offs. One is from Nasugbu Batangas and the other is from Ternate Cavite. It is even considered as the highest point of Cavite.

FROM COASTAL TERMINAL TO MT. PICO DE LORO

Having to choose between two jump-offs, my team chose the Ternate Cavite jump-off. First, you have to ride a bus from Coastal Terminal going to Ternate, Cavite. The fare from the terminal is Php 80.00. From there, you have to rent a tricycle for Php 225.00 and it will drop you to DENR Station where you have register. 

Coffee time at DENR Station

Fellow mountaineers: always register! This is for your own safety!

After registration, you have to reach Base Camp 1 of Mt. Pico de Loro where you have to register again. Registration fee is also Php 25.00. They have Comfort Rooms, souvenir shops and you can also eat there before you start your climb. And from there, you can start your trek to the peak of the mountain.

We started our trek from the registration area at around 7:30 am. At first, the trail is just like the other mountains I’ve climbed, and I compared its trail to Mt. Cristobal (I only climbed 4 mountains for the meantime), muddy and full of assaults. Good thing I wear my sandals on this climb. 

BASE CAMP 1

Second Registration and Souvenir Area

Second Registration and Souvenir Area

 You will reach a plain area where you can also camp. Few walks from there, is a waterfall which is also one of the mountain’s attraction.  You can stop there for a while and relax with your team.

It will take you for almost 2 hours from the waterfalls to the Campsite/Peak 1. The trail from the falls is quite challenging, because of the assaults. I expected this mountain as a minor climb, but I never expected the trail. One of the best things about this mountain is the view and the environment. This is one of the cleanest and greenest mountains I've climbed so far. The trail is also slippery so better wear your trail shoes or sandals. 

Waterfalls. Ligo ligo din kapag may time! Wala nang palit palit! :)

Meditating with the waterfalls as the background

Selfie at the waterfalls!

Selfie selfie!

The trail is average at first, and becomes harder as you go near the campsite. You will face a lot of huge rocks on the trail. One of the markers if you’re already near the campsite are the rocks. And from there, it will take 30 minutes the least depending on your speed, and from there bravo: one thing I will assure you is that it will offer you a breath taking view.

There you can take pictures with the summit in the background, with a view of different mountains (I’m not certain on the names of the mountains) and a wide area for camping. There you can rest and prepare for your trek towards the summit. The trail from the campsite up to the summit is the hardest part because of the trail. You have to be careful on your every step because it is the steepest part of the climb. You have to trek for almost 20 minutes before you reach the summit.

Campsite with the summit and the monolith in the background. (Can you see it?)

Trail to the peak tof the monolith.

Better be careful on your steps on your way to the Parrot's Beak!

It will test your strength and passion in pursuing the peak of the monolith. I can say reaching the top is the crowning moment of this climb because once you get there, you will feel fulfilled. For me, it seems that after I conquered its peak, I can assure myself that I am now prepared to conquer other major mountains and some challenges in life. I’m with my four friends and hike buddies in climbing this mountain, and I’m proud to say the five of us conquered Mt. Pico de Loro. It might be my first dayhike but I can say that this will be one of the memorable ones. We had the best fun in the trail, and despite the short period of time, we make the most out of it and conquered the highest peak of Cavite.

Just hanging with our fellow foreigner mountaineer! Nosebleed on the summit!

Video interview with Derek Ramsey at the peak of the Parrot's Beak

 A promise I left on that mountain is that one day, I’m going to conquer this mountain alone. Maybe it can be the first step of my solo hike in the future. Mt. Pico de Loro is my dream mountain (and my favorite) and I’m fulfilled to conquer this at last. Til we meet again Mt. Pico de Loro!

P.S. I would like to congratulate my friends for the success of this climb: Lyke Daryl Basilio (http://www.juan-day.com/), Davz Dacuno, Gwen Sugay and especially to my bestfriend who organized this climb, Jonel Fernandez Bedano. Til next event! 

With the event organizer and my bestfriend Jonel

Can you find the monolith?

Until next climb. Til we meet again Mt. Pico de Loro! :)

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN ARCHITECT?

Architecture is one of the broadest and unique professions. It is considered as the Mother of art and science, and it even dictates the history of human. It serves as an icon for a nation. It clearly expresses power, feelings, and emotions. It even affects the mood of people using the building. In short, architecture is an influential and a complicated profession which takes a lot of commitment, passion and desire to be a keyplayer.  It takes guts to be an architect. The question is do you have what it takes to be an architect? What are the struggles you are going to face to be an architect? How complicated is the life of an architect?

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PASSION IN DRAWING AND DESIGN

Yes, one of the requirements to be an architect is that you must have the passion and a skill in drawing. On your freshmen years, you will do sketches, drafting and color renderings throughout the year. Even if we are now on a digital era where even drawings are computer generated, you have to do schematic drawings or present initial sketches while meeting with your clients and you are not a certified architect if you don’t know how to produce one.

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

You will need to face 5 years of sleepless nights- one of the drastic part of taking architecture. You will spend a week without sleep: doing plates and take home esquisses while battling with the requirements of other subjects (sometimes minor subjects assumed to be a major), computing for different mathematical formulas and the like. Imagine the torture. But it’s totally worth it.

PREPARE YOUR WALLET

Architecture is considered one of the most expensive courses. You will feel it during your freshmen years: you have to buy a set of Rotring/Staedtler technical pens (amounting almost Php 2,000.00 per set), a T-Square, coloring materials, triangles, kurekolors, etc. And along the way, you have to spend for your case studies, set of A3 papers, 30x40 tracing papers, researches, and a lot more.

 PREPARE YOUR EMOTIONS

In taking up architecture, you should prepare for your emotions. Yes, you will battle all the pressures and stress of college, but years after you graduate, you will realize that it helped you a lot because in the real world you will face the same scenario: meeting up deadlines, stress of handling workers, dealing with clients and dealing with terrible bosses.

BE COMPUTER LITERATE

Yes, we are now in the digital generation. As much as you’re passionate about manual drawings, the trend in the preparation of design documents today is through computer-generated drawing softwares: Sketchup, Autocad, Vray, Photoshop, 3D Max- these are just the softwares you need to be familiar with especially if you’re planning to work in an architectural firm. It is even expected you have mastered MS Office especially Microsoft Excel!

ACCEPT THAT THIS WILL NOT MAKE YOU RICH IN AN INSTANT

We may be considered as one of the coolest and much respected profession, but you must accept that it doesn’t mean it will make you an instant millionaire once you became a licensed one. It is very hard to find clients these days, because of the competition with your colleagues. You will definitely start from scratch, even the most celebrated architects today start from nothing to something. Do not be afraid to commit failures, because you will learn from it.

YOU MUST BE READY FOR THE BOARD EXAMS

Maybe this is the final step towards reaching the dream of being an architect, and the first step towards to the path of your career. You have to exert all the efforts to pass the exam. You can even aim to be one of the topnotchers because mind telling you, it is an awesome feeling especially during the oath taking ceremonies. Better prepare for 5 months of review, and a stressful one before the board exams. Prepare yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually. And most of all you must prepare yourself for the result. Do your best so you will not regret in the end. Always expect the unexpected, because you’ll never know what the examiners will give you during the Board Exams.

These are just some of the things an “Architect aspirant” needs to overcome this profession. These can even be applied to allied professions, but mind telling you this is a must. Our profession is not like the others because we design the world. We protect the lives of the users of our structures. And that’s something to think about. This profession is a calling, and not all of us are qualified to be one. And not all the qualified architects are good at it.

SO DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN ARCHITECT? J

HOPE FOR ALYSS BRIELLE

A child will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.” -Unknown

Alysse Brielle F. Del Rosario: our little angel. :)

Alyss Brielle Fradejas del Rosario; our beloved angel was born on March 3, 2014 at Bontoc General Hospital, Bontoc Mt. Province. She looked pretty well that day; having pinkish white skin, red lips and wide bright eyes. Her newborn screening was also normal. Everything seems quite normal from that day on forward, then suddenly...

After 2 weeks, her skin darkened, and her eyes became yellowish; her poop turned pale-white and she became irritable. We thought it was just normal jaundice as experienced by majority of normal babies. But we were wrong. 

Hello world. :)

As the days go by, we got worried because her jaundice is not fading away. So we brought her to a pediatrician. He then advised us to take some blood test together with liver function test and bilirubin count. The result was not what the pediatrician had been expecting. Worried about the result, the pediatrician recommended that we seek advice from a specialist doctor in Gastroentorology Pediatrics at Philippine Children Medical Center.

At the hospital, the Gastro-Pedia interviewed and asked a couple of details about our baby, then told us about possible causes of our baby's jaundice and pale-white poop. She then told us that our baby might be suffering from BILIARY ATRESIA OR HEPATITIS. (We had an idea that this is coming, for we googled and made some research about the possible cause of her yellowish skin and pale-white poop.)

For her to conclude the disease, LIVER BIOPSY was conducted by their team of doctors. The result was devastating; our baby Alyss is suffering from BILIARY ATRESIA- a fatal, serious and rare liver disease that affects newborn infants (1 out of 15,000).

At three months old, Baby Alyss' liver and life is at great risk. Her disease is caused by her liver having blocked bile ducts. The bile ducts are the passage way for the bile to drain out of the liver into intestines for digesting food. As a result, the bile is trapped inside her liver; this caused her Cirrhosis. While the cause is still unknown, this disease is destroying her liver. 

She was diagnosed with BILIARY ATRESIA WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS June 20, 2014.

KASAI was no longer an advisable treatment as the surgical doctors’ told us that the chances are low, because Kasai treatment should have been done within 2-3 months. Kasai surgery is a temporary solution for the liver to drain the bile and should have lengthened the time for us to generate funds. What a shattering news it is; the doctors’ told us that they can or will perform the operation if we insist. Listening to their advice and the risks, we decided that it would be better for our baby not to undergo the said procedure.

Clinical Abstract

Last week of June 2014; We went to St. Lukes Medical Center, Quezon City for a second opinion. Knowing the previous diagnosis, The Doctor’s made some test to determine the disease affecting our daughter’s liver.

The impression was CHOLEDOCHAL CYST TYPE 1A OR TYPE 2. They immediately discussed to us their plan to EXCISE/REMOVE THE CHOLEDOCHAL CYST OR POSSIBLE BY-PASS SURGERY which will cost us around P200,000 (two hundred thousand pesos). The Operation must be done AS SOON AS POSSIBLE not later than next week (second week of July 2014) to prevent her liver from further damage. We humbly ask for your help and support for our Daughter’s Surgery. Any amount from your generous hearts will be deeply appreciated. You can extend your support to us through your prayers and donations. We’ll be Forever Thankful. May our Almighty God’s will be done.

God's will be done. :)

This article was published by Alyss Brielle's father, Nissi del Rosario. For donations and informations, you may contact us through this numbers:

Nissi B. del Rosario-Father
+639-26-117-2276
email: nissibdelrosario@gmail.com
facebook account: Nissi Depp del Rosario
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+639-17-363-0134(Jonalyn A. Fradejas-Mother)
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facebook account: AneohjFradejas
Alyss Brielle del Rosario
Facebook account: Alyss Brielle del Rosario