Walang preno part 2

“We stand here and salute you, alma mater, alma mater. We carry forth your vision and your noble aims. No matter where we roam your spirit, ever alive within our hearts, your name proclaims”

This is from our school paper. What school? if you really read my posts you will now, if you don’t, yuck for you… hahaha!!!

“Ngayon di ko maintindihan kung naiintindihan ko nga ba ang mga school protocols particularly yung dress code. Anlabo kasi, parang kanina lang. high school graduation kasi, eh may klase pa kami nun sa umaga. Alam namin na after lunch, wala ng classes lahat. Eh gagamitin sana namin yung hapon para mag presswork n asana kami para madala na yung last issue ng TS sa printing press para umabot pa hanggang katapusan ng release. Kaso pagka-lunch namin sa labas (dahil closed na din ang canteen), bumalik kami sa school kaso ayaw na kami papasukin dahil bawal ang naka-maong pants, bawal ang rubber shoes, bawal ang collarless t-shirt qualified kami sa get up na to.

Akala ko nga sisitahin ako sa footwear ko, aangal sana ko dahil nagpakabaduy pa talaga ako para lang di maconfiscate id ko (naman, finals na eh!) Nagulat kami nung una, tapos sinabi nila kuya guard na graduation daw kasi kaya bawal yung get up namin. Ah ok, naiintindihan namin yun pero nag explain kami na mag-iistay lang kami sa TS office para gawin yung school paper. Kaso bawal daw talaga. Ok, sige, bawal na kung bawal. Pero sabi ni kuya hihintayin pa daw nila ang order sa kanila kung papayagan ba kami na makapasok. No choice kami kundi maghintay na lang. Pagkaupo ko, dun ko lang nakita yung pambungad na Graduation Information na nakapwesto sa entrada ng scholl (HAHA) Natawa ako dun sa guidelines- ang dress code, strictly formal. Bawal ang maong, rubber shoes, shorts, collarless tshirt, flip flops, may nakalimutan pa ba ako? Kaya naman ako natawa kasi kahit pala di ka aattend, ganito pa din dapat hitsura. Akala ko required lang ‘to sa mga bisita ng event nay un. Grabe, ayaw nilang makikita silang normal na tao sa school habang gingaganap yung grad. In short, dapat ikaw ay elegante at… sosyal?

May naalala tuloy ako sa “sosyal” nay an. Tuwing may makikilala ako, at pag tinatanong nila kung ano ang school ko, at pag sinagot ko, automatic nang kasunod niyan “Wow, sosyal!”. Grr. Hindi siya nakakatuwa. Hindi rin siya flattering. In fact, nakakainsulto siya. Ayaw kong sinasabihan ng sosyal ako dahil hindi naman talaga ako ganun. Lumaki ako na nagdaan sa hirap kaya di ko masisikmura yun.

Pansin ko may ganung image na talaga ang (name of school) . Kaso ok bay un? Sa totoo lang, gusto ko pag sinasabi ko kung ano school ko, ang papuri nila ej “Wow, ang galing”. Kaso hindi eh. Laging kaching ang naiisip nila.

Meron pa tuloy ako akong naalala (isa pa)… nag attend kami ng seminar regarding sa pagpapracticum (and pag magtratrabaho na din). Required yung iba na mag attend nito para maayos ang clearance. Halos natulog na lang ako sa seminar na y un, ang pinag uusapan eh yung right outfit sa trabaho at kung paano magmakeup. Nakakatawa. Superfocus ang (name of school) sa physical appearance ng mga estudyante pagsalitain mo ang karamihan (let’s face it). ah… err…

Ito na rin yung tinitignan kong bright side sa pag alis ko. Makakaalis na ako (sa wakas, dahil bigo yung una kong subok) at naniniwala akong mag-gugrow ako. Mas marami pa akong matutunan paglabas ko. Hindi lang puro sa pagsusuot at pag memakeup. Pero di ko naman ipagkakaila na may natutunan din ako sa kolehiyong ito… ngalang, di pa sapat para mapantayan yung matrikulang binabayaran ni Itay. “

After reading this it is like reality slapped my face intensely. Sadly, everything that is written down is true. It seems my school focuses on the “image” or looks of an individual. I remember what my Phil. Go. Co proff said. He said “di ba you are not allowed to wear flip flops at school. So be barefoot instead”. He also said that wearing flip flops or slippers will not affect your performance at school or you will be less human. And I think wearing slippers is better than wearing the standard1 inch heels because you will transfer to one building to another. Indeed, heels can affect your performance at school. hahaha! I think you know already what my school is because of what is written about being “social”. Nag-iisa lang ata kami. But yes, it is really true. I also experienced a lot of that.

Well as for dress codes this is only applicable during Saturdays for the students who have still class and during Class card giving and other events. For me, it is ok to have dress codes because we are GOING TO SCHOOL and not just anywhere else. Just like going to church we have dress codes. We have this because we are going to church which is a holy place and at school which is a place to study. But in the above situation, it is really absurd. Hindi naman sila aattend eh. Bakit kailangan pa nilang mag paka formal? Yun yung hindi ko maintindihan.

tama na sobra na!!

That will bring me to my own sentiments at my school. We have this convocation cards. You will need to attend to 10 events for the whole year. Para

Kaming high school!!! Tapos according to our manual convocation is FREE OF CHARGE. Talaga lang ha. Bakit yung concerts, yung basketball game… may bayad lahat yun!! Another is I guess every students experienced. Yung papuntahin ka sa isang play tapos ang kapalit nun isang attendance, recitation, quiz at iba pa. sabi ulit ng proff namin na halatang tinuturuan kaming mag rebelde ay isang example yun ng robbery at extortion. At lahat ng bayarin na di kasama sa tuition fees ay illegal. I also remember my friend asked me why I didn’t continue to study at St. Mary’s which is run by RVM sisters. I said ang lakas mang huthot ng mga madre eh. That’s life…

Image, making money… what really is important in a school? All I know is I am studying to gain knowledge and have a bright future. But it seems I will be either the next Ms. Universe or the next urban poor.

Pls. send me prayers so it will not come about…