Passing the UPCAT 20 Years Ago

I heard that results of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) has been released and I recalled my own UPCAT summer, 20 years ago. This post is actually part of my memoirs in celebration of UP's centennial but I have not finished it until now. Not worry though, I am confident (UP graduates always are...) that I will finish it, chapter by chapter. As we say back in in campus, when we're on an extended stay, "Ga-graduate din ako, maghintay lang kayo...!".

Chapter One
The year before UP: “Lusot na lusot sa UPCAT”

I graduated from UP Diliman, but not from the course that I was admitted to when I passed the UPCAT.

I managed to get into one of the toughest quota courses even in 1989. I entered U.P. as a freshman in the Bachelor of Science Major in Psychology program. That was in fact, my first choice of a course and Journalism was my second choice. Both were quota courses and UP veterans, who I asked for help when I was still applying, advised me against taking them that early. It was better they said that I pick something non-quota and then shift after one year. That will increase my chances of entering UP, they added.

Oh, but I can't bring myself to pick other courses. I wanted to get into anything MassCom because of my love affair with writing and the English language. It was also because of Jessica Soho, whom I frequently watch on TV reporting about the coup d’etats against Cory Aquino’s government then. I found her job really exciting and I imagined myself doing the same thing. Alas, my father said, “Wala namang pera pag journalist ka, e. Wag na lang ‘yan.” So I obeyed him by making it my second choice instead of my first.

I can no longer remember why I chose BS Psychology. Perhaps it was because I was fascinated with horoscopes, dream analysis and past lives even when I was younger. I must have had illusions of being a doctor too, I am not too sure now. But most of all, I think it was because of an unexplainable connection that happened when I browsed through the course list and saw AB/BS Psychology. I just felt “Ito ang gusto ko!”.

I also considered Theater Arts and Family Life and Child Development but being the promdi that we were, me and my parents didn’t know what kind of jobs these courses will lead me to. I myself didn’t think that I can earn much if I graduate with a diploma from those courses. I thought then, how does one make a living practicing theater arts? Does one need a college diploma to become an artista? The FLCD as a choice was again a gut feel. It just took my attention but like all other unknown courses, I can not imagine where it may lead me. Does one need a diploma to start a pamilya? At that time too, there were no boom in information like it today. There were no cable TV, no internet and my own family does not even have a telephone or computer. So we only have limited knowledge about other courses except Nursing, Commerce and Education and Engineering. In the province, these are often the courses that are known to lead to better lives because even back then, these were pang-export courses.

However, I didn’t feel it in me to become a nurse. Hell, of course I never imagined becoming a banker or an engineer. I sweat blood during Math exams! I considered becoming a teacher but, even then, teaching was only noble but not enRICHing. So even if these were popular courses back where I came from, it just didn’t fit. There was no adrenalin rush for me. So I threw all cautions to the winds when I filled-up my application for UPCAT. I told myself, if I don't qualify for Psychology or Journalism, then I don’t enter UP. If I fail the UPCAT, then I’m off to Baguio’s St. Louis University. If it’s still impossible, then I’m willing to study in the universities in Dagupan City and become a nurse like the rest of my batchmates.

I remembered our high school principal. He was himself not confident that I will pass the UPCAT. I remember when we asked him for his endorsement, he noticed that the photos we were submitting were colored (which were too expensive then). He said, “O, pati photos nyo colored pa. Pano pag di kayo pumasa, sayang lang ito.” Boy! That hurt!

After much self review (there were no MSA review centers then) and lots of visits to the church of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan, I took the UPCAT at the College of Business Administration. I didn't finish last in our room but I was not too confident either. I remember questions with all four choices as possible answers. I remember that Math problem about the chicken's and cow's feet. I remember my seatmates asking for more scratch papers because they've consumed the first ones that were given while I only doodled on mine. We were told that the use of these scratch papers have bearing on the final grade.

There was nothing more to do when I went back home except to pray every night that I pass. We were told by our provincemates from UP (through a confraternity that held a free tutorial for us) that if we received a thick envelope, that meant we passed but if we received a thinner one, then we should prepare one year more and then work on to become a transferee. Finally, the thick white envelope came a few days after we graduated from highschool.

PLDT still had the monopoly of telecommunications then, so until the post delivered my mail from UP Admissions, I didn't know or believe that I successfully made it. A friend told me earlier that I passed but I didn't want to believe her right away. That friend is now a successful nurse in the UK.

It was the proudest and happiest day of my life.Passing the UPCAT tops my milestones and back then, it was my overwhelming achievement. To learn that I qualified for a quota course made it sound even better. “Matalino naman pala talaga ako." I told myself as I smugly read each document that was in the thick, white envelope.

There were actually two of us from our school who passed the UPCAT but I would learn later that she was not able to enter UP. She passed away due to leukemia that summer in between our high school graduation and college freshman year.

CHAPTER 2
The first years…” Sucking all the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone.” - Robin Williams in the film “Dead Poets’ Society,1989.

I will post this portion as soon as I finish it. This covers my first two years in the campus when I suck all the marrow out life and even choked on bits of its bone...