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28Nov/101

A Takeoff For the Second Semester

I can already feel that this second semester will be as sweet and as awesome as my first semester. Not that I can predict things a la Nostradamus but the courses I will take this semester are all awesome. I will have new professors and I will be introduced to the other interesting fields in the study of politics. I also have some affiliations that I’m pretty sure will make this semester more interesting than usual. This semester will just be short because of all the holidays and the breaks but I promise to make the most out of it. Actually, I have 18 cool-and-not-so-cool reasons why I should and would definitely enjoy this semester.

I will be having my first International Relations/ International Politics /Global Politics course under the Political Science program. So the name of the field itself is already a debate. What is major major excited. Yay!
Professor Carl Ramota who has a Master’s degree in Global Politics from Ateneo will handle the IR course (PS 182). Readings overload. But hey, he’s an awesome professor.
I will be taking my third Philosophy course this semester. It is a course on Moral Philosophy (Ethics- Philo 171). I’ve been waiting for this since my first year. Philosophy is my first favorite field of knowledge! Finally!
The Secretary of the UP Board of Regents or the Secretary of the UP System Dr. Lou Abadingo will be my professor for a Political Science statistics course. Wala lang. Just so you guys know. And I’m excited about it.
This year’s lantern parade for CAS will be different, hopefully. I’m not saying that it will be awesome but it will definitely be cool. Now, that’s DOUBLE pressure.
Freethinkers UP Manila will have its first meet-up on December 1^st. Yay! Interested? Join!
My dad will be home from Dubai. Not so looking forward to my dad coming home but the PASALUBONGS. Just kidding. But seriously, pasalubong!
The University-wide strike against budget cuts last 25 and 26 was so successful! Now, prepare for the historic youth march to the Senate. Sounds like FQS to me. Re-creating history. Awesome, k.
Political Science practicum after this semester. Excited. Senate and DFA, please.
I will be taking my third course under Professor Risa Jopson. I just love the fact that my course leader for PS 163 (Political Behavior, Processes and Movements) is a graduate of ISS in Netherlands. Okay, this sounds like my future.
Another semester to serve the students through awesome projects. PRESSURE! TRIPLE PRESSURE! :D Time to change my relationship status from single to being married to the CAS students.
Green Christmas decors all over the metro! This is true heaven. Life is awesome like this every December. Greeeeen!
Two more seasons of the OC. Life without them is just plain boring. =))) Actually, that’s not life at all. An episode a day keeps me grounded, calm and sane.
GOAL FOR THIS SEMESTER: Uno for all subjects! All the way! Okay, I mean, NOT PE. But please. Crucial semester.
I just feel good about this semester. Feeling good! Looking Good! One year of CleveArguelles dotcom!
Finally did it. I was able to let you go. I’m so done with you. Strangely though, I feel better.
2011! Another year to look forward to! More awesome years in this not-so-awesome planet. I’m gonna party like its 2011!
JANUARY FIRST. I’m turning legal next year. That day, year 1993, someone great was born! He was later named Cleve Kevin Robert V. Arguelles.

How about you? Do you have any reason to enjoy this semester?

Popularity: 4% [?]

Tagged as: arguelles, manila, Personal, political, science, second, semester, Third, up, upm, Year 1 Comment

23Dec/099

ME Time

Is this right? I'm not excited for Christmas. Do you guys feel this too? I'm in an unconscious effort to pretend that i'm excited for the coming Christmas and New Year. I don't know how or why, but I seriously feel that I'm just pretending. I just want it to come so that I will be able to do my homeworks and i'll probably receive money from my relatives.

A Bored Kid, Definitely Me

I've been really bored these past few days. I usually switched the TV on, the PC on, sometimes even the blinking lights inside the house. I will watch them simultaneously or multi-task watching them so that I will feel busy. Do this too!

Anyway, because there's a lot of free time, there's also a lot of ME time. You get to think with yourself. You walk for thirty minutes and you contemplate where your life is heading to. Yes, I do that.

I thought about changing course and/or shifting my future profession. I probably won't succeed as a Political Science graduate. It's not the course itself but ME plus the course. Don't get me wrong, i like Political Science, I'm totally in love with it. It's just that I can't see a brighter future and my dream of studying in Harvard or LSE seem so distant.

I thought of shifting to a Management course, to Business Administration, to Accountancy, to Industrial Engineering and even to Computer Science.

My mom used to tease me about my course and my future profession. She always dismissed my course as something that is irrelevant and unimportant. Maybe she is right. "Bakit hindi ka mag-Accountancy?" ika nga.

I've had Accountancy/Bookkeeping/Management subjects in Manila Science HS. I enjoyed the subject and even like it. I got good grades too. We also have Computer Science subjects from First Year to Fourth Year. It was enlightening and fun. I had fun playing with Turbo C++. Today, I even do programming assignments of my brother who is taking up Computer Science. I shared a secret but unnoticeable bond with the syntaxes.

This will all pass. Most of my thoughts usually just come and go. There's no way this thing will stay in mind. Hello? Accountancy=MATH! Computer Science=MATH! My mind drifts away from anything that has Math in it. I'm anemic to Mathematics. And I think, that is the only thing that will stop me from shifting to Accountancy or Computer Science.

Mathematics, you're effing epic.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Tagged as: accountancy, computer science, political, science, shifting 9 Comments

27Nov/092

Statement of the UP Manila Political Science Committee on the massacre in Maguindanao

26 November 2009

The UP Manila Political Science Committee condemns in the strongest possible terms the latest case of election violence in Maguindanao.

November 23 will go down in history as a day of unparalleled evil and barbarity. More than 50 unarmed individuals, mostly women, media workers, lawyers and members of the Mangudadatu clan, were butchered in an attempt to preserve what appears to be a monolithic kingdom ruled by the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.

The massacre in Maguindanao comes as a shock to Filipinos and the rest of the world and happened in a time that has long forgone Stone Age barbarism and arbitrariness for rule of law and due process.

The brutal killings did not only reveal the extent of lawless violence in several areas in the country but bare the bigger tragedy in Philippine politics – the continuing supremacy of established political clans who act as impervious and invincible gods. It’s further proof that nothing has essentially changed and that the country remains a confederacy of fiefs ‘owned’ by a few affluent families.

The overconcentration of power in the hands of political dynasties has been sustained and reinforced by brokerage-style politics that has come to characterize the current regime.

Political patronage allowed warlordism and a culture of impunity to thrive in Maguindanao and other parts of the country in exchange for political support from the Ampatuans and other influential political clans for the vulnerable Arroyo presidency. Since 2001, the Ampatuans intermittently ruled the province and were largely credited for delivering the votes for Mrs. Arroyo in the 2004 presidential elections and giving the administration ticket a 12-0 win in the 2007 senatorial race.

As we grieve with the victims’ families and call for immediate justice, we also denounce the evident attempts of Malacanang to shield the Ampatuans from accountability. The failure of the Arroyo administration to act swiftly displays the government’s duplicity in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The mere fact that the government chose to send emissaries to the Ampatuans and not arresting officers despite clear evidence that indicate the involvement of specific persons shows its double standard and preferential treatment for its political ally.

We call on all Filipinos to remain vigilant. The gruesome massacre presages the possible escalation of cases of election violence and echoes circumstances that led to the fraudulent elections in 2004 and 2007. It poses a huge threat on the conduct and credibility of the upcoming automated elections and opens an opportunity for individuals and groups who want and stand to benefit in a no-election scenario.

We also call on Congress to pass pending measures prohibiting all forms of political dynasties and laying the foundations for genuine participatory democracy that provides equal opportunity for public service. ###

Popularity: 3% [?]

Tagged as: ampatuans, and, Arts, CAS, college, deparment, DSS, maguindanao, massacre, of, political, polsci, PS, science, social, statement, up, UP Manila, upm 2 Comments

20Nov/094

Becoming A Student of Politics (SS 09-10)

I feel like I'm becoming a PolSci major already. I mean, my courses this second semester are mostly major subjects or if not, social science subjects. It made me feel that I'm finally approaching a new phase of my academic life. My second semester started very well, from enrollment up to the first day of classes. I feel that there is a very thoughtful but unknown power giving me these things. The force be with you too!

SS09-10 Courses

Communications III

Professor Anna Aclan

This course is all about speech communication. I'm afraid of this course since a powerful Being deprived me of oral skills. I'm not good in delivering speeches and such because I'm not a fluent English speaker. I also have a p and f speech defect. But I do want to take up this course since it can help me. I also find this useful as a political science major and someone who is planning to take up Law. I do think that this course will be able to help me improve my speech communication skills. It is also a practical course since lectures given by the professor will always be tested since students are required to deliver different kind of speeches. I think this will be fun!

Philosophy 11

Professor Paula Sioco

I don't think I will like this course. I like philosophy but not logic. Unfortunately for me, this course is all about logic. It requires, well, logic, which I think something that I don't have. This is the reason why I hate Mathematics. But I really have to take up this course since this will prepare for the Law Aptitude Exam of UP College of Law and for any law school for that matter. I will have to do my best since logic is not that friendly to me.

History II

Professor Sharon Caringal

I'm a history fan but not a history buff. I plan to take up something related to history in the future, maybe another bachelor's. Well, BA History is one of my choices when I was still in high school. The course is about Asian history and how it affects the world. It gives us a unique focus. We are all accustomed to seeing history in the view of the Westerners since they believe that their culture is more civilized and superior than that of the Asian. This time, history will be analyzed in the viewpoint of an Asian. I do think that this will be a very interesting analysis. This course excites me because we really have to do some readings. I love readings!

Political Science 100

Professor Jalton Taguibao

This is actually my third major Political Science course. But this is my first major that is numbered in three digits. That alone excites me. Hopefully, this course will enable me to think like a Political Scientist. The course is about political theories, tools and analysis. Judging from the course outline, I think that it is a very technical course. But I like anything that is Political Science. I will surely enjoy this course.

Political Science 150

Professor Josefina Tayag, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

In all the domains of Political Science, i admit that Public Administration is the least that i like. PS 150 is an introductory course in Public Administration. But this is also the field that I'm least knowledgeable. I find the course interesting because I learn so much from the readings and from the professor. I also find this course very practical. There are lot of things to learn from PublicAd, plus i really love to read new things.

Economics 101

Professor Chester Arcilla

We all know how much I love Economics, at least most of my friends knows it. And you also know now. This is my second economics course in the university and this course is all about Macroeconomics, one of the two bigger fields of economics. Economics for me minus the mathematics part is a very interesting and engaging subject. But we can't separate and isolate the quantifiable part of economics, so more or less, the course is interesting, engaging and challenging. At the end of the day, I know how much I enjoyed the lectures and I hope that this will be the basis for the grades! Haha.

SS09-10 Courses

Communications III

Professor Anna Aclan

Philosophy 11

Professor Paula Sioco

History II

Professor Sharon Caringal

Political Science 100

Professor Jalton Taguibao

Political Science 150

Professor Josefina Tayag, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Economics 101

Professor Chester Arcilla

My course list and grades.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Tagged as: 100, 101, 11, 150, 2, 3, aclan, arcilla, BA, caringal, comm, communications, courses, econ, Economics, histo, history, jal, manila, philo, philosophy, political, polsci, science, second semester, second year, sem, sioco, subjects, taguibao, tayag, up 4 Comments

30Oct/0910

Of Planners and Plans

Next semester, I have been planning to do many things. I even asked my friend Des Santos to make a deal that one has to follow its to do list religiously. A fine should be given if the list will not be followed. One of the things in this list is to use my planner religiously. I'm liking the word religiously. I actually have two planners for this year. I was able to use them but I got tired that I stopped using them after a good three months. I was disappointed. I want the OC Planner type of person.

UP Planner

I own a planner by the UP Diliman Centennial University Student Council. I bought it for 350 pesos or 400 pesos? I can't remember. I have this mild memory loss when it comes to prices. Its actually good and formal. Not very formal, just executive-ish.

UP Planner

I can't find a picture of a real sample of the planner in the net. I'm too lazy to take pictures of it and upload it on PC. It's just too complicated. I was able to use it as a journal. It served as a diary of some sort for me. It also served as my accounts sheet. I wrote my daily and future expenses there. I also tried to collect all the receipts just to make sure that all is written. But when my expenses got complicated and I can't keep track of my transactions, I stopped using this. Its easy to be lazy.

Blogberry Planner

I also own a planner from the Stradmore. Des Santos convinced me to buy this planner because it's suited to college students. I was convinced even if it meant another unnecessary expense for me. The looks and the features inside are so tempting. I bought the Stradmore's Blogberry University Lifestyle Planner. Its about 300 or 400 pesos. I can't remember.

Blogberry University Lifestyle Planner (Stradmore)

It's distributed by the ever-reliable National Bookstore. I bought the green one because it's my favorite color. I used it as my scheduler and my goal planner. It's useful for students because it's patterned after the academic year. I write my 'goals to achieve' here. After a month, I will do a self-evaluation. Its quite fulfilling. But it requires a lot of work. I'm too lazy to do it every now and then. After two months, I stopped. I realized I can't maintain a journal or a planner. Saaaad. But I will try to change that lifestyle next semester. This has to be a planner semester.

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I have been thinking also if I should work again as a student assistant. This time, I want to work in the Graduate Program Office of the College of Arts and Science or GPAS. I need to buy a new phone. My current phone reboots itself whenever it wants to. It also has this 'sim card registration failed' syndrome. I hate this phone but I can't buy a replacement. I still have a spare phone as part of my postpaid freebie but that phone is like a stone age phone. It hangs whenever I tried to send multiple messages. It sucks. Talking about my postpaid. I'm trying to control myself because my previous bill is 1,700 pesos. I pay my own bills. I can't maintain a plan like that. Anyway, let's all enjoy our semestralbreak!

I plan not to go to the memorial park this coming all soul's/saint's day. I'm not convinced why do I have to visit them.

The Ilustrado

Popularity: 3% [?]

Tagged as: 2009, 2010, all saint's, all soul's, Arts, assistant, blogberry, cellphone, college, day, globe, GPAS, graduate, lifestyle, memorial, Office, park, plan, Planner, postpaid, program, rebooting, science, stradmore, Student, undas, university, up, USC 10 Comments

24Oct/0912

Triple M

Manila Science

manila science high school logo

Manila Science High School celebrated its founding anniversary yesterday. With its theme "MaSci at 46: Stakeholder's Empowerment: Strengthening Linkages," the organizers (parent-teachers association, faculty and students) made the foundation day fun through its food stalls, booths (as usual), field demonstrations and year level contests. I was with some fellow alumni. We enjoyed scrutinizing the newcomers in MaSci, the first year students. We also enjoyed the booths particularly the jail booth. I also ended up paying the students managing the handcuffs booth to make our friends victims. We're also trying to convince the jail guards to let the prisoners go. Kawawa naman kasi e, most of the prisoners wala ng pera. I helped my brother escaped! Most of the time, we're unsuccessful dahil the first year students are hesitant rin. First year students are so obedient that I want to make them discipline guards in North Korea! Sobra.

manila science main building

A little bit of MaSci history. Manila Science High School was established through Republic Act 1606 issued by President Ramon Magsaysay who felt the need of a pilot science high school who will cater to the development of the fundamental and applied sciences and through Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas Municipal Resolution 426. It was patterned after Bronx High School of Science in New York, the special science curriculum is designed to meet the needs of scholars gifted in science and mathematics. Until now, Manila Science High School remains as one of the country's top science high school. For more information, visit www.manilascience.edu.ph.

I miss high school student life.

Missing Friends

I was with Lanie the whole time. I just realized that I only have few real friends from high school. But these real friends are really real. (Whaaaat?) Lanie's currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in the University of the City of Manila or PLM. I enjoyed the conversation that we had. I even shared to her my recent experience of being an activist. Ang dami naming napag-kuwentuhan. Galing! All branches of life! Kudos to your mom! She really is the heartless girl of Kanye West. I was also with Justine Joy who is currently taking up BS Accountancy in the same school. Good luck!

I miss my friends.

Major No-No!

I'm quite sad. I think I will not be able to take up Law immediately after college. I'm not sure if I will be able to support myself financially. Woo! Talk about skyrocketing fees! I'm also losing my interest in studying laws. I'm more into political science now. Oh, God!

I miss myself.

I will be writing a semester-ender tomorrow. Wait. I'm hearing rumors about a particular cheating case in the University, major cheating daw. Let's not compromise the principles and the reputation of our beloved university.

The Ilustrado

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"Life ends when you stop dreaming."

-K. Vuscher

Popularity: 6% [?]