Victory's within us. :)

I won't be blogging about what victory like victory as in winning. I am just gonna share tonight what I have learned in my first attendance to Victory Los Banos.


What is Victory?


Google led me to its website and the description goes like this:

Victory exists to honor God and establish Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation. Or as we like to put it, we want to simply HONOR GOD and MAKE DISCIPLES.


Again, it was my first time attending Victory earlier. I wasn't culture-shocked because I've been to an organization that focus on our Creator, the Almighty God. It's called Youth For Christ (YFC) which is under CFC (Couples For Christ). I was the YFC president in our highschool. Sad to say, it didn't become active last year. The assigned Highschool Program Volunteer for our school didn't communicate with me and with my co-officers well... I do not blame him though. In fact, it's my self I blame for that. I should have done my best to keep the org active. I did try though, I did try conducting four meetings with the help of my co-officers. Still, we couldn't do it without someone guiding us. Because we, ourselves, knew within us that we weren't ready.


The topic today was about our identity--- our true identity, that is. The one who gave the talk was my group's leader, Ate Lianne. I enjoyed the talk, really. She was funny and she really made sure the listeners weren't bored so during her talk, she said some jokes. No one was bored, I am sure of that. :) When she was delivering the message already at the last part of the talk, I almost cried. I'm sensitive like that. She stated that we shouldn't let others define us, define what we are or who we are, therefore defining our identity, because only our Creator could do so because we are His masterpieces so let us just be us and not let people influence nor change us. Of all the new things I acquired, one statement of hers really struck me so hard. This was is:

Growing old is normal. Growing up is optional.

I surely did learn a lot today... Recently, I've been having these unfathomable thoughts and have been going through obstacles I never once thought I would go through. Attending Victory earlier, I think, was God's way of reviving me and making me realize that I am not alone in this. He was always there for me and He will always be. How could I have forgotten Him? From this day onward, I will show Him how much I truly love Him like how He loves me though I know I would not be able to top that. :)


Thanks for reading. :)


Goodnight!! :)

Oh so random...

   I am still in shock that I passed the UPCAT even now that I've spent my 2nd week already here in the campus. Got my first college absent on Math 2 on Thursday. My class starts at 7am, I woke up at 8:40!! What a nice way to start college. Haha, kidding. The reason why I woke up late was 'cause the night before that, I broke up with my boyfriend. My super swollen eyes needed rest. The next day, my classes ended at 4pm then we talked, worked things out, and got back together. First college absent, eh? Not that I'm bragging about it 'cause I cried when I saw the time then. I was like, "OH SHOOT I'M LATE!!! OH NO, ABSENT NA PALA!" then tears ran down on my face. =)))


   Making friends wasn't that hard since I was one of the UPLB awardees awarded during every pre-college orientation. I was one of those with a "Face of the day" award. We were given a chance to compete with the other awardees by preparing a speech and delivering it on May 29. The ones chosen will be speakers on the first day of college. I passed the screening and spoke in PSLH-B, in front of I guess 200 people under IMSP. The speech turned out to be okay, I think. I made them laugh with my corny jokes so I think I did well. (?) Hahah. The awardees, all of us, performed during the Freshmen Convocation at Copeland Gym. Because of our presentation, tight friendship bonds were formed. We even have a Facebook group named "Family". I'm so grateful to have met them. 


   So what's lacking? My blood-related family... I miss them so much, every second of every hour of every day. :( I have their pictures posted on my wall beside my bed making me smile whenever I wake up and before I go to sleep. I thought this day would never come when I wouldn't be able to kiss them goodnight all the time 'cause I never expected passing the UPCAT. But I have to be strong and work hard for them. Especially for my mom who has always supported me all the way. I won't let her down. I cannot wait to see them later when I get home. 


   My roommate Angel whom I've known since 5th grade is still sleeping. I'm super hungry but I want to wait for her and eat together. :) Now that was random. Hahah. Now I'll talk about my classes. Chem 16.1 is so haaard. I hate graphing... I have to study well. No distractions, please! I enjoy SOSC, can't wait for Prof. Briones-O'Neill to start the lecture. I like Bio. Sir Esteves on Math 11 is super funny. Hahah. About English, lecture's a little bit difficult. Especially the note taking! Yesterday, I really had fun during Eng recit. (I'm not saying this because I know Sir JM would read this hahah) That feeling of achievement when you've always wanted to recite but when you have the guts to raise your hand, the teacher won't call you then he asks a something you know the answer to. Sir JM asked us who knows the line of Juliet in the balcony scene. No one else knew, so I took the chance to catch his attention. 

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet."

   Oh, the butterflies I got! I was really happy then but didn't want to seem like it. I was one of the directors of our play Romeo and Juliet during junior year and, during our senior year, I played the role of Hamlet. Yes, I cross-dressed. :)

From left to right: Aimee Octaviano, Rizalyn Datuon,
Ellysa Dela Cruz, Ysabel Garcia 

Yep, that's me alright. :) Awesome poster designed by Alexandra Ayers. :)

   Just felt like sharing. Hahah. I love Shakespeare's works. :) I'm kind of sleepy again... I guess I'll go rest for a bit now before we leave for Quezon City later. :) Byeee! :)

EDITED SPEECH HEHEH

Bakit sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas?

               Bago  ko masagot ito, ako muna'y magpapakilala. Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat. Edie Aimee Chavez Octaviano ang aking pangalan, mula sa lungsod ng Quezon, nagtapos ng haiskul sa FEU-FERN Diliman, bagong mag-aaral ng UPLB sa kursong BS Mathematics and Science Teaching.

               Ang aking ina ay maraming kursong inaral. Dalawa sa mga paaralang kanyang pinagtapusan ay ang UP Visayas at UP Diliman. Sa kanilang walong magkakapatid, lahat sila nakapasa ng UPCAT ngunit lima lang ang pinursigi ito. Bilang ikaapat na anak sa aming pitong magkakapatid, umasa ang aking ina na pumasa  naman sana ako rito sapagkat hindi nakapasa ang mga kapatid  kong nauna sa akin. Ang pangarap ng aking ina na makapasa ako ay kinalaunan ay naging pangarap  ko na rin palibhasa, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kwento ay minulat niya ang aking mga mata sa ganda ng kalidad ng edukasyon ng UP.

               Sa aking labing anim na taong pagkabuhay sa mundong ito, gaya ng aking mga kapwa estudyante ay ilang beses na rin akong natanong tungkol sa aking mga pangarap. Kung anong gusto kong marating at kung anong gusto kong makamit, maraming beses na naitanong sa akin ng aking mga naging guro, kaibigan, kamag-aral, at lalong lalo na ng aking mga kamag-anak. Gaya ng marami, naguguluhan pa rin ako dahil hindi ako sigurado kung maabot ko nga ba talaga ang nais kong maabot.  Hanggang sa matagpuan ko ang sagot sa aking mga katanungan... Unibersidad  ng Pilipinas sa Los Banos, Laguna. Sigurado akong basta't nandirito ako, makakamtan ko ang aking mga pangarap kahit gaano pa ito kalaki at kahit gaano pa kamukhang imposible.

           Kaya nang malaman kong pumasa ako sa UPCAT, hindi maipinta ang kasiyahang aking naramdaman. Ako'y napasigaw ng sobrang lakas nang makita ko ang aking pangalan sa websayt kung saan makikita ang mga pangalan ng mga kapwa kong nakapasa. Sa sobrang lakas ng aking pagsigaw ay nagising ang dalawang sanggol sa aming bahay.

           Bakit BS Mathematics and Science Teaching? Hindi man ako pumasa sa aking unang piniling kursong BS Biology, sobra sobra na ang ligayang aking nadama. Pagsisikapin ko na lang ang pag-aaral at sa aking ikatlong taon ng BS MST, Biology ang field na aking ipagpapatuloy. Wala pa man ako masyadong alam sa aking kursong aaralin, malamang ako’y maraming matututunan sa larangan ng matematika at siyensiya.

               Alam ng lahat na mataas ang tingin sa mga nakapagtapos rito. Ika nga ng aking gurong tumulong sa aking makapasa rito na isa ring nagtapos sa UP ay malaki raw ang respeto sa kanila na nasa punto ng kapag ikaw ay mag-aaplay ng trabaho, 'pag nakita raw na ikaw ay nagtapos sa UP, napakalaki ng tsansang matatanggap  kaagad dahil alam nila ang lawak ng iyong pinag-aralan.

           Kaya wala akong dudang magagamit ko ang aking utak sa layo ng makakaya nito. Sigurado akong mararating ko ang nais kong marating habang ako’y nasa ilalim ng paggabay ng mga guro dito. Kahit ano pa mang hamon ang ibibigay sa akin ng aking mga magiging guro, sisikapin kong malagpasan ang mga ito. Kakayanin ko basta’t nandirito ako sa pader ng UP.

           Bakit dito? Bakit sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas? Kailangan tayong mga iskolar ng bayan para tumulong sa ikabubuti ng ating lupang hinirang. Bakit UP? Dahil wala ng iba. Wala ng ibang unibersidad ang makakapagpatupad ng aking mga pangarap. Wala ng iba pang mas hihigit pa sa UP. Noon ay pangarap ko lamang ang maging iskolar ng bayan at iskolar para sa bayan. Ngayon ako'y ganap  nang isa sa libo libong iskolar sa ating bansa. Nararapat lamang sabihin na ito'y tunay na napakalaking karangalan. Hindi lang karangalan ngunit isa ring napakalaking pribilihiyo at kaakibat ng pribilihiyong ito ang mas higit pang mabigat na tungkulin, misyong ating dapat gampanan.

               Paano natin maibabalik sa bayan ang lahat ng kanyang ibinigay sa atin? Paano natin magagawa ang obligasyong ito? Sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral ng mabuti, pag-aalaga ng ating lupang sinilangan, pagbibigay  galang sa mga nakatatanda at pagbibigay respeto sa bawat isa. Simple ngunit, sa ngayo'y ang mga ito pa lamang ang ating magagawa bilang mga estudyanteng kakahakbang pa lamang sa buhay kolehiyo.

               Kailan natin sisimulan? Pagkatapos pa ba ng apat, lima o, anim na taon? Hindi dapat natin hintaying tayo'y makapagtapos muna bago natin simulan ang paglingkod sa ating bayan. Ngayon. Ngayon na. Ngayon na natin dapat simulan. Ang responsibilidad na ibinigay sa atin na paglingkuran ang bayan ay nararapat nating pagbutihin.

               Para sa akin, ang pagiging iskolar ay para na ring pagkakaroon ng kapangyarihang baguhin ang mga dapat baguhin. Kay rami ng mga suliranin ng ating bansa sa kasalukuyan at madadagdagan at madadagdagan pa ito kung walang kikilos para masolusyonan ang mga ito. Bilang iskolar ng bayan at iskolar para sa bayan, naniniwala akong malaki ang ating maitutulong sa paghubog ng ating magandang kinabukasan.

               Muli, ito si Aimee Octaviano nagsasabing, mga kapwa estudyante ng BS MST at  mga kapwa bagong mag-aaral, tara na at simulan na natin ang ating paglilingkod.

               Maraming salamat po.