Today, I am beginning to reclaim what University of the Philippines owes me. For 12 years I was left with frustrations, disappointment, wasted time, broken dreams, privileges lost, questioned ability and a life much simpler than what I am suppose to have. Why? Because when I took the freaking UPCAT back in 96, they said I didn’t qualify. Anak ng tokwa! Ang daming bobo na nakapass don nanghula lang ng sagot pero pumasa.

Recalling the day I took the test, I was seated beside my stupid ex-bf. SIya! Na walng kakwenta kwentang nilalang ang may kasalanan. I shouldn’t have been involved with him then.. baka sakali nagfocus ako a lot more sa questionnaire. Anyway, dala ang mongol no.2 at ang baon kong tortillos, kasama ko ang unggoy na pumunta sa gymnasium. Don kami sa likod napaupo. Ewan kung bakit, nde naman by height ang arrangement ng mga mag-eexam. Naaalala ko pa nga, bawal ang kahit anong gamit sa ibabaw ng upuan. Chever! As if! Wala akong balak mangopya noh.. lalo na kung 2 arms length ang layo ko sa katabi ko. Besides, nong time na yon, kakahiya mangopya kung galing ka sa mataas na section. So natapos ang exam after an hour and 45 minutes.

The result came out 2 months after… pucha! Wala ang name ko.. and a bunch of names from section toootttttt were there. Tinamaan ng magaling di ba? For 2 years dinamdam ko yon. Grabe ang pretentions na ginawa ko wag lang makita na nahurt ako. Anyway, tapos na ang lahat… pumasok ako sa isa pang walang kakwenta kwentang school…. maroon and white cheverbombs!

Then… 12 years after… I found out what YOU DID NOT QUALIFY meant…. bwisettttttt….. sa apat na prioritized quota courses na pinili ko lang ako nde nakapasa. Bwiseeettttt talaga! Yun lang… kaya heto, since SAHM ako as in Stay-At-Home-Mom ako , go ako sa UP.. Open University! Ano bale? pagkatapos ng 12 years makikipagsiksikan ako sa school? No way!