UP Ibalon Alumni Successfully Launched UPCAT Review Project

Ten public and 9 private high schools around Naga City sent their high school seniors to UP Ibalon Bicol’s UP Orientation-UPCAT Review held at Fernando Hall, Plaza Medica, Naga City, last Saturday, June 14, 2008. UP Ibalon Bicol is an organization with worldwide membership composed of alumni of UP Ibalon, a 34-year old organization of Bicolano students at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus. Last Saturday’s event launched a bigger project by UP Ibalon Bicol that aims to help Bicolano students augment their capabilities to pass the University of the Philippines College Admissions Test (UPCAT).

Naga City Science National High School sent the largest delegation with 51 high school seniors. Other participating schools were: Ateneo de Naga and Universidad de Sta. Isabel that sent 18 each; St. Bridget School Buhi,17;Sta Monica Academy Baao,12; Sta Clara College Tigaon,10; Pili National High School and Naga College Foundation, 5 each; Tinago High School, 4; St Joseph School, Calabanga National High School, Leon Mercado High School Pacol, Carolina National High School, Cararayan High School and Concepcion Pequeña High School. 2 each; Arbor Vitae Plains Montessori Naga City, Hope Christian School and St Michael Academy Oas Albay, 1 each.

According to Alaine Alberto-Fornoles, Invitations Committee chairperson, UP Ibalon Bicol hopes to expand the project to include high school students outside Camarines Sur. She apologizes to late responders who had to be turned down because of limited resources and venue, adding that the organizers were surprised by the huge turnout and that this was just a launching event and more of similar activities are to come.

The first set of speakers for the morning session introduced UP to the participants and included

UP Ibalon Bicol’s President Jose (Butch) Robredo who gave the welcome remarks;

Project Chairperson Annaliza A. Mariano who introduced the participants and did the leveling of expectations;

Jake Rupert T. Tabora who shared his experiences at the state university and gave the future UP students a glimpse of what to find there;

Dr. Ronaldo S.P. Elicay who delivered a Powerpoint-backed lecture on Choosing Your Career that engaged the participants;

Michael V. Padua who, in his Testimony of a UP Graduate, related how he developed his expertise in weather forecasting and gave the participants idea on how to get into UP by way of transfer from another school, bypassing the UPCAT ;

and Edna C.Balaquiao who lectured on Scholarships and Financial Assistance. Ms. Balaquiao, talking out of first-hand experiences, expounded on the tricky Socialized Tuition Fee and Assistance Program (STFAP), more popularly known as Iskolar ng Bayan Program, designed to make studies at UP more affordable.

Sieg Borromeo-Bulaong was the master of ceremonies.

In the afternoon session, Clarine Tobias, a UP Ibalon alumna and owner of Memorecall, talked on test taking strategies and the UP Predicted Grades (UPG), a contentious aspect of UP admissions requirements. Memorecall also conducted special diagnostic tests on Language & Reading Comprehension and Mathematics & Science, giving the participating high school seniors a taste of UPCAT-like exams.

Sarah Jaye Coros Oliva, of St. Joseph School, Naga City, topped the English and Reading Comprehension Diagnostic Test. Others who made it to the top ten in this test, in descending rank, were De la Cruz, Mara Erika G.(Naga City Science High School); Felix, Trixia Mae G.(Naga City Science High School); Ayo, Fidel Nestor N.(Ateneo De Naga University); Monasterio, Jose Llandro G.(Ateneo De Naga University); Maraño, Rebbekan Grace G.(Naga City Science High School); Semeniano, Claudine Joyce D.(Naga City Science High School); Garcia, Klarika Angela C.(Ateneo De Naga University); Tapel, Anna Dominica A.(Universidad de Sta. Isabel); Gutierrez, Alfred D.(Naga City Science High School).

Two high school seniors from Pili National High School topped the Mathematics and Science Diagnostic Test: Jarid Ross Contante Clasio (1) and Cezar John Aman Estrada (2). Others in the top ten, in descending rank, were Oliva, Sarah Jaye Coros (St. Joseph School, Naga City); Esguerra, Bennyvic Joyce J.(Camarines Sur National High School); Avestruz, Darren Ramon C.(Naga City Science High School); Nacario, Redmund Godoy (Naga City Science High School); Romero, Maria Rosa M.(Naga City Science High School); Servino, Edel Acayen(Pili National High School); Medalla, Irenele T.(Naga College Foundation); Gutierrez, Alfred D.(Naga City Science High School).

Dra. Eden Borja-Fernando, a UP Ibalon pioneer and owner of Plaza Medica, gave UP Ibalon Bicol free whole-day use of the Fernando Hall for the project launching.

Participants Sidelights

Dan Daz sent these freely downloadable pictures. Help us complete the captions in these photos. For comments and feedback, click here to e-mail us.

The students of Sta. Clara Academy

The students of St. Bridget School

The students of Sta. Monica Academy

The students of Naga College Foundation

The students of the Camarines Sur National High School

The students of the Naga City Science National High School

The students of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel

The students of the Ateneo de Naga University

UP Ibalon Bicol Sidelights

UP Ibalon Alumni Offers Free UPCAT Review

The first obstacle to hurdle is getting accepted in UP, which has been dreadful for applicants from the provinces who need to pass the most difficult college entrance test in the country. The rise of commercial college entrance review centers is reality we have to factor in. Without a good review, it’s tough luck even for local high school topnotchers to achieve their dream to be counted among members of this elite government-funded state university. Increasingly,the review centers determine one’s success or failure in passing the entrance exam, and the most sophisticated and resourceful, some say “naughtiest,” centers are in Manila.

With end view of leveling the playing field for the sake of Bicolano students, the UP Ibalon alumni,a Bicolano organization of former students and graduates of the UP Diliman campus embarks on a UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) Assistance Project. This is a long haul group effort that combines live seminars with Web-based activities. UP Ibalon Bicol, as the alumni group is called, is also preparing to put up its College Admission Review Website to leverage not only its vast talent pool but also the power of the Web.

The project officially launches at Fernando Hall, 3rd Floor Plaza Medica, Panganiban Street, Naga City with a review-information campaign on June 14, 2008. Top graduating high school students of Bicolandia are the target beneficiaries of this, although the first 100 participants for this year could only include high school students immediately around Naga City. Dr. Eden Borja-Fernando, owner of Plaza Medica and a UP Ibalon pioneer, has offered free use of its lecture hall as the venue for all Naga-based review sessions. The project’s reach and range of services are expected to widen as the group broadens its region-wide base and augments its financial resources.

The activities will start at 9:45 A.M. with the national anthem, prayers and welcome remarks by the organization’s president Jose (Butch) Robredo. Video presentations follow.

An interesting eye-opener lecture on the Life in UP will be delivered by Jake Tabora. Invaluable tips in choosing a course will be tackled by Dr. Roland Elicay. An insightful testimonial from a famous UP student will be shared by Mike Padua. Fatima Edna C. Balaquiao’s lecture on The Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP), more popularly known as the Iskolar ng Bayan Program, will bring clarity to opportunities for making studies at UP affordable. Another UP Ibalon alumnae, Clarine Tobias, owner and manager of Memorecall, will give in-depth insights on test-taking strategies.

Free review materials will be distributed to participants and food will be served. Participants will also have the chance to try out the review questions.

This remarkable project is a result of the cooperative work of the organization’s members and friends who share Dr. Andy Gimpaya’s concern that Bicolanos are a vanishing breed in UP. Dr. Gimpaya, who takes charge of the Internet component of the project, has never been disappointed by his Ibalon pals who are ready to help young minds eager to pursue quality education.

In a friendly collaboration with UP Panginuhud, a UP outreach organization, Apolonio Baylon, Annaliza Mariano, Jazon Morillo, Dr. May Velasco-Yorobe, Ma. Zerlaine Alberto-Fornoles, Adolfo Badiola, Tess A.Arbo, Dan M. Daz, Dulce B. Dionisio, Rose Bernardo-Nayve, Sieglinde E.B. Bulaong, and Jun Olin—all Ibalonians joined forces to compile sample test questions. The UP Panginuhud donated more than 200 pages of review materials. The burden of sorting out the materials and providing answers to test questions is shared by Pitoy Moreno, an engineer based overseas and now on vacation, and Dulce Bernardo-Dionisio, a professional teacher.

With communications through the Internet easier than ever, the UP Ibalon alumni can draw strength from all corners of the world where other Ibalonians quietly reach out in support of the project: Dr. Yasmin Paje-Banzon, Dr. Delen Padilla-de la Paz, Dr. Ray G. Rayel, Gods Lanuza, Dr. Jose Remo, Dr. Divinia Nolasco-Ries, Dr. Fems Espinas-Paladin, Mac Pavia, Acela B. Bretan, Annelee Badiola-Lojo, Monina S. Badiola, Raniela Barbaza, Dr Arnel V. Malaya, Dr. Abet Guballa, Dr. Amy Goleta-Dy, Wilma Rojas, Imelda Cabañes, Carmela Magpantay, Pitoy Moreno, Jovy Mijares, Alan V. Badiola, Stephen Acabado, Jason Oliva, Maria Eusebia Quiñones, Ma. Celestina Manlagñit-Tam, Lorna Vigil-Baylon, Sarge Colambo, Atty. Joel Cadiz, Ruditu Espiritu, Jr., Zuyen Tria-Valencia, Ariel Padua, Zarah Padua, Nathaniel Chavez, Dr. Annelee Badiola-Lojo, Dr. Augusto Mesia among others.

In their minds, the university terrain is still bumpy and steep; its high horse is still tall and barely reachable. The sense of being Bicolanos drives the UP Ibalon alumni to extend a helping hand so that Handiong’s children may thrive and succeed.

Video: UP Ibalon Bicol Meetings

Take a sneak peek at the deliberations of the UP Ibalon Bicol steering committee. The committee met twice in the past couple of weeks. Both meetings were held at Grilling Point, Balatas Road, Naga City on April 20 and 27 2008.

All the brainstormings now lean toward an ambitious College Entrance Exam assistance project. Now in queue are at least one live review session in June and a web-based review resource center. The live lecture component, which is a test undertaking, shall be held in Naga City and aims to augment the capability of the target high school students in passing the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT). The web-based component, now in data gathering and site development-promotion stage, shall be ad-supported and shall be the orgamozation’s fund source in the long haul. The Web site shall be accessible to all.

Long term prospects are bright although in its initial salvo, UP Ibalon Bicol simply hopes to demystify college entrance examinations, which in itself could inspire every scared young high school student, who we all were long time ago.