Visita Iglesia in Laguna

Visiting several churches during Lenten Season is a tradition here in the Philippines. But I grew up not doing it with my family. I don’t know why and I didn’t bother asking my parents about it. Now that I have my own family, I made sure that my family will have this tradition.

We started our Visita Iglesia last 2008 (when the kids were big enough to endure long walk and travel). Since then on, we keep the tradition every year. I make sure that the churches we would visit each year would be our first time visits, so there’s always excitement.

For this year, we had our Visita Iglesia in Laguna loop. Planning of the itineraries was challenging. We checked all the churches on the direction (Rizal Province – Laguna) we would be taking. It was our first trip going to unfamiliar destination. My husband and I studied thoroughly the map we got from the internet. Believe me, maps are just easy when you read it; but it is rather complicated once you are in the actual place. We stopped several times just to confirm that we were on the right route.

Our trip had a total of 233 km (from Taytay, Rizal to our last destination, Rizal, Laguna).  And Kudos to my Lovey Dovey!  We never actually got lost.

Our first time visit to all these churches. 1. Nuestra Señora de los Angeles Parish Church, Sta.Maria, Laguna
2. Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Parish Church, Mabitac, Laguna
3. St. Peter & St. Paul Parish Church, Siniloan, Laguna
4. St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church, Pakil, Laguna
5. St. James The Apostle Parish Church, Paete, Laguna
6. St. John The Baptist Parish Church, Longos, Laguna
7. Church of Mary Magdalene, Magdalena, Laguna
8. Saint John The Baptist Parish Church, Liliw, Laguna
9. St. Gregory The Great Parish Church, Majayjay, Laguna
10. St. Bartholomew The Apostle Parish Church, Nagcarlan, Laguna.

Thank God no road mishaps!  We managed to visit not just 7 churches but 10 + 1.  Our last stop was in Rizal, Laguna to meet up my bff who lives there.

It was a long trip indeed but it was worth the trip!

UPCAT Results 2015

University of the Philippines released the results of College Admission Test for SY 2015-2016 an hour ago.  The test was administered last August 2014.  According to Rappler, there were "about 87,000 students took the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) last August 2014 in 82 testing centers around the country."

The results are now available online.

Congratulations to all UPCAT passers!!

ACET Results for SY 2015-2016

As early as 7am today, many senior high schoolers, together with their families, went to Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym to know the result of ACET.  Many families (including us) were patiently waiting, so when the boards were being delivered on the site people were clapping and couldn't wait any longer.  We were all anxious for the names to be revealed.

The results were revealed @ 8:00 am

And finally the wait was over!  There were mixed emotions.  You could see people crying because they passed and also because they didn't make it.  Some shouted for joy and would even jumped up & down as high as they could, but some would be consoling to those friends who'd got bad news.  It was a sunny morning atmosphere that one could witness joy and tears.

Adry and her classmate, Gail, the future Ateneans.

And for those who didn't have time to go to Blue Eagle Gym, you can see the results online.

Congratulations to all ACET passers!

Starbuck's Explore All Drinks Campaign is Misleading

Explore All Drinks:  "Do you have a special request? We’ll customize your drink to order with nonfat milk, sugar-free syrup or other options."

When we learned about this, my kids and I were happy.  So we tried exploring our own drinks in Starbucks.  Whatever we asked and/or ordered we could have it, just pay the extra cost of the additional ingredients.  True enough we can customize our drinks.   Thus, we keep coming back to Starbucks.

But my recent visit to Starbucks stores proved otherwise.  Everytime I asked for my own new blend, I have a hard time having it done.  "Ma'am, I'm sorry but we are not allowed to do that." this is the usual line I'm hearing lately.  Then I found myself complaining..."I thought you have this campaign that your customer can explore all drinks and customize them, how come now it's like that?"  In the end, I could have what I wanted - Green Tea Cream Frappuccino with non-fat milk, sugar-free syrup add mint instead, and no whip (that's my usual order), then add banana please (my latest additional order).

It has been a struggle to order my new Starbuck's blend.  Every SB stores I go to, I have to use this line "I thought you have this campaign that your customer can explore all drinks and customize them, how come now it's like that?"  One may find it weird, Green Tea w/ Banana and Mint; but when I first tried it, I instantly liked it!  That's why I keep ordering it lately.

Kudos to Starbucks SM Taytay!  The only SB that is happy to serve my customized order without any hesitation.

Green Tea Cream w/ Mint & Banana

College Entrance Tests

It's that time of the year when senior high school students apply for colleges and/or universities.  Many are busy preparing and acquiring requirements for their college entrance tests.  To help them, here are some links:

UPCAT :  The UPCAT consists of 4 subtests: Language Proficiency (English and Filipino), Science, Math and Reading Comprehension (English and Filipino). Standardized scores on these subtests are combined with the weighted average of final grades in the first three years of high school to determine qualification into UP. Moreover, to implement the policy of democratization to make the UP studentry more representative of the nation’s population, socio-economic and geographic considerations are factored in the selection of campus qualifiers. The UPCAT is on August 16 or 17, 2014.

ACET:  Applicants must go to the Admission Office of Ateneo de Manila University to acquire application forms.  Issuance of application forms started last June 16, 2014 until August 15, 2014. Deadline of submission is on August 15, 2014.  ACET will be conducted on September 20 & 21, 2014.

USTET:  Application can be done online (you may apply now) at University of Santo Tomas' website, then download and print the forms.

DCAT:  The De La Salle University College Admission Test applications can be accomplished online.  Applicants will be required to input the Academic Programs and/or Plans on the application form. The list of Undergraduate Academic Programs and Plans can be viewed or downloaded from the DLSU website.