by Ray Anne Germia and Janille Berdin
It took much more than sleepless nights, cups of coffee, blood, sweat and tears for thousands of University of The Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) aspirants to prepare for their big day. Senior high school students coming from different schools flocked the UP Los Baños UPCAT testing centers last October 5 and 6, 2019.
The aspiring iskolars came more than two hours before their scheduled exam time and hailed from different areas around Los Baños like San Pablo, Biñan and Batangas. Some of them even brought their parents along with them to support them throughout their UPCAT journey.
We talked to Mr. Nilo Perez and his daughter, Kyla Perez, who was anxiously waiting for her turn to go inside the testing room and take the UPCAT. They came from Sta. Rosa, Laguna and they were already waiting for almost three hours under the shade of the trees in the CEM area. Kyla wanted to take up BS Biology in UP Los Baños and said that she really wanted to study in UP. In order to prepare for the admission test, for months, she has been reviewing for at least 30 minutes per day.
As a parent, Mr. Perez also feels as nervous as his daughter since he has also experienced taking the UPCAT during his time. Though anxious, he also feels excited for his daughter who’ll finally take the exam after months of hard work and preparation and aside from the emotional support, Mr. Perez also helped his daughter by giving her financial support in order for her to buy reviewers. Despite the pressure and the nerve-wracking atmosphere, the father and daughter hope for a positive result regarding UPCAT and are looking forward for the days to come.
Just like the the both of them, thousands of students and their family members hope to attain the privilege and honor of entering the most prestigious and recognized university in the Philippines. Some say that entering UP is difficult, but surviving and leaving is a lot more than that. However, no matter how hard the journey may get, an iskolar should always strive to do his/her best not only for him/herself but also for others, especially for our nation and its people.
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