Grateful

GOD heard and granted my prayers .. quite literally :)

My birthday wish was for us to be the over-all champions in our Conflicts of Law. I made such wish when I blew out the candles on a cake which was a surprise from Teen, Bhing and Sol. Grabe! Napaiyak ako with matching tawa .. haha .. truly grateful for such a nice surprise.

When I blew out the candles, I made three wishes - sana ma-over-all champions kami, ma-champion sa cheerdance and ma-champion sa basketball (to make up for disappointing the boys dahil minalas ako sa pag-draw lots). Only the first wish was granted .. pero ok na iyon. Siguro, abuso na and masyado na akong malakas kay Lord pag-nagkatotoo lahat iyon.

If you have read a previous blog of mine, I wrote that I joined a number of competitions and made a fervent wish na sana ma-champion ako/kami sa kahit isa lang man sa sinalihan ko na competition. I joined cheerdance, legal pictionary, badminton and bottles and straws. Competition din ba ang grievance? hehe

I know that our performance in cheerdance was splendid, awesome, fabulous! Unfortunately, second lang kami. Well, respeto na lang sa judges' decision. I'm pretty sure it was a close fight. Akala ko, eto na iyong machampion ako .. hehe. Pero kung ako ang judge, champion jud kami sa cheerdance - synchronization, originality (skipping rope and garter!!), level of difficulty (pinakamaraming lifts, may helicopter pa!!) and costume (out of this world!). Happy na ako sa reactions na nakuha right after the competition, seeing our teachers' and friends' reaction. Happy na ako na proud mom and dad ko sa performance namin na ilang gabi rin ako late mag-uwi .. hehe (pinanood nila sa video). Happy na rin ako kasi nalingaw ako sa mga kasama ko .. hindi lang sa pagpractice, pati sabay pa magdinner. In the end, gusto ko talaga lingaw lahat ang gawin. Pag nanalo, konsuwelo na iyon. Pagnatalo, at least, nalingaw ako :) And with all honesty, I really had fun joining the cheerdance competition .. promise! No regrets, as always do when I decide to do something.

Second kami sa badminton. Improved kasi third kami last year. But I knew we had that chance jud. Hindi lang talaga nakahabol sa deciding match, sa deciding pa talaga ako :)

Second din kami sa Legal Pictionary. Improvement din kasi third kami last year. History repeats itself talaga pag sa Legal Pic. Kung ano ang naexperience ng First Year ngayon, ganun din ang first year last year and iyong time na first year ako. Kung ano ang naexperience ng Second Year ngayon, ganun din the past two years. And for the past 3 years na I have been joining Legal Pictionary, fourth year talaga ang panalo. So, sana first na kami next year .. puhon 4th year na kami :)

And anong contest na sinalihan ko ang champion? Bottles and straws ... tadaa! Happy ako kasi parlor games siya and this is my first parlor game and my first champion na win. Career kasi nag-shorts jud ko .. hehe! Medyo close fight at first with the second year, pero nung nagka-error sila .. sirit-sirit nami. Next year uli .. hehe :)

Grievance? Of course, hindi talaga to competition. As much as possible, we try not to file any complaint. But when push comes to shove, when the wrong buttons are pushed, we just have to make a point. Even if we noticed something on the first day, no one heard anything from us. The marathon was controversial (as always). Lo and behold, a complaint was filed against us the next day. It was a complaint which was never raised right after the competition and involving one person whom his sportsmanship should never be doubted.

So, come parlor games time, when our team saw some loopholes, we filed complaints (yes, with an S). For us, we just want to make a point. We just wanted to submit what we have (video cam, digicam, laptop) and let the committee decide. In the end, each party can defend theirselves before the committee. We were not after the points because we believe we were quite ahead (modesty aside). Just as they had the right to file the first complaint, so did we. Hindi naman iyon personalan. And for those who felt that it was personal, I apologize if that was your understanding because it was never my intention.

I felt sad that there were some who might have felt offended. Right from the very beginning, I never stopped nor influenced nor discouraged anyone from playing during the conflicts whatever level they may be. I tried to be straightforward to those whom I can talk to and had opportunity to talk to. And before anything was discussed before the committee, I personally talked to the persons concerned. It just so happens that the persons involved were the ones I knew.

Grievance or no grievance, we were the over-all champions! I am happy and so proud because it was really a team effort. I can't think of any person who was not able to contribute, however minimal, to such victory. I was ecstatic because teachers were proud of us. I was joyful because the dynamics of the Conflict of Laws were once again changed. The tradition that second year students are usually the champions has been broken once again, the last time was around 3 years ago. Maybe it won't be a tradition after-all. The first year students were determined. The fourth year students gave all their best despite of their load. The second year students never gave up.

I am grateful because we played fair and square. To those who doubt, present your evidence because in my heart I knew we won because we were determined, disciplined, skilled and talented. We had faith in ourselves and we had faith in GOD!

Lastly, I am grateful because for the second time in law school, I had an average of more than 85% with no grade lower than 80, and as such, I was included in the Dean's List. I got an average of 87.01%. I will not hide the fact that I prayed for this one when I received my grades in three subjects. I felt that it was possible. Although I was not expecting because I had doubts as to the other subjects, I was really thinking that it was possible. I prayed that God will grant what I deserve :)

Not only that, I am also happy because 7 kami lahat third year na nasa dean's list. The other 6 are not just classmates/batchmates per se but they are those na I am quite close to so I can't help but feel really proud .. as in!

Yes, indeed, I am grateful :)