SMILE-ARKI REVAMPED: Ya Future Dentist is Back!

Hello again! Yes, I am finally back after 2 years of dormancy. My last post was dated June 28, 2016, two days before my birthday, and now I am writing this blog post again few days before my birthday this year. So yeah, 2 years. I've never even noticed it was already 2 years, but I do sincerely apologize if I wasn't able to update what was happening with my life for a very long time. 

Life, in dentistry specifically, is doing pretty good! Of course there were some few setbacks and negative experiences, but hey, there's always a silver lining in every cloud that may come your way. And I'm so excited to share to you guys (in pictures) all of those silver linings that you may have missed (If you weren't my facebook friend, or if we don't follow each other on instagram/twitter, you can always add me through all my social media! [all the links are there on top of this page!] Just tell me you came from this site, and I'll gladly answer if you have something to ask about anything under the sun)

Okay then so before anything else, as the title says, I have revamped a few features from this blog, such as the About me, Contact details, and I have decided to change my usual closing line from "Don't forget to wear your smile" to "Always wear your smile". For you the two statements might not have much of a difference, but for me the latter's better since it shifted from negativity of forgetting to something positive such as always remembering to wear a smile. 

Positivity has become my mantra, it's what keeps me sane, it's what keeps me going and doing everything I do to grow and develop. Before I started to revamp my blog, I have updated my CV, which I have also added to the links bar, there above this page. 

Alright so without further hanash, (without further ado for non-Filipino readers). Here's a summary of my life for the past 2 years.

July 2016

This was when my mum decided to transfer our condo unit because the other one has a bad location according to feng shui, which my family strictly follows. The unit area was smaller so I had to plan and measure everything, then plan the arrangement in a way that will not violate feng shui, lol. 

August 2016

Ahhh, this was the first time I felt like I was becoming a dentist. I even kinda felt how my mum would feel when she spends money on all of those dental materials she uses in her clinic. (Even if I didn't buy them using my own money haha)

October 2016

Ahhh, my college squad, this was during the 2016 acquaintance party! You know, one of the best advice I can give in surviving college is for you to find your squad. A squad which you can get along with very well, you could laugh together, cry together, or just always be there together for each other through highs and lows of college life. Finding a squad is very important, I can't even imagine going through college alone without them. 

November 2016

This was the time when everyone was panicking and hurrying to finish the remaining RESTO2 & FPD requirements, but I still can't remember how I was still able to take a pic of my work, lol.

December 2016

I'm home in Davao finally! I got to eat my all time favorite siomai platter fromMandarin Tea Garden again. Yum!

January 2017

Finished the last requirement for FPD! Gosh I was so happy.

February 2017

Another set of expensive school requirements, bought c/o parents' money. :(

March 2017

Ortho requirement. Yep, that's my skull over there.

April 2017

Finally the 2nd to the last RESTO2 requirement done and approved!

May 2017

At last, RESTO2 I'm free!

June 2017

Batch outing! In my classmate's hometown.

July 2017

This was the first time I was surrounded by so many dogs and cats, literally raining coming at you! The dog right here, was the cutest one for me.

August 2017

Another set of expensive dent stuff.

September 2017

Another one checked off my bucket list: To eat in a buffet, ALONE. I remember being so stressed in school, the kind of stress that I've never felt before. So I wanted to eat like A LOT, but every single person I invited were too tired to even eat, that's why I resorted to doing this haha. I have no regrets at all.

October 2017

This was when I was elected as an officer of the Philippine Dental Students Association - National Executive Board. The best thing that has happened to my 2017, so far. 

November 2017

Yep, that's THE Dr. Bobby Pangan. He got both DMD, and MD degrees, plus a PhD! That's Dr raised to the power of 3 for this UPCD Alumnus. Such an honor to be able to have a photo with him.

December 2017

Another one checked off of my bucket list. The scariest thing I've done so far in my life.

January 2018

Back to reality again, studied in this then newly opened Starbucks in Diosdado Macapagal. Biggest coffeeshop I've been thus far in terms of area.

February 2018

One of the first few food pictures, when my IG suddenly turned into a mini foodie blog. haha! This was in Tagaytay, of course I was with my squad. And we were in the road for HOURS just to have the famous Bulalo.

March 2018

Another food post, the cheapest Unli-Korean samgyupsal ever! For just P299 you can eat all the pork and sides you want! + unli rice & unli drinks. [Update: Sadly, that was just their opening promo. So their prices are already the same as other Korean restaurant rates. Sorry, I havent been here since April cuz I'm tryina lose weight haha]

April 2018

LANY came to sing again for the Philippine fans! My squad already got the tickets as early as December 2017. [This is a video in my IG]

May 2018

This month is the best month of my life so far, I had to share 3 memories!

[1] I finally became part of the college student council for the longest time since 2014! I have been wanting to be in the council since the day I entered UP. <3 (How did I get to my dream school? Click the link below to know the whole story:
http://smile-arki.blogspot.com/2015/05/up-manila-dental-medicine-walkthrough.html)

[2] My first time to attend a National Dental Convention, not just as a participant, but as part of the organizing committee. This year wasn't just another convention (109th to be exact), but it's special, because it is also the 40th Asia Pacific Dental Congress. So delegates across Asia also came to the Philippines.

[3] Another first, to attend the Asia Pacific Dental Students Leadership Summit in Bangkok & Ayutthaya, Thailand. So happy to have made such unforgettable memories with my new international friends. Looking forward to future opportunities like this!

June 2018

Another batch outing. Sun-kissed. Lucky shot though. XD

So there you have it! If you have reached this far Mr/Ms Reader, I thank you sooo much, hope you enjoyed it tho. Aaand, I hope to be able to write another post very soon, I think it will be very likely 'cause I have noticed that I finished writing this way faster than the previous entries that I've posted here. Looks like my training in research methods came in handy haha. Speaking of, back to my research paper!

Until next time, and...
...Always wear your smile. :D
-E.R.Q.Y.

METAMORPHOSIS: FROM BEING A DAUNTLESS DMD INTO A SMILE ARKI(TECT)

met·a·mor·pho·sis

/ˌmedəˈmôrfəsəs/

[noun] definition: a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.

LOL. Did I get too serious? Is this what I’ve metamorphosed into? Nahh, it’s still me, I’m still the smiling dauntless dmd you guys knew for the past 2 years of blogging. But admit that for a sec, you thought, gahd look what UP did to this poor guy. 

Anyway, while we’re all assured that I haven’t changed in that aspect, there are some parts of me in fact, that have. And one of those is my very own blog domain/name. Wha-why architect all of a sudden? Well there’s a back story to that which I will be telling you guys in a while. But first, I’d like to share some of my unforgettable moments through photos of how great the past year has been for me. (because I owe you guys a lot for being away for like 9 months! Blame the school load ugh... and some extra-curricular stuff hi-hi-hi)

Sooo lets start yay!

Recap: Application for transfer!! Applicant #15 from DAVAO CITYYYY!! Lol 

(to see the story (both technical and personal) of the transfer process in full detail visit this link (click me: http://smile-arki.blogspot.com/2015/05/up-manila-dental-medicine-walkthrough.html)

[FAST FORWARD 2 MONTHS] Got accepted!! hihi

About 2 weeks before school officially started, my mum, sister and I already went to manila to fix everything. Below is an appreciation photo of my beloved school <3 (such a beauty, isn't it?)

And then, we got our school ID's! #SiblingGoals

UPM lyf day 1! \m/

The first time I bumped into Tiffy Uy from UP med who happens to be my condo floor mate! (So we always see each other at the elevator) She holds the highest GWA (1.004) in the history of post-WWII UP! Sucha legendary moment for me indeed.

Here we gooo. Class pics!

This was during our Initiation week. It's a college tradition actually where the freshies are being tasked to do random stuff by the upper batch. (Difficulty of tasks depend on their kindness level haha)

Class photoshoot for promotion of the acquaintance party. We, the freshies are also assigned to organize this event and the christmas party as well.

Not really the first day we wore our uniforms, but the first time all of us were already in our complete uniforms hihi. (Well kinda tho- insert Joshua Sy)

Batch 2019 goes to the National Museum to view the bolinao skull (yep, dentistry related)

(Now that's Joshua Sy right there, the one with the sling bag lol finally we're complete!)

look at those gold teeth

Now off to the acads for the 1st semester (minus the loooong & boring reading parts) I'm just gonn be showing you guys the fun parts of this sem. 

Wax carving of real human natural teeth

And then we mounted them into an articulator based on all the theoretical principles we've learned about oral anatomy & occlusion

[WARNING DENTAL JARGON] Making my first "impression" (double meaning)

And other people's too!

Then we made a cast out of those impressions.

Final requirement for the sem: Denture Making! 

-----end of 1st sem----

Annual UP Lantern Parade!

"With an overall score of 99.67%, the winner is... COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY."

Our lantern represented the Manila campus during UP Diliman's lantern parade.

Behold the UPCD winning lantern: With geometrically formed molar tooth covered in radiograph/xrays of teeth encircling a rotating oblation wearing a sablay made out of gold typodonts. *deep breathing*

----Start of Sembreak----

Flew back to my hometown to spend the holidays there. 

But of course the year 2015 wasn't all about acads, there will always be moments in our lives (the first ones in my case) when you just wanna throw all those handouts and unwind. (Lantern parade excluded, we worked for & manually pushed the lantern too ya know) So here are a few..

First time to witness the UAAP Cheerdance Competition live! #UPFight

First time strollin @ BGC lol

First time in Tagaytay! Ugh their bulalo is soooo good!

First time in Star City! I sure tried all the rides there. That's why i'm never gonn be back anytime soon, cuz i went home feeling all dizzy and nauseated. 

First dental mission!

Clinicians and profs doing their thang.

We on the other hand were assigned to do the oral health education for the kids.

And finally, my first ever conference on community health. Organized by the UP Medicine Regionalization Students' Organization & other Medicine student councils of different schools. They've got some bongga major sponsors tho, like Faber Castel & Zalora!

----Now off to the Second Semester of DDM1! Promise you this'll just be real quick na---

So we spent the whole sem at the most prestigious UP College of Medicine building. 

Taught by the best medical doctors. 

And sometimes by ourselves lang. Good thing the student to microscope ratio is 1:1

Human cadaver dissections also take place in this bldg.

And we just basically spent the rest of the semester learning how to drill teeth.

And of course! Unwinding will never be forgotten..

Kayak-ing at Puerto Galera

Played vball for the Dentistry team! Glad we made it to the semi-finals

At Trampoline Park

 

FOOD TRIPS

we ate pizza after pooling hihih

because #DU31 

Aaaand last but not the least, my first win on a raffle! This was during the Philippine Dental Students Association: Scientific Symposium. 

---end of 2nd sem---

So that was it. That's how my first year in UP went.
Sure it was tiring downloading and finding all these pics again (srsly blogger should allow the copy paste photo next time so that it would be less of a hassle) Anyway, at the same time, i was also emotional as i continue on completing this blog post.

Now if you have gotten up to this point, i'd have to thank and commend you for taking the time. Now lets get to the main point. What made me decide to do the rebranding? Two reasons.

1. Well, first of all, if you say the previous one out loud. What will you think? Ya think it's corny na right? I think so too. Before it was hawt because of that blockbuster divergent, but after 2 years? Mehh. And i kind of grown ashamed of it at times already, whenever a school mate, or worse a college mate ask me, "Hey, you're dauntless dmd right?". There was this guy from Pharmacy who wanted to shift to Dentistry & another girl from Laguna who wanted to transfer to UP Dent for Proper. They both asked me the same question when they saw me personally, and although i should feel more flattered, my responses are most likely leaning on to the ashamed side. So when i decided to make this move, i definitely figured out one that i wouldn't be shy of admitting to people that YEAH I'M THAT SMILE ARKI WOOH.

2. Second, Architecture was, is, and will always be my greatest frustration. My love for architecture started since gradeschool. I was fond of building & designing houses ever since The Sims ver. 1! I also loved to draw, i draw a lot! 'Til now. When i entered high school, my favorite subject was Geometry. See, this field has given me a lot of signs but i ended up choosing another one. Bec of personal reasons. I think mostly the financial assurance and security(?)
See, my mum has already established her dental practice for more than 25 years now. And i bet anyone will agree that Dentistry is the safest path to pursue. (Pls dont judge me for not taking the risk huhu) But then, i guess being an Archi/Arki wasn't meant to be. Dentistry after all, was the reason why i'm given the privilege (i use this term a lot) to study in my dream school.



So def no ragrets! (misspell intended) In fact, i'm very happy with who i've become thank you (Deshauna Barber, 2016) But it will always have a special place in my heart. Guess, it's really true that His plans, will always turn out to be the best.


close enough naman sa arki deva?

YASSS, this post is finally done! It took me about a day to finish. Plus all the distractions c/o Youtube and Facebook.


And for the last time, i'm Dauntless DMD ---

--- SMILE ARKI SIGNING IN!!

Hahaha. 'Til next time. Don't forget to wear your smile! :D

-E.R.Q.Y.