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.