#44: I LURVE PHYSICS
OPERATION 'I LURVE PHYSICS'
Subject: Ronald Allan 'Raphnobah' Habon
Target: UP Dept. of Physics Director [Unknown]
Accomplice: Mr. Habon [Daddy]
Mission: Convince target to accept subject in the Physics Department amidst intense revulsion on the subject's part because of DOST scholarship and everything
April 30, 2007
UP Diliman, Llamas Building
Waiting Area
1400 hours
Raphnobah: Dad, ayoko ng BS Physics!
Mr. Habon: Anak, kailangan mong mag-Physics. Hindi mo magagamit ang scholarship mo sa DOST kung hindi Physics ang kukunin mo.
RH: *insert telenovela music.* Ngunit papang, I want to Journ! I want to be released from these chains and soar high like a bird; to reach the skies with every word conjured by my plume; for my work to rise beyond ink and paper, to bring forth light and hope through every letter, every word, every line; and to transcend time immemorial. It is better to fail in what I love than to succeed in what I hate. I want to be independent, to be FREE!
MH: Shuttup boy!
RH: Kk
MH: Now, I want you to do this. You need to pretend that you love Physics. I've heard na picky ang Director dito. You need to convince him that you are an expert in the subject so that he'll accept you in this course. Wag mong sabihing magpi-Physics ka lang dahil sa scholarship. Do your best, soldier!
RH: Aye aye, sir! *Basta wag niya kong tanungin ng mga problems. hindi ko dala scientific calculator ko. Ha! As if.*
(enter director's room)
RH: *Sana naman kausapin nya ko ng Tagalog para mas madali. O kahit na Taglish. Grabeng struggle 'to pre!*
Director: *with a flourish. naks.* Good afternoon! I suppose you're *consults a piece of paper* Mr. Habon. Do sit down!
RH: *gulp*
MH&RH: *sit*
D: So, ano ang situation natin?
RH: Er, sir, kasi po I'm a DOST scholar.. I was given a list of subjects available here that coincides with the DOST course requirements.. and above them all... Physics... is the subject... that appeals to me the most... *vomits. hinde joke lang.*
D: So, Ronald, gusto mong mag-Physics?
RH: *taken aback* Well, I do sir.
D: Why so?
RH: Why, sir, I have quite some experience with it, and I do believe that Physics is a very, very interesting subject. *Yes, very interesting indeed.*
D: Interesting. In what way is Physics interesting?
RH: *perspiring* Uhm... Well, for one, I love how Physics explains such simple things in a different perspective. *Yeah, right, a much more difficult perspective.* It further explains how things work the way they are. There are also some concepts that enlightened me in some things, such as speed, velocity and the like, *speed! velocity! walang ibang maisep! Hahaha!* which were once too trivial to me. And for that I believe Physics is quite an intriguing subject I would like to try. *Whew! Dyahe*
D: *Impressed* Yes indeed. We then share the same view that Physics is an altogether alternate universe, are we not?
RH: *Oo na lang.* Yes, sir.
D: *Chuckles* Indeed. May I know what particular area in Physics are you most interested in?
RH: *Huh, anong area?!* Ah, sir... *Aha!* I'm most interested in Molecular Physics. We have studied about the alpha, beta and gamma decays in our last grading period, and I believe that I would like to know more about them. *Yuck! Ang stupid ng sinabi. Pero pwede na.*
D: I see. So, you want to be a Molecular Physicist when you grow up?
RH: Um, not really, sir... *Ano pa bang trabaho ang Physics related?! Erm... alam ko na!* I would very much like to be a Physics teacher! I-
D: *Biglang nag-outburst!* TEACHER?! But pwede ka ring maging teacher in other courses besides Physics!
RH: *Mommy!* But sir, -
D: Mr. Habon, there are many applications of Physics in our world today. It is not limited in the academe. You can be an industrial engineer, or a researcher, or a banker, you know, some banks apply Physics in their blah blah blah...
RH: Or in NASA! *Sabi ni Mr. Arcilla eh. Thanks Panda!*
D: Yes, you can say that. But other than that you can still be a quantum physicist, we alone have the most researchers in our department. You can also be an engineer like me. I myself am paralleled to blah blah blah... *puro mga technical terms na*
RH: *Tae, anung lengwahe na ginagamit nya? I-interrupt ko na...* Er, sir, I would only be a teacher in Physics while I'm taking a Masteral course. Probably i'll be a researcher. *Whatever na lang. Parang researcher lang ang tunog-madaling job sa Physics e. *
D: Hmm.. Yes, yes indeed, but you're going too far into the future, Mr. Habon. *Too far in the future, ikaw nga nagtanong kung anu ambition ko. Sheesh.* I would first give you a small introduction in this course. *Kumuha ng libro ng Physics, tapos binuksan niya. Tungkol sa mga transverse waves. Ayan! Alam ko yan!* Ganyan kahirap ang formulas na kailangang i-memorize sa Physics. You know that these are blah blah blah...
RH: *Nagdudugo ilong* Um.. sir, I think with time I would learn these formulas. From where I came from, they gave us some excellent ground topics in Physics, so I think it wouldn't be that very difficult for me to cope up..
D: Ah, I see... *Kinunsulta ung piece of paper* taga Manila Science High School ka pala. I imagine the teachers there in Physics are quite competent?
RH: *Mrs. Mallari... Mr. Arcilla... imagine... competent.* Yes, very much, sir.
D: Well, let me tell you one thing. We have students from Manila Science, Philippine Science, and Quezon City Science High School. All competent. Pero pagdating nila dito meron silang attitude. They think they know everything. Nagka-cut sila ng classes because they know the topice. Too late do they realize na iba ang college sa high school. Hindi na sila nakakapasa. Diri-diretsong 5 na ang nakukuha nila. Now I want you to avoid that attitude. Is that clear?
RH: *May grudge sa science schools?* Yes, sir.
D: *Sizing me up* Well Mr. Habon, I would very much like to have you on our college. *Yesss!* ...But before that let me show you what you're up against.
RH: *Sige na lang! Tapos na e!* Yes, sir.
D: *Kumuha ng papel* This is the Physics Department's syllabus. You would start with Math 17, and when you're done with that.. Math 54... you'll have Calculus even in summer... then you'll have a thesis... *O.A. Version. Pero malapit na rin sa katotohanan.*Then you'll have Super Physics and Ultra Math... then Hyper Calculus 500... you'll need to memorize every Physics book... You must abandon every free time and turn yourself into a neeeeerrrrrd.... Oh, once you fail to understand a unit, you'll never understand the next ones... it's a sequential process, Mr. Habon... you cannot afford to drop or fail a subject... you must pass them all... pass them all... *drone*
RH: *Horrified* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! *sa utak ko lang yan.* *Ngiti na lang, Allan. Paniwalain mo ang loko. Hahaha. *
D: So, Mr. Habon, are you up to the challenge?
RH: *Tae, anu ba 'tong pinasok ko..?* Yes, sir..
MH: Dat's my boy! *wink*
[MISSION COMPLETE]
