Kat's Notebook » self-help tips

Shopping in Japan

Katkat — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Shopping in Japan can be so expensive. VERY expensive. I love to go shopping especially for Asian clothes. I love Hongkong and Taiwan’s shopping because I can find unique items that had reasonable prices. With Japan, everything was expensive. Food souvenirs/ingredients, clothes, anime stuffs, and crafts. It’s a bit disappointing really because I’m not the one who would pay something so pricey just for clothes. When I shop, I usually canvass the prices first before deciding to buy something. Unfortunately with my tight schedule, I ended up not buying things that I liked because I wasn’t able to go back to the places where I saw it was cheap. So when I got back to the States, I had regrets not buying some of those stuffs I saw.

Here is the 4-1-1 of shopping in Japan:

1. Not all are made in Japan. The clothes and boots are not made in Japan. Some figurines or crafts are made in China so be very careful when buying these stuffs. Make sure that you see a stamp Made in Japan if you really want Japan-made items.

2. Do not canvass for prices except if you’re comparing prices of different shops in ONE area only. Once you leave the place, chances are you won’t be able to go back there so better buy the items you like in that place already.

3. Buy your gift items (eg. figurines, ceramic stuffs) in or near the temple. When you visit the temple, most likely you’ll find stalls selling souvenir stuffs. They have cheaper prices and have more homemade or personal feel and carry more stuffs than those in department stores.

4. There is no haggling. Price range of many items are not far from each other.

5. Daiso or 100Yen Shop is nice if you want to find some things that you normally won’t pay much for. But a lot of the items here are made in China. Stuffs I bought here were laundry net bag and a sack bag as additional luggage space.

6. Prices do differ from one store to another. When I went to Kappa Bashi street, I bought this baking strainer for 945Y. Then when I went to another store after that, it was 890Y. 3 stores down it was 600Y! Grrr… The same can be said in the stores lining up the Kiyomizudera temple. I was eyeing this cats figurine and I saw that the prices varied from 3000Y to 3500Y. I bought the 3000Y figurine on my way down from the temple.

7. Department stores have very expensive items especially clothes. So I went to Harajuku St. (Takeshita Dori St.) to buy my clothes, the lowest price was at 1900Y. Most of the stores in Harajuku offer the same stuffs so what you buy from one store is the same in another store next to it even the price! Another good store is G.U. They said Uniqlo was cheap but I found it expensive for the value of basic clothes (eg. a plain sweater was at 2900Y). I’d rather buy basic clothes in the States.

8. Food souvenirs are best bought in the airport. It’s tax free and you won’t have to worry about it spoiling immediately since you’re buying it the day you’re leaving. I bought Kyoto’s delicacy tsukuhashi, in Isetan, Kyoto because the sales people there said it can only be found in Kyoto. I bought them at 525Y with tax. But in the airport it was only 500Y!

9. Original anime stuffs are really pricey. Astro Boy shirts was at 3045Y (airport at 3900Y) while sweaters at 5400Y. Make sure to look for Made in Japan label.

10. Japanese household products or ingredients can be easily found in the grocery stores.

11. Stores usually open at around 10am and closes at 8-9pm.

Have expectations that the prices in Japan are really expensive. However the only thing that matters is how much you are willing to pay for the value of that item, right? Have fun shopping!

Skin tone and colors that work best with it

Katkat — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:42:00 +0000

Sometimes despite having a good outfit I still feel that I don’t look good enough. I feel pasty and blah. When a friend mentioned about dressing up according to my skin tone, I was intrigued. There is a rule that some colors complement well with specific skin tone. Somehow I have failed to grasp this early on and I have been buying the wrong clothing color and makeup color for myself.

Here’s the how to complement your skin tone with your clothing and makeup:

1. Figure out if you’re cool-toned or warm-toned. Warm skin tones range from yellowish to even golden-bronze while cool skin tones are pinkish, pale or even bluish at times.

Silver or gold? Find two swatches of both gold and silver, either cloth or jewelry. Stand under a natural light source (eg. daylight). Compare the swatches in either arm. The hand that appears to have a healthy, bright glow is the winner. The other color will make your skin appear pastier.

Vein-reading. Take a good look of your veins on the underside of your arm. If the vein looks green, then it connotes warm skin tone. If it appears bluish, you most likely have a cool tone.

Tan check. If you’re lazing under the sun on a beach, notice how your skin reacts. When you tan easily, it means you’re warm toned. If you burn easily like a lobster, then you’re cool-toned.

Pony tail test. pull all your hair back away from the face in a pony tail or with a headband and thoroughly cleanse the face. Place a white towel or cloth around your neck and shoulders, if you face looks more yellow this would indicate a warm skin tone, whereas a bluish reflection would mean a cool skin tone.

It’s in the eyes. In general, people with hazel, amber, brown, or black eyes and brown, black, strawberry blond, or red hair have warm skin tones, while those with blue, gray, or green eyes and blond, black, or brown hair have cooler pigmentation.

2. Maybe you’re neutral skin toned. Neutral skin tones are those with no obvious overtones of olive, sallow, or pink. If after doing the above tests you are still unable to determine your skin type, you may fall into the neutral skin tone. Neutral skin tones can wear any color and look great, however neutral skin tones may lean towards either warm or cool. For instance, a neutral skin tone can look great in a warm color and fabulous in a cool color or vice a versa.

3. Choose your color palette.

Warm skin toned: consider earth colors either crisp or muted. Normally those with a warm skin tone look great in sage greens, gold, mochas, and bronzes. For a softer color try peach, apricot yellow.

Cool skin toned: Consider rich, true colors. These would include black, navy, red, shocking pink, rich raspberries, deep emerald greens, royal blue, plums or pure black. Additionally wear icy tones instead of pastels for a lighter color. Cool skin tones should avoid beige, orange and gold.

Even choosing nail polish color applies the same rule.

4. Make sure you have a good foundation. The goal is to use foundation to neutralize whatever overtones are present with a neutral- to slightly yellow-toned foundation, thus matching the skin’s natural undertone. Why a slightly yellow undertone? Because skin color, more often than not, always has a yellow undertone: that’s just what the natural color of melanin tends to be.

For the most part, regardless of your race, nationality, or age, your foundation should be some shade of neutral ivory, neutral beige, tan, dark brown, bronze brown, or ebony, with a slight undertone of yellow but without any obvious orange, pink, rose, green, ash, or blue. Adding those shades to a foundation is never flattering and can look obvious and contrived. Keep in mind these rules are only guidelines. If you like a shirt wear it despite these rules!

sources: new-love makeup, women to beauty, wikihow, perfectlocks

Emergency Supply Kit 101

Katkat — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:57:00 +0000

In lieu of the recent earthquake/tsunami/nuclear leak crisis in Japan, it is most important to prepare ourselves for a disaster at any time. Even with my CERT training, I feel that I would still be overwhelmed when disaster strikes. Compounded to that, none of my family members know how to respond during an emergency and I have no initiative to prepare an emergency kit for us. So basically I think we’re doomed. My boss has given me a print-out copy of a 3-day survival kit published by the Fire Department of Redwood City. I share this to you so that you’ll be well-equipped just in case disaster happens.

The kit can be customized to your own needs. This list will guide you as checklist in building your own survival kit.

Three Day Survival Kit

    * Water- 1 gallon per person per day, preferably one week. Store in air tight containers and replace it every six months.
    * Water Purification kit. Iodine tablets or chlorine bleach (eight drops per gallon to purify water if necessary).
    * First aid kit – with bandages and disinfectants.
    * Food. Enough for 72 hours, preferably one week.
    * Food for pets
    * Can opener (non-electric)
    * Blankets or sleeping bags
    * Portable radio. Most telephones will be out of order or limited to emergency use. The radio will be your best source of information.
    * Flashlight and spare batteries. Keep flashlights beside your bed and in several other locations. CAUTION: DO NOT use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are certain there are no gas leaks.
    * Essential medications
    * Extra pair of eyeglasses
    * Fire extinguishers. Your fire extinguisher should be suitable for all types of fires. Teach all family members how to use it.
    * Cash
    * Sturdy shoes
    * Heavy gloves
    * Candles (only after checking that there are no gas leaks)
    * Light sticks
    * Extra change of clothing and shoes
    * Knife and razor
    * Tent
    * Camping stove or barbecue. CAUTION: Ensure there are no gas leaks before you use any kind of fire as a cooking source and never use charcoal indoors.
    * Axe, shovel, broom, hand saw
    * Adjustable or pipe wrench for turning off gas and water.
    * Rope, tape, staple gun
    * Baby supplies. Have at least a week’s supply of medications and food for infants and those with special needs.
    * Soap
    * Waterless hand sanitizer
    * Toilet paper
    * City map
    * Sand bags (may be picked up at the Redwood City Corporation Yard)

Disaster Preparedness Training

Looking for a good carry-on luggage

Katkat — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:03:00 +0000

When I travel I usually have my purse, big check-in luggage, and a balikbayan box (if I’m going to the Philippines). After having travelled a lot a couple of months ago, I discovered that I needed a good carry-on luggage because my purse couldn’t stash a lot of stuff. I tried a duffel bag but it was weighty and bulky especially walking around the airport. A backpack was the same too but it was good bag to keep a laptop. And most of the time checking in my luggage meant more time spent on the airport to check it in and retrieve it later. Sometimes for me time is of the essence.

IMHO, a good carry-on luggage must be light and spacious, durable, easy to tote around, and under the restriction size limit of 22" x 14" x 9" (may vary for different airlines). I’ve never spent on a luggage before. Purses of course but luggage, no. What would be the typical budget for a carry-on luggage? What would be a good investment?

I went to Ross and TJ Maxx the other day and saw they had good selections of carry-on luggage in different fun colors. As I inspect each one of them, I was delighted to test their lightness and easy mobility. I’m a sucker for luggage with wheels. I found that these two qualities were my top requirements for a luggage. When I went to Taiwan I had a check-in luggage which was a bit heavy in its structure. I was surprised that I had only packed a few items in it and still I went over the weight allowed for a check-in baggage thus accruing excess weight fee.

Here are my checklist for a good carry-on luggage:

1. lightweight

2. with good wheels

3. spacious but compact – with lots of compartments too

4. durable

Other extras would be:

1. with TSA lock

2. case can be expanded

3. fun design

Enjoy free city tours in your next flight!

Katkat — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:29:00 +0000

Travelling by airplane can be a stressful trip. When I go to and fro the US and the Philippines, I usually spend 16 hours on air. In the past, I wouldn’t have a problem with it but now I truly dread flying for a long time. It’s just that I feel uncomfortable inside the plane and sometimes I get motion-sickness. It doesn’t help when there are lots of crying kids making sleep impossible and the movie selection is bad or when there’s bad turbulence. In spite of these unfavorable conditions, I would still choose to fly with a stopover rather than fly direct. I think a straight long flight will make me insane!

Stopovers are usually 3-10hours. In the past, you can circle the entire airport terminal during a long stopover. I usually pass the time reading a book. Now there’s wi-fi spots, good duty free shops, lounge areas for those who are waiting for their next connecting flight. Just recently I discovered that some cities are allowing free city tour during a long stopover. These are usually for those countries’ major airplane carriers. Among the countries that offer this exciting service are: Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and Singapore.

I have just found out that my return ticket to the US will have a 10-hour stopover in Taipei, Taiwan. Although I have plans on travelling to Taiwan before I return back to the US, I think I will still avail of this free city tour when I make my stopover in Taipei. For my next year trip to the Philippines I plan to take advantage of Korea’s free city tour. City tours are provided by the country itself especially if you book with the country’s major airline. Example: Eva Airways or China Airlines for Taipei, Asiana Airlines or Korean Air for Korea, Turkish Airlines for Turkey, and any carrier with more than 5 hours stopover in Singapore.

Tips in taking advantage of the free city tour:

1. Ask your local agent if the stopover city has free city tour and if they can arrange it for you days before your flight schedule. This way your slot in the free city tour may be reserved. Do not attempt to go to the city and just head on to the city tour on your own because you’ll lose a lot of time asking questions and finding out the answer.

2. Make sure to find out any required documents eg. visa before you can tour that city.

3. Allot ample time to go back to the airport – 2 hours for customs or security.

4. Make sure you’re only carrying light baggage/handbags to make your city tour convenient. But you can also rent out airport lockers to stow away your carry-on.

5. If you’re planning to buy something or eat in the city, prepare the city’s currency. Exchange your money ahead of time.

I wish many countries offer this free city tour option. It’s good for the country’s tourism. Well for me, I’m definitely going to seize this opportunity and make the most of my travel.

Have a safe and fun trip!

If you ever drop by the Philippines…

Katkat — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:02:00 +0000

I’m commenting on this Inquirer article about “25 THINGS TO DO IN THE PHILIPPINES” written by Jill Lejano. I’m born and raised here in the Philippines. I’m a city girl at heart but my heritage and school upbringing have enabled me to travel beyond Metro Manila. Ever since I’ve migrated to the US, I’ve always wished that I have visited and experienced a lot of the beautiful places found in my home country. But I thank God for every opportunity that He has given me to be able to enjoy my beautiful country.

As Jill Lejano wrote in her article, here are 25 things you can do in the Philippines. Make them your travel bucket list and collect a lot of wonderful memories.

1. Go white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro – not on my top priority as I think nothing will beat the rapids in Merced River, California.

2. Visit Batanes – I super would love to go to this place. I hope there are many local airlines chartering flights to and from here and Manila. A 10k airfare can be a bit daunting when you still have to pay for lodging and tours. Before going to this place, check out the weather as this is usually hit by typhoons.

3. See Mt. Mayon up close.

4. Swim with the whale sharks in Donsol.

5. Climb Mt. Pulag and be awed by its sea of clouds – check! I was able to stand on top of this place when I was travelling to Sagada. The clouds are majestic!

6. Dive, swim and explore Palawan’s underground river – I’ll be travelling to Coron first. Puerto Princessa will be next as I would love to experience the underground river ride.

7. Hike and let the view of Mt. Pinatubo crater take your breath away – one of my adventure to-do list is to walk on a volcano crater.

8. Party in your bikini in Boracay – I’ve been to Boracay when I was younger so maybe it’s time to go there again with my bikini.

9. Surf’s up! Choose your wave—La Union, Zambales or Real, Quezon – I’m unfortunately not a surfer.

10. Missed out on the pristine beauty of Boracay 15 years ago? Visit Malapascua, Cebu – My dad is from Cebu and we always vacation there during summer. Our grandma’s house is locater near the beach and it’s pretty but I don’t know if Malapascua is better.

11. Dive and see the rich marine life of Anilao, Batangas – I love snorkelling!

12. Travel back in time—go to Vigan.

13. Let Bohol wow you with its many offerings—the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier, the Loboc River Cruise, old churches and the beach.

14. Go high! Drive to the Mountain Province of Sagada. Check out the caves, the hanging coffins and enjoy the laidback lifestyle – I did!!! Check out my experience.

15. Grab a Viaje del Sol map, visit Ugu Binyan’s pottery studio, eat at Kusina Salud and unwind at Casa San Pablo – ok, where is this place?

16. Spend an entire week up north. Take a road trip from Manila to Vigan, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Aparri and Isabela!

17. Try wakeboarding in Camsur – not interested with wakeboarding but I would love to go to Camsur. If you’ve travelled and enjoyed Palawan, you would love Camsur too!

18. Check out Malate, Old Manila and all their secret spots – this is where my university is located. In my school days, my friends and I will walk Malate street on a balmy evening in search of a place to eat and hang out.

19. There are many reasons to love Davao. Kublai’s artworks, its proximity to the beach, the tasty pastil and juicy suha. And did I mention that it’s a smoke-free city? – I was here for only a day during a medical-dental mission. We went to this popular beach place and then went back to the city and bought fruits even the smelly durian!

20. Spend a weekend roughing it in Anawangin and Capones in Zambales – I love adventurous travels but I also love my comfort so…I don’t think I’m a camp-y girl.

21. Check out our colorful fiestas and document them with your camera. Ati-atihan, Dinagyang, Masskara, Sinulog, Higantes, Panagbenga and more – I was able to enjoy the Pahiyas at Quezon!

22. Pick your own strawberries at the Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet – thanks to my aunts, parents, I was able to enjoy this activity when I was younger.

23. Go to Pampanga for sisig – not a sisig fan but…

24. If it’s too hot in Manila, grab a few friends and take a quick trip to Tagaytay – Tagaytay is a quick getaway from the busy and polluted metro. I have enjoyed dining, swimming, and buying fruits here. I wish I could go down the Taal lake.

25. Enjoy a food trip in Iloilo. You’ll never go hungry in this city – food? I’m game!

There are still lots of places to go since there are over 7100 islands in the country. But you ever drop by the Philippines, these are the things you can do. Have a great adventure. Mabuhay!

No related posts.

Philippine Dental Board Exam part 4

Katkat — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 10:34:33 +0000

After the practical exam, examinees usually wait for few weeks before the results come out. Because it’s December and people move faster than usual, the Boards has released the results earlier than expected. Call it their Christmas gift to us. The list of the successful board passers are here.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 251 out of 787 (32%) passed the Dentist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Dentistry in Manila this December 2010. The results were released in three (3) working days after the last day of examinations. The members of the Board of Dentistry are Dr. Daniel G. Feraro, Chairman; Dr. Melinda L. Garcia, Dr. Gloria M. Bumanlag, Dr. Steve Mark G. Gan and Dr. Rannier F. Reyes, Members.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on Monday, January 3, 2011 but not later than January 19, 2011. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 1 piece 1" x 1" picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps, and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession; and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2011-2014. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees in the said examination as well as the previous ones who have not taken their Oath of Professional will be held before the Board on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 1:30 in the afternoon at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. STRICTLY BUSINESS ATTIRE FOR ALL SUCCESSFUL EXAMINEES.

Selling of oathtaking tickets will be from January 3, 2011 until January 25, 2011 only.

The successful examinees who garnered the top 10 places in the Dentist Licensure Examination December 2010 are

1 PIA DELA CRUZ BRIONES UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 85.12
2 JEFALYN MAE SALOMON GARCIA UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO
84.04
2 LEONIDA PASCUA GARCIA UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 84.04
3 DINDO AGUSTIN RABINO UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 83.67
4 ARIANE TORRERES SADIANG-ABAY UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 83.33
5 MA FATIMA BERNALDEZ DOLOR UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 83.24
6 ANDRIANNE ANG GOMEZ UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 83.18
6 JOANNA BLESS TAGO YAP CEBU DOCTORS UNIVERSITY 83.18
7 KATRINA PE LO UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 83.17
8 ROXANNE DELA PIERRE DONATO UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 83.10
9 ULYSSES CATACUTAN PATALINGHUG UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA 82.84
10 REUEL CUCIO BEATRIZ ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 82.65

Congratulations to the newly licensed dentists!!! To God be the glory!

Philippine Dental Board Exam part 3

Katkat — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:27:00 +0000

After the 3-day theoretical exam, results in the theo part came out the week after. PRC officially released the scores Thursday Dec. 9. Our theoretical exam ended on Friday, Dec. 4. Scores were given to examinees only, no proxy. Bring your NOA or ID to verify your name. If you pass the theo part, then you can proceed to paying for the practical exam. Practical exam cost 400php in PRC. Then a separate payment to the assigned school, which cost 7400php.

I went to PRC on Friday to get my results and pay for the fee. Payment at PRC had a deadline because they need to release the school assignment on Monday of the following week. Practical exam was usually divided into 3 batches of examinees. But out of 1200 examinees who took the theoretical only 250 examinees passed and were cleared for the pracs. So instead of 3 batches there were only 2. The pracs was scheduled for Dec 14-15 (1st batch) and Dec 16-17 (2nd batch). On Monday however, PRC hadn’t released the room assignation yet. We were worried because the 1st batch of examinees were due to take the exam the following day and they still needed to pay for the school fee and attend the school exam orientation. PRC didn’t release the school assignment online. They just posted it outside the building that day after lunch hour.

For the practical exam, 1st day would be: Restorative Dentistry and FPD, Radiographic Interpretation, and RPD. 2nd day was a 6-hour Complete Denture task. Grab a copy of the PRC schedule and requirements for pracs in the PRC building when you pay for the PRC fee. Examinees were not allowed to go out once inside the clinic room. Bring your pack lunch with you and all the things you need for the exam. Important too is bring your NOA and payment receipts for the school fee.

In the Radiographic Interpretation part, we were guided to go to a room where slide presentation of the radiographic image of the problem was presented. There were objective and situational problem questions. The proctor gave us an answer sheet where we would put our answers and a scratch paper for our notes. Erasures were not allowed in the answer key so make sure you’re certain with your answers before writing them down. Each slide had 2 questions (eg. 1. a and b questions) and it remained in the screen for only 30 seconds. After the 10 questions were presented we were given few seconds before the slides were replayed so we could review and finalize our answers. After the 2nd slide presentation ended, the proctor had us submit the answer key immediately not allowing us to write anymore.

They said practical results will come out the following week on Dec 23rd. We’ll see. I’ll keep you posted!

Tips for the exam:

1. Pray. Pray for skills, presence of mind, and strength.

2. Practice a lot beforehand. As my friend said, your hands will have memory of what to do if your brain fails you.

3. Rest your hands two days before the exam. You don’t want your hands sore during the exam which can affect your tooth preparations.

4. Eat a hearty breakfast before the exam. You will need all the energy for CD because you won’t have time to eat lunch or take a pee if you are lagging behind (like me!).

5. Time yourself. Pace yourself really well because time can pass by so quickly. Even though I had a game plan for my CD task, I still ended up taking too much time on unimportant things so I crammed in the important things like teeth set up and festooning. I didn’t finish my festooning well.

6. Cleanliness is a big factor. First impression lasts so make sure your work is really clean. I didn’t finish my CD task well because I was out of time. But I made sure that my work was very clean. Even though I didn’t have a good festooning, my ocr, mounted casts, and teeth set-up were neat and clean.

7. Make sure you have everything you need and prepared in front of you. Anticipate problems. I should have bought another alcohol torch but I was stingy and unfortunately during the exam, my alcohol torch got busted. So I have to improvise.

8. Safety first. Don’t let panic or nervousness get to you. Don’t compromise your safety for the sake of passing the exam. My alcohol torch was leaking and I still used it (because I had no other choice) but I used it cautiously not wanting to burn myself. Use gloves especially handling amalgam. It’s sad to say that not many examinees in my room were using gloves when they were doing Restorative Dentistry (of course there’s no live patient) and we were required to fill our cavity preparations with amalgam. Mercury is hazardous so it’s better to wear proper protection.

9. Don’t get frustrated. Board examiners are at minimum looking for acceptable work. So if you stay clear of gross errors even with a not so perfect work, you will pass.

10. For Radiographic Interpretation, make sure you are seated in the front so you can see clearly the images. Some of my friends complained of incorrect answers because they couldn’t see well the image in the slide.

Philippine Dental Board Exam part 2

Katkat — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:42:00 +0000

The Dentistry board exam is set in 2 parts: written and practical. The written exam covers all the subjects of Dentistry and is taken for 3 consecutive days. About a week after the exam, you need to go back to PRC to find out if you pass the theoretical/written exam or not before you can proceed to the next exam, the practical exam.

I took my theoretical exam on Dec 1, 2 and 3, 2010. We were assigned at CEU building. 1st day: General and Oral Anatomy, Gen and Oral Pathology and Microbiology, and Restorative Dentistry and Community Dentistry; 2nd day: Prosthodontics and Dental Materials, Oral Surgery, Diagnosis and Dental Roentgenology, and Pharmacology and Anesthesiology; 3rd: Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Dental Jurisprudence and Ethics, and Periodontics and Endodontics. The first day, we were required to come in before 630am. The exam started at 8am. And they were strict with tardy examinees.

Each set of exam is 2 hours long, 100 questions, and has a 1 hour interval or break before the next exam. For me I usually finish 30 minutes before the exam, that way I can study for the next subjects. The room I was assigned in was not conducive for thinking. It was darn cold and the air from the a/c unfortunately is directed at me, at that spot where I was sittting. Thankfully the proctors were considerate to move me far from the a/c because they saw me sniffling bad. (I was also sick that time). After the exam, I look for my fellow schoolmates and seat with them to study and eat before we tackle on the next exam.

Even though I have asked my friends who have previously taken the exam about where the questions will be coming from, each exam cycle is different. Sure PRC recycles the questions but it won’t be the same ones that were asked on the previous exam last May 2010. Anyway for this Dec 2010 cycle, I’m not going to post the exam questions here because I got into trouble the last time I did that and besides the PRC had us sign a contract that we couldn’t take anything away from the exam or else we’ll be prosecuted. So I suggest to read up on Wells and Decks and other reference books that can help you understand those 2 review books. Samplex are important too and you can devote the last month before the exam on them.

Bring 2 black pens, 2 #2 pencils, eraser, and your NOA to the exam. Even though it’s noted that you cannot bring review materials, bags or cellphones in the exam room, these are allowed actually. But before the start of the exam you are asked to put your things in front of the room.

TIPS FOR THE EXAM:

1. Pray before you start each exam. Prayer works because our God answers prayers! Also give a prayer of thanks after each exam!

2. Bring jacket, tissue paper (if you sneeze a lot), a water bottle, small candy when you take the exam. If you have trouble with your seat spot, you can ask the proctor nicely to have you moved. Take a restroom break before the exam starts.

3. Brush up on samplex just before the exam.

4. Make sure you have food in your stomach because your brain needs fuel!

5. Listen carefully to the instructions of the proctor, read carefully the instructions on the questionnaire and answer key sheet before you start answering. It is imperative that you don’t mess up your answer key sheet because PRC has consequence for that.

6. Do not panic. No need to be nervous. You know that you studied well and you know that your God is bigger than your worries so just stay calm and focus on your exam.

7. Read the questions carefully. Encircle or mark all those important phrases or words like “except”, “most likely”, “advantage”, “disadvantage”, and etc to help you answer correctly. You can make plenty notes in your questionnaire paper. I even doodled on it. Hehe

8. The exam is multiple-choice. It is most helpful to do “process of elimination”. Write down all the items associated with each choice and from there correlate it with the question then you can eliminate the unrelated choices so you can arrive to the correct answer.

9. Do not rush your exam. Think each question thoroughly. Go through the whole test twice or thrice or four times. Do not be distracted if other examinees are already done and have passed their answers. Take your time because your exam is allocated for 2 hours. I usually finish in 1 and 1/2 hour having reviewed the entire test twice or sometimes thrice.

10. Expect a lot of typographical error, syntax error, incomplete sentences, etc. You really need to push your brain into figuring out what the question is really asking. I had the most frustrating experience with that with the Ortho/Pedo exam questions.

11. Do not answer immediately on your answer sheet. I suggest you answer first in the questionnaire before you shade your answers in the answer key. It’s hard to erase in the answer key and it can also result to invalidation of your test.

12. After each exam, try not to dwell on previous mistakes or questions or answers but try to focus studying for the next exam. Ask your other fellow examinees for clarification of any subject for your next exam. You may never know that it’ll come out in the exam. And a lot of times it does!

Just remember when studying for the exam: the more important thing than taking the exam is to be able to learn further and to acquire knowledge more which will help you when you go out and start practicing.

God bless!

A possible great shoes!

Katkat — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:22:00 +0000

One day when I tagged along with my cousin to Rustan’s, I saw this intriguing pair of shoes. Actually I’ve seen it before on my sister’s best friend. She was wearing this very casual yet high-end looking flats which from my point of view looks really uncomfortable. When I tried it on at Rustan’s though I was surprised that it’s very comfortable and the sole is well-cushioned. It’s priced at around 2500php. Not bad for a designer-label shoes.

I’ve always been searching for flats. I seem to like flats better than open-toe sandals. It complements my age better than wearing a pair of Converse All-Star sneakers where I come out looking like a kid. A pair of flats can wear better and travel better than a pair of high-heeled shoes. I reserve my stilettos for parties while my flats are my go-to shoes. I’ve bought several pair of flats already and many pairs I don’t wear often because it cause foot blisters. I always end up wearing sneakers to escape possible foot injury.

“I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty.”
Imelda Marcos

Back to my discovery, the pair of jelly flats I’ve seen are called Melissa Flats. It’s been in the market for I-don’t-know-how-long. I’ve tried looking for where I can buy it online, but not much stores are carrying it. Melissa flats are made from Brazil (where Havaianas came from). The Campana brothers who created the jelly flats work under the Melissa Company which specializes in revolutionary plastic shoes. Their vision is to present Melissa as “an object of desire for Brazilian and foreign consumers, sold in the most important boutiques around the world”. Since when have jelly stuffs become a sustainable fashion? Remember the jelly bags fad from before? Pondering back, I couldn’t see why I joined that bandwagon.

So what makes this shoes special? Every Melissa shoe is made in Brazil from natural, ecologically and socially responsible materials. The shoes are injection-molded using a material the company developed called Melflex – an odorless, hypoallergenic, and neutral thermoplastic. The shoes themselves are completely recyclable, and the company recycles nearly all their byproducts. This results in almost zero waste products from their factory. These shoes are durable, water resistant and surprisingly chic, despite their incredibly utilitarian construction. Vivienne Westwood, a famous fashion designer, has even put her spin on it. Celebrities wearing them look ultra-chic!

Well for me all I want is comfortable shoes. Style comes second. So if this fits the bill, I may be investing with quite a lot of pair of these shoes. And besides the company says it’s durable. The Melissa flats have evolved from the first Campana brothers design to different styles from different famous fashion designers. Don’t they look fun?

To find out more about these shoes, click here.