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When I got my flowchart and found there was Eleclit, my cousin automatically recommended me to take Dr. Baytan once "Gay Literature" is offered. He's not gay, but he understood the gender. I really look up to my cousin, but then again, I have other plans in mind. When I got the privelege of having an advance enrollment and arranged my flowchart, I plan to take ELECLIT. I was originally planning to have it on A52, so that all my subjects would be for the term is A52. But when I saw the remark, "Rowling", and there's no conflict on my schedule, I told myself, "GO GO GO!"

So there, the entire summer, I prepared. I re-read the first and second book to be ready for "war", and watched the movies too. I memorized the first movie lines just for kicks. Just like a normal student cramming for a report before the morning. But wait, how does someone like me liked, loved, and lusted (in a good way) the Harry Potter Septology? Here's a pensive.

On June 2002, I first had my Harry Potter book. It was the fourth book. I was age 11. It's a package sent to me by my aunt back there at the States. My subscription of National Geographic Kids just expired and she thought of something for me to read. With me entering what she call the "pre-teen years", I have to read something for pre-grown ups. That time, every American kid is talking and reading about it. While me, I was talking about Pokemon and Politics. I could remember my first reaction, "Ang kapal naman ng librong ito?! Di pa ako nakakabasa ng ganitong libro sa buong buhay ko, except Bible". I just finished reading the entire bible that time. The following Sunday, I went to the church with it. With "Ultra-conservative people", they say that anything that is Harry Potter serves as a "portkey of the devil". So as I young kid, I believed in it and kept it on my "childhood vault". After all, I haven't started reading it. So when April 2003 came, since I don't have anything to do for my right of passage, I took out the book, and what they say the rest is history.

So the night of May 25, I had a feeling that I may be EAF-ed (meaning what you enrolled for is not what you get). So I woke up early and arrived to school a few hours before it. I stayed in the TLS office only to find out being jinxing by my friends who failed to enroll at ELECLIT. So, when I arrived at M321, I heard a big guy that shouted so loud and said "Rowling! As in Harry Potter" (only to find out soon, it's Andre). So I entered the room, still I have the fear of having being EAF-ed. I don't know anyone, so I sat at the chair nearest the door. I really felt being alone at that time, until Kat Gancuangco of Malate came, and at least I know someone.

Then when Professor Sangil arrived, and asked if we know what we've enrolled for, it was a relief. So when I was handed the syllabus, and I say, "This term is gonna be NEWTs!" Then, she started distributing papers, to fill up an essay some sort, with questions I cannot easily answer that time. Yes, I've read the books and TBB. I've watched all the movies (by that time, it was only five) EXCEPT four (cause I abhor the F4 hair motif). My favorite character would always be - SIRIUS. But where to put me?! I really don't feel being Gryffindor because I'm not brave. I don't feel I'm for Ravenclaw because I'm too bobo for it. I don't want to be in Hufflepuff, for reasons that you know why. So I ended up choosing Slytherin, for the reason, yes, My surname starts with S, yes that shallow reason. Come on, I'm thrilled and excited!

After submitting the paper, Professor read aloud some statements, and yes, I got this first impression to be a "Pro-HP Anti-Twilight Brother to a Pro-Twilight Anti-HP Sister" in class. I heard a lot of murmurs from the class, but at least we have something in common. We really argue and hate if one book crosses our room, but I really don't get it why she hates the septology?! I think there should be a reason, and I wanted to find out in the course. Honest to goodness, I only read few chapters of Twilight, the entire book of Breaking Dawn (since my sister have one, though coincidentally we both have our series' fourth book), and the unpublished Midnight Sun. I really can't appreciate it, for I don't like vampires, and werewolves.

So let's go fast forward, I started reading my HP books. I am thrilled by the discussions made. I could just remember a Simpsons episode when Lisa sat down on a college class, discussing an Itchy and Scratchy episode and concluded it was a reflection of poverty and world hunger. That was my feeling everytime, a big concept after the another that I need to chew, BUT in the end, it made me full.

My most favorite discussion would be about time. I think if there's something that made me hook to the septology more when I was about in crisis whether to continue it or not (because of my disappointment on the Epilogue), was taking a look back at the third book. Undeniably, this is my favorite book. It's just indescribable! But with the chapter talking about "Hermione's Secret", and Professor taking us deeper, I thought I breathe fresh air.

The parchments, oh, how can I forget them? My favorite would be the third parchment. As a sports editor, trying to be a literary editor rejecting my favorite author seems to be a difficult job. At first, it was our recruitment week, and I have to reject a couple of applicants, so I think it helped me internalize the character. Though I didn't know what to put at first, so I honestly took Extra Joss, and whatever pops in my mind, I shall type it.

Well, the last task, the Potter Project needed for me a lot of Extra Joss. I am reluctant at first to play since my acting skills have been hinging for about 4 years. The last time I played for a play was fourth year high school, portraying Padre Millon in our adaptation of El Filibusterismo. Even I appeared technically for 10 minutes, I received the warmth. I felt that I may not be the same again. I am more afraid that the chances for me to play the lead role is small since we are only 4 guys in the group. Then we were asked to choose a character. I really really really wanted to play Hedwig at first, but when I knew that we are doing the second half, I wanted to play Molly. So when the EagledSnake Council of Prefects asked us to put our names, I wrote my name for Ron, for the reason that I am afraid of spiders too.