A PURPOSE DRIVEN REVIEW

By:

Dean Melcon S. Lapina, RCrim, MSCrim

Dean, Pope John Paul Colleges of Davao

Reviewer, SLRC Review Center

Topnotcher (4^th Place) Oct. 1996 Crim. Board

Atty. Artemio Jay G. Torredes, RCrim.

Senior Partner, Torredes Cedeno & Associates Law Firm

Former Dean, UC-Main Criminology Dept.

Former Professor, UC Graduate School Dept.

Academic Director, CMT Target, Inc.

Topnotcher (1^st Place) Sept. 2002 Crim. Board

BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE!!!

Tips for a purpose-driven review experience…

Part I: What is review?

Part II: Reasons for reviewing.

Part III: Goals of criminology review.

Part IV: Tools for review.

I. WHAT IS REVIEW?

Look before you jump. Know what you are getting into before you invest on something. Review is costly and time consuming so whenever possible, avoid repeating it again and again and again. But what is review? In order to fully understand the concept behind reviews, it helps to know what is not a review first.

A. REVIEW IS NOT:

x Not a substitute for college.

x Not a guarantee to pass.

x Not to be taken lightly.

B. REVIEW IS:

√ A formal pre-board intervention program.

√ A learning experience (1. relearn same things, 2. learn new things, and 3. unlearn wrong things).

√ A product of teamwork between reviewers and reviewees.

√ A tool designed to REINFORCE stock knowledge and ENHANCE student potential.

To enhance means to increase or to maximize student capabilities. Take for example the following case of students A, B & C:

Student potential may also be maintained. This happens when:

Student potential may also be decreased or diminished by poor review preparations. This happens when review centers neglect to guide or counsel their students properly.

Now, assuming that a student who is a potential topnotcher have a good review, does it guarantee him/her landing on top? Consider this: there are around 20,000 students taking the board exams annually and only the ten highest scoring students will be publicized. It’s a very, very tight spot to be on top. The competition may include 2% honor students nationwide (2% of 10,000 = 200 honor students. Thus, there are approximately 400 honor students in a population of 20,000 board candidates. These may include summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude & academic third honors). This is where fate or destiny comes in – hard work, prayers and God’s blessings should be your constant companion, not alcohol, malls or internet.

C. KINDS OF REVIEW:

1. Self review – where a student undertakes to read on his own using familiar materials such as textbooks, quizzers, etc.
2. Formal review – where a student enrolls either in a school based or independent review center of his choice.
3. Comprehensive or mixed review – this is formal review + self review where a student supplements the formal review program by self studies, group discussions, etc. This is the best kind of review.

You might hear some people talk about how they passed or topped without reviewing. That is false and misleading. As we have seen already, there are several kinds of review. Some students even deliberately choose to have longer reviews than others and take the board only after a year or more of preparations. This may work out fine for some students but not necessarily for all students. The dangers of academic burn out are always present in longer preparations. There is also no evidence that longer review guarantee passing or topping. As a matter of fact, all 102 topnotchers coming from UC-BCF since 1989 up to April 2011 were all fresh graduates. Studies also show that students can better recall with sharpness their immediate lessons compared to past lessons – the more you delay, the more you will forget; the longer you wait, the more you will lose interest. Between long review and quality review, quality review is better.

It is also not correct to assume that students on self review will have different materials compared to students on formal review. Most self reviewing students have access to handouts and pop-sheets from their formally reviewing classmates. The only difference is that self reviewing students don’t have the opportunity to attend lectures and are thus denied personal guidance by reputable reviewers/lecturers. On the other hand, there are formally reviewing students who land in dubious review centers. These unfortunate students usually become disillusioned and lose faith in formal review by reverting to self study, wasting expensive enrollment fees in the process.

D. CHOOSING A REVIEW CENTER:

Selecting your review center is a strictly personal choice. It is wrong to force students to enroll in a particular review center because the students will not participate in the program if they are not comfortable with the review center, the program, or the people behind it. In general, there are several kinds of review centers to choose from:

1. Local
2. National
3. School Based (In-house)
4. Independent
5. Professional (Specializes in one course only)
6. Commercial (Offers a wide variety of courses like Nursing, Education, Criminology, etc.)

The difference in price usually means differences in programs and lineup of reviewers. Interestingly, the best performing review centers are usually cheap like UC-BCF in Baguio at 7,500.00 while the new and untested review centers are expensive like UL in Pangasinan at 18,000.00 (What you’ve read is not a typographical error, yes it’s 18,000.00). The important thing however is that the students must be free to select for themselves the review center where they are most comfortable with. Again, it is not proper to compel students to enroll in a specific review center because the students will not attend if they are not at ease with the program. It’s their money; let them decide how to spend it.

II. REASONS FOR REVIEWING:

We all have reasons for everything. These reasons motivate us to pursue our dreams. It is the fuel that drives us towards our goals. Would you go on a long journey with only half a tank of gasoline or would you prefer a full tank? What are your reasons for taking up criminology? Some students would have reasons similar to yours while some have reasons quite different from anyone else. But there are many who take criminology without any reasons at all. Like having an empty tank, they naturally fail to complete the journey. And when they do decide to complete it, the re-fueling usually takes a long, long time. Long after their academic engines ran cold.

Let us examine the different reasons why we took up criminology in the first place because these will sustain us especially in the final homestretch before the exams. There are no wrong reasons here. But there are BEST reasons, GOOD reasons and POOR reasons to review.

A. BEST REASONS TO REVIEW:

1. I WANT TO BECOME AN INSTUMENT OF GOD’S JUSTICE…

This is a biblical command: “Let justice roll on like a river, and the truth like a never ending stream” (Amos 5:24). Pray for a purpose higher than yourselves. Seek His guidance and fellowship. “If God is with you, then who can be against you?” (Romans 8: 28-31). “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

2. I WANT TO HONOR MY PARENT’S SACRIFICE…

This is also biblical: "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you; so that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God has given you.” (Exodus 20:12). “Listen to your father, and despise not your mother when she is old." (Proverbs 23:22).

3. I WANT TO HELP MY COUNTRYMEN…

Note that the job description of genuine law enforcement is public safety and security, sometimes, at the expense of our own lives and limbs. “Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend” (John 15:13). “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). We will all die someday, better die for Godly reasons than die for no reason at all. The lives we live follows us in death, whether in hell or in a much better place.

B. GOOD REASONS TO REVIEW:

1. I WANT TO TOP…

I’m sure most of you are surprised to find this here. Isn’t topping the “best” thing that could happen? Isn’t it everything that a young criminologist could ever dream of? The answer is NO. Topping is only a bonus – it is not the main prize. It is always temporary, never permanent. The next board exams will always have another set of new topnotchers that will come and go as often as the board exams do. Don’t get me wrong – I want my students to top. But topnotchers who fail to grasp the purpose of their God-given excellence eventually deteriorate because of pride, conceit, complacency, ego or a combination of some or all of these. Don’t forget that excellence is not a once-in-a-lifetime journey but a continuing pursuit. I know one criminologist who passed his board exams in 2003. He was not a topnotcher. He took up law and eventually became a lawyer in 2010. The accomplishments of all previous topnotchers that I knew were dwarfed by this person’s current status as a criminologist-lawyer because he never stopped his pursuit of excellence while the “best and the brightest” of his generation simply quit and deteriorated.

Assuming you do top the board exams, ask yourself: What could happen when a topnotcher descends to the level of the ordinary? Frankly, the distinction is lost. There is no difference between a corrupt criminologist and a corrupt topnotcher. But there is a real difference between a corrupt criminologist and an honorable criminologist. This is another illustration of what is meant by “excellence as a continuing pursuit”. How long could you sustain the best of yourself?

2. I WANT TO PASS…

Just as topping, I am also inclined to believe this reason will raise eyebrows. But to simply pass the board exams is not enough unless one realizes a higher purpose in his chosen profession. Wanting to top or to pass are good but there are better reasons. Take one more look at the best reasons to review on our list, hopefully, you would agree.

3. I WANT TO BECOME A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER…

Seldom would you meet a criminology student who knows that a wide selection of law enforcement opportunities are available to him once he graduate and become a licensed criminologist. The NBI, PDEA, PCG, APD, PEZA Police, Port Police, BJMP, BFP, BuCor, Private Industry, Academe, etc., are some of the options available aside from the PNP. Moreover, there are few trailblazing Filipino criminologists who are now working abroad especially in countries where citizenship is not a requisite for police employment. Just because the PNP require Filipino citizenship doesn’t mean that Singapore Police also requires Singaporean citizenship. There are outstanding law enforcement agencies such as the INTERPOL that doesn’t require citizenship at all as long as you are not from another planet.

C. POOR REASONS TO REVIEW:

1. I WANT TO BECOME A POLICEMAN…

Surprised? If you can’t see the difference between B.3 above and C.1, pity you. This is the most popular reason why people take criminology. Last April 2011, there were 10,943 students who took the criminology board exams. Most of them simply wanted to join PNP. Here’s the data and our interpretation based on heuristic analysis:

Statistically, if the only reason why you are taking the board exams is “because you wanted to become a policeman”, then you are no different from the rest. This means that you only have a 21.58% chance of passing and 78.42% chance of failing.

Do you have to be a graduate of criminology to become a policeman? The answer is no. According to the 2004 PNP Personnel Statistics Report of the NAPOLCOM, the following personnel distribution can be found within the PNP:

[Note: not all of the 17.2% criminology graduates are board passers.]

The total number of non-criminology graduates in the PNP is 82.8% (74.6% + 8.2% = 82.8%). This means that for every 100 PNP Personnel, 83 are graduates of other courses while only 17 are graduates of criminology. Statistically, non-criminology graduates have better chances of joining the PNP than criminology graduates. The inevitable conclusion is that people become policemen because they wanted to become policemen, not because they are criminologists. Unfortunately, most criminology students simply wanted to become policeman. They never wanted to become criminologists. Consequently, the more brainy aspects of our profession are often ignored with disastrous results!

2. I WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED…

3. I WANT TO PROVE MY DETRACTORS WRONG…

4. I WANT TO SHOW THAT I AM BETTER THAN OTHERS…

Reasons Nos. 2, 3 & 4 are all based on negative sentiments and purposes. These are the review equivalent of “revenge and resentment” which if present, cannot justify defense of strangers. So I cannot defend these reasons for review. As a matter of fact, I don’t think anyone can.

III. GOALS OF CRIMINOLOGY REVIEW:

The goals of CCC Criminology Review are to enhance student potential by properly guiding students in order to:

1. Relearn criminology; 3. Eliminate surprises; and

2. Identify possible problem areas; 4. Be realistic.

1. TO RELEARN CRIMINOLOGY…

If you’re from Baguio and someone mentions “Session”, you would know immediately that it is a length of street leading from this point to that point. You know where you could find Café Volante or Porta Vaga. In your mind you have a clear picture of Session precisely because you’ve been there before. Similarly, if you’re from Cebu and someone mentions “Colon”, you could picture out where Gaisano Metro or UV are located. But to those who have never been to Baguio or Cebu, the word “Session” or “Colon” may be unfamiliar or strange – it doesn’t ring a bell.

Ideally, review should be the same. You’ve been through all the criminology subjects before and are simply revisiting them once more. If the words mala in se, cyanoacrylate, tetrahydrocannabinol, cadaveric spasm, wergeld, anti-halation backing, anomie, Stockholm syndrome, Prisonization, helixometer, etc. etc. are all unfamiliar to you, then you have a big problem. This is when review centers are supposed to come in – to reinforce stock knowledge that are already there and to orient students for the first time of some important concepts they missed in college.

2. TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE PROBLEM AREAS…

We all carry excess or inadequate intellectual baggage. Some students are implanted with too much unnecessary information while some are given too little crucial knowledge. This is called “intellectual transference”. It happens when professional or academic inadequacies of teachers are absorbed by their students. This is one possible problem area.

In fairness, not all board problems are products of teacher neglect. Oftentimes, the problem lies with the students. Sun Tzu said: “know your enemy and know yourself”. How well do you know yourself? Surprisingly, a large portion of those taking the board examinations are strangers to their own selves. They do not know their capabilities. We can never face the “true” enemy unless we know our weaknesses or recognize our strengths because our greatest enemy is ourselves: if we don’t study, we lose; if we don’t prepare, we face certain defeat; if we don’t sacrifice, we gain nothing.

3. TO ELIMINATE AS MANY SURPRISES AS POSSIBLE…

We had former students who took pains to prepare for the board examinations only to find out that their NSO Birth Certificates indicates that “he” is a “she” or “she” is a “he”. There were also some who failed to set aside sufficient budget for board and lodging for the entire duration of the review – financial problems occurring at the most crucial last weeks before the board significantly interferes with their ability to focus. These practical aspects are often forgotten.

There are cases where students have bouts of fears, worries and anxieties days before the actual exams. As a result, they lose sleep and have to take the board poorly rested. How do review centers deal with these? Some review centers abdicate their responsibilities to their students at the most crucial stage by totally abandoning them – their lame excuse is “students should rest”. Tell your soldiers to relax days before the war and the result will be certain defeat! Responsible leaders stay with their men to the bitter end, whether in defeat or victory.

There are also cases where some students end up flat-footed when they encounter topics during the review that they don’t remember coming across in college. Responsible review centers have to guide their students in dealing with certain cognitive issues such as memory recall, definitions, applications, interpretations, analysis, etc., etc. Unfortunately, not all review centers are responsible.

4. TO TEACH US TO BE REALISTIC…

Being realistic means “knowing your situation and doing positive things to improve it”.

When Gen. Douglas McArthur left for Australia, he knew that winning the war would be difficult but not impossible. He recognized the challenges ahead and sought to do something about it - he knows the situation. He saw a fighting chance to succeed through smoke, despair and excitement. In short, Gen. McArthur had a warrior mentality that spreads throughout the men he leads. If he believed that the battle was already lost and nothing could be done in order to reverse the situation - that is not “realistic” but “fatalistic”.

There lies another difference among many criminology students. Most are “fatalistic”, very few are “realistic”. I had students who would say “wala koy mahimo kung mao ra jud ako kaya”. They have surrendered already long before the battle even started. If that is your mindset, no one would ever want to go to war with you!

IV. TOOLS FOR REVIEW:

When we ask students about tools for review, it’s not surprising to see a long list of “conventional” tools. The following are usually on every students list:

1. allowance
2. pens, papers & notebooks
3. handouts & textbooks
4. quizzers & mock-boards
5. review classes

We are not denying the convenience of the above tools. But there are more important tools that a reviewee must have in abundance during his preparation. These “unconventional” tools are:

1. patience & perseverance
2. discipline & individual responsibility
3. inquisitiveness
4. teamanship
5. consistency