Mensa in De La Salle Canlubang
(Originally published in "The Catalyst", the official student publication of De La Salle Canlubang [2006 hardcopy])
I first heard about Mensa when I was in College. The way it was described to me, it formed an image in my head that it was a very exclusive society where only the most intelligent people in the whole world could qualify. I didn’t know much about it, but the way I saw it, being a member of such an elite and renowned, intellectual society was something in itself. I told myself if ever given the chance to subject myself to test whether or not I can qualify and become a member of Mensa, I would. Qualify or not, I perceived the testing and its result to be an educational experience for me.
During the first year of De La Salle Canlubang, I believe it was Ms. Maila Brucal whom I overheard inquiring about the qualifying exam of Mensa with Sir Patrick Ocampo. Jumping at the chance, I soon inquired about it too with Sir Patrick, who at the time was the Senior Testing Director and a Board Member of Mensa here in the Philippines. Happy to have discovered that Mensa has an organization in the Philippines, I immediately took the opportunity I have thought about before, glad that I could conveniently take the exam without even leaving our campus, and not only that, since we were both based in De La Salle Canlubang, we were able to schedule the session at a time convenient for me.
Mensa in the Philippines has about two hundred members, and all members are of course considered members of Mensa of whichever country they go to. The test is of the type popularly referred to as abstract reasoning. The test does not really cover math, science nor english, so that it is not culture biased, so there is no need to review, which is a good thing, considering I had no intention nor time to review.
It took me about one or two hours, maybe more than that, to submit my answer sheet. Fortunately, my double check, triple check, quadruple check, etc. of my answers bore fruit: I qualified. I was pleased to pay my membership fees and finally be in the exclusive organization where many people have tried but have been unable to qualify for.
Although I was content in being an ordinary card-carrying member who attended gatherings whenever convenient and paying my membership dues, someone up there must have had better plans for me.
Dr. Arnulfo Azcarraga, our Executive Vice President, who was later to become the most prominent Mensa qualifier who has taken the test in our campus, wanted to look at the possibility of making De La Salle Canlubang an official testing center for Mensa. Dr. Azcarraga has long envisioned our campus buzzing with intelligent conversations and other intellectual activities and stimuli.
When Sir Patrick’s term was up, he decided to relieve himself of his responsibilities in Mensa. Philippine Mensa’s Board of Officers would train and teach me to officially make me Deputy Testing Director, enabling De La Salle Canlubang to conduct qualifying sessions for Mensa.
With the vision that originated from Dr. Azcarraga, I have also imagined an organization in De La Salle Canlubang of achievers or people who want to make a difference, using any gifts they may have for the benefit of the people around them, or even extending beyond their reach. Although Mensa qualifiers from De La Salle Canlubang may not all be interested in that, I have hopes that at least a few of them will, fulfilling one of Mensa’s goals to harness intelligence for the benefit of humanity (“to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity”). But, that’s not the only goal of Mensa.
Another reason why members of Mensa join Mensa is the opportunity to be with like-minded people. Gatherings and activities can range from the intellectual and beneficial to just plain old fun. It has been the fellowship of these people to whom you don’t have to explain your jokes, who will not too hastily judge you nor your idiosyncrasies half-mindedly, that has encouraged many Mensans to be active. After all, providing fellowship is the second goal of Mensa (“to promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members”).
The third stated goal of Mensa is the pursuit to further intelligence, thus making Mensa a conduit to which its members can develop their intellect. And what activities will facilitate this? It will be up to the members. If the Mensa qualifiers of De La Salle Canlubang do pursue forming an organization, they can expect financial support for activities from National / Philippine Mensa. Members can be given freedom to develop their own projects and activities, from simple games and fun, to the intellectual and beneficial (“to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence”).
The organization I envision is just a dream, and those that qualify for Mensa here in De La Salle Canlubang may have plans of their own, but if there are even a few who share this vision, then that may give birth to such a noble organization. But what of those that are willing to share in the activities, but can’t quite make the cut? Mensa Philippines calls those who frequently join our activities but have not been able to qualify, permanent guests (or the more endearing term “pest” – short for “permanent guest”). Mensans in De La Salle Canlubang may invent another term such as Mensa Priend (short for “permanent friend”).
About twice a year, Mensa can conduct a mass qualifying session here in De La Salle Canlubang, but for those who can’t make that schedule, those who are interested, whether students, teachers, staff of De La Salle Canlubang, or even outsiders, are welcome to contact me at testing@mensa.ph , where we can coordinate a suitable schedule for a private testing session. Names of test-takers are never publicized without their permission and results are given only to the test-taker.
I have also set up a blog, http://dlsc-mensa.blogspot.com , where I can post news, updates, reports, or activities. Links to details and other standard information can also be found on that website, which is why I no longer included them here. I hope someday that the blog will feature the list of members of Mensa in De La Salle Canlubang, only with their permission, of course.
I hope many of our students take advantage of the support Philippine Mensa is willing to extend to our local group. If you have questions, you may contact me at testing@mensa.ph .
-Alain Encarnacion-
Deputy Testing Director
Mensa
testing@mensa.ph
College Instructor
School of Information Technology and Computing
De La Salle Canlubang
encarnaciona@canlubang.dlsu.edu.ph
I first heard about Mensa when I was in College. The way it was described to me, it formed an image in my head that it was a very exclusive society where only the most intelligent people in the whole world could qualify. I didn’t know much about it, but the way I saw it, being a member of such an elite and renowned, intellectual society was something in itself. I told myself if ever given the chance to subject myself to test whether or not I can qualify and become a member of Mensa, I would. Qualify or not, I perceived the testing and its result to be an educational experience for me.
During the first year of De La Salle Canlubang, I believe it was Ms. Maila Brucal whom I overheard inquiring about the qualifying exam of Mensa with Sir Patrick Ocampo. Jumping at the chance, I soon inquired about it too with Sir Patrick, who at the time was the Senior Testing Director and a Board Member of Mensa here in the Philippines. Happy to have discovered that Mensa has an organization in the Philippines, I immediately took the opportunity I have thought about before, glad that I could conveniently take the exam without even leaving our campus, and not only that, since we were both based in De La Salle Canlubang, we were able to schedule the session at a time convenient for me.
Mensa in the Philippines has about two hundred members, and all members are of course considered members of Mensa of whichever country they go to. The test is of the type popularly referred to as abstract reasoning. The test does not really cover math, science nor english, so that it is not culture biased, so there is no need to review, which is a good thing, considering I had no intention nor time to review.
It took me about one or two hours, maybe more than that, to submit my answer sheet. Fortunately, my double check, triple check, quadruple check, etc. of my answers bore fruit: I qualified. I was pleased to pay my membership fees and finally be in the exclusive organization where many people have tried but have been unable to qualify for.
Although I was content in being an ordinary card-carrying member who attended gatherings whenever convenient and paying my membership dues, someone up there must have had better plans for me.
Dr. Arnulfo Azcarraga, our Executive Vice President, who was later to become the most prominent Mensa qualifier who has taken the test in our campus, wanted to look at the possibility of making De La Salle Canlubang an official testing center for Mensa. Dr. Azcarraga has long envisioned our campus buzzing with intelligent conversations and other intellectual activities and stimuli.
When Sir Patrick’s term was up, he decided to relieve himself of his responsibilities in Mensa. Philippine Mensa’s Board of Officers would train and teach me to officially make me Deputy Testing Director, enabling De La Salle Canlubang to conduct qualifying sessions for Mensa.
With the vision that originated from Dr. Azcarraga, I have also imagined an organization in De La Salle Canlubang of achievers or people who want to make a difference, using any gifts they may have for the benefit of the people around them, or even extending beyond their reach. Although Mensa qualifiers from De La Salle Canlubang may not all be interested in that, I have hopes that at least a few of them will, fulfilling one of Mensa’s goals to harness intelligence for the benefit of humanity (“to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity”). But, that’s not the only goal of Mensa.
Another reason why members of Mensa join Mensa is the opportunity to be with like-minded people. Gatherings and activities can range from the intellectual and beneficial to just plain old fun. It has been the fellowship of these people to whom you don’t have to explain your jokes, who will not too hastily judge you nor your idiosyncrasies half-mindedly, that has encouraged many Mensans to be active. After all, providing fellowship is the second goal of Mensa (“to promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its members”).
The third stated goal of Mensa is the pursuit to further intelligence, thus making Mensa a conduit to which its members can develop their intellect. And what activities will facilitate this? It will be up to the members. If the Mensa qualifiers of De La Salle Canlubang do pursue forming an organization, they can expect financial support for activities from National / Philippine Mensa. Members can be given freedom to develop their own projects and activities, from simple games and fun, to the intellectual and beneficial (“to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence”).
The organization I envision is just a dream, and those that qualify for Mensa here in De La Salle Canlubang may have plans of their own, but if there are even a few who share this vision, then that may give birth to such a noble organization. But what of those that are willing to share in the activities, but can’t quite make the cut? Mensa Philippines calls those who frequently join our activities but have not been able to qualify, permanent guests (or the more endearing term “pest” – short for “permanent guest”). Mensans in De La Salle Canlubang may invent another term such as Mensa Priend (short for “permanent friend”).
About twice a year, Mensa can conduct a mass qualifying session here in De La Salle Canlubang, but for those who can’t make that schedule, those who are interested, whether students, teachers, staff of De La Salle Canlubang, or even outsiders, are welcome to contact me at testing@mensa.ph , where we can coordinate a suitable schedule for a private testing session. Names of test-takers are never publicized without their permission and results are given only to the test-taker.
I have also set up a blog, http://dlsc-mensa.blogspot.com , where I can post news, updates, reports, or activities. Links to details and other standard information can also be found on that website, which is why I no longer included them here. I hope someday that the blog will feature the list of members of Mensa in De La Salle Canlubang, only with their permission, of course.
I hope many of our students take advantage of the support Philippine Mensa is willing to extend to our local group. If you have questions, you may contact me at testing@mensa.ph .
-Alain Encarnacion-
Deputy Testing Director
Mensa
testing@mensa.ph
College Instructor
School of Information Technology and Computing
De La Salle Canlubang
encarnaciona@canlubang.dlsu.edu.ph
posted by Alain at 3:12 PM
