Hey there ! Renxkyoko Iglesias here !
I actually wrote something for Mother’s Day, but was so busy studying for an exam the day passed without posting it. Oh, well. I gave Mom a n orchid plant. That’s her favorite flower/plant.
Anyway, I’m cramming studying for my exams next week. Well, just 2 actually. I’m done with the rest . I ‘m also finishing up projects , like this one for Forensics Biology. I think I’m going to ace this. I got 40/4o in Forensics Lab. So you ask, what the heck is this about ? For the whole semester, we were given just one crime case. It’s a real, honest to goodness crime, but the names of the people involved were changed. We were also given a police file that was 3 inches thick. Everything was there, except whodunit. It was up to us to figure out who the killer was , based on police reports. We also did Forensics analysis . We have a laboratory that looks like a real forensics lab. We even have to wear an ID with our picture in it. ( no selfies, please ). We were each given a crime kit with all the physical evidences taken from all the suspects ( cigarette butts, saliva swabs, etc. ) and from the victims themselves. ( semen , blood, etc. ) The box of crime kits came from New York. By the way, the kits given to us were ” expired ” materials. Instead of throwing them away, they are donated to schools. I didn’t even know they made this stuff. Otherwise, it would cost us $800 each for unexpired kits. The expiration date doesn’t matter, though. We can get DNA even from hundred year old materials. We know that, right? (In fact, I just saw a documentary where forensic analyts were trying to get the DNA of a 2,000 year old mummified Egyptian fetus, the child of Tunkhamanen. They failed to get a viable sample, though.)
In making forensic reports, we have to use general and unbiased terms. We cannot even use ” DNA of unknown person A matches the DNA of the semen on the baby’s diaper .” ( yes, that’s the crime. The killer also stabbed the 9 year old brother to death. This crime did happen ) Instead, we write ” the probability that another DNA shares the same DNA as that of unknown individual A is 1/ sextillion , ( a number with 21 zeros, or the population of 300 earths ) Of course the cops are annoyed with this. like, why not just say, IT MATCHES ! HE’S THE KILLER ! Ha ha
I’m sure you’ve seen what forensic analysts do in crime shows, like CSI, right? That’s exactly what we do in this course. I know how to DNA profile, etc. , heck, I even know how to clone.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I think forensics is calling me. I’ll set aside my dream of playing the violin in an orchestra. He he he. Last semester, I tried enrolling in a music course for violin, but I wasn’t allowed. Only music majors are taken in, unfortunately. I do play it well, y’know ? Out of so many high school orchestras in our city, I was chosen to play in a quartet ( 4 players ) that represented our school district to play in a citiwide competition. We got the gold medal. Oh, well. It won’t put food on my table, anyway . * So Ren, dream on. * * pats head *
Oh my gosh. Countdown ! 30 days to my Philippine vacation ! By the way, May 23 is the last day of school. Sleep, sleep. I need to sleep. It’s 4 AM now. * sigh *
Are you bored yet ? Okay, I end it here. I was supposed to write the last of my European travel , but I don’t have time. It does take a while to post photos, especially on my computer that is about to conk out. It’s soooo slow ! !
So, bye for now. Thanks for reading, folks. PEACE !
Am a Molecular Microbiology student, love to read books, and I play the violin. 
dreamsending
renxkyoko
renxkyoko's space 
Posted by ledrakenoir on May 18, 2014 at 12:05 pm
Looking forward for a new doctor Quincy… 😉
Are you bored yet, you asked – no no at all… 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 2:02 am
I’m glad you didn’t get bored.
Oh, Dr. Quincy is a real medical doctor. I think he’s a Meical Examiner in the show. Nope, Forensics scientists are not doctors, unless they take a PhD.
Cheers, ledrakenoir !
Posted by kybedardkyle on May 18, 2014 at 3:32 pm
Medical Examiner!
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 2:04 am
No, just a Forensics guy, ha ha. Medical Examiners are actuall medical doctors.
Cheers, kybedardkyle !
Posted by soullfire on May 18, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Hmmm, I wonder what it is that “expires” in a forensics kit? It’s interesting that forensic lab people aren’t allowed to imply direct guilt but have to express it in terms of probabilities. I suppose they have to leave it up to the judge or jury to make the call.
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 2:16 am
I don’t know, either. The results were excellent. The kits were preserved properly… there were no degradations whatsoever. Do you know we can still use drugs/medicines within one year after expiration date?
Yes, and the cops are annoyed with that, ha ha.
Posted by Otto von Münchow on May 18, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Good luck with the exams. And, yes, I think forensics sounds like a very interesting job to pursue.
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 2:19 am
It is very interesting. It’s like solving a mystery or puzzle. And it so happens I love mystery novels and crime shows… real crime shows on TV. That’s why, this is right up my alley.
Posted by disperser on May 18, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Not sure I could deal with the constant exposure to crimes . . . I would probably turn into a vigilante (I think I would be good at it).
Good luck on the exams, and whatever path you choose.
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 2:31 am
I don’t know, but I feel I could. I’d be in lab doing lab work. There are people who deal with dead bodies directly. Even forensics photography is a course in college. My friend is taking that next sem.
Thanks ! I’ll do my best.
Posted by disperser on May 19, 2014 at 2:41 am
It’s not the dealing with the bodies . . . it’s the reading and knowing all the details of crimes.
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 3:22 am
Oh, right. 0_0
It’s right up my alley, though. If not, I’ll be like my sister… she works in the Lab, too, but in food lab( food manufacturing company. ) * Buy Arizona Tea and Sobe.*
Posted by 25pesocupnoodles on May 18, 2014 at 11:52 pm
hello, itatanong ko na sana kung kelan bisita mo sa Pinas eh, ayun naman pala, malapit na. Mag ready ka na sa super hot na klima. 😆
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 2:52 am
Malapit na nga, 25 cup. Excited na ako talaga. Btw, saan ba mabibili yung pinakamasarap na hao-halo ? Yun ang gusto kong bilhin kagad, the first day.
You’ re right. Sabi ng aunty ko, it’s like 38C . Tapos, may humidity pa, di ba ? Aaargh. Dito, mga 15 C sa morning, but it goes up to about 80F . ( 25C? )
Posted by 25pesocupnoodles on May 19, 2014 at 3:03 am
ang pagkakaalam kong masarap na halo-halo is from pagsanjan laguna, “Aling Talengs halo-halo”, sabi nila wayback 1933’s pa daw ung timpla nila, we tried it, masarap nga, compared sa ibang halo-halo pero expensive din syempre, hahaha.
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 3:16 am
Where is that place ? Is it near Paranaque ? Anyway, basta alam ko, bibili kagad ako ng siopao sa 7-11 ha ha. We pass by the store going to our house from the gate of the subdivision. tapos, gusto ko ng buko pie. At real coconut juice, straight from the fruit. Grabe ! Yum, yum. Yung siopao sa 7-11, parang $ ,90 lang. Super cheap, muy delicioso. Tapos dinner sa Mang Inasal Chicken. May SM Mall sa tabi ng house namin. Walking distance lang. Super cheap din. About $2 lang ang bbq chicken with limitless rice. Whooo !
Posted by 25pesocupnoodles on May 19, 2014 at 3:21 am
hahaha. wala munang diet pag and2 ka. enjoy, pupunta ka rin bang Bora sa lupa ninyo? enjoy…
Posted by kenthinksaloud on May 19, 2014 at 8:04 am
I think forensics sounds fascinating and exciting! I hope it all works out for you. I wouldn’t wish being a professional musician on anyone (I know – I’ve been there!). It doesn’t pay well and the hours are awful and uncertain. BUT – to be highly skilled on an instrument is fantastic. You can join/ continue to be with your local orchestra and chamber groups and unwind with wonderful music. You could even produce your own recordings and sell them online too (giving a second income if you’re lucky!). Whatever, I think it is better to enjoy playing music than it is to have a career in it. Best of luck to you though 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 22, 2014 at 5:44 pm
I hope so too, Ken.
Although I love music, I think it takes pure luck to be a successful musician. There are so many talented musicians out there hoping to be discovered, and earn a lot of money. We have a family friend who can play any instrument, including nose flute, but she’s working at a travel agency. How much does a talented back-up guitarist earn? Unless he or she is Van Halen, not much. * shakes head* The musician needs a day job to feed the family. * sigh *
Posted by rey & lyn on May 19, 2014 at 10:11 am
You will probably get to go to a lot of trials (court) and probably be the expert witness several times. That’s a very important job! Wishing for your success in whichever path you choose. 🙂
Have a safe trip! 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 20, 2014 at 4:56 am
I will probably be very nervous and mess up the report. Oh, the big boss usually is the guy who testifies, not the underlings.
Oh, Thanks !
Posted by Mélanie on May 19, 2014 at 12:31 pm
good luck, Dr Churches(Iglesias)! 🙂 cheers and my very best… Mélanie
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Awww, gee thanks, Melanie. I’ll do my best.
Posted by June on May 19, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Cool. That would be one heck of an epic career.
You’d ace your exams for sure.
Bon Voyage soon! Brace your self for the heat. 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Oh, gosh, it’s not only thr heat, June. Humidity is the killer.
I hope to join the law enforcement. I’ll do my best.
Cheers !
Posted by Fristine on May 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Ah, lucky you, our classes is still up to June 10. Thankfully, I’ve squared it with my profs and they’re letting me submit all my requirements a week prior. Ergo, I’m going home sooner.
Who says you cannot be a forensic analyst and play violin at the orchestra at the same time? If there’s anyone who can do it, you can!
Good luck with the studies.
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 4:53 pm
I know huh. It’s kinda weird though… playing the violin, and trying to catch a criminal, ha ha.
So, what are your plans when you get to the Philippines?
Posted by Fristine on May 19, 2014 at 6:05 pm
First, i plan to eat a lot of rice. Hahaha!
Then, probably go to the Northern provinces. I do hope that the rainy season gets delayed; because it’s no fun to take photos or go around with torrential rain.
What about you? 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 22, 2014 at 4:46 pm
What ? You don’t get to eat rice here in the US ? Well, I’;m from California. Majority of us are rice eaters. Ha ha
Oh, yeah. It;s the rainy season over there. I experienced a huge storm when I was there in 2010. It was scary. It sounded as if the windows would be blown away.
Well, we’re going to Boracay ( of course), Bagiou, ( we have a vacation house there, too, so , yeah, we have to go there ) maybe see Taal Volcano , check out all the malls, food trips, ( gotta take pics of the food), eat halo-halo, lots of siopao from 7-11, bibingka, pig out on takoyaki, shawarma, hang out with my childhood friends, and boy watch.
Posted by Fristine on May 22, 2014 at 8:21 pm
Ah, I’m so jealous dahil you have lots of rest houses. Hahaha! *gitera mode*
Malls…me too, i particularly look forward to visiting SM Megamall. Friends have been raving about Razon’s halo-halo. They have different branches around the Metro. But as soon as I get out of the airport, I am going to eat squidballs and bibingka too. I want the one with itlog na pula. I might get one from Bibingkinitan” I hope they have a branch in SM.
Boy watch. Hahaha! 🙂
Will you be updating your blog while you’re on vacation? Sana oo! 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 25, 2014 at 6:17 am
Updating my blog ? I hope I can. But we need more baggage space… I have a small notebook though, but I don’t think I can load the pics. It would be nice if I could actually show pics and write about our adventure
Oh, and I want to read mangas, ha ha ha.
Posted by Peter Wells aka Countingducks on May 19, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Lovely to see a post from you. Good luck with the forensics. seems like a solid career, but don’t forget the violin. Music nourishes you 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 19, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Peter Wells, I hurried up and posted because of your comment… that you wanted to read a post from me, believe it or not.
Well, I’m majoring in Microbiology, but I’m getting some courses in Forencics Science. Next sem, I’ll be taking advanced Forensics Bio. It’s not part of my curriculum anymore…. just covering all the bases, just in case.
Posted by Sam Han on May 20, 2014 at 12:41 am
It’s exciting just reading this post. Ah, maybe forensics is yelling at you. Counting down with you on your upcoming vacation 😀
Posted by renxkyoko on May 22, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Yelling is more like it ,.^^
Forensics is so interesting , Sam…… a bit morbid, I have to admit… nevertheless….
Posted by Sam Han on May 22, 2014 at 5:57 pm
i also think it is interesting. if i had known of such profession when i was in school, i would have studied for it 🙂
Posted by Rebecca on May 20, 2014 at 10:53 am
How exciting!!! When I was younger I wanted to be a forensic pathologist.
The one thing that bothers me about criminology, is there a lot of cold cases out there, and a lot of DNA just waiting to be tested. Especially, for rape cases. Some don’t get filed, some are so back logged, that they are lost, contaminated, and even destroyed while in storage.
I’m glad you are choosing forensics, it will be fun and challenging for you 🙂
Just don’t give up your violin, you may need as an outlet.
Hey you will be like Sherlock Holmes! Lol
Posted by renxkyoko on May 22, 2014 at 5:04 pm
Ah. Forensic pathologist…. go back to school, Rebecca and fulfill that dream.
A lot of criminals did get away with murder before the 90’s. DNA analysis was such a breakthrough. Can you imagine those people getting by on blood types? I mean, how many people have the same blood type as the killer’s? Even if the killer left dozens of fingerprints, unless he or she had a prior record, they wouldn’t be able to identify unknown fingerprints. Jack the Reaper would be caught in one day, too.
Nah, I won’t give up on violin. I have my own violin here at home. I’m kind of rusty, though, tha’s why I tried enrolling last sem.
Posted by Ste J on May 20, 2014 at 4:23 pm
Forensics sounds fun! Albeit based on some grim events…it is almost pure detective, you could be like Sherlock Holmes or Quincy! That man shouted his way to success, good luck with it and enjoy your holiday if I don’t see you before hand.
Posted by renxkyoko on May 22, 2014 at 5:22 pm
Forensics is sooo interesting . Morbid, though. Sherlock Holmes is a detective and Quincy is a medical examiner, a real medical doctor.
Huh? Who shouted his way to success? Quincy ? They’re still showing Dr. Quincy Adams, M.E., here in the US.. on cable. I’d watch quite a few . Is it showing in UK too ? I used to watch Sherlock Holmes on BBC. But I think our cable provider had taken out BBC from the line-up. I wonder why. There’s Russian Channel, though. Ugh. Who watches that.
Posted by Ste J on May 23, 2014 at 5:55 pm
I remember an episode of Quincy where he denounced rock music as evil and another where he went to a big multi national without an appointment burst in to the CEO’s office and yelled at him until the guy promised to stop dumping toxic waste in a river…the guy should be your next president, if he were real.
They haven’t shown it over here for a while, the BBC used to show it loads, I do love it. I haven’t seen Sherlock, I loved the old black and white films with Basil Rathbone in although i did watch one episode of the new one now I come to think of it, it was alright. I cannot think of anything Russian I would like to see, apart from the football (soccer) of course.
Posted by supernova1c on May 21, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Exciting stuff Ren and good luck with your career choice 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on May 22, 2014 at 5:28 pm
I know, huh. I love poking the unknown. Ha ha
Cheers, supernova.
Posted by returntothe80s on May 21, 2014 at 11:26 pm
Wow, very cool and interesting career! Best of luck on the rest of your classes! I’m so jealous that you are leaving for PI soon!!
Posted by renxkyoko on May 22, 2014 at 5:31 pm
I wish it would come true ! !
Yes, I’m getting excited already. I want to pack up now. lol.
Posted by Ralph on May 26, 2014 at 10:35 pm
Hi Ren 🙂 No, no, no !! It was the butler who did it. It’s always the butler ……… OR the Forensic scientist. lol. 40/40 ! Smarty pants !!
Seriously Ren. Have a great career and make sure they pay you well !! Ralph xox ❤
Posted by Koopa on May 27, 2014 at 9:44 am
Hit me up when you’re in Philly(pines)!
Posted by Seyi sandra on May 28, 2014 at 2:20 pm
You’ll definitely succeed in everything you do, so if it’s forensics, you’ll be supplying me with story ideas! 🙂
Posted by talker blogger on May 29, 2014 at 10:53 am
Nice post ! Wishing you all the best for the exams😀
Posted by nepaliaustralian on May 30, 2014 at 12:09 am
I think your job is so cool, I watch shows like CSI and Criminal minds to know that it is such an important as well. All the best my dear.
Posted by Charron's Chatter on June 2, 2014 at 5:13 pm
whichever field eventually “gets you”–is a lucky field indeed. You are going to move and shake things, Ren. Fo sho!!
Posted by allenjambalaya on June 4, 2014 at 3:06 am
Philippine vacation? When are you going here? You’re very welcome here. I’m online again and back to Manila now. Hehehe!
Posted by Holistic Wayfarer on June 6, 2014 at 2:49 pm
That’s cool. When was the last time you were there? Will be a wonderful reunion with family, I imagine.
Posted by renxkyoko on June 6, 2014 at 3:16 pm
In the Philippines ? We were there in 2010. My immediate family’s here in the US… but we’re the only ones here in the US, so, yeah, it will be wonderful to see my cousins, aunts, childhood friends. I’m so excited now . 2 more weeks ! ! Ugh.
Posted by Holistic Wayfarer on June 6, 2014 at 3:17 pm
I figured you have relatives there. =)
Posted by Smaktakula on June 10, 2014 at 12:54 am
Have fun in the Philippines! Just a few days left now.
Posted by jakesprinter on August 8, 2014 at 2:14 am
Love the words Ren 🙂
Posted by Mell Odee on January 17, 2015 at 12:12 pm
wow Forensics sound like a very interesting, action-packed field. funny, the way how you have to write your findings, though. I’m a Journalism major back in college, and I’m with the cops there saying, “why not just write that IT MATCHES, HE’S THE KILLER???” lol. as always, very fun read. I like how personal you write. 🙂 been wanting to write like that for ages, but everytime I type on the New Post page, these formal words just keep floating in my head… 😉
Posted by renxkyoko on January 18, 2015 at 11:39 am
They say it’;s conversational, but I wish I could use formal words, believe me. I can;’t write to save my soul. XD
By the way, I don’t know if it’s my puter, or WordPress is going rogue again, but I don’t see the notifications.