After everything...

After years of study, it has finally come to this: my last graduation as one of the ordinary students [masters and doctorates are exceptional]. The feeling of excitement and hesitation, of joy and fear, of relief and nervousness surrounded me during both my college recognition rite and university graduation. That would be saturday and sunday respectively and monday would be my first day on the job at HP. I was happy of course that I was able to get a job and right after graduation when many still have to find a job they think would fit them and yet at the same I feel I deserve a break, a moment of relief, a time to think and ponder on the past 2 decades of my life to help me realize what direction would I enjoy trekking for the rest of my days. Unfortunately, I was not given that time so I have squeeze my pondering time together with running my papers and clearances, in spending the remaining time I have with friends and family...

Time was indeed short to prepare my mind and body for the kind of work waiting for me after my hard earned degree. Still, as a friend said to me, its about time for me to face my fears, give HP a chance. I shouldn't close my eyes to the possibility of learning something new but still never forget the ideals and dreams that was once conceived at this university and never forget the people who brought you to where you are now. It is a new world and the butterflies in my stomach are at their peak. I don't know what to expect or should I expect anything at that. I just hope that I made the right decision and pray that whatever happens ahead would not be a deterent to my growth as a person and as an individual who one day make his own dreams come true.

The last of my tears have been shed. I now leave to God my future...

Kudos to University of the Philippines College of Engineering graduates of 2005!

Congratulations BS Computer Science 2005!

Revenge

Ia had linked me an article [i lost the link... my apologies..] on the “revenge of the right brain” which according to the author is the direction of their society as white collar jobs that are left brain activities are now going to countries, such as ours, that offer cheap labor. The article mentioned that the Information Age is powered by the technical, logical and analytic left hemisphere of our brain while the coming Conceptual Age will be a product of the empathetic, artistic and emotional right hemisphere.

The way I see it, this is another vain attempt on trying to boost their ego; trying to underpin the fact that they are losing their jobs to a skilled and better educated people and that they are losing their competencies - in which “empathizing, feeling and caring” are not one of them. What really irks me is that they could not acknowledge that Asians are more well-rounded most especially with our inherently creative, spiritual and highly emotional society - which has always been an Asian trait - that stimulates our right hemisphere and to which we have coupled with the education and higher learning that we have “borrowed” from our western friends.

Somehow we are doing a Japan, wherein, we study and learn the technology and skill we know we are poor in and we apply it to our society but at the same time not forgetting the importance we give to teamwork, imagination, and communal support for one another. That is why; we are better nurses and better care givers.

A reality it may seem that the world’s center of culture, politics and society may turn its head back to Asian shores. The American dream is almost over. It’s time for the sleeping giant that is Asia, to wake up and shake the world once again.

I just hope that the Philippines would not fail to capitalize on this strength and finally play a more significant role in leading this Earth to, what the author terms as, the Conceptual Age.

And so it ends... or so I thought

At long last, after a series of revisions and minor improvements to our paper, we are finally getting it bounded!!! Our thesis is finally almost coming to a definite end! I was already seeing the end of the tunnel, the light out of the darkness, the sun after the night, the heaven after hell.

Unfortunately for me, I still would not be lucky to leave the university unscathed... For the first time in my four years, I finally received my first 4.0 and I am going to take my first removal exam. Of all the times i could have experimented on trying out what it felt like having that kind of grade, why did it have to be during my final stay, my final sem! Why!

I feel confident thought about how my removals might turn out but i do hope that i pass. i don't know how i fared during my finals but i think i did ok... just didn't reach the 96% that i needed. At least its a lesson learned. I wont pass a subject if I keep on skipping my classes... I just hope I do well during the removals...

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Recently, there has been a series of interesting conversation in the parser groups and i find it inspiring in a sense that i have finally proven that cs people do not sit pretty and take everything quietly. CS people think and discuss. The mark of academics and UPians. Of course, i know that they would not just talk about it but they would move forward and do something about it. I have seen these people work and they have worked with great passion and with service comparable no other. I'm proud to have been part of this department.

Here are some pieces of that "discussion":

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Anyway, what's the point? The point is, the ICPC-student part of the current ACM student chapter has been born a long time ago. And expect that it will live a long time after this batch. Why?

1.) The current Council is putting its FULL THRUST on new blood. It will be a year-long campaign for the best students in the lower batch.

2.) The International Programming Competition is a YEARLY affair. Thus, kung mawala man ang support ng students (which I don't think will happen soon), nandyan lagi ang Department upang irevive ang ACM for ICPC. Since usually once you have been in the ICPC, you will be there as long as you prove an asset to the university. There will always be a member of the ACM Student Chapter.

3.) Akin to Ia's reason, THE COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS NOT DEAD. We are here to stay.

And with regards to the previously held ACM competition, the representatives of ACM would be very happy if the complaints were posted on the official ACM groups, or sent directly to me or to any councilor or any member of the executive committee, and not on the official group of Parser, which besides the members, the two organizations has nothing in common with, and not officially affiliated in any way. Pasintabi, but my first impression is of backstabbing and cowardice.

Thank you for your time, and may all the organzations that are goal based may live long enough to witness those organizations that has no clear goals go to where they must go.

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5. As i view the "DEAD" thing, the newborn/reborn organizations shouldtake this as a challenge. Ang sinasabi lamang ni Tjay, saorganizations na kasama ako sa mga namamahala, walang lower yearstayong member.

6. Kaya nga kinausap ko na si Geomar, as CS Rep and co-Cursor, kungsino ang mag-hahandle ng Freshmen Orientation. Kasi Issue na namanito. Kung CS week nga di ba? Pero kung mararapatin, ang Orientation naito, ay magbubukas sa IBA pang maaaring maging interesado saorganizations.

7. Bakit mo sinasabi na DEAD ang isang org kung ikaw mismo ay partnito. You are just admitting to yourself na wala kang magagawa sabagay na ito. OTHER organizations (other = sa mga orgs na hindi kakabilang) is not DYING neither.

8. Kahit CURSOR din ako, it is not safe to say na 'dahil may kasunodng batch, mabubuhay na ang isang org'

9. Balik tayo sa item #5, sige, walang sophomores o freshies saorganizations ang ACM. May pagkukulang din kami siguro sa ROOM-2-ROOM,TEXT BRIGADE para sa sophies at freshies, pero asahan ng LAHAT, bythis coming semester, may marerecruit na kami. And I'm not speakingjust for ACM

10. As a
- Managing Editor, UP Parser
- Executive Treasurer, UP ACM Student Chapter
- External Affairs Committee Vice-chairman, UnPLUG
- Information and Public Relations Committee Member, UP Cursor
- Member, Department of Computer Science Student Assistants and Volunteers
sisiguraduhin ko na BUHAY ang CS Network, at I'll Be Doing This Not As A Member of An Organization But As A Computer Science Student.

11. Sinabi mo sa akin na Quality than Quantity. Binabalik ko sa iyoyun. Quality than Quantity. Think!

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As long as there are those who have the passion and vision to keep these going, I do not see any reason why any of these orgs are going to die... The people who have been active this past year started a good thing going, its up to those who succeed them to keep it alive...

Most CS people usually start being active with department and college activities starting their second year but they usually peak on the third year... It is during this time that you guys have to step up...

We had our turn, now its yours....

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This is true.

Madalas ang mga freshmen and sophomores choose not to be too involved in the extra-curricular aspect of college because sa mga panahon na yun they're purpose of getting in college is to study well and graduate with honors just like high school. siguro ganun naman tayo nung simula diba? until after 165 and 155 and 133 and 145 and 192 and the dreaded 198 (fear it!). then they realize college life can't be all about this. and by the time they open themselves to orgs and other extra-curricular stuff, they realize they should've been involved earlier. its a vicious cycle.

this is not only evident in organizations but in the department itself. during the CS week, all organizations with support of the department (this is a big deal), chipped in to reach out to the cs community with the hopes to getting the cs students together, regardless of year or affilation. we want to celebrate the birthday of our course, what we will be studying for 4, maybe 5 years(hehe).

it's definitely much better than the past cs weeks! but honestly the reception could've been much better. maam joyce had other classes cancelled already so students can participate sa activities but only a few showed up. sabi nga ni hitch, you come 90, and i come 10. tayo yung 90 ok? hehe. we've reached out and it's up to the others (lower batch special mention) to offer their hand. that's just how it works.

apathy = dead. i've realized that "how to solve apathy" is a rhetorical question. sa lahat ng groups na nasalihan ko ni isa di makabigay ng concrete solution. take note ma'am guev says this is the worst problem of engineering. something that she plans to abolish if possible. but then again the solution would have to come from us, not her.

so enough about that. i would like to take this opportunity in behalf of the past cs reps to thank all you guys for a job well done! parser is the epitome of "reaching out to bringing the cs community together".

I'm sure that from the great job you have done, you have formed a following that can replace your talents or even exceed them (hint ulit sa mga younger batch).

Good luck to all our endeavors!
Mabuhay ang CS!

PS sensya na ngayon lang ako nkapost ulit dito kc patapos na ang thesis namin! yeah dammit!

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personally naman, i don't think apathy is the problem... nor do i view it as a problem. everyone has different priorities when we enter college.

aminin, we knew for a fact that we are going to graduate summa cum laude when we were during our first years... when we stepped into our second year, we thought that magna would still be fine.... when our eyes opened during our third year, we thought, pwede na cum... but after facing a lot obstacles, we now start to think that, at least we're graduating on time... but then... at least i did my best...

but along the way, we learned a whole lot more than just cs. we also learned to work together. we joined groups. we became involved. we became aware. we started understanding why we didn't have the best equipment or that we didn't have labs for all our majors.

the thing is, coming from a course equally tough as the es series, each of us has our own priorities. we can not dictate the priorities of others. but we can open oppurtunities for those who want to explore...

i remember when i was at my second year, there was this group that i wanted to join but unfortunately i had an exam during their "orientation" only to find out that they accepted all those who applied. i guess it was and has always been one of my frustrations. had i known that these oppurtunities where there for me, i would have grabbed them.

but the point is, in case hindi na clear, there is always a need for us to make known that there is life aside from academic life as a cs sudent. yun sana yung plan namin this year, kaya most of the activities we had were for the freshies and sophies... we aren't sure yet if it worked.

i just hope that next year, everyone within the network would work together. as i told some of you, we didn't want to divide the cs students into different orgs but rather have the orgs serve the interest of every student. magkaiba yun! masaya kasi kung may mga people na member ng cursor, na member din ng parser na member din ng acm. or pwede iba't ibang combination. wag lang pabayaan ang acads... =D

as what chicco said, thanks for all the help you gave us... we may not be the best in our jobs but at least we had you guys to help us... proud ako na tga dcs ako... proud ako na mga tga dcs nag-iisip, may paki, nagtutulungan... you won't find that anywhere else...

salamat ng sobra!

Out of Tune

This blog seems to be a bit out of tune to the real reason as to why I started it in the first place but I guess it's ok. I wanted it to be something more than just a personal blog. I wanted it to be a venue to release the techie angst in me but unfortunately most of my angst are not techie by nature...

Oh well, I have been enclosed to much on my thesis alone and I feel that I am not longer growing and learning new things. Classes has ended weeks before and its been days since I last saw the outside world, that is being closed in the DILC world for quite sometime now. Being closed and stagnated for almost four days in here just makes me want to break free...

At least, we are now at the final stretch... Thesis Paper and Documentation... It seems so much of a long and painful final stretch. I just want this to end. I haven't eaten a decent meal for two days. I just want it to end. My biological time clock is not out of tune. This is not right.

Dating Diversions Famous Dating Quiz Results

Anybody suit the description? Just tag me... :D hehehe... joke....
Just an escape from thesis...

Your dating personality profile: Liberal - Politics matters to you, and you aren't afraid to share your left-leaning views. You would never be caught voting for a conservative candidate. Practical - You are a down-to-earth individual who is not impressed with material excess. You care about the stuff of like that really matters. Big-Hearted - You are a kind and caring person. Your warmth is inviting, and your heart is a wellspring of love.

Your date match profile: Religious - You seek someone who is grounded in faith and who possesses religious values. You believe that a religious person can enhance your life. Intellectual - You seek out intelligence. Idle chit-chat is not what you are after. You prefer your date who can stimulate your mind. Practical - You are drawn to people who are sensible and smart. Flashy, materialistic people turn you off. You appreciate the simpler side of living.

Your Top Ten Traits 1. Liberal 2. Practical 3. Big-Hearted 4. Outgoing 5. Funny 6. Sensual 7. Intellectual 8. Adventurous 9. Wealthy/Ambitious 10. Romantic

Your Top Ten Match Traits 1. Religious 2. Intellectual 3. Practical 4. Funny 5. Big-Hearted 6. Athletic 7. Shy 8. Adventurous 9. Traditional 10. Sensual

Take the Online Dating Personality Quiz at Dating Diversions

On th Pope and our Java Card Thesis

I so wanted to write down my thoughts since last sunday if only it were not for this thesis. When I woke up that day, I immediately turned on the T.V. I was up all night till around 3 in the morning just listening to the news on how the Pope was doing. I was sad and scared and worried. I never thought that I could care for someone so much for someone i have never even met. But my eyes were tired, so I slept only to wake up the next day and learn that 30 minutes after i closed my eyes, the news that I have been very much anticipating yet at the same time dreading had finally "come to pass" .

I was downhearted the entire day. I passed by the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice to light a candle for the Pope. I prayed the rosary, which I have not done since New Year. I was sad. I was not at my right mind. I felt angry at the same time when I think of those who do not seem to care that we have just lost someone so important, someone who had the passion and someone who has given his life in the service of the people. Pope John Paul II was a person I greatly admire. He
was someone I looked up to.

I went to the computer center after to do our thesis... damn little thing that thesis is. Until today, we are doing revisions on our paper, doing documentation in our code, debugging our code once again (after multiple debugs), javadocs, user and installation manual, jar files, and so much more....

I am just so tired right now I feel like quitting it all... I could take my HP job for OJT this summer right? Darn... It would be such a waste if I don't complete this....