I love you...

I got this from a post in one of my groups...

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I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you simply, without problems or pride;

I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.
- Pablo Neruda

Reading back

I was reading my posts from long ago, back when this blog was less than 6 months old and I have to admit I had more direction before than from where I am now. It has been 6 months for me working and I am enjoying my work. I learn something new every day.

I see now at a larger view a working computer network where a thousand computer are communicating with one another compared to my previous concept of a network during my 145 class where 12 computers where wired and only a chat application was being used. Before, I took for granted putting SQL statements together. It didn't really matter how long the statement was as long as it is working but now I find out that there is such a thing as Query Tuning so that queries would run faster and thus increase the performance of an application. Before, I can build an application in 2-3 weeks but now I realize how limited the functionality of my applications where. It takes 2-3 years to build a decent application and it would need constant releases of updates and regular maintainance to make users happy.

Aside from technical work, I learn to deal with people. I meet with people in the office, work with developers and deal with key users, meet with application owners, and handle change managers. Put this in a global scale and you get to meet people with different work habits, different accents, different cultures, different ways of seeing things. Every once in a while, you get to appreciate the beauty of a global business and the advantages of seeing things at a bigger whole and see the how much you can affect change in that.

Really, I have learned a lot from this short period of time. But I want to get involved in something outside of work - a sport, a volunteer group or something that I have interest. I want to do something different outside of work. Something that is on a smaller scale but I don't know yet. I tried doing that inside the office but I am still playing a role too small to really make an impact and besides, I don't want to be limited to HP alone.

Reading back, I remember how much of a visionary I was. I had a lot of dreams. I still do have those though, but it is somehow blurred. I guess it is because I have always found people who could realize those dreams for me. Now, it is either I realize those dreams on my own (which I don't think I can) or find people who have similar dreams as mine and see if we can work something out.

I remember my mission-vision statement before: To guide, inspire and empower myself and my circle of infuence in order to create a relationship of growth, understanfing, excitement & fun. This was the first draft of that mission-vision statement I made during the Team Building we had for the council when I saw myself a bringer of sides. I guess it is time to build on that 2nd draft now because I have a larger range of possibilites.

I also have my 10 dreams that would fulfill my mission:
1. Fix my biological time clock. [check]
2. Graduate on time. [check]
3. Build a house for my family in a nice village.
4. Thank people that have influenced & helped me in my life. [in the process]
5. Be a smiling face & a listening ear. [loosing this one]
6. Solidify CS department and students. [wait and see status]
7. Pursue higher studies on something that would have impact on Philippine society.
8. Build a forest; be part of an environment advocacy
9. Become a teacher or professor.
10. Build that scholarship program.

2 out of 10. Not bad in just a year. I guess it is also time to update this dream list. I have to do something to remind me of these goals of mine...

I hope reading back on my blogs and papers will put me in a better direction much like if not better than what I had before. Wish me luck!

For UP people

Sa mga taga-UP:

Man is the highest form of animal. He is made to be above all except God. So no matter how high EAGLES soar, no matter how far FALCONS fly, no matter how BULLDOGS bark, no matter how aggressive TIGERS are, they will always succumb to that one NAKED MAN... standing with his ARMS OPEN WIDE. _UP.FiGHT!

UP: Serve the People!

Quote from Bob Ong

I got this one of a kind quote from a Engr. James's friendster. I liked it very much! This is so true.

"..Nalaman kong hindi pala exam na may passing rate ang buhay. Hindi ito multiple choice, identification, true or false, enumeration, o fill in the blanks na sinasagutan, kundi essay na isinusulat araw araw. Huhusgahan ito hindi base sa kung tama o mali ang sagot, kundi base sa kung may kabuluhan ang mga naisulat o wala. Allowed ang erasures.

Nalaman kong marami palang libreng lecture sa mundo, ikaw ang gagawa ng syllabus. Maraming teacher sa labas ng eskuwelahan, desisyon mo kung kanino ka magpapaturo. Lahat tayo enrolled ngayon sa isang university, maraming subject na mahirap, pero dahil libre, ikaw ang talo kung nag-drop ka. Isa-isa tayong ga-graduate, iba't-ibang paraan. tanging diploma ay ang mga alaala ng kung ano mang tulong o pagmamahal ang iniwan natin sa mundong pinangarap nating baguhin minsan..."

Bob Ong

A B N K K B S N P L A Ko?!

mga kuwntong chalk ni bob ong

Oktoberfest!

It was one of those days when everyone had something to do but want to get their mind off for a while. It was on of those days where a text message for a drinking session would ignite instant interest and an instant get together. Well, for Oct 1., it was just not one of those days. We had to convince a good number of people to join us even for just dinner like one who had an exam the next day (hi Stan), one who didn't want to spend on alchohol (hi Jan), one who already had a drinking binge the night before but knew beforehand of the plan and was not able to come(hi GM) and those that never made it at all for various reasons (hi Eric, Karen, Dianne). Well, when two or more people are gathered dinner will be enjoyable and the treat after a lot more fun.

And so it was,

(Errol, Geviv, and Jan)

and

(Pat, myself and Stan)

had a 500+ dinner at Mang Jimmy's at Balara. We eat there for only 2 reasons: lechon kawali and sisig. And of all the times that they have to run out of sisig!!! we had difficulty in ordering our last 2 dishes (it was 5 plus 2 - meaning 5 dishes plus 2 free dishes). I tried to haggle a little so that they would give it to us instead a 4 plus 3 since we came as far as Alabang just to eat sisig and to find none. That didn't work though.

So, dinner was ok. As always, empty plates, hot plates, glasses and bottles. We also gave some of our leftovers to the street kids waiting outside. Pat even commented that they must the most stuffed street kids ever - considering that this place was a food heaven for UP students (and alumni). Just imagine how much leftover there could be if they were lucky!

Anyway, that was the "heart warming" part of the story. We had to decide where to spend our Oktoberfest (which is also my first). Good thing Stan came along since he is the most knowledgeable on this sort of thing (drinking spots that is... :p) So we decided the proceed to Tribu - a place near the famous Meatshop along Xavierville Ave.

It was a decent place. It was clean and cozy - not too warm, not too noisy, "fresh" air (except from cigarette smoke). We ordered drinks first. We thought that ordering a dish was impractical considering that we just came from a gluttonous dinner.

There were beers (Red Horses), Gin7 and MangoGin glasses in a few minutes. So we did a toast to our October and (my birthday) :p, good health and success... Ok, so maybe I am making up this part. I can't remember to what we toasted to but we did a toast.



Maybe it was for the picture. Of course, we talked about a lot of things. The reminiscing, the catching up, the plans (drunk talk as Jan would say) for this coming summer a.k.a. the Southern Tour, the advices. Imagine, me, Jan, and Pat giving advice to Stan, Geviv and Errol on interviews and job application. Advice on how to go about doing work, how it feels like "working" in the real world. The difficulty of beginning and the fun at the end.

And as always, there is always the picture taking...

which we will never grow tired of...

There were still a good number more of picture taking after. Good thing Pat brought his digicam. As Jan had said, we are going to have documentation again. I was not able to join the first session as I had work. Damn, night shift... good thing there is night premium to compensate for my missed partying/late nights with friends.

But as the saying goes, "All good thing must come to an end." and the end came after Errol stopped pressuring me to drink. I was at my limit and I knew it.

I mean, look at me, all pressured. Good thing, I've got my mind over matter thing going on and that no amount of convincing could allow me to fold. I took one more glass after that and said that I was done. But I wouldn't be to give justice to Errol's pressure with quoting a line I will never forget: "I am your limit, man. You will stop only when I stop." Errol should do his interviews drunk. He speaks good english during that state.

Anyway, we ended at around 1am. Jan had to go somewhere the next day and Stan still had an exam. I puked when I reached home (another first in my drinking history - which is not that long by the way). But all in all, we had a fun time. I enjoyed it even if it was a bit heavy in the wallet. Elbee group friends: until next time.