Everybody remembers the 1st day of their 1st job. I remember mine pretty clearly still. Forced myself up despite being unabe to sleep the night before due to nightmares of accidentally deleting all tables of my company's client and everyone blaming me. Hahaha... I knew little back then.
My entire family dropping me off in from of RSC as they were driving back to Cebu land trip style that day. Cross Jan who went to the office with her mom and brother. We went up the elevator and at the 10F we started our 1st day of what has been 3 years today.
How has it been like? Well, to put it simply, it has the same challenges as with any other multi national organization in the industry but has a great working environment. :) Personally, I am still learning a lot and challenged enough.
HP is a great place to work. Let's leave it at that.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Quizbox: Get to know yourself better
Got this from Jef R. :) -> (http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx)
Get to know yourself better
Your view on yourself:
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.The seriousness of your love:
You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?Your views on education
Education is less important than the real world out there, away from the classroom. Deep inside you want to start working, earning money and living on your own.The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.Who is your true self:
You are full of energy and confidence. You are unpredictable, with moods changing as quickly as an ocean. You might occasionally be calm and still, but never for long.Friday, February 29, 2008
Blogthings: What Mike Sepulveda Means
Got this from EJ. :) Do you think its true? hahaha... I don't think its totally true.. :)
| What Mike Sepulveda Means |
 You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people. Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems. Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are very hyper. You never slow down, even when it's killing you. You're the type of person who can be a workaholic during the day... and still have the energy to party all night. Your energy is definitely a magnet for those around you. People are addicted to your vibe. You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. |
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The arrogance of UP
Taken from an email sent to a Yahoo!Group. Made me think, have we been waiting too long to finally make a difference...
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UP at 100 by Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III Monday, 21 January 2008
Sta. Ana coordinates Action for Economic Reforms. This article was published in the Opinion Section, Yellow Pad Column of BusinessWorld, January 21,2008 edition, pages S1/4 and S1/5.
The day after the University of the Philippines or UP kicked off its celebration of its 100th year, we organized a get-together for a balikbayan pair—my cousin Lynn and her husband Greg. The guest list was made up mostly of UP alumni, young activists of more than a generation ago. And so, I kind of expected that a conversation piece for the dinner would be about the UP of today and yesterday.
In that gathering was Soliman Santos, Jr., or Sol, someone who perhaps represents the UP ideal.
A text message that has been circulating among UP alumni says that UP makes the best students. On the contrary, the truth is that the students who enter UP are already the best and the brightest. Take Sol who entered UP in 1970. He comes from a family of geniuses, although his sister Rayla thinks that the middle child Ricky is the most brilliant among the three siblings who all went to UP.
Sol graduated from the academically elite Philippine Science School—but as an aside, this school likewise educated awful people like Sol's classmate, Hermogenes Esperon. Upon entering UP, Sol obtained the prestigious National Science Development Board (NSDB) scholarship and took up a tough course, electrical engineering. Later, he deliberately dropped his NSDB scholarship not because his well-to-do parents could easily afford his UP education but because maintaining the much-coveted scholarship stood in the way of his desire to give more time and energy to student activism. He would thus shift to a "lightweight course" (Sol's term, which could infuriate the history professors and majors). Despite activism—propaganda work, in particular—being his priority, Sol still excelled in his academics. He was a college or university scholar and he graduated cum laude.
But Sol's life in UP was not limited to being an activist and scholar. He was a romantic, falling in love with a bohemian, Doods, who would later become his wife. And he was a non-barbarian, also known as a frat-man—being a dedicated member of the "great and glorious" Alpha Sigma.
I must confess that I'm paying tribute to Sol because I'd rather praise him now than follow his black-humor request that I give him a eulogy when that moment comes.
But really, without Sol inspiring me, I couldn't have started writing this piece about UP. So here is Sol who personifies the best of UP—a bright and all-round person, not simply a scholar but truly a scholar of the people. And this guy loves UP; he cares for UP.
This long intro about Sol sets the stage for what he was to say on that occasion we had a get-together, the night after the formal opening of the UP centennial. When Sol together with Doods arrived for the dinner—and their entrance caught my attention because they came
late, I sensed that Sol was prepared for a surprise statement. At first, I thought it was a fashion statement. Sol wore a green De La Salle University T-shirt.
This is strange, we thought. Sol is the type who buys souvenir items from the University of the Philippines. So why not wear the UP shirt? After all, 2008 is UP's centennial.
Sol said he precisely wore the La Salle shirt as a statement of his protest against UP's arrogance. He, like many of us, was revolted with UP's slogan for its 100th anniversary: "UP, ang galing mo!"
Sol and Doods opined that the UP authorities had apparently forgotten to use the symbol of the UP Oblation for the centenary. The Oblation represents an offering, the University's offering to the Filipino people. Reaffirming the Oblation's message is arguably the most fitting message for the UP centennial.
The slogan "UP, ang galing mo!" sounds arrogant. But there's a bigger problem than that: proclaiming "UP, ang galing mo!" betrays the brittle confidence that we have about UP.
It remains indisputable that UP is the best university in the Philippines. But this has always been the case for many decades and generations. Should UP compare itself to mediocre schools (relative to the rest of the world)? Is UP content being the big fish in a small
pond? Or if UP were playing in a basketball or football tournament, would it prefer playing in the midget league, not in the first league, just so it would be ranked the best in that league?
Arrogance is acceptable if we were a Muhammad Ali or a Michael Jordan or a Bobby Fischer. In the same manner, the UP's arrogance is tolerable if it could at least approximate the standards of the best in the world.
Which brings us to the THES-QS World university rankings 2007 (see www.topuniversities .com). The THES-QS ranking is measured in terms of five indicators with corresponding weights, namely peer review (40 percent), citations per faculty (20 percent), employer or recruiter review (20 percent), staff/student ratio (10 percent), international staff (5 percent), and international students (5 percent).
In 2007, UP was ranked number 398. As expected, the top 10 universities came from the United States and the United Kingdom—Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, Princeton, Chicago, California Institute of Technology, University College, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Among the top 50 in 2007 were Asian universities: University of Tokyo (17) University of Hong Kong (18), Kyoto University (25), National University of Singapore (33)
Peking University (36), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (38), and Tsinghua University (40). Seoul National University missed the top 50 by a whisker.
The consolation is that UP is the only Philippine university ranked in the world's top 400 universities. The ranking for the next 401-500 universities is also available, with Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) ranked number 451.
To be nearly at the bottom of the heap is bad enough. It is more embarrassing that universities in India, Thailand, Malaysia and even Indonesia have outclassed UP, which was once upon a time one of the best universities in Asia. Allow me to enumerate the universities in Asian developing countries that were ahead of UP in the 2007 THES-QS rankings: Chulalongkorn (223), Universiti Malaya (246), University of Delhi (254), Mahidol University (284), Universiti Sains Malaysia (307), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (307), Universitas Gadjah Mada (360), Universiti Putra Malaysia (364), Bandung Institute of Technology (369), and University of Indonesia (395). This does not even include the higher ranking of the universities in Singapore, China, Taiwan (province of China), and South Korea.
The people from UP or the UP alumni make fun of the other universities in the Philippines. DLSU (De La Salle University), so goes a UP joke, stands for "Di Lumusot sa UPCAT." I do hope we UP alumni don't get offended when a student from Yogjakarta's Universitas Gadjah Mada—say, a dark-skinned Muslim whose English is unintelligible— makes a joke
that UP stands for "Underachieving People."
That can be jolting. But we do need a jolt. And UP's centenary is the auspicious moment not only to celebrate UP's offering to the country and the people but to sound the wake up call for UP to reclaim its reputation as one of Asia's leading universities.
The UP is fully aware of what has to be done. It is, for example, necessary to legislate a new UP Charter that will make UP the national university. The Charter should reinforce UP's fiscal autonomy and augment its resources, insulate UP from political arbitrariness and patronage, safeguard academic freedom, strengthen academic excellence, and facilitate UP's role in serving the people and fostering national development.
The UP constituency cannot afford to be divided on key reforms. The reforms have long been delayed, partly because of the lack of consensus within the UP community. The administration must put in place an inclusive process that draws in the most vociferous voices in the University. And the UP activists must recognize, given the existence of a failed state and the severe national budget constraint, that it is to the UP's and nation's interests to make UP less financially dependent on the national government.
UP's internal reforms may not be enough though. The problem of meeting excellent academic standards is not endemic to UP. ADMU, DLSU, and the University of Sto. Tomas did not rank among the top 400 universities. So there lies a deeper problem for Philippine universities in general.
A cursory examination of the THES-QS World university rankings shows that the ranking is highly correlated with a country's level of development and prosperity.
So what should we do? We can learn from Sol, the epitome of what a UP alumnus should be. As a UP alumnus, he goes out of his way to support UP in whatever form. He can even appeal to his fraternity brods in Malacañang or the Senate to secure the passage of the new UP Charter. At the same time, as a true scholar of the people, he has consistently
participated in the struggle to rebuild severely damaged Philippine institutions. Only when we make the institutions work can we see the country prosper, which in turn will enable the UP as well as the other schools to become world class and indisputably excellent.
Sweeney Todd addiction
I'm not sure why but I seem to have an addiction to the songs from the movie Sweeney Todd. I liked the movie but I guess when Mich uploaded to Multiply some songs from the movie. I can't seem to help but get hooked as if I had a last song syndrome to it even if I think I don't.
Anyway, I got some videos I got from YouTube. :p hehehe... Makes it easier for me to find them again.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Chinese Astrology: Annual Forecast for the Rat
Got this from EJ -> http://www.dragon-gate.com/resources/fengshuitools/chineseAstrology/horoscope.asp?id=1
Not really much of a believer in astrology and fortune telling but it is always interesting to note. Unfortunately though, the stars tell me to concentrate on work and stay away from anything related to the matters of the heart and health.
Grab travel opportunities... hmmm... might be a sign. =D
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Career Wealth Relationship Health |
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Review: Lions for Lambs
Here is a review on movie I watched a few months back that got me questioning and thinking and rethinking a lot. The review says much of how the story goes although it does not say much of how good the movie was - well, I found the dialogue very compelling that I did not notice other aspects of the movie. Anyway, here is a review from Canadian Cinephile’s Reviews. I tried creating a personal review but didn't get to finish it.
Lions for Lambs is a film destined to polarize audiences. Directed by Robert Redford, Lions for Lambs is an indictment more than a film and contains a slew of political discussion that will either enthrall or bore viewers. Seeing this film is really a question of whether or not one is prepared for the material and not a question of whether one wants a fun evening at the cinema. Lions for Lambs is a film that is intended to provoke thought, opinion, debate, and action. Redford’s film is not a film that is designed to divert attention from global affairs, but rather is a film that is designed to shine a light on the reactions and lack of actions on the part of the general public. It is a scathing critique, overall, but its uneven delivery undercuts its overall effectiveness.
Lions for Lambs takes the form of three interrelated stories and follows the characters through very basic scenes. Most of the scenes in the film, save the war scenes, are single-room dialogue-driven scenes that work through the ideologies that bring the war scenes about. Contrary to what a lot of the reviews say, Lions for Lambs does indeed have a structure. It is purposeful in its pacing and in its discussion of the ideologies, without question. The scenes cut back and forth frequently, highlighting various points and factors by providing a running commentary on the actions currently displayed by the United States on a global scale.
The first story involves two university students that follow the inspiration of their idealistic teacher, Dr. Stephen Malley (Redford). Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena) enlist in the military, much to the chagrin of Malley, and become involved in the war in Afghanistan. The sequences involving Arian and Ernest are the weakest in the film, as they are shot in an “action movie” sort of way and are often rather intrusive in terms of the overall scope of the film. The dialogue scenes between the other characters are much more intense, exciting, and enthralling in terms of pacing and action in the context of the overall film.
The second story involves Dr. Malley and a disaffected student, Todd Hayes (Andrew Garfield). This story takes place in Malley’s office as he meets with Hayes over coffee to discuss Todd’s attendance and dedication to his classes. Todd reveals that he has become disillusioned with political science and simply wants to be an “average Joe” to enjoy his personal happiness. Malley sets out to scold/inspire Todd in a set of scenes that reflect the overall intentions of Redford with Lions for Lambs. The idea here is to help Todd (the audience) overcome their cultural and political apathy by inspiring and coercing action in any and all terms. The “action” in terms of the characters of Arian and Ernest was to join the war - an “action” which Malley deplores and admires. The action in terms of Todd and the audience of Lions for Lambs is up for grabs as the credits roll.
The third story in Lions for Lambs is the strongest. A Republican presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise) invites a reporter, Janine Roth (Meryl Streep), into his office for a one hour meeting. In the meeting, Irving announces a new war strategy in Afghanistan that proposes small troop units (like the ones Ernest and Arian wind up in) occupying small mountain regions before the Taliban can do so. As Irving reveals his strategy, a discussion erupts between he and Roth that highlights the role of media, the passive nature of mass media, and the role of government policies in shaping lives. It is an intriguing discussion that is well acted by both Cruise and Streep, as the script pulls no punches in creating an affective character in Cruise’s Irving and a sympathetic character in Streep’s Roth.
Lions for Lambs takes risks in its execution and, for that reason, is worth watching. It is a bold film that produces bold ideas and challenges key policies. Redford aims to provoke and challenge the viewer here, using a fictional narrative to innervate and energize his audience into potential action. The goal of Lions for Lambs is admirable and moving. The execution is, however, uneven at times. The strongest scenes are really strong and the weakest scenes are, sadly, really weak. This produces a feeling of misplaced apathy towards certain characters. I found myself losing interest during the scenes involving Ernest and Arian and found myself getting excited to see the next scene to feature Roth and Irving. As a whole, Lions for Lambs is heavily flawed.
The dialogue here is often strong, but often mediocre. The scenes with Malley and Todd are great examples of script failure. Redford is really good, while Garfield is wooden and uninteresting overall. Redford’s lines in the scenes are strong and poignant, packed with punchy resolve and a will for the future. Meanwhile, Garfield’s lines, while intentionally riddled with apathy, are so cookie-cutter and normative that one feels apathy about Garfield’s character’s apathy. Instead of willing Garfield’s character over the hump and on to something greater, the dialogue and performance by Garfield simply bores while Redford works his ass off to carry the scenes. Only during the sequences involving Cruise and Streep is true acting equality shown.
Lions for Lambs is a dialogue heavy indictment of American policy and a strong film in terms of its risk-taking and its effective viewpoints. The execution of the film overall lacks key components, however. With a stronger script and better performances, Lions for Lambs would be a significant film in the annals of cinema history. As it is, however, Lions for Lambs is an above-average polemic and simply an average film. It’s still good enough to recommend it, though, as I feel its importance trumps its overall execution.
Trailer:
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Remembering me
I realized just this moment how important my blog really is. It's not just an outlet for the freedom of frustration expressed but also a "permanent" (unless you edit or delete previous blogs) record of the past you.
I have once again reviewed some of my past entries, partly due to a challenge posed my the boss of my boss and I came across the entry I was looking for. It was a post 6 months after graduating from college and starting work. It was about the mission and vision I had for myself as well as the Top 10 dreams I needed to fulfill my mission.
Mission-Vision Statement
To guide, inspire and empower myself and my circle of infuence in order to create a relationship of growth, understanding, excitement & fun.
I created this during team building session / leadership seminar we organized for the student council back in January of 2005 and comparing that declaration with my "Who I am?" in the last eLT meeting seems to be as far off as I thought I already was.
Who I am?
I am Fun-loving & Excellence. Around me, people achieve excellence while having fun. This is who I am and that is what you can count on.
I guess the difference with the me before with the me now is that I know that I have to start creating my dreams myself today rather than wait for other people with similar dreams to create it with. Besides, the chances of finding someone almost the same as me are close to impossible, considering the individuality of humanity. :) Also, they are my dreams not theirs.
Realizing that you are growing up does not really change the you in you. Your core will always be the same whether you are 13 or 53. That's my opinion anyway.
Below is my Top 10 Dreams again and I hope that those who get to read it would hold me accountable to each for the year 2008.
1. Fix my biological time clock.
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. [umm... is this a check? :) ]
6. Solidify CS department and students. [i'm losing on this one... :( ]
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.
I'm back at 1 out of 10 from 2 last 2005. More work needs to be done!
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I browsed through the rest of my entries and found one that I also found interesting. Makes you think, am I being one? Well, it is a continuous learning process. You do great things and you learn from the messed up ones.
Anyway, anyway... I'm living on a new theme for this year. Live life! Have a great 2008! :)
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
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