Info Builder

3@HP

2008-04-25T18:30:00.000+08:00

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.

Quizbox: Get to know yourself better

2008-03-02T13:51:00.001+08:00

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.

Blogthings: What Mike Sepulveda Means

2008-02-29T01:39:00.000+08:00

Got this from EJ. :) Do you think its true? hahaha... I don't think its totally true.. :)

What Mike Sepulveda Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
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.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Net Survey: How evil am I?

2008-02-28T17:26:00.000+08:00

Hmm.... :p

How evil are you?Got this from K, btw... :)

The arrogance of UP

2008-02-14T02:53:00.000+08:00

Taken from an email sent to a Yahoo!Group. Made me think, have we been waiting too long to finally make a difference...

--------

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

2008-02-14T02:41:00.000+08:00

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.

Chinese Astrology: Annual Forecast for the Rat

2008-02-12T02:48:00.001+08:00

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

----------------------

	18 February 1912 - 5 February 1913 (Water Rat)
	5 February 1924 - 23 January 1925 (Wood Rat)
	24 January 1936 - 10 February 1937 (Fire Rat)
	10 February 1948 - 28 January 1949 (Earth Rat)
	28 January 1960 - 14 February 1961 (Metal Rat)
	15 February 1972 - 2 February 1973 (Water Rat)
	2 February 1984 - 19 February 1985 (Wood Rat)
	19 February 1996 - 6 February 1997 (Fire Rat)

Career
This year sees the Rat being governed by the General Star, also known as the Sui Jia star. You will see enhancements to your work efforts as well as fantastic support from your superiors and workmates! This is the time for you to show off your skills and shine, Rat - in fact, the stars show that being more extroverted than usual will only serve to strengthen your luck potential. Be vocal, too, and you will see others actually listening to you for guidance.

Though your career luck is wonderful, do keep in mind that any major life changes are not advisable for you this 2008. Do not make any big decisions, either, but instead keep busy with your work. One exception to this rule is if you are offered a project abroad by your existing employer, taking up the challenge will prove advantageous!

Wealth
The Rat will enjoy very good Wealth luck this year. Inspirations and opportunities abound, and you will indeed prosper. Concentration on your work is the key ingredient though, Rat - work hard, play hard, and success is yours.

If you're interested in dabbling with investments this year, you should depend on conservative investments and steady revenue rather than speculative ones.

Relationship
The Rat's relationship prospects are a little uncertain this year. For the single Rat, it is actually very advisable for you to put your love life at a halt this year and focus on work - but, if you're keen on starting a relationship, chances are they will be short-term and casual in nature. The attached Rat should also do likewise - maintain your love life, but keep your career at the fore.

Health
Because the Rat will be nose-deep in work effort, health may be jeopardized. Organize your time well and remember that you do need a good rest every night. Aside from this, the Rat should also be careful of accidents involving vehicles or even heavy machinery. There is also a potential of you getting robbed and seriously hurt in the process, therefore reduce this risk by staying entirely away from remote places and don't take any chances with your personal safety.

You may also counter these possible occurrences by donating your blood in 2008.

Review: Lions for Lambs

2008-01-06T18:41:00.001+08:00

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:

Remembering me

2008-01-02T03:53:00.000+08:00

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!

----------

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! :)

Live Life!

2008-01-01T17:11:00.000+08:00

Just a simple New Year entry for 2008:

Live Life! Have a great 2008 everyone! :)

Continuing Saga of Tita Beth's Tribute

2007-11-18T19:03:00.000+08:00

Back when I was younger, whenever it was Christmas, I don't usually think of Santa Claus or Noche Buena. What gets me excited is the number of presents Tita Beth will be giving me that year. It was usually 3 gifts and we usually get to open them close to New Year since the package arrives late. Seriously though, Tita Beth is like a 2nd mother to me, although she tops my mom when it comes to nagging me to wake up early or move faster or eat breakfast. That is why, I was glad that when I began to work, I did not have to wake up to eat breakfast early. That was when the early morning "Get up Get up!" calls ended.

Tita Beth taught me a lot of firsts too. She gave me my first "serious" books. Those were the 2 Hardy Boys. I remember her message in one of the books saying that she was proud that I started getting into reading and I should continue to do so. Of course, that was after the 4 Disney story books she sent which were really more of pictures rather than for reading. She taught me how to ride a jeep in Manila as well as taught me how to take the MRT when it first opened. She drove 5 hours++ from Los Banos to Mandaluyong for me when I moved to UPD from UPLB for a overrun bedding and a plastic pail that looked like it was at the end of its life. I really appreciated the help.

There are a lot of things I will definitely miss about Tita Beth. Her generosity and eagerness to help. Her kindness and helpfulness. Her discipline and being very hardworking. I mean, I realize that she did not get to where she is now in here life from just natural smarts and intelligence. She worked hard every day and was very disciplined. She taught me a lot of that when I stayed over her place during my internship in high school and during my first months of work.
Truth be told, Tita Beth has affected us all in more ways than one. I could have written a 12 page essay on each and every little thing that Tita Beth taught and inspired me but I guess an email that long would probably be hard to read.

Tita, I know that it’s hard not to feel resentful at times when being pushed a lot but know that we understand and realize that it’s not just that you are naturally bossy (hehehe…) but rather that you do see the whole picture; that you think of other people more than your self. That makes you special and that’s what would make me miss you most of all. A lot of my personal decisions in life was inspired and somehow affected by you and I believe that being able to do what I do now has been because of the way you live your life.

Tita, thank you for just being who you are. In so many ways, it makes all of us want to be more like you. I’ll miss you and I’ll see you when I see you. J God bless!

SOJA - Surf video

2007-11-03T04:04:00.000+08:00

Amber Pacific - Gone So Young

2007-09-20T17:55:00.000+08:00

Wala lng... Nagustuhan ko eh...

Amber Pacific - Gone So Young

meet Inday...

2007-09-20T17:22:00.000+08:00

Dahil sa tindi ng kahirapan sa probinsya, namasukan si Inday bilang katulong sa Maynila. Habang ini-interview ng amo…

Amo: Kelangan namin ng katulong para mag ayos ng bahay, magluto, maglaba, magplantsa, mamalengke, at magbantay ng mga bata. Kaya mo ba ang lahat ng ito?

Inday: I believe that my trained skills and expertise in management with the use of standard tools, and my discipline and experience will contribute significantly to the value of the work that you want, my creativity, productivity and work-efficiency and the high quality of outcomes I can offer will boost the work progress.

Amo: [nosebleed]

Nakaraan ang dalawang araw, umuwi ang amo, nakitang me bukol si junior.

Amo: Bakit me bukol si junior?

Inday: Compromising safety with useless aesthetics, the not-so-well engineered architectural design of our kitchen lavatory affected the boy's cranium with a slight boil at the left temple near the auditory organ.

Amo: [nosebleed ulit] Kinagabihan, habang naghahapunan.

Amo: Bakit maalat ang ulam?

Inday: The consistency was fine. But you see, it seems that the increased amount of sodium chloride (NaCl) affected the taste drastically and those actions are irreversible. I do apologize.

Amo: [nosebleed na naman]

Donya: Bakit tuwing paguwi ko, nadadatnan kitang nanunuod ng tv?!

Inday: Because I don't want you to see me doing absolutely nothing.

Donya: [hinimatay]

Kinabukasan, sinamahan ni Inday si junior sa principal's office dahil di makapunta ang amo at donya.

Principal: Sinuntok ni junior ang kanyang kaklase.

Inday: It's absurd! It was never a fact that he will inflict a fight. I can only imagine how you handle schizophrenic kids on this educational institution. Revise your policies because they suck!

Principal: [nag resign]

Pag dating sa bahay, nandun na ang amo, galit na galit.

Amo: Inday, bakit nagkalat ang basura sa likod ng bahay?!

Inday: A change in the weather patterns might have occurred wrecking havoc to the surroundings. The way the debris are scattered indicates that the gust of wind was going northeast causing damage to the path it was heading for.

Amo: [napatumbling!!]

Amo: Inday, bakit binenta mo ung sira na silya?!

Inday: I have computed the chair's fair value less cost to sell, and the value in use using the projections for 5 years and a pretax discount rate. Accordingly, the value in use is lower, so I decided to sell the chair. This is in accordance with PAS18 on Revenue, PAS16 on PPE, and PA36 on Impairment of Assets.

Amo: [nagsummersaultg!!! Accountant din pala si inday…]

Habang nagluluto si Inday ng hapunan, malikot si junior.

Inday: Stop your raucous behavior. It is bound to result in property damages and if that happens there will be corresponding punishment to be inflicted upon you!

Junior: [takbo sa CR, pinunasan ang nagdudugong ilong!!]

Pagkatapos magluto, nanood na ng TV si Inday. Nabalitaan nya umalis si Angel Locsin sa GMA 7.

Junior: Bakit kaya sya umalis?

Inday: Sometimes, people choose to leave not because of selfish reasons but because they just know that things will get worse if they'll stay. Leaving can be a tough act, and it's harder when people can't understand you for doing so.

Junior: [tuloy ang pagdugo ng ilong]

Nung gabing yon, me nag text ke Inday. Si Dodong, ang driver ng kapitbahay, gusto maki pag text-mate.

Inday: To forestall further hopes of acquaintance, my unfathomable statement to the denial of your request - Petition denied.

Di nagla-on, dahil sa tyaga ni Dodong, nagging syota nya rin si Inday. Pero di tumagal ang kanilang relasyon, at nakipag-break si Inday ke Dodong.

Inday: The statute restricts me to love you but you have the provocations. The way you smile is the proximate cause why I love you. We have some rules to think of. We have no vested rights to love each other because the upper household dismissed my petition!

Dodong: Perhaps you are mistaken, what you seem to contrive as any affections for you are somewhat half-hearted. I was merely attempting to expand my network of interests by involving you in my daily recreation. Heretofor, you can expect an end to any verbal articulation from myself

Me dumaan na mamang basurero, at narinig ang usapan ni Inday at Dodong.

Basurero (sabi ke Inday): Be careful in letting go of the things you thought are just nothing because maybe someday you'll realize that the one you gave away is the very thing you've been wishing for to stay.

Narinig ang lahat ng eto ng amo ni inday.

Amo: { hinimatay sa sobrang nosebleed! Hanggang ngayon hindi pa nagkakamalay}

Si inday, sumulat sa kanyang inay ng mga hinaing sa buhay…

Inday: Dear mom, Had it been for the smelling salt, I must have collapsed moment ago. Junior has become a little monster me, Remember the head accident he had? As if it wasn't enough, he was summoned by the principal of his shabbily run academe. Oh, such an erudite bunch of baboons! I never thought being a governess can be such strenuous employ. Your daughter, Inday

The HK Trip

2007-08-14T23:17:00.000+08:00

Got back from a trip to Hong Kong. Left at around 7pm August 9 and came back on August 12 at 4pm. I came back with the realization that HK was a wet and windy place to be... Must be raining every day... hehehe... Kidding aside, I did learned a lot from my experience.

1. From a practical sense, make sure that you check the forecasts before planning your travel; even if you plan it for more than 6 months ahead of your trip. :) Make sure also you spend your time well. When you book a flight, it's not just the PhP 1.00 that you should be looking at, you should also sometimes consider the time. It would have been better if you leave for HK in the morning and fly back to Manila at the evening, that way, the evening when you arrive and the morning before you return are spent on other things aside from packing and rushing to the airport.

2. When being a visitor in another country, we should learn to give some respect and appreciation of their culture. It is one thing to go and see the sites, and another to actually feel and be involved with everything else. One does not need to rush through every moment all the time. Sometimes, stopping to marvel at the difference is also an awesome experience.

3. You don't have to push yourself to much to get ahead. All you need is a little time and patience. You'll get there. Not as fast or as quick as you'd like but you'll arrive. What's most important is you get to help a couple of people along the way and never stepped on other people's toes to get ahead.

4. HK has an excellent emergency response system. When typhoon signal number 8 was hoisted, every store closed and every employee headed for home. Their MTR increased the frequency of trains to accomodate everyone, and their trains were at a 15 second interval. It was not a perfect system though, there were still long lines, but the point is that every body still got home much faster than what you'd expect some place else. :)

5. Filipinos are more tolerant and more hospitable with visitors than HKers. Important points for the Pinoys. Just my observation, in case some people might contest. :)

6. I liked Oceanpark a lot. Not because of The Abyss, which I was not able to ride even if that was the one thing I was really really really looking forward to, nor of any of the other rides which were all closed due to the typhoon, but rather it had much heart for really taking care of our oceans and seas, and everything else that lives in them. It felt great spending almost HKD 200 for something you know is worth it.

7. Disneyland, even if it is just the one in HK, is still A Whole New World! :p Brought out the kid in me...

Pictures and videos may be found on my Multiply. :)

The Middleman

2007-08-07T22:47:00.000+08:00

When caught in between technical expertise and business drivers, it is frustrating getting caught in the middle of the chaos.

56 % Nerd, 21% Geek, 17% Dork

2007-07-26T18:40:00.000+08:00

This is why I am sure that Toffee is not a normal Joe. :)

Your Score: Pure Nerd

56 % Nerd, 21% Geek, 17% Dork

For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.

The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.

Congratulations!

Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

Link: The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test written by donathos on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

each player of this game starts with 6 weird thing...

2007-07-22T20:16:00.000+08:00

each player of this game starts with 6 weird things about himself/herself. People who got tagged need to write a blog entry of their own 6 weird things. They should as well state the rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. When people ask me where I come from or what my hometown is, my usual is "NPA ako." No, I am not part of the New People's Army. NPA means, no permanent address. I have lived in Cotabato City, General Santos City, Davao City, Cebu City, Los Banos, Quezon City, and Makati. Let's not count the number of times we transferred from houses per city.

2. I started studying computer programming (yes, studying not playing with computers) at the age of 11. I first learned to program with GWBASIC and my first program was an employee record where the user is prompted for their details and displays them after. After GWBASIC, we did DBASE 4. I finished the top of my class. My classmates were twice or thrice my aged and copied from me during our final exam. :p hehehe...

3. I still have my gradeschool notebooks and quiz papers with me. I try to clean up once in a while but reading through them brings back old memories. I still have 4 boxes of them at home in Cebu. Im thinking of bring home the one big box of College memories but it's too heavy.

4. For weird, when I graduated high school, I unpurposefully found out my ranking in my class and in the batch. Out of 30 in our class, I was 15 and out of 90 in our batch, I was 45. Hahaha... Imagine being in the middle of everything. Coincidence? You decide.

5. People say, though I seriously doubt, that I look like Jackie Chan. Now they say I own an online Kanji translation website. See www.dsfy.com and you decide.

6. I'm not sure if this classifies as weird, but I have ran out of things to add. Anyway, I have been a stamp collector since the age to 12. I currently have 5 albums. One is a small album which I bring for show and tell. I expect to inherit my grandfather's stamp collection as well as my uncle's. I don't know how many they have but I'm sure its a lot. With the rise of the internal and email, I'm sure this will soon make me rich! hahaha... kidding. :)

Whew! Finally, 6 weird things is hard to reflect on. (Naks! Reflect tlga... hehehe...) Now, I'm tagging:

1. Alvin Uy (http://hellgod.blogspot.com)
2. Benito Ting (http://infernalmind.multiply.com)
3. Mhia Diola (http://miabaybeh.multiply.com)
4. Jan San Jose (http://breakofdawn.blogspot.com)
5. Alex Acapulco (http://alexdgreat.multiply.com)
6. BJ Torres (http://randmcnally.multiply.com)

To undergo transformation, transition or substitution

2007-07-21T02:38:00.000+08:00

Otherwise known as "change".

Yet again, I find myself in a middle of a change and to once again decide whether this is a good thing or a bad one will be my choice based on what will happen in the coming days. Frustration often plays long hours in the mind of those who experience change, and sometimes a sense of uneasiness due to known circumstances that may be forthcoming. We'll see what happens.

Three days with a fucked up system with resolution progrssing very slowly and not knowing what to do and the future at the hands of another person... Sometimes forces a feeling of hopelessness and despair. Seeing no end to a causeless case that sometimes makes one wonder what drives people to work on such worthless trash.

But then, its all a personal decision. Circle of life, I suppose.

----------

My apologies for the incoherence of this entry... every thing will clear up in the end anyway. As Loony Lovegood says, everything has its way of coming back in the end... it only happens when you least expect it.

Sprain pain

2007-07-06T23:12:00.000+08:00

This post seems out of date but I'll post it anyway. Got back from a summer trip to Boracay a few weeks back and it was alright. People might start saying that I wasted some thousand pesos for a trip to beach with a lot rain. Just to clear things, I did not go their for the sun. I have a lot of that already here in Manila. I really just wanted to get to the beach, rain or shine. It really does not matter, for me at least.

Some highlights of the trip though:

1. It's always best to have a Piso fare ticket when you know you'll be missing your flight. I got to the Check-in counter 30 mins before the actual flight. With 3 seats left and 4 of us that needed to board, the lucky person who had to rebook and add an additional PhP 1008.00 was the late comer that had to travel all the way from Diliman at 6am and faced the daily commuter traffic.

2. Five shots of Baccardi 151 = 15 shots of what Boracay's Cocomanga's had to offer. Got a free shirt and, supposedly, my name engraved in their Hall of Fame. Didn't get to check that one out though due to highlight # 3.

3. Skimboard until around 7pm on the last day of your vacation and stop only when you get your right ankle sprained. Just be glad though that you still had to ride more times than the person who got sprained on his first ride (ei BJ! hehe...). :-) Also, be glad that it happened on the last night. You did not miss out on the pasalubong shopping and good eat-all-you-can dinner your vacation mates enjoyed while you were in your room with a cold compress.

4. Walking on a sprained ankle the next day and catching a flight in the next 2 hours is tough! At least I got to ride wheel chair when I reached the airport, great consolation prize for the work I had to do going up and down tricycle, banca and van.

All in all, it was a trip worth remembering. I still got the sprain though I was able to bowl a 121 game which is good enough for me. Reflecting on everything though, at least I now understand why some people are scared of getting hurt. It's painful. But to decide on whether you prefer to enjoy that short moment of bliss and suffer a great deal or remain unscath for the rest of your life but never really fully enjoying all blasts of emotion even for that short period, I'd rather prefer to go sprained for 3 weeks.

I will have to save up this July. August will definitely be much more heavier on the pocket plus I can't afford to be late on that flight! :-)

Lakbayan: C+ Traveler

2007-06-17T18:59:00.000+08:00

I always thought of myself as one of those few people who have travelled the Philippines the most, even if I werejust passing through, apparently I still have a third of the Philippines to discover! :-)

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Three months!!!

2007-06-09T18:13:00.000+08:00

It's been exactly three months since I've gone out riding the waves... I just realized that when I was checking my previous photos here. Damn! Has it been that long?! Do I still know how? Just when I started to be able to ride Stan's Fish from a long board, I get stuck with work, gone sick when Stan and Erwin gone to Daet to baptize Erwin's new board.

They are going to Zambales next weekend and I am required to attend a teambuilding activity with my immediate boss... It'd probably be a snorkling/diving outing in Anilao but I swear, I won't pass up the next weekend they will be going to Zambales, LU, Daet or Baler even if I am sick!

Sorry for this rant... I was looking at some blogs of the more experienced surfers and I am really really jealous with the pix and their rides and the waves... I will learn to get to do that some day! Jot even got to go to Siargao at the start of this month and he had a very cool pix! Waaahh!!!! F*ck work! I'll be paddling out soon! Season's coming up in the coming months and I can't wait! =D

Reflections at a cliff's edge

2007-05-31T04:04:00.000+08:00

What does it feel to simply let go? I finally discovered what it feels like to just jump off a cliff putting aside all hesitation, fears and anxiety that is human nature.

It was last week (see pictures here) that we went to Tali Beach in Batangas and the experience, though not exactly the kind were you have a lot of things can do, was rather a reflective one. The first time I jumped, which took around 5 minutes before I decided to really go for it, got me having flashes of my life mixed with feelings of panic, anticipation, and fear between the cliff and the sea water below. It is funny really, when you look back and think about it but the feeling of it was totally insane.

Looking back, I wondered whether that same feeling is what goes runs through the minds of those with suicidal tendencies, jumping off balconies. Do they, at some point in the middle of the fall, think back again and just realize that they are really falling and realize the mistake of trying to take their life?

I mean, during that first jump, those thoughts came into my mind. Thinking, "Shit! I'm really falling! I have nothing to hold on to nor am I standing on anything solid!" It was just you and the air molecules surrounding you. Even if it was only for a second, it also, at some point, feels like an eternity. In the end though, we were all cushioned by the cool sea waves and whatever panic we encountered in between quickly disappear. Unluckily, for the suicidal person, they land on solid concrete.

Scary to realize that the feeling is quite addicting and you would somehow understand what it feels to jump of a 37 storey building. The experience is an exhilarating one but not one that you'd try to replicate in the middle of the Makati business district. After all, no one from the group I came with (myself included) have any suicidal tendencies.

Damn, this entry got weird the moment I wrote about suicide. Going back to my thesis sentence, what does it feel to simply let go? To let go of one's self, one's emotion, one's personal lies, one's insecurities? I guess, it is a mix of many emotions, mostly on the side of fear and hesitation but the end result is a sense of accomplishment and pride. Come to think of it, it's much like death and life.

At the end of the day, when Toffee finally got to jump, he felt very proud. And somehow, we all did and we all will too.

To reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings

2007-05-18T01:48:00.000+08:00

Leader. What does it take to be one? By definition, a leader should have the capacity to lead but in essence, a leader should inspire people to perform a task without having them to compromise their capacity for growth and enabling them to be able to lead as well.

It's a hot topic on what makes someone a leader that it often boils down to defining what qualities should a leader have. Ideas cross your mind about what a leader should be but when you are put into a position where you have the opportunity to do so, are you really willing to take that chance? Can you honestly say you have the make of a good leader? Is it possible to be ready to be one?

Can you put aside our personal goals in order to exceed team goals? Can you lay down your personal ego when you made a mistake? Can you have the guts to apologize after making your mistake? Can you take all of the blame for the sake of the people you lead? Can you raise your concerns firmly, quickly and demand immediate action to items that are most important for the team? Can you not be selfish and be mature enough and grow up faster so that the people you lead also grow? Can you overcome personal emotion, personal criticisms and take it constructively? Can you make people grow and mature?

So many expectations, in the end, are you really ready to take it on? But I guess the bottom line really more than anything else is if you will be inspired when the people you use to lead become better leaders than you? It’s more than because of you but because their potential grew with you.

Introspecting before judgment of others...

My picks for May 2007

2007-05-13T09:30:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow is election day for the Philippine Senatorial elections. Similar to the previous elections, I won't be able to vote. Again, this is not because of apathy or lack of interest to vote. I do want to vote. Unfortunately, I am registered in Cebu which is a plane ride and PhP6000 away. I have drafted my choices for the senatorial race though as seen below:

01. Chiz Escudero
02. Joker Arroyo
03. Kiko Pangilinan
04. Manny Villar
05. Loren Legarda
06. Alan Cayetano
07. Benigno Aquino
08. Martin Bautista
09. Koko Pimentel
10. Adrian Sison
11. Ralph Recto
(edited) 12. Edgar Angara (Mario Ongkiko) - I forgot Angara. He was UP President.

Of course, this is just my list and I am not endorsing you to vote for them or anything. Team Unity or Geniune Opppsition or whatever alliances do not really matter to me. I look for credentials and the idealism to serve. Gut feel and immeasurable, I know but let's see how these people do if ever they win. My bad if they do not turn out to be the shining ideal senators we expect them to be.

Again, I have always had my picks for every election since 1997 presidential elections and I usually have written reasons for each. Let's keep this list at that for now. You'll never know what new gossip I might hear today and might change my mind before tomorrow. :-)

Vote on the May 14 elections! It's not a privilege, it's your right!

Underwater Hockey - Introductory Course

2007-04-22T03:23:00.001+08:00

Gone underwater hockey with Toffee today and it was a blast! Kian and Stan and Alda were suppose to join us but circumstances did not allow them to go. For pictures, please see Toffee's Multiply since I did not find the time or the energy to take pictures after.

Things you need:
1. Mask
2. Snorkel
3. Fins
4. Glove
5. Stick
6. Puck
7. A lot of air

Steps we did to learn:
1. Learn how to breathe and be comfortable with the snorkel.
2. Learn to "purge" the water from your mouth via the snorkel
3. Proper finning technique
4. BOGDAT once
5. BOGDAT many times
6. Swim slowly underwater
7. Swim fast underwater (You will feel the difference! Believe me!)
8. Pushing the puck
9. You can now play UH with the rest of the beginners!

The steps actually help you prepare for the actual game but playing it game can really tire you out fast! Aside from having to think about your breathing, you have to always look down to know where the game is and where the puck is. You'll probably get lost in the game even if you take just a moment to not look down. There are also a lot of times where you get to drink a lot of water by mistake but sometimes you wouldn't care since you need to push the puck! :p

I was part of the 2nd batch of newbies as I was not able to start with the rest of the batch since I had to grab a bite at a very far 7-11. Good thing too since the instructor that taught my batch was pretty patient and friendly (ei Ferdz!) and really guided us through the entire basic training. After doing the steps above (which is the suprt basic training), I was assigned center forward which was weird since I didn't know what to do and the other team has already been playing for sometime (not to mention that they were from Ateneo swim team). I did really perform well as a center forward since I don't reach the puck fast enough at the start and I can't steal it from the opposing team's center forward as well. My left and right forward were also from my batch of newbies...

It was cool though! I learned a lot and thought of new techniques that can help me more. Like, I shouldn't be moving back and steal the puck when it has already gone past me. That's why the center back is there. I should wait for them to pass it to me and I should be fast enough to dive and swim for the other goal. Also, I need to be a bit more aggressive even if you get hit by a lot of fins and people and snorkels and sticks... :p It felt like all that mattered was the puck and the goal. It was cool!

I met a lot of new people during the activity as well. A lot of really good and fast swimmers. It made me realize that I need to get back into shape (lung-wise). hehehe.. I am thinking of taking the basic class (10 sessions where the 10th is a tournament) but classes are on Monday and Thursday. Both are not good days in my calendar... :(

For those who are interested, let me know and I can refer you to one of the members of the Philippine Underwater Hockey Association. They are PSC and POC recognized. :)

How to Control Emotions

2007-04-20T14:18:00.000+08:00

This would give you guides on how to control your emotions towards your better-half, friends, officemates and all the people around you, especially your "boss " . The rules of practicing " ugaling langit, ugaling kaaya-aya" :

#1 Ang naunang magalit ang may karapatang magalit. Pag naunahan ka na ng galit niya, tumahimik ka na lang muna.

#2 Walang taong nag-aaway mag-isa. Pag hindi kayo sumagot o pumatol, titigil din daw ang taong nakikipag- away sa inyo.

#3 Ang taong galit, 'bingi.' If someone is angry, wala raw pinakikinggan, so, don't try to explain and fight back. Hindi ka niya iintindihin dahil wala siyang naririnig kundi ang sarili nya.

#4 Ang taong galit, 'abnoy.' Ayon sa pastor, Biblical daw ito? because the Lord said when He was crucified, "Father, patawarin mo sila dahil hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa." Modern term for these kinds of people are abnoys, so you better not get angry para huwag kang matawag na abnoy.

You should also know and realize that the persons who make your day bad are jewel s, because you need them for you to mature. Hangga't andyan daw sila at kinaiinisan mo, ibig sabihin, immature ka pa. God will not take away those people; it's for you to take away your bad feelings towards them. You'll know na mature ka na pag dumating 'yung time na hindi ka na naiinis sa mga taong ito because you have learned to accept them and to have patience with them.

#5 Finally, the best part of this is to tell yourself na, because of this person, "I will grow mature," and that DAHIL SA CONTRIBUTION NIYA SA MATURITY MO, KUKUNIN DIN SYA NI LORD. .

Card Deck

2007-04-15T04:19:00.000+08:00

Three things I was known for during college was 1) being able to eat almost anything edible, 2) being able to sleep even at the most inconvenient circumstances, and 3) being one of our organization's card players. For this blog entry, I find the 3rd most relevant.

Playing your hand is about strategy. You are given your cards at random. You have no choice in that but what makes you win is how you play your hand. You may have a good hand but still lose in the end. You can not regret the kind of cards you are given but you will regret not being able to adapt to the circumstances of play you are in. Interestingly though, this is pretty much how I was analyzing my current career and life goals.

I was in a conversation with some of my officemates with them saying they feel they have made a wrong decision when they took our company as their first job. I had to agree with them on some points but not entirely. Most probably it'd be because I never want to regret any decision that I have already made. As with your cards at hand, you have been dealt with your hand that is your company, it is matter of playing it right; to hold off some cards when you think later on you can use them to move forward or be a go getter by dropping everything in one go. It's a game between you and your manager wherein you have to make sure that the round is going as how you plan it to be. Otherwise, you are sure to lose in the end. I know I made a good decision with my current company. It’s the small details or the crappy single cards that’s the problem.

My aunt from Toronto told my mom who told me that she thinks that I am suited to be working in a corporate setting because I am not a very readable person. I am not sure about that though. I may play my cards right but I also make sure that I enjoy the game with those I play it with. The relationship between players is important as well. You'll never know when you'll be playing a different card game in the future. Besides though, I don't really see myself in living, breathing and dying in the corporate world. It's just to suffocating. It's a good experience and it can surely build your character but it’s just not what I want.

Some of my other officemates talk about their batch mates from high school and college saying that they are now at this level and at this pay range while they are stuck at the same level and not too high pay range. It's a measure for me if I think about my career as an IT professional but as a player in the real world, it’s just not my thing. I feel more jealous of people who work in NGOs or in environmental organizations. Those sort of jobs have more meaning and contribution to the world.

I sometimes think if I am really suited for any kind of work. I don't feel I am much of a go-getter type of person to survive the corporate, city dweller lifestyle but at the same time I don't fit the laid back kind of guy who can survive being a free lance anything. I thought of being a writer before I entered college but that seems a bit far off from what I am doing or where I am now. I mean, I like my climbs/surfing/trekking activities to be part of the work that I do but I feel that I am not strong or fit to be able to do that every day for the rest of my life.

I was reading about corporate social responsibility in the Philippines earlier and it’s pretty inspiring to find some companies really do spend and make an effort to really make a difference for this country. Come to think of it, the reason why I joined the company was not because of its compensation or career path but due to its track record of corporate citizenship. What's disappointing is that it does not seem to happen for this particular site.

Hay, you get sucky cards sometimes and you have to learn when you need fold in order to save up your chips for the next round of play...

Anti Pisay Watchlist Signature Campaign

2007-04-08T01:07:00.000+08:00

For those who have not yet signed up against the travel watchlist being imposed on alumni of the Pisay Southern Mindanao Campus, here is the link to the online signature drive.

This is a wrong, illegal and unconstitutional way implementing a track down of the alumni and of those who have supposedly "violated" the Pisay contract.

Single Status

2007-04-02T21:24:00.000+08:00

Grabbed this from Multiply buddy Ash who grabbed it from somewhere else... Some of you guys might be able to relate... hehehe...

Bakit Single ang Status Mo (Reasons Why You Are Still Single)

11. Destiny Adik Eto yung mga naghihintay kay "Destiny" na gumawa ng paraan para pagtagpuin sila ng kanilang mga "partner in life"... Ayannn... Kapapanood nyo ng "Serendipity" eh feeling nila ang nangyari sa movie eh mangyayari rin sa kanila... Such a cliche... Hindi ba nila alam na kung walang effort, destiny is useless...

10. Perfectionist/ Mapili Yes, isang taong perpeksiyonista. .. Yung tipong dapat ganito ang magiging kapartner ko... Pag may nakilala, nakita lang na pangit ang kuko o may dumi lang, turn-off na agad... O kaya ang daming ayaw. Ayaw sa mabait - boring daw, gusto ng bad boy/pilya pero kapag pinaiyak ka, tatanungin ka bakit ang sama mo at bakit mo nagawa yun! Adik ka ba?! Ayaw sa cute, ayaw din naman sa panget. Meron dyan gusto ka ayaw mo naman. Ung gusto mo eh halos magtambling ka pero deadma pa rin yang stunts mo sa kanya! Pasaway ka rin e! Ano ba talaga kuya?

9. Busy-busyhan Opo, eto yung ang mundo e gumagalaw lang sa libro at ballpen kung estudyante ka o kaya naman sa computer at files kung office staff ka. Yung tipong aalis ng bahay ng alas 6 o alas 7 ng umaga at uuwi ng bahay ng 6 hanggang alas 8 ng gabi [baligtad naman para sa mga nag tratrabaho sa call center].. Sabay tulog na.. Kapag Sabado masaya na sila sa Internet (o sa Multiply), sa pagkain na niluluto ni mama at sa Linggo naman sisimba at maghahanda na ng kelangan para sa lunes hanggang byernes.. Pssssst.. Pause for awhile..

8. Friendship Theory Ano naman ito? Eto yung ang buhay ay kay bestfriend o kaya kay special friend na hindi masasabi-sabi sa friendship nya sa loob ng kanilang mahabang panahon na pagsasama dahil baka daw maapektuhan ang pakikipagkaibigan at iwasan sya.. Yung tipong pag may kasama si friendship na iba, nagseselos na wala naman sa lugar, pero syempre wag pahalata, kunyari happy sya for friendship.. Aba! Oi lakasan mo ang loob at baka mamaya forever mong pagsisihan yan kaw rin. Minsan pa naman pareho kayong naghihintayan. . Hmmp!

7. Born-to-be-one (Autistic) Eto yung nasa palad na ang pagiging single daw.. Walang reasons.. Basta lang nabuhay sya sa mundo na mag-isa at feeling nya mamatay sya sa mundo ng mag-isa.. Kesyo magmamadre o magpapari na lang.. Asa kang tatanggapin ka pa noh!

6. Happy-go-lucky Eto yung taong walang alam kundi kasiyahan at trippings.. Kahit sino nalang basta no strings attached.. For fun lang daw.. Walang halong seryosohan.. Aba hoy! Yang init ng katawan mo e ikiskis mo nalang sa pader.. Makakahanap ka rin ng katapat mo!!!

5. Wrong Place May nakaranas na ba nito? Yung pakiramdam mo nasa ibang mundo ka. Yung ang nakakaharap mo e yung mga hindi mo gusto, yung mga hindi mo hinahanap. Alam mo yun? Halimbawa nasa ibang bansa ka, pero ang hinahanap mo e yung amoy ng nasa sariling bayan mo. O kaya naman e nasa sarili mong bayan ka, nasa normal na lipunan, pero ikaw ang abnormal at hindi mo kayang sabihin na abnormal din ang hanap mo kung ayaw mong ibitin ka nila ng patiwarik.

4. Wrong Time Eto yung mga tao na sinasabi na "hindi pa ako ready e, bata pa kasi ako" o kaya naman "hindi pa ako handa sa panahong ito, wala pa ako kayang ipagmalaki.. " Yes meron pong ganyan.. Yung feeling nila may tamang panahon para sa love.. Awwwwwww.. Aba kelan yun? Pag uugod ugod ka na at yung time mo e bitin na? O baka naman pag pang out of time ka na? Oist, sugod lang ng sugod..

3. Si parents kasi! Yes, factor din ang komunidad na ginagalawan mo.. Una, ayaw pa ni mader o pader na magkaron ka kahit 22 anyos ka na at kelangan umabot ka muna raw ng 40 bago magkaroon ng gf/bf.. O kaya naman ikaw mismo! Takot sa sasabihin ni parents at ni kapitbahay na tsismosa sa magiging kasama mo.. Aba ikaw ba naman ang sabihan na "Alam mo hindi kayo bagay.. Langit at lupa kayo.." Awwwww.. Payo ko sayo, Pakialam nila diba? Palibhasa inggit!

2. Traumatic Experience Eto kalimitan ang reason ng marami. Ayaw ko na! Takot na ako mangyari pa ang nangyari dati! O diba ang drama ng layp? Yes, tama ka.. Eto yung dahil sa past relationship mo, e until na ayaw mo ng magkaroon at sinumpa mo na ata ang magmahal.. Dahil sa pinagpalit ka sa mas pangit, o kaya naman iniwan ka ng walang word na bye-bye, o dahil binugbog ka! Ano pa ba? Madami yan. wag na nating isa isahin at baka tumulo si tears.. Heheh! Gayunpaman, eto lang masasabi ko mga hija at hijo.. Iba't-iba ang lasa ng pag-ibig.. May mapait, may mapakla, may matamis at may maasim.. Aba mapalad ka at natikman mo ang iba't-ibang lasa nito.. Kaya ikaw, do not be afraid to fall in love again.. Malay mo sweetiness na ang malasahin mo next time.. E di panalo ka sa lotto.. Yan ang nagpapalakas sayo, yan ang bumubuhay sayo, ang pag-ibig.. Tsk! Drama!

1. EX to the nth power Oi aminin!!! LOVE parin si ex kahit 1 or 2 yrs na ang nakakalipas. . May ganito naman.. Yung tipong ilang taon ang nakakalipas, hindi parin makalimutan si ex.. Yung pinagsamahan, yung tawanan, yung iyakan, at lahat ng nangyari sa inyo nung kayo pa.. Malungkot man at sa kung anumang kadahilanan, maganda man o masama ito, kelangan nyong magpaalam sa isa't isa.. YES, after a year sasabihin natin, im over him/her na, pero pag-usapan natin ang love at ang nangyari sa ating relastionship from the past, TADANNNNNNNNNNNNN, eto na, sya agad ang naalala mo.. At habang nagkukwento ka, ouch may kirot, o kaya may ngiti at may bumabagabag sa ating kalooban.. Ano kaya yun? AMININ mo na kasi MAHAL mo pa si EX.. Isa lang ang masasabi ko, well mahirap sya kalimutan, alam ko yan, pero open your heart and makipagdate ka, lumabas ka, at try to entertain someone.. Wag mo ikumpara si ex sa iba.. At give urself a Kitkat, take a break..

Reassessment

2007-03-25T20:44:00.000+08:00

Ok, in exactly a month, I'll be turning 2@HP. Imagine that! 2 years and I am unsure of where I am or if I am on track of where I want to be. Everything that's happening seems to be going against the plans I laid out. Not that I am disappointed that I am not moving as how I wanted, its just that I am dropping a lot of other priorities in order to cope up with the way things are going. I know, this entry is a bit vague but that's how I feel about my career right now.

------------------------------------

A close friend of mine is getting married on the 28th of April so me and the rest of my high school classmates travelled all the way to Los Banos last Saturday to send her off. Let's just say its suppose to be a bridal shower with boys scheduled for the 31st of March but instead was moved to the 24th since my good friend was leaving for Kalinga on the 25th. We did not know those were her plans until the 23rd during the afternoon. Imagine the stress of the person who communicated the whole thing. Guess who, as well. :p

Anyway, we had a good chat as well as a good few rounds of Starcraft. I'm improving! I'm just glad that she is happy with her decision and that she is convinced that this is the path she wants to proceed. Make's you think of where you want to be in coming years. Quarter life crisis mode again.

------------------------------------

Arrived from Los Banos early Sunday morning and I was not able to get a decent amount of sleep when my roommate needed to pack up the bed, the ref, the TV, and the other household appliances. He is moving out to join his sisters. Not that we were not told ahead of time, it's just that I have been in denial for the past month that I really urgently need to find a new place to stay. Tonight, I'll be sleeping on the coach, again.

What hurts the most though, I can watch my shows anymore!!!

WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD LIFE?

2007-03-05T00:16:00.000+08:00

by Jim Rohn

The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck.
The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes.
The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home.

Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and that is living a good life.

Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for me would be a good life?"

And you have to keep going over and over the list.

A list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation.

What would constitute a good life?
I've got a short list.

1) Productivity.
You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough
to gather strength to get back to productivity.
What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life?

It's to see what you can do with it. To try your hand, other people have tried their hand; here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.

2) Good friends.
Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you.

A few years ago I lost one of my dearest friends. He died at age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend. Somebody who would come and
get you. Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me we'll have a party." So you've got to have both, real friends and casual friends.

3) Your culture.
Your language, your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality, energy, power, influence,
uniqueness and rightness to the world.

4) Spirituality.
It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature; it's what makes us who we are, different from animal, dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.

5) Don't miss anything.
My parents taught me not to miss anything.
Don't miss the game.
Don't miss the performance,
don't miss the movie,
don't miss the show,
don't miss the dance.
Go to everything you possible can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can.
Go see everything and experience all you possibly can. This has served me so well to this day. Just before my father died at age 93 if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home.
He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere every night.

Live a vital life.
Here's one of the reasons why.
If you live well, you will earn well.
If you live well it will show in your face, it will show in the texture of your voice.
There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well.
It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality
nothing else can give.

6) Your family and the inner circle.
Invest in them and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho .

So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I
was in Israel I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes.
So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa I'm in Israel." He'd say, " Israel ! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, "Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean" Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93.

If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a
powerful man.
If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body he's invincible all day.
It's the special stuff with the inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential.
So don't miss that opportunity.

Here's the greatest value.
The prophet said,
"There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person caring for another."
There is no greater value than love.
Better to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself.
One person caring for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions.

So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do.

May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire.

Sleepless Nights

2007-03-04T22:29:00.000+08:00

Recently, my team leader announced his plans to resign in order to finally help out with their family business. It's a sad moment as we, though not unexpected, were caught off guard as we did not it to realize that he was really serious about it. He also owns a lot a big bulk the work that we do including being problem manager, continuous improvement owner for our team, and being an global application owner for one of our most heavily used applications (WebOSA), and the most problematic one. And guess who will be taking over that application owner role... ME!

I also am a global application owner of a web application. It is bigger than WebOSA because it is an end to end application from data input all the way the reporting part. My problems revolve around data quality and the amount of changes that come into production almost every week. However, it is a different case for WebOSA. It has a lot of issues in terms of capacity considering the amount of data as well as the number of users are huge! And the visibility and the focus there is in that area is very high. I am not yet sure if I am that ready for that kind of pressure. This, of course, aside from the pressure for additional roles that would be added into my plate.

I am having a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of thoughts creeping into my head that has keeping me so worried of what will happen in the coming months. Will I actually be able to survive? What do I have to do so that some of that pressure will come off? I have been up late a lot of times, just not getting to be able to sleep. I can smoke more than a pack in a week. I could not pass a weekend without getting to drink a lot. Good thing Embassy girls were pretty that I was able to enjoy the drinks.

Ahh! I need to learn to handle more of the pressure... Advice advice anyone?

Fort Minor - Where'd you go

2007-02-05T14:22:00.000+08:00

DCS Blog Network

2007-01-25T22:34:00.000+08:00

Calling all members of the UP Diliman Department of Computer Science community: students, alumni, and faculty alike! You are cordially invited to join the DCS Blog Network ( http://upparser.com/dcs/), a site that brings together all blogs from its DCS members. The purpose of the DCS Blog Network is to bring together everyone who is, has, and will be part of the Department, and what better way to do that than through the Internet?

Procedure:

1. Visit the DCS Blog Network website. (http://upparser.com/dcs/) (or http://blogs.upcompsci.net/)

2. Go the Contact page. ( http://upparser.com/dcs/contact/)

3. Fill out your details---don' t worry, we won't give them to stalkersor spammers---and include your blog URL. And make sure you answer the challenge question!

4. If you have several blogs, indicate them in the message box. (We hope they aren't too many, though!)

5. Your blog(s) will be added as soon as possible.

6. Spread the word and urge them to join too!

7. If you have any other questions, we may have already answered themin the About page. ( http://upparser.com/dcs/about/)

8. If we haven't, use the Contact form (http://upparser.com/dcs/contact/) for your specific troubles.

Announcement!!!

2007-01-20T04:12:00.000+08:00

The UP Department of Computer Science Holds Its First Alumni Homecoming

Twenty-six years since its creation, the UP Diliman Department of Computer Science (DCS) is finally holding an alumni homecoming on the 24th of February 2007 at its new home, the College of Engineering Library and Computer Science Building. (FYI, that building is right in front of National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) and the College of Science Library and Administration building.) Registration starts at 3, while the program will begin at 4pm.

You can read the invitation letter from Prof. Evangel Quiwa that’s been passed around to the alumni in Sir Rom’s blog. Actually, there are two more versions of the invitation letter: one reiterated by the Department Chair, Dr. Cedric Festin, and another detailing of a very special surprise for the Department’s most-loved teacher—guess who! (I’ve already mentioned him here!)

If you haven’t registered yet, better do it soon! Here are the latest details on registration and payment for the event (dated January 5):

P 400.00 if reserved by the end of the year and paid by the end of January 2007;

P 500.00 if bought by the end of January 2007;

P 600.00 if bought in February.
All you have to do is to reserve and to get the discounted rates (before February) is to send an e-mail to homecoming.register@updcsaa.com
…The tickets for the homecoming will be out late next week. For those who would like to pay prior to the release of the tickets, you have two options:

(1) Direct payment to Mila Ramos at the CS Department

(2) Bank deposit to Philippine National Bank

Account Number: 275-830501-8

Account Name: Diliman Computer Science Foundation
Please email your name, number of tickets, date, amount and transaction number (first line of the machine validation) of the deposit slip to homecoming.register@updcsaa.com
Upon availability, tickets may be claimed from Mila Ramos during office hours at the CS Department. Alternatively, you can get it on the homecoming itself. In any case, you need to show the receipt for option (1) and deposit slip containing the transaction number for option (2).
For registration inquiries, please email homecoming.register@updcsaa.com

Note: Got a copy of this announcement from Ia Lucero. I hope she does not mind me copying almost all the content. :)

Surf's up

2007-01-15T01:18:00.000+08:00

Just got back from a weekend in La Union where me and some office friends took the time off to learn about life as a surfer. Thanks to Stan and Kian, we got pretty good accommodations, an excellent surf instructor and okay waves to help us learn.

Like any beginner, I was not able to stand on the board (we got the long boards) even if I have kept on trying for 30 mins with Kian. Jan had the instructor first. When it was my turn, I was able to ride my first wave all the way to the end!!! It was so cool and I couldn't hide the smile. I was able to ride a couple more times and I also fell a lot more times too but it was so much fun!! I guess I had the instructor for 30 mins as well.

At the afternoon, Stan broad his short board (which is easier to paddle but harder to balance). We all tried it out but none ever got to stand up while riding. I think I almost did but only up to a kneeling position. Of course, Stan and Kian got to ride well. At night, we formed a new SWAT love team, :p had some Boracay mix and did some star gazing as well. I was pretty tired that day so I did not last long gazing the black abyss.

The next day we rented 2 long boards but the waves were fierce. Getting out to the sea was tough enough and riding the waves was rare and hard! I was able to ride one but did not get to stand. I stood up too late. I also got a heavy beating when I hit the sand under the sea and I thought I heard my neck crack a bit but I ended okay. I just home my brain functions well this week as I am on night shift.

All in all, it was a pretty swell weekend. I am definitely going back! I just need to earn back more money. To those who might be thinking of going out to surf, my total spending was PhP2,500 and it was all worth it!

Math

2007-01-09T21:00:00.000+08:00

For every given problem, there always has to be an equation, set of equations or a number of fundamental laws or theories that would summarize and define a definte solution to that problem. It would take a couple of analysis here and there, and a sequence of derivations to get to where you want. In the end, you get a definte number, oftentimes with a margin for error, but nonetheless an approximate to the right answer.

Wouldn't life be so much easier if all problems can be translated to equations?

2007 in a few minutes

2006-12-31T22:01:00.000+08:00

2007 is just around the corner and I have yet to decide if I should be feeling excited or not. Last year, I set some goals for myself, resolutions you might say but I'd rather put it in a framework that has a process, an action plan, or a step by step program that would be "followable". I was able to do some of them, and I have attempted to achieve others, though to my disappointment did not produce results that are desirable.

Nonetheless, I will prepare that list again. I'll save it as a draft in my blog this time only to be revealed next year. :) To those who have helped me live well, reasonably ok, and "K K lng", a big thank you!

More blessings to all of us this 2007! Happy New Year!

So this is Christmas...

2006-12-26T13:05:00.000+08:00

...

The past 3 weeks was like no other 4 weeks I have had since. First week, I was on night shift and it was one of those critical days of the month. From Monday - Thursday, I was stuck working on issues after issues where end does not seem to be in sight. We had performance issues when accessing a database and we do not why the hell it was happening. We find out later in the week that it was due to some fiber channel from who knows where that was at fault. I mean, how the hell are we suppose to know that it was some hardware issue!

Everything would have been fine by Friday, but no! By Friday, I had a myriad of tickets asking me to kill sessions. And this is suppose to be the job of lower level teams. They can't do it because someone turned off the damn server where the tool is hosted. Yes, it's another hardware issue.

...

Good thing the next week was all party! :D We had the HP Christmas party, the BI/DW Christmas party, 2cube Christmas party and High school batchmates overnight. And as usual, I can never help getting not drunk. There is just a few times in a year that I get loose. :D Further, its always good to realize that you have good friends you can get drunk with.

Congratulations to the organizers of the events! Cheers to my office drinking buddies! Thanks to all those who took their time to buy me presents. Though I don't look like it, I really do appreciate your gifts!

...

The next week, I was on morning duty and it would probably be the worst morning duty I have ever been on. I rarely even worked! I was so hyped up on being able to go home to Cebu for Christmas and as the days get closer and closer, the more the yearning it was for me to want to get out.

The only good thing I probably was able to do was do a monthly review with by business counterpart and got good feedback from him, again. :D

...

I got home to Cebu and I am once again happy. My aunt from Toronto with her husband were here for the holidays after more than 5 or 10 years of absence. I met them last year when I was on a "business trip" and I am happy to see them again. I also got to bond with my cousins again. It has been awhile (one year) since we last met and everytime we meet, we seem to be always at ease with each other.

Funny that on the 24th, we got to go to church twice, one for Sunday and the other for Christmas. :p Good thing we did not have to pray the rosary when we got back home from the 2nd mass or I'll probably the holiest person alive. :p Kidding aside though, it was good getting to talk with my brother again. We also played basketball sometime during the afternoon. Man, me playing ball was so weird! Good thing I got to contribute a couple of points during the 1st game. The 2nd game when we were doing the whole court was hard! I had to run back and forth!!!! It's difficut enough to imagine me running but to be running back and forth! So weird but it was hell fun!

I also got a good haul this year. I got 2 pairs of slippers! I didn't realize that I needed more than 1!

We went to Nalusuan the next day for some swimming. It was a fun day too! I finally got to get back some dark color into me... I really wonder why other people want to stay white.

Last night, we had a drinking night off and what was pretty weird was that our parents agreed to the idea. :D We had 4 Red Horse Grande with shots going around and pack. We had fun and we still had a lot to talk about, none of which I would like to share here. It's stays within the circle.

Point being that, the holidays for me was a blast. As it has always been, I would really don't look forward to the day when I have to get back on that plane to fly to Manila.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a Christmas as fun and merry as mine and I hope we all would have a better 2007!

Pictures will be uploaded on my Multiply account.

Welcome to the Black Parade

2006-12-10T12:34:00.000+08:00

From Chemical Romance

When I was a young boy my father took me into the city
to see a marching band
He said 'Son when you grow up, would you be, the saviour of the broken, the beaten and the damned?'
He said 'Will you, defeat them, your demons, and all the non-believers, the plans that they have made?
Because one day I'll leave you a phantom to lead you in the summer to join the Black Parade.'

WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY, MY FATHER TOOK ME INTO THE CITY
TO SEE A MARCHING BAND!
HE SAID 'SON WHEN YOU GROW UP, WOULD YOU BE, THE SAVIOUR OF THE BROKEN, THE BEATEN AND THE DAMNED?!'

Sometimes I get the feeling
She's watching over me
And other times I feel like I should go
And through it all; the rise and fall, the bodies in the streets
And when you go we want you all to know:

We'll carry on
We'll carry on
and though your,
dead and gone belive me,
Your memory we'll carry on,
will carry on
And tell your heart i can't contain it.

The under world is waiting.
our romance sends you realing from decimated dreams.
Your misery and hate will kill us all!
So paint it black and take it back
And let's shout out loud and clear!
Defy unto the end we hear the call...

to carry on
We'll carry on
and though your dead and gone,believe me
Your memory will carry on
we'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated
Your weary widow marches

On and on we carry through the fears(ooooooooh)
Disappointed faces of your peers(oooooooooh)
Take a look at me
Cause I could not care at all

Do or die
You'll never make me
Because the world,
will never take my heart.
And though they try
They'll never break me
They want it all
They wanna break this bone.

I won't explain
Or say I'm sorry
I'm not ashamed
I'm gonna show my scar
Give a cheer
For all the broken
Listen here!

I'm just a man,
I'm not a hero
Just a boy
who had to sing this song
I'm just a man
I'm not a hero
I don't care

We'll carry on
We'll carry on
And though you're dead and gone,believe me,
Your memory will carry on
You'll carry on
And though you're broken and defeated
Your weary widow marches on!

Do or die
You'll never make me
Because the world
will never take my heart
And though they try
They'll never break me
They want it all
They wanna break this bone.

Do or die
You'll never make me
Because the world
will never take my heart
And though they try
They'll never break me
They want it all
They wanna break this bone.
(WE'LL CARRY ON.......!)

Incoherence

2006-12-07T07:35:00.000+08:00

Why do we hurt when other people are in pain?
Why do we even bother to cheer someone up when we know an ear is all they need?
Why do friendships fall apart when you least expect them?
Why do friends easily revert to being acquaintances without giving much effort to save the relationship?
Why is it so easy to give up on someone you thought so important?
Why is it easier to talk behind someone else's back rather than say it straight to their faces?
Why does every person have to matter?
Why do we even try to make a difference?

Life sometimes sucks bigtime.

New Chemical Engineers!

2006-11-18T16:23:00.000+08:00

New Chemical Engineers!

CHEMICAL ENGINEER LICENSURE EXAMINATIONRESULTS RELEASED IN ONE (1) DAY

1 ABRIGO, CHERRYS OLVIDA

19 AUSTERO, SHEILA BACO

55 CATALUÑA, PGIE SANTES

127 FRANCO, JOSE RODRIGO SAMONTE

307 VINSON, JEWELLA JAMNIA VILLAMOR

Congratulations!!!

See here for full list of ChE board passers.

Pooh as Manny Poohcquiao in Wowowee

2006-11-16T06:18:00.000+08:00

Here's a very funny video from YouTube. Watch it till the end. Thanks to Enzo for sharing.

Work-related: WTF?!

2006-11-14T16:36:00.000+08:00

WTF?! You are just following the correct process and someone gets mad at you?!

Person... what is the idea behind the escalation
Person... are you trying to make carreer for yourself?
Michael Sepulv... sorry, i did not receive your email right away...
Person... I can not appreciate that at all Micheal
Person... not at all

I mean, hello! Raising a ticket is the correct process. It is an incident brought about by a mistake from their side. I did what I know is proper process and now, they get mad?! For *&%$ing pete's sake, review your ITIL processes before you say anything like this!

Total Bullshit!

Entry long delayed

2006-11-11T03:51:00.000+08:00

I have been writing this entry since I got back from my EK part 2 but haven't found the time to finish it, until now of course. Hope this still has some relevance. :)

---

A lot of things are running through my mind these days.

But before anything, I'd like to thank my HP@EK part 2 buddies. It was a Sunday well spent and my thanks goes much to Daisie for starting up and organizing the entire thing! :) I hope that everyone who had pictures and videos and other whatnots, let us copy the files so that I can share them with the resot of my friendly folks. It was long and tiring but definitely a break from work that is very much well earned.

Congratulations to Enzo and George for finally returning to the kingdom after more than 8 years!

Congratulations to Patrick and Elvin for not suffering in the Rio Grande until the last (5th) ride. :p

Thanks to Seph, JC, Liz and George for the transportation and for keeping us safe. :)

To Lorence, Toffee, Ish, Becca and Ben for accompanying us the entire day (or most of the day for Ish), it was definitely fun and I hope we have more of these in the future... Paintball na ito! :)

---

First among the issues that are running through my brain is, well, work. I mean, who doesn't. And the recent series of resignations and the talks of some of my officemates being unhappy with their jobs does not help at all. I guess, each has a right to have their own points of view as I have my own as well.

Many people believe that if they were to pick a handful of people who see themselves building their careers in HP, then I would be one of those. Truth of the matter, I don't really see myself long term. That is a statement of fact but this is not because my company can not offer me the growth that I would want but rather I don't really feel that I am suited to work in the industry. Everyday, I try to brainwash myself into having myself think for the customer, for the business, bring in more money, save on operational cost, continuous improvement and all that when what I really want to do is create a more of a difference in a social sphere within my knowledge as a Computer Scientist / IT Professional.

Customer service has never really been my thing, most especially the thought that the customer is always right and they have the right to demand. Personally, I do like to serve. It has always been in my personal mission-vision statement. But the kind of service that I am looking for is the kind with more impact. Not just to a client or a specific individual.

Honestly though, I am happy every time I receive good customer feedback, every time my bosses or leader recognize me for a job well done, every time someone believes in my capabilities, but sometimes, I always feel that there is something more I can do and at the end of it all, I really don't see it happening with me if I continue working for the industry.
It's just that monetary and cost of living just makes things so biased.

---

Friendships. These are relationships that I still have a lot to learn. I mean, it is one thing that you make an effort to understand and get to know them and it's another when they want to get to know you. It has to be a 2 way relationship, right? But, at the same time, its not all the time that you want to let other people get in too much. It's painful when paths begin to go on different directions.

Another is deciding who or which group of friends you would want to spend more time with. I hate it when I have to choose and to make things worse, sometimes you are oblige to go to this "outing" because you have "committed" to it. When it is no longer fun unlike before and you prefer to just stay away for awhile...

---

I think that was what I wanted to write during those days. I can't actually remember the words I wanted to write but I guess that's that. As a brief update though, I have passed my first semester of taking my Masters. Not that it was with flying colors though. I have to make up for a lackluster performance that merited me a GWA of less than the maintaining grade. I just enrolled for the 2nd semester (I only need to pay the tuition before it becomes official) and I hope that I do a lot better.

Work has still been the same. I got a new manager though and I think the current set up for thr BI/DW business unit (that's what they call the bundle now) would be much better for everyone (or for most). I can't explain it in detail though but I guess the team's that need more focus from their manager is now given a more experienced and more exposed manager and the teams that use to be 2nd priorities (or so I feel we had to take the back seat due to much more critical teams) now have a dedicated manager to help them grow. I feel I have a better chance in growing as an IT professional and, in the same way, I feel that my team has a better chance for growth.

There is not much update on my personal life though. I don't want to be put down by a very good friend again. No guts no glory they say but sometimes it is hard to accept rejection after putting your head on the plate. It's been 9 months already though so I guess I should be over it by now. After all, I know I am too darn immature to get into something I know I am not ready for. It's hard to keep the butterflies down though every time we meet. :)

Wow, this is the first time I'm actually blogging about this. What the hell. It's time to move on, lesson learned.

That's that. Another dose of Mike Sepulveda's rants, don't be too harsh with your comments though. :)

New Electronic and Communications Engineers!

2006-11-08T23:00:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to send out my congratulations to friends who are also:

New Electronic and Communications Engineers!

140 AXALAN, NEIL MICHAEL LACEA
217 BELARMINO, LUIGI SUNGAHID
562 DY, MARIEN HUANG
717 GOMEZ, JAY CARLO CULTURA
1171 PAGONG, LARVIN VILLEZA
1198 PAR, ROMULO JR GALICIA

Congratulations!!!

See here for full list of ECE board passers.

Nokia N70

2006-10-25T15:48:00.000+08:00

I lost my office phone Monday evening this week. Somehow it was able to creep out of my pocket in the taxi me and my mom took when I was bringing her back to her hotel. It was a Nokia 7110. We called the phone for the entire night. On the next day, we received a text message saying that we should no longer text the number since the person who got the phone is already in Bicol and that s/he would not be returning it any more. They also said thanks and greeted us Merry Christmas.

So there, I lost my Globe phone and had to block the SIM. All is not a loss. I got a new phone yesterday as well. It's a Nokia N70 and it has everything I would want/need in a phone: a radio, camera, call and text, and enough memory to carry small documents, spreadsheets and presentations that I can also view.

Anyway, I haven't started taking pictures and still exploring the features. Keep you guys updated. :)

Astrology: Numerology

2006-09-30T10:07:00.000+08:00

I saw an article from Chiz Escudero again in the Transport newspaper 2 days ago. They had a feature below regarding Chiz's Life Path Number and Birthday Number. They also had a link in the article so I checked it out. Amazing what the stars can actually tell about you. :)

The Life Path Number
The Life Path is the sum of the birth date. This number represents who you are at birth and the native traits that you will carry with you through life. The most important number that will be discussed here is your Life Path number. The Life Path describes the nature of this journey through life.

The Life Path number is established from the date of birth. First, convert the month to a single number . Then convert the day of birth to a single digit . Next, add the total digits of year and reduce this sum to a single digit . The individual digits representing the month, day, and year, be they single digits, are then added together, as necessary to reduce the sum once again to a single digit 1 through 9.

So for me:
09 / 20 / 1984 => 9 / 2/ 1+9+8+4 => 9 / 2 / 22 => 9 / 2 / 4 => 9 + 2 + 4 = 15 => 6

6 (6, 15/6, 24/6, 33/6)
The Life Path 6 suggests that you entered this plane with tools to become the ultimate nurturer, and a beacon for truth, justice, righteousness, and domesticity. Your paternal, or maternal, as the case may be, instincts with a 6 Life Path exceed all others by a considerable margin. Whether in the home or in the work place, you are the predominant caretaker and family head. While the 6 may assume significant responsibilities in the community, the life revolves around the immediate home and family, for this is the most domestic of numbers. Conservative principles and convictions are deeply ingrained and define your character.

You are idealistic and must feel useful to be happy. The main contribution you make is that of advice, service, and ever present support. You are a humanitarian of the first order. It is your role to serve others, and you start in the home environment. You are very human and realistic about life, and you feel that the most important thing in your life is the home, the family and the friends.

This is the Life Path related to leadership by example and assumption of responsibility, thus, it is your obligation to pick up the burden and always be ready to help. If you are like the majority with Life Path 6, you are one who will willingly carry far more than your fair share of any load, and you are always there when needed. In doing so, you take ownership and often become an authority over the situation.

In romance, the 6 is loyal and devoted. A a caretaker type, you are apt to attract partners who are somewhat weaker and more needy than yourself; someone you can care for and protect. The main ingredient that must prevail in the relationship is complete harmony. You don't function well in stressful relationships that become challenges for you to control. It is the same with friends, you are loyal and trustworthy. But there is a tendency for you to become dominating and controlling.

It's likely you feel compelled to function with strength and compassion. You are a sympathetic and kind person, generous with personal and material resources. Wisdom, balance, and understanding are the cornerstones of your life, and these define your approach to life in general. Your extraordinary wisdom and the ability to understand the problems of others is apt to commence from an early age. This allows you to easily span the generation gap and assume an important role in life early on.

The number 6 Life Path actually produces few negative examples, but there are some pitfalls peculiar to the path. You may have a tendency to become overwhelmed by responsibilities and a slave to others, especially members of you own family or close friends. It's easy for you to fall into a pattern of being too critical of others; you also have a tendency to become to hard on yourself. The misuse of this Life Path produce tendencies for you to engage in exaggeration, over-expansiveness, and self-righteousness. Modesty and humility may not flow easily. Imposing one's views in an interfering or meddling way must be an issue of concern.

The natural burdens of this number are heavy, and on rare occasions, responsibility is abdicated by persons with this Life Path 6. This rejection of responsibility will make you feel very guilty and uneasy, and it will have very damaging effects upon your relationships with others.

The Birthday
The birthday is a supporting influence added to the Life Path. Think of it as a modifier to the Life Path. These are traits that you brought into this life much as with the more important and dominating traits shown by the Life Path. Here is your birthday and the modifying traits shown by it:

20
Your birth on the 20th day of the month adds a degree of emotion, sensitivity, and intuition to your reading. The 2 energy provided here is very social, allowing you to make friends easily and quickly. Yet you are apt to have a rather nervous air in the company of a large group. You have a warmhearted nature and emotional understanding that constantly seeks affection. You are very prone to become depressed and moody, as emotions can turn inward and cause anxiety and mental turmoil. It can be hard for you to bounce back to reality when depression sets in. When things are going well, you can go just as far the other way and become extremely affectionate.

40 Valuable Lessons I've Learned

2006-09-27T01:20:00.000+08:00

by RAJIV KUMAR LUV (Corporate Trainer)
1) Relationships don't end, they change.
2) You CAN make a living doing what you love.
3) Never spend all the money you have. Save money and it saves you.
4) In bad times everyone can't help you and in good times everyone isn't as happy for you. Learn how to discern and develop true friends.
5) Don't make promises to your children you can't keep.
6) God is always listening, be careful with your inner self-talk.
7) People and creditors have long memories.
8) The past has passed, let go of the pain, nostalgia, woulda, coulda, shoulda.
9) Practice everyday saying and/or doing something that is loving, helpful & purposeful.
10) Being too dependent on others doesn't allow you to know your own power to create what you need.
11) I am too blessed to be stressed, don't sweat the small stuff.
12) Most people are not bad or mad, they are just sad and don't know how to get the love and attention they deserve.
13) Everything you say and think has power to create its likeness.
14) Fear and procrastination are major enemies to success.
15) God loves me.
16) Don't ignore or mistreat people, everyone is important.
17) Don't give up 5 minutes before your miracle.
18) Good health is so valuable, fragile and a blessing. Drink a lot of water.
19) Don't take everything so serious, have a sense of humor.
20) People like to help or do business with people they already know, networking is critical. Meet and serve as many people as you can.
21) You didn't die from your mistakes, but you may have to repeat them, if you didn't learn the lesson.
22) We train other people how to treat us, self-esteem is NOT selfish, it's necessary.
23) Stay away from negative, critical, judgmental, gossipy people.
24) Spend as much time as possible around nature and beautiful environments.
25) Sometimes things you can't learn in a book or from a parent, teacher or pastor, you have to experience it for yourself.
26) Acknowledge your shortcomings and work to improve them. Acknowledge your strengths, be humble but don't diminish or deny them.
27) Stay focused to get a job done. Either do it, delegate it, or dump it.
28) I didn't die from the painful times in my life, they made me stronger.
29) Don't let a fool kiss you. Don't let a kiss fool you. Kisses aren't promises.
30) Have a life, don't depend on others to make you happy and fulfilled.
31) God is too big to fit into one religion, God is everywhere and in everything.
32) Marriage and parenting are serious commitments, don't be in a hurry.
33) Find ways to show appreciation to those you love and care about, not just on holidays or birthdays.
34) Pay attention to details and keep good records.
35) Prayer changes things. Trust God's divine plan.
36) If you take it, return it. If you break it, fix it. If you know it, live it. If you want it, ask for it. If you use it, clean it. If you wear it, hang it up. If made a mistake, take responsibility for it. If you have some, share it. If you own it, protect it. If you love someone, show it. If you believe it, you can achieve it.
37) Time is precious, live everyday to it's fullest, everyday is a special occasion.
38) Learn to enjoy your own solitude.
39) People come into your life for a reason or a season. They bring joy and lessons.
40) Always stay in the light in spite of any bad news or changes. This positive attitude will help you stay in peace rather than fall to pieces.

----

I know I am posting another forwarded email. Bear with me. :-) I find this very interesting...

Post 202 on my 22nd birthday

2006-09-25T00:34:00.001+08:00

This is post is really nothing much. Just to let you know that it was my 22nd birthday last September 20. Yup, I'm 22 and should probably start acting like one. :p Anyway, my sincerest thanks to all you you guys you spent the time to greet me. You're emails, text messages, Friendster messages, YM messages and the other forms of greeting you did are very much appreciated.

Thanks to my family most of all for the time they spent with me when I took my leave to go home. Though short, it was special.

Thanks to the guys at the office for the cake. It was the best... I could have eaten the entire thing!

To those who may probably be expecting some sort of free meal... Let me earn back the money I spent during my vacation. I am close to broke right now... :)

As for me, I guess its another full year to look forward to. Wish me luck!

Filipino Pride

2006-09-18T21:42:00.000+08:00

I could not help but reposting this email I got from one of my groups. I just had a friend back over from Japan and he has sort of talked about how low other nations think about us as Filipinos! In fact, the Bangladeshi's are a prouder race than we are even we know as a fact that they are poorer. A sad truth but not one that we can't do anything about. For my part, reposting this is a start. I will be proud of being a Filipino everywhere I am in the world because, honestly, if I were the person below, you would have talked back to the guard...

-----------

I've been forwarned, the French are snobs.

When I alighted the plane from the Business Class section, we were told to line up to have our passports checked. I presented to the French Lady Guard my passport and my Business-Premiere Boarding pass for Mexico. She asked if I had papers for my Mexican trip (aside from the Mexican Visa on my passport). As I motioned to retrieve some papers from my bag, she told me to stand in one corner and wait for her. So I did.

I thought she would attend to me shortly after that, instead she finishedlooking at the passports of all passengers before she attended to those who were standing "at the corner"

My eyes scanned through the folks they set aside: Me, another Pinoy guy flying to the US from France,1 Chinese Girl, 1 Chinese guy on his way to Mexico and 1 Vietnamese lady. The Chinese girl had a French companion who talked to the guard, but the French companion was met with "You go, she stay". And so the French Companion left her Chinese friend, with the assurance that she'd wait for her by the Escalators.

Racial Discrimination is really the most stupid thing of all. Discrimination, in itself is bad, but when people discriminate against education attainment or status to choose a job, whereby a specific skill is required, you can probably be more understanding. But to sort people just by the way they look is really, really stupid.

Normally, I'd get pissed. But I was too tired. Besides I had a 4-hr lead time before my next flight. It was also interesting to see the widely regarded European Superiority Complex happening before my very eyes.

I thought. Hey the White Guy in tourist class had so many tattoos but he wasn't questioned. That other white dude in trashy clothes went through without hassle. They don't block black folks too cause there are black French and Americans-- they may be citizens of affluent countries. But oh... the yellows and browns...they are all poor.

Maybe they just want to sneak into Paris to be domestic helpers. Forget that she purchased an expensive ticket or that she's wearing a plush trench coat. Maybe they'll fly business class to Mexico so they can cross the border and get to the USA. She's brown and she deserves to stand in the corner.

So she bugs the browns and yellows for papers. The Viatnamese girl didn't speak English well. So the Guard was irritated. She increased the volume of her voice: "Paper! Paper!" Frustrated, the guard turns to me and asks

"You speak English?"

I was tempted to say, Way better than you do. But instead I replied with a simple "Yes."

She proceeds: "Why are you going to Mexico?"

Duh? What's in it to you anyway? I'm not going to France. I'll just use your airport. Besides the Mexican Consul already deemed me fit to enter their
country and granted me a visa so bug off! I didn't say that, of course. I just said: "I have a series of meetings in Latin America. Here's my email
correspondence with Coca-Cola Mexico. That's my itinerary for South America. And this is my company ID. I work for The Coca-Cola Company. You can call
Coca-Cola Mexico yourself if you like. The phone number is there"

Stunned, but still unwilling to humble herself, the lady guard asked: "What do you do for Coca-Cola?"

I swear I wanted to strangle her. Ano'ng pake mo? Di naman ako pupuntang France. But my better judgement told me to just pull-out my business card and hand it to her. The business card said: National Consumer Marketing Manager. And I told her: "I handle Marketing Activities for Coca-Cola in my country". With that, she let me go, but she didn't apologize for the inconvenience she's caused me. I don't know what happened to the Vietnamese Girl anymore.

Then I remembered what Tito Tony (Meloto) said about being Filipino. It doesn't matter where you migrate and make more money than you would here in Pinas. It doesn't matter if you amass richess in the Philippines and have you face plastered all over Lifestyle Asia and Philippine Tatler. Everyday when you wake up and look at the mirror, it's the same brown Filipino Face that stares back at you. The same brown Filipino Face the world looks down on. Sure you may get away with it sometimes. But chances are, you, any one of your family or close friends will be asked to "Stand at the Corner" by some White folk who doesn't know anybody.

So it's not enough to just make ourselves better. We should help make the Brown Filipino Face look better, by making the FACE of the Philippine Nation better. Individual Sucesses of Pacquiao and Lea Salonga are not enough.

* We need to improve the way people look at us and our country -- right in our own home.

* Reduce the slums by helping make suitable homes and livelihood for them. Sacrifice that Venti Double Esspresso Cafe Mocha once a week.

* Improve the quality of the Filipino Workforce by not stopping at learning.

* Eliminate corruption by resisting the temptation to bribe MMDA officials and take responsibility for your traffic violations

* Do not slack at work and always strive to deliver excellent results

Why do Pinoys have to migrate to show that we are excellent, hardworking people? Why do we have to leave the country to know that we have the capacity to be disciplined?

We don't have to go anywhere. We can do it at home--THE PHILPPINES -- our home.

Rest in Peace

2006-09-13T00:49:00.001+08:00

To those who didn't know them, here is a simple tribute to my pair of rubber shoes.

You catched my eye when my mom asked me to pick out a pair for me to have.
You spent your first day with me going through the grassland by the Marikina river in a game of paintball.
You accompanied me through my first and only jog around the UP Acad Oval.
You were there during my first gym class in UP as well as my first work out in Gold's.
You danced with me from practice all the way to the competition during Indakan 2003.
You climbed 2 mountains with me and almost survived the last.

Through the 4 years we have been together, you have never let me down. You stuck with me until the very end. But, now I must let you go.

Thanks for giving me your strength.

Pico de Loro - Conquered

2006-09-11T15:47:00.000+08:00

Note: Pictures to follow.

Gone up Pico de Loro today with Kian, Martin, Mo and Gregg. Kian was the only person I know when the day started and I'm glad got the chance to meet the 3. They are good natured people and very friendly. People with beliefs and stand for them. I rarely find people like that.

Anyway, here is a run through of the things I realized during this experience:

1. Never ever NOT sleep before a climb. Don't drink, smoke and work a few hours before the ETD either.

2. Read the itinerary clearly. Prepare everything and make sure you do bring 2 liters of water when your asked to!

3. Rotting shoes will definitely give up when you push it to the limit. My poor shoes almost did not make it. Thanks to a good deal of plastic rope we found at the peak, my shoes survived the trip down.

4. Meeting new people is great! You learn a lot from them...

5. Pico de Loro means Parrot's beak and the peak indeed looked like a parrot's beak!

6. There are people who really work for a cause. Gregg works for WWF and I admire him for the being really passionate about it. He even know what each animal looks like. I saw a Lawin! (He confirmed it)

7. Not all people who speak straight English are intimidating and snobbish. Martin and Mo were very warm and friendly and their jokes and conversations are a ton of fun. I should have met them earlier.

8. Kian did not even get tired! I swear!

9. If your tired, wet and covered in mud, you would not mind water getting into your shoes. :p

10. I need to exercise more often if I am to go with Eric and Jan up Mt. Apo next year!

To sum, it was definitely an experience I would like to go all over again, except of course the shoes and water and food and sleep problems. I enjoyed getting wet due to the strong rain and I enjoyed not caring whether I am wet or not. The peak felt like pure bliss!

Can't wait for the next but for now, got to get read of the cramps in my entire body!

Till next time...

2006-09-01T00:41:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, Vlam and Glenn resigned from HP. One to take over their family business while the other to pursue their career interests. Both great people, and both have helped me at some point in my HP life.

Glenn was my manager and he has helped me with the problems I have had with the application I own. He may be tough sometimes but I guess it comes with the job description. He has recognized even the smallest of my efforts to make a difference and to continuously improve on my performance.

Cheers to Glenn!

Vlam was friend and a buddy. Even in non work related activities, Vlam never fails to care and put in that extra mile for anyone. It will be hard to imagine the office without Vlam but I guess business must go on.

Vlam, we wish you all the best of luck and hope you don't forget us when you have extra cash to spend! God speed!

React: Gonzalez: UP breeds destabilizers, naked runners

2006-08-29T08:01:00.000+08:00

Wow! It's been 11 days since my last post and to think the last post was a forwarded email message! Well, I think it is about time to dust away the rust and cobwebs of this blog and start over again. :)

I received an email about an article in the Inquirer about Gonzalez talking that UP breeds destabilizers and naked runners. First thing that came into my mind was that "WTF?!" What the hell does he know about UP?

Anyway, after calming downa and rethinking, I decided that the best way to deal this tackle the issues he raised with objectivity. :p (naks!)

Here are 5 points that I am raising and I won't even try to destroy his person (even if there is so much of his person that is so easy to destroy).

1. The state is not paying for UP students schooling, its the tax payers.
2. World class education? We have no budget and no proof (see Top 500 Universities in the world) to say that we are getting world class education. We are getting the best education in the Philippines but not world class education.
3. UP students are at the forefront and that is what makes us UP students. It is because we owe it to the people who are actually schooling us to be aware, care about what's happening, and actually do something about it (I personally have to reach this part... :p ).
4. People running naked... so? Does it mean anything? What was the point of this point? :p
5. And YES, I do believe that UP people are the only ones who actually know how to run the country. :D

Oh, and by the way, its people like Mr. Gonzalez who is making the Madam look bad... :p hahaha! :p Did he know that his boss is from UP? :p

Just my thoughts though....

Stress Busters

2006-08-08T19:22:00.000+08:00

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the "Kid in You" everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Private Conversations

2006-07-10T01:00:00.000+08:00

Just saw Francis Escudero in Boy Abunda's show, Private Conversations and I must say I was impressed not only with how he handled himself with the questions thrown at him (some which may oftentimes offend others) but also with how much open he is about himself and how much respect he gives to the people around him.

You can feel from the way he answers the sense of idealism and the spirit of nationalism still there, intact. I don't know if that is one gift he has being a politician and all (that's the cynic in me), but it is an admirable that we still have good politicians in office (and here is the idealist).
I like how he answered the question "What is you definition of a good politician?" in which his reponse was "someone who takes a stand and keeps it till the end and knows when to keep the politics out" (I paraphrased that).

He is smart, quick witted and someone worth emulating. Really, it is really inspiring to realize that someone with that caliber can actually use that intelligence for the good of our country and not exactly leaving for greener pastures.

"Brilliance" was his response to the question "What turns him on?" but he quickly adds "that is with the nice face and body which is a given..."

... well, that's just my 2 cents for the day. :)

Free

2006-07-09T21:19:00.000+08:00

Here is one good song for everyone:

And here are the lyrics:

Would you believe me if I said that we are the ones who can make a change in the world today?
Would you believe me if I said that all of thedreams in your heart could come true today? Yeah!
Would you believe me if I said that life can beall that you want it to be today? Yeah!

If I had wings I would fly
'Coz all that I need, You are
'Coz You're all that I believe
And the One that created me
Jesus, because of You
I'm free

Would you believe me if I said that God can make miracles happen today? Yeah, yeah!
Would you believe me if I said that you don't have to wait for the answers before you step out in faith?
Would you believe me if I said that nothing isever impossible for God? Yeah!

Just live your live
With God inside
You won't regret
One moment of it
Give all that you can for God
For God

Being Twenty - Something

2006-07-08T21:15:00.000+08:00

(Read The Whole Thing.... It's worth it.)

They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doingthis because you know that you aren't a bad person. One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out .

Share this to your twenty-something friends...maybe it will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their state of confusion........

Bora Bora

2006-06-27T12:47:00.000+08:00

Gone to Boracay over the weekend and it was F-U-N!

I was never really a fan of flat rates so instead of 10, here are 9 things I enjoyed about Bora:

1. The women - ok, so maybe just the people I was with but it was fun planning, going and staying in Bora with them.

2. D shops - I practiced my haggle skills coupled with some charms... *naks! hehehe... Speaking in Bisaya never fails to send a smile to the sales ladies (and lady-likes - I'm not proud of this though) in Bora...

3. The beach - It was beautiful. Well, compared to the other beach I went this year.

4. Parasailing! - Relaxation to the max! There is nothing like staying high up in the sky with your feet feeling the wind

5. Flying fish? - This one was stress! I tried my best not to fall but failed by four counts

6. The sunset I never got to see - The pictures are great though. I was either watching TV or earning money from Seph and BJ via a game of Tong-its during these times. :p

7. The food that we never got to picture

8. BomBom! - The picture below may not actually be what I was actually referring to. Bom Bom is a reggae club near our resort. It was a cool place and I enjoyed going there. I was not able to return on the 3rd night though. Just enjoyed the music and hanging around.

9. Picture taking - who doesn't!

Bora is fun and got me all worked up. I would surely like to go back in the near future but I guess for now, a short rest will do.

21 lessons

2006-06-20T10:42:00.000+08:00

This is without a doubt one of the nicest good luck forwards I have received. Hope it works for you -- and me!
You have 6 minutes

There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not superstitious. This has been sent to you for good luck from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so Far.

Do not keep this message.

This must leave your hands in 6 MINUTES. Otherwise you will get a very unpleasant surprise. This is true, even if you are not superstitious, agnostic, or otherwise faith impaired.

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: R espect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

Now, here's the FUN part!Send this to at least 5 people and your life will improve.
1-4 people: Your life will improve slightly.
5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.
9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks
15 and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you ever dreamed of will begin to take shape.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. Do not keep this message.

Out of this World Announcement from Spiderman

2006-06-15T23:14:00.000+08:00

Got an out of this world announcement from Spiderman from Carlos! This is way different kind of issue as Spiderman finally reveals his identity in front of the press as Peter Parker.

You can view the article from Yahoo News. The title of the article is Spiderman outs himself to the press. As a preview, here is a cut from the article.

For a comic book hero, it's the ultimate taboo. In the latest edition of the Marvel comic "Civil War" on sale, Spiderman does the unthinkable and removes his Spidey mask to publicly reveal his hidden identity.

Kiss me... a different version

2006-06-14T23:26:00.000+08:00

Could stop laughing over this one! :) Hope you enjoy this one too...

Have a break from the stress of the real world! :)

I hate Caloy!

2006-05-14T00:35:00.001+08:00

Caloy is a the name local weather experts used for the latest typhoon that hit the country. The estimated loss was at 300 million pesos and the death toll is raising rapidly. Caloy has finally reminded everyone that summer is finally over and that the rainy season is about to become its reign.

The death toll and the loss of profit are already good enough reasons to hate the typhoon but I have a more personal grudge against him. I had an entire weekend planned out for May 13 and 14. We were suppose to go up Mt. Daguldul and this has been planned for almost 2 weeks! Everything has already been set. The tents were ready, my schedules have been planned, people have been invited and some have already confirmed but it had to be cancelled the day before due to rising risk in the Batangas area.

Oh well, its a pretty petty grudge though but the next expected climb would be on July as the schedules of my mountain climbing friends are full for the entire June. I was hoping to get another reprieve from the busy life of the city but I guess it just was not meant to be. As the Alchemist said, if it was really meant to happen, then the rest of the world will conspire to make it happen. At least, I got to spend the weekend with my Mom who arrived last Thursday.

Btw, to all mothers and mother-like figures of my life and of yours, Happy Mother's Day!

Application form sumbitted

2006-05-11T21:07:00.000+08:00

I have submitted my application form for MSCS at UP. I'm not sure if I would be accepted into the program, depending on the reccommendations that Vic and Maam Joyce gave me. I hope they're good feedback. :)

Anyway, I will be doing the non thesis option and then specialize in Computer Systems. I was previously thinking of Information Systems and Software Engineering but I guess I can take those subjects as an elective.

We'll see what happens from this point. Take it as it comes, Mike. Just take it as it comes.

Decisions decisions...

2006-05-10T23:59:00.000+08:00

Tick tock tick tock...

Call it a leap of faith, but by tomorrow everything will turn to reality. I'll be submitting my application form for a Master's degree in Computer Science. I'll be taking it at the simple University of the Philippines - that is of course, if they consider me good enough for the program.

Even if until now, I doubt that I can really put a lot of effort into the program despite the workload I already have (yes folks! I do have loads of work). Until this very moment, I have yet to decide as to what specialization I am going to take. It's a tough choice, but I am a complex person with many interests. It is very difficult to pinpoint or find the difference between what I really want or enjoy doing from what I really need to pursue my career.

The problem is I enjoy my job now and I can see myself in the medium term with the company I work for. The problem though is that working for a company or working for the industry in the long term is not dream. The simple fact that I do enjoy research and learning new things, despite the fact that I don't have the patience to code anything, is why I will return to the academe one day. I feel that the most important thing for me to do is to share what I have learned - not just as IT professional but as a person as well. Imparting the values that Pisay and UP has taught me. To pursue the things you enjoy most, and to enjoy seeking new things to learn.

However, you also have to understand that the "kaching kaching" also is very important for us to survive the real world. I could not spend one day without spending at least a hundred pesos. And I sleep on an empty stomach at that. I dread the times when I use to try my best to save a weeks worth of allowance just in case I don't get the next weeks allowance. Pride being a big part of me, I don't borrow or ask for a lot of food even if I'm pretty hungry already. And it is for this reason that I also want to establish the skills I need in order to push my career upward.

So, again, I find myself in the same situation I found myself a year ago. To decide whether to stay in the academe or to pursue an industry career.

The clock is ticking...

Beginner's Guide to Swimming

2006-05-03T04:18:00.000+08:00

Paddle your way to a six-pack with this fat-scorching swim plan
By: Matt Bean

We're giving it to you straight: You're never going to swim like Michael Phelps. For starters, you're probably not 6'4''--and in the water, length means speed. Then there's your--by comparison --penguinlike wing span. Phelps's span is 79 inches, and it propels him through the water like a nitro-fueled speedboat. And the 45 miles of practice he puts in a week? Great for him, but you have commitments.

Now, the good news: All of this had less to do with Phelps's six gold medals and three world records at the 2004 Olympics than one basic in-pool principle that anybody can learn: "The longer and more streamlined you can make your body, the faster you'll go," he says.

"It's that simple."

Phelps and swimming guru Terry Laughlin, president of the New York-based swimming think tank Total Immersion (totalimmersion.net), helped us put together a step-by-step guide to leaving your lanemates behind. If you're a beginner, our plan will keep you from flailing about like you're being attacked by piranhas. If you're a pro, we'll show you how to shave seconds without having to shave your knees.

We're focusing on the freestyle stroke here, not only because it provides a killer cardio workout, but also because it works the most muscles overall--building core strength and carving your V. And it shreds calories. Blows them right out of the water, in fact. Phelps is as thin as an Olsen twin, yet he eats 8,000 calories a day. His average breakfast: two egg-and-cheese sandwiches, a bowl of grits, a western omelet, French toast, and a stack of chocolate-chip pancakes ("for dessert," he says). Being 19 doesn't hurt, of course, but if Phelps can keep his abs well groomed despite eating enough for four, you should be able to make sizable strides with just a modest amount of effort.

Here's our seven-step plan for leaving everyone in your wake.

1. Swim tall. "Water is 1,000 times denser than air," says Laughlin. "So the single most important factor is to slip your body through the smallest hole in the water." Imagine a central axis extending from the top of your head to the opposite end of the pool. Rotate your body along this axis with each stroke, stretching your leading arm (the one reaching out front) as far forward as you can. Keep the muscles in your lower back and abs taut as you power through the water--doing so will keep the propulsion coming from both your arms and legs and stop your midsection from sagging like an old first-mate's belly.

2. Drop an anchor. Swimming with just your hands is like jumping with just your feet. Instead, grip the water with your entire forearm and hand, holding your forearm at a right angle to your upper arm and digging in like you're gathering sand with a shovel. Keep your hands broad, flat, and firm. You're not pushing your arm through the water as much as anchoring it and pulling your body over it.

3. Put yourself on heavy rotation. Each stroke begins with your leading arm having entered the water, and that side of your body--the low side--pointing almost at the bottom of the pool. The other side of your body--the high side--should be raised, with the arm that just finished its stroke getting ready to return to the water. Power is triggered when you drive down the high side of your body, Laughlin says, throwing your high-side arm forward along the central axis into the leading position and forcefully rotating your hips and torso. Meanwhile, your low-side arm becomes the pulling arm underwater, working with your rotating torso to provide acceleration.

4. Keep your head down. Freestylers used to hold their heads high. That forced the rest of the body to drop, turning it into a high-drag plow. "I look pretty much straight down at the bottom of the pool," says Phelps. Not only does this technique cut drag, it keeps your torso high, reducing strain on your neck and lower back.

5. Find your glide path. In the pool, fewer strokes is better. Your goal should be a high DPS--swim-speak for "distance per stroke." Elite swimmers like Phelps can easily traverse a 25-yard pool in seven strokes (each hand entry counts as a stroke). Try to keep yours below 20 by conserving momentum. Pull yourself over your anchor and continue to glide forward with one arm forward and the other back. "You'll travel farther and faster with your legs streamlined near your axis," says Laughlin. When you begin to slow, start the next stroke.

6. Drag your feet. "If you're a good kicker, you're a good swimmer," says Phelps. The secret is turning your feet into fins. Here again, leverage rules: Your legs should be taut, scissoring you through the water, while your feet remain flexible. This will help them snap at the downstroke of each kick, adding oomph and helping twist your torso along the central axis. If your feet don't flex well, buy a set of kicking fins (we like the Slim Fin, forcefin.com) to add flexibility.

7. Don't waste your breath. Gasping for air every time your head nears the surface is a great way to drown. Instead, make each breath count. Emphatically exhale the air from your lungs (all of it, not just 90 percent) before snagging a quick, full breath on the high side. Beginning swimmers need to breathe after each stroke, but as your endurance improves, try breathing on alternate sides--that is, after three strokes. It'll reduce the strain on your neck and shoulders that results from always breathing on the same side.

Celebration

2006-05-02T23:32:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday Seph and Alvin!

Puerto Galera

2006-05-01T23:42:00.000+08:00

I have just gotten back from a 3 days 2 nights Galera trip. It was definitely not the kind of experience I was hoping to get. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the company, the stories, the laughter, the secrets :p and the bloopers. I also will give Mindoro Sling the benefit of that doubt that it is a drink worth going all the way to Galera to taste (and get tipsy with). Yet, there are just some things that you can't get over without giving it a decent rant session in your blog.

1. For a long weekend, you'd expect a good number of people to be going out of the smog and hassle of the city for a vacation. But you would definitely NOT expect a mob of people going to the same vacation place! Meeting time was 4am at Buendia Station. We were fairly on time for the 4:30. However, there was a terrifyingly long queue of people waiting in line for the bus. My guess was if we did not think of an alternative mode of transportation, we might have arrived at Galera the next day.

The port in Batangas was no exception and the summer heat did not spare us at all. Arriving at White Beach in Galera, we had to look for a place as planned. We, however, did not plan to find tons of people also looking for a place to stay and hotel/motel/residential places were already filled up! Again, the summer heat did not spare us at least a breeze of comfort to dry the sweat and relax the fatigue we were already feeling. We were lucky to get help from someone who brought us to a resort (Talipanan) 2 barangays away from White Beach where we found a place to stay for the night. We planned to return to White Beach to scavenge for a place for the 2nd night.

2. We were successful with that but it costs us a lot which brings me to my second point. Everything costs something. Even when you go snorkeling, you pay 50 for the shoes, 50 for the mask, 50 for the floaters, and 50 for the boat guide. That does not count the 50 you would have to pay for the banig you'll use when you want to lay down on the beach. Too bad, the corals where beautiful and the fish were a sight. If only I was not paranoid with the things we left behind with the guide and if only I was not thinking of how much of a culprit that guide was having to make us pay a lot of money for the activity, then I would have certainly enjoyed it.

3. Finding a place to eat is like having Microsoft becoming a true open source. It was impossible! It was out of luck that we get to find a decent restaurant to eat. And that is after asking a dozen or more eating places. And again, it comes with a unfairly indecent price. Beggars can't be choosers and the hungry will just have to deal with it.

4. Coming from a place where going to the beach is a regular thing, it took me a while (and I am still trying) to understand what the is nice about Galera when you can't swim far enough or you'll get hit by an incoming boat or near to the shore since you would have to apologize for hitting someone else. In Davao or most of the beaches in Cebu, there is usually a port or a landing area for incoming boats to drop off beach goers and this port is far enough not to distrub the swimmers by the shore.

Well, it might be inappropriate to compare Galera with the beaches of Davao or Cebu most especially when I have only been to Galera once and have only seen the not so pretty side of things. I liked the resort in Aninoan or Talipanan though but I guess there wasn't that much to do for the rest of the group.

I usually go to the beach for some quiet time, away from the busy-ness of the rest of the world. It is there I forget that I am a slave to the corporate world and that there are a lot of worldly concerns that I have to resolve. The beach, and nature itself, is a nourishing place where I want to just stare blankly into the space, smell the breeze, listen to the waves and the slush of the leaves, and feel the sand and stone beneath your feet.

I guess concrete and glass has taken too much environmental space in my life that real nature is now just a small piece of the chart. I need to get out of the city a bit more.

One @ HP

2006-04-25T01:00:00.000+08:00

Today, I celebrate 1 year of financial freedom. I celebrate the end of dependencies and celebrate the beginning of living.

Your own money
Your choices of expenses
Your pick on investment oppurtunities

The gains of the freedom to choose and the responsibility of choosing well.

Today, I am officially a year old as a professional in the IT industry.

Life and Tech

2006-04-08T05:32:00.000+08:00

A quote from the article "The secret of youth discovered" under the Highblood section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It was written by Tranquilino V. Quinto Jr.

"As I look around me day by day, I am troubled to see people ostensibly withering away when they should be enjoying the prime of their lives. So early the flame of their dreams and aspirations seems to be flickering off. Instead of stoking the embers that make it burn blazing and bright, they have left it to be extinguished by the destroyer of life: despair. Instead of getting up and moving on after a fall, they have chosen to stay down. And instead of learning from their mistakes, they have checked out."

Fulfilling your dreams or at least die trying. Pick yourself up after every mistake and move on. Do not fall into helplessness and hopelessness. This could very well be in perfect for our trying times - and this not pointing towards politics alone. I mean, all of us live day to day with dreams for something better. There is always that vision, that urge to strive to better ourselves, to better the conditions of our community, and if you are truly nonself serving, to the better of our country. To make a difference in the world, leave a mark, be remembered.
Oh well, that's life.

Anyway, to all you techies out there, here's a funny video about an Intel processor in a Mac. It came up in one forum that a friend sent through email about the recent news of Windows XP now running on a Mac. I think its pretty stupid though to introduce vulnerabilities into something that is already pretty good. And in the end, it was just a means to earn profit.

New Naruto Starting Song

2006-04-07T05:47:00.000+08:00

For all Naruto fans out there, there is a new starting song for Naruto. :) See video below...

Java Puzzlers

2006-04-07T02:02:00.000+08:00

Here's something that every Java person (developer, architect, enthusiast, whatever) should get. It's a book that gives an example of code illusions we face in our everyday coding life. Very much like an optical illusion, there are times when we sort of think pieces of code is doing something that seems pretty obvious until we run the code.

Anyway, I haven't read the book yet but you can get a better review by visit the article I read here.

Also, the book has a website. Its worth a visit too.

Have a Happy Moment!

2006-04-05T01:38:00.000+08:00

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.

You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend.

You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.

You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Talkback: Education

2006-03-25T05:14:00.000+08:00

In the show Talkback with Tina Palma just this morning, there were 4 students (Marco of UP was one of them and a guy from Pisay) talking about the state of education and its value to help our country. It was a good discussion. There were some points that I thought everyone totally missed the point while in others they had points I missed.

There was one question that Tina raised about what value is most important for you. There were good points, love for learning, trust in God, however, they have forgotten the importance of the sense of nationalism and patriotism. And this is what I is what I want to change in this country, that, that every Filipino have that strong sense of nationalism without loss of hope and a continued vision for the betterment of our Philippines.

Heroes

2006-03-25T02:25:00.000+08:00

Something coming from an episode in Justice League Unlimited Season 2:

"Everyone in the league is good at their job.

But those 7, they are the best ever.

Not because they are the most powerful, they are.

All of them. Its not just because they are the first.

Its because they are special.

They have proven it time and again.

They make the hard choices.

They set the example.

They do what's right not what's easiest.

And they always come out on top."

It sort of sums up a definition of what a hero is. In a country that seems to be up for the dumps, we need to start being heroes in our own rights. We, as Filipinos, should start choosing what is right rather than what is easy. Each of us, doing our share. This may be too idealistic but considering the cynicism that envelops us right now, one idealist might make a difference, though small, but still a difference.

Just trying to do my fair share in nation building. Be a hero.

You Can't Always Get What You Want

2006-03-23T05:16:00.000+08:00

by Rolling Stones

[chorus]
I saw her today at a reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

No, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need

Oh yeah, hey hey hey, oh...

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singing, "We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse"
Sing it to me now...

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You get what you need

Oh baby, yeah, yeah!

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy
And man, did he look pretty ill
We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was "dead"
I said to him

You can't always get what you want, no!
You can't always get what you want (tell ya baby)
You can't always get what you want (no)
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You get what you need
Oh yes! Woo!

You get what you need--yeah, oh baby!
Oh yeah!

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well I could tell by her blood-stained hands

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need

You can't always get what you want (no, no baby)
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need, ah yes...

Random Things

2006-03-18T15:44:00.000+08:00

I received a cool video made using Swish. It's fun. You can find the link here.

-----------

“Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?

Like a fast-flittering meteor, a fast-flying cloud,

a flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,

He passes from life to his rest in the grave.”
—William Knox (1824)

10 New things...

2006-03-17T16:19:00.000+08:00

... I learned about Green Lantern after sitting in Powerbooks last Thursday while waiting for some friends for in a vice binge:

1. The power of the Green Lantern ring does not work on the color yellow.

2. This is because long ago, before there was the Green Lantern Corp, the Guardians battled a evil being called Parallax.

3. Paralax can not be defeated and was therefore stored in the Central Battery where Green Lantern's ring get its power.

4. The only Green Latern that was not affected by this was Kyle, the Green Latern that survived Hal's destruction of the Guardians and the entire Green Latern organization.

5. How the Green Lanterns use their power depends on their perspective: John was an engineer which is why what he creates look like engineering designs. Hal was pure power. Kyle was an artist.

6. The first Green Lantern was Hal.

7. Batman hated Hal because Hal never knew fear. "... and what is Batman without fear. He is just a man."

8. Hal was possessed by the Parallax which is why he turned renegade and destroyed the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corp. He was chosen because he had the strongest willpower among all the Green Lanterns.

9. Hal was then possessed by the being known as the Spectre, God's spirit of vengeance. This was because the Spectre thought that he could help destroy Parallax.

10. Green Lantern and Green Arrow were great friends. So were generations of Green Lanterns and Flashes.

Green Lantern's Oath:

"In brightest day,
in blackest night,
no evil shall escape my sight,
let those who worship evil's might,
beware my power,
Green Lantern's light!"

Bebot

2006-03-12T13:02:00.000+08:00

Here is a cool video... Funny but still somehow makes you proud being Pinoy.

Blueprint for a Viable Philippines

2006-03-10T17:04:00.000+08:00

Former UP President Dodong Nemenzo appeared on TV last night on ANC's The Big Picture. He was there to talk about his group, Laban ng Masa, and his group's pamphlet Blueprint for a Viable Philippines.

What kept me tuned to the program was the idea that, finally, here is someone or a group of people who are presenting to anyone who will listen a set of guidelines that are pointing to everyone the obvious problems of our country and setting and addressing these issues at point blank to the point of spoonfeeding these possible solutions. The program gave only a brief overview of what the book was about. It was basically like a mosquito bite that needed to be scratched. And so typical of me to go ahead with the scratching.

I spent half of my day at work searching and browing through the document that Nemenzo and a group of intellectuals, including Randy David, and in consultation with various sectors put together. It presented the ideas and action plans in a 3 step format that started of with the issue, then presented what government is doing, and lastly, what can and should have been done.

The point of the whole thing though was that the government should actively education the people and help promote an active and vigilant citizenry. Democracy is more than the institutions and the people who work in them but rather it is the about the people who elect those public officials into the institutions. A intelligent, aware, and involved citizenry who will actively participate in public dialougues and consultations, a citenzenry who knows of the issues and not afraid to give his piece of mind, a citizenry who values and is proud of his country and is willing to do everything to make it work.

Currently, I no longer give a damn as to what structure or form of government our country will take. As long as we have the freedom and as long as we are responsible for our freedoms, any system will work. A responsible citizenry will put into power a responsible leader, who in turn can make things together with the citizens, hell of a lot better.

Here we go again

2006-02-25T23:02:00.000+08:00

Again, the Filipino attempts to do one of the most stupidest things. On the occassion that was suppose to celebrate the victory of the simple Filipino, some elements turn it to a political fiasco mixed with religious fanaticism.

First and foremost, you do not say that it is God's will that a president must step down nor do youa have the right to say that it is your moral obligation to bring down a cheater and a lier when in fact you yourself have your share of cheating and lying. He who has no sin will cast the first stone. I am no supporter of the current administration. They do some good and do some bad things. They are just human but, at the same time, they should also realize that the responsibility of having to run this country also lies in their shoulders. With that, the interests of the nation should be above their own.

Secondly, if you want to effect change in to the society we leave in, you have to start it with yourself and within your circle of influence. Going out to the street on what is suppose to be a proud mark of the Filipino spirit is simply not right. In the sense of the words of Sen. Raul Roco, God bless his soul, whe he started into politics, he wanted to change the world. As he grew older, we wanted to change the country. However, in the end, what he really wanted to change was himself. To create change is to be an example of change.

Finally, everyone has their own beliefs. You do not impose to other people what you think is right. Let the people decide independently what they think is right and then each must listen and respect what each has to say. Nothing can be said to be true until all sides of a story has been heard.

The 1986 People Power Revolution was a great moment for the Filipino. It made us to proud to be who we ar, what we are capable of, and what we, as a people, believe in. Please don't ruin the memory with for own personal agendas.

Here we are again

2006-02-24T06:17:00.000+08:00

Yes, I guess I am back to square one. Lost in the infinity of things. Just the previous days I had a game plan on how to play my life. Work well, study smart, live life and plan ahead. Things seemed bright and all. There were points when I was rewarded for doing a good job. Thing paid off well. I know I like what I am doing with my work. It's fun and enjoy the company of good friends at work.

It's just that it doesn't seems like everything is fulfilling. I try to get my mind off of thinking about the next 10 to 20 years. What would it be like after this and that? Am I being who I really am? Just a few days back, Torya mentioned that I have changed. I wouldn't know really. I feel like my old self only that I am able to do things I want to do. Maybe, things are starting to get into my head. I've heard comments that I am someone who likes to win. I guess that's true although I was never like that before (or so I thought that liking to win was a good thing). Maybe I am just starting to go over the edge. I feel like I'm getting overboard on how I deal with people, with friends. It seems like I'm turning into the kind of person I so used to hate.

Arrogance is such a strong word but I guess that there is arrogance in the words that I utter. Am I forgetting where I come from? I guess what they say that money is the most toxic poison (redundancy intended) of all is true. I know I earn more than my fair share and I feel like this suddenness of me having more than enough is making me loose the focus of what I really intend to do in life. Is it just a matter of earning and rotating the dough we have or is there something? I have always told myself that money is not the only thing that motivates me but its getting harder and harder to find anything else that will.

Darn, I am beginning to forget that the relationships that have always kept me going these past years are the relationships that I am starting to loose grip. God knows how badly I have to reconnect to my old self.

tag! I'm it!

2006-02-23T00:09:00.000+08:00

4 jobs I had in my life
1. Big Brother / Eldest son
2. Fastfood table wiper / cashier / taga dispense ng coke
3. CS Representative
4. SM for HP Asia Pacific

4 movies I could watch over and over ..just from the top of my head..
1. Chronicles of Narnia
2. Lord of the Rings 1, 2 and 3
3. Harry Potter
4. Star Wars 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

4 places I've Lived in..
1. Cotabato City
2. General Santos City
3. Davao City
4. Cebu City
(not yet counting Los Banos, Quezon City, and Makati City)

4 tv shows/channels I love to watch
1. Animax
2. Disney Channel
3. ETC
4. HBO

4 places I've been on vacation
1. Toronto (What business trip?)
2. Baguio
3. Mt. Maculot!
4. Davao-Cotabato-Davao-Cebu

4 websites I visit daily
1. wps.corp.hp.com
2. mail.yahoo.com
3. infobuilder.blogspot.com
4. narutocentral.com

4 of my favorite foods
1. Crispy Pata
2. Sizzling Sisig
3. Siomai
4. Chocolates

4 places I'd rather be by now
1. Davao
2. UP Diliman (Melchor Hall)
3. with my family
4. Sacred Hear Chapel at UP

Johari Window

2006-02-17T13:23:00.000+08:00

Hi guys,

Hope you can contribute to my Johari Window. Click on the link here -> contribute. Below is my latest Johari update. :)

Arena

(known to self and others)

friendly, idealistic, intelligent, observant, warm

Blind Spot

(known only to others)

able, adaptable, calm, caring, cheerful, clever, complex, confident, dependable, energetic, extroverted, giving, happy, helpful, independent, ingenious, kind, knowledgeable, logical, modest, organised, patient, proud, quiet, reflective, relaxed, religious, responsive, searching, self-assertive, self-conscious, sensible, sentimental, shy, silly, spontaneous, sympathetic, tense, trustworthy, wise, witty

Façade

(known only to self)

nervous

Unknown

(known to nobody)

accepting, bold, brave, dignified, introverted, loving, mature, powerful

Dominant Traits

67% of people agree that Mike Sepulveda is friendly

All Percentages

able (5%) accepting (0%) adaptable (23%) bold (0%) brave (0%) calm (11%) caring (11%) cheerful (44%) clever (14%) complex (2%) confident (8%) dependable (29%) dignified (0%) energetic (17%) extroverted (8%) friendly (67%) giving (5%) happy (20%) helpful (29%) idealistic (14%) independent (2%) ingenious (2%) intelligent (29%) introverted (0%) kind (20%) knowledgeable (17%) logical (2%) loving (0%) mature (0%) modest (14%) nervous (0%) observant (5%) organised (5%) patient (11%) powerful (0%) proud (5%) quiet (8%) reflective (2%) relaxed (2%) religious (2%) responsive (5%) searching (2%) self-assertive (2%) self-conscious (5%) sensible (14%) sentimental (11%) shy (5%) silly (11%) spontaneous (8%) sympathetic (5%) tense (2%) trustworthy (2%) warm (14%) wise (2%) witty (5%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 17.3.2006, using data from 34 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view Mike Sepulveda's full data.

Mt. Maculot - Conquered!!!

2006-02-12T22:54:00.000+08:00

I know that this mountain is less than a level 1 but believe me, we went through the ends of hell and back to reach the top and thank all the heavenly hosts that it was worth all the pain and stress and work.

Yes, my dear friends, I have counquered Mt. Maculot and I am damn proud of it! In this world where you face your laptop most of the day, living in structures made out of concrete and sand, a little bit of fresh air, green trees, virgin shores and a couple of friends to push you throughout the ordeal is a definite "re-energizer". This is of course to mean, a revitalizing experience for the mind and soul, and most definitely not for the body! :p

It was a spontaneous planned day for everyone (if you get what I mean). We had an intinerary and all and in reference to Murphy's Law, we met at around 7am instead of the planned 6am. I was a good thing though that we made room for allowances. We were able to arrive at the top close to our estimated time. We had difficult times of course on the way. I had lower back pains when we were just a few steps away but we made it.

The view was great! I'll publish the pictures as soon as I get them. But all in all it was one hell of an experience! It is something I will be proud of. Even if they say that I wouldn't get anything other than scars, bruises, sunburn, and new friendster pix, this was a learning experience, an eye opener, and a realization of my need to return to nature.

Eurostar

2006-02-05T06:41:00.000+08:00

It was one of those Friday nights when you do not want to go home yet (because that would make you a loser). Everyone wants to do something but does know who to go with. I was inviting some people for dinner during that time. Something just out of the blue as it would be pretty boring with me and the TV at home.

Tricia, BJ, Ben, Jan and I went to Greenbelt (Uva?) to have dinner and it was a very expensive one at that. It was sad though to think during that time that we are going home right after that. Suddenly, just out of the blue, Ben mentioned that it would be great to go to Eurostar. Jan and I seemed to not just like the idea but intensely craved for it to come true and gladly enough it did! With a few calls for Becca and Alvin (Becca did not make it though), we were off. After dropping off out stuff at the office and getting Alvin back at Greenbelt (BJ was kind enough to play driver for us even though he was not coming along), we were off.

It was exciting at the start when we arrived and to think we were all in our office clothes! We were looking at the rides, planning what to ride last and talking like as if we own the entire carnival. Our first ride however was a great way to kill all that enthusias. We all (except Alvin) got very dizzy after that ride and we took the Ferris wheel after to cool off. After a number of bump car rides and the Log Jam (a ride like Jungle Log Jam at EK but we can't remember the name of this one) we were off back to the other dizzy-looking ride.

At that point, I had to give way. After the ride was done, I went directly to the side of the ride. There I was deciding where to throw up, whether in the garbage can or at some dark corner. I ran out of time and I threw up in the middle! It was my first time to ever throw up due to a ride! It was humiliating but at the same time funny. We rode the scariest ride the last only to realize that it was hell fun and should have been worth repeating more than 10 times! I forgot the name of that ride again but it was great! You seat, feet free, and then the ride turns you 360 degrees vertically forward (o backward depending on where you are facing) and it pauses while you are at the top since the seats opposite are being filled up. After which, you go back backward (or forward depending on your first direction) so fast! Another thing that was fun about it was that the seats where swinging on the beam as well. If you know the feeling of riding the swing and turning it over the bar and extend the length of the ropes a hundred times then you know how it feels!

After that, we rode the Log Jam again alternating seats. So that was more that 10 times! We were all so wet and smelled like rust (the water was rusty) but it was a lot of fun. By the time we had to go home, it was already 2:30am! Ben decided that he was thinking in sleeping at the office in one of our soft seating conference rooms (with bean bags!). I said I was game if it were 3 of us sleeping over. Alvin seemed to be fine and so there we were at the office washing up. Jan went home. Good thing I had my jacket at the office and that was the only thing I wore having to remove my wet shirt. It was scary though since there would be interviews at around 8 so we had to wake up early (which we did).

All in all, it was a extremely fun and spontaneous activity. I couldn't wait till the next one!

Paano

2006-01-29T19:52:00.000+08:00

by Gary Valenciano

Yakap, yakap ko siya
dahil luha’y dagling dadaloy
ngunit paano ko sasabihin ito.
Puso’y tiyak na masusugatan
kaya ba niyang maunawaan
paano ko sasabihin ito

Chorus:
Ayaw ko mang saktan
ang kanyang damdamin
Ngunit kailangan malaman
Puso’y kumakaba
Sana’y matapos na
di’ makapag-umpisa.
Ngunit kahit nais
ko man pilitin
‘Di na kayang ibigin
Paano ipadarama
Sa ‘yo sinta na
Puso’y ari na ng iba
wohh-wohh-wohh
wohh-wohh-wohhhh

Labis, laging nagdaramdam
Bakit sa’kin pa manggagaling
Paano ko sasabihin ito

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:
Hahhhh
Hahhhh
Pa’no, pa’no ko sasabihin
Pa’no, ko sasabihin
Pa’no…woohhh
Puso’y tiyak na masusugatan
Kaya ba niyang maunawaan
Oohh, nais mang pilitin
Di na kayang ibigin
Pa’no ko sasabihin…
Hhoohhh…

Reminiscing high school days

2006-01-29T13:29:00.000+08:00

I've gone back to uplb this weekend just to hang out with friends from back in high school and like most of our reunions, we can't help but look back on the good old high school days and talk about the things we have been doing up until now. It's nice to think that we are indeed growing up and growing older. As Renan said, we now have our own worlds to live but when we come together, we are just like one big universe having a good time.

This shot was taken when we were just 2nd year in high school. When I look at it now and compare how we are now, the difference is obvious. We (sort of) think more maturely, dress up more maturely, and talk about mature stuff. We changed, Renan said again, but that does not mean that we should forget what we have gone through for 4 (3 years for me, Renan and Roel).

It was a fun weekend. I just wished that the people at Diliman wasn't so busy so that we can share a few hours on the bowling alley. :)

Pacman by TKO on 10th!

2006-01-22T17:59:00.000+08:00

Manny Pacquiao WINS!!!

by Technical Knock Out on the 10th Round!

I could say that this was one of the most awaited events in the Philippines and boy it didn't lead to disappointment. The initial rounds seemed like it was a bleak quest as Morales was landing good hits on our guy except when he staggered a bit on the 2nd but the wind turned against the unfortunate Mexican on 6th round. Manny was able to land punches left and right and, in the end, Morales landed on his knees and after a few rain of punches, and another drop, the match was ended with Manny getting the hand raise!

Praises to Manny with his new American accent!!! :p

Just kidding... But honestly though, kudos to a hero in this times of untrustworthiness and lack of integrity of public figures in our country.

New year's survey

2006-01-22T17:55:00.000+08:00

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I did a lot of new things in 2005. I started working! Graduated from university! woohoo! I paid income tax as well. :(

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Did I have a New Year's Resolution last year?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
Went to a lot of good places this year with highlight on Vancouver and Toronto, Canada. :p "Business Trip"But I'm also pretty proud of having visited Baguio last summer and my solo Davao-Cotabato-Davao-Cebu trip for my 21st birthday! :p

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
To be more assertive and someone to spend time with. :p

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Septembet 20, 2005 - my birthday. some things are better left unsaid! :p

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating from the country's best univeristy on time and getting a pretty good job

9. What was your biggest failure?
I missed SLA for December. HP pips, you know this. :(

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm glad I didn't. I wasted one year's worth of medical benefits though. :p

11. What was the best thing you bought?
New clothes!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Every salary day is worth celebrating!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
could I say graduation? :p

14. Where did most of your money go?
Taxi!!!!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Business trips! :p

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Noypi by Bamboo. You have to know who you are, where you come from, and be proud about it when you face the real whole wide world.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? no change
ii. thinner or fatter? hahah! fatter!
iii. richer or poorer? definitely richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spent my time more wisely back in UP

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
sleeping time off

20. How did you spend Christmas?
in Cebu with my Family

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Maybe? :p

23. How many one-night stands?
one night stands... :-

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Rockstar: INXS but I didn't watch it on TV

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No

26. What was the best book you read?
The Alchemist

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I can do Videoke! :p

28. What did you want and get?
A good paying job

29. What did you want and not get?
a girl bestfriend. :(

30. favorite film of this year?
Highway

31. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went on a 5 day 4 city hop. I'm 21.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
a girl bestfriend. :)

33. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
From T-shirt and jeans to collared shirts and slacks.

34. What kept you sane?
Good friends, family.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
no particular figure really

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
GMA cheated. So, what happens next?

37. Who did you miss?
Electron pips!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Could I say best new set of people instead? Go BI/DW! :p

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
Life should be enjoyed.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.because of you

....
And I went down to the demonstrationTo get my fair share of abuseSinging, "We're gonna vent our frustrationIf we don't we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse"Sing it to me now...
You can't always get what you wantYou can't always get what you wantYou can't always get what you wantBut if you try sometimes well you just might findYou get what you needOh baby, yeah, yeah!
....

Dancing Cha-Cha

2006-01-21T04:18:00.000+08:00

What's wrong the the current Philippine Constitution? OK, let's admit it, its not perfect but the way things are going with regards to the discussions on charter change is simply not what needs to be changed.

Is one-chamber parliamentary system better? Would having a prime minister be better than having a president? Is there a need for terms to be defined for the incumbent elected officials if ever this change in constitution does take effect? These are what usually highlights the newspapers, and tv and radion news. This is what most politicians "intelligently" debate about or should I rather say that this is the subject most are more concerned about.

It is easy to refute each one. A one chamber system will remove the check and balance between the house or representatives and the senate. A flaw we can see is the possibility of passing mediocre laws not really relevant or beneficial.

A prime minister would be one coming from the winning political party from the elections. However, we have a week party system wherein no solid ideology exist for a party. There is also no party loyalty among politicians in a party. Every election, we see them switching sides depending who has the best offer. God, and we call them public servants! Elected posts are not supposed to be made into careers. Its service to the country; a willingness to give and contribute something good and worthwhile. Idealistic as it might seem, but if we do not determine the root purpose of a thing, I doubt that we can ever move forward.

And what is this about having the incumbent end terms by 2007 or 2010? Is this even relevant to the topic of charter change? I mean, this is a political issue that would be relevant once there exists an already ratified charter. We are wasting our salivas on pointless debate.

But the fact of the matter is that these questions would not answer the questions of the ordinary Filipino. Will I be able to eat tomorrow? Will I afford school for my kids? Will I be safe in the streets? Do I have a future in this country? I believe there is nothing wrong with the constitution even if it was built in reaction to the 1971 version to support the Marcos martial law. I believe that what is wrong is the people we continue to put in office. And I know everyone agrees with this.

Filipinos have to return to the basics; to what is more important, to what will be good for us and for our country in the future. It's not that hard to imagine that we are progressing well in all aspects. It's just a matter of focus. Just doing the right thing. Can't we just do that for once?

Holiday Vacation

2006-01-02T01:29:00.000+08:00

New Year is a special time for my family, as any other's. OUr activities are simple actually. Every 1st of the year, we from the Lim Clan (Mother's side) get together for a mass at dusk at Lola Loring's place at Mabolo, Cebu. The fun part of the whole thing though is that I get to meet very distant relatives. Lola Loring is the cousin of my grandmother, so the cousin's I meet there would be my second and third degree cousins. I also meet my other grandparents and uncles and aunts. You can imagine how long the process of doing 'mano po' takes.

I have always been a bit withdrawn during these types of occasions as I have never really spent that much time with these relatives, considering how distant-ness our relation is. But the thing that I appreciate most about as I grew older is that these people are family as well and these occassions are meant for us to get to know each other. As always, family will always been there to support us no matter how wrong or bad or deep in shit you have gotten yourself into. Even if you score a hundred in videoke singing My Way or Only You even if you yourself know that your singin was totally out of tune, your family will be there to nudge you to try harder, and with enough support, you gain confidence in yourself as well as appreciation for the help.

Just this Christmas, we visited a couple of relatives (the husband of my grandmother's sister and my grandfather's brother) who are now in not so tiptop shape. What's so special about these visits is that my grandparents as well as my parents and my aunts and uncles care very much about them dispite their inability to move on their own (both are already bedridden). This vacation was a special reminder for me about the importance of my family.

Leaving alone can be tough and sometimes we have got to toughen ourselves in order to live through each day. Leaving alone away from your family while trying to earn enough bucks to support yourself, your lifestyle and maybe a future family can make you forget about what really matters, and that is your present family. Personally, I have already grown accustomed to living away from my family. It has been 6 years since I started living alone during my 4th year high school days.

It was difficult to leave Cebu after this vacation. I miss them already.

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-30T03:27:00.000+08:00

Adios 2005!

Raise the bottles
Serve the ham
Light the firecrackers
and
Enjoy the final days...

-------------------------------------------------------------

Malipayong Pasko

ug isa ka

Mausawagong Bag-ong Tuig sa Tanan!

Maligayang Pasko

Manigong Bagong Taon sa Lahat!

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year to Everyone!

-------------------------------------------------------------

... Before that we welcome

A hopefully better year

For everyone

In prayer and

In silence.

Aloha 2006!

Me? A Writer?!

2005-12-19T02:36:00.000+08:00

There was once a time when I was considered of having a future as a writer and I thought I did. I once wrote pieces, abstract literary or straight-to-the-point scientific dissertations, and it always gave me a sense of being able to do something better than my colleagues 5 to 6 years back.

But then came the time when I was pidgeon-holed into a paradigm of the computer science writing. Coded. Structured. Sometimes even object-oriented. Limiting my focus to a set of defined rules and parameters. Understanding the reasons behind reuseability and applying it to writing outside of computer science domain. This may be what defines a computer science or information technology writer should be but does not quantify to what I, personally, want to share.

Back then, I wrote as soon as inspiration hits. I had a pen and notebook with me at all times. The play of words, the rhymes, the tone and pacing of every word was a tree swaying and dancing with the wind. A play of the night's orchestra or so I thought. I entered into a science school and everything became came with geometry's "do not assume" rule. Postulates and theorems were there when there is a need for computing abstract objects such as squares and angles, which by the way, are words that are not real. That is, of course, if we abide by Aristotle's definition on what is real. His approach preceded the now well known Scientific Methods. I goes something but not exactly like this: "Until I can see, smell, touch, hear, or taste it, an object is considered unreal." We can not see, smell, touch, hear or taste a square or an angle. Definitions can be flawed most of the time and that is why there is the arts to make sense of the flawedness of science.

But to strike the balance between the scientific mind and the arts is not simple. It takes a genius, a good number are people I know from UP, to bring these supposedly opposing views of the world together. I, unfortunately, am not one of those geniuses. Swing one way but can never ride sideways.

I wrote on what I feel of what is reality, I write now on how I perceive reality. It might be the start of my cynicism and maybe the sloping decline of the once idealistic me.

Today, I am an it professional. I best understand structures and rules, designs and patterns. This is the world I currently live in. I'll need to find the abstractness in this to find my old self again. This is on of my facets to try and redeem that old me again.

Cursor claims Awitan

2005-12-13T02:03:00.000+08:00

UP Cursor claims

Awitan 2005: Broadways Dreams

Runs closer to EWOC!

Congratulations

UP Cursor Awitaners 2005

1st Place

EWOC na ito!

High School buddies

2005-12-04T07:04:00.000+08:00

There is something about high school friends that makes you feel right all the time. Yesterday, I was feeling kind of bored after waking up from my night shift earlier in the day. I called up the usual people from UP Diliman and invited them to a night of billiards. As reliable as ever, they agreed.

I won't go through the details of going to UP and spending again a considerable amount of money. Rather, I want to share the ideas we shared after we had our 4 hour billiards session (again!). At Jollibee at around 2 in the morning, we began another of our intellectual discussions. Just as always, we converse in a witty and at the same geeky kind of way that only high school buddies can relate to. One of the ideas that came to mind was how to grow money.

We somehow got into discussing of good ways of implementing business strategies. Some of us mentioned of putting up small scale businesses like a computer shop or billiards or bowling alley. After much talk on the kind of businesses that seem suitable, Rodel mentioned that why don't we put them all into a mall. Operating a mall looks like a good business to be in to these days as most of the people can be found in malls rather than in theme parks. We even thought of having a fastfood joint called McBee and have spies work at Jollibee and Mcdo and see how their fries and burgers are being made. We even thought that we might as well buy the burgers at Mcdo and ask them to wrap the burgers in McBee wrappers instead. Imagine the scenario of someone going to Mcdonalds and order 100-200 burgers to go and have them wrap the burgers in a McBee wrapper and have them placed in a McBee plastic bag. It was hilarious! :)

We then started delving into how it was going to be operated. What was funny about this was when I raised the idea on who was going to be the President, the CIO, CFO, etc.... then who was going to be the sales person, the janitor, the pin boy. Vincent suggested that why don't we do it by turns and the one with the lowest income during that day will have to suffer consequences. Vincent, ever witty and the fast thinker, volunteered to do the sundays (as this seemed the most profitable during a week) but Neil retaliated by saying that Sundays should also be done alternatingly. I mentioned that one should work from 1-2 then another 2-3 and another still 3-4. :) That way is was fair. :)

We were getting pretty loony about the ideas and Rodel mentioned that the setting up a school was a good business oppurtunity in the next 10 years. He even cited some examples of some schools buying other schools, and the idea of the increasing young population. He also came up with the idea of having an internship program. By this time, we have decided that it would be an elementary school and that it would be situated near Pisay Mindanao and UPMin. This was so that those who need to go into intership from these schools may volunteer. The school will be located beside the mall. So our interns can now serve as the teachers, pin boys, sales clerks, cashiers, and bag boys! :)

Now, we thought on how to build these ideas considering that these businesses would require huge capital. Rodel suggested that we capture terrorists and collect the rewards. :) We even thought of how to deal with infiltration and who may be capable of doing it. We were getting bizzare and bizzare by the minute and contributing to the ideas was getting more and more fun. We even though of having the interns do suicide bombings!! :) Imagine an ad saying "Wanted Suicide Bomber Interns: Oppurtunity to travel anywhere in the world with high risk of death" plus we get to receive the insurance that comes with the death (if it comes to that) and add it to out capital.

But beneath that, we thought that by reducing the number of terrorists in Mindanao while trying to build up a business was a good idea. For one, you are eliminating the single biggest obstacle that stops investors in putting up business in Mindanao - the terrorists. By doing this strategy, we are being able to gain capital from the bounty we receive at the same time create a better climate for our business. Aside from that, if we were able to save Mindanao from terrorism, we would become heroes and our mall will become well known - Mall of Heroes? :p We can have action figures and have them in McBee Happy Meals! :p

We had more ideas that came including setting up a zoo, since in Thailand animal poo was used to produce energy and at the same time a place where our elementary students can go for a field trip. Oh, by the way, it will be located beside the school. :p Then we thought about the oppurtunities of going into the dirty kind of business, brought about by a phrase we got from our Drafting teacher back in 2nd year high school. That phrase was, "We suck your shit". The topic was about a service done to extract, well, shit from septic tanks. We thought that competition in these type of business, including garbage collection, seggregation and disposal, is minimal and that this woul provide key areas to gain money. And to think that seggregation can be done with cheap labor by organizing already existing garbage hawkers - and it comes in cheap as long as you can provide food and a place to stay. Again, we can have interns to do the seggregation as well. :p

Then there was the rice paddies placed into a building and the cellphone company and service provider. All with the same bizzare way of thinking that only our type can understand the seemingly fathom logical explantion behind them. Many of our other classmates in our solid class of 30 came into the picture considering their courses now as college students and their possible contributions to the mission.

It was fun and indeed a great exercise for my mind. These sort of things, I really miss from my high school buddies. Its a different kind of high when you talk about silly and nothing things but when you really think about it real hard, we see underlying ideas that may be bound to work, you may find ideas that reflect what the other is really thinking - the way they deal with reality.

We came into a more serious discussion if we have ever matured since high school. We didn't know. I mean, how do you quantify being mature? Is the way you deal with reality? The way you deal of real life situations? Is it your leadership skills or the way you deal with people? Is it determined by your thoughts and mind processes on things like courtship and love and friendship? How indeed do you quantify maturity. I guess I haven't personally figured that part out yet too.

High school friends are hard to take out of your system though. I'm glad I got to go out this one time with them again.

Happy 1st Birthday!

2005-11-19T05:16:00.000+08:00

Today

this blog is

1 year old!!!!!

Thank you to all my readers and regular visitors.

Get A Life

2005-11-14T21:45:00.000+08:00

Jose Dalisay Jr., PhD
Address to the Graduating Class
UP Baguio, 23 April 2005

Former UP President (Francisco) Nemenzo - whom I was privileged to serve - was frankly not too fond of the phrase "iskolar ng bayan" to describe the UP student. We are all, of course, scholars of the people in this university, in the technical sense that our studies are subsidized by the sweat of the poor, whose hopes we bear upon our shoulders.

But the President's point was that scholarship remains a distinction to be earned not merely by scoring well in an entrance examination, but by adopting a lifelong attitude of critical inquiry and rational judgment.

This, sadly, is something that many of us lose upon our entry into the University and our immersion in its life - not only its intellectual and academic life, but also its social and professional life. The curiosity ends, the magic fades, the writing dries up, and we retreat to a cocoon - to a dimly lit room marked "Me & Myself" - there to spend the rest of our career sulking over the next fellow's promotion and so-and-so's research grant.

"Get a life" has been one of my lifelong mantras. I have always believed that while a formal education is a wonderful thing, what I call an active life - with all its serendipitous detours and little accidents - is even better. It is a cliché by now to say that there are many things we can never learn in school - but for those of us who are in school, it is even more important to remember this.

Some of the best things happen when we step outside of our own lives and begin to be engaged in those of others. Often, the answers to our own problems lie in others, and in their larger predicaments. While involvement in a great cause can also create its own kind of blindness to everything else, I believe that, at least once in our lives, we should embrace a passion larger than ourselves; even the disillusionment that often follows can be very instructive, and will bring us one step closer to wisdom.

One of the best ideas I ever heard came from a friend whom I used to play billiards with until the wee hours of the morning: "Everyone," he said while cleaning up the balls on the table, "should be entitled to make at least one big mistake."

I would not have been the writer I became if I had chosen the safe path and stayed where I was supposed to be. It took me two years to finish my MFA, and only three to finish my PhD. But before that, it took me 14 years to get my AB.

At 12 - like your chancellor - I entered the Philippine Science High School. As my parents never tired of telling anyone who cared to listen (and even those who didn't), I was the entrance-exam topnotcher of my batch, No. 1 of about 6,000 examinees. However, what my parents didn't say was that after my first year in Science High, I was going to be kicked out - with a 1.0 in English and a 5.0 in Math.

What happened? Well, you might say that I got a life. From the grade-school nerd who read two books a day in our all-boys Catholic school, I suddenly discovered girls, parties, and fun. What did I do? I used my 1.0 in English to save my 5.0 in Math, by writing a letter of appeal that began with "At the outset, let me say that I bear malice toward none." I guess it worked, because they put me on probation for a year, and I survived PSHS by the skin of my teeth.

At 16, I entered UP as an industrial engineering major - and promptly got a 5.0 in Math 17, for too many absences - the bane of the arrogant Science High graduate, even the perennial flunker like me who thought he already knew more Math than he needed to know.

At 17, still a freshman, I quit college - over the tears of my mother, whose fondest hope was for me to graduate from UP just like she did. I wanted to join the revolution, like many of my comrades; at the same time I was impatient to get a job.

At 18, I was working as a newspaper reporter covering hospital fires, US embassy rallies, suicide cases, factory strikes, and typhoon relief operations.

I spent most of my 19th year in martial-law prison.

At 20, I was a husband and father.

At 26, I took my first foreign trip.

At 27, I learned how to drive - and went back to school.

At 30, I got my AB, and decided that what I wanted to do was to write and teach for the rest of my life, so here I am.

I have been shot at, imprisoned, and worst of all, rejected by more crushes than I care to remember. Aside from my abortive career in journalism, I once worked as a cook-waiter-cashier-busboy-janitor, cutting 40 pounds of pork and chicken every day before turning them into someone's dinner.

Much earlier, I worked as a municipal employee, checking the attendance of Metro Aides at seven in the morning, and then I studied printmaking and sold my etchings cheaply by the dozen in Ermita. Incidentally, it was at that printmaking shop that I met my wife June, who's here with me today, and for whose patience with my colorful moods I am forever grateful.
Some of these events have found their way to my writing; most of them have not and never will. I believe that creative writing should generate its own excitement, beyond whatever may have happened to the author in his or her own life. But neither can I deny that my outlook has been influenced by what I have seen out there, as bright, as indelible, and as disturbing as fresh blood.

If we are to abide by the Phi Kappa Phi motto to "let the love of learning rule humanity," we should first ourselves be ruled by the love of learning - learning from books, and learning beyond them.

On the other side of the equation, let me observe that there is, today, a nascent but disturbing strain of anti-intellectualism in Philippine politics and society. The vulgar ___expression of this sentiment has taken the form of the suggestion that we can dispense with brains and education when it comes to our national leadership, because they have done us no good, anyway.
It is easy to see how this perception came about, and how its attractiveness derives from its being at least partially true. Many of our people feel betrayed by their best and brightest - the edukado , as we are called in our barangays - because we are too easily bought out by the powers that be. Marcos and Estrada had probably the best Cabinets in our political history, well-stocked with prestigious PhDs from places like Oxford and Stanford; but in the end, even they could do nothing against their President and his excesses.

For us UP graduates, the seductions of power will always be there. Power and wealth are also very interesting games to play, and few play them better than UP grads - the power side more than the wealth, as I suspect that Ateneans and La Sallites are better at making money than we are.

But even these can put you out of touch. I have friends in Malacañang and Makati who seem to have lost all sense of life, thought, and feeling on the street, beyond what their own commissioned surveys tell them. Worse, they seem to have lost touch with their old, honest, self-critical selves. They forgot all about Sophocles and poetry and mystery and music you can't buy at the record store.

To be a UP student, faculty member, and alumnus is to be burdened but also ennobled by a unique mission - not just the mission of serving the people, which is in itself not unique, and which is also reflected, for example, in the Atenean concept of being a "man for others." Rather, to my mind, our mission is to lead and to be led by reason - by independent, scientific, and secular reason, rather than by politicians, priests, shamans, bankers, or generals.

You are UP because you can think and speak for yourselves, by your own wits and on your own two feet, and you can do so no matter what the rest of the people in the room may be thinking. You are UP because no one can tell you to shut up, if you have something sensible and vital to say. You are UP because you dread not the poverty of material comforts but the poverty of the mind. And you are UP because you care about something as abstract and sometimes as treacherous as the idea of "nation", even if it kills you.

Sometimes, long after UP, we forget these things and become just like everybody else; I certainly have. Even so, I suspect that that forgetfulness is laced with guilt - the guilt of knowing that you were, and could yet become, somebody better. And you cannot even argue that you did not know, because today, I just told you so.