Chowtime

It's July!

2009-07-01T16:59:57Z

9 months to go then college life is over. :(

Intellectual Stimulation

2009-05-25T16:16:00Z

Nothing beats a healthy debate as intellectual stimulation. Carlo posted about the RH bill on multiply and I got into the action! Haha.

King James don't let me down!

4 more days left in OJT program. There are still lots of bugs in our program :| I hope we can finish soon so I can relax. haha.

Registration on tuesday so I guess that means really no vacation for me. Well i'm not sure if that's on tuesday but still, no vacation for me. Haha.

Deadline

2009-05-14T15:39:32Z

Hooray demo moved to monday morning!

Dallas finally eliminated. I guess I was hoping too much.

LSS on This is Me from Camp Rock. AHAHAHA. Sorry I'm cool like that.

Can't play SF4 online because of stupid firmware update.

Tomorrow is the 15th!

Random

2009-05-13T15:52:33Z

OJT is more than halfway done. I'm afraid I can't finish my part by Friday. Work work work!

I'm not really that affected by Mavs' performance this year (unlike the years before) though I really hope they beat Denver. I'm going Cavs all the way sorry Kobe!

The corniest part about idolizing LeBron James is that everybody likes him for the simple reason that he's damn good. Still like Dirk though especially after that 44-point performance.

I want an SFIV fighting stick. It's hard to find those so they cost too much :|

Next tourney at the end of August. Hopefully by then i have a new stick! CD-R king sucks. Haha.

OJT

2009-04-15T16:26:57Z

I started OJT last Monday in Azeus. It's located in Ortigas. So far so good. I'm enjoying myself and definitely learning a lot. Since I'm not really a computer science major, I had to study the languages they use or will use for the project. The people there are very nice. My co-interns are cool as well though they mostly hang out with their school mates. Well it's just the third day.

Saddest part for me is seeing the sun set while I leave the office. It's like my day is already over.

Today's the 15th, first paycheck? Haha. I treated my family with pizza. The rest went straight to my Rock Band fund. Haha.

Break the curse!

2009-02-14T16:01:30Z

Pardon me for the long entry but I had to write about this one.

Break the curse!

It wasn't a traumatic experience but it's definitely one night I'll never forget.

I was supposed to be a field marshal. I helped out at the entrance because we made that thing they use with the black light to check the tickets. We were there if something went wrong (like running out of batteries or LED dying out, etc). It took around 2 to 3 hours for people before they got in. The line stretched from the entrance (in front of educ) up to the sidewalk, around the oval going to Eng'g and another going to AS. That's a very long line. I went backstage to request for more marshals to help at the entrance but none could be spared. Before the "riot" broke out, there were around 10 marshals out there, one was a girl, one security guard, I think I saw one or two from UP Police.

I have no idea of the time because I don't have a watch and I left my cellphone inside for safety purposes. I think it was around the performance of giniling festival when things started to get wild. The JJs, orcs, whatever name you want to call them, started to go wild on the right side of the entrance. A little later on, they started tackling the walls made of yero, to try and break it down. They weren't doing it randomly, they we're doing it systematically. It was like an army being led to war by a general. They had a signal when to charge and when to go back. They were flinging rocks over the wall. People inside were getting hurt. I was holding the ropes on the line so I feel so helpless just watching them do that. No I didn't want to get in front of that unruly mob, I just wanted to call for help from the police or the security. I glanced over and I see only one person in front, the Pan Xenia guy who was helping me out earlier on the lines. He was all alone. I asked Potpot, one of my orgmates arranging the line to call for help. He said the police were already called. A few minutes passed, they were still trying to break down the wall. No one was stopping them. Jerome passed by and I asked him to go to the USC booth and report what was happening. I'm pretty sure they know what was happening but I was wondering why no help was coming.

After a few minutes, all hell broke loose. People started running around. The line broke out, my rope was useless. I was trying to recover the rest of it during all the commotion. Around 5 seconds later, I realized that was a stupid decision. I dropped the rope, ran like hell back to the entrance. Roby was there to help me get in. At this point, the gates were closed for entry. I was going back to the Love Rage booth to settle down but I saw Roby and Alvi still at the entrance. I dragged those two away because it was unsafe there. Not more than 5 minutes later, the gate was broken and some were able to get in. It's a good thing the security people were quick to respond. They pushed away the people trying to get in. Those who were persistent got hit and taken into custody. Program was stopped for a while.

This was around 11:30. I knew the time because they had a countdown timer on the stage for the fireworks at midnight. When everything seemed settled, the program resumed and I rested a while. I went to the backstage to get my dinner. I went back to booth and had dinner during the fireworks countdown. While eating, Cocoy came up to the booth and asked for more marshals at the entrance because they were allowing entry again. I didn't know who ordered that re-entry. Aro went to the entrance to help while I was still eating. After eating, I went there and helped also. We weren't checking the tickets anymore, just ripped the stub then let them go inside. Some time later, I peeked outside, JJs were again starting to bang the walls. Then suddenly, the UP Policeman in the area was suddenly knocked unconscious. I didn't know what happened, he just fell down. The guy in front of the line exclaimed "Yung kasama nyo tumumba na o!" I wanted to help but I wasn't ready to go out there and risk my life. Two security people went out and carried him to the entrance. Yes people were kind enough to let them through the entrance. Since the gate was broken before, we had it replaced with a steel pipe. To get through, people must crouch. So the unconscious policeman was picked up by the arms and dragged through the pipes. Nobody else was helping so I quickly grabbed his legs and we ran to the first aid booth as fast as we can. As we passed by the crowd, gasps and "Oh my God"s were all around. I glanced at the poor policeman, his head was bloody. I didn't look again. As I left the first aid station, I didn't know what to think. It's my first time in that kind of situation. I can't believe this happened to me.

I went back to the entrance and they were still allowing re-entry. I hung around and helped in holding the gate. Things started to escalate again. Aro went to the entrance and asked us to move away immediately because things really were getting more and more unruly. I complied and asked the others there to move away as well and leave it to the security personnel. The program was stopped permanently because of the violence outside. The wall was really coming down. A hole was also produced near our booth. People were flowing in non-stop. Our head, Ken, told us to grab all bags and run to the backstage. At the backstage, we waited for everyone of our orgmates. It's good that none of them got hurt or injured.

I've attended the UP fair for four years. This is the first time I saw this happen. I didn't know why the unruly crowd wasn't dispersed as early as possible. Backup can't be that far away right? Some security personnel and policemen weren't helping as well. WE STUDENTS were in front of the gate holding it. The PX guy was brave enough to stand in front of the mob earlier to try and stop them, the police and security weren't. I overheard one UP policeman say "alam mo naman ang PNP, ayaw makialam sa ganito." The people inside the grounds were scared as hell. Jen told me at one point, "Mas safe pa nga sa labas kesa dito sa loob."

I'm just glad it's all over now.

LOVERAGE 3: BREAK THE CURSE

2009-02-08T08:05:53Z

For more info, visit www.loverage3.com or loverage3.multiply.com

Obama is the Man

2009-01-21T18:07:57Z

I heard part of his Inaugural speech last night. He's a great speaker. Thousands of people were watching his speech. Well it is history in the making. Like it or not, his influence reaches across the globe so I felt obliged to watch his speech.

I was wondering how Bush, who was seated behind him, felt when Obama outlined all the problems that his administration caused :))

Oh and by the way, Obama appeared in Amazing Spider-man #583:

The story sucked if you care. Their comic featuring Stephen Colbert is way better.

Hard Drive, January 24, 2009

2009-01-14T14:30:10Z

UP Fair 1 month away!:D

2009-01-12T16:25:23Z

Yes the UP Fair is 1 month away! Excited na meeeeeee.

Isa sa mga pinakainaabangan kong event every year to. Kahit may exam at probsets, I still watch the concerts. Once a year na nga lang ako nakakanuod eh kaya dapat sulitin! Hahaha. Wala na ko halos alam sa mga bagong OPM songs ngayon so sana may new bands akong marinig. Pero syempre ang pinakagusto ko pa rin ay urbandub :D. Loverage 3 guys nuod kayo! Haha.

Isa pa sa gusto ko sa UP fair eh nakakasama ko mga batchmates ko from HS. Pare-parehong tao mga nakakasama ko. Guys this year kita kits ulet tayo. Loverage 3 ah! Hahaha :))

LOVERAGE 3: BREAK THE CURSE

2009-01-12T16:17:16Z

UPFAIR2009

LOVERAGE 3: BREAK THE CURSE

The UP FAIR is the most anticipated annual event in the University of the Philippines. Every year, selected host organizations gear up and prepare groundbreaking concerts and various exciting activities to provide a week of music revelry and gaiety for the Iskolars ng Bayan. The proceeds of the event are used to fund humanitarian projects for chosen beneficiaries.

LOVERAGE3: Break the Curse, the third installment of the iconic LOVERAGE concert, is a pre-Valentine and Valentine celebration designed to bring together Iskolars ng Bayan and guests in a call to undo and defy superstitious bad luck associated with Friday the 13th through a night of love and love for music with the youth. It also aims to celebrate the varied and distinct musicianship shared and unleashed by our Filipino bands and artists in the realm of original Filipino music. As the night wears on, the organizers envision a Valentines Day welcome countdown, prompting a special fireworks display at exactly 12:00 midnight to delight the spectators. Tickets will be priced at PhP90 each. This curse-breaking event will be held on Friday the 13^th of February 2009, at the UP Sunken Garden from 6:00PM onwards. (Gates open at 5:00PM)

Hi 2009!

2009-01-01T14:17:45Z

Happy New Year to everyone!

2008 has been a fun year. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng naging parte nito. One of the best things that happened this year is I met a lot of new and wonderful people through UP Circuit. Ilang taon akong walang org kaya pagpasok ko ng circuit bibong bibo pa :))

I miss my HS batchmates. Although I still see some of them, medyo madalang na lang. Pasensya na rin sa iba kung di ko mapaunlakan mga imbitasyon nyo minsan. This 2009 I hope to keep the friendships alive, old and new. Mahirap humanap ng mga mabubuting kaibigan sa mundong ito.

Ano pa resolution ko? Aba magpapayat! Taon taon ko resolution yan :)) I should try harder. Hehehe. Sayang naman malapit na ko grumaduate ng college, pag graduate ko mas konti na oras para magexercise :))

The first thing that struck me this 2009 is that I'm graduating a year from now. Excited ako grumaduate eh sorry. Hahaha. Hopefully smooth sailing na lang itong last 3 sems.

I pray for a happy 2009 para sa lahat!

Maligayang Pasko sa Lahat

2008-12-25T08:49:30Z

Merry Christmas to all!:D

Why me?

2008-09-29T16:48:51Z

The world is conspiring against me.

Or so i think?

ADMU DLSU Finals Game 2

2008-09-25T16:12:22Z

Congratulations ADMU!

I just wanted to make this entry for rico maierhoffer. He may not be the most loved person in the whole world but I think the technical fouls called were unfair. It would be extremely stupid to flash a dirty finger in a game with very high stakes especially since he garnered a technical foul earlier in the game and I believe he is not that stupid. His explanation of calling over a teammate makes more sense. The replay doesn't clear it up either. But hey, the referee was nearer to the players than me so I don't have the right to contest him right? Well, no use clearing it up. It is over and done.

I think they would've still lost because of how poorly they played. The Blue Eagles had their number. There was no offense for DLSU. I think their game plan was to shoot the lights out from beyond the arc. Their defense sucked big time especially their supposedly patented full court press. I think there was a point where the Blue Eagles broke the press in exactly the same way for around three or four consecutive possessions, completing fast breaks in the process.

Honestly, I was disappointed. The fourth quarter was really really ugly. It's not as sloppy as the NCAA finals game 1 yesterday though. Haha.

Baclao should've been MVP :D

AKBAY

2008-07-25T17:11:49Z

Finally nakasama na rin ako sa AKBAY. Di ko alam ibig sabihin eh pero meron yan. Haha. Ano to? Basically may mine-maintain kaming mga computers sa mga public school. Sa wakas eh nakahanap na rin ako ng silbi sa buhay.

Nage-enjoy ako magtinker sa computer kaya natuwa ako kanina sa paga-ayos namin. Nakatulong kami at the same time marami rin ako natutunan na mga bagay bagay galing kay lance at kuya lew. Tapos sarap pa nila magpakain!

May ilan din akong analysis sa aking experience. Hindi ko intention na mang-away or mang-insulto, napansin ko lang tong mga bagay bagay na to.

Kulang sa training ang mga teachers. Siguro di nila trabaho yung mag-ayos ng computer pero sana kahit basic man lang eh kaya nilang itroubleshoot. Yung isang computer eh nakatanggal lang yung cable ng monitor tapos di nila nakita so kala nila sira. Tapos karamihan sa setting ng computers eh nakakalikot ng mga students which is dangerous.
Isa pang delikado, nakainternet lahat ng computer! The internet is not safe for everyone. HAHAHA. Pero seriously, alam mo naman mga bata, minsan may mga kalokohan talaga so baka makakuha sila ng virus (which happened dun sa isang pc nila). Well syempre useful din turuan maginternet mga bata pero sana eh may precautions like blockers. Baka magkakaroon ng session na kami yung gagawa nun. May yahoo messenger nga pala mga PC panis ka! Kami sa UP wala nun eh. Hahaha.
Meron ding mga students na marurunong gumamit dahil nababago nila yung ibang setting. Well madali lang baguhin yung iba pero meron dun isa, inadjust nya yung page file ng OS. Di mo magagawa yun by accident dahil sakto yung values na nilagay para matake-up yung buong hard disk. Pretty clever.
Hindi bulok ang computers sa public school, konti lang. Andun kami mga 15 to 20 siguro andun tapos mga pentium 2.8GHz at nakawindows XP pa lahat. Donated to ng Ayala kaya astig sila! Haha. So 2:1 ratio ng students to computer sabi nung teacher which is actually isn't bad.
Napaka-generous nila sa amin. Di naman kami nage-expect ng kapalit dahil libre yung ginagawa namin para sa kanila pero laging merong pakain (kwento ng mga kasama ko haha). Yung pinakain sa amin eh tinapay tapos tig-dalawang coke tapos may hotdog sandwich pa galing 7-11! Sabihin na nating mga at least 30 pesos per person x5, P150 lahat yun! Parang kumuha kami sa kaban ng bayan ng P150. hahaha. Well pina-pakita lang na hospitable talaga ang mga pinoy.

It was a great experience. I'm definitely going to volunteer for this project every chance I get.

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

Migrate na sana ko sa multiply kanina lang pero di ko magawa. Hahahaha.

ADMU vs UP

2008-07-19T17:16:35Z

Every year na lang sinasabi namin na mananalo ang UP sa "BATTLE OF KATIPUNAN" pero every year nilalampaso lang kami. Hahahaha. Trademark talaga ng mga UP ang pagiging cocky. Manalo, matalo walang diperensya. Haha.

Dark Knight

2008-07-17T16:54:20Z

magpopost ako para kay batman.

MANUOD KAYO.

alvintang @ 2008-06-21T00:41:00

2008-06-20T16:56:43Z

First two weeks tapos na!

Weird ang monday na free day. Masarap yung wednesday dati kasi midweek break yun. Ngayon tuloy tuloy from Tuesday to Friday papasok. Masarap din yung long weekend though. Panget nga lang kung Monday masked ang exams mo. Wierd din magstart ng week on a Tuesday. Sana balik na lang nila yung Wednesday free day.

First exercise pa lang sa CoE 135 eh hirap na hirap na ko. Pero di ako papatalo. Kung kelangan ko mag-aral ng linux eh mag-aaral ako.

May 2 akong prof na magaling maglecture. Magaling meaning hindi boring. Puro kwento at jokes, kadalasan corny pero corny rin ako so masaya ako.

Nung bata ako, di ko akalain na ganito ang mga aaralin sa college. Napaka-specific na ng topics. Talagang specialization na inaaral namin. Pano magdesign ng hardware, pano gumawa ng operating system, pano gumagana ang computers, etc. Sa lahat ng to pinakagusto ko yung computer architecture and organization. Mas mahirap siya oo pero mas natutuwa ako dahil ito mga gusto ko matutunan kaya ako pumasok sa course ko.

Nakalaya na sila Ces Drilon at mga kasama nya. Tulad ng dati, may kwento ng bayaran ng ransom, sangkot na mga gov't officials, tapos nag-order si gloria na burahin sa balat ng lupa ang mga Abu Sayaff. Pang-ilang cycle na ba to?

Champion Celtics. Talagang talo kinakampihan ko (sorry rey). Still, masaya ko para sa Celtics dahil sa wakas may championship na si Allen, Pierce, at Garnett. They all deserve it.

Independence Day

2008-06-12T15:22:00Z

Happy 110th Independence Day Philippines!!

Sana eh umunlad ka at maging matatag sa lahat ng pagsubok!

alvintang @ 2008-06-09T23:40:00

2008-06-09T15:51:02Z

Pasukan na bukas. Half of me wants to extend summer vacation, the other half wants to start classes. Excited ako dahil interested ako sa mga majors ko. Sana lang masustain ko tong excitement na to for the whole sem.

Excited ako mainly sa three majors:
CoE 111 - Advanced Digital Design
CoE 135 - Operating Systems
EEE 105 - Computer Organization

Kaya ako nag computer engineering in the first place eh dahil gusto ko ang computers. Sana marami ako matutunan. Oo nerd or geek na ako.

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

A weeks ago may tanong sa Inbox section ng Philippine Star kung ano gagawin mo kung umabot na ng P75/liter ang gas. Nung nakita ko, wow ang layo naman ng P75/liter dahil back then malayo pa sya sa P60. Ngayon almost P60 na at pataas pa ng pataas. What can we do right? Sabi ng kuya ko hanap daw ako ng trabaho sa oil company para may libreng gas. Brilliant idea! Kaya lang di ako chem eng'g sayang.

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

Kung Fu Panda is great. Haha. Naiimagine ko talaga si jack black dun sa panda :))

THERE IS NO PRICE FOR AWESOMENESS AND ATTRACTIVENESS!!!

June na!

2008-06-01T19:59:08Z

June na pero saksakan pa rin ng ineeeeeeeet!! Nasaan na ang mga bagyo?? Pasukan na!!! (wag lang sana bumaha pero mukhang malabo yun).

Random Stuff

2008-05-31T20:16:32Z

Every year during late May to early June, the problems of the educational system enter the news. Every year, the students suffer. Every year, no solution is provided. Every year, it gets worse. Sad.

Registration na naman next week. Buti may 13 units na ko so prerog/petition na lang nung last 2 subjects needed. I was surprised that the real-time enlistment last summer worked out pretty well. I didn't give enough credit on UP students. Shame on me.

Lakers versus Celtics. Dream finals daw. Dream ko Mavs sa finals eh. Haha. Anyway, sa totoo lang, kung di ako fanboy, lakers talaga ko all the way sa playoffs na to. Some say nakakaawa si Garnett kaya dapat magchampion na sila. Tingin ko, Kobe has worked hard and endured enough criticisms and bad teams in the past. This is his moment. Haha.

Sorry na lang Rey, lahat ng kinakampihan ko natatalo :))

alvintang @ 2008-05-29T03:13:00

2008-05-28T19:38:07Z

"Yung nationalism mo eh cover-up lang sa lack of ambition mo."

...sabi sa akin ng isang importanteng tao sa buhay ko. I always say that I won't leave this country because I can make much difference here than abroad. I'll go abroad maybe just to study and I want to come back here. My brother told me (hindi siya yung quoted sa taas) that I only think this way because I haven't been abroad. Pag nakatapos daw ako at siguro nakatrabaho sa ibang bansa, my horizons will broaden and I'll start to think that it is the world I can serve, not just my country.

One of my ambitions/dreams in life is to see our country prosper or at least start to during my lifetime. Many people refuse to believe this can happen and it is somewhat frustrating. I am afraid. I have become somewhat preachy about this stuff but I don't know if I do the country service as well. I am afraid that I talk the talk but don't/can't/won't walk the walk. Let's admit that academic excellence (especially in engineering) can't be attained here, at least not yet. So do I pursue studying/working abroad then come back here and do what I can do? Maybe that would be a great test of my nationalism.

Perhaps she is right. It's just a cover-up. Maybe I'm just lazy and I don't have the ambition or drive to go out and make a name for myself. I just want to stay here, get a simple job to cover up survival needs, raise a mediocre family, and rest quietly the rest of the way.

I'm thinking of too much stuff. Focus muna. I'll finish my course, 2 years na lang. On track pa ako for laude so sana maabot ko yun! Nakikita ko na sarili ko umaakyat sa stage =))

Yesterday nga pala, May 28, ay ang date ng pagwagayway ng ating bandila for the first time!

fare hike

2008-05-21T21:14:50Z

Sa mga di nakakaalam, nagtaas na ang pamasahe. Sa jeep P8.00 na ang minimum fare, tumaas ng P0.50. Sabihin nyo ng kuripot ako pero malaking bagay yang 50 centavos na yan. Papasok sumasakay akong 2 jeep. Piso agad yun. Tapos pabalik ulet, 2 piso na. Tapos gawin mo araw-araw, linggo linggo, buwan buwan. Hindi siya kasing sakit sa bulsa nung P1.50 fare hike na nakaraan pero masakit pa rin nonetheless.

Pero ok lang sa akin yung pagtaas. Gipit din naman kasi ang mga driver natin. Di tulad ng mga tauhan natin sa gobyerno! Recently naman nailabas ang data ng Statement of Assets and Liabilites and Net Worth ng mga dakila nating politiko. Akalain mo, si GMA eh worth 98.6 million pesos, 11 million more than in 2006. Ang SAL nya nung 2001 ay around 32 million lang. Ang sweldo ng presidente eh P693,000 annually. Naiintindihan ko na ganun kayaman si GMA dahil matanda na sya. Pero si Mikey nasa 90+ million tapos si dato arroyo nasa 80+ million. Kahit sabihin na nating super honest ng mga dineclare nila, nakakalungkot pa rin isipin na ang mga politiko natin ay saksakan ng yaman habang marami sa ating kababayan ang naghihirap.

Anong point ng lahat ng to? Wala. Gusto ko lang mang criticize kasi feeling ko cool ako.

Salamat sa ABS-CBN at sa Philippine Star para sa data.