On the News on Automated Elections

And just like that. With the news on automated elections in the country, people are starting to talk about information systems and source codes. In reunions and family gatherings whenever the topic on the election arises, my relatives never fail to confirm to me my course, "Diba MIS ka?"

"Opo. Management Information Systems po. At ngayon, alam niyo na po na mahalaga kami sa lipunan."

"K."

I must not add anything more. I shouldn't tell them that my course is Management Information Systems specializing in Business Intelligence. And I haven't even added the "Bachelor of Science Major in ..." thing.

MORAL: Source codes and automated elections, people are still unsure on the use of Information Technology for the elections. They still opt to have manual elections because they said automated elections can still be cheated and tampered. Really now. Even though post-election headlines usually bear, "Dinaya ako!" or "I was cheated by (insert opponent's name here)!" Seriously, people still prefer manual elections? Can't blame them, but give automated elections a chance.

Bio Punnett

MORAL: I love Bio people. :D

Win Those

Everyone's talking about upgrading into Windows 7. They're excited ecstatic. Just thinking of backing-up everything then installing everything again makes me cringe.

I know Vista sücks bigtime and we can get the Pro for free, it's still plain annoying thinking of it.

The benefits are presented and can be highlighted, which upon installation of your new Windows 7, you would be so happy you could sponsor a feast for two towns.

Installing everything again is not a happy thing to do. Might do it in the semestral break, instead. Even if my sembreak is practically non-existent anymore.

MORAL: Be open to change especially when you yourself know that you could reap something in return. Look at problems as challenges because having this kind of thinking will help you learn, instead of whine all day everyday.

Always Have Moral

I made a tumblr account because I can't flood my blog with all of my one liners that suddenly spring into existence.

St Ignatius de Loyola, the patron saint of the Ateneo de Manila University, valued reflection. Its powers are beyond imagination. He suggested to reflect on our experiences as much as we can - daily if possible.

I believe that there is something to learn from our experiences. And if that experience got the chance to be entered in my blog, you know there's a diamond of learning waiting in the rough. I don't always have to look hard for it to unearth it.


MORAL: What you know now is not less of what you will know tomorrow. You don't compare it, you keep it, you treasure it. Question, why do you still have to go to school tomorrow? Answer, because what I learned today is not yet enough. Learning is an endless endeavor because there is just so much to know and to learn. And learning doesn't stop after school. (I just made-up everything you read.)

Present IT

AVP for Document Management

AVP for Projects

VP for Externals

Have you ever been part of a school organization? Well, I'm an officer in our organization and we're promoting a new thing for all the projects we do. The project officers have to present their plans and updates to the management officers. Mark, my blockmate and also the AVP for Member Development, is fond of whipping up these caricatures of people around. It's his way of spacing out. He did a lot of caricatures and comic strips during our 6-unit Calculus class. We were seatmates and yes, I bore witness to all of the wasted tuition fee great stuff he has drawn. We even composed a song instead of listening to every detail of Calculus. Dang, Calculus took much of our lives!

Anyway, after every presentation is the much awaited question and answer portion. There were a lot of questions and clarifications so I guess Mark spaced out again. Then he drew those beside him, the AVP for Projects and VP for Externals who asked a lot of questions, and the AVP for Document Management who was going haywire.

Good job for the project officers, though! The AVPs were just weird a while ago. Haha.

MORAL: Any meeting after the duration goes beyond the set time usually drops the "attentive percentage" from 90% to as low as 10%. So, be strict with the time. Start on time, end on time.

Top 5 Happiest Cities

According to Yahoo!, the top 5 happiest cities in the world are:

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. Sydney, Australia

3. Barcelona, Spain

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands

5. Melbourne, Australia

6. Manila, Philippines

Yay! Two are from Australia! I like Australia, well I like my idea of Australia. Laid back life, friendly people, and skin cancer. Then, there's the Netherlands! I have stated previously how much I like the Netherlands.

So why the post? The article has been in Yahoo! for quite sometime. I just thought of posting it because I'm really getting haywired with all the stuff I have to do. I am living the zombie season. I don't know why, but I have been doing so much lately. Lately meaning since August. Really. There's no "hell week" for me. There are hell weekS (please notice the emphasis on the letter S) and the possibility of hell month. Hmm. I think they should change the name of hell weeek into like "challenge week" or "inferno month." OK. That was a fugly idea which deserves death by firing squad.

MORAL: If you want something done well, do it yourself. However, if you know you would produce a less competent end-result, well, admit it and give the task to someone else whom you know (and trust) can make the "something" better.

*insert a happy face here*

Scalpburn Aftermath

Is one of the worst things that I have seen. What the *bleep* is that?! I'll share to you a story from an anonymous contributor.

A mother thought she saw oatmeal in her kid's head. The mom panicked too much when she saw it, and then removed what was left of the "oatmeal" from this kid's hair. Dandruff? Nopes. Flakes? More like toasted flakes! I think it's (really) disgusting, but heck it happened. Until now, the sight and idea of it make me cringe. I think I just vomitted in my mouth.

MORAL: Don't expose anything for too long under the sun, unless you want some dried products. Sheesh. Scalpburn sucks. Bigtime.

Kadiri talaga.

Sweat, Blood, and Tears

This is really bizarre, but I would be like this kid with all the work and all the stress I am under with. Next time, I'll be featured in a video as well showing me sweating blood. I am not complaining, I'm just saying.

MORAL: The blood is the lifeline of the body. This video is really uhmm, creepy. Lachrymal duct + blood = not fun.

Blowfish and Starfish

I had my immersion last August 28-30, 2009 at San Salvador, Masinloc, Zambales. I knew that it would be a great adventure, because of the diving, swimming and well, the thrill of meeting new people and living with them. That includes my immersion partner, someone who's not your classmate/groupmate, who's paired with you by your formator, to live with a foster family. I enjoyed the immersion. I really, really enjoyed it. I don't regret missing my midterm exam because I got to take it at a later date anyway.

The weather was on our side. Amen to that!

What do I think of my sunburned skin and uneven skin tone? Nothing, I just think of the experience and I feel like my sunburned skin is healing now. (Yeah I'm "molting" so what. Haha.)

What do I think of my scratch-free diving mask that someone accidentally took? Hmm, I'll just think that it's my gift to them.

What do I think of my immersion-mates? They rock! They're some of the coolest, funniest people I have met.

What do I think of the place where we stayed? Thank God I brought those trekking sandals. Thanks to my Mom for funding those sandals.

What do I think of the whole experience? I know I'm immersed.

Why do I keep on using "what"? Good question! I really don't know!

I got around 300 worth of pictures. A lot of them involve people, and there were a lot of scenery shots as well. I chose these two pictures because well, most of us could take photos of "amazing views" or scenes that could give you the "awww" moments but it's not everyday one could capture a starfish and a blowfish underwater. So yeah, I'm somewhat proud of these pictures.

Will I post an entry about the immersion experience? Yeah, sure. Just not now.

MORAL: There's beauty in everything. If you can't see it, maybe you just have to look more intently. Remember to rinse your sea-soaked camera with freshwater after use. Amen!