I was really drawn in by the Sykes talk. For one thing, the speaker had a voice comparable to James Earl Jones. That was sure to draw you in to the conversation. Another is that he can relate to my current experiences. He is CCNA and and CCSP, and is currently taking CCNP. Imagine a place where we can configure routers to death… real world experiences and practical info would be picked up in this company.

During the Cisco Express tour, there were these two girls from Singapore who developed a project called RFID, where devices would pick up its presence and, drawing from a saved profile, would display preferred information that the person holds important.

Now, the mere fact that they were accompanying Cisco means that what they’ve done was real and Cisco snapped it up immediately. That’s really, really impressive.

What’s more impressive is that when I entered Cisco Express, I thought they were models. Yeah, one of them was as cute as a button, and even the professors accompanying us craned their necks more than once. Wow. Wait, not wow… more like HOLY SHET, ANG CUTE!

That reminded me of the song Jeepney, which goes like this:

Excuse me miss, mawalang galang na
Kanina pa kita kasi napapansin
Magkakilala ba tayo
Ay hindi pasensiya na

Excuse me miss, akoy nangungulit lang po
Ang ganda mo palang tumawa
Pwede bang magpakilala
Magpakilala sayo

Thesis research starts this term, and I really want this to be good. I’m aiming for the CT-Thesis gold, though unproductive this Christmas break, hopefully we’ll come up with a great topic and break our backs over it. I really, really want this to be successful.

And over at De La Salle, we have Fridays off thanks to some experimental 4 day class week idea. And some of my friends are going to learn baking. Good luck with that. But I’m looking for a job, just to have something extra when the need arises. A Friday-Sunday job won’t be bad. If anyone hears of anything, hook me up. (Like anyone reads this.)

Self-depreciating much? Naw haha I don’t think so. I got my notebooks, pen, yellow pad, my schedule. It’s off to school. And the fact that it’s thesis-term, I might actually get a laptop! Wow, really? A Computer Science student getting a laptop? That’s unexpected! Wow, I can’t get over it. A Computer Networking major getting a laptop to, uh, network computers! It’s GENIUS!!!! All I can say is, “Finally!”

Here’s a website advertised by BBC yesterday, and I only remembered to look today. You’ve heard of time capsules I’m sure, but do you really want to dig up your garden? I’d be crucified if I did. And in this digital age, there’s no need! Here’s FutureMe.org, a site that lets you send an e-mail to yourself in the future! try it out.

When I woke up I was really thinking where I placed that god-forsaken lesson plan notebook… for about 7 seconds. Then I laughed, took a piss and went back to bed.

But in all seriousness, the fear of Chinese subjects have been imprinted in our minds. Comparing a Chinese exam to something like English or Chem, the 0.5 unit Chinese exam would take precedence over any 3 unit exam any day. We spent more time studying Chinese than any other subject COMBINED. (Unless, y’know… you don’t study Chinese and fail, which isn’t that big a deal for most of us. NOT.) I don’t study until the fourth quarter and I try and make up for my flat 70 grade. (which I do, so there.) No summer classes here!

I can still envision sitting in class, listening to Daga, Cory, Or, Elvis, Tang Mama and Gulay droning on about this emperor or that general, this flower or Hemingway’s novel, wondering where they extracted the 10 to 15 portions to memorize. Not to mention the 100+ definitions to cram in, just to flail unsuccessfully trying to remember a word at the tip of your tongue. “I know it, I just read it… but… no it’s gone. *Insert curse here*!”

There goes your world on a train
Catch it cause it’s making its last trip.
Time don’t take it away.
Don’t take it away.
Don’t take it all away.

When we move to the left, then we move to the right
Forward never backward ’til the moment’s gone, we all fade away.
Spin around, don’t make a sound, we know time keeps moving on
Until your moment’s gone, we all fade away.

Make the most of your time, because as soon as you know it, it will be time to go. Keep those happy memories close to your heart, and you will be young forever. And lastly, don’t be a slave to your daily routines. Be impulsive! Day in and day out you feel hampered by work or school, just relax and everything will play itself out. Get a close friend and just chill.

I was bored the entire day. On impulse, I had dinner with Richmond and Phoebe, and we went to Starbucks with Ryan and FO. It was a great night and we really bonded. That’s what life is ultimately about. Enjoying life with friends and family. Living your life to the fullest, you always hear that phrase. Doesn’t that piss you off? Why? What exactly does that mean?

It means be the best you can be. Help others. Be happy. Laugh a lot. Enjoy life. Have lots of close friends. Be content. You don’t have to be rich to live a full life. You don’t need the latest gadgets or other crap, are you hungry? Thirsty? Are you illiterate? Are you well-clothed? Are you loved? Boom, you have lived a full life.

“You should always see the best of people.” That’s my motto and I try to live by it. That means trying to push out all the negative thoughts about people. Deviating from my family, especially a few relatives who look down on Filipinos. Well, I guess that way of thinking paid off.

So there I was, after eating dinner at Golden Fortune with Richmond, Phoebe and her sibs, we stayed at Starbucks and met up with FO, Ryan and his “date”and talked til 11:30. I couldn’t find a jeep to where I have to go at Recto, so I ended up taking a cab. he started talking to me and I kinda enjoyed it. Greeted me a happy new year and such. Now if I was a different person I would have ignored him, or distrusted him. But he was friendly and talked about his family and how happy they were.

The most memorable part of our conversation! He asked if I have a girlfriend and I said no. Then he asked what year I am in now. So I told him, third year college. “Puwede na yan! Magkashota ka na para matikman mo na ang mundo.” Wow.

Then he asked if I was a Catholic, do I observe mass and when was the Chinese New Year and all that. Asked about Happy Burger as well and, jokingly of course, asked a discount and such. You know, if he does come in and eat at our place, I wouldn’t mind. I might even treat him anytime he walks in.

Gil, Happy New Year to you as well.

Rambling! Lol I must be bored! Well, this year there’s a lot to be thankful of. For one thing, we’re all still here. I just attended the wake of my grandmother’s best friend and that’s right, send in the clichés. That’s how short life is. One can be so vibrant and lively, the poof, you’re gone… So I’m thankful that we’re all still here, together.

I didn’t fail any classes, not that I expected to fail, of course. But I didn’t, so… yay.

I’m thankful for friends! Without you guys I would be bored out of my mind. MANI, Jay, Arvin, Jally and the rest; Barkada Inc, Rich, Osmond, Leo; the scouts, Aldrin, Phoebe, etc; La Salle friends… NE Paps! I miss you guys already, though it’s less than a week since we last seen each other. I finally shifted to the course I liked, Network Engineering, so there’s 8 of us in the course, perfect for two thesis groups (next term thesis!). We’ll be conversing with routers and switches and the like (oh joy).

Yeah, thankful. If the next year would be anything like this year, all is good.

[] I have been to Europe.
[3] I have watched cartoons for hours.
[4] I have tripped UP the stairs.
[5] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs.
[ ] I have been snowboarding/skiing.

[6] I have played ping pong.
[7] I swam in the ocean.
[] I have been on a whale watch.
[8] I have seen fireworks.

[9] I have seen a shooting star.
[] I have seen a meteor shower.
[10] I have almost drowned.
[11] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.

[12] I have listened to one CD over and over and over again.
[13] I have had stitches.
[] I have had frostbite.
[] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.
[14] I have stayed up til 2 (and beyond) doing homework/projects.
[15] I have been ice skating.
[16] I have been rollerblading.
[17] I have fallen flat on my face. *See #11.*

[18] I have tripped over my own two feet. *See previous.*
[19] I have been in a fist fight.
[20] I have played videogames for more than 3 hours straight.
[21] I have watched the power rangers.

[22] I attend Church regularly.
[23] I have played truth or dare.
[24] I have already had my 16th birthday.
[25] I have already had my 17th birthday.
[26] I’ve called someone stupid.
[27] I’ve been in a verbal argument.
[28] I’ve cried in school.
[29] I’ve played basketball on a team.
[] I’ve played baseball on a team.
[] I’ve played football on a team.

Update: Well here it goes. We left Manila with the skies darkening, and by the time we reached SLEX it was pouring out. I wasn’t at all worried, since we spent our Rover Vigil in the same condition, but Blueroze is far different from Cogeenick. The path to the Bluroze campsite is paved!! Yeah, you can see where this is going.

The cars we took out for the trip got stuck in the mud on Cogeenick proper. As in, mud was flying everywhere. So the guys (most of us) got down to push and as soon as I got off the Grandia, the first thing I wanted to do was remove my La Salle jacket to save it from the flinging mud. Too late for that, as what I thought happen only in cartoons just reared its ugly head against me! The minute I got out to help, I was sprayed with mud! Well screw the jacket, let’s push the cars then. Muddiest award goes to Aldrin, Runner-up goes to Ryan, with me a close third.

Time to go to the camp proper but wait, “Mark, bawal ka dumi mo!” So I had to walk over the mud and water, over the canals of tires filled with rainwater and cow piss, and, is that mud or cow landmines? Landmines!! Shit, literally.

Time to scout for a trail for the rest of the campers! A few of us went with the guide to see if the rest of the campers can handle the terrain. Down through the mud and into the forest, Down to the waist high river for the river-part of the hike, Climbing down along the current of a waterfall by a length of rope, Up the slick slope of the mountain, back down to the river where the water smells like something died upstream, back up the mountainside and back, at last, to camp.

Our reaction: Other than the waterfall, where one can fall and break a bone, or the rope swings and you bash your head on the rocks, climbing the slick slope where one can get loose footing and tumble back to the rocky river, hiking down a muddy mountain to the waist-deep river, where one can trip or skid and send everyone spiraling down, everything’s just fine.

Our next trip, with most of the others with us this time (the others who scouted the trail opted not to do it again, one long gash on the arm’s enough for one trip.) set out through the same trail. It was slow going and thankfully no one got hurt, thanks to yours truly (ahem) and the rest who went out the first time, as we provided support for the rest. The waterfall! I think I drank river water as I went down, I might piss leeches or something else tonight.

Right after that we had a few activities in the 4-feet-deep pool, in clean clothes of course, we had enough mud. Right after we ate dinner and on to the main attraction, the bonfire! Marshmallow roasts and hotdog burning was a site to behold! 27 of us standing over a blazing fire watching our arms flake and marshmallows melt.

Sleeping in the tents, the flying-in-the-wind tents, the if-it-wasn’t-for-the-roof-above-our-tents-we-would-be-swimming tents, the why-are-there-dogs-prowling-outside tents, I could go on and on.

The next morning I went with Ryan and Aldrin to send Rich and Phoebe to the bus station as they had to leave early to prepare for a party, buying pan de sal on the way back. (Freshly cooked, there’s nothing better than hot pan de sal in the morning.)

What followed was the wall rappelling, monkey bridge and slide for life, with some of the older hands opting out. Check out my summer camp post about these activities. Then it’s back to the pool for some fun before eating lunch, packing up and leaving the camp.

We got to Mendiola around 8 after a series of mishaps that seem to only happen to me. I volunteered to sit in the supplies and luggage van, since Richmond left early. For one thing it was cold in that car, another things is my seatbelt’s broken, and we were going at breakneck speed on the expressway, in the rain and I fell asleep, only to hit my head on speed bumps. (Suspensions? This ain’t my car! Full speed ahead and let’s fly over the speed bumps.) Then our e-pass through the tollway screwed around and I had to pay the toll. Then, as Mendiola was near the Malacañang proper, we were flagged down by a police checkpoint (and would you look at all the bags and stuff in the back?)

All in all, the trip gave me 2 deep gashes on the left arm, sever sunburn even through the rain, arms straining due to the hike and I really, really want to go back…

A few pix I really liked. Thanks Aldrin and Jules [here].

I got this from Phoebe: http://www.bostonuk.com/name_meanings.php

Mark – Warrior “Latin”

You are a charismatic individual with a dynamic and attractive personality. Probably not known for your caution or patience you are a risk taker who hates to be restricted in any way. Freedom is very important to you. Your thinking and intuition is strong and you have a talent for communication. You enjoy the sensual and material pleasures of life and with the application of care and wisdom you can achieve wonderful worldly success.

Christopher – Bearing Christ “Greek”

You are honest, hardworking and tenacious with a practical approach to life. Being independent and with the ability to accept responsibilities the worldly success which you achieve is a result of your own efforts. Balanced emotions and forward planning mean that you are rarely ruffled by circumstances. You have creative flair which might find an outlet through art or in social projects.

We all know of the Oakwook agreement. Statement: “Only the five (5) leaders named will suffer the consequences of the actions of the whole group at Oakwood. The five (5) are: Cpt Gary Alejano PN(M), Cpt Gerardo Gambala PA, Cpt Milo Maestrecampo PA, LTSG James Layug PN and LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV. All the rest shall only be admonished under the provisions of AW 105.”

So what happened to that so called agreement, which was approved by the government. (Government?? We have a government??? Really? Since when?) It’s just another act of the “GOVERNMENT”, demanding all 28 officers to be charged with mutiny. The convicted staged a walkout! How dare they! How dare they walk out on the court?? It’s just their lives being played with by the powers that be! Aren’t they used to the internal functions of our present administration? Two-faced deceit and lies. If I were there I’d be in Manila Penn with these brave patriots (Well, not exactly with them… Look for me over at the buffet table). Yes! I call them PATRIOTS!!

Open your eyes and you’d see that the only threat to the stability of our nation are the following, in precise order: Acting President (just because FPJ died and the votes were rigged) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; New People’s Army (Communism is old school, get with the program); Abu Sayyaf Terrorist Group (Enough! Enough already).

GMA highly touts her administration for helping to boost the economy of the Philippines. Riiight. Only here in the country will you read about that garbage. A simple visit to money.CNN.com will show that no one else thinks thats true! Peso ain’t going up, dollar is going down. That explains the oil problem.

Erap, blamed with corruption, stepped down without being forced. GMA, blamed with corruption, clawed deep into the spacious Palace and waited it out. I’d rather have an honorable “ERAP-joke”-ish president than a tiny, tiny terror who’s stone-faced and hypocritical. “I am sorry”, said the talking mole that grew a face. “I am sorry, but damn it, I can’t help it! Sling all your ZTE deals over my way!!”

*P.S. I just love Photoshop. Can you differentiate the dart-holes with her mole?