2007

Happy New Year to one and all!

May mankind have a prosperous 2007.

Invent

An additional option to my on-going dilemma: Hewlett-Packard Philippines scheduled me for a job interview tomorrow afternoon at the Robinson's Tower in Ayala Avenue. As of now, I am more inclined to the idea of accepting NEC's future offer which involves technopreneurial line of work.

Still, wish me good luck!!!

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I can already see a prosperous new year for me and my family.

What Nature Destroys Man Rebuilds

"I lost my daughter 36 hours ago, what's so natural about a natural disaster?"
--- IAN CARTER, Tsunami: The Aftermath

The highly-anticipated docu-drama in memory of the 2004 Asian Tsunami premiered on HBO (in partnership with BBC Networks) last night, exactly two years after a deadly tidal wave hit 11 countries across Indian Ocean that killed more than 200,000 people, a third of which were children. It was loosely based on the accounts and interviews conducted on several survivors from Khao Lak Fishing Village and Khao Lak Resort in Phuket, Thailand.

The two-part made-for-TV-movie is one of the best of its kind because it delivered clear, unadulterated, and well-written script. The actors are also commendable considering no one among the cast is an A-list celebrity except Academy Award^® nominees Tim Roth and Toni Colette.

The plot was very heart-touching and the effects were breath-taking. For the synopsis of the said film visit its website.

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Detour

Earlier this day, I recieved a job contract from Accenture. They gave me until the first week of January to accept or turn down the offer.

That gives me enough time to weigh my options as I undergo a final interview at NEC tomorrow morning.

Season's Greetings

Merry Christmas to all of the Christian population!

Hanukkah also started last 16th and ended last night so belated Happy Hanukkah to all the Jewish people.

Advanced Happy New Year to everyone who uses Gregorian Calendar (January 1) and Chinese Calendar (February 18).

In short, Happy Holidays to one and all (regardless of ethnicity and belief).

Christmas Gift(s)

My long-time hunt for a decent job that is somehow related to my course in college will hopefully end before the year ends as I undergo a medical examination tomorrow for Accenture before a contract signing later in the afternoon. However, NEC also scheduled me for a final interview Wednesday next week. (See previous posts regarding my job applications.)

Here's my dilemma: which one will I have to pick over the other? It's like I'm about to choose a DETOUR option in one of the legs of The Amazing Race.

<< HIGH-END or HIGH-VALUE >>

In HIGH-END, I can apply everything I learned in college plus more - I can acquire many other things while working - because I will deal with various hardware devices and software applications in NEC. By the way, NEC specializes in network and technology solutions.

In HIGH-VALUE, I will be a junior software engineer with a not-so-lucrative starting salary in Accenture but many experts told me that fiscal and personal growth in Accenture is considerably rapid and high market value is assured once I leave the company.

So, pick one!

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SEASON'S GREETINGS EVERYONE!!!

YUL-tide

Yul Kwon is the 13th Sole Survivor

Yul Kwon managed to strategically defeat Oscar "Ozzy" Lusth and Becky Lee in the season finale of Survivor XIII: Cook Islands. The Asian-American lad garnered 5 votes from the 9-member jury; Ozzy got 4 while Becky had none. This is the first time that the final tribal council involves three castaways.

Kwon won US$1million while Lusth won the Mercury Mariner 2008 after winning the online poll.

Next season, the hit reality show will visit FIJI.

DOLPHY-nal

Mabilis lang ito!

I'll be taking an examination at Accenture Philippines this afternoon. I'll be also taking my chances at Hewlett-Packard Philippines and Procter & Gamble Philippines by being a walk-in applicant. They are all somehow located along a common road in Makati - Ayala Avenue. Wish me good luck guys!

Hopefully, before the year ends, I am a job-seeker - and a BUM - no more!

Gold and Silver

Philippines won its first gold medal at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar after Antonio Gabica defeated compatriot Jeffrey de Luna in an all-Filipino finals of the Men's 9-Ball Singles with a score of 11-7. The country currently has a gold medal, four silver and 8 bronze medals. Gabica earlier earned a silver medal in Men's 8-Ball Singles.

Boxers Violito Payla and Joan Tipon will go for gold in the finals of their respective weight classes. Payla will fight Somjit Jongjohor of Thailand this evening while Tipon will face Han Soon Chul of Korea tomorrow night. Other Filipino athletes try to bring home even more glory from their own sports disciplines as the Games come to an end on Friday.

Go TEAM PHILIPPINES!!!

Scare Tactics

No, this is not about the reality program shown on JackTV. This is my very own "reality show".

Last night, all I thought was that night was just another ordinary night after a whole day of review classes at Excel Review Center in Morayta, Manila. I was wrong. While waiting for an FX ride with Paul Tibayan in front of University of the East - Recto, a typical-looking man of about 20 to 30 years old passed by our rear. I accidentally glanced at him while he almost tripped and lost one of his footwear. I suddenly felt a "spider instinct". I knew he was planning something... something bad.

As I expected, he deliberately walked a few feet away from us (maybe to conceal his intentions from us) then appeared from the pillar beside me. I was not surprised when he talked to us (primarily to me, because he was looking at me); but I was surprised to what he said, "Gusto ninyo, paputukan ko kayong dalawa?"

Still shocked, I managed to get a few metres away from him with Paul also starting to inch away. It was then he once again spoke to us, "O, saan kayo pupunta?" I was waiting for a gun shot (because we saw him holding "something" under his light brown jacket... something we were not sure of), but no other sounds were heard coming from him. We assumed that the crazy man flew away as we approached a crowded and lighted spot of the sidewalk.

We never saw a single hint of the man since then, but we kept our alertness due to the idea of him coming back from nowhere considering that the rain was pouring heavily and there were no FX taxis passing by after nearly 30 minutes of waiting under the rain. We only felt safe when finally we were able to hail one.

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Paul, remember that this is the second time someone approached us on that same spot? The first one was a man who claimed that he was held-up and had no money or any other possession at that time because the alleged robber took all his belongings including his backpack. He was asking for money so that he could go home. I know we also moved away from the that self-confessed hold-up victim because his physical appearance suggested otherwise. Haha.

Hopefully, next week and until April 2007, no other similar situations may ever happen again.

Winning

Another Tyler wins the Amazing Race

Last season it was BJ and Tyler, now, it's JB and Tyler. James Branaman and Tyler Denk stepped on the finish line mat first and won the US$1million that comes with their feat of finishing first on the first and last legs of the hit reality show. Engaged couple Rob and Kimberly arrived second and single moms Lyn and Karlyn were third.

Mau is the first Philippine Idol

Maureen Marcelo was declared as the first Philippine Idol last night at the jam-packed Araneta Coliseum. She defeated Gian Magdangal and Jan Nieto with just 1.42% total-vote-margin over her closest rival. She will receive a recording contract from Sony-BMG, a managing contract from UK's Freemantle Media and a non-exclusive contract from ABC5 worth over a million pesos.

Philippines still gold-less after more than a week

Taekwondo gave the country 2 silver and 3 bronze medals while cue sports contributed a bronze but the country is still hoping for a gold medal finish with less than five days left on the Games' calendar. This gold medal may be achieved tomorrow as Violito Payla faces a Thai foe on the finals night of boxing at the Aspire Hall in Doha, Qatar.

Sa Wakas

(Gagayahin ko na rin sina Elma at Fil...)

Sa wakas, makalipas ang mahigit isang buwan, nai-upload na rin ni Norman ang mga larawan ng barkada sa unang pagtatanghal ng pangkat ng manunugtog ni Ige kasama ang kanyang mga kamag-aral sa mataas na paaralan. Naganap ito noong ika-2 ng Nobyembre sa Cafe Lupe sa Guadalupe. Narito ang ilan sa mga nakunang litrato na kung saan ay kasama ako.






Para sa kalahatan ng mga nasabing larawan, dalawin na lamang ang ating pangkat sa Yahoo!: BARKADAHAN

Oo nga pala, naroon din kami nina Danes, Liz at May noong ika-23 ng Nobyembre, ang ikatlong pagpapakitang-gilas ng grupo nina Ige. Sayang nga lamang at hindi ko na kayang pumunta ngayong gabi doon dahil sa ako ay naghahanda para sa aking pagsasalita sa pagpupulong ng lahat ng mga inhinyero sa kuryente bukas (7th National Electrical, Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering) at sa dahilan din na kapos na ako sa kaperahan. > halakhak <

Pahuling-sulat (PS): O, ayan Fil, ngayon mo bigyang-kumento ang aking lathalain. Biro lang.

Raimi

I really love Sam Raimi's movies. His works range from classic cult-horror films to adventure/science fiction motion pictures. This month, HBO lets me relive the thrilling scenes from one of my all-time favorite suspense dramas - DARKMAN. This movie starring Liam Neeson as scientist Peyton Westlake is currently being shown almost three times a week for all weeks of December on HBO Asia.

Other notable Raimi masterpieces are the Evil Dead trilogy - EVIL DEAD, EVIL DEAD II and ARMY OF DARKNESS - starring Bruce Campbell as Ashley J. Williams, and the mega-blockbuster superhero series - SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN II and the upcoming SPIDER-MAN III starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Being a close friend of Raimi, Campbell who is also one of my favorite characters on the big screen, was tapped to play cameo roles on every Spider-man movie including the 2007 installment. He was the ring announcer at Peter's wresting match and the snooty, arrogant usher during one of MJ's plays (The Importance of Being Earnest).

Can't wait to see his newest work of art - the latest web-slinger flick!

Ye! Ye!

My interview at NEC Philippines was a short and easy one. Aside from the usual "why-I-want-to-work-there-Q&A", the HR head only threw personal questions and questions concerning my educational and family background. After that, she promised to transmit my resume to the executives and asked me to wait for their call some time in January 2007 for a series of interviews with the bosses. She informed me that they will be needing more engineers next year and assured me that my name will be endorsed to higher authorities. :) I have her word but I don't know if she has mine. While waiting for their call, I'll take chances at my other prospect companies like HP, San Miguel, Globe and Accenture.

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UP EEE alumni who are reviewing at EXCEL are really enjoying our weekly sessions especially at times when some of us meet at McDo Recto to copy each other's answers to our homeworks, eat at carinderias and food establishments with incredibly low-low-priced student meals, strolling around the U-Belt during breaks, and right after making-"takas" before the third and last session starts during Sundays. We might end up as a bonded barkada by the time we take the Licensure Exam next year. We even have our own Yahoo! group, too!

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The Amazing Race 10: The Barbies are Phil-iminated this morning (Manila time) and the Sistas became the first all-female team to qualify for a slot in the Final Three (Season Finale) of this hit reality competition alongside engaged Rob and Kimberly and models Tyler and James.

Doha Asian Games 2006: Have you watched the Opening Ceremonies last December 1st? The enkindling of the torch and cauldron was, for me, the most spectacular sporting event ceremony I have seen so far. However, has anyone heard about the Filipino athletes' rain-soaking-incident after the opening rites? Amidst a 30-minute downpour, many participants from the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan were barred from re-entering the stadium while waiting for their delayed transport buses that would take them to their villages. Anyway, four days has passed and our country has yet to win a single medal. Let's continue to pray for our fellowmen's success in Qatar.

PBA: Barangay Ginebra is now solo #1 in the team standings after a come-from-behind-win over Air21 last night with a score 116-105.

Philippine Idol: It all comes down to the ultimate showdown among Gian, Jan and Mau at the Big Dome. Final Performance Night will be held on the 8th while the Grand Results Night will be held on the 9th. I am rooting for either Gian or Mau to win. Jan is always off-key whenever he sings.

Survivor: Cook Islands: Candice was voted out last Friday afternoon (Manila time) via a 5-3 vote and became the fifth member of a 10-man jury. Seven castaways are left in dispute of the $1-million prize.

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Christmas breeze is in the air. Carols are playing on radio stations and music players, cool winter wind from the north is already felt especially before daybreak, bargains/sales and shopping sprees happen almost everywhere and the workforce is already looking forward to large bonuses and holiday pays.

Sana magkatrabaho na ko. Andami ko pa namang inaanak na papamaskuhan. Haha...