Journey Through The Decade

2009, the end of a decade. A lot can change in just one year, so expect a lot of change over a decade. Let us look back to the past ten years after the jump

2000
The "Millennium Scare" was over. The Y2K bug was reverted and the world faced the new Millennium. Before the year ended, the tragic "Rizal Day bombing" killed 22 and injured 100 in one of the gruesome terrorist attack in the Philippines

2001
It was year I graduated from high school. Angelicum College nurtured and guided me which resulted to what I became today. College life in AMA Computer University was not that tough as I found friends right on the first day of classes which later be known as GeForce, short for Gemma Force (Ma'am Gemma is the librarian who became our "mother" in college)

2001 also marked the "9/11 attack" where the twin towers of the World Trade Center was destroyed by a series of planes crashing into it killing almost 3,000 innocent people. This event triggered the war on terrorism which later added more bloodshed.

2002
THe war on Afghanistan has started due to the counterattack of the 9/11.

The International Criminal Court was established in accordance to the 9/11 attack last year. This court was established to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

A large section of the Antarctic Larsen Ice Shelf begins disintegrating, consuming about 3,250 km (1,254 miles) over 35 days making global warming a serious treat in our environment.

2003
Siopao Master was born from the Nyoy Volante and Mannos forums.

The tension in the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq led the US to declare war on Iraq

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which started in Vietnam broke out and was rapidly spread all over the world killing thousands.

2004
The Philippines was shocked as the SuperFerry 14 bombing which The Abu Sayyaf guerrilla group is blamed for the deadliest terrorist attack at sea in world history, which kills 116 in the Philippines.

Siopao Master established his first blog in tabulas with the URL http://www.tabulas.com/~siopaomaster


2005
Siopao Master migrated to Blogger with the new URL: http://siopaomaster.blogspot.com

The Roman Catholic Church was shocked when His Holiness Pope John Paul II (Karol J. Wojtyla) passed away on April 2 at his very own room."Our beloved Holy Father John Paul II has returned to his home. Let us pray for him" "Let perpetual light shine on him and let him repose in peace"

April 19, "Habemus Papam!". A new pope was elected. Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) was the 266th pope and the 1dt pope of the new millenium

Finally, After the long journey of educational atonement, I was officially a graduate with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Participated on the annual AMACU outreach program that gives free education to the less fortunate. The said program encouraged me to be an instructor of AMACU and on May 26, I was finally hired and started Great Teacher Siopao (GTS)

2006
Siopao Heaven bought the domain http://www.siopaomaster.com

Bill Gates stepped down as Chief Software Architect of Microsoft.

Siopao Master bought a PSP and a Nintendo DS.

Milenyo caused destruction in Metro Manila as billboards and other signboards were ripped off causing death and destruction. Since then, every time there's a typhoon, all billboards are mandatory pulled down.

Saddam Hussein was executed for crimes against humanity.

2007
An earthquake caused the internet connection erratic for several weeks.

Sir Siopao bid farewell to his students in AMA Computer University.

Trinoma (Triangle North Mall) was opened directly in front of SM North Edsa. The mall wars at the North has begun.

The book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released all over the world. millions were sold instantly.

Sandara Park left the Philippines for good.

Sir Siopao was hired at Informatics International College as a CS/IT instructor.

2008
The year started with a shock as my student and fellow gamer THE PWNERER died from an accident. I coudn't grasp the fact that he's dead and i will no longer see and hear his jolly personality.. This year also my very best friend left me for good. She and her husband migrated to Saudi Arabia but promised to keep in touch with me..a promise that was never kept.

Siopao Master started toy collecting and joined Otakai Figure Society.

Sir Siopao and his students had an IT tour at Tsukiden Software Philippines. The event which triggered something in 2009.

2009
Last April, Sir Siopao finally resigned as an instructor in Informatics. He later started working at Tsukiden Software Philippines, a Japanese owned company.

A(H1N1) spread all over the world, Worldwide hygiene was drastically changed due to this epidemic.

The whole world was shocked last June as the King of Pop Michael Jackson died, He was scheduled to have a world tour entitled "This is it" to ver 50 countries. He was aged 50.

Another heavy blow was suffered by the Filipino people as former president Cory Aquino died of cardiac arrest. She was considered as a modern day hero and she had a major part in the Edsa Revolution.

Siopao Master bought http://www.siopaomaster.net for his figure gallery.

Super Typhoon Ondoy struck the Filipino people where they least expected killing a lot of people and destroying properties even on the places not usually flooded. The bravery and patriotism of every Filipino was shown as thousands volunteered in relief and rescue operations.

Maguindanao became the center of the story as a private army massacred hundreds of individuals, men and women. This is the most gruesome crime that was related to politics that was related to the 2010 elections.

The decade taught us to be vigilant and remain faithful to God. The next decade will further test our body and spirit. May we all have the courage and strength to face these ordeal.

[Review]Avatar

Only the Avatar master of the four elements...wait..wrong movie! It's been confusing to the Avatar: The Last Airbender fans out there but James Cameron got hold of the title Avatar for his movie about humans linking to the bodies of aliens they call "avatar" to secretly mingle with the planet's natives. There was quite a hype when Avatar was shown through out the country. Some mistakenly assumed that it was a "Warcraft" movie, and worst "DOTA". But those idiots didn't know that this one is waayy different from those mentioned. Let's get straight to the point. I will not sugarcoat this review for all I can say is my opinion and no BS. If you are a sci-fi geek like me, you'll know that the concept, plot etc. was a combination of previous successful sci-fi stories rolled up into one story. But hey, I'm not complaining. If you ever had the chance to watch this in 3D, do so, for the money's worth it. Stunning eye candy everywhere. The texture and lighting of the objects were crisp and fully detailed. The flowing water and the raging flames all were rendered magnificently. If you have been playing PC games for quite some time now, these are a wow factor to you. The whole environment of Avatar down to the tiniest insect were given attention which resulted to a very beautiful movie. Some may not appreciate these elements, but gamers and techies like me will surely drool over this masterpiece.

BTW, the moral lesson of the movie? Never get hooked up to your "other life" a.k.a. online life for you will find it hard to continue living in your real life.

Christmas 2009

It's official, Christmas is over. I know you'll say that it'll not end until the feast of the Three Kings. But as I saw what happened today at Trinoma, I guess the spirit of Christmas is just a one day affair. Seriously, I saw people fighting over a line to the cinemas, fighting over seats as who did got it first, and fighting over taxis. Is loving your fellowmen only works on December 24 and some part of December 25 only? After that we return to hating each other, not thinking clearly and resorting to violence. You don't have to wait till Christmas to be good. You should do it all year round, not just because it's "Christmas". Now stop being a smart ass and say that we cannot afford gifts and festivities all year round. Christmas is not all that.We celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born to save us from our sins. That's what Christmas is all about. Heck it's written all over the name CHRISTmas. Don't wait till Christmas to do something good. Do a simple act of random kindess everyday and you'll see that everyday can be Christmas day.

9 Mornings 2009

Today is again the start of the age-old tradition "Misa de Gallo" a.k.a "Simbang Gabi" a.k.a. "9 Mornings". Not like any other year, this year was full of despair and agony. With the deaths of famous figures and the devistation of typhoon "Ondoy" and "Pepeng" will surely wipe the hopes of many. But we are Filipinos. We have something that not some other nations possess, and that is being happy in times of crisis. Even though some of our countrymen haven't returned to their homes because of the flood or landslides, they are still happy that Christmas is here and they will celebrate it no matter what. Some will still decorate something that signifies Christmas even though they don't eat three times a day. Some will attend the 9 mornings even though sleeping on a comfortable bed is impossible. Some will no longer have their love ones join them this Christmas but they still celebrate Christmas as one family. Filipinos were tested time and time again but their faith in God will never fade. Truly we are the only Catholic / Christian country in Asia that still believe that after all these tragedies, God will will still bless thie country. Eight mornings to go before Christmas. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone

The Channel War

We are all aware of the current war we have onour local television. It breaks down into two sides, the "kapuso" and the "kapamilya". ABS-CBN channel 2 and GMA channel 7 have been fighting the local television ratings for quite a while now. They have fought in the noon time variety show ratings, the primetime ratings and the news. We all witnessed both stations fought over the AGB Neilsen ratings scandal and the issue of "credible news". Everywhere you go, it's either 2 or 7, but there are other channels in our local television that entertains and satisfy our everyday delight. I remember the times that the remote still has some use. Wherein, you change the channel on a specific time because you like the show here then after an hour or so you change it to another channel to watch another one. Even if cable channels are now available some "die-hard" viewers stick only to these channels. Now some say this is a good thing like "Hey, we're the one benefiting from this". But if you look at the bigger picture, these two sations will do anything, yeah that's right, anything to get some audience. Haven't you realized it already? Noon time shows now has a rule that there must be half naked women dancing and some poor fellas making a fool of themselves just to be popular. Take note, this is being aired sometime around lunch or so. Think about the children who had the chance to watch ths kind of stuff. "Hey let's dance / make fool of ourselves to earn money, It's that easy!". Another thing, the only credible thing left on local television is being compromised by adding "spice" to every story. Come one, some issues aren't that bad until they "sensationalized" it. When will this end? When will we have a nice, unbiased programming? Oh well..time to change the channel...

Maguindanao under Martial Law

After the events of the Maguindanao Massacre, things heated up in Maguindanao. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared martial law there to ease the tension and place the military under control. With the imposition of martial law, the military will now temporarily take over in running the provincial government so it can pave the way for the arrest of the Ampatuan political clan who were charged before hand. Mixed reactions circulated around the net as whether this is a right thing to do or the president is just being hasty. Some say it was too late to declare this as lives were already sacrificed. Is this move a precursor of what things to come in our country? Remember, President Marcos orchestrated a series of unrest so he can declare the country under martial law. Are we seeing history repeats itself? God..please save our country

Here is the full text of President Arroyo’s declaration placing Maguindanao under martial law:

PROCLAMATION NO. 1959

PROCLAIMING A STATE OF MARTIAL LAW AND
SUSPENDING THE PRIVILEGE OF THE WRIT OF
HABEAS CORPUS IN THE PROVINCE OF
MAGUINDANAO, EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN AREAS

WHEREAS, Proclamation 1946 was issued on 24 November 2009 declaring a state of emergency in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and the City of Cotabato for the purpose of preventing and suppressing lawless violence in the aforesaid areas;

WHEREAS, Section 18 , Article VII of the Constitution provides that ” x x x In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety so requires it, (the President) may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law, x x x “

WHEREAS, R.A. No. 6986 provides that the crime of rebellion or insurrection is committed by rising publicly and taking arms against the Government for the purpose of xxx depriving the Chief Executive or the Legislature, wholly or partially, of any of their powers or prerogatives.”

WHEREAS, heavily armed groups in the province of Maguindanao have established positions to resist government troops, thereby depriving the Executive of its powers and prerogatives to enforce the laws of the land and to maintain public order and safety;

WHEREAS, the condition of peace and order in the province of Maguindanao has deteriorated to the extent that the local judicial system and other government mechanisms in the province are not functioning, thus endangering public safety;

WHEREAS, the Implementing Operational Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities dated 14 November 1997 provides the following is considered a prohibited act: ” x x x establishment of checkpoints except those necessary for the GRP’s enforcement and maintainance of peace and order; and for the defense and security of the MILF in their identified areas, as jointly determined by the GRP and the MILF, x x x “

NOW, THEREFORE, I , GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, do hereby proclaim as follows:

SECTION 1. There is hereby declared a state of martial law in the province of Maguindanao, except for the identified areas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as referred to in the Implementing Operational Guidelines of the GRP-MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities.

SECTION 2. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall likewise be suspended in the aforesaid area for the duration of the state of martial law.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 4th day of December in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

By the President:

EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary

Maguindanao Massacre

The news about the massacre in Maguindanao shocked the whole country because it was the worst election related violence since the Martial Law. It was said that a private army executed the mass killings and a certain politician under the administration party was suspected to be behind everything. Now, as a suspect, it was an SOP for the PNP police to arrest the person in question, like the time when Ted Failon was suspected of killing his wife. But as you can all see, the primary suspects are still in the comfort of their homes and when the secretary of state was asked about this he just said that the testimony of the witnesses are still being polished and we will come up with a list of suspects tomorrow. Tomorrow?! The backhoe of the "suspected" politician was found at the scene of the crime, which was used to bury the "evidence" and the effing police is just saying that "we are going to investigate this in a normal pace". yeah right, normal as in "Visconde massacre" normal, "Nida Blanca murder" normal and lot more cases that was never given justice. Now it was speculated that the people involved are allies of the administration and they could get away with it. Is the justice really blind or there is no real justice anymore?

[Review]New Moon

New Moon, the sequel to the highly successful Twilight (well to girls that is) hence the title "The Twilight Saga: New Moon". Some say it was the best movie ever, some say it's the opposite. Twilight was successful because of the love and affection Edward and Bella displayed in most of the film, which was hard to execute in New Moon because of the plot. Basically, Edward wasn't with Bella all the time in New Moon and to some it was a let down. Luckily Jacob was there to fill the void but the Edward-Bella fans were not amused as Jacob gained popularity because of the film. Anyway, to those who were not Twilight fans find what I have all said crap and looked at New Moon as a television drama that you usually see during prime time. Can't blame them, as this movie was really aimed to those who were fans of the series not to those who were interested enough to watch this flick. All I can say is that they should have added more content rather than wasting the entire film on Edward and Bella's cheesiness.

[Review]2012

One of the most overrated movie of November (the other one was New Moon) 2012 is about the destruction of Earth which was based on the Mayan calendar ending on December 21, 2012 and the alignment of the planets which happens only every 640,000 years. Now, this is another end-of-the-world flick with lots of viral advertising and promotion. The effects was the main selling point of this film as it showcase almost believable disasters like volcanic eruptions, cracking of the floor, tsunamis and every destruction you think possible. But that's it, after the awesomeness of the effects, everything fell behind short. The script, the acting, the music, all so-so. It is like a failed attempt of delivering memorable lines like in ID4 and Armageddon. The movie is more like Noah's Ark 2012 only it will be realized at the later part of the film. Now, if the Earth's crust as the film claimed was really heating up, then all the body of water should have been boiling by then and the under sea volcanoes erupt like hell. There were a lot of scientific inaccuracies, lazy script and heavy reliance on the CG visuals which strangely enough made others believe that it IS really the end of the world in 2012. If that's true, not even an ark can save humanity.

International Student's Day

Today the International Student's Day is celebrated around the world. I was surprised about this holiday for we never celebrate it here in the Philippines. It is a holiday that observes the rights of the students internationally. What's so special about students anyway? They just go to school and play DotA, billiards, poker and drink till dawn. They trick their parents by inventing bogus projects just to get money. Girls became pregnant the moment they reach puberty and their boyfriends leave them bcause of fear. But amidst the typical student we all come to know lies our future. The future Cory Aquino we hope can save our dying country because of corruption. The future Bill Gates that will rocket our economy to the top. As a teacher before, I still have faith on our "future", our hopes...our dreams. If a teacher cannot trust his student then we are all doomed. There will be no one to support them and harness those talents that will someday affect our lives. Happy International Students Day to my former students. Hope that you choose the right path in your lives.

New office New project

The Communications Platform and Communications Application of the 1st Business Unit now shares the same floor. Not only that I'm on a new office, I'm on a new project. A different team and different tasks to perform. Thanks to the team building last Saturday and Sunday, it won't be hard to adapt to my new team mates. Hajimemashite WebCC! Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu!

1st BU team building 2009

Last Saturday we held our team building at Taytay Rizal. It was my first ever team building despite the fact that this is my third job. The activities that we had during the course of the team building strengthened our relationship with our office mates and breaking the barrier in everyone. What really amazed me was the participation of our top executives A.K.A. the Japanese. The peaker even pointed that it was a rare occassion for a top executive to join the rank and files on a "fun-filled" activity, not to mention the fact that they are foreigners. Because of this team building, I felt closer to all of my office mates and proved that there's no discrimination between us. I wish to experience more team buildings and other related activities here in Tsukiden.

Here is the gallery

The Berlin Wall

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer in German). It was a memorable event that symbolized the fall of communism and the freedom of the Germans. The indestructuble "Iron Curtain" was finally torn down and the East and West Berlin was finally reunited. The late Pope John Paul II had an influence regarding this matter as his beloved home Poland was part of this "blockade". Truly, peace and freedom is possible if someone will act now.

Anime Explosion Festival

It was the first Anime Overload Festival and it was held at the SMX Convention. For me, the venue made the atmospehere feels like a real convention. Cosplayers, otakus and vendors were everywhere. There was not a dull moment at the stage and every booth was very busy. I think AOF was successful because the patrons and the event participants felt comfortable and every booth was not alienated. Besides our booth, I liked the maid cafe booth. It was my first time entering this kind of establishment and I was surpised what I experienced inside. True to the maid cafe of Japan, our local made cafe have butlers(for girls) and maids(for boys) that's so moe. They even have a game that made us "masters" participate. Anyway, I'm looking forward to more maid cafe in a convention and I do hope that certain kawaii maid will be there. Otakai Figure Society had their second figure display showcase (the first was on Ozine'09) and it was highly successful. People flocked our booth, admiring the displays and inquiring about anything figure related. Our goal to spread the knowledge about bootlegs was successful. Even thought AOF was a one day event, it felt like a whole year of fun experience. Otakai is now ready to participate in Ozine'10 with confidence.

Here are some pics

The First Six Months

Today marks my sixth month on this company. So what happened during the last six months? What have I learned? What have I accomplished?

This is my third job since I last graduated on 2004. My two previous work were all in the academic field and this is my first time in the industry. It was a different experience. Once I was a teacher, now I'm part of the "rank and file" of an industrial company. They were asking me before why did I gave up my teaching profession. I was like the second highest rank in our academic office (next to the academic head) but I gave it all up. All I can say is, it was worth it. I was able to learn first hand what it is like to be a programmer / software engineer / design engineer. I wouldn't based it anymore from books or any publications, but from my experience. I would not based it anymore from theories but with actual experience, heck if I become a teacher today, I can improve the things that I was supposed to be teaching. I can be more effective than before. I can now share things based from experience not from reading it from a book or from the internet. More after the jump.

The other question that they were askin me was "How's the job?". Well, from what I have experience over the last six months, it was fun and rewarding. Fun, because I met new friends and rewarding because I learned new things. We learn new things everyday even if you were working for the last nth of years. I found also people who share the same interest that I have like toy collecting and photography, for me, this means a lot to me.

So, did I made the right decision? Yes, and it's worth the sacrifice. I may not be part of the academe and I'm currently pursuing something new. the experiences and friendships that I've met along the way helped me to who I am today. I now officially make myself part of the Tsukiden family. Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu!

[Review] This is it

The whole world was shocked when the news came that the "King of Pop" Michael Jackson was dead. After months of his death, the final moments of his life was captured on video as he and his crew rehearsed for his supposed to be comeback concert tour. The movie is like a behind-the-scenes bundled in a DVD. But what surprised me was the performance of the man himself. Take note, this was a rehearsal, but you can see the guy sing and dance in a performance level. Heck what would be the outcome of the concert if it ever really took place? You'll see MJ here in his raw form. You'll find out how he even memorized even the single melody of his song and will detect even the slightest change in his music. Truly, if you are a fan or not of Michael Jackson., watching This is it will surely entertain you.

Michael Jackson.
King of Pop.
Love lives forever.

[Review] Paranormal Activity

November 1, It's All Saint's Day to the Gregorian calendar and it is a "day of fear" to somebody else. It is the day you try to scare yourself, not because you got nothing to do but because everyone does it. Anyway, in the past I use to play Resident Evil 2 on my Sony Playstation every November 1 but as time passed by I ended up watching horror flicks, specially that certain Japanese horror called The Ring Trilogy. Anyway, this year somebody recommended me to watch a film that was shown last 2007 overseas and was re-released just this year. It's a horror movie called "Paranormal Activity". More after the jump.

Paranormal Activity is not your traditional horror flick where you see some blood, gore, screaming babes and mutilated teens. It doesn't even have special effects or such, but it is shot on the tradition of "Blair Witch Project" minus the very shaky camera. Anyway, I do not want to spoil the story to all because it will defeat the purpose of the movie. All I can say is, this movie moves away from the typical horror cliche, no make-ups, no costumes, no overly acted screaming and gives you just raw fear. Go ahead, watch it, but don't come back to me crying and weeping.

Stars openly support Noynoy for presidency

Earlier tonight, the full length video of Noynoy Hindi ka Nag iisa was aired on primetime television which shows most of the stars regardless of network, openly supports Noynoy Aquino in his presidency. The road to the presidency had a lot of twists as Chiz Escudero broke away from his political party, Former president Erap still wanted to run for office and Manny Villar will not give up without a fight. The opposition is divided and it may affect the result of the upcoming election. Can Noynoy successfully use the combined Ninoy and Cory "magic" or will the "magic" of the administration prevail? God save our country.

Multiply officially supports online sellers

Since the birth of Web 2.0 at the beginning of this century. The world wide web was no longer exclusive to those who knew how to design a website but was now easily accessible to anyone. Thanks to social networking sites like Friendster, Facebook and Multiply, having your own home page is like creating a word document. It also opened opportunities for small entrepreneurs who cannot afford a small stall on malls or even an online shop. Social networking sites made it a lot easier for them to promote their products without paying a single cent. Now, these entrepreneurs is now officially supported by Multiply by integrating them on the Multiply network. the full details after the jump.


Multiply launched recently their Multiply Sellers sub domain and officially announced their full support to online seller thus making e-commerce virtually easy for all.

Until now, running a shop on Multiply has technically been a violation of our terms of service. As long as you didn't spam anyone though, we simply looked the other way and let you go about your business. I know that this policy didn't exactly give you all a lot of comfort, so I'm happy to announce that we've updated our terms of service to reflect the fact that running a shop on Multiply is now an officially endorsed activity.

If you would like to run a shop on Multiply, all you have to do is identify yourself as an online seller. To do this, click on "my account" at the top of any page and then on "My Account Info". In the Account Type field just check the box to indicate that your account is an online shop. That's it! Once you make this change, you'll see "Online Seller" appear below your headshot on your site (or "Premium Seller" if you have a Premium account).



Please help us spread the word on this. You will need to check this box in order to continue to run your shop on Multiply, but we understand that it will take time for everyone to get the message.

Also, please continue to be mindful of our spam policy. Sending unsolicited personal messages, or posting to groups, for the purpose of promoting your shop is considered spam and could result in the cancellation of your account.

Being officially supported and having the ability to identify yourself as an online seller is a great first step, but we have more to come. In the near future we'll start adding features designed explicitly for you to help you better run your business on Multiply. The reason for this group is to allow you to help guide us in those efforts.

For now, thanks for your continued support of Multiply and I'll be back in touch soon with many, many questions. :-)

Will Erap ever learn?

As the deadline on filing of candidacy for the 2010 election becomes nearer, Most of the public figures are one by one revealing their true intentions for the coming election. One of them is the former 13th president Joseph "Erap" Estrada. For those who were living under a rock or playing World of Warcraft or other similar internet games, Erap "stepped-down" from the presidency last January 20, 2001 and was succeeded by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Erap vacated the seat of power due to the pressure of the impeachment charges and the so called Edsa II. Today, he officially announce his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections because the people "told him to". Now the question is, Will the people still vote Erap after what happened last 2001? Will the other candidates allow him to run for office? Let's just say he won again, will the same impeachment happen again? There are so many questions that are rising now and as far as I can see, Erap is a liability in the so called "Genuine Opposition". The votes are going to be divided as Noynoy, Chiz, Erap and Vilar all wanted to win the presidency, and as for Gloria, she's confident that her sole candidate Gilberto Teodoro will get the undivided votes from their supporters. God save our country.

Climate Change: The bomb is ticking

in response to:


Today we tackle an alarming phenomenon we call climate change. If you are too lazy to read from the link, it is basically something that is currently happening to our Mother Earth right this moment and it's all thanks to us. Some say that the tragedy of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng got something to do with climate change, some say it's the retaliation of mother nature to us because of mercilessly cutting down trees from our forests. I say it's an obvious sign that we must care for our home planet before it is too late. Many world organizations are giving their best effort to warn an educate us about the impending destruction of our planet. Remember guys, we haven't found a suitable planet that will cater our basic needs to live. I do hope our next generation will not suffer from our irresponsibility towards our planet and I do hope we can still have a next generation. I know what you are thinking, "What? another environmental activist?! lame!" I know we are being redundant about this environmental thing yet not everyone seems to grasp the message. The biological time bomb is ticking and it is a matter of time before we lose our beloved planet.

CDR King's website hacked

The famous store of Chinese re-branded stuff cdr-king suffered a DDoS attacked claimed by a certain group called "Team Rocket" based from a popular children's anime Pokemon. Wonder if the webmaster knew what happened.

Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize

US President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Price for his "extraordinary efforts" to promote world peace. Some were happy, some were shocked and some questioned the award giving bodies. The Norwegian committee which awards the prize states airily that he is being given it "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people."

The award was given to Obama based on his support of nuclear disarmament, his concern over climate change, and his desire for peace in the middle east.

Many questioned the award due to the fact that he's been in service for just 9 months and they say that it might not have been better to wait for him to have longer service in office His political opponents in the US are infuriated by what they see as a partisan endorsement of a man who has yet to do anything more concrete than issue a series of pleasant sounding speeches.

The same issue was debated before when Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize over Blessed Mother Teresa based on a bunch of power point presentation about global warming.

Is Obama worthy of the prize or is it politics that is behind all this?

Flooding in Pangasinan

It's 2:42 a.m. and I'm still working. Nothing wrong with that because I'm on the night shift this week. While monitoring the news on DZMM Teleradyo, as part of my job, I just heard that Ondoy's successor, Pepeng, is currently wreaking havoc in Pangasinan.

As of 1:41 a.m., DZMM Teleradyo has received reports that some dams, including but not limited to San Roque Dam and Binga Dam, near or within the proximity of Pangasinan are overflowing due to heavy rains caused by the said typhoon. Majority of Pangasinan is experiencing floods, with water level reaching the roof of houses. There are also reports that there are approximately 1,000 people stranded in SM Pangasinan, with the water level reaching the 2nd floor of the building.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council and the local government of Pangasinan is already looking into the matter to see what actions can be taken in response to the situation. But in the event that you want to check on your relatives or friends in Pangasinan, if you have any, you can report your concerns or advise your loved ones to coordinate with NDCC at 911-5061. You can also check out the Siopao Master's post last September 27, 2009 at 1:01 a.m. for other emergency contact numbers.

Let us continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Northern Luzon.

Calling All Filipino Bloggers

We are all invited by Bloggers Kapihan to participate in an event that will make us unite under one cause to stop climate change. We are encourage to blog about it on October 15, 2009. Click the badge below for details

Today is Teachers' Day

Let us honor all the teachers in our country. They are the key to the future of our generation

By Presidential Proclamation No. 479 to honor more than 500,000 teachers nationwide. However, (Tagalog:Araw ng mga Guro) in the Philippines (Teacher's Day) is actually celebrated in schools between the months of September and October (mainly elementary and secondary levels). Teachers are presented with orchid corsages by students. Groups of students representing various grade levels perform short skits or song and dance numbers, or read poetry for their teachers in front of fellow schoolmates in school-wide activities. These activities are planned by senior students in the Student Council who coordinate the activities well in advance. For Filipino-Chinese schools, a program is usually organized by students for teachers on September 27, while September 28, considered as the actual Teacher's Day, is a school holiday where both teachers and students are allowed to rest. September 28 was chosen because it is known as the birthday of famous Chinese philosopher Confucius.

For some universities in the Metro Manila area, Catholic Teachers' Day is celebrated on the second week of February.

Jacque Bermejo's official statement

Below is the official statement of Jacque Bermejo regarding the insensitive Facebook comment that triggered a lot of rage among the Filipino people

“I am issuing this statement to clear my name in the current controversy in which I allegedly posted a highly insensitive and offensive message on the social networking website, Facebook, in relation to the victims of typhoon Ondoy that recently struck parts of the Philippines.

About two years ago, an anonymous source created these accounts using my identity, posting my personal details, my real pictures captioned roughly and attacking other people. Because of these incidents, I reported such abuses and sent my credentials to the administrators of such sites, particularly Facebook. I have been abused and am still being abused online in social networking websites such as Facebook, Friendster, Multiply etc.

In the early stages, I was advised by close friends to ignore the situation, saying this would simply go away. Unfortunately, it has not stopped. Hence, I filed a complaint with the Dubai Police about eight months ago hoping they could help me with my problem. Should anyone wish to check my statement, my case is still under investigation with said authorities.

Time passed and these sites continued to generate malicious, obscene and cruel messages that are widely exposed and relayed to the public under my name.

Yesterday, September 27th 2009, I received phone calls from my close friends regarding very alarming posts in the above mentioned websites that directly offended flood victims as a result of typhoon Ondoy..

These malicious statement(s) which are posted under account names Jacque or Jackie are not of my doing. It is unfortunate that such statements were maliciously attributed to me andI do sympathize and understand the adverse and somehow verbally violent reaction that has been elicited by such insensitive statements or posts. Rest assured, I have taken every legal step that can be done in this regard.

I too, have become a victim as much as those who may have lost their lives and properties to such a devastating natural calamity. This recent controversy has greatly affected my reputation, my family, and my friends. I am devastated and shocked at the extent my character, my personal information and private space have been violated.

I have a deep respect and regard for my country. I am proud to be a Filipino and would never say or do anything to harm the interest of my country or countrymen. I have also had the privilege of participating in civic-oriented activities in Dubai, particularly in trying to help my fellow countrymen seek employment during the height of mass layoffs brought about by the ongoing global financial crisis, as well as those seeking employment for the first time. Making a mockery of any unfortunate incidents befalling any of my fellow Filipinos is simply contrary to my character. I condemn the person or persons behind these malicious acts to impute damage on my integrity and I hope that you can dig deep into your hearts and minds to truly find the truth in all these.

Jacqueline Bermejo”

It is up to you to believe her, like I was saying from my previous post. It's either salvation or damnation for her. You can vote for it here

Source

Jacque Bermejo is now on the hot seat

Filipino OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) Jacque Bermejo made a comment in the Facebook group Definitely Filipino that ignited a chain of hatred by millions of Filipinos who were offended by her statement. A Facebook group was made to rally all the Jacque "haters" and made her multiply account a repository of almost four thousand hate comments and still counting. Some say this is the wrath of the people who suffered because of Ondoy due to her insensitivity. Others say that this is practically cyber bullying. It is up to you to decide if Jacque deserves salvation or she's heading for damnation.

Where were you when Ondoy devastated the Philippines?

International typhoon Ketsana which was locally named Ondoy devastated the Philippines and placed Metro Manila and it's nearby areas under state of calamity. I was at home and was worried because my sister was stranded at UERM. luckily she was with her friends and they walked until they reached the LRT station. Our neighbors were busy rescuing their stuff as the nearest river had overflowed into an alarming level. Marikina City was submerged and many houses were destroyed. Eastwood City, a very famous gimmick spot suffered submersion as well. Places like Roosevelt avenue and Sta. Mesa which never had problems with floods before was caught off-guard with head-deep floods. Many were stranded on every MRT-LRT stations, malls and other commercial establishments with no food or drinking water. September 26, 2009 is a day to remember not by the tragedy of typhoon Ondoy. But by the unity and cooperation of the Filipino people. Despite everything, we chose to help rather than relax on our warm and cozy beds. Even the text messages, twit, plurk, blog post, forum post helped even the simplest way to our fellowmen who were in need. Let's offer a prayer for those who were still stranded and needed rescue.

Rescue InfoHub & Disaster Emergency Numbers

Typhoon Ondoy has placed Metro Manila and it's neighboring areas under state of emergency. Here is the link to the list of families or individuals who need rescue ASAP

Rescue InfoHub

please let us help our fellow Filipinos who were stranded due to the flood. You can still help even if you are inside the comfort of your own home by disseminating this information.

DISASTER EMERGENCY HOTLINES YOU CAN CALL:

These are the hotlines that our citizenry can call for disaster emergency situations, especially urgent rescue and relief needs.

National Disaster Coordinating Committee
911-1406
911-1873
911-1906
911-5061
912-0984
912-2665
912-3046
912-5296
912-5668

Help hotlines:
734-2118
734-2120

Bureau of Fire Protection, National Capital Region
729-5166
410-6254
413-8859
407-1230

Bureau of Fire Protection, Region III (Central Luzon)
Hotline (045) 9634376

Philippine Coast Guard
527-6136

Red Cross
143
911-1876
527-0000

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
136
896-6000

Taguig emergency hotline
1623

Meralco
16220
0917-5592824
0920-9292824

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. emergency hotlines
for dumptrucks going to flooded areas for rescue of stranded people:
0917 4226800
0917 2414864
0927 6751981

Sen. Dick Gordon (Philippine National Red Cross)
Please send address of stranded friends/family to
09178997898
0938444BOYS

USB 3.0 SuperSpeed

The new USB format, dubbed SuperSpeed, transfers data at about 250MB/s, compared to 20-30MB/s with ye old USB 2.0. It also has the advantage of consuming less power perfect for mobile devices.

The new system requires a new USB host controller and a special cable but sticks with the familiar USB interface. The cable has nine interior wires, not the usual five, with two extra upload and download channels, and an extra ground wire.

NEC has already announced production of the first host controller and half a dozen other companies including Fujitsu were demonstrating applications for the new standard at the Intel Developer Forum.

Did you know? 4.0

Did you know that technology is rapidly evolving? Watch the video

Mozilla uses Kanye West internet meme to promote Mozilla

Mozilla, or some employees of Mozilla are using the Kanye West internet meme to promote the Mozilla Service Week. Simply genius.

2009 UAAP Cheerdance Competition

It's that time again of the year wherein the top schools of UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) battle it out for the coveted Cheerdance Competition championship. This year all 8 schools were present and they all gave their best. The Adamson Pep Squad kicked off with a very beautiful costume that resembled the knights of medieval times. They were followed by the NU Pep Squad, then the DLSU Animo Squad with their Guild Wars Mesmer-like costumes. UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe gave an Egyptian-like performance then UP Pep Squad, the defending champion gave their best performance ever. Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion impressed the crowd with their rendition of Michael Jackson's Moonwalk. The cheering squads' costume reminded me of Songstress Yuna. The UE Pep Squad graced their red and white colors and performed mostly of Filipino songs. Finally, the host FEU Blazing Pep Squad made a performance using the UAAP's theme this year, the "Sarimanok". The overall performance was capitalized the Samsung cheering squad accompanied by each schools' muse and guidon bearer. The most awaited result came and FEU Blazing Pep Squad won the championship with a score of 86.1, ending the UST-UP rivalry. The Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion were shocked that they won 1st runner up with a score of 83.4 and the defending champion UP Pep Squad fall down to 2nd runner up with a score of 83.1. For the first time in the history of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe never made it to the top 3, a disappointment that they have to carry on till next year. The UAAP Cheerdance Competition and the winning of the FEU Blazing Pep Squad topped both Twitter and Plurk on the most posted topic during that hour. Truly, this kind of competition unites every Filipino out there. Congratulations to the FEU Blazing Pep Squad for bringing home the crown since 1998.

The vidoes after the jump

AdU


NU


DLSU


UST


UP


ADMU


UE


FEU


thanks to planktonunited for the videos

Today is Siopao Day 2009

Thank you all who greeted me today and thank you also for those who didn't. I was surprised that my 3 closest friends came by today to celebrate my birthday. Thank you guys!

Here are some pics of my birthday celebration

The Globe Tattoo Broadband Price Drop

Globe Broadband Tattoo is now an absolute steal, with prepaid broadband USB kits going for only Php895. That’s Php1000 less than the regular price! Talk about great value for money. It is by far the most affordable prepaid broadband internet package out there.

So please do take advantage of this awesome deal. And don’t forget to let your friends and readers know about it as well! The offer is available today and will last until October 31, 2009.

For more information please check out Globe Tattoo

Steve Jobs return to Apple; New iPod Nano

Yesterday's Apple media event took a surprising twist as Apple's CEO Steve Jobs finally appeared on public after taking his leave last January. He had a liver transplant last March and he never appeared to the public ever since. Yesterday was a big day for Apple fans because Steve Jobs revealed an uprade to their iPod Nano, Apple's best selling product which sold 220 millions worldwide. The new Nano will be equipped with a digital camera (640x480), a microphone for voice recording, a pedometer, an FM radio and a larger screen. It will be sold in seven bright new colors along with the brushed steel look. The price is $149 for the 8GB version and $179 for the 16GB version and is now available in Apple's online store.

090909 Siopao's Heaven

This momentous occasion marks the rise of a new heaven. Siopao's Heaven caters a gallery of figures that were shot using a digital camera. This is art well appreciated.

http://www.siopaomaster.net

The Top 10 video games, according to the Japs

Well, it's been a long time since I graced this place. I do owe a lot of the Siopaomaster's followers some entries since I became a resident of his haven, so here it goes:

Recently, Japanese gamers were surveyed to list down Top 10 Games for Eternity (http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/191/191605/).

The said games are as follows:
1. Super Mario Bros. (NES)2. Okami (PS2/Wii)3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)4. Tactics Ogre (SNES)5. Dragon Quest III (NES)6. Final Fantasy VII (PS)7. Final Fantasy X (PS2)8. Chrono Trigger (SNES)9. Metal Gear Solid (PS)10. Clannad (PC)
That line-up is quite remarkable don't you think? However, the problem with lists is that they're subjective. Each of us has our own thoughts on as to which games should be immortalized. But I strongly believe that we are in unison when I say that the best video games for eternity are the classics since they paved the way for the ones we are enjoying right now. In the absence of eye-popping graphics and complex gameplay, the classics got us hooked in their simplicity.

Number one on the list is a no-brainer. It's a true classic and rightfully deserves the top spot for setting a benchmark, not only for platform games, but all video games. Could you imagine a game with a simple gameplay, a simple storyline, an inconclusive ending, and plumber for protagonist with so much replay value? Nuff said!

Got no problems with top 5, since it is a pioneer in the RPG department, but I can't help but feel that Chrono Trigger should be ahead of Dragon Quest III. Chrono Trigger was an upgrade from Dragon Quest III, and a reference for subsequent Final Fantasy games of the 90s. With it's cute paper doll-like characters, and amazing graphics (at least during those times), I'd have to say Chrono Trigger is the closest thing to Ragnarok if it was 1995 all over again.

With its wide range of character classes, and tile placement system, Tactics Ogre is in a league of its own, setting the trend for tactical-role playing games, while Metal Gear Solid gave birth to a new age of stealth action games like Splinter Cell and Hitman.

However, if you'd ask me, I believe the following games deserve to be included in the discussion of Best Games for Eternity:

Street Fighter (SNES)
Wild Gun Man (NES)
Half-Life (PC)
Star Craft (PC)

Capcom's Street Fighter was the fighting game of the 90s, with almost every hit fighting game during the decade finding the name Street Fighter/Capcom attached to it. SF also served as the inspiration for the likes of Mortal Kombat, Samurai Showdown and Tekken.

Wild Gun Man was the grand daddy of shooting games like House of the Dead and Time Crisis.

Half-Life became a yard-stick for first person shooting games, and with its modification, Counterstrike catching the attention of trigger happy gamers, Half-Life found its way to the World Cyber Games.

And lastly, Star Craft, a game that had gamers thinking of strategies in their sleep. Released in 1998, Star Craft is set in outer space, pitting of three alien races against each other. This game lets you enjoy the sight of Protoss Interceptor, a Zerg Ultralsik and the Yamato Gun while engaging someone in a war. Now don't you think these games deserve a spot in history?

teaser 090909

Disney to acquire Marvel

It was confirmed that Disney is acquiring Marvel with a $50 per share or a total of $4 billion.

"This transaction combines Marvel's strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney's creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories," said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney."

"We believe that adding Marvel to Disney's unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation," Iger said.

"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses," said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel's Chief Executive Officer. "This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney's tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world."

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney's global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel's properties.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.


Expecting a Mickey Mouse and Spiderman crossovers sometime soon

A Wedding Under Gundam RX-78-2

It wasn't long ago that a wedding company Take and Give Needs (T&G), which normally arranges weddings in more conventional settings (which in Japan might include fake priests and even Hello Kitty) offered their customers to celebrate their matrimony with Mobile Suit Gundam RX-78-2's likeness glowering down on them. The lucky couple were chosen out of a 500 hopeful Gundam fan couples.



The couple, both long time fans of the original series, chose this special package to renew their vows and this is really a wedding to remember. The groom wore a suit that based on the uniform of Amuro Rei, the main protagonist of the original series. Also present was the original director of the series, Tomino Yoshiyuki, who handed the happy couple a special gift. The couple named their daughter Seira, which is after the Gundam character Sayla Mass

Top 10 Excuses Made by Programmers

Good programmers never re-invent the wheel, so even the excuses when something doen't work

or get done are pretty much the same across languages. I have compiled the top 10 excuses

you are likely to hear if you work with a programmer, the computer department or the

technical support team.

10. "I haven't touched that module in weeks"

9. "It must be a hardware problem"

8. "Somebody must have changed the code"

7. "Did you check for a virus on your system?"

6. "You must have the wrong version"

5. "That's weird...."

4. "There must be something wrong with your data"

3. "It has never done that before"

2. "It worked yesterday"

and the best one....

1. "It works on my machine"

[Review]Voice

The last jdorama I reviewed here was Proposal Daisakusen and that was way back in 2007. I never thought that I could watch another great jdorama like ProDai but I was wrong, because Voice came along. Voice, in a nutshell, is CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) of Japan. It is a story of five medical students who attended a six-month seminar in forensic investigation. They perform lab tests, autopsy of the body and solve some crime which we all know a typical CSI concept. CSI: NY, CSI: Miami and CSI: Las Vegas was also mentioned in one of the episodes and it made clear that CSI was indeed a major influence on this drama. So what made Voice so damn great of a jdorama if it's just like CSI? Even though Voice have all the components of CSI in every aspect, it ends there. Voice, as it's title suggested, was really a drama of five forensic students going beyond the conventional forensic medicine and "listens" to the voices of the dead. They find out not just how the victim died but also why he/she had that fate. I was amazed on how they solve the cases and their way of analysis is something not of the ordinary. If you are a fan of crime solving with some heavy drama, this series is for you. As a reminder, never forget to bring a tissue when watching this drama, for I am sure even the grouchiest person will cry a tear on this one.

Miss Universe 2009 results

The 58th Miss Universe was held at the Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas.

The results are as follows:

Miss Universe 2009

* Venezuela - Stefanía Fernández

1st Runner-up

* Dominican Republic - Ada de la Cruz

2nd Runner-up

* Kosovo - Marigona Dragusha

3rd Runner-up

* Australia - Rachael Finch

4th Runner-up

* Puerto Rico - Mayra Matos

Top 10

* France - Chloé Mortaud
* South Africa - Tatum Keshwar
* Switzerland - Whitney Toyloy
* Czech Republic - Iveta Lutovská
* United States - Kristen Dalton

Top 15

* Albania - Hasna Xhukiçi
* Belgium - Zeynep Sever
* Sweden - Renate Cerljen
* Croatia - Sarah Ćosić
* Iceland - Ingibjörg Ragnheiður Egilsdóttir

Special Awards


Miss Congeniality

* China - Wang Jingyao

Miss Photogenic

* Thailand - Chutima Durongdej

Best National Costume

* Panama - Diana Broce

[Review]Up

Yes, this is just a two letter film. From the creators of Toy Story (the first full 3D film) Disney and Pixar teamed up once again to deliver yet another stunning film. I watched the film in a 3D cinema and it's really worth your peso. This moie doesn't only target the young audience, but also the adult as well. The message was clear and you must watch the movie to appreciate it. Anyway, nothing bad I can say about the film for it is a superior Disney film indeed. If you ever plan to watch it, watch it on 3D to fully experience the Disney magic.

Happy 10th Birthday Blogger

Since August 23, 1999, Blogger became one of the highly popular blogging site in the history of the internet. I've been a member of this blogging site since January 2005 and Blogger never failed me. So I dedicate this post to Blogger and congratulations for 10 years of blogging fun.

[Review]G.I. Joe : Rise of Cobra

I guess reviving old franchises like Transformers, Star Trek and on this case G.I. Joe is a tried and tested formula. G.I. Joe (G.I. stands fo Ground Infantry) was a classic comics / cartoons back when I was 4 years old. I watched the cartoons and collected the 4" fully articulated action figures and I guess that was part of my happy childhood. Now imagine me, and the rest of my generation (Yes, I admit I'm getting older)got a chance to relive those childhood happiness with this G.I. Joe film. Anyway, The series got a futuristic upgrade by adding "nano machine" technology to the plot. The movie's main plot revolves around the joining of Duke to the G.I. Joe ranks and you guess it, the rise of Cobra Commander. It is safe to say that this film updated the G.I. Joe concept to a more futuristic "American Army technology" but still retained the original G.I. Joe feel that made my generation loved the series. I do hope that the sequel will repeat or even surpass the success of G.I.:Joe Rise of Cobra, for it is now a link between my generation and the current generation of G.I. Joe fandom. Got to get that Yo Joe!

Sandara Park Returns!

Former Philippine teen sensation Sandara Park, now a famous member of the Korean girl group 2NE1, returned yesterday to the country that once loved her and had forgotten her eventually drove her back to South Korea. Sandy could have stayed there, but she chose to spend her two-week vacation here. Now you see her on our local television once again interviewed and got to perform on a morning show. Aren't you guys ashamed? After droving her away, you welcomed her back happily because she's popular in South Korea now. Sandy could have chosen not to come here, but as every first love, she chose to return to the country that will never be removed in her heart.

Not Everyone Experience a Happy Ending

Here I am again blogging about the pain I've felt because of loving someone. It's like becoming a cliche, a cycle in my life. I met girl, got to know her, become friends, got to know her more, fell in love, confessed, get dumped, retry, get dumped, retry, fail. I had two REAL relationships before (not a full romantic relationship, but you get the picture). The first one was my college friend, we were close, but she got closer to my other friend. Second was my co-employee, well she got closer to my other co-employee. The current err.. the last one, whom I've been courting for almost two years now was different. She was my student before, wait, before you violently react, I knew her before she was a student, so technically I fell in love with her brfore she became a student. Of course, many reacted with the situation and that did not even spare her. She wanted to be "just friends" due to the complication of our situation, I was her teacher, she was my student. I agreed with the condition that outside school, I could court her. The time came when I finally resigned as a teacher and the barriers between us were lifted. But, then she was still reluctant and I can't blame her for that. Eventually, we had like an understanding, We were like a real couple but we didn't recognize our relationship as a romantic one. All was well, when one day she told me she had a special someone. Too bad it wasn't me. After that, I suddenly realized there's now a void between us. She rarely texted me and those messages were just replies to my questions, no more than that. I guess, happy time's over. She finally got to meet her TRUE love and to her, I'm now just her friend, not even a close or even a best friend. I guess I never got to have the one with the glass slipper...so much for happily ever after.

Internet downtime due to Japan's Quake

Internet service across Asia suffered a slowndown to downtime connection today which was traced to Japan's earthquake yesterday. The said earthquake damaged the APCN2 (Asia Pacific Cable Network 2) which services the Singapore- Malaysia and China -Taiwan fault. The said cable system will be fully repaired on August 14, 2009. APCN2 consortium is now trying to implement the APCN2 catastrophic plan for dual failure in these segments and APCN2 NOC is now doing the mapping and manual patching in concerned stations.

The Recent Issue with Willie Revillame

For those who are not aware, Wowowee was being aired while a sidebar was there showing the funeral of the recently deceased Tita Cory, There was a point when Willie Revillame, the host of Wowowee allegedly asked the management to remove the sidebar while Wowowee was airing. This made a lot of violent reactions in the media, fans of Willie and Tita Cory supporters were enraged by Willie's statement. Now, I am not here to defend or judge the guy. I am here just to point out something. Is it really appropriate to broadcast simultaneously a noon time variety show and a funeral of a national icon? Are these two contradicting each other? Who in the right mind do such a thing? Are you gonna laugh at the funny jokes of Willie while you see the camera showing people grieving over a fallen hero? What I'm saying is, you should not just only blame Willie here, the ABS-CBN management should have cancelled Wowowee or air the funeral instead.

The Day That I Played Dota Again

After 2 years of being deprived from DotA (Defense of the Ancients) I got the chance to play again yesterday with my officemates. I sucked terribly. I was shocked with all the changes that took place since my absence. New heroes, new hero skills, new recipes, new items, new layout and a lot more. The first game I chose Mortred as my hero and before, I can dominate with her (she's my first ever character and favorite, hence my Friendster background). But yesterday wasa different story, I'm supposed to build a power threads but I end up one ingredient short, turns out, you need another item for the threads, The bracer was the same, but it took me a while to find the ingredients because the shops were rearranged.. I guess I need to practice again so I can keep up with my officemates. Better download the new maps.

In Loving Memory of Tita Cory Aquino

Former president Maria Corazon Cojuangco Aquino popularly known as "Tita Cory" passed away today at 3:18 AM due to a cardiac arrest, which was a complication of her colon cancer, which she bravely battled for months. Democracy in our country will not be possible without her courageous leadership during the martial law and post martial law. Thank you Tita Cory, for being a great leader and an inspiration to all.

She is now together again with the only man she loved, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.

Two people who once displayed tremendous leadership and bravery that forever changed the Filipino people, now united in heaven.

Globe's Free Apps now available for download

Yesterday Globe once again held a blogger's assembly. The event took place at Legend Villa, near Boni MRT station. The usual suspects were there like me, Jepoy, Lalaine, Karlo, Rocky, Mark, Coco, Yuga and other bloggers as well. The event was about the Free Apps Globe is offering right now to their subscribers across the nation. Developers and beta testers were encourage to participate on the said project which in this case, us. We had the chance last night to test the current apps that Globe Apps is offering, like the FN Tracker, REI, the very useful Simulated Cracked screen and then some. I was thinking of participating in the development of some apps but currently I'm in a C language, Java and Visual Basic.NET 2008 orgy and learning the Symbian API might destroy my last remaining brain cell. I had wished before during my teaching career to experience programming on hand but heck this is a handful. Anyway, I might be collaborating with Globe sometime soon. But until then, back to work.

Microsoft still aiming for Yahoo?

The interwebs was flooded once again with the news of Microsoft buying Yahoo. Contrary to early reports, Microsoft will not pay an upfront fee in the deal, according to a source quoted by Reuters. Early rumors said Microsoft would pay hundreds of millions of dollars up front to Yahoo in addition to a revenue sharing agreement.Yahoo has about 20 percent of the search market, while Microsoft's share is just under 10 percent, according to industry estimates that give Google most of the remaining 70 percent. The two companies are ready to announce a search and advertising partnership this week, perhaps as early as Wednesday, according to a report in the blog AllThingsD.

Tsukiden Welcome Party 2009

I have been with Tsukiden Software Philippines Inc. (TSPI) for just two months and I felt that I've been here for two years. What more to make all the newbies like me be fully welcomed by having a party in our honor! New employees from June 2008 - June 2009 were honored on this unforgettable event that was held at Fun Ranch Tiendesitas, Ortigas. The theme of the party was Back to School + in honor of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. All the new bloods were divided to seven groups and each performed in front of the whole TSPI community. I call this the "Rite of Passage". I was part of Group 6 A.K.A. "Siopao and the Half Blood Prince". We won third place, Group 3 placed second and Group 4 bagged the winning spot. I'll be posting some pics sometime soon because I haven't brought my camera hahaha.

Microsoft Windows 7 ready for release

Microsoft finally announced that their Windows 7 is now in RTM (Released to Manufacturing) stage and key MSDN members, manufacturers and OEM vrndors can get a hold of it within a few days.

"RTM is the point at which all the Microsoft executives who have responsibility for Windows 7 sign off on the final code. From there, PC vendors and retail outlets can begin their own processes of locking down plans for delivering Windows 7 in preparation for its release date.

The RTM code will be delivered to our partners within the next few days who will then start preparing to deliver some amazing new products timed to hit at GA of Windows 7,"

Microsoft spokesman Brandon LeBlanc said in a blog post.

The Mind Reader

I've been watching "The Listener" recently, an American drama about a guy who can read thoughts. Now I was wondering if there's an oppurtunity for me to be a mind reader. You can read what other people thinks about you, thus taking advantage of situations. You can play chess and surely win. You can even play poker with ease! You can read the mind of the girl you love thus pre-empting a fight or surprising her with something she really wanted. Now, if I have this power at my disposal, can I be happy with my life? Is it okay to know what others truely think about you? Is it okay to know that parents doesn't love you and you being born is a mistake? Is it okay to know that your girlfriend doesn't love you anymore and she's just pretending to be happy with you? Is it okay with you to know your best friend doesn't trust you? The truth hurts doesn't it? I know the truth will set you free, but is it necessary to know everything? I guess mind reading is a double-edged sword and I will never wonder why God didn't give it me.