Wheee

Happy birthday to me!

Well, actually, my birthday was yesterday, but I celebrated it tonight because it's Friday. Had a get-together here at home with my friends and classmates.

Oh, 23. It's such an "ordinary" age, isn't it? But I'm feeling old. Hmmm. Yeah, it's definitely kicking in...

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PhilNITS and more

I was in Cebu over the weekend. I was there with some schoolmates and our teacher to take the PhilNITS certification examination on the Fundamentals of IT last Sunday. The PhilNITS exam isn't a licensure exam. It's just a certification, known before as the JITSE, or the Japan IT Standards Examination. It's basically a Japanese examination, that's administered to IT people in foreign countries, or maybe in Japan as well. Anyway, we weren't prepared for that exam at all, as we were not planning to take it. However, the guys at PhilNITS gave Silliman 15 free slots, so that we didn't have to pay the Php1,500 fee. Of course we grabbed this opportunity, and the opportunity to go to Cebu once again. (We had also gone to Cebu just a month ago for the Java in Cebu Seminar.)

The exam was not as difficult as expected. We actually thought that we wouldn't be able to answer a single question. But the theoretical exam during the morning session was not so bad. If we had only reviewed properly, I believe it would have been a sure thing. The programming exam for the afternoon was the difficult one. Anyway, whatever the outcome of that exam will be, I'll just have to charge it to experience.

It was the perfect time to be in Cebu, though. SM had a 3-day sale over the weekend! Almost all shops were shops were giving up to 70% discount! I was able to get myself a Girbaud bag, and lipstick that I can't find here in Dumaguete. That's not a lot, but I guess I'm starting to become practical. I can hardly wait for the time when I'll be spending my own money. And speaking of my own money, working in Cebu is starting to appeal to me more and more these days...

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Sad News

The dean of our college died tonight.

Engr. Alfredo Ang was a very active man. He'd be at the Computer Center almost every day (even during Saturdays)... walking around, supervising, making jokes with people. Last month, he suddenly had a heart attack. He was airlifted to Cebu and a bypass surgery had to be done. But it never really did save him. Complications arose, until finally, his suffering ended tonight at the Silliman University Medical Center.

It's so hard to imagine the Computer Center without Sir Ang. Even before we became a college, he was already leading us, fighting for us, finding ways to give us the best computer equipment. Nobody can ever replace him. We will surely miss him.

May he rest in peace.

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All Things Japanese

Okay.

Before that job recruitment last Saturday, I didn't want to work for EPSON. After all, I don't (or didn't) want to be a programmer. But after they presented their compensation package, well... I drooled! I don't exactly know how much their entrance pay is (they only told us it was above average),but their benefits are great! Plus, they have added incentives for people who can speak Japanese because EPSON is a Japanese company and they send people to Japan all the time. Isn't that just great for me? Also, their office is located in a swanky area in Cebu. Cebu! Not Manila! Perfect, huh? But... I still don't know what will happen to my application. I don't even know when I'll get the results.

I was pleasantly surprised with their exam, however. It was in 3 parts: a psychological exam, Numerical Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning. For the first time in my life, I found the Numerical Reasoning section the easiest. That was a real surprise, considering how lazy I am with Math. The first part was not very good because there was a time limit, but the third part was, in my opinion, the most difficult. The crazy thing is, in all exams I've taken in the past, my highest scores are in English and Abstract Reasoning, even if I always find the latter part difficult. So, really, I have no idea how that exam turns out. Apparently, they'll just contact the people who qualify for the interview. Ohhh, I'll have to cross my fingers real tight. Just imagine how great it would be if you had a job waiting for you even before graduation!

Anyhow, Uchida Sensei and some Japanese girls from Ferris are in the Philippines right now. They came to my house last night, and we had lechon because Sensei really loves it. They also cooked Japanese food, which was really nice. They brought me Japanese foods that I missed, too! So I am ureshii.

Aya, one of the girls who was here as an exchange student last year, was with the group, and she gave me a copy of her pictures of Ferris. I wanted to share them with you...

So here are the pictures of my school when I was an exchange student in Japan--Ferris University, in Yokohama:

The main entrance.

One of the classrooms.

The swanky computer room.

My favorite rest room.
It's big, and the lights automatically turn off if there's no one in the room. Each stall also has a noise-emitting device so your neighbors won't hear whatever sounds you're making.
No kidding!

The multimedia section of the library.

And they even have a fitness gym now. Crazy, huh?

Anyway, if you know a Japanese, ask him/her about Ferris. He/She probably knows about it. It's seriously the most sophisticated "all-girls" university in the country. That's how lucky I am to have been given the opportunity to be there.

lechon - roasted whole, young pig
ureshii - Japanese term for happy

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The Last Leg

I've been pretty busy recently, but we finally finished presenting 75% of our design for our OJT. It's a step in the right direction, but of course, it's still a long way to go. Things are really sinking in right now, though. I've finally realized that I'm almost down to my last semester in college. I'm looking forward to so many things, but at the same time, I'm feeling downright scared of the changes that are coming my way.

I'm afraid, because I guess I don't really know what to do. I'm afraid of leaving things and people behind, but I guess I'm more afraid of staying, because in staying I'm more prone to disappointment. I hate how this issue has been the only thing in my blog entries for the last few months, but I guess the reason is because it's one of the biggest things bothering me right now.

Oh, choices. Some are so hard to make. And the crazy thing is, sometimes the hardest ones are what's good for you. But I guess I just need to have faith--that God knows what's best and will guide me in the right direction as long as I hold on to him.

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Stings

Sometimes I think being a Scorpio is such a curse. True, we rule the house of sex, and while I dare say that our partners can be quite lucky because we're always lusty and passionate, we have so many bad sides as well.

I'm a Scorpio, and I can be really, uh, prickly. I have to know what's going on, I have to know how a person feels about me, etc, etc. I have a one-track mind. If I set my mind on something, or someone... then there's no turning back. I give my all, and though I know it's insane, utterly wrong, and impossible, I expect all as well. And then there's the loyalty. Ugh, I'm loyal to a fault. I just don't seem to get it that there are other people out there. No, I have to be with this one person I want to be with, even if that person is starting to get suffocated. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Now, maybe it's just me... or maybe these apply to all Scorpios, I'm not really sure. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that I still need to learn how to toughen up. I'm so sensitive--sensitive of how others make me feel, and sensitive to how others feel. But right now, truth be told, I just want to be numb. I wish I didn't care about people, because in caring, you always risk hurting yourself. I guess I just don't have enough bad experiences in life that's why I'm too trusting, too open, too soft. To be tough, I still need to go through so many hardships and pains. The crazy thing is, I don't know which is worse: being tough 'coz you've been through a lot, or being sensitive 'coz you've never really been hurt.

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Portal in Siquijor

Last Saturday, the staff of Portal 2007, the Sillimanian Yearbook which I am the Features Editor of, had an outing to Salagdo-ong, in Maria, Siquijor. I've never been to Siquijor before, so I took advantage of the opportunity to go there.

What do I think of Siquijor? Frankly, I didn't know what to expect before going there. I guess I'm that type of person--I don't prejudge. When we got there, I was pleasantly surprised. Siquijor is still unspoiled. Imagine, there are white sand beaches with clear waters right by their port! It was totally the opposite of those in cities like Manila, Cebu, or even Dumaguete! Houses in the entire province are still far apart, and the cities/towns are fairly quiet. But for me, the best thing about the island is that everywhere you look, there's great scenery! In short, I loved Siquijor. I certainly hope I'll be able to go back there again.

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Good and Bad

Ah, finally! After endless posts about bad days and unfortunate happenings, I can finally write some good news!

Mabuhay! Yahoo! ASIA Philippines Edition is now on the world wide web! It's not yet Yahoo! Philippines, but it is a start! :D

Flattered. Enrollment is over, and thankfully, contrary to what I expected, I didn't have a hard time. In fact, I had a really easy time! And, I believe I owe that to the fact that I went to Japan. Ever since, I went there, teachers and staff in my college have gotten to know me (or at least heard of me), and have been really helpful. Since we're still a baby college (i.e. new - 2001), I guess they're happy that someone from our group got that scholarship. They practically did everything for me, like figuring out which classes I should take, encoding and finalizing my schedule, squeezing me into one major class where I am an extra student without a designated pc, and called the Physics department to add me as the 36th student to an already closed 35-student class. *bows* Arigatou gozaimasu! I am indeed very grateful. And even though one might say that I don't love Silliman as much as I should, I love my college (College of Information Technology and Computer Sciences [CITCS]) very much indeed! It totally rocks!

Success. The Centennial Foundation Anniversary of St. Paul University Dumaguete was a truly meaningful one. Graced by prominent personalities such as the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres's (SPC) Mother Superior from Rome, and Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, it was truly a momentous celebration. The highlight was yesterday's parade, which my high school batch joined, that started at the school and ended at Rizal Boulevard where there was a re-enactment of the arrival of the 7 original French SPC sisters who came from their mission in Vietnam to build a school in Dumaguete. Restaurant booths where tables and chairs were set up were teeming with alumni, and the highlight was the fireworks display which was done from a boat in the water. It a great sight. Since it is October, San Miguel Beer is having it's Oktoberfest, and last night they had a live band which old and young Paulinians alike danced to. Since today is the final day of the celebration, there was another fireworks display at the campus just a few minutes ago. We saw it from our house and it was great. :)

Something sad happened too, though. Mark sent me a text very early this morning and told me that one of his parents' two dogs, a cute Bichon Frise named Penny died because she got ran over. I could just remember all the stories he's told me about her and couldn't help but cry. The poor lil' thing. :'(

Mabuhay - a Filipino greeting used in welcoming; literally means "long live"
Arigatou Gozaimasu - "Thank you" in Japanese

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Once In A Lifetime

I feel very, very, very rotten. :( I missed a once in a lifetime event. I wasn't able to go to SPUD's Alumni Homecoming. It was today/tonight/probably still going on right this very minute, and I didn't care so much before, I thought I didn't feel the need to go, but now I am extremely disappointed that I'm not there. :'(

My mom really wanted to go (she is also an alumna) but she didn't explicitly tell me that she really wanted to be there. So I didn't care, and then I assumed it would not be today, but in one of the following days. Early this afternoon, we learned from some friends that it was indeed today, but we had no choice but not to go, since we had to sing for a mass at 5:30. After the mass, we passed by SPUD going home, and oh my God, that's when we realized what we missed and what fools we were for not going to the CENTENNIAL homecoming. All the lights in the campus were lighted, and there were soooooo many cars, you could feel just by looking at them parked from here to there, outside and inside the campus, that it was a very, very special event. The Mother Superior from Rome was probably there! Paulinians from all over the world probably came home to join this event. And I, who live not 200 meters from the campus, missed it. What a shame!

I could just kick myself. I should have been more vigilant. I should have realized beforehand that I needed to be at this occasion; for SPUD is my beloved. I gave so much to her, and she gave so much to me. I will never feel for my current school (Silliman University) even just a fraction of what I feel for St. Paul's--that I know.

Oh my. I am extremely, extremely disappointed.

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Playing Teacher

As you know (or might not know :P), I'm currently teaching/tutoring English to three Koreans everyday, each person for an hour. Now, this is a very good part-time job, and I am quite grateful for it (and the pay is quite big for Philippine standards). However, it does have it's, erm... confusing moments.

Like for example, the pronounciation. We all know Japanese/Korean people have a problem with their L and R's, right? Well, let's say I'm letting them pronounce the word fork. They can either say fork in the American accent, or because they can't properly pronounce R's, it'll come out like they're saying it in a British accent (with the sorta silent R). But of course, you know that it's really just their R difficulty. So, will you correct them? Adding to the confusion is the Filipino accent, wherein every letter is said out and enunciated, unless of course a particular letter should really be silent. Now, how should I teach English to them?

I asked them once when I was going to read some text: How do you want me to read this, meaning whether Philippine or [almost] normal American accent. They said, either way. However, if I don't enunciate every letter, they won't be able to understand what I'm saying. So, for teaching them, I've realized that how we do it here (i.e., enunciate) is best, because they are like beginners after all. Now, I'm just wondering, when they go back to their native country, will people recognize their English as proper English? They only learned in the Philippines. I don't know. After all, there are still some people who don't recognize our English.

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