La Vida Monótona de Drazen Evilla

Answered Prayer...

2011-12-06T09:13:00.001-08:00

Whew! I'm busy, that I almost forgot to thank the lord for granting my wish and for not failing my prayers. I am already in my third night of working for my new online job right now, and I am so happy to be hired for this position - SEO Marketing and Product Development Personnel. By the job title alone, I like the sound of it, and even in just three days yet at work I am already starting to love the job, especially that it involves Search Engine Optimization which is one of the skills I am good at, aside from article writing. The employer, Miki Somos, is good to me, and the pay is good as well. I am so happy that god has given me this job, which is perfectly the job I have been asking for!

Now, I have another prayer to God, and that is to continue giving me more wisdom and strength to be able to work for this job in a long-term basis. This is the first job that I will be working at night, which was actually my preference at the first place, so as to avoid any disturbance at home and so that I can work smoothly and continuously. I pray to God that He will continue to guide me as I work each night, and to help me in whatever problems I may encounter. As I have already seen many, many prayers that God has granted me before, I am sure that with this prayer, He will never fail me.

Amen.

In doubt

2011-11-25T03:14:00.001-08:00

I appreciate all the blessings I receive from God each day, be it in a surprise or something that I have been expecting. At this moment, I am caught in a dilemma about something important I have been asking God for, and it is about having a decent and stable job. Although I have had already worked in several online jobs, from article writing to customer support representative, I still haven't been successful enough to last even at least two months in any of those online jobs. So, I made up my mind of trying to apply in local companies here in the city, though I know the fact that I will most probably earn lower than those online jobs can offer me. Right now, I am still currently working in an online job as a blogger. I liked the job at first, but as days do by. it seemed too much for me to write 15 blogs each day about topics which I don't even have any idea. While I'm currently employed in this job, I'm currently waiting for my second interview in a BPO company, for which I applied as an SEO Specialist. My initial interview went fine and I get to see the company's facility and it's a nice workplace in there. As expected, the salary there was lesser than I expected, but that;s fine for me.

Okay, so I'll get to my point now. I am in doubt as to which company I would work for a long-term, while I'm busy working in my online job, at the back of my mind, I'm thinking that working in a company is also nice as I can acquire certain benefits I cannot earn in online jobs. Also, I work home-based in an online job, so it wouldn't be much of a hassle for me as I don't need to be caught up in a traffic jam going to work and thus, no getting late. Both job opportunities have their own advantages and disadvantages against each other. I never forgot that somehow, I am still blessed enough to be in a situation like this, choosing for two great opportunities in life that God has given me. It's just that, it's quite hard to choose, because in the end, it boils down as to my preference, and whatever opportunity I prefer, their is somehow a sacrifice that I need to undertake. I do hope and pray to God I choose for the better, I hope to get the better.

Rolling in the Deep

2011-11-10T08:48:00.001-08:00

Here's a song which is one of those that gives me the Last Song Syndrome. This song, "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele is about moving on from a heartbreak in the past and having the courage to let go of the it, although the scars will always remind one of the sad love story. This song is ironic to the song "Someone like you", a very sad song also by Adele.

"Rolling In The Deep"

Adele

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, it's bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare
See how I'll leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch
And it's bringing me out the dark

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

Baby, I have no story to be told
But I've heard one of you
And I'm gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Making a home down there
As mine sure won't be shared

(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
The scars of your love remind me of us
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
I can't help feeling
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
But you played it with a beating

Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow

(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

You could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)

But you played it
You played it
You played it
You played it to the beat.

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken at Gaisano City Mall, Cagayan de Oro City sometime in early October. Me and my friend, Roselyn, went to the Toy's department and thought of trying out the cool and creepy Halloween masks. Aside from the masks, there were also spooky Halloween costumes for young and old, perfect for the Holloween parties!

Remembering Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

Farewell, Steve Jobs

In just two consecutive days, the world has received a significant fortunate and unfortunate event, with regards to just a single, world-renowned computer company. In October 4, the next iteration of perhaps the most amazing smartphone in the world was released. The iPhone 4S, which is the most amazing iPhone yet, was introduced to the public by Apple Inc. In October 5, an unfortunate event took the place of a successful event in Apple Inc. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., who introduced simple, well-designed computers for people who were more interested in what technology could do rather than how it was done, died Wednesday at age 56. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

In a brief statement, Apple announced the death but did not say where he died. Mr. Jobs suffered from a rare form of pancreatic cancer and had a liver transplant in 2009, and he stepped down as Apple’s chief executive on Aug. 24.

Here is the text of the email that Apple CEO Tim Cook sent to staff to announce Jobs' death:

"Team,

I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much."
I just after a few hours after his death, tributes started pouring in. Microsoft Corp co-founder and chairman Bill Gates used the Apple co-founder's own words in his tribute. Here's his message:

"For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor,'' Gates said in an e-mailed statement. "I will miss Steve immensely.''

"Insanely great'' was of one of Jobs' favorite expressions.

"The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come,'' Gates said.

"Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.

"I'm truly saddened to learn of (his) death," he said. "Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work."

Steve holding an apple in his early years.

To reiterate on of the lines of the message sent by Tim Cook, "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Truly, Steve Jobs is one of the most influential human being on Earth, and the IT world has lost one of its earliest fathers. Barack Obama says he was one of America's greatest inventors. What he has done until the day he died has significantly the lives of people from different races and made life easier. To the father of the Macintosh, may you finally rest in peace. We will never forget you and your legacy.

Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/steve-jobs/8809997/Steve-Jobs-dies-live-blog.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/steve-jobs-apple-computer-co-founder-dies/2010/09/21/gIQAc14aOL_story.html

In the Name of Love

2011-10-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

I have read this post in a certain Facebook page and after reading it thought if I'd repost it here in my blog to share this story.

This is a true story of a mother’s sacrifice during the recent Japan earthquake. After the Earthquake had subsided, when the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose was somehow strange that she knelt on her knees like a person was worshiping; her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supporting an object. The collapsed house had crashed her back and her head. With so many difficulties, the leader of the rescuer team put his hand through a narrow gap on the wall to reach the woman’s body. He was hoping that this woman could be still alive. However, the cold and stiff body told him that she had passed away for sure. He and the rest of the team left this house and were going to search the next collapsed building. For some reason, the team leader was driven by a compelling force to go back to the ruined house of the dead woman. Again, he knelt down and used his hand through the narrow cracks to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed with excitement,” A child! There is a child! “ The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects around the dead woman. There was a 3-month old little boy wrapped in a flowery blanket under his mother’s dead body. Obviously, the woman had made an ultimate sacrifice for saving her son. When her house was falling, she used her body to make a cover to protect her son. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully when the team leader picked him up. The medical doctor came quickly to exam the little boy. After he opened the blanket, he saw a cell phone inside the blanket. There was a text message on the screen. It said ,” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” This cell phone was passed around from one hand to another. Every body that read the message wept. ” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” Such is the mother’ s love for her child!! Dont forget to click the share button.

Most (The bridge)

2011-09-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER: Because so many copies of this video have spread online, we are unsure who to give credit for compiling the video. This video takes scenes from the award-winning 2003 Czech short film, "Most." "Most" means "bridge" in Czech. www.mostthemovie.com.

Life is indeed full of sacrifices. As one anonymous person quoted, it is easy to cross the ocean without wetting your feet, but it is difficult to cross life without wetting your eyes. We've seen a lot of movies that doesn't have a happy ending, and some of them are even tragic. For one, this is an example of a movie which would definitely touch the heart, gives us a reflection of how much God loves us, and what is the real essence of life. I seldom cry over sad movies or videos that I watch, but this one is surely one of those movies which brings tears falling down my cheeks and perhaps you will do as well.

The story of this movie was about a bridge keeper who had a son and together lived a happy life through the years. His son loved to watch trains passing by the bridge as well as the people riding in it. The bridge keeper and the son loved each other so much. Then one day, in the most unfortunate of events, the bridge keeper faced a life-and-death scenario at the bridge, in which the bridge keeper was forced to choose between either saving his son or saving a train full of people. If he chooses to save his son, a lot of people's lives will be lost and a great tragedy will occur. But if he chooses to save the passengers aboard the train, his only son will get crushed under the bridge and die. Indeed, it was such a very hard decision for him in just a very short time. Nonetheless, the bridge keeper chose to lower the bridge, crushed his own son under it, and saved the lives of many people. The bridge keeper cried so hard, and one of the passengers, a woman who is addicted to drugs, saw him crying by the window, and she felt his agony. He never really wanted to let his son die, nor let a tragedy to happen killing many people's lives. It was a challenge, a great test given by God to him. That situation is perhaps one of the hardest things to decide on in this world. Still, God permitted it to happen. He permitted it to happen to know what is inside our hearts, how much will we sacrifice, and how strong we are to face such a grave situation.

It is really hard to sacrifice something very dear to us. Then again, in the end, despite that heavy storm which swept away the most valuable thing or things in our lives, you'll find out that the sun comes shining down and that there was a reason for that as well. Everything in this world has a reason, and God knows what's best in our lives. God is the mastermaker of our lives and, and we need to trust in Him because he knows that what He is doing in our lives, be it fortunate or unfortunate events, he has a reason for that.

A note to share...

2011-08-15T05:03:00.000-07:00

This is a post which I would like to share to readers out there. I got this from a Facebook friend's note. It's really nice to reflect on it. Read on:

"When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said,"Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides- a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"You know, life is full of imperfect things... and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. That's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the difficult parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burned biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own"

baby Mary Abiguel!=)

2011-08-14T23:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a cute video I would like to share. This is a video of my first niece when she was still five months old...check it out.=)

Southern Lights Openshoot

2011-07-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Photo Disclaimer: All photos in this post courtesy of Eugene Sia Photography

Here's another set of photos from my modelling career...lol

These photos are from the Southern Lights Openshoot held last July 24, 2011, with Mr. Eugene A. Sia as the Senior Photographer and Alvin P. Yao and Christian E. Gesta as the Assistant Photographers.

I enjoyed a lot while having this openshoot. I really, really love the photos! I wish I had more photos to display here from the shoot.=)

To the team of Eugene Sia Photography, thank you so much and more power!

Walang Natira...

2011-07-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

Walang Natira...

I have been listening to this song for several months now. I like the message expressed by its lyrics, and out of curiosity, I came to search and watch its official music video in YouTube just now. Indeed, the video sparks awareness within the minds of every Filipino citizen as well as the Philippine government and opens our eyes to the reality that had since been occurring within our society and our beloved country.

Walang natira
By Gloc 9 Ft. Sheng Belmonte

[Sheng Belmonte]
Napakaraming guro dito sa amin ngunit
Bakit tila walang natira
Napakaraming nurse dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Nagaabroad sila

[Gloc-9]
Lupa kong sinilangan ang pangalan ay pinas
Ngunit bakit parang puno na ang prutas ay pitas
Nauubusan ng batas parang inamag na bigas
Lumalakas na ang ulan ngunit ang payong ay butas
Tumatakbo ng madulas mga pinuno ay ungas
Sila lang ang nakikinabang pero tayo ang utas
Mga kabayan natin ay lumilipad, lumalabas
Para pumunta ng ibang bansa at doon magtanas
Ng kamay para lamang magkakalyo lang muli
Ang pahingay iipunin para magamit paguwi
Dahil doon sa atin mahirap makuha ang buri
Mapahiran ng tsokolate ang matamis na ngiti
Ng anak na halos di nakilala ang ama
O ina na wala sa tuwing kaarawan nila
Dadarating kaya ang araw na ito'y magiiba
Kung hindi ka sigurado mag-isip isip ka na
[Sheng Belmonte]
Napakaraming inhinyero dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Napakaraming karpintero dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Nagaabroad sila

[Gloc-9]
Mabuti kung mabuti ang kinakahinatnan
Ang kapalaran ng lahat nang nakipagsapalaran
Kahit nag-aalangan para lang sa kapakanan
Ng mahal sa buhay ang sugal ay tatayaan
Nasanlaan lahat ng kanilang pag-aari
Mababawi din naman yan ang sabi pagnayari
Ang proseso ng papeles para makasakay na sa eroplano
O barko kahit saan man papunta.
Basta kumita ng dolyar na ipapalit sa piso
Ang isa ay katumbas ng isang dakot ng mamiso
Ganyan ba ang kapalit ng buhay ng Pilipino
Lilisanin ang pamilya aamo kahit na sino
Gugutumin sasaktan malalagay sa piligro
Uuwing nasa kahon ni wala man lang testigo
Darating kaya ang araw na itoy magiiba
Kung hindi ka sigurado mag-isip isip ka na
[Sheng Belmonte
Napakaraming kasambahay dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Napakaraming labandera dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Nagaabroad sila

[Gloc-9]
Subukan mong isipin kung gaano kabigat
Ang buhat ng maleta halos hindi mo na maangat
Ihahabilin ang anak para 'to sa kanila
Lalayo upang magalaga ng anak ng iba
Matapos lamang sa kolehiyo matutubos din ang relo
Bilhin mo na kung anong gustong laruan ni angelo
Matagal pa kontrato ko titiisin ko muna 'to
Basta ang mahalaga ito'y para sa pamilya ko
[Sheng Belmonte
Napakaraming guro dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Napakaraming nurse dito sa amin
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Nagaabroad sila
(Gusto kong yumaman4x)
Napakaraming tama dito sa atin...
Ngunit bakit tila walang natira...

July is coming...

2011-06-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

June is about to end. The first day of July is about to arrive, and there's nothing to be happy about. Though I should be happy because my birthday is nearing, I don't seem to find enough reason to be, because I am still bothered with problems in my mind. For one thing, we still have financial problems in the family, and I don't think we can afford to have a big celebration on my 21st birthday. All my life, I have never experienced such a big celebration during my birthdays, (with the exception of my 1st birthday), and few months back I was planning and somewhat expecting to finally have a big one this year, which is supposed to be my first-ever birthday party since the time I learned to have wits. But from what I can see now, I think that isn't going to happen at all. Makes me sad somehow. I've been expecting a celebration in the family actually. Sigh...:(

Well anyways, its our choice whether to be happy on our birthdays or not, but I guess I'll try to be happy, even if this is my 21st birthday and it seems like there isn't going to be some kind of celebration or a party in the family. Perhaps the most important thing is, that I am so blessed by God that He has given me this life for 21 years and many more years to enjoy it. :)

Distress...

2011-06-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

"All at once, I cried so many teardrops, and at least a million fell..."

- Whitney Houston, All at Once

Here I am again at home, feeling so sad and bored...

But honestly, it's not the boredom here at home that's actually making be feel blue. I love being at home, because it is where I feel safe and sound with my family. The reason why I get sad when I am here at home the whole day rather, is because it brings into my mind the problems I am facing right now, as well as with our family. That's why I wanted to go out and breath in, so that at least I may not think about the problems too much. It's really sad when you feel that all the things are crashing down on you all at once. I've been feeling like this nowadays. I get so upset thinking about me not having been able to find a long-term job yet; of a family who has been expecting you to help support your financial needs in the household; of a good and loyal friend whom you can ask out to lend you money that you need for your living, but suddenly seems like your friend doesn't want to see you nowadays; and of a lover who lately makes you feel like not being given enough time and care anymore, and you just need to understand because you are not the number one priority, but the person's job.

It makes you wanna cry sometimes, and makes you wanna give up but you can't and you should not. Though I have a lot of reasons to be sad, their is always a rainbow after the rain. The most important thing to me right now, is to help in our family's financial needs, and when I'll be able to solve this problem, somehow it would already give a smile on my face, because that is actually our number one problem. I just don't know until when will I be able to get out of misery. I really don't know, and that is the saddest part of all. :(

Feeling so lonely...

2011-06-25T02:20:00.000-07:00

Today is Saturday and I feel so lonely here at home.

I am the only one who's left right here and I at the moment can hear nothing but the whirring sound of my room's ceiling fan. I feel sad and lonely because I'm not used to being here at home during Saturdays since I usually go out with friends and go to the mall. Plus the reality that you are the only one at home gives you more sadness. I am the person who doesn't want to be left alone. I never wanted to be alone, but what can I do? I have to stay home since there's no one I could ask to go to the mall with me, or watch movies, or whatever that gives me leisure. I'm quiet jealous with my sister going out today, and I'm just sitting right here facing my laptop for a several hours already. Though I could have all the chance to surf the net or check my Facebook and twitter accounts, or maybe watch TV in order for me to somehow be happy, still I still feel the loneliness around the house. But then, I guess life is not always happiness and leisure. Sometimes, we need to experience being sad and lonely. Of course, that's life. It's just that, I am not used to this situation where there's nobody to talk to or have fun with. I know I have to get used to times like this, but right now, there are still other things that bother my mind which makes me sad right now.

Aside from being alone, the reality that I do have financial problems, or perhaps the whole family has, gives me more reason to feel blue. I still haven't been accepted in a new freelance writing job, though I have already looked and applied lots of them. I keep on telling myself to be patient but as days pass by I getting more anxious and anxious. In addition, my mom thought that I already found a new online job, when in fact i am still looking for one. Sigh...Times like this makes me wanna curl up like a ball in bed and cry. I wanted to help our family financially, but as much as I wanted to, I cannot do anything yet. I still keep on waiting for the clients to respond to my application. As of now, the only thing I can do is to continue seeking help from God and to be patient for His blessings. Perhaps God has better plans for me on why these things are happening in our lives right now. I just hope and pray that it'd be too soon when our family could finally live a better life, gradually. Nonetheless, I still thank God for the millions of blessings He has given us all our lives.

Baby Abbey's day out @ McDonald's

2011-05-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

It was indeed an enjoyable day for Baby Abiguel, nicknamed "Abbey", my first niece, as she, her mom, her Ninang Roselyn and I went to McDonald's Limketkai to have our merienda and at the same time give Baby Abbey, at her sixth month, a fun time out of her comfort zone...

We enjoyed staying at Mcdo since it's a cool place and we get to have some chikka time with her mom and her Ninang Roselyn. Indeed, Baby Abbey also enjoyed a lot as we fed her with french fries, spaghetti and ice cream (Are these food even good for the baby? Nevermind.) and at the same time get to see many people around her. Also, it was her first time to go there. Not to mention, having a picture at Ronald McDonald's lap.=D

I finally have my own laptop!

2011-05-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

By the title itself, this is already a blog post!

After 4 years in college of dreaming of owning my very own laptop, my dream finally came true as I bought this laptop today - Asus A42F. I am so happy that I got to choose the perfect laptop that fits within my budget. By the look and feel of it, I definitely love it! Want to know the specs of Asus A42F? Read through:

Specifications

Processor & Cache Memory	Intel® Core™ i3-370M Processor 2.40GHz Processor
Operating System	Optional
Chipset	Mobile Intel® HM55 Express Chipset
Main Memory	2GB DDR3
Display	14" HD (1366x768) LED backlit
Video Graphics & Memory	Integrated Intel® GMA HD
Hard Drive	500GB,5400rpm
Optical Drive	DVD Super Multi
Card Reader	3 in 1 card reader, SD,MMC,MS
Video Camera	VGA web camera (Fixed type)
Fax/Modem/LAN/WLAN	Integrated 802.11 b/g/n
LED Status Indicator	Power-on/Suspend Battery Charging/full/low Storage device access Capital Lock Wireless on status indicator
Interface	1 x Headphone-out jack 1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor 3 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert 1 x HDMI
Hot Keys	Function Keys: Fn+F1 Suspend switch Fn+F2 WLAN switch Fn+F3 Access to the E-mail Fn+F4 Access to the Internet Fn+F5 Brightness down Fn+F6 Brightness up Fn+F7 LCD on/off Fn+F8 LCD/CRT switch display Fn+F10 Volume on/mute Fn+F11 Volume down Fn+F12 Volume up Fn+Space Power 4Gear Fn+C Splendid Fn+V Camera capture Fn+↑: Stop Fn+↓: Play/Pause Fn+ ←：Skip to Previous Track Fn+ →：Skip to Next Track
Audio	Built-in Azalia compliant audio chip, with 3D effect & full duplex Built-in speaker and microphone Altec Lansing® speakers SRS Premium Sound
Keyboard	ASUS 302mm keyboard integrated Numeric keypad 19mm full size key pitch
Battery Pack & Life	48.84WHrs, 4400 mAh, 3S2P 6 cells battery pack
AC Adapter	Output: 19 V DC, 3.42 A, 65W Input: 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal
Dimension & Weight	34.9 x 23.8 x 3.65 cm (W x D x H) 2.2 kg (with 6 cell battery)
Warranty & e-support	1-year limited global hardware warranty

Here are the images I took out of my brand-new laptop!

I am really so happy today that I have finally acquired my very own laptop. Now I wouldn't have any problems regarding my work since I can bring this anywhere that is a convenient place to do my online job. I can't wait to let my friends see this! It's certainly a cool and awesome laptop from Asus! Thank you Lord for making my wish come true!

My Cousins' Graduation

2011-04-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

Today was such a tiring (with all the photographer job) yet very memorable day indeed, not for me but for two important people in my life - my cousins. Finally they have successfully finished another chapter in their lives and are now ready to step on to another, more challenging chapter in their education as they both had their graduation rites today.

If you were wondering what's with the 'photographer job' I was trying to say earlier, well actually I was the photographer for my cousin's respective graduation which happened in one single day, but both events didn't happen at the same time though. My cousin Maurice Mae, who graduated in high school, had their baccalaureate mass and graduation ceremony in the morning.On the other hand, my cousin Jericho who graduated in elementary, had theirs in the afternoon. However, both their baccalaureate mass happened at the same time in two different places. I was supposed to wake up very early today to be able to capture the moments during their baccalaureate masses but then I failed to wake up early (damn). Well anyways, it was okay since I was able to manage taking shots in their graduation rites.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use a digital camera because our camera's batteries need to be replaced. We did not have enough money to buy two batteries, so I was left with no choice and I used my smartphone's camera instead. I'm glad it takes good shots with its 3.2-mega pixel camera.

During Maurice's graduation, only my sister got inside their gymnasium where there graduation rites were held, so I haven't taken any shots of Maurice while she was there. So sad. Good thing my sister used her phone camera to take shots instead. Great! I was only able to take shots after their graduation, but it was fine. At least we still managed to take shots and captured the event.

Maurice's graduation ended at about 12 noon, just in time for lunch and for the small celebration. After all our relatives enjoyed their lunch, it's high time to prepare for Jericho's graduation rites. At 1pm we were already heading to Jericho's school where their graduation rites will be held on their small gymnasium. I was able to capture the event's most important moments like his receiving of his diploma and as he marched on together with her mom.

I was happy to be able to help out with the shots for my cousins' graduation ceremonies. Though it was really tiring to wait for the right moments to capture, it was all worth it bacause of the smiles I have seen in their faces as well as with their families. To Maurice Mae G. Evilla and Jericho E. Janao, may you continue to strive hard in your educational battle and soar high to reach your dreams and ambitions. Congratulations!

My Orange and Bronze Google Experience

2011-03-12T20:16:00.000-08:00

Mr. Butch Landingin discussing about Google Technologies

I was definitely surprised, amazed and excited when I first heard Orange&Bronze Software Labs Inc. was going to have a seminar about Google Technologies in our school.

I was one of the lucky few who were able to join the seminar. Mr. Butch Landingin, our first resource speaker from O&B, discussed Google Technologies such as the Google App Engine, Google Maps and Android. Aside from that, Mr. Calin Martin D. Legaspi, also from O&B, interestingly discussed about Agile Software Development which a lot of us IT students learned so much from.

The seminar helped me understand how Google App Engine can help build web apps using the same system that powers Google applications. As a graduating student of Information Technology, this kind of information is very crucial for me to know and learn to easily get a job in the Information Technology industry.

Mr. Calin Martin D. Legaspi discussing Agile Software Development

I also find it fascinating how Google Maps made map navigation easier and more comprehensive than ever before. Additionally, I have learned how the Android had become the number one operating system for mobile phones today which is of great interest for many, including myself. And last but certainly not the least; I learned that Google is more than just the best search engine in the world. Google Technologies has proven to be one of the few biggest innovations of our generation. It uses the best and most powerful programming language in the world to run these new, spectacularly brilliant, and state-of-the-art technologies.

A Samsung mobile phone showing Google Maps

In a synopsis, the seminar made by Orange&Bronze opened my eyes to a whole different dimension of a new world, one that is more prepared and technologically sophisticated, a world where everyone can touch colors and make imaginations expand to new possibilities, a world where everyone wear smiles because of a life made practically easy and conveniently real.

More photos in our seminar:

Ressurected!

2011-02-25T16:22:00.000-08:00

After more than a month of staying idle here in blogger, at last I've finally managed to spare a time to make a new post once again!

I've been very very very busy in the past few weeks, doing our undergraduate thesis and at the same time working for my On-the-Job Training. I work 6 days a week from Mondays to Saturdays and during Sundays I work on with our thesis with my groupmates. That means I do not have even a single day for rest! Whew! That is why even if I have the chance to surf on the net (I usually do so during the night), I cannot manage to make a new post since my mind is already pre-occupied with doing other important tasks. Also, sometimes when I get home after a hard day's work, I am already very tired and sleepy to have the energy to turn on my personal computer and try to check my blog or make a new post.

But I'm glad my efforts paid off now, well at least almost all of it, since I am still not done with our thesis. However, I am glad that our project defense turned out successful. Right now, I am still not done with my tasks at school. I am still preparing all the requirements that I need in order for me to graduate this coming April 1, 2011. I need to make a documentation report of my OJT (even though I'm still not done yet), prepare at least five certificates of the seminars I have joined at school relating to my course (Information Technology), finalize our proposed system as well as our thesis documentation, have it approved for binding by the panelists during our project defense as well as by our college dean, and finally, print five softbounds of our project. That's all!

And the deadline for all these requirements? This coming Monday, February 28, 2011. So help me God!

Taking the chance to write...

2011-01-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

Here I am right now in my work area, just got back from my lunch break and currently taking a rest and getting the chance where I could write a new blog post. I've been here in Legacy Sales and Printing Press for more than 3 weeks already and for that time duration, I've been feeling more and more comfortable with the people, the environment, and the kind of work I have right here. I'm glad I do!

I have done a lot of job orders already, since the job orders they give me are not so difficult ones, so far!

I guess I only have two weeks more to stay here. Next week is the last week of January, and we, the Information Technology students in our university will be having our field trip/educational tour in Cebu and Bohol next month, and I'm getting excited already! Thus, I will be having my leave at work next week and will resume by the first day of February, so I will be ending up my OJT by the second week of next month. AJA to me!

Unexpected good news

2011-01-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

I went to work today past 1:30pm, sad because of a painful circumstance I had experienced yesterday, and the feeling it had brought still linger up to now. (I'm sorry but I won't tell the story anymore.) I'm supposed to start my duty at 8:30am, but i decided to work half-day instead because i felt week and preferred to stay in bed for long hours. I even got late when i arrived, (I'm supposed to enter work in the afternoon at 1pm sharp) because I don't have much motivation to do so. My heart was heavy as I climbed up the stairs to the second floor of the building to where my office is, I wasn't showing much of a happy face to my coworkers, though I tried to, so as to avoid them being skeptic about how I feel or why I have a heavy face. When I arrived at our work area, I was surprised to see that my PC is finally back in good condition. Somehow at that moment, I felt lighter on the in side. It was a pleasant surprise. My coworkers told me it was already fixed by the computer technician earlier in this morning. I realized that the technician reformatted my PC, which is the solution I thought in the first place was the best for my PC in order for it to be fixed. However, the operating system installed in my PC was Windows XP instead of Windows 7. I was expecting for a Win 7 OS, and the technician forgot to install a Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers which are now used essential to net surfers nowadays. Glad I got installers of both browsers, thus I installed them myself. Voila! I'm finally ready to use my original PC once again. Somehow, I was glad to know that there was a good news as i arrived at the office today, though I really feeling blue today, I prayed at the church after my OJT and thanked God for the unexpected surprises he has given me at the point where I felt so down.

"Thank you so much Lord Jesus, for not letting me down. As always."

An excruciating pain in the chest

2011-01-17T00:28:00.000-08:00

This is probably the shortest blog post I could ever write in my whole life...

All I want to say at this very hour and day is....

I WISH I'D DIE TODAY.

One of my favorite mellow love songs...

2011-01-12T05:25:00.000-08:00

I dedicate this meaningful and mellow song to someone special...you know who you are.

ALL I WANT IS YOU TODAY

by South Border

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

SOME THINGS WILL REMAIN

YET I ALWAYS HOPE AND PRAY

THAT I COULD CHANGE THE DAY

AND MAYBE FIND A WAY

TO MAKE YOU COME TO ME AND STAY

Chorus:

YESTERDAY DOESN'T MATTER

TOMORROW YOU MAY NOT EVER KNOW

(TOMORROW I JUST MIGHT BE GONE)

SO LISTEN TO ME NOW

AS I TRY TO SAY

THAT ALL I WANT IS YOU TODAY

IF YOU ONLY KNEW

WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE AWAY

HAVE YOU EVER FELT EVEN FOR A WHILE

SOMETHING'S MISSING IN YOUR LIFE

(Repeat Chorus)

THAT ALL I WANT IS YOU TODAY

IF YOU DON'T NEED ME ANYMORE

DON'T SAY IT, IF YOU DON'T LOVE ME ANYMORE

DON'T SHOW IT, BECAUSE THIS LIFE I HAVE IS SHORT

SO MAYBE YOU COULD TRY FOR NOW TO LOVE ME AGAIN

(Repeat Chorus)

ALL I WANT IS YOU TODAY

My dream DSLR camera for graduation!:)

2011-01-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

Weeeh!!! My graduation is nearing, and I could almost smell my toga...lolz....and if I were to receive gifts (hopefully there will be!) on that special day, I would definitely prefer to receive gadgets - cellphone, iPod, camera, and most especially laptop!

But out of all the gadgets, what I really preferred the most of receiving as a gift on my graduation is a DSLR Camera...and not just any DSLR camera, but this one!

So check it out!:)

The baby brother to the EOS 450D, the Canon EOS 1000D is the typical, almost-identical, but slightly less-powerful, version of that camera.

Design

Though it essentially uses the same body as the 450D, it shaves a couple of grams of the weight; it only weighs 450 grams. Its smooth, plastic body still feels a little on the cheap side, and we're not crazy about the grip. We can't quite put our finger on the reason; it's not especially shallow, and Canon has improved it over the 400D's by giving it a more rubbery-feeling cover. Still, we don't find it as comfortable to hold as most other dSLRs. Almost all the buttons lie under your right hand, and each feels slightly different so that you can grope them without looking. None require two-handed operation; when you push the button to change ISO, white balance, metering and so on, the menu persists while you navigate the options.

The biggest operational advantage the 1000D offers over competitors is My Menu, which, unlike some other features, it inherits from higher-end models. With My Menu you can build a go-to-list of the most frequently accessed menu settings — in our case, for instance, Format and Live View settings. However, like the 450D, the menus can be — irritatingly — a little inconsistent and sometimes dumb. For instance, you can change ISO sensitivity with either the dial or the navigation buttons, but can only navigate metering choices via the navigation buttons. Also, in some cases, when you have two columns to navigate, as with Picture Style settings, it doesn't let you navigate to the right or left; you must navigate all the way down the first column to get to the settings in the second.

But, we consider the AF indicators in the viewfinder the most annoying aspect of operating the 1000D (this was true in the 450D, as well). The AF indicators are tiny red dots that briefly flash when focus locks. They're neither persistent nor large enough to be easy to spot, so we frequently found ourselves having to prefocus several times to make sure that the spot was on the correct subject and that it was focused. As you can imagine, it slows shooting a bit. Is it more annoying than the faint focus lines Sony uses? We think so.

Features

For the most part, the 1000D offers a solid set of entry-level specs: 10-megapixel, APS-C-size, CMOS sensor (for Canon's traditional 1.6x focal-length multiplier) and 7-point user-selectable autofocus system. That falls behind the Nikon D3000's 11-point AF system and the 9-point AF in the Sony Alpha DSLR-A230. We also mark the switch from CompactFlash to SD/SDHC in the plus column. Also, like the 450D, the 1000D includes Canon's Auto Lighting Optimiser, which automatically adjusts contrast and brightness in case the image you captured isn't quite perfect. Introduced in the 40D, the Auto Lighting Optimiser is now available in all exposure modes and employs face detection to prevent the underexposure of backlit faces we complained about in the 400D. Remaining specifications are in line with the 450D. For example, shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/4000th of a second, with a flash sync speed of 1/200th of a second, and the camera employs a 35-zone TTL-metering system. Canon also offers the BG-E5 battery grip.

On the other hand, the 1000D lacks common perks Sony, Pentax, and Olympus include in their cameras, like in-body mechanical stabilisation and a wireless flash controller in the body — a feature that we occasionally find quite useful. The inclusion of an image-stabilising lens in some of the kits doesn't quite compensate, since additional optically stabilised lenses tend to cost more in the long run. The 1000D's sensitivity range also tops out at ISO 1600, whereas some others go to ISO 3200 (but those models generally don't have usable photo quality at that level). Though it offers a Live View shooting mode with contrast-detection AF, Live View's usefulness is limited without support from an articulating LCD, and it functions too slowly to be of any use with live subjects. Furthermore, all the manufacturers seem to incorrectly think that the equivalent of Canon's Picture Styles — custom contrast, sharpness saturation and colour tone — are more important in this market segment than the capability to save groups of custom exposure, white balance, metering, drive-mode settings, and so on. Our biggest peeve, though, is the lack of a spot meter — not even the huge four per cent spot from the 450D.

Another attribute of the 450D that the 1000D lacks is the Highlight Tone Priority mode, which helps preserve detail in the brightest portion of a scene. And the 1000D has a 2.5-inch LCD compared with the 450D's 3-inch version — the A200 and K200D have 2.7-inch LCDs

Image Quality

The 1000D's only really obvious advantage over the competition is its photo quality, which is quite good, especially at high ISO sensitivities. In general, colour and exposures are accurate (as accurate as you can get when the situation doesn't require a spot meter), it renders a relatively broad dynamic range, and the kit lens delivers sharp photos for its class.

source: http://www.cnet.com.au/canon-eos-1000d-339289627.htm

Although there are a lot of DSLR cameras nowadays which are better than this buddy, I won't settle for anything less or anything more. This one's just perfect for me, and I'm already contented with all it's features!

So right now, all I can do is to pray that mom and dad, or somebody else would really give me this one as a gift...(please lang Lord!...sana meron talaga.) I'm definitely craving to own one!!!

Damn…it’s broken!:(

2011-01-05T23:43:00.000-08:00

WARNING: You might find some parts of this post's content boring or uninteresting, since some terms used/mentioned are technical and/or IT-related.:)

I had my OJT today. At the start of my day, everything was fine….until the time when I came back to my work area and found out that there’s something wrong with my computer. “Tsk! How could this possibly be?” I thought. I just went out to take my lunch break, and then when I came back I would simply find out that it’s not working anymore?! I really don’t know what happened. I guess someone might have used it while I wasn’t around, sneaking and surfing the net while the coast is clear. Well actually, there is no problem with me when someone would’ve wanted to use my PC for a while. However, he or she should ask permission first. Now look at what happened…sheesh! Well I guess it was partly my fault for not having turned it off before I left. Anyways, what exactly happened is this:

When I went to my cubicle after taking my lunch, I found out my PC’s monitor is blank. (It must have shut itself down. That’s what usually happens when the PC hasn’t been used for a certain period of time, and if you made changes to that kind of setting to your PC. When you use it again and move the mouse or press any key on the keyboard, it automatically powers itself back again.) Though that’s what I expected to happen, it didn’t. I tried to move the mouse and pressed keys on the keyboard but nothing happened. I waited for a minute but still nothing happened, though I was sure enough that there was power running because the power led is green. Then after a few minutes, it finally came back to life, however the odd thing was that the system resumed itself instead of just displaying the logon screen. And when it resumed, everything was back to normal again, or at least that’s what I thought. I tried to open a browser to surf the net but it said the “Page cannot be displayed”. Then it dawned on me that my PC wasn’t receiving packets (technically another tem for data) from the internet connection, so I restarted my PC. Then, that was the time it started to operate abnormally. It kept on restarting itself over and over again. After it reached the “Starting Windows” screen, it restarted itself once more. Impatient, I shut down the PC and turned it on again. This time, the problem got worse! Though it didn’t go on that restarting loop anymore, after Windows had started, everything was dead blank! – A blank screen with only the cursor shown in the display monitor. Arrghh! What is wrong with you?!

I tried to fix it in whatever possible way I can, using my technical expertise as an IT student, but still the same problem persisted. I asked help from my coworker who is a computer Science graduate but he haven’t done anything to solve the problem. I was getting so worried at that time. I tried to restart and shut down and turned on my PC over and over again in hopes that it well work normally again, but still nothing happened. Feeling hopeless, I gave up. I used the vacant PC at the next cubicle instead, though I really don’t like it coz the PC worked so slow. But I have no choice, sigh.

The next day, I went to check my PC if it’s working fine now, but then still the problem was still there. I was sad and began to worry for my important files for my clients at work are all in there. “What am I gonna do?” I thought to myself. Don’t tell me I have to start all my works over again? My goodness! I came a long way already! Huhuhu.

Eventually, I did start all over again…one step at a time…coz I had no choice.:(

I wonder when and who will be able to fix my PC. My coworker told me their technician will fix it anyway, but she said that he only goes to the office once a week and the next time he will visit will be next week. Oh well, I guess I have to wait and suffer with that slowpoke PC for the meantime. Sigh.