April 29, 2007
Check out the photos of my niece Tinsel's 6th birthday celebration last weekend. My brother took most of them.
On Saturday (her actual birthday), we went for lunch at Burgoo in Gateway Mall which was followed up in the afternoon with a visit to Active Fun (at their branch in Fun Ranch, Pasig). Active Fun is essentially a blown-up version of a McDonald's "play place." My brother and I took turns accompanying the kids inside; we had to watch over Anton who was too small to defend himself against playground bullies. (Interestingly enough, the "no-play" adult pass is cheaper than a kiddie pass. But when you follow kids around, you have no choice but to play along with them. The adult pass is unlimited too!)
Tinsel was very, very excited to go there. I was very skeptical about the appeal of such a place at first, but having experienced it first-hand, I must say that I probably had more fun than the kids! This is a video of me and Anton on the giant slide:
And here is a photo of Tinsel and Anton in the playground:
On Sunday, we had a kiddie party at their home with her friends. Notice how incredibly pink the party was! This is the birthday girl looking pretty in pink:
On Saturday (her actual birthday), we went for lunch at Burgoo in Gateway Mall which was followed up in the afternoon with a visit to Active Fun (at their branch in Fun Ranch, Pasig). Active Fun is essentially a blown-up version of a McDonald's "play place." My brother and I took turns accompanying the kids inside; we had to watch over Anton who was too small to defend himself against playground bullies. (Interestingly enough, the "no-play" adult pass is cheaper than a kiddie pass. But when you follow kids around, you have no choice but to play along with them. The adult pass is unlimited too!)
Tinsel was very, very excited to go there. I was very skeptical about the appeal of such a place at first, but having experienced it first-hand, I must say that I probably had more fun than the kids! This is a video of me and Anton on the giant slide:
And here is a photo of Tinsel and Anton in the playground:
On Sunday, we had a kiddie party at their home with her friends. Notice how incredibly pink the party was! This is the birthday girl looking pretty in pink:
February 23, 2007
I've been spotted on YouTube! Our team in the 2005 ACM-ICPC World Finals (held in Shanghai) is in the freakin' thumbnail of the video below. We're the three guys in the bright Ateneo-blue shirts. From left to right, that's Allan Espinosa, myself, and Miguel Arguelles (who's actually hidden in the thumbnail). That's 0:46 into the video (or 0:48 from the end). Watch our 2 seconds of YouTube fame!
And here in this second video, I've been spotted again! This time, from the 2006 ACM-ICPC World Finals in San Antonio. I have a cameo role for another 2 seconds starting at 0:59 into the video (1:32 from the end).
...Yes, I am absolutely sure that those are my hands that are on the keyboard, and that that is my watch. I confirmed it by observing how my wrists and hands look like while typing. At first I was doubtful that it was me because I usually take my watch off during programming competitions (it gets in the way, you know). But then again, them hands were typing quite slowly so I figured it could've been during the practice session or in the Java Challenge (we placed 6th!) where we weren't in any rush.
And here in this second video, I've been spotted again! This time, from the 2006 ACM-ICPC World Finals in San Antonio. I have a cameo role for another 2 seconds starting at 0:59 into the video (1:32 from the end).
...Yes, I am absolutely sure that those are my hands that are on the keyboard, and that that is my watch. I confirmed it by observing how my wrists and hands look like while typing. At first I was doubtful that it was me because I usually take my watch off during programming competitions (it gets in the way, you know). But then again, them hands were typing quite slowly so I figured it could've been during the practice session or in the Java Challenge (we placed 6th!) where we weren't in any rush.
November 29, 2006
This is what I've been working my ass off for the past week. It was shown at our quarterly HP Philippines coffee talk yesterday. It was one of five presentations (all videos) done by new-hires from July to September, and our video won the new-hires presentation contest! The theme given to us was "Halloween before Christmas". Watch it, rate it, comment on it.
Now I can get back to my real job!
Now I can get back to my real job!
September 26, 2006
If you are a fan of basketball, then I am sure you will enjoy watching this video. This is the last 23 seconds of Game 1 of the UAAP Season 69 Men's Basketball Finals (Ateneo versus UST).
I tuned into the game on TV just in time to catch the fourth quarter of this match. Those dying seconds had the most amazing exchange of plays I've ever seen. I still get goosebumps every time I watch that brilliant last-second play arranged by Norman Black. The Blue Eagles executed the play just as their coach had drawn out. Had Doug Kramer missed that winning shot, he would be universally lambasted in the press and on the Internet. And the controversial backcourt violation call on JC Intal would become even more crucial. Instead, Kramer's a hero and the refs won't have to face the jury.
As much as I enjoy watching that game-winning play, my favorite scene from this clip was in the last timeout, when Norman Black goes "Uhh...", turns and points to Ford Arao, and says "You're out of the game." The look on Arao's face was like "What the... aww man!" That was hilarious!
Go Ateneo! One big fight!
I tuned into the game on TV just in time to catch the fourth quarter of this match. Those dying seconds had the most amazing exchange of plays I've ever seen. I still get goosebumps every time I watch that brilliant last-second play arranged by Norman Black. The Blue Eagles executed the play just as their coach had drawn out. Had Doug Kramer missed that winning shot, he would be universally lambasted in the press and on the Internet. And the controversial backcourt violation call on JC Intal would become even more crucial. Instead, Kramer's a hero and the refs won't have to face the jury.
As much as I enjoy watching that game-winning play, my favorite scene from this clip was in the last timeout, when Norman Black goes "Uhh...", turns and points to Ford Arao, and says "You're out of the game." The look on Arao's face was like "What the... aww man!" That was hilarious!
Go Ateneo! One big fight!
Labels: :D, Ateneo, basketball, UAAP, videos
September 07, 2006
(This entry will explain why I wasn't able to blog yesterday.)
Today was my first ever "coffee talk" meeting as a member of HP's Applications Development and Solution Integration Team, or ADSI. The ADSI coffee talk is a monthly meeting (there is a quaterly coffee talk for all of HP Global Delivery Philippine Center, or GDPC) where announcements are made and issues are raised. Also, it's the time for new-hires to be formally introduced to the whole team.
Yesterday afternoon, the organizers informed us that all new-hires are required to show off their talents. Meaning, the coffee talk will be the venue of our first-ever presentation, with less than a day to prepare. They split us up into three groups. Paul, Andrew, and I (new-hires under Jason) were grouped together while the rest were divided into two groups of five each. We decided to make up for our shortage of manpower by exerting maximum effort. And we did. In fact, we probably overdid it.
One group decided to do a simple pun-ny guitar and song number ("HP-cially for You"), while the other did a comedic photo slideshow in Powerpoint with voice bubbles and background music. On the other hand, my group (the "Tres Amigos") would not settle for anything less than a full-fledged video complete with video transitions, full voice acting, sound effects, and music to match the mood. Since we didn't have time to shoot lots of footage, we just took still-photos and put them all together using Windows Movie Maker. (It was a good thing I chose to bring the IXUS i Zoom yesterday.)
Our 4-minute video was about a HP new-hire's first day of work. He falls asleep less than an hour into his new job while reading boring online learning material. He wakes up hours later finding himself all alone in an abandoned unfinished office (shot in the 7th floor yesterday, just before it opened today), with no Internet and phone connections. He explores around a bit and finds himself trapped... in the 13th floor (cue psycho-killer music from "Psycho"). After finding this out, he gets woken up, for real this time, and discovers that it was all a dream. He has learned his lesson: Never fall asleep on the job. Paul and Andrew were quick to "volunteer" me for the lead role, saying that they couldn't imagine anyone but me playing the part. Of course, I was quick to accept because I couldn't miss the chance to make myself known, even if I did have to do plenty of embarrassing scenes.
To make an already long story shorter, our presentation was a hit with the ADSI people. Only after all that embarrassment did I realize that we did an amazing job, especially with our limited time and resources. I was proud of the fact that we put in a tremendous amount of effort not because of a potential reward (there was none), but because we just wanted to do our best.
I'm really sorry but I can't share the film online; HP Confidential, you know. However, I can show you this shot (this is after I realize that the phone line is dead:
Today was my first ever "coffee talk" meeting as a member of HP's Applications Development and Solution Integration Team, or ADSI. The ADSI coffee talk is a monthly meeting (there is a quaterly coffee talk for all of HP Global Delivery Philippine Center, or GDPC) where announcements are made and issues are raised. Also, it's the time for new-hires to be formally introduced to the whole team.
Yesterday afternoon, the organizers informed us that all new-hires are required to show off their talents. Meaning, the coffee talk will be the venue of our first-ever presentation, with less than a day to prepare. They split us up into three groups. Paul, Andrew, and I (new-hires under Jason) were grouped together while the rest were divided into two groups of five each. We decided to make up for our shortage of manpower by exerting maximum effort. And we did. In fact, we probably overdid it.
One group decided to do a simple pun-ny guitar and song number ("HP-cially for You"), while the other did a comedic photo slideshow in Powerpoint with voice bubbles and background music. On the other hand, my group (the "Tres Amigos") would not settle for anything less than a full-fledged video complete with video transitions, full voice acting, sound effects, and music to match the mood. Since we didn't have time to shoot lots of footage, we just took still-photos and put them all together using Windows Movie Maker. (It was a good thing I chose to bring the IXUS i Zoom yesterday.)
Our 4-minute video was about a HP new-hire's first day of work. He falls asleep less than an hour into his new job while reading boring online learning material. He wakes up hours later finding himself all alone in an abandoned unfinished office (shot in the 7th floor yesterday, just before it opened today), with no Internet and phone connections. He explores around a bit and finds himself trapped... in the 13th floor (cue psycho-killer music from "Psycho"). After finding this out, he gets woken up, for real this time, and discovers that it was all a dream. He has learned his lesson: Never fall asleep on the job. Paul and Andrew were quick to "volunteer" me for the lead role, saying that they couldn't imagine anyone but me playing the part. Of course, I was quick to accept because I couldn't miss the chance to make myself known, even if I did have to do plenty of embarrassing scenes.
To make an already long story shorter, our presentation was a hit with the ADSI people. Only after all that embarrassment did I realize that we did an amazing job, especially with our limited time and resources. I was proud of the fact that we put in a tremendous amount of effort not because of a potential reward (there was none), but because we just wanted to do our best.
I'm really sorry but I can't share the film online; HP Confidential, you know. However, I can show you this shot (this is after I realize that the phone line is dead:
Labels: embarrassment, friends, HP, videos, work
August 31, 2006
Move over, Jerry Yan. There's a new idol from Taiwan and he plays some wicked guitar (and he has long hair too).
His name is Jerry Chang, or "JerryC". The song he's playing is a kick-ass rock version of Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D, a classic classical piece. He wrote the arrangement himself and if you want to rock as hard as Jerry, you can visit his website and pick up the tabs and the background music track there (in the "Lessons" section). I guarantee that after listening to it a few times, you will get a serious case of Last Song Syndrome. You can download a WMV version of the video here.
Ironically, a guy named "funtwo" was the one who got famous on YouTube (most discussed video of all time!) for performing JerryC's "Canon Rock" arrangement. The New York Times did an article on him which revealed his true identity: Jeong-Hyun Lim from Korea.
There's been some serious JerryC-versus-funtwo debate about whose performance was better, but I couldn't care less (though I feel that JerryC is better just because he's the original). I just wish I could at least play the chorus.
His name is Jerry Chang, or "JerryC". The song he's playing is a kick-ass rock version of Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D, a classic classical piece. He wrote the arrangement himself and if you want to rock as hard as Jerry, you can visit his website and pick up the tabs and the background music track there (in the "Lessons" section). I guarantee that after listening to it a few times, you will get a serious case of Last Song Syndrome. You can download a WMV version of the video here.
Ironically, a guy named "funtwo" was the one who got famous on YouTube (most discussed video of all time!) for performing JerryC's "Canon Rock" arrangement. The New York Times did an article on him which revealed his true identity: Jeong-Hyun Lim from Korea.
There's been some serious JerryC-versus-funtwo debate about whose performance was better, but I couldn't care less (though I feel that JerryC is better just because he's the original). I just wish I could at least play the chorus.
August 25, 2006
(Nope, I'm not referring to myself.)
Believe it or not, this guy is a Filipino. Here's the proof. Well, he's half-Filipino, but we'll proudly claim anyone famous with even a tiny drop of Pinoy blood as one of our own (sad, but true).
Ryan Patricio's the current world record holder for solving a 3x3x3 Rubik's cube with one hand. That's the record-setting 20-second attempt in the video. Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy! More about Ryan here.
I pride myself in being an above-average Rubik's cube solver (50 seconds on average), but I'd already be in Rubik's cube nirvana if I could do 20 seconds with two hands (my current record is 30 seconds, and that was a fluke). I ought to buy a good cube online because the ones available here in the Philippines just plain suck; you can't turn a face with just one finger.
Unsurprisingly, Ryan ascribes to the Fridrich method of cube-solving, arguably the fastest method available. I don't use the Fridrich method myself, and neither do I plan to. I use a personalized version of what is simply known as the "X method". Don't try to Google for it; you'll never find it published anywhere. I just learned it in high school from a classmate, who learned it from another classmate, who learned it from... well you get the drift.
Nobody knows the origins of the X method, and it has very few living practicioners. But that's gonna change once I tell the whole world about it. I'll be detailing the X method here one day, exclusively for the RubeTube (now you understand what's with my blog's title), so that you too can do the cube the "X" way.
Anyone know of tools for creating Rubik's cube diagrams?
Believe it or not, this guy is a Filipino. Here's the proof. Well, he's half-Filipino, but we'll proudly claim anyone famous with even a tiny drop of Pinoy blood as one of our own (sad, but true).
Ryan Patricio's the current world record holder for solving a 3x3x3 Rubik's cube with one hand. That's the record-setting 20-second attempt in the video. Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy! More about Ryan here.
I pride myself in being an above-average Rubik's cube solver (50 seconds on average), but I'd already be in Rubik's cube nirvana if I could do 20 seconds with two hands (my current record is 30 seconds, and that was a fluke). I ought to buy a good cube online because the ones available here in the Philippines just plain suck; you can't turn a face with just one finger.
Unsurprisingly, Ryan ascribes to the Fridrich method of cube-solving, arguably the fastest method available. I don't use the Fridrich method myself, and neither do I plan to. I use a personalized version of what is simply known as the "X method". Don't try to Google for it; you'll never find it published anywhere. I just learned it in high school from a classmate, who learned it from another classmate, who learned it from... well you get the drift.
Nobody knows the origins of the X method, and it has very few living practicioners. But that's gonna change once I tell the whole world about it. I'll be detailing the X method here one day, exclusively for the RubeTube (now you understand what's with my blog's title), so that you too can do the cube the "X" way.
Anyone know of tools for creating Rubik's cube diagrams?
Labels: amazing, Philippines, Rubik's cube, videos
