ICTD in Baguio City

Above photos were not just taken for the purpose of this blog entry, hehehe. They were, of course, taken to prove that there exist a harmonious togetherness among ICTD* members. Featured dog in the first image is Douglas Jr., a St. Bernard. May Bukas Pa caption on the second one was an unpaid publicity for Kapamilya's new teleserye. hehehe. Note: you can click the images for bigger/clearer view.

Oh,well! Despite of the fact that I was sick, I still have what it takes to face the camera!

Bits-Bits-Bits

I am going to start posting bits-bits-bits as what I did in my old blogs. Bits-bits-bits are things/events/comments/opinions/etc. written in 2-5 sentences, usually in a news or feature lead format. First edition of Bits-bits-bits this time are the following:

BIRTHDAY
My youngest sister,Catherine, just turned 16 last February 6. She is currently a senior in my Alma Mater. When I was able to talk to her before her birthday, she mentioned her plan to rent a dress for her much-awaited prom night come Feb. 19. (mukhang sagot ni Kuya ang renta!)

EARLYWATCH
On Feb. 13, another EarlyWatch Session is set by me and the Singaporean/Malaysian SAP personnel to perform maintenance and system health check. Preparations like data collection have been started and hopefully be success.

DILEMMA
Because of being still sick and the temperature in Baguio City is cold, I am thinking of not to attend our department's outing scheduled on Feb.13-15. We will again reside for at most 3days and 2 nights at the Ayala Cottage. If I fail to convince my body to cooperate, I might miss the fun (and the expenses). The dilemma of health vs. outing. *sigh*

2 YEARS
Two years after we lost our mother last Feb. 11, 2007, the unity we have as siblings keeps stronger. We help each other amidst personal desires. I, as my sister reminded me, offered mass for the soul of our mom last Feb. 8.

UPGRADE
And soon after the rigid tests and sleepless homogeneous system copies, SAP upgrade and GO LIVE commences on Feb. 20. This 4-day-activity (or 5days) requires: alertness and presence of mind, proper documentation, and I guess, minimum sleep! Something to watch out for is who will emerge working and who will just dilly-dally.

WINNER
New WASSSLAI Board of Trustees members were selected on an election conducted last Feb. 04. The five candidates out of nine hopefuls who achieved most favors were:Tim Correa, Joey Cadorna, Don de Ausen, Jeric Sevilla and Esteban.

TROPHY
This month, I gained a bronze trophy for the game Imperial Exam in Neopets.com. Along with it is my goal to turn gold next time.

VALENTINE
I have no reason to not ce-love-rate it. If I will go to Baguio, it is a blue valentine. But if I wont make it with my officemates, it will be a grey one.

Opportunity 8 Years Ago

02-04-2001- this date brought breakthrough to me as a dreamer.

Rewind 8 years back: 10AM, I was watching TV (black and white), unprepared and have not fix myself yet, when my classmates, composed of all girls, passed by the house to inform me that they are heading to the exam venue.

"Halika na Rod, sabay-sabay na tayo." said Jenny when she was trying to convince me to go with them that early. "E, ang aga pa, ano'ng gagawin ko 'dun? 'Di pa ako kumain. Una na lang kayo, nanonood pa 'ko ng LG quiz e." That time was Picture Puzzle portion already and I was giving an answer while trying to shoo them away.

After the one-hour show, the lunch was ready and as I was trying to do my preparations, Nanay asked, "Akin, man-examine ka o andi? Linma la ra may kaklasim."I answered her nicely and prepared, and headed to Pangasinan National HS.

DOST Scholarship exam started 1PM and with relaxed mind, I took each questions seriously. As I carefully follow instructions, I whispered to myself, "This is it! This is my opportunity." All items in the test were all items I enjoyed solving. From memory test to escape-from-a-volcano test (where you need to follow instructions); from mathematical and algebraic tests to sequence/patterns analogy; from verbal relationship, reading comprehension up to linguistics (my favorite part which I enjoyed the most!). I admit how I just got bored in the Personality test part, where questions relative to time management, skills enhancement, and prioritization were asked.

"How do you celebrate a simple personal success?" was one of the questions. My answer: Treat myself for a scope of ice cream. (which I stand to until now)

I slept early that night considering the new week that was about to start. I still have to prepare myself to battle against my ego. I haven't stopped with my mission to regain what I rightfully own---being the top senior. That night was a relief with hope and prayers.

That opportunity, I knew was God's way to bless me and my family that on 04-02-2001 (look at the date), the result was out in the broadsheets. Fortunately, out of 10 hopefuls from our school, I emerged as the sole passer---and was under BS category(4-5 year course)! With that, alot of things have changed. From a simple-teaching-course-dream in a state university to a techie-computer-course in the Region top IT school located in Dagupan City.

Next things that happened was when my parents received the telegram informing them that I did it! Mellow-dramatic that was but need I say more? Then, the signing of contract in DOST office when Tatay and I walked the whole Maramba Blvd(?). And then the most anticipated Summer Orientation and Enrichment Program (SOEP) in La Union, a month-long college-preparedness program by the DOST Region I.

There were some detractors who challenged my family to support my entry for Computronix College to try to maintain the scholarship but of course, 'di kami nagpa-apekto. And so, one great college life started. Nakapag-aral na ako, may pera pa ako. Salamat sa Diyos at sa DOST.

Masaklap Ang Mga Naganap

'Di alintana ang mga sanga-sangang trapiko sa mga daang aming tinahak tungo sa Cuneta Astrodome noong Linggo, Enero 25, masuportahan lamang ang naghihingalong koponang nais kong makapasok para sa kampeonato. Desidido akong mapanood ang laro dahil sa bukod sa iyon ay libre, magkakaroon pa ako ng pagkakataon upang makita nang malapitan ang mga paborito kong manlalaro ng SMB dahil sa courtside ang puwesto namin. At isa pa'y first-time na sa Pasay ako makakapanood.

Dahil nga sa kamalasang tinamasa sa daan pa lamang, ikalawang yugto na nga ng laro ang inabutan ng mga umaasang sina JP,gf ni JP na si Len, kapatid ni Len, Frankie at ako. Dahil nga sa kamalasang iyon, ang SMB ay nabigo sa 116-115 iskor. Puwede naman kasi silang matalo ng tambakan, kaso kung di ba naman malas e, isang puntos lamang ang naghiwalay sa pag-asa at kabiguan. Haaay, I said, blame it to the coach. haha.

Kumain kami sa Nato's sa may Kamuning nung pauwi at ako naman ang solong nagtamasa ng mga di kanais-nais na pangyayari. Kung ano ang mga ito ay di ko na lamang muna babanggitin sapagkat maging sa bahay na aking tinutuluyan ay sunud-sunod nang nangyari ang mga di inaasahan.

Kinaumagahan, 26, habang ako'y balisa pang naghahabol ng oras upang makapaghanda sa buong araw, naulinigan ko ang aking Ate na kinakausap ang mga kapamilya namin sa probinsiya. 'Di ko na inusisa ang mga detalye ngunit alam kong may problema.

Ang buong araw ng Lunes ay mabuti naman. Nagpunta kami ni Sir Dani sa Pasig BA para ayusin ang problema ng isang kahera sa paglilimbag (printing problem). Ika-10 na noon nung umalis kami kaya nataon din na nanananghalian na ang mga empleyado nung dumating kami. Nagawa naman namin ang aming pakay. Isang ordinaryong araw maliban sa kantiyaw ni Sir Donald, "sabi ko sa inyo e,wag na kayong manood, walang kwentang laban 'yun. 'tsaka sinabi ko na sa inyo, dapat guwardiyahan niyo si Cardona."

Pagbalik ko ng bahay ay inurirat ko na sa Ate ko ang narinig kong problema nung umaga. Nagdulot sa akin ng lungkot at pagtataka ang balitang ninakawan sila ng mga wallet, cellphone, pabango, at kung anu-ano pa. Nagpaplano na kaming magpadala uli. Sa gabing 'yon ay naayos ko na rin ang gusot na naidulot ng panonood ng PBA.

Martes, isa na namang masaklap na pangyayari ang naganap. Maliban sa 'di ako pinayagang sa basement ng main building mag-opisina para lumipat mula data center office, naging kulay-abo rin ang kinasadlakan ko sa mga pagpupulong. Higit na nung kakain na ako. Mainit na ang ulo ko noon dahil na rin sa gutom ay natuklasan kong wala pala ang inorder kong pagkain. Napikon din ako sa pang-aasar ni Ate Melda sa pag-aakalang pagkain ko yun at hindi kay JP. Kaya nung napuno na ang bangang may kumukulong tubig, isang malutong na "Tanga" ang nasambit ko sa isang nakatatanda. Lubos kong dinibdib ang pagsisisi 'pagkat di ko naman talaga sinasadyang sabihin 'yun at 'di ko kinalakihan ang mga ganung salita. Napuno lang ako,oo, maaaring ganun nga, ngunit mali pa rin ang aking ginawa. Naging maayos naman ang aking paghingi ng tawad sa kanya subalit sa likod ng aking isipan, di ko na mababago ang aking nagawa.

Kinahapunan bago umuwi, dumating ang boss ko upang magpapirma sa amin ng PPE. Nakita ko ang gradong ibinigay sa akin. Siyempre, okey naman ang binigay nilang marka. Ngunit 'di ko napigil ang sarili ko na sabihin sa kanya na mas okey kung hindi ganun ang binigay sa akin. Dahil na rin sa pirmado na iyon ni Ma'am Nuesa, di ko na pinilit na ilabas ang aking mga iniisip. Pumirma na lamang ako at nagpaalam.

Ang saklap-saklap naman ng mga nakaraang araw ko. Buti na lang at nakakuha ako ng medical certificate kaya heto ako't sa bahay nagsusulat ng entry. Lalasapin ko na lang ang libreng dalawang araw na nirekomenda sa akin ng doktor upang makapagpahinga.

Nagdedeliryo Na

Right now, I am at my lowest strength. I don't want to feel this way. I am fighting against these complications.

• Sick. After a bed-resting-3-day-leave, I haven't fully recovered yet. Even more sick because of stress and what not. Also been drowsed in a lot of dilemmas lately.
• Cough. I guess, I got a new job! Huzzah! Similar to a dog, i can make sounds when I am barking. I am promoted from being a Systems Administrator (SAP Basis) to tada! being a BARK-er.
• Work. My environment is compared to a city that never cared for the Mother Earth. It makes me sceam, "ayoko naaaaa!". Irritated, maybe because of being ill, but hey, the quarterback yesterday made me say to myself, "sumusobra na naman na!" Ewan ko ba kung bakit natatagalan ko ang ganitong mga eksena. Makes me feel not to attend any meetings again. Buti na lang, Mickey and Rodette emceed the "Viva!"
• Rating. The Performance Evaluation sheets and their contents were not discussed this time. Hmm.. makes me wonder how it was related to the sound I heard during the meeting. *sigh* I'll just wait what will happen next.
• Look and feel. This activity today is part of my on-going project, SAP Technical Upgrade. This is a predecessor of more activities lined up next week and hopefully be finished next month. The said event provides me more problems. Stressing din pala 'to. Ayoko na talaga!!!
• BCD. Life they say is from B to D. Between them is definitely C. But if B stands for Birth and D for Death, will it be as definite as it may seem if C=Choice?

Nagdedeliryo na nga yata talaga ako. I'm very down, physically, emotionally, morally. Kaya ko pa kaya? Saklolo!