Developer. Programmer. Computer Scientist.

New blog

2012-02-12T12:07:00.002+08:00

I recently migrated to a new blog. So just go to this blog.jpbalb.in to access my blog.

Short posts

2012-01-01T22:11:00.002+08:00

Last few months, my posts are just composed of short text and images. I don't know but I have the thoughts of what to write but I do not have the condition to write it. This post is just an example of what I stated. This is a short post.

2012 is my startup year.

2011-12-31T19:20:00.003+08:00

2011 is really a great year! But I know 2012 will be a better year.

Next year will be my startup year. I will start or pursue some startups this 2012. I hope one of my startup plans will push me through success.

What will happen?

To be continued...

Really. 2011 is a great year.

2011-12-04T12:45:00.003+08:00

It's December 4 today. Coincidentally, it's been exactly 11 months since I said why 2011 is a great year. You know what? 2011 is a great year. Really!

According to my blog post 11 months ago, I am looking forward for some few things. Amazingly, they happened!

First, graduation. I recently graduated. I still didn't blog about it but I am planning to. I now have my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with specialization in Software Technology degree. Good right?

Free times. I enjoyed my free times this year. I am with my friends in majority of those free times. With it, our relationship becomes better. Also, I became close with a friend. And our relationship was taken to the next level. See below. :)

Boyfriends for my girlfriends. This partially happened. It is because not all of my girl friends got a boyfriend. I think my friend that now have a boyfriend is very lucky! HE HAS AN AWESOME BOYFRIEND! Well, they are both lucky. My friend is also awesome and very cute too! :)

Company, business, or job. I am pursuing my MS degree, but I have a job. They are providing us scholarship and stipend. It is a hassle sometimes to study while working, but it can be managed. I am also going there to have a business or company. Few more months and I think I'll be there.

Girlfriend. I now have a girlfriend. 'Nuff said. She's my friend that I told above. Teehee!

Sooo, I will just reuse the ending of my blogpost 11 months ago...

That's it. 2012 is a great year. So replace your calendar. Leave all your sadness behind. And turn your life into the new page.

2011 is a great year, but I am sure that 2012 is a greater year!

Even though it is maybe the end of the world. Enjoy!

Pisay

2011-11-27T16:09:00.003+08:00

I just watched a video on my friend's Facebook page. It was about Philippine Science High School. The video shows random students with random questions. Some questions are striking, but some are funny like...

Bababa ba?

Lumilipad ba si Jollibee?

I think the video is about curiosity and promoting the school.

Well as the video ends, application date for Pisay was shown. Then, I remembered back in those days where I am searching a school for high school. Philippine Science High School was one of my choices. I managed to passed the first exam but unfortunately not in the second screening.

Before, it was nothing to me. I did not know about Pisay back then until I reached college.

"Sayang at di ako naka pasa sa Pisay." That always came up in my mind whenever I know a student from Pisay. They always excel in class. They know what to do. They are bright students. I admire those students from Pisay. They are very good.

Yes, such a good life.

2011-10-26T20:42:00.006+08:00

You may want to ask what is happening to my life.

Well, I recently graduated with a BS Computer Science with specialization in Software Technology. Such an awesome course right? Yes it is, and I really learned a lot. About my graduation, I will just blog about it in later time.

Currently, I pursuing into graduate school taking up MS Computer Science. Why? Of course, to learn more and also because of the scholarship. Yes, I am studying right now for free.

How? I'm working for Dimension Data. They are paying our tuition and also giving us a stipend. Yes, I am earning money. How much? Let us say that it is more than I need.

Awesome right? Yes.

Sooo, I am still 19 years old. I am currently studying to broaden my knowledge. I am earning more than I need. I have a girlfriend. I have a happy family. Yes, I am living a good life.

And, I'm not done yet. I still have dreams to finish and plans to pursue.

Coke Light

2011-10-09T15:33:00.004+08:00

Maraming version ang Coke. May regular, may zero, may light at may cherry pa nga ata. Ang pinaka favorite ko sa mga yun ay ang Coke Light.

Ang lasa ng Coke Light ay tamang tama lang para sa akin. Yung tamis ay sakto lang, na may konting tabang. Kaso ako lang ata ang taong may gusto sa lasa nito. Sabi ng aking mga nakakusap, ang tabang daw. Parang walang lasa. Pero yun nga ang gusto ko dun! Di kasi ako mahilig sa masyadong matamis, kaya okay sa akin ang medyo matabang.

Kaso nga lang, hindi ata lahat ng restaurant ay nagtitinda ng Coke Light. At yung ibang restaurant pa ay expired ang natitindang Coke Light. Sa limang restaurant ata na napuntuhan ko ngayong linggo, tatlo ang may expired na Coke Light. Di ko naman sila masisisi. Talagang walang umoorder ng Coke Light kaya naiiwan lang na nakastock sa kanilang refrigerator at naeexpire.

Buti nalang, nung kumain ulit kami sa restaurant na nakitaan ko na expired na Coke Light, hindi na expired ang naibigay nila sa akin. *clap clap clap* Siguro nung sinabi ko na expired na ang Coke Light nila ay tinapon na nila yun lahat at bumili na ng bago. Tama lang.

Oo nga palaaa, alam ko ang lasa ng expired na Coke. Pero hindi pa ako nakakatikim ng expired na Coke Light. Nalalaman ko lang talaga na expired sila. Instincts kumbaga.

Kaya kung balak niyong umorder ng Coke Light, tingnan muna lagi ang expiration date sa ilalim ng lata.

NullPointer.ph

2011-09-27T20:07:00.004+08:00

I've been searching for tech startups here in the Philippines. Using some resources, I managed to find a handful of startup information here in our country. An awesome thing that I discovered is this NullPointer.ph.

NullPointer.ph is like a StackOverflow that is localized in our country. It is also a question and answer site that also runs in Stack Exchange engine.

Well, they have a decent community in which you can ask different programming topics, or technology related stuffs.

Why no try it now? Register, and ask question!

Employees?

2011-09-20T23:04:00.002+08:00

Facebook started with less than 5 employees.

Twitter started with 4 founders.

Tumblr currently has 50 employees.

Instagram was developed by 2 people.

Foursquare has employed 70 people.

Posterous got 9 employees.

Dropbox was first coded by a single person.

Bitcasa has 5 people working on it.

Kiip has 15 plus their 19 year old CEO.

They have few people working but still considered as successful. Then it is not about the workforce.

Big companies are vampires?

2011-09-18T16:52:00.003+08:00

This! So having a startup is better.

Picture from Stuff No One Told Me.

The Tales of Not Being a MOTA

2011-09-07T22:31:00.006+08:00

Guys, hindi pala tayo nag MOTA noh. Boo to that. Yung mahigit isang taon nating plano at pangarap, hindi natin nagawa. Malapit na tayo eh, natitikman na natin ang ginto. Pero certificate lang ang naiuwi natin.

Oo, masaya naman ako na nakaabot tayo ng ganito kalayo. At nakaabot tayo dun dahil sa mga paghihirap natin. Nanominate tayo eh. Ninominate tayo ni Sir Borgz at ng ating mga panelists dahil tiwala sila sa nagawa natin. Take note, nagawa natin.

Di ko na masyadong inusisa kung bakit wala tayong nakuhang award. Ang sabi niyo lang sa akin ay hindi nasunod ang testing na gusto ng mga judges. Well, wala na tayo magagawa dun. Hindi tayo nakakuha ng award hindi dahil mali ang ginawa natin, kundi dahil di natin nasunod ang dapat na gusto nila. Wala tayong maling ginawa. May hindi lang tayo nagawa.

Ang laki, ganda at possibilities ng system natin ay parang hindi nakita at nabali wala dahil sa hindi natin nagawa.

Sayang. Pero hindi natin kawalan yun. Sayang lang at hindi nila nakita ang mga yun.

Kung mapapansin niyo, hindi ko sinasabi na natalo tayo. Kasi una, hindi naman competition yun. At higit sa lahat, sa tingin ko ay hindi naman talaga tayo talo. Ang laki, ganda, at ang daming possibilities sa system na nagawa natin para sabihin na talo tayo. The mere fact na nagawa natin yun in just a year ay panalo na.

So paano tayo mas magiging panalo? Nacriticize ang testing natin. So malamang sa DOST, icriticize din yan. Pero subukan parin natin.

Ako. Dun ako sa hindi na masyado icriticize ang testing natin. Susundin ko ang pangarap ko. Mag startup ako para sa system natin. Ipapagamit ko ang Hotchpot sa maraming tao. Sa tingin ko ay hindi naman masyado kailangan ng ganun kahirap na testing para gamitin ng mga tao. Sabi niyo nga, walang testing ang Facebook. Kaya hindi rin yun makakakuha sigurado ng award for MOTA. Boo you too Facebook. Walang sense ang Twitter. Kaya wala rin siyang award. Boo you three Twitter. Pero asan sila ngayon. Ayun sila. At gusto ko sila sundan gamit ang ating Hotchpot.

Kayo. Tara, gawa tayo ng company. Tayo nalang ang kulang. Naaalala niyo ba yung mga panahon na nag iisip tayo ng startup idea? Eto na oh!! May idea na tayo. Ay hindi pala, may system na tayo. Hindi na natin kailangan iimplement pa from scratch. Konting changes nalang. Less work. Less hassle. Eto na oh!! Hinihintay nalang tayo ng Hotchpot.

Natatakot kayo baka walang mangyari. Isipin niyo, pag walang mangyari, anong mawawala sa atin? Bata pa naman tayo. Wala pang masyadong masasayang.

Oops. Masyado pa tayong bata. Tama lang. Ulitin ko, bata pa nga tayo. Wala pang masasayang. Kailan niyo gusto? Pag tumanda na tayo? Pag may asawa't anak na tayo? Mas mahirap yan, ang dami ng mawawala sa atin.

Wala pa tayong nalalaman? Kaya nga. Experience is the best teacher diba. Kaya nga papasok tayo sa startup para maexperience natin ito. At magkaexperience dito.

Teka, pero paano naman kapag may mangyari? Wow!! Pumatok ang Hotchpot. Ginamit ng maraming tao. BOOM!! Ayan ang BOOM ni Kenneth. BOOM!! Just do the math of our gains.

We have almost nothing to lose but we have everything to gain.

Hotchpot Ltd.? Hotchpot Inc.? Hotchpot Co.? Nandiyan na yan. Tayo na lang ang kulang.

Co-founder title. Alam ko gusto niyo.

Business Entities

2011-09-05T20:47:00.003+08:00

Recently, I've been searching for business entities for a future startup. I first checked Wikipedia and learned the types of business entities there. I then go to the link for the Philippines and discovered what are the entities here in our country.

I noted few entities and do some searches about them.

First in the list is the sole proprietorship. As I understood, this entity is of course consists of a single person. It is owned by one and of course controlled by one. A downside in this entity is that the liability of the owner is unlimited. I really do not know what it means but it is said that the owner and the business have the same treatment.

Partnership is another entity. I think a partnership can be general or limited. It must be consists of two or more person. Based from what I read, the profit is divided among the owners or members. Also, the liabilities in a general partnership is also unlimited like those in the sole proprietorship. On the other hand, limited partnership has one or more but not all members has a general partnership and the others have a limited liability up to the amount of their contribution.

I also read about Incorporated (Inc.), Limited Liability Company (LLC.), and Corporation (Corp.). I did not manage to really understand all of them but I hope to some time.

I still do not know what entity to pick for a startup. I do not want to be a solo proprietor, so maybe partnership is a good idea. Inc. and LLC. can be a choice too.

First honor DL!

2011-09-03T20:22:00.004+08:00

Yeees! Gagraduate na ako. At sa stay ko, naka kuha ako ng dalawang second honor Dean's Lister. Akala ko yun na lang dahil patapos na ako. Pero yun pala...

BOOM! Hello first honor Dean's Lister.

Akala ko hindi abot. Kasi nung lumabas ang grades ay may 2.0 akong grade sa isang subject. Hindi ko ineexpect ang ganung grade. Kaya pumunta pa ako ng grade consultation day. Tiningnan ko ang ang breakdown ng grades kaso di ko nagawang mapataas ito. So okay na ako sa grades ko at tanggap ko na.

Pero kinabukasan, tiningnan ko ulit ang grades ko. Tumaas ng 1.0 ang grade ko dun sa subject na yun. Mula 2.0 ay naging 3.0. Yun pala ay may maling computation ang teacher namin. Ang laki ng tinaas. At ang saya!!

Oo nga pala. Hindi lang yun ang tumaas. May isa parin akong subject na tumaas mula 3.0 naging 3.5. Pwede na!!

Swerte.

Ayun, first honor DL ako sa last term ko sa DLSU! :)

Thank you text.

2011-09-03T20:09:00.003+08:00

I received a text yesterday that made me smile. Look!

It is a text from a tutee that I and Excel helped in her COMPRO1 and BASICON course.

I really appreciate this small things. This thank you text is really appreciated. :)

Road to MOTA

2011-08-29T23:52:00.004+08:00

Tomorrow, we will have a meeting with Sir Borgz. It is not an ordinary meeting because it will not be in school. I think we will meet at Shangri La mall and talk about our Most Outstanding Thesis Award presentation.

I am excited for our MOTA presentation this Wednesday. We will try to market our thesis (Hotchpot) to some panelists. I really want to present our thesis alongside Ian, but too bad, only one must present it. He will have a keynote style speech for our Wednesday presentation.

Wish us luck! We are aiming for the Gold award. And I hope we can get it.

Gusto ko, pero di ko magawa.

2011-08-29T15:00:00.003+08:00

Ang dami kong gustong iblog. Ang dami ko pwedeng iblog. Ang dami lang talaga.

Pwedeng tungkol sa pagtapos ng thesis namin, pwede din namang tungkol sa nalalapit kong graduation. Ang daming topic sa isipan ko pero hindi ko alam kung paano ko ito isusulat. Ang daming magagandang nangyayari sa buhay ko ngayon pero wala man lang akong maiblog kahit isa dito.

Gusto kong magblog, pero di ko magawa.

Hotchpot, anyone?

2011-08-13T15:41:00.005+08:00

So what is this Hotchpot?

Hotchpot is a summarizer, a Facebook application, and a framework.

Hotchpot as a summarizer

Hotchpot is a summarizer for Senate bills in the Philippines. It summarizes them through extraction. It extracts the most important sentences in the explanatory note of the bill. It also uses several features to score and rank each sentences. These features include sentence length, sentence position, title, word frequency, and such. The top five sentences will be the summary and represent the whole bill. The summary that is created by Hotchpot is an indicative summary. It is not a replacement for the original bill. Instead, it is a short preview of it for readers will know what the bill is about. The summary is like the text at the back of a book. It does not intend to replace the book, but it is a sneak peek of what the book contains.

Hotchpot as a Facebook application

Hotchpot uses Facebook to disseminate. It is a disseminating tool for the Senate bills that were summarized. It also utilizes the Facebook API and its social graph. Through this application, the bills will be disseminated based from the interest of their users. The category of the bills will be matched to the interest of the Facebook users. Hotchpot enables people to easily access the Senate bills. In this application, people do not need to come to the bills, the bills will just come to them. The Facebook users can also vote for the bills if they like it or not. They can also comment and express their ideas about the bill. Hotchpot will increase the awareness of the people to what is happening in their government especially the Senate.

Hotchpot as a framework

Hotchpot is a framework for summarizing and disseminating. It is not just a summarizer specifically for Senate bills. It is a summarizer for any documents without any much changes. Only a few modification is needed for it to summarize other documents. Business articles are tested in Hotchpot and it works with a good result. Articles or documents that are summarized can then be also disseminated through Facebook. Interest of the users will be matched to the category of the documents. Through this framework, documents will be easier to read and accessed.

Hotchpot is a system that can do those said above. It is not just created to be use by the people. It is created to make a difference to the people, to the technology, and to the government.

To use Hotchpot, just go to this link.

Defense.

2011-07-26T20:19:00.004+08:00

Yesterday is one of the biggest day of our thesis life. Thesis defense. Kami ang unang sumabak sa thesis defense battlefield. Halo-halong emosyon ang aming nararamdaman habang papalapit ang aming pag depensa. May kaba, takot, excitement, at marami pang ibang mga di mapaliwanag na pakiramdam.

Sa mga panahon na yun, kasalukuyan din kaming nag kacram. Gumagawa ng technical manual at user manual na hindi naman nagamit, at pati ang presentation na gagamitin namin.

May mga tanong din na umiikot sa aming isipan. Papasa ba kami? Kaya ba namin? Handa na ba kami?

Handa na nga ba kami?

We are ready for defense!

Di namin alam ang kakalabasan ng laban pero wala na kaming magagawa kundi harapin ito ng aming buong lakas at loob.

Last push.

2011-07-16T00:03:00.003+08:00

We are now in the last part of our thesis. Having some last push. K. Thanks. Bye.

Alone.

2011-07-09T22:05:00.002+08:00

Nakakalungkot mag isa. Hindi ba?

Awesome desktop

2011-06-25T15:28:00.005+08:00

I found an awesome desktop wallpaper few months ago. Unfortunately, I didn't able to download it. I checked the site again yesterday and the site is now available.

I managed to download it, and it contains a shelf wallpaper with different background colors and resolutions. Check it out.

Just arranged your icons where you want to place them in the shelf. I'm currently using the shelf with the pink background.

I also renamed my desktop icons into a blank character (Alt + 255). It's awesome, right?

If you want it too, check this Lifehacker entry.

Updating my resume

2011-06-18T01:14:00.002+08:00

Hello. I'm spending this night updating my resume for tomorrow career chuva orientation.

It's so hard for me to update my resume, I do not know why but it takes a lot of time.

Honestly, I do not believe on resume that is printed on paper then submitted to a company. As for my course, I think resumes are inappropriate.

Computer Science students or graduates must have a website that contains their contact information. Achievements, portfolio and projects can also be added to it. To view my website, just click the link in the header.

Sooo, this is just a short and slightly meaningless post. Conserve trees, don't print your resume. They are not needed. I really feel that companies will not read it.

Spicy Ice Cream?

2011-06-05T18:18:00.002+08:00

'Nuff said. The title stated everything. Here it is...

So you will ask me how does it taste like?

Obviously, it tastes like chocolate. Every taste is chocolate, but with a twist. As you enjoy the chocolatey taste of the ice cream, sooner or later the spicy thingy will be in the after taste.

I didn't buy the ice cream, I only tried the free taste of it. I don't know what the spicy thingy feels when you eat a whole scoop.

Try it!

Coupon deck of McDo

2011-06-02T22:16:00.003+08:00

Nung tayo ay bata pa, meron tayong Pokemon o kaya naman Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Marami tayo nito at nakakabuo ng isang deck. Meron din namang tinatawag na deck of cards para makapaglaro ng Tongits, Pusoy Dos at marami pang iba.

Pero kanina, kakaibang deck ang aming nahawakan. Naglalakad lang kami sa labas ng McDo DLSU, nang makita namin na may nagpapamigay ng coupon para sa mga discounts sa McDo.

Syempre, nanghingi kami.

At binigyan naman kami, binigyan naman kami nito...

O, deck of coupons sa McDo. Gusto mo? Malaki rin ang matitipid sa double cheeseburger plus Coke Float.

Syempre, sa dami, pinag hati hatian namin. Hinati namin sa apat ang coupons na para bang nag lalaro ng baraha.

Sooo, sino gusto kumain sa McDo? Discount ko gamitin niyo!

May dadalhin ka na ba sa pasukan?

2011-05-23T22:59:00.005+08:00

Frosh tips ba ulit? Gusto mo malaman ang mga dapat dalhin sa pasukan? May picture ang Santugon kung ano dapat ang dalhin sa pasukan kapag frosh ka.

Hindi naman ganun karami ang sinasabi nilang kailangan dalhin. Sa katunayan, ayon sa naaalala ko, yan din ang mga dala ko nung frosh ako.

Importante ba silang lahat? Oo.

Kailangan ba silang lahat? Oo.

Pero kailangan ba silang lahat sa first day? Hindi.

Para sa akin, ang index cards at pictures ay hindi pa muna kailangan sa first day. Dahil sa first day palang manghihingi at magsasabi ang mga teachers kung kailangan. Pero dahil frosh ka, ready ka.

Ako, ano nga ba ang dadalhin ko sa first day of my last term?

Ballpen at notebook lang. Nakalagay sa bag ko na gamit ko na muka pa nung grade 5 ako. Yung ibang kailangan? Manghingi nalang sa katabi. That's what friends are for.

Sa katunayan, ang laman ng bag mo ay "inversely proportional" sa tagal ng stay mo sa school. Habang tumatagal, kumokonti ang laman ng bag mo.

Pero malamang, darating sa buhay mo na ang libro mo ay hindi na kasya sa bag mo. Hello TC7!

Sundin niyo ang payo ng Santugon, walang mawawala sa inyo.

Uso ang frosh tips ah

2011-05-20T16:27:00.002+08:00

Next week na pasukan. May mga frosh na naman na gagala gala, mag iipon ipon sa hallway at haharang sa daan. Yes, yan ang ilan sa mga bad impression sa mga frosh. Kahit ano pa gawin mo, hindi mo maitatago sa iba na frosh ka. Siguro, maitatago mo sa kapwa mo frosh pero sa upper batches, malamang obvious kayo. Bago mukha niyo eh.

Naging frosh din naman ako, kaya nagawa at naranasan ko na rin yang mga yan. Been there, done that. At dahil nga tapos na ako sa pagiging frosh, sa katunayan ay tatlong taon na ang nakalipas noong naging frosh ako, may mga tips din naman akong maibibigay. Ang mga tips ko ay para sa mga incoming CCS lalong lalo na ang mga ComSci froshies ngunit pwede rin naman sigurong magamit ng mga ibang colleges.

Madali lang ang ABC, kahit nursery kabisado ito. Pero sa CCS, iba ang ibig sabihin nito. Ang ABC ay Algebra, BASICON, COMPRO1. Ingat ingat lang. Delikado sila. Wala akong masyadong sasabihin tungkol dito, ayaw ko manakot. Ang masasabi ko lang, abangan niyo sila.

Ang mga teacher niyo na nakalagay sa EAF, kadalasan ay mga pawang kasinungalingan lang.

Magpasikat agad? Wag. Mag lay low muna kayo ala ninja. Bakit? Ikaw ang magiging tanungan ng assignments lalong lalo na sa programming. Gusto mo bang maexperience sa YM ang...

"Classmate! Ano mali dito sa code ko?

printf("Hello World!")"

Yan ang madalas mangyayari sayo pag nagmadali kang mag pasikat na para kang nasa Showtime. Hindi ko naman sinasabing wag ka tumulong, pero kasi pag paulit ulit mo nalang na sinasabi na wala kasing semicolon sa end ng statement niya, diba nakakaasar na?

Magagaling ang mga nerds, pero hindi gaano, at hindi lahat sa kanila ay matalino. Kadalasan, wala sa mukha ang talino. Minsan, ang makulit sa klase, ang kasamahan mo sa pag hanap ng chicks, o kainuman mo sa GP ay ang tunay na mag eExcel sa inyong batch. Trust me on this.

Hindi lahat ng nag aaral, pumapasa. At hindi rin lahat ng hindi nag aaral ay bumabagsak. Kaya minsan, mas mabuti naring hindi mag aral.

Di na kailangang lumayo pa. Nasa Gox na ang lahat, malapit sa Agno, may lobby o study area na minsan ay mainit, may computer lab, at may GAPA (Gox All Purpose Area) na dating GEA (Gox Eating Area).

Pwedeng gawin halos lahat sa GAPA, kaya nga tinawag na all purpose area eh. Pwede dun kumain, tumambay, mag kwentuhan, mag ingay, mag laptop (wala nga lang WiFi), o mag PDI kung di kayo nahihiya (wag lang papahuli sa DO).

Di mo na kailangan mag suot ng bonggang bongga pag CCS ka. Halos lahat ng tao dun ay simple lang. Kadalasan nga, ang bongga mag damit ay hindi talaga para sa CCS.

Sumama sa tamang barkada, isa ito sa susi mo sa tagumpay. Ito mahirap, dahil hindi porke't nag doDotA araw araw ang mga kasama mo, o umiinom sa GP, kahit nga nag kacut sila ng class ay masamang barkada na sila. Suriin mo nalang mabuti at kilalanin ang sarili.

Para sa akin, wag muna masyadong idedicate ang sarili mo sa mga orgs. Dadami ang free time mo pag hindi ka na frosh.

Santugon o Tapat ka man, parehas lang yan. Hindi ako member ng dalawa na yan pero sa tingin ko parang pamilya ang turingan nila sa isa't isa. Medyo busy at kakainisan nga lang sa panahon ng election, pero okay sila.

Ang mga yan ay ilan sa mga naisip kong tips, iupdate ko ito pag may naalala pa ako. Opinion ko lang naman ang mga ito. Pero kung may tanong, reklamo o komento ba sa mga nasabi ko? May comment box naman sa baba.

Excited ka na ba pumasok? Kita kita tayo sa pasukan.

I'm a surfer dude

2011-05-19T22:55:00.005+08:00

Last weekend, we went to San Juan, La Union to enjoy the last bits of vacation. The place is considered to be the surfing capital of the Northern Philippines. Therefore, we went there to surf.

We stay in Kahuna Resort which is only a walk away to the beach. We spent almost two days there.

We arrived Saturday noon, checked in and eat lunch. We then head to the beach after.

We start our surfing adventure through a simple tutorial. Then after few minutes of it, we tried it in the beach. It was not that hard to surf but it is exhausting.

I tried surfing again the next day without an instructor. At start, I can't get the hang of it.

But after some waves and falls, I'm gliding like a surfer dude.

Yeah. It's FUN FUN FUN!

I want to try it again next time.

Angry Birds in a browser!

2011-05-12T21:17:00.000+08:00

Want to play Angry Birds? No iPhone or iPod Touch? Do not want to download a desktop application?

Well, you're lucky. You can still play Angry Birds without any of those above. You just need one thing, and it is the same thing that you use in reading this blog.

Yes, you only need your browser!

Just go to this link and enjoy playing Angry Birds.

Tayo na sa Antipolo

2011-05-08T16:23:00.004+08:00

Yesterday was my grandfather's birthday, and we went to Antipolo to attend the mass in their church.

It was just a short travel from Quezon City. When we arrived, the earlier mass just ended and we are just in time for the next mass. After that, we took some pictures and below is a synthesized image through the use of my Potosint.

We headed to Eastwood afterwards to have lunch and celebrate the birthday.

A bail to heat

2011-05-04T20:46:00.004+08:00

This is a halo-halo, and this is my bail to heat.

The two thousand words picture

2011-05-01T17:00:00.004+08:00

As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand word. But how about a picture with more words in it?

Yeah, I talked about PhotoSynthesis before that applies image filters to your pictures. Then I updated it. Or let's say I completely revamped it, the name, the layout, the page, except the filters.

PhotoSynthesis is now called as Potosint. Why? Check the its About page.

The index page is new too. I think it is better looking than before. Check it out here.

The website is still not complete. I will still integrate it to various social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr for easy picture sharing.

If you think a thousand word for a picture is enough, try Potosint and it will add a thousand more.

PhotoSynthesis?

2011-04-29T17:03:00.006+08:00

Ever heard of Instagram? It applies cool filters to your pictures and then share it. It can be shared to various social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. It is a cool app, but it is still only for iOS.

That exclusivity gives me an idea. I want to create an Instagram like application for personal computers. Therefore, I created PhotoSynthesis. It is a one day chillax (chillax & relax) coding in PHP, scripting language that I still do not know that much.

PhotoSynthesis applies pictures with the preset filters. It is just needs three steps to do.

Upload a photo.
Select a filter.
Save and share.

PhotoSynthesis currently contains ten filters. These filters are Reality, Oldies, Clarysage, Ranee, Bolos, Paolo, Gayi, Hapal, Paulyn, and Shiela. Some of the filters are names or surnames of my friends that gave me three numbers in which I used for the RGB values of the filter.

It is still on construction stage but it is now working and usable. If you want to try, just visit http://photosyn.berdugolabs.com/.

I will blog about PhotoSynthesis again some time with more description about it.

Once again, Ilocos SumVac

2011-04-24T22:08:00.012+08:00

We always go to Ilocos, specifically in Candon City, Ilocos Sur every holy week. The past years, we stay there till the Black Saturday or Easter Sunday. This year is different because of some unexpected events. We only managed to stay there till the night of Good Friday.

We arrived in Ilocos the night of Holy Wednesday. We only stayed in a hotel unlike before where we stayed in my father's house. The picture of the hotel looks creepy, but it is not. It is only because of the effect from an Instagram filter that I use.

We went to the beach and traveled to Vigan City the next day, as we always do.

I miss the beach, the waves, and the hot sand. After taking that picture, I ran towards it. Fun fun fun!

Then after going to the beach, we ate lunch and then travel to Vigan. After an hour of travel, we arrived.

Still the same as last time. The old houses of Vigan is still old houses. Yeah, they are old houses but take note, they have Mang Inasal, and even Legacy Super Club with a bouncer sitting outside where you can TUGS TUGS!

And then we ate the Ilokano empanada, with pork, vegetables, and egg inside. After eating, the sun is setting and then we go back home.

Good Friday, we just wait for the "prusisyon" to arrive. We always watched it every holy week.

And every thing has a first time. After the "prusisyon", the electricity was cut. It is our first time to experience a brown out there. Even if, we still walked going to the church, that is just a short distance away.

It is dark inside the church. Only the light of the candles are visible, and thus provides us light. And because of the darkness, we did not manage to kiss the foot of Jesus. We always do it when we are there, but not this time.

We went to McDo afterwards to have some snack, and it is also just a walk away.

After dinner, we pack our bags and we leave. We went to Agoo, La Union to visit our tito and tita and to also have some sleep.

The next day...

We go back home.

A feature for convenience.

2011-04-17T16:06:00.005+08:00

During this weekend, I became an "on-call" web developer of my own application. I recently updated the DLSU GPA Calculator that I made a term ago. In the first update, I removed the capability to compute the Cumulative Grade Point Average because of the design overhaul. Yes, in the first two updates, only the Term GPA can be computed.

I exchange a feature for convenience. I can say that the application is now easier to use than before.

For the first release, there is only a drop down box of units that the user can select. 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 are the units that can only be selected. But then, I received a comment that there exist a 4.0 unit course. I updated it as soon as I can and added 4.0 in the drop down box of units. It became the update two of the application.

The next day, I again read a comment that states that there is a 1.5 unit course, for thesis. Even though we are doing our thesis, I do not know that a 1.5 unit thesis course exists. Our thesis is 2.0 worth of units. And because of it, I remove the drop down box for selecting the units. I changed it into a text field, again. And that is the update three.

Thanks to that update three of the application, it can again compute for the CGPA. To do it, just enter the accumulated units for that term in the unit column and the TGPA in the grade column. The application will take the rest to compute for your CGPA.

And here's the final application after three updates.

DLSU GPA Calculator 2

2011-04-14T14:01:00.005+08:00

The grades will be released and for sure, there will be a lot of students that will compute their grade. Unfortunate for some, they still do not know how to compute their GPA. But fortunate to them, their is a DLSU GPA Calculator that can do it for them.

The calculator is an application in Facebook and learn more about it here. As said before, the calculator can also compute the CGPA of the student.

Yes, it is so awesome like that.

To try it, just go to http://apps.facebook.com/dlsu_gpacalc/ and compute your grades!

Or, just like its application page here.

Well, the application interface is different than before. As a matter of fact, I think that it is now easier to use. I just re-tweaked the code yesterday.

Any comments about the app? Just type it below.

Are you graduating? YES!

2011-04-03T12:57:00.002+08:00

Yes. I recently enrolled for our last term! And after many times encountering the question and answering "no" to it in our online enrollment.

The question...

"Are you graduating at the end of the term that you are enrolling for?"

is now answered as "yes"!

OH YEAH!

Twitter.

2011-03-23T19:24:00.001+08:00

Hello again Twitter.

Just follow me here.

RH Bill summarized!

2011-03-20T22:19:00.003+08:00

Well, the Reproductive Health bill is one of the issues being talked about today. The bill is introduced in the Senate by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and is called as Reproductive Health Act (Senate Bill No. 2378).

The bill can be read through this link, but I think you will not bother. It is because the bill is lengthy with 16 pages. And that's where our thesis will come in.

Did I mention before that our thesis aims to automatically summarize Senate bills? Yes it is. Our thesis basically shortens the Senate bills by extracting important information in there.

For example, the following is a summary extracted from the Reproductive Health Act:

This bill compels the state to guarantee universal access to medically-safe legal affordable and quality reproductive health services methods devices supplies and relevant information thereon.
However this bill does not dictate any form of population control.
Finally this bill does not promote abortion.
In fact this bill is "pro-life".
Passage of this bill is a step towards the attainment of that constitutional guarantee.

Our thesis is not yet finished and still on going. Summarization algorithm is still being optimized. But as seen above, the extracted summary is pretty good. Expect a better summary after a while.

And that is just a part of our thesis. We will also disseminate the summarized bills through Facebook and utilized its social graph. Disseminating it through Facebook answers the question, "Why summarize it if no one will still able to read it?"

Well, in Facebook, the bills will be read.

Ultimate Solution to Tangled Earphones

2011-03-16T19:01:00.005+08:00

I just found a solution to tangled earphones and I made a video how to do it!

Make a rock on sign. \m/
Wrap the cable through your ring and pinky finger using a figure 8.
When only a short cable left, wrap it in the middle of the figure 8 a few times.
Then insert the jack to any of the figure 8 holes.

That's it! A solution in four easy steps.

I just followed a guide from Lifehacker and my earphones is now tangled free!

Try it and keep you earphones tangled free. It is easy as ABC!

And here is a picture of my Bubble Earphones, tied and tangle free!

Heeeey! It can also use to tie other cables. :)

Conjuct!

2011-03-08T23:18:00.003+08:00

Conjuct! is a game by Team Signum Fidei from De La Salle University. It is their entry for the Imagine Cup 2011. Watch the video demo below.

First, we did not join this year's Imagine Cup because of thesis and some lazy reasons. I like to join though but I can't tank the programming to the top.

Second, the Team Signum Fidei is from a group that is from younger batch than us. They are sophomores. Well, we created Nation Driver when we are also sophs. For me, their game prototype is cleaner compared to our first round entry last year. Based on the video demo, the transition is smooth. Their concept is simple. And playing the game is easy even without a training or instructions. It is like a puzzle tetris game.

One point to mention though, the sideline doesn't do anything. Maybe those little people at the sides can be used in a useful way rather than just animation and presentation. A suggestion, maybe they can give power ups.

Ohwell good luck!

About the HTML5 demo

2011-02-28T20:12:00.004+08:00

Yey! MichalBe acknowledge my HTML5 demo that uses his tutorial. He also provide a link to my blog. Look!

That's my demo above!

I don't know much about him but you can visit his blog. You can learn about HTML, javascript and CCS there.

RoboHunter HTML5 demo

2011-02-25T21:28:00.006+08:00

I found a simple tutorial in the internet to create a HTML5 game. Go to that site here.

I was able to tweak it a little bit and add some of my touches in javascript. I also create and use a Robo Hunter character through Paint and GIMP.

The demo is also suitable to touch devices especially iOS. In iOS, it can be saved as a native app and can be use even offline!

See the demo below.

As instructed, use the space bar to jump or just touch the screen when using a touch device.

Thanks again to this tutorial.

The not so effective pair programming

2011-02-24T00:01:00.006+08:00

Last Saturday, we faced another programming competition because we are so nerd like that. In all competitions we join, this is the most different. Because this time, we only compete in pairs. All of our on site competitions and even most of our online competitions were done with three of us in a group. That is me, Excel and Kenneth in the same group.

But this time, only me and Excel competed in UP Cursor's Java Cup. We were named "DLSU Team 1" and together with us were a pair of sophomores. Yes, we compete in pairs. We program in pairs. Pair programming it is. Not at all, we do not have the driver-navigator scheme of the traditional pair programming. We are all drivers trying to solve six problems in two and a half hours.

We try, but we do not succeed. We ended the contest with no problems solved! And as usual, with no shock at all, a UP team won the first place. They solved all the six problems with almost a few sweat.

Well again, the curse of DLSU Team 1 is still alive.

JPB is Jolo Balbin

2011-02-13T18:17:00.006+08:00

"JPB is Jolo Balbin" is a simple website I just created for myself.

I have the minimalist design in my mind in this site.

See it for yourself and go to JPB is Jolo Balbin.

Don't date a programmer!

2011-02-10T22:19:00.008+08:00

The Valentines day for 2011 is just a Monday away. Do you have a date? Or do you ever experience dating a programmer? Somewhat like a computer scientist. Why try to date one?

Don't date a programmer.

Programmers are geeks. They are nerds. They are anti-social. They are hackers and will just hack your Facebook account. They are self centered. They spent their whole time in front of a computer, typing some weirdo code. They end their line with a semicolon. They are just plain weird.

But if you still insist and want to take the risk, do some adventure and try it. Try and date a programmer!

Maybe it is an adventure, because a programmer, a computer scientist is no ordinary person. Yes, maybe they are geeks and nerds, but have you ever heard of Chuck?

He's a nerd, just do the math.

Programmers think outside the box. They use their critical thinking skill to formulate some algorithms. It definitely needs going out of the box to do it. Thus it solves the problem of cliche. They are wild thinkers and can execute an outside of the box move. A move that is new to the eyes, definitely not a cliche. Who says proposing using a game is overused?

If thinking outside of their box is not enough, how is thinking inside the other box? How about thinking inside your box? Programmers need rigorous testing for their programs to work well. To do it, the programmer must simulate the position of the projected user and use their program. It is thinking like the other person.

With it, that programmer can see things in your perspective. A perspective different from his, but he will definitely understand the way you think.

They also understand the concept of strict rules. Programmers need to have the correct syntax in their program for it to compile and run. They understand how important rule is and not following it can lead to a bad result.

Unlike some people, they also know that a certain "if" word exist and it can always be there. They know that some things or event might not happen with that "if". Life is full of uncertainty and you will never know what will happen next. When an "if" event happen, they know how to accept it.

Everything happens for a reason, and programmers know it. Every effect has a cause, and every cause has an effect. A small problem that is disregarded might be a bigger problem and may affect later. A problem ignored, is not a problem solved. Programmers also know that perfection is such an impossible to achieve. Because they know, that even though their program is well made, sooner or later, a bug will appear. A problem that needs an update to fix. A problem is better solved than ignored.

Computers do not understand the language of the people, but the programmers can understand the language of the computer. Programmers are flexible. Try to date a programmer and you will not have a hard time fitting in, because they will understand you with ease.

Simple things are appreciated by programmers. And they do not take it for granted. It is because the programs made by them are somewhat taken for granted. The simple interface of the program is just a mask to a much more inside. The complex code that is written by the programmers is hidden to the user unlike the wires and circuits of engineers that can easily be seen by naked eye.

Yes, those are some qualities of a programmer. Programmers that are sometimes stereotyped by misconceptions.

But the fact is, programmers are really cool. Try to date one.

I am a programmer.

Inspired by this post and this post.

My Sassy Amnesia Girl

2011-01-31T23:55:00.008+08:00

I do not know when, but I love watching Asian romantic movies back then. I think it is the vacation from 4th year high school to 1st year college when I usually watch an Asian movie everyday. I started liking them when I watched "My Sassy Girl". Yes, the Korean version. I do not allot a time to watch the Hollywood remake of it.

Hmmm... "My Sassy Girl". Who do not like it? I think everyone likes that movie. It was pure awesomeness. Following it, I found out that Crunchyroll back then stream Asian movies for free. I do not know today because I do not visit it anymore. I know watch Asian movies through YouTube or MySoju.

I watched plenty of Asian movies in Crunchyroll. To note some:

My Sassy Girl
Heavenly Forest
Secret
Virgin Snow
Windstruck
and others...

I do not remember the title of some but those above are my favorite listed in order (I think). I also remember that I manage to watch "My Sassy Girl" more than three times. QTV once aired a Filipino dubbed "My Sassy Girl" and I still like it with Jimmy Bondoc singing the Filipino version of "I Believe".

Last week, I again watched an Asian movie with the title of "A Crazy Little Thing called Love". It is a nice movie and worth watching. You can watch it in YouTube if you want, just watch the trailer first.

Filipino movies are also Asian movies right? But Filipino movies tend to be repetitive. Boy meets girl, conflict in the middle and still be in love at the end. There are instances that the girl is the best friend of the boy but will still be them at the end.

A unique Filipino movie that I watched is "My Amnesia Girl". It has a great storyline and a must watch movie. I like "My Amnesia Girl" than "One More Chance" though.

Yes, I am a fan of romantic movies. And I like them more than any other movies.

Para kanino?

2011-01-31T00:24:00.001+08:00

Para kanino nga ba ako bumabangon?

O kaya naman para saan naman ang aking pagbangon?

Snake through HTML5

2011-01-29T19:55:00.000+08:00

Oh well, I do not have anything to say but I just created a Snake game using HTML5.

&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Your browser does not support iframes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;

I based my code in this tutorial. Thanks for it!

To note one, it can also be use in an iPhone or an iPod touch. You can visit the original site here.

Own TLD fail.

2011-01-29T00:08:00.001+08:00

Internet is cooler nowadays. The .com ending of domain names is now boring. Many websites now have the .me as their top level domain. "me" seems like an awesome TLD, but you know what is better?

Your own and personalized top level domain.

Well, I think that jolo.balbin as domain name is cool. But what I really want is jaypee.bee as my personal website address.

So I researched how to obtain that certain domain, and surprised when I learned how. Based on what I read, acquiring your own TLD is hard. It has too many requirements. And that's not it.

Own TLD is a pain in the wallet. The cost is not the same as the .com domain names in which you can pay with such an ease. Obtaining an own TLD can cost you big amount of money. Big amount like $50,000 as a cheap price. Yeah, too costly for a personal website.

Maybe I can just settle for a .me or even the cheaper and boring .com TLD.

DLSU Term GPA Calculator

2011-01-21T19:54:00.001+08:00

Ever heard of a certain Facebook application that can compute your GPA? It just spreads in Facebook for a little while during the release of grades.

Ohwell, I am proud to say that I am the one responsible for that application. At first I just want to create a program to compute the GPA of DLSU students. I once attempted to code it on Java but that time, I am so lazy that I discontinue it.

I then got bored, and code it again. Now, through Javascript. I integrate it to Facebook for it to be easily accessible to anyone.

It is just a simple GPA calculator. But yes, it can also compute CGPA. Just follow the same instructions, treat your term GPAs as individual grades and their respective units.

It is a cool and helpful application. You can also share your GPA through Facebook by using this application.

You can go to the application through here.

And like this application here.

I am once the Time's Person of the Year.

2011-01-21T17:41:00.000+08:00

As far as I know, Time magazine awards a certain person for the "Person of the Year" every year. But I recently just discovered that I once became the Time's Person of the Year.

Yes. I am the Time's Person of the Year for the year 2006. I'm not joking, I am saying the truth. Read their article about it here.

But hey, there is a twist. It is not just me, but also you, and all of us. Because Time just awarded the Person of the Year to "you". And anybody can be "you" right?

Yes, you. So why don't you just be proud that you are once the Time's Person of the Year?

It's good right!

Playing with no strings attached!

2011-01-15T16:20:00.000+08:00

I don't have a guitar. So what? I can't really play that good. But hey, I can still play though. Luckily, there is a device that can almost mimic everything. It can imitate musical instruments like drums, piano, flute and also guitar.

So yes, I play guitar through a device called iPod Touch. I have this application that enables me to play acoustic guitar without having a real guitar. It sounds like a real guitar but it does not feel like it. Errr, it feels like an iPod Touch because it is an iPod Touch.

Yeah, it is playing guitar with no strings attached!

And that was me trying to play "Mahal Kita Kasi" by Nicole Hyala.

I also have a video trying to play that cool thing above with the slightly strained intro of the said song. See it below!

Cool instrument right? I also have a drums application but I can't play it.

Memorable Stories in Facebook

2011-01-12T21:45:00.000+08:00

I'm browsing some of my pictures when I saw something new in Facebook. It was displayed in the sidebar where the suggestions of some photo albums are also shown.

It is now 2011 and I saw "Memorable Stories from 2010". The memorable stories are just some of my status messages from last year. Well, not really memorable and they are not stories. Maybe they are better called statuses.

"Memorable Statuses from 2010."

That sounds more appropriate.

Rethinking the word "game".

2011-01-09T17:58:00.000+08:00

I entered college with a degree in Computer Science not because I want to create games. As a matter of fact, creating or developing games was not in my mind before. I visualized my future as revolutionizing or trailblazing rather than developing games.

But now, as our graduation is only two terms ahead, my plans for the future circulate in developing games. My age increments as my learning in this field also increases. With this learnings, I decided to carry my revolutionizing dream with me and add games into it. Well, it became revolutionizing games.

But why game development?

I define game development as creating a poem in literature. You can create what you want and what you like without any restrictions. It is like creating your own world with your own mind. As I said before, there is no word like impossible in game programming or in game development. That's the reason why.

As of now, I have plans where to start and I also have plans how to do it. I read an advertisement in Taft Avenue in front of DLSU...

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

I don't consider myself as a gamer. I somewhat became addicted in online games during my high school days but I stopped because I know that it is just a waste of time. I play DotA and NBA games once in a very while if my friends invited me to play. I treat gaming as a leisure not as a hobby. I also thought that, "why play games, if I can create my own one?".

If you consider "Snake" running in command prompt as a game, well yeah. It was my first ever game and it has two player mode.

The first ever real game that I considered is Nation Driver. It is somewhat buggy, but it is playable at times.

During my college life, I crossed some path that allows me to create games. Our project Pinoy Henyo is a game too!

Right now, I have a game still in development with a not so weird game play. I will post it if I managed to finish it.

I still do not have that experience in creating games, but I know I have the knowledge to start and learn more. Game development might not be my permanent future, but JPB Games sounds cool right?

Madaling tanong. Mahirap na sagot.

2011-01-06T21:41:00.000+08:00

Hindi ko akalaing pwede pala. Hindi ko naisip na ganun pala. Hindi ko lang talaga alam.

Na magkaroon ng isang madaling tanong, ngunit mayroong mahirap na sagot.

Isipin niyo. Naisip niyo na ba na may ganun pala? O dahil sa akin lang, kaya niyo naisip na may ganun pala.

Kahit ano pa man, tama ang nabasa niyo. Madali ang tanong. Mahirap na sagot. Pero teka muna, hindi ba kapag madali ang tanong ay madali na rin itong sagutan?

Paano mo ba masasabing madali ang tanong?

Ako, nasasabi kong madali ang tanong kapag nabasa ko ito at alam ko na ang sagot. O kaya naman konting isip lang ay alam ko na agad. Hindi ba ang dali nga naman ng tanong kapag ganun?

Pero kanina, sa aming subject na INTFILO. Na kung iisipin niyo parang ginawa ko kagabi, ay parang Introduction to Filipino lang kung pahabain. Pero hindi.

Ito ay Introductory Philosophy. Pero bakit FILO? Filosophy?

Kanina... May mga pinasagutang mga tanong na kung masagutan mo lahat ay pwede ka ng hindi pumasok. Pasado ka na, perfect pa. Auto kwatro sa first day of class.

Madali? Oo.

Mahirap? Oo.

Madaling tanong. Mahirap na sagot.

At dahil nauuso naman ang SAMPLE dahil sa Showtime, magbibigay ako ng konting tanong.

All students are smart. Are there students?

Ang dali ng tanong diba? Sinabi na nga na ang lahat ng studyante ay matalino. Tapos tinanong kung mayroong studyante. So pag kabasa mo palang, alam mo na agad ang sagot. Madali nga ang tanong diba?

Pero, may studyante nga ba? Sinabi bang meron?

Isa pa...

There is no lion in this room. So where is the lion?

Nasa zoo naman diba? O kaya naman nasa safari. Pwede rin naman sa forest. Diba diba?

Pero naisip niyo ba kung may lion nga ba talaga? O inisip niyo lang na meron dahil sinabi ko ito sa inyo?

Minsan may mga pagkakataon na ang dali dali ng isang tanong na kayang kaya mo itong sagutin kahit nakapikit, natutulog, o may kausap ka. Pero minsan din, ang mga madadaling tanong ay hindi laging madali ang sagot. Hindi rin naman lahat ng madaling gawin ay madaling tapusin.

Tatanungin ko ulit kayo ngayon...

Ang hirap nitong tanong ko diba?

Nasagutan niyo? Ede madali!

Weirdo man, pero kung iisipin ay may sense din. Hindi lahat ng walang kwenta ay walang saysay.

Why 2011 is a great year?

2011-01-04T20:28:00.000+08:00

I think this year will be great for me. 2010 is good, but I think there will be happier events that will happen this 2011.

It is still early to say but it is January 4 today and I'm feeling like a G6!

Earlier, I fetch Ian in Welcome Rotonda and also for me to practice driving. We went to my house and played NBA 2k11. So what if I won only one time out of five I think.

What a nice way to start the year. And I am looking forward to what will happen this year. These are some reasons why:

Graduation. This is the year of my graduation. One year earlier than usual because I'm high school batch '08. It is because of the trisem in La Salle and it is awesome like that!

Free times. My school schedule for this term is only TTH. After this, I only have one term left. Which means more free time for me to do some stuff. Program some game for the Imagine Cup, do some nerdy stuff, plan for my future o kaya naman manligaw.

Boyfriends for my girl friends. As you read above, we will graduate this year. They will have no reason to defend them against those boys that want to court them. Ibig sabihin lang nun, magkakaboyfriend na sila. And I say YEY to that! Am I right Shiela? :D

Company, business, or job. I'm graduating therefore after that, I need to have a steady source of money or income. No allowance for me after school. :( Well, I have plans. As early as of now, I have a vision even though it is still blurry of what I will do.

Girlfriend. OH YES GIRLFRIEND! I just know that I will have a girlfriend this year. I just know.

That's it. 2011 is a new year. So replace your calendar. Leave all your sadness behind. And turn your life into the new page. 2011 is a great year.

After this year, we do not know. 2012 maybe the end of the world!

So enjoy this year!

Touch and Type for my mother

2011-01-03T19:34:00.000+08:00

Last Christmas, I bought an iPod nano 4th gen for my sister. Today, I just gave my mother a new phone for Christmas. It is the Nokia X3 Touch and Type. Why touch and type? Because it has a keypad like those pre-QWERTY keypad era in which number keys are dominant than the alphabet. And also a touch screen. COOL RIGHT?

That's it. We bought it at a cost of P8,300. I do not know but it is much cheaper here in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija than in Manila that costs P1000 higher.

It boasts the variation in colors. It has pink, white, black and two more I think.

And if you think it is thick like those other phones, look at the picture above. WOAH right.

So if you do not like touch screen phones because you can't text if you're not looking, this phone is for you. A touch screen phone with a decent keypad.

Look at my brother holding it...

Cute right?

See the Nokia X3 Touch and Type in action here in this link.

A paper worth 20 pesos

2010-12-27T12:24:00.000+08:00

It is December 22, 2010 then when I first received the new 20 peso bill that President Noynoy is so proud of. I can say that I like the design. It has a fresh new look. And it looks like this...

Yes, that's it.

Manuel Quezon looks so young in the bill and if his name is not indicated, I will think that he is an actor from ABS-CBN. Maybe Coco Martin? Hahaha!

Compared to the older bills, or the bills in other country, the paper that is used felt like an ordinary paper. It felt like a bond paper with a substance of less than 20 I think. Hahaha! That is the reason why the blog title is like that.

Also, using my powerful eyes, I noticed that there are no period in the above bill. I do not know why but even middle initials and "Jr" do not have a period beside.

Lastly, rice terraces and a palm civet can be seen at the back of the bill.

I tried to sell the bill to my sister for 100 pesos but she doesn't bite. OH WELL!

Cool Facebook page, the easiest way

2010-12-17T14:50:00.000+08:00

I've seen a video tutorial in YouTube for the cool Facebook profile. It needs Photoshop but I do not have that software installed in my laptop. The most powerful image editor I have is GIMP. The tutorial make a use of the slice tool which I think GIMP do not have. Because of it, I did not follow the instructions in the video and do it my own way.

Here's how:

I took a screenshot of my Facebook page and pasted it in GIMP.
I also open my chosen picture there.
I lowered the opacity of my chosen picture so that I can see my profile page at the back.
I adjust, resize, and rotate my chosen picture for it to suit in my profile page.
I then copy each of the portion I wanted to Paint and save it.
I uploaded it in Facebook and tag my self in the order it must be displayed.

That's it. It's easy right?

Naaaaaaaaaaah. Because there is an easier way. Or let's say the easiest way. I just found out, that there is a website that will slice your picture for it to be used in your profile page.

The awesome website is ProfileGen.com.

I did it in 6 simple steps but the site will do it for you.

My Facebook Profile Page

2010-12-16T22:27:00.000+08:00

I recently switched to the new Facebook profile page just because of one thing. I want to try that cool profile picture tricks in their Facebook pages.

With it, I quickly searched for a picture in my hard disk and found my yearbook picture. I also take a screenshot of my Facebook page and open them both in GIMP. I wanted to use Photoshop but there is no such software in my laptop.

I started with resizing my yearbook picture for it to be properly fitted in my profile page. Then I copy one by one the portions that I need. Pasted it into paint, saved it and the uploaded it.

Now presenting my profile page...

It is easy to do, try it!

Cartoon profile picture. Helpful?

2010-12-04T23:48:00.001+08:00

Recently, I changed my profile picture to Son Goku. He is my favorite cartoon / anime character when I was a kid. Just like me, majority of my Facebook friends did the same thing. They changed their profile picture to their favorite cartoon or anime character when they were still young.

Why? It all started with this...

"Change your facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until monday (Dec.6) there should be no human faces on facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is for violence against children."

I do not know how it started. But the initiators of this knows the capability of Facebook to spread some words. Our thesis also utilizes that capability.

The statement says, it is for the violence against children. And as some people questioned...

How the heck will this sucky campaign will help to fight the violence against children?

At first thought, it will not help. Just changing your profile picture will not help anybody including you. But think some more...

How it will help?

The answer is awareness.

All will start when people become aware. Facebook is nothing then but not until people are aware that it exists. And now look, Facebook is the second visited site in the world.

The campaign or what you call it, just let people to be aware that there is a problem. Yes you may say that awareness is nothing without a move. But there will be no move if there is no awareness. As I say it again, awareness is the start of all things.

This campaign may only be a trip by someone. Or maybe a joke to invade Facebook. Maybe we just fell in a trap. But...

So what?

I like what I did. I think it is cool. And it is from my own free will. There is nothing wrong in changing your profile picture.

Looking back at your childhood days like no other. Sitting down in front of a TV, watching cartoons and animes that do not exist in the present time. Those good ol' days were a memory from a past. And thanks to the campaign, that childhood memory was brought back.

Admit it, characters from your childhood brings some smile right?

Just one problem, it is hard to distinguish the person because of their cartoon profile picture. :D

Si Son Goku at ang aking kabataan.

2010-12-01T21:56:00.000+08:00

Ewan ko kung sadya talaga or coincidence lang, pero sa first class namin kanina ay napag usapan ang mga nilalaro namin nung bata pa kami.

Unang nabanggit ang larong Jack and Jill, hindi ko ito nalaro pero madali ko lang itong natutunan kanina. Para lang siyang Nanay Tatay na mas madaling version.

Naaalala ko pa noong nag lalaro kami ng Nanay Tatay noong bata pa kami. Hirap akong laruin ito dahil hindi ko mabilang ang aking palakpak.

"Nanay Tatay, gusto kong tinapay.
Ate Kuya, gusto kong kape.
Lahat ng gusto ko ay susundin niyo.
Ang mag kamali ay pipingutin ko..."

Isa pang larong napag usapan kanina ay ang Charge Shield. Ito ay isa sa mga paborito kong laurin noong bata pa ako, pero kanina ko lang nalaman na may Reflect pala. =)) Kung saan ang kalaban ang matatamaan ng sarili niyang tira, worth one charge ang skill daw na ito :|

Pati ang Chimpoy Champoy na laro ay napag usapan din. Ito ay parang variation ng Jack En Poy ngunit may kasabay na kanta at pag katapos na tira ay may katumbas na aksyon. Kapag ikaw ay panalo, mag sasabi ka ng BEH BEH!. Kapag ikaw naman ay talo mag sasabi ka ng AMEN! At kapag naman tabla ang kinalabasan, mag sasabi kayo parehas ng OINK OINK!

Namention din ang mga larong tulad ng Piko at Chinese Garter.

Natigil lang ang usapan namin nang dumating ang aming teacher. Akala ko ay tapos na ang usapan, ngunit nag patuloy ito habang kami ay kumakain ng lunch.

Dito ay napag usapan naman ang mga laro tulad ng Langit Lupa, Ice Ice Water, Agawan Base, Patintero, at iba pa. Napag usapan din namin ang mga laruan noon tulad ng Turumpo, pati ang mas high tech version nito na Bey Blade, nabanggit din naman ang Yugi-Oh cards, Tex at Pogs na kung ano anong picture ng anime ang nakalagay, pati ang Crush Gear at mga Tamiya race cars.

Hindi parin pala dun nag tatapos ang lahat. Pagkabukas ko ng aking Facebook account sa bahay, nakita ko na ang karamihan ng profile picture ng aking mga Facebook friends ay mga cartoons o anime noon. Nakita ko sila Voltes V, Card Captor Sakura, Charmander, Vincent, Alfred, at napakarami pang ibang karakter noong kabataan ko.

Natuwa ako kaya pinalitan ko ng Son Goku ang aking profile picture.

Pagkatapos non, ay nakipag palitan ako ng wall post sa aking kaibigan na para bang nag lalaban si Son Goku at si Voltes V. Pinagdedebatihan namin kung sino ba sa kanila ang mas malakas.

Basahin niyo mula sa ilalim.

At sa huli, sumuko din siya. Talagang mas malakas si Son Goku kay Voltes V. =))

Ranking a semordnilap

2010-11-27T18:56:00.000+08:00

Ever heard of semordnilap? As Wikipedia says, semordnilap is also known as volvogram, heteropalindrome, semi-palindrome, half-palindrome, reversgram, mynoreteh, reversible anagram, word reversal, or anadrome. It is basically a word that spells another word backwards.

What's cool about it?

Semordnilap spells Palindromes in a mirror. It is Palindrome when spells backward.

Semordnilap, as differs in palindrome, forms two different words. Two different words in one set of letters. Basically, they are both equal in the sense of word length. But frequently in computer science or programming, words must be treated to have a mathematical value.

As defined, semordnilap forms two different words and obviously, they both have different mathematical value. But how will semordnilap be ranked?

It is easy. Alphabetical order. The conventional way. Which ever comes first, must be first and always be first.

So let's take an example. Peek and Keep are words that are semordnilap with each other. So which ranks first? Which must be treated first? And as we all know...

K is always first than P.

K comes first in alphabetical order than P.

Thus, when ranked, Keep will come first than Peek. And it will always be like that if alphabetical order is in.

But if not the conventional way is used, the ranking might be different. Peek might comes first than Keep. It is just based on the ranker's own perspective.

Hey, it might be alphabetical order in descending order is what the ranker prefers much. And we can't do anything about it. :)

But again, semordnilap. Two different words. One set of letters. But one must rank higher than the other.

Taylor Swift's concert ticket prices

2010-11-20T00:34:00.000+08:00

The ticket pricing for concert of the Taylor Swift is posted below.

VIP - P12,000

VIP Lower Box - P7,500

Lower Box - P5,500

Upper Box A - P3,500

Upper Box B - 1,500

General Admission - P500

Patron is not yet available.

So, will you go and watch Taylor Swift's concert? Are you willing to pay with such an amount?

If I will watch, maybe I'll buy Upper Box B or even Upper Box A. It depends on my willingness to consume such an amount.

Well, as expected, ang mahal ng tickets. :(

Mr. Facebook on Friendster

2010-11-18T20:12:00.000+08:00

Friendster, where it all started. The trailblazing website that made a name for social networking websites. I watched how it grows, and saw how it falls. I also thought that it may come back again when they changed their layout.

Almost all of us have Friendster. Ordinary people have Friendster. And back in those days when Facebook is still not used as a word, Mark Zuckerberg also has a Friendster.

You can go to his Friendster page here.

In his Frienster page, you can see few of the Facebook staff when it still did not exist.

@facebook.com. Are you ready for change?

2010-11-16T20:05:00.001+08:00

Email is a very convenient communication tool nowadays. It is like the pen and paper mail system but is implemented electronically. Through the years of email, I registered an address several times. My first email is created when I was in grade school. jolobalbin18@yahoo.com is what I think it is. Friendster is so popular back in those days that my inbox was flooded by numerous updates from Friendster. Yes, I still do not know how to turn off those notifications back then. If I was not mistaken, I did not managed to open it for more than four months that it was somewhat deleted.

Now, I have this email account, also in Yahoo that I used and maintained since high school. With that email, I also have three other email accounts. I have a Gmail as a formal email address, I have the DLSU mail that I seldom use, and an email in our own domain.

Facebook era has emerged and they are taking the world not by storm, but by innovation. They launch many features in the past and they are again launching a new feature, the Facebook mail. I think, there core idea for it is integration. Integrating all your messages into one place, the Facebook. Your text messages, chat messages, email messages and all other messages into one inbox. How cool is that? I still do not know. I still do not know how it will affect our daily lives, our daily work, or even our daily bread.

Facebook will giving each interested users with their own @facebook.com. Still, they say that it will not replace emails. They describe it as more of a conversational type of communication, maybe like instant messaging.

All messages in one place just like your letters that was kept in a box. Bringing the past to the future with a twist of technology, it is what the Facebook mail brings.

I imagined texting through Facebook. Or just texting will be replaced by Facebook-ing.

See the official Facebook post here.

You can also read here some advantages and disadvantages of the Facebook mail.

Group hug before thesis defense like no other

2010-11-15T23:24:00.000+08:00

We have the thesis signing like no other last November 3 and you can watch it here. Our thesis group is so cool that we also have a group hug before thesis defense like no other.

And you can watch it here.

We supposedly have our thesis defense last Friday, but it was rescheduled for today. Luckily, it went well. The verdict for us is CP or conditional pass, which is the best possible verdict that we can get. OH YEAH!

We recorded our thesis defense but it is so lengthy to upload.

For the MOTA!

Magkaribal. Ano nga ba ang nangyari?

2010-11-07T22:12:00.000+08:00

Natapos noong Friday ang isa sa mga palabas sa ABS-CBN, ang Magkaribal. At kahit patapos na ito, ay nag iwan pa ng isa sa mga pinakamalaking misteryo sa larangan ng Philippine television. Nagtapos ito ng may mala-Inception na ending. Ano nga ba ang nangyari? Namatay nga ba si Gelai?

Hindi ko ito masyadong nasubaybayan, pero alam ko ang storya. Napanood ko ang simula nito at alam ko kung paano nagkahiwalay ang magkapatid. Si Gelai na ginaganapan ni Bea Alonzo at napunta sa mahirap na pamilya habang si Victoria o si Gretchen Barretto sa totoong buhay ay napunta naman kay Papang.

Mababasa ang buong kwento sa Wikipedia link na ito.

Hindi ko rin masyadong natutukan ang pag tatapos nito, pero napanood ko ang part kung saan pinatawad na nila si Vera at nagiiyakan na, classic Filipino shows. Umakyat si Vera sa stage at naglakad sila papuntang backstage. Bumagsak ang chandelier sa taas nila at di na nalaman kung ano ang nangyari pa.

Bago matapos, pinakita muna ang mga nangyari sa cast. Natapos ito sa dalawang bata na nangangarap tulad sa simula ng palabas. Sinundo sila ni Victoria at pinakita ang isang billboard kung saan nandun ang malaking picture ni Gelai.

Pinakita ang lahat ng cast maliban kay Gelai. Kaya ano nga ba ang nangyari sa kanya? Namatay ba siya?

Para sa akin, ang sagot jan ay hindi. Hindi siya namatay. Simple lang, paano siya magkakaroon ng billboard kung patay na siya? Hindi naman nila siguro gagawing endorser ang patay na.

Pero hindi rin ako sigurado jan. Baka nga. Abangan nalang natin sa book 2, kung meron man.

Basta ngayon, ang sagot sa totoong nangyari kay Gelai ay mananatili paring misteryo.

MagLaBa Interpreter

2010-11-07T21:29:00.000+08:00

Meron kaming isang subject last term na kailangan gumawa ng programming language at ng isang interpreter para dito. At ang interpreter na iyon ang aming final project para sa COMPILE, ang subject na tinutukoy ko.

Step by step ang paggawa namin ng interpreter. Pinaggawa muna kami ng CFG o Context Free Grammar para ipaapprove. Ang grammar na ginawa namin ay nasa Filipino. Ang mga halimbawa nito ay:

simula = main

numero = int

lutang = float

sinulid = string

tauhan = char

para = for

Medyo hinaluan namin ng kalokohan ang aming grammar. Tulad nalang ng float, ginawa naming literal ang pag translate nito sa Filipino kaya naging lutang.

Dahil nga ito ay isang project lang tulad ng Pinoy Henyo namin, hindi ito kumpleto sa features. Wala itong switch statements at hindi siya nakakagawa ng isang executable file o isang class file. Tumatakbo lang ang sinulat mong code gamit ang aming interpreter, ang MagLaBa interpreter.

Pero kahit na ganun, naexempt kami sa final exam at nakakuha ng 4.0 dahil sa subject na ito.

Dalawa ang natutunan ko sa subject na ito...

Mahirap gumawa ng IDE.
At mahirap gumawa ng programming language.

May tanong ako.

2010-11-05T23:31:00.000+08:00

Alam niyo ba ang paradox? Ayon sa Wikipedia.org...

"A paradox is a true statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a situation which defies intuition."

Isa sa mga nakaka mindfuck na paradox na nabasa at nasabi ko sa mga kaibigan ko ay eto:

"Kapag ba sinabi ni Pinocchio na nag sisinungaling siya, ay hahaba ang ilong niya?"

Alam nating lahat na humahaba ang ilong ni Pinocchio kapag siya ay nagsisinungaling. Pero paano nalang kung sinabi niya na nagsisinungaling siya? Kung nag sisinungaling nga siya, dapat ay hahaba ang ilong niya. Pero kung hahaba ang ilong niya, ibig sabihin totoo nga na nagsisinungaling siya. At dahil nag sasabi siya ng totoo, di dapat hahaba nag ilong niya. AY EWAN. Ang hirap isipin. Ang hirap alamin. Di natin alam ang sagot.

Tapos may isa pa siyang paradox...

"Ano ang mangyayari kapag sinabi ni Pinocchio na hahaba ang ilong niya?"

Teka, ano nga ba? Kapag totoo ang sinasabi niya, hindi siya nag sisinungaling at hindi hahaba ang ilong niya. Pero ang sinabi niya ay hahaba ang ilong niya at kung nag sisinugaling nga siya, hahaba ang ilong niya.

NAKAKALITO ANO? ANG HIRAP ISIPIN. Ano nga ba talaga?

Thesis signing like no other

2010-11-04T19:46:00.000+08:00

The deadline for the submission of thesis documents was yesterday, November 3. And it is also yesterday when our adviser, Sir Borgz signed our document.

I first thought of taking a picture of the title page of our document. But on second thought, recording it is way better! So as a remembrance, we record it in a video and you can watch the memorable moment here.

Yes, our first thesis document is signed and ready for defense next week. Good luck to us!

By the way, you can watch it in 720p HD!

And lastly, the title page that was signed by Sir Borgz in the video is not the one that we submitted. We found a last minute error in the name of Excel and printed it again. Well, the signing of the new title page was not recorded because we are in the office.

For the MOTA!

Help us by answering this survey.

2010-11-01T20:25:00.000+08:00

Can you help us by answering this survey? It is about the posts in your Facebook wall.

It is a Facebook application and you can go to there through here.

February 19, 2011. Taylor Swift live in Manila

2010-11-01T14:09:00.000+08:00

And now a date. February 19, 2011 is the said date. From rumors of October then November and now, a date is set.

The concert is brought to you by Ovation Productions. And it will happen in the Big Dome, the Araneta Coliseum.

Tickets will be available at Ticketnet outlets on November 8, 2010. A date so soon.

Tara at manood tayo!

Source here.

Firework.

2010-10-31T21:57:00.000+08:00

New year is near. We might see fireworks everywhere in just few months. But before we see our first pre-new year fireworks, Katy Perry launched a firework of her own. And that firework I'm talking about shoots out from her boobs. How cool is that!

She did it in her newest music video. Firework is a good song, but the music video is definitely a must to watch. See the video here...

Firework is a song that will boost your confidence.

"'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky"

For me the song tells you that you must do what you need to do and show them what you got. It is like the Nike's "Just do it."

Katy Perry in the video of Firework

And by the way, Katy Perry's purple highlights is love ♥.

Twisting like a twister fries

2010-10-21T19:07:00.000+08:00

Twister Fries of McDonalds exists again. I don't know how many times it comes back and forth in the tables but McDonalds are again selling Twister Fries.

So Twister Fries is back in action, and my friends are like craving for it. I did not know why and I am curious to know why. So that curiosity leads me to try it. I bought a regular meal in McDo plus that 58 pesos Twister Fries.

It was my first time to try Twister Fries and it tastes like KFC fries with a twist. Yes, literally with twist because it is Twister Fries. It has the same color like those in KFC but it is so curly. And it is a little bit salty than those original fries that McDonalds sell, I think.

"Twister Fries - ang nagpakulot na french fries."

Hindi ko ito naubos dahil nag sawa ako, ang dami eh.

I do not have much to say about this fries. I did not say that I don't like it, but I'm just not a fan of french fries.

Try it and judge that taste of it. Is it really worth craving for?

GET TWISTED AGAIN! Twister Fries.

Globe's new balance inquiry

2010-10-17T22:14:00.000+08:00

The balance inquiry of Globe is the same I think since I started using a celphone.

Before, you must call the number 222 to know your load balance. Then, it was simplified to just texting the number with any content you want. Most of the users text "bal" and send it.

After I changed phone last year (see my blog about it here), I do not text 222 anymore. I just go to the Globe services in my phone then choose Prepaid Services and Balance Inquiry. It will automatically send a message to 222 requesting for my load balance. It never fails.

A while ago, I requested for my load balance and received a slightly different balance message. It was better. See it below.

This picture was taken from my iPod Touch 4G. :D

The new balance inquiry message still contains the current date and time, and of course your load and free texts. But the latest addition is the load's date of expiry.

For me, it was a great add on because I oftenly left my load to expire. I do not have that much to text.

My friends said that balance inquiry of Smart is much better. They said that it provides more about their load and other necessary information. Fortunately, Globe made a move about it. They might not be the best yet, but they are better now.

Taylor Swift's concert on February

2010-10-16T16:30:00.000+08:00

There is so much talk about the Taylor Swift's concert here in the Philippines. Araneta Center announced it back then in a UAAP game and said it will happen this October. Instead of the concert to happen, that just became a rumor.

Yeah we all thought that Taylor Swift will come here in Manila and sing "You Belong With Me" to us. But don't be sad, Taylor do not want us to be sad. Because there is a news! Or let us say it as a scoop. You can view it here.

The news is...

Taylor Swift's concert will still happen. That's a great news right?

"According to Ovation Productions’ Renen de Guia, promoter of the hugely successful concerts in Manila (of, among others, Lady Gaga, Usher and Tears For Fears) and now the officially confirmed promoter of Taylor Swift in Manila, Taylor’s concert has been scheduled for Feb. 2011 and cannot be on an earlier date as the tour has been carefully planned to come after the release of her new album, Speak Now, which according to MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) marketing director, Wilson Cruz, is set to be released worldwide this Oct. 25 and in Asia the next day."

As the news said, the concert will happen early next year. February 2011 is the said month. Let's just wait and see. There is no harm in hoping that this news is true. Right?

Again, like what I said before...

Tara at manood tayo!

Source here and here.

Time machine!

2010-10-10T22:20:00.000+08:00

Let's go inside the time machine and go back in time!

Oh look at this very nice picture of me. Two photos taken from two distant years.

The first picture, the one on the left, is my first graduation picture. It is me when I was in Nursery, with so cute and cuddly cheeks.

Then the second picture, the one on the right, is my recently taken yearbook picture. It was me in this days, in college.

It was 1995 back then when I first entered school. I was 2 years old and more than a month to go before my 3rd birthday. And after almost a year in Nursery, my first graduation picture was taken dated back 1996.

So look now... After all those years, just remove my eyeglasses in the second picture and it looks like almost nothing has change. :)

A very epic picture!

I like it on anywhere

2010-10-08T21:32:00.000+08:00

This couple of days, I noticed same status messages from my Facebook contacts that are girls. They almost have the same status saying,

"I like it on *insert anything here*."

I saw a status saying, "I like it on the bed." There are few that stated that they like it on a chair.

I thought that their status messages are about a certain song, so I just disregarded it until now. I now find it weird that almost all of my female Facebook contacts are liking the same song, the I Like It On song. So I used the most powerful tool in the internet right now to find some answer. I go too Google and searched "I like it on the chair" with having some guess that a lyric of a certain song will appear.

But it's not a song, and it is cool that the first result that appears is this from Yahoo Answers, asking the same question that I wanted to be answered.

So why? Why the girls like it anywhere?

The answer is... And I found it here. The "it" from I like it on is their purse, or something maybe the same like that.

What is that for?

It is for the Breast Cancer Awareness, their status is about their favorite location to put their purse when they got home. And as said in the link above, they intended it for the men to feel puzzled.

But hey, I'm just curious and search about it. Sorry! :)

Own domain, BerdugoLabs.com

2010-10-01T22:13:00.000+08:00

We just recently bought a new domain. The site is still on progress but you can always visit it here. http://berdugolabs.com/

Why Berdugo Labs?

Uhm, it's a hard question but one time we are thinking of a new team name to replace "eMeSPee Coders". We just want it to be simple, easy to remember, and also Filipino-ish. We also wanted to have a team name that has Labs on it. We quite suggested a few names like Anahaw, Sinigang, Adobo, etc etc. And I do not know what came to their mind that they suggested Berdugo. Berdugo Labs.

But it is still not over, we did not all agree to it at first because the word Berdugo is somewhat scary. In English, it is the so called Executioner.

It was just recently approved when we are thinking of a domain name. We spent hours of thinking a good domain name ranging from any words you may think of. We also tried to generate a random word in the internet through here. But still no domain name that fits to us.

Berdugo Labs came to our mind again when we thought about our University.

We are from DLSU.

DLSU's color is green.

Lasallians are often said to be green blooded.

Green blood in Filipino is Berdeng Dugo.

Berdeng Dugo when shorten is BerDugo.

And that's how Berdugo Labs is born!

With the creation of Bedugo Labs, I now have a new email address. You can email me through jpbalbin@berdugolabs.com

You can also visit this blog through jaypeebee.berdugolabs.com.

Ang malaking titik O

2010-09-28T23:28:00.000+08:00

At ang kanyang nerd side.

Una kong narinig ang malaking titik O nung ako ay nasa elementarya pa lamang.

"Malaki ang titik O, titik O, titik O."

Kinakanta namin ito sa tono ng "Mary had a Little Lamb" bilang isang ice breaker. Ngunit sa hindi ko inaasahang pag kakataon, ang malaking titik O ay muli kong narinig.

Noong 3rd term ng aking ika-unang taon sa DLSU, sa class na DASALGO ay may topic kaming Big O. Na kapag ay tinagalog ay "Ang malaking titik O".

Ang Big O o ang malaking titik O ay ginagamit sa Computer Science bilang isang representasyon ng performance o kaya naman complexity ng isang algorithm. Ito ay ang worst-case o ang pinakamalala na maabot ng isang algorithm.

Ang malaking titik O pala ay hindi lang isang ice breaker o joke. Ito pala ay may mas komplikadong kahulugan. Actually, sobrang komplikado. Ang mga algorithms ay may Big O. Tulad ng mga sorting algorithms na...

Bubble Sort - Big O of n squared. O(n^2)
Selection Sort - Big O of n squared. O(n^2)
Insertion Sort - Big O of n squared. O(n^2)
Merge Sort - Big O of n log n. O(n log n)

Ang malaking titik O ay muli ko nanamang nakakasalamuha ngayon sa CSC755M o Design Structures and Algorithms (not sure kung tama ang pangalan) na subject. At muli nanaman niya kaming pinahihirapan.

Madaling kantahin ang malaking titik O.

Pero sa computer science, pahirap ito.

Presenting Lasalista Girls!

2010-09-24T22:26:00.000+08:00

A song about Lasallian girls based on the Katy Perry's song. It is like "California Girls" but "Lasalista"!

Hear it here...

Great job guys! Thumbs up for this song.

Let's play a game of LSB!

2010-09-19T15:53:00.000+08:00

I have here below an image with a text inserted in it. Least Significant Bit or LSB is used to put the text through the image. And it is up to you to know what is it. Can you do it?

So here is the image.

Just save the image and make sure that it has 352kb.

I used our Machine Project for CSC766M or Cryptography to do it. The LSB Insertion algorithm is coded by Kenneth.

As a clue, the image contains the complete lyric of a song. And if you managed to know what song is it, just comment below. Good luck!

And 41 school weeks left till we graduate.

2010-09-18T18:48:00.000+08:00

Yes! We only have 41 school weeks left until we graduate. It is because a term is composed of 14 weeks, and we only have three terms left. So 14 * 3 = 42. And the 1st week just ended, therefore we only have 41. Say YEY to that!

They say counting the numbers before it happens is bad. But hey, I am just excited about it.

We only have three terms and a summer.

Three terms of pure academic related stuffs and a summer of mainly thesis works.

We need ten terms for us to graduate.

And we are more than halfway. Seven terms just passed and it feels like yesterday is our high school graduation.

50 units and PERSEF3 to go!!!

Good luck to us.

Dreams are not enough. Action must follow.

2010-09-12T03:23:00.000+08:00

I seldom read long articles or posts, but this blog post that I recently stumbled is different. The title "That Advice Saved My Life" is very catchy. It is about people who always procrastinate.

Six years ago he walked into my dorm room on the verge of tears.

“I can’t take it anymore!” he groaned. “I’m just running in place! I aim. I sprint. I leap. I fall. I get nowhere. Nowhere!”

His desperate eyes stared into mine, hoping… searching for an answer.

Read the whole post here. It is such an inspiring post. And maybe, it can also save your life.

Because of that post, I just thought of a quote...

"Dreams are not enough. Action must follow."

Share it to Facebook or just tweet it!

2010-09-12T02:57:00.001+08:00

I recently add a feature in this blog. You can see it in the sidelines.

It is a couple buttons where you can share my blog or my posts through Facebook or Twitter. And it also counts how many times it was shared or tweeted. Coz' it was cool like that!

Try it and share or tweet my blog to others! :D

Hello again 4.0

2010-09-12T01:19:00.001+08:00

After four terms of 4.0 drought, I finally got again a grade of 4.0. And it's not just one, or two just like those in my first two terms in DLSU. I got three 4.0 this term. And it feels goooooooood.

Ooooooh. How I miss it. Look!

What a a nice way to end this epic term. Yes, I'm a dean's lister for the second time. Too bad, it is still second honor DL. I know that it is because of the low grade I got in ADVANDB. Kung nakikinig lang ako sa mga discussions dun, ede sana first honor ako.

But I never thought that this hard fought term will be my best term in terms of grade. Yes, that term GPA above is my highest so far.

Tomorrow... Hello new term!

And three terms to goooooooooo!

Check you grades via text!

2010-09-07T22:57:00.000+08:00

YES YOU CAN! Just text...

"DLSU GRADE *your ID number*"

Example: DLSU GRADE 108*****

Then send it to 2333.

It works like magic. But wait... 2.50 pesos per text. :|

Best blog posts in my blog

2010-09-05T01:02:00.001+08:00

I reviewed the blog posts in my blog and chose 10 of the best and meaningful posts in this blog.

So here, presenting the best posts in my blog...

Game programming. Anyone? (link)
Pathfinding. Different paths, unknown ending. (link)
Crush - Isang ambigous na salita (link)
Nation Driver. (link)
Jeje language to a slightly normal / readable text... (link)
Pinoy Henyo! The computer game. (link)
Pwede bang manligaw? (link)
Salitang Kalye. Alam mo ba? (link)
Bestfriend of opposite sex. (link)
About me. (link)

There. They are the best blog posts since the start of this blog. They still do not have a ranking, and the order is just based on the date posted.

Taking some time to read them is really appreciated. :)

Edit your grades in MLS!

2010-09-04T22:08:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wanted to see a term where your grades are all 4.0 like the image above? Yes, it is statistically and humanly possible. But there is a fact that only the so called "IMBA" student can do it, kahit pamigay term ay mahirap maka-straight 4.0.

So for some DLSU students out there, you still can see an all 4.0 grades in your MyLaSalle account. How?

Go to you MLS account.
View you grades by clicking the View Grades link.
Delete the URL in the address bar.
Paste this in your address bar. "javascript:document.body.contentEditable='true'; document.designMode='on'; void 0"
Edit you grades!

HAHAHAHAHA. See? Just a note, you can just edit it for your viewing pleasure. No changes will affect you real grades. It will not affect your grades in your transcript. HAHAHAHA. YOU WISH!

But still, seeing an all 4.0 in your grades can be very nice. It can be a very good joke too...

By the way, the grades above are my own edited grades. Cool huh? And it's not photoshopped.

PS. I just saw this cool trick roaming in the Internet.

Despicable Me!! Funny at start and till the last drop.

2010-09-02T19:47:00.000+08:00

What a good way to end this hell of a term. We (Me, Excel, Kenneth, Gwenie, Pau, and Shiela) watched Despicable Me at Mall of MOA and it is such a nice experience. We watched it in 3d and it is worth it.

The movie is funny at start and if you expect, like any comedy movie, that the fun will lessen as the story continues, you're wrong. Despicable Me is no ordinary comedy movie, the fun will increase as it goes on and on. You will still laugh even during the credits. And I think, that credits scene is one of the funniest scene in the movie.

All hail to the Minions!!

The Minions are so cute and they speak like this...

Minions: abugiuhlnagekjbeyaeBAAABOOOOOOY!

They remind us of those little green aliens in Toy Story, but yellow.

And of course, the cutest of them all... Agnes... Her cuteness never fails, and it does not count as annoying!

Watch Despicable Me!! It is worth watching.

Funny at start and till the last drop!

And it has a sequel!

Mine of Taylor Swift and Stars of Callalily

2010-08-29T16:00:00.001+08:00

I've been hearing Mine for quite a few times now. Mine is the new single of Taylor Swift. It will be in the album Speak Now to be released on October 25, 2010.

But I noticed something after viewing the recently launched music video of it.

Hear the intro? It sounds familiar for me. The intro for some sort sounds like the Stars of Callalily.

Hear it? They have some similarities.

Another thing. I think they also have the same length. 3:51 it is.

The buzz of Taylor Swift live in Manila

2010-08-28T20:15:00.000+08:00

The October 22, 2010 once in a life time event is still not in the TicketNet. But the fact that Araneta Center announced it two months before the said date, in a game of Ateneo-DLSU by showing it in the scoreboard can be very reliable.

Imagine announcing it in a sold out UAAP game, Araneta Center should not be lying about it. I did not managed to take a picture of it, but I saw it for about three times.

The event is also not in the upcoming appearances and performances in Taylor Swift website.

Taylor Swift live in Manila.

October 22, 2010.

Three days before the album Speak Now release in stores.

A once in a life time event.

Announced by Araneta Center.

Still unconfirmed!

Taylor Swift live in Manila

2010-08-22T19:25:00.000+08:00

Nakita ko sa big screen or sa scoreboard sa taas dun sa Araneta during ADMU-DLSU game.

October 22, 2010.

Taylor Swift live in Manila.

Ticketnet has still no link for ticket reservation in that said event. Pero sa tingin ko sure na ito dahil Araneta na mismo ang nag announce.

Tara at manood tayo!

UPDATE: The concert will push through on February 2011. More about it here.

Maganda...

2010-08-16T23:33:00.000+08:00

Ang hirap mag kagusto sa maganda.

Daming nakapaligid, daming kakompetensiya.

Pero a real civilized person doesn’t go with the crowd, sabi nga ni Dr. Hila.

Kaya sa pangit ka nalang pumunta.

At akin na ang maganda!

A poem in a minute. :D

You can change the word "maganda" to any name that ends with 'a'.

PS. Know more about Dr. Antonio Hila here.

Game programming. Anyone?

2010-07-30T20:16:00.000+08:00

So you want to take Computer Science. But let me ask you first this question, why? Did you ever ask yourself why will you take that course for college? If not, ask now. Because there are various reasons students choose that course. Some choose it because their parents want it, or it is an in demand in the industry. But one thing stands out among those reasons. They take Computer Science because they want to make a computer game.

Computer games are cool. They are fun to play. And as the year increase, games also increase in quality proportionally. Some games are addictive. People play games as a past time, even though some do not. Students play it too. But some are so imaginative that they want to create their very own game. And they think, that they can do it by taking up Computer Science as their course for college. Little did they know, that they are wrong.

Yes, computer games are programs. And you can learn to program via Computer Science. But that's the problem, THEY ARE PROGRAMS. And if you think programming is easy, think again.

Computer programming is not just typing what you think and let the computer do it for you. You must know what you type and the computer must understand it. You just can not talk Filipino to an American because he will not understand you. You must learn their language and not rely on them to learn yours. Learning programming language is just the first problem you will encounter.

I have a known trivia for you. Do you know that computer science has plenty of math. It is because math is the life of computer, and not science. So you must know plenty of math. And many of those you haven't heard before. Finite math? Discrete math? Lambda calculus? Yes, you MUST LOVE MATH.

Let's set aside the broad computer programming and focus on game programming itself. YEY! In my experience, game programming is one of the hardest thing to do in computers. Game programming lets you apply all your knowledge in computing. Why? Because game programming is like creating your own world. Creating what you want, what you think and what you wish. There is no word like impossible in game programming. You can make humans fly. You can wake up the dead. You can see aliens. You can managed you own country. You can change the world. There are limitless possibilities, no boundaries. That's the reason why.

But first, how will you create your characters? Your world? Computer will not do it for you. You will need to create them. You can just draw it and create a 2D game. Or model it for it to become 3D. After that, you will now have a character! YEY! You can now just code it and put it into your game.

Oh wow, your character is now moving. Ow yikes! Your character just go through in a wall. Collision detection. The computer will not do it for you. The computer did not know if that is a wall or that is a space. You have to code it to tell to the computer that, "HEY! That is a wall. The character must not go through it." But how I wish it is just easy as yelling like that. Yelling will not make your code work. I promise.

Are those things overloading your brain? Too much information already? Oh no, you still have more to know. Your character must know where to go. Your character must know what to do. Your character needs artificial intelligence.

There are too many intelligent people. But there are NO INTELLIGENT COMPUTER. You must code intelligence for them. But don't be discouraged, you can learn artificial intelligence in Computer Science.

And that's not it. Some games need physics. Online games need networking. Games need a bit of everything.

Now, you might realize that you will do all things. Yes, because computer is just a medium for you. And according to the definition of computer...

"A computer is a programmable machine that receives input, stores and manipulates data/information, and provides output in a useful format."

- Wikipedia

It just receives input. The computer can not create its own input.

Last piece of advice for you, in Computer Science knowing 1 + 1 is equal to 1 is not enough. You must also know why 1+ 1 is equal to 1. And another thing, 1 + 1 is equal to 1 carry 0 in computers. That is how complicated computer is.

PS. I know some that take Computer Science because they want to create their own game. But some of them are shocked when they learn how to program.

And... Hacking is also hard to do.

Like Nation Driver?

2010-07-28T22:50:00.000+08:00

Like Nation Driver? Express it by joining the Nation Driver fanpage!

Still didn't know it? Know about Nation Driver here.

Pathfinding. Different paths, unknown ending.

2010-07-19T18:43:00.001+08:00

I'm programming with XNA these few days. And I plan to have a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game. Few codes after I start, I can now select a character and make it move. But an issue clearly occurs...

Pathfinding.

Yeah, my character moves. But it just moves. Moving without thinking is very wrong. Thus, the program needed artificial intelligence to somewhat move like an intelligent human being. Adding that so called artificial intelligence is a problem to me. I experienced it once. But just once.

So I'm now looking to some pathfinding algorithms. And A* is the most popular as I learned in one of my classes. Still, there are also other pathfinding algorithms out there like Dijkstra and Best-First Search.

These pathfinding algorithms differs with one another. They somewhat take paths different from the other. Some algorithms did not know that they are in the goal state but still finding other states because of uncertainty.

Others did not manage to reach the goal state because at the first place, they took different path, will be stuck there and can not go back.

Luckily, there are good algorithms like A* that is always finding the best or shortest path and reaching the goal in no time.

There are greater chance that you will need an A*. But others can be better too depends on the purpose. It depends on you. I do not know what will fit you and what algorithm are you.

But one thing I know, I am not an A*.

I am not efficient, I waste time. I waste memory. I take different path. And the ending is unknown.

Or maybe, the what I know as goal state... Is not the real goal state.

Happy birthday to me

2010-07-18T21:29:00.000+08:00

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Got 68 wall post greetings in Facebook,

1 greeting via Plurk reply,

received 9 text messages saying "Happy Birthday" with some variations,

And 1 unclassified greeting.

3 people both posted in my wall and texted me.

Conclusion: Facebook birthday notification is very effective.

18 na ako!

Credits to Janine Trogo for the video!

Crush - Isang ambigous na salita.

2010-07-12T18:54:00.000+08:00

Crush, ito ang isa sa mga salita na nalaman ko sa simula palang ng aking pag-aaral, na ang ibig sabihin ay pag hanga. My frist ever known crush is noong Kinder pa ako. And I think I still know her name, but not her looks. Through the years, nalaman ko na normal lang pala ang may crush at hindi dapat ito ikahiya. At kapag tinanong ka ng mga kaibigan mo kung sino ang iyong crush at sinabi mong wala ay hindi sila maniniwala. Sasabihan ka pang sira!

Bakit mo nga ba sasabihing wala? Eh meron naman talaga diba? Hindi naman siguro sa kinakahiya mo ang crush mo diba? Kaya nga crush mo, kasi okay siya sayo. Hmmm, siguro dahil natatakot kang malaman niya. At hindi mo alam ang gagawin niya pag nalaman iyon. Baka layuan ka kasi eh noh? Tama tama.

Pero habang tumatanda ako, dumarami ang nalalaman kong definition ng crush. Ang crush pala ay iba sa tingin ng ibang tao. Hindi pala ito tanging pag hanga lang na tulad ng definition ko. Ayaw kong mag generalized, pero karamihan ng mga kilala kong babae ay hindi lang pag hanga ang definition ng crush.

Para sa akin

Para malaman natin ang pagkakaiba, sasabihin ko muna ang definition ko ng crush. At sa tingin ko ay ito rin ang definition ng aking mga lalakeng kaibigan. Ang crush ayon sa kanina ko pang definition ay pag hanga lang. Meaning, kung may nakita akong babaeng maganda, crush ko na siya. Kahit di ko pa siya nakikilala basta may gusto akong katangian niya, crush ko na siya. Dahil nga hinahangaan ko lang ang katangian niya na yun. Simpleng simple lang diba. Para bang eye candy lang.

Para sa babae

Ayon sa mga kakilala kong babae, ang crush sa kanila ay yung tipong type mo. Para bang ang mga qualities ng type mong lalake ay nasa kanya na. At isa pang malupit na nalaman ko sa kanila ay kapag may girlfriend na ang crush nila... Ay hindi na nila crush! Bakit? Respeto daw yun. Ooooh.

Para sa akin kasi, ang definition na yun ay like na. Or gusto mo na. Girlfriend or boyfriend quality na sa madaling sabi. At hindi na tanging pag hanga lang.

Sa ngayon, base sa aking definition ko, marami akong crush, as in marami. Pero base sa definition ng isang babae, ang crush ko ay wala pa atang lima. Well, kahit sabi nila na isa lang daw dapat ang crush, di talaga eh. Di ko mapigilang magkaroon ng mahigit sa isa.

Sa huli, baka ang mga babaeng kilala niyo ay iba rin ang definition ng crush compared sa inyo. Kaya minsan, ingat ingat lang sa pag sasalita o sa pag gamit ng term. Baka kasi kung ano pa ang masamang mangyari.

Ngayon, ang crush ay isa ng ambigous na salita.