New blog

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

Really. 2011 is a great year.

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!

Yes, such a good life.

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.

Alone.

Nakakalungkot mag isa. Hindi ba?

I'm a surfer dude

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.

Tayo na sa Antipolo

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.

Once again, Ilocos SumVac

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.

JPB is Jolo Balbin

"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.

Why 2011 is a great year?

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

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.

Time machine!

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!

Own domain, BerdugoLabs.com

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.

Hello again 4.0

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!

Happy birthday to me

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!

Nang kumain kami sa KFC

Ang bilis natapos ng make up class namin sa INTRNLP (Introduction to Natural Language Processing). Ayaw pa naming umuwi kaya nagpalibre nalang kami ni Excel kay Shiela. At ayos, pumayag siya.

Bumili muna kami ng mangga at dumiretso na sa KFC. Syempre, kumain kami dun. At habang kumakain kami ay napunta ang aming usapan sa panliligaw.

Napagusapan namin ang tungkol sa blog ko na about sa panliligaw. Nagbigay ng sari saring komento si Shiela at si Excel tungkol sa implied na panliligaw at yung alam na panliligaw. Dun lang umikot ang aming usapan, para bang naging kwentong love life ang naging topic.

Pero hindi nag tagal, tinanong nila ako...

"Jolo, bakit di ka pa kasi manligaw?"

Ako naman, whaaaat? Sino liligawan ko? Hahahaha!

"Ede yung gusto mo."

Ahhhh, ligawan ko daw yung gusto ko. Pero kahit gusto ko man manligaw na. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko ibudget ang time dahil sa studies. Oo, masyado akong abala ngayon sa pag aaral. At siguro, lalo na sa mga susunod na terms. Dahil nga nakapasok ako sa ladderized MSCS at thesis na din namin.

Sabi ko sa kanila hindi pa ako ready. Sabi naman nila, "Sige ka, baka maunahan ka ng iba."

Hahaha. Yun nga din ang takot ko. Kaya sabi ko nalang...

"Ipagdadasal ko nalang na walang mauna."

Sana nga.

Pero naisip ko, kung may nauna nga. Baka talagang ganun, hindi ako ang para sa kanya. At hindi siya para sa akin.

Minsan sa buhay, kailangan lang talaga mag hintay. Kaya ngayon... aral muna. Hahahaha!

Errica, OPERSYS. First post of the year.

Me, Excel and Ian spend the afternoon doing the OPERSYS assignment. And because of that, I will went home alone. I take the two LRT route for faster and more convenient trip. When I reached Recto station, I walked into the platform and do some sight seeing! :D Luckily, I saw a girl with her friend. They are talking with each other about love stories in the Philippine television and movies. I walk through her to have a clearer look. I saw her cute face and her braces that shines with her teeth.

As the train arrives, we entered. I sat beside her friend. Her friend went off few stations later.

We are now approaching Cubao station. I thought that she is packing her things and getting ready to go. But too bad, I was wrong. I stand near her and as the door opens, I look at her. I saw her Lasallian lanyard with a keychain that has her name on it, "Errica".

Leaving the train, when I was walking, I think.

She was just a girl that coincides with the happenings of my today's life. And I was just a guy that is a stranger to her eyes. A not so special event where two people met and maybe... will never meet again.

In the upper part of this blog, I mentioned about OPERSYS. In fact, we did not managed to finish our assignment, we only answered number 1. But we now know how to do it. We will try to do it alone and maybe, I can post my answer here.

So much for my day! And this is my first post of the year 2010. Events happen in my life in the past few days, but I do not have the will to blog them.

Just when I thought everything is alright.

2009 will about to end. Third term will about to start.

Time just passed by like that, but still too many happens that the eyes can not track. Too many happens that is not beyond yesterday's prediction of today.

My INTROSE grade is just an example. I thought I will get 2.5 or maybe 2 flat. But that thought remains a thought and never really happened.

Also, my THEOCOM grades is enough, good to say that it is 3.5. But I expected 4.0. :(

Oh weeeeeell! That's life. What you thought will sometimes never be the truth. And the truth for today is sometimes very different from yesterday.

Yesterday is past, forget it. You will never get back to it again.

Live with the present, whatever is happening. Accept it.

And strive for the future, change it. Because you write your own story.

So...

Forget the past.

Accept the present.

Change the future.

Then smile. :)

And that's the FACT!

Ask me anything that occupies space.

Here's my formspring account.

Ask me anything you like, anything you think, and anything you want. No limitations of question. Just go and ask.

Formspring :D

Yey. I have a formspring account.

Ask me whatever you want, and whenever you want! :D

EDIT: Forgot the link. :D Sorry!

New phone. Yey!

After the motherboard of my Nokia 5500 Sport cellphone have broke, I am using the phone of my sister.

But yesterday, after months of waiting, I now have a new phone. A Nokia 7210 Supernova.

Presenting my new phone...

It's cute, right? Wish it is like my Nokia 5500 that is water RESISTANT and shock RESISTANT. But too bad, it's not. Still, it is cuter, and cute is the best. :P