Outlook and Plans 2009: Doing MORE than What I Think I Can Do

In the homily of Fr. Raymond Arre, parish priest of the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, in a
mass during the Feast of the Holy Family last December 28, he said that The Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph urges us to do more than what we think we can do in our life everyday - love a little more, forgive a little more, give a little more than what we did the previous day.

Using that message as an inspiration, I now start laying the groundwork for my personal
plans and outlook in the coming year 2009.

Admittedly, this is the the most disastrous year I have ever experienced in my entire life since the suffering I had in the first half of 2000. I lost a job (and had difficulty getting one), I exhausted all my savings, I had debts here and there, I'm undecided in almost everthing I want to do, and I'm not that confident in my future. I'm almost in the verge of a break down....

But now, after thinking things over, I decided to leave those things behind and start to create my plan for next year and in the years to come.

As a framework for my plans for 2009, my ultimate focus points for the next year will be:

(1) Find a secure job. This may not be necessary a teaching job, but may be somewhat related. An office job may do - I just REALLY need a job. I need to have one before the end of January 2009.

(2) Settle all debts. This might take a while but I plan to pay my creditors by installment
- even little by little (Well, sorry for two of my personal creditors - I just need to adjust my finances first). My goal is to be debt-free by April or June 2009.

(3) Maintain or find additional sources of income. I currently have two "side lines" and a possible one coming in by January, but I need to find at least one more before March 2009. A Multiply contact might help me through his "system".

(4) Save, save, save - and maintain the savings! As if I didn't do this before - it's just that I just didn't do it PROPERLY then. Based on the principle of "doing a little bit more", I need to save money and maintain MORE than enough just in case another financial crisis strikes me again.

(5) Take the Career Service Examination. Yes, if I decide to take a shot at a decent paying, REGULAR, and PERMANENT government position even without a Master's degree (as
opposed to a TEMPORARY Instructor 7 with a Master's degree), I need to take and pass the Career Service Examination administered by the Civil Service Commission. I need to take it by February 2009 to be eligible for a government job by March or April (just in case I don't have a job by the end of January).

(6) Take at least 12 units of Education subjects out of the required 18 units for the LET. This will lay the groundwork for taking the LET in 2010 to be able to teach in high school. The last 6 units will be taken in the summer or the first semester of 2010. Note: this may be optional, depending on the job that I'll have in 2009.

(7) Continue to serve the Lord through the LCG. Yes, whatever happens to my plans in 2009, I will continue my service to the Lord as a lector/commentator in the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. This will act as my thanksgiving to the Lord for letting me live through the hardships in 2008. To God be the glory!

Unfortunately, the crucial decisions I will make next year entail many sacrifices. They may not be easy for me but I have to do them to ensure my security of tenure next year and
lay the groundwork for a future teaching career. Some of the possibilities are:

(1) Leaving a place I used to stay because - as I and my colleagues in the church see it - it might be the one weighing me down and hampering my well-being and career growth
(goodbye, "excellence" in math?)

(2) Related to number (1): Setting aside something I may not immediately use and concentrate first in earning money, paying debts, saving for the future, and getting Educ
units (Graduate studies, perhaps?). This might entail going to another college or institution (UP Educ or PNU, here I come?)

While the above plans may be plausible enough on my part, things may not be that easy
because of different factors such as the looming effect of the global financial crisis. However, I just have to up the ante a little and do a little bit more than what I did in the previous year. And I really need a lot of GUTS to implement them - this is now the the time to avoid procrastination and catch up after being sidelined for more than half a year. And of course, I will be needing a lot of faith and leaving everything in God's power to guide me through my plans and dreams. HIS will be done!

I hope that all my friends and colleagues (past and present) support me in my Herculean endeavor next year. Things may not be easy, but I'll get by through God's guidance and everyone's prayers and encouragement. Wish me luck... ^__^

And with this I wish everyone a blessed and fruitful year 2009!

Friends(ter) No More: Say Goodbye to Gibey's Friendster Account

For my Multiply contacts who are also my "friends" in Friendster, you will read this announcement in the Bulletin of your respective Friendster Accounts. This is regarding my cancellation of my account in Friendster. My other Friendster account supposed to be for my former students in UP will be cancelled as well.

Here's how my bulletin goes:


Good day and Merry Christmas to all my contacts here in Friendster!

This is to inform all of you that Gibey's friendster account (http://profiles.friendster.com/gibey) will CEASE TO EXIST beginning 3:00 pm of Wednesday, December 24, 2008, Philippine Standard Time (PST).

This may be sad for all of you but I hope for the understanding of everyone. This is just to free myself of maintaining a useless account that I myself cannot manage (unlike other people - especially high school students - who spend, err, WASTE their time tweaking their accounts with mundane reasons I do not know).

At any rate, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who bothered to add me as their friend/contact in Friendster. You can just visit my Multiply site (http://gibey.multiply.com) for personal updates or for some good reads in my blog, or just
e-mail me directly.

Again, have a blessed Christmas to everyone and see you around :)

Why Jesus Christ is Better than Santa Claus

Why is Jesus Christ better than Santa Claus? Read this message forwarded to me by my colleagues in the Parish. This will also help us reflect on the TRUE reason for celebrating Christmas....

REMEMBER:

Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name. All he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

Santa is a myth

But Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life

While Santa puts gifts under your tree

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Nagpaparamdam sa Malamig na Panahon...

Hello... Just want to let everyone know that amidst the drop of atmospheric temperature in Metro Manila, I'm still alive and kicking....

I just am not in the mood to discuss or blog anything significant. Besides, what's with me anyway? I just don't want to write anything dramatic like missed Christmas parties and all (especially the building where I stayed until May 31, 2008), don't have money even to go home on the holidays, and getting depressed because of not having a Christmas bonus.

Bottom line: I'm still out in the cold.

Hope that even with the January chill I can still be as warm and genki as always.

Merry Christmas to all - especially those with bonuses already.

Nagpaparamdam sa Malamig na Panahon...

Hello... Just want to let everyone know that I'm still alive and kicking.... I just am not in the mood to discuss or blog anything significant. Besides, what's with me anyway? I'm a bum, right?

Just don't forget me on December 25....

Driven by the (Non-) Inspiration of Math: My Own Reality Check and Realization

These dreams go on when I close my eyes.
Every second of the night, I live another life.
These dreams that sleep when it's cold outside
Every moment I'm awake, the further I'm away.

-- Heart, These Dreams

I really admire those who already have plans for their future. Not that I don't have my own, but it's inspiring and encouraging to know that there are some people who actually have their plans laid out in an early stage of their life. For example, this Education major I know have already experienced "epiphany" and have planned for his future academic career. His plans are written in his Multiply blog Driven By Inspiration of Math: The Big Picture .

It's really okay to dream big.... as Vicky Morales always say in her Saturday program, "libre ang mangarap." But sometimes, pursuing that dream can mean sacrifices or heartaches along the way.

Before I went to UP, I have always wanted to be a Math teacher. It's a dream reinforced by my success in competitions as well as inspired by my Math teachers in elementary and high school. When I went to UP as a BS Math students, I held on to that dream even if I need to take BS Math just to temper the disagreement between me and my guardians - they really don't want me to take Education. I just said to them, "may ibang trabahong makukuha ang BS Math bukod sa pagtuturo."

Needless to say, I bungled my attempt to finish my degree on time - it took me n years to do it (guess what the value of n is..., it's not a sufficiently large natural number, though). Until now I feel that I sholud've done better so that I can fulfill my dream. Unfortunately, many circumstances hindrered me along the way, with some being my own fault and some beyond my control. But still, I wished I can ahowcase my Math teaching prowess anywhere even if I don't have the good grades to show them.

That's why I decided to apply in UP.

Which, much to my regret, is another unfortunate event.

Five years of teaching in UP made me realize that pursuing something you want to do is difficult if you pursue it by sticking yourself to something you CANNOT do. In that case, taking a degree I cannot even finish in 2 or 3 years! Admittedly, I did that just to stay in UP and teach students in the best possible way that I can - and show those who can't even teach properly that there is still hope that students can find GOOD teachers in Math in UP.

I don't care if I am only hired part time then - I was happier being a lecturer back then than being promoted and accomplished nothing. And I don' care if I really DON'T LIKE the course I'm taking! I just wanted to teach. And just to stay alive, I even blindly agreed to be reclassified so that I can teach more students - sana na lang hindi ko na lang ginawa kasi ilang beses din naman nilang gustong pigilan, eh.

Unfortunately, that decision was the BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER DID IN MY LIFE.

I then realized - the hard way, actually - that teaching is almost NOTHING there. You need the MS and the PhD to be "mathematically mature" and to be "excellent in Math". You need to please the "powers that be" to get that degree and stay alive.

I even asked myself: what's the use of an MS or a PhD in life, hah? Are they needed to pursue a dream? Do I need to subject myself to the whims of others just to pursue my dream and what I really want to do? Are those theories REALLY needed in life? Do Mathematics also need good teachers to pursue excellence in Math? Why pressure them to be in the pure side (pardon me, it's actually a contradiction to the TRUE meaning of "pure")? Students deserve to have good teachers with BS than those pathetic ones with MS or PhD masquerading as "experts". Non-math students deserve TEACHERS, not just those "EXCELLENT" in math. Mathematicians should just concentrate shaping students who REALLY want to pursue a career in Math.

Now, after more than five months out of there, I'm still alive without the MS I should've obtained. I can still tutor, write blogs, surf the net, do chores, and search for jobs even without the MS. I also pursued what I really wanted: math teaching. So I shifted to the MA MAth program to underscore my true desire in life: teaching.

Even if I'm still reeling in regret, I'm a bit thankful that I'm no longer there. I now realize that what a good professor told me is true: "mas makakabuti 'yun sa 'yo". Yes, I think it's better to pursue my career discreetly - even if it's in the SAME University. I'll just quietly finish my MA and apply in other schools where I might be more welcome. Then I'll pursue my PhD in Math Education if my brain can still handle it - that is, if I still can't make do without Sustagen Premium or Memoplus Gold. After getting my PhD, I might get an insanity attack and go back to UP. And while pursuing my career, baka marami rin akong i-career for extra money :p I'll also continue my faith in the Lord and service in the Church, since God gives me more strength and courage to face my life than having an MS....

Inspiring as it may seem, those "dreams" of others I konw can waver my heart a little, opening up regrets I had in the past. But as I try to hang on and survive this ordeal, I will still pursue the things I really wanted to do. And with the help of God, I can sing this song to myself:

la la la la   I'll sing my song,
with my face toward the sky.
la la la la   It's my life
I'll walk on
Using my own strength
to go forward along this endless road.

a la la la   I'll sing my song,
with my face toward the sky.
la la la la   It's my life
I'll walk on
It's something that's mine alone,
so I guess I can have some confidence in myself**

At this point, I have to stop my tears from falling....




**English translation of the choruses of Tooi Kono Machi De, theme song of the first Cardcaptor Sakura movie (from http://www.animelyrics.com).

Customer "Watered" Down: a Case of Customer Disservice

While perusing my emails for the day, a post from my former student in our Yahoo! Group caught my attention and read it. The post was about her dose of poor customer service from a certain water refilling station.

Being an advocate of proper customer service and customer rights myself, I decided to share her post to all my loyal musings readers. I also decided NOT to edit out the name of the refilling station to warn other potential victims of their "service". I also need to put the last paragraph in bold face for additional emphasis :p

DISCLAIMER: the opinions expressed by the post is not in anyway reflective of gibey's own opinions and is purely of the person who made such post.

Here's her post with very minor grammar and style edits:

AQUA GEL owners - please teach your employees some manners

The title should have been suffice enough. However I'm not the type who just quietly goes away after their main branch representative calls me and tells me their owners are going to take care of this matter and that they apologize.

What their personnel in the Diliman branch did to me was very, very rude - not to mention a big no-no in the hospitality industry and other related businesses. At the end of the day, I am a customer in this particular situation (and never again will be their customer from this
day on). I know I may not always be right, but I still am a customer.

This started when I called the telephone number 925-9242 at about 1:30 PM, asking them to deliver water in the big blue container "with a faucet" as I have no idea how many gallons it is. The delivery arrived almost 4 o'clock already and the delivery guy didn't even apologize about it! I asked this person how much the water costs, which is P35, and so I asked him if he has a twenty, since the change I have wouldn't add up to thirty-five and the next smallest I have is a fifty peso bill - I just would have to give him P55 instead. Guess what he did. He was frowning and saying that he didn't bring a change.

Here's TIP#1 for all those out there who want to enter in the food / water delivery business: Please make sure your receptionist / ordertaker confirms and repeats the order, states how much the items are worth, and asks how much change will they bring. FYI, as far as I know, no one patented this process. Almost everyone does this. The reason for this is efficiency. It's just common sense. Duh.

Eventually he got two five peso coins and five tig-pipiso - from where he got it, I assumed he had asked someone who made the delivery with him. i don't understand why he had to make all the earlier excuses he made - na wala daw siyang bariya, di naman daw ako nagsabing kelangan ko ng sukli. And before he gave me the change, he just had to insult me. I told him rather nicely, "Kuya bente di ba?" Mockingly, sarcasm evident on his tone of voice, he answered "Fifty yang pera mo di ba?"

TIP#2: Listen and listen well. Didn't I just tell him I'd give him a fifty-five? Giving him a fifty-five would his life so much easier - to look for a twenty peso bill instead of fiften pesos worth of coins. When he turned his back on me and started to walk away, I called on him and told him that was very rude indeed. Rather than being apologetic, he just had to fight back.

Irritated, I went inside the house and called the same number 925-9242 and demanded an explanation as to why their delivery person was rude regarding the giving of sukli, and why the hell in the first place would they send their item without a set of sukli just in case. As my elementary teacher used to say, "sugod sa gyera nang walang bala".

Anyway, this another rude man who answered the phone interrupted me, telling me why I didn't tell him I needed them to bring a change for my money. Really. Was that remark necessary? That only made me more irritated, because being an HRIM student, and having experiences in the industry as well, I just know that was not appropriate. Besides, kindly reread TIP#1. Let me add that this hell of a person hung up on me twice. Wasn't that simply just a rude behavior?

I called them the second time and asked them what the name of their company is, since I get confused on all those water deliveries' names. He told me to just look at the sticker on the container. And being a bitch I was, I told him I didn't want to, I want him to tell me. He
was raising his voice and practically ordering me to just look it up. I was incredulous and asked him, "Why can't you tell me? You have a job there and you don't even know the name of the business?" But then again, I know the poor guy's afraid, since I was asking him for the
name of their owner, and how I can contact them. If it was a no-no to give out employer's information, he could have just apologized and calmly tell me to contact the main branch instead. There he was, half-shouting and rudely telling me that he has other customers to
attend to. BIG question is: Aren't I a customer too? A dissatisfied one at that. Tsk. tsk.

TIP#3: Never ever hung up on your customers no matter what. Never ever engage yourself in a fight with customers. Never ever raise your voice at them.

I am telling you, this situation was very poorly addressed. AQUA GEL owners and/or managers, I suggest you really do something about this, as what your main branch personnel told me you would do. I suggest you do something, especially to those rude guys who are
obviously clueless to customer relations. I suggest you invest in professional staff, who has at least some common sense in handling tough situations, humility, and respect for his work. Believe me, if your personnel do not have respect for the nature of their work, they
would easily disregard your business and that could ruin you.

FYI I know that whenever I wear my kitchen or wait staff uniform, I give the best service to the guests, not because of academic requirements. I'm truly offended because I know I deserve the best service as well, even from the most trivial of services.

If service is something that is not natural to your employees, just shut down your business. You don't deserve to be here.

Gibey's Sudden Freelance Venture: Mathematical Typestter and Copy Reader!

I don't know if I'm just having a delusional attack because of a bad cold, or I am just too desperate to get a source of income, but I decided to put up an ad in the 88DB Service Portal website (http://ph.88db.com/). All of a sudden, I want to offer my skills in typesetting and copy reading documents with mathematical equations and expressions using Mathtype/Equation Editor and LaTeX.

The idea of offering my service in helping those having difficulty typing things with equations and any mathematical symbol just popped up while nursing my bad cold I have since Monday. Because of boredom I suddenly went to my suking internet shop to just download anime and look for possible job opening, but the thought of being a freelance Math typesetter crossed my mind when I visited the 88DB website and read ads offering services by freelancers. Thus, I decided to sign up in the website and put up this ad:

Having trouble with your documents involving Math symbols and equations?

Let someone help you typeset, copyread, or proofread your papers that involve mathematical equations, formulae, or expressions, at reasonable rates!

Also ideal for teachers who have difficulty typing their Math exams and Math textbook authors who want their manuscripts typed with equations in them.

Also offering typesetting using basic LaTeX and copyreading/editing LaTeX codes (for student papers and teacher documents only).

This service will be initially available within Metro Manila.

For inquiries, please contact Mr. Gilbert Joseph Abueg at 09159083521 or e-mail gjnabueg@yahoo.com.

NOTE: Mr. Abueg has taught college Mathematics in the University of the Philippines-Diliman for 5 years (June 2003- May 2008) and currently finishing his Master of Arts degree in Mathematics, also in UP Diliman. He also has 2 years experience in proofreading math textbooks and typestting equations for textbooks using Mathtype in a local publishing company (2002-2003), and has used LaTeX for 3 years while teaching.

I don't know if this will really work, especially that there are other people offering proofreading services ( I read many of them in the 88DB website). I just thought that my service is a different thing because it involves two things I like: mathematics and typesetting things with math.

Good luck to my freelance "career" :p

Misinformation Rank One: UP's Place in the 2008 University Rankings

While I was composing my blog You've Got (Misinformation) Mail: on the China Milk Scare and the Bar Code, I remembered reading a mail from UP (via its all-faculty account which I was subscribed to) about its stand on UP's supposed "ranking" among 500 other universities in the world as conducted by Times Higher Education Supplement in collaboration with Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS). According to THES-QS as reported by the ABS-CBN News website (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/13/08/ateneo-rise-2008-qs-world-university-rankings), UP's rank rose from 398 to 276, while the Ateneo de Manila University rose from rank 451 to 254 this year.

No, not that I can't accept that the Ateneo ranked higher than UP (which is partly true :p). What I just found out today from the UP System website that UP gave an official comment and stand about the National University's "ranking" among THES-QS's top universities in 2008. Here's the article on the UP website underscoring UP's stand on the issue:

UP did not participate in the THES-QS university rankings
Friday, October 17, 2008
From http://www.up.edu.ph/features.php?i=94


In the 2008 university rankings recently released by the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the University of the Philippines rose from 398 in 2007 to 276 this year. Ateneo de Manila University rose from 401-500 to 254. De La Salle University was ranked 415th and the University of Santo Tomas was ranked 470th.

This is the third year that such a survey has been conducted and its results given prominence by local dailies. But according to UP Vice President for Public Affairs Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, UP has never agreed to participate in this survey. In fact, this year, President Emerlinda R. Roman did not even receive an invitation to be a part of it. Nor did she receive any questionnaire to answer.

What she did receive was an email message from QS Asia Regional Director (Asia Pacific), Mandy Mok, informing her that UP had “gone up in the rankings” for 2008. The email also contained an invitation to buy “an attractive package” from THES-QS. The “package price,” which includes a banner on topuniversities.com, a full page full color ad in Top Universities Guide 2009, and a booth at Top Universities Fair 2009, amounts to $48,930.

Since UP was not invited to participate and therefore had not provided any data, UP officials do not know where and how the figures were obtained on which the ranking was based, Hidalgo said.

“UP can hardly be expected to spend more than 2 million pesos on publicity for itself involving a survey conducted by an organization that refuses to divulge where it obtains its data,” she added.

In 2007, UP was invited to participate in the survey, but when THES-QS refused to explain where it obtained the data used to determine UP’s rank in the 2006 survey, university officials decided not to accept the invitation to be part of the 2007 survey. In 2006, UP was ranked No. 299, and Ateneo was ranked No. 500.

UP wrote THES-QS in July 2007, informing them of UP’s decision not to be a part of the survey; and again in September 2007, requesting the organization to respect UP’s decision. In response, research assistant Saad Shabir wrote back saying that if it did not receive the information it would be “forced to use last year’s data or some form of average.”

Surveys and rankings obviously have their usefulness. But, as the National University—status officially granted to it with its new Charter on its centennial year—UP feels that before it agrees to participate in such an exercise, it must carefully examine the indices by which it is to be evaluated. It also needs to be convinced about the reliability of the methodology used in the exercise.

The THES-QS ranking is supposedly meant to serve as “the definitive guide to universities around the world which truly excel.” In evaluating institutions it computes half of the index based on its reputation as perceived by academics (peer review 40%) and global employers (recruiter review 10%). Since it does not specify who are surveyed or what questions are asked, the methodology is problematic.

In an earlier statement released in August this year, and carried by several national dailies, UP said: “Even peers require standardized input data to review. But according to the International Ranking Systems for Universities and Institutions: A Critical Appraisal, published by BioMed Central, the Times simply asks 190,000 ‘experts’ to list what they regard as the top 30 universities in their field of expertise without providing input data on any performance indicators (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/5/30). Moreover, the survey response rate among selected experts was found to be below 1%. In other words, on the basis of possible selection biases alone, the validity of the measurement is shaky.” (See Panao, “Only Two RP Universities Made It…” UP Newsletter, August 2007, p. 5.)

According to the statement, the other half of the index is based on such indicators as student-to faculty ratio, the number of foreign faculty and foreign students in the university, and the number of citations in internationally accredited publications. “Data for these indicators depend on the information that participating institutions submit. An institution’s index may be easily distorted if it fails to submit data for the pertinent indicators, or if it chooses not to participate.”

Hara, hara, hara, another misinformation for everyone especially the UP community.... And to think that many media outfits - major ones at that - picked up the story. for sure many have either been disillusioned by UP's big jump in the rankings, or has made some *tsk tsk* because despite of the increase, Ateneo managed to "overtake" UP in the rankings (in which I can say, "I can't believe it").

I am also at a loss as to why THES-QS still included UP in the 2008 rankings despite its signification (thank you CRS for the new word :p) to withdraw from the survey. What benefit will THES-QS get from UP's continued inclusion in its surveys?

I don't know if UP sent their comment to those media companies who bannered the story. I have yet to read one or hear one from those media companies. I just hope that the issue has been rectified so that UP students and alumni will not be deceived by questionable information gathered and supplied by a supposedly "respectable" institution like THES-QS.


Notes:

1. Another article reiterated UP's stand on another questionable THES-QS ranking made in 2007. For details, read the article Only two RP universities made it to the world’s 500 best; but must the rankings be taken seriously? on http://www.up.edu.ph/features.php?i=87

2. To see the actual "rankings" mentioned here, visit the QS Top Universities website, http://www.topuniversities.com/.

Interestingly enough, a certain Professor Judith Kinnear, the Vice Chancellor of Massey University, testified that "(The THE - QS Rankings is a) wonderful external acknowledgement of several university attributes, including the quality of its research, research training, teaching and employability." Oh, really? :p

Gibey's Extensive Anime Study episode 2: Currently Watched Ongoing Anime OP Fest

To give everyone an idea on what anime I'm currently watching, here are the OP sequences of my current anime fixes:

Naruto Shippuuden
Production: Studio Pierrot
Latest Episode: 083


To Aru Majutsu no Index
Production: J.C. Staff
Latest Episode: 06


Yozakura Quartet
Production: NOMAD
Latest Episode: 06


Kuroshitsuji
Production: A-1 Pictures
Latest Episode Watched: 04


Toradora!
Production: GENCO and J.C. Staff
Latest Episode: 06


Nodame Cantabile: Paris-hen
Second Season of Nodame Cantabile
Production: GENCO and J.C. Staff
Latest Episode: 05


Clannad ~After Story~
Second Season of Clannad
Production: Kyoto Animation
Latest Episode: 06


Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens
Production: A-1 Pictures
Latest Episode: 06


Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka
Production: TNK
Latest Episode: 06

You've Got (Misinformation) Mail: on the China Milk Scare and the UPC

It is of no surprise that many of us receive forwarded e-mails that are supposed to give us "valuable" information about things that supposedly matter. They sometimes disguise as something of concern to everyone, especially when there's some really serious issues going on around the country or internationally. It turns out that, when examined or verified carefully, these e-mails turn out to be grand hoaxes or ill-conceived products of the imagination. Unfortunately, some of those messages actually give uneasiness or even panic to those who read them, and what make things worst is that they spread them like SARS to everyone in their address book.

One of the issues used by a certain forwarded e-mail I received is the China milk scare that gave everyone panic, paranoia, and a new word in our technical vocabulary: melamine. I might just have erased it because of how it was composed, but I got concerned with the contents and a possible misunderstanding it can bring to others. Here's the content of the e-mail:

For your info... Dear friends , The whole world is scared of China made "black hearted goods" Can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or China ? Let me tell u ..... the first 3 digits of the barcode 690.691.692 is made in CHINA . Do not ever buy it for your own good . 471 is Made in Taiwan (picture is corrupted) This is our right to know, but the government and related department never educate the public, therefore we have to rescue ourselves. Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products "made in china", so they won't show us which is made from which country. However, you may now refer to the barcode, if the first 3 digits is 690-692 then it is made in China 00~09 - USA & CANADA 30~37 - FRANCE 40~44 - GERMANY 49 - JAPAN 50 - UK

Well, if you received this e-mail and didn't really care verifying the contents, it would be pushing-the-panic-and-forward-button time for you. Your paranoia on milk and milk-based products would not be just from ignoring products with Chinese characters on them (which do NOT really tell you that it was really made in China - baka sa Binondo lang gawa 'yun...) or those marked Made in China. You might see yourself peeking at those bar codes and make a fool out of yourself.

Now, what is the TRUTH behind the bar code thing? According to the website of GS1, an international organization which has a system of standards that is "the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world", the international standard prefixes used for bar codes "do not provide identification of country of origin for a given product. They simply provide number capacity to different countries for assignment from that location to companies who apply. Those companies in turn may manufacture products anywhere in the world." For instance, a product with barcode prefix 690 does NOT indicate that it was MADE in China - it only indicates that China is the country that ISSUED the bar code. So, a company may be based in UK (prefix 50), but its products might actually be imported from China. By the way, the word "bar code" is already a passe phrase - the term used is actually the Universal Product Code (UPC).

Accuracy of information is important when dealing with serious concerns, so it's best that we verify the information passed to us, or check the reliability of the source of the information. Believing dubious information right away will just give us unnecessary worries or headaches.

P.S. To know more about GS1, the website is http://www.gs1.org/. FYI, the Philippines is a member of GS1 and the Philippine office is located in Pasig.

Yoopee! - The Fighting Maroons' Own Multiply Site

(banner from the Yopee Multiply site. Copyright by the website Admin)

Having a stomach feeling "funny" did not stop myself from surfing the Net today. Not because I really want to, but I need to send some reviewers for our beloved Grade 7 pupils in Math Coach since they'll have an exam on Friday, October 10. But an unusual stomach feeling did not also stop me from reading e-mails and blogs.

While reading and scanning my site, I came across a Multiply link from one of those who posted a reply in one of my blogs. The Multiply site's URL is http://yoopee.multiply.com/, and purportedly a site dedicated to us UP pips. It's actually a group where each of us UP student or alumnus/alumna with Multiply accounts can join.

I just don't know if my former IMath colleagues have seen and joined it before, but pardon my ignorance since I'm not that kind of person to explore each and everyone's Multiply site all the time. But it's a good thing that we have a venue in Multiply for exchanging views and opinions about anything UP.

For those who haven't seen it, here's the link again: http://yoopee.multiply.com/.

Before, Applying; Now, Hiring: the Tutorial Business Experience

It has been a long time since I actually applied for a real job and got interviewed. The last time I did so was when I applied and got hired in Math Coach last June 2008. I candidly remembered the times when I was interviewed: by the Science and Mathematics editors in Phoenix Publishing House in August 2002; in front of a panel of familiar professors at the Institute of Mathematics in May 2003; in Adamson University and Don Bosco - Mandaluyong in May 2008; and with Sir Paolo David in Math Coach.

While have a decent job and earning a decent amount from it is fine, especially in these
difficult times of rising oil prices and other economic uncertainties, it would also be nice
if I can have something to earn from aside from doing tutorials and selling e-loads....

Now, after a long time of wishing, hoping, praying, and planning, it's now my turn to be
part of hiring and interviewing people....

I got to finally talk to and brainstorm with fellow lector Ate Boots Concepcion last night
about our long-anticipated and delayed plan: setting up a small tutorial group that will
cater to residents of her village (I will withhold the location first until we finish
planning everything). It was a really long and tiring planning session since we need to plan
out things right away because of Ate Boots' current circumstances and busy schedule.

I am really looking forward to our joint venture together since, for one, we have talked
about it a long time ago (hmm... about 2 or 3 years ago). Also, Ate Boots has long been
planning to have a small business to support her and her family because of her family
circumstances. As for myself, it will be my first time to delve into a REAL business venture
- and something that's actually related to my career and calling!

I'm just really hoping and praying that our joint efforts will succeed. While it's still a
business and we need to earn from it, I also want it to be something that we can enjoy doing
- with Ate Boots and all those that will join us.

Wish us the best of luck ^__^

P.S. For those who are interested in helping or joining us, you can e-mail me at
gjnabueg@yahoo.com or Mrs. Boots Concepcion at bootcee2@yahoo.com. We will hire tutors first, then someone to help us with the accounting, and other staff in the future - if we become big time. Professional partners are also welcome. Cash is also good (joke) :p

ANNOUNCING: Need for Part Time Tutors

Want to be part of a different kind of tutorial group?

We are setting up a small tutorial group based in a village near UP and we're in need of part-time tutors to be part of the pioneer core group.

If you are
1. at least a 3rd year college student with good academic standing
2. available between 2:00 and 7:00 pm on at least one day from Monday to Saturday starting November 2008
3. someone who has the passion, drive, and commitment to guide elementary, high school, or college students in the following subjects:
* Math (includes Basic Math, Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus)
* Science (Chemistry or Physics)
* English (for elementary and high school)
* Other academic subjects (if needed)

then impress us with your comprehensive resume with your contact number and submit it through any of the following e-mail addresses:

gjnabueg@yahoo.com
bootcee2@yahoo.com

College graduates or those with at least a Master's degree (or units) are also welcome to
apply. Teaching or tutorial experience is also an advantage.

Good compensation and some perks await those who will be chosen.

Interview of the first batch of applicants will be held on October 21, 2008 from 1 to 4 pm at the P.A.R. Finance and Investment Corporation, 38C West Avenue, Quezon City.

For more information, you can send a message to 09175275755 (Boots Concepcion) or 09159083521 (Gilbert Abueg) or send an e-mail at the given e-mail addresses.

What are you waiting for? Apply now and get a chance to be one of the pioneer members of
this one-of-a-kind tutorial group.


SOME NOTES:

1. Applicants will be notified via e-mail or SMS if they will be included in the October 21 batch.

2. Interviewees are required to bring a true copy of their resume with picture; true copy of grades (TCG) or transcript of records (TOR); and the most recent certificate of enrolment or
Form 5 (for college undergraduates only).

3. The interview site is along the side of West Avenue towards SM North EDSA from Quezon Avenue, a walking distance from Delta and near the Manila Bulletin branch, Kowloon West restaurant and BDO. You can also go there by riding a Quiapo-Kalaw or Pier-bound jeepney from SM North EDSA.

Gibey's Extensive Anime Study (or How Gibey Spends His Boring Freeloading Days)

S.A. Copyright Maki Minami / Hakusensha / Gonzo x AIC

To give everyone an idea on just how much I'm into watching anime, here's a glimpse of my current anime "study", updated as of September 24, 2008:

Anime Downloads:

A. For Completion
1. Rental Magica 15-24
2. Aria the Natural 06-26
3. Ghost Hunt 12-25
4. Azumanga Daioh 16-24

B. Download Completed (as of 23 September 2008)
1. Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo! (24)
2. Lamune (12)
3. Nodame Cantabile (23)
4. Special A (24)

C. Ongoing Anime Downlaods
1. Itazura na Kiss 24 (ep 23 9/18/2008)
2. Telepathy Shoujo Ran 13 (ep 12 9/21/2008)
3. Wagaya no Oinari-sama 19 (ep 18 9/13/2008)
4. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu 12 [FINAL] (ep 11 9/23/2008)
5. Naruto Shippuuden 076-077 [1-hour special - Japan airing 9/25/2008] (ep 075 9/12/2008)
6. Hidamari Sketch x365 09 (ep 08 9/3/2008)
7. Mission-E 06 (ep 05 9/16/2008)
8. Zettai Karen Children 24 (ep 23 9/19/2008)
9. Natsume Yuujinchou 12 (ep 11 9/19/2008)
10. Nabari no Ou 20 (ep 19 8/15/2008)
11. Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsuna Koto - Natsu no Sora 08 (ep 07 9/13/2008)
12. Chocolate Underground 08 (ep 07 9/21/2008)

D. For Consideration
1. Izumo: Takeki Tsurugi no Senki (finished - 12 episodes)
2. Shinigami no Ballad (finished - 7 episodes)

E. OP-ED Singles Downloads
1. Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsuna Koto - Natsu no Sora OP Single: Fly Away by Thyme (downloaded 8/11/2008)
2. Hidamari Sketch x 365 ED Single - Ryuusei Record by Marble (downloaded 8/15/2008)
3. Natsume Yuujinchou OP Single - Issei No Koe by Shuhei Kita (downloaded 8/28/2008)
4. Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsuna Koto - Natsu no Sora ED Single: Kawaita Hana by micc
(downloaded 9/10/2008)
5. Natsume Yuujinchou ED Single - Natsu Yuuzora by Kousuke Atari (downloaded 9/4/2008)
6. Telepathy Shoujo Ran ED Single - Polaris no Namida by Onsoku Line (Japan release: 9/24/2008)

F. Pending (downloads not yet completed)
1. Cluster Edge 05~ [26]
2. Genshiken Season 1 03~ [12 + OVA 01-03]
3. Suzuka 06~ [26]
4. Shounen Onmyouji 05~ [?]
5. Tetsuwan Birdy Decode 06~ [ongoing]
6. Ouran High School Host Club 03~ [26]
7. Vampire Knight 05-13
8. Detective Conan 05~ [ongoing]
9. Katekyoushi Hitman Reborn 05~ [ongoing]
10. Soul Eater 13~ [ongoing]
11. Ultra Maniac 05~ [26]
12. Nijuu-mensou no Musume 09-23 [ongoing]
13. Ichigo Mashimaro 07 [12]

G. Premieres (to be downloaded as soon as subs are released)
October 2008

PRIORITY DOWNLOADS:
1. Clannad ~Afterstory~ (Japan premiere 04 October 2008 - FD priority)
2. Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter (Japan premier 09 October 2008 - FD priority)
3. Skip Beat (Japan premiere 05 October 2008 - FD priority)

FOR CONSIDERATION:
1. Yozakura Quartet (Japan premier 02 October 2008)
2. ef ~a tale of melodies~ (Japan premier 09 October 2008)
3. Hyakko (Japan premiere 01 October 2008)
4. Shikabane Hime (Japan premiere 02 October 2008)

H. Anime Series Downloading Plans (for finished anime)

September
1. Nodame Cantabile (finished - DC)
2. Aria the Natural (finished - FC)
3. Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo (finished - DC)
4. Ghost Hunt (finished - FC)

October
1. Ghost Hound (finished - FD)
2. Vampire Knight (finished - FC)
3. Shigofumi (finished - FD)
4. Rental Magica (finished - FC)
5. Aishiteruze Baby (finished - FC)
6. Ouran High School Host Club (finished - FC)
7. Ichigo Mashimaro (finished - FC)

November
1. Azumanga Daioh (finished - FC)
2. Nijuu-mensou no Musume (finished - FC)

December
1. Aria the Origination (finished - FC)
2. Genshiken Season 1 (finished - FC)
3. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (finished - FD)
4. Genshiken (finished - FC)
5. Lucky Star (finished - FC)

January 2009
1. Hatenkyou Yuugi (finished - FC)
2. Shounen Onmyouji (finished - FC)

Legend: FD - for download; FC - for completion; DC - download completed

I. File Replacements
1. Itazura na Kiss - to .avi: 01, 06, 09, 13-15, 19
2. special A - to .avi: 06, 13-16
3. Clannad - to .rmvb: 01-04, 24
4. Ghost Hunt - to .rm/.rmvb: 01, 02
5. Natsume Yuujinchou - to .mkv
6. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu - to .rmvb
7. Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo - to .rmvb from .rm: 03, 04, 07
8. Telepathy Shoujo Ran - to .rmvb: 01, 02, 04 (from .rm), 07-10, 12

Anime Viewing Schedule - September 2008 to January 2009

Ongoing
1. Itazura na Kiss (ends October 2008)
2. Special A (ends September 2008)
3. Telepathy Shoujo Ran
4. Wagaya no Oinari-sama
5. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (ends October 2008)
6. Naruto Shippuuden
7. Hidamari Sketch x365 09
8. Mission-E
9. Zettai Karen Children
10. Natsume Yuujinchou
11. Nabari no Ou
12. Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsuna Koto ~Natsu no Sora~

Premieres

October
1. Clannad ~Afterstory~ (priority)
2. Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter (priority)
3. Skip Beat (priority)
4. Yozakura Quartet (for consideration)
5. ef ~a tale of melodies~ (for consideration)
6. Hyakko (for consideration)
7. Shikabane Hime (for consideration)

Finished

September
1. Nodame Cantabile (replay)
2. Aria the Animation (replay)
3. REC (replay)
4. Kimikiss Pure Rouge (replay)
5. Shakugan no Shana II
6. Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo
7. Hitohira (replay)

October
1. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
2. Ghost Hunt
3. Amatsuki
4. Vampire Knight
5. Shigofumi (replay)
6. Ghost Hound
7. Rental Magica
8. ef ~a tale of memories~ (replay)

November
1. Lamune
2. Spiral
3. Itazura na Kiss (replay)
4. Aria the Natural (replay)
5. Azumanga Daioh
6. Nijuu-mensou no Musume
7. Aishiteruze Baby

December
1. Ouran High School Host Club (replay)
2. sola (replay)
3. true tears (replay)
4. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (replay)
5. Special A (replay)
6. Spice and Wolf

January 2009
1. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (priority)
2. Hatenkyou Yuugi
3. Shounen Onmyouji
4. Lucky Star
5. Aria the Origination (replay)
6. Genshiken Season 1 (replay)

Note Some of those marked replay are those I watched before but got erased when my PC broke down last April.

SM City Marikina ni Youkoso!

"The future of shopping begins now...", so the poster says.

To find out if shopping really has a good future in this one, I personally visited SM City Marikina, the latest addition to the SM mall empire with n malls as of late (where the value of n seems to become a very large natural number :p).

The mall officially opened last September 5, but I got to take a look at the next day, September 6. And, whoa, there were so may people inside! Well, it was not just because of the Filipinos' innate curiosity for something new (especially that it IS an SM Mall, heck), but at that time there was a mall show for the movie I.T.A.L.Y. by GMA Films (huh? meron palang pelikulang ganu'n? :O) and they expected to see Jolly Jolina and Emperador, err, Mr. Generoso Dennis Trillo among other not-so-known wards of GMA Artist Center (Go Star Circle XD).

Ehem. Anyway, I got to explore each floor, including a look a peek of the Department Store, the Supermarket, and the spacious Cyberzone, and I got to take some pictures of the interior of the mall (see the album of my photos in my Multiply Site). And surprisingly, SM did not go for a soft opening since almost ALL shops were already open. I then remembered when SM Bacoor opened and only the Department Store and Supermarket were opened then.

Now, what can I say about the mall? Interior-wise, it's okay, with good lighting and interior designs, although there are some dim parts. I liked the spacious entrance lobby the most as well as the glass part of the facade. The Supermarket is also spacious and well-lit, as exprected from a newly-opened supermarket. I still need to explore the Cinemas (with good exterior designs, by the way).

There are some downsides, though, about the mall. One, it's a small mall (pardon the intended onomatopoeia there). For a mall which spang somewhere-out-there near the Marikina River, one can't expect a grandoise mall like SM North or something. Also, you can't go around it since the there is only one aisle per floor - with four floors in all - so you can only go back and fourth (an exception is the Cyberzone which is on the left side of the mall and perpendicular to the first floor aisle). Also, the Food Court was unusually placed on the fourth floor - on ONE SIDE of the mall - and you can only see SIX food stalls in the Food Court! Another thing is that there was NO taxi stand! You need to hail a taxi outside the mall with those waiting for jeepneys. I remmbered horridly when my girlfirend and I went nuts after waiting for hours for a taxi with dozens of other people when we shopped there for groceries last September 8 and was caught in the thunderstorm inside the mall. And finally, as expected, it always create a traffic bottleneck between Katipunan and the Santolan LRT station.

Well, relatively SM City Marikina is fairly good as a small a compared to some. Many of the drawbacks can be improved upon in the days to come so I can still give the mall a chance to see those improvements in the future. At least there is a mall nearer my rented place here in Santolan and I don't need to go Cubao, Megamall, Sta. Lucia, or Robinsons East to buy something.

Has the future of shopping really begun in Marikina? Let's see in the coming months.

(For comments and suggestions regarding this blog post, please feel free to speak your mind in the Comments section)

More Moe~ - Anime News Network's Take on the Moe Word

Well, still on moe...

While searching for some anime facts in the Anime News Network website, I chanced upon a side banner about a discussion about the word I featured in this blog before: moe (see the blog entry Moe...? posted 3 September 2008). The staff of the Chicks on Anime section of the website had an informal yet informative discussion among themselves about the word otakus are accustomed of.

Rather than copy the entire entry from their website (which might give me a reason to be accused of copyright infringement), you can check the title link of this blog entry.

Moe~ ^__^

The "Yahoo! Answers" Notoriety Strikes Back: The Search for "Yozakura Quartet"

Here's another rant on the ever-useful and intelligent site called Yahoo! Answers....

While I'm wasting, erm, spending my free time surfing the Net in my suking internet shop
here in Pasig, an upcoming anime series titled Yozakura Quartet tickled my fancy and decided to look forward to its release by October (the Japan premiere is on October 2 to be aired on TBS). Another download spree for the bum otaku sensei :p

Now, since it's still a long wait, I decided to search for a possible scanlated copy of the
manga. It's a deviation from my usual routine of just watching an anime but not reading the
manga. or watching the anime first before stumbling upon a manga volume to read. Well, I
also want to read something in my spare time, and I want to peek at the possible story line
in advance.

The "googling" did not help - there's no site in sight for scanlated downlaods, and I'm just
not that patient in reading all those repeating or nonsense search results. But what catched
my attention is a result pointing me to the famous Yahoo! Answers site. As everyone
connected to me via Multiply knows, I aready ranted about the quality of the answers given
by users - especially those who are considered 'top contributors'. (See my blog Blog Entry Does Yahoo! Answers REALLY Answer (Correctly)? dated June 2, 2008). Even if I still hated that site until now, I still decided to check on that entry just for kicks, especially that it's related to Yozakura Quartet.

As I expect, I just got myself lots of (imaginary) sweatdrops, pain pricks, and an upset stomach.

The resolved question posted by Kyle Dreamin' is this: (from http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080503000336AANHIVD)

Where can i read Yozakura Quartet online?

I want to find out where i can read Yozakura Quartet online, or at least download it. Yozakura Quartet is a manga by Suzuhito Yasuda.

• 4 months ago

Additional Details

4 months ago

I want to find out where i can read Yozakura Quartet online, or at least download it.

Edit : i think my question must be wrongly described. "Yozakura Quartet" is not a novel. It's a manga (japanese comic).

Well, it seems that we both have the same predicament. Now, brace yourself for the BEST answer, provided by Rita T., a supposed TOP CONTRIBUTOR. Here's her repsonse:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

The Gutenberg Project has tens of thousands of books available for free download in pdf

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/main_page....

If, by chance, there is something you can't find there... then one of my English professors gave me this site, which is basically the same thing and was put together by the University of Pennsylvania:

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/lis...

All copyrighted material is illegal to download. Here are some sites that have non-copywrited material for reading:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/bro...
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/ebooks/...
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/
http://www.baen.com/library/
http://www.ebooks3.com/
http://www.hismercy.ca/content/hm_ebooks...
http://www.bookyards.com/
http://www.redbirdstudio.com/e_books/...
http://www.free-online-novels.com/...
http://www.bibliomania.com/1/frameset.ht...
http://www.starry.com/novel/authors.htm....
http://www.bygosh.com/features.htm...
http://www.bygosh.com/thebestnovels.htm....
http://www.bookspot.com/ask/
http://www.bookspot.com/

But I would try the Gutenberg Project first. I think their collection is more extensive.

• 4 months ago

My gulay! Her answer is deceptively intelligent, but what pissed me is this simple thing: SHE DID NOT REALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION. And worse, someone named coycholla gave a rejoinder:

Sorry, but the short answer is "you can't." Books published since 1923 are protected by copyright which won't allow them to be made available for free online. (Otherwise why would anyone buy the book? Publishers would go out of business). I'd suggest stopping by the library or bookstore tomorrow and get your hands on the paper.

• 4 months ago

Source(s):

"The Online Books Page," U. of Pennyslvania, http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/okb...

There goes the two "smart" beings who tried - but actually FAILED - to ANSWER a very SIMPLE question.

Now, here is my comment on the answers they gave (originally broken into 3 posts since the limit is 300 characters only):

I'm impressed by the "scholarly" answers you gave, especially the one who's supposedly a "top contributor". But, as I read it, THE QUESTION WAS NOT ACTUALLY ANSWERED! Manga (considered as the Japanese equivalent of a comic book) is actually DIFFERENT from a novel or an ordinary book. I actually checked most of the links myself and I expected that I won't find a single MANGA there.

Some fan sites upload scanlated (that is, scanned and translated) manga titles. However, I have yet to see one with Yozakura Quartet (I'm searching for one myself). If you really want to read it, you might need to buy it either online, in a bookstore, or an anime specialty store.

I would have loved to include this part, but I decided to delete it because it might offend the two "smarty pants":

"But I would try the Gutenberg Project first. I think their collection is more extensive." Extensive you say? I didn't find "Yozakura Quartet" or even "Naruto" there! Next time, please read the question very carefully before answering!

For everyone's information, I actually TRIED to search Yozakura Quartet using those links, but, as I expected, nothing happened. Well, so much for her English professor's churva :p

I just hope that one day those who use Yahoo! Answers will give intelligent answers - not really the scholarly ones, but just those that, um, makes sense. And I hope they READ the question first before answering.....