The Geek Brewery

Hello guys! It’s been a while since I last posted here. For the past few days, I can’t seem to understand what’s happening around me. Things just happen. Most of them are actually unexpected if you’ve known me before.

I’ve been into wall climbing for some time now. I’ve had my first wall climbing encounter during UP Fair 2010 (YouthStock in particular) last February 13. I liked it so I went back and spent my entire Valentine’s Day Night climbing over and over again. A week after, I invited some UnPLUG friends to go with me at the Power Up Gym in Tandang Sora. Since then it became a hobby of mine and decided to get a two-week membership which is bound to expire this Monday.

I’m yet to make my wall climbing post since I still don’t have even a single picture of me wall climbing or at least the gym itself.

That would be all for now. More updates soon.

Last January 29 to 31, 2010, the first batch of CWTS2 MMME campers went to Boy Scout Jamboree Site in Mount Makiling to have our CWTS camping. The camping was a venue to apply the skills we’ve acquired during our CWTS1 and CWTS2.

Including our adopted groupmates, there were 23 of us in our group. Our group’s first activity for Day 1 was navigation in which we were tasked to find the stations using Azimuth coordinates and a compass and apply the different skills we’ve learned (ropesmanship, bandaging, Tyrolean and two-rope traverse, UP Naming Mahal, etc). On the last legs of our adventure, we climbed up to a steep slope. It was longer than the usual uphill paths we’ve taken and after several minutes of ascending, we saw a road. There we realized that we’re lost. We decided to kill our time there for a while to rest and play card games. There were no signs of civilization there except for the road.

Our Day 1 afternoon activity was swimming. We were asked to swim 50m non-stop in a pool. Since some of us can’t swim that long, we were allowed to “save” other people by swimming their 50m. Since we wanted all of us to have a decent grade, we decided to “save” everyone who can’t swim. I swam three 50m, one for myself and two for two highschool batchmates.

On our second day, we had our trekking and rappelling. The rappelling was quite disappointing because the previous batches rappelled in a cliff, not in a rappel tower. The trekking part was fun although haggard. During the last legs of our trekking, we passed by the road where we got lost the day before. Upon seeing the road, our group yelled for joy. From the road, we knew how to get back to the camp. That’s where we realized that that part of the trek was for descends, not ascends as we did the day before. Here’s us after the trekking.

I guess we were also the group with the most food. Instead of Milo, we had Swiss Miss as our chocolate drink. We had lots of ham, hotdogs, tocino and not to forget the flock of canned goods.

Here’s some for pictures of our group and some random pics with highschool batchmates studying UPLB who visited us up.

Hello guys.

Since my last post, many things changed. The year incremented. We finally had our 32″ Samsung Series 4 LCD TV and 250GB PS3 here in our studio-type room in Katipunan. I’d like to post of a picture of it but sadly I don’t have any decent camera anymore. The new and improved Jollibee Katipunan is up with more space and better architecture.

I’ve been busy keeping myself busy even with a lot of stuff I don’t usually do such as doing reflection papers, studying for exams and helping my groupmates in group works. To keep myself from burning out, I find myself amused playing my favorite PS3 demo game, Mushroom Wars and my only full game Call of Duty 5 courtesy of kuya Jehz.

I don’t really know what’s in store for me for the next few months. I’m thinking of quitting something time-consuming I’ve started last year but I’m still unconvinced of my lame reasons (to have more time to enjoy my life). I really don’t want to quit but I’m in a way unsure if I can devote enough time for it. Waaaaaaaaaaa.

Last Monday to Tuesday, our highschool batch had our outing in the Island Garden City of Samal. Despite all our efforts to contact everyone (thru Facebook, SMS, word-of-mouth), only less than a third (around 20+ out of 91) made it. Some batchmates were not allowed by their parents (we’re scattered all over Mindanao so they have to travel) whilst a few were uninformed.

Even with relatively low turnout, it was FUN! We’ve decided to do it every break (except Summer break since a huge number of us attend summer classes).

Here’s us!

I never believed in the power of coffee as an effective stimulant.

Ever since I started to drink coffee, it always failed its “purpose”, to wake me up. Yes it wakes me up but for a very short period of time only, after which I feel sleepy or depressed.

Yesterday afternoon, I had three doses of Grande White Choco Mocha – one during a meeting with a company and the other two during my free time. I’m really not used to drinking coffee as I always preferred cream-based Frappuccinos whenever I am in Starbucks. (more…)

I did not have time to blog since Ondoy’s wrath as I kept myself busy with lots of stuff. And by the way, last Wednesday was my 18th birthday! Belated happy birthday to me. It’s been a long time since I had a personal post in this blog, waaaa!

I’m not good in putting things to order, seriously. That’s why I’d prefer making a roundup of my thoughts.

• This will be the shortest sem ever. Last June, the start of classes was moved by a week due to A(H1N1) craze. Last week, typhoon Ondoy also forced schools in areas under State of Calamity to suspend classes for a week. Add the numerous miscellaneous holidays such as the funerals of former President Cory Aquino and INC leader Manalo.
• It’s less than a month before 2009 ACM-ICPC Asia Regionals. It’s my first time to join the competition so I barely have an idea on how it will progress. I can only rely with my experience on our mock competitions.
• Long time no swimming. I missed our weekly Sunday swimming. It’s over a month since I last went to Amoranto Sports Center.
• Tried helping in relief operations. Last Sunday after mighty Ondoy poured a month-worth of rain in Metro Manila, I heard horrible news scoops in DZMM’s audio stream such as floods reaching the second floor, people stranded on their roof without food and water overnight, etc.I felt an unusual urge to help so I convinced my sister to go with me at Sagip Kapamilya. Throughout my four days there (mostly night to early morning), I’ve tried carrying sacks of rice and other relief goods. I’ve also experienced distributing relief goods to affected areas.
• We have plenty of generous people. I was overwhelmed by the volume of donations being dropped-off at drop-off stations. I never thought people actually donate in foundations. Some clothes they donated were even brand-new.I’ve also met this couple from King Air Trading who volunteered to deliver relief goods using their truck. Their truck, the one we’re riding was supposed to go to an evacuation center in Mandaluyong but people already left the center when we arrived. The couple took the initiative to go to NDCC in Camp Aguinaldo to ask for an alternative destination. It was almost 1am when we left NDCC for our trip to Marikina.
• The Internet played a crucial role in dealing with Ondoy’s aftermath. People used social networks to spread emergency numbers and other important information. Online spreadsheets were also used to compile a list of people that needs to be rescued. Digital maps were used to map drop off stations for relief goods, missing people and other relevant information.
• I’m addicted to weather satellite images. Yesterday, I started compiling satellite imagery from PAGASA.
• I have a new haircut. The other day, I was so bored that I stopped by to have a haircut. After getting a haircut, I was still bored that I decided to spend the rest of the night surfing the Internet in a coffee shop.

I admit that I’m not good in writing. I write in super simple English. Feel free to correct my grammar if you spot a grammatically wrong sentence.

In 30 days, my age will once again increment by one. I will be turning 18. It means I will have to memorize my new age again – and based on experience it takes me around three months to master my new age. Seriously.

18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19. It equals ten and eight, twice nine, nine times two or three times six. -Wikipedia, 18

Age of Majority

18 is the age of majority in the Philippines. All my adult rights will be granted and I will have to assume responsibility over my actions and decisions. I will be permitted to (as listed in Wikipedia):

• Bind to contracts. Does this mean all the other contracts I’ve signed myself (not represented by someone of legal age) won’t be honored by the court? Woot! I’ve also heard that legal age in the Philippines is 21, but I’m not sure about it.
• Buy stocks. I can be rich by buying stocks. I’ve started playing the stock market (Neopets’ stock market) at age of 12.
• Buying or consuming alcoholic beverage. I am now legally permitted to buy alcoholic beverages above 60 proof. Just a trivia: did you know that Presidential Decree 1619 only prohibits minors to buy alcoholic beverages above 60 proof? Fortunately or unfortunately, most local beers are below 60 proof.
• Drive motor vehicles on public roads. Sadly, I don’t have a car. Donations are welcome.

Things I want to do before turning 18

There are several things I want to do before the police can legally arrest me and put me on jail. Here’s an overview:

• Reach (18*3) kilograms. My weight is currently pegged at 49 to 50 kilograms. Yesterday, someone told me to gain some weight. I’ve been eating much lately but I still don’t gain weight.
• Reduce transportation costs. The cost of going (from/to) school (to/from) home is 22 pesos. I’m thinking of walking to school daily (drat, I have to wake up earlier).
• Eat more.
• Swim at least once a week. For the past four Saturday or Sunday excluding yesterday, I’ve been swimming at a community Olympic-sized pool.
• [your suggestion here]

Waaaa, I’m turning 18. This can’t be.

Free PLUG: I’ve seen this ad in Plurk.

Later today, I will be flying back to General Santos City. My first academic year in the University is over and I’m not a freshie anymore. This means no more priority on the online enlistment of subjects.

I still have to pack my things up for this noon’s flight. I’m so excited to see what’s new in General Santos. The last time I was there was last October, to have my semestral break and shout-out in the 2nd Mindanao Blogger’s Summit. I’ve recently heard about Pacquiao’s 1.2-billion peso investment eco-zone (IT, medical and tourism) and the rumors about UST GenSan’s 2012 completion in time to their quadricentennial celebration (that’s 400 years).

I’ll be flying with Cebu Pacific, the airliner that lost one of my blogger friend Jehzeel Laurente’s valuables including his laptop. I hope I won’t experience the same disaster (haha) that happened to him.

Woot, General Santos here I come!

Whew, finally the summer term is on its last leg!

My class schedule for this summer was a lot more hectic than my regular semester schedule. My schedule stretches from 7am to 7pm, with breaks at 10:15am to 2:00pm. That’s roughly 8 hours and 15 minutes of class time everyday, as compared to my longest class during last second semester which is only 7 hours and 15 minutes.

I’m really not used to entering all of my classes in a day but I can hardly afford to miss a class in the super fast-paced summer semester. With only two subjects in a day, missing one is a big deal.

This 23rd, after all of my exams, I’m bound to go home to have a break (which is only barely two weeks). Woot, I’m so excited!

Until now, this blog is still my favorite blog despite my attempt to blog at BuildThatGeek.com. A lot of guys liked the theme of my blog at Build that Geek but I still love this theme – the theme I made (except for the logo).

I’ve sold some of this blog’s valuable real estate, I’ve put ads served by Project Wonderful. I’m earning some decent amount of cash from it, but it’s still relatively small.

I’ll be blogging here from time to time. I can hardly update each of my blogs as I am updating at least 5 blogs now. Waaaaaaaa.