The New Breeds

And the contest is finished...

Surprisingly, we topped the Identification Round, the one that I really loath. And on the programming round, well, we weren't able to solve one of the two problems. It was the determination of the original price, given the markdown percentage and the net price (inputted by the user).

We weren't able to make it to Round 3. A team from UC-Main, UC-LM, and Comp. Eng. qualified for the final programming round, which was to solve a problem involving searching for numbers in a string of characters, computing their sum, and sorting them. To be honest, this problem is a lot easier than determining the original price. Oh well.

It's like the world turned upside down. We failed in programming yet swept the identification round.

And as the results were laid, Joy and Jayrome (from UC-Main) had the successful algorithm at the fastest time, giving them the win. Joy and Jayrome belongs to the elite few top students of their year (they're in 3rd Year).

Deep inside, I really wanted to win. Who doesn't want to? I felt like I disappointed Ma'am Maris. I felt like I could've done better if I studied more. However, I'm still glad for Joy and Jayrome for topping the contest. At least, the winning team came from my campus. Hmmm, I can smell a pinch of sourgraping here. :D

I and Anabelle joked on us getting all rusty. Hahaha. It's high time for the college to discover new breeds, and they've just found them. As for me, I can't dedicate my full time to joining contests, as I've stated in the previous post.

Joy and Jayrome's got a long way to go. Who knows, they would get more achievements than what I and Anabelle had. I'm looking forward to that.

UC-Main Rocks!

The Shocking News and a Student's Remorse

Just a few minutes before posting, my colleague Jofil revealed this shocking announcement: the company (Cebu Electro Marketing) we've been studying for our IT 24 has already been studied! And as a golden rule, no two (or more) groups should study the same company!

Jofil already had this suspicion that Richard (and his group) is studying Cebu Electro Marketing's Mandaue branch, as revealed with former's previous conversation with the latter. Richard is from the afternoon section. Jofil wasn't able to verify it soon, due to some 'kaulaw/kasuod' issues. Also, we just neglected the proposition thinking that since Sir Sanchez continues to check our work and has not had any qualms about the company being studied by another.

This is also one thing I don't understand with Sir Sanchez. He assumes that his students already knows everything. He thinks that he has already told the students the 'rules' when in fact he did not! He always delivers his infamous 'I told you (last meeting/already) that...blah, blah, blah' line partnered with drilling his fingers on the table and shaping wrinkles on his forehead. Raising his voice, he can make the whole class shut to silence.

There was one time when he told us to lay down all papers to be checked on his table, as what he has said during 'the last time.' I thought he really did, since it was then when I just came back from Korea. But upon asking my classmates, not one of then remembered that he told everyone of the rule! Again he shut the class in defeaning silence.

And maybe because of this that he tends to overlook on a lot of things. He checks for errors on our papers and put notes on it. After putting necessary corrections, we again submit the papers, only to find out that there were new errors, and these were mostly the ones that he did not see previously! Putting it bluntly, he does not see all the errors at one sitting. The items we thought correct sometimes turn out to be new errors for him. Sadly at the expense of the students, we have to print the whole thing all over again, digging hard into our pockets.

He's also sometimes unpredictable, always changes his mind. Our first major heartache (for our group) was when Sir Sanchez told us to look for another company since TRUMAS wouldn't give out the source documents. Here's the catch: weeks earlier he told the whole class that if the company hesitates to furnish copies of the source documents (for confidentiality), we can just ask the format of which (and have it typed on the computer). During the first weeks he was checking our TRUMAS study, he didn't censure the encoded documents. And we are just surprised when he finally told us about the new rule, as stated above! It was the reason why we sought for another company to study: Cebu Electro Marketing. But look at what happened? Richard and his group has been studying the same company for the long run, and Sir Sanchez didn't notice it?

It's so frustrating. We're already on the process of designing the database for Cebu Electro Marketing, but we're left with no choice. Soon, Sir will eventually find it out. We just have to start all over again, either go back to TRUMAS and plead to them, or look for another company. We roughly have a month and two weeks left before submission. At our present state, I am losing hope whether we'll make it.

I know we may have our share of the fault and should've done our share of the research, but Sir can't expect us to be omniscient -- to be all-knowing. We're still beginning to learn this craft, so at least he should be considerate enough. At least he can be consistent with his rules...

I don't know if there was any student before brave enough to tell Sir Sanchez about these discrepancies of his. With his present position in the school's hierarchical chart, and with his immense knowledge, no one bothered to challenge him. Yet. I thought of writing him a letter, but I was faint-hearted.

I hope Sir Sanchez notices it for himself... :(



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On another note, I guess I just can't leave my blog like that. :) But this issue needs to be addressed!

Monday's Fast Approaching...

Monday's fast approaching, and I have not prepared anything for the travel yet. My clothes, my personal stuff; nothing's been prepared yet. I am yet to look for a token for the Korean family I'll be staying with for the whole duration of the tour.

The family wants to buy me some new clothes, seeing that I only have a few ones at my disposal (mostly college/school shirts, and are so used up). My jeans are starting to fade as well. Worse, we don't have a travel bag for me to use.

That's why my elder sister applied for a loan in PAG-IBIG a week ago. She instructed me to come back to PAG-IBIG today to follow-up her application. The whole family was hopeful that finally (she actually applied for this loan almost a month ago, but was held because of unmatching signatures) the application would be approved. Everything will be good to go once we have the money...

But, one should never count the chicks before they're even hatched.

It was still under processing, and I have to come back there tomorrow. I'm already worried even before, and now here it comes. What if the application will be rejected again? Where will we get the money?

And if the application is to be approved, what if it arrives after Monday? What use is it for?

The school gave me a $200 allowance though, but I would like to spend it for souvenirs and other petty expenses once there in Korea. But if left with no choice, then I'll take it.

I'm crossing my fingers for some good news tomorrow...

Have You Ever...

Have you ever felt that the whole world seems to be on your shoulders, when everyone watches your every move, reprimands all your mistakes, like you’ve done nothing right? Did it ever come to you when the people around you just fail to understand the situation at hand, or when people stop understanding because they just ‘got tired’ of things not turning out the way they want it to be? When you’re so fed up with this entire ruckus, that instead of them helping you they push you some more, you just want to give up?

For almost two months I have not received my allowance being an on-the-job trainee of one of the printer and printer solutions mammoths. It’s already a norm here that OJTs cannot retrieve their first allowance (scheduled every fifteen days), and may instead get it on the second allowance period, maybe longer. Perhaps the reason is that they have to clinch the OJT’s settlement with the company first (which includes his/her benefits, among others), and may take long.

Well that’s fine with me.

When the second payroll period came, I tried to use the ATM card with my peers. They were able to withdraw, but not on my case. It says that "it cannot process my transaction." Oh well. I called the HRD the following day, and they told me that my name's not included on the payroll system rosters (strangely though), but that doesn't mean that my working days will be devoid. It will be counted on the third payroll period.

So I've waited for another fifteen days...

And on the afternoon of May 15, I tried using my card again. Alas, the card's not working again -- not valid, card not found in the system. Gosh. I informed the HRD once again. "Perhaps because we weren't able to give out everyone's salary today because of some uncontrolled circumstances that's why the card didn't work. How about trying it tomorrow morning, and if it still doesn't work, forward your card here and we'll have it replaced." -- that's what the HR personnel told me.

So I was hopeful that the next day I will finally receive my allowance. But to my mishap, I still got the same error message. So I hurriedly went to the HRD to have my card replaced. They told me that I can do an over-the-counter withdrawal, if confirmed that the card's not working by the bank. I need to wait for the HRD's call for the results, which may take a few days.

I went home with a heavy heart. I am just boarding at my Tita Juliana's house, and I haven't paid my dues every since I started living there. I feel hesitant eating my meals with them, that is why I intend to pass meals. However, they have not "nagged" yet about paying our debts, but do I have to wait for that time to come?

All I got when I arrived home were constant reprimands. Mom was irate at me. She's been "understanding" so much, after the first and second pay period that I didn't get my share. But now she has had enough. It's her firm decision to making me stop working. She said I "don't need" my job, so why should I suffer?

She's finding it hard to make both ends meet. She's been lending from many people for my baon, with the promise that when the money comes we'll pay for it. She's having qualms that we have not paid Tiyo Tony and Tiya Juliana yet, and sooner, the two will be babbling about our overdue bill. She has known these people to be acting as such.

She hurriedly went to Tiyo Eddie's, to borrow money for our fare to Danao. We'll go there and she won't let me work.

And speaking of babbles, Tiyo Tony and Tiya Juliana were censuring me on both sides, add up my cousins (their children) who think reprimanding me is a pushover. Worse, they want me to sue the company to the Department of Labor or if not, in one of the radio stations here.

At that moment, I was feeling my heart tightening. I was falling short of breath. It was like a young heart attack. Cardiac arrest took my father's life. God forbid! I turned a deaf ear on all of their castigation, so that I won't be feeling further pain. I went out of the house to gasp some air.

At that moment, I’ve felt that the whole world was on my shoulders, when everyone watches my every move, reprimands all my mistakes, like I’ve done nothing right. I am the worst person there is...

Haven't they thought that I accepted this fate with a little to no complaint, so why can't they? To think, I was also disappointed with the turnout, but I welcomed the challenge. I already had a plan on where to invest my money, but there's not much that I can do. I felt that time's playing with me again. Instead of these people helping me with my burden, they push my head to the sand some more. They've "gone tired" of understanding, that's why they resort to such drastic measures. Haven't they thought that they're just adding fuel to the fire? Haven't they thought that once this issue reaches the public ear, this will greatly taint my image as a student and a future workforce? I may not be able to graduate because the company dropped me off of the training, or the other companies blacklisting me. By then, I don't know what's gonna happen with my lfe. This aftermath is worse than the measly amount I will be getting...

That's why I'm very thankful for Tiyo Eddie for giving me a hand, for letting Mama understand my side. I was overjoyed when Mama held my hand and gave my comforting words. I'm glad that she accepted my fate, and the things that will happen if she let her angst get much of her. She told me to request the company to please hasten up the processing of my salary.

If not for Tiyo Eddie, I may have remained the underdog. I may have let go...

Sigh.

New and exciting things had happened to me these past few days. Forgive me if I’m not updating my blog often; frugality in expenses. Times that I feel tired typing about these things again – procrastination-cum-laziness. Yeah, it would’ve been nice if I wrote them on a journal, but I’m too lethargic in doing so.

I don’t know what will happen to my blog. Though not necessary but recommended, blogs should be updated everyday, but there are cases that stop me.

I seldom log to the internet now – no resources to finance such. I have a very huge debt to Tiya Gina, the owner of the internet café I’m patronizing. I’m having a hard time paying my dues.

I’m not earning my own salary; I depend so much on my monthly allowance, which I find meager as time passed. Mama shoulders me with the petty dues I have, but still she depends on my Ate Mikit’s salary for Mama is unemployed. Alas, even Ate Mikit is having a hard time making both ends meet, and even had her own share of credit borrowing. Plus, she’s shouldering my other sisters’ schooling.

My credit account is almost two thousand pesos. And looking at my financial standing (based on the aforementioned paragraph), it may take some time before I shell out my dues.

Good thing that Tiya Gina understands me. I never heard a word from her yelling at me and never hurried me as to my responsibility. That’s why I feel more ashamed of myself; I abstained myself – I will not surf the net unless important. I minimized playing online games, chatting with my online friends, checking my Friendster account and of course, updating my blog.

I should’ve done this in the first place. My debt would not have grown at this height. Yes, I’m willing to pay my dues (and will never run away from it), but then, no matter how one is eager, but he himself doesn’t have the capacity to do so, still it goes in vain.

In a matter of time I noticed a change in Tiya Gina’s approach to me; she seems to be ‘upset’ every time I log in. Though she never says a thing, but I can feel it. I can’t blame Tiya Gina; it has been a while since I remitted. I usually remit 500 pesos a month, but then my dues should shoot up again, thanks to me.

“Well, I’m able to pay a fraction of the total cost, then I think it would be alright to go overboard again…”

I have no one to blame but myself, on why I have let myself swallowed up by my vice – committing debt but cannot commit payment.

A Talk With Kathlene

One should look on both sides of the coin…

Kathlene caught my attention while I was heading back to the office. She was sitting all alone in one of the Engineering rooms; I wonder why.

She talked to me about what happened last night. She appreciates what I have done. She was happy that there was one friend that was concerned for her and Jobby. She’s also happy that even for the short span of time, I considered them as friends. That I was having a hard time checking on the both of them. (read: A Valentines Day I'll Never Forget)

“I never thought that there was one friend who was deeply concerned with me and Jobby, and I’m so fortunate to have you as a friend. Even for a short span of time, you’ve considered us to be special…I appreciate your efforts”

“But you weren’t in the right timing…”

Upon hearing this, I was shocked! Did I do something wrong? Didn’t things go out as planned?

“You should’ve looked on both sides of the coin. Jobby has her story; I also have my fair share of it. And I find it unfair that you didn’t…”

“And now, the whole class knew about our misunderstanding…That which I have tried to avoid and kept into secrecy for a very long time…”

Damn, I never thought that I made such a huge mess last night! Now everyone in my class found out that Kathlene and Jobby are not in good terms.

These girls are melancholic in nature; they don’t really talk that much. I thought that people already knew about their dilemma, but I was surprised when Kathlene told me it isn’t. Damn, these ladies sure know how to keep things in secrecy.

I have the noblest of intentions, but I wasn’t in the right timing. I guess I was a bit aggressive. Kathlene and Jobby may reunite, and that time will come. The problem is that who will cast the first stone? Kathlene is willing to do it, but she will do it not because I requested it, but because she wanted to.

I admit, I wasn’t able to hear Kathlene’s side of the story. I guess I am to blame. Jobby sits next to me, so I can bleakly talk to Kathlene. It’s always Jobby’s part that I hear, and I admit I was bias to Kathlene. I thought that Kathlene was just acting too immature as to why a simple misunderstanding would cause a crack in the pot. I always thought Kathlene was the bad one, and Jobby was innocent.

“How did Jobby tell you what happened?”

I told her that it started with the Sinulog celebration, and that after a heated argument on a Wednesday evening, I later found out that the both of them are no longer in speaking terms. (read: Being the Middleman)

“I see. She only told you a part of the whole.”, and she shared to me her side of the story.

Later that Wednesday night, Jobby told her that it was all her fault as to why she didn’t enjoy their company; that she was selfish, a crybaby, and doesn’t know how to mingle with people. She was hurt with Jobby’s remark.

“I am not a perfect friend, and I will never be. If she wants to have one, then it’s not me. For all those times we’ve shared together, she just saw my imperfections right there and then?”

Then Thursday came. Kathlene was surprised that Lornie already knew about them, when in fact she never told anyone about it.

“I wanted to solve the problem by ourselves. It could’ve worked out, but she told everyone. And the sad thing is, she made it appear that it was my entire fault.”

She texted Jobby to ask her why. Yes, there were exchanges of replies, but Kathlene decided not to respond to her anymore.

“Jobby always wants things to happen for her advantage. She always wants to appear right. She wants people to understand her, but she refuses to understand others…”

“This has happened a lot of times before, but it just happened that now they reached the brink of their limits, and burst…”

As I was listening to her story, I felt like a needle pinched me in the heart. I was very unfair to Kathlene. I should have taken the effort of hearing her long ago. I felt like instead of pulling them out together, I’m pushing them away further. I’m such a loser.

Kathlene missed the times when she and Jobby go together, eat together, times when they are crossing the street and how Kathlene is so clumsy in crossing, and that Jobby will tease her. Times that are now long gone…

“I have a phobia for crossing streets…”

She appreciates me giving her a green-colored balloon. She really favors the color, and even have a collection of green stuff, from notebooks down to combs. With a faint smile, I told her that green is also my favorite color, and it was mere coincidence that it was also her favorite color, thanks to Lornie for informing me sooner.

And the school bell rang. I have to get back to my room for the next subject. I waved Kathlene goodbye, but I’m hoping to talk to her soon…