What Would Steve Do?

I remember the clunky Apple computers I saw somewhere in stores in the 1990s. My uncle said that those computers were quite old and don't match up real well with the Windows-run machines during the time. Call it the 'gamer' within me; I was pretty sold on PC gaming and playing with Battle Realms that I did not care much for news on technology and innovation. I did not realize the significance of those old models, given the fact that I was still ignorant of technology and its history. Remembering those times today seem to be bittersweet, considering how far everything has developed and changed in this computer-driven world.

My first Apple product ever was the iPod mini released in 2004. Able to convince my parents to buy it after iterating that I was an honor student, music became a significant part of my being from that day until now. iTunes became synonymous with my music consumption, so much that I no longer use any other music software. There were other music devices competing for my attention during that time, such as the Creative Zune and Philips models, other more sleeker and easier-to-use devices that were not as clunky as the 'mini' player. Yet, it just clicked, given its simplicity of use and elegant design. And with this philosophy, the other Apple devices followed suit and stepped into our doorstep: a 2006 Macbook Pro that was part of the first line of Intel-powered devices, the black 2008 Macbook that is now quite rare, a Mac desktop that is still eye candy in our room and a third gen iPod Nano back in 2009 that was a gift to my brother. Creativity and innovation just breathed through these products and simply put, they were easy and a joy to use.

But beyond aesthetics and the sleek, expensive look of Apple's hardware, its still the software that matters for each and every product. Just as much as the devices looked wonderful, the programs and interface of these wonders just kept getting better. From the Grey, efficient display of my Ipod Mini, to the current generation of Lion OS X and the i-OS 5 mobile system, they were intuitive, useful and novel. The software of these devices made computing, entertainment, information and work very lively, vivid and integral to our everyday lives. As an example, when the iPad was released last 2007, its sleek design, convenient user interface, high-powered graphics and sheer power were marketed to such a degree that almost 90% of the tablet market is saturated with these little screens. The iPad, though essentially not the first tablet to be released to the market, became a phenomenon that captured the hearts and minds of many people throughout the world. I have not heard of anyone else who has bought another tablet outside the Samsung Tab. The iPhone, which was released around the same time as the iPad, revolutionized the way we talk about mobile communications and paved the way for the smart phone industry to emerge. Never before has a device only as big as your palm had the computing and graphics power of a laptop. With the current versions of the device, you could forget about your laptop/camera/other devices at home and still check your email, analyze spreadsheets and take photos and videos with amazing clarity.

As such, getting any Apple device these days entails joy, beauty, and the best of what technology has to offer. Gone are the days that talking about computers and tech lingo is confined to the "geek" corner of the room. Gone are the times when normal consumers struggle with what computer to buy or what smart phone to use. Cool Geek these days is the new trend, and such a branding and management of ideas and design have become synonymous with success. Critics and naysayers could say that Apple as a company was just ahead of the curve or lucky, or for the aggressive opponent, stealing ideas from companies and filing law suits for patents to almost every innovation. As a company, Apple has had mishaps in the past, like the decline in the early 1990s, the lack and mismanagement of leadership within, lackluster sales and a reduced customer base. Yet it has survived through a change in its core technology (i.e. the use of Intel processors for the Macbook/Mac lines), better marketing of its design philosophy and a redefinition of the company's direction. It is constant change that has decided the course of Apple since its darker days and it continues to be the trend towards the future.

The world lost a great man, this Oct. 5, 2011. He was an innovator, a true futurist, a hard-worker, a creative genius and a true 'man for others'. He went beyond himself, his own problems and weaknesses and stuck with what he was good at. The only difference between him and someone who hides in his comfort zone is that he stretched his strengths beyond the norm, looking beyond himself, and seeing the beauty that is humanity's potential to be beyond his own person. Coming from an Atenean perspective, isn't that an ideal the Blue Faithful should look up to? The man was a change catalyst, moving, working and struggling in his own to come up with innovations that seek to help the less abled and marginalized in society. Yes, Apple products seem expensive and for the rich and elite, yet the things that we buy from shiny Apple stores should not diminish the social value we could derive from them. What if a song made on Garage Band inspires people to act? How would a video edited on iMovie affect netizens to effect change in their own ways? Could your the Keynote presentations inspire people to change for the better? These are merely ideas shared to us by a man who never stopped changing for the better, who never stopped believing that their is a future where technology could be a promise to be kept and realized.

This piece is merely my experience with Apple and a man who had a vision, grabbed it by its cudgels, and raced on it in search of his own interpretation of what it means to live. He leaves us a legacy and many more questions and ideas to ponder on. I thank him for giving me 7 years immersed in the beauty and potential of technology and what could be a better, brighter tomorrow.

Steve Jobs has closed his Keynote speech for the last time. So, what would you do?

"...Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."-Steve Jobs

Basketball Banter: UAAP Season 74, Round 1 + 1 Weekend Mythical Teams

The First Round of Season 74 for the UAAP Men's Basketball Tournament has recently been 'booked in the history books, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles fnished off all of its assignments to the tune of a 7-0 sweep, whilst the Adamson Soaring Falcons continue to impress critics and observers alike with their much improved defense and tenacity. As for the rest of the league, the FEU Tamaraws and the DLSU Green Archers are still figuring out how to consistently bring out the best of their rotations while finding the will to win they've lost in the last few games, while NU has become a sort of dissapointment after a much ballyhooed and hyped pre-season. As for UP and UE, they continue to search for their identity as ball clubs and to scrape the bottom of the standings.

After the first weekend of the 2nd round, the same observations could still be said and my well become a continuing trend as the cage wars continues. While you be a loyal Eagle, Archer, Maroon or Tiger, you cannot deny the fact that there is a select group of players, no matter what color or school is emblazoned on their jerseys, that continue to stand out from the crop and enthrall us with their performances. In this first (official!) post of the Basketball Banter, I attempt to map out the ten best players in the league. In selecting the players, I factor in their contributions to their teams (points, rebounds, assists, all that stat jazz), as well as their individual performances. Note that the 'winning factor' is not in the equation, even as most of the players on this list are part of winning teams; the case being that some stars really play on so-so teams, whilst others are stable contributers to winning teams.

Without further ado, the BB Round 1 (plus 1 weekend) Mythical Teams:

First Team

G- Kiefer Ravena, ADMU (14.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 SPG)

You may know him as "The Phenomenon", and there's no reason to argue against that point. He has been doing everything humanly possible for the defending champs; he can score off the dribble, catch and shoot, pass off double teams and seemingly repair broken offenses like instant glue. Through the first few games, I had doubts in his ability to play defense agains the bigger, stronger and faster guards in the league. But after his perfect masterpiece against archrivals DLSU, those doubts just went out of the window. The other teams (except Adamson) have yet to figure out how to contain him, yet the scary thought is that he has yet to master his prodigious talents. If all goes well, we may see a Rookie of the Year/MVP winner for the Blue and White faithful.

G- RR Garcia, FEU (15.6 PPG, 3 APG, 11/44 3pt, 31.8 MPG)

After a quick start from where he left off, the defending MVP now sits between what could be a sweet spot and a hard place. He's putting up similar numbers from his previous campaign, yet his team has yet to give him the kind of support he has enjoyed for the last two seasons. With JR Cawaling (2-3 weeks) and Pipo Noundou (entire season) out, Garcia will have a harder time carrying the team to a respectable finish. If he is not able to deliver the goods during crunch time in this second round, then it seems that the chances for FEU to get the 'chip and glory again would dwindle as fast as the so-called hype of the Heatles.

F- Bobby Ray Parks Jr., NU (17.3 PPG, 6.5 PRG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG)

Another hyped rookie, many observers pointed out that with Parks and a certain hardworking center in tow, plus a scrappy group of veterans and youngsters, that the Bulldogs may finally get out of their Final Four slump. After eight tries, Parks has yet to live up to the status many in the media have emblazoned on him. He has the athletic scoring ability, shooting and handle of a typical big American guard, yet he still has to develop the consistency in taking over games. The 30 point explosion he had against UP showed some glimmer of his talent and how much he can still be a threat on the court.

F- Alex Nuyles, ADU (15.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 33.3% 3PT, 28.3 MPG)

The versatile swingman is clearly making an early case for the MVP award, not only because of his much improved scoring and defense, but also because of his leadership and newfound ability in the clutch. His pull up jumper with only 0.8 seconds left against DLSU stunned the Green faithful and kept the Falcons believing that they could challenge their avian foes (in actuality, the Falcons is the only team to pose a true threat now against the Eagles). Am expecting him to take the team to a Top 2 berth and its not far off that they could make the Finals.

C- Greg Slaughter, ADMU (14 PPG, 48.78% FG, 9 RPG, 2.3 BPG)

The Fil-Am bigman, along with Ravena, obviously form the guard-center combo that has everyone pumped up and excited in the league. But on his own, Slaughter can... well butcher the competition. Even against tall centers such as Mba, Mbe and the rest of the Africans, as well as Aldrech Ramos, he has been able to consistently find ways to contribute, either in the post or on the boards. If he's able to develop his jumpshot and add more post moves, this calm giant may very well spell "Duncan" while holding a first place medal.

Second Team:

G- Jeric Fortuna, UST (16 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 16/41 3pt)

Has greatly improved his ability to score whilst maintaining his stready production from the 3 point line. In clear separation from the other Jeric, he has taken the keys of the team and is poised to lead the Tigers to more wins. Expect his numbers to go up as the season moves along.

G- LA Revilla, DLSU (10.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.8 SPG)

The lone bright spot on the Archers, LA is showing signs that he is the alpha dog among wannabes and has-beens. He took a hit in production the past few games, but if he can't find his groove back, expect the Archers to sit back and watch other teams breeze throgh them with ease. Torres and the other bigs should just wait in the post for gimmes from this spark plug instead of chucking perimeter shots.

F- Kirk Long, ADMU (9 PPG, 3.1 APG, 36.36% 3PT, 28.4 MPG)

Clearly the best (looking) perimeter defender in the league, they should be naming the Defensive Player of the Year award after him. Although taking a knock on scoring and percentage numbers, he still gets it done, whether its passing on the fast break or knocking down the timely 3. He still finishes on the break like how LeBron would finish in the 4th quarter.

F- Nico Salva, ADMU (12.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 77.27% FT, 26.6 MPG)

When the super-rookies were not doing their usual thing against FEU last Saturday, Kobe's protege kept stabbing away at the isolation defenses with timely jumpers and footwork that would make Mr. 24 proud. He has developed the mentality that in order to win basketball games with the team, he has to sacrifice, live in the offense and play PROPER defense.

C- Emmanuel Mbe, NU (11.5 PPG, 52.38% FG, 8.1 RPG, 1.9 BPG)

Talk about Sophomore Slumps! The big man from the Congo still puts up the defensive numbers we've come to expect from him and he has recently exploded against UE last Saturday, yet he still lacks the post footwork and soft touch to be truly dominant in the league. That, and he has to have a staredown with Slaughter. I would pay extra to see that.

Honorable Mentions: Jett Manuel (UP), Jeric Teng (UST), Chris Camus (UST), Eric Camson (ADU), Lester Alvarez (Adamson), Emman Monfort (ADMU), Karim Abdul (UST), Paul Zamar (UE), Aldrech Ramos (FEU), Jarelan Tampus (DLSU)

First published on Facebook, August 17, 2011. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150280967333512

Politics (in a not-so-smart sense)

Obviously, some people may rattle me by saying that this was not well thought of or researched. Yet, I wrote this down for one of my get-to-know papers in DS 130.

Media, both in print and television, and some experts have labeled the problems in the Philippines as rooted in the corruption and negligence of the government, no matter what the date is. Through generations of politicians and policy makers, we see the same problems time and time again, to the point that the ordinary Filipino scoffs at the topic in conversations and would instead give smile sheepish grins and would ask to talk about something else. That is where the rub is: Filipinos have become so used to the mistakes and misgivings of public leaders that they would rather depend on themselves to take their own slice of life. They have depended so much upon themselves, their families, friends and colleagues, to get food for the table, to send kids to school, to earn a career and to buy the necessities 21st century families need. Yet, I sit here thinking that this is still not a very strong philosophy to live by in Philippine society. A huge percentage of the population is still poor and is in dire need of basic necessities. Basically, everyone is both struggling and getting by with what they have with life. Never mind that the government is inefficient or that it’s various agencies can be seriously called "public institutions"; it seems more and more that big business and private individuals with vast resources are the ones running the country. Privatization and deregulation are the talk in administrative and economic circles, with corporate sponsorships and projects providing most of the services that the marginalized need, as well as non-government organizations and initiatives safeguarding the basic liberties of every man, woman and child. It is a bit disconcerting to think that some of these organizations have also become probes and 'watchdogs' on the government's decisions and activities. Scandals and chances to enrich one self abound in a society that has grown numb and paralyzed with the ideas of true democracy and proper administration.

The way politics and society have worked, from the ordinary laborer to the President, is that there tends to be no responsibility towards accountability. Good case examples do exist, however as already stated, the news is almost always 'bad news'. The laws of the land are well written, intelligent and if Filipinos implement and follow them to the letter, the country would become one of the most vibrant and developed nations in the world. Alas, years of bad habits and happy-go-lucky attitudes derail any hopes for such dreams to come true. There is no clear-cut solution to solving the roots of the "bad apples" that pepper the Philippines, no is their an all-in-one step to administer solutions for the myriad of minor cases of indiscipline, inefficiency and the really, the "I don't care anymore" syndrome. If people actually started to believe that they can do, something that they can contribute to a group effort to solve many of the problems plaguing the land, then that would be something. The work has already begun and must continue on its steady, yet dangerous course. Private groups and cooperatives provide basic services. The rich and wealthy, for all their extravagance and influence, do try to care at times by creating foundations and reaching out through their own ways. Corporations are digging themselves into the CSR (corporate social responsibility) paradigm, in that they not only produce for the sake of many, but they would now seek to replenish, sustain and empower their customers. But the youth have become the most influential driving force on the way towards living a better life. College organizations and administrations raise awareness in campuses and provide opportunities for students to step out and see what the real world really is. Church groups spread a brand of formation that is geared towards caring for the poor, while providing the usual activities to enrich the spirituality of its members. This is, I believe, the beauty of community organization; for those who have been wronged or who are appalled at the brutal schemes of bad influences and wrong decisions, then the ability to create groups that have a common purpose and a mission to institute changes and to inspire others, would be one of the greatest examples of the liberty and passion of the human spirit.

Moving On (Final Week of Internship)

The final week of my internship has just passed! After punching in my time card for the final time, I felt relieved that I have accomplished something in my time at ASoG, albeit little in scale to what my office mates do everyday. For me, it was small consolation to actually gain a lot from my experiences.

It was fitting that it was my last day in the office. I had just finished the training proposal Mam had asked of me. Of course, I didn't do it all by myself because I must admit, if I were to have finished the work all by myself, I would get a beating so bad, they won't let me in ASoG again (just kidding). Ate Karen helped me a lot in formatting the document's contents and arranging all my ideas into coherent statements. Writing proposals in a professional environment is very different from what I have learned in my years of schooling. It is not that Ateneo has not taught me the technique and rigor to write in such a manner, I was just giddy and excited for myself, to be able to use the writing skills I learned at an earlier time. I thank all my teachers for teaching me to love and learn writing and at the same time, for teaching me to become someone who is willing to exonerate people for bad grammar.

To be able to work in such a high pressure environment was also helpful, albeit something I'm already used to in college and in the past. Pressure could easily be my middle name really, and work was something that seemed routine. Hours upon hours of logged time in the office gave me a sense (in a nutshell) of a life I could possibly see in my future: a desk job with a few office mates, the droning sound of the airconditioner, an annoying desktop with a screen that fizzles until your eyes blow out of their sockets, so much that I had to bring my own laptop; a boss who constantly looks over your shoulder to check on your work and finally, an eerily quiet atmosphere that suggests the occupants inside are ghosts. "Way to describe your experience!", you might say. Intrepid and intrigued as I am at the prospect of having this career path in the future, I still am hopeful for the future that this may not happen to me. The pressure I experienced at work was for me, necessary for my own good good. And don't people get satisfaction for overcoming pressure?

I sit here thinking what things I could have done better during my short time at ASoG. In spite of a short tenure, Mam Aurma gave me the opportunity to work with them in future, during the school year and beyond. She said that she was grateful for my performance and is willing to help me out as well. I don't know but deep down inside me, I feel that someway or another, I have to return the favor. Is this the last time I will see my time at the office? Time will tell. I am a guy who does seek opportunity, and well I did snag a great one at that this summer. This may well be only the beginning of a wonderful partnership with ASoG.

Just When I Got My Bearings (3rd Week of Internship)

Its already half time of my stay here in ASOG, and just when I thought I could settle down and be comfortable around the people here, its almost time to leave! I sit here thinking what I can do more to make these moments more memorable, but its all that and nothing more. For how can you make something special when it could be as mundane and banal as paper work?

But I digress. There have been moments when I was happy that I chose working with ASOG. The opportunity to work with so many knowledgeable, mature and calm individuals as well as experts made me feel that I belong here. Call me an adult already, but that's just the way I roll when its all about business. Business during the third week here at the office was all good; I pondered more on how to figure out the best way to teach top level executives in high functioning government bodies the values of team work, working together as a cohesive unit and general work-ethic-hard work. For me, it almost sounds juvenile. Imagine, teaching the leaders of our land simple things that you could learn from your grade school counselor! Call me arrogant, but isn't that how the world should work? Petty jealousy and laziness has never been so mortifying.

The best part of the week was probably getting to meet the Dean of ASOG. Dean "Tony" La Vina is a great mentor for everyone here and the things they talked about him were validated in my eyes after listening to one of his talks. From the point of view of someone who takes faith with a grain of salt, he explained almost seamlessly how our beliefs in God could benefit being stewards of the environment. Because of his background in Environmental law as well as his international experience tackling climate change, it may seem awkward at first to combine topics regarding how we should scientifically save the Earth with how we should view the world God gave us, into a stream of enlightening thought. It was a great attempt and I enjoyed the experience.

Work shouldn't be this bad at all. Its just that staring into my laptop for hours that kills the fun.

PS. I got a lot of free food today! Dean Tony fed us with pasta and HELL lots of flannel cake and oreos. We also had food from Mama Corra's birthday!

Rain on the Pavement (Second Week of Internship)

I'm stuck, like a brain drain.

I haven't been stuck in a very long time on something. Sometimes, I try to remember events in my life wherein I was perplexed on a problem that needed a solution, a question that needed a answer, a dumb predicament that needed a smart fix. The assignment Mam Aurma gave me for my 2nd week here fits along those lines.

I trust myself to know how to figure this out. Just give my brain some time... and sooner or later the answers will pop out like bubbles in my bath tub. Its a simple thought as I wallowed through the office hours, staring at helpful remedies that could help me find the words to write down. The training program I'm currently stuck on seems to mock me every time I try to be clever with it. No, I tell myself, this is only a span of time that I have to deal with in poise and precision. Instead, what I have are jitters of nervousness and the dread of not being able to finish this program on time!

So what do I do now that, after promising myself I would do some work over the weekend (which I didn't do. Happy Mother's Day), I am still stuck on the work I began since Wednesday? Maybe, I'll just wash, rinse and repeat. There's nothing really wrong with reworking the brain, to jolt it again into repeating a process that has little chance at success.

Yet, I'll leave this blog, knowing that I must keep trudging on, work, eat, work, drink. The life of an office worker can get any better than this right? Talk about a brain drain.

PS. On a side note, I had lunch with my associates and Mam over a meeting last Thursday. It was nice to get to know a bit more of them over lunch (KFC!). Chicken and conversation never tasted good in the same sentence.

Summer Blues (First Week of Internship)

The computers hummed along like no-nonsense bees, too perturbed with their work, just as so their users are pre-occupied with whatever documents they are working with. I was stuck there myself looking dazed and feeling rather sleepy. There I was in the office, for my first summer internship.

I actually started with my practicum at a later time as compared to my classmates. I was worried I wouldn't make the cut in the organization I was planning to join and get accepted in, let alone remember that I have a definite 200-hour requirement to finish. It was the only thing that boggled my mind, so much so I had to count backwards how many days, from the finals week (on May 23-25) up to the actual day I started counting on, on more than one occasion. I wouldn't say looking for a place to intern was a hassle in itself; it was more of an opportunity to experience "job hunting" and anticipating the fact that this could happen in my future, for a better situation or for worse. Experiencing everything I went through this month therefore was all a way to learn for me.

At the Executive Education Program at ASOG, Mam Aurma asked me for the things that I would expect or want out of the program she was handling. I replied that I didn't expect much really, I just wanted to gain experience like any other student. As if to keep me interested, she told me that she had a lot of projects lined up for the summer and that she was willing to give me the opportunity to relish in this endeavors. I said that I'll do my best, not knowing if I was sure of myself with that answer or if I was giving myself the benefit of the doubt.

Given my background as an Editor in an organization, Mam gave me my first assignment of editing a Research on a Training Assessment in 4 provinces for LED (Local Economic Development). The paper itself was interesting and really a down-to-Earth approach for LGUs to initiate their own plans of helping their constituents. The plan dictates that all available offices be "on the same page" in attaining the goal of developing their own offices in leadership and economics, as well as to make sure their offices function for true development. I can say that with all the time I used in editing the documents, including the Recommendations part and the Training Plan to be implemented after the study, that I lost time to orient myself in the office. I've been trying to work too hard, the eager-beaver mentality, if you will.

Its been a time that I am on edge, always ready to accept the next assignment. Last Thursday, after finally finishing the Training Plan portion of the document, I was waiting on Mam for my next assignment. Since Friday, I haven't received any word from her, and my office mates are also waiting on her too.

With the free time I have now, am hoping I can get something to do for this second week. But I might as well bond and feel "at home" here at ASOG. After all, it is the summer.

reposted, from http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150171593398512

Got 'Em Phil

THE WOLF

Phil Jackson’s long-time team philosophy:

Now is the law of the jungle, as old and true as the sky;
And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the Law runneth forward and back,
For the strength of the pack is the wolf.
And the strength of the wolf is the pack.

-Rudyard Kipling

taken from Got 'Em Coach.com. (http://gotemcoach.com/). We'll miss ya Phil.