Inside the fat engineer's mind

Happy Fathers Day to all fathers this 2010

2010-06-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

A close of friend of mine draws inspiration from his father. Talks to him about life and many other things. Actually, all of them miss his father because he died a long, long time ago. And yet, they still communicate every now and then.

Also someone close to me, cries like a child whenever she remembers the time when here father passed away more than 5 years ago. She cries like it just happened yesterday. She misses him so much.

Their fathers must have been great while they were here with us because they are fondly remembered even up to this day and the legacy they left behind extended beyond their graves.

Well, I think this is what all living fathers should strive for. To give their all for their children so that they will be able to leave a legacy of love to them even after long they would depart from this life.

I know some unfortunate few also who have fathers that are not so great. Fathers who look at their children like they owe them their lives. Fathers who don't give a damn about their children or their families. Fathers, who push their children to think that they are better off dead.

This is what every father should avoid.

This father's day, please pick and decide what type of father you want to be. Do you want to be remembered lovingly after you're gone or do you want your children wishing that you are better off dead even if you're still alive?

Sometimes the fruit falls far away from the tree

2010-04-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

The elections in the Philippines is fast approaching and it is very sad to say that we have not learned our lesson. Today's surveys reveal that Noynoy Aquino is most likely to win it all and closely behind him is rags-to-riches, Manny Villar. If you ask the Noynoy followers why they are voting for him, they'd tell you that he is the least corrupt among the candidates and that he'll be like his father and his mother. Most of us are voting him for the potential he has and not for what he is capable of doing. It would be like deciding to marry a drunkard and a cheat who you hope would change right after marriage wherein the percentage of that happening is quite low.

Well, I am a big fan of Ninoy (Noynoy's father) and just hearing him talk on one of his speeches gives me the shivers. He could have been a great president for us if he weren't assassinated but Ninoy stands out from the rest because of his pure love of the nation. He knew he was going to be killed when he comes back to the Philippines but he still came back, because for Him, the Filipino was worth dying for. Who among the political characters present today could display such love for the nation? None. You may hear people getting imprisoned for this and that but not to the extent of willingly putting their necks on the line for all of us Filipinos.

Then, there's Cory. I'm not a huge fan of Cory's as compared to Ninoy but I still salute here bravery. She stood against a dictator. She could have been easily killed off like her husband but she did that and because of that it showed that she was also willing to place her neck on the line for us Filipinos. Her presidency though was a bit mediocre but it wasn't that bad at all.

Expecting Noynoy to be like his parents would be like expecting Michael Jordan's son to be like Michael Jordan but really sometimes, the fruit just falls off far from the tree. It's either the child will surpass the parent or the child won't even come close to the achievement of the parent. In Noynoy's case, I don't see him surpassing or even at least equalling what made his parents great. Somehow, I just do not see Noynoy putting his life on the line and I do not see the traits that I liked most about his parents in him. He doesn't show genuine selflessness like what his parents shown.

I'm not sure if Noynoy will succeed or fail as the next president but I'm just hoping that come this May 2010, we will vote wisely. We should vote the person for who he/she really is and not because of what we hope he/she will be.

In terms of talent and achievement, you have Gibo and Gordon as topnotchers in that field. In terms of least corrupt, Nicanor Perlas or Eddie Villanueva should be on top. But please vote for the person that is most qualified to most likely get us out of the mess that we are in, its still your decision.

Why do we react when we are clearly to blame?

2009-06-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since my last blog. I've been busy with my life as new challenges come along. Its just very unfortunate that my first blog for 2009 would be something that strikes hard at the heart of one of the negative cultures or habits that we have.

At first, I usually get angry when someone from the outside the Philippines would take a hit at us whether it is done for the fun of it or it is done seriously. The comments of Teri Hatcher on one of the Desperate Housewives episode, the joke cracked by Alec Baldwin on live TV and the comments made by Tsip Tsao are examples of what I am talking about.

My initial reaction to these was probably the same to the majority of us. I got defensive and thought, who are these people to make fun of us and though they may have not done it unintentionally or they may have been misunderstood, what they said sounded totally uncalled for.

Just this recently, I came to think deeply of it. Maybe there was a little sting of truth to what they have said. In one show of the desperate housewives, Teri Hatcher made a comment that doubted the credibility of our doctors here in the Philippines. If you generalize it, this is wrong since there are lots of doctors here in the Philippines that are brilliant and their competencies are world class. But a selected few, do deserve to be questioned. Maybe those who were involved in the infamous canister scandal and today's hottest doctor, Dr. Hayden Kho, are concrete examples of doctors who needs to be checked since their behaviors stained not just themselves but the whole image of doctors in the Philippines.

Then there's Tsip Tsao, who commented that we are a nation of slaves. What coould have made him thought of that? I salute our OFW's who sacrificed their careers and their lives to work outside the country. Some of them to the extent of working at a level way below their competencies. What would be the use of working as a supervisor here when we can work as a laborer outside the country for ten times the amount? Be an accountant here earning Php 20,000 per month or be a domestic helper outside earning Php 200,000 per month? The Philippine government doesn't have any problems with this situation but it should have been them that made it sure that the Filipinos do not need to work outside anymore since the jobs here are already self-sufficient. The government instead prides itself in exporting human resources rather than improving its own financial state so that our fellow men would no longer need to sacrifice outside the country. For me, this is really our government's fault. Other nations are looking at us differently because professionals here are exported to other nations as blue collar workers.

As for Alec Baldwin's comments about mail order brides, it might have been a bit exaggerated but there are a few of us who honestly marry for comfort and money rather than for love. And these few always have a foreigner in mind as husbands-to-be. No one can blame these women either as our financial situation here doesn't look that bright.

But what really ticked me off these days is what IECEP is doing. They introduce this new Professional Electronics Engineer status without giving any clear guidelines to how you earn this status. They said that you can become one if you have seven years experience being an Electronics Engineer, pass the requirements and pass the interview. The electronics engineering field has so many branches and yet your interviewer may only be familiar of 1 or 2 of those branches and yet he has the power to judge you for your expertise on a branch he may have little knowledge of.

Another IECEP flaw is the non-accrediting of trainings given by your employers as part of your continiuous professional education and only giving credit to those assigned by IECEP themselves where you need to pay per training. Honestly, these IECEP sponsored trainings rarely contain any technical content and if they do they won't be of use to an electronics engineer in a different field.

I won't be surprised someday if something nasty would be said about the electronics engineers of the the Philippines. I am an electronics engineer here in the Philippines too but when I here it in the future, I'm sure I won't react defensively. Why should I when its clear that we ourselves are to blame.

Of witches and doctors

2008-09-09T03:24:00.000-07:00

I just can't seem to get over this, that's why I'm blogging it now. I just can't accept the fact that corruption in the Philippines is not just found within the government but it has extended to almost everyone even in confines of the hospital. Even some doctors (not all), yes even the guardians of our health, also find ways to squeeze extra money from their unsuspecting clients.

From what I know, we sacrifice a bit of our income every month to contribute to Philhealth so that someday, when we get to be sick, Philhealth would be able to shoulder some of the hospitalization costs and thus provide some relief for the patient. However, it has become a practice of some doctors to add up their professional fees resulting to the nullification of what Philhealth provides. With this, instead of Philhealth easing up the financial burdens of patients, Philhealth then becomes additional income of these greedy doctors. Yes, they do help us survive thru the sickness and we thank them for that but their greed also makes sure that you get drowned in debt after you survive. You get so drowned in debt that some people, specially the old ones, just wish that they just let them die instead of keeping them alive.

I really did think that this "dagdag-bawas"-like schemes only happen within the Philippine government and politics. I am really sad to find out what I just found out just recently. It really does take only one rotten tomato to spoil the whole basket. Big fires do start from little sparks. Corruption and selfishness has spread throughout the Philippines like cancer and it has reached a point where it is almost uncurable. Hopefully, I'm wrong. Hopefully, the few good persons left in the Philippines would stand up now and try to put a stop to this.

Remembering Ninoy Aquino Today

2008-08-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have heard of this "I am Ninoy" movement here in the Philippines which aims to re-introduce Ninoy Aquino's legacy to every Filipino specially the young ones. I really applaud the people who thought of this since it makes us all remember the greatness and the self-sacrifice he once showed for all of us Filipinos.

I just do not know if its true that they are selling items for the "I am Ninoy" movement for around 300 pesos and up. If they do, they won't be reaching a lot of people since 300 pesos nowadays is quite a lot specially if you belong to the minimum wage group where majority of our brothers and sisters are in now. Anyways, I still am glad that some people thought of this and I am hoping that they will be able to reach every Filipino regardless of their income. I really do hope that the true reason for this is not cashing in but for reminding everyone of what Ninoy really was and what Ninoy really resembled.

As for me, I didn't really know much of his personal life until recently when I took a quick look at wikipedia. All I knew about him was that he was a man that fought for justice and freedom against the dictatorship of the Marcos government and that he was a man who thought of others first before of himself. He knew that his life would be in danger when he would set his foot back in the Philippines but still he came back. Unfortunately for him, his body was already lifeless when it touched the ground since he was shot while he was descending from the stairs from the plane.

Ninoy was a great man and he deserved to be called a hero. If any of our existing politicians would at least be half of what Ninoy was, the Filipinos nowadays would have a much better life. If our politicians and government officials would just have half of how Ninoy cares for the Filipino, then we would not be in the mess that we are in now. If all of us, just loved our country and our countrymen even half than Ninoy did, then we would have voted for the right persons into position in the first place.

Its one ugly cycle. First, we let politicians buy our vote. Of course, politicians of that caliber have their own hidden agenda. Second, when these politicians come into power, they make sure that they recover all the costs they incurred by buying our votes and more. Third, since most of our tax money are going to the personal pockets of these evil people, the funds that were supposedly for the improvement of our country become insufficient. Fourth, since the funds are insufficient, these people find ways to milk more money from us with additional taxes (EVAT) w/c becomes an additional burden for us unfortunately. Last, when election time comes, these same people use our own money to buy our votes then this ugly cycle starts all over again.

Aren't we the ones to be blamed in the first place? We lack love for our country and our countrymen that is why we let this ugly cycle of corruption every time. Each one of us should learn to say NO to this cycle. Each one should say NO to corruption. That is why I want all of us to remember Ninoy's love for his country. Ninoy is a hero that we can more relate to since he existed in our times and he was able to lay down his life for all Filipinos.

The Filipino is worth dying for is what Ninoy said and what he did. We should all believe that always and not that every Filipino only dies for himself only.

The saddest story

2008-06-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

A child once approached his father and asked. " Dad, I've noticed that we look different from most of our neighbors and I, too, look different from classmates. Did we come from somewhere else?". His father looked at his child with sad eyes and forced a smile. "You know son, we once came from a very blessed country in Asia. We were blessed with rich natural resources, talented and hardworking countrymen and a strong faith in God. However, along the way, something went really wrong. Now, most of our countrymen are scattered all over the world because our beloved country has become a place of poverty and of turmoil."

"Why dad, what did really happen to us? Why are we now in foreign land working for foreign people?", asked the child. "You know son", his father replied, " our downfall all started when most of our countrymen began thinking only of oneself and less of his neighbors. Most of us got selfish and we forgot the essentials of God's teaching. Our political leaders enriched themselves using the people's money instead of using it to build roads, improve education and improve the welfare of the people. Most families that we had were shattered because the parents only thought of themselves. It even reached a point when some mothers deliberately kill their babies just to save their own skin."

"That's horrible. Did the good people do anything to stop these unfortunate events?", asked the child. "Some of them did.", replied the father, "Some of them didn't. Some of them realized that the situation was beyond any hope of improvement that they decided to go somewhere else. They went to a place where there is still hope. The same thing that me and your mom decided to do a long time ago." "That's very sad to hear Dad, by the way, what was the name of our country?", asked the child. His father put his hand on his child's head and sighed. "I always pray for the day that the Philippines may one day be able to find its way back to God and to find its way back to its glorious days."

That is one conversation that I hope I won't experience with my child in the future. I still have hope in us and I still believe that we can still rebound from the mess that we are in now. We just have to act the soonest possible and become united as Filipinos.

There was an old saying that it takes only one rotten tomato to spoil the entire basket of tomatoes but it was never said that it would take only one fresh tomato to make a rotten basket of tomatoes fresh again. In the same way, I think that change is still possible but it would require all of us to take part of that change. If we continue to act individually and selfishly as we act now then I'm afraid a worser version of the story above may be told to countless Filipinos in the future.

Together we stand, Divided we fall

2008-05-30T22:17:00.000-07:00

I used to read a story about four young goats and a lion wishing to eat them. The four young goats thwarted every attempt done by the lion because they stayed and worked together. However, time came when the 4 goats had some misunderstandings and decided to part ways. When they did, they became an easy prey for the lion and the lion ate them one by one.

I reflected at the story and thought hard. Many families nowadays end up in complete failure. Either the father is a womanizer, or the son is a lawbreaker or a daughter gets impregnated in just her teens. If we look hard at these families and tried to dissect what the root problem was, we can see that they never worked together and acted as a one unit of society. On the other hand, you look at the families that are successful and you see in them unity with God at the center.

These successful families get there share of ups and downs. The devil (or the lion) attempts to destroy them once in a while but because they act as one, they always find ways to triumph over everything that is hurled against them. On the contrary, when the devil sees that the family is separated from God and the family members are in disarray, the devil will have a very easy time tearing their lives apart and eventually destroying the lives of each and every member of that unfortunate family.

Knowing this, I urge every family today to act as one and be strong with God at the center of our lives. Life will be one hell of a roller coaster ride but we'll make it if we hold on together. Together we stand, divided we fall.

The symbol of love

2008-04-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

Many of us, when asked what symbol would best symbolize love, would probably say that the heart would symbolize love best. I find nothing wrong with that. The heart is what keeps our body going and it represents passion. It represents the will to go on in spite of all the adversities. However, just recently, I realized that there is another symbol that, for me, would best represent what love is and that symbol is the cross. The cross??? The cross is probably the equivalent of an electric chair nowadays since during the old times it is where the death penalty is carried out for criminals. So how could I ever relate something like that to love? I'll tell you why.

More than 2000 years ago, a man died on the cross. This man was innocent but yet he was sentenced to die with criminals. This man gave up everything on that cross even his life. And for what? He gave up more than his passion but also he gave up his life so that every human may know that there is a God that cares and loves us up there. Is there any greater love a man can give than to lay down his life for his friends? The greatest act of love was shown by no other than Jesus Christ himself on the cross when He layed down everything for the sake of humanity. Love is then more than passion. Love is then the ultimate sacrifice for the good of your loved one. Love is more sweeter when you know that you have sacrificed for the sake and for the good of a loved one. For me, love is given more meaning by the symbol of the cross.

In Sickness and in health

2008-04-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

One summer in one of our classes
I took notice of a girl with eyeglasses
She was a picture of simplicity and beauty
Unknowingly, she captured my heart completely

I had tried to ignore my interest in her
Its because rejection I really fear
That's why I never got the chance to get near her
Never a chance to at least talk to her that summer

Months passed, semesters went
Then our paths crossed in the school's basement
This was what I was waiting for
A chance for my feelings for her to pour

Eventually we became lovers for 7 years
Although not everyday was a bed of roses
But because of the challenges we pulled thru together
Our love for each other, each day, has gone stronger

Words could not describe the joy we felt
When finally, at the altar, both of us knelt
Before God's presence, we promised and we vowed
'Til death do us part, In sickness and in health

My Asus Eee PC 701

2008-03-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

I got an Asus Eee PC 701 sub-laptop last couple of months and its worth every peso I spent. It runs on a Xandros Linux OS but you can also opt to use a lighter version of Windows XP instead to avoid any hassles. I chose to stick with its default OS and viewed as an opportunity to learn Linux. Its default Easy mode is very user friendly but if you want to have a Windows-like environment you can always use the Advanced mode. It comes with lots of neat applications including OpenOffice, w/c is an equivalent of Windows Office applications.

I bought it because it is very portable. It allows me to read a lot of ebooks even if I'm on the field. It allows me to study Linux/C/C++ programming and it allows me to connect to the web via wi-fi. Basically, the Asus Eee PC can do all what I usually do on my desktop anytime and anywhere.

The only downsides that I can see for the Asus Eee PC are its relatively small HD memory (4G total), its very small key board, its battery life is not that long and also it would take a bit of research to be more familiar with the Linux environment.

With regards to storage problems, this can be handled by using USB external HD's, Flash drives, and an MMC/SD card. The Asus Eee PC has three USB ports and a MMC slot. Don't worry too much if you are unfamiliar with linux, there is a website that makes things easier for us. The web address is www.eeeuser.com.

All in all I would say that the Eee PC is a must-buy item for people with basic computing needs and for those aiming to learn linux and linux programming but with a tight budget. hehehe.

A son's message to his adulterous father

2008-03-19T03:47:00.000-07:00

Could never imagine you would be like this
Only thinking about your own happiness
All you left us now are pain and tears
After my mother’s death last two years

Could never imagine you’d treat us like this
In exchange for your concubine’s kiss
You’d left me and my siblings in so much stress
You have deprived them of your presence and caress.

Could never imagine how you can say that you love us
When in the middle of the night you abandon us
To be with your love child and your bitch
And you wonder why my voice would raise a pitch

Could never imagine how angry I am with you
After all the love, respect and obedience I showed you
I have always been good and respectful to you
As your son, could you give me a little respect too?

A good provider but not a good father
That I think will be your label forever
Stop telling yourself that you are responsible
Do it, just don’t say it and please be sensible

To all adulterous father’s out there
Pray that you’ll change or burn in hell forever
I could see no other punishment more justifying
Than to see your soul in hell rotting

But I’m not that bad and unforgiving
All you have to do Pops is to stop your bitching
Always hoped and prayed you’d change
And stop bragging about getting laid

Be a real father once is all I’m asking
In fact, that’s all I have been praying
Before death catches with up with you

Is there a God?

2008-03-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is a God. I do not see him as my genie or my personal comforter like most people do. I see him as my God and I am his humble servant. Many of us question God's existence whenever life becomes harsh on us or when things do not go our own way. Many of us think that God exists so that God may cater to our whims and caprices like a genie does. We expect him to grant our prayers and when he doesn't, we start to mumble questions like ,"Why Lord, Why?". Sadly, a few even believe that God doesn't exist at all.

Me, I do not need to look far to prove God's existence. I do not need to see a miracle happen to strengthen my belief. All I have to do is use a little bit of common sense. Take computers for example. Aren't we all amazed of all the things that computers can do? Aren't we all amazed by what the internet can do? But, most of us aren't that amazed by how our brains work. The degree of complexity of how computers work and how they are designed ,simply amounts to nothing compared to how your brain manages data and controls your entire body. Computers did not exist by mistake or because of some random energy activities-then-boom comes out a computer. Computers exist because they were made and carefully designed to what they are now. And so are we. We were all made for a purpose and we are all carefully designed from the very beginning for a purpose.

I am Catholic and I believe in a loving, just and enduring God. Just because there are maybe a hundred thousand more religious groups that have different details about God, it doesn't mean that God is just a make-belief figure so that we would have a sense of value. I find it more easy to believe in a world created by God than in a world that existed because of a Big Bang.

Beauty Over Brains?

2008-03-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

I do not usually watch beauty pageants in its entire length. I only watch the swimsuit portion (I think every guy does), the question and answer portion and the portion where they announce the winners. I really need to comment about this year's beauty pageant because obviously one contestant who won an award really screwed up on the question and answer portion. I really think that she didn't deserve to win. Just imagine how she will fare when she joins the international competition. I do not think she has any chance at all in winning. But since the judges, who are experts, think differently than I do and decided to give her a slot as our representative in one of the international beauty contests.

I can't help but compare this event in our daily lives. Everyday, people are chosen to hold certain responsibilities and often these people picked to do this are not deserving of such roles. For example, how many times have we seen talented people not hired for a specific job because the one chosen has close ties with a high ranking official of a certain company (aka padrino system)? How many times have we chosen leaders for our country who are even incapable of leading their own lives?

What the hell is wrong with us? We have been blessed to have the power to chose but instead we use this gift irresponsibly and now this gift seems to be a curse instead. If we keep on placing people who are undeserving in certain positions then we as a nation would be going no where. I don't wonder why our country is losing its best doctors, nurses, engineers, programmers, etc. Do we give importance to what these people can do for our country and our fellow country men or do we give more importance to the latest rumors of actors and actresses?

I hope I'm wrong but it seems like that we place too much emphasis on what is pleasing to the senses and no emphasis at all on what really counts. We choose leaders based on popularity and TV time exposure. We should choose leaders who are true public servants by heart. In this year's pageant, we chose a brainless pretty chick where in fact there were so many to choose from and all of them were pretty and had probably had more brains than her. And this list of poor choices seem to be endless and if we don't stop this, we are all bound to dwell in this country where progress is just a mere illusion.