UP Shopping Center

I’ve also been to the UP Shopping Center. And let me just say that it wasn’t what I was expecting. I was actually imaging something, uhm…, much more. hehe It was actually my wife who wanted me to go there because there were a few things that she wanted me to buy for her, including a bag that looked like a Bluebook.

Anyway, since it was a hot day, I decided to try out this store that sells fruit shakes. There were so many varieties but I decided to go healthy (since I hope to share weight loss success stories too) and ordered an apple, celery, and cucumber shake. It did provide refuge from the heat but the combination tasted refreshingly weird.

Also in the UP Shopping Center was the famous Rodics. They reportedly have one of the best tapsilogs. But since I don’t really eat beef, I decided to play safe and ordered longsilog, which was nothing spectacular. But someday, I will try their tapsilog and tell you all about it.

CASAA canteen

I say, I am enjoying exploring UP. Lunch time is discovery time. In one week, I’ve been to the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association (CASAA) canteen. And my impression: it’s ok. I don’t know if it was just a particularly hot day that time that we visited, or it’s really normally hot everyday. And the hot tinola that I had for lunch didn’t help. So if you’re looking for foods that burn fat, I suggest getting one in CASAA. The heat from this enclosed space will literally burn those extra fats you have.

first week

So the first week of the Bridge Program was over just like that. It came by so fast that I barely had time to digest it all. For one whole week, we studied about C programming. What usually takes 5 months to learn was condensed into a five-day affair (kinda like having the best acne treatment). But unlike pesky pimples that go by in a week, the C programming that we studied didn’t leave a noticeable mark. I somehow feel like I didn’t really learn anything. In three weeks, during our regular class, we’ll formally get reintroduced. And this time, we’ll be graded. And that makes me nervous. Very nervous!

According to the professors, students usually drop out during the first semester. I guess people have trouble adjusting back to being a student. Plus, cramming all those data in so little time is no easy task. The real lessons aren’t starting yet and I already feel behind. Now if you’ll excuse me, I still have a lot of catching up to do.

Certificate in I.T.

This is for those curious about the 1-year Certificate in I.T. program offered by the University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Center (UP ITTC).

In a nutshell, the program is for 1 year. You read that right, 1 whole year! Better stack up on blue acne light because you’ll really need it. It consists of four 10-week quarters. Classes start on June 7 from Monday to Friday at 8AM to 5PM. The program currently has three areas of specialization. And at the third quarter, you’ll be given the choice on which specialization you want, either Applications Development, Network Systems, or Embedded Systems.

I’m currently interested in Applications Development. But as I learn more about I.T. in the coming months, there’s a big possibility that I’d choose Network Systems or Embedded Systems too.

UP ITTC

About two years ago, Eks told me about the University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Center (UP ITTC). He knew that I’ve been wanting to take technical courses and learn more about networks, routers, ls2208, etc. Initially, I just wanted to take short courses. But after discussing it with my wife, we’ve decided to invest in the 1-year Certificate in I.T. program.

And last February, I took the entrance exam. I was a little bit worried because I didn’t do too well on the exams. But I guess it’s His will because He gave me some special favor and I passed!

Our classes start on June 7. And I’m very scared and excited!

pig (baboy)

It has always bothered me why we have that small container by the water dispenser area. And always, I see it filled with murky water, and sometimes it is accompanied by used tissues and discarded sachets of coffee, Milo, or Ovaltine.

This happens because colleagues are too lazy to walk up to the bathroom, which is but 10 steps away (okay maybe 20 steps), and wash their mugs after fixing themselves some kind of drink, either coffee, tea, or hot choco. What they do is rinse their mugs by the water dispenser and dump the contents in that small container. And there we have it.

I wouldn’t have been an issue if we had a pantry. But we don’t. And guess where the water dispenser? Right smack in front of the bosses’ office. Now imagine if the higher management, some foreign client, and/or cheap home insurance guests decide to visit one of the bosses’ office. I’m pretty sure they’d notice that interesting pail of water, not to mention the floaters. I wonder what kind of impression they’d have. In a top BPO company like ours, this shouldn’t be happening.

Today, when I went to the water dispenser, there was this chubby (I don’t want to say fat) woman (and I dare not call her a lady) putting hot water on her mug. And right after filing her cup, I noticed something interesting in her mug. It was a folded Ovaltine sachet that she was using as a stirrer. Quite resourceful I’d say. But after using this stirrer, she threw it right by the water bin. As she walked away (refer to pic to appreciate), I had to restrain myself from whacking her head. 

Seriously, what’s wrong with these people?

green smoothie

I was online looking for easy ways to eat and be healthy when I saw this cleansing smoothie that’s really very easy to make. Here’s the recipe for a healthy green smoothie:

2 bananas

1 ripe mango

2-3 large handfuls of baby spinach

1 celery stick

1 cup of water

Just combine everything in a blender and blitz.

I figured that since it’s a hot day, I’d put some ice cubes too so that I can sit by the outdoor cushions while sipping this green stuff. I’d try a little experiment and try other combinations too. Now we’re off to the supermarket.

Have a healthy weekend.

brewing excitement

I think it has become a habit every night to listen to the baby, talk, and wait for him/her for a response with a little kick or poke somewhere. We are still in awe at how babies are made. I mean, isn’t it just amazing that a human being is growing inside my wife. And it’s alive and kicking and making itself noticed!

So far, we’ve been blessed that my wife is having a good pregnancy. Aside from a little discomfort, everything’s ok. She’s also trying to eat as healthy as she can, focusing on fruits and veggies, and dutifully taking her women vitamins (I think two or three capsules as advised by her OB).

She’s near the end of her second trimester, and we can’t believe how fast time flies. Just three more months and she’ll be giving birth. And we’re all very excited.

malware attack

And so I actually thought I could relax this weekend. I politely turned down offers for weekend work so I could get that much needed R&R. Usually, I spend my Sunday working from home at about mid morning (after attending a very early church service at 7:30AM) till late afternoon. And with Mother’s Day being that Sunday, I figured I didn’t have time, not even getting rid of blackheads.

It was Friday when my wife alerted me that a malware pops up when she tries to access my site. And true enough, when I checked, there it was, redirecting our site to http://www1.firesavez7.com/?p=p52dcWpkbmqHjsbIo216h3de0KCfYWCdU9LXoKitaVzHysd2lJN%2Fel6orKWeZJWaZWJkamWem2SIo6THodjXoGJdo3OL1cytnpl2Wp6dpJ6eU9rPlqdqWpuooV6UYl6bYJGVmWFlY2aah9WemHGhqKykcmiQj8XOkqlalpOgxabDnl7JnNCTiaWqb2eXmJZsY2lpZ2harKyTapWYaGNgZWdol12Ik5OjfauK2pqbb26emQ%3D%3D and popping this message:

Warning! Your computer is at risk of malware attacks. We recommend you to…

And so I spent most of my weekend and the last three days learning about MySQL and backing up the MSSQL database. It was so frustrating trying to learn these things when at the same time worrying what the effing is going on!

I was somehow worried that it may be my fault. You see I was playing with a few subdomains, trying out new themes and editing some stuff.