New Drivers License

I finally got my new drivers license after it expired two years ago. I should have renewed it earlier to avoid the penalties. I took the written exam and actual driving. I am glad that it is over now.

Good thing is that I didn't took the shortcut with those fixers, those guys will cash you dry. I spent around 800 pesos for my license renewal. If I went through a fixer, I could have spent 2500 pesos. I really wonder why our Transportation Agency allows this kind of operations and fixers within their premises. Releasing drivers license to applicants who don't take written exams. No wonder a lot of uneducated drivers are driving on our streets. They make our streets dangerous.

A Week at Sarangani

Early this week we went to Kiamba, Sarangani Province. Kiamba is more or less a hundred kilometers away from General Santos City, the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. The road to Kiamba brings wonderful experience - cruising along shorelines and mountain ridges with lots of magnificent views, rich culture of Islam and Christianity, and wonderful people.

We stayed at Lagundi, Kiamba for two nights, in my parents-in-laws house. Their house is located near the shoreline, so I got plenty of time taking shots at the beautify scenery. While on our way, I also took several shots.

Full Speed to Java

Yesterday I decided to go straight in pursuing a Java career. I was overwhelmed with the opportunities that await for Java professionals. Early this month I took a course on Java programming at Oracle University. That course strengthened my shaken foundations in Java, now I am taking the next step, J2EE.

This doesn't mean that I'll leave behind my Microsoft and Oracle skills, instead I shall have a strong Java skill with a touch of Oracle and Microsoft technology skills. I am planning to get certified next year, I have to choose which to take first. Either an Oracle certification or a Sun Java Developer certification.

Last night I bought two books on Java EE at Book Sale. I'll get back to my reading routine and practice, practice and practice. That is how IT careers are, always on the go!

Back to database works

One of our Oracle databases stopped working today because one of our technicians accidentally altered the registry settings while installing our budget software. I was informed late about the incident and now we can not access the database.
The database serves as a warehouse for one of our major projects. I was relieved to know that the data are still in and secured. I will restore it tomorrow. I hope everything will get sorted out before the week ends.

Xanders' Big Break

We brought Xander to NCCC Mall last night for some rides and play. It's been quite a while since he got his rides. We tried the animal rides and the animal go round. The mall was not so crowded, so we had a lot of space to roam to.

This was Xander's first ride without me holding him. I enjoyed watching my son grow. He is learning independence. After the rides we went to Discovery City where there is a large play park with obstacles, tubes, catwalks and more. Xander is afraid of closed spaces but this time he overcome it. I am so glad to see him did.

While on our way, we met our former students the Simon Sisters. We stopped for a while for some chat and proceeded to enjoy the rest of the evening.

After a fun time at the play park, we treat ourselves at Jollibee and talk about our adventures.

Davao Life

Please visit my new blog site Davao Life. It talks about living in Asia's most livable city.

Please give me your site addresses so I can link add them in my links!

See you there!

Java Oracle Training

Last week I attended the Java course at Oracle University Makati Philippines. The objective of the course was to introduce us to the core concepts of Java and Java development using Oracle JDeveloper tool. The course was facilitated by Santosh Ashok, a SCJP from Oracle Bangalore.

The course was tough but very rewarding. My foundations in Java are now concrete after I took up the course. I am looking forward in taking the J2EE course soon and take the SCJP (Sun Certified Java Programmer) Certification.

How to know where your Nokia Phone is manufactured?

Would you like to know if your mobile phone is original or not? Just follow these steps.

1. Press the following on your mobile *#06# and the-international mobile equipment identity number appears.
2. Check the 7th and 8th numbers: ######??#######
3. If the 7th and 8th digit is 02 or 20 then your cellphone is assembled in China, which is known to have poor quality.
4. If the 7th and 8th digit is 08 or 80 then your cellphone is assembled in Germany, which is know to have good quality.
5. If the 7th and 8th digit is 01 or 10 then your cellphone is assembled in Finland, which is known to have very good quality.
6. If the 7th and 8th digit is 00 then your cellphone is assembled in the original factory, which is of superior quality.
7. If the 7th and 8th digit is 13 then your cellphone is assembled in Azerbaijan (I do not know where in the world is that), which is very bad quality and dangerous to your health.

Davao Under Water

Row row row your boat.. I think that song just fits in.

It rained so hard yesterday afternoon like there was no tomorrow. The heavy rainfall and high tides caused floods to different area in the city.

I took a taxi to get my wife from school and proceed to by some stuffs at SM Davao. The streets are heavily flooded, we can no longer see the road. The taxi I took dared to cross a street submerged in water. I kept telling the driver that that portion is low and the water is deep, but he didn't listen.

The taxi floor was filled with water. My shoes were wet (but not soaked) and so my pants edge. It was a good thing that our engine didn't fail or else we'll be stranded in the middle of a deeply flooded street.

We stopped at an elevated area to removing the trapped water inside the taxi. It was a funny experience. I hope that won't happen again. I guess the city must deal with this problem seriously.

What Happened in the Year I was Born (1979)

In 1979

Jimmy Carter is president of the US A major accident occurs at a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island near Middletown, PA An American Airlines DC-10 loses its engine and crashes seconds after takeoff, killing 275 people Hurricane David kills over 1200 in the US and the Dominican Republic Some 90 people, including 63 Americans, are taken hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan ESPN starts broadcasting Aaliyah, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Norah Jones, Heath Ledger, and Kate Hudson are born Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series Pittsburgh Steelers win Superbowl XIII Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup Kramer vs. Kramer is the top grossing film Sophie's Choice by William Styron is published "My Sharona" by The Knack spends the most time at the top of the US charts The Facts of Life premiers

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

Food Art

This food art is really cool!

Davao Light Turns 60

Yesterday we celebrated Davao Lights' 60th Anniversary. The event was held at The Venue, Davao City's premiere entertainment spot. Food, drinks and booze were offered. Service awardees and retirees were recognized during the activity.

The event was great, but I noticed that something is really different. Maybe because of the absence of our late president/coo Al Aboitiz, who we dearly love, or simply because on some issues that the organization is facing right now.

However, the event was held successfully. Upon entering the party place, drum rolls from one of Davao's cultural artist groups are played. Their performance was also stunning. I think it was some sort of an eagle dance. I was carried by the drum beat number.

I didn't finished the whole program, there is still work the following day. In my experience all events that are held at The Venue always ends with a disco. I don't feel like joining the disco, maybe some other time. I got off early after I consumed my share of food and booze.

September Pix

I took this shots last September 30, 2007 at the Villa Cristina Resort. I am always fond of photography. I just thought that these shots are worth posting here. Enjoy!

Two Down Two more to Go

Last Saturday I successfully delivered my ISDP (Information Systems Business Plan) presentation. My ISDP was all about our Vehicle Tracking project.

In my Networking class, we successfully implemented client-server transactions over two different network areas. Thanks to my groupmates, Kath, Leah and everybody. They configured the network devices pretty well.

Now I only have two more subjects to worry, our Operating System and Data Structures. My Data Structures subject is already a go for me. We only have to focus our efforts to our OS subject.

God's Pharmacy

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body! God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.



A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.




Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.




A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.



Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.


Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.




Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).


Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.



Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.




Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.




Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just l ike the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.


Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.