One of the Saddest L<3ve St0ry (eveR!)

A day after heart’s day, i’ve got this urging to read some love stories online. Well, that’s pr0bably the least that one can do if she doesn’t have one of her own (nyahahahaha!).

Anyway, just wanna recommend this love story which I find really, . . uhmmm. . awful.

Enjoy reading! <3<3<3

Sad Love Story

Behind the Firewall

THE ADMINISTRATION’S SIDE ON THE BLOCKING OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES (SNS) AND WEB STREAMING SITES (WBS)

UPV: Now Online

WiFi, also known in some circles as Wireless Fidelity, is a technology that allows devices to be able to access the Internet wirelessly. In the past few years, WiFi has become more and more common all over the world, and even in the Philippines – a large number of coffee shops, fastfood restaurants, malls, schools, offices and dormitories are now WiFi-accessible spots.

The idea of providing WiFi access in the University of the Philippines Visayas was a proposal of Dr. Glenn Aguilar, even before his turn as Chancellor. However, it was only then when he was elected Chancellor that this was approved and implemented.

The University started offering open access to WiFi services in the first semester of the Academic Year 2008-2009. However, on August 1, 2008, the administration required users to log in before gaining access to the WiFi connection. To be able to log in, one has to first submit his or her respective Internet Protocol (IP) address and present a UP ID in order to be given a username and password for the PuTTY – a program needed to access the University’s WiFi connection.

The following year (A.Y. 2009-2010) after it was made available in various spots all over the campus, such as the Division of Social Sciences’ lobby and the Learning Resource Center (LRC), UP dormitories were also given WiFi routers. This was good news for the dormers, since previously they had to take turns with the dorms’ DSL connection, which only had around eight lines per dorm.

According to Mr. Efrain V. Servento of the Data and Information Systems Program (DISP), which is under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (OVCPD), the University currently has an internet connection with a speed of 1.5Mbps (Megabytes per second). The internet provider is Globe Telecom, and the monthly charge for UP Visayas alone is P60,000.

More Users, Less Speed

Sometime during the second semester of the Academic Year 2009-2010, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Alice G. Ferrer contacted the DISP about the decreasing speed of the University’s internet connection.

Through a forum between the DISP and the Office of the VCPD, they came to a verbal agreement on the DISP’s recommendation to implement the blocking of Social Networking Sites (SNS) and Web Streaming Sites (WSS) from internet access during office hours.

On November 18, 2009, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development issued Memorandum No. 2009-11-013, with “Blocking of Web Streaming Sites (WSS) and Social Networking Sites (SNS)” as the subject.

The memorandum stated that the increasing number of internet users in the University has slowed down the connection, and suggested that the blocking of the aforementioned sites could help improve the speed.

The specific sites mentioned in the memorandum were Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn, but the blocking is not limited to those sites only. They were to be blocked Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN, and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Mr. Servento said that this blocking was to be done through a firewall, where you had to enter which specific sites you wanted to be blocked. The term used for this was “Allow all except (specified sites)”.

Information Dissemination

The said memorandum was addressed to “All Offices Concerned, UPV Miagao Campus”.

Different offices all over the Miagao campus were asked whether they received a copy of Memorandum 2009-11-013. All UP dormitories did not receive any copy, but staff and dorm heads of Balay Apitong (Graduate Hall) and Balay Lampirong (Freshman Hall 1) said that they were informed by the DISP over the phone about the blocking of the SNS and WSS.

As for the divisions in the College of Arts and Sciences – Division of Humanities, Division of Biological Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, and Division of Social Sciences – they were all able to receive the memorandum from the Vice Chancellor. They also said that they had posted this memorandum in their respective bulletin boards.

The School of Technology also confirmed that they had received it, and posted it in their bulletin board. The College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences did not receive a copy, but they were informed by the DISP verbally.

The Office of the Registrar in the College of Arts and Sciences was also given a copy.

However, despite these divisions’ claims that the memorandum was posted in their bulletin boards; most students were only able to find out about this blocking of SNS and WSS through word of mouth.

Reasons Behind the Blocking

As mentioned earlier, the main purpose of this blocking was to help improve the internet connection speed of the University during office hours.

Mr. Servento, however, added that this was also to ensure efficiency within the workplace. He said that it cannot be denied that even those working in the offices would sometimes open these social networking sites even during working hours. By blocking these sites, it can be assumed that these people will work only on their assigned tasks and not be distracted by other websites not related to work. Students who are also accessing the WiFi connection will also be able to focus more on their schoolwork during class hours instead of spending their time on social networking sites.

After the implementation of this blocking, Mr. Servento also said that the Vice Chancellor Alice G. Ferrer commented that there was an improvement in the internet speed during office hours.

However, it was still rather slow, and complaints would still arrive in the DISP office even after the blocking. This, of course, cannot be avoided since the University does have a very large number of internet users.

With these complaints in mind, the DISP also recently suggested that the University increase its bandwidth from 1.5Mbps to 4Mbps. This would be in the Miagao campus alone, and the monthly charge would rise from P60,000 to P90,000.

As of now, this plan to increase the University’s bandwidth has been approved, and is expected to be implemented by June of the following academic year. But even with the increase in bandwidth, Mr. Servento said that the blocking of the SNS and WSS would still continue.

Solutions to Complaints

Many complaints have been received by the DISP throughout the implementation of this blocking, but there are also solutions to these complaints.

If a faculty member, student, or office staff needs to access one of the sites blocked by the DISP, and has a valid reason to do so, he or she can fill up a job request form stating which site he or she wants to access, along with his or her reasons and IP address, so that the DISP can unblock it only for him or her during the time needed.

Conclusion

Based on the reasons given by both the DISP and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, the blocking of social networking sites and web streaming sites is practical in its purpose, which is to improve the University’s internet connection speed and also to improve efficiency in the workplace.

However, the information dissemination of this implementation was done poorly. The DISP or the OVCPD could have also sent memorandums to the UP dormitories, since they also offered WiFi services. Most students were caught by surprise of this move from the administration, or they had only heard of it through some of their peers and not through an actual posted memorandum itself.

While we realize that this implementation is meant for the improvement of the University, it is also important that the people affected must be duly informed of this decision.

An Award of Recognition

This reflects the reaction of the students and the parties involved (PMB and SAMASA) in the CAS- Election 2010.

A Boomerang: Facing the Point of No Return

Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sun of the earth.

Whatever happens to earth, soon happens to men.

Industrialization is a double-edged sword. It has opened doors to bigger commercial opportunities; it has facilitated man’s needs and it has given service in them most efficient and effective way. Technology, on the other hand, has allowed man to explore new ideas that cold make his life more comfortable. But the abusive application of these two threaten the future.

Global Warming, which is one f the causes of erratic change in world’s climate, takes most of the blame. It is scientifically defined as the process by which absorption and emission of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases warm a planet’s atmosphere.

This process of absorption and emission happens ever since the world has started. Some of its sources are naturally present in the atmosphere while the other half are produced by the irresponsibility of humans. From power plants, automobile exhausts, factory smokestacks and other waste vents of human practices have even intensify the outcome.

Rise in world’s sea level, abnormal weather patterns strong typhoons, El Niño and La Niña phenomenon, heavy rains which cause flooding in many parts of the world, loss of biodiversity and sudden high magnitude earthquakes are urgent warning that poses climate change.

If these symptoms persist, later on, Global Warming will escalate to the point where the world’s while climate will abruptly turn it permanently to much hotter and less inhabitable earth.

All of us will suffer the problems that we had created. But it is never too late to act. There are lots of simple things that can be done if only people are committed enough to effect change. Among these are planting more trees, practicing 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), avoiding the use of harmful chemicals, using electricity wisely and educating ourselves.

The unstoppable progress in industrialization and technological advancements has overburdened our Mother Earth. In our pursuit of fulfilling our worldly desires, men have unconsciously exploited our planet. Human practices that worsen climate change have placed earth in a crucial condition between life and death. And if this awful effect of Global Warming will not be addressed as soon as possible, earth, men shall face the point of no return.

The clock is ticking. And the only way out from this is for people to change their way of life- NOW!

Save a Drop

With arms wide open

We dream of being in the university where that proud naked man will welcome us with open arms. That naked man is none other than the Oblation, and that university is no less than the University of the Philippines.

http://www.freewebs.com

This is every Filipino student’s dream, but not everyone gets the chance of living it. The competition is stiff, the requirements are overwhelming, the probability of getting in is too low ― the exact reasons why most remain as dreamers.

Only about 10% of the 60-70 thousand UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) takers gets the chance to be qualified to study in UP. However, the UPCAT result only covers half of the admission process― it does not guarantee that you’re really in. The other half relies on high grades all throughout secondary education.

Those who get in gets to be called the crème’ de la crème’ and enjoy “special privileges.”

Standing on the pedestal

Being one of the chosen few, we are given bragging rights ― rights that we milk every chance we get, because we are deemed as “superior”. But in truth, we realize that we are not special at all. We are just one of the many ― and many more are better than we are.

http://www.bikoy.net

When we get into UP, we call ourselves “Iskolar ng Bayan”. The people pay for our education, but that was before. Now, once we get into UP, people call us “sosyal”. The tuition increased, there are many cars on the parking lot, and majority of the students already bring laptops to school instead of notebooks.

Outside UP, people set high standards and expect a lot form UP students. In pageants, a UP candidate is expected to be both beauty and brains, flawless in question and answer portions, outspoken and witty. An epitome of a well rounded woman, a complete package. But a single mistake could ruin it all. Once you are in UP, a small mistake is equivalent to a major crime. Expectations lead to vulnerability to mistakes and these mistakes are magnified.

Must (but doesn’t) have

UP students are ideally smart. We are known to have an advanced curriculum. One subject is a combination of two or three in other schools, and somehow, we pass. But in reality, many of the students fail in some subjects, and there is a significant number of delayed students.

UP students are ideally principled. We stand firm for what we believe in, we fight for what we think is right, and we will bring you anywhere just to prove our point. But in reality, some of us cannot fight our biggest foe ― conformity. Some enter groups for the sake of being with friends, thus defeating the purpose of hardline principles.

UP students are ideally socially aware. What we should do always be for the benefit of the masses, in service of the Filipino people. We are supposed to give back what they have invested for us. But in reality, social awareness remains only inside the University. Some UP students only make use of their degrees to look good in their résumés and work abroad, in private companies ― or worse, under capitalists, all for the sake of their own gains.

UP students are ideally assertive. We push through our beliefs, put them into actions, and persuade others to do the same in order to stir or effect change. But in reality, we are becoming the outcome of the supposed change. We are easily influenced. Thus, we become mere products― the effect, not the cause of change.

UP students are ideally versatile. We are well-rounded individuals who could excel in any situation given the knowledge and skills that we possess. But in reality, we are the ones limiting our growth, allowing ourselves to become subjects of stereotyping and unfair labeling. We are aware, but we do nothing to change the backward trend.

Save a drop

Like a drop of water going back to the sea, and becoming only a part of the majority― leaving the university gives us no choice but to immerse in a bigger social context, and blend in.

http://www.synfusion.com/

We come to realize that Philippines is not UP, and we cannot bring everything we have learned inside the campus, there would really be some that we will be left behind. Because in the outside world, it is totally different. We are just one of the many trying to survive.

But in the end, we go back to a touchstone, and realize that the ocean will be a lesser ocean without that single drop that has been denied of it.

So we have every choice to stand out.



Celebrating a Happy Valentine’s Day Even You’re Single

Ooooh, . . . Love is in the air!!!!

http://images.zwani.com

And why not? It’s Valentine’s Day!

Everyone seems so busy. 

Male.

Female.

Homosexual.

Bisexual.

Young.

Old.

Single.

Taken.

Married.

Divorced.

Widowed.

It’s complicated.

Name it.

And me????

I may be under any of those categories that I’ve enumerated but, . . .

I wonder why am not  even afflicted by this chronic  ’mode of being’.

Not the Valentine’s Day itself  but the reason why it is being celebrated and all other totally unsound activities or should I say ‘ceremonies’ and/or ‘traditions’ that goes with it.

First and foremost is the notion that if you don’t have any date this Valentine’s it’s either you are a born-loser or just got s0ooo unlucky.

WeLL, am n0t! AbsoLutely n0t!

 Why would I?

Am not being defensive, though, but come to think of it. If one doesn’t  have anyone to go out with this Valentine’s Day, this also means that he/she doesn’t have to go through a series of deadly preparation just to look  good prior to his/her date.

Further, in today’s generation Valentine’s Day is becoming  a commercial holiday. It is no longer about love and relationships; it is about selling flowers, candy, and and all other stuffs that one can associate with being inlove. Think of all the money one is saving.

And lastly, do not let a couple-driven culture define your choice of being single as something wrong. There is definitely nothing wrong with being single, but the attitude of a single person can absolutely make him/her feel that there is. Do not let your status define yourself. Your status can never entirely speak of what you are as a person.

http://www.wallpapersonly.net

See?

Who says being single, dateless and available on Valentine’s Day is miserable, . .

i don’t believe so.

Nobody, Nobody But Me

All greatness of character is dependent on individuality. The man who has no other existence than that which he partakes in common with all around him, will never have any other than an existence of mediocrity. – JAMES F. COOPER

http://www.sha.tc

A nagging thought has been clawing the inside walls of my head, and me writing about it might somehow make my ‘burden’ a little bit (hMmmmm????) lighter. Well, hopefully.

How safe is safe?

Mediocrity, according to dictionary.com, is synonymous with mundaneness, ordinariness, insignificance, unimportance and  a screaming NOBODY. Quite different from the positive view of the term ‘being safe.’

Most of us  would usually prefer the safe zone. Well, who doesn’t want to be in that particular place where there are no risks to consider and there’s nothing to worry about. But, is that the real scenario?

Well, initially, one can hardly sees the bad side of  being in the safe zone. But sometime somewhere along the road,  one will feel that he is starting to loose himself in the busy crowd. He’ll,little by little, feel that he’s being eaten up by the exterior unknown forces that he suddenly loses his own identity.

In the case of our politician, the more they try to fit in the taste of the masses the safer they become , the more they become accepted but at the same time the more they become not their real selves.

Thoughts on Being Single

It’s Valentine’s Day, which means it’s time for the world to hold a pity party for the miserable member of the human race, the Single Woman.

http://www.tableandhome.com

And if one’s age is already out in the calendar, she is then referred to as an ‘old maid.’ These type of women do not want to be in a loving, committed relationship. They are as well the ones who are in a panic mode. The ones who are panicking with the thought that they’ll be left with no one but themselves.

Single ladies, according to most people,  have no one to blame for their lack of  other half—but themselves because they are just too damn picky. And most people would think that being one is extremely miserable- really miserable.

http://www.healthjockey.com

It feels worse not having someone to curl up to while watching a movie or spend holidays alone with plenty of foods around you and no one to share it with. In fact, no matter where you go or what you do you are still by yourself, unless you bring a friend along who is by the way adds up to your budget unless he/she is nice enough to shoulder the expenses while spending time with you during a sale in a shopping mall or a concert of your fave band.

But I think otherwise. Well, I’m here to tell you that we single ladies are no more, nor less, miserable than the rest of  the people.Perhaps,  it’s just  not easy to meet Mr. Right, or even Mr. Pretty OK. And yes, I’m taking it base on my experience.

http://www.psychologytoday.com

 Just like any other stories of that sort, being single also has bunches of reasons why to love it. And I actually enumerated a few  out of  a  thousand. You can go out and flirt as much as your heart desires, without a worry in the world. You don’t have to worry about somebody who might nag you when you’re late on your date or can’t make time to be with him. And most importantly, no more arguments about things you can’t explain.

Well, there really is no right or wrong answer to the question:  ’Which is better- being single or taken?’ 

 Some people simply enjoy the single life while others would prefer a life with somebody to share it with- be it temporary or for a lifetime. Some might be crying into their solitary wine glass because they don’t have a partner. While others think  that they are  better off with a so-so man than none at all. And still there are some who are enjoying the life of their own. I mean, a relationship to oneself. No attachment. No commitment. Nothing. Just her and her alone.

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net

But I think to live is to choose. In my own world for instance, I’m a single lady by choice. I don’t have any concrete reason for staying single for more than a decade. Perhaps, the most rational statement that I could give is I’m still on the process of preparing myself to be with somebody whom I believe deserves my full love and attention at the right place and at the right time. Maybe not now, but sooner or later I know he’ll come.

Grabbing a Poor Man’s Bread

In just a blink of an eye, hundreds of thousands were buried. But that doesn’t even count those still under the scattered remains, carried off by relatives, left along the sidewalks or killed in the distant earthquake zone.

http://img.timeinc.net

Upon seeing  the photographs that reflect the atrocious occurence of the 7.0M earthquake that tears down the  hopes and dreams of many of our fellow Haitian on  January 12, 2010, all I can do is to thank God.

Don’t get me wrong when I say that I wanna thank the Almighty. I wanna express my heartfelt gratitude to Him simply because I’m glad for it didn’t happen in our country (knock on the wood). Well, aren’t you? But it doesn’t mean that I’m happy seeing these people, these children and women whose faces bear helplessness and hopelessness. Anyone who sees the same pictures can as well  sees the manifestation of  a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering.

In their eyes, we can contemplate  despair. Inspite of the numerous efforts exerted by different countries all over the world to extend help, it seems that Haitians become numb already. After what they’ve gone through it is just but normal for them to be in a great awe.

And just like in any chaotic scenario,  kids will always be the  susceptible part of the population to physical and/or emotional injury. The  inocencencies of  their childhood worsen the after effects of this natural grave misfortune.

The Haiti quake is beyond all words horrible. It does not simply ruin the industries around its capital- Port-au-Prince. It does not simply wreck the business establishments and buildings that serve as the life blood of the country. Haitian quake entombs Haiti in a deeper state of poverty in which to recover is nearly impossible. 

 Along with the mass  grave, are worn out dreams and hopes that were buried 10 feet below the ground. The dreams and hopes that were developed through years and are starting to develop inspite of  inaccessibility of choices.  

It will be insensitive of me then to encourage these victims to continue on living and dreaming when I know in myself that if I were in their place, it will be extremely difficult. Well, you can use all the adjectives all you want but still, to all my fellow Haitians, though it may be hard, let’s all move on. I know we’re humans but deads are no longer alive. Hence, they won’t be the one who’ll take the misery of losing loved ones. We still have lives to live in and dreams to realize to. There are still people who count on us especially the young ones.  And instead of  falling-off, let’s start all over again and try to fix what have been ravaged.

The More, The Lesser

The power of media in terms of influencing the people is not to be underestimated. We are bombarded everyday with beauty contests like Miss Universe and shows like Extreme Makeover, as well as People Magazine featuring the most beautiful people in the world, all trying to answer the question “What is beauty?”.

http://www.radiantveracity.com

In recent times, people, who are most often than not are females, never walk out of the door not knowing how we look  like, or not assured by none other than our favorite vanity mirror that  we look perfect. From top to bottom, we know what we ought to look according to a default image of beauty that we are accustomed to. These and all other things that define our very existence are being determined by, of course, MEDIA.

Aside from the fact that in media, we rarely see pretty faces with brains but only physically- challenged bunch of geniuses. We can never gain both the physical and mental, only few are blessed and these are , by the way,being critically screened.

Somebody in the streets will say that  the moment we try to delight our sense of sight, we begin to lose the soul purpose of our very existence. But I say, we never lose it, it simply goes down one or so level on our set of reasons for living.

http://www.timtim.com

I also believe that to a certain degree, all women are superficial. Take for example the case of most women nowadays. They do deadly diet, endless work-out and sometimes even risky surgery just to maintain their figures, healthy skin and body. And with this, they are able to enhance their self-worth. 

But it doesn’t mean that they should set aside their life just solely for this.The same way as saying that their lives must not entirely revolve around the glittering crown of beauty and glamor.

However, what women of today don’t realize is the depravity that they endow in each and every parts that they shower with stronger admiration. Yes we did make ourselves more physically attractive, but what’s next?  We become unaware of the results of our actions. Did I say unaware? I mean, we ignore the outcome of what we did because our minds are just centrally focus on our main goal- to look good. We apparently see, but we just don’t mind.

It is not a mortal sin to aim for a better new you. And if great figure, sexy body, smooth, glowing skin, silky, long , black hair would equate to one’s image of beauty, then so be it. 

 There are only a few things in life that are guaranteed to be glorious. And it won’t hurt if we decide to take advantage of these. As long as we know what our limitations are and the consequences of every actions that we do. Because if not, tendency is, we will  lose sight of our own personal definitions because we get caught up in trying to let the media establish the definition of beauty.

It is about time for us to stand up for what we believe. Although we do not necessarily have to contradict the existing beliefs but atleast we should strive to strengthen our stand and show the world that regardless of the  inferiorities, we are beautiful. We conquer.