Jann and Juvy's Church Wedding

This is their 2nd wedding. The first was held in Singapore last August 2011 and I was there too!
This wedding is more of the Filipino tradition; the groom in a tuxedo, the complete entourage (5 pairs of groom's men and bridesmaids), ring bearer, secondary sponsors, their parents, the ninongs and ninangs and of course the bride in white flowing gown, walking down the aisle.

For the newlyweds a long and prosperous life lived together with your future mini mes (children). You are perfect and compliment each other and I'm wishing for nothing but the best of what lies ahead.

Thanks for the invite and I may say the food and all the preparations, made your wedding day and the reception, a very successful event.

The Graduates

Congrats to my twin cousins (technically nephew and niece) Clyde and Cassandra for a job well done cruising through High School! Your family specially your parents are very proud of what you achieved and what you have become right now. Continue to be on the right path as you go to a wider arena in preparation for the real world. Enjoy life and take it easy, don't rush things.

In a few years you will become adults and I know that you will become responsible and good citizens of this country. As always all of us are so proud of you both.

NCR Shared Services

My team is NCR POS-I customization but because I was invited by Donna - whose boyfriend, Clyde, is a teammate of the 2 million winner - who donated 50k, and their team decided to have a beach outing - I was (along with Ariel and Mye) in a pseudo Shared Services team building/bonding!

It was a great weekend! The beach in Moalboal is just what I need to de-stress and just get away from the city buzz.

And what else do we do? Take a LOT of pictures of course.

March Madness 2012 Edition

Relaxing here in a darkened cold room with a big screen. The easy and affordable escape to life's burden.

Stressing out over a lot of things lately. Let me lay them out one by one, not according to any urgency or importance but to what comes to mind first.

Regression. I have this RFQ that is fairly easy to implement but a lot to consider into. I may say I learned a lot because of this development experience. For one, improvement on communication skills. It's because I have to contact by phone the POS developer that's in Australia. Not to mention that when you are developing something, there is a lot you'll learn from reading and familiarizing the codes. Which brings me to regression issues.

Hate it! And I think hate is still a kind word to describe how I really hate it! Im ok fixing bugs that I may have inadvertently introduced during the rfq development, but fixing already broken-a-long-time-ago-just-discovered-now bugs sucks big time! It stresses me out really. Im on day 3 firefighting these regression bugs, and there is still a full week ahead to wade through these fixes.

Ok thats what regression is about. But I have a secret. With all those hate and exclamation ended sentences lies joy. Yes joy as in happiness. In simple geek speak I kind of love what I do - Im doing. It just feels natural for me to face the computer all day and forget the world and just come back at 5pm when its time to go home. I may blab about work but I like my work. Period.

Which brings me to another thing that confuses me a great deal right now. I want to work in SG! Want, want, want it! If someone can guarantee me that I'll have a 100% work when Im there, I definitely am ready to leave all behind and fly there the soonest.

Now the problem. First is money. I have no savings! It's because of my bad purchasing decisions last year that Im debt ridden. Next is that I lost my diploma! It is an important requirement and I have to secure one. Im not yet on the move to gather the papers needed, ie; diploma, transcript, coe (from previous employers). I need to be on work leave to process them all. Sigh.

Speaking of job application, I already booked myself for a job fair this April 14. Im doing this to prepare myself for more interviews I may have to undergo in jumping ship so to speak.

So where am I now, you may ask? Im here in SM cinema 8 and waiting for The Hunger Games to start. Wait, the lights just went off, that's the queue.

2007 Snapshots

These are some of my posts recovered from Multiply.
All from 2007...how time really flies... sigh...

Panic Attack

This is one of those days where you feel so helpless and lost. What would I do? Where and most importantly whom will I ask? Im so lost, and clueless (ok not that clueless) as to what will happen as the deadline of this project nears.

So far, I've run step by step the scenario and I can see where the code goes - that's a good start actually. But the thing is I've debugged it a thousand times (ok not really a thousand times, you get my drift) and I get lost as to what to look for and where it goes crazy.

Today the functional specs document was reviewed. From the reaction I've gathered from the reviewers it seemed that they understood what I'm doing for this request. This request, looking at it from a high level perspective, seems easy enough. Basing from the requirements alone the feature needed are already working. Sadly, regression bugs appeared and that is what I'm currently fighting!

Two more weeks and I need to create a build for SIT and a prerelease for external testing. I know within that week is as busy as hell days (not that I know hell that much).

Tomorrow is a Thursday and with that the weekend. I must relax this 2-day weekend to clear my mind and get the job done by next week. If not I'll be the one whose going to be done.

Brain cells please cooperate, I need you now!

Cave

Another revelation today, since we are technically still on the love month this is another love thing blog, I've become officially jaded when it comes to courting. This realization became affirmative after chatting with a former officemate. What happened to me is I think just a product of all the years of finding (more of failing to find) the one.

I lost the thrill of chasing for someone I like to like me in return. It is not entirely true, specially in our culture, that the girl who you like who really likes you also will just nod and be in a relationship with you when asked. No! No matter how many times you seen it on TV dramas and movies, it is not a representation of the real world! Unless maybe if you have the body and looks of a Hollywood star i.e Channing Tatum then you can get a free pass, make that an express pass to smooch land.

In the reality I live in, you have to express your desire for someone, make it known to them. They may repel you and drop the F-bomb (friendship thing) on you but this should not stop you from chasing them. Of course there are exceptions for every rule, but majority says that the girls just want to be appreciated more, you should show your love more, more and more of more. You can feel that your effort is affecting her by the way she responds to your requests, gifts or mere presence.

I got a story I've personaly witnessed weeks ago while commuting on a jeep. The girl sitting next to me is this pretty thin fair highschool girl. Sitting on her left side is this college guy with glasses and says he does not know Cebu or the language. I was seated on the girl's right side. The jeep was packed that time so I clearly heared the entire conversation.

Guy: Ms, excuse me what is the meaning of "kinsa?"
Girl: (stunned at first but politely answered) "who"
Guy: how about "asa "
Girl: "where"
Now this is where it goes from being a stranger asking for his way to creepy this could possibly be a maniac at loose.
Guy: you in college?
Girl: in high school
Guy: you have facebook?
Girl: ( caught by surprise) Ahm what???
Guy: facebook do you?

The girl gave her fb details, to which the guy promptly saved on his cellphone. Then he ask if she could be searched and the girl said that her account is private. After a moment, the guy said "lugar lang" in perfect Cebuano, accents and all - I know being a local that the guy speaks Bisaya - that he just pretended not to speak Bisaya to strike a conversation with the girl and get her details. It was such a move that made a grin on my face when I realized what was happening.

That is precisely the thing I lost, the courage to put myself out in the open, or to just try to chase someone I like, to make an effort, to make an impression that "hey lady I have a thing for you, and I can make you a fire using sticks!" I lost that feeling in my cave where there's no fire burning for such a long time now.

Summary Dekada

It dawned on me while walking one fine afternoon that another chapter of my life is about to close and another is springing to begin. Call it the big 3-0 excitement though that is still months away from now. Maybe it is time to reflect on the things I did during this decade of my life.

To start, when I was 20, I was still in college. Struggling to graduate compsci. Listing all my adventures during college deserves another lenghty entry, so I will just skip to 21 when I graduated and had my first job.

For the nearly 4 years up to when I was 25 I worked in Epson, working as a programmer - one of my best learning time and I may dare say the peak of my career. Tasted love and things that comes with it. Grown up a lot and learned about the complexities of life and the consequences of the choices I made. A lot of things on almost all facets of life I've learned at this point. Met people that will become a part of my life for years to come.

I enrolled myself back to school but this time to an entirely different field -teaching. I flew to Manila to try living independently. I spent an entire year, and at 26 yrs old gone totally independent. Got my teacher's license and went back to Cebu to try this new field, unfortunately it did not worked out well as I planned it.

27 year old me saw the world in a recession. Got stucked in a job that did not really improved my skills. They say that life is like a wheel, there are ups and downs and looking at it in retrospect, that was one of my lowest point. Got axed from my job because the company closed.

A ray of light shown its streak when I was 28, I got a job that put me back on track to where my heart should, and is continuing to be where my heart is. This is the point where I got to pull myself back and slowly got to be truly matured and grownup.

Then I hit the last year of being 20, and I want to start a new beginning. There are still many things in life I want to experience, accomplish, see. Life has to be lived. It is easy to be alive, you just have to eat, sleep, breathe. It is harder to live life because you got to make choices and be there experiencing the world.

If there is one thing that I will never trade for anything is meeting the people I knew that one way or the other influenced me, taught me, became a friend, see other aspects of life being lived that is totally opposite to mine, - there are too many to name.

To all the people I met in college, Epson, Ideyatech, Playtech, CTU DPE, CTU SpEd, CTU Early Childhood, NCR and to the friends of my friends whom I've met in outings - a big thank you. You and sometimes I myself doesnt know it but certainly everyone I met has made a dent in my life.

This is not definitely a goodbye, but a reminder to myself that the next decade of my life should be lived to the fullest because time cannot be paused or rewinded, it only goes on without waiting for anyone's approval.

So a note to myself is to keep hoping, dreaming and living ! To the next chapter...!!!

Tsunamipocalypse

February 6, 2012 - A strong magnitude 6.7 earthquake was felt in Cebu City. That's the news headline. Let me take you to that particular moment from my own eyes.

So its near 12 noon, I am preparing to leave the office because I have to attend a kiddie birthday party of my friend's son and Im bringing my 2 yr old niece. I have to go home and fetch my niece, the party starts at 2pm in SM. At work I was just uploading the lane images to the ftp server when.

I felt my table shook. At first I just disregarded it as "ok an earthquake, it happens". Then the scariest 16secs of my life, the whole office just shook, the ceiling, the floor, my desk, everything. It is moments like this that the reality dawns on you that you are this tiny speck that is so fragile. My knees shook violently and as people around me realized that this is not just one of those shakers, we were all lead tothe exit.

In those 16 seconds the lights went out, and the alarm sounded. You just want to get out from inside the building quick. Knowing the facts that our floor has many cracks because of the heavy lane equipments - it is a scary thought that it may just collapse - didn't help my imagination.

Thankfully, nothing catastrophic happened. We were all safely lead to the open grounds - practice do makes perfect because our building has this twice a year fire/earthquake drill.

It was around 1pm that I got out of the office. Im running late for my 2pm kiddie party and when I went home, I quickly got my niece and rode a taxi. The streets are becoming congested because of some work and schools are suspended. We were nearing SM, just within the vicinity of Mabolo church when the cinematic happened.

People are running, frantically. Their faces are scared as if there is something that will swallow them alive. I was to get out of the taxi, because admittedly some fear in my system creeped. The taxi driver told me to ask first what happened. I called someone but nobody is answering my queries, so the driver said that it is a tsunami scare. And who wouldn't be afraid, SM sits on reclamed land and just a few kilometers away is the pier. The taxi driver pointed out to me that looking at the road ahead, there are still vehicles running so we went straight to SM.

Upon arriving, I saw many people outside of SM. I thought if the tsunami will indeed come, it is better to be inside than outside. I went inside and lo and behold, shops are closed and the people who are inside are either crying, calling, hysterical. The only people who are in their presence of mind are the guards who inspects the stalls and the mall's vicinity and the entry gates. Jolibee's door is half closed and nobody is celebrating a birthday as I observed from the outside.

I was looking at the road and looking for signs that the sea had overflown but none. I decided to just walk to IT park where Im sure there is food as Im hungry and the stalls in SM are closed. I walked carrying a 2 yr old weighing 10kilos at a distance of approx 5km. My sweat fell like rain that time. While I was walking, thousands are also walking towards highland, and the roads are all packed. There are trucks,vans, cars full of people with their bag of clothes. They are barely moving because of the heavy traffic. If the tsunami indeed happened, those stuck in traffic will die first because they cant escape from their vehicles that easily.

It was an excruciating walk. I did ask if this was all real. Is this really happening? I realized it is real and it is happening!

I arrived in IT park, exhausted and hungry. My niece is hungry too. She ate like one order of french fries all by herself. I was busy updating facebook and twitter. After eating, another short walk from IT park to JY, thankfully we rode a jeep and back to home. We arrived safely.

Moments after, an aftershock shook our house, and another one after a few hours. Today is the day that Cebu shook its bonbon.

The Love Month

1 planet.

7 continents.

196 countries.

almost 7 BILLION people.

- and I'm still SINGLE.

Yeah, welcome to the dreaded LOVE month. In a few days everything will magically turn into red, flowery and fluffy environment. Restaurants will be full of love doves without wings. Hotels, motels, and any room with available bed will be occupied for that act of expressing love or populating the world or just scratching that proverbial itch.

Ok, let me rephrase that, Im not dreading February. Im just not a big fan of it. Of all the months, I am happy that February is the shortest, damn this year it is a leap year! Anyways, I don't dread the whole February, just the day before salary day which coincidentally falls on the 14th. 

St. Valentine's Day as it is called, Araw ng mga Puso for us Filipinos, the whole world celebrate this 14th day of February as the day to overly express your love. For most of us when we say expression of love, we immediately think of the opposite sex. However, we can express love to our parents, our siblings (if you have one), our friends, to the less fortunate people and more. There are more people out there where love is needed and Valentine's day may be more meaningful if you shared it with them.

So that's my plan for this year's Valentine's day, celebrate it with someone I love... and in case you misread the first few sentences above, I repeat that I am SINGLE this time (and for awfully a long time now) so that someone I love is not a romantic interest, but someone that I wanted to make happy and share my time with.

To the rest of my peers and people out there who does have someone to spend the V-day that is romantic, I have the following words. Make sure it is legal - with your legal partner, legal age and in a legal place. Make sure it's SAFE - wear protection if you are not trying to conceive, absolutely wear protection if you are doing it for other purposes and with someone you barely know. Make sure it is meaningful - life's too short to waste time, tomorrow may not come at all.

To all people who have a heart, and more correctly to all the people who feels, a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Signals

Maybe because I choose to interpret them as such, that I feel it is the signal I'm waiting for.

One of my best-est friend who is working in SG came home for some preparations of her wedding this coming March and I've shared with her my intention to also, finally after all these years of attempts, go and find work there. She said that the economy is still shaky, but in my opinion the economy these days are all shaky with the Europe debt crisis, the American banking crisis and all the other unexpected crisis springing from natural disasters that seems much more common these days.

During breakfast, I unexpectedly met my aunt who is already working there and is convincing me to go there. Saying that I have a brighter future and that I can find a good job there. It is a random event that makes it more believable that the universe is telling me something, or is it?

And almost everyday I get a message from Linkedin from employers or agencies asking for my updated CV. I'm ignoring them for now because I don't want to decide because there is an offer, I want to base my decision because I have decided to go.

I will be renewing my passport within this week even though it still is valid for a year, but because my aunt who has some connection in DFA will get one, I readily ask her to take me with her so that I can renew my passport.

Am I decided? Honestly not yet. When I left for Manila 4 yrs ago, I was filled with the enthusiasm and courage and just heading there without much thinking and worry, I just kind of did. Now, I'm full of what ifs, what would I do, what... I'm so confused to decide.

There is at least 2 months for the passport to be renewed, that would give me time. Then there is the wedding I should attend on March so that would also give me a no go. The earliest time if I should leave is on April and the latest is June. If by June I'm still undecided then 2012 is still Philippine bound, I guess, unless there is a drastic need to really be somewhere foreign.

Why do I need to be in SG? Let me count.

First is the experience to work internationally, an OFW officially! What does it feel to be working with other nationalities in a country not your own? It is exciting to think and challenging. If my horizons widened from Cebu to Manila, how much more from Philippines to SG!

Second and the most important thing is that I need to save! The Philippines is not really a good place to build fortunes if your skills is not entrepreneurial, and sadly I belong to that category of being an employee and paid monthly. The tax system in this country is 35% from your salary, then taxed on almost all aspect from food, clothing, entertainment, etc.! I will not be complaining this much if by the time I'm jobless or needing government support, the government will care to care because I was giving them money from all those years of working, but no, the government will just leave you to rot! And these politicians! I don't want to get started on these corrupt politicians, all I can say is that they are ALL crappy and shameless!

I need to have a place to call my own, that is the biggest mover for me. As I'm entering another decade of my life, I looked back and all I have is this insurance that I'm halfway through. It is not enough! I need to buy a place to call home until the day I live this earth (hopefully a long, long time from now).

So I crossed my fingers and praying in silence that if when I decide, it is the right decision on the right direction.

Swimming with the Giants

21.January.2012 4am

Im supposed to have this travel in 2 days rather than today. But because of the big uncertainty that I can't watch the big fish on that day, I decided to go there earlier than planned with my sister and Reggie.

It rained the night before (actually  a few hours ago). I need some sleep because I arrived around 12 midnight from watching a movie and I fell asleep around 1am.

We woke up around 3am and arrived at the terminal in roughly 30mins. Ceres bus started to ran in around 4:10am (the current time now).

So I thought this is the time to have a little dose of zzzzz.

After about 3hrs later.

After a few hours, 3hrs to be exact we arrived at Tan-awan in Oslob. We paid 300 and sit for a little seminar conducted by the municipal people. Then we ride the bangka and into the sea where they are feeding the whale sharks.

It is frightening! I have to admit that it scared me when I first saw them under the sea. Above, they are big and you can see their mouth, but when you are in the water, you got to see their long big bodies and gills pulsating. You feel so small compared to these giants of the sea. I asked the fisherman to take me further away as I am very very close to the whaleshark, but he said that it is ok, they are gentle.

So I just dip my head (Im on a life vest, and one hand is groping a rope and the other the camera, talk about hassle) and take pictures. Thankfully I got some ok photos.

I will never forget this amazing experience, it truly is one of its kind.

Sinulog 2012!

Viva! Pit Senior!

It was a successful and very orderly Sinulog this year.
First off was the fluvial parade on the 14th (Saturday). We (me, my ate and her bf) paid 150 per person to ride a banca, courtesy of an officemate. It rained so hard when we boarded the banca that I was drenched before even reaching the boat.

It was my first time to join the fluvial procession and the feeling is surreal. Seeing the Mactan channel full of colorful boats of varying sizes with people dancing and drumbeats filling the salty sea breeze is just awesome. The road along the pier is packed with devotees waiting for the Nino's boat to pass by. The Mactan bridge is fenced with people edge to edge.

When the boat of the Nino started roam along the coast, the boatmen of every boat is on a race to be near the Nino's boat. But they have to be careful not to get too close to another boat to prevent crashing each other, but some minor accidents did happen, luckily no one was reported hurt. In all, the fluvial parade is exhilarating to witness.

On Sunday the day of the Sinulog, we went to church for the 6am mass. The church is FULL of people, it takes about 15-30 minutes to get in, and about the same time to get out. That's how full it was. We already anticipated the crowd so it was just fun shoving those people around.

After the mass, we walked a good 5 or 6 kilometers back home as there were no more jeepneys allowed on the road. It was sunny and bright compared to last year's where it rained all day. Contingents are already on the streets withe their colorful costumes and props. We ate KFC for breakfast before heading back home. Some of the contingents already dancing and the air is filled with festive vibes.

I was back at home around 10am and decided I must recharge for another round of Sinulog on the afternoon. I slept until 2am and got out of the house at 3. I joined my friends from Kyocera (the same group I went out with last 2011's Sinulog), gone to Ayala and watched the fireworks display!

Until next year! Viva!

It's More Fun in the Philippines

One thing I truly love is being a tourist. So when the Philippine's Department of Tourism launched the new  #itsmorefuninthephilippines campaign I am more than glad to join the bandwagon and create my own studies showing why it is more fun here!

Hoping that it my own little ways, tourism in the Philippines will improve.

But I have a few request to the Department of Tourism if they really want to have repeat foreign tourists in our country. First and foremost is the installation of SIGNAGE! Big, bold, multi-language road signs is very important to wandering tourists. Second is the availability of maps around the city, highlighting what spots tourists should take interest and this should be available at the airport's arrival hall. And maybe one last thing is for them to extensively use the modern social networking sites (use them all Facebook, twitter, tumblr, flickr, instagram etc...)  alongside the more traditional TV advertisement to promote the country.

Less Worries

That's my goal this 2012! Stress-free, worry-free living...
Ok not to be overtly ideal over it, less-stress, less-worries is easier to attain I guess.

It just dawned over me (yet again) that I take life too seriously and it is affecting my demeanor, appearance and overall attitude. I'm thinking to pursue goals and other interests so that I keep my mind occupied at the same time free, quite confusing right? Occupied in the sense that my mind will not dull at the regularity of what I do, free in the sense that exploring new horizons (which I did sometime ago), explore the many other facets of life.

Overtime I accumulated a lot of insecurities and fears, which I did not have before. Maybe because I did not anchor myself to a stable foundation, maybe because I was too carefree, maybe because I was misguided.

I need to introspect and find meaning and appreciate more the things and specially the people that I have in my life right now, than looking for those that I don't have (and tragically those people I had but lost). It's time to experience joy on simple things and live life to the fullest of what can be possible. I know that time is limited and that it is variable, we can never know when it would ran out - the more reason that I should value what I am now and what I can still possibly be.

2012 is going to be the year where I should lighten up and just take life with a little bit of fun.

2012.01.06 Trouble With Concentration

This first working week of the year became an unexpectedly tiresome week for me. First I was excited to work on the new RFQ, but it has been held off until approval from the customer is final. The effect? I  continue with the rest of the week with nothing to do. I can continue investigating the RFQ but it will cost me my development hrs and I may need it badly when it oficially starts.

I am still investigating, slowly (to put it in context), the RFQ and I found many holes to plug for this to work!

It is still the first week of the new year and I'm hoping things will get better as we wade through 2012.

2012.01.05 - First Ever Walk With Jesus

Last year was my first Walk with Mary in celebration for the Sinulog festival. Now was my first Walk with Jesus, to kickoff the Sinulog activities for 2012. The Philippines being a majorly Catholic population and the veneration of Cebuanos to the child Jesus, once again the procession was packed with thousands of people.

I am a frustrated photographer and with my NEX camera I set off to the streets and skywalks to capture the visually stunning crowds of people flooding the streets, following the "carosa" of the Sto. Nino. In the still dark sky, it is like watching a river of light - visually impressive!

My NEX camera come only with its kit lens, I can't yet afford a much better lens which can handle low light scenarios. I tried my best to capture the moment. Though I only got a handful of "ok" shots out of I think a hundred I took, I was nevertheless satisfied. To compare though, I was able to have better throughput last year compared this year. It is either my standards have gotten up or I dont know how to use my camera or there is something wrong with my camera (though I hope not because I can't yet afford to buy a new one).

When the procession ended at the Minore Basilica del Sto. Nino, I just stayed outside the church as it is very packed inside the basilica square and inside the church. It rained and poured and I was thankful I did not get wet. I did not finish the mass since the sermon of the priest took a long time and my legs hurt.

Viva Pit Senior! Sinulog is festive, I like to dance with the beat!

2012.01.04 - On The 2nd Month of 2012

Yey mu-uli na si Vella from US (estets) gikan training!
Makapadala na jud kos akong ganahan nga wala pa nko nkit-an dre sa Pinas.
Ang una kay kining eye-fi nga sd card. Ang nakanindot ani niya kay ma transfer daw ang photos from camera wirelessly (through wifi) ang pics to PC or ipod/iPad. Pagka nindot! Dugay2x na ko naka dungog ani pero wala pa jud koy nakit-an nga available dinhi sa Cebu. Though naay review nga di kuno ni mugana sometimes kay naay proxy server ang ISP sa Pinas (nabasahan nko sa usa ka blog), but I'm willing to try and risk it.

Ikaduha kay magpalit pud kog lens filter para kay NEX! 49mm man gud ang lens sa NEX maong lisod pangita-on. Nya ka kita kos Sony store kay pirte sad kamahal sa mga filters oi. Nakakita kos Amazon murag ma makabarato ko.

Ikatulo na related ghapon sa NEX nko kay ang wireles remote control. Nahan man gud ko maapil sa picture so dapat naay remote, hehehe. bati man ang timer sa NEX so dapat mas nindot if macontrol sya remotely bah samtang nag pose pose sa layo :D hehehehe

Mao ra to. So dapat na ko mamili sa amazon nya i-order para madeliver na.

Salamat daan mam Vella sa pagdala! :D

Weeeehhh. So excited.

2012.01.04 - Sing A Pore

Now that I'm here
In this moment that I've waited
Decision time I have reached
Time flies and it's time to say

Yes maybe no
Never will I be satisfied
If I cant try
To be there where I wanted

Am I good for you?
Or am I just wasting a good start
Here in this current place
Where job is a like playing darts?

Should I be there and be away
Only to return someday
Is it worth it to chase a dream
Or be contented in the seams

I need direction
I need assurance
Noone can give
I should be safe

Help I need to decide
To fly to somewhere and risk it all
Should be easier back then
When Im younger and risk taker

I need to introspect
retrospect
inspect
Or just sing

And maybe the answer
Is just there
Somewhere I just need to scratch
Time is ticking on my watch

2012.01.04 I Don't "Peel" It

Yes, the title has the word "peel" not feel.

A week ago, I went on and bought the raisoo apple peel that would turn my ipod touch into a dual-sim phone! Just what I wanted. I thought of buying a dual sim phone instead but decided I must go with the peel since I got an ipod touch to start with and I dont want another gadget to carry.

I ordered online, paid for shipping and custom duties totalling to around 8K pesos. Waited for like a week since DHL did not deliver on holidays and weekends. While I was waiting for it, I jailbreak (or is it jailbroke) my ipod touch. Luckily, the untethered iOS5.0.1 become available (thanks to pod2g) and I was already on 5.0.1 so the jailbreaking process is pretty straightforward.

It was my first time to perform a jailbreak, before actually doing it I searched the web for tips and pitfalls that I may encounter. The scariest one was that it could potentially make my ipod a pricey paper weight. Thankfully that did not happen (or I'm dead - figuratively) and the jailbreaking process succeeded without a glitch (there were minor glitches but ipod came out of it alive!).

Going back to the peel, finally it arrived (I have it delivered to the office). I was very excited. I bought an extra sim just for the occasion. I opened the peel and inserted the sims in and inserted my ipod. Wow! the ipod touch finally become a dual-sim phone! I can text, I can call and most of all it is conveniently in one device. The wonders of technology!

However, not all is perfect and glittery and as expected. Made from China (or more precisely designed from China), I should have known that quality might (and is) a problem. The first one that obviously defeats the whole purpose of having a dual sim is that when 2 sims are inserted, the 2nd sim seems to receive the texts a little late (around 11 minutes after it was sent). The more annoying thing is when a message arrives, the peel reboots itself (more like refresh with an irritating pop up that says "power on"). I hope that this is a software problem that can be remedied by future software upgrades and not hardware inherent. This does not seem to happen when only 1 sim is inserted.

Even though the peel has its own battery, I noticed that the ipod itself is draining its battery faster than what I observed before. Luckily though the peel can charge the ipod so it helps a bit. I am just being skeptical whether this mechanism can damage the ipod touch's battery life all the more. I just hope that its not.

Now that I have the peel, I sort of regretted buying it and wish that I instead bought a decent dual sim real phone from cellphone makers (like from Samsung or Nokia), but hey I have it and it's not that all bad, I just got to live with it's imperfectness.

This would be the last thing I will buy that is from China and designed by China without supervision from reputable companies (because let's face it, almost everything now is made from China).