"Every bit is as powerful as it looks": Part 1

Apple, this is your moment of truth, because here's a short candid article I would like to share!

    With OSX 10.10 and iOS 8 coming out this fall, I am pretty excited for what surprises Apple is giving me.

    As Apple mentions, "Every bit is as powerful as it looks.", as a user and a future developer and programmer, I am trying to make every bit count. It simply means, whatever Apple releases, I try to make use of all of them. With the Objective-C Swift Language coming out, I am even more eager to see what Apple has done to innovate and improve our lives.

Taken from Apple.com

    Although I can give Apple a 10 in terms of user reliability and effectiveness, I would say that Apple needs to improve in being more open to users. For one, I would like to ask Apple how come, as one of the biggest companies in the world, they don't support other programming languages such as Python. They shouldn't limit the App Store to apps written in Javascript or Objective-C only. If they would change this, I believe that more developers will rush to the App Store to distribute their applications.

    From what I know, Apple uses the Feedback Assistant to gather comments on their beta releases. They should also apply using the Feedback Assistant more to us regular users. With over a million customers, Apple should learn how to adapt to the needs and wants of the users.

    Apple's stock price nowadays are really high compared to their 2008 stock price. According to Google Finance, Apple's stock price has steadily increase since 2009. Although it suffered a significant drop in 2012. But the good news is, it is doing good right now.  Maybe I can invest in it. Even if one the biggest change to the Apple is releasing OSX Mavericks free! It was a smart choice too. It now attracts more Apple users who don't want to pay for paid releases. Doing this also lessens users from acquiring "crack" releases.

    Stand back, Apple, because this is just the beginning! Expect my future commentary to be a whole lot informative too!

A Cruisin' We Will Go: Part 1

Eye-popping excitement.. non-stop enjoyment....family funtime.

It all happens on water, onboard the Starcruise Virgo. What is great about going on a cruise vacation? Let me tell you all about my fantastic trip.

Star cruise Virgo is not just a ship that transports you from one place to the other. It is a hotel ship, 9 decks with a driving range, a helipad (the Sun Deck), a mini golf course, a basketball court, swimming pools, a gym,  a casino, an arcade, restaurants and much more! You won't get bored at all on the ship!

For teens and kids, there are a wide array of arcade games: racing games, sports games, shooting games, you name it and whatever you want is there. For younger kids, there is a child care center with slides and an indoor playground. For families who love to stay awake late at night and have fun, The Lido or generically known as the Ship's Theatre shows family shows, adult shows and magic shows! There are two casinos:  a  big one called the Star Club and a cozier one called The Galaxy of the Stars where bands play at night.

My brother and I enjoyed playing the mini golf, basketball and swimming! We had fun exploring the ship by ourselves. We also spent some quiet time at the cozy and well-stocked library. We got to borrow some board games to play with our parents in our cabin.

During the day, the Galaxy of the Stars is one of my favorites. Why? Because there is an Observation Deck where apart from observing the view of the sea in front of me, I can pretend to be a captain of the ship and view a desktop which shows the ship's status. There is also the Captain's Bridge as I went down a spiral staircase. behind glass windows, I was able to observe the actual work of the captain, his crew and the consoles. I also took time reading the history of the ship and imagined how it felt to work there. 

From Manila, we flew to Singapore and boarded the ship at Harbourfront. The second I spotted the ship from the taxi, I was stricken with awe when I saw the Virgo from afar. It was simply gargantuan! It set sail at 4 pm while my brother and I excitedly roamed around on our first cruise trip. The ship sailed for four days and three nights.

Of course, a cruise is not cruise without scrumptious and overflowing food. There are many restaurants which offer a huge variety of food on board Star Virgo.   Most are "free" restaurants, which means the meals are part of the package that we paid for. There are some where you need to pay additionally. My favorite restaurant would be the Bella Vista. The ambience is quite formal. It serves continental food. Meals are usually a 4-course dinner but you can ask for additional servings to your heart's delight. Appetizers, main courses and desserts are abundantly available to satisfy your cravings.

One event that you shouldn't miss is the wonderful On-Cruise Magic Show that really proved to be a "Mirage", as the title suggested. Its dazzling special effects made the audience "woo and whoa" at the tricks of the talented magician.

Fancy the sunrise or want to catch the spectacular sunset? The best place to relax with peace and quiet with the cool breeze blowing across your face is the Sun Deck. A cup of coffee or a cone of ice cream and a great view is what you should not miss to cap of your day at the sea.

Well? This is just an intro to my cruise trip! Wait till you read about the shore excursions in Thailand and Malaysia! Until then...

Baguio, The Place For Everyone

BAGUIO. The perfect place for every season. No matter what season it is, you can always enjoy it.

Baguio City is known as the summer capital of the Philippines because when it is hot elsewhere, it is cold in Baguio. It is located in the northern Luzon area,  in the province of Benguet. It took us approximately six hours to drive from Manila to Baguio.

I went there with my family and relatives, not to escape Manila's heat but to spend time bonding in its cool crisp almost winter air. We all stayed in my aunt's house at Monterazza so it felt like camping.

Baguio means views of hills and mountains, trees and gardens and  huge space where I played tag and cops and robbers. My cousins got to go 'sledding' down the hill on a tarpaulin. It was nice to wake up in the morning in a quiet, cool and green environment. It gave me a  break from the noise and pollution in the city. It let me listen to the birds chirping, the leaves rustling and the wind blowing. I got to breathe fresh, clean and cool air.

One night, we grilled marshmallows and hotdogs outdoor. My older cousins set up a tent at the backyard and we had so much fun eating, chatting and playing together. It was like a cozy scene from a movie!

Horseback riding was also fun. I got to experience the thrill of riding along a  steep and rough path while it was raining. When I reached the top of the trail, I felt an even cooler breeze while I enjoyed the feeling of being in a forest.

I did this in Camp John Hay. It used to be a US Base Camp established in the early 1900's as a recreational camp for American soldiers. Now, it has been privatized and has a hotel called the Manor  which is notable for its raisin bread. There are many cabins and log houses, too. Camp John Hay is beautiful for its many pine trees and lush grounds. But now, I think commercial buildings have occupied some of these green spaces.. Anyway, this place is still great for kids like me who love running around. There are a lot of activities to do there like golf, paintball, hiking and mini-golf.  I was able to do the zipline and rappelling there when I was five years old. Too bad we did not have time to do any of them now. There are many restaurants and duty-free shops and bazaars in The Mile-Hi Center where we enjoyed going around too.

We had breakfast at Cafe de Batirol, known for its native hot chocolate. The restaurant gave a cottage-comfy. It has wooden benches and tables and vines hanging all over the place. Its hot chocolate tasted like 99.9% chocola-te indeed! I ordered Tocino Pork with egg and rice. It was okay but the bummer was - the food took soooooo long to arrive and it was all because they ran out of eggs and we had to wait for their staff to come back from the market. WHAT!?!?!?!

We also stopped by the Mansion House. It is where the President Of the Philippines stays when he goes there. It is huge and royal-looking from a distance. It is secured with all the high gates and security guards. If I were the  President, I would want to live there, too. The mansion was built in 1908 to serve as the official residence of the US Governor-Generals over summer. An added feature was the life-size "belen" (a traditional Christmas symbol in the Philippines that depicts the nativity scene).

On our way home, we took the famous Kennon Road. It is famous but dangerous! It is very dangerous especially during rainy days and I think at nighttime because I did not notice any street lights. The zigzag and winding roads are the best and worst part because while I got to see the lush green forests, waterfalls, rivers, hills and mountains, the drive included lots of turnings and swervings. I enjoyed the ride because it was going downhill and the road was well paved.

Even though my short trip to Baguio meant less computer and tv time, and not much time to see the other tourist spots,  I  really enjoyed what nature and the company of family can offer. I look forward to going there every year.

So, what are you waiting for? Jump in your car and head north to the City of Pines!

The Wonders Of Boracay

Super fine white sand. Cool pristine water. Mouth-watering fresh food. Exciting and fun activities.

That's Boracay for me. It's an amazing island in Visayas, in the province of Aklan. The Philippines has many wonderful beaches but the most popular of all is Boracay. It is world-renowned for its four kilometer long stretch of fine white sand. I think it is never too crowded nor too hot because the island has so much to offer.

A 50-minute flight from Manila to Caticlan is the fastest way to get there. From Caticlan airport, we were met by the hotel staff for a short ride to the jetty where we rode the speedboat to the island. My mom arranged for land and sea transfers so it was all convenient.

I had a great time there with my family, a perfect relaxation from school work. The main beach is called the White Beach, where you can find many resorts, shops and restaurants. It is divided into Stations 1, 2, and 3. When I arrived in Station 1, I noticed that it was quiet and peaceful. It has a wide shore where people just relaxed by sunbathing or sleeping or reading under beach umbrellas. Station 2 is famous for D'Mall, where you can buy souvenirs, shirts, beach wear and other things. We ate in some restaurants there, too. I did not go to Station 3. They said that there are many bars there, as well as new resorts and hotels. But I think Station 1 is the best.

 
I was really looking forward to this trip. I was so excited because I was only two years old when I first went there. I felt like this was a whole new world to me. I laughed at the stories my parents told me about the last time we were there, like I was the only kid enjoying the company of people having some coffee and  drinks at a beach side stall.

We stayed in Microtel by Wynham Boracay while my dad was attending a conference nearby. It is located in Diniwid Beach and has its own beachfront and a small pool. It also has an outdoor  restaurant called Mama's Fish House that served great tasting food. Everything we ordered were delicious. My mom was impressed with the serving and presentation, with fresh salad and vegetables for every main course. To my surprise, the service was great for what looked like a 3-star hotel from outside. The staff was quick to respond to our needs. Drinking water, ice and coffee were available for free 24 hours. I had a great overnight experience there especially our dinner in candlelight at the beach.

Then we transferred to Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa. Now, that's  really a 5-star resort from the time we arrived. It has its own exclusive arrival area near the airport where we were served welcome drinks and cold towels to freshen up before getting transported to the island on a speedboat. It has two private beaches, Punta Bunga and Banyugan Beach, where I went snorkeling,  kayaking and built sand castles with my brother. But the sand is nothing compared to the White Beach. The green surroundings made me feel like I was in a forest with modern amenities! We enjoyed the huge pool, the comfortable Entertainment Center where we played billiards, air hockey, sungka and basketball. I also rented some videos to be enjoyed in our room. Oh, the room was spacious and very comfortable with lots of amenities to enjoy. Our breakfast buffet offered a wide selection of food. Yummy! Our seafood dinner buffet was sumptuous, too. I can stay here for a week!

My unforgettable experiences are all my first-time activities I did there.
(1) Sandboarding - It was exciting but a bit scary too. Too bad I only got to try it for a while. I fell but it was worth it!
(2) Wet Zorb - Wet but fun! They said it was better than dry zorb. I rolled down a hill in a ball filled with water. Don't worry, I bet you are thinking it was a ball full of water? No! It is just partially filled with splashing and cold water so we can move along with it as the ball rolled. The end of the Zorb ride is a pool and getting out of it was a challenge too!
(3) ATV on a rainy day. My dad let me drive from the front passenger's seat. Isn't that cool? We rode the ATV to a view deck where we could see the whole island. The view was great and it was really windy up there.
(4) Segway - I was slow and unsure at first but I knew I wanted to do it. After a few minutes, I felt more confident and I enjoyed going around and up and down the ramps. What an experience!

My favorite time was when I tried the fresh and great tasting shakes in Jonas Restaurant while watching the sunset. The banana shake was refreshing and filling, too! I also got to taste the mango strawberry shake. 

Take a break from the city and enjoy the peace and serenity of  Boracay. If you have no time to do the activities I mentioned, just go and enjoy the wonders of nature. Swim in the shallow, blue sea with its fine fine sand. You should see my brother's face and expression when he touched the sand for the first time. I can say that the island's magnificence is irresistible. I really feel that I should return there because of the beautiful beautiful beach.

"So what are you waiting for? Book now and fly to Boracay because Boracay is just EXCEPTIONAL."

I'm Back!

Hi Fellow Readers!

I'm back! Watch out for my next blog post coming in the next few days!

See you!

King And I

"Take an instant trip to the Palace of Siam when you watch the spectacular musical play, "The King and I". Feel how it is to be treated by a king, as a servant or as a royal person. Live in Siam for a night."

Ongoing at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at the Resorts World Manila is the wonderful musical "The King and I". It is based on a novel by Margaret Landon which originally played in Broadway in 1956 and has been made into a movie. The story portrays life in the olden times in Siam (now Thailand) where the king wants to show the world that the country is modern and powerful. The music of the original play was by Richard Rogers and the lyrics is by Oscar Hammerstein II.

The two main characters are played by Leo Valdez as the King and Monique Wilson as Anna. She is a beautiful school teacher, an English woman who was hired by the king to teach his favored children (from the 69 kids which then became 71!) and his many wives.

I enjoyed the part when the King held a party for the visiting high-ranking English men who wanted to see if the King was a barbarian. It was thrilling and exciting to see what would happen next. The king consulted Anna whose opinion he respected (eventually) although he had a difficult time admitting it.

Anna and the King had many arguments, starting from the king's promise that she will be given her own house. They come from different cultures and ways of life. So most of the time, they disagreed with each other. But towards the end, they began to understand each other. They were actually learning to forgive and adapt to each other's culture, but the peace was intercepted by the secret police reporting about Tuptim, a princess from Burma who was a "gift" to the King, and who escaped from the palace. Anna was flabbergasted that a person can be given as a gift and she felt so angry that the king's punishment for running away is to whip her.

The king felt superior and demanded that everyone bowed to him all the time. He treated women as lesser than men. Hmm...I find that discriminating! But I am happy how the story unfolded....

I really like it when the king acted funny. He learned the word "etcetera" from Anna and kept repeating it. It made the audience laugh especially when the king kept adding "etcetera, etcetera" to his sentences. Leo Valdez was so good in changing the tone of his voice and in making faces. His facial expression showed his actual feelings.


Overall, I loved the play. One great thing about plays is its changing set and awesome props. The props were very attractive and scenic. The director used a large screen to show the magnificent setting which combined art and technology.  All the actors and actresses were talented, including the young children in the show. For a moment, I wondered if they were not sleepy at that time. The music was relaxing and catchy. I strongly recommend that you watch it and be dazzled by the show.

"So, what are YOU waiting for? Grab a ticket of "The King and I" before it ends. I hope you will like the play as much as I do, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!" :-)

"A Week Of Monsoon Rains"

      August 6, Monday. I woke up wondering why my mom did not wake me up earlier. I almost panicked! I found out that classes were suspended due to the heavy rains since the night before. "Yipee, no class!" was my first reaction. But the rain continued throughout the day and as we watched the news on TV and saw a lot of places were flooded, I began to worry and news of another class suspension made us sad already. They said there was no typhoon, only monsoon rains. But the effects were massive: people losing their homes, vehicles were stranded, evacuation centers were crowded, they needed food and clothing.


 I am glad that my school did their best to help the monsoon rain victims. Classes were called off the whole week for the relief operations where generous people donated goods for the flood. You would expect most students to be playing during that time, but instead, many students were very busy, busy with helping, some carrying, loading and unloading goods, others packing relief goods. The jam-packed multi-purpose center was filled with students, parents, teachers and staff. Even my younger brother had something to do, including picking up empty boxes which was also important or else, the place will be full of cartons lying around.


      Our teachers put up a Weebly site for reflection. Let me share what I posted in answer to the questions they posted:                

      "I feel very sad because I see a lot of children and families losing their houses, properties and even their lives. I also feel sympathy towards those in the evacuation centers because they are living in a hot, crowded and uncomfortable place. Some people are already getting sick, they feel cold, hungry and even bored. They worry when they will go home. I feel angry too, because some people don't really care and just throw their garbage in the different bodies of water, they litter carelessly so the drains clogged and the water can't flow freely. At the same time, I felt helpless because I can't give them shelter and I can't make the rains stop. I prayed for the flood victims. And God is good, he allowed me to help in my own small way."
     
"God allows these things to happen because he wants the Philippines to learn how to save nature, don't litter, plant trees, to be close to Him and remember Him. God is in these typhoons and monsoon rains because He created them. He wants us to know that without nature, we would not be able to live. But, if we don't take care of nature, it can be very harmful. I see God in all the people who are helping in the XS Call of Duty. When I was writing the donation of goods coming in on the first day, I saw that a lot of people were really generous and kind. I was even surprised that some people who donated are not from Xavier. They said they just heard and got texts that the school receives donations. I see God in the teachers, students, parents and volunteers who share their time and efforts. I see compassion and community of God in action. I see that with unity, we can help others more. As I help put the canned goods in the plastic and hear that thousands of bags have been packed, I know that God loves us and this is one way of showing we love Him by serving the flood victims. I pray that they will also see God in their hearts even when it is difficult."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following Sunday, our family joined Auntie Cheryl to help in a medical mission in Subic. That being my first time, I was surprised to see so many people who are in need, not only of  of basic needs, but medicines as well.  My brother and I shared our used clothing. My mom said it would be nice to see that they go directly to the children who needed them. There was a commotion as many kids and mothers tried to get as many clothes as they can before the clothes will run out. Many times they were asked to fall in line but they didn't until we finished distributing. Doctors were trying their best to give the best diagnosis while my brother, my good friend Gabe and I helped in cutting the tablets so the right number of medicines be given to them. The trip was long and it was raining, but we had a good and memorable experience.

If you have the opportunity to help others, no matter how simple, take it. Just as I did in our school and Olongapo City. When you help pack relief goods, you help a family.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Picture from bta.bg

       I have yet to post this article above about the recent monsoon rains and how it affected so many people, now a new typhoon and monsoon rains brought another flooding incident. Typhoon Karen caused flooding again in some parts of Quezon City, reaching even chest high. In Manila, people were walking in the flood that were knee-high. Our Saturday make-up class was suspended again! How I pray that the Filipinos will seriously learn to throw trash properly, to reuse, reduce and  recycle. I wish that the government will immediately find solution to the flooding problem. In my own little way, I will dispose garbage properly and segregate.

"A Brainy Day At The Mind Museum"

"Be fascinated with the amazing facts and wonders of SCIENCE at THE MIND MUSEUM!"

The Fort houses the newly-opened science museum called THE MIND MUSEUM. It has five indoor galleries and one outdoor nature playground. When you enter, a remote controlled-human sized robot named Aedi will greet you. It can talk, move and do other actions. There is a tour guide for the first part of the museum only. After that, you can tour around by yourself. Though there are museum staff everywhere if you need their help.

The Galleries in The Mind Museum
I visited the Mind Museum with my friends and family as my last summer fun activity before school started. We had lots of fun there watching shows, doing different activities and exploring. We went to all galleries and we learned a lot of things.



The first gallery, the Universe Gallery showed us the space, the earth, sun and the universe. They also have a show or a mini-planetarium where you can watch different shows about space. One cool thing about the gallery was the rotating tunnel. It connects the Universe Gallery to the Earth Gallery. Step inside and you will feel as if you are spinning upside-down. I liked it a lot that I kept going back!
   



In the Earth Gallery, we witnessed how earth began, in the form of exhibits of dinosaurs, the early people and a 3D show. The 3D show was my best part in this gallery. We wore 3D glasses so when a dinosaur came running, it really looked very fierce and life-like, hence, we got so many surprises and laughing moments.

Visit the Technology Gallery and get modern today! I think kids are most familiar with this area. Different kinds of technology being used in different countries were on display. You can play old video games, such as Pac-Man, and new games such as racing, drum and other video games you normally see at the arcades.
 

To learn about atoms and energy, be sure to check out the one-of-a-kind Atom Gallery. Witness the effects of energy, different gears moving and much more.

Some of the activities I liked were the room where you can pose and the camera will print your shadow on the wall. My friends and I had a blast making different quirky poses.






Too bad we weren't able to go to the outdoor playground because it was raining. Nevertheless, we all had an enjoyable time. I just wished that the museum had more interactive exhibits, like those that allow you to move and feel things and see its effects. In a science museum in Kuala Lumpur, I got to adjust the force of the tornado and feel it. While in  Hong Kong Science Museum, I got to trace the source of electricity from the starting point - the electrical socket at home. I think kids will really have fun with live experiments where you can make your own discoveries. I hope the Mind Museum will continue to add more features and change the exhibits every now and then so I will go back again.