JUST ME!!!

I’m Jonel Decano Amora, 18 years old and currently a 3rd year Computer Science student at the University of Southeastern Philippines. I am actually a newbie in blogging environment, I never really liked blogging, I thought its boring and time consuming, but then one of my subject at school obliged as to do blogging and it became a part of the subject requirement.

More things about me, I am one of the so called “promdi” or from the province. I lived there since birth until after my high school graduation and moved into the city to pursue a college education. I lived with my older sibling while I’m in the city. I have three (3) siblings and I am the youngest among the four (4). I started and finished my elementary education at Lambajon Central Elementary School and continued my secondary education at Maryknoll School of Lambajon. Both schools were located at our small barrio.

So that is basically the things about me. If you have any questions, suggestions or any violent reactions feel free to express your self and I would gladly accommodate it and surely give you a positive response. Lastly hope you’ll enjoy reading my blog, thank you. I would really appreciate if you’ll drop some comments as you pass by. Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas to all.

WHY COMSCI??? WHY USEP??? WHY DID I LIE??

Why Comsci? Why USeP?

I can still remember the first person who asked me those million dollar questions. It was Engr. Ariel Roy Reyes, during the interview for my admission to the University.

When asked, why comsci? I answered… ”because I wanna be a programmer someday.” It’s actually not true, I just heard it while I was eavesdropping to the conversation of the a student and her friend after she had her interview. It is not an accident that I heard their conversation; I did it on purpose, of course to have a glimpsed of what to expect when I’ll step in the faculty room. I didn’t even know what that time what a programmer is or do. I only had it as an answer for defense purposes. I don’t want the interviewer to make a stupid impression out of me.

When asked, why USeP? I answered...”because I know someone from our province who is studying here and she recommended the university to me.” I just made another lie, the truth is that we hadn’t seen each other for years, the last time was when she graduated from our high school.

Why did I lie? Simply because I don’t know the answer, even now. My first choice was Accountancy and BS Math is my second choice. Maybe its my scholarship that triggers me to be here. Every time I ask myself those questions, I always with these invalid and some stupid reasons:

• I had no choice.
• My scholarship only gives Php. 6000 to there scholars as tuition and USeP is the only university that has less than Php. 6000 for the tuition.
• It is near to my siblings’ house and I can have the choice to walk to and from school every time I have no money to pay for jeepney/motorcycle fair.
• I have to budget the monthly allowance given by my scholarship because my parents are currently paying for my older sibling’ studies in other college, that is why I chose USeP because they have cheaper “carenderias” around and they give cheaper projects.
• I think computer technology based courses are in demand compared to business courses like accountancy.
• My three (3) older siblings already took up accountancy and I had to be different.

Even though my other reasons are not stupid I still consider them invalid. I should have pursued accountancy and be happy but I did not. I just considered everything to be to be a blessing in disguise (pampalubag loob… why do blessings have to disguise??hahaha!!!) Because these past years, I have been happy here, the IC professors, students, classmates and specially my new found friends are here… and theyre just amazing that I can’t resist (hehehehe)… In a way, I am happy and maybe I just needed to be contented of what I have.

I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS???

Unfortunately, No!!!

I only have three (3) chances of going back home to the province for the whole year. Summer break, Semestral break and the Christmas break. Our barrio is 8-10 hours away from the city that is why I really treasure these 3 chances of going back home away from the noisy and complicated life at the city. Besides, I don’t have the luxury of money to pay for the bus’ fee. I keep on saving my money to be able to go back home.

Unfortunately, the allowance from my scholarship which I have been expecting since last week of November is still not available until the last week of December. Second, is that I still have lots of projects and assignments to be submitted and there is no internet connection in the province so I have to do and submit it here.

Its sad that I’ll miss the company of my parents this Christmas and I’ll also miss my mother’s birthday as well. But I think I’ll have to sacrifice and do well at school. In that way, I think I can make my family happy. Have a blessed Christmas everyone…

PSITS…SIMPLY MEANS FRIENDSHIP…

PSITS (Philippine Society of Information Technology Students) is an inter-school organization of different IT schools where ITE students can develop their talents. I never really expected myself to be a part of the PSITS core group (a group of different representatives of each school who is a member of PSITS). When I’m still a freshman, I only see PSITS festival as a study break for ITE students, for them to have fun and forget school for a while. I thought that PSITS festival is only done to develop camaraderie among students.

Guess what, there’s more into PSITS than meets the eye. I think it is more of making friends, learning, sharing and laughing than winning or losing. It’s the time where ITE students get to talk and share knowledge while enjoying each others company. I mean not all students think the way we do. Its like me in our house, because all of my colleagues there are accountancy and commerce students and I cant really relate when their talking about the debit-credit stuffs. It’s a place where we feel comfortable and at ease while making new friends from other schools. It’s a great break, school away from school and home away from home where you may find your bestest companion in your entire college life.

To other core group members and friends from PSITS, thank you for making my third year in PSITS worthwhile. Each of you deserves a clap (hahahaha!!!!) for doing a great job. May we continue this thread of friendship forever (hehehe). Have a Merry Christmas.

HOW I FEEL?....

Towards the subject…(SAD-System Analysis and Design)

I thought the subject was boring (first impression… but doesn’t really meant it..), but it turns out to be the other way around (maybe because of the instructor..hehehe). There is more it than I had imagined. Looks like I’ll be in superb action for the next three (3) months.

Towards the Instructor…(Dr. Randy S. Gamboa)

I always knew that sir Gamboa makes things complicated (that thought is based on the students who had been under his supervision). But guess what I discovered, NO!! his not complicated at all, students (which includes me) just makes themselves too simple, considering that we are enrolled in a technical course. When he started his words of wisdom (sermon…) last Thursday, I think he hit my mark (bulls’ eye!!!), which left me thinking since last Thursday. I think we are privileged to have one of the best professors not just in town but I think in the whole country as well to be our subject instructor. He is frank, full of sense and full of authority especially when he starts talking. I think I need to work harder to pass his standards. To be honest, I am sure scared (not that he looks scary or horrible…hehehe) and challenged by him. I cant afford to fail his subject because it would cause me my education and I don’t want that to happen. I think I need a little prayer and good luck and a lot of hard work (hahaha!!!). GOOD LUCK TO ME…

Towards my classmates…

To the CS (computer science) people, I’ve been with them for the last two years because my real classmates already shifted and transferred to other schools. Actually there are only five (5…out of 40 original CS-day students) of us left, unfortunately the other four (4) students failed some subject/s that is why I am quite ahead of them which lead me to be with the “suppose to be 4th year CS students”(but are still 3rd year..). I really enjoy their company and really appreciate them so much for welcoming me to their circle of friends. But in this subject we are mixed with the IT (information technology) people.

My IT classmates are noisy, funny and very energetic and I really like them for that. One thing that I hated is that you can still feel that there is a thick wall between the IT and CS people even though we are in the same room. IT and CS people look like they are living in two different worlds. I don’t know why, but I love to see these two groups compliment each other.

There’s this one incident that happened at NODAL when Ms. Fai Alim asked “Close ba ang CS ug IT? (are CS and IT students close?),” nobody answered except for me and I proudly said “YES.” Both groups were shocked, looks like they are against my answer and its quite depressing and disappointing at the same time, I really hope these two (2) groups do get along together. I hope its too soon…hehehe

A REFLECTION…(SAD DISCUSSION)

To the topics reported…

I was really amazed that we are able to finish all our topics in just a span of one and a half days. It’s like a roller coaster ride. We’ve learned a lot in less than two days. It makes me dizzy.

I could only say that SAD subject is really not that complicated. All the topics presented were just simple, leaves us with choices on how to analyze and design a system. As I reflected, I think traditional teaching is not really that effective. We learned lots of things but if we are not going to practice it in the real world it would still be useless. The books gave us the different methodologies, tools, approaches and etc. So now what? Books can’t give as experience, it’s all based on theories and theories don’t really matter in a real world scenario. Books can’t teach us anything that we have to know, because life is constantly changing everyday and books are only revised every year. It’s the experience that actually matters; experience is the most updated reference that a student can find in any library. After learning all of those theories, I think we just needed to go out of our safe zone and try to explore the outer world. It would benefit us a lot, I know it will.

To the reporters…

I think all the reporters did well. To the IT and CS people I would like to extend my warmest congratulations for job well done. Special mention to Mr. George Duran, Mr. Jade Mijares, Mr. Jonard Laganzon, Ms. Kristine Adlaon, Mr. Ashbury Alcordo and Mr. Ace Andrion Sandoval; these students really caught my attention and keeps me listening to their topic. Jonard, Jade, Kristine and Ace are great; they looked confident in front of their audience and delivered their topics intelligently. It’s like they know everything about their topic and gives valid reasons even to the littlest details of their report. I am very much satisfied to their reports. While Ash and George caught my attention because of their funny and energetic approach. They made the whole class laughs despite the boring long hours of lecture. They made us awake and kicking, which made their topic easy to remember because of their funny ways of explaining things to us.

I am just expressing my opinions, that is how I find the reporters, though lots are really good but these guys has something that made me remember them.

To the demonstration…

I think interview demonstration was very lame, I don’t even consider it a demonstration. I not being mean, I totally understand the demonstrator because of the short time given to him to prepare the demonstration. I am just expressing myself of how I feel about it. I think when you are going to conduct an interview, first you need to be polite by greeting and giving your respondent the sweetest smile that you give. You also need to be confident in approaching your respondent for you to have a good first impression from your respondent. Considering that we are students, and like what Sir Gamboa said we should expect rejection when we conduct an interview but we could actually do something to avoid it. We need to impress our respondent, look confident, knowledgeable and sure of anything that we ask them. In that way maybe we can earn their respect and eventually be properly accommodated. But never intimidate your respondent, over confidence is bad, you should be sensitive, choose the right words and always try to appreciate everything that you get out from them. And before leaving the room a simple “Thanks” will be enough to show your appreciation to them.

That’s how I think interviewing should be. I know its not that easy but I think we can do it. I know we can. Hehehe…