I'm Grateful for 2012!

We're here again. It's the end of the year. Before I leave 2012 with the hopes of a better me in 2013, I wanna look back and see what has transpired throughout the year in my life. This year has been my most challenging one yet and 2013 would only get more challenging. Here we go:

OJT Experiences - This was the year when I had my OJT since this was a requirement for me to graduate next year (which I have successfully completed) and it was nothing short of amazing. I learned a lot of things while being on the job and had fun with my co-workers during and after office hours. It was an experience that I could never forget. Thanks for everything, RTS!

Final Days of Summer - Yes, this was also the year I posted this post series which was done on the last days before my last year in college began. They mostly consist of random stuff I did from parts of my OJT to just products of pure boredom. I may do another post series when I can. I'm just happy I was able to get this out of the door. (Click this to read the whole series!)

20th Birthday - I think I didn't put out a blog post for this one (I did on the day before) but this one's a significant moment for me simply because I've been here in this world for 2 decades! I'm happy to be one of those people who still know what a VHS or a cassette tape is, even though it's old school. Thank you to everyone who celebrated it with me and greeted me throughout that day. It was one of the happiest days of my entire life. Most of all, thank you to the Lord our God for giving me the chance to praise Your name and serve You!

To note, this is my favorite birthday picture without me EVER! I like my mom's ingenuity of getting the 19 and 1 candles for the two cakes to symbolize my 20th birthday. LOVE YOU MOM!

Thesis Completion - The reason why I couldn't post a lot is because of the research that Charles and I are doing. Thankfully, we finished our defense in October and submitted the hard copies just a few weeks back. Despite all the hardships we faced throughout this whole experience, I am grateful that this happened to me because it taught me that life isn't easy and this is a testament to everything I have done until now. Thank you to our thesis adviser, to my thesis partner, and our defense panel for making this possible. THANK YOU LORD!

Christmas 2012 - Even though this just happened last week, this Christmas was one of the most memorable ones ever! From the trip to Simala to the Christmas party to simply having dinner at the mall, it was very very memorable.

The reason why I said that it is one of the most memorable is because I barely hang out with my cousins due to our age and lifestyle differences, (no offense to my older cousins) especially this year when the only time I really communicated with them before Christmas was during my busy times and for me, it really sucked. I'm happy that I get to spend time with them during the Christmas season knowing that we still have these bonds we need to cherish.

Words and pictures could not truly express how grateful I am that 2012 is a year I will forever remember as a highlight in my life and I thank the Lord for giving me the chance to live through this year and for many more years to come!

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, 2012. :)

The Beauty of the Devotion to Mama Mary: A Trip to Simala

What a beautiful place. It seems like a nice haven to reflect on what's happened.

It was the day after Christmas. I've heard that there were plans to go to Simala but I never knew when. Good thing I didn't bring much when we went there though because there was no reason to. While heading there, we had lunch in Jollibee Carcar. Also, we were all eating and using our gadgets to listen to music.

When we arrived, I was stunned by how beautiful the place was. I couldn't describe how I was feeling at the time. Just the outside of it seems like a piece of artwork that was permanently installed. There I first realized just how devoted the people here are to Mama Mary and the miracle that she brought to this place.

When we went in the church, it looks like more artwork has been placed here and they all look AMAZING. The ceiling (shown in the picture on the left) tells a lot about how Mama Mary and Jesus played a vital role in what Catholics are today. I know you might think that this is like any other church you might have seen in other parts of the Philippines and the world, but this one gives a different feel than most of them.

While I was inside the church, I prayed and thanked God for what has happened to me over the past few months because honestly, those were my most challenging months so far. Maybe that's because the final stretch has yet to arrive. HAHA.

What I noticed after was this line of people that were going to see the Miraculous Mama Mary that was said to heal a lot of people. I was curious how it was like to be there, so I went in line. The line was really long, so I can tell that the miracle is true. As I was on my way, I read countless letters from people who have been healed after praying to the Miraculous Mama Mary and I was really astounded as to how our faith manifests into our lives. When I was there, I prayed to Mama Mary for everything that has happened and will happen in the future. After those moments, we went out and saw a beautiful museum full of the images of Mama Mary.

It's so nice to see people looking at these images and see how various people adore the presence of Mama Mary through them. I jokingly said when we were already outside that my aunt that was still inside was taking a hundred pictures of these. After this part, I went to the place where you could write a petition for Mama Mary and that's what I did. Shortly after, I went outside and explored the rest of the place.

People should come here, especially those who are devoted to Mama Mary because this is a result of our devotion to her. Thank you Lord for giving us this Earth to explore all Your wonderful creations. :)

How We Spent Christmas Day :)

(In case you noticed, I MAY be posting a lot lately to catch up because I had the Christmas hangover. HAHA. And New Year's coming up.)

Christmas Day started later for us since we all woke up later than usual, from breakfast to bath to lunch. Since that happened, we decided to go the 2:30pm mass. The homily of the priest reminded us of what Christmas is really about. We should not forget that Jesus Christ is the center of the celebration. Also, we should always count on him not only on special occasions but in our everyday lives when problems can arise.

After the mass, the whole Maluya family gathered for a while and decided where to eat for snacks. After more talking and head-scratching, we went to Army Navy in the eBloc 2 building in IT Park.

I almost thought that one of the cars that were heading there got lost because they didn't know where eBloc 2 is. My worries were useless and everyone's there. What we did in Army Navy while waiting for food? THIS:

Cousins smiling! :)

AND THIS:

Mothers SMILING! :D

YES, vanity actually runs in the family and NO, I'm not posting ANY of their names in here for their privacy. :D When the food arrived though, it was hunger pounding time! I got a Longganisa Breakfast Burrito and a Vanilla Shake. The shake was okay although the burrito really tasted great. Actually, it was better than what I was expecting from a burrito. It had a lot of oil to go along with it though, but who cares? IT'S CHRISTMAS! HAHA.

The plain ol' shake and the great-tasting burrito! Woohoo!

After the snacks we ate, we went directly to Ayala where one of my aunts and one of my uncles were drinking coffee in McDonald's! In what seemed to be an almost boring time, we the cousins decided to go to Timezone and have fun! We were playing random games from guitar games to racing games to drum games and even the Super Trivia game there. After which, we had dinner in Food Choices where Karlo and I ate Dimsum! Too bad I don't have a picture of it, though.:(

Even though it seemed like an ordinary family reunion, that to me is the true spirit of Christmas. Spending time with the family is the most important thing to do in this season and I appreciated it even more this year because of what I've been through. 

Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord!

Merry Christmas!

 

(Sorry if this was a SUPER LATE post. I really got tired of using the computer that I mostly used my phone to check stuff online. More is yet to come though so watch out for it!)

I just woke up from a short-lived sleep due to that very fun Christmas party with relatives from the mother's side. Unlike the past years though, it was in this year that I realized that Christmas is really best spent with family and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We have this yearly cycle of where the party is held, and it depends on who has something new happening in their lives whether it's physical, mental, or spiritual. This year, it was decided that we would spend it here in our place in Cebu.

The party started with everyone's favorite part, FOOD! I really don't mind how much food there is on the table as long as it can be shared with family. But as they say, "The more, the merrier!" Of course it wouldn't be complete without one of the signature foods in the Philippines, the Lechon Baboy! It's just a whole pig being fried to a crisp and boy it tastes GREAT!

It always reminds me of the times when I watch the news about Christmas that no matter how many hardships that people face, there is always a way for them to celebrate Christmas.

After which, we had fun games! I actually missed these since we didn't have them last year due to the space we had (fortunately AND unfortunately, I was sick) but at least there was karaoke. 

There were two games that I really liked a lot. First, was the Gift-Wrapping Contest. It may sound like a normal contest but there were twists. It involved 3 people per team, and we were only given 2 minutes, BUT WE WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO USE ONE HAND EACH! I actually joined this game and wow it was hard! Good thing our gift won (it's the one on the left) and got P50 for this. Woohoo!

Another game only involved the dads. It was called "Shoot Your Balls". I will stab you if you thought wrong. It's basically what you see there. It's like basketball, only the basket that acts as the "ring" is on your head and you have to shoot it yourself. Laughter spread out the whole house as the dads tried their best to shoot the balls to the baskets. It really was a great game to play and to look at!

Then comes the time for gifts! First was our Manito Manita (the Filipino version of Secret Santa) with the cousins. Everyone was ecstatic with their gifts. One cousin of mine got a ballpen and was sarcastically happy with it (even though he is, a bit) and the others were happy. What's important is the thought that is put into it. I got a nice sports jacket. Hehe.

After which, we had random karaoke because we needed to pass the time before it struck at 12 midnight. After that, it was gift-giving time! Again, it's the thought that counts because it takes effort to actually think of what to buy for every relative that you can think of. I am happy that this tradition still lives on, it's amazing! It's never been about the gifts you receive, but those that you give and the bonds that we share that really matters on Christmas.

Hope you guys had a Merry Christmas! I'm really looking forward to the new year because of the things that are yet to come. :)

iOS Needs A Visual Refresh

iOS 6 launched in September 2012, but still has the same user interface as when the iPhone was first introduced in 2007.

In 2007, Apple launched the iPhone in a world where RIM reigned supreme with their line of Blackberry smartphones. It ushered in a new way of using a phone, with its Capacitive Multi-Touch display and its revolutionary user inteface. It was indeed a great innovation because even though there were touch screen devices before, never has it gone mainstream like the iPhone.

Fast forward to 2012, where Android has now reigned supreme over the iPhone in terms of market share and most high-end Android phones are now on par (if not, better) than the iPhone. Android's UI has dramatically changed since its launch with the T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) in 2009. iOS hasn't changed much and still looks the same. It's been increasingly noticeable that iOS is getting STALE. 

For that reason, iOS NEEDS a visual refresh. Apple needs to prove that they can still innovate on the software side. Whether you love them or hate them, you cannot deny the triumph of industrial design that Apple bestows upon the world. The software isn't really telling of what Apple can really do in software right now, especially with Google pulling all the stops in their iOS apps (the UI in the Google Maps iOS app is waaaaay better than the Apple Maps app).

There is a glimmer of hope though, as Jony Ive is now responsible for "Human Interface". That role, along with his current role in Industrial Design means that he could now focus the hardware and the software as a whole and how they could interact to give a great impact to the consumers. Also, they did a major shakeup which resulted in Scott Forstall and John Browett leaving, and many other Apple higher-ups getting the jobs that they left behind.

Apple, you've made the changes you need. Now show us what the "increased collaboration" can do.

iPhone 5 is Officially HERE! First Impressions From A Current iPhone User

An iPhone 5 display unit in a Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu.

Months after it was released in the US, the iPhone 5 will be available to customers in the Philippines, as well as more than 50 other countries on December 14. 

GLOBE and SMART are currently duking it out for the attention of the customers so that they would buy iPhone 5s from them. Tweets from news sites and telco representatives are reporting on their respective launch parties:

The stage is all set for the #GlobeiPhone5 launch event at new Glorietta. twitter.com/rapplerdotcom/…
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) December 13, 2012

At Dillingers with @smart_kimberly :-) Visit us here! We're really excited for the #SmartiPhone5 launch!! twitter.com/SMART_Tob/stat…
— SMART Tob (@SMART_Tob) December 13, 2012

Here in Cebu City, where I live, I managed to get first-hand experience with the iPhone 5 since it was on display at the Globe Store in Ayala Center Cebu today. I was so ecstatic that I had to try it as soon as I saw it! Remember, these are just first impressions. This means that I only had a few minutes with the phone since it was a display unit in the store. Here we go..

Thin and Light? CERTAINLY.

The first thing I noticed when trying out the iPhone 5 is that it is really lighter! According to Apple, it only weighs 112g. It really feels very light in the hand, that if it wasn't for the thing that holds it to the podium, I might have dropped it. Good thing they went for an aluminum back this time in order for it to be more durable than the 4 and 4S.

 

It is thinner as well, I tried comparing it to my iPhone 4 and there is a noticeable difference at 7.6 mm. I could easily clamp more of the iPhone 5's screen with my hand. The industrial design is simply unmatched by any other manufacturer out there. I was truly amazed by the weight and thinness of this phone.

The 4-Inch Screen

When I saw that the iPhone 5 had a larger screen, it was a mixed bag for me. Although it would be a good thing, I wasn't so sure how the apps that are not updated would work. Good thing Apple decided to put black bars on the sides so that apps would not look weird. On the black model, it isn't obvious as the black bars match very well with the phone so it seems that the phone got taller without the increase in screen size. 

Of course, the apps that take advantage of the new 4-inch screen look amazing. Watching video and listening to music while looking at full album art is nice. While reading articles from tech sites like The Verge, I could read a lot more than I could on the iPhone 4 I have now. It's amazing how even a half-inch screen bump matters. No wonder Android's been doing it ever since.

A6 Processor = (A5 Processor x 2) = (A4 Processor x 4)

It wouldn't be a new iPhone without a speed bump. The iPhone 5 now has a dual-core A6 processor that is clocked at 1GHz (although there are times that it would clock up to 1.3GHz). This equates to more power and better performance and I have to say, it's VERY NOTICEABLE, especially when using it against the iPhone 4. Despite the larger screen, apps web pages load quicker, and Siri responds faster.

LTE is nonexistent (YET)

Unfortunately, the LTE component of the iPhone 5 is inactive here. This is a bit disappointing even though Apple has to test the LTE networks of both Globe and Smart here in the Philippines before activating this. Besides, they haven't launched their LTE networks for smartphones so it doesn't make sense to promote this with LTE unless Globe or Smart surprises us.


Those are my first impressions on the iPhone 5. As an iPhone 4 user, I REALLY WANT THIS PHONE because it makes the one I have really slow. HAHA. This phone is really worth the time and money that it is spent on being made. 

Comment below for suggestions on what I should do with an iPhone 5 OR maybe find me a sponsor for one? :) Just comment below for your opinions. Til then, guys!

Giving Android a Chance For Me

I think people are really seeing me as an Android hater because I love Apple. Don't get me wrong, I have this weird bias towards Apple maybe because I love the hardware, the software and stuff, but it really doesn't mean I have to hate competitors (maybe except Samsung).

So in order for me to give fair and unbiased thoughts about Android moving forward, I want to try it out. There are conditions I want to have though because I don't wanna have bad impressions on stuff that are not supposed to be looked upon in the first place:

1) I am going to get an Android smartphone. This is simply because Android has progressed very well in the smartphone game despite Apple's effort to hinder its growth. Although the tablets are getting better, I don't think that Android can dominate as much simply because Apple has this tried-and-true tablet ecosystem that is second to none.

2) I'm going to get a phone with the LATEST version of Android. This means getting a phone with Version 4.2 (still called Jelly Bean). I don't see the purpose of getting a phone with an older version since I would not feel the full experience that Android can offer at present. This limits my choice to the Nexus 4 so I probably would consider getting a device with Version 4.1, which leads to my next condition:

3) There will be NO BIAS in what device I pick. Yes, this means that I might get a Samsung Android device but there is no certainty to my choice. I may want to get it in 2013, so the choice of devices may change over time.

Basically, that's it. I also need help from the readers of this blog who are well-versed in the Android ecosystem. Any suggestions on what I should get? And when I get the phone, what should I do first and what apps should I get? Leave them in the comments in order for me to put them into consideration. Hoping my experience will be great!