The gods and their beasts!

It's been a while since my last post because I couldn't find enough time for it -- for now this little update will have to suffice.

The date has been finalized, we're off to down under this March 25th to meet with the Melbourne technical team. It took longer than expected but I have been busy on fire fighting lately -- that's what we call it when we fix a system that's terribly bugged down -- rather than having a vacation before facing the next beast.

It's not like me to slack off anyway, I wouldn't probably enjoy any vacation at this point, I'm too thrilled to start creating the new beast :)

Beasts?!?

Yes, just excuse my poetic license for a moment.

Since I started working with the IT industry I never had an easy one, the projects I was assigned to were always monstrous in proportions. This is probably why I enjoyed my career so much, like gods, our creations where only limited by imagination -- In my case I create monsters; beautiful monsters!

Everything usually starts from a something huge, complex, and scattered then I'm tasked to piece them all together then it will be expected to do something never heard before. I also had a project to make a Frankensteins look and behave like prince charming and finally I would never forget the time when I was tasked to make an elephant dance a ballet.

Well, I couldn't really post the names of these projects but if you're laughing right now you probably know them.

But thats the beauty of it, the audience never see the monster but just an elegant looking creature doing perfectly what they wish.

This post dedicated to the guys at FApps, farewell but we will meet again soon enough.

-- Updates: 03-05-07

Ok, nothing is perferct. Our departure was moved to April 12th, at the moment were "benched", i can't say I'm not glad being paid for doing nothing but victories are still sweeter if won by a good fight :^)

Google Code - Updates: Speaking of Summer

Its summer time again and people are piling up for vacation especially students who are in summer breaks, but thats not a reason to be lazy because summer is also the time for Google Summer of Code 2007 where student around the world has opportunity to participate in projects to be funded by Google.

I really hope lots of students here in the Philippines would join up since IMHO we have lots of bright young minds out here just waiting for the opportunity to be recognized and bring prestige to the country.

P.S.

Attention UPV Komsai Org student officers and alumni, please encourage all BS Computer Science students to join Google Code especially those who are taking up thesis work and internship this summer.

Unlimited SMS promo: Telcos may get sued for price hike?

Only here in the Philippines, the 'text' capital of the world where SMS is as basic necessity as food:


Protest banner from TxtPower (emailed)

A consumer advocacy group called TxtPower, who is determined to protect the rights of Filipino SMS users, has filed a petition on the National Telecommunications Commission last Feb 5, 2007 to stop the 100-150% increase of Globe Telecom's unlimited sms promo. To give time for TxtPower to argue its position, the NTC released a price-hike suspension order but unfortunately Globe ignored the order which promptly caused TxtPower to declare in outrage a boycott against the the said telco. Finally will NTC conduct a public hearing between TxtPower and Globe tomorrow 2 PM at its office on Quezon City to resolve the issue.

Back story:

SUN Cellular was the first to be awarded by NTC and DTI a permanent permit for its unlimited SMS promo. Later on the same permit were awarded to Globe and Smart Telecoms after they pledged to offer the same unlimited SMS promos permanently.