It was an escape with many firsts – first time to Boracay, first time to fly by an airplane and first time to capture the big moments with my own camera. I was like a student again – excited for his educational field trip. This time, tripled.

We were to depart 10:45 AM from the domestic airport which is down down kilometers away from Bulacan. So I woke up 5:00 AM to do the morning rituals. I will meet JP and his girlfriend at the last MRT station, Taft Avenue before dashing to LRT’s Quirino station for us to be picked up by Ser Gerry. It was around eight in the morning when someone called me that he’s already waiting at the end station of MRT. I thought it was JP. I lost all my contacts and haven’t recovered them back yet. But when I arrived, I saw the early bird Myk who was also a first-timer in Boracay and as an airplane passenger. We waited for JP as others began to worry. Since we were racing against time right after JP and his girlfriend arrived, instead of eating McDo breakfast as planned, we decided to dine in at the airport’s terminal where Hannah, Richard and Jeff were already waiting.

My hamburglar-suplado look

Deadly Weapon

Check in time! I prepared for this. I ensured that my baggage is less than 15 kilograms and my hand carry bag is free of liquid. We underwent SOP and the initial spoiler on my vacation had started. I was halted for me to surrender the chain of my wallet. Darn! They considered it as a deadly weapon. I already checked in my baggage so I can’t place in that chain (which has been an Jonas-identifier for a long time). Sad!

As expected spoiler, the food price is skyrocketing inside the 200-bucks-entrance-feed waiting area. So to cheer myself up, I took out my weapon – newly bought camera – to start practicing taking photos.

Take It Off

The 150-seater Cebu Pacific airplane flew few minutes later than planned departure. But it’s ok. I have to spend more time of this experience – smelling the air condition scent, reading the emergency signs, hearing ding dongs. I was seated beside another first timer, Kido. Good thing jet setters (Hannah, Richard, Jeff) had checked in earlier and we’re away from their sight. And the plane has left the ground. We were all excited to see that we’re leaving Manila and the rest of the Luzon!

We saw a bird’s eyeview of Taal Volcano and started to map the Philippine geography. We were the only obvious first timers inside the plane for we were standing and looking through the windows.

Pacified inside Cebu pacific

Almost after a quarter of an hour, we arrived at Kalibo Aklan.

Longer Journey

After a two-hour zigzag bus ride, we had to travel by ferry 15 minutes to cross a strait that separates Malay and Caticlan. The warm hospitality of the Boracay peeps when they offered to piggyback us to avoid traversing the waters before stepping to the shore was felt only until when they asked for a service charge. That’s why when someone had offered to carry Myk’s baggage to be dropped at the compartment above the 10-seater jeep, he refused. Hehe.

We’re near! But we’re hungry!

Still with my hamburglar-angas look

See more high-resolution Boracay pictures at My Multiply

(more…)

The longest ambigram yet. Riya is a close high school friend. She coined my nickname ‘Naz‘.

“Ana Riya Estrella”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque

The talented Jacob Israel Clemente, singer-composer of the Pinoy Alternative band, Jacob, is a high school barkada of mine. During our high school days, we called our clique, Anay-Bato. Check out and listen to his debut single which is also blogged at my site. Click here for the song lyrics and video. Another writeup I made is posted here. So much publicity eh? “Iba ang may pinagsamahan.”

“Jacob Israel”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque

Claudette and I are the real life Poknat and Bokbok. At sana… sana maulit muli.

“Claudette”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque

The simplest and best-time ambigram for a best friend way back high school. ‘Di na pinag-isipan pa!

“Resly”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque

It took me thirty minutes to come out with ambigram for Coleen. That was from the time when I thought of her, hehe crushie, to the time the letters began popping out of my mind, then to the minute my head starting to turn upside down, and finally to the moment when the last letter completed the ambigram. All of these happened while waiting inside a public van.

I was on the MRT train when I completely figured Danella Go‘s ambigram. Ayala-Taft-Ayala-North Avenue. Approximately half an hour also. Now I wonder what’s with public transports.

“Coleen Cerezo”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque

The name Hannah has always been an example for a palindrome. And I thought this name is perfectly easy for an ambigram. Letters H and N are ambigram by themselves. Piece of cake! So I left with A. And that’s the minor problem. Until I identify the ambigram mirror of A, this is the ambigram for shububu Audrey and Kataas-taasan Kagalang-galangan Aleiah.

“Hannah”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque

Ang 12 pinakamaiinit at pinag-uusapang balita ngayong Linggo. Ihahain nang lahat. Iisa-isahing ang detalye. Punto por punto. Walang papalampasin. Hindi na papaawat. Sa mas pinatindi. Mas pinalakas. Explosibo at Exclusibo. Dito lang sa The Buzz.

1. Fashionista actress, iiwan na nga ba ang showbiz?
Ang kanyang mga saloobin sa kanyang pagpapaalam, abangan.

2. Comedian, nagselos sa huling concert ng kanyang diva-actress girlfriend at ng isang singer-actor.
Ilalabas na ang kanyang mga nararamdaman. Susunod.

3. Actress, iniwan ang showbiz at Pilipinas para sa kanyang boyfriend.
Ikakasal na nga rin ba?

4. Singer-actor, tuluyan ng nakapag-moveon. Ipinakilala na ang non-showbiz girlfriend.
Ito na ba ang masayang simula para kay singer-actor?

5. Sikat na model-comedian, nagkalat ang larawan sa Internet. Sasagot din ang mga bumabatikos sa kanyang bagong karelasyon..
Lahat ng iyan, mamaya. Live at Exclusive.

6. Actor-politician ng Genuine Opposition, lilipat na nga ba sa bakuran ng Kanguso network?.
Mayroon nga bang tampo sa Kapatilya network, kaya umalis?

7. Mayamang actor nagdala ng sariling speedboat sa isang commercial sa Bora. Island hopping naging Island shopping. Totoo nga ba ang mga paratang sa kanya? Gretchen Baretto, is that you? Abangan mamaya. Mayamang actor, babanat na.

8. Explosibo at Exclusibo. TV Host-actor, muntik nang masuspinde ang noontime show ng MTRCB. .
Mga panibagong detalye sa kontrobersiyang ito, ibubulgar na.

9. Mother actress, isa nang ganap na Kapatilya. Kanyang party, dinaluhan ng mga sikat na Kapatilya stars.
Ano kaya ang kanyang nararamdaman? Alamin.

10. Hunk actor, pumuslit nga ba ng chocolates sa airport?.
Alamin ang kanyang bersiyon ng kuwento. Mamaya.

11. Singer-comedianne, iibig na nga bang ulit? May bagong nasungkit na puso ng isang foreigner..
Kilalanin ang bagong pag-ibig ni singer-comedianne. Sa Taj Mahal na ba ang ending nito?

12. Actress-dancer at model-actor, huling huli ang kakaibang closeness sa shooting ng kanilang pinakabagong pinagtatambalang teleserye..
Haharap na sila. Abangan.

A theme song of Department of Computer Science’s CS4CS. The Freshmen Orientation 2005. A Collaboration with Pio Claudio. Sung by DCS Various Artists.

[audio:http://www.snapdrive.net/files/504729/music/Various%20Artists%20-%20Tara%2C%20CS%20Tayo.mp3]
Tara, CS Tayo as popularized by DCS Various Artists

Ikaw ba’y nalulungkot
Sa computer mo’y bagot
Nakatitig lang sa monitor
Naghihintay ng solusyon

High School life ba’y walang saysay
Walang sigla, walang kulay
Bawat araw ba’y pareho
Parang walang pagbabago

Tara na CS tayo
Kasama ang barkada
Ating blockmates at ang network
Para matuto nang todo

Halika CS Tayo
Nang ating malaman
Ang ganda ng pagpoprogram
Ang galing ng Computer Science

Nasubukan mo na ba
Sumilip sa labas ng Windows
Ang ibang klaseng mga OS
BSD, Linux at OSX

Narining mo na ba
Ang world famous thesis projects
Nandyan ang HUNI, Nandyan ang FROG
Ang UVLE at Amassis

Tara na CS Tayo
Mula hardware hanggang software
Nang makilala nang husto
Kung pa’no tumakbo ang PC mo

Halika CS Tayo
Ipakita sa mundo
Projects na sariling atin
Ang galing ng Pilipino

Get to know the faculty
JP, Flo, Doc T,
Mam J, Lo, RB,
Master Sir Fer, Jaimes, S
Weng with the F’s, Ken, my man EQ
TJ, Mila, Bex, Pros for you
Just too much for you

Nasubukan mo na ba
Magbasa ng UP Parser
Magpunta sa Department
Makipag-apir sa College Sec

Nakilaro ka na ba
Sa ating CS Varsity
Magbasketball magvolleyball
Swimming, bowling at badminton

Tara na sa CS Network
Sa Cursor, CompSoc, UnPLUG,
Sa CRS, Webteam, Parser
ACM at CSSA

Halika CS Tayo
Kung saan kumpleto
Siguradong magugustuhan mo
Mga pakulo namin dito

Nagformulate ka na ba
Ng O of n algorithm
Nagdebug ka na ba
Ng iyong machine problem

Nagprogram ka na ba
Using C, Assembly, Java
Nag-DB, Nag-webapp
AI at mobile app

Tara na CS Tayo
Mula Melchor hanggang Techno
Nang makilala nang husto
Ang ating mga kapwa henyo

Halika CS Tayo
Halina’t mainlove
Sa ganda ng pagpoprogram
Sa saya ng Computer Science

Tara na CS Tayo
Upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
Kasiyahan, karunungan

Halika CS Tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng pagpoprogram
Ang saya ng Computer Science

… na nabago na ng panahon at ng Pinoy at ni Ai-ai De Las Alas sa Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat!

Aanhin ang palasyo kung ang nakatira ay kuwago, mabuti pa ang bahay kubo, sa paligid ay puno ng linga.

Ako ang nagsaing… iba ang kumain. Diet ako eh.

An apple a day is too expensive.

An apple a day makes seven apples a week.

Ang buhay ay parang bato, it’s hard.

Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsan nasa ibabaw, minsan nasa vulcanizing shop.

Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, lumaki sa ibang bansa.

Ang naglalakad ng matulin, late na sa appointment.

Ang taong di marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan… ay may stiff neck.

Ang taong nagigipit … sa bumbay kumakapit.

Ang taong naglalakad nang matulin… may utang.

Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan… sapul.

Behind the clouds are the other clouds.

Better late than later.

Better late than pregnant.

Birds of the same feather make a good feather duster.

Birds of the same feather that prays together … stays together.

Do unto others … then run!!!

Hindi lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto … muta lang yan.

Huli man daw at magaling, undertime pa rin.

Huwag magbilang ng manok kung alaga mo ay itik.

It’s better to cheat than to repeat!

Kapag ang puno mabunga … mataba ang lupa!

Kapag maikli ang kumot, tumangkad ka na!

Kapag maiksi na ang kumot, bumili ka na ng bago.

Kapag may sinuksok at walang madukot, may nandukot.

Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga. Kapag may taga, may tahi.

Kapag puno na ang salop, kumuha na ng ibang salop.

Magbiro ka na sa lasing, magbiro ka na sa bagong gising, huwag lang sa lasing na bagong gising.

Matalino man ang matsing, matsing pa rin.

No guts, no glory… no ID, no entry.

No man is an island because time is gold.

Pag may usok … may nag-iihaw.

Pagkahaba haba man ng prusisyon … mauubusan din ng kandila.

To err is human, to errs is humans.

Try and try until you succeed… or else try another.

Walang matigas na tinapay sa gutom na tao.

When all else fails, follow instructions.

When it rains … it floods.