june 2005 – june 2010
29 Jan
As scenes roll, my eyes lose glue on the TV screen. Smooching scene of Jake Cuenca, the young Palos, and a Brazilian girl had me uttered aaahh’s and raised my… aahh… eyebrows. What’s this, James Bond rip off?! Switching and moving screen panes irk me because it copied the 24′s trademark. My guess on the premise is right. The swapping of faces, which was constantly shown in the trailers, has something to do with the buildup of the conflict between Jake and the elder Palos played by Cesar Montano. But what made my thumbs finally point downwards is when the entire series (or perhaps the first plot of it, if they would make the series more realistic) revolve on a microchip that can bring computer systems of the world down.
I hated that concept not because it might be taken from or ‘inspired by’ firesailing idea of the antagonist of Die Hard 4.0. Firesail (or Fire Sale as Wikipedia defines it) is hacking of vital networks of the United States to disrupt transportation, to destroy financial records, to disable public utilities and services and to use the media as a media of horror. That’s also how Palos narrated the importance of the microchip. They believe that the world lies now on the microchip. C’mon. The scriptwriters of Palos failed to impress me. It’s because I know computer science more than they do. It’s not the microchip! It’s the program that is stored on it and perhaps on any other storage devices!
Another boo-boo on storage drives that drives me wild is when the terrorist uses cd-r to store the blueprint of a security agency of a country. C’mon C’mon. The terrorist managed to assemble a laser that can cut human into pieces. He must a billionaire to have that setup but he stored the classified information on a compact disc! Low technology! He can use cellular phones, iPod, and more… Waah, the possibilities are endless.
If writers and creative consultants will try to come up with succeeding subplots of the series, they should watch series and movies like 24, Alias and Swordfish and rip-off more.
I love the pre-program Lobo, though. It can save Palos’ ratings. Or hire me as a scriptwriter! Lupin is below standards for me. Kapuso fans should never be happy with this post too.
29 Jan
Spring Waltz is a typical Korean series for television that revolves around four lead characters. I’ve seen the same formula over and over again with the romantic comedy Coffee Prince and Princess Hours to heavy drama Memories of Bali and Forbidden Love. And all of the happily ever after of the fairy tales start when the girl did not choose the guy who loves her more (from my viewpoint) than the guy she’s loving.
Myk, a good friend who is known to be a guy believing in destiny, should read this post. He watches Spring Waltz and other telenovelas. And take note, he considers himself as Phillip (and Gerry as Christian) Oh yeah. I believe it is not about the looks. But I knew Arthur of Coffee Prince really looks like him. As for Gerry, ang layo kaya Myk. I can sense that Myk usually see himself as the good but the less fortunate guy. That explains your craziness over Koreanovelas. Don’t worry. I feel the same, dude.
Phillip of Spring Waltz and Troy of Princess Hours suffer from the ‘Best Man Ka Lang’ syndrome of telenovelas. Poor Phillip and Troy, who both patiently do everything nice to Arianne and Janelle against all odds. Even though they love the ladies more than the leading men and even the top billed males hurted the girl once physically and or emotionally, in the end the ladies would choose the latter.
‘Yung bang ginawa na ang lahat-lahat para mapasaya ang minamahal nila. At ginagawa ang mga bagay na hindi makakapagpaiyak sa kanila. Ibinigay lahat ng oras lalo na kapag umiiyak ang babae dahil sa ibang lalake.’ All you would hear is that they can only offer friendship at the most and the heart breaking sorry.
And in reality, ‘Best Man Ka Lang’ syndrome still holds. The best man never win. She would tell you that we never fail to make them smile, we never fail to make her special and we are too good for her. But actually, we never succeed at all.
I was asked during Mr. & Ms EAO last Christmas party in a question-and-answer portion of the contest which I already backed out from. What would you rather choose? To love someone you love or to love someone who loves you? I answered like a martyr who is loving someone he loves. I lost on that popularity-paramihan-ng-pera contest. Ella, one of the managers slash judges, came back to me and explained why I lost – my answer is wrong. I should have chosen the other one.
Well, in telenovelas and reality, it’s not happening!
28 Jan
Orasid is as busy as ABS-CBN. If the Kapamilya network is promoting their new series at Primetime Bida, I am enjoying my week long vacation starting today. It’s One Gr8 January 28 in 2008!
I have a series of activities lined up for the week that will pamper myself and my blog. Although I planned not to, I still have to spend at least one to two hours of SAP work to attend to Enterprise Portals training. It will onboard and immerse me on web applications which is next to programming as my top passions. I choose to accept the invite since it was I that push myself to be in this technology expertise group. But it’s just a small amount of time. I can blog and stroll at Trinoma afterwards.
This week long vacation has been controversial and issue-magnet before it got ‘approved’. To make the story short, I thought I can’t use my vacation leaves due to conflicting rotating roster of duty managers. To be not escalated to this January 28 until February 3, as consequences, I have to render DM service last weekend and on Valentine’s week. I already announced to the world before through Yahoo Messenger status message that I hated to be slated on the Valentine’s week. Well as of last weighing, I opted to celebrate my birthday with the mob than Valentine’s with the one. Thanks also to Jeff that I will solve incidents on European timezone and not on American. It sucks to be on graveyard shift with a graveyard heart!
Here’s how I will enjoy my well-deserved vacation:
Happy 21st birthday, Jonas! You deserved to be happy!
23 Jan
Jason Cajator or Kuya J, happens to be the Kuya of Gina, the star of the previous ambigram post. Coincidentally, they have a brother, the youngest, named Jonas also. Jonas, as you all know is an anagram of Jason.
I considered Kuya Jason as one of my best friends during high school. Gina and I were juniors then while he and Jenny, the another Cajator sibling and friend were graduating seniors. It’s quite ironic because Jason, as well as Jenny, and I became closer compared to Gina. One factor which made the friendship was while Jason is courting one of my closest friends, I’m courting one of her sisters. And I bet you know who. What an example of mutualism, ayt?
Jason would go to our house to put his gift ideas for Raileen to life. Jason was successful but I am unfortunate. Hahaha.

“Jason Cajator”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque
Unlike Gina’s ambigram that rocks, I decided to have an inversion of his name patterned after Comic Sans Serif. Oh yeah, some hate that font. Hehe.
22 Jan
With the success of Sponge Cola‘s ambigram and other Blackletter ambigrams, I bring you another inversion of the same font, Georgina.

“Georgina”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque
Gina is a high school classmate. We used to have a love-hate relationship. Hehehe. I think she would love this ambigram. She goes for alternative and rock music. Alternative and rock purists usually label their albums or have bodies tattooed with an ambigram.
Enjoy! And rock on!
21 Jan

I am a creative writer. So, don’t be surprised on what you gonna read after this warning. React while you read but promise me to read the whole post before you squeal everything to our common friends. Don’t jump to conclusion immediately. Sounds very controversial, eh?
Okay. This is it! Breathe.
I went out for my third blind date of the month. I was pretty sure that this eyeball would be different compared to the past meetups. The thought of passing by UP Diliman, my Alma Mater, and Katipunan, where I planned to buy my favorite Cello’s doughnuts after the blind date, excited me since last night. I could feel it in the air. I saw a rainbow in the sky while I was on transit. I sensed hope that something’s life-changing experience would happen.
Few days back, I posted my profile along with my picture and my contact details somewhere in the web. It is a community where searchers and searchees converge for a thing. I expect some calls afterward. If unregistered numbers were displayed, I’m pretty sure that they are these searchers. They would open a conversation narrating that they saw my profile and yada yada. Our conversations always end with a meeting time and place.
I came twenty minutes earlier than the agreed time. I fixed my necktie and my vest. I should create a good impression. He (yes, I know from the start, he is a he) came on time yet he needed to fix himself. Our conversation started twenty minutes later.
Before I proceed, here’s a little backgrounder how this setup went. I was introduced to him by a guy of another guy who I met from my second eyeball. (Yeah, guys.) The guy of the second date must had liked me and my 132 IQ. He tested it actually. I think he likes nerd.
Anyways, as I continue…
After the introduction, handshakes and the usual gestures of two strangers, we went to another place. He offered coffee but I don’t feel my caffeine needs that time because I’m already nervous. I smiled, refused and thanked him. He left me for a while to get his coffee.
Are you with this guy? He’s referring to the guy on the second date.
Nope, I’m still with my girlfriend at present.
I see.
I told some things about myself, my interests, what I do for living and SAP Basis. I know and I feel that he’s listening and accommodating not until he said that I was not his type. Er! That date planner is somehow stupid. My date preferred someone that’s not me. Even such honesty already disappointed me, he showed his kindness to continue our chat. He didn’t want my time to end up wasted. He believed that we can learn something new from every meeting set up like this.
The truth is… he’s looking for an ABAP developer. I did not post my resume (the profile, with my picture and my contact details) to apply for that position either.
But something was opened up that is worth a blog post (with a creative approach too.)
I told him my SAP Basis experience and my Java expertise too. He was surprised with my knowledge set – programming, security and Basis support. I am a jack-of-all-trades! Although as much I wanted to knock down the topic on security, he sees very potential growth on security. It’s a big big issue not only on SAP but everything on earth and www. Google, Multiply, Facebook and many others have our personal information. Thus, those need to be secured. Oh, I remember Sandra Bullock’s The Net. Will I be back as security guardian? Let’s find out.
He also revealed that he knows my present girlfriend. Actually, they have a relationship on going! (Those bastards, hehehe!) Another trivia: the guy on the second date is also having a good relationship with this guy on the third date. Small world!
But what he stressed most are my SAP and Java know-hows. So he wondered how come I was immersed in the SAP Basis when I graduated with a Computer Science degree which has been synonymous with programming. My answer – this is my first job. Clueless and a victim. Meanwhile, he confessed that he, a CS grad too, stereotyped Basis folks coming from CE, Computer Engineering. (I knew someone with CE but Civil Engineering. Hi, Lars)
I admitted to him that programming is my passion. For those who do not know, I consider it as my first love in the computing world. And my present girlfriend does not mind that! I won’t code for a program to generate a report without having me manually cut and paste data out of just fun and convenience. Programming comes with me naturally. Look at this blog! I prefer this to be personalized. Instead of blogging with readily available themes and elements, I tweak the site by programming.
‘It doesn’t mean your stepping backward, Jonas’, he remarked. ‘You have SAP. You have Java. Moving forward, you will have ABAP. Chicken na lang sa iyo yun!’
‘I see the career you want is actually at your reach!’
That is the time I was moved. Really. I’m smiling outside and in the inside. My spirit comes alive. It is something that I want, something that I need. Compared to the supporters, developers have their own control of their time. Knowing my multitaking me, that’s what I need to be complete – ambigrammist, web admin, photography and script writing. Find a job you enjoy, and you’ll never work a day in your life! I can also have everything on the side!
If the prophet I just met earlier is reading this, I tell you… you’re damn right! I’m up to your challenge. I save your number by the way (for future dates, perhaps) Wahaha! But I’m still thinking and seriously thinking about this. We’ll we haven’t talked about the money. I guess this also follows.
You said it’s moving forward, so no paycut!
From this moment on, I’m changing my destiny one step at a time. This is the reason, Tweety, why I buzzed you earlier. I still love my girlfriend though
Think of her first!
I need to talk with my girlfriend if we can still work things out.
She doesn’t want to blog the details of our love-hate relationship and our ‘company’. Thus, this post is written as Blind Date.
18 Jan
I was out of the office the next day after the UP Centennial Parade Kickoff. Again. You can’t blame me (or the students who cut their classes) to join the event if we were to be served with kilos of fine dine and fastfood for free. It’s Yehey! and Trinoma’s Food Tour for 100 Bloggers (and 50 Best Friends of Yehey! folks) held last January 9, 2008 at the Triangle at The Northern Manila or TriNoMa. Have a taste of the festive event that broke all New Year’s resolutions on eating healthy. I bet we exceeded the recommended dietary allowance that day. And remember the elementary science lesson that teaches us the location of the different tastes on our tongue, it didn’t hold true for a night! They changed positions!
For your eyes only… drool!
Fight!
Light!

Pinoy Ancestral House at the Mangan

Light Boxes at the controversial Cabalen

Umbrella Ella El-La Maison Eh Eh
Bright and Dim Lights of Cyma and Hossein
Sight!

Superior Interiors of Bubba Gump

My Next Birthday Party Venue , TGIF
Night!
Tight

Now you know that we don’t know each other!
Might!
The Trinoma Food Tour for Bloggers is powered by TriNoMa, Yehey! and the following participating restaurants:
Haiku. Haiku is a converter! I love raw fish now! Good start!
Hossein. It can’t replace Mister Kabab but when you say it’s beef, it’s definitely 100% beef!
Abe. If it’s Kapampangan, it’s definitely Pinoy-licious! And that tortang mais or corn omelette is good!
Cyma. White and bright ambience is inviting! I already dined in their branch at Greenbelt. Kaldereta on top of a pasta is not satisfying. Haha.
Holy Cow. Children will like their happy meals with the happy cows! For the paying parents, I don’t think so. They got some desserts from Jack Loft
Bubba Gump. I’m a shrimp lover! I found my newest shrimp favorite! I shall return, Ping Pong Shrimp!
TGIF. They’re strict but accomodating. The first restaurant to offer iced tea. Sosyalin! My next birthday party venue!
Fish & Co. Accomodating staff! Yummy mussels.
Oki Oki. Big servings of Japanese food
Super Bowl of China. I’m used to this but now I know why there’s Big Buddha serving Super Bowls. Marketing strategy in Makati for SBC branch is located somewhere near to Greenbelt.
Bangus. Try Bangus Belly with Tamarind Candy Sauce
Heaven & Eggs. Pancake. That’s hot(cake)!
Marina. Oyster is a catalyst of the chemical reaction happening at my belly during that time!
Mangan. There’s a library in the kitchen!
Mann Hann. It’s across a medical stall so eat all I can!
Congo Grill. Different sisig recipe. I stick with my resolution – no sisig.
North Park. Other bloggers neglected them. Check Jehzlau’s list – it is not included. Hahaha. (Or perhaps the geography made it undiscoverable.) We are the first one to dine in North Park when we’re supposedly the last group to dine in. Kudos to the preparation they had. I feel that this store won’t join the next food tour.
Conti’s. Konti but satisfaction guaranteed!
La Maison. We’re still entertained by the host even we’re late and the last batch. Though we’re not sure on what they served. It might be leftover of the previous batch. Yet, it’s delicious.
Noel, Raffy and I skipped the following stalls: Teriyaki Boy, Italliani’s, Chicken Bacolod Inasal (Ysay! Love You!) and BreadTalk – We used to these resto’s. Yes, Italliani’s! Haha!
During our time on the fourth level, Good Earth Tea Room is closed. Too bad that it was opened for some of the bloggers later. At least, hindi naman kami nilapastangan sa Cabalen. Wahaha!
More pictures at my Multiply account because even Multipliers are also considered bloggers. Hehe!
Here are the participants of the Food Tour:
Ade Magnaye of Noisy, Noisy Man
Aileen Apolo of An Apple a Day
Alfredo B. Palconit, Jr. of Alfredology
Alma Karina Ramos of Kankunis
Alvin Kim Tian Chua of AQC
Angel Juarez of Color Me Bleue
Ann Capistrano of Blogger Food Tour. Eat for FREE!!!
Annabel Callos Choy of Sui Generis
Ariel James “AJ” Matela of Bakla Ako, May Reklamo?
Azrael Coladilla of Azrael’s Merryland
Belle Baldoza of cubaokiddiekiss
Benjamin Noel Espina of Atheista
Brian King Ong of I am Super!
Catherine Jane Copaway of Cathietotzkie
Charmagne Feria of Memeticz
Charmaine Cabugnason of An eccentric destination in Wonderland
Cheekie Albay of theprodigalsunday
Chrissie Mata of kitchen cow
Christine Arteta of Every Little Thing I Do Is Magic
Clarissa Estuar of Clarissa’s Site
Denise Marie Francisco of untagged.shop
Edgardo Tulabut of Are You the Foot Faerie?
Ernesto G. Sonido Jr. of baratillo@cubao
Eugene Valencia of Virtual Inc.
Ferdinand Capistrano of Blogger Food Tour. Eat for FREE!!!
Fritzie Ann Revilla of L’Ange Bleu
Georg Nava of Wanderlusts and Fancy Flights
Gwen Nava of thegrapebunch
Hannah Lim Co of get in my head
Hedrick Jan P. Cabrera of The Dork Factor
Iggy Javellana of Sensible Netnonsense
Jay de Jesus of The DJ who’s not a DeeJay
Jayvee Fernandez of A Bugged Life
Jeffrey Villafranca of FireEyedBoy
Jehzeel Laurente of Jehzlau Concepts
Jillianne Kho of sweetdew
Jo Anne A. Sison of sanmig
Joann Divinagracia of Life and love
John Andrew Camposano of Something Like The Sun
Jonas de los Reyes of Techievangelism
Jonas Diego of The Blurb!
Jonas G. Roque of j o n a s . p h
Joriben F. Zaballa of Jori’s entertainment journal
Jose Mari Cariaga of Dipsoul Scribbles v14.0
Jose Mari M. Carlos of Java Joe’s Koffee Korner
Jose Paulo Punzalan of Jeyps’ Site
Joseph Christian Ylagan Datinguinoo of Sephthedreamer
Juan Karlo Licudine of PinoyBlogero.com
Juliet Cabugnason of Multiply shared Blog
Karen E. Naquita of Kurdapying
Katrina B. Atanacio of El Despertar
Katrina Inocencio of Broadcast Letters On Grid
Kristine Michelle L. Santos of Punked Noodle
Laszlo A. Lim of …does anybody remember laughter…
Lauren Dado of Pinoy Food
Lenard Aaron Po of Kontra-B
Lou William C. San Jose of And the World Continues to Turn…
Lu Jean Ong of Everything About Nothing At All
Maria Dolores Lateo of Thoughts of a Noodle
Maria Theresa R. Termulo of Prudence and Madness
Maribeth Mauricio of Clarisse1
Marlon ”Lalon” dela Rosa of The Thumbsucker
Mary Ann Mabuti of The first time
Maverick Grande of Maverick | Blogs @ Blogsp
Maxine Anne T. Pinson of just me
Michael Arteta of Red Hot Chili Sugar
Michael Conrad M. Ronquillo of HobbySnacks
Mira Brazil of Victory’s Site
Neil Brian Bernardo of ES2PIDO|Estudyanteng Pinoy Dormitorian
Nerisa L. Almo of nherz14
Nilo B. Baranda of N2DB
Noel P. Feria of The Armorer’s Codex
Noemi Lardizabal-Dado of Pinoy Food Blog
Noreen Capili of Mush Moods Madness and More
Omar Dela Paz Itay of ohmski & orgulaschubb
Paolo Marinduque of Your Mind Will Go Pi
Paul Vincent P. Rapatalo of Paul’s Blog
Philip Marco C. Caballes of CokskiBlue – Pinoy Vlogs, Videos, and Vodcasts
Phoebe R. Casipit of a never ending tale of my life
raceli G. Reyes of Araceli Gartner
Rafael V. Soriano of Life Goes On..
Rain Contreras of one pinoy pundit points and shoots
Renan Salvador Baluyut of Renzie’s Rants and Raves
Rens Sese of Pansit-eating, mader packer blog
Reynner M. Adonay of Reyn’s Room
Robby A. Cruz of RobbyCruz.info / Welcome Yourself!
Robert DC. Reyes of TurfSite Manila
Rodney Paolo S. Lagman of The House Without Hue
Rommel Feria of Advocrazy
Ryan Joseph L. Ramos of Anatopism
Shabby Pablo of HYUKTAdotNET
Sharline Cruz of Misteryosa.com
Sheena Jeanne Krystle Elenzano of Funny Is The New Sexy
Therese Lorraine Tan Chua of theresechau’s Xanga Site
Valerie Jane J. Badon of Momsies Rock
Zaldy B. Dalisay of Major Says
I got it from Jehzlau. Now alphabetized. I believe the previous order is not based on timestamps. It’s how the email and comments were read by the organizers. But who cares? Hehehe. There were three Jonases (the Techie Evangelist, the Comic Artist and the Ambigramista) on the list. I haven’t met the other guys.
I truly enjoyed the event plus the fact that I love Trinoma which was one of the bests of 2007. It exceeded my expectation. We broke our assigned timings to have a taste of all worlds. Djikstra’s algorithm! Visit as many restaurants as we can. I can’t manage to dine in or to date someone at these restaurants in a span of year! Haha. Jologs na middle class ako eh. Walang pera! So strike while the iron is hot! or while the meal is hot! Also, I had that excuse to take pictures of the interiors of TriNoma and the restos. If this is only a normal day, upper class will raise their eyebrows on someone kodaking.
Regardless of what happened the next day, it’s still a Yehey!!!
14 Jan
UP Centennial Kick-off Parade is a festive starter of year 2008! It’s definitely a must-see event. We are always been reminded to give something little back to the university. Giving part of my time to a celebration of the Alma Mater is as good as donating gold. The posts all around the world wide web as January 8 is approaching made me uber-excited and stirred my Isko blood. I am proud to be an Iskolar ng Bayan. One way to prove it is to participate in the kick-off event.
I escape from the corporate world I stepped in after graduating from UP Diliman. I took a day off from work. I prepared my camera and its batteries to take snapshots until I drop. I also brought along my backpack containing laptop. Darn! Work is always with me!
It was as early as one in the afternoon when I returned to UP Diliman, ang Tahanan ng mga Isko at Iska. I already felt the spirit of the event. It’s something more than cheering competitions that I had attended before. The University Avenue was just blocked when I arrived so I decided to walk from Garcia Avenue to Quezon Hall and started to take pictures. From that moment, I could already sensed that it’s really worth absence in work and brushing elbows (literally) with the matatapang and the matatalino crowd.
It’s only one in a one hundred years event. My lens, my blog and I don’t want to miss it. My post is quite late. But the set of pictures and on my Multiply are another fresh narratives of the immortal event.

Most of the time, I am scene-stealer. But I decided not to sing this time.

Students and guests were walking bound to Quezon Hall.

This is how cheering champions rehearse.

Isn’t it romantic? UP President Emerlinda Roman. Ganda ng lola mo!

My next fashion statement. UP Vanguard on their full battle get-up.

Nag-iIKOT na photographer! I wish I had that gimmick too!

Panalo ang taga-UP Baguio! I heard their instructor shouting ‘Ipagmalaki na Ifugao tayo!’

Parking lot. Toki and ikot jeepneys of the UP Fine Arts previously presented during the Lantern Parade last year.

Parang nasa Lantern Parade na rin ako last year.

Dancing Oblation mascot to the tune of Papaya.

A skydiver about to land in a university field. I thought they will land on Quezon Hall rooftop.
The cauldron some minutes before the 100th torch bearer lighted that thing.
Some side stories in this cauldron area as the emcee kept on reminding us to stay away:
One is that I was next to an unattended and very heavy bag. No one from the crowd on the circumference claimed it. Because of our fear on having a tomorrow’s headliner ‘UP Centennial Bomb Blast’ with alumni as the victims, we called the attention of that one-star general. (Sorry, I forgot your name. But thank you!) He called the UP tanod’s who were busy on grabbing their shares of mineral water. After the thirst of one’s heroic tanod was quenched, he carried the bag. It would be a decisive moment if that thing blasted off.
Second is that I stood next to an Engineering alumna who I overheard that she graduated with IE degree. I asked her if she’s an alumna of Industrial Engineering Club. ‘CIEM!’, she responded. Wahaha. Sorry!
I learned from their blog posts and photoblogs that fellow CS Firefoxes also joined and enjoyed the event. The original Lobo (firefox nga di ba?) love team – Ia and Phillip, the famous-name-in-ERP Carlos who was with Pepoy and Ish. The brothers who I met the next day for TriNoMa food tour, Noel (get the lyrics, chords and mp3 of the theme song from his site) and Sir Rom also made it there.
If I cannot take someone on a Valentine’s date next month, I would go to the UP Fair. Mas masaya ‘to definitely!
11 Jan
A nickname and a shorter version of the ambigram Inocencia Binayubay. The same technique was used on the ‘bi’ of the long name.

“Inday”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque
For ambigram request, kindly sign my guestbook. I’ll try my best to have your inversions for free. Yes, as of now, it is still for free.
11 Jan
If Pinoy Big Brother House is the ‘pinakasikat na bahay sa Pilipinas’, Inocencia Binayubay or Inday is the ‘pinakasikat na kasambahay sa Pilipinas’. She become a household name, or should I say bloghold name. Wehehe.

“Inocencia Binayubay”. Nazty Ambigrams by Jonas Roque
Enjoy rotating your Mac screen, Inday! Of course, you won’t do that because you’re smart.
For the new guests of my site who don’t know about my ambigrams, you can check the entire gallery here.