Baguio Escapade 2009 (Day 2)

It was a Good Friday, day 2 of the 2009 Baguio summer escapade. The weather is good (not because it's a good friday) but amidst of the sun's heat, one can feel the cold Baguio breeze. We even have to wear jackets when we went outside. The itinerary for the day is a visit to the Grotto and the Philippine Military Academy and a mini-shopping spree to the Baguio Central Market.

Since we are expecting large mass of people visiting Grotto for that day, Kuya RT showed us a shortcut to Grotto. The path is an uphill climb. The ground is probably elevated close to 80 degrees. When we arrived to Grotto, I am already gasping for oxygen.The other consolation aside from less travel time are the flower-filled sceneries and an overlooking view of the whole Baguio city.

As expected, many devotees are having their usual Good Friday pilgrimage. Folks of different age and status quo have trooped to climb the 300+ steps of Grotto. Upon reaching the peak, the altar is jampacked with people who are offering prayers, lighting up candles, taking picture and enjoying the view of Baguio from Grotto.

After descending from Grotto, we've decided to proceed to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). PMA is the premier military school in the Philippines. PMA ground typifies a Good Friday... so solemn that one can hear the rustling of the leaves. The solid steel emblem bearing PMA's motto of Courage, Integrity and Loyalty stand proud amidst the mighty heat of the sun

The morning field trip session ended with a visit to the Baguio Central Market to buy food stuffs for lunch.

Baguio Escapade 2009 (Day 1)

It was one hot Holy Wednesday morning when I made an impromptu decision to escape the Manila Heat. The timing is right since I will be meeting later in Trinoma a potential business partner who is based in Baguio. Even though many Manila-based folks have left for provinces, I still got three agendas before the long weekend: 1. Proceed to First Country Bank by 11 AM, 2. Meet Baguio business partner by 2 AM and 3. Hopefully, meet Karen after her shift. All except the last one happened.

After having a meeting in Trinoma, I went to Dagupan Bus Liner and luckily, was able to reserve for seats on a 1AM trip. Austin, my brother who just had graduated from high school, will also be going with me to Baguio. Fast forward ....


1 AM, Dagupan Bus Liner in Cubao

We were quite early on the anticipation that there will be a massive crowd on the terminal. No massive crowd, just a big crowd. So big that the bus where we are supposed to ride just settle to park at the back of the terminal building while waiting for passengers. Result: we almost missed the trip.

8AM, Baguio Bus Terminal

After a semi-peaceful trip, we reached the Baguio bus terminal around 8AM. The destination is Queen of Peace Road, where our host, Auntie Celing, lives. It has been a while since we last saw our Baguio relatives. I was three years old when we first visited Baguio. A and A took a quick nap before we start hovering around the city. Our guide is Manong Arty, our second cousin who is also a barangay kagawad in their area.

11 AM, Trek to the City

First on our itinerary for the day is the Burnham Park. The park is quite crowded since it is an official holiday. We can easily identify the people who came from Manila. They are overly fashionable. Baguio locals are simple dressers. Next on the itinerary are Mines View Park, St Joseph Church, Wright Park, The Mansion (where GMA is on vacation during that time) and Kamay Kainan At the Burnham Park

At the Wright Park

The day ended with a sumptuous dinner at Don Henrico's in SM Baguio. To be continued ...

Harshness

The photo below says it all. Kaya pala malinis ang background. This was taken from a vacant lot during our trek to Grotto in Baguio City. Sh*t, ang tindi ng mensahe. And I forgot, it was Good Friday when I saw this picture.

Cold Summer Nights

It's Mid-April and the sun is really torridly flaming. Since December, I have been nocturnal due to the extreme coldness of the night. I am still nocturnal now but for a different reason. The heat in the morning is zapping my energy that nothing is left for me to do a work. No choice but to do it in the wee hours of the night. I've been enjoying this set up lately.

Working alone makes the focus better thus can result to better productivity. Yet, working alone also helps me to remind of different memories in the past vividly. Summer nights are truly sentimental to me. It was three summers ago when my father suffered from stroke. Each night leading to the day of his death was full of drama and restlessness. Summers have never been the same again since then.

This year's summer will be momentous. It is the period when major transitions, planning and preparation for something BIG are happening. Despite how erratic things are lately, i positive that all are still in line with my short, medium and long term goals. It's "calmness before the storm" mode nowadays.

And by the way, as a tribute to Francis M, I am posting one of his hit songs way back in the 90's entitled "Cold Summer Nights".

Hail to the Champion!

And in the end, my NBA fantasy team, Team Blitzkrieg was able to withstood the resistance from 15 other teams to emerge as the champion. Ang laking achievement nito! Consistent tsamba ang panalo kada linggo, nonetheless panalo pa rin.



My opponent in the finals must be really pissed off. He leading only first 5 days but was literally blindsided in the last two days. Thanks to the point-guard barrage strategy that I've been employing year long. Mother luck is also on Team Blitzkrieg's side.

Java NCC Programming: Exercise 3

Exercise 3:
Due on April 12, 12 NN:

Problem: A new set of files have been uploaded to http://alisonperez.netii.net/java_programming/ (04032009_java_files.zip). Open the file MultiArray.java. This is our example on how to traverse a two-dimensional array. Revise the code such that the final output shall be:

Please email the java file to darth_ali@yahoo.com using the format lastname_java_exercise3.java. An additional 5 points will be given to the laboratory/hands-on exam for those who can get the correct answer. Please make sure that your program is working before submitting. I will be out of Manila for the Holy Week and will only get a chance to check all of the works submitted by Easter Sunday after 12NN.


Good luck

Two more graded take home exercise to follow.

Java NCC Programming: Exercise 2

Exercise 2
Due on April 12 2009, 12NN

Problem: Create a java program that will ask two numbers of type integer. Use JOptionPane. Compute for:

a. Sum
b. Difference
c. Product (type double)
d. Quotient (type double)
e. Modulo
f. Highest between the two integers


Your output should be (using JOptionPane):

First Number: <1st>
Second Number: <2nd>
Sum: <1st> + <2nd>
Difference: <1st> - <2nd>
Product: <1st> * <2nd>
Quotient: <1st> / <2nd>
Module: <1st> % <2nd>
Highest between the two:

Submit your answer with lastname_java_exercise2 as the email's subject. I will just be running the java file and will grade if the output has been achieved. So, please check if it works before submitting it. Plus 5 points in the next graded exercise for those who can get the correct output.

Java NCC Programming: Exercise 1

Take home Exercise 1:
Due is April 12 2009, 12 NN.

Problem: Create a program that will compute the average of 10 integers. Use JOPtionPane in getting the input.

Algorithm:

1. Get 10 integers (including negatives) using JOptionPane
2. Compute for the average
3. Display the average using JOptionPane


Please email the java file to darth_ali@yahoo.com. Make the email's subject: yourlastname_java_exercise1. There will be an additional 5 points for the next graded exercise for those who can get the solution.


Please visit this blog from time to time for the succeeding exercises.

NCC Java Programming

To all Java Programming students of NCC,

Please proceed to http://alisonperez.netii.net/java_programming/ for the sample source codes during our lecture. Thank you.


-- Alison Perez