Just some redirections.

Hello! :)

This blog is originally created for one of my IT subjects in college.
I've exported the contents of this blog to another blog. ♥
Please redirect to this => http://www.rgamaranto.blogspot.com
                                            http://www.rgamaranto.blogspot.com
                                            http://www.rgamaranto.blogspot.com
                                            http://www.rgamaranto.blogspot.com

I am trying to consolidate all my scattered things here on the Internet to just a single (and probably, official) account. HAHAHA.

See you loves!

-Rona

A Sem full of ...

It has already been a semester. Wow. As the cliche goes, it feels like it's just yesterday. :))

Really, I have enjoyed my CMSC2 course. Even though Sir Mykmyk always asks: "Who have taken up IT1? Ay naku. Mabobore kayo dito." I have taken up IT1 last sem and although they SEEM to be identical, they are not for me. hehe. I've learned new things-a whole lot of it actually- in CMSC2.

We did not learn HTML and CSS back in IT1. Though I can remember Ma'am Joycee thought us how to do the Basic C programming in the "terminal".

Also, effective google searching is a nice knowledge for me. :) Some of the keywords are really useful for me. 

Hmm, I remember that I learned how to overhear at UP just because of CMSC2. Amazing. :))

There are a lot of experiences in CMSC2 that made my sem enjoyable. Though at times, the course can really, really be irritating because it is too much work and eats most of my time especially during the CSS and HTML exercises. Blogging is okay because thoughts just pour out of me. :)

Then again, this course is not only pure hardships. I remember all the laughtrips we had in the lab sessions, our fisrt day to introduce ourselves, when we made a "dugtungan" story. Indeed, it is a wonderful experience. 

To my classmates and my lab intructor, thanks a lot. :)) You have just given me a sem full of memorable experiences. I'll miss you. <3

My Unique 2010

Haaaaay. Back to school... Back to work. Guess it can't be helped. Holidays are now over. 2010 is already over?!

"How fast time flies." Cliche much? It's the beginning of a new year, before that, let me once again reminisce the previous year with a smile in my lips. :)

JANUARY

QUIZ BEE awarding with trainors and sponsors. 

Well, naturally, the activities here are New Year Celebrations so I decided not to include that. Last January, we went to Ateneo De Manila University to compete in the ENERGIZE, Ateneo Economics Sumit Eco Quiz Bee. It was a team effort (each team two members). The final round is an extemporaneous defense. It's memorable because our teacher literally lock us up in a room for 3 hours after classes to read College Economics book. (We were still high schoolers then. :D ) With our efforts, we managed to go through TOP FIVE.

FEBRUARY

IV-Rizal '10 during the JS Prom.

JS Prom with my partner.

Oh! The love month. Valentines Day are usually celebrated so there. On Valentines Night, we celebrated our Junior Senior Promenade. Actually, it was much anticipated because we did not get to have a JS Prom when we were in 3rd year. (It somehow seems like a tradition in our school that a batch will only have one JS for it is celebrated every other year.) We danced the cotillion, and held the turnover ceremony. In addition, I was chosen as a nominee for the Prom Queen. (No luck, I didn't won. He-he. A third year student got the title. :D)

Also, February is the month when the UPCAT results will be released. Hooray! I passed. :D

MARCH

Recognition Program

This month is the fire prevention month and for us Seniors, Graduation time! After four years of studying in high school, we managed to graduate. (laughs).

We just wore our school uniforms. No togas. Still, the feeling of graduating is on air! :D

Graduation Program

Since I'm in the honor roll, I also attended the Recognition Program. I was the Salutatorian of the Batch. (But, I wasn't given the chance to have my graduation speech. For the first time in the history of the school, the salutatorian was given the task to do the Pledge of Honor. I really have no luck, eh? :D )

In the Recognition Program, different certificates are also given to exemplary students like the Leader of the Year, Best in Conduct etc. :D

APRIL

Yehey! Vacation starts. Though, this is still school-related activity. We had a end of the school year camp. Never had I imagined that it will be a Youth Camp. It was like a Eucharistic Congress. We were in Tarlac for Four Days and Three Nights. (Expenses shouldered by us. :D) I never thought it could be that fun. I learned a lot during the talks and sessions. Plus, the group games were so exciting! :) Such a nice way to learn.

MAY

My sister, me, and my mom during the
parade of the contestants..

Flores De Mayo. But. I didn't join that event. :D Last May, our house became busy because, my lola, who is a member of the Pinagsama (the name of our barangay) Homeowner's Association, nominated me be one of the Miss Pinagsama contestants. Thus, I entered the Miss Pinagsama Contest. I was worried because practically, I am talentless. (Well, not really. I just don't excel at it too much.) Luckily, I got the 1st Runner Up title.:D

JUNE

School Rocks! I cannot contain the excitement, the anxiety, the joy... freedom! Ha-ha. Last June, I was a college student for the first time. :)

JULY

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hmm. My favorite month. :D It's my birthday! This time, I celebrated it with my new friends at Grove. We eat there. (But not my treat! :D) 

AUGUST

My Psy1 class decided to go on a field trip at Subic Ocean Adventure last August. It was a fun whole day adventure. Though, it took us 4 hours before reaching the destination. We left LB at around 5AM, we reached Subic by 9. Even though the transportation itself is tiring, (laughs) it was a nice experience seeing the dolphins do their act. I even saw Dolly! (The dolphin featured in Agua Bendita.) 

SEPTEMBER

Last September, the GABAY hosted some events for freshmen and our bloc joined the Dance Competition. Only 7 of us participated, 6 girls and a boy. Though we are really novice in dancing, Dan (our only boy member) was superb. And, the dance somehow pull it off. :) We were Second Place. Hooray! (We really don't expect it.)

Also, as a part of the DevC10 curriculum, we went on a Community Visit on Pagbilao, Quezon. We went house to house and asked random questions about their lives. It was a first time for me so it was kinda fun! :D

(The picture is taken a seaside where our jeepney happen to pass by. Our teacher told we could stop for a while and take pictures. :D)

IV-Rizal '10 (I'm waering green

OCTOBER

I will never, ever get tired of my high school classmates. We shared some kind of bond that is really irreplaceable. Last October, we went on a get together at Market! Market! ( a mall in Fort Bnifacio, Taguig, a common place for all of us since our houses are very near there. ) 

NOVEMBER

For the last November, I do not remember attending any Halloween party and such. The only activity I think worth remembering was when we went to Libingan ng mga Bayani to do our annual visit to our departed relatives. 

DECEMBER

Me and my running mates. 

Hooray! It's December. Of course. Christmas Parties are number one event. But before that, UPLB conducted a Walkathon and I was required to attend. Although I don't mind. I will just run anyway. Still, being the competitive me, I gave it my best shot. Paagalingan 2010 is really memorable. I find it hard to breathe after running. Ha-ha.

Also, last 27, Rizal (our class name) decided to have a Christmas Party.  We organized the event beforehand. We are actually enthusiastic about it even though our last get together was only October. Truly, we will never get tired of each other's faces. 

2010 was sure a nice and memorable year for me. I hope 2011 goes the same for me too. :D

In order to continue striving forward, we must always look back with a smile. 

-a paraphrased quote

LB Christmas Memories

"Christmas is in the air."

How can one truly know if Christmas is coming? Apparently, if the month contains the suffix -ber, Christmas is already near. The wind is cooler than any other seasons. Lanterns and Christmas lights are everywhere. It's December. Definitely, it's Christmas.

This is the first time I've experienced celebrating Christmas away from home, not technically though. (for from 20 onwards, I'll be home during the Christmas break.) The atmosphere is different. Near the main gate of the campus, an enormous Christmas tree is standing there. On the other side, you could see a life-size Santa Claus on his sleigh with all the matching reindeers. On the center part, there was a "Belen" where Jesus is visited by the magis.

I was quite happy and proud that I belong to UPLB because these decors were actually televised as it was featured on a news channel. (He-he). Really. 

But then, why are the decors only at the main gate, until C-Park? I often asked myself that question. Every night I come to those sights either to take a picture or just to reflect and rekindle the spirit of Christmas in me, I find myself walking in the dark road of the insides of UPLB campus to my dorm. It's quite sad that after I gained my Christmas spirits, it just suddenly flies out of me.

Aside from that, I was actually irritated because a lot of people come to the main gate every night just to take pictures of the decors. Then they would spend their time there making the place a little too full of people. Then,  I'll ask myself over and over again... "What do they think of the campus? A tourist spot?" Is that the main reason for building the decors? >.< 

But, I can't blame them though. It's such a nice spot to behold. 

Still, we must not forget that decors are only symbolisms, representations of what Christmas is really all bout. Christmas is the time where love and happiness is spread. Also, it's the birthday of our Lord God and Savior. :)

PS:  Bakit 'yung Belen may Second floor? At animal ang nasa second floor? Tapos, si Jesus, nasa First floor lang? Ha-ha. 

This might be offensive. Pardon me. :) Just one of my illogical thinkings. :D

Clash of the OSes

On the blue corner... Windows!

On the red corner... give it up for Ubuntu!

"What more can you ask from Ubuntu? It is nice trying to use this OS for your computers. Don't worry. It has the almost the same basic functions like Windows which you are used to.

The Microsoft Office for Windows which is licensed and needs to be bought at a costly price is just like the OpenOffice in Ubuntu.

Microsoft Word => OpenOffice Word Processor
Microsoft Powerpoint => OpenOffice Presentation
Microsoft Excel => OpenOffice Spreadsheet
Windows Media Player => VLC Player
Microsoft Picture Manager => GIMP Photo Editor
and etc.

Moreover, Ubuntu is free! You can install it even in 10 computers without paying unlike in Windows, you need $50 multiplied by 10."

These are the things that I've been hearing eversince I've opened my horizons and learned that there are other Operating Systems aside from Windows. (You can't blame me though, I've been working with Windows from the time I learned what computers are. I am a Windows baby.)

I first heard and learned Ubuntu during my IT class. It seems fine to use for me. Especially when I heard that it's hardly attacked by viruses . I had asked details here and there, searched the WWW, and explored Ubuntu itself.

Then, which one is better to use? I started gathering facts.

PRICE

Ubuntu is free.
Windows is not. It roughly costs $50-$100 per license.
(Ubuntu wins! Ubuntu=1, Windows=0)

EASE

Ubuntu can be used after some time of analyzing and exploring while it is a fact that new users can handle Windows better.
(Windows wins! Ubuntu=1, Windows=1)

RELIABILTY 
Ubuntu can run for months and years without needing to be rebooted. Windows cannot match this reliabilty.
(Ubuntu wins! Ubuntu=2, Windows=1)

HARDWARE
Ubuntu has made improvements in hardware support but, most companies still do not offer drivers or support for their hardware in Ubuntu.
Unlike in Windows, because of many Windows users of today, good majority of hardware manufacturers will support their products in Microsoft Windows.
(Windows wins! Ubuntu=2, Windows=2)

SECURITY
Ubuntu is rarely attcaked by viruses although it can be.
Windows as it advances overtime, becomes more and more vulnerable to viruses and other attacks.

*As of 2009, over 2 million malware targets Windows. Only over 800 pieces attack Linux based OS.
(Ubuntu wins! Ubuntu=3, Windows=2)

RESPONSE SPEED
In Ubuntu, Bugs can be fixed and rolled out within a day of being reported (often within hours), though usually it takes a few weeks before the patch is available on all distributions.
In Windows, critical bug fixes are released only once a month after extensive programming and testing and certain bugs have been known to go unpatched for months or even years.
(Ubuntu wins! Ubuntu=4, Windows=2)

USER ACCOUNTS
Users in Ubuntu typically run as limited accounts, having created both administrator (named "root") and at least one user account during installation. In practice, this can be very dangerous, as any error can lead to severe damage to the system.
In Windows, all logged-in sessions (even for those of "administrator" users) run with standard user permissions, preventing malicious programs (and inexperienced users) from gaining total control of the system.
(Windows wins! Ubuntu=4, Windows=3)

USER FOCUS
The interface in Ubuntu is usually consistent but some inconsistencies may appear when using programs targeted for different desktop environments.
In Windows, it is mostly consistent and inconsistencies only appear through backports—software ported from newer operating systems to older ones.(example, from Vista to XP)
(Windows wins! Ubuntu=4, Windows=4)

Partial Score: 
Ubuntu = 4
Windows = 4
It's a tie! 


Let's leave it like that. Reasons are, there are much more areas to be critized and scrutinized before one can really tell whether which one is better.

Then again, the decision is still on us. Whether the scores say Ubuntu or Windows win, we are the ones who will use the OS. As long as we feel comfortable enough to use it, then so be it.

Ubuntu can never be like Windows. Windows is Windows already. What Ubuntu should do is to address the needs of the users by competing with itself.

Choose wisely! :)

Top 10 Things I Do (When Disappointed)

We often get rejections most of the time. It may be in the form of the guy not returning your unrequited love. Or the girl you love has been loving another guy for so long. It also might be the case where our test results are very low and very much timely, when you get a lot of SSS (Shining, Shimmering, Singko - okay. credits to Rangel for introducing the word to me just recently :p ) last semester. We might admit it or not, it still hurts... a lot.

So then, what to do? Every time I feel sad, I feel like committing suicide. (Well. I have this suicidal tendency, you know.) But, alas! I'm still alive and kicking. And believe me, just like a normal human being, I've experienced my share of pain heartaches in my sixteen years of existence.

That's why I'm going to share my very helpful to-do-list when sad and disappointed for all people in need. :)

1. Eat chocolates!

Yummy chocolates. :)

It's my favorite. :) Whenever I'm sad, I just get a handful of sweets and stuff them into my mouth. (Yum! Yum!) It's scientifically proven, anyway. Chocolates have dopamine that increases the production of our good and happy hormone, endorphins! That's why, we will feel happy afterwards. In addition, it helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It's good for the body. Eat in moderation. :) (Thank you for the other blog in giving me infos. :p http://stress.about.com/b/2009/01/14/de-stress-by-chocolate.htm )

2. Have a worthy friend.
Friends are very much important in the coping process. They are our "breathers". We can relate almost everything to our friends. They can understand mostly what's happening to us because they've been experiencing it too. They can give just opinions and help you think rationally about the problem you're encountering. Plus, it's very nice to eat chocolates with friends. :)

3. Grab a stress ball!

This is a stress ball. :)

Okay. To tell you frankly, I was about to say, punch your wall, break the dishes, slap your face... but, it seems not right. :) So I ought for a stress ball instead. :) This way, you can release you excess energy into the stress ball without harming anyone (except for the poor little thing... oh well, it lives for that sole purpose anyway. :D )


4. Play your favorite playlist.
Music helps a lot in calming a person. Whether the genre of the song you're plying is rock, metal, rap, mellow, ballad etc., if it's what you're into, it will soothe your feelings. It will help you arrange your innermost thoughts. It will help you think clearly. (And most of all, it will help you sleep all through those sleepless nights. Ha-ha! )


5. Smile a lot.
This is not the "I-don't-want-to-explain-to-others-why-I'm-sad-so-I'll-just-smile" thing. You are smiling not because you pretend to be happy but because you genuinely want to be happy. Your feelings attracts what will happen. We must be optimistic always so that we can get the good results that we aim for. It's "The Secret".

6. Read novels and mangas.

Well, it maybe is applicable to only me because this is my passion, reading stories that interests me. As a counterpart, you should do what you wanted to do the most. If your passion is dancing, then, dance to your heart's content, sing if you like, draw if you like. What's important is, you will express yourself fully and that you will regain your feeling of self-importance. :)

7. Say I love you to your loved ones.
I do this. Really. It helps me when I say "I love you" to them and they'll reply "I love you too". :) Such a warm feeling helps me through the day. For a moment after hearing the words, (if said sincerely and genuinely) I feel like I'm floating in cloud-nine. (Okay, exaggerating. Ha-ha.)


8. Play DotA.

This is nice. Well, it doesn't necessarily have to be DotA.It's just the same in number 6 where you get to express and let go of your anger, angsts and hatreds. :) It feels great whenever you "kill" someone in the game, and you'll have a Godlike streak. Really, DotA lessens worries. :)

9. Facebook all day.
Write mini-blogs in your statuses, comment on others', play an application, or whatever you feel like doing in Facebook. The thing here, you get to drain yourself up without noticing you've gone through the day already.

10. Write in my diary.
Whether it's an online blog or a diary with the notebook is fine. The thing here is, you should have your mind written. Your feelings are reflected in whatever you write. So that, whenever the time will come, you will just have to laugh over your stress today.


There are many ways in where we can reduce our stress. It varies from person to person. So, find out in which way you can lessen your burdens because life is fun. Defeat stress and enjoy life! ♥