Too Late

Ang tagal niyo kasi eh... haha!

‘Please be advised that you PASSED the Placement Phone interview. If you have taken the listening exam during the job fair, you may now have the Pre MED Exam in Mother Seton. If you have not taken the listening exam kindly inform me by texting your full name. I’ll give instructions. Thank you!’ –PLDT Ventus

'Would just like to ask if you will still pursue your application in our company?Please advise.'- Fujitsu Computer Corp.

The Queen's Escort

Reyna Elena… What the heck? It’s just a simple parade! Who would want to join such stupid Filipino Tradition?

(After five minutes)

(One Text Message)
Message: ‘Mike, escort ka daa ni Angie sa Reyna Elena.’
Mike’s Reply: ‘Now? Sure. I’ll be there by 2.’

Talk about consistency… LOL.

The Queen is ready!

The Queen is crowned!

The Queen together with her constituents!

The rise of the Queen!

Everyone bows over her.

The Queen roams over her land

The Queen is kidnapped by a monster!! LOL

Yeah...I'm taking it!

I just signed a two-year contract with Accenture as an Associate Software Engineer. Accenture is one of the amazing companies I applied to and I’m in no doubt that it’ll be a fun experience to work with them. Yeha! Even if the course I finished is not really in line with the software stuff, I think I’ll enjoy software development. Being a computer enthusiast is a good start… I guess… LOL. All the best of luck, Mike!

Why should I be hired?

Accenture is a globally competitive business entity which continuously proves its worth of its course of operations to serve its huge market. Knowing how big the company is, it would be such an honor for me to be able to work with the company. I must admit that the course that I finished is predominantly not in line with the job description to that of a software engineer. But my willingness to learn and strong passion towards work are some of the qualities that the company can be assured of me. I am determined, strong willed and have an amazing interpersonal skills. Having been among the few Ateneo de Naga’s Cum Laude, my dedication towards acquiring knowledge and practicing what I learn are really among my top priorities.

I am a person who loves to ride along the technological transition of the present time, especially when it comes to gadgets and systems that provide satisfaction and support to human welfare. I am astonished of how people can develop such technologies with great complexity and uniqueness, but have the qualities of practicability. I want to learn how it’s done and be able to help facilitate the process of human and business conduct.

I am up for the challenge of creating programs and business systems. I am ready to work with teams and be able to come up with something that is highly needed by the Accenture clients. I am ready for the rigid trainings and all sorts of pressures. As my first job (no experience at all ), all I can assure Accenture is my dedication and commitment. I know that the whole process (trainings and actual making of the software) is going to be hard, but I am so sure that I can make it. Being a 3-year blogger, yahoogroup moderator, member of various social network sites, and Internet enthusiast, the world of computer systems is not completely new for me. But, like I said, there’s more to it that I still have to know and I am so excited to explore and make use of the things that currently I am not able to grasp understanding of. So, bring it on!

Another Michael for the World to Remember

Ito ang pinakamayabang kong tula. Pagpasensyahan. Haha. Trip lang naman eh. Saka minsan lang ‘to.

I want thy name to be printed on books,
For people to honor thy life’s great works
I want to take part in the unfolding of fate
To be a person behind a joyful future-state.

I want to positively affect the course of history
Have my monuments erected in various cities,
To be an amazing icon worthy of admiration,
And be a symbol of man’s quest and aspiration!

Infliction

Mike’s poems are written originally for his own amusement, as they are the products of his leisure moments. He has no intention to have them published (for the moment…LOL). Currently, he writes at the importunity of many of his best, and most generous friends; to whom he considers himself as under the greatest obligations (in short, ‘utang’).

Infliction

Michael B. Arevalo
‘Para sa mga babaeng laging late, at sa mga lalaking nag-eenjoy maghintay sa mahal nilang late.’
For January Luzada, The Queen of Unpunctuality.

The myrtle shade stands witness for thy wait,
Cumulus clouds attest to the unveiling of fate,
With thy patience and hope, I stood and stayed,
Glimpse of thou image cause deception as it fades.

For hours, I was trapped in nature’s stillness,
Used to the agony of waiting, solitary sadness.
Forgot the feeling and meaning of true bliss,
Still hoping thou presence is a realizable wish!

Alas, thy plaintive sigh shook over thy veins,
Wrath covered thy sight, succumbs partial grace
In great retribution, I opposed thy body to recline
But bitter heart, fiery eyes unknowingly conspire!

As thy anger raged, in sinful thoughts I ponder,

Wage war and seek vengeance, things I’m after
But thou splendid smile drove away all I conquer
Tell me why thou charm left thee to surrender?

Industry Experts: What the hell!!

One of the most interesting subjects in my college life is BREM, also known as Business Research. The six unit subject is cool, not because the teacher is cool, but because attending it is dependent on personal choice. The teacher, doesn’t really require daily class discussions and urgently needed requirements. All you have to do is to make her feel that you are doing well and you are on the right track in pursuing the final requirement, which is a 50-page research study. Considering the fact that we are HP’s (that is, we are the so-called ‘cream of the crop’), a 50-page output is really so damn easy (yabang!) that we could finish it overnight. Haha. Anyway, the problem started when the teacher rejected all our business proposals because she never wanted us to venture into food and service industry. We had to go with the flow but later on another problem emerged. She realized that after a few months of taking the course, we weren’t really exerting much effort (basically because there was so little pressure, we were busy in other subjects and we were forced to have a research study focused on something that doesn’t really interests us). This, however, was resolved when we managed to make use our ‘persuading powers’ to put an end to her feeling of great disappointment. A little drama and a few more fabricated facts… and whala! We’re okay again. Then, during the finals, we were scolded for a lot of things… she thought our works were nothing but a bunch of craps! Well, it’s not solely our fault because she didn’t even tell us what is right and what is wrong… what should be done and what shouldn’t be. Sigh. And, to make things worse, she added a few more items on our to-do list for finals… including the physical presence of an industry expert!!!

The logic behind having an industry expert is to verify the data that were gathered by the research were true, to prove that the strategies were feasible and to give advice on the management and additional possible tactics towards business work. Sounds easy and logical, eh? Well, for us, it’s not! Consider that you are planning to venture into a food-restaurant business. In your business research, you gathered all the data needed about the market, location, and marketing strategies; made projections on the start-up capital and 5-year financial plan; and detailed all other important facts. How can you possibly let the manager of McDonald’s come as your industry expert? Wouldn’t that put your soon-to-be business in jeopardy by exposing personal and solicited strategies appearing on the research? What if, hypothetically, McDonald’s copy that strategy? Better yet, what if they copy an innovative product line or are enlightened to an unexplored market segment (blue ocean strategy)? Would they come over in the first place?

As a result of the difference between our personal understanding and the requirements of the school curriculum, we made some ‘minor’ adjustments (just for us not let go of what we believed in)…

a. The Soy Candle Group promised that their industry expert would come over before the oral defense was finished. The teacher never anticipated that they were just lying. The presence of an industry expert was a requirement to be able to have an oral defense. Before the teacher knew it, she already has marked their grades on her record book.
b. The Yema Group ought to ‘vanish’ in the entire duration of the other groups’ presentation. They came on the last minute, with no industry expert, but the teacher heard them out…out of pity, perhaps.
c. The Digital Printing Group brought along a friend to come over and act as an industry expert. The teacher never knew that the industry expert was just acting and bribed to save the group’s souls.
d. The Botanical Garden Group brought the father of one of its members. Seriously! He acted as the industry expert but his relationship with one of the members was never exposed. So much for secrecy, eh?
e. The Pillow Bag Group brought a housemaid. She acted as the industry expert, and all her actions were rehearsed and her questions were ready-made on a script. Pretty deceiving, eh?

… And that’s how we got our A’s… bow… (clap clap).

@ Port Alfred Beach Resort

The family went on a road trip to the beautiful beaches of San Jose, Camarines Sur. The place was perfect for relaxation and serious contemplation. I totally enjoyed the two-day getaway! Here are some ‘candid’ photos that I took while I was at the verge of my insightful reflection:

To embrace what’s in the twilight zone
Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.
Conquering fears; rising above the rocky challenges and strong forceful waves.
Realizing the beauty of the world=P
Nothing beats the smell of hot coffee while waiting for the rising sun.
After the meditation, I’m ready to cleanse my soul.
Refreshed! LOL! (Ba’t parang ako lang ang tao?)
Angie: Too bad she’s my cousin! Tsk Tsk.
Aunt Ofelia and I: wala lang…
My escapade companion=P