Here Comes the rain again fallin' from the stars...

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

here comes the rain again
falling from the stars
drenched in my pain again
becoming who we are

as my memory rests
but never forgets what I lost
wake me up when september ends

Lines from one of my favorite songs from one of my all time favorite bands, When September Ends by Linkin Park. It's been a while since I last posted, let's just say, I took some days off on-line, except for work related research and e-mails. Everything seemed to be back to normal (depending on your definition of normal...), and I now can do some of the things I used to do. But things aren't all great, I did had my losses, I guess I over spent, over ate (as usual...) and wasted a few minutes of my life here and there.

Well, everythings done and all we can do is remember the past, make the best of the present and hope for the future.

8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week (ASTW)

Sunday, July 13, 2008

The 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week (ASTW) is a more than a week long event held last 01-11 July and hosted by the Philippine Government through its Department of Science and Technology to promote and extend Science and Technology within the ASEAN region (ASEAN stands for the Association of South East Asian Nations). The ASTW is divided into several meetings the Sub-Committee meetings, Committee on Science and Technology (COST) meetings, S&T Conferences, Ministerial Meetings, Exhibits and Youth Summit.

The Sub-Committee meetings (i.e. Sub-Committee on Biotechnology, Sub-Committee on Microelectronics and Information Technology (SCMIT), etc...) , COST meetings, and Ministerial Meetings were attended by delegates from different countries within the ASEAN and talked about issues concerning S&T collaboration. There were also conferences participated both by local and international delegates whose topics include Capacity Building, Alternative Energy, etc... The exhibit showcased the various S&T projects of the different countries, most specially by member countries of ASEAN. The Youth Summit provided a venue for future S&T leaders to talk about relevant scientific and global issues.

In my opinion the 8th ASEAN S&T Week is an important stepping stone to enhance the level of S&T in the Philippines, one cannot deny that Science and Technology is a force that can improve lives of every person not just physically but also economically. International S&T collaboration is a good way to help improve the level of S&T in our country and could help solve not only local but global issues as well.

Peace at last, or so I thought...

Friday, July 11, 2008

One of the biggest event for our Department has just ended and all that's left is cleaning the mess we have just made. Almost everybody took a time out as soon as they could, including me. I took a day off the first day that I could, I missed myself and now is the time to go forward and face another challenge. The last few days left me battered, drained and wasted, but it also gave me memories that could last a life time, an exprience that only a handful of people could get and new realities that only few people had the blessing to discover.

By the time I came home after ten days I felt it was just yesterday that I left. Everything was normal, too normal. All my stuff were still in same place as they were ten days ago, and my family greeted me as if I wasn't gone for a long while. One part of me felt relief, because nothing happened nothing needed my attention, but one part also felt lonely, it wasn't like before when I was only gone for a few hours and yet when I came back they greeted me as if I was gone for a year. Maybe they have become mature and self sufficient, I'd like to think about that and nothing more.

It took almost a year to prepare for that event but problems still arose, problems that could have been prevent but we can't change that anymore, what's done is done and all we could do is either repair the damage done or minimize the impact. After a long while I felt a bit of peace, now I can visit my special someone, be with my family and most especially be myself again. The person who at times wants to be with himself but at the same time enjoys the company of love ones, the person who loves to laugh and yet keeps a serious side close by.

I want to relax but I guess we can't have all that we want, and sometimes we might even have to sweat blood just to have it, but no matter what, the most important thing is for us to be happy, and despite the mistakes, problems, headaches, and all things worse, I still am happy. Happy for the accomplishment, for the experience, for the lessons learned, and most of all, I'm happy because it's over and finally we can take on new challenges.

The Gift of Language

dinner with some of the foreign delegates who attended the ASTW

Truly language is one key in uniting different countries. I have witnessed this during the 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week (ASTW) held last 01-11 July 2008 here in Manila, Philippines. The event became an opportunity for member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations - Committee on Science and Technology ASEAN-COST to meet and discuss matters that relate to the advancement of Science and Technology in the South East Asian region. It also became an opportunity to meet with other nationalities within the ASEAN Region.


I believe that one factor that contributed to the success of the event was the elimination of the language barrier. English became the language of choice and even if no native language within ASEAN was used, the discussion went well since english provided a unified medium of communication. I think it doesn't matter what language you use, as long as we understand each other and be able to express our ideas and help in contributing to the advancement of humanity, and in this case that language came in the form of english.

I don't think I'm that good in grammar, accent nor in figures of speech but that didn't matter during the ASTW, because they still understood me and everybody spoke in english some even provided interpreters, but still that didn't matter as long as we could speak and be understood.

Language is truly a gift, something that needs time to learn, but once learned can become a force that can drive ideas into reality, bridge barriers and unify far away lands.

Nice Scenery

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

I'm always interested in various sceneries, seeing nature or beautiful landscapes, and last 30 June to 9 July I had that small opportunity. I took the camera then simply took some pictures, and these are some of them. I guess one of the things that I might fancy is a professional camera, and see what I can do with it, given of course I get to see things that deserve a click from that kind of camera. I think it's nice to see these things specially if your usually locked on the four corners of your office every single working day.