Walked away...

I didn't say anything

And you said nothing

You just walked away

And I went on my own...

We never uttered words

We were afraid to say

Or we never had time to

We just went our way...

Losing humanity...

There are times in your life when you can lose so much. And sometimes, you lose too many great things. It would hurt, it surely would. It will haunt you in your dreams, because even though you lost them and forever be gone, the memories remain. It made me happy in some quite times in the mountains - the Sony MP3 Player which my mom gave to me. It unleashed the gaming potential in me - the expensive Lenovo Thinkpad mom bought for me. It carried all my belongings wherever I go - the Habagat Backpack I bought on my first salary. My two wallets, cash, IDs, Credit and ATM Cards, Two 1TB Hard Drives, and others. All of them went with him, the guy who needed that money to suffice his worldly needs because he doesn't want to work hard as much as I do.

I work hard in the mountains. Day or Night. Rainy day or Scorching hot sunny day. I work hard and obey my superiors. So that I can buy things that I never had before. To reward myself. But people these days, they just steal everything. They lost their humanity.

Which laptop?

This is my story in search of the incredible...

Note: This is my search of the incredible. This is my search of the best but affordable mobile gaming hardware here in the Philippines. I will keep this post updated until I get my new gaming laptop.

5/10/2015

My name is Ryan. My bag and all the expensive stuff in it got stolen in NAIA Terminal 3, here in the Philippines. I lost two wallets with cash, ATM and credit cards, Sony MP3, Xbox Controllers, and lastly, my Lenovo Thinkpad - my expensive, business-gaming laptop.

Since I travel a lot, like a lot a lot, like I get to have four flights every month, buying a new gaming laptop did no longer occur to me. What if it got stolen again? I am traumatized, even now. But I was and always am a multimedia lover, a true-to-heart gamer, and a disciple of engineering marvels! So despite the heavy burden in my heart, I figured out that I need to move on and get a new one.

Spent a few weeks doing research, reading reviews, and specs of the best hardware but AFFORDABLE. It was hard, really hard. There were Lenovo, MSI, Alienware, Sager, Acer, and Asus Rog. These manufacturers tend to claim that they've got the beast I'm looking for. But I am a careful buyer, a smart one. I don't buy things spontaneously (except for ladies if only they are for sale) so I had to be patient.

I looked for numerous sellers in Tipidpc.com, olx.com, and other shops online. I even went to Gilmore this May 2015 just to find what I'm looking for. But even at Gilmore, the place where you can get the most affordable gaming hardware in the country, fell short to my expectations. Some shops there do not know what they are selling.

Me: Boss, itong Asus G501 nyo ba ay IPS-technology yung screen?

Supervisor: Tingnan ko ha. Hmmm. Oo. Kasi ito yug G501JW eh. Sabi sa website ng Asus IPS to. Last unit na namin yan kaya bilhin mo na.

That made me happy. But I wanted to be sure. So I checked online only to find out that there are many G501JW variants in the world and the one we have here in the Philippines is the one with a mediocre TN panel. People who went to Villman and PC Corner were disappointed about their unit after buying. The panel display was just... disappointing for a 55K-60K gaming laptop.

I started doing some more research again. And in some forums, they mentioned someone in the name of laptopmaestro. What is with that name? Catchy though...

5/26/2015

This guy in the name of laptopmaestro shows his current list of items for sale at tipidpc.com and olx.com. 

http://www.tipidpc.com/ratings.php?username=laptopmaestro

http://members.olx.ph/laptopmaestro

I carefully read all the details about this seller. After all, I am yet to spend more or less 70K for a gaming laptop. I had to be sure. After checking all the posts of his previous buyers in tipidpc and facebook, I decided to inquire.

I sent him a message on FB around 4 in the afternoon. I waited for his reply... but an hour has passed but there was none. So I messaged him again around 7PM. There was no reply again when I messaged him at 11PM. Well, perhaps I had to be patient. First, when you buy a laptop from this guy, it is significantly cheaper than any other sellers here in the county. I've done my share of research. So I guess it's okay to wait. He replied the next day.

Judging from the way he writes, this one is a professional dealer. Clear. Precise. Straight to the point. And really knows his stuff. Do you want to know how much he asked for the downpayment? Not 10K. Not 5k. Not 3k. Not 2k. If you want to get one? Better inquire yourself and be amazed.

Seems like laptopmaestro is a busy guy. That's why he can't reply immediately to your inquiries. Maybe this is just his 'sideline' and not really his main business. Or maybe he is a spy? Lol.

After getting all the information of where to deposit the money, I didn't hesitate to deposit the very small amount that he asked (reservation fee) the next day.

I'll keep this post updated:

Kaban ng Bayan

I have been talking to myself for two hours straight already. I do this all the time. I do this when I am alone in my room. When I am depositing in the white throne. When I don't do anything at work.

However, as of the moment, I am in the mountains of northeastern Philippines looking after a drilling activity for a mining company I work for. And it's three in the morning, it's cold here, dark and could have been peaceful if not for the screaming of monstrosity coming from a gargantuan of a machine.

But before I started talking to myself, I did some crazy stuff like rock and rolling, shaking my head (That they called headbanging), and strumming an invisible lead guitar while listening to an upbeat-rock-rnb playlist.

I talked about politics, mistakes, and partially love, and anything random... I complained about how the government is taking so much tax from me every month and how ill the country we have now. That I would allow Mayor Duterte to take presidency and massacre all politicians who got their crooked nails dirty by stealing money from  the 'Kaban ng Bayan.'

Breaking Free

Weeks have passed. Many weeks have gone by. I went to many places. I almost traveled the whole country - from the outskirts of northeastern Mindanao, to some parts of the Visayas, in Metro Manila, and now here in northeastern Luzon. I've been to many places, really, in just a matter of six months.

Unlike the movie 'That thing called Tadhana', I cannot afford to go to Rome, but I frequent in NAIA twice a month. I didn't go to Baguio and Sagada, but I've been to Baguio in 2012 and stayed in Benguet for more than two months. I know how it looks like, how cold it is, how beautiful the trees, the mountains, and the skies. I picked some strawberries, too.

But is't not about the place. It's about the feelings - the reasons why you have to go that far and spend all that money; the reasons why you have to leave behind your old life for a moment and be someone else new for a little while.

There is something wonderful about a place where everything around you is new. They don't know you. You don't know them. And you can just walk at the seashore, at the boulevard, or at the streets and nobody will care. At last, you can breathe. You are free.

EduKation (Education)

For so many days now, well, weeks rather, since my last entry, I have been wanting to write as regularly as possible, like thrice or twice a week. But my schedule won't let me. I work on a 12-hour 6AM-6PM shift at the office or at the field and when I enter my room, I'm just so tired I want to sleep the soonest.

But I guess that's not the issue. My writing is deteriorating. I write bad sentences in my desktop, I'm finding it hard to construct a paragraph. Wrong spelling, well, I was never really good at that. My spelling bee 'power' is never really quite good and my vocabulary is limited. When I was in second grade, my teacher forced me to join a spelling bee eliminations. The winner will represent our school in the city meet. I pretty much got all right, except these one long word and 'milk'. Yes, MILK. It took me forever to spell that one and until now I cannot forget that.

How's that for a throwback? Haha.

Siopao... Bola-bola

I think I have gained so much weight in just two months. I mean, it seems like my face has become round just like a siopao with bola-bola filling. Haha!

The company has been very extravagant in providing the employees everything to make them stay - bringing restaurant grade food here in the mountains, air-condition rooms, hot and cold shower, clean and comfy accommodation. Everything is already here. And if you don't have any family at home waiting for you, then you can stay here for good. But unfortunately, you can't. You really need to go home during your break. I have a little sister. :)

My roster break is quite nice. The best so far ever since I started working as a professional geologist in large scale to medium scale companies here in the country. I have a 28 days work and 14 days break (w/ pay) roster break. Ain't that the best there is? Here in the country, there are only two or three companies offering this kind of luxurious benefits.

I am blessed. And though this is just a very short term project, I hope and pray that they will absorb me or at least extend me or even get me regularized. But the current price of gold is a big factor in getting me there. So I can only pray and let the Lord our God do the magic.

Cheerio.

Home.. Nothing beats home..

Last night, I was to purchase an airline ticket routing Manila-Cebu. However, I wasn't sure of the exact date of my roster break. I can see cheap flights at Cebu pacific and Air Asia websites. But I still need to know my schedule. The truth is, I can't get a ticket unless my boss tells me the 'good news'. That, right now, I can't formally share.

When I was a kid, or when I was even in high school, I never really thought of getting in to a plane. I mean, its expensive. But now, I fly twice a month to Negros Oriental and it became common to me. I had to accept that my job requires frequent travelling.

Thank you Lord for the blessings. :)

Healty Living

I wasn't able to have my exercise for almost 3 weeks already. It started when I went home for my roster break - spent two days in Manila, a week in Cebu, and a week in Dumaguete.

So tonight, I'm back. RAAAAAAAAAAAA! Did some running at the treadmill (is this the correct spelling? Haha.) I want to gain some weight and build some toned muscles. Not the likes of Hogan or Arnold. Just the lean one with enough muscles. Pang-chicks ba! Haha!

I hope I gain body mass soon and develop well-toned muscles. I also hope I can run faster and improved my endurance, just like college days. Oh, when I was in college, I was... well, it was my best years. I was a varsity member and played in the national collegiate games twice.

The fastest game in the court - BADMINTON.

Clogged Nose

Neozep everyday, okay?

Since two weeks ago, I’m sick. There is some thick, sticky, fluid inside my nose and it keeps coming back to tire me down during the day when I’m working on areas well exposed to dust and in the evening when I lie down on my bed.

It’s what they called ‘clogged nose’ or ‘runny nose’, I have both though.

It seems to taste salty…hmmm. Oh come on! Don’t tell me you haven’t tasted one!

Basketball player. Weeh?

After work, the geotechnical team had talks about playing basketball tonight. However, I kinda got bruises from last night. I rolled twice in the court when an opponent accidentally extends his leg in front of me causing my feet to trip. (Sakto ba ni akong English? Hahaha. Something is wrong with this sentence.)

So yeah. I didn't play tonight. Perhaps tomorrow. Or maybe not. Maybe I am better off with the treadmill. There is no physical contact in that. And I am very very cautious and careful with my right hand/arm. It’s prone to getting fractured easily. It got displaced 10 years ago. And the doctor said that if it happens again, I’m gonna lose my right arm! Waaaaaaaahh!

Feast here in Didipio...

Tonight was a feast here, here in Didipio Mine Site. According to our Senior Pit Technician, every end of the month, this Aussie-Kiwi company hosts feast according to what they feel like celebrating.

Tonight, it is Australian night. The food. My GAAAAAHHHDD. The food!

Baby back ribs. Pure beef patty. Real French fries. Rice. Chaofan Rice. Beef afritada. Fish. Spaghetti. Macaroni. Lasagna. Choco Cake. Muffins. Egg pie. Chees Cake. Strawberry Cake. Rocky road ice cream. Caramel Ice cream. A salad bar where you can choose from a variety of fruit and vege mix. Too many to mention.

It is like this every night. The company gets a catering service in the morning, lunch, and supper. So everything here is delicious.

Physical exam? Watapak? Haha!

This is not my first medical exam. But I had a lot of ‘firsts’ during this one. When the doctor said physical medical exam. It meant all. ALL. As in, ALL.

Blood. Urine. Shit. Eyes. Nose. Throat. Skin. Lungs. Liver. Genitals and Anus. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh. The doctor was female though. Hahahaha.

And yeah, you know that feeling. I don’t have to elaborate that. The good news is that, I have learned that my lungs is clear. It is now free from the disease that I got a year ago.

Thank you Lord for the gift of healing. And thank you for all the blessings that you poured in to my life. I couldn’t ask for more. Except this tiny little request. Hehe.

Hired! Yohoo!

I traveled to Manila yesterday. Again, it is a long 12 hour trip, that one. I stayed at the same cheap hotel in the metro. I am very excited to go home, and tell mother about the good news.

Then a phone call came… “Ryan, this is Vanessa from oceana. You are going to submit the following requirements I sent in your email.”

It meant that I cannot go home. It meant that I had to stay in Manila. CLOTHELESS.

So I had to go to the nearest shopping center and got myself some white shirts, shorts, and underwear. They wanted me to work too soon. And I had no choice. I badly needed the job.

Will they hire me?

Today is my interview for the job. I met the senior engineer and saw the superintendent, an Australian I assume. There are a lot of foreigners working here. We call them expat. Foreigners are called that way. I don’t know why.

Before I was interviewed, they toured me around the mining site. At the OPEN PIT. WOAH. WOAH. WOAH. I was just amazed watching this engineering marvel.

Then they asked me to do some tasks. Well, it’s part of the recruitment. They asked me to map some geologic structures in the pit. This one couldn’t be more perfect in timing since this is my task a few months back as a geothermal geologist.

“So, Ryan. Why should we hire you? Does your school teach geotechnical engineering as a minor subject?”

“No Sir. Our school is not very particular in engineering geology. So I don’t know much. But I just know the concept. Don’t expect too much. I don’t know much. But I’m young and I’m really eager to learn. I am young and I am really excited about doing this project.”

Longest travel I've had ever

A very… very… very long travel to the mining site is gonna start soon. I’m writing this blog while waiting for the company bus to arrive. I’m sitting at a ministop convenient store just right across the main office of this mining company.

Makati is different by the way. It’s clean and the entire city is well-planned. There are only one or two of these here in the Philippines. Not sure. They said Davao is nice too.

It will take 12 hours of looooooooooooooooonggg…travel over the mountains; over the ridge of northern Luzon. I never really thought that a trip could be as tiring as this. But yeah know. I am excited. I need to nail that interview tomorrow.

God is always true to his promises. Thank you Lord.

Window shop Manila!

I arrived in Manila last night. I rented a room at a very affordable hotel along north EDSA, right across SM North EDSA. I’m not really choosy when it comes to rooms and food and clothes and stuff. As long as I can sleep, as long as it’s edible, as long as it’s clean, I’ll go for it.

Went to Makati-Ayala area and window shopped. Looking for potential products to purchase when I have the money, which in reality is unlikely to happen because I don’t have money yet and I still need a job.

Toured around manila – malls, restaurants, and shops. Then I got tired, and realized that I didn’t really like Manila when I started working here last year. The noise. The dust. The pollution. The jeepneys. No offense to Filipinos. But in Dumaguete there is none like these.

Dumzville to Ubec to Manila

I woke up early today. It is my flight to Cebu, from Dumaguete, then Manila in the afternoon. It seems like I was touring around the Visayas but no!

Like what my previous post suggest, I am going for an interview in Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. It is a far-flung place in northeastern Luzon, Philippines.

The funny thing is how short the trip was from Dumaguete to Cebu. When the plane went up the sky, a time for the passengers to take the toilet or to eat some snacks, I closed my eyes a bit because I was too tired the night before. Uhmm… Then…

We are to land Mactan International Airport in 10 minutes… something like that…

Then I told myself. What a short trip this is!

Blessings pouring in!

I just slept all day. I came home late last night because I went walking around. I’m not sure if I’ve been with people or someone last night. I don’t know. Memory gap.

So yeah. I slept in the morning. I slept in the afternoon. Then suddenly…

Ring! Ring! Ring!

I picked up the phone. And answered whoever it was calling me because the number is not registered to my Nokia 1020.

“This is Vanessa from Oceanagold Philippines.”

I was like. “Didn’t hear you. Come again.”

“Is this Sir Ryan? I’m Vanessa po from Oceanagold.”

Oceanagold. One of my dream companies. The one I always hear about that offers good pay, good food, good accommodation, good benefits, and good roster break.

It is January 2, after all. I didn’t have a job anymore. My last contract ended last December 20, 2014. I badly need a job. And here this comes.

My job here is very short term. Only three months as a Geotechnical Engineer/Geologist. But the superintendent said that he will try to open a regular position anytime soon. And QUALIFIED candidates may be absorbed. I am holding on to that chance. Praying and hoping. Trying to perform well. So whenever that position comes, when it comes, I may qualify.

Dili jud diay ka kalimtan ni Lord. So far, wala pako natambay. Thank you BRO!

1…2… 3… Happy New Year!

Everyone around the world had their own share of noise to celebrate the first day of 2015. Even in the small town of Dumaguete, even in our humble abode (we rented two studio type rooms somewhere around downtown) we also had our own share of celebration.

Mom came home along with Donald. It is worth noting that he is not the owner of McDonald’s. They came from a short vacation in NZ. Donald is a kiwi. Mom a Filipina. So they kinda hit it.

This is the first New Year that we celebrated as a family, as far as I can remember. I really don’t have much of memories, and if my memory doesn't fail me, we didn't have any celebration as a family. I’m not sure.

God is good. And HE is always true to his promises.