Puso

When I hear them say, "May puso ang laban nila," what does it really mean?

Being a big Red Warrior follower (well, not really that long, just when I got in college), I always try to read articles or watch games of our school's UAAP flagship sports team. Our school paper, The Dawn, usually has writers that are hardcore Red Warrior fans that mostly, their personal columns would contain post game analysis and what-not.

Well, being in a red school, myriads of things that are red in color are often used to make a play of words or to describe anything in the university. These writers, choose heart.

I wondered if 'heart' was just used because we all know it is red in color. Or if it is a metaphor, I couldn't see why.

That was when I was not yet 'into' it.

I remember one line, "Kahit hindi tayo nanalo, lumaban naman tayong punong puno ng puso." Oh, that line again. What does it mean, really?

For all the times I encountered it, I came to associate 'puso' with passion and one hundred percent. Never giving up. Not losing the will to fight despite an opponent's supremacy. Proving the worth of that red shirt. Wearing it out loud. Hindi sumusuko. PUSO.

I wouldn't deny that there were games absent this embodiment. But there were more games that I watched, that made me feel proud even if it was a loss. Games when I felt, the Warriors were at a hundred percent and over. Those games gave me goosebumps, sugar rush, heightened senses. And when I remember those times, I always smile and miss them. I could shell out anything just to witness it again.

The last two games of the Warriors were the games that I wish I had seen live. I even had prophetic tweets about these then-future laurels. Not only because those were wins, but because the determination to win and fight back were so strong. Coming from losses, they had more reasons to step up and perform at their peaks. Simply thinking of the rush makes me feel giddy: It is all I need now that I'm not motivated with my job at all.

Blame it on too much negativity around the office, or of the company's unwillingness to give back to us who contributes most to our division's income. Here, I can say that I have no heart to perform at my best. But had I watched the games, I would've had enough reasons to feel good and think less of the factors that deject me at work.

Now, the one thing that I want is to feel that 'heart' again. Every beat, every single reverberation of that wave. Because when I do, I might outdo myself. I might have more reasons to see every positive thing there is left to consider.

I may be alive, again.

#CongratsUE
#GoFightRedAndWhite
#ProudWarrior

Bragging Right: Yearend Special

The year 2011 was a very great year for my professional life, but it doesn't do the same on my personal side of things. Achievements, recognition, the chance to prove my worth, all of those have happened in this year. In a nutshell, let me crack the few things that have taken over my life.

(However, the new layout first. Yes, I've reverted to simplicity because I have a new layout which was on the workings for quite sometime now. Wahaha. Nothing very grand though, just a simpler version which is personalized.)

Let us start with my professional path. On our Project Study, I worked as the Software Engineer which ratified my abilities on employing the programming language to create a firmware for our Hockey-playing robot. Yes, I was the one assigned to control the machine using a special program that I myself have devised. To me it is just cool, because I was finally recognized to do well on that department, not that I brag. I was the only one on the group who got 1.00 and 1.25 grades on the two subjects which are needed to perform the Software Engineer task.

Together with another classmate, I  was able to design a Microwave Communications Link from Manila to Bulacan to Pampanga. You could only imagine how we computed for the atmospheric losses, the antenna gain, free space loss, and other stuff. We had sleepless nights trying to reconcile and maximize the antenna/design limitations to get a recognizable signal on the other end. Yeah, truly geeky.

February-ish, I was able to attend different seminars and lectures about Digital TV and the likes. This is very interesting because this is on trend. I also went to different companies to look at their methods of carrying over different Electronics-related stuff like Geosynchronous Satellite Control and Television Broadcasting. I felt nearer to my calling.

I became a scholar, just again. I guess, you get this gift when you really love what you study.

Since I had less units on my last semester, I was able to work with different Electronics Engineers on my spare time. I also received special requests to automate other people's houses. Imagine, I'm assembling door access controls all by myself! I was also tasked to do something about a turning on/off light system using a Bluetooth device (cellphone). These little technologies I still owe to the experience that I had as a Software Engineer.

Before leaving the University, I checked my grades back, and whoo. I'm a scholar, just again. But it would be worthless since I'm already graduating but the fact that my grades once again reached the line of recognition is none but a bonus. I graduated though without any Latin Honor because previously, I have screwed on the minor subjects which affected my GWA (Grade Weighted Average) big-time. However, I'm still very proud of myself. I graduated an Engineering course without failing a subject. They say its unusual, while not getting an Honor.

After graduating, I flew to a certain review center. Choosing the center is critical to the board examination, I believe. When I first had the exam, oh boy, those were the weirdest sets of questions that I have ever encountered. Well, that is the exact reason why there is a review center, to prepare us for battle against these weird questions. After the Diagnostic Exam and the First Evaluation Exam, out of 120 students from mixed schools, I was able to get Top 5 and Top 6 for the exams, respectively. Ang hirap kalabanin ng mga taga-UP! I hope that with my continuing study habits, one day, I'll get them off the top spots. Bwahaha.

That caps my professional road for 2011. It was pressure filled. Having reached the conclusions of these things which were positive, I cannot help but feel for myself that I'm doing a good job. I'm very confident that in the days, weeks, and months to come, there can be no other impediment to my success, because I always hold on to the Greater Being who has been my constant source of help and strength.

I would also want to make this an avenue to thanking the people who have been with me through all these challenges, the sad and happy times. Without having you guys around, I could have not survived. I can never stress the joy that I have found in meeting new people and sharing different experiences with them.

As I leave 2011, I'm geared to face tougher things ahead, things which might be the firsts of its kind, but I will always be optimistic in fighting off these tests. For I know that on the battle, I'm always on the winning side, for He is with me.

To God be the Glory! Without Him, Engineer Josh is nothing. Happy New Year folks!