Noel & Via

I was a "stage mother" last Saturday, going trigger-happy while Noel gave his first talk on stage last Saturday at Anne Racquel's Resort in Olongapo City. It was on designing interfaces.

Although he was more nervous than he normally is (he had had to present several times to more critical people while he was doing his Master's in Italy), he had a connection with the impressionable students especially when he asked them to guess what the hair dryer contraption was that he flashed on the screen. He was definitely enjoying himself, and teaching is something he has long wanted to do. It was such a nice surprise when both he and Dave received plaques at the end of their talk along with another present and a generous gas allowance. The glass plaque engraved with Emmanuel O. Perlas is now sitting proudly on our bedroom shelf. :) Congratulations Noel!

Posted by Via at 03:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It was 9am, we drove off early to go to my 2pm guest speaking engagement. It was a one-and-a-half to two hour drive to get to Olongapo City. I was so nervous that we had to pitstop four times before getting there. We finally arrived at Anne Raquel's Mountain Resort at 11:30am.

We went directly to the conference room and saw that the tables were arranged to fit around 60 or more people. This didn't help my nervousness. We also saw a banner "Guest Speaker.... Emmanuel O. Perlas." Gulp. It was very flattering and at the same time nerve-racking to see my name in big, red letters. I pulled out my laptop and started rehearsing while no one was around. Via began coaching me on what to say.

After a few minutes, Dave, my former boss, and the one responsible for giving my name out to the organizers of this event, comes in and we exchange greetings. He is to be the first speaker at our talk today for the 2005 graduating class of STI College. Shortly after we are escorted to our room...

... While in the room, we had some time to catch up with Dave and talk about some of our experiences in Italy. We went back down at half past twelve and was surprised that the room was filled up with students from STI-Makati. We were served lunch while both of us tested if our computers would work with their projector. It was fine, and Dave started his talk. I was still so nervous that I had to go out twice during Dave's presentation. Quickly after his talk, I started mine.

My presentation was on "Desiging interfaces for interactive environments." I was presenting to Computer Science majors from STI-Makati. This is probably their first time to be exposed to a design talk. So with only one hour alloted to me, I had to explain the basics of interface design. I showed a couple of examples from IDII and other institutions as well as some of my own.

The presentation went well I thought considering some of the students were restless during my talk. They seemed to have been interested in what I was discussing since I got a lot of questions after. I was quite surprised when Dave and I were given a plaque of recognition. I was doing without expecting anything in return except the joy of sharing my knowledge and promoting design. But I was very happy to get a plaque and a gift as STI's appreciation for what I did.

Posted by Noel at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've done it! One of the things I've been afraid to do was to put on those foil wrappers. And believe me, there was a scary thrill to hear them lather me up and seal it with the silver thingies. And the suspense while you're waiting under the space helmet thing. And the final moment of unveiling to red! Well, not quite, they are actual just subtle, thin streaks of browns and reds in my hair. Something I've been wanting to try but only got the courage to do so a few days ago. Just wanted a change...

And on seeing red, well, let's just say it was more out of utter embarrassment as I grazed someone's Pajero trying to park in front of BPI Acropolis. The stresses of banking these days. It was quite funny now that I remember it: about 3 or 4 security guards shouting at me which way to turn the steering wheel. Finally one of them stuck his hands in through my open window to do the steering himself! I was too shocked to resist. I found myself being told to get out of the car while that same guard expertly manoeuvred the car into the parking space. The guy I bumped was nice enough to refuse payment even though I insisted to pay several times. Then later on he asked if I needed a driver...

Posted by Via at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For the last few months, or year rather, my days would start late. While in Ivrea classes would start at 10am. And back here in Manila, our client meetings or anything that would require us to go out of the house is usually scheduled in the afternoon.

So waking up at 7am and getting to the office at 8:30am is a new time zone for me... well at least for the last year. I am a morning person and I used to wake up at 5am to go to the boat club for rowing. So I enjoy this schedule. Now back to work...

Posted by Noel at 02:10 AM | Permalink

My foot got entangled with the power cord of my Thinkpad. Had I moved any faster, I would've sent my machine crashing down on our parquet floor. :( And that would've just... HURT A LOT! Considering we had to have the LCD screen replaced after our move into Ivrea, Italy last year. Thank God for our fairy godmommy who helped us with that. And thank God I did not send us back to the repair shop today. HUGE SIGH of RELIEF! It pays to be slow sometimes.

Posted by Via at 06:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

One of my "new year" resolutions was to seriously consider getting a full time job. Since October last year I have been busy with other things like Via's bags (blauorange), fixing and unpacking our stuff (we're almost there), and doing a couple of freelance design projects.

Freelance design work was good and we (Via and I) recently got a good paying project courtesy of Cargo but the reality is that the pay is not very stable. Last January I got ZERO from these projects while I was already doing work. But Februrary was great since all these projects I did started paying up. Now looking at March I can't see the same profits as Feb.

So, last January I started filling up an online job search and started preparing myself to face the reality of having to go to work 9 to 5. One job search company I tried was Jobstreet. Another one was called JobsDB (which didn't work since their site only worked on Windows IE.)
This was fruitful and I started getting job interviews. But what I soon realized was that there was a job already waiting right in front of me.

"TANTRA, The Fate of Tantra is in your hands. Full 3D online role playing game." This is the mantra of ABS-CBN Interactive (ABS is one of the largest media conglomerate in the Philippines) in their effort to sell a Korean made game. I have been working with them on a freelance basis since December. And last Wednesday I accepted their offer for a full-time (on 3 month contract) Creative Head position. My responsibility is mainly designing the collaterals for their marketing team (CD packaging, website, posters, ads).

So wish me luck and hope to a good year ahead.

Posted by Noel at 04:22 AM | Permalink

Thank for everyone that condoled with us and included our family in their prayers. And to those that spent time visiting Grandma helping make her last few days in the hospital as comfortable as possible.

I thought I was pretty detached from the death of my Grandma, mother of my Dud. But hearing the Eulogies of my Titas and Fran (who read a poem), and having to take care of the readings at the Mass myself, it was the first time I allowed myself to feel what was really happening. Noel said I was in denial because I am used to seeing my Grandmother as very strong, very in control, very stubborn and very decisive. She had to be a mother and a father to her 6 kids when my Lolo passed away. God rest his soul.

For Grandma, I will never forget how you took pains to make us a nice warm dinner and picked us up when we arrived in Petaluma last April- you were already diagnosed with cancer then. All the times you knitted those shawls for me and made us fudge brownies. And all the monthly care packages you would send us from the States. I hope I inherited some of your business acumen, your fortutide and prayerfulness. I know you are with Lolo Juan now. And that you continue to watch over us. Maybe I'll also start taking up tennis again.

Posted by Via at 04:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

We have been quiet these past few weeks because, as some of you may know, Via's Grandma (Her father's mother) passed away last Feb. 7. Today we will be having a mass and then internment ceremonies after. We ask you to pray for her soul.

Posted by Noel at 03:01 AM | Permalink