My Note

I nicknamed him “Noti”, with all the pun intended. This is the first time I christened an inanimate object for the sole reason that it is dear to me, “dear” in the sense that it is the most expensive gadget I ever had so far. With 32,000 bucks, I could have upgraded my LCD TV to LED or I could have bought a tablet or I could just put the money into our “paluwagan”, but I decided to choose this one. Well, regrets are for losers. Sour grapes?

“Noti” received another nick a few days after I bought it from a co-worker. One day, this co-worker saw me rubbing the back of Noti on my face. I did that to feel its warmth on my cheek. Hey, I do not have any intention of making love with it. That would be... Anyway, when he saw that, my co-worker said in a very slow, guttural voice, “Precious, my precious”. Bet you have the idea how it sounds. Think Gollum, you ... Hehehe

It’s been three weeks now and I still try to understand Noti. With all the features crammed inside its hardware and the extensive applications available in the Android Market, I must optimized him to prove that he’s all worth my hard earned money. Noti is both a phone and a tablet. It’s a phone because he has all the features of any smart phone that today’s market can offer. It’s a tablet because it can provide the feature of a regular tablet, such as electronic reading, office tools, gaming and other multi-media capabilities. What makes it stands out from the other smart phone and tablets however, is its stylus pen. Some reviews thought the pen has really no use but I have been using it in taking notes during meetings, sketching, and as a mouse. Noti also runs in a 1.4 Ghz dual core processor and will have an upgrade to the new ICS come March.

Is it practical to buy something like Noti? If you have researched well and thought a hundred times before buying it, determining all the things you need for a gadget, have the technical skill in optimizing the features of both hardware and software of a gadget, and without compromising other things in getting it, I think it is worth to have a Galaxy Note. On the other hand, if you’re that person who likes to be spoiled by and rely much to a manufacturer’s standards, this gadget is not for you. Noti, being an Android phone is for people who are risk takers and technically savvy.

Samsung Customer Service

My Samsung GT-8500 comes to life again for the second time. Thanks to my own initiative and my housemate’s because if not on my belief that I could resurrect my phone, I would have abandoned it if not made it the most expensive paper weight in the world. However, I would not let the Samsung customer service escape my indignation on how they nearly duped me of my hard-earned money.

It’s already been a year since I purchase my phone. It is a smart phone with a very new OS. Being a techie myself I have been waiting of the next version and when it finally arrived, even in its beta version, I was excited to use it. So I downloaded it and tried flashing the phone on my own. Before doing that, I first master reset the phone as instructed in the flashing guide. Lo and behold! It went black and when I turned if off and on again, it just keeps on looping at the logo of the brand. I tried many times to take the battery out but to no avail, it got stuck on the logo. To minimize the damage, I decided to bring it to the customer service.

The lady at the customer service was very warm and accommodating. She told me what possibilities that could happen on the phone. She said that 3 out of 10 phones brought to them with the same problem got totally damaged. She asked me if I am willing to take the risk. I said yes and I asked her how much it would cost me since it’s not covered by a warranty anymore. She said it’s 500. I accepted the cost and she added that if they could not fix it, there’s no need to pay the price. However, if they could not and the problem could develop into a hardware problem, she told me that it could cost to 6,000 pesos. I told her to proceed.

During the negotiation, I told myself not to give any hint of distrust because I have this gut-feel that the phone is in the hands of the technicians. They could easily dismissed that it is a hardware problem and have me carry the burden of the paying the 6k. If I’m going to play smart with them, that would be the end of it. So, I was really friendly with them. After 30 minutes, the phone was fixed.

I thanked them and the lady even gave me an advice not to reset the phone by myself because if the problem would occur again, I could make it worse for the phone. I did not listen.

Back at home, I again tried to flash the phone with the new OS. To make the story short, it turned black again and when I pressed the power on, the display went orange. I pressed the power button again and some text turned up. “Upload data to the pc.” So I tried many ways to fix it but again to no avail. The customer service might solve the problem again.

It was HB who brought the phone to the customer service because I have work. They seem to notice the phone because they told HB that I should not have messed around with it. As a result, they diagnosed it as a hardware problem. I thought how it could be a hardware problem because it still charged and there’s still a display on the phone. They said that it cost 9k. What the hell! Just last night they told me it’s 6k. I told HB to retrieve the phone.

For four days, I was depressed because of what happened. I could just rationalize what I have done. I keep on telling myself that it’s just a material thing. You lost something; for sure another one will come. However, I could not believe what the customer service is saying. It could never be a hardware problem and sure 9k is abusive.

Last night, my housemate asked me where the phone is. He is a techie myself but more on the network thing. He asked me where the respective buttons are on the phone so he could bring it to download mode. I told him that I have tried that already but it didn’t work. But I thought, he could have it a try. He went at it and successfully, he was able to display it. With that, I tried to follow the flashing guide again. I was relieved that it went smoothly until all files were downloaded. I reset the phone and behold, the phone is fixed with the new OS. Am I not glad?

So, here’s my piece with the Samsung customer service. How dare them to misdiagnose the problem of my cellphone. I don’t know if they maliciously did it but either way, they should have not done it. It only speaks of their inefficiency and possibly their conniving effort to dupe me of an amount that is randomly charged. I really would like to go there again and on their faces make them realize how inefficient and opportunistic they are. But, is it wise to do that? I considered what if they would lose their jobs? No, I wouldn’t like that either. Writing this is a better medium to make other people aware and make them careful whenever they decide to go to avail their services.

Lessons learned. First, don’t get too adventurous with technology if you are not knowledgeable with it. Let the expert do it. Yes, it is ok to try something new but always know your limits. Second, follow the advice of people who are more knowledgeable than you. Sometimes it is ok to swallow your pride. Sometimes it is not good to insist on the things you like or want. Lastly, always be alert when you deal with people. Always watch out for the inconsistencies because this is where you will know if you are being fooled or not.

I was really disappointed on the people of Samsung. I was already glad that they disprove my theory on the first day. What could really be the reason why they turned into an opportunistic bunch? Is it because I am too persistent or too annoying, that I deserve to receive such treatment? Perhaps with people, it is always better to give them the benefit of the doubt because with people, one could never tell if they are trustworthy or not.

Protect Yourself

kaninang umaga meron akong kakaibang napansin sa bus stop sa may buendia. nang ibinaba na ng bus na sinasakyan namin ang kanyang pasahero, kapansin-pansin ang pag-akyat ng ilang kalalakihan. mabuti sana kung sabay sabay nagsi-akyatan ito pero hindi. sa kahabaan ng bus stop, isa-isa silang nagpapara at umakyat. mayat maya lang napansin ko ang konduktor na tumabi sa driver.

"may mga mandurukot na umakyat." sabi ng konduktor. siguro napansin ng konduktor na narinig ko ang sinabi niya sa driver dahil sa nasa harapan ako naka-upo kaya lumingon siya sa akin at tumango sa akin. "mga mandurukot." ibinulong ko sa aking kasamahan ang aking nalaman.

lumingon ako sa mga bagong akyat na pasahero. iyun na siguro ang dahilan kung bakit may kakaiba akong napansin sa mga pumara. kung titingnan sila para naman silang mga ordinaryong pasahero na babalewalain mo lang. umupo sila na hiwa-hiwalay at may nakita akong sa likod ng driver. siya lamang ang may dalang bag. naisip ko, may kakayahan kayang sabihin ng konduktor o driver na merong umakyat na mandurukot sa bus nila?

kung titingnan nating mabuti, kilala ng mga driver at konduktor ang mga mandurukot na sumasakay sa kanila. sa araw-araw ba nilang pamamasada madali na nilang mahiwalay ang mga halang ang kaluluwa at sa hindi. ilang beses na ba nilang naranasan na nagkaroon ng insidente ng pandurukot sa kanilang bus para di nila kayang kilatisin ang mga pasahero nila. minsan nga, nasasabi pa natin na meron silang sabwatan. pero babalikan natin ang tanong kung kaya ba nila gumawa ng babala sa kanilang pasahero na mag-ingat sa mga mandurukot na nakasakay sa bus nila.

lahat tayo ay may responsibilidad sa ating kapwa. kung meron tayong nakikitang nangangailangan ng tulong sa kalye, nandoon ang tinatawag na "social responsibility". lahat tayo ay may kakayahang tumulong kahit sa anong paraan. ang problema lang, inuuna muna natin ang sariling kapakanan bago ang iba. kung nakikita natin na tayo ang malalagay sa kapahamakan, umiiwas tayo sa responsibilidad. mali ba ito? marahi. pero, iisipin natin na ito ang pinaka-mainam at praktikal na gawain kesa sa isugal natin ang pansarili nating kaligtasan.

walang ginawang babala ang konduktor o driver sa mga pasahero hanggat sa bumaba kami sa ayala. kung sa anong dahilan, hindi ko alam. ang masasabi ko lang, hindi natin puwedeng ibigay sa kaninuman ang responsibilidad ng ating sariling kaligtasan. alam na natin na marahas ang mundong ating ginagalawan kaya dapat alam natin kung paano ang magiging maingat.

True Beauty

meron kaming napapanood na reality tv show ngayon sa velvet channel, iyun ay ang "true beauty". siyempre sa title pa lang malalaman mo na kung ano ang mai-expect sa mga kontestant. kelangan magaganda at makikisig sila. ang "makisig" ba ibig sabihin ay guwapo? well, basta guwapa at guwapo mga kontestant doon. hehehe. kaso may twist ang show. hindi lang outer beauty ang hinuhusgahan pero pati na rin ang inner beauty.

para malaman ang inner beauty ng mga kontestant, merong mga hidden camera sa mga lugar na kung saan nandoon din ang mga kontestant. dahil dito nakikita talaga ng mga judges at manonood kung paano makisama sa kanilang kapwa ang mga kontestant. makikita kung paano nila lalaitin ang kapwang kontestant sa likuran ng mga ito at kung paano nila malampasan ang mga pagsubok sa kanilang mga kaugalian.

sa hulihan ng episode, mamimili sila ng dalawang kontestant na hindi pumasa at mahina ang performance sa mga tasks at ang dalawang ito ay magkakaroon ng faceoff. sa faceoff challenge nagkakaroon ng scripted situation na kelangan mag-interact ng dalawang nagpi-faceoff. iyung last na napanood namin ay iyung isang guest sa hotel na lasing ang magmamaneho ng kotse. bawal ang magmaneho ng lasing kaya iti-test ang mga kontestant kung pipigilan ba nila iyung lasing na guest ng hotel na magmaneho o hindi. isa sa dalawang kontestant ang matagumpay na napigilan ang pagmamaneho ng lasing at iyung isa na hindi pumigil ay iyung natanggal.

ang ugaling pag-aalala sa kapwa ang hinuhusgahan dito. isang mahirap na challenge kung tutuusin pero kung ikaw ay isang tao na talagang may pag-alala sa kapwa, likas mo na pipigilan ang taong iyun. pero kung ikaw naman ay walang paki-alam, ipagkibit-balikat mo lang ang iyung nasasaksihan. ako kaya?

sa mga nakakakilala na sa ugali ko, marahil sasabihin nila na di ko kaya iyun. palagay ko, tama nga sila. kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon, ijujustify ko na ang responsibilad na huwag magdrive pag lasing ay nasa tao mismo. kung wala siyang papahalaga sa sarili, bakit bigyan mo siya ng pag-alala. ang susunod na may responsibilidad ay iyung valet ng hotel. dapat siya mismo ang pumigil sa guest nila na lasing. ang mali lang doon sa isang kontestant na di pumigil sa lasing na guest ay iyung ginawa niyang pangungutya. para ini-imitate pa niya ang pa-ekis ekis na lasing at pinagtatawanan nila ng valet. iyun din siguro ang nagpadagdag sa bloopers niya.

sa akin lang, realistic ako sa pagtulong ng tao. sabihin na nilang masama akong tao, pero pag di ko nakita ang urgency o di ko nakita ang worthiness ng pagtulong, magdadalawang isip talaga ako.

Halo-halo: Tae at Ayala

free writing na lang ulit. wala kasi akong maisip na magandang topic para maisulat dito sa eccentrip blog ko. siguro kasi wala naman talaga akong kaweirdohan na naiisip. kahapon nga balak kong magsulat tungkol sa tae at yosi. paano naman kasi pumasok ako sa aming cr dito sa trabaho at merong umi-ebs. umi-ebs na nga, nagyoyosi pa. naiisip ko mas ok pa sa akin ang amoy ng tae kesa sa amoy ng yosi. kaso di ko naman naisulat dahil kapag naisulat ko baka sabihin naman ng mga kaibigan ko na nagyoyosi na mas gusto ko silang umi-ebak na lang lagi kesa nagyoyosi sila. mawawalan pa ako ng kaibigan. pero teka, bakit ko sinusulat ngayon? wala din. peace tayo mga nagyoyosing kaibigan. alam ko naman di kayo nagyoyosi sa harap ko kasi mga responsableng maninigarilyo kayo. :)

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sarado daw ang canteen sa baba. alas-tres pa lang ah nagsara na. siguro naka-quota na sila. pero paano naman kami? gutom na kami eh. ang layo-layo pa naman ng pinagtatarabahuan namin sa kabihasnan.

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salamat at may pumasok na trabaho dahil kung wala baka wala akong maisulat sa aking working journal. ang pangit kasi na walang ginagawang opisyal na trabaho sa buong maghapon. di ko pala ipinost sa aming website ang isang internal na affairs. eh bakit ko naman ipopost iyun eh di naman ka-significant ang event na iyun para sa publiko. iyan ang mahirap sa mga tao, kung wala namang kahalagahan masyado ang isang bagay sa buong mundo dapat huwag ng ikalat. baka mahanapan ka pa ng butas eh maintriga ka pa.

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katatapos ko lang mag research tungkol sa parkuor. wala akong masabi kundi "clay, gusto ko iyan." ito iyung klaseng physical challenge na nararapat sa akin kasi masyadong marami ang nakaipon na adrenalin sa aking katawan. kelangang mailabas. nang makita ko iyung ka-housemate ko sa mg picture ng mga nagpa-practice ng parkour, naisip ko "aba, tatahitahimik lang pero walanghiya pala ang pinag-kakaabalahan." inggit naman ako. kelangan ko talaga na masubukan iyan.

sabi ko sa kaopisina ko. "alam mo, matagal na rin pala akong nagpapapractice ng parkour kasi sa tuwing nakikita ko ang mga nakaharang na mga obstacle ng MMDA sa edsa eh gustong gusto kong talunin." iyan marahil ang dahilan kung bakit ako nahuli ng jaywalking noon. hehehe.

si jacky chan pala, nagpaparkour din. tagal na niyang ginagawa to ah. idol ko siya kaya malamang magiging tulad di ako niya. hehehe.

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bukas pala, punta ng batangas. second time ko pa lang makapunta sa probinsiya na iyan. last year pumunta kami ng laiya kasama naman iyung mga ka-isports ko. summer outing at madaming nangyari. ngayon kaya, maging memorable din ang pagpunta namin doon? kelangan ko madala ang camera ko para pag may magandang location, photoshoot agad. di na kelangan ng mga damit o costume at make-up na tulad ng pinaggagawa ng ibang photographers. maganda pa rin ang "au naturel". hubadan na lang. maliban sa sarili ko, sino kaya ang magandang model? hehehe

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meron palang meryenda. kadadating lang. nag-treat iyung pinakamahirap sa mga ka-opismeyt ko. uy, mahirap lang iyun sa pera pero sa kalooban napakayaman niya. kung hindi ba naman eh, magtitreat ba iyun? common sense lang. hehehe

TARA kain tayo! (hindi PILIPINAS Tara!)

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pahabol lang. nabasa ko iyung tungkol sa "anti-poor" poster posted sa greenbelt na isa sa mga malls ng mga ayala. well sabi ng ayala siyempre di totoo iyun o prank lang iyun. hmmm... ipagpalagay natin na di sila ang gumawa ng poster pero ang tanong, "anti-poor" ba sila. di lang ako sure pero eto ay isang first hand experience.

hindi ako pinapasok na nakasando at tsinelas sa isa sa mga malls nila. siyempre nag-inet ulo ko. galing ako ng swimming so ano inaasahan nila? nakabalat ako at nakapolo? tinanong ko kung bakit? regulation lang daw. gusto ko magmura pero ayoko. ang lalaki as in malalaki ang mga guards doon. ang ginawa ko, nag-abang ako ng ibang kustomer sa loob ng mall na nakasando at tsinelas at sinuwerte naman ako dahil meron. dalawa pa. isang babae at isang foreigner. itinuro ko sa guard iyung nakita ko. sabi ng guard, "sir, sa carpark kasi sila galing". tang'na, dahil nakakotse sila kaya puwede sila pumasok?

kayo ng maghusga sa kanila!

sigurado ako iyung gumawa ng poster ay isa sa mga katulad ko na biniktima nila ng diskriminasyon. dapat i-secure nila mga website nila dahil di malayo na iyun ang aatakehin ng mga binibiktima nila.

buti pa ang SM. libre naman diyan... hahaha