Chess Struggle, All the Way!

I participated in the Paragua sponsored chess tournament held at the Victory Mall, Monumento, Kalookan City. The prize is very huge for a non-master tournament.  Would you believe it?  It is a whooping P15,000 for the Champion only.  So, upon hearing the news that the games will be held this day, I immediately went to the chess venue and registered.  I was entered as unrated (with no rating at all) and what do you expect, I was paired with the best - my first round was really a struggle since my opponent was  former chess champion from Bicol and my second game, though I drew it, was against the top unrated player during the tournament.  To summarize my games, I have never been beaten as white (4 games) but I only won once with black (4 games).  It was really a disappointing day for me.  Hope fully I will fare better on my next tournament.

Amazing DepEd -IMCS Palaro Pictures

It is nice to see kids and parents playing.  I have been so happy to see my kids and friends playing...

IMCS ETD Christmas Party

Well, well, well.  I had a great time with my colleagues at DepEd IMCS.  We celebrated the festivities @ Aileen's residence. I hope you'll like the pictures.

Ugrading...

Arghhhhhhh!  I made a big mistake.  I really need to upgrade.  Study.  Study hard.  Study harder still.

Piliin Mo!

Piliin mo ang magmahal...kaysa ang masuklam
Piliin mo ang tumawa...kaysa ang lumuha
Piliin mo ang lumikha...kaysa ang sumira
Piliin mo ang magtiyaga...kaysa ang manghinawa
Piliin mo ang pumuri...kaysa ang manira
Piliin mo ang magpagaling...kaysa ang manakit
Piliin mo ang magbigay...kaysa ang magnakaw
Piliiin mo ang umunlad...kaysa ang mabulok
Piliin mo ang manalangin...kaysa ang manisi
Piliin mo ang mabuhay...kaysa ang mamatay
Piliin mo ang tamang pagpapasya...upang ikaw ay lumaya at tunay na lumigaya.
- adapted

Metadata Development and Resource Cataloguing Workshop

Well guys, here I am again sharing with you my latest educational escapades through Metadata and Resource Cataloguing Workshop (watch out for the spelling) here in GSP, Tagaytay City, Philippines.  It was sponsored by SPHERE through AusAid with the coordination of EDPITAF.  Our new staff (LRPDS), Dir. Pilor, Sir Eric, Micah, and I represented DepEd-IMCS in this wortwhile activity.  Almost all the DepEd bureas,  offices, and some selected regional offices were increasingly contributing to its success.  There are loads of information to discuss so I won't delve further so I will just present pictures of the day to day activities.  Soon, if my time allows, I will relay some important details to this post.  Cheers!

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Happy 5th Birthday to My Son Isaiah Joaquine!

Congratulations to my son Isaiah Joaquine who is celebrating his 5th birthday today!  I am so happy to see him growing stronger and healthier.

He was so sickly as a baby and for your information he's been hospitalized for more than 2 months at the Chinese General Hospital.  First, inside a pay ward and second, at the charity station (when we no longer afford the high rising cost of the expenses).  Series of test(s) have been made just to find out why, for so long, he was not recovering.  Later, he was diagnosed to have G6PD deficiency (you google it, I'm tired of explaining or just click the link).

I can vividly remember (it was Christmas time in 2006) all the patients at the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have been moving out to go home while my baby was still fighting for his dear life.  He had a seizure and his skin turned almost gray.  The attending physician asked for the help of other medical staff to revive him.  I been crying and my heart was pounding heavily.  I asked God why my child has to suffer this agony?  Let it be me, Lord.  As if God has been testing me, other doctors were called for some needed help,  From where I stand, I can see the doctors collectively shared their expertise just to help Isaiah.  After few minutes,  the doctors left the room without saying a word and I told myself -- is this the day?

Later, the nurse-on-duty approached me and shared the wonderful message that my baby has been revived and that his skin color turned normal.  Wow,  God thank you!  I thought I ran out of tears before but that time liquid in my eyes continuously flowed.

My family and my sister (Ate Margie) have been constantly looking after Isaiah and we've spent Christmas, New Year and Valentine's Days at the Chinese General Hospital.   And the rest was history!

My son, this is your day!  Make the most of it.  We love you.

Inspected Printing Houses

I visited 2 printing houses last Monday and Tuesday at Quezon City.  I was tasked to oversee if the suggested findings of the evaluators have been thoroughly implemented.  It's good to note that the suggestions were corrected, however, my group still found 4 minor errors that were not seen before.  I know I am responsible for everything because I signed all the pages of the camera-ready copies which meant I saw everything.  My group made a consolidated report on our new findings.  I am just waiting for the ax to cut me into pieces.  By golly.

This morning, I have been very busy working with my colleagues here at IMCS.  We transmitted books to the procurement service and made correspondence to different publishers.

I hope that tomorrow will be an interesting day at the office.  Cheers!

Dirty Tricks of Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao

I just got these information from the Philboxing and You Tube and I found out evidence(s) of how Marquez cheated Pacquaio in their latest trilogy.  Marquez kept on whining how, again, for the nth he lost to Pacquiao.  Well he deserved to lose. He stepped on Manny's foot six times (click links on Philboxing and You Tube).  Well, in my opinion, the hardest shot that Marquez made was the head butt to Pacquiao on the10th round. Marquez sucks!

Marquez stepping on Manny's Foot

(Photo from Philboxing.com)

top view

Marquez stomping his foot to Pacquiao then throws a punch

(photo from the internet)

Manny Pacquiao Did It Again!

I just watched the game of Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (trilogy) and the two players are too conscious on exchanging punches.  The game was close and so was the right eye of Marquez.  Naturally, Pacquiao wins by Majority Decision.  I was not truly impressed with the decision however, the fact that he was the defending champion proved it all.  Again, to Manny Pacquiao, congratulations!

What happened to Juan's face?
(Photos taken from philboxing.com)

How could Juan Manuel Marquez win?

Pacquiao thrown 578 punches connecting 176 while Marquez had it 436 connecting 138. Pacquiao threw 304 jabs connecting 59 to Marquez's 182 with 38 connects. Pacquiao threw 274 power punches connecting 117 while Marquez threw 254 with 100 connecting.To everyone debating pts: as a challenger, you have to upstage champ to win. Close fights always go to title holder. you do the math: pacman(reigning WBO welterweight champion)/marquez(challenger). Comments from Mr. Gil Virtudazo

Juan Manuel Marquez should not have waited for Manny to come in. He did not carry the fight. He was not the aggressor. He was swinging badly from 9 to 12 rounds. His corner made him to believe that he was leading, while in fact he was only credited with 10 points each for 2nd, 5th, 6th and 7th rounds. Try to review the video and try to mute the video. 116-112 for Manny Pacquiao is a convincing score. What was lacking was the total domination of the fight by Pacquiao tha's why viewers were not satisfied of the outcome. Comments from Ms. Luz Aridien after the fight.

People expected that Manny would throw even the kitchen sink but it did not happen. The truth is Manny won but not convincingly. Congrats Manny!

Happy 9th Birthday Betty!

Now is the 9th Birthday of my beautiful daughter Helena Beatrice Asi. I am wishing her the best and that she gets what she wished for. Take care always my Betty!

Josel and Betty

Hooked on Chess Opening Preparation!

November 4-8, 2011 is the schedule of the 2011 Intercities Tournament at Tanauan, Batangas, Philippines and at this time I am so excited to learn that I have in my team superb players in the Philippines. Again, for the nth time, I will represent the Department of Education. Only this time the cast will be star-studded. Manning board 1 will be FM Jony Habla, board 2 will be handled by CM Jose Aquino, Jr., and board 3 will be guarded by CM Rainier Labay. At board 4, the man to watch is Ramil Acosta, the usual point-picker of the team, and at board 5 will be me (an unknown chess player from the University of the East).

The timing seems to favor me due to my 4-day vacation at the office. So, like what I said on my title, I am really hooked up on my opening preparation. I digged on my arsenal the almost rotten book "Kasparov's Opening Repertoire" by Shamkovich and Schiller and reconfigure my totally unused chess database Fritz 11.

Since my task will not be as big as those of my team mates (boards 1, 2, & 3), I will just have to draw my games and let them handle the rest.

Ok. Back to work...err games. I will immediately inform you guys of my struggle at Batangas. Cheers!

Brand New Eye Glass

It seems that I am not getting any younger. Even my eye vision is deteriorating.

Last week, I had my eyes checked by an expert and he recommended me an eye glass that was progressive in nature. I obliged.

I am now wearing it.

BTW, I was told to wear it every now and then. Urgh...