A Day in My Life...

Yeah, you might think I'm one of those typical type of guys who would go out all day and spend my money on useless stuff, and sit and drink beer before closing the day. Well, I'm very sad to tell you... that isn't my kind of life.

You see, I was raised believing that everything in life was free, and that I could have anything and everything I wanted, all I needed to do was ask. Discipline was a major factor in my growing days. I had to be able to accomplish something, or be on top at school, for me to be able to get what I wanted. I always aimed for glory at the end of everything I did. It was pretty hard growing up for me. Especially when you have a dad who was very hard to talk to, or even share a simple joke or compliment. Everything you wanted to do or say, you had to think about it very hard. Or else you'll end up being scolded at. But, I learned my way around my dad, 'til one day, it was too late. My dad passed away on September 21, 2003. I was 22. Fresh grad, no job. And from that day on, everything changed. It was hard to imagine what my life was going to turn into, now that the source of everything I needed was gone.

Well, I had the chance to work at my dad's previous office, hoping that I would be given a regular job position, since my dad used to work there. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to stay there. It was difficult to become part of something that never even considers you as an individual or if you even exist at all. Anyway, it was complicated.

So I've been a Clerk, IT Administrator, HRIS Specialist, and now an IT Instructor. You could just imagine how hard it was for me to be in 4 different companies in the span of 5 years. Oh, and I also had a stint as a Technical Trainee, so that makes 5 different companies in 5 years.

Anyway, what luck! Of all professions in the world, guess what profession I never wanted to be even an itsy-bitsy part of? YES! Teaching! I remember when I was still studying, I always told myself, "Don't be a teacher. It's a pain in the neck!" But guess where I am now? Talk about "Law-of-Attraction." I don't know. Maybe it was fate. Most of my grandparents were teachers by profession. Maybe it was in my veins, and I was destined to become one. But that's really no major concern now. I just told you this so atleast you'd get a picture of my life. And yeah! I got married to my beautiful wife, Neliza, in 2007 and we have a very healthy little boy, Paul Steven (who's turning 2 in January...) Woohoo!

Anyway, what is it like to be me? What is like to step in my shoes and be me for one day? Okay, let's start in the morning... This isn't actually amazing, so if you don't wanna get bored, stay away from this page now...

My day officially starts at around 5:00 A.M. or 5:30 A.M. (Or later, depends on what day it is... It usually starts at 8:00 A.M. on Sundays! LOL!) Anyway, so there I am. Waking up, getting ready for a day of work. My wife usually wakes up ahead of me and prepares breakfast. So, what I do is, i get up off bed, look at my son, and I give him a kiss. I make sure he won't fall over the bed when he rolls over, so I place a big pillow on his left side and the big hotdog pillow on his right. I go straight to the bathroom and take my morning pee, then I wash my face and gargle. I pick up two small pails from the bathroom and then I go out and pump water from our deep-well to fill up the big blue pail in the bathroom. It would take me about 4 to 5 rounds to fill up the blue pail. By that time, my wife would've finished cooking breakfast, and we'd have breakfast together. Sometimes, we'd be startled by the our son who would suddenly run out from the bedroom and greet us with his chinese-like baby talk. After that, I'll have my shower, dress up, and go straight to work. And yeah, when I'm at work, I'll be teaching, and updating my blogspot and facebook accounts in between... Yeah... it's pretty much a routine, so I don't have to elaborate on the things that I do other that... (no wonder people from my generation are growing old fast!) And my most anticipated part, Going Home!

Nothing beats spending the rest of the day with my family... I love playing with Paul, and I just love being with my wife... So, before we go to bed, we have dinner together... Paul gets his bath before bed, my wife preps up Paul's milk, while I sit on our bed with my head against the wall and munch on something, and watching something on the laptop.

Well, that's pretty much what I do in a day... Well, I do get to have some quality family time on Sundays... Me, Neliza and Paul would go to church on Sundays, go malling, and eat lunch together at Chowking or Jollibee, and then go to my mother's place and spend more quality time there...

That's it... Finally...

Another day!

MY VISION: Free Computer Education For The Less Fortunate!!!

In a world of technology, where computers seem to be an integral part of our everyday lives, a person who has knowledge about computers would be at an edge. In other parts of the world, especially in 1st and 2nd world countries, children as young as 4 years old would be exposed to computers. You would see them clicking on the mouse, tapping on the keyboard, enriching their young minds playing educational games.

This is something we rarely see in the Philippines, especially in Zamboanga city, my homeland. Here, in the rural areas, you'd see children on the streets, scavenging in garbage piles, looking for plastic, tin cans, or anything that they could sell. Yes, we are a city where poverty reigns over the rich. And having that in perspective, it would be right to say that these children's parents could not afford to give them proper education, which only the rich and middle class could afford.

It was around the year 2002 when our class was asked by our English instructor to make a research paper about anything that would interest our minds. Instantly, I thought about "Free Computer Education for the Less Fortunate." At first, it was just something that I thought I would do simply for the sake of submitting my research paper. Which I did.

And now, 8 years later, I'm thinking of bringing this advocacy to reality. I have been a computer instructor for the past two years now, and I have been advocating the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) to my students, colleagues, friends, and families alike. Together with a prominent figure in the world of FOSS, we have successfully celebrated "Software Freedom Day" two years in a row. I believe that with the right people, and enough finance to back up my dream, this advocacy would become a reality.

I tried to run a little computer shop at home, charging a very minimal fee. It went on for about two years. The idea was to let kids experience first-hand what it's like to use a computer, how to use the internet, and develop their hand-and-eye coordination by playing educational computer games. But unfortunately, due to insufficient funds, the shop had to be scrapped.

The plan is:

• 1.) To visit some of the rural areas in Zamboanga city
• 2.) Bring with me a team of volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge in the name of charity
• 3.) Convince parents to bring their children (even themselves) to attend a "Free Computer Training - The Very Basics of Computers "
• This might include Office, Internet browsing, playing educational games, etc. (preferably Open Source Software...)
• 4.) Set up camp (for atleast 1 day); complete with PC units, laptops, projectors or visual aids
• 5.) Start teaching/tutoring the children (and their parents)...
• 6.) and at the end of the day, be filled with a very contented and satisfied feeling of relief knowing that these kids will have an edge one day when they apply for work...

For now, this may seem impossible. But what is impossible? Impossible is nothing!

It may be a small step, but this small step may mean everything for the children I am trying to help. It is for their future, and with proper skills come great leaders!

I need volunteers to help me realize this dream!

Are you willing to become a part of my team?

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