Social Networking Sites for Anti-social People

Friendster, a social networking site that I didn't really expect to become popular here in our country. Friendster, the father of social networking site in the Philippines. So how did you know about friendster? As for myself, here's my story.

Back in 2003 when our internet connection was new (dial-up days), I started to learn how to chat. And so every night

I spens in Yahoo Messenger joining different chatrooms. Then when I asked someone about her picture, she said, "Nasa friendster eh. Eto e-mail add ko..." When she gave me the site, I was totally clueless about it. A naive boy that I was, I signed up for it just to see her pictures. I thought I will just access the site once but every chatmate (girls) that I encountered, they have been giving me their friendster e-mail add! Little did I know, I started to get addicted to it! Back then there were no css and html codes that makes your profile page load for ages.You can only upload a maximum of 5 photos in your profile and the friend list was only limited to 300.

After a month or so, friendster became really really popular that friendster needed to upsize their photo storage and friend limit numbers. Along with myspace (yes I had one even before friendster), friendster started exploring the HTML world. And this is what made friendster really popular. This was also the time where I started to realize that friendster is COPYING myspace! And after that, the rest is history.

After a few years of reigning as the most popular social networking site in the Philippines, here comes another one which I also thought wouldn't be a hit. facebook. So how did I learn about facebook? Read along.

Back in 2008, I was still into chatting and there I talked to a girl who was living in the US of A. I asked about her picture and instead of giving me her friendster account, she gave me another site, facebook. And just like my story in how did I get in to friendster, I also signed up in facebook just to see her picture. However, after that, I didn't open my account because at that time, friendster was still the king. However, a year and a half later, I've been hearing something about a "cool" social networking site called facebook. Then I realized that I had an account there but since I didn't open it for about a year, I knew that my account was cancelled. So I created a new one.

Quite honestly, I didn't enjoy facebook for the first few months since I only have 2 friends there. But after a month or so, my friends in friendster were posting their e-mail adds and telling their friends to add them on facebook. I did add them however I was so in to multiply at that time that I didn't have the time to manage my facebook account. I didn't have a profile picture back then. But after a month or two, I started to get addicted to it. I suddenly realized that when I noticed I seldom open my multiply account. And again, the rest is history as they say.

Social networking sites had made me a lot of friends, online friends, that is. Aside from friendster and facebook

I am thrilled to tell you that there were many social networking sites available. If you are not aware, let me tell you.

1. Multiply - well I think most of you know this already. It is a social networking site wherein you can blog, post tons of

pictures, review a movie, post your schedule, etc. It is a very versatile website. It also has a chat feature just like facebook

and you can also customize your own page.

2. Myspace - A social networking site which was a hit in America B.F. (before facebook). This is what friendster copied

pertaining to their html edting feature. Myspace also has a chat feature.

3. Berkzter - I bet a very few of you knew this site. I don't know. I only had girls as my friends there. This site ran only

for a year or so (if I am correct). It was a social networking site developed by Filipinos (yes, there were many of them). It is much similar to friendster but the interface was different....bah! you get the idea!

4. Okcupid - I can't remeber how did I find about this website but I had an account in there. This is a website for those who are searching for bf/gf! Haha! Well, just visit it and you'll see.

5. Person.com - A social networking site shich is also same as the othes. However, this site is different in one aspect, the chat. Yes, facebook has chat but this is way better! This site has video chat! Amazing, huh? Been in this site for a year but then, I didn't open my account simply because I forgot my passoword. LOL!

6. hi-5 - Nope, it's not the kiddie show in Europe! It's another social networking site existed B.F. I had an account in there but I only opened it 5 times (I think). It's not really interesting that's why I left it.

See how anti-social I was back then?! LOL! I only had a lot of friends online! How pathetic. Haha! But not anymore. That's why I left those sites (except for multiply and facebook.)

Jhay / Valcrist / jhaymagician

June 25, 2011

Made out of frustration because of our lost internet connection. :)

Ano Kaya? Bayani Edition!

Kanina habang nanonood kami ng ate ko ng documentary about kay Jose Rizal tungkol sa mga paborito niyang pagkain, may naisip kaming nakakatawa: Ano kaya kung nabubuhay ang mga bayani natin ngayon?

Ano nga kaya noh? Ngayong laganap na ang teknolohiya sa ating panahon, ano kaya ang pinagti-tripan ng mga bayani natin? Imajinin mo na lang si Jose Rizal, na tatawagin nating Pepe dahil dun naman siya mas kilala, na may facebook account siya? Or sige, lahatin na natin. Ano kaya ang mga profile picture ng mga bayani natin?

1. Pepe - Siguro, dahil siya'y kilalang propagandista, siguro picture niya eh yun nagbo-blog siya? Hmmm... Puwede! Pero ayon sa mga historians natin, si Pepe daw ay napaka-vain na tao! Imagine, si Pepe, CAMWHORE?! Ok sige, proven ko yan! Sa libro ko dati nung elementary ay may picture si Pepe kasama ang mga friends niya abroad. Lahat sila seryoso, si Pepe eh nakangiti, at may suot na boxer shorts sa ulo! Pero hindi ako sure kung boxers nga ba yun. Basta damit pang-ibaba yun! Ang balita pa, maraming unpublished photo si Pepe. Kung anong dahilan eh hindi na natin iisipin pa. Siguro puwedeng may picture siya na nasa tapat ng Eiffel Tower. Alam mo naman si Pepe, gala. Daig pa si Dora the Explorer!

2. Andres Bonifacio - Ito ang interesante! Kanina pa namin pinag-iisipan to eh. Maraming possibilites. Unahin na natin ang kanyang dugong katipunero. Siguro ang profile pic niya ngayon eh kasama niya ang mga collection niyang iba't-ibang patalim at baril. Puwede rin na mga something related sa aktibismo. O malay mo, may hawak siyang iPad habang may nakasuksok na earphone sa tenga niya? Puwede, di ba?! :D

3. Gregorio del Pilar - Naaalala niyo ba yung lalake na nakasakay sa kabayo? Yung pogi? Siguro kung may fb siya eh hindi siya sa kabayo nakasakay. Siguro sa Kawasaki or Ducati na motor na? Siguro may collection na rin siya ng iba't ibang motor ngayon. At yun ay mapupunta sa photo album niyang "My Collections". At dahil pogi rin siya, siguro may puwede rin na nasa beach siya ng Boracay, na naka-beach attire, na may hawak na surf board! Astig nun!

4. Apolinario Mabini - The Paralytic. Hmmm, naisip ko lang, siguro ang pic niya ngayon eh nasa wheelchair siya. Yung automatic. Yung hindi na magtutulak. Tapos puwedeng nasa Boracay siya. Hehe! Tapos sikat na rin siyang blogger. May sarili siyang blogsite like http://akosimabini.blogspot.com. Pero wag niyong pupuntahan yang site na yan dahil baka wala pang may ari...or puwedeng meron rin. Ayokong subukan. :D

5. Juan Luna - The Painter! Hah! Naiisip ko na! Siguro may hawak siyang iPad na kung saan puwede na siyang mag-sketch sa screen! Yung ang possibility na yun ang profile pic niya! Or siguro picture niya na painted or photosopped! Cool! Cyber paintbrush na ang hawak!

6. Emilip Aguinaldo - Hindi ako huge fan ni Emilio dahil sa mga pinaggagagawa niya sa iba nating mga bayani. Pero sige, bigyan natin ng credit ang unang Presidente ng Pilipinas. Siguro ang profile pic niya ngayon eh katabi niya ang mga koleksoyon niya ng Vintage Cars! Feeling ko mahilig sa kotse 'tong si Emilio eh. Or anything related sa driving, cards, and pistols for that matter, ang kanyang primary picture. Tapos siyempre, brushed-up pa rin ang lolo mo! Lufet!

7. Marcelo H. Del Pilar - Siguro ang profile pic niya ngayon sa fb eh yung naka-disente siyang damit. Nasa isang bakasyunan na bahay niya, at may hawak na diyaryo! Bakit hindi?! Haha! Or puwede rin na nasa office niya siya at nage-edit ng articles ng mga underlings niya. Busy-busyhan sa picture kuno. Hehe!

Ayan, nawalan na ako ng bayani sa utak. Yung iba kasi hindi ko na matandaan ang itsura. Hahaha! Nakkatawang isipin di ba?

Jhay / Valcrist / jhaymagician

June 26, 2011

Final Fantasy IX in Wonderland

As I was watching Alice in Wonderland (2010) movie earlier, I noticed some references of Alice in Wonderland in the game Final Fantasy IX. Well, it is funny if you know the game Final Fantasy IX by Squaresoft.

Okay, first of all, Alice in Wonderland is a novel that existed a long time ago. We also know (assuming you DO know the Final Fantasy series by Squaresoft) that Final Fantasy IX was released in 1999. IF you have played FF IX, and read about Alice in Wonderland, you will see that FF IX was inspired somehow by the novel. How? Here are some references that I discovered as I was watching AIW earlier.

1. THE TWINS

Both the novel Alice and the game FF IX has twins in it. In AIW, it's Twiddledee and Twiddledum (am I correct?). Those two are sometimes (or always) in a little argument especially in decision making. In FF IX, they have twin jesters named Zorn and Torn. They are also the same as Twiddledee and Twiddledum, their only difference is Zorn speaks straight English while Torn speaks like Yoda of Star Wars. Hmmm, Interesting, it must be. (Mimicking Yoda's voice). :)

2. THE MONSTERS

Jabberwockee! Nope. not the Jabbawockeez. The Jabberwockee can't dance. Anyway, in FF IX, there is a monster called Jabberwockee which can only be found in the Lost Continent. FF IX also has a dog...monster. The dog's name is Baundersnatch. So what about the Baundersnatch? Yes, AIW had the Baundersnatch too! Isn't it cool?

3. THE QUEEN

Oh yes! The queens! They are both E-V-I-L! Well, the Red Queen is more evil than Queen Brahne. The Red Queen has an enormous head while Queen Brahn had an enormous body size! LOL!

Well, I might have missed something because I really haven't read the novel Alice in Wonderland yet and also I finished the game FF IX like 10 years ago so I might have missed some other references too. That's it. :D

Valcrist

2/19/2011

Learning a Second Language

"Wow English! Nosebleed!"

This is the most common expression of the young learners today. I don't know who started this but I am pretty sure that he does not like English.

The Philippines prides itself as one of the most fluent English speaker in Asia. Yes! We should be proud of it.

But this comes down to the most common question there is, "Why do we need to study English? We're all Filipinos!" Then why do we really need to learn it now?

"English? Who needs English? I'm never going to England!"
- Homer Simpson

As a child, I was never into English. All I know is we study it in our school and that's it. But things changed when I transferred school in Grade 4. I was really amazed how good I was in English! Well, "thank you" in my previous school who taught me how to speak in English. It permanently became my favorite subject when I turned into Grade 6 when my teacher praised me on how I speak the correct pronunciation of the words given. Until in college I tried my best to study the language although I didn't see yet the importance of learning this language. Not until I started applying for a job. It was crazy. I thought I was a good speaker of the English language until a call center company turned me down and sent me into a language training school. At that 2-week session, I met several people who speaks fluently in English. I admired those guys. So I tried my best to land a call center job. After the rigid 2-week training I applied in a call center company again. Luckily I got in. I thanked that company for giving us the training.

-:Hello? Hello?:-

In my three months in the call center, learning the English language did not stop. In fact, I improved a lot! Thanks to the native speakers who kind of honed my English speaking ability. After three months of non-stop English speaking routine, I left the company...but my so-called "neutral accent" remained.

-:Good Morning Class!:-

In October 2009, I decided to apply in my alma matter to become a teacher. So with my resum� on my hand and my "neutral accent", I went to the school and applied. Good thing I was hired. I gave my "neutral accent" a huge credit because if I had not learned how to speak English properly, I am still a bum now. And so here it is, hello world! Welcome to the teaching world! I entered into teaching because I wanted to share to them the importance of the English language. That eventhough we are Filipinos, we still need to learn how to speak in English correctly because in the world out there, people may tend to laugh at us because we cannot construct a simple English sentence. We need it because if you are going to apply for a job, English is the language.

-:English!:-

My message here is for my students who take English for granted. Learn it well today so that when you go out on the real world, you'll at least have a weapon.


Valcrist
02/16/2011

Moody Ears

Relaxation is what we usually seek after a long day of work and school. What would be the best activity for a person to be relaxed? Music.

I'm a music lover. When I say lover, I can appreciate any genres of music. However, it all depends on my mood.

Right at this very moment, I'm listening to a music playlist that I made a few weeks ago. After scavenging some files from an old folder of mine, I found a collection of songs that I made (or compiled) for my listening purposes.

Are you curious what type of music I am listening right now? Here it goes!

------------------------
Deep - Binoculars
Don't Say Goodbye, Sax Good Night - Binoculars
Game of Love - Carlos Santana feat. Michelle Branch
When Love and Hate Collide - Deff Leppard
Eyes On Me - Faye Wong
Suteki Da Ne - Rikki
FFX-2 OST: 1,000 Words
Simple and Clean - Utada Hikaru
Beauty and Madness - Fra Lippo Lippi
Losing My Religion - Gregorians
Toll Gate, Broken Sonnet, Take No, and The Day You Said Goodnight - Hale
Jeepney - Kala
I'll Never Go - Nexxus
Blurry - Puddle of Mud
Bury Your Head and Seven Years - Saosin
Pasubali and Gemini - Spongecola
Scars of a Failing Heart - Typecast
Only One - Yellowcard
Hiling - Paramita
Lips of an Angel - Hinder
The Reason - Hoobastank
Crush Crush Crush - Paramore
Wish I Never - Sopiz
Why Don't You and I - Carlos Santana feat. Alex Band (The Calling)
Your Guardian Angel - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
------------

Okay, so this is just half of it but you get the idea what type of music I am listening. Again, it depends on my mood. Sometimes I listen to New Wave. Sometimes it's just all rock. Sometimes it's "senti" songs. What about you? What do you listen to? :-)



Valcrist
2/14/2011

Love

Love has a really deep meaning. Teens nowadays refer love as being temporarily being with someone. But again, it's more than just that.

I have fell in love before and yes, it is a good feeling. But what comes after love? A bunch of heartache, loneliness, emptiness, and a feeling of being neglected by everyone. And it sucks!

After my very first relationship, I was afraid of entering in a relationship again. There were many thoughts playing in my mind like I can't handle a relationship, that I was not worthy, and such negative things. It isn't a good feeling. I kind of sulked for a year after that broken relationship.

So after 4 years, I decided that I was ready to enter into another relationship again. So here I am, in a relationship! To be honest with you, I am still afraid. Still afraid that it might happen again. Even though I love her so much, I am still afraid. I don't want to feel the same feeling that I felt 4 years ago. That's why I am trying my best in our relationship.

Well, I hope that she's really the one.

Why "WHY?"

Hello there readers! I'm back! I suddenly got the urge to post another blog. Well, this is just nothing. But if you have a little time to spare, then you can read on.

Okay, so I had a discussion with my 3rd year students today. Our topic was about admission essay. I just noticed something about them. I suddenly thought that, "is this alarming?"

So what am I talking about here? It's all about the question "WHY?" Why?

I just noticed that everytime I ask them questions like "WHO?", "WHAT?", "WHERE?", and "WHEN?", they can answer immediately! However, if I ask them the question "WHY?", even the noisiest class would suddenly become silent.

What does this show? This shows that they are more inclined on answering factual questions that would require simple recall rather than answering questions that would really make their brains work! Did I find this alarming?

YES!

Of course it is a bit of alarming to me because they are just using the "knowledge" part of their brain. Yes they can recall facts very well but they cannot analyze things properly.

Well, I hope that I am wrong with this. I hope that they are just shy to recite.






Jhaymagician
Multiply
02/09/11

Online Classroom

I never imagined that I'll be doing this! It's like I am following my sister's footsteps!

Since our topic this 4th grading period is all about essay, I thought of creating a multiply account for my students so that they can post their blog entries here. Just in case you're wondering, yes, their blog entries are graded! They need to post 5 blog entries in pure English! Oh yeah, they'll be like "nosebleed" to the max! LOL!

But what's my purpose of doing this? Well, first is to let them express themselves in English. I also want to encourage them to write (or should I say type) so that they can voice out their feelings. I think writing (typing) is a great way to express yourselves.

What can you say? This is a first to me and to them.

By the way, why did I choose multiply instead of tumblr or blogspot? Simple, IMO, multiply is an all-in-one site. The posts are very easy to manage and yes, I am a bit biased because I am an avid multiply user. :D

Blogspot? Too serious. Students would also want to express themselves by pictures or by videos and multiply have it. Tumblr? Hmmm, too kiddie in my opinion. LOL!