Benguet State University

I went up to La Trinidad Valley last May 19-21 to help one of my UPOU colleagues give a workshop seminar on Course Module Preparation for Distance Learning. We were invited by the Open University Department of Benguet State University. In the welcome tarp, they even got my title wrong, but hey, that's a felix culpa (happy fault). I was really excited since this was my first time to give an academic seminar to school administrators, professors, and other professionals. I've given seminars before but not in this area. So it was a real experience for me.

Of Nieces and Nephews

The last time I had bonding time with my nieces and nephew was ages. I used to bring my three nieces (they were still grade school students) to the cinema with all three clinging to me so that we could cross the street safely. Then inside the movie house the youngest (then aged 4) would cry: "I'm dying of hunger already. Haven't eaten in two days" when in reality she just finished her breakfast. So we finish the movie amidst her nudging and off we go to get a Happy Meal (the cheapest) since they come with those cute toys for free. After she grabs a bite (literally), she leaves her food and plays with her new-found buddy (the soft toy).

Now look at them all grown-up. Worst they all have different tastes from each other. So I bring them to a Food Court (various delicacies to choose from) and give them money instead to choose whatever they like to eat. I get to have a long chat with them at table about their present lives. An hour or so later after some kisses and goodbyes, off we go to our different ways (one has to do some errands for her mom, the other has to get her hair done, and the youngest has to meet a friend).

With my nephews, it's a boy thing... so that would be for another time.

A New Journey (?)

Looks like I might have to put this blog journey in this area on hold.

I'm on an extended vacation right now. I originally intended to go for a study leave but then maybe the One up there has other plans. I needed a long vacation to attend to some important family matters that have to be solved. I thought I would need six months or a year to work on this pressing legal matters in the family. And I thought the study leave would be a good way to have the best of both worlds. So I didn't express my availability for any new work or assignment for sometime.

However He must have other plans. The very day I finished all paper-works and legal leg-works of what I had to do, the FIN provincial calls me for a meeting for this new Salesian presence in a place called GUAM.

Now You tell me, had I refused, would You have sent your thunderbolt down to hit me on the head for ingratitude? How else could I express my thanks but to simply surrender. Your signs are too obvious and I would be too stupid not to see it this time.

A turn along the way

I'm headed back to the Philippines for a kind of long sabbatical.
I'm really gonna miss Cambodia and Thailand.


I saw this picture at the airport as I was about to board the plane. It's very much what I think in spite of what I feel. As Dag H. would put it:

For all that has been - "Thanks"
For all that will be - " Yes"

Thai-Cambodian Conflict

(Khmer Soldiers- Reuters Photo/ Thai artillery - AFP News)

A few weeks back, I have been given my marching orders for a sabbatical... means I get to go back to my country for a year or so.

But the funny this is today I'm supposed to be packing to cross the eastern border to Thailand within a day or two... all of a sudden early this afternoon fighting and shooting erupts in the northern border (PreahVihear-Si Sa Ket) of Thailand and Cambodian.
I'm not really worried for myself. The Cambodian kids here in the center are more worried since their parents work just across the border and fear for their safety. The ordinary people in the meantime are more worried, not actually for their safety, but rather for their survival. If the borders close, then people on both sides cannot transact business...
large scale meaning is that they don't get any money for their daily food not only for themselves but for their family.

Conclusion, if this goes to worse, people will go hungry.
Now I realize what they mean by "collateral damage" and it's saddening because for any political squabble, the poor and innocent ones suffer the most.

Today, I pray for peace with a very particular intention.

Digital Divide at my backyard

A genuine sign of a great ham radio operator is if he could broadcast very far with very minimal equipment (I used to love amateur radio!). A real sign of a true-blue computer technician is if he could do everyday computing tasks with minimum hardware requirements inside his computer.
I've been using a "silly" Asus Nova Lite computer which runs on a Mobile Celeron 900 (like that used in the Eee pc variety) which I got for around $300 (THB 10,000) in Bangkok. They're pretty advanced down there with a lot of choices for one's budget. I would have loved the Asus Nova P22 which looks the exactly the same but runs on a Core2Duo- yet the price is triple. As I said I prefer to make do with little ( got the other parts from my workplace junk). But don't count this "little guy" out since it has 1GB of RAM, 80GB Sata HDD, DVI out, a slim type slot-in DVD reader/writer, and built-in stereo speakers. What more can you ask for- it's a real bargain for a multi-media buff!

However, you should see the computer shops around here. See the picture of their front and their delivery transport! And with the daily 7 hour brownouts during these past months, imagine how they survive. Yet they do!

As an old proverb says: "Little means much when you place it in the Master's hand."

Tale of Two Bus Stations

Just came from a medical check-up in Bangkok. Here's how their bus station looks like.


After around three to four I hours, I reach the border and cross the border (my home) - Poipet. And here's what the bus station looks like:

Does it look like the contrast of Order vs Chaos? Have's vs Have-not's? Not only a Digital but an Economic Divide.

Computer Ethics

For the past year I've been helping out the University of the Philippines Open University as a tutor in various masteral subjects. They're all online so I don't need to leave Cambodia to do this.
This semester the faculty-in-charge of IS 201 who lives in Denmark is expecting her second child. She asked me to pitch in for her. So this semester I get to teach "Computer Ethics" as faculty-in-charge.

Well it's actually one of my dreams come true since this subject is a a mix of my two interests - moral philosophy and technology.

A Tribute to a Parent

My Tribute to Papa

Those moments we shared I shall always keep,
They’re lessons which always made my heart to leap.
They made the roots of my tree to sink so deep.
I shall always cherish you as my book of life to reap.

Say hello to Mama for me
and thank you for being my father, my mentor, and my friend.

(My Father passed away last week on the first hour of the 17th of May at the ripe old age of 88.)

Religion and Social Communication Journal

I had an article before which I presented in a conference in Phnom Penh (9th Socio-cultural Research Congress) way back in November, 2006.

Today I received from the mail a copy of (vol.5, 2007) the Journal of the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication where they published my article entitled: "Questioning Behavior and Communication Paradigms of Cambodian Students"

(click the picture if you want to see the journal's online website)