How Technology Gives Human the Edge (Essay)

MANILA, Philippines - In the era of technological advancements and the progression of science, an argument has come into view regarding the effect of technology to humanity and individualism. Many environmentalists and pro humans protested about the devastating effects that technology has caused the environment and humanity. They put the blame on such advancements. Humanity and individualism aren't sacrifice in this age of technology; in fact, technology has helped to develop a better world for individuals.

© IbanMontero | Dreamstime Stock Photos &Stock Free Images

The world has come to the age of the future. The building blocks of tomorrow that once we called impossible are just a few steps away to obtain. The world we live in today is unimaginable without technology. Can somebody survive without the internet? Yes, maybe. But it is now part of our lives. The basic necessities to survive aren't limited to just food, clothes and shelter. The Internet or whatever technologically influenced materials we have around are becoming part of us whether we like it or not. And they help us grow up to live within the range of the today’s standard of living. The world is not going to move without technology. A machine is technology. And machines surround us. From the bag zippers to our cars, a machine is right there! Technology is right there! Technology feeds our dreams with fulfillment and success. Technology is undeniable! It is here and it’s here to live on.

The world depends on technology to keep going. Life as we know it depends on technology to survive. The current state of the world is no doubt a technology-dependent biosphere. The government today is very eager to establish a broadband network that can link government agencies in a rush. The world has adapted into this kind of trend. Having the fastest internet in the world, Korea is a wired country. Everything here is fast, internet-ready and convenient. This country proves that taking advantage of technology has proven to be a successful tactic in becoming progressive and wealthy. And the trend, if that’s what we call it, scattered worldwide in a speed as comparable to that of light. The world, the countries, and the people: all depends on technology.

Humans are created in a way that they can easily adapt to their environment. A proof is when people go out of the country to a place colder than theirs, wait a few months later, it seems like they feel hotter than ever in this colder place. You see, it is human nature to evolve, not as the way Charles Darwin had defined it though. Humans are naturally talented and curious. They tinker electronic gadgets, they invent futuristic machines, name it, the humans tried it!

Social networking is becoming very popular to humans. It has grown from zero to fully loaded. This is the result of humans’ eagerness to connect. Humans love to talk. Can you blame them for abusing telephones? Can you blame them for misusing keyboards? Can you blame them for overusing cell phones? The ability to use words is a good enough reason to accept the fact that humans are created to connect with one another. After all, even animals have their own ways to communicate, no one’s exempted. It is natural for human to use all the resources it can acquire to their full potential. It is human nature to adapt, response and change to everything that can go wrong or right.

Mga Katotohanan Tungkol Sa Pag-ibig (at Mga Pagong)

MAYNILA, Pilipinas - Masaya ka bang naimbento pa 'yang letcheng pag-ibig na yan? Hati lang naman ang sagot ng tao e. Oo, kasi inlab ka. Hindi, kasi bigo ka. Well, well.. Hindi ako eksperto sa pag-ibig mga tsong at tsang. Pero inalam ko ang mga katotohanan at kasinungalingan pagdating sa pag-ibig. Simulan na natin!

My MATH  exam answer during desperate times! My professor actually agreed.

"Hindi kailanman naging mali ang magmahal.."

FALSE

Love is blind, ika nga. So, this is the flaw: since you are blinded by the situation, edi you won't see how wrong it is! Tapos right after mo marealize na mali ito, you will then conclude na minsan may mali rin sa pagmamahal. I guess the main point of the thought is: hindi siya mali sa mata ng nagmamahal sa panahon mismo na nagmamahal siya. Pwede? Pwede. Kaso may "kailanman" e, and that ruins it! At magmahal ng ano? Pwedeng pera, yosi or alak. It depends, dude!



"Masakit ang magmahal.."

TRUE

Kahit gaano ka pa kasaya sa iniibig mo ngayon, there will be a point in time na masasaktan ka dahil sa kanya. And that is a fact. It just happens eh, so let's deal with it na lang. It is unavoidable part of human nature. Kaakibat na ng pagmamahal ang sakit na 'yan. Pero kahit gaano pa kasakit yan, kung mahal mo talaga yan, you can manage. Yan ang tinatawag na bangis ng pagmamahal.



"Ayaw sa iyo ng gusto mo.."

TRUE

..most of the time.. Humans are picky creatures! Pataas ng pataas ang standard ng tao base sa anong meron sa environment niya. Pansinin mo. Bakit ang pangit pangit pala ng crush mo nung elementary pero gandang-ganda (or gwapong-gwapo) ka na sa kanya noon? Kasi, yung crush mo stands out among the people around you. The person is special. Eh, ngayong naghigh school ka, mas nagdalaga or nagbinata ka na.. Everything changes and so is your crush! The main point ko rito is since we are picky, we tend to choose the best among the rest. So, kaya ka ayaw ng crush mo ay dahil hindi ka niya type, and no matter how much you try: may instance talagang wala ka ng magagawa dun. At tanong ko sayo, isipin mo ung isang taong type na type ka pero ayaw mo? Subukan mo ngang mahalin. Cannot be, diba? It also applies to your crush's choice. Kaya 'wag ka nang masiadong malungkot. Karma lang 'yan! Why not love everyone? Para ebrebadi hapi! :D

Social Networking: Destruction/Distraction To Students

PASIG CITY, Philippines - I remember writing this in 2009 for my Korean student who was 2nd year high school in Colegio San Agustin Makati. Yeah, I did his homework. I had to make it look like his, though. :)

© Okrest | Stock Free Images and Dreamstime Stock Photos

Here is the short article:

Technology changes rapidly. From the old-fashioned snail mails to the new and fast 3G video calls. Indeed, everyone is qualified to be called a geek. The computer savvy people come from all ages, from your neighbor’s youngest cousin to your grandmother. But most computer users are proven to be us—the youth (students). How do social networking sites affect the way students study?

Today, Friendster has more than 13 million active members in the Philippines. Friendster is also the country’s #1 social networking site. In Korea, people don’t really have Friendster or Facebook, because almost 25% percent of the South Korean population has Cyworld. And just like any other countries in the world, students are among the top users. In America, researchers surveyed 219 students at Ohio State, including 102 undergraduate students and 117 graduate students. Of the participants, 148 said they had a Facebook account.

An Indian student was killed because of posting a little something about him in a social network that is popular in India. This is perhaps an extreme example of the social impact of these social networking websites such as Facebook, Myspace and Friendster on today’s youth. So instead of asking a new friend his home address, we rather ask his Friendster’s URL or if he’s on Facebook.

Things You Don't Know About Call Center Agents

MANILA, Philippines - Customer service is one of the conveniences customers take for granted, most especially because it is, most of the time, free and easily accessible. I have been in the business for a few months now, and there are things I just learned and noticed about it. Here are the things customers DO NOT know (or probably, don't take much of consideration) about the customer service representative they are talking to.

© Scantaur | Stock Free Images and Dreamstime Stock Photos

Customer Representatives Have Feelings, Too.

Of course you do know about it, don't you? I know how frustrated you are about the product or the service, but little did you know that shouting or cursing at the representative won't help you at all! If you want to be respected, you treat others with respect, too. Right? Most people who call the center start the call irate and end it irate.

"Hey, why the f**k is my phone not working?! You idiot. I hate your product! I am not using it again! F** You!"

Do you think that will help you? Seriously.

Think about it? Imagine those words being said to you when it is actually your first time talking to each other. Difficult right? Some agents actually absorb what you say, most especially if you said something about their race or accent. So the next time you speak with a representative, never ever say bad words, because these people are there to assist you and not to make fun of you.

It's Not Always The Agent's Fault If You Are Having A Problem

..It's probably the system or the company itself. Little did you know that most of the agents you are speaking with are not hired directly by the company which provides the product/service you just purchased. That is why they are called "call center agents", because the company, let's say Apricot Computers, paid Chuck Norris Customer Services, a call center company, to provide them the customer service they need. See that? But it doesn't mean they don't know anything about the products! These agents are trained for weeks just to be an specialist about the products or services! They probably know more about the products than the CEOs themselves! Trust
 me!

So, if ever there is a problem with the product or the company in general, never put the blame on the agent. Although he or she is the only person available to represent the company, he/she is not responsible for your mistakes and that of the company's. Calm down now, and talk with them as though you are speaking with your relatives.

My Creepy Short Short

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - "Patay na si Nena." sabi ni Pedring na anak ng magsasaka, kaklase ni Maymay.

© Joncasdam | Stock Free Images Dreamstime Stock Photos

"Kailan pa?!" bulalas ni Maymay.

"Alas dos ng hapon ngayon."

"Eh ala una pa lang."

"Heto't papunta na sa kanila." sabay labas ng kutsilyo.

THE END.

Call Me Jed™ (cc) 2013. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Philippines License.

Work or Study? Choose School.

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - Working while studying is not the best idea ever. If I were to choose one, I'd rather study... no.. I'd rather work.. Hmm.. Ok.. I'd rather do none of them.. I want to be the world's most famous bum.

How does it feel like to work and study?

It feels awesome (and tiring.) Awesome in the sense that you have two worlds to manage. School papers to finish and a job to master. But it is tiring. It's difficult. If you were in a situation that you were to choose one, choose your studies. Trust me.

Why?

I am currently enrolled in UP Diliman taking ONE subject in the residential mode--meaning I still go to a regular class with regular classmates; and taking THREE more in UP Open University--this time I do classes online.

AND

I am currently employed full time, working for Telus International. I also have just started a small online business selling websites to small businesses.

Studying is DYING literally. I mean, how could I even manage to go to school in the morning after work. And to tell you Math building in UP Diliman is situated at the worst place.. It's so far, even the moon is nearer.

Okay, enough with the exaggeration.

Another downside is that it costs you more to study while working--with UP's STFAP system at least.

I was bracketed STFAP B by the Office of the University Registrar (all UP units.) That means it costs P1000/unit to study; while without work, I would probably be in Bracket D (P300/unit) or E (P0/unit)--and that's way, way cheaper.

Here is my FORM 5 for a MATH11 subject this SY 2012-2013, second semester.

3k for a subject?

My FORM5: a single subject.

STFAP bracket B.

Although working gave me the opportunity to earn money, it all goes to my studies (I pay for my schooling.)  So, it's somehow useless if you ask. Unless you have rich parents to help you out, then that is great.

5 Benefits of Biking In The Morning

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - I went biking this morning.. Just want to share how awesome it feels to do it in the morning, when everyone's still asleep. Hahahaha.. So here is the story..

My bike is equipped with Shimano.

It's my off today! Friday. And I wanted to do something fun. I decided that I would go biking.. I haven't touched my mountain bike since I bought it last Christmas (it was a gift from an ex-coworker.. yes, she's that rich.)

I went around our subdivision (wow! just kidding though, it's not even gated.) So, again, I roamed around our area--Project 4--and discovered a lot of things. Biking, other than being beneficial to our health is also an awesome way to know yourself. Yes.. So true, you can forget yoga.

Here, I am listing down those other benefits I think biking has.

Suspension, baby.

1. Biking All By Yourself Helps You Reflect

..about life, of course. For every bumps, not of life but of what the humps cause, you'd definitely  realize "what the heck am I doing with my life?" Well, biking helped me think about my life's up and downs. Although, it's gets better day by day (hopefully,) there are still challenges that I am facing. But about yours, not really sure how to assist you. Just go biking, and you will see.

Sweet.

2. You Can Catch the Early Food

 Saw a woman selling cariocas (kariyokas.. not sure how it is spelled) and decided to buy one. It's 7AM in the morning for heaven sake, don't expect me to buy something better. But it is indeed better than any other street food out there.  Honestly, I don't like cariocas. I like sugar but not these. But I was surprised that it tasted better in the morning! It's crunchy and hot. The funny part is when I was looking for a bananacue I actually asked her "Do you have barbecue?" Stupidity at its best.

So my point is, if I didn't go biking, I wouldn't appreciate this little wonder right here.

Trying Photography Using A Mobile Phone

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - I never owned a DLSR or DSLR whatever. So I don't have an idea on how that "reality freezer on 2D" works. (UPDATE: I now own a DSLR) Since I have a phone which takes decent pictures, I decided to try photography and came out with these wonders! I AM GOOD, RIGHT?!

University of the Philippine Diliman

UP's University Ave, Diliman, QC

Oble showing his birdie to me.

Limelight: The Head Teacher

PASIG CITY, Philippines - What does it take to be influential? Aside from that killer smile and that overdone beauty queen wave, there’s got to be something those people have to be called influential. Everyone listens to what they say. Everyone pays attention to what they do. Everyone wants to share their message. From Oprah Winfrey to our very own Manny Pacquiao, many people in history have been influential to others. It seems like everyone has the potential to become significant. You don’t have to be as popular as Walt Disney to be an influential person. If you will just think about it, they must have become famous because of their influence! You can be influential in your own right. Want some proof? Meet Ms. Melarry Ribay.

Ms. Melarry Ribay, an English teacher, is perhaps the most influential person I’ve ever met in my entire career as an English tutor. It was my first day as a tutor in this academy in Ortigas Center. All of the employees were busy with their own tasks. Some teachers were teaching, of course, if not chitchatting. Some were surfing the internet. Some were filing documents. I then realized something was noticeably missing. Where’s the head teacher? As far I know, every educational institution has at least one person, other than the boss, who looks after everyone—a manager, a supervisor, or a head teacher. And in this place, why did it seem like everyone asked one another for help instead of going to the person in charge? Wasn’t there any? Since I was a newbie, I didn’t have the gut to ask. So I waited and waited. Until one day, a head teacher was finally introduced.

Her name is Melarry Ribay. She was not introduced as Ma’am Melarry or Professor Melarry (as she was once an English lecturer in Asian Summit College.) Rather, she was called Teacher Melarry because she opted to be called that way. I didn’t really ask more information about her because I was reluctant. But I heard good things. So good things, they sound too good to be true. Then I found her Friendster account. The facts were not lies at all! In her profile, I saw all her achievements. She had been there, done that, and yet she chose to be a head teacher in this humble academy.

Although most influential people get much interest for being different, you will soon be convinced that Miss Melarry, however straightforward she may be, is certainly an exceptional person. Her influence to the people she has been with is something noteworthy.

She was not so tall but her height was average for Filipina women. In a group of people swarming around a store that’s on sale, you wouldn’t notice she was there because she wasn’t tall. Her skin was bronze, if not dark, or most probably the typical kayumanggi with some yellowish accent. She had that Tyra Banks hairstyle; moreover, her thick bangs were covering her whole forehead. Her hair was dyed ash brown and highlighted blonde. It was long straight hair. Her earrings were sometimes enormous and weighty. I didn’t weigh them but I could see because her ears were sagged by their heaviness. She had this Nora Aunor-like mole on her face, right on the tip of her nose. If ever she’d get salvaged (may God forgive me for the thought), her face dilapidated, I would still recognize her as long as the mole is there, intact. I seldom caught her wearing her eyeglasses, and if ever I did, they would be those younger people wore. Rather, she was always wearing those light brown contact lenses. Her face didn’t show any signs of aging at all, even though she’s already in her late thirties.