New Challenges Ahead

Electronic Banking, early 2009.

After almost six years with my department, Electronic Banking, it's time for me to take a new challenge. Not only did it come as a surprise, it was also short notice, I mean very short.

Last Tuesday, I learned that I was a candidate for the bank's LEAD Program, which is an accelerated program for developing future managers and executives. I attended the assessment session last Thursday, which consisted of time pressured exercises and presentations. Luckily, I made it to the top five, and by Monday, I have to say goodbye to my unit.

I love Electronic Banking, here I had some of the best experiences in the bank, and here I met some of my closest friends. But this program is for my own good, and there's no other direction to go but forward. Electronic Banking will always be a part of who I am.

So for the next three years, I will be rotated to different units of the bank and attending classroom trainings, until such time I can sell/present myself as an effective leader. Tough, but I know I can do this.

My Photoblog

The Photoblog of Jani Balani

I've decided to create a separate photoblog for my snapshots, sort of my fresh start in photography. I'm trying to keep that one clutter-free, so the descriptions will be brief, and most of my other content will remain in this blog (e.g. links, photography gear, personal stuff).

If you have time, please visit my photoblog. The link is posted above, as well as one of the first pictures posted there.

That Rubber Thingie Underneath My MacBook...

This happened a few months ago...


...then this one just now.

Not really sure what they're called, the rubber footing beneath my MacBook fell off, the first one a few months back, the latter just before writing this. The first one was actually worse, since the base got brittle, almost disintegrating. I assumed it was because of the intense heat, oftentimes I'll leave my MacBook running for hours without proper ventilation. Not sure if the recent misfortune is the same, since the base is still intact, and the glue that used to hold it is still moist.

I guess this isn't covered by warranty, unless it fell off the day you got it from the store, so this is what I did...


...and now it's as good as new (hopefully).


Not so sure if I'm the only victim of this one though. Hopefully this won't happen again.

The iPhone Fashion Shoot

The best camera is the one that's with you. - Chase Jarvis

This video isn't from Chase Jarvis, but in a way it reinforces the thought that any camera can do the job, all you need is a little inspiration (and maybe some good lighting).

Admittedly, I have been uninspired with photography for quite some time now, mostly due work and wedding preps. I have been reading photography books and online forums to stimulate those creative nerves again, but this video is probably the best booster of them all.

Thanks to Strobist for sharing this.

2010 DLSU Green Archers

Taken from greenarchers.ph.

For some reason, I cannot copy and paste the text from the link above, so I guess the picture says it all: we are a small team this season. To be realistic, all I'm hoping is a Final Four slot for the team in green.

In any case, this will be an exciting season. Animo La Salle!!!

S90: View From The Rooftop

Here's a view from the rooftop of our unit in Makati. It was one of the few times that I got to use the S90 since we bought it. Hopefully, with the summer heat winding down and the workload becoming more manageable, I may have that urge again to take more photos.

I'm not sure, but I think I did something wrong because I'm not impressed with the photos that I took last time, the photo above is probably the best from the batch. I know it's not the camera, because I have seen beautiful captures from this little beast from different photography websites. When there's time, I might shoot again from the rooftop.

Maybe I'm expecting too much from the S90. I got used to my DSLR that I'm expecting the S90 to behave the same way (especially in the noise department). Even though the S90's technology is much better than that of my G5, a DSLR is still the way to go if speed and noise is an issue.

But for portability, the S90 wins hands down. The shot above was taken from a small opening between the concrete wall and the mesh fence. Only a camera that small can get an unobstructed shot from that vantage.

That's it for now. Time to get out and shoot some more.

iPhone 4

This changes everything. Again.

Time to come out from my blogging hiatus. I know, I haven't been writing for a while, I'll save the excuses for some other post.

So back to topic. Rumors about Apple's newest mobile device have been circulating for quite some time now, so this is more of a confirmation rather than a surprise. The new features like the high resolution display, HD video, and longer battery life make me wonder if I bit the bullet too early with my iPhone 3G S.

As a consolation, it probably won't be available until the 4th quarter of 2010, and with Globe's reputation with loyalty subscribers, the wait could be longer. And at least iPhone OS 4 (now called iOS 4) is set to be available by June 21, for free.

Thanks to Mac Rumors for the early heads-up.

Gibo

This election, my vote for president goes to Mr. Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro. Based from debates shown on TV, and from the articles that I've read in the past months, my gut feel tells me that he has the most realistic platform. He does not make idealistic promises, and he does not engage in mudslinging. I will not tell you why not to vote for the others, all I'm saying is that I think Mr. Teodoro is our best bet for a better Philippines.

iPhone 3G S

Taken with Roxanne's new S90.

I couldn't wait for whatever is coming in June, so I finally got myself an iPhone 3G S, thanks to Globe.

At first I was just expecting an iPod Touch with phone capabilities and a camera, something to streamline the things I carry everyday. But for some reason, having an iPhone is a totally different experience. I have never been this excited about a gadget, it feels like I have everything at my disposal, anytime. And it's a lot different from the other phones I have used in the past, the interface and the plethora of apps available via the App Store makes the experience worthwhile.

In short, I love this phone. And I'm eagerly waiting iPhone OS 4, which would make the experience even better.

Hanging Out With Friends

Saturday night with Steve and Rena at Bubba Gump Greenbelt 3.

The past week has been great because we got to hang out with friends that I haven't seen in a long time. Last Monday, it was with former colleagues Ferdie, Bobby, and Wilma. These guys were my first set of friends when I started working. It was supposed to be a short dinner, but these guys are so lively that we had to stay a little longer.

Saturday night was with college buddy Steve and his wife Rena. I haven't seen this guy in a long time due to his busy schedule, hopefully next year they get to visit Manila again (both of them are based in Dumaguete). It was nice remembering our college days, as well as catching up with what's new, as well as picking up some wedding preparation tips from the new couple.

Canon Powershot S90

This is actually Roxanne's new toy, it was either this or the Ixus 120 IS. Personally, I prefer something with a hotshoe like the Panasonic LX3 or the Canon Powershot G11, but the size of this baby is just right for Roxanne, and the features and image quality are great for something this small (like a baby DSLR).

Got this at Watson in Hidalgo for PHP25000, which is sort of a middle price between gray market units (around 17K) and those sold in the malls (around 31K). For the price, it comes with a 4GB SD card, a leather case, and is also entitled to three years warranty and a free Lonely Planet book upon registration online. What a bargain.

We would have taken it for a test drive tonight, but since I'm not feeling well we decided to do that some other time. So no pictures from the S90 for now.

Sky Lounge At Vivere Suites

Last night was superb! Nice food, a great view of the metropolis, and an opportunity to take pictures, all these while enjoying the evening with my ever lovely fiancee.

The Sky Lounge at Vivere Suites isn't new to us. In fact, Roxanne and I had one of our most memorable dates here a few years back, when I was still courting her. I say memorable because we got lost going here, thanks to all the detour caused by the widening project of SLEX. Imagine, it took us four hours to get there from Makati (for comparison, it took us 20 minutes to get there last night from Makati).

I highly recommend this place. Sky Lounge and Top of the Citi are the only restaurants I know that offers a stunning view of Metro Manila. In case you're reading this and have ideas on where to dine with a similar ambiance, please let us know.

One thing I have to mention is that it was surprisingly windy last night. It provided a challenge in everything: from keeping our napkins to making sure our hair didn't go astray to taking pictures. Yes, even with a tripod you get some camera shake with all that wind, or maybe I'm just using a cheap tripod. Even my credit card was blown away from the table, thankfully it landed on the floor.

Oh, this post wouldn't be complete without a link to the pictures. You can view them here. Cheers.

iPhone OS 4

Learn more about Apple's new mobile operating system here.

Being an iPod Touch 2nd Generation owner, and with my iPhone reservation from Globe in the works, this news excites me. I think this bridges the gap between the Apple and its competitors. Some new features include:

- multitasking;
- customizable home screen;
- folders for apps (which increases the app limit from 180 to 2160);
- iBooks;
- integrated Mail app (good for those with multiple email accounts);
- iAd (which brings rich ad content, and could help lessen the price of apps and other content);
- and many others.

I'm ecstatic about the folders update, since I hate deleting apps from my iPod Touch every now and then. It's too bad though that I wouldn't be able to take advantage of multitasking, since this requires a 3rd Generation iPod Touch, but I guess multitasking is more critical for iPhone owners, it's a hassle to quit an app just to answer a call.

Now the question is, should I proceed with my iPhone 3G S reservation, or just be patient and wait for new hardware by June/July? Ah, the wait is killing me.

StumbleUpon

It's Holy Week once again. Although this season is a time for reflection, nothing stops us from discovering something new. Introducing StumbleUpon.

According to Wikipedia:

StumbleUpon is an Internet community that allows its users to discover and rate Web pages, photos, and videos. It is a personalized recommendation engine which uses peer and social-networking principles.

In short, it's a random generator of cool stuff. So go ahead and sign up. You might discover something new today.


One of these days I'll post some of the cool things I've discovered using this service.

Snow Leopard

Before Snow Leopard.

After Snow Leopard.

Sorry for the long images above (forgot to hide the extra stuff). Just want to show you guys how much space Snow Leopard frees up after installation. In my case, around 12GB.

Snow Leopard isn't just an update, it's a whole new operating system, minus the change in user interface. It's been out since last year, so I'm more of a late bloomer in terms of updating my rig. I don't know why it took me so long to upgrade, considering that for a new OS, it's cheap at PHP1600.

Upgrading from Leopard to Snow Leopard made me realize how easy it is to maintain Macs. It took me more or less three hours to complete the cycle: one hour to back-up 50GB worth of data, one hour to install the OS itself (just did an upgrade, not a clean install), and another hour to download updates from the web. After updating, everything was the same as how I left them (documents, programs installed, etc).

I'll try to explore the subtle changes provided by this update, and also see if it makes my computing experience a bit snappier. But for now, for the freed up space alone, I recommend the upgrade.

My Uncle's Speedlights

Update: Made it work already. Thanks to Raphy for the WD-40 tip.

The picture above are two Nikon Speedlight SB-28s from my uncle Rikki. The one on the left is his personal flash, the one that he uses with his Nikon F90. The one on the right was given to him by my Uncle Arthur. It came from East Timor (or Cambodia, can't recall) during my Uncle Arthur's peace keeping mission there, along with some Nikkor lenses and some damaged Leica stuff (ouch).

SB-28s and my 430 EX II, for comparison.

I tested both yesterday, only to find out that the one from my Uncle Arthur isn't working. Well, maybe it's because of the battery contacts, it was corroded and I used some Wipe Out to clean it, which could have made it worse. I'll try to buy some WD-40 or some proper cleaning solvent and try it again. My Uncle Rikki's unit works though, it's even compatible with my cheap China triggers.

If I'm lucky, I hope my uncle would give me one or both of them for a good price, or for some IT services. I'll use them to learn more about lighting.

Useless trivia: Canon calls them Speedlites, while Nikon calls them Speedlights.

Roxanne's Confirmation

The Confirmandis.

Roxanne with Tita Gigi (now Ninang).

At seven in the morning yesterday, Roxanne received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Manila Cathedral. The day before, I tagged along with her during the orientation. I can't believe a lot of things that I've learned in Christian Living back in grade school have escaped me already. It was nice reconnecting with our faith in preparation for our big day in December.

I vaguely remember being confirmed when I was seven years old. I wasn't really aware of what's happening, I was just asked to fall in line and go to the priest. I didn't even know how to respond. I guess that's the reason why these days you have to be twelve years old to be confirmed, to understand it's significance to our being, and to our faith.

Special thanks to Tita Gigi for being Roxanne's sponsor, and to Uncle Rikki for the speedy and timely driving, as well as for the SB-28s (more on that in my next post).

New Stuff For My MacBook

For a change, I acquired some new stuff for my MacBook.

The first one is Snow Leopard, an new operating system. Think of it as upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7. This one has been long overdue, since Snow Leopard has been available since last year. I'll try to write something about Snow Leopard once I get it up and running, but for now I expect that this would make my computing experience better. Oh, and I heard it helps free up some hard drive space, also looking forward to this one.

The other item is Apple Care. For those not familiar, Apple Care extends the warranty of a specific Apple Product. In this case, I get an extra two years warranty for my MacBook once I decide to activate Apple Care, but this should be done before my current coverage expires (which is sometime around April). It's a bit expensive at PHP12000, but after my 400D fiasco I just know how much the extra coverage can give me peace of mind.

A little tip by the way, especially to those who bought their Apple products outside the country. Make sure to check your current coverage. To my surprise, my warranty ended February instead of April, the month I purchased my MacBook (thank you Sir Albert of Infosoft for helping me with that inquiry). So always keep your receipt, and check your warranty via Apple's Self Help Site.

Both items above are available at most authorized resellers in the Philippines. I got mine from Digital Hub, with a discount thanks to my PhilMUG membership.

Random Photo: Perya

Again, another random photo. I was supposed to post some photos I took last weekend, but procrastination got in the way, and I think I can take better photos this coming weekend, since I'm going back to the same place. Anyway, enough of the chitchat.

Just in case you don't know, perya sort of translates to town fair or carnival. Places like this reminds me of my childhood. Back then, it seems like a year wouldn't be complete without a visit to one of these. It may be that small one that popped in the middle of town during fiesta, or the big ones like Star City (where the photo above was taken) and Boom Na Boom (not sure if this place still exists).

These places also remind me of how much I hate carnival rides. I remember when I was seven, I almost cried when I rode the Caterpillar, and I also recall how easy it is for me to get dizzy when trying out other rides. Horror houses and carnival games also give me some sense of nostalgia.

The photo above was taken in 2006, using my 400D and a 50mm lens.

Random Photo: Paoay Church

I don't think I got a good photo of Paoay Church as a whole, but this snapshot seems to be of my liking. I love how the setting sun produced that yellowish cast, and how the sky seems properly exposed. It's weird that as my equipment improve, the harder I find it to get shots like this.

Paoay Church is located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. This photo was taken in late 2005, during the JET's much anticipated Ilocandia tour. Again, this shot makes me miss my G5 even more. It's time to get another point and shoot camera.

Random Photo: Breakwater

Another week without anything new, so again I'll share another random photograph.

To be honest, I was eying another photo when the title came to my mind. I mean, the breakwater here isn't as prominent, nevertheless I like this picture, and it makes me miss my G5 even more.

This was taken in Corregidor Island on May 6, 2006. Perfect timing too because that same day the island celebrated it's fall into Japanese hands in 1942. I hope I can visit this place again, and maybe next time we can get a tour that would allow us to explore more of the island.

Random Photo: Unwanted Visitor

March 2005. We were in Baguio to help out in organizing a sales conference. I was helping my officemate Ronivi with some game rules for the following day's event. It was past ten in the morning, and the breakfast buffet table was about to close. As a waiter went around ringing a bell for a "final call", Ronivi had to leave for a while and told me...

"If they try to clean this up, tell them I'm not done yet."

...or something like that.

While he was away, a bird landed on a nearby chair. Since we were in Baguio Country Club, near the golf course, birds (as well as other flying critters) were common sight. The bird then hopped to Ronivi's unfinished meal (consisted of rice and bacon) and started munching on it. I then took my Canon Powershot G5 and tried to take a picture of the bird, and surprisingly, it posed for a second before flying away.

When Ronivi returned to his seat, this conversation happened (well, sort of):

Me: Don't touch that part, a bird flew in and took a munch.
Ronivi: Are you sure?
Me: Yeah, I took pictures of it, as proof.
Ronivi: What kind of friend are you? Instead of shooing the bird, you took pictures of it!
Me: Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I'm not sure if any of that made sense, but it was nice reminiscing the good old days.

Random Photo: Avilon Sunset

Okay, I noticed that lately I can't think of anything to post, unless there's some sort of photo opportunity. But such opportunities don't come everyday, for now at least. I'm too busy to do some sort of Project 365, and lately I've been commuting to work (with a heavy laptop) so bringing a camera is out if the question.

So to keep the ball rolling, I'll try to explore old photos that I took, maybe I'll start with those taken before this blog existed. I hope this helps inspire me in taking more photos, and at the same time improve my storytelling skills. let's just see if I can sustain this.

For my first random photo, a sunset shot from Montalban, Rizal. It was past five in the afternoon, and it was my first time to visit Avilon Zoo (with George and Jayson). Back then my 400D was only a few months old, and I was the only one with a DSLR. The sunset caught our eyes as Jayson's car traversed the rough road that leads people in and out of the zoo. And the reflection from the nearby rice field made it even better. I probably love this shot more than those I took inside the zoo.

Settings aside, this shot was taken using the kit lens. With photography, sometimes less is more.

Roen

This is Roen, another one of Roxanne's nephews. I'm guessing that he's going to love photography when he grows up, he had as much fun as I had taking pictures.


Thanks Roen for dropping by.

Playful Xantino

Before anyone reacts, that is not a real LPG tank. It's actually a coin bank, clever isn't it?

So Xantino dropped by again yesterday. Last time he was here, my camera malfunctioned. Yesterday, he actually "helped" me test my newly refurbished unit. It was quite tiring following him around (at his age, he really wants to explore everything around him), but it was fun. I just hope next time he stays still a little bit longer.

Finally Got My Camera (Again)

The 400D's mainboard and some sort of flexi-cable.

Got my unit back for the nth time. I no longer want to count how many times I've been to the service center, I just hope my next trip there would be for cleaning only. They said the mainboard was the culprit, total damage was around nine grand, discounted already.

At least I'm happy now, I'll get to use this on Valentine's Day. I'm still planning to buy a new body this year, maybe around May or June. Right now, the soon to be released 550D is my best bet, but still itching for a semi-pro body (60D perhaps when it's announced).

Life Is Weird

Image taken from here.

I'm confused. Why is life so weird? You're enjoying some sort of harmony in your surroundings, then all of a sudden it's taken away, and you can't do anything about it. It's like someone threw a rock at you, and you don't know the reason why.

I just don't get it. I feel stuck in some sort of conundrum. How do I confront all of these? As much as I'm thankful for all my blessings, and accountable for all my actions, I just don't seem to understand the quirks that life throws at me.

Oh well, that was just me thinking out loud. I know I'll get past all these, and tomorrow is going to be a new day.

Thanks Bro!

Learn more about the show here and here.

I just finished watching the final episode of May Bukas Pa, and this is probably one of the best endings I've ever seen. The feeling is comparable to what I have whenever I watch the series finale of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

I credit my Aunt Lily for influencing me to watch telenovelas, especially those from ABS-CBN. Over the years though I think these shows have become formulaic, but ABS-CBN got this one spot on.

May Bukas Pa isn't the typical fantasy/action/romance series. It's an inspirational piece that spanned for over a year, and more importantly, it made Bro a household name. The only thing I didn't care for: overacting extras.

For Sky Broadband and Bayan DSL subscribers, you may want to subscribe to iWantv to catch up with Santino and Bro. Only works with Windows though (bummer).

PhotoWorld Asia 2010

For those who still don't know, you guys have a chance to visit the booths at Glorietta. Like those from the previous years, most if not all the major photography distributors have gathered under one roof, plus extras like seminars, model shoots, and product demos. So if your itching to get that new Benro tripod, or dreaming of that new Lowepro backpack, then this is the right place.

Oh, and if you do visit PhotoWorld, do check out Art Space at the third floor of Glorietta 4. There's an exhibit featuring vintage cameras and old photos of the Philippines. Perfect for vintage junkies like me.

Apple iPad

For more pictures and for the complete specs, click here.

At first, I thought it was an iPod Touch on steroids. But after seeing the product video, I was impressed. The base model is actually affordable, and having used my iPod Touch extensively for web surfing, the huge screen on this one will definitely come in handy. I also love how it shows your photo gallery, very similar to iPhoto.

I do have some nitpicks with this thing:

- no support for Flash content means I can't enjoy Facebook apps on this one.
- no GPS means I have to rely on WiFi or 3G connection to use the maps.
- no camera means no support for video chat.

I guess all these nitpicks are targeted on utilizing the iPad's big screen. So for now, I consider the iPad as a "nice to have". It would be awkward for me to carry this thing when going to the mall or when jogging (duh!), but it would be great to have this at home, especially when I'm not in the mood to wait for my laptop to boot. Let's see in a few months when this is out in the market.

I Am A Unionbank Hero

Sorry if my desk is cluttered.

I normally don't brag about achievements and recognitions, but this one came as a surprise. Okay, not really a surprise, I actually dressed up for the occasion.

Anyway, along with Raphy I was named a Smart Unionbanker for our contributions to the bank. So thank you Unionbank, I finally received my first "real" recognition (other than the Loyalty Award I got a few years back).

12-11-10

Happy New Year!!! Better late than never, it took me a while to write my first post for 2010.

Manila Cathedral, photo originally posted here.

Yesterday, Roxanne and I made it final. We are getting married on December 11, 2010, at half past eleven in the morning. Although the reception is still in the works (but almost there), the church, the Manila Cathedral Basilica, is already a done deal. Well, there's still tons of paperwork, seminars, and the balance to pay, but I think we'll pull this one off. For me, I can't believe that we're getting married, and at a church that was a big part of my childhood, but got lost somewhere when I was growing up.

I'm thankful too that I have friends I can ask for tips about wedding preparations, and parents that are supportive of our cause. This is definitely a great way to start this year.