Synchronization
Alvin Toffler in his book The Third Wave said that one feature of the second wave of human and technology development is the concept of synchronization. People and technology moving in synch, time and space moving together, side by side.
I had the oppurtunity to watch the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra at the Shangri-La last Saturday, June 27, 2004. A fine example of synchronicity.
The venue was at the fountain area of the Shang. Other performers included the Acaffelas, Bayang Barios and Noel Cabangon.
The MPO started their set with the Theme From Mission Impossible, with the flutist starting off the whole performance. Very impressive, fast and grand sounds. I was very impressed with the drummer. I haven't seen such drumming before, the drum set was well utilized.
The orchestra played on with staples such as The Flight of the Bumblebee, songs from the Sound of Music, The Pink Panther, Broadway, James Bond and OPM songs. No Theme From Star Wars though. That would have been a visual and musical treat.
I was keenly interested in the playing of the percussionists, which included the big drums, xylophone, congas and even the small triangle and tamburine. Everything was at its own place and time. I can distinctly see and hear where and when every percussion instrument was used.
The string instruments was also interesting to look and hear. They jived and moved around along with the music. Their rendition of the Flight of the Bumblebee was spectacular, especially when they did finger plucking on their instruments.
I had a hard time distinguishing which instruments were used at the horn section though. There were clarinets, trumpets, and other instruments I don't know about.
I watched the whole event at the fourth floor of the atrium, so I was watching from above. The wonders of human achievement. Very inspiring and moving. Wish I can be a part of it all.
Moving on
Two of us riding nowhere, spending someone's hard-earned pay. You and me, sunday driving, not arriving, on our way, back home. We're on our way home, we're going home.
Two of us, sending postcards, writing letters on my wall. You and me burning matches. lifting latches, on our way back home. We're on our way home, we're going home.
You and I, have memories, longer than the road that stretches out ahead.
Two of us, wearing raincoats, standing so long in the sun. You and me chasing paper, getting nowhere, on our way back home.
We're goin' home...
I'm goin' home...
The Greatest Master Plumber
Who is the greatest master plumber?
For me, he can jump, twist, twirl and fly. He opened many oppurtunities for me. He thought me the craft, the speed and the attitude.
He is Super Mario. The greatest master plumber. Able to jump tall buildings with a single bound.
(insert theme song here.)
The Firm
The firm will be dissolved in a week's time. It has been two years since the founding of the firm. Now people will have to go their own separate ways.
I am talking about the Apartment at Matatag St., otherwise known as the Firm. Or the UAP Matatag Chapter. No I won't write about anything cozy about the place, or the people in it. I wanna write about change. Change of lifestyle, change of work, change of atmosphere. In short, people are moving on. We are beyond undergraduate school. We are beyond cutesy lifestyles. We are now grown up, we need to start our lives.
In my stay in the university, I have been to many places, met many people, tried different things. I met an accident once. I had numerous quarrels. I pestered five ladies. I went to the depths (the lagoon pipeline) and to the heights (the top of the Gonzales Hall). I saw the clash of brotherhoods (frat violence), and helped oust a corrupt president. And I have been inside the hallowed halls of the University for almost ten years already.
But now we are all going our separate ways. For the better I guess. Because our lives do not end with Architecture. We need to reach out, to try new things, meet new people. I guess we'll just have to accept that fact. Hail to the Architects, may we all Build.
The devil asked the two wanderers
"Are you angels?"
"Nay, we are but MEN."
-- The Tribute, Tenacious D
A Day in a Life
An Architect's take on the famous Beatles song
Woke up, fell out of bed,
Drag a comb across my head,
...Looking up, I noticed I was late,
Found my coat and grabbed my hat,
Made the bus in seconds flat,
Found my way upstairs and had a cup,
And when I woke I know I'm in a dream...
Another work week. Another five days of design, drafting and specifying. Not to mention the beaurocracy and the mind bending ordeals of talking to clients
(we call them end users) and contractors (I call them makukulit).
Let's start at the beginning.
(pull out location map)
I live at an apartment near the university where I work, along with five other Architects. We all have our own jobs, ambitions, angst and goals in life. But that's for another entry. Lets talk about the day in the life of the Architect. That would be me.
(see interior elevations and floor plan)
The Apartment is a typical two storey unit, with two bedrooms upstairs and a common area below. What makes it special is that it is a place where we share common interests in Architecture, Design and Construction. You can find several books, software, floorplans, magazines, tools, porn (oops), and gadgets related to the practice. Plus you get to see our non-arki lives with the various musical, sports, arts and recreational thingies lying around. The latest craze for me would be the Super Mario Bros. 3 found in the computer, playable thanks to the recently borrowed joystick, and John Grisham's novel
A Time to Kill.
I read the news today oh boy,
About a lucky man who made the grade,
And though the news was rather sad,
Well I just have to laugh...
(pull out work schedule)
The campus office is no different from other Architectural firms. There are computers, drafting areas, large tables, a plotter, several brochures and materials samples. At the front is located the boss's office and the Admin office (the headquarters). One large room is designated for the technical staff, while another smaller room is where the plotter and our place is.
(see details)
My workstation consists of three tables in a u-shape configuration. I have an a-3 printer beside me. The plotter is connected to my pc, so whenever somebody plots their plans, I take a coffee break, because the pc goes into slow mode. I used to have two ladies sitting at opposite workstations beside me. I used to call them Nap's Angels, though you won't hear me saying that to them. I have boxes, materials samples and brochures. Plus I have tons of work to do.
(see work schedule again)
A look into my work schedule:
Mornings:
1. Blog, surf and check e-mail.
2. Check work schedule, appointments and update work journal for end of the month activity report.
3. Drafting and design for small projects, quickie submissions and small details.
4. Eat taho at 10:00am (protein is good for you)
5. Work again, call end users, work again.
6. Submit correspondence, have it checked first with bossings, and let yourself be immersed in the beaurocracy.
7. Cool off.
8. Eat lunch (econo-meals ala dorm food, lunch outs every Friday)
Afternoon:
1. Site visits: first would be the admin building, scary project because we talk to vice presidents and vice chancellors; next would be the chemistry laboratories project, scary too because things might explode inside.
2. Walk-walk-walk. The university is big, but not that big. Wish I had one of those scooters--the muscle powered kind, skateboard with handle bars. That would be cool. Architect on wheels.
3. Go back to the office. Draft again, design, specify, schedule, talk to boss, process pictures, talk to engineers.
4. Eat merienda (dorm food again)
5. Refer to number 3 again.
Ah, Architecture. So many things to do, so little time. But at least I get to do many things. Hopefully I'm not that late in life
(see gantt chart and s-curve), or else I'll have to pay for liquidated damages.
Evening:
1. Graduate school.
2. Go home, eat, listen to music, Super Mario again.
3. Review for the plumbing exam, read John Grisham, surf, sleep.
I'm not a religious person, but I do hope the Great Architect has some plans for me. He sure would try to throw some thunder bolts along my way. It's okay, but please Sir, don't specify too many bolts for delivery.
I'd love to turn you on....
Why stare into space?
I have many odd mannerisms. Here are some of them.
1. When I sometimes watch tv or talk to people, I only shift my two eyes and not my head, thus the resultant looking through the corner of your eyes. Some people are bothered by this, thinking that I don't pay attention to them, well in fact I do see them. Don't fret people, there are four of us in my family that has this mannerism. Weird huh?
2. I sometimes read in bed with my two feet propped up vertically against the wall. I feel comfortable reading this way.
3. I stare into space. I guess its just me going into sleep mode. Be afraid if I go into safe mode or hang up. It's like I'm in the middle of a conversation when a random though distracts me. Happens all the time. Must get thoughts out.
That't the obvious parts of me. Wait till you see my thoughts. It's quite nasty in there.
Why start blogging?
I told people I am not that enthusiastic in starting a blog. Why start now? here are some reasons:
1. I am currently at the crossroads. New friends, new house, new job, back to school.
2. I need to brush up on my writing skills due to school.
3. Maybe I do need to open up.
Well let's see where all this leads. See you around.
