Online Space of Alvin Jimenez
Archive for October, 2007
Lesson #1: Preservation
Oct 30th
One of the reasons I started this blog is to preserve everything I learned from 4 years of working at Summit Media. In a previous post, I gave everyone an idea of how my patience was able to land me the job. I think now I can give everyone an idea of how I lasted that long. Like I said, I’m no expert, but I sincerely believe you can learn from what I learned. With all due respect to my former bosses, I learned from the very best 
Changing of the Guards?
Oct 29th
Could it really be possible? Talks are ongoing for a trade that would bring a disgruntled Kobe Bryant to the Washington Wizards and Gilbert Arenas to the Los Angeles Lakers. Superstar for superstar. I wonder how Caron Butler would feel. News item here.
I have no doubt that Gilzero would love the change, but it’s still up in the air how the league’s most prized player would feel. Still can’t imagine the Mamba in a Wizards uni though…
Basketball Overload.
Oct 29th
The PBA All-Filipino conference started a week ago, and has been making noise in so many wanted and unwanted ways. For one, the relaxation in rules has allowed the players to play a more physical game. Secondly, the return of the RP team players to their respective clubs has made the competition fierce again.
Just take last Wednesday’s Talk & Text drubbing of Baranggay Ginebra as an example. Since last year’s incident, Tubid and Cardona have been playing noticeably harder against each other. Good for the PBA and sell more tickets? I would think so. I just wish that it’s all in the spirit of competition.
Just this Friday, a innocent looking Roger Yap pummeled LA Tenorio in the ribs, forcing the latter to exhibit his acting prowess. The performance was reminiscent of his offensive foul fishing days in the Ateneo. While it was an obvious punch, the way Tenorio sprawled onto the ground was worthy of an acting award. Maybe the PBA should include this category in this year’s awards? I’m sure the likes of Topex Robinson and Junthy “A.K.A. Diego” would give him a run for his money.
Dogs not allowed in UP? CRAP.
Oct 28th
I woke up at around 10, grabbed some breakfast, and went back to bed til’ 3 in the afternoon! Not wanting to end the day feeling like a slob, I decided to go to UP for a short run.
I’ve been passing through UP on my way to school since my kindergarten days, and have biked through the area countless times. You’ll find no safer place for exercise on a Sunday, as they block off the academic oval to passing vehicles. I also decided to bring my dog Basti along. He spends the whole day eating and sleeping, so a jog would definitely do him some good.
I started running with Basti at around 5pm, when a security guard approached us and said that dogs weren’t allowed in the area (Apparently, they haven’t been since 2005). This caught me by surprise as I had brought my dog with me at least thrice in the past 6 months. No one seemed to mind then, and I just don’t understand why it would hurt anyone now.
Now tell me, the powers that be in UP, is this face not worthy of your beautiful grounds? I clean up when he poops so you don’t have to worry about that.
A Personal Mission for Nov. 18
Oct 25th
Every year since I can remember, I’ve always celebrated my birthday. One year it would be a party with 9-10 cases of beer, the next year another party with 11-12 cases of beer (It’s easy to guess the progression). It’s always great to celebrate the day you were born with the people who matter to you the most.
It’s an open secret that I used to handle Men’s Health Magazine when I was still in Summit Media. There are no words that can describe how fulfilling it is to encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle. After all, we live in the land of sisig and lechon. Without having to look through the magazine, all you have to do is survey what is served in Dencio’s or Gerry’s Grill to guess that heart disease is the main cause of fatalities among Filipino men. It really is.
Sure it’s an uphill climb, but when you encounter people like this and this, while on the job, it really inspires you to keep on pushing.
Where is Gran Turismo for the PSP?
Oct 25th
When Sony announced it was bringing Gran Turismo to its beloved portable, there was no doubt it was going to make units fly off the shelves. I just have one simple question, and I think Sony owes its loyal faithful an answer — whatever happened?
A simple search on “Gran Turismo PSP” will net you results dating back to 2004, the same year the PSP was released. If you think about it, have you ever said to yourself, “Oh man, I need to buy it because of game X”? For me, GT was that game. I say was because I’ve since sold my mint, almost unused portable for a more game friendly Nintendo DS Lite.
I’m a patient guy. Just don’t mess with my games
Games are no longer dictated by how many megabits the hardware can produce, or how good they look on a 50-inch lcd TV. All that matters now is how the game is played.
- Elite Beat Agents
- Trauma Center
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- Nintendogs
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
- Advance Wars: Dual Strike
From a loyal Sony fan, please stop making false promises (while we’re at it, and silly Walkmans), specially if it involves the greatest racer ever made.
A Name that Continues to Reek of Excellence
Oct 23rd
All I can say is, let the numbers speak for themselves. After all, that’s what matters right? Go Summit!
4th Time’s a Charm
Oct 22nd
I’m not a big fan of fighting games, but Street Fighter 2 made me buy a Super Nintendo almost 15 years ago (From the countless incarnations, I think I got the Turbo edition). The game was and still is a representation of what all 2d or 3d fighters are being compared to. Biggest quarter muncher of all time? I don’t have any figures to support this claim, but I would think so.
What’s worth noting about the game is the frustration the international gaming industry had to endure until Capcom finally decided to learn to count to 3. Aside from Will Wright’s the Sims, Street Fighter 2 probably had the most number of incarnations of any game. And to think the other editions aren’t even expansion packs. When Street Fighter 3 was released, it somehow drowned during the 32-bit console wars. Fighting games such as Toshinden, Tekken, and the blocky Virtua Fighter were more appealing to a market that was looking to jump on the 3d bandwagon. Not even Streetfighter EX was able to salvage the franchise.
Team USA vs All-PBA Selection?
Oct 22nd
In 2007, we saw NBA stars Jerry Stackhouse and The Black Mamba visit the country. The year before saw the likes of a yet unknown Dwight Howard, as well as a highly entertaining And1 crew come to our shores. Things have definitely been looking up for the Philippines in terms of basketball recognition. It is after all unofficially our “national sport”.
Don’t you wish actual NBA teams would come to the Philippines just like the recently concluded tour that is being done in China? Look no more guys, all of this can become a reality according to NBA Commissioner David Stern.
Team USA against an All-PBA selection? It’s not such a far-fetched idea anymore. Imagine Asi or Menk going up against the Man-child. Oh yeah.
Videogame Ban in the Philippines?
Oct 22nd
I just have one question. How old is Atty. Henrietta Silos Mendez exactly? If she was the former MTRCB chair, then she must be pretty old. Add this huge generation gap to the fact that she’s not male, and you’ve got an obvious reason why she’s campaigning against videogames.
She’s never felt the satisfaction of coming back 10 pts down in the last 2 minutes of an NBA Live basketball game. Nor has she ever experienced watching the intro of Gran Turismo 1 for the very first time on the Playstation. Judging by the effect and crossover of today’s generation of videogames all over the world, videogames are here to stay.
It’s also MTRCB. Not MTRCV.