When my internet connection got lost I had the chance to rethink my life and ask myself "How was my life before the internet?", "How did I manage to survive without it?". Then I thought, I used to doodle all the time. So I took a pen and a notebook and I started doodling.

After a while I got bored so I decided to trim my toenails. After hurting an ingrown nail I went to the nearest sari-sari store to buy a chichiria. I was initially craving for Regent's sweet corn but my childhood slapped me with fond memories of Esep-Esep so I asked the store owner if they have any. Unfortunately, it was out of stock, and so is the 'Sweet Corn', so I went home with a disappointing Rinbee.

Snatched from Google Search, too lazy to find out the specific source.

I turned on the TV and flipped it over to ABS-CBN hoping for a good watch but instead I got upset. I got upset because they changed the format of 'The Buzz'. I don't always like change. But when things change I hope they completely change. Like, it would have made me feel better if Boy Abunda has grown a hair or something but no they changed everything except the shiny head.

So I turned off the TV and I talked to my Gramma. We talked about my little brother's school project about plant reproduction. Then I lectured my sister about too much texting and that she's too behind to take pride in Philippines being the 'text' capital of the world. I also lectured my cousin about the effects of sending people digital crops and that it's bad to put the laptop on the lap because it is said to lower sperm count but that's irrational because I was talking to my girl cousin.

Then I talked to our cats. There's nine of them. I also talked to our dog about the lice and fleas in the Senate. Our dog's name is Nancy B, if you must know. Finally, the internet is back so screw my life before the internet! I bet it's cool in a way or another. It can also suck. Life is pretty much random anyway. Now I can go back online doing exactly nothing or maybe something if I get any luck. :-)

This is pretty much random as well but you can go and ask yourself, "How's my life before the internet?".

Humans are weak. They easily fall prey to whatever links them to their past. Play a Britney Spears song and they will sing along. Turn the channel to Cartoon Network and they'll come running to watch how a trio of flying voodoo dolls will save the day. Do whatever you like to trigger all sort of emotions from the past, just never ever show them an old photo of you.

Otherwise, you'll win a lifetime worth of teases for being the fat kid in high school, the nerd with a thousand zit or the bulimic cheerleader. But now? Thanks to Instagram. The things that reminds us of how fun and embarrassing our past has now become a viral little game called #ThrowbackThursday.

Yes. For those who are unaware of it and aware of it, allow me to tell you that #ThrowbackThursday is a game. It's a game of throwing an old photo of you in front of your friends and telling them a little story of your past. The embarrassing it is, the more fun it'll be and the more likes you get.

You don't win from this game though. Sometimes, my friends' #ThrowbackThursday posts are rather sad than funny. I mean, post a picture of how fat you were in high school and you'll get mixed reactions from your friends. Sure, it can bring you back all of the happy memories of that time but so will the pain. Sadly, that's part of the game.

But now that you know, #ThrowbackThursday can convey a lot of emotion, you can choose to feel anyway you like. What makes us weak is not really our past but how we see it. If I post a picture of me and my dog who died years ago. That's not funny. That's reminiscing. That's longing. That's real life drama and shit. It may bring back the pain but you can choose to feel glad about how that cute little dog helped you move on with your life.

You can also choose to replace the 'dog' in my example with your ex. That would have been so much relatable and they're kind of the same. But I don't have an ex. I have a dog. Oh wait, I had a dog.

Humans may be weak creatures by dwelling on the past. But remember that we do it because we feel that our past made us stronger. Whether our lives are so much better now than yesterday or miserable because we didn't put much thought to our future, we all need to look back. We all need to throw ourselves back into time and think and feel. Coz that's what makes us human.

I'm glad there's Throwback Thursday. Are you? :3

I'm just happy I'm kind of a sad wallflower. I'm the kind that is just there to observe and analyze what's happening around me.The kind that is only a loner from the inside but is stuck to a social group and my own reality. Someone who always hesitate whenever he has something to say. Someone who's quite scared to live young, wild and well, you know this cliche.

But you know what? It is the consequences of being like this that I hate the most.



Confrontations. I hate confrontations. Why can't some people just leave me alone and let me enjoy my space? Why do they have to ask me things that I don't even care about? Like, what I think about someone else facebook status and petty things like that. You see, the problem with me is that I fall prey to peer pressure so easily.

It's almost like there's a dementor slowly devouring my soul. So I wave my wand and say things. Sometimes things that I don't even mean. There are things I've said about other people which I never really meant. I say them to shun arguments, t-to end the conversation and to stop my friends from talking about others.

But I suck! I didn't realize that by putting weight to other's criticisms I'm just like them. It starts with a gossip and then it's slander. I hate it! I hate being like this! I'm afraid that the things I've said might be used against me or worse, that I might actually like it.

For now, I'm just happy that I can still be happy despite that. And that I can still evaluate myself and that I can still quietly observe people like I always do.

4. Choose a familiar Web Site, such as Dell, Amazon, and so on. Describe the order – to – cash process from the customer’s perspective as illustrated by that site.

Getting used to SAP, I would highly recommend that the owner of a custom furniture manufacturer use SAP over other ERP systems. However, I would introduce him to other ERP systems so that he can have other options that would best suit his budget and the scale of his company. I would be asking his budget allocation for the SAP project and convince him that while SAP can be costly, if he sees his business or businesses run long term, then so will the ERP system under SAP.

I would then gather around some data, perhaps more on the business processes and evaluate if his business is ready for ERP. I would ask him how many departments his business have as well as the transactions and relationship of the departments to one another. I would schedule meetings wherein I could explain to him the turnarounds of SAP and how it would greatly impact his business.



I would also tell him the risks and ways to avoid the most common mistakes in the implementation of SAP. I would one by one tell him the other benefits and drawbacks of ERP system so as to become transparent. I would be needing more data from him to further the study in the implementation of SAP to his company.

On a business standpoint, if I were to be an actual SAP or ERP Professional, then like in the funny image above I would strike a deal and make the most out of the project and call my client Wallet. Just kidding! :-)

5. Imagine that you are conducting a field based research project for your ERP class in a small local business. Assume that the business is a custom furniture manufacturer. In the course of your project, you tell the owner that you are using SAP B1 in your ERP class. The owner asks if he should be using SAP or some other ERP system in his business. What would be your response? What questions would you ask or what information would you need to answer that question?

Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics has compared Microsoft Dynamics GP to SAP and came up with 5 reasons which involved modules that relates to employee productivity, profitability, scalability, low cost of ownership and industry-leading vertical partner ecosystem.

These edges of Microsoft Dynamics GP over SAP means that the ERP should only be implemented based on the needs of the company. They would have to weigh in which areas they could maximize using their chosen ERP system. And start from there.

Using the ERP Software of FindTheBest.com, an unbiased data driven comparison tool, I have personally compared Microsoft Dynamics GP vs SAP.



And here's the result.

While have proprietary lincences and they greatly differ on the business size the can cater. Microsoft Dynamics can only cater small to mid size companies while SAP can do so much for they can cater to the needs of any business size.

Out of the 30 listed products or services under SAP's Industries module, Microsoft Dynamics GP only have Finance, Manufacturing, Professional Business Services, Services, and Wholesale Distribution.

The comparison goes on with SAP reigning over Microsoft Dynamics GP. Other features include customer relationship management, Financial features, human resource, project management, supply chain management, manufacturing and training services.


You can check the link below to find out the comparison this article is based from.


http://erp-software.findthebest.com/compare/165-218/Microsoft-Dynamics-GP-vs-SAP

SAP fails in the comparison chart for their supported platform. Apparently, SAP does not support Windows and Windows OS but Miscrosoft gets even by not being able to support iOS (obviously) and surprisingly via Web.

When compared to SAP, Microsoft Dynamics may fail in terms of being fully functional to large scale businesses. Microsoft Dynamics is actually a good management system for its affordable scalability engineered to cost-effective support the changing requirements that are frequently necessary for costumers to adapt, grow and maintain competitive edge in their business.

3. Conduct research on an ERP package, such as Microsoft Dynamics GP or Microsoft Dynamics NAV, for small – to – medium sized (SME) organizations (between $30m and $ 1b in revenue). Compare that package for available modules, functionality, and so on to the SAP system.

SAP and Oracle differ in modules however they share some functions where we can base our assessment and comparison. But before that here's a little biased image comparing SAP and Oracle as far as technology is concerned.



Both have Supply Chain Management or Advance Planning, Maintenance, Costing, Treasury Management, Materials Management, Production Planning and Control, Localization , Project Systems, Payroll, Transactional Reporting and ESA Open Architechture.

In the Advanced Planning, SAP has a very strong advanced planning solution while Oracle has recently changed the Architecture of ts Demand planning module which requires significant testing and stabilization. In maintenance, Oracle is less superior because of their history in supporting the use of 3rd party solutions.

As costing is directly linked to the production process, SAP's costing solution is more tightly integrated compared to Oracle. Treasury module is a recent addition to Oracle suite so it's a work in progress unlike SAP having established this over time.

Batch Traceability of raw materials, in Materials Management module, is strong and integrated in SAP. In Production Planning and Control, Oracle supports a combination of the process and discrete manufacturing solution the same instance in SAP.

Localization is not an integrated part of the core Oracle application thus an add-on. In Project systems, Oracle does not have a comprehensive project monitoring tool as part of its Projects module and has to be integrated with 3rd Party products. Sap, on the other hand, has it as an integral part of the projects business cycle from the project procurement to cash budgeting etc in case of rescheduling on the project timelines.

This leads us to the conclusion that SAP product support is better managed as its MySAP suite has far less number of batches compare to Oracle.

2. Conduct research on an ERP package other than SAP that would be suitable for a large organization (Php 1 billion in revenue) and compare the modules that it has to SAP modules.

The people who are bound to work under ERP and its web of business processes must also spun a thread of web to each other to achieve success. The most common failures in Enterprise resource planning implementation happens when circumstances are shifted. In Martha Heller's article "5 ERP Errors CFO's Can Avoid" she coined out, by experience, that the planning stages in ERP is very essential to the success of its implementation whether circumstances are shifted or tested over the course of time.

"If you don’t set them up from the start with the right people, product, partners, and expectations, you may as well not start at all.", Heller stated in her article. The failure in the story or situation the author has established started when the ERP project had run amok and all they have is a newly hired CIO to take care of the problem because the former CIO, who was there at the start and knows the system very well, has already retired from the job.

Instead of digging deeper into the problem, the author simply learned from the story and came up with a helpful list of 'Do Not's'. The reason why we can never solve the problem in the story, by analysis, is that the mistake has already been done and there is nothing the new CIO can do about it. The new CIO would only have to evaluate the impact of the mistake to the company and think about leaving the company the next day.

 In effect, the company had to start over from scratch and the CFO, who is by the way responsible of hiring a new CIO, was held accountable for the damage ergo he's dead. From this, we can conclude that the successes and failures ERP Implementation greatly depends on how much you've worked hard for it at the start. This means perfection is mandatory in ERP and as CFO, you need to watch out for CIO's who has already plotted out their escape plan conveniently after hell breaks loose in an ERP Project.

1.Conduct research on the Web Sites of either CIO Magazine or CFO Magazine for stories about ERP implementation successes and failures. Using specific examples, describe the reasons for the successes and failures. What conclusions can be reached?

1.) Search for at least two (2) Proprietary and Open Source ERP Systems:

• Proprietary 1.) mySAP from SAP
   2.) Oracle e-Business Suite from Oracle

• Open Source3.) Openbravo
  4.) Fedena

mySAP - 

a.) Features of the ERP System

MySAP ERP from SAP features a platform that is fully scalable and can be adjusted to the size and ever changing processes of the companies which implement it. It features four different layers which can be implemented accordingly and they are mySAP ERP, mySAP Business Suite, mySAP All-in-One, SAP Business One.It also features four main areas of integration and they are People Integration, Information Integration, Process Integration and lastly Application Platform.

b.) Modules Available

• Financial Accounting (FI)
• Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM)
• Controlling (CO)
• Materials Management (MM)
• Sales and Distribution (SD)
• Logistics Execution (LE)
• Production Planning (PP)
• Quality Management (QM)
• Plant Maintenance (PM)
• Project System (PS)
• Human Resources (HR)

c.) Industries served by the ERP System

When several issues about bloggers stormed Philippine blogosphere, even reaching the mainstream consciousness, I didn't give a damn and I didn't say a word. Not that anyone cares about what I have to say. I just thought silence was the best way to deal with issues which at that time were of great importance to others.

There's also the thought that Filipino bloggers needs one less blabbermouth who might have the balls for a TV appearance just so others would think they have a.) a sense of leadership, b.) a telegenic face, c.) a latent dirty political agenda and d.) All of the above.

A few weeks later I found myself in a situation where I couldn't answer the question "What are you?". Well I could have just kidded around and told the person "C'mon, I'm a human being just like you.". But that's not what the person meant and I knew I just can't kid around forever about what I really am in the context of what I do.

So, "What am I?". My mind answers "I am a blogger." But with issues going around involving bloggers, be it online, of national scope, within a certain blogging organization or within my circles, I can't proudly say I am one. Coulda, woulda, shoulda but I didn't. Then I told the person, "I work online.".

It sucks you know!? It sucks. Then I thought, wouldn't it be nice to wake up one day and tell people "I am a Blogger" as though it's a profession or at least something so cool and nice? A day when you know where to put yourself amidst controversies like 'Sotto's Plagiarism', 'Philippine Bloggers Association' and 'Ethical Issues concerning Bloggers'? A day where the "Big Bad Blogger" would become a tale as old as time and finally a day when you can tell people you just don't work online? And that you rock?

That day is far from becoming a reality as of now, especially with unresolved issues piled up like backlogs waiting to be published, read, shared, scrutinized and commented.

But last December, we had the chance to discuss all these with fellow bloggers each coming from Iloilo, Cebu, Manila and there's me from Davao. There were also some people from NGO's, Traditional Media and Public Relations present who shared their thoughts, views, opinions and helped us come up with a WORKING DRAFT of a Manifesto for PROFESSIONAL BLOGGERS in the Philippines.

Check it out and please share your thoughts! :-)

A Blogger Manifesto - Professional Bloggers Block 

Who knows, with this Manifesto, there will come a time where nothing can hold us back from saying " I am a Blogger.".

For almost a year I've developed such love for milktea. At present day though I consider myself an occasional milktea drinker (if not average) as I have already survived a month without a handy cup of my favorite red milktea with tapioca pearls. In short, I rehabilitated myself from it before I get totally addicted and I mean for real. My friends, however, still call me a milktea addict as I was a self-proclaimed one back then.

If my memory serves me right, milktea started to become a big thing in Davao about exactly a year ago. All of a sudden, there was milktea craze which lead to rampant openings of homegrown milktea stores and store franchises in the city. And now that the milktea business is on its peak, we hear of milktea stores opening every now and then, just like the one that opened last Month.

Situated in front of Ateneo De Davao University's bold gate in Jacinto St., is the new milktea store called 'Partea! Partea!' that comes with the catchy tagline 'Tea Has Never Been So Much Fun!'. And with their brightly colored chairs of green and vermillion, the store sets up an atmosphere where students would most likely love to have a cup of tea and very soon a noonday snack.


Of all the milkteas in Davao, I have to say that Partea! Partea! offers a new option and a different taste to milktea aficionados. Their original milktea formula kicks in with a mild tea taste, a creamy texture and a lip-smacking sweetness that is good but might not suit the taste of half health-conscious and half pretentious costumers who requests for less sugar, less sinkers, less ice and sometimes don't order at all.

During the taste-testing Andrew, Chattee and I did before the opening we came up with one instant favorite and it's the Lychee Tea with Strawberry Poppers. Yes! It's not milktea but it's a good alternative to someone who simply needs a refreshment after bathing under the sun or someone who suffer from lactose intolerance. Plus it has poppers! I wonder how the result would be any different to the lactose-intolerant when something still pops.

On boring days I would save up my P100 just to buy a milktea with Rock Salt and Cheese. But in Partea! Partea! you can already have one at P30 less. That's the surprise they have for RSC lovers. It goes well with the wintermelon milktea which was the one I ordered during the opening. They might want to add some more RSC though! But that's just fine because under your wintermelon milktea with rock salt and cheese lies a free black pearl sinker.

Group Photo during the Opening.

All in all, I would recommend Partea Partea to my friends and other milktea addicts! It's a go-to if you're looking for a new milktea taste in Davao and of course, a new milktea place! :-)

Must-Try's:
Lychee Tea with Strawberry Poppers
Wintermelon with RSC
Choco Milktea with Pudding

For more inquiries check out Partea Partea's Official Facebook Page.

Photo Credits:
Partea Partea Facebook Page
Pau of Tummy Tales

I'm tired of just staying at home, never exploring, never seeing what's out there. Last year may have been full of travel-related surprises but I don't know if I'll get luckier this year. So, I prepared some list to track of 2013!

This year I wanted to travel my own way even if it means I'll have to be a budget traveler. I'm sure I can do it. I just need to prepare myself by reading lots of budget traveling tips and hone my backpacking skills which is at level 0 by the way. My mom still pack my things every time I travel but that may come in handy given my plans to have a vacation as early as end of January. Oh, I will be needing more income sources for that and my school too!


The past few weeks of 2013 has been stressful to me. I rarely go out and when I do my wallet vomits. So I think I'm gonna let it vomit one more time and this time for a vacation. That's it! I am gonna look up fantastic vacation deals on the Internet or persuade my bored friends to have a week-long vacation somewhere.

I love vacations! The last one I had was a long long time ago but it was more of an immersion (than vacation) in our own farm. I'd rather play farmville, I just don't wanna go back there. I'm hoping to visit Bukidnon again this year after our 2 Days trip slash long term planning  last year. I hope I can call it a vacation this time around. I just want to relax, de-stress and stay away from the third world problems of the city!

It's going to be my first trip this year if ever!




And talking about travels, I'm gonna start working on my passport next week because I'll probably fly to Singapore this year. Probably. *crosses fingers* As for my local travels, nothing is certain but according to my list I want to explore more provinces in Mindanao. Like I said I hope to visit Bukidnon (again), climb Mt. Puting Bato (again) or Mt. Apo (ftw), go to Little Boracay on DFAT 2013, then join Soccksargen Experience Tour in September. I also want to visit Agusan Marsh!

And if I ever get the chance to fly to other provinces I'll have to avail more air fare promos for my highly ambitious Batanes, Palawan and Baguio plans. Oh, I just can't wait to travel this year and turn this boring personal blog into a blog full of adventures! But more than anything now I just want to take a break and have an awesome vacation!

Last year, I rode planes more often than I expected. Those plane rides and their package full of adventures weren't expected as well. In fact, the only air travel I was expecting for was the one I booked with my friends Renz and Anj last May 2012.

While we were doing a local cable TV show we decided to book tickets to Boracay for fun and for the show. I was so excited because it's going to be our first time in Bora, our first out-of-Davao trip together and it was the first time that I got a nod to travel miles away from home after my 9 days Manila trip in 2010. lol

Unfortunately, excuses piled up one after another and we decided not to go through with the trip. Sadly, our show suffered the same fate. And just when I thought I'd be stuck in Davao City whole year 'round, came unexpected travels which I never imagined.

It started last August when I got an invitation from Abs-Cbn for a studio tour. And I flew all the way to Manila on a weekend to experience the behind the scenes of prime television. Here's what happened!

Show was over! Gluta-emitting Lights were switched off. lelz

Then came October. Unlike my first Manila trip this year, this one, I have long anticipated. My involvement on this event is however unexpected. To make the long story short I was one of the organizers of this years' WordCamp Philippines. The whole organizing was fun but at times a bit intoxicating. Pero bawal mag-strong!! So we stuff our mouth pizzas every night.





During that week-long stay in Manila, we frequented Greenhills and other shopping malls (Rockwell, Resorts World, Greenbelt and MOA). We also got lost around and experienced typhoon in Manila! That typhoon wasn't so bad but it compelled us to walk all the way to the train station from Greenbelt 3 and had us soaked and cold. We also visited Manila Ocean Park.


Finally, my 3rd trip! "Touch down Cebu I've waited so long to meet you!". And there I was! Finally, in the Queen City of the South, the place I've long wished to visit ever since my Grandparents snuck up on me and went to Cebu when I slept as a child. And it took me, (calculating) almost 10 years to get there to think that we have relatives living in Cebu. But thanks to RAFI! :'-)




I know my trips are nothing compared to big time and highly experienced travel bloggers out there but my little adventures around Davao can match theirs - more or less. Hehehe. My point, Davao: Life is here!





2012 was indeed my year! It was eventful, exciting and fattening. But above all, it was a year full of realizations. I realized that we really do make our own choices and decisions in life. And no matter what, be it for better or for worse, what's important is we move forward.

I feel so blessed and I'm just really thankful that God's been good to me in 2012. Despite I stopped school I'm thankful to have such wonderful friends, blogger buddies and a supportive family at my back who helped me shape up my year. And looking back, 2012 is the year that moved me. It moved be to become a better person.

Now let's all move on and embrace the unexpected journeys that lies ahead this 2013!

2012, The Year That was. . .moving.