| i'm offering japanese lessons. |
[ | |
Feb 3 2009
| | ] |
since there really is less money going around these days, i thought that a little shameless plugging is worth it to keep myself afloat. :p forgive me this one time.
--
i'm offering Japanese tutorials.
no, you're not going to be able to understand anime and dorama that's not subbed or dubbed; you're not going to be able to listen to Japanese music and understand it either. this is not for that. you can't turn fluent overnight.
you WILL, however, be able to get started on learning FOR that. the hardest part of actually being able to use Japanese is when you're just starting to learn it. the grammar patterns are so different from English; the characters are all but squiggly lines for most. but that's the whole point: once you get those basics down, you can even opt to start studying on your own.
these sessions are for the people who know nothing of the language but want to learn. if you're familiar with Japanese a bit, but want to formally further your skill in it, then you're also welcome as well (i mean, come on. everybody knows what ARIGATOU is. or even OHAYOU.) these lessons are graded as BEGINNER to LOW-INTERMEDIATE.
we're going to cover all the basics of the language, specifically, in writing and reading. in addition, we're also going to cover all the material that is required for you to pass the Level 4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), the first real milestone in learning the language. in addition, we're also going to touch on a few topics under the JLPT Level 3.
and if you're sort of skeptic of the whole thing, you might want to know that i'm currently a Japanese trainer for my company (i mean, aside from being a programmer). i just finished taking my Level 2 classes myself. just so you know i'm not new to this sort of stuff.
so, here's what you'll be getting from these sessions:
* as time permits- Introductory lessons on the HIRAGANA, KATAKANA and Pronunciation in Japanese
- Reading and writing the KANA, along with proper stroke order
- 25 Grammar Lessons under the JLPT Level 4
- 25 Vocabulary Lessons to augment your grammar lessons
- essential vocabulary PLUS the 700+ words required by the JLPT Level 4
- Introductory Lessons in KANJI
- covers the 100+ KANJI required by the JLPT Level 4
- Sample Exams of the JLPT Level 4
- A few* lessons for JLPT Level 3
- ALL materials and readings used are formal training materials from my own library.
i'm still trying to finalize the details, but here is what i'm planning so far :- 20 sessions @ php500 pax a session.
- sessions will be around three (3) hours long each.
- meet once a week.
- venue will probably be somewhere in Ortigas or Cubao.
if you're interested, don't comment here.
drop me an email at richardilagan AT gmail DOT com. you can also text me at 0915.941.4778 (Globe) or 0922.873.4282 (Sun). you can even buzz me over at yahoo messenger. i'm hapones120.
for any questions or clarifications, don't hesitate to contact me about them too.
|
|
| do you really want her? |
[ | |
Oct 17 2008
| | ] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 contemplative |
] |
and nonchalantly,
you decide for actions to speak your words
one day at a time.
|
|
|
| while you count clouds. |
[ | |
Oct 7 2008
| | ] |
when i read this entry by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) moondottir's, i immediately remembered the webcomics ericvids would post from before, and also A Softer World, one of my more favorite sites out there for inspiration and a regular poetry/photography kick. there's a regular influx of a few lines of poetry, accented by nice digital photography.
one of my more favorite entries (and one of the earliest ones too), is called "While You Count Clouds" (at least according to the archives; the filenames of the pictures tend to be different as well). and i just felt like sharing this one.
A Softer World is Emily Horne on photography, and Joey Corneau on words.
|
|
|
| daydreams. |
[ | |
Oct 6 2008
| | ] |
| [ |
music |
| |
none at the moment. |
] |
i was just pondering a moment ago, and realized that mmm the Philippines is a bit quiet these days no? i mean, aside from the gas prices (which are also pretty sublime right now), i don't hear about anything else much. and i wonder if that's just because i'm being apathetic these days? or maybe not.
--
one song has been replaying itself on my mind for the past three weeks. and it's not even Japanese.
--
kitchen counter.
--
i'm still stuck on reading The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks). i still have Life of Pi (Yann Martel) queued after it. and yes, i'm still stuck on "The Scene". these days, it's pretty hard to pick up the book and just read through it and finish it for good. i mean, the story's great, no qualms about it, except for a few quirks i have regarding the narration, but all in all, its good.
--
i haven't done Photoshop for a while na rin. leechunsa and jangneri will probably eat me alive on that platform by now. as if they couldn't pa naman before before before pa. :p
--
past few months were definitely a rollercoaster ride with no straps. consequently, i've made the worst decisions i have ever made in my life, but at the same time, i'm hoping that i've made the best decisions up my repertoire as well. i've hurt so many people, some of which i prolly don't even know i did, and i apologize for that. for those who don't know about it, she can tell you for me. i know she'll tell the same story i would tell, and i trust that i won't have anything to add din naman after she's done.
here's to hoping that we can still call each other friends. for most of you, i know you're just waiting for me to come up and make an appearance, pero let me gather myself up muna, ayt?
--
and ericvids, i still owe you, literally and figuratively. do tell me when we can meet alright? :)
--
when's Figaro? wednesday, i have a starbucks date with an old friend over at Eastwood; thursday, i prolly have a jam session.
--
she's away right now.
--
and i leave you with a poem by one of my most favorite poets.
Matapos Mo Akong Iwan
Ralph Menchavez
Kape na lamang ang aking karamay
matapos kang lumisan
at iwan akong mag-isa sa bahay
Nagtungo ako sa kusina na may pag-asang makahanap ng basong mapag-uunawan ngunit, puro de-lamat ang aking natagpuan. Tinangay mo pala pati garapon ng asukal kaya’t napilitan akong ipagpaliban na rin ang pagbili ng gatas sa tindahan. Tanging matabang na kape lamang ang nakaya kong itimpla sa gabi habang nag-iisa; tinapangan ko na lang para hindi ko madama. Ngayon ko lang nalamang mas malinamnam pala ang kapeng matapang kaysa ang may halong asukal,
dahil mas mabuting magkape’t mapaitan
kaysa managinip ng pawang katotohanan.
|
|
|
|
[ | |
Oct 1 2008
| | ] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson |
] |
i noticed that i've somewhat neglected my blog for quite some time now. and i guess it's also time to pick this up again.
i remember starting this way back in college, as something that i could look back into when time comes that i actually want to look back into the things i and the others around me have done. and i guess it should stay that way.
--
i miss playing live. actually, i miss performing live, in a general sense.
i almost even went so far as to actually audition for Unang Baboy sa Langit (the next Ateneo ENTABLADO production; i hear they needed Baboys in the cast hahahaha), but critical stuff arose on the day of the auditions, and i had to attend to them. just so everything around me escapes crumbling completely.
lately i've resorted to picking up my acoustic more often.
|
|
|
| SONA |
[ | |
Jul 28 2008
| | ] |
1. pagkain
2. pamasahe
3. gasolina
4. bigas
5. tuition
6. kuryente
7. tubig
8. buwis
9. customs
10. pork b
bakit ba sa lahat ng bagay na puwedeng babaan ang presyo, e TEXT MESSAGING pa????
wala akong pakialam kung iron lady ka or what.
minsan talaga hindi ka lang masyadong nag-iisip.
|
|
|
| West Side Story |
[ | |
Jul 28 2008
| | ] |
hey guys. :)
i've been wanting to watch this play for so long, and i'm especially excited to know that its going to be performed in the Philippines. :)
give the details a quick read; you might want to watch it too.
snipped from the West Side Story event page on Facebook:
West Side Story Opening Night Show-For-A-Cause
September 5, 8pm, Meralco Theater
Starring Christian Bautista and Joanna Ampil
Tickets at P1200, 1000, 700, 500
Touted to be the best musical of all time with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and original choreography by Jerome Robbins, this exciting production will be headed by Christian Bautista who will be playing the role of Tony and Joanna Ampil of Ms. Saigon fame as Maria. She will be alternating with Karylle for this role.
Part of the proceeds will be donated to Kythe, a foundation whose primary cause is children with cancer. (visit http://www.kythe.org for details!)
Contact Minnie at 0917-8676332 or minnie.fong@gmail.com for inquiries and reservations! :)
|
|
|
| wish me luck guys :) |
[ | |
Jul 16 2008
| | ] |
I'm competing in this year's worldwide Google Code Jam competition. Programmers and problem-solvers from around the world reserve themselves to solve problems that the Google gurus will pose. :p
The qualification round starts tomorrow at 8:00am Japan time ( it starts simultaneously all around the world ), and will last for 24 hours. If I get to solve at least one (of the probably four problems they'll pose), I'll qualify to move forward to Round 1 (which will be significantly harder). There will be a total of three rounds (aside from qualification) prior to the finals, and eliminations take place at each one. If I get to at least the Top 500 (qualifiers for Round 3), prizes and free travel are already assured.
We can solve the problems in whatever programming language OR manner we choose ( if we wanted to solve them by hand, we could ). I'm going to commit myself to use Visual C# for the contest as much as possible. Primarily for training and whatnot, but I find that it's also easier and faster to program in C# than in C++ (which I regularly use at work).
--
8:00am in Japan means that I'll be in office. Partida na lang, boys. Malamang overtime pa ako. haha.
Please wish me the best of luck guys. :) Hopefully, I get at least a GCJ2008 t-shirt. wahahahaha :p
--
for interested individuals, the contest is still open for registration.
visit the official Google Code Jam 2008 website for more details.
|
|
|
| wala lang. |
[ | |
Jul 8 2008
| | ] |
Apparently, Ueto Aya ( Aya Ueto in western-style ) is the new commercial model for Fujitsu Ten's ECLIPSE line of products ( car navigation systems, and audio systems for both automobiles, professionals and home ).
so we went on ahead on made souvenirs.
haha, hindi lang namin napigilang mawalan ng hiya sa gitna ng Fujitsu Ten ECLIPSE group office.
~
anyway, blogging about it, 'cause I was quite surprised. I've known her from way before primarily for her songs, but I was quite taken aback to know that she was just recently crowned the #1 Commercial Model here in Japan ( second time around, according to Wikipedia ). Partly because, well, I didn't know she modeled, and secondly, Fujitsu Ten has all that money to squander. hahahaha XD no wonder.
~
ANYWAY. for my friends, I have only about one month left here in Japan ( will be coming back on August 9 ), so I'm a-gonna double up on the things that you guys have been prodding me to find. :) so, I'd like to refresh my list of stuff to look out for. what I'd like you guys to do is send me a private message telling me what it was you wanted me to find ( or if you changed your mind in any way ) for you. If I do find it, I'll reply with cost and other details. wokai?
you can send me a private email here at richardilagan AT gmail DOT com.
if you guys know any others who you know have items pending for me to find too, please do tell them i'm running this refresh favor. thanks!
|
|
|
| because i've been missing a rant or two nowadays. |
[ | |
Jun 17 2008
| | ] |
just got home from work overtime-all-you-can again tonight ( it's now 23:47 here ).
( i don't fancy a work rant at all, but i just feel that i need a bit to unload. )
but anyway, it's okay, i guess. i honestly think the work is do-able. impossible, but do-able, as Sean Connery once said. it's just that, it's time like this that i most wish i was back home.
--
anyway, to get my mind off the work, been trying to create an itenerary for my department mates for the remaining time we have left on business trip. we only have about seven weeks left, and everyone wants to go someplace, so we decided on plotting it on schedule so that it's more organized, and so that there's a greater chance that we travel in large groups.
( tentative itenerary here. )
if any of you guys have ideas and suggestions, please do let me know. it will be much appreciated. ^___^
|
|
|
| we decided to get lost. |
[ | |
Jun 14 2008
| | ] |
this morning, me and some of my officemates decided to do something a bit extreme today. we just decided to get lost in Kobe.
so we went on up, rode the JR Hankyu line to Kobe Station, and walked off to who knows where. we just wanted to discover new sites and just get tired walking and enjoying the scenery.
four cameras were clicking away; i tried something new today and strictly shot all my pictures in black and white. :p went on up to over 130 pictures, uploaded two albums worth ( 120 pics ) to facebook.
have a look at some of my sample pics :p i'm quite proud of how some of the pictures turned out. :)
( Getting Lost in Kobe ( 56kbps warning!!! ) )
i really WILL get an DSLR someday. T______T
albums over at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25260&l=66ff8&id=767463137
- and -
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25262&l=4790a&id=767463137
-oOo-
last Friday was also the in-company exhibit of Fujitsu Ten's ECLIPSE line of products.
ECLIPSE's product line is comprised of audio and video equipment primarily for automobiles ( think pimp my ride ), but have also branched off to include audio equipment for professionals, sound engineers, sound-related industries and home theater adaptations.
i also uploaded an album of our tour thru the exhibit. enjoyed parts of it ( got to ride in PIMPED!!!! porches and BMWs ), and at the end, i wanted to but a system for a home theater. vowed to do that someday.
it just felt good to see all our work materialized into something so sleek, cool and PIMPED. hahahha, motivation motivation.
album at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25239&l=40731&id=767463137
check the gadgets out peeps. :p
|
|
|
| Meriken Park / Kobe Tower |
[ | |
Jun 9 2008
| | ] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Urbandub - Soul Searching |
] |
contrary to what one might expect, no, we really don't do much with regards to free time here in Japan. main reason being, free time doesn't really exist, haha. overtime exists instead in its stead. XD
~
so anyway, drama aside, i have new pic dumps.
we spent Sunday ( 2008-06-08 ) afternoon in Kobe Tower, and followed that up with cam/vid-whoring at Meriken Park. both are in the vicinity of Kobe Port ( there seems to be a slew of things one can do here, actually ).
Andrew (leftmost) : "Pakipagpag na lang pare pagkatapos."
( CAMWHORES! )
had four cameras out this time, but I've only got two of them uploaded to Facebook.
albums are here:
My Camera
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24750&l=aefc7&id=767463137
Romz' Camera
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24755&l=fb68d&id=767463137
--O-O-O--
i also haven't publicly posted this album till now, and i'm not really into making another entry for it right now, so i'm just going to sneak this in here.
after about 3 weeks into business trip, our japanese coworkers finally had time to formally welcome us with a welcome party (kangeikai). went out to Robin Hood Restobar, out in the Sannomiya district of Kobe.
album at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24749&l=e47da&id=767463137
|
|
|
| randomness. |
[ | |
May 28 2008
| | ] |
was promoted today. i really really didn't see that coming. O_____O
now i have to treat my officemates tomorrow at Bamiyan. hahaha XD
~
anyway, was shooting random pictures today.
Misaki Dormitory at night.
overlook from other side of the river
( more pics after the jump. )
|
|
|
| BBQ Party at Maiko Beach |
[ | |
May 25 2008
| | ] |
yes, maiko / maikophoenix, Maiko Beach. XD
~
anyway, nag-BBQ party kami kanina sa Maiko Beach, kasama yung mga kaibigan namin from FTL Japan. technically, party talaga siya for Kishimoto-san dahil paalis na siya for Australia this June 7. naging ok naman, sobrang sarap pala talaga ng Wagyu / Kobe beef! SHIET. ang mahal niya, pero waaaaaah ansarap! XD
anyway, posted an online album of the event here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23570&l=0269d&id=767463137
or you could just click the picture above. ^__^
~
bought myself a new laptop and digicam from Kobe Sofmap yesterday. kaya nga ako nakakapagpost ngayon e. hahahaha XD it's an Acer Athlon64(x2) with NVIDIA GeForce 7100 equivalent, built in webcam and sugoi mic and all that jazz. 17" LCD, 160gb HDD, 2GB RAM. and for roughly only 34000PHP. weeeee~ ( PS3's go for around 16000PHP hahahaha ) darn. kung unlimited lang talaga ang pera ko. XD was eye-ing this DSLR, but i didn't have 70000yen to spare after the lappy. but they WERE selling a nikon DSLR 2003 model, packaged with a nice long lens attachment ( not familiar with the jargon ) for only 25000yen ( around 11000 pesos ). a 2005 model was going for 32000yen. wah. settled for a sony cybershot model na lang. natuwa ako dun sa smile recognition technology. as in sinasabi ng camera kung may nakasimangot sa picture. :p
oh well. current money left is for amenities and necessities na lang. went shopping today for meat, rice and cooking oil. XD
|
|
|
| SUGOI JAPAN: 3 days into business trip. |
[ | |
May 24 2008
| | ] |
SUGOI JAPAN no. 1
may GPS ang mga taxi. at alam ko namang meron ding ganito sa ibang mga bansa, pero natuwa lang talaga ako. ito yung sinusubukan naming i-develop nung nasa KFC pa ako. hahahahaha :p as in naka-indicate yung dapat mong daanan papunta sa gusto mong puntahan, mga kalsada kung saan temporarily hindi puede dumaan, etc.
SUGOI JAPAN no. 2
nish-shred ang mga bills pag pinapasok ng vending machines. alam naming joke lang, pero ganun talaga yung tunog e.
SUGOI JAPAN no. 3
para mag-reserve ng table sa cafeteria, iwan mo lang yung cellphone mo. at hindi lang basta-basta iwan ha. kailangan I-ITSA mo sa mesa. huhuhuhuhu.
SUGOI JAPAN no. 4
para makuwenta ang pagkaing ni-order mo sa cafeteria, itapat mo lang yung tray sa harap ng cash register. at hindi ito bar codes ha. as in yung pagkain na nise-serve sa plato at bowls. pinag-aaralan pa namin kung paano gumagana e.
|
|
|
| it's a little late, but. |
[ | |
May 14 2008
| | ] |
we all think this is goodbye, ne? ^___^
last saturday as milestone, i think i've been with you guys/gals/guy-gals™ for about a year. i was thoroughly impressed at j-crunch repeat, and i jumped on at toycon 2007. i won't forget the rush that accompanied that haru~spring performance. ^___^ the last year-span was, to borrow an overused cliche, a rollercoaster ride. we snagged hitches and we garnered names for ourselves, and i think we really did well, despite our problems then.
not to hamper our own individual life-plans, but here's to hoping that we'll be able to play again someday. whether it be in august, or after our own work or studies, or whatnot. ^__^
~
some highlights:
* the man-train we induced during our performance of September
* our various trips: One Night Carnival notwithstanding. :p
* Brand New Day, and all the work and preparation that went into it. then playing it live. then being showered by praise from certified nihonjins because of it. ( oh yeah, ppfas, i think i forgot to bring this up. :p )
* then also, the greatest ( and worst arguably XD ) soundcheck ever ~ One Night Carnival at NANA Day.
* deevs' pa-star entrance at gakuensai
* infinite, ppfas mix ^_________^
hahaha, and since i'm out of time, i'll stop right here. :p
|
|
|
| things to do. |
[ | |
May 9 2008
| | ] |
1. self-practice. gig is tomorrow na.
2. re-adjust my guitar strings. i swapped my current set for D'Addarrio XL nickels because i need strings that sound brightly close to acoustic for tomorrow ( plus, my current set keeps snapping on me ). i'll need to periodically tune the guitar ( and play ) so that the string tension would have adjusted by tomorrow evening.
3. brush up on my nihongo. i'm currently taking THREE internal classes these days.
3.1 Nihongo Level 2 formal. my sensei went on ahead and dumped 80 level 2 kanji characters on me yesterday. so, aside from memorizing the readings for these 80 kanji ( both japanese AND chinese readings ), i'll have to familiarize myself with vocabulary words using these characters. will have conversation exercises on tuesday.
3.2 Nihongo Level 3 maintenance. primarily so that i don't forget my level 3 nihongo. had volitional forms of verbs a while ago, some of which were familiar, so this was a tad bit manageable. will have to familiarize myself with the new forms introduced though.
3.3 Nihongo : essentials for business trip. basically, a course for the employees going on business trips. it's tailored so that lessons cover the nihongo one would probably use in an office setting, and actual living in japan. is taking up SON KEI GO (honorific words) and KEN JOU GO (humble words), because these are somewhat mandatory in business conversation.
4. finish up on packing. haven't really started, but i do have a list i'm working on on what to bring. am still deliberating on bringing my acoustic guitar.
5. PPF videobar. PPF purposes.
6. AV Presentation for the DTI Award Ceremony. The general administration dept here at Fujitsu Ten thought of giving me the honor of authoring the presentation video of the company, for the Department of Trade and Industry awards ceremony sometime after May 21. Fujitsu Ten is receiving an award, and thus, presentation is necessary. apparently, it looks like they liked the presentation video i made for the Automotive Electronics Department last March.
7. Pamper tropical maeby. Tropical maebies apparently need a lot of care and concern to maintain smiles.
8. Finish a Software Specs Document and a Software Design Document. this is so that when i get to japan, i'll just have to think about the actual coding for our application.
9. Finalize the paperwork for my brother's tuition. we don't want to snag into some legality while i'm away.
10. Get sleep. not getting much.
|
|
|
| Ongaku Interrupted this May 10! :D |
[ | |
May 7 2008
| | ] |
Ongaku: Interrupted is already happening this May 10!
again, the party's going down at Atchie's Restobar, El Pueblo, Ortigas, Pasig. Starts at 6:00pm, tickets are yours for a measly Php120 ( inclusive of one beer ).
according to the gig schedule, we ( PPF All-Stars ) will perform around 7:50pm, but if you're going to come anyway, please do support the other bands as well! the Ongaku Society has a very rich and talented repertoire of j-bands, and you can be sure that Ongaku Interrupted will satisfy your j-music cravings! :D
~
we ( PPF All-Stars ) have been preparing pretty very diligently for this performance, and we promise to deliver! :D we have a few surprises up our sleeves this time around, sessionists, and new D'Addario strings! we're d*mn sure you'll love our lineup this time around. ^_____^
we hope to see you there! :D
|
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
|
|
|
|
