New York - Dec 22, 2009

Three layers of clothes, thick coat, scarf, ski gloves and thick boots... I think i am ready to brave the cold in new york!

Museum Nights Dec 09

Pinoy UF Pre-Christmas dinner

Pinoy UF Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

November 25, 2009
Melo's House of Fun

Gators vs. Golden Panthers

University of Florida vs. Florida International University
November 21, 2009
UF's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Pictures courtesy of Jill and Jean...

This Kiss- Faith Hill

Love the song... love the movie!!! 

****

I don't want another heartbreak
I don't need another turn to cry, no
I don't want to learn the hard way
Baby, hello, oh no, goodbye
But you got me like a rocket
Shooting straight across the sky

It' s the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centripetal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's, ah, impossible
This kiss, this kiss, unstoppable
This kiss, this kiss

Cinderella said to Snow White
"How does love get so off course, oh
All I wanted was a white knight
With a good heart, soft touch, fast horse
Ride me off into the sunset
Baby I'm forever yours"

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centripetal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's, ah unthinkable
This kiss, this kiss, unsinkable
This kiss, this kiss

You can kiss me in the moonlight
On the rooftop under the sky, oh
You can kiss me with the windows open
While the rain comes pouring inside, oh
Kiss me in sweet slow motion
Let's let everything slide
You got me floating, you got me flying

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centripetal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's, ah subliminal
This kiss, this kiss, it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss

It's the way you love me baby
It's the way you love me, darlin', yeah

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centripetal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's, ah subliminal
This kiss, this kiss, it's criminal
This kiss, this kiss

It's the way you love me baby
It's the way you love me darlin', yeah

UF International Student Academic Awards 2009

Gainesville Downtown Art Festival 2009

For several years now, the University of Florida Art Education program has been setting up the Imagination Station at Gainesville's Annual Downtown Arts Festival. This is the 2nd year that I've volunteered to help facilitate activities for children and families. Yes, it can be really exhausting, yet extremely fulfilling.

Being able to work with children is one of many reasons why I decided to pursue museum education. I just love working with kids- the honest delight they express at the simplest of things is simply inspiring!

Halloween 2009

At Judge Debbie's place

Birthday Dinner

My 5th birthday celebrated away from home...

National Museum of the American Indian

I love this museum's use of organic shapes, from its curvilinear architecture to its circular galleries!

Day trip to Baltimore

One Friday, when I didn't have to work, I hopped on a train and went to Baltimore.

Turned out to be a fun and productive trip. I was able to visit the Walters Museum and the Maryland Science Center. If you ever go to Baltimore, you have to come and see these two. I was also told not to go home without trying the famous Baltimore crab cakes, so I did and boy was it yummers!

Joey in DC/VA

Im surpirsed that my phone can take a pretty decent picture

Joey is a fellow Pinoy Fulbrighter from the University of Florida who recently completed his PhD. in Nematology. His visit to DC was his last "hurrah" before flying back home to give back to our beloved Philippines.

Cheers, Dr. Joswa!

Is sleepy and cold... Can someone please just wake me up when the semester ends?

Florida Association of Museums 2009 Conference

Sarasota, Florida

INC finally cleared... GPA back to normal. Yehey!!!

Travel and learning

A fairly recent conversation I had with my younger sister forced me to think about what I have gained from my seemingly incessant travels. 

***

Sis: do you think your travels have made you more globally and politically aware and brought about an unprecedented level of maturity?

Me: globally aware in general yes, but not politically, perhaps culturally would be more appropriate for me. I have no interest in politics.

Sis: follow-up question: had you stayed exclusively within the Philippines, do you think you would have achieved the same level of learning?

Me: I would not credit my "unprecedented" level of maturity solely on my travels. But I highly think that it has contributed immensely. Traveling and living abroad, away from most of who and what you know, most of the time require self reliance and adaptibility. 

Sis: its adaptability

Me: that's what i said

Sis: adaptibility is not a word

Sis: and your answer to my follow up question?

Me: My travels, along with all my life experiences, have made me who and what I am today. Had I stayed in the Philippines, perhaps I would have matured differently, but not necessarily learned less. The choices we make in life take us through different paths. They shape our interests and ultimately what we learn. If I stayed in the Philippines perhaps I would not have learned that Dali's melting clock was inspired by a melting Camembert cheese left for too long on the table on a warm sunny day, that Netsukes actually have practical function (i didn't even know what these were until I saw them at the Boston MFA!) or that scones (which I have read about in those Judith McNaught novels I was so fond of in college) don't really taste extraordinarily different than our local breads in the Phils.

Sis: uh...ok

Me: Maybe I would have learned about something else that captured my interests. Or perhaps I would also have learned about the same things but in a different way.

Me: why do you ask these questions anyway?

Dali's "La persistencia de la memoria" at the MoMa.

Let's vote for Pinoy nominated as CNN Hero

Efren Peñaflorida, founder of the Dynamic Teen company, is making a difference through his "Kariton Klasrum" project.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive09/efran.penaflorida.html

Help spread the word!

Architecture Design Competition 2009

www.philippineclimatechallenge.org


The top 3 winning designs will be awarded US $ 10,000, US $ 5,000 and US $ 3,000 respectively.The 1st prize winning design will be built as a prototype master planned community of 35 houses in Cam Sur . All design entries will be compiled and published into an encyclopedia of architecture and planning solutions for climate change.

Competition Objectives

* To build the first green, affordable, disaster-resistant village in the Philippines while respecting the environment (through the proper planning, selection and use of sustainable materials and systems as well considering the production life cycle and embedded energy needed to create and transport these materials and systems)
* To build an Encyclopedia of climate-resilient, affordable design solutions that can be used to help facilitate the development of policies that address these humanitarian challenges

Timetable

August 15, 2009 Competition launch online
November 15, 2009 Deadline for registration
January 5, 2010 Deadline for submission of questions
February 5, 2010 Deadline to dispatch answers to questions
March 15, 2010 Deadline for submission of entries
April 6 to 9, 2010 Judging
April 22, 2010 Awarding

Eligibility

The competition is open to all local and international architects and planners, registered according to the relevant laws in their respective countries. All entrants are required to provide relevant professional information on the registration form. Where an entry is made by a team of professionals, the team must be led by a person meeting the above criteria. That member must be indicated on the registration form as the entrant.

Design Task

* Develop a masterplan for a village of 50 houses that can be applied to other similar rural sites.
* Create an integrated eco-agro-tourism development that addresses the sustainability of the community by understanding the local demographic, economic, social, and environmental attributes.
* Propose a site-sensitive design theme for the entire village to achieve a unified look, that can be applied to all structures within the community.
* Provide a detailed design for a typical house, including interior space planning.

Prizes

* 1st Prize - $10,000 and Guaranteed build
* 2nd Prize - $5,000 and Option to build
* 3rd Prize - $3,000 and Option to build

Construction Budget

* House (Structure and finishing) – Php 100,000 (US$ 2,125)

To join the competition or for technical queries, please contact:

Arch. Amado Tandoc
Competition Secretariat
United Architects of the Philippines
53 Scout Rallos St., Diliman, Quezon City
1103 PHILIPPINES
Telephone: 63 2 412 6363 or 63 2 412 6374
Fax: 63 2 372 1796
Website: www.philippineclimatechallenge.org

For queries on the project and getting involved, please contact:

Illac Diaz
My Shelter Foundation
Email: illacdiaz@gmail.com

For more info visit:

www.philippineclimatechallenge.org

Maraming salamat at paalam, Tita Cory!

This video still moves me to tears...

May we never forget the cost of gaining our freedom...

Toys

For next month’s Toy Building Workshop at the Spark!Lab, Steve and I had a long discussion about the kinds of toys we use to play with when we were kids. But aside from the regular off the shelf toys like Barbie dolls, robots, GI Joes, trucks, cooking se, legos and etc., I recall that I also had some toys that we just made from found objects.This had me thinking that back then kids had to be more creative and imaginative when they were playing. A chair is no longer just a piece of furniture you sit on but it can also be a race car, a bus, a sari-sari store or even a control chamber of a gigantic robot!

I remember that my brother and I used to lay our dining chairs side by side on the floor and pretend that it’s an autobot that transforms into a cool Transformer robot. We both loved watching Transformers- now this is way before Shia Lebouf became a star, even before he was born! On other days, the chairs will be individual robots that combine into Voltron!

Then during Christmas time, we would flatten bottle caps and string them up to make something like a tambourine for Christmas caroling around the block. I also remember some friends who made their own go carts out of scrap wood and wheels.

I browsed online to see what other home-made toys are out there. I even found a couple that not only are hand-made but also explain some science concepts. I tried to make some of them at the Spark!Lab to see how easy or difficult they might be for kids to make.

Balloon-powered car

a wind-up toy car from CDs, rubberband and a pencil

The Cartesian Diver

I remember that our Physics teacher in high school, Mr. Pascual, showed this one to us. But he used beakers, flasks and test tubes to make it so it looked really complicated and cool. He, or another classmate, would ask a volunteer student questions and if the student is telling the truth then the test tube will sink to the bottom. If it stays up, then the student is lying. There sure were a lot of embarrassed classmates then!

I showed the Cartesian Diver as part of the “Everyday Science” program at the Robinson’s Children’s Library a couple of years back. But this time I used simple materials: a two-liter soda bottle and a ball pen cap or eye dropper weighed down with a pinch of clay.  

              

A bird in a cage thaumatrope

A climbing monkey- which would later become the Climbing Sparky!

What toys did you make when you were a kid?

Internship

Snapshots from my internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's Spark!Lab...

Capitol Fourth

National Zoo

National Cathedral

The Washington National Cathedral took almost a century to complete. The first foundation was laid in 1907 by President Theodore Rosevelt and in 1990, the last finial was placed in the presence then President GW Bush.

There's a figure of Darth Vader on top of one of the towers, which I'll have to look for next time I visit!

Jersey Boys: Walk like a man

One of the groups that performed during the Captiol Fourth concert was the Jersey Boys. I have loved this song, Walk like a Man, ever since I heard Robert Downy, Jr. sing it in the movie Heart and Soul.

Kennedy Center

The first NMAH Intern enrichment tour I participated in. The Kennedy Center is a gem of a place!

The terrace offers a 360 degree view of DC and Virginia. The Kennedy conducts free guided tours and visitors can go up to the terrace at night. The daytime view is breath-taking enough, I could only imagine how amazing it must be at night!

Star's visit to DC

The same day Star arrived, I took her to the monuments. She thought I was exaggerating when I warned her that we will be walking for hours!

We dropped off her stuff at my place then headed off for a bit of sight-seeing. We started at the Old Post Office Tower, walked to the White House, then to the Washington Moment, and passed by the WWII Veterans Memorial. By the time we reached the Lincoln Memorial at almost 8pm, we were both so tired (and hungry!) I could have slept next to Abe if that was an option!

Carbon Dioxide Experiment

Day four of internship: Thursday, June 25

Steve asked me if I wanted to do the Carbon Dioxide experiment and I excitedly said YES! After three days of reading the manuals, observing the experiments and shadowing the facilitators, I finally felt I was ready to lead one of the experiments on my own.

"Playing" with the kids before the experiment

We conduct experiments at the Spark!Lab every hour on the hour from 11am to 3pm. I was going to do the first experiment of the day. Since it was still early into the day, there were not too many kids around, which was good because a smaller group is easier to manage. I announced that we will be conducting an experiment in five minutes and kids who want to participate should grab a seat on the lab’s bench.

I handed each kid a pair of safety glasses while explaining the importance of listening and paying attention during the experiment. Although we do not use any hazardous chemical, the safety goggles add a touch of seriousness and excitement to the experiment. I asked if anyone knows what carbon dioxide (CO2) is and some of the kids volunteered information such as it’s what we breathe out. I gave them additional background information about CO2, including the fact that it’s odorless and colorless. I asked them to inhale deeply then exhale and explained that, as one of the kids pointed out, we breathe out CO2. Then I asked: what living organism uses CO2 to make their food? Some kids replied plants and trees. So I told them the importance of trees and the relationship between humans and plants: we breathe out CO2, the plants use CO2 in photosynthesis and as a by-product release oxygen, which we need.

Their faces lit up as soon as I took out I took out a chest filled with frozen CO2 (dry ice).

Dry ice is extremely cold, with temperatures below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and as such should not be touched by our bare hands as it could cause cold burns. I asked the kids what would happen if I left the dry ice on the table and left to eat my lunch? Some of them said that it would melt and leave a puddle of water. So I explained the difference between regular ice and dry ice: ice melts then evaporates while dry ice sublimates- it turns directly into gas from solid.

They all exclaimed “wow” when I added the dry ice into a water-filled flask and it started bubbling.

I then lit a candle then asked what would happen if I put a beaker over it. We all watched the fire die as soon as the oxygen inside the beaker was consumed and converted to CO2. I took this opportunity to tell them about how one guy thought of using CO2 to put out fire thereby inventing a CO2 fire extinguisher. To prove that CO2 truly puts out fire, I asked them to each draw a cupful of vapor from the chest. They got all excited as the fire from each of their candles was put out when they poured CO2 onto it!

On to more cool stuff: Is CO2 an acid or a base?

I asked for a show of hands to find out how many think that it is, how many think that it’s not and how many just want to find out. We gave each child an Erlenmeyer flask and told them to pour 50 ml of Bromothymol Blue (BTB) into it. BTB is used as chemical indicator for weak acids and bases. It changes color when acid is added into it. Then we gave each of them drinking straws to blow bubbles into the BTB. You can just imagine how they reacted when the solution turned yellow!

Then I asked them to pour lime water into their flask and there were more excitement when it turned back to blue! One kid asked: “can we turn this back to yellow again?” Instead of telling them the answer, I asked them to blow bubbles into the solution again. And yes, there were more “whoas” when it turned yellow again.

I ended by reminding them that we should wash our hands after doing an experiment. I added liquid soap into a flask of water then dropped a few dry ice pellets into it. Kids became extremely animated when they saw what happened next! Suddenly, there were over thirty hands reaching out to touch the soap foam!

I participated in the carbon dioxide experiment during my first visit to the National Museum of American History (while I was on an Asian Cultural Council fellowship to observe education programs of museums in the US). That experience became one of the biggest factors that affected my decision to apply for an internship at the NMAH. Who knew that eight years later I will be on the other side of the bench conducting the experiment myself!

One billion and five hundred forty million

June 23, 2009

Today I learned my height in nanomillimeters: 1,540,000,000. Wow, that's a lot of zeroes, I feel taller! I should remember this and start writing it down when forms asks for my height :)

***

I started my day by getting settled in my new work space. Since I will spend a lot of time at the Spark!Lab and Invention at Play, I was stationed at one of the Lemelson's offices at the1st floor, where those two exciting places are located. I am sharing an office space with Steve Madewell, Interpretive Exhibits Coordinator and resident mad scientist/eccentric/jack of all trades of the Lemelson Center- I heard a rumor that he can even create a time machine! I should add that our office also doubles as a workshop for Steve's masterpieces. I remember that about a decade ago, I wanted to buy power tools so I can make my own furniture - so I was quite excited to see all the power tools, nuts and bolts, and unbelievable science knick knacks we are allowed to tinker with!

Tricia was nice enough to invite me to sit through their regular staff meeting. After more introductions, the meeting went under way and I learned what projects the staff recently wrapped, are currently working on and what else are coming down the pipe.

In the afternoon, I joined a Teacher's Workshop on inventiveness that Tricia facilitated for a couple of teachers from Virginia. After a brief lecture on the history, mission-vision and activities of the Lemelson Center, Tricia divided the teachers into three groups. She handed each group an envelope containing invention patent documents and a couple of images. The group was tasked to determine what the invention is, how and what it is used for and try to piece together the story of how it was invented. I think that this is a very good activity to help the participants grasp the concept of inventiveness/creativity as illustrated by the featured inventor and his/her invention. It also challenges our common notion that inventors are old men with white hair, a beard and round-rimmed glasses. The main message of the activity is that we all can be inventors!

Then the teachers were led downstairs and allowed to explore on their own the Invention at Play exhibit. We all met up at the Spark!Lab after about half an hour, and the teachers continued to explore the space.

Some of the teachers exploring the "What now activity"

When Spark!Lab closed to public at 4pm, Tricia commenced the last activity that  demonstrated the invention process: Think it! Explore it! Sketch it! Create it! Try It! Tweak it! Sell it! The teachers were asked to form three new groups. This time, Tricia handed each group a bag containing an assortment of materials. But each group's set of materials are different from the others'. The task is for each group to think of a challenge that their materials could solve and then create that solution - all in under 15 minutes and with only the materials they have!

The teachers brainstorming for ideas

An eco-friendly water filter device for camp sites

A floating shower and toilet for boats

A a garbage/recycling bin that can be attached to students' desks

After the workshop, I sat down with Steve to brainstorm about what activity I could come up with for the Lemelson. I have previously told him about designing and making roller-coasters in my last class this summer (read about that by clicking here), he felt that that could be an idea we could pursue. Wow, my summer course on Science Instruction for Informal Setting is truly coming in handy! I am extremely excited about making a prototype of the rollercoaster activity!

First day as an Intern

Monday, June 22.

We were asked to show up at the employee entrance of the National Museum of American History (NMAH) at 10 am today. Although I live about four miles and 3 Metro stops from the NMAH, I decided to leave the apartment at 9am. Thanks to the Metro, it only takes about 30 minutes for me to travel from door to door, oh how I've missed living in the big city!

I met with four other interns at the waiting area and at 10 am, we were met by two other interns who are assigned at the NMAH Internship office. They gave us a brief overview what's expected from us as interns, the usual stuff: dress code, behaviour, rules, safety and security reminders etc.

We also found out from them that as interns, we have a number of fabulous benefits such as:

• free one admission per week to IMAX movies at any Smithsonian. Everything but Night at the Museum - awww! They do have a number of other interesting films to watch, so I know where I'm spending my weekends at!
• free one simulation ride per week. Since I'm paranoid to enjoy real thrill rides, these are perfect for me.
• 20% discount on any Smithsonian cafeterias and museum stores
• Occasional reduced or free admission to other non-Smithsonian museums

The Internship office also organizes enrichment trips, programs and dialogues with leading individuals from NMAH. With hundreds of summer interns at the Smithsonian, there are a number of Smithsonian-wide programs that allow opportunities for us to learn about the institution, Washington, DC and meet other interns.

After the brief orientation, we were sent off to get our official badges. Took about an hour of waiting before my turn to have my picture taken came. This was posted near the camera: "This is an ID photo, not a glamour shot!"  Five minutes later, my badge was handed to me.

Afterwards, we were individually introduced to our supervisors. I finally met Tricia Edwards, the Education Specialist of the Lemelson Center, who I have been corresponding with since early this year. She introduced me to most of the Lemelson Staff then brought me down to the Spark!Lab for more introductions and for a brief tour of both the Spark!Lab and the Invention at Play exhibit.

She handed me a packet of materials about the Lemelson Center, a list of the staff (which would definitely come in handy considering how awful my memory for names and faces are!), and two research/evaluations: one about the Hands On Science Center (what Spark!Lab used to be) and the other about NMAH. Both documents were very helpful in providing me with a broader understanding of who their visitors are and what they want and need from the museum.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see that , Matt White (former Director of the Hands On Science Center), initiated one of the studies. Matt is a PhD. candidate in History of Science but became a classmate when he took the Introduction to Museology class offered by our program.

He gave me a valuable tip for applying at the Smithsonian, which I believe applies to whatever museum/institution you apply for. He told me that it would benefit me to:

1) identify which section of the museum I really want to be part of based on my interest

2) communicate with someone from that department to let them know of your interest in applying for an internship in their department.

You see, NMAH has a centralized intern application system, but due to the enormous number of applicants they get every summer, sometimes your application and skills do not get noticed. Thus when you have already made the personal connection with the department, assuming they want to accept you of course, they can watch out for your papers when it goes through the system. I am therefore very grateful to Matt for his wise counsel!

I really think I made a good choice in deciding to apply to the Lemelson Center. I have no doubts that this will be an excellent and fun learning experience!

Orlando Science Center

Our first field trip for the course "Science Instruction for Informal Setting".

One of the many activities we had to compete for the trip was an observation and evaluation of two exhibit items- one passive and the other an active exhibit. For this activity, we had to unobtrusively observe how visitors engage with our chosen exhibit items. For 15 minutes, we took tabs on how many visitors a) noticed/looked at the exhibit (<5 data-blogger-escaped-actually="" data-blogger-escaped-and="" data-blogger-escaped-attention="" data-blogger-escaped-b="" data-blogger-escaped-c="" data-blogger-escaped-engage="" data-blogger-escaped-it="" data-blogger-escaped-paid="" data-blogger-escaped-secs.="" data-blogger-escaped-secs="" data-blogger-escaped-to="" data-blogger-escaped-with="">30 secs.). We also took note of their reactions and comments. Then we wrote down strong and weak points of each of our chosen exhibits as well as our recommendation for improvements, if any.

Florida Aquarium

After spending half a day at the Lowry Park Zoo, we continued our field trip to The Florida Aquarium, still in Tampa. We did more observations, evaluations, worksheets and behind the scenes tour. After being on my feet practically since 530am, I was ready to go home by 6pm. Thank God I didn't have to drive all the way the Gainesville! :)

Lowry Park Zoo

We had four field trips for my summer course on Science Instruction for Informal Settings. The Lowry Park Zoo, in Tampa, was second on our list. We didn't just go there to visit the animals but we conducted observations, evaluated interpretative signs and enclosures, competed the activity sheets and went on a behind-the-scenes tour.

Koji's Birthday

Koji is the cute son of two Pinoy UFs- Joy and Emil.

In and around UF

I discovered that I have a number of pictures stored in my other camera that I have never saved nor posted. So here they are: random pictures taken in Gainesville

Photo Album 2009-06-29

Cornstarch Monster

This is a cool yet somewhat creepy video. I tried to read up on Non-newtonian fluids but the explanations seemed like Greek to me! Ahem, any physics major who can explain this to me in simpler terms?

Washington, DC

Sneak peak at the Lemelson Center

I arrived in Washington, DC on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 17. Since my internship does not start until June 22 and I have some time on my hands, I decided to re-visit the National Mall the following day. It has been almost seven years since my last visit and I have forgotten how many people come to see its museums! If only visiting museums could be as popular in the Philippines...

Enid A. Haupt Moongate Garden

Pharaoh Kahmunrah's pile of pilfered artifacts from the movie "Night at the Museum: battle of the Smithsonian" currently on display at the Smithsonian Castle

From the castle, I made my way to the National Museum of American History (NMAH). They recently re-opened after a two-year renovation. Among the changes are the redesigned museum's lobby and a new environmentally-controlled exhibition space for the Star Spangled Banner (the same flag that inspired their national anthem). 

The Greensboro Lunch Counter

On my way to the Lemelson Center, I saw the Greensboro lunch counter  and it reminded me of our course on museum exhibitions last Spring where one of my groupmates, Jenn, focused her virtual exhibition on the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine. The counter was one of the objects we "borrowed" for the exhibit.

I finally got to the Spark!Lab, one of the two spaces run by The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the NMAH. As expected the Spark!Lab was filled with kids (and adults too!) eagerly waiting to participate in the experiments that are conducted every hour. It was 230 in the afternoon so I thought I'd visit the Invention at Play first then come back before 3pm to watch the experiment.

 

I came back later to watch the CO2 experiment. What is interesting about the Spark!Lab is that kids do not only watch the experiments but they are allowed to actively participate in them- hands-on learning at its finest! They are given protective goggles, beakers, flasks and other laboratory apparatuses to be used for the experiment.

This is an interesting video of Steve Madewell introducing the Spark!Lab. I will be working with him during my internship!