The DJ who's not a DeeJay

The 50th and last item on my list of definitive things I'm thankful for is that I turn 50 today. 

Yes, that's me today. As I celebrate my 50th birthday, I am thankful for a lot of things. As I continue on to this second half of a century, I wish and pray for continued support and love from family and friends, good health, happiness, and continued blessings. 

When I started this series of posts last month, I wanted to list 50 things I'd be thankful for. I'd share one per day. But then I got sick, then we became busy with home renovations, and so I kind of skipped a month worth of daily updates. I still have my list of 50 things and will add them little by little to my blog at https://www.jaydj.net.

Looking back, I'm grateful for all of the experiences I've had. If you've been part of my life, I thank you. Moving forward, I hope to create more good memories as I begin this new chapter in my life. 

Random thoughts:

Half-century old. I would only use the word "century" when talking about century eggs, century tuna, or historical references to century-old events. Funny that now I could use that (or half of it) to describe my age.

Breaking it down into any other number like in months, days, or even minutes is not just overwhelming but also amazing how I reached this new life milestone.  

In video game terms: High score. achievement unlocked! 

One of the lifelong experiences I am most grateful for is being a dad.

I'm glad that having a fitness tracker makes it easy to see the number of steps made in a day. Throughout the years, I've been consciously trying to maintain a regular number of steps. It was usually at the 6,000-step mark. Depending on the activities scheduled for the day, it would determine if I would be able to attain my daily goals. Working at home and sitting in front of the computer make it difficult, though.

This year, my doctor advised me to try to reach a daily goal of eight to ten thousand steps. Thanks to daily household chores, I am happy to surpass the 10,000 mark, even if I'm just at home. I don't necessarily enjoy all of the household chores, but I do see the health benefit, so I've happily embraced the chores.

Climbing the stairs to the Chocolate Hills viewing deck in Bohol

I've previously spent time in the hospital due to high blood pressure. This is a condition that requires constant monitoring and care. I hope and pray that my daily exercises help me towards a healthy future.

When I was considering where to study in college, I was choosing among three courses: computer science, business management, and math. Ironically, when I was accepted into the university of my choice, they offered me a course I had never heard of before: interdisciplinary studies. I initially thought it was the same as International Studies, but only because they had the same acronym.

Luckily, after a year, I was able to shift to the course I originally wanted, Computer Science. I remember choosing this course because I wanted to learn how to connect a musical keyboard to a computer and record music. That was never taught, but the foundation of thought, skills, logic, and concepts did make it easier for me to understand how to learn it.

After finishing my studies, I found it to be useful in a lot of areas and was compatible with the technological advancements that came about in the years to come. 

Thanks to my mentors and professors for giving me the knowledge I carry on to this day.

In 2013, my friend Joey Alarilla went on a "no beef, no pork" diet. During this time, I needed to lose some weight and lower my cholesterol levels. Inspired by this type of diet, I decided to take on a "no rice" diet challenge. I started in November 2013 without any end-target date in mind. 

I never dreamed of managing a business at the highest level. The first instance was with my work friends, who decided to break away from the company where we worked. We worked for an Internet Service Provider, and I was the webmaster. We saw the potential of developing websites for prospective clients instead of being handed projects from the company. This was during the dot-com era, when every business and organization wanted a website but only a few owned one. And so we formed a company that did just that, offering website development to clients. I resigned from the tech company and took on the role of CEO. I didn't ask for it. It was more because there were only a few of us, and I was the logical choice. 

Contract signing with Yehey! for content partnership

The title and role made me feel like I was the top guy and head of the company, but it was really my first time assuming this role, and I was just getting my feet wet. Honestly, it was all a learning experience. I realized that I enjoyed the tech side of it—coding, programming, and creating websites for clients to showcase as their digital properties. What I didn't enjoy were the legal, accounting, and sales sides of the business. We did have other colleagues who were designated to manage these, but since I was both a co-owner and CEO, I had to be involved in each of these aspects and decision making. That's what took out the passion for what I enjoyed doing. The company lasted for close to three years. We weren't able to sustain the business long enough to make a profit. 

I decided to take a break from owning and managing a business and hone my craft in web development. During this time, I merged my passion for music with my knack for writing and maintaining a website. In the following years, I was able to grow the website to become one of the most popular Philippine music web sites during its time. At this point, I determined that the next step in the website's growth would be to incorporate a business component. And so I turned it into a business, adding an e-commerce and advertising platform. Having first-hand experience in previously managing a business, I was more confident in running this and making it a successful and profitable business.

2004 version of my website

The website was massive, with thousands of pages, fresh news, daily updates, and a ton of historical information. I was surprised that, because of its popularity and size, some thought I was managing a huge team. In reality, there were only three employees, me included, as well as a large number of contributors, supporters, volunteers, and fans of the site. I didn't just form a business. I formed an online community of music-loving people. This was what made it unique and fun. 

Regrettably, technology was rapidly transforming the internet and the webosphere. The business and website needed to evolve to keep up with the times. Even before I established the company, I was aware of the necessity for change. Regrettably, a significant portion of this required additional financial investment, which I lacked. So I let it be, and the company eventually downgraded to a non-profit website once again. 

If asked if I would want to assume the role of CEO again in the future, I'd rather participate in a company in a different manner. I simply don't feel the CEO title and status align with my personality.

This is the first and longest blog I've managed since 2007. I wasn't new to writing then. It was just a new venue for me to publish my thoughts and other opinions, which I wanted to share online.

My earliest writing contributions would be in the newsletter of my college Math Club.  Also during college, I programmed my own computer journal, inspired by Doogie Howser. My entries weren't as profound as those of the teenage genius doctor, but at least they got me into the mood of writing daily entries.

Fast forward to 8 years later, when I created my own music website and started writing articles featuring Filipino music artists and music-related information. 

I've been writing professionally for my website, but I didn't have any other avenue for personal writing. This is where Google's Blogger came in handy as a simple platform to create and publish. I was also fortunate to be a part of a large, diverse group of bloggers, and we would often cross paths during invited events. It was a fun group, and blogging provided me with not only writing content but also forging lasting friendships with co-bloggers of different backgrounds and interests.

There came a time when I had 10 blogs of different interests, from music to poetry to photography to humor. One of my blogs also became a finalist for the Philippine Blog Awards in 2010. 

Blogging has been part of my life until today. I also got to acquaint myself with my girlfriend, whom I eventually married. 

Here are my main blogs:

• The DJ Who's Not A DeeJay - www.jaydj.net
• Marikina Life - www.marikinalife.com
• Gagong Kasabihan - www.gagongkasabihan.com

Nature is beautiful. 

I love watching clouds form, ocean waves glide, and the sun rise and set. Whenever I had a chance, I would capture these moments through pictures.

So it was a delight to be able to experience this on a daily basis in two different settings. 

When I used to work in Manila, I would drive along Roxas Blvd., which is known for watching sunsets. Sunrise was too early for me to catch while heading to work, but my end of the workday coincided with the sunsets by the bay. Going home, rush hour traffic was actually something to look forward to because I could catch a glimpse of the Manila Bay sunset while in the comfort of your own car.  In the six years I worked in the Manila area, this was a joy.

The other opportunity I had was when we lived in Singapore. At one point, we lived in a condo near the coast, where our bedrooms and living rooms were exposed to the morning sun. Waking up, I was always looking forward to watching the sun rise from our balcony, which is 22 floors above ground. We lived in this condo for a year and a half. Since most of that time was during the pandemic, we worked from home, giving us the opportunity to catch the sunrise while having breakfast and preparing for the work day.

Here at our current home, we don't have a clear view of a sunset, but we're still thankful that we can catch a a sideview glimpse of the sun as it sets.

For these moments, I will stop whatever I do to appreciate them and be thankful to experience them. 

 

Didn't know the meaning of OC in my early years. It wasn't a something I've heard in our home. I did later find out it was short for OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I read about it, and I don't have the behaviors that can disrupt my daily life. I'm more on the side of wanting to be proper, orderly, and clean. So I'd remove the D in that acronym. If it's anything, it's not disorder, but order. I guess my mom raised me that way, teaching me to fold clothes correctly, put my toys away, and make sure I have a clean and tidy room.  I adapted it to my way of life. 

I would say having order in my life gives me a clearer direction. It's the simplest of things that also bring me joy, like sorting hangers according to color or grouping similar items to make them easier to find. 

I thank my dad for introducing me to this. My dad had a culinary hand in the Navy and was tasked with serving Naval officers with lunch. He usually prepared salads, and I think that's where I got my liking for salads.

I remember my dad creatively carving vegetables for salads, cutting tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers into different shapes, making them visually appealing in addition to preparing a healthy meal. Dad didn't quite teach me how to cut fruits and vegetables. I just saw his creations and tried to replicate them later in life.

I found it to be an interesting and creative way to eat the same food day in and day out. I've been trying to eat an apple a day to get my regular fruit intake. Instead of biting into an apple, I figured it would be fun to slice them into different shapes and arrange them on a plate, which makes it look more than just an apple.

Since then, I've been learning and trying out different cutting techniques and ways to cut an apple. So far, it's been fun and healthy.  

Many years ago, I took an interest in hacking. The earliest experience I witnessed of this was in 1997 when I used to work as a webmaster for an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and the systems administrator team demonstrated to me how unsecure some networks are. I was fascinated by this other side of technology and did some reading about it. I realized there was so much to learn and there were certain skills that needed extensive knowledge in computer networks, which I didn't have, so I just let it be and was okay knowing the basics.

Ten years later, I revisited this interest and took a couple of short courses on ethical hacking.
Ethical hacking, also known as white-hat hacking, is perfectly legal. Ethical hackers are security professionals who, with permission, attempt to break into a system or network. Their goal is to identify vulnerabilities that malicious hackers might exploit. By finding these weaknesses, ethical hackers help organizations protect sensitive data and critical infrastructure, making the online world a safer place.

In 2008, I went to Hackacon, and attended a few seminars on Computer Hacking and Forensic Investigation, Certified Hacking and Countermeasures, and Computer Forensics, Data Security and Penetration Testing. They were pretty much introductory courses to get a sense of what mindset and tools are needed. I guess one realization for this field is that it's not okay to be a hacker with average skills and knowledge. You need to be the best or be on par with the best to be a good and efficient hacker. I didn't continue to pursue further studies as I wasn't confident I'd be great at it and it wasn't really my priority at that time.

Nevertheless, the fundamentals I learned from the seminars on cybersecurity served as a good foundation for learning how to protect myself from malicious attacks. Later on, this proved useful in my next job, working for an Embassy where a lot of levels of security are in play.

After 5 years of organ lessons at the early age of 14, I self-studied how to use a computer to arrange songs. My first submission of original songs I composed were instrumentals, which were first published as part of Sound Canvas Users Group (SCUG) Archives Volume 11 in 1995.

2009 pictorial for my blog

I always wanted to have my own CD, so I selected and compiled songs from my archive and included them in what I call my first (and only) self-released album entitled "JayDJ: The Personal Collection."

If I was asked as a teenager if I wanted to work for the government, I would've immediately said, "Not a chance."

Received my 10th award while in Singapore

For those who aren't familiar, Tagalog is the national language of the Philippines. Growing up, it was the language spoken by my parents and relatives. I, however, only knew basic words in Tagalog. So moving to the Philippines forced me to understand and speak the language. It wasn't easy, as I was enrolled in school as a fourth grader with a Tagalog learning level that of a kindergarten student. 

My mom is my hero. 

One moment I'll never forget is when I was 4 years old and we were crossing the street. Suddenly, a huge car wasn't stopping, even if the stoplight was red for the car. Due to the driver's excessive speed, the car's brakes failed to bring it to a complete stop, causing any remaining momentum to collide with us. While we both rolled on the street's concrete, my mom shielded me, somehow preventing any injuries. We were both rushed to the hospital afterwards, and luckily, we only sustained a few bruises. It was a traumatic experience, but having my mom never leave me, even to the point of taking the impact, showed me how much she would protect me with her life. After that, we didn't have any life-threatening experiences, but if I did, I would want my mom to have been with me to care for me.

I lost my mom to cancer in 2018, and I remember her every day since then. A big part of who I am today is because of my mom. Thank you for raising me with all your love and care.

 

 

During the pandemic, we made use of the limited space on our 22nd-floor balcony and started to plant. We tried different fruit and vegetable plants. I wanted to try growing an ornamental plant. After carefully selecting which one would most likely grow and look nice, we decided on planting sunflowers. 

We initially had three, but the other two did not survive past a few weeks. The one remaining sunflower, though, did flourish and grow to about 3 feet tall. Caring for it and watering it every morning paid off. After it reached its maximum height, it started to blossom. 

It made every morning exciting to see how the sunflower's petals would unfold. I was also surprised at how big the flower is. I wasn't able to grow a sunflower again, but I'm glad I've successfully gotten to grow one. 

My next challenge would probably be trying to grow a bunch of sunflowers together.

I received my driver's license while still in college. When I was 17, I obtained a student license and a driver's license shortly thereafter. I was fortunate because my parents occasionally let me borrow the family automobile to drive to school. We had a Ford Mustang, so driving to school in a sports car seemed cool.

"Fast forward" to now, and with over 30 years of driving experience, I've driven five different cars, logged thousands of kilometers, and have only been arrested for a traffic offense twice

I've also been fortunate to dodge a couple accidents, one of which was a little bump into a bend. I'm also glad I don't have any road rage. Being patient and calm is quite beneficial while driving.

Looking forward to getting more mileage out of my driving skills and thankful that I'm safe.

Among the things I am grateful for, I didn't need to do anything or work hard for this one. I thank my parents, particularly my mom, from whom I inherited her curly locks. 

I grew my hair long a few times just to see where the curls would go. I found out that it spirals the longer it grows.  Having wavy hair also helps cover those spots where hair isn't as abundant as before.

the longer the hair, the wavier it gets

I know that friends have remembered me for my hair, so I treat it as part of my uniqueness.

For now, I will continue to treasure the wavy hair, and I hope there will still be some left to comb and twirl in the years to come.

4. BEGIN CODE

One of the skills I that really helped me in several aspects is that I know computer programming. Nowadays, it's called coding, but back then, you needed to learn computer languages to program.

I'm thankful that my Computer Science degree in college is forward compatible with new skillsets needed today. I may not be creating programs, games, or apps, but the analytical skills, computer logic, and mindset of how a computer works has been useful in different fields. Also, being introduced to AI (Artificial Intelligence) 30 years ago surely helps now that it's mainstream. It sure helps talking to a computer easier knowing how they think and process data.

played key roles in organizing hackathons, such as Tech Canp.

I know I'm not the best, but it only takes a solid grasp of the fundamentals of programming to understand a lot of what is happening in the world of tech today.

Here's a quick list of things I've programmed/coded before:

1. a virus 

2. an anti-virus

3. a game

4. dozens of websites

5. automated processing

6. audit trails

7. content generator

8. content scrapper

9. content management system (CMS)

10. poetry simulator / lyrics generator

Who knows? May be I'll come up with some big idea soon.

END CODE

 3.  Almost became a black belter in Tae-Kwon-Do.

During summer break in my third year of high school, my parents enrolled me in a summer class of Tae-Kwon-Do at the Virramall gym in Greenhills. I was lucky to be under the tutelage of Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong, the founder of the Philippine Taekwondo Association.

It was fun and I made new friends in the two months of training. But it ended short right after our promotion when we all underwent the proficiency tests. We all got promoted from white belt to yellow belt, some mostly low tier yellow, and some, including me, were lucky to get promoted to high yellow belt status. I also got to witness the beginnings of Monsour Del Rosario, Stephen Fernandez, and gymnast Bea Lucero, where we shared the same training area and taught by Mr. Hong.

When school resumed, I had a choice to continue my Tae-Kwon-Do training on top of my studies or stop. I wanted to continue so I had to bring my Tae-Kwon-Do uniform with me three times a week to school and take a 1 hour commute to my dojo. I continued my training for almost a year and got promoted from yellow, to blue, to red, to brown.  

Being one belt away from being a black belter, I did have my reservations about taking the promotion. And at this stage, I also had to prioritize my studies much more as I was graduating. So I opted to stop training and never did reach the last set of tests as the final promotion to black belt.

Do I have any regrets? It would have been a nice title and achievement to add to my skills but I'm just happy I've reached the brown belt status. The discipline I gained from learning this martial art has proven to be very valuable in different aspects of my life.  Knowledge of self-defense is a bonus.

Chah-ryut, Joon-bee.

Context: 
On May 5, 2024, I started a list of things for which I am grateful. It could be a talent, an event, or a memory that helped shape who I am or had an impact on my life. One blog entry, one item, one day. The items will be in random order but they will all be things that have influenced me in a small or huge manner.

Today, I will start a list of things for which I am grateful. It could be a talent, an event, or a memory that helped shape who I am or had an impact on my life.

One blog entry, one item, one day. The items will be in random order but they will all be things that have influenced me in a small or huge manner.

Domain Dreams: My 20+ Year Journey Investing in Digital Property

Back in 2001, the internet was a wild west, and domain names were like gold nuggets. I, starry-eyed and optimistic, dove in headfirst, and at one time owned over 20 domain names. Two decades later, the landscape has changed dramatically, and my digital property portfolio is a mixed bag. I computed a total of over USD $4,000. for all my domain purchases since I started buying, So, was it worth it? Let's explore the world of investing in digital property, with a dose of real-life experience thrown in.

The Allure of Digital Real Estate:

In the early days, domains felt like prime real estate in the virtual world. They offered branding potential, website-building possibilities, and even a touch of speculative thrill. I envisioned catchy names becoming valuable assets, generating income through rentals or sales.

The Reality Check:

Fast forward to today, and the picture is less rosy. Some of my domains remained unused, victims of changing trends or niche markets that never materialized. Others have seen modest value appreciation, but nothing life-changing. The initial excitement has given way to a more pragmatic understanding of the market.

Lessons Learned:

Do your research: Don't just buy domains based on whims or trends. Research the keywords, market demand, and potential uses. Remember, a domain is only valuable if you're gonna use it or someone wants it.

Focus on quality, not quantity: It's better to have a few high-potential domains than a graveyard of irrelevant ones. Invest in names that are brandable, memorable, and relevant to a specific niche.

Be patient: Building value in a domain takes time and effort. Don't expect overnight riches. Think of it as a long-term investment, not a get-rich-quick scheme.

Explore alternative uses: Don't limit yourself to selling or renting. Consider using your domains for building websites, creating content, or even developing online businesses.

Is it Worth It?

Investing in digital property can be rewarding, but it's not for everyone. It requires careful research, a long-term perspective, and a willingness to adapt. If you're passionate about the online world and have a knack for spotting valuable names, it could be a worthwhile venture. However, remember, it's not a guaranteed path to riches.

My Final Thoughts:

The domains that were the most valuable to me were the ones I actively used to build websites because they added branding, value, and searchability on the net. I still buy domains with initial concepts and ideas in mind but don't always follow through on these projects. Sometimes, I do the research and deliberation after buying. It's always a risk but a calculated one if you know how to valuate your domains and your website.

My journey with domain investing has been a learning experience. While I haven't struck gold, I've gained valuable knowledge and a deeper understanding of the digital landscape. If you're considering investing in digital property, approach it with caution, do your research, and be prepared for the long haul. Remember, the most valuable asset you have is your time and expertise. Use them wisely to navigate the ever-evolving world of online real estate.

Do you have any experience with investing in digital property? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!