Newsmaker: UP Com Sci Majors Win Java Award

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At the the world’s biggest Java technology event, the 12th annual JavaOne Conference, held in San Francisco last week, three UP-Diliman Computer Science majors were awarded the prestigious Duke’s Choice Award by no other than the inventor of Java, James Gosling. The annual awards recognize the world’s best Java-based innovations. Java is a technology that allows computers to run mini-programs for playing online games, chatting with people around the world, calculating your mortgage interest, viewing images in 3D, and many other complex applications that can be used on any computer regardless of the operating system. 

Out of the 12 awardees, the Filipino team, whose members are Diana Bandojo, Ma. Jaymee Krisette Gatapia and Reggie Niccolo Santos, were the only who ones are still in college. Their award-winning Java application is called Project ESP. ESP stands for “Expert System for Poisoning” and it’s designed to aid the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning in the Philippines. UP Professor Prospero Naval has been working closely with the team to make sure that hospitals all over the country can get access to their project. 

In an email interview in Inquirer.net, Bandojo said, “This award is not only for our team but also for the Filipinos and I think this award could bring more encouragements and inspiration to our fellow countrymen.” 


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Quote of the Day: Stevie Wonder

“Ya gots to work with what you gots to work with.” — Stevie Wonder (May 13, 1950 - ), blind musician and artist who has won more than 20 Grammy Awards



our_lady_of_fatima.jpgLife is Fun: Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima. Every year, pilgrims travel to Portugal to visit the site of Mama Mary’s apparitions to three shepherd children in 1917. One of the highlights of the annual pilgrimage which happens on the 12th-13th of May is the Candles Procession.

Of course when we talk about Mother Mary, we are reminded of nuns. So here’s a little story about one man’s (mis)adventures with them. 

A man was driving down a deserted stretch of highway, when he noticed a sign on side of the road. It said “SISTERS OF MERCY HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION.” His curiosity got the best of him and he pulled into the driveway. He walked to the door which read “SISTERS OF MERCY” and he rang the bell. The door is answered by a nun in a long black habit who asked him, “What may we do for you, my son?”

He replied, “I saw your sign and I am interested in possibly doing business.”

“Very well, my son,” the nun said. “Please follow me.”

She led him through many winding passages and he was disoriented. They finally stopped at a door. She told the man to knock on the door. He did and the door was answered by another nun who held a tin cup. The nun said to him, “Please place $50 in the cup, then go through the large wooden door at the end of this hallway.” He got $50 out of his wallet and placed it in the  cup.  Then he quickly walked  down the hall and entered the door. The door locked behind him and he found himself back in the parking lot, facing another small sign that read: “GO IN PEACE, YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY.”

The Power of the Word

For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? — Psalm 94:14-16


 

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