Cannot Access Server Files

After a long weekend and you’re starting to receive calls from users who cannot access their shared drives or home folders…

Check the Crash on Audit Fails on the Server’s registry and if the value is 2, change it to 1. Save and delete the security logs. Reboot the server and ask the users to try again…

Don't forget to investigate what causes of the problem. Review your Event Logs...

Logon Failed, Local Account Disabled - Yes, We Can!

Yes, we can! As my daughter would always shout when she’s watching Bob the Builder.

Last week I gave her a yellow hard hat and she loved it because it’s the same with Bob's hat…

There’s a CD called “SuperTools” that can access your user accounts properties but the easiest way to reenable your local administrator’s account and reset its password is to boot your machine thru safe mode.

Press F8 key after POST and select safe mode.

Reset Security Settings to Defaults

Have you been task to reset the security settings of an XP to its defaults? Just open your dos prompt and copy paste this and press enter.

secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\repair\secsetup.inf /db secsetup.sdb /verbose

For a complete guide from Microsoft try this link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313222

An Afternoon in Binondo - Manila

About a year ago, a friend invited me to a free seminar on “Traveling with a Camera” in Glorietta 4 presented by Jay Alonzo of AFI and from then on I received emails from their organizer Cecille Cruz on events and workshops hosted by Ayala Foundation.

I never got the chance to join again because of my busy schedule until last week when they hosted a photo and travel trip to Binondo which is very familiar place to me since I lived in Tondo since I got married. It’s my way going home from the office specially when its already traffic in the Pier area.

It was a fun day and a great experience though I was thinking of a more historic trip because I wanted to see old houses, historical landmarks and other sort of well-known value like the Luna’s house or something like that. But nonetheless, we’ve gone to places which I haven’t been and the stores which have significant values in our Filipino-Chinese history.

The great thing about it is that we got featured in newspapers and our entries were exhibited in AFI library. I'm looking forward for more trips like this.

Michael Phelps - Every Kid Needs a Hero

Today we celebrate a new hero in the modern day Olympics. Though many would still argue of who’s the best athlete or the best Olympian ever but for me it's unimportant.

He might be young but what he’d accomplished is an inspiration to the world specially to the youth who look for a little encouragement in their lives. We as parents who cannot show or get this out-of-this-world achievement can learn also from his parent. He was raised by a single parent, his mom, who gave him a life in the pool.

My wife and I did the same thing not to dream of a future Olympian but a child who’s not afraid of the water and knows how to swim as early as possible. Our daughter loves the pool as well as the beach as we’ve noticed in her first few pool lessons and first beach vacation at one year old…

Michael Phelps has done something that kept us in awe for several days. We’ve waited and watched most of his events from qualifying to finals and every finale is a gold medal. Unbelievable! But if you’d followed his career, there’s no doubt that this kid is exceptional. He got six gold medals in the 2004 Olympics, seven more in 2007 World Championships and eight more Olympics crown this week.

Every child needs a hero, but actually, even grownups like us need something or someone to give us a much needed support and pride in our jobs each day, like what Mike did…

Jezel Kathrene - Fabulous @ 18

A week before I left for training in the States last December, I went through a foot surgery. And five days after, I got to shoot Jezel’s pictorial for her tarps, invites and signature board.

It’s kinda hard especially when you’re kneeling or on an awkward position but I didn't pay much attention. I just wanted to make my client happy and I’m also preparing my foot for my three weeks travel in a couple of days.

We went to UP Diliman and the weather was just right and sun rays were passing through the trees’ leaves at about 2 in the afternoon. I’ve been there before for a friend’s Prenup but I wanted to explore the place just a little more.

Jezel was fabulous!

Click here to view her album.

"Thrilla in Manila" Part 1 of 3

Remember my officemate Jake who always calls me "Howie Mandel" on my January post? Well, he still does and asks me to help him cleanup his laptop with applications that’s making it crawl whenever he open any file or program.

And so I did and recommended that he upgrade his RAM to at least 1GB or better 2GB because he only has 512MB. For two days during my free time, I’d work on his machine and uninstall applications that he doesn’t need or seldom used.

After I’m done, he handed me a paper that I cannot agree not to accept because it’s an SI gift. He ask me what I really want to have and I said “Owning a “Thrilla in Manila” SI cover is an important cover for me to have because we Filipinos are just born a devoted boxing fan.

Not only it’s about the greatest boxing icon, the most significant about it is, it was held here in our country and was refereed by a Filipino in Carlos Padilla. Whenever I watch a game or show in Araneta Coliseum, I would pass by the poster of Ali vs. Frazer fight in 1975.

Today, I’ll be counting three more weeks and this important SI cover will be mine. Thanks again Jake!

Spiderman - Reprised

As I’ve said before, "Someday, I’m gonna paint Spidey’s backboard with a lighter color." Well, guess what, I don’t have to wait any longer. My father-in-law did it for me…

Criticism spread fast in our house on Spidey’s visibility against its background, so I told them that I’m going to repaint it with a lighter one so he’ll be seen even from afar. On Monday while we’re having our dinner, Dad asked me if it’s alright if he’ll be the one to do the painting and I said yes rightaway...

He loves to paint and here’s the result with him shaking hands with Spidey below…

Thanks, Daddy Ben! This is way too cool!

Ysabela - The Bowler

Kids nowadays can enjoy sports activities with grownups. As for our daughter, she started learning and having fun with it her early years. I remember the first time I saw bowling in Recto where you rarely see kids.

Last year our annual company tournament was held here at the Mall of Asia where we took home the Class B championship trophy so it’s nice to bring my family here for some fun. The lanes were good, the couch is better, the colorful walls and great lighting condition are very much attractive to people.

Bela love the game so were very attentive of her running all over the place. Her Tita Tessa got a big promotion from her office so she treated us for lunch in Dampa Macapagal and we headed to MOA for bowling afterwards.

Empire of the Sun and a Weekend in Recto

When I was little, Claro M. Recto Street, formerly known as Azcarraga Street used to be my hub. We once lived in the third floor of an apartment in the streets of Soler corner Severino in Quiapo for almost five years and at the end of Severino is CM Recto, the most popular street for students at that time.

Every weekend, my agenda was to scout Recto on movies that accept 11 year-old kid like me. Oftentimes, I got lucky to watch the most interesting movies at that time from Tagalog to foreign movies with movie passes that my mom got from friends. One of these great movies is Steven Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun” which featured a story of a boy of my age who was caught in the time of World War II.

I remember when I watched this movie, it was a weekend around nine in the morning and the movie houses in Quiapo and Recto are already open. Most of the times, I can see that I’m the only person watching inside the theater but I wasn’t afraid though it was very cold inside. With my small body and just wearing a shirt, a short pants and a pair of sandals makes me fold in my seat until my shirt is stretched enough to cover my whole body while doing an Indian sit on my chair.

Some of the names of the theaters that I was a suki of are Maxim, Tandem and Ever Emporium Cinemas. In the morning, I’d go for early breakfast and if we have extra money, my mom would buy us a hot and delicious pancit together with pandesal from Sandra bakery in Recto. After a heavy breakfast, I’d start my strolling and look for something to do…

I am always alone when I do these adventures, as I always did with my adventures in our barrio in Sorsogon. I explore the river and roam the fields all by myself. I always got the privilege to sing our national anthem more than five times a week, five at school and the others at the theater.

My favorite theater is Tandem, located at the corner of Recto and Severino which is less than a hundred steps from where we lived. On the second floor of the building is a video games arcade so whenever I got extra money, I’d play there. If I don’t have money, I’ll just watch the other kids play. At the ground floor are clothes and shoes stores. At the basement are billiards tables where you'll find college students playing or gambling.

Empire of the Sun introduces me to Spielberg and Christian Bale. So when Batman Begins was shown, I remember Bale as the boy almost same as my age who’s journey in that movie has been a similar path as mine, survival.

In Quiapo, you must be street smart; else, you’ll get into some kind of trouble with bully kids. Good thing for me, I got a bat cave that I can be at peace, a theater…

Fr. Jason - Makati, Philippines

A decade ago, my brother and I both graduated, me from college and him from his vocation which my family has been of full support.

I remember the first time when we first went to Manila onboard a crowded jeepney. It was a very long journey for us riding that took us more than 12 hours to reach our destination.

As a kid, I didn’t pay attention why we went here until several years after when my mom was telling our story to some folks that we went here for my brother to take the entrance exam for the Philippine Science High School which he did.

And while we’re staying at some relatives place, somebody has had mention of a seminary in Manila. Upon hearing this, I’m not sure if my mom or my brother suggested, but he took an exam also…

So while were back in our hometown, two letters arrived, one from PSHS and one from Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary. And my brother had chosen the latter…

And after many years, there he was, at the podium, delivering his speech made just few hours before the ceremony because according to my mom, the graduates didn’t know who will be delivering the speech until a day or few hours before the event…

I found this letter inside one of our family albums which I think my mom had kept because she always asked a copy of my brother’s speeches and I scanned it in 2004. I can’t say that this is the full text because I remember some handwritten insets to that paper which he might edited that day…

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Good morning.

When I began as a seminarian, I thought that the road ahead would be a very long one. I must confess though, that as I am addressing all of you at this moment, I feel otherwise. It seems that our thirteen years of seminary formation just breezed through, taking along with it what was once with us (our youthful looks perhaps), and leaving us with the precious memories and fruits of our struggles over the years. We stand before you today not as men who were preserved and frozen for a long time to become a delightful dish but as men, who were cut and trimmed and pruned, molded according to the heart of Christ. As I have done, so you should also do. This is the end goal of this enterprise. In such process, many have contributed to bring it to fulfillment.

In this long list, one person deserves our highest gratitude and appreciation, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal L. Sin. In the program of his Silver Jubilee Celebration as Archbishop of Manila, the ordination we witnessed today is designated as the culminating activity. And rightly so, it is for his Eminence's motto of SER VIAM finds its primary expression in Diakonia. To His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, thank you very much for the Gandium et Spes that you never fail to share with your flock

To our families, especially our parents, we understand the difficulty of not being with you as we grew up. It has not been easy for even in some of our happiest moments, we cannot be with the people we love; yet we know that you share this sacrifice with us and perhaps yours is even greater than ours. And so, this day our dear parents, brothers and sisters, allow us to thank you from our hearts for letting us be what God wants of us.

We would also want to express our gratitude to our formatters and professors for helping us realize who we are and what we are capable of. It is through the experiences we've had in your care that we learned to analyze and to question. You have indeed done a great job of molding us into becoming better servants by opening our eyes not only to the good but also to the grim realities that we have to face and maybe change in the future. It is not the only pleasurable times that we had which taught us to be strong, but it is in the struggles that you've taken us through that we learn the most.

Our fellow seminarians whom we leave for the moment: we thank you for making our brotherhood a meaningful one. You may not be aware of it, but it has been your enthusiasm and idealism that blunted our tendency to become jaded. Again, thank you dear brothers.

We would also want to express our sincerest gratitude to the many friends and good-willed people that we have met and has become part of our lives. It is through you that we discovered within ourselves a heightened sensitivity which moved us to hear what is musical and what is not; to smell what is fair and foul; to see what is aesthetic and what is incongruent; and to feel what is soft and what could cut the skin. It is only from you that we've learned that intimacy in any human relation is not in keeping but in letting go of the things and people we hold most precious. And though many of our friends are not here present, we would like to thank you for everything.

Above all, we would like to thank God our Father to whom we offer our life of service. There may not be a greater way of thanking him but by remaining faithful to our vocation; yet our greater challenge still is to love as he has loved. AS I HAVE DONE SO YOU MUST DO. A great poet once said “To love is difficult. For one human being to love another human being; that is perhaps the most difficult thing that has been entmsted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation." All we have done within our seminary formation is but a preparation to love not just one being, but all those that Christ has loved.

The ordination that you witnessed today is not so much our response to the Lord, not so much our Yes to Him. Above all, it is the Yes of the Father, the Loving Look of the Father to the many yeses we have done in the past.

There is nothing tangible in this World that can take the shape of what led us to respond to His call. Yet we believe that it can only be God's love. I stand corrected. Let me rephrase Carl Lung. We don't believe it's God's love. WE KNOW.

Thank you once again and God bless you.