Dec 19 2008
HP Magic Giveaway Contest Entry
Update: Folks, I didn’t win. The chance was slim because the winners are picked randomly. Meaning to say, even if you have the greatest sob story in the world, that will not help you in anyway for this contest. Likewise, win or lose, I believe my efforts to express my good intentions are good feats!
Recently, I entered HP Magic Giveaway Contest for simple reasons: it gives me opportunity to change my life and share the magic to others. Here’s my entry and video:
I am John Raul Joven II, 21 years old, and I am web developer trying-to-be-geek here in the southernmost city of the Philippines called Davao (do a Google Map search). Actually, I lived in the outskirts of the city so it’s more like I’m a geek living in the middle of the jungle than surrounded by buildings. Here many people don’t know how to use computers and most things are still done manually.
I participated the HP Magic Giveaway because some of the prizes can change my life and the lives of the people who need the prestigious computer resources.
Computer and technology have been bound to me since I was little. My interest with computers started when I was younger and watching Super Mario in my neighbors place. I grew up in a poor family and we used to live in slums. I really wanted to play the game but I couldn’t put my hands on it because my parents cannot afford to do so. Regardless of that fact, as a young person I thought of ways.
Out of desperation, I climbed a tree in our backyard and sold fruits in the villages under the mid-day sun to earn money – I was six years old. There were days that I was successful but then the tree’s fruits are gone, I always ended up crying because I couldn’t put my hands playing my favorite Super Mario. That game wasn’t just a game for me, I learned logics. However, it made me frustrated because my family can’t afford to buy it during my young age.
In my high school, I was lucky because computers were one of our subjects. I always loved Tuesdays because we go inside out computer laboratory and I got my first time hands-on. It was during that time I learned how to program in QBasic and Foxplus. I’ve always wished to have a computer myself and whenever a friend invites me to come into their house, I would never hesitate to go especially if one has computer – because it was only my few means to get my hands on it.
Using other person’s computers, I learned how to use desktop application software, designed logos and wrote stories. I went to my neighbors houses and fix their computers (yet I didn’t own one for myself) and I helped a lot of classmates and friends when it comes to computer stuffs.
One day, my parents spared me a little money and they bought me an Intel Pentium II 350 MHz computer. I was jumping to the roof that day and started with Windows ME (Millennium Edition). It took me 7-10 minutes before I enter my desktop and it made me wonder why in Internet cafes computers are so fast.During this time, the fastest CPU speed was 2 GHz Pentium 4, and I was running at 350 MHz. Despite that, it was my gateway to learn Flash 5, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and other software, which sucked because I had to run one application at a time. After 2 years, I completed a Pentium 4 computer which ran at better speeds, yet the technology I had was 3 years behind the latest ones. I’ve always wished to do extensive video editing, to innovate on the web with my skills, but my system prevents me to do it.
My web knowledge in computers until 2003 was summed up on the greatest accomplishment I had on Geocities that is still live until now:
Profile – ANMJOVEN.COM Final – John Raul R. Joven II’s Official Website Version 3!And a few videos with effects limited by my system:
YouTube – Kadayawan – Technographix VI Entry by John Raul Joven II
YouTube – John Raul Dot ComI had many classmates in college who had computers but they didn’t use them well. I’ve always wished to have a better system so that I can explore more my talents and hone them as I really want to be productive like making tutorials, editing sound through Audition, learning Flash and ActionScript, 3Ds Max, Vegas and a lot more. With my current system I cannot run the software I want to learn and it frustrates me a lot because I have so much motivation to learn, and ideas to put in action to make a difference.
When I graduated two years ago and started working at home for an employer who provided me an entry-level laptop to use for work, I was able to do the things I dreamed to do way back when I was younger. However, still the limitations are so low — it’s like I’m being choked everyday, I can’t play games, I can’t do video editing especially HD video editing using Premiere or other video software, Photoshop crashes, and there are many software I couldn’t run once or at the same time because the laptop lacks CPU speed and dedicated graphics card. My desktop experience hinders my overall productivity so much.
It’s noteworthy, however, that despite these limitations, a laptop slowly changed my life.
6 Months of Work:
My Workplace In The Corner Of The World | John Raul dot Com9 Months of Work:
My Workplace After Nine Months Of Home Work | John Raul dot ComLast December:
YouTube – Season Greetings! Christmas 20071 Year to Present:
After 21 Years On The Floor, Finally I Will Have My Own Room! | John Raul dot Com
My Geek Room Is Now Occupied, But Still Incomplete | John Raul dot ComMy greatest fear is to lose ownership of this laptop since my employer might ask me to return it back – I am afraid to lose a life and career, and my support to my family. I cannot afford to buy a laptop or computer of my own yet. I want to do more, I want to produce and I want to continue helping people — losing my laptop will take all these motivations from me.
I pray a lot that I would win the prize at least the HDX and the HP Multimedia Laptop. It would not only make a history but it would let me multiply the magic given to me and share it to other people through my assistance and support to their day to day lives. I can’t let them down just because my system doesnt allow me so.
Thanks so much and this is what I can share with you. I love you Geekzone and HP, and others for this wonderful opportunity. Merry Christmas!
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