NextGen Gaming

Family Computer, man, those were the days. I would pester my mom to buy me one and when I finally got one. Sweet!!! Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, Battle Tank, Galaxians and others. I would be glued to our TV set until my dad would shout at me that he needs to watch the news (we only have one TV set then).

Fast forward, I am now 37 years of age, I have two boys, and I still love gaming, I am not a hardcore gamer, but on weekends (when everything is done; shopping, grocery, pedia visit and etc.), I can sit there for hours playing until I get the ire of my wife eventually. I was never big into PC gaming (I stopped after my Apple II+ died on me). After the Family Computer, I sorta stop playing. Finishing High School, going to college, chasing girls and drinking..... I started noticing the games again when I was working already. PS One was the hot stuff then, but not earning much, I could not afford to buy it. And so I only got to look at it from a distance.

I bought our PS 2 around 2004. Boy, was I excited, my eldest; Hans was around 5 then was too. Got to play all those games like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, Socom, DMC, RE and more recently God of War was awesome. Next thing I know, my son was asking me for a Gameboy. Lucky for him I love gaming, if it was my father, no deal. But I got him that too, and later on got myself a PSP and got Hans a DSLite. We are now really into it. Three handhelds and one console.

The year 2005 started in the west the so called next gen gaming when Microsoft launched their Xbox 360 then Sony and Nintendo followed suit the next year with their own consoles, PS 3 and Wii. Today the cast is complete. Tough to decide, but last June, I bought the Wii simply because its cheaper, and I want my family (specially my wife) to play with us. And after a few nudge, she tried Wii Sports and it did not got her hook but atleast she is now trying to understand why we love playing. I plan to get the PS 3 next, specially now that they have announced that they will lower the price by $100, so its now $499, not bad at all since you also get a next gen BluRay player to boot. I'm stoked, hope I can get it by December.

Right now, I'm content. Lots of choices to play and a chance to own maybe the most sophisticated piece of game machine by Christmas. What more can a man ask for. Wait, I wonder when my youngest son Cross will start playing video games......

The RhoSig Golden Ball

ASTIG! That's to sum it up in one word. 07-07-07 will be remembered by UPLB Sigma Rhoans as the day the Fraternity turned golden. The Grand Ball was held in rustic and historic Senior's Social Garden. Hundreds of Brods were present for the once in a lifetime affair.

The presence of four Charter members; Romy Somera, Emil Llames, Serge Capitan and Andy Espiritusanto made the affair even more special. Brods from the 60's and 70's also graced the Ball. But the notable presence of brothers from the 80's and 90's showed to us the Fraternity is alive and well.

Highlights of the night were the induction of the resident's Dignitaries, the premiere of the Fraternity's 50th Anniversary AVP, the awarding of token paddles to the four Charter members and a hundreds-strong Sigma Rhoans singing the Sigma Rho Hymn.

Kudos to the officers of the UPLB Sigma Rho Alumni Association under the leadership of Brod Jojo Fornesa and all the brods who supported the project one way or the other in making the Grand Ball possible.