GeekIT

Geek is IT
By Florence Pia G. Yu
Published: Sun Star Weekend
Cebu City, Philippines
March 25, 2001
Pages 10-11

"Cool na ang mga geeks karon!" Information Technology (IT) specialist Vincent Rallon observes, as IT people gear up for the IT Summit to be held at Marriott Hotel on the 29th and 30th of this month.

"I work when I want to, I sleep when I want to, I stop working when I want to."

Working on job deadlines, he has taken to the nocturnal life. His mood to heat up the keyboard picks up during unholy hours of the night. "Ganahan ko mo-trabaho ug mga ingon anang oras kay hilom, way samok, way sigi ug panawag. Ang imong concentration deretso-deretso," he tells.

But he says he is not wrapped up in his own world. From time to time, he breaks the boredom by visiting the chatroom. "Looking for 'The One'!" he quips, "actually, aron dili boring, mag-chat mi sa akong mga associates because most of them are still awake at night--pareha man mi."

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," he says with an impish smile.

How would you describe yourself as an IT person?
I'm cool! (Laughs) Bitaw, wa ko kahibaw..

As a programmer, what is a typical day for you?
Basin typical night. (Grins) Naa ra ko sa balay kay naa koy gihimo nga program.

Is there a dividing line between your personal life and your work?
Wala. I mix them in between the schedule.

How do you find it?
Okay. I usually have a deadline for my projects, and in between that, I can do whatever I want as long as I beat the deadline.

Do you still get to have fun?
O! Pirmi lang mi ug adto ug disco.

When you are working late nights, what keeps you awake?
(Jokes) Jennifer Lopez? Lots of coffee. And I chat with friends and associates in the Net.

What is the most interesting thing about your job?
I get to work with people I haven't even seen. Magsabot ra mi sa e-mail. Wa gyud ko kaila ana nila but they get to appreciate what I do. Dili mo matter sa ila kung unsa akong hitsura.

Does IT get in the way of your interpersonal relationships then?
I don't agree with that perception. In fact, IT allows people an experience which is close to 'mind-melt', inyong huna-huna magpilit. It is the closest thing to mental telepathy.

But the interaction is still on screen..
You have a point there. But it's really just a matter of striking a balance. You also have to develop interpersonal skills.

Describe geekhood.
Geeks are in now. It's not about the looks anymore.

"IT people are 'in' now. Kaniadto, ilang huna-huna sa IT professionals mga 'geeks', dagko kaayo ug mga eyeglasses--typified by Bill Gates. Pero dili na karon oy," Vincent tells. He says it's a makeover that has leapt out of virtual reality and into the real world.

Cruising the fast lane that is the information superhighway, Vincent has a life and couldn't care less about labels (such as geeks and whatnot). The bulk of this 27-year-old's schedule is devoted to developing and designing websites, doing computer programming and surfing the Net.

But it remains a cyber love affair that lasts as long the mood does. "It's not really possible to sit down in front of the computer all day. I also go out and disco, meet friends," he says.

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