THE AMAZING MACHINE
By Butch Macaro
Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines


IT IS THE DIGITAL YEAR OF THE PIG! It is really the generation of modern technology…specifically a wonderfully created gadget that has amazed the entire world.

Many years ago, while working at the Examination Division of the Civil Service Commission, I heard about the EDP and IBM that another division had acquired. I had no idea what specific jobs the employees who ran these machines were doing. I had no knowledge of that fantastic machine since I was concentrating on reviewing applications for examination and of conducting the actual examinations in the regional offices that I did not have time to even inquire or ionspect the new gadget. When I visited some government offices for some official business, I saw some employees deep in their official jobs in front of a TV set or monitor. In my more than five years stay in Germany, I also saw the same apparatus without finding out what it was for and what it was all about. When I came back to the Philippinesfor good, I finally learned that the machine is called computer. I had little interest at all for the machine until a good friend in Canada mentioned it several times in his letter. He afterwards sent me a complete set of the computer.

I was excited in getting hold of that . But what should I do with it? I did not know how to operate it. I was scared I might make a wrong move and the machine will explode in my face. The new acquisition was much different from the writer’s extension of himself, the old and reliable typewriter. The computer’s keyboard was actually quite similar to my old typewriter, but it had other features I cannot familiarize myself with. There were other keys that you would not find in a typewriter. For instance, the series of F’s, the additional keys on the right side and why are there more numbers on the right when there are already numbers above the letter keys. Ahh…I was left several years behind, technology wise. How embarrassing! All I could do was type letters and some storylines in the gadget. That was all. In fact, I seldom used it. For weeks, even months, my new toy lay idle in my house, and to give it some protection, I decided to give it a cover which I discovered later was the right thing to do. But I was not happy with my new toy, I cannot use it to the fullest, although I have attended a workshop about computer two years ago, I did not learn much since the lessons were too advance. I could not cope and familiarize myself with different terms related to the computer, like I was in grade 1 and the lesson was for grade 4. Then I got wind of a new computer workshop being offered which would deal mostly on the basic use of the gadget. I decided to join.

The workshop was scheduled for two weekends, specifically April 14 (Sat) and 15 (Sun) and April 21 (Sat) and 22 (Sun) from 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.

On the first day of the seminar I arrived at the Film Academy of the Philippines office at the OctoArts Films building on Panay avenue as early as 8:30 a.m. which was way ahead of schedule. The instructor was Mr. Alex Socorro with Julie Ann G. Nuñez as his assistant and Victor Nota as utility man. They are my good friends and I had no qualms about the workshop.

Basic lessons! Two workshoppers for each computer. We started learning the different parts of the computer and the functions of each. Then we were asked to attach several wires for electrical connections, (somebody did it for me in my computer). It was a case of trial and error method. It took us about 20 minutes to complete the series, but at least we did it with flying colors without help.

We were taught about hardware which was all about the different devices connected to the CPU with input or output functions like the Monitor, video cam, the printer, scanner, AVR, mouse, and flash drive, disc, diskette, CD Rom, sound system, speaker, editing device, modem, CD/VCD writer, memory card and others. And also add the following: the storage media like flappy diskette, hard disc, IPOD where data are stored.

On the second day we were briefed on how to use the SAVE and SAVE AS keys of the keyboard. We were taught how to open the computer the easy way but not the short cut method.

On the third day, we were given a test on the parts of the computer and the functions of each. We were also asked to introduce ourselves and the guild we represent. The Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines as represented by its president, Pablo S. Gomez, Constantino ‘Tante’ de Ramos, and this writer. The Filipino Society of Cinematographers sent its president Isagani Sioson, Mario A. Guzman and Leodogario ‘Ariong’ Dalawis ( who is actually ondly called Jun). The other participants included Lorna Balmes from the FAP secretariat, Fely Reyes and Lanie Z Tolentino, associate members of SGP, Mr. Tony Socorro and Marbs Ann.

On the last day of the workshop, we were given another test and I wonder if I made it right. The result was not announced anyway to avoid some embarrassment perhaps.

Before the end of the last day which was supposed to be our “graduation day”, Mr. Manny Morfe, Production Designers Guild president (also FAP treasurer) and Director Jose Carreon edhand us the certificates of completion and attendance with tokens like Banco de Oro coffee mugs given out as “awards”.

Jun Dalawis and this writer were given prizes for being consistent as early birds. Mario A. Guzman and Fely Reyes were given awards as topnotchers. Valedictorians? All the participants were given tokens each.

The workshop was worth all the pains of preparations and the rigorous hands on experiences we all underwent during the four-day seminar. And there was free food in all four days including merienda for every body. The instructions were very effective and I agree I learned more from, thus finally erasing the fear and anxiousness in the use of the computer. But even then, the four days spent were not enough for us to learn everything about the computer, which is a four-year college course. We all hope to have more of this for the necessary advance learning and the precise knowledge of the exciting computer.

1st Batch of FAP Basic Computer Seminar.

Here are some terminologies that may interest you, so far.

CPU - Is the Central Processing Unit
DEVICE - An electronic gadget connected with the computer with specific function related to data information processing
ICONS – Are symbols use in operating the system
OS - Operating system
DATA FILES - Are sources of information such as application file or program
INTERNET - Means International Network of Telecommunication
WWW - World Wide Web and used as prefix of the URL
URL - Stands for Uniform Resource Locator which is the website address
HTTP - Hyper Text Transmission Protocol is the standard format of URL
HTML - Hyper Text Markup Language is the original coding used to issue commands
MODEM - Modulator/Demodulator is the device that converts square waves of the Computer into round waves of the communication line
DSL - Digital Subscriber Line is a faster means of linkage to the internet
LAN - Local Area Network is the connection of computers in a building using cable
WAN - Wide Area Network is the distant connection of computers
EMAIL - Electronic Mail that uses an email address
VIRUS - A computer program that normally destroys other programs
PROGRAM - Also called SOFTWARE, is a set of computer commands in coded form
DEVICE - Also called HARDWARE is electronic equipment with specific function like the monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, etc etc
HARD DISK - The most common storage medium used to store programs and data

So long for now and we hope to see you again in the next computer workshop!