racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

Perhaps you’ve seen the videos earlier this year showing how a nanny abused her charge. In the video, the nanny is seen hitting the toddler, and throwing him around. This is probably a big concern shared by parents who have to leave their kids with supposedly trustworthy individuals while they went out to make a living.

Or how about reports in the evening news about burglars making off with gadgets, jewelry or money, only to be caught later on because they were caught on surveillance video? It’s not only banks and retail shops that have hidden cameras these days. Even homes and offices usually have cameras hidden out of plain sight, sometimes motion-activated, and sometimes catching sight of the strangest of events.

A hidden camera can come in quite handy when you need to protect your interests. Whether these are vaults containing money, office equipment, or even people (such as your kids), having surveillance video can help detect potential problems, and even prevent these before they happen.

Last year, the quietness of our neighborhood was stirred with a few petty thefts. While the losses were small, the very idea of strangers coming into our fences and taking stuff was very jarring. We thought those small thefts might be precedents to more serious incidents in the future. I considered upgrading my car alarm, and installing a spy camera that can let me record surveillance video or even access these remotely through the Internet.

I haven’t come around to upgrading my security-related gadgets yet, but my family and I have been more vigilant in making sure we sleep more soundly by double-checking the door locks and car locks at night. We also bring in anything that might be of interest to thieves, no matter how small. Security, after all, is as much about attitude as it is about the tools and gadgets.

These days, when I visit a retail store, mall, bank, or any establishment, I try to figure out where their surveillance cameras are installed or hidden. I know I’ll never be as good as Jason Bourne in staking out the stakeout, but I do satisfy my fascination with gadgets and how people use these gadgets to watch other people from behind the safety of invisibility.

Let me express my gratitude to everyone who gave support in our time of need. I haven’t found the time to thank each one of you personally (via email, SMS, phone or in person), but we are very grateful, and we will come to that pretty soon. Right now, we are focused on trying to get on with our lives. Things will never be the same, I know. But life has to go on.

So does this mean it’s back to regular programming here on the J Spot? Well, most probably, yes.

Joseph Michael
Our Angel

You came to us
God’s loving gift
Our baby boy
Our source of joy.

You gave us love
The purest kind
Your perfect smile
Your touch so mild.

We had our hopes
Our dreams, our plans
Until one day
God reached out His hand.

He called you home
He needed you
To join His host of Angels
So mighty, so strong.

You said, “Yes Lord.”
Then bid us good bye
“I’ll watch over you
From heaven up high.”

Dear Joseph Michael
Our baby, our Angel
You are God’s gift to us
And you are our gift to God.

We love you,
Daddy Joseph Angelo
Mommy Caren Marie
Ate Sofia Bernice
Ate Agatha Clarisse

Joseph Michael G. Racoma
20 August-3 October 2007

This is a poem written by us, Angelo and Caren, for our baby boy Joseph Michael.

(image source)

Dear all,

Our youngest son, Joseph Michael G. Racoma, passed away this morning. He was one month and thirteen days old. Your prayers would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,

J. Angelo, Caren, Pia and Cate Racoma

Update: Thanks to everyone who commented, wrote about our loss, and/or visited. I’m not much online these days, but you can get in touch with us via my mobile phone listed in the sidebar.

Our son lies in state at the Resurrection Chapel at the Claret Church (Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish) in UP Village, Diliman Quezon City.

Again, thank you for your prayers and words of support.

- The Racoma family

Update: Mass today (Friday) will be at 9:00 p.m. Mass tomorrow will be at 11:30 a.m., after which we will head on to the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City at about 1:30 p.m. for interment.

Thank you for your words of support and for your prayers. Our beloved Joseph Michael is in heaven now, and we turn to him for intercession. Please pray for our family.

I’ve taken some time offline this week, mostly from work (building kick-ass sites, apps and blogs) as my wife and I had just given birth to a healthy baby boy. This would be our third child, and our only boy (so far, and most likely will stay that way). Aside from the hospital not having a reliable connection–I can only log in either via dialup or GPRS, which are very slow–I’m focusing on my family and taking care of hospital errands. It’s not so easy now that there are also two little ones we also have to tend to.

So it’s another blogging hiatus for now–as if I’m even able to post here regularly. You can still, of course, check out my other sites and projects, most particularly those under Splashpress Media (where I am now formally known as Editor in Chief), like the Blog Herald, Performancing, Cutline, Tubetorial and the like. I may not always have my name on the bylines there, but I’m involved in many ways in the sidelines (or the background).

If you need anything urgent–well, I don’t think anything is more urgent than the things I’m taking care of right now–you know where to reach me.

P.S. Linux sucks quite a bit when it comes to dialup networking and GPRS! I had too boot up to Windows.