The contest has not officially begun yet, but I wanted to write about our four ACM Angels, Justin Co, Erin Laborada, Krizia Raymundo, and Kate Sandoval. They helped us out on a purely voluntary basis last year. This year, we contracted them to be our event organizers.  They were not alone in this task, but I think it's fair to say that they did most of the planning and organizing for this year's event.

Although we are paying them and giving them academic credit for the work that they are doing, what is amazing about the four of them is that they have thrown themselves into this task without reservation. The work they're doing is far greater than what a few thousand pesos and a few units worth of A's will get you.  They've given tremendously of their time and talents as well as their personal connections.

Many people, especially the incoming freshmen, wonder what the difference between CS and MIS is.  Ultimately, the difference lies is the people and what they are most talented at doing. The preparations for the competition makes this point obvious.  The contestants are predominantly CS, the organizers are predominantly MIS.  For every Mark Punzalan or Akie Mejia in the limelight, we have a Justin, Erin, Krizia and Kate propping up the stage.  They are two sides of the same coin, each doing what they do best, each doing what the other can't.  The event would be pointless without one side and impossible without the other. 

The four angels are scheduled to graduate this March.  When they do, the room at the end of the hall will be strangely empty without them.  Loads will be a little heavier, the atmosphere more serious.  I will miss them.