Rubik's Cube

Rubik's Cube:

Solving the Puzzle with Jerome Bautista and Paulo Mercado
from left: paulo mercado, vern mercado and jerome bautista

Last August 25, 2007, Philippines Open 2007 was held at Robinsons Metro East, Pasig City. Philippines Open 2007 is an official and first ever competition of speed cubing here in the Philippines. Jan Jerome Bautista and Isidro Paulo Mercado, sophomores of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Philippine Christian University – Cavite, joined the said event. Out of almost 40 competitors from Philippines to Portugal to USA to Korea and to Taiwan, Jerome Bautista won first place in 3x3x3 Blindfold category finals with the best time of 7:23.52 sec.(New Record). Paulo Mercado got 16^th place in the semi finals for 3x3x3 average.

According to the World Cube Association’s official results of Philippines Open, Jerome Bautista (7^th rank) set his best time of 17.87 seconds and Paulo Mercado (9^th rank) set his best time of 21.08 seconds in single solved 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube.

Let’s think outside the cube. This is what we know and now imagine what we don’t. They are battling to win. They are battling to fit in. For Jerome and Paulo, this isn’t just a game. (Adopted from www.pinoyspeedcubers.com)

How does it feel being a champion in 3x3x3 Blindfold category in the held Philippines Open 2007 (Jerome Bautista)?

Jerome: Champion? Wow! Am I ?? haha!! Well masaya kasi may great results yung long time of practice ko and hardwork for the cube.

Paano kayo naadik sa cube na ‘yan?

Jerome: Well big challenge ang cubing, especially when you get into speed cubing. The challenge never stops. You always want to get faster and faster so you practice with 500% effort. Kaya kami nagmumukang adik sa cube kasi we always practice and train hard for the next competitions.

Paulo: Once na nakamit mo yung gusto mong bilis, lalo kang gaganahan i-train yung sarili mo to be faster. It takes a lot of discipline and hardwork to have improvements. Kaya kahit saan kami mapadpad, nakikita kami ng mga tao na nagsosolve ng cube. Nandoon kasi yung desire namin talaga to be faster and faster. Nasasabihan tuloy kami na adik.

Si Paulo daw mas adik sa babae. Totoo ba yun?

Jerome: Hmmmmm…. God knows!! Hahaha.

Paulo: What does 'adik’ mean? Hahaha.

How does solving Rubik’s cube help you? Does it help you mentally?

Jerome: Mentally yeah.. Now I can memorize things easily. My fastest blindfold solve now is 2:17.32 minutes (including memorization yan ah) hmm… like what I’ve said challenges makes you mentally and physically prepared and that’s what the cube does.

Paulo: Yes, it helps you mentally because it develops your short time memorization. It also helps me socially because we gain new friends from other places here in the Philippines.

Nakakatanggal ba yan ng stress?

Jerome: Yeah!! Hell yeah!!! Every time you get faster averages it was like!! “Finally!!” hahaha. It’s such a relief breaking new barriers.

Paulo: Stress reliever ang pagsolve ng cube. Lalo na kapag may kagalit, pwede ibuhos na lang sa pagsolve ng cube yung attention. In that case, may silbi pa yung time spent kaysa makipag-away or whatsoever.

May permutation ba yan? Technique? Moves?

Jerome: Yeah!! We call that Algorithms, Algorithms are set of moves that completes a certain sequence or pattern on the cube..(in a cube aspect)

Paulo: Yes. Some of the experienced cubers made their methods so that other people who are interested in solving the rubik’s cube can follow steps easily. Sa mga interesado nga pala matuto on how to solve the rubik’s cube and meet other Filipino cubers, you can visit our website, www.pinoyspeedcubers.com

Sino naging influence nyo sa pagkahumaling sa rubik’s cube?

Jerome: Hhhmmm!!! Youtube!.. and my brother who taught me how to solve it..

Paulo: Jan Jerome Bautista. He’s my mentor. Siya talaga yung nag-introduce ng rubik’s cube sa’kin. Siya rin yung nagbibigay ng confidence for me to improve. Kung wala siya, malamang adik nga ako sa babae ngayon. Hahahaha. Joke lang.

Kelan mo unang nabuo yang puzzle na yan? Ano naramdaman mo nun?

Jerome: It was way back a year and a quarter from now. Of course I smiled on the mirror and said “LUFET!!!!!!”

Paulo: Last year of June or July. Gamit ko yung cube ni Jerome. I felt the excitement and joy in my heart. After that very moment, pinilit ko na talaga makabili agad ng cube.

Ano ang pagkakaugnay ng rubik’s cube sa totoong buhay?

Jerome: Solve each piece one by one or step by step and you will finally solve all of it!! After you do all the right moves and decisions! Happy cubing everybody…

Paulo: Every piece has its own place. In able to fulfill your goals, it takes a bunch of hard work, discipline, and determination. Enjoy every challenge life brings!

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*this article was also published in Christian Chronicle(official publication of PCU-Dasma)