{"id":214,"date":"2021-03-09T10:48:40","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T10:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/luigidr.com\/web\/?page_id=214"},"modified":"2024-05-10T06:59:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T06:59:09","slug":"about-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/luigidr.com\/web\/index.php\/about-me\/","title":{"rendered":"About Me"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Early Life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back when I was around 11, my dad gave me one of his old servers so I could try tinkering with it on my own. I acquired a copy of the Windows 7 Release Candidate, bought a cheap AGP graphics card (after mistakenly buying a PCI-E one), and I was off to the races. It was only natural that I would eventually take up a degree related to computers and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this time, I\u2019d already been taking piano lessons for a few years, like most other Filipino children. But once I picked up the guitar and started learning how to play some of my favorite songs (Enter Sandman, Stairway to Heaven, Back in Black<\/em> \u2013 you know, the usual), my fascination with music grew tenfold. I eventually got into music theory, performed in bands with my friends, attended gigs, and learned how to use a DAW. Music has always been a hobby for me, even when I was taking up a course that I felt wasn\u2019t even remotely related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was also able to dip my toes into music production at a very young age. In high school I was already able to create full band arrangements with realistic sounding drums. Being into music production that early allowed me to practice for many years before accepting commissions or releasing songs to the public. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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University Life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I eventually took up BS Computer Science<\/a> in the University of the Philippines Diliman<\/a>. Despite it being a STEM course, I was sure that I wanted to keep making music. So I made it a point to participate in as many music-related activities as I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a member of one of my department’s organizations, UP CURSOR<\/a>, I was able to participate in competitions for band, chorale, and songwriting, where we bagged the championship 3 years in a row. I also became a member of my university’s premier music organization, The UP Music Circle<\/a>, where I found my bandmates at Granny Lee<\/a>. It was here where I was able to get involved in the local indie music scene, going to gigs and performing in them. Needless to say, I was probably way more active with my extracurriculars than with my academics (I even became president of an organization!), but I have absolutely no regrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my junior year in college, I realized that I wanted to become a Data Scientist. I’ve always been skeptical about joining the corporate world because I knew that I would enjoy the free-thinking and progressive lifestyle of the academe (ha!). But when I found out about Data Science, I thought that being able to do research-like projects under the payroll of a large corporation was the coolest thing ever. I eventually was able to land an internship as a Data Engineer (close enough!) for Code Ninja IT Solutions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I enjoyed my stay in Code Ninja, I kept my options open for my last year in college. I joined the Algorithms & Complexity Lab<\/a> of my department and did my undergraduate thesis on Quantum Computing. On June 30, 2019, I got my degree, thinking that music will always just be passion project on the side.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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What Now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During graduation season, I started searching for possible fields to focus on for my Masters degree. I eventually stumbled upon a research lab that literally combines my two favorite things: musical applications of computer science<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was kicked down a rabbit hole. I started reading up on all the fields under that umbrella: Music Technology, Computer Music, Sound & Music Computing, Music Information Retrieval, you name it. I also started compiling a list of potential universities that I could apply to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the reality was, I couldn’t exactly afford to take Masters right away. I needed a few years to gather experience in the work force before taking the leap. And I knew that. So while I’m pretty much certain about the path I want to take for the future, I’m just taking things one day at a time, and grabbing every opportunity that I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I currently work as a Solutions Engineer at Thinking Machines Data Science<\/a>, helping organizations make the most out of their data by designing and implementing cloud data platforms. This has given me exposure to both the business and technical side of data science — a juxtaposition that not a lot of engineers get a chance to develop, but it’s nothing I’m not used to. (I guess this technically means I have 3 sides to my coin).<\/sup><\/sub><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before that, I was an engineer for 3 years at Samsung R&D Institute Philippines<\/a>, where I had the opportunity to develop foundational skills in software and systems engineering, including full-stack web development, designing AI solutions, backend 5G services, and even brainstorming on research items, as well as some patent writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, I continue to make music with friends under my new page, WEEJ Music<\/a>. I’ve produced EPs and tracks for other musicians, composed music for trailers and music videos, and performed at large-venue gigs. I even performed on TV!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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I’m a musician with a degree in computer science, and one day I’ll combine both worlds into one.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

luigi@luigidr.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

lqdelrosario<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ldr1997<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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