Aethen

FINALLY, I’ve made up my mind, here’s my ten Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008 organized by Janette Toral:

1. MusikaCentral - My blog partner, Ariel Lalisan's music blog. Listen to the taste of the Music down south of Mindanao.
   
2. Journeys to the Soul - My blog partner, Ariel Lalisan's Book Review Blog. Read this blog and for you'll be reading it often.
3. Black Pencil Project - A blog trying to influence other people to make a difference.
4. Kuris Kuris Artwork - A blog which features new trend of art. I'm planning to put an exhibit for these artworks soon.
   
5. Bariles Republic - Sir Avel Manansala's An Idiot’s Guide to General Santos City blog.
6. Build That Geek - Mikko's geeky personal blog.
7. Trashman - Marvin's Tech News Blog from Marbel.
   
8. Siraniko’s Box - Nash's Tech News Blog from Marbel.
   
9. Homeward Bound - He dreams to make this blog an empire of blogs that will cater to the information needs of most people.
10. Dong's Byaheng Pinoy - Join him as he feature the lifestyle in country from travelling to regional and cultural tradition.
    

More power to these blogs. May their influence reach out to as many people as possible!

From Left: Br. Wilfredo E. Lubrico, FMS -the University President, Moi, Dr. Noemi B. Silva the Vice-president for Academics, and Mr. Andres Magallanes - the Vice-president for Administration (Giving of the Institutional Leadership Award)

GABI NG PARANGAL 2008, organized on March 10 to the comfortably structured gymnasium of the Notre Dame of Marbel University to give recognition to student leaders and achievers in University. It also recognized the best and the brightest talents.

It was the first special awards night organized in the University and it was [very] formal. The administrators and faculties were the people who organized the event for the students. They serve as ushers and usherettes of the nominees in awarding ceremony. It was like an OSCARS Awards – because of the presence of the red carpet, the spotlight, the background sound that thrilled and exited the audience, and the witty and humorous emcee in a event’s formal atmosphere.

Some of the student leaders in the University.
From Left: Rogello (incoming principal), Moi (outgoing principal), Sol (new assistant principal for tutorials), Jovann ( head of english dept.), and Zerwin (assistant principal for administration) - Received a plaque of recognition for T'nalak Youth Group as an outstanding organization.

I was named as the Most Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for my service as young education-reformist.

I received also the Institutional Leadership Award for outstanding performance as a student leader in and off campus.

The Gabi ng Parangal 2008 is an award-giving body that will annually honors the best Notre Damean in academics, volunteerism, leadership, and as a Marist Individual. It recognizes also outstanding clubs and organizations that greatly contributed to the development of their members and realized their vision-mission.

Now on its first year, I hope that the Awards will gain university-wide acceptance and will become highly anticipated events in the Notre Dame community.

If you learn about eye procedures cosmetic surgeons can perform why don’t also learn about participating in nation building?

An interfaith prayer rally in celebration of EDSA I and for call and search for TRUTH was organized last February 25, 2007 in Koronadal City.

The prayer rally was participated in by the Catholic clergy, Kabataan Party List, Gabriela, Sector of Farmers, and us, the students who participated and represented the few students in the University but declares ourselves us individual supporters.

The chamber of Commerce in the Province, and many on truth-side government officials and employees joined the rally.

It was mainly organized to awaken the minds of the Filipino people to participate in search for truth and stop corruption.

It was lightly organized and ended peacefully with lighting a candle and dancing and singing of the truth. A Piso Para Kay Jun Lozada movement was also made to support him.

The rally was entertaining yet substantial. I was really inspired to see people unite and have one voice for a better Philippines.

Some political science students from the university where there and joined the interfaith rally. I saw Toto Lozano also busy taking pictures in the area.

There will be another Prayer Rally that will be organized on February 29, 2008. I hope more students will speak out and participate in this noble activity.

God bless.

We should never be complacent about things such as tuition increase. To ignore this fact is pathetic and downright stupid.

I pray that Notre Dameans would not be apathetic about tuition fees.

Blog, the fisrt blogging seminar in SOCCSKSarGen (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and Gen. Santos City) here in Region 12 concluded last February 02, 2008 at the SMC Hall of the Notre Dame of Marbel University in Koronadal City. It was a good introduction about blogging and the endless possibilities and opportunities on can experience.

at the Hall

The seminar was attended by 176 participants from all over the province including students from General Santos and Marbel, some teachers, professionals who are interested in blogging.

NDMU President Bro. Willy Lubrico, FMS who welcomed them congratulated the CSIT Student Council and the Mindanao Bloggers group for this and vowed to continue supporting their cause.

Hon. Peter Laviña delivered his keynote speech

Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña, who came all the way from Davao City, delivered the keynote speech, which was a preface to the talks of the resource speakers.

Hector Miñoza, UN Consultant from General Santos talked on Blogging and Participatory Governance. The participants had fun and been interested with his serious talk on encouraging everyone to take an active role in participating in nation building through blogging.

Ayel giving the basics of the blogging ativity

My blog buddy, Ariel C. Lalisan, a public high school teacher from Sarangani orients the participants on the origins of blogging and share some reasons and purpose why do we blog? He also designed the layout of the event poster.

Sandra Mae Bonrustro, the Project Officer of Pathways to Higher Education talked emphatically about changing the socio-cultural mindset of Mindanaoans and to blog about Mindanao.

Organizers, speakers, and guests after Lunch at Lantaw Marbel

We had our lunch at Lantaw Marbel Lodge and Restaurant where the City of Koronadal is over-looking below.

crowd's favorite shoppingera

The seminar resumed at 1:30pm with a talk on Blogging as a new Media given by Ria Jose, the crowd favorite shoppingera as Avel tagged her. She came all the way from Davao with Councilor Peter and Mikko. She regales everyone with her talk on Internet Marketing after Br. Vince C. Celeste , FMS “shout-out” about his personal blog about life as a religious brother.

Rolly Jude Ortega, a Political Science student at the University gave a “shout-out” also about why he blogs and what motivates him to keep on blogging.

It was followed by a surprise video of Blogie and Winston of Mindanaobloggers.com who expressed their support and congratulated the organizers for such initiative.

The organizers gave time also for the participants to ask questions about blogging and related issues in an open forum.

The last part of the seminar was the reading of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit resolution by all of the participants.

Domain and hosting packages were also raffled. This is made possible by the generosity of Toto Lozano who gave a web development package. He has a web-hosting company and designs web pages.

Dennis Paul Custorio raffled a FREE TEMPLATE package too. He is the owner of everygladestudio.com.

Job Oberio, also gave away a NoKiAHOST hosting package.

We hope that more bloggers will emerged from SOCCSKSarGen region for a better Mindanao.

The seminar was sponsored by

Matchbox café Campus Art Mozilla Firefox Zion Travels and Tours

Jehzeel Laurente
Toto Lozano
Dennis Paul Custorio
Bro. Vince Celeste
Mindanaobloggers.com

Thank you for making the seminar possible with your generous heart. It was a smash!

TYG volunteers posing for 1GB USB

On that day, The Anaheim Village Rotary Club granted the T’nalak Youth Group (TYG) twenty one (21) 1 GB USB through Rotary Club of Koronadal.

Date: Feb.2.2008
Time: 8:30am-3:30pm
Venue: SMC Hall, NDMU, City of Koronadal
Registration Fee: Php70.00 (inclusive of two snacks and certificate)

Organized by: CSIT Department Student Council headed by Mark Aethen G. Agana.

1. To introduce blogging as new media
2. To explore blogging as a means for monetizing, Internet marketing, and advocacy.
3. To enable the participants to recognize the need to continually communicate with one another to know and understand Mindanao and its people through the available technology.
4. To utilize blogging to appreciate the beauty of Mindanao 's people, culture, places, creativity as their contribution to fostering understanding and peace on the island.

I invited Mindanao bloggers to introduce blogging to non-bloggers. There will talk on Blogging 101 (Basics), Blogging as new medium, for earning, Internet Marketing, and Advocacy.

Hector Miñoza, Sandra Mae Bonrustro, Ria Jose, Bro. Vince Celeste, FMS, Rolly Jude Ortega, Ariel Lalisan, and Avel Manansala would also be there to share their knowledge of and experiences with blogging.

Ayel designed the poster for the seminar which I will be posting tomorrow here.

Sponsors of the seminars are the following:

Matchbox Cafe
Campus Art
Pathways to Higher Education
Jehzeel Laurente
Br. Vince J. Celeste, FMS
Mindanao Bloggers

and
Support from Mozilla Firefox

{CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION}

(A repost from Rolly)

The long wait is over!

The AYLC Program Secretariat releases the list of the qualifiers for the second round screening of the much-awaited 10th National Ayala Young Leaders Congress which will be held on February 6 to 8, 2008.

Out of a record-high of 595 applications received this year nominated by 104 colleges and universities from all over the country, the number of applicants has been trimmed down to 157 representing 64 schools. The panel interview is scheduled on November 21 to 23, 2007 at the Headquarters of Ayala Corporation in Ayala Tower One, Ayala Triangle, Makati City.

The interviewers are composed of the senior executives of the Ayala group of companies.

[List of Top 157 AYLC 2008 Interview phase qualifiers]

they now have equal chances of getting into the final roster of delegates

God bless. :)

So this is it, I made my final registration in college just this afternoon. I’m enrolled in 27 units for this semester and it is gonna be tough since this will conclude my undergraduate study.

I hope I could make use all my remaining time in school in continuing my unfinished businesses, living life the way I should, and meeting my friends.

I really have to do my best to make a difference.

And to make my volunteering service effective.

God bless.

(From Left: Ronnel Victor dela Cruz, a MASICAP scholar and an AYLC Batch07 Alumnus, my bestfriend; Dr. Noemi B. Silva, the Academic Vice President of Notre Dame of Marbel University; and Aethen - taken at Lantaw Marbel during the concluding rites of the 3rd Mindanao Volunteers Convention)

Keep the fire burnin', buddy! Continue to make a difference.

Am I late to post this?

Anyway, I was in the first ever Bloggers Summit in the Mindanao which was held at 4th Floor NCCC Mall, Davao and was organized by the Usual Suspects.
A “Promote-Your-Blog activity” was done to fill some idle time in the program. Maybe it was part of the program. They gave also freebies (IBM Pens, IBM Notepads, Google package, Domain and hosting package, MBS shirts and caps) in random raffle. And I won an IBM pen, and also Ariel in the latter part of the program. Conrad won an IBM notepad and Dulce (http://dulcenegosyante.com/) won a domain and hosting package. The four of us were in the same table and been together during the summit. I met Winston of batangyagit.com who was very accommodating and friendly in person.

I met Aice of Aice concepts. She was good in person.

Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ’s was one of the speakers also for that event. He was also one of the authors of Ehem! And an active advocate of clean governance and nation building. In the summit he talks about Socio-Cultural Mindset of Mindanaoans. I was really inspired of his talk and sharing on how to keep peace and order in Mindanao. He identified clearly to where the conflict in Mindanao rooted - Culture and Perception of Mindanaoans. I was moved by the music video presented, the “Meme na Mindanaw”. I want to have a copy of that video for our advocacy also. I hope a can grab one.

Winston texted that night before that there will be free lunch sponsored by Dimsum Diner and “everything” might be freely given. It was and we did enjoy it. Kuya Blogie joined us in our table while having lunch. And after a while he invited a guy from England who promotes and encourages bloggers to write about opensource and freeware. Winston was in our table also and he (I think enjoy the conversation with that English guy) confidently answered the question of the guy about outsourcing. Conrad and Dulce were sort of making fun of the guy because they can’t clearly understand what the guy was saying.

Aileen presented a Google Testimonial Video after the lunch.

Kim Castillo of Southisms‘shared on “Transistion from Emo to Niche Blogging”. One must make his/her blog unique from other bloggers to invite viewers and readers. Make your own world and space and open it to online people. Make a difference and be the difference in the blogger world.

Jayvee Fernandez talked about Problogging and new media. He promoted about blogging as a new profession wherein one can earn more than they can if they are in a conventional work. He owns the A Bugged Life.com and he was connected to the technology channel b5media, as an editor.

We have dinner with the Usual Suspects at the Pinutos [I hope I spelled it correctly]. They have a kind-a-not-so-good service but the food was good. After dinner we went to Casa Habana where the Bloggers Fellowship Night was hosted.

The party started at 9pm and there were pica-pica and beers. Light beers. The organizers had also invited an entertainer for the night fun. S/he was hilarious and witty but kinda naughty also. Jehzeel Laurente sent a message to Kuya Blogie greeting the bloggers and congratulating the organizers for making the event possible.

They gave seven (7) domain and hosting package also that night and I luckly got one. How? That would be kept secret.

Until next time bloggers

Congratulations to the Usual Suspect for your leadership.

Pathways to Higher Education-Mindanao has been empowering college students as instruments in fulfilling the dreams of intellectually gifted but financially underprivileged public high school students to enter college. And as part of the community development they continually embrace the mission of Pathways in creating a society where there is equity to higher education and in molding future Filipino leaders. Currently, there are seven Pathways Youth Groups in various universities and colleges through out Mindanao.

• Ateneo de Davao Univeristy
• Ateneo de Cagayan Univeristy - XU
• Ateneo de Zamboanga Univeristy
• Fr. Saturnino Urius University
• Notre Dame of Marbel University
• Notre Dame of Dadiangas University
• Notre Dame of Tacurong College
• Holy Cross of Davao College