Aethen

The Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Batch 2008 - Kanlungan [singing the TOSP theme song, "Alay ko"] The Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Batch 2008 - Kanlungan [at Malacanan Palace] The Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Batch 2008 - Kanlungan [Together with some of the alumni] The Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Batch 2008 - Kanlungan [The finalists and alumni from Mindanao; only two of us were from Mindanao From Left: Kua Dennis (alumnus), te Ruth (alumnus), Noorain (finalist form CAR), kua Jhay (alumnus) , Zak (finalist from Minadanao, Me (Mindanao), te sarah (alumnus) ] The Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines Batch 2008 - Kanlungan [taken at Legend Villas during a sponsored dinner for the tosp 2008] From Left: Mikko , Moi, and Jehzeel will post more pictures [soon]

I will be attending the WordCamp Philippines 2008 on 6 September 2008 (Saturday) , from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at College of St. Benilde, Taft Avenue, Manila . The WordCamp is the premier event for WordPress users and developers. WordPress is arguably the #1 blogging platform in the world today. I'm posting this intent to attend the Camp to learn more about the power of Wordpress and its features . And I believe that this is the best venue for WP enthusiasts to come together and get updated on the latest. But, primarily, I want to see the comparison of Wordpress to other web hosting site as blogging engine and also as a full-featured content management system for Web sites . The WordCamp will have the following components: Deployment (Usage) Track Development Track Panel Discussions WP Install-Fest After Party! You may check WordCamp Philippines 2008 for more details. This is organized by the Mindanao Bloggers . Also thanks for the following sponsors who are supportin...

A temporary MBS 2 semi-poster designed by Sir Ariel Lalisan General Santos City , fresh on its bid to become the Convention Capital of Region XII , will be the site of the biggest gathering of bloggers everywhere in the island - the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit or MBS 2 , for short. NAME OF EVENT: The 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit (MBS 2) THEME: Mindanawan: Paminawon Intawon. Blogging the Mindanao Consciousness DATE: October 25, 2008, Saturday, during the GenSan E-Business Week of the DTI and the city government. This came after the organizers of the 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit held last September in Davao City led by Blogie Robillo , and his group, The Usual Suspects , felt it was time for the Tuna Capital to take the lead. The Socsksargen Bloggers have been thinking about it ever since Mark Aethen Agana of Koronadal, spearheaded a SOCCSarGen Blog Seminar last February which gathered almost two hundred participants at the Notre Dame of Marbel University . The positive respo...

Hey, guys! I’m back. The soon-to-be SSEAYP experience was dropped. I had withdrawn the ticket that entitles me to cruise with the Nippon ship for two months to all south East Asian countries. It was a tough decision that I made. I was only given 30 minutes to decide to where I’ll attend – TOSP formation or SSEAYP Pre-departure training which were scheduled on the same dates. Thirty minutes that time seems to be a reflective moment for me, discerning what is best and what my heart is beating. I was holding on the phone talking to two parties, trying to arrange my schedules but it seems that both were not negotiable. I’ve solicited wise opinions and suggestions from some emphatic people in the formation, some of them were delegates of SSEAYP the past years. It was heart-breaking and distressing to choose between the two opportunities at hand that is too luxurious and rare but need only to select one, need to weigh the best and go for it without regrets. In those thirty minutes of disce...

VOTE Batang Yagit! Why Batang Yagit should win the blogger's choice award? 1. He's cool. 2. Deserves to win. 3. I have no other choice but him and his blog. 4. He's batang yagit. 5. He's a winner. Read his blog to know him and his geeky yagit life. Voting for the Bloggers’ Choice Award for the Philippine Blog Awards 2008 is now open! The complete list of nominees can be viewed here !

The title has no relation to the content of this post. I just want to share that this morning, someone from the National Youth Commission called on my mobile phone, informing and congratulating me for I was chosen to represent the Philippines to the 35th Ship for South-East Asia Youth Program (35th SSEAYP) . I was one of the 28 delegates across the country who will be cruising the south east asian countries on October 21, 2008 - December 25, 2008. There will be a Pre-Departure Activities (PDA) organized for the chosen delegates which will start on July 15-25, 2008 at Tagaytay city but this will be in conflict to my TOSP activities which will culminate on July 17, 2008. Attending to both of these activities will be a big loss in my studies. I'm weighing right now what my heart is beating and is best. I was excited but not sure to accept the program because I have a scholarship contract in a full-time graduate student status in DOST; and also I don't have yet a passport. Hai. ...

FINALLY, I’ve made up my mind, here’s my ten Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008 organized by Janette Toral : MusikaCentral - My blog partner, Ariel Lalisan's music blog. Listen to the taste of the Music down south of Mindanao. Journeys to the Soul - My blog partner, Ariel Lalisan's Book Review Blog. Read this blog and for you'll be reading it often. Black Pencil Project - A blog trying to influence other people to make a difference. Kuris Kuris Artwork - A blog which features new trend of art. I'm planning to put an exhibit for these artworks soon. Bariles Republic - Sir Avel Manansala's An Idiot’s Guide to General Santos City blog. Build That Geek - Mikko's geeky personal blog. Trashman - Marvin's Tech News Blog from Marbel. Siraniko’s Box - Nash's Tech News Blog from Marbel. Homeward Bound - He dreams to make this blog an empire of blogs that will cater to the information needs of most people. Dong's Byaheng Pinoy - Join him as he f...

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines (my hometown) — The ninth edition of the annual T’nalak Festival of South Cotabato kicked on July 11, Friday to once again showcase the province’s investment and tourism potentials. Activities lined up for the festivities include an agri-trade fair, bazaars, concerts, cultural shows, street dancing competition, grand fireworks display competition and visits to various tourism attractions in the province. The activities will culminate on July 18, the province’s foundation anniversary. For the festival schedule of activities click here . FYI: The festival was named after the T’nalak, an indigenous, colorful cloth woven by women of the T’boli tribe. The cloth has brought recognition to the province in the national and international scene. It is said that the design of the t'nalak cloth was a creative pattern that the women of t'boli tribe dreamed. This is my first time not to witness the festival but I'll be celebrating it with them still. ...

Making a positive difference is possible when one is moved and inspired to effect a change to the lives of some people who are marginalized or small. There are so many ways to contribute for a betterment of a situation and there are endless possible means for a change. Sometimes change can come from the simplest of ideas. Take, for example, the Black Pencil Project . This is a very simply project which I really appreciated. I was happy (no I feel more than being happy, maybe joy) to read this blog because we share the same passion. The idea behind the Black Pencil Project is to give out pencils to disadvantaged students from grades one to three in public schools. It seems almost trivial but what we take for granted can be so critical for those who don't have the means. From the group's web site: Black Pencil Project is a personal initiative to help provide pencils through resources mobilizations to public elementary schools in the remote barangays accross the country. It a...

I am inviting you to attend this great event (open to everyone interested) The CESB and AYLA with AdMU School of Social Science will be spearheading an Inter-generational Leaders' Dialogue on AUGUST 08, 2008 (Friday) from 8am-6pm at Leong Auditorium, Ateneo de Manila University R egistration fee of P100 each , which includes lunch, snacks, and kit for the event. The dialogue will bring together senior leaders and executives representing various government agencies and young leaders whose involvements and interests are related to the work of the government agencies present. Targeted agencies and session topics cover the areas of governance, environment, technology, trade and commerce, civil service, human rights, disaster response, peace, social welfare, education, among others. Respected speakers and moderators will be invited to share their personal journey in making a difference in the fields/issues identified, and to ensure the quality of exchange of thoughts in...

Last June 30, 2008 at Manila Hotel, the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) awards scholarship grants to 527 qualified individuals for Masters and PhD degrees. signing of the scholarship contract DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro said the government is very determined to establish a pool of science researchers, engineers and educators, with MS and PhD degrees in the country in the contract signing ceremony of the scholar-grantees. Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of the DOST-SEI, said the qualified graduates underwent rigid selection, both by the screening committee and the DOST’s sectoral Councils. “For the Philippines to be at par with our regional partners in terms of science and engineering we need more graduates taking up MS and PhD courses,” she added. From left (fellow scholars in UPD): moi, Claude Ceniza (from USC-Talamban Campus - taking MS Biology), and Nilo Bait (from UP - taking MS Biology) Under the Accelerated Science and Technolog...