Bisaya Bloggers

Tomorrow is supposed to be an historic day for the Blogger community of the Philippines, that’s because a Wordcamp is taking place in Manila for the first time.  It’s too bad I’m booked to fly to Manila on the 18th instead which concludes how impractical it is for me to decide to fly in earlier for Wordcamp, come back to Davao then back again to Manila on 18.  When I accidentally called Ria this morning (mistaking her for my friend Ria Lumapas), I got to ask her where she was and she replied matter-of-factly, “I’m in Manila.” Hearing those words, I suddenly felt a crushing sense of panghihinayang.  The closest English equivalent of which would be…regret.

Oh well, life moves on.  Hopefully when I move to the States I’ll catch the Wordcamp in San Francisco, booya!

Meanwhile, a blogger who’s not in the field is obviously mulling about the internet.  Just now I downloaded the beta version of Google’s new browser Google Chrome and for a Beta version it has so far impressed me with its speed.  It’s phenomenally faster than Mozilla 3.0 and is apparently more efficient than Safari.  Apart from the exciting fact that Chrome is Open source, it introduces a very unique way of managing javascript by incorporating multiple process in one browser.  Now the brainiacs from Google can best explain what that means not me, definitely, no.  Luckily, they came up with a very friendly way of helping us understand…through a comic strip!

(Note: Click on the images to enlarge, Duh.) The rest of the comic strip is here.

Now, another issue critics are saying about the new Google Chrome is that its suspiciously introducing the browser to the market the way Microsoft used to that elbowed Netscape Browser out of the competition (remember that?).  The strategy was called the Three E’s (Embrace, Extend, Extinguish).  Wikipedia has this to define that very enigmatic yet ruthless adage:

 

The alleged strategy’s three phases are:

1. Embrace: Development of software substantially compatible with a competing product, or implementing a public standard.
2. Extend: Addition and promotion of features not supported by the competing product or part of the standard, creating interoperability problems for customers who try to use the ’simple’ standard.
3. Extinguish: When extensions become a de facto standard because of their dominant market share, they marginalize competitors that do not or cannot support the new extensions.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Microsoft critics, and computer-industry journalists claim that the goal of the strategy is to monopolize a product category. Such a strategy differs from J. Allard’s originally proposed strategy of embrace, extend then innovate only in how the final step is viewed. Microsoft asserts that this strategy is not anti-competitive, but rather an exercise of its discretion to implement features it believes customers want.

Pretty sly, eh?  Now Google can argue that it wouldn’t be that case because after that infamous case with Microsoft, the browser wars emerged and thus different people with varying personalities, interests and that-which-makes-them-tick have adapted to different browsers.  I am really a Safari girl while my brother is the Mozilla freak.  So is it possible that Google is trying to plunge into the Internet Browser world so that they can sieze on the market that wants to avail what only THEY can provide?  I think that the difference now is how Google has always quietly portrayed itself as Not the big bag wolf Microsoft is.  Sure the open source guise will let people tinker with how the guys from Google figured out how to hasten and manage rendering speed more effectively.  But they’ll be laughing while the other developers crawl their way through possibly…months before anyone gets to apply it on their new patch versions of (insert name of another Internet browser here).

One last thing: why would you want yet another browser?  Well Google’s giving you an incentive to use theirs.  Apart from the speedier rendering, naturally its the most powerful tool for using your favorite Google applications.  They have a comparative advantage when it comes to improving how they deliver their services through Google Chrome.  I’m really loving the Beta, I can’t wait for the next patch!

Hello, buy me a beer if you like my content!

Tomorrow is supposed to be an historic day for the Blogger community of the Philippines, that’s because a Wordcamp is taking place in Manila for the first time.  It’s too bad I’m booked to fly to Manila on the 18th instead which concludes how impractical it is for me to decide to fly in earlier for Wordcamp, come back to Davao then back again to Manila on 18.  When I accidentally called Ria this morning (mistaking her for my friend Ria Lumapas), I got to ask her where she was and she replied matter-of-factly, “I’m in Manila.” Hearing those words, I suddenly felt a crushing sense of panghihinayang.  The closest English equivalent of which would be…regret.

Oh well, life moves on.  Hopefully when I move to the States I’ll catch the Wordcamp in San Francisco, booya!

Meanwhile, a blogger who’s not in the field is obviously mulling about the internet.  Just now I downloaded the beta version of Google’s new browser Google Chrome and for a Beta version it has so far impressed me with its speed.  It’s phenomenally faster than Mozilla 3.0 and is apparently more efficient than Safari.  Apart from the exciting fact that Chrome is Open source, it introduces a very unique way of managing javascript by incorporating multiple process in one browser.  Now the brainiacs from Google can best explain what that means not me, definitely, no.  Luckily, they came up with a very friendly way of helping us understand…through a comic strip!

(Note: Click on the images to enlarge, Duh.) The rest of the comic strip is here.

Now, another issue critics are saying about the new Google Chrome is that its suspiciously introducing the browser to the market the way Microsoft used to that elbowed Netscape Browser out of the competition (remember that?).  The strategy was called the Three E’s (Embrace, Extend, Extinguish).  Wikipedia has this to define that very enigmatic yet ruthless adage:

 

The alleged strategy’s three phases are:

1. Embrace: Development of software substantially compatible with a competing product, or implementing a public standard.
2. Extend: Addition and promotion of features not supported by the competing product or part of the standard, creating interoperability problems for customers who try to use the ’simple’ standard.
3. Extinguish: When extensions become a de facto standard because of their dominant market share, they marginalize competitors that do not or cannot support the new extensions.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Microsoft critics, and computer-industry journalists claim that the goal of the strategy is to monopolize a product category. Such a strategy differs from J. Allard’s originally proposed strategy of embrace, extend then innovate only in how the final step is viewed. Microsoft asserts that this strategy is not anti-competitive, but rather an exercise of its discretion to implement features it believes customers want.

Pretty sly, eh?  Now Google can argue that it wouldn’t be that case because after that infamous case with Microsoft, the browser wars emerged and thus different people with varying personalities, interests and that-which-makes-them-tick have adapted to different browsers.  I am really a Safari girl while my brother is the Mozilla freak.  So is it possible that Google is trying to plunge into the Internet Browser world so that they can sieze on the market that wants to avail what only THEY can provide?  I think that the difference now is how Google has always quietly portrayed itself as Not the big bag wolf Microsoft is.  Sure the open source guise will let people tinker with how the guys from Google figured out how to hasten and manage rendering speed more effectively.  But they’ll be laughing while the other developers crawl their way through possibly…months before anyone gets to apply it on their new patch versions of (insert name of another Internet browser here).

One last thing: why would you want yet another browser?  Well Google’s giving you an incentive to use theirs.  Apart from the speedier rendering, naturally its the most powerful tool for using your favorite Google applications.  They have a comparative advantage when it comes to improving how they deliver their services through Google Chrome.  I’m really loving the Beta, I can’t wait for the next patch!

Hello, buy me a beer if you like my content!

We’ve now decided on the venue for WordCamp Davao on 4 September 2008. For those of you who have registered for the event (and complied with the requirements), see you at Bryan’s Grill & Café in Palm Village. For those who aren’t familiar with the place, click through to the locator map.

Bryan’s Grill is a cozy al fresco restaurant where we can sit back and relax while listening to the WordCamp speakers: Councilor Pete Laviña, Red Rola, yours truly, and of course, Mr. WordPress himself, Matt Mullenweg. And it helps that the food at Bryan’s is simply spectacular.

It’s going to be an informal event — come as you are! There’s a swimming pool there, and if you’re up to it, you’re welcome to take an evening dip (so don’t forget to bring proper swim gear). And don’t be late! We start promptly at 6:00 PM for dinner.

This mini-WordCamp in Davao is part of WordCamp Philippines 2008, the main event of which will be held at the College of St. Benilde, Taft Ave., Manila on 6 September 2008. The first WordCamp in Southeast Asia is made possible by the following sponsors:

• i.PH: the Domain for Individuals
• Free Online Flash Games
• Wazzup Manila Philippines
• Real Estate CRM
• Real Estate Website Designers
• Orange County Real Estate
• Auto Insurance Quotes
• Lane Systems Inc.
• RedMedia
• Orange County Business Lawyer
• Cebu Pacific Air
• Reality Wedding Videos

Andrew, Migs, Ria and I had another organizational meeting for WordCamp Philippines 2008 yesterday, this time at Café Andessa. It was also a mini food trip for the four most intrepid bloggers of Davao City (we’re missing Winston, who’s in Cebu). My friend Sue Anne Orig, whose family owns this restaurant, graciously agreed to host our dinner — and it was such a feast!

We were served Caesar’s Salad, Rosemary Pork Chops, Laing, Callos, Hot Chicken Wings, Buttered Chicken and Deep-Fried Buntot ng Bariles (tuna tail), Garlic Rice, and my favorite Bagoong Rice. The chicken wings weren’t very spicy, but they were really tasty — perfect for opening a meal.

The dish that I really enjoyed was the deep-fried tuna. It was infused with garlic and other spices that made it really sumptuous and irresistible — I practically finished the whole plate. And it’s an order that’s good for 2 or 3 people! They also serve it with a serving of burong mangga (pickled green mangoes).

For dessert, we were treated to Binutong, which is like bico (sticky rice), Tikoy Turon with Langka, and another one whose name I can’t seem to recall. It was the best, too! It was banana turon topped with ice cream, chocolate flakes and cherry.

I should also mention that Café Andessa’s brewed coffee is really good. Sue Anne tells me that they’d just bought a coffee machine, so you can expect good brews after a satisfying meal.

Here’s a slide-show of the food.

Now, for WordCamp. We’ve covered some ground in the organizing of this highly aniticpated bloggers’ event in the country. The speakers and camp events schedule will soon be finalized, for one, and so will the list of volunteers.

We’re also coming up with a WordCamp t-shirt. I am confident to say that the design is spectacular in its simplicity; Andrew’s designing it. Keep tabs on the official WordCamp Philippines blog for further details.

And, there’s one delicious surprise that we will soon be announcing — watch out for that!

A couple of BIG blogging events are coming to town, the most awaited WordCamp Philippines and the come back of the successful Mindanao Bloggers Summit.

WordCamp Philippines 2008

We are pleased to announce that the organizers of WordCamp Philippines are now accepting registrations. The registration form is accessible from this URL: http://philippines.wordcamp.org/registration/.

Help us in spreading the word about WordCamp Philippines 2008. If you have already registered, please feel free to use the wordcamp badges which can be found at the registration announcement page.

I already posted mine on my sidebar. How about you?

Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2

After its successful debut last year in Davao City, Mindanao Bloggers Summit will be having a come back this October 25 at General Santos City.  Mindanao Bloggers Summit is the biggest blogging event down south.  Bloggers from the different regions in Mindanao will take part on the said event.

This year’s theme is “Mindanawon: Paminawon Intawon - Blogging the Mindanao Consciousness”.  Mindanawon Paminawon Intawon is a battle cry of the people from Mindanao.  It’s a move for the people to be heard from the rest of the world.

Like the previous MBS, this year’s summit is an advocacy for us to change the image of Mindanao, which is far from the contemporary image being portrayed by the media.

Blog Contests for the Mandaue Business Month 2008

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry is celebrating the Mandaue Business Month this August and they have prepared several events for bloggers and bloggers to be. More details of the contest are posted on the MBM website.

It’s a good thing that the government and the business sector are starting to recognize the potential of blogs as tools for promoting business and tourism in the Cebu Province.

Related Posts

• Wordcamp Philippines, now open
• Summer 2008 in Bohol Part 1
• Summer 2008 Vacation
• Taj Minar

I’ve been in the nation’s capital since the 2nd of June, and I have 2 more days to go before I go back to my beloved Davao. However, I’m not really all that excited to go back just yet. In fact, I feel like extending my stay here for another week or so!

Being in Metro Manila makes me feel I’m in the center of things, that’s why. I made this trip to put in motion the organizing of WordCamp Philippines 2008 — that’s still for September, but I needed to touch base with our collaborators and sponsors, and to visit the venue.

I actually had only two or three sponsors in my schedule, but ever since I got here, I’ve been able to get more people interested in WordCamp! That’s what I mean by being in the center: things get done fairly quickly or at least directly, and everything around you is a-buzz with activity.

There was also a chance for me to land a client while staying in Metro Manila. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time — something that happens not too often in Davao. I mean, there’s just so much opportunity here!

I remember feeling exactly this way back in 2005 when I was living in Makati and working on a couple of Japanese-language translation projects. I came for only one, but got the other one thanks to a talk on managing translation projects that I gave during my stay.

Not that Davao is too far away… but it is far away from where the real action is. Still, I look forward to going home this Sunday. At least, I got another shot-in-the-arm experience to keep me alert and rarin’ to do more!

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Hi guys, the official announcement regarding WordCamp Philippines is now out. For those who are not aware of WordCamp, here’s a brief introduction. WordCamp is a conference or convention which gives focus on anything related to Wordpress. WordCamp is the best venue for Wordpress enthusiasts to come together and get updated on the latest.  Participants vary from [...]